Topic · Page 4
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Hamilton County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting Rules for Hamilton County
Hamilton County is in the North Zone and allows up to five deer per season, with specific rules on how many bucks you can take.
Hardeman County · State Park
Copper Breaks State Park: Camping, Fishing, and Dark Skies
Copper Breaks State Park near Quanah offers camping, hiking, fishing, and one of Texas's certified dark-sky sites.
Hardin County · National Preserve
Big Thicket National Preserve is free to enter and spans 113,000 acres
Big Thicket National Preserve covers more than 113,000 acres across seven Southeast Texas counties and is free to visit, with over 30 miles of trails.
Hardin County · Hunting
Hunting in Big Thicket requires a free preserve permit plus a Texas license
You can hunt white-tailed deer, feral hogs, squirrels, and waterfowl inside Big Thicket National Preserve, but you need both a Texas hunting license and a free NPS permit.
Hardin County · State Park
Village Creek State Park is a paddling and hiking destination near Lumberton
Village Creek State Park in Lumberton offers eight miles of trails, camping, and paddling on one of the few free-flowing creeks in Texas.
Hardin County · Fishing
You can fish Big Thicket waterways, but check consumption advisories first
Fishing is allowed in all Big Thicket waterways with a Texas license, but mercury and dioxin advisories apply to certain fish in the Neches River and Village Creek.
Harris County · Bay Fishing
Galveston Bay Is One of the Top Fishing Spots Near Houston
Galveston Bay borders the southeast edge of Harris County and offers saltwater fishing for speckled trout, redfish, and flounder.
Harris County · State Park
Galveston Island State Park Is About an Hour from Houston
Galveston Island State Park offers beach and bay access for camping, fishing, bird watching, and paddling — close to the Houston metro.
Harris County · Birding / Wildlife
Harris County Sits on a Major Bird Migration Route
The Houston area lies along the Central Flyway, one of the main bird migration routes in North America, making Harris County a strong birding destination in spring and fall.
Harris County · Bayous / Waterways
Harris County's Bayou System Is Part of Its Flood Defense
Harris County's system of bayous — including Buffalo, Brays, White Oak, and Greens — drains the flat coastal plain toward Galveston Bay.
Harris County · Wildlife Trail
The Clear Lake Loop Is a Wildlife Viewing Drive Near Harris County
TPWD's Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail includes a Clear Lake Loop that passes through the Harris County area, offering access to Galveston Bay's bird life.
Harris County · Fishing Reports
TPWD Posts Weekly Fishing Reports for the Galveston Bay Area
Texas Parks and Wildlife publishes free weekly fishing reports for Galveston Bay and the Gulf Coast, showing what fish are biting and where.
Harris County · Fishing License
Which Fishing License You Need in Harris County
Whether you fish Galveston Bay or an inland lake in Harris County determines which TPWD license endorsement you need.
Harrison County · State Park
Caddo Lake State Park: Fishing, Paddling, and Cabins
Caddo Lake State Park, near Karnack in Harrison County, offers camping, historic cabins, boat rentals, and access to a 26,810-acre lake known for largemouth bass and crappie.
Harrison County · Wildlife Management Area
Caddo Lake WMA: Public Hunting in the Cypress Swamp
The Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area covers 8,124 acres across Harrison and Marion counties. It is open to licensed hunters who have the right permits.
Harrison County · Freshwater Fishing
Fishing Caddo Lake: Species, Rules, and a Mercury Advisory
Caddo Lake offers good fishing for bass, crappie, and catfish, but a health advisory says limit how much largemouth bass you eat because of mercury.
Harrison County · Lake Health
Invasive Plants Threaten Caddo Lake
Caddo Lake faces ongoing threats from invasive aquatic plants — including giant salvinia and water hyacinth — that can block boat access and harm the ecosystem.
Hartley County · Hunting
Hartley County Offers Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Pheasant, and Quail Hunting
Hartley County's Panhandle grasslands have mule deer, pronghorn, pheasant, quail, dove, and duck. Most land is private, so you need landowner permission to hunt.
Haskell County · Hunting
Hunting in Haskell County: deer and turkey seasons explained
Haskell County sits in TPWD's North Zone for deer and turkey, with a combined deer bag limit of 5 and a long general season running from November into January.
Haskell County · Fishing
Lake Stamford: Haskell County's main public water body
Lake Stamford is the main reservoir in Haskell County, offering fishing for bass, catfish, and crappie, though public shoreline access is limited to two marina areas.
