NOTICE: A hog hunt is occurring through Sunday 2/1. All Refuge areas shown in purple on this map will be CLOSED to entry except by hunters during the hunt. |
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By Kathy Whaley, Refuge Manager
Aerial Map of The Town of Hagerman, Before Lake Texoma As Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge celebrates its 80th anniversary, it’s worth reflecting on how far we’ve come. While paging through old refuge annual narrative reports to gather tidbits for this story, I was struck by just how much has changed—from onion-skin paper (including rodent-chewed corners on the 1945 report) to today’s technology that can generate entire stories in seconds. Some changes have been for the better, some perhaps not—but the importance of this place has only grown. |
Celebrating 80 Years of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge
Long before the refuge existed, the lands and waters we now protect were shaped by ever-changing natural forces. Between 140 and 65 million years ago, the Western Interior Seaway—a shallow inland sea rich with marine life—covered this region, expanding and retreating many times. The organic material left behind by these ancient creatures formed fossil fuels still found beneath refuge lands today. Because of their existence, these resources play a role in modern refuge management, and staff work closely with producers to ensure that mineral extraction and transport are carefully balanced with the protection of refuge lands and waters. Human history here stretches back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows that Indigenous Caddo peoples used campsites along streams and water sources in this area for more than 12,000 years. Likely as transients, they hunted, fished, gathered, and farmed on what are now refuge lands, sustaining their families for generations.
Hagerman Train Station By the late 1830s, Caddoan groups were trading with early settlers along the Red River. The Peters Colony settlement efforts of the 1840s brought new families, and by the 1870s a farming community had taken shape. Known for a time as Steedman to honor county judge S.D. Steedman, the town grew steadily, even gaining a post office in |
1880. Before 1910, James P. Smith donated land and laid out streets in what had been a 10-acre wheat field. When the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad (KATY) arrived in 1909, the town was renamed Hagerman in honor of railroad attorney James Hagerman. At its height, the community was home to about 250 residents, complete with churches, schools, and mercantile stores.
T.M. Smith Grocery Store Change came again in the 1920s with news of the War Department’s Denison Dam project. Lands were purchased by the federal government and families gradually moved away to make room for what would become Lake Texoma. When the dam was completed in February 1944, a new chapter began. Since then, floods and droughts have reshaped the bottomland hardwood forests, while upland areas have seen cedar, locust, mesquite, and winged elm spread into former blackland prairie grasslands—changes clearly visible when comparing historic photos across decades. John Clark Salyer, a conservationist now known as the “Father of the National Wildlife Refuge System” played a key role in the establishment of Hagerman NWR. Beginning in 1935, he traveled around the country in a car and stopped here during his journey to attend a meeting and help push forward the idea of having two refuges on the new lake – Hagerman and Tishomingo. Impressively, Mr. Salyer grew the refuge system from 1.5 to 29 million acres in his time serving as the national Chief of Refuge Management.
