AUSTIN — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will hold initial scoping meetings and take online comments this winter about two possible regulations changes for 2012, depending on stakeholder input—a new state scientific area to protect seagrass in the Laguna Madre near the John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway in Nueces County, and a clarification of emergency rules to protect fish during coastal freezes.
CONROE—The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), the world championship of professional bass fishing, had to go into overtime to crown a champion. Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, outlasted Mike Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, New Jersey, in an unprecedented sudden death fish-off.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department closed on the purchase of 3,333 acres of Cross Timbers region ranch land from several different owners late last week. TPWD paid $7.14 million for the property that straddles the Palo Pinto and Stephens county line near the town of Strawn.
AUSTIN – The recent discovery of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a captive deer in Missouri underscores the need for vigilance in monitoring whitetails and taking action when questionable deer are discovered in Texas captive breeding facilities.
The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
AUSTIN – Texas waterfowlers might have better luck bringing in birds with a divining rod instead of a duck call this hunting season. Wetland habitat conditions throughout waterfowl wintering grounds in Texas have suffered greatly under the drought, and what precious little groceries that remain aren’t expected to hold birds for long.
AUSTIN – With hundreds of thousands of Texans getting ready for opening day of the general gun season for white-tailed deer on Nov. 5, it’s important to keep safety in your crosshairs.
AUSTIN — State Parks and Inland Fisheries staff of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are applauding donation of a replacement aeration system to improve water quality in Bastrop State Park pond. A previously installed aeration system purchased with TPWD restitution funds was burned by wildfires that scorched most of Bastrop State Park.
ATHENS — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Inland Fisheries office in Wichita Falls recently completed fall electrofishing surveys on area lakes. Electrofishing surveys examine populations of largemouth bass and prey species such as sunfish and shad. Electrofishing surveys occurred at Arrowhead, Graham, Jacksboro, Millers Creek and Palo Pinto reservoirs.
ATHENS, Texas — Individuals or organizations that have made a lasting contribution to freshwater fishing in Texas may be nominated through February 29 for induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.