Pbs November 3 - 9, 2013, #2203 - Texas parks and wildlife [official]

>> COMING UP ON TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE... >> THERE'S THE HISTORY AROUND IT AND THE TRADITION OF IT. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GO WRONG WITH CLEAN, HEALTHY FOOD. >> THIS PARTICULAR PIECE WAS SET ASIDE AS A HAY MEADOW ABOUT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR. THAT MEANS NO CATTLE WERE EVEN ALLOWED TO GRAZE ON IT. >> THOSE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO HELP SUPPORT CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THIS STATE. >> MOST OF THOSE STUDENTS HAVE NEVER BEEN DOWN A RIVER, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ON A MOUNTAIN TOP, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ACTUALLY OUT OF THEIR CITY ENVIRONMENT. (theme music) ♪ >> TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE, A TELEVISION SERIES FOR ALL OUTDOORS. THIS SERIES IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM. THROUGH YOUR PURCHASES OF HUNTING AND FISHING EQUIPMENT, AND MOTORBOAT FUELS, OVER 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE FUNDED IN TEXAS EACH YEAR. >> ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY RAM TRUCKS. GUTS. GLORY. RAM. (car passing) >> ON A WINTER DAY IN AUSTIN, MARSHALL WRIGHT FIXES SOME FOOD FOR HIS FAMILY. (skillet sizzling) >> THE DUCKS, I ONLY WANT TO DO THEM TO ABOUT MEDIUM RARE. (knife slicing) >> ONION, GREEN BELL PEPPER AND CELERY. WHAT THEY CALL THE HOLY TRINITY. >> MARSHALL HAS BEEN COOKING ALL HIS LIFE, BUT THIS MEAL IS DIFFERENT FROM MOST. >> I'M GOING TO MAKE GUMBO. >> THE PREPARATION FOR IT REALLY BEGAN IN A HUNTER EDUCATION CLASS SIX MONTHS EARLIER. >> WHICH ONE'S GOT THE MOST CONTROL OVER THE FIREARM MUZZLE? >> THE MIDDLE ONE. >> THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE. >> MARSHALL'S INTEREST IN HEALTHY, LOCAL FOOD HAS LED HIM TO EXPLORE HUNTING FOR THE FIRST TIME. >> NOT TO STEREOTYPE BUT I DON'T MAYBE NECESSARILY LOOK LIKE A HUNTER. >> BUT MARSHALL DOES REPRESENT A NEW TREND AMONG CITY-DWELLERS WHO WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM. >> THAT LOOKS GOOD. WE'RE AT THE DOWNTOWN AUSTIN FARMERS' MARKET. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO TRY THEM. I LIKE THE SMALLER ONES AS WELL. SHOPPING AT FARMERS' MARKETS IN GENERAL HAS STARTED TO GAIN A LOT OF POPULARITY. >> THE SMALLER ONES ARE $3 AND THE BIGGEST ONES ARE $5. >> YOU CAN COME TO THE MARKET AND GET FOOD STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE. IT'S GOING TO BE BETTER FOR YOU TO EAT. AND IT'S BETTER FOR THE LOCAL ECONOMY. >> ENJOY, BROTHER. >> THANKS, LARRY. BECAUSE OF THE RISE OF OBESITY IN AMERICA, BECAUSE OF THE FOOD, INC. MOVIES, BECAUSE OF THE MICHAEL POLLAN BOOKS, IT'S HARD NOW TO IGNORE WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM. (crowded market) I HATE TO SAY IT'S TRENDY, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S PEOPLE ARE FINALLY REALIZING WE NEED TO GET BACK TO HOW WE SHOP AND HOW WE EAT. >> AND MARSHALL BRINGS BACK MORE THAN FOOD FROM HIS TRIPS TO THE FARMERS' MARKET. >> I'M ACTUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF