AUSTIN — After a January kickoff with record attendance at First Day Hikes across the state, Texas State Parks’ Centennial Celebration continues with a new round of special community events this month.
AUSTIN — Every February for the past 21 years, countless volunteers have offered up their time to help search for and remove abandoned crab traps. Crab traps left in the water can foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines and “ghost fish” which allows traps to unintentionally kill fish trapped inside as well as create unseemly views. To date, more than 40,000 abandoned crab traps have been removed from Texas coastal waters.
AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) officials encourage landowners to take advantage of a 60-day U.S. Fish & Wildlife (FWS) endangered species listing extension and consider enrolling in one of the conservation programs that provide protections from federal regulations and exemption from consequences of incidental “take” under the Endangered Species Act.
ATHENS – O.H. Ivie Lake chalked up its second Legacy Class largemouth bass of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker season Sunday afternoon. Kyle Hall of Granbury hauled in 13.58-pound ShareLunker 635, registering a Legacy Class bass in consecutive seasons. Hall’s fish is the third submitted by anglers during the 2023 collection season.
AUSTIN- Texas Game Wardens Dyke McMahen and Brannon Meinkowsky were presented yesterday with separate awards as Shikar Safari Officer of the Year and the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife’s Officer of the Year, respectively, by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Nominated by their supervisors for outstanding service in the line of duty, both officers share a passion for conservation, youth outreach and criminal investigation.
AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved more than $9.8 million in local park grants to help create and enhance outdoor recreational opportunities.
ATHENS – Lake Nacogdoches recorded its first Legacy Class largemouth bass of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker collection season when angler Jack York of Emory reeled in ShareLunker 634 Monday afternoon. York’s catch was certified at 13.51 pounds and is the second overall Legacy Class fish donated to the program this year. Nacogdoches has now produced a Legacy Class fish in three of the last four collection seasons.
MATHIS –Park rangers at Lake Corpus Christi State Park are hosting the 31st annual Kid Fish 2023 on Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Young anglers can learn how to fish, enjoy the wonders of outdoor recreation and be a part of the Texas State Parks 100 Years Celebration.
AUSTIN – Since 2000, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Conservation License Plate Program (CLPP) has helped generate funds to support state parks, outdoor recreation, wildlife management and research, and conservation projects in Texas. The largemouth bass license plate is celebrating its 20th anniversary and has generated $893,005 for 93 conservation projects through TPWD’s Inland Fisheries Division.
HOUSTON – The latest classroom for boating education is virtual reality. In a nationwide first, the TPWD boater education program will utilize VR headsets to introduce audiences to the joy of sailing where wind, waves and actions all impact the boat’s behavior. While immersed in a highly realistic environment, participants will learn about different types of sailboats, parts of the boat and steering basics. The virtual reality sailing course is part of the MarineVerse app, one of the online training courses offered by Nautic Ed.