Where to go
Corpus Christi is known for its waterfowl hunting near the Laguna Madre and back bays. The savvy and determined outdoors enthusiast can enjoy a double helping of Coastal Bend bounty during a single day from September through hunting season. Most cast & blast opportunities begin with the start of dove season and run until the end of duck season in late January. It’s good marketing and good fun to take advantage of these packages, which sometimes come at a bargain price. Each section of the Coastal Bend provides a different flavor to the experience.
During dove season, several outfitters couple a morning of fishing with an evening at a nearby dove patch. Some even offer turkey or quail hunts and fishing. These packages seem to be more popular around the Laguna Madre, Baffin Bay, Premont and Falfurrias areas.
If you are in search of ducks launch from Goose Island State Park and take an airboat ride through the marshes and remote sloughs on the backside of San Jose Island or Matagorda Island. The mix of waterfowl here usually includes widgeons, teal, mottled ducks, gadwalls and pintails along with several other varieties of ducks. Visually, this region offers the greatest variety of wildlife. South of the JFK Causeway, a handful of Laguna Madre/Baffin Bay guides offer combination packages of fishing and hunting. Start the day off in a comfortable and spacious blind, wingshooters commonly see mottled ducks, redheads, pintails, teal, an occasional canvasback, scaups and plenty of buffleheads.
Deer hunters will need to move further inland for that trophy buck. The brush country has a reputation of producing some nice deer in Kleberg, McMullen, and Duval counties. Large ranches in Sinton and Bayside have earned their share of bragging rights when it comes to whitetail deer.
Public Lands
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers a variety of hunting opportunities through two public hunting systems. The $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit provides nearly year-round hunting on approximately 1.2 million acres of land. The increasingly popular dove hunting areas are offered through this system. The Public Hunt Drawing System provides opportunities to apply for a wide variety of supervised, drawn hunts including special drawings for both adults and youth hunters. In addition, TPWD offers special hunt package drawings for exotic wildlife and quality native animals on TPWD managed lands as well as specially leased private properties. Other agencies offering public hunting opportunities in this area include the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
Private Lands
More than 97% of land in Texas in privately owned therefore most hunting opportunities are booked through private ranchers and guides. Corpus Christi is just a short drive to many of the historically recognized and prized hunting ranches in Texas most notably the King Ranch in nearby Kingsville.