SHOOTING A COOKBOOK. >> FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY IS AS MUCH HIS PASSION AS COOKING AND EATING. (clicks) >> SO MUCH FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY IS FOCUSED ON THAT FINISHED DISH. I LIKE THE PROCESS OF COOKING THE FOOD OR PREPARING THE FOOD AS MUCH AS I DO THE EATING OF THE FOOD, AND THEN TO CAPTURE THAT WITH PHOTOGRAPHY. >> WHEN MARSHALL IS NOT AT THE COMPUTER FOR HIS PHOTOGRAPHY OR HIS JOB IN SOCIAL MEDIA, HE ALSO KEEPS A BLOG, ABOUT, YOU GUESSED IT, FOOD. >> MY BLOG IS VERY HEAVY ON PHOTOGRAPHY, BUT I DEFINITELY GOT INTO IT AS A MEANS OF EXPLORING MY PASSION FOR FOOD. FOR THE MOST PART I JUST LIKE TO EAT. >> THIS FOCUS ON FOOD HAS LED TO MARSHALL'S INTEREST IN GETTING SOME THE TRADITIONAL WAY. >> THIS SHOTGUN HERE CAME FROM MY FATHER-IN-LAW. THERE IS A PRIMAL, BACK TO BASICS ELEMENT OF IT THAT I THINK IS VERY PROMINENT IN FOOD CULTURE RIGHT NOW. WHAT CAN WE DO AND HOW CAN WE FIND WAYS TO EAT THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE EATING? AND SO HUNTING SEEMED TO BE OBVIOUSLY A LOGICAL STEP TO THAT. >> MARSHALL WRIGHT. >> SO WHAT NOW THAT MARSHALL HAS LEARNED THE RULES OF HUNTER SAFETY? >> YOU GOT A 92. CONGRATULATIONS. >> YEAH, NOW WHAT? PROBABLY OUGHT TO LEARN HOW TO SHOOT A GUN. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD START. >> OUR GOAL TODAY IS JUST ESSENTIALLY FAMILIARIZATION WITH A SHOTGUN. >> TO GET SOME HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, MARSHALL ALSO ENROLLS IN A HUNTER EDUCATION FIELD COURSE. >> SO TODAY WE'RE GOING AFTER THESE BIRDS CALLED SKEET. (chamber clicks) OKAY, NOW IT'S LOADED, READY TO GO, KEEP YOUR FINGER OUTSIDE THE TRIGGER GUARD UNTIL WE'RE READY TO FIRE. >> PULL. IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATING. >> NICE. YOU HAVE TO MOVE THE MUZZLE TO THE BIRD. OKAY? >> PULL. THERE'S MORE TO THINK ABOUT THAN I THOUGHT. >> OKAY, NICE. WHAT YOU HAD PROBLEMS DOING IS FINDING THE BIRD QUICKER. >> PULL. I'VE SHOT A SHOTGUN ONCE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME. >> OOOH, JUST BELOW IT. >> PULL. (gun shot) I HIT ZERO. I WANT TO BIRD HUNT. UH, IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME MORE PRACTICE, BUT I'LL DEFINITELY GET IT. (gun shot) >> YOU JUST SCRATCHED THE LEFT EDGE OF IT. >> I AT LEAST GOT A LITTLE PIECE OF ONE. >> WHAT IS THIS PART CALLED? >> THAT'S THE BUTT. >> THE STOCK. >> STOCK, THERE YOU GO. >> AS MARSHALL FINDS OUT, IF YOU DON'T GROW UP HUNTING, LEARNING THE ROPES CAN TAKE SOME EFFORT. WHILE INTEREST AND DETERMINATION GO A LONG WAY, GETTING STARTED MAY MEAN FINDING FRIENDS WHO ALREADY HUNT OR HIRING A GUIDE. >> ALRIGHT, ROLL THAT OVER ON THE BOLT HANDLE IF YOU WOULD PLEASE. DOWNRANGE BUT IN THE SAME POSITION... >> FORTUNATELY, THROUGH A CONTACT FROM THIS CLASS, MARSHALL IS INVITED ON HIS FIRST HUNT. >> THAT'S SOMETHING. >> ALL THE PREPARATION MAY SOON PAY OFF. (gunshots) (applause) >> ALRIGHT, NAILED IT! >> YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT 'GRAB A GUN, AND GO SIT OUT IN THE WOODS AND SHOOT SOMETHING.' THERE'S A LOT THAT'S INVOLVED IN GETTING TO THIS POINT. I DO HOPE IT'S