Coleman County Hunting and Outdoors 2021

VOLUM E 5

Coleman County Hunting AND

Outdoors

The Heartbeat of Coleman

ColemanT T DAY

2021

FISHING - DEER - DOVE QUAIL - TURKEY

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11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Bill Franklin Center Coleman Rodeo Grounds All-You-Can-Eat Catfish & All the Trimmings

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Look for our annual ATV Raffle at Shoppin' Baskit (Tickets Available August through November 5th.)

Tickets can be purchased at Shoppin' Baskit AND at the Deer Festival.

The ATV will be parked there for you to see during the hunting season.

The hunting industry has a huge economic impact in Coleman County.

THANK YOU for choosing to hunt in Coleman County!!

We Appreciate you !!

Coleman County Hunter Appreciation Events Committee

n a m e l ty Co n d u o n a C g n ti ors n Hu tdo Ou TABLE OF CONTENTS p. 6 - Welcome to Coleman County p. 9 - “Toyota ShareLunker Program" - TP&WD

p. 14 - “Predator Management for Wildlife" Mike Bodenchuk p. 16 - "Dangerous Cold Decimates Deer Population" - Joshua Sears p. 21 - “Lake O.H. Ivie - One of the Hottest Bass Lakes in the Nation" - Big O p. 27 - "2021-22 Hunting Forecast" - Matt Williams, Outdoors Writer p. 30 - Game Warden’s Annual Report Lee Morrison

p. 33 - “The Real Deal in Coleman County" - Big O p. 36 - "2021 Dove Season Preview" - Matt Williams, Outdoors Writer p. 43 - "Operation Game Thief" p. 49 - Donate to "Hunters for the Hungry" p. 49 - Buy Your Hunting and Fishing Licenses p. 50 - Annual Youth Hunt Big Success!

Coleman Today Photo

p. 52 - Thank you to Our Advertisers 5

Welcome to Coleman County!

6

Welcome to Volume 5 of Coleman County Hunting and Outdoors Magazine. Since our last volume was issued in September 2020, plenty has transpired. From an outdoor standpoint, easily the biggest story in Coleman County has been the world-class bass fishing at O.H. Ivie Reservoir. Starting just one week after a crippling winter ice storm and associated sub-zero temperatures in mid February, the lunker bass in Ivie went on a frenzy like nothing we've ever seen. 16.40, 13.20, 13.40, 12.40,14.20, 15.40, 13.65 and 14.40 pound bass were being caught seemingly on a daily basis. There were numerous "small" 8 to 11 pounders caught well into the Spring.

Heck, Jimmy Houston even showed up to try his luck on Ivie and had lunch with our buddy Big O in Valera! Not to be left out, Lake Coleman produced a 14.83 Legacy bass on March 14. Plentiful rain in the Spring was followed by a wet and cooler than normal late June through mid July. Now we're ready for Fall and some great hunting in Coleman County. We have a magazine full of helpful information and stories and great businesses to visit in Coleman County and surrounding area. We hope you enjoy it!

CHARLES CHESSHIR — Broker/Owner (325) 642-1999 • ANNISA TUCKER, Agent — (325) 214-1846 MARSHA SPINKS, Agent — (817) 964-0986 • GAYLENE GARRISON, Agent — (325) 220-0876 TED TAYLOR, Agent — (325) 214-0543 • JERRY BODINE, Agent — (325) 214-1924 • RICK EUDY, Agent — (817) 991-5014

61.75 +/- Acres in Mills County Scenic property on the Colorado River. Paved Hwy frontage. Generous amount of wildlife. $725,000

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Cozy home. 79 +/- acres cultivation. $825,600

660 +/- Acres in Coleman County A legacy ranch w/ rugged topography, Soil Conservation Lake, superb hunting, 3BR-2BA Hm $1,900,000

66.02 +/- Acres in Coleman County Beautiful property w/ pond. Two tanks. Excellent homesite. Access to city water & electric. $198,060

272.14 +/- Acres in Coleman County Lush native grasses w/ good cover for combination hunting/grazing, excellent access. $612,315

1,089 +/- Acres in Coleman County Secluded get-away w/ exceptional hunting, rustic cabins, covered pavilion & water well. $2,341,350

110.506 Acres in Coleman County Acreage with beautiful Austin stone hm + cabin, abundant game, seasonal creek draw. $824,000

485 +/- Acres in Coleman County Immaculate home, manicured grounds, vineyard, productive farmland & abundant wildlife.

5000 +/- Acres in Coleman County Superb grazing & wildlife management. 14 +/- ac. conservation lake, plus 11 tanks. $17,5000,000

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July 28, 2021 - TPWD News Release

Toyota ShareLunker Program Produces Hundreds of Thousands of Big Bass Offspring in 2021

ATHENS – The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Toyota ShareLunker Program is experiencing a banner year in its goal to create, bigger, better bass in Texas. After obtaining 18 successful spawns from 19 of the 23 13-pound or larger Legacy Class fish loaned to the selective-breeding program in 2021, the department’s hatchery staff produced 271,872 fingerlings to benefit Texas public waters.

“We are thrilled with the number of ShareLunker offspring produced this year, and we couldn’t have done it without the anglers who generously loaned us their 13 pound and larger bass for our selective-breeding program,” said Kyle Brookshear, Toyota ShareLunker Program Manager. “This generosity doesn’t just increase the lunker potential of the lakes where those fish were caught, it also helps us in our effort to convert our entire hatchery

broodstock to ShareLunker offspring, which will benefit every lake in Texas for future generations of anglers.”

Of the 23 Legacy class ShareLunkers in the 2021 season, 21 were brought to TPWD hatcheries, 19 were available for spawning, and combined they spawned a total of 18 times with the male offspring of previously spawned ShareLunkers. TPWD returned 20 of the 23 donated fish to the lakes where they were caught, one is being retained at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center for display and two unfortunately perished. However, due to the outstanding work by TPWD Inland Fisheries staff, the survival rate of this year’s ShareLunker class was 91 percent.

The 10 reservoirs that produced Legacy Class ShareLunkers entries (O.H. Ivie, Sam Rayburn,

Conroe, Austin, Travis, Palestine, Coleman City, Fork, Eagle Mountain, and Lake Tyler) this season all received stocking of ShareLunker fingerlings. A total of 271,872 fingerlings were stocked across these lakes with each one receiving more than 10,000 superior fingerlings.

However, lakes that contributed multiple Legacy ShareLunkers received additional fingerlings. Lake Fork and Sam Rayburn received more than 20,000 fingerlings each and O.H. Ivie, which produced 12 Legacy class fish, received over 70,000 fingerlings.

In addition, 12,854 advanced-sized ShareLunker offspring (excess future broodfish from previous Legacy Class Spawns) and 79,482 fingerlings were stocked in 2021 in Bois D’arc Lake to support development of the fisheries resource in this new reservoir.

Key highlights from the 2021 Toyota ShareLunker collection season include:

• 23 ShareLunkers this season, the most during January through March since 1995 (27) • 10 different water bodies produced ShareLunkers in 2021 • Five entries were new lake (Cont p. 10) 9

(Cont. from p. 9) records. (Eagle Mountain, Lake Tyler, Coleman City Lake, Lake Travis, O.H. Ivie) • The O.H. Ivie waterbody record was 16.40 pounds and is the 16th largest largemouth bass ever verified in Texas (private or public) • The Travis record was standing for nearly 30 years and was broken with the 15+ pound catch by 15-yearold angler Trace Jansen • Four entries were from new waterbodies for the Legacy program (Eagle Mountain, Lake Tyler, Coleman City Lake, Lake Travis) • For the second season in a row, an angler submitted two entries (this season from O.H. Ivie, last season from Alan Henry) • Surpassed the 600th Legacy Class (13+pounds collected for spawning) ShareLunker entered into the program, reaching #608 since the program began in 1986.

• Twice two ShareLunkers were submitted in the same day and twice more three ShareLunkers were submitted in the same day, including when the program surpassed the ShareLunker 600 mark.

• Five entries were greater than 15-pounds.

