MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION
Coastal
Big Three
AUGUST 2022
WE HAVE THE
UTILITY VEHICLES
YOU NEED
OUTDOOR OUTDOOR SUPERSTORE SUPERSTORE
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TEXAS WILDLIFE
PRESIDENT'S REMARKS SARAH BIEDENHARN
Texas Wildlife Association Mission Statement Serving Texas wildlife and its habitat, while protecting property rights, hunting heritage, and the conservation efforts of those who value and steward wildlife resources.
I
t was wonderful to see many of you at the Texas Wildlife Association Annual Convention a couple of weeks ago. The funds we raised at this event are a crucial part of our annual budget and thanks to generous donors like yourself, this year was another big success. Please look for the full convention report and photos in our September issue. When writing these columns, I often look back at TWA magazines from years past. This time I happened to pick up the August 2018 issue and read the remarks from our former President, J. David Anderson. His comments centered on the recently revealed renderings of the then soon-to-be TWA Headquarters building and the great success of a capital campaign led by Steve Lewis and Greg Simons. Four years later (thanks to pandemic related delays), we have finally been able to celebrate the grand opening of the David K. Langford Center and the recently completed outdoor amphitheater. TWA officially has a permanent home and a place to share the message of conservation with its members and neighbors. If you haven’t had a chance to stop by yet, I highly encourage you to do so next time you’re in New Braunfels. I would like to personally thank J. David Anderson for his leadership and vision in taking on such a big project. Also thank you to Steve Lewis and Greg Simons who led the charge, raising the capital needed for the building and doing so in record time. And, of course, a huge thank you to the many generous donors who made this project a reality. The building and surrounding grounds are a true testament to the passion and dedication of our TWA members and their desire to ensure that TWA can continue to achieve its mission for many years to come. There is something about the permanence of this new home for TWA that strikes me. As a member of the “next generation” of TWA, I can’t help but be grateful to the many dedicated members and supporters who have had the long-term vision necessary to set TWA up for a great future. To all my fellow next-generation TWA members, we are the fortunate heirs to this successful organization and its critically important mission. What are we doing today to ensure we continue the legacy? If you’re reading this and want to get more involved, please contact me. Thanks for all you do to support TWA and protect Texas’s wildlife, habitat, and the hardworking stewards of both.
Texas Wildlife Association
TEXAS WILDLIFE is published monthly by the Texas Wildlife Association, 6644 FM 1102, New Braunfels, TX 78132. E-mail address: twa@texas-wildlife.org. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Texas Wildlife Association, 6644 FM 1102, New Braunfels, TX 78132. The Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) was organized in 1985 for the purpose of serving as an advocate for the benefit of wildlife and for the rights of wildlife managers, landowners and hunters in educational, scientific, political, regulatory and legislative arenas. TEXAS WILDLIFE is the official TWA publication and has widespread circulation throughout Texas and the United States. All rights reserved. No parts of these magazines may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without express written permission from the publisher. Copyrighted 2022 Texas Wildlife Association. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Texas Wildlife Association. Similarities between the name Texas Wildlife Association and those of advertisers or state agencies are coincidental, and do not indicate mutual affiliation, unless clearly noted. TWA reserves the right to refuse advertising.
4 TEXAS WILDLIFE
AUGUST 2022
6644 FM 1102 New Braunfels, TX 78132 www.texas-wildlife.org (210) 826-2904 FAX (210) 826-4933 (800) 839-9453 (TEX-WILD)
Texas Wildlife
MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION
AUGUST VOLUME 38
H
8 Coastal Big 3
NUMBER 4
H
2022
30 Human Succession and Wildlife Management
Red Drum, Speckled Trout & Flounder by NATE SKINNER
by DALE ROLLINS, PH.D.
16 Hunting Heritage
34 Alligator Gar
TYHP Thanks its Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors
Dinosaur of the Depths by RUSSELL A. GRAVES
by BRAXTON HICKS
38 A Case for Conserving
18 Conservation Legacy
Oyster Reefs
by DR. JENNIFER BESERES POLLACK
How Time in Nature Benefits our Health by CHAD TIMMONS
42 Raising Kids Close to Nature
20 TAMU News
Sage Advice From Moms by WHITNEY KLENZENDORF
A Wild Pig Interview With Students by JOSH HELCEL
48 Recipes for Enjoying a
24 Plant Profile
Summertime Favorite
Creosote bush
Fresh Fish
by CARLOS GONZALEZ-GONZALEZ
by TAMRA M. BOLTON
26 Caesar Kleberg News
54 Outdoor Traditions
Texas Wildfires
Harvest Lessons
by SANDRA RIDEOUT-HANZAK
by SALLIE LEWIS Photo by Nate Skinner
Magazine Staff
MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION
AUGUST 2022
On the Cover Did Uri’s fury hammer the coastal fishery? Nate Skinner, photographer, writer, and fishing guide, takes a look at the health of the coastal big three—red drum, speckled trout and flounder—the year following the massive storm that resulted in fish kills along the Texas coast. Check out his report beginning on page 8.
MAGAZINE CORPS Justin Dreibelbis, Executive Editor Burt Rutherford, Consulting Publications Coordinator/Editor
Photo by Nate Skinner
Lorie A. Woodward, Special Projects Editor David Brimager, Advertising Director
Coastal
Big Three
Publication Printers Corp., Printing, Denver, CO
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TEXAS WILDLIFE
MEETINGS AND EVENTS
FOR INFORMATION ON HUNTING SEASONS, call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112, consult the 2022-2023 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual, or visit the TPWD website at tpwd.state.tx.us.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
AUGUST 3 Alpine Member Mixer in conjunction with the Trans-Pecos Wildlife Conference. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org.
SEPTEMBER 22 Hunting Film Tour, Yeti, San Antonio. The Hunting Film Tour features 10-12 conservation-oriented adventure stories. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org.
OCTOBER 20 Hunting Film Tour, Yeti, Houston. The Hunting Film Tour features 10-12 conservation-oriented adventure stories. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org.
AUGUST 27 Members-only Firearm Cleaning Workshop, TWA headquarters, New Braunfels. For more information, visit www.Texaswildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org.
SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 8 Hunting Film Tour Kickoff, Yeti Flagship, Austin. The Hunting Film Tour features 10-12 conservationoriented adventure stories. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org.
OCTOBER OCTOBER 6 Hunting Film Tour, Yeti, Dallas. The Hunting Film Tour features 10-12 conservation-oriented adventure stories. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org. OCTOBER 6 TWA Foundation presents Camp James 2022 with special musical guest Jack Ingram. Enjoy an evening dedicated to celebrating the successful impact of wildlife and conservation education which connects North Texas Texas youth to the land. For information on tickets or to donate fundraising items, contact TWAF Director of Development TJ Goodpasture at (800) 839-9453 or tjgoodpasture@texas-wildlife.org, or go to www.twafoundation.org.
DECEMBER DECEMBER 12 Houston Clay Shoot, Greater Houston Gun Club. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org. DECEMBER 17 Members-only Wild Game Cooking Class, TWA Headquarters, New Braunfels. For more information, visit www.Texas-wildlife.org or contact Kristin Parma at (800) 839-9453 or kparma@texas-wildlife.org.
TEXAS WILDLIFE
C O N S E R VAT I O N L E G A C Y Y O U T H P R O G R A M M I N G VISIT THE PROGRAM PAGES ONLINE AT www.texas-wildlife.org/program-areas/category/youth for specifics and registration information.
YOUTH DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS: Youth Videoconferences are live interactive presentations featuring Texas wildlife species. Offered throughout the semester, classes connect via videoconference equipment or Zoom. On-demand Webinars are recorded interactive presentations about natural resources and wildlife conservation topics and are available anytime on the TWA website.
6 TEXAS WILDLIFE
AUGUST 2022
Critter Connections are now available in a read-along format. Recordings of past issues are available online and are created for each new issue.
COASTAL BIG 3
Red Drum, Speckled Trout & Flounder Article and photos by NATE SKINNER
T
exas estuaries and the fish that inhabit them now experience more human pressure than ever before as more and more anglers and boaters flock to the coast to take advantage of its resources and recreational opportunities. Combine this with the effects of fish kills in the wake of the devastating freeze caused by Winter Storm Uri and it’s easy to see the challenges that inshore coastal fisheries confront.
