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ELECTED EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
rob@sgdeer.com
MIKE WOOD Treasurer Madera Bonita Game Ranch Combine, TX (Region 5) Cell (214) 356-7913
W. CHASE CLARK Immediate Past President Artemis Outdoors Three Rivers, TX (Region 8) Cell (361) 319-6926 Work (361) 786-1877
TERM 2015-2017
mwood@oldhamlumber.com
chase@artemisoutdoors.com
TERM 2015-2017
TERM 2013-2015
BOB PRICE President Moss Creek Ranch Big Spring, TX (Region 2) Cell (432) 517-0269 Work (432) 393-5889
MARK HUBBARD Vice President Mark Hubbard Ranch Properties Boerne,TX (Region 1) Cell (361) 816-8400
ROB BECKHAM Secretary Spring Gap Ranch Abilene, TX (Region 2) (325) 665-7889
bob@mosscreekranch.net
hubbardranches@gmail.com
TERM 2015-2017
TERM 2015-2017
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Terms for elected postitions officially starts following the Statewide Membership Meeting held at the TDA Annual Convention. Term Length: Executive Committee - 2-years Directors - 3 years Officers - 1 year.
REGION 4 Jordan Smrekar Double Dime Whitetails Llano (214) 417-6217 Term: 8/2016-8/2019 Lin Poor Texas Wildlife Management (512) 423-2716 Term: 8/2014-8/2017 Fred Gonzalez Gonzalez Whitetails Uvalde Cell (830) 279-8770 Term: 8/2015-8/2018
DIRECTOR AT LARGE Gilbert Adams, III JAG Ranch Beaumont, TX (409) 781-6146
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REGION 1 Hugo Berlanga Mustang Ranch Corpus Christi (361) 813-9212 Term: 8/2015-8/2016
REGION 2 Bob Price Moss Creek Ranch Big Spring (432) 517-0269 Term: 8/2013-8/2016
REGION 3 Dick Cain Trophy Ridge Ranch Saint Jo (903) 821-6258 Term: 8/2013-8/2016
Sheldon Grothaus Texas Whitetail Breeders Hondo (210) 854-5833 Term: 8/2015-8/2018
Rob Beckham Spring Gap Ranch Abilene (325) 665-7889 Term: 8/2015-8/2018
Joe Francks Three Nails Ranch Cisco (254) 631-9400 Term: 8/2015-8/2017 Ben Mooring 4M Whitetails Fort Worth (817) 822-8085 Term: 8/2015 - 8/2018
Mark Hubbard Long Ranch Boerne (361) 816-8400 Term: 8/2015-8/2017
REGION 5 Jeff Jones Brown Trophy Whitetail Ranch Ennis (214) 534-7056 Term: 8/2014-8/2017
REGION 6 Chris McDaniel B&C Wildlife Consulting Caldwell Cell (210) 287-3226 Term: 8/2015-8/2018
Mike Wood Madera Bonita Game Ranch Combine Cell (214) 356-7913 Term: 8/2013-8/2016
Chris Stewart 3S Texas Outdoor/3S Whitetails Bedias (832) 493-0147 Term: 8/2016 - 8/2019
Carroll Glaser Emma’s Crossing Rockdale (512) 284-0807 Term: 8/2015-8/2018
Summer Wingo High Roller Whitetails Center (936) 427-2773 Term: 8/2014 - 8/2017
REGION 7 Troy Smith Triple S Whitetail Highlands (713) 725-2723 Term: 8/2015-8/2018
REGION 8 Craig Wilson Wilson Whitetail Ranch Fair Oaks Ranch (210) 602-4531 Term: 8/2014-8/2017
Zac Kennedy JZ Whitetails Gonzales (361) 293-8867 Term: 8/2014-8/2017
Ben Schmidtke Silverhorn Ranch LLC Freer (830) 267-1448 Term: 8/2016 - 8/2019
Rodney Heller Heller Deer Farm Yoakum (361) 293-4635 Term: 8/2016-8/2019
Klint Graf G5 Ranch San Antonio (210) 213-5306 Term: 8/2015 - 8/2018
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REGIONAL OFFICERS REGION 1 Sheldon Grothaus President Hondo (210) 854-5833
REGION 4 Jason Maroney President Kerrville (512) 748-2810
Hugo Berlanga Vice President Corpus Christi (361) 813-9212
Chuck Herndon Vice President Utopia 830-966-2301
REGION 3 Michael Deveny President Cross Plains (936) 554-4941
Grant Garner Secretary/Treasurer Mountain Home
Steve Frisina Vice President Fort Worth (432) 556-2970
REGION 5 John True President Dallas (214) 890-0900
REGION 8 Lynn Collard President George West ( 575) 519-8458
Jason Milligan Vice President Georgetown (512) 635-4327
Verona Wilson Secretary/Treasurer Center 254-206-0293
Amanda Ivie Secretary/Treasurer Maypearl 214-794-5755
REGION 7 Zac Kennedy President Gonzales (361) 293-8867
Leo Martinez Vice President Freer 361-207-0980
REGION 6 Summer Wingo President Center (936) 427-2773
Ryan Mills Vice President Gonzales (830) 857-3443
Carrie Collard Secretary/Treasurer George West 575-590-0539
Keith Payne Vice President Bellville 214-802-7386
Latimer Sands Secretary/Treasurer Houston 832-741-3757
TDA ADVISORY BOARD Bill Grace Salado (254) 718-5084
Warren Bluntzer Lometa (512) 556-7027
Tom Malouf Wills Point (469) 222-2778
Dr. James Kroll Nacogdoches (936) 554-0998
Jerry Johnston San Antonio (210) 288-1558
David Hayward Columbus (936) 870-6835
Marty Berry Corpus Christi (361) 767-7200
Chase Clark Three Rivers (361) 319-6926
TDA FOUNDING DIRECTORS REGION 3 Ray Murski Meridian 1939-2011 Jon Henderson Meridian 2004 REGION 4 Bill Grace Salado (254) 718-5084 Dr. Dan McBride Burnet (512) 755-1919 Jerry Johnston San Antonio (210) 288-1558
Randy Shipp Lometa (512) 756-3194
Tom Malouf Wills Point (469) 222-2778
Slim Crapps Hondo (210) 413-9777
Glenn Sodd Corsicana (903) 396-7096
Warren Bluntzer Lometa (512) 556-7027
REGION 6 Dr. James Kroll Nacogdoches (936) 554-0998
REGION 5 Rod Green Mineola (903) 530-6326
J.N. Grimes Jacksonville (903) 721-1375
David Hayward Columbus (936) 870-6835
Robert Scherer Houston (713) 851-3767
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REGION 8 Marty Berry Corpus Christi (361) 767-7200 Lee Wheeler George West (361) 449-6000 Gene Riser George West 1945-2011
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TDA FOUNDING FATHERS
TDA MISSION STATEMENT TDA is the unified voice of deer enthusiasts who seek to share ideas and methods to improve management and harvest of deer. TDA is a Texas deer organization that cares for the welfare and health of deer herds and methods to improve deer quality and hunting quality in Texas. We, as the TDA, are working toward better conservation, appropriate regulations and improving the overall quality of deer herds in Texas.
TDA PURPOSE AND GOALS - To promote wise management of deer, recognizing that hunting and management are lifelong enterprises; - To be a repository and clearinghouse of accurate and high quality information and knowledge; - To promote deer herd health and quality through research, technology, and flexible management practices;
- To improve the image and awareness of deer management and harvest through public education; - To promote research and technology regarding improvements to deer herds through the practice of controlled breeding and genetic improvements; - To share research findings, management techniques and harvest strategies with the membership of TDA; and
- The deer-breeding industry is relatively new to Texas, but data from a 2007 Texas A&M University Economic Impact Study indicates it has a $652 million annual economic impact in Texas, equivalent to the state’s rice and citrus industries.The industry’s economic contributions, especially to rural areas, tourism, real estate, wildlife, game and land management, are beginning to be noticed, not only in Texas, but in states across the nation.
- To increase quality hunting opportunities for Texas hunters. 4
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REGIONAL REPORTS REGION 5 John True, President On Monday, October 10th, Bob Price, Jeff Jones, Mike Wood, Tom Malouf, Pete Moore, Ike Conway and John True met with Representative Dan Flynn. We met at Tom Malouf’s ranch and had a great meeting, bringing Representative Flynn up to speed on present and future issues that affect Texas deer breeders. Many thanks to Tom Malouf for hosting this important meeting at his beautiful ranch. There will be a Region 5 Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, January 24th at Tom Malouf’s ranch. Please make plans to attend. For more information, contact John True at (214) 679-1776.
REGION 6 Summer Wingo, President There was an emergency regional meeting at 3-S Whitetails, hosted by board member Chris Stewart. This meeting was held to fill the vacant board member seat. Summer Wingo was elected to the vacant Board of Directors seat for region 6. High Roller Whitetails recently hosted their local Chamber of Commerce for an informational ranch visit. The Chamber was given a tour and information about the deer industry. High Roller Whitetails also hosted State Representative Chris Paddie during its AI process. With both groups, they discussed daily operations and were given a basic and informal discussion about operating a deer farm. 3-S Whitetails is getting the youth involved in the deer industry by hosting students from Sam Houston State University during their AI process. They are reaching out to and teaching the younger generation to promote the industry and ensure its longevity. For more information, contact Summer Wingo, at (936) 427-2773.
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CONTENT DEPARTMENTS
POINTS OF INTERESTS
5
Regional Officer Reports
77
USS Illinois Story
13
President’s Journal
87
Calendar of Events
15
Executive Director’s Journal
96
Tracks Classifieds
96
Advertiser’s Index
TDA CARES 19
An Introduction to Nature
26
TDA Member Spotlight
27
Joint Advisory Committee
PAGE 19
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 33
Supplemental Feed and White-Tailed Deer
37
Inventorying Deer Populations From The Air
43
Managing Yaupon for Deer Browse
PAGE 33
HUNTING & SHOOTING 52
Foggy Beginnings
56
Hunters are the Ultimate Conservationists
60
Practical Optics
PAGE 52
PAGE 65
INDUSTRY 65
Common Diseases of Captive Fawns in Florida
65
USDA’s Veterinary Services Releases CWD Program Standards Document for Review
FROM THE CAPITOL 68
Election Summary Infographic
Cover photo by Marty Berry
PAGE 68
2016 TEXAS GENERAL ELECTION
RESULTS TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
Texas House:
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TDA STAFF
PATRICK TARLTON Executive Director patrick@texasdeerassociation.com
MACKENZIE OLIPHANT Director of Operations mackenzie@texasdeerassociation.com
CECI WALLACE Director of Finance ceci@texasdeerassociation.com
JUDY JACKSON Membership Director judy@texasdeerassociation.com
PAULINE PRESTON Director of Events pauline@texasdeerassociation.com
BROOKE WILAND Advertising Director brooke@texasdeerassociation.com
DAVID ESCAMILLA Graphic Designer david@texasdeerassociation.com
KELSEY SHINAUT Graphic Designer kelsey@texasdeerassociation.com
EDITORIAL INFORMATION Editorial comments may be sent to: Amy Clark, Editor amyclark.texas@gmail.com Advertising requests may be sent to: publications@texasdeerassociation.com Direct all other correspondence and address changes to: TDA 816 Congress Avenue, Ste. 950 Austin, TX 78701 It is the sole responsibility of the advertiser to ensure ad artwork is current and submitted by each issue’s deadline and that their advertising contracts are up to date.
