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Texas Parks and Wildlife TV Series Celebrates 40th Season

January | February 2025 Issue

TV Show filming
Photo by Chase Fountain

The Emmy Award-winning Texas Parks and Wildlife public television series reaches a milestone this year as it embarks on its 40th season.

“It's amazing to think this show has told more 1,100 stories across more than 900 episodes in its first 39 seasons,” says Kyle Banowsky, series producer. “Besides entertainment value, the series has created a rich public record of Texas' natural history over the past 40 years and shows how Texans have engaged with the outdoors over that time.”

The series launched as a documentary-style show in 1985 under the name Made in Texas; it aired once per month and focused on one topic each episode. The program transitioned in 1991 to its current format and was renamed to Texas Parks and Wildlife to mirror the magazine, featuring three to four stories each week on a variety of different topics.

The half-hour program airs each week on Texas PBS stations along with 50 Texas city government and educational channels. The show also airs on other public stations across the country, PBS online and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department YouTube channel. It has earned more than 40 Lone Star Emmy Awards.

The show presents stories that focus on the challenges and triumphs of everyday people who engage in conservation, enjoy the outdoors and explore all that Texas has to offer. Episodes explore a wide range of topics from in-depth conservation issues to fun family activities.

“Our hope is to inspire you to get outdoors and visit the natural places in our state,” Banowsky says. “We want to provide a compelling reason for you to care about the outdoors and the state's cultural heritage. Maybe you'll even get involved and help preserve a piece of that heritage. It's our hope that you'll develop a new appreciation for the natural world, a world that's right here in your own backyard.”

Stories in this 40th season give viewers a front row seat with biologists as they research black bears in West Texas, javelinas in South Texas and alligators on the coast. The audience can join a “whooper watcher” tour at the Whooping Crane Festival in Port Aransas, go on a fishing trip for walleye in the Panhandle, tag along on a duck hunt south of Houston and check out several state parks. Through the episodes, viewers will meet rock climbers, musicians, archeologists and the much-loved working dogs for conservation. The show will also share wild game recipes folks can try out at home.

The season started in October, but TPWD will celebrate the anniversary in January, when the series enters its 40th calendar year, with activities to be announced on its website and social media (@texasparkswildlife on Instagram).


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