Passport to Texas

Hunting: Bagging Big Birds Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Eastern wild turkey population thrived from the coastal prairies to the Red River until the early 1900s when commercial hunting and loss of habitat drove the birds to near extinction. Hunting these birds was off limits until…over time…a restocking program fostered a huntable population.

14—We’ve spent a lot of time stocking birds into East Texas. We’ve had some really good success in some areas, and not as much success in others. So, we don’t have the densities that we have of Rio Grandes…and we’re trying to keep a real good record of what’s happening with that population.

Jason Hardin is the Turkey program leader for Parks and Wildlife. Rio Grande turkeys, found in most of the state are plentiful, and hunters have a four bird bag limit this spring. For Eastern turkey, the bag limit is one, and it must be checked in at one of our many official Texas Parks and Wildlife check stations.

13—And those mandatory check stations let us know every bird that was harvested. And from that, we can identify the age of the birds, where it was harvested—public land, private land. And look at how the bird’s expanding its range, or if that range is contracting.

This data collection helps Parks and Wildlife manage the species. And if you’re looking for a place to hunt for the Eastern gobbler, try a wildlife management area.

[NOTE: Pat Mayes WMA, Caddo national Grasslands, and some WMAs—on the Angelina and Sabine National Forests provide good Eastern turkey hunting.]

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series; it’s funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Smoked Hawaiian Wild Turkey Recipe

Hunting: Spring Turkey Hunting Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thanksgiving may be three months behind us—or nine months ahead of us depending upon how you view things—but won’t stop turkey hunters from bagging big birds this spring.

04—There are going to be a lot of two-year-old gobblers for harvest this year.

Jason Hardin is Turkey Program Leader for Parks and Wildlife. Last year’s heat and drought aside, turkey habitat received rain when it needed it most in 2010, says Hardin, which is why two-year-old gobblers abound.

12—Two thousand ten, we had excellent rainfall—good, timely rainfall. And had really good production across the Rio Grande range, which is the central portion of the state. So, I would expect a really good season.

In addition to hunting Rio Grande Turkeys in Texas brush country, hunters can also find Eastern Turkey in the woodlands of East Texas.

16— The eastern is found in the eastern third of the state. It’s a little bit of a larger, bird compared to the Rio, which is quite numerous. We have more Rios in Texas than anywhere else in the country. The bird’s a little bit smaller and has a little different coloration. But, other than that, they gobble fairly similarly and they’re both pretty tough to hunt.

There is a statewide bag limit of 4 turkeys in Texas, with no more than one Eastern turkey.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series; it’s funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks: Lake Tawakoni Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The first time most of us heard of Lake Tawakoni State Park, it was because of a massive spider web found at the site. But there’s more to this ten year old park than arachnids. Our State Park guide Bryan Frazier explains.

59—It really endeared itself to people nationwide because of that spectacular spider web that was one in a million. And so it put it on the map in some respect, but it’s a great place, too.

So, check it out on our website—and that’s texcasstateparks.org. And that’s Lake Tawakoni’s ten year anniversary.

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW TV: Endangered Prairie Chickens Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

One of the most endangered birds in North America is the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. Learn about efforts to help protect this species this month on the Texas parks and Wildlife TV series. Producer, Abe Moore.

57—There used to be close to a million of them in Texas and Louisiana; now they’re teetering around a hundred or so. I went down to the Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge by Eagle Lake. It’s kind of their last stronghold right now.

So, the team goes through some serious struggles this breeding season, and one of the things that happens is they have an ace up their sleeve to kind of help the Attwater Prairie Chicken from going extinct.

Abe says he won’t provide any clues to that ace. We’ll just have to tune in to find out. Check your local listings.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series; it’s funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel. For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Fishing: Last of the Rainbows Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Two generations of Texas anglers know the joy of reeling in rainbow trout during the winter months thanks to Parks and Wildlife’s stocking program.

07—I believe it started in the 1960s; so, we’ve been stocking trout for fisherman for winter fishery for over forty years I believe.

Carl Kittle oversees the trout stocking program for Parks and Wildlife. Beginning every December through the first week of March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s inland fisheries division stocks more than a quarter of a million of the colorful fish in neighborhood fishing ponds statewide.

06—Rainbow trout are a cold water fish. The winter is the only time we really have water here in Texas that will support them.

Once it starts warming up—which could be any time now—the water will, too, and those fish will not survive. Considering rainbow trout are excellent table fare, it would be a shame to let them expire in the water.

17—They’re excellent eating fish. You can keep whatever fish you catch and I believe it is five per day. The fish that are stocked in general will be between eight and 10 inches, so a nine inch fish would be normal—with the exception of neighborhood fishing program lakes, which should average 11-12 inches in size.

Find the trout stocking schedule on the Parks and Wildlife website. The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series, and is funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuel.

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