The ability to manage land in difficult times, through extended dry periods and economic downturns, is the hallmark of a good land steward. This year’s recipients of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Lone Star Land Steward Awards are prime examples.

It's easy for hunters to get spoiled in Texas.  From September through May there is at least one ongoing hunting season for some game animal or bird in every region of the state, which includes the nation's highest number of deer, turkeys and migrating doves.

The 621 Pheasants Forever chapters, 103 Quail Forever chapters and 125,000 members of "The Habitat Organization" nationwide completed over 22,000 wildlife habitat projects in 2009, benefitting over 500,000 acres for pheasants, quail and other wildlife. This includes over 8,300 acres of land acquired and then opened to public hunting and recreation as state-managed wildlife areas or federal Waterfowl Production Areas.

Many Conservation Reserve Program contracts are due to expire this September, and landowners need to give careful consideration as to what comes next for once highly erodible land, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel.

Congressman Dan Boren, Co-Chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, recently introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would streamline regulations regarding the filming of outdoor programming on federal lands.