Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is 6,940 acres of public hunting land in Harrison County, Texas, TPWD unit #509. Adults hunt it on the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. TPWD's 2026-27 map booklet lists white-tailed deer and feral hog among the legal game, along with squirrel.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: TPWD's 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands. Boundaries: TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map.
This areaOther public hunting landNo hunting zonePrivate land insideCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #509 |
|---|---|
| Size | 6,940 acres (TPWD booklet); 8,415 acres mapped |
| County | Harrison County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48) |
| Legal game listed | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog and Squirrel |
| Deer | Archery Only White-tailed deer: Oct. 3-Nov.4 (either sex) bag limit: 1 buck and 1 antlerless, and Dec. 1-Jan. 3 (buck only) bag limit: 1 buc... |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 15 |
| Towns | Uncertain (next to it), Scottsville (9 mi) and Jefferson (11 mi) |
| Highways | TX 43 (0.5 mi) |
What can you hunt on Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 3 legal game entries for Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, deer among them. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Archery Only White-tailed deer | Oct. 3-Nov.4 (either sex) bag limit: 1 buck and 1 antlerless, and Dec. 1-Jan. 3 (buck only) bag limit: 1 buck. Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Hunters are allowed one 13" or greater spread buck all seasons combined. |
| Feral Hog | Concurrent with deer hunts. |
| Squirrel | Jan. 4-Feb. 28, and May 1-31. Shotgun with non-toxic shot only. County bag and possession limits apply. |
What are the rules on Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
- Permit and registration: A signed USFWS Brochure, available at the visitor center, headquarters, and kiosks, is required to be possessed by hunters while on the area.
- Rule: Hunters may access the refuge 2 hours before sunrise and must be off the area 2 hours after sunset.
- Special regulations: Portable blinds and tree stands may be used but, must be removed daily. Legally licensed vehicles and bicycles are restricted to roads that are open to travel. Camping and fires are prohibited. Baiting is prohibited. A signed USFWS Brochure, available at the visitor center, headquarters, and kiosks, is required to be possessed by hunters while on the area. Dogs are prohibited.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #509 (PDF).
Which parts of Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge marks no hunting zones, private land inside the boundary and hunting compartments (open to hunting). No hunting zones are closed to all hunting. Hunting compartments are the numbered blocks hunters register for and hunt. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge |
|---|---|---|
| No hunting zones | 816 | 9.7% |
| Private land inside the boundary | 659 | 7.8% |
| Hunting compartments (open to hunting) | 6,940 | 82.5% |
Measured by FilledTag from TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map. Posted signs and the booklet's map are the final word on the ground.
How do you get to Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in Harrison County. Nearest towns: Uncertain (next to it), Scottsville (9 miles), Jefferson (11 miles) and Waskom (12 miles). Highways within 5 miles: TX 43 (0.5 miles). Water nearby: Clear Lake.
TPWD's map points for Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge: 14 parking areas.
Which deer management unit is Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in?
Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 15. TPWD publishes its harvest survey statewide; across Texas in 2025-26 it estimates 714,424 white-tailed deer hunters took 782,405 deer. The page on Texas public hunting has the statewide table.
Units: TPWD white-tailed deer management units. Harvest: TPWD Big Game Harvest Survey, 2025-26.
What other public hunting is near Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Caddo Lake WMA | Marion and Harrison | next to it |
| Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land | Panola | 41.7 mi |
| White Oak Creek WMA | Morris and Bowie | 42.9 mi |
| North Toledo Bend WMA | Shelby | 50.5 mi |
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes. Hunters 17 and older need the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit along with a Texas hunting license; hunters under 17 may hunt free with a permitted adult. TPWD's booklet adds: A signed USFWS Brochure, available at the visitor center, headquarters, and kiosks, is required to be possessed by hunters while on the area.
When is deer season on Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: Archery Only White-tailed deer: Oct. 3-Nov.4 (either sex) bag limit: 1 buck and 1 antlerless, and Dec. 1-Jan. 3 (buck only) bag limit: 1 buck. Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Hunters are allowed one 13" or greater spread buck all seasons combined.
Can you camp on Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
TPWD's booklet: Camping and fires are prohibited.
Where is Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge?
Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge is in Harrison County. The nearest towns: Uncertain (next to it), Scottsville (9 miles) and Jefferson (11 miles). Highways nearby: TX 43.
Get a Texas hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Texas included.
Where these facts come from
- Legal game, dates, rules, permits and closures: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #509.
- Boundaries, zones and map points: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map. Acres and distances measured by FilledTag.
- Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Lakes and rivers: USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
FilledTag is not part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TPWD's booklet and posted signs are the final word on every rule; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Texas public hunting Harrison County Caddo Lake WMA Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land White Oak Creek WMA