Texas Hunting Times

Quail Hunting Texas’ Hot Spots in 2010

Quail and the weather go hand-in-hand. During the winter of 2009, a 2 year dry spell in the major quail hunting areas of the Texas finally came to and end. Environmental conditions, nesting and brood rearing habitat greatly improved, setting the stage for a marked increase in quail production. Sound pretty good, huh?

Not so fast. Unfortunately, after two years of unfavorable weather, the number of quail available to breed has become quite low. In general, however, quail rebound fastest from the remaining pockets of survivors from last season. So depending on where you hunt, quail populations could range from fair to good. Here is how the historically good quail hunting portions of Texas look.

South Texas Plains

This region experienced a wet winter, spring and summer, which helped quail do their thing. South Texas also had very few days 100 degrees or greater. Cool-wet summers are ideal for quail reproduction but similar to the Rolling Plains, quail carryover was a limiting factor. Quail surveys conducted by TPWD indicate an increase in population compared to last year, but still below average across the region.

The best opportunities will be on well managed sites that held over birds from last year. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 8.6 compared to 5.2 in 2009. This is off the average and is predictive of a below average hunting season.

Rolling Plains of Texas

This blessed portion of Texas received timely winter, spring and summer rainfall resulting in excellent breeding conditions for bobwhite quail. The summer rains extended the window of opportunity for nesting. If a hen failed in her first attempt, there was ample time for a second nesting.

The limiting factor this year was not the rain, but rather the number of birds available to breed. Field reports indicate that quail have made a strong comeback in areas that held birds last year. Other areas have improved as well but to a lesser extent.

Before you head out to your part of Texas to do some hunting, it’s a good idea to scout ahead to be sure the areas you plan to hunt are holding some quail. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 8.0 compared to 6.6 last year. This is well below long-term average of 21.5, but some improvement is better than none.

Quail Hunting Looks Fair in West Texas

Nothing is as important as the weather when it comes to quail hunting. Good, wet springs mean good quail production and hunting the falling fall. This year should be one of those years out in west Texas and the Trans-Pecos, at least for bobwhite. This region received timely rainfall while other areas of the State either missed the rains completely or received it at times less beneficial to scaled quail.

As a result, quail reproduction varied across the region, which is par for the course. Field reports indicate that quail can be found in areas with good range condition and providing good quail habitat. Reports from the western edge of the Edwards Plateau (the Stockton Plateau) indicate an improvement over last year but still populations that are below average.

The average number of scaled quail observed per survey route was 7.2 birds compared to 16.9 quail last year. This is below the long-term average of 17.5 quail. Scaled quail suffered through the dry period prior to this better-than-average year, but they have yet to fully rebound.

Caprock Canyon Texas State Bison Herd

If you have never been to the Caprock Canyons State park then you are really missing out. Not only is this Panhandle-located park beautiful, but it’s home to the the Caprock Canyons or Texas State Bison Herd. These buffalo, as many commonly call them, are descendants of the historic bison herd that Panhandle ranchers Charles and Mary Goodnight saved from extinction. It was in 1876 that Goodnight captured some of the last of the great southern plains bison herd and placed them on his JA Ranch to preserve them for posterity.

However, it was not until 1997 that JA Ranch owners donated the bison to the State of Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Then the animals were moved to Caprock Canyons in 1998. The small Texas State Bison Herd is thus all that remains of the vast southern plains herd that prior to the 1870s was estimated to number between 30 to 60 million head. The American bison were almost totally wiped out when the last of the plains Indians were driven from their homeland and the railroad brought hordes of buffalo hunters who slaughtered the animals for their meat, hides and horns.

The Goodnight Herd was one of the five foundation herds that supplied stock to save American bison from extinction and the only southern plains bison herd established. The Caprock Canyons bison are the last descendants of the herd which supplied wild stock for Yellowstone National Park, in addition to some of the largest zoos and ranches in the nation. The bison brought from the JA Ranch to the park were genetically tested, and TPWD kept only those which had no cattle DNA.

Through continued study and genetic mapping of the Texas State Bison Herd, researchers have isolated three unique genetic markers in their DNA. Found only in the Goodnight Herd descendants, presence of these genes supports the claim that these buffalo are all that remain of the southern plains subspecies and are separate from northern plains and woods bison subspecies.

Deer Hunting and Feeding Protein

Reader Submitted: We’ve never fed protein pellets for white-tailed deer on our 2,600 acre ranch in Mason County. I was thinking about filling a few feeders in the early spring with protein to supplement bucks during the antler growing season. Would I be wasting my time with using just 4 spin-feeders to feed the pellets or would I need free-choice feeders and a lot more than 3 to do any good?

