J.D. Murphree WMA Is a Major Coastal Marsh Near Port Arthur

J.D. Murphree WMA sprawls across fresh, intermediate, and brackish coastal marsh near Sabine Lake on the Texas-Louisiana border. The WMA has four units: Big Hill, Lost Lake, Salt Bayou, and Hillebrandt. Waterfowl including teal, gadwall, and mottled duck are abundant. So are American alligators, and the marsh supports speckled trout and redfish too.

Most of the WMA is only reachable by boat. There are no restroom facilities on site, so bring your own water and supplies. To hunt, you need an Annual Public Hunting permit from TPWD. For non-hunting visits (bird watching, photography, fishing), a Limited Public Use permit ($12 annually) works. No commercial fishing or crabbing is allowed. The headquarters is at 10 Parks and Wildlife Dr., Port Arthur, and can be reached at 409-736-2551. Check tpwd.texas.gov for current permit rules.