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2026-27 · WMA
Keechi Creek WMA hunting
1,500 acres of WMA ground in Leon County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: gurdonark (CC BY 2.0)
About the Keechi Creek WMA ground
Think of Keechi Creek WMA as a wildlife management area run by TPWD; TPWD sets its rules, and it sits in Leon County. With 1,500 acres, it is number 34 by size among 36 wildlife management areas. Among our town guides, Centerville is closest; the area lies 16 miles northeast in a straight line.
TPWD lists it in the Annual Public Hunting program, so the APH permit applies. TPWD fills some hunts here by E-Postcard drawing. The TPWD drawing covers 6 hunt types at this site.
Office on file: 1670 FM 488, Streetman, TX 75859.
From the source record and 6 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Keechi Creek WMA
Prices and rules come straight from the TPWD license and drawing pages.
APH access
TPWD sells the APH permit only to holders of a season hunting license, and every hunter 17 and up on this ground needs one. Coverage: more than 180 areas, over 1 million acres. No permit for under-17 hunters accompanied by a permitted adult.
Drawn categories
| Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| E-Postcard Archery Deer | Sep 1, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Deer | Sep 15, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Feral Hog | Nov 1, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Multi-Species | Sep 15, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Squirrel | Sep 1, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Waterfowl | Oct 1, 2026 |
TPWD takes drawn-hunt applications online, with deadlines on the 1st and the 15th; winners have 10 days to claim.
Licenses for this ground
Start with a Texas hunting license: $25 for residents. This area’s game list calls for HIP certification (free) and the migratory endorsement for doves and waterfowl, a federal duck stamp if you are 16 or older and the archery endorsement. Hunters born on or after September 2, 1971 must pass hunter education or use the deferral.
Blaze orange rule
On public hunting lands this rule applies in daylight whenever firearm hunting is allowed. Turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunters are exempt, as are people in vehicles, campgrounds, parking areas, boat ramps and check stations.
Public hunt rules
No hunting from vehicles; dogs only for squirrel, rabbit, hare and game birds other than turkey; no buckshot unless allowed; deer go straight to the check station.
Keechi Creek WMA: species list with zone dates
For Leon County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (whitetails, feral hogs, ducks and geese, squirrels and rabbits).
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| Feral hogs | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Keechi Creek WMA included, often open fewer days or only by permit.
Feral hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators have no state season or bag on private land; on public areas the area’s own rules decide.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Leon County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Keechi Creek WMA deer rules from the Leon County listing
Keechi Creek WMA uses the Leon County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Leon County whitetail line
Under the antler restriction, two bucks are allowed, only one branched with a 13 inch or wider spread. From Nov. 7-29, does are legal by hunting license tag.
Whitetail dates by segment
| Deer season | Start | End | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Whole county |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Whole county |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
Mapping Keechi Creek WMA and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Keechi Creek WMA: 8 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Centerville 16 miles, southwest; Crockett 23 miles, east; Palestine 24 miles, northeast.
Big Lake Bottom WMA (18 miles north)
Head north 18 miles to reach it, in Anderson County. 4,253 ac.
Fort Boggy State Park (20 miles southwest)
Head southwest 20 miles to reach it, in Leon County.
Gus Engeling WMA (35 miles north)
Head north 35 miles to reach it, in Anderson County. 11,095 ac.
Luminant Texas Public Hunting Unit (35 miles west)
Head west 35 miles to reach it, in Robertson County. 1,071 ac.
I.D. Fairchild State Forest (36 miles northeast)
Head northeast 36 miles to reach it, in the Pineywoods region.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Keechi Creek WMA: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (College Station) in College Station is the closest warden office, roughly 67 miles off.
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.
Daily shooting window around Keechi Creek WMA
Texas opens game animals and upland birds 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes them 30 minutes after sunset; doves, ducks, geese and cranes quit at sunset.
Times worked out for Keechi Creek 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.
Shopping list for Keechi Creek WMA
Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Keechi Creek WMA: the short answers
Which other tracts sit within a drive of Keechi Creek WMA?
Nearest: Big Lake Bottom WMA (18 miles), Ivy (19 miles) and Fort Boggy State Park (20 miles).
From which town do hunters reach Keechi Creek WMA?
About 16 miles northeast of Centerville, in Leon County. Crockett, 23 miles, is the second closest.
What is the APH unit number for Keechi Creek WMA?
Map booklet unit 726. The map PDF is linked at the top of this page. This is the final printed booklet year.
Which drawn hunts does TPWD hold at Keechi Creek WMA?
TPWD lists E-Postcard Archery Deer, E-Postcard Deer, E-Postcard Feral Hog, E-Postcard Multi-Species and E-Postcard Squirrel. Area code KC. First deadline Sep 1, 2026, last Nov 1, 2026.
Who needs hunter education in Texas?
Every hunter born September 2, 1971 or later, residents and nonresidents alike.
What are legal shooting hours at Keechi Creek WMA?
Sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for game animals and upland birds; migratory birds end at sunset.
Are there youth-only waterfowl days?
Youth waterfowl: HPMMU Oct. 17-18; South Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; North Nov. 7-8, 2026.
Can a nonresident hunt Keechi Creek WMA?
Yes, with a Texas license; the nonresident general license is $315 and the only nonresident license good for deer.
What footprint does Keechi Creek WMA have on the map?
1,500 acres per TPWD WMA page.
Who sets the rules on Keechi Creek WMA?
TPWD manages this wildlife management area run by TPWD. Listed program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
Final word on Keechi Creek WMA
Before the drive to Keechi Creek WMA, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); USFWSmidwest (Public domain); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); ejmc (CC BY 2.0).