In addition, TPWD biologists through genetic analysis of this year’s Legacy Lunkers, have made some discoveries in terms of lineage to previous and other 2021 ShareLunkers. ShareLunker’s 587 and 600 from O.H. Ivie are related to each other while ShareLunker 602 from Coleman City is likely the granddaughter of ShareLunker 410 which was caught at Lake Conroe during the 2006 season. Biologists were able to identify that at least two fish this season, the Lake Travis ShareLunker 597, and ShareLunker 608 from Lake Fork, are fish from the pure Florida Largemouth Bass program that were spawned in and stocked out of the TPWD hatcheries.

“Much like last season, when ShareLunker 583 was determined to be a 6th generation offspring, it’s always great to see the genetic analysis reaffirm the efforts,” said Tom Lang, Director of the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center. “On the other hand, when ShareLunkers aren’t related to previous ShareLunkers it is also valuable because those fish add more big bass genetic diversity to the effort. You really can’t go wrong participating in the ShareLunker program.”

Anglers who caught and donated one of these 13+ lunkers earn Legacy Class status, received (Cont. p. 12)

Owner Hayden J. Wise 108 West Live Oak Street Coleman, Texas 76834 325-625-4628 PH 325-625-4417 FAX

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Future Wise hunting guides!

www.centenniallodge.com darlawise@yahoo.com The Wise Family has been hunting in Coleman County for 6 generations. Hank Wise and family have earned their reputation over the years for providing dove-hunting opportunities second to none. Hank has guided and managed dove hunts since his graduation from Texas Tech University in 1978.

Hundreds of lucky hunters will experience the best Texas has to offer in terms of carefully selected hunting sites throughout the county. Hank and his guide staff spend untold time making sure they place their hunters where the highest concentrations of dove are located.

11

312 S. Commercial

Where Friends Meet

98th Year (Cont. from p. 10) a catch kit filled with merchandise, a

Elite (344), Legend (13), and Legacy (38) categories.

Once a lunker is reeled in, anglers need to enter the catch data on the Toyota ShareLunker mobile app – available for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play – or on the Toyota ShareLunker online app at TexasSharelunker.com. In addition to providing basic catch information, anglers can also provide a DNA scale sample from their lunker bass to TPWD researchers for genetic analysis.

The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of Toyota.

Toyota is a longtime supporter of Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of fisheries, state parks and wildlife projects.

Prize donors Bass Pro Shops, Lake Fork Taxidermy, American Fishing Tackle Co. and Stanley Jigs also provide additional support for this program. For updates on the Toyota ShareLunker Program, visit facebook. com/sharelunkerprogram/ or TexasSharelunker.com To view or download photos of all the “Legacy Class” ShareLunkers caught during the 2021 season, visit the TPWD (Texas Parks & Wildlife Department) Flickr album.

13lb+ Legacy decal for their vehicle or boat, VIP access to the Toyota ShareLunker Annual Awards event and a high-quality replica of their lunker fish provided by Lake Fork Taxidermy. These anglers also received entries into two separate drawings; a Legacy Class Drawing and the year-end Grand Prize Drawing. Both drawings will award the winner a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and an annual fishing license.

Although the “Legacy Class” donation season has ended, anglers who enter data for any lunker they catch greater than 8 lbs. or 24 inches during the calendar year 2021 also receive a catch kit, a decal for their vehicle or boat and an entry into the year-end Grand Prize Drawing to win a $5,000 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree and annual fishing license. ShareLunker entry classes include the Lunker Class (8lb+), Elite Class (10lb+), and Legend Class (13lb+).

As of July, 289 of these fish have been entered from 72 lakes across the state. Since the program expanded in 2018 to include the Lunker (8+), Elite (10+), Legend (13+ outside of collection season), and Legacy 13+ (during collection season) classes, a total of 1,441 fish have been approved for inclusion in the program’s Lunker (1046), (SEE PHOTOS ABOVE RIGHT)

The Triple Crown of Shareunkers marked an historic day, March 14, 2021, in program history as numbers 600, 601, and 602 were submitted from Coleman County!

The milestone 600th ShareLunker was landed at O.H.Ivie by Jason Gaston (below) of San Angelo and weighed in at 13.76lbs.

TOYOTA SHARELUNKER MOBILE APP ShareLunker #601 was Jim Smith (above) of Weatherford who landed his 14.42-pounder at O.H.Ivie.

The historic day was capped at Lake Coleman when C.R. Stevenson III (right) of Clyde set a new lake record with SL#602, a 14.83-pound beauty.

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Predator Management for Wildlife No wildlife management topic creates so much controversy than predator management. As biologists, we’re taught that, like real estate, there are only three things that matter- habitat, habitat, habitat. And since habitat is defined as food, cover, water and space, all we need to do is create habitat and they will come.

The problem may be that we’ve also created habitat for predators, and predator habitat includes foodthe wildlife we’re trying to manage for. In almost all cases, the presence of predators and the act of predation will not drive wildlife populations to extinction, even on a local scale.

At some point, predation becomes “density dependent” and the act of finding a specific prey animal is too energy intensive to be productive.

However, in many cases, predation can and does keep prey populations below the objective we humans have envisioned for our landscape.

While this can occur for every

14

by MIKE BODENCHUK

species of wildlife, the animals we’re most concerned about are the game animals we hunt.

After a lifetime of study, I’ve learned that there are 2 impacts of predation. The primary impact is the actual removal of the prey animal through predation. When a falcon kills a quail, a coyote eats a deer fawn or a raccoon flushes a turkey hen off her nest and eats her eggs, these are primary predation impacts.

But there is a secondary impact which has been understudied and is as important as the primary act.

In the examples above, while one quail, one deer fawn and one turkey nest were removed, the surviving animals change their behavior to avoid predation. The covey of quail may avoid the area where the falcon struck. The doe deer will avoid the habitat where the fawn was discovered and killed. And the turkey hen will select another patch of habitat to re-nest (if she can). In each case, the selection of

habitat to avoid predation results in less access to resources. If those resources are critical to survival, the animals’ overall fitness can decline to the point that it’s less successful.

There are a number of factors that affect predation rates: another biologist and I published a book chapter on the topic and we identified 13 different factors.

Some of them relate to the habitat, some relate to the status of the predator and some relate to the status of the prey species. But a few are very important and need to be considered by the landowner who may be thinking about predator control.

Perhaps the most important is the relationship between the prey species and its carrying capacity.

If your deer herd is at carrying capacity and you’re feeding them year-round just to keep them alive, you don’t have a predator problem.

Killing coyotes to save deer fawns at this point will not (Cont. p 19)

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Dangerous Cold Decimates Deer Population The 2021 deep-freeze, dubbed the "Snowpocalypse" by many, while others labeled it as "Snowmaggedon" or "Snowzilla" was anything but normal which was fitting as Texas was just coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic hibernation of 2020.

It was the week of never-ending freezing weather in February.

Below zero air temperatures were ubiquitous throughout the state and places like Dallas even recorded a -2° officially. Most areas in west-central Texas were below freezing for 9 straight days. Coleman County recorded a cold temperature of 0°. High temperatures in the teens were common for several days. Wind chill temperatures of -10° or colder were common. This complicated a vast majority of everyday life for animals throughout the region. Habitat seemingly changed overnight. Water, food and shelter was challenging to find. It was survival of the fittest and only the fittest would endure.

16

by Joshua Sears Certified Wildlife Biologist

Domestically it was calving season for most ranches and calves were in danger of freezing to the ground. On a personal note, I stepped in to help my neighbor who owns 80 head of angus cattle. He slipped on the ice in the pump house and broke his ankle on the first day (the blackice day). His wife and I were able to find a fresh heifer calf on day 4 with the placenta frozen around it. Her mother did not know how to remedy the dire situation. We wrangled the 30 pound calf back to the washroom at the house, warmed the blankets, named it Elsa and started the B-12 and colostrum. Back on the farm with her mother, she's still with us and very grateful.

Sheep were hit very hard as well. Goats tend to be more hardy and did pretty well through the event. Free-range ungulates suffered loss, the hardest hit being the exotic species of axis deer and blackbuck antelope.

Axis deer (Axis axis)

Sears Photo above - Exotic species of nubian exotic staring at Ashe juniper with snow. well into the thousands in axis deer loss (also known as Chital).

The frozen water sources coupled with their nervous nature proved deadly for them. Many were found frozen near the water they frequented. Axis deer originate from an area near the equator on the Indian subcontinent where seasonal change does not occur. This enables this species to breed at different times throughout the year. As a secretive yet prolific species, axis are projected to make a comeback. It will take some time though.

