Public land that may allow hunting in Texas
113 named public land units in Texas from PAD-US 4.1: 50 state wildlife & game areas, 15 forests & grasslands, 17 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 26 lake & reservoir project lands, 2 state trust / land board tracts, 2 other public land units. The largest are Sam Houston National Forest, Davy Crockett National Forest, Sabine National Forest.
Regulations & licenses: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (hunting information) before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.
All 113 areas, largest first
| Area | Acres (approx.) | Manager | Access | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston National Forest National Forest land | 163,234 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | San Jacinto County, Walker County + 1 more |
| Davy Crockett National Forest National Forest land | 161,164 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Houston County, Trinity County |
| Sabine National Forest National Forest land | 160,880 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Sabine County, Shelby County + 2 more |
| Angelina National Forest National Forest land | 154,260 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | San Augustine County, Angelina County + 2 more |
| Sam Rayburn Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 117,064 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | San Augustine County, Angelina County + 3 more |
| Black Gap Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 104,873 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Brewster County |
| Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 100,406 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Cameron County, Willacy County |
| Aransas National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 90,862 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Aransas County, Calhoun County + 1 more |
| Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 90,013 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Cameron County, Hidalgo County + 2 more |
| Wright Patman Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 81,028 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Bowie County, Cass County |
| Rita Blanca National Grassland National Grassland | 77,369 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Dallam County |
| San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 67,662 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Brazoria County, Matagorda County + 2 more |
| Mcfaddin National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 59,819 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Jefferson County, Chambers County + 1 more |
| Amistad National Recreation Area National Recreation Area | 54,976 | National Park Service | Open access | Val Verde County |
| Ray Roberts Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 47,237 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Denton County, Cooke County + 1 more |
| Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 47,034 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Brazoria County |
| Lewisville Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 46,306 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Denton County |
| Whitney Point Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 45,108 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Hill County, Bosque County |
| Lake Meredith National Recreation Area National Recreation Area | 40,840 | National Park Service | Open access | Potter County, Moore County + 1 more |
| Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 37,813 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Chambers County, Galveston County |
| Lavon Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 37,651 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Collin County |
| Cooper Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 32,026 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Delta County, Hopkins County |
| Somerville Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 29,909 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Burleson County, Washington County + 1 more |
| Lake O' The Pines Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 29,420 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Marion County, Upshur County + 2 more |
| Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 29,069 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Liberty County |
| Matador Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 28,281 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Cottle County |
| Moore Plantation Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 26,258 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Sabine County |
| Bannister Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 25,952 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | San Augustine County |
| Belton Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 25,880 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Bell County, Coryell County |
| J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 25,659 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Jefferson County |
| White Oak Creek Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 25,603 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Morris County, Bowie County + 2 more |
| Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 23,060 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Brewster County |
| Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 21,707 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Travis County, Burnet County + 1 more |
| Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland National Grassland | 20,068 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Wise County |
| Cooper Reservoir Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 18,393 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Delta County, Hopkins County |
| O.C. Fisher Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 17,970 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Tom Green County |
| Caddo National Grassland National Grassland | 17,726 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Fannin County |
| Yoakum Dunes Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 15,790 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Yoakum County, Cochran County + 1 more |
| Grapevine Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 15,639 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Denton County, Tarrant County |
| Waco Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 15,432 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | McLennan County |
| Joe Pool Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 15,225 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Dallas County, Tarrant County + 1 more |
| Stillhouse Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 15,217 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Bell County |
| Chaparral Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 15,199 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Dimmit County, La Salle County |
| Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 14,764 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Brazoria County |
| Alabama Creek Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 14,633 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Trinity County |
| Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 14,242 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Freestone County, Navarro County |
| Lake Texana Bureau of Reclamation project land | 13,776 | Bureau of Reclamation | Open access | Jackson County |
| Granger Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 13,594 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Williamson County |
| Caddo National Grassland-Bois D'arc State wildlife / game area | 13,203 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Open access | Fannin County |
| Angelina Neches/Dam Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 12,983 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Jasper County, Tyler County |
| BLM Oklahoma Field Office Public Lands BLM public land | 11,998 | Bureau of Land Management | Open access | Potter County |
| Canyon Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 11,604 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Comal County |
| Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 11,069 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Anderson County |
| Sierra Diablo Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 11,047 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Culberson County, Hudspeth County |