Texas Hunting: First off, you will not going to make a difference spin-feeding protein for whitetail. Individual deer simply will not get enough of the feed to make a difference. For any hunter or landowner that does plan on implementing a supplemental feeding program, the first thing to do is get the whitetail deer population in line with the carrying capacity of the ranch. This should be the first priority.

Then, the next is to get the buck to doe ratio somewhere around 1:1. This will help you get the most out of both the bucks and the does on your ranch. After you have addressed to total population size and buck to doe ratio, then and only then are you ready to start a free-choice protein feeding program.

If you don’t go about it in this manner then you will either not see a marked difference in the deer herd or you will go broke, probably both. A 2,600 ranch is a lot of deer, so you don’t want to feed anymore than absolutely necessary. In addition, you do not want to be feeding 3 or 4 does for every buck. It is not cost efficient. Does will have higher fawn crops due to supplemental feeding because of better health. These additional fawns create more heads on the ground, which means more deer to shoot each year.

It does not make sense to feed a bunch of does all year long just to shoot them off every year. This is why you want the buck to doe ratio closer to 1:1. This will really help and allow you to get the most for your money and from the deer found on your property.

Hunters for the Hungry in Texas

Texas has a program where hunters can help the less fortunate by providing venison for their tables. The statewide wild game donation program is called Hunters for the Hungry and allows sportsmen to provide a healthy source of protein to Texans in need.

The mission of the Hunters for the Hungry is to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in Texas, provide a meaningful outlet for hunters wishing to help their communities, and to promote stewardship of the environment through sensible wildlife management plans.

So, how does Hunters for the Hungry work? Well, hunters bring their tagged, legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor, and pay a nominal fee to cover basic processing costs. The meat processor grinds the venison into burger, packages and stores it for local food assistance providers to pick up.

A deer processing fee of about $35 helps to cover the costs of the processor’s equipment, labor, and other expenses. The processing fee may be tax deductible for the hunter, but consult a tax advisor for more information. The processor provides a receipt for such purpose.

The deer meat will then be donated to the Hunters for the Hungry program and is distributed to families and individuals in need through local food assistance providers such as food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens, etc.

Charitable food assistance agencies in Texas seeking Hunters for the Hungry donations should contact TACAA at (800) 992-9767, ext. 506, to learn more. Individuals in need of food assistance, should phone 211 or visit 211texas.org for help. Hunters for the Hungry participating meat processors by city are listed below. If there is a notation after the business listing it denotes that thier charge may be above the customary $30 to $40 charge and they have special requirement for game.

Hunters for the Hungry Processors by County:

