here is the FAQ for Corp Land
Frequently Asked Questions About the Hunting Program
1. What are the requirements to hunt on Corps of Engineers lakes?
Hunters are required to comply with the Corps of Engineers requirements and all state and federal hunting laws. Hunters are advised to call or write to the individual Corps lake offices for specific hunting requirements for that lake.
Residents: While hunting, persons 17 years of age or older must carry on their person: (1) a valid State of Texas hunting license; (2) a valid driver’s license or personal identification certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety; and (3) a valid Corps of Engineers hunting permit (if required).
Non-residents must carry on their person: (1) a valid State of Texas hunting license; (2) a valid driver’s license or personal identification certificate issued by the agency in their state or country of residence that is authorized to issue driver licenses or personal identification certificates; and (3) a valid Corps of Engineers hunting permit (if required).
2. What is a Corps of Engineers valid hunting permit?
A Corps of Engineers hunting permit is required to hunt at many of the lakes listed in the Lake Information section of this guide. A hunting permit is a document issued by the Corps at the respective Corps of Engineers lake offices. The permit is valid only at the lake office where issued and authorizes written permission for a hunter to hunt on Corps managed land. A permit is valid only when used by the individual named on the document, while hunting in the proper area(s) and during the proper open hunting season. Failure to comply with permit conditions, or violation of state hunting regulations on Corps land, will result in revocation of the permit and loss of hunting privileges for up to two years at all Fort Worth District lakes where hunting permits are required.
3. Why do some projects issue permits and others do not?
14 lakes in the Fort Worth District currently require some type of Corps of Engineers hunting permit. The permits are necessary for a variety of reasons including prevention of overcrowding, improvement of public safety, separation of incompatible users, better management of the wildlife resources, or to offer special opportunities.
4. How do I obtain a Corps of Engineers hunting permit?
Corps hunting permits are issued at individual lake offices and are valid only at the lake where issued. Hunters are advised to call or write to Corps lake offices to obtain hunting information, maps, and permit applications. Hunters who are required by state law to complete a Hunter Education training course must present proof of course completion and, if 18 years or older, will be required to sign a Corps of Engineers Waiver of Liability statement. Persons age
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12-17 are eligible to obtain a permit, but can hunt only under the immediate supervision of an authorized supervising adult accompanying them at all times.
5. What are the hunter education requirements?
The State of Texas requires every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born after September 2, 1971, to successfully complete a Hunter Education training course. The basic hunter education information available on the TPWD website can be found at
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/required.phtml. The minimum age of certification is 9 years. If you were born after September 2, 1971 and you are:
- Under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied*.
- Age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete a hunter education course, or you must be accompanied*.
- Age 17 and over, you must successfully complete a hunter education course; or purchase a “Hunter Education Deferral”, and you must be accompanied*.
Hunter Education Deferral (cost: $10) Allows a person 17 years of age or older who has not completed a hunter education program to defer completion for one year. A deferral may only be obtained once and is only valid until the end of the current year. A person who has been convicted or has received deferred adjudication for violation of the mandatory hunter education requirement is prohibited from applying for a deferral. Take the course by August 31 of the current license year and receive a $5 discount. The one-time Hunter Education Deferral is available at license vendors and went into effect September 1, 2004.
*Accompanied means: By a person who is at least 17, who is licensed to hunt in Texas, who has passed hunter education or is exempt (born before September 2, 1971), and you must be within normal voice control. Proof of certification or deferral is required to be on your person while hunting. Note: Certification is not required to purchase a hunting license.
6. What minimum age restrictions are in effect on public hunting areas?
Corps Non-Permit Lakes: No age requirement.
Corps Permit Lakes: Any person with a valid hunter’s education certificate may hunt at a Corps permit lake under the following conditions:
a. Persons under the age of 17 must be accompanied by a “permitted” adult 17 years of age or older.
b. Persons 17 years of age and older must sign the Corps of Engineers Waiver of Liability statement and show proof of a valid hunter’s education card to the lake office or proof of exemption, e.g. state drivers license, to obtain a valid hunting permit.
7. How much does it cost to hunt on Corps of Engineers property?
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At this time the Corps does not charge a user fee to hunt; however, some lakes charge an administrative fee applicable to the hunting program. Somerville Lake charges an administrative fee for a permanent (season long) waterfowl blind permit. Lake Georgetown and Wright Patman Lake charge Special Activity Fees for hunting and ATV access permits. These fees are lake specific. For more information, see the specific lake section in this guide or contact the lake office.
8. Are the seasons, bag limits, application times, and time limit the same as in State Regulations?
The State of Texas sets the bag limits and seasons. However, the Corps of Engineers may further restrict any of the above in an effort to better manage the resources. Hunters are advised to call or write to the individual Corps lake offices for specific hunting requirements.
9. Can I build a blind or have a tree stand?
All lakes allow temporary non-bark penetrating portable tree stands, as well as temporary free-standing blinds such as towers, platforms, tent-style, and natural blinds. However, each blind, regardless of use, must be completely removed from the land or water upon completion of each hunting day or as specified at individual lakes. All blinds must have the hunter’s name, date of installation, address, and phone number written legibly and placed at the entry point of the blind in a conspicuous location. If proper identification is not present, the structure may be impounded and/or removed.
Natural blinds may be constructed by gathering loose and/or dead vegetation. Cutting of grass, shrubs, trees, or any other vegetation is strictly prohibited except at Georgetown, Grapevine and Lewisville Lakes, where live cedar up to 4 inches in size may be cut for use with no stub greater than 2 inches remaining above ground.
