July 26, 2012

Craig Hunter Named New Game Warden Colonel

AUSTIN – Craig Hunter, a 38-year law enforcement veteran, has been selected as director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division. He will pin on his colonel’s badge Aug. 1.

July 25, 2012

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Concerts Highlighted by Dierks Bentley, Gary Allan and Jake Owen

CONROE—The Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) will bring an exciting lineup with some of country music’s biggest artists to Conroe for free! The Toyota Texas Bass Classic will take place Sept. 28-30 at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center and concerts will be headlined by Dierks Bentley on Friday, Sept. 28, Gary Allan on Saturday, Sept. 29 and Jake Owen on Sunday, Sept. 30.

Game Warden Field Notes, July 25, 2012

The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

July 23, 2012

Conservation Group Sparks Lake Buchanan Renaissance

ATHENS—Lake Buchanan has suffered multiple setbacks from drought in recent years—boat ramps out of water, declining striped bass fishery and decreased tourism—but a local conservation group has engineered ways to combat all those problems.

July 18, 2012

Zebra Mussels Found in Lake Ray Roberts

AUSTIN – Three years after the discovery that zebra mussels had established themselves in Lake Texoma, the destructive invasive species has been confirmed in Lake Ray Roberts north of Denton. This is only the second lake in Texas found to have zebra mussels, and the first in the Trinity River basin.

July 3, 2012

Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Season to Open July 15

AUSTIN — The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for both state and federal waters will open 30 minutes after sunset Sunday, July 15, 2012. 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.

Caution Urged on Lakes and Bays during Busy 4th of July Holiday

AUSTIN — State Game Wardens are urging boaters to take extra care as thousands take to the state’s lakes and bays over the busy Independence Day holiday.

June 28, 2012

Satellite Telemetry Used To Study BP Oil Spill Effects on Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Padre Island National Seashore, Texas – The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustees this week offered a glimpse into the world of scientists working to assess injuries caused by the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on the world’s most endangered sea turtle, the Kemp’s ridley. Assessment work includes field and laboratory tests to determine oil-related turtle exposure and satellite tracking via transmitters attached to turtles that come ashore to nest and lay eggs.

June 25, 2012

First Range-Wide Lesser Prairie-Chicken Aerial Survey Concluded

LUBBOCK, TX – The first range-wide aerial survey to assess lesser prairie-chicken populations across portions of five states this spring detected several previously unknown breeding areas, known as leks, despite severe drought across the region last year. Survey teams also detected leks in Kansas beyond what was thought to be the northern extent of the bird’s historic range.

June 20, 2012

Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Gearing up for July 4 Fireworks

ATHENS, Texas—Preparations are under way for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC). The show will last approximately one-half hour and is one of the biggest in East Texas.