![]() | National Forests & Grasslands in TexasHunting Guide |
Hunting Guide - Keep safety in mind when hunting. Brochure for National Forests & Grasslands in Texas. Published by the U.S Forest Service (USFS).
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covered parks
United States
Department of
Agriculture
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas
Hunting Guide
2018-2019
Hunting Season
Texas is home to four
national forests that
stretch from the urban
landscape of Houston
to the Louisiana border,
and to two national
grasslands located north
of the Dallas-Fort Worth
metroplex.
White-tailed deer is the
game of choice in Texas
and there’s no better
place to bag that trophy
buck than in the national
forests and grasslands.
From mid-September
to the end of January is
prime hunting season
and all hunters and
those accompanying
them must wear daylight
fluorescent orange at
any time when hunting,
except when hunting
turkey or migratory
birds.
A minimum of 400
square inches of
fluorescent orange must
be visible (144 square
inches on both the chest
and back, and a daylight
fluorescent orange cap
or hat.)
Contents
Angelina Map................. 3
Davy Crockett Map......... 4
Sabine Map.................... 5
Sam Houston Map.......... 6
Caddo/LBJ Map.............. 7
Safety Notice.................. 8
Contacts......................... 8
Keep safety in mind when hunting
As gun deer hunting season
begins, U.S. Forest Service officials
are reminding hunters of guidelines
designed to make their hunting trips
to national forests safe and enjoyable,
while sustaining the health of the
forests.
Rains and flooding have damaged
many roads in the forests and
grasslands. While most roads have been
repaired, some remain impassable and
are closed. Check with the Ranger’s
Office to make sure your favorite hunter
camp is open.
Hunting season is one of the busiest
times in the forest, and safety should
always be a primary concern.
Visitors should check their
surroundings and be aware of the
possibility of falling limbs or trees.
Remember, being in the woods is great,
but you are responsible for your own
safety.
When strong winds kick up, head to
a clearing away from potentially falling
trees.
Place tents and park vehicles in areas
that will not be hit by falling trees and
limbs.
Some other safety precautions
include:
Much of the National Forests and
Grasslands in Texas are remote, and
medical assistance may not be readily
available. Cell phones do not work
in many areas of the National Forests
and Grasslands in Texas. Visitors
should take adequate food, water,
first aid supplies and other equipment
appropriate for the conditions and
expected weather.
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use
on the National Forests and Grasslands
in Texas is limited to the multiple-use
trail on the Sam Houston National
Forest. Off-road use of motorized
vehicles of any type is prohibited.
All hunters and those
accompanying them must wear daylight
fluorescent orange when hunting,
except when hunting at night or when
hunting turkey or migratory birds.
A minimum of 400 square inches of
fluorescent orange must be visible (144
square inches on both the chest and
back, and a daylight fluorescent orange
cap or hat.)
Anyone camping or hunting in
the Angelina, Davy Crockett, Sabine
or Sam Houston National Forest or the
Caddo National Grasslands must camp
in designated campsites or developed
recreation areas from Sept. 1 to Feb. 1.
When the danger of wildfires is
high, make sure all camp fires are in an
Be Aware,
Be Safe
Trees can fall without warning.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Wear blaze orange in the
woods.
Make sure campfires are
extinguished properly
Remember, your safety is your
responsibility.
area at least three feet in diameter
cleared of all flammable material, and
are properly extinguished.
Hunters using Wildlife
Management Areas (WMAs) must
purchase the $48 annual hunting
permit from Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department to hunt deer, turkey,
small game, waterfowl and feral hogs.
Wildlife Management Areas in the
National Forests and Grasslands in
Texas include the entire Sam Houston
National Forest, Alabama Creek WMA
in the Davy Crockett National Forest,
Bannister WMA in the Angelina
National Forest, Caddo WMA in the
Caddo National Grassland and the
Moore Plantation WMA in the Sabine
National Forest.
Regulations vary by county so
hunters should refer to the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Official Hunting Guide
and the Public Hunting Lands booklet
for details.
