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TPWD News Releases

Feb. 4, 2026

El TPWD Está Cerrando el Área de Aprovechamiento de Ostión en la Bahía Matagorda

AUSTIN — El Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Texas (TPWD) está cerrando el Área TX- 21 en la Bahía Matagorda al aprovechamiento comercial y recreativo de ostión a partir de las 12:01 a.m. Lunes, 9 de febrero. Este cierre o veda está basado en muestras recolectadas recientemente por el TPWD que mostraron baja abundancia de ostiones de tamaño legal.

TPWD Closing Oyster Harvest Area in Matagorda Bay

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is closing TX-21 in Matagorda Bay to commercial and recreational oyster harvest beginning 12:01 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9. This closure is based on samples recently collected by TPWD showing a low abundance of legal-sized oysters.

Feb. 2, 2026

Toyota ShareLunker Program Climbs to New Heights in 2025

AUSTIN – The 2025 Toyota ShareLunker season rewrote the record books again thanks to 469 anglers who entered a record 1,071 lunker largemouth bass into the program throughout the year from 93 Texas public waterbodies.

Jan. 30, 2026

O.H. Ivie, Alan Henry Gets the 40th Anniversary Season of the Toyota ShareLunker Season Rolling

ATHENS – The 2026 Toyota ShareLunker program kicked off its 40th anniversary season this past week at O.H. Ivie Lake and Lake Alan Henry. Legendary reservoir O.H. Ivie has produced 59 Legacy Class largemouth bass over the past six years, and at Lake Alan Henry, one lucky angler caught the same giant fish for the third time since 2023.

Annual Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Dates Set for 2026

AUSTIN —For the past 24 years, countless volunteers band together in February to search the Texas coastline for abandoned crab traps. The abandoned traps can foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, and create unsightly views. In addition, lost or abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, traps and pots continue to catch and kill marine life (called “ghost fishing”). To date, volunteers and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff have hauled off nearly 45,000 of these derelict traps, saving an estimated 740,500 blue crabs.

Texas State Parks Soar to New Heights with Record Breaking First Day Hikes

AUSTIN – For the fourth straight year, Texas State Parks kicked off the new year by breaking historical participation numbers at First Day Hike events around the state.

Jan. 29, 2026

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

AUSTIN — 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.

Funding Available for Grassland Restoration in Central Texas

AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), in partnership with the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture, Quail Forever and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, is now accepting applications for the Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP).

Jan. 27, 2026

Official Media Statement: Texas Game Wardens, Local Agencies Respond to Fatal Incident in Fannin County

On Jan. 26, multiple local and state agencies in Fannin County and the surrounding area responded to an emergency call for three brothers (ages 6, 8 and 9) who fell through ice on a private pond off Rec Road #3, just outside of Bonham.

Jan. 20, 2026

Brazos Bend State Park to Host 2nd Annual Explore Bowhunting Event

AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Community Archery Program is partnering with Brazos Bend State Park in Needville on Feb. 7 to help the public “Explore Bowhunting.”