Matador WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Matador WMA is 28,183 acres of public hunting land in Cottle County, Texas, TPWD unit #702. Adults hunt it on the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. TPWD's 2026-27 map booklet lists feral hogs and coyotes among the legal game, along with dove, quail, duck and rabbits & hares. The entire area is closed Sep. 28-Oct. 9, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-31, Nov. 13-20, Dec. 7-18, Feb. 1-Mar. 12, Mar. 22-Apr. 9, and Apr. 21-28.
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 landNo hunting zoneCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #702 |
|---|---|
| Size | 28,183 acres (TPWD booklet); 28,299 acres mapped |
| County | Cottle County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48) |
| Legal game listed | Dove, Quail, Duck, Feral Hogs and Coyotes and Rabbits & Hares |
| Deer | No deer season for walk-in hunters in the booklet |
| Closed | Sep. 28-Oct. 9, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-31, Nov. 13-20, Dec. 7-18, Feb. 1-Mar. 12, Mar. 22-Apr. 9, and Apr. 21-28. |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 30 |
| Towns | Paducah (6 mi), Matador (19 mi) and Childress (19 mi) |
| Highways | US 83 (2 mi) and US 62 (2 mi) |
What can you hunt on Matador WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 6 legal game entries for Matador WMA, 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 North Zone Dove Season, except dates entire area closed. |
| Quail | Nov. 1-Jan. 31, except dates entire area closed. |
| Duck | Each day of the Early Teal and High Plains Mallard Management Unit seasons except dates entire area closed. |
| Archery Only Feral Hogs and Coyotes | Mar. 13-21 (no bag limit). Baiting allowed during hunt period only. |
| Fishing | Allowed every day except on closure dates. Only in Middle Pease River. Pole and line only. |
| Rabbits & Hares | (Shotgun only) Concurrent with dove and quail dates. |
Youth and special seasons
- Youth/Adult Dove and Quail: Oct. 24-25. Each group must contain a hunting youth under age 17 to participate.
Drawn hunts
Postcard selection hunts: Predator. See the front of the booklet for “E-Postcard Selection Hunt” information. Apply through TPWD's Public Hunt Drawing System.
What are the rules on Matador WMA?
- Permit and registration: On-site registration is required. There are NO deer hunts by APH Permit on this area.
- Closed: Entire area closed: Sep. 28-Oct. 9, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-31, Nov. 13-20, Dec. 7-18, Feb. 1-Mar. 12, Mar. 22-Apr. 9, and Apr. 21-28.
- Special regulations: All vehicle traffic, including ORVs, UTVs, etc., is limited to designated Public Hunting Roads. No hunting within 1/4 mile of campgrounds, residences, and WMA buildings in addition to other restricted areas. All Shotgun hulls and shell boxes must be retrieved from the field and disposed of off the WMA. For more information call the WMA headquarters (806-492-3405).
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #702 (PDF).
Which parts of Matador WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Matador WMA marks no hunting zones. No hunting zones are closed to all hunting. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Matador WMA |
|---|---|---|
| No hunting zones | 1,388 | 4.9% |
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 Matador WMA?
Matador WMA lies in Cottle County. Nearest towns: Paducah (6 miles), Matador (19 miles), Childress (19 miles) and Roaring Springs (24 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 83 (2 miles) and US 62 (2 miles).
TPWD's map points for Matador WMA: 1 headquarters and 2 camp sites.
TPWD's page says: Year round. TPWD's page gives the area as 28,183 acres. Area office: (806) 492-3405, 3036 FM 3256, Paducah, TX 79248.
From TPWD's Matador WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Matador WMA in?
Matador WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 30 and mule deer management unit 2. 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 Matador WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Teacup Mountain WMA | Foard and Hardeman | 24.3 mi |
| Playa Lakes WMA Taylor Lakes Unit | Donley | 52 mi |
TPWD also leases 1 dove and small game area within 40 miles, the nearest Margolies (160 acres, 39.2 mi). All of them are on the Texas dove leases page.
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Matador 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: On-site registration is required. There are NO deer hunts by APH Permit on this area.
Can you hunt deer on Matador WMA?
Not on the Annual Public Hunting Permit: TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists no deer season here. Some places offer drawn hunts; see the drawn hunts section above.
Can you camp on Matador WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for Matador WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is Matador WMA?
Matador WMA is in Cottle County. The nearest towns: Paducah (6 miles), Matador (19 miles) and Childress (19 miles). Highways nearby: US 83 and US 62.
When is Matador WMA closed?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: the entire area is closed Sep. 28-Oct. 9, Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-31, Nov. 13-20, Dec. 7-18, Feb. 1-Mar. 12, Mar. 22-Apr. 9, and Apr. 21-28.
Get a Texas hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Texas are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Texas included.
Where these facts come from
- Legal game, dates, rules, permits and closures: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #702.
- 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 Cottle County Teacup Mountain WMA Playa Lakes WMA Taylor Lakes Unit