Passport to Texas

This is Passport to Texas SP Getaways

[09 SFX …counting pennies]

Do you feel like you have to count your pennies for months before you can afford a family vacation?

Well, put away the piggy bank.

[03 SFX …pig squeal]

Our State Park Guide, Bryan Frazier says, state parks offer affordable and fun family vacations.

When you’re planning your trip, something you always want to factor in is just how expensive is it going to be. We’re proud to say in state parks, not only are we competitive with what a lot of people do for entertainment, but a lot of the time, we’re much less expensive.

So, if we were prices out of the market, it really wouldn’t be to our mission. We want to be accessible and let most everyone enjoy the outdoors in Texas. That’s what we do, and that is our mission.

Thanks, Bryan.

Start planning your next state park getaway when you log onto www.texasstateparks.org.

That’s our show for today…We record our series at the Production Block Studios in Austin, Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks Myth #4--Fees are too High Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

If you plan to hunt this fall, and were born on or after September 2, 1971—you are required to take a hunter education training course. Program coordinator Terry Erwin says there is a way around it—at least temporarily.

13—Anyone who has not been certified by the time they turn seventeen, can go and get a deferral. They must buy a hunting license, and ask for deferral type 1-6-6 at the point of sale.

The deferral allows you to try out hunting as long as a certified licensed hunter accompanies you.

06—And if you like it, go get certified; you have by August 31st of the current license year to do that.

It’ll cost you $10 for a deferral. When the program started in 2005, more than 10-thousand people purchased deferrals—and that number continues to climb.

17—It offers an opportunity for someone who has not hunted before to give it a try and it brings in lapsed hunters. If they’ve been out of hunting for awhile, and didn’t get certified, they can come in, take the deferral, and then have an opportunity to get back into the outdoors.

Texas residents required to take hunter education training may obtain a deferral only once, after which time they must complete the certification course.

You’ll find hunter education information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

Our show is made possible in part by the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program…funded by your purchase of fishing and hunting equipment and motor boat fuel.

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

Hunter Education Deferrals Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

Charlotte Von Rosenberg is the fourth generation to work the Quebe [KWEE-bee] Farm, which she took over from her mother.

14—My mother was careful to impart to me all of the history. And I embarked on a self-education process, where I’ve learned about the plants. And the more I learned, the more I want to learn.

Quebe farm is the 2010 Lone Star Land Steward Award winner for the Blackland Prairie eco-region. Using sound management practices, including prescribed burns, Von Rosenberg’s rejuvenated the land.

The awards recognize private landowners for excellence in habitat management and wildlife conservation. Larry Pierce, Washington County Agrilife Extension Agent, says the Quebe farm is unique.

13—This is one of the native prairie remnants that we still have remaining in Washington County; it’s very much a jewel, because it’s never been plowed, it’s never been farmed. There’s such a diversity of native plants here.

Parks and Wildlife biologist, Stephanie Damron, has high hopes for this pristine native prairie.

11—We can utilize this property as an education tool for other landowners in the area. And our hopes are to restore native grasses where we can.

Nominate a landowner for a Lone Star Land Steward Award. Find information at Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

The Wildlife Restoration program supports our series…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

Lone Star land Steward: Quebe Farm Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

[Snippet from The Wizard of Oz–05 “…any wild animals? We might.”]

Don’t be afraid of the wildlife you might meet at Texas state parks. Wildlife viewing is a treat, not a terror, as our SP guide, Bryan Frazier, explains.

What we want to encourage people to remember is, the outdoors are typically much, much safer that what they’re getting in the urban environment.

And when you leave the park, I think you’ll have a greater enjoyment and understanding of just what we do have in Texas.

Thanks, Bryan.

Start planning your next state park getaway when you log onto the Texas and Wildlife website.

That’s our show for today…We record our series at the Production Block Studios in Austin, Texas…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

State Parks Myth #3--Too Many Scary Animals Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This is Passport to Texas

For thirty-nine year old Keith Burns, fishing isn’t just a hobby, it’s a family tradition. His grandfather and father both grew up fishing on Caddo Lake in East Texas.

Now it’s our turn to take our kids, or nephews or whatever down there and start fishing.

Burns fishes every free chance he gets. But fishing hasn’t been so good on Caddo Lake for several years because of the invasive giant salvinia plant.

You just kind of had to fish where there was open water. You couldn’t really fish some of your favorite places because of the invasive aquatic life that was in there. I hate that stuff.

Then, flooding and a cold winter killed off some of the giant salvinia, allowing Burns to really fish again. In fact, Burns didn’t just fish. This past March he caught a lake record 16.17-pound sharelunker bass.

I can’t tell you what it meant for me to do that. With the history our family has on that lake, it just meant the world to me.

Burns says he now wants giant salvinia to get off his lakes, and he wants everyone to help make that a reality.

We’ve got to take five minutes and check our trailers and make sure we don’t have any hitchhikers we are taking to another lake and depositing there.

That’s some good advice from a great fisherman.

You can find more information at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… we had research and writing help from Gretchen Mahan…the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration program supports our series… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

A Family Tradition: Caddo Lake & Big Bass Play Now | Play in Popup | Download