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TEXAS GAME WARDENS COME TO THE RESCUE DURING JULY FLOODING
When storm clouds gathered in the Texas Hill Country and South Central Texas in July, Texas Game Wardens were at the ready along with other state and local first responders.
As flooding intensified, 28 members of the Texas Game Warden Search and Rescue Team responded and assisted with 157 rescues and 92 evacuations.
The dramatic rescues captured on the news didn't happen by chance. They were the result of years of planning, specialized training, and strategic investments that have steadily transformed Texas Game Wardens' search and rescue capabilities.
Major Brent Satsky has watched the evolution firsthand since he first became a member of the Search and Rescue Team more than ten years ago. He responded to the horrific Wimberley floods in 2015 with the limited equipment they had at the time.
“I remember launching the best rescue boat we had available at the time, with no communications equipment, just our life vests and our training,” he recalled. “The noise in a situation like that is hard to convey. We were literally yelling at each other at the top of our lungs, in torrential rain and flooding, calling out obstacles and doing our best in an incredibly chaotic situation."
Satsky is now the Major over the entire Special Operations Unit, which includes the Search and Rescue Team and other specialty teams. His years with the Search and Rescue Team coincide with the 2017 launch and subsequent growth of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s (TPWF) S. Reed Morian Gear Up for Game Wardens program. Through generous donations, Gear Up for Game Wardens provides specialty equipment Texas Game Wardens need to maintain safety and ensure the highest level of service for the people of Texas.
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GEAR UP SWIFTLY GETTING BOATS BACK IN SERVICE
It happened in a matter of seconds during the July flooding in Kerr County. As torrential rain fell at 2:30 in the morning, two Texas Game Wardens arrived on the scene. They passed cars floating down the road and saw a nearby house in danger of coming off its foundation, with people stranded on the roof.
As they prepared to launch a rescue boat into the raging floodwaters, a sudden two-foot surge lifted the trailer off the ground and ripped the boat away. “The water was extremely volatile, and they could barely see because of the amount of rain,” said Captain Matt Kiel, who leads the Texas Game Warden Search and Rescue Team. “The boat was swept away, and in that moment, the only thing that mattered was making sure the game wardens got out safely."
In those split seconds, the more experienced game warden urged his partner to let the boat go. The two retreated to safety, knowing the boat could be replaced. They could not. "I assured them they absolutely made the right decision,” said Kiel. “No equipment is worth anyone’s life."
Despite losing the boat, the game wardens were back in action within minutes, continuing rescues throughout the morning. The people on the roof were safely extracted by another crew.
The state will ultimately replace the lost boat, though this process will take some time. In the meantime, a generous donation from a Gear Up for Game Wardens leadership council member has ensured that a new rescue boat will soon join the fleet.
“This will get us back in the fight faster and will get another team back in the water to do what they do best,” said Kiel. “We're incredibly grateful to the Texans who support Gear Up for Game Wardens. Their generosity helps us do our job safely while giving us the tools we need to save lives."
Learn how you can support the Gear Up for Game Wardens program.
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MEET TEXAS GAME WARDEN ZACH TEMPLE
When natural disaster strikes, Texas Game Warden Zach Temple doesn’t wait to be called. For more than a decade, he’s volunteered to be among the first to respond. As a member of the elite Search and Rescue Team, Temple is on the front lines of some of the most harrowing work Texas Game Wardens perform.
It’s a volunteer assignment that comes with no additional compensation. The work is physically demanding, emotionally taxing, and often dangerous. His first major deployment came less than a year after he joined the team, and he spent nearly two weeks helping evacuate flooded communities across Southeast Texas in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Last year, he was among the first crew to reach Camp Mystic, helping evacuate children before joining fellow game wardens in the heartbreaking search for survivors along the Guadalupe River.
In July 2026, as heavy storms were forecast for the Texas Hill Country and South Central Texas, Temple was staged in Del Rio before deploying across flood-stricken communities in Uvalde, Brackettville, Camp Wood, and Leakey. As rising water cut off roads and submerged low-water crossings, he worked alongside fellow Texas Game Wardens and other first responders to carry out search and rescue operations for stranded residents.
