May / June 2016 TDA Tracks Magazine by Texas Deer Association

Elected EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Elected DIRECTORS & OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGION 1 Hugo Berlanga Mustang Ranch Corpus Christi (361) 813-9212 Term: 8/2015-8/2016 Sheldon Grothaus Texas Whitetail Breeders Hondo (210) 854-5833 Term: 8/2015-8/2018

PRESIDENT

BOB PRICE

Moss Creek Ranch Big Spring, TX (Region 2) Cell (432) 517-0269 Work (432) 393-5889 bob@mosscreekranch.net TERM 2015-2017

VICE PRESIDENT

MARK HUBBARD

Mark Hubbard Ranch Properties Boerne,TX (Region 1) Cell (361) 816-8400 hubbardranches@gmail.com TERM 2015-2017

Mark Hubbard Long Ranch Boerne (361) 816-8400 Term: 8/2015-8/2017 REGION 2 Bob Price Moss Creek Ranch Big Spring (432) 517-0269 Term: 8/2013-8/2016 Rob Beckham Spring Gap Ranch Abilene (325) 665-7889 Term: 8/2015-8/2018 REGION 3 Dick Cain Trophy Ridge Ranch Saint Jo (903) 821-6258 Term: 8/2013-8/2016 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

John Hueske T3 Whitetails Somerville (936) 520-1809 Term: 8/2014-8/2017

REGION 4 Buddy Jordan Indian Creek Ranch Spring Branch (210) 260-6711 Term: 8/2013-8/2016

REGION 7 Troy Smith Triple S Whitetail Highlands (713) 725-2723 Term: 8/2015-8/2018

Fred Gonzalez Gonzalez Whitetails Uvalde Cell (830) 279-8770 Term: 8/2015-8/2018

Zac Kennedy JZ Whitetails Gonzales (361) 293-8867 Term: 8/2014-8/2017

REGION 5 Jeff Jones Brown Trophy Whitetail Ranch Ennis (214) 534-7056 Term: 8/2014-8/2017

Scott W. Bugai, DVM Flying B Ranch Seguin (830) 556-9157 Term: 8/2013-8/2016

Mike Wood Madera Bonita Game Ranch Combine Cell (214) 356-7913 Term: 8/2013-8/2016 Carroll Glaser Emma’s Crossing Rockdale (512) 284-0807 Term: 8/2015-8/2018 REGION 6 Chris McDaniel B&C Wildlife Consulting Caldwell Cell (210)287-3226 Term: 8/2015-8/2018

REGION 8 Chase Clark Artemis Outdoors Three Rivers (361) 319-6926 Term: 8/2013-8/2016 Craig Wilson Wilson Whitetail Ranch Fair Oaks Ranch (210) 602-4531 Term: 8/2014-8/2017 Frede Edgerton Contigo Ranch Premont (210) 601-5171 Term: 8/2015-8/2018

DIRECTOR AT LARGE SECRETARY

JOHN HUESKE T3 Whitetails

Somerville, TX (Region 6)

Cell (936) 520-1809

hueskejohn@yahoo.com TERM 2015-2017

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT

W. CHASE CLARK

Artemis Outdoors Three Rivers, TX (Region 8) Cell (361) 319-6926 Work (361) 786-1877

TREASURER

MIKE WOOD

Madera Bonita Game Ranch Combine, TX (Region 5) Cell (214) 356-7913 mwood@oldhamlumber.com TERM 2015-2017

“Terms for elected positions officially start following the Statewide Membership Meeting held at the TDA Annual Convention. Executive Committee members hold 2-year terms, Directors hold 3-year terms, and Officers hold annual terms.”

Gilbert Adams, III JAG Ranch Beaumont, TX (409) 781-6146

REGIONAL OFFICERS REGION 1 Sheldon Grothaus President Hondo (210) 854-5833

Steve Frisina Treasurer Fort Worth (432) 556-2970

REGION 6 Drake Heller President Houston (281) 546-7051

REGION 4 Brett Anderson Vice President Fair Oaks Ranch (210) 260-9064

Summer Wingo Vice President Center (936) 427-2773

Jason Maroney Secretary/Treasurer Kerrville (512) 748-2810

Clint Carby Secretary/Treasurer New Ulm (979) 676-1111

Bryan Lane Vice President Decatur (940) 389-2696

REGION 5 John True Vice President Dallas (214) 890-0900

REGION 7 Zac Kennedy President Gonzales (361) 293-8867

Michael Deveny Secretary Cross Plains (936) 554-4941

Jason Milligan Secretary/Treasurer Georgetown (512) 635-4327

Ryan Mills Vice President Gonzales (830) 857-3443

Hugo Berlanga Vice President Corpus Christi (361) 813-9212 REGION 3 Madison Michener President (806) 679-9320 Trophy Club

Jeremy Cook Secretary/Treasurer Gonzales (830) 857-0484 REGION 8 Roy “Smitty” Dennis President San Antonio (361) 877-2421 Lynn Collard Vice President George West ( 575) 519-8458 Valerie Erskine Secretary/Treasurer Tilden Cell (210) 705-4909

chase@artemisoutdoors.com TERM 2013-2015

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ADVISORY BOARD TDA FOUNDING FATHERS

EDITORIAL STATEMENT Tracks is the official publication of the Texas Deer Association (TDA) and is published bi-monthly year-round. Subscriptions are included in Activelevel 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. It is the sole responsibility of the advertiser to ensure their advertising contracts are up to date, ad artwork is current, and

SAN ANTONIO

NACOGDOCHES

GEORGE WEST

JERRY JOHNSTON

DR. JAMES KROLL

GENE RISER

(210) 288-1558

(936) 554-0998

1945-2011

submitted by each issueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deadline. Materials should be emailed to publications@texasdeerassociation.com.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY

November 15

TDA ADVISORY BOARD

MARCH/APRIL

Bill Grace Salado (254) 718-5084

Warren Bluntzer Lometa (512) 556-7027

Tom Malouf Wills Point (469) 222-2778

Jerry Johnston San Antonio (210) 288-1558

David Hayward Columbus (936) 870-6835

Marty Berry Corpus Christi (361) 767-7200

Dr. James Kroll Nacogdoches (936) 554-0998

January 15 MAY/JUNE

March 15

JULY/AUGUST

May 16

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

July 15

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

September 15

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

REGION 8 Marty Berry Corpus Christi (361) 767-7200 Lee Wheeler George West (361) 449-6000 Gene Riser George West 1945-2011

WARREN BLUNTZER Senior Field Editor

thebluntzers@yahoo.com Editorial comments can be sent to: Warren Bluntzer thebluntzers@yahoo.com Advertising requests can be sent to: publications@ texasdeerassociation.com Direct all other correspondence and address changes to: TDA 816 Congress Avenue, Ste. 950 Austin, TX 78701

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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TRACKS

CONTENT

DEPARTMENTS 12

President’s Journal

Calendar of Events

118 Advertiser’s Index 98

Tracks Classifieds

TDA WORKING FOR YOU 12

Industry News

THE BACK 40 90

Snapped In Their Tracks

Did You Know?

ABOUT THE COVER THREES COMPANY By Hubert Gonzalez

Do you have a great photo you want to submit for consideration? If so, please send your photo to Warren Bluntzer at thebluntzers@ yahoo.com. 4

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

FEATURES

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 24 Are You Fire Wise? 35 Build High Fence to Last 50 Coyote Predation on Post-Rut Bucks

HUNTING & SHOOTING 82

64 Texas in its Grandeur 73 Completing the Grand Slam of Spanish Ibex

82 Summer Catfishing - A Texas Tradition

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816 CONGRESS AVENUE, SUITE 950 | AUSTIN, TX 78701 WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION

STAFF

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.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

PATRICK TARLTON patrick@texasdeerassociation.com

PURPOSE & GOALS • To promote wise management of deer, recognizing that hunting and management are lifelong enterprises;

• • •

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

CECI WALLACE

JUDY JACKSON

ceci@texasdeerassociation.com

judy@texasdeerassociation.com

•

• • • ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS

MACKENZIE OLIPHANT

PAULINE PRESTON

mackenzie@texasdeerassociation.com

pauline@texasdeerassociation.com

(512) 499-0466 816 Congress Avenue, Suite 950 Austin, TX 78701 info@texasdeerassociation.com

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 To increase quality hunting opportunities for Texas hunters. 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.

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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T E X A S D E E R A S S O C I AT I O N POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE

Celebrating a Decade of Advocacy for the Texas Deer Industry

What is the TDA PAC and why should I give to it? TDA PAC is an investment to help protect, improve and promote the deer industry in our great state. Opponents to our industry want to impose their ideals on landowners and deer enthusiasts, and create unnecessary government regulations which costs our deer industry and our state thousands of dollars each year. Your donation helps to support legislators who understand our issues and hear our concerns, as well as, to promote our message to others. “Their knowledge of our industry is our biggest asset .”** The success of our legislative efforts in Austin have a significant impact on our industry’s future. Thank you for your support! For more information on the TDA PAC visit www.texasdeerassociation.com **Quotes from The Honorable Bill Brewster

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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PRESIDENT’S JOURNAL BY BOB PRICE

ON THE MOVE

ne thing about the Deer Business – ITS NEVER BORING!!! The seasons pass in a flash and its fawning time when it seems like yesterday we were AI’ing and turning Bucks in. But, yes, by the time you read this you better have plenty of Unique numbers and fawn paste ready. Spring has sprung and it is green everywhere. Wildflowers color the backroads throughout central Texas and the quail should be off to good hatches across Texas. How blessed we are to be among those who get to connect with the land and understand that concrete does not photosynthesize. Looking at our industry today, we all are diligently studying the “New Rules” to see how they will impact our operations and how we will navigate through the various hurdles associated with them. If and when the rules are adopted, the Texas Deer Association will work hard to answer all questions and educate our members on each aspect. For your association to avail itself of all information and then be the resource for expertise and guidance not otherwise readily available is a primary function and responsibility of the organization for the benefit of you the members. Be assured that the Texas Deer Association is on the forefront of interacting with members of the Texas Legislature (both House and Senate) to help them understand the impact of additional rules as they relate to individual deer operations in order for them to be able to put in perspective the costs propounded upon this billion dollar industry and individuals vs the “benefit” of futile expenditures of Tax-payer dollars chasing a disease that can neither be contained, controlled nor eradicated. It is imperitive to us all that they have the right answer to the question – “Does the end justify the means”. By this reading we will have hosted a “Lunch and Learn” in Austin for all the members of the Texas Legislature to hear presentations by Dr. Don Davis and Dr. James Kroll on the facts related to CWD as a disease and the efforts of other states to deal with it. I believe this presentation to be very beneficial to the intent of your association to advocate for CWD to be treated like any other animal disease which means uniform surveillance and management on BOTH sides of a high fence. Recently I was told that CWD was a “shared responsibility” meaning shared between affected parties. I tend to accept that, but direct attention back to the original intent of the over-seeing agencies to address its prevalence and geographic diversity. We have long advocated for equal address. In that there is no biologist, epidemiologist, biometrician, veterinarian, scientist, Agency employee or association member anywhere that can authoritatively say where CWD originated, how it spreads or where it resides it would only make sense that the protections requested by parties outside the breeder pens be afforded to those operating inside the pens. Sharing responsibility should work both ways. In other business, the Austin Staff is hard at work developing products and procedures for the further growth of this association. The website nears completion, the Membership database is being looked at for integration with event software to enable online reg-

istration and seamless promotion through social media. The Auction Flex Software is now fully implemented and proved its worth in timely process of invoices and payments at the March auctions. Documentation by contract of agreements made between TDA and members and vendors whether for ads or exhibit space or providing of services by using written contracts will ensure that parties on both side have a clear understanding and will be available for review by parties in the future. We continue to develop online information such as member blogs, webinar broadcasts and digital magazines/catalogs to enhance member communication. Additionally, the By-Laws of the Association are in the hands of a professional association planner and an attorney who specializes in Non-Profit structure and Bylaws. They will present drafts to the Board of Directors for consideration as a tool to stream-line government and operation of TDA. You as members have seen membership grow exponentially over the last 9 months. The out-reach to the Hunter/Sportsman market is working and is vital to the health and well-being of your association. So as to be more well-rounded as an organization, it is now important to provide services and sales ability to the more commercially focused producer. We should serve all levels of our membership in the aid of promoting and marketing their product. Please let your needs be heard as to how staff and Board can serve you better. I would implore all of you to pitch in and help promote events and membership recruitment at the local level. Involvement is the key. Although challenged by all the concerns over CWD and the new rules being proposed for adoption, the entirety of the Texas Deer Association must not be distracted from its primary duty to be the advocate of fair play and the defender of the rights of all of its members to extract a living from the deer enterprise and to be able to enjoy the pleasures of the great outdoors of Texas. See you on the front line and Always - Hunt Your Way! Respectfully, Bob Price TDA President

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

Animals speak louder than words. If there’s greatness on the inside, it shows on the outside. purinamills.com/game-feed

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TDA WORKING FOR YOU

INDUSTRY NEWS

23 MORE CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE CASES FOUND IN ARK. ARTICLE BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said 23 more cases of chronic wasting disease have been confirmed in deer and elk in the state. The commission said last week that there have been 79 positive tests for CWD since the first case was confirmed Feb. 23 in an elk in Newton County. Three of the 79 cases have come from elk in Newton County, 74 deer from Newton County and two deer in Boone County. Deer or elk infected with the deadly disease may often stay away from their herds, may lose their fear of human beings and can eventually lose bodily functions. CWD can be determined only within a few days of an animal’s death and the public is asked to report dead deer or elk as quickly as possible by calling 800-482-9262.

