Topic · Page 3
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Ector County · Dove Hunting
Dove Season Dates in Ector County Depend on Which Side of I-20 You Hunt
Interstate 20 splits Ector County into two TPWD dove zones with different season start and end dates.
Ector County · Small Game & Javelina
Ector County Has Seasons for Quail and Javelina
Quail season runs through late winter and javelina season runs from fall into late February in Ector County.
Ector County · Mule Deer Hunting
Mule Deer Season in Ector County Is Short
Ector County is in the Trans-Pecos mule deer zone, where archery and general season combined run only a few weeks in fall.
Ector County · Public Access
There Is No Public Hunting Land in Ector County
All hunting in Ector County takes place on private land — hunters must have written or verbal permission from the landowner.
Edwards County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting Rules for Edwards County
Edwards County follows the North Zone deer rules and allows up to five deer per season, with no more than two bucks.
El Paso County · Fishing Rules
El Paso County Has Restrictions on Live Bait for Fishing
Only certain fish species can be used as live or dead bait in El Paso County. TPWD sets these rules to protect local waters from invasive species.
El Paso County · Desert Ecology
El Paso Sits at the Heart of the Chihuahuan Desert
El Paso County sits near the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, one of North America's largest deserts and more biologically rich than it looks.
El Paso County · State Park
Franklin Mountains State Park Sits Inside El Paso City Limits
Franklin Mountains State Park covers nearly 27,000 acres of desert mountain terrain inside El Paso, with over 100 miles of trails.
El Paso County · State Park and Historic Site
Hueco Tanks Has Ancient Rock Art and Strict Daily Visitor Limits
Hueco Tanks State Park protects thousands of ancient pictographs in the Chihuahuan Desert and limits daily visitors to preserve the site.
El Paso County · State Park Facility
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains Is Being Rebuilt
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains State Park is closed for rebuilding. Texas got $27 million to reconstruct it.
El Paso County · Hunting Seasons
What You Can Hunt in El Paso County and When
El Paso County falls in the Trans-Pecos region, with mule deer, dove, quail, javelina, and duck as common game species.
Ellis County · Deer Hunting
Deer hunters in Ellis County face specific antler rules
Ellis County is under Texas antler restriction rules, which limit how many large-antlered bucks a hunter can take in a season.
Ellis County · Waterways
The Trinity River forms the eastern edge of Ellis County
The Trinity River runs along the eastern edge of Ellis County. Several local creeks drain the county and feed into the Trinity system.
Ellis County · Public Hunting Access
TPWD public hunting land is limited in Ellis County — know your options
Public hunting land is limited in Ellis County. Most hunters use private leases, but a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit opens access to areas across Texas.
Ellis County · Turkey Hunting
Turkey season in Ellis County only applies west of I-35
Only the western half of Ellis County — west of Interstate 35 — falls within the turkey hunting zone under TPWD regulations.
Erath County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Erath County Has Antler Restrictions
Erath County falls under Texas North Zone deer rules, including a limit on how many wide-racked bucks you can take per season.
Falls County · Fishing & River Access
Public fishing access on the Brazos River near Marlin
Texas Parks and Wildlife has a public boat ramp on the Brazos River about 5 miles west of Marlin. You can fish there without needing private land.
Fannin County · New Lake
Bois d'Arc Lake Is Texas's Newest Major Reservoir
Bois d'Arc Lake opened to the public in April 2024 and sits northeast of Bonham — it is the first major new reservoir built in Texas in more than 30 years.
Fannin County · Public Land
Caddo National Grasslands Offers Hunting and Fishing in Fannin County
The Caddo National Grasslands Wildlife Management Area covers about 16,000 acres in Fannin County and is open for hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking.
Fannin County · Fishing
Coffee Mill Lake Has a Strong Crappie Fishery Inside Caddo Grasslands
Coffee Mill Lake sits inside the Caddo National Grasslands about 10 miles northeast of Bonham and is known for crappie, catfish, and sunfish.
