September 13th, 2012
Hunter Angler Gardener Cook Facebook Photo
This is Passport to Texas
It’s the start of hunting season in Texas – beginning with dove. So, I contacted Jesse Morris, a chef and outdoorsman I know from Richardson, Texas, and asked what he considers the most important thing a hunter can do in the field to ensure the integrity of the game.
14 – You need to get the temperature on an animal that you’ve harvested down as quickly as possible. That means taking a cooler with you, or something, that you can put those birds in. That way, they’re not sitting out in the heat spoiling You’re going to have a much better product in the end.
Some processing of the dove can take place in the field.
06—Typically, if you have dove, you can breast those out, pluck them, and gut them in the field.
Chef Morris says it’s funny how people will happily eat a rare steak from cattle raised in high stress, overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. But then overcook game that has roamed free.
17—People go out and they’ll get dove, they’ll get deer, they’ll get feral hog –something like that –and they’ll just cook it to death. Because they’re scared of where that’s been. But if you take the time that an animal’s been in the field to the time that it reaches the plate, then you know where that animal has been.
More with Chef Jesse Morris tomorrow.
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.
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September 12th, 2012
Toyota Texas Bass Classic
This is Passport to Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife’s inland fisheries division works diligently to breed bigger and better largemouth bass and the hard work has paid off.
07—You know, I’m kind of biased, but Texas has the best bass fishing. It’s widely respected among many fishermen across this nation.
Dave Terre is chief of fisheries management and research for inland fisheries. September 28-30, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic returns to Lake Conroe, bringing 50 of the nation’s top bass anglers to shine a light on the fishery.
14 – They’re going to be the best of the best from the Bass Elite Series, the Professional Angler’s Association series, and the FLW series. So, you’re going to get the best anglers from all the professional series coming to one place – Lake Conroe – to fish.
Dave Terre says the bass Classic is family event featuring country music concerts, children’s activities, vendors, food, a BBQ cook-off, and an opportunity to experience the great outdoors at its best.
16— We hope to expand our outdoor adventures area and our vendor areas to bring in more outdoor aspects besides just fishing. Of course, fishing will be a prominent feature, but we’ll have quite a bit of stuff on camping and hunting and other things that you can do outside with your kids to experience the outdoors.
The Toyota Texas bass Classic is September 28—30 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center on Lake Conroe.
And free tickets are available while they last from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic website.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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September 11th, 2012
Toyota Texas Bass Classic
This is Passport to Texas
The Toyota Texas Bass Classic—September 28—30 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center on Lake Conroe —promotes the outdoors to families across the entire state.
17—It’s a benefit event, actually, for Texas Parks and Wildlife, where it raises funds for us to use in our youth outreach activities across the state. Including neighborhood fishing, the state fish art contest, and also events that happen all across the state to introduce youngsters to the outdoors.
Dave Terre is chief of fisheries management and research for inland fisheries.
13 The Bass Classic is many things, but it is—primarily—a big largemouth bass tournament. Matter of fact, a world class bass tournament. It attracts the best 50 anglers in the nation to come and compete at one place – Lake Conroe.
There will be games and activities at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Adventures area, a BBQ Cook-Off, and a fishing expo featuring seminars and the latest in fishing equipment, gear and accessories, too.
13— It’s much more than a bass tournament. This tournament is really an outdoor festival. It’s bringing in quality country western music entertainment. The featured artists this year will be Dirks Bentley, Gary Allan, and Jake Owen.
The Toyota Texas bass Classic is September 28—30 at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center on Lake Conroe.
Bring the family.
And free tickets are available while they last from the Toyota Texas Bass Classic website.
For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.
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September 10th, 2012
Paddling in State Parks
This is Passport to Texas
Canoeing, kayaking and pedal boating in state parks has never been easier. Our state park guide, Bryan Frazier, has details.
60—Lots of the state parks we have rent them, and you can certainly bring your own. And we’re talking about in lakes, along the Texas coastline, rivers, streams, ponds that we have in our state park systems. They’re great ways to see the wildlife, they’re great family activities. They’re good ways for exercise when you’re out there paddling. And it’s just another way to see and enjoy the water that maybe you otherwise wouldn’t. And state parks are just great places for access, whether you’re bringing your own and unloading it there, or you’re renting it from one of our friendly and professional park staff. We encourage people to check out the paddling trails that are available; it’s just a great trip. You even can do a picnic – paddle out to some island out on the lake; it’s just a really unique way to see the water and enjoy the water –provides also a different slant on access for fishing. Whatever you’re on the water for, canoeing and kayaking and pedal boats are a different way to see it and enjoy it.
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.
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September 7th, 2012
Public Hunting
This is Passport to Texas
Dove season is underway in the north and Central parts of the state, and if you’re looking for a place to hunt, Texas Parks and Wildlife TV series producer Don Cash says the PBS series can help.
55—One of the segments on the PBS show in September is about finding a place to hunt.
We want to see people go out, and have a place they can access inexpensively and take the kids hunting.
Texas Parks and Wildlife has partnered with private landowners around the state to lease land from these landowners for public hunting. So, it’s a great opportunity for very few dollars if you don’t own land or have a lease to go out and find a place close to you to go hunting.
I used to do a lot of hunting myself and everything, And it’s just a program that I think is well worth it for these people who don’t have an opportunity to go hunting anywhere.
When I started shooting this story, I found a father and daughter from Houston who had been on a hunt, and spent a couple of days with them – and they were just having a great time.
We spend a lot of good, quality time together. With dove hunting you can talk, you can walk around…you can share the time and the event. In dove hunting we can talk and eat and everything. It’s cool.
This story airs the week of September 9th through 15th on the PBS stations in Texas. This segment is on our YouTube channel, in case you want to watch it there.
Thanks, Don.
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.
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