United States Forest Department of Service Agriculture

Hunting Guide

2014-2015 Hunting Season

Texas is home to four national forests that stretch from the urban landscape of Houston to the border, and to two national grasslands located north Keep Safety in Mind When Hunting of the Dallas-Fort Worth As gun deer hunting season Operating a motor vehicle on Riders should drive cautiously and metroplex. begins, U.S. Forest Service officials National Forest System roads, National anticipate rough surfaces and features are reminding hunters of guidelines Forest System trails and in areas on such as mud, vegetation and water White-tailed deer is the designed to make their hunting trips to National Forest System lands carries crossings common to remote driving game of choice in national forests and grasslands safe and a greater responsibility than driving a conditions. and there’s no better enjoyable, while sustaining the health vehicle on a city street. Not only must Motor vehicle operators should take place to bag that trophy of the forests. the operators know and follow all care at all times to protect themselves buck than in the national Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) use on applicable traffic laws, but they need to and those under their responsibility. forests and grasslands. the National Forests and Grasslands in show concern for the environment as Much of the National Forests and Texas is restricted, according to Patrol well as other forest users. Grasslands in Texas are remote, and From mid-September Captain Chris Crain. The misuse of motor vehicles are medical assistance may not be readily to the end of January is “OHV use on the National Forests subject to state traffic law, including available. Cellular phones do not work is limited to designated routes, and the state requirements for licensing, in many areas of the National Forests prime hunting season only such designation is the 85-mile registration and operation of the and Grasslands in Texas. Operators and all hunters and multiple-use trail in the Sam Houston vehicle. should take adequate food, water, those accompanying National Forest,” Crain said. “Cross- Motor vehicle use, especially off- first aid supplies and other equipment them must wear daylight country and off-road use of motorized highway vehicle use, involves inherent appropriate for the conditions and fluorescent orange at vehicles of any type is prohibited.” risks that may cause property damage, expected weather. any time when hunting, This rule stems from a 2005 directive serious injury and possibly death. Always remember to respect private except when hunting from the chief of the Forest Service land. Protect your privilege. Stay on turkey or migratory that required each national forest designated roads and trails and in birds. and grassland to designate specific designated areas. roads, trails and areas open to motor To help visitors to the national A minimum of 400 vehicle use. The National Forests forests and grasslands know which square inches of and Grasslands in Texas, after public roads are open to vehicular traffic, the participation through the National forest service has available a Motor fluorescent orange must Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) showing be visible (144 square decision-making process, implements where motorized vehicle use is allowed inches on both the chest the Travel Management Rule on the National Forests and Grasslands and back, and a daylight throughout the forests and grasslands. in Texas, by vehicle type and season of fluorescent orange cap “In the right places, and managed use. This will be of particular interest to or hat.) carefully, motor vehicles are an hunters who use forest service roads to appropriate use of national forests. Watch Out for retrieve game. However, if not managed carefully, Motorized Vehicle Use Maps are motorized recreation can damage both Falling Trees posted on the website: www.fs.usda. the land and the resources that visitors gov/texas/ and the maps are also Contents  come to enjoy,” Crain said. “Each Dead trees create a hazard in available at the Supervisor’s Office and Angelina Map...... 3 the forest. year millions of off-highway vehicles  Be aware of your surroundings. Ranger Offices. Davy Crockett Map...... 4 travel America’s national forests  Trees can fall without warning. Comments about the MVUM or any Sabine Map...... 5 legally and sensibly on designated  Park vehicles and place tents in other issues concerning the National roads and trails. A small, but growing areas where they will not be Forests and Grasslands in Texas are Sam Houston Map...... 6 number of irresponsible OHV users are hit if a tree falls. welcome and can be e-mailed to: Caddo/LBJ Map...... 7 threatening the health of all national  Remember, your safety is your [email protected]. Safety Notice...... 8 forests by driving far off-trail and responsibility. In the subject line, please note the Contacts...... 8 damaging fragile plants, wetlands and topic you are commenting on. ecosystems.” 2 National Forests & Grasslands in Texas

Fishing The national forests and grasslands provide fishing opportunities on numerous ponds and lakes, many of which are regularly stocked with fish. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and Lake Conroe are known for excellent fishing but there are many other fine 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 waters.

