Texas Hunting Times

Mule Deer Hunting in Texas: Habitat and Herd Management

The mule deer hunting found across West Texas is pretty darn good, but it’s not by accident. Mule deer are an important resource because the demand for hunting is high and the income generated from hunting packages and leases has been an important component income for most landowners over the mule deer’s range. Their economic value has prompted many ranchers to become more aware of the management needs for mule deer. Indeed, many land use decisions (for example, livestock stocking rate, water developments, brush control) can have a major impact on mule deer. The extent of the impact, and whether it is positive or negative, depend primarily on the degree to which wildlife requirements were considered.

Deer management, like livestock management, varies from one ranch to another depending upon land characteristics and the rancher’s objectives. Just as some areas have a higher grazing capacity for cattle, some areas have a higher carrying capacity for mule deer. Simply stated, deer management involves three principles habitat management, population management and people management. Obviously, each of these will affect the others so it takes the right mix of this inputs to achieve the proper results.

The presence of suitable habitat determines where and in what abundance mule deer will be found. Generally, habitat management involves plant management, the two key points being knowing what plants are important for mule deer food and cover as well as knowing how to manipulate them. For rangeland habitats in West Texas, management tools may include grazing practices, brush management, supplemental water development, prescribed burning and receding operations as helpful wildlife management practices.

The next important factor for producing and maintaining mule deer is population or her management. This means property owners keep the deer population in balance with the habitat’s carrying capacity. It also involves manipulating the age and sex ratios, herd density and other factors affecting population growth (predation, migration, competition with white-tailed deer and exotics). Generally, population management centers around regulating deer harvest levels.

It’s important to note that mule deer and white-tailed deer management are not the same. There is a lack of definitive deer movement patterns and other population-related phenomena, such as natural mortality and competition with livestock which continues to hamper mule deer management in West Texas. Researchers within the state of Texas are conducting ongoing studies to get more information.

Lastly, hunter management is important because it is the means for managing mule deer population. This means landowners, maybe with help from wildlife biologists, must make harvest the proper number of deer annually, and the right deer on top of that. The age structure of the herd is important, especially as it relates to quality and buck harvest. Mule deer management in West Texas is looking good, spurred on by those interested in hunting, but there are still some unknowns that may help in future years. There is no denying that mule deer are interesting animals, and hunting them is a totally different ball game.

Turkey Hunting in Texas Takes Planning, Management

There are good numbers of wild turkey found throughout Texas, but the best tip I can offer for better turkey hunting is to develop better habitat on the property that you hunt. Proper land use and habitat management is critical to keeping birds on your property if they are in the area. With the large amount of Texas that is kept in pasture or improved pasture, it would appear that we have all the permanent openings that we would ever need for wild turkeys. In some cases this is true, but often pastures and fields offer little for turkeys.

Openings are needed to provide important summer range for young turkeys and can provide an excellent source of food for the flock year-around. Before discussing food plots one thing should be made clear, we are talking about openings that are already established. Do not clear trees to create openings. It is a lot harder to grow a mast producing oak or dogwood than grass. Use the openings that already exist and manage those areas for turkey, whether it be through planting spring food plots for turkey or the planting of native forbs and grasses.

A 10 to 20-foot wide strip of high weeds should be left along the edge of mowed fields, fence rows, and pastures for nesting and escape cover. Property owners can also increase spring and summer production of annual weeds and grasses next to these unmowed strips by shallow disking an adjacent 15 foot strip after the first winter freeze. This will make obtaining food easier for hens that nest in the weeds during the spring and will provide a ready supply of insects for the young when they hatch.

Plants found in fields and openings should be reduced by late winter with mowing, disking, close grazing, or burning to discourage hens from nesting where mowing may later destroy turkey nests. Therefore, do not mow, disc, or burn the high weeds purposely left along fence rows and woodland borders to encourage nesting.

Pastureland can provide much of the open habitat needed for turkeys if the adjacent woodlands contain a variety of mast producing hardwoods and fruit producing shrubs. When pastureland is used for both wild turkey habitat and hay production, care must be taken during cutting and bailing operations. Nesting hens may be killed or their nests destroyed if fields are mowed during the nesting season.

