The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is inviting Texans to bring friends and family into the outdoors for National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 26, a celebration that recognizes hunters and anglers for their contributions to wildlife and conservation, according to a Sept. 21 news release from the agency.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation in support of the day, the agency said, noting that outdoor pursuits foster patience, self-reliance and appreciation for the natural world while promoting physical activity and mental well-being. The proclamation also noted that outdoor recreation generates billions of dollars in annual economic activity, supporting local businesses, jobs and communities across the state, according to TPWD.
“The significant contribution made by Texas’ outdoors women and men toward research and species management is one of the reasons why the tradition of hunting and fishing in Texas has endured for generations,” TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz said in the release. He invited all Texans to take a hunter education course, attend a neighborhood fishing event and learn how participating in these activities aids conservation.
Texas’ wildlife management programs are funded through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses, stamps and endorsements, as well as taxes paid on hunting and fishing equipment, motorboat fuel, firearms and ammunition, the agency said. Since licenses went on sale Aug. 15, recreational license sales have exceeded $36.7 million, according to TPWD. That participation helps fund fish stocking, access and habitat improvements, and mentored hunting programs that introduce new hunters to the sport in a safe environment.
On the fishing side, the agency’s Neighborhood Fishin’ Program is celebrating 20 years in 2026 of bringing fishing opportunities to city and county parks, and Community Fishing Lakes offer another option for first-time and experienced anglers. No license is required to fish from the shore or dock at a Texas State Park, TPWD noted.
For prospective hunters, TPWD pointed to its Hunting for Beginners webpage and mentored hunting workshops. The Texas dove season is in full swing, and the agency said Texas leads the nation in dove hunting, accounting for 32 percent of the mourning dove and 87 percent of the white-winged dove harvest in the United States annually, with more than 300,000 hunters generating more than $500 million in economic activity each year. The early teal season runs Sept. 19 through Sept. 27, and an annual public hunting permit opens more than one million acres of public land.
Hunter education certification is required for anyone born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, the agency said. Licenses are available through the TPWD website, at retail locations and at TPWD offices, and updated identity verification rules are now in effect for license purchases to combat residency fraud. Full regulations are available on the Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app or at OutdoorAnnual.com.