Willacy County, Texas: hunting seasons and public land
Willacy County has 1 public hunting area on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit (Las Palomas WMA, 251 acres in the county). White-tailed deer general season in Willacy County runs Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027, after archery only Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Bag limit: 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Public land: TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map and 2026-27 booklet.
Public hunting area in Willacy CountyOther public hunting land and dove leasesCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| County seat | Raymondville |
|---|---|
| WMAs and public hunting areas | Las Palomas WMA |
| Dove and small game leases | None |
| White-tailed deer zone | South Zone |
| Deer general season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027 |
| Deer bag limit | 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks. |
| Antler restrictions | No |
| Dove zone | South Zone |
Where can you hunt public land in Willacy County?
Willacy County holds 1 place on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit. Acres are the part inside the county, measured from TPWD's boundaries:
| Area | Acres in the county | Legal game listed (TPWD) |
|---|---|---|
| Las Palomas WMA | 251 | Dove, Quail, Chachalaca and Rabbits & Hares |
Public land: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map and TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet; acres measured by FilledTag.
What is Willacy County like for a hunter?
Willacy County covers 591 square miles of land and 194 of water, with very little of it public. Its towns include Raymondville, Lyford and San Perlita. Highways: TX 186 (39 miles in the county) and US 77 (36 miles in the county). Water: La Sal Vieja and Armendaiz Reservoir.
TPWD white-tailed deer management units: 09 (74% of the county) and U Valley (19% of the county). Neighboring counties: Cameron, Hidalgo and Kenedy.
Public hunting closest to Willacy County
Other areas on the Annual Public Hunting Permit, by straight-line distance from the middle of Willacy County to the middle of each area:
| Area | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Resaca de la Palma State Park | Cameron | 33 |
| Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR La Casita East | Starr | 70 |
| Matagorda Island WMA | Calhoun | 136 |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA | Calhoun and Refugio | 148 |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA | McMullen and Live Oak | 148 |
| Chaparral WMA | Dimmit and La Salle | 170 |
Deer on Willacy County's public hunting areas
Each area sets its own deer season, often shorter than the county's. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet, area by area:
| Area | Deer in the booklet |
|---|---|
| Las Palomas WMA | No deer season for walk-in hunters in TPWD's booklet |
Land, water, towns and highways: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Deer units: TPWD.
When are the big game seasons in Willacy County?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual for Willacy County puts the county in the white-tailed deer South Zone. The seasons and limits it lists:
| Species | Season or limit | Dates or limit |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Bag Limit | 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks. |
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027 |
| White-tailed deer | Early Youth-Only Season | Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | Jan. 18 - 31, 2027 |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Sept. 1, 2026 - Aug. 31, 2027 |
| Javelina | Bag Limit | 2 per license year. |
When are dove, duck and goose seasons in Willacy County?
| Species | Zone | Regular season |
|---|---|---|
| Dove | South Zone | Sept. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 18, 2026 - Jan. 21, 2027 |
| Duck | South Zone | Nov. 7 - 29, 2026 and Dec. 12, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Goose | Eastern Zone | Dark Geese: Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027; Light Geese: Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 19, 2027 |
Source: TPWD Outdoor Annual, Willacy County, 2026-27. Public hunting areas can set shorter seasons; each area's page has its own dates.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in Willacy County in 2026-27?
By TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, white-tailed deer archery only runs Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 and the general season Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 17, 2027 in Willacy County. The bag limit is 5 deer, no more than 3 bucks.
Is there public hunting land in Willacy County?
Yes. Las Palomas WMA (251 acres in the county) is on TPWD's maps. Together that is about 251 acres.
Does Willacy County have antler restrictions?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual does not list antler restrictions for white-tailed deer in Willacy County.
What is the county seat of Willacy County?
Raymondville, by TPWD's county page.
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Where these numbers come from
- Seasons and bag limits: TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27, seasons by county.
- Public hunting land and leases: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map; TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet.
- County boundary: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024.
FilledTag is not part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.