Passport to Texas

Roast Canvasback, Image by Holly Heyser

Cooking: Ducks for Dinner Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

With waterfowl season on the horizon, and Chef Jesse Morris of Richardson, Texas, is here to help us enhance the flavor of these birds for the table.

14 – Typically when I harvest a duck, what I’ll do after either breasting it out, or plucking it, is I will put that in a very strong saltwater bath. And over the course of a few days, I will go from salt water to regular water.

Chef Morris alternates the saltwater with plain water for two to three cycles.

10—What that’s going to do is break down that meat – get it nice and tender – and it’s also going to help leach out any of the blood or anything like that, that may give it an off taste.

The website Killer Chefs, which Chef Morris curates, combines his love of hunting and angling with his passion for cooking. After the saltwater/plain water bath process is complete, fresh herbs help develop the flavor.

24—Sage and thyme and rosemary and oregano, using those in a marinade with olive oil, garlic, salt, black pepper – that’s going to give you some of the best flavor. It’s not going to mask [the flavor of] wild game. A lot of people start thinking ‘Oh, you know, I’m just going to put a ton of Louisiana seasoning on this so I can’t taste anything…’. You know, it’s great that you’re eating that [wild game], but you’re unable to really enjoy what you’ve done.

Find wild game recipes on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas…

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

Hunter Angler Gardener Cook Facebook Photo

Cooking: Cooking Wild Critters Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s the start of hunting season in Texas – beginning with dove. So, I contacted Jesse Morris, a chef and outdoorsman I know from Richardson, Texas, and asked what he considers the most important thing a hunter can do in the field to ensure the integrity of the game.

14 – You need to get the temperature on an animal that you’ve harvested down as quickly as possible. That means taking a cooler with you, or something, that you can put those birds in. That way, they’re not sitting out in the heat spoiling You’re going to have a much better product in the end.

Some processing of the dove can take place in the field.

06—Typically, if you have dove, you can breast those out, pluck them, and gut them in the field.

Chef Morris says it’s funny how people will happily eat a rare steak from cattle raised in high stress, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. But then overcook game that has roamed free.

17—People go out and they’ll get dove, they’ll get deer, they’ll get feral hog –something like that –and they’ll just cook it to death. Because they’re scared of where that’s been. But if you take the time that an animal’s been in the field to the time that it reaches the plate, then you know where that animal has been.

More with Chef Jesse Morris tomorrow.

The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas…

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic

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Texas Parks and Wildlife’s inland fisheries division works diligently to breed bigger and better largemouth bass and the hard work has paid off.

07—You know, I’m kind of biased, but Texas has the best bass fishing. It’s widely respected among many fishermen across this nation.

Dave Terre is chief of fisheries management and research for inland fisheries. September 28-30, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic returns to Lake Conroe, bringing 50 of the nation’s top bass anglers to shine a light on the fishery.

14 – They’re going to be the best of the best from the Bass Elite Series, the Professional Angler’s Association series, and the FLW series. So, you’re going to get the best anglers from all the professional series coming to one place – Lake Conroe – to fish.

Dave Terre says the bass Classic is family event featuring country music concerts, children’s activities, vendors, food, a BBQ cook-off, and an opportunity to experience the great outdoors at its best.

16— We hope to expand our outdoor adventures area and our vendor areas to bring in more outdoor aspects besides just fishing. Of course, fishing will be a prominent feature, but we’ll have quite a bit of stuff on camping and hunting and other things that you can do outside with your kids to experience the outdoors.

The Toyota Texas bass Classic is September 28—30 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center on Lake Conroe.

And free tickets are available while they last from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic website.

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

Toyota Texas Bass Classic

Angling: Toyota Texas Bass Classic, 1 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic—September 28—30 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center on Lake Conroe —promotes the outdoors to families across the entire state.

17—It’s a benefit event, actually, for Texas Parks and Wildlife, where it raises funds for us to use in our youth outreach activities across the state. Including neighborhood fishing, the state fish art contest, and also events that happen all across the state to introduce youngsters to the outdoors.

Dave Terre is chief of fisheries management and research for inland fisheries.

13 The Bass Classic is many things, but it is—primarily—a big largemouth bass tournament. Matter of fact, a world class bass tournament. It attracts the best 50 anglers in the nation to come and compete at one place – Lake Conroe.

There will be games and activities at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Adventures area, a BBQ Cook-Off, and a fishing expo featuring seminars and the latest in fishing equipment, gear and accessories, too.

13— It’s much more than a bass tournament. This tournament is really an outdoor festival. It’s bringing in quality country western music entertainment. The featured artists this year will be Dirks Bentley, Gary Allan, and Jake Owen.

The Toyota Texas bass Classic is September 28—30 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center on Lake Conroe.

Bring the family.

And free tickets are available while they last from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic website.

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

Paddling in State Parks

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Canoeing, kayaking and pedal boating in state parks has never been easier. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, has details.

60—Lots of the state parks we have rent them, and you can certainly bring your own. And we’re talking about in lakes, along the Texas coastline, rivers, streams, ponds that we have in our state park systems. They’re great ways to see the wildlife, they’re great family activities. They’re good ways for exercise when you’re out there paddling. And it’s just another way to see and enjoy the water that maybe you otherwise wouldn’t. And state parks are just great places for access, whether you’re bringing your own and unloading it there, or you’re renting it from one of our friendly and professional park staff. We encourage people to check out the paddling trails that are available; it’s just a great trip. You even can do a picnic – paddle out to some island out on the lake; it’s just a really unique way to see the water and enjoy the water –provides also a different slant on access for fishing. Whatever you’re on the water for, canoeing and kayaking and pedal boats are a different way to see it and enjoy it.

Thanks Bryan

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.