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TRACKS ADVERTISING SUBMISSION DEADLINES
EDITORIAL STATEMENT Tracks is the official publication of the Texas Deer Association (TDA) and is published six times a year. Subscription is included in membership dues. Articles in Tracks are independent opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of TDA. TDA assumes no responsibility for statements or advertising made or expressed in this publication. TDA reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. Materials should be mailed to TDA as listed. 816 Congress Avenue, Ste. 950 Austin, TX 78701 www.texasdeerassociation.com
JANUARY/FEBRUARY November 15 MARCH/APRIL January 15 MAY/JUNE March 15 JULY/AUGUST May 16 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER July 15 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER September 15
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TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
Serving All Texas Ranches
Standing Seam Metal R-Panel Metal Stone Coated Steel DesignerRoofing.com
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
972.644.6556
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PRESIDENT’S JOURNAL
FOCUS 2017 Y
es, 2016 and all of its uphill battles are but a fond memory and the new year springs forth with promises to be a good year for the deer industry in Texas. It seems impossible that 12 months has lapsed since my President’s letter this time last year, but I would like to dig out that letter and recap the advances made on plans for TDA that were offered up in a most challenging time for the Deer business. Please refer to the January/February 2016 President’s letter in which you were promised: A new TDA website Digital clips and social media marketing in quality and quantity never seen Sharing of news, ideas and plans in a timely manner Small Working Groups focused on specific issues Member development within each region Options for membership including e-memberships Digital distribution of ads, member directories, auction catalogs and magazine Auction software to speed check-in/pay out and automate billing Monthly account statements Ability to auto-renew/upgrade memberships online Contractual agreements between TDA and exhibitors, vendors, advertisers & sponsors Corporate and Industry Sponsorships head-lining our events Total underwrite of event fixed expenses
Wow!!! What a Year!!! In that same article, these efforts were touted to be accomplished by the strong partnership of Members, Board, Staff and Industry. Indeed, they were! A group effort that is to be commended for recognizing, understanding, and executing for the benefit of all associated with the Texas deer industry by its one and only leader – The Texas Deer Association. So, what is in the crystal ball for 2017? GROWTH and lots of it. The diversification plans underway now will expand into activity areas for youth, seniors, military, hunters and all the outdoor and wildlife enthusiasts within our borders and beyond. The ability to expand market areas is necessary and deliberate to enable TDA to garner the support, exposure, and strength necessary to carry out our mission with Sniper Rifle accuracy. The promotion and media/branding team working
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in your Austin office is talented and skilled beyond compare. They not only bring to TDA in-house multi-media capability but also a marketable skill-set commodity that will pay its own way AND provide extra revenue for operations. By-Laws will be addressed to embrace the totality of our broadened scope. A new outdoor magazine is being evaluated. Bi-weekly webcasts will advise members, Board and regional officers of TDA ongoings. Solicitation of release site owners, hunting operators and hunting groups for membership is underway with many already added. A new membership database searchable by any criteria is being implemented. New and innovative means for marketing by members will evolve in 2017. One example is our new alliance with WildlifeBuyer.com that will provide an online auction platform unlike any other. Many region-focused activities will provide entertainment as well as a platform for information distribution. A new slate of officers will be seated at the August Convention. A LOT will be happening at your Texas Deer Association this year. I am truly excited about the great things coming in 2017 and feel very privileged to be able to participate with such incredible members, Board, staff and industry supporters. I would be remiss if I did not mention the 85th Texas Legislative Session, now in full swing. Your Texas Deer Association keeps an hour by hour update of every bill and activity of interest to you, the members. Our Legislative Committee is chaired most capably by Advisory Board Member Marty Berry, who brings years of experience and a wealth of relationships to the Committee Table. Chairman Berry is immersed in our issues and interacts on a regular basis with our Lobby team, our Executive Director and the legislators themselves. He epitomizes the dedication to service in leadership at TDA that will protect your capital investment and rights as land and business owners. NOW is the time to place calls and have discussions with your State Reps and Senators. Let them know your issues and positions. They need and want to hear from you. Feel free to call the TDA office if we can help facilitate a meeting for you. Stay informed – read your email. TDA will continue to advise you of all activity. Stay involved… our strength is growing, and we need your involvement for 2017. PLEASE pledge your sole allegiance to the one professional deer trade organization that is informed, capable, and mobilized to BEST represent YOU our members. Spread the good word and bring others on board. Amazing things happened in 2016 and 2017 promises to be even stronger. I can’t wait to see the list of successes this time next year!!! Thank you all for everything you do and as always… Hunt Your Way. Sincerely,
Bob Price
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S JOURNAL
Let the Legislature Begin!
Happy 2017! A
new year is upon us, and with it, a renewed opportunity for the Texas Deer Association to continue leading the way in protecting your private property rights as landowners and business owners in this state. As the largest association for deer enthusiasts AND the top advocate for the deer industry rights in Texas, we are the ONLY deer association in Texas fighting for your rights in the “Pink Dome” in Austin. 2017 holds much promise, but it also will bring great challenge. Nowhere will this be more evident than in the 85th Session of the Texas Legislature, which convenes this month. Quite honestly, the future of our industry will largely be shaped by what happens in the halls of the Texas Capitol over the next 140 days. The good news is, we – all of us together – have the opportunity to influence legislators in their decision-making process. A positive legislative outcome depends on your commitment – and the commitment of everyone involved in the deer industry – to become more engaged and committed to success in the upcoming legislative session. Too often we forget that our system of elected representation only functions if those we elect actually represent us. We must let our elected representatives know what is important to our families, our businesses, and also our property. They must hear from each of us this year. Get to know your State Representative and State Senator. Do they represent your interests as a deer rancher, a private property owner, a tax-paying citizen? Do they represent your interests on the issues that are so crucial to the future of our industry? They must not only be educated on our issues, but also on who we are as an industry. We must not let our nearly BILLION DOLLAR contribution to this state go unnoticed. To put it in perspective, the Greek general and statesman named Pericles said it quite well nearly 2,500 years ago: “Just because you don’t take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you.” Ours is a nearly $1 billion industry in this great state. It is our success and growth that has made others sit up and take notice. Far from being the “cottage industry” that opponents try to label us, we have worked over the last few decades to create a sustainable model for improving both the quality AND the quantity of the whitetail herd in Texas. That means size, genetics, herd health, and population have all improved under the watchful eyes of those who steward the resource best… the private landowner. Our success has also bred enemies, as success always does. Those who would seek to destroy our industry and our way of life have historically been quite active in past legislative sessions. And the one coming up in 2017 will be no different. Our opponents are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lobbyists and advocacy efforts to put us out of business.
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The time is now for you to engage, to get involved, and to take an interest in the business of the State Capitol. You can be sure that government action over the next 140 days will somehow impact your life, whether we are paying attention or not. So let’s make sure we are paying attention – now more than ever! Over the next five months, here are the goals for everyone who lives, loves, and appreciates the Texas deer industry. 1) Get to know both your State Representative and your State Senator. Invite them out to your ranch to help work deer one evening. Give them a tour of your facility. Let them see what our business is really all about. 2) Make plans this spring to attend our TDA Deer Day at the Capitol, set for March 8th. This will be our opportunity to gather in Austin as an industry. At this event, you can join us to talk with our state’s leaders about the issues that are crucial to the future of our industry. More information will follow in the months to come, so keep your eyes open for your opportunity to participate. 3) Support our PAC efforts. TDA leads the way in the deer industry as the largest organization in the state dedicated to protecting the rights of both the industry member and the hunter. Our Political Action Committee invests in the protection, improvement, and promotion of the deer industry in Texas. TDA’s Political Action Committee is vital to our success in the legislative process. PAC donations have allowed TDA to both positively affect legislation and to have significant impact on regulations pertaining to the deer industry. When we put our money where our mouth is, as they say, we amplify our voice across the halls of the Capitol. We multiple our impact immeasurably. As a PAC donor, you are playing a crucial role in the success of our legislative efforts. Please consider a sustaining donation to this important fund, and help us have a more significant impact on our industry’s future. It is my honor to serve as your Executive Director, and I look forward to working with all of you to ensure a bright 2017 for the Texas deer industry! Sincerely,
Patrick Tarlton
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TDA CARES
AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURE BY JUDY BISHOP JUREK
6th Annual Notice Nature Field Day for Duval County 7th Grade Students
One presentation named Animal Adaptations presented the skulls and hides of various wildlife species native to south Texas were displayed and their habitat and importance to the ecology discussed. Photos Courtesy of Agua Poquita SWCD # 321
Y
oung minds are impressionable. From an early age into budding adulthood, the most simple words or actions may have a lasting effect on a young person’s entire life. Seventh grade students are generally 11-13 years old. They may or may not yet have a clue as to their future, but they are at a period in their lives when young inquisitive minds are open to learning new things each and every day. This is a phase when and where transition begins. As a child merges into a teenager, an ever broadening attention span combines with curiosity and the first hints of maturity. It is a good time to introduce nature to young people rapidly advancing toward their adult years. And what better way to educate than through their school system in the form of a nature field day? Of course, it would only be possible with the help of numerous people and organizations all working together. (See Sidebar I) Sammy Guerra is the District Conservationist for the Agua Poquita Soil and Water Conservation District #321. Upon transferring to the Freer area, Guerra met with the local United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) whose desire was to educate youth about conservation. At the same time Guerra toured the Temple Ranch where a new flood control structure had just been completed. It gave him an idea. “I came from a county that had an ‘Ag in the Classroom’ day. I proposed bringing youth to a ranch to see for themselves actual things that make a ranch work,” said Guerra. “Many kids notice nature but have no idea why a tractor clears brush or realize that there’s more to hunting than just a big buck.” “That’s how it got started six years ago. The reason we chose seventh graders is that it’s right before their high school years.
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They’re not quite as busy as they may be once they hit high school.” Guerra added it is a time to open their eyes to different possibilities other than the normal career days. Thus the Duval County Notice Nature Field Day for seventh grade students was created. It would encompass youngsters attending Freer, Benavides, and San Diego schools. Daniel Kunz is a Technical Guidance Biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s South Texas District. He was on the original planning committee for the Duval County Notice Nature Field Day. Kunz said each one has been a great experience, both fun and educational not only for the students, but for the adults participating as well. “Basically we felt seventh graders were the right age to introduce them to nature. They are at the age to be excited about the outdoors,” said Kunz. “I present a program called Animal Adaptations. It goes through different south Texas wildlife species and how important their habitat is to each. Many species are represented by skulls and skins.” Kunz continued, “The kids seem to be really interested and ask good questions. Most have been exposed to the outdoors but may not know how to read tracks or recognize the more common wildlife species, and even some exotics, that we have here in south Texas. They’re at the age where it may make a difference in their future.” Seguin veterinarian Dr. Scott Bugai is no stranger to TDA, having served in many capacities on various committees and boards, donating his time and effort to numerous causes. Performing necropsies on whitetails is just one of his many talents and endeavors. “I’ve done this for different ages but I believe this is my first showing to seventh graders.” “We had to move some stuff into the big barn at the G4
AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURE | 19
Ranch due to the weather. There was limited space with so many kids but it worked out fine.” Bugai said, “I was extremely pleased with the interest of the students. I asked how many had killed a deer and was surprised how many hands went up.” With a chuckle, Bugai related, “I was also pleased at their receptiveness and eagerness to get their hands ‘dirty’ by letting them get into deer carcasses. (Gloves were used.) No question shocked me although there weren’t too many questions. Going through the digestive system pointing out organs, one student wanted to see the contents of everything, not just the rumen. That was interesting to me.” “I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the field day. This wasn’t about managing wildlife for a zoo as one asked. Students were exposed to renewable resources, how important wildlife, cattle, and so many outdoor things are to everyone and the future.” Bugai paused, then added, “I was very pleased. This is the next generation of outdoorsmen and women.” Having graduated from the Texas Game Warden Academy in August, 2016, Warden Miles Braesicke is quite familiar with South Texas. He grew up in Bracketville and spent recent years in the Corpus Christi area before being assigned to Duval County as a newly commissioned law enforcement officer. This was his first time to present the Operation Game Thief trailer exhibit to young students. “It was a great experience for me and I was happy to tell the back stories that go along with the various exhibits and answer questions. The students were great.” Braesicke said, Each student attending the Notice Nature Field Day received “They seemed most interested in the bear and mountain this nifty backpack courtesy of the Texas Deer Association and lion stories as well as the ocelot and scimitar oryx, the more G4 Ranch. Photos Courtesy of Agua Poquita SWCD # 321 unusual species we have featured.” “They also wanted to know how all the south Texas animals group, full of curiosity, seeming to absorb everything like a were seized. They asked good questions. I believe it was an sponge.” immense learning experience for everyone, including me,” he Sponsoring and hosting this year’s event was the G4 Ranch chuckled. “I’m ready to do it again. This was an impressive age at Freer. “The Temple Ranch hosted the field day for five years
Heart in hand. Is this a future heart surgeon, researcher or veterinarian? Who knows how much impact a single day participating in the annual Duval County Notice Nature Field Day may have on a young student’s future? Photos Courtesy of Agua Poquita SWCD # 321
20 | AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURE
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but it sold. We were contacted and enthusiastically jumped on it,” said Leo Martinez, Ranch Manager. “I met with the NRCS, used their formula, made plans, and it all came together. We’re very involved with TDA so we had some other breeders and ranches here to see how it worked, plugging other ranches to do it, too.” “It was really good. We’re rural out here and many of the students have been raised in this stuff yet others have no clue. A lot of the students don’t ever have the opportunity to go on a ranch. They don’t know what goes on behind a high fence. Many believe a ranch is 5, 10, 15 acres.” “It’s kind of amazing. When they step off the buses they are loud. But when they’re broken into groups and an adult starts their presentation, the kids quickly get silent and pay attention,” chuckled Martinez. “There were many presentations. The Pasture-to-Plate had a live steer; the various cuts of meat were pointed out. There were soils, grasses, brush, wetlands, waterfowl…it all ties in together.” “I was asked to talk spontaneously so I wasn’t prepared. I grabbed a skull with antlers and told them how to score a deer, then talked about breeding and hunting for twenty minutes. A lot of youngsters never get the chance to hunt but the Notice Nature day does more than talk about hunting. It demonstrates and discusses ecology and conservation.” Martinez said, “They interacted a lot. It’s an intense one day.” “One question was how or what determines if a deer goes or stays. I was impressed. I really felt they were understanding it. Before it was all over and everyone left, we were asked if we would host again. My answer was ‘Absolutely!” Martinez said with a big smile. A former science and math teacher, Rosalva Campos has been the Freer Junior High Principal for three years. She’s been involved with the Duval County Notice Nature Field Day since it began. “It is one of several annual field days. However, it is the most highly anticipated.” Laughing, she added, “No one wants to miss it. Teachers included.” “I believe this is an extremely important educational tool. We have such a variety of wildlife in South Texas as well as ranching. This day presents so many different things that interest the students. Learning the background of whitetail deer, it is amazing how engaged the kids get. They know they can ask any question and they will get an answer.”
