Outdoor News Digest - What's Going on in the outdoors. - Week 8

Wednesday  ·  February 18, 2026  ·  Week 8

Fishing  ·  Hunting  ·  Conservation  ·  Boating  ·  Kayaking  ·  Camping  ·  Outdoor Cooking

• TEXAS GUIDE LANDS 13.76-LB MONSTER AT HORDS CREEK — SETS NEW LAKE RECORD — Outdoor Life, Feb. 13
• Fort Phantom Hill Delivers Second Legacy Class ShareLunker — Toledo Bend Returns to the Mix — Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., Feb. 12
• TPWD Weekly Freshwater Fishing Report: Pre-Spawn Bass Moving Shallow Statewide — Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., Feb. 18
• West Texas Fishing Report: Bass Fair on Crankbaits, White Bass Running the Rivers — San Angelo Live, Feb. 12
• Texas Fishing Reports Roundup: Pre-Spawn Bite Heating Up Across the State — Captain Experiences, Feb. 17
• What Lures to Throw in February — Lipless Cranks, ChatterBaits & Ned Rigs Leading the Way — Wired2Fish, Feb. 4
• 2026 National Bass Fishing Tournament Preview — Both Major Circuits Are Underway — Outdoor News, Feb. 15
• MLF Bass Pro Tour Stage 2 at Lake Hartwell — Full Field, Leaderboard & Weigh-In Results — Major League Fishing
• 2026 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule: New FFS Limits, New Lakes, and a Knoxville Classic — Bassmaster.com
• Complete 2026 Pro Bass Tournament Master Schedule — Every Circuit, Every Lake in One Place — Best On Tour
• TPWD Closes Oyster Harvest Area in Galveston Bay — Too Few Legal-Sized Oysters Remain — Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., Feb. 11
• Only Two of Eight Galveston Bay Oyster Harvest Areas Remain Open as Closures Continue — Houston Public Media, Feb. 17

• ⚠ TPWD WILDLIFE HEALTH ALERT: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in North Texas Wild Birds — Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept., Feb. 17
• Avian Flu Cases Confirmed in Amarillo and Lubbock — TPWD Warns Public to Avoid Wild Birds — FOX 26 Houston, Feb. 17
• Hundreds of Ducks and Geese Found Dead at McDonald Lake, Texas — Bird Flu Suspected — News Channel 10 Amarillo, Feb. 4
• Bird Flu Fast Facts: What Hunters and Backyard Poultry Owners Need to Know in 2026 — Texas A&M AgriLife, Feb. 6
• DNR Seeks Public Input on 2026–2028 Hunting Seasons, Bag Limits & Drone Recovery Rules — Maryland DNR, Feb. 13
• Iowa DNR Launches Statewide Town Hall Meetings to Review Hunting Seasons and Possible Rule Changes — CBS 2 Iowa, Feb. 5

• Texas Parks Receive Record $21.2 Million Funding Boost — 50 Community Parks to Benefit — Texas Public Radio, Feb. 3
• TPWC Awards $21.2M for Local Parks — Kayak Launches, Piers, Trails Among Planned Improvements — Community Impact, Feb. 6
• New Wave of Avian Flu Spreading Across Utah — 50,000 Grebes Lost Near Great Salt Lake — Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Feb. 13

• TRAGEDY: All 7 Victims Identified After Commercial Fishing Boat Lily Jean Sinks Off Gloucester — No Mayday Call — ABC News, Feb. 2
• Coast Guard Begins Formal Investigation Into Lily Jean Sinking — Crew Included a 22-Year-Old Federal Fisheries Observer — GBH News Boston, Feb. 2
• Boating Accidents of the Week: Nashville Houseboat Fire Damages 13 Vessels, Coast Guard Rescue 450 Miles Offshore — BoatTEST.com, Feb. 14

• Industry Shakeup: Kokatat Paddlesports Apparel Acquired by The Wing Group — Paddling Magazine, Jan. 14
• North Fork World Championship Kayak Race Returns for 2026 — Registration Now Open — Paddling Life, Feb. 16
• 2026 Kayak Angler Industry Award Winners Announced — Crescent's New Smallie Takes Top Honors — Kayak Angler Magazine

• New TiStove Titanium Camp Stove Packs Flat, Weighs Under 1.5 Lbs — On Kickstarter Now — New Atlas, Feb. 11
• American Outdoor Grill Launches New L-Series & T-Series Premium Grill Lines at KBIS 2026 — CookOut News, Feb. 5
• Tasty Camping Meals That Don't Require Refrigeration — Perfect for Your Next Trip — Islands, Feb. 3
• Outside Editors' February Favorites: Camp Chef's Gridiron 36 Griddle Earns Rave Reviews — Outside Online, Feb. 1

• American-Made Camping Gear Built to Last — Top Picks Starting at $55 — Fox News, Jan. 28
• 10 Best Camping Gadgets to Buy Before Spring 2026 Sells Out — Yanko Design, Jan. 28
• Spring 2026 Camping Season: State Parks Begin Opening Reservations — Plan Your Trip Now — CNY News, Feb. 17