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WMA · Brewster County
Elephant Mountain WMA hunting
Who runs it, what it costs to hunt, which seasons apply for mule deer, whitetails, feral hogs and elk, and where the closest public tracts and towns are.
Photo: Corey Leopold (CC BY 2.0)
Elephant Mountain WMA: size, manager and access
Elephant Mountain WMA falls in the TPWD Trans-Pecos hunting region and is a wildlife management area run by TPWD in Brewster County. By acreage (23,147) it sits at number 9 of 36 wildlife management areas in the data. Nearest town guide: Alpine, 26 miles off; the area is south of there.
This is APH ground: buy the $48 permit before you go. Look for youth-only hunts in the TPWD listing. There are 6 drawn special-permit hunt types on the TPWD catalog.
Check-in office: 109 S. Cockrell, Alpine, TX 79830.
From the source record and 7 linked sources, retrieved 2026-10-11; page checked October 11, 2026.
Season windows for Elephant Mountain WMA game
Listed game here runs to 9 groups: mule deer, whitetails, feral hogs, elk, javelina, doves, quail, rabbits and predators. Texas zones split many of these, so the rows are for Brewster County.
| Species | Segment | Zone | Starts | Ends | Limit | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | 15 a day | |
| Feral hogs | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Elk | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Rabbits and hares | Area rules | — | — | — | — | |
| Predators and furbearers | Area rules | — | — | — | — |
These are statewide zone dates. Elephant Mountain WMA can run shorter seasons, fewer days or drawn-only hunts, so check the area rules before opening day.
No statewide season exists on private land for hogs, exotics, rabbits or predators, so check the area rules.
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.
Where Elephant Mountain WMA sits, with neighbors
3 public tracts within a 60 mile radius, plus Elephant Mountain WMA itself in orange.
Closest towns we cover: Alpine 26 miles north, 6,039 people; Marfa 37 miles northwest, 1,641 people; Fort Davis 45 miles northwest.
Big Bend Ranch State Park (47 miles southwest)
State park 47 miles off to the southwest.
Davis Mountains State Park (48 miles northwest)
State park 48 miles off to the northwest.
Points from TPWD GIS, agency pages and public geocodes as noted in each record. Distances are straight-line. Statewide public land map.
Elephant Mountain WMA: permits, endorsements and blaze orange
Card by card: permits, licenses, orange.
Annual Public Hunting (APH)
Anyone 17 or older needs the APH permit on these lands; it can only be bought with a season hunting license. Statewide it reaches 180-plus areas and over 1 million acres. Hunters younger than 17 go free alongside a permitted adult (18+).
Special-permit hunts
| Hunt | Due |
|---|---|
| Archery Mule Deer | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Guided Exotic Hunt Package | Aug 1, 2026 |
| Gun Deer – Management | Sep 15, 2026 |
| Gun Mule Deer | Oct 1, 2026 |
| Javelina | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Youth Only Gun Deer – Management | Sep 15, 2026 |
Applications are online only and close on the 1st and 15th of each month; drawings follow the next business day.
What to buy first
Every hunter needs a Texas hunting license ($25 resident). Given the species here, also carry migratory endorsement and HIP, the upland stamp and an archery stamp for bow-only hunts. Hunter education covers every hunter born from September 2, 1971 on.
Hunter orange
This applies whenever firearm hunting is permitted in daylight, with turkey, migratory birds and alligators exempt.
Drawn hunt rules
Deer must go straight to the check station. Buckshot only where allowed. No shooting from vehicles. Dogs for small game and birds except turkey.
Deer bag for the Brewster County side of Elephant Mountain WMA
County deer rules from TPWD for Brewster County, with county facts for context.
Deer rules for Brewster County
Mule deer rules
Mule deer zone: Brewster, Pecos, Terrell Counties.
County whitetail segments
| Segment | Opens | Closes | Part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery Only | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | Countywide |
| General Season | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | Countywide |
| Muzzleloader | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
| Youth-Only | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | Countywide |
Elephant Mountain WMA: dinners, hunts and competitions
Youth hunts: 1 upcoming date. Retrieved October 11, 2026.
