Great story that I can relate too!!!  It must have been great to grow up on the Trinity River, I bet there was some great Aligator Gar fishing, how about some Redfish action.  I agree with you that we need to pas on the blessed tradition of enjoying the great outdoors to our youth, male and female.  There are too many positive benefits for our youth to gain and knowledge about conservation to deny this.  I am a firm believer that more programs and federal money need to focus on developing such educational programs to encourage young sportsmen to pursue outdoor activities as a positive way of life.  I am soory to hear that living in an Urban environemnent did not work out for you, I also have a similiar problem, but just have found a way to make it work.

Call when u see the birds or can hear them. as far as the actual calling. youtube is pretty good or the primos how to vid is good to.my opinion on the best way to learn how to call is find the ducks sitting on another pond or a river. and just listen. i am from the midwest and that is how i learned on ducks and geese. i would go fishing and while i was waiting for a bite or casting i was always listening to the birds. hope thats helps. with the dekes biggest thing is give the birds a hole to land into and put that hole where u want to shoot the birds.

Whack em and stack em good luck hope yall get some birds

I was born and raised on the Gulf Coast and there are many hunting opportunities, it really depends on what you got you heart set on, Duck hunting, hog hunting, deer hunting, Geese Hunting, and what price range you are willing to pay?  If it were me, i would do a cast and blast (ducks and reds / trout) either in Rockport or further down south in the Laguna Madre.  But I would not count out researching some great deer or hog hunts on the Guld Coast that can be very special, the South Texas brush is just amazing on some of the coastal areas.  And if you don't have any success in the field with a riffle, get out the old fishing pole and try your luck at some fine saltwater species, winter time there can be some great fishing to be had!!!