ABILENE Stephens Wild Game Processing 4132 Vine (325) 695-4868
ABILENE The Deer Shop 4535 Iberis Rd (325) 260-4364
ALBANY Escalon’s Buck ‘N Hog 6490 Highway 180 W. (325) 762-3800
AQUILLA R & R Processing 164 HCR 2218 (254) 694-2801
AUSTIN Hudson’s Sausage Company 1800 S. Congress (512) 445-6611; Skinned & quartered preferred, Over $35 skin on
AUSTIN Texas Sausage Company 2915 East 12th Street (512) 472-6707; Skinned & quartered only
BALLINGER Owen’s Deer Processing 500 Hutchings Avenue (325) 365-2430
BAYTOWN Going Custom Slaughter & Deer Proc 6813 East Wallisville Rd (281) 421-2237
BELLVILLE Bellville Meat Market 36 S Front (979) 865-5782
BOERNE Farmer’s Meat Market 342 N Main (830) 249-8063; Skinned & quartered preferred, Over $35 skin on
BOGATA Rivercrest FFA 4126 US Hwy 271 S (903) 632-5989; Skinned deer only
BRADY Brady Co-op Locker 113 Elm St (325) 597-2440; Over $35
BRECKENRIDGE Ray’s Grocery & Market 1117 West Walker (254) 559-2341
BRONTE B & K Deer Processing 114 N Washington (325) 473-4015
BROWNWOOD Perks Deer Proc & Cold Storage 5100 FM 2126 (325) 643-5022
BURLESON Lee Deer Processing 7164 Drury Cross Road (817) 561-1975
CALDWELL Texas Chaw & Meat Products 1109 Commerce St. (979) 567-7448
CANADIAN Scroggins’ Meat Processing 620 North 2nd (806) 323-6231; Over $35
CASTROVILLE Dziuk’s Meat Market 608 Hwy 90 West (830) 538-3082
CASTROVILLE R & R Alsatian Sausage & Products 1034 Country Lane (830) 931-2430
CISCO Rust Deer Plant 8913 Hwy 6 East (254) 442-1653
CLEVELAND Reed’s Meat Processing 7187 FM 1010 (281) 689-0253
CLIFTON Big Buck Meat Market and Deer Proc 814 N. Avenue G (254) 675-2825
CLUTE Brazoswood High School 302 W Brazoswood Dr (979) 730-7300 X 29329; Skinned & quartered only
CLYDE Lone Wolf Wild Game Processing 3573 S. FM 604 (325) 893-3003
COLEMAN Halls Custom Packing 3500 Hwy 84 North (325) 625-4813
CROSS PLAINS Cross Plains Frozen Food 125 N Avenue D (254) 725-7571
DANBURY C & R Smokehouse 1722 Avenue C (979) 922-1048
DEKALB Dekalb FFA 101Maple (903) 667-2061; Skinned & quartered only
DETROIT Detroit Locker Plant 105 Garner St (903) 674-6911
DILLEY Sou-Tex Sausage Company 701 W. Hwy 85 (830) 426-6527
D’HANIS The Country Mart 7390 CR 525 (830) 363-7286
DUBLIN Clay’s Processing & Smokehouse 111 West Elm St. (254) 445-4180
FAIRFIELD J & S Meat Processing 180 FM 833 E (903) 389-6169
FORT STOCKTON Miller Meat Company 1013 North Nelson (432) 336-2979
FREDERICKSBURG Hill Country Deer Processing 2162 N US Hwy 87 (830) 997-6043; Over $35
GARLAND David’s Meat Market, Inc. 4010 N Jupiter Rd. (972) 495-8315; Skinned deer only
GOREE Trainham Ice & Meat 205 N. 5th Street (940) 422-5321
GRANBURY C & J Butcher Shop 400 South Morgan Street (817) 579-8077
HAMILTON Hamilton Quality Meats 1205 S Rice (254) 386-4646; Over $35
HARPER LDR Processing and Meat Market 16656 Hwy 290 West (830) 669-2024; Over $35
HEBBRONVILLE Coronado’s Wild Game Proc 911 N Elm (361) 527-2500
HELOTES Schott’s Meat Processing 20145 Bandera Road (210) 695-5411
HOOKS Hooks FFA 401 Ave A (903) 547-2215; Skinned deer only
HOUSTON Clear Lake Cuts – CCISD 2929 Bay Area Blvd (281) 284-2093; Skinned deer only
IMPERIAL Buena Vista High Imperial FFA 208 N Lincoln (432) 536-2261; Skinned deer preferred
INGRAM Woodbury Taxidermy & Wildgame 3286 Junction Hwy (830) 367-5855
