Passport to Texas

Palo Duro Canyon Glow

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This is Passport to Texas

Of Texas’ more than 90 State Parks, some stand out as iconic. And others not so much.

I think like Ray Roberts might not be one of those iconic parks like Enchanted Rock or Garner State Park—even though it’s huge and a lot of people use it.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine Editor, Louie Bond says, Lake Ray Roberts State Park still made it into the publication’s yearlong celebration of state parks. While iconic sites got top billing, Bond says most parks got some love.

We tried to include everyone; we almost got them all. But, we included them in groups, like parks with great swimming holes, parks where you might want to take a hike, parks where you could ride a bike. And then grouped some parks by interest, like parks where you could take a photo of a great view—and just let people have a broader scope of what’s available in a state park system.

To close out 2016: one of the most iconic parks of all.

It’s Palo Duro. And, interestingly enough, as we went to press, the Washington Post ran an article on Palo Duro, and they said: you know, that canyon in Arizona may be larger, but Palo Duro ranks right up there with it.

You can read all the articles on state parks from this year online or when you download the Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine APP from iTunes or the Apple Store.

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

Sunset at Big Bend Ranch State Park

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This is Passport to Texas

Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine spent the past year taking us to some of the most iconic parks in the system. Editor, Louie Bond shares her inspiration for the year of state parks.

I think it started when I had the rare pleasure of meeting Jonathon Jarvis, who is the director of the national Park System. And it was right before they kicked off their big 100th anniversary of national parks. And he talked to me about some of the programs they were doing. And I thought, well, you know, that’s just fantastic. And gosh, I love our state parks so much, too, that we should feature them as well. So that was really the inspiration for the year of state parks.

But the inspiration did not stop there.

My other inspiration came from the fact that during my ten years at Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine—I’m always under the impression that the really popular parks don’t really need a lot of coverage. They’re full and people are waiting in line. And maybe they don’t get quite as excited about having a feature story in the magazine. I thought—you know what? Just for one year, I’m going to totally indulge myself, and write about everyone’s favorite parks. And they may be a little more crowded than usual, and I’m sorry about that. But I’m really glad to feature them.

Tomorrow find out which park closes out the year.

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.

Bobwhite quail

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This is Passport

Substantial rainfall and mild summer temperatures across the state bode well for quail hunters.

Typically when you’re thinking about quail hunting in Texas, you’re thinking about south Texas and also the rolling plains up in north Texas and the Panhandle and things are certain looking great in both of those areas.

Robert Perez is Upland Game Program Leader at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Scale quail, in West Texas, are doing exceptionally well.

It’s why people come to Texas [to hunt]. And in the desert when it rains, everything turns green and blooms and the timing has been very good so our numbers are pretty staggering as far as what we’ve been seeing with scaled quail in west Texas. And we expect to see some great opportunities.

Quail isn’t the only upland game bird doing well this season. Perez says turkey hunting is on the rise.

Wild turkey hunting is a growing sport. The excitement of calling in a bird and it coming in—a big old Tom. They really rely on spring moisture to be successful at nesting. And, so we’re going to see a variety of ages, which is great for hunters because they’ll be looking for that mature bird but they’ll also be some three and four year old birds in there. If you had to put a number on it or qualify the season for turkey for Rio Grande Turkey it’s looking excellent.

Hunting in Texas is big business bringing more than three-billion dollars to the state’s economy.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series.

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

White-tailed buck

2016 Deer Season Forecast Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Last year’s deer season was good; and this year’s season promises to be better.

The conditions have been incredible this year. We had a wet spring across the state—from El Paso to Houston and Amarillo to Brownsville.

White-tailed deer program leader, Alan Cain, says Texas Parks and Wildlife estimates the white-tail population…at about four-million animals. Yet, too many deer in one place can cause illness among them, including possible die off in the herd. Hunting helps to maintain a healthy balance.

We encourage hunters to take the full bag limit in those particular counties. And by doing so it helps improve the habitat. If they don’t want to put that meat in the freezer, they can certainly donate it to Hunters for the Hungry or different charitable organizations around the state.

With an excellent forecast for deer hunting this season, now is the time to get the next generation into the field.

And it’s a great opportunity to get kids outdoors; expose them to hunting. And recruit our future generation of wildlife managers into the state.

Download the Texas Outdoor Annual APP onto your smart phone. Before going on your hunt. It will help you find hunting season dates and bag limits for your county and a whole lot more. Find it on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife restoration program supports our series.

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

TPW TV - ADA Hunt at Inks Lake State Park Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Hunting blinds aren’t typically designed for people with disabilities. Inks Lake State Park tackled that issue by building four hunting blinds accessible to people with physical limitations. Chris Hall is with Inks Lake State Park.

We have dropped the windows down to access the height and level of the wheelchair. The carpet is nonskid surface, very good noise dampener.

Elias Brown, a first-time hunter, and his dad Chase were among the first to try the new accessible blinds.

My son has a prosthetic leg. So, it’s more accessible to get into it. Even if you can get a person with a disability up into a traditional blind, it’s going to be almost impossible for them to move around. So these things are eight foot by eight foot, with plenty of head space.

Elias bagged a deer on his first try.

It was my first hunting trip, first shot, and he dropped. So, that was great.

Dad, Chase Brown, says the family will be back.

I have a daughter in a wheelchair and she could easily get there with me and her brother or her mom. It just opens up worlds.

And Inks Lake’s Chris Hall predicts more accessible blinds are in the park’s future.

With the increased popularity, the success of this year already, I don’t know exact numbers but I can assure you we’re going to start constructing a few more.

View a segment on Inks Lake State Park’s accessible hunting blinds the week of December 4 on the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV Series on PBS.

The Wildlife restoration program supports our series.

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