Story by LSON/TPWF
“Texas game wardens play an important role in the lives of all Texans,” said Dan Flournoy, chair of the Gear Up for Game Wardens Leadership Council.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s Gear Up for Game Wardens program provides specialty equipment to Texas game wardens.
Gear Up for Game Wardens hit a $1 million fundraising mile- stone two years after the program launched. Groups caught on to this initiative and wanted to help support local game wardens in their area.
Texas game wardens working in coastal waters near Rockport now have access to a custom-made shallow water skiff that will allow them to better patrol hard-to-reach marshes and bays. The boat was funded through a partnership with FlatsWorthy, a nonprofit that promotes boating courtesy in Texas’ shallow bays. Veteran fly-fishing guide Chuck Naiser led the effort to create FlatsWorthy.
Through the partnership, more than $60,000 was raised to fund the new skiff.
“We are thrilled at the success of the fundraising partnership that will provide this tool for our game wardens,” said Naiser. “It’s a sign that the public is ready to move forward in a positive way to change the culture on the water, and it’s a sign that users and regulators can come together in agreement and accomplish something that will benefit us all.”
The shallow water skiff maneuvers in areas that conventional boats cannot reach. It is designed to have minimal environmental impact on the shallow waters it will traverse.
TPWF’s young professionals group, Stewards of the Wild, also jumped at the opportunity to support local game wardens.
The Dallas chapter raised more than $27,000 during the annual “State of Conservation” fundraiser event in January.
More than 200 people attended the event where WFAA meteorologist and avid outdoorsman Pete Delkus moderated a panel discussion with several North Texas game wardens, who captivated the crowd with stories about their adventures in conservation law enforcement.
The live auction items offered unique opportunities to have game wardens guide buyers in their backyard, such as a guided fishing trip on Lake Fork with Kurt Kelley, an East Texas duck hunt guided by Derek Spitzer or a varmint hunt with Randolph McGee.
“The Gear Up for Game Wardens program is particularly important since the funds go to buy gear that helps protect our game wardens, our wildlife and those of us out in the field or on the water,” the Dallas Stewards’ president Chris Landers said.
The money raised from the event will be spent in the North Texas region to purchase night vision equipment and a handheld thermal unit. Remaining funding will be used to purchase new binoculars and drone accessories.