8 TEXAS WILDLIFE
AUGUST 2022
Red drum, speckled trout, and flounder are the most soughtafter coastal fish in Texas. Of the three, speckled trout populations took the hardest hit during the February 2021 freeze. Redfish numbers have remained at sustainable levels as the spot tails seem to be flourishing and thriving. Flounder populations have been on the decline for many years as the species has been facing other challenges outside of extreme weather events.
C OA S TA L B I G 3
There is beauty all around us when we’re enjoying the outdoors.
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C OA S TA L B I G 3
If a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, what’s a speckled trout in the hand worth? If it’s returned to the water, it’s worth quite a bit. That’s because trout numbers took a significant hit from Winter Storm Uri and the more trout that are returned to the water now, the more trout will be around to catch later on.
SPECKLED TROUT REBOUND FROM WINTER STORM URI According to TPWD Coastal Fisheries data, 160,000 speckled trout were killed by Winter Storm Uri during February 2021. Of these, 143,000 trout were in the Laguna Madre. TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Deputy Director Dakus Geeslin said that by far, the largest impacts on speckled trout were seen along the upper and lower Laguna Madre on portions of the Lower Coast. “With that being said, spring gill net surveys following the February 2021 freeze also showed that spotted seatrout populations as far north as San Antonio Bay and the Matagorda Bay complex also took a significant hit,” Geeslin said. “Catch rates in these estuaries for speckled trout were notably lower than they had been in years past.” Geeslin said that TPWD took emergency action in response to the freeze, implementing modified regulations for spotted seatrout bag limits for 180 days for all waters along the upper and lower Laguna Madre south of the JFK Causeway in Corpus Christi to the lower Rio Grande River. These regulations included a three fish bag limit with harvest size restricted to 10 T E X A S W I L D L I F E
AUGUST 2022
17-23 inches. These emergency regulations were initially set to expire on Sept. 27, 2021. “After analyzing 2021 spring gill net data coast-wide, we proposed to extend the conditions of the emergency action from the lower Rio Grande River all the way up through East Matagorda Bay to FM 457 in Sargent,” Geeslin said. “These regulations went into effect March 16, 2022, and are set to expire on August 31, 2023, at which point speckled trout bag limit and harvest regulations will revert back to the previous set of rules and regulations that were in place prior to the February 2021 freeze event.” Geeslin said the goal of these regulations is to increase the overall stock of spawning biomass for spotted seatrout. “We are highly optimistic that these regulations will help speckled trout populations recover,” Geeslin said. “If these regulations were in place for the lifespan of the species, which is about 6-7 years, coastal biologists estimate that we would see a 27% increase in spawning stock biomass. “Obviously, the regulations are set to expire in a much shorter time period; however, the good news is that the recovery process that is enhanced by the strict regulations seems to produce significant results on the front end. We anticipate to see a 10-15%
C OA S TA L B I G 3
A hard-fighting speck at the end of your line is a memory to remember. Inland trout anglers have adopted a catch-and-release ethic. Coastal anglers are increasingly doing the same.
WWW.TEXAS-WILDLIFE.ORG
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C OA S TA L B I G 3
increase in spawning stock biomass over the duration that these rules are in place.” Geeslin said the new regulations will affect two spawning classes of speckled trout. “By the time the rules expire, they will have made an impact on two spawning seasons—the spring of 2022 spawning season and the spring of 2023 spawning season,” Geeslin said. “This should really help bolster the population recovery process.” THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SPECKLED TROUT HARVEST RESTRICTION Following the enactment and the extension of the speckled trout emergency regulations, many recreational anglers did not understand the reasoning behind the changes in slot size limit for harvest. Most folks wanted to know the reasons to force anglers to only harvest fish based on that size range. Geeslin said that TPWD anticipated this skepticism from the general public.
Of the Big 3 gamefish that swim Texas’ coastal waters, speckled trout were hardest hit by Winter Storm Uri. As a result, TPWD implemented special regulations to help the fish population rebound.
Regardless of how or when you board the boat to go fishing, it’s fun. Fishing with family and friends makes it all the more enjoyable.
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AUGUST 2022
C OA S TA L B I G 3
The 17-23 inches size range was chosen to encourage more spawning females. “A female speckled trout can begin reproducing as early as they reach 12 inches in length,” Geeslin said. “There has been a sort of misconstrued common thought, that all small speckled trout, let’s say under 17 inches, that are caught are males. That’s just not the case. “Yes, female fish in the 17-23 inch range have a higher fecundity, meaning that they have a greater ability to produce more eggs than a smaller fish. However, there are far more speckled trout under 17 inches in the populations within our estuaries than there are trout measuring 17 inches and longer. Therefore, we can produce more eggs and more offspring within our estuaries, if we let the smaller specks live.” RED DRUM RECEIVING MORE ATTENTION FROM ANGLERS With more restrictive regulations for speckled trout in place and a growing grassroots movement among the angling crowd to give spotted seatrout a chance to rebound from the effects of the 2021 freeze, it seems that the red drum has started receiving more attention and
more pressure. Anglers are certainly spending more time targeting redfish, and more and more red drum seem to be finding a spot in ice chests and hitting the cleaning tables around public boat ramps and marinas. Geeslin said that the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division is aware of this, and that they are closely monitoring this situation through gill net and creel surveys. “As of right now, we do not find this to be concerning at all,” Geeslin said. “We really positioned ourselves in a great place for this to occur. The red drum has been on an all-time high for the past two decades. “Our red drum catch rates coast-wide are 50-60% higher than they were back in the 1980s and 1990s. Populations are definitely thriving and sustaining their consistency. There hasn’t been any indication that the increased pressure on the species is affecting its populations at this time.” DECLINE IN FLATFISH Flounder numbers along the Texas coast have been on a steady decline. Geeslin said that TPWD gill net survey data and seasonal bag seine survey data over the last several years showed catch
Perhaps the most popular of coastal gamefish, the redfish or red drum is receiving more attention from anglers with the decline in speckled trout numbers. Although more and more are finding their way onto cleaning tables and the grill, the population is stable.
rates for flounder to be at an all-time low. At the same time, commercial landings and recreational landings have also seen a significant reduction over the years. Harvest regulations for flatfish have increased and become stricter over the past two years in response to this decline. “TPWD increased the recreational minimum size length for harvesting flounder from 14 inches to 15 inches, and this went into effect Sept. 1, 2020,” Geeslin said. “Additionally, TPWD closed the entire flounder fishery for recreational harvest for six weeks from Nov. 1 through Dec. 14. This regulation went into effect on Nov. 1, 2021.” Geeslin said that the increase in the minimum recreational harvest size to 15 inches will allow more females to spawn. “The majority of flounder in our bay systems that reach 14 inches in length or greater are females,” Geeslin said. “Increasing the minimum harvest size by an inch sounds minor, but it definitely gives more flounder an opportunity to spawn before they can legally be harvested.” The idea behind closing the flounder fishery during their spawning season is to allow more spawning females to migrate to the Gulf for increased population recruitment. “The fishery closure allows flounder to have a more successful spawning season,” Geeslin said. “We expect a 58% increase in spawning biomass as a result of these recent regulation changes.” TPWD is also monitoring the effects of increased water temperature trends on flounder. “Flounder have a very narrow range of optimal water temperatures for spawning,” Geeslin said. “If water temperatures are too warm, it skews the population toward producing more males than females, which in turn creates more hurdles for our flounder fishery.” HATCHERY EFFORTS In light of the effects that Winter Storm Uri had on spotted seatrout populations, TPWD coastal hatchery efforts organized by the Fisheries Enhancement Program implemented practices to speed up the recovery process for the speckled trout fishery. The director of the TPWD Fisheries
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C OA S TA L B I G 3
Flounder populations in Texas’ coastal waters have been declining for many years, with catch rates at an all-time low. Just as with speckled trout, TPWD instituted strict size limitations to encourage more breeding-sized fish.
