Passport to Texas

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

J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Port Arthur offers the best alligator habitat in Texas. Amos Cooper is a Natural Resource Specialist at the site.

Murphree Wildlife Management Area was originally bought for waterfowl habitat, but by impounding this area, you actually created excellent habitat for the American Alligators, too. This is probably the most populated habitat that we have in the state.

There’s approximately one alligator per acre of land at J.D. Murphree WMA. And this month, the public’s invited to help census the big lizards during a nighttime count.

First, we give a little orientation and we explain to them, you know, what we do, why we do it, and basically how we do it. We take people out at night on a cruise and we go out and do a count. It’s data that we use. And they get to see first hand that this animal is not trying to jump in the boat with them. Also, we capture some so they can actually get close up to them and touch them and feel them and see what they’re about.

The Nighttime Gator Spotlight Count is Saturday, July 28th. It’s free with admission to the site – you must also have an Annual Public Hunting Permit or Limited Public Use Permit. Reservations are required, and space is limited.

Don’t forget your bug spray.

Log onto passporttotexas.org for registration information.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…we receive support from the Wildlife Restoration Program…which provides funds for the Private lands and Public Hunting Programs…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Throughout its history, Varner-Hogg Plantation, in Brazoria County, has been home to well-known Texans — including the family of James S. Hogg, the first native-born governor of Texas.

The Hoggs purchased the property in 1901. They bought it and made a cottage, a country home for them to go and retreat to.

Kandy Taylor-Hille, is Varner-Hogg site manager.

James Stephen Hogg also bought it because he very personally felt and thought after his involvement in Beaumont with Spindletop there was oil on the property. And he was right! Never found this out unfortunately in his lifetime, but by the 1920s this land was giving over $40,000 a day up in oil to the Hogg family. That’s where their real riches came from. He made some money in politics, but his children, this three sons and daughter, Miss Ima Hogg, were the ones who really prospered from it. All the wonderful things they did for Houston and for Texas was because of the oil they received from this property and the money from that.

The home remained in the Hogg family until in 1957, at which time Miss Ima Hogg donated the renovated property to the state. It was dedicated and opened for visitation on her father’s birthday in 1958.

And this Saturday Varner-Hogg celebrates Ms. Ima Hogg’s birthday from noon to 2 and you’re invited. Find a link to park information and directions at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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July 7, 2007 — Varner-Hogg Plantation SHS — Miss Ima’s Birthday — In recognition of the birthday of Miss Ima Hogg, Houston philanthropist and only daughter of Gov. and Mrs. James Stephen Hogg, we will celebrate with cake and punch on the porch of Miss Ima’s Cottage. Noon-2 p.m. (979) 345-4656.

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Throughout its history, Varner-Hogg Plantation, in Brazoria County, has been home to well-known Texans — including the family of James S. Hogg, the first native-born governor of Texas.

The Hoggs purchased the property in 1901. They bought it and made a cottage, a country home for them to go and retreat to.

Kandy Taylor-Hille, is Varner-Hogg site manager.

James Stephen Hogg also bought it because he very personally felt and thought after his involvement in Beaumont with Spindletop there was oil on the property. And he was right! Never found this out unfortunately in his lifetime, but by the 1920s this land was giving over $40,000 a day up in oil to the Hogg family. That’s where their real riches came from. He made some money in politics, but his children, this three sons and daughter, Miss Ima Hogg, were the ones who really prospered from it. All the wonderful things they did for Houston and for Texas was because of the oil they received from this property and the money from that.

The home remained in the Hogg family until in 1957, at which time Miss Ima Hogg donated the renovated property to the state. It was dedicated and opened for visitation on her father’s birthday in 1958.

And this Saturday Varner-Hogg celebrates Ms. Ima Hogg’s birthday from noon to 2 and you’re invited. Find a link to park information and directions at passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with research and writing help from Loren Seeger…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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July 7, 2007 — Varner-Hogg Plantation SHS — Miss Ima’s Birthday — In recognition of the birthday of Miss Ima Hogg, Houston philanthropist and only daughter of Gov. and Mrs. James Stephen Hogg, we will celebrate with cake and punch on the porch of Miss Ima’s Cottage. Noon-2 p.m. (979) 345-4656.

