Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, TX

Their take-off sounds like a discordant 80’s rock band on steroids, but once airborne the geese morph into a symphony, each swoop, dip and honk coordinating with their fellow geese.  Mozart would be in awe of the Snow Geese Symphony.

Each November Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge along the shores of Lake Texoma looks like a snow globe with thousands of migrating snow geese and ducks that mow down fields of grain planted just for them.  

The refuge sits on the border of Texas and Oklahoma.  Since 1946 the park has provided marshes, creeks, lake front property and grain-loaded farmland for birds as well as resident wildlife like coyotes and armadillos.  It’s especially important for the birds because the 12,000-acre sanctuary is smack dab in the middle of the Central Flyway, a major migratory route for many birds in the United States.   

Exploring the Park

My family enjoys visiting Hagerman because two out of the four of us are photographers.  The refuge provides a cornucopia of wildlife photo opportunities.  But even if cameras aren’t your thing, Hagerman offers plenty of other options.  

To get the lay of the land, start at the Visitor Center just inside the gates.  Displays provide information about the native plants and wildlife as well as the history of Hagerman and events happening at the refuge.  Volunteers and Rangers also answer questions and tell guests where the most recent animal and bird sightings have been reported. 

After checking out the Visitor Center hop in the car and download the audio auto tour route files.  The narrated tour gives a great overview of the wildlife, wetlands, Lake Texoma, hiking and fishing opportunities and the role of land management.  

A large part of the audio tour follows the four-mile, paved Wildlife Drive.   My Dad and I love to photograph along this road.  We always see a variety of animals and birds.  Quite often we photograph from inside the van.  As you’ll see once you visit the refuge, it gets regular vehicle traffic all day.  The birds and other animals have become used to cars to the point they allow you to get closer than you might think without causing stress.  

Beyond photography and bird watching, Hagerman offers multiple hiking trails, fishing, boating, limited hunting and picnic spots along the lake. The Friends of Hagerman also provide programs for kids as well as adults.  

The Four Seasons

In our experience, winter is a great time to visit the refuge.  The shear number of geese and ducks make it unlikely you’ll return home without photos and great memories.   The geese often mass along the fields off Wildlife Drive or not too far off shore on Lake Texoma.  There are great opportunities to practice action photography as the birds fly between these destinations.  You’ll also have many chances to practice close-ups of individual geese in the fields.

No matter what season you visit, plenty of ducks, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants and egrets hang out in the marshy areas along Wildlife Drive and the Pad roads that extend like fingers into Lake Texoma.  I can’t recall any season that we didn’t find at least one of these birds out on the Pads.

Each of the three remaining seasons at the refuge bring a new type of wildlife to photograph or watch, although not in such abundance as winter.  Some of the highlights are bobcats, white-tailed deer, coyotes and nine-banded armadillos, snakes, turtles, bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks, American white pelicans, scissor-tailed flycatchers, painted buntings, owls, butterflies and wildflowers.  

Texas Hospitality

Every year for many years Texans have rolled out the welcome mat for thousands of migrating birds who find refuge at places like Hagerman and Lake Texoma.  So take a cue from the birds and check out the refuge.  Then enjoy a lazy day at the lake.  Who knows.  You might even hear the snow geese symphony while you’re there. 

Closest Military Installations

MWR Locations Nearby

If You Go:

• Admission is free.

• Restrooms are located in the Visitor Center, Haller’s Haven Trail, Big Meadow Pond Trail and Sandy Day Use Area.

• Call ahead to see what’s been spotted recently at the refuge.  Take note of where the animal has been seen to give you the best chance of seeing it.  Some days are dead as a doornail and other days are hopping at the refuge, so a phone call can save you a lot of frustration.

• The best time to see wildlife is close to sunrise and sunset.  That happens to be the hours for the refuge—sunrise to sunset every day, year round.

• The refuge offers events like nature programs, tram rides, children’s activities and seasonal hunting weekends.  Check the Friends of Hagerman pages for dates and times.   (Note: Some activities have been temporarily canceled due to CoviD so check before heading out.)  

• Leashed, well behaved dogs are welcome.  However, a dog may limit wildlife sightings.

• Bring plenty of water and snacks.  Fill up the gas tank before leaving home.  There are no services in the immediate area of Hagerman, although Sherman and Denison, Texas are both about 25 minutes away.  You’ll find food, gas and other services there.

• Check the weather.  The Lake Texoma area gets some pretty bad storms during tornado season.  In the summer, the area can be broiling and you never know when a winter storm will produce a sheet of ice up there.

• Watch out for water moccasins, copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, poison ivy, oak and sumac and tree bark scorpions.  Bug spray is a lifesaver in summer.  It really is wild out there!

• Make sure you know the rules of the refuge before heading out.  Game wardens do actively patrol the area and you don’t want your visit to end before it’s started.  

• To get further details for your trip, visit the Hagerman website and the Friends of Hagerman.