Passport to Texas

Dove hunting in Texas

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The fall hunting season gets underway with the dove season opener, which is September 1 in the north and central zones, and September 23 in the south zone.

Thanks to season dates adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission recently, Texas dove hunters can look forward to the longest season in 80 years.

Although the traditional opening dates established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service remain fixed, a new 90-day season this fall means hunters will have 20 more days of opportunity compared to previous years.

To take advantage of birds migrating into the state, the additional days are being integrated early in the season, as well as at the end of the season in the Special White-winged Dove Area. This will provide more wing-shooting opportunities.

During the general season, the aggregate bag limit is 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves.

During the early two weekends in the Special White-winged Dove Area, hunting is allowed only in the afternoon and the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than two mourning doves and two white-tipped doves.

Check out the Outdoor Annual for seasons and bag limits on all game species in Texas.

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

Helicopters are necessary in search and rescue missions in the canyons.

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This is Passport to Texas

Long, hot hours passed July Fourth Weekend at Caprock Canyons State Park before rescue workers located an injured woman hiker in a remote area of the park. Their UTVs [Utility Task Vehicle or Utility Terrain Vehicle] could take them only so far over the rugged terrain.

Once we could no longer drive, then it was another hour and a half hike to get tot heir location.

Park Superintendent, Donald Beard, says the woman and a male companion had strayed from designated trails. She fell during their hike and broke her leg. Luckily a cell signal was available, and the man called for help.

We had the DPS Troopers. They launched a helicopter from Lubbock, and were able to set down on top of the canyon, above her location.

As night fell, they needed accurate coordination to get her to a hospital for medical care.

Once we did locate her, it was an exercise of high angle rescue, where we had to have a crew that repelled down to her location, strap her into a basket, and then the rest of the crew were able to lift her up to a location. Then they could carry her by foot to where the helicopter was.

When I spoke to Donald Beard, it was only two days after the rescue at Caprock Canyons State Park.

When she left here, even though she had been exposed to high temperatures, and had a broken bone without medical attention for eight to ten hours, she was still alert, and she was coherent and doing well. So, I’m assuming that she’s going to be okay.

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

Caprock Canyons State Park

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Caprock Canyons State Park is 14-thousand acres of rough terrain, and elevation drops of a thousand feet. If you hike there, Superintendent Donald Beard says “stick to designated trails.”

We have about 28-miles of trails inside the park—which are multi-use trails. But, not all people follow the trails. And some bad things can happen when that takes place.

During the July Fourth weekend, a man and woman went off trail, and ventured into a remote area, where the woman ended up falling and breaking her leg.

So, the husband was able to use his cell phone and get assistance. We were able to dispatch—not only us—but several other law enforcement agencies and fire departments. Close to two dozen people. About 10 and a half hours of either searching, or trying to remove her from the remote location so we could get her to a helicopter.

Superintendent Beard said rescue crews could only drive so far to reach the location, after that—it was all by foot.

Once we got to that point when we could no longer drive, then it was about another hour or so. Hour and a half hike just to get to their location. That was after we found them.

By the time rescuers found the hikers, it was getting dark. How did the finally reach the injured hiker and get her to safety. Tune in tomorrow and find out.

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

Care to ride along with a Texas Game Warden on one of these?

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This is Passport to Texas Ask a Game Warden

Since the TV show Lone Star Law—which is about Texas Game Wardens—premiered in June on Animal Planet, interest in ride-a-longs has increased.

A ride along is when someone from the public that’s not a commissioned peace officer actually rides with a game warden during their patrol—either in a vessel or in a vehicle.

Listener Mason from Southeast Texas sent a question into Ask a Game Warden inquiring whether members of the public are permitted to tag along while they make their rounds. Chief of Special Operations for Texas Game Wardens, Grahame Jones, says the answer is a qualified “yes.”

What they would need to do is contact their local Game Warden; they can go to the sheriff’s office or local game warden office. And you can actually go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, and locate the find a game warden tab—you can actually get the phone number for your game warden that way—and then make contact with them. In general, the ride-a-long can take a while to get approved through the chain of command. So, they’re not always feasible. Ideally, we like to reserve the ride-a-long programs for college students, maybe an internship from a university, or someone from the media that wants a little bit closer look at what we do.

Send your question to Ask a Game Warden from the contact us page at passporttotexas.org. We may answer it on the radio.

That’s our show…funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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

Game Warden keeping Texas waters and those who use them safe.

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This is Passport to Texas Ask a Game Warden

Grahame Jones, Chief of Special Operations for Texas Game Wardens, will be the first to tell you that these law enforcement professionals love their jobs.

It’s an incredible opportunity. Our office is outside; we get some very cool equipment: four-wheel drive vehicles and vessels and ATVs [all terrain vehicles] and those sorts of things.

It may sound like an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors, but there’s more to it. Much more. And radio listener, Mason Outzs contacted us to ask about the dangers Game Wardens face on a daily basis.

There are dangers. We’ve lost 19 game wardens in the line of duty since 1895; six of those game wardens were actually murdered and six of those game wardens drowned. So, we never really know what type of situation we’re going to come up on. We’re often working at night, alone, in very remote areas. Many times our game wardens are doing search and rescue and emergency response during some of the worst conditions imaginable. So, those are really some of the dangers that our game wardens have to deal with on a daily basis.

Grahame Jones says for Game Wardens who’ve been through traumatic experiences, they have access to members of the critical incident team, all of whom are trained in counseling.

Send your question to Ask a Game Warden from the contact us page at passporttotexas.org. We may answer it on the radio.

That’s our show. Funding provided in part by Ram Trucks. Guts. Glory. Ram

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