Smith County, Texas: hunting seasons and public land
Smith County has 1 public hunting area on TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit (Old Sabine Bottom WMA, 5,820 acres in the county). White-tailed deer general season in Smith 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 Smith CountyOther public hunting land and dove leasesCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| County seat | Tyler |
|---|---|
| WMAs and public hunting areas | Old Sabine Bottom 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 Smith County?
Smith 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Old Sabine Bottom WMA | 5,820 | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog, Waterfowl, Woodcock and Snipe and Squirrel |
Public land: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map and TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet; acres measured by FilledTag.
What is Smith County like for a hunter?
Smith County covers 921 square miles of land and 28 of water, 1% of it in the public hunting areas above. Its towns include Tyler, Lindale, Whitehouse, Bullard, Arp and Troup. Highways: I-20 (74 miles in the county), US 69 (53 miles in the county), TX 110 (53 miles in the county), TX 155 (52 miles in the county) and TX 64 (44 miles in the county). Water: Lake Palestine, Bellwood Lake, Hide-A-Way Lake and Sabine River.
TPWD white-tailed deer management unit: 17 (99% of the county). Neighboring counties: Cherokee, Gregg, Henderson, Rusk, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood.
Public hunting closest to Smith County
Other areas on the Annual Public Hunting Permit, by straight-line distance from the middle of Smith County to the middle of each area:
| Area | County | Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Striker Public Hunting Land | Cherokee and Rusk | 32 |
| Gus Engeling WMA | Anderson | 50 |
| Richland Creek WMA | Freestone and Navarro | 56 |
| Tawakoni WMA | Hunt and Van Zandt | 60 |
| Big Lake Bottom WMA | Anderson | 60 |
| Cooper Lake State Park South Sulphur Unit | Hopkins | 65 |
Deer on Smith 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 |
|---|---|
| Old Sabine Bottom WMA | Archery Only White-tailed Deer Season: Oct. 3-Jan. 3 EXCEPT when entire area closed. Bag limit - 3 deer, no more than 1 buck. Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. All deer taken on the WMA must be registered at on-site Registration Station within 48 hours |
Land, water, towns and highways: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Deer units: TPWD.
When are the big game seasons in Smith County?
TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual for Smith 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 Smith 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, Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith 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 Smith County?
Yes. Old Sabine Bottom WMA (5,820 acres in the county) is on TPWD's maps. Together that is about 5,820 acres.
Does Smith County have antler restrictions?
Yes, by TPWD's 2026-27 Outdoor Annual: in Smith County a legal white-tailed buck needs an unbranched antler or a 13-inch inside spread.
What is the county seat of Smith County?
Tyler, 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.