Hays County · Upland Game
Hays County has a quail season running into late February
Quail hunters in Hays County can take up to 15 birds per day during a season that runs from November 1 through February 28.
Hays County · County Park
Jacob's Well requires a reservation for swimming and is run by the county
Jacob's Well Natural Area near Wimberley is a spring-fed swimming hole managed by Hays County that requires advance reservations in summer.
Hays County · Rivers & Recreation
The Blanco River flows through the Hill Country heart of Hays County
The Blanco River is a key waterway in western Hays County, popular for swimming and kayaking when conditions are safe but dangerous during floods.
Hays County · Rivers & Ecology
The San Marcos River supports rare species found nowhere else
The San Marcos River runs about 75 miles from the springs in San Marcos and carries water that supports species that live nowhere else on Earth.
Hays County · Wildlife Trail
The Wimberley Loop is a scenic driving and wildlife trail in Hays County
TPWD includes the Wimberley area in a wildlife trail that highlights Hill Country birds, deer, and native habitat along scenic ranch roads.
Hemphill County · Public Hunting & Fishing
Gene Howe WMA Gives the Public 5,394 Acres to Hunt and Fish
Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area on the Canadian River is one of the few places in the Panhandle where the public can hunt, fish, hike, and camp.
Henderson County · Wildlife Management Area
Cedar Creek Islands WMA gives public outdoor access
Cedar Creek Islands Wildlife Management Area on Cedar Creek Reservoir provides public fishing and wildlife watching access in Henderson County.
Henderson County · Fishing
Cedar Creek Reservoir offers big-lake fishing near Athens
Cedar Creek Reservoir is a 32,000-acre lake about 15 miles west of Athens with good bass, catfish, and striper fishing.
Henderson County · State Park / Fishing
Purtis Creek State Park has strict bass rules and free fishing licenses
Purtis Creek State Park in Henderson County has a 355-acre lake with catch-and-release-only rules for bass and no fishing license required inside the park.
Hidalgo County · Public Hunting Access
A TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit Opens State Lands
Hunters who want access to state-managed public lands in Texas can buy a TPWD Annual Public Hunting permit for a set yearly fee.
Hidalgo County · Hunting
Alligators Have a Short Spring Hunting Season Here
Hidalgo County is in the non-core zone for alligator hunting, with a season from April 1 through June 30 and a limit of one per person per year.
Hidalgo County · Hunting
Deer Hunting Has a Set Bag Limit for Hidalgo County
White-tailed deer hunting in Hidalgo County is governed by South Zone rules, with a bag limit of 5 deer and no more than 3 bucks per season.
Hidalgo County · Hunting
Javelina Can Be Hunted Year-Round in the Southern Region
Hidalgo County is in the Southern Region for javelina, where the season is open year-round with a limit of 2 per license year.
Hidalgo County · Natural Features
Resacas Are Old River Channels That Shape Life in the Valley
Resacas are the curved, oxbow-shaped lakes left behind when the Rio Grande shifted course—they provide wildlife habitat but also carry flood risk.
Hidalgo County · Climate
The County Has a Subtropical Climate With Intense Summer Heat
Hidalgo County has a subtropical climate with July highs near 96°F, about 23 inches of annual rain, and a risk of severe tropical weather.
Hidalgo County · Hunting
The Plain Chachalaca Is a Legal Game Bird Only in South Texas
The plain chachalaca is a native bird of the lower Rio Grande brush country and can be hunted in Hidalgo County during a designated season.
Hidalgo County · Hunting
White-Winged Dove Hunting Is a Big Draw in the Valley
The Rio Grande Valley is one of Texas's most productive dove hunting areas, and Hidalgo County falls in the South Zone with early special white-winged dove days.
Hill County · Wildlife Resources
Hill County has TPWD wildlife staff you can contact about land and habitat
Texas Parks and Wildlife assigns biologists to Hill County who can help landowners with wildlife habitat, ag land management, and hunting questions.
Hill County · Lake Whitney
Lake Whitney offers public fishing and hunting on Hill County land
Lake Whitney, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sits partly in Hill County and offers public fishing, hunting, and camping.
Hockley County · Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Hockley County Falls Under High Plains Regulations
Hockley County is in the High Plains wildlife region. Dove, quail, and white-tailed deer are common game. Most hunting is on private land.
