Send us your best whitetail stuff (and don't forget to attach pictures!)
Russell Graves - Believes whitetails shouldn't be photographed in the back of a truck with their tongue hanging out.
Location - Texas
Brian Strickland - Has 369,518 acres of land that you can hunt on. Call him at (555) 281-HUNT.
Location - Colorado
Tony Hansen - Is pretty confident Michigan will release at least 300,000 archers into the woods this fall.
Location - Michigan
Jake Fagan - He's really just here to hang out, so don't mind him.
Location - Georgia
Will Brantley - Loves hunting in a dorag because it makes him look Ramboish. Some may call it Little Man Syndrome.
Location - Tennessee
Friday, November 13, 2009
West Texas Whitetail
Here's a huge monster taken north of Abilene.
Check out the full story here:
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/nov/12/trophy-whitetail/
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Giant Grayson County Buck
Here's a story from KXII TV out of Sherman Texas...
GRAYSON COUNTY, TX -- A Texoma grandmother says she bagged her biggest deer in Grayson County this weekend, and it may be one of the biggest ever killed in the area by a woman.
Joyce Ooten, 60, used her bow to shoot this 19-point-buck over the weekend. Ooten shot the big game on her property, the Refuge Road Archery Range.
Ooten says she and her husband, Donnie, have had a friendly rivalry for some time over who will kill the bigger deer.
Now, she says she's ahead.
"He'd been telling me if you're going to get that deer, you had better get down there and hunt it. I like to hunt in the afternoon, not much on mornings, and he said you better go down there and get it or I'm going to get him. I beat him to it," Ooten says.
Ooten says she will mount the deer on her wall. We're still waiting to hear back from Texas Parks and Wildlife to see if this kill breaks any records.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Texas Trophy Hunters Association Celebrates Texas Hunter Appreciation Month
San Antonio, Texas - Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) is celebrating hunters during Hunter Appreciation Month! From wildlife conservation to economically supporting our local, state and national communities, hunters take better care of our planet than any other group of people and TTHA wants to say, "Thanks!"
TTHA salutes Texas Governor Rick Perry in his declaration of November 2009 as "Hunter Appreciation Month." Texas is second to none for the total number of anglers and hunters boasting 2.6 million strong. When you include the 341,000 non-resident sportsmen that Texas attracts each year, hunters in the state of Texas generate $4.6 billion for the Texas economy.
Carter Smith, Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department states, "Texas has long been defined by its rich and unique hunting heritage. With an abundance of game ranging from deer to ducks and quail to turkeys, there is something for every sportsman to enjoy out in our woods and waters. I hope all Texas hunters will make time to go afield this month, and most importantly to take a young person with them. Passing along our proud hunting traditions to future generations is a must for all who value the future of our great outdoors."
"TTHA applauds Governor Perry for his recognition of hunters as conservationists and the positive economic impact of hunting in Texas", states Joe Betar, VP, COO of Texas Trophy Hunters Association. "In addition, TTHA echoes Governor Perry's emphasis on the importance of hunter safety and ethics as taught by instructors across the state."
TTHA will celebrate hunters and the legacy they provide the entire month of November with a Texas-Sized Road Trip. Look for TTHA representatives at BBQs, banquets, dinners, dances and opening weekend events. Every stop along the way, we'll have heaps of FREE gifts for members and/or anyone proudly displaying the TTHA "skull and horns." Now's the time to load up the truck with stickers and decals because if you're proud enough to show off the TTHA logo, we want to say "Thanks for hunting!"
If we don't see you on the road near your favorite hunting camp, please stop by TTHA Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas and have a cup of coffee on us. Show us a valid hunting license and/or your TTHA member card and receive a free gift.
TTHA encourages you to participate in the outdoors during this great month! For more information about Hunter Appreciation Month and to find events in your area, go to www.TTHA.com. You can also read Governor Perry's proclamation.
TTHA salutes Texas Governor Rick Perry in his declaration of November 2009 as "Hunter Appreciation Month." Texas is second to none for the total number of anglers and hunters boasting 2.6 million strong. When you include the 341,000 non-resident sportsmen that Texas attracts each year, hunters in the state of Texas generate $4.6 billion for the Texas economy.
Carter Smith, Executive Director Texas Parks and Wildlife Department states, "Texas has long been defined by its rich and unique hunting heritage. With an abundance of game ranging from deer to ducks and quail to turkeys, there is something for every sportsman to enjoy out in our woods and waters. I hope all Texas hunters will make time to go afield this month, and most importantly to take a young person with them. Passing along our proud hunting traditions to future generations is a must for all who value the future of our great outdoors."
"TTHA applauds Governor Perry for his recognition of hunters as conservationists and the positive economic impact of hunting in Texas", states Joe Betar, VP, COO of Texas Trophy Hunters Association. "In addition, TTHA echoes Governor Perry's emphasis on the importance of hunter safety and ethics as taught by instructors across the state."
TTHA will celebrate hunters and the legacy they provide the entire month of November with a Texas-Sized Road Trip. Look for TTHA representatives at BBQs, banquets, dinners, dances and opening weekend events. Every stop along the way, we'll have heaps of FREE gifts for members and/or anyone proudly displaying the TTHA "skull and horns." Now's the time to load up the truck with stickers and decals because if you're proud enough to show off the TTHA logo, we want to say "Thanks for hunting!"
If we don't see you on the road near your favorite hunting camp, please stop by TTHA Headquarters in San Antonio, Texas and have a cup of coffee on us. Show us a valid hunting license and/or your TTHA member card and receive a free gift.
TTHA encourages you to participate in the outdoors during this great month! For more information about Hunter Appreciation Month and to find events in your area, go to www.TTHA.com. You can also read Governor Perry's proclamation.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Friday, October 30, 2009
Deer Season Prospects Shaping Up With Recent Rains
AUSTIN, Texas - An early and abundant acorn crop, combined with new growth of native vegetation may force Texas deer hunters to stray from supplemental food sources during the 2009-2010 general deer season, which opens Nov. 7.
Reports from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department field biologists indicate above average mast crop production and an early acorn drop. Recent rains across much of the state have also helped generate forb production, adding to the availability of native food sources for deer.
"It's been at least three years since ground moisture has been this good at this time of year," said Mike Krueger, TPWD district wildlife biologist in Kerrville. "It looks like springtime in the Edwards Plateau at this time.
Krueger noted the warm-season plants have put on a final burst of growth and flowers and there is a flush of early growth of cool-season grasses and forbs. That will probably contribute to a slow deer season for hunters, especially early in the season and especially for those hunters that are dependent on hunting over feeders.
"There is an abundance of food sources for deer right now, and deer movements are reduced because they don't have to move as far or as often to keep their bellies full," Krueger added. "Deer don't appear to be coming to feeders as often or as regularly as they would if it were still dry."
The only consolation is that bucks are becoming more active due to the onset of the rut in the Hill Country, so they'll be moving around as they typically do during the rut, regardless of the condition of the range.
Although the range conditions are good to excellent right now, the rains came too late to help with this year's buck antler growth which is probably no better than average throughout the Edwards Plateau region, or with the fawn production that is also no better than average. But if it continues to rain throughout the fall and winter, the stage is being set for better antler growth and fawn production next year.
While recent rains have improved range conditions across much of the state, whitetails in South Texas are battling through an extended stress period that started with last year's rut, according to biologists.
"Last season the rut was later and more spread out than normal and this did not fare well for mature deer," said Daniel Kunz, TPWD biologist in Alice. "By the first of February bucks were extremely drawn down and numerous reports of early antler shedding were occurring; an indication that bucks could be in poor shape. This will likely affect antler quality."
Hunters should expect a reasonable number of 2 1/2 year old bucks and 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 year old bucks as 2002-2004 and 2007 were good fawn production years resulting in good carry over, added TPWD biologist Dustin Windsor in Cotulla.
"Everything's greened up and deer aren't coming to feeders as readily because there's so much forage out there," said Alan Cain, TPWD district wildlife biologist for South Texas. "That might affect hunting success early in the fall but deer will still be there."
Surprisingly, according to Cain, some of the helicopter surveys in the brush country are showing some decent body conditions on bucks and does. Some places have some pretty good deer despite drought conditions. Fawn crops are looking pretty pitiful this year.
One region of the state that is entering the fall hunting season in prime condition is the Panhandle, according to Calvin Richardson, TPWD district biologist in Amarillo.
"The Panhandle deer herds---both mule and whitetail---are in great condition and should go into the fall in great shape," said Richardson. "With harvest being down last year, we should have some older aged bucks carry over into this year's season. My guess is that both mule deer and white-tails are not going to have to move around much to find quality forage, so hunting feeders might not be as productive as in years that we have been dry.
Deer hunters in 52 counties this season will be joining those in 61 existing counties having buck antler restrictions. Legal bucks in those counties are those with at least 1 unbranched antler (e.g., spikes and 3-pointers) or having an inside spread of at least 13 inches.
Newly affected counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, the antler restrictions have significantly improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect.
Hunters should also note whitetail bag limits have changed in several counties across the state. Be sure to check the county listings in the 2009-2010 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for the county hunted.
The department got overwhelming support to increase whitetail bag limits in several areas of the state with growing deer numbers or populations sufficient to support additional hunting opportunity.
The department is increasing the bag limit in most Cross Timbers and Prairies and eastern Rolling Plains counties from three deer (no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless) or four deer (no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless) to five deer (no more than 2 bucks). Counties affected include: Archer, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Callahan, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Jack, Jones, Knox, Lampasas, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (west of IH35), and Young.
In addition, the department is increasing the bag limit from four deer to five deer in Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties. White-tailed deer densities throughout the eastern Trans-Pecos are very similar to densities on the Edwards Plateau, where current rules allow the harvest of up to five antlerless deer.
Another change increases the bag limit from three deer to five deer (no more than one buck) in selected counties in the western Rolling Plains. Counties affected include: Armstrong, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry, Stonewall, and Wheeler.
The department also opened whitetail hunting in Dawson, Deaf Smith, and Martin counties (three deer, no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless).
Areas of the state having sufficient antlerless deer populations to warrant additional hunting opportunity are getting more doe days this fall. The department is increasing antlerless deer hunting in the following areas:
• from 16 days to full-season either-sex in Dallam, Denton, Hartley, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Sherman and Tarrant counties;
• from 30 days to full-season either-sex in Cooke, Hardeman, Hill, Johnson, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties;
• from four days to16 days in Bowie and Rusk counties;
• from four days to 30 days in Cherokee and Houston counties;
• from no doe days to four doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties.
The department is also expanding the late antlerless and spike season into additional counties. Counties affected include: Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Borden, Bosque, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hood, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lampasas, Lipscomb, McLennan, Montague, Motley, Ochiltree, Palo Pinto, Parker, Pecos, Roberts, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (West of IH35), Wise, and Young. In Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties, the season would replace the current muzzleloader-only open season.
In East Texas, the department is establishing a special muzzleloader season in additional counties, lengthening the existing muzzleloader season by five days to be equivalent in length with the special antlerless and spike buck seasons in other counties, and altering the current muzzleloader bag composition to allow the harvest of any buck (not just spike bucks) and antlerless deer without permits if the county has "doe days" during the general season.
New counties affected include: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, De Witt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad (North of HWY 59), Goliad (South of HWY 59), Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harrison, Houston, Jackson (North of HWY 59), Jackson (South of HWY 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Marion, Matagorda, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Upshur, Victoria (North of HWY 59), Victoria (South of HWY 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of HWY 59), Wharton (South of HWY 59), and Wilson.
The department is also adding one additional weekend and 10 additional weekdays in January to the current youth-only season.
The department also established a one buck only, antlerless by permit, nine-day mule deer season for Parmer County, the first ever deer season for that county.
The season concludes in the North Zone on Jan. 3 and the South Zone season ends Jan. 17.
Reports from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department field biologists indicate above average mast crop production and an early acorn drop. Recent rains across much of the state have also helped generate forb production, adding to the availability of native food sources for deer.
"It's been at least three years since ground moisture has been this good at this time of year," said Mike Krueger, TPWD district wildlife biologist in Kerrville. "It looks like springtime in the Edwards Plateau at this time.
Krueger noted the warm-season plants have put on a final burst of growth and flowers and there is a flush of early growth of cool-season grasses and forbs. That will probably contribute to a slow deer season for hunters, especially early in the season and especially for those hunters that are dependent on hunting over feeders.
"There is an abundance of food sources for deer right now, and deer movements are reduced because they don't have to move as far or as often to keep their bellies full," Krueger added. "Deer don't appear to be coming to feeders as often or as regularly as they would if it were still dry."
The only consolation is that bucks are becoming more active due to the onset of the rut in the Hill Country, so they'll be moving around as they typically do during the rut, regardless of the condition of the range.
Although the range conditions are good to excellent right now, the rains came too late to help with this year's buck antler growth which is probably no better than average throughout the Edwards Plateau region, or with the fawn production that is also no better than average. But if it continues to rain throughout the fall and winter, the stage is being set for better antler growth and fawn production next year.
While recent rains have improved range conditions across much of the state, whitetails in South Texas are battling through an extended stress period that started with last year's rut, according to biologists.
"Last season the rut was later and more spread out than normal and this did not fare well for mature deer," said Daniel Kunz, TPWD biologist in Alice. "By the first of February bucks were extremely drawn down and numerous reports of early antler shedding were occurring; an indication that bucks could be in poor shape. This will likely affect antler quality."
Hunters should expect a reasonable number of 2 1/2 year old bucks and 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 year old bucks as 2002-2004 and 2007 were good fawn production years resulting in good carry over, added TPWD biologist Dustin Windsor in Cotulla.
"Everything's greened up and deer aren't coming to feeders as readily because there's so much forage out there," said Alan Cain, TPWD district wildlife biologist for South Texas. "That might affect hunting success early in the fall but deer will still be there."
Surprisingly, according to Cain, some of the helicopter surveys in the brush country are showing some decent body conditions on bucks and does. Some places have some pretty good deer despite drought conditions. Fawn crops are looking pretty pitiful this year.
One region of the state that is entering the fall hunting season in prime condition is the Panhandle, according to Calvin Richardson, TPWD district biologist in Amarillo.
"The Panhandle deer herds---both mule and whitetail---are in great condition and should go into the fall in great shape," said Richardson. "With harvest being down last year, we should have some older aged bucks carry over into this year's season. My guess is that both mule deer and white-tails are not going to have to move around much to find quality forage, so hunting feeders might not be as productive as in years that we have been dry.
Deer hunters in 52 counties this season will be joining those in 61 existing counties having buck antler restrictions. Legal bucks in those counties are those with at least 1 unbranched antler (e.g., spikes and 3-pointers) or having an inside spread of at least 13 inches.
Newly affected counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, the antler restrictions have significantly improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect.
Hunters should also note whitetail bag limits have changed in several counties across the state. Be sure to check the county listings in the 2009-2010 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for the county hunted.
The department got overwhelming support to increase whitetail bag limits in several areas of the state with growing deer numbers or populations sufficient to support additional hunting opportunity.
The department is increasing the bag limit in most Cross Timbers and Prairies and eastern Rolling Plains counties from three deer (no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless) or four deer (no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless) to five deer (no more than 2 bucks). Counties affected include: Archer, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Callahan, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Jack, Jones, Knox, Lampasas, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (west of IH35), and Young.
In addition, the department is increasing the bag limit from four deer to five deer in Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties. White-tailed deer densities throughout the eastern Trans-Pecos are very similar to densities on the Edwards Plateau, where current rules allow the harvest of up to five antlerless deer.
Another change increases the bag limit from three deer to five deer (no more than one buck) in selected counties in the western Rolling Plains. Counties affected include: Armstrong, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry, Stonewall, and Wheeler.
The department also opened whitetail hunting in Dawson, Deaf Smith, and Martin counties (three deer, no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless).
Areas of the state having sufficient antlerless deer populations to warrant additional hunting opportunity are getting more doe days this fall. The department is increasing antlerless deer hunting in the following areas:
• from 16 days to full-season either-sex in Dallam, Denton, Hartley, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Sherman and Tarrant counties;
• from 30 days to full-season either-sex in Cooke, Hardeman, Hill, Johnson, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties;
• from four days to16 days in Bowie and Rusk counties;
• from four days to 30 days in Cherokee and Houston counties;
• from no doe days to four doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties.
The department is also expanding the late antlerless and spike season into additional counties. Counties affected include: Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Borden, Bosque, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hood, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lampasas, Lipscomb, McLennan, Montague, Motley, Ochiltree, Palo Pinto, Parker, Pecos, Roberts, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (West of IH35), Wise, and Young. In Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties, the season would replace the current muzzleloader-only open season.
In East Texas, the department is establishing a special muzzleloader season in additional counties, lengthening the existing muzzleloader season by five days to be equivalent in length with the special antlerless and spike buck seasons in other counties, and altering the current muzzleloader bag composition to allow the harvest of any buck (not just spike bucks) and antlerless deer without permits if the county has "doe days" during the general season.
New counties affected include: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, De Witt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad (North of HWY 59), Goliad (South of HWY 59), Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harrison, Houston, Jackson (North of HWY 59), Jackson (South of HWY 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Marion, Matagorda, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Upshur, Victoria (North of HWY 59), Victoria (South of HWY 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of HWY 59), Wharton (South of HWY 59), and Wilson.
The department is also adding one additional weekend and 10 additional weekdays in January to the current youth-only season.
The department also established a one buck only, antlerless by permit, nine-day mule deer season for Parmer County, the first ever deer season for that county.
The season concludes in the North Zone on Jan. 3 and the South Zone season ends Jan. 17.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
New Deer Hunting Game for Ipods and Iphones
This looks like a cool game to have on your Apple product - especially if you plan to wile away the hours on a stand all day.
You can hunt in Indiana or Texas and choose either a bow, shotgun, or rifle.
Enjoy!
Russell - Texas
You can hunt in Indiana or Texas and choose either a bow, shotgun, or rifle.
Enjoy!
Russell - Texas
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Young Hunters Get First Shot During Special Weekend
AUSTIN, Texas - "Trick or Treat" won't be the only activity on the minds of Texas youth on Oct. 31. While some will dress up as fairy princesses and ghosts for Halloween, many will be wearing bright orange and camouflage for the special youth-only hunting weekends.
Passing the hunting heritage on to the next generation of hunters is what the special youth-only seasons are all about, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
TPWD has set aside Oct. 31-Nov. 1 as special youth-only seasons for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey. Additional youth-only seasons have also been set aside in January. During the statewide special youth-only hunting weekend, licensed youth 16 years of age or younger will be allowed to harvest white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey.
The department has coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to offer a youth-only waterfowl season in the North and South Duck Zones on Oct. 24-25 for licensed youth 15 years of age or younger.
A Special Youth Hunting License ($7) is required and may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold, as well as online and by phone at 1-800-TX-LIC-4U for an additional convenience fee. General season bag limits for the county hunted apply during the youth-only weekend, but some additional restrictions may apply in certain areas so be sure to check the Outdoor Annual before heading afield.
TPWD has made an extra effort to open as much public hunting land 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.
Youth hunts for either sex white-tailed deer are scheduled during the special weekend season on public hunting units, mostly in East Texas. Youth waterfowl hunts are available on many public hunting units.
The Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit is a $48 permit, valid from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year. The APH permit allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands in the TPWD public hunting lands program. With the APH permit, hunting is allowed for small game, turkey, white-tailed deer, exotics, predators, furbearers, and fishing without having to pay daily permit fees and in most instances, without having to be selected in a drawing.
###
Russell - Texas
Passing the hunting heritage on to the next generation of hunters is what the special youth-only seasons are all about, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
TPWD has set aside Oct. 31-Nov. 1 as special youth-only seasons for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey. Additional youth-only seasons have also been set aside in January. During the statewide special youth-only hunting weekend, licensed youth 16 years of age or younger will be allowed to harvest white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey.
The department has coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to offer a youth-only waterfowl season in the North and South Duck Zones on Oct. 24-25 for licensed youth 15 years of age or younger.
A Special Youth Hunting License ($7) is required and may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold, as well as online and by phone at 1-800-TX-LIC-4U for an additional convenience fee. General season bag limits for the county hunted apply during the youth-only weekend, but some additional restrictions may apply in certain areas so be sure to check the Outdoor Annual before heading afield.
TPWD has made an extra effort to open as much public hunting land 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.
Youth hunts for either sex white-tailed deer are scheduled during the special weekend season on public hunting units, mostly in East Texas. Youth waterfowl hunts are available on many public hunting units.
The Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit is a $48 permit, valid from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year. The APH permit allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands in the TPWD public hunting lands program. With the APH permit, hunting is allowed for small game, turkey, white-tailed deer, exotics, predators, furbearers, and fishing without having to pay daily permit fees and in most instances, without having to be selected in a drawing.
###
Russell - Texas
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Check this out.
I don't even know whatto say about this video.
It can speak for itself.
RG - TEXAS
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas, Videos
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Huge Texas Gator
Yeah, I know it's not deer hunting but you have to give this kid props. An alligator that was nearly the state record - killed with a .410.
This kid's my hero.
You can read the whole story HERE.
RG in Texas
This kid's my hero.
You can read the whole story HERE.