RESEARCHERS IN NEPAL CONFIRM FIRST CASE OF TB IN A RHINO ARTICLE BY GRACE WILLIAMS, FOXNEWS.COM Researchers at a wildlife conservation preserve in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, have announced the first confirmed case of tuberculosis (TB) in a young female Asian One-horned rhino. This discovery is the first infectious disease discovered in the rhino population and a crucial step in the fight for rhino conservation. The discovery has been published in a paper in Emerging Infectious Disease and is the result of research that began in 2012. The research called on experts and organizations that included the Veterinary Initiative for Endangered Wildlife (VIEW), the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). Although poaching has been eliminated altogether since 2013, Chitwan National Park still saw 31 rhino deaths due to unknown circumstances over the past five years. Until recently, the inability to pinpoint the cause of these deaths was due to a lack of having proper systems in place to investigate the culprit. Researchers discovered that the organism responsible for causing TB in the rhino is part of the Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex (MTBC) group. It is a close relative of organisms that cause TB in humans and cattle. They also noted that in 2014, the World Health Organization reported 9.6 million new TB cases each year in the world’s human population. Deborah McCauley, founder and executive director of 16

VIEW, told FoxNews.com that the discovery of TB in rhinos will fuel debate about how to best serve the human and animal populations that could potentially be affected. In the case of the rhinos, poaching and habitat encroachment are often at the top of the intervention lists, but disease, the third issue, has the potential to be the greatest threat, she said.

FIRST REPORTED CASE OF CWD IN EUROPE ARTICLE BY DANIEL XU, OUTDOORHUB.COM It seems that chronic wasting disease (CWD) may have finally jumped across the ocean. Primarily a disease that is found in North America, the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance announced earlier this month that CWD was detected in a free-range reindeer herd in southern Norway. It is believed to be the first reported incidence of CWD in Europe. “The sick female reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) was detected in the middle of March 2016 in connection with capture for GPS-collaring using helicopter performed by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA),” stated the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. “It died and the carcass was submitted to the Norwegian Veterinary Institute in Oslo for necropsy and laboratory examinations. It was an adult animal, says wildlife pathologist Turid Vikøren at Norwegian Veterinary Institute, who performed the necropsy.” It is also the first time that the disease has been found in reindeer. CWD is a contagious neurological disease that affects many species of cervids, like whitetail deer or elk. The disease itself is believed to be caused by prion proteins, which infects other proteins and cause them to fold in abnormal ways. This eventually results in loss of appetite, weight loss, behavioral changes, and excessive urination or drooling in affected animals. CWD is always fatal and in many ways is similar to mad cow disease. “Do not shoot, handle or consume an elk or deer that is acting abnormally or appears to be sick,” the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance advised on its website. “When field-dressing game, wear rubber gloves and minimize the use of a bone saw to cut through the brain or spinal cord (backbone). Bone out the meat. Minimize contact with and do not consume brain or spinal cord tissues, eyes, spleen, or lymph nodes. Always wash hands thoroughly after dressing and processing game meat.” Experts have no evidence that CWD affects humans in any way, but since research on the disease is still ongoing, they advise people to avoid contact with animals with the illness. The discovery of CWD in Europe, while it appears to be an isolated incident, can be worrying. CWD is one of the top concerns for wildlife managers in North America, and it can take a heavy toll on wildlife. If the disease does establish a foothold in Europe, it may be one that biologists across the Atlantic will find very hard to dislodge. TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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“

RB”

(DNAS # 65688)

“

BLUE BOY” (DNAS # 106533)

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DOZER”

(DNAS # 114283)

GROWING DEER THAT TEXAS HUNTERS EXPECT!

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26”

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Semen, Bred Does, Open Does, Ranch Stocker Does, Breeder & DMP Bucks

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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

ARE YOU FIRE WISE?

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY JUDY BISHOP JUREK

This gate post burned to the ground, fences consumed but a hunting camp in the background (left of center) were saved thanks to valiant efforts of volunteer fire fighters.

right sunshine, warm, a bit windy but otherwise a fine mid-February day in the Heart of Texas near the Lone Star state’s geographical center. I had just finished playing ball with my faithful 4-legged kid Zarr. It was 2pm. I darted into the house for a glass of water. Stepping back outside a mere two minutes later my nose was filled with the flavor of burning mesquite, oak, and cedar. Looking west across an open valley I could see it was bluish gray, like light fog. Smoke! The density was increasing by the second. Now able to strongly smell 24

and almost taste it, a fire was burning to the southwest, the wind sending the smoke right on top of us. How far away or more seriously, how close? I had just been outside only moments earlier with no indication anything was wrong. My neighbor to the south and east had been chain sawing for several days. Surely he didn’t light a brush pile with this wind…but then again, did he? Alarm filled my brain as my heart raced. I yelled at my husband John. He grabbed a set of keys, we jumped in the truck and headed south down the highway to see where a fire might be located in

reference to our land and house. A variety of odors filled our senses as we now saw smoke plumes moving through the air. Topping a rise, clouds of yellowish brown bellowed upward south of Brady, the wind whipping it forward. It was at least five miles or so away. About the same time we heard sirens as flashing lights came up behind us. Two fire trucks from a small community ten miles opposite across the county line were headed toward the blaze. A blown out tire, the rim hitting the pavement creating sparks, set that fire. Winds carried it across a vast ranch TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

with limited access due to rough terrain. At dusk the wind laid thus enabling firefighters from over a dozen VFDs (volunteer fire departments) in four counties to gain control. Texas Forest Service bulldozers from Brownwood were beneficial as was lack of fuel sources in rocky topography. No injuries or loss of structures, just several hundred acres scorched. Had winds stayed strong the outcome may have been different. Emotions Galore Fire. One simple word can conjure up a cornucopia of mental images and internal feelings depending on your personal experiences. You may be a professionally trained fulltime fire fighter, a volunteer for a rural brigade, the official campsite fire starter, or someone with an innate sense and/or fear of the flames, heat, smoke, fumes, and all other related parts of a fire. If breathlessly whispered or shouted as loudly as possible, the single word ‘Fire’ will bring a rush of emotions as well as adrenaline if danger is eminent. Yet fire can, and often does, act as a friend although to the average person it is indeed a most formidable foe. Much depends on whether constructively atmospheric (campfire for looks, warmth, cooking), intentional following preparation and announcement (controlled burn), or occurring unexpectedly taking all by surprise (wildfire). Almost every camp of any kind has a fire as its point of interest. It may be used for cooking meals, a heat source on a cold day or night, or simply be the mainstay for camaraderie by a few or many. Countless memories are generated around a pile of burning wood. Glowing coals offering delightful aromas as well as the source necessary to create wonderful dining fare. Stories told and retold by individuals ringed around a campfire may live eternally. How many times has a campfire been left burning while everyone goes to bed or out to hunt? Oh, it died down quite a bit…it’ll be OK. Famous last words! I’m guilty. Many others out there are, too. Proper extinguishing before leaving a campfire should be common safety. Knowing the weather forecast warrants possibly not starting one at all. A cold front arriving with force or a wind

increase before Signs inform the public that authorities are aware of an approaching any blaze or smoke sighted in the immediate area. In thunderstorm February, 2016, television, radio and newspapers advised can send embers Brownwood’s Camp Bowie would conduct controlled burns for days, perhaps weeks, depending, of course, on wind and spewing across the humidity conditions. ground or in the air. Burn bans are put in force for a reason! By the same token, in times of drought ranchers often burn the stickers off prickly pear so cattle can have something to eat. If not careful, such activities can easily get out of hand. Chuck and his son Ben were at their deer camp when Jack, the rancher, came rushing in asking them. In recent years they have focused for help as he had accidently set brush on fire while on becoming good land stewards. Kay has attended numerous Women of scorching pear. Luckily Ben was an actual fireman the Land, Texas Wildlife Association, and there was little wind that day. Using AgriLife, and other workshops, classes, water soaked blankets the trio beat and seminars to learn as much as possible down the front line while lack of fuel, about managing for wildlife while as in parched bare and rocky ground, improving habitat. Their controlled inhibited the spread in other directions. burn was enacted on fifty acres of a 350 Jack was thankful, stating he learned acre parcel sprayed four years ago. “I’ve listened to presentations and a valuable lesson: Never work alone! From that day forward he’s always had watched video of burns so I knew a bit a helper to watch for brush and grass about it, but you really don’t know until you have seen it live!” Kay related, her being unintentionally ignited. voice transmitting a bit of awe, “It was very interesting and we got good results; Planned Preparation about 95% burned. What didn’t burn “We conducted our first prescribed was either too green (cacti) or there burn a week ago,” said Kay Kelley of wasn’t enough fuel to carry the flame. Houston, who, along with husband Phil, Even though the trees were long dead own a Dimmit County ranch. “We had and dry, they didn’t burn up like I hoped talked with a NRCS (Natural Resources they would, instead some smoldered for Conservation Service) rangeland days and days.” Five years ago NRCS District manager; he wrote the burn plan. Phil had to get the county judge and fire Conservationist Dusty Crowe of Carrizo marshal to sign off on it as we were in Springs developed a plan for the 1,400 a burn ban (February, 2016). To get an acre Kelley ranch based on their revised exception to the burn ban we had to goal to hunt quail, dove and turkey. They were overpopulated with exotics and have their signatures.” The permit provided a three week whitetail deer, had too much mesquite window for the wind/humidity/weather and pear along with loss of top soil due to be right for the burn. Since purchasing to lack of grass to hold it. Within six the ranch in 1999 for hunting, the Kelleys months they had a plan; 350 acres was have made mistakes but learned from sprayed. Once the leaf canopy was gone

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ARE YOU FIRE WISE? native grasses providing good bird seed sprang to life. However, four years later the dead trees were unsightly. A bulldozer would be too detrimental to grasses they worked so hard to cultivate. Crowe explained a burn would be good for the thatch of dead grasses beginning to

the benefits reaped have been enormous. They stated it’s been very rewarding and they’ll continue to do their best for the land and its wildlife. A controlled burn is just one more tool in the huge management toolbox when done safely and correctly.

