Hunting

Hunting in Big Thicket requires a free preserve permit plus a Texas license

You can hunt white-tailed deer, feral hogs, squirrels, and waterfowl inside Big Thicket National Preserve, but you need both a Texas hunting license and a free NPS permit.

Hardin County The Great Outdoors

The preserve offers seven hunting areas. Permits are free and first-come, first-served starting September 1 each year. Adults 16 and older must pick up their permit in person at the visitor center. Only one permit per person per season is allowed.

You must still hold a valid Texas hunting license. After the season ends, hunters are required to return a harvest report by April 1. Failing to return it makes you ineligible to hunt the preserve the next season. Seasons generally run from late September through late February, but dates change yearly — check the NPS site before you go.

Source to confirm: NPS — Hunting at Big Thicket

More Hardin County notes

Property Tax

Hardin County has two separate property tax offices

One office sets your property value and another collects the tax. They are not the same office, and you deal with each one for different things.

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Homestead Exemption

A homestead exemption can lower your property tax bill

If your Hardin County home is your main residence, you can apply for a homestead exemption that reduces the taxable value.

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Agricultural Appraisal

Timber and farm land can be taxed at a lower rate in Hardin County

Land used for timber, cattle, crops, or wildlife management may qualify for a special appraisal that cuts the taxable value well below market value.

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National Preserve

Big Thicket National Preserve is free to enter and spans 113,000 acres

Big Thicket National Preserve covers more than 113,000 acres across seven Southeast Texas counties and is free to visit, with over 30 miles of trails.

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