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 Antlerless Deer Permits from TPWD Turkey Hunting hunted in the prairies or along the edge of the woods. Each year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department The U.S. Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Fox squirrels can be found in the woods adjacent to (TPWD) inventories deer populations in national forests Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation creeks and drainages. Gray squirrels live in some of the and adjacent lands. As needed, the department includes are working cooperatively in a restocking program to bottomland hardwoods of the Caddo National Grasslands. antlerless deer in the annual harvest to seek a balanced reintroduce wild turkeys on national forest lands. population. The Caddo National Grasslands allow shotgun-only Designated areas and the number of permits issued hunting in the spring.The LBJ National Grasslands has a Baiting vary from year to year and the number of requests fall and spring season for the Rio Grande turkey. Check Baiting and hunting over baited areas to attract usually exceeds the number of permits available. the Texas Parks and Wildlife hunting guide for counties wildlife is not allowed in the National Forests and Hunting antlerless deer in the national forests in Texas in the national forests that allow spring hunting. Grasslands in Texas. is conducted only within Wildlife Management Areas and Turkeys usually can be found in older timber stands only by permit. that have some hardwoods, but they also need younger TPWD will conduct Antlerless Deer permit stands, especially during the breeding and brood-rearing applications and selections through an on-line application seasons. process. Application will no longer be accepted by mail or email. For more information on Antlerless Deer Permits, Small Animals Cottontail rabbits can be found in the same habitat contact TPWD at www.tpwd.texas.gov/drawnhunts or as quail. Gray squirrels and fox squirrels are the most call TPWD at 936-569-8547. popular small game animals in the national forests. Gray squirrels prefer stands of bottomland hardwoods 40 years Game in the Forest of age or older. The trees in gray squirrel habitat must Many game species find favorable habitat in the be old enough to produce consistent crops of acorns and national forests where timber stands range from recently similar food. Most major rivers and creeks that flow harvested areas to stands more than 100 years old. through the national forest have these hardwood stands The breaks or “edges” created where different within their floodplains. aged stands meet are preferred by many species; so, Fox squirrels also prefer older age timber stands; the observant sportsman learns to recognize stand however, they are generally found in the transition zone characteristics and the types of game animals to be found between the bottomlands and uplands where there is How to Recognize National Forest Land in them. a mix of hardwood and pine, similar to turkey habitat. Maps commonly show proclaimed national forest They can also be found in older pine stands that contain boundaries. However, all land within this boundary is not scattered nut-producing trees. 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 Large Animals national forest land and private property. Recognition of Deer hunting is a challenging sport and white-tailed these markings and boundary signs helps the visitor to be deer can be found throughout the national forests. Deer certain to stay on national forest land. are true edge species and do best where there is a mix Visitors should comply with state law and the owner’s of stands of various ages. The season will sometimes rules when entering private land. determine where you can find small concentrations of Entrance (portal) signs. These signs can be seen deer, such as in hardwood stands during acorn fall. along major roads entering the national forests, usually Small, scattered populations of wild or feral hogs live on the first tract of government land encountered. in the national forests. Although they are not classified Generally, portal signs are not used on low traffic roads. as game animals, they provide some limited hunting Welcome signs. These signs are located on or just opportunities, usually incidental to other types of inside the boundaries or individual tracts of national hunting. Hogs are usually found in bottomlands. forest land where the road enters. The sign will be oriented so that the land behind the sign is public land. Where to Find Birds Generally, they are not used on dead-end or woods roads Mourning doves prefer to feed in areas of open, bare or on small blocks of public land. ground with scattered stands of seed-producing weeds. Upon entering woods on public land, welcome Such conditions are found in recently logged stands signs will not be present and the visitor should rely on where disturbed soil encourages weed growth. Bobwhite property line markings and boundary signs. quail feed in these same stands and in stands up to five Property line marking and boundary signs. The years after cutting, where grassy-weedy vegetation boundaries of individual national forest tracts adjacent has grown and provides cover. Quail also use adjacent to other ownerships are marked with brown and yellow older timber stands for escape cover from predators and property boundary signs. hunters. The small metal boundary signs are fastened either to Woodcock are a fairly common but lightly-hunted trees or posts located on the boundary line and at road winter visitor to the national forests. They prefer dense crossings, and the signs are placed so that public land thickets for protection, but can be found in early morning is behind the sign. Red paint spots on trees define the and late evening feeding in the same young stands as boundary line through woods. quail. While the majority of boundaries are identified and Most waterfowl hunting associated with the national posted, occasionally visitors may encounter an area forests is on the larger reservoirs that lie within or where signs have been vandalized or lines are not adjacent to them. Sam Rayburn Reservoir is managed Deer Stands Deer stands may be used in the national forests and marked. In these cases, visitors should be alert to avoid by the Corps of Engineers, Toledo Bend Reservoir is grasslands, but they must be portable and cannot be of a accidently trespassing on private land. managed by Sabine River Authority, and Lake Conroe is type that will deface or harm trees. Deer stands must be under management of the San Jacinto River Authority. removed within 72 hours of placing one in the general Contact those agencies concerning use of their waters, forest or in a Wildlife Management Area. Since the including the construction of hunting blinds. Some forests and grasslands are open to public hunting, hunters waterfowl hunting is available in river bottoms during cannot maintain exclusive rights to a hunting area. high water periods. www.fs.usda.gov/texas 3

