https://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/re...8JSCEoORgGuMi_aem_9ukyjgeFDCFl16y58UnYMg

AUSTIN — For the first time in almost two decades, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has added a new Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to its East Texas inventory.

The property, comprising approximately 6,900 acres in Anderson County, will become the Trinity River Wildlife Management Area.

Trinity River WMA is the newest addition to the Middle Trinity River Ecosystem Project, which includes Gus Engeling, Richland Creek, Big Lake Bottom and Keechi Creek WMAs. Together, these properties protect more than 38,000 acres in East Texas. The newly acquired property also adds 11.3 miles of Trinity River frontage, giving TPWD more than 25 miles of riverbank conservation along this important corridor for migratory birds.

The management and restoration of both the Trinity River and Richland Creek WMAs gives TPWD the opportunity for “wall-to-wall" bottomland conservation across the entire east-west width of the Trinity River basin on more than 21,000 contiguous acres. These efforts will aim to slow waters during flooding events, allowing for natural river sediment to settle across the floodplain rather than downstream in areas where concentrated deposits cause environmental problems.

“The establishment of the Trinity River WMA presents an opportunity for the conservation and management of an ecologically unique and important habitat,” said TPWD Executive Director David Yoskowitz. “Partnerships with organizations like the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Knobloch Family Foundation make historic land purchases like this possible.”

The late Jackie Gragg, whose family owned the property, enjoyed seeing the blooming dogwood trees at the nearby Gus Engeling WMA and had a vision of her land being managed and protected in a similar fashion. The Gragg family worked closely with TPWD staff over the course of a year and a half to make this new WMA a reality.

During the 88th legislative session, $10 million in Migratory Game Bird Stamp Funds were appropriated to TPWD for the acquisition of new wildlife management areas. A portion of these funds, along with a grant awarded to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation from the Knobloch Family Foundation, provided the primary match for a Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The 88th Legislature’s appropriation of Migratory Game Bird Stamp Funds has allowed TPWD to conserve more lands and bring greater access to even more Texans,” said TPWD Wildlife Division Director Alan Cain.

TPWD will be working cooperatively with many partners to fund and prioritize habitat restoration on the new WMA. Wetland restoration and creation will be a primary effort, along with work focused on rebuilding bottomland hardwood on the Trinity River. Prairie restoration efforts will occur on the upland acres on the northern end of the property. These efforts will benefit numerous species, including waterfowl, shorebirds, neotropical migratory birds, butterflies and many other wildlife. When appropriate, outdoor recreational opportunities, including hunting, birdwatching, camping and fishing will be available to the public.

It’s looked pretty good the other day when I scouted it…

That's an awesome picture.

That picture shows up every September around Teal season, none the less I would love that picture wall hanger size for my office.

No ducks around there anyways.

I wonder how many years it will be until they open it up for hunting.

Good to see indeed.

I used to know of the others in the area, before I confirmed tpwd is a joke. But considering how the others in the area are managed, very limited/draw would be my guess. Keeps pressure and crowds down, yes, but also limits use to the general public....but you can’t have both. Just the current state of hunting in texas

There's no hunting allowed there? And no ducks there? Our place isn't far from Richland creek wma. Less than 3 miles as the crow flies. Now, I'm not a duck hunter, but during duck season, it sounds like there's plenty of duck hunting allowed, and plenty of ducks too.

Good luck to them. TPWD needs to start doing draw hunts for waterfowl on the WMAs
These days too many duck dynasty wanta bes and yuppies crowding up the areas with too much hunting pressure throughout season!! Buncha cloud busters too!! I’m done with it last year was my last season dealing with WMAs in Texas.

This is good news....and not to get off the main subject.... but I often wonder why Tx public land hunting for various species sucks to our surrounding states. Tx is bigger and no doubt brings in much more money than our neighbor states. But "I'd rather duck, deer and turkey hunt in those states than Tx when on public.
Where is the money coming from, and where is it spent? (for example...Tx Parks & wildlife is more $$ spent on parks, or wildlife? Are hunters and fisherman bringing more money in that campers? )

It would be interesting to see all that data

TPWD’s goal is to have as much public land as possible then allow as little public access as possible. And if you are one of the folks that do access that public property be prepared for a full body cavity search by multiple game wardens. Only jackass game wardens I have encountered is when hunting public land here in Texas.

After a lifetime of hunting public land in Texas. Open WMA and without counting at least 40-50 drawn and standby drawn hunts I have been on, I have never encountered anything like that from a Game Warden. Not once.

What did you shoot this picture with? I am guessing 400-500mm@f4 or f5.6? Great shot either way!

He didn't. It's an old DU photo contest picture. Grand Prize runner-up in 2014.

[quote=Sniper John] He didn't. It's an old DU photo contest picture. Grand Prize runner-up in 2014. [/quote

Thank you, sir!

Yesterday looked pretty good…

How come folks gotta lie?

Oh gezzz...you must be a democrat, everything is a lie.... Know the differences between a joke around and lie. Also when it comes to duck hunting spots, consider everything I say is BS, not lies. There is a difference there as well.

As well as a difference.

Thx, I award you the internet spelling bee geek award.

Don't you have some selfies to take?

Well good for you. Cause one trip the Richland Creek WMA for teal season you can have your first encounter. Take a trip to the new lake by Bonham, I too have hunted extensively on public land and multiple draw hunts and the behavior of the GWhas been as if you just tracked dog crap into their house. Never gotten a ticket for anything. Maybe you have been lucky, maybe it’s just been bad luck on my part but meeting the GW on public is vastly different behavior from them on private.

Been many times since the first day it was open. GWs in that area are some of the friendliest I have ever met and always helpful with info. To the point I am like dang that GW just outed some guy's secret spot to me. A lot has changed and it is not the free for all those places were when type II first opened, but no one should have any problems as long as they keep up with the current rules and stay within them. 99% of the time if you treat whoever the controlling authority is with respect, they will respond in kind. But I don't doubt you had a bad experience. We are all human and everyone has a bad day on occasion. Such is life, but I am not kidding when I say I have never met that once percenter GW yet.

The trick with GW’s is when you see them coming, make sure they see you good, unload your gun, open the action, and get your licensing out….before they get to you. When they get to you, hand them your gun with open action facing them, be sure to do it before they ask for it. They take your gun, check it, hand it back. At the same time you take your gun hand them your license. Again it’s important to do this before they ask you for it. This with yes sir and no sir…And also obedient dog that sits and doesn’t jump on the GW…

And in case anyone is wondering, this is not BS, so the rookies need to take notes…