DID YOU KNOW? • The Texas Deer Association is the state’s largest wildlife association that supports a hunter’s individual freedom of choice, and the landowner’s freedom to manage his wildlife resources the way he best sees fit. • More than 600,000 sportsmen hunt deer annually, with the vast majority occurring on private land. • Texas has the most deer-ranching facilities in the nation--more than 1300--followed by Pennsylvania. • Game ranching of white-tailed deer is heavily regulated by the state of Texas. • The deer ranching industry represents nearly a $1 billion economic impact annually in Texas, exceeding that of the rice and citrus industries combined. Overall, the wildlife industry has a multibillion dollar economic impact every year in this state. • The economic activity of the industry supports more than 8,000 jobs in Texas, most of which are in rural areas of the state.
GOOD FOR LAND STEWARDSHIP: Wildlife habitat fragmentation continues at an alarming rate in the state of Texas, as urban sprawl expands across the landscape. In our state, for every 1000 new residents in a county, an estimated 149 agricultural acres of land is lost to population. As nearly 97% of land in Texas is privately owned, conservation of wildlife habitat depends almost solely on the motivation of private property owners to participate in habitat management and wildlife conservation to ensure our hunting heritage for the next generation. True stewards of wildlife resources must encourage ALL habitat conservation, on properties both large and small. Ranchers with smaller properties must be motivated to invest in wildlife resources and habitat. Discouraging the investment in habitat on smaller acreages through over-regulation, will surely signal the destruction of millions of acres of critical Texas wildlife habitat.
ECONOMIC IMPACT “A recent study indicates that the Texas deer industry
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has a tremendous impact for the state. Today, it is projected to generate nearly $1 billion annually and support more than 8,000 jobs--primarily in rural communities. Projected figures show this number will continue to rise with the sustained growth of the industry in the state."
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Source: "Economic Impact of the Texas Deer Breeding Industry," Agriculture and Food Policy Center - Texas A&M University, August, 2007 *This is only a graphical representation.
MISSION AND PURPOSE
Since its founding in 1999, the Texas Deer Association has been focused on promoting and caring for the welfare of Texas deer herds, seeking to improve both the quality of the deer and the overall deer hunting experience in Texas. What began as a small organization of dedicated conservationists has grown into the state’s leader in protecting the rights of private property owners to effectively manage their land as they best see fit. Every Texas hunter and sportsman deserves the freedom and opportunity to hunt on their terms, in their way! As the unified voice of deer enthusiasts throughout the state, TDA has worked to educate Texas outdoorsmen and property owners and unify them around a common goal: to promote innovative, effective and ethical management techniques as stewards of our land and wildlife resources. TDA is dedicated to ensuring that hunting and wildlife management are lifelong enterprises, advocating for wise management practices that utilize research and technology to improve the overall deer herd.
The Texas Deer Association is invested in making sure that ALL Texans can share the hunting and outdoor experience for generations to come. It is a growing community of outdoor enthusiasts speaking with one voice to defend our rights as hunters, conservationists, land stewards, and private property owners.
2 | GOOD FOR TEXAS, GOOD FOR YOU!
GOOD FOR TEXAS WILDLIFE
Common sense, ethical deer ranching has been at the forefront of responsible and innovative management for decades in Texas. TDA has championed the private property rights of all Texans, as well as their ability to choose how to most effectively manage their properties for wildlife. Deer ranching and modern deer management have a tremendous positive impact on this state, both in terms of the economy and on the health and strength of our whitetail population. Through innovative management techniques, this state’s wildlife resources have thrived after decades of mismanagement. Texas deer ranchers and hunters have seen incredible gains in both the quality AND quantity of deer. This translates to increased opportunities for hunters, as well as an increase in value of Texas agricultural properties. Far from being a “cottage industry”, deer ranching has nearly a $1 billion annual economic impact in this state—more than the citrus and rice industries combined. This figure represents a tremendous boost in rural economies—once decimated by falling cattle prices and drought—all across this state.
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Rural Texans, the shepherds of the day, depend on the commerce of the Texas deer industry to support their families. There is no bigger wildlife economy in the United States than right here in Texas. We must develop a system that continues the growth and prosperity of this unique economy. Rural Texas is dependent upon it. It impacts every facet of our small towns across the vast landscape in the state. Deer farms, feed companies, fueling stations, real estate transactions, hunting ranches, 4H and FFA programs, and even equipment manufacturers are just a few of the entities dependent on building a sustainable and prosperous business climate. •1
Our industry is good for Texas landowners, good for Texas hunters, and good for the Texas economy.
4 | GOOD FOR TEXAS, GOOD FOR YOU!
CWD REALITY CHECK: CWD is not a human health concern, nor has CWD killed thousands of deer nationwide. It has been, in fact, the “preventative measures� enacted by state wildlife agencies that have caused the unnecessary death of thousands of healthy deer all across the country. Far from being a statewide emergency, only 7 deer (0.005% of all captive deer in Texas) have tested positive for CWD. Of the approximately 1,250 permitted facilities in Texas, less than two-tenths of one percent have been impacted by the disease. Contrary to the talking points of anti-hunting groups, deer ranchers are actually leading the way in preventive measures and CWD testing, and have been for more than a decade. Deer ranchers are required to test a minimum of 20% of their adult mortalities for CWD. Since 2003, figures show that previous to this season, hunter-harvested deer were tested at a rate of 0.4%. This means that captive deer have been tested at a MINIMUM rate of more than 40 times higher than hunterharvested, free-ranging deer. In a future CWD outbreak, a science-based approach would allow for the prudent testing of Texas deer without necessitating the wholesale slaughter of hundreds or thousands of healthy animals. Over the last decade more research has been conducted to develop a liveanimal test for CWD. Though this test is not currently validated by the USDA, Texas has the authority and should take the lead in the utilization of live-animal testing.
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GOOD FOR THE FUTURE Deer ranching is highly regulated and the measures we support are already the law of the land in our state and have been for many years. As an industry, deer ranchers have participated in CWD monitoring programs since 2007. In fact, the ranch from which the positive result occurred was participating in such a program, proving that the monitoring system currently in place is effective. Hundreds of the monitored herds had absolutely zero traceable connections to the index herd and had invested much effort and financing into building CWD status through the TAHC USDA. That these herds were also shut down for a period of 54 days was an unnecessary restriction of commerce creating financial hardships for Texas citizens. As nearly a $1 billion industry, deer ranching produces a tremendous economic benefit for rural communities across the state. And the end result of members’ efforts are the conservation of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and the creation of a host of new opportunities for quality hunts on private land essential to the continuation of our rich hunting tradition in Texas.
6 | GOOD FOR TEXAS, GOOD FOR YOU!
ty Today, the Texas Deer Association represents thousands of families across Texas and reaches into every corner of the state: from their origins in San Antonio, to their Austin legislative office, to the numerous events and auctions they host annually. Veterans, youth and disabled hunters, and many others have benefitted from the generosity of charitable opportunities provided by TDA members. “Preserving the future of our hunting heritage is our most important goal by far,” said TDA President Bob Price. “TDA’s mission remains focused: creating a legacy for all Texans to be able to hunt their way, and for all Texas landowners to be able to manage their land the way the best see fit.”
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