Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program

Feral hogs pose a serious problem at the Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge where they’ve destroyed acres of fragile habitat. The center’s Rob Denkhaus says working with various groups the center developed a management strategy that met the needs of the community and the hogs.

And the key to it was determining how we could do it in the most humane way possible that would allow the animal welfare community to accept it. And, we needed to do it in a certain safe fashion, because we are inside the city limits, where discharge of firearms is generally not allowed. So, we went through a whole process, a whole matrix of different ideas that we worked on in order to come up with the one that actually fit best – that met all of our criteria.

In the end, trapping and shooting the animals was the simplest, most effective, and most humane solution.

We go to great, great lengths to make sure no animal suffers in our traps, which any responsible hunter or trapper of any kind is supposed to do as well.

What happens to the harvested hogs…that’s tomorrow.

That’s our show… we had help today from Tom Harvey… the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program supports our show…and it’s funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuels…

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

After a rough winter, spring is finally here! So, take this opportunity to discover the unique flora and fauna of Texas. Whether you travel to the Gulf Coast or the Panhandle, the following tips will enhance your experience.

Some of the best tips are to just wear camouflage colors. Wear natural, neutral colors, unscented lotions. Walk very, very softly- not snap twigs or trample the wildflowers. You want to be as invisible to the animals that you are trying to see as possible.

Shelley Plante, Nature Tourism Coordinator.

Dusk and dawn are the best times to go viewing. They’re wonderful for birds, as well as the dragonflies and butterflies. Although some animals you can see throughout the day. So even a picnic in the afternoon will take you to a great site for wildlife watching.

I bet you thought you would never hear this, but: DON’T SHARE! Sure, your lunch may be tasty, but don’t give it to any of the critters you see.

Let the animals also eat their natural foods. Don’t share any of your picnic with them. It’s great to help feed birds at your backyard- it’s a wonderful way to view wildlife, but when you’re out in the wilderness and actually take a hike or camping, clean up after yourself. Leave no trace. Do all those basic, good wildlife etiquette things that you should do while in the wild.

Find additional wildlife viewing tips on the Texas Parks & Wildlife website.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

A day of fishing is one of the simplest, most relaxing, and inexpensive outings you and your family can experience together. If your family’s never gone fishing before… and think it’s something you’d like to try…or if you used to fish, but haven’t been in a long time… and want to brush up on your knowledge…Texas Parks and Wildlife offers free fishing clinics at state parks during the Family Fishing Celebration.

It’s just been a wonderful program around all of these different state parks that are participating in our family fishing celebration. It’s been a wonderful experience for everyone.

Ann Miller, who oversees angler education, says the kiddos will find the clinics especially appealing because of added incentives.

They can win a first fish award if they are catching their first fish. Many of them will receive learning materials, such a fish identification cards. They might also even get a chance to win some pretty nice door prizes by becoming involved in these clinics. So, they’re a lot of fun. Kids will have a great time. They’ll come with probably some fishing gear to get themselves started with, too.

Visit passporttotexas.org for a list of fishing clinics around the state.

That’s our show…sponsored by the Sport Fish Restoration Program… funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuels…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Careful fisheries management by Texas Parks and Wildlife has created a healthy, abundant, and enviable largemouth bass population in Lake Fork in east Texas.

I’ll tell you what. The Texas State [largemouth] record is 18 pounds point 18 ounces. And I was with Dave Terry – an expert at Texas Parks and Wildlife who knows that lake very well… and asked him, Dave, is the Texas state record out there swimming in Lake Fork? And he said, Gene, there’s over a hundred bass in that lake that would smash that world record.

Gene Ellison is Executive Director of the Professional Anglers Association. April 13 through 14, 160 professional bass anglers will take part in the Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Fork.

These anglers are coming to not only to fish this lake, they’re also fishing for a million dollar prize purse. So, there’s a lot of money at stake here. In addition, if we set a brand new state record during this event it means an additional hundred thousand dollars cash to that angler, plus a fully rigged top of the line bass boat.

But big money and big bass aren’t the only reasons to be at Lake Fork April 13 through 15.

There will be fun things going on all three days. We have six country western live acts, including Clay Walker and Tracy Lawrence, including four other well known country musicians. And this is free admission. So, there’ll be things to do all day long with the kids. There will be wonderful entertainment until dusk, and we want everybody to come out and have a great time with us.

Find more information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…supported by the Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuel.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Sport Fish Restoration Program

Bass anglers nationwide are anxiously awaiting the start of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic at Lake Fork in east Texas.

Boy, I’ll tell ya…as an avid tournament angler, we’re all drooling to go fish Lake Fork.

Gene Ellison is Executive Director of the Professional Angler’s Association. The tournament will take place April 13-15.

There are one hundred sixty of us coming down that have qualified to fish this event. And the population of bass in this lake is remarkable. Both in size and in volume.

Many of the lunkers – largemouth bass 13 pounds and over donated to the Sharelunker Program – came from this lake, and have been used as brood stock.

And these giant fish are going to be showcased by these 160 top anglers. The quality of the fish that they catch is going to be remarkable.

This tournament is unique for a couple of reasons: it’s the first time a tournament’s happened at Lake Fork, and anglers will have to work in four man teams…

We’re going to have two guys going out on the water, interpret the water they receive from the two men coming off of the water, and determine how they can best help their team. Also, every fish that’s caught during this tournament that’s less than 24-inches long, will be measured lengthwise, their weight will be recorded, and they will be immediately released. This has never happened in professional bass fishing before.

More on the Bass Classic tomorrow.

That’s our show for today…supported by the Sport Fish Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing equipment and motor boat fuel.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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