Hunters hoping to take advantage of economical quality hunts on state-managed lands are reminded of upcoming application deadlines. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be offering adult and youth only hunts by special drawing for a wide variety of species as part of its Public Hunting Program.

When Mother Nature shines as she’s done this spring, it makes anyone with a plot of dirt look good. But, it’s those times when the rains don’t come and the heat turns most of Texas brown and crunchy that a landowner’s mettle is put to the test. Those who can keep habitat conditions going in tough times as well as good are true conservation heroes.

After 24 years, you might think the Toyota ShareLunker program would have accomplished everything possible.  On the contrary, the nationally known angler recognition and largemouth bass fishery enhancement program is still breaking new ground.

James Hollis held the Lake O’ the Pines record for largemouth bass just six days before Carl Clark of Marshall went fishing there.  The ink was still wet on Hollis’s record when Clark bested it by nearly two pounds with a fish weighing 15.13 pounds caught March 26. Clark was fishing with a red Rat-L-Trap in five feet of water. His catch was 22 inches in girth and 25.25 inches long; she is now Toyota ShareLunker 491.

The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

O.H. Ivie Reservoir sent another Toyota ShareLunker to the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) January 21, just five days after sending its first entry since 2002.

The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.