RG in Texas
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas, Videos
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Bowhunters May Need To Go Native during Archery Season
AUSTIN, Texas – An early and abundant acorn crop may force Texas bowhunters to seek out native food supplies during archery season, which runs Oct. 3-Nov. 6.
Reports from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department field biologists indicate above average mast crop production and an early acorn drop. Recent rains across much of the state have also helped generate forb production, adding to the availability of native food sources for deer.
By some accounts, the number of Texas bowhunters has grown during the last l5-to-20 years and those ranks are likely to grow even more now that crossbows are allowed during the archery-only season.
For the first time since 1975 when Texas implemented a Special Archery Stamp requirement, hunters will be allowed to use crossbows during the archery-only hunting season.
Previously, crossbows could only be used during an archery-only season by persons with an upper-limb disability. Recent legislative action gave authority to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to allow any person, regardless of physical ability, to use a crossbow during the archery-only season.
One exception is that crossbows may be used in Grayson County during the archery-only season only by hunters with an upper-limb disability who possess a physician’s statement attesting to the permanent loss of the use of fingers, hand or arm in a manner that renders a person incapable of using a longbow, compound bow or recurved bow. Any licensed hunter may use a crossbow during the regular deer season.
Bowhunters are reminded that an archery stamp and a valid Texas hunting license are required. Hunter education requirements must also be met.
While recent rains will help improve current range conditions, whitetails in South Texas are battling through an extended stress period that started with last year’s rut, according to biologists.
“Last season the rut was later and more spread out than normal and this did not fare well for mature deer,” said Daniel Kunz, TPWD biologist in Alice. “By the first of February bucks were extremely drawn down and numerous reports of early antler shedding were occurring; an indication that bucks could be in poor shape. This will likely affect antler quality.”
Hunters should expect a reasonable number of 2 ½ year old bucks and 5 ½ to 7 ½ year old bucks as 2002-2004 and 2007 were good fawn production years resulting in good carry over, added TPWD biologist Dustin Windsor in Cotulla.
One region of the state that is entering the fall hunting season in prime condition is the Panhandle, according to Calvin Richardson, TPWD district biologist in Amarillo.
“The Panhandle deer herds---both mule and whitetail---are in great condition and should go into the fall in great shape,” said Richardson. “With harvest being down last year, we should have some older aged bucks carry over into this year's season. My guess is that both mule deer and white-tails are not going to have to move around much to find quality forage, so hunting feeders might not be as productive as in years that we have been dry.
“Probably, the only downside that I could imagine is that we probably are going to have a heck of a mosquito crop at the beginning of archery season with all of the playas full,” he added.
Bowhunters in 52 counties this season will be joining those in 61 existing counties having buck antler restrictions. Legal bucks in those counties are those with at least 1 unbranched antler (e.g., spikes and 3-pointers) or having an inside spread of at least 13 inches.
Newly affected counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
Archers should also note whitetail bag limits have changed in several counties across the state. Be sure to check the county listings in the 2009-2010 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for the county hunted.
Also, bowhunters taking advantage of opportunities on TPWD managed public lands under the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit should take note that crossbows are legal on those sites open for archery season, unless otherwise stated in year’s Public Hunting Lands map booklet.
The crossbow restriction allowing only hunters with documented upper limb disabilities remains in effect in all six units in Public Hunting Region-4 Dallas /Ft. Worth (Cooper Wildlife Management Area, Sulphur Unit of Cooper Lake State Park, Caddo National Grasslands WMA both units, Tawakoni WMA and Pat Mayse WMA) and three of the 14 units in Public Hunting Region-5 Pineywoods (White Oak Creek WMA, Caddo Lake WMA and Old Sabine Bottom WMA).
“Most of these WMAs have moderate deer densities and because TPWD does not control the number of hunters for APH access hunts, we do not have direct control over the harvest numbers on these areas,” said Kevin Herriman, TPWD district biologist in Tyler. “We do not have data available that provides us with a clear understanding of what effect the use of crossbows will have on total harvest numbers.”
Herriman went on to add that on public hunting areas having drawn public hunts during the archery season where hunter numbers and harvest can be monitored, crossbows will be allowed.
“We will be investigating the effect crossbows have on their deer harvest,” he said. “Once we are able to better determine what effect crossbows will have on archery deer harvest rates we will re-evaluate the season restrictions on the WMAs that allow archery season through the APH.”
Reports from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department field biologists indicate above average mast crop production and an early acorn drop. Recent rains across much of the state have also helped generate forb production, adding to the availability of native food sources for deer.
By some accounts, the number of Texas bowhunters has grown during the last l5-to-20 years and those ranks are likely to grow even more now that crossbows are allowed during the archery-only season.
For the first time since 1975 when Texas implemented a Special Archery Stamp requirement, hunters will be allowed to use crossbows during the archery-only hunting season.
Previously, crossbows could only be used during an archery-only season by persons with an upper-limb disability. Recent legislative action gave authority to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission to allow any person, regardless of physical ability, to use a crossbow during the archery-only season.
One exception is that crossbows may be used in Grayson County during the archery-only season only by hunters with an upper-limb disability who possess a physician’s statement attesting to the permanent loss of the use of fingers, hand or arm in a manner that renders a person incapable of using a longbow, compound bow or recurved bow. Any licensed hunter may use a crossbow during the regular deer season.
Bowhunters are reminded that an archery stamp and a valid Texas hunting license are required. Hunter education requirements must also be met.
While recent rains will help improve current range conditions, whitetails in South Texas are battling through an extended stress period that started with last year’s rut, according to biologists.
“Last season the rut was later and more spread out than normal and this did not fare well for mature deer,” said Daniel Kunz, TPWD biologist in Alice. “By the first of February bucks were extremely drawn down and numerous reports of early antler shedding were occurring; an indication that bucks could be in poor shape. This will likely affect antler quality.”
Hunters should expect a reasonable number of 2 ½ year old bucks and 5 ½ to 7 ½ year old bucks as 2002-2004 and 2007 were good fawn production years resulting in good carry over, added TPWD biologist Dustin Windsor in Cotulla.
One region of the state that is entering the fall hunting season in prime condition is the Panhandle, according to Calvin Richardson, TPWD district biologist in Amarillo.
“The Panhandle deer herds---both mule and whitetail---are in great condition and should go into the fall in great shape,” said Richardson. “With harvest being down last year, we should have some older aged bucks carry over into this year's season. My guess is that both mule deer and white-tails are not going to have to move around much to find quality forage, so hunting feeders might not be as productive as in years that we have been dry.
“Probably, the only downside that I could imagine is that we probably are going to have a heck of a mosquito crop at the beginning of archery season with all of the playas full,” he added.
Bowhunters in 52 counties this season will be joining those in 61 existing counties having buck antler restrictions. Legal bucks in those counties are those with at least 1 unbranched antler (e.g., spikes and 3-pointers) or having an inside spread of at least 13 inches.
Newly affected counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
Archers should also note whitetail bag limits have changed in several counties across the state. Be sure to check the county listings in the 2009-2010 Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for the county hunted.
Also, bowhunters taking advantage of opportunities on TPWD managed public lands under the $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit should take note that crossbows are legal on those sites open for archery season, unless otherwise stated in year’s Public Hunting Lands map booklet.
The crossbow restriction allowing only hunters with documented upper limb disabilities remains in effect in all six units in Public Hunting Region-4 Dallas /Ft. Worth (Cooper Wildlife Management Area, Sulphur Unit of Cooper Lake State Park, Caddo National Grasslands WMA both units, Tawakoni WMA and Pat Mayse WMA) and three of the 14 units in Public Hunting Region-5 Pineywoods (White Oak Creek WMA, Caddo Lake WMA and Old Sabine Bottom WMA).
“Most of these WMAs have moderate deer densities and because TPWD does not control the number of hunters for APH access hunts, we do not have direct control over the harvest numbers on these areas,” said Kevin Herriman, TPWD district biologist in Tyler. “We do not have data available that provides us with a clear understanding of what effect the use of crossbows will have on total harvest numbers.”
Herriman went on to add that on public hunting areas having drawn public hunts during the archery season where hunter numbers and harvest can be monitored, crossbows will be allowed.
“We will be investigating the effect crossbows have on their deer harvest,” he said. “Once we are able to better determine what effect crossbows will have on archery deer harvest rates we will re-evaluate the season restrictions on the WMAs that allow archery season through the APH.”
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Entries Available for Big Time Texas Hunts
AUSTIN, Texas - The Lone Star State boasts some of the finest hunting anywhere in the country, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Big Time Texas Hunts offer hunters a chance to experience the best of the best.
The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals - the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold or by calling 800-895-4248. They may also be purchased online this year at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
Proceeds from the Big Time Texas Hunts are used to provide more public hunting opportunity and to fund wildlife conservation and research programs in Texas.
Here's a summary of the Big Time Texas Hunts offerings:
The Texas Grand Slam - This truly is the hunt of a lifetime. The bighorn sheep hunt is very exclusive; TPWD issues only a handful of permits a year. The bighorn sheep hunt takes place on a West Texas Wildlife Management Area. The other three hunts included in the Texas Grand Slam will be on some of the most exclusive private ranches in the state. The winner may also bring along a non-hunting companion to share in this awesome outdoor adventure.
Texas Whitetail Bonanza - Ten winners will each get to experience a high-quality white-tailed deer hunt, something legendary to Texas on popular ranches known to produce big bucks. Guide service, food and lodging are provided on these 3-5-day trips. Each winner can also bring along a companion to hunt as well.
Texas Gator Hunt - One winner and a guest will enjoy a rare and unique three-day trip pursuing alligators at the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area on the Gulf Coast. Each hunter may harvest one alligator. All necessary equipment, expert guides, lodging and gator hide removal are included. The winner and guest will also be treated to an airboat tour of the marsh to view alligators.
Texas Waterfowl Adventure - One winner and as many as three invited guests will win a series of three exciting waterfowl adventures. The hunts are located on some of the best waterfowl areas in Texas. Trips include a Coastal Prairies guided hunt for snows, blues and white-fronted geese; a guided duck hunt in the Coastal Marshes; and an East Texas hunt for wood ducks and mallards.
Texas Exotic Safari - Two winners will experience the thrill of hunting African exotic game right here in Texas on the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the Texas Hill Country. Each winner can take two exotic species, including sable antelope, gemsbok oryx, scimitar-horned oryx or common waterbuck. Hunters may choose to shoot modern rifle, muzzleloader, archery or crossbow. Winners can also bring along a companion to hunt a management exotic. Food and lodging will be provided at the scenic Mason Mountain WMA lodge. Taxidermy service will be provided for the two winners. Proceeds go to benefit wildlife conservation and research on Mason Mountain WMA.
Texas Big Time Bird Hunt - One winner along with as many as three hunting buddies will enjoy a unique package of upland game bird hunts: two days of quail, two days of pheasant hunting in the Panhandle and two afternoons of dove hunting. There will also be a two-day guided spring turkey hunt for two included in the package. Food, guide service and lodging are included on all bird hunts, and pointing dogs are provided for quail and pheasant hunts.
Texas Premium Buck Hunt - This is the ultimate deer hunting experience-an opportunity to harvest a trophy white-tailed buck in the rugged South Texas brush country. One winner and a guest will enjoy the finest deer hunting trip that Texas can offer. Professional guide service, food and high quality accommodations are included to provide each hunter comfort as well as great hunting.
The deadline to apply for this year's Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15. Winners will be announced in November.
The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals - the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold or by calling 800-895-4248. They may also be purchased online this year at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
Proceeds from the Big Time Texas Hunts are used to provide more public hunting opportunity and to fund wildlife conservation and research programs in Texas.
Here's a summary of the Big Time Texas Hunts offerings:
The Texas Grand Slam - This truly is the hunt of a lifetime. The bighorn sheep hunt is very exclusive; TPWD issues only a handful of permits a year. The bighorn sheep hunt takes place on a West Texas Wildlife Management Area. The other three hunts included in the Texas Grand Slam will be on some of the most exclusive private ranches in the state. The winner may also bring along a non-hunting companion to share in this awesome outdoor adventure.
Texas Whitetail Bonanza - Ten winners will each get to experience a high-quality white-tailed deer hunt, something legendary to Texas on popular ranches known to produce big bucks. Guide service, food and lodging are provided on these 3-5-day trips. Each winner can also bring along a companion to hunt as well.
Texas Gator Hunt - One winner and a guest will enjoy a rare and unique three-day trip pursuing alligators at the J. D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area on the Gulf Coast. Each hunter may harvest one alligator. All necessary equipment, expert guides, lodging and gator hide removal are included. The winner and guest will also be treated to an airboat tour of the marsh to view alligators.
Texas Waterfowl Adventure - One winner and as many as three invited guests will win a series of three exciting waterfowl adventures. The hunts are located on some of the best waterfowl areas in Texas. Trips include a Coastal Prairies guided hunt for snows, blues and white-fronted geese; a guided duck hunt in the Coastal Marshes; and an East Texas hunt for wood ducks and mallards.
Texas Exotic Safari - Two winners will experience the thrill of hunting African exotic game right here in Texas on the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area in the Texas Hill Country. Each winner can take two exotic species, including sable antelope, gemsbok oryx, scimitar-horned oryx or common waterbuck. Hunters may choose to shoot modern rifle, muzzleloader, archery or crossbow. Winners can also bring along a companion to hunt a management exotic. Food and lodging will be provided at the scenic Mason Mountain WMA lodge. Taxidermy service will be provided for the two winners. Proceeds go to benefit wildlife conservation and research on Mason Mountain WMA.
Texas Big Time Bird Hunt - One winner along with as many as three hunting buddies will enjoy a unique package of upland game bird hunts: two days of quail, two days of pheasant hunting in the Panhandle and two afternoons of dove hunting. There will also be a two-day guided spring turkey hunt for two included in the package. Food, guide service and lodging are included on all bird hunts, and pointing dogs are provided for quail and pheasant hunts.
Texas Premium Buck Hunt - This is the ultimate deer hunting experience-an opportunity to harvest a trophy white-tailed buck in the rugged South Texas brush country. One winner and a guest will enjoy the finest deer hunting trip that Texas can offer. Professional guide service, food and high quality accommodations are included to provide each hunter comfort as well as great hunting.
The deadline to apply for this year's Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15. Winners will be announced in November.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
New Season Hunting, Fishing Licenses Go On Sale Aug. 15
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas hunting and fishing licenses for 2009-2010 will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15. Sportsmen are reminded all current Texas annual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license) expire Aug. 31.
Most fees for recreational hunting and fishing licenses have increased by five percent; resident hunting licenses now cost $25, while the Super Combo all-inclusive license costs $68. There is no increase in price for any of the required stamp endorsements or the $48 Annual Public Hunting permit.
Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to $315, which also reflects a five percent hike.
The resident freshwater fishing package costs $30 and the saltwater fishing package is $35.
Effective Sept. 1, the resident lifetime fishing and hunting licenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increases to $1,800.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through the agency’s 28 field offices, more than 65 state parks and at over 1,500 retailers across Texas.
Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD Web site or by phone (800-895-4248). Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. The online transaction system is available 24/7. A $5 convenience fee will be charged for online and phone orders.
A license confirmation number is issued at the time of purchase for online and phone orders, and the physical license is mailed separately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that requires a tag.
In addition to a hunting license, all wing shooters will need to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt doves or teal in September, a Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification. HIP certification will be printed on the license at the time of sale only after the purchaser answers a few brief migratory bird questions. Lifetime license holders must also be HIP-certified and purchase the Federal Duck Stamp to hunt migratory birds. All other state stamp endorsements are included with a lifetime license.
New this year, purchase of the Federal Duck Stamp will cost $15-$17 depending on where you buy. If purchased through the TPWD license system there is a $2 administrative fee. Your license will indicate Federal Duck Stamp purchase and the physical stamp will be mailed. There are other options for purchasing the stamp, either at some major post offices or online.
"Remember, it's your responsibility to make sure you are properly licensed, so be sure to check your license before you leave the sales counter," said Tom Newton with TPWD's license program. "We do get a fair number of requests for re-issuance of licenses because the hunter forgot to get HIP certified."
There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at the time of purchase, too. An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt all non-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail, pheasant, chachalaca and lesser prairie chicken.
Of course, anyone who purchases the Super Combo license package, the best bang for the buck, automatically gets these needed stamps.
Also new this year, sandhill crane permits may be obtained in person at no cost only through TPWD Law Enforcement offices and TPWD headquarters in Austin. Permits are also available anytime online through TPWD's online license sales and by calling 800-792-1112 (option 5, menu 2) or 512-389-4820 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For online and phone orders, a confirmation number will be issued in lieu of a permit and a $5 transaction fee will be charged.
Hunter Education Certification is also required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 and who is at least 17 years old. For hunters who are unable to work in a hunter education class before hunting season for whatever reason, TPWD does offer a deferral option.
The deferral option allows people 17 years of age or older a one-time only extension to complete the state’s hunter education requirements. The individual must first purchase a hunting license and then may purchase the deferral option.
Hunters using the deferral must be accompanied by someone 17 years old or older who is also licensed to hunt in Texas. The accompanying individual must have completed hunter education or be exempt from the requirements (born before Sept. 2, 1971). The extension is good for one license year, by which time the person with the deferred option needs to complete a hunter education course.
This option is not available to those who have ever received a conviction or deferred adjudication for lack of hunter education certification. They still must take the course before going afield.
Also available through license agents and online are chances for TPWD's Big Time Texas Hunts. The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas' most prized big game animals - the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold. They may also be purchased online at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase, and entries may be given as gifts for others. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
Most fees for recreational hunting and fishing licenses have increased by five percent; resident hunting licenses now cost $25, while the Super Combo all-inclusive license costs $68. There is no increase in price for any of the required stamp endorsements or the $48 Annual Public Hunting permit.
Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to $315, which also reflects a five percent hike.
The resident freshwater fishing package costs $30 and the saltwater fishing package is $35.
Effective Sept. 1, the resident lifetime fishing and hunting licenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increases to $1,800.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues 2.1 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through the agency’s 28 field offices, more than 65 state parks and at over 1,500 retailers across Texas.
Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD Web site or by phone (800-895-4248). Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. The online transaction system is available 24/7. A $5 convenience fee will be charged for online and phone orders.
A license confirmation number is issued at the time of purchase for online and phone orders, and the physical license is mailed separately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that requires a tag.
In addition to a hunting license, all wing shooters will need to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt doves or teal in September, a Migratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck hunters also need to purchase a Federal Duck Stamp and receive HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification. HIP certification will be printed on the license at the time of sale only after the purchaser answers a few brief migratory bird questions. Lifetime license holders must also be HIP-certified and purchase the Federal Duck Stamp to hunt migratory birds. All other state stamp endorsements are included with a lifetime license.
New this year, purchase of the Federal Duck Stamp will cost $15-$17 depending on where you buy. If purchased through the TPWD license system there is a $2 administrative fee. Your license will indicate Federal Duck Stamp purchase and the physical stamp will be mailed. There are other options for purchasing the stamp, either at some major post offices or online.
"Remember, it's your responsibility to make sure you are properly licensed, so be sure to check your license before you leave the sales counter," said Tom Newton with TPWD's license program. "We do get a fair number of requests for re-issuance of licenses because the hunter forgot to get HIP certified."
There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at the time of purchase, too. An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt all non-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail, pheasant, chachalaca and lesser prairie chicken.
Of course, anyone who purchases the Super Combo license package, the best bang for the buck, automatically gets these needed stamps.
Also new this year, sandhill crane permits may be obtained in person at no cost only through TPWD Law Enforcement offices and TPWD headquarters in Austin. Permits are also available anytime online through TPWD's online license sales and by calling 800-792-1112 (option 5, menu 2) or 512-389-4820 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For online and phone orders, a confirmation number will be issued in lieu of a permit and a $5 transaction fee will be charged.
Hunter Education Certification is also required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 and who is at least 17 years old. For hunters who are unable to work in a hunter education class before hunting season for whatever reason, TPWD does offer a deferral option.
The deferral option allows people 17 years of age or older a one-time only extension to complete the state’s hunter education requirements. The individual must first purchase a hunting license and then may purchase the deferral option.
Hunters using the deferral must be accompanied by someone 17 years old or older who is also licensed to hunt in Texas. The accompanying individual must have completed hunter education or be exempt from the requirements (born before Sept. 2, 1971). The extension is good for one license year, by which time the person with the deferred option needs to complete a hunter education course.
This option is not available to those who have ever received a conviction or deferred adjudication for lack of hunter education certification. They still must take the course before going afield.
Also available through license agents and online are chances for TPWD's Big Time Texas Hunts. The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas' most prized big game animals - the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.
Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold. They may also be purchased online at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase, and entries may be given as gifts for others. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Bass Pro Shops Fall Hunting Classic
This weekend, I was honored to be on the speaking slate with hunting industry personalities Rob Keck (pictured above) and Bone Collector Nick Mundt at the Hunting University seminars at the Bass Pro Shops store in Grapevine, Texas. These guys put on great seminars and were well attended by enthusiastic listeners taking in Rob's years of experience in the woods and Nick's exciting tales of Russian bear hunts. If they ever come close to your town, make sure you check them out.-RG
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Texas News Round-up
With the coming of a new season, newspapers all over Texas start to ramp up their coverage of the most exciting three months in the Texas outdoors. Here are three great articles from the San Angelo Standard-Times:
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Free Web Service Connects Hunters With Places To Hunt
AUSTIN, Texas -- Research surveys show that finding a place to hunt is a barrier for many people in today's Texas, which is why Texas Parks and Wildlife Department created the Hunt Texas Online Connection, a free Web service that allows anyone to view hunting opportunities posted by private landowners across the state.
