Passport to Texas

Alvin Dedeaux

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This is Passport to Texas

Few people think of Texas when the topic of fly-fishing comes up, unless you’re Alvin Dedeaux, that is.

Well, we’ve got some great fly-fishing opportunities here.

Alvin is a sought-after Texas fly-fishing guide. He’s partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to help recruit new members. Anyone who goes to WeWillNotBeTamed.org and becomes a new foundation member by April 12 will be entered in a drawing to win a half-day fly-fishing trip with Alvin.

I guided for trout all over the Western US, and I think what we have here in Central Texas rivals a lot of that stuff. Especially the rivers. Because, as a lot of people know, our rivers are kind of an underutilized resource. We’ve got tons of really beautiful small streams with very little pressure and really aggressive, hungry fish. And I think it rivals anything anywhere—you know, it’s just different. On top of that, we have the Texas coast. And the inshore fisheries on the Texas coast are world-class for like casting for redfish and speckled trout. So Texas is really, I think, an undiscovered central Mecca for fly-fishermen.

Learn more about the work of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and how to become a member, and entered into a drawing for a half day fly fishing trip with Alvin Dedeaux at WeWillNotBeTamed.org.

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

Alvin Dedeaux

Go Fly-Fishing with a Pro Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Members of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation represent a diverse cross section of the population that share a passion for the outdoors. Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation is the nonprofit arm of Texas Parks and Wildlife department  and helps to fund initiatives that conserve our wild places and wild things.

Join TPWF by April the 12th to be entered into a chance to win a half day fly fishing trip with Texas fly-fishing guide Alvin Dedeaux.

Jay Kleberg is Director of Conservation Initiatives at Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. The Colorado River is the staging area for this fly-fishing trip.

There are very few people who know that the Colorado River that flows through the Hill Country and to the coast has some world-class fishing because it goes through some major urban areas. And Alvin’s one of the few people who really knows that water, and has focused not just on the Hill Country, but the coast and the Colorado River, itself. So, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go with a true expert.

Become a member of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation by April 12 to be entered in a drawing for a half day of fly-fishing with celebrated fishing guide, Alvin Dedeaux. We’ll speak with him about fly-fishing next time.

People are drawn to it, and once they get into it—for most people—it becomes a lifelong passion.

Learn more about the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and how to become a member at wewillnotbetamed.org.

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

Chef Jesse Griffiths.

Coveted Culinary Experience at Llano Springs Ranch Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Llano Springs Ranch, an award-winning property at the headwaters of the South Llano River, is the site of a coveted culinary retreat with chef Jesse Griffiths.

We’ve partnered with Jesse and Explore Ranches to offer an opportunity to learn about foraging and preparation of wild game on the South Llano River.

Jay Kleberg is Director of Conservation Initiatives at Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the non-profit arm of Texas Parks and Wildlife. Anyone who becomes a foundation member by March 8th is entered in a drawing for the retreat.

On this particular retreat we’re actually going to harvest that animal before the group comes, but it will be fresh. And then all the additional items that we’ll pair with both axis deer and with fish from the Llano River, we’ll harvest while we’re there on the property.

The culinary retreat is April 24th – 26th.

If they don’t win this particular experience, they have the opportunity to be entered into raffles for future experiences [in 2019]. The dollars that they’re contributing to become members are going to projects that benefit all Texans and wildlife and wild places.

Become a foundation member by March 8th to be entered in the drawing for a culinary retreat with Chef Jesse Griffiths. Details at wewillnotbetamed.org.

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

Paddling at Llano Springs.

Something Bigger Than Yourself Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

As the non-profit partner of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation raises funds to support agency initiatives to preserve the state’s wild places and wild things.

Like conserving Texas rivers, and restoring pronghorn to the plains of West Texas. And, we led the effort on the acquisition of Powderhorn Ranch.

Jay Kleberg is Director of Conservation Initiatives at Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation . The Powderhorn Ranch acquisition, alone, was a 50-million-dollar project to preserve 17-thousand acres along the Texas coast; land that will become a state park. They’re able to do this important work with a dedicated membership base that is passionate about the outdoors.

In Texas, people are passionate about wildlife and conservation and water and open spaces. And so, I’m really proud of all of the members we have. And this year, we’ve started a membership awareness campaign and through We Will Not Be Tamed, and our website wewillnotbetamed.org, folks can join as members of the foundation.

Become a member by March 8th to be entered into a drawing for a coveted culinary retreat at Llano Springs Ranch with celebrated Chef, Jesse Griffiths, and his New School of Traditional Cookery.

Details at wewillnotbetamed.org.

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

Matt Morris will not be tamed. Image: www.tpwf.org

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This is Passport to Texas

Matt Morris grew up in the Chihuahuan Desert, exploring the Franklin Mountains.

I’ve been exploring the mountains since I was a child. It was just always a very calming experience for me.

Matt is standing up for the wild places of Texas; sharing his story through Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s We Will Not Be Tamed Campaign. He says he found healing in nature.

At 25 years old, I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease; I wasn’t able to keep any food in my system. Medication wasn’t really helping out. And around that time that I was diagnosed, the surgeons were recommending that I remove those infected portions of my intestines. And I refused to get the surgery. A friend of mine got me into the mountains, and we started doing some running. All of a sudden I started noticing the more I pushed myself, the next few days I was feeling a little bit better. And so I started putting two and two together, and just started really pushing my body. The more I was pushing my body, the better I was feeling. Because it’s an autoimmune disease I felt like maybe I’m at this point where I’m suppressing the immune system to a point where my body’s saying, like, okay, we’re actually getting some time to calm down a little bit and to heal. And then I jumped into yoga. And the yoga was what really catapulted me to almost feeling 100%. Today I am off all my medications; I recently had a colonoscopy and there was no sign of the disease. So, it’s a possibility to heal yourself taking a natural approach to life.

Find more stories of outdoorsmen and women standing up for Texas wild places at tpwf.org.

For Texas Parks and Wildlife, I’m Cecilia Nasti