Sam Houston National Forest WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Sam Houston National Forest WMA is 162,984 acres of public hunting land in San Jacinto County, Walker County and Montgomery County, Texas, TPWD unit #905. 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, woodcock, rail, and gallinule, snipe and dove.
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 zonePrivate land insideArchery onlyCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #905 |
|---|---|
| Size | 162,984 acres (TPWD booklet); 162,753 acres mapped |
| County | San Jacinto County, Walker County, Montgomery County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Owned by | United States Forest Service |
| Legal game listed | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hog and Exotic Mammals, Waterfowl, Woodcock, Rail, and Gallinule, Snipe, Dove, Squirrel and Furbearers |
| Deer | White-tailed Deer: bag limit - 2 buck and 2 antlerless (all seasons combined). Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an ins... |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 14 |
| Towns | Coldspring (next to it), Shepherd (2 mi) and North Cleveland (2 mi) |
| Highways | I-45, TX 150, US 190 and TX 105 |
What can you hunt on Sam Houston National Forest WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 14 legal game entries for Sam Houston National Forest 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 - 2 buck and 2 antlerless (all seasons combined). Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Limit 1 buck with an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Archery Only Season: Oct. 3- Nov. 6 (either sex). No USFS Antlerless Deer Permit required. General Season: Nov. 7-Jan. 3 (buck only unless in possession of a USFS Antlerless Deer Permit obtained from the USFS. See USFS Additional Restriction section for more information on antlerless deer permits). Muzzleloader: Jan. 4-17 (either sex, buck must have at least one unbranched antler). No USFS Antlerless Deer Permit required. |
| Feral Hog and Exotic Mammals | Open year-round (no bag limit). All legal firearms, air guns, arrow guns and archery equipment may be used. |
| Waterfowl | Shooting hours - one half hour before sunrise to noon. Hunting is allowed each day of the Early Teal, North Zone Duck, Falconry, and Eastern Zone Goose seasons. |
| Woodcock, Rail, and Gallinule | Each day of Statewide and Falconry Seasons. |
| Snipe | Each day of Statewide Season. |
| Dove | Each day of Central Zone Dove and Falconry season. |
| Squirrel | Each day of the East Texas Regular Season. |
| Bullfrogs | daily limit of 25. |
| Fishing | No APH or LPU permit required. |
| Trapping | Sept. 1-Aug. 31, furbearers and predators only. |
Also listed as legal game, with no dates of their own: Furbearers, Rabbits & Hares, Crayfish and Predators.
Youth and special seasons
- Youth/Adult Squirrel: Sept. 25-27. Shotgun, air gun, and rimfire only.
- Youth Only Deer: Oct. 30-Nov. 1 (either sex) and Jan. 4-17 (either sex, buck must have at least one unbranched antler). See Legal Game Box for White-tailed Deer bag limit and legal buck requirements. No USFS Antlerless Deer Permit required. See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Youth Season information and regulations.
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations. Shooting hours end at noon.
What are the rules on Sam Houston National Forest WMA?
- Permit and registration: MANDATORY eOSR and Deer Harvest Reporting: All hunters must complete Electronic On-Site Registration (eOSR) to access this unit using the Texas Hunt & Fish (THF) mobile app or website. Only hunters are required to possess the APH Permit.
- Rule: MANDATORY eOSR and Deer Harvest Reporting: All hunters must complete Electronic On-Site Registration (eOSR) to access this unit using the Texas Hunt & Fish (THF) mobile app or website. Report deer harvest in eOSR.
- Special regulations: Only hunters are required to possess the APH Permit.
- Rule: Map legend: Archery Hunting Only
- Rule: Map legend: National Forest Recreation Area (NO Hunting)
- Rule: Map labels: Stubblefield Recreation Area (NO Hunting); Scott’s Ridge Recreation Area (NO Hunting); Double Lake Recreation Area (NO Hunting); Big Creek Scenic Area (NO Hunting); 'NO HUNTING' along the Lake Conroe shore; 'Archery Only' areas near Huntsville State Park and east of Lake Conroe off FM 1375.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #905 (PDF).
Which parts of Sam Houston National Forest WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Sam Houston National Forest WMA marks no hunting zones, private land inside the boundary and archery only. No hunting zones are closed to all hunting. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Sam Houston National Forest WMA |
|---|---|---|
| No hunting zones | 5,823 | 3.6% |
| Private land inside the boundary | 1,569 | 1% |
| Archery only | 2,412 | 1.5% |
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 Sam Houston National Forest WMA?
Sam Houston National Forest WMA lies in San Jacinto County, Walker County and Montgomery County. Nearest towns: Coldspring (next to it), Shepherd (2 miles), North Cleveland (2 miles) and Huntsville (2 miles). Highways within 5 miles: I-45 (it crosses or touches the area), TX 150 (it crosses or touches the area), US 190 (it crosses or touches the area), TX 105 (it crosses or touches the area) and TX 30 (it crosses or touches the area). Water nearby: Lake Conroe and Huntsville State Park Lake.
TPWD's map points for Sam Houston National Forest WMA: 10 info stations, 9 camp sites, 2 maintained campsite and 13 back country camp sites.
TPWD's page says: Open year round. TPWD's page gives the area as 161,508 acres. Area office: (936) 553-7641, 8096 FM 2782, Nacogdoches, TX 75964.
From TPWD's Sam Houston National Forest WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Sam Houston National Forest WMA in?
Sam Houston National Forest 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 Sam Houston National Forest WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville State Park | Walker | next to it |
| Alabama Creek WMA | Trinity | 36.3 mi |
| Somerville Public Hunting Land and Lake Somerville Trailway | Lee and Burleson | 53.5 mi |
| Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA | Jasper and Tyler | 54.5 mi |
| Luminant Texas Public Hunting Land | Robertson | 58.3 mi |
TPWD also leases 1 dove and small game area within 40 miles, the nearest Gum Slough (254 acres, 30.5 mi). All of them are on the Texas dove leases page.
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Sam Houston National Forest 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: MANDATORY eOSR and Deer Harvest Reporting: All hunters must complete Electronic On-Site Registration (eOSR) to access this unit using the Texas Hunt & Fish (THF) mobile app or website. Only hunters are required to possess the APH Permit.
When is deer season on Sam Houston National Forest WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: White-tailed Deer: bag limit - 2 buck and 2 antlerless (all seasons combined). Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Limit 1 buck with an inside spread of at least 13 inches. Archery Only Season: Oct. 3- Nov. 6 (either sex). No USFS Antlerless Deer Permit required. General Season: Nov. 7-Jan. 3 (buck only unless in possession of a USFS Antlerless Deer Permit obtained from the USFS. See USFS Additional Restriction section for more information on antlerless deer permits). Muzzleloader: Jan. 4-17 (either sex, buck must have at least one unbranched antler). No USFS Antlerless Deer Permit required.
Can you camp on Sam Houston National Forest WMA?
TPWD's booklet: NOTE: For Maintained Campsites: Fee & Registration Required at recreation.gov.
Where is Sam Houston National Forest WMA?
Sam Houston National Forest WMA is in San Jacinto County, Walker County and Montgomery County. The nearest towns: Coldspring (next to it), Shepherd (2 miles) and North Cleveland (2 miles). Highways nearby: I-45, TX 150 and US 190.
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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 #905.
- 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 San Jacinto County Walker County Huntsville State Park Alabama Creek WMA Somerville Public Hunting Land and Lake Somerville Trailway