Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge will be accepting applications (from hunters 18 years and older) for public Big Game and Upland Game hunting lottery draw starting August 6, 2018 and POSTMARKED by Sept. 1, 2018. We have listed the 2018/19 hunting opportunities on our website. The application fee is $25. The fee is $15 for hunters 65 years and older and $15 for hunters with a disability that meets the state definition. There will not be any waterfowl hunting offered this year due to road/culvert damage from Hurricane Harvey. The only road leading into Champion Lake is closed to all public uses until further notice. We will have the application period for hunts during the same time period (Aug 6 to Sept 1). Any applications received before or after those dates will not be accepted.
Please visit Refuge links for: Various types of hunts including the applications and regulations at <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Trinity_River/visit/hunt.html>; Maps of all the hunt units at <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Trinity_River/map.html>; and Directions to each unit at <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/trinity_river/plan/directions.html>.
Various tracts in Liberty County, totaling nearly 8,000 acres, will be open to Big Game Hunting for deer and hog and Upland Game hunting for squirrel and rabbit. Big Game hunting includes archery, general gun, and muzzleloader. Please note that for the 2019/20 hunt season, the Refuge will be transitioning into the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Drawn Hunt Catalog. New areas will also be opened and application fees will reflect TPWDs cost structure.
If selected, you will be allowed to bring one adult guest and a youth (ages 12-17) or two youth hunters at no additional cost. Since you will be hunting on a National Wildlife Refuge, special regulations will be enforced as described in the application process. There are specific eligibility rules to meet State standards for hunters with disabilities. A Special Use Permit will be required for hunters with disabilities using all-terrain vehicles on designated tracts.
Fully completed applications, with a check or money order, (No Cash) should be mailed and made payable to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, PO Box 10015, Liberty, TX 77575 between August 6 and Sept. 1. The public drawing for all hunts is on September 10 at our office – Archery, Upland Game and Muzzleload at 8:00 am; Big Game at 10:00 am. The Refuge office is located at 601 FM 1011, Liberty, TX. You do not have to be present to be selected but are welcome to attend the drawing. Those persons selected will be notified by mail within 10 days and given a Refuge hunt permit with a full list of refuge regulations, harvest report, and map.