Refuge Headquarters in 1950 On February 9, 1946, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge was officially established as an overlay of lands purchased by the War Department through Public Land Order 314 signed by President Truman. The refuge itself began to take shape in the late 1940s as an office building—now the Friends Building—was constructed, followed by a residence that has housed refuge staff since the early 1950s. Picnic tables were installed in the three Day Use Areas in 1947, and remarkably, one of those original tables at Goode Picnic Area is still in use today. Recreational opportunities expanded over time, including fishing, which became a year-round activity in the 1970s. In 2011, the current Visitor Center/Refuge Headquarters was completed and replaced a small, 1980’era building at the same location. Wildlife has always been at the heart of the refuge’s story. Once home to very few deer, the refuge saw populations grow steadily, leading to the start of archery-only hunting in 1984 that is now one of the most popular white-tail deer hunts in Texas. Wild Turkeys were reintroduced in the 1980s and now thrive, primarily Rio Grande turkeys, possibly mixed with Eastern turkeys. Other changes have brought challenges, such as the rise of feral hogs—an invasive species that staff take great efforts to manage. |
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Through floods, droughts, and decades of change, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge has remained a haven for native creatures. Today, more than 300 species of birds, along with dozens of other wildlife including gray fox, river otter, raccoon, box turtles, ringneck snakes, timber rattlers plus thousands of insect species, depend on these lands. Open waters and shallow marshes on the refuge provide important habitat for migrating Snow and Ross’s Geese; waterfowl such as pintails, shovelers, canvasback, mallards, teal, and bufflehead; long-legged wading birds; shorebirds; and numerous raptors. Bald eagles |
Photo by JRolinc Photography |
can be seen here during much of the year. Migratory songbirds such as painted and indigo buntings, summer tanagers, and dickcissels nest in refuge forests and grasslands. Monarchs, orange sulphurs, plus at least 94 other butterfly species depend on refuge wildflowers and trees for foraging and reproduction. |
Photo by Mayve Strong | Eighty years after its establishment, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge remains an essential part of the community and a treasured place for 250,000 annual visitors of all ages from near and far. Refuge staff and volunteers take great pride in offering quality outdoor recreation and educational opportunities plus making sure the refuge is kept clean and inviting. The Friends of Hagerman - one of the best Refuge Friends Groups in the entire country - and many dedicated refuge volunteers provide invaluable support, helping connect people of all ages with nature and completing too many tasks to count. As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we honor the past, appreciate the present, and look forward to many more years of conservation, discovery, and making connections at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. |
Help Us Celebrate the 80th Birthday of Hagerman NWR! Saturday, February 14th, 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM |
Photo by Nancy Miller | 8:00 Second Saturday Bird Walk 10:00 Ferns of Texas: Why the Lone Star State is So Diverse with George Diggs 11:30 Coffee, Cake and a Game with Ranger Beard 12:00 The History of Hagerman NWR with Mary Istre, Petrolium Specialist All are Welcome! |
Refuge Update: Though refuge lands are open from sunrise until sunset every day of the year, the Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday 9-4, Sunday 1-5. It's a great time to try the Auto Tour! |
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Upcoming Activities:
The Friends of Hagerman is Hosting 11 Family Friendly Events in February! Donate to help fund programs like these! |
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Second Saturday Lecture: Ferns of Texas: Why the Lone Star State is So Diverse with George Diggs Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM in the Visitor Center
Texas has a surprising number of native ferns and lycophytes, 127 in all, the most of any state in the continental U.S. This is particularly unexpected given that most people associate ferns and related plants with humid, even tropical conditions, just the opposite of much of Texas. Texas’ diverse species thrive under a variety of conditions including some that are very extreme—in crevices on huge exposed granite outcrops, underwater on the bottoms of ponds or lakes, inside cave entrances, and in the deserts of west Texas. One Texas species has leaves reaching nearly 13 feet in length, while another is a tiny floating aquatic often less than 1/2 inch in total size. Many Texas species occur nowhere else in the entire United States. This talk will look broadly at Texas ferns, ranging from the swamp forests of East Texas, to the hidden canyons of the Edwards Plateau, and even to the high mountain “sky islands” of such places as Big Bend National Park. It will examine why Texas is such a special place for these fascinating plants. Registration and Speaker BiographyRegistration is not necessary—all are welcome! But if any of these programs spark your curiosity, signing up will get you a friendly reminder three days beforehad. You’ll also receive our once-a-month Featherless Flyer newsletter—no email overload, and it’s easy to unsubscribe anytime.
Lecture: The History of Hagerman NWR with Mary Istre, Petrolium Specialist Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM in the Visitor Center (After the Cake) Step back in time with Mary Istre, Acting Deputy Refuge Manager, as she explores 80 years of conservation at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Using historic photographs and engaging stories, Mary will bring to life the people, decisions, and defining moments that shaped the refuge’s landscapes and wildlife. You’ll also discover how lessons from the past continue to guide conservation efforts today—and why this history matters more than ever. Future Second Saturday Programs
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Countdown to Monarch Spring Migration Learn How You Can Help!
