National Wildlife Refuge · Texas · FWS Region 2

Neches River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Cherokee County, Texas, Neches River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 10,534 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 8 mapped hunt units: 7 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 9,778 huntable acres.

7 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
8hunt units
9.8Khuntable acres
10.5KFWS-owned acres
4game categories

Neches River NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Neches River NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.

Hunters are required to have the appropriate state license, as well as a signed hunt permit. If duck hunting, a state license, a valid Federal Duck Stamp and a signed hunt permit are required.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Texas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (8)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 9,778 (93%)Closed: 758 (7%)9.8Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations9,778 ac 93%
  • Closed758 ac 7%
Units by size (acres)
Dead Water Unit
3,015 ac
Highway 84 Unit
2,694 ac
Sandy Bluff Unit
1,743 ac
Walnut Branch Unit
1,356 ac
Alligator Lake Unit
758 ac
Rocky Point Unit
361 ac
Aramadillo Unit
360 ac
Railraod Unit
249 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Aramadillo Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 360 —
Dead Water Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,015 —
Highway 84 Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,694 —
Railraod Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 249 —
Rocky Point Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 361 —
Sandy Bluff Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,743 —
Walnut Branch Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,356 —
Alligator Lake Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 758 —

Neches River NWR by the numbers

With about 9,778 huntable acres, Neches River NWR ranks #8 of 16 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Texas and #196 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 93% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Dead Water Unit (3,015 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Railraod Unit, covers 249 acres.

1 unit totaling 758 acres is closed to hunting (Alligator Lake Unit). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 10,534 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 2.7 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Neches River NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Texas sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid Texas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Neches River NWR

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Neches River NWR.

How to get to Neches River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Neches River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
31.87214, -95.42118
DMS
31°52′19.7″N 95°25′16.2″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Tyler, TX34 mi S of town
  • Dallas, TX102 mi SE of town
  • Waco, TX104 mi E of town
  • Shreveport, LA108 mi SW of town

Closest airports

  • SHV Shreveport Regional101 mi
  • DFW Dallas/Fort Worth118 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Neches River NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM7:47 PM12h 51m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM7:29 PM12h 25m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM7:08 PM11h 54m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:53 AM7:23 AM6:50 PM11h 27m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM5:33 PM10h 56m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM5:23 PM10h 33m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM5:18 PM10h 14m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:19 PM10h 05m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:27 PM10h 06m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:52 AM7:22 AM5:38 PM10h 17m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:45 AM7:15 AM5:54 PM10h 39m

Computed for 31.872, -95.421 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Neches River NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges

Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…

Neches River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Neches River NWR?

Yes. Neches River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 7 units (9,778 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Neches River NWR?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Neches River NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Neches River NWR located?

Neches River National Wildlife Refuge is in Cherokee County, Texas, about 34 miles S of Tyler, TX (straight-line). GPS: 31.87214, -95.42118.

What are legal shooting hours at Neches River NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Caddo Lake NWR

Harrison County, TX · 93 mi NE

11 special1 closed
🦌🐇🐗

6.9K huntable acres

Trinity River NWR

Liberty County, TX · 111 mi S

7 special5 closed
🦌🦆🐇🐗🎣

8.8K huntable acres

Natchitoches NFH

Natchitoches Parish, LA · 138 mi E

1 closed
No hunting listed

Little River NWR

McCurtain County, OK · 149 mi N

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

14.1K huntable acres

Hagerman NWR

Grayson County, TX · 151 mi NW

9 special2 closed
🦌🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

9.4K huntable acres

Pond Creek NWR

Sevier County, AR · 153 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

28.4K huntable acres

All refuges in Texas →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.