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National grassland · Dallas/Ft. Worth
Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland hunting
A hunter’s summary of Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland in Wise County: permits, zone dates, legal light and local services.
Photo: TexasExplorer98 (CC BY 2.0)
What Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland is and who runs it
U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas) oversees Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland, a national grassland covering ground in Wise County and Montague County. Size on record: 20,083 acres, 2nd in a field of 4 national grasslands. Decatur is the nearest of our town guides, roughly 10 miles away (the area lies north of it).
The agency’s own access rules are quoted under permits below.
USFS pages do not list species for the LBJ grassland beyond deer seasons on the NFGT hunting page.
From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Paperwork for hunting Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
Fees are TPWD figures for the license year.
Rules from the manager
USFS lists hunting among the most popular activities on the Caddo and LBJ National Grasslands; NFGT rules apply (Texas hunting license, portable stands only, no baiting).
Licensing
You need a hunting license; residents pay $25. Hunter education applies to anyone born on or after September 2, 1971.
Hunter orange rule
Federal managers set their own rules; the TPWD public land orange rule is shown for reference.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland species and 2026-27 dates
Game named for the area: whitetails. Each row uses the zone that covers Wise County.
| Species | Hunt | Zone | Opening | Closing | Limit | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Special Late | 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 |
Area rules can be narrower than the county zone: fewer days, drawn hunts only or restricted weapons.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Wise County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland plotted with nearby tracts
Orange marks Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland. Within 60 miles: 8 other public areas.
Nearest town guides: Decatur 10 miles out, south; Bowie 19 miles out, northwest; Gainesville 32 miles out, northeast.
Hagerman NWR, Nocona Unit (30 miles northwest)
30 miles to the northwest (Montague County). 822 ac.
Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (33 miles east)
33 miles to the east (Cooke County and Denton County). 41,303 ac.
Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Isle du Bois Unit (33 miles east)
33 miles to the east (Denton County).
Lewisville Lake (37 miles southeast)
37 miles to the southeast (Denton County). 9,138 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Wise County deer rules around Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
The county bag below is the ceiling; drawn hunts and area rules can be stricter.
Whitetail limit, Wise County
Bucks here must show one unbranched antler or a spread of 13 inches inside; the second buck cannot also be a wide branched one.
Deer calendar for the county
| Segment | First | Last | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Entire county |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Entire county |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Entire county |
| Special Late | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Entire county |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Entire county |
Zone-by-zone dates for Wise County
Sort through 13 game speciess with seasons in Wise County; the status column turns green when a season is open.
| Animal | Season | Zone or area | Starts | Ends | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Special Late | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Fall Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Turkey | Fall Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Fall season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | North Zone | Mar 27, 2027 | Mar 28, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring Youth-Only | North Zone | May 22, 2027 | May 23, 2027 | |
| Turkey | Spring season | North Zone | Apr 3, 2027 | May 16, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | All Other Counties | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | North Zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 7, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | North 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 (East of US 81 and 287) | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Eastern Zone (East of US 81 and 287) | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Eastern Zone (East of US 81 and 287) | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 19, 2027 | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Western Zone (West of US 81 and 287) | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Western Zone (West of US 81 and 287) | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone B (West of US 287 only) | Nov 27, 2026 | Jan 31, 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.
How long you can hunt each day near Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
Big game and upland birds get a half hour of light on each end of the day. Waterfowl, doves and cranes get the morning half hour but stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland 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.
Processing, taxidermy and supplies near Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
Wise County listings first, then bordering counties.
Closest warden office on file: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Fort Worth Area) in Haltom City, 45 miles.
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.
Loading up for Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
Four items picked for the game hunted here, each with a live search.
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Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland: common questions
What are the buck rules near Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?
The Wise County listing allows 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. Buck antler rules apply. Area rules may be tighter.
Does the orange rule apply at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?
400 square inches minimum with 144 each on chest and back and an orange cap, during daylight firearm hunting. Turkey, waterfowl, dove and alligator hunters are exempt. Ask the federal manager.
How far is Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland from Decatur?
Straight-line, 10 miles north from Decatur. Bowie is 19 miles out.
What is the closest public area to Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?
Home Place (29 miles), Rater/Crump (29 miles) and Thompson (29 miles).
Can I hunt doves until sunset at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?
Legal light: 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset, except doves and waterfowl, which end at sunset.
How young can a child hunt in Texas?
Children under 9 may hunt only when accompanied by a licensed adult 17 or older who has passed hunter education or is exempt.
What does a youth license cost?
$7 for anyone under 17 at purchase, resident or not, valid the whole license year.
Who counts as a youth hunter?
Licensed hunters 16 or younger. Youth license (Type 169, $7) valid all license year.
Is Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland state or federal land?
A national grassland; the manager is U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas). Program name: National Forest System lands.
How much ground does Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland cover?
20,083 acres, as published by USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics GIS (NFS-owned acres, rounded).
Wrapping up Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland
Double-check Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland with its manager: open days, check-in and any drawn-hunt rules.
Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0).