Frede Edgerton will never forget February 25, 2011. On a Hill Country business trip he answered his cell phone to hear a neighbor’s controlled burn had gone wild, jumped protection perimeters, and was headed to Edgerton’s beloved 5,000 acre Contigo Ranch in South Texas. The neighbor had

It may not be much but it slides into the bed of this 4WD buggy. Skid mounted, a 125 gallon tank rigged with engine, three hoses and assorted nozzles for height, width and volume can be a first defense for small fires or a hot spot sprayer in the aftermath of a larger blaze.

build up but the dead trees would not disappear. Within four days of the burn new green grass shoots appeared. A nice rain a week later brought on a sea of green. “We plan to conduct burns every year, rotating the areas, Grass has helped slow the erosion we had going on while providing food and habitat.” Kay stated with much enthusiasm, “Our quail population has exploded! I know, it has over much of Texas but we’ve also greatly reduced animal numbers to what the land can support and that helped, too.” The Kelleys have invested a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in this ranch but 26

On the Other Hand… Unfortunate events happen. It may be the result of an accident or from a wellintentioned act that goes awry due to incompetence, impatience, ignorance, Mother Nature changing plans unexpectedly, or whatever. Innocuous campfires, a live cigarette or cigar, lightning strike, electrical transformer shorting out, safety tow chain hitting pavement causing a spark, kids and adults playing with fireworks…the list is long and varied as to how a fire may start. A prescribed burn getting out of hand is another.

not informed Edgerton of the planned burn prior to this call. Completely blindsided, stunned by the news, and for many seconds hopelessly helpless as his mind raced, Edgerton’s blood pressure rose as his anger did, too. “One difference between a prescribed burn and a wildfire is control,” said Edgerton in an interview about the fire, (“Unexpected Catastrophe” TRACKS March/April 2012). “Another basic safety procedure is alerting neighbors beforehand so they can be prepared in case things go wrong.” Once the blaze hit Contigo, it had abundant fuel to advance rapidly. When TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

rains in 2010 brought relief from two years’ drought Edgerton didn’t graze the ranch, opting for native grasses to grow and seed out. Now the thick, tall, and dry grama torched like gasoline. Firefighters from the lower valley to Fredericksburg, including the Texas Forest Service, responded. Long story short: The wildfire covered 4,800 acres of which 3,000 belonged to Contigo. Wind dying down at dusk enabled eventual extinguishing. No major structures were consumed although fencing, water piping, hunting blinds and feeders, and corrals were destroyed. The most devastating losses to Edgerton were the massive, nearly century old bull mesquites and untold numbers of wildlife (mammals, birds, reptiles, insects) unable to escape. Much of the ranch’s majestic landscape was forever altered. Today, five years later, Edgerton said, “Monetary value can be placed on equipment and structures but a hundred year old tree is irreplaceable. People told me ‘in a few years it will all be fine.’ In one sense that’s true but the loss of the bull mesquites changed the look of the terrain. The fire was so hot it absolutely fried young 15’ mesquites. Where there were once grand trees along with younger ones there is now lots of low brush. There are still areas black and ugly. It’s visual.” Edgerton says he is not against prescribed burns, in fact he’s an advocate. “It’s a tremendously efficient management tool…as long as performed properly, safely, with due diligence. You cannot rush in – the conditions, wind and humidity, must be correct! Much like a wildlife coop, work together with neighbors. Communication is important. Had we been aware of the plans, we could have had a heads up and been prepared.” Although he’s since sold Contigo, Edgerton now owns a Hill Country ranch where they are already prepping for a possible 2017 controlled burn if conditions are favorable. “You can’t decide today to burn an area next week. We’re disking perimeters now while making our plan. I cannot stress how you must wait for conditions to be right before lighting a fire. When they are,

and you’ve properly planned, everything falls into place precisely.” Support Always Needed Large, small, and in-between, Volunteer Fire Departments are essential to rural residents across the Lone Star’s broad expanse. They respond to everything from car wrecks to house and barn fires to any kind of pasture or brush burn whether intentional, accidental, or the result of Mother Nature. Many Hill Country (and elsewhere) fires are ignited by lightning strikes both instantaneously or delayed. With the extended drought, oak wilt, brush piles, and other things that create dead debris, a lightning bolt can cause wood to smolder, possibly for days, until wind kindles embers into flames. Among the many other hats he wears, Tim Sansill is a devoted, tireless member of the Winchell Volunteer Fire Department. Located in the southwestern tip of Brown County almost on the banks of the Colorado River, it serves a wide area as do most all VFDs. If a call comes in, whether nearby or from area counties, Sansill and others respond as quickly as possible. “Our first concern is to protect homes and barns, and if possible, any other structures nearby. We take into account the wind velocity and direction, where the blaze is headed. We try to get out in front of it to stop it.” With a bit of exasperation, Sansill said, “Sometimes it doesn’t work as well as we’d like. Around here we’ve got some really rugged terrain so sometimes we just have to let it burn to an area where we can set up control and sometimes, due to lack of fuel in rocky areas, it will just burn itself out.” “The Texas Forest Service putting in a location at Brownwood has been so beneficial to all VFDs around here. Their bulldozers help so much.” Sansill stated VFDs depend on grants and fundraisers for money. “We always have expenses. Equipment gets damaged and must be replaced. Some VFDs have really old trucks and gear. Plus people must be trained. You can’t just run out there or you’ll get into big trouble. We depend on our community for support.”

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Are You Fire Wise? Fire. Most everyone has enjoyed a cozy campfire at one time or another so it’s easy to think of it as comforting, relaxing. It can also be a creative tool. However, there is a vast difference between a properly planned and executed prescribed burn and a raging wildfire. As Edgerton stated, it’s about control. There are steps you can take to be prepared. Educate yourself, family members, and your neighbors. Preparation beforehand may not only save your life and property but may also lessen frantic work along with heartaches and headaches later. Become fire wise! HELPING YOURSELF There are numerous ways to lessen fire dangers around your home and property whether large or small. Flying embers pose the greatest threat. Here are a few things to consider. 1) Maintain a separation between fuel and fire by keeping vegetation, trees, debris, firewood piles, and other flammable materials away from your home and out buildings. 2) Keep your yard, trees, and landscaping healthy and green or employ xeriscaping in drought prone areas. 3) Use fire resistant roofing material such as metal, tile, or specifically made shingles. 4) Double check your 911 address. I recently learned my response address is not what we were told upon moving here nor is it either of two tiny communities closest but a town 8 miles away as a crow flies, 13 by highway. Knowing your GPS coordinates also helps. 5) Improving emergency response involves having an accurate and easily visible address especially in rural areas in addition to road and street signs being reflective, fire resistant and visible from both sides. 6) In case of evacuation but have a few minutes notice, know where your most important papers, necessary medications, and pets are located in order to take with you. 7) Support your local and area Volunteer Fire Departments as you may need their help one day. For much information, guidance, publications, and recommendations along with interesting and enlightening facts, please go to the Texas Forest Service website at www.texasforestservice.tamu.edu and visit Texas Interagency Coordination Center (TICC) at www.ticc.tamu.edu to learn more about preventing wildfires.

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August 2015

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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

BUILD HIGH FENCE TO LAST ARTICLE BY ROBERT FEARS

Don’t skimp on labor when building high-fence. Hire people that know what they are doing.

igh fencing is expensive and to recover the large investment from ranch income, it is important to build fence to last. Material quality and longevity should drive the purchase decisions, not necessarily price. Once good materials are selected, they need to be installed correctly so they will stay in place. Landowners should understand the basics of building a good fence and take an active role in materials selection and construction, regardless of whether fence is built by ranch hands or a contractor. One of the most complicated decisions in purchasing fencing materials is choosing a woven wire. You are required to decide on wire class based on thickness of the galvanized coating, gauge, low carbon or high tensile, number of horizontal lines, types of knots, spacing between stay or vertical wires, height and length. Wire Coatings For protection against corrosion, fence wire is galvanized WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

by dipping the manufactured product in hot molten zinc or zinc/aluminum. Thickness of the galvanized coating determines the class of wire and how long it is expected to last. Class has nothing to do with strength. All but one class of fence wire conform to ASTM standards. ASTM International, formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials, was established in 1898 and sets standards for manufacturing that are critical to producing quality products. All government cost share fencing projects reference meeting ASTM specifications. Wire classes and their longevities are shown in Table 1. There is no stated amount of zinc on Commercial class wire whereas Class 1 has 0.28 ounces of zinc coating per square foot and Class 3 has 0.80 ounces per square foot. Class 40 ZA has a combination of 95 percent zinc and 5 percent aluminum coating. Longevity of any class of wire depends on environmental conditions of the area in which it is installed. “You can’t tell the difference between Commercial, Class 1 or Class 3 by looking at it,” says Gary Craig, Marketing Manager for San Antonio Steel Company (SASCO). “However, zinc 35

BUILD HIGH FENCE TO LAST Wire size and composition Size of wire is expressed as gauge which signifies its diameter. As the gauge number increases, the wire size decreases. For instance, diameter of 12-gauge wire is 0.081 inches, whereas diameter of 14-gauge wire is 0.064 inches. Woven wire is available in a variety of heights and configurations. A standard numbering system is used among manufacturers to designate their woven wire designs. An example SASCO product number is 20961212S. The first two digits are the number of horizontal wires. The second two numbers are the height of the fence in inches and the third two numbers are the vertical stay wire spacing in inches. The last two or three digits in wire product numbers designate different information among manufacturers. SASCO uses the last two digits in the product number to designate wire gauge. In most cases, the last two digits refer to the gauge T-posts can be placed 20 feet apart if good quality, high tensile wire is used. of interior wires only. Top and bottom wires are usually a heavier gauge. The “S” in the Steel, Rangemaster, CMC Southern Post, W Silver, and Pro product number stands for the brand, StaTite50. Product Fencer. Some of the manufacturers custom-make fencing number 20961212S has 20 horizontal wires, a height of 96 materials for SASCO which are sold under the brand name, inches, a stay wire spacing of 12 inches and 12-gauge interior horizontal wires. StaTite50. “The type of knot used in the manufacture of woven wire has an influence on fence performance,” says Craig. “A fixed Wire Strength knot utilizes solid vertical stay wires which increase vertical Wire strength is an important purchasing decision strength of the fence and allow for increased post spacing. The and is expressed as break load, elongation and tensile strength. knot is made with a separate piece of wire by tightly wrapped Break load is the measured point at which wire breaks or around the line wire and stay wire at their intersections. Fixed pulls in two from an exerted force such as an impact from knot is very resistant to animal damage. an animal. It is measured in pounds. Elongation is how far a “S knot is found in products manufactured by Bekaert and wire will stretch and decrease in diameter before it breaks. It Keystone Steel and Wire. This design uses a separate piece of is expressed as a percentage derived by dividing the original wire to attach the line wire to the solid stay wire. The S knot length of the test sample by the elongated length and then is smooth to the touch and strong enough to resist animal multiplying by 100. Tensile strength is the force needed to pull impact.” one square inch of wire apart and is measured in pounds per “Hinge joint is found on both low carbon and high tensile square inch. For instance, high tensile wire elongates three to fence products,” Craig continues. “This knot is common four percent and low tensile wire elongates 10 to 12 percent. on agricultural fencing. The knot is formed by wrapping As carbon content of wire increases, density the vertical stay wire pieces around the line wire at each also increases. Low carbon wire has a carbon content intersection. If made of high tensile wire, this design can also of approximately 0.10 percent and high tensile wire has absorb animal impact without damage. The hinge joint is the approximately 0.28 percent carbon. Since low carbon wire most economical choice.” stretches, it requires more posts to keep it from sagging, Hinge joint is damaged with animal impact when made making it less economical than high tensile wire. with low carbon wire. Low carbon wire stretches upon impact and has to be re-stretched or propped up with posts or stays. aluminum coatings have a grayish tint and are less shiny than wire with zinc coatings.” San Antonio Steel Company, a member of Texas Deer Association, is a wholesaler of foundation and agriculture fence products. Since 1965, they have supplied lumber yards, agricultural cooperatives, and farm and ranch stores across Texas and in the neighboring states. SASCO sells a variety of fence products manufactured by Bekaert, Keystone, Oklahoma

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Rest of the fence “Braces serve a very important function in keeping fence upright and in place,” says Bill Martin, a fencing contractor in Carrizo Springs. “We build double braces for every quartermile of fence which is usually the length of four rolls of wire. Double braces require four vertical posts and on corners, we install a double brace in each direction. Vertical brace posts are placed in holes four feet deep and are spaced ten feet apart which makes a double brace 20 feet long. Two horizontal posts are welded between the vertical posts and are spaced two feet apart. We use high tensile wire and good quality t-posts spaced 20 feet apart.” “Strength of a fence is largely dependent on brace structure,” says Cuatro Strack, Owner of J4 Fencing & Services in El Campo and a member of TDA. “We use 3½ inch OD (outside diameter) pipe for the vertical brace posts and set them six feet deep.” “Our fences are built with good quality, high-tensile wire,” Strack continues. “Although the wire is very resistant to rust, we are careful to use galvanized tie wires and other fastening devices. A rusty fastener will transfer rust to fence wire even when it is galvanized.” “Predator aprons are very important for wildlife ranches,” Strack says. “We lay 26-inch woven wire on the soil surface outside of the fence. The top of the apron is attached to the bottom of the fence with hog rings and the other side is secured to the ground with eight-inch sod staples. Occasionally a predator might slip through; but the apron discourages most of them.” Hiring the right contractor is essential for building a good fence. Before pricing a fencing job for a potential customer, Martin verifies the type of fence to be built. Will it be a low fence or high fence? What kind of posts – metal or wooden? After these decisions are made, Martin describes how he will build the fence to deliver quality. “Our potential customers are presented with a list of references,” says Strack. “We don’t select names for the list based on who will give the best references, because we want to present a clear picture of how people view our work.” Buying good materials and hiring a good contractor will result in a deer fence that will last many years.