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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Alan Fisher is a writer/producer for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series seen on PBS stations statewide. He tells us July programming really cooks…and quacks… and growls….

Coming up in July, we’ll learn about how to cook a gourmet meal on a campfire with a Dutch oven. Many people don’t know it’s the official cooking implement of Texas.

There’s a couple simple rules that I use for folks when they’re starting out. One is a three second rule: you hold your hand six inches above the coals – thousand one…thousand two…thousand three…. If you have to pull you hand away sooner, because its uncomfortable from the heat…it’s hotter than 350.

We’ll also find out about some high-tech research being done on pintail ducks biologists are actually implanting transmitters inside ducks to track their movements. Also coming up in July in the last week, we have a Wild Things segment. Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Ann Miller talks about black bears and how black bears are making a comeback in Texas.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series airs on PBS stations. Check your local listings.

That’s our show for today… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti
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Texas Parks and Wildlife on PBS and Cable
Stations and Air Times
Times and dates are subject to change, especially during PBS membership drives.

• Amarillo, KACV-TV, Channel 2: October–March, Saturday 6 p.m.
• Austin, KLRU-TV, Channel 18: Monday, 12:30 p.m.; Friday 5:30 a.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. KLRU2, Cable 20: Tuesday, 11 p.m.
• Bryan-College Station, KAMU-TV, Channel 15: Sunday, 5 p.m.; Thursday, 7 p.m.
• Corpus Christi, KEDT-TV, Channel 16: Sunday, 12 p.m.; Friday, 2 p.m.
• Dallas-Fort Worth, KERA-TV, Channel 13: October–March, Saturday, 6 p.m. Also serving Abilene, Denton, Longview, Marshall, San Angelo, Texarkana, Tyler, Wichita Falls and Sherman.
• El Paso, KCOS-TV, Channel 13: Saturday, 3 p.m.
• Harlingen, KMBH-TV, Channel 60: Sunday, 5 p.m. Also serving McAllen, Mission and Brownsville.
• Houston, KUHT-TV, Channel 8: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.; Friday 1:30 p.m. Also serving Beaumont, Port Arthur, Galveston, Texas City and Victoria.
• Killeen, KNCT-TV, Channel 46: Sunday, 5 p.m. Also serving Temple.
• Lubbock, KTXT-TV, Channel 5: Saturday, 10 a.m.
• Odessa-Midland, KPBT-TV, Channel 36: Saturday, 4:30 p.m.
• San Antonio and Laredo, KLRN-TV, Channel 9: Sunday, 1 p.m.
• Waco, KWBU-TV, Channel 34: Saturday, 3 p.m.
• Portales, New Mexico, KENW-TV, Channel 3: Sunday, 2:30 p.m.
• The New York Network, NYN, Thursday 8:30 p.m.; Saturday 2:30 p.m. Serving the Albany area.

Cable

Texas Parks & Wildlife can also be seen on a variety of government, educational and access cable channels in the following communities: Abilene, Allen, Atlanta, Boerne, Collin County Community College, Coppell, Del Mar College, Denton, Flower Mound, Frisco, Garland, Irving, McKinney, North Richland Hills, Plano, Rogers State University, Texarkana College, The Colony, Tyler, Waco and Wichita Falls. Check your local listings for days and times.

TPWD TV Series -- July Highlights Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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

It continues to amaze boating safety educator, Jack Dyess that so many people who boat in Texas think they know the state’s boating laws.

When they are stopped by a water safety enforcement officer for some violation, their first response is “I didn’t know that.” That’s probably true; they didn’t know that…because they don’t know the boating laws.

Dyess says people think that just because they have a license to drive a car, they know everything there is to know about driving a boat.

It’s ridiculous to think that if you know the automobile laws you also know the boating laws…you can’t obey laws that you don’t know anything about.

Texas Parks and Wildlife offers boating safety courses statewide to familiarize everyone with boating laws, navigation rules, docking, anchoring and even handling accidents and emergencies aboard a vessel.

It’s in a classroom, you may take it through the internet, or you can take it through a home study course.

To find a class near you, log on to passporttotexas.org.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program…working to increase fishing and boating opportunities in Texas…

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

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