Passport to Texas

Passport to Texas Outdoor Stories from Texas Parks and Wildlife

Philipp Hübner, from Austin, spent his formative years in Tennessee. His outdoor story is about the value of befriending landowners.

One of the things that strikes me about the great outdoors is there are so many beautiful places that are on private lands. One of the places that comes to mind is in Central Tennessee, up in the Cumberland Mountains, a place called Hardscrabble Falls, which a friend of mine and I had heard about, but could never find on any maps or any places official.

And, from there, we just really grew to appreciate the relationships that people can build with other people that might have beautiful scenery and other attractions on their own private land. So, I’d encourage anybody that has the opportunity to do that, by all means do it. And, enjoy what’s out there.

Thanks, Philipp. Visit passportotexas.org and tell us your outdoor story.

That’s our show for today… Remember: Life’s Better Outside…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

Texas Parks and Wildlife recognizes and honors private landowners for habitat management and wildlife conservation with the Lone Star Land Steward Awards Program.

A land steward is just somebody who just manages and takes care of their land. These folks are very committed to conservation, and maintaining healthy lands under their management.

Linda Campbell is program director for private lands and public hunting.

Each year we open the nominations in June, and anybody can nominate a landowner for recognition in Lone Star Land Steward. So we receive nominations through November. Our biologists in each of the eco-regions visit each of the nominees, and then make a recommendation to those that should be awarded the Lone Star Land Steward award for that eco-region.

Biologists visit nominated landowners who have managed their property for a minimum of 5 years, to evaluate their practices.

They talk with the landowner or the manager. They try to evaluate what types of management actions that they are undertaking. They look at their motivations and really what makes them special in terms of taking care of the resources under their control.

Passporttotexas.org has links to nomination forms.

That’s our show for today… 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

From conservation to cooking, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Television series has you covered in June; writer/producer, Ron Kabele.

In the program that airs the week of June third, there’s one story –it’s about snow geese. One of the frightening things that most people don’t even know about snow geese — there’s six million of them, and that’s about four million too many. They’re literally eating themselves out of house and home. And they’re stripping bare the vegetation that’s around them. And the biologists are worried right now that it’s just going to cause a vicious cycle that’s going to continue for years.

The following week there’s a story at Dinosaur Valley State Park. You hear about dinosaurs all the time, but you don’t make that connection until you see the actual tracks, and that’s what they have there. This isn’t Hollywood. This is the real thing.

Then following week, we went to Big Bend Ranch State Park. And this is the biggest State Park in Texas by Far. It covers three hundred thousand acres, four hundred and fifty square miles – it’s huge. This park was originally a working sheep and cattle ranch…and they even have a lot of outreach programs where people can come in and behave like cowboys.

[Whistling] Anybody that wants to get in here and help…yes sir…good caught there….it’s a hands on experience…they’re out there, you know, working the cattle [moo]…

One of the segments in the show is about learning new skills when you’re outdoors. And, we did a three-part series on cooking with Dutch ovens. They’re one pot meals – it’s a skillet that you cook over the fire.

Thank you, Ron. Check your local listings.

That’s our show for today…For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

National Fishing and Boating Week is June 2 through 10– and it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Texas is diving into the celebration.

Well, right here at the beginning of the summer, we want to celebrate the fact that Texas has a multitude of opportunities for people to get out on the water to enjoy fishing and enjoy boasting and enjoy family time.

Ann Miller is aquatic education coordinator for Parks and Wildlife.

All over the state, we’ve got some wonderful family oriented events that are happening. And these events include fishing clinics and fishing derbies, and they cover the entire state from Lake Arrowhead State Park and Eisenhower State Park, up near the Oklahoma border to Galveston Island State Park and Huntsville State Park. And even in San Antonio and the Austin area – we’ve got lots of state parks who are holding these events.

When it comes to enjoying the outdoors, most people like to add water to the mix.

Every person enjoys water in a different way. But I think there’s just something innate in humans that water is just one of those ingredients that create fun.

Find links to boating and fishing opportunities at passportotexas.org.

That’s our show for today… with support from the Sport Fish Restoration Program… encouraging Texans to participate in Free Sport Fishing Day —Saturday, June 2nd. For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.

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

National fishing day is Saturday June 2nd, and activities for kids and families are planned statewide.

From 9 to noon, Bastrop State Park, in the Prairies and Lakes Region, encourages kids from 6 – 13 to attend a Junior Angler Fishing Clinic, where they’ll learn the basics of freshwater angling, and win prizes.

At the Caprock Canyon State Park and Trailway, located in the Panhandle Plains Region, the whole family can fish for largemouth bass, channel catfish, crappie and sunfish in tranquil Lake Theo from 8 to 5.

Have competitive kiddos? Enter them in the All American Fishing derby sponsored by Wal-Mart, which takes place from 10 to 2 at Cedar Hills State Park just southwest of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Prizes will be awarded at the end of the day.

If you live along the gulf coast, do not pass up your chance to tour the state-of-the-art Conservation Association/Central Power and Light Marine Development Center State Fish Hatchery, from 8 to noon. Participate in catch and release fishing in two stocked hatchery ponds…but bring your own pole and bait since.

Fishing builds bonds between families and creates lifelong memories…it’s fun you can take to the bank.

That’s our show for today…with support from the Sport Fish Restoration program… encouraging Texans to participate in National Fishing Day —June 2nd.

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

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