Woven wire with fixed knot joints.

“A recent option in the United States is the forged knot utilized on woven wire manufactured in Australia,” adds Craig. “This knot is much stronger than conventional S knots because it is forged to the line and stay wires. It is smooth on both sides with the wire ends tucked in for livestock safety.” Cost “Use of high tensile wire can reduce fencing costs because less posts are required and it lasts longer than low carbon wire,” explains Craig. “Our StaTite50 wire products carry a 50-year guarantee which allows the landowner to spread the installation over a longer period of time. Other reasons for buying high tensile wire include safety to wildlife and livestock, low maintenance, added strength and resiliency. “High tensile wire normally snaps back into its original shape after being hit by an animal. Almost every fence salesperson carries a video on their mobile phone of a deer hitting a high tensile fence, bouncing back, and then getting up and running off. If the wire didn’t give upon impact, the deer would have broken its neck.”

Table 1. Anticipated rust-‐free years of different classes of fence wire.1

Wire Class Anticipated Years without Rust Commercial No ASTM standards. 3 months to a year until rust. Class 1 2 to 12 years until rust in most non-‐coastal areas2 Class 3 13 to 25 years ZA3 Class 20 13 to 25 years Class 40 More than twice the life of class 3 (StaTite50®) Painted A ZA product can be painted. 1Contributed by Gary Craig, San Antonio Steel Company (SASCO) 2Longevity of all wire depends on geographical location. Continuous exposure to salt in coastal areas reduces rust-‐free periods. 3Zinc aluminum ®Trademark of San Antonio Steel Company

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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

COYOTE PREDATION ON POST-RUT BUCKS ARTICLE BY JIM HEFFELFINGER

Coyotes are wide-spread, effective predators that are masters at adapting and exploiting any food source. Photo by Michael Vamstad/NPS

o understand the fluctuations in deer populations we have to get a grasp on the relative number of deer being added to, and subtracted from, the population each year. Animals could move into and out of a population, but in most cases we can assume there are no mass migrations in either direction. Animals added to the population (recruitment) can be estimated by tracking fawn:doe ratios during annual surveys in the fall. The number of animals removed from the population in any given year is much more difficult to get a handle on. With intensively managed deer herds in South Texas, we generally know the number of bucks and does removed by hunters each fall from ranch harvest records, but the number dying of natural causes is very difficult to determine without some more intensive monitoring. Wild animals are naturally secretive and elusive when they are in good physical condition. When an animal such as a deer is stricken with disease, wounded, or otherwise sick 50

it generally seeks heavy cover near water which makes it much less likely to be observed. When such an animal dies in South Texas, the high density of predators and scavengers reduce the carcass to packrat treasures in short order. With advances in radio-telemetry and Global Positioning System (GPS) technology we can now gain insights into where some of those bucks you passed up last year are going. Management of a deer herd for quality bucks requires hunters to exercise restraint and let young bucks walk. This management scheme assumes that the bucks being passed up will survive to be available to harvest in the future. With so little known about natural mortality, an important part of the equation was conspicuously absent for a long time. Mature Male Mortality In the mid-1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Dr. Charles DeYoung and his students at what is now Texas A&M University-Kingsville found very TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

high mortality rates for mature bucks (20-23% annually) on 2 study areas in South Texas. This triggered a long series of related, but different, studies to learn more about buck mortality. Subsequent studies overseen and conducted by Sam Beasom, Steve Demarias, Bob Zaiglin, Mickey Hellickson, David Hewitt, Aaron Foley, Stephen Webb, and others have confirmed this high loss of mature bucks and also added immensely to our knowledge of mature buck behavior, movement, and development. These studies in South Texas confirmed what Charlie DeYoung found originally, that most of the annual buck mortality occurred in the 4-month postrut period (December-March). On ranches managed for quality deer, the mature, dominant bucks are doing much of the breeding and because of the tremendous physical exertion and decrease in food intake during rut, mature bucks can lose up to 25% of their body weight. This leaves them in their poorest physical condition at that time making them very susceptible to many mortality factors as they try to recuperate. If we can identify the major source of this high buck mortality, we may be able to do something to lessen this hemorrhaging of mature bucks from the population after the breeding season and allow more bucks to survive to the older age classes. Predation is always one of the first mortality factors to enter the discussion (“My what big teeth you have”), but can 30-pound coyotes really kill enough 180-pound bucks to make a difference?

Coyotes as Predators of Adult Deer Coyote predation is a major source of mortality for fawns in Texas and many other parts of the country. In fact, this level of fawn predation is probably what keeps many deer populations from irrupting and over-running their forage base. Coyotes are efficient fawn predators because they have a wide distribution, high densities, and are very effective killers of small to mid-sized prey. These traits allow coyotes to prey on a large portion of the annual fawn crop. Coyotes don’t live on fawns year round so they maintain high densities by feeding on a large variety of different types of foods. When new fawns are born, they are dropped into an environment full of hungry coyotes who then focus on hunting fawns for a month before returning to other food sources. Coyotes also kill adult deer at times and this has been documented in many parts of the country. One area that was well-known for this phenomenon is Yellowstone National Park in the 1980s where fairly large packs of coyotes preyed on adult deer. This was a case of coyotes rising to the occasion and assuming the role of long-lost wolves in that ecosystem until the real wolves showed up again and coyotes were forced back to a diet of fawns, rats, and rabbits. Adult deer are not a very common prey of coyotes, but it probably occurs more in South Texas than any other portion of the whitetail’s range. There are a few factors that come

Heavy competition for does on intensively managed ranches results in a strenuous rut and bucks can lose as much as 25% of their body weight by chasing does rather than eating. Photo by Bill Kuvlesky

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COYOTE PREDATION ON POST-RUT BUCKS

together in South Texas to cause this. Coyote abundance in that region is near the highest levels recorded anywhere in the scientific literature. With high coyote densities, many pups will stay in their parent’s home range for more than a year and actually help raise the next year’s pups. This results in small “packs” of coyotes hunting for food together. A group of 3-6 coyotes can take advantage of their strength in numbers and be more efficient preying on larger animals. The previous year’s pups are basically full grown by December, which coincides with the beginning of the whitetail post-rut period. The question is not whether coyotes in South Texas kill adult deer, we know they do. The question for the deer manager is whether this is a major mortality factor or just an unusual occurrence. If it is significant, then can we kill coyotes and increase the number of bucks available to harvest? What can we do about it? As a graduate student working under Drs. Sam Beasom and Charlie DeYoung at then Texas A&I University, I conducted a research project to answer these very questions. The same study was done at the same time on 2 different ranches in South Texas; one in Webb, Maverick, and Dimmit counties and the other in LaSalle County. On each ranch, 20,000 acres of deer habitat was divided into a 10,000-acre coyotetrapped area and another that was left alone (not trapped). Intensive coyote removal on the coyote-trapped areas of each ranch began in early January and lasted through mid-June for 3 straight years. All legal methods of coyote removal were used with the help of USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services agents and other graduate students at the time. Each year, 94 to 163 coyotes were removed from each trapped area in those 6-month periods. Coyote population trends were monitored in both trapped and not trapped areas with scent-station surveys. These surveys placed small smelly disks (scent-stations) and recorded what percent were visited by coyotes for 3 consecutive nights. This monitoring showed that coyote abundance was reduced about 82% during the coyote trapping seasons (January-June). Even though not all coyotes were removed, most individuals were removed and that would greatly reduce predation. One interesting side note was that coyote densities seemed to fully recover in the 10,000-acre trapped areas between the end of one trapping season (June) and the beginning of the next (January) even though no coyote reproduction occurs during this time of the year. This shows how a dense coyote population can quickly fill a void created by intensive coyote control practices. An average of 23 bucks were captured and radio-collared on these areas (trapped and not-trapped) throughout the study. We monitored the survival of these bucks throughout the year with telemetry flights by airplane. A different pulse 52

rate of the radio-collar told us when a buck died and the carcass could be investigated on the ground. This allowed us to monitor mortality rates for bucks in an area with most coyotes removed and compare those rates to the areas not trapped which had normally high coyote densities. In 3 years of monitoring, 8 bucks died of natural causes during the study (4 on each ranch). There were obvious signs of a struggle, churned up soil, flattened cactus, broken brush, coyote tracks, and small patches of hide leading to 3 of these carcasses. Two of these also had large areas of bloodstained soil near them, indicating these bucks were killed by coyotes and not merely scavenged. Interestingly, all 3 incidents occurred in the areas where no coyote control was conducted, but no obvious predation events were confirmed in areas where coyotes were removed. As in past studies, 6 of the 8 (75%) natural mortalities occurred in the December to March post-rut period, but there was no difference in the overall buck mortality rates between trapped and nottrapped areas. If our coyote removal was protecting bucks and allowing them to survive longer, it wasn’t a significant Individually-identifiable radiocollared bucks helped to evaluate the effects of intensive coyote control on post-rut buck survival. Photo by author.

enough number to show up in our mortality rates. Another way to determine if our coyote control provided any benefit is to compare changes in buck:doe ratios and the proportion of mature bucks in the population between areas that were trapped and not trapped. Each year, we repeated 4 or 5 helicopter surveys during a 1-week period in each area to make sure we were monitoring the population closely. Averaging all flights together gave us a more reliable estimate of the population ratios to see if we could detect an effect of the coyote removal. Still, we found no difference in buck:doe ratios between areas with and without coyotes. During fall helicopter surveys we tallied all bucks seen into 2 age classes: less than 4 years old, or 4+ years old based on the size and mass of antlers and also on body shape and musculature. To test how accurate we were in doing this, TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

in available bucks was not detected by intensive survey methods. If managers can’t detect any increase in mature bucks during their standard annual helicopter survey, they can’t increase the harvest to realize a benefit. If it’s not predators then what can we do to lessen the post-rut loss? How can we help more bucks survive to see their next opening day? The answer lies in nutrition. This does not necessarily mean a feed trough, but the best habitat management possible given the precipitation, vegetation, and other ranch priorities. Bucks need to recuperate and regain their former About 75% of all mature buck mortality in South Texas body condition. Good nutrition comes happens in the 4 months following rut (December-March). (Photo by LettusB) from keeping deer populations below the point where deer body condition after the survey we compared the ages bucks from coyote predation to be a suffers from lack of enough food to go we assigned to our radio-collared bucks feasible trophy management tool for around. Also, by watching grazing levels with their actual age (in our records). that purpose in South Texas. so important winter forbs and browse Overall, for all 3 years, we correctly plants aren’t hit too hard by livestock. categorized 89% of the collared bucks The Grim Reaper Brush management or burning might on the 2 study areas. Categorizing by be good options to disrupt some (not general age characteristics is a very Dr. David Hewitt, the Stuart Stedman most) of the thick brush to rejuvenate good way for landowners and wildlife Chair of White-tailed Deer Research the amount and quality of the browse managers to track general trends in the at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research and greens. Just remember, the bucks age structure of also need cover during the buck segment this time to hideout and With the density of scavengers in South Texas, it is not always easy to of the population. recharge their batteries. determine the cause of death so we compared mortality rates, buck:doe Once again, Deer management is ratios, and age structure. Photo by Steve Coughlin. the intensive never as simple as killing coyote control some predators, we must appeared to have resist the temptation no effect on the to seek easy solutions. things we are Monitoring your age most interested structure, buck:doe ratio, in because we overall deer abundance, detected no and habitat condition is differences in the recipe for cheating the proportion the Grim Reaper out of of mature bucks filling his tag. between areas trapped or not trapped during the 3 years of study. Institute, once wrote that as hunters EDITORS NOTE: Jim Heffelfinger is For a coyote control program to be and biologists are coming out of the Adjunct Faculty at University of Arizona, economically feasible from a wildlife field at the end of the year, the Grim Professional Member of the Boone & Crockett Club, Chair of the Western management perspective it must result Reaper is just punching in and going Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' in additional mature bucks available to to work in the Brush Country. The Mule Deer Working Group, and the be harvested. The additional income post-hunt, or more accurately post-rut, Wildlife Science Coordinator for the derived from these “extra” bucks must period is the time of year when most Arizona Game & Fish Department. See WWW.DEERNUT.COM for a copy of his exceed the amount paid for coyote buck mortality occurs. book “Deer of the Southwest” and follow control efforts. Based on our intensive We tested intensive coyote control him on Twitter @GameTrax efforts we had to concede that coyote and, although it may save a few bucks control doesn’t save enough mature from predation, this minor increase WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

