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National grassland · Dallas/Ft. Worth

Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland hunting

A hunter’s summary of Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland in Wise County: permits, zone dates, legal light and local services.

Game and dates Permits Map

20,083Acreage

WiseIn county

1Species

Photo: TexasExplorer98 (CC BY 2.0)

What Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland is and who runs it

U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas) oversees Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland, a national grassland covering ground in Wise County and Montague County. Size on record: 20,083 acres, 2nd in a field of 4 national grasslands. Decatur is the nearest of our town guides, roughly 10 miles away (the area lies north of it).

20,083Acres

WiseCounty

Dallas/Ft. WorthRegion

National grasslandLand type

1Game groups

SeasonsWhat is in seasonArea rules can be shorter LicensesPaperworkAgency and TPWD rules

The agency’s own access rules are quoted under permits below.

USFS pages do not list species for the LBJ grassland beyond deer seasons on the NFGT hunting page.

Area page at the agency Original data

From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.

Paperwork for hunting Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

Fees are TPWD figures for the license year.

Rules from the manager

Official page

USFS lists hunting among the most popular activities on the Caddo and LBJ National Grasslands; NFGT rules apply (Texas hunting license, portable stands only, no baiting).

Licensing

TPWD

$25Resident license

$315Nonresident general

$7Under 17

You need a hunting license; residents pay $25. Hunter education applies to anyone born on or after September 2, 1971.

Hunter orange rule

TPWD rule

400 sq inOrange area

144 sq inChest and back

OrangeHeadwear

Federal managers set their own rules; the TPWD public land orange rule is shown for reference.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland species and 2026-27 dates

Game named for the area: whitetails. Each row uses the zone that covers Wise County.

North Zonewhite-tailed deer zone

Species	Hunt	Zone	Opening	Closing	Limit
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	Special Late	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

Area rules can be narrower than the county zone: fewer days, drawn hunts only or restricted weapons.

Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Wise County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.

Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland plotted with nearby tracts

Orange marks Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland. Within 60 miles: 8 other public areas.

Nearest town guides: Decatur 10 miles out, south; Bowie 19 miles out, northwest; Gainesville 32 miles out, northeast.

APH lease

Home Place (29 miles northwest)

29 miles to the northwest (Clay County). 365 ac.

APH lease

Rater/Crump (29 miles northwest)

29 miles to the northwest (Clay County). 101 ac.

APH lease

Thompson (29 miles northwest)

29 miles to the northwest (Clay County). 315 ac.

Refuge unit

Hagerman NWR, Nocona Unit (30 miles northwest)

30 miles to the northwest (Montague County). 822 ac.

APH lease

Three B's (31 miles northwest)

31 miles to the northwest (Clay County). 111 ac.

Public hunting land

Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (33 miles east)

33 miles to the east (Cooke County and Denton County). 41,303 ac.

State parkBy draw

Ray Roberts Lake State Park, Isle du Bois Unit (33 miles east)

33 miles to the east (Denton County).

Corps lakeBy draw

Lewisville Lake (37 miles southeast)

37 miles to the southeast (Denton County). 9,138 ac.

LocalWise County rulesProcessors and wardens MapEvery public areaFilter by type or county

Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.

Wise County deer rules around Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

The county bag below is the ceiling; drawn hunts and area rules can be stricter.

Whitetail limit, Wise County

County listing

4Deer total

2Bucks

2Antlerless max

Bucks here must show one unbranched antler or a spread of 13 inches inside; the second buck cannot also be a wide branched one.

Deer calendar for the county

Segment	First	Last	Applies
Archery Only	Oct 3, 2026	Nov 6, 2026	Entire county
Youth-Only	Oct 30, 2026	Nov 1, 2026	Entire county
General Season	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 3, 2027	Entire county
Special Late	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	Entire county
Youth-Only	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027	Entire county

Cross Timbers and PrairiesTPWD eco zone

904 sq miCounty size

DecaturCounty seat

81,275People (2024)

24Deer unit

1County public tracts

Zone-by-zone dates for Wise County

Sort through 13 game speciess with seasons in Wise County; the status column turns green when a season is open.

