WHITE-TAILED DEER GENERAL SEASON

ATTENTION HUNTERS:
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 deer permit drawing will not be held publicly.

Hunting during deer season at Waco Lake is by US Army Corps of Engineers permit only. Applications can be submitted by mail to Waco Lake Project Office, 3801 Zoo Park Drive, Waco, TX 76708, or by email to michael.j.champagne@usace.army.mil. A waiver of liability must also be completed for each hunter listed on the application. All applications and liability waivers must be filled out and received by the Waco Lake Project Office by August 15, 2020 to be eligible for the drawing.

• 2020 Shotgun Deer Hunting Permit Application


• 2020 Waiver of Liability

Waco Lake staff will assign hunting weeks and locations using a random draw process. Permit holders will receive permits by mail. No substitutions may be made for the persons listed on the applications or on the hunt permits. No registered hunter may be listed on more than one application as hunter or guest. All guest information must be completed prior to the submittal of this application. No guest will be added to your permit after the cutoff date and drawing.

Shotgun and slugs, or legal archery equipment is the only type of weapon that will be permissible for this season. Hunters may carry in bait with them. No feeders or other type of baiting equipment is allowed. Any bait should be spread by hand. Pre- scouting prior to your hunt is not advisable, unless the scouting was done before the deer general season. Hunters must carry required permit with them when hunting USACE property.

All deer gun permit holders, are required to submit their hunting surveys into the Waco Lake office within one month after the close of deer season. Anyone failing to fill out and return this animal harvest tag will be removed from all drawings for the next 12 months. Annual bag limit: 1 deer during archery season, 1 deer during gun season.

HUNTING AT WACO LAKE

All TPWD rules and regulations must be followed. For information regarding hunting on Army Corps property, view the Fort Worth District Hunting Guide or call 254-756-5359.

• Waco Lake Hunting Web App


• Texas 2020-2021 Hunting Seasons


• North Hunting Map


• South Hunting Map

Legal Game:   Dove, squirrel, rabbits, feral hogs, waterfowl, and deer.

Waterfowl Hunting:   A Permit from the Army Corps of Engineers is not required to hunt waterfowl on Corps Property. Hunters are required to have their Federal Duck Stamp, and applicable licenses/endorsements from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Please refer to the "Duck Line" on the North/South Hunting Maps listed above for permitted Waterfowl Hunting areas at Waco Lake.

Season:  As published in the Texas Outdoor Annual for this county.  Small game may be hunted anytime except during any open deer season.

Crossbows: Yes
Muzzleloaders, Rifles, and Pistols:  No

Special Conditions: 

• Only shotguns and archery allowed at Waco Lake based on federal and city ordinance.
• Sport chasing is prohibited.
• Tree stands are restricted to portable non-bark penetrating stands only and must be removed after each hunt.
• No trapping of game or furbearers.
• Based on management needs, a limited number of feral hog trapping permits may be available.  Contact the Waco Lake Office for more information.
• No camping within wildlife management area (WMA) is permitted.
• Small game includes squirrel, rabbit, and feral hog.  Small game permits are not required. Small game may be taken by shotgun only (no buckshot) shot sizes ranging between 2-8, and legal archery/crossbow equipment only.  Feral hogs can be hunted using shotgun slugs.
• 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. Exempt from this are persons hunting migratory birds, in which case hunters must wear hunter orange to and from hunting destinations.
• No hunting is permitted or permissible around Waco Wetlands; please see Waco Lake Map for details on location.
• Hunting blinds regardless of use must be completely removed from the land or water upon completion of each hunting day. 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.
• Hunting during deer season is by permit only.

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