Many Texas Wildlife Management Areas are open for activities such as biking, primitive camping, birding, fishing, hiking, equestrian activities, driving tours, and wildlife viewing.

Many times you need minimally a Texas Limited Public Use Permit (LPU - #175). You can purchase a Limited Public Use Permit or Annual Public Hunting Permit at any location that sells hunting licenses or at the Texas License Connection. If purchased online a representation of receipt is acceptable until official printer version has been mailed to you. In some cases it's not obvious when you need a permit for a Texas Wildlife Management Area so it might be better to be safe, because Texas game wardens do check for such permits.

The Mad Island Wildlife Management Area was purchased with waterfowl stamp funds in 1987 to preserve coastal wetland habitat for wintering waterfowl. Conservation tours are scheduled during the year for visitors to observe hundreds of bird species along the Texas coast. The 7,200 acres consists of fresh, intermediate, brackish, and saline marsh land with sparse brush and flat coastal prairie. Wildlife includes puddle and diver ducks, geese, sandhill cranes, alligators, white-tailed deer, bobcat, coyote, gray fox raccoon, skunk, opossum, armadillo. Many species of wading birds and shore birds as well as many species of neo-tropical migrants can be found on the management area throughout the year. Reptiles and amphibians such as western diamondback rattlesnakes, box turtles, and bullfrogs are commonly found throughout the marshes and prairies of the WMA. Hunting for alligators, feral hogs and waterfowl are permitted through special scheduled hunts.