Feb. 26, 2026

Funding Available for Grassland Restoration in High Plains, Rolling Plains of Texas

AUSTIN – Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), in partnership with Quail Forever, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is now accepting applications for the Panhandle Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (PGRIP).

Feb. 25, 2026

Palo Pinto Mountains State Park Open for Visits Beginning March 1

STRAWN— For the first time in more than 25 years, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is opening the gates to a state park in North Texas. Palo Pinto Mountains State Park, located between Abilene and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, offers Texans 4,871 acres of former ranch land to hike, bike, fish and explore.

Public Input Sought on Proposed Texas Hunting Regulation Changes for 2026-27

AUSTIN — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is accepting public comment until March 26 for the following proposed changes to the 2026-27 Statewide Hunting and Migratory Game Bird proclamations:

Feb. 24, 2026

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

AUSTIN —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.

Feb. 23, 2026

Timely Rain is Key to the 2026 White Bass Run

AUSTIN – Angler success during the 2026 white bass run could boil down to spring rains across portions of the state, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists predict. Some areas are seeing good water levels and flows, but timely rainfall will boost chances for anglers to reel in these prized fish.

Feb. 20, 2026

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

AUSTIN – 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 Feb. 23 – 27, is an initiative to raise awareness of the threats of invasive species and provide solutions on how to prevent their spread.

Hords Creek Vaults Onto ShareLunker Stage, J.B. Thomas Returns to the Spotlight

ATHENS – Hords Creek Reservoir just west of Coleman became the 80th waterbody in Texas to produce a Legacy Class ShareLunker entry on Wednesday (Feb. 11), followed by J.B. Thomas with its first Legacy Class Bass of the 2026 collection season on Thursday night (Feb. 12). The Toyota ShareLunker program is a cornerstone of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s (TPWD) efforts to grow bigger, better bass.

Feb. 17, 2026

Wildlife Health Alert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detections Continue in Portions of North Texas

AUSTIN —Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) urges caution as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) continues to circulate among wild birds in Amarillo and Lubbock.

Feb. 12, 2026

Fort Phantom Hill Delivers its Second Legacy Class ShareLunker, Toledo Returns to the Mix

ATHENS – Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir, located just north of Abilene, is back on the board with its second Legacy Class ShareLunker while Toledo Bend returned to the Toyota ShareLunker stage for the third consecutive collection season. The Toyota ShareLunker program is a cornerstone of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s (TPWD) efforts to grow bigger, better bass.

Feb. 11, 2026

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

AUSTIN — El Departamento de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Texas (TPWD) está cerrando el Área TX- 5 en la Bahía Galveston al aprovechamiento comercial y recreativo de ostión a partir de las 12:01 a.m. sábado 14 de febrero. Este cierre o veda está basado en muestras recolectadas recientemente por el TPWD que mostraron baja abundancia de options de tamaño legal.