Alazan Bayou WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Alazan Bayou WMA is 2,255 acres of public hunting land in Nacogdoches County, Texas, TPWD unit #747E. Adults hunt it on the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit and register on site each day, in the Texas Hunt & Fish app (eOSR). TPWD's 2026-27 map booklet lists white-tailed deer and feral hogs and exotic mammals among the legal game, along with waterfowl, rail and gallinules, snipe and woodcock. The entire area is closed Nov. 2-23 and Jan. 4-17.
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 zoneWaterfowl sanctuaryCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #747E |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,255 acres (TPWD booklet); 2,283 acres mapped |
| County | Nacogdoches County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Legal game listed | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hogs and Exotic Mammals, Waterfowl, Rail and Gallinules, Snipe, Woodcock, Dove and Squirrel |
| Deer | Archery Only White-tailed Deer: Oct. 3-Nov. 1 (either sex) and Nov. 24-Jan. 3 (buck only). Bag limit 2 deer no more than 1 buck. Legal buck ... |
| Closed | Nov. 2-23 and Jan. 4-17. |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 14 |
| Towns | Nacogdoches (10 mi), Lufkin (10 mi) and Hudson (10 mi) |
| Highways | US 59, TX 7 (2.1 mi) and US 69 (3.9 mi) |
What can you hunt on Alazan Bayou WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 12 legal game entries for Alazan Bayou WMA, 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. 1 (either sex) and Nov. 24-Jan. 3 (buck only). Bag limit 2 deer no more than 1 buck. Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. |
| Feral Hogs and Exotic Mammals | Sept. 1-Nov. 1, Nov. 24-Jan. 3 and Jan. 18-Aug 31. Legal means for taking feral hog are archery, air guns, arrow guns, and shotguns (buckshot is allowed). Baiting is legal for feral hogs Feb. 1 to June 30. Use of dogs prohibited. |
| Waterfowl | Shooting hours - one half hour before sunrise to noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday except on dates entire area closed for Early Teal, North Zone Duck, Falconry, and Eastern Zone Goose seasons. Hunter access beyond parking areas begins at 4 a.m. |
| Rail and Gallinules | Shooting hours - one half hour before sunrise to noon. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday only of the Statewide Season, except dates entire area closed. |
| Snipe | Shooting hours - one half hour before sunrise to noon. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday only of the Statewide Season, except dates entire area closed. |
| Woodcock | Each day of the Statewide and Falconry Seasons, except dates entire area closed. |
| Dove | Each day of the Central Zone and Falconry Seasons, except dates entire area closed. |
| Squirrel | Oct. 1-Nov. 1 (no dogs), Nov. 24-Jan. 3 (no dogs), an. 18-Feb. 22 (dogs allowed), and May 1-31 (dogs allowed) (archery, air rifles, and shotgun only). |
| Rabbit & Hares | Sept. 1-Nov. 1, Nov. 24-Jan. 3, Jan. 18-Aug. 31 (archery, air rifles, and shotgun only). |
| Bullfrogs | Sept. 1-Nov. 1, Nov. 24-Jan. 3, Jan. 18-Aug. 31 (daily limit of 25). |
| Crayfish and Fishing | Sept. 1-Nov. 1, Nov. 24-Jan. 3, Jan. 18-Aug. 31. |
| Furbearers and Predators | Sept. 1-Nov. 1, Nov. 24-Jan. 3, Jan. 18-Aug. 31. |
Youth and special seasons
- Youth/Adult Squirrel: Sept. 25-27. Shotgun only.
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations. Shooting hours end at noon.
Drawn hunts
E-Postcard selection hunts: Waterfowl: See front section of booklet for "E-Postcard Selection Hunt" information. Apply through TPWD's Public Hunt Drawing System.
What are the rules on Alazan Bayou WMA?
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day.
- Closed: Entire area closed: Nov. 2-23 and Jan. 4-17.
- Means restriction: Firearms restricted to shotguns. Non-toxic shot required for all migratory game bird hunting.
- Special regulations: Use of horses allowed Sept. 1-23 and Apr. 1-Aug. 31. Note: Do not place bait for feral hogs on roads, parking areas, or levees.
- Rule: Map legend: Waterfowl Sanctuary (Closed to Waterfowl Hunting)
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #747E (PDF).
Which parts of Alazan Bayou WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Alazan Bayou WMA marks no hunting zones and waterfowl sanctuary. No hunting zones are closed to all hunting. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Alazan Bayou WMA |
|---|---|---|
| No hunting zones | 107 | 4.7% |
| Waterfowl sanctuary | 31 | 1.4% |
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 Alazan Bayou WMA?
Alazan Bayou WMA lies in Nacogdoches County. Nearest towns: Nacogdoches (10 miles), Lufkin (10 miles), Hudson (10 miles) and Wells (10 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 59 (it crosses or touches the area), TX 7 (2.1 miles) and US 69 (3.9 miles). Water nearby: Kurth Lake.
TPWD's page says: Open year round. TPWD's page gives the area as 2,063 acres. Area office: (936) 569-8547, 8096 FM 2782, Nacogdoches, TX 75964.
From TPWD's Alazan Bayou WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Alazan Bayou WMA in?
Alazan Bayou WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 14. 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 Alazan Bayou WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Creek WMA | Trinity | 18.2 mi |
| Bannister WMA | San Augustine | 25.8 mi |
| Lake Striker Public Hunting Land | Cherokee and Rusk | 35 mi |
| Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA | Jasper and Tyler | 47.2 mi |
| Moore Plantation WMA | Sabine | 48.3 mi |
| Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land | Panola | 49.6 mi |
TPWD also leases 1 dove and small game area within 40 miles, the nearest Germany (64 acres, 33 mi). All of them are on the Texas dove leases page.
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Alazan Bayou WMA?
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: OSR Required Each Day.
When is deer season on Alazan Bayou WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: Archery Only White-tailed Deer: Oct. 3-Nov. 1 (either sex) and Nov. 24-Jan. 3 (buck only). Bag limit 2 deer no more than 1 buck. Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches.
Can you camp on Alazan Bayou WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for Alazan Bayou WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is Alazan Bayou WMA?
Alazan Bayou WMA is in Nacogdoches County. The nearest towns: Nacogdoches (10 miles), Lufkin (10 miles) and Hudson (10 miles). Highways nearby: US 59, TX 7 and US 69.
When is Alazan Bayou WMA closed?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: the entire area is closed Nov. 2-23 and Jan. 4-17.
Get a Texas hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Texas are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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 #747E.
- 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.
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