Home › Texas › Public land › Sierra Diablo WMA
Trans-Pecos region
Sierra Diablo WMA hunting
Public hunting on Sierra Diablo WMA (11,624 acres): mule deer, elk, javelina and predators, with zone dates, permits, the county deer rules and the nearest towns.
Photo: Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0)
The basics of Sierra Diablo WMA
Type of ground: wildlife management area run by TPWD. Manager: TPWD. Counties: Culberson, Hudspeth. The 11,624 acre figure places it 16th among 36 wildlife management areas with known acreage. From Van Horn, the nearest town we cover, the area sits around 21 miles to the north.
TPWD runs 3 drawn hunt categories here (listed in the permit section). Access restricted (desert bighorn sheep habitat); hunting only through drawn hunts.
The WMA office is at 109 S. Cockrell, Alpine, TX 79830.
From the source record and 5 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
What you can hunt at Sierra Diablo WMA, and when
Mule deer, elk, javelina and predators are on the area list, and the season dates below are the Culberson County zone dates.
| Game | Season | Zone | Opens | Closes | Bag | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Trans-Pecos | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | — | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Trans-Pecos | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | — | |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Southern | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | 2 a year | |
| Elk | Area sets it | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area sets it | — | — | — | — |
Read the area rules too; managers of Sierra Diablo WMA can trim these seasons or limit them to drawn permits.
For hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators, the private-land rule is no season and no limit; public areas write their own.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Culberson County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Whitetail limits that apply near Sierra Diablo WMA
Deer limits for Culberson County, the county this page uses for Sierra Diablo WMA.
Culberson County buck and doe rules
Mandatory check station rules apply for deer (see www.tpwd.texas.gov/CWD ).
Muleys
Trans-Pecos applies to mule deer.
2026-27 deer dates, Culberson County
| Season | Open | Close | Part of county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | All areas |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | All areas |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | All areas |
Around Sierra Diablo WMA: towns and public areas
No other listed public area lies within 60 miles of this point.
Town guides close by: Van Horn (21 miles south, pop. 2,011); Sierra Blanca (28 miles west); Fort Davis (79 miles southeast).
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Licenses and permits that cover Sierra Diablo WMA
Permit facts are from TPWD and the managing agency.
TPWD drawing
| Drawn hunt | 2026 deadline |
|---|---|
| Gun Mule Deer | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Javelina | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Management | Sep 15, 2026 |
Apply through the TPWD drawing system before the category deadline; youth apply free.
License and endorsements
License first: $25 for a resident, $7 for youth. Born September 2, 1971 or later? Hunter education is required.
Orange on public land
When guns are allowed in daylight, wear the orange; turkey, migratory birds and alligator are the exceptions.
On the hunt area
Take deer directly to the check station; hunting from vehicles is off limits; dogs only for squirrel, rabbits, hares and birds other than turkey.
Hunting events tied to Sierra Diablo WMA
1 upcoming date (youth hunts), retrieved October 11, 2026.
On the way
| Date | Event | Place | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 15-18, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Management – Sierra Diablo WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Sierra Diablo WMA, Culberson County | Drawing page |
Sunrise, sunset and shooting time for Sierra Diablo WMA
Morning legal light comes 30 minutes before sunrise for every game species. In the evening, migratory birds stop at sunset and everything else 30 minutes later.
Times worked out for Sierra Diablo WMA in Central time. Rule from the TPWD Outdoor Annual (shooting hours). Nongame, exotics and feral hogs on private land may be hunted at any hour. Shooting hours for every county.
Outfitting a hunt in Sierra Diablo WMA
Items matched to the species listed for this place.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Who handles game killed at Sierra Diablo WMA
Sorted by county, nearest first.
Nearest TPWD law enforcement office: TPWD Law Enforcement Office (El Paso) in El Paso, about 98 miles away.
Store locators (Academy, Bass Pro, Cabela’s), the TPWD law enforcement office list, Hunters for the Hungry and business listings, checked October 11, 2026. Call ahead.
Quick answers on Sierra Diablo WMA
Do I need hunter orange at Sierra Diablo WMA?
The public land rule is 400 sq in, 144 on both chest and back, orange on the head, whenever guns are in season. It does not apply to turkey, migratory bird or alligator hunting.
What is the deer bag near Sierra Diablo WMA?
4 deer, 2 bucks max in Culberson County. No antler restriction. The area can set a lower limit.
Does Sierra Diablo WMA have drawn hunts?
Apply online for Gun Mule Deer, Javelina and Youth Only Gun Deer – Management. Look for SD in the catalog. 2026 deadlines ran Aug 15, 2026 to Oct 1, 2026.
Which town makes a base for Sierra Diablo WMA?
Van Horn sits 21 miles away (the area is north of it). Sierra Blanca is next at 28 miles.
Can I put off hunter education?
Hunters 17 and older can buy a one-time $10 deferral, good to the end of the license year, and hunt accompanied.
What time does legal light start at Sierra Diablo WMA?
From 30 minutes before sunrise. Game animals and upland birds run to 30 minutes after sunset; migratory birds stop at sunset. Daily times are in the table above.
Which agency runs Sierra Diablo WMA?
TPWD runs it as a wildlife management area run by TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
What license do I need for Sierra Diablo WMA?
A Texas hunting license: $25 for residents, $315 for the nonresident general license, $7 for hunters under 17.
Does Sierra Diablo WMA call for a permit beyond the license?
You must be drawn; apply online through TPWD.
Is Sierra Diablo WMA a large area?
Roughly 11,624 acres.
Sierra Diablo WMA trip checklist
Seasons, permits and boundaries at Sierra Diablo WMA can change during the license year. Open the official page before you load the truck.
Other photos on this page: ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); ejmc (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0).