Topic · Page 8
The Great Outdoors
Local Notes
The Great Outdoors notes
Kimble County · Hunting
Kimble County Is a Major Deer-Hunting Destination
Junction has long served as a hub for deer hunters, and the county ranks among Texas's top deer-hunting areas.
Kimble County · State Park
South Llano River State Park Is Just South of Junction
South Llano River State Park sits five miles south of Junction and offers fishing, paddling, hiking, birding, and stargazing along a clear Hill Country river.
Kimble County · River Access
TPWD Opened Free Public Fishing Access on the Llano River
Texas Parks and Wildlife leased four public access sites on the Llano River so anglers and paddlers can reach the water without private land permission.
King County · Hunting
Deer hunting seasons and bag limits for King County
King County is in Texas Parks and Wildlife's North Zone for white-tailed deer. Know the bag limits and season dates before you go.
Kinney County · Hunting
Hunting in Kinney County: What You Need to Know
Kinney County offers a wide range of legal game, but bag limits and required licenses vary by species and by which side of U.S. 90 your land sits on.
Kleberg County · Wildlife science
A 1981 Gift Made Kingsville a Wildlife-Research Town
A foundation gift created a Kingsville institute where deer, quail, wild cats, native plants, fire, and ranchland all became research subjects.
Kleberg County · Hunting & Fishing
Hunting and Fishing Rules in Kleberg County
Most of Kleberg County's land is private, so hunters and anglers must know the TPWD county regulations and secure landowner permission before going out.
Knox County · Hunting
Deer hunting seasons and limits for Knox County
Knox County falls in the North Zone for white-tailed deer, with a combined bag limit of five deer per hunter per season.
La Salle County · Hunting Regulations
Hunting Rules on State-Owned Riverbeds in La Salle County
Texas law bans firearm and archery hunting on state-owned riverbeds in La Salle County, with one exception.
Lamar County · Local Fishing
Lake Crook Is a Smaller City-Owned Reservoir Near Paris
Lake Crook sits 5 miles north of Paris and is known for catfish, though the lake is managed by the City of Paris.
Lamar County · Fishing & Recreation
Pat Mayse Lake Is the County's Largest Public Fishing Spot
Pat Mayse Lake covers nearly 6,000 acres north of Paris and offers public fishing and boating with no special permit required.
Lamar County · Wildlife Management Area
Pat Mayse WMA Offers Public Hunting and Hiking
An 8,925-acre wildlife management area on the west side of Pat Mayse Reservoir is open to the public for hunting, fishing, and hiking.
Lamb County · Wildlife & Hunting
Playa Lakes Are the Main Public Outdoor Resource on the High Plains
Playa lakes are the shallow basins that make Lamb County feel less empty after a good rain. They also shape bird habitat on the High Plains.
Lampasas County · Hunting Regulations
Hunting Rules for Deer and Turkey in Lampasas County
Lampasas County has specific deer bag limits and buck restrictions that hunters must know before the season opens.
Lee County · Public Hunting Land
Somerville WMA Offers Public Hunting in Lee County
Somerville Public Hunting Land gives Lee County hunters a TPWD-managed place to hunt near Nails Creek and Yegua Creek.
Leon County · Public Hunting Land
Keechi Creek WMA gives hunters access to 1,500 acres in Leon County
Keechi Creek Wildlife Management Area is a 1,500-acre public hunting area in northeastern Leon County that is open to hunters with the right state permits.
Liberty County · Wildlife Refuge
A 30,000-acre federal wildlife refuge sits in Liberty County
The Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge protects bottomland hardwood forest along the Trinity River and is open to hunting and fishing by the public.
Liberty County · Big Thicket
Big Thicket barely touches Liberty County, but it does touch it
The Loblolly Unit gives Liberty County a small, rough-edged piece of Big Thicket National Preserve.
Liberty County · Champion Lake
Champion Lake puts a little boardwalk beside the lower Trinity
At Champion Lake, a short refuge trail steps from a boat-ramp parking lot into bottomland hardwood and bayou water.
Liberty County · Refuge trail
Knobby Knees is the short swamp-forest walk north of Liberty
The Knobby Knees Trail gives Liberty County a one-mile walk through the cypress-and-hardwood side of the Trinity River country.
Liberty County · Local Agriculture
Rice and cattle are Liberty County's top farm products
Liberty County's flat coastal prairie is good land for rice farming and cattle ranching, two industries that have shaped the local economy for over a century.
