Media Contact: TPWD News, Business Hours, 512-389-8030
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AUSTIN – Texas Game Wardens will celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day 2026 at the Texas State Capitol on Monday, Sept. 28, with interactive displays, specialized equipment and opportunities for the public to meet the game wardens who protect Texas’ natural resources and communities.
The event follows National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 26, recognized through a proclamation issued by Gov. Greg Abbott. The annual observance celebrates Texas’ rich outdoor heritage and recognizes the contributions hunters and anglers make to wildlife conservation, habitat management and local economies.
The public and media are invited to visit with Texas Game Wardens and learn more about their work in conservation law enforcement, boating safety, search and rescue, public safety and more.
Who: Local game wardens along with personnel from several specialized teams and programs.
Featured displays will include:
- Search and Rescue: Game wardens will showcase specialized rescue boats and equipment used during flood response, natural disasters and other search and rescue operations across Texas.
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Program: Visitors can learn how game wardens use drone technology to support search and rescue, conservation law enforcement, emergency response operations and more.
- Texas Game Warden K9 Team: Meet members of the K9 Team and learn how specially trained K9s assist game wardens with search and rescue, wildlife detection and other law enforcement operations.
- Boater Education Simulator: Visitors can experience Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s new interactive boating simulator, designed to teach safe boating practices and help operators develop skills for navigating Texas waters.
- Operation Game Thief (OGT) "Wall of Shame": The mobile display features wildlife and aquatic resources illegally taken by violators across Texas, offering visitors a closer look at conservation law enforcement and the importance of protecting the state’s natural resources.
- Texas Game Warden Recruiting: Game wardens from the Central Texas region will be available to answer questions about career opportunities, academy training and what it takes to become a Texas Game Warden.
Date: Monday, Sept. 28
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Texas State Capitol, Great Walk; East 11th Street and Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas
Media Opportunities: Media are invited to attend and opportunities to interview game wardens will be available.
Media RSVPs are not required, but they are appreciated so we can plan accordingly. Please email news@tpwd.texas.gov if you plan to attend.
About Texas Game Wardens
Texas Game Wardens, within the Law Enforcement Division of TPWD, are responsible for enforcing laws related to the conservation and management of natural resources and public safety through community-based law enforcement. Their mission is to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. Additionally, they play a crucial role in search and rescue operations during natural disasters, exemplifying their commitment to protecting both the environment and the people of Texas.
If you witness a fishing, wildlife or boating violation in progress, please call 1-800-792-GAME (4263) immediately and report it to Operation Game Thief (OGT), Texas’ Wildlife Crime-Stoppers Program. You can also text your tip by sending the keyword TXOGT plus your tip to 847411 or through the Texas OGT App, available for iOS and Android devices. Dispatchers are available 24/7.
