Topic · Page 2
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Cass County · Lakes & Recreation
Wright Patman Lake: fishing and camping on Cass County's western edge
Wright Patman Lake sits on the Sulphur River and stretches across Bowie and Cass counties, offering fishing, camping, and boating managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Castro County · Public Hunting
The Playa Lakes WMA near Dimmitt offers public waterfowl and pheasant hunting
Texas Parks and Wildlife manages a public hunting unit near Dimmitt where licensed hunters can apply for drawn waterfowl and pheasant hunts at no cost.
Chambers County · Wildlife refuge
A Major Coastal Refuge Sits on the Chambers County Shoreline
The Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge — renamed in March 2025 from Anahuac NWR — protects coastal marshes in Chambers County. It is open for wildlife viewing, birding, and waterfowl hunting.
Chambers County · Hunting
Chambers County Is Prime Waterfowl Country
Chambers County's coastal marshes along Trinity Bay draw large numbers of ducks and geese each fall and winter. It is one of the top waterfowl hunting areas on the Texas coast.
Chambers County · Birding and wildlife
The Anahuac Loop Is a Key Texas Birding Stop
The Anahuac Loop is a marked segment of the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail that runs through Chambers County marshes, bayous, and Trinity Bay shoreline.
Cherokee County · Deer Hunting
Cherokee County Has Antler Restrictions for Deer Hunters
Cherokee County is in the TPWD North Zone and has specific antler restrictions that limit which bucks are legal to harvest.
Cherokee County · Fishing
Lake Palestine Offers Year-Round Fishing in Cherokee County
Lake Palestine is a 25,560-acre reservoir on the Neches River with strong populations of bass, catfish, crappie, and hybrid striped bass.
Childress County · Public Access
Hunting Public Land in and Near Childress County
Most hunting in Childress County requires access to private land, but a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit opens access to public hunting areas across Texas for a set fee.
Childress County · Hunting
Hunting Seasons in Childress County
Childress County sits in the Panhandle hunting zones and offers deer, turkey, quail, pheasant, and dove — but each species has different seasons, bag limits, and required permits.
Clay County · State park / Recreation
Lake Arrowhead State Park offers camping, fishing, and trails in Clay County
Lake Arrowhead State Park sits on a large reservoir in Clay County and offers fishing, camping, hiking, and equestrian trails about 15 minutes south of Wichita Falls.
Cochran County · Hunting
Cochran County Has Hunting for Deer, Pheasant, and Quail
Cochran County falls in Panhandle hunting zones, offering seasons for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pheasant, quail, and dove.
Coke County · Lake Recreation
E.V. Spence Reservoir offers fishing and camping near Robert Lee
E.V. Spence Reservoir, about 2 miles west of Robert Lee, has more than 14,000 surface acres and provides camping, fishing, and boat ramps managed by the Colorado River Municipal Water District.
Coke County · Lake Recreation
Oak Creek Reservoir is a fishing lake north of Bronte
Oak Creek Reservoir is a 2,375-acre lake about 8 miles north of Bronte on Highway 70 with fishing for catfish, crappie, and white bass, managed under TPWD statewide regulations.
Coleman County · Hunting
Deer hunting in Coleman County: seasons and limits
Coleman County allows up to 5 white-tailed deer per season, with no more than 2 bucks, across all hunting seasons combined.
Coleman County · Public Hunting
TPWD offers a drawn public hunt on a Coleman County ranch
Texas Parks and Wildlife runs a drawn hunt on a ranch in Coleman County, giving hunters without private land access a chance to hunt here.
Collin County · Fishing
Lake Lavon Offers Year-Round Fishing Right Inside Collin County
Lake Lavon is a 21,400-acre reservoir in Collin County managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, known especially for crappie fishing in winter and spring.
Collin County · Public Recreation
The Army Corps of Engineers Runs Parks All Around Lake Lavon
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages more than a dozen parks and boat ramps around Lake Lavon. Most are free and open to the public.
Collin County · Nature & Museum
The Heard Natural Science Museum Is a 289-Acre Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney
Bessie Heard founded the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary south of McKinney. It covers 289 acres with trails and nature exhibits.
