Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Thanksgiving, a “uniquely” American observance is, in fact, a variation on an Old English harvest tradition, which makes sense as the colonists came from Britain.

What we know as Thanksgiving—centuries ago—was actually called Lammas. And that means Loaf Mass in Old English.

Cynthia Brandimarte is program director for Texas historic sites. On Lammas, farmers brought loaves of bread to mass as a token of thanksgiving.

It’s when breads were made from the season’s first grain crop. They were baked, blessed and broken. And it was celebrated on August first or thereabouts. Over some time, especially the 17th and 18th Century, Americans brought over the tradition of observing Thanksgiving at the end of the harvest, which would be closer to our late November date.

When New Englanders, the first to observe the day, moved west, they brought their traditions with them. However, Thanksgiving did not become a nationally recognized celebration until the mid 19th Century.

Sarah Josepha Hale, Editor of Goudy’s Ladies Book, took it upon herself to make it a widespread celebration; and that was in the 1840s.

At Thanksgiving, remember to give a nod of gratitude for nature’s bounty, and for the people who made this long weekend of food and football possible.

That’s our show for today… from all of us at Passport to Texas…we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

At first glance, South Texas’ arid brush land seems inhospitable to man and beast.

[hawk screech] The biggest challenge, of course, is the lack of rainfall. We have over forty tanks on the place, so whenever it rains, our goal is to have every drop stay on the place.

Capturing rainfall through vegetation and soils management along with construction of tanks, diversion levees, and pipelines… keeps water on the 43-hundred acre High Lonesome Ranch, in McMullen County, owned and operated by Charles and Nancy Hundley. The Hundley’s wildlife program emphasizes management for trophy white-tailed deer, quail and dove. But that’s not all… the property also sustains a western village for hunters and eco-tourism.

This little western village is actually guest rooms and accommodations for our hunters. It’s very expensive running a ranch. And, uh, so, so, this is another attraction for guests other than hunters. The bird watchers want to come, and this brings in new revenue…brings in new interest, actually.

The High Lonesome Ranch is the regional winner of the Lone Star Land Steward Award for the south Texas eco-region. Learn about the awards program and land management when you visit passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program

[wind] People from the city might think, this is God-forsaken country, and how could anything live off of this. But in reality, it’s a smorgasbord for the deer and the wildlife. [truck pulling away]

The High Lonesome Ranch covers 43-hundred acres of arid South Texas brush land in McMullen County. Charles and Nancy Hundley own and operate the ranch.

We’re in the middle of a big transformation that’s taking place in Texas. I was born and raised on a dairy farm, and I watched the family farm die as we know it. [cow moos] The beef industry is pretty much in the same position, and money is what drives it. There’s a lot more [money] in wildlife than there is in cattle.

The Hundleys have spent over ten years transforming their ranch from a parched patch of land into a premier hunting destination.

Any time you develop a herd that’s better: more deer, bigger deer, bigger horns… You take care of the doves and the ducks…it’s always better for wildlife if they come and thrive here than it was when they couldn’t.

The High Lonesome ranch is the regional winner of the Lone Star Land Steward Award for the south Texas eco-region.

That’s our show… with support from the Wildlife restoration Program… providing funding for the Private Lands and Public Hunting Program.

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

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Horse rides and cattle trails…a dime a dozen in Texas…but saddling up camels?

In 1857, there was one very glamorous expedition, so to speak, that left San Antonio and took 24 of the US Army camels and made it all the way to Los Angeles.

Doug Baum became fascinated with the historic US Camel Corps and established a unit of his own: the Texas Camel Corps. It’s up for hire—not to the military—but to folks interested in trekking alongside camels on an educational and breathtaking camel-assisted excursion through Monahans Sandhills State Park.

It fits exactly what everyone’s image, the romantic ideal is, of a desert. What we do out there guiding camel treks is overnight. We actually start in a public area and head way out into the dunes. There’s some coyotes up there, feral hog, deer. The wildlife is beautiful, but we go into areas where most folks simply don’t go. And you can thank the camels for that: they’re carrying all the supplies for us.

True, it’s a literal walk in the park, but don’t expect a walk in the park.

Just moving through the terrain, working with the camels. I teach these folks how to the hobble camels, how to lead the camels, how to kneel them down so they can load and unload gear. This may push some folks limits, and I think that’s fabulous.

Trek to our website for more on camel tours at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Joke all you want that Texas doesn’t have four seasons; you can witness some amazing autumn scenery at Lost Maples SP.

Autumn’s a good time to come to Lost Maples [State Park] cuz of the Fall foliage and brilliant colors we have here.

John Stuart is Park Superintendent. He explains that the leaves are charmed into changing color by the season’s weather, but where the real magic occurs is inside them, where a chemical process takes place.

Most of the year, when the leaves are green, you have a lot of chlorophyll in the plant; and that’s what actually feeds the tree and keeps it growing. And if the water supply is cut off and cold weather comes around, then the chlorophyll breaks down and leaves the other pigments remaining. On cloudy warm days, starches form tannins and they make it brown. And If it’s cold and sunny, then the sugars come to bear on the leaf, and they form with the proteins and it makes the beautiful colors we enjoy when we come out here.

It’s not just the colors that are special. They call them Big Tooth Maples because their leaves, though smaller in comparison to others, have deep cuts between its fingers. And you don’t find them many other places.

The Ice Ages wiped out most of the Big Tooth Maples across the continent. These are just surviving pockets. So they’re lost simply because what are they doing out there by their selves.

More on these magnificent trees at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show…with research and writing help from Sarah Loden… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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