Temporary blinds for deer or waterfowl do not require a fee. A limited number of permanent (season long) waterfowl blinds are allowed only at Somerville Lake; however, hunters must obtain a special lakeshore use permit from the Somerville Lake Office to install these blinds. Refer to the information on Somerville Lake for specific requirements.
10. Are there weapons and/or means and methods restrictions on public hunting areas?
The “Means and Methods” restrictions as required under state law apply to all Corps of Engineers hunting areas with the following additional requirements:
a. Hunting or shooting within 600 feet of homes, developed parks, roads, fishing piers or platforms, farm and ranch yards, outlet structures, emergency spillways, or other areas is prohibited unless otherwise stated or posted.
b. Pistols are prohibited.
c. Buckshot (any shot size large than #2 shot) is prohibited anywhere on government
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property. Buckshot is prohibited due to increased public safety concerns. Shotguns with rifled slugs are allowed when hunting deer and feral hogs except at those lakes which restrict deer and feral hog hunting to archery only.
d. Crossbows may be used in accordance with state law when hunting deer and feral hogs unless prohibited at specific lakes.
e. Muzzleloaders: Muzzle-loading shotguns may be used at any lake which allows the use of a conventional legal shotgun as defined by state law. Muzzle-loading rifles may be used only at Lake O’ the Pines, Town Bluff, Sam Rayburn, and Wright Patman Lakes as stated in the Lake Information section of this guide.
f. The use of conventional center-fire or rim-fire rifles is prohibited at all lakes, except Lake O’ The Pines and Wright Patman Lake as stated in the Lake Information section of this guide.
g. The use of pellet, BB, or any other type of air gun is prohibited at all lakes.
h. Archery equipment for bow fishing must comply with TPWD regulations
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/pwdpubs/pwd_lf_t3200_1559/ and will not take place within 600 feet of homes, developed parks, roads, farm and ranch yards, outlet structures, emergency spillways, or other areas.
11. Must I wear hunter orange?
Corps Non-Permit Lakes: No, but the proper wearing of hunter orange is highly recommended for hunter safety. Please refer to the information for Sam Rayburn Lake for specific requirements on wearing hunter orange.
Corps Permit Lakes: Yes. Hunters (and anyone accompanying the hunter) must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange material (144 square inches on both chest and back) when hunting and are also required to wear some type of orange head wear. Hunters exempt from this requirement are: persons hunting deer/turkey/feral hog during the archery only season and persons hunting turkey, waterfowl, or migratory birds (except dove hunters during concurrent hunts for quail).
12. What vehicle restrictions are in effect on Corps of Engineer areas?
The operation of all vehicles, including, but not limited to, motorcycles, all terrain vehicles (ATV's), bicycles, automobiles, trucks, and any other vehicles (see CFR Title 36, Section 327.2 (a) for vehicle definition) off authorized roadways is prohibited. Exception: ATV permits are available at Wright Patman Lake.
Vehicles must be parked on Corps designated areas or along roadsides on Corps property without blocking the passage of other vehicles or gate openings. Parking on other public roadways is at your own risk and contacting local law enforcement is recommended. Access to
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the interior of designated hunting areas is authorized by foot or boat only.
13. Are there any special allowances for individuals with disabilities?
Persons with permanent walking disabilities (a disability that permanently prevents walking) may apply for permission to enter a hunting area by means other than foot. The applicant must present a physician’s certification of that condition to qualify for vehicle use inside a hunting area. Site managers have the discretion to approve or deny any application based on natural resource protection, safety or other concerns. If approved, a special event permit specifying time and duration of hunting availability may be issued to the disabled person. Additionally, site managers have the option to allow the use of crossbows for persons with an upper limb disability to hunt deer and turkey only during the “Archery Only” Season as defined by TPWD and any lake specific seasons. An upper limb disability is defined, as a permanent loss of the use of fingers, hand, or arm in a manner that renders a person incapable of using a bow and documentation, as described above, is required.
14. What authorized (legal) game may be hunted on Corps of Engineers lands?
The only authorized game allowed to be taken is those game species listed in the “Legal Game” section for each lake. Hunting game species not listed in the information guide is prohibited, including species such as rattlesnakes, skunks, crows, English sparrows, grackles, coyotes, javelina, etc. Note: Possession of manual or electronic varmint calling devices, baits or lures is prohibited while hunting.
Sport chasing is allowed for raccoons, foxes and coyotes only, except where prohibited under the Lake Information section of this guide (Aquilla & Waco Lakes). Possession of a firearm, archery equipment, or any other weapon while sport chasing these animals is prohibited. Possession of calling devices, baits or lures is prohibited while sport chasing the animals.
Dogs may be used to hunt rabbit, squirrels, game birds, and migratory game birds in compliance with TPWD regulations. The use of dogs to hunt deer is prohibited.
15. May I target shoot on Corps of Engineers lands?
Shooting for practice or at targets is prohibited. Discharging any weapon (including archery equipment) is allowed only during authorized hunting activities and only during the attempt to take game.
16. May I trap animals on Corps of Engineers lands?
Trapping is prohibited. The possession of traps, snares, baits, tranquilizers or scent lures are prohibited for use on Corps lakes.
17. Who enforces the hunting laws and regulations on Corps of Engineers lands?
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State and Federal Game Wardens, as well as local law enforcement personnel, enforce the state and federal hunting laws respectively. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers implement the regulations and safety requirements of the Corps of Engineers hunting program at each lake.
18. Is baiting allowed on Corps of Engineers hunting lands?
A hunter may not hunt migratory birds with the aid of bait or on or over any baited area. Contact the site manager of a specific lake for information on using corn to bait deer or other game animals. Note: Hunters are responsible for knowing whether an area is baited or not.
