Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

At first glance, South Texas’ arid brush land seems inhospitable to man and beast.

[hawk screech] The biggest challenge, of course, is the lack of rainfall. We have over forty tanks on the place, so whenever it rains, our goal is to have every drop stay on the place.

Capturing rainfall through vegetation and soils management along with construction of tanks, diversion levees, and pipelines… keeps water on the 43-hundred acre High Lonesome Ranch, in McMullen County, owned and operated by Charles and Nancy Hundley. The Hundley’s wildlife program emphasizes management for trophy white-tailed deer, quail and dove. But that’s not all… the property also sustains a western village for hunters and eco-tourism.

This little western village is actually guest rooms and accommodations for our hunters. It’s very expensive running a ranch. And, uh, so, so, this is another attraction for guests other than hunters. The bird watchers want to come, and this brings in new revenue…brings in new interest, actually.

The High Lonesome Ranch is the regional winner of the Lone Star Land Steward Award for the south Texas eco-region. Learn about the awards program and land management when you visit passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

High Lonesome Ranch, South Texas Eco-region, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

[wind] People from the city might think, this is God-forsaken country, and how could anything live off of this. But in reality, it’s a smorgasbord for the deer and the wildlife. [truck pulling away]

The High Lonesome Ranch covers 43-hundred acres of arid South Texas brush land in McMullen County. Charles and Nancy Hundley own and operate the ranch.

We’re in the middle of a big transformation that’s taking place in Texas. I was born and raised on a dairy farm, and I watched the family farm die as we know it. [cow moos] The beef industry is pretty much in the same position, and money is what drives it. There’s a lot more [money] in wildlife than there is in cattle.

The Hundleys have spent over ten years transforming their ranch from a parched patch of land into a premier hunting destination.

Any time you develop a herd that’s better: more deer, bigger deer, bigger horns… You take care of the doves and the ducks…it’s always better for wildlife if they come and thrive here than it was when they couldn’t.

The High Lonesome ranch is the regional winner of the Lone Star Land Steward Award for the south Texas eco-region.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

LSLS--High Lonesome Ranch, South Texas Eco-region, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Horse rides and cattle trails…a dime a dozen in Texas…but saddling up camels?

In 1857, there was one very glamorous expedition, so to speak, that left San Antonio and took 24 of the US Army camels and made it all the way to Los Angeles.

Doug Baum became fascinated with the historic US Camel Corps and established a unit of his own: the Texas Camel Corps. It’s up for hire—not to the military—but to folks interested in trekking alongside camels on an educational and breathtaking camel-assisted excursion through Monahans Sandhills State Park.

It fits exactly what everyone’s image, the romantic ideal is, of a desert. What we do out there guiding camel treks is overnight. We actually start in a public area and head way out into the dunes. There’s some coyotes up there, feral hog, deer. The wildlife is beautiful, but we go into areas where most folks simply don’t go. And you can thank the camels for that: they’re carrying all the supplies for us.

True, it’s a literal walk in the park, but don’t expect a walk in the park.

Just moving through the terrain, working with the camels. I teach these folks how to the hobble camels, how to lead the camels, how to kneel them down so they can load and unload gear. This may push some folks limits, and I think that’s fabulous.

Trek to our website for more on camel tours at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Camel Tours in Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Joke all you want that Texas doesn’t have four seasons; you can witness some amazing autumn scenery at Lost Maples SP.

Autumn’s a good time to come to Lost Maples [State Park] cuz of the Fall foliage and brilliant colors we have here.

John Stuart is Park Superintendent. He explains that the leaves are charmed into changing color by the season’s weather, but where the real magic occurs is inside them, where a chemical process takes place.

Most of the year, when the leaves are green, you have a lot of chlorophyll in the plant; and that’s what actually feeds the tree and keeps it growing. And if the water supply is cut off and cold weather comes around, then the chlorophyll breaks down and leaves the other pigments remaining. On cloudy warm days, starches form tannins and they make it brown. And If it’s cold and sunny, then the sugars come to bear on the leaf, and they form with the proteins and it makes the beautiful colors we enjoy when we come out here.

It’s not just the colors that are special. They call them Big Tooth Maples because their leaves, though smaller in comparison to others, have deep cuts between its fingers. And you don’t find them many other places.

The Ice Ages wiped out most of the Big Tooth Maples across the continent. These are just surviving pockets. So they’re lost simply because what are they doing out there by their selves.

More on these magnificent trees at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Autumn Color in Texas Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

The truth about Texas is…

We can’t state this enough: twenty-first century Texas is very different than twentieth century Texas.

Those differences, says Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Carter Smith, include a state that has become mostly urban.

Eighty percent of our population lives in urban areas. Three out of the top ten cities in the country, with respect to size, are found here in Texas. We’re the fastest growing state in the country.

In addition, the state also has a rapidly growing Hispanic population. Smith says being responsive to urbanites and Hispanics will help to engage these populations in the agency’s conservation mission.

I think that if we, as an agency, are going to be as responsive to what’s happening demographically in this state, we have to think very strategically about how we reach out with our programs and actions to urban audiences, and also those that are of Hispanic origin. So, I think we have some opportunities there to help share our mission, and to help engage more people in our work, but that’s going to take some focus.

Smith adds he is mindful the agency must not alienate its current constituency while reaching out to new groups.

Learn about Texas Parks and Wildlife outreach initiatives at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Carter Smith: Urban / Rural Dynamic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download