Powderhorn WMA

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Phone: (361) 205-1510
Address:
10769 FM 1289
Port O'Connor, TX 77982

Contact: Dan Walker

Dates Open:

The Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is open throughout the year for limited public use including scheduled bird watching and public hunting activities. To enter the WMA, visitors do not need a permit for bird watching; but hunters must have a Special Permit for Powderhorn Drawn Hunts. See the Powderhorn WMA aerial map for location information.

Description

The Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in southern Calhoun County near Port O'Conner in the Texas Coastal Bend. The WMA consists of 15,093 acres of freshwater and brackish wetlands, coastal tallgrass prairie and mottes, rounded shrubby, stands of coastal live oak trees. Several miles of bayfront land on both Powderhorn Lake and Matagorda Bay make up the north and east boundaries of the WMA.

The Powderhorn property was purchased with funding and support from the BP Horizon oil spill mitigation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and many private donations. In October 2018, the property was donated to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and became the Powderhorn WMA.

The habitat in this area was historically considered to be coastal prairie with vast grasslands and scattered mottes of large coastal live oaks. But land management practices of overgrazing and suppression of wildfires have resulted in a monoculture of running oak. Starting in 2015, we began to restore the prairie using herbicide treatment and prescribed fire. The result of these conservation efforts is about 7,200 acres have been converted back to native coastal prairie on Powderhorn WMA. Conservation efforts will continue to restore more of the habitat on the WMA.

Powderhorn is an important resting spot for migrating birds. During spring migration, over 100 species can be counted in a day. So far 310 species have been documented on the WMA. The diversity of habitats on Powderhorn hosts a variety of birds year-round. A Christmas Bird Count focused on the WMA occurs each year in December.

Powderhorn WMA currently offers limited public access for bird watching, scheduled tours and public hunts. Mostly in the Spring, there are open days for bird watching and by appointment, large group bird watching tours. Some bird watching festivals in the vicinity use the WMA as a featured stop. In the Fall and Winter, there are Big Game public hunts on the WMA conducted by the Texas Public Dawn Hunts System.

Terrain & ADA Access

There is one accessible restroom located near the parking area at the WMA headquarters and information station. The parking area is unimproved and may be muddy depending on weather conditions. There is one permanent accessible hunting blind. Pop up blinds can be placed as needed for hunters with disabilities. Please call the WMA manager for more details on hunting accommodations at least two weeks ahead of hunt dates.