National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Randall County, Texas, Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 7,718 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 5 mapped hunt units: 3 open with special regulations and 2 closed, covering about 6,719 huntable acres.

3 with special regs2 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
5hunt units
6.7Khuntable acres
7.7KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Buffalo Lake 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 Buffalo Lake NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, upland birds, migratory birds, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory 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 (5)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 6,719 (87%)Closed: 998 (13%)6.7Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations6,719 ac 87%
  • Closed998 ac 13%
Units by size (acres)
South
2,950 ac
Middle
2,762 ac
North
1,007 ac
Prairie Dog
935 ac
No Hunt Zone
63 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Middle
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,762 Required
Special Use Permit		 Youth Deer Hunting.
North
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,007 Required
Special Use Permit		 Youth Deer Hunting.
South
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,950 Required
Special Use Permit		 Youth Deer Hunting.
No Hunt Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 63 Required
Special Use Permit		 Youth Deer Hunting.
Prairie Dog
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 935 Required
Special Use Permit		 Youth Deer Hunting.

Buffalo Lake NWR by the numbers

With about 6,719 huntable acres, Buffalo Lake NWR ranks #13 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Texas and #241 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 87% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is South (2,950 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, North, covers 1,007 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

2 units totaling 998 acres are closed to hunting (No Hunt Zone and Prairie Dog). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 7,718 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 18 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Buffalo Lake 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, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Youth Deer Hunting.

Type: Special Use Permit

How to get it:

  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

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 Buffalo Lake NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Buffalo Lake NWR.

How to get to Buffalo Lake NWR

Navigate

Destination: Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.89223, -102.12341
DMS
34°53′32.0″N 102°07′24.3″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Amarillo, TX28 mi SW of town
  • Muleshoe, TX57 mi NE of town
  • Clovis, NM71 mi NE of town
  • Portales, NM84 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • AMA Rick Husband Amarillo33 mi
  • LBB Lubbock Preston Smith87 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 Buffalo Lake 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, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM8:17 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:00 AM7:30 AM7:57 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:11 AM7:41 AM7:34 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:23 AM7:53 AM7:15 PM11h 22m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:55 PM10h 47m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:52 AM7:22 AM5:44 PM10h 22m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM5:37 PM10h 00m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM5:38 PM9h 50m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:25 AM7:55 AM5:46 PM9h 51m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:25 AM7:55 AM5:58 PM10h 03m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:17 AM7:47 AM6:15 PM10h 28m

Computed for 34.892, -102.123 (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 Buffalo Lake 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…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

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.

Buffalo Lake NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Buffalo Lake NWR?

Yes. Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (6,719 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, upland birds, 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 Buffalo Lake NWR?

Yes — Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Special Use Permit. Permits can be obtained visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Buffalo Lake NWR located?

Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Randall County, Texas, about 28 miles SW of Amarillo, TX (straight-line). GPS: 34.89223, -102.12341.

What are legal shooting hours at Buffalo Lake 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

Muleshoe NWR

Bailey County, TX · 74 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐗

2.8K huntable acres

Grulla NWR

Roosevelt County, NM · 78 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Optima NWR

Texas County, OK · 131 mi NE

1 special
🦌🦃🐦🕊️🐇

4.3K huntable acres

Bitter Lake NWR

Chaves County, NM · 158 mi SW

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗

14.3K huntable acres

Washita NWR

Custer County, OK · 169 mi E

4 special2 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

5.9K huntable acres

Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center

Chaves County, NM · 173 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

449 huntable acres

All refuges in Texas →

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