Hood County · Hunting Regulations
Deer Hunting in Hood County Has Antler Restrictions
Hood County hunters can take up to 4 deer per season, but specific antler-spread rules apply to bucks — check the TPWD Outdoor Annual before you hunt.
Hood County · Fishing
Lake Granbury Offers Free Public Boat Ramps and Good Fishing
Lake Granbury is an 8,310-acre reservoir on the Brazos River with free public boat ramps and a variety of fish species.
Hopkins County · Public Land Access
Cooper WMA Offers Hunting, Fishing, and Hiking Near Sulphur Springs
Cooper Wildlife Management Area covers about 14,480 acres in Delta and Hopkins counties next to Jim Chapman Lake and is open year-round for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing.
Hopkins County · Lakes and Water
Jim Chapman Lake Is the County's Main Water Reservoir
Jim Chapman Lake on the South Sulphur River sits on the Hopkins-Delta county line and serves both flood control and water supply for the region.
Houston County · Public Land
Hunting and Outdoor Access in Davy Crockett National Forest
Most of Davy Crockett National Forest sits in Houston County, giving residents and visitors open access for hunting, hiking, and fishing.
Howard County · State Park
Big Spring State Park Is Inside City Limits and Free to Enter
Big Spring State Park is a 382-acre park within Big Spring city limits, open daily with no entrance fee and several miles of trails.
Howard County · Water and Climate
Drought Is a Persistent Condition in Howard County
Howard County averages less than 16 inches of rain a year, and drought affects agriculture, water supplies, and wildfire risk on a regular basis.
Hudspeth County · Hunting
Mule deer and pronghorn require specific permits here
Hudspeth County is in the Trans-Pecos hunting zone for mule deer. Pronghorn hunting requires a special permit issued to landowners.
Hunt County · Fishing
Lake Tawakoni offers year-round fishing near Greenville
Lake Tawakoni, a 37,879-acre reservoir partly in Hunt County, is known for blue catfish, striped bass, and crappie.
Hunt County · State Park
Lake Tawakoni State Park has camping and hiking
Lake Tawakoni State Park sits on the southern shore of the reservoir and offers camping, hiking, boating, and birding.
Hunt County · Public Fishing
Public fishing access at Tawakoni WMA is managed by TPWD
The Tawakoni Wildlife Management Area provides public fishing access along Lake Tawakoni under TPWD rules.
Hunt County · Public Hunting
Tawakoni WMA allows public hunting with a permit
The Tawakoni Wildlife Management Area near Lake Tawakoni is open for public hunting under TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit program.
Hutchinson County · Fishing & Recreation
Lake Meredith: Fishing and Recreation Near Hutchinson County
Lake Meredith, managed by the National Park Service, is near Fritch in Hutchinson County and is known for some of the best walleye fishing in Texas.
Irion County · Hunting
Deer Hunting in Irion County Has a Generous Bag Limit
Irion County falls in the Texas North Zone for white-tailed deer, which allows up to five deer per season with a two-buck limit.
Jack County · Hunting
Deer Hunting Rules in Jack County
Jack County has a specific antler restriction for white-tailed deer that hunters must know before heading out.
Jack County · State Park
Fort Richardson State Park: History and Outdoor Access in Jacksboro
Fort Richardson State Park in Jacksboro preserves original 1860s Army buildings and offers camping, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding.
Jackson County · Fishing & Recreation
Lake Texana offers fishing and camping near Edna
Lake Texana, about eight miles east of Edna on the Navidad River, is a 9,727-acre reservoir managed for water supply and public recreation.
Jasper County · State park
Martin Dies Jr. State Park sits on a reservoir at the edge of the Big Thicket
Martin Dies Jr. State Park on B.A. Steinhagen Reservoir in Jasper County offers camping, fishing, paddling, and hiking in a bottomland forest setting.
Jasper County · Fishing
Sam Rayburn Reservoir offers public fishing near Jasper
Sam Rayburn Reservoir — a 114,500-acre lake with its dam about 15 miles north of Jasper — is one of Texas's top public fishing lakes for bass, crappie, and catfish.
Jeff Davis County · State Park
Davis Mountains State Park offers hiking, camping, and stargazing
Davis Mountains State Park sits at high elevation in Fort Davis and offers outdoor activities year-round, including a historic lodge and some of the darkest night skies in Texas.