Guadalupe Delta WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Guadalupe Delta WMA is 6,594 acres of public hunting land in Calhoun County and Refugio County, Texas, TPWD units #720, #723 and #724. Adults hunt it on the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit and register on site each day, in the Texas Hunt & Fish app (eOSR). TPWD's 2026-27 map booklet lists feral hog among the legal game, along with waterfowl, dove, geese, coots, snipe, rail, and gallinule, dove and rails, gallinule, and snipe.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: TPWD's 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands. Boundaries: TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map.
This areaOther public hunting landWaterfowl sanctuaryCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #720, #723 and #724 |
|---|---|
| Size | 6,594 acres (TPWD booklet); 6,588 acres mapped |
| County | Calhoun County, Refugio County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Legal game listed | Waterfowl, Dove, Geese, Coots, Snipe, Rail, and Gallinule, Dove, Rails, Gallinule, and Snipe, Feral Hog and Fishing and General Use |
| Deer | No deer season for walk-in hunters in the booklet |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 09 |
| Towns | Austwell (2 mi), Seadrift (7 mi) and Port Lavaca (13 mi) |
| Highways | TX 35, TX 185 (0.9 mi), TX 239 (1.2 mi) and TX 238 (4.9 mi) |
Which units make up Guadalupe Delta WMA?
TPWD prints Guadalupe Delta WMA as 3 units in its 2026-27 booklet:
| Unit | Name | Acres (TPWD) | County | Legal game entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #720 | Guadalupe Delta WMA - Mission Lake Unit | 4,448 | Calhoun | 3 |
| #723 | Guadalupe Delta WMA Guadalupe River Unit | 1,139 | Refugio | 5 |
| #724 | Guadalupe Delta WMA Hynes Bay Unit | 1,007 | Refugio | 5 |
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit (#720): what can you hunt in 2026-27?
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit is 4,448 acres in Calhoun County. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 3 legal game entries for this unit, none of them deer. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl | All hunters must check-in and check-out, complete OSR requirements, and be off the area by NOON. Manned Check Station is open on Saturday and Sunday. Entire Area (including Buffalo Lake Compartment): Saturdays and Sundays of the Early Teal season and Saturdays and the last Sunday of each split of the South Zone Duck season. Buffalo Lake Compartment Only: Additional hunting is allowed by on-site registration on Tuesdays and Thursdays of the Early Teal and South Zone Duck seasons. Hunters MUST first check-in before you can pick a hunt site, access begins at 4:00 am. Hunters should park along the roadway in the designated numbered parking area for the numbered hunt site used. |
| Dove, Geese, Coots, Snipe, Rail, and Gallinule | May be taken during the waterfowl hunts provided the seasons are open for these species. |
| Fishing | Bank fishing is permitted during daylight hours at sites on bayous and rivers accessible by boat. Fishing is not allowed within interior lakes or ponds. Bank fisherman, 17 years of age and older, are required to possess a valid APH or LPU Permit. |
Youth and special seasons on Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl (Buffalo Lake Compartment Only): See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations. Hunters may enter the Buffalo Lake compartment beginning at 4:00 a.m. Hunters must park along the roadway in the designated numbered parking area for the numbered hunt site used. Hunters must exit the area by noon.
Rules on Guadalupe Delta WMA, Mission Lake Unit
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day. Bank fisherman, 17 years of age and older, are required to possess a valid APH or LPU Permit.
- Means restriction: Shotguns with non-toxic shot are the only firearms allowed.
- Special regulations: Hunters must be checked out and exit by noon. Hunt party size is limited to 5 INDIVIDUALS. All hunters must check-in and check-out through the manned check station. Gates open 2 hours before legal shooting time. Admittance to the hunt area ends 30 minutes before legal shooting time. Boats are allowed for waterfowl hunting only and must be hand launched and only electric motors allowed. No trailers. The use of airboats within the WMA is prohibited. Scouting for waterfowl hunting may be conducted the day before the start of the teal season and each split of the duck season for the Buffalo Lake Compartment. No open fires allowed. Anything damaging, defacing or covering numbered hunt site, parking or trail markers is prohibited. No blinds or blind materials may be left in the hunt area after each hunt. Do Not Litter.
- Note: Temporary closures may be made by the department if current conditions warrant and will be identified by signs and barricades. Please call 361/552-6637 for more information.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #720 (PDF).
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River and Hynes Bay units (#723, #724): what can you hunt in 2026-27?
This areaOther public hunting landWaterfowl sanctuaryCounty lineLake or riverHighway
Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River and Hynes Bay units is 2,146 acres in Refugio County. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 5 legal game entries for this unit, none of them deer. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Dove | Each day of South Zone Dove season. Hunting is permitted inside dove hunting areas only. Shotguns with non-toxic shot only. |
| Waterfowl | All waterfowl hunters must exit by noon. Hunting is allowed each day of the Early Teal, South Zone Duck, and Eastern Zone Goose seasons. |
| Rails, Gallinule, and Snipe | Non-toxic shot only. May be taken only on waterfowl hunt dates that occur during the open seasons for these species. |
| Feral Hog | (Hynes Bay Unit #724 only) Feb. 1-May 31. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. No baiting for hogs allowed. Shotguns with buckshot and archery equipment are the only legal means that may be used for feral hog hunts. Hunter orange must be worn while feral hog hunting. |
| Fishing and General Use | Bank fishing is permitted during daylight hours at sites on bayous and rivers accessible by boat. |
Youth and special seasons on Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River and Hynes Bay units
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations. All hunters must exit by noon.
