Dove Hunting in Texas – All About Mourning Doves



White-winged and mourning dove hunting is the most popular form of hunting in Texas. More hunters shoot doves than any other game species. Mourning dove populations occur from southern Canada to northern Mexico. Texas produces millions of new birds thanks to dove nesting activity, but millions more doves migrate south every winter to avoid cold temps and to find food. They usually leave their northern range and travel south from September through February and return to their breeding grounds from March through August. Migration, fortunately for hunters, corresponds with dove hunting season in Texas.

Texas has a large resident population of mourning doves, which is well-supplemented by northern migrants that over winter here. Most of our migrant mourning doves come from the north central states. However, research surveys have shown that over 80% of the doves harvested in Texas are resident birds. This means dove hunting targets primarily locally produced birds, meaning nesting habitat and breeding is important. In Texas, the breeding season usually peaks in late spring and early summer. Nests are usually about 15 feet from the ground and are often along field and pasture edges or adjacent to other open areas.

Dove Hunting in Texas - Mourning Doves

Two eggs are laid in the nest and incubation begins immediately after both eggs are laid. Eggs hatch in 14 days and the young are fed pigeon milk (a milky substance produced in the dove’s crop) and partially digested seeds by both parents until they are ready to leave the nest. The young doves, or squabs, develop rapidly and can fly at around 12 days old. Soon after the young leave the nest the adults begin preparation for a second brood, often using the same nest.


In Texas, three to seven broods may be produced each year. The life span of wild mourning doves may exceed 5 years but the annual natural mortality in the continental population is 70% whether there is hunting or not. Much of the population data about doves is collected when hunters report dove bands. Each year in Texas, thousands of mounring and white-winged doves are banded for the purposes of getting more information about these important game species.

Habitat Preferences of Mourning Doves

Mourning doves primarily feed on various seeds including waste grain, native and cultivated grasses and occasionally feed on small traces of insect matter. Large open cultivated fields of millet, sunflower, corn, wheat, soybeans and peanuts often attract large numbers of birds. Harvested ag fields, as hunters know, offer good dove hunting in the early fall. In addition to crops, Carolina cranesbill, dove weed (woolly croton), morning glory, pokeberry, ragweed, spiny pigweed, bristle grass are some native foods doves highly prefer. Doves rarely scratch the ground for food and seeds must be on open ground where they can easily be seen. Mourning doves will often sit on power lines, trees, or snags prior to flying down in to a field.

Mourning doves must have grit (sand and gravel) in their gizzard to help grind food. Often doves are seen in dirt roads or along the edge of paved roads picking up grit. Doves also require water daily and prefer to get water from ponds, streams and puddles that have clear banks and edges with a gentle slope to the water. Dove hunters also take advantage of this, dove hunting around stock tanks in the afternoon until shooting time ends.


Wildlife Management – Texas Ranch Honored for Job Well Done

Over the past 25 years, wildlife management has gone hand in hand with hunting in Texas. Landowners have put their time, energy and money where their mouth is when it’s come to the management of the Lone Star State’s natural resources. It’s been a great thing to watch. It’s also nice to see deserving landowners be rewarded for the hard work that they have done.  Revitalization efforts on two ranches in two different ecological regions of Texas have earned a Houston couple the 2013 Leopold Conservation Award, Texas’s highest honor for private land conservation.

“On Buckhollow Ranch, the wildlife management goals are to manage and improve the ranch for wildlife diversity, and to provide optimum wildlife habitat,” retired Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologist Richard B. Taylor pointed out in his nomination of Jack and Jan Catos for the Leopold Award. “The emphasis is on improving the native habitat through proper range and wildlife management, and to maintain healthy, native wildlife populations – with an emphasis on nongame, threatened, and endangered species.”

Texas Hunting - Wildlife Management Key to Healthy Populations, Hunting

Due to excellent habitat management, endangered species such as the black-capped vireo, golden-cheeked warbler and Tobusch fishhook cactus are increasing on the Buckhollow Ranch. Natural springs are returning to life, and flow volumes have increased since the Catos purchased the ranch. Because of the ample ground cover that has become established through sound management practices, water penetration has improved, run-off slowed, and soil erosion noticeably diminished. The benefits of good are evidenced by the healthy plants and abundant wildlife populations on the property.


