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Texas Agriculture Archive

September 6, 2002

Wildlife Expo set Oct. 5-6

Close to 50,000 people are expected Oct. 5-6 at Texas Wildlife Expo in Austin, thousands of them from Houston, Dallas and points farther away. The outdoor festival will transform the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department headquarters site next to McKinney Falls State Park into a colorful fairground where visitors of all ages can try fishing, shooting, climbing, biking, and more for free.

It began in 1992 as a tribute to hunting's role in conservation. State park and fishing activities were added in subsequent years and the event has broadened to encompass many other outdoor activities. It is now the nation's largest free festival of the outdoors, and other states are looking to Texas, hoping to create similar venues.

"Our state agency depends on public support and income from state park fees and hunting and fishing license sales, so it's vital for us to connect with people, to show them who we are and what we do," said Robert L. Cook, TPWD executive director. "We do this throughout Texas in many ways, but there's no place it all comes together better than Texas Wildlife Expo."

Fishing, climbing, and shooting sports remain popular activities, but the scope of offerings is now much larger. Visitors stroll through gauzy-walled tents and hand-feed colorful butterflies; kids "bug pick" and learn how to tell whether water is clean or contaminated by the creatures found in it; and families see history come alive in horse and wagon encampments where state park employees and volunteers recreate the 1800s with period costumes and accoutrements.

Then there are the shows.

John Karger's birds of prey demonstration, a mainstay since 1992, epitomizes "edutainment," delivering a conservation message while thrilling crowds with live birds of prey. Julie Scardina, the SeaWorld animal ambassador who has been on The Tonight Show and NBC's Today, is coming back for a third year, promising to bring larger and different live animals for her educational and entertaining programs. Shooting and fishing demos likewise wow crowds, and numerous clinics show visitors how to enjoy the outdoors.

The two-day extravaganza takes place from 9 a.m._5 p.m. both days with free parking and free admission for all activities. Visit http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expo for a complete schedule of activities, or call 800-792-1112.