Gus Engeling WMA Offers Hunting, Birding, and Hiking on 11,000 Acres

16149 North US Hwy 287 is the practical landmark for Gus Engeling WMA. The gate sits near Tennessee Colony, about 21 miles northwest of Palestine, and the place covers 11,095 acres in the Post Oak Savannah. TPWD names bottomland hardwoods, wetlands, marshes, natural watercourses, and sphagnum moss bogs on the area.

That mix is why a visit can be more than a hunt. TPWD has documented 37 mammal species, 156 bird species, 54 reptiles and amphibians, and 57 fish species there. A self-guided driving tour has nine stops, and the Small Acreage Demonstration Area shows landowners how wildlife practices work on 30 acres.

The area closes during selected fall and winter drawn hunts. Adults using a Limited Public Use permit may hike, bird, fish, and visit, but may not hunt or carry firearms or archery gear. Hunting requires the right license, APH permit, stamps, and any drawn-hunt selection.