Passport to Texas

Chronic Wasting Disease Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Animal health officials and wildlife biologists are concerned about Chronic Wasting Disease–or CWD–a fatal neurological disease found in deer and elk.

07—Chronic wasting disease is part of a disease family known as TSE’s, which is belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

Doug Humphreys is a wildlife biologist and big game specialist. He says CWD is nothing new.

05—It was in Colorado in the late 60’s early 70’s when it was first detected.

Other states report CWD among populations of free-ranging deer and elk. Once contracted, it may take years before animals become symptomatic. Humphreys says CWD is transmitted from animal to animal.

08—That makes it unique compared to the other TSE’s that have usually come from contaminated feed or are just spontaneous diseases.

So far, white-tailed deer in the lone star state are clean.

04—Thus far we have not detected a positive case in Texas.

Learn more about chronic wasting disease on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series and works to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.

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

Becoming an Outdoor Woman Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Shooting, fishing, kayaking, and Dutch oven cooking…. What do these activities have in common?

09—A lot of women have never tried some of these activities, but have hoped for an opportunity to learn them in a non-threatening, comfortable environment.

Heidi Rao (RAY-oh) oversees the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program for Parks and Wildlife. Each spring and fall, women interested in honing or developing their outdoor skills can sign up for a three-day workshop.

19—The BOW program is divided into thirds: A third of the activities that we offer are hunting and shooting and wildlife based learning. A third are fishing, and boating and water-based activities, and the final third are the other activities such as bird-watching, astronomy, camping, and backpacking.

Heidi says women of all ages and varying abilities take part in the workshops, and come away with new skills and new friends.

13—They go to these workshops and they meet new friends. And we do see a lot of the camaraderie, a lot of the small groups that get to know each other and begin to grow and build friendship—and maintain these friendships across the miles.

Find more information on the BOW program on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series. Through your purchases of hunting and fishing equipment and motorboat fuels, over 40 million dollars in conservation efforts are funded in Texas each year.

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

Learning About the Outdoors Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Texas Outdoor Family Workshops offer families an unparalleled opportunity to learn new skills or hone existing skills that will make any overnight camping experience one to remember.

During workshops, which take place at state parks throughout Texas, families work together to set up and break down camp [:04 hammering tent stakes]. Be sure to give everyone a job so the tent and campsite go up quickly.

Fishing is another weekend workshop favorite.

08—Oh, you’ve got a bass. Whoa, that’s huge; that’s bigger than mine, I think. Whoa, my dad’s gonna be happy.

Other activities include guided nature hikes, navigation work, trail exploration, kayaking and one of my favorites, outdoor cooking. During the workshop, staff members show families how to cook in foil packs.

17—We call ’em “tin turtles” in my business. One of the first tricks is to make sure you buy heavy-duty aluminum foil. The other key to this is you don’t overload your foil meal. If you put too many things in this envelope, you won’t get it cooked at the right temperature.

That’s just a taste of what to expect during a Texas Outdoor Family Workshop.

That’s our show for today. To learn about upcoming Texas Outdoor Family workshops at state parks, visit lifesbetteroutside.org.

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

Become a Volunteer Hunter Education Instructor Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Since 1971, teaching new hunters the basics of the sport is no longer the sole responsibility of family members—new hunters of a certain age must earn certification.

05—Basically it’s anyone who’s born on or after September 2, 1971; They have to take the course.

The course is hunter education. Terry Erwin oversees the hunter education at Texas Parks & Wildlife, and says volunteer instructors are the backbone of the program.

07—Many of the individuals have gone through the Hunter education course themselves, and found out that they really wanted to give something to the sport.

Volunteers also save taxpayers a nice chunk of change in the process.

07—If you put a dollar value on it, probably in volunteer hours and things like that, way exceeding half a million dollars.

The volunteer aspect goes beyond the classroom; these dedicated instructors also take on mentoring roles.

12—We always encourage every instructor to take at least one or two youth hunting each year that they train. That starts a mentoring process in which that student goes out under the training and guidance of an experienced hunter.

Learn how to volunteer by logging onto the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series and works to increase fishing, hunting, shooting and boating opportunities in Texas.

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

This is Passport to Texas

When you get a snarl in your fishing line, it’s usually not worth trying to pick it apart, so you cut it off and toss it. But pitching monofilament line in the water or on shore is a bad idea.

10—People just don’t realize it can get caught up in boat motors, and it really has been quite a problem. There have been many animals that’ve been injured and killed with this monofilament fishing line.

Ann Miller just retired from her post as Aquatic Education coordinator for Texas Parks and Wildlife. You may think disposing of monofilament line in the water or on shore isn’t a problem, because UV rays will break it down, rendering it harmless.

15—But you forget that many times, if the monofilament is below the water line or in the shade, those UV rays are not there breaking it down. And so, we really do have a lot of monofilament that is in the environment for many, many years.

Circumvent future trouble by recycling line in outdoor collection bins, or at participating bait shops.

10—The goal of the monofilament-recycling program is to help reduce the amount of monofilament in the environment, to help protect wildlife and fish, and people’s property.

That’s our show…we receive support from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…which support diverse conservation efforts in Texas…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel.

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

What's Your Line (doing littering the shore)? Play Now | Play in Popup | Download