JASPER Jasper Quality Meats Inc. 549 E. Gibson (409) 384-9924; Over $35
JOHNSON CITY Harvest House Farms 506 North Nugent (830) 868-7253; Over $35
KATY Midway Food Market 5901 Highway Blvd (281) 391-3101
KEMP C & D Game Processing 29085 CR 2100 (903) 498-3411
KERRVILLE Milton Bernhard Meat Processing 2920 Junction Hwy (830) 367-2995
KINGSVILLE Hibler Wild Game Inc. 207 E 5th St (361) 221-9747; Over $35
KOUNTZE Kountze High School 1488 FM 1293 (409) 246-3474; Skinned deer preferred
LAREDO JW Nixon High School FFA 2000 Plum (956) 795-3849 EXT 163; Skinned deer only
LAREDO Ruiz Custom Meats 2119 Lyon St (956) 724-3013; Over $35
LLANO Miiller’s Llano Smokehouse 705 W. Young (325) 247-4450; Over $35
MARBLE FALLS Hill Country Fine Meats 1405 State St (830) 693-7024; Over $35
MENARD Ranch House Meat Company 303 San Saba St (325) 396-4536
MERIDIAN Meridian Frozen Food Locker 112 East Morgan (254) 435-2803
MERIDIAN Samples Ranch 12089 State Hwy 22 (254) 597-7750
MIDLAND Clark’s and Winford’s Meat Co. 6002 South Hwy 349 (432) 686-8123; Skinned & quartered preferred
MUENSTER Fischer’s Meat Market 304 N Main (940) 759-4211
MUENSTER Walterscheid Meat Company 605 N. Mesquite (940) 759-2744
NEEDVILLE Lad’s Smokehouse & Catering 3731 School Rd (979) 793-6210
NEW BRAUNFELS Granzin’s Meat Market 1644 Old Mcqueeney Rd (830) 625-3510
NEW BRAUNFELS The Rust Game Place 1778 South Hwy 46 (830) 608-1910
NEW ULM Eckermann’s Meat Market 2543 FM 1457 (979) 836-8858
PERRYTON Big 4 Packing 1602 S. Cedar (806) 435-5679; Over $35
PILOT POINT Golden Triangle Meat Plant 203 South Jefferson (940) 686-2456
POST Jackson Brothers Food Locker 121 South Ave H (806) 495-3245
RAYMONDVILLE Rudy’s Meat Market 588 N 10th (956) 689-2186
RIVERSIDE Tallent Sausage & Grocery FM 980 and Hwy 19 (936) 594-2591
ROANOKE Syracuse’s Custom Meats 13794 Old Denton Rd. (817) 379-2230
SAN ANGELO J’s Processing 7000 US Hwy 277 S (325) 651-6175
SAN ANTONIO Broadway Frozen Food Lockers 875 E. Ashby Place, Ste. 3000 (210) 226-3189
SAN SABA Hibler Family Processing 103 E. Wallace (325) 372-5195
SANTA ANNA Santa Anna Wild Game Proc. 503 Wallis Avenue (325) 348-9171
SANTA FE Doreck & Sons Packing Co. 4101 FM 646 North (409) 925-6611
SCHULENBURG Willie Joe’s Processing 2220 Krischke (979) 561-8272
SEYMOUR Bayco Services 205 E McLain (940) 889-2424; Over $35
SLATON Klemke’s Sausage Haus 255 West Garza (806) 828-5394; Over $35
SNOOK Slovacek Sausage Company Hwy 60 West (979) 272-8625
SPRINGTOWN Goober’s Deer Processing LLC 2127 E Hwy 199 (817) 444-1414
THROCKMORTON Escalon’s Buck ‘N Hog 308 S. Reynolds Avenue (940) 849-0656
TYLER Lynch’s Food Store 3400 East Fifth St. (903) 593-1521
UVALDE Uvalde Meat Market & Processing 508 South Wood St. (830) 278-6247
VICTORIA Country Slaughter House 3857 Burroughsville Rd (361) 573-9043; Over $35
VICTORIA Harwell’s Custom Processing 7804 FM 236 (361) 575-5120
WACO Fulton’s Quality Meats 1400 N. Robinson Dr. (254) 662-5608
WEATHERFORD Teel’s Custom Meats 1820 N. Main St. (817) 613-0095
WHITE DEER Clint & Sons Main St (806) 883-7831; Over $35
WILLOW CITY Rabke’s Table Ready Meats 3875 Eckert Rd (830) 685-3266
WINK Home Smoked Meat Processing 402 N Monahans Dr (432) 527-3991
WINNIE Harrington Packing Company 344 Best Rd (409) 296-9794
ZEPHYR M & M Deer Processing 4300 CR 278 (325) 739-2211

