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Watch How to Put a Life Jacket on a Kid

Hunting

Big Time Texas Hunts Entries are on Sale Now!

For the past 20 + years, Big Time Texas Hunts has offered you a chance to win premium hunting opportunities that support wildlife conservation and habitat management. This year, we are proud to offer 10 premium hunting packages on some of the best private ranches and TPWD Wildlife Management Areas across Texas! Enter now for only $9 online or $10 at your local license retailer.

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State Parks

4 Tips For Spring Visits

Spring is a busy time at your parks, so plan your visit by using these tips.

Save the Day! Make a day use reservation to secure your entry into a park on a specific date.
Plan a weekday visit to avoid the weekend crowd.
Use the Texas State Parks app to locate alternative parks in case your first choice has hit capacity.
Monitor individual parks on social media for capacity updates.

Wildlife

Where to Find Spring Bling

Texas wildflowers are world famous, and your state parks offer many opportunities for picnics and photos among the blossoms. For tips on where to go, read our magazine story listing state parks with wildflowers. Before you head out, you may want to check with the park to be sure the wildflowers are still in bloom. Keep an eye on our Flickr page for the latest photos of wildflowers at state parks.

Watch TPW Television

Airing on PBS this Week

Turkey Work, Turkey Calls & Turkey Talk

On a ranch in South Texas, biologists are tapping the latest technology, and fitting turkey with tiny backpacks, to learn where the turkey lurk. Calling turkeys is an art. Get some tips on painting just the right sound. Meet the wild Texas turkey as it gobbles, struts and tantalizes turkey fans. Learn where turkeys live in Texas and how to “talk” turkey.

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Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine

In this Issue:
The Great Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Starts Here

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Activities and Programs

Go Wild

Whether you are capturing wildlife with your camera, painting a beautiful landscape, or discovering a new place for your group to visit, there's plenty to do and see this spring at your Texas State Parks!

Dig into springtime fun!

Fishing

Neighborhood Fishin'

Catch your catfish close to home at Neighborhood Fishin' lakes and ponds. Help your kid hook a keeper!

Find a lake near you

Fishing

Never Use Non-Gulf Shrimp as Bait

If you fish with bait shrimp, it's illegal to use anything but native shrimp from the Gulf. Imported shrimp can carry a virus that can kill our native shrimp, crayfish and crabs. Shrimp from any other country or any non-Gulf state is considered imported, and it cannot be used as bait. Familiarize yourself with common imported shrimp and the 4 acceptable types of bait shrimp. If you buy frozen bait shrimp, check the origin on the package.

Magazine

Return of the River Otter

River otters are considered a “sentinel species” because they're very sensitive to pollution. By the 1970s they were reduced to a small population in Texas. But river otters are making a comeback and have been seen as far west as Austin. Watch this video of an otter having lunch at Fairfield Lake State Park. The otter's return indicates the waterways they enjoy are relatively healthy, good news for us all. Look for them on Texas Paddling Trails and the Great Texas Wildlife Trails in East Texas.

Boating

Protect the Lakes You Love

Invasive species like giant salvinia and zebra mussels can ruin fishing, boating and swimming for everyone. You can't always tell if a lake is infested with invasive species, and even a small piece left on your boat or gear can infest another lake. That's why it's so important to always clean drain and dry your boat, trailer and gear before traveling from lake to lake. It's up to you to protect the lakes you love.

Learn more at www.tpwd.texas.gov/stopinvasives

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