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River Otter

Lontra canadensis

  • Fur-Bearing Animal
  • huntable
River Otter
Photo: Capber fabrice · CC BY-SA 3.0

About River Otter

River otters are playful, highly social members of the weasel family, found along rivers, lakes, and coastal marshes across much of North America. A streamlined body, webbed feet, and a thick, water-repellent coat make them agile swimmers capable of long dives. They feed mainly on fish and crayfish, den in burrows along stream banks or in hollow logs, and are well known for sliding down muddy or snowy banks — a behavior researchers think mixes genuine play with efficient travel.

Where you can hunt it (16 properties, 28 hunt windows)

PropertyCountySeasonDatesBagWho
Alabama Creek WMATrinity Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Alabama Creek WMA, continuedTrinity Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Alazan Bayou WMABlount TractAngelina County, Nacogdoches Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Nov 1—Adult
Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedBlount Tract, continuedAngelina County, Nacogdoches Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersNov 24 – Jan 3—Adult
Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedBlount Tract, continuedAngelina County, Nacogdoches Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersJan 18 – Aug 31—Adult
Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedOld River TractAngelina County, Nacogdoches Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Alazan Bayou WMA, continuedOld River Tract, continuedAngelina County, Nacogdoches Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMAJasper County, Tyler Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA, continuedJasper County, Tyler Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Bannister WMASan Augustine Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Bannister WMA, continuedSan Augustine Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Granger PHL—huntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Gus Engeling WMAAnderson Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersFeb 5 – Feb 14Unlimited FurbearersThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Gus Engeling WMA, continuedAnderson Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersFeb 19 – Feb 28Unlimited FurbearersThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Gus Engeling WMA, continuedAnderson Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersMar 5 – Mar 14Unlimited FurbearersThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Luminant TexasRobertsonhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Marlin Lake ParkFalls Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31No limitThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Moore Plantation WMAJasper County, Sabine Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
North Toledo Bend WMAShelby Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Richland Creek WMASouth UnitFreestone County, Navarro Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersFeb 5 – Feb 28Unlimited FurbearersThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Richland Creek WMA, continuedSouth Unit, continuedFreestone County, Navarro Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersMar 5 – Mar 28Unlimited FurbearersThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Sabine River Authority Unit 630Panolahuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Sam Houston National Forest WMAMontgomery County, San Jacinto County, Walker Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 31—Adult
Sam Houston National Forest WMA, continuedMontgomery County, San Jacinto County, Walker Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not published—Adult
Tony Houseman/Blue Elbow Swamp WMAOrange Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Aug 311 per dayThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
Twin Buttes PHLTom Greenhuntinglisted as FurbearersJan 1 – Feb 21—Adult
Twin Buttes PHL, continuedTom Greenhuntinglisted as FurbearersDates not publishedNo limitThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult
White Oak Creek WMAMorris Countyhuntinglisted as FurbearersSep 1 – Feb 28No limitThe limit is one combined total for the Furbearers group — every species in it together, not each on its own.Adult

Season dates and bag limits change. Always check the current Texas Parks & Wildlife regulations before you hunt.