Dear Stewards, With fall finally here, we have two statewide SCC trips lined up for you in October. While each trip will lead Stewards to explore vastly different regions of the state, both locations are fantastic examples of Texas' unique wild things and wild places. We still have plenty of space on the Clymer Meadow Preserve visit this Saturday, Oct. 4. Our Oct. 9-12 West Texas Weekend is currently full, but if you're interested please join the waitlist as spots may open up. Links to register are below. Local chapters also have events lined up for members before the holidays! Check out the full events calendar on stewardsofthewild.org periodically to keep up with new opportunities. If you're enjoying what Stewards of the Wild has to offer, please spread the word and encourage your own network, friends, and family to get involved! If you ever have questions or concerns, please reach out to me. In this issue:
- Meet Abilene Chapter Co-Chair Cy Wilson
- RSVP for the SCC visit to Clymer Meadow Preserve
- Join the BCS Chapter for a TAMU Tailgate on October 11
- Join the Dallas Chapter for its Annual State of Conservation Dinner (tickets now discounted!)
- Watch a preview of The American Southwest from filmmaker Ben Masters
- Enter the Lone River + Turtlebox + TPWF sweepstakes
- Preview the 5th Annual Gear Up for Game Wardens Online Auction
See you out there! Katie |
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Upcoming Stewards of the Wild Events |
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Stewards of the Wild Highlights & News |
Thank You 2025 All-Stewards Dove Hunt Supporters and Attendees!
A true team effort, our annual All-Stewards Dove Hunt is made possible each year thanks to our generous supporters and volunteers.
Thank you to the wonderful folks at Trail Ranch Outfitters for hosting us, and to Garrison Brothers for their generosity as this year’s presenting sponsor. Thank you to our good friends at Republic Ranches for presenting a mouthwatering wild game dinner prepared by Jesse Griffiths and the incredible Dai Due team, followed by a legendary dove plucking contest with Jesse. Thank you to Yampa Capital Partners for supporting Stewards’ unlimited 5-stand clay shooting and to our long-time supporters at Veritex Bank, who made it possible for us to offer a dozen awesome raffle prizes, including a customized SOTW Benelli shotgun. Thank you to all of our additional sponsors and supporters who collectively ensure we can continue to deliver impactful conservation programming year-round. And last but definitely not least, thank you to all the Stewards members who show up year after year to join in the weekend's festivities! Check out photos from our friend Lee Fenner using the link below!
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Meet Abilene Chapter Co-Chair Cy Wilson
Cy Wilson has had a fishing pole in his hand since he could walk. “That was what my dad and I did,” he recalled. “My dad was a football coach, and when he wasn’t on the field, he was taking me golfing or fishing. I spent a ton of time out in the woods and on the water, and that really fostered my love for the outdoors.”
That passion stuck. Wilson played football at Abilene Christian University, married his college sweetheart Elizabeth, and settled in Abilene, where they’re now raising three young children. |
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He has built a career as a strength and conditioning coach, training everyone from scholarship athletes to a 75-year-old female client who can deadlift 200 pounds. In his free time, he never strays far from the woods and rivers. “Right around 2018, I really started pushing into hunting again. I took up archery, and that became a huge part of my life.”
His outdoor adventures grew into something larger. “I started planning big paddling trips,” he said. “I’ve done the Devils River three times now, most recently with a group of nine guys. That’s some hardcore camping, paddling, and fishing.”
Along the way, a friend told him about Stewards of the Wild and encouraged him to connect. That’s when he met fellow Abilene outdoorsman Zach Jennings. “Zach was like the last man standing, trying to keep the Abilene Chapter alive,” Wilson said. “I jumped in, and that’s really how I found my people.” |
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Austin Chapter Donates $7,000 to Mentored Hunting Initiative |
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The Austin Chapter dedicated $7,000 of its annual Wild Night event proceeds to the SOTW Mentored Hunting Initiative. The chapter presented the check on Aug. 21 at its Back to the Field event at Duck Camp Austin. Their support ensures that the program can equip new and novice hunters with the tools and resources they need to begin their hunting journey. Thank you to the Austin Chapter for supporting this and many other TPWF initiatives! |
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Join SCC for Clymer Meadow Preserve Visit Near Dallas
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Join the SCC Native Habitat Subcommittee on a visit to The Nature Conservancy's Clymer Meadow Preserve just northeast of Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 9:30 a.m. Clymer Meadow Preserve contains some of the largest and most diverse remnants of the Blackland Prairie—the Texas version of the tallgrass prairie that once stretched from near the Texas Coast to southern Manitoba. This rare, 1,475-acre “island” of natural history is part of a larger conservation area that includes land owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and other private owners. As an excellent example of remnant prairie, the preserve is a key site for research and educational activities. The Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) assists in managing the conservation easement at Clymer Meadow.
