Shelby County, Texas: hunting seasons and public land
Shelby County has 1 public hunting area on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit (North Toledo Bend WMA, 2,664 acres in the county). White-tailed deer general season in Shelby 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 Shelby CountyOther public hunting land and dove leasesCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| County seat | Center |
|---|---|
| WMAs and public hunting areas | North Toledo Bend 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 Shelby County?
Shelby 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) |
|---|---|---|
| North Toledo Bend WMA | 2,664 | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog and Exotic Mammals, Waterfowl, Snipe and Rail, and Gallinule |
Public land: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map and TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet; acres measured by FilledTag.
What is Shelby County like for a hunter?
Shelby County covers 796 square miles of land and 39 of water, 0.5% of it in the public hunting areas above. Its towns include Center, Tenaha, Timpson, Joaquin and Huxley. Highways: TX 87 (39 miles in the county), US 96 (35 miles in the county), US 84 (34 miles in the county), TX 7 (31 miles in the county) and US 59 (20 miles in the county). Water: Toledo Bend Reservoir, Pinkston Reservoir and Lake Timpson.
TPWD white-tailed deer management unit: 15 (100% of the county). Neighboring counties: Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine and San Augustine.
Public hunting closest to Shelby County
Other areas on the Annual Public Hunting Permit, by straight-line distance from the middle of Shelby County to the middle of each area:
| Area | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land | Panola | 16 |
| Bannister WMA | San Augustine | 30 |
| Moore Plantation WMA | Sabine | 39 |
| Alazan Bayou WMA | Nacogdoches | 42 |
| Lake Striker Public Hunting Land | Cherokee and Rusk | 53 |
| Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA | Jasper and Tyler | 61 |
Deer on Shelby 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 |
|---|---|
| North Toledo Bend 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. 29 (either sex), Nov. 30-Jan. 3 (Buck 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 Shelby County?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual for Shelby 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; no antlerless harvest on National Forest Service property. |
| 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 Shelby 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, Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby 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 Shelby County?
Yes. North Toledo Bend WMA (2,664 acres in the county) is on TPWD's maps. Together that is about 2,664 acres.
Does Shelby County have antler restrictions?
Yes, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual: in Shelby County a legal white-tailed buck needs an unbranched antler or a 13-inch inside spread.
What is the county seat of Shelby County?
Center, 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.
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