Passport to Texas

Endangered Texas Snowbell Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When the wind blows, its leaves shimmer, and in the spring, its beautiful white flowers bloom.

It was this beauty that inspired J. David Bamberger to save the endangered Texas Snowbell.

Bamberger owns 55 hundred acres in Blanco County and is an avid conservationist. But one of his greatest success stories is the Texas snowbell.

In 1987, state officials estimated there were a mere 87 snowbells in Texas. Since then, Bamberger’s team has planted and maintained nearly 700 more.

12—I spent five years going door to door, well ranch to ranch out in Edwards County, Real County, Val Verde County. And it took me five years to gain access to a ranch to look for the plant.

Once he did, Bamberger began collecting the seeds from the plants he found, replanting them on the ranches. But even with all his success, Bamberger says the Texas snowbell will likely always be endangered.

17—Now the scientists are saying that they won’t be delisted until we have 10,000 plants. That’s never going to happen, never ever going to happen. I think they need to reassess that number because before we came along the reintroductions were basically zero.

J. David Bamberger continues to monitor Texas snowbells and conduct research at his ranch, keeping the Texas snowbell alive and a part of .

That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Processing Deer at Home Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s easy to find meat processors statewide with the ability to process deer, and so hunters routinely bring harvested animals to these pros.

Maybe this season, you’d like to try your hand at processing your own animal at home. Hunter education coordinator, Terry Erwin, has a suggestion or two to help you along.

45— If you process your game at home, I would suggest that everyone get a good set of knives and a cutting board, and also get what we call a vacuum packing device. And when you put that [meat] in a vacuum packing device, they [cuts of meat] will last a whole lot longer; you’ll take the air out of it and the meat will not get freezer burn, which can cause it to have a bad taste. But, you have some of the finest eating there is. Venison is very high in protein, very low in fat content, very low in calories. And, it’s just plain good for you. And if you use the right seasonings and the right methods to cook it….Ooo…fried back strap with biscuits and gravy…makes my mouth water.

We have a link to the gear you’ll need to process your deer at home on our website, passporttotexas.org.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series, and is funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel.

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

Hunters for the Hungry Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Wild harvested venison is additive free, sustainable and nutritious—the kind of food we want to feed our families. Licensed hunters can help feed less fortunate families by donating venison to Hunters for the Hungry.

09— Contact us or visit our website to locate a participating meat processor, so they can take it somewhere that accepts the donation and can get it distributed.

Anitra Hendricks coordinates Hunters for the Hungry, a program of the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies. The program connects hunters with processors who then distribute ground venison to charitable feeding programs and food pantries.

Participating processors offer reduced fees to hunters who donate deer.

12— And that varies from processor to processor. So, we do encourage the hunter, that if they do use our map locator, to locate a participating meat processor, to call ahead of time to verify the Hunters for the Hungry fee.

Hendricks says regions of the state need more processors.

20—We do have a need in the Panhandle area between Amarillo and Lubbock for more meat processors. And then also the East Texas region—as well as west Texas. But some of the feedback that we get is that either there’s not an interest or things are so far and so spread out that it’s hard to get participation in those areas.

Find a link to the Hunters for the Hungry website at passporttotexas.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife I’m Cecilia Nasti.

On the Mend: Bastrop State Park Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

September wildfires ravaged Bastrop State Park, but as our SP guide Bryan Frazier tells us, while it was a tragic event, there are stories of courage and even good news amid the ashes.

It’s a story of tragedy, and it’s a story of incredible courage by the people who saved the part of the park that was saved.

It isn’t the same park hat it used to be, although, the park is going to come back. They’re assessing a lot of it right now. So, there are some good news stories at Bastrop State Park that we can find, and we need to let people know about that.

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 Water Documentary Segments in November Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Among the many fascinating segments you’ll see on the TPW TV show in November, are highlights from the agency’s documentary on the Gulf of Mexico. Series Producer Don Cash.

One of the segments is going to take a look at hurricanes that have affected the Gulf. It will take a look at how important things like marshes are to slowing hurricanes and flooding down.

So, these segments on the gulf are airing all throughout November on our PBS television show, or you can see the segments on our YouTube Channel.

Thanks, Don.

The Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series.

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