In addition, even mowing around a nest site will usually be of little benefit since this just tends to pinpoint the nest for predators. Leaving a small, unmowed area in an otherwise mowed field appears to act as a red light alerting predators to an area needing investigation. Most turkey nesting is completed by the end of May, waiting to mow until early June will give your turkeys a chance for eggs to hatch and poults to go mobile.

Better turkey hunting can be achieved in the parts of Texas where birds are found by managing both the habitat and the turkey population found on a property. The easiest way to have more turkeys is to provide the habitat they need and then let them produce those birds on an annual basis. Weather is also a factor, but it always comes down to whether hens can find a suitable place to nest. A lack of habitat means little to no successful nests and that equates to no new birds and reduced hunting in the future.

Hunting Turkey in Texas: Banded Birds Reveal Habitat Use, Nest Success

The spring turkey hunting season in Central Texas should be decent despite the current, dry conditions. That’s because the the bulk of the birds making up this year’s harvest were hatched two or more years ago. Biologists with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) know quite a bit about Rio Grande turkeys, but they do hope to find out more about this wide-ranging birds over the next few years.

Earlier this year, a total of 50 Rio Grande turkeys were banded in Llano and Mason counties. All of these birds were fixed with an aluminum band on one leg and a colored (also aluminum) leg band on the other. Some of this Hill Country turkeys are even sporting designer backpacks and state-of-the-art electronics. They are not trying to be fashion statements, but rather these birds are forced participants in a high-tech information exchange.

Earlier this year, TPWD biologists working closely with local landowners trapped, tagged and outfitted these birds with GPS tracking devices for Rio Grande wild turkey fieldwork to identify specific habitat characteristics of nesting, brood-rearing, loafing, and roosting sites. “We will also look at dispersal rates and distance traveled between winter and summer ranges,” said Kory Perlichek, TPWD’s district biologist in Mason.

The project began by hunting for a place to catch some turkeys. TPWD settled on 3 turkey trapping sites on private land in eastern Mason and western Llano Counties. Trapping began in February using funnel traps and drop nets. Among the 50 turkeys captured, which included hens, gobblers, jakes, and bearded hens, a dozen of the hens were fitted with GPS-VHF backpack-style radio transmitters. Local landowners and biologists alike are interested in how this high-tech information can improve land management decisions.

Basic biological data was collected on all birds and leg bands were placed on each prior to release where they were trapped. Silver bands were placed on the right leg and a colored band on the left leg of each bird. TPWD phone numbers are on each leg band and radio transmitter. If anyone recovers a wild turkey with a leg band or radio transmitter, either during the hunting season or otherwise, please contact the phone number listed on the item or contact Kory Perlichek at 325-347-5691.

All turkeys with radio transmitters will be monitored once a week prior to nesting and more frequently during nesting season. Nesting season for the Edwards Plateau is typically from April to July each year depending on habitat conditions and the timing of spring green-up.

Previous work in the Edwards Plateau, where Rio Grande wild turkey populations have locally fluctuated, has not focused on populations in the Llano Uplift region. While these wild turkey populations appear stable, changes in land use practices in this area and the effect on habitat use and productivity are unknown.

Will Texas Pronghorn Hunting Survive?

There is no doubt that Texas pronghorn hunting is a big deal. The “speed goat” as it’s aptly referred is an integral part of the rolling landscape found throughout West Texas. But parasites have plagued the species in years, which could potentially threaten pronghorn hunting in some places. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has been trying to supplement dwindling populations through relocation from healthier ones. The continuation of the Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project progressed with another successful relocation of almost 100 pronghorn recently.

The animals were captured from healthy populations around Pampa and moved to an area southeast of Marfa to supplement severely depleted pronghorn populations. The relocation process was coordinated among the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University (BRI), Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Working Group, TPWD, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and USDA-Wildlife Services. Quicksilver Air, Inc. conducted the capture.

The objective of the Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project is to bolster pronghorn populations that have reached historic lows through translocations, habitat improvements, and predator management. At least 17,000 pronghorn once roamed the West Texas region; today there are less than 3,000. The Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Program is a five-year $1.4 million public-private partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. To date, $1 million has been secured.

