Does any one know that other than a draw hunt if you can use a rifle on public land, call TPWD they said you just have to check each WMA, taking me forever, I saw on a show where some guys had a 270 on PL in east Tx. Can't believe that would be true, especially east Tx.

Caddo National Grasslands,Lake Meredith Rec Area, and Davy Crockett National Forest are 3 that come to mind.In fact most of the NF in east Texas allow rifle hunting I believe. Maybe others can add to the list.

I suggest you read the Annual Book published yearly for public land units that you wish to hunt.

There is likely information besides the "legal means" that is found by doing your homework.

Sorry T, My sincere apologies for disturbing your thought process today, I thought some how this was part of this forum. I'm starting to think different, You been here since OCT. 2013 and have only 350 post, says a lot about your knowledge, enjoy yourself and look forward to more of your knowledge next year.

If I were looking for public land that I could hunt with a centerfire rifle, I would download the annual book published yearly for public land units and scroll through it looking at the means restrictions noting witch ones allow it. TLoving was as spot on with his advice as anyone could have given you.

Thank you sawmpthang. I just happen to look thur the annual book before I ever called TPWD or made this post. I guess they should look too instead of telling me to check every WMA .

Maybe the lack of posts could be attributed that I do my own homework before I ask other people for theirs.

Ok, sure won't happen again

You DO have to look at each spot to see what the regs are but you can rifle hunt the regular national forests in Texas.
Corps land is public, but you can't rifle hunt on it. At least not around Rayburn.

Thank ya 20bore, I think I know about Pl some but always need to learn more,like I said I just happen to see a quick scene on TV and these 2 guys had 270 what looked be in East Tx somewhere,it was very quick scene, I tried looking thur book but guess Im a dumb---,just missed it called TPWD, I made the post really just asking for 1 place on PL not wanting to go there just to know yep there is one. I'm all about helping others no matter how stupid or dumb of a question. Its called mentoring, teaching on any level. I cant image some other newbie coming on this forum asking a stupid dumb=== question and reply is go do your homework child. I was on TFF back in the 90's when JP was just getting started it was to me revolutionary awesome way for help taking and giving
Thx again all the best all the time.

Luminant in Robertson county allows rifles still, most areas have gone shotgun or archery only and many are moving to sole archery for safety reasons.

Safety reason's ?

Rifle, shotgun : Bright orange ...
Although do know a young gal that twas shot (accidental) back in the early 90's ...
she is doing well...

Each area has it's own regulation...

Tis thinking the main reason for most going Archery :
Difficulty in finding a reasonably priced lease, speaking for meself...
The high prices & games played...
Just look @ the hog problem... People complain, & whin some one offers ta help, $$$...
& some, put down hunters, claiming hunters do more damage than hogs...
Look thew the threads...

Been hunten the OSBWMA since it opened up ta public hunting...
Started with the 3 month hog hunts @ end of deer season...
Second season gave up deer lease... (Used the hog only hunts for scout/hunt ...
Seen way more hogs than deer... )
People started carring the AK's for hog hunts... Son & i used the 30-30 & the 303...
Over the years, started seeing more deer, (limited range with archery),
& fewer hogs, (rifle, AK's & AR's) switched ta AR for hogs, due ta type hunts i did...
Lots of leg work, bumping up hogs, AR much lighter, & way more easy ta handle in the thick area's..
Only thing better twas me ... AK's/AR's made big difference in hog population...
Kept our .270's for the deer/rifle public hunts @ unit #'er 120...
We always looked for the area's with least activity..
Anyone who has picked up a bow knows tis much more difficult hunt...
Rifle, 🦌 deer steps out 100yrds, boom, & dats with a 30-30...

i gots D- in grammar, hunting Archery vs Rifle even a caveman can separate d from d rest of the crap... look @ Custer...

More & more people looking for place ta hunt, public land gets crowded...
Yet see very little threads about hog hunts on PL...

Curious

With deer season over, how many ya'll out thar taking advantage of the public hog hunts ?
Used that time for scout/hunt & familurize area....
Tis not an executive hunt... Do it yourself hunts...
Public Land hog hunts can be AWESOME... Due ta the limited restrictions vs the 24-7-365
privet land opertunities... less pressure...
Even with me health problems, i'd be out thar...
Social distancing from MN...
Best wish's

edit : Did archery/deer hunt, & took several hogs with rifle on public land in Robertson County...
Some good deer hunting....

Hello Colt!!

This is actually an easy way to do it. After downloading the book, hit control F (or command F with a Mac) and type in what you're looking for (like centerfire for example). Then you can just skip to each are using the arrows. That way you don't have to read every single WMA's regs.

Thx guys all very good info, 1st year to hunt PL, for me it has been a blessing to retire and now hunt 24/7. I got really good checking regs for dove this year. Its my favorite since 9 yrs. old. I hunted Coleman , X plains starting in the 70s, yep it was crazy redneck good. I started by myself mosly during the week this year on private opening day, after PL land all the way into Dec.-Jan. not sure how many WMAs I was on but lost count. Started up around the Pan then Red all the way to Rio all season. Must have put on 1000s of miles on my truck. I hunted the border where the border wall was basically part of the WMA. I could here them on the other side yapping at me. This was with huge sunflower fields and maze. There were mounds of empty shells all over the place. Then there's Mason Mountain if ya haven't seen this one its a beauty and on and on , sorry I know there's some bad all around us now but for $ 48 dollars a yr. I'm having the time of my life. Also won 2 draw hunts. One very good season.

I hunt Lake Meredith and for the most part you can use a rifle but there are a few areas restricted to shotguns/archery.

Anybody got any hunt info or success stories about Gus Engling? or the other 2 State Park Draw Hunts south of there?
I've been doing Lottery Hunts since the days of the news paper print paper booklet came in the mail and will continue as long as I can walk to a blind I've drawn ...but at 76 and at best am "semi healthy", that Last Day is coming too soon though.
Ron