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2026-27 · Wildlife refuge
Neches River National Wildlife Refuge hunting
10,537 acres of wildlife refuge ground in Cherokee County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0)
About the Neches River NWR ground
Think of Neches River National Wildlife Refuge as a national wildlife refuge with a hunt program; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sets its rules, and it sits in Cherokee County. With 10,537 acres, it is number 11 by size among 16 national wildlife refuges. Among our town guides, Palestine is closest; the area lies 16 miles northeast in a straight line. Hunting is split across 4 listed units, each with its own page.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules govern access, quoted below with the permits.
From the source record and 4 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Neches River NWR
Prices and rules come straight from the TPWD license and drawing pages.
Hunts by lottery
Some or all hunts here are limited by drawing, lottery or a permit cap; the agency rules card says which.
Federal or Corps rules
All hunts are part of the recreational fee program; hunters must apply and be selected through the TPWD online drawing and carry a signed refuge hunt permit.
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 and a federal duck stamp if you are 16 or older. Hunters born on or after September 2, 1971 must pass hunter education or use the deferral.
Blaze orange rule
Texas writes this rule for TPWD public hunting lands; on this federally managed ground, follow the managing agency’s rules too.
Neches River NWR: species list with zone dates
For Cherokee County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (whitetails, feral hogs, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits and predators).
| 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 | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Neches River NWR 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 Cherokee County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Neches River NWR and its neighboring units
Click a unit for its page; miles are direct.
Where the hunting happens
| Name | County | Size (ac) | Unit/code | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neches River NWR, Dead Water Unit refuge unit | Cherokee | — | UO | 0 mi |
| Neches River NWR, Rocky Point Unit refuge unit | Cherokee | — | US | 3 mi |
| Neches River NWR, Sandy Bluff Unit refuge unit | Cherokee | — | UT | 2 mi |
| Neches River NWR, Walnut Branch Unit refuge unit | Cherokee | — | UU | 0 mi |
Neches River NWR deer rules from the Cherokee County listing
Neches River NWR uses the Cherokee County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Cherokee 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 Neches River NWR and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Neches River NWR: 8 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Palestine 16 miles, southwest; Rusk 17 miles, east; Alto 26 miles, southeast.
Neches River NWR, Dead Water Unit (0 miles north)
Head north 0 miles to reach it, in Cherokee County.
Neches River NWR, Walnut Branch Unit (0 miles northeast)
Head northeast 0 miles to reach it, in Cherokee County.
Neches River NWR, Sandy Bluff Unit (2 miles south)
Head south 2 miles to reach it, in Cherokee County.
Neches River NWR, Rocky Point Unit (3 miles south)
Head south 3 miles to reach it, in Cherokee County.
I.D. Fairchild State Forest (8 miles southeast)
Head southeast 8 miles to reach it, in the Pineywoods region.
Lake Striker Public Hunting Lands (26 miles east)
Head east 26 miles to reach it, in Cherokee County and Rusk County. 1,476 ac.
Big Lake Bottom WMA (27 miles southwest)
Head southwest 27 miles to reach it, in Anderson County. 4,253 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Neches River NWR: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Tyler) in Tyler is the closest warden office, roughly 31 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 Neches River NWR
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 Neches River NWR 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 Neches River NWR
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.
Neches River NWR: the short answers
What can I hunt at Neches River NWR?
Whitetails, feral hogs, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits and predators.
Is hunting at Neches River NWR limited by lottery?
At least some hunts are limited. All hunts are part of the recreational fee program; hunters must apply and be selected through the TPWD online drawing and carry a signed refuge hunt permit.
Which county deer rules apply to Neches River NWR?
Cherokee County sets 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. Antler restrictions apply. Check the area for tighter limits.
When is white-tailed deer season near Neches River NWR?
Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027 for the general season in the North Zone, which covers Cherokee County.
From which town do hunters reach Neches River NWR?
About 16 miles northeast of Palestine, in Cherokee County. Rusk, 17 miles, is the second closest.
How much orange must I wear at Neches River NWR?
Yes in firearm seasons: 400 sq in total, 144 front and back, orange headwear. Exempt: turkey, doves and waterfowl, alligator. Confirm the agency rule as well.
What are legal shooting hours at Neches River NWR?
Sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for game animals and upland birds; migratory birds end at sunset.
Which other tracts sit within a drive of Neches River NWR?
Nearest: Neches River NWR, Dead Water Unit (0 miles), Neches River NWR, Walnut Branch Unit (0 miles) and Neches River NWR, Sandy Bluff Unit (2 miles).
Can a nonresident hunt Neches River NWR?
Yes, with a Texas license; the nonresident general license is $315 and the only nonresident license good for deer.
Who needs hunter education in Texas?
Every hunter born September 2, 1971 or later, residents and nonresidents alike.
Final word on Neches River NWR
Before the drive to Neches River NWR, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0); GA-Kayaker (CC BY 2.0); Maciej Kraus (CC BY 2.0); sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0).