Last year, 125 pronghorn were captured from the Dalhart area and released on ranches near Marathon. Currently, TPWD estimates about 80 percent of the transplanted pronghorn remain and reproduction was also high with a fawn crop of over 70% in the Marathon area. The transplanted pronghorn and their offspring have significantly boosted the local population within the release area near Marathon, which had less than 50 animals prior to the translocation.

“We hope this population will continue to grow and become another source for pronghorn in the next few years to help supplement other herds in the Trans-Pecos,” said Shawn Gray, TPWD Mule Deer and Pronghorn Program Leader. “The release areas in 2013 and 2014 had favorable range conditions. We also spent months working with landowners to prepare each release site, including fence modifications and predator management. Trans-Pecos field staff and BRI students, headed by local Wildlife Biologists Mike Janis and Mike Sullins were instrumental in this effort” Gray stated.

For the 2014 transplant, Trey Barron, TPWD Wildlife Biologist stationed in Pampa spent endless hours coordinating with local landowners to obtain trapping permission and working on trap-site logistics. “Without Trey’s dedication and local landowner support, this project would not have happened” said Gray.

At the capture site, workers took each animal’s temperature to monitor stress, along with blood and fecal samples for disease surveillance. The pronghorn also received a mild sedative to minimize stress related to capture and transport. Ear tags were attached for identification. Sixty six of the captured pronghorn were fitted with radio collars, including 53 GPS collars programmed to collect GPS locations every hour. One year post-release, the GPS collars will automatically drop from the animals and be retrieved by researchers to download and analyze the GPS data.

After processing, the pronghorn were transported by trailer to the release site southeast of Marfa. “The capture could not have gone any smoother,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, BRI director and Sul Ross professor of Natural Resource Management. “The pronghorn were in excellent shape and traveled really well.”

During the next year, the BRI and TPWD will closely monitor the translocated pronghorn to determine survival, reproductive productivity, fawn survival, habitat utilization, and movements. This research will help define the best management practices essential in growing pronghorn populations in the Trans-Pecos region. “We sincerely appreciate all the cooperation and support from our partners and the Pampa and Trans-Pecos communities,” stated Gray. “Their continued support will help ensure pronghorn herds will recover and continue to roam the desert grasslands of Texas.”

And let’s hope that means Texas pronghorn hunting will continue, too.

Nontypical Buck with Single Antler Base, Connected Pedicles

Jeff Beamer and His Common Base Buck

A lot of things can happen while out hunting white-tailed deer. Some of the things hunters see while on stand are quite simply amazing, and we wouldn’t believe them had we not been there to see them in person. But sometimes we have proof of the crazy things that happen in the wild, like this buck crazy buck with a common base spanning from antler to antler. That’s right, just one base all the wall across the skull plate!

Jeff B.: “A friend and I went deer hunting on the morning of October 16. It was a windy morning and warm. I had not observed much in the way of deer movement and I was getting ready to climb out of the tree and head home. Then, all the sudden I heard a noise and caught what I thought was a deer running through the trees just West of me. I grunted a few times, but nothing happened. Then all the sudden a doe ran through the trees. I knew there had to be a buck coming right behind her. Continue reading Nontypical Buck with Single Antler Base, Connected Pedicles

Texas Investigates News Ways to Control Feral Pigs

Investigating New Ways to Control Feral Pigs
by Justin Foster, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD)
originally published in TPWD “The Cedar Post” November 2013, Volume 3, Issue 2

It is probably no surprise to you that Kerr Wildlife Management Area (WMA) staff is involved in ongoing investigations to develop new tools for feral pig control. Rather than spending too much time justifying these efforts, I will summarize by saying that Kerr WMA staff and our chain of command believe: 1) Feral pigs pose significant danger to human health through transmission of disease; 2) Feral pigs are a threat to our native flora and fauna; 3) Feral pigs are a threat to our livestock markets and economy; and 4) Controlling feral pigs is very costly.

Although I am speaking of North America here, the case is very similar across the globe. Because TPWD’s WMA system is the research and demonstration arm of the Wildlife Division, it only makes sense that we focus our efforts and resources on an issue that is so important to many of you.