In early 2008, the department invited landowners to list hunting lease opportunities in Texas for free, including last-minute openings. Currently, hunters can search more than 450 hunting opportunities by lease type, county, game animal, cost per hunter and other parameters. The service is free to both hunters and landowners.
"Anyone looking for a hunting lease in Texas can use this free service to find listings from landowners throughout the state," said Linda Campbell, TPWD program director for private lands and public hunting. "This is one way we're trying to better serve our license-buying public. It's important to keep the Texas hunting tradition strong, since hunting supports wholesome family recreation, pumps more than a billion dollars per year into Texas local economies, and provides an economic incentive for private land stewards to protect wildlife habitat."
To register, landowners can visit the main Hunt Texas Online Connection Web area on the TPWD Web site. Click "Get Started," select a username and password, log in, and start looking at hunting opportunities. Leases can be seen without registering and logging in, but users must register in order to contact landowners.
After users fill out the online registration form, they'll get an email with a long URL ending in the word "activate" -- users must click this link to complete registration. If users don't receive the activation email, it might be because a security system is blocking it. In that case, users could try placing hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us in their address book or allowed e-mail rules.
Hunters and landowners will determine if they are the right fit for each other, and all transactions will be between landowners and hunters. The new service also provides links to privately operated hunting lease Web sites as a convenience for the public. TPWD does not independently verify, endorse or warrant any of the information posted on Hunt Texas Online Connection, or any information contained on the privately operated hunting lease Web sites that are linked from the service.
Anyone can e-mail questions, comments and suggestions about Hunt Texas Online Connection to hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us. The TPWD Wildlife Information staff at (512) 389-4505 can also provide basic assistance with the service.
In early 2008, the department invited landowners to list hunting lease opportunities in Texas for free, including last-minute openings. Currently, hunters can search more than 450 hunting opportunities by lease type, county, game animal, cost per hunter and other parameters. The service is free to both hunters and landowners.
"Anyone looking for a hunting lease in Texas can use this free service to find listings from landowners throughout the state," said Linda Campbell, TPWD program director for private lands and public hunting. "This is one way we're trying to better serve our license-buying public. It's important to keep the Texas hunting tradition strong, since hunting supports wholesome family recreation, pumps more than a billion dollars per year into Texas local economies, and provides an economic incentive for private land stewards to protect wildlife habitat."
To register, landowners can visit the main Hunt Texas Online Connection Web area on the TPWD Web site. Click "Get Started," select a username and password, log in, and start looking at hunting opportunities. Leases can be seen without registering and logging in, but users must register in order to contact landowners.
After users fill out the online registration form, they'll get an email with a long URL ending in the word "activate" -- users must click this link to complete registration. If users don't receive the activation email, it might be because a security system is blocking it. In that case, users could try placing hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us in their address book or allowed e-mail rules.
Hunters and landowners will determine if they are the right fit for each other, and all transactions will be between landowners and hunters. The new service also provides links to privately operated hunting lease Web sites as a convenience for the public. TPWD does not independently verify, endorse or warrant any of the information posted on Hunt Texas Online Connection, or any information contained on the privately operated hunting lease Web sites that are linked from the service.
Anyone can e-mail questions, comments and suggestions about Hunt Texas Online Connection to hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us. The TPWD Wildlife Information staff at (512) 389-4505 can also provide basic assistance with the service.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
TPW Commission Authorizes Crossbows for Early Archery Season
AUSTIN, Texas -- In preparation for implementation of new legislation, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission has adopted rules allowing hunters to use crossbows during the upcoming special archery-only hunting season and authorizing persons with documented physical disabilities to use laser sighting devices.
Currently, crossbows cannot be used during an archery-only season except by persons with an upper-limb disability. Recent legislative action gave authority to the Commission to allow any person, regardless of physical ability, to use a crossbow during the archery-only season, provided the person has acquired an archery stamp and a valid Texas hunting license, except in Grayson County. Crossbows may be used in Grayson County during the special archery-only open season (Oct. 3-Nov. 6) only by hunters with an upper-limb disability who possess a physician's statement attesting to the permanent loss of the use of fingers, hand or arm in a manner that renders a person incapable of using a longbow, compound bow or recurved bow. Any person, regardless of physical ability, may use a crossbow during the general season in Grayson County (Nov. 7-Jan. 3).
The Commission also authorized use of laser sighting devices by persons with a physical disability that renders the person incapable of using traditional firearm sights to hunt game animals and game birds. The provision is limited to lawful hunting hours in open seasons, provided the person possesses a physician's or optometrist's statement certifying the extent of the disability. The person must also be assisted by a person who does not have a physical disability, has a hunting license and is at least 13 years of age.
The new crossbow and laser sighting rules are both the result of bills passed by state lawmakers in the 81st Texas Legislature earlier this year. The new rules take effect Sept. 1, 2009.
Anyone planning to take advantage of the new crossbow opportunity during the special archery-only hunting season this October should review the rules and definitions for crossbow hunting in Texas. These are listed under Means and Methods in the Outdoor Annual booklet available at hunting license sales locations and on the TPWD Web site.
Currently, crossbows cannot be used during an archery-only season except by persons with an upper-limb disability. Recent legislative action gave authority to the Commission to allow any person, regardless of physical ability, to use a crossbow during the archery-only season, provided the person has acquired an archery stamp and a valid Texas hunting license, except in Grayson County. Crossbows may be used in Grayson County during the special archery-only open season (Oct. 3-Nov. 6) only by hunters with an upper-limb disability who possess a physician's statement attesting to the permanent loss of the use of fingers, hand or arm in a manner that renders a person incapable of using a longbow, compound bow or recurved bow. Any person, regardless of physical ability, may use a crossbow during the general season in Grayson County (Nov. 7-Jan. 3).
The Commission also authorized use of laser sighting devices by persons with a physical disability that renders the person incapable of using traditional firearm sights to hunt game animals and game birds. The provision is limited to lawful hunting hours in open seasons, provided the person possesses a physician's or optometrist's statement certifying the extent of the disability. The person must also be assisted by a person who does not have a physical disability, has a hunting license and is at least 13 years of age.
The new crossbow and laser sighting rules are both the result of bills passed by state lawmakers in the 81st Texas Legislature earlier this year. The new rules take effect Sept. 1, 2009.
Anyone planning to take advantage of the new crossbow opportunity during the special archery-only hunting season this October should review the rules and definitions for crossbow hunting in Texas. These are listed under Means and Methods in the Outdoor Annual booklet available at hunting license sales locations and on the TPWD Web site.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Texas Public Hunts Offer Affordable, Quality Experience
AUSTIN, Texas - Sportsmen looking for an affordable family activity should consider Texas' public hunting opportunities. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department will be offering adult and youth only hunts by special drawing for a wide variety of species. Hunt schedules and applications are available upon request and online now. Don’t miss out on a chance to take a kid hunting.
During the upcoming hunting seasons, almost 5,000 hunters will be selected through random computer drawings allowing access to some of the state's high-quality managed wildlife habitat. Wildlife management areas, state parks and leased private property will be available for these quality supervised hunts for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn, javelina, alligator, exotics, feral hog and spring turkey.
Through an application process, hunters can select from among 25 different hunt categories, including eight specifically for youth only, and choose a preferred hunt date and location from hunt areas stretching across the state. There’s even a provision for hunting buddies to apply as a group - in some cases up to four hunters can apply together on one application.
Eight free youth-only hunt categories are available to hunters who are between the ages of 8-16 at the time of application. All hunt positions are randomly selected in a computer drawing from all correctly completed entries received by the specified deadline.
In addition to exceptional hunting opportunities for big game, such as white-tailed deer and mule deer, TPWD's special drawing hunts will offer some unique opportunities. A guided bighorn sheep hunt at a West Texas wildlife management area will again be offered this year depending on the availability of a bighorn sheep permit.
There are also some unique guided hunt opportunities on Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, including hunts for white-tailed deer, scimitar-horned oryx and gemsbok.
Hunters drawn in the special permit hunts are not required to use a tag off their hunting license on white-tailed or mule deer that are taken during the hunt. The hunters will be issued a free TPWD legal deer tag at the area when they bring their harvested animal to the check station. This will allow the public hunters additional opportunity to use their license tags.
In order to maintain current programs and services, public hunting permit fees have increased to $80 for the standard period drawn hunt permit fee, $130 for the extended period drawn hunt permit fee, and $20 for the Regular (daily) Permit fee. Non-refundable application fees for drawn hunt have not increased and remain $3-10 for each adult applicant 17 years of age or older. There are still no application fees or drawn hunt permit fees for youth age 8 to 16.
There are three new areas offering drawn public hunts this season: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Lake Texana State Park and Stephen F. Austin State Park. In addition Pedernales Falls State Park and the Pedernales Falls State Park Annex will be offering public drawn hunts again.
Special Permit fees do not apply to drawn hunts for pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, guided hunts at Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, and drawn hunts on private land. Application fees for the Guided hunt packages and private land hunts cost $10 per adult applicant.
The application deadline for alligator hunts is Aug. 5. For pronghorn antelope hunts on private land or the Rita Blanca National Grasslands north of Dalhart, the deadline is Aug. 12. Bowhunters also have until Aug. 12 to apply for special drawn public archery hunts. Entries for the general (gun) season deer hunts must be received by Sept. 3. Deadline for the Guided Bighorn Sheep Hunt is November 4.
Last year TPWD received 43,684 applications for the 5,739 positions offered in special drawn hunt categories.
Information and applications for Special Permit hunts are available on the Public Hunting Web site. Application booklets have been mailed to hunters who applied for special permit drawn hunts last year. The booklets are also available at TPWD law enforcement offices. Information about Special Permit drawn hunts can be found on-line or by calling toll free (800) 792-1112.
During the upcoming hunting seasons, almost 5,000 hunters will be selected through random computer drawings allowing access to some of the state's high-quality managed wildlife habitat. Wildlife management areas, state parks and leased private property will be available for these quality supervised hunts for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn, javelina, alligator, exotics, feral hog and spring turkey.
Through an application process, hunters can select from among 25 different hunt categories, including eight specifically for youth only, and choose a preferred hunt date and location from hunt areas stretching across the state. There’s even a provision for hunting buddies to apply as a group - in some cases up to four hunters can apply together on one application.
Eight free youth-only hunt categories are available to hunters who are between the ages of 8-16 at the time of application. All hunt positions are randomly selected in a computer drawing from all correctly completed entries received by the specified deadline.
In addition to exceptional hunting opportunities for big game, such as white-tailed deer and mule deer, TPWD's special drawing hunts will offer some unique opportunities. A guided bighorn sheep hunt at a West Texas wildlife management area will again be offered this year depending on the availability of a bighorn sheep permit.
There are also some unique guided hunt opportunities on Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, including hunts for white-tailed deer, scimitar-horned oryx and gemsbok.
Hunters drawn in the special permit hunts are not required to use a tag off their hunting license on white-tailed or mule deer that are taken during the hunt. The hunters will be issued a free TPWD legal deer tag at the area when they bring their harvested animal to the check station. This will allow the public hunters additional opportunity to use their license tags.
In order to maintain current programs and services, public hunting permit fees have increased to $80 for the standard period drawn hunt permit fee, $130 for the extended period drawn hunt permit fee, and $20 for the Regular (daily) Permit fee. Non-refundable application fees for drawn hunt have not increased and remain $3-10 for each adult applicant 17 years of age or older. There are still no application fees or drawn hunt permit fees for youth age 8 to 16.
There are three new areas offering drawn public hunts this season: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Lake Texana State Park and Stephen F. Austin State Park. In addition Pedernales Falls State Park and the Pedernales Falls State Park Annex will be offering public drawn hunts again.
Special Permit fees do not apply to drawn hunts for pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, guided hunts at Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, and drawn hunts on private land. Application fees for the Guided hunt packages and private land hunts cost $10 per adult applicant.
The application deadline for alligator hunts is Aug. 5. For pronghorn antelope hunts on private land or the Rita Blanca National Grasslands north of Dalhart, the deadline is Aug. 12. Bowhunters also have until Aug. 12 to apply for special drawn public archery hunts. Entries for the general (gun) season deer hunts must be received by Sept. 3. Deadline for the Guided Bighorn Sheep Hunt is November 4.
Last year TPWD received 43,684 applications for the 5,739 positions offered in special drawn hunt categories.
Information and applications for Special Permit hunts are available on the Public Hunting Web site. Application booklets have been mailed to hunters who applied for special permit drawn hunts last year. The booklets are also available at TPWD law enforcement offices. Information about Special Permit drawn hunts can be found on-line or by calling toll free (800) 792-1112.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Monday, July 20, 2009
Texas Deer Association Hosts State's Largest Event for Whitetail
SAN ANTONIO - When it comes to a gathering of deer experts, breeders and authorities on raising whitetail and mule deer, it doesn't get any bigger and better than this. Year after year, the annual Texas Deer Association convention is the largest deer event in the State of Texas, and the 11th Annual TDA Convention next month promises to be the largest in history.
The Texas Deer Association (TDA) will host its 11th Annual Texas Deer Association's Convention on August 20, 2009, through August 23, 2009, at the Westin La Cantera Resort & Hotel in San Antonio. The annual event attracts thousands of deer enthusiasts from around the state, and brings together the heart of the Texas deer industry under one roof.
This year's event features more than 125 exhibitors from around the hunting and deer industries, fund-raising activities that award whitetail and exotic hunts, hunting equipment and firearms; and other exciting events, such as the 2009 Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction and 2009 Select 30 Deer Auction, educational seminars on deer management, casino night and much more.
Also new at this year's event is the Laser Shot Virtual Hunter Challenge for adults and children. Provided in cooperation with the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, the Laser Shot system utilizes projection and laser detection technology to give contestants and students the experience of sporting firearms. First-place winners will receive custom buckles and other great prizes include antler scoring kit by Game Management Solutions (GMS), antler mounting kit by Mountain Mike Reproductions and gun cleaning kits by Otis Technology.
"The TDA convention is the state's largest event of the year dedicated to whitetail and mule deer, and we are excited to once again welcome thousands of deer enthusiasts from across Texas and the country," says Karl Kinsel, executive director for the Texas Deer Association. "Unlike any other event in the state, this convention provides a great opportunity for industry experts, new and experienced deer breeders and sportsmen to network and learn about deer and, of course, it's a lot of fun too."
"The TDA Convention fills up quickly, so members wanting to attend should not delay in submitting registration forms," adds Marta Ramos, TDA director of operations. "We try our best to accommodate everyone, but our convention breaks attendance records every year and we're expecting another great event this year."
Since it was established in 1999, the Texas Deer Association has successfully worked to increase quality hunting experiences for all Texas hunters and to advocate wise management practices, promote research and technology regarding improvements to deer herds through the practice of controlled breeding and genetic improvements. As 'Proud Stewards of Texas Deer,' the TDA is the only non-profit organization solely committed to improving the quality of Texas deer herds and growing the deer industry.
In addition to legislative efforts to help the industry, the TDA provides a year-round public education campaign for its members and other deer enthusiasts, which includes a full-color bimonthly publication, Tracks Magazine, that provides updates on current industry news, deer genetics, land management, ranching and game management issues.
To learn more about the Texas Deer Association or for membership information, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210.767.8300.
The Texas Deer Association (TDA) will host its 11th Annual Texas Deer Association's Convention on August 20, 2009, through August 23, 2009, at the Westin La Cantera Resort & Hotel in San Antonio. The annual event attracts thousands of deer enthusiasts from around the state, and brings together the heart of the Texas deer industry under one roof.
This year's event features more than 125 exhibitors from around the hunting and deer industries, fund-raising activities that award whitetail and exotic hunts, hunting equipment and firearms; and other exciting events, such as the 2009 Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction and 2009 Select 30 Deer Auction, educational seminars on deer management, casino night and much more.
Also new at this year's event is the Laser Shot Virtual Hunter Challenge for adults and children. Provided in cooperation with the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, the Laser Shot system utilizes projection and laser detection technology to give contestants and students the experience of sporting firearms. First-place winners will receive custom buckles and other great prizes include antler scoring kit by Game Management Solutions (GMS), antler mounting kit by Mountain Mike Reproductions and gun cleaning kits by Otis Technology.
"The TDA convention is the state's largest event of the year dedicated to whitetail and mule deer, and we are excited to once again welcome thousands of deer enthusiasts from across Texas and the country," says Karl Kinsel, executive director for the Texas Deer Association. "Unlike any other event in the state, this convention provides a great opportunity for industry experts, new and experienced deer breeders and sportsmen to network and learn about deer and, of course, it's a lot of fun too."
"The TDA Convention fills up quickly, so members wanting to attend should not delay in submitting registration forms," adds Marta Ramos, TDA director of operations. "We try our best to accommodate everyone, but our convention breaks attendance records every year and we're expecting another great event this year."
Since it was established in 1999, the Texas Deer Association has successfully worked to increase quality hunting experiences for all Texas hunters and to advocate wise management practices, promote research and technology regarding improvements to deer herds through the practice of controlled breeding and genetic improvements. As 'Proud Stewards of Texas Deer,' the TDA is the only non-profit organization solely committed to improving the quality of Texas deer herds and growing the deer industry.
In addition to legislative efforts to help the industry, the TDA provides a year-round public education campaign for its members and other deer enthusiasts, which includes a full-color bimonthly publication, Tracks Magazine, that provides updates on current industry news, deer genetics, land management, ranching and game management issues.
To learn more about the Texas Deer Association or for membership information, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210.767.8300.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Texas Deer Association Makes 'Doe-nation' to The Children's Shelter
SAN ANTONIO - As the state's only non-profit organization dedicated to Texas deer, the Texas Deer Association (TDA) recently donated dozens of plush deer toys to The Children's Shelter in San Antonio. Stuffed animals are often used to help children who are in need or in distress due to abandonment or neglect, and TDA's cuddly fawn toys with their special eartags always bring smiles.
The TDA presented the plush deer to Oren Dreeben, president and CEO, and Anne Zbinden, vice president of community relations, for The Children's Shelter. Also in attendance were Shelter staff member Mike Vela and TDA representatives Karl Kinsel, Marta Ramos and John Meng.
"As the leading non-profit organization supporting the health and management of Texas deer, we are always interested in promoting deer, but we are part of a larger community too and we also want to support better care and promote awareness for the Texas children in need," says Karl Kinsel, executive director of the Texas Deer Association. "Whitetail and mule deer hold a special place in the hearts of most Texans and these little toys certainly bring smiles to the faces of a lot of children who are in need of special care and attention."
The TDA Plush Deer Program brings a warm and fuzzy approach to connecting with children and families in need. TDA directly donates the toy deer to various children-based charities in Texas and also makes the special-tagged fawns available for purchase online at www.TexasDeerAssociation.com. The TDA plush deer sells for $14.95 with a percentage of the proceeds from the on-line sales donated to Texas-based children’s charities throughout the year.
The Children's Shelter and other children service agencies across the state provide the basic needs, nutrition, healthcare and safe shelter for children in Texas communities who have been abandoned, abused and neglected. The use of stuffed animals is a big part of helping the children, when they are feeling the most vulnerable and afraid.
The Children's Shelter is a private, non-profit, nationally accredited corporation that has been providing services to San Antonio and Bexar County since 1901 and it was the first locally based child service agency in South Texas. The Children's Shelter's services have expanded from emergency shelter care to a continuum of care of emergency shelters, foster care, adoption, residential treatment care, child abuse prevention and teen pregnancy programs. The Shelter is a United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County agency, and is affiliated with the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services.
The TDA is the only non-profit organization solely committed to improving the quality of Texas deer herds through better habitat practices, modern harvest strategies and use of superior deer to enhance the deer herds. As a part of its public education efforts, the TDA publishes a full-color bimonthly magazine, Tracks, which updates TDA members on current legislative news, deer genetics and game management issues. The TDA also hosts an annual convention and trade show every August featuring fund-raising auctions, a deer auction, golf tournament and other events.
To learn more about the Texas Deer Association or for membership information, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210.767.8300.
Headquartered in San Antonio, the Texas Deer Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of native deer herds, and to developing ways to improve deer quality in Texas. For more information on the Texas Deer Association, call 210.767.8300 or visit www.texasdeerassociation.com.
The TDA presented the plush deer to Oren Dreeben, president and CEO, and Anne Zbinden, vice president of community relations, for The Children's Shelter. Also in attendance were Shelter staff member Mike Vela and TDA representatives Karl Kinsel, Marta Ramos and John Meng.
"As the leading non-profit organization supporting the health and management of Texas deer, we are always interested in promoting deer, but we are part of a larger community too and we also want to support better care and promote awareness for the Texas children in need," says Karl Kinsel, executive director of the Texas Deer Association. "Whitetail and mule deer hold a special place in the hearts of most Texans and these little toys certainly bring smiles to the faces of a lot of children who are in need of special care and attention."
