Passport to Texas

Getting experience shooting.

Hunter Education for Safety in the Field Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you’re a hunter, or considering becoming one, completion of a hunter education course is a must.

13-Overall, what a person learns in Hunter Education is the safe, knowledgeable, responsible habits that hunters and shooting sports participants would need to responsibly handle a firearm from the home to the field and back again.

Steve Hall oversees hunter education at Texas Parks and Wildlife.

39-The centerpiece for hunter education is the ten commandments of firearm safety. And those apply whether you’re handling them around the gun safe at home, how to store them properly, transport them properly. And then when you’re in the field, it’s called hunter safety. For a reason. There’s other kinds of things that come into play when you’re in the field like where the other hunters are at, what kind of shooting you’re doing; do you know beyond the line of fire of a
shot? Is it on a hillside that you’re shooting and you don’t know what’s ion the other side? So there are lots of things that come into play. And then they all kind of center around knowing your firearm, knowing how to handle it safely, but also knowing the capability of those firearms as well.

Hunter education classes take place year round across the state. Find hunter education classes near you, or take it online, when you log onto the TPW website.

The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series.

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

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers topaz hunting. Photo courtesy

TPW Magazine: Hunting for Blue Topaz Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

How about going hunting on your next long weekend–hunting for Texas blue topaz, that is.

05- Mason County is the only place where this particular gem is found.

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, http://www.sherylsmithrodgers.com/, wrote about Texas Blue Topaz in the October issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

22-Texas blue topaz is our state gem. It was designated as that in 1969; and I guess I’d read about it through the years. And just decided that it would be cool to experience topaz hunting. There are three ranches there in the county that charge a daily fee. But you can go in and hunt for it.

She set out one weekend to explore the town of Mason, and to hunt for the state gem. She thought she’d find one.

04-I was determined to, but never happened.

Texas Blue Topaz may have eluded her, but Smith-Rodgers says small town hospitality did not.

19-People are so nice in Mason County; they have a lot of nice restaurant and you still get the feel of a small town. We stayed at a B&B right on the square, across from the courthouse. We went to see a movie–they have an old time movie theater. It’s a great place just to get away for the weekend.

Sheryl Smith-Rodgers’ article on hunting for Texas blue topaz is in the October issue of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine.

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.

30th Anniversary of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television Series

30th Anniversary Season of TPW TV on PBS Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Texas Parks and Wildlife TV show celebrates 30 years on PBS with the new season that starts this month.

17- That’s an incredibly long time for a show to be on–especially one like this. A lot of states used to do shows like this, and a lot of them–for whatever reason–have dropped out. And we are one of the few starts that still does a show that still runs on public broadcasting in the state. So, we’re pretty unique in that regard.

Don Cash is series producer. He says throughout the 30th Anniversary season, viewers will enjoy vintage segments.

19-Some of this stuff is going to seem fairly dated and maybe a little hokey; and that’s what’s kind of fun about it. The style of storytelling 30 years ago is different than what it is now. It was great storytelling; but we really focus more on telling stories through people now than when the show first started.

Expect to meet show producers from the series’ 30 year history talking about their favorite segments.

13-And, we’re going to let them introduce their favorite story from their time. Our show doesn’t have a host; there’s no real person to it. And this will maybe let some of the viewers actually put a face to some of the people that have worked on the show over the years.

And that’s just a small part of what to expect during the 30th Anniversary year of the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series.  Check your local listings.

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

Eastern Bluebirds

Secondary Cavity Nesting Birds Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

My house is on land previously used for farming; except for a few young trees planted around my place, stands of large, mature trees are in short supply.

Despite the dearth of foliage, I do get bird visitors, including barn swallows, mockingbirds, scissor-tail fly-catchers, mourning doves, and sparrows. I even get the occasional visit from robins, hummingbirds, woodpeckers and killdeer, to name a few.

One bird I have not yet seen, but am told is in my area: the Eastern Bluebird. It is a small bird found in open woodlands and farmlands. I think it’s one of the prettiest little birds in Texas with its electric blue back and tail feathers and rusty orange breast.

Ornithologist, Cliff Shackelford, suggested how I might attract one to my yard.

16— They need a box to nest in. They’re birds that we call secondary cavity nesters that can’t build a cavity on their own in a dead tree, like a woodpecker. So, they use old woodpecker holes, or old rotten limbs.

They aren’t alone. Cliff says other species prefer a roof over their heads, too.

15— Bluebirds need it, titmice need it, and chickadees need it. So, you need to figure out first what birds are in your area, and which ones of those use boxes. And that’s when you can target which one to build and put up in your yard.

Find a link that will take you to nest box dimensions for various species at passporttotexas.org.

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

Giant spider web at Lake Towakani. Donna Garde, © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Halloween Hijinks in State Parks Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Texas State Parks and Historic sites are pulling out the stops for Halloween.

13— There are some pretty unique events. Eisenhower State Park up on the Texas / Oklahoma border, for example, is having a Zombie Apocalypse Hike. So, it’s an opportunity to not only get outdoors, but to learn some survival skills.

Survival skills like, maybe, how to outrun zombies so they don’t eat your brains? Thomas Wilhelm, with state parks, says to expect more traditional activities as well.

23—Lake Tawakoni has Boo in the park, which is just trick-or-treat through the campground area. Fort Richardson is having a contest; their friends group is offering a hundred dollar prize for the best decorated campsite. Estero Llano Grande in the valley is having their ninth annual spooky science fest. The theme this year is Jurassic Estero; so, dinosaurs, costumes and all sorts of fun opportunities.

Most Texans live 90 minutes or less from a state park or historic site, making Halloween fun convenient, safe and affordable.

13—Most of these events are included with your park entrance. A few that are having special events are having either specials pricing—some there are no fees. Some are doing special per car pricing. Contact a park beforehand if you have questions about pricing.

Find a full schedule of Halloween and fall events in State Parks by region at texasstateparks.org/holidays.

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