Portable deer stands are allowed
in national forests and grasslands but
are limited to 72 hours in one location.
To prevent damage to trees, the stands
must not be nailed to trees. When
hunters do not remove their deer stands,
it causes damage to forest land and
creates an expensive, time-consuming
cleanup.
Do not park near gates or in areas
that would block roads.
Visit the National Forests and
Grasslands in Texas website at www.
fs.usda.gov/texas and click on the
Hunter Camp Maps link for more
information.
Forest
Service
R8-RG 411
June 2018
2
National Forests & Grasslands in Texas
Fox squirrels also prefer older age timber stands;
however, they are generally found in the transition zone
between the bottomlands and uplands where there is
a mix of hardwood and pine, similar to turkey habitat.
They can also be found in older pine stands that contain
scattered nut-producing trees.
Large Game
Deer hunting is a challenging sport and white-tailed
deer can be found throughout the national forests. The
season will sometimes determine where you can find
small concentrations of deer, such as in hardwood stands
during acorn fall.
It is very importance to get to your shooting spot
undetected, and don’t think going in under the cover of
darkness will help. Make sure to use a creek or curtain of
forest to cover your entry.
Scattered populations of wild or feral hogs live in the
national forests. Although they are not classified as game
animals, they provide some limited hunting opportunities,
usually incidental to other types of hunting. Hogs are
usually found in bottomlands.
Deer Stands
Antlerless Deer Permits from TPWD
Each year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) inventories deer populations in the national
forests in Texas. As needed, the department includes
antlerless deer in the annual harvest to seek a balanced
population.
Designated areas and the number of permits issued
vary from year to year and the number of requests
usually exceeds the number of permits available.
Drawn Hunts for antlerless deer on the National
Forests in Texas are conducted by Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department.
For more information on antlerless deer permits,
contact your local TPWD office or visit www.tpwd.texas.
gov/drawnhunts for application information and process
instructions.
Fishing
Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Toledo Bend Reservoir and
Lake Conroe are known for excellent fishing but there
are other lakes to challenge anglers.
Some of the larger lakes in the national forests
include Red Hill, Ratcliff, Boykin Springs and Double
Lake. In the national grasslands, Coffee Mill, Crockett,
Fannin, Cottonwood and Black Creek Lake are favorites.
Windmill Lake on the LBJ Grasslands is designated
a fly fishing only lake. Most of these lakes also have
developed recreation areas.
Texas fishing regulations and license requirements
apply to all these water
Game in the Forest
Many game species find favorable habitat in the
national forests where timber stands range from recently
harvested areas to stands more than 100 years old.
The breaks or “edges” created where different
aged stands meet are preferred by many species; so,
the observant sportsman learns to recognize stand
characteristics and the types of game animals to be found
in them.
Game on the Grasslands
The national grasslands provide favorable habitat for
some of the small game animals found in the national
forests. There is no commercial timber harvesting on
the grasslands, and management is directed toward
maintaining a stable or relatively non-changing
vegetation type.
About 70 percent of the national grasslands is open
prairie; the rest is wooded. Most of the wooded areas are
in small clumps on the prairie and along the numerous
small streams and drainages.
Cottontail rabbits, doves, wild turkeys and bobwhite
quail are found throughout the grasslands and are usually
hunted in the prairies or along the edge of the woods.
Fox squirrels can be found in the woods adjacent to
creeks and drainages. Gray squirrels live in some of the
bottomland hardwoods of the Caddo National Grasslands.
Baiting
Baiting and hunting over baited areas to attract
wildlife is not allowed in the National Forests and
Grasslands in Texas.
How to Recognize National Forest Land
Turkey Hunting
The U.S. Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation
are partners in restocking wild turkeys on national forest
lands.
The Caddo National Grasslands allow shotgun-only
hunting in the spring.The LBJ National Grasslands has a
fall and spring season for the Rio Grande turkey. Check
the Texas Parks and Wildlife hunting guide for counties
in the national forests that allow spring hunting.
