Marion County, Texas: hunting seasons and public land
Marion County has 1 public hunting area on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit (Caddo Lake WMA, 7,159 acres in the county). White-tailed deer general season in Marion County runs Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027, after archery only Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Bag limit: 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. The county has TPWD's antler restrictions.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons: TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual. Public land: TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map and 2026-27 booklet.
Public hunting area in Marion CountyOther public hunting land and dove leasesCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| County seat | Jefferson |
|---|---|
| WMAs and public hunting areas | Caddo Lake WMA |
| Dove and small game leases | None |
| White-tailed deer zone | North Zone |
| Deer general season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027 |
| Deer bag limit | 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. |
| Antler restrictions | Yes |
| Dove zone | Central Zone |
Where can you hunt public land in Marion County?
Marion County holds 1 place on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit. Acres are the part inside the county, measured from TPWD's boundaries:
| Area | Acres in the county | Legal game listed (TPWD) |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Lake WMA | 7,159 | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog, Waterfowl, Woodcock, Rails, Gallinules and Snipe and Squirrel, Rabbits, and Hares |
Public land: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map and TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet; acres measured by FilledTag.
What is Marion County like for a hunter?
Marion County covers 381 square miles of land and 39 of water, 2.7% of it in the public hunting areas above. Its towns include Jefferson. Highways: TX 49 (35 miles in the county), US 59 (19 miles in the county), TX 43 (13 miles in the county) and TX 155 (6 miles in the county). Water: Clear Lake, Lake O' the Pines and Big Cypress Bayou.
TPWD white-tailed deer management unit: 15 (100% of the county). Neighboring counties: Cass, Harrison, Morris and Upshur.
Public hunting closest to Marion County
Other areas on the Annual Public Hunting Permit, by straight-line distance from the middle of Marion County to the middle of each area:
| Area | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge | Harrison | 16 |
| White Oak Creek WMA | Morris and Bowie | 39 |
| Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land | Panola | 57 |
| Old Sabine Bottom WMA | Smith | 57 |
| Lake Striker Public Hunting Land | Cherokee and Rusk | 66 |
| North Toledo Bend WMA | Shelby | 66 |
Deer on Marion County's public hunting areas
Each area sets its own deer season, often shorter than the county's. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet, area by area:
| Area | Deer in the booklet |
|---|---|
| Caddo Lake WMA | White-tailed deer: bag limit - 1 buck and 2 antlerless. Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Archery Only Season: Oct. 3-Nov. 6 (either sex). General Season: Nov. 7-22, (either sex) and Nov. 23-Jan. 3 (buck only). Muzzleloader Season: Jan. 4-17 (1 antlerless only). |
Land, water, towns and highways: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Deer units: TPWD.
When are the big game seasons in Marion County?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual for Marion County puts the county in the white-tailed deer North Zone. The seasons and limits it lists:
| Species | Season or limit | Dates or limit |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Bag Limit | 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. |
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027 |
| White-tailed deer | Antlerless Deer | Nov. 7-29, antlerless deer by hunting license tag. |
| White-tailed deer | Early Youth-Only Season | Oct. 30 - Nov. 1, 2026 |
| White-tailed deer | Late Youth-Only Season | Jan. 4 - 17, 2027 |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | Jan. 4 - 17, 2027 |
| Javelina | No open season |
When are dove, duck and goose seasons in Marion County?
| Species | Zone | Regular season |
|---|---|---|
| Dove | Central Zone | Sept. 1 - Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 11, 2026 - Jan. 14, 2027 |
| Duck | North Zone | Nov. 14 - 29, 2026 and Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Goose | Eastern Zone | Dark Geese: Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 31, 2027; Light Geese: Nov. 7, 2026 - Feb. 19, 2027 |
Source: TPWD Outdoor Annual, Marion County, 2026-27. Public hunting areas can set shorter seasons; each area's page has its own dates.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season in Marion County in 2026-27?
By TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual, white-tailed deer archery only runs Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2026 and the general season Nov. 7, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027 in Marion County. The bag limit is 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined.
Is there public hunting land in Marion County?
Yes. Caddo Lake WMA (7,159 acres in the county) is on TPWD's maps. Together that is about 7,159 acres.
Does Marion County have antler restrictions?
Yes, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual: in Marion County a legal white-tailed buck needs an unbranched antler or a 13-inch inside spread.
What is the county seat of Marion County?
Jefferson, by TPWD's county page.
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Where these numbers come from
- Seasons and bag limits: TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27, seasons by county.
- Public hunting land and leases: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map; TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet.
- County boundary: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024.
FilledTag is not part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.