Native plant populations have been surveyed on Buckhollow by the Texas Nature Conservancy and monitored by various agencies including TPWD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Texas Snowbell, an endemic native plant, was reintroduced several years ago in an attempt to re-establish it in its historical range.

On the Stockard-Sirianni Ranch, bi-annual helicopter surveys are conducted to assess white-tailed deer, coyotes, feral hog, javelina, turkey and quail populations. Incidental herpetological surveys have also been conducted by the landowners, TPWD, and ranch visitors. Plant surveys targeting native grasses have been conducted by South Texas Natives and TPWD. Similar to those found on the Buckhollow, bird populations are also monitored throughout the year by various bird watching groups and individuals, including the Catos, who are active birders. The Catos have participated in a prescribed burning school and numerous wildlife seminars to better educate themselves on habitat management and environmental issues. Most of their knowledge has been directly applied to the landscape.

The Catos’ Wildlife Management Activities

  • Water guzzlers (a mechanical water conservation device) installed throughout Buckhollow Ranch continue to benefit wildlife by improving species distribution and decreasing dependance on natural springs, rivers, and streams.
  • In addition, extensive stands of ashe juniper have been removed to increase spring flow, and four solar-powered water wells have either been retrofitted or drilled. Water diversion berms have been created across all hillside roads to prevent soil erosion, promote soil conservation, and one small holding tank has been created to capture seasonal water for wildlife. This has helped reduce negative impacts to sensitive areas.
  • As a result of extensive habitat management on Buckhollow Ranch, native grasses such as little bluestem are returning at an increasing rate, slowly replacing the non-native King Ranch bluestem that previous owners planted and allowed to increase. Browsing pressure on woody plants such as live oak has decreased dramatically, allowing ample regeneration.
  • At the Stockard-Sirianni Ranch, existing fences have been replaced, and a rotational grazing system instituted. This has benefitted the native habitat, and improved livestock production. In addition, a roughly 20-acre wetland has been established for resident and migratory waterfowl, complete with levees and pipelines to maintain water levels. More than 100 bird nesting boxes have been erected on this property, including bluebird boxes, screech owl boxes, wood duck boxes, purple martin houses, and bat boxes.
  • In addition to the work they have done on their land, the Catos have been generous in sharing their properties with others—including local residents, neighbors, conservation groups, universities, and state and federal agencies. They have been actively involved with TPWD, NRCS, the Nature Conservancy, West Texas A&M University, and Southwest Texas Junior College by allowing these agencies or institutions to use the ranch for meetings, field days, research projects, demonstrations, and educational programs.

Perhaps the most dramatic demonstration of the Catos’s long-term commitment to wildlife management and conservation is the recent placing of the Buckhollow Ranch under a perpetual conservation easement with The Nature Conservancy. The sole purpose of an easement of this type is to preserve the natural beauty and habitat of the ranch for future generations. It’s like wildlife management — forever.

James Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Hunting

The James E. Daughtrey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a 4,400 acres low fenced multiple-use recreational area that offer public hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, alligator and other game species. The WMA surrounds Choke Canyon Reservoir as is operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Located in Live Oak and McMullen counties midway between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, the WMA is representive of South Texas habitats and is a component of the South Texas Ecosystem Project (STEP). The Frio, Atascosa, and Nueces Rivers join near the town of Three Rivers, just east of the WMA. The WMA occupies five non-contiguous parcels adjacent to the lake.

Choke Canyon Reservoir also provides valuable habitat to migratory species, including a wide variety of waterfowl. The lake itself is considered part of the WMA for purposes of public waterfowl hunting. All regulations applicable to waterfowl hunting, including a prohibition on airboats on the lake, apply to hunters accesing the lake for waterfowl hunting purposes. Waterfowl season is open during all open waterfowl seasons when accessed from the lake. An Annual Public Hunting (APH) permit is required of all waterfowl hunters. Access to the lake through the WMA is closed as posted at entrance information booths and in the Annual Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet.

