Black Gap WMA: public hunting, 2026-27 seasons and access
Black Gap WMA is 103,127 acres of public hunting land in Brewster County, Texas, TPWD unit #701. Adults hunt it on the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit. TPWD's 2026-27 map booklet lists dove, quail, waterfowl and rabbits and hares as legal game here. The entire area is closed Nov. 15-20, Nov. 26-Dec. 13, Dec. 25-Jan. 1, Jan. 8-10, and Feb. 5-7.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: TPWD's 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands. Boundaries: TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map.
This areaOther public hunting landNo hunting zonePrivate land insideCounty lineLake or riverHighway
| TPWD unit | #701 |
|---|---|
| Size | 103,127 acres (TPWD booklet); 105,472 acres mapped |
| County | Brewster County |
| Permit | Annual Public Hunting Permit ($48) |
| Legal game listed | Dove, Quail, Waterfowl and Rabbits and Hares |
| Deer | No deer season for walk-in hunters in the booklet |
| Closed | Nov. 15-20, Nov. 26-Dec. 13, Dec. 25-Jan. 1, Jan. 8-10, and Feb. 5-7. |
| White-tailed deer unit | TPWD unit 01 |
What can you hunt on Black Gap WMA in 2026-27?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists 5 legal game entries for Black Gap WMA, none of them deer. Every line below is TPWD's own wording.
| Species or season | What TPWD's 2026-27 booklet says |
|---|---|
| Dove | Sept.1-Oct. 25, Dec. 14-24, Jan. 2-7, and Jan. 11-14. Hunters are required to deposit one wing from each dove harvested in registration station before exiting the area. |
| Quail | Nov. 1-14, Nov. 21-24, Dec. 14-24, Jan. 2-7, Jan. 11-Feb. 4, and Feb. 8-28. Hunters are required to deposit one wing from each quail harvested in registration station before exiting the area. |
| Waterfowl | Each day of Early Teal Season and each day the Regular High Plains Mallard Management Unit Season except on dates entire area closed. |
| Rabbits and Hares | Concurrent with hunt dates for dove and quail (no bag limit). |
| Fishing | Open year-round in the Rio Grande River except on dates entire area closed. Impoundments are closed to fishing. Anglers may cross through the Black Gap WMA to fish in the Rio Grande River by possessing any of the required access permits. |
Youth and special seasons
- Youth and Veteran/Active-Duty Military Only Waterfowl: See TPWD Outdoor Annual for Special Season information and regulations.
Drawn hunts
E-Postcard selection hunts: Predator: See the front of the booklet for “E-Postcard Selection Hunt” information. Apply through TPWD's Public Hunt Drawing System.
What are the rules on Black Gap WMA?
- Permit and registration: On-site registration is required. Anglers may cross through the Black Gap WMA to fish in the Rio Grande River by possessing any of the required access permits.
- General use: General visitation is allowed only during the period Mar. 1-Aug. 31 and is restricted to roads (Horse and Maravillas Canyons) accessing the Rio Grande corridor. Use of horses allowed only on designated trails and in river corridor only during Mar. 1-Aug. 31. See Prohibited Acts section for regulations on horse use and further restrictions. Campsites are available on area and campsite locations are identified at the area headquarters/sign-in station. Users should check for local burn-bans before lighting campfires (432/376-2216).
- Closed: Entire area closed: Nov. 15-20, Nov. 26-Dec. 13, Dec. 25-Jan. 1, Jan. 8-10, and Feb. 5-7.
- Rule: Important notice: The Rio Grande River adjacent to the WMA falls within that segment of the river designated by the federal government as a Wild and Scenic River. Please be advised that special federal rules may apply to certain river activities. A copy of these rules will be posted at the WMA self-registration station. For additional information call the Big Bend National Park at 432-477-2251, menu option 3.
Source: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #701 (PDF).
Which parts of Black Gap WMA are closed or limited?
TPWD's map of Black Gap WMA marks no hunting zones and private land inside the boundary. No hunting zones are closed to all hunting. Measured inside the boundary from TPWD's own polygons:
| Zone | Acres | Share of Black Gap WMA |
|---|---|---|
| No hunting zones | 21,044 | 20% |
| Private land inside the boundary | 431 | 0.4% |
Measured by FilledTag from TPWD's Public Hunt Locator map. Posted signs and the booklet's map are the final word on the ground.
How do you get to Black Gap WMA?
Black Gap WMA lies in Brewster County. Rivers nearby: Rio Grande.
TPWD's map points for Black Gap WMA: 1 headquarters and 1 info station.
TPWD's page says: Open year round, except closed for Special Permit hunts. Contact the WMA for specific information. TPWD's page gives the area as 103,000 acres. Area office: (432) 376-2216, 55 miles south of Marathon, 18mi down FM 2627, See maps and directions for specific location.
From TPWD's Black Gap WMA page.
Which deer management unit is Black Gap WMA in?
Black Gap WMA lies in TPWD white-tailed deer management unit 01 and mule deer management unit 3. TPWD publishes its harvest survey statewide; across Texas in 2025-26 it estimates 714,424 white-tailed deer hunters took 782,405 deer. The page on Texas public hunting has the statewide table.
Units: TPWD white-tailed deer management units. Harvest: TPWD Big Game Harvest Survey, 2025-26.
What other public hunting is near Black Gap WMA?
The closest other places on the Annual Public Hunting Permit with a page of their own, measured edge to edge:
| Area | County | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Elephant Mountain WMA | Brewster | 32.4 mi |
Questions hunters ask
Do you need a permit to hunt Black Gap WMA?
Yes. Hunters 17 and older need the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit along with a Texas hunting license; hunters under 17 may hunt free with a permitted adult. TPWD's booklet adds: On-site registration is required. Anglers may cross through the Black Gap WMA to fish in the Rio Grande River by possessing any of the required access permits.
Can you hunt deer on Black Gap WMA?
Not on the Annual Public Hunting Permit: TPWD's 2026-27 booklet lists no deer season here. Some places offer drawn hunts; see the drawn hunts section above.
Can you camp on Black Gap WMA?
TPWD's booklet: Campsites are available on area and campsite locations are identified at the area headquarters/sign-in station. Users should check for local burn-bans before lighting campfires (432/376-2216).
Where is Black Gap WMA?
Black Gap WMA is in Brewster County.
When is Black Gap WMA closed?
TPWD's 2026-27 booklet: the entire area is closed Nov. 15-20, Nov. 26-Dec. 13, Dec. 25-Jan. 1, Jan. 8-10, and Feb. 5-7.
Get a Texas hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Texas are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Texas included.
Where these facts come from
- Legal game, dates, rules, permits and closures: TPWD 2026-27 Map Booklet for Public Hunting Lands, unit #701.
- Boundaries, zones and map points: TPWD Public Hunt Locator map. Acres and distances measured by FilledTag.
- Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 and Gazetteer. Lakes and rivers: USGS National Hydrography Dataset.
FilledTag is not part of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TPWD's booklet and posted signs are the final word on every rule; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.