Kerr Wildlife Management Area

The 6,693 acre Kerr Wildlife Management Area is located near beautiful Hunt, Texas, in the Texas Hill Country and is owned and operated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. This wildlife management area (WMA) was selected as a land base for the Edwards Plateau ecological area to develop and manage wildlife habitats and populations of native wildlife species, provide a site where research of wildlife populations and habitat can be conducted under controlled conditions, and to provide public Texas hunting and recreational use of wildlife in a manner compatible with the resource.

The WMA’s primary mission is to function as a wildlife management, research, and demonstration site for wildlife biologist to conduct wildlife related studies and provide resultant information to resource managers, landowners, and other interested groups or individuals to acquaint them with proven practices in wildlife habitat management. Of course, the Kerr WMA is well known for its genetic and antler work with white-tailed deer, as well as white-tailed deer management.

Principal wildlife species found on the Kerr Wildlife Area include white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, javelina, wild turkey, mourning dove, fox squirrel, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, armadillo, ring-tailed cat, rabbit, gray fox, and many species of reptiles and migratory birds. The WMA is rich with wildlife, including the endangered black-capped vireo as well as the golden-cheeked warbler.

The Kerr Wildlife Management Area is located at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Guadalupe River. The Kerr WMA is representative of the Edwards Plateau habitat type of Texas.The Area was purchased in by the State of Texas in 1950 under the Pittman-Robertson Act using Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program funds.

The Kerr WMA is open year-round, except closed for Special Permit (draw) hunts. The office is open 8 am to 5 pm on Monday through Friday. Tours are given on the first Friday of every month from August through October.

Kerr Wildlife Management Area
2625 FM 1340
Hunt, TX 78024
830-238-4483

Dove Hunting Workshop at Justin Hurst WMA

Dove hunting kicks off the fall hunting season in Texas each year, but many people, even though interested, have never had an opportunity to learn what hunting is all about. That is about to change for some families that are looking to get outdoors, in addition to testing their ability to shoot.

An innovative public hunting opportunity for newcomers, the Mentored Hunting Permit, will launch this fall with a dove hunting workshop September 19 and 20 at the Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Area (WMA), near Freeport, Texas.

The family-friendly event is designed to introduce participants to hunting and provide hands-on knowledge and experience for hunting dove and other game animals in Texas. The mentored dove hunting workshop will focus on teaching hunting skills, safety, ethics, game processing and preparation, elements of habitat management, and provide guidance and advice for hunting activities in the future.

As part of the workshop, participants will be offered the opportunity to take part in a mentored dove hunt accompanied by an experienced hunter.

Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited to 20 participants at the Hurst WMA. Information about the event, including registration form, is available by calling urban wildlife biologist Richard Heilbrun at 210-688-6444. Cost for the workshop is $35 and the Mentored Hunting Permit, which covers cost for access to the dove hunt, is $25.

Participants must also have a valid Texas hunting license and Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp and have satisfied Hunter Education Certification requirements or purchase the Hunter Education Deferral prior to the weekend of September 19.

“The mentored hunting program is intended to explore possible ways to increase hunter recruitment,” said Linda Campbell, director of public hunting with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “By offering these educational workshops and mentored hunting opportunities, we hope to provide an effective vehicle for people who are not from traditional hunting backgrounds to learn about and get started in hunting.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the new hunter recruitment initiative as a means of providing opportunities for people interested in participating in a multi-day hunter recruitment workshop on a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department WMA. Participation will be by reservation, on a first-come, first-served basis, and the fee for the Mentored Dove Hunting Permit will be $25.

Texas Hunters for the Hungry by County

Hunters for the Hungry is a Texas hunting program set up where hunters can donate surplus game to help families short on food. The program allows hunters to achieve their much-needed deer harvest goals and helps prevent hunter in Texas.

Hunters can help by donating deer, by making a monetary donation, or by helping to raise money in your community to offset processing fees. All of these ways will help ensure Hunters for the Hungry carries on it’s long-standing commitment to helping put food on the tables of those in need.

Below, you will find a list of participating deer processors by county. If there is a notation after the business listing it denotes that thier charge may be above the customary $30 to $40 charge and they have special requirement for game. Visit this webiste or call (800) 992-9767, ext. 506.

Hunters for the Hungry processors by County:

AUSTIN Bellville Meat Market 36 S Front Bellville (979) 865-5782
AUSTIN Eckermann’s Meat Market 2543 FM 1457 New Ulm (979) 836-8858
BAYLOR Bayco Services 205 E McLain Seymour (940) 889-2424; Over $35
BEXAR Broadway Frozen Food Lockers 875 E. Ashby Place, Ste. 3000 San Antonio (210) 226-3189
BEXAR Schott’s Meat Processing 20145 Bandera Road Helotes (210) 695-5411
BLANCO Harvest House Farms 506 North Nugent Johnson City (830) 868-7253; Over $35
BOSQUE Big Buck Meat Mkt and Deer Proc. 814 N. Avenue G Clifton (254) 675-2825
BOSQUE Meridian Frozen Food Locker 112 East Morgan Meridian (254) 435-2803
BOSQUE Samples Ranch 12089 State Hwy 22 Meridian (254) 597-7750
BOWIE Dekalb FFA 101Maple Dekalb (903) 667-2061; Skinned & quartered only
BOWIE Hooks FFA 401 Ave A Hooks (903) 547-2215; Skinned deer only
BRAZORIA Brazoswood High School 302 W Brazoswood Dr Clute (979) 730-7300 X 29329; Skinned & quartered only
BRAZORIA C & R Smokehouse 1722 Avenue C Danbury (979) 922-1048
BROWN M & M Deer Processing 4300 CR 278 Zephyr (325) 739-2211
BROWN Perks Deer Processing & Cold Storage 5100 FM 2126 Brownwood (325) 643-5022
BURLESON Slovacek Sausage Company Hwy 60 West Snook (979) 272-8625
BURLESON Texas Chaw & Meat Products 1109 Commerce St. Caldwell (979) 567-7448
BURNET Hill Country Fine Meats 1405 State St Marble Falls (830) 693-7024; Over $35
CALLAHAN Cross Plains Frozen Food 125 N Avenue D Cross Plains (254) 725-7571
CALLAHAN Lone Wolf Wild Game Processing 3573 S. FM 604 Clyde (325) 893-3003
CARSON Clint & Sons Main St White Deer (806) 883-7831; Over $35
CHAMBERS Harrington Packing Company 344 Best Rd Winnie (409) 296-9794
COKE B & K Deer Processing 114 N Washington Bronte (325) 473-4015
COLEMAN Halls Custom Packing 3500 Hwy 84 North Coleman (325) 625-4813
COLEMAN Santa Anna Wild Game Processing 503 Wallis Avenue Santa Anna (325) 348-9171
COMAL Granzin’s Meat Market 1644 Old Mcqueeney Rd New Braunfels (830) 625-3510
COMAL The Rust Game Place 1778 South Hwy 46 New Braunfels (830) 608-1910
COOKE Fischer’s Meat Market 304 N Main Muenster (940) 759-4211
COOKE Walterscheid Meat Company 605 N. Mesquite Muenster (940) 759-2744
DALLAS David’s Meat Market, Inc. 4010 N Jupiter Rd. Garland (972) 495-8315; Skinned deer only
DENTON Golden Triangle Meat Plant 203 South Jefferson Pilot Point (940) 686-2456
DENTON Syracuse’s Custom Meats 13794 Old Denton Rd. Roanoke (817) 379-2230
EASTLAND Rust Deer Plant 8913 Hwy 6 East Cisco (254) 442-1653
ERATH Clay’s Processing & Smokehouse 111 West Elm St. Dublin (254) 445-4180
FAYETTE Willie Joe’s Processing 2220 Krischke Schulenburg (979) 561-8272
FORT BEND Lad’s Smokehouse & Catering 3731 School Rd Needville (979) 793-6210
FREESTONE J & S Meat Processing 180 FM 833 E Fairfield (903) 389-6169
FRIO Sou-Tex Sausage Company 701 W Hwy 85 Dilley (830) 426-6527
GALVESTON Doreck & Sons Packing Co. 4101 FM 646 North Santa Fe (409) 925-6611
GARZA Jackson Brothers Food Locker 121 South Ave H Post (806) 495-3245
GILLESPIE Hill Country Deer Processing 2162 N US Hwy 87 Fredericksburg (830) 997-6043; Over $35
GILLESPIE LDR Processing and Meat Market 16656 Hwy 290 West Harper (830) 669-2024; Over $35
GILLESPIE Rabke’s Table Ready Meats 3875 Eckert Rd Willow City (830) 685-3266
HAMILTON Hamilton Quality Meats 1205 S Rice Hamilton (254) 386-4646; Over $35
HARDIN Kountze High School 1488 FM 1293 Kountze (409) 246-3474; Skinned deer preferred
HARRIS Clear Lake Cuts – CCISD 2929 Bay Area Blvd Houston (281) 284-2093; Skinned deer only
HARRIS Going Custom Slaughter 6813 East Wallisville Rd Baytown (281) 421-2237
HARRIS Midway Food Market 5901 Highway Blvd Katy (281) 391-3101
HEMPHILL Scroggins’ Meat Processing 620 North 2nd Canadian (806) 323-6231; Over $35