“Even though this is a rural area, the kids learn so much just through this one day’s exposure to so many things outdoors,” said Campos. “Some did not know deer shed their antlers. Learning about tracking and identifying prints was fun. The wetlands display, the Operation Game Thief trailer, the veterinarian’s demonstration…too many things to name. It is a very educational experience, thoroughly enjoyed by all.” As a writer, I have written many articles about the Texas Brigades. I was immediately struck that the Duval County Notice Nature Field Day was quite similar in many ways except much was crammed into one day instead of five. Guerra, Bugai and Martinez all agreed as each is familiar with the highly successful Brigades program that has been copied by several states since being implemented in the Lone Star state. This past year I wrote about several past Brigades members and how a single week changed their lives. I was curious if any follow up has been done on the first students who went through the field day six years ago, to see if that single day about nature had any impact on the future career choices of recent graduates. Guerra say no, but it was something that had been on his mind lately. “We need to do that. We generally have about 200 students; we had 210 this year. If the field day touches one or two youngsters then it’s a success.” Guerra said, “We don’t have a patent on this. We would like to see it spread through other counties, go across the state. It’s a chance to see that game wardens aren’t bad guys, to discover what biologists do, what a veterinarian does, and so on. As I said, it can be an eye opener for many.” The door is open for others to follow. Perhaps you, the reader, can help initiate something similar in your school system. All it takes is putting it together. The USDA-NRCS, the Agua Poquita Soil and Water Conservation District #321, G4Ranch, and TDA will be happy to assist. After all, as Dr. Scott Bugai stated, these seventh graders are the next generation of outdoorsmen and women.
The Value of Sponsors and Supporters As with most events and activities regardless of the type or purpose it would not be possible without the combined efforts of many. A special thanks to Sammy Guerra and Administrative Assistant Mandy Walters of the Agua Poquita Soil and Water Conservation District #321 for their input, time, and effort planning and putting the field day together. Much credit goes to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) and all the folks from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Duval County ISDs, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi Center for Coastal Studies who put on displays, demonstrations, and helped out in numerous capacities.
members, for graciously furnishing the locale this year as well as being able to make last minute changes due to the weather. G4 Ranch assisted in the donation of backpacks to all students. Additional gratitude goes to TDA member Dr. Scott Bugai, DVM, of Seguin for taking time from his busy practice to travel to Freer. His knowledge and services performing a whitetail necropsy and answering a wide variety of questions during hands-on deer anatomy exploration was the day’s highlight for many youngsters. Thank you to independent biologist and consultant David Smith for his devoted time and energy putting together a program on plant identification.
Numerous sponsors also helped with the field day in a variety of ways. They are (in no particular order): Paraiso Ranch, Capital Farm Credit, Piedras Pintas Ranch, 7 C’s Whitetails, Prukop Farms, Rancho Talisman, Heath A. Jauer, Killam Ranch Properties, Salinas & Sons, Gist Kinsman Ranch, Doggett Family Foundation, Madera Bonita Ranch, Rebel Ranch, and Record Rack. The Texas Deer Association was thrilled to be a part of the Duval County Notice Nature Field Day. Creating and supplying a useful backpack for every participating student was a small token of appreciation. TDA looks forward to sponsoring this event, and hopefully more like it, in the future.
Great appreciation to the G4 Ranch and Ranch Manager Leo Martinez, active TDA
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AN INTRODUCTION TO NATURE | 21
WHAT STUDENTS SAID
*The following were taken from student papers written about the field day, misspellings and all. Enjoy!
Krishna G. – When I got there saw a lot of things like stuffed animals and a satellite collar tracker. I learned about on how to control fire, how the stuffed animals died, about the different kinds of soil, and hunting and fishing. The most memorable thing about the trip was the deer getting cut open. At least six deer were cut open and then we were allowed to get gloves and touch all of it organs. It was cool but also really gross at the same time.
Pete P. – I saw a lot of mountained animals including a bear, mountain lion, and lots more. One thing that was memorable was when they cut the stomach open the processed food stunk. Aiden J. – I learned that we fight forest fire with fire. I also learned that you can be really young and need a hunting license.
Haley L. – We were also learning about and how to trap a turkey. Again really cool and we also learned about natural fires and the plants actually like it I bizarre and really nteresting. I also learned about different kinds of dirt and the most coolest part is when I got to see inside a deer!
Julian U. – I saw many amazing and disgusting things and I saw deer guts which was pretty cool but I hated the smell! Kelly G. – What I learned was that when you kill a cow you can make meat out of it and do I kind of food. One of the deers a man was cutting it open and was taking everything out of it.
Askantu U. – I learned that it’s illegal to have stuffed animals. I also learned that a deer has 4 stomic. I got to hold a heart, and its lung. The thing that was most memorable for me was when I would like to be a surgen when I get older so the deer was really nteresting to me.
Frank R. – What I remember most is that there is cow fat in chewing gum, it was easy for me to remember because we all chew gum in our everyday life.
Monique H. – So what I learned the most was Pepé the Fire control. And what I remembered the most was the game wardens.
Servando V. – I was given the opertunity too to visit the ranch opon arrival I saw a game warden trailer. One of the funniest projects there was the radar fining the decoy turkey and tining it.
Eric L. – It was fun and the best part about the hole thing was seeing the inside of the deer and getting to touch the heart and liver tissue and that was the (wasn’t completed).
Leighandra Z. – I met Gamewarents, two Agg teacher and other’s. I learned that we use the steer for many thing like we use it for food we also use it for medicine. They said that theres vegetarian because they use medicine. My most memorable thing about the I trip was the dead deer’s. I couldn’t eat meet for like a week.
Dezabelle F. – At the G4 Ranch there was lots of ranch hands my most favorit ranch hand was the person who taught us about tracking the animals and the technology they use to track them and how we got to tract a fack turkey that was fun. At the G4 Ranch I had fun seeing all the ranch hands and all the things they do for the G4 Ranch.
Brandon C. – The things I learn about the tracking station was how they study the animals by putting transmiters on the animal that will let them know were the animals been and collect data.
Diavaia L. – What I saw a steer and they showed us that steers and are made out of a lot of things like makeup, perfume, lotion, and more things. What I will not forget about this I trip is when they were diceting the deer and pulling all the parts out. I will never forget the big lodge they had. I would like to go there again one day.
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TDA CARES
TDA Member Spotlight: Barbara Peeler & the Peeler Ranch BY AMY CLARK, TRACKS EDITOR
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or TDA member Barbara Peeler and her family, helping kids in the community is part of everyday life. “My main focus has always been kids,” says Peeler, who has been a school board member in her hometown of Jourdanton for nearly 40 years. Barbara and her husband and family have “run” their Atascosa County ranch for more than 55 years even though they maintain a home in town. It is primarily a working cattle ranch and was established in 1913. She credits her husband with being able to maintain and keep the ranch all these years, though it has not always been easy to do. “We are very particular about things,” says Peeler, “and we believe in maintaining all aspects of the land.” This, of course, includes their wildlife resources. A TDA member since 2012, Peeler believes in actively managing their deer population and has help culling deer by letting area kids, servicemen, veterans and church groups go hunting on their land. Stressing to her guests the ethics of hunting is important to Peeler. “We are hunters, not killers,” she says. “What we hunt and what we shoot is eaten.” One of the most rewarding ways Peeler has found to interact with local kids in the community is through the Future Farmers of America, or FFA. Her family has worked with the organization for many years, and has begun to team up with them to host competitive meets at their ranch. This year marked the 10th year that Wintergarden FFA enjoyed the beautiful surroundings of the Peeler Ranch as they pursued their annual Invitational Land, Grass, and Range
“My main focus has always been the kids.” Photo by Barbara Peeler District Contest. Nearly 500 kids from 29 schools across south Texas—stretching all the way south to Benavides and Calallen— competed in contests that included: range evaluation, home site evaluation, plant identification, and land judging. Peeler said this wasn’t the only group that her family has worked with, but it was certainly the largest. To incentivize the kids, her family has begun to offer college scholarships to the first and second place winners in each division. To her, the best part is seeing the growing diversity within the FFA community, as well as being able to help students with special needs take part in the activities. Working with students through the FFA allows Peeler and her family to pass on to the next generation what they consider to be a very important life lesson: teaching the youth of today where their food actually comes from. “It all goes back to the land, and that’s what we want them to know. That they should appreciate it and be grateful for it, and for all that it provides for us.” She has discovered over the years in talking with the kids that most every one of them dreams of one day owning a ranch… whatever the term “ranch” might mean to them. And that is something especially gratifying to Peeler. “This is all something that has been gift from God,” she remarks. “We are believers in a good clean way to make a living, and we thank Him every night that He has provided us this way to make ours.” Peeler will be quick to point out to you that they don’t have a fancy lodge, or large commercial operation. Nor do they have their family ranch just to play. “We work hard every single day,” explains Peeler, “everybody here does! Our end goal is simply to make a living and to help feed a lot of people.” And feed people they do… but in more than just the obvious ways. The Peeler family’s hospitality and dedication to the children of the community has fed countless minds, hearts, spirits, imaginations and dreams over the years, and south Texas is a better, richer place for it.
Photo by Barbara Peeler
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TDACares Effort Launches New Advisory Board
TDA is proud to announce the formation of the brand new #TDACares Advisory Board. This will be a group of volunteers from the TDA family who are dedicated to furthering our #TDACares outreach… an effort to support various children’s and veteran’s groups across the state of Texas. Since the outreach was launched last year, the association or its members have already touched the lives of hundreds of children and vets through our participation in a wide range of events, benefitting groups such as 4H, The Boot Campaign, OATH, St. Jude’s, and many more. From sponsoring educational opportunities to get more of today’s kids into the great outdoors to serving those who have so courageously served our nation, our mission with #TDACares is to share the blessings we’ve been given with others in our communities. We invite you to join our #TDACares Advisory Board today! Contact Gloria Boenker at gloria@rockstardeer. com for more information about how you can become involved in our efforts to make our Lone Star shine just a little bit brighter for kids and veterans across the state. We applaud those in our TDA family of members who are giving back every day through their charitable efforts. Have a great story to share?