Collin County · Invasive Species
Zebra Mussels Are in Lake Lavon — Clean Your Boat Before Leaving
Zebra mussels have invaded Lake Lavon, and Texas law requires boaters to drain all water and clean gear before moving to any other water body.
Collingsworth County · Hunting Regulations
Hunting in Collingsworth County: Deer, Quail, and More
Collingsworth County offers deer, quail, dove, and turkey hunting — each with specific bag limits and seasons set by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Colorado County · Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Colorado County: What Seasons Apply
Colorado County sits split by Interstate 10, which matters for dove seasons, and the county supports white-tailed deer, dove, quail, waterfowl, turkey, and alligator hunting.
Comal County · Recreation District
A Special District Supports Outdoor Recreation in Comal County
The Water-Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD) helps fund trout stocking and outdoor recreation on the Guadalupe River.
Comal County · Lake Recreation
Canyon Lake Offers Free and Low-Cost Public Recreation
Canyon Lake in northern Comal County has public boat ramps, campgrounds, fishing, and swimming areas managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Comal County · State Park
Guadalupe River State Park Is Close to New Braunfels
Guadalupe River State Park near Spring Branch offers camping, swimming, tubing, hiking, and mountain biking along four miles of river frontage.
Comal County · Fishing
Rainbow Trout Are Stocked Below Canyon Dam Each Winter
TPWD stocks rainbow and brown trout in the Guadalupe River between Canyon Dam and New Braunfels each winter.
Comal County · Natural Springs
The Comal Springs Feed the Comal River in New Braunfels
The Comal Springs in Landa Park are among the largest springs in Texas and feed the short but swift Comal River.
Comal County · River Recreation
Tubing the Guadalupe River Runs Through Comal County
The Guadalupe River below Canyon Dam is a popular spot for tubing, kayaking, and whitewater paddling.
Comanche County · Fishing
Proctor Lake Offers Public Fishing and Boat Ramps
Proctor Lake in Comanche County is a public reservoir known for hybrid striped bass, with four public access points run by the Army Corps of Engineers.
Concho County · Hunting
Hunting Seasons in Concho County
Concho County sits in the North Zone for deer and turkey and the Central Zone for dove — check current TPWD dates and limits before you hunt.
Cooke County · Fishing & Recreation
Moss Lake is Gainesville's city reservoir and a public fishing spot
Moss Lake sits about 10 miles northwest of Gainesville and offers public fishing for bass, crappie, catfish, and white bass — but you need a boat permit from the city.
Cooke County · State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park has a unit in Cooke County
The Pecan Creek unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park sits in Cooke County and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and water access about an hour north of the DFW metroplex.
Coryell County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting Rules in Coryell County
Coryell County has specific antler restrictions for white-tailed deer, and seasons run from fall into January.
Coryell County · Public Land Access
Public Hunting Permit Opens Access to State Land
A state annual hunting permit lets you hunt on TPWD-managed public land across Texas, including areas accessible from Coryell County.
Coryell County · Water & Recreation
Two Main Rivers Shape the County
The Leon River drains the north and east, while Cowhouse Creek drains the west and south — both are central to the county's landscape.
Cottle County · Hunting
Cottle County Sits in Both Panhandle and North Zone Hunting Areas
Cottle County hunters can pursue white-tailed deer, mule deer, pheasant, quail, dove, and turkey — each with different seasons and endorsement requirements.
Crane County · Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Crane County is almost entirely on private land
There is no state wildlife management area or significant block of public hunting land in Crane County — access depends on private landowner permission or a paid lease.
Crockett County · Hunting
Crockett County Has Both White-Tailed and Mule Deer Seasons
Crockett County is West Texas deer country. It has set bag limits for both white-tailed and mule deer.
Crosby County · Hunting
Deer Hunting Rules for Crosby County
Crosby County allows up to 5 deer per season with specific rules on bucks, and both white-tailed and mule deer seasons apply here.
Culberson County · National Park
Guadalupe Mountains National Park sits partly in Culberson County
Guadalupe Mountains National Park protects the highest peaks in Texas and a vast ancient reef, with trails open to hikers and backpackers.
Culberson County · Hunting
Hunting in Culberson County — mule deer, pronghorn, and more
Culberson County is in the Trans-Pecos hunting zone and offers mule deer, pronghorn, and upland game — but pronghorn requires a special landowner permit.
