National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge lies in Bailey County, Texas, with about 6,552 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: 3 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 2,831 huntable acres.

3 with special regs1 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
2.8Khuntable acres
6.6KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Muleshoe 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 Muleshoe NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, upland birds, 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.

Established in 1935, Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge is the oldest national wildlife refuge in Texas. Most of the short-grass prairie habitat has never seen a plow and stands today as it did hundreds of years ago.

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 (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 2,831 (44%)Closed: 3,555 (56%)2.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations2,831 ac 44%
  • Closed3,555 ac 56%
Units by size (acres)
No Hunting
3,555 ac
Middle
1,862 ac
Northeast
641 ac
Southwest
328 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Middle
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,862 Required Deer, dove, quail
Northeast
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 641 Required Deer, dove, quail
Southwest
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 328 Required Deer, dove, quail
No Hunting
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 3,555 Required Deer, dove, quail

Muleshoe NWR by the numbers

With about 2,831 huntable acres, Muleshoe NWR ranks #15 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Texas and #308 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 44% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Middle (1,862 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Southwest, covers 328 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 3,555 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

When to hunt Muleshoe 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

Deer, dove, quail

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 Muleshoe NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Muleshoe NWR.

How to get to Muleshoe NWR

Navigate

Destination: Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.96037, -102.75528
DMS
33°57′37.3″N 102°45′19.0″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Muleshoe, TX19 mi S of town
  • Portales, NM37 mi SE of town
  • Clovis, NM40 mi SE of town
  • Lubbock, TX58 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • LBB Lubbock Preston Smith58 mi
  • AMA Rick Husband Amarillo105 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 Muleshoe 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, 20266:54 AM7:24 AM8:18 PM12h 55m
Tue, Sep 15, 20267:03 AM7:33 AM7:59 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20267:14 AM7:44 AM7:36 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20267:24 AM7:54 AM7:18 PM11h 23m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:39 AM7:09 AM5:59 PM10h 50m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM5:48 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 1, 20267:07 AM7:37 AM5:42 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 15, 20267:18 AM7:48 AM5:43 PM9h 55m
Fri, Jan 1, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM5:51 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 15, 20277:26 AM7:56 AM6:03 PM10h 07m
Mon, Feb 1, 20277:18 AM7:48 AM6:19 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.960, -102.755 (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 Muleshoe 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.

Muleshoe NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Muleshoe NWR?

Yes. Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 3 units (2,831 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 Muleshoe NWR?

Yes — Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Muleshoe NWR located?

Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge is in Bailey County, Texas, about 19 miles S of Muleshoe, TX (straight-line). GPS: 33.96037, -102.75528.

What are legal shooting hours at Muleshoe 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

Grulla NWR

Roosevelt County, NM · 20 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Buffalo Lake NWR

Randall County, TX · 74 mi NE

3 special2 closed
🦌🐦🕊️🐗

6.7K huntable acres

Bitter Lake NWR

Chaves County, NM · 98 mi W

3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗

14.3K huntable acres

Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center

Chaves County, NM · 106 mi SW

1 open1 closed
🦆🐦🕊️

449 huntable acres

Las Vegas NWR

San Miguel County, NM · 174 mi NW

2 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

7.3K huntable acres

Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

Mora County, NM · 185 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

All refuges in Texas →

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