SUCCESSFUL. EITHER WAY I GET TO BE OUTSIDE, AND WE GET TO BE IN NATURE AND DO SOMETHING FUN. YES MA'AM. I NEED TO GET A HUNTING LICENSE PLEASE. >> OKAY, AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE HUNTING FOR? >> UH, FOR DUCK. AND THEN I HAD TO GO BUY A HUNTING LICENSE, WHICH I WENT AND DID THIS MORNING. SO I'M LICENSED NOW OFFICIALLY... AND I'M GOING TO GET SOME AMMO FOR THE HUNT AND, YEAH, THEN WE'LL BE READY TO GO EARLY, FIVE THIRTY IN THE MORNING TOMORROW. (duck calls) >> ALRIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND SIT DOWN AND GET READY. (duck calls) IT WAS PRETTY SLOW. THIS PROPERTY TYPICALLY WILL HAVE FIVE TO TWELVE FLIGHTS OF BIRDS. >> GET IT. SHOOT. SHOOT! (gun shots) >> FAR OFF ONE? >> NO BIRD. WE SAW FOUR GROUPS OF BIRDS WORK. BUT THAT'S PART OF HUNTING. (wind) (duck calls) >> JUST SITTING THERE WAITING AND THE ANTICIPATION OF WHEN THE BIRDS ARE GOING TO COME AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THEY COME, AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE STUFF THAT YOU LEARNED IN HUNTER EDUCATION AND THINKING ABOUT YOUR FIREARM, AND JUST EVERYTHING ABOUT IT RUNS THROUGH YOU IN A SPLIT SECOND. IT WAS EXCITING! >> THERE ARE SOME BIRDS UP TOP. TAKE 'EM! (gun shots) GOOD SHOT. DIXIE! (splash) NICE SHOT, MARSHALL. NICE SHOT. MARSHALL DID GREAT. YOU KNOW, I'M IMPRESSED. >> I HAPPENED TO BE LUCKY AND GOT A COUPLE. >> NICE SHOOTING. >> THANKS! (cows moo) >> YOU KNOW, WE COULD GO PURCHASE A COW FOR ABOUT $600 IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO HOME WITH SOME MEAT. (laughs) THESE ARE FREE RANGE, ORGANIC.... (music) >> WE DIDN'T SEE A LOT OF BIRDS, BUT WE SAW ENOUGH THAT IT WAS SUCCESSFUL. (music) >> IT WAS FUN. I'M ABSOLUTELY GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. OKAY, LET'S EAT. BEING ABLE TO GO DO A HUNT, AND THEN COME BACK AND BE ABLE TO SHARE IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE, I THINK THAT'S, SEEMS TO BE A NICE TREND THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET BACK TO. GOOD DUCK IN THERE. THAT TASTES NICE. >> DADDY, I LIKE YOUR GUMBO. >> THANK YOU, MAGGIE. >> IS MY FACE MESSY? (laughs) (music) >> UP IN NORTH EAST TEXAS YOU'LL FIND DAPHNE PRAIRIE, AND THAT GUY OVER ON THE HILL, THAT'S LANDOWNER B.F. HICKS. NOW THIS PRAIRIE IS SPECIAL... YA SEE THESE MOUNDS ARE CALLED MIMA MOUNDS... AND THEY'RE HERE BECAUSE THIS LAND HAS NEVER BEEN PLOWED. >> THIS PARTICULAR PIECE WAS SET ASIDE AS A HAY MEADOW ABOUT THE TIME OF THE CIVIL WAR, THAT MEANS NO CATTLE WERE EVEN ALLOWED TO GRAZE ON IT. SO YOU'VE GOT THESE PIMPLE MOUNDS THESE MIMA MOUNDS SOMETIMES CALLED THAT ARE LIKE PIMPLES ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND THEY'RE ACTUAL GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS, THE TALLEST LEFT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. (music) I GUESS YOU'D HAVE TO CALL IT PRIDE OF PLACE. I GREW UP HERE, I WAS ALWAYS AROUND THIS PROPERTY, MY FAMILY ALWAYS TOOK A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT, I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN IT. >> THESE MIMA MOUNDS ARE JUST SO ASTOUNDING THERE'S VERY LITTLE OF THESE