List of Texas Wildlife Management Areas facts for kids

Texas Wildlife Management Areas are special places across Texas where nature is protected and managed. These areas are looked after by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Their main goal is to keep Texas's amazing plants, animals, and natural places safe and healthy for everyone. There are over 714,000 acres of land managed as Wildlife Management Areas, often called WMAs.

What are Wildlife Management Areas?

Wildlife Management Areas, or WMAs, are like giant outdoor classrooms and nature preserves. They are managed to help different kinds of wildlife thrive. This includes everything from tiny insects to large animals like deer and bighorn sheep. Scientists and wildlife experts work hard to make sure these areas have the right food, water, and shelter for animals. They also help keep the land healthy.

These areas are divided into seven main regions across Texas:

• Area 1: Panhandle/High Plains Wildlife District (up in the northern part of Texas)
• Area 2: Prairies and Lakes (central and eastern Texas, with lots of grasslands and water)
• Area 3: Pineywoods (eastern Texas, known for its tall pine trees)
• Area 4: Gulf Coast (along the coast, with marshes and beaches)
• Area 5: South Texas Plains (southern Texas, often dry with thorny brush)
• Area 6: Hill Country (central Texas, with rolling hills and rivers)
• Area 7: Big Bend Country (western Texas, with mountains and deserts)

Sometimes, you might also hear about eight larger Wildlife Management Areas that are similar to Texas's 10 natural regions, called ecoregions. These help organize how TPWD manages wildlife across the state.

Cool Wildlife Management Areas to Explore

Texas has many WMAs, each with its own unique features and wildlife. Here are a few examples of these amazing places:

Alabama Creek WMA

The Alabama Creek WMA is located in Trinity County and covers about 14,561 acres. It's actually part of the larger Davy Crockett National Forest. This WMA helps protect the beautiful forests and the animals that live there.

Alazan Bayou WMA

Found in Nacogdoches County, this WMA is 2,063 acres. It was bought in 1991 to protect important bottomland hardwood forests. These are forests that grow in low-lying areas near rivers, like the Angelina River, and are very important for many animals.

Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA

This large WMA, about 12,636 acres, is in Jasper County and Tyler County. It's located where the Angelina River and Neches River meet the B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir. A big part of this WMA, about 7,000 acres, is actually part of the reservoir itself. This makes it a great spot for water-loving wildlife.

Atkinson Island WMA

This small WMA, only 150 acres, is in Harris and Chambers County. It's on the southern tip of Atkinson Island and you can only get there by boat! A company called Conoco, Inc. donated this WMA to be a special preserve for non-game wildlife, meaning animals that aren't hunted.

Bannister WMA

The Bannister WMA is a huge area of 25,695 acres in San Augustine County. It's part of the Angelina National Forest. This WMA is on a piece of land that sticks out into Sam Rayburn Reservoir. It's also a special place where they are working to bring back the eastern wild turkey.

Black Gap WMA

Located in Brewster County, this WMA is massive, covering about 103,000 acres! It's about 55 miles south of Marathon and shares 25 miles of the Rio Grande river with Mexico. This area is famous for its efforts to bring back native bighorn sheep, which were almost gone from Texas. The reintroduction has been very successful!

Caddo Lake WMA

The Caddo Lake WMA is in Marion County and Harrison County, covering 8,005 acres. It's managed as a state park and is considered a "wetland of international importance." This means it's super important for waterfowl (birds that live near water). It has the largest bald cypress swamp in the world, where trees grow right out of the water!

Candy Cain Abshier WMA

This WMA in Chambers County is 207 acres. It was bought in 1990 and is near Smith Point, right on Galveston and Trinity Bay. It's a fantastic place for bird watching, with an observatory and a hawk watch tower.

Chaparral WMA

The Chaparral WMA, in La Salle County and Dimmit County, is 15,200 acres. It was bought in 1969 to be a research and demonstration area. This means scientists study wildlife here and show people how to manage land for animals. In 2008, a big fire burned almost all of this WMA, but nature is amazing at recovering.

D.R. Wintermann WMA

This 246-acre WMA in Wharton County is a wetlands area. It was created using water from the Colorado River. This makes it a perfect stop for many migratory birds, including even bald eagles!

Elephant Mountain WMA

In Brewster County, the Elephant Mountain WMA is 23,147 acres. It was donated in 1985 and is about 26 miles south of Alpine. You can find cool animals here like desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, and different kinds of lizards and toads.

Gene Howe WMA

The Gene Howe WMA in Hemphill County is 5,886 acres. It was purchased in the early 1950s using special funds to help wildlife. There's also a smaller part of this WMA, called the W.A. "Pat" Murphy Unit, in Lipscomb County. This unit is used for teaching, learning, and research about wildlife.

Guadalupe Delta WMA

This WMA is spread across Calhoun County, Victoria County, and Refugio County, totaling over 7,400 acres. It's made up of four different sections. Many rare and endangered birds have been seen here, like the brown pelican, bald eagle, and even the amazing whooping crane!

Gus Engeling WMA

The Gus Engeling WMA in Anderson County is about 11,000 acres. It's named after a biologist who worked there and was sadly killed while doing his job. This WMA is a great example of how people dedicate their lives to protecting wildlife.

J.D. Murphree WMA

This large WMA in Jefferson County covers almost 24,500 acres. It's made up of several units, including the Big Hill Unit and the Salt Bayou Unit. The American alligator is very common here, and people can even get special permits to hunt them. Many rare and endangered sea turtles and birds also live in this area.