Enhancement Program for the Coastal Fisheries Division, Dr. Christopher Mace, said TPWD has recognized that pressure on the spotted seatrout fishery has been extremely high for many years. “We noticed that the majority of anglers were supportive of TPWD taking steps to improve the fishery to greater abundance and sizes. Our red drum fishery has been stable for decades. All of the bag and size limits, in conjunction with the stocking enhancement program, have been successful in getting our redfish populations to where they need to be,” Mace said. “Trout anglers wanted the same sustainability within the spotted seatrout fishery, so about three years ago we took a real hard look at our speckled trout brood stock to see how we could improve our hatchery and stocking efforts for the species. Our efforts weren’t as efficient as we wanted them to be and we weren’t getting as many fingerlings stocked as we had hoped. This was the beginning of a speckled trout brood stock improvement program.”
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Now that coastal fisheries are dealing with Uri’s aftermath, it was advantageous that these efforts to enhance the spotted seatrout fishery commenced several years ago, he added.
AUGUST 2022
“We can’t just flip a switch and immediately start cranking out more speckled trout fingerings overnight,” Mace said. “So the fact that we recognized the need to improve our efforts in relation to stocking spotted seatrout prior to Winter Storm Uri was crucial.” Mace said they moved away from using trophy-sized speckled trout as brood stock candidates and started using more medium-sized fish. “We would prefer to use 14–15-inch speckled trout as brood stock, because that allows us a better chance of getting a good group of male trout mixed in,” Mace said. “If we limit ourselves to 20–25-inch fish, then we will have mostly females. Those females will outcompete the smaller males in our spawning tanks. In fact, if a big enough female gets thrown into the mix, she’s likely to eat one of the smaller males or injure them. Having as many of the same sized, smaller trout in there as possible makes our efforts more successful.” According to Mace, it was about a three- to four-year process to get an efficient brood stock rotation of 14–15-inch speckled trout that would successfully produce fingerlings. “This proactive approach has paid off and is helping us overcome the effects of the 2021 freeze event, not to mention it has definitely prevented a catastrophe from occurring within the fishery,” Mace
Whether with a guide, on your own boat, off a dock on from the shoreline, fishing in Texas’ coastal waters is becoming more and more popular. And for good reason. There’s nothing quite like a tangle with a big fish.
C OA S TA L B I G 3
A successful end to a successful cast. Landing a big fish can be one of the most satisfying things a coastal angler can accomplish.
said. “Following the freeze, we were able to replenish our bays and estuaries with 10.9 million spotted seatrout fingerlings.” Mace said that this success is a result of two things—they were able to get the spotted seatrout brood stock rotation where it needed to be to produce within TPWD hatchery facilities, and that there was very good water quality along the lower coast due to timely rainfall, which kept salinities from getting too high. For 2022, Mace said TPWD’s goal is stocking 10 million spotted seatrout fingerlings. In addition, TPWD also has a goal of producing and stocking 10-15 million red drum fingerings in 2022. Mace said that TPWD is also working to produce flounder fingerlings to enhance the declining flounder fishery along the Texas coast. “This year we were able to produce over 92,000 flounder fingerlings during our winter production season,” Mace said. “Flounder production is much different than speckled trout and redfish production due to the very specific water temperature that the species requires in order to have a successful spawn. “We are working to produce as many flounder as we can each year. The biological life cycle that the flounder undergoes creates particular challenges, and we are working to becoming more efficient at producing them.” Mace said the Fisheries Enhancement Program will continue to focus on spotted seatrout production, while continuing to produce sustainable numbers of red drum.
“We will also continue to work toward becoming more efficient at producing flounder,” Mace said. “The ultimate goal is to maintain a proactive approach that keeps us prepared to overcome the effects of uncontrollable environmental impacts like the 2021 freeze event.” WHERE ARE WE NOW? WHERE ARE WE HEADED? With new regulations in place along inshore coastal fisheries, particularly for speckled trout and flounder, TPWD coastal fishery ecosystem managers are already seeing increases in catch rates. Hopefully, these small successes continue to grow into larger successes as estuaries rebound from Winter Storm Uri and other challenges they have endured in recent years. A joint effort from TPWD fisheries biologists and the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division Fishery Enhancement Program, combined with the efforts of conservation-minded anglers, will ensure the continued health and success of our state’s coastal fisheries. Many fishing guides and recreational anglers are doing their part to promote a successful future for our bay systems. For example, there is a strong catch and release movement that continues to gain momentum among the angling crowd. More folks are taking high-quality photos of the fish they catch while still on the water, and then letting them swim away safely. The more we can encourage anglers to only keep what they need and to release the rest, the better off the future of our redfish, speckled trout, and flounder fisheries will be.
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TYHP Thanks its Volunteers, Sponsors and Donors Article by BRAXTON HICKS
Hixon Foundation KHC Family Foundation
W
McBride Conservation Fund Texas Game Wardens Association Texas Rural Foundation
ith the world getting back on track after two years of uncertainty, Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) staff have worked hard with our partners and volunteers to not only return to pre-COVID standards, but to exceed and improve the numbers and opportunities offered throughout the life of the program. There have been obstacles and roadblocks, but through great leadership, a willingness to go the extra mile, flexibility, and a scrappiness that only Texans possess, we were able to have an extremely successful 2021-2022 TYHP hunting season. It was filled with laughter, learning, and memories that will last a lifetime and pay dividends for years to come for everyone involved. Throughout the season, we were encouraged to hear that so many participants were being impacted in a positive way. Volunteers were getting the chance to serve and pass on wisdom to the youth and to parents who may not have been privy to hunting and conservation previously. Youth were gaining knowledge of the necessity of hunting in conserving natural resources, as well as being taught the proper way to hunt, so they can continue to enjoy and pass on
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G. Rollie White Trust The Alfred S. Gage Foundation
the tradition of hunting to the next generation. Parents were able to spend quality time with their child without the distraction of the outside world, cultivating and rekindling relationships that might have been strained through the trials and responsibilities of everyday life. One father reached out to us after a hunt this past season and thanked the volunteers and all involved for giving him and his son the opportunity to mend their relationship. He and his son left that weekend grateful for the opportunity to be just a “dad and his boy” once again. TYHP’s mission is to teach the youth of Texas the safe, legal, and ethical way to hunt. However, everyone involved— volunteers, landowners, partners, and leadership—all know this program offers so much more and that is a reason to work hard at what we do. The 2021-2022 season marked growth from the previous year and made the 2022-2023 season look very promising. New ranches and properties have come on board, bringing the total number of ranches from program inception to 728. Despite a few unforeseen cancellations, there were 224 hunts this season, which
TYHP THANKS ITS VOLUNTEERS
brings the program-to-date total number of hunts to 3,750. The number of youth who went hunting this year totaled more than 1,030, which puts the program-to-date total at 28,271 hunters. The program’s lifeblood are the volunteers. We could not do it without them, and many of those volunteers are pursuing Huntmaster training, bringing our total number of trained Huntmasters since program inception to 1,950. The 2021-2022 season saw more than 3,000 total participants in the program and has put the program-to-date total participant number over 80,000. These numbers are growing and it excites and motivates all of us for TYHP’s bright future. As we look to this bright future, we are excited to be working not only on improving our current program but offering new opportunities such as adventure hunts, skills workshops, and summertime excursions, making TYHP a year ‘round program. We also owe a big thank you to our partners who continue to support us and make TYHP hunts and programs possible year in and year out: The Butler Foundation; The Hixon Foundation; KHC Family Foundation; McBride Conservation Fund; Texas Game Wardens Association; Texas Rural Foundation; Weatherby Foundation International; G. Rollie White Trust; Houston Safari Club; Alfred Gage Foundation; San Angelo Safari Club Int.; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; and all our supporters who give both time and money to help us. We also thank TPWD for its continued support in all aspects of TYHP.
