Clapper Rail
Rallus crepitans
- Migratory Game Bird
- huntable
About Clapper Rail
Clapper rails are the saltmarsh specialists of the rail family, close enough kin to the king rail that the two get confused regularly — but clappers run grayer overall, with duller, gray-edged plumage instead of the king rail's warm rufous tones. They stick to coastal salt and brackish marsh, foraging for crustaceans, insects, and small aquatic prey, and like most rails they would rather run or swim through thick marsh vegetation than take to the air. A related population along the Pacific coast and interior Southwest was split off as its own species in 2014, now known as Ridgway's rail.
Where you can hunt it (42 properties, 120 hunt windows)
| Property | County | Season | Dates | Bag | Who |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Creek WMA | Trinity County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Alabama Creek WMA, continued | Trinity County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Alabama Creek WMA, continued | Trinity County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Alazan Bayou WMABlount Tract | Angelina County, Nacogdoches County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedBlount Tract, continued | Angelina County, Nacogdoches County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedOld River Tract | Angelina County, Nacogdoches County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedOld River Tract, continued | Angelina County, Nacogdoches County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedOld River Tract, continued | Angelina County, Nacogdoches County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA | Jasper County, Tyler County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA, continued | Jasper County, Tyler County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA, continued | Jasper County, Tyler County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Bannister WMA | San Augustine County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Bannister WMA, continued | San Augustine County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Bannister WMA, continued | San Augustine County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Betty | Hansford County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Betty, continued | Hansford County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Bois d'Arc Lake PHL | Fannin | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Bois d'Arc Lake PHL, continued | Fannin | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Bois d'Arc Lake PHL, continued | Fannin | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Brillhart | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Brillhart, continued | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Caddo Lake WMA | Harrison County, Marion County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Caddo Lake WMA, continued | Harrison County, Marion County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Correll | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Correll, continued | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| De Campo | Moore County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| De Campo, continued | Moore County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| FM 759 HQ | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| FM 759 HQ, continued | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Goat Barn | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Goat Barn, continued | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Granger PHL | — | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Granger PHL, continued | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult | |
| Guadalupe Delta WMAGuadalupe River Unit | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedGuadalupe River Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedGuadalupe River Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Feb 19 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedGuadalupe River Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedHynes Bay Unit | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedHynes Bay Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedHynes Bay Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Feb 19 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedHynes Bay Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rails | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedMission Lake Unit | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedMission Lake Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Guadalupe Delta WMA, continuedMission Lake Unit, continued | Calhoun County, Refugio County, Victoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| J.D. Murphree WMABig Hill Unit | Jefferson County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| J.D. Murphree WMA, continuedBig Hill Unit, continued | Jefferson County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| J.D. Murphree WMA, continuedBig Hill Unit, continued | Jefferson County | huntinglisted as Rails | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| J.D. Murphree WMA, continuedSalt Bayou Unit | Jefferson County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| J.D. Murphree WMA, continuedSalt Bayou Unit, continued | Jefferson County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| J.D. Murphree WMA, continuedSalt Bayou Unit, continued | Jefferson County | huntinglisted as Rails | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 12 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Oct 31 – Nov 1 | — | Veteran/Active Duty |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Oct 31 – Nov 1 | — | Youth |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| James E. Daughtrey WMA, continued | Live Oak County, McMullen County | huntinglisted as Rails | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Justin Hurst WMA | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Justin Hurst WMA, continued | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Oct 31 | — | Veteran/Active Duty |
| Justin Hurst WMA, continued | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Oct 31 | — | Youth |
| Justin Hurst WMA, continued | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Justin Hurst WMA, continued | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 8 | — | Adult/Youth |
| Justin Hurst WMA, continued | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| Justin Hurst WMA, continued | Brazoria County | huntinglisted as Rail | Dec 13 | — | Adult/Youth |
| La Lanza | Hansford County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| La Lanza, continued | Hansford County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| La Playa | Sherman County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| La Playa, continued | Sherman County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Lake Striker PHL | Cherokee, Rusk | huntinglisted as Rail | Dates not published | — | Adult |
| Lower Neches WMANelda Stark Unit | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Lower Neches WMA, continuedNelda Stark Unit, continued | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Lower Neches WMA, continuedNelda Stark Unit, continued | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rail | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| Lower Neches WMA, continuedOld River Unit | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rails | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Lower Neches WMA, continuedOld River Unit, continued | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rails | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Lower Neches WMA, continuedOld River Unit, continued | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rails | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| Luminant Texas | Robertson | huntinglisted as Rail | Dates not published | — | Adult |
| Mad Island WMA | Matagorda County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Mad Island WMA, continued | Matagorda County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Mad Island WMA, continued | Matagorda County | huntinglisted as Rail | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| Margoso | Moore County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Margoso, continued | Moore County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Marlin Lake Park | Falls County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Marlin Lake Park, continued | Falls County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Moore Plantation WMA | Jasper County, Sabine County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Moore Plantation WMA, continued | Jasper County, Sabine County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Moore Plantation WMA, continued | Jasper County, Sabine County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Morris | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Morris, continued | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| North Toledo Bend WMA | Shelby County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| North Toledo Bend WMA, continued | Shelby County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| North Toledo Bend WMA, continued | Shelby County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Pat's Place | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Pat's Place, continued | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Porter | Hansford County, Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Porter, continued | Hansford County, Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Richland Creek WMACarl Frentress Unit | Freestone County, Navarro County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 8 | — | Veteran/Active Duty |
| Richland Creek WMA, continuedCarl Frentress Unit, continued | Freestone County, Navarro County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 8 | — | Youth |
| Rio Farms | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Rio Farms, continued | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Sabine River Authority Unit 630 | Panola | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Sabine River Authority Unit 630, continued | Panola | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Sabine River Authority Unit 630, continued | Panola | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| Sam Houston National Forest WMA | Montgomery County, San Jacinto County, Walker County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Sam Houston National Forest WMA, continued | Montgomery County, San Jacinto County, Walker County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Sam Houston National Forest WMA, continued | Montgomery County, San Jacinto County, Walker County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| San Angelo SP | Tom Green County | huntinglisted as Rail | Dates not published | — | Adult |
| Sea Rim SP | Jefferson | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Sea Rim SP, continued | Jefferson | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Nov 29 | — | Adult |
| Sea Rim SP, continued | Jefferson | huntinglisted as Rail | Dec 12 – Jan 31 | — | Adult |
| South Place | Armstrong County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| South Place, continued | Armstrong County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Stovall | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Stovall, continued | Carson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Temprano | Hutchinson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Temprano, continued | Hutchinson County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Texas Roberts | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Texas Roberts, continued | Ochiltree County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMA | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMA, continued | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
| Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMA, continued | Orange County | huntinglisted as Rail | Feb 1 – Feb 21 | — | Adult |
| West of Town | Hansford County | huntinglisted as Rail | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | — | Adult |
| West of Town, continued | Hansford County | huntinglisted as Rail | Nov 7 – Jan 6 | — | Adult |
Season dates and bag limits change. Always check the current Texas Parks & Wildlife regulations before you hunt.