Moore Plantation WMA Hunter's Camp

🌲 **Introduction / Overview: True Texas Primitive Camping**

For the Texan outdoors enthusiast who truly values immersion in nature over luxury, the **Moore Plantation WMA Hunter's Camp** offers an authentic, no-frills camping experience. Located within the sprawling **Moore Plantation Wildlife Management Area (WMA)**, this camp serves as a gateway to the 26,772 acres of the Sabine National Forest in the picturesque Pineywoods Ecological Region of East Texas. Managed in cooperation by the U.S. Forest Service and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the WMA is dedicated to conservation, balanced ecosystems, and providing ample opportunity for public recreation.

The spirit of this camp is best captured by the advice from real users: **"Bring what you need and camp for free."** This is **primitive camping** at its core. It is the ideal destination for hunters, hikers, wildlife viewers, and those seeking a quiet, undisturbed escape where you rely solely on your own preparedness. It’s a place to disconnect, embrace the simplicity of the wilderness, and explore one of the most beautiful and biodiverse ecosystems in the state.

🗺️ **Location and Accessibility: A Sanctuary within Sabine National Forest**

The Moore Plantation WMA Hunter's Camp is located deep within the Sabine National Forest, near the small town of Hemphill, Texas. This remote location is intentionally rustic, designed to provide access to the vast WMA for hunting and non-consumptive activities.

• **Official Address (WMA Area):** Hemphill, TX 75948, USA (The WMA is located in Sabine and Jasper Counties, approximately 30 miles north of Jasper).
• **Access:** While the general WMA is accessible year-round for many activities, the hunter's camp itself is one of the **designated camping areas** that must be used, particularly during specific hunting seasons (generally from early October to January). Access is via public hunting roads; visitors should consult the latest TPWD Public Hunting Lands map booklet for specific road access and seasonal closures.
• **Proximity:** The location is deep in the Pineywoods, requiring self-sufficiency. Note that the WMA is not generally considered wheel-chair accessible, and vehicles are restricted to designated roads only, emphasizing its wild and primitive nature.

⛺ **Services Offered: Embracing the Primitive Experience**

In line with its designation as a primitive Hunter's Camp within a Wildlife Management Area, visitors should manage expectations regarding amenities. The experience here is about minimal impact and maximum self-reliance. This is not a facility with modern, serviced campsites; instead, it offers essential provisions for temporary stays in the backcountry.

• **Camping Type:** **Primitive camping** is the only option available. Camping is restricted to designated campsites only during hunting season (early October to January), but dispersed, walk-in camping may be allowed on the entire WMA at other times, so check current TPWD regulations.
• **Utilities:** There are **no restroom facilities** (vault or flush) available at the Hunter's Camp.
• **Water:** There is **no potable drinking water** available on the WMA; campers must bring all their own water supplies.
• **Fires:** Campfires are typically allowed (unless a county burn ban is in effect), but they must be built in a cleared area. **Cutting of firewood is strictly prohibited**, so all firewood must be brought in.
• **Waste Management:** This is a **"pack it in, pack it out"** area. Users must remove all refuse from the campsite and the area upon departing.
• **Permits:** While the camping itself is free, hunters must possess a valid hunting license and the required Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) when hunting. Non-consumptive users (hikers, birdwatchers) typically do not require a permit.

🏞️ **Features and Highlights: Wild Texas Recreation**

The draw of Moore Plantation WMA is not its amenities, but the sheer size and diversity of outdoor activities it enables within a protected public land area. It is a haven for those who seek activities beyond a typical campground.

• **Abundant Public Hunting:** As a WMA, it is a key site for public hunting of a wide variety of game, including white-tailed deer, feral hog, squirrel, quail, dove, and waterfowl. It is noted as one of the few places in East Texas where walk-in, rifle deer hunting is offered on public lands.
• **Hiking and Trails:** The area includes several miles of the famed **28-mile Trail Between the Lakes**, which runs through the WMA, connecting Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn Reservoirs. This offers excellent, rugged hiking and backpacking opportunities.
• **Wildlife Viewing:** The WMA is home to threatened species like the **Red-cockaded Woodpecker** and is part of the Central Flyway, making it a critical area for bird-watching and general wildlife observation.
• **Equestrian Access:** Horseback riding is allowed year-round on designated roads and trails, providing a unique way to explore the Pineywoods. All horses must have proof of a negative Coggins Test.
• **Bicycling:** Many miles of roads traversing the WMA are open to bicycling, offering a healthy and scenic way to cover ground.
• **Fishing:** Opportunities for fishing are available within the WMA, though anglers must consult the state's Outdoor Annual Fishing Regulations.

☎️ **Contact Information for the WMA**

For detailed, up-to-date information on hunting regulations, season dates, camping restrictions, and maps, all visitors are strongly encouraged to contact the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or the WMA manager.

• **WMA Manager Phone:** (936) 897-1068 (This is the best number for specific local WMA details, though TPWD main lines are often needed for permit questions).
• **Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. (General Regulations):** 1-800-792-1112
• **Address (WMA Location):** Hemphill, TX 75948, USA

✔️ **What is Worth Choosing: Unparalleled Access to Wild Public Land**

Moore Plantation WMA Hunter's Camp is worth choosing for the Texas resident seeking a genuine **backcountry experience** and free access to expansive public lands. This is your destination if you are an avid hunter, an ambitious hiker planning a multi-day trip on the Trail Between the Lakes, or a birdwatcher intent on finding the threatened Red-cockaded Woodpecker. The main appeal is the trade-off: in exchange for providing your own water, toilet, and fire pit, you gain **unrestricted (and free) access** to nearly 27,000 acres of protected, biologically rich Sabine National Forest land. It is the ultimate spot for the prepared outdoorsman or woman who wants a truly quiet, immersive, and minimally developed camping experience in the Texas Pineywoods.