Fayette County · Hunting
Deer hunting in Fayette County has a county-specific bag limit
TPWD sets the deer bag limit for Fayette County separately from surrounding areas — hunters need to check the county-specific rules before the season.
Fayette County · Fishing
Fayette County Reservoir is known for largemouth bass fishing
The Fayette County Reservoir, about 10 miles east of La Grange, is a power plant cooling lake that Texas Parks and Wildlife has ranked highly for largemouth bass.
Fisher County · Hunting
Hunting in Fisher County: Seasons and Bag Limits
Fisher County sits in Texas's North Zone for deer and turkey, with specific bag limits and endorsement requirements hunters need to know before going afield.
Floyd County · Geography
Blanco Canyon cuts through the southern edge of Floyd County
Blanco Canyon is a dramatic break in the High Plains near Floydada, carved by the White River along Floyd County's southern border.
Foard County · Hunting
Deer, Quail, and Dove Are All Open in Foard County
Foard County has open seasons for white-tailed deer, mule deer, quail, dove, wild turkey, and more — but mule deer bucks face a strict antler rule.
Fort Bend County · State Park
Brazos Bend State Park offers 37 miles of trails 45 miles from Houston
Brazos Bend State Park in southern Fort Bend County has hiking, fishing, camping, and live alligators in the lakes.
Fort Bend County · Hunting
Brazos Bend State Park offers limited drawn hunts
Hunters can apply for drawn hunts at Brazos Bend State Park through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Fort Bend County · Astronomy
The George Observatory at Brazos Bend State Park opens Saturday nights for stargazing
A public observatory inside Brazos Bend State Park lets visitors look through professional telescopes on Saturday nights year-round.
Fort Bend County · Fishing
You do not need a fishing license inside Brazos Bend State Park
Fishing from the shore or pier inside Brazos Bend State Park does not require a Texas fishing license.
Franklin County · Fishing & Recreation
Lake Cypress Springs Offers Public Fishing and Boating
Lake Cypress Springs is a 3,461-acre reservoir in Franklin County open to the public for fishing, boating, and recreation.
Freestone County · State Park
Fairfield Lake State Park closed in 2023 — public access is gone for now
Fairfield Lake State Park permanently closed in February 2023 when the land was sold to a private developer, ending public access to the lake and its facilities.
Frio County · Hunting & Wildlife
Frio County Sits in Prime South Texas Hunting Country
Frio County is in the South Texas Plains, one of the state's top regions for white-tailed deer, feral hog, and dove hunting on private ranch land.
Galveston County · Fishing
Galveston Bay Is One of Texas's Most Productive Fishing Areas
Galveston Bay and the Gulf waters off the island offer speckled trout, redfish, flounder, and more — all regulated by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Galveston County · Water Quality
Galveston Bay Water Quality Affects Swimming and Shellfish Harvesting
Galveston Bay has ongoing water quality issues that can lead to shellfish harvesting closures and swimming advisories after heavy rain.
Galveston County · Paddling
Galveston County Has Coastal Paddling Trails on the Bay and Bayous
Kayakers and canoeists can explore coastal marshes, bayous, and bay waters around Galveston Island using TPWD-mapped paddling trails.
Galveston County · Birding
Galveston County Is a Major Spot for Migrating Birds
Galveston Island and the bay marshes are on major bird migration routes, attracting hundreds of species each spring and fall.
Galveston County · State Park
Galveston Island State Park Offers Beach and Bay Access
Galveston Island State Park on FM 3005 has camping, fishing, hiking, and beach access on both the Gulf and bay sides of the island.
Galveston County · Hunting
Hunting in Galveston County Is Possible but Mostly on Private Land
Galveston County has regulated hunting seasons for deer, dove, duck, and other species, though most accessible land is private.
Garza County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Garza County
Garza County is in the North Zone for white-tailed deer and also has a mule deer season, so the rules are different depending on which deer you are hunting.
Gillespie County · State Park
Enchanted Rock Requires a Reservation on Busy Days
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area sits near Fredericksburg and draws large crowds, so planning ahead is essential.
