Chaparral WMA: Activities at a Glance


Phone: (830) 676-3413
Address:
South Texas Ecosystem Project Office
64 Chaparral WMA Dr.
Cotulla, TX 78014

Contact: Whitney Gann, Project Leader

Dates Open:

General Public Use is allowed uninterrupted from April 1 through August 31 each spring and summer. Contact area manager for additional dates or special events. Public Hunts are available annually by special permit and annual permit.

Area Biologist: Diego Navarro and Lori Massey

Registration is required.

Hunting

Hunting Permitted

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) have rules and regulations for hunting not required on private property. Hunters must possess a valid hunting license, the appropriate tags and stamps, as well as the proper public hunting permit. Permits include: Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH), computer drawn Special Permits, and the Regular Permit, which allows daily small game hunting on some areas. Hunters 16 years of age and younger are not required to have a hunting permit, but must have a hunting license and be supervised by a licensed, permitted adult, 18 years of age or older. Hunters and non-hunters must wear hunter orange during daylight hours at any time when firearm hunting for any species is authorized on the unit (except turkeys, waterfowl, and dove). For more details see the rules page for this WMA, the Summary of Fishing and Hunting Regulations and Public Hunting Lands Information and Maps.

Detailed Hunting Information for the Chaparral WMA

Biking

Biking Permitted

Bicycling is a healthy and enjoyable activity that is available in many of the Wildlife Management Areas of Texas.

The Paisano driving trail offers an eight and one half mile for bike riding. The Area temperature reaches above 100 degrees by August and a bike ride is not recommended.

Camping

Camping Permitted
  • Users may not camp or build a fire anywhere other than in a designated campsite.
  • Users may not cause, create, or contribute to excessive or disturbing sounds beyond the person's immediate campsite between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
  • Users may not establish a camp and leave it unattended for a period of longer than 24 hours.
  • Users must remove refuse from the area upon departing.
  • Cutting of firewood is prohibited.

A campground with pull through sites is available for those with generators. There are no electrical or water hookups available. Other campgrounds are available for hunters during hunting season. Restrooms and drinking water are available only at the primitive campground.

Driving

Driving Tour Permitted

The eight and one half miles self-guided Paisano Driving Trail takes a visitor through 49 stops which address wildlife, habitat and management techniques. This trail is open from April 1 to August 31 daily. Permits are not needed for the nature trails or the driving trail.

Hiking

Hiking Permitted

Hiking is an enjoyable activity that is available in many of the Wildlife Management Areas of Texas. Since potable water is not available on many of the Wildlife Management Areas, it is a good idea to bring plenty of drinking water.

Detailed Hiking Information for the Chaparral WMA

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife Viewing Permitted

Viewing wildlife is an enjoyable activity that is available in many of the Wildlife Management Areas of Texas.

Detailed Wildlife Viewing Information for the Chaparral WMA