Limestone County · Fishing
Fishing Lake Limestone: Bass, Catfish, and Crappie
Lake Limestone is a 12,553-acre reservoir on the Navasota River managed by the Brazos River Authority, known for good bass and catfish fishing.
Limestone County · State Park
Fort Parker State Park: Camping and Fishing Near Groesbeck
Fort Parker State Park sits along the Navasota River in Limestone County and offers camping, fishing, hiking, and paddling.
Lipscomb County · Upland Birds
Panhandle Upland Bird Hunting in Lipscomb County
Lipscomb County is Panhandle bird country: TPWD lists pheasant and quail seasons here, with an upland game bird endorsement required.
Lipscomb County · Public Hunt Drawing
Private Ranch Hunts Available Through a State Drawing
TPWD runs a drawing that gives hunters access to private ranch land in Lipscomb County for deer, pronghorn, and quail.
Live Oak County · State Park / Fishing
Choke Canyon State Park Has a Unit in Live Oak County
Choke Canyon State Park's South Shore unit sits in Live Oak County and gives you access to a 25,670-acre reservoir with strong bass and catfish fishing.
Live Oak County · Wildlife Management Area / Hunting
James E. Daughtrey WMA Offers Public Hunting Near Choke Canyon
The 34,000-acre Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area spans Live Oak and McMullen counties and offers permitted public hunting in classic South Texas brush country.
Llano County · City Park
Badu Park Gives Downtown Llano a Lake Edge
Badu Park puts fishing, picnics, a beach, and small-boat water access within a short hop of Llano's downtown square.
Llano County · Lake Park
Black Rock Park Is Llano County's Lake Buchanan Camp Base
Black Rock Park gives the Llano County side of Lake Buchanan a public camping and swimming base run by the Lower Colorado River Authority.
Llano County · Hunting
Deer Hunting in Llano County
Llano County has a large white-tailed deer population and is widely recognized for deer hunting, but nearly all land is private, so access requires a lease or landowner permission.
Llano County · State Park
Inks Lake State Park: Camping and Water Recreation Near Llano County
Inks Lake State Park is in Burnet County, just east of Llano County, and offers year-round camping, fishing, and swimming on a lake that holds a steady water level.
Llano County · River Park
Robinson City Park Keeps Llano on the River
Robinson City Park stretches along the Llano River west of downtown, giving the city camping, swimming, fields, and river frontage in one public place.
Loving County · Hunting & Wildlife
Hunting in Loving County: Mostly Private Land
Loving County sits in the Trans-Pecos region where mule deer and pronghorn live, but nearly all land is private, so access requires landowner permission.
Lubbock County · Deer Hunting
Both White-Tailed and Mule Deer Are Hunted Here
For the 2025-26 Outdoor Annual, Lubbock County has separate white-tailed and mule deer rules, including a 20-inch outside-spread rule for mule deer bucks.
Lubbock County · Reservoir
Buffalo Spring Lake Is the County's Close-In Lake Day
Buffalo Spring Lake, about nine miles southeast of Lubbock, is a local water-district reservoir built for recreation, the county's nearby spot for a day on the water.
Lubbock County · Garden park
Clapp Park Packs Gardens, an Arboretum, and a Chapel Together
Clapp Park in central Lubbock blends the city's arboretum, garden center, rose garden, and a historic chapel with everyday park amenities.
Lubbock County · Dove Hunting
Dove Hunting Is a Fall Tradition on the Plains
Lubbock County's cotton and grain fields attract large numbers of mourning doves, making it a popular area for dove hunting each fall.
Lubbock County · Playa Lakes
Hundreds of Playa Lakes Dot the County
Lubbock County has hundreds of small, shallow playas — seasonal lakes that fill with rain and support wildlife and waterfowl.
Lubbock County · City parks
Lubbock's Canyon Lakes Follow the Draws Across a Flat City
Lubbock's Canyon Lakes are a chain of parks and lakes strung along the draws that cut through the otherwise flat Llano Estacado.
Lubbock County · Mackenzie Park
Mackenzie Park's Prairie Dog Town Goes Back to 1937
Mackenzie Park, off I-27 in Lubbock, holds the city's well-known Prairie Dog Town along with trails, disc golf, an amphitheater, and ballfields.