HILL R & R Processing 164 HCR 2218 Aquilla (254) 694-2801
HOOD C & J Butcher Shop 400 South Morgan Street Granbury (817) 579-8077
JASPER Jasper Quality Meats Inc. 549 E. Gibson Jasper (409) 384-9924; Over $35
JIM HOGG Coronado’s Wild Game Processing 911 N Elm Hebbronville (361) 527-2500
JOHNSON Lee Deer Processing 7164 Drury Cross Road Burleson (817) 561-1975
KAUFMAN C & D Game Processing 29085 CR 2100 Kemp (903) 4983411
KENDALL Farmer’s Meat Market 342 N Main Boerne (830) 249-8063; Skinned & quartered preferred, Over $35 skin on
KERR Milton Bernhard Meat Processing 2920 Junction Hwy Kerrville (830) 367-2995
KERR Woodbury Taxidermy & Wildgame Processing 3286 Junction Hwy Ingram (830) 367-5855
KLEBERG Hibler Wild Game Inc. 207 E 5th St Kingsville (361) 221-9747; Over $35
KNOX Trainham Ice & Meat 205 N. 5th Street Goree (940) 422-5321
LIBERTY Reed’s Meat Processing 7187 FM 1010 Cleveland (281) 689-0253
LLANO Miiller’s Llano Smokehouse 705 W. Young Llano (325) 247-4450; Over $35
LUBBOCK Klemke’s Sausage Haus 255 West Garza Slaton (806) 828-5394; Over $35
MCCULLOCH Brady Co-op Locker 113 Elm St Brady (325) 597-2440; Over $35
MCLENNAN Fulton’s Quality Meats 1400 N. Robinson Dr. Waco (254) 662-5608
MEDINA Dziuk’s Meat Market 608 Hwy 90 West Castroville (830) 538-3082
MEDINA R & R Alsatian Sausage & Products 1034 Country Lane Castroville (830) 931-2430
MEDINA The Country Mart 7390 CR 525 D’Hanis (830) 363-7286
MENARD Ranch House Meat Company 303 San Saba St Menard (325) 396-4536
MIDLAND Clark’s and Winford’s Meat Co. 6002 South Hwy 349 Midland (432) 686-8123
OCHILTREE Big 4 Packing 1602 S. Cedar Perryton (806) 435-5679; Over $35
PARKER Goober’s Deer Processing LLC 2127 E Hwy 199 Springtown (817) 444-1414
PARKER Teel’s Custom Meats 1820 N. Main St. Weatherford (817) 613-0095
PECOS Buena Vista High Imperial FFA 208 N Lincoln Imperial (432) 536-2261; Skinned deer preferred
PECOS Miller Meat Company 1013 North Nelson Fort Stockton (432) 336-2979
RED RIVER Detroit Locker Plant 105 Garner St Detroit (903) 674-6911
RED RIVER Rivercrest FFA 4126 US Hwy 271 S Bogata (903) 632-5989; Skinned deer only
RUNNELS Owen’s Deer Processing 500 Hutchings Avenue Ballinger (325) 365-2430
SAN SABA Hibler Family Processing 103 E. Wallace San Saba (325) 372-5195
SHACKELFORD Escalon’s Buck ‘N Hog Processing 6490 Highway 180 W. Albany (325) 762-3800
SMITH Lynch’s Food Store 3400 East Fifth St. Tyler (903) 593-1521
STEPHENS Ray’s Grocery & Market 1117 West Walker Breckenridge (254) 559-2341
TAYLOR Stephens Wild Game Processing 4132 Vine Abilene (325) 695-4868
TAYLOR The Deer Shop 4535 Iberis Rd Abilene (325) 260-4364
THROCKMORTON Escalon’s Buck ‘N Hog Processing 308 S. Reynolds Avenue Throckmorton (940) 849-0656
TOM GREEN J’s Processing 7000 US Hwy 277 S San Angelo (325) 651-6175
TRAVIS Hudson’s Sausage Company 1800 S. Congress Austin (512) 445-6611; Skinned & quartered preferred, Over $35 skin on
TRAVIS Texas Sausage Company 2915 East 12th Street Austin (512) 472-6707; Skinned & quartered only
UVALDE Uvalde Meat Market & Processing 508 South Wood St. Uvalde (830) 278-6247
VICTORIA Country Slaughter House 3857 Burroughsville Rd Victoria (361) 573-9043; Over $35
VICTORIA Harwell’s Custom Processing 7804 FM 236 Victoria (361) 575-5120
WALKER Tallent Sausage & Grocery FM 980 and Hwy 19 Riverside (936) 594-2591
WEBB JW Nixon High School FFA 2000 Plum Laredo (956) 795-3849 EXT 163; Skinned deer only
WEBB Ruiz Custom Meats 2119 Lyon St Laredo (956) 724-3013; Over $35
WILLACY Rudy’s Meat Market 588 N 10th Raymondville (956) 689-2186
WINKLER Home Smoked Meat Processing 402 N Monahans Dr Wink (432) 527-3991

