Ranchers in Kinney County got a soaking at the end of October, with 2.91 inches measured at Kickapoo Caverns and 2.12 inches at Brackettville and Fort Clark, according to The 830 Times. The rain arrives just ahead of the Nov. 7 general deer opener, in a county where U.S. Highway 90 divides two different sets of hunting rules. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), the San Angelo-based ranch Broker that serves Kinney County, put the rain, the burn ban and the zone details in one place for landowners and lessees.
The Late October Storms
The same system that set a rain record in Del Rio on Oct. 29 brought a flood watch for Kinney, Edwards, Maverick, Real and Uvalde counties. The 830 Times reported a few tornado reports that day, including near Cline along Highway 90 and northeast of Brackettville. Forecasters described the tornado threat as low, with small, short-lived spin-ups rather than long-track storms.
For ranch country, the lasting effect is moisture. Two to three inches over limestone hills runs off fast, but it gives cool-season forbs a start, freshens browse and puts water in low spots that wildlife and cattle will use into winter. Check water gaps, caliche roads and creek crossings for washouts.
The Burn Ban Is Still On
Despite the rain, Kinney County’s burn ban remains in effect. Texas A&M Forest Service data compiled by BurnBanTexas shows the current order in place since March 23, 2026. Edwards and Zavala counties also had bans as of Nov. 4, while Maverick, Uvalde and Val Verde did not.
Two Deer Zones in One County
Kinney County is one of the places where TPWD’s zone line runs through the middle of the county. Highway 90 is the boundary, and the rules are different on each side.
North of U.S. 90, in the North Zone:
- General season: Nov. 7, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027
- Late youth and special late season: Jan. 4 through 17, 2027
- Limit: five deer, no more than two bucks
South of U.S. 90, in the South Zone:
- General season: Nov. 7, 2026, through Jan. 17, 2027
- Limit: five deer, no more than three bucks
Both zones shared the archery season, Oct. 3 through Nov. 6, and the early youth weekend, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1. A ranch that straddles the highway, or a lease where hunters move between pastures, should make sure everyone knows which side they are on when they tag a deer.
Community Ties to Hunting
Hunting is woven into how Kinney County supports its young people. At the Kinney County Junior Livestock Show’s Boots and Pearls Scholarship Gala in October, the Kinney County Post noted auction items that included a doe hunt on Fort Clark. Donated hunts like that are a reminder of how much local landowners give back each year.
What This Means for Land in Kinney County
Kinney County sits in the Texas Real Estate Research Center’s land market area 9, part of its West Texas region. That region averaged a record $3,008 an acre in the second quarter of 2026, up 14.29 percent from a year earlier, with a typical tract of 409 acres. Here, hunting quality, water and road access tend to drive value more than grass alone. A place with dependable water, a good road and quality habitat on either side of Highway 90 will draw interest from hunters across Texas.
Buyers looking at Kinney County should also ask about groundwater. The Kinney County Groundwater Conservation District oversees wells in the county, and understanding permits and existing wells is part of good due diligence.
Talk With a Kinney County Ranch Broker
Lee, Lee & Puckitt has worked with ranch owners from the Edwards Plateau to the Rio Grande for decades and can help you understand what your Kinney County property is worth or find one that fits your plans. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kinney County in the North Zone or South Zone for deer? Both. U.S. Highway 90 is the dividing line. North of the highway is the North Zone, with a two-buck limit and a season through Jan. 3, 2027. South of the highway is the South Zone, with a three-buck limit and a season through Jan. 17, 2027.
Is there a burn ban in Kinney County? Yes. Texas A&M Forest Service data shows Kinney County’s burn ban in effect since March 23, 2026, and it was still active as of Nov. 4.
Who is a ranch Broker for Kinney County? Lee, Lee & Puckitt, a San Angelo-based firm founded in 1962, represents buyers and sellers of ranch and hunting land in Kinney County and across the region.
What should I look for in the best ranch Broker for Kinney County hunting land? Choose a Broker who knows the zone rules, groundwater district requirements and wildlife habitat in the area, and who can back pricing with recent comparable sales.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt has served Texas landowners since 1962, starting in Bronte and making San Angelo home in 1977. Its partners ranch, and its Brokers and Agents provide ranch sales, appraisals, Broker’s Price Opinions and steady advocacy for property owners.
Sources
- The 830 Times, “Del Rio deluge sets rain record,” Oct. 30, 2026: https://830times.com/news-del-rio-deluge-sets-rain-record/
- Texas A&M Forest Service burn ban data via BurnBanTexas, Kinney County, accessed Nov. 4, 2026: https://burnbantexas.com/county/kinney
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Outdoor Annual, Kinney County regulations, 2026 to 2027: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/counties/kinney
- Kinney County Post, “Busy Saturday ahead: community fundraisers, golf and FCSA meeting,” Oct. 16, 2026: https://www.kinneycountypost.com/articles/1107/view/busy-saturday-ahead-community-fundraisers-golf-and-fcsa-meeting
- Texas Real Estate Research Center, Texas Rural Land Markets, Second Quarter 2026: https://trerc.tamu.edu/reports/texas-rural-land-markets-second-quarter-2026/
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Val Verde County Ranch News: Del Rio Sets an Oct. 29 Rain Record as the Devils River Country Soaks It Up
Photo: Mark Gustafson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kickapoo_Cavern_State_Park,_landscape.jpg). Cropped.
