Texas Parks and Wildlife Season 41, Episode 3: Exploring Padre, Mission Tejas, Bat Cave

Fishing Olympics, Bison Bones, Pocket Prairies

Sea Center Texas hosts the annual Special Olympics fishing contest, where athletes compete to catch the greatest weight of fish. In Caprock Canyons State Park, archeologists uncover ancient bison bones at a rare site where indigenous peoples once hunted. Support nature where you live by planting a pocket prairie for pollinators.

30 min

McKinney Falls, RUTA 806, Homeward Bears

McKinney Falls State Park is an urban oasis near the state capital. Motorheads from across the nation pull up to one of Potter county's greatest attractions, RUTA806--an annual ATV off-roading event near the Canadian River. An orphaned black bear cub is released at Devils River State Natural Area.

30 min

Opening Day of Deer Season

Residents of many small Texas towns look forward to deer hunting season, for the time it brings with friends and family, as well as for the economic boost hunting brings to local businesses. See how one community comes alive when hunters arrive.

30 min

Trail Runners, Seminole Canyon, Wild Hog Cook-Off

Trail runners explore the wilds of Texas and discover a sense of empowerment, community, and adventure. Ancient rock art and outdoor recreation will draw you to Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site. See how some South Texans have come up with a tasty way of tackling the feral pig problem.

30 min

Water Bugs, Rolling Plains Wildlife, Turkey Hunter

Meet a biologist that studies some of the two thousand different types of aquatic invertebrates in our rivers and streams. Brad and Melissa Ribelin transformed 1,940 acres of grassland into a thriving wildlife habitat through dedicated land management and conservation partnerships. Follow a conservationist and hunter as he hits the woods in search of the Eastern Wild Turkey.

30 min

Fireflies, RC Planes, West Texas Stewards

Fireflies still inhabit Texas and there are ways to create habitat for them in your own backyard. RC plane pilots at Lake Whitney State Park share the joy and freedom they find in taking to the skies. In a region that is sparsely populated, Tim and Lou Edwards are welcoming hosts and excellent stewards of land that is home to a wide variety of West Texas wildlife.

30 min

Dutch Oven Club, Century Ranch, Youth Bowhunt

Members of the Lone Star Dutch Oven Society whip up some tasty dishes at Cleburne State Park. For 100 years, the 5,600-acre Running V Ranch has been passed down from generation to generation. It's more than just land--it's family. The Texas Youth Hunting Program hosts an archery hunt in the Hill Country.

30 min

Lone Star Hiking Trail and South Llano River State Park

Follow along as a young adventurer tackles her first long-distance hike on the longest trail in Texas and feel her triumphs as well as her aching feet. Visit a Hill Country state park that offers tubing and fishing on the South Llano, and hiking and biking in the hills around it.

30 min

Coastal Boardwalk, Pineywoods Park, Butterflies

Enjoy the sights and sounds of one of the best birding boardwalks on the coast. A Pineywoods haven invites paddling, hiking, and stargazing under dark Texas skies. Some fragile flying insects bring beauty and business to Texas each year. Meet the folks who look out for our butterflies.

30 min

Talking to Owls, Biking Caprock Canyons, Birding Padre

Join a team of researchers as they traverse the Davis Mountains in search of owls. Ride along over natural bridges and through tunnels on the mountain biking trails at Caprock Canyons State Park. See an amazing mix of birds at South Padre Island--a prime destination for birders during the fall migration.

30 min

Dove Hunt, Galveston Island State Park, Cooking Shrimp

There are over a million acres of public hunting lands in Texas. Take a look at one of the state's newest wildlife management areas, where licensed hunters can access land for a dove hunting experience. From the surf and dunes of the Gulf to the bay side's quiet marsh and native prairie, Galveston Island State Park holds a lot to discover. Chef Davis Turner of Austin's Huckleberry fries up some wild caught Texas Gulf shrimp.

30 min

Snapping Turtles, Cooper Lake, Future Fishing Holes

Protected alligator snapping turtles are returned to their natural habitats, after the trafficked animals are saved from interstate poachers. Cooper Lake State Park in northeastern Texas offers shady campsites and cabins, a large lake, and plenty of fun. Fisheries biologist Dan Bennett is working to turn two new Texas reservoirs into trophy bass fishing destinations.

30 min

Baffin Bay, Palmetto State Park, Living with Bears

The salty waters of Baffin Bay have long been a fishing hotspot for anglers on the Texas coast, and folks are working hard to keep it that way. With its lush forest floor and swampy marshes, Palmetto State Park is an unusual slice of the tropics in Central Texas. In the high Chihuahuan desert just north of Terlingua, residents are once again learning to live with bears.

30 min

Bighorn Lambs, Fledgling Birders, Durable Design

Biologists trek into the backcountry searching for bighorn lambs in the Franklin Mountains. A team of young birders, the Happy Hawks, partake in the Great Texas Birding Classic as they search for birds from Houston to Galveston. Coastal state parks need durable structures and design students need projects. See what the Gulf Coast DesignLab at UT Austin is building in parks along the coast.