Camps 1: NFSR 316A 2: Townsend Park 3: NFSR 307A 4: NFSR 317 5: NFSR 349 6: NFSR 350C 7: NFSR 308 8: NFSR 312 9: NFSR 302 This map is meant to serve as a general guide and does not show exact 10: Sexton Pond boundaries or all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her 11: Bouton Lake Recreation Area (end of NFSR 303) location in the forest. Users should be aware that some private property 12: NFSR 347 below Parker Point Road exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights. Check with the Ranger District where you hunt regarding special 13: NFSR 374 regulations or boundary locations. 14: Dispersed camping allowed more than 400 yards inside the wilderness boundary 15: Attoyac Bayou (boat access camping only) 16: Angelina River (boat access camping only) 17: Sandy Creek 18: Caney Creek 19: Boykin Springs 4 National Forests & Grasslands in Texas Davy Crockett National Forest

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 - Pennington 9: NFSR 516 - County Line Camp 10: NFSR 514/514D - White Rock 11: NFSR 566 - Piney Creek Horse Camp 12: NFSR 562 - Bushy Creek 13: Ratcliff Recreation Area 14: NFSR 565 - Raines Morgan 15: NFSR 524A - Pine Springs This map is meant to serve as a general guide and does not show 16: NFSR 518B - Merkel Creek exact boundaries or all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know 17: NFSR 511A - Neches Bluff his or her location in the forest. Users should be aware that some private property exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please 18: NFSR 539 - Centerville respect our neighbors’ rights. Check with the Ranger District where 19: NFSR 512A - Pond Camp you hunt regarding special regulations or boundary locations. 20: NFSR 511 - Neches Bluff #2 www.fs.usda.gov/texas 5

Camps 1: NFSR 137A 2: FM 1372 3: NFSR 165 - Oil Well Site 4: NFSR 100 - Haley’s Ferry Boat Ramp 5: NFSR 147 - Snyder’s Camp 6: NFSR 132 - Ragtown Recreation Area 7: FM 2694 - Boles Field 8: NFSR 131D - Patroon Bayou 9: NFSR 120 - Lakeview 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 109C 16: NFSR 117F 17: NFSR 196 18: Indian Mounds Recreation Area 19: SH 87 - Willow Oak

