Texas Porch

Topic · Page 6

The Great Outdoors

Local Notes

The Great Outdoors notes

518 notes

Madison County · Hunting

Deer hunting in Madison County has a local antler rule

Madison County hunters can take two legal bucks per season, but only one buck may have an inside antler spread of 13 inches or more.

Marion County · State Park

Caddo Lake State Park sits on a vast cypress swamp near Karnack

Caddo Lake State Park gives you access to a 26,810-acre lake full of cypress trees, more than 70 fish species, and CCC-built cabins from the 1930s.

Martin County · Hunting & Wildlife

TPWD Has Local Wildlife Biologists for Martin County Hunters

Martin County is private-land hunting country, but Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are assigned locally and can answer questions about game, habitat, and licenses.

Mason County · Public hunting

Mason Mountain WMA Offers Public Hunting by Permit

Texas Parks and Wildlife manages Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Mason County, offering public hunting opportunities through a permit system.

Matagorda County · Hunting Regulations

Deer hunting in this county has a specific antler rule

Matagorda County has a four-deer bag limit, but only one of your two bucks can have a wide antler spread — check TPWD for current season dates.

Matagorda County · Wildlife Management Area

Matagorda Island is a wild, boat-only public hunting and fishing area

Matagorda Island WMA covers more than 56,000 acres of barrier island and marsh, and you can only get there by boat.

Maverick County · Public Land Access

An Annual Permit Opens Public Hunting Land in Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife sells an annual permit that lets hunters access public hunting areas statewide, including properties in the region.

Maverick County · Hunting

Hunting Seasons in Maverick County Follow South Zone Rules

Maverick County is in the South Zone for deer and dove, which sets different season dates and bag limits than Central or North Texas.

McCulloch County · Public Land Access

A state permit can open up public hunting land near McCulloch County

TPWD's Annual Public Hunting Permit gives access to over 180 public hunting areas across Texas for a modest annual fee.

McCulloch County · Hunting

McCulloch County falls in the North Zone for deer and turkey hunting

Hunters in McCulloch County follow North Zone rules for white-tailed deer and turkey, with bag limits and season dates set each year by Texas Parks and Wildlife.

McLennan County · Climate

Hot Summers and Unpredictable Rain Define the Local Climate

McLennan County averages about 34 inches of rain per year but sees high heat in summer and occasional hard freezes in winter.

McLennan County · Fishing

Lake Waco Offers Year-Round Fishing Access

Lake Waco is an 8,465-acre reservoir with multiple public boat ramps managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

McLennan County · Land and Soil

McLennan County Sits on Two Distinct Prairie Zones

The county spans both the Grand Prairie to the west and the Blackland Prairie to the east, giving it fertile soils suited to row crops, hay, and cattle.

McLennan County · Paddling

Two Paddling Trails Run Through Downtown Waco

The Bosque Bluffs and Brazos Bridges paddling trails offer beginner-friendly canoe and kayak routes through the heart of Waco.

McLennan County · Hunting

White-Tailed Deer and Turkey Hunting in McLennan County

McLennan County falls in TPWD's North Zone for deer and has both fall and spring turkey seasons, with antler restrictions in place.

McMullen County · Public Lands

Public Hunting and Fishing at Daughtrey WMA

The James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area gives the public access to 34,000 acres of South Texas land for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Medina County · Hunting Regulations

Deer Bag Limits in Medina County Depend on Which Side of US 90 You Hunt

US 90 divides Medina County into two deer hunting zones with different buck limits and season-end dates.

Medina County · Hunting / CWD

Deer Hunters in Medina County Must Know the CWD Zone Rules

Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected in Medina County deer, and hunters must follow special check-in rules when hunting in the CWD zone.

Medina County · Lakes & Fishing

Medina Lake Supplies Irrigation and Offers Bass and Catfish Fishing

Medina Lake, completed in 1913 on the Medina River, is a source of irrigation water and a known spot for bass and catfish fishing.

Menard County · Hunting

Hunting in Menard County is mostly on private land with leases

Menard County is prime Hill Country hunting country, but nearly all land is private — most access comes through hunting leases or the TPWD public hunting permit program.