The TDA Plush Deer Program brings a warm and fuzzy approach to connecting with children and families in need. TDA directly donates the toy deer to various children-based charities in Texas and also makes the special-tagged fawns available for purchase online at www.TexasDeerAssociation.com. The TDA plush deer sells for $14.95 with a percentage of the proceeds from the on-line sales donated to Texas-based children’s charities throughout the year.
The Children's Shelter and other children service agencies across the state provide the basic needs, nutrition, healthcare and safe shelter for children in Texas communities who have been abandoned, abused and neglected. The use of stuffed animals is a big part of helping the children, when they are feeling the most vulnerable and afraid.
The Children's Shelter is a private, non-profit, nationally accredited corporation that has been providing services to San Antonio and Bexar County since 1901 and it was the first locally based child service agency in South Texas. The Children's Shelter's services have expanded from emergency shelter care to a continuum of care of emergency shelters, foster care, adoption, residential treatment care, child abuse prevention and teen pregnancy programs. The Shelter is a United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County agency, and is affiliated with the Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services.
The TDA is the only non-profit organization solely committed to improving the quality of Texas deer herds through better habitat practices, modern harvest strategies and use of superior deer to enhance the deer herds. As a part of its public education efforts, the TDA publishes a full-color bimonthly magazine, Tracks, which updates TDA members on current legislative news, deer genetics and game management issues. The TDA also hosts an annual convention and trade show every August featuring fund-raising auctions, a deer auction, golf tournament and other events.
To learn more about the Texas Deer Association or for membership information, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210.767.8300.
Headquartered in San Antonio, the Texas Deer Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of native deer herds, and to developing ways to improve deer quality in Texas. For more information on the Texas Deer Association, call 210.767.8300 or visit www.texasdeerassociation.com.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Texas' top hunters and land stewards recognized at Statewide Texas Big Game Awards Banquet
San Antonio - Fifteen hunters and landowners were honored on June 27 as part of the Statewide Texas Big Game Awards Banquet, held in conjunction with WildLife 2009, Texas Wildlife Association's 24th Annual Convention. The event recognized the contributions that landowners and responsible hunters make to managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat on Texas' private lands.
Eight hunters or landowners were also awarded the coveted Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) Texas Slam Award, an award that recognizes hunters and landowners who produced or harvested all three TBGA qualifying species (mule deer, whitetail, and pronghorn antelope) that have met the minimum scoring requirements within the region.
"These hunters and ranches are well deserving of this honor. All entries recognized at the 2008-2009 Texas Big Game Awards were selected from over 1,500 entries, and almost 1,000 scored entries were submitted," explained Texas Wildlife Association Vice President of Hunting Heritage David Brimager. "Because of our 18 year partnership with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Big Game Awards continues to be the leader in recognizing the important role ethical hunting and habitat management play in the lives of our young people."
Joseph Jones of Pattison and Joshua Cross of Alpine were also recognized as the recipients of the Carter's County TBGA College Scholarship. Jones and Cross each received a $3,000 college scholarship for the next school year.
The afternoon also included a display of the top 15 big game animals taken this past season, a keynote address by Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus and recognition of the all-time top hall of fame awards; the top three TBGA state ranked entries, in each category (typical and non-typical white-tailed deer, typical and non-typical mule deer, and pronghorn antelope).
Texas Slam Award Recipients:
Top State Recipients, Category and Rank:
Non-Typical Mule Deer:
Danny Young in Gaines County (Best in Texas); Jason Stine in Gaines County (Second Best in Texas); James M. Moore and Wade Smith Farm in Gaines County (Third Best in Texas)
Typical Mule Deer:
Gary H. Shores in Oldham County (Best in Texas); Michael C. Smith and Roberts Ranch in Brewster County (Second Best in Texas); John Edwards in Bailey County (Third Best in Texas)
Pronghorn Antelope:
Tina Y. Buford in Hudspeth County (Best in Texas); Robert M. Anderson and Double U Cattle Co. in Hudspeth County (Second Best in Texas); Tamara Trail in Hudspeth County (Third Best in Texas)
Non-Typical Whitetail:
Mike Murski and Flint Creek Ranch in Bosque County (Best in Texas); William Shackelford and Lost Creek Ranch in Frio County (Second Best in Texas); Christopher Dwyer and RSP Ranch in Bosque County (Third Best in Texas)
Typical Whitetail:
Terry Hall and King Ranch in Kleberg County (Best in Texas); Bart Umphrey and Sand Mountain Ranch in Zavala County (Second Best in Texas); Steve Wright and W-5 Ranch in Kimble County (Third Best in Texas)
The Texas Big Game Awards is proudly sponsored by: Statewide Sponsors Hixon Land and Cattle Company, Carter's Country Outdoor Stores, and Budweiser. Texas Regional Sponsors include: Remington Arms, Leupold and Stevens, Gerber Legendary Blades, Plano Moldings, Thompson Center Arms, C. Young and Company, Mossy Oak Brand Camo, Tecomate Wildlife Systems, Smith’s Abrasives, Hunter’s Specialties, Moultrie Feeders, ThermaCell, Wildgame Innovations, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Texas Hunt Co., Drury Outdoors, Wild Game Innovations, Bog Gear, Cocoon ATV Products, Game Guard, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Otis Technologies, and Record Rack Premium Game Feeds.
Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA), a partnership of Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), continues to be a leader in recognizing the contributions that landowners, land managers and responsible hunters make to managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat on Texas’ private lands.
For additional information on attending the state convention or the Texas Big Game Awards, contact David Brimager at dbrimager@texas-wildlife.org, (800) 839-9453, ext. 114 or visit the Texas Big Game Awards website at http://www.texasbiggameawards.com/.
Eight hunters or landowners were also awarded the coveted Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) Texas Slam Award, an award that recognizes hunters and landowners who produced or harvested all three TBGA qualifying species (mule deer, whitetail, and pronghorn antelope) that have met the minimum scoring requirements within the region.
"These hunters and ranches are well deserving of this honor. All entries recognized at the 2008-2009 Texas Big Game Awards were selected from over 1,500 entries, and almost 1,000 scored entries were submitted," explained Texas Wildlife Association Vice President of Hunting Heritage David Brimager. "Because of our 18 year partnership with the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Big Game Awards continues to be the leader in recognizing the important role ethical hunting and habitat management play in the lives of our young people."
Joseph Jones of Pattison and Joshua Cross of Alpine were also recognized as the recipients of the Carter's County TBGA College Scholarship. Jones and Cross each received a $3,000 college scholarship for the next school year.
The afternoon also included a display of the top 15 big game animals taken this past season, a keynote address by Speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus and recognition of the all-time top hall of fame awards; the top three TBGA state ranked entries, in each category (typical and non-typical white-tailed deer, typical and non-typical mule deer, and pronghorn antelope).
Texas Slam Award Recipients:
- Keith R. Eason- Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Oldham County; McBride Ranch of Burnet County; Double U Cattle Co of Hudspeth County
- Milton Harrell-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Burton’s Hunting Service of Brewster and Kimble Counties
- Rick Meritt-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: McGuire Ranch of Gaines County; Buxton Ranch of Bosque County; Hudspeth County
- Justin Trail-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Gaines, Bosque and Hudspeth County
- Robert Williams, Jr.-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Sierra Blanca Ranch of Hudspeth County; RW Trophy Ranch of Hunt County
- Robert Williams Sr.-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Sierra Blanca Ranch of Hudspeth County; RW Trophy Ranch of Hunt County
- Donald Starks- Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Hudspeth County, and Duncan Ranch of Lampasas County
- Carson Sims-Ranches/Counties hunter harvested game: Hudspeth and Atascosa County
Top State Recipients, Category and Rank:
Non-Typical Mule Deer:
Danny Young in Gaines County (Best in Texas); Jason Stine in Gaines County (Second Best in Texas); James M. Moore and Wade Smith Farm in Gaines County (Third Best in Texas)
Typical Mule Deer:
Gary H. Shores in Oldham County (Best in Texas); Michael C. Smith and Roberts Ranch in Brewster County (Second Best in Texas); John Edwards in Bailey County (Third Best in Texas)
Pronghorn Antelope:
Tina Y. Buford in Hudspeth County (Best in Texas); Robert M. Anderson and Double U Cattle Co. in Hudspeth County (Second Best in Texas); Tamara Trail in Hudspeth County (Third Best in Texas)
Non-Typical Whitetail:
Mike Murski and Flint Creek Ranch in Bosque County (Best in Texas); William Shackelford and Lost Creek Ranch in Frio County (Second Best in Texas); Christopher Dwyer and RSP Ranch in Bosque County (Third Best in Texas)
Typical Whitetail:
Terry Hall and King Ranch in Kleberg County (Best in Texas); Bart Umphrey and Sand Mountain Ranch in Zavala County (Second Best in Texas); Steve Wright and W-5 Ranch in Kimble County (Third Best in Texas)
The Texas Big Game Awards is proudly sponsored by: Statewide Sponsors Hixon Land and Cattle Company, Carter's Country Outdoor Stores, and Budweiser. Texas Regional Sponsors include: Remington Arms, Leupold and Stevens, Gerber Legendary Blades, Plano Moldings, Thompson Center Arms, C. Young and Company, Mossy Oak Brand Camo, Tecomate Wildlife Systems, Smith’s Abrasives, Hunter’s Specialties, Moultrie Feeders, ThermaCell, Wildgame Innovations, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Texas Hunt Co., Drury Outdoors, Wild Game Innovations, Bog Gear, Cocoon ATV Products, Game Guard, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela's, Otis Technologies, and Record Rack Premium Game Feeds.
Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA), a partnership of Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), continues to be a leader in recognizing the contributions that landowners, land managers and responsible hunters make to managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat on Texas’ private lands.
For additional information on attending the state convention or the Texas Big Game Awards, contact David Brimager at dbrimager@texas-wildlife.org, (800) 839-9453, ext. 114 or visit the Texas Big Game Awards website at http://www.texasbiggameawards.com/.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Friday, July 3, 2009
Hunting Cabin Part 2
After a tough week of plumbing and electrical work, the little house on the blackland prairie is starting to take shape.
I can't wait to finish this project.
I can't wait to finish this project.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Hunting Cabin Part 1
I was going to name this post "Blog Cabin" because I thought I would be able to post images as the construction slowly took place.
However, building began while I was away and so my brother Bubba keeps me updated on the swift construction progress.
A few months ago, my wife and I decided it would be a good idea to build a small cabin on our land close to where we both grew up in Northeast Texas some 250 miles from where we live in the Texas Panhandle. Call our pending lifestyle bi-residential if you will.
While the cabin is a place to stay when me and my gang goes to visit our family and friends, it will also serve as a cool photo prop. When complete the cabin will feature:
- a rustic look perfect for hunting and/or fishing camp shots;
- a country-inspired interior for rural lifestyle photos;
- ample windows for plenty of natural lighting;
- and a broad east-facing front porch for great morning light.
Anyway, while getting started on the construction was painfully slow, it went blazingly fast once the framing crew began. These two images were taken 24-hours apart and show how fast this thing really went up.
It isn't a big place but big enough for sleeping quarters. If you've ever stayed in a hotel suite at a Residence Inn the place is roughly the size of those room. By no means big enough to make a permanent residence but perfect for sleeping, some light cooking, and hanging out.
We've been inspired to go green as well. The walls are framed with recycled lumber pieces finger-jointed together to make the pieces stronger that first-cut lumber. Ample windows allow plenty of natural light and eliminate the need for using a bunch of electricity during the daylight hours, and the water system will consist of captured rainwater, double osomosis filtered and supply a low-flow shower head, toilet, and kitchen and bathroom faucets.
Furthermore, we're installing a U-panel, Galvalume roof which will direct more heat away from the ventilated attic space. For now, we've wrapped the house in a Tyvek material and will insulate the attic with a cellulose material to further reduce the energy expenditures to heat and cool the place.
The cabin's exterior will be lapped Hardy Plank siding stained with a cedar stain.
Should be a neat place.
Labels: News, Russell Graves, Texas
Sunday, June 28, 2009
TP&W Commission Increases Public Hunt Availability to 44 State Parks
Nearly half of the sites in the Texas State Parks system will conduct public hunts during the 2009-2010 hunting season, with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approving scheduled hunts on 44 state park units at its May 28 public hearing.
Most of the state parks approved for public hunting will be offered through the department’s computer drawings for a variety of game and hunting options, including new youth opportunities. Selected hunting opportunities on state parks comprise 1,676 hunt positions, including 253 for youth, out of nearly 5,000 total positions available in this year’s special drawings for hunts on public lands in Texas.
Three new park units are included in this year’s offerings: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Lake Texana State Park and Stephen F. Austin State Park. Three other units are returning to the hunt schedule, including: Pedernales Falls State Park, Pedernales Falls SP Annex and Mother Neff State Park. A complete summary of approved state park hunts, including hunt type and date, is available on the TP&W website.
Other state parks where public hunts will take place are: Atlanta; Big Bend Ranch; Brazos Bend; Caprock Canyons; Choke Canyon — North Shore Unit; Colorado Bend; Cooper Lake — South Sulphur Unit; Copper Breaks; Davis Mountains; Devil’s River; Devil’s Sinkhole; Enchanted Rock; Fairfield Lake; Fort Boggy; Garner; Guadalupe River; Guadalupe River Bauer Unit; Hill Country; Honey Creek; Huntsville; Inks Lake/Longhorn Caverns; Kickapoo Caverns; Lake Bob Sandlin; Lake Brownwood; Lake Mineral Wells; Lake Somerville Birch Creek and Nails Creek; Lake Whitney; Lost Maples; Martin Dies Jr., Possum Kingdom; Purtis Creek; Resaca de la Palma; San Angelo; Sea Rim; Seminole Canyon; South Llano and Tony Houseman.
To minimize conflict between park user groups, public hunts are offered during off-peak visitation periods, typically on weekdays in the winter months. A number of youth hunts are scheduled during school holidays.
During these events, signs are posted at parks alerting visitors that a hunt is in progress. The public is urged to contact the park or check the hunting calendar posted online before heading out during hunting season.
Applications for special drawing hunts to be conducted on state parks, wildlife management areas and other TP&W managed properties during the 2009-2010 season will be available in early July from department headquarters and field offices, and posted on the TP&W web site. Each hunt’s application fee ranges from $3 to $10 for adults and is free to youth, who must be accompanied by an adult hunter.
Deadlines to apply for public hunts are as follows:
Alligator, Youth Only Alligator — Aug. 5
Prong-horned Antelope — Aug. 12
Archery Deer, Archery Mule Deer, and Archery Exotic — Aug. 12
Private Lands Management Either Sex, Private Lands Antlerless/Spike- Aug. 12
Gun Deer (Either-Sex, Antlerless/Spike, Youth Only Either Sex, Youth Only Antlerless/Spike, Management Buck, and Youth Only Management), and Mule Deer — Sept. 3
Javelina, Youth Only Javelina and Guided Deer Hunt Packages — Oct. 6
Guided Gemsbok Hunt Packages and Exotic Only — Oct. 6
Guided Bighorn Sheep Hunt — Nov. 4
Feral Hog, Youth Only Exotic and Youth Only Feral Hog — Nov. 4
Youth Only Spring Turkey, Spring Turkey, Guided Scimitar-Horned Oryx Hunt Package- Nov. 4
Many parks will also provide hunting opportunities as part of the department’s Annual Public Hunting Permit program, which offers purchasers of the $48 permit hunting access to more than one million acres throughout the state.
Among the hunting opportunities available to permit holders are leased small game-hunting units, primarily for dove. Many of these hunting sites are leased from private landowners within close proximity to major urban areas. The permit also provides access to hunting for other species, including deer, feral hogs, waterfowl and small game.
The $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit is available for the 2009-2010 seasons on Aug. 15. Permits can be purchased wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Map booklets detailing public hunting units can be viewed on the department’s website beginning Aug. 15.
Drawn hunt information can also be found on the department’s website. For public hunting information or to request a free Drawn Hunt booklet, please call Wildlife Information at (800) 792-1112, option 5, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TDA Creates Facebook Page
From the Hunting Wire...
The Texas Deer Association (TDA) welcomes deer enthusiasts to become Facebook Fans and share their excitement for whitetail and mule deer. TDA’s new presence on Facebook.com will increase communication opportunities for TDA and TDA members as well as sportsmen and deer enthusiasts across the country.
In addition to visiting the TDA website (www.TexasDeerAssociation.com) hunters and deer enthusiasts can now share information with others through the acclaimed social networking site or to subscribe to receive online updates from TDA.
“Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends and to share information, links and photos, and we are excited to be the first state deer association to provide education through social marketing techniques,” says Karl Kinsel, executive director of the Texas Deer Association. “Providing education about deer and deer management is a primary mission for TDA and we are dedicated to expanding our communication in as many venues as possible to share our knowledge and enthusiasm for whitetail and mule deer.”
To become a TDA Facebook Fan, simply go to www.facebook.com, visit the TDA page and click the link. Facebook fans can receive up-to-date information on TDA seminars and banquets, be the first to see new ‘online exclusive’ news, and to see photos of the some of the biggest deer in Texas.
By adding TDA to their fan list, users can interact by uploading pictures of their favorite whitetail and mule deer hunts, suggesting places to visit, sharing tips, recipes and other information pertinent to fellow hunters and deer enthusiasts. TDA’s Facebook page will also offer its fans direct links to other popular deer breeding web sites, keeping these helpful sites easy to find.
In a recent online survey conducted by the North American Deer Farmers Association, 56 percent of respondents said they belong to or regularly use Facebook, a percentage which was three times that of any other social networking site.
The TDA is the only non-profit organization solely committed to improving the quality of Texas deer herds through improved habitat, modern harvest strategies and genetic improvement. As a part of its public education efforts, the TDA publishes a full-color bimonthly magazine, Tracks, which updates TDA members on current legislative news, deer genetics and game management issues. The TDA also hosts an annual convention and trade show featuring a live deer sales, auction, golf tournament and other events.
To learn more about the Texas Deer Association or for membership information, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210.767.8300.
Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the Texas Deer Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health and welfare of Texas deer herds, and to developing ways to improve deer quality in Texas. For more information on the Texas Deer Association, call 210.767.8300 or visit www.TexasDeerAssociation.com.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
New Texas License Plate for Deer Hunters
New Art Work Takes Deer License Plate from Pink to Macho
Big Game Lovers Encouraged to "Show What Drives You!"AUSTIN, Texas - The white-tailed deer specialty license plate that benefits big game management and research in Texas now sports new and improved artwork depicting a white-tailed deer, an image based fittingly on a trophy buck from a ranch served by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department technical assistance program.
The white-tailed deer license plate used to have art that was, well, pink. The new art portrays a true "venado macho" depicted in original hand-drawn art by TPWD artist Clemente Guzman.
The photo on which the art is based was obtained by TPWD Wildlife Biologist Jimmy Rutledge, who has worked with private landowners in South Texas on some of the state's finest white-tail ranches for more than 20 years.
"John R. Nelson of Cotulla took that photo, a friend of mine and the department," Rutledge said. "He took it on the Wright Ranch in La Salle County, which happens to be one of our cooperators operating under a department-approved wildlife management plan. So to me, that photo really symbolizes our department philosophy of sound habitat management to achieve healthy wildlife."
Since it debuted in March 2002, the white-tailed plate has grossed more than $440,000 to benefit big game management and hunting programs. That includes helping fund efforts like TPWD's Pronghorn Antelope Aerial Survey, Mule Deer Aerial Survey, Pronghorn Antelope Genetics Study, Comparison of Deer Survey Techniques for Small Acreages, White-tailed Deer Surveys and Texas Wildlife Information Management Services (TWIMS).
The deer plate is one of five specialty plates that support the TPWD mission. Others include the bluebonnet license plate benefiting Texas State Parks, the largemouth bass license plate benefiting largemouth bass management and production, the Texas horned lizard license plate benefiting wildlife diversity and the Ducks Unlimited plate benefiting wetlands habitat and diverse waterfowl. All told, the plates have raised more than $4 million for conservation work since 1999.
An expanded Texas Conservation License Plate Web site not only makes it easy to order the plates, but it includes a big section called Projects Funded: Where The Money Goes that details how the money from each plate is used.
All conservation license plates are available for vehicles, trailers and mortorcycles and cost just $30, with $22 going directly to help fund conservation efforts in Texas. The plate cost is an annual fee in addition to the vehicle registration fee. Motorists can order a plate anytime; it's not necessary to wait for a renewal notice. Plates can be purchased online or at any county tax office in Texas, and should be ready about two weeks after the order is placed.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Off-season Whitetail Hunters and the Swine Flu
From the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department:
Feral Hogs Not Tied to Swine Flu
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reminds hunters and trappers there is no indication of a human-animal disease relationship with swine flu and to continue to use common sense when handling feral hogs.
While there is no known threat of contracting swine flu from feral hogs, they do carry other potential hazards.
Due to the danger of contracting swine brucellosis, the Texas Animal Health Commission urges hunters and trappers to always wear a mask or bandana and gloves when handling feral swine during processing. Trappers or any producers who have pigs that are ill with respiratory infections should contact their veterinarian. Trappers or hunters that become ill should seek medical attention and inform their doctors they have been around pigs.
