National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Matagorda County, Texas, Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 4,201 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open under general rules and 1 closed, covering about 1,266 huntable acres.

2 open units1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
1.3Khuntable acres
4.2KFWS-owned acres
1game categories

Big Boggy 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 Big Boggy NWR

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

Hunting opportunities include waterfowl, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge offers two waterfowl hunting areas, each providing a different type of hunt. One is along a flight path ducks use as they leave their resting area in the morning and head to fields.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and coots

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

Hunt units (3)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,266 (30%)Closed: 2,935 (70%)1.3Khuntable acres
  • Open1,266 ac 30%
  • Closed2,935 ac 70%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
2,935 ac
Pelton Lake
1,013 ac
Matthes Field
253 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Matthes Field Open 253 —
Pelton Lake Open 1,013 —
Closed Closed 2,935 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

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 Big Boggy NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Big Boggy NWR.

How to get to Big Boggy NWR

Navigate

Destination: Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
28.75236, -95.81282
DMS
28°45′08.5″N 95°48′46.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Bay City, TX18 mi SE of town
  • Galveston, TX72 mi SW of town
  • Victoria, TX72 mi E of town
  • Houston, TX75 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • IAH Houston Bush Intercontinental89 mi
  • CRP Corpus Christi Intl123 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 Big Boggy 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, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM7:46 PM12h 46m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM7:29 PM12h 22m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:45 AM7:15 AM7:10 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM6:54 PM11h 31m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:04 AM6:34 AM5:38 PM11h 04m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:15 AM6:45 AM5:30 PM10h 44m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:26 PM10h 28m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:28 PM10h 20m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:36 PM10h 20m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:46 PM10h 30m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:41 AM7:11 AM6:01 PM10h 49m

Computed for 28.752, -95.813 (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.

Big Boggy NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Big Boggy NWR?

Yes. Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (1,266 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Big Boggy NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Big Boggy NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Big Boggy NWR located?

Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge is in Matagorda County, Texas, about 18 miles SE of Bay City, TX (straight-line). GPS: 28.75236, -95.81282.

What are legal shooting hours at Big Boggy 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

San Bernard NWR

Brazoria County, TX · 18 mi NE

4 open1 closed
🦆🎣

7K huntable acres

Brazoria NWR

Brazoria County, TX · 47 mi NE

5 open1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

10.9K huntable acres

Aransas NWR

Calhoun County, TX · 61 mi SW

1 open2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

54.6K huntable acres

Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR

Colorado County, TX · 70 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Jocelyn Nungaray NWR

Chambers County, TX · 102 mi NE

3 open1 closed
🦆🎣

12.9K huntable acres

McFaddin NWR

Jefferson County, TX · 115 mi NE

4 special1 closed
🦆🎣

21.6K huntable acres

All refuges in Texas →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.