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HUNTING & SHOOTING

TEXAS IN ITS GRANDEUR

FISH, HUNT, CAMP, EXPLORE – THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY JUDY BISHOP JUREK

hat to do? Where to go? How much to spend? What do you need to have some fun and make memories lasting a lifetime? All these questions and more may be walking, trotting, or racing across your mind as the days grow longer and the temperature rises. At the same time, should you take a moment from your busy life to observe your surroundings, you may be greeted with an abundance of color bursting forth against a sea of vivid green hues. NOW is the time to start planning an outing. By the time this articles goes to print spring has sprung (mighty early this year) with summer close on her heels. No one doubts that Texas is quite vast from north to south as well as east to west. And while you can travel outside the great Lone Star state to visit other places, why do so? We have much to offer right here within our borders! This time of year often brings to mind such things as fishing, spring turkey hunting (gobble, gobble), camping, exploring the great outdoors, and really too many things to list them all without forgetting at least two or ten or twenty or more! Please 64

don’t say you can’t afford an outing as there are many ways, free or relatively inexpensive, to seek fun and adventure. Time may be the only cost as in taking an hour, day, or weekend to get out and do something. Parks There is a park near you. Large, small or in-between, with or without water as in a river, stream, lake, pond, pool or fountain, playground equipment or vast open space, trails to walk, cycle or ride a horse, benches, picnic tables, restrooms for your convenience…take your pick. You may simply want to relax in the sun or shade with a good book, let Fido romp and roam, or join in a team sport of some kind taking place. Public parks abound across our great state owned and operated by cities, counties, state agencies and even our federal government as in Big Bend National Park. Many are free while others may require an entrance fee. Many parks feature swimming pools while others now have fountains that TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

rise and fall where children (and adults) can play among the cooling spouts on a hot afternoon. Fishing What kind of fishing? Saltwater or fresh, big water as in the Gulf of Mexico or small as in a private pond. Rod and reel, cane pole and bobber, fly rod, trout line tied to a tree – take your pick. Fish from the shoreline, wade into the water, use a kayak, canoe or boat. Live bait or artificial, the choice is yours depending on what you’re trying to catch. Don’t have any (or much) gear? Check out various parks as many have Kid Fish events to teach and encourage fishing. Some public and private ponds and lakes may supply rod, reels, and bait for a nominal fee. If someone is kind enough to lend what you need, return it in good condition. TPWD wants to help educate and introduce people to fish and fishing. Visit the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, Texas, for a great adventure and free catch-and-release fishing as well. Lake Jackson is home to the Texas Marine Hatchery and Sea Center. See all sorts of salt water species in tanks and aquariums as well as learning about life in the sea. Hunting Deer and dove hunting are by far the most popular species hunted in the Lone Star state. With the exception of spring turkey season, another round of various species seasons won’t roll around again until September. But wait…there are still many critters to hunt out there so hit the target range, load up, and go. WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

Feral hogs can be hunted year round in a blind, on horseback or foot, with dogs at night with a knife, out of helicopters or just about any way you can think of as long as you have a hunting license AND permission to hunt the land you’re on. It is advisable to inform the local game warden(s) if hunting at night using lights to avoid problems later. Exotic wildlife abounds across the state although the Hill Country is perhaps best known for multiple species running wild all over. Again a hunting license and permission is required but there are no seasons on exotics. Package hunts run the gamut from affordable to expensive depending on accommodations (tent camping or five star) and quality of animal desired (trophy status or meat in the freezer). There is perhaps a hunt near you. Searching for something specific? Go hunting for arrowheads, shed antlers, bird feathers and nests, or topaz in Mason County, the only place in Texas this gem can be found. Hunting easily encompasses shopping for antiques, visiting historical sites, wineries and breweries, or discovering little out-of-the-way dining places. Wandering through old cemeteries reading century old headstones can be quite interesting whether you’re hunting for a distant relative or not. Camping Once again this field is vast based on your individual wants and needs. Primitive camping usually means having no electricity or even a water faucet at your site. Some may or may not allow generators to be used. Recreational vehicles (RVs) come in all sizes from tiny casitas towed by motorcycles to humongous buses. RVs can be rented to save costs such as 65

TEXAS IN ITS GRANDEUR purchase price, maintenance, insurance, and perhaps storage fees if unable to park one at your residence. By the same token, campgrounds can be very sparse to grand. Do you want privacy with some space or don’t mind literally being packed in tight like cordwood? Check ahead if pets are allowed as many campgrounds are instituting size, weight, or breed restrictions as well as how many canines you can bring – yep, no kidding. You may not pay extra for human children but there could be a fee for your four-legged kid(s). Know the rules ahead of time can save headaches later. Do you desire hiking, biking, birdwatching, fishing, playground equipment…every campground is different. Perhaps your idea of camping is at someone’s hunting lease or in the middle of a cow pasture next to a windmill. Camping is whatever you make of it. There are folks whose choice of camping is at a hotel after a day‘s outdoor adventure. Inner City Cities offer so many things to do both indoors and out. Nature parks, museums, libraries, movie theaters, playgrounds, swimming pools and water parks are just to name a few. Many urban areas offer day camps to learn new skills while teaching classes about ecology, weather, wildlife, the universe, and much, much more. Most medium to large cities have a great zoo to visit or a fabulous river walk area such as San Antonio and San Angelo to name two. Many have theme parks and gardens so you don’t have to travel great distances. Galveston, the metroplex of Fort Worth/Arlington/Dallas, McAllen, Houston, Amarillo, El Paso, Victoria, Kerrville and many others each have something worth checking out whether for a single day or much longer. Austin with our state Capitol is an adventure all its own. There are always exciting and fun places to go and things to do for adults, teens, small children, singles, couples, or the whole family including Fido, Fifi, and even Felix. Pack a picnic basket, sit on the tailgate under a shade tree, or select an outdoor venue for a cool refreshment, snack or full course meal. Exploring Need a bit more to challenge your spirit? Stay on the beaten path or strike out on your own. Texas offers Big Bend National Park, Sam Houston National Forest, and Padre Island National Seashore. Numerous large, small and in-between state parks as well as wildlife management areas abound. Some even allow you to bring your horse to ride their trails. Palo Duro Canyon is the Lone Star’s version of the Grand Canyon. Our great state is also home to many painted churches and old missions, not just the Alamo. Explore the remains and/ or restoration of many of the forts that were so vital to our settlers’ existence; Fort Davis is a great place to visit. Watch bats come out at night, enjoy a Star Party at the McDonald Observatory near Alpine, witness a sunrise or sunset on a 66

beach, West Texas mountain, Panhandle plateau, Caddo Lake, or anywhere in between. Ready to Go Once again, time is likely your biggest hurdle but don’t let that stop you. There are so many things to do that don’t cost a fortune if finances are tight or if you simply want to be frugal. And with today’s technology you can record the memories you’re making all along the way. Plan a trip or be like my friends Skeeter and Deb – throw a change of clothes and toothbrush in the car and start driving! They may change direction and/or objective due to a whim or the weather or just because they see something along the way that catches their eye. Have each member of a group write a destination (within reason) on a piece of paper, put in a hat, and everyone head to whatever is chosen. It’s an adventure A FEW OUTDOOR REMINDERS 1. Don’t forget sunscreen. Severe sunburn is no fun. 2. Drink plenty of water all day. Staying hydrated is vital to outdoor enjoyment. 3. Watch out for snakes! 4. Use insect repellent. 5. Wild animals are wild! Do not touch or pet even if it appears friendly or tame; it could be rabid. 6. Don’t litter – put trash in proper containers or take home with you. 7. Your dog needs water, too. Pick up their poop and dispose properly. You wouldn’t like stepping in it and neither does anyone else! 8. Be considerate of others. Practice patience and courtesy with young, elderly, and physically challenged people. 9. Take photos to remember your outing another day. MORE INFORMATION Ignorance of the law is no excuse! Be sure to get your FREE copy of the 2015-2016 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulations handbook. Fish species slot sizes as well as daily bag limits on most everything is in the booklet. TPWD has made this booklet and the Texas State Parks Official Guide available as smartphone apps. A fishing license may not be required if fishing on State Park property OR in waters completely enclosed by a State Park. Other restrictions may apply – check the above referenced Outdoor Annual. Other informative apps, both free and for purchase, are only a few touch keys away with many tuned to your current location. They include, but not limited to, weather, camping, hiking, sunrise/sunset times, constellations, altimeter, GPS, museums, dining, lodging, historical sites, and more.

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HUNTING & SHOOTING

Completing the Grand Slam of Spanish Ibex ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY BOB ZAIGLIN

Photo by Luke Clayton

Spain is inundated by panoramic views of ageless spectacles like the Moorish palace, Alhambra, in Granada.

hen Vicente Gil, my professional hunter and owner of Caza Hispanica, whispered, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Subimosâ&#x20AC;?, Spanish for upward, my legs quivered as that was the last word I wanted to hear after hiking all morning, but we had no choice as the herd of ibex we were trying to catch up to ascended the steep, boulder-ridden mountainside. Paralleling the semi-vegetated, yet rocky lower slope was actually easy, but once the decision was made to follow the goats upward, it got tough quickly. Working our way up the mountainside was agonizingly slow as the relentless force of gravity intensified with increasingly shorter steps. Zigzagging my way slowly upward to a saddle, I found my guides Alfonso and Vicente WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

crouched behind a VW-beetle-sized boulder glassing ibex feeding not 200 yards below us. Stealthily as I could, I crawled up to the pair and visually salivated over the 11 rams feeding their way along and around the huge, grayish-colored boulders. With four of the rams exhibiting the caliber of horns I crossed the Atlantic to see, I knew it would not be long before Vicente gave me the word to shoot, so I crept forward to a smaller boulder and laid my 7mm on it for a solid rest. But as my guides maneuvered in for a closer look, three of the younger rams became alarmed and disappeared around the side of the mountain with the older rams following close behind. It was mid-March, and for the fourth year in a row, my wife Jan and I crossed the Atlantic to pursue the iconic 73

GRAND SLAM OF SPANISH IBEX Our residence during the hunt was in the oldest city in Spain, Ronda, the namesake of the subspecies of ibex I was after.

