National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is located in Brazoria County, Texas, with about 47,323 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 7 mapped hunt units: 5 open under general rules, 1 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 10,905 huntable acres.

5 open units1 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
7hunt units
10.9Khuntable acres
47.3KFWS-owned acres
2game categories

Brazoria 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 Brazoria NWR

Permitted hunting categories are waterfowl and migratory birds, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge offers several great opportunities through the year. WATERFOWL: Waterfowl season begins with a teal hunt, and hunters will find a lot of teal using the refuge.

WaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill crane

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

Hunt units (7)

Acreage by status
Open: 9,179 (19%)Special regulations: 1,727 (4%)Closed: 36,373 (77%)10.9Khuntable acres
  • Open9,179 ac 19%
  • Special regulations1,727 ac 4%
  • Closed36,373 ac 77%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
36,373 ac
Christmas Point
3,956 ac
Alligator Marsh
3,105 ac
Farm Fields
1,727 ac
Middle Bayou
1,648 ac
Walker
294 ac
Bluestem
176 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Alligator Marsh
Show on map · Directions		 Open 3,105 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove
Bluestem
Show on map · Directions		 Open 176 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove
Christmas Point
Show on map · Directions		 Open 3,956 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove
Middle Bayou
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,648 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove
Walker
Show on map · Directions		 Open 294 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove
Farm Fields
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,727 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 36,373 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Dove

Brazoria NWR by the numbers

With about 10,905 huntable acres, Brazoria NWR ranks #7 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Texas and #181 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 23% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Christmas Point (3,956 acres), while the smallest, Bluestem, covers 176 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 36,373 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Brazoria 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 — Waterfowl, Migratory Birds
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Dove

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)

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 Brazoria NWR

  • 🌊 Tidal / saltwater fishing
  • 🦀 Shellfishing & crabbing

Saltwater fishing on the refuge is permitted year-round from sunrise to sunset. Boat-accessed fishing is permitted on Nicks Lake, Salt Lake, Lost Lake, bays and bayous.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Brazoria NWR

Navigate

Destination: Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
29.15449, -95.19040
DMS
29°09′16.2″N 95°11′25.4″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Galveston, TX26 mi SW of town
  • Houston, TX43 mi S of town
  • Bay City, TX49 mi E of town
  • Beaumont, TX90 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • IAH Houston Bush Intercontinental58 mi
  • AUS Austin–Bergstrom165 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 Brazoria 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, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM7:44 PM12h 46m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM7:27 PM12h 23m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:42 AM7:12 AM7:07 PM11h 55m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM6:51 PM11h 31m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:02 AM6:32 AM5:35 PM11h 03m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:14 AM6:44 AM5:27 PM10h 43m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:27 AM6:57 AM5:22 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:36 AM7:06 AM5:24 PM10h 18m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:32 PM10h 19m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:43 PM10h 28m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:57 PM10h 48m

Computed for 29.154, -95.190 (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 Brazoria NWR

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, 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…

Fishing National Wildlife Refuges: Licenses, Seasons, Boats and Where to Go

What to know before fishing a National Wildlife Refuge or fish hatchery — state licenses, seasonal closures that…

Brazoria NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Brazoria NWR?

Yes. Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 6 units (10,905 acres) during 2026–2027 for waterfowl and migratory birds. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Brazoria NWR?

Yes — Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained online through fws. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Brazoria NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (tidal / saltwater fishing and shellfishing & crabbing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Brazoria NWR located?

Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge is in Brazoria County, Texas, about 26 miles SW of Galveston, TX (straight-line). GPS: 29.15449, -95.19040.

What are legal shooting hours at Brazoria 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 · 29 mi SW

4 open1 closed
🦆🎣

7K huntable acres

Big Boggy NWR

Matagorda County, TX · 47 mi SW

2 open1 closed
🦆

1.3K huntable acres

Jocelyn Nungaray NWR

Chambers County, TX · 55 mi NE

3 open1 closed
🦆🎣

12.9K huntable acres

McFaddin NWR

Jefferson County, TX · 68 mi NE

4 special1 closed
🦆🎣

21.6K huntable acres

Attwater Prairie Chicken NWR

Colorado County, TX · 75 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Trinity River NWR

Liberty County, TX · 85 mi N

7 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.8K huntable acres

All refuges in Texas →

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