Matagorda Island WMA Public Use Links:
Wildlife Management Area
 

Matagorda Island WMA: Wildlife Viewing

Phone: (361) 205-1510
Matagorda Island
Offshore Port O'Connor, Texas

Contact: Dan Walker

Dates Open:

The Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is open throughout the year for camping, biking, hiking, wildlife viewing and fishing and hunting activities. To camp and to hunt duck on the WMA, visitors must have a Limited Public Use Permit (LPU) or Annual Public Hunting Lands Permit (APH). No permit is needed for day use of the WMA. To get to the WMA is by boat only, see the Matagorda Island Map and the Matagorda Island WMA Headquarters Complex Map. The Sunday Beach area of Matagorda Island is open to the public for activities with no fees, permits or restrictions.

Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife Viewing Permitted

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

Wildlife Viewing on Matagorda Island WMA

The location and geological makeup of Matagorda Island includes coves, bays and marshes providing a natural nursery for fish and shellfish. These crustaceans supply the shorebirds and wading birds with a plentiful food supply. Whooping cranes are known to winter along the Espiritu Santo Bay side of the Island. Bird watchers can also find peregrine falcon, brown pelican, egrets, ibis, hawks, storks, herons and Southern bald eagles. The Matagorda Island WMA is one of many wildlife viewing sites along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail. Visitors may see White-tailed deer, feral hogs, wild turkeys, turtles, alligators, lizards and many other native and migratory wildlife.

During daylight hours, visitors may view wildlife unsupervised while biking or hiking. The north end of Matagorda Island WMA, closed air runways and headquarters complex, the road to the lighthouse and the U.S. Gulf side beach in front of the WMA conservation area, is available for wildlife viewing. Guided wildlife and natural history tours are scheduled periodically. Removing plants, animals or artifacts is prohibited. Wildlife viewing activities is not allowed while public hunts are in progress on the WMA.