AUSTIN—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and its Commission welcome the support expressed by legislators during a Thursday hearing of the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism. Committee members reiterated their desire to continue communication with TPWD, Vistra Corp. and Todd Interests to save Fairfield Lake State Park.
WACO— Mother Neff State Park in Waco received the Lone Star Legacy Park designation by the Texas Recreation and Parks Society (TRAPS) at a ceremony at their annual institute in Frisco on March 2. Mother Neff State Park was the only state park to receive the award from seven parks nominated this year.
AUSTIN – While the 2022 drought and heat have reduced wild turkey numbers across Texas, hunters who hit the field this spring should see plenty of birds in areas that typically house huntable populations of wild turkeys.
ATHENS – Possum Kingdom recorded its first Legacy Class Lunker of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker collection season on Sunday. Tony Lozipone of Iowa Park reeled in 13.14-pound ShareLunker 647, the 15th overall Legacy Class fish this season. Possum Kingdom joins O.H. Ivie, Lake Nacogdoches and Alan Henry on the list of ShareLunker lakes in 2023.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) 2023–24 proposed migratory game bird regulations mirror last year’s season lengths, timing and daily bag limits. No changes were required due to federal regulatory modifications for season length or daily bag limits. In addition, staff are not proposing any substantive changes to any migratory game bird hunting season.
ATHENS – O.H. Ivie was back at it again on Monday with its third Legacy Class fish submitted by an angler in four days. Mechelda Criswell of Hobbs, New Mexico, landed her catch of a lifetime with 14.08-pound ShareLunker 646. Criswell is the first female angler of the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker collection season to reel in a Legacy Class Lunker.
AUSTIN – In honor of the State Park Centennial Celebration, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Community Outdoor Outreach Program (CO-OP) has awarded the largest sum of grant funding in the program’s history and support a record-breaking number of organizations connecting under-represented audiences to Texas State Parks.
ATHENS – O.H. Ivie reached the double-digit mark for Legacy Class Lunkers in the 2023 Toyota ShareLunker collection season Friday and Sunday with two more massive largemouth bass. The lake boosted its total to 11 Legacy Class fish and increased the overall collection season tally to 13.
AUSTIN – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting public comment on proposed changes to saltwater fishing regulations for the 2023–24 license year. These changes are focused on matching federal regulations to streamline enforcement and compliance issues.
AUSTIN – Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are excited to announce Austin and Cedar Hill as the newest additions to the Bird City Texas flock. This certification program recognizes cities efforts to ensure birds, wildlife and people thrive in their communities. Austin and Cedar Hill have displayed leadership as Bird Friendly Cities by excelling in three criteria areas: community engagement, habitat enhancement and protection and creating safer spaces for birds. Their Bird City Texas certification will continue through 2026.