Spanish ibex, this time to complete my grand slam by taking the fourth and smallest subspecies, the Ronda ibex, in the meteorite-like terrain of the Serrania de Ronda mountain range in southern Spain. Following an eight-hour flight out of Atlanta, we enjoyed an early afternoon arrival on the 11th of March in the historical city of Granada. Although we visited the city last year, we had no problem finding plenty to do. Once again, we visited the city’s number one spectacle, Alhambra. This sand-colored complex of Moorish palaces is located on top of a mountain overlooking the city. Constructed as a fortress in 889, it was renovated by the Moors in the 13th century and later designated as a royal palace in 1333. Following the end of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the palace was allegedly where the exploits of Christopher Columbus were endorsed. Enjoying this fabled, laid-back city for a couple of days was refreshing as was the fine wine and tapas we enjoyed under the warm Spanish sun. On Sunday evening Vicente and our interpreter Ionela Scoarta picked us up for some late night tapas followed by some exquisite flamenco dancing. The following morning, Monday, was spent filling out additional paperwork for my gun permit, which appeared extremely challenging for an office full of authorities, requiring several hours of down time. Following the completion of paperwork, we headed southwest to the oldest, most breathtakingly beautiful cities in all of Spain, Ronda. With a late evening arrival, I used the soft light of the setting sun to film the immense rock bridge that connects the city. Constructed in the 1600’s, this architectural icon offers visitors an unforgettable view of the deep, verdant canyon below. And the petite town that surrounds the deep canyon is a shopper’s delight with restaurants appealing to the most challenging palates. Our luxurious, yet ageless hotel was actually situated on the canyon wall. The following morning we exited the 74

quiet, wintery cold town by 6:20 a.m. for a short one-hour ride to a small village located in the Ronda mountain range where we caught up with our local guides, Alfonso and Gaspar, whom I had the privilege of hunting with for the southeastern species of ibex in 2015 not far from Almeria. At 64 years young, Gaspar’s ability to negotiate the rugged high country, combined with his finetuned searching instinct, is an incredible advantage when it comes to locating and successfully taking a trophy caliber ibex. Following a couple cups of strong coffee and a hearty breakfast, we exited town and made our way into the mountains that hovered over an abundance of verdant grain fields. We pulled off the narrow, winding mountain road once to glass for a herd of rams Alfonso saw earlier in the week, but failed to see a single animal except for the Griffon vultures aided by their nine-foot wing spans circling high above us in search of their next meal. A few moments later, we exited onto a farm road leading to a lush green valley paralleled by rugged mountain ridges on both sides and made our way up the beautiful valley, scanning the oak-laden slopes for ibex. Alfonso and Gaspar spotted several goats on our way up the valley, but they were few and far between, and all were females, and since the breeding season was long past, it became apparent that the rams were not around. By mid-morning we reached a point where the valley crested, overlooking a vast expanse of sandstone white rock interspersed by golf greenlike flats that the goats should have been attracted to, but the presence of domestic sheep on the carpet of lush green grass apparently discouraged the ibex from using the palatable forage. With clouds building up, temperatures dropped, and Jan decided to remain in the valley with Gaspar while Alfonso, Vicente and I walked the rocky ledge of the warmer south slope high above the valley in an attempt to locate the rams Alfonso . The meteor-like rocky environment of the Serrania de Ronda Mountains of southern Spain as seen from below is home to the Ronda ibex, the smallest species of the Spanish ibex.

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Taking a gold medal Ronda ibex, presumably the second largest taken in Spain over the hunting season, was as much fun as it was a grueling challenge.

was confident lived in the area. With no luck we returned back to the valley floor to find Jan ensconced in a cave in an attempt to escape the cold. Following a lunch break, we decided to drop down the west slope just in case the rams were visiting the lush, grain fields at the base of the mountain. Four ewes glared down at us from the mountain top as we negotiated our way down the rocky mountainside. Just as we reached midway down the slope, one of our satellite guides, Pepe, notified us that a band of rams were feeding below us. But by the time we got to where Pepe spotted the group, they were long gone as were my chance of taking one of them. Paralleling the ridge, we hoped to possibly relocate the rams, but after a considerable hike, they were nowhere to be found. By four o’clock, the rams had fed their way back up the steep slope with Alfonso, Vicente, Ionela, and I zigzagging our way back up the steep mountainside. Each and every step grew agonizingly more difficult to make. Three-quarters of the way up I looked back at Yonela who amusingly said, “You’re doing all of this to me just for a goat!!”, and we both broke out into laughter as I gave her a thumbs up and we continued upward. Once on top I crawled up to Vicente and Alfonso who were critiquing the rams. Finally catching up to these high country dwellers is a feeling that is hard to explain, but as I stared at the bachelor group, I saw several rams exhibiting long, heavy, lyre-shaped horns, making all the effort worthwhile, but before long three of the youngest rams grew alarmed and moved off with the others right behind them. Alfonso immediately took off to the other side of the mountain WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

with us following close behind. After the steep climb the trek across the ridge was a walk in the park, but I was sweating profusely upon arriving on the other side of the mountain where we hoped to head the group off. With my rifle lying on Vicente’s jacket laid on top of a small boulder, I had Vicente take distance measurements while I picked out small objects in my crosshairs preparing for a potential shot. One hour later with temperatures dropping and the sun about to disappear below the mountains, I was getting extremely cold when a lone ram literally jumped into my view 113 yards below me. As another ram joined it in a small grassy clearing, I asked Vicente what he thought of the larger ram and all I heard was “he is a good one” before I focused and gently squeezed the trigger, watching the ram slump to the ground at the rapport of my rifle. Suddenly excitement eclipsed the intense cold as we celebrated with high fives while Vicente continually reiterated “super gold, super gold”. Immersed in the moment, we relaxed several minutes before making our way down the steep, rocky mountainside littered with oak and a spiny understory. The immensity of the lyre-shaped horns on my ram only magnified upon our approach, and although holding the horns was exhilarating, it was also a little sad as I realized this would be the last time I pursued these majestic high-country dwellers as I had realized my dream of taking the grand slam of Spanish ibex, which spanned miles of sometimes arduous hiking and four long flights across the Atlantic.

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HUNTING & SHOOTING

SUMMER CATFISHING- A TEXAS TRADITION ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY LUKE CLAYTON

Photo by Luke Clayton

Guide Larry Sparks (Left) and Blake Daszczuk show off a couple of fine eating channel caught from shallow water this spring.

ome of my fondest memories growing up centered around summer fishing trips, especially outings I enjoyed with my family where we camped a couple of days and set trot lines and fished with rod and reel for channel catfish. My dad was one of the pioneers of the poultry business in northeast Texas. Back in the late fifties and early sixties, he was raising 14,000 chicken fryers, an astounding number of birds to care for back in the day before automated feeders and watering devices. Work was steady and time consuming in those days but every 8 to 9 weeks, when the big trucks came during the night to haul the mature fryers to market, my Dad’s thoughts turned to catching catfish. I eagerly awaited my orders a day or so before these family outings to fish small lakes in southeast Oklahoma. “Son, it’s time for you to go to work and round up some bait. Better start scratching around in the leaf pile for some night crawlers.” The night crawlers weren’t for catching the catfish. They were for 82

catching the small bluegills from our farm ponds. The bluegills were turned into cut bait for baiting our trot lines. I remember spending an entire day fishing with a cane pole I cut from a switch cane patch along Pecan Bayou. With a five gallon steel bucket (this was before the day of plastic buckets) and a hand full of night crawlers, I fished for hours; my goal was to catch 200 perch which would make about 500 baits when turned into cut bait. This would supply us with plenty of bait to keep the trot lines baited and our rod and reel fishing. Out 1950 model International Pick Up served as the hub for the camping rigging that Dad had designed and built. He had fashioned fold down cooking tables that attached to the bed of the truck and a tent of sorts that turned the old truck into what served as a popup camper! Bedding was quilts and we often slept under the stars with a canvas tarp on the ground; the canvas tarp covering the back of the truck put a roof over our heads when it rained. Ours was a pretty Spartan camp but at the time, I’m sure we all thought we were camping in stateTRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

of-the art luxury! Our primary goal was to relax, enjoy each other in a non work atmosphere for 3 days and…. Catch and eat catfish. We would get the trot lines set and baited in water about 3 foot deep the first afternoon. We always had a “mess” of catfish, pork and beans and a big skillet of fried potatoes with onions for the first evening meal. My love for catching and eating catfish began during these formative years. As an outdoor writer for the past 27 years, I’ve had the privilege of fishing with many top catfish guides, employing various techniques to outsmart Mr. Whiskers. Looking back, the reason for our success on these early catfish/ camping excursions was pretty simple, we always went during the early summer months, before it got to hot. This period coincided perfect with the channel catfish spawn when the lion’s share of fish had congregated around the stump fields to build their nests. Catfish are cavity spawners meaning they deposit their eggs around clusters of submerged rocks, depression along the bank or simply shallow “nests” scraped out by their tails in the lake bottom. When the water temperature reaches 70 degrees, channel and blue catfish get procreation on their mind and begin to move shallow. Just before deadline for this article, I began doing some serious catfishing with my good friend, Lake Texoma fishing guide Larry Sparks, owner of Sparkys Guide Service. Larry had located a large concentration of channel catfish that had staged around some submerged structure not far from the submerged Washita River channel. When he first discovered them and invited me up to fish, the heaviest concentration was in water 22 feet deep. It was possible to catch fish at other depths but 22 foot was the magic number for catching the channels. Chumming with soured grain and sometime simply with cattle range cubes is a common practice when attempting to concentrate catfish. “Baiting a hole” is a very good way to pull catfish, especially channel catfish, into an area. On my first trip with Larry to his newfound hotspot, I was in need of a good supply of catfish fillets for an upcoming

family fish fry. The water had just reached 70 degrees and the spawn was in its early stages. During a telephone conversation the day before, Sparks divulged his plan of attack. “Luke, I’ve been catching regular limits of channel cats ranging from 2 to 6 pounds around this hole I’ve been baiting. We shouldn’t have any trouble catching limits of these fish but the blues have also moved out of the channel into water a bit shallower, ready to spawn. What do you say we set about 20 jug lines parallel to the channel and bait them with fresh shad. This way, we can enjoy the best of both worlds, enjoy rod and reel fishing for the smaller channels and let the jug lines do the work on the big blues?” This was music to my ears. When I arrived the next day, Larry had already set and baited the jug sets. Larry and his team of guides fish from 30 and 36 foot custom built striper boat rigged with 300 HP engines, a far cry from the little 12 foot wooden boat my dad and I used for catfishing. Sparks grew up in southwestern Oklahoma fishing for channel catfish and although he loves catching Texoma’s big stripers, he says the rod and reel catfishing takes him back to his youth. As we pulled up to his baited hole, his love of catfish was obvious. He was fired up and full of confidence, gleaned from several very successful trips earlier that week. When it comes to bait choices, channel catfish can be caught on a wide variety of baits, everything from small plugs of soap to chicken livers, blood bait, earthworms, crickets, cut bait to prepared baits will entice a strike from a hungry channel catfish. But possibly the best and most popular bait today is a sticky, smelly concoction called “punch bait”. There are many brands of punch bait on the market, each with it’s “secrete ingredients”. Sparks used Danny King’s Punch Bait and through the years, I’ve also had excellent results fishing with this pungent blend of ingredients, soured cheese being the most easy to recognize. Punch bait gets it name from the way it is used. The hook is literally “punched” into the bait bucket using a screw driver with a notched end (to keep the treble hook in place) or Guide Larry Sparks baiting a hole with soured corn.

WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

SUMMER CATFISHING Texoma guide Larry Sparks (left) and David show off a couple of big blue catfish landed on jug lines.