The economic impact in Texas has been affected greatly due to the cold. An estimated 600 million dollars of loss to wildlife and livestock was last reported by the USDA in March.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Did the white-tailed deer The last numbers reported were survive? Everyone is asking and

it's a great question. The simple answer is yes. Some indications show that birthing rates this summer may be slightly affected but overall this species did just fine through the deep freeze. Let me tell you why. Like an onion there's a few layers so let's start peeling.

First, this species is extremely plastic. No, not like a divine swim bait you cast on O.H. Ivie for a 14 pound trophy largemouth but plastic as in adaptable.

They can adapt to live in many climate environments and also adapt quickly to sudden change.

Just a century ago there was an estimated 1 million and today there is over 30 times that.

White-tailed deer are found

thriving all the way up into the cold mountains of Canada. They can tolerate temps to -30° due to a dense undercoat with dark guard hairs that absorb light.

These hairs are hollow and trap air providing excellent winter coat insulation. Next, during these harsh events they also slow down their metabolism.

This requires less food intake and conserves energy. An advanced 4-chambered stomach (technically 4 enlargements of the esophagus) allows them to regurgitate food and suffice hunger.

Deer are much more interested in shelter from the elements during the cold. Heavy cover such as cedar breaks and dense

BLACK CUR STEAK

underbrush aid in the protection from the cold. Suttle changes in the topography aid in protection as well. To locate (Cont. p.34)

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(Cont from p. 14) increase the deer herd, as some other form of mortality will take over.

Another important consideration is whether or not the predator you’re concerned with is territorial. Coyotes and bobcats, for example, are highly territorial and you cannot squeeze too many on the landscape. If you remove a coyote pair, another pair will take their place in relatively short time. If you remove them at the right time, however, there will not be a litter of coyote pups born in the territory and fawn predation, for that year, will be greatly reduced.

Raccoons and skunks, on the other hand, are not territorial and you can fit as many on the ranch as you have feed. Typically, we artificially increase the food for these species through artificial water sources (stock tanks are an artificial source and have greatly increased what was the original distribution and numbers of both species), supplemental feed (deer corn) and denning sites (old barns and homesteads). Because humans have modified the habitat for these species, predation management may need to be intense: you may need to remove 60%-plus to see any benefit for either primary or secondary predation impacts.

This brings us to the third most-important consideration: timing of predation management. For both territorial and non-territorial species, timing control is essential to see any benefits. While shooting a coyote from the deer stand in November may make you feel better, that coyote will be replaced by January and a litter of pups will be born on the territory in April.

In general, timing control as close to the critical season (fawning season, nesting season) as possible would be ideal. However there are some practical considerations worth examining. While deer fawns appear in June, by that time of the year coyote pups are already born and their parents spend all their time trying to feed them.

Looking to start control in May will be difficult, as the adults are ranging far and wide. Similarly, turkey and quail nesting is initiated in April and May, but female raccoons are closely tied to den trees at that time of the year and are harder to locate.

For Coleman County landowners considering predation management for wildlife, the following prescription offers the best combination of timing to benefit prey: For the protection of deer fawns, coyotes (Cont. p. 20)

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(Cont from p. 19) and bobcats should be removed in

January, February and March. Coyote pair establishment begins in January and breeding peaks about the middle of February (Easy to remember- that’s Valentine’s Day).

Bobcats breed in January and early February and move about the most during this time. To be most effective, females need to be removed after the territory is established but before females have their pups or kittens.

Coyotes pair up and both parents care for the pups, so you need to keep track of the females removed. Bobcats only pair up during the actual mating, so females have their own territory and males overlap several females.

Keep the effort going until the adult, territorial females are removed in critical areas (places where you’ve seen fawns in the past). Aerial gunning is the most selective

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way to target these species, but a good trapper can do just as good, as the animals are patrolling the territory and investigating interlopers. If you’re trapping this time of year, use gland lure and urine to target territorial animals.

For the removal of nest predators, target your efforts during the breeding season. Both raccoons and skunks will hole up during cold temperatures. The first nights above 45-degrees F in February or early March will have these animals moving and looking for mates. Target areas where they may concentrate, such as draws, stock tanks and around feeders. The dog-proof traps are a marvelous device to target raccoons. You can set 4-6 traps along the trails leading to a feeder and not worry about catching anything other than a raccoon or occasional opossum.

Using a spotlight and night shooting is 100% target specific and is also effective. Remember, though, that you need to be aggressive in removal of these predators through this time of year. The first one or two nights of spotlighting may be fun, but you need to keep it up until you can no longer find any predators. I promise, you’ll get weary if you do this right.

The only exception I can think of for targeted predator removal would be for feral hogs and feral cats. Both species are invasive, both species have high reproductive capacity and both can be highly effective predators year-round. My recommendation is to remove both of these species whenever you can and keep the pressure on them.

Effective predator management isn’t easy and it often takes a couple of years before you notice the results. Landowners are the only ones who can decide if predator management is worthwhile.

Hunters, whether they are the landowners family or lease holders with a commitment to proper management need to understand the biology and timing of predators to be effective. Conducting proper management is essential to reaching the goals you have for your land.

- Lake O.H. Ivie One of the Hottest Bass Lakes in the Nation

By Lynn “BIG O” Owens Stars lined up in all the right places in early 2021 for Lake Ivie. Right after one of the hardest deep freezes in Texas history, the lake busted loose with a big bass bonanza, never seen around these parts.

Along with stocking program from Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept and maintaining a somewhat solid lake level proved to create the perfect storm.

Joe McKay of Bussey, Iowa reported a new lake record largemouth bass weighing 16.40 lbs.

Then came along Josh Jones Fishing of Oklahoma,

unlocking a new way of fishing for big bass in the wintertime. Never done before, that I know of any way, around here - using the newest state of the art electronic LiveScope and Alabama Rigs.

If you a get chance, check him out on Youtube on Fishing Ivie. He busted some huge bass on deep water ledges, in 43-degree water temps. Fishing along with his buddies at 6th Sense Fishing, they slayed the bass in serious frigid weather and high winds.

That was the beginning of the party. Recently I talked to our local TP&W crew verifying my count of 13 bass over 13 lbs. this spring. Checking the Texas Sharelunker website, it shows 12 Lunker Legacy Class and 1 Elite Lunker Class entries into the program. It's unheard of getting bass over 10 pounds. They even culled 13 pounders at one point not accepting them in Athens because of so many. Had to be a 14 pound or larger to make the trip. On a side note the early (Cont. p.22) 21

(Cont. from p. 21) winter bass fishing has never been better than before the freeze.

As word spread on social media and other outlets, anglers from came from all over the United States to the lake. Local marinas and motels were slammed overnight, it was rumored to have been a 2-hour launch time one Saturday morning. Even legendary Jimmy Houston Outdoors crashed the bass frenzy, filming a couple of shows. He stopped by for dinner late one evening at Big O’s. Jimmy went on to say “Big O, all fishermen have different skill levels. Josh’s just so happens to be electronics and is probably best in the world”.

It was amusing to hear from out of state fisherman, how the lake level was so bad. Heck fire to us locals, it is full. After being over 40 feet low for so long, it is a brand new lake to us. I tried to explain it, but they just didn’t comprehend it.

Along with the notoriety, brings new bass tournaments and lots of business to the area. Between local bass clubs and open tournaments, Ivie is a happening place.

Many open tournaments were fundraisers this summer for good causes. In October, Bass Champs Team Championship will be at Lake Ivie with about 300 two-

man teams.

There is also an increased the number of fishing guides available. Here’s a list of active guides provided by both Concho Park Marina (325-357-4776) and Elm Creek R. V. and Campgrounds (325-357-4466). Sportsman Lodge & Café (325-357-4996) provides motel rooms and meals.

Note - if I failed to list a guide please stop by and let me know!

LAKE O.H. IVIE Fishing Guides

Brian Morris Chase Brooks Hamel Bow Fishing Jeff Walker Lowe's Guide Service PMA Guide Services Scooter's Guide Service Texas Bass Tours Wendell Ramset Sr. 4 Reel Fun Kenneth Watts

Well, with all this talk about bass fishing, let us not forget Ivie also provides excellent other types of fishing.

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2021-22 Hunting Forecast

by Matt Williams, Outdoors Writer

Deer season is a huge deal in Texas. With a whitetail population totaling around 5.4 million animals, it is safe to say every season around here is a good one.

