5 Southwest Highways & Fields
January may not be the best month for outdoor recreation in some areas, but there are plenty of opportunities if you look close enough. I believe this is the time of year for cuddling up with a book and a hot cup of Pinon Coffee in the evening, but during the day, why don't you bundle up and go enjoy the great outdoors?
Texans are blessed with warm winters, where swimming can even be an option in some areas. Hiking, biking, and canoeing can be quite enjoyable on most Texas days. For those of us farther west, snow sports are popular winter activities, along with ice fishing, or a brisk afternoon walk. We have a whole article this month dedicated to snow sports, so I won't be talking of them much here.
Texas
January can offer pleasant hikes in most of the state. Visit your local state park for a lovely winter stroll, or even camp out in south Texas, where average January highs are in the low 60's. Crappie fishing is good in the winter months, and fishing for other species can yield a good catch. Birdwatching for the state's many winter duck species is an enjoyable activity on hundreds of Texas lakes. Bring your canoe or kayak and paddle the day away. January weather in Texas is a crap-shoot, so you may have to change your outdoor plans with little notice. Dove hunting can be legally done until January 6 (Jan. 22 in South Texas), The whitetail season is still open, and ducks can be harvested for most of the month, along with geese, quail, and Wild Turkey. Be sure to check the seasons before you go out hunting. Overall, Texas has plenty of good recreation opportunities in January, and Coloradans wishing to escape the winter snow and blow should give a Texas vacation some thought. Even relaxing on the beach is possible along the state's hundreds of miles of coast; Just try to plan around the cold-fronts.
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: www.tpwd.state.tx.us
The Campfire
Outdoors Guide
Eamon Decker