Turkey season is closed in Angelina and Jasper
counties.
Where to Find Birds
Mourning doves prefer to feed in areas of open, bare
ground with scattered stands of seed-producing weeds.
Such conditions are found in recently logged stands
where disturbed soil encourages weed growth. Bobwhite
quail feed in these same stands and in stands up to five
years after cutting, where grassy-weedy vegetation
has grown and provides cover. Quail also use adjacent
older timber stands for escape cover from predators and
hunters.
Woodcock are a fairly common but lightly-hunted
winter visitor to the national forests. They prefer dense
thickets for protection, but can be found in early morning
and late evening feeding in the same young stands as
quail.
Most waterfowl hunting associated with the national
forests is on the larger reservoirs that lie within or
adjacent to them. Sam Rayburn Reservoir is managed
by the Corps of Engineers, Toledo Bend Reservoir is
managed by Sabine River Authority, and Lake Conroe is
under management of the San Jacinto River Authority.
Contact those agencies concerning use of their waters,
including the construction of hunting blinds.
Some waterfowl hunting is available in river bottoms
during high water periods.
Deer stands may be used in the national forests and
grasslands, but they must be portable and cannot be of a
type that will deface or harm trees. Deer stands must be
removed within 72 hours of placing one in the general
forest or in a Wildlife Management Area. Since the
forests and grasslands are open to public hunting, hunters
cannot maintain exclusive rights to a hunting area.
Small Game
Cottontail rabbits can be found in the same habitat
as quail. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels are the most
popular small game animals in the national forests. Gray
squirrels prefer stands of bottomland hardwoods 40 years
of age or older. The trees in gray squirrel habitat must
be old enough to produce consistent crops of acorns and
similar food. Most major rivers and creeks that flow
through the national forest have these hardwood stands
within their floodplains.
Maps commonly show proclaimed national forest
boundaries. However, all land within this boundary is not
national forest land; some is privately owned. The land
shown in green on the maps indicate national forest land.
Red paint and signs mark the boundaries between
national forest land and private property. Recognition of
these markings and boundary signs helps the visitor to be
certain to stay on national forest land.
Visitors should comply with state law and the owner’s
rules when entering private land.
Entrance (portal) signs. These signs can be seen
along major roads entering the national forests, usually
on the first tract of government land encountered.
Generally, portal signs are not used on low traffic roads.
Welcome signs. These signs are located on or just
inside the boundaries or individual tracts of national
forest land where the road enters. The sign will be
oriented so that the land behind the sign is public land.
Generally, they are not used on dead-end or woods roads
or on small blocks of public land.
Upon entering woods on public land, welcome
signs will not be present and the visitor should rely on
property line markings and boundary signs.
Property line marking and
boundary signs. The boundaries
of individual national forest tracts
adjacent to other ownerships are
marked with brown and yellow
property boundary signs.
The small metal boundary
signs are fastened either to trees
or posts located on the boundary
line and at road crossings, and
the signs are placed so that public
land is behind the sign. Red paint
spots on trees define the boundary
line through woods.
While the majority of boundaries are identified and
posted, occasionally visitors may encounter an area
where signs have been vandalized or lines are not
marked. In these cases, visitors should be alert to avoid
accidently trespassing on private land.
www.fs.usda.gov/texas
3
Angelina National Forest
FM
27
7
400
GUY
BLOUNT
59
PR
ES
SHAWNEE
S
P
BOTTOM
INE
FLA
T
82
BO
OTS
M
SFA
Interpretive
Trail
OO
RE
16
69
Hunter Camps
1: NFSR 316A
3: NFSR 307A
4: NFSR 317
5: NFSR 349
6: NFSR 350C
7: NFSR 308
8: NFSR 312
9: NFSR 302
10: Sexton Pond
11: NFSR 303
12: NFSR 347 below Parker Point Road
13: NFSR 374
14: Dispersed camping (more than 400 yards
inside the wilderness boundary)
15: Attoyac Bayou (boat access camping only)
16: Angelina River (boat access camping only)
Designated Campgrounds
2: Townsend Park
17: Sandy Creek
18: Caney Creek Boat Launch
19: Boykin Springs
Legend
This map is a general guide and does not show exact boundaries or
all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her location in
the forest. Users should be aware that private property exists within
the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights.