Email Info@texasdeerassociation.com to let us know about it!
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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
SUPPLEMENTAL FEED AND WHITE-TAILED DEER ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY NICK KOLBE
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n the past 30 years, supplemental feeding to assist whitetailed deer populations has become very popular and an increasing trend in Texas. Landowners and hunters across the state have seen the benefits that feeding has on their deer herds, not only in antler growth by males, but in body condition of animals and population densities, as well. Though there are many benefits to supplemental feeding, there are also negative impacts and considerations to be made when deciding to implement a feeding program. From the literature and the vast amount of research on supplemental feeding in Texas, there are common themes and results expressed in the majority. One of the most important results seen from protein feeding and probably the main goal for most who utilize a supplemental feeding program is increased antler growth for male white-tailed deer. Given that nutrition in
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the environment fluctuates throughout the year, supplemental feed provides a consistently available food source that can be used for antler growth, even when environmental conditions are tough. Given the opportunity to consume protein feed during key periods like March through September when growing antlers, males are known to increase antler size substantially versus those that do not have access to supplemental feed. They are able to utilize the additional protein-rich food source along with their natural habitat forage to increase antler growth and reach their genetic potential. Supplemental feeding also helps males and females maintain optimum body condition throughout the year. Males following the breeding season are drawn down from the rut and are looking to bounce back with the spring green-up. Providing supplemental nutrition during late winter and early spring
SUPPLEMENTAL FEED | 33
allow bucks to regain body weight lost during rut. Therefore, those who supplemental feed usually see lower post-rut mortality in their buck cohort. The same idea applies to prerut periods. Males that have access to feed throughout the summer and into fall tend to be in a much healthier condition in terms of body weight and fat reserves than animals not consuming feed. It is also very important to note the dynamic environmental conditions of Texas. Given that Texas is variable on both precipitation amount and timing throughout the year, providing feed will keep males in great physical condition when droughts do occur. Similarly, these concepts hold true for the female cohort of a population as well, except in greater detail. Providing optimum nutrition for the female cohort of a white-tailed deer population is so important and is often shadowed by the benefits for males. Males need roughly 12%-16% protein for antler growth which is pretty consistent for most supplemental feed. In comparison, females need upwards of 30%-32% protein for successful conception, gestation and lactation to recruit fawns into the population. Does are constantly under nutritional stress! In the winter, does are bred and gestate young for 200 days after date of conception. These 200 days are crucial as females need all the nutrition they can get to develop—not one, but two—fawns (in most cases, does give birth to twins). Following birth, the female has to lactate to provide nutrients to fawn(s) for 2-4 months. Lactation and weaning is probably the most stringent time of the year for females as lactation is very costly and nutrient dependent. Simultaneously while weaning fawns, the female has to keep her body weight at a healthy level to prepare for mating season from November-February. So as you can see, there is a much higher demand on females to consume a more protein-rich diet throughout the year for necessary life processes than there is to simply grow antlers for males. Most who supplemental feed do not realize that feeding impacts the female and juvenile aspect of a deer population much greater than the male cohort. As a result, landowners and hunters who supplemental feed tend to see heavier and healthier bodied females and a higher juvenile recruitment ratio when conducting deer surveys in the fall. An important point that I touched on briefly above is the benefit that supplemental feed has during critical periods such as a drought. With low, or in some cases no precipitation during the year and especially during the growing season, the habitat will lack in forage and nutrition that is needed by males, females and fawns. When this occurs, landowners will go through what can be characterized as “bust” period. This is when the population takes a major hit and the white-tailed deer population density can see a decrease due to lack of nutrition in forage availability. It is important to note that the opposite of bust would be a “boom”—this is where there is an excess of nutrition in the environment that animals take advantage of and an increase in population density can be seen. Utilizing supplemental feed can smooth out that “boom or bust” cycle to see a more consistent population change from year to year in a deer herd. In a drought year, supplemental feed acts as a buffer and provides the nutrition to your males and females needed for necessary life processes such as antler growth and lactation that the habitat is unable to provide. Deciding to start supplemental feeding on your property
34 | SUPPLEMENTAL FEED
does not simply mean start feeding one day and expect results the next. There is a long term commitment and effort that is needed by the landowner to provide feed continuously to see the end results that are desired. Deer do not naturally consume feed from a protein feeder so they take time to learn and adjust to a supplemental food source. This is why there tends to be a response time of approximately 2 to 3 years that is needed to start seeing changes in your overall deer population. For example, say that a landowner plans to start feeding this upcoming spring-summer of 2017. It will take animals time to find the feed and start visiting sites regularly. This may not happen automatically and may take a year or more, potentially until 2019 for animals to adjust. Once consumption of feed does begin to occur consistently, property owners and managers would then hope to start seeing responses in those population characteristics of interest like antler growth, juvenile recruitment and overall body condition. However, seeing responses is not immediate either. It will take time and accurate data recording by the land owner to compare the results of those population characteristics between pre- and post-supplemental feeding periods. Supplemental feeding can do wonders for a deer population when implemented correctly and monitored. It can help those landowners and managers finally start to see the results they desire. However, these results will come at a steep price. Protein feed is not cheap and feeding year-round can add up to be an expensive bill. Understanding what your budget is when deciding to supplemental feed is important because it gives you an idea on how much you will be able to feed as well as when you will be able to feed. Often, landowners decide to simply feed during the most important times of the year such as from spring and through early fall when males are allocating nutrition to antler growth and females are lactating after giving birth. For landowners that are concerned with cost, limiting feeding to only spring and through early fall tends to be adequate for providing necessary supplementation as nutritional requirements for both sexes tends to be highest here compared to winter months. I would like to finish by stating that a supplemental feeding program should be just that, “supplemental”. The habitat should be the most important aspect of sound white-tailed deer management. A supplemental feeding program should assist in reaching the goals of a landowner, not dependent upon. White-tailed deer need a variety of different nutrients to survive and meet their nutritional requirements for necessary life processes. Supplemental feed does not give deer 100% of what they need. Supplemental feed merely compliments what the range habitat can provide for those animals. Deer will still depend on their habitat as a necessary food source and in fact, will depend upon it more heavily as deer numbers begin to increase. If a deer herd is on poor range conditions due to overpopulation or poor habitat management, a supplemental feeding program will more than likely not help and more importantly, will be a waste of money. It is very important to use wildlife management tools such as population and vegetation surveys to stay on top of where your deer herd is in terms of numbers and the affect that they are having on your habitat. In doing so as a landowner or hunter, you will begin meeting your property goals.
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TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
INVENTORYING DEER POPULATIONS FROM THE AIR BY BOB ZAIGLIN
The helicopter is a tool that facilitates the collection of an abundance of relevant information on a deer herd over a short period of time. Photo by Chase Clark
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rom August through October, the brush country is under a microscope from above. The solitude of one of the most tranquil regions in Texas is incessantly interrupted by the drone of helicopters like dragonflies hovering over and crisscrossing a small pond. Deer disturbed by the loud, lowflying, blade-popping craft dash through the thorn scrub below to escape what appears to them as an aerial predator. Inside the helicopter a biologist records the size, age, and number of deer observed in order to develop harvest recommendations that not only benefit the deer but the habitat upon which they depend. Everyone would like to know how many deer inhabit their landholding, and some want to know more about the animals they manage. The helicopter is a tool employed in south Texas to assess deer populations. It’s unquestionably the most popular survey technique in south Texas, and it is gaining popularity in other portions of the state. But before you schedule an aerial survey, there are a few things that must be understood. Number one is cost. At $625.00 per hour for an R-44 helicopter, which accommodates three passengers, it is expensive. I normally survey around 1,500 acres per hour,
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which breaks down to 42 cents per acre, or $420 per 1,000 acres, which doesn’t sound too bad unless you survey a 10,000-acre area, and the price elevates to $4,200. At this price one surely hopes to obtain the best possible information about their deer herd. Something else to consider is the efficiency of the technique. The fact is a significant number of deer go unobserved, particularly those older, reticent bucks that support the larger racks. At one time, biologists assumed that they were seeing a high percentage of the deer—90+%--but this is definitely not the case. Based on research where deer were captured and marked in such a way that they could be identified from an aircraft, repeated flights over these animals indicated that 50% of them could go unobserved. Yet this still represents the most rapid means of gathering an abundance of information on a particular deer herd. Like any tool employed, whether it is a scalpel or a helicopter, experience makes all the difference. When it comes to inventorying a deer herd with a helicopter, it’s important that an experienced observer gathers the information. Some folks book a flight simply to look over their bucks while pretending to conduct a survey, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but
INVENTORYING DEER POPULATIONS | 37
they must realize that the data collected is less than dependable. Although helicopter deer surveys are often conducted in the fall, the number of deer observed increases the later they are conducted in the season. Surveys conducted during the hot months of August and September in south Texas are less effective because heat restricts deer movement, reducing sightings, and the stress of disturbing deer at this time can be detrimental to the animal. The thick understory is also a concern because it provides additional opportunities for deer, particularly the older, reclusive bucks, to avoid being observed. The most productive data-gathering time period is during the post hunting season, or late January through February when temperatures are more conducive to escalated deer movements and more leaves have been jettisoned, increasing visibility. Now for every inadequacy a helicopter deer survey has, it represents some important advantages. It’s not only an enjoyable way to view your favorite deer turf, but if conducted properly, it provides data that can facilitate appropriate management objectives. For example, whenever I conduct an aerial deer survey, I don’t just record buck, doe, and fawn numbers. I segregate buck observations into five distinct categories. Number 1 includes all yearling spikes; number two contains all yearlings and two
helicopter they can be, particularly for the inexperienced. But by collecting this data, one can break down the deer herd into age classes. Simply put, if we don’t know the age class structure of the males, a mature buck harvest is difficult to recommend with any confidence. More importantly, if few mature bucks are observed, it means that too many bucks are being harvested, and a reduction in the male harvest should be considered. A helicopter is also an ideal tool to obtain collateral species information. This includes quail, turkey, hogs, coyotes, hawks, exotic hoof stock, and at times, domestic stock. All this information affords the manager a means of diagnosing potential problems. For example, if a high density of coyotes is observed and a low fawn survival is experienced, predator control may be warranted. An abundance of hawks may equate to a low quail population, dictating that feeders—if employed—be distributed in areas that afford the birds more protection, reducing the avian predators’ efficiency. The helicopter deer survey is simply that—a survey, not a census—where every animal is accounted for, but it does provide an abundance of data that can be employed to enhance the quality of life for all species occupying the area of concern. Reviewing habitat is another important derivative of an aerial survey. It not only provides the observer an opportunity to
Seldom, if ever, are all deer observed on an aerial survey. This is particularly true for those older, more reticent bucks that refuse to run from the aircraft. Photo by Bob Zaiglin
year-old deer with branched antlers; number three includes all middle-age bucks (three to four years of age); number four includes all mature bucks (five+ years old); and number five includes all bucks exhibiting above average-sized racks with a benchmark antler size designated by region. For example, in south Texas, a buck that gross scores 160 inches is considered a trophy, while in the Hill Country it may be in the 140-inch range. An increase or decrease in trophy caliber bucks can be considered as a measurement of management. All these categories sound confusing, and when inside a
38 | INVENTORYING DEER POPULATIONS
estimate plant diversity, but to a trained eye, habitat abuse can be detected. Although popular, the helicopter is not the only survey technique when it comes to estimating deer populations. Possibly the most often employed technique to estimate deer populations is the spotlight. Its principal advantage is affordability. All that is required is some mode of transportation and three individuals—a driver and one person on each side of the back of the vehicle searching the brush for deer. The length of the route in feet, multiplied by the sum of
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all visibility distances collected every tenth of a mile on both sides of the vehicle, yields the area viewed in square feet. Then is then divided by 43,500 square feet, which equates to observable acreage. The disadvantage of a spotlight count, like aerial surveys, is its dependency on deer behavior. Sometimes deer are simply inactive, or visibility is extremely limited, thus surveys must be repeated several nights in an attempt to obtain an adequate sample size with which to work. The most cost-efficient method to acquire population data on a particular deer herd is to employ “windshield biology”, where individuals collect incidental sightings sometimes throughout the area of concern. This technique is attractive because it is inexpensive, and it can be conducted any time one drives around the property. All that is required is a recorder, or pad and pen. Each time a deer or group of deer is sighted, the number, sex, estimated age, as well as antler score (if male) are recorded. With 10 to 15 deer hunters recording deer observations, it doesn’t take long before a substantial amount of statistically-significant information pertaining to age class structure of bucks, fawn survival, and sex ratio is obtained. Although it is not a population-estimating tool, this method lends itself to identifying trends in the population. It also affords supplemental information supporting the other survey techniques employed. The use of motion detection cameras provides managers another method of estimating deer populations. By positioning cameras over bait on a densely-wooded 10,000-acre area in south Mississippi, research biologist Harry Jacobson and his colleagues found that in a period as short as ten days, 97% of the bucks and 72% of the does the researchers previously captured and marked were caught on film, making cameras an efficient tool in surveying deer populations. With this technology, biologists, managers, and sportsmen can actually enter the secret world of the whitetail. It remains one of the most efficient methods of obtaining population data on small land tracts. Since their inception, a variety of cameras have entered the market, and—like computers—will become more efficient and less expensive in the future. According to Jacobson, a complete survey requires at least one camera station per 160 acres. By deploying cameras at sites frequented by deer such as feeders, a high percentage of deer can be photographed. Obviously, the larger the area, the more cameras required, but there are ways to circumvent this obstacle. For example, if you wish to estimate the deer population on a 2,000-acre area using five cameras (1 per 200 ac.), simply obtain an aerial survey map of the area and grid the areas into 200-acre blocks. Select and bait ten numbered sites (one per block). Set cameras up at sites one through five for 10 days, then rotate them to blocks six through ten for another 10-day period. Be sure to have some sort of site identification number present in the photograph for reference. Once images are obtained, each one must be scrutinized to identify individuals. Knowing how many deer inhabit your property is important, but knowledge of habitat and herd condition is paramount to a management program. Population estimates are required, but are no more important than the data collected following harvest. If the average field-dressed weight and antler dimensions of mature bucks in the harvest are above the county-wide average, or state for that matter, it is reasonable to assume that deer are in good shape. The collection of population and morphological data consolidated and compared annually represents a road map when it comes to achieving one’s goal. Thus the more information collected, the closer one comes to actually knowing how many deer exist on their property, and more importantly, how many they can harvest without disturbing the overall quality of the herd.