Safeguards for Hunters
- Wear gloves when dressing out hogs and dispose of gloves properly.
- No eating/drinking/smoking while doing so.
- Wear eye protection if there is risk of eye splashed with blood/other fluids.
- Wear coveralls over clothes or promptly change into fresh clothes after dressing animals.
- Wash hands and equipment thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
- Practice good handling/storage procedures with the meat.
- Properly cook the meat.
Information about Swine Flu
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
- People cannot get swine flu from eating pork or pork products. Most influenza viruses, including the swine flu virus, are not spread by food.
- Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.
- No food safety issues have been identified, related to the flu.
- Preliminary investigations have determined that none of the people infected with the flu had contact with hogs.
- The virus is spreading by human-to-human transmission.
The CDC recommends the following measures to prevent the transmission of flu:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
- Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands frequently and use alcohol-based sanitizers.
- Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Try to stay in good general health.
- Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Detailed information and updates on the flu outbreak may be obtained at:
Texas Department of State Health Services http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/
If you own swine, consider the following practices to enhance the biosecurity on your farm to prevent the disease from being transmitted to your herd:
- Workers should shower and change into farm-specific clothes and shoes before entering swine facilities.
- Establish, implement and enforce strict sick leave policies for workers presenting influenza-like symptoms.
- Recommend that workers with symptoms be seen by a medical provider immediately.
- Restrict the entry of people into your facility to only workers and essential service personnel.
- Prevent international visitors from entering your facilities.
- Ensure adequate ventilation in facilities to minimize re-circulation of air inside animal housing facilities.
- Vaccinate pigs against the influenza virus. Vaccination of pigs can reduce the levels of virus shed by infected animals
- Contact your swine veterinarian if swine exhibit flu-like or respiratory illness, especially if the onset or presentation of the illness is unusual.
- Notify your Texas Animal Health Commission area office or the Austin headquarters at 800-550-8242, after you have contacted your veterinarian.
The Texas Animal Health Commission is ready to assist with on-farm investigations, if pigs are present where a known human case has occurred, and to assist with epidemiological investigations with any human cases that may have links to swine in Texas.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Turkey Fest Day 2
Day two of Turkey Fest started like day one except that it was accompanied by more rain, lightning, and 50 mile per hour winds. For yet another morning, the same tom we chased yesterday humbled Bubba and I again.
What we needed was a change of scenery. So this afternoon, we moved to a new property and within thirty minutes, we'd called in three mature toms and two jakes. With a single shot, Bubba downed a nice 18-pound bird.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Henned Up
Yeah, I know that this isn't deer hunting but a guy has to hunt something.
The first day of the Clay County Turkey Fest (www.claycountyoutdoors.org) was a fun one but the turkeys had us beat.
On two separate occasions, Bubba and I had a tom headed our way when a trio of hens cut the toms trail and he followed them into the mesquite brush.
The Score:
Hunt Junkies 0, Turkeys 2
We are winners in one regard, though. Our hosts here in Henrietta are top notch and the chamber of commerce is working hard to make sure that the Turkey Fest is a top rate event.
More tomorrow. I hope our luck changes...
Friday, April 3, 2009
Prolonged Texas Drought Impacts Wildlife
AUSTIN, Texas - Despite welcome rains in late March, much of Texas remains parched by prolonged drought of historic proportions, and wildlife die-offs of whooping cranes and deer have been reported. However, experts say native wildlife evolved to bounce back from drought, and a bigger issue is how human water use is changing the equation, and how drought underscores the need for water planning and conservation.
"The current drought affecting all of Texas has reached historic proportions, with the past six months among the driest since the long-term drought of the 1950’s and 1917, the driest year on record." That sentence begins the March 11 situation report from the governor's Drought Preparedness Council.
The council report said last December through February was the driest period on record for the east, south central, and upper coast regions. It also noted the entire state was classified as at least "Abnormally Dry" according to the United States Drought Monitor.
Continued dry range conditions could have a negative impact on wild turkey production and hunting prospects for spring turkey season, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. If parts of Texas remain parched, particularly the south, experts say Rio Grande turkey breeding activity and nesting effort will be greatly reduced or nonexistent. Rio Grande spring turkey hunting season runs April 4-May 17 in the North Zone, with special youth-only weekends March 28-29 and May 23-24. The South Zone season runs March 21-May 3, with youth weekends March 14-15 and May 9-10.
At TPWD's J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area near Port Arthur, drought has delivered the second half of a one-two punch that started with Hurricane Ike last September.
The lack of rainfall means freshwater marshes at Murphree WMA that were inundated by Hurricane Ike are not being flushed of salt water. That lack of flushing is killing plants and damaging soil chemistry. The area’s brackish marshes are saltier than usual for this time of year, suffering the same stresses as freshwater marshes.
"Brackish marshes on the WMA and neighboring private ranch land which would normally be at or below 10 parts per thousand salinity are still up in the teens," said Michael Rezsutek, Ph.D, a TPWD wildlife biologist at Murphree WMA.
Rezsutek said little fresh water is available for use by mottled duck broods, and that will likely lead to a very low production of mottled ducks this season. Mottled ducks are the only Texas year-round resident duck, and are prized by hunters and wildlife biologists. They've been declining for the past 30 years due to habitat loss and other factors, so drought effects are adding stress to an already stressed population.
He also said alligators and amphibians are unable to recolonize areas inhabited before Hurricane Ike because of the salt water, and populations of these animals will likely remain depressed for the next several years.
Down the coast at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, drought may have contributed to the worst winter on record for the world’s only wild flock of endangered whooping cranes. After an encouraging multi-year comeback in which flock numbers grew each year, this is the first decline since 2001. Only 249 birds will return north to Canada this spring, down from 270 who arrived in Texas last fall.
Refuge expert Tom Stehn attributes whooping crane losses to poor habitat conditions on the middle Texas coast. He said low rainfall in 2008 resulted in saltier bays and fewer blue crabs, the primary food source for wintering whoopers. In addition, whoopers are further stressed when cranes must leave the bays to fly inland seeking fresh water.
In the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas, at spots like Garner State Park, there were reports of non-native axis deer dying from starvation coupled with cold weather earlier this year. TPWD wildlife biologists report range conditions are in poor shape, prickly pear is thin because of the lack of water and feral hogs are looking very thin and drawn down. Native whitetail deer still appear in decent condition but may not last long if the situation continues.
In the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, last summer TPWD wildlife biologists observed a considerable drop in the pronghorn antelope population in portions of Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties, although overall Trans-Pecos pronghorn populations remain only slightly below the 30-year average. The specific causes are not known, but biologists believe there were several compounding factors, including how much of the affected area received no measurable rainfall from November 2007 to June 2008.
Also, this year a team of scientists is continuing work that will eventually guide decisions about how water pumping from the Edwards Aquifer in Central Texas should be restricted during critical drought periods. The science team is part of the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program or RIP, a coalition of organizations working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recover endangered species threatened by low spring and river flows. The RIP approach has been successfully used in other parts of the country to work out complex water use and endangered species issues. The EA RIP was created by the same 2007 legislation that raised the aquifer pumping cap during normal times, and as part of that agreement to increase the cap lawmakers required the RIP to be completed by the end of 2012. TPWD has four scientists on the team, examining flow needs of aquatic creatures and plants from Comal Springs all the way down the Guadalupe River to San Antonio Bay.
Finally, wildlife experts say individual citizens can do a lot to help manage problems caused by drought, including using drought-tolerant native plants for spring gardening. TPWD's Texas Wildscapes habitat program for homeowners, businesses and small-acreage landowners has a wealth of information online about landscaping approaches that can save money, require less maintenance and use less water.
AUSTIN, Texas - Despite welcome rains in late March, much of Texas remains parched by prolonged drought of historic proportions, and wildlife die-offs of whooping cranes and deer have been reported. However, experts say native wildlife evolved to bounce back from drought, and a bigger issue is how human water use is changing the equation, and how drought underscores the need for water planning and conservation.
"The current drought affecting all of Texas has reached historic proportions, with the past six months among the driest since the long-term drought of the 1950’s and 1917, the driest year on record." That sentence begins the March 11 situation report from the governor's Drought Preparedness Council.
The council report said last December through February was the driest period on record for the east, south central, and upper coast regions. It also noted the entire state was classified as at least "Abnormally Dry" according to the United States Drought Monitor.
Continued dry range conditions could have a negative impact on wild turkey production and hunting prospects for spring turkey season, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. If parts of Texas remain parched, particularly the south, experts say Rio Grande turkey breeding activity and nesting effort will be greatly reduced or nonexistent. Rio Grande spring turkey hunting season runs April 4-May 17 in the North Zone, with special youth-only weekends March 28-29 and May 23-24. The South Zone season runs March 21-May 3, with youth weekends March 14-15 and May 9-10.
At TPWD's J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area near Port Arthur, drought has delivered the second half of a one-two punch that started with Hurricane Ike last September.
The lack of rainfall means freshwater marshes at Murphree WMA that were inundated by Hurricane Ike are not being flushed of salt water. That lack of flushing is killing plants and damaging soil chemistry. The area’s brackish marshes are saltier than usual for this time of year, suffering the same stresses as freshwater marshes.
"Brackish marshes on the WMA and neighboring private ranch land which would normally be at or below 10 parts per thousand salinity are still up in the teens," said Michael Rezsutek, Ph.D, a TPWD wildlife biologist at Murphree WMA.
Rezsutek said little fresh water is available for use by mottled duck broods, and that will likely lead to a very low production of mottled ducks this season. Mottled ducks are the only Texas year-round resident duck, and are prized by hunters and wildlife biologists. They've been declining for the past 30 years due to habitat loss and other factors, so drought effects are adding stress to an already stressed population.
He also said alligators and amphibians are unable to recolonize areas inhabited before Hurricane Ike because of the salt water, and populations of these animals will likely remain depressed for the next several years.
Down the coast at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, drought may have contributed to the worst winter on record for the world’s only wild flock of endangered whooping cranes. After an encouraging multi-year comeback in which flock numbers grew each year, this is the first decline since 2001. Only 249 birds will return north to Canada this spring, down from 270 who arrived in Texas last fall.
Refuge expert Tom Stehn attributes whooping crane losses to poor habitat conditions on the middle Texas coast. He said low rainfall in 2008 resulted in saltier bays and fewer blue crabs, the primary food source for wintering whoopers. In addition, whoopers are further stressed when cranes must leave the bays to fly inland seeking fresh water.
In the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas, at spots like Garner State Park, there were reports of non-native axis deer dying from starvation coupled with cold weather earlier this year. TPWD wildlife biologists report range conditions are in poor shape, prickly pear is thin because of the lack of water and feral hogs are looking very thin and drawn down. Native whitetail deer still appear in decent condition but may not last long if the situation continues.
In the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas, last summer TPWD wildlife biologists observed a considerable drop in the pronghorn antelope population in portions of Jeff Davis and Presidio Counties, although overall Trans-Pecos pronghorn populations remain only slightly below the 30-year average. The specific causes are not known, but biologists believe there were several compounding factors, including how much of the affected area received no measurable rainfall from November 2007 to June 2008.
Also, this year a team of scientists is continuing work that will eventually guide decisions about how water pumping from the Edwards Aquifer in Central Texas should be restricted during critical drought periods. The science team is part of the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Program or RIP, a coalition of organizations working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to recover endangered species threatened by low spring and river flows. The RIP approach has been successfully used in other parts of the country to work out complex water use and endangered species issues. The EA RIP was created by the same 2007 legislation that raised the aquifer pumping cap during normal times, and as part of that agreement to increase the cap lawmakers required the RIP to be completed by the end of 2012. TPWD has four scientists on the team, examining flow needs of aquatic creatures and plants from Comal Springs all the way down the Guadalupe River to San Antonio Bay.
Finally, wildlife experts say individual citizens can do a lot to help manage problems caused by drought, including using drought-tolerant native plants for spring gardening. TPWD's Texas Wildscapes habitat program for homeowners, businesses and small-acreage landowners has a wealth of information online about landscaping approaches that can save money, require less maintenance and use less water.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission Adopts Sweeping Changes to Deer Regulations
AUSTIN, Texas - The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted a series of wildlife and hunting related regulations that expand special buck antler restrictions and liberalize antlerless harvest opportunities in dozens of counties. The new rules take effect during the 2009-10 hunting seasons.
Citing strong support for the changes during the public comment period, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff said the new rules reflect a shift toward biologically-based communities for managing deer populations.
One of the biggest changes involves further expansion of the department’s successful antler restriction regulations into 52 additional counties where biologists have identified a need to provide greater protection of younger buck deer.
According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, the antler restrictions have significantly improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect.
New counties under the antler restriction rule this fall include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
The department got overwhelming support to increase whitetail bag limits in several areas of the state with growing deer numbers or populations sufficient to support additional hunting opportunity.
The department is increasing the bag limit in most Cross Timbers and Prairies and eastern Rolling Plains counties from three deer (no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless) or four deer (no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless) to five deer (no more than 2 bucks). Counties affected include: Archer, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Callahan, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Jack, Jones, Knox, Lampasas, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (west of IH35), and Young.
In addition, the department is increasing the bag limit from four deer to five deer in Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties. White-tailed deer densities throughout the eastern Trans-Pecos are very similar to densities on the Edwards Plateau, where current rules allow the harvest of up to five antlerless deer.
Another change increases the bag limit from three deer to five deer (no more than one buck) in selected counties in the western Rolling Plains. Counties affected include: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry, Stonewall, and Wheeler.
The department also extended whitetail hunting from 16 days to the full general open season in Dawson, Deaf Smith, and Martin counties (three deer, no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless).
Areas of the state having sufficient antlerless deer populations to warrant additional hunting opportunity will be getting more doe days this fall. The department is increasing antlerless deer hunting in the following areas:
from 16 days to full-season either-sex in Dallam, Denton, Hartley, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Sherman and Tarrant counties;
from 30 days to full-season either-sex in Cooke, Hardeman, Hill, Johnson, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties;
from four days to16 days in Bowie and Rusk counties;
from four days to 30 days in Cherokee and Houston counties;
from no doe days to four doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties.
The department is also expanding the late antlerless and spike season into additional counties. Counties affected include: Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hood, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lampasas, Lipscomb, McLennan, Montague, Motley, Ochiltree, Palo Pinto, Parker, Pecos, Roberts, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (West of IH35), Wise, and Young. In Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties, the season would replace the current muzzleloader-only open season.
In East Texas, the department is establishing a special muzzleloader season in additional counties, lengthening the existing muzzleloader season by five days to be equivalent in length with the special antlerless and spike buck seasons in other counties, and altering the current muzzleloader bag composition to allow the harvest of any buck (not just spike bucks) and antlerless deer without permits if the county has "doe days" during the general season.
New counties affected include: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, De Witt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad (North of HWY 59), Goliad (South of HWY 59), Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harrison, Houston, Jackson (North of HWY 59), Jackson (South of HWY 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Marion, Matagorda, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Upshur, Victoria (North of HWY 59), Victoria (South of HWY 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of HWY 59), Wharton (South of HWY 59), and Wilson.
The department is also adding one additional weekend and 10 additional weekdays in January to the current youth-only season.
The department also established a one buck only, antlerless by permit, nine-day mule deer season for Parmer County, the first ever deer season for that county.
In other action, the commission approved a temporary, indefinite suspension of the current lesser prairie chicken two-day season in October until population recovery supports a resumption of hunting.
Hunters are urged to check the Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for county and species specific rules before going afield this fall. The annual will be available online and wherever hunting licenses are sold beginning Aug. 15.
Citing strong support for the changes during the public comment period, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff said the new rules reflect a shift toward biologically-based communities for managing deer populations.
One of the biggest changes involves further expansion of the department’s successful antler restriction regulations into 52 additional counties where biologists have identified a need to provide greater protection of younger buck deer.
According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, the antler restrictions have significantly improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect.
New counties under the antler restriction rule this fall include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
The department got overwhelming support to increase whitetail bag limits in several areas of the state with growing deer numbers or populations sufficient to support additional hunting opportunity.
The department is increasing the bag limit in most Cross Timbers and Prairies and eastern Rolling Plains counties from three deer (no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless) or four deer (no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless) to five deer (no more than 2 bucks). Counties affected include: Archer, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Callahan, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Jack, Jones, Knox, Lampasas, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (west of IH35), and Young.
In addition, the department is increasing the bag limit from four deer to five deer in Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties. White-tailed deer densities throughout the eastern Trans-Pecos are very similar to densities on the Edwards Plateau, where current rules allow the harvest of up to five antlerless deer.
Another change increases the bag limit from three deer to five deer (no more than one buck) in selected counties in the western Rolling Plains. Counties affected include: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry, Stonewall, and Wheeler.
The department also extended whitetail hunting from 16 days to the full general open season in Dawson, Deaf Smith, and Martin counties (three deer, no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless).
Areas of the state having sufficient antlerless deer populations to warrant additional hunting opportunity will be getting more doe days this fall. The department is increasing antlerless deer hunting in the following areas:
from 16 days to full-season either-sex in Dallam, Denton, Hartley, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Sherman and Tarrant counties;
from 30 days to full-season either-sex in Cooke, Hardeman, Hill, Johnson, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties;
from four days to16 days in Bowie and Rusk counties;
from four days to 30 days in Cherokee and Houston counties;
from no doe days to four doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties.
The department is also expanding the late antlerless and spike season into additional counties. Counties affected include: Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hood, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lampasas, Lipscomb, McLennan, Montague, Motley, Ochiltree, Palo Pinto, Parker, Pecos, Roberts, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (West of IH35), Wise, and Young. In Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties, the season would replace the current muzzleloader-only open season.
In East Texas, the department is establishing a special muzzleloader season in additional counties, lengthening the existing muzzleloader season by five days to be equivalent in length with the special antlerless and spike buck seasons in other counties, and altering the current muzzleloader bag composition to allow the harvest of any buck (not just spike bucks) and antlerless deer without permits if the county has "doe days" during the general season.
New counties affected include: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, De Witt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad (North of HWY 59), Goliad (South of HWY 59), Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harrison, Houston, Jackson (North of HWY 59), Jackson (South of HWY 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Marion, Matagorda, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Upshur, Victoria (North of HWY 59), Victoria (South of HWY 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of HWY 59), Wharton (South of HWY 59), and Wilson.
The department is also adding one additional weekend and 10 additional weekdays in January to the current youth-only season.
The department also established a one buck only, antlerless by permit, nine-day mule deer season for Parmer County, the first ever deer season for that county.
In other action, the commission approved a temporary, indefinite suspension of the current lesser prairie chicken two-day season in October until population recovery supports a resumption of hunting.
Hunters are urged to check the Outdoor Annual of hunting and fishing regulations for county and species specific rules before going afield this fall. The annual will be available online and wherever hunting licenses are sold beginning Aug. 15.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Facebook Buck Lands Poachers in Hot Water
Okay, if you are going to poach, don't be dumb enough to showcase your illegal behaviors on Facebook. However, that's exactly what two guys from Ohio did.
The buck, known as 'Big Boy' was a common sight at the Side Cut Metropark near Toledo and was photographed numerous times by amateur photographers. Therefore, when the buck seemingly went missing, it wasn't long before his photo, along the the poachers, showed up on Facebook.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE STORY
-RG
The buck, known as 'Big Boy' was a common sight at the Side Cut Metropark near Toledo and was photographed numerous times by amateur photographers. Therefore, when the buck seemingly went missing, it wasn't long before his photo, along the the poachers, showed up on Facebook.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE STORY
-RG
Labels: News
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Hunters Helping out in Tough Economic Times
Even in economically challening times, hunters are stepping up to help the less fortunate.
Here's a video from CBS 11 television in Dallas, Texas.
http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=39575@ktvt.dayport.com
Here's a video from CBS 11 television in Dallas, Texas.
http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=39575@ktvt.dayport.com
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Man Upsets Neighbors by Skinning Deer in his Yard
From Lewisville, Texas...
LEWISVILLE (CBS 11 News) ―
A Lewisville family is angry that their neighbor is skinning game animals in their back yard.
"I don't want to see it. I don't want to see it at all," Frank Hlatky said. "You can't get rid of that stench."
Santos Garcia is a long-time hunter and says he's been processing meat in his back yard for years.
SEE THE ENTIRE STORY AND A VIDEO AT CBSTV11.COM
LEWISVILLE (CBS 11 News) ―
A Lewisville family is angry that their neighbor is skinning game animals in their back yard.
"I don't want to see it. I don't want to see it at all," Frank Hlatky said. "You can't get rid of that stench."
Santos Garcia is a long-time hunter and says he's been processing meat in his back yard for years.
SEE THE ENTIRE STORY AND A VIDEO AT CBSTV11.COM
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Texas Marine returns unhurt from Iraq then injured by a deer
From the Lufkin Daily News:
Deer sends Marine to ER
by Jessica Cooley/The Lufkin Daily News
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A Lufkin Marine came back from Iraq unscathed, but found himself in the emergency room after a deer came through his truck window Friday evening.
Preston Stewart and his step-mom Christy Stewart were headed east on Whitehouse Drive when they noticed a baby deer in the parking lot of Academy.
"We were watching the baby walk across the parking lot when all of a sudden 'wham,' another deer slammed into the side of the truck," Christy said. "The deer's body hit the side of the truck and then its head came through the window and slammed into Preston's head."
