Passport to Texas

Blue-winged Teal

Hunting: Early Teal Season Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Early teal season provides waterfowlers an opportunity to harvest ducks before the regular season opener in November. Whether hunters get a nine day or sixteen day season depends on the birds.

15—If the breeding population is above 4.7 million, you’re allowed a 16 day, 6 bird [daily] bag limit season. If it’s below 4.7 and above 3 million, you have a nine day season. Anything below – I believe it’s 3 million – the season’s closed.

Kevin Kraai (CRY) is waterfowl program leader for the wildlife division of TPW. It’s been a good year for teal.

15—We’ve had a sustained long-term wet period [this year]. Couple that with some timely Farm Bill programs – such as the Conservation Reserve program – that put large amounts of upland grass on the landscape. And the blue wing teal have just responded favorably to that.

A 16 day season opens Saturday, September 13 and closes Sunday, September 28. Kevin Kraai says to make sure you’re prepared.

11—Each hunter has to be certified in the Harvest Information Program. Additionally, they will need to have a migratory game bird stamp, offered by the state of Texas. As well as a [federal] waterfowl duck stamp.

Find hunting information for all game species on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series… and receives funds from your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motorboat fuel.

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

A variety of hunting opportunities are available through the drawn hunts system online.

Hunting | Tech: New Online Drawn Hunt System Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Drawn Hunts system (on public and private land) is online only now and streamlines the application process. Adult application fees are $3 per adult, except Private Lands and Guided Hunt categories, which are $10.

16—Our applications are not all at one time; they’re actually distributed through the month of August into January. We have regular gun/deer in September, and feral hog and exotics…and some of the later hunts for feral hog and spring turkey will actually go into December and January.

Kelly Edmiston, public hunting coordinator, says there are more hunts available than in years past, and selection notification will be faster than ever.

20— We will probably be able to draw one to three business days after a deadline because we’re not having to rely on data and mail and late arriving applications. Before you had to get it here by 5 o’clock the day of the deadline. Now, because it’s online, you’ll basically have until that last day – probably up until 11:59 [p.m.]—to be able to submit an application.

Preference points of the past are loyalty points today.

22— You can now apply more than once within a category. Your loyalty points will still apply to each application you submit in that category equally. So, if you have five preference points for a gun/deer either sex category, and you submit three gun/deer either sex applications, each at a different area, you’re going to get five points on each of your three.

Access the online drawn hunt system from the hunting section on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

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

Hunter Education field class.

Hunting: Gun Safety Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hunters are taking their firearms out of the gun case and preparing them to go afield this fall. Prep work should also include reviewing gun safety rules.

15—Number one: always point the muzzle in a safe direction. Number two: Treat every firearm as if it were loaded. Three: Be sure of your target; what’s in front as well as beyond. And, then the fourth is unload your firearms when not in use.

Robert Ramirez, Texas Parks and Wildlife hunter education manager, says his department produced a new video – available on YouTube September 6th – illustrating the first four, of ten, rules.

05—In our hunter education course, obviously, we go over all ten gun safety rules.

Ramirez says you and your hunting party should commit the first four rules to memory before going into the field.

03—Firearm safety is everyone’s responsibility.

And if you have not taken hunter education, or need a refresher, it can only serve you well.

20—Hunter education is for everyone who is planning on going afield regardless of age. In the state of Texas, it is mandatory certification if you are going to hunt – 17 years of age or older. There is a grandfather date of September 2, 1971; if you’re born
on or after that date, it’s mandatory [to take] if you’re going to hunt alone.

Visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife website to find hunting rules and regulations, as well as hunter education classes – including online certification classes.

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

How to Avoid Hunting Accidents

Paddling an East Texas Trail

Recreation: New Paddling Trail Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Outdoor enthusiasts have access to more than 500 miles of paddling trails throughout Texas.

04— We want to grow our inventory of trails as large as the state will allow.

Toward that end, Ron Smith, of Inland Fisheries, says a new trail opens this week in East Texas.

06— It’s located right next to and through the Big Thicket down in Beaumont, Texas.

Smith says access to the trail is easy. And, while it’s suitable for novices, seasoned paddlers will enjoy it, too, as it offers variety.

10—The trail goes up through Cook’s Lake, and then it goes across the bayou back into Big Thicket; then it comes back out on Scatterman Lake, and then you come down the Neches River.

At which point you can head back to dry land at the take out point. And if you’re interested in paddling this new trail…

14—Well, they’re going to try and launch it with their Big Thicket rally on September the sixth, on a Saturday. And, from what I hear, they have already 100 boats signed up to do it. So, there’ll be a lot of paddlers out there that day.

Find information on all the paddling trails in Texas on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Funding for our show is provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Family enjoying paddling on Texas paddling trail.

Recreation: Texas Paddling Trails Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There’s nothing like being on the water, close to nature, in a kayak or canoe.

17— Our feeling is that if we can get people on the water, they will see what Texas is all about. Then they’ll start to get on board with the conservation, and the athleticism of paddling, and fall in love more with Texas and what we do here at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Ron Smith, with Inland Fisheries, says Texas communities recognize the value of developing paddling opportunities with the Texas Paddling Trails Program. Trails benefit residents and visitors, but also the communities in which they exist.

21— We go back to the communities, and the communities report back to us, that there’s a stronger economic impact in their area because of the trails. They’re starting to see boats on top of cars going through town. People are cleaning up the waterways. [There are] just many, many indicators that the program is working.

Think your community could be the next great paddling destination? First, you need a community partner…

12— And organize it on a local level, and then submit an application to us. And that application is on our website; they can dill it out and submit it to us, and we’ll be happy to take a look at their trail.

A new trail opens this week in the Big Thicket…that’s tomorrow.

Funding for our show is provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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