TPW Television 2024-2025 Season

Featured Segments

The Gator Guardians

Meet a game warden father and his biology professor son who monitor alligators and their ecosystem at Brazos Bend State Park.

Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway

Fishing, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, birding, hiking - whatever your outdoor passion, you can pursue it at Lake Somerville State Park and Trailway.

Hunting Las Palomas

Dove hunting is a family tradition for a South Texas family. Follow them on a dove hunt at Las Palomas Wildlife Management Area and back home for dinner.

Lone Star Land Steward: Mattox Prairie Farm

Julie Mattox transformed an overgrazed dairy farm into a tallgrass prairie. But instead of getting rid of the cows, she uses them as a tool to restore the prairie ecosystem. Now it' a haven for migratory birds, but it' also an outdoor classroom where children learn about the prairie ecosystem and the wonders of nature.

Postcard From Texas: Chaparral Wildlife Management Area

In the brush country southwest of San Antonio, the “Chap” is home to javelina, bobwhite quail, Texas tortoise, and a whole lot more.

Featured Segments

Return of the Black Bear

Black bears, once common across Texas, were extirpated by the 1950s. Today, the species is experiencing a comeback in western regions of the state. In hopes of better understanding bear populations, the Borderlands Research Institute is leading a multiyear study to collect information important for the proper management of the species. In Sanderson, a landowner learns to live with bears.

The Pier

One of the more popular attractions at Goose Island State Park is the 1,620-foot-long fishing pier anchoring the park's bayfront. Spend some time over the water, feeling the Gulf breezes, and seeing what takes the bait.

Southmost Preserve: A Treasure at the Tip of Texas

The southern tip of Texas was once home to a vast forest of Sabal Palms, nurtured by rich South Texas soil. But over time, those forests have been almost completely cleared for agriculture. Now, efforts are underway that will protect, conserve, and restore this natural heritage.

Longhorn Cavern State Park

Longhorn Cavern is a hidden gem ready to be explored. This unique river-formed cave has been home to an underground restaurant, a concert hall, and a fallout shelter. Follow along on a tour to experience the magnificent geology and to hear some tales about the history of this legendary Hill Country cavern.

Postcard From Texas: Mill Creek

Spend some time reflecting by the water at Mill Creek Ranch in Ellis County, just west of Italy, Texas.

Featured Segments

Lone Star Way Up

Two friends traverse Texas on motorcycle, from the state's lowest elevation to its highest. Follow along on this adventurous journey from east to west across the state.

San Angelo State Park

For a day of fun at San Angelo State Park, you can camp, hike, bike, or saddle up your horse. Or you can hit the water for some fishing, swimming and boating. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders find adventure on over 50 miles of trails.

Lone Star Land Steward: MT7 Ranch

Located eight miles east of Breckenridge, Texas, the MT7 Ranch has elements of cross timbers, prairies, and rolling plains ecological areas. Landowners Mike and Mary Terry focus on the core principals of promoting good land stewardship, providing recreational activities, using the ranch as an outdoor classroom, and running an agri-business. The MT7 Ranch is the recipient of the 2024 Leopold Conservation Award.

Hawk Watcher

Park visitors count high-flying raptors and other flocks of migrating birds from atop the hawk observation tower at Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park. Guests learn about the Hawk Watch citizen science program from a long-time park volunteer as they join in the action.

Postcard From Texas: Hueco Tanks

For thousands of years, people have trekked to these rock hills in far west Texas.

Featured Segments

The Wild Wetlands

Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) provide public hunting opportunities for all Texans. Follow a father passing on a hunting tradition to his children at the annual Justin Hurst WMA youth waterfowl hunt. Behind the scenes, biologists work year-round to protect, conserve, and develop fertile hunting grounds.

Port O'Connor Paddling Trail

If you love to paddle and you want to get away there is no better paddling trail than the one in Port O'Connor. From paddling the bays, to sliding through a saltwater marsh, this one of the best coastal paddling trails in the state.

Blanco River Restoration

Massive floods in 2015 destroyed much of the natural habitat along the Blanco River. Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists have been working with landowners along the river to help re-establish trees and grasses, and by educating locals about the importance of managing healthy river ecosystems that are more resilient to the effects of flooding.

Eclipse Village

Viewing a solar eclipse is a wonderful experience, especially with friends and family at a beautiful place like Garner State Park. Dr. Kate Russo is a professional eclipse chaser and she's organized an eclipse village to celebrate this celestial event. Eclipses are a semi-annual phenomenon and Texas state parks are a great place to view them together.

Lone Star Land Steward: Sibley Last Chance Ranch

Welcome to Sibley Last Chance Ranch, nestled in the heart of West Texas. Owned and operated by the Sibley Family for 125 years, this ranch is a testament to dedication, tradition, and a deep love for the land. Led by Bill Sibley and his family, they're on a mission to restore and preserve the grasslands of the region, one acre at a time.

Postcard From Texas: South Padre Birds

Soar with the birds around the South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center.

Featured Segments

Watching Whoopers

The whooping crane is one of the rarest birds in the world. The only remaining wild population of whooping cranes winters at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Every year birders flock to here as well to take part in the Port Aransas Whooping Crane Festival.

Fort Boggy State Park

Visit a park on the edge of East Texas where families find water, woods, and wildlife, along with primitive camping and some rather fancy cabins nestled in the trees.

The Fox Finders

One fleet little fox is seldom seen. Is it vanishing from its range in Texas? A research team labors long hours to learn if time is running out for this elegant animal in the Panhandle Plains.