It looked like something on television, according to witness Linda Tate.
"I was getting into my car in front of Dollar Tree and saw the deer just jump into the window," Tate said. "Glass went everywhere."
Stewart was taken by ambulance to Memorial Health System of East Texas where he was treated for a gash to the back of his head and cuts on his face.
The deer's body dented the side of Stewart's newly purchased Chevy and its head shattered the driver's side passenger window.
"I just kept thinking the poor guy has been in Iraq for nine months and he's been dreaming about his new truck— then he gets it and gets hit by a deer," Christy Stewart said.
The deer died on impact.
Deer sends Marine to ER
by Jessica Cooley/The Lufkin Daily News
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A Lufkin Marine came back from Iraq unscathed, but found himself in the emergency room after a deer came through his truck window Friday evening.
Preston Stewart and his step-mom Christy Stewart were headed east on Whitehouse Drive when they noticed a baby deer in the parking lot of Academy.
"We were watching the baby walk across the parking lot when all of a sudden 'wham,' another deer slammed into the side of the truck," Christy said. "The deer's body hit the side of the truck and then its head came through the window and slammed into Preston's head."
It looked like something on television, according to witness Linda Tate.
"I was getting into my car in front of Dollar Tree and saw the deer just jump into the window," Tate said. "Glass went everywhere."
Stewart was taken by ambulance to Memorial Health System of East Texas where he was treated for a gash to the back of his head and cuts on his face.
The deer's body dented the side of Stewart's newly purchased Chevy and its head shattered the driver's side passenger window.
"I just kept thinking the poor guy has been in Iraq for nine months and he's been dreaming about his new truck— then he gets it and gets hit by a deer," Christy Stewart said.
The deer died on impact.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Learning from Students Part 5
After posting the Google story the other day, it reminded me of a study my students conducted a couple of years ago. Following are the highlights.
-Russell
The Effects of Land Use on Road-Killed Wildlife
Along a rural 10 mile stretch of highway 83, we conducted a study to show what
effect land use has on road kill.
Road killed animals cause American drivers millions of dollars in insurance
claims every year. Before we analyzed our data we hypothesized that land type and use
would have little effect on road kill.
Over a four month period, from the beginning of fall in September to the end of fall in
November, a rural, ten mile stretch of highway 83 was driven on a daily basis and our
data was collected
When collecting the information, the first step taken was to record the data,
temperature, cloud coverage, and moon phase. Highway 83 was driven on at 2:15 every
day looking for any kind of road kill. The time was selected at random.
As we approached the end of our study, we concluded that land-use type does have an
effect on road kill. Most of the animals were killed while the driver was crossing a low
point on the surveyed highway during night time hours. The amount of cloud coverage,
moon phase, and weather didn’t provide anything in our study.
Overall, this research helped us understand the impact that land-use and road
elevation has on wildlife and motorist. In the future if road designers would take in
consideration, our research then roads could be design that could lessen impact on
motorists as well as wildlife.
Conclusion
As we approached the end of our study, we concluded that land-use type does
have an effect on road kill. Most of the animals were killed while the driver was crossing
a low point on the surveyed highway during night time hours. The amount of cloud
coverage, moon phase, and weather proved nothing in our study.
Overall, this research helped us understand the impact that land-use and road
elevation has on wildlife and motorist. In the future if road designers would take in
consideration, our research then roads could be design that could lessen impact on
motorists as well as wildlife.
-Russell
The Effects of Land Use on Road-Killed Wildlife
Along a rural 10 mile stretch of highway 83, we conducted a study to show what
effect land use has on road kill.
Road killed animals cause American drivers millions of dollars in insurance
claims every year. Before we analyzed our data we hypothesized that land type and use
would have little effect on road kill.
Over a four month period, from the beginning of fall in September to the end of fall in
November, a rural, ten mile stretch of highway 83 was driven on a daily basis and our
data was collected
When collecting the information, the first step taken was to record the data,
temperature, cloud coverage, and moon phase. Highway 83 was driven on at 2:15 every
day looking for any kind of road kill. The time was selected at random.
As we approached the end of our study, we concluded that land-use type does have an
effect on road kill. Most of the animals were killed while the driver was crossing a low
point on the surveyed highway during night time hours. The amount of cloud coverage,
moon phase, and weather didn’t provide anything in our study.
Overall, this research helped us understand the impact that land-use and road
elevation has on wildlife and motorist. In the future if road designers would take in
consideration, our research then roads could be design that could lessen impact on
motorists as well as wildlife.
Conclusion
As we approached the end of our study, we concluded that land-use type does
have an effect on road kill. Most of the animals were killed while the driver was crossing
a low point on the surveyed highway during night time hours. The amount of cloud
coverage, moon phase, and weather proved nothing in our study.
Overall, this research helped us understand the impact that land-use and road
elevation has on wildlife and motorist. In the future if road designers would take in
consideration, our research then roads could be design that could lessen impact on
motorists as well as wildlife.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Google Maps Roadkill
If you've ever used Google Maps you know that they have a really cool feature called Street View.
If you haven't seen it, Street View is a feature where a Google vehicle drives around and photographs town streets. That way, when you look up an address, you can get a virtual "street view" tour of an address or landmark.
Well, it turns out that the Google car hit a deer.
Check out the images and an explanation HERE
-Russell Graves
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
5 Things to Do After Deer Season
For hard-core outdoor enthusiast, however, all is not lost. Here is my list of five things that will keep you going long after you’ve stepped out of your deer blind for the last time this year.
Take a Kid Hunting
Although the deer season is over, hunting opportunities are still available. Quail season is in full swing and waterfowl, cottontail rabbits, and predators are challenging animals in which to hunt.
Taking young hunters in pursuit of small game allows them to develop skills such as firearm safety and appreciation for the outdoors - skills they will carry with them as they mature and, eventually, pass them on to younger hunters. In addition, small game give young hunters a chance to learn lessons in patience and hard work.
Join a Conservation Club
Private conservation organizations are the backbone of the modern wildlife management movement and their members help provide financial and in-kind support for many worthwhile conservation and education projects.
Join a Conservation Club
Private conservation organizations are the backbone of the modern wildlife management movement and their members help provide financial and in-kind support for many worthwhile conservation and education projects.
For starters, Quail Unlimited, Ducks Unlimited, The National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Safari Club International and other organizations are available to interested sportsmen even if you don’t have a local club available. By joining a conservation club you can network with like-minded sportsmen in supporting habitat enrichment programs and educational ventures in your area.
Learn to Identify Plants
One of the best ways to improve your outdoor skills hone your appreciation of nature is to learn to identify plants in the area in which you hunt. By doing so, you’ll gain a more complete understanding of game animals and learn more about non-game species as well. Learning about plants also helps you realize the importance of species many people consider merely weeds.
Learn to Identify Plants
One of the best ways to improve your outdoor skills hone your appreciation of nature is to learn to identify plants in the area in which you hunt. By doing so, you’ll gain a more complete understanding of game animals and learn more about non-game species as well. Learning about plants also helps you realize the importance of species many people consider merely weeds.
Take up Photography or Videography
If yo want to preserve the memories of a hunt, spend more time outdoors, and learn more about nature, start by looking through the lens of a still or video camera. Do yourself a huge favor by toting a camera during preseason scouting trips. By documenting scenes from the field, outdoor enthusiasts can capture those special moments forever.
Keep a Journal
Every time I go afield to hunt, photograph or just look, I carry along a journal. Immediately after the trip, while my memories are still fresh, I record everything. By keeping a journal, I can record my thoughts and feelings about the natural world. As I grow older I can relive my memories of trips afield and it will be an enduring record of my outdoor adventures that I can pass on to my children.
-Russell
Texas
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
January Buck Fight?
File this under usual.
From the Daily Oklahoman comes video of two bucks fighting in a camp ground of the Wichita Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma near Lawton. What's unusual about it is that if it was indeed taken in early January, it is about a month and a half later than you'd typically see a brawl like this one:
From the Daily Oklahoman comes video of two bucks fighting in a camp ground of the Wichita Mountain National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma near Lawton. What's unusual about it is that if it was indeed taken in early January, it is about a month and a half later than you'd typically see a brawl like this one:
Labels: News
Friday, January 9, 2009
The Double
Here's a cool first-deer story courtesy of the San Angelo Standard Times.
Before the first rays of sunshine appeared Nov. 8, Morgen Priest, 22, and her father, Mark were out driving around in a truck hunting.
Two-for-one first time hunting experience will be hard to top
Before the first rays of sunshine appeared Nov. 8, Morgen Priest, 22, and her father, Mark were out driving around in a truck hunting.
Priest, an Angelo State University senior, came home with an unforgettable first-timer's hunting story: She shot a 12-point buck, and entangled in its antlers was a decomposing 9-point buck.
"The grass was really high so we couldn't see exactly what it was until we walked right up to it," Priest said.
Doug Seamands, a San Angelo game warden, said shooting a buck with a another buck entangled in its antlers is extremely rare.
Bucks battle one another for does, fencing with their antlers and sometimes fighting to the death, he said.
Priest said she went on the hunting trip at 7D Ranch just outside of San Angelo to spend time with her dad.
"The whole experience was crazy, I was speechless, wowed, stunned and in shock," she said. "My hands were shaking I couldn't believe I had killed something."
The game warden said it was a first for him as well.
"I've been a game warden for 18 years and hunted all my life and have never heard of anything like that before," Seamands said. "It is extremely unusual."
Priest says the two bucks will be mounted together on a mesquite pedestal with their antlers locked.
"I'm going to call them Hook and Hooker," she said.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
2008 Season Retrospective
For me and many other Texans, the 2009 season will go down as a good one but not especially spectacular. Oh, there have been some big deer taken in the state but dry conditions in Texas last spring meant antlers development was a bit hampered.
Truthfully though, for me the season was one of ups and downs.
The high point was when I took a nice management buck after a few days of hunting hard in Western Texas:
Of course, taking pictures of deer hunting and deer occupied much of my time:
One of the low points, though, is when I traveled back to my home woods to find them completely logged out and 250 acres of hardwoods gone.
Stay tuned for an upcoming episode of Hunt Junkies for more about the loss of the woods.
While my season is over, next weekend is the final youth season so maybe I live vicariously through my daughter Bailee.
One last fix...
Truthfully though, for me the season was one of ups and downs.
The high point was when I took a nice management buck after a few days of hunting hard in Western Texas:
Of course, taking pictures of deer hunting and deer occupied much of my time:
One of the low points, though, is when I traveled back to my home woods to find them completely logged out and 250 acres of hardwoods gone.
Stay tuned for an upcoming episode of Hunt Junkies for more about the loss of the woods.
While my season is over, next weekend is the final youth season so maybe I live vicariously through my daughter Bailee.
One last fix...
News from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
TPWD to Consider Sweeping Deer Hunting Regulation Changes
AUSTIN, Texas -The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has transitioned away from political boundaries for the purpose of monitoring white-tailed deer populations and toward biologically-based communities or Resource Management Units (RMUs).
The department has identified 33 unique RMUs across the state having similar soils, vegetation types and land use practices they believe will more accurately capture deer population dynamics. The intent is to develop deer season bag limit frameworks based on these units, although implementation will still track county boundaries to avoid confusion among hunters.
In a briefing of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Committee, TPWD unveiled an extensive suite of potential regulation changes in deer harvest throughout much of the state. The department will be gathering public input on the possible proposals during the next couple of months and present to the commission in January a comprehensive set of proposals.
Those proposals will then go back out for official comment during a series of public hearings around the state next spring. A final decision will be made by the commission at its March 25-26, 2009 public meeting.
Expansion of Antler Restriction Regulations
One key potential change involves further expansion of the department’s successful antler restriction regulations into 52 additional counties where biologists have identified a need to provide greater protection of younger buck deer. In these counties, data indicates more than 55 percent of the harvested bucks are two-and-a-half years of age or younger, which creates an imbalance in the deer herd age structure.
According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect, the antler restrictions have improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity.
Potentially affected counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
Bag Limit Changes
The department is also looking at increasing the bag limit from one buck to two bucks in Baylor, Callahan, Haskell, Jones, Knox, Shackelford, Taylor, Throckmorton, and Wilbarger counties. Wolf noted this area of the state is characterized by relatively large tract sizes and light hunter density and the deer population has grown over the years as habitat has become more favorable to white-tailed deer.
In addition, the department is considering increasing the bag limit from four deer to five deer in Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties. White-tailed deer densities throughout the eastern Trans-Pecos are very similar to densities on the Edwards Plateau, where current rules allow the harvest of up to five antlerless deer. This change would increase hunting opportunity while addressing a resource concern.
The department is also looking at increasing the bag limit in most Cross Timbers and Prairies and eastern Rolling Plains counties from three deer (no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless) or four deer (no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless) to five deer (no more than 2 bucks). Counties affected include: Archer, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Callahan, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Jack, Jones, Knox, Lampasas, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (west of IH35), and Young.
Another possible change would increase the bag limit from three deer to five deer (no more than one buck) in selected counties in the western Rolling Plains. Although white-tailed deer densities are highly variable in this part of the state, areas containing suitable habitat have become saturated with deer and whitetails are expanding into marginal to poor habitat.
Browsing pressure is severe in these areas, where little woody vegetation exists within five feet of the ground. The proposal would provide additional hunting opportunity while addressing a resource concern. Counties affected include: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry, Stonewall, and Wheeler.
The department is also considering for the first time implementing a general open season in Dawson, Deaf Smith, and Martin counties (three deer, no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless).
Another issue where deer surveys indicate a need for change involves additional antlerless deer harvest opportunities. Therefore, the department is looking to increase antlerless deer hunting or "doe days" in the following areas:
from 16 days to full-season either-sex in Dallam, Denton, Hartley, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Sherman and Tarrant counties;
from 30 days to full-season either-sex in Cook, Hardeman, Hill, Johnson, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties;
from four days to16 days in Bowie and Rusk counties;
from four days to 30 days in Cherokee and Houston counties;
from no doe days to four doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties.
This proposal offers more hunting opportunity as well as making "doe days’ more consistent within each resource management unit (a suite of counties with similar population and habitat characteristics). Data indicate that the deer populations can withstand the additional harvest pressure proposed.
The department is also looking at expansion of the late antlerless and spike season into additional counties.
Counties affected include: Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hood, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lampasas, Lipscomb, McLennan, Montague, Motley, Ochiltree, Palo Pinto, Parker, Pecos, Roberts, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (West of IH35), Wise, and Young. In Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties, the proposed season would replace the current muzzleloader-only open season.
Biologists are also looking to implement a special muzzleloader season in additional counties, lengthen the existing muzzleloader season by five days to be equivalent in length with the special antlerless and spike buck seasons in other counties, and alter the current muzzleloader bag composition to allow the harvest of any buck (not just spike bucks) and antlerless deer without permits if the county has "doe days" during the general season.
Counties affected include: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, De Witt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad (North of HWY 59), Goliad (South of HWY 59), Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harrison, Houston, Jackson (North of HWY 59), Jackson (South of HWY 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Marion, Matagorda, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Upshur, Victoria (North of HWY 59), Victoria (South of HWY 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of HWY 59), Wharton (South of HWY 59), and Wilson.
In response to a commission directive to seek additional opportunities for youth participation, the department is looking at extending the early youth only season to include the entire month of October and the late youth-only season by 12 days during January in selected counties to run concurrently with late antlerless and spike seasons. The intent of the proposal is to allow adults and children to hunt together during different special seasons.
The department is also considering a petition to implement a general open season (with antlerless harvest by permit only) in Grayson County. TPWD staff has determined that there is no biological necessity for retaining the current rule, which restricts lawful methods to archery equipment and crossbows, but will be seeking input from county residents prior to making any official proposal to the commission in January. The date and locations of scoping meetings in Grayson County have not been finalized.
Other Wildlife-Related Issues
Other wildlife-related issues that could be advanced by the department include potentially implementing an open general season in Parmer County for mule deer, contingent upon the results of winter surveys and the temporary suspension of the two-day October lesser prairie chicken season until population recovery supports a season.
Changes Possible in Freshwater Fishing Regs
In addition, several possible changes to freshwater fishing regulations were offered to the commission for consideration including: modifying blue catfish regulations on three reservoirs, modifying largemouth bass regulations on another and providing increased protection for alligator gar statewide.
Harvest regulations for blue catfish on Lake Lewisville, Lake Richland Chambers and Lake Waco currently reflect the statewide limits (12-inch minimum length limit and 25 fish daily bag limit). Possible proposed changes would consist of a 25 fish daily bag limit with a 30 to 45-inch slot length limit and harvest of only one blue catfish over 45 inches would be allowed. No harvest of blue catfish between 30 and 45 inches would be allowed.
Harvest regulations for largemouth bass on Lake Ray Roberts are currently a 14- to 24-inch slot length limit and a five fish daily bag (only one bass 24 inches or greater may be retained each day). Potential changes would consist of the statewide limits for largemouth bass (14-inch minimum length limit and five fish daily bag limit).
The department discussed possible regulation strategies that emphasize protection of adult fish (alligator gar)* , while allowing some limited harvest of trophy fish to ensure population stability while allowing utilization of the resource. Two possible regulation scenarios were highlighted. The first would consist of issuing tags that would limit the size and/or number of alligator gar an angler could harvest in one year. The other would involve setting a minimum length limit of 7 feet and a daily bag limit of one. Under either scenario, harvest through commercial activities would also be restricted.
Alligator gar populations are believed to be declining throughout much of their historical range, which includes the Mississippi River system, as well as coastal rivers of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida through Texas to northern Mexico. Although the severity of these declines is unknown, habitat alteration and over-exploitation are thought to be partially responsible. Observed declines in other states, vulnerability to overfishing, and increased interest in the harvest of trophy gar indicate a conservative management approach is warranted until populations and potential threats can be fully assessed.**
Coastal Fisheries to Look at Flounder, All-Water Guide Licenses and Consistency
Despite a relatively good year for flounder coastwide this year, TPWD Coastal Fisheries biologists remain concerned about a long-term downward trend in the abundance of southern flounder in Texas bays. Gill net catch rates have fallen from a rate of .14 fish per hour in 1982 to about .03 fish per hour lat year.
State fisheries biologists have already met with commercial and recreational fishermen to discuss possible changes to flounder regulations, and have planned a series of public scoping meetings to outline management options and receive input from anyone with an interest in the issue.
Management tools at the department’s disposal include decreasing the bag limit, increasing minimum size limit, area or time closures and quotas.
Also subject to scoping in the coming months is a proposal to change the requirements for a TPWD All-Water Guide license, which currently calls for the applicant to hold a USCG Operator of an Uninspected Passenger Vessel, or "Six-Pack" license. The changes would apply to applicants who wish to guide paddle craft trips only.
The draft proposal presented to TPW Commissioners includes requirements that licensees — in lieu of holding a USCG license — successfully complete TPWD Boater Safety training, hold current CPR and First Aid certifications and successfully complete ACA Level II Essentials of Kayak Touring and Coastal Kayak Trip Leading, or BCU Three-Star Sea Kayak and Four-Star Leader Sea Kayak certifications.
Finally, Coastal Fisheries biologists presented several issues pertaining to achieving consistency between state and federal regulations for sharks and reef fish such as gray triggerfish, greater amberjack and gag grouper.
Dates have not yet been set for public scoping meetings on the proposals to change the guide license requirements for paddle craft guides, or for changes in migratory and reef fish regulations to achieve consistency with federal regulations.
Scoping meetings have been scheduled for possible changes to flounder regulations.
AUSTIN, Texas -The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has transitioned away from political boundaries for the purpose of monitoring white-tailed deer populations and toward biologically-based communities or Resource Management Units (RMUs).
The department has identified 33 unique RMUs across the state having similar soils, vegetation types and land use practices they believe will more accurately capture deer population dynamics. The intent is to develop deer season bag limit frameworks based on these units, although implementation will still track county boundaries to avoid confusion among hunters.
In a briefing of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission’s Regulations Committee, TPWD unveiled an extensive suite of potential regulation changes in deer harvest throughout much of the state. The department will be gathering public input on the possible proposals during the next couple of months and present to the commission in January a comprehensive set of proposals.
Those proposals will then go back out for official comment during a series of public hearings around the state next spring. A final decision will be made by the commission at its March 25-26, 2009 public meeting.
Expansion of Antler Restriction Regulations
One key potential change involves further expansion of the department’s successful antler restriction regulations into 52 additional counties where biologists have identified a need to provide greater protection of younger buck deer. In these counties, data indicates more than 55 percent of the harvested bucks are two-and-a-half years of age or younger, which creates an imbalance in the deer herd age structure.
According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect, the antler restrictions have improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity.
Potentially affected counties include: Anderson, Angelina, Archer, Atascosa, Brazos, Brown, Chambers, Clay, Cooke, Denton, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Grayson, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Henderson, Hill, Hood, Hunt, Jack, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson, Kaufman, Liberty, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Milam, Mills, Montague, Montgomery, Navarro, Newton, Orange, Palo Pinto, Parker, Polk, Robertson, San Jacinto, Smith, Stephens, Tarrant, Trinity, Tyler, Van Zandt, Walker, Wichita, Wise, and Young.
