National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge is located in Cameron County, Texas, with about 90,345 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 11 mapped hunt units: 1 open under general rules, 9 open with special regulations, and 1 closed, covering about 23,498 huntable acres.

1 open unit9 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
11hunt units
23.5Khuntable acres
90.3KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Lower Rio Grande Valley 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 Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, wild turkey, migratory birds, small game, 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for rare species like ocelot and jaguarundi, animals that many people don't associate with the United States.

Youth hunting

Issued by lottery.

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 craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & 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 (11)

Acreage by status
Open: 1,544 (2%)Special regulations: 21,954 (29%)Closed: 52,486 (69%)23.5Khuntable acres
  • Open1,544 ac 2%
  • Special regulations21,954 ac 29%
  • Closed52,486 ac 69%
Units by size (acres)
Closed
52,486 ac
La Sal Del Rey
5,405 ac
Teniente West
4,177 ac
La Puerta
4,072 ac
East Lake
1,756 ac
La Casita East
1,544 ac
Schaleben
1,524 ac
Teniente East
1,462 ac
La Sal Vieja
1,276 ac
Willamar
1,162 ac
Tecolote
1,119 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
La Casita East
Show on map · Directions		 Open 1,544 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
East Lake
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,756 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
La Puerta
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,072 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
La Sal Del Rey
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 5,405 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
La Sal Vieja
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,276 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
Schaleben
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,524 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
Tecolote
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,119 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
Teniente East
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,462 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
Teniente West
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 4,177 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
Willamar
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,162 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery
Closed
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 52,486 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.
🧒 Issued by lottery

Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR by the numbers

With about 23,498 huntable acres, Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR ranks #3 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Texas and #102 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 31% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is La Sal Del Rey (5,405 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Tecolote, covers 1,119 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 52,486 acres is closed to hunting (Closed). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 90,345 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 10,105 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Lower Rio Grande Valley 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, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Signing of the Hunting Brochure is required for all species.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (e.g. Recreation.gov)

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 Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR.

How to get to Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR

Navigate

Destination: Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
25.97470, -97.22973
DMS
25°58′28.9″N 97°13′47.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Brownsville, TX18 mi E of town
  • Harlingen, TX33 mi SE of town
  • McAllen, TX64 mi E of town
  • Corpus Christi, TX127 mi S of town

Closest airports

  • BRO Brownsville/South Padre13 mi
  • HRL Valley Intl (Harlingen)31 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 Lower Rio Grande Valley 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 AM7:49 PM12h 41m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:34 PM12h 20m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM7:16 PM11h 56m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:56 AM7:26 AM7:02 PM11h 35m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:06 AM6:36 AM5:48 PM11h 11m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM5:40 PM10h 54m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM5:37 PM10h 39m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM5:39 PM10h 32m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:48 PM10h 32m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:47 AM7:17 AM5:57 PM10h 41m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:43 AM7:13 AM6:11 PM10h 58m

Computed for 25.975, -97.230 (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 Lower Rio Grande Valley 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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

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…

Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR?

Yes. Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 10 units (23,498 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, wild turkey, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR?

Yes — Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained online (e.g. recreation.gov). You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR located?

Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge is in Cameron County, Texas, about 18 miles E of Brownsville, TX (straight-line). GPS: 25.97470, -97.22973.

What are legal shooting hours at Lower Rio Grande Valley 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

Laguna Atascosa NWR

Cameron County, TX · 16 mi N

11 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐗🎣

80.3K huntable acres

Santa Ana NWR

Hidalgo County, TX · 57 mi W

1 closed
No hunting listed

Aransas NWR

Calhoun County, TX · 161 mi N

1 open2 special3 closed
🦌🦆🐗🎣

54.6K huntable acres

Big Boggy NWR

Matagorda County, TX · 211 mi NE

2 open1 closed
🦆

1.3K huntable acres

San Bernard NWR

Brazoria County, TX · 226 mi NE

4 open1 closed
🦆🎣

7K huntable acres

Brazoria NWR

Brazoria County, TX · 253 mi NE

5 open1 special1 closed
🦆🕊️🎣

10.9K huntable acres

All refuges in Texas →

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