Passport to Texas

Hunters patiently waiting.

Learning to Hunt Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There is a registration fee of $50 for the New Hunter Workshop to cover costs, which includes lunch.
For more information or to register for the workshop, contact Bill Balboa at bill.balboa@ag.tamu.edu or call 979-245-4100.

This is Passport to Texas

A growing interest in the origin of the food they eat led some people, who’ve never hunted before, to seek out hunting opportunities.

And so what we’re trying to do is get them started from the very basics.

Bill Balboa, of Agrilife Extension, says a New Hunter Workshop, October 15, in collaboration with Texas Parks and Wildlife, will introduce interested foodies to hunting basics.

There’s not going to be any hunting, but there will be some firearm safety and some target practice with some .22s that Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Ed is going to loan us. And, they’re going to have some of their Hunter Ed safety instructors out there to help us. But there won’t be any hunting at this point. But, people will be provided all the information they need to sign up for public hunts in Texas.

Minimum age to participate is nine, accompanied by an adult.

What I’m hoping is, all folks who have the desire to do the field to table experience—we’re looking for those new hunters that don’t have much experience—particularly with the processing with the animal. The seminar is going to be heavily slanted in that direction. So, we would like to get those folks out—anyone who would like to come out and do that. New hunters in general.

The New Hunter Workshop, October 15, is at the Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area in Brazoria County. It’s limited to 30 people. Find a link to registration information at passporttotexas.org.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.

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

New Hunter Workshop

New Hunter Workshop Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When families began to migrate from rural Texas to urban Texas, they left behind some of their traditions.

There are a lot of younger folks who weren’t introduced to hunting, and they would like to hunt. So, what we’re trying to do is get them started from the very basics.

Bill Balboa, Matagorda County Marine Extension Agent, is collaborating with Texas Parks and Wildlife to offer a New Hunter Workshop on October 15 at the Nannie M. Stringfellow Wildlife Management Area in Brazoria County.

So, what we’re trying to do is get them started from the very basics: where you can hunt in Texas, public lands access, what you need to hunt in Texas to be legal. What kind of firearms you might need to hunt certain types of big game. Then, we’re actually going to do some hands on field dressing and skinning and processing.

No experience required, just a desire to learn this time honored tradition of humane harvest.

There was a need for this, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Biologists agreed with me. So, that’s why we’re partnering to do this. And it’s going to be focused primarily on feral hogs, because they’re a nuisance. But dual purpose—food and eliminating the nuisance. So, that’s the gist of the whole deal.

The workshop is limited to the first 30 people. The cost is $50, which includes lunch. We have details at passporttotexas.org.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.

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

Quail, cauliflower mash, and pickled onion from a previous Central Market Cooking School & Texas Parks and Wildlife Wild Game and Fish Cooking Class.

A Tasty Game Day with Parks and Wildlife Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Summer temperatures are still taunting us—but fall hunting season starts this month, and with it opportunities to cook wild game.

For five years Texas Parks and Wildlife’s worked with Central Market Cooking Schools to offer statewide, hands-on public cooking classes featuring preparation of wild game and fish at home.

A Texas Parks and Wildlife representative is always on hand to provide attendees with background on the agency, conservation, and information about the species on their plates.

Everyone loves bacon wrapped dove breasts on the grill, fish tacos, or venison in a slow cooker in Italian dressing. But it’s nice to have new recipes to put the “wow” in your next wild game and fish dinner.

In past classes attendees learned how to make Venison Medallions with Juniper-Black Pepper Brandy Sauce, Pot Roasted Pheasant with Cider and Bacon; Vietnamese style baked Snapper; and Braised Rabbit with Wild Mushrooms, to name a few.

Folks who register for the Tuesday, September 13, Texas Parks and Wildlife & Central Market Wild Game Cooking Class will prepare and eat Wild Boar Sausage Patties; Quail with Wild Rice Pilaf; and Duck Gumbo. Perfect fall foods-even if it still feels like summer.

Find registration information at passporttotexas.org.

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

Register for a class near you:

• Austin
• Dallas
• Fort Worth
• Houston
• Plano
• San Antonio
• Southlake

Sampling insect cuisine at 2006 Bugfest in Austin, Texas. Image: Marjory Wildcraft, Texas

Eating Insects on Purpose Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

The practice of eating insects is called entomophagy—and 19-hundred species have been identified as edible.

In terms of foraging for insects in the wild, I’ll just caution: we don’t recommend people do this to get their insects.

Lee Cadesky is co-founder with his brother Eli of C-Fu Foods, Inc. and One Hop Kitchen. They developed an ecological and sustainable meat alternative using insect protein. While most insects are edible, Lee says if you want nibble on some, don’t harvest them from the backyard; instead, buy bugs raised for human consumption.

Just to make sure, you know, you don’t want pesticide residues. And also that you aren’t harming the wild stocks of insects that are out there by over gathering them.

However—and let’s hope this never happens—if you lose your way in the wilderness while on a hike, this is the time to forage for insects to keep up your strength until a search party finds you.

If you do find yourself stranded, most ants are edible; they’re a little sour. They contain formic acid. Crickets tend to be edible. In general, most insect species are edible. You want to avoid ones that have bright colors. That’s typically a signal that there’s some kind of poison or toxin in the insect, and they’re trying to warn you: don’t eat me—I could hurt you.

Or you could remember to pack protein bars.

That’s our show for today… Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Learning to cook wild game and fish at Central Market Cooking Schools

Statewide Wild Game and Fish Cooking Classes Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Cooking what you harvest can be intimidating for the new hunter. Of course, first thing is proper care in the field. And we have instructions for that on the Parks and Wildlife website. But in the kitchen? How do you coax the best flavor from these wild proteins?

If you haven’t eaten game, it does taste different than commodity meats, but that’s not a bad thing. Wildlife eat a diet more varied than domestically raised animals—and those flavor profiles show up in the meat. Because game is free range, the meat is naturally lean, and requires different preparation methods.

Before fall hunting season begins, sample and even try your hand at cooking wild proteins at the game and fish cookery classes at Central Market Cooking Schools, in collaboration with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The cooking schools are in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, Plano, and Southlake. And classes are coming up in July, September and November. Most are hands-on, and each covers the best preparation methods for the featured game. You’ll learn recipes for quail, duck, venison, and wild boar, as well as fish and seafood.

A Parks and Wildlife representative will be on hand to talk about wildlife management and conservation, as well as public hunting lands, and how folks can get started hunting and fishing in Texas. Classes fill fast. Learn more when you log onto passporttotexas.org.

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program supports our series.

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

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Copy and paste this link into your browser to find a cooking class near you: http://www.centralmarket.com/cooking-school.aspx