Texas Parks and Wildlife

Commission Approves Expansion of Digital License, Tag Options for Recreational Hunting, Fishing

April 8, 2025 – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is expanding digital license and tag options to all recreational hunting, fishing and combo license and tag types.

TPWD introduced digital licensing and tagging in 2022 for harvested deer, turkey and oversized red drum.

Texas Drawn Hunt Program Opens Applications for 2025 – 26 Season

July 16, 2025 – Hunters now have new opportunities and scenery to experience this fall through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) drawn hunt permits program.

Through this program, hunters are issued permits for drawn hunts on both public and private lands throughout Texas. Applications are now being accepted for a shot at nearly 9,600 permits in more than 60 high-quality hunt categories.

Amid Increased Water Fatalities, Arrests, Texas Game Wardens Stress Safety

July 4, 2025 – With a sharp rise in boating-related fatalities and a spike in arrests for boating while intoxicated (BWI), Texas Game Wardens remind boaters to follow the rules and safety precautions that can help them avoid preventable accidents as they head to the water to beat the summer heat.

Seven Heat Safety Tips to Protect You From Texas Summer Heat

June 20, 2025 - June in Texas means the arrival of scorching temperatures and the risk of heat-related illness, so Texas State Parks offers seven tips to help parkgoers beat the heat and safely enjoy the beauty that Texas has to offer.

Last year, 44 state parks reported a total of 192 heat-related illnesses, with 10 of those incidents involving pets. Texas recorded 36 more heat-related illnesses last year than in 2023.

Texans can reduce heat-related incidents this year by following these seven pieces of sun-safety advice:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Adds Three Properties to Public Hunting Offerings

June 4, 2025 — With the addition of three new properties, Texas’ 2025-26 hunting season will offer more public hunting opportunities through Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Public Hunting Program.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorized 2025-26 hunting season dates for public hunting lands and Texas State Parks that will offer 140 different public hunts in 52 State Park and State Natural Areas, totaling more than 521,000 acres of publicly accessible land.

Texas Game Wardens Issue Safety Reminder Ahead of Busy Memorial Day Weekend

May 22, 2025 – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Texas Game Wardens are gearing up for a busy summer on lakes, rivers and coastal waters to keep boaters safe.

TPWD Highlights Importance for Boaters to “Clean, Drain, and Dry”

May 21, 2025 - With Memorial Day and the launch of summer on the horizon, Texans across the state will spend time on the water for fun and recreation. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges boaters and paddlers who enjoy the waterways to do their part to protect the Texas lakes we love from aquatic invasive species.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Launches “Better Outside” Podcast

Slight Increase in Hunting Accidents Highlights Need for Vigilance in the Field

May 16, 2025 - Texas experienced an increase in hunting accidents with last year, with 18 non-fatal hunting accidents and one fatality reported in the 2024 Texas Hunting Accident Report.

TPWD Inland Fisheries Stocks Millions of Fish Across Texas in 2024

March 19, 2025 – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)’s Inland Fisheries Division stocked nearly 27 million fish comprising 17 different species, sub-species or hybrids in Texas public freshwaters during 2024.

Roughly 7.9 million of these were stocked in rivers, ponds, and lakes associated with 50 state parks.

TPWD actively stocks waterbodies throughout Texas to enhance sportfishing opportunities. Its multifaceted statewide stocking program tailors fish stockings to individual waterbodies, with more than 400 unique waterbodies stocked annually.

Shelby County Today

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