James Daughtrey WMA Hunting

Originally grassland, after the suppression of fire and the elimination of the buffalo, this region developed into the South Texas brush country of today. The climate includes long, hot summers, mild winters and erratic precipitation distribution. The average annual rainfall rate is 20-25 inches. Mesquite and associated thorny shrubs, such as catclaw acacia, huisache, blackbrush, granjeno, brasil, whitebrush, Texas persimmon, and prickly pear, account for much of the cover. Live oak, hackberry, and elm are the dominant tree species. Silver bluestem, buffelgrass, curly mesquite, and Arizona cottontop are the dominant grasses throughout the WMA. The topography is gently sloping to level and the soils range from loamy sand to heavy clay.

Ample cover, food, and water in close proximity result in a very productive wildlife habitat. White-tailed deer, javelina, wild turkeys, mourning and white-winged dove, bobwhite and scaled quail, rabbits, coyotes, gray foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, feral hogs, and many other wildlife species inhabit the WMA. The Daughtry WMA is know for excellent deer hunting and good deer are harvested there on a fairly regular basis, which is not unusual for that part of Texas.


TPWD assumed responsibility of the property in 1981 for the care, operation, maintenance, and replacement of the recreation, fish and wildlife, and open space resources of the Choke Canyon Reservoir. The WMA historically has been used as a public use area to provide maximum hunting opportunity and appreciable public use, commensurate with availability of the resource. The Daughtrey WMA offers an interpretive nature trail, wildlife viewing, and hunting. Fishing is available on Choke Canyon Reservoir through access by public boat ramp.

The James E. Daughtrey WMA is named in memory of state game warden James E. Daughtrey, who was fatally injured in a vehicle accident while pursuing game law violators in McMullen County. You can get more information about the (a href=”https://texashuntingtimes.com/category/public-hunting/” title=”Texas Public Hunting Lands”>public huntingopportunities at the WMA by contacting area personnel at (830) 676-3413.

Public Hunting at Daughtrey WMA

Roads on the area are mostly primitive and trucks will permit access to most of the hunting area. Four wheel drive is recommended for wet conditions. Limited permanent blinds are provided and hunters may bring their own portable blinds. There are no cold storage facilities available on the area. A primitive campground is available for use only by persons authorized to hunt under Special Permits and will open the evening prior to scheduled hunts. Drinking water and electrical hook-ups are not available in the campground. A limited number of fire rings and picnic tables are provided on a first come-first served basis as is one rented chemical toilet. Camping is also available at Choke Canyon State Park – South Shore Unit (361/786-3538). For further information call the WMA office.

Deer Feeder Pen Size

Question: “We’re getting on a new deer hunting lease and need to build some feeder pens. No feral hogs on this place, but we need to put some barb wire to keep the cows off of the protein feeders. What’s the smallest deer feeder pen size. that will work in this situation?

I would think one could make smaller feeder pens with barb wire than hog panel pens because the deer won’t have to jump them. We just want to provide some feed for deer without letting the cows eat it all. We want the deer to feel comfortable too. As far as height, we are thinking just three wires and about 40 inches high.”

Deer Feeder Pen Size for Deer Hunting

Texas Hunting Times: There is only one rule you need to know when it comes to deer feeder pen size: BIGGER IS ALWAYS BETTER! It does not matter what type of fence you choose to go with, larger feeder pens are preferred by whitetail. This helps in many ways. The closer to the feeder the cattle are the more problems you will have when it does get really dry and they run out of things to eat on your lease.

This sounds trivial until you find your feeder emptied out way too earlier. The extra cost of materials that will allow you to build a much bigger feeder pen will be less the cost of losing a feeder full of protein to hungry, disrespecting cows.

Larger feeder pens will also allow more deer to feed in the pen at the protein station calmly, and with less stress. Make sure that you take the time to put in good corners so you can keep the wire stretched tight. Take the saying, “Do it right the first time,” to heart. When I was younger (and apparently more optimistic) I rebuild a deer feeder pen two additional times before I finally did it the “right” way. No headaches after that, just hunting.

As far as the pen size, I would make it at least 40 feet per side and 4 feet tall with bottom wire around about 20 inches off the ground. To help deer from getting barbed, I would recommend that you install cable twist (barbless barbwire) for the bottom wire and possibly even the top wire. I have seen deer feeder pens made of 3 wires, but the cattle had plenty of grass to eat on the property. If your deer hunting property looks overgrazed, build your protein feeder pen big, and build it strong.

