Jan. 22, 2009

Flounder, Paddle Craft Guides and Consistency with Fed Regs Top Coastal Fisheries Issues at TPW Commission Hearing

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Commissioners Wednesday approved several proposed changes to saltwater fishing regulations recommended by TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division staff. The changes include new regulations dealing with flounder, federal consistency issues for sharks and other species, and a paddle craft licensing and training program. Scoping of these issues has been ongoing since the fall of 2008.

TPW Commission Approves Proposed Changes in Size, Bag Limits on Some Lakes

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Committee Wednesday approved the publication in the Texas Register of a number of proposed changes to freshwater fishing regulations. The proposals will be presented for public comment at a series of public hearings around the state this spring, and a final decision will be made by the Commission at its March 25-26 public meeting.

Boerne Game Warden SEAFWA Officer of the Year

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Game Warden Vance Wallace was recognized as the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies "Officer of the Year" today.

Sweeping Texas Deer Regulation Changes Proposed, Public Hearing Dates Set

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on Jan. 21 authorized the department to seek public comment on a suite of proposed wildlife and hunting related regulations that would expand special buck antler restrictions and liberalize antlerless harvest opportunities in dozens of counties, part of a broader move to transition away from political boundaries and toward biologically-based communities for managing deer populations.

Jan. 14, 2009

TPWD Seeks Volunteers to Remove Abandoned Crab Traps

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Hoping to add to the mountain of more than 24,000 derelict crab traps hauled from Texas bays since 2002, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials are gearing up for the 8th Texas Abandoned Crab Trap Removal Program, running this year from Feb. 20 to March 1.

Jan. 8, 2009

Texas the State of Flowing Water Video Documentary To Air Feb. 12

AUSTIN, Texas — The one-hour video documentary Texas the State of Flowing Water will air at 8 p.m. central time, Thursday, Feb. 12 on all Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations in Texas. It is the fourth in an award-winning series of water resource documentaries produced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and broadcast in partnership with PBS stations.

Jan. 7, 2009

State-Fish Art Contest Aims to Draw Student Interest

ATHENS, Texas-Deadline for entering the Texas State-Fish Art Contest is March 31, and students and teachers should take time now to review the contest rules and regulations.

Dec. 30, 2008

January Coastal Scoping Meetings to Cover Flounder, Shark, Reef Fish, Kayak Guide Proposals

DICKINSON, Texas — The Coastal Fisheries Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will host a series of five public scoping meetings Jan. 6-15 in various communities to discuss potential changes to Texas fishery regulations.

Dec. 23, 2008

TPWD’s Top 10 Texas Conservation News Stories of 2008

EDITORS NOTE: In this issue of TPWD News, we forsake our usual format and provide a summary of the top news stories of 2008. Details about these topics can be found in the department’s online news archive. Please note that TPWD will not be distributing weekly news during the coming holidays. News distribution will resume during the first full week of January, 2009. Happy Holidays!

Dec. 18, 2008

Suspect Arrested In Game Warden Dragging Case

AUSTIN, Texas — At about 7 a.m. this morning, enforcement authorities arrested James William Woods, Jr., 23, of Newton County, and charged him with aggravated assault on a public servant, a first-degree felony, for allegedly dragging a game warden along the roadside Dec. 4 following a traffic stop in Southeast Texas.