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2026-27 · National forest
Sabine National Forest hunting
160,656 acres of national forest ground in Sabine County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: US Forest Service – Southern Region (Public domain)
About the Sabine National Forest ground
Think of Sabine National Forest as a national forest; U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas) sets its rules, and it sits in Sabine County, San Augustine County, Shelby County, Jasper County and Newton County. With 160,656 acres, it is number 3 by size among 4 national forests. Among our town guides, Center is closest; the area lies 12 miles east in a straight line. Hunting is split across 1 listed unit, each with its own page.
U.S. Forest Service (National Forests and Grasslands in Texas) rules govern access, quoted below with the permits.
Contains TPWD's Moore Plantation WMA.
From the source record and 3 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Sabine National Forest
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.
Federal or Corps rules
General forest: Texas hunting license only; no Limited Use Permit needed. Only portable stands (72-hour limit), no baiting, no antlerless deer harvest in general forest during the general season. WMA portions need the TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit; antlerless deer there need a USFS Antlerless Deer Permit drawn through the TPWD Public Hunt System.
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 an upland 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.
Sabine National Forest: species list with zone dates
For Sabine County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (whitetails, feral hogs, exotics, turkey, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators, furbearers by trap and snipe, woodcock and rails).
| 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 | |
| Turkey | Spring season | East Zone | Apr 22, 2027 | May 14, 2027 | 1 gobbler | |
| 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 | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Exotics | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Trapping (furbearers) | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Sabine National Forest 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 Sabine County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Sabine National Forest and its neighboring units
Click a unit for its page; miles are direct.
Where the hunting happens
| Name | County | Size (ac) | Unit/code | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moore Plantation WMA WMA | Sabine, Jasper | 26,772 | 902 | 37 mi |
Sabine National Forest deer rules from the Sabine County listing
Sabine National Forest uses the Sabine County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Sabine 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. no antlerless harvest on National Forest Service property.
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 Sabine National Forest and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Sabine National Forest: 8 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Center 12 miles, west; San Augustine 19 miles, southwest; Hemphill 31 miles, south.
Sabine River Authority Unit 630 (18 miles northwest)
Head northwest 18 miles to reach it, in Panola County. 7,484 ac.
Bannister WMA (33 miles southwest)
Head southwest 33 miles to reach it, in San Augustine County. 25,695 ac.
Angelina National Forest (33 miles southwest)
Head southwest 33 miles to reach it, in Angelina County and Nacogdoches County. 153,179 ac.
Moore Plantation WMA (37 miles south)
Head south 37 miles to reach it, in Sabine County and Jasper County. 26,772 ac.
Sam Rayburn Reservoir (43 miles southwest)
Head southwest 43 miles to reach it, in Angelina County and Jasper County. 6,000 ac.
Lake Kurth (City of Lufkin) (44 miles southwest)
Head southwest 44 miles to reach it, in the Pineywoods region.
Alazan Bayou WMA, Blount Tract (50 miles southwest)
Head southwest 50 miles to reach it, in Nacogdoches County. 2,255 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Sabine National Forest: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Tyler) in Tyler is the closest warden office, roughly 81 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 Sabine National Forest
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 Sabine National Forest 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 Sabine National Forest
Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.
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Sabine National Forest: the short answers
What can I hunt at Sabine National Forest?
Whitetails, feral hogs, exotics, turkey, doves, ducks and geese, squirrels, rabbits, predators, furbearers by trap and snipe, woodcock and rails.
How do I get access to hunt Sabine National Forest?
APH permit, $48, for adults; a season hunting license is required to buy it.
Which county deer rules apply to Sabine National Forest?
Sabine County sets 4 deer, 2 bucks max, 2 antlerless max. Antler restrictions apply. Check the area for tighter limits.
When is dove season near Sabine National Forest?
Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026 for the regular season in the Central Zone, which covers Sabine County.
From which town do hunters reach Sabine National Forest?
About 12 miles east of Center, in Sabine County. San Augustine, 19 miles, is the second closest.
How much orange must I wear at Sabine National Forest?
Yes in firearm seasons: 400 sq in total, 144 front and back, orange headwear. Exempt: turkey, doves and waterfowl, alligator.
What are legal shooting hours at Sabine National Forest?
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 Sabine National Forest?
Nearest: North Toledo Bend WMA (9 miles), Sabine River Authority Unit 630 (18 miles) and Bannister WMA (33 miles).
Can a nonresident hunt Sabine National Forest?
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 Sabine National Forest
Before the drive to Sabine National Forest, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: Buck Valley Ranch (CC BY 2.0); Joe Mabel (CC BY-SA 4.0); Adrian Delgado2012 (CC BY 2.0); sonnia hill (CC BY 2.0).