The upcoming season is fast approaching and will be here before we know it. We are working hard to prepare for all that it has to offer and will continue to strive to be and do the best we can. We are grateful to all our volunteers and partners who make it possible for us to provide an opportunity for Texas youth to be a part of the hunting heritage of Texas for generations to come. Donors/supporters: Austin Woods and Waters Club TWAF Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Hixon Foundation KHC Family Foundation McBride Conservation Fund Texas Game Wardens Association Texas Rural Foundation Weatherby Foundation International G. Rollie White Trust Houston Safari Club Alfred Gage Foundation San Angelo Safari Club Int. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation TPWD TWA
Agarita Medio Ranch – 1,455 acres US HW 59 & F.M. 624, George West, TX 78022 | $5,600,000
FOR SALE! A Premier South Texas Hunting & Recreation Ranch in Muy Grande Deer Country Agarita Medio Ranch – 1,455 acres
23 miles SW of George West, Texas, near the intersection of McMullen, Live Oak and Duval Counties 100% turnkey and ready for move in! This scenic hunting and recreational ranch has been meticulously managed and cared for for over 40 years. A love of wildlife and general ranching practices has produced a property that is both aesthetically beautiful and highly productive for wildlife and cattle. Huge native deer! The ranch has miles of big rolling hills, sandy soils, large native brush, food plots, improved quail hunting areas, stock ponds, multiple water wells & troughs, cattle facilities and adequate fencing throughout. Several large wetweather creeks traverse the property creating fertile bottoms and excellent elevation changes. Nothing needed other than to maintain what has already been put into place!
Tom W. Davis, Broker
(361) 813-8761 | 361-449-2559
twd@texasranchbrokerage.com
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How Time in Nature Benefits our Health Article by CHAD TIMMONS Photos courtesy of TWA
One disadvantage of spending more time indoors in front of a screen is the isolation it produces. People need to be around other people and being part of a group that enjoys outdoor activities provides tremendous benefits.
W
e are living in an age where people have become increasingly dependent on technology. We spend anywhere from six to 10 hours a day on average in front of a screen.1,2 Aside from our usual distractions such as streaming services and social media, our screen time grew even more with virtual learning and remote work during the pandemic. This digital dependency has led people to lose their connection to the outdoors and, as a result, people are spending less and less time outside.6 Research demonstrates that reconnecting with nature has a multitude of benefits for human health. Whether waking up for a morning sit in
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a deer blind or tree stand, watching your bird feeder for a new species, or simply going on a walk outside, you can experience positive impacts on your quality of life. We have all heard the importance of taking care of our physical health for longevity. Many of us spend enormous amounts of money to purchase exercise equipment or gym memberships to improve our health. However, research suggests immersing yourself in nature can be beneficial in improving your physical health as well. Studies suggest that the more time spent conducting physical activity in the outdoors, the more likely you are to repeatedly engage in that activity.
AUGUST 2022
Furthermore, physical activity outside can lead to better results than conducting the same activity indoors.4 For children, encouraging play outside promotes physical activities such as climbing, running, and jumping, which leads to positive results in muscle development and flexibility.2 Time spent outside allows our bodies to absorb higher levels of vitamin D, which can strengthen our immune system and reduce risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other health complications.2 In an era where many people are not getting an adequate amount of sleep, exposure to natural light can help our ability to go to sleep earlier and sleep more, improving our overall wellness.2 It is not just our physical health that stands to benefit from time spent in the outdoors. We all juggle responsibilities in our everyday lives such as family, work, school, and a whole host of other obligations. As a result, we sometimes tend to put those responsibilities and pressures ahead of our mental well-being. Chronic stress can put us at higher risk of health problems such as anxiety, depression, and memory and concentration impairment.3 Spending time in nature can help us cope with stress and even alleviate its byproducts. Time outside lowers cortisol levels, a stress hormone, and as a result improves our moods and self-esteem. Lowering our cortisol levels can also lead to a reduction in anxiety and depression and can elevate a sense of well-being and fulfillment.4 Researchers also argue that being in nature provides a calming effect which
HOW TIME IN NATURE BENEFITS OUR HEALTH
SUBSCRIBE TO “CRITTER CONNECTIONS” TODAY! • Quarterly youth magazine of the Texas Wildlife Association o Issues in February, April, September, November • Available in hardcopy and digital formats o Classroom sets and individual subscriptions • Each issue features puzzles, activities, a feature article about native Texas wildlife, and so much more! • Read-along videos available of past issues. Sign up here: bit.ly/subscribecritterconnections
Finding beauty in the natural world has multiple benefits, research shows. Reconnecting with nature not only improves mental health and wellbeing, but spending less screen time and more outdoor time improves physical health as well.
reduces mental fatigue.4 Additionally, being in green space means we are more likely to engage in social interaction with others, which lowers the likelihood that we will experience the onset of dementia and other cognitive impairments. 4 What’s more, research demonstrates how the presence of green space helps with community wellness. Appreciating nature leads to an increase in empathy and cooperation between people. We are better able to emotionally regulate and demonstrate self-control, reflect on problems, and in certain cases be more generous.6 Studies show that more green space within a community typically leads to a reduction in crime rates and the ability to establish better relationships with your neighbors.4 Understanding the physical and mental health benefits of our experiences in nature helps further illustrate why the
Texas Wildlife Association’s mission is so important. Our conservation efforts go beyond our service to wildlife and its habitat. It improves our well-being. Next time you are experiencing a moment of stress or feeling overwhelmed, one of the best remedies could be dedicating time for yourself in the outdoors. 1. Avitt, A. (2021, March 24). The wellness benefits of the great outdoors. In Fs.usda.gov. Retrieved from https://www.fs.usda.gov/ features/wellness-benefits-greatoutdoors 2. Health benefits and tips. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.nwf.org/ home/kids-and-family/connectingkids-and-nature/health-benefits-andtips#section-4 3. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, July 8) Chronic stress puts your health at
risk. In Mayoclinic.org. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/ healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/ in-depth/stress/art-20046037 4. Nature makes you. (2019, May 17) Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/ articles/naturesbenefits.htm 5. The science of being outdoors. (2021, April 29) Retrieved from https:// www.kiwanis.org/news/newsitem/ news/newsitem/the-science-of-beingoutdoors 6. Weir, K. (2020, April 1). Nurtured by nature. In Apa.org. Retrieved from https://ww.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/ nurtured-nature
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Natural Resources Institute
texas a&m university
TAMU N E W S
One of the problems with controlling feral hog populations is their high reproductive rate and their propensity to travel.
A Wild Pig Interview With Students Article by JOSH HELCEL, Project Coordinator with the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute in collaboration with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Photos courtesy of TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE
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s a biologist and educator, I often find that I learn as much by teaching as my students hopefully do in my workshops. As we consider the outcomes of our stewardship efforts collectively as teachers and students, we are asked to be nimble in our thinking, open-minded to possibility and willing to test theories and applications.
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When it comes to wildlife research, our foundational methods for capturing data and learning don’t change very often— the key is in how we study what we’ve learned and how we remain stewards of discovery together. I was recently interviewed by two students, one in high school and the other in college, working separately to conduct
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exploratory projects on wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in the U.S. They were similarly looking to talk to natural resources professionals who currently work on the issue of invasive wild pigs. Their questions struck me as both thoughtful and relevant to anyone interested in wild pig management, proving again that our perspectives are
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truly expanded by working together. So I thought I’d share some of their questions as well as my responses. What do you believe is the most practical method of control to eliminate or drastically reduce the number of wild pigs in the United States? For landowners, large-scale trapping efforts such as corral trapping remain perhaps the most practical control methods currently available in Texas and the United States. This technique allows the potential removal of substantial numbers of wild pigs during each trapping session. Where do you realistically see wild pig populations to be 10 years from now, will it be controlled, or will it be even worse than it is now? This is a difficult question to answer with certainty. Lethal control methods such as trapping, shooting, aerial gunning, snaring, and trained dogs can all be very effective to reduce wild pig numbers. Emerging methods such as toxicants have also shown good efficacy in various research trials and if accepted and widely used, could aid the reduction of wild pig numbers overall. However, wild pig populations continue to expand across the United States due to their intelligence, adaptability, and fecundity. Populations also have historically benefited from both intentional and accidental releases which must be curbed in the future. Additionally, the considerable investment and extended effort required to effectively reduce wild pig numbers and damages, unfortunately, precludes many from even trying. At the same time, human populations and development continue to expand across the United States. If these trends continue, wild pig populations in 10 years will likely be as bad or worse, particularly along the humanwildland interface. How would you respond to critics of wild pig control claiming that it is unpreventable or too expensive to manage? Wild pigs cause at least $230 million in agricultural damages annually in Texas alone. It’s hard to justify allowing
such damages due to the costs associated with wild pig control efforts or lack of any effort at all. Additionally, wild pig damages and impacts directly translate to higher consumer costs, the expense of agricultural production, etc. My response to critics of wild pig control would be that it’s simply too expensive to do nothing. Keep in mind that agricultural damages are not the only cost. Unseen damage to waterways caused by wild pig rooting increases sediment loads that affect aquatic plants and animals. Further, because these animals rely on wallowing to cool themselves, they spend much of their time near ponds, creeks, and rivers, and when wild pigs defecate, they contribute E. coli, which could be harmful to wildlife and humans. The task of improving watersheds is much more difficult because of the associated riparian habitat damage, including vegetation and stream system, caused by this exotic invader and is a major concern of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board. How would you respond to critics claiming that lethal methods of wild pig control are cruel or inhumane?
