March 1, 2024 - Officials with the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, Angelina Sabine Ranger District will be conducting a controlled burn today, March 1. Ignition time is 10am in the area of East Hamilton North of Shelby County and will be hand and air ignitions.
January 9, 2024 - In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas is waiving day-use fees on January 15 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
November 8, 2023 – Many recreation areas and other venues in the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas will be free to the public on Saturday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day.
“We honor our veterans daily, particularly on Veterans Day,” said Forest Supervisor Kimpton Cooper. “We hope our veterans and other visitors find our national forests and grasslands a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.”
Camping fees remain in effect, but day-use fees are waived at these recreation areas and trails:
October 31, 2023 – Gun deer hunting season begins soon across the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas. Hunters and visitors are reminded to review the guidelines designed to make their hunting trips and visits to the national forest safe and enjoyable while sustaining the health of the forests.
Uncrewed aerial system (UAS) is utilized during a controlled burn on the National Forest and Grasslands in Texas. (USDA Forest Service photo by Greg Deimel)
October 3, 2023 – The USDA Forest Service is seeking nominations to fill 11 positions on the Southern Region Recreation Resource Advisory Committee.
The committee is slated to meet once or twice a year to provide recommendations on recreation fees for national forests and grasslands in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and the territory of Puerto Rico.
September 19, 2023 – The National Forests and Grasslands in Texas are waiving fees at day-use recreation sites on September 23 for National Public Lands Day.
“This year marks 30 years of celebrating National Public Lands Day. I encourage everyone to enjoy the grasslands or forests this Saturday and every day possible,” Forest Supervisor Kimpton Cooper said.
Camping fees remain in effect, but day-use fees are waived on Saturday, September 23, at these recreation areas and trails:
September 8, 2023 - The Southern United States has faced a challenging summer with unrelenting daily temperatures of more than 100 degrees, abnormally low relative humidity, critically dry vegetative fuels ready to burn, wildfires exhibiting extreme fire behavior, and to top it off — a hurricane.
Hot summers and wildfires are not new to the South. Nor is interagency cooperation in responding to and suppressing wildfires. But this summer has been far from normal, and in the case of Louisiana wildfires this August — unprecedented.
August 30, 2023 — During the upcoming dove hunting season, Texans are urged to help protect the lands and natural resources that we all love by being mindful of activities that may cause a wildfire.
Persistent triple-digit temperatures and minimal rainfall over the past two months have resulted in extremely dry vegetation across the state, which increases the likelihood of dangerous wildfires. Any outdoor activities that create heat or sparks can ignite dry vegetation and wildfire.
July 21, 2023 – The heat dome continues to affect Texas with extreme temperatures, and the potential for wildfires is extremely HIGH. Currently, two counties (Angelina and Houston Counties) in Texas with boundaries in the National Forest and Grasslands in Texas have burn bans in effect. Check the county/counties for the Ranger District you are visiting for their restrictions.