Midland County · Dove Hunting

Dove hunting straddles two zones in Midland County

Interstate 20 divides Midland County into two dove hunting zones with slightly different season dates.

Midland County · Quail Hunting

Midland County has quail hunting through the statewide season

The statewide quail season runs November 1 through February 28, with a daily bag limit of 15 birds, and an Upland Game Bird Endorsement is required.

Midland County · Big Game Hunting

Mule deer and pronghorn also roam Midland County

Midland County sits in the Trans-Pecos zone for mule deer and the Permian Basin permit zone for pronghorn, giving hunters two additional big game options.

Midland County · Deer Hunting

White-tailed deer hunting in Midland County follows North Zone rules

Midland County falls in the TPWD North Zone for white-tailed deer, with a general season running November through early January and a bag limit of three deer with no more than one buck and no more than two antlerless.

Milam County · Public River Access

Free Public Fishing Access on the Brazos River

Texas Parks and Wildlife leases two public access points on the Brazos River in Milam County near Cameron for fishing and paddling.

Mills County · Hunting

Deer hunting in Mills County has antler restrictions

Mills County falls under Texas Parks and Wildlife Department North Zone deer rules, which include a buck antler restriction.

Mitchell County · State Park

Lake Colorado City State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Town

Lake Colorado City State Park sits just south of Colorado City and offers camping, fishing, boating, and hiking on a 1,618-acre lake.

Montague County · Hunting Regulations

Deer hunting rules in Montague County have a specific antler restriction

Montague County sits in the North Zone with a four-deer bag limit, but only one buck can have a wide spread.

Montague County · Public Land

LBJ National Grasslands offers public hunting and camping in Montague County

The Lyndon B. Johnson National Grasslands stretches into Montague County and is open to hunting, camping, and hiking.

Montgomery County · Fishing

Lake Conroe Offers Good Fishing Year-Round

Lake Conroe spans about 20,000 acres and is known for largemouth bass, channel catfish, and hybrid striped bass fishing.

Montgomery County · Public Hunting

Nearly 48,000 Acres of Public Hunting Land Is in the County

The Sam Houston National Forest Wildlife Management Area includes about 47,600 acres in Montgomery County open for hunting, fishing, and camping.

Montgomery County · Boating and Water Access

Public Boat Ramps Give Access to Lake Conroe

Lake Conroe has public access points for boating and fishing, managed by the San Jacinto River Authority.

Montgomery County · Hiking and Recreation

Sam Houston National Forest Has Miles of Trails Near Houston

The Sam Houston National Forest spans three counties including Montgomery and offers hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and camping.

Moore County · Hunting & Fishing

An Annual Permit Opens TPWD Public Hunting Lands Statewide

Moore County has little public hunting land, but Texas Parks and Wildlife sells an annual permit that opens public hunting lands across the whole state.

Morris County · State Park

Daingerfield State Park sits inside the county and offers camping and fishing

Daingerfield State Park is a 507-acre park just east of the county seat with an 80-acre lake, campsites, cabins, and hiking trails.

Morris County · Fishing

Lake O' the Pines borders Morris County and offers year-round fishing

Lake O' the Pines is a large reservoir on Big Cypress Creek that touches Morris County and holds largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and white bass.

Motley County · Hunting Regulations

Hunting Rules Specific to Motley County

Motley County sits in deer and quail country, and TPWD sets specific bag limits and season dates that hunters need to know before heading out.

Nacogdoches County · Public Hunting

Alazan Bayou WMA Offers Public Hunting in Southern Nacogdoches County

This 2,063-acre wildlife management area along the Angelina River is open to hunting, fishing, and camping with a TPWD permit.

Nacogdoches County · Fishing

Nacogdoches Lake Is a Solid Bass Fishery Near Town

This 2,212-acre city reservoir off FM 225 has a strong largemouth bass population and free public boat ramp access.

Navarro County · Public Hunting Access

An annual TPWD permit opens public hunting lands

A TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit lets you hunt, fish, camp, and hike on over a million acres of public land across Texas, including areas in the Navarro County region.

Navarro County · Hunting Regulations

Deer hunting in Navarro County has antler restrictions

Navarro County is in the Texas North Zone for deer, with a four-deer bag limit and a one-buck antler spread rule.