Dallam County · Public Land
Rita Blanca National Grassland Near Texline
The Rita Blanca National Grassland is federal public land near Texline where people can hunt, hike, and picnic at no charge.
Dallas County · Fishing Regulations
Alligator Gar in the Trinity River Have Strict Bag Limits
On the Trinity River from Dallas downstream, anglers may keep only one alligator gar per day, and it must be under 48 inches.
Dallas County · Public Hunting
Trinity River Bottomland Drawn Hunts Are Available but Far from Dallas
TPWD offers drawn hunts on Trinity River bottomlands, though these areas are in SE Texas (Liberty County area) — not near Dallas County — and access can be limited by flooding.
Dallas County · River Fishing
You Can Fish the Trinity River in Dallas, But Read the Advisories
TPWD lists public access points for fishing along the Trinity River in Dallas, but fish consumption advisories are in effect for some stretches.
Dallas County · Fishing License
You Need a Texas Fishing License to Fish in Dallas County
Any angler fishing in Dallas County waters needs a valid Texas fishing license issued by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Dallas County · Hunting License
You Need a Texas Hunting License to Hunt in Dallas County
Any hunter in Dallas County must have a valid Texas hunting license from Texas Parks and Wildlife before taking game.
Dawson County · Hunting Regulations
Deer hunting in Dawson County has specific buck rules you must know
Dawson County hunters can take white-tailed and mule deer, but state rules limit how many and what kind of buck is legal.
Deaf Smith County · Hunting
Deaf Smith County offers pheasant, mule deer, pronghorn, and quail hunting
The county falls in the Panhandle hunting zones for pheasant, mule deer, and pronghorn — species not available in most of Texas — though almost all land here is private.
Delta County · State Park
Cooper Lake State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Cooper
Cooper Lake State Park sits on Jim Chapman Lake right in Delta County and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and cabins about 90 minutes from Dallas.
Delta County · Wildlife Management Area
Cooper WMA: Public Hunting and Hiking on 14,000 Acres
Cooper WMA is a 14,480-acre wildlife management area in Delta and Hopkins counties, open year-round for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Denton County · Geography
Denton County sits where two different Texas landscapes meet
Denton County spans three terrain zones: the Grand Prairie in the west, the Eastern Cross Timbers in the central portion, and a sliver of the Blackland Prairie along the eastern edge.
Denton County · Public Hunting
Ray Roberts Lake area has public hunting land through TPWD
TPWD manages the Ray Roberts Public Hunting Lands (Unit 501), which span Denton, Cooke, and Grayson counties and require an annual public hunting permit.
Denton County · State Park
Ray Roberts Lake State Park offers camping, trails, and fishing near Denton
Ray Roberts Lake State Park sits about 10 miles north of Denton and has three overnight units, a 20-mile multiuse trail corridor, and fishing on a 29,000-acre reservoir.
Denton County · Waterways
The Elm Fork of the Trinity River runs through Denton County
The Elm Fork Trinity River drains much of Denton County and feeds Ray Roberts Lake and Lake Lewisville, two major DFW-area water supplies.
Denton County · Invasive Species
Zebra mussels are in Ray Roberts Lake — boaters must decontaminate
Ray Roberts Lake is infested with zebra mussels, and Texas law requires boaters to clean, drain, and dry all equipment before leaving to avoid spreading them.
Dickens County · Hunting
Hunting on Private Land Is Common in Dickens County
Hunting leases are a big part of the local economy. White-tailed deer are well established here after decades of restocking by TPWD.
Dimmit County · Hunting
Deer and Turkey Hunting in Dimmit County (South Zone)
Dimmit County falls in the Texas South Zone, which sets its own deer and turkey seasons and bag limits.
Donley County · Lake / Recreation
Greenbelt Reservoir Offers Fishing and Camping Near Clarendon
Greenbelt Reservoir sits just north of Clarendon on the Salt Fork of the Red River and is the main public outdoor recreation spot in Donley County.
Duval County · Hunting
Deer Hunting in Duval County Follows South Zone Rules
Duval County is in the Texas South Zone for deer hunting, which means longer seasons and a bag limit of five deer per year.
Eastland County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Eastland County
Eastland County falls under Texas Parks and Wildlife rules that limit deer harvest and set season dates you need to know before you hunt.