LEFT ANYWHERE. WE DID SURVEYS OF PRAIRIES ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO AND WE FOUND THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE PRAIRIES THAT ARE NATIVE STILL LEFT IN THE WHOLE STATE OF TEXAS. THAT MEANS THAT THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY RARE PRAIRIE AND WE'RE EXCITED THAT B.F. HAS WORKED SO HARD TO MAINTAIN IT AND SAVE IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. (Fire crackles) >> TO HELP PRESERVE IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS B.F. SETS FIRE TO THIS PRAIRIE EVERY OTHER YEAR. >> WE DO PRESCRIBED BURNS OUT HERE ON THE PRAIRIE TO REDUCE *** STEM GROWTH, WE ALSO DO IT TO INCREASE NUTRIENTS BACK INTO THE SOILS, YA KNOW IT'S JUST A GOOD ALL NATURAL WAY TO DO IT. >> THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO TRY AND STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND PROTECT WHAT WE CAN AND IF SOMETHING WAS GIVEN TO US AND IS PASSED TO US, THAT'S OUR LEGACY AND I'LL DO WHAT I CAN TO PROTECT IT! >> THE BIGGEST JOY FOR B.F. IS TO OPEN UP HIS PRAIRIE HOME TO ANYONE THAT WANTS TO VISIT. (music) >> THIS IS MY FIRST TIME, AND I'M EXCITED. MY CHILDREN ARE EXCITED, SO IT'S MY VERY FIRST TIME. (American kestrel calls) >> UP IN THE TREE IS AN AMERICAN KESTREL. IT'S OUR SMALLEST BIRD OF PREY, IT'S A RAPTOR, IT'S A FALCON. (Upland Sandpiper calls) >> THERE GO TWO OF EM, RIGHT THERE! >> EVERYBODY SEE EM! THERE THAT, WHEW, WHEEW, WHEEEW! THAT UPLAND SANDPIPER THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT, HE'S JUST PASSING THROUGH, AND THE DAPHNE PRAIRIE IS LIKE A GAS STATION WHERE YOU GOTTA REFUEL ON A LONG JOURNEY. SOME OF OUR GRASSLAND SPECIES ARE IN SEVERE DECLINE, SPECIES LIKE THE EASTERN MEADOWLARK AND THE NORTHERN BOB-WHITE, AND IT'S CRITICAL THAT WE HAVE PROPERTIES LIKE THIS DAPHNE PRAIRIE TO GIVE THOSE SPECIES A PLACE TO CALL HOME. (music) >> THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PLACES IN TEXAS WHERE SMALL CHILDREN CAN COME OUT ON AN OPEN PIECE OF LAND AND TRAPE BACK ACROSS GRASSLANDS, PRAIRIES, I WANT TO SHARE THAT. >> YOU CAN HEAR THAT MEADOWLARK HE'S MAKING THAT CHATTER. (Eastern Meadowlark) >> IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF BLACK... >> I LIKE THE FACT THAT HE'S UM, ABLE TO SEE THE DEFINING COLORS OF A BIRD UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. YEP, THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT! THE LOOKS ON THEIR FACE IS PRICELESS, AND TO SEE MY CHILDREN SO ANXIOUS TO COME OUT, THIS IS SO AMAZING. I CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN! >> THE GATES ARE ALWAYS OPEN OR WILL BE OPEN FOR THEM, AS LONG AS I LIVE ANYWAY. (music) >> I LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, I LIKE THIS... EXPERIENCING STUFF. I LIKE THAT GOING OUT THERE. I MIGHT BE A BACKPACKER. >> THEY SAY THE MOUNTAINS WITH THE GAPS IN THEM, THAT'S WHERE THEY WAS TRAVELING THROUGH. >> I THINK THIS IS COOL. THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. >> NICOLE AMY IS A SOPHOMORE AT ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL IN HOUSTON. SHE'S ONE OF 24 STUDENTS WHO HAVE COME TO SPEND A WEEK