AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission this week voted to prohibit the commercial collection of four species of freshwater turtles in Texas—the common snapping turtle, red-eared slider, smooth softshell and spiny softshell.
AUSTIN – Beginning this fall, hunters in Texas will be able to use air guns and arrow guns that meet criteria established under new rules adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.
AUSTIN—For his work prosecuting natural and cultural resource violations and environmental crimes in the state, Robert G. Neal Jr., County Attorney for Sabine County, has been recognized with the inaugural Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Prosecutor of the Year award.
AUSTIN— The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recognized two Texas Game Wardens as recipients of the Midwest Officer of the Year and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Officer of the Year awards for their outstanding work in law enforcement.
AUSTIN — Though Hurricane Harvey caused a significant drop in dove hunter effort and harvest numbers last year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department expects the 2018-19 season to be back to normal. In Texas terms, normal means exceptional.
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
AUSTIN- The private recreational angler red snapper season in federal waters will close at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22. State waters out to nine nautical miles will remain open.
AUSTIN – With opening of dove hunting season only a couple weeks away, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reminds sportsmen that all current year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except year-to-date fishing licenses) expire Aug 31. New licenses for 2018-19 go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 15.
BALMORHEA— After months of thorough evaluations, repair to the historic Balmorhea State Park pool is set to begin. The labor-intensive job will repair the damage to the concrete apron used to stabilize the diving board along the east headwall after part of the structure collapsed during the pool’s annual cleaning in early May. Further geotechnical examination concluded that the structure failure was due to years of undermining erosion behind the wall caused by the flow of water from the springs.
BURNET— Portions of Inks Lake State Park reopened to visitors today after a Sunday afternoon brush fire burned about 300 acres within the park.