But some years are certainly better than others, particularly for those who gauge their deer hunting experiences by the number of deer they see, the quality of racks on bucks, or the amount venison they have stash in the freezer by the end of the season.

Roughly 800,000 men, women and youngsters will be in the field bright and early on November 6 — opening day of the 2021-22 general season for white-tailed deer across Texas. Archery only season gets underway on Oct. 2.

What's in store for Texas deer hunters this fall? To find out, I queried wildlife biologists from several regions asked them to share their thoughts about the upcoming deer season, along with prospects for waterfowl, dove, quail, turkeys and other critters. Here is what they had to say:

patterns. There were no reported or observed major die offs in any of our wildlife species. Likewise, abundant spring and early summer rains should have put our habitat in great condition for many months to come.

If everything goes as planned, Neches River basin is scheduled to receive another super stocking of turkeys this winter. This should bolster a growing population of turkeys in East Texas.

White Tailed Deer

Squirrel hunting is an excellent way to bring a new or young hunter into the sport.

It helps develop skills like woodsmanship, patience and reading sign that are all directly transferable to other types of big game hunting. The best thing is that it is immensely challenging and fun.

Squirrels tend to have boom or bust population dynamics that is mostly dictated by mast crops. Last year’s most crop was average but spotty. With the abundant rains we have had both last year and this year, we should have a good mast crop to support a good population of squirrels to chase this (Cont. p. 31) winter.

Pineywoods

Dove hunting in East Texas can be good on any given day, but spotty at best. A mild year with good rainfall should have habitat in optimal condition to attract a few birds.

Good areas to target are recent cutovers with abundant goat weed near a water source or cultivated grain fields.

Rusty Wood, Wildlife Biologist rusty.wood@tpwd.texas.gov If you don’t like the weather in Texas, just wait a minute.

That statement has never been more true than this year. What started out as a mild and dry winter rapidly turned into all-time low temperatures, snow ice storms and power outages for the record books.

This spring was no different. Here in the Pineywoods we had several of the wettest months in recent memory. Some areas received close to 20 inches in May alone.

The good news is our wildlife populations seem to have come through relatively unscathed despite the crazy weather

White-tailed deer are the most widely pursued game animal in Texas. We have just passed the 15-year mark for antler restrictions in the Pineywoods. This set of regulations is aimed at producing a more balanced deer herd by maintaining older deer in the population, and many hunters have seized the opportunity to harvest quality bucks.

As earlier mentioned, abundant rains produced good habitat that translated to great forage and cover for fawning and antler development. We should see another good year of hunting with many quality animals produced.

Squirrels

Doves

Turkey The overall turkey harvest was up slightly for the Pineywoods in 2021 and the areas that have turkeys remain relatively stable.

Areas northeast and southeast Texas that have traditionally held good populations of turkeys continue to do so, and several of the “super stocked” turkey populations continue to do well.

Eastern Texas is home to two species of squirrels, fox squirrels (pictured here) and grey squirrels, better known as cat squirrels. Both are cyclic with spikes in populations frequently occurring during years following bumper acorn crops.

(Photo by Matt Williams) 27

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Morrison's Annual Report The 2021 hunting season is gearing up to be one of the better years we have had in a while. With my work on our area lakes starting to slow down and nearing opening day of dove season I’m starting to see more and more dove in the sunflower fields. After talking with several local outfitters many feel that this dove season will be a good one.

This past spring and summer though on Lake Ivie was one for the Record books no doubt. With 41 sharelunkers entered, 13 of those being over 13lbs it was ranked as one of the best fishing lakes in the nation. It brought people from all over to fish in Coleman county to try and catch that big bass. There were many days were there were

by Lee Morrison Coleman County Game Warden easily over 200 plus boats at the lake. I have never seen the lake that busy and hope it stays that way next spring. Lake OH Ivie will also host this years Bass Champs in early October which will bring several hundred fisherman to the lake all trying to win big checks.

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Post Oak Savannah

Roger Wolfe, District Leader roger.wolfe@tpwd.texas.gov The northern and eastern portions of the Post Oak received abundant through the winter and into late spring 2021. Habitat conditions should be good to excellent in the northern and eastern portions of the district with good conditions in most of the remaining areas. Of course, conditions may vary locally depending on rains that fell throughout the summer.

White-tailed Deer The overall health of the Post Oak deer herd continues to be strong, if not excessive in some areas. Fawn recruitment over the last several years has been consistent. This year’s class may be impacted by heavy rain in floods witnessed in spring and early summer.

Otherwise, there should be good habitat for another successful fawn crop.

Although better than in the past, the buck age structure is still relatively low. Hunters should have the best opportunity to harvest bucks with large antlers in areas where they have been successful at reducing the take of immature bucks.

Deer densities in many areas of the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairie are still elevated and increasing despite the increased doe hunting opportunity in recent years provided through expanded doe days and the revamped MLDP system. This can cause

undue strain on the habitat. Sex ratios remain poor throughout the area due to inadequate antlerless harvest combined with excessive buck harvest.

Hunter success was good last year and should continue into this upcoming season. Hunters wishing to improve their deer herds should consider increasing antlerless harvest.

Dove The Post Oak is not a traditional destination for dove hunters, but there are some quality opportunities for wingshooting in select areas. There are multiple small game leases that provide dove hunting under the TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit (APHP).

Hunters who purchase the permit will receive a detailed map booklet that provides all the information needed to plan a dove hunting trip.

Abundant rains will encourage croton, ragweed and common sunflower production, providing good food sources for dove as seeds mature. Abundant seed production and water will potentially keep birds scattered, but good scouting and planning will pay off for hunters that put time in to explore new hunting locations.

Nationwide dove banding projects continue, so be sure to report any leg band information obtained from harvested birds.

Waterfowl Abundant rain in the north and east portions of the district last spring may have had both positive and negative consequences.

While good moisture allows many seed-producing (Cont. p. 48)

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The Real Deal in Coleman County one of those new drones. It wasn’t the most expensive or the cheapest. Nevertheless, it still cost. Figured it was good time to learn how to fly to scout the lease for deer In my business I’m fortunate to run across, shall we before bow season. say, special moments in the great outdoors of Coleman He went on to say, I got it really high up. Then it went County. Most that are just flat out funny to this writer. swoosh and was gone with the wind. Spent several hours No use spending time on the bad experiences. looking for it but no luck. Said he would look for it when the leaves fall off this winter. We talked briefly and then New Technology he said “Big O” that’s not the worst past of it. You know Several years ago my good buddy Joe from I got a new dually, got so excited to chase the drone I Richardson, Texas was bragging about one of his toys backed into a mesquite tree. Every opening deer season for hunting doves. Now he’s not bashful about spending I asked if he ever found the drone. He said “nope”. After money when it comes to any type of hunting. Anything a few years I cut him a little slack and quit asking. To my to improve his hobby. We had planned a dove hunt west knowledge the drone was never found. near Talpa, Texas. He kept going on about a new dove decoy, I mean on and on.

Deer and Turkey Hunters Early one September morning we set for a day of Late one Saturday Night a deer hunter bud named hunting. With everything all set up and ready go, he gets Winston from Arkansas pulled out back to get some ice. a big turb eating grin on his face pulls out a couple of He had two bucks on his bumper rack behind his Blazer.

Mojo Doves. They are built similar to duck decoys with We were gathered around checking out the deer. battery operated spinning wings sitting on a 3ft stand About that time Game Warden Randall Brown rounded stuck in the ground. the corner and pulled up.

Now I’ve seen these on sale at Shoppin’ Baskit in Winston said its ok I got it covered, no problem. After a Coleman the local grocery store; thinking owner Dennis lengthy time, Brown was about to finish his business. He Stroebel figured another way to get in the pockets of turned and said it was like catching them in the frying hunters. pan laughing. Turned out he got tickets for improper After seeing them in action I was laughing inside. This tagging and said it was his own fault. Never did find out guy has done been taken to the cleaners. how much the tickets cost. But he has been hunting in It didn’t take long for the dove to start moving. Once Coleman County since the 60’s and still does to this day. they spotted the Mojo Dove it was on. Didn’t take long One spring a turkey hunter asked if I’d cook him a to become a believer. What sold me was when a dove turkey for him. Stepping outside to check the bird, it landed on one of them. We had a good day and then I only took one look. Man, what did you shoot this with? slipped down to Dennis’s and bought two. Goes to show He replied a 300 Winchester Mag. It was hard not to bust you sometimes those big city boys do run across some a gut laughing. I said there’s not much left and suggested good deals. he clean and use the meat for turkey nuggets.

