J. D. Murphree WMA - Big Hill Unit

About the lease

Wild Game

According to information provided by Texas Parks & Wildlife, here is a list of the game available to hunt during the legally designated hunting season(s) in Texas.

Waterfowl

• Annual Public Hunt Permit ONLY.
• ALL Hunters must check in and out through the WMA check station and exit the WMA before noon.
• Check station opens at 4:30 AM.
• Early Teal: Each day of the Early Teal season. Hunters must register at the WMA headquarters check station located on State Hwy. 73
• South Zone Duck: Only on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and November 26 except no hunts held on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.

Geese

• May be taken during the seasons provided for these species during concurrent waterfowl hunts.

Feral Hogs

• Archery or Shotgun (slug or buckshot) only.
• Each day from Feb. 1- Apr. 30 (no bag limit).
• Shooting hours are one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
• No registration required.
• Use of dogs allowed.
• No Baiting.

Fishing

• Inside Compartments: Open Feb. 1- Aug 31. Closed Sept 1-Jan. 31.
• Big Hill Bayou and outside ditches: Sept. 1-Oct. 31 and Feb. 1-Aug. 31. Closed Nov. 1-Jan. 31.
• Fishing is restricted to one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.
• An APH or Limited Public Use (LPU) Permit is required to fish within the WMA unless all activity is confined to a boat within Big Hill Bayou, Taylor Bayou, Hillebrandt Bayou, and Blind Bayou.
• No commercial fishing/crabbing is allowed. No unattended lines.

Weaponry

• Shotgun
• Archery

Special regulations

• Trapping, use of horses, and water skiing is prohibited on the WMA.
• The use of airboats is prohibited, except in Big Hill Bayou and Blind Bayou.
• No more than 5 hunters per hunt party.

Note

• Motorized access only on designated motorboat trails and named ditches.
• See check station map for “No Prop” zones and area closures.
• Motorboat operators are advised that disturbance of soils and plants on the WMA is prohibited.
• Entry to leveed compartments is permitted only at designated locations.
• “Jumping” levees is strictly prohibited.

Notice

• Access inside compartments is closed to all activities Sept. 1st-Jan. 31st, other than permitted hunters on designated hunt days and designated scouting days.
• Designated Scouting Days (the 7 days prior to the opener of the Youth Only South Zone Duck Season).
• Access to inside of compartments permitted for scouting purposes only.
• Scouting is restricted to one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset.

Special season

• Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations.
• Shooting hours end at noon.
• Youth/Adult Waterfowl: The First Saturday of each split of the South Zone Duck season and Dec. 22, 27, 29 and Jan. 28.
• All Hunts begin at 4:30 AM and end at noon.

Required permits

• Annual Public Hunting Permit
• Texas Hunting License