Caddo Lake WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Caddo Lake WMA is 8,045 acres of public hunting land in Marion County and Harrison County, Texas, TPWD unit #730. 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 hog among the legal game, along with waterfowl, woodcock, rails, gallinules and snipe, squirrel, rabbits, and hares and raccoon.
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 landPrivate land insideArchery onlyCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #730 |
|---|---|
| Size | 8,045 acres (TPWD booklet); 8,496 acres mapped |
| County | Marion County, Harrison County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Legal game listed | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog, Waterfowl, Woodcock, Rails, Gallinules and Snipe, Squirrel, Rabbits, and Hares, Raccoon and Coyotes |
| Deer | 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 ... |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 15 |
| Towns | Uncertain (next to it), Jefferson (10 mi) and Scottsville (13 mi) |
| Highways | TX 43 (0.6 mi) and TX 49 (2.2 mi) |
What can you hunt on Caddo Lake WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 9 legal game entries for Caddo Lake WMA, deer among them. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| 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). |
| Feral Hog | (no bag limit). Archery Only Season: No closed season. General Season: Nov. 7-Mar. 31. |
| Waterfowl | Shooting hours end at noon. Hunting is allowed each day of the Early Teal, North Zone Duck, and Eastern Zone Goose seasons. |
| Woodcock, Rails, Gallinules and Snipe | Statewide season dates. |
| Squirrel, Rabbits, and Hares | Oct. 1- Oct. 31, Nov. 23-Feb. 28 and May 1-31. Rimfire, shotgun, air rifle, or muzzleloader only. |
| Bullfrogs | Daily limit of 25 (no firearms). |
| Raccoon | Jan 4-Mar. 31. Night Hunting Only: shooting hours are ½ hour after sunset to ½ hour before sunrise. Rimfire and shotgun only. |
| Coyotes | Jan. 4-Mar. 31. Rimfire and shotgun only. |
Also listed as legal game, with no dates of their own: Fishing.
Youth and special seasons
- Youth Only Squirrel: Sept.25-27. Rimfire, shotgun, air rifle, or muzzleloader only.
- Youth Only Deer: Oct. 30-Nov. 1 (Bag limit 1 buck and 1 antlerless) and Jan. 4-17 (Bag limit - 1 antlerless). See Legal Game Legend for legal buck requirements.
- 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: Youth Deer, White-tailed Deer, and Feral Hog (Horse Creek Unit). See front section of booklet for “E-Postcard Selection Hunt” information. Apply through TPWD's Public Hunt Drawing System.
What are the rules on Caddo Lake WMA?
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day. A LPU Permit is required to enter upon the land for recreational purposes and an APH Permit is required to hunt anywhere within the area.
- Special regulations: A LPU Permit is required to enter upon the land for recreational purposes and an APH Permit is required to hunt anywhere within the area. See Prohibited Acts for further restrictions.
- Rule: Mandatory deer check station: All deer harvested on Nov. 7-8 and 14-15 must be checked at the designated deer check station. Check station hours are from sunrise until 7:00 p.m. each day. All deer harvested on WMA outside of mandatory check station weekends must be reported by calling 430-502-2246 within 12 hours of harvest and leaving a message with your name, phone number, and sex of the deer.
- Notice: The use of permanent duck blinds is prohibited on the WMA portion of Caddo Lake.
- Rule: Map legend: Archery Hunting Only
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #730 (PDF).
Which parts of Caddo Lake WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Caddo Lake WMA marks private land inside the boundary and archery only. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Caddo Lake WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Private land inside the boundary | 92 | 1.1% |
| Archery only | 25 | 0.3% |
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 WMA?
Caddo Lake WMA lies in Marion County and Harrison County. Nearest towns: Uncertain (next to it), Jefferson (10 miles), Scottsville (13 miles) and Waskom (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: TX 43 (0.6 miles) and TX 49 (2.2 miles). Water nearby: Clear Lake.
TPWD's map points for Caddo Lake WMA: 3 info stations, 3 camp sites, 5 parking areas, 1 deer check station and 1 canoe/small craft launch.
TPWD's page says: Open year round, except area closes for annual Drawn Hunts. TPWD's page gives the area as 8,124 acres. Area office: (430) 502-2246, 4752 FM 805, Jefferson, TX 75657.
From TPWD's Caddo Lake WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Caddo Lake WMA in?
Caddo Lake WMA 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 WMA?
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 National Wildlife Refuge | Harrison | next to it |
| White Oak Creek WMA | Morris and Bowie | 39.1 mi |
| Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land | Panola | 45.9 mi |
| North Toledo Bend WMA | Shelby | 54.3 mi |
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Caddo Lake 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. A LPU Permit is required to enter upon the land for recreational purposes and an APH Permit is required to hunt anywhere within the area.
When is deer season on Caddo Lake WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: 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).
Can you camp on Caddo Lake WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for Caddo Lake WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is Caddo Lake WMA?
Caddo Lake WMA is in Marion County and Harrison County. The nearest towns: Uncertain (next to it), Jefferson (10 miles) and Scottsville (13 miles). Highways nearby: TX 43 and TX 49.
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 #730.
- 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 Marion County Harrison County Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge White Oak Creek WMA Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land