Photo by Laurie Sheppard It's winter and the Monarch butterflies that migrated through north Texas are settled in the pine and oyamel trees in the Sierra Madre mountains. You may have noticed the large number of Monarchs that came through Grayson and Collin Counties in late October. It was an unusually good year for us. Volunteers at Hagerman NWR conduct several surveys of migrating Monarchs each spring and fall as part of the Integrated Monarch Monitoring Program (IMMP) - a national program that documents milkweed, nectar plant, and monarch use data from various land-use types and regions. Information gathered at National Wildlife Refuges like Hagerman is an important part of the research shaping scientists' understanding of how monarchs interact with their environment and how the population and its habitat changes over time. The Monarch Monitoring team conducts surveys at two locations on the refuge, each with a different dominant habitat. We walk in pairs over a marked grid pattern and identify the blooming plants at measured intervals. We also check each milkweed sprout or stem for the presence of monarch eggs or caterpillars and note every adult monarch we see. Three surveys are conducted at each site on weekdays in late March through mid-May and two in October through early November. As with many such projects, the IMMP at Hagerman is looking for additional volunteers willing to commit a few field hours during the spring and fall migrations of everyone's favorite butterfly. Training in how to document blooming plants and identify Monarch eggs and larvae, as well as the structure of the surveys themselves will be held before the first survey. Exact dates for the surveys are determined based on the availability of volunteers and a weather forecast that is favorable to monarch flight. For more information or to find out how you can join the Monarch Monitoring Team, |
34 Homeschool children enjoyed a field trip on January 16th!
With the support of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the refuge, our knowledgeable volunteers—with more than 100 years of combined teaching experience—will lead your students on a guided hike through prairie, pond, forest, and riparian ecosystems while reinforcing their science TEKS. Along the way, students will compare habitats and learn to identify animal tracks, bird songs, native plants, and other fascinating discoveries.
Next, we’ll visit Hagerman’s ¼ - acre pollinator garden, where students will learn how to use insect binoculars before being set loose to explore. They’ll enjoy close-up encounters with live butterflies, insects, spider egg sacs, chrysalises, and whatever else they can find! We’ll wrap up this portion by connecting their observations to TEKS concepts such as life cycles and the functions of organisms.
To round out the experience, students will explore animal skins and skulls, to get an up-close look at the differences between carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores—and discover how food chains really work.
Apply for a Field Trip for your group!
Enjoy the Eastern Bluebirds At Home
The Eastern Bluebird nesting season will begin soon! Complete Kit Includes:
Nestbox Only: $25.99* Available in the Nature Nook while supplies last. *Plus applicable sales tax. |  Photo by Chris Balsamo
Juvenile by Donnie Simmons |
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Birding with Jack: The Weekly Bird Census
Left to Right: Mike Petrick, Nancy Riggs, Jack Chiles and Terry Goode Each Tuesday a team of experienced birders, including Master Naturalist Jack Chiles, traverse 35 miles of refuge roads and hiking trails, documenting every bird they encounter. This Bird Census is reported to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology for use in research, and each week we will bring you a link to their actual bird count, and a summary of their adventures.
