North Toledo Bend WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
North Toledo Bend WMA is 2,675 acres of public hunting land in Shelby County, Texas, TPWD unit #615. 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 and exotic mammals among the legal game, along with waterfowl, snipe, rail, and gallinule and woodcock.
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 landCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #615 |
|---|---|
| Size | 2,675 acres (TPWD booklet); 2,677 acres mapped |
| County | Shelby County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Owned by | Sabine River Authority |
| Legal game listed | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog and Exotic Mammals, Waterfowl, Snipe, Rail, and Gallinule, Woodcock, Dove and Furbearers and Predators |
| 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 | Joaquin (6 mi), Huxley (12 mi) and Center (14 mi) |
| Highways | US 84 (4.1 mi) and TX 7 (5 mi) |
What can you hunt on North Toledo Bend WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 14 legal game entries for North Toledo Bend 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. 29 (either sex), Nov. 30-Jan. 3 (Buck ONLY). |
| Feral Hog and Exotic Mammals | (no bag limit.) No closed season. Shotguns with buckshot, and Archery Equipment are the only legal means allowed. |
| Waterfowl | Shooting hours - one half hour before sunrise to noon. Hunting allowed only on Wed., Sat., and Sun. Of Early Teal, North Zone Duck, Falconry and Eastern Zone Goose seasons. |
| Snipe | one half hour before sunrise to noon. Hunting allowed only on Wed., Sat., and Sun. of the Statewide Season. |
| Rail, and Gallinule | One half hour before sunrise to noon. Hunting allowed only on Wed., Sat., and Sun. of the Statewide and Falconry Seasons. |
| Woodcock | Each day of Statewide and Falconry Seasons. |
| Dove | Each day of the Central Zone and Falconry Season. |
| Bullfrogs | daily limit of 25. |
| Furbearers and Predators | Year-round. Shotgun, muzzleloader and archery only |
| Squirrel | Each day of East Texas Squirrel season. Shotgun, air guns, and rimfire only. |
| Rabbits & Hares | Year-round. Shotgun, air guns, and rimfire only. |
| Trapping | Sept. 1-Aug. 31, furbearers and predators only. |
Also listed as legal game, with no dates of their own: Fishing and Crayfish.
Youth and special seasons
- Youth/Adult Squirrel: Sept. 25-27. Shotgun and rimfire only.
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Hunt information and regulations. Shooting hours end at noon.
What are the rules on North Toledo Bend WMA?
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day.
- Special regulations: Use of horses allowed only Sept. 1-26 and Mar. 16-Aug. 31.
- Means restriction: Non-toxic shot required for all migratory game bird hunting. Buckshot can be used for Feral Hogs ONLY.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #615 (PDF).
How do you get to North Toledo Bend WMA?
North Toledo Bend WMA lies in Shelby County. Nearest towns: Joaquin (6 miles), Huxley (12 miles), Center (14 miles) and Tenaha (16 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 84 (4.1 miles) and TX 7 (5 miles). Water nearby: Toledo Bend Reservoir and Horseshoe Lake.
TPWD's map points for North Toledo Bend WMA: 1 info station, 1 camp site and 1 boat ramp.
TPWD's page says: Open year round. TPWD's page gives the area as 3,650 acres. Area office: (936) 569-8547, 8096 FM 2782, Nacogdoches, TX 75964.
From TPWD's North Toledo Bend WMA page.
Which deer management unit is North Toledo Bend WMA in?
North Toledo Bend 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 North Toledo Bend WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land | Panola | 5 mi |
| Bannister WMA | San Augustine | 37.3 mi |
| Moore Plantation WMA | Sabine | 40.8 mi |
| Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge | Harrison | 50.5 mi |
| Alazan Bayou WMA | Nacogdoches | 52.7 mi |
| Caddo Lake WMA | Marion and Harrison | 54.3 mi |
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt North Toledo Bend 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 North Toledo Bend 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. 29 (either sex), Nov. 30-Jan. 3 (Buck ONLY).
Can you camp on North Toledo Bend WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for North Toledo Bend WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is North Toledo Bend WMA?
North Toledo Bend WMA is in Shelby County. The nearest towns: Joaquin (6 miles), Huxley (12 miles) and Center (14 miles). Highways nearby: US 84 and TX 7.
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, unit #615.
- 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 Shelby County Sabine River Authority Public Hunting Land Bannister WMA Moore Plantation WMA