Thousands of Texans are finding much-needed stress relief by digging in the dirt. Plus: four tips for novice gardeners.
Outdoors
Documentarian Ben Masters tracks some of the few Leopardus pardalis that are left in Texas.
As Texans flock to the hobby in record numbers, we convened a virtual staff roundtable to share tips.
Merlin Tuttle has spent his career dispelling myths about bats. Now he’s defending them once again.
The reopening of state parks has not come without critics, from those who say the new rules are impossible to enforce to those who think they are too restrictive.
Robert and Vickie Lyle’s lives revolve around hunting and trapping hogs. Wildlife refuge managers count on them to keep the destructive pigs in check.
In the aftermath of tragedy, members of the Caddo Nation are drawing on their culture and traditions to help restore Caddo Mounds State Historic Site.
The Redfish Wars changed Texas fishing. A fight over flounder could be next.
We’re calling it: Texas has the best fishing in the United States. Alaska and Florida are right up there. California is too, we guess. But what many Texans may not appreciate—even those of us who grew up casting lines—is the impressive diversity of fishing in the Lone Star State. Most…
Texas offers some of the most-diverse fishing in the country—from stalking monster sharks on Padre Island to fly-fishing from a kayak on the remote Pecos River. And for three months, I got to try it all.
Here are four essential items to get off dry land and into a kayak.
The state has spent more than a century building up a world-class fishery, with some unintended consequences.
For all his success, Combs obsesses over the ones that got away—especially on the biggest stages.
On a remote property near Terlingua, a prepper community is thriving.
Even though it's legal for property owners like me to be there, it's not the right thing to do.
A Houston poet laureate on the hopeful defiance of her bluebonnets.
Spending time outdoors is good for mental health. But as COVID-19 spreads in Texas, officials and citizens are grappling with whether, and how, we can enjoy public parks.
Tips from Texans who trap, kill, and study wild pigs.
Whether they like fishing, hiking, or just enjoying the outdoors, we’ve got the explorers on your list covered.
Deer season is almost upon us, but don’t fret if you don’t have a lease. Here are four public places that welcome hunters.
Once widely hunted in Texas, the beloved game birds have been dwindling in number in recent decades. But a West Texas hunter and professor believes he’s found a way to save them.
These creatures—some creepy crawlers, some fearsome beasts, some microscopic threats—can and will kill you, maybe.
I left Texas after the brutal summer of 2011, only to return in time for the hottest September on record.
After an eventful first year as superintendent, Bob Krumenaker has a vision for the park's future as it celebrates its 75th anniversary.
The invasive species hitches rides on contaminated boats from one body of water to the next.
Austin rockers Montopolis will premiere The Living Coast—an audiovisual homage to the Texas Gulf Coast—on August 2 in Austin.
The park offers quiet coastland and abundant wildlife, and feels like a defiant bulwark against some very particular cares of urban life.
A constitutional amendment on the ballot in November aims to shore up funding for Texas’s system of state parks and historic sites.
Although they're on the rebound in Central Texas, these magical flying beetles aren't lighting up the sky like they used to. A New Braunfels expert says they're still out there if you know where to look.
It's that magical—and all too brief—time in the city, when the heady blooms seem to make everything a little bit better.
The fish stories out of this East Texas reservoir are mostly true, which is why fishermen come with their gear and beer in search of some of the state's biggest monster bass.
In addition to Lake Fork, here are some other places where trophy lunkers lurk.
At this tropical, mystical park, you’ll find animals and plants unlike anything else in Texas.
The ninety-year-old conservationist and fried-chicken tycoon reflects on land stewardship—and the invaluable lessons he learned as a young door-to-door salesman.
I set out into nature seeking serenity. I found resilience instead.
To reap the rewards of paddling this remote, dangerous waterway, you don’t have to sell your soul. You simply need to respect its power. And be prepared.
TPWD's fundraising from Apache Corporation and hundreds of Texans will support repairs at the park.
Everything a nature lover would need to enjoy the great outdoors, from a cozy blanket to sturdy and stylish boots.
The antlers are bigger, the gear is better, and the price of admission has shot way up. Welcome to the new world of Texas hunting — if you've got the cash, that is.
Austin’s Greater Calvary Bible Church believes the sport is a training ground for essential life lessons. Here’s how the congregation’s efforts defy hunting trends across the state.
Emily McCullar on hunting's place in her life, plus a tour through her glossary of hunting terms.
Despite threats to its survival over the years, the picturesque and petite park goes with the flow, just like its namesake river.
Whitetail season is nearly upon us. Here are the destinations that belong at the top of every hunter’s bucket list.
A brief primer so the next time you get an invite to your buddy’s deer stand, you won’t booger things up.
"We both watch the blood and steam spill out into the winter air. At this point, it is not unusual for at least one of us to cry."
The gear is better, the antlers are grander, and the price of admission has shot way up. Welcome to the new world of Texas hunting.
The deer industry is booming. Participation in the sport is not.
Granite, which draws visitors to the park, can also reach high temperatures.
Enjoy the views on these pedal-powered paths, including a route that takes you to the missions of San Antonio and one that goes around the Coastal Bend.