Centennial Time Capsule

During 2023's centennial celebration of Texas State Parks, park staff from across the state cast an eye to the past and the future and got together to build a Centennial Time Capsule, which they hope will capture the spirit of the first 100 years of Texas State Parks while still inspiring future generations to get outside.

Postcard From Texas: Lost Maples State Natural Area

The fall colors are showing at Lost Maples State Natural Area.

Featured Segments

Gear Up for Game Wardens

From airboats to night vision scopes, Gear Up for Game Wardens provides specialty equipment Texas Game Wardens use to maintain safety and ensure the highest level of service for the people of Texas.

Shrimp Science

Shrimping in Texas is a billion-dollar business, but concerns are mounting that introduced diseases could pose a serious threat to native shrimp and an entire industry. See how scientists and saltwater anglers play a role in keeping Texas shrimp stocks healthy.

Terroir

Sometimes the journey is as big as the destination, especially if you're carrying everything you need while camping and traveling by bicycle. Off-road bicycling meets backpacking in this adventure travelogue, as a group tests their endurance and documents their trek through Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Postcard From Texas: South Padre Island

Enjoy an afternoon in South Padre, catching waves at the beach and fish on the jetty.

Featured Segments

Famous Trees of Texas State Parks

From majestic oaks to towering cypress, our state parks contain many remarkable trees. Three of them have risen to such a level of historical importance that they have been included on the Texas A&M Forest Service's Famous Trees of Texas Registry. Get to know a few of the state park system's most famous trees and see what makes them special.

Mission Reach Paddling Trail

When you think of a river adventure in San Antonio, the famous Riverwalk comes to mind. But there is a paddling trail of a different sort that's worth checking out.

Lone Star Land Steward: Dynamite and Mill Creek Ranch

The Dynamite and Mill Creek Ranch is just south of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The owners of this ranch have worked hard to preserve thousands of acres of prairie that supports a variety of wildlife including deer, turkey, quail, pollinators, and eagles.

The ICAN Boat

Shane Wilson and Tim Lippoldt had an instant connection when Shane realized Tim was the missing piece to his boat, the ICAN. The ICAN is a twenty-five-foot Triton boat designed to lift people with physical disabilities in and out of the water and take them fishing. See how the ICAN is bringing a new attraction to South Padre Island.

Postcard From Texas: Spring at Mattox Prairie Farm

The wildflowers are blooming in Northeast Texas at Mattox Prairie Farm.

Featured Segments

In Tune with Nature

Art and nature have been intertwined since ancient times. The connection between music and the natural world comes to life in three unique profiles. A composer writes orchestral arrangements for the stage. A site-specific dance troupe find inspiration in the sounds of a waterfall. A tech innovator brings alive the inner life of plants with his musical invention.

The Crab Trap Collectors

For ten days each February, Texas bays are closed to crab trapping and derelict traps are collected by the thousands. Follow some dedicated volunteers as they clean up abandoned traps and save fish and crabs from the threat of ghost fishing.

John Bunker Sands Wetland Center

The John Bunker Sands Wetland Center is a one-of-a-kind outdoor classroom. Here kids can journey through a unique wetland ecosystem. But it's much more than a place to explore, this wetland also works to clean water naturally, filtering millions of gallons of Trinity River water each day to help provide clean drinking water to a growing Texas.

Postcard From Texas: Lake Whitney State Park

Relax on a quiet summer afternoon at Lake Whitney State Park.

Featured Segments

Skimmer Savers

If you're lucky, you might see this bird flying along the shoreline skimming the surface of the water—it's the Black Skimmer, and it's in trouble. Take a look at efforts underway to save one of the most threatened coastal birds in Texas.

Conserving Texas Grasslands

Grassland habitat is the most endangered and diminished type of habitat in North America. Large-scale habitat destruction is a major factor in the precipitous decline of grassland birds. In Texas, The Nature Conservancy is taking steps to conserve what's left.

Paddling Goliad

Goliad State Park & Historic Site is known for its connection to history. It also has a connection to the San Antonio River as part of the Goliad Paddling Trail. Take a leisurely float down this meandering river.

Lone Star Land Steward: Rocky Hill Ranch

After twenty years of working in the refineries in Houston, Blaine Morton retired and bought his family a deer hunting ranch in the Pineywoods of East Texas. Blaine soon began to learn about ways to improve the land for wildlife, including using prescribed fire. Blaine's enthusiasm for taking care of the land has spread to his family and his neighbors. Because of his efforts, he has been awarded with a Lone Star Land Steward Award by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Postcard From Texas: Coastal Prairie

Enjoy a variety of prairie plants as the sun rises on a coastal prairie south of Houston.

Featured Segments

The Learning Ranch

The 7 Oaks Ranch has forged creative partnerships with organizations and volunteers to help them manage their property for a variety of Texas wildlife. They actively implement prescribed fire, brush management, and community outreach, to educate others on land stewardship practices.

Hueco Rock Rodeo

Every year, rock climbers gather at Hueco Tanks State Park and Historic Site for the Hueco Rock Rodeo, a rock climbing competition amongst some of the best bouldering in the world. Meet a few climbers as they experience the challenges and natural beauty of this cherished climbing mecca.

Razing Cane

Texas Rivers and stream are under attack. The invasive Giant Reed threatens pretty much every river system in the state, but biologists are fighting back. We focus on the pristine Pedernales River and see what it takes to knock back this towering cane invader.

Parks on the Air

Some folks visit state parks to escape technology, but a few folks like to bring some along so they can do a little broadcasting.

Postcard From Texas: Birds of Mattox Prairie Farm

From Purple Martins to Bobwhite Quail, enjoy some birdwatching at the Mattox Prairie Farm in Northeast Texas.