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Featuring 11,000 acres of outdoor recreation opportunities, Hagerman NWR is the largest natural space in North Texas freely available to the public. It is an excellent destination for Birding, Hiking,  Wildlife Viewing, Fishing, Boating and regulated Hunting.

Like many national wildlife refuges, Hagerman NWR has a very active Friends organization who offer a variety of nature-themed, family-friendly Events, Tram Tours of the refuge, Seminars and Field Trips for schools, scouts and other groups. In addition, the Photo Club hosts informative meetings, seminars and field trips.

  • Admission to the refuge and visitor center, parking and all events and activities are free (except where stated otherwise)
  • Drive on any road unless gated
  • Please take care not to block gates when stopping or parking.
  • Leashed dogs and bicycles (including e-bikes) are welcome.
  • Kayaks and other non-motorized boats are welcome with some restrictions.
  • Restrooms are located at the Visitor Center, Environmental Education Park, the Goode Picnic Area, Big Mineral Picnic Area and Sandy Day Use Area.
Refuge lands are open every day of the year, from sunrise until sunset.

Visitor Center Hours:

  • Monday Through Saturday: 9am to 4pm
  • Sunday: 1pm to 5pm
  • Open everyday except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years

Refuge Office Hours:

  • Monday Through Friday: 7:30am to 4pm
  • Closed for federal holidays

The speed limit is 20 mph throughout the refuge.  Exceeding the speed limit may result in a Federal ticket.

America The Beautiful Park Passes

Park Passes are sold by refuge staff. Ring the door-bell at the window inside the Visitor Center for staff assistance.   More information

Note: Nature Nook volunteers may not sell park passes

For more information, please visit our FAQ page or More on Refuge Rules.

Questions?  friendsofhagerman@gmail.com

Lucy by Mary Elford Hulshouser


Stay up to date with current events and wildlife at the refuge!

Current Flyer        Facebook 

Left to Right: Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles and Terry Goode

Every Tuesday Jack Chiles and his team of experienced birders perform a refuge-wide bird census.  View his full report, including field notes.

Weekly Bird Census:

Birding with Jack 



Enjoy a ninety minute tour of the refuge.  Learn about the town flooded to create Lake Texoma while enjoying the birds and other wildlife.

Tram Tours  Group Tram Request

With different nature-themed topics every month,  the kids will love our children's program: The Refuge Rocks!  Reservations are required.

The Refuge Rocks! 

For nature crafts you can do at home with detailed instructions, visit:

Puddles' Craft Corner

Refuge Update:

The air conditioner in the Visitor Center is working!  Come on out and enjoy! Need an outing?  Enjoy the Auto Tour from the comfort of your vehicle, and check out all of the new educational items in the Nature Nook. 

Note: Upland Game hunting will be in effect during the months of September, January and February.  The Raasch Trail and the end of Meadow Pond Trail (2 miles in, past Meadow Pond) will be affected.  More information and rules about the hunt.


Upcoming events

  • Photo Club Nature Photo Contest 9/1 Through 9/30

    • September 01, 2024
    • 12:00 AM
    • October 01, 2024
    • 12:00 AM
    • Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092

    Friends of Hagerman NWR Annual Nature Photo Contest 


    Every year in September, the Friends of Hagerman Photo Club sponsor a nature-themed photo contest.  For a small fee per photo, photographers may enter as many photos as they wish. 

    All photographers are invited to participate in the contest, regardless of age or skill level.  Divisions include Beginner and Intermediate/Advanced: all photographers, including youth, are welcome!

    Ribbons will be awarded for First, Second, and Third place in each of four categories and in both divisions (Beginner and Advanced/Intermediate). In addition, a cash prize will be awarded for First Place in each category, and the photos judged as “Best of Show” and “Youth Best in Show.” Winners will be determined by a panel of judges, who will review the submitted photos without reference to entrant name.

    Winners’ photographs will be displayed at the Refuge Visitor Center (when it opens) and published on the Friends of Hagerman website, Facebook page and other venues. The Nature Photo Contest Committee will coordinate and conduct the contest for the Refuge and the Friends of Hagerman NWR.

    • All photos entered in the contest must have been taken within Hagerman NWR boundaries within the past five years.  
    • Entries will be accepted from September 1st through September 30.
    • Categories include: Landscapes, Flora and Macro, Artistic, and Wildlife. 

    Click below for rules and instructions on how to submit entries.

     Contest Instructions

    Photo Contest Tips

    Show details

  • Second Saturday: Raptors with Dr. Wayne Meyer

    • October 12, 2024
    • 10:00 AM
    • Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092

    Learn About Raptors with Dr. Wayne Meyer

    Texoma has many birds of prey.  Not all of them are called raptors, although the word applies to all of them.  In this talk we will discuss what makes a bird a raptor and what makes them special.  We will also discuss how to identify the diurnal raptors.

