ATV Letter 2010

Hunting Areas GPS Coordinates

Hunting Areas Map

Fort Worth District Hunting Guide/

All Hunting Access Roads are Closed for Season.

Wright Patman Lake offers more than 54,358 acres of federally owned property for excellent hunting opportunities. In addition, Wright Patman Lake covers 20,300 water surface acres which provides some of the best waterfowl hunting habitat in East Texas. No permit is required to hunt, but all rules must be followed to ensure the safety of all our visitors. Some of the legal game found on Wright Patman Lake includes: white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkey, squirrel, feral hogs, dove, and many species of waterfowl. The Corps has constructed and maintains hunting access roads, primitive campsites, and primitive boat ramps.  There area approximately 20 miles of all weather access roads, most of which are open during hunting seasons only and are closed to vehicle traffic from 15 January – 15 September.  More than 30 primitive campsites are available at various Hunting Areas including: Flatwoods, Bassett Creek, Corley, and Mud Lake.  Finally, five primitive boat ramps (constructed of gravel) are available for use at the Basset Creek picnic table area, Glenn Mills crossing, Flatwoods hunting area, Corley hunting area, and at the end of Bowie County Road 4128 (also know as Monument Road).

Rules For Wright Patman Lake

All Terrain Vehicle (A.T.V.) and Utility Terrain Vehicle (U.T.V.)

Clear Springs & Big Creek Wildlife Management Hunting Access Areas
24th September 2011 – 1st January 2012 Hunting Season

1. An A.T.V. (4-wheeler) or U.T.V. (side by sides) that fit through the designated entrance (120” long, 60” wide, 78” high and a maximum of 1,500 pounds) will be allowed into the area with a permit.
2. Operating ATV’s on wildlife food plots or beyond recognizable gates and barricades is strictly prohibited.
2. Hunters must obey all state and federal hunting regulations.
3. All hunters operating A.T.V.'s or U.T.V.’s must possess an “A.T.V. Rider Certification Permit”.   (Available at all A.T.V. dealers)
4. Only the specified carrying capacity per A.T.V. or U.T.V. will be allowed.
5. Check in/out stations have been constructed at the entrance of each management area. These are the only entrance and exit points allowed. A check in slip will be filled out prior to entering the area and this slip will be kept on the person and turned in at the station, at the end of the hunt.
6. Only portable non-bark penetrating tree stands will be allowed. They must be at least three hundred (300) feet from all trails and roads.
7. Hunters may access these areas by walking, horseback or boat without a permit.
8. All A.T.V. and U.T.V. vehicles are required to stay on designated trails with the exception of physically impaired operators who will be allowed to ride an A.T.V. or U.T.V.  to a stand or use the A.T.V. or U.T.V. as a stationary stand, a minimum distance of three hundred (300) feet from all roads or trails. With the only exception being no vehicles will be allowed to operate a motor vehicle on wildlife food plots or around recognizable barricades and gates. All physically impaired persons must possess a physician’s statement certifying that they meet the criteria for a permanent ambulatory disability.
9. Trails may be closed by the use of red flexible posts installed at the entrance of the trail.
10. The use of an A.T.V. or U.T.V. within these hunting areas is for transportation only, fast or excessive riding is strictly prohibited.
11. All A.T.V. or U.T.V. hunters must check out of the management area within 30 minutes after dark.
12. Rifles, shotguns (with slugs only), muzzleloaders, and archery equipment may be used.
13. All firearms must be unloaded while operating A.T.V.'s.
14. Hunters operating an A.T.V. or U.T.V. must contact lake headquarters for details regarding the sale of A.T.V. or U.T.V. hunting access permits, before entering either management areas. Contact Lake Headquarters at (903) 838-8781.

***Flooding is a natural event and flood control is a vital mission for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Wright Patman Lake. Thus, no refunds will be issued due to a high water event. All sales are final.

Please contact the Project Office at (903)838-8781 or email during mid summer for updated details.

Administration: Corps of Engineers
Legal Game: Mourning dove, bobwhite quail, squirrel, rabbits, waterfowl, feral hog, white-tailed deer, and eastern wild turkey.
Season: As published in the Texas Hunting Guide for these counties.
Muzzleloaders and Crossbows: White-tailed deer and feral hogs only.

Special Restrictions:

• 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 the hunter orange requirements are: Persons hunting deer/turkey/feral hogs during the archery only season, persons hunting squirrels outside of the deer firearms season, and persons hunting turkey, waterfowl, or migratory birds (except dove hunters during concurrent hunts for quail).
• For all areas due east of the dam and north of the Sulphur River, including the area east of US Highway 59, hunting for deer or feral hogs is restricted to shotguns with slugs, muzzle leading rifles, and legal archery equipment.
• Antlerless deer may be harvested during the archery only and muzzleloader only seasons. During the October and January Youth-Only Seasons, antlerless deer may be harvested by youth in accordance with TPWD restrictions.
• Tree Stands are restricted to portable non-bark penetrating stands only; they are only to be left for periods of 72 consecutive hours or less and must be clearly marked with the owner’s name, address, telephone number, and date of placement.
• Permits to use all terrain vehicles (ATV’s) at Clear Springs and Big Creek Wildlife Management Areas (encompassing 3,700 acres) will be distributed at the Clear Springs Park gate house on 17 September 2011at 9:00 AM, utilizing a first come first serve basis. Permits will cost $35 per permit, for each of the available seasons, only one permit per person per season will be allowed. All individuals purchasing a permit MUST provide proof (certificate) at the time of purchase showing that the individual has completed a certified ATV safety course. Please call or write the Lake Office for additional information. ATV rider certification (available at ATV dealers) is required to qualify for an ATV permit. Due to a special white-tailed deer hunting event that will be held for physically challenged hunters, Clear Springs ATV area will be closed from 28 November 2011 through 4 December 2011 to all other use. In addition, a two day youth deer hunting event will be held during the youth season on 7 January 2011 through 8 January 2011, also at the Clear Springs ATV area, and the Clear Springs ATV area will be closed to all other use at that time.

Special Restrictions for Bow Fishing:

Bow fishing will not be allowed within 600 feet of a developed park, roadway, fishing pier, fishing platform or at any other areas posted at the project. Bow fishing is prohibited within the stilling basin and emergency spillway areas with no exceptions. Bow fishing will be allowed in those areas east of US Highway 59 below the spillway on the Sulphur River and in remote locations on Wright Patman Lake.

For additional information on hunting regulations and opportunities throughout Fort Worth District Corps of Engineers properties see the link at the top of the page to the PDF hunting guide.