AUSTIN, Texas — Students and families from rural communities and inner cities will experience a taste of Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments’ programs and facilities, some for the first time, as a result of the latest round of Community Outdoor Outreach Program grants.
The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game wardens redeployed from the Rio Grande Valley to their home counties this morning as state parks officials began cleaning up storm debris in area parks.
As in past natural disasters, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is opening the gates of Texas state parks to evacuees from Hurricane Dolly. Campsites and screen shelters will be offered free to those who need a temporary place to stay.
AUSTIN, Texas — New hunting and fishing licenses for 2008-09 will be available beginning Friday, Aug. 15, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging hunters to buy early and avoid the rush heading into the Sept. 1 dove season opener.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging hunters in need of certification to enroll soon as hunter education courses are filling up fast. As hunting seasons draw closer, demand for hunter education classes is expected to increase.
AUSTIN, Texas — During the July 4 holiday weekend, at least 13 Texans drowned in public waters. Seven of those were in North Texas, and together they bring the total number of water-related fatalities in Texas to 66 for this year. More than half of those deaths did not involve boats.
AUSTIN, Texas — If you’ve been wanting to take the family on a camping trip, but weren’t quite sure how to put up a tent, what equipment to take and where to go to camp, the Texas Outdoor Family program is right up your alley. The first Texas state park-hosted TOF pilot program will be held on Aug. 4-5 at Galveston Island State Park. Huntsville State Park will host a TOF workshop Sept. 13-14.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Department of State Health Services today advised limiting consumption of spotted seatrout (commonly called "speckled trout") and all species of catfish from Galveston Bay because of concerns about chemicals known as PCBs and dioxins. This marks the first time the state health department has issued an advisory for an inshore gamefish species from an entire major bay system.
AUSTIN, Texas — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will open 30 minutes after sunset Tuesday, July 15, 2008. The opening date is based on an evaluation of the biological, social and economic information to maximize the benefits to the industry and the public.