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The helicopter also facilitates an estimate of collateral species from coyotes to exotics. Photo by Bob Zaiglin
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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
MANAGING YAUPON FOR DEER BROWSE BY ROBERT FEARS
Yaupon bark is smooth, light grey with lighter grey to nearly white splotches. Photo by Robert Fears
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ildlife managers normally don’t get excited about yaupon for whitetail deer browse, but it can be managed in a way to provide protein to the animal’s diet. Like most grazers and browsers, deer definitely have a preference for what they eat and they demonstrate their preferences by what they select for consumption. Their first choice plants are those eaten whenever found, regardless of the season. Examples of first choice deer preferences are American beauty berry and greenbrier. Second choices are plants such as sumac and yaupon, selected when first choices are not available. Third choices are plants eaten as a last resort, when more preferred plants are unavailable. Examples are honey mesquite and mountain laurel.
PLANT DESCRIPTION, BENEFITS AND DETRIMENTS “Yaupon is a native, perennial, evergreen shrub capable of reaching approximately 30 feet in height under ideal conditions,” said Alan Shadow, USDA NRCS East Texas Plant Materials Center. “The bark is smooth, light grey with lighter grey to nearly white splotches. The leaves are dark green with a leathery appearance and a lighter colored underside. Leaf margins have a slight serration that easily distinguishes this species from the similar looking invasive, nonnative Chinese
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
privet.” “The fruits are small berries with a beautiful, translucent red color. They form in dense clusters throughout the plant and remain attached through winter and into spring. Each fruit contains four hard, oblong, nut-like seeds with a striated appearance.” Yaupon grows in native areas from southern Virginia south to Florida and west through southeast Oklahoma and central Texas. The plant is found on soils with pH between 4.5 and 7.0. It is adapted to a wide variety of soil textures, but typically prefers sandy sites. Yaupon is shade tolerant and moderately tolerant to salinity and salt sprays on the Gulf Coast. The plant is commonly used in landscaping. “Whitetail deer readily consume leaves and twigs of yaupon during fall and winter,” said Bill Adams, of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Deer also eat the berries as do quail, turkey, dove, squirrels, raccoons and songbirds. Yaupon is consumed year-round by deer when browse availability is limited on heavily stocked ranges.” “Yaupon may be the only common evergreen browse species that contains significant protein for deer maintenance and antler development within certain regions of the Post Oak Savannah Ecoregion (POSE). This ecoregion is a long, relatively narrow area that extends from the Red River in Northeast Texas to Victoria in South Texas. In East Texas, yaupon is classified as
MANAGING YAUPON | 43
a first-choice browse species for deer, and is a second-choice plant in the POSE.” “Yaupon is more than simply a food source for wildlife,” Adams continued. “A number of bird species build nests in yaupon, and it also provides protective cover for many vertebrates including a listed threatened species in Texas, the canebrake (timber) rattlesnake. Though beneficial in moderation, thick stands of yaupon are detrimental to livestock and most species of wildlife.” Given its multi-stemmed characteristic and ability to reproduce from seed, roots and basal crown, yaupon has the tendency to form dense impenetrable thickets. In portions of the POSE, yaupon has encroached to the point of reducing or excluding other vegetation such as native grasses and forbs by out-competing them for sunlight, nutrients and soil moisture.
YAUPON MANAGEMENT “Control of yaupon density and size is a necessary practice for deer management,” said Doug Jobes, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, speaking at a recent Land Stewardship Workshop in Victoria. “Even though yaupon is a second choice browse, it grows too tall for deer to reach its foliage. Prescribed burns reduce yaupon canopy and cause plants to re-sprout from their base; however, many yaupon sites don’t generate enough fuel to carry a fire. If the top growth of yaupon and other undesirable trees are mulched, fuel is created. Then it is possible to burn the regrowth after plants once again reach a height where deer no longer have access to the foliage. Deer feed on the sprouts and thinned yaupon canopies allow forbs, American beauty bush and greenbrier to establish.” “Current available herbicides do not control yaupon as foliar sprays,” said James Jackson, of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. “We recommend individual plant treatments (IPT) with either Spike® 20P at 1/2 ounce per 45 square feet or basal sprays of Remedy® Ultra and diesel. The recommended basal spray mixture is 25 percent Remedy UItra and 75 percent diesel.”
Spike 20P is a 20 percent tebuthurion pellet marketed by Dow AgroSciences. In addition to the Texas A&M AgriLife recommendation, the product label lists a broadcast treatment for yaupon at 10 to 20 pounds of Spike 20P per acre. Regardless of whether IPT or broadcast applications are used, Spike 20P or soil containing tebuthurion may be moved from treated areas by flowing water, wind or mechanical means. Do not apply Spike in areas where overland flow of water might occur. Also do not apply where wind erosion may cause movement of tebuthurion containing soil from the treated area unless the surface has been stabilized with gravel or some other means. Do not move soil from areas treated with Spike 20P to untreated areas. Basal spray is denoted on the Remedy Ultra label as “Low Volume Basal Bark Treatment”. This method of treatment is recommended for woody plants with stems less than six inches in basal diameter. Backpack or knapsack sprayers, equipped with a solid cone or flat fan nozzle, are recommended for basal spray applications. Use a small orifice, commonly called X1, with the solid cone nozzle. Using low pressure, spray the basal parts of brush and tree trunks to a height of 12 to 15 inches from the ground. Thoroughly wet lower portions of stems, including the root collar area, but not to the point of runoff. Apply basal sprays anytime during the year, including the winter months. The only exception is when snow or water prevents spray from contacting the ground line or when stem surfaces are saturated with water. Before using any herbicide, thoroughly read and understand the label. Study all available options for yaupon control and then, design and implement a plan that will help meet deer management goals.
Read more at: https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/pwdpubs/ media/pwd_br_w7000_0010p_color.pdf
Yaupon leaves are dark green with a leathery appearance and a lighter colored underside. Photo by Robert Fears
44 | MANAGING YAUPON
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HUNTING & SHOOTING
FOGGY BEGINNINGS JUDY BISHOP JUREK
On a foggy morning these two youngsters came within a few feet of the author’s stand unaware she was in it. Fog often muffles sounds and smells, as well as inhibiting visibility for all concerned. Photo by Judy Bishop Jurek
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here was no opening morning of deer season—at least for some devoted deer hunters looking forward to opening morning more than a six year-old anticipates Christmas. True, the calendar and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the General Season began the first Saturday of November, so whitetail hunters across the Lone Star state were ready. However, Mother Nature kept it from happening in some areas by creating dense fog. There are many varieties and causes of fog. I will not go into the scientific details. There are some common names for this occurrence that sometimes seems to randomly appear. Ground fog hugs the earth, staying very low. You are usually able to see the backs of cattle and their raised heads, maybe deer, too, but not their legs or heads when down feeding. Trees can be seen from waist level up but trunks, grass, or small brush are invisible. So you see—or in this case, could not see—opening morning of deer season. Despite the sun rising, the fog literally hung around to torment those hunters who had highly anticipated opening morning for weeks, even months before it finally arrived. To say it ‘lingered’ was much too nice. Many hunters used unprintable words to describe it! The pre-dawn was completely still. No hint, shiver, or shake of the faintest breeze allowed the moisturized air to stay heavily suspended. Throw in total blackness as there was no moon. To add insult to injury, dust stirred by your vehicle not only hung motionless, it stuck to everything due to the drippy dew. Stepping out to open gates produced instant coughing and gagging as well as feeling layered in dirt. And try finding your stand in intense dense fog! Disorientation is a side effect of this natural phenomenon. I know where my stand is located; I have walked that tire track road in the dark many, many times using moonlight or a tiny narrow-beamed flashlight. I thought I was right on the trail to it but my senses got all screwed up. I stumbled round and round trying to stay out of cacti and varmint holes as I had gotten confused and off the path. You
52 | FOGGY BEGINNINGS
couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, at least not without a flashlight! But then the glare deflected by the thick moisture bouncing back into my eyes would momentarily blind me! The light was really worthless. I knew it had to be close yet I also realized most likely I was simply going round and round in circles. Frustration was mounting within me until suddenly... Bam! I literally slammed my whole body right into my hunting stand! Owww!!! It was a most tiresome lonnngggg morning as the minutes crept by ever so slowly. Even as the day finally began to lighten well over an hour past normal sunrise, the fog stayed steady. It may have even grown thicker but really no way to tell as my mind was numb. My eyes and ears strained to see or hear something, anything, but to no avail. Finally I did see some deer, somewhat vaguely, so my morning hunt was not a total waste. Thank goodness I had thrown an extra pair of binoculars in my backpack at the last minute. My 10x50 Steiners bring in too much light in foggy conditions, thus rendering them as useless as the aforementioned flashlight. Some time ago I was given a pair of Carson High Definition 10x42 binocs. The adjustable eye pieces screw in and out which proved too susceptible to foul ups and/or breaking off for me to use them in everyday ranch life. After having an eyepiece repaired a third time I retired them for backup use only. I was glad I had packed them for opening morning. Those screw-out eyepiece sight enhancers proved their worth this morning. Without them I would not have seen a single thing! As the morning lightened ever so timidly, the Carson binoculars enabled me to barely make out deer feeding around although my naked eyes could not discern them. As I said earlier, looking through my Steiners only provided a solid white blur. Upon rising in the pre-dawn darkness and seeing the fog, no one anticipated it would stay all morning. There was little change in the fog density at 9:38am. That is when I awoke. I laughed aloud as I had never dozed on an opening morning
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
As the sun is about to break over the tree line, a light fog begins to dissipate. This scene from a hunting blind may occur often during deer season much to the irritation of hunters. Photos by Judy Bishop Jurek since I began hunting a very long time ago. There had been a few somewhat foggy opening mornings but I truly could not recall ever encountering this kind of fog. Arriving back at camp I discovered I was the last to return. A search party was about to embark to find me, a few thinking I had gotten lost or hurt as to why I was still out. Oh, did I mention I left my cell phone in my RV? Two hunters griped repeatedly they wished I had texted back and forth with them all morning. My shrugged shoulder response: “Sorry.” “You couldn’t see anything!” exclaimed Artie, a veteran hunter with seven decades of seasons under his camouflaged suspenders. “As soon as the sun came up and there was no change, no let-up, no doggone movement to that stuff, I closed up my blind and came back to camp. Red, I can’t believe you stayed out there so long. What were you doing? Sleeping?” “To be honest, yes. I’ve never slept through an opening morning but I did today. I really don’t know how long I slept but when I woke up, saw how thick it still was and checked my watch, I decided to throw the towel in.” With a chuckle I added, “Actually, I used that towel to dry off the buggy seat before I headed back here. Nice to know y’all were worried about me.” (I failed to tell the crowd that I ran smack into the side of my stand due to the dense fog. However, if any of them reads this they will know. I am sacrificing myself to future campfire ridicule for the sake of entertaining you, the reader. Yes, you are welcome.) The afternoon-into-evening hunt was nothing special. A wily coyote appeared along the brush line numerous times but never long enough for a shot. A covey of bobwhite quail entertained me for a while, along with a pair of jackrabbits. Mourning doves, bright red cardinals, and watching a hungry Harris hawk stalking squirrels scampering around the feeder helped pass the time. There was the usual parade of fawns, doe, and what I label no-nothing buck—those sporting lackluster antlers due to being young or older bucks showing no potential to grow decent-togood-to-outstanding headgear. The latter will help fill freezers with sausage, chili, and hamburger meat. There is a reason I did not shoot. Over the years I have become spoiled. I prefer shooting in the morning or early afternoon, not as the day ends. Unless a trophy buck or perfect-sized sow shows up, I do not pull the trigger as I dislike cleaning game under lights. It makes for a long evening, too… at least to me. The opening day evening hunt was no exception as I returned empty-handed, which was really good since I was the camp cook that night. To add to a most disappointing first hunt of the season was the annual time change from daylight savings back to what I consider normal time! The clock falls back one hour in the fall
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
