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Thanks to you, Texas Game Wardens are getting
the specialty gear they need to be safer, more efficient, and more effective.
Hundreds of generous donors have contributed
more than $845,000 since the Gear Up for Game Wardens program launched in 2017.
In recent months, the emphasis has been on
providing specialty gear used in water rescues, which is critically important during
the spring and summer months.
You can help the game wardens in your region who
protect the land, waters, wildlife, and people of Texas.
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The tragic drowning death of Texas Game Warden
Ty Patterson in 2007 underscored the limitation of the standard issue gear and
equipment that game wardens work with every day.
Patterson’s flat-bottom boat was no match for
the swift-moving waters of the Paluxy River as he and another warden attempted
to recover a drowning victim. That tragedy was the catalyst for the development
of the Texas Game Warden Search and Rescue Team, which now consists of 60
highly trained wardens who are scattered across the state.
Thanks to the Gear Up for Game Wardens program,
these wardens now have access to the latest inflatable search and rescue boats,
uniquely suited for rescues in flooding situations or swift water. In Region 7,
which covers the numerous lakes and rivers of Central Texas, two new inflatable
boats have been purchased and are now stationed where Search and Rescue Team
members can get to them quickly.
"It's a huge development to have ready access to this critical gear when we need it," said Capt. Andrew Alexander, who leads the Search and Rescue Team. "Before we had these boats, we would often have
to wait hours to get an inflatable boat from another part of the state. This
equipment is helping us save lives - both those we rescue and those doing the
rescuing. There is no doubt in my mind that there are some
folks whom we have rescued who would not be alive today, were it not for this
equipment being available."
Alexander is hoping the funds can be raised to
purchase a third inflatable boat for Region 7’s many waterways. Each boat costs
$18,000. The Austin Chapter of Safari Club International recently raised
$9,000, and another $9,000 is needed to put a third boat in the water.
Will you help Texas Game Wardens get the
specialty equipment they need?
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Ray Milloway has been a Texas Game Warden since
2012 and has worked out of Lampasas County in Central Texas for the last five
years. He is one of 60 Texas Game Wardens who are part of the Search and Rescue
Team. It’s part-time duty, and each team member undergoes rigorous training on
top of all of their other game warden duties.
When disaster strikes, these wardens are ready
to spring into action to serve and protect fellow Texans. Milloway has been
involved in dozens of rescues over the last few years and is immensely grateful
for the inflatable boats that have become available. He’s hoping funding for
the third boat in Region 7 will come through soon, because it will make his job
safer and he’ll be more effective in rescue situations.
"They have a flexible floor on the bottom, and
they literally hug the water,” he explained. “They can climb over waves, the
buoyancy is better, they don’t easily flip, and they are so much lighter,
faster and more maneuverable. It helps us do the job we need to do when the
conditions are really rough."
When the Llano River flooded last October,
Milloway and other first responders were on the front lines as the river rose
more than 35 feet in 24 hours. Hundreds were evacuated and many were trapped in
their homes, surrounded by swift-moving water. Milloway launched his boat and
maneuvered for several miles through floodwater that was filled with downed
trees, unmoored boats and docks, and all manner of debris. They ended up
rescuing three families from their flooded homes that day, and many more before
it was all said and done.
"There have been so many times that we have
gotten a call for swift water events that happen without any heads-up or
notice,” he said. “We simply do not have enough equipment around the state to
have it in the right place at the right time. We’re very grateful here in
Region 7 to have two additional inflatable boats. We’re hoping the funds will
be raised for a third one soon."
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Sustaining the Gear Up for
Game Wardens program ensures TPWF can manage the program and purchase the
specialty equipment Texas Game Wardens need.
Becoming a Friend of Texas Game Wardens helps us continue our work to
enhance the capabilities of the best-trained corps of conservation officers in
the nation. And with your $100 donation, you will receive a special decal so
you can show your support of Texas Game Wardens.
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Congratulations to our friend Danny Shaw as he
takes on a new role with Operation Game Thief!
Danny retired as Deputy Director of the Law
Enforcement Division at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on June 30, after a
33-year career as a Texas Game Warden. He didn’t miss a beat, and stepped right
into the executive director position with Operation Game Thief (OGT) on July 1.
He’ll be the first executive director in OGT
history. OGT is the original support organization for Texas Game Wardens, and
was formed by the Texas Legislature in 1981. The program encourages Texas
citizens to get involved in conservation by reporting poachers.
“Our mission at Operation Game Thief is to improve the quality of life in Texas by working
together with individuals and communities across Texas to protect the natural
resources that enhance all of our lives,” said Shaw. “Whether you hunt, fish,
birdwatch, or just enjoy a hike in nature, you should appreciate that Texas
Game Wardens protect the wildlife we all love."
You can report
poaching incidents to 1-800-792-GAME (4263) and earn up to a $1,000 reward.
Since the program’s inception, tens of thousands of calls have been made, and
more than $625,000 has been paid out for tips that have led to convictions.
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