Texas Public Land & WMA Hunting 2026: APH Permit, Drawn Hunts & Best Areas

The Texas Public Hunting Landscape

Texas is 97% privately owned — the highest percentage of any US state. This reality makes public land hunting especially valuable and competitive. But the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has built one of the most comprehensive public hunting programs in the country, offering access to over 1 million acres across more than 180 hunting areas.

Understanding the system is key to success. Texas public land hunting operates through three main access channels:

1. Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit — Walk-in access to WMAs and other public lands
2. Drawn Hunts — Premium managed hunts awarded by lottery
3. National Forests — Free public access on federal lands in East Texas

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The Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit

The APH permit is the single most important purchase for any DIY public land hunter in Texas.

What You Get

Who Needs It?

• All hunters 17 and older on TPWD-managed public hunting lands
• Adult supervisors of youth hunters on public land
• Applicants for E-Postcard hunts and USFS antlerless deer permits

Who Doesn't Need It?

• Youth under 17 hunting with a permitted adult (free access)
• Hunters on national forest land (managed by USDA Forest Service, not TPWD)
• Those only seeking recreational access can buy the Limited Public Use (LPU) Permit ($12) for fishing, hiking, and camping

How to Buy

Purchase at any TPWD office, license vendor (Walmart, Academy, Bass Pro), online at TPWD's website, or by phone at 1-800-895-4248. Permit holders receive a Map Booklet detailing available properties, facilities, rules, and hunting schedules.

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Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) — Top Picks by Species

Best WMAs for Deer Hunting

Kerr WMA — Hill Country (Kerr County)

Widely considered the crown jewel of Texas public land deer hunting. Located at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Guadalupe River, Kerr WMA offers classic Hill Country habitat of liveoak, juniper, and native grasses.

• Acreage: 6,493 acres
• Target species: White-tailed deer (managed herd with excellent genetics)
• Access: APH permit + special drawn hunts for rifle season
• What makes it special: TPWD's flagship deer research station; actively managed for trophy-quality bucks
• Also available: Rio Grande turkey (outstanding spring hunting), hogs

Black Gap WMA — Trans-Pecos (Brewster County)

One of Texas's largest and most remote WMAs, Black Gap offers a true wilderness hunting experience in the Chihuahuan Desert near Big Bend.

• Acreage: 103,000 acres
• Target species: Mule deer, white-tailed deer (Coues subspecies), javelina, dove, quail
• Access: Drawn hunts for mule deer; APH for small game
• What makes it special: One of the few public land mule deer opportunities in Texas

Chaparral WMA — South Texas (La Salle/Dimmit Counties)

The best public access to South Texas brush country deer habitat, Chaparral hosts quality white-tailed deer in classic sendero-and-brush terrain.

• Acreage: 15,200 acres
• Target species: White-tailed deer, javelina, feral hog, dove, quail
• Access: Drawn hunts for deer; APH for other species
• What makes it special: Provides rare public access to the famous South Texas deer genetics pipeline

Matador WMA — Rolling Plains (Cottle County)

Excellent Rolling Plains habitat with river bottoms, mesquite grasslands, and agricultural edges.

• Acreage: 28,183 acres
• Target species: White-tailed deer, feral hogs, quail, dove, turkey
• Access: APH permit for general season; drawn hunts for premium opportunities
• What makes it special: Large acreage means less crowding; strong quail populations

Best WMAs for Turkey Hunting

Best WMAs for Waterfowl

Best WMAs for Quail & Dove

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National Forests — Free Public Hunting

Texas has four national forests managed by the USDA Forest Service, offering free public hunting access with a valid Texas hunting license. No APH permit is needed.

Sam Houston National Forest

• Location: Walker, San Jacinto, Montgomery Counties (north of Houston)
• Acreage: 163,037 acres
• Key species: White-tailed deer, feral hog, Eastern turkey, squirrel, rabbit
• Best for: The best public land Eastern turkey hunting in Texas; excellent DIY deer hunting
• Access: Free with valid hunting license; USFS antlerless deer permits available through TPWD drawn system

Davy Crockett National Forest

• Location: Houston, Trinity Counties (between Lufkin and Crockett)
• Acreage: 161,497 acres
• Key species: White-tailed deer, feral hog, Eastern turkey, squirrel
• Best for: Lower pressure than Sam Houston; good food plots and wildlife openings
• Access: Free with valid hunting license

Angelina National Forest

• Location: Angelina, San Augustine, Nacogdoches, Jasper Counties
• Acreage: 153,179 acres
• Key species: White-tailed deer, feral hog, squirrel
• Best for: Remote, low-pressure piney woods hunting
• Access: Free with valid hunting license

Sabine National Forest

• Location: Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Jasper Counties
• Acreage: 160,656 acres
• Key species: White-tailed deer, feral hog, squirrel
• Best for: The most remote and least-hunted national forest in Texas
• Access: Free with valid hunting license

Total national forest acreage: 638,369 acres of free public hunting land. Combined, Texas's national forests offer more free hunting access than many entire state public hunting programs.