By Lynn “Big O” Owens

Once a long-time Coleman County deer hunter, Rusty Dove Hot Shot Geeslin from Burleson, Texas, came into the restaurant Every dove season brings tons of hunters to Coleman all hot with a red face and half out of breath. Keep in County. Fortunately, we have plenty of outfitters and mind that this guy is serious when its comes to hunting. leases available for them.

A particular group had an extremely large time way Naturally I asked him what’s up? Rusty was still trying down in the south part of the county. They hauled it to to let his heart rate drop a notch, said “Big O” I bought me my place to eat. A table of county deputies (Cont. p. 40)

(Cont. from p. 17) food they will utilize a variety of for escape cover and thermal assistance.

tools. They will paw away at the icy surface to reveal buried food sources like the basal rosettes of low panic grass (one of the few grasses deer actually eat). Other food sources normally categorized in the 2nd and 3rd column in terms of palatabilty become essential. Ashe juniper, an abundant evergreen, offers valuable nutrients in the cold.

This food source is usually low on the list in terms of choice but essential when food is scarce. It's also convenient as deer are already utilizing this habitat

Joshua Sears Photo Deer searching for corn 2-15-21.

Although the axis deer population was severely compromised, the white-tailed deer are thriving.

From farmland to forests and from suburbia to sanctuary they can be found in healthy (Cont. p. 41)

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2021 Dove Season Preview

By Matt Williams, Outdoors Writer

Experts calling for another banner season, South Texas could be one for the books.

Excitement among Texas dove hunters always spikes as August fades to September, because they know good times and hot barrels are just around the corner. Opening day of dove season begins at 30 minutes before sunrise on Sept. 1 in the state’s North and Central zones; Sept. 14 in the South Zone.

Dove season is the first domino to tip in a long line of hallowed hunting seasons that will come and go between now and next spring. More than 1 million Texans will head to the outdoors in the meantime, including close to 300,000 men, women and youngsters who call themselves dove hunters.

If it sounds like dove season is a big deal in Texas, that’s because it is. As hunter participation goes, dove hunting ranks second only to deer hunting. It represents a plump cash cow that pumps more than $300 million annually into the state’s economy, much of it spent in rural communities that roll out the red carpet to dove hunters each year.

To wit:

In Coleman, where dove hunting is believed to generate at least $5 million annually for area businesses, preparations are underway for the 2021 Coleman County Dove Fest. The hunter appreciation event is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on Sept. 4 at the Bill Franklin Center at the Rodeo Grounds, where hunters can take a midday break, enjoy a fresh catfish dinner and have a chance to win shotguns and Dove season gets underway at 30 minutes other door prizes with before sunrise on Sept. 1 in most of Texas. paid admission.

Nearly 273,000 hunters went afield last year There’s plenty more and they killed nearly 6 million doves, including about 3.8 million mourning doves. be excited about this (Photo by Matt Williams) season, whether you’re

36

Mourning doves are the main targets for Texas dove hunters. The state has a resident population estimated at 25 million, way more than any other state. (TPWD Photo)

headed to Coleman County or another dove hunting hub. At the root of it all are abundant dove populations and a wealth of good places to hunt them for an affordable price.

In my book, dove hunting represents what is arguably the lowest cost, high quality experience available on Texas’ long list of sport hunting options. Expect to pay a reputable outfitter $75 to $150 per day for an unguided day hunt on private land, possibly more or less depending on the area of the state, date and services rendered. All-inclusive hunts with meals and lodging may be significantly more.

The Texas Dove Hunters Association’s website (texasdovehunters.com) is a great place to shop for a dove hunting trip. The TDHA maintains a lengthy list of outfitters divided by hunting zones. Most list the county, acreage, available facilities and whether or not you’ll have the option to hunt around grain, water or both.

Good outfitters will have pre-scouted fields and should be able put you in position to have a chance to bag a few birds, but they can’t work miracles. Doves, particularly those darting, diving mourners, are challenging targets that can be difficult to hit. Plus, doves are migratory birds that are weather and pressure sensitive. Just because a field is buzzing with birds one day doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll still be there the next.

Public hunting represents an even cheaper option than booking through an outfitter. Do-it-yourself hunters can buy a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit (available where licenses are sold) that provides hunters with access to more than 1 million acres of public land, including 100-plus private tracts TPWD has under lease for dove and small game hunting.

The dove leases, which range from 40 acres to 2,000 acres, are located in areas with good dove habitat. Several are found in close proximity to Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston/Beaumont, San Antonio and Austin/Waco. You can view interactive maps of each lease at tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/.

Bounty of Birds

Every Texas dove season is a good one thanks to the bounty of birds that live here, especially (Cont. p. 44)

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(Cont. from p. 33) and a couple of game wardens were

dining as well.

Sometime during this time, I picked out on one of the conversations that a young man had gotten a ticket from Warden Norm about 4pm for no plug in his shotgun. Now Norman was a gentle giant to everyone he met. This hot shot stared at Norman the entire time. I’d venture to say Norman would have cuffed and hauled this young man if he’d popped off or anything else.

Shortly after the officers left, I cut a 3-inch hunk of sausage on his plate. And said you need this for a plug for your shotgun. All of them laughed very loud. That set him off, he hot shot into a pissing tizzy. He wanted to know who told me. I said you got the ticket about 4pm right. Yes sir he replied. I said everybody in the county knew it.

I asked him why he was mad at the warden because he was doing his job. He said he wasn’t going to pay the ticket. Sometimes hard to keep quiet, I told him it makes sense to be mad because he was stupid for not having a plug.

As the group (17) were about to leave, the sober older

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hunter asked “are they going to be waiting for us down the road”? I asked what you would do, somebody else better drive, thinking that this was the ended deal.

Not so, as they loaded up watching from the pits. I noticed a head light out and crossed the street to tell them. Out jumped the hot shot from the passenger side of the truck, he was laughing and ha, ha all u got do to do is kick it! Sure enough it came back on. Somehow, I couldn’t help myself. I said “you dumbass what do you thinks going to happen when you cross those railroads tracks”. Its going off again and your happy ass (or happy youself) is going to jail.

Fishing

Way back at my old location on the far west end of Valera, late one evening these old boys rolled up, pulling their boat home to Odessa, Texas. After fishing Lake Brady, they were tired and worn out. No doubt they had a big time.

As they were putting in gas I noticed the boat was sitting back about 2 foot off the trailer. After checking things out, discovered the strap was broken. I said “say fellas, reckon y’all ought fix this strap”. They liked to have died. We fixed it up and down the road they went.

One of those, Alan, still comes to Big O’s for over 25 years and often tells customers the story.

Another time an old boy from Lubbock named Stan stopped off to get something quick. It was late in the fall.

I ask him if he was headed to Lake Ivie to fish the next day. He said not having much luck in daytime thought I’d try night fishing. I said man there's a big front supposed blow in tonight. He quickly said tell me about it, my wife said it was already in Lubbock. I went on to say well it won’t take long to get here.

About 2 hrs later coming out of the local grocery store the front hit. One of those with instant 30 mph plus wind.

Told my wife I better drive down to the lake and check on him. She said no that I couldn’t be responsible for checking on everybody that stopped, even if they were warned. Naturally she was right and I agreed.

The next morning I called Stan and he answered.

Sure was glad to hear his voice and told him that. Said I was going to come down check on him but didn’t. Stan proceeded to tell me “I wish you would have”. When the front hit I was in Elm Creek and swamped my 21 foot boat. Lost 2 G-Loomis rod and reels. Around 300 bucks each back then. Said it took a long time to get back to the shoreline. He wasn’t in the mood for chit chat. Pretty sure I told him so!

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(Cont. from p. 34) numbers. They are our most interesting

and valuable wildlife resource. A master of the edge living between the worlds in their mysterious ecological niches, each year we seek them out. As outdoor enthusiasts the quest to hunt for them, observe them, study them, photograph them in their natural state provides great reward. We enter the woods each season in search for clues, for answers, for questions about answers. The 2021 adventure continues. What will we find this year?

