Justin Hurst WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Justin Hurst WMA is 16,446 acres of public hunting land in Brazoria County, Texas, TPWD units #721 and #721D. 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 waterfowl, dove, geese, snipe, rail, gallinules & sandhill cranes and dove as legal game here.
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 insideWaterfowl sanctuaryCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #721 and #721D |
|---|---|
| Size | 16,446 acres (TPWD booklet); 16,771 acres mapped |
| County | Brazoria County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Legal game listed | Waterfowl, Dove, Geese, Snipe, Rail, Gallinules & Sandhill Cranes and Dove |
| Deer | No deer season for walk-in hunters in the booklet |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 10 |
| Towns | Jones Creek (next to it), Freeport (2 mi) and Quintana (4 mi) |
| Highways | TX 36, TX 288 (2.6 mi) and TX 332 (2.8 mi) |
Which units make up Justin Hurst WMA?
TPWD prints Justin Hurst WMA as 2 units in its 2026-27 booklet:
| Unit | Name | Acres (TPWD) | County | Legal game entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #721 | Justin Hurst WMA | 15,034 | Brazoria | 3 |
| #721D | Justin Hurst WMA North Stringfellow Unit | 1,412 | Brazoria | 1 |
Justin Hurst WMA (#721): what can you hunt in 2026-27?
Justin Hurst WMA is 15,034 acres in Brazoria County. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 3 legal game entries for this unit, none of them deer. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl | Shooting hours begin ½ hour before sunrise. Check out by noon. Early Teal: Only on Tues., Thur., Sat. within the Early Teal season. South Zone Duck: Only on Tues., Thur., Sat., and the last Sun. of each split. There will be no hunts on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or New Year's Day. |
| Dove, Geese, Snipe, Rail, Gallinules & Sandhill Cranes | May be taken during all waterfowl hunts, including the youth hunts, provided the seasons are open for these species. |
| Fishing | Accessed by boat via Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Permitted only within the channel of Jones Creek on non-waterfowl hunt dates. |
Youth and special seasons on Justin Hurst WMA
- Youth/Adult Waterfowl: First Sunday of each split of the South Zone season. Hunters must be checked out and exit the area by noon.
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: On the Saturday during the established Special USFWS season. See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations. Hunters must be checked out and exit the area by noon.
Rules on Justin Hurst WMA
- Permit and registration: Adult hunters must have an APH Permit, and other adult users must have a Limited Use Permit.
- Means restriction: Shotguns with non-toxic shot are the only legal means that may be possessed or used during these hunts.
- Special regulations: Hunt party size is limited to 5 INDIVIDUALS. All hunting activities are coordinated through the Headquarters Check Station.
- Rule: Waterfowl Procedures: A lottery drawing will occur at 4:30 AM each day of a hunt to determine your position in line. Hunters arriving after 4:30 AM will be checked in as they arrive. Admittance to the hunt area ends 30 minutes before legal shooting light. Hunters must be checked out and exit the area by noon. Adult hunters must have an APH Permit, and other adult users must have a Limited Use Permit. Boats must be hand launched and only electric motors are allowed. No trailers. Vehicles must stay on designated roads. No driving on levees!
- Rule: Map legend: Waterfowl Sanctuary (Closed ONLY to Waterfowl Hunting)
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #721 (PDF).
Justin Hurst WMA, North Stringfellow Unit (#721D): what can you hunt in 2026-27?
This areaOther public hunting landCounty lineLake or riverHighway
Justin Hurst WMA, North Stringfellow Unit is 1,412 acres in Brazoria County. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 1 legal game entry for this unit, not deer. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Dove | Each day of the First Split of South Zone Dove season. |
Rules on Justin Hurst WMA, North Stringfellow Unit
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day.
- Means restriction: Shotguns with non-toxic shot are the only legal means that may be possessed or used during these hunts.
- Special regulations: All hunting activities are coordinated through eOSR and the information/check station at the parking area of this unit.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #721D (PDF).
Which parts of Justin Hurst WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Justin Hurst WMA marks private land inside the boundary and waterfowl sanctuary. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Justin Hurst WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Private land inside the boundary | 46 | 0.3% |
| Waterfowl sanctuary | 2,580 | 15.4% |
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 Justin Hurst WMA?
Justin Hurst WMA lies in Brazoria County. Nearest towns: Jones Creek (next to it), Freeport (2 miles), Quintana (4 miles) and Clute (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: TX 36 (it crosses or touches the area), TX 288 (2.6 miles) and TX 332 (2.8 miles). Water nearby: Pelican Lake, McNeal Lake and Cedar Lakes.
TPWD's map points for Justin Hurst WMA: 2 info stations, 1 headquarters and 2 parking areas.
TPWD's page says: Jones Creek and Live Oak Nature Loops are open year round. Portions of the Justin Hurst WMA are open for Special Permit hunts and scheduled tours. Contact the Assistant Area Manager for specific dates. TPWD's page gives the area as 10,311 acres. Area office: (979) 318-7300.
From TPWD's Justin Hurst WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Justin Hurst WMA in?
Justin Hurst WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 10. 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 Justin Hurst WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA | Brazoria | 4.2 mi |
| Mad Island WMA | Matagorda | 35.2 mi |
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Justin Hurst 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: Adult hunters must have an APH Permit, and other adult users must have a Limited Use Permit.
Can you hunt deer on Justin Hurst WMA?
Not on the Annual Public Hunting Permit: TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists no deer season here.
Can you camp on Justin Hurst WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for Justin Hurst WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is Justin Hurst WMA?
Justin Hurst WMA is in Brazoria County. The nearest towns: Jones Creek (next to it), Freeport (2 miles) and Quintana (4 miles). Highways nearby: TX 36, TX 288 and TX 332.
Get a Texas hunt plan when they open
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Where these facts come from
- Legal game, dates, rules, permits and closures: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, units #721 and #721D.
- 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 Brazoria County Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA Mad Island WMA