Check with the District Ranger office where you hunt regarding special
regulations or boundary locations. Deer processing is not allowed in
Designated Campgrounds.
4
National Forests & Grasslands in Texas
Davy Crockett National Forest
17
"
n
Housto
Neches
Bluff
County
!
20
"
Weches
Big
Slough
Wilderness
19
"
16
"
15
"
To
Ratcliff Lake
Recreation Area
c
Na
og
d
h
oc
es
Four C Hiking Trail
13
"
^
!
To Lufkin
Ratcliff
!
12
"
Kennard
!
kett
To Croc
14
"
"
11
Piney Creek
Horse Trail
To
Cr
oc
ke
tt
To
Piney Creek
Horse Camp
Lu
n
fki
10
"
10
"
White Rock
Horse Camp (514D)
Apple
Springs
"9
!
"1
"4
Centerville
!
"8
"6
"
18
"3
"2
Alabama Creek
Wildlife
Management Area
"5
"7
Hunter Camps
1: NFSR 510A - Holly Bluff
2: FM 2262 - Slay Creek
3: NFSR 509 - Sandy Creek
4: NFSR 509C - Rock Hole
5: NFSR 568 - Longleaf
6: NFSR 571 - Piney
7: NFSR 586 - South Possum Walk
8: NFSR 557 - CLOSED
9: NFSR 516 - County Line Camp
10: NFSR 514
514D - White Rock Horse Camp no deer
processing allowed
12: NFSR 562 - Brushy Camp
14: NFSR 565 - Raines Morgan
15: NFSR 524A - Pine Springs
16: NFSR 518B - Merkel Creek
17: NFSR 511A - Neches Bluff
18: NFSR 539 - CLOSED
19: NFSR 512A - Pond Camp
20: NFSR 511 - Neches Bluff #2
Designated Campgrounds
11: NFSR 566 – Piney Creek Horse Camp
13: Ratcliff Recreation Area
r
To T
inity
Legend
Davy Legend
Hunter Camp
Hunter Camp (No Deer Processing)
Closed
9 Designated Campground
!
^ District Office
!
Four C (4C'S) Hiking Trail
Piney Creek Horse Trail
Wildlife Management Area
This map is a general guide and does not show exact boundaries or
all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her location in
Wilderness
the forest. Users should be aware that private property exists within
the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights.
County
Check with the District Ranger office where you hunt regarding special
regulations or boundary locations. Deer processing is not allowed in
USDA Forest Service
Designated Campgrounds.
www.fs.usda.gov/texas
5
Sabine National Forest
Hunter Camps
1: NFSR 137A
2: FM 3172
3: NFSR 165 - Oil Well Site
4: NFSR 100 - Haley’s Ferry Boat Ramp
5: NFSR 147 - Synders Camp
8: NFSR 131D - Patroon Bayou
10: NFSR 115
11: NFSR 152D - North Moore Plantation
12: NFSR 111 - Moore Plantation
13: NFSR 114D - Moore Plantation and Oil Well Site
14: NFSR 114H - South Moore Plantation
15: NFSR 109 C
16: NFSR 117F
17: NFSR 196
Designated Campgrounds
6: NFSR 132 - Ragtown Recreation Area
7: FM 2694 - Boles Field
9: NFSR 120 - Lakeview
18: FM 3382 - Indian Mounds
19: SH 87 - Willow Oak
84
FM
13
9
137
le
To
1
7
do
rv
se
Re
nd 2
Be FM 317
2
9
FM 13
17
FM 4
7
BOLES
FIELD
165
FM 2694
Shelbyville
FM 2694
Hunter Camp
9 Designated Campground
!
y Boat Ramp
!
^ DistrictOffice
!