(Left) Sears Photo - Creek in west-central Texas (Above) Coleman Today Photo - Deer blind and feeder in NE Coleman County 41

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(Cont. from p. 36) mourning doves. Wildlife experts estimate

the state’s resident mourning dove population at around 25 million.

That’s significantly more than any other state and about 13.7 percent of the national total estimated at 183 million in 2019. Factor in the 20-30 million northern migrants that pass through Texas en route to Mexico and Central America each fall, plus the state’s resident white-winged dove population of 12 million, and the number can easily swell between 5060 million birds, according to Owen Fitzsimmons, TPWD’s webless migratory game bird program leader.

After the Freeze

Fitzsimmons is forecasting another banner season this fall, although hunters are likely to notice fewer white-wings in the Panhandle region. The biologist said the birds were hard hit by the severe freeze that held temperatures near zero or below for several consecutive days last February. Numbers could be down as much as 50 percent below average.

“Staff are reporting seeing a lot less white-wings than usual, so it seems likely they were hit pretty hard by the winter storm,” he said. “I’m also hearing about a lot of hatch-year white-wings in that area, so I expect a quick recovery.”

In addition to fewer white-wings, Panhandle hunters may notice doves that suffered frostbite. Fitzsimmons says some

birds literally froze parts of their beaks off. Other lost toes.

“It’s not uncommon to see frostbite damage like this in late-season migrant birds, but it’s much more prevalent this year in our local population, particularly white-wings,” he said. “Our banders are reporting birds in very healthy condition otherwise, despite some missing most of their feet or most of their bill. That shows how resilient wild birds really are.”

The severe winter storm that rocked Texas last February was particularly hard on subtropical white-winged doves that have taken up residence in the Texas Panhandle. Biologists say white-wing numbers are down about 50 percent in that region and that many survivors of the winter storm suffered frostbite resulting in lost toes, feet and damaged beaks. (Photo by Brant Baugh, TPWD)

Fitzsimmons says mourning dove numbers are slightly below the long-term average in the Central and North Zones, but the totals are up from the state’s last spring survey in 2019.

Perhaps the brightest spot statewide is South Texas, where spring survey estimates show mourning and white-winged dove numbers are at record highs and roughly double the

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long-term average.

“On top of that, hatch-year production has been high,” Fitzsimmons said. “The South Zone looks to be in for a really, really good season this year.”

Season Outlook

Fitzsimmons says above average summer rainfall has spurred excellent range conditions across much of the state. With lots of food and water on the landscape, he thinks birds could be tough to pinpoint with plenty of goodies to choose from. He won’t be surprised if the banner range conditions hold a lot of migrating birds later in the season that could result in good hunting all the way through October, possibly well into the season’s second split.

Here’s a synopsis of his forecast for the three hunting zones: •North Zone: Look for an average season early on, but things could improve as the season progresses since the excellent range conditions will likely hold birds that are migrating in. North Zone hunters may have less white-wing opportunity this year, particularly in the Panhandle.

•Central Zone: Hunters will likely see an average season early on, although it may be hit or miss. Heavy hail and rain storms this spring may have impacted peak nesting in counties west of the Austin/San Antonio corridor, while other areas likely had a very productive breeding season. He expects good range conditions will mean excellent hunting conditions throughout most of the season.

•South Zone: This season could be one of the best ever. Breeding survey estimates are the highest since they began in 2008 and conditions have been excellent all summer. Fitzsimmons urges white-wing hunters to take advantage of two extra Special White-winged Dove Days that were added this season.

South Zone hunters will now have Friday, Saturday and Sunday hunting opportunities the first two weekends of September before the regular season

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Be Safe Out There

Nothing can spoil a great hunting trip any quicker than a tragic accident that leaves someone injured. Or worse.

Hunting is a safe activity that’s getting safer in Texas thanks to a mandatory hunter education law that requires every hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 to successfully complete a hunter education course before they can legally hunt. The law was implemented in Texas in 1988.

Though hunting accidents still occur way more often than they should, they don’t happen near as often as they once did.

There were 24 hunting-related accidents in Texas last year compared to 105 in 1968. The 2020 toll included one fatality that occurred in Jack County after a hunter misidentified another for a turkey and shot him with .223 rifle at 60-65 yards.

Of the 23 non-fatal accidents, 14 involved shotguns, including 11 that occurred while hunting doves.

One of the leading causes of those accidents was swinging on birds outside a safe zone of fire.

Swinging on game is a hunter

judgement error. It occurs when a hunter tracks a passing dove or another animal and pulls the trigger as the target crosses in front of another individual positioned outside the shooter’s safe zone of fire.

You don’t have to be near the shooter to be seriously injured. Stray shotshell pellets can penetrate the body up to 250 yards away, according to Steve Hall, hunter education coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Hall has a friend who was the victim in a swinging on game incident several years ago. A stray pellet traveled around 200 yards, struck the man in the eye and penetrated his tear duct. The pellet remains lodged behind the man’s eye today.

A lady Texas game warden was an unintended target last year. According to TPWD reports, the warden was checking dove hunters when another hunter positioned about 35 yards away, on the opposite side of a public road, fired their direction. Pellets struck the warden in the face, arm and leg.

Hall says other common causes of dove hunting accidents involve careless handing of firearms in or around vehicles, pointing firearms in an unsafe direction, obstructions in a (Cont. p. 47)

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(Cont. from p. 45) barrel or firearms that

are faulty.

The message here is to use your head out there. Never shoot in the direction of other hunters, across roadways, towards houses, etc… If you are unsure, don’t shoot.

It’s smart to play some defense, too.

I always try to set up well away from other hunters in a position that is well out of the primary line of fire. When hunting around water holes, it’s never a good idea to have hunters positioned on both sides. Always wear impact resistant shooting glasses to protect your eyes from stray pellets and some sort of ear protection.

Hall offered some other dove hunting safety tips: •Always point muzzle in a safe direction and treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

•Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until you fire and be sure of target.

•Unload immediately when not hunting or when crossing difficult terrain/fences.

•Inspect shotguns and ammunition prior to hunt, ensuring they are in good shape.

•Make sure ammunition you carry in the field matches only your firearm.

•Wear blaze orange into and out of the field so other hunters

2021-22 Dove Season Dates Daily Limit: 15 birds

North Zone

September 1 - November 12, 2021 and December 17, 2021 - January 2, 2022

Central Zone

September 1 - October 31, 2021 and December 17, 2021 - January 14, 2022

South Zone

September 14 - October 31, 2021 and December 17, 2021 - January 21, 2022

Special White-Winged Dove Days September 3-5 and Sept. 10-12

Legal Things To Remember

•Valid hunting license/migratory bird endorsement.

•Pump and auto-loader shotguns must be plugged to hold

no more than three shells.

•Don’t comingle your birds with those belonging to hunters.

•It is illegal “bait” mirgratory birds. Avoid hunting around areas you suspect have been baited.

•Know the official sunrise and sunset times. Legal shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

•Don’t litter. Pick up spent shotshell hulls and trash.

•Hunter education is required of all hunters born on or after Sept. 2, 1971. Carry your certification card while in the field.

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(Cont. from p. 31) plants an opportunity to germinate and grow,

too much water may inundate and kill the emergent plants. Food production in the form of seeds is critical to holding ducks in an area.

Acorn production is a bit of a mystery this year. The severe freezes in February appear to have lingering effects on some trees, especially oaks. Delayed leafing has been observed on some trees and it is unclear what impacts the freeze will have on this year’s acorn crop.

Waterfowl numbers predictive of migration levels were not available at the time of this writing, but relatively recent information has indicated that numbers for most species are above long-term goals. These numbers will be largely influenced, however, by this year’s reproductive effort.

Hogs Feral hog populations continue to increase and expand across the region. Property damage from hogs often create significant financial burdens to landowners. Hogs can be detrimental to other wildlife species, as well.

TPWD continues to work with other agencies to explore options for hog control, but landowners and hunters can do their part by harvesting/trapping as many as possible. There are no seasons or bag limits for feral pigs.

seem to concentrate.

White-tailed Deer

White-tailed deer are doing well in the Cross Timbers with good fawn crops and recruitment over the last 5-6 years. We expect antler growth to be about average this season. Late winter and early spring forbs valuable to deer were in short supply in some areas of the Cross Timbers. Also, the hard freeze set a lot of the valuable woody plants back.

