To encourage owners and operators of privately held land to voluntarily make that land available to public access for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation in texas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) awarded a $452,887.16 Project Grant under the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (CFDA 10.093) to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). This grant, awarded on January 1, 2025, with a completion date of December 31, 2027, is intended to encourage private landowners in Texas to voluntarily make their land available for public access to activities such as hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation. The grant will support TPWD's efforts to create or expand public access programs, provide financial incentives to private landowners, and enhance wildlife habitat on enrolled lands. As a key state agency focused on natural resource conservation and outdoor recreation, TPWD will leverage its expertise and partnerships with academic institutions to deliver the project's objectives over the 3-year performance period.