Passport to Texas

Pronghorn Antelope Running

Hunting/Angling: Buy Licenses Early Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Hunters and anglers look forward to the day licenses go on sale the way many children look forward to Christmas. Hunting and fishing licenses bring with them the hope of a harvest and the promise of time spent in the great Texas outdoors.

Licenses for the 2012-2013 seasons go on sale statewide this month.

17 – I would advise folks to buy early. The new season, dove season, opens September first. It’s on a Saturday. I think it would be a very good idea for hunters to start buying their licenses and their super combos as soon as our sales season opens, which is August fifteenth.

Tom Newton manages licensing at Texas Parks and Wildlife. You can buy your licenses online…at 17-hundred retailers statewide…at state parks…game warden offices and the Texas Parks and Wildlife headquarters in Austin.

Newton says sales this year started in the hole because of last year’s drought and heat, but because of milder temperatures and statewide rain, we’ve almost caught up to last year’s sales and may catch up by year’s end. And that’s good news for conservation.

Money spent on licenses directly supports conservation efforts in Texas. There’s more than one type of hunting license – they range from a $7 resident senior license to a $315 license for nonresident hunters.

Find links to hunting information at passporttotexas.org.

The Wildlife and Sport fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing, shooting and hunting opportunities in Texas. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Hunting/Angling: Licenses go on Sale Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

It’s August: time to renew hunting and fishing licenses.

06—The licenses are effective beginning September first, but they actually go on sale August 15th.

Tom Newton manages licensing at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Heat and drought kept license sales down last year, but the milder temperatures and statewide rains in 2012 have seen sales rise.

23 –The fishing is broken down into saltwater or freshwater, or what we call an all-water, which covers both. There’s a couple of different hunting licenses, which is your standard deer hunters, or turkey hunters, or alligator hunters. With the hunting license you have to purchase a couple of stamps. If you’re a bird hunter you’ll need the upland game bird stamp and the federal duck stamp.

The best license to buy — if you plan on hunting and fishing — is the Super Combo. $68.00

17 – Which encompasses everything: All the stamps, all of your hunting options, all of your fishing options. The only thing you need in addition to that is your federal duck stamp. So, the Super Combo –– is the best priced license. And, like I say, you buy that, you need nothing else for the whole year.

Buy your licenses early and avoid the rush. They’re available online and at 17-hundred agents statewide.

06 –All of our parks sell licenses. All of our law enforcement sells licenses as we do here at Headquarters

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

For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

Caprock Canyons Superintendent Donald Beard with Bison Cut-out

State Parks: Caprock's Bison Celebration Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Eighty descendents of the southern plains bison roam freely on 700 acres at Caprock Canyon SP…with plans to give them even more room to roam in the future. To celebrate these majestic animals and to raise money for their continued restoration, Caprock Canyons SP is throwing a party. Our State park Guide Bryan Frazier has details.

54— Beginning September 14th, they’re going to have the Bison celebration days on that Friday. They’re having school groups from all over the region come in and learn about the native Americans, and learn about the impact of the Buffalo Soldiers on the settlement of that region. And then on Saturday, there’ll be opportunities to photograph the free roaming bison walking around, there’ll be other activities, vendors, and lots of things going on during that Saturday to bring everyone out. And then on Sunday, there’s a concert that benefits Caprock Canyons and the bison restoration, and it’s going to be done by nine time Grammy award winning, and Texas legendary band – Asleep at the Wheel. And that’s on Sunday, September 16th at Caprock Canyon SP, as part of the second annual bison celebration days going on there. If you’re a Texan….if you’re a history buff…if you like Asleep at the Wheel and good music..and incredible scenery…this is the place.

Thanks Bryan

That’s our show for today…with funding provided by Chevrolet, supporting outdoor recreation in Texas; because there’s life to be done.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

TPW TV: Talking Turkey Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Wild turkeys wearing backpacks? See it this month on the TPW PBS TV series. Producer, Alan Fisher.

64— I got to follow some work going on at a ranch in south Texas, on the habitat of Rio Grande turkey. The research that people have done about Rio Grande turkey has really kind of focused on where they roost… There’s really been less information about what they do for the rest of the hours of their day. Technology has gotten to the point now where GPS technology can be used.

If you’d like to know where you can catch the Parks and Wildlife TV series, you can check out our website, or check your local PBS listings.

Thanks, Alan.

The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas…

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

Conservation: Kerr's August First Friday Tour Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Kerr Wildlife Management Area is a research and demonstration site for the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion…and August third begins the first of a three-part monthly series called First Friday Tours.

06—Our First Friday Tours are a series of seminars that we offer annually as part of our outreach program.

Wildlife biologist, Ryan Reitz, says the first part of the free series focuses on the basics.

31—We’re starting out with the basics here, on our first part of our three-part series. And we will be discussing those elements of habitat—those things critical in the successful management of any wildlife species: food, water and cover. We’ll be discussing these in detail. We’ll be addressing the diets of native species—and even exotic species. We’ll be discussing how important water is on the landscape. And we’ll be discussing development strategies and cover requirements—how these plants provide both food and cover to our wildlife resources.

It’s free to attend, but Reitz says you need a reservation.

13—We do ask that everyone interested in attending call in for reservations. You can call the Kerr WMA. Our office number is 830-238-4483, and sign up for a spot on our First Friday Tours.

Again, the First Friday is on August 3.

If you’re not in the Edwards plateau ecosystem, go to the TPW website and find your nearest WMA, and programs offered specific to your area.

The Wildlife and sport fish restoration program supports our series and celebrates 75 years of funding diverse conservation projects throughout Texas…

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