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Drawn Hunts — Premium Public Land Opportunities

TPWD's drawn hunt program offers nearly 9,600 permits across more than 60 hunt categories — some of the highest-quality public land hunts in the state.

How the System Works

1. Create a TPWD account online
2. Purchase an APH permit ($48) — required for most applications
3. Browse the catalog at the TPWD Drawn Hunt portal
4. Submit applications between August 1 and November 1
5. Deadlines fall on the 1st and 15th of each month during the application window
6. Application fee: Free to $10 depending on category
7. If drawn: Special permit fee of $80 (regular) or $130 (extended)

What's Available

Tips for Getting Drawn

• Apply early — Some categories fill quickly
• Target less popular dates — Midweek hunts and late-season dates have better odds
• Apply for multiple categories — But only hunts you'll actually attend
• Consider alternates — Some hunts offer alternate selections for lower-demand dates
• Youth hunts — Often have better drawing odds than adult categories

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New Public Lands for 2025-2026

TPWD added approximately 10,000 acres of new public hunting land for the 2025-2026 season:

These additions increase urban-area access to public hunting and expand the geographic diversity of available lands.

Trinity River WMA — First New WMA in Two Decades

TPWD also announced the establishment of the Trinity River Wildlife Management Area — a 6,000+ acre property in Anderson County along the Trinity River. This is the first new WMA established in over 20 years, signaling TPWD's renewed commitment to expanding public hunting access.

• Location: Anderson County, southeast of Corsicana
• Acreage: 6,000+ acres
• Habitat: Bottomland hardwoods, river floodplain, mixed pine-hardwood forest
• Expected species: White-tailed deer, feral hog, Eastern wild turkey, waterfowl, squirrel
• Status: Establishment announced; detailed access rules and seasons pending TPWD publication

2025-2026 Season Changes to Know

Several regulatory changes directly impact public land hunters this season:

Digital Licenses

All TPWD hunting and fishing licenses are now offered in a fully digital format. You can display your license on your phone — no paper copy required. Download the Texas Hunt & Fish app for easiest access.

Streamlined Non-Resident Licenses

TPWD simplified non-resident hunting license options from five categories down to two:

1. Non-Resident General Hunting — Full-season access
2. Non-Resident Special 5-Day Small Game/Exotic — Short-trip option

This makes the process significantly simpler for out-of-state hunters. For full pricing, see our Texas hunting license page.

Electronic On-Site Registration (eOSR) for National Forests

Hunters using USDA Forest Service lands in Texas are now required to use eOSR for access and to report deer harvests. This can be done through the Texas Hunt & Fish mobile app or website. This replaces the previous paper sign-in system on national forests.

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Essential Gear & Tips for Texas Public Land

What to Bring

• Map booklet — Study your target WMA's rules, boundaries, and access points before you go
• GPS/mapping app — OnX Hunt, HuntStand, or similar with property boundaries loaded
• Orange vest — Required on many WMAs during general firearms season
• Water — Minimum 1 gallon per person per day; many WMAs have no potable water
• Emergency kit — Cell service is unreliable on remote WMAs; carry a first aid kit, fire starter, and emergency shelter
• Snake protection — Rattlesnakes are present on nearly all Texas WMAs; wear snake boots
• Camping gear — Many WMAs allow primitive camping; some have designated camping areas

Public Land Ethics

• Pack out all trash — Leave no trace on Texas public lands
• Respect other hunters — Give adequate spacing; don't crowd another hunter's area
• Report violations — Call the TPWD Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-792-GAME
• Follow posted rules — Each WMA has specific regulations that may differ from statewide rules
• Check in/out — Many WMAs require hunters to check in at a registration station and log harvest data

Timing Your Hunts

• Midweek hunts reduce pressure dramatically — especially on WMAs near major cities
• Late season hunts (January–February) offer the least crowding on most properties
• Scout before season — Most WMAs allow pre-season access with an APH permit for scouting, hiking, and wildlife observation
• Second-segment dove (December–January) is often productive and uncrowded compared to September
• National forests tend to be less crowded than WMAs due to their remote locations

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Public Hunting vs. Private Land — What to Know

For non-residents, public land offers the most affordable and accessible way to experience Texas hunting without the cost of a private lease or guided hunt.

For complete Texas licensing details, see our Texas hunting license guide. Planning a budget trip? Check our hunt out of state on a budget guide.