The Muse Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is the newest management area in Texas — established in 2006 — and it opened its doors this past weekend. A total of 45 Brown County residents turned out this past Saturday for an open house that included barbecue at the Muse WMA. The WMA is located about 15 miles northeast of Brownwood.
This former private ranch was donated to TPWD in 2006 to be used as a wildlife research and demonstration area, as well as provide public hunting opportunities in north-central Texas. According to TPWD District Leader Kevin Mote, the agency is using the area to manage wildlife habitat for native and migratory species while providing some excellent public hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.
The WMA also is being used for research and to demonstrate habitat management practices for area landowners and other interested groups.
Since TPWD acquired the WMA, the department has hired a full-time wildlife biologist to manage the area, constructed necessary maintenance facilities, established a workable road system, and begun to develop baseline data on wildlife populations and habitat.
The Muse WMA is not open to the public on a walk-in basis, but 3 public hunts for white-tailed deer are held annually, including one for youth only. The hunts are selected through TPWD’s drawing system. The statewide hunting draw booklets come out in August each year.