Texas Parks and Wildlife

“Go Early and Go Often” — Fair Number of Gobblers, Jakes on the Landscape for the 2026 Spring Wild Turkey Season

February 27, 2026 — Hunters can expect to see an abundance of two and three-year-old gobblers for the 2026 spring turkey season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) recorded good production through summer turkey surveys in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

After another year of good production and recruitment, hunters can expect a temporary spillover of birds into landscapes where they are not always found. Gobblers are expected to spread out in search of hens, hens in search of nesting cover and young birds moving across the landscape looking for new areas to occupy.

TPWD Weekly Fishing Reports for February 25

February 26, 2026 - Texas Parks and Wildlife fishing reports are updated each week, usually by Thursday morning. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the information from bait shops, marinas and fishing guides. Only the local lakes are listed below. If you would like to see the fishing report for other Texas lakes, click the following link https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PW.

Timely Rain is Key to the 2026 White Bass Run

National Invasive Species Awareness Week is Feb. 23-27; TPWD Urges Texans to Help Prevent Harmful, Non-Native Plants and Wildlife

February 20, 2026 – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges Texans to take steps to help prevent the introduction and spread of harmful non-native, invasive species that negatively impact the state’s natural resources and economy. National Invasive Species Awareness Week, slated for February 23 – 27, is an initiative to raise awareness of the threats of invasive species and provide solutions on how to prevent their spread.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Awards $21.2 Million in Local Parks Grants

City of Center received a $250,000 non-urban outdoor grant

January 30, 2026 — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $21.2 million in local park grants, a new record, to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities.

TPWD Files Proposed Amendments to Proof of Residency Requirements for Recreational Hunting, Fishing Licenses, Permits

January 20, 2026 - On January 12, 2026, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department filed proposed amendments to the department’s rule regarding proof of residency requirements for issuance of recreational hunting and fishing licenses and permits with the Texas Secretary of State.

Guidance on Federal Airborne Hunting Act Pertaining to Fishing with Drones

Use of drones prohibited for fishing

December 12, 2025 – Due to technological advancements with Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), also known as drones, now widely available, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has noticed an increase in questions connected to their use in relation to fishing and wildlife. Some of the most frequent questions have been about the legality of using drones for deploying bait by surf or bank fisherman.

Wildlife Health Alert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Multiple Areas Throughout Texas

December 9, 2025 —Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges caution as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is circulating among wild birds across the state as waterbirds and waterfowl migrate and congregate on their wintering grounds.

Detected in all 50 states across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, HPAI is a highly contagious zoonotic virus that transmits easily among wild and domestic birds. It can spread directly between animals and indirectly through environmental contamination.

What is Avian Influenza:

Applications Open Dec. 1 for 69th Texas Game Warden, State Park Police Cadet Class

December 3, 2025 – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is accepting applications for the 69th Texas Game Warden and State Park Police cadet class. The application period will close December 31.

The cadet class is open to those interested in enforcing conservation laws, public safety and joining the next generation of elite state law enforcement officers.

Thriving Fawns, Thriving Hunt: Texas Deer Numbers Stay Strong

October 31, 2025 — To hunters, springtime in Texas is often viewed as chasing turkeys through hot, humid weather, or hanging up the firearm for a fishing pole. For white-tailed deer, spring represents a time for growth: body growth, antler growth and population growth.

Texas began the growing season under widespread drought in March, but most of the state received much-needed rain in late spring. Where it rained, plant growth boosted antler development in bucks and allowed does to load up on calories for birth and nursing.

Shelby County Today

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