Bag Limit Changes
The department is also looking at increasing the bag limit from one buck to two bucks in Baylor, Callahan, Haskell, Jones, Knox, Shackelford, Taylor, Throckmorton, and Wilbarger counties. Wolf noted this area of the state is characterized by relatively large tract sizes and light hunter density and the deer population has grown over the years as habitat has become more favorable to white-tailed deer.
In addition, the department is considering increasing the bag limit from four deer to five deer in Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties. White-tailed deer densities throughout the eastern Trans-Pecos are very similar to densities on the Edwards Plateau, where current rules allow the harvest of up to five antlerless deer. This change would increase hunting opportunity while addressing a resource concern.
The department is also looking at increasing the bag limit in most Cross Timbers and Prairies and eastern Rolling Plains counties from three deer (no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless) or four deer (no more than two bucks and no more than two antlerless) to five deer (no more than 2 bucks). Counties affected include: Archer, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Callahan, Clay, Coryell, Hamilton, Haskell, Hill, Jack, Jones, Knox, Lampasas, McLennan, Palo Pinto, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Taylor, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (west of IH35), and Young.
Another possible change would increase the bag limit from three deer to five deer (no more than one buck) in selected counties in the western Rolling Plains. Although white-tailed deer densities are highly variable in this part of the state, areas containing suitable habitat have become saturated with deer and whitetails are expanding into marginal to poor habitat.
Browsing pressure is severe in these areas, where little woody vegetation exists within five feet of the ground. The proposal would provide additional hunting opportunity while addressing a resource concern. Counties affected include: Armstrong, Briscoe, Carson, Childress, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hardeman, Hemphill, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lipscomb, Motley, Ochiltree, Roberts, Scurry, Stonewall, and Wheeler.
The department is also considering for the first time implementing a general open season in Dawson, Deaf Smith, and Martin counties (three deer, no more than one buck, no more than two antlerless).
Another issue where deer surveys indicate a need for change involves additional antlerless deer harvest opportunities. Therefore, the department is looking to increase antlerless deer hunting or "doe days" in the following areas:
from 16 days to full-season either-sex in Dallam, Denton, Hartley, Moore, Oldham, Potter, Sherman and Tarrant counties;
from 30 days to full-season either-sex in Cook, Hardeman, Hill, Johnson, Wichita, and Wilbarger counties;
from four days to16 days in Bowie and Rusk counties;
from four days to 30 days in Cherokee and Houston counties;
from no doe days to four doe days in Anderson, Henderson, Hunt, Leon, Rains, Smith, and Van Zandt counties.
This proposal offers more hunting opportunity as well as making "doe days’ more consistent within each resource management unit (a suite of counties with similar population and habitat characteristics). Data indicate that the deer populations can withstand the additional harvest pressure proposed.
The department is also looking at expansion of the late antlerless and spike season into additional counties.
Counties affected include: Archer, Armstrong, Baylor, Bell (West of IH35), Bosque, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Childress, Clay, Collingsworth, Comanche, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crosby, Denton, Dickens, Donley, Eastland, Erath, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hall, Hamilton, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Hill, Hood, Hutchinson, Jack, Johnson, Jones, Kent, King, Knox, Lampasas, Lipscomb, McLennan, Montague, Motley, Ochiltree, Palo Pinto, Parker, Pecos, Roberts, Scurry, Shackelford, Somervell, Stephens, Stonewall, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Throckmorton, Upton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Williamson (West of IH35), Wise, and Young. In Pecos, Terrell, and Upton counties, the proposed season would replace the current muzzleloader-only open season.
Biologists are also looking to implement a special muzzleloader season in additional counties, lengthen the existing muzzleloader season by five days to be equivalent in length with the special antlerless and spike buck seasons in other counties, and alter the current muzzleloader bag composition to allow the harvest of any buck (not just spike bucks) and antlerless deer without permits if the county has "doe days" during the general season.
Counties affected include: Austin, Bastrop, Bowie, Brazoria, Caldwell, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Colorado, De Witt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Goliad (North of HWY 59), Goliad (South of HWY 59), Gonzales, Gregg, Guadalupe, Harrison, Houston, Jackson (North of HWY 59), Jackson (South of HWY 59), Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, Marion, Matagorda, Morris, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Upshur, Victoria (North of HWY 59), Victoria (South of HWY 59), Waller, Washington, Wharton (North of HWY 59), Wharton (South of HWY 59), and Wilson.
In response to a commission directive to seek additional opportunities for youth participation, the department is looking at extending the early youth only season to include the entire month of October and the late youth-only season by 12 days during January in selected counties to run concurrently with late antlerless and spike seasons. The intent of the proposal is to allow adults and children to hunt together during different special seasons.
The department is also considering a petition to implement a general open season (with antlerless harvest by permit only) in Grayson County. TPWD staff has determined that there is no biological necessity for retaining the current rule, which restricts lawful methods to archery equipment and crossbows, but will be seeking input from county residents prior to making any official proposal to the commission in January. The date and locations of scoping meetings in Grayson County have not been finalized.
Other Wildlife-Related Issues
Other wildlife-related issues that could be advanced by the department include potentially implementing an open general season in Parmer County for mule deer, contingent upon the results of winter surveys and the temporary suspension of the two-day October lesser prairie chicken season until population recovery supports a season.
Changes Possible in Freshwater Fishing Regs
In addition, several possible changes to freshwater fishing regulations were offered to the commission for consideration including: modifying blue catfish regulations on three reservoirs, modifying largemouth bass regulations on another and providing increased protection for alligator gar statewide.
Harvest regulations for blue catfish on Lake Lewisville, Lake Richland Chambers and Lake Waco currently reflect the statewide limits (12-inch minimum length limit and 25 fish daily bag limit). Possible proposed changes would consist of a 25 fish daily bag limit with a 30 to 45-inch slot length limit and harvest of only one blue catfish over 45 inches would be allowed. No harvest of blue catfish between 30 and 45 inches would be allowed.
Harvest regulations for largemouth bass on Lake Ray Roberts are currently a 14- to 24-inch slot length limit and a five fish daily bag (only one bass 24 inches or greater may be retained each day). Potential changes would consist of the statewide limits for largemouth bass (14-inch minimum length limit and five fish daily bag limit).
The department discussed possible regulation strategies that emphasize protection of adult fish (alligator gar)* , while allowing some limited harvest of trophy fish to ensure population stability while allowing utilization of the resource. Two possible regulation scenarios were highlighted. The first would consist of issuing tags that would limit the size and/or number of alligator gar an angler could harvest in one year. The other would involve setting a minimum length limit of 7 feet and a daily bag limit of one. Under either scenario, harvest through commercial activities would also be restricted.
Alligator gar populations are believed to be declining throughout much of their historical range, which includes the Mississippi River system, as well as coastal rivers of the Gulf of Mexico from Florida through Texas to northern Mexico. Although the severity of these declines is unknown, habitat alteration and over-exploitation are thought to be partially responsible. Observed declines in other states, vulnerability to overfishing, and increased interest in the harvest of trophy gar indicate a conservative management approach is warranted until populations and potential threats can be fully assessed.**
Coastal Fisheries to Look at Flounder, All-Water Guide Licenses and Consistency
Despite a relatively good year for flounder coastwide this year, TPWD Coastal Fisheries biologists remain concerned about a long-term downward trend in the abundance of southern flounder in Texas bays. Gill net catch rates have fallen from a rate of .14 fish per hour in 1982 to about .03 fish per hour lat year.
State fisheries biologists have already met with commercial and recreational fishermen to discuss possible changes to flounder regulations, and have planned a series of public scoping meetings to outline management options and receive input from anyone with an interest in the issue.
Management tools at the department’s disposal include decreasing the bag limit, increasing minimum size limit, area or time closures and quotas.
Also subject to scoping in the coming months is a proposal to change the requirements for a TPWD All-Water Guide license, which currently calls for the applicant to hold a USCG Operator of an Uninspected Passenger Vessel, or "Six-Pack" license. The changes would apply to applicants who wish to guide paddle craft trips only.
The draft proposal presented to TPW Commissioners includes requirements that licensees — in lieu of holding a USCG license — successfully complete TPWD Boater Safety training, hold current CPR and First Aid certifications and successfully complete ACA Level II Essentials of Kayak Touring and Coastal Kayak Trip Leading, or BCU Three-Star Sea Kayak and Four-Star Leader Sea Kayak certifications.
Finally, Coastal Fisheries biologists presented several issues pertaining to achieving consistency between state and federal regulations for sharks and reef fish such as gray triggerfish, greater amberjack and gag grouper.
Dates have not yet been set for public scoping meetings on the proposals to change the guide license requirements for paddle craft guides, or for changes in migratory and reef fish regulations to achieve consistency with federal regulations.
Scoping meetings have been scheduled for possible changes to flounder regulations.
Learning from Students Part 4
In this abbreviated report, my high schoolers looked at the impact of deer management on Boone & Crockett entries...
The Effects of Intensive White-tailed Deer Management on Texas Boone & Crockett Club Entries
In 2007, a study was conducted to reveal the affects of whitetail deer management on the amount of Boone & Crockett (B&C) bucks harvested annually. We suspected that whitetail deer management (which includes harvest, nutritional, and habitat management) has increased the chances of harvesting a B&C buck and hoped the data would reveal such. As it turns out, intensive deer management did have a major effect on the amount of B&C bucks reported annually. Whitetail deer management is a very broad subject that could be anywhere from setting harvest limits, to just providing an environment that provides for all of a deer's needs (water, food, cover and space).
To conduct this study we needed reliable sources of information. The key source of information was the Boone & Crockett Club website (www.boone-crockett.org). In addition, we needed to know when whitetail deer management started, so we could compare our results to the period in which it started.
The last step of this project was to decide whether whitetail deer management had any effect on the amount of Boone & Crockett bucks harvested annually. To decide this we had to examine our graphs and figure out where the trend line ascends most rapidly. On both graphs, the amount of B & C entries increased the most after the 1970's – when the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department began to emphasize whitetail deer management to landowners.
Results
According to the first chart, very few Boone & Crockett bucks were reported in the early decades of the 20th Century. The number of entries grew substantially after the 1980's when it increased from twenty-eight bucks to seventy-eight bucks in the 1990's. This decade has had forty-nine bucks harvested and by the end of this decade, that number should be close to one hundred if the present trend continues.
Chart 1
Typical Entries
Decade and No. of Entries
1900-1909 ~ 4
1910-1919 ~ 2
1920-1929 ~ 11
1930-1939 ~ 7
1940-1949 ~ 16
1950-1959 ~ 13
1960-1969 ~ 29
1970-1979 ~ 25
1980-1989 ~ 28
1990-1999 ~ 78
2000-2009 - projected ~ 103
The non-typical entries for Chart 2 are very similar to the typical entries in the aspect that the number of bucks did not fluctuate until after the 1980's. According to the chart, the number of entries more than doubled from the 1980's to the 90's. Through the first five years of this decade, it appears that the number of entries could reach the same level as the thirty-five B & C Bucks reported in the 1990's.
Non-Typical Entries
Decade and No. of Entries
1890-1899 ~ 1
1900-1909 ~ 4
1910-1919 ~ 3
1920-1929 ~ 10
1930-1939 ~ 8
1940-1949 ~ 11
1950-1959 ~ 8
1960-1969 ~ 16
1970-1979 ~ 8
1980-1989 ~ 15
1990-1999 ~ 35
2000-2009 - projected ~ 34
This information backs up our belief that whitetail deer management has increased the likelihood of harvesting a B & C buck. As management has spread it has caused an increase of trophies bucks particularly in the Texas Panhandle, the counties near the Oklahoma border and in central and east Texas.
It could be argued that the number of deer has increased across Texas that could explain the rise in B&C entries. However, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, whitetail deer numbers have remained around 4 million animals for the past twenty-five years.
Conclusion
Whitetail deer management in Texas started in earnest in the 1970's and has played a major role in increasing the amount of bucks that enter into the Boone & Crockett Club’s record books. As information was passed on to game managers and land owners throughout Texas the number of B & C bucks harvested annually increased and people began to kill trophy bucks in more areas of Texas. This tells us that if you practice some type of whitetail deer management (there are many types) on your property then you will increase your possibility of shooting a trophy buck.
The Effects of Intensive White-tailed Deer Management on Texas Boone & Crockett Club Entries
In 2007, a study was conducted to reveal the affects of whitetail deer management on the amount of Boone & Crockett (B&C) bucks harvested annually. We suspected that whitetail deer management (which includes harvest, nutritional, and habitat management) has increased the chances of harvesting a B&C buck and hoped the data would reveal such. As it turns out, intensive deer management did have a major effect on the amount of B&C bucks reported annually. Whitetail deer management is a very broad subject that could be anywhere from setting harvest limits, to just providing an environment that provides for all of a deer's needs (water, food, cover and space).
To conduct this study we needed reliable sources of information. The key source of information was the Boone & Crockett Club website (www.boone-crockett.org). In addition, we needed to know when whitetail deer management started, so we could compare our results to the period in which it started.
The last step of this project was to decide whether whitetail deer management had any effect on the amount of Boone & Crockett bucks harvested annually. To decide this we had to examine our graphs and figure out where the trend line ascends most rapidly. On both graphs, the amount of B & C entries increased the most after the 1970's – when the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department began to emphasize whitetail deer management to landowners.
Results
According to the first chart, very few Boone & Crockett bucks were reported in the early decades of the 20th Century. The number of entries grew substantially after the 1980's when it increased from twenty-eight bucks to seventy-eight bucks in the 1990's. This decade has had forty-nine bucks harvested and by the end of this decade, that number should be close to one hundred if the present trend continues.
Chart 1
Typical Entries
Decade and No. of Entries
1900-1909 ~ 4
1910-1919 ~ 2
1920-1929 ~ 11
1930-1939 ~ 7
1940-1949 ~ 16
1950-1959 ~ 13
1960-1969 ~ 29
1970-1979 ~ 25
1980-1989 ~ 28
1990-1999 ~ 78
2000-2009 - projected ~ 103
The non-typical entries for Chart 2 are very similar to the typical entries in the aspect that the number of bucks did not fluctuate until after the 1980's. According to the chart, the number of entries more than doubled from the 1980's to the 90's. Through the first five years of this decade, it appears that the number of entries could reach the same level as the thirty-five B & C Bucks reported in the 1990's.
Non-Typical Entries
Decade and No. of Entries
1890-1899 ~ 1
1900-1909 ~ 4
1910-1919 ~ 3
1920-1929 ~ 10
1930-1939 ~ 8
1940-1949 ~ 11
1950-1959 ~ 8
1960-1969 ~ 16
1970-1979 ~ 8
1980-1989 ~ 15
1990-1999 ~ 35
2000-2009 - projected ~ 34
This information backs up our belief that whitetail deer management has increased the likelihood of harvesting a B & C buck. As management has spread it has caused an increase of trophies bucks particularly in the Texas Panhandle, the counties near the Oklahoma border and in central and east Texas.
It could be argued that the number of deer has increased across Texas that could explain the rise in B&C entries. However, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, whitetail deer numbers have remained around 4 million animals for the past twenty-five years.
Conclusion
Whitetail deer management in Texas started in earnest in the 1970's and has played a major role in increasing the amount of bucks that enter into the Boone & Crockett Club’s record books. As information was passed on to game managers and land owners throughout Texas the number of B & C bucks harvested annually increased and people began to kill trophy bucks in more areas of Texas. This tells us that if you practice some type of whitetail deer management (there are many types) on your property then you will increase your possibility of shooting a trophy buck.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Trophy Doe Update
A couple of days after I photographed Dusty Chapman's trophy doe, he sent me a game cam picture of the same animal taken earlier in the season.
I've got to tell you, Dusty's story is one I know he'll be re-telling for years to come.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Unreal
Yesterday about noon, I got a call from my buddy David Chapman. David lives in the Waco, Texas area and he'd just left the deer woods down in his area when he got a call from his younger brother Dusty.
To give a bit of background story, I grew up with both David and Dusty. David is about five years older than me and was my "big brother" when my real brother and fellow Hunt Junky Bubba joined the Army. Dusty, on the other hand is nine years younger than me but we all attended the same tiny school in Dodd City, Texas where K-12 meets under the same roof.
Anyway, I was back in my hometown for the Christmas holiday when David called me and said that I might want to see the buck. Since I was at my parents house only eight miles away, I called my buddy Garry and Bubba and we all met at Dusty's house in Dodd City.
Dusty shot a nice deer and was telling David the story via cell phone when I arrived. The deer was a nice one by most standards: a moderately tall but wide eight point that would make most anyone proud to take it. When Dusty went to field dress the northeast Texas buck, he found out his buck was really... wait for it...
A doe complete with teats and a vulva.
However, in typical small town fashion, the news traveled and a crowd quickly gathered.
Unreal...
To give a bit of background story, I grew up with both David and Dusty. David is about five years older than me and was my "big brother" when my real brother and fellow Hunt Junky Bubba joined the Army. Dusty, on the other hand is nine years younger than me but we all attended the same tiny school in Dodd City, Texas where K-12 meets under the same roof.
Anyway, I was back in my hometown for the Christmas holiday when David called me and said that I might want to see the buck. Since I was at my parents house only eight miles away, I called my buddy Garry and Bubba and we all met at Dusty's house in Dodd City.
Dusty shot a nice deer and was telling David the story via cell phone when I arrived. The deer was a nice one by most standards: a moderately tall but wide eight point that would make most anyone proud to take it. When Dusty went to field dress the northeast Texas buck, he found out his buck was really... wait for it...
A doe complete with teats and a vulva.
However, in typical small town fashion, the news traveled and a crowd quickly gathered.
Unreal...
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Keeping Tabs on the Lawbreakers Pt. 2
Last weekend I was in a Hilton Hotel north of Fort Worth, Texas. When I picked up the Sunday paper, this story was on the front page. Interesting read:
Deer-smuggling case raises questions on hunting industry
BARRY SHLACHTER Star-Telegram Staff Writer
LAW ENFORCEMENT *Interstate trafficking threatens herds with bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
Two years ago, Brian Becker drove 1,008 miles from Madelia, Minn., to the small East Texas town of Bedias, unaware that federal authorities had him under surveillance after being tipped off that his gooseneck trailer carried contraband -- trophy deer.
His smuggling operation, which reaped $300,000 from a single customer in four years, exposes a dark underside to Texas' $73 million deer-hunting industry, which has provided jobs and other economic benefits to many rural areas of the state.
On Nov. 24, Becker, 38, already on probation for smuggling deer to Oklahoma in 2005, was sentenced by a federal court in Plano to 33 months in prison.
The buyer, Robert L. Eichenour, 51, a wealthy Houston businessman and owner of a posh hunting ranch in Bedias, received an 18-month term and was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. Both had pleaded guilty and did not dispute the charges.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Mike Merida, a Fort Worth-based special agent with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, referring to interstate deer trafficking, which he said threatens herds with bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease, a devastating condition likened to mad-cow disease but spread among deer, elk and moose.
Authorities disclosed that the tip-off came from within the game industry and pinpointed Becker's destination and shipment dates. During interrogations, the Minnesotan also claimed to have been dealing with a hunting ranch in North Texas and an investigation is ongoing, they said, declining to provide further details.
"From my perspective, there's a lot of movement of black-market deer, whether it's wild deer 'laundered' into a high-fence operation or 'put and take' hunting," said Capt. Greg Williford of Texas Parks & Wildlife, who says smuggling is an open secret in the industry. "We're out to try to prove it."
When breeding bucks with the right genetics can fetch as much as $500,000 at auction, "you always have some trying to go around corners," said John Meng, marketing director of the Texas Deer Association.
Eichenour was not a member of the industry association and, therefore, not subject to the group's code of ethics, Meng said.
Others cautioned against exaggerating the scope of wildlife trafficking, noting that the Becker case was only the third in the state in recent years.
"I would think it is extremely rare with all the restrictions and everything we must follow," said Johnny Hudman, game-ranch manager at the Stasney Cook Ranch in Albany.
The latest case
Becker, who was seen napping at truck stops, was to have been arrested crossing the Oklahoma-Texas state line, but authorities missed him, as they did on an earlier run.
He was finally nabbed hours later by Merida and Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel when his pickup and gooseneck trailer fell into a ditch outside Eichenour's 2,000-acre property, a high-fenced hunting ranch called Circle E. Eichenour was arrested when he came out to accept delivery of eight "shooter" bucks, Merida said.
Out-of-state deer, whether wild or bred in captivity, are banned by Texas, which is free of chronic wasting disease.
The restriction helps heighten demand for whitetail deer with large antlers, making it profitable for traffickers like Becker to haul loads 1,000 miles.
Circle E Ranch offers hunters "luxurious" accommodations and an array of game, including exotic species ranging from addax and aoudad to wildebeest and zebra. The ranch Web site, www.circleeranch.com, carries rave endorsements by hunters from as far away as Australia and South Africa. Circle E, appraised by Grimes County at $4.2 million and located between Huntsville and Navasota, charges $250 a day lodging -- a three-day minimum for hunters-- and a fee per animal shot -- $6,500 for a zebra -- including field dressing.
But domestic whitetailed deer was a major draw. Trophy bucks with mountable racks cost hunters $2,500 to $15,000 depending on antler size.