Bucks were not able to recoup from the stresses of the rut until early spring, which put them a few months behind schedule. Mast producers such as oaks will have a limited acorn crop this coming fall due to bud freeze. This could concentrate deer at hunting areas and allow for selective harvest and a quality hunting experience.

Late spring rains came at the perfect time for fawn production with cooler temperatures, an abundance of forage and ample fawning cover. Fawns were reported in good numbers and should translate to good recruitment in the coming years.

With the above average fawn crop in 2015-16 we should have some bucks in the older age classes with large antlers this fall provided the region received ample moisture throughout summer.

Rio Grande Turkey

Dean Marquardt, Technical Guidance Biologist dean.marquardt@tpwd.texas.gov Range conditions in the Cross Timbers were excellent at the start of summer, but that wasn’t the case coming out of winter. Last fall and winter dropped spotty rains, resulting in dry range conditions across the region. Some large ponds even went dry.

The severe freeze in February compounded the problems and stressed our wildlife coming into spring. These conditions put us below average to start, but the April/June rains served as a “catch up” from the dry winter. The critical nature of late fall and early spring rains will most likely have an impact on production of game bird species. However, the summer kicked off with excellent range conditions and hopefully healed the wounds of the dry winter.

Turkey reports are inconsistent across the region with traditional strongholds continuing to have good numbers. Some areas report a decline in observations, and most would say last spring was challenging to harvest a mature gobbler.

Gobbling activity was very light this spring compared to previous years. Surface water and associated riparian areas influence where turkeys spend most of their time during fall and spring.

Dry conditions last fall/winter turkeys may have caused birds to shift their patterns to include areas with a more permanent water source. This could have a big impact on what hunters observe during the fall and spring seasons.

Good nesting conditions over the summer should mean plenty of new recruits into the population. Overall, we expect an average year for turkey hunting with a slightly lower number of mature gobblers available for harvest.

Doves

Northern Bobwhite Quail

The winter storm in February likely had a negative impact on resident dove populations in the Cross Timbers. Spring calling activity was low and early nesting may have been pushed back a few weeks.

Based on spring observations overall resident dove numbers seem slightly below average. However, during trapping and banding activities a good number of juvenile birds were still observed.

Resident dove that made it through the freeze and heavy rainfall events in May may have benefited from the seed producing plants and surface water on the landscape. Summer sunflower fields should provide a good food source for the resident and migrant doves through September. Hunters should be aware that the timing of migrant doves could play a big role in dove abundance on the fields. Early season hunting should be good, but hunters shouldn’t rule out the opportunities later in September and throughout the season. Surface water and food sources should be abundant across the Cross Timbers making it tricky to find the right spot that doves

Areas of native grassland habitat in the Cross Timbers and Eastern Rolling Plains were filled with an exceptional number of bobwhite males calling through June. While we are optimistic on production for this year, we also realize adult bird numbers before breeding season were much lower than previous years. The February freeze most likely took its toll on quail at a critical time.

Range conditions were in excellent shape following a wet spring.

We expect a below average year for quail in the region, unless wet conditions persisted through August. Hopefully, we’ll see increased chick survival and a noticeable rebound in the coming years. Areas that were fortunate to receive spotty rains in the early spring should have the best potential for rebounding quail numbers this fall.

Cross Timbers

Feral Hogs With the continuation of landowners improving the habitat, brush removal and food plots, feral hogs are flourishing. Several landowners in several counties report they have seen (Cont. p. 50)

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

to participating meat processors. The partner processors prepare the venison for distribution through local food banks.

For more information on the program in Coleman County call Cornerstone Community Action at 325-625-4167. You can also learn more at According to Cornerstone Community Action the following website: http://www.feedingtexas.

Agency in Coleman, last deer season, 1,450 org/solutions/hunters-for-the-hungry. pounds of venison was donated through the Hunters for the Hungry Program, benefiting Coleman County residents.

Hunters for the Hungry has provided over 10 million servings of venison to Texans in need.

Through the program, hunters can drop off legally tagged, field-dressed whitetail or mule deer

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Annual Youth Hunt Big Success !

The 16th Annual Coleman County Youth Hunt was held last fall (2020) at the Hemphill Ranch in northern Coleman County. 11 kids hunted this year with 8 deer being killed. The kids arrive at the ranch where they are fed breakfast and lunch during the day followed by a couple hours at the shooting range to prepare for the evening hunt. Sponsors this year included Game Guard Camo, who supplied the kids and guides with hats and shirts for the hunt. Buckmasters gave all the kids packs and tumblers and paid for half the processing of the

deer killed. The other half of the processing was taken care of by Steve and Cindy Hall of Halls Processing. The Texas Game Warden Association helped pay for the food that was cooked by Steve Hall, Heath Hemphill and several of the Lease Hunters on the Ranch. The hunt, which is organized every year by John and Trey Casey, Heath Hemphill and Coleman County Game Warden Lee Morrison, has been a continued success with the help of the hunters on the ranch who guide the kids each year during the hunt.

(Cont. from p. 48) an increase in the feral hog population. Likewise,

many landowners are opening their properties for hog hunting and even allow some locals the ability to trap the feral hogs. Hunting opportunity has increased across the area and will continue to do so with the destruction caused by these animals.

which will affect waterfowl distribution.

Conditions look good across the Rolling Plains thanks to some timely rainfall in April and May. The High Plains didn’t get any significant rainfall until the end of May and greened up accordingly, but it things were drying out by late June.

Monitoring CWD

Pronghorn

TPWD will continue to monitor for CWD in our wild deer populations this hunting season, so hunters are once again encouraged to help out by allowing our biologists stationed throughout the state to collect tissue samples from hunter harvested deer. For information regarding this effort, visit with your local TPWD biologist or visit our web page at http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/diseases/cwd/.

Pronghorn numbers are doing well in the Panhandle. However, dry conditions resulted in below average fawn production this year.

Hunters and landowners need to be aware that TPWD has done away with the Experimental Pronghorn Hunting Seasons in the Panhandle and all landowners will need to apply for a permit in 2021. The pronghorn hunting season has also been extended from nine days to 16.

Panhandle

Dana Wright, TPWD Wildlife Biologist Dana.Wright@tpwd.texas.gov The Western Rolling Plains and the High Plains experienced some extreme weather events during the 2020-21 winter, which may have resulted in some higher than normal wildlife mortality. Rain has been spotty across the area. The farther west you go, the drier it was until the last week of May, when most of the area received some excellent rainfall.

The southern Rolling Plains received more rainfall during the spring with most dirt tanks and ponds full, which will be good for resident waterfowl production and great places to find doves this fall. Playas across the high plains are a mixed bag, from full to dry,

50

Mule Deer Mule deer are doing well across the Panhandle and have rebounded nicely since the drought of 2011-13. Hunters should see more mature bucks in the herd thanks to above average fawn survival between 2014-2016.

Rainfall has been spotty throughout most of the mule deer range.

The Rolling Plains received the most rain during the spring, which will mean good antler growth on bucks. Hunters should expect above average antler growth in the Rolling Plains, but average antler growth in the High Plains closer to New Mexico.

Seven counties will be in their fourth year of an experimental antler restriction for mule deer, and preliminary data suggests that

the restriction is working. Hunters and landowners in those counties report seeing more and better quality bucks than usual.

and sandhill cranes.

White-tailed Deer

Dove

White-tailed deer numbers continue to increase. The Rolling Plains is in better condition this year because of some timely rainfall that has improved range conditions, forage availability and increased cover. This will help antler growth and fawn survival for this year.

We anticipate above average antler growth and fawn survival.

Drying conditions in the western side of the Panhandle points to average antler growth in those areas.

Timely rainfall throughout the Rolling Plains and High Plains can be viewed as either a negative or positive influence on dove hunting opportunities. If you have ponds with water, you will probably have doves.

Sunflowers, croton and other seed producing plants are common throughout the area this year, which should help attract doves and make for some good dove hunting.

There are multiple small game leases throughout the Panhandle that offer dove, pheasant and waterfowl hunting opportunities under the TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit (APHP). Hunters are encouraged to look up more information on this opportunity on the department’s website.