Hermit Thrush on the road to Goode, Greater Roadrunner soaking up some sunshine on the way to Goode, Canvasback and Lesser Scaups in Steedman Marsh and Young Racoon checking us out on the road to Meadow Pond It was a cool start for our census with patches of ice on some of the marshes. Several thousand white geese are still present but there is not much to eat. With the cold and possible winter precipitation in the forecast for this coming weekend it will be tough on the geese if they hang around. The dominant species of duck by number is still Green-winged Teal with a count of 179 today. Other duck numbers are down but we did see a couple of Canvasbacks today, the first of the year. Ring-billed Gulls numbered 750 accompanied by 1 American Herring Gull. We only saw 17 Forster's Terns mixed in with the gulls. Shorebirds present were 23 Killdeer, 19 Long-billed Dowitchers, 14 Wilson's Snipe, 3 Greater Yellowlegs and 53 Least Sandpipers. We had a high count of 123 Dark-eyed Juncos. We saw 2 mature Bald Eagles. 3 Great Egrets were still present. We finished the day with 83 species. Watch for the census results every Tuesday evening: Bird Census Results |
Photo Club Meeting Owls - Know Your Subject with Dr. Wayne Myer
March 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM in the Visitor Center Dr. Wayne Meyer, an ornithologist, began birding at the age of 13 in Connecticut. He has birded extensively on both coasts of the United States and has spent the past quarter century birding in Texas and Oklahoma. Wayne will share his knowledge about Owls, which will help you learn their habits. Knowing more about your subject will help you locate and photograph your "prey". |
The Refuge Rocks! Fossil Frenzy! A Hands-On Adventure into the Prehistoric Past February 21, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Visitor Center, Ages 5 - 10 (Registration Required)
Young explorers are invited to travel millions of years back in time at Fossil Frenzy!, an exciting hands-on children’s program at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. This interactive class will take place Saturday, February 21, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. and is designed for youth ages 5–10. During Fossil Frenzy!, participants will uncover the fascinating story of fossils and discover how ancient plants and animals—including tiny insects—were preserved in amber. Through an engaging mini-lesson, kids will learn how fossils form, what they tell us about life long ago, and why insects trapped in amber are such incredible time capsules from the prehistoric world. The fun doesn’t stop there! Young paleontologists will:
This lively program blends science, creativity, and discovery—perfect for curious minds who love dinosaurs, bugs, and all things ancient. Program Details: Date: Saturday, February 21 Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m. Ages: 5–10 years Location: Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center Get ready to dig in, discover, and spark a lifelong love of science—Fossil Frenzy! is sure to be a roaring good time!
Registration Required (Space is limited) |
| Puddles' Craft Corner By Cindy Steele, Master Naturalist |
Cardinals – The Singers in the Trees!
Welcome back to Puddles’ Craft Corner. It’s February! You might be noticing those bright red songbirds sitting in your trees or hanging around your bird feeders. Winter is a good time to notice these beautiful singing birds since they aren’t hidden by the leaves that are usually on the trees. You've heard of cardinals because they are mascots for a lot of sports teams, but maybe you don't know much about them. Are they always red? Where do they live? This lesson will teach you lots of interesting facts about cardinals' habitat, diet, and life cycle and then we’ll paint a fun cardinal picture.
What Are Cardinals? A cardinal is a special kind of bird called a songbird. A songbird has its own musical call or song. In most species of songbirds, only the males sing, but cardinals are special because both the male and female cardinals sing. Cardinals are pretty small, usually 8 or 9 inches. This is less than one foot! Did you know that male and female cardinals look completely different from each other? Males are bright red, and females are grayish brown with little bits of red in their feathers. The cardinal you usually see as a mascot looks most like a male cardinal. What Do Cardinals Look Like?
Northern cardinals are songbirds with a medium-sized body. Male cardinals have bright red colored feathers and a black colored mark on its face. On the other hand, the females have light brown colored feathers with reddish highlights. Unlike the males, the female cardinals do not have a mark on their face. The baby cardinals look a lot similar to their mothers, but northern cardinals have a black and gray colored beak. The bills of both counterparts are long, thick, cone-shaped, and reddish orange in color. These North American birds have...
