Recently a reader emailed asking for information on the public hunting program that Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) administers. The family was visiting friends in another part of Texas for the Thanksgiving holidays. While there she wanted to know if there were any public hunting areas close by.

What a great idea! Visiting with loved ones and while there be able to participate in the great Texas outdoors. Sounds to me like the start of a tradition.

There are nearly a million acres of public hunting land spread around all Texas. The lands include property owned by TPWD or land leased from various agencies, corporations and private landowners.

An Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit ($48) allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands anywhere in Texas. Holders of an APH Permit may take youth under age 17 hunting free of charge on these public lands.

Maybe you don’t hunt, but would like to just get outdoors. A Limited Public Use (LPU) Permit ($12) allows an adult access for fishing when it is available, camping, bird watching, hiking, and other recreational activities on designated public hunting lands, but they may not hunt or possess firearms or archery equipment.

Besides the Permit, if you plan to hunt you will need a Texas hunting license and appropriate stamps. No fishing license is required on these lands.

APH and LPU Permits can be purchased any place where hunting licenses are sold, or by going on-line at www.tpwd.state.tx.us. After purchase of the appropriate permit, you will receive a booklet that lists all of the locations, along with information about what hunting and recreational activities are available at each location.

Besides going Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving, get outdoors sometime during the Holiday weekend. Besides it’s a good way to work off some of those extra calories from all of that great Thanksgiving food.