Lubbock County · State Parks
Several State Parks Are Within a Few Hours of Lubbock
Lubbock County itself has no state park, but Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons, and other parks are within driving range for camping and outdoor recreation.
Lubbock County · Landmark trails
Walk 4.5 Miles of Trails at Lubbock Lake Landmark
Lubbock Lake Landmark, a Texas Tech preserve inside the city, has 4.5 miles of trails winding through native prairie in Yellowhouse Draw.
Lynn County · Natural Features
Lynn County has two permanent natural lakes on the flat High Plains
Double Lakes and Tahoka Lake are two natural lakes in Lynn County, which is unusual for this flat, dry region.
Madison County · Hunting
Deer hunting in Madison County has a local antler rule
Madison County has TPWD antler rules for white-tailed deer. The short version: read the county page before deer season, not after.
Marion County · State Park
Caddo Lake State Park sits on a vast cypress swamp near Karnack
Caddo Lake State Park gives you access to a 26,810-acre lake full of cypress trees, more than 70 fish species, and CCC-built cabins from the 1930s.
Mason County · Public hunting
Mason Mountain WMA Offers Public Hunting by Permit
Texas Parks and Wildlife manages Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Mason County, offering public hunting opportunities through a permit system.
Matagorda County · Hunting Regulations
Deer hunting in this county has a specific antler rule
Matagorda County has a four-deer bag limit, but only one of your two bucks can have a wide antler spread — check TPWD for current season dates.
Matagorda County · Wildlife Management Area
Matagorda Island is a wild, boat-only public hunting and fishing area
Matagorda Island WMA covers more than 56,000 acres of barrier island and marsh, and you can only get there by boat.
Maverick County · Hunting
Hunting Seasons in Maverick County Follow South Zone Rules
Maverick County is in the South Zone for deer and dove, which sets different season dates and bag limits than Central or North Texas.
McCulloch County · Hunting
McCulloch County falls in the North Zone for deer and turkey hunting
Hunters in McCulloch County follow North Zone rules for white-tailed deer and turkey, with bag limits and season dates set each year by Texas Parks and Wildlife.
McLennan County · Waco park
Cameron Park: 416 Acres of Cliffs and River Right at Waco's Edge
Cameron Park is 416 acres of bluffs, trails, and riverfront where the Bosque meets the Brazos, just a short drive from downtown Waco.
McLennan County · Camping
Camping on Waco Lake: Four Corps Parks, and Two Close for Winter
The Army Corps runs four campgrounds on Waco Lake, but only Airport Park stays open year-round, so a winter trip takes a little planning.
McLennan County · Climate
Hot Summers and Unpredictable Rain Define the Local Climate
McLennan County averages about 34 inches of rain per year but sees high heat in summer and occasional hard freezes in winter.
McLennan County · Fishing
Lake Waco Offers Year-Round Fishing Access
Lake Waco is an 8,465-acre reservoir with multiple public boat ramps managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
McLennan County · Wetlands
Lake Waco Wetlands: 180 Acres Born From Raising the Lake Seven Feet
When Waco raised its lake to bank more water, it built a 180-acre constructed wetland to replace the habitat it flooded, and that trade-off became one of the county's best birding and learning spots.
McLennan County · Land and Soil
McLennan County Sits on Two Distinct Prairie Zones
The county spans both the Grand Prairie to the west and the Blackland Prairie to the east, giving it fertile soils suited to row crops, hay, and cattle.
McLennan County · Lake access
Six Ways Onto Waco Lake, and Which Ones Charge a Fee
The Army Corps of Engineers runs six day-use parks around Waco Lake, and knowing which charge the $5 gate fee and which are free saves you a wasted drive.
McLennan County · Paddling
Two Paddling Trails Run Through Downtown Waco
The Bosque Bluffs and Brazos Bridges paddling trails offer beginner-friendly canoe and kayak routes through the heart of Waco.
McLennan County · National monument
Waco Mammoth Is a Free Walk in the Woods, Mammoths Aside
Most people come to Waco Mammoth for the dig shelter, but the monument is also 108 wooded acres along the Bosque River with five short, free trails, a quiet morning stroll on the edge of the city.
McLennan County · Hunting
White-Tailed Deer and Turkey Hunting in McLennan County
McLennan County falls in TPWD's North Zone for deer and has both fall and spring turkey seasons, with antler restrictions in place.