Rules on Guadalupe Delta WMA, Guadalupe River and Hynes Bay units
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day. All hunters must possess a current APH Permit. Anglers 17 years and older must possess a current APH or LPU Permit.
- Means restriction: Shotguns with non-toxic shot are the only means that may be used or possessed during game bird hunts.
- Special regulations: Hunt party size limited to 5 INDIVIDUALS. All persons using these units must read and obey all regulations posted at the information stations. Entrance on the property begins after 4:00 a.m. For waterfowl hunters admittance to the hunt area ends 30 minutes before legal shooting time. Scouting for waterfowl hunting may be conducted the day before the start of the teal season and each split of the duck season. Feral Hog hunters must exit 1 hour after sunset. Dove hunters and anglers must exit by ½ hour after sunset. Dove hunters are not required to park in designated parking areas but may not drive off or block designated gravel roads. Waterfowl hunters must park in the designated numbered parking area for the numbered hunting site used. All hunters must possess a current APH Permit. Anglers 17 years and older must possess a current APH or LPU Permit. See Prohibited Acts for further restrictions. The use of airboats within the WMA is prohibited. No open fires allowed. Anything damaging, defacing or covering numbered hunt site, parking or trail markers is prohibited. No hunting allowed in the fenced in moist-soil units located in the Recommended Dove Hunting Area in Unit #724. No blinds or blind materials may be left in the hunt area after each hunt. NO hunters are allowed to park in zone A OR B parking areas until after 4:00 AM.
- Note: Hunting parties may access Townsend Bayou and Goose Roost Lake via boat but must walk to hunt areas in the Hynes Bay and Guadalupe River Units (Zone B) only - no boat access to ponds containing designated hunt sites. Temporary closures may be made by the department if current conditions warrant and will be identified by signs and barricades. Please call 361/552-6637 for more information.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #723, #724 (PDF).
Which parts of Guadalupe Delta WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Guadalupe Delta WMA marks waterfowl sanctuary and hunting compartments (open to hunting). Hunting compartments are the numbered blocks hunters register for and hunt. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Guadalupe Delta WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl sanctuary | 268 | 4.1% |
| Hunting compartments (open to hunting) | 3,152 | 47.8% |
Measured by FilledTag from TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map. Posted signs and the booklet's map are the final word on the ground.
How do you get to Guadalupe Delta WMA?
Guadalupe Delta WMA lies in Calhoun County and Refugio County. Nearest towns: Austwell (2 miles), Seadrift (7 miles), Port Lavaca (13 miles) and Point Comfort (18 miles). Highways within 5 miles: TX 35 (it crosses or touches the area), TX 185 (0.9 miles), TX 239 (1.2 miles) and TX 238 (4.9 miles). Water nearby: Alligator Slide Lake, Green Lake, Long Lake, Guadalupe River and North Guadalupe River.
TPWD's map points for Guadalupe Delta WMA: 1 headquarters, 3 info stations and 3 parking areas.
TPWD's page says: Some areas of the Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area (WMA) are open daily for fishing, biking, hiking and wildlife viewing activities. For hunting activities and WMA tour dates, contact the WMA manager. Visitors 17 years of age and older must have an Annual Public Hunting (APH) or Limited Public Use (LPU) Permits to enter the WMA. TPWD's page gives the area as 4,447.62 acres. Area office: (361) 552-6637, 13815 S Hwy 35, Port Lavaca, TX 77979.
From TPWD's Guadalupe Delta WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Guadalupe Delta WMA in?
Guadalupe Delta WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 09. TPWD publishes its harvest survey statewide; across Texas in 2025-26 it estimates 714,424 white-tailed deer hunters took 782,405 deer. The page on Texas public hunting has the statewide table.
Units: TPWD white-tailed deer management units. Harvest: TPWD Big Game Harvest Survey, 2025-26.
What other public hunting is near Guadalupe Delta WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Matagorda Island WMA | Calhoun | 17.1 mi |
| Mad Island WMA | Matagorda | 44.7 mi |
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Guadalupe Delta WMA?
Yes. Hunters 17 and older need the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit along with a Texas hunting license; hunters under 17 may hunt free with a permitted adult. TPWD's booklet adds: OSR Required Each Day. Bank fisherman, 17 years of age and older, are required to possess a valid APH or LPU Permit.
Can you hunt deer on Guadalupe Delta WMA?
Not on the Annual Public Hunting Permit: TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists no deer season here.
Can you camp on Guadalupe Delta WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for Guadalupe Delta WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is Guadalupe Delta WMA?
Guadalupe Delta WMA is in Calhoun County and Refugio County. The nearest towns: Austwell (2 miles), Seadrift (7 miles) and Port Lavaca (13 miles). Highways nearby: TX 35, TX 185 and TX 239.
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Where these facts come from
- Legal game, dates, rules, permits and closures: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, units #720, #723 and #724.
- Boundaries, zones and map points: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map. Acres and distances measured by FilledTag.
- Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Lakes and rivers: USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
FilledTag is not part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TPWD's booklet and posted signs are the final word on every rule; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Texas public hunting Calhoun County Refugio County Matagorda Island WMA Mad Island WMA