AUSTIN, Texas — For many a veteran angler, the pinnacle of a fishing career comes with the explosion of chromed muscle that signals his first tarpon hook-up. That experience was once common on the Texas Gulf coast; so common, in fact, that through the 1950s, tarpon tournaments were commonplace and presidents and potentates made the journey to the third coast to catch a “silver king.”

Ducks Unlimited was awarded a North American Wetlands Conservation grant to enhance over 5,728 acres of wetland habitat in Chambers and Jefferson counties along the Texas coast. Partners contributed more than $2 million to match the $1 million received from the federal grant. The project will restore high priority wintering habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds within the Chenier Plain of Texas.

Texas Parks & Wildlife TV Program - Weekly schedule and show descriptions for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recently been updated.

Changes proposed for the 2009-10 Texas dove season include a 70 day season and 15 bird daily bag statewide, pending adoption of federal guidelines.

Come celebrate the 142nd anniversary of the existence of Texas’ northern-most U.S. Army fort during Fort Richardson Days on April 17 and 18, and see what frontier life was like in the 1870s.