Tawakoni WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Tawakoni WMA is 38,745 acres of public hunting land in Hunt County and Van Zandt County, Texas, TPWD unit #708. 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 hogs among the legal game, along with dove, waterfowl, snipe and woodcock and squirrel, rabbits & hares, & racoons.
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 | #708 |
|---|---|
| Size | 38,745 acres (TPWD booklet); 2,039 acres mapped |
| County | Hunt County, Van Zandt County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48), eOSR registration each day |
| Owned by | Sabine River Authority |
| Legal game listed | White-tailed Deer, Feral Hogs, Dove, Waterfowl, Snipe and Woodcock and Squirrel, Rabbits & Hares, & Racoons |
| Deer | Archery Only White-tailed Deer Season: Oct. 3-Jan. 3. Bag limit - 3 deer (either sex, no more than 1 buck). Legal buck must have at least on... |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 18 |
| Towns | Quinlan (2 mi), Lone Oak (2 mi) and Hawk Cove (3 mi) |
| Highways | TX 34, US 69 and TX 276 (1.6 mi) |
What can you hunt on Tawakoni WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 8 legal game entries for Tawakoni WMA, deer among them. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Archery Only White-tailed Deer Season | Oct. 3-Jan. 3. Bag limit - 3 deer (either sex, no more than 1 buck). Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches. |
| Feral Hogs | (no bag limit) Archery Only Season: No closed season. See “Special Regulations”. General Season: Jan. 4-May 31. Shotguns (with slugs or buckshot) and archery. |
| Dove | First Split Central Zone ONLY. |
| Waterfowl | Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to noon except all day hunting is allowed for Early Teal. Hunting is allowed each day of the Early Teal, North Zone Duck and Eastern Zone Goose seasons. |
| Snipe and Woodcock | May be taken during the open seasons for these species. |
| Squirrel, Rabbits & Hares, & Racoons | Oct. 1-Feb. 28 and May 1-31. |
| Fishing | No permit required. |
| Bullfrogs | (No firearms) Daily limit of 25. |
Youth and special seasons
- Youth Only Squirrel: Sept. 25-27. Shotgun and Air Rifle only.
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty MilitaryOnly Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations. Shooting ends at noon.
What are the rules on Tawakoni WMA?
- Permit and registration: OSR Required Each Day
- Means restrictions: Firearms are restricted to shotguns with non-toxic shot or no larger than #4 lead shot except for general season feral hog. Air Rifles are legal means for squirrel, rabbits, hares, and raccoons.
- Special regulations: No shooting within 50 yards of power substation on Caddo Creek Unit. Hunting animals at night is prohibited except while pursuing bullfrogs and raccoons during specified seasons. The use of dogs for hunting feral hogs and white-tailed deer is prohibited. Use of horses is allowed Sept. 1-31 and Jun. 1-Aug. 31. No target shooting. No OHV use on area. See Prohibited Acts for further restrictions. Parking is restricted to designated areas only, do not block gates or roads.
- Rule: Waterfowl Hunting Only Area: Hunting is restricted to the surface of Lake Tawakoni within the existing water’s edge. Waterfowl are the only legal species that may be hunted. Waterfowl hunting is prohibited within 300 yards of an inhabitable structure and within 100 yards of park boundaries, the dam, spillway, and SRA office area.
- Rule: Voluntary deer check station: Hunters who harvest white-tailed deer within any unit are encouraged to bring their animals to a TPWD check station within 48 hours of harvest. Hunters should check each animal harvested and receive a CWD receipt. Hunters must abide by statewide carcass disposal restrictions. The department will make every effort to publicize the location of CWD check stations. For the latest updates, call (800) 792-1112, or visit tpwd.texas.gov/oa/CWD.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #708 (PDF).
How do you get to Tawakoni WMA?
Tawakoni WMA lies in Hunt County and Van Zandt County. Nearest towns: Quinlan (2 miles), Lone Oak (2 miles), Hawk Cove (3 miles) and West Tawakoni (4 miles). Highways within 5 miles: TX 34 (it crosses or touches the area), US 69 (it crosses or touches the area) and TX 276 (1.6 miles). Water nearby: Lake Tawakoni and Greenville Club Lake.
TPWD's map points for Tawakoni WMA: 5 parking/designated access point, 1 camp site, 5 info stations, 1 canoe/small craft launch and 5 boat ramps.
TPWD's page says: Open year round. TPWD's page gives the area as 2335 acres. Area office: (903) 881-8233, 21187 CR 4106, Lindale, TX 75771.
From TPWD's Tawakoni WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Tawakoni WMA in?
Tawakoni WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 18. 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 Tawakoni WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cooper WMA | Delta and Hopkins | 19 mi |
| Cooper Lake State Park South Sulphur Unit | Hopkins | 24.1 mi |
| Caddo National Grasslands WMA | Fannin | 26.4 mi |
| Old Sabine Bottom WMA | Smith | 40.4 mi |
| Bois d'Arc Lake Public Hunting Land | Fannin | 41.9 mi |
| Pat Mayse WMA | Lamar | 55 mi |
TPWD also leases 8 dove and small game areas within 40 miles, the nearest East FM 1570 (230 acres, 9.9 mi), North Royse City (188 acres, 11.7 mi) and Black Branch (200 acres, 11.9 mi). All of them are on the Texas dove leases page.
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Tawakoni 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 Tawakoni WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: Archery Only White-tailed Deer Season: Oct. 3-Jan. 3. Bag limit - 3 deer (either sex, no more than 1 buck). Legal buck must have at least one unbranched antler or an inside spread of at least 13 inches.
Can you camp on Tawakoni WMA?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet prints no camping rules for Tawakoni WMA. Ask the area office before planning to stay overnight.
Where is Tawakoni WMA?
Tawakoni WMA is in Hunt County and Van Zandt County. The nearest towns: Quinlan (2 miles), Lone Oak (2 miles) and Hawk Cove (3 miles). Highways nearby: TX 34, US 69 and TX 276.
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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 #708.
- 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 Hunt County Van Zandt County Cooper WMA Cooper Lake State Park South Sulphur Unit Caddo National Grasslands WMA