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Pineywoods region
Bannister WMA hunting
Public hunting on Bannister WMA (25,695 acres): whitetails, feral hogs, exotics and doves, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0)
The basics of Bannister WMA
Type of ground: wildlife management area run by TPWD. Manager: TPWD. Counties: San Augustine. The 25,695 acre figure places it 8th among 36 wildlife management areas with known acreage. From Broaddus, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 4 miles to the northeast. It belongs to the larger Angelina National Forest listing.
Access is through the TPWD Annual Public Hunting permit. The area carries youth-only seasons too. TPWD runs 2 drawn hunt categories here (listed in the permit section).
WMA page 25,695 acres; APH GIS layer 21,131 deed acres.
The WMA office is at 8096 FM 2782, Nacogdoches, TX 75964.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at Bannister WMA, and when
Whitetails, feral hogs, exotics, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators, furbearers by trap and snipe, woodcock and rails are on the area list, and the season dates below are the San Augustine County zone dates.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Bag | 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 | 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 sets it | — | — | — | — | |
| Exotics | Area sets it | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | Area sets it | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area sets it | — | — | — | — | |
| Trapping (furbearers) | Area sets it | — | — | — | — |
Read the area rules too; managers of Bannister WMA can trim these seasons or limit them to drawn permits.
For hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators, the private-land rule is no season and no limit; public areas write their own.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for San Augustine County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near Bannister WMA
Deer limits for San Augustine County, the county this page uses for Bannister WMA.
San Augustine County buck and doe rules
TPWD restricts bucks in this county to spikes and other unbranched bucks or a 13 inch inside spread, one wide branched buck at most. Nov. 7-29: antlerless with an MLDP or license tag. Not on U.S. Forest Service land. Dec. 1-Jan. 4: antlerless on MLDP tags, nothing else.
2026-27 deer dates, San Augustine County
| Season | Open | Close | Part of county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | All areas |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | All areas |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
Linked units around Bannister WMA
Rows link to each unit; distance is as the crow flies.
Up one level: Angelina National Forest
| Unit | County | Acres | Unit no. | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelina National Forest national forest | Angelina, Nacogdoches, San Augustine, Jasper | 153,179 | — | 1 mi |
Around Bannister WMA: towns and public areas
The map shows Bannister WMA in orange with 8 public neighbors inside 60 miles.
Town guides close by: Broaddus (4 miles southwest, pop. 183); San Augustine (14 miles northeast, pop. 1,848); Pineland (17 miles southeast, pop. 896).
Angelina National Forest (1 mile south)
Angelina County and Nacogdoches County; 1 mile south. 153,179 ac.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir (11 miles southwest)
Angelina County and Jasper County; 11 miles southwest. 6,000 ac.
Lake Kurth (City of Lufkin) (13 miles southwest)
The Pineywoods region; 13 miles southwest.
Moore Plantation WMA (21 miles southeast)
Sabine County and Jasper County; 21 miles southeast. 26,772 ac.
Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA (32 miles south)
Jasper County and Tyler County; 32 miles south. 12,636 ac.
Alazan Bayou WMA (33 miles west)
Nacogdoches County and Angelina County; 33 miles west. 2,063 ac.
Sabine National Forest (33 miles northeast)
Sabine County and San Augustine County; 33 miles northeast. 160,656 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Licenses and permits that cover Bannister WMA
Permit facts are from TPWD and the managing agency.
The APH permit
The APH permit is required for adults 17 and older on TPWD public hunting lands, and you must hold a season hunting license to buy it. It is good on 180+ areas totaling over 1 million acres. A permitted adult 18 or older can bring hunters under 17 at no charge.
TPWD drawing
| Drawn hunt | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|
| USFS Antlerless Deer Permit – Adult | Sep 15, 2026 |
| USFS Antlerless Deer Permit – Youth | Sep 15, 2026 |
Apply through the TPWD drawing system before the category deadline; youth apply free.
License and endorsements
License first: $25 for a resident, $7 for youth. For the game listed here, add free HIP plus the migratory bird endorsement and a federal duck stamp for waterfowl hunters 16 and older. Born September 2, 1971 or later? Hunter education is required.
Orange on public land
When guns are allowed in daylight, wear the orange; turkey, migratory birds and alligator are the exceptions.
On the hunt area
Take deer directly to the check station; hunting from vehicles is off limits; dogs only for squirrel, rabbits, hares and birds other than turkey.
Sunrise, sunset and shooting time for Bannister WMA
Morning legal light comes 30 minutes before sunrise for every game species. In the evening, migratory birds stop at sunset and everything else 30 minutes later.
Times worked out for Bannister WMA 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.
Outfitting a hunt in Bannister WMA
Items matched to the species listed for this place.
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Deer feeder
Feeders are legal for deer on private land; public areas set their own rules.
Who handles game killed at Bannister WMA
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Beaumont) in Beaumont, about 85 miles away.
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.
Quick answers on Bannister WMA
Does Bannister WMA have drawn hunts?
Apply online for USFS Antlerless Deer Permit – Adult and USFS Antlerless Deer Permit – Youth. Look for BA in the catalog. 2026 deadlines ran Sep 15, 2026 to Sep 15, 2026.
If Bannister WMA is crowded, where else can I go?
Closest on the TPWD and federal lists: Angelina National Forest (1 mile), Sam Rayburn Reservoir (11 miles) and Lake Kurth (City of Lufkin) (13 miles).
What time does legal light start at Bannister WMA?
From 30 minutes before sunrise. Game animals and upland birds run to 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds stop at sunset. Daily times are in the table above.
Is there a map of Bannister WMA?
Unit 903. Use the map button above. Printed booklets stop after this season.
What license do I need for Bannister WMA?
A Texas hunting license: $25 for residents, $315 for the nonresident general license, $7 for hunters under 17.
Can I put off hunter education?
Hunters 17 and older can buy a one-time $10 deferral, good to the end of the license year, and hunt accompanied.
Which agency runs Bannister WMA?
TPWD runs it as a wildlife management area run by TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
When are the youth-only deer days?
Deer: Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2026 (both zones); Jan. 4-17, 2027 (North Zone).
Does Bannister WMA call for a permit beyond the license?
An APH permit ($48) on top of a Texas hunting license; under 17 hunt free with a permitted adult.
Is Bannister WMA a large area?
Roughly 25,695 acres.
Bannister WMA trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at Bannister WMA can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: pedrik (CC BY 2.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0).