This map is meant to serve as 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 some private property exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights. Check with the Ranger District where you hunt regarding special regulations or boundary locations. 6 National Forests & Grasslands in Texas Sam Houston National Forest regulations or boundary locations. rights. Check with the Ranger District where you hunt regarding special exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ location in the forest. Users should be aware that some private property boundaries or all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her This map is meant to serve as a general guide and does not show exact 1: NFSR 271 - Kelly’ Camps 13: Double Lake Recreation Area 12: Stubblefield Recreation Area 11: Cagle Recreation Area 10: NFSR 208H 9: NFSR 217A 8: NFSR 220 7: NFSR 274 - Shell Oil Road 6: NFSR 228 - Neblett Creek 5: NFSR 202 - Big Woods 4: Four Notch 3: NFSR 234 2: NFSR 215 - overflow s Pond www.fs.usda.gov/texas 7 Caddo National Grasslands - Bois d’Arc Unit

Ladonia Unit

Camps 1: CR 2285 2: West Lake Crockett Campground 3: East Lake Crockett Campground 4: Coffee Mill Lake Campground 5: CR 2700 6: FM 409 7: CR 2325 8: CR 2415 9: FM 409 10: CR 3915

LBJ National Grasslands

These maps are meant to serve as a general guide and do not show exact boundaries or all roads. It is the user’s responsibility to know his or her location. Users should be aware that some private property exists within the Forest Service boundary. Please respect our neighbors’ rights. Check with the Ranger District where you hunt regarding special regulations or boundary locations. 8 National Forests & Grasslands in Texas