Some could debate that natural causes of mortality in the wild are actually much worse than mortality resulting from human control efforts. In nature, there are only so many options for an animal to perish, and all must do so eventually. For example, disease, exposure, starvation, and consumption (often while still alive) can take extended periods of time to result in mortality. Therefore, natural mortality could be considerably more “inhumane” by conventional standards when compared to the instantaneous dispatch resulting from ethical wild pig control efforts. Also consider that without intentional lethal control efforts, wild pig populations are known to cause the predation, disease, and starvation of a wide variety of native species. Considering that wild pig contraceptives are a relatively new method of control, what is your opinion of them, and do you believe it will be effective? More research is needed to determine the efficacy, expense and application methods associated with any currently available wild pig contraceptives.
Feral hogs are intelligent, adaptable, and happy to share the land with humans. From destroying agricultural crops to fouling waterways to rooting along roadways and yards, they have well earned their reputation as one of the most annoying and intrusive invasive species.
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What method or methods do you believe are the least effective and should not be used for wild pig control? Of the current legal options available in Texas as of 2021, some are generally best suited for population reduction while others are often best employed as tools of pressure to direct animal movements
and reduce damages. Generally, trapping and aerial gunning are viable population reduction methods, while snaring, shooting, and trained dogs are good choices as tools of pressure. Keep in mind that there are always exceptions to this depending on the situation and the skill of those employing
each method. Selecting the right tool for the job at the right time and implementing a combined approach of both population reduction and population pressure specific to the situation remains a critical component of wild pig management. However, nonlethal deterrents such as noise-making devices, scents and motion-activated lighting usually only work for a short period of time (if at all) before wild pigs acclimate to them and ignore them completely. How will the damages that wild pigs cause worsen if the problem is not resolved soon? Expanding populations of wild pigs only compound the significant impact they present on the landscape today. However, increased urban encroachment and its related damages among the human-wildland interface will likely lead to the greatest increase in wild pig damages given current trends in human population expansion. There are many studies that show wild pigs directly prey on native species, and they consume native vegetation, sometimes to the extent that it changes the ecological community. For instance, wild pig consumption of mast (nuts and fruits), reduces the future growth of key food-producing plants. Further, in forested areas of eastern Texas, rooting has been linked to an increase in nonnative seedlings and plant establishment. Cascade events like these could be causing more damage than we realize. Are there any methods that have not been implemented that you personally believe could be effective? Toxicants have shown promise in various research trials. While no single method, including the use of toxicants, should be viewed as a “silver bullet” for wild pig control, this option is perhaps the most anticipated of any current or potential lethal method. However, no toxicants are currently labeled for use in Texas as of 2021.
It seems that the human population in Texas is growing as rapidly as the feral hog population. If this trend continues, wild pig populations in 10 years will likely be as bad or worse as they are presently, particularly along the human-wildland interface.
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I read in your biography on the NRI website that you are currently focusing on reducing the environmental impacts
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of wild pigs. Do you see human efforts as best being applied to environmental recovery and damage repair, or would you rather see time and money spent on finding ways to more effectively reduce wild pig populations to prevent the environmental impact from happening in the first place? Both environmental recovery and direct control are important components of wild pig management, and only in a “perfect” world could one be selected over the other. However, if I had to pick just one, direct control to reduce both wild pig populations and damages would be my choice. The rationale here is that direct control can reduce the need for (and expense of) environmental recovery and damage repair, and can also directly benefit native species, habitat, water quality, and agricultural production before the damages/losses occur. I also read in the same biography that you used to work as the public hunting coordinator for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. During your time in that position, did you have any experience with landowners encouraging feral hog populations on their land to charge hunters a fee to hunt on their land? I read about a similar case in Nebraska and am curious if that permeates into other states as well. Not as a public hunting coordinator, but I have observed this in my current role working directly with landowners. Make no mistake, there is a multimillion-dollar industry centered specifically on wild pig hunting and related commercial products. It is not uncommon for landowners who attend seminars to learn how to better control wild pig populations to also profit from the sale of wild pig day hunts, seasonal/annual hunting rights leasing, etc. This does not necessarily mean that these landowners are intentionally encouraging wild pig populations, but it is reasonable to assume that some may be while others only do so inadvertently.
you see as the most viable method moving forward that can be spread across a wide area and used by regular people, not professionals? Conversely, would you rather see a move toward nonlethal methods like exclusion fencing, or perhaps a greater devotion of resources to research regarding contraceptives? Some of the other answers above already address these questions, but largescale trapping efforts such as human and animal activated corral trapping remain the most feasible and accessible means for the average person. Nonlethal methods are often a great supplement to lethal control efforts but can’t be used as replacements. Contraceptives that are currently available are not researchproven as of 2021, and more research is needed to determine their efficacy. In short, lethal control efforts remain critical to reducing wild pig numbers and damages. I believe there is potentially more benefit in developing a viable toxicant than devoting resources to a
contraceptive. The rationale here is that even sterilized pigs would still cause tremendous damages and environmental impacts. Additionally, the high monetary expense of maintaining infertility throughout the reproductive lifespan of a wild pig that is still free-ranging and causing extensive damage doesn’t make much sense when evaluated critically. Damages that wild pigs cause annually to water quality, habitat, native species, agricultural production, and through disease transmissions are extensive. The nationwide economic toll of their many negative impacts now conservatively tallies well into the billions in the United States each year. The insight and concern communicated by these students both directly to me and through their questions on the issue of wild pigs was both admirable and encouraging. However, one simple fact remains: future generations will undoubtedly inherit tomorrow the issues current generations fail to address today.
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Of the current most popular methods for reducing hog populations i.e., hunting, trapping, and snaring, which do
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TEXAS WILDLIFE
PLANT PROFILE
Creosote bush Article by CARLOS GONZALEZ-GONZALEZ Photos courtesy of BORDERLANDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
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reosote bush (Larrea tridentata) is one of the most characteristic features of the Chihuahuan desert. Also called greasewood and gobernadora (Spanish for governess due to its capability to dominate plant communities), it is an evergreen shrub capable of growing from 3 to 10 feet high. This shrub and associated desert shrub species dominate approximately 19 million hectares (46.95 million acres) in the United States and nearly 45 million hectares (111.2 million acres) in northern Mexico. However, it is often viewed as an indicator of desertified conditions and the focus of extensive control efforts. This plant has evolved in extreme weather, allowing it to tolerate arid conditions, competing with other plants for water and resources. Often associated with caliche, an underlying compacted soil layer of calcium, the creosote bush thrives on dry, flat land.
The bright yellow blossoms of the creosote bush belie its invasive nature. Even though it’s native to the Chihuahuan desert, it can overtake the landscape and out-compete other, more desirable plant species.
Creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) is also called greasewood and gobernadora, Spanish for governess, due to its capability to dominate plant communities.
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However, when it rains, the packed soil particles prevent rapid water penetration. Consequently, much of the water runs off in flash floods. Therefore, the only permanent plants, such as creosote bush, are those with extensive and deep root systems and particular adaptations to survive prolonged periods of intense heat and drought. Extensive efforts to control creosote bush are underway because, when they increase in density, perennial native grass production decreases. As a result, creosote communities lack nutrition sources like cactus, seeds and insects, and they lack nesting and loafing areas that provide protection from unforgiving desert summer and winter climates for wildlife such as scaled quail.
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TEXAS WILDLIFE
CAESAR KLEBERG WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-KINGSVILLE
Fire moving through grassland in South Texas.