of the year. Thus Sunday morning arrived an hour later than the morning before, creating numerous hunter disadvantages. The most notable, of course, is the time feeders are set to throw out breakfast. Granted, deer and other wildlife pay no attention to clock, but we hunters do. It is the consensus of most whitetail hunters I know that this is a terrible weekend to switch back. It does allow for an extra hour of sleep but for some folks (me included) it takes a few days to adjust the body clock with the earlier sun rising and setting against the actual time clock. Some hunters never change their feeder timers while others do, especially if you hunt hogs throughout the year. A few change the time before the second morning hunt of opening weekend. Again, it is hunters watching the clock, not the deer. However, if used to dining at daybreak but the feeder does not go off until an hour later, whitetails may head to another buffet somewhere else. When I opened the RV door well before dawn Sunday morning of opening weekend, I was met once again with dense fog. I could not even see the security light near the cook shed not more than fifty yards away. I told my husband not to bother getting up as I was returning to bed. Turns out all but one fellow hunter did the same. Like the previous morning, the moisture stayed for hours. So much for the deer season opener. Sometimes you win with cooperative weather while other times you do not get what you want. The Lone Star state is vast. Ol’ Ma Nature can create drastic differences from one part of Texas to the other all at the same time, perhaps only a few miles apart. Everyone knows if you do not like the weather today just stick around until tomorrow as most likely it will change. Opening weekend always holds a variety of weather events. A mild cool front may arrive downright cold, making you regret not having packed warmer clothing while wishing that little propane heater was already in your stand. Heavy rainfall may leave hunters stranded by flash floods or stuck in mud. High humidity coupled with downright hot temperatures may have you battling mosquitos or flies while trying to hunt. The list goes on and on. Back to hunting: After a hearty breakfast amid much moaning, groaning and lamenting about fog ruining opening weekend, it began ever so slowly to dissipate around noon. Hunters having to work Monday departed for home. Several of us remaining went to our stands. I returned shortly with a mature seven point for my freezer, thus eliminating a no-nothing buck we did not want reproducing an inferior rack. And so it goes as the daily calendar changes. Hunting is something where success, or lack of, may often depend on the weather. It is a personal decision whether or not the hunter chooses to venture out into whatever Mother Nature casts be it heat, cold, rain, wind or dead calm. Enjoy the outdoors even on mornings shrouded in fog! Good luck.
Spiders and their intricate webs kept this writer entertained early one foggy morning hunting next to a small lake. Photos by Judy Bishop Jurek
FOGGY BEGINNINGS | 53
HUNTING & SHOOTING
Hunters are the Ultimate Conservationists BY CHARLY SEALE
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ebster’s dictionary defines a conservationist as “someone who works to protect animals, plants, and natural resources or works to prevent the loss or waste of natural resources.” The age old question that is always asked by those who oppose the hunting of any wildlife, is this: How can the hunting and ultimately the killing of an animal be considered conservation? Or more importantly, how is the person that takes an animal’s life considered a conservationist? We have become a society that wants things immediately and with a minimum of effort. With a large portion of the population living in an urban environment we no longer have to hunt to feed ourselves or our families. We can simply stop by the grocery store on the way home from work and buy all the food we need to sustain our lives. Everything we need for this sustainability is literally at our fingertips. The meat is neatly wrapped and ready to go into the oven, and if this is too much effort, we can purchase precooked food. Our vegetables are lying on a shelf ready to be consumed. The staples that make our life more enjoyable can be obtained in a matter of minutes. There is no manual labor involved. Someone else grew the cow, pig, chicken, turkey, or lamb. Someone else turned the soil, planted the seed and grew the vegetables, harvested them, cleaned them, and made them ready to eat. We don’t even have to get our hands dirty to feed our families. Then why do people have to hunt and kill animals? Is it an exercise in machismo, does it give us some demented thrill, or is it all part of God’s plan to perpetuate the lives of the animals we hunt? Man, since the beginning of time, has been the ultimate predator. The desire to hunt has been part of our heritage for millions of years and continues to be passed from one generation to another. It is true that we no longer have to depend on hunting to feed our families but the desire to hunt is as natural as breathing. In the last 150 years man realized that if the wild creatures were not
56 | ULTIMATE CONSERVATIONISTS
managed properly they would become extinct and there would be nothing left for future generations. The American bison is a prime example of what can happen when the forces of nature and the forces of manipulation are thrown out of balance. Bison were on the verge of extinction because of the efforts
Charly Seale Executive Director of the Exotic Wildlife Association of those attempting to destroy the American Indian. Take away the food source that was so important to the lives of the Native Americans, then they could be controlled. In doing so, with unrestrained hunting, a true American icon was nearly lost. At the turn of the 20th century the Lacey Act was enacted, giving federal protection to wildlife. Many states also began passing their own laws to protect wildlife through regulated hunting seasons and bag limits. Whether it was federal or state game laws, the one thing they all had in common was to give all wildlife a value. The state and federal governments learned that wildlife was a valuable commodity and that by establishing seasons, bag limits, and regulated hunts, not only did the local, state and federal governments benefit, but the ultimate winner was the wildlife:
populations of animals—many who were on the brink of extinction—literally exploded. Those who were considered the founders of modern day game management quickly learned that hunting was a valuable tool. To control wildlife populations through established hunting seasons not only was good for a well-balanced and healthy herd through the removal of older males and females, but also brought in the needed revenue to pay for continued wildlife management. This is a very simple rule that many of the animal rights groups have yet to figure out. Take the value away from wildlife and the ultimate loser is wildlife. Give it value and it will flourish for generations to come. Many of the non-indigenous animals considered endangered or threatened in their native lands flourish in the United States because of the value they have to the land owner through hunting. Restrict the commercial use of these animals and they will soon disappear.
“Man will always have a desire to hunt.” Man will always have a desire to hunt. This is an instinct passed on from the time the first human killed the first animal for food. Modern day hunting is as natural today as it was when the cave man first threw his spear. Today, without the revenue derived through hunting and its use in the management of animal populations, wildlife would eventually disappear from the landscape. Hunters have always been the ultimate predator and the modern day hunter is the ultimate conservationist.
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PRACTICAL OPTICS BY LON KRIEGER
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n the world of hunting optics, we are blessed with the finest products ever made, at great prices and with a myriad of options. It can be difficult and daunting to try to select the right binocular or riflescope for our individual needs given the virtually endless catalog of products. Compounding this selection process is the fact that none of us ever took “Optics 101” in school. We acquired most of our knowledge either by trial and error or by listening to our mentors (who didn’t take “Optics 101” either). There are a lot of myths, lore and sales hype to ferret out to get to an informed choice on what to purchase or carry. Let me try to help out with a little knowledge and experience gained from over 50 years of hunting and several years as an optics dealer. In the course of a year, I’ll attend several hunting shows and conventions running my booth, including our annual event in August, and have a lot of fun talking with folks about their optical wants and needs. Some folks don’t have a clue while a few others could almost design a riflescope, and as usual, most folks fall somewhere along the bell curve in their knowledge of optics. Then there is the flood of marketing information tainting everyone’s opinion of what they need and what they “must have” in order to kill their next trophy. What I will try to do here is debunk some of the myths and calm some of the marketing hype and help you determine what you need to get the job done. Optics are simply tools and the task at hand is to find which tool is the right one for your job. Any mechanic will have a whole box full of tools so that he has the right tool for each job. A Phillips head screwdriver is a wonderful device, but not if you need a 9/16” wrench. Thankfully, we don’t need a whole box full of optics, but we do need to acquire the right tools for the way we hunt or observe our world. Binoculars Yes, you need one. The guy at one end of the bell curve will tell me he doesn’t need a binocular, he’ll just use his riflescope – I’ll never hunt with that man! I don’t like loaded guns pointed at me, which will eventually happen with this guy. Besides, his “glass” weighs around 8 pounds, isn’t handy, and only works with one eye. There is a synergy happening when you use both eyes and you can see much better than twice what one eye can
60 | PRACTICAL OPTICS
see when you use binoculars. So what do you need? Depends. Will this be a general purpose tool or for a specific type of hunting such as all-day glassing for Coues deer? I generally recommend an 8x42 for general purpose use and white-tailed deer hunting and a 10x for the Rockies or when trophy quality is important. For that Coues deer hunt, a 12x, 15x, or even 20x bino can be just the right tool. Bowhunters may opt for a 6x25 or 8x32, but these sure wouldn’t be my first choice for a rifle elk hunt. So what do these numbers mean? Let’s touch on this a bit and figure out why they’re important. The first number is the magnification of the binocular, such as 8x or 10x. This is how much bigger or how much closer it will appear compared to the naked eye. A 10x (or 10 power) bino will make an object 100 yards away appear like it is 10 yards away. The second number is the diameter of the front—or objective—lens, in millimeters. The bigger this lens is, the more light it can take in and transmit to your eye, making the image brighter. This is great for sizing up that buck at the crack of dawn. At this point, the uninitiated will say “Well, give me a 15x56”. Hold on there, Buckaroo: the first law of optics is “There Is No Free Lunch”. Everything in the optics world is a trade-off, a give and take. The more magnification you have, the closer it will appear, but the narrower the field of view, the dimmer it will be and the harder it is to hold steady. Kind of like trying to drink that hot cup of coffee while driving down a bumpy dirt road. The bigger the objective lens (the second number) the brighter it will be, but it will be bigger and heavier than a smaller lens. So the job at hand is to find the best numbers for what you will be using the binoculars for. Once you have the size of your bino figured out, the next consideration is lens and prism coatings. In a nutshell, the more, the better. You definitely want “fully multicoated” lenses and not just “multicoated” or “fully coated”. They all mean something different, but the only way to go is fully multicoated. Riflescopes Ah, here’s where the marketing hype has really exploded is recent years. This is where you need to separate your “wants” from your “needs” from your “what you think you want”. Keep in mind that Jack O’Conner killed almost everything in
North America using a 4x scope. OK, there’s the bottom line, but he may not have had A/C in his car back then either. There’s room for improvement. Much of what was said above about binoculars applies here—the numbers, and picking the right tool for the job. For decades, the 3-9x40 reigned supreme for big game rifles and is still an outstanding size for the vast majority of big game hunting. If the scope manufacturers had just stuck with this size and concentrated on improving optical quality (generally lens coating), we would all still be whacking critters with regularity, but in an effort to capture more market share, they also increased (1) magnification, (2) objective lens size, and (3) gadgetry in their scopes. This isn’t all a bad thing, but one needs to keep that first law of optics in mind here, too (There is No Free Lunch). A 6-24x50 tactical scope is great on a prairie dog gun, but has no business on a general purpose big game rifle. With this scope, a 6x low-power minimum on a general purpose gun can be too powerful for still hunting, following up wounded game or running shots. Usually, a 50 mm or larger objective lens may destroy proper gun fit, as they might require “high” rings for the front of the scope to clear the barrel and this ruins the “cheek weld” that is needed for the gun to fit you properly. Having a 3-9x40 or 4-12x40 alleviates these problems and has all the magnification needed to make a sure shot. Many a savvy gun pundit will tell you to buy the best scope you can afford. I disagree, and here’s why. Buy the best binocular you can afford and get a good riflescope. An active hunter may use his binos 1,000 times a season but only put his riflescope into play a dozen times or less. With binoculars, you have both eyes gathering light and giving your brain a signal rather than just one, making the judging of trophies easier. It’s like HD television versus analog. Once you have determined with your binoculars that the third deer on the left is worth taking, all your scope must do is confirm the third on the left and place the bullet where you sighted it in. This barely scratched the surface (which is usually not a good thing to do in the optics world) but we’ll delve deeper into all things optic in future issues. All the big name optics companies are making great products these days. Our job is to find and use the right stuff!
