TP&W TV–Squirrel Hunting: A Fading Tradition
Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Wildlife Restoration Program
Squirrel hunting is often a child’s first introduction to the sport. As Texas Parks and Wildlife television producer Ron Kabele tells us, the tradition is beginning to fade.
One of the reasons is the habitat is going away. A lot of the good squirrel habitat is hardwood bottomland. And, it’s pretty well accepted that we’ve lost just a tremendous amount of the hardwood bottomlands in East Texas.
In a segment this month, the television series follows a father as he takes his daughter squirrel hunting where the healthy habitat still sustains a squirrel population.
This is a beautiful place. And the squirrel habitat—I haven’t seen like this since I was a kid hunting in south Alabama. (gunshot) Macy, be sure he’s dead before you pick him up. I know that. This one? Whoa. That’s cool.
Kabele says biologists he’s talked to fear squirrel hunting may not survive the future, but they keep hope alive.
And so, we’re wanting to continue that tradition in hopes of instilling conservation ethics, and just a love of being in the out of doors.
You can view this story on the Texas Parks and Wildlife television show in August. Find a link to stations that air the series at passporttotexas.org.
That’s our show… For Texas Parks and Wildlife…I’m Cecilia Nasti.