Quail Call Counts for Surveys, Quail Management

The northern bobwhite quail is a highly social organism that uses vocalization as its primary means of communication within the various social units. These social units include pairs, broods and coveys. Though many bird species use vocalizations for establishing and defending territories, bobwhites are not considered territorial and instead focus their communication on attracting mates, coordinating group movements, and avoidance of predators. Instead of the hundreds of variations of an individual songbird’s song, for example the brown thrasher with its virtual musical library of about 3,000 documented song types, the bobwhite has about 13 or so recognized calls.

Examples of these recognized calls include the assembly or group-movement call, alarm call, food call, and reproduction call. The assembly call is the call that is listened for in the fall during a fall covey count and is described as hoy, hoy-poo, hoy-ee, or koi-lee. The assembly call is typically heard after a covey has been flushed or just prior to sunrise after the covey leaves its roosting site. This helps the flushed covey reassemble and perhaps helps the individual make a mental note about the location of the others as they spread out. The reproduction call, or cock call, is made in the spring and early summer following the seasonal covey break-up as individual males attempt to attract a female. This is the 2 or 3 syllable call that we all know as the bob-white, ah bob-white, or poor bob-white.

Quail Call Count Surveys for Management, Hunting

The reproduction call can begin as early as March, especially in the south, but the peak calling tends to be May and June. The reproduction call is the target of the breeding season or spring call count. Procedures for establishing and conducting a spring quail call count can be found in The Upland Game Bird Management Handbook for Texas Landowners. The following provides a brief summary of the quail call count and survey procedures.

  • Several sites are located within the area that you are interested in surveying. The sites (points) should be at least ¾ of a mile apart to minimize the recording of overlapping calls. Each site should be permanently marked and noted on a map for annual surveying. If you cannot locate the sites at least ¾ of a mile apart on your property, then coordinate with your neighbors to include their properties.
  • Print out and bring the standardized data sheets to record the approximate location and distance for individual male bobwhites that you detect. The data sheet represents an aerial map where you will attempt to plot the location of each calling male. Under good conditions and with good hearing, calls can be heard from 500+ yards.
  • Arrive at the first site approximately 15 minutes prior to sunrise to start the first 10 minute detection period. Do not conduct the survey if the winds are greater than 6.5 mph, cloud cover is greater than 75%, it is raining, or if the weather is drastically changing. All of these conditions will affect the calling behavior and your ability to hear the calls.
  • Record the detections during the 10 minute period at each site. Complete the survey of all sites within two hours after sunrise.
  • An estimate of the number of bobwhites per acre can be calculated using a set of assumptions. The estimates and trends over time can be used to monitor the fluctuations from year to year or perhaps the responses to your habitat management practices. At a very minimum, conducting the survey will get you outside at sunrise when the day is at its best.

This article was written by Blake Hendon and originally appeared in Texas Parks and Wildlife Department “The Cedar Post” Volume 3, Issue 1, April 2013.

When Should Whitetail Deer Shed Antlers – Bucks Dropping Early

Question: “My wife and I enjoy deer hunting, but really have some questions about around our house. We live in a suburban area with lots ranging from 4 to 10 acres. Good area for deer. First question is: Why would a whitetail buck shed his antlers almost 2 months before the rest of the other bucks? Next question, what type of grass do deer not like to eat, if any? I know whitetail deer prefer forbs and browse plants, but is there a native grass that they would not eat. Thanks for the info.”

When do Deer Shed Antlers - Early Antler Shedding?

Deer Hunting Pros: Whitetail bucks that are in poor body condition tend to shed antlers earlier. My guess is the buck you’re asking about is either in poor condition, may have suffered from injury or from illness in the past. Could of had something like EHD or bluetongue the year prior. There are many things that can cause a deer to be in poor condition. It can even result from poor nutrition, since you may have a deer overpopulation in your suburban area? Continue reading When Should Whitetail Deer Shed Antlers – Bucks Dropping Early

Growing Big Bucks without the Deer Habitat

Many people to produce bigger bucks and shoot them, too. The increase in commercial whitetail deer breeding facilities, combined with supplemental feeding, have allowed managers to produce bucks of massive proportions on properties where habitat is relatively poor. In my opinion, there is a huge difference between growing big deer in a pen system and producing big deer in a pasture. Let me also state that neither method is wrong. But when it comes down to deer habitat management, there is even more pressure on those landowners managing the deer herd found on their property to do what they can for native plant communities.