Contact Us www.fs.usda.gov/texas

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Angelina National Forest 111 Walnut Ridge Road Zavalla, TX 75980 936-897-1068 Watch Out for n n n Falling Trees Davy Crockett  Dead trees create a hazard in National Forest the forest. 18551 Hwy 7 East  Be aware of your surroundings. Kennard, TX 75847  Trees can fall without warning. 936-655-2299  Park vehicles and place tents in areas where they will not be n n n hit if a tree falls.  Remember, your safety is your Sabine responsibility. National Forest 5050 Hwy 21 East Off-Highway Vehicles Camping Hemphill, TX 75948 Safety Notice Off-highway vehicles are only allowed on Developed recreation areas offer conve- 409-625-1940 All hunters and those accompanying them designated trails. niences such as showers, restrooms and pic- must wear daylight fluorescent orange at any Toll Free 866-235-1750 The Sam Houston National Forest has the nic facilities. Primitive camping is allowed time when hunting, except when hunting only designated OHV trail. except in designated scenic areas or where n n n turkey or migratory birds. Specific information, regulations, permit otherwise prohibited. A minimum of 400 square inches of application instructions and maps of Wildlife During hunting season, camping is per- Sam Houston fluorescent orange must be visible (144 Management Areas are available from the mitted only in designated hunter camps or in National Forest square inches on both the chest and back, U.S. Forest Service or the Texas Parks and developed recreation areas. 394 FM 1375 West and a daylight fluorescent orange cap or hat.) Wildlife Department. Registration and Camping in the national forests and grass- All camping in the Angelina, Davy information stations are located at major lands is limited to 14 days during a 30-day New Waverly, TX 77358 Crockett, Sabine or Sam Houston National access points to the areas. time period. 936-344-6205 Forest or the Caddo National Grasslands Toll Free 888-361-6908 Contact ranger offices for more informa- must be in designated campsites or tion on camp locations. developed recreation areas from Sept. 15 n n n through Feb. 1. Hunters using the wildlife management Maps Caddo/LBJ areas (WMAs) are required to have the $48 Maps and general information about the National Grasslands annual hunting permit to hunt deer, turkey, National Forests and Grasslands in Texas can 1400 US 81/287 small game, waterfowl and feral hogs. be obtained from ranger offices or the forest P.O. Box 507 “It’s the hunter’s responsibility to know supervisor’s office. Decatur, TX 76234 the regulations and game limits while Order forms are available on the Web 940-627-5475 hunting in national forests and grasslands,” at: www.fs.usda.gov/texas and click on the said Chris Crain, U.S. Forest Service patrol maps link. n n n captain. “Hunters should check bag limits Or call 936-639-8501 for information. for the county where they are hunting and Forest Supervisor’s refer to this year’s hunting booklets for Snakes and Insects Office information to avoid citations. No baiting Copperhead, Canebreak rattlesnake, National Forests & for wildlife or hunting over baited areas Cottonmouth, Coral and Pigmy rattlesnake is allowed on the National Forests and Wilderness Areas are poisonous snakes native to this area. Grasslands in Texas Wilderness areas are managed to Grasslands in Texas.” Insect repellant is recommended to protect 2221 North Raguet St. protect their character and provide great Portable deer stands are allowed in against mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers. Lufkin, TX 75904 national forests and grasslands and are opportunities for hunting, camping, fishing, 936-639-8501 limited to 72 hours in one location. To hiking and other recreational activities. All For TTY: call 711 to be prevent damage to trees, the stands must roads in wilderness areas are closed and Leave No Trace connected to a Forest not be nailed to trees. When hunters fail to motorized and mechanized equipment is When you leave your camp, please be prohibited. courteous and take your trash with you. Service number remove their deer stands, it causes damage to forest land and creates an expensive, time- The five wilderness areas in the National The Leave No Trace principles are: n n n consuming cleanup. Forests in Texas are: 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare Vehicles should not be parked near gates Angelina National Forest 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Sam Rayburn Reservoir or in areas that would impede traffic and Turkey Hill 5,473 acres 3. Dispose of Waste Properly U.S. Army Corps block roads. Upland Island 13,331 acres 4. Leave What You Find of Engineers For additional information on this year’s Davy Crockett National Forest 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts Big Slough 3,639 acres 6. Respect Wildlife Route 3, Box 486 hunting season, please contact the Forest Service District Ranger offices. Sabine National Forest 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors Jasper, TX 75951 Hunters may also visit the National Indian Mounds 12,369 acres For more information on Leave No Trace, 409-384-5716 Forests and Grasslands in Texas website Sam Houston National Forest visit https://int.org/ n n n at www.fs.fed.usda.gov/texas and review Little Lake Creek 3,855 acres information under the “Hunting 2012-2013” Frequently Asked Questions Toledo Bend Reservoir link. Know the Rules For more information on hunting in Sabine River Authority The regulations for legal species, Texas, visit Route 1, Box 270 Wildlife Management Areas weapons, season dates and bag limits are www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/hunting-faq Burkeville, TX 75932 Five Wildlife Management Areas issued by the State of Texas on a county-by- where you will find answers to frequently county basis. asked questions. 409-565-2273 (WMAs) are designated in the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas in Regulation booklets are available where n n n cooperation with the Texas Parks and hunting licenses are sold and at Texas Parks Wildlife Department. and Wildlife Department offices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Texas Parks & Wildlife Hunting is allowed in WMAs but the rules The rules in this guide are general prohibits discrimination in all its programs and Department and regulations are slightly different and in scope. More detailed, local rules and activities on the basis of race, color, national Antlerless Deer hunters must have the appropriate hunting regulations may be obtained from the district origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, ranger’s office. marital status, familial status, parental status, Permit Questions permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or any location that sells state religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, 936-569-8547 hunting license. Be aware of boundaries. political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part Target Practice of an individual’s income is derived from any The WMAs are: It is legal to target shoot in the general public assistance program. (Not all prohibited District Office Angelina National Forest forest, with the exception of the Caddo-LBJ bases apply to all programs.) Persons with Rt. 2 Box 535 Bannister 25,658 acres National Grasslands, as long as you do not disabilities who require alternative means for Jasper, TX 75951 Davy Crockett National Forest shoot from, down, or across a road; you have communication of program information (Braille, 409-384-9572 Alabama Creek 14,561 acres a sufficient backstop (not a live tree); and large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact Sabine National Forest pick up your trash (targets, empty shells, USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, Moore Plantation 26,455 acres etc.) when you leave. Target shooting is District Office Caddo write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, prohibited in the Wildlife Management Areas 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 2122 Old Henderson Hwy. Caddo 16,150 acres on all units of the NFGT: Angelina NF, Davy Tyler, TX 75702 Sam Houston National Forest D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) Crockett NF, Sabine NF, Sam Houston NF, or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal 903-593-5077 Sam Houston 162,984 acres Caddo-LBJ NG. opportunity provider and employer. R8-RG 411 July 2014