Texas publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 58 public hunting areas. Lake Whitney SP is highest at 18.3 deer harvested per square mile in 2024. Enchanted Rock SNA has 13.4 in 2025 and South Llano River SP has 11.9 in 2025. For success rate Devils Sinkhole SNA, Palo Pinto Mountains SP and Yoakum Dunes WMA share the lead at 100%. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Lake Whitney SP has the highest harvest per square mile at 18.3. The agency reported 20 deer on 700 acres in 2024.
- Devils Sinkhole SNA, Palo Pinto Mountains SP and Yoakum Dunes WMA share the best success rate at 100%.
- 58 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2019 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
- 3 federal areas are ranked on their own. Lake McClellan Recreation Area has the highest harvest per square mile at 5.8 in 2025.
Texas public land rankings
Best public land in Texas
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2019 through 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 15 of 58 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
15 of 58 areas shown
| 1 | Lake Whitney SP | 700 | 2024 | 20 | 18.3 | 50% | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Enchanted Rock SNA | 3,640 | 2025 | 76 | 13.4 | 53% | 22 |
| 3 | South Llano River SP | 2,740 | 2025 | 51 | 11.9 | 82% | 7 |
| 4 | Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns SP | 1,854 | 2025 | 30 | 10.4 | 73% | 10 |
| 5 | Fairfield Lake SP | 1,400 | 2020 | 21 | 9.6 | 62% | 16 |
| 6 | Lake Brownwood SP | 1,406 | 2025 | 21 | 9.6 | 65% | 14 |
| 7 | Choke Canyon SP | 1,700 | 2024 | 25 | 9.4 | 43% | 27 |
| 8 | Pedernales Falls SP | 2,200 | 2025 | 28 | 8.1 | 56% | 20 |
| 9 | Seminole Canyon SP and Historic Site | 640 | 2019 | 8 | 8.0 | 67% | 12 |
| 10 | Lake Mineral Wells SP | 1,000 | 2025 | 12 | 7.7 | 56% | 21 |
| 11 | James E. Daughtrey WMA | 5,218 | 2024 | 62 | 7.6 | 48% | 24 |
| 12 | Possum Kingdom SP | 1,528 | 2025 | 18 | 7.5 | 85% | 5 |
| 13 | Nannie M. Stringfellow WMA | 3,666 | 2025 | 39 | 6.8 | 33% | 35 |
| 14 | Kerr WMA | 6,459 | 2025 | 65 | 6.4 | 90% | 4 |
| 15 | Devils Sinkhole SNA | 1,403 | 2025 | 12 | 5.5 | 100% | 1 |
Top 10 by success rate
10 of 58 areas with a success rate shown
| 15 | Devils Sinkhole SNA | 1,403 | 2025 | 12 | 5.5 | 100% | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | Palo Pinto Mountains SP | 4,871 | 2020 | 1 | 0.13 | 100% | 1 |
| 56 | Yoakum Dunes WMA | 15,763 | 2025 | 2 | 0.081 | 100% | 1 |
| 40 | Mad Island WMA | 7,714 | 2025 | 12 | 1.0 | 92% | 2 |
| 22 | Brazos Bend SP | 5,200 | 2025 | 31 | 3.8 | 91% | 3 |
| 14 | Kerr WMA | 6,459 | 2025 | 65 | 6.4 | 90% | 4 |
| 12 | Possum Kingdom SP | 1,528 | 2025 | 18 | 7.5 | 85% | 5 |
| 37 | Honey Creek SNA | 2,815 | 2025 | 6 | 1.4 | 83% | 6 |
| 49 | Devils River SNA | 19,988 | 2025 | 12 | 0.38 | 83% | 6 |
| 3 | South Llano River SP | 2,740 | 2025 | 51 | 11.9 | 82% | 7 |
Federal areas
Top 3 of 3 ranked federal areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
3 of 3 federal areas shown
| 1 | Lake McClellan Recreation Area | 1,440 | 2025 | 13 | 5.8 | 100% | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Granger Lake Public Hunting Land | 10,888 | 2021 | 71 | 4.2 | 57% | 2 |
| 3 | Aransas NWR | 36,000 | 2025 | 116 | 2.1 |
01Public hunting areas
58 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Lake Whitney SP has the most deer harvested per square mile at 18.3 in 2024. Enchanted Rock SNA has 13.4 in 2025 and South Llano River SP has 11.9 in 2025.
The top 15 run from 18.3 down to 5.5 deer harvested per square mile.
02Success rate
Top 10 public hunting areas by success rate
Devils Sinkhole SNA has the best success rate at 100% in 2025. Palo Pinto Mountains SP has 100% in 2020 and Yoakum Dunes WMA has 100% in 2025.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Every ranked area has one.
03Federal areas
3 federal areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Lake McClellan Recreation Area has the most deer harvested per square mile at 5.8 in 2025. Granger Lake Public Hunting Land has 4.2 in 2021 and Aransas NWR has 2.1 in 2025.
04Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2019 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Texas figures add up the agency's drawn and E-Postcard hunts on each area for the season. They are used only for seasons when the area had no deer hunting on the Annual Public Hunting permit, so the hunts cover the whole harvest.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2019 through 2025. Captured October 19, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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