Thorny Cypress WMA

Dyer county • 3,100 acres
Tract I — Between Hwy. 104 and I-155
Tract II — Between Boothspoint Rd. and White Lake Refuge
Josh Emerson (731) 285-6124 

Big Game, Small Game, and Trapping are the same as statewide seasons except as noted.   Areas within 150 yards of draw waterfowl pools are closed during all small game, trapping, and statewide deer gun season(s).

Turkey - One non-quota hunt; April 12 - May 5, 2024. Bag limit one bearded turkey counts towards the statewide bag limit.

Turkey (Young Sportsman) - Same as statewide season.

Dog training - Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2023

Quail - Nov. 4, 2023 - Jan. 15, 2024.

Waterfowl - Same as statewide season, except hunting of waterfowl during the duck season occurring in Nov. - Feb. permitted only on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and the first and last day of each segment of the late duck seasons and the youth/military waterfowl seasons. Goose season to coincide with the statewide season after the youth waterfowl season, no pool restrictions or day, except the last day of each season and the remaining goose seasons when hunting shall close at sunset.

Designated pools (except Pool 10, Pool 11 and Pool 12) will be allocated by computer draw pools. Waterfowl hunting is restricted to temporary blind sites. Hunters are restricted to pools or number stakes as specified by special instructions supplied by TWRA annually. All hunters in a party are required to hunt in the same temporary blind site for which they are drawn. Decoys and temporary blinds may be left out over the specified hunt but must be removed upon completion of the hunt on the last day.

Pools 10, 11, and 12: No waterfowl hunters permitted in Pools 10, 11, and 12 (non-draw pools) and no access allowed from two hours after legal shooting hours have ended until 4:00 a.m. the following day during the duck seasons occurring in Nov-Feb. No permanent blinds. All decoys, temporary blinds, blind materials, and boats must be removed daily from Pools 10, 11, and 12.

All waterfowl hunting shall cease at 3 p.m. (CST) each day, except the last day of each season and the remaining goose seasons when hunting shall close at sunset.

Site Description: The WMA consists of hardwood reforestation, which is currently more grassland-like (2013). Several shallow water ponds are managed for waterfowl.  This is a WMA and waterfowl hunting is allowed, please check on dates and times.   A lake is found on the east side of the WMA on the unit north of I-155. Mature hardwood forests and edges are present in many areas.

Wildlife to Watch: Large numbers of waterfowl may be present in winter, including Mallard, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, and American Wigeon.

The grassland/shrubby areas may have LeConte’s Sparrow in winter, among the more common wintering sparrows, i.e. Fox, Swamp, Song, and Field.

White-crowned Sparrows may be in the brushier areas, while Loggerhead Shrikes are present year-round.

Short-eared Owls may be present at dawn and dusk in the grassy areas and ditches.

Northern Harriers are present in winter, while Red-tailed Hawks are present year-round.