IN THE MOUNTAINS. A WEEK AWAY FROM THE CITY. >> OOH, SUCK UP THIS AIR, MAN! IT'S TIME TO GO. IT'S TIME TO GO, MAN. >> THAT'S GOING TO BE, LIKE, INTENSE; WE'RE GOING ON TOP? >> NO, MAN, YA GOTTA HAVE FAITH! >> OH, MAN. WE'RE GONNA TO GO TO THE TOP! >> ALL THESE TEENAGERS COME FROM HOUSTON'S INNER CITY. THEY'RE SMART, AMBITIOUS, AND ENTHUSIASTIC. BUT UP TILL NOW, THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCE HAS CENTERED ON URBAN SURROUNDINGS. >> YOU MUST NOT LIKE HEIGHTS. >> FOR MOST OF THESE STUDENTS, IT'S THEIR FIRST CHANCE... >> WE FINALLY MADE IT! >> TO SEE... >> THAT WAS AWESOME! >> A MOUNTAINTOP. >> I WANT TO GO HIGHER NOW. >> (singing)I BELIEVE I CAN FLY. I BELIEVE I CAN TOUCH THE SKY. >> I DON'T KNOW, LIKE IN HOUSTON AND STUFF, THERE'S SO MUCH HUSTLE AND BUSTLE AND ALL THIS NOISE GOING AROUND; AND HERE, YOU CAN HEAR PEOPLE'S VOICES, BUT YOU HEAR THE WIND MORE, AND THE WIND IS LIKE, SO... OH MAN! (wind blowing hard) OH, MAN. THIS IS COOL. THIS ISN'T HIGH ENOUGH FOR ME. I WANT TO CLIMB THAT ONE! THIS WOULD BE SUCH A SPIRITUAL PLACE TO BE, I GUESS. 'CAUSE I MEAN, YOU'RE SO HIGH UP AND A HUMAN JUST CAN'T NOT THINK ABOUT HOW CLOSE YOU ARE TO GOD FROM RIGHT HERE. >> AH, YEAH, RIGHT. COME ON... STAND RIGHT HERE. THERE GOES THE RIDGE RIGHT THERE. I LOVE THIS, MAN! I LOVE ADVENTURE. OOH, WE TOO HIGH! WE TOO HIGH! >> THESE TEENS WERE BROUGHT HERE BY THE KORIMA FOUNDATION, WHOSE VOLUNTEERS USE THE DESERTS AND MOUNTAINS OF WEST TEXAS AS A HUGE NATURAL CLASSROOM. >> DANG! CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT'S WHERE WE WERE?! >> MOST OF THESE STUDENTS HAVE NEVER BEEN DOWN A RIVER, THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ON A MOUNTAINTOP. THEY'VE NEVER BEEN ACTUALLY OUT OF THEIR CITY ENVIRONMENT. I GUESS THIS IS ALMOST LIKE TAKING SOMEBODY TO THE MOON. IT IS SUCH A RADICAL EXPERIENCE. >> WE'RE COMING DOWN TO THE MUDDY RIO GRANDE. >> THIS IS IT? >> THAT'S MEXICO RIGHT THERE. >> SO IF WE CROSS THIS RIGHT HERE, WE'RE IN MEXICO. >> THAT'S IT RIGHT OVER THERE. THAT LITTLE MUDDY BANK OVER THERE. THAT'S MEXICO. >> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST CLEAN. >> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BIGGER WITH, LIKE, FENCES OVER THERE. THERE WOULD BE ARMY PEOPLE. YEA, AND LIKE GUARDS BLOCKING IT. BUT THERE'S JUST A LITTLE BOAT. I DON'T THINK I'LL BE GOING TO MEXICO ANY TIME SOON. >> THAT'S ANOTHER THING. LET'S GET BACK ON TRACK ON WATER. PEOPLE TRY TO RATION WATER AND IT DOESN'T WORK. WE'VE FOUND PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIED WITH A QUARTER OF A CANTEEN OF WATER BECAUSE THEY WERE TRYING TO RATION IT. PSYCHOLOGICALLY THEY WERE SAYING, "WELL, "IF I'VE STILL GOT SOME WATER, I'M GOING TO BE ALRIGHT." IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY. IT DOESN'T DO YOU ANY GOOD IN YOUR CANTEEN, WHEN YOU'RE THIRSTY, YOU NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DRINK. >> OH, THREE BOYS AND ONE GIRL. AND NO FIRE. THIS IS HORRIBLE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE YOU ALL GUYS. >> THAT MAN MAKES IT LOOK SIMPLE. >> MONICA, COULD YOU BRING ME A PIECE OF SANDWICH? MY GROUP AIN'T STARTING