By Chris McLeland
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Quail Forever, will soon be making thousands of new acres available for public access across the state.
TPWD recently applied for funding through the NRCS Voluntary Public Access – Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP), which provides financial support to landowners who are willing to open their property to public access. In Texas, this program will focus primarily on providing small game hunting opportunities for both residents and non-residents.
Additionally, Quail Forever is partnering with TPWD to create a Coordinating Wildlife Biologist position that will work one on one with landowners to help enroll acres and promote their use.
The Coordinating Wildlife Biologist will join a growing Texas Quail Forever Team and work with both Quail Forever and TPWD biologists to provide technical assistance to participating landowners, helping to improve habitat quality and quantity on these properties as well.
Quail Forever is very excited to be part of this effort to provide additional acres of opportunity within the Lone Star State.