Hunting at Sam Rayburn Reservoir
PDF of District Hunting Guide 2007-2008 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/ Ducks at a Distance - A Waterfowl Identification Guide
Please Note: The use of all terrain vehicles (ATVs) is prohibited on all US Army Corps of Engineers property on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.
Whitetail deer, feral hogs, squirrels, rabbits and waterfowl are the most popular game animals around the lake. Please note that Rifles and Pistols are prohibited for hunting, and hunting is prohibited within 600 feet of a dwelling, farm yard or park boundary.
The public land base at Sam Rayburn Reservoir is quite small in most areas, consisting of a narrow strip of Government property between the lakeshore and private property, which often limits hunting opportunities. Zooming In on the Sam Rayburn Lake Map can provide an idea of the size of certain areas of public land. The Angelina and Sabine National Forests border Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and provide thousands of acres of land for hunting. Information on hunting the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas may be found at http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas/recreation/hunting.shtml
It is the policy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide the public with safe, healthful and varied outdoor recreation opportunities; promote the enhancement of fish and wildlife resources; protect endangered species and their habitats, assure aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings; maintain an environment which supports diversity; and strive for a balance between public use and maintenance of a quality environment.
OUR NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GOAL is to ensure the conservation, preservation, protection, and enhancement of those resources so present and future generations may use and enjoy them.
STEWARDSHIP (Management) of forest, range, wetland, and park vegetation resources is essential to achieve these goals. Lake lands are managed to provide for clean water, erosion control, wildlife, timber, aesthetics, and recreation. Habitat diversity is a cornerstone of our stewardship program.
PUBLIC HUNTING is utilized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a management tool to obtain our natural resource goal while providing recreational opportunities to the public. There are approximately 184,949 acres of Corps of Engineers lands and water available to hunt in Fort Worth District.
The CORPS PUBLIC HUNTING PROGRAM continues to evolve based on input from the public and as the State of Texas Laws and Regulations change for their hunting program. Changes to the Corps hunting program are made in an effort to provide the best possible cost efficient and safe public hunting opportunity while continuing to preserve our natural resources.
The STRENGTH of our Public Hunting Program is its DIVERSITY. Each hunting program is developed at the lake site in close coordination with Texas Parks and Wildlife Biologists to achieve our management goals. Restrictions placed on the hunter are necessitated by reason of public health, public safety, maintenance, conservation of our Natural Resources, and/or to provide a safer hunt to the hunter. For further information about your hunting opportunities, please call or write the hunting coordinator at the lake of your choice.