Grow Bigger Bucks - Supplemental Feeding of Deer in Texas

The following article was written by Evan McCoy with Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and was published in “The Cedar Post” April 2013.

“On our WMA’s we regularly give programs stressing the importance of maintaining a proper number of deer in order to maintain a healthy habitat. Not only does it make for a better home for deer, but good range conditions also helps attract a multitude of other wildlife species as well. In my experience though, it seems that most landowners deny that they are overpopulated. One argument they give to support this claim is that their deer are fat and healthy. The feeding of deer keeps them fat. In their minds, if the deer are doing well then that means everything must be optimal. Years ago, it was understood that you had to have good range in order to produce good deer. These days, deer health is not always a good indicator of habitat health. I have witnessed several examples where good deer were produced on poor range.

This phenomenon is due, in part, to the fact that almost everyone has some type of supplemental feeding program and many of them are quite intense. I have no big issue with supplemental feeding, as long as it is done properly. It can often be very beneficial to a deer management program by helping to improve body condition, fawn production and antler growth. The problem is that some ranches will continue to artificially support an overabundance of deer to the point where they are simply feeding deer rather than supplementing their diet. Just look at the extreme scenario of a pen raised deer herd. Those deer are fatter and heavier than most wild deer you will find, but native habitat and forage is usually non-existent inside those pens, and they are totally reliant on pelleted feed. Managers should know that deer will definitely make supplemental feed a part of their diet, but not to the exclusion of natural forage.

Deer like variety, and they have a desire for native plants. This is evident in high rainfall years when quality forage is more abundant and, as a result, we find that supplemental feed consumption goes down. Another example is the sudden early season disappearance of deer when acorns hit the ground. If desirable vegetation is present, deer will often prefer that over artificial feed. If the deer population exceeds the natural supply of plants then deer will increase their supplemental feed use to get the nutrition they need. As the population continues to grow, so will the feed bill, since forage becomes scarce and deer are forced to rely more on feeders. Therefore, as you can see, deer health can be maintained at the same time habitat health declines.

The question you should ask yourself is, “If you eliminated your supplemental feeding program then would your land still support your current deer herd?” You may suddenly see the relationship between habitat quality and deer quality. Would they be stuck eating juniper and persimmon or is there plenty of oak and hackberry within a deer’s reach? By decreasing the deer population you will be increasing the amount of forage to go around and your deer will rely less on handouts. You want to be sure that feed is a supplement to their natural diet and not the other way around. To truly determine if your ranch is overpopulated, it may be best to take a closer look at the condition of your land, rather than the condition of your deer.”

What do you think about the “supplemental” feeding of whitetail deer?

MLDP Permits for Mule Deer Hunting in Texas

White-tailed deer are not the only game in Texas. The mule deer hunting found in the Trans Pecos as the Texas Panhandle can be good. The brush and grass dominated country found in West Texas may be dry, but it can grow some big ole mule deer, especially near agricultural areas. Hunters should be excited because it looks like the mule deer hunting season is Texas is getting a little longer.

At least for landowners that are trying to manage their property. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will be extending the existing mule deer Managed Lands Deer Permits (MLDP) season. The regulation change will be part of changes to the upcoming 2013-14 Statewide Hunting Proclamation. The longer hunting season for mule deer will mean more opportunity for deer management on lands looking to improve habitat and manage deer herds.

TPWD is extending the mule deer season on MLDP properties through the last Sunday in January, while maintaining the current opening date as the first Saturday in November. Over two months of mule deer hunting in Texas.. now that s something to get excited about!

Mule Deer Hunting in Texas - Longer Mule Deer Season Under MLDP

Mule Deer Hunting – Know What They Eat!

