J. D. Murphree WMA - Salt Bayou 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 4:00 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 Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Nov. 25, Nov. 27, and Jan. 29, except no hunts will be held on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Eve.
• Hunters must register at the WMA headquarters check station located on State Hwy. 73.

Geese

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

Feral Hogs

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

Fishing

• Inside Compartments: Open Feb. 1-Aug. 31 Closed Sept. 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 Keith Lake, Johnson Lake, Shell Lake and Salt Lake.
• 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 Keith Lake.
• No more than 5 hunters per hunt party.

Note

• Motorized access only on designated motorboat trails and named ditches.
• See checkstation map for Designated Trails and area closures.
• Motorboat operators are advised that disturbance of soils and plants on the WMA is 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.
• Access to Horseshoe Trail is allowed year around for navigation purposes.
• 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