James E. Daughtrey WMA

The James E. Daughtrey WMA is a huge 34,000-acre area in Live Oak County and McMullen County. It's named after a state game warden who was hurt while chasing suspects.

Justin Hurst WMA

Located in Brazoria County, this WMA is about 11,938 acres. It has an interesting history, as part of the land was once a large plantation. Today, it's a vital area for wildlife protection.

Kerr WMA

The Kerr WMA is 6,493 acres and was purchased in 1950. It was bought using special federal funds that help restore wildlife populations.

Las Palomas WMA, Lower Rio Grande Valley Units

These units, totaling 3,311 acres, are located in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, in Cameron County, Hidalgo County, and Presidio County. This area is very important for many unique birds and other wildlife found only in this part of Texas. One small part, the Anacua Unit, is specifically used as a dove breeding habitat.

Lower Neches WMA

This WMA is near Orange in Orange County and covers almost 8,000 acres. It's close to Sabine Lake and the Neches River. There's even a special platform for viewing wildlife!

Mad Island WMA

The Mad Island WMA in Matagorda County is 7,200 acres. It was purchased in 1987 and is just west of Matagorda. This coastal area is important for many birds and other creatures that live near the water.

Mason Mountain WMA

This WMA is 5,301 acres and was once a ranch that had many different kinds of exotic animals. It was donated to the TPWD in 1997. Now, it's home to species like the scimitar-horned oryx, Gemsbok, and axis deer.

Matador WMA

The Matador WMA in Cottle County is a large 28,183-acre area. It was bought in 1959 to be used for wildlife research, management, and for the public to enjoy.

Matagorda Island WMA

Matagorda Island is a long island, about 38 miles long, in Calhoun County. The WMA covers 56,688 acres of this island. It's managed together by the Texas General Land Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's a special place called the Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuge and State Natural Area. You can even see an old lighthouse from 1852 on the island!

Moore Plantation WMA

This WMA, covering 26,772 acres, is in Sabine County and Jasper County. It's part of the Sabine National Forest. An endangered bird called the red cockaded woodpecker lives here, and people work hard to protect its habitat.

Nature Center WMA

Located in Smith County near Tyler, this 82-acre WMA used to be a bird hatchery. It has a pond that is stocked with rainbow trout, making it a fun place to visit.

North Toledo Bend WMA

This WMA is in Shelby County, right next to the Toledo Bend Reservoir. It's 3,650 acres and is managed to protect the land around the reservoir.

Old Sabine Bottom WMA

The Old Sabine Bottom WMA in Smith County is 5,158 acres. It's located near Lindale, between two parts of the Sabine River.

Pat Mayse WMA

This WMA in Lamar County is 8,925 acres. It's located northwest of Paris and wraps around the western side of Pat Mayse Lake. Several creeks run through this WMA, making it good for wildlife.

Playa Lakes WMAs

There are several "Playa Lakes" WMAs, like the Armstrong Unit in Castro County (160 acres), the Dimmitt Unit in Cottle County (422 acres), and the Taylor Lakes Unit in Donley County (530 acres). A "playa" is a special kind of shallow lake that fills with water seasonally and then dries up. These WMAs are important for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds that visit when the playas have water.

Powderhorn Ranch WMA

The Powderhorn Ranch WMA in Calhoun County is a huge 15,000-acre area that was added in 2018. This land was bought with a lot of help from a fund that protects the environment. They are working to turn much of this land back into natural grassland prairie.

Redhead Pond WMA

This small WMA in Nueces County is only 20 acres. It's in Flour Bluff and has a 10-acre marsh and a 10-acre pond with an observation platform. It's a great spot to see birds, especially the redhead ducks it's named after.

Richland Creek Wildlife Management Area

Located in Anderson County, this WMA is divided into a north and south unit. It's near Cayuga. This area can sometimes experience severe flooding, which can damage the systems that bring water from the Trinity River to the WMA.

Sam Houston National Forest WMA

This massive WMA covers 161,508 acres across Montgomery County, San Jacinto County, and Walker County. It's part of the larger Sam Houston National Forest and is managed to protect the forest and its wildlife.

Sierra Diablo WMA

In Hudspeth County and Culberson County, this 11,625-acre WMA was bought in 1945. Its main purpose was to be a safe place for the very last desert bighorn sheep left in Texas, helping them to survive and grow their numbers.

Tawakoni WMA

The Tawakoni WMA is in Hunt County and Van Zandt County, covering 2,335 acres. It's located around Lake Tawakoni and is made up of several units, each protecting different parts of the lake's ecosystem.

Tony Houseman WMA

This WMA in Orange County is located right at the Texas travel center off I-10, on the west side of the Sabine River. It has a 600-foot boardwalk that goes into the swamp, letting visitors see wildlife up close!

Welder Flats WMA

Owned by the General Land Office, this 1,480-acre WMA in Calhoun County is a great place to view the endangered whooping crane. These tall, beautiful birds are very rare, and WMAs like this help protect their habitat.

White Oak Creek WMA

This large WMA, 25,777 acres, is spread across Bowie County, Cass County, Morris County, and Titus County. It's mostly centered where the Sulphur River and White Oak Creek meet. It's managed to protect the important wetlands and forests in this area.

Yoakum Dunes WMA

The Yoakum Dunes WMA is in Cochran County, Terry County, and Yoakum County, covering 14,037 acres near Lubbock. A very important goal for this WMA is to help the threatened lesser prairie chicken recover and thrive.