Texas Wildfires
Should we expect more years like 2022? Article by SANDRA RIDEOUT-HANZAK Photos by J. SILVERIO AVILA So far, 2022 has been one of the worst wildfire years for Texas. By the end of May there had been nearly 400 wildfires in the state and over 200,000 acres burned. This is nowhere near the worst year by acreage, but the outbreak of wildfires in every portion of the state is uncommon, and some folks have started to wonder if this trend is likely to occur more often in future years.
This year conditions came together to create the perfect firestorm across the state. The problem in the early part of the year was largely due to extremely dry conditions. Much of the state typically receives a bi-modal rainfall pattern where about half the annual rainfall occurs during the spring and another quarter of the annual rainfall during late summer to fall.
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CAESAR KLEBERG WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
However, this year we missed the spring rains across much of the state. Typically, in our rangelands the grasses would have greened up in the spring, and that is what prevents most springs from being riddled with wildfires. Plants can’t burn when they’re full of water. Missing those spring rains turns the herbaceous vegetation into fine fuel that is ripe for carrying fire. This was a big part of the problem; earlier in the year, fuels from the panhandle down to San Antonio and west to Laredo were classified as extremely dry. The wildfire outbreak this year wasn’t solely a product of missing the spring rains though. Wildfire years like this year, 2006, and 2009 are set up by the weather in previous years. Except for the Pineywoods in East Texas and the deserts of the western part of the state, Texas is mostly rangelands, and rangelands are characterized by highly variable rainfall. It can be abundant in some years and almost non-existent during other years. This highly variable rainfall pattern is what creates rangelands. Where rainfall is abundant every year, such as in the eastern part of the state, that pattern results in forests. If an area is extremely dry every year it can only support desert vegetation. But, this pattern of wet years followed by dry years that is so typical of rangelands also sets up a wildfire situation. Texas rangelands are extremely productive, growing a lot of grasses and forbs, during years when they are blessed with
bountiful rain. In 2021 a good portion of the state saw higher than normal rainfall, particularly during the summer. That resulted in above average grass production in many regions, and some areas of the state had exceptional grass production. The southern part of the state from San Antonio south and east, and a strip from the center of the state near the Fort Worth area, west past Abilene and Midland/Odessa and all the way out to the El Paso region had exceptional grass production in 2021. Winter freezes cure those grasses and turn them into fuel. This year we had a couple of freezes in even some of the southernmost counties. So, that abundant grass growth is all cured by winter, and without spring rains it is all ready for any spark to set off the next wildfire. Thus, this abundance of rainfall and grass growth in one year comes at a price that will be paid the next year if it is followed by a particularly dry winter and spring. In March, Governor Abbott remarked that the wildland firefighters were not just fighting fire, they were also fighting weather. He was absolutely right, and that’s actually always the case with wildfires. Wildfires are weather events, just as hurricane or droughts are, even though most wildfires are started by humans. That long-term rainfall pattern of rainy years followed by dry years sets the stage by creating the fuel and then priming it for fire. Then during spring we have very low humidities, and extremely high winds. When you overlay
A fire moves away in the background, leaving a burned area behind.
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those two things onto the fuel situation, now you have wildfire conditions. Under these conditions, normally unremarkable events, such as welding, driving through a pasture, a train coming down the tracks, or even a cotton bur pile sitting in the sun can all start wildfires. There is a phenomenon now known as a Southern Plains Wildfire Outbreak, or SPWO. This outbreak of multiple wildfires typically occurs during late winter to spring. It happens when a background of dry fuels, high winds, low relative humidity, and high temperatures experiences a day with an unstable atmosphere characterized by clear skies with few clouds. These days often accompany a trough of low pressure that dips down into the central part of the state. That combination of conditions is not uncommon during spring in Texas. But, it occurs more often during La Niña years such as this year because La Niña results in drier, hotter conditions throughout the southern portion of the United States.
The question now concerns the outlook for future years. Can we expect wildfire outbreaks to occur more often in the future? A 2021 report by the Texas State Climatologist predicts that Texas will become hotter between now and 2036. In fact, the number of 100-degree days has already doubled over the past 40 years and could double again by 2036. The report also indicates that we should expect extreme rainfall events to become both more frequent and more severe during that time. Counterintuitively though, drought severity is also expected to increase between extreme rainfall years. These conditions will lead to more wildfire years such as the one we experienced this year. It’s important to remember that fire is natural. It’s a force of nature. North America, more than any other continent on the planet, is a continent of fire, and Texas is no exception. Nearly every ecosystem we have in Texas either depends on fire to maintain itself or has a strong
relationship with fire. The exception is the desert region in far west Texas where the plants are too far apart to carry fire. By nature, humans tend to have a fairly short memory for events such as wildfire once the danger has passed. This is where we need to make a change. This year should be the catalyst for all Texans to become more prepared for wildfires. We need to make changes to our homes and the vegetation around them. We should be making coordinated plans to evacuate entire neighborhoods in the wildland-urban interface to ensure a safe and orderly egress for everyone. We need to equip our firefighters with better tools, better technology, and a better understanding of wildfire behavior to keep them safe also. And, we need to treat more land with prescribed fire to remove or reduce fuel loads for wildfires. If we can expect more fire, let’s choose when and how it happens. By preparing now, we can plan to live with and live through the wildfires of the future.
TAKE A KID HUNTING
TODAY!
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Photo by Rita Frey It’s not every day you see a wild turkey peering through the courthouse door. But a number of wild animals such as turkeys and white-tailed deer can become habituated to human interaction, particularly when food is involved.
HUMAN SUCCESSION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Article by DALE ROLLINS, PH.D.
“Nature is an open book for those who care to read. Each grass-covered hillside is a page on which is written the history of the past, conditions of the present, and the predictions of the future.” – J. E. Weaver
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lant succession is the cornerstone of habitat management for quail and many other species of wildlife. I define plant succession as “the orderly, predictable process of change in plant communities over time.” “Orderly” in the sense that one species or suite of plants yields to another over time. “Predictable” that for a given soil type and plant community, managers can predict what changes
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will follow, and when (roughly). To see a short video on the process for bobwhites on the Back 40, Google “Plant Succession and Quail.” For quail we’re concerned with secondary succession—how to use a disturbance such as disking to set back plant succession to create a site characterized by doveweed, sunflowers, and other early successional species. Walk away from such a site and, in time, it will “succeed” to annual grasses like threeawns and perennial forbs such as western ragweed. Then later (perhaps 15 years) to perennial grasses including silver bluestem and then shrubs; first mesquite, then
perhaps lotebush. If you’re in more mesic (moist) environments, perhaps ultimately to a forest probably comprised of mesquite or juniper in West Texas. One’s plant community of choice depends, of course, on their management goals. Lower successional plant communities (i.e., “fair range condition”) might be the goal for a quail manager in Victoria County, but a higher successional community would be better for bobwhites in Val Verde County; the differences being linked to annual rainfall and thus site productivity. Some plant species, such as K-R bluestem, crowd out or outcompete more desirable plants via their aggressive reproduction and ability to exploit disturbed sites. Some, such as eastern red cedar, take advantage of our failure to use management tools like prescribed burning. Some can exploit a situation because they are more tolerant of overuse. Think of coastal Bermudagrass, while some like annual threeawn can modify their environment to where only a few species (including itself) are tolerated via a process known as “allelopathy.” It’s a competitive world out there! But wait, isn’t this column titled “human succession?” Yep, and (by extension) I define human succession as the “orderly, predictable process of change in human populations,” in other words, demography. DEMOGRAPHY 101 My introduction to demography came in January 1986. I worked for Oklahoma State University at the time, and a demographer was scheduled to speak to our assembly. I do not recall his name, but I’ll never forget his message. When he walked to the lectern with a stack of transparencies (this was before PowerPoint) about 3 inches thick, I remember thinking “oh my gosh,” already bemoaning what I reckoned would be a boring dissertation. But au contraire! He kept me and I think most of the audience on the edge of our seats while he cited statistics like birth rates, population growth, and the consequences of such changes on many aspects of our future as a society. I remember him stating what I reckon is the demographer’s dictum: “The future is here today, but we have to learn to see it” and “The future is in place today—all it has to do is grow up.” Perhaps the best adjective to describe his presentation is sobering. See references below for a similar presentation by Dr. Steve Murdock, former state demographer, on what the future holds for Texas. “America’s good fortune cannot possibly last longer than her natural resources.” – Will Rogers TEXAS IN 2050 Some salient statistics for those concerned with the future of working lands—privately-owned farms, ranches, and forests— can be gleaned from the Natural Resources Institute at Texas A&M University and from Dr. Murdock’s presentation using data largely from the U.S. Census Bureau. Such working lands are the face of wildlife habitat in Texas.
