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2026-27 · WMA
Black Gap WMA hunting
103,000 acres of WMA ground in Brewster County, with permits, season windows, orange rules and a map of nearby land.
Photo: Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0)
About the Black Gap WMA ground
Think of Black Gap WMA as a wildlife management area run by TPWD; TPWD sets its rules, and it sits in Brewster County. With 103,000 acres, it is number 2 by size among 36 wildlife management areas. Among our town guides, Terlingua is closest; the area lies 46 miles northeast in a straight line.
TPWD lists it in the Annual Public Hunting program, so the APH permit applies. TPWD fills some hunts here by E-Postcard drawing. Young hunters get their own seasons here. The TPWD drawing covers 5 hunt types at this site.
WMA page says approximately 103,000 acres; APH GIS layer lists 115,000 deed acres.
Office on file: 55 miles south of Marathon, 18mi down FM 2627, See maps and directions for specific location.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Permits for Black Gap WMA
Prices and rules come straight from the TPWD license and drawing pages.
APH access
TPWD sells the APH permit only to holders of a season hunting license, and every hunter 17 and up on this ground needs one. Coverage: more than 180 areas, over 1 million acres. No permit for under-17 hunters accompanied by a permitted adult.
Drawn categories
| Type | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Archery Mule Deer | Aug 15, 2026 |
| E-Postcard Predator | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Gun Mule Deer | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Javelina | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Javelina | Sep 15, 2026 |
TPWD takes drawn-hunt applications online, with deadlines on the 1st and the 15th; winners have 10 days to claim.
Licenses for this ground
Start with a Texas hunting license: $25 for residents. This area’s game list calls for HIP certification (free) and the migratory endorsement for doves and waterfowl, a federal duck stamp if you are 16 or older, an upland endorsement and the archery endorsement. Hunters born on or after September 2, 1971 must pass hunter education or use the deferral.
Blaze orange rule
On public hunting lands this rule applies in daylight whenever firearm hunting is allowed. Turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunters are exempt, as are people in vehicles, campgrounds, parking areas, boat ramps and check stations.
Public hunt rules
No hunting from vehicles; dogs only for squirrel, rabbit, hare and game birds other than turkey; no buckshot unless allowed; deer go straight to the check station.
Black Gap WMA: species list with zone dates
For Brewster County the zone calendar gives these dates for the game this area lists (mule deer, whitetails, javelina, doves, ducks and geese, quail, rabbits and predators).
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mule deer | Archery Only | Brewster, Pecos, Terrell Counties | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 26, 2026 | — | |
| Mule deer | General Season | Brewster, Pecos, Terrell Counties | Nov 27, 2026 | Dec 13, 2026 | — | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | 4 deer | |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Southern | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | 2 a year | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 3 a day | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 30, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | High Plains MMU | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 6 a day | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 5 dark a day | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | 5 light a day | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Rabbits and hares | See area | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | See area | — | — | — | — |
Zone dates are the outer limit. Public areas, Black Gap WMA included, often open fewer days or only by permit.
Feral hogs, exotics, rabbits and predators have no state season or bag on private land; on public areas the area’s own rules decide.
Zone dates and bags from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (Outdoor Annual) for Brewster County; area game list from the area record. Checked October 11, 2026.
Black Gap WMA deer rules from the Brewster County listing
Black Gap WMA uses the Brewster County deer listing unless the area sets something tighter.
Brewster County whitetail line
Mule deer here
Brewster, Pecos, Terrell Counties sets mule deer dates.
Whitetail dates by segment
| Deer season | Start | End | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Whole county |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Whole county |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Whole county |
Mapping Black Gap WMA and the ground around it
Public ground within 60 miles of Black Gap WMA: 1 areas. The orange pin is this one.
Town guides nearby: Terlingua 46 miles, southwest; Sanderson 50 miles, northeast; Alpine 71 miles, northwest.
Elephant Mountain WMA (47 miles northwest)
Head northwest 47 miles to reach it, in Brewster County. 23,147 ac.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
What is scheduled in Black Gap WMA
Retrieved October 11, 2026: 1 upcoming date, covering youth hunts.
Scheduled
| Dates | Event | Where | Tickets or entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27-29, 2026 | Youth Only Javelina – Black Gap WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Black Gap WMA, Brewster County | Drawing page |
Black Gap WMA: processors, shops and the warden office
Closest businesses first.
TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Midland) in Midland is the closest warden office, roughly 173 miles off.
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.
Daily shooting window around Black Gap WMA
Texas opens game animals and upland birds 30 minutes ahead of sunrise and closes them 30 minutes after sunset; doves, ducks, geese and cranes quit at sunset.
Times worked out for Black Gap 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.
Shopping list for Black Gap WMA
Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.
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Black Gap WMA: the short answers
What are legal shooting hours at Black Gap WMA?
Sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30 for game animals and upland birds; migratory birds end at sunset.
What is the APH unit number for Black Gap WMA?
Map booklet unit 701. The map PDF is linked at the top of this page. This is the final printed booklet year.
Can a nonresident hunt Black Gap WMA?
Yes, with a Texas license; the nonresident general license is $315 and the only nonresident license good for deer.
Who needs hunter education in Texas?
Every hunter born September 2, 1971 or later, residents and nonresidents alike.
Who sets the rules on Black Gap WMA?
TPWD manages this wildlife management area run by TPWD. Listed program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
Are there youth-only waterfowl days?
Youth waterfowl: HPMMU Oct. 17-18; South Oct. 31 – Nov. 1; North Nov. 7-8, 2026.
How do I get access to hunt Black Gap WMA?
APH permit, $48, for adults; a season hunting license is required to buy it.
What footprint does Black Gap WMA have on the map?
103,000 acres per TPWD WMA page.
When is dove season near Black Gap WMA?
Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026 for the regular season in the Central Zone, which covers Brewster County.
What can I hunt at Black Gap WMA?
Mule deer, whitetails, javelina, doves, ducks and geese, quail, rabbits and predators.
Final word on Black Gap WMA
Before the drive to Black Gap WMA, confirm the area rules, the permit you need and the zone dates for your species.
Other photos on this page: Matt Tillett (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); ejmc (CC BY 2.0); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0).