| Navarro Mills Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 11,032 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Navarro County, Hill County |
| Twin Buttes Reservoir Bureau of Reclamation project land | 10,668 | Bureau of Reclamation | Open access | Tom Green County |
| Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 10,583 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Colorado County, Austin County |
| Aquilla Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 10,309 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Hill County |
| Neches River National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 9,379 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Cherokee County, Anderson County |
| Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 9,268 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Marion County, Harrison County |
| Proctor Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 9,120 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Comanche County |
| Pat Mayse Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 9,018 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Lamar County |
| Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 8,372 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Jefferson County |
| Benbrook Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 8,161 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Tarrant County |
| Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 7,785 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Harrison County |
| Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 7,737 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Randall County |
| Bardwell Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 7,521 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Ellis County |
| Mad Island Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 7,276 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Matagorda County |
| Guadalupe Delta Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 7,228 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Calhoun County, Refugio County + 1 more |
| Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 6,795 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Orange County |
| Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 6,557 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Bailey County, Dickens County |
| Kerr Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 6,519 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Kerr County |
| Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 6,344 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Hemphill County, Lipscomb County |
| Turkey Creek Forest Legacy Project State forest | 6,065 | State: other or unknown agency | Open access | Tyler County, Hardin County |
| Old Sabine Bottom Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 5,863 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Smith County |
| Roger R Fawcett Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 5,453 | State: park and recreation agency | Restricted access | Palo Pinto County |
| Matagorda Peninsula State trust / land board land | 5,368 | State: land board | Restricted access | Matagorda County |
| Georgetown Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 5,332 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Williamson County |
| Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 5,316 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Mason County |
| Tony Houseman/ Blue Elbow Swamp Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 4,331 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Orange County |
| Big Boggy National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 4,224 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Matagorda County |
| Big Lake Bottom Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 3,813 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Anderson County |
| North Padre Island State trust / land board land | 3,750 | State: land board | Restricted access | Kleberg County |
| Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 3,669 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Brazoria County |
| Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 3,533 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Cameron County, Hidalgo County + 2 more |
| Hords Creek Recreation Area Army Corps of Engineers project land | 2,947 | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers | Open access | Coleman County |
| Alazan Bayou Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,769 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Nacogdoches County, Angelina County |
| North Toledo Bend Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,658 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Shelby County |
| Caddo National Grassland-Ladonia State wildlife / game area | 2,631 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Open access | Fannin County |
| I.D. FairChild State Forest State forest | 2,298 | Not recorded | Open access | Cherokee County |
| Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge National Wildlife Refuge | 2,112 | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Restricted access | Hidalgo County |
| Tawakoni Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 2,108 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Hunt County, Van Zandt County |
| McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,974 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Brown County |
| E.O. Siecke State Forest State forest | 1,807 | Not recorded | Open access | Newton County |
| W. Goodrich Jones State Forest State forest | 1,716 | Not recorded | Open access | Montgomery County |
| Keechi Creek Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,492 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Leon County |
| McClellan Creek National Grassland National Grassland | 1,408 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Gray County |
| Welder Flats Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 1,382 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Calhoun County |
| Playa Lakes Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 944 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Donley County, Castro County |
| John Henry Kirby Memorial State Forest State forest | 607 | Not recorded | Restricted access | Tyler County |
| Black Kettle National Grassland National Grassland | 576 | U.S. Forest Service (USDA) | Open access | Hemphill County |
| Paul N. Masterson Memorial State Forest State forest | 520 | Not recorded | Open access | Jasper County |
| Tony Houseman Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 291 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Orange County |
| East Texas Conservation Center State wildlife / game area | 256 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Jasper County |
| D.R. Wintermann Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 253 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Wharton County |
| Goodhorse State wildlife / game area | 230 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Bexar County |
| Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 211 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Chambers County |
| Cedar Creek Islands Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 159 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Kaufman County, Henderson County |
| Atkinson Island Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 149 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Harris County, Chambers County |
| Coastal Conservation Association Marine Development Center State wildlife / game area | 108 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Nueces County |
| Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center State wildlife / game area | 106 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Henderson County |
| M. O. Neasloney Wildlife Management Area State wildlife / game area | 99 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Gonzales County |
| Sea Center Texas State wildlife / game area | 70 | State: fish and wildlife agency | Restricted access | Brazoria County |
Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Texas. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.
Browse by county
- Anderson County
- Angelina County
- Brazoria County
- Calhoun County
- Cameron County
- Chambers County
- Denton County
- Fannin County
- Hidalgo County
- Hill County
- Jasper County
- Jefferson County
- Matagorda County
- Nacogdoches County
- Orange County
- Sabine County
- San Augustine County
- Tarrant County
- Tyler County
- Willacy County
- Williamson County