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Panhandle region
McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) hunting
Public hunting on McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) (1,449 acres): mule deer, whitetails and feral hogs, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: objectfox (CC BY 2.0)
The basics of McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
Type of ground: national grassland. Manager: U.S. Forest Service (Cibola NF and National Grasslands). Counties: Gray. The 1,449 acre figure places it 4th among 4 national grasslands with known acreage. From McLean, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 15 miles to the west.
TPWD runs 2 drawn hunt categories here (listed in the permit section).
County from the USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics layer.
From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area), and when
Mule deer, whitetails and feral hogs are on the area list, and the season dates below are the Gray County zone dates.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Panhandle | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | — | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Panhandle | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | — | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Special Late | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 5 deer | |
| Feral hogs | Area sets it | — | — | — | — |
Read the area rules too; managers of McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) 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 Gray County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
Deer limits for Gray County, the county this page uses for McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area).
Gray County buck and doe rules
Muleys
Panhandle applies to mule deer.
2026-27 deer dates, Gray 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 |
| Special Late | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
Around McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area): towns and public areas
The map shows McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) in orange with 8 public neighbors inside 60 miles.
Town guides close by: McLean (15 miles east, pop. 648); Clarendon (19 miles south, pop. 1,843); Pampa (23 miles north, pop. 16,487).
Palo Duro Canyon State Park (48 miles southwest)
Randall County and Armstrong County; 48 miles southwest.
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 McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
Permit facts are from TPWD and the managing agency.
TPWD drawing
| Drawn hunt | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 1, 2026 |
Apply through the TPWD drawing system before the category deadline; youth apply free.
What the agency requires
TPWD drawn special-permit hunts: Youth Only Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike; Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex.
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.
Hunting events tied to McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
2 upcoming dates (youth hunts), retrieved October 11, 2026.
On the way
| Date | Event | Place | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11-13, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike – Lake McClellan Recreation Area · drawn youth-only hunt | Lake McClellan Recreation Area, Gray County | Drawing page |
| Dec 11-13, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Lake McClellan Recreation Area · drawn youth-only hunt | Lake McClellan Recreation Area, Gray County | Drawing page |
Sunrise, sunset and shooting time for McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
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 McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) 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 McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
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 McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Amarillo) in Amarillo, about 55 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 McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)
When does mule deer season open at McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
General season, Nov 21 to Dec 6, 2026, under the Panhandle (Gray County). Area rules can be shorter.
What is on the game list for McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
The area lists mule deer, whitetails and feral hogs.
Do I need hunter orange at McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
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 McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
5 deer, 1 buck max in Gray County. No antler restriction. The area can set a lower limit.
If McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) is crowded, where else can I go?
Closest on the TPWD and federal lists: South Place (14 miles), Pat's Place (18 miles) and Rio Farms (19 miles).
Which town makes a base for McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
McLean sits 15 miles away (the area is west of it). Clarendon is next at 19 miles.
What time does legal light start at McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
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.
Does McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) have drawn hunts?
Apply online for Youth Only Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike and Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex. Look for LM in the catalog. 2026 deadlines ran Sep 1, 2026 to Sep 15, 2026.
What license do I need for McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area)?
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.
McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at McClellan Creek National Grassland (Lake McClellan Recreation Area) can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain); TexasExplorer98 (CC BY 2.0); BaronBrian (CC BY 2.0).