Goliad County · Fishing
Coleto Creek Reservoir offers public fishing near Goliad County
A 3,100-acre reservoir on the Goliad-Victoria county line gives anglers public access to largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and more.
Gonzales County · Fishing
Lake Gonzales Offers Good Bass and Crappie Fishing
Lake Gonzales is a 696-acre reservoir on the Guadalupe River watershed with publicly accessible fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish.
Gray County · Hunting
Gray County Allows Both White-Tailed and Mule Deer Hunting
Hunters in Gray County can pursue white-tailed deer, mule deer, and pronghorn under Texas Parks and Wildlife rules — but bag limits and seasons differ for each.
Grayson County · State Park
Eisenhower State Park Sits on Lake Texoma's Rocky Northern Shore
Eisenhower State Park near Denison offers camping, fishing, hiking, and water access on Lake Texoma, about an hour north of Dallas.
Grayson County · Fishing Licenses
Lake Texoma Has a Special Fishing License That Covers Both States
Because Lake Texoma straddles the Texas-Oklahoma border, a special low-cost license lets you fish the whole lake without needing two state licenses.
Grayson County · Lake Access
Lake Texoma Has Multiple Public Access Points in Grayson County
Besides Eisenhower State Park, several other public parks and boat ramps give access to Lake Texoma from the Texas side.
Grayson County · Fishing
Lake Texoma Has One of the Few Self-Sustaining Striped Bass Populations in the U.S.
Lake Texoma's striped bass reproduce on their own in the Red River inlet, making it a well-known destination for freshwater striped bass fishing.
Grayson County · Aquatic Invasive Species
Zebra Mussels in Lake Texoma Mean You Must Drain Your Boat Before Leaving
Lake Texoma has established zebra mussels, an invasive species, so state law requires boaters to drain all water from boats, livewells, and bait buckets before leaving.
Gregg County · Fishing
Cherokee Lake offers fishing in Gregg County
Cherokee Lake in Gregg County is a documented fishing destination tracked by Texas Parks and Wildlife, with largemouth bass among the recorded species.
Gregg County · Hunting
Deer hunting rules for Gregg County
Gregg County falls in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, with specific antler restrictions and bag limits set by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Gregg County · Natural Environment
Gregg County sits in the East Texas Piney Woods
Gregg County is part of the East Texas Piney Woods — a region of pine and hardwood forests that shapes the local ecosystem, timber industry, and outdoor recreation.
Gregg County · Public Hunting Access
The Annual Public Hunting Permit opens land across Texas
Texas residents can buy an Annual Public Hunting Permit from TPWD to access over a million acres of public hunting land statewide.
Gregg County · Rivers & Waterways
The Sabine River runs through Gregg County
The Sabine River flows northwest to southeast through Gregg County and is a key water feature shaping both the landscape and flood risk.
Grimes County · Hunting & Fishing
Hunting and Fishing Opportunities Near Grimes County
Grimes County has a white-tailed deer season with a local antler rule, and nearby Lake Limestone offers accessible freshwater fishing.
Guadalupe County · Hunting
Deer Hunting Rules for Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County has specific deer bag limits and season dates that hunters need to know before heading out.
Guadalupe County · Upland Bird Hunting
Dove and Quail Hunting in Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County sits near the boundary between dove hunting zones, and quail season runs from November through February.
Guadalupe County · State Park
Guadalupe River State Park: Swimming and Camping Near the Hill Country
Guadalupe River State Park offers four miles of river frontage for swimming, tubing, fishing, and camping about 30 miles from San Antonio.
Guadalupe County · Fishing
Rainbow Trout Are Stocked in the Guadalupe River in Winter
TPWD stocks rainbow trout in the Guadalupe River during cooler months, giving local anglers a rare cold-water fishing option.
Hale County · Hunting & Wildlife
Playa lakes in Hale County attract migratory waterfowl and hunting opportunities
Thousands of shallow playa lakes dot the South Plains and bring ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes through Hale County each fall and winter.
Hall County · Hunting
What You Can Hunt in Hall County
Hall County offers a wide range of hunting seasons, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, pheasant, quail, dove, and waterfowl.