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Hunting opportunities abound on the Brazos River this fall


Texans are preparing for hunting season as they set their sights on doves, waterfowl, deer, quail, rabbits, or turkeys among other animals available for fall hunting.

The 820-mile-long Brazos River provides ample opportunities for friends or families to traverse its banks. Additionally, there are 3,700 named streams and 15 major rivers throughout the Texas landscape. Before packing your gear and setting out, freshen up on laws and regulations governing hunting on Brazos River Authority reservoirs and the State’s rivers.


The Brazos River

Stretching between the Rio Grande and the Red River, the Brazos River belongs to all Texans.

Texans can enjoy all types of activities within its banks, from fishing to camping to hunting. And no matter the activity, safety precautions, and state law, are an important part of the package.

Hunting – with a valid 2019-2020 license, and during the appropriate season - is allowed in certain sections of the riverbeds. State law does prohibit people from firing a weapon onto or across private property without the owners’ approval and a lot of people live along the banks of the Brazos River. Hunters must be sure not to violate state trespassing laws by straying onto private property, among the other rules and regulations. Under state law, the riverbed is public property up to the “gradient boundary.” Texas courts adopted the boundary as the dividing line between public ownership of a stream’s bed and lower bank area, and private ownership of the higher bank area, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, which regulates hunting along the river itself and at other locations.

If you’re wading through the river, be sure you’re wearing proper clothing for the weather and the water temperature. And if you’re keeping your eye toward the sky, don’t forget to glance down occasionally while walking to navigate slippery rocks, tree branches, or debris. River conditions – as well as Texas’ weather - can change rapidly, and the Brazos is no different as it flows through most of the major physiographic regions of the state.

State law also dictates at what times hunting is permitted. These times vary depending on the game.

Don’t forget it’s important not only to brush up on hunting laws but boating regulations before heading out. For instance, hunters traveling the river via boat also need to ensure water safety devices are packed when getting your gear together. Every person must have a properly fitted personal floatation device, as well as all other safety equipment required by Texas law. Remember to keep a lookout for river hazards and debris. And among other regulations, don’t forget to always respect the rights of fishermen and landowners while on the trip and make sure the boat is in good working order to avoid the possibility of becoming stranded.

Motor vehicles, including wheeled and tracked vehicles, are mostly prohibited in navigable Texas riverbeds, including the Brazos.


Brazos River Authority reservoirs

The BRA owns and operates two reservoirs along the Brazos River: Possum Kingdom Lake in Palo Pinto County and Lake Granbury, an hour southwest of Dallas-Fort Worth.The BRA also owns and operates Lake Limestone, located on the upper Navasota River.

Through a lottery system, the BRA permits a certain number of individuals to partake in waterfowl hunting on its reservoirs. Hunting is permitted at BRA reservoirs only during duck season and is limited to designated hunting blind locations.

The blind locations are made available annually through a drawing process.

Lake Granbury has up to 15 spots a year, said Reservoir Manager Connie Tucker.

Prior to the drawing, each location is reviewed to ensure it’s still accessible by water and no new houses or structures have been built nearby, as the locations must be so far from them, Tucker said.

“One year we had nine spots because of the drought,” Tucker said. “I think we have plenty of water right now.”

To participate in the drawing process at any of the three BRA reservoirs, hunters must be at least 18 years old, have a valid 2019-2020 Texas hunting license, and the license must have the Texas Duck Stamp Endorsement and the current federal Waterfowl Stamp. Participants must be present at the time of the drawing and one entry is allowed per person and one site per drawing. A $200 permit fee is due at the time of the drawing for those selected.

Last year, about 60 people participated in the drawing at Lake Granbury, but Tucker said, she’s seen up to 80 people put their name in the hat for one of the few locations. Though, not everyone is there for just any of the spots.

“A lot of times people want a specific blind, and if at a point during the drawing it’s taken, they leave,” Tucker said.

Those looking to secure a location for waterfowl hunting this fall at one of the Brazos River Authority reservoirs can do so at:

  • Possum Kingdom Lake:
    8:30 a.m. Aug. 10, 2019 at the Possum Kingdom Lake Office, 301 Observation Point Road in Graford. Cash or check accepted.
  • Lake Limestone:
    8:30 a.m. Aug. 30, 2019 at the Lake Limestone Office, 20226 Sterling Robertson Dam Road in Thornton. Check or money order accepted.
  • Lake Granbury:
    8:30 a.m. Aug. 23, 2019 at the Lake Granbury Office, 4552 Mambrino Highway in Granbury. Check or money order accepted.

Lake Limestone has always been a popular waterfowl hunting location, said Davy Moore, Lake Limestone reservoir manager.

There are 29 available sites at the reservoir, and last season, more than 70 hunters participated in the drawing, Moore said. But the year before that, 114 entered their name in the drawing, he said.

Those hunters selected are responsible for providing their own blind and must only hunt specified locations, and not in other areas at the reservoirs. During the drawing, those selected first will have first pick of hunting sites followed by others who are drawn in order.

Possum Kingdom Lake isn’t as popular a waterfowl hunting location as lakes Granbury and Limestone, but the drawing still attracts a crowd, said Robert Box, Lake Ranger Sergeant at Possum Kingdom Lake.

Depending on the reservoir’s elevation, about 45 to 50 people will show up for the drawing, Box said. About 22 spots of the 33 usual spots will be available this fall to hunt due to water conditions, he said.

The reservoir is currently full, with inflows into the reservoir high enough to keep the water flowing, making it not suitable for waterfowl hunting, he said.

“There’s a good current right now and ducks don’t like landing in a current,” he said. “They like to get in calm water where they can feed. If we don’t have much current coming in it’s an ideal hunting spot.”

For more information, contact the lake office where you would like to hunt.

  • Lake Limestone office: 903-529-2141
  • Lake Granbury office: 817-573-3212
  • Possum Kingdom Lake office: 940-779-2321.

To learn more about Texas hunting laws, including information about hunting licenses and seasons, go here. For more information on rules and regulations while hunting in Texas riverbeds go here.