Click here for more info on Clymer Meadow Preserve. |
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Join BCS Chapter for Aggie Tailgate & Enter to Win Fatties on the Fly Fishing Trip |
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Join the BCS Chapter on Oct. 11 for a tailgate before the Aggies–Florida game. The chapter will have a shrimp boil and raffle off a fishing trip with our friends at Fatties on the Fly!
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Dallas Chapter State of Conservation Dinner features live performance by country artist Wade Bowen |
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Join the Dallas Chapter for its annual State of Conservation Dinner on Nov. 6 to celebrate the chapter's 12th year! Enjoy a wild game dinner, drinks, and live music from one of Texas’ top country artists, Wade Bowen, all in support of Texas conservation. |
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation Updates |
Experience the Wild Beauty of The American Southwest |
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Texas filmmaker and TPWF ambassador Ben Masters of Fin and Fur Films—known the world over for bringing our wild things and wild places to life on the big screen—has done it again. The American Southwest, produced by Fin and Fur Films in association with American Rivers and Natives Outdoors, follows the 1,450-mile Colorado River from its headwaters in the Colorado Rockies to Mexico’s Gulf of California. Narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse, the film showcases the beauty, resilience, and fragility of the multi-state, bi-national region and the incredible wildlife and communities that depend on the waters of the Colorado. In theaters now, the family-friendly film not only treats audiences to the captivating storytelling and visually stunning filmography for which Fin and Fur Films is best known. It also serves as an urgent reminder of what’s at stake and how we can join the effort to conserve one of America’s most vital regions. |
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Lone River + Turtlebox + TPWF = One Wild Sweepstakes |
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Our friends at Lone River Beverage Company have concocted a Texas-sized sweepstakes to tempt your spirit of adventure. The only thing missing is YOU! Lone River, Turtlebox, and TPWF are teaming up to offer 100+ winners a chance to get outside and enjoy Texas’ great outdoors—the same outdoors that first inspired the creation of the Lone River brand out in Far West Texas. The sweepstakes runs from Sept. 5 - Dec. 31, 2025. Prizes include: - 25 Grand Prize winners will receive a Texas State Parks pass (valid for one year), plus a Turtlebox Ranger® wireless speaker
- 80 First Prize winners will receive a Texas State Parks pass
To enter, text PARKS to 24272, and get ready to choose your adventure, Texas!
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5th Annual Gear Up Auction Sept. 30-Oct. 2 |
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TPWF’s 5th Annual Gear Up for Game Wardens Online Auction returns tomorrow, Sept. 30, through Oct. 2, 2025! Don’t miss your chance to bid on one-of-a-kind items and experiences—all while backing the S. Reed Morian Gear Up for Game Wardens program. Proceeds provide critical operational support for Gear Up for Game Wardens, helping ensure we can continue providing Texas Game Wardens with the life-saving specialty gear they need, from night vision equipment to thermal drones, UTVs, airboats, and so much. Register today and get ready to gear up for a great cause! |
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What else has TPWF been up to?
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Want more? Check out these interesting articles and resources: |
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Thank you to our statewide program sponsor! |
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The Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is the leading wildlife research organization in Texas and one of the finest in the nation. Its mission is to provide science-based information for enhancing the conservation and management of wildlife in South Texas and related environments.
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Stewards of the Wild, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s conservation leadership program, equips emerging leaders aged 21 to 45 with opportunities to actively participate in the stewardship of Texas’ wild things and wild places by providing education, networking, and outdoor experiences.
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Copyright © 2025 Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is: Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation 6220 Gaston Ave. #700 Dallas, Texas 75214 |
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