PDF of District Hunting Guide

PDF of Clear Springs and Big Creek ATV Use Area Rules

Wright Patman Lake offers more than 45,000 acres of federally owned property for excellent hunting opportunities. In addition, Wright Patman Lake covers 20,300 water surface acres which provides some of the best waterfowl hunting habitat in East Texas. No permit is required to hunt, but all rules must be followed to ensure the safety of all our visitors. Some of the legal game found on Wright Patman Lake includes: white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, squirrel, feral hogs, dove, and many species of waterfowl. The Corps has constructed and maintains hunting access roads, primitive campsites, and primitive boat ramps.  There area approximately 20 miles of all weather access roads, most of which are open during hunting seasons only and are closed to vehicle traffic from 15 January – 15 September.  More than 30 primitive campsites are available at various Hunting Areas including: Flatwoods, Bassett Creek, Corley, and Mud Lake.  Finally, five primitive boat ramps (constructed of gravel) are available for use at the Basset Creek picnic table area, Glenn Mills crossing, Flatwoods hunting area, Corley hunting area, and at the end of Bowie County Road 4128 (also know as Monument Road).

The use of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) is prohibited excepted in designated areas by permit only at Wright Patman Lake. Permits to use ATVs at Clear Springs and Big Creek Wildlife Management Areas (encompassing 3,700 acres) are normally distributed the last weekend of August.  Please contact the Project Office at (903)838-8781 or email during mid summer for updated details.

While the wearing of hunter orange is not mandatory at Wright Patman Lake it is highly suggested for safety reasons.  Exceptions to this suggestion may be dove hunters during the September season, squirrel hunters during the October and May seasons, turkey hunters, and waterfowl hunters.

Administration: Corps of Engineers
Legal Game: Mourning dove, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbits, waterfowl, feral hog, white-tailed deer, and eastern wild turkey.
Season: As published in the Texas Hunting Guide for these counties.
Muzzleloaders and Crossbows: White-tailed deer and feral hogs only.
Special Restrictions: Rifles are authorized for hunting in most areas. For all areas due east of the dam and north of the Sulphur River, including the area east of US Hwy 59, hunting for deer or feral hogs is restricted to shotguns with slugs, muzzle loading rifles, and legal archery equipment. Antlerless deer may be taken during archery season only. Tree stands are restricted to portable non-bark penetrating stands only; they are only to be left for periods of 72 consecutive hours or less and must be clearly marked with the owner’s name, address, telephone number, and date of placement. Permits to use all terrain vehicles (ATVs) at Clear Springs and Big Creek Wildlife Management Areas (encompassing 3,700 acres) will be distributed at the Clear Springs Park gate house on 06 September 2008, utilizing a local drawing if needed. Permits will cost $25 per permit, for each of the archery and firearm seasons. Please call or write the Lake Office for additional information prior to 06 September 2008. ATV rider certification (available at ATV dealers) is required to qualify for an ATV permit. Due to a special white-tailed deer hunting event that will be held for physically challenged hunters, Clear Springs ATV area will be closed from 01 December 2008 through 07 December 2008 to all other use. In addition, a two day youth deer hunting event will be held during the youth season in January, the specific date to be set by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Special Restrictions for Bow Fishing: Bow fishing will not be allowed within 600 feet of a developed park, roadway, fishing pier, fishing platform or at any other areas posted at the project. Bow fishing is prohibited within the stilling basin and emergency spillway areas with no exceptions. B0w fishing will be allowed in those areas east of US Highway 59 below the spillway on the Sulphur River and in remote locations on Wright Patman Lake.

For additional information on hunting regulations and opportunities throughtout the District Corps of Engineer properties see the link at the top of the page to the PDF hunting guide.