Wildlife viewing is allowed on the Murphy Unit year round, except during special permitted hunts. Numerous wildlife species occur on the Murphy Unit, including bobwhite quail, scaled quail, Rio Grande turkey, lesser prairie-chicken, pronghorn, white-tailed deer, mule deer, coyote, bobcat, black-tailed jackrabbit, raccoon, eastern cottontail, Texas horned lizard, mourning dove, prairie rattlesnake, and western massasauga rattlesnake, and occasionally waterfowl during the winter. There are no trails; however, the entire area is open for viewing. Access is by foot traffic only.

The W. A. (Pat) Murphy Unit of the Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area is located in the Northern Rolling Plains of Lipscomb County, Texas. The tract was donated to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by Mr. W.A. "Pat" Murphy of Lipscomb, Texas. Primary purposes of the unit include wildlife management, public use, and research.

The Murphy Unit is comprised of 432 acres of mid-grass prairie, 368 acres enrolled in CRP and 89 acres of creek bottom. Common plant species in the mid-grass prairie include sandsage brush, sand plum, sideoats grama, little bluestem, and blue grama. Dominant plants found in the creek bottom include eastern cottonwood, sand bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass, and sand plum. Of the 368 acres in CRP, 256 acres was recently restored to native mid-grass prairie. The remaining 112 acres is dominated by Old World bluestem grass.

Numerous wildlife species occur on the Murphy Unit, including bobwhite quail, scaled quail, Rio Grande turkey, lesser prairie-chicken, pronghorn, white-tailed deer, mule deer, coyote, bobcat, black-tailed jackrabbit, raccoon, eastern cottontail, Texas horned lizard, mourning dove, prairie rattlesnake and western massasauga rattlesnake.

Students, teachers and scientists use the Murphy Unit for instructional, educational, and research purposes. Do not disturb any markings, flags, traps, etc. that you encounter, as this may affect results.

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.