Richland Creek WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Richland Creek WMA is 14,571 acres of public hunting land in Freestone County and Navarro County, Texas, TPWD units #703N and #703S. Adults hunt it on the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. TPWD's 2026-27 map booklet lists waterfowl, snipe, squirrels, rabbits, and hares and squirrel, rabbits & hares as legal game here. Some units have closure dates of their own, listed with each unit below.
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 | #703N and #703S |
|---|---|
| Size | 14,571 acres (TPWD booklet); 14,569 acres mapped |
| County | Freestone County, Navarro County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48) |
| Legal game listed | Waterfowl, Snipe, Squirrels, Rabbits, and Hares and Squirrel, Rabbits & Hares |
| Deer | No deer season for walk-in hunters in the booklet |
| Closed | Dates differ by unit; see each unit |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 19 North |
| Towns | Eureka (9 mi), Goodlow (10 mi) and Trinidad (10 mi) |
| Highways | US 287 and TX 309 (1.4 mi) |
Which units make up Richland Creek WMA?
TPWD prints Richland Creek WMA as 2 units in its 2026-27 booklet:
| Unit | Name | Acres (TPWD) | County | Legal game entries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #703N | Richland Creek WMA Carl Frentress Unit | 5,597 | Freestone and Navarro | 4 |
| #703S | Richland Creek WMA South Unit | 8,974 | Navarro and Freestone | 2 |
Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit (#703N): what can you hunt in 2026-27?
Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit is 5,597 acres in Freestone County and Navarro County. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 4 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 (Youth Only) | Nov. 25, Nov. 28, Dec. 23, and Dec. 26. |
| Snipe season | Feb. 1-21, provided these dates fall during the statewide open season for this species. |
| Squirrels, Rabbits, and Hares | May 1-31 (Air guns, rimfire and shotguns only). |
| Fishing | Open year-round during daylight hours only; except dates entire area closed. Trolling motors allowed. Zachry Lake has no boat motor restrictions and is a no wake zone. |
Youth and special seasons on Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: Nov. 7-8. Snipe, rail, gallinules may also be taken during these hunt days and shooting hours provided these hunt dates fall within the open seasons for these species.
Drawn hunts on Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit
E-Postcard selection hunts: Early Teal, Feral Hog, Waterfowl and Youth/Adult Waterfowl. See front section of booklet for Postcard Selection Hunt information. Apply through TPWD's Public Hunt Drawing System.
Rules on Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day. General public access to the Area is during daylight hours through designated legal entry points only and by APH or LPU Permit.
- General use: On-site registration is required for all visitors. General public access to the Area is during daylight hours through designated legal entry points only and by APH or LPU Permit. Advanced written permission of area manager is required for equestrian use. For more information call (903/389-7080). For more detailed map information, please see aerial photos on our website at http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/.
- Closed: Entire area closed: Sept. 18-Nov. 5, Nov. 9-22, Nov. 30-Dec. 20, and Jan. 4-31. Noon Opening Dates: Nov. 6, Nov. 23, Dec. 21, and Feb. 1
- Means restriction: Shotguns are restricted to non-toxic shot for all migratory birds.
- Special regulations: Dogs are prohibited except each permit holder may possess one dog while hunting migratory birds, squirrel, rabbits, or hares. See Prohibited Acts for further restrictions.
- Special season: Waterfowl: Shooting hours - one half hour before sunrise until 11 a.m. Hunter access begins at 5:00 a.m. No motorized vessels allowed. See page xv for youth hunting information and regulations.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #703N (PDF).
Richland Creek WMA, South Unit (#703S): what can you hunt in 2026-27?
This areaOther public hunting landNo hunting zoneCounty lineLake or riverHighway
Richland Creek WMA, South Unit is 8,974 acres in Freestone County and Anderson County. TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 2 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 |
|---|---|
| Squirrel, Rabbits & Hares | May 1-31. Air guns, rimfire, and shotgun only. Shooting hours and bag limits correspond to those for Freestone County. |
| Fishing | Open year-round during daylight hours only; except dates entire area closed. |
Drawn hunts on Richland Creek WMA, South Unit
E-Postcard selection hunts: Predator/Furbearer, Waterfowl and Youth/Adult Waterfowl. See the front of the booklet for “E-Postcard Selection Hunt” information. Apply through TPWD's Public Hunt Drawing System.
Rules on Richland Creek WMA, South Unit
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day. On-site registration is required for all visitors. General public access to the Area is during daylight hours through designated legal entry points only and only by APH or LPU Permit.
- General use: On-site registration is required for all visitors. General public access to the Area is during daylight hours through designated legal entry points only and only by APH or LPU Permit. Advanced written permission of area manager is required for equestrian use. For more information call (903/389-7080). For more detailed map information, please see aerial photos on our website at http://www.tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/.
- Closed: Entire area closed: Sept. 1-Mar. 28.
- Special regulations: Dogs are prohibited except each permit holder may possess one dog while hunting squirrel, rabbits, or hares. See Prohibited Acts for further restrictions.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #703S (PDF).
Which parts of Richland Creek WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Richland Creek WMA marks no hunting zones. No hunting zones are closed to all hunting. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Richland Creek WMA |
|---|---|---|
| No hunting zones | 293 | 2% |
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 Richland Creek WMA?
Richland Creek WMA lies in Freestone County and Navarro County. Nearest towns: Eureka (9 miles), Goodlow (10 miles), Trinidad (10 miles) and Malakoff (11 miles). Highways within 5 miles: US 287 (it crosses or touches the area) and TX 309 (1.4 miles). Rivers nearby: Trinity River.
TPWD's map points for Richland Creek WMA: 3 info stations, 2 camp sites, 10 parking areas and 1 headquarters.
TPWD's page says: Portions of the WMA may be closed for hunting activities:. Area office: (903) 389-7080, 1670 FM 488, Streetman, TX 75859.
From TPWD's Richland Creek WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Richland Creek WMA in?
Richland Creek WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 19 North. 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 Richland Creek WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Gus Engeling WMA | Anderson | 7.2 mi |
| Big Lake Bottom WMA | Anderson | 20.6 mi |
| Luminant Texas Public Hunting Land | Robertson | 50 mi |
| Old Sabine Bottom WMA | Smith | 54.8 mi |
| Tawakoni WMA | Hunt and Van Zandt | 55.3 mi |
TPWD also leases 2 dove and small game areas within 40 miles, the nearest Mount Moriah (550 acres, 28.8 mi) and Ivy (465 acres, 28.8 mi). All of them are on the Texas dove leases page.
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Richland Creek 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. General public access to the Area is during daylight hours through designated legal entry points only and by APH or LPU Permit.
Can you hunt deer on Richland Creek WMA?
Not on the Annual Public Hunting Permit: TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists no deer season here. Some places offer drawn hunts; see the drawn hunts section above.
Can you camp on Richland Creek WMA?
TPWD's booklet: Designated Camping Area (map legend).
Where is Richland Creek WMA?
Richland Creek WMA is in Freestone County and Navarro County. The nearest towns: Eureka (9 miles), Goodlow (10 miles) and Trinidad (10 miles). Highways nearby: US 287 and TX 309.
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 #703N and #703S.
- 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 Freestone County Navarro County Gus Engeling WMA Big Lake Bottom WMA Luminant Texas Public Hunting Land