Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge has listed the 2011/12 Waterfowl hunt and Big Game hunt opportunities on its updated website with a new application procedure. Lottery applications for Waterfowl and Big Game hunting will only be accepted between September 3 and October 1, 2011. Both hunts will be by lottery draw.

The new application can be downloaded at http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/texas/trinityriveror you can type in Trinity River Refuge in any search engine to locate the website. Various tracts in Liberty County, totaling nearly 7,000 acres, will be open to Big Game Hunting for deer and hog while the 1,000 acre Champion Lake, located 10 miles south of Dayton, will be open to limited Waterfowl hunting IF WATER IS AVAILABLE!

Due to the possibility of cancelling the Waterfowl hunt this year due to lack of water, we are asking that hunters write a separate check for the waterfowl hunt so it could be sent back if it is cancelled. Please do not combine a waterfowl application check with any of our other available hunts.

If selected, you will be allowed to bring one adult guest and a youth (ages 12-17) or two youth hunters at no additional cost. A different number of applications are given out for various sites, so please check the website for areas and types of weapons you may use at each site. Since you will be hunting on a National Wildlife Refuge, special regulations will be enforced as described in the application process.

There is still an opportunity to acquire remaining permit applications for Archery Only, Upland Game (squirrel and rabbit), and Muzzleloader hunts. Check the website for those details.

Fully completed applications, with a check or money order, should be mailed and made payable to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, PO Box 10015, Liberty, TX 77575.

The public drawing for the Waterfowl and Big Game lottery hunt will be held on October 6 at 10:00am at the Refuge office located at 1351 N. Main, Liberty, TX. You do not have to be present to be selected.

Those persons selected will be notified by mail within 10 days and given a Refuge hunt permit with a full list of refuge regulations and map.

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