Trail Between the Lakes
Wildlife Management Area
Wilderness
Toledo Bend Reservoir
USDA Forest Service
4 HALEY'S
100
3
Legend
r
oi
Center
87
FERRY
96
5
2
CR
FM 3184
62
147
132
5
RAGTOWN 6
126
FM 139
Patroon
FM
2
261
FM 226
1
87
EAST
HAMILTON
8
131D
San
Augustine
21
87
21
21
Milam
103
FM 83
yo
FM
83
dS
10
87
Trail Between The Lakes
3
13
9
87
12
16
19
117F
FM 201
01
FM 2
28
FM 29
LAKEVIEW
111
14
114
Moore 114H
Plantation
WMA
INDIAN
MOUNDS
15
11
FM 2426
18
117
WILLOW
OAK
17
196
8
FM
82
uR
Indian
Mounds
Wilderness
3
FM 3
87
Ba
Hemphill
184
152
96
87exact boundaries
This map is a general guide and does not show
or all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her
location in the forest. Users should be aware that private
property exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please
respect our neighbors’ rights. Check with the District Ranger
office where you hunt regarding special regulations or boundary
locations. Deer processing is not allowed in Designated
Campgrounds.
National Forests & Grasslands in Texas
6
Sam Houston National Forest
Legend
Hunter Camp
Hunter Camp (No Deer Processing)
9 Designated Campground
!
! LSHT (No Deer Processing)
F
! Boat Ramp
y
^ District Office
!
Multi-UseTrail
Trail
Scenic Area
Wilderness
Lake Conroe
USDA Forest Service
This map is a general guide and does not show exact boundaries or
all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her location in
the forest. Users should be aware that private property exists within
the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights.
Check with the District Ranger office where you hunt regarding
special regulations or boundary locations. Deer processing is not
allowed in Designated Campgrounds.
Hunter camps
2: NFSR 215 - Stubblefield Overflow
3: NFSR 234
4: Four Notch
5: NFSR 202 - Big Woods
6: NFSR 228 - Neblett Creek
7: NFSR 274 - Shell Oil Road
8: NFSR 220
9: NFSR 217-A
10: NFSR 208-H
Designated Campgrounds
1: NFSR 271 – Kelly’s Pond
11: Cagle Recreation Area
12: Stubblefield Recreation Area
13: Double Lake Recreation Area
Designated Hiking Camps
14-25: Lone Star Hiking Trail
www.fs.usda.gov/texas
7
Caddo National Grasslands
Bois d’Arc Unit
Monkstown
7
FM 273
8
6
FM 2029
FM 409
FM 100
CR
2030 P34
CR 2415
24
20
554
CR
Fannin
Telephone
2
FM
CR
Lake 2035
9
4
3
2
Coffee Mill Lake
FM 2216
Lake
Crockett
5
1
FM 1396
Ladonia Unit
Legend
Hunter Camp
Hunter Camp (No Deer Processing)
9 Designated Campground
!
Bois d'Arc Multi-Use Trail
USDA Forest Service
91
0
CR
3
CR
39 05
Hunter Camps
1: CR 2285
4: Coffee Mill Lake Campground
5: CR2700
6: FM 409 Horse Camp
7: CR 2325
8: CR 2415
9: FM 409
10: CR 3915
Designated Campgrounds
2: West Lake Crockett Campground
No deer processing allowed
3: East Lake Crockett
CR 3925
34
10
CR 3900
FM 68
34
CR 3355
CR 3395
CR 3930
LBJ National Grasslands
Multi-Use Trail
W
675
90
CR
2
90
0
2360
30 CR
CR
2175
73
0
61
Bickley
Pond
FM
7
93
6
FM 1655
91
6
90
CR 2
6
55
16
FM
26
CR
CR 1591
50
10
CR 2175
26
FM 1655
380
18
r Rd
FM
Black
Creek
Lake
tu
Deca
928
287
CR
922
CR 2391
Clear
Lake
FM 1810
380
Dan
Pond
24
FM
999
Decatur Rd
Chicken
Lake
Rucker
Cottonwood Pond
Lake
Tadra Point
CR
2590
CR 1480
90
0A
R
d C
Rhodes
Lake
R
969
Windmill
Lake
iry
e
is
287
101
a
rD
e
rk
Pa2 CR
77
7
Legend
! Campground
9
Ë Horse Camp
!
