Ive been looking on TPWD, as well as USFS websites. I think ive found the answers to all my questions. But if someone with experience cold please confirm. I would really appreciate it. I've never even been there, but want to plan a trip this fall to hunt. I have a good lease down in Willacy county but really miss walk-in hunting like I used to do growing up hunting Pennsylvania forests and game lands.

What exactly are "scenic areas" and can you hunt near or in them?

You can skin/quarter animals at the camps, as long as it is a designated hunting camp.

You can use hiking trails to access deep in the forest but cannot shoot from them.

You can shot does without a special forest permit in archery season, but need the permit for general firearms season. What if you use your bow in rifle season?

The forest fall within a the antler restriction county. Doesn't apply where i normally hunt but seems pretty straight-forward.

Spotlighting at night? I could not find anything about just using a spotlight to view animals from your vehicle. I did read that night hunting is prohibited for any animal species, but did not see anything about just viewing animals with no intentions of hunting.

Using a spotlight to view animals, even if not hunting them is asking for trouble.I personally wouldn't do it but thats just me. And no you cant shoot does with your bow after general season opens, unless you have a doe permit.

Im afraid Im far an expert here so will defer to those, but I've hunted the SHNF the last few years and thoroughly enjoy it. I believe (at least the portion I hunt) is an AR county, and you're correct about not shooting from trails. You can certainly use them, but have to be I believe 100 yards from the trail when hunting.
I'd highly recommend getting a climbing stand. I've seen a number of deer there while hunting, but feel the opportunities Ive really had to take one have been in a tree vs still hunting.

All good advice and true. A tree stand is ideal but hunting from the ground is doable. I always build myself a nice ground blind before I actually hunt deer. When hunting pigs I just sit on downed trees. They cant see that well anyways so no reason to hide.

Ok thanks for the info. I haven't used a climber in a while (they don't work too well on mesquite's and huisache trees) but thinking about trying saddle hunting there.

I think I would look at the rules for SHNF rather than relying on hearsay.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5426745.pdf

Thank you Ernyy. I was looking for something like this. Not sure how I didnt come across it after about 2 hours on National Forest and TPWD websites.

[quote=magspa]Thank you Ernyy. I was looking for something like this. Not sure how I didnt come across it after about 2 hours on National Forest and TPWD websites. [/quote

No problem. It seems as if they make it confusing as possible to find out information.