Our current goal is developing a tool(s) that reduce the cost of controlling pigs on your property. Our primary objective is to develop and register a toxic bait and delivery system with the United States Environmental Protection Agency that is feasible, user friendly, and environmentally safe. The golden goose egg here is to develop a product that can be a cost-effective way to reduce pig numbers without having negative impacts on the resources that all native Texans cherish.

Our current investigations are centered on sodium nitrite (not sodium nitrate). Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is an inorganic compound that is commonly used in medicine, the food industry, and industrial chemistry. It affects our lives frequently as it is one of the most common food additives used for preserving meats. If you eat bacon, jerky, or cured meats, you are almost undoubtedly eating NaNO2. Don’t worry; the miniscule amount you consume could never have the acute effects upon you that intended doses can have on pigs. In fact, the bacon you consume will have more NaNO2 in it than the meat from a pig that is killed by sodium nitrite intoxication.

Sodium nitrite shows potential because: 1) its effect is rapid, lethal, and clinically humane in pigs; 2) it is readily available; 3) it is inexpensive; 4) there is an antidote (i.e. methylene blue); 5) user hazards are manageable; and 6) delivery can be environ-mentally safe. In a nutshell, sodium nitrite has the potential for safe and effective control of feral pigs.

The drawbacks to sodium nitrite for feral hog control are that it is highly unpalatable to pigs and it is also very unstable which means it can potentially react with bait ingredients. Such reactions not only reduce the potency of NaNO2, but may also breakdown to more noxious products causing pigs to reject it. This reactivity prevents any chance of creating an effective nitrite based bait in the barn at home. Whether rejection or potency, do it yourself chemistry is undoubtedly going to result in product that is not lethal to pigs. However, it is possible that a commercially produced bait could be available for the control of feral hogs in the not to distant future.

Black Bears Return to the Texas Hill Country

The mountains of northern Mexico are home to a very stable population of black bears from which individuals sometimes wander over into the Trans-Pecos and western Edwards Plateau looking for new habitat or to carry out part of their life cycle. In recent years, bears have been documented in several hill country counties that include Val Verde, Crockett, Edwards, Sutton, Schleicher, Kimble, Menard, and Kerr. These sightings and encounters are thrilling, but at the same time, this natural phenomenon is met with apprehension because of the misperception of black bears and how they fit into the Texas ecosystems. This mindset sometimes over-shadows the awesomeness and value of the return of a long removed member of these ecosystems. Black bears in Texas are rare, protected and listed as a State Threatened species.

There are 3 known subspecies of black bears in Texas which include the New Mexico black bear located in the Guadalupe Mountains, the Mexican black bear located in West and Central Texas, and the Louisiana black bear located in East Texas, which is also federally protected. It’s a violation of the law to kill a black bear in Texas and can carry penalties of up to $10,000, civil restitution fines, jail time, and the loss of all hunting privileges.

More About Black Bears in Texas

Mature adult black bears weigh between 130-300 lbs. and grow to a length of 4 to 7 feet long. Adult male black bears are larger than female bears. Black bears have a straight face with flat shoulders, semi-pointed ears, round head, and a short tail. The fur color can vary from black to chocolate brown with gray combinations. Adult bears as well as cubs are excellent climbers.
Black bear paws have short claws to help them climb, dig, gather plant food, and attack small mammals. They use their claws like fingers when they eat. Their front footprints or tracks have an oval base with a curved toe line. The hind paw will have a triangular indentation and the toes are spread out. They also possess an acute sense of smell which they use to their advantage. The black bear is very adaptable, intelligent and quite curious. But on the other hand, this smaller bear species is very shy and generally avoids confrontations by fleeing the area when given an opportunity to do so.

The black bear mating season or breeding usually occurs from May through August with a gestation period of 60 to 70 days. Females generally mate every other year. Mexican black bears do not experience a long term hibernation episode. Birth occurs during January or early February with a litter size of 1 to 3 cubs that are born with their eyes closed and weigh about 1 pound. Baby cubs will stay close to their mother for about 1-1/2 years before leaving to establish their own home territory. As adult bears, male home ranges are very large and can average 20,000 acres; female home ranges are smaller and can average 5,000 acres.