Photo by Joseph Richards
HUMAN SUCCESSION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
As human populations encroach on wildlife populations, wildlife have a choice—they can either flee farther into the brush or they can adapt to their new surroundings. Sometimes, that adaptation can have repercussions.
Here’s a sampler’s platter of sobering statistics to pique your curiosity: • The population of the U.S. in 2050 will be right at 400 million people, up about 33% from 2010. Hispanics will constitute 51% of the growth; Non-Hispanic Whites will comprise 0% of the change. In Texas, Hispanics will contribute 65% of the growth. • From 1997 to 2017, the Texas population increased 48% from 19 million to 29 million residents at nearly 470,000 new residents annually, or 1,287 people per day. (Note to self: And that doesn’t count the number of immigrants crossing our southern border daily, nor the number of Californians relocating to Texas!) • Most of the change in Hispanic growth will take place from DFW down the IH-35 Corridor to the Rio Grande
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in all. But average ownership size declined from 581 acres in 1997 to 509 acres in 2017. Small farms and ranches (tracts less than 100 acres in size) represent 58% of all ownerships. (Note to self: we don’t have many quail success stories on small acreage landscapes. For deer folk, look for more high-fenced properties to continue to spring up.) “Take change by the hand before it takes you by the throat.” – Sir Winston Churchill THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS DARKLY I haven’t seen data on the ethnic/racial/ political composition of conservation groups in Texas (e.g., Texas Wildlife Association) or for Texans owning larger landholdings above the average of 500 acres, so my comments here are based on my speculation and interpretation of land use trends, and my personal experiences with the above audiences. Photo by Russell A. Graves
Valley, then over to Houston and back to DFW. Parts of West Texas will remain static or decrease in population size. There is a morsel of good news herein; read on. • Politically speaking, “red” states will become “blue.” Texas is on the cusp of such a shift now. Depending on where you sit, this shift may be either favorable or disfavorable— “where you stand on an issue usually depends on where you sit.” • Texas working lands are under increasing land conversion pressure, resulting in habitat fragmentation. This is driven by rapid population growth, suburbanization, intergenerational transfer, energy exploration, and rural development, creating implications for rural economies and straining natural resources. • Texas gained approximately 1,000 new working farms and ranches per year from 1997 to 2017, totaling greater than 248,000 ownerships
Populations, both wildlife and human, expand and contract. But as human populations expand, our need for “habitat” can consume the habitat that wildlife need.
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Accordingly, I’d wager the ethnicity of TWA and other groups like the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, whose members manage most of the rangelands, i.e., wildlife habitat, in Texas pretty much mirror those of quail hunters, more than 97% of whom are Non-Hispanic Whites and growing older. Furthermore, I speculate that most (I’d wager more than 80%) are “conservatives” in their political beliefs. I could be wrong; caveat emptor. Accordingly, as (not if) changes in the ethnic makeup of Texas conform to the demographic trends, it raises interesting questions in our abilities to provide social services like medical care and educational opportunities and simultaneously sustain our natural resources, water being likely the most critical. In light of such changes, I pose these questions that should be of interest to any TWA member or conservationist: • Will the new majority support conservation groups like TWA? • Will they purchase a hunting/fishing license to maintain a funding base for TPWD? • Will they be prone to support ballot initiatives such as a ban on trapping that may threaten the future of the consumptive use of wildlife management? • Will they be quail hunters? THE UPSHOT I am often exhorted to accentuate the positive things happening in the quail world. I am a 67-year-old white male who owns bird dogs... there are perhaps 25,000 others like me out of a total of about 1.2 million Texans who hunt. Fifty years ago, that number would have been about 300,000 quail hunters. Almost all Texas quail hunters are white (97%), male (98%) and an average age of 57 (data from a 2012 study by J. Johnson et al.). Demographically and politically, whatever panache quail hunters may have had in influencing TPWD decisions historically has faded—it’s simply a numbers game. Some relatively bright spots for quail from the land use trends cited above include:
• The parts of Texas expected to show the slowest population growth are the key quail-producing areas of the state: Rolling Plains and South Texas Plains. • Some areas of Texas show increasing use of wildlife as a means of maintaining their open space (“ag use”) valuation, especially in the Edwards Plateau. Such a trend may prove beneficial to bobwhites in that region. • Quail hunting as a resource will not decline as quickly as the aging white population. There could be lower demand for hunting leases; who knows, perhaps lease rates will decline (but don’t bet on it!)? • Deer hunting has more momentum and can adapt to smaller properties. And not everyone loves deer—vehicle collisions and bedraggled begonias. • There’s plenty of opportunity (demographically speaking) to recruit more Hispanics, females, and youths to participate in our favorite pastime. One of my favorite sayings at Bobwhite Brigade is “Opportunity knocks, who will answer?” Read about the TPWD’s “R3” (Recruit, Retain, and Reactivate) initiative for various efforts to grow the population of hunters. • Support conservation education at all levels of the educational ladder. Identify and sponsor young people (especially Hispanics) for programs like Texas Brigades Wildlife Leadership Camps and TWA’s Texas Youth Hunting Program. Less rosy scenarios include: • Pit bulldogs will outstrip the proportion of pointing dogs (probably already has). • Population growth in toto will continue to strain the state’s natural resources. • Mortality in the aging white population of landowners will continue to foster dissolution of larger properties into smaller ones. Can I have an amen for conservation easements? • Smaller properties tend to be more prone to mismanagement like chronic overgrazing.
Photo by Rita Frey
HUMAN SUCCESSION AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
As the population of Texas continues to increase, more and more of those new arrivals will leave the cities and suburbs to enjoy all that the Lone Star has to offer. That’s good. But it will also increase human-wildlife interactions. This ringtail is checking out the possibilities from the camper roof.
• Ever-increasing urban populations will have less exposure to wild places, thus less appreciation for them. Indeed, the future is here today but we have to learn to see it. Many my age shrug their shoulders and say “ah, not in my lifetime” so let someone else worry about such changes. But as a group who profess to be land stewards, such apathy is unacceptable to me. No doubt we’ve got our work cut out for us—socially, ecologically, and politically. That’s where human succession and plant succession diverge. I’d rather focus on plants! “There can be no doubt that a society rooted in the soil is more stable than one rooted in pavements.” – A. Leopold
For more information see: Johnson, J. L., D. Rollins, and K. S. Reyna. 2012. What’s a quail worth? A longitudinal assessment of quail hunter demographics, attitudes, and spending habits In Texas. National Quail Symposium 7: Article 112. https://trace.tennessee.edu/nqsp/vol7/iss1/ Murdock, S. 2013. Texas in 2050: It’s all over for the Anglos. Presented at Texas Tribune Festival. See TribuneFest: Steve Murdock on Texas in 2050 | The Texas Tribune. Smith, L.A., R.R. Lopez, A.A. Lund, B.N. Wegner, J.C. Cathey, A. Lopez, R.E. Anderson, G.W. Powers, K.L. Skow, M.A. Crawford. 2019. Status update and trends of Texas working lands. Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, College Station, TX, USA. https://txlandtrends.org/ media/qzpblz2j/texas-land-trends_statusupdate-and-trends-of-tx-working-lands.pdf
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Gar are shy and secretive fish which belies their fierce appearance. Gar are a species of needlefish and of the four gar species found in Texas waters, the alligator gar is the biggest.
