Big Thicket National Preserve Superintendent Wayne Prokopetz announced the preserve will start issuing this season’s free hunting permits on Thursday, Sept. 1. Available 2022/2023 permits will be issued until Feb. 27, 2023.
Permits will be issued at the preserve visitor center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The visitor center is located 8 miles north of Kountze at the intersection of U.S. 69 and FM 420 at 6102 FM 420 Road.
Big Thicket hunting permits allow hunters to take white-tailed deer, squirrel, rabbit, feral hog, and waterfowl, except those for the Lake Bayou Hunting Unit, which is a waterfowl-only area. The preserve observes the state of Texas hunting seasons from Oct. 1 until Feb. 28, 2023. Additional feral hogs may be taken by permit-holders in any hunting unit except Lake Bayou during the special hog season, which runs from Jan. 1 until Feb. 28, 2023. Waterfowl hunting at Lake Bayou will also remain open until Feb. 28, 2023.
Everyone who hunts in Big Thicket National Preserve must have a Big Thicket hunting permit.
A person must show both their current Texas Hunting License and current driver’s license to obtain a Big Thicket hunting permit.
All hunters must apply in person and may hunt in only one unit. Parents or guardians are no longer be able to get permits for their children. All hunters must be present to get a permit.
The deadline for returning hunter harvest cards after the 2022/2023 season will be April 1, 2023.
The number of permits issued for each hunting unit varies based on the size of the unit and wildlife management goals for that unit. The following numbers of permits, by hunting unit, are available: Beaumont Unit–200; Beech Creek Unit–150; Big Sandy Creek Unit–400; Jack Gore Baygall Unit–400; Lance Rosier Unit–900; Neches Bottom Unit–150; Lake Bayou Unit–50.
For general information about Big Thicket National Preserve, visit www.nps.gov/bith or call the preserve visitor center at 409-951-6700. Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigThicketNPS, Twitter www.twitter.com/BigThicketNPS, and Instagram www.instagram.com/BigThicketNPS.
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