Whether a mule deer herd is being managed for quality antler production or high deer numbers, nutrition is the most
important factor to consider. Mule deer require a diet of approximately 16 percent protein along with carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and a variety of trace minerals. No single forage provides adequate levels of all these requirements, which emphasizes the importance of managing for a wide variety of shrubs/succulents, forbs and grass. The Trans-Pecos Region has a tremendous diversity of vegetation types which can provide excellent nutrition for mule deer, especially when rainfall is adequate. Vegetation in the Panhandle is less diverse, but some mule deer herds are on a high nutritional plane because of a combined diet of native forages and crops such as wheat, alfalfa, corn and/or sorghum.

Deer are selective feeders, eating a wide variety of the most nutritious foods available during each season of the year. Deer food plants can be classified as shrubs, succulents, forbs and grasses. The leaves, twigs and blooms of woody plants eaten by deer are called browse. Succulents such as cactus, lechuguilla and cholla may be included in this category. Water obtained from succulents is important in the arid Southwest and perhaps critical if free water is not available. The bulk of Texas mule deer diets consists of browse, representing approximately 70 percent. Many browse species are deciduous, losing most of their leaves after the first frost; therefore, evergreen browse is an important food source during the fall and winter period. Juniper (an evergreen) is not highly palatable or nutritious, but it can be an important source of energy and Vitamin A during winter when higher quality foods are absent.

Forbs are annual or perennial broadleaf plants and are highly preferred by deer when available. Although their availability is highly variable, forbs average about 25 percent of a deer’s diet. Forbs are usually the most nutritious and palatable class of plants, often exceeding 14 percent crude protein. Annual forbs are seasonal plants, and their abundance depends on soil moisture. As a result, they may be virtually non-existent during times of prolonged drought. For deer management purposes, annual forbs are not considered a reliable source of mule deer nutrition. Perennial forbs provide a more reliable source of forage, and they generally will be present on properly managed ranges. However, some of the higher quality perennial forbs may be scarce or lacking on many ranges, as livestock overgrazing and excessive deer numbers can limit their availability.

Pronghorn Hunting in Texas Gets More Flexibility

West Texas, including the Texas Panhandle, offer some great pronghorn hunting, and it looks like landowners will have the opportunity to become increasingly involved in the management of the antelope found on their land. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has approved an experimental pronghorn buck season in some areas of the Panhandle, which would allow landowners to control the harvest of buck pronghorn on their properties.

Under the current statewide regulations, TPWD determines the pronghorn harvest quota and issues permits directly to landowners for surplus pronghorn. With the new pronghorn hunting rules, landowners or their agents within selected pronghorn management units in the northeast and northwest Panhandle would determine the harvest quota and control buck pronghorn harvest on their property during the three-year pilot project.

Pronghorn Hunting in Texas - More Permits for Texas Landowners

The goal of the project is to simplify pronghorn hunting regulations and increase hunting opportunity in areas with stable antelope populations. Wildlife biologists will closely monitor pronghorn herds during the pilot project to ensure populations remain healthy. This may put more buck permits into the hands of landowners, which may ultimately mean more speed goat hunting for Texas hunters.

Venison Casserole with Potatoes and Cheese, Please!

This delicious, nutritious venison casserole is guaranteed to be a hit with the entire family. There is something in it for everyone. This dish takes one skillet and one casserole dish and is a more vegetable-rich version of meat and potatoes. This casserole definitely falls into the comfort food category. Try it and you’ll like it!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 pounds lean venison
  • 2 cups mashed potatoes
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 stalks celery, diced
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 beaten eggs
  • 1 cup cottage cheese
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Directions:

First, start off by preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Brown the venison in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crumbly and no longer pink and set aside. Then melt the butter in the bottom of a 2 quart casserole dish, spread the mashed potatoes evenly within and set aside.

Heat the vegetable oil in the skillet, then stir in the red onion, bell pepper, garlic, and celery. Cook until the onion has softened, about 3 to 4  minutes. Stir in cooked venison and season with Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Spoon the meat and vegetable mixture over the potatoes in the casserole dish.

Stir together eggs and cottage cheese in a small bowl and spread evenly over meat mixture in the casserole dish. Top with tomato slices, and sprinkle with cheese. Bring the venison casserole together by baking uncovered in the preheated oven until set, about 20 to 25 minutes.