ALLIGATOR GAR Dinosaur of the Depths
Article and photos by RUSSELL A. GRAVES
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e slipped the canoe in the water at sunrise, and by mid-morning, a couple of miles were behind us. Nature abounded all around as we filmed a documentary project about the waterway. On this part of Bois d’Arc Creek’s mid-section, the bottom is clay and the water is skinny at times. Therefore, we drifted at a leisurely pace, taking in all surrounding us. The Fannin County weather was bright and sunny for mid-January. Through my polarized sunglasses, I see turtles, some bream, and a beaver swim beneath us, but I am surprised when three gars flank us and begin swimming alongside our canoe and right at the water’s surface. The first of the gar is small, and I suspect they are spotted gar. I am not sure why they are swimming with us unless they think we are a giant gar. Amazed, I look over the port side, but my brother looks starboard when the big gar sidles up beside us. It’s an alligator
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gar, and he’s probably 3 feet long. It’s not the biggest gar ever, but a 3-foot-long fish is still a big one, and we marvel at him for the minute or so he stayed with us. I’ve been fascinated with this enigmatic species for most of my life, although I’ll confess that I haven’t seen many of them, save for the few times I caught one on a trotline on this same creek back when I was a kid. They live in murky water and spend a life in places that most people never frequent. There have been times I’ve seen them floating close to the water’s surface and are so motionless that I first mistook them for a submerged log. Gars of any species, specifically alligator gars, are shy and secretive creatures that look like part fish and part dinosaur. It has a formable appearance, but in reality, the gar’s disposition doesn’t match its toothy air. As soon as the fish appeared, they slowly sank to the creek’s depths and were gone. It’s a memory that will last me a lifetime.
A L L I GAT O R GA R
ABOUT THE GAR In Texas, the term “gar” (family Lepisosteidae) is often used to describe any kind of garfish found in the state’s creeks, lakes, and rivers. The gar is a type of needlefish chiefly found in the United States. However, some species are found in extreme southern Canada and Central America. Besides the alligator gar, Texas is also home to the spotted gar, the shortnose gar, and the longnose gar. In comparison, they are smaller than the behemoth alligator gar. While all four species look similar and occupy similar habitats, their differences are found in their body’s overall size and markings. All garfish are a living fossil of sorts. Over the past 65 to 100 million years, they’ve changed little, and this primitive fish dates back to the Cretaceous period. Back then, animals like the tyrannosaurus rex and triceratops still roamed the earth. The alligator gar is the biggest of the gar species and is one that’s mythical in the minds of muddy water anglers and outdoor people who venture where the big fish lives. Long and relationally slender, the alligator gar is sleek in its shape and olive-colored for camouflage. They have a broad snout that is lined with long and sharp teeth, and it is the passing resemblance to an alligator that gives the fish its name. Gars sport tough, bone-like scales covered in an enamellike substance. Called ganoid scales, these stout coverings are shaped like a rhombus and are found on fish like sturgeons, paddlefishes, and bowfins. Among the largest freshwater fish found in America, the gar can regularly grow over 6 feet long and weigh more than 100 pounds. They are long-lived as well. The biggest gar lived more than 50 years, with the oldest one ever recorded living to be nearly a century old. The diet of alligator gars consists of mainly fish, but they’ll also dine on other aquatic animals like turtles. They sport an air bladder that they use for flotation and are among the few fish that can breathe air when they breach the surface. Gars store the air in their internal bladder. It allows them to breathe in lowoxygenated water where other fish cannot survive. They are a common fish whose populations have become stable in the waters where they live. Found primarily in the rivers, creeks, and some lakes in Texas, the fish is generally distributed throughout the eastern part of the state. However, the range does reach westward up the Rio Grande. Gar are actually gentle despite sensationalized stories of them being vicious and aggressive. While they look fearsome with their long, sharp teeth, there are no confirmed attacks on people, according to TPWD. FISHING FOR GAR On a muggy summer evening last August, I took to an airboat to explore some backwater creeks on the Texas side of the Red River. The airboat was equipped with a bank of bright LED lights on the bow. As it shined on the water, gar swam to the surface—partly attracted by the light and partly attracted to the baitfish the light attracted. While I wasn’t bow fishing this time, this platform is precisely what’s popular for those who do.
The fact is that bow fishing (and conventional fishing) for alligator gar is becoming more and more popular in Texas. Once maligned as a trash fish, the alligator gar finally has its day as a bonafide sporting option. In fact, in May 2022, two sensational stories appeared in the national media concerning gar caught in the Houston area. One story was of an all-black melanistic gar and the other, an enormous gar landed on rod and reel. In the now-viral video, angler Payton Moore caught a gar using a mullet head for bait. After several minutes of playing the fish, he reeled it in, measured it, and released it back into the river. According to the video, the fish measured 8 feet, 2 inches, and about 300 pounds and was just 3 inches shy of the world record. The world record alligator gar officially measured was caught near the Mississippi River outside of Vicksburg, Miss., in 2011. It measured 8 feet, 5 inches and weighed 327 pounds. TPWD has a good idea of who fishes for gar in our state. In 2018, the department conducted an online survey to assess the popularity of sportfishing for gar and found that about 100,000 people fish for gar each year in the state. Here are more findings from the survey: • About 70% of survey respondents used rod and reel as their primary gear for alligator gar, and about 24% used bow and
Gars prefer the murky deep and aren’t often the first fish anglers think of when they head out for the day. Once maligned as a trash fish, the alligator gar finally has its day as a bonafide sporting option.
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• A majority also support allowing anglers to harvest alligator gar for trophies (60%), and about 48% suggest they actually harvest gar for trophies. • Among respondents who fish for alligator gar, most harvest three or fewer each year.
All garfish are a living fossil of sorts. Over the past 65 to 100 million years, they’ve changed little, and this primitive fish dates back to the Cretaceous period.
arrow. Of those whose primary gear was bow and arrow, 35% also used rod and reel. • A majority of respondents are satisfied with the current regulation, but 45% also seem open to having special, localized regulations. • Overall, Texas anglers are open to using length limits to regulate gar harvest. Bow fishers (55%) are less
likely to support length limits than rod and reel anglers (78%). • Sixty-five percent of respondents support the idea of mandatory reporting of alligator gar harvest. • Most Texas anglers (84%) support allowing anglers to harvest alligator gar for food, even though only about 40% suggest they actually harvest gar to eat.
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GAR CONSERVATION “At present, Texas alligator gar populations are quite healthy,” said Dan Daugherty, TPWD fisheries research biologist. However, he said we should be aware of some conservation concerns. “First, alligator gar populations do not successfully reproduce every year. Studies indicate that successful spawning happens about 30% of the time or three out of every 10 years. This is because alligator gar spawn during late spring and early summer floods, which inundate shallow, vegetated areas on the floodplain that provide optimal spawning habitat.” Daugherty explained that greater water demands from growing human populations and changing weather patterns directly impact river flows and floods, affecting alligator gar reproduction. “Second,” Daugherty said, “recent work has found that female alligator gar tend to live considerably longer and grow larger than male fish. Since most anglers target the large fish, this puts greater pressure on those females, which are the most important for successful reproduction and population persistence.” Daugherty explained that it is always a good management practice for landowners and managers to maintain natural riparian and floodplain habitats. Managing the areas, he said, is beneficial not only to floodplain spawning fish like the alligator gar, but also to minimize bank erosion and avoid degrading in-stream habitats. “Gars in general, but most notably the alligator gar, have been perceived as having negative impacts on sport fish populations, such as bass and crappie,” Daugherty said. “However, they are opportunistic feeders, meaning they do not target particular fish prey. The alligator gar often feeds on what’s most abundant, which usually consists of non-game fishes like shad, buffalo, and carp.”
Recycled oyster shells are placed back into St. Charles Bay to restore degraded oyster reefs. The shell provides important hard structure for larval oysters to attach and grow. Project funding provided by CCA, NFWF, NOAA, TGLO, and TPWD.
A CASE FOR CONSERVING OYSTER REEFS Article by DR. JENNIFER BESERES POLLACK, Chair for Coastal Conservation and Restoration at the Harte Research Institute and Associate Professor of Marine Biology in the Department of Life Sciences at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Photos courtesy of HARTE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Editor’s Note—This article first appeared in Texas Saltwater Fishing magazine. Reprinted with permission.
O
ysters are an iconic part of life on the Texas coast, and Texans and tourists alike flock to seafood restaurants to enjoy plates of these briny bivalves. Although oysters have been long valued as a food