The Wonders of Texas Parks & Wildlife

With summer rapidly approaching, more and more Texans are heading outdoors, heat be damned! Texas is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with its diverse landscapes and a plethora of activities: fishing, boating, hiking, rock climbing, metal detecting, biking, and so much more. All of these adventures are made possible thanks to our incredible Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD). Their mission? To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas, and to provide hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

In this post, we'll dive into all the resources TPWD offers. Whether you need a hunting license, beginner fishing guides, or water safety resources, Texas Parks & Wildlife has you covered. Plus, we’ll share some of REBD’s favorite Texas vacation spots to soak in the natural beauty of our beloved state.

Parks: Perfect for a Camping Getaway or Day Trip

Texas State Parks are ideal for camping getaways or day trips! Use the Find a Park tool, which features handy filters to help you discover your perfect adventure spot. Our State Parks are famous for walking, hiking, camping, fishing, biking, and birding.

Check out the Event Calendar to see what’s happening at the State Parks. There's always something exciting going on, and events cater to a wide range of interests. I'm particularly excited about the Nighttime Bioblitz at Ray Roberts Lake State Park!

Got kids? Bring them along (kids 12 and under get free admission to over 90 Texas State Parks). Make sure to stop by the Visitor Center for a free Junior Ranger Journal. Depending on your child’s age, complete a certain number of activities to earn a Junior Ranger pin! The activities and pins vary by park, making it fun to collect them all. Some parks even offer free Junior Ranger Explorer Packs to borrow, which come loaded with items to help your child learn about the environment.

For more child-friendly activities, check out the TPWD & Kids website.

Hunting & Fishing: More Than Just Licenses

Many people think of Texas Parks & Wildlife as just the place to get hunting and fishing licenses. While that’s true, they offer so much more!

Always wanted to hunt or fish but didn’t know where to start? TPWD offers Hunting & Fishing for Beginners, complete with step-by-step guides on the licensing process, helpful videos, and tips on hunting and fishing responsibly.

Experienced hunters can find resources like Hunt Planning Aids, archery information, and even wild game recipes on their Hunting website.

New to fishing? Check out Learn to Fish, a collection of videos and guides covering the basics. There are also resources for fly fishing and advanced techniques for seasoned anglers. On TPWD’s Fishing website, you can find wild-caught fish recipes, great fishing spots, and fantastic Fishing Programs.

Boating: Hit the Water This Summer

Texans love boating, and for good reason—it's a great way to beat the Texas heat!

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Boating website is your go-to for everything boating-related: boat registration, ownership information, boating laws, boater education, and safety tips. Before hitting the lake, we highly recommend checking out their water safety resources, especially if you have kids.

The site also features a ‘Where to Boat’ section divided by body of water. My favorite? The Texas Paddling Trails, a list of tried-and-true paddling trails across different regions of Texas.

Wildlife: A Treat for Animal Lovers

The Texas Parks and Wildlife’s website on Wildlife is a goldmine for animal lovers. They offer wildlife fact sheets, information on wildlife diversity programs, wildlife management areas, research, and resources on human-wildlife conflict.

One of the most valuable resources is the Wildlife Rehabilitators County List. Even if you live in the city, you might find wildlife in distress, and this tool is amazing for finding help for injured animals. TPWD recommends checking not only your county but also adjacent ones, as wildlife rehabilitators are often busy volunteers.

Education: Learn and Explore

In addition to educating hunters, fishermen, and boaters, TPWD is committed to teaching everyone about Texas wildlife and environments. They offer classroom materials like lesson plans and Project WILD, hands-on workshops that help educators teach young people about wildlife.

TPWD also sponsors the Becoming An Outdoors-Woman program (BOW), designed to empower women to learn new skills related to hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities in a supportive environment. They typically host two workshops a year, featuring classes on shooting, fishing, boating, birding, plant identification, camping, and more.

Get Outside and Explore!

Overall, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is an invaluable resource for Texans. Whether you're into hunting, fishing, boating, or just want to get closer to nature, their website is a treasure trove of information. So, take a break from your busy life and enjoy the beautiful environment around you—there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Adventure on!