Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas…

Steve Poskey of Lufkin never thought he would win the Premium Buck Hunt in last year’s Big Time Texas Hunts drawing, but he did.

03—All my wife could say was Oh my God. Oh my God!

He had purchased entries for years, and even though he hadn’t won, he was always glad to buy some chances.

03—The money goes to a good cause. You know—Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Steve and his wife Linda, both avid hunters, won the opportunity to go on a guided hunt for trophy deer in the brush country of south Texas.

04—It was fantastic. I couldn’t believe it, you know. You couldn’t keep up with the deer. There was no way you could count ‘em.

The couple each had their own guide, and between them harvested 2 trophy bucks, a management buck and a doe.

03—It was way better than my expectations. Way, way better.

Online entries are $9 each with a $5 processing fee. They are $10 when purchased at a license retailer, by mail, or by phone, and may be purchased through October 15.

03—I’ll buy some this year. I may become the first two-time winner.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series and works to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Big Time Texas Hunt of a Lifetime Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas…

Last year at this time, Steve Poskey of Lufkin did what he always does: he bought entries in Texas Parks and Wildlife’s annual Big Time Texas Hunts drawing.

03—I’m not sure what year they first started this, but I’ve been doing it for a long time.

Although winning eluded him, Steve continued to buy entries for hunt packages, including the White-tailed Bonanza, Texas Grand Slam, and the Premium Buck Hunt.

03—I just felt like I was supporting a good cause, you know.

In 2010, Lady Luck smiled on Steve, when he received a phone call telling him he had won the Premium Buck Hunt.

09—I said, would say that one more time, ma’am? And she repeated it, and I remember exactly what I told her; I said, you’re joking, right? And she said, no sir, I’m not joking.

We would never joke about a thing like that, Steve.

Online entries are $9 each with a $5 processing fee, and $10 when purchased at a license retailer, by mail, or by phone. Entries available through October 15.

Find more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. Tomorrow—what happened on Steve Poskey’s big buck adventure?

02—It was a fantastic experience.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program supports our series and works to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.

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

Big Time Texas Hunts: 2010 Premium Buck Hunt Winner Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

[SFX taking core from tree.]

That’s the sound of a scientist taking a core sample from a cypress tree. This month on the Parks and Wildlife TV Series, find out how scientists use the samples to understand drought patterns in Texas.

Producer Alan Fisher:

You may have learned in grade school that trees put on a ring for each year that they’re alive. And what’s also interesting about tree rings is the width of those rings can tell you whether they grew in a wet year or a dry year.

The study was funded by the Guadalupe Blanco River Authority because they were really interested in understanding a little more about these drought patterns and what they could learn for future planning.

Thanks, Alan.

This show airs the week of August 14 on Texas PBS stations. Check your local listings.

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

TPW TV: Climate Detective Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Texas’ hot dry summer will affect fall hunting forecasts. Yet, Corey Mason, dove program leader for Parks and Wildlife, says dove season, which opens September first, should be good.

We do expect to have decreased seed production, and also a decline in agricultural production. But what that means on a positive, is that it does provide some bare ground so that those seeds that are available can be found by dove.

It’s folks coming in town renting hotel rooms in small communities that don’t typically have them booked that time of year, and the local cafes and gas stations that are selling fuel and ice and cokes and candy bars and all those kinds of things. They really make a significant impact on local communities. It’s hunters dollars putting a lot of things in play.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program… supports our series.

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

Fall 2011 Dove Forecast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

06—We changed some of the wording so that those of you that do paddle craft or paddle boards, have to have a life jacket on board.

That’s a new requirement included in a new mandatory boater education law…which everyone thought would take effect September 1.

04—The legislation, when it was signed by the governor, was enacted immediately.

So head’s up. Tim Spice manages the boater education program for Parks and Wildlife. Anyone born on or after September 1, 1993, must take boater education, but Game wardens won’t be writing citations for violators right away.

20—Well, right now the game wardens are doing an education process since it is a new law, and they’ll do that for quite a few months just so people who don’t know the law has taken effect have a chance to learn about that. But after that, some of these are like misdemeanors like a traffic ticket. You have to go before a judge and adjudicate the process. And all the fees are different depending on the level of safety violation.

Texas’ state-approved boater education course is available online, or in a one-day class. Find information on the TPW website. Supporters of the law say it will save lives and make crowded waters safer. And one more word on life jackets.

11—Life jackets today are stylish, form fitting; there are some inflatable’s that don’t take up any space—it looks like you’re wearing a fanny pack. So, I’d like to tell people there is no reason not to wear a life jacket when you’re on the water.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Safety on the Water: The Rules Have Changed Play Now | Play in Popup | Download