Black Bear Diet

Bears are considered omnivores and by nature are opportunistic feeders that will eat just about anything that is available to them. Their food habits in the Hill Country are very diverse. Approximately 80% of their diet consists of vegetation such as sotol, Texas persimmon, prickly pear cactus, agarita berries, acorns of different species, plant roots, tubers and various grasses. In addition to vegetation, their diet also consists of insects such as ants, grubs, termites and beetles. Small mammals such as rodents, rabbits and of course carrion, often in the form of road kills, are also eaten by black bears.

Bears can become habituated to unnatural or manmade attractants such as the following: garbage in dumpsters or landfills, pet foods, and deer feeders filled with corn or protein pellets. Once bears are habituated to these “easy and accessible” foods, they are very hard to drive away and break this negative habit.

If You Encounter a Black Bear in Texas

The likelihood of having a bear encounter in the wilds of Texas would be uncommon. Within the Hill Country a majority of the reported bear sightings have been associated with some type of manmade food item. Hunters have asked, “What do I do on the deer lease if I encounter a bear?” It is very important to remember that all bears are protected in Texas. In the past, feral hogs have been misidentified for black bears, especially during low light conditions when hunting. Key feral hog physical characteristics include a long head with pointed ears, a definite snout, and eyes positioned on the sides of the head. In comparison, a black bear’s head is rounded with semi-pointed ears and forward-oriented eyes.

Black bears are normally shy and not aggressive toward humans, but if you do encounter a black bear in the wild at close range, talk in a calm manner while slowly backing away. DO NOT MAKE DIRECT EYE CONTACT and DO NOT RUN! This can trigger a bear’s chase instinct. NEVER APPROACH A BEAR! But if a bear approaches you, stand your ground and make yourself appear larger by raising your arms, backpack or jacket. Yell at the bear to scare it off and if by chance you are attacked, fight back aggressively with anything available. Let the bear know you are not easy prey and, by all means, do not play dead when attacked by a black bear.

Tips for Dealing with Texas Black Bears

Recommendations for hunters and the general public in Texas to minimize the likelihood of having a black bear encounter include:

Keep headquarters or camps clean to prevent odors that attract bears – Black bear sense of smell is 100 times better than humans and they can smell food items up to 5 miles away
Store pet food items and other attractants in a secure place
Modify trash dumpster lids and keep them locked from any bear access
Hunters can use automated feeders hung 8-10 ft. above the ground and out of reach of bears
Use deterrents such as electric fencing or unwelcome mats made with 1” nails to keep bears away from buildings and feeders
Do not offer deer corn in piles or in open feeders
Discard gut piles away from any human structures
If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it away with rocks, a slingshot or air horn

Texas State Officials and Bears

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)policy is to use “aversive conditioning” techniques on nuisance black bears rather than trapping and transplanting. Aversive conditioning associates a negative stimulus such as pepper spray or noise makers with unwanted behavior – in this case coming near humans, human food or human developments. The TPWD’s Official Response Policy is to respond to all black bear sightings or interactions and complete a sighting-incident report. It is recommended that citizens report all black bear sightings to their local TPWD Office.

The Right Density – Number of Whitetail Deer

Let’s face it, white-tailed deer hunters like to see deer when they go out hunting. However, they also understand that deer populations should be managed on an annual basis and that harvest through regulated hunting only helps the health of the remaining deer herd and habitat. Many hunters, especially those involved in deer management programs, are interested in determining the exact number of whitetail deer per acre their property can support. Although deer density is important, it’s not critical that the property be managed to contain the maximum number of animals.

Sure, it would be great to have a healthy herd of the maximum number of deer a property can support right now. The problem is, habitat condition and quality is constantly changing. It changes from season to season and from year to year. Deer density is important, but I’ll submit that it’s more important to have a lower density than a higher deer density. For example, let’s just say that a property can support 1 deer for every 10 acres under perfect conditions. That’s great, but how often is habitat in perfect condition? Holding a herd at 1 deer per 10 acres gives no wiggle room, but an estimated deer density of 1 per 12-15 acres means deer will have adequate forage even under less than perfect conditions.