simply a stick. Some hardy anglers use their hands to bait their hooks but, trust me; a screwdriver or stick will help keep the smell down, especially on a warm summer’s day! Regardless how well the aroma of a bait attracts catfish, it’s worthless if it doesn’t stay on the hook. Fibers such as cattail are often added to punch baits to insure they stay on the hook. Treble hooks are the most popular when targeting channel catfish and #4 and #6 are the most popular sizes. A basic “Santee Rig” is a very effective way to rig the terminal end of the fishing line. This rig, developed on Santee Cooper Reservoir years ago, has a slip egg sinker above a barrel swivel. Below the swivel is a leader 12-14 inches in length to which the hook is tied. About six inches above the hook, a small inline floater is pegged. The small floater keeps the bait suspended a few inches above bottom, making it a bit easier for the catfish to pick it up. The Santee Rig is also widely used when drift fishing for big blue catfish. The main difference when rigging for blues is the length of the leader. Many anglers use leaders as long as 6 feet when drift fishing. While it is common to catch numbers of smaller blue catfish on the prepared baits, nothing produces big blues better than fresh bloody, oily baitfish such as shad or in waters a bit farther north, skipjack herring. When shad are hard to catch, many savvy blue cat anglers will visit a Hispanic grocery store where fresh tilapia, or even drum or buffalofish are sold. Fillets from these fish will put big blue catfish in the boat, just not as fast as shad or skipjack. The cold weather months from about November through March are prime time for catching trophy class blue catfish but “eater” size blues usually continue to bite 84

well throughout the summer months. By early June, when water temperatures in reservoirs warms well into the seventies, channel catfish will be in the midst of their spawn. This is the time to concentrate on shallow water cover. I’ve enjoyed some great catching when fishing water 2-4 feet deep around flooded willows or brush. Rock rip-rap along bridges will also be thick with spawning fish. About this time last summer, I enjoyed a couple of awesome fishing trips at Lake Fork with a friendthat had found a huge concentration of spawning channel cats invited me to fish with him. We used punch bait set about 18 inches below floaters in water as shallow as 20 inches. The concentration of fish remained in the little 10 acre cove situated just off the main body of water throughout the spawn. When fishing on lakes such as Texoma, Tawakoni or Cedar Creek, it’s often common to catch both species in the same area using conventional channel catfish baits. Blue catfish do have the habit of suspending up from bottom rather than stick close to bottom as is the habit of their channel cat cousins. So, if you get in blue catfish, it’s a good bet to vary the depth of your bait, especially if you aren’t getting bit fishing close to bottom. Which species is the best in the skillet? Well, this is a question that puts fire in the eyes of catfish cookers! I can truly say that I enjoy them both equally. Granted, channel catfish often have a very small strip of yellow fat on outside edge of the fillet but this can easily be removed during the filleting process. Blue catfish are known for their snow white fillets. The trick to good tasting fried catfish is making sure the cooking oil is at 350 degrees or a few degrees hotter and keeping the fillets in the oil until they are crispy brown. Both species are also tasty when blackened or cooked into a gumbo. But it’s really hard to beat the flavor of a crispy fried fillet. Make sure and cut the fillets into smaller strips before frying. I bet we’ve all eaten fish that was cut into thick chunks that are difficult to get thoroughly done. We’ve overlooked the flathead catfish, often called Opolusa or simply, “Op”. Flatheads are not usually nearly as populous as channel or blue catfish and they usually prefer live bait such as perch or crawfish. Most are caught on trot lines but very patient anglers fishing live goldfish or bream around log jams in creeks and rivers also connect with big flatheads. Larger flatheads are tasty when all the fat is removed before frying. Many fishermen place the fillets on ice overnight and trim away the yellow fat that is concentrated around the surface of the fillet. Some catfish eaters swear there is no finer tasting fish than smaller flatheads weighing between 6 to 10 pounds. Regardless which species you choose to target, there is absolutely no better time that right now to get out on the water and put together the making of a big catfish fry. Just make sure and bring along a pair of needle nose pliers for removing those treble hooks and watch out for those sharp barbs on either side of the fish’s head. The smaller the catfish, the better adept it is at flipping and sticking you with a barb. TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

GOAT

EED

RANCH dnas#118281

Phone: 903-277-3252 Fax: 903-831-4656 www.goatweedranch.com larryhaey46@yahoo.com Mailing Address: 530 Sowell Lane, Texarkana, TX 75501 Ranch Location: Highway 8 (2 miles south of Douglasville, TX)

proven Producer SemenAvailable

Grizzly 30352

607yd 15531

WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM Certified Tier 1 - TAHC

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THE BACK 40

SNAPPED IN THEIR TRACKS

IT’S A NEW WORLD

PHOTO BY BOB ZAIGLIN

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

6TH ANNUAL TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION

BRUSH TO BAY INVITATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT

Presented by TDA Region 8 Leadership

**Event proccds benefit the TDA Scholarship Fund to help students achieve their educational goals!

June 3-4, 2016 Bluu’s Landing Marina & Lodge 4242 Laguna Shores Drive, Corpus Christi, TX RRM BLOCK AT VENUE AVAILABLE UNTIL

MAY 1ST

Friday Evening

Mandatory captain’s mmting, diier, jackpot auction, and prizes!

Saturday Event

Tournament, weigh-in, and place aaouncements! (Complimentary aaetizers and bbr served)

COMPETITION CATEGORIES:

SPONSORSHIP OOORTUNITIES:

1ST – 5TH PLACE AWARDED IN EACH COMPETITION CATEGORY **YOUTH DIVISION MUST PRESENT FISH AT WEIGH-IN TO QUALIFY FOR FIRST PLACE PER CATEGORY ONLY

$2,,0

A) Heaviest Trout not exccding 25” (15” - 25”)

Includes 1 team entry, 4 guest wristbands, designated table for 8 at Friday Night Diier, signage at the event and on aa TDA social media, website, etc.

$4,,0

B) Heaviest Red not exccding 28” (20” – 28”) C) Heaviest Flounder exccding 14” D) Jackpot (optional) – wiiers wii be determined by weighing the Competition Category stringers of aa (3) fish total weight. 1st – 3rd Place wii be awarded. FISH IN A, B, or C CAAOTED BE UTILIZED FOR JACKPOT WEIGH-IN. E) Side Pot – Registration at time of event, ability to participate in side pot listing for: Black Drum, Gaftop, Skip Jack, Hard Head, Redfish, Flounder, & Trout.

Inc Includes 2 team entries, 8 guest wristbands, 2 designated tables for 8 each at Friday Night Diier, prominent signage at the event and on aa TDA social media, website, etc.

$6,,0

Includes 3 team entries, 12 guest wristbands, 3 designated tables for 8 each at Friday Night Diier, prominent signage at the event and on aa TDA social media, website, etc. Logo on event giveaways

To register or for complete Rules & Regulations, visit www.BrushToBay.com Or call the TDA ofﬁce to speak with Pauline at (512) 499-0466.

WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

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DID YOU KNOW?

INTERESTING FACTS BY WARREN BLUNTZER

The owner and operator of Warren Bluntzer Wildlife Consulting Services, inc., which serves Texas and the nation in wildlife consulting services.

FIRE

Prescribed fire and rain make for a perfect spring.

photo by Warren Bluntzer

Point to Ponder

He that never changes his opinions or corrects his mistakes, shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect to be wiser tomorrow! See you down the trail! Warren

Hackberry Tree

Cotton Rat

Hackberry tree berries provides great food for birds, but the tree is a poor choice to leave near fences or houses. They become brittle with age and are short lived.

Recent studies indicate our common cotton rat may have some influence on quail populations as they compete for the same food.

Blackberries

Feral Hogs

Recent studies indicate Blackberries have strong antioxidant compounds that may have the potential health benefits against cancer, aging, inflammation, and neurological diseases. Its about time to start picking.

The current estimate of feral hogs in Texas is between 1- 4 million. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of bacon.

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GRAND SLAM

PHONE 210-419-4442 G2RANCHTX@GMAIL.COM WWW.G2RANCH.COM

Express / 54816 Sudden Express / 121966 Purple / 49943

2 YEARS Yardstick's Dream / 95938 WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM DNAS# 142634 O 848 / 57475

Bambi Yardstick / 10424

Gladiator II / 15021 A 203 / 44139 Sudden Impact / 25499 Sally / 22767 Nitro / 753 Holly / 767 Maxbo / 945 Blue 510 / 51534

THE BACK 40

GOOD HUMOR

CARTOON BY RICHARD STUBLER

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION MAY

CALENDAR

May 10, 2016 9:30AM-1:30PM TDA REGION 5 ANNUAL MEETING Malouf Ranch 5721 FM 1395 Wills Point, TX 75169

May 19, 2016 11AM-2PM

TDA REGION 3 ANNUAL MEETING La Roca Range Ranch County Road 136 Gordon, TX 76453

May 20-22, 2016

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION 145th ANNUAL MEETING Kentucky Exposition Center Louisville, KY

May 21, 2016 10AM-2PM

TDA REGION 7 ANNUAL MEETING Ryan Mills River Place TBA

May 25-26, 2016 9AM

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING 25th- no public testimony 26th- Must register to testify by 10am TPWD Headquarters Austin, TX, For info, contact (512) 3894800

JUNE

June 2, 2016 6PM-8PM

TDA REGION 8 ANNUAL MEETING Bluff’s Landing Marina & Lodge 4242 Laguna Shores Road Corpus Christi, TX 78418

June 3-4, 2016

TDA BRUSH TO BAY INVITATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT Bluff’s Landing Marina & Lodge 4242 Laguna Shores Road Corpus Christi, TX 78418

July 28, 2016

TEXAS DEER SUMMIT & REGION 4 MEETING Lonehollow Whitetails Mountain Home, TX

July 30, 2016

WHITETAILS of LOUISIANA EXPO Lafayette, LA

AUGUST HUNT YOUR WAY August 11-13, 2016

JULY

July 16, 2016

WHITETAIL DEER FARMERS of OHIO SUMMER PICNIC Ohio

July 22-24, 2016

TROPHY GAME RECORDS of the WORLD 38th ANNUAL BIG BUCK CONTEST AWARDS CEREMONY Inn of the Hills Resort & Conference Center Kerrville, TX

July 27-30, 2016

NORTH AMERICAN ELK BREEDERS ASSOCIATION 26th ANNUAL CONVENTION & INTERNATIONAL ANTLER COMPETITION Ramada Plaza Convention Center Omaha, NE

18TH ANNUAL TDA CONVENTION JW Marriott, San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa Cibolo Canyons, San Antonio, TX

August 23-24, 2016 9AM

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE COMMISSION MEETING TPWD Headquarters Austin, TX For info, contact (512) 389-4800

OCTOBER

October 13-19, 2016

UNITED STATES ANIMAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE Sheraton Hotel Greensboro, NC

STAY CONNECTED! "Like" TDA on

FACEBOOK! 95

TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

TEXAS DEER ASSOCIATION

CLASSIFIEDS

Deer - Horse - Cattle - Hog Proof Fence

903-292-0525

TejasRanchFence.com

Serving All Texas Ranches WWW.TEXASDEERASSOCIATION.COM

Standing Seam Metal R-Panel Metal Stone Coated Steel DesignerRoofing.com

972.644.6556

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TEXAS LAND FOR SALE

ZAVALA COUNTY, TX - 9,109.4 ac m/l. The Double Dime Ranch, investment grade, premium offering with numerous highend improvements, carefully managed and maintained at the highest level - $20,770,000. Call Blake Farrar (903) 530-5804 or Joey Bellington (979) 204-6311

HOUSTON COUNTY, TX - 106.38 ac m/l. Live water, Large hardwoods, Rolling terrain, 8 ponds, Excellent grazing pasture, Excellent hunting for deer, hogs, and waterfowl, Excellent ﬁshing for bass and panﬁsh, 30% wooded, 70% open with scattered trees - $462,770. Call Wade Abadie (281) 702-0457

RUSK COUNTY, TX - 217 ac m/l. Five separate very large food plots planted year round, Underground and above-ground irrigation system, Very nice standing timber 20+/- years old. Plus 45 +/- acres of replanted pine plantation. - $759,500. Call Stephen Schlein (281) 989-4003.

VAL VERDE COUNTY, TX - 4,922 ac m/l. The TJ Del Rio Ranch, High fenced whitetail and exotic hunting ranch, year round water, Currently on the ranch are whitetail, turkey, axis, elk, and barasingha- $6,029,450. Call Blake Farrar (903) 530-5804 or Joey Bellington (979) 204-6311

MONTAGUE COUNTY, TX - 150.75 ac m/l. good network of internal roads and cleared trails, Good fences enclose the perimeter, Agexemption currently provides for low property taxes, whitetail deer, turkey, dove, and coyotes - $499,500. Call Bob MacDougall (817) 600-1620.

SAN SABA COUNTY, TX - 466.58 ac m/l. Turn key exotic hunting ranch, Genetically superior wild bred exotics, 2200 square foot custom home, Award winning development and breeding program, tower stands and protein feeders - $2,200,000. Call Mason Harlow (512)-658-8787.

to view these properties and hundreds more go to

WHITETAILPROPERTIES.COM 101

2016

U.S. PATENTS 8201520, 7370605, 6920841, D575908, D599503, D602649, D603104, D603105, D604017, D603566, D624706, D624708, D622453, D624707, D636942, D629572, D629976, D629975, D624709, D630802, D630653, D647253, D642750, D681883 • OTHER PATENTS PENDING • U.S. TRADEMARKS 3629190 & 3625066

Built Right the FIRST TIME to last a LIFETIME Get Outback’s MaxiMuM Quality in these sMaller sizes!

“BABY-BACK” 300 PROTEIN FEEDER • Dual port feed design • Independent stand with 2 eyelets to stake down • One piece construction • No assembly required

HALF-BACK PROTEIN FEEDER • 700 & 1000 lb. capacities

CF CORN FEEDER with Solar Powered Timer • 600, 1000, 2000 & 3000 lb. cap.