^ District Office
!
Multi-Use Trail
USDA Forest Service
These maps are a general guide and does
not show exact boundaries or all roads. It is
the user’s responsibility to know his or her
location in the grasslands. Users should be
aware that private property exists within the
Forest Service boundary. Please respect our
neighbors’ rights. Check with the District
Ranger office where you hunt regarding
special regulations or boundary locations.
Deer processing is not allowed in Designated
Campgrounds.
8
National Forests & Grasslands in Texas
Contact Us
www.fs.usda.gov/texas
n
n
n
Angelina
National Forest
111 Walnut Ridge Road
Zavalla, TX 75980
936-897-1068
n
n
n
Davy Crockett
National Forest
18551 Hwy 7 East
Kennard, TX 75847
936-655-2299
n
n
n
Sabine
National Forest
5050 Hwy 21 East
Hemphill, TX 75948
409-625-1940
Toll Free 866-235-1750
n
n
n
Sam Houston
National Forest
394 FM 1375 West
New Waverly, TX 77358
936-344-6205
Toll Free 888-361-6908
n
n
n
Caddo/LBJ
National Grasslands
1400 North Hwy. 287
Decatur, TX 76234
940-627-5475
n
n
n
Forest Supervisor’s
Office
National Forests &
Grasslands in Texas
2221 North Raguet St.
Lufkin, TX 75904
936-639-8501
For TTY: call 711 to be
connected to a Forest
Service number
n
n
n
Sam Rayburn Reservoir
U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers
Route 3, Box 486
Jasper, TX 75951
409-384-5716
n
n
n
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Sabine River Authority
Route 1, Box 270
Burkeville, TX 75932
409-565-2273
n
n
n
Texas Parks & Wildlife
Department
Antlerless Deer
Permit Questions
936-569-8547
District Office
Rt. 2 Box 535
Jasper, TX 75951
409-384-9572
District Office
2122 Old Henderson Hwy.
Tyler, TX 75702
903-593-5077
Be Aware,
Be Safe
Trees can fall without warning.
Be aware of your surroundings.
Wear blaze orange in the
woods.
Make sure campfires are
extinguished properly
Remember, your safety is your
responsibility.
Safety Notice
All hunters and those accompanying them
must wear daylight fluorescent orange at any
time when hunting, except when hunting
turkey or migratory birds.
A minimum of 400 square inches of
fluorescent orange must be visible (144
square inches on both the chest and back,
and a daylight fluorescent orange cap or hat.)
All camping in the Angelina, Davy
Crockett, Sabine or Sam Houston National
Forest or the Caddo National Grasslands
must be in designated campsites or
developed recreation areas from Sept. 15
through Feb. 1.
Hunters using the wildlife management
areas (WMAs) are required to have the $48
annual hunting permit to hunt deer, turkey,
small game, waterfowl and feral hogs.
“It’s the hunter’s responsibility to know
the regulations and game limits while
hunting in national forests and grasslands,”
said Chris Crain, U.S. Forest Service patrol
captain. “Hunters should check bag limits
for the county where they are hunting and
refer to this year’s hunting booklets for
information to avoid citations. No baiting
for wildlife or hunting over baited areas
is allowed on the National Forests and
Grasslands in Texas.”
Portable deer stands are allowed in
national forests and grasslands and are
limited to 72 hours in one location. To
prevent damage to trees, the stands must
not be nailed to trees. When hunters fail to
remove their deer stands, it causes damage
to forest land and creates an expensive, timeconsuming cleanup.
Vehicles should not be parked near gates
or in areas that would impede traffic and
block roads.
For additional information on this year’s
hunting season, please contact the Forest
Service District Ranger offices.