Navarro County · Fishing & Recreation

Navarro Mills Lake has public boat ramps and camping

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates four public access areas with boat ramps on Navarro Mills Lake, west of Corsicana.

Newton County · Hunting

Deer hunting rules in Newton County

Newton County is in the North Zone for deer hunting and has specific antler restrictions that hunters need to know before they go out.

Newton County · Wildlife Management Area

Public hunting land near Newton County: Angelina-Neches/Dam B WMA

The Angelina-Neches/Dam B Wildlife Management Area gives hunters and outdoor users access to public land in the Piney Woods region near Newton County.

Nolan County · Hunting

Hunting rules for Nolan County — deer, turkey, and license basics

Nolan County falls under specific Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hunting rules — check the current Outdoor Annual for bag limits and season dates before you go.

Nueces County · Freshwater Fishing

Lake Corpus Christi is 20 miles northwest and open for fishing

Lake Corpus Christi is a large reservoir in the Nueces River watershed, known for excellent catfish and crappie, with boat ramp and pier access through the adjacent state park.

Nueces County · State Park

Mustang Island State Park has five miles of Gulf Coast beach and camping

Mustang Island State Park on the barrier island south of Corpus Christi offers camping, swimming, fishing, kayaking, and bird watching on the Gulf of Mexico.

Nueces County · Deer Hunting

Nueces County has a five-deer bag limit for white-tailed deer

Nueces County falls in the South Zone for white-tailed deer, allowing up to five deer per hunter per season with no more than three bucks.

Nueces County · Dove Hunting

Nueces County has strong dove hunting with a 15-bird daily bag limit

Nueces County sits in good dove country, with a combined bag limit of 15 white-winged, mourning, and white-tipped doves per day during the regular season.

Nueces County · National Seashore

Padre Island National Seashore offers 66 miles of wild Gulf Coast beach

Padre Island National Seashore, located near Corpus Christi, protects one of the longest undeveloped barrier island coastlines in the United States.

Nueces County · Coastal Ecology

The Laguna Madre is one of the few hypersaline lagoons in the world

The Laguna Madre, which borders the eastern side of Nueces County, is a shallow, highly salty lagoon that supports unique wildlife and world-class fishing.

Nueces County · Fishing Licenses

You need a Texas fishing license to fish in Nueces County waters

Anyone 17 or older needs a Texas fishing license to fish in Corpus Christi Bay, the Laguna Madre, or other Nueces County waters.

Ochiltree County · Hunting

Ochiltree County Offers Deer, Pheasant, and Quail Hunting

Hunters in Ochiltree County can pursue white-tailed deer, mule deer, turkey, pheasant, and quail, but seasons and bag limits are set by TPWD and change each year.

Oldham County · Hunting

Hunting in Oldham County: Deer, Pronghorn, and More

Oldham County offers white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn by permit, turkey, quail, and pheasant — with rules that differ from other parts of Texas.

Orange County · Wildlife Management Area

Lower Neches WMA Offers Public Hunting and Birding Near Orange

The Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area covers nearly 8,000 acres near Bridge City and is open to public hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing with a TPWD permit.

Orange County · Fishing and Recreation

The Sabine River Forms Orange County's Eastern Border with Louisiana

The Sabine River and Sabine Lake border Orange County and offer public fishing access for catfish, crappie, and largemouth bass.

Palo Pinto County · State Park

Possum Kingdom State Park: Camping and Fishing on a Clear-Water Lake

Possum Kingdom State Park sits on a large lake in Palo Pinto County and offers camping, fishing, boating, and swimming about an hour west of DFW.

Panola County · Fishing Access

Free Public Fishing on the Sabine River in Panola County

TPWD leases the Grand Bluff Boat Ramp on the Sabine River near Carthage, giving the public free access to launch a boat or fish from the bank.

Panola County · Paddling

Paddling the Sabine Sandbar Trail Near Panola County

The Sabine Sandbar Paddling Trail offers 4, 15, or 19-mile canoe and kayak routes on the Sabine River through the Piney Woods.

Parker County · Hunting

Deer hunting rules in Parker County follow the North Zone

Parker County is in the Texas North Zone for deer, with a bag limit of four deer per season and a specific legal buck definition.