6000# OUTBACK features THE TIMER 12-Volt Control Unit with 5 year warranty

DOUBLE BARREL PARDNER Twin Bulk Trailer with Remote Controlled “Eliminator” Road Feeder, Gravity Tube & Blower System • Complete with tubing, fittings, ladder & spare tire QUAIL TENDER TRAILER Featuring the Outback Pistolero Directional Spinner Unit positioned to scatter feed out the side from the sendero while driving • 2000# & 3000# capacities

ALFALFA FEEDER • Weather-proof • Single bale capacity

CP REGULATOR The Regulator has “The Timer” inside the gravity flow system allowing control of the feed amount while maintaining dispensed feed inside the feeder housing and tubes. You program to dispense feed up to 6 times/day at the rate of 2 lbs./second & 360 lbs./day max.

DUALLY PROTEIN & CORN FEEDER Split hopper simultaneously dispenses gravity-flow protein and directional corn, controlled by “The Timer.” • 3 tubes • 3 capacities

FLIPPER WATER TROUGH • SAVE TIME emptying & cleaning • Easily dumps in seconds

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BRAND NEW!

Outback Wildlife Blinds featuring Outback Wildlife Custom Camo Outback Wildlife LONE STAR HUNTING BLIND The Outback Wildlife Lone Star Edition is our premier blind that features a fully insulated blind with four flip-up combo slider windows, full faux leather interior with wood trimmed corner shelves and faux leather wrapped shooting rails, fold-up shooting bench that accommodates right- and left-handed shooters, fully trimmed with special blackout ceiling and tinted windows. Blind sizes: 6’x6’/6’x8’/8’x8’ Tower sizes: 5’/10’/15’

Outback Blinds feature all aluminum tubular framing, decking and aluminum exterior sheeting; making them superior to other blinds by being lightweight and will not rust or rot, ensuring you years of use. • Flip-up combo slider windows • Tinted & tempered glass windows • RV style door with slam latch • All aluminum tower, porch & ladder • Padded shooting rail • Carpeted flooring • Corner shelves • 6’4” ht. inside clearance

Outback Wildlife RENEGADE HUNTING BLIND

The Outback Wildlife Renegade Edition is an all aluminum blind that is a fully functional blind. With its all aluminum design, you will get years of use from this maintenance-free blind. • Fully insulated • One large flip-up shooter’s window • Three 18” tall center slide windows • Shooting rails at each window • Fully carpeted • Corner shelving • RV door • Tinted windows • Blacked-out ceiling Blind sizes: 6’x6’/6’x8’ Tower sizes: 5’/10’/15’

Quiet shOck WindOWs

One of the worst things about hunting in a blind is noise. Trying to open noisy windows when opportunity presents itself. The Outback Wildlife Blinds feature the Quiet Shock Window. Just unlatch the window and simply push them open and the shock will gently raise the window, leaving your game unaware of your presence.

36” height 400# cap.

Outback Wildlife LONGHORN HUNTING BLIND The Outback Longhorn Edition is an non-insulated blind. All aluminum framing and exterior, 100% all welded frame that will not rust, while being comparative in cost to a fiberglass or steel blind. • Fully carpeted • Sliding center windows • Corner shelving • RV door • Shooting rails at each window • Tinted windows Blind sizes: 4’x6’/ 6’x6’/‘6x8’ Tower sizes: 5’/10’/15’

42” height 600# cap.

All welded tubular frame

Aluminum deck board floors

42” height 1000# cap.

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TRACKS MAY/JUNE 2016

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ECLIPSE 21 - NEW FOR 2016! PELLETED FEED. 50LB SACK, SUPER SACK. AUGER TRUCK DELIVERY AVAILABLE SOON!

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Encino Ranch

208+- Acres ~ Medina County Deer Breeding Facility

~ Sheldon Grothaus - Broker ~ 5833 CR 531 Hondo, Texas 78861 830-741-8906

Encino Ranch is game-fenced with rolling terrain, excellent brush and huge live oak trees. The property is a very well maintained recreational ranch offering many comfortable amenities including: a 2-story, 4BR/5BA home, patios/porches, swimming pool/hot tub and entertaining party pavillion, sprinkler irrigated back yard, foreman's house, a 1BR apartment, a 4BR furnished hunting lodge, 3 barns, and a 1,200 sq/ft deer handling facility with holding boxes, chute, work space and 6 breeding pens. There are 2 ponds, a 2 acre lake, water meter, 2 elect wells with underground piped water to troughs, ponds & lake. A really nice private property with convenient access.

Cleghorn Ranch 621 +/- Acres

Bastrop County

Sullivan Whitetail Ranch Deer Breeding Facility 507+/- Acres Montague County

Deer Breeding Facility Cleghorn Ranch is located in the heart of Central Texas. It is a recreational paradise for family and friends or a corporate retreat. Almost the entire property is high-fenced and has nearly 100 acres for low fenced hunting. The rolling terrain and the ample water take you far away from everything and put you back into old Texas. The ranch offers 621+/- pristine high-fenced acres, featuring a 20 acre deer breeding facility which doubles as a game room complete with an office, bedroom, bathroom and an A/I room for your future deer breeding possibilities. Improvements include a ranch manager’s home, 3 cabins and a 100+ year old ranch house that has been beautifully restored. A six stall barn with run-ins, is located next to the ranch manager’s house overlooking one of the beautiful lakes. There is also an 80’x40’ barn for feed and equipment storage. There are two creeks running through the property as well as 4 small lakes & a beautiful 5 acre stocked lake. Cleghorn Ranch is an ideal ready-to-go live water, recreational and hunting ranch. The quietness of this ranch is accentuated by the sounds of gracefully flowing live water creeks. It is a family’s 114 dream place or perfect for any distinguished buyer.

www.TexasRanchSales.info

The Sullivan Whitetail Ranch is located just 60 miles northwest of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex in Sunset, Texas, Montague County. This ranch is a game fenced, highly improved game ranch and deer breeding operation. An all-weather road begins at the ranch’s custom front gated electric entrance and meanders by a beautiful lake and manicured landscapes. The lake and main house area is sprinkler irrigated. The main house is located in scenic proximity to the lake with the barn and deer pen facilities lying just beyond nestled in the oaks and bull mesquites. Th main home overlooks the magnificent four acre lake which stretches out to the front.The ranch is 25% pastures, 25% farmland & 50% native brush and has 1 lake & 8 ponds. The primarily functions of Sullivan Whitetail Ranch is a whitetail deer breeding facility. The facility, pens and barns are an incredibly well thought out program concentrating on the breeding, raising and cultivation of exceptional whitetail deer. Careful attention to wildlife conservation onTRACKS the ranch createsMAY/JUNE excellent wildlife habitat2016 as well as home to a variety of other small wildlife & birds.

Call Today! (830) 741 - 8906

Hunting & Recreational Ranch Domino Ranch

2731 +/- Acres ~ Medina County

Partially game-fenced, excellent roads, 2 entrances, diverse terrain, native brush, grass, hardwoods, 8 wells, 7 ponds, blinds, feeders & vehicle equipment. Fantastic lodge & headquarters, outdoor pavilion with kitchen facilities, guest suites, barns/walk-in cooler, foreman’s house, and livestock corrals.

Live Water Hunting Ranch Verde Creek Ranch ~ 1,064 +/- Acres ~ Kerr County This ranch has been in the same family for 100 years. Verde Creek Ranch has a total of 1.6+/- miles of Verde Creek, a well established creek, numerous wells and two ponds and is tucked away in an incredible picturesque landscape, Verde Creek Ranch gamefenced on 2 sides with 5 miles of roads on the property, through giant live oaks that encompass almost 75% of the ranch, with the remaining in well manicured and organized pastures. Here is a perfectly relaxing get-away and conveniently located.

Deer Breeding Facility & Recreational Ranch Whispering Water Ranch ~ 2,313 +/- Acres ~ Menard County A phenomenal game-fenced hunting & cattle ranch in Menard County. An all-weather road from the entrance leads to the headquarters which includes a magnificent limestone 5,322sq/ft house/lodge, a luxurious pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, & two elegantly rustic cabins. The Whispering Water Ranch has its own 3 acre spring fed lake and has been stocked with Florida hybrid black bass, channel catfish & hybrid bluegill perch. This ranch has that "WOW" factor that a distinguished buyer is after.

Hunting & Recreational Ranch 444 Ranch ~ 444 +/- Acres ~ Medina County Texas Ranch Sales offers for sale an undeveloped low-fenced ranch with excellent potential, located SW of D’Hanis, TX, south of Hwy 90 and fronts on CR 7421. Native wildlife on the 444 Ranch including turkey, quail, dove, and whitetail deer are abundant. Water includes 3 shallow water wells, 2 ponds ranging in size from ½ to 1 acre, a rural water meter and the wet weather Tehuacana Creek. The ranch has an older 2 BR/1 BA cabin and a small storage barn. The 444 Ranch has excellent improvement possibilities.

Hunting Ranch Live Oak Creek Ranch ~ 173 +/- Acres ~ Medina County

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This ranch is located in the highly sought after transition zone of Medina County just west of D'Hanis, Texas. The ranch has Live Oak trees scattered throughout, along with native pastureland and underbrush consisting of large mesquites, guajillio, granjeno, black brush, and persimmon providing excellent cover and forage for wildlife. The ranch has been owned by the same family for over 80 years! This ranch is appealing to the all-around recreational & outdoor enthusiast or that family looking to relocate to country living.

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AD INDEX 3-S Whitetails .................................... 32 4M Whitetails.............................104,117 All Seasons Feeders ..........................100 Atascosa Wildlife Supply, Inc. ............ 47 B&C Wildlife Consulting, LLC ............96 Big Rack Ranch ...................................33 Brown Trophy Whitetail Ranch ...108,109 BuyMyDeer.com ............................... 96 Capital Farm Credit ............................ 3 Cargill ............................................... 67 CC Bar Whitetails .............................. 38 Champion Genetics .......................... 98 Charquitas Creek Ranch ................... 68 Cross Canyon Whitetails ......................7 Deer Star Breeders ....................... 54,99 Derby~Sand~Ranch ..................... 48,49 Designer Roofing................................98 Droptine Ranch ................................. 55 G2 Ranch .......................................... 93 Gist-Kinsman Ranch ............................ 9 Goatweed Ranch .............................. 85 High Roller Whitetails ......... 10, BC, IFC In Sights Nutrition ............................105

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KDH Whitetail Nursery ...................... 98 Limitless Genetics..........................88,89 Lodge Creek Whitetails ..................... 21 Lonehollow Whitetails ............................ ...... 22,106,107,111 Lyssy & Eckel Feeds .......................... 40 Massey Hollow Whitetails ......... 112,113 M C Bar Whitetails ............................ 57 Mosley Ranch .................................... 41 Mossy Rock Whitetails ....................... 11 NADR ................................................ 79 Outback Wildlife Feeders..........102,103 Paco Deer Co., Inc ............................. 29 Philipp Ranch .................................. 105 Pine Meadow Ranch .....................30,31 Purina ...................................... 15,18,19 Purina Mills - SW .......................... 62,63 Red Chain Feeds ............................... 28 Red Stag Ranch ................................. 60 Revels Racks ...................................... 69 Rockstar Whitetails ...14,42,43,70,71,87 RR Ranch ..........................................116 RS Deer & Cattle Ranch .................... 78

RW Trophy Ranch ...............................86 SASCO- San Antonio Steel Co. ..........34 Sekula Whitetail Ranch ......................72 Stay-Tuff ............................................ 77 Summit Whitetails ............................. 56 Tajada Whitetails .................. IBC, 80,81 Tejas Ranch & Game Fence .............. 98 Texas Hunter Products ...................... 59 Texas M3 Ranch ................................ 46 Texas Ranch Sales, LLC. .............114,115 The Deer Tags Store ..........................110 The Preserve ..................................... 39 The Refuge ........................................ 44 Three Nails Ranch ............................. 20 Trophy Ridge Whitetails .................... 76 TWC Ranch Services ........................ 110 UVC Powersports .............................. 61 Whitetail Properties ...........................101 Wildlife Consulting Services, LLC ......98 Wildpoint Whitetails .......................... 58 Wilks Ranch ....................................... 17 Wilson Brothers Ranch ................. 45 Wilson Whitetail Ranch ..................... 23

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