Pheasant Pheasant numbers continue to struggle throughout the High Plains and have never completely recovered since the drought of 2011-13. Continued loss of grain crops such as corn and milo, loss of suitable habitat and lack of timely rainfall has prevented them from rebounding quickly. We predict pheasant hunting will also be fair due to below average spring rainfall.

Waterfowl The playas across the Panhandle received some welcomed rainfall and many were completely or partially full in late June. This should help attract and hold waterfowl in the area.

Keep your fingers crossed for some significant rainfall to help keep water available into the fall and winter for migrating ducks, geese

Quail Quail numbers were well below average last year for the High/ Rolling Plains. With the significant winter storms we experienced this year, biologists felt like we didn’t go into the breeding season with an abundance of birds.

Rainfall has been below average throughout most of the region but range conditions are better this year compared to last. We feel that nesting and brood rearing cover is adequate on managed (Cont. p. 52) rangelands.

51

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Turkeys

(Cont. from p. 51)

Most Rolling Plains landowners report that they aren’t seeing the large flocks of turkeys they normally see, but biologists did report plenty of turkey poults throughout the area this year. Recruitment should be good with an abundance of insects and good cover on managed rangelands.

Hogs & Predators Hogs continue to be plentiful everywhere and we encourage everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to hunt them.

Predators such as coyotes and bobcats are affected by the abundance of prey species such as rabbits and quail.

Squirrels Squirrel season has been opened in all Panhandle counties.

Shelter belts and wooded riparian areas should provide for some year-round hunting opportunities.

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Edwards Plateau

Derrick Wolter TPWD Senior Wildlife Biologist derrick.wolter@tpwd.texas.gov Like much of Texas, the Edwards Plateau ecoregion seems to remain in a constant state of drought with bouts of periodic flooding.

This year has been a wild one. The Hill Country went through a dry winter with most of the precipitation received in the form of snow, compliments of the polar vortex. Things dried up following the weeklong "snowmageddon" until the month of May, which put much of the plateau back on course from a precipitation standpoint. Some areas received upwards of 10-inches of rain, others just a few inches.

Early summer range conditions were fair to excellent, with the eastern side of the plateau in the best shape. Late-spring rains rejuvenated native vegetation and will enhance food sources for native wildlife. Properly grazed areas (and those deferred from

(Cont. from p. 52) livestock grazing) have good herbaceous cover for

wildlife. In some parts of the plateau, habitat conditions are arguably as good as possible.

Overall, the 2021-22 hunting forecast for the Edwards Plateau should be average to above average, depending upon the species hunted.

White-tailed Deer The polar vortex did not appear to significantly impact whitetailed deer. Biologists observed quite a few fawns on the ground last June with does in good body condition. Most staff expect latesummer surveys to reveal high numbers of fawns.

On properties where deer do not exceed the carrying capacity of the habitat, older bucks got most if not all the nutrients required to express their full genetic potential in antler growth this year.

Biologists are expecting average to above antler quality in whitetail bucks this year throughout the region.

Browse plants will hold up through the summer months because of late-spring rains, so even an average acorn production year could mean tough deer hunting in the Hill County this fall. We expect the deer to be there, but hunters may not see them visiting feeders.

Turkey The region has received "enough" winter and spring rainfall over the last few years to sustain upland game bird populations. Given current habitat conditions, turkey production should be good this year and numbers should be on the rise. Biologists observed plenty of hens with poults last spring, so that's a good sign. Hunters should expect to see more birds on the landscape this fall.

Adequate rainfall early in the year results in high invertebrate abundance, creating a positive impact on adult brooding and young bird survival. This is all contingent on livestock grazing management, but conditions are generally favorable for a increase in turkey populations.

Quail The Edwards Plateau is not a stronghold of bobwhite quail in Texas, but they are found throughout the ecoregion where habitat exists. Although rainfall is a huge driver of quail production each year, it's important to have the plant communities that quail need on the ground when those all-important rains fall from the sky.

Maintaining quail in an area takes an understanding of sound grazing management, brush managementand the patience to let quail populations do what they do. Quail numbers can rise dramatically over a year or two and then decline just as fast. If you build it they will come, but only if it rains.

Quail production should be good based on the rainfall received earlier this year and current habitat conditions. For those that have quail, there should be an abundance of food on the landscape.

Doves Dove habitat looks great. Timely rainfall created a diversity of seed producing plants used by doves within grasslands and pasturelands.

Robust stands of annual sunflower are going strong in areas managed for doves.

Anecdotally, white-winged and mourning dove numbers appear to be down, but only time will tell how significant (Cont. p. 54)

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(Cont. from p. 53) the drop. Thunderstorms and hailstorms can destroy

dove nests, which are built rather flimsy. For the last two springs, parts of the Central Texas have had significant hailstorm events. In addition, we know that some bird species were killed by an unusual week-long of freezing temperatures Texas received in February.

Good hunts are still expected at the usual haunts, managed fields and stock tanks with open shorelines.

Waterfowl Duck season could prove to be challenging if the late spring rains kept creeks, ponds and rivers full. The potential for ample water and food this fall and winter could scatter birds, making them difficult to hunt. Conditions across the region look good for ducks, more difficult for hunters.

Hogs Unfortunately, the feral hog population is also taking advantage of the good range conditions and numbers continue to climb. The best management for feral hogs is to shoot them all. Never pass up the opportunity to kill a hog.

Post Oak/Coastal Prairies

Biologist: David Forrester david.forester@tpwd.texas.gov The Post Oak region and Coastal Prairie region experienced good spring rainfall and mild temperatures into mid-June. Around June 15th, we started to experience more seasonal temperatures, but the rain has continued to fall when needed. As a result, the whole district is in very good shape and the native habitat is thriving.

White-tailed Deer Fawn recruitment should be good again this year. There is plenty of cover out there for the newborns and that is the major factor impacting our fawn survival.

Body condition on the deer is good. Bucks should experience good antler production and antler quality should be average to above average. We’re going into our third year of a four-day doe season during the Thanksgiving holiday in 16 counties around the district.

Along with the new doe days, mandatory reporting is required. This also includes archery season.

Overall, the increased harvest has not been extreme, but has been moderate and within what the population can withstand.

particularly good this spring. Heavy spring rains had some negative impact on nesting, particularly turkey nests.

Turkeys continue to slowly expand some of their range in the district. Quail are primarily in the coastal prairie habitat.

South Texas

David Veale, Wildlife Biologist david.veale@tpwd.texas.gov As always, South Texas’ wildlife forecast is primarily tied to rainfall, and coming into 2021 we were way behind on rain. The winter was mostly dry and cold. The February freeze knocked back a lot of brush that had started to bud out early, but as suspected this was merely a top-kill in most cases.

Different parts of the region began getting good rains in mid-toate spring, starting down on the coast. This rainfall eventually got pretty much all of the region.

The area bounded by Del Rio-San Antonio-Laredo got good rains after an extended drought, with Uvalde County getting especially heavy June rains. Many of the brush species have now regenerated from the base, and much of the region still looked like spring in June.

Rain has continued and temperatures remained relatively cool into mid-summer.

White-tailed Deer

Rains were particularly timely for antler development on the coast, as available nutrition increased right before antlers started growing again. This timing was less beneficial as you moved west, but still fairly positive. Those properties with enough age on their buck populations should have an excellent year for antlers. We’re also looking for good fawn production this year.

Turkeys and Quail

With increased grass growth and late season forb availability, we expect survival of turkey poults and quail chicks to be good.

The woody brush species have bounced back, with little long-term effects for most species.

Unless the rain spigot completely shuts off for the rest of the year we are shaping up to have a fall to remember in South Texas.

Dove Areas around Katy and El Campo have excellent dove hunting most years. White-winged dove have really increased in prevalence.

This season should be a good one, but we aren’t sure how much the big freeze might impact dove numbers. Some dove caught during the state’s dove banding sessions have shown freeze impacts— frozen toes and tips of beaks.

Farmers have had a good year which bodes well for harvest towards hunting season.

Turkey and Quail

Both turkey and quail populations are spotty in the district.

Both species tend to do better in drier years, and our spring was extremely wet.

Nesting success for both turkey and bobwhite quail was not

Rio Grande Wild Turkey Rio Grande turkey production should be good this year and numbers should be on the rise. The outlook is especially bright in the Edwards Plateau, where biologists observed plenty of hens with poults last spring. Hunters should expect to see more birds on the landscape this fall. (TPWD Photo)

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