This puts less stress on the deer manager to make the exact right call at the exact right time. It also means deer will be healthy and that habitat will improve. This means the deer found there can be even more selective when it comes to choosing the most desirable, high protein plants. Protein translates into body mass and antler growth. So although we live in a world of maximum everything, I think a less than maximum deer population is right on the money.

Source: “Not all whitetails in North America eat the same amount of food in a day. But strictly for purposes of illustration, let’s assume that an “average” deer, given as much as it would like to eat, consumes 7 pounds per day. In a year, that totals 2,555 pounds.

Let’s also assume that the natural habitat averages 11 percent protein on a year-round basis. (The general consensus among biologists is that whitetails need approximately 16 percent protein during the antler-growing/fawning period from early spring through summer. Eleven percent would be representative of quality native habitat such as is found in South Texas. A study in Alabama showed an annual average protein level of 7 percent in the natural habitat, which would be representative of much of the rest of the Southeast as well.)

Let’s assume that an acre of natural whitetail habitat can produce 200 pounds of deer feed per year, but that only half of that (100 pounds) can be eaten without damaging the habitat. (In the Southeast, average production of native deer forage is closer to 150 pounds per acre.)

Using an annual production of 100 usable pounds of deer browse per acre of natural habitat and an annual requirement of 2,555 pounds of feed per deer, we see that 25.6 acres are required to support one deer throughout the year.

But remember: This is about right for good natural habitat – habitat that has a high protein level. With an average protein level of only 11 percent in the herd’s diet, at a density of a deer per 25.6 acres body and antler sizes are going to be well under the herd’s genetic potential. In addition, many (indeed, most) whitetail populations are underfed, due to excessive foraging pressure on the available vegetation. Put all of this together, and it’s easy to see why we have so many stunted and stressed herds today.”

Texas Youth Hunting Weekend 2013

Youth Hunting in Texas

It’s hunting season in Texas so that means Texas Youth Hunting weekend for the youngsters. One of the best traditions is passing down the hunting heritage to the next generation each fall. Young hunters will get the first shots during special youth-only hunting seasons for white-tailed deer, waterfowl and Rio Grande turkey this coming weekend, October 26-27. And for those that will get their first shot this fall, you know they are pumped up!

During the statewide special youth-only hunting weekend in Texas, licensed youth 16 years of age or younger will be allowed to harvest white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey. The youth-only waterfowl season in the North and South Duck Zones is for licensed youth 15 years of age or younger. A Special Youth Hunting License ($7) is required.

General Season Regulations Apply for Youth Hunters

General season bag limits for the county hunted apply during the youth-only weekend, but some additional hunting restrictions may apply in certain areas so be sure to check the 2013-14 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations before heading afield.

Youth Hunting on Public Land

To make room for the new generation of Texas hunters, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has made an extra effort to open as much land for public hunting as possible to youth hunting on department-managed lands. Youth who are hunting on TPWD lands must be accompanied by a supervising adult 18 years of age or older who possesses the required Annual Public Hunting permit, a valid hunting license and any required stamps and permits.

Worm in Deer Nose – It’s Normal

Find maggots in your deer’s head or nose?

Yes, it’s gross, but these “worms” are totally normal. No, it’s not some brain eating virus or other deer disease. It’s just a really big maggot. The larvae is laid in the nasal passage by the adult fly in the warmer months of the year, typically the summer. The larvae lives deep within the nasal passage until the following spring then crawls out, goes into the soil and develops into an adult. A deer biologist told me that the worm/maggot/etc. was not harmful to the deer or to people that eat the venison. However, I suspect that these nasal bots freak out many hunters each year. And not the mention the deer that has this thing crawling around in their sinuses.

The maggots do not really cause the deer any harm, but rather just survive of the nutrition of the mucous and other food products that get up in there. After an “infected” deer is shot the deer will begin to cool off. This is when the alleged deer worms start moving around, wondering what went wrong. This is also when most hunters encounter them, as the maggots fall to the ground or are seen exiting the mouth and nose. Continue reading Worm in Deer Nose – It’s Normal