J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Hunting

The upper coast of Texas is blessed with coastal marsh that offers great public hunting for migratory waterfowl. The J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area (WMA) contains over 24,000 acres of fresh, intermediate, and brackish water marsh within the prairie-marsh zone along the upper Texas coast near the Louisiana border. The J.D. Murphree WMA is managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and is divided into two units that are divided by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW).

The Big Hill Unit is located north of the GIWW and the Salt Bayou Unit is located south of the GIWW. All J.D. Murphree WMA waterfowl hunting, teal hunting and all alligator hunting will be administered out of the WMA headquarters located on the south side of Highway 73, which is located about 1/2 mile east of the Taylor Bayou Bridge and 3 miles west of the Highway 87 intersection in Port Arthur. All hunters must report to the appropriate check station for orientation, assignment to a hunting compartment, and validation of their hunting permit.

The check station for Salt Bayou Unit waterfowl hunts opens at 4:00 a.m. and the check station for Big Hill Unit waterfowl hunts opens at 4:30 a.m. on each designated day and permits will be issued until 30 minutes before legal shooting hours. Waterfowl hunters for the Salt Bayou Unit must be checked out and off the Murphree WMA by 12:00 p.m. when the check station closes.

The Big Hill Unit is approximately 8,900 acres of fresh to intermediate marsh. Access to the Unit is by boat only. A shallow draft aluminum boat equipped with an outboard motor (20-40 horsepower) is ideal for duck hunting and alligator hunting. A 14 to 16 foot aluminum boat is perfect so that is is light enough to be pulled over small levees; this will allow you to access more of the area. In addition, an additional canoe or small boat may aid in accessing assigned hunting areas within leveed compartments, especially if you expect to use a larger boat. Large, moderate draft, or heavy boats will limit access in many hunt areas due to shallow water conditions and levee portages.

The Salt Bayou Unit is approximately 15,300 acres of brackish to salt marsh. Access to the Unit is by boat only. A shallow draft boat approximately 14+ feet in length equipped with a moderate-sized outboard motor (25-75 horsepower) is recommended for alligator or goose and duck hunting. An additional canoe or small boat may aid in accessing assigned duck hunting areas within hunt compartments. Boat launch accommodations are limited to shallow draft boats only. Rough and choppy water conditions frequently exist on Keith Lake during windy days.

The construction of permanent waterfowl hunting blinds is prohibited on the Murphree WMA. In addition, it is a hunter’s responsibility to maintain a distance of 200 yards from other hunting parties. Airboats are prohibited on the WMA except in Big Hill, Taylor’s, Hildebrandt Bayou, Blind Bayou, and Keith Lake. In the Salt Bayou Unit only, airboats may only be used for access by permitted waterfowl hunters and must have a motor of less than 10 horsepower. Retrievers are welcomed and make sure you bring your goose and duck hunting decoys. Use caution during warm weather because alligators are present on both units.

TPWD has stated that the following equipment is necessary for hunters on the J.D. Murphree WMA: a boat and outboard motor as described above, proper safety devices as required by law, paddle, flashlight, push-pole, outboard gas sufficient for 25 miles of travel, rain gear, boots or waders, insect repellent, appropriate ammunition and a shotgun. Keep in mind that boats (persons, equipment, harvested game, etc.) may not exceed U.S. Coast Guard approved loaded capacity.

Any hunters utilizing inadequate boats or equipment may be limited to sharing available hunt areas. Food, lodging, and hunting supplies are not available on the WMA, but commercial lodging facilities are available in the Port Arthur and Beaumont area. Alligator and duck hunters are strongly encouraged to thoroughly test all of their equipment before arriving at the J.D. Murphree WMA Headquarters. Call the headquarters at 409-736-2551 for more public hunting information.

Quail Surveys in Texas

Quail are a socially and economically important species. Texas statewide quail surveys were initiated in 1978 to monitor quail populations. This index uses randomly selected, 20-mile roadside survey lines to determine annual quail population trends by ecological region. This trend information helps determine relative quail populations among the regions of Texas from year to year.

Comparisons can be made between the mean (average) number of quail observed per route this year and the long term mean (LTM) for quail seen within an ecological region. The quail survey was not designed to predict relative abundance for any area smaller than the ecological region, so only generalities for large areas can be made.

Bobwhite quail hunting can be hit or miss in Texas considering these birds exist here on the very western edge of their distribution in the U. S. There are still vast expanses of suitable bobwhite habitat in the rangelands of South Texas and in the Rolling Plains, where in some years over 100,000 hunters flock to pursue these wary upland game birds. Bobwhite quail are limited in these regions by rainfall, or more specifically the lack thereof. Wet years, on the other hand, mean let’s go hunting.