Black Gap Wildlife Management Area

East of Big Bend National Park lies an amazingly pristine 100,000 acres with 30 miles of riverside known as Black Gap. A region for wildlife study and regulated hunting, it’s home to species like javelina, deer, and game birds.

A 103,000-acre wildlife management area sprawling across southeastern Brewster County, Black Gap is the largest wildlife management area in Texas and the third largest expanse of public land in the Trans-Pecos. It occupies some of the lowest elevations of the Chihuahuan Desert found in the United States.

Black Gap also is home to nearly 300 bird species and more than 50 types of mammals. In fact, you may see black bear ambling in from Mexico and desert bighorn sheep (reintroduced), both icons of the West.

During the fall and winter, hunters make their way to Black Gap to hunt seasonal game: mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina, dove, and quail.

Hours of Operation:

• Open year round, except closed for Special Permit hunts.

Cost: 

• All general users including anglers who enter and exit the area by boat, must possess one of the following access permits:

• $48 Annual Public Hunting (APH), which covers the following:

• (Youth under age 17 may access these areas free with a permitted adult.)

• Hunt white-tailed deer, feral hogs, dove, quail, turkey, waterfowl, rabbit, squirrel and more

• Over 180 hunting areas, including wildlife management areas, state parks, and approximately 120 dove and small game areas leased from private landowners

• Youth-only and youth/adult hunts for deer, waterfowl, dove, rabbit, squirrel, and feral hogs

• Fishing, camping, hiking, nature watching, photography, and equestrian use are also available on these areas

• $12 Limited Public Use (LPU), which provides access to the same areas as the APH at a reduced cost for fishing, hiking, camping, bird watching, picnicking, wildlife viewing. and equestrian use

  Note: Driving tour does not require a permit.

Learn more about the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area