A late-October cloudburst briefly put northwestern Sterling County under a flood advisory, and the county enters deer season without a burn ban. The National Weather Service San Angelo office warned of minor flooding on Oct. 29 after radar showed 1 to 2 inches of rain over rural ground northwest of Sterling City, and Texas A&M Forest Service data showed no countywide burn ban as of early November. Lee, Lee & Puckitt (LLP Ranchland), a San Angelo-based ranch Broker that works Sterling County, summarized what that moisture and the Nov. 7 opener mean for local landowners.
What the Flood Advisory Covered
At 3:48 p.m. CDT on Thursday, Oct. 29, NWS San Angelo issued a flood advisory for northwestern Sterling County until 6:45 p.m. The office said flooding from excessive rainfall was expected in low-lying and poor-drainage areas, with 1 to 2 inches already down and mainly rural locations affected. The standard “turn around, don’t drown” advice applied to ranch roads that can pond quickly after short, heavy cells.
That kind of hit does not refill every stock tank in the county, but it can soften dust, push runoff into draws and delay outdoor burning plans for a few days. West Texas fall moisture often arrives in uneven pockets, so a flood advisory in one corner of Sterling County does not mean every pasture saw the same rain.
No County Burn Ban for Now
BurnBanTexas, using Texas A&M Forest Service feeds, showed Sterling County without a countywide burn ban as of Nov. 2 and again in early November checks. Neighboring Reagan, Glasscock and Tom Green were under bans on Nov. 5, while Irion was not.
No county ban still leaves statewide TCEQ outdoor burning rules in place. Watch wind and humidity before lighting piles, especially with hunters arriving for opening weekend. Keep water and tools ready, and confirm any city or fire-district limits before you burn.
Deer Season Near Sterling City
Sterling County is in TPWD’s North Zone for white-tailed deer. Archery ran Oct. 3 through Nov. 6. General season opens Nov. 7, 2026, and runs through Jan. 3, 2027, with a bag of five deer, no more than two bucks. Youth-only windows include Oct. 30 through Nov. 1 and Jan. 4 through 17. Quail season opened Nov. 1.
Landowners should brief guests on which pastures took the Oct. 29 rain, which ranch roads soft after a cell, and where carcass cleaning is allowed. A short written note on gates and livestock goes a long way when new hunters show up at dark.
Ranch Real Estate Snapshot
Sterling County sits close to San Angelo in the Concho country that Lee, Lee & Puckitt covers year-round. West Texas regional averages from the Texas Real Estate Research Center put second-quarter 2026 prices near $2,947 an acre, up 12.9 percent year over year, but a specific ranch north of Sterling City will trade on water, access, wildlife and improvements, not the regional headline alone.
Sellers heading into hunting season often see more lookers. Buyers should ask about recent rainfall on the place, tank levels and any pending brush work now that burning is not blocked by a county order.
Talk With a Sterling County Ranch Broker
For a sale, purchase or estate question in Sterling County, Lee, Lee & Puckitt can pull current comps and talk through demand. Call 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a burn ban in Sterling County right now? No. As of early November 2026, Texas A&M Forest Service data showed no countywide burn ban. Statewide TCEQ outdoor burning rules still apply, so check conditions before you burn.
Did Sterling County get late-October rain? Yes. NWS San Angelo issued a flood advisory for northwestern Sterling County on Oct. 29 after 1 to 2 inches of rain in a short window, with minor flooding possible in low-lying areas.
Who is a ranch Broker for Sterling County? Lee, Lee & Puckitt, based in San Angelo, has represented ranch buyers and sellers across West Texas since 1962 and works Sterling County properties around Sterling City.
How do I choose the best ranch Broker for Sterling County land? Choose a Broker with closed rural sales near the Concho country, practical knowledge of water, wildlife and access, and appraisals or Broker’s Price Opinions backed by local data.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
From a Bronte start in 1962 to San Angelo since 1977, Lee, Lee & Puckitt has stayed a ranch brokerage run by ranchers. The firm’s Brokers and Agents handle sales, appraisals and Broker’s Price Opinions and speak up for landowners.
Sources
- National Weather Service San Angelo, Flood Advisory for northwestern Sterling County, Oct. 29, 2026: https://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?format=CI&glossary=0&issuedby=SJT&product=FLS&site=TOP&version=6
- Texas A&M Forest Service burn ban data via BurnBanTexas, Sterling County, accessed Nov. 5, 2026: https://burnbantexas.com/county/sterling
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Outdoor Annual, Sterling County regulations, 2026 to 2027: https://tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/regs/counties/sterling
- Texas Real Estate Research Center, “Rural Land: Has the Texas Rural Land Market Hit a Plateau?,” Oct. 28, 2026: https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/rural-land-has-the-texas-rural-land-market-hit-a-plateau/
- Related: West Texas and Hill Country listings, Land appraisals, Coke County Ranch News: E.V. Spence Reservoir Near Robert Lee Sits Below 10 Percent, Irion County Ranch News: Getting Mertzon Livestock and Hay Ready for Heavy Rain
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sterling_County_Texas_Courthouse_2016.jpg). Cropped.