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Common Diseases of Captive Fawns in Florida KATHRYN D. POTHIER, KATHERINE A. SAYLER, SAMANTHA M. WISELY DEPT. OF WILDLIFE ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA Fawning season is a stressful time for deer farmers. From birth to weaning, white-tailed deer fawns have a high mortality rate. There are multiple reasons for the high death rate, but most are associated with the animal’s developing immune system and exposure to a variety of bacteria and viruses. In Florida, deer farmers have collaborated with the University of Florida to study diseases of captive white-tailed deer. The UF Cervidae Health Research Initiative (CHeRI) has a mission to promote interdisciplinary science, education and outreach that increases the health and production of captive cervids in a sustainable manner, and promotes the health of native wildlife and the ecosystems in which they live. So far, in 2016, CHeRI has performed necropsies and provided pathology and diagnostics to Florida deer farmers for over 200 captive deer including 30 fawns across the state. Our goal is to identify the leading causes of mortality and low production in captive white-tailed deer so that we can find solutions for preventing and treating these diseases. From data collected this year, it appears that young animals have been plagued with many different bacterial infections, and a highly contagious virus, but few types of infections were seen more frequently. Infection with two different bacteria, E.coli and Clostridium spp., were the most common causes of infection and death in deer between 2 to 6 weeks of age. E. coli is one of the first types of bacteria encountered by many newborn animals. While they typically don’t cause harm in healthy adult deer, some strains of E. coli are pathogenic. When fawns ingest fecal matter or soil that has pathogenic E. coli, they can become very ill if the bacteria migrate outside of the digestive tract and into other organs. This process is known as a septic infection, and can rapidly spread to the liver, kidneys, as well as other organs. Loose stool, watery diarrhea, and lethargy are signs that young animals may be infected. At the first sign of illness, consult with your veterinarian who can recommend antibiotics and supplemental health measures for your fawns. In addition to E.coli and clostridium bacteria, we’ve seen quite a bit of Trueperella pyogenes, and various salmonella, pseudomonas, and staph infections. Trueperella is a gut bacteria that can also live in soil, and typically enters the body via an external wound such as a scratch, puncture or scrape. In bucks, this is the bacterium most commonly associated with abscesses on the head, or severe infections of the antlers, but fawns are also susceptible to infection. Once in the body, it can cause pneumonia, mastisis (infection of the udder) or endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart). Open wounds and abscesses should be treated and those animals should be monitored for signs of pneumonia. Trueperella is contagious, thus sick animals should be quarantined from other animals. Staph infections, not unlike trueperella-associated infections, usually begin with the bacteria entering the body through the skin. Species of staph are normally found on the skin and in the digestive tract of cervids, and when an individual becomes immunocompromised, this opportunistic pathogen can spread into multiple organs. Signs of staph include upper respiratory distress, lethargy, and open wounds that look infected or irritated. The clinical signs for infection with Pseudomonas bacteria species include nasal discharge, conjunctivitis (pink eye), lethargy as well as any other signs of an upper respiratory
infection. This could include coughing, wheezing, or labored breathing. Lastly, Salmonella is a bacterium that is transmitted through fecal matter. It causes digestive distress, lethargy, and rapid weight loss. If you notice any of these clinical signs within your fawn, consult your veterinarian immediately. Most of these infections can be managed if treatment begins at the start of infection. In addition to bacterial infections, we have also identified at least one virus affecting fawns. Deerpox virus was identified by our team as a cause of death in white-tailed deer fawns with severe skin lesions and oral lesions. Little is known about how common deerpox virus is in captive animals, but it is highly contagious and often causes severe infections. In the event that open, scab-like lesions form on the skin of fawns especially on the lips, muzzle and eyelids, the fawns affected should be quarantined as soon as possible. Antibiotics may be administered daily to control secondary bacterial infections, but there is currently no vaccine for the virus. Consult your veterinarian for an appropriate protocol. Environmental conditions can make animals more susceptible to fawn diseases. Animals can be stressed from heat and humidity which lowers their immune response. Many of these infections are transmitted via feces, thus pens that are clean, dry and not too heavily stocked with animals can reduce the risk of infection. Early detection, rapid treatment, and in some cases isolating sick animals from the rest of the herd are key steps to reducing the risk of death for fawns that are already ill. By keeping a close eye on your young fawns, you can detect and treat infections early and avoid losses to your herd.
Y R T S U
D N I
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
USDA’s Veterinary Services Releases CWD Program Standards Document for Review The Veterinary Services division of USDA’s Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has recently released its “CWD Program Standards Working Group Summary Document” for review and comment by the public. This document was the product of a working group that included representatives from the farmed cervid industry, state animal health and wildlife officials, a prion science specialist, and USDA Veterinary Service representatives. According to the USDA, the objectives of the 12-member working group were to identify changes that APHIS should consider for the CWD Program Standards and to describe additional options to consider for compliance with 9 CFR 55 and 81. Specific discussion topics included clarifying the purpose of the program standards, certified herd surveillance and compliance requirements, definitions, CWD susceptible species, ante-mortem testing, carcass disposal, epidemiology investigations and reporting, indemnity prioritization, and requirements for interstate transport of wild-caught cervids. The full text of the document may be found on the USDA Cervid Health website: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/SA_ Alternate_Livestock/SA_Cervid_Health. The USDA has stated that the Veterinary Service division will use the working group summary and stakeholder comments to revise the current CWD Program Standards by early 2017. The revised program standards will then be published in the Federal Register for comment prior to release.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 65
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66
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TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
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67
FROM THE CAPITOL
2016 TEXAS GENERAL ELECTION
RESULTS Texas House:
2016 58.79% (8,878,152 voters)
2014 33.70% (4,727,208 voters)
2012 turnout
58.58% (7,993,851 voters)
2010
Democrats
95
Republicans
38.00% (4,979,870 voters)
2008 59.50% (8,077,795 voters)
2006 33.64% (4,399,068 voters)
2004 56.57% (7,410,765 voters)
2002 36.24% (4,553,979 voters)
2000 51.81% (6,407,637 voters)
68 | FROM THE CAPITOL
55 President:
In Texas, Republican
Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton 52.6% to 43.4%. The counties of Bexar, Travis, Dallas and Harris all went for Hillary Clinton as did the major counties making up the Rio Grande Valley. Donald Trump performed well in rural Texas as well as GOP stronghold counties of Montgomery, Tarrant, Denton, Collin and Williamson.
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
US Congress: Only one congressional district was competitive and that was in CD 23, where Congressman Will Hurd-R kept his seat by defeating Pete Gallego. We will have two new Congressmen in the Texas delegation as a result of retirements: In Congressional District 15, Ruben Hinojosa-D (Weslaco) is retiring. Democrat Vicente Gonzalez defeated Republican Tim Westley. In Congressional District 19, Randy Neugebauer-R (Lubbock), announced his retirement and will be replaced by Republican Jodey Arrington, who ran unopposed in the General Election.
Statewide: Railroad Commissioner Former State Representative Wayne Christian-R defeated Grady Yarbrough-D (Retired educator from San Antonio). Supreme Court All three Supreme Court Justices won their seats. SC3: Republican Justice Debra Lehrmann defeated Democrat Mike Westergren SC5: Republican Justice Paul Green defeated Democrat Dori Contreras Garza SC 9: Republican Justice Eva Guzman defeated Democrat Savannah Robinson Court of Criminal Appeals All three Court of Criminal Appeals judges won their seats. PL2: Republican Mary Lou Keel defeated Democrat Lawrence Meyers PL5: Republican Scott Walker defeated Democrat Betsy Johnson PL6: Incumbent Republican Michael Keasler defeated Democrat Robert Burns Court of Appeals 1st Court of Appeals CJ: Incumbent Justice Sherry Radack defeated Democrat Jim Peacock PL4: Incumbent Republican Evelyn Keyes defeated Democrat Barbara Gardner 4th Court of Appeals (Based in San Antonio) PL6: Incumbent Republican Jason Pulliam was defeated by Democrat Irene Rios 5th Court of Appeals (Based in Dallas) PL4: Incumbent Republican Lana Myers defeated Democrat Gena Slaughter PL7: Incumbent Republican David Schenck defeated Democrat Dennise Garcia 13th Court of Appeals (Based in Corpus Christi/Edinburg) PL3: Incumbent Republican Gregory Perkes was defeated by Democrat Leticia Hinojosa 14th Court of Appeals (Based in Houston) PL2: Republican Kevin Jewell defeated Democrat Candance White PL9: Incumbent Republican Tracy Christopher defeated Democrat Peter Kelly
Texas House: Four incumbents Republicans were defeated: Rep. Kenneth Sheets-R was defeated by Victoria Neave-D Rep. Gilbert Pena-R was defeated by former member Mary Ann Perez-D Rep. Rick Galindo-R was defeated by former member Philip Cortez-D Rep. John Lujan-R was defeated by Tomas Uresti-D
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FROM THE CAPITOL
Going into the 2017 session we will have
27 new members
as a result of retirements and primary/ general election defeats, 4 of which are former members.
