Turkey Season Closures Approved in Matagorda and Wharton Counties as TPWD Signals Ongoing Management Changes Across Texas

Closures in Matagorda and Wharton counties reflect broader shifts in Texas wild turkey management, as TPWD responds to population trends, strengthens hen protections, and prepares for additional regulatory discussions this spring

Equalized Outdoors Newsroom

April 2nd, 2026

It’s officially spring, and turkey season will be open in every zone in the state by the time you read this.   We have been on the go since Nashville, filming, interviewing, researching, and prepping for the season, but we also dropped the ball for our Texas readers.  That’s on us, and we take it head-on without excuses and will strive to improve.

 We pride ourselves on being a trusted news source and education resource in Texas and beyond, so when the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) sought public comment on potential changes to the turkey season in Matagorda and Wharton counties, we should’ve been pounding the drum to raise awareness, and we did not. 

We also want to be clear that this is not about the turkey season changes and closures TPWD implemented, but rather about the opportunity for the public to provide input, which we did not get the word out about.  Making our voices heard, when given the opportunity, is the key to helping shape the landscape of our wild generations. 

Before the meeting, TPWD sought public comment via its public comment page 30 days before the meeting, as is standard for potential regulatory changes in the state.  Comments can be submitted on all proposals via email and an online form.

The closure was officially approved by TPWD at its commission meeting on March 26^th, as first reported by the Houston Chronicle.  Both counties impacted by this closure set to take effect in the 2027 season were a part of a ten-county “Western One Gobbler Zone,” indicating low numbers in the area.

A trend that TPWD now acknowledges is consistent across the state.    Which is why hens gained additional protections during that same commission meeting.  Hunters in parts of the state had been allowed to harvest female turkeys during the fall seasons, but that is no longer the case, except for bearded hens.  While there remains plenty of birds here in Texas, it is good to see the department being proactive rather than reactive in wildlife management. 

Back in December, we reported on the issues turkey hunters face when it comes to public land hunting, and we learned that TPWD actively monitors populations across the state and gained insight into the restocking process.  Could that be on the horizon for Matagorda, Wharton, and other counties?

We spoke with the TPWD Wild Turkey Program Leader, Jason Hardin to find out, and he informed us that the department “will look at potential sites in these counties to restock with wild turkeys”, and that those efforts “could begin as early as January-February 2027.”    Should that be the case, as we reported back in December, it would mean a minimum of 5 years before the areas could be proposed for reopening.

Hunters also play an important role in determining the status of an area.  Mr. Hardin told us, “TPWD examines harvest data to propose season closures.  This is one reason it is important for hunters to report their harvested wild turkeys, and it is the law. It is a very low bar to remain open”.   While also noting that, as of the time of this writing, there are no other areas in the state that are facing imminent closure. 

Here in Texas, the Wild Turkey falls under Upland Game Birds, and according to Mr. Hardin, “TPWD’s Upland Game Bird Technical Committee will meet in mid-April to discuss all things Upland Game Bird, and that includes staff and constituent proposed regulation changes.”  Equalized Outdoors will continue to monitor the situation, as any further changes will occur after the mid-April meeting. 

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In this case, the changes appear to have been implemented for the right reasons.  However, the lesson is that we have a responsibility as hunters to show up and make our voices heard on the policies that impact the traditions we hold so dear whenever there is an opportunity to do so.  Not just when Mike Lee gets another bright idea. 

It all starts at the local level, and that’s nationwide, not just here in Texas.   As for us at Equalized Outdoors, we remain steadfastly committed to being a reliable and timely source of information.