Next up
| Day | Listing | Location | Go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27-29, 2026 | Youth Only Gun Deer – Management – Elephant Mountain WMA · drawn youth-only hunt | Elephant Mountain WMA, Brewster County | Drawing page |
Game seasons that reach Brewster County
16 speciess have a 2026-27 season here. Texas splits most of them into zones, and this table keeps only the zones that include Brewster County.
| Species | Season type | Area | Begins | Ends | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery Only | North Zone | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Oct 30, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | General Season | North Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Muzzleloader | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth-Only | North Zone | Jan 4, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| Turkey | Spring season | One-Turkey Counties | Apr 1, 2027 | Apr 30, 2027 | |
| Javelina | Regular Season | Southern | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Squirrel | General Season | All Other Counties | Sep 1, 2026 | Aug 31, 2027 | |
| Pronghorn | Regular Season | Open counties | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Quail | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Dove | Regular Season | Central Zone | Dec 11, 2026 | Jan 14, 2027 | |
| Dove | Falconry | Central Zone | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| September teal | September teal | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Youth-Only | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Veterans and military | High Plains MMU | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 24, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Regular Season | High Plains MMU | Oct 30, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Dusky Duck | High Plains MMU | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Geese | Dark Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Geese | Light Geese | Western Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | |
| Sandhill crane | Regular Season | Zone A | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Alligator | General Season | Non-core | Apr 1, 2027 | Jun 30, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Regular Season | Statewide | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Snipe | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Regular Season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 6, 2027 | |
| Rails and gallinules | Falconry | Statewide | Feb 1, 2027 | Feb 21, 2027 |
From the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 county and species pages, checked October 11, 2026.
Elephant Mountain WMA: what goes in the truck
Click any item for current listings and prices.
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Elephant Mountain WMA legal hunting light, next seven days
Shooting time for deer, javelina, turkey and quail is sunrise less 30 minutes to sunset plus 30. Dove and waterfowl hunters stop at sunset.
Times worked out for Elephant Mountain 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.
Shops and processors serving Elephant Mountain WMA
County listings lead; neighbors follow.
Game wardens closest to this area work out of TPWD Law Enforcement Office (Midland) in Midland (158 miles).
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.
What people want to know about Elephant Mountain WMA
What is Elephant Mountain WMA?
Wildlife management area run by TPWD, under TPWD. Program: TPWD Wildlife Management Area.
What size is Elephant Mountain WMA?
It covers 23,147 acres on the record.
Is Elephant Mountain WMA open with just a hunting license?
You need the APH permit ($48) and a hunting license.
What animals are hunted on Elephant Mountain WMA?
The listing names mule deer, whitetails, feral hogs, elk, javelina, doves, quail, rabbits and predators.
What 2026-27 dates apply to doves at Elephant Mountain WMA?
The Central Zone sets it: Sep 1 to Oct 25, 2026 (regular season). Check the area for any shorter dates.
How many deer can I take around Elephant Mountain WMA?
County bag (Brewster): 4 deer, 2 bucks max. No spread rule. Hunts here may carry their own limits.
Is blaze orange required on Elephant Mountain WMA?
Wear 400 square inches of orange, including 144 on chest and back, plus headwear, during firearm hunting hours. Turkey, migratory bird and alligator hunters are exempt.
Which covered town sits nearest Elephant Mountain WMA?
Base in Alpine, 26 miles off to the south. Also near: Marfa (37 miles).
Name some public ground close to Elephant Mountain WMA.
Within reach: Big Bend Ranch State Park (47 miles), Black Gap WMA (47 miles) and Davis Mountains State Park (48 miles).
How do I apply for a drawn hunt at Elephant Mountain WMA?
Yes: Archery Mule Deer, Guided Exotic Hunt Package, Gun Deer – Management, Gun Mule Deer and Javelina. Catalog code EL. Deadlines span Aug 1, 2026 to Oct 1, 2026.
Last checks for Elephant Mountain WMA
The managing agency has the final word on Elephant Mountain WMA. Check its page and the TPWD county listing the week of your hunt.
Other photos on this page: Jay Phagan (CC BY 2.0); Department of the Interior. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. National Conservation Training Center. 10/1997-8888 (Public domain); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); ejmc (CC BY 2.0).