Sports 471
TPWD Purchases 112 Oyster Licenses
During the ninth round of the Commercial Oyster Boat License Buyback Program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) received 115 commercial oyster boat applications and purchased 112 commercial oyster licenses. The 112 purchased licenses represent a 21 percent reduction of all oyster licenses available in Texas. TPWD administers voluntary commercial fishing license buyback programs for
Digital Hunting & Fishing Licenses On Sale
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will offer fully digital options for all recreational hunting, fishing and combo license and tag types when 2025-26 licenses go on sale Aug. 15th. In March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the expansion of digital license and tag options. TPWD first introduced digital license options for resident
New Paddling Trails For Toledo Bend
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will launch a new series of paddling trails at Toledo Bend Reservoir in East Texas, recently designated the official Bass Fishing Capital of Texas. The Lost Frontier Reach, Mid Lake Run, Palo Gaucho and Six Mile Paddling trails increase the number of trails at Toledo Bend to five. They
“Ghost Deer” Case Involves Smuggling
The Texas Game Warden investigation known as “Ghost Deer” has reached a possible conclusion after two additional suspects turned themselves in on felony charges. This brings the total number of individuals implicated in the case to 24, with approximately 1,400 charges filed across 11 Texas counties. Ken Schlaudt, 64, of San Antonio, the owner of four deer
“Dead Zone” Smaller Than Normal
NOAA-supported scientists announced this year’s Gulf of America “dead zone” — an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and marine life — is approximately 4,402 square miles, 21% smaller than estimates from early June and the 15th smallest measurement on record. This equates to roughly 2.8 million acres of habitat potentially
Texas Man Killed by Cape Buffalo
Asher Watkins, 52, a Texas ranch broker and prominent big-game hunter, was fatally gored by a Cape buffalo during a guided safari in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The fatal incident occurred on August 3 while Watkins was tracking the animal alongside a professional hunter and a local tracker, as part of a luxury hunt organized
TFFC Closed to the Public Until Further Notice
The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) has temporarily closed to visitors while Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) completes emergency repairs to a steel column that structurally supports the main visitor center building. Unrelated to the recent renovation of exhibits, displays, and aquaria in the main visitor center, routine maintenance and repairs continue to be implemented at
Getting Ready For Dove Season
Dove season feels like fall officially arriving in Texasb ut true success starts long before opening day. The Ultimate Bird Vest from Dove Gear This year, gear innovations, especially the revamped 2025 Ultimate Bird Vest from Dove Gear—make staying light, organized, and compliant easier than ever. If your kit hasn’t seen an upgrade since last
Association Applauds SHARKED Act
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds House passage of the Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research, Knowledge, and Enhanced Dialogue Act (SHARKED Act, H.R. 207). On January 21, the full House passed the bill with overwhelming support. “As shark populations have rebounded in recent years through effective management and educational outreach, recreational and
Try This For Specks On Piers
Catching speckled trout – specks – from piers in Texas is a mix of timing, tide, technique, and patience. The coast offers numerous public piers—places like Galveston, Port Aransas, and Corpus Christi—where locals and traveling anglers alike try their luck, especially during the warm months when trout push closer to shore. The bite tends to
Groups Unite To Fight Screwworm Threat
The Screwworm Coalition of Texas, a coalition of 13 Texas landowner, livestock, equine and wildlife groups, today launched a new website to deliver reliable information about the New World screwworm. The site compiles information from lead agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS), Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
Try A Texas Surf Slam
There’s nothing quite like fishing the Texas surf. With just a little planning, families can turn a day at the beach into an exciting multi-species challenge—one that can yield bull redfish, stingrays, sharks, and more. Known by some anglers as the “Texas Surf Slam,” this all-day pursuit rewards patience, variety, and a love for salt