    Dr. Wayne Meyer is Associate Professor of the Biology department at Austin College, where he taught for 30 years. He started birding at 13 in Connecticut. In 1993 he finally achieved his life’s dream of being paid to look at birds when he joined the faculty of Austin College. He has birded both coasts of the U.S. extensively and now has spent a quarter century birding in Texas and Oklahoma. The proximity of Austin College to Hagerman NWR has made research on prairie birds easy and convenient and he has been studying song learning and singing in Painted Buntings for over a decade. Meyer is also a sought after speaker for Master Naturalist groups and a frequent speaker at the Friends of Hagerman NWR second Saturday programs.

    Photo by Mike Petrick

    Free and open to the public.  Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.

    Join us with membership today to receive the monthly Featherless Flyer newsletter with nature articles, program information, updated events and other important refuge information.

    Show details

  • Photo Club Event: Night Photo Shoot at Hagerman NWR

    • October 17, 2024
    • 6:30 PM
    • Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092

    Join the Friends of Hagerman NWR Nature Photography Club for a night photo shoot at Hagerman NWR. This shoot will include sunset shots across the water and moonrise of the full moon of October called Hunter's moon.

    This event is limited to FOHNWR Nature Photography Club members only. Registration is not required. We have permission to stay in the refuge after dark. Click here to become a member of Friends of Hagerman and select a membership with Photo Club.

    Thursday October 17: Meet at the 1st pad on Plover Drive at 6:30 pm. Plover Drive is gravel and driving too close to the pads will create dust and may interfere with people that have setup their cameras and equipment. Please park accordingly. Click for a Refuge Map.

    Sunset is approximately 6:50 pm.

    Moonrise is approximately 6:55 pm.


    The visitor center will be closed in the evening. There is an outdoor restroom down the path from the visitor center parking lot. 


    For questions about this event, contact:

    Lisa Wilkins, Event Leader

    Mobile 972-658-8544

    Email FOHphotoclub@gmail.com

    _____________________________________________


    For questions about the photo club, contact:

    Photo Club Leader, Lisa Wilkins

    Email FOHphotoclub@gmail.com

    Show details

  • The Refuge Rocks: Going Batty for Bats

    • October 19, 2024
    • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    • Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
    • 18
    Register

     Bats are often called creepy, scary and spooky, but they often get a bad rap. They’re an important species that impacts our daily lives in ways we might not even realize. From pollinating our favorite fruits to eating pesky insects to inspiring medical marvels, bats are actually heroes of the night. 

    Come join us on October 19 for a free class for ages 5-10 to go a little batty for bats through games, activities, and crafts!  


    Free and open to the public, registration is required.  Donations are accepted to support this and other events and programs sponsored by the Friends of Hagerman NWR.

    Join us with membership today to receive the monthly Featherless Flyer newsletter with nature articles, program information, updated events and other important refuge information.

    Show details

Other Events


All events are free and open to the public, some may require Membership


Donate to help fund

programs like these!


  • Photo Club Nature Photo Contest 9/1 Through 9/30
    September 01, 2024 12:00 AM
    Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
  • The Work Crew
    September 28, 2024
    Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
  • Butterfly Garden Walk
    September 28, 2024 10:00 AM
    Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
  • Wildlife Explorer Tram Tour
    September 28, 2024 2:00 PM
    Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
  • Wildlife Explorer Tram Tour
    September 29, 2024 2:00 PM
    Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
  • The Work Crew
    October 01, 2024
    Hagerman National Wildlife Visitor Center, 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092
  • The Little Sit Sunrise Bird Count
    October 05, 2024 7:00 AM
    H Pad, Sadler TX, 76264

The 2024 Annual Free Fishing Event

2024 Nature'Ology: A Fun Day of Learning About Nature!

Don't miss our day camp for 10-12 year olds in June, 2025!

2024 Spring Festival: Choctaw Cultural Day

by Lea Watson, Thank You, Lea!

Enjoy: 2023 Favorite Clips Video: Hagerman Wildlife on Youtube

By Richard Barnes

Wilson's Snipe by Richard Barnes

Friends of Hagerman Mission

Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to instill reverence, respect, and conservation of our wild creatures and habitats through supporting environmental education, recreational activities, and programs of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.



Photo by Marilyn Simmons

Bobcat by Brenda Kay Edwards

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Events and activities hosted by the Friends of Hagerman are funded by donations and powered solely by volunteers.  There are no fees for admission to the refuge or parking; the refuge is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year, drive on any road unless gated.

6465 Refuge Road

Sherman, TX 75092

             

Kroger: Stop by the customer service desk at Kroger and link your Kroger Card to the Friends of Hagerman: the Friends will get rewards for every dollar you spend, at no cost to you.

Please add friendsofhagerman@gmail.com to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer

Special thanks to Nancy Miller for the amazing photo of the Visitor Center 

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See you at the refuge! 

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