Hunting as an Act of Conservation

November 3rd, 2016
Big Time Texas Hunt at Black Gap WMA

Big Time Texas Hunt at Black Gap WMA

This is Passport to Texas

Hunting is not only a tradition in Texas—it is also a commitment to wildlife conservation.

Hunters started to see declines in certain game species populations and habitat. And realized if they want to enjoy perusing game (it doesn’t even have be for harvest), just if they want to see that perpetuated so their kids, and future generations can enjoy that, they realized they needed to protect it.

Alan Cain, Texas whitetail deer program leader, says in the early 20th century, hunters chose to conserve wildlife through taxation.

In 1937, you had the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act – called the Pittman-Robertson Act – [signed into law]. Basically it’s a user pay system where the hunters said, ‘okay, we’re going to tax ourselves to help pay for wildlife conservation.’ And that’s been a huge success. In my opinion, that’s why North America has the best wildlife management conservation model in the world – because hunters pay for that.

Hunters pay with the licenses they buy, and the excise tax levied on firearms, ammunition and other equipment, which goes directly to fund conservation.

And then the second part of that is that hunters not only play a role in funding conservation that benefits everybody, but they also play a role in managing deer populations out there.

By removing deer from the landscape, they help keep habitat in balance for all wildlife.

The Wildlife Restoration Program supports our series and funds whitetail research in Texas.

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

Fall Events in State Parks 2016

November 2nd, 2016
Fall Color at Lost Maples State Natural Area

Fall Color at Lost Maples State Natural Area

This is Passport to Texas

Texas has more than 90 state parks, and nearly all offer year round activities for visitors. But fall is by far a favorite time to enjoy these natural areas.

It’s cooler weather. The fall foliage changing always brings everybody out. Everybody loves to see that.

Aaron Friar works with Texas state parks.

We do have the fall foliage hikes. Come out and they’ll take you on a hike; they’ll teach you about the different trees, which ones are changing, what colors you’re seeing, and what kinds of tree species change at what time

Come for the colorful foliage and stay for the family friendly holiday crafts.

Several parks are doing different kinds of crafts events. One that I think would be really neat is at LBJ—at the farm, Sauer Beckmann—you know they have the traditional German family holidays. They’re having cookie decorating, and they’re having crafts for the tree—coming up for the Christmas holiday season—as well. So, that should be a really fun one in terms of arts and crafts.

No matter where you live, a state park is just a short drive away. Make plans to visit one today.

Find a comprehensive list of all fall, winter and holiday events at state parks in the calendar section of the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

We record our series at the Block House in Austin, Texas.

Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Veteran’s Day Events in State Parks

November 1st, 2016
Join us for a blast from the past.

Join us for a blast from the past.

This is Passport to Texas

Veteran’s Day is Friday November 11.

The Sunday after veteran’s Day it is free admission into Texas State parks for everybody in the state.

Aaron Friar, with Texas State Parks, says nobody pays park day use fees on Sunday, November 13.

That’s a really cool way that we’re trying to honor our veterans and our active military. The only caveat is that it doesn’t apply to camping fees or activity fees. But all day use fees are waived.

Battleship Texas, offers two events Saturday November 12 to honor Veterans. During the day, join the crew aboard ship for a day of patriotic fun! In the evening, experience a 1945 themed victory dance with live music on the main deck of the ship, games, food and drink. Period or military dress is welcomed, but not required.

This is for the 18 and up. But, it’s a great tour where you actually get onto the ship and you get to really learn about what it was like for day-to-day life for a sailor on the ship. And they’ll take you through it all; they’ll teach you all the card games and all the different activities that kept them busy while they were on the ship. So, it’s a pretty neat event.

Find a link to ticket information at passporttotexas.org.

Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

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Find tickets for 1945 Victory Dance on Battleship Texas.

Ask a Game Warden – Seafood Regulations

October 31st, 2016
Using fishing nets to harvest from the gulf.

Using fishing nets to harvest from the gulf.

This is Passport to Texas Ask a Game Warden

Is it okay to sell, barter or trade your fresh gulf catch? To find out, we asked Game Warden Brandi Reeder.

Whenever you have a recreational license, those products [you harvest] are for recreational purposes [only]. At the point that you conduct a sale, barter, or exchange for some sort of gain, that is now a commercial purpose. Therefore, you must be commercially licensed.

Reeder is Assistant Commander Fisheries Law Administrator. She says anglers may purchase licenses that cover commercial harvest and sale.

There are fishermen licenses, and there are dealer licenses. And so the two are a little bit different. One authorizes—obviously—the harvest. The other would authorize the purchase for sale, and the subsequent resale.

If your license is for recreational fishing only, and your cooler runneth over after a coastal fishing trip, invite folks to the house for a meal of gulf fish, or give away some of your catch. But Game Warden Reeder says that’s all you can do legally with a recreational license.

If they are such a successful fisherman—which I have known a few—and they would like to pursue a commercial market, and possibly sell, themselves, they need to do their due diligence. And, they’re always welcome to call Parks and Wildlife law enforcement offices in order to gain more insight and information.

We have a link on passporttotexas.org where you can find additional information.

The Sport Fish Restoration program supports our series.

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

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Additional Information:

Texas Commercial Fishing Guide [PDF]

Shrimp Regulations and Restrictions

Oyster Regulations

 

TPW TV – Paragliding

October 28th, 2016

This is Passport to Texas

Franklin Mountains State Park is the only Park in Texas and one of the few parks in the United States that encourages paragliding.

So, the Franklins are a great source of what we call lift from the air coming in. And, they’re also a great source of thermals; two ways we get up. All here in the Franklins.

A paraglider is a lightweight, free-flying, foot-launched glider aircraft with no rigid primary structure.

It’s a soaring aircraft, which means we generally don’t have a motor; and we find air that’s going up. And we go up…and up…and up.

During the week of October 31, the TPW TV Show on PBS features a segment on Paragliding at the Franklin Mountains.

It’s a pretty obscure air sport. I think there’s are maybe 4,000, 5,000 pilots in the US. There are sites all over the country. And this one looks pretty awesome.

Paragliding may look intimidating, and while paragliders exercise caution, it’s usually a fairly gentle ride.

Most people think we jump off of a cliff and its life or death. You just step off and you float. You feel the wing flying. It’s really just floating off. It’s relaxing fun. It’s a lawn chair in the sky, and you enjoy life.

See the segment on paragliding the week of October 31 on the Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series on PBS. Check your local listings.

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