“I think every Texas Game Warden wants to help,” said Temple. "It's a good feeling to be able to help somebody."
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GEAR UP'S IMPACT ON DISPLAY DURING SWIFTWATER TRAINING
Gear Up for Game Wardens Program Director Austin Taylor has been purchasing equipment for the program since it launched in 2017. He’s made literally thousands of purchases of specialized equipment that is now being used by Texas Game Wardens across the state. He’s processed invoices, gotten to know vendors, and he’s helped to organize dozens of fundraisers that keep the program going.
But it was during this summer’s annual swiftwater training at Lake Bridgeport that he was able to see the program’s impact all in one place. Rescue boats were staged, drones were in the air, and dozens of Texas Game Wardens were geared up with waterproof headsets, dry suits, and other specialty equipment provided through the Gear Up for Game Wardens program.
"I was in complete awe seeing literally hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of equipment that Gear Up has purchased over the years,” said Taylor. “It really put into perspective the difference our donors have made, and how they've transformed the capabilities of Texas Game Wardens across the state."
The annual swiftwater training session includes boat-handling exercises and rescue scenarios, all in the turbulent waters below the Lake Bridgeport dam.
"I was amazed at how nimble and how powerful the boats were. I had no idea,” said Taylor.
Experiencing the training firsthand gave Taylor an entirely new appreciation for the work Texas Game Wardens do, and for the donors who help equip them for whatever scenario comes their way.
"Watching that training reminded me why this program matters,” said Taylor. “Every piece of equipment our donors provide helps ensure Texas Game Wardens are ready for the moments when someone's life depends on them most."
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REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL GEAR UP ONLINE AUCTION
The 6th Annual Gear Up for Game Wardens Auction returns Sept. 29 – Oct. 1.
Register today and get ready to bid big on one-of-a-kind items and once-in-a-lifetime experiences—all while supporting Gear Up!
This year’s auction has something for everyone. Looking for a bucket list coastal fishing trip at the historic King Ranch—we got it. Dreaming of an unforgettable Telluride getaway at Madeline Hotel Resort & Residence from Auberge Collection—we have that, too. We also have a large collection of custom firearms from Christensen Arms and Akkar USA to tempt any hunter, and so much more! Register today to preview our growing list of curated auction items that are sure to make your wish list.
Proceeds provide critical operational support for Gear Up for Game Wardens, helping ensure TPWF can continue providing Texas Game Wardens with the life-saving specialty gear they need, from night vision equipment to thermal drones, UTVs, airboats, K-9s, and so much more.
Mark your calendars and gear up for a great cause!
REGISTER TODAY
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GENEROUS TEXANS GIVE BIG TO GEAR UP
Since 2017, Gear Up has received more than 3,000 donations to support the critical work Texas Game Wardens perform every day. Across the state, generous Texans have rallied behind their local game wardens through community fundraising events, and the response is a testament to the relationships Texas Game Wardens nurture in the communities they serve. So far in 2026, these events have raised more than half a million dollars for specialized equipment that has been deployed across the state.
A first-ever Fort Worth event in April raised the funds needed to procure new boats, UTVs, and side scan sonar equipment (pictured above) for Region II in North Texas. And the momentum continues this fall. Texans are invited to join the next Gear Up for Game Wardens fundraiser on Oct. 24 in Tyler. The proceeds for this event will go directly to support priority equipment needs for Region III, which encompasses 22,000 square miles in East Texas.
FIND OUT MORE & REGISTER
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BECOME A FRIEND OF TEXAS GAME WARDENS
By supporting the S. Reed Morian Gear Up for Game Wardens program, you can help ensure TPWF can manage the program and continue purchasing the specialty equipment Texas Game Wardens need to safely protect the wild things, wild places, and people of Texas.
When you become a "Friend of Texas Game Wardens," you become an integral partner in Gear Up’s urgent mission by providing the critical operational support necessary to keep Gear Up going strong. Become a Friend today and see the exclusive items you will receive to show your support of Texas Game Wardens.
Help us continue our mission to support the trusted guardians of our Texas wild. Become a "Friend of Texas Game Wardens" today!
BECOME A FRIEND
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