Public Land Opportunities · LeaseFinderTX

Hunting without a lease

Most of Texas is private land, but there are still real places to hunt that are open to the public. A yearly permit from Texas Parks and Wildlife opens up close to a million acres, drawn hunts give you a shot at special areas, and national forests and Corps of Engineers lakes have hunting too. Every link below goes to an official source, so always check the current rules before you go.

🦌 TPWD Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit

One yearly permit from Texas Parks and Wildlife opens nearly a million acres of walk-in hunting. It covers the areas below. Check each area's rules in the map booklet before you go.

Annual Public Hunting PermitWhat it is, what it costs and where to buy it Public Hunting Lands Map BookletMaps and rules for each area Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)State-managed wildlife lands across Texas State Parks public & drawn huntsDrawn hunt catalog, including state park hunts State Forests (Texas A&M Forest Service)State forests, some open through APH and drawn hunts TPWD Leased LandsLands TPWD leases from agencies, timber companies and landowners Drawn HuntsApply for special permit hunts

🦆 National Wildlife Refuges in Texas

About 16 national wildlife refuges in Texas allow some hunting. Many deer hunts are drawn through TPWD, and each refuge sets its own rules.

National Wildlife Refuge SystemUS Fish & Wildlife Service Refuge deer hunts (drawn)Texas refuge hunts in the TPWD drawing Example: Hagerman NWR huntingUS Fish & Wildlife Service

🌾 National Grasslands

The Caddo and LBJ National Grasslands are in North Texas. Rita Blanca (Panhandle) and Black Kettle (its Texas piece is at Lake Marvin near Canadian) are run from the Cibola office in New Mexico.

Caddo & LBJ National Grasslands huntingUS Forest Service Rita Blanca National Grassland huntsTPWD drawn hunt details Black Kettle National GrasslandUS Forest Service (Cibola) Cibola grasslands hunting rulesUS Forest Service (Cibola)

🌲 National Forests in Texas

The Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, Angelina and Sabine National Forests are open to hunting. Some areas need an APH permit.

Hunting on the National Forests in TexasUS Forest Service National Forests & Grasslands in TexasUS Forest Service home page

🛶 US Army Corps of Engineers lakes

Many Corps lakes in Texas allow hunting on project lands. Some need a lake permit, so check with the lake office.

Fort Worth District lakesLake-by-lake info, North, Central and East Texas Fort Worth District hunting guideExample lake page with the district hunting guide Galveston District recreationSoutheast Texas

💧 Colorado River Municipal Water District (CRMWD)

Colorado River Municipal Water District offers drawn hunts on its O.H. Ivie wildlife areas, and applications are usually taken in summer.

🏜️ Bureau of Land Management

BLM land in Texas is limited and is managed by the BLM New Mexico State Office.

BLM New Mexico State Office (covers Texas)Bureau of Land Management Hunting on BLM landBureau of Land Management

📚 Keep learning

New to hunting Texas seasons & basics Ranges & Training Near You