Category: outdoors

Perch Jerking: An East Texas Past Time

Perch Jerking: An East Texas Past Time- Perch jerking is an East Texas past time. The Pineywoods is a prime location for dabbling along the banks of lakes, rivers, and creeks. “Perch” is the common catchall term for the various panfish found in local freshwater drainages. Whether you catch brightly colored sun perch or crappie, also known […]

Hunting, Fishing Licenses on sale Aug. 15

Hunting, Fishing Licenses on sale Aug. 15 Austin — Current year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except year-to-date fishing licenses) expire Aug. 31, and new licenses for 2012-2013 will go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 15. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues about 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through the agency’s 28 field offices, […]

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Offers $100,000 Prize for Biggest ShareLunker Caught on Lake Conroe

Toyota Texas Bass Classic Offers $100,000 Prize for Biggest ShareLunker Caught on Lake Conroe Promotion limited to first 1,000 registrants CONROE — The Toyota Texas Bass Classic is proud to introduce the first-ever ShareLunker Club Tournament (SCT) on Lake Conroe, October 1 – 21, 2011. This unique tournament allows the everyday angler to compete like […]

Squirrely East Texas

Squirrely East Texas Everything from Squirrel Removal to Squirrel Dumplin’s By Dana Goolsby East Texas- East Texas has historically been a stronghold for squirrels. The Pineywoods are home to millions of the furry critters. Some might think squirrels are cute, fluffy little creatures that are fun to watch as they frolic in the trees or in […]

The Sabine National Forest

The Sabine National Forest The Sabine National Forest is located near the Texas-Louisiana border, and covers a total of 160,609 acres in five counties: Sabine (95,410 acres), Shelby (59,037 acres), San Augustine (4,317 acres), Newton (1,781 acres), and Jasper (64 acres). The forest is administered with the other three National Forests, and two National Grasslands in […]

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park Paddling Trails

Martin Dies, Jr. State Park Paddling Trails Three paddling trails run through and around Martin Dies, Jr. State Park; The Neches Paddling Trail, Walnut Slough Paddling Trail, and Sandy Creek Paddling Trail. The three trails are guaranteed to suit anyone as they offer 3 to 16 miles of scenic beauty on the park’s backwater sloughs […]

Pitcher Plant Trail

Pitcher Plant Trail Warren, TX. The short but captivating Pitcher Plant Trail is located in the Turkey Creek Unit of the Big Thicket Preserve. The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessible trail is predominantly composed of a boardwalk that elevates hikers a foot or so above a soggy wetland savannah. This savannah formed in a […]

B.A. Steinhagen Lake

B.A. Steinhagen Lake is located on the Neches River, 14 miles west of Jasper, on US 190. The lake is 10,687 surface acres, with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The water body’s aquatic vegetation consists primarily of water hyacinth, hydrilla. In this shallow lake, the abundance of aquatic vegetation is relatively high. Predominant types […]

Sam Houston National Forest: Stubblefield South Hike Trail

Sam Houston National Forest: Stubblefield South Hike Trail New Waverly, TX. This hike takes you east toward Lake Conroe and then heads north toward the Stubblefield Recreation Area. The Sam Houston National Forest is one of four national forests in Texas. It contains more than 163,000 acres and is located between Huntsville, Conroe, Cleveland, and […]

Kurth Reservoir

Kurth Reservoir is located six miles north of Lufkin, off US 59. The reservoir is 726 acres, with an average maximum depth of 40 feet. Lake access permits are required and must be purchased at this office during normal business hours. The largemouth bass population is abundant at Kurth Reservoir, with a relatively high number […]

TPWD Plants Native Vegetation in Lake Palestine

TPWD Plants Native Vegetation in Lake Palestine Project aims to improve fish habitat, water quality ATHENS—Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries crews recently completed the first phase of a project to establish native aquatic vegetation in Lake Palestine. Using $10,000 in funding from the Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Project (RFHP), TPWD planted five species […]

Texas State Parks Open, Unaffected by Federal Shutdown

Texas State Parks Open, Unaffected by Federal Shutdown AUSTIN–As the federal budget impasse persists well into the second week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants the public to know that the welcome mat is still out at the more than 90 Texas state parks. “Although our federal partners are experiencing temporary closure of their sites, […]

Tyler State Park

Tyler State Park is composed of 985.5 acres in Smith County, just north of Tyler, and encompasses a 64 acre lake. The park property was acquired in 1934. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) made the original improvements to the park, and opened to the public in 1939. The park lies within the hillsides of the […]

Discovering Hidden Fun at Texas State Parks

Discovering Hidden Fun at Texas State Parks Park Rangers Offering Trainings to Share Modern Treasure Hunt with Visitors AUSTIN — Are you missing out on a modern day treasure hunt? You are if you’re not familiar with the sport of geocaching, the high-tech game that is growing in popularity. This exciting activity gets folks of […]

Rustling Leaves Nature Trail

Rustling Leaves Nature Trail Daingerfield, TX. This forest consists of pine, red oak, maple, walnut, sassafras, and dogwood trees surrounding a spring-fed, 80-acre lake. Daingerfield State Park, deeded to the state by private owners in 1935, enjoys the benefits of both North Woods atmosphere and Southern climate. Several of the buildings in the park were […]

Lake Bob Sandlin

Lake Bob Sandlin is located five miles southwest of Mount Pleasant in Titus, Camp, and Franklin counties. The lake is 9,004 surface acres, with a maximum depth of 65.6. feet. Aquatic vegetation covers less than 3 percent of the lake’s total surface, with the dominant aquatic species being hydrilla. Dominant fish species on Lake Bob […]

Turkey Creek Trail

Turkey Creek Trail Warren, TX. The Big Thicket National Preserve consists of a series of nine land units and six water corridors that, together, represent over 97,000 acres. Rather than composed of a single type of habitat, the Big Thicket encompasses an extraordinary biological diversity that includes upland hardwood and pine forests, savannahs, flatlands, palmetto […]

April in Texas State Parks Is ‘For the Birds’

April in Texas State Parks Is ‘For the Birds’ TEXAS- Spring migration, temperate weather and more documented bird species than any other state comprise the perfect recipe for an April visit one of the dozens of Texas State Parks that cater to birders with bird-friendly habitat and viewing facilities. Texas is blessed with more than […]

Trinity River

Trinity River Photo by Dana Goolsby Trinity River, Elm Fork Formed in Montague County, the Elm Fork of the Trinity River flows approximately 85 miles southeast meeting the West Fork to create the main stream of the Trinity. Garza-Little Elm Reservoir (Lake Dallas) is located on the Elm Fork. The 22-mile section below the dam […]