Sam Houston National Forest

Interested in Sam Houston NF as well. Camping options in the WMA are a bit confusing...

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=30&activity=camping

 

All it's saying is that you can only camp in the designated areas.

 

So you can put a tent anywhere in these campsites, but when in hunting season, you have to put the tent in a designated spot within the campsite / camp areas? Any pro/con to each site or are they pretty equivalent?

Camping - There are three developed campgrounds in the Sam Houston National Forest (Cagle, Double Lake & Stubblefield Recreation Areas). Cagle and Double Lake facilities are available by reservations or on a first-come, first-served basis if not previously reserved. Reservations for Cagle may be made at the recreation area or by calling the National Recreation Service. Stubblefield is available on a first-come, first-served basis only. Reservations can be completed by calling the National Recreation Service at 1/877/444-6777 or by internet at www.recreation.gov.

 

This land is your land, this land is my land. We the people literally own the national forests, and you can freely camp on any public land in any Nat'l Forest or Grasslands without further permission EXCEPT in developed campgrounds, which have their own rules.

Texas is the only state, however, that did not give ANY land to the Federal government when we joined the USA. So unlike every state further west, public land ownership is less common here.

But yes, you can technically camp anywhere you want in our National Forest, for up to 14 days in any one spot. I'm no legal expert, but I'd advise camping without a permit is perfectly fine, as long as your vehicle is parked with all 4 tires completely off the road.

*Edit, just to mention - The WMA y'all brought up is a Wildlife Management Area and they have special rules, as quoted above. Similar to a Wilderness Area.