Kerr WMA Public Use Links:
Kerr WMA Technical Guidance and Research
  Wildlife Management Area Links:
 

Kerr WMA: Rules

Phone: (830) 238-4483
Address:
2625 FM 1340
Hunt, TX 78024

Contact: Ryan Reitz

Dates Open:

Public access is open year round (see map for details), except closed for Special Permit hunts. Hunting is not allowed on the WMA except through Public Drawn System hunts. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Kerr WMA Driving Tour & Birding Map:

Events

Seminars and tours are annually hosted on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

Seminars include information on historical accounts of the Texas Hill Country and the Kerr WMA along with ecosystems management information using a holistic approach to land improvement. They also cover a summary of past and present deer research, over 40 years, from the Donnie E. Harmel White-tailed Deer Research Facility; an update on the status of feral hogs; a look at different management techniques for deer and general wildlife and an overview of TPWD programs that are available to assist landowners. We also offer a field tour of the WMA and the research facilities.

Please contact the Kerr WMA headquarters by calling (830) 238-4483 for more information and registration.

Registration is required.

General Access

Photographers, tourists, bird watchers, hunters, school classes, professional groups, and land managers are welcome to the Kerr WMA. Visitors can see first-hand what is being done in wildlife restoration and research. Guided tours for groups should be arranged prior to the visitors' arrival. Visitation may be restricted or prohibited when human disturbance would interfere with public hunting or research activities.

Unsupervised public use is limited to the Kerr WMA Road, Schumacher Road, the Spring Trap Golden-checked Warbler (GCW) Trail, and sites along the Guadalupe River boundary. Fishing is permitted with the APH Permit. Vehicle use is limited to paved roads only. Due to potential interference with research and management activities, all other use of the WMA is only allowed by special permit or WMA personnel permission. Examples of activities that require a special permit would be deer or turkey hunting. An example of off-road use that requires WMA personnel permission would be bird watching. The Kerr WMA is not part of the annual public hunting lands program.

Outreach/Technical Guidance Program

Since 1977, numerous tours and seminars have been presented yearly to landowners, sportsmen groups, universities and others on wildlife and range management practices.

The Kerr WMA is a research and demonstration area. It is imperative that research focuses on relevant topics that produces results that are both practical and effective. As new management techniques are applied and knowledge gained, it is important that this information is disseminated through various means to the general public, land managers and natural resource professionals. This is being accomplished through numerous TPWD publications, news interviews, scientific journal publications, personal communications and public tours.

Consumptive Public Use

Public hunts by permit are being used as a management tool for controlling and manipulating white-tailed deer and exotic mammal populations.

Public spring turkey hunts by permit are also conducted.

Fishing access is available across from the main entrance on approximately 2 miles of river front. Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit Required.

Other Use

The Kerr WMA provides three designated wildlife viewing areas. The Kerr WMA Road is open Monday to Friday from 7am to 6pm. The Schumacher Road and Spring Trap GCW Trail are open every day during daylight hours. (Registration and information signs under construction).

The KWMA is available to birders by means of a Limited Public Use Permit. Permission by WMA personnel is necessary when birding activities are away from designated sites. Birders are requested to register at each wildlife viewing area.

A 4-mile educational driving tour (paved road) is available to the public through the main gate entrance. Five kiosks explain management techniques used on the WMA. The driving tour is not available during public hunt periods.

Permits Required