The Justin Hurst WMA is Now Official
Earlier this year Texas lost a hero. But like Texans do, they made sure he would always be remembered in a way that would befit his contributions to the people and wildlife resources of the state. Justin Hurst, Texas Game Warden, lost his life in a gun battle with a poacher and left behind a legacy as a husband, father and dedicated public servant. For that, and all that he stood for, Texas Parks & Wildlife named the 15,000 acre Peach Point Wildlife Management Area after him during a ceremony on October 12th, 2007.
Its really hard to connect the dots. As a hunter, its hard enough to accept a poacher among our ranks. But, then again, a poacher is not a hunter. He is a thief and a traitor to the men and women who nurture the tradition along. And, in the case of this poacher, he can add murderer to a long list of adjectives that we could list here but would not be fit to write.
Justin left behind a family and friends who thought a lot of him. He earned their respect both professionally and personally. The next time you hunt waterfowl, say a little prayer for Justin and guys like him. They represent all the is good and right about Texas and the outdoorsmen who live in it.