Hunters may also visit the National
Forests and Grasslands in Texas website
at www.fs.fed.usda.gov/texas and review
information under the “Hunting 2012-2013”
link.
Wildlife Management Areas
Five Wildlife Management Areas
(WMAs) are designated in the National
Forests and Grasslands in Texas in
cooperation with the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department.
Hunting is allowed in WMAs but the rules
and regulations are slightly different and
hunters must have the appropriate hunting
permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department or any location that sells state
hunting license. Be aware of boundaries.
The WMAs are:
Angelina National Forest
Bannister
25,658 acres
Davy Crockett National Forest
Alabama Creek
14,561 acres
Sabine National Forest
Moore Plantation
26,455 acres
Caddo National Grassland
Caddo
16,150 acres
Sam Houston National Forest
Sam Houston
162,984 acres
Off-Highway Vehicles
Off-highway vehicles are only allowed on
designated trails.
The Sam Houston National Forest has the
only designated OHV trail.
Camping
Developed recreation areas offer conveniences such as showers, restrooms and picnic facilities. Primitive camping is allowed
except in designated scenic areas or where
otherwise prohibited. During hunting season,
camping is permitted only in designated
hunter camps or in developed recreation areas. Contact ranger offices for more information on camp locations.
Maps
Maps and general information about the
National Forests and Grasslands in Texas can
be obtained from ranger offices or the forest
supervisor’s office. Order forms are available
on the Web at: www.fs.usda.gov/texas and
click on the maps link. Or call 936-639-8501
for information.
Wilderness Areas
Wilderness areas are managed to
protect their character and provide great
opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing,
hiking and other recreational activities.
Roads in wilderness areas are closed and
motorized vehicles and equipment are
prohibited.
The five wilderness areas in the National
Forests in Texas are:
Angelina National Forest
Turkey Hill
5,473 acres
Upland Island
13,331 acres
Davy Crockett National Forest
Big Slough
3,639 acres
Sabine National Forest
Indian Mounds
12,369 acres
Sam Houston National Forest
Little Lake Creek
3,855 acres
Specific information, regulations,
permit applications and maps of Wildlife
Management Areas are available from the
U.S. Forest Service or the Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department.
Know the Rules
Hunting rules and regulations are issued
by the State of Texas on a county-by-county
basis. Regulation booklets are available
where hunting licenses are sold and at Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department offices. The
rules in this guide are general in scope.
Contact district ranger offices for more
detailed, local rules and regulations.
Target Practice
It is legal to target shoot in the general
forest, with the exception of the Caddo-LBJ
National Grasslands, as long as you do not
shoot from, down, or across a road; you have
a sufficient backstop (not a live tree); and
pick up your trash (targets, empty shells,
etc.) when you leave. Target shooting is
prohibited in the Wildlife Management Areas
on all units of the NFGT: Angelina NF, Davy
Crockett NF, Sabine NF, Sam Houston NF,
Caddo-LBJ NG.
Frequently Asked Questions
For more information on hunting in
Texas, visit
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/hunting-faq
Snakes and Insects
Copperhead, Canebreak rattlesnake,
Cottonmouth, Coral and Pigmy rattlesnake
are poisonous snakes native to this area.
Insect repellant is recommended to protect
against mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers.
Leave No Trace
When you leave your camp, please be
courteous and take your trash with you.
The Leave No Trace principles are:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
In accordance with Federal civil rights law
and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil
rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its
Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs
are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender
identity (including gender expression), sexual
orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/
parental status, income derived from a public
assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal
or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any
program or activity conducted or funded by USDA
(not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies
and complaint filing deadlines vary by program
or incident. Persons with disabilities who require
alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape,
American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the
responsible Agency or USDA’s TARGET Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA
through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 8778339. Additionally, program information may be
made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint,
complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at www.
ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and
at any USDA office or write a letter addressed
to USDA and provide in the letter all of the
information requested in the form. To request a
copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.
Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C.
20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email:
program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal
opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
R8-RG 411
June 2018