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Anderson County · Pineywoods
Gus Engeling WMA hunting
Everything we could verify about Gus Engeling WMA: access, acreage, game list, season dates and the ground nearby.
Photo: Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0)
Gus Engeling WMA in brief, for hunters
In Anderson County, Gus Engeling WMA is a wildlife management area run by TPWD under TPWD. At 11,095 acres it is the 17th largest of the 36 wildlife management areas that report a size. Of the towns with a guide on this site, Athens is closest: the map point is about 18 miles south of it.
An Annual Public Hunting permit ($48) is needed to hunt here. Certain hunts are drawn by E-Postcard among APH holders. Youth-only days are on the schedule. Drawn hunts: 9 categories in the 2026-27 catalog.
WMA page 11,095 acres; APH GIS layer 9,957 deed acres.
Office address: 16149 North US Hwy 287, Tennessee Colony, TX 75861.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Game and season dates at Gus Engeling WMA
The source lists whitetails, feral hogs, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails for this ground. Dates follow the Anderson County zones.
| Game | Segment | Zone or area | Begins | Ends | Bag | Right 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 | Set by area | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | Set by area | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Set by area | — | — | — | — |
Gus Engeling WMA sets its own calendar inside these dates; some seasons may be shorter or by permit only.
Rows marked area rules are species with no statewide season on private land; the managing agency decides on public ground.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Anderson County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Gus Engeling WMA permit, license and orange rules
What you need in your pocket, card by card.
Annual Public Hunting permit
Hunters 17 and over carry the APH permit here. A season hunting license comes first. One permit covers more than 1 million acres across 180-plus areas. Kids under 17 need no permit when with a permitted adult 18+.
Public hunt drawing
| Hunt type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Archery Deer | Aug 15, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Furbearer/Predator | — |
| E-Postcard Multi-Species | Sep 15, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Squirrel | Sep 1, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Waterfowl | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex | Sep 1, 2026 |
Deadlines fall on the 1st or 15th; drawings follow the next business day and permits are claimed online within 10 days.
Base license and add-ons
The base is a hunting license, $25 for Texans. Also plan on HIP (free) and the migratory endorsement, a federal stamp for waterfowl at 16 and older and an archery endorsement for bow seasons. Hunter ed is required from the September 2, 1971 birth date forward.
Wear orange
The orange rule runs during daylight when firearms are allowed on the area. It does not apply to turkey, waterfowl and dove, or alligator hunters.
TPWD public hunt rules
Dogs are limited to squirrel, rabbit, hare and non-turkey game birds. Do not hunt from a vehicle, and take deer directly to check in.
Anderson County deer listing for Gus Engeling WMA hunters
Texas sets deer bags county by county; this is the Anderson County version that applies around Gus Engeling WMA.
Anderson County deer bag
Antler rule county: a legal buck has an unbranched antler or a 13 inch inside spread, and only one of two bucks may be branched and 13 inches wide. Does Nov. 7-29, with license tags.
Anderson County deer segments
| Hunt | Begins | Ends | Covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | All |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | All |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | All |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All |
Public tracts within 60 miles of Gus Engeling WMA
8 more public areas lie within 60 miles; the orange pin is Gus Engeling WMA.
Covered towns within reach: Athens (18 miles to the north); Palestine (19 miles to the southeast); Fairfield (23 miles to the southwest).
Richland Creek WMA, South Unit (9 miles west)
WMA unit, 9 miles west, Freestone County and Navarro County. 8,974 ac.
Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit (11 miles west)
WMA unit, 11 miles west, Freestone County and Navarro County. 5,628 ac.
Neches River NWR, Sandy Bluff Unit (28 miles east)
Refuge unit, 28 miles east, Cherokee County.
Neches River NWR, Rocky Point Unit (28 miles east)
Refuge unit, 28 miles east, Cherokee County.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Youth hunts, banquets and contests in Gus Engeling WMA
Listed as of October 11, 2026: 2 upcoming dates.
Upcoming here
| When | Event | Location | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31-Nov 1, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Antlerless/Spike – Gus Engeling WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Gus Engeling WMA, Anderson County | Drawing page |
| Nov 21-23, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Either Sex – Gus Engeling WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Gus Engeling WMA, Anderson County | Drawing page |
After the hunt at Gus Engeling WMA: processors and taxidermy
Nearest first within each county.
The TPWD office nearest the area is TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Tyler) in Tyler, about 47 miles out.
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.
Gus Engeling WMA hunting kit
Prices change; the buttons search Amazon at the moment you click.
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Field dressing kit
Knife, saw and gloves in one pouch for the first job after the shot.
Gus Engeling WMA: seven days of hunting hours
The TPWD window runs from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes past sunset, except for migratory game birds, which end right at sunset.
Times worked out for Gus Engeling 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.
Hunters ask about Gus Engeling WMA
When can I hunt doves at Gus Engeling WMA?
In the Central Zone, regular season runs Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026; confirm area dates.
Which game does the listing name for Gus Engeling WMA?
Per the source, whitetails, feral hogs, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators and snipe, woodcock and rails.
Is orange mandatory when gun hunting Gus Engeling WMA?
Yes, when firearms are allowed: at least 400 sq in of orange, 144 front and back, and orange headwear. Exceptions include turkey, migratory birds and alligators.
What does Anderson County allow for whitetails?
Anderson County: 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. The 13 inch rule applies. Drawn hunts and area rules can be stricter.
Which public areas neighbor Gus Engeling WMA?
Close by are Trinity River WMA (7 miles), Richland Creek WMA, South Unit (9 miles) and Richland Creek WMA, Carl Frentress Unit (11 miles).
Which of our town guides is closest to Gus Engeling WMA?
Start from Athens; the area is 18 miles south. Or Palestine, 19 miles away.
Which map booklet unit is Gus Engeling WMA?
Look up unit 754. Open the TPWD map link in the summary. The printed booklet ends with 2026-27.
When are drawn hunt deadlines for Gus Engeling WMA?
9 categories, such as Archery Deer, E-Postcard Furbearer/Predator, E-Postcard Multi-Species and E-Postcard Squirrel. OArea EN. Apply between deadlines of Aug 15, 2026 and Oct 1, 2026.
Is hunter education required for adults?
For adults born on or after September 2, 1971, yes, unless they buy the deferral and hunt accompanied.
When does shooting end at Gus Engeling WMA?
Shooting opens 30 minutes before sunrise; it ends at sunset for migratory birds and 30 minutes after for other game.
Gus Engeling WMA send-off notes
Every area writes its own fine print. Read the Gus Engeling WMA page at the agency and carry your permits.
Other photos on this page: LFLamb (CC BY-SA 2.0); Peter Sheik (CC BY 2.0); sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0).