NO FIRE. >> IT'S JUST PRACTICE. IT'S LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE. YOU DON'T READ A BOOK ABOUT BASKETBALL AND THEN GO OUT AND PLAY AGAINST MICHAEL JORDAN. I MEAN, YOU KNOW. ARE YOU GETTING TIRED? >> YEA. >> OK, STOP AND VERY EASILY PULL IT UP. JUST VERY EASILY. AND GATHER YOUR TINDER AROUND THERE IN SHORT GENTLE PUFFS AT FIRST. YOU GUYS ARE DOING GOOD. >> YEA, THAT TEAM. THEY GOT A FIRE. >> FIRE! >> OH, THEY GOT A FIRE! >> OH, YEA. >> THERE YOU GO, THERE YOU GO. >> I KNEW YOU COULD DO IT. >> ALRIGHT. LOVE IT, MAN. >> I WANT TO TAKE HOME, I THINK I'M BUILDING MY SELF-ESTEEM UP. >> UUUUHHHH. >> I CAN DO IT. THAT'S WHAT I THINK I CAN TAKE HOME. CAUSE LIKE BEFORE WHEN I CAME UP HERE, I WAS LIKE, I KNOW I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO CLIMB NO ROCKS AND NO MOUNTAINS AND STUFF. AND LIKE, YESTERDAY, WE WENT OVER THERE AND WAS, LIKE CLIMBING, AND I DID IT. SO I THINK I'M BUILDING MYSELF UP. I CAN DO MORE THINGS THAN I THINK I COULDN'T DO. (music) >> FATHER GOD, LORD, I JUST LIFT UP THIS DAY TO YOU, FATHER. AND I THANK YOU FOR JUST GIVING US LIFE ONE MORE TIME, FATHER. AND I ASK THAT WE DON'T TAKE FOR GRANTED THE BEAUTIFUL SCENES THAT YOU'VE PUT IN FRONT OF US, FATHER GOD. AND I KNOW THAT YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF US, FATHER, AND YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF US. AMEN. (music) >> ♪ ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT. ♪ ♪ GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM. ♪ ♪ MERRILY, MERRILY, ♪ ♪ MERRILY, MERRILY, ♪ ♪ LIFE IS BUT A DREAM. ♪ (music) >> LOOK AT THEM. THEY'RE TOGETHER. RIGHT ON. >> YOU'RE THE MOST OFF PERSON. >> NO, NO. >> YES. >> NO. NO. >> WE'RE GOING TO SPIN AROUND HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE. HERE WE GO. >> WOOOOOW. I FEEL LIKE I'M IN THE BAMBOO SHOOT. RIGHT ON. BACK, BACK. (music) SHE LOST HER STICK. BACKPADDLE. (music) WE GOTTA CATCH THAT STICK! >> AH, MAN. WE WORKED UP A HUNGER. >> YOU KNOW WHAT I WAS THINKING, WHEN WE GOT OFF THE RAFT. MAN, I'M SO PUMPED AND STUFF RIGHT NOW. I BET WHEN I GET OUT I'M JUST GOING TO RUN AROUND. LIKE, AND THEN I FELL ASLEEP AND I WOKE UP, AND I ALMOST STARTED CRYING CAUSE I HURT SO BAD. IT'S LIKE, WHAT WAS I THINKING. I'M NOT GOING TO RUN AROUND. >> OK, I AIN'T GOING TO LIE. I AIN'T GOING TO LIE. IT WAS HARD FOR, IT WAS HARD FOR A MINUTE. AND THEN WE HAD TO WORK TOGETHER. WORK TOGETHER. AND THEN WE GOT IT GOING ON. >> MAN, I NEVER HURT SO BAD IN MY ARMS IN MY LIFE. HEY, IS THERE ANY PLANTS OUT HERE THAT WILL HELP SORE MUSCLES? THEY DO EVERYTHING ELSE. (crickets) >> OK, YOU ALL WANTED TO SING ONE TOGETHER? WELL, LET'S JUST DO IT, WHAT DO YOU SAY. YOU ALL SAID THAT YOU KNEW ***-BY-AH, HUH? WHO WANTS TO START IT? ♪ SOMEONE'S CRYING, LORD, ♪ ♪ ***-BY-AHHHH. ♪ >> WHAT THE...? >> WHAT'D HE SAY? >> ♪ SOMEONE'S CRYING, LORD, ♪ >> EVEN THOUGH IT'S SOLITUDE, I REALLY DON'T FEEL ALONE CAUSE I FEEL, LIKE, THE PRESENCE OF GOD. WHEN YOU'RE IN THE CITY, YOU GOT STUFF, LIKE, DISCOURAGING YOU AND ALL THAT STUFF. AND YOU FEEL ALONE, LIKE, JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S GOING THROUGH WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH. BUT OUT HERE IT'S LIKE, THERE'S AN UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN YOU AND GOD AND YOU AND NATURE. >> ♪ OH, LORD, ***-BY-AHHHH. ♪ (applause) >> OUT HERE UNDER THE STARS, THE WORLD SEEMS SO MUCH BIGGER. THE POSSIBILITIES SO MUCH GREATER. THESE TEENAGERS ARE BEGINNING A LIFE-LONG JOURNEY, REALIZING THAT ANYTHING IS WITHIN THEIR GRASP. SUDDENLY, THOSE STARS SEEM A LITTLE CLOSER THAN THEY USED TO. >> FISH MAKES YOU BRAINY, BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL. (music) >> TO CELEBRATE ITS GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE TELEVISION IS ADDING HUMOR TO AN OLD FILM REEL AS A TRIBUTE TO THE PAST 50 YEARS. >> THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT HAVEN'T CHANGED IN THE 50 YEARS. OUR MISSION IN SERVING ALL TEXANS AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WE'RE CHARGED TO STEWARD IS GOING TO STAY THE SAME. (music) FROM OUR FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE BIOLOGISTS AND OUR GAME WARDENS AND PARK RANGERS AND EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SPECIALISTS, ALL AROUND THE STATE WILL KEEP CARRYING ON THIS MISSION EVERY SINGLE DAY, SERVING TEXAS. >> TO COMMEMORATE THE ANNIVERSARY, THE AGENCY HAS CREATED A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FEATURING HALF-CENTURY MILESTONES, BOTH GOOD... AND BAD. >> HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS AND OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS IS LITERALLY CHANGING BY THE DAY. THE ADVANCES IN SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS US TO COMMUNICATE MORE EFFICIENTLY AND MORE EFFECTIVELY. >> TO FURTHER THIS TECHNOLOGY, TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE HAS SET UP A 50TH ANNIVERSARY WEB PAGE AT LIFESBETTEROUTSIDE.ORG WHERE PEOPLE CAN SHARE STORIES AND PHOTOS AND INSPIRE OTHERS TO ENJOY NATURE. >> REALLY THE LAST 50 YEARS HAVE BEEN THE GOLDEN YEARS FOR THE STATE'S FISH AND WILDLIFE AND OUTDOOR RECREATION. AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD TO CELEBRATE THIS 50TH BIRTHDAY. BUT WE'RE ALSO EQUALLY PROUD TO LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 50 YEARS. (Eagle cry) >> THE AGENCY HOPES PEOPLE WILL SIGN UP TO BECOME A TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE AMBASSADOR AND PLEDGE TO DO THINGS LIKE VISIT STATE PARKS, TAKE A KID HUNTING OR FISHING, AND WATCH AND SHARE A VIDEO SHOWCASING WHAT'S MADE LIFE BETTER OUTSIDE IN TEXAS. >> WE ABSOLUTELY APPRECIATE ALL TEXANS WHO TAKE THE TIME TO HUNT OR FISH OR VISIT THEIR STATE PARKS. THOSE OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS ARE THE ONES THAT PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION AND OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THIS STATE. THIS SERIES IS FUNDED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM. THROUGH YOUR PURCHASES OF HUNTING AND FISHING EQUIPMENT, AND MOTORBOAT FUELS, OVER 40 MILLION DOLLARS IN CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE FUNDED IN TEXAS EACH YEAR. >> ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY RAM TRUCKS. GUTS. GLORY. RAM.