Home › Texas › Public land › Sam Houston National Forest
TPWD Houston/Beaumont region
Sam Houston National Forest hunting
Permits, 2026-27 zone dates for whitetails, feral hogs, exotics and doves, deer limits and a map, built from TPWD and agency records.
Photo: Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to know Sam Houston National Forest
Sam Houston National Forest is a national forest in Montgomery County, Walker County and San Jacinto County, listed by U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas). Its 163,037 acres rank 1st of 4 national forests with a published acreage. Look west of New Waverly (the closest town we cover), about 8 miles out. 1 separate units carry the hunting, linked below.
Read the agency access rules in the permits section.
USFS: 'The entire Sam Houston National Forest is a wildlife management area' (TPWD's Sam Houston National Forest WMA).
From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Related tracts for Sam Houston National Forest
Distances are straight-line from this area’s map point.
Its separate units
| Tract | County | Acres | Booklet no. | Straight line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston National Forest WMA WMA | Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker | 161,508 | 905 | 10 mi |
Zone calendar for Sam Houston National Forest species
This area lists whitetails, feral hogs, exotics, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators, furbearers by trap and snipe, woodcock and rails; the zone that holds Montgomery County sets each date.
| Species | Season | TPWD zone | From | To | Daily bag | Open? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 3 a day | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Falconry | North Zone | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | 3 a day | |
| Geese | Early Canada geese | Eastern Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 5 Canada a day | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 5 dark a day | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 19, 2027 | 5 light a day | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | 10 a day or none | |
| Squirrel | Youth-Only | East Texas | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 10 a day or none | |
| Woodcock | Regular Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 a day | |
| Woodcock | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | — | |
| Snipe | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | 8 a day | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Rails and gallinules | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | — | |
| Feral hogs | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Exotics | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Trapping (furbearers) | Area rules | — | — | — | — |
Treat the table as the widest window allowed. The area itself may close earlier, limit days of the week or hunt only by drawing.
Texas sets no season for hogs, exotics, rabbits or predators on private property. Public ground sets its own limits, so the table says area rules.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Montgomery County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Buck and doe limits for Sam Houston National Forest
Whitetail rules here start from the Montgomery County line in the Outdoor Annual.
County deer listing
A 13 inch inside spread or one unbranched antler is the test for a legal buck in this county. Doe days Nov. 7-29, on the license tags. no antlerless harvest on National Forest Service property.
Deer seasons in the county
| Season | From | To | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Countywide |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Countywide |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
What to carry at Sam Houston National Forest: permits and orange
Each card below quotes a TPWD or agency rule with its source.
Public hunting permit
Buy a season hunting license first; the APH permit rides on it and covers adults 17 and older. 180+ areas and over 1 million acres come with it. Youth under 17 hunt free with a permitted adult 18 or older.
Managing agency rules
General forest: Texas hunting license only; no Limited Use Permit needed. Only portable stands (72-hour limit), no baiting, no antlerless deer harvest in general forest during the general season. WMA portions need the TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit; antlerless deer there need a USFS Antlerless Deer Permit drawn through the TPWD Public Hunt System.
License checklist
A Texas hunting license comes first ($25 resident, $315 nonresident general). Add the migratory bird endorsement plus free HIP certification and the duck stamp for waterfowl, ages 16 and up. The hunter education rule starts with birth dates of September 2, 1971.
Orange requirement
Wear daylight fluorescent orange in daylight hours while firearm hunting is permitted. Exemptions: turkey, migratory birds, alligators, and anyone in a vehicle, camp, parking lot, boat launch or check station.
Map of Sam Houston National Forest and nearby public ground
Neighbors inside 60 miles: 8. Orange is Sam Houston National Forest.
Base towns with guides: New Waverly east, 8 miles; Huntsville north, 12 miles; Coldspring east, 29 miles.
Huntsville State Park (8 miles northeast)
Walker County, 8 miles away (northeast). 2,083 ac.
Sam Houston National Forest WMA (10 miles east)
Montgomery County and San Jacinto County, 10 miles away (east). 161,508 ac.