Bee Seeker, Urban Nests, Wade Fishing

A North Texas researcher investigates the health of our most productive native pollinators, and how we might simply help them bee. Hidden high in branches above the Colorado River in downtown Austin sit a group of nests belonging to a colony of Great Blue Herons. Join a fishing trip for black drum in the shallow waters of the upper Laguna Madre.

30 min

Greener Gulfton, Ranger Laney, Preaching Taxidermist

A park interpreter goes out of her way to make sure all Dinosaur Valley State Park visitors can find a way to connect with nature. In a Houston neighborhood, community members are using nature as a solution to combat blazing temperatures and improve physical and mental health. Meet a man in Utopia who helps save souls, when he isn't helping save lasting mementos of hunting and fishing trips.

30 min

Government Canyon, Paddling Trails, Scrappin Valley

Government Canyon State Natural Area provides a crucial source of drinking water for San Antonio residents. Experience the slow-moving water and natural beauty of Martin Dies, Jr. State Park. Thanks to good stewardship and a lot of birdhouses, the Red Cockaded Woodpeckers of Scrappin Valley are doing so well that they're being exported to other forests that need them.

30 min

Chimney Swifts, Master iNaturalist, Centennial Parks Team

Meet a husband-and-wife team that's spent half of their lives working to save the Chimney Swift. Anybody can use the iNaturalist app to identify plants and animals while also contributing to science. Hear from the team leading the charge to create new parks in Texas and get a sneak peek at the newest land to be developed.

30 min

The Big Sit, Lake Casa Blanca, Fishing Tradition

Birding is a great outdoor hobby that's easy to get into, especially during the Big Sit, where birders of all skill-levels come together to spot migrating birds. Visit Lake Casa Blanca International State Park, a natural oasis in the city of Laredo. Follow an angler fishing for dinner and sport in Trinity Bay.

30 min

Tracking CWD, Fishing for Records, Coastal Paddling Trail

Researchers are studying deer and elk movements in the Texas Panhandle to help stop the spread of fatal Chronic Wasting Disease. Since 1971, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has recognized fishing records of all kinds. Meet a man who holds a record number of records. Enjoy paddling, fishing, and the scenic beauty of Oso Bay on one of the newest Texas Paddling Trails.

30 min

Camino Real, Ecosystem Engineers, Paddle Point Creek

Travel across Texas on the Camino Real de los Tejas and meet a man on a mission to highlight the history, places, and culture of this centuries-old pathway. Prairie dogs play an important role on the short-grass prairies of Texas. Learn about how these fascinating animals help engineer this important ecosystem. Join some kayakers on the Paddle Point Creek Paddling Trail near Dallas.

30 min

Texas Birding Classic, Path Planner, Hill Country Rain

A birding team explores the Texas coast in a race to spot the most species during the Great Texas Birding Classic. Accessibility is taking center stage at new camping sites under construction at the Albert & Bessie Kronkosky State Natural Area. Enjoy a throwback performance of a Texas Hill Country classic.

30 min

Living with Alligators, Lake Whitney, Aspiring Archaeologists

Alligators are native wildlife in Texas, and it is not unusual to see one. Find out what to do if you encounter an alligator. Take a short road trip from DFW to the shores of Lake Whitney. You'll find clear water, plenty of campsites, and a great place to relax with the family. Join some young archaeologists as they learn the tools of the trade and discover the importance of cultural preservation.

30 min

Wildlife Dioramas, Operation Game Thief, Helping Pronghorn

At Fair Park in Dallas is a museum that celebrates Texas' rich natural heritage through detailed dioramas. Operation Game Thief is a 24/7 hotline that lets concerned citizens report hunting, fishing, and boating violations to their local game wardens. A wildlife biologist shows what's being done to stop the spread of creosote and rebuild pronghorn habitat in West Texas.

30 min

Hueco Tanks Pictographs, Cedar Hill, Crested Caracara

Archeologists trek into the desert to uncover and preserve ancient pictographs at Hueco Tanks, revealing stories etched in rock long ago. Explore the diverse outdoor experiences at Cedar Hill State Park, from prairie hikes to mountain biking, accessible trails, camping, and fishing. The Crested Caracara is one of the most intriguing raptors soaring the skies of Texas.

30 min

On the Brazos

On this special episode of Texas Parks and Wildlife, we take a trip down the Brazos River. Join two friends as they enjoy a fishing trip on the John Graves Scenic Riverway. Along the way, meet the folks working to protect the Brazos headwaters from an invasive plant that sucks up water and threatens endangered fish. Also see how Striped Bass are produced at the Possum Kingdom Fish Hatchery.

30 min

Catching Eels, Hunting Tradition, Oyster Farmers

Researchers are getting creative in their methods to study and protect one of the most mysterious fish in Texas waters--the American Eel. Three generations of dove hunters get together at Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area to share good times, make memories and bag some birds. Farm-raised oysters from the Texas Gulf Coast are making a splash in the state's culinary scene.

30 min