It is supposed to have 12,000 acres but it looks like 80% is the reservoir and you can hunt the shore area. Since it is close to San Angelo I was wondering how crowded it gets and if there are any deer. Is the land dry or wet? You are limited to a shotgun with slugs- is it bush country? Thanks.

Check out Texas Bowhunter Forum. I have never been to hunt but have fished it. I have heard it gets stupid with too many people but its public land hunt, right? so yeah

are they identical

I turkey hunted the WMA this year. It is dry land, not swamp. I did run up on 2 does and watched them for awhile. This was on an old dirt road that goes along the boundary fence, otherwise I wouldnt have ever seen them. The area is T H I C K in mesquite.

This is the best WMA TX deer hunt by far. Yes it does get crowded depending on when one goes. My plan this year is to start with archery only season and weekdays. People ride ATVs everywhere so they can become a nuisance. The positive side is baiting is allowed and both buck and doe can be taken without antler restrictions. (check regs for upcoming year as they can change.)
The first two years I went the lake was more of a river. It has really come up in the last three years but the areas are still there to hunt. Most of the terrain is flat scrub with mesquite trees. The deer are there. Lots of sign to be found. I shot a doe but hit it low and never recovered. I was using a Mossberg 20 gauge slug barrel on a pump shotgun. Problem was I spent a fortune on trying to find a consistently accurate slug that worked with the gun. I since upgraded to a savage 220 rifled slug bolt action gun. I am more than good to 100 yards now no problem using Federal copper 3" slugs and can keep then consistently in the bullseye.

I know I should check the reg's but on "slug guns" can you can a scope on the gun? I have a mossberg 500 and got a slug barrel for it with a cantilever that you can put a scope on. On stands- are there any trees to hang one or are tripods best? Thanks.

Have you been out scouting recently?

I've also been scouring the TBF Twin Buttes page, it is a gold mine of information for historical patterns, going back to '08. I am hoping to make a trip out there during Black Friday or maybe the monday/Tuesday of thanksgiving week, but I want to raise my chance of scoring some good holiday meat as much as possible.

I'm looking for turkey, hog, javelina, or deer, but preferably the mammals if possible. If anyone has any tips, I've been looking at hitting the boundaries of 4 or 6 with the private ranches adjacent, or maybe going down wherever is driest so my lil 2wd Ford Ranger doesn't get stuck.


I am almost certain there is no restriction on having scopes on your slug gun out yonder. The restrictions for means are nothing but shotgun slugs, muzzleloaders 0.40 caliber or larger, or archery. There are archery only units, but nothing to do with scopes.

I am completely new to public hunting. How do the lots work? I was under the assumption that i could only go to the walk in area. Is this accurate or how do you get access to the numbered lot areas? Any help is appreciated.

Go to TPWD, click banner up top for hunting, then choose Public Hunting,its has all the info you need, just make sure to follow all instructions for each WMA. Start my getting the extra APH permit $48 with your hunting license.

My experience has been on some you can put up stand or blind with your name, APH customer number and date you set it up , you don't have to move it every 3 days but change the date on your tag every 3 days and you can hand bait but no feeders. So technically you can but 1 up 2 months before season but change the date very 72 hours. see Twin Buttes for example. As state above tag everything and may be hide so cameras to help if someone takes it.
Also as stated up, walk walk walk and discover cant say that enough.

See my first post might help, Howdy Everyone, technically not really a newbie. I was on the Texas fishing forum back in the 90,s but new to hunting forum. I'm a native Texan of 65 yrs and living in Grapevine, Tx. for 45 yrs. recently retired with lost of time on my hands,
With all that being said, I've been hunting 24/7 on Texas public land from the Red to the Rio Grand with some success and private land as well for native Texas game. I'm seeing some post by newbies and others questioning and not sure about hunting on Public Land. Well I'm here to help along with all the other great members on this board.
Here's what I would like to plan and do and ya'll tell me if good or bad idea.
Anyone that would like, I will be more than happy to go with you or you with me ( I will probably be going away) to hunt on any public land you would like (split expenses ) or any of 3 private lands ( I only hunt low fence but nothing bad against high fence, its just me) I've used that are more than reasonable in pricing on Tx. game and other game as well, its your choice.( you pay for your hunt).
Also, I will give 1 free Hog hunt per month ( I will not hunt only go with you) on 1 of the 3 private lands ( pretty sure you will harvest one) to any ex military or current military person.( all expenses paid by me).
Well there it is my first hunting post let me know what ya think, I hope all this makes some since,all the best.

That's a mighty generous offer there Grizzly Adams, thank you. Perhaps once coronavirus dies down, if I haven't died too I'll take you up on that in the upcoming year. I'm from El Paso at the moment, so San Angelo SP or Twin Buttes would be where I would want to have a mentor with me, not sure how that lines up with your location or preferences

Spanman57, to access twin buttes, there are several gates that are listed on the TPWD map, you can drive through those when open, sometimes they are closed due to heavy rains making the roads vulnerable to rut cutting trucks. You can drive along the mapped ranch roads, but if the water is high, the only ones available may be the fence line roads.

You do not need to check in with anybody or show your permit, you just walk on as if it were your own land, with the exception of not driving anywhere but the roads, and set up shop where you like. Units 1-6, and 8-10 are open to hunting, so you can go in all of them. If you don't know it there, you can walk the fences til you see a likely deer crossing spot, and then follow the trail into the wma 50-100 yards, set up/brush in your pop up, sit near your tree, or otherwise conceal yourself well, and wait. People say not to spot and stalk or come in and out of your setup until the midday lulls (after morning sit, before evening sit), as otherwise you can be walking through other people's setups and ruin their hunt. For this reason, the farther you go into the area from the entrance gates, the better.

There are 4 sites that are walk in, that means you gotta park outside and walk in, 5 is shotgun and bow, 8,9, and 10 are archery only. 1,2,3,4, and 6 are all semi driveable with a high clearance vehicle.