Davy Crockett National Forest (53 miles northeast)
Houston County and Trinity County, 53 miles away (northeast). 161,100 ac.
Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (56 miles southeast)
Liberty County, 56 miles away (southeast). 29,607 ac.
Stephen F. Austin State Park (58 miles southwest)
Austin County, 58 miles away (southwest).
Trinity River NWR, Boars Den Unit (58 miles southeast)
The Houston/Beaumont region, 58 miles away (southeast).
Trinity River NWR, Brierwood Unit (58 miles southeast)
The Houston/Beaumont region, 58 miles away (southeast).
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Every 2026-27 season that covers Montgomery County
TPWD draws a separate zone map for deer, turkey, dove, ducks, geese, cranes and javelina. These rows are the ones that land on Montgomery County.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | Oct 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | East Texas | May 1, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | Youth-Only | East Texas | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Nov 19, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | North Zone | Dec 5, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Falconry | North Zone | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Geese | Early Canada geese | Eastern Zone | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Eastern Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 19, 2027 | |
| Alligator | General Season | Non-core | Apr 1, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 |
From the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 county and species pages, checked October 11, 2026.
First and last legal light at Sam Houston National Forest
Whitetails, turkeys and quail can be taken from a half hour before sunup until a half hour after sundown. Migratory birds close at sundown.
Times worked out for Sam Houston National Forest in Central time. Rule from the TPWD Outdoor Annual (shooting hours). Nongame, exotics and feral hogs on private land may be hunted at any hour. Shooting hours for every county.
Stocking up for Sam Houston National Forest
Each button runs a live Amazon search, so prices are current.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Box blind
Most Texas deer are hunted from elevated box blinds over senderos and feeders.
Deer feeder
Texas allows feeders on private land, but not for turkey in the East Zone or for migratory birds.
Local help for Sam Houston National Forest hunters
In-county first, then the next ring out.
For a game warden, try TPWD Law Enforcement Office (College Station) in College Station, 42 miles from the area.
Store locators (Academy, Bass Pro, Cabela’s), the TPWD law enforcement office list, Hunters for the Hungry and business listings, checked October 11, 2026. Call ahead.
Sam Houston National Forest questions, answered
Which species are allowed on Sam Houston National Forest?
Listed game: whitetails, feral hogs, exotics, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators, furbearers by trap and snipe, woodcock and rails.
What are the dove dates for Sam Houston National Forest?
Zone dates for Montgomery County (Central Zone): Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026. The area can trim that.
Is there an antler restriction at Sam Houston National Forest?
Per the Montgomery County page, 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. It is an antler restriction county. Permits may set their own bag.
What is the hunter orange rule for Sam Houston National Forest?
On TPWD public hunting lands, 400 square inches of daylight orange (144 on chest and back) plus an orange hat when firearm hunting is allowed. Not needed for turkey, migratory birds or alligator.
How do I find Sam Houston National Forest on a Texas road map?
New Waverly is closest, roughly 8 miles away; the area lies west of town. Second closest: Huntsville, 12 miles.
Is there more public ground close to Sam Houston National Forest?
Try Huntsville State Park (8 miles), Sam Houston National Forest WMA (10 miles) and Fort Boggy State Park (51 miles).
How early can I shoot at Sam Houston National Forest?
See the seven-day table above. Migratory birds quit at sunset, everything else 30 minutes later.
Can a hunter without hunter education go to Sam Houston National Forest?
Only with the one-time $10 deferral (17 and older) and an accompanying qualified hunter; the rule covers birth dates from September 2, 1971.
Is there a cheaper license for seniors?
Texas residents 65 and older pay $7 for the senior resident hunting license.
When can young hunters shoot ducks before the regular season?
HPMMU Oct. 17-18; South Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; North Nov. 7-8, 2026, by zone.
Sam Houston National Forest: ready to go
Rules on public ground change more often than county rules. Recheck Sam Houston National Forest on the agency page before you go.
Other photos on this page: Bobby Ketchum (CC0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0); Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0); sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0).