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Houston/Beaumont region
J.D. Murphree WMA hunting
Public hunting on J.D. Murphree WMA (25,852 acres): alligators, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0)
The basics of J.D. Murphree WMA
Type of ground: wildlife management area run by TPWD. Manager: TPWD. Counties: Jefferson. The 25,852 acre figure places it 6th among 36 wildlife management areas with known acreage. From Port Arthur, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 10 miles to the southwest. Below are the 2 units that make up the hunting here.
TPWD runs 2 drawn hunt categories here (listed in the permit section).
The WMA office is at 10 Parks & Wildlife Dr., Port Arthur, TX 77640.
From the source record and 5 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at J.D. Murphree WMA, and when
Alligators are on the area list, and the season dates below are the Jefferson County zone dates.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alligator | General Season | Core | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 1 per tag |
Read the area rules too; managers of J.D. Murphree WMA can trim these seasons or limit them to drawn permits.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Jefferson County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near J.D. Murphree WMA
Deer limits for Jefferson County, the county this page uses for J.D. Murphree WMA.
Jefferson 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 a tag from the hunting license.
2026-27 deer dates, Jefferson 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 J.D. Murphree WMA
Rows link to each unit; distance is as the crow flies.
Units inside this area
| Unit | County | Acres | Unit no. | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.D. Murphree WMA, Salt Bayou Unit WMA unit | Jefferson | 15,397 | 783S | 2 mi |
| J.D. Murphree WMA, Big Hill Unit WMA unit | Jefferson | 9,861 | 783N | 3 mi |
Around J.D. Murphree WMA: towns and public areas
The map shows J.D. Murphree WMA in orange with 8 public neighbors inside 60 miles.
Town guides close by: Port Arthur (10 miles northeast, pop. 55,799); Winnie (22 miles west); Bolivar Peninsula (39 miles southwest).
J.D. Murphree WMA, Salt Bayou Unit (2 miles south)
Jefferson County; 2 miles south. 15,397 ac.
J.D. Murphree WMA, Big Hill Unit (3 miles northwest)
Jefferson County; 3 miles northwest. 9,861 ac.
Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge (9 miles southeast)
The Houston/Beaumont region; 9 miles southeast. 8,963 ac.
McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge (9 miles southwest)
The Houston/Beaumont region; 9 miles southwest. 67,473 ac.
Lower Neches WMA, Old River Unit (17 miles northeast)
Orange County; 17 miles northeast. 4,386 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 J.D. Murphree WMA
Permit facts are from TPWD and the managing agency.
TPWD drawing
| Drawn hunt | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|
| Alligator | Aug 1, 2026 |
| Youth Only Alligator | Aug 1, 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. 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 J.D. Murphree 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 J.D. Murphree 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 J.D. Murphree 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 J.D. Murphree WMA
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Beaumont) in Beaumont, about 25 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 J.D. Murphree WMA
Which agency runs J.D. Murphree WMA?
TPWD runs it as a wildlife management area run by TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
What license do I need for J.D. Murphree WMA?
A Texas hunting license: $25 for residents, $315 for the nonresident general license, $7 for hunters under 17.
Does J.D. Murphree WMA call for a permit beyond the license?
You must be drawn; apply online through TPWD.
Is J.D. Murphree WMA a large area?
Roughly 25,852 acres.
When does alligators season open at J.D. Murphree WMA?
General season, Sep 10 to Sep 30, 2026, under the Core (Jefferson County). Area rules can be shorter.
What is on the game list for J.D. Murphree WMA?
The area lists alligators.
Do I need hunter orange at J.D. Murphree WMA?
The public land rule is 400 sq in, 144 on both chest and back, orange on the head, whenever guns are in season. It does not apply to turkey, migratory bird or alligator hunting.
What is the deer bag near J.D. Murphree WMA?
4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max in Jefferson County. Antler restrictions are in force. The area can set a lower limit.
If J.D. Murphree WMA is crowded, where else can I go?
Closest on the TPWD and federal lists: J.D. Murphree WMA, Salt Bayou Unit (2 miles), J.D. Murphree WMA, Big Hill Unit (3 miles) and Sea Rim State Park (7 miles).
Which town makes a base for J.D. Murphree WMA?
Port Arthur sits 10 miles away (the area is southwest of it). Winnie is next at 22 miles.
J.D. Murphree WMA trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at J.D. Murphree WMA can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: gailhampshire (CC BY 2.0); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0).