HD 4: Lance Gooden-R (Rep. Stuart Spitzer defeated in primary) HD 5: Cole Hefner-R (Rep. Bryan Hughes ran for senate) HD 7: Jay Dean-R (Rep. Simpson-R ran for senate) HD 18: Ernest Bailes-R (Rep. John Otto-R retired) HD 20: Terry Wilson-R (Rep. Marsha Farney-R defeated in primary) HD 33: Justin Holland-R (Rep. Scott Turner-R retired) HD 46: Rep. Dukes will will not be sworn in. HD 49: Gina Hinojosa-D (Rep. Naishtat-D retired) HD 54: Scott Cosper-R (Rep. Aycock-R retired) HD 55: Former Member Hugh Shine-R (Rep. Molly White-R defeated in primary) HD 60: Mike Lang-R (Rep. Jim Keffer-R retired) HD 64: Lynn Stucky-R (Rep. Myra Crownover-R retired) HD 71: Stan Lambert-R (Rep. Susan King-R ran for senate) HD 73: Kyle Biederman-R (Rep. Doug Miller-R defeated in primary) HD 77: Lina Ortega-D (Rep. Marisa Marquez-D retired) HD 107: Victoria Neave-D (Rep. Kenneth Sheets-R defeated) HD 116: Diana Arevalo-D (Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher ran for senate) HD 117: Former Member Philip Cortez-D (Rep. Rick Galindo-R defeated) HD 118: Carlos Uresti-D (Rep. John Lujan-R defeated) HD 120: Barbara Hawkins-D (McClendon retired/Laura Thompson-I not on general election ballot) HD 126: Kevin Roberts-R (Rep. Patricia Harless-R retired) HD 128: Briscoe Cain-R (Rep. Wayne Smith-R defeated in primary) HD 130: Tom Oliverson-R (Rep. Allen Fletcher-R retired) HD 139: Rep. Jarvis Johnson-R (Rep. Sylvester Turner-D retired) HD 144: Former Member Mary Ann Perez-D (Rep. Gilbert Pena-R defeated) HD 146: Shawn Thierry-D (Rep. Borris Miles-D ran for senate) HD 150: Valoree Swanson-R (Rep. Riddle-R defeated in primary)
11
Democrats
Texas Senate:
20
Republicans
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Top of the “watch list”: HD HD HD HD HD HD HD HD HD HD HD HD
23: Rep. Wayne Faircloth (R) defeated Lloyd Criss(D) 43: Rep. JM Lozano (R) defeated Marisa Yvette Garcia-Utley (D) 78: Rep. Joe Moody (D) defeated Jeff Lane (R) 102: Rep. Linda Koop (R) defeated Laura Irvin (D) 105: Rep. Rodney Anderson (R) defeated Terra Meza (D) 107: Rep. Kenneth Sheets (R) was defeated by Victoria Neave (D) 113: Rep. Cindy Burkett (R) defeated Rhetta Andrews Bowers (D) 117: Rep. Rick Galindo (R) was defeated by Philip Cortez (D) 118: Rep. John Lujan (R) was defeated by Tomas Uresti (D) 134: Rep. Sarah Davis (R) defeated Ben Rose (D) 136: Rep. Tony Dale (R) defeated Paul Gordon (D) 144: Rep. Gilbert Pena (R) was defeated by Mary Ann Perez (D)
We will have 3 new senators in the 2017 session as a result of retirements, one Democrat and two Republicans. These senators had general election opponents and defeated their opposition: Senator Carlos Uresti (D), Senator Chuy Hinojosa (D), and Senator Brian Birdwell (R).
New Senators:
SD 1: Rep. Bryan Hughes (Sen. Eltife retired) SD 13: Borris Miles (Sen. Ellis retired) SD 24: Dr. Dawn Buckingham (Sen. Fraser retired)
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72
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TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
Sustaining & Contributing PAC Authorization Form Date __________ Method of Payment (check one) Charge Credit Card
D
Charge Bank Account
D
Credit Card Number __________ Bank Account Number __________ Bank Routing Number __________ Purpose (may check more than one)
D PAC Donation
One Time Amount $ ------
D PAC Recurring Donation (check here & see below) D Other (explain) ---------------
Customer Billing Information TDA Member ID# _____________________ First Name ________________ Last Name ___________________ Ranch/ Business Name (optional) _______________________________ Address _________________________________ City ________________ State _ ______ Zip _____ Phone _____________ Email __________________ Recurring Credit Card Draft Amount$_____________________ Effective Date (to begin payment) _____________________ Signature _____________________ ** In signing this form, you understand that this authorization will remain in effect until you cancel in writing (or email), and you agree to notify the TOA in writing (or email) of any changes in your account information or termination of this authorization at least 30 days prior to the next billing date. Special Instructions ------------------------------------
73
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PARTING SHOT
TEXAS DEER FINDS ITS WAY ONTO THE USS ILLINOIS BY BUTCH RAMIREZ
T
he white-tailed buck photo on the September/October issue of TRACKS magazine was recently selected to represent the crest of the USS Illinois, the US Navy’s latest Virginia Class attack submarine. When I received a call from Commander Dinis Pimentel, he expressed interest in using my photo as part of the commissioning of the USS Illinois that was to be commissioned on Oct. 29, 2016. As you can imagine, my first question was, “What does a white-tailed buck have to do with a nuclear submarine?” He then went on to explain that the new submarine is sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama, and is named after her home state of Illinois. As it turns out, the whitetailed deer is the state’s official animal and serves as the state symbol. The USS Illinois is the 13th Virginia Class submarine to be commissioned. With all that in mind, the commissioning committee had searched for a 13-point buck to fit the bill. An internet search directed them to several photos including mine, which I had posted on Fine Art America, a photography website, and was appropriately titled “13 point buck”. My photo was chosen to represent the crest, which is comprised of several items of significance to the State of Illinois. Above the crest appears the starboard aspect of a Virginia Class submarine, and standing atop is a 13-point white-tailed deer, each point representing the 13 Virginia Class submarines. The deer also represents the strength of the state and the Navy. My family and I were invited and attended several of the commissioning events in Groton, Conn., on October 28 and 29 of this year. At the Commander’s reception, I was asked to speak and also presented a 20” x 30” canvas gallery print of the image to the ship’s commanders. The image shows the magnificent buck along with the ship’s motto, “None More Brave”, and the ship’s identification. During the speech, I introduced my father, Fidel Ramirez Sr., who is a Navy veteran and served as a sonar man on the USS Chauncey. First Lady Michelle Obama was a featured speaker at the commissioning ceremony. I am honored that my photo was
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
chosen to be used in such an historic event, and that we were there in person to be part of the commissioning. My family and I met so many great people in the process, including many older Navy veterans, and current servicemen and women. The Navy will use the photo as they see fit, for the entire life of the USS Illinois, which is expected to be 33 years. This event has sparked some greatly-appreciated attention and recognition of my passion for wildlife photography, especially that of the majestic white-tailed deer. The city of Laredo, Texas, presented me with a certificate of recognition at the October 17 city council meeting which I will always treasure. A very special thanks to Mayor Pete Saenz and Blasita Lopez. I was also notified that Congressman Henry Cuellar will be submitting an official Congressional record recognition in my honor. He will read the proclamation at an upcoming session of Congress and it will become part of the Congressional Record. As a photographer, my goal is to promote and share the beauty of God’s creatures and the natural world around us, as seen through my eyes, in hope of creating a positive awareness and a lifelong connection.
PARTING SHOT | 77
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2017 WINTER
SPORTSMAN’S ROUNDUP & DEER AUCTION
FEBRUARY
10&11 LA CANTERA RESORT & SPA 16641 LA CANTERA PARKWAY, SAN ANTONIO, TX. 78256 FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM/2017-WINTER-AUCTION
2017 SPRING SPRING GALA & DEER AUCTION
MARCH
10&11 HAMPTON INN & SUITES RODEO EXPO CENTER 1700 RODEO DRIVE, MESQUITE, TX. 75149 FOR MORE INFO VISIT: WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM/2017-SPRING-AUCTION
1st Annual
Ropin' &smokin' & ULTIMATE HUNTERS' BLOWOUT
february 3 &4 PEARSALL CIVIC CENTER | 433 Co Rd. 1056, Pearsall, TX. 78061
friday
saturday
10AM – 5PM COOK OFF REGISTRATION & CHECK IN 4PM – 8PM VENDOR SET UP 6PM – 8PM IBCA MEAT INSPECTION FOR COOK OFF
9AM – 7PM 10AM- NOON NOON – 5PM NOON – 3PM 5PM 5:30PM – 7:30PM 7PM – 8:30/9PM
for more info: Call: 512-499-0466 Email: pauline@texasdeerassociation.com www.texasdeerassociation.com
9PM - 11PM
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EVENT CALENDAR JANUARY
11-25 Rodeo Austin
AUGUST
10
Austin, TX
10-12
85th Texas Legislative Session Starts
22-25
19th Annual Texas Deer Association Convention
Austin, TX
North American Deer Farmer's Association Annual Conference Dallas, TX
FEBRUARY
31-APRIL 2
3-4 1st Annual Ropin’ & Smokin'
Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Convention & Expo
Pearsall Civic Center, 433 Co Rd 1056, Pearsall, TX 78061
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center San Antonio, TX
10-11 Winter Sportsman’s Roundup and Deer Auction La Cantera Resort & Spa 16641 La Cantera Parkway, San Antonio, TX 782561
MARCH 3-4 Exotic Wildlife Association Annual Conference Kerrville, TX
3-4 Exotic Wildlife Association Membership Meeting Kerrville, TX
APRIL
G5 Ranch, Pearsall TX
17-18
Lampasas, TX
29
USAHA Annual Conference Town & Country Hotel San Diego, CA
TDA Concert in Fort Worth Wild Acre Brewing Company 1734 E. El Paso St, Suite 190 Fort Worth, TX 76102
MAY 5-7 Lonestar Hunting & Fishing Expo McAllen Convention Center McAllen, TX
7th Annual Brush To Bay Fishing Tournament
Hampton Inn & Suites Rodeo Expo Center 1700 Rodeo Drive, Mesquite TX 75149
2nd Annual TDA Dove Hunt at G5 Ranch
Hoffpauir Outdoor Day Expo
TDA Deer Day at the Capitol
Spring Gala & Deer Auction
27
OCTOBER
8
10-11
SEPTEMBER
8
12-13
Texas Capitol, Austin, TX
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa 23808 Resort Parkway, San Antonio, TX 78261
Bluff’s Landing Marina & Lodge 4242 Laguna Shores Rd Corpus Christi, TX 78418
29 85th Texas Legislative Session Ends "Sine Die"
TOWN HALL MEETINGS Region 5 Jan. 24 | 10am Malouf Ranch
Region 4 Jan. 25 | 12pm Drop Tine Ranch
Region 6 April 21-22 | Time TBD Turner Ranch
Austin, TX
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
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AD INDEX
4M Whitetails..............................................51
Indian Mountain Ranch..........................25
Rocky Ridge Whitetails........................80
All Seasons Feeders.................................14
KDH Whitetail Nursery..........................96
RR Ranch..............................................40, 41
Big Rack Ranch.........................................82
Laurentian Wildlife Estates..................64
RS Deer & Cattle Ranch........................95
Bison Coolers.............................................50
Limitless Genetics....................................66
SASCO- San Antonio Steel Co...........63
Blue Creek Whitetails...............................17
Lodge Creek Whitetails..........................18
Sekula Whitetail Ranch.........................90
Capital Farm Credit.................................23
LoneHollow Whitetails....................30, 31
Sexy Whitetails...........................................12
Charquitas Creek Ranch.......................59
Lyssy & Eckel Feeds................................55
Summit Whitetails.....................................81
Cross Canyon Whitetails.......................32
Massey Hollow Ranch.....................92, 93
Tajada Whitetails.......................36, 45, 78
Deer Star Breeders..........................79, 89
Mossy Rock Whitetails...........................24
Tejas Ranch & Game Fence.................96
Derby~Sand~Ranch....................................11
Paco Deer Co., Inc....................................58
Texas Hunter Products...........................57
Designer Roofing........................................11
Pine Meadow Ranch..........74, 83, 88, 91
The Refuge...................................................75
Easley Does It Whitetails......................27
Purina.................................................................1
Trophy Ridge Whitetails........................42
G2 Ranch.......................................................61
Purina Mills- SW Region................46, 47
TWC Ranch Services..............................94
Gist-Kinsman Ranch.................................16
Record Rack................................................10
Wildlife Consulting Services, LLC.....96
Goatweed Ranch......................................35
Red Stag Ranch.........................................76
Wilks Ranch...................................................9
High Roller Whitetails...............................6
Revels Racks...............................................62
Wilson Whitetail Ranch.........................67
High Wide & Heavy Whitetails...........28
Rockstar Whitetails..............................IFC,
Hoffpauir Group........................................29
CenterSpread & Centerfold, IBC, BC
KDH Whitetail Nursery
CLASSIFIEDS
96
TRACKS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017