Lesson and Craft InstructionsJunior Ranger Program
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| The Junior Ranger Pledge As a Junior Ranger at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, I pledge to protect outdoor creatures small, big and huge. To keep the water, air and land clean. To make enjoying nature a routine. I will share my new skills with family and friends. When people and nature work together, everybody wins! |
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Sponsors Enable the Friends to…
Join Today! Memberships available for $10 |
Come, Take a Tour on the Wildlife Explorer! Come join us for a ride on the Wildlife Explorer! Our new and beautiful tram is available for ninety-minute tours of Hagerman every Saturday and Sunday, weather permitting. Our tours are as varied as our drivers. Each tram driver has her/his approach to the tour: you may learn about wildlife, birds, habitat, refuge history, photography, you name it! To paraphrase, “a Wildlife Explorer tour at Hagerman is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” But you know it’s going to be good! Come see us! Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography. |
Register for a Tram Tour Today! |
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Photo by Cathy Van Bebber | Sunrise at the Little Sit by Laurie Sheppard |
Meet Jack and the Bird Census Team and learn how to identify the birds of North Texas while enjoying the beautiful sunrise over Lake Texoma! Modeled after Cornell's national "Big Sit" event, a group of dedicated birders invite you to join them at sunrise to conduct a bird count as multiple species fly to the water and the surrounding land to feed. Leaders will bring spotting scopes and will provide tips for identification of the many species you will see. This event lasts a couple of hours, but all are welcome to come and go as they please. Participants are advised to bring a chair, binoculars and water. The First Saturday of every month, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise. |
Location: H Pad, Sadler, Texas 76264 (H Pad is in Sadler, but it is part of the refuge) GPS Coordinates: 33.734961, -96.780582
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Early Bird Walk with Jack Chiles Master Naturalist Jack Chiles will lead our Early Birding event, weather permitting. Bring binoculars or borrow ours. Meet at the Visitor Center and return in time for the Second Saturday program.
Please Register (Optional) so we may inform you via email of unforseen changes/cancellations. |
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Do You Like to Work Outside? The Refuge Needs You! |
It takes a lot of people to have a beautiful garden! The Wednesday Garden Team Love to work with native plants and meet other gardeners? Come and help us add plants, weed and mulch our beautiful butterfly garden. Garden Team volunteers get first dibs on thinned native plants as well as access to seeds and cuttings for propagation. Gardeners meet on most Wednesdays, but times vary. Contact Us to subscribe to the volunteer garden team weekly email. Provide own tools and gloves. Minimum age 18, or 16 if accompanied by parent/volunteer. |
Mowing and Refuge Beautification: The Work Crew Do you enjoy working outside, mowing, sprucing up hiking trails, trimming and removing brush and general cleanup? Show your love for nature by joining the Outdoor Crew at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Outdoor Crew volunteers meet on the First Tuesday and Fourth Saturday of every month. Contact Us for exact times, dates and other details about joining the volunteer Work Crew. Scouts welcome! |
Visitor Center Volunteers Needed! |
Do you enjoy meeting all kinds of people from all over the world, and like-minded people in our area? If yes, consider joining our team of Visitor Center Volunteers. You will greet refuge guests, distribute maps and other refuge information, and make sales in the gift shop. Shifts available every day of the week: Monday through Saturday 9 AM to 12:30 PM and 12:30 to 4:00 PM, Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Training is provided. Contact Us if interested. |
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| Thank You To Our Contributors: Chris Balsamo, Jack Chiles, Nancy Miller, Donnie Simmons, Cindy Steele, Mayve Strong, Steve Treadway, Kathy Whaley Refuge Manager: Kathy Whaley Acting Deputy Refuge Manager: Mary Istre Visitor Services Manager: Spencer Beard Friends of Hagerman NWR Foundation 6465 Refuge Road, Sherman, TX 75092 Phone: 903-786-2826 Join us on Facebook: |
Search for any word--do not use quotes for phrases |
6465 Refuge Road Sherman, TX 75092
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Kroger: Stop by the customer service desk at Kroger and link your Kroger Card to the Friends of Hagerman: the Friends will get rewards for every dollar you spend, at no cost to you.
Please add info@friendsofhagerman.org to your contacts to ensure delivery of registration confirmations, account information and the Featherless Flyer
See you at the refuge!