Animal	Season	Zone or area	Starts	Ends
White-tailed deer	Archery Only	North Zone	Oct 3, 2026	Nov 6, 2026
White-tailed deer	Youth-Only	North Zone	Oct 30, 2026	Nov 1, 2026
White-tailed deer	General Season	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 3, 2027
White-tailed deer	Special Late	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027
White-tailed deer	Youth-Only	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027
Turkey	Fall Archery Only	North Zone	Oct 3, 2026	Nov 6, 2026
Turkey	Fall Youth-Only	North Zone	Oct 30, 2026	Nov 1, 2026
Turkey	Fall Youth-Only	North Zone	Jan 4, 2027	Jan 17, 2027
Turkey	Fall season	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 3, 2027
Turkey	Spring Youth-Only	North Zone	Mar 27, 2027	Mar 28, 2027
Turkey	Spring Youth-Only	North Zone	May 22, 2027	May 23, 2027
Turkey	Spring season	North Zone	Apr 3, 2027	May 16, 2027
Squirrel	General Season	All Other Counties	Sep 1, 2026	Aug 31, 2027
Quail	Regular Season	Statewide	Nov 1, 2026	Feb 28, 2027
Dove	Regular Season	North Zone	Sep 1, 2026	Nov 8, 2026
Dove	Regular Season	North Zone	Dec 18, 2026	Jan 7, 2027
Dove	Falconry	North Zone	Nov 13, 2026	Nov 29, 2026
September teal	September teal	Statewide	Sep 19, 2026	Sep 27, 2026
Ducks	Youth-Only	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Nov 8, 2026
Ducks	Veterans and military	North Zone	Nov 7, 2026	Nov 8, 2026
Ducks	Regular Season	North Zone	Nov 14, 2026	Nov 29, 2026
Ducks	Regular Season	North Zone	Dec 5, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Ducks	Dusky Duck	North Zone	Nov 19, 2026	Nov 29, 2026
Ducks	Dusky Duck	North Zone	Dec 5, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Ducks	Falconry	North Zone	Feb 1, 2027	Feb 21, 2027
Geese	Early Canada geese	Eastern Zone (East of US 81 and 287)	Sep 12, 2026	Sep 27, 2026
Geese	Dark Geese	Eastern Zone (East of US 81 and 287)	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Geese	Light Geese	Eastern Zone (East of US 81 and 287)	Nov 7, 2026	Feb 19, 2027
Geese	Dark Geese	Western Zone (West of US 81 and 287)	Nov 7, 2026	Feb 7, 2027
Geese	Light Geese	Western Zone (West of US 81 and 287)	Nov 7, 2026	Feb 7, 2027
Sandhill crane	Regular Season	Zone B (West of US 287 only)	Nov 27, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Alligator	General Season	Non-core	Apr 1, 2027	Jun 30, 2027
Woodcock	Regular Season	Statewide	Dec 18, 2026	Jan 31, 2027
Woodcock	Falconry	Statewide	Feb 1, 2027	Feb 21, 2027
Snipe	Regular Season	Statewide	Nov 7, 2026	Feb 21, 2027
Rails and gallinules	Regular Season	Statewide	Sep 19, 2026	Sep 27, 2026
Rails and gallinules	Regular Season	Statewide	Nov 7, 2026	Jan 6, 2027
Rails and gallinules	Falconry	Statewide	Feb 1, 2027	Feb 21, 2027

From the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 county and species pages, checked October 11, 2026.

How long you can hunt each day near Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

Big game and upland birds get a half hour of light on each end of the day. Waterfowl, doves and cranes get the morning half hour but stop at sunset.

Times worked out for Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland 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.

Processing, taxidermy and supplies near Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

Wise County listings first, then bordering counties.

4Forty4 Ranch – Treehouse Cabin Rentals in DFW guide service

Alvord, Wise County · about 6 mi away

(817) 209-8989 Map it Site

Cutting Edge Custom Game Processing game processing

decatur, Wise County · about 8 mi away

(940) 393-9507 Map it Site

Forestburg Archery sporting goods

Forestburg, Montague County · about 12 mi away

(770) 241-2029 Map it Site

9 Bar Ranch guide service

Decatur, Wise County · about 13 mi away

(940) 393-5853 Map it Site

Decatur Taxidermy taxidermy

Decatur, Wise County · about 14 mi away

(940) 627-8006 Map it Site

Game Hunters guide service

Bridgeport, Wise County · about 15 mi away

(940) 683-3102 Map it Site

Just Trophies Taxidermy taxidermy

Decatur, Wise County · about 17 mi away

(940) 465-6205 Map it Site

Horne's Archery Inc sporting goods

Boyd, Wise County · about 20 mi away

(940) 433-3044 Map it Site

Closest warden office on file: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Fort Worth Area) in Haltom City, 45 miles.

Processors on the map Find taxidermy

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.

Loading up for Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

Four items picked for the game hunted here, each with a live search.

Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Box blind

A raised blind gives a clear look down long brush lanes.

Amazon listings

Deer feeder

Corn and protein feeders are legal for deer on private land.

Amazon listings

Rangefinder

Distances in open country are easy to misjudge.

Amazon listings

Field dressing kit

Knife, bone saw and gloves for the first chore after the shot.

Amazon listings

Compare hunting gear Hunting gear guide

Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland: common questions

What are the buck rules near Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?

The Wise County listing allows 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. Buck antler rules apply. Area rules may be tighter.

Does the orange rule apply at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?

400 square inches minimum with 144 each on chest and back and an orange cap, during daylight firearm hunting. Turkey, waterfowl, dove and alligator hunters are exempt. Ask the federal manager.

How far is Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland from Decatur?

Straight-line, 10 miles north from Decatur. Bowie is 19 miles out.

What is the closest public area to Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?

Home Place (29 miles), Rater/Crump (29 miles) and Thompson (29 miles).

Can I hunt doves until sunset at Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland?

Legal light: 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset, except doves and waterfowl, which end at sunset.

How young can a child hunt in Texas?

Children under 9 may hunt only when accompanied by a licensed adult 17 or older who has passed hunter education or is exempt.

What does a youth license cost?

$7 for anyone under 17 at purchase, resident or not, valid the whole license year.

Who counts as a youth hunter?

Licensed hunters 16 or younger. Youth license (Type 169, $7) valid all license year.

Is Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland state or federal land?

A national grassland; the manager is U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas). Program name: National Forest System lands.

How much ground does Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland cover?

20,083 acres, as published by USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics GIS (NFS-owned acres, rounded).

Wrapping up Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland

Double-check Lyndon B. Johnson National Grassland with its manager: open days, check-in and any drawn-hunt rules.

Public land map Texas public areas How APH works Wise County Official site

Other photos on this page: YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0).