While Texas hunters were dusting off shotguns and stocking up on ammunition in advance of the Sept. 1 dove season opener in most of Texas, a research team was out two days prior to the season collecting bird specimens for a research study on the effectiveness of various shotshells, including non-lead shot.

An innovative public hunting opportunity for newcomers, the Mentored Hunting Permit, will launch this fall with a dove hunting workshop Sept. 19-20 at the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area near Freeport, Texas.

TPWD Texas Parks & Wildlife TV Program (weekly schedule and show for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) has recently been updated.

"This is the first time we’ve had so many rural communities to participate in the Community Outdoor Outreach Program, said Darlene Lewis, program director. "We recognize there is as much need in the smaller communities as in our larger cities and it’s nice to see more communities taking advantage of this program."

During the July 4 holiday weekend, at least 13 Texans drowned in public waters. Seven of those were in North Texas, and together they bring the total number of water-related fatalities in Texas to 66 for this year. More than half of those deaths did not involve boats.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be conducting special drawings for hunts and applications for these quality, affordable hunting experiences are available online now.