National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Travis County, Texas, Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 23,295 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations, covering about 22,547 huntable acres.

4 with special regsPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
22.5Khuntable acres
23.3KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Balcones Canyonlands NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, wild turkey, migratory birds, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is northwest of Austin, Texas. It was established in 1992 to conserve habitat for two songbirds – the golden-cheeked warbler and black-capped vireo – and to maintain habitat for numerous other wildlife…

Youth hunting

A free hunt is offered for hunters ages 12-16.

All refuges with youth hunts →
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Texas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 22,547 (100%)22.5Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations22,547 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
1
17,804 ac
2
4,367 ac
4
279 ac
3
97 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
1
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 17,804 Required
Other		 All species: Dove (Eurasian-collared, White-winged, mourning), Pigeon/Rock dove, White-tailed deer, Feral Hog and Turkey
🧒 A free hunt is offered for hunters ages 12-16.
2
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,367 Required
Other		 All species: Dove (Eurasian-collared, White-winged, mourning), Pigeon/Rock dove, White-tailed deer, Feral Hog and Turkey
🧒 A free hunt is offered for hunters ages 12-16.
3
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 97 Required
Other		 All species: Dove (Eurasian-collared, White-winged, mourning), Pigeon/Rock dove, White-tailed deer, Feral Hog and Turkey
🧒 A free hunt is offered for hunters ages 12-16.
4
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 279 Required
Other		 All species: Dove (Eurasian-collared, White-winged, mourning), Pigeon/Rock dove, White-tailed deer, Feral Hog and Turkey
🧒 A free hunt is offered for hunters ages 12-16.

Balcones Canyonlands NWR by the numbers

With about 22,547 huntable acres, Balcones Canyonlands NWR ranks #4 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Texas and #105 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is 1 (17,804 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, 3, covers 97 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

Besides 23,295 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 4,812 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Texas sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Wild Turkey, Migratory Birds, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All species: Dove (Eurasian-collared, White-winged, mourning), Pigeon/Rock dove, White-tailed deer, Feral Hog and Turkey

Type: Other

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)
  • 📋 Other (see refuge)

You'll also need

  • A valid Texas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Balcones Canyonlands NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Balcones Canyonlands NWR.

How to get to Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Navigate

Destination: Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
30.52573, -98.01353
DMS
30°31′32.6″N 98°00′48.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Austin, TX24 mi NW of town
  • San Antonio, TX82 mi N of town
  • Waco, TX87 mi SW of town
  • Victoria, TX133 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • AUS Austin–Bergstrom31 mi
  • SAT San Antonio Intl74 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM7:56 PM12h 49m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:39 PM12h 24m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM7:18 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM7:02 PM11h 29m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM5:45 PM10h 59m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM5:36 PM10h 38m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM5:31 PM10h 20m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:51 AM7:21 AM5:32 PM10h 11m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:58 AM7:28 AM5:41 PM10h 12m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:59 AM7:29 AM5:51 PM10h 22m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:53 AM7:23 AM6:06 PM10h 43m

Computed for 30.526, -98.014 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Balcones Canyonlands NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Dove Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Managed Fields, Openers and Rules

How dove hunting works on National Wildlife Refuges — managed fields and draw days, HIP and plugged-gun rules…

HIP Certification Explained: The Harvest Information Program for Migratory Bird Hunters

What HIP is, who needs it, how to get certified in each state you hunt, and why your answers help set duck, goose and…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Refuge Hunting Permits: Types, Lotteries & How to Apply

Signed brochures, quota permits, special use permits and where to get them — online, kiosk, mail or visitor center.

Balcones Canyonlands NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

Yes. Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (22,547 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, migratory birds, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

Yes — Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov) or other. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Balcones Canyonlands NWR located?

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge is in Travis County, Texas, about 24 miles NW of Austin, TX (straight-line). GPS: 30.52573, -98.01353.

What are legal shooting hours at Balcones Canyonlands NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Inks Dam NFH

Llano County, TX · 26 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center

Hays County, TX · 48 mi S

1 closed
🎣

Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR

Colorado County, TX · 119 mi SE

1 closed
No hunting listed

Uvalde NFH

Uvalde County, TX · 143 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Aransas NWR

Calhoun County, TX · 179 mi SE

1 open2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

54.6K huntable acres

Neches River NWR

Cherokee County, TX · 179 mi NE

7 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗

9.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Texas →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.