In Texas hunting circles, a whitetail buck with antlers scoring 140 to 149 on the Boone and Crockett scale is a popular size.
Although Texas had 1,007 deer-farming facilities in 2006, more than any other state, demand for that 140-149 trophy buck is high, says Mike Lamb, a West Texas breeder.
Recreational hunters who shot such trophy deer at Circle E were charged $3,500.
Lamb, who operates Lamb Ranch in Cross Plains, doubted whether anyone in Texas could profitably breed, vaccinate and raise a 140-score buck for the hunting market even at that price.
"It would take four years and cost me $3,500 to $4,000," he said.
But Becker was offering Eichenour such trophy bucks delivered for less than $2,000, according to Eichenour's attorney and federal and state investigators.
"This was purely a crime of greed," said Shamoil Shipchandler, an assistant U.S. attorney in Plano who prosecuted the case. "And the risks they took were significant and could have had great impact. Wisconsin already has spent $30 million combating chronic wasting disease in deer."
One-time breeding operation
Eichenour's lawyer, Trent Gaither of Houston, said that much of the $300,000 had been paid as "advances" on deer shipments to help fund Becker's breeding operation in Minnesota, called Becker's Deer Crossing. Merida disputes that assertion, quoting Eichenour as saying all of the money was spent on deer he received at his hunting ranch.
Paul Anderson of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said Becker had a certified deer farm at one time but had not operated it as a breeding facility in years.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in February, but Eichenour failed to convince U.S. District Judge Richard Schell during the trial's sentencing phase that his action didn't pose a significant risk of spreading disease to wildlife and humans. This raised the punishment level under federal guidelines, Shipchandler said.
The only expert witness was called by the prosecution. Brian Richards, who studies elk for the U.S. Geological Survey in Wisconsin, spoke of the costly efforts to contain chronic wasting disease in that state.
Anderson told the Star-Telegram that Minnesota has not found a case of chronic wasting disease in wild deer and the last confirmed diagnosis in a bred deer was five years ago. The eight deer trucked down by Becker in October 2006 and six from an earlier delivery were euthanized. Their remains, sent to Texas A&M University, tested negative for bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease, Merida said.
'Old-school' Texan
Eichenour did not return calls seeking comment, but his attorney said he expressed remorse before sentencing and had made arrangements for the hunting ranch to continue operations after he reports to a minimum-security federal prison in Bastrop on Jan. 9.
His client was used to dramatic shifts in fate, having saved his family's business, Coasting Casting Service, in his early 20s after his "drinking, gambling and philandering" father had "bled the company dry," according to a statement to the court filed by Eichenour.
Coastal, a multimillion-dollar venture that employed nearly 100, rebuilt engines for the oil-service industry.
"Yes, he is an astute businessman but remember this [hunting ranch venture] was not his business, it was a hobby," said the attorney, who described Eichenour as "old school -- a 'your-word-is-your-bond' kind of guy."
When told of Becker's long criminal record, which included horse theft, Eichenour expressed shock, Gaither said.
"He was amazed and said, 'Holy s---.' He had always considered Becker a good, decent guy who talked a good game and claimed to have a full-fledged breeding facility in Minnesota," the attorney recalled.
Efforts to reach Becker were unsuccessful. A woman who answered his telephone and identified herself as a relative declined to comment.
Courtroom comments
During the sentencing phase, Schell asked Eichenour why he brought deer from out of state.
According to his attorney, Eichenour said he never understood why Texas kept its borders closed to deer.
Moreover, he did not believe that chronic wasting disease was a real threat since elk and other species susceptible to the ailment could be transported here.
In a March 14 letter released by his attorney, Eichenour said the deer he bought from out of state were better quality and 10 to 25 percent cheaper than comparable Texas bucks he could buy to stock for his hunting clients.
"Whatever money I saved through my improper actions cannot nearly make up for the embarrassment, lost sleep and anxiety I've felt for the last two years," he wrote. "I have lost the privilege of hunting, which I absolutely love."
Admitting he knew he was breaking Texas regulations, Eichenour said he did not realize he also had violated the Lacey Act, a federal law that he had believed dealt only with endangered species.
"The bottom line is that I allowed myself to be swayed into believing that the closing of the Texas border to whitetail deer was politically motivated by the mega-breeders and not because of any real health threat," he wrote.
Mixed reaction
Bedias Mayor Mackie Bobo said Eichenour was not active in the community. Yet much sympathy has been expressed in Grimes County, where Circle E is located, with some officials saying the punishment was unduly harsh or, at the very least, reflecting misplaced priorities.
"We see murderers and rapists given probation, but bring a whitetail deer to Texas, and you do federal time," Constable Dale Schaper said.
Grimes County Judge Gene Stapleton said the 18-month sentence "totally ruins [Eichenour's] life. If you are going to ruin someone's life, ruin a drug dealer's life."
But Eichenour will not win any popularity contests among the state's deer breeders.
"I am outraged," said Lamb, the West Texas whitetail rancher. "I've spent a lot of money proving my deer are tested and healthy. An outbreak from smuggled deer would totally wipe me out. Nothing is worth the risk, and to have people exposing the wildlife population to make a few thousand is just ridiculous.
"Am I surprised? Actually I am. I would believe someone might move deer from Arkansas, Louisiana or Alabama. But deer brought down from up there have a very poor survival rate. If they were bringing them down to hunt them instantly, how close to 'canned' hunting can you get?"
News researcher Cathy Belcher contributed to this report.
BARRY SHLACHTER, 817-390-7718
(C) The Star-Telegram 2008
Deer-smuggling case raises questions on hunting industry
BARRY SHLACHTER Star-Telegram Staff Writer
LAW ENFORCEMENT *Interstate trafficking threatens herds with bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease.
Two years ago, Brian Becker drove 1,008 miles from Madelia, Minn., to the small East Texas town of Bedias, unaware that federal authorities had him under surveillance after being tipped off that his gooseneck trailer carried contraband -- trophy deer.
His smuggling operation, which reaped $300,000 from a single customer in four years, exposes a dark underside to Texas' $73 million deer-hunting industry, which has provided jobs and other economic benefits to many rural areas of the state.
On Nov. 24, Becker, 38, already on probation for smuggling deer to Oklahoma in 2005, was sentenced by a federal court in Plano to 33 months in prison.
The buyer, Robert L. Eichenour, 51, a wealthy Houston businessman and owner of a posh hunting ranch in Bedias, received an 18-month term and was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. Both had pleaded guilty and did not dispute the charges.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said Mike Merida, a Fort Worth-based special agent with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, referring to interstate deer trafficking, which he said threatens herds with bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease, a devastating condition likened to mad-cow disease but spread among deer, elk and moose.
Authorities disclosed that the tip-off came from within the game industry and pinpointed Becker's destination and shipment dates. During interrogations, the Minnesotan also claimed to have been dealing with a hunting ranch in North Texas and an investigation is ongoing, they said, declining to provide further details.
"From my perspective, there's a lot of movement of black-market deer, whether it's wild deer 'laundered' into a high-fence operation or 'put and take' hunting," said Capt. Greg Williford of Texas Parks & Wildlife, who says smuggling is an open secret in the industry. "We're out to try to prove it."
When breeding bucks with the right genetics can fetch as much as $500,000 at auction, "you always have some trying to go around corners," said John Meng, marketing director of the Texas Deer Association.
Eichenour was not a member of the industry association and, therefore, not subject to the group's code of ethics, Meng said.
Others cautioned against exaggerating the scope of wildlife trafficking, noting that the Becker case was only the third in the state in recent years.
"I would think it is extremely rare with all the restrictions and everything we must follow," said Johnny Hudman, game-ranch manager at the Stasney Cook Ranch in Albany.
The latest case
Becker, who was seen napping at truck stops, was to have been arrested crossing the Oklahoma-Texas state line, but authorities missed him, as they did on an earlier run.
He was finally nabbed hours later by Merida and Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel when his pickup and gooseneck trailer fell into a ditch outside Eichenour's 2,000-acre property, a high-fenced hunting ranch called Circle E. Eichenour was arrested when he came out to accept delivery of eight "shooter" bucks, Merida said.
Out-of-state deer, whether wild or bred in captivity, are banned by Texas, which is free of chronic wasting disease.
The restriction helps heighten demand for whitetail deer with large antlers, making it profitable for traffickers like Becker to haul loads 1,000 miles.
Circle E Ranch offers hunters "luxurious" accommodations and an array of game, including exotic species ranging from addax and aoudad to wildebeest and zebra. The ranch Web site, www.circleeranch.com, carries rave endorsements by hunters from as far away as Australia and South Africa. Circle E, appraised by Grimes County at $4.2 million and located between Huntsville and Navasota, charges $250 a day lodging -- a three-day minimum for hunters-- and a fee per animal shot -- $6,500 for a zebra -- including field dressing.
But domestic whitetailed deer was a major draw. Trophy bucks with mountable racks cost hunters $2,500 to $15,000 depending on antler size.
In Texas hunting circles, a whitetail buck with antlers scoring 140 to 149 on the Boone and Crockett scale is a popular size.
Although Texas had 1,007 deer-farming facilities in 2006, more than any other state, demand for that 140-149 trophy buck is high, says Mike Lamb, a West Texas breeder.
Recreational hunters who shot such trophy deer at Circle E were charged $3,500.
Lamb, who operates Lamb Ranch in Cross Plains, doubted whether anyone in Texas could profitably breed, vaccinate and raise a 140-score buck for the hunting market even at that price.
"It would take four years and cost me $3,500 to $4,000," he said.
But Becker was offering Eichenour such trophy bucks delivered for less than $2,000, according to Eichenour's attorney and federal and state investigators.
"This was purely a crime of greed," said Shamoil Shipchandler, an assistant U.S. attorney in Plano who prosecuted the case. "And the risks they took were significant and could have had great impact. Wisconsin already has spent $30 million combating chronic wasting disease in deer."
One-time breeding operation
Eichenour's lawyer, Trent Gaither of Houston, said that much of the $300,000 had been paid as "advances" on deer shipments to help fund Becker's breeding operation in Minnesota, called Becker's Deer Crossing. Merida disputes that assertion, quoting Eichenour as saying all of the money was spent on deer he received at his hunting ranch.
Paul Anderson of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health said Becker had a certified deer farm at one time but had not operated it as a breeding facility in years.
Both defendants pleaded guilty in February, but Eichenour failed to convince U.S. District Judge Richard Schell during the trial's sentencing phase that his action didn't pose a significant risk of spreading disease to wildlife and humans. This raised the punishment level under federal guidelines, Shipchandler said.
The only expert witness was called by the prosecution. Brian Richards, who studies elk for the U.S. Geological Survey in Wisconsin, spoke of the costly efforts to contain chronic wasting disease in that state.
Anderson told the Star-Telegram that Minnesota has not found a case of chronic wasting disease in wild deer and the last confirmed diagnosis in a bred deer was five years ago. The eight deer trucked down by Becker in October 2006 and six from an earlier delivery were euthanized. Their remains, sent to Texas A&M University, tested negative for bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease, Merida said.
'Old-school' Texan
Eichenour did not return calls seeking comment, but his attorney said he expressed remorse before sentencing and had made arrangements for the hunting ranch to continue operations after he reports to a minimum-security federal prison in Bastrop on Jan. 9.
His client was used to dramatic shifts in fate, having saved his family's business, Coasting Casting Service, in his early 20s after his "drinking, gambling and philandering" father had "bled the company dry," according to a statement to the court filed by Eichenour.
Coastal, a multimillion-dollar venture that employed nearly 100, rebuilt engines for the oil-service industry.
"Yes, he is an astute businessman but remember this [hunting ranch venture] was not his business, it was a hobby," said the attorney, who described Eichenour as "old school -- a 'your-word-is-your-bond' kind of guy."
When told of Becker's long criminal record, which included horse theft, Eichenour expressed shock, Gaither said.
"He was amazed and said, 'Holy s---.' He had always considered Becker a good, decent guy who talked a good game and claimed to have a full-fledged breeding facility in Minnesota," the attorney recalled.
Efforts to reach Becker were unsuccessful. A woman who answered his telephone and identified herself as a relative declined to comment.
Courtroom comments
During the sentencing phase, Schell asked Eichenour why he brought deer from out of state.
According to his attorney, Eichenour said he never understood why Texas kept its borders closed to deer.
Moreover, he did not believe that chronic wasting disease was a real threat since elk and other species susceptible to the ailment could be transported here.
In a March 14 letter released by his attorney, Eichenour said the deer he bought from out of state were better quality and 10 to 25 percent cheaper than comparable Texas bucks he could buy to stock for his hunting clients.
"Whatever money I saved through my improper actions cannot nearly make up for the embarrassment, lost sleep and anxiety I've felt for the last two years," he wrote. "I have lost the privilege of hunting, which I absolutely love."
Admitting he knew he was breaking Texas regulations, Eichenour said he did not realize he also had violated the Lacey Act, a federal law that he had believed dealt only with endangered species.
"The bottom line is that I allowed myself to be swayed into believing that the closing of the Texas border to whitetail deer was politically motivated by the mega-breeders and not because of any real health threat," he wrote.
Mixed reaction
Bedias Mayor Mackie Bobo said Eichenour was not active in the community. Yet much sympathy has been expressed in Grimes County, where Circle E is located, with some officials saying the punishment was unduly harsh or, at the very least, reflecting misplaced priorities.
"We see murderers and rapists given probation, but bring a whitetail deer to Texas, and you do federal time," Constable Dale Schaper said.
Grimes County Judge Gene Stapleton said the 18-month sentence "totally ruins [Eichenour's] life. If you are going to ruin someone's life, ruin a drug dealer's life."
But Eichenour will not win any popularity contests among the state's deer breeders.
"I am outraged," said Lamb, the West Texas whitetail rancher. "I've spent a lot of money proving my deer are tested and healthy. An outbreak from smuggled deer would totally wipe me out. Nothing is worth the risk, and to have people exposing the wildlife population to make a few thousand is just ridiculous.
"Am I surprised? Actually I am. I would believe someone might move deer from Arkansas, Louisiana or Alabama. But deer brought down from up there have a very poor survival rate. If they were bringing them down to hunt them instantly, how close to 'canned' hunting can you get?"
News researcher Cathy Belcher contributed to this report.
BARRY SHLACHTER, 817-390-7718
(C) The Star-Telegram 2008
Keeping Tabs on the Lawbreakers Pt. 1
Here's a news release from this week's Texas Parks & Wildlife Department:
Game Wardens Arrest Men for Illegal Deer Trapping, Sale
AUSTIN, Texas — Game wardens in the Special Operations Unit of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Law Enforcement Division have arrested six men and executed two search warrants as part of Operation Texas Shuffle, a year-long investigation into the black market deer trade in Texas.
"Our focus here is stopping two main areas of criminal activity: deer being brought illegally across state lines, and wild deer being illegally laundered into deer breeding facilities," said Col. Pete Flores, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement director.
Five of the men were arrested yesterday, including William Kornegay, 42, of Eden in Concho County; James Johnson, 60, of Florence in Williamson County; and Jeff Arbogust, 48, of Austin in Travis County, Chris Sharp, 33, of Marble Falls in Burnet County; and Ronald Rogers, 39, of San Saba in San Saba County. The sixth suspect, Lance Clawson, 40, of Regency in Mills County, turned himself in this morning.
All six are alleged to have trapped, purchased or sold wild native whitetail deer. In addition, Rogers, Clawson and Kornegay are involved with permitted deer breeding facilities and are believed to have laundered wild deer into the permitted facilities. Kornegay serves as an agent for multiple licensed deer breeders. In one case, Clawson, a permitted deer breeding facility operator, allegedly darted wild deer and put them illegally into his facility.
Deer breeding is a legal and growing business in Texas, estimated by one breeder organization to be worth about $650 million per year for the state economy. It is illegal to capture or obtain wild deer and place them into breeding facilities. Breeders must obtain captive, pen-raised deer from other permitted breeders. There are currently 1,099 permitted deer breeders in Texas, holding 86,989 deer in 1,161 facilities. The vast majority of these are whitetail deer, and the rest are mule deer, the two native species in Texas.
"Money is driving the illegal trade in wild native deer," said Capt. Greg Williford with TPWD Law Enforcement Division’s Special Operations Unit. "A captive-raised breeder buck can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. So, catching deer in the wild seems a lot less expensive, until you get caught."
TPWD regulates deer breeding, issuing permits and conducting periodic facility inspections as warranted. A particular concern is monitoring breeding facilities for diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease. CWD has not been detected in Texas, but it has cost tens of millions of dollars in other states. Texas borders essentially remain closed to the importation of whitetail and mule deer because of disease concerns.
Clawson and Rogers were previously apprehended Oct. 16 by Texas game wardens and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents for smuggling eight deer into Texas from Oklahoma. Such interstate smuggling is not only illegal but also poses a disease threat to native whitetail deer.
Numerous Class B misdemeanors (fines up to $2,000 and up to 180 days confinement) have been filed on all six men for violating state Trap, Transport, and Transplant regulations relating to whitetail deer. As the investigation continues, additional charges and arrests are anticipated, including possible felony charges of tampering with a government document, and possible illegal possession of tranquilizer drugs, also a felony.
Based on where the alleged offenses occurred, county attorneys in Mills, Bell, Lampasas and Concho Counties will be prosecuting the misdemeanor charges.
Anyone who observes illegal deer trapping, sale or purchase in Texas should call Operation Game Thief toll-free at (800) 792-GAME. OGT is Texas’ privately funded wildlife crime stoppers hotline, operating 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Rewards of up to $1,000 may be paid to callers (who may remain anonymous). Game wardens recommend making the call immediately when illegal activity is observed, and say it is helpful to have a description of the activity, location of the violation, physical descriptions of alleged violators, description of any vehicles and the direction of travel.
Game Wardens Arrest Men for Illegal Deer Trapping, Sale
AUSTIN, Texas — Game wardens in the Special Operations Unit of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Law Enforcement Division have arrested six men and executed two search warrants as part of Operation Texas Shuffle, a year-long investigation into the black market deer trade in Texas.
"Our focus here is stopping two main areas of criminal activity: deer being brought illegally across state lines, and wild deer being illegally laundered into deer breeding facilities," said Col. Pete Flores, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement director.
Five of the men were arrested yesterday, including William Kornegay, 42, of Eden in Concho County; James Johnson, 60, of Florence in Williamson County; and Jeff Arbogust, 48, of Austin in Travis County, Chris Sharp, 33, of Marble Falls in Burnet County; and Ronald Rogers, 39, of San Saba in San Saba County. The sixth suspect, Lance Clawson, 40, of Regency in Mills County, turned himself in this morning.
All six are alleged to have trapped, purchased or sold wild native whitetail deer. In addition, Rogers, Clawson and Kornegay are involved with permitted deer breeding facilities and are believed to have laundered wild deer into the permitted facilities. Kornegay serves as an agent for multiple licensed deer breeders. In one case, Clawson, a permitted deer breeding facility operator, allegedly darted wild deer and put them illegally into his facility.
Deer breeding is a legal and growing business in Texas, estimated by one breeder organization to be worth about $650 million per year for the state economy. It is illegal to capture or obtain wild deer and place them into breeding facilities. Breeders must obtain captive, pen-raised deer from other permitted breeders. There are currently 1,099 permitted deer breeders in Texas, holding 86,989 deer in 1,161 facilities. The vast majority of these are whitetail deer, and the rest are mule deer, the two native species in Texas.
"Money is driving the illegal trade in wild native deer," said Capt. Greg Williford with TPWD Law Enforcement Division’s Special Operations Unit. "A captive-raised breeder buck can sell for tens of thousands of dollars. So, catching deer in the wild seems a lot less expensive, until you get caught."
TPWD regulates deer breeding, issuing permits and conducting periodic facility inspections as warranted. A particular concern is monitoring breeding facilities for diseases such as Chronic Wasting Disease. CWD has not been detected in Texas, but it has cost tens of millions of dollars in other states. Texas borders essentially remain closed to the importation of whitetail and mule deer because of disease concerns.
Clawson and Rogers were previously apprehended Oct. 16 by Texas game wardens and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents for smuggling eight deer into Texas from Oklahoma. Such interstate smuggling is not only illegal but also poses a disease threat to native whitetail deer.
Numerous Class B misdemeanors (fines up to $2,000 and up to 180 days confinement) have been filed on all six men for violating state Trap, Transport, and Transplant regulations relating to whitetail deer. As the investigation continues, additional charges and arrests are anticipated, including possible felony charges of tampering with a government document, and possible illegal possession of tranquilizer drugs, also a felony.
Based on where the alleged offenses occurred, county attorneys in Mills, Bell, Lampasas and Concho Counties will be prosecuting the misdemeanor charges.
Anyone who observes illegal deer trapping, sale or purchase in Texas should call Operation Game Thief toll-free at (800) 792-GAME. OGT is Texas’ privately funded wildlife crime stoppers hotline, operating 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Rewards of up to $1,000 may be paid to callers (who may remain anonymous). Game wardens recommend making the call immediately when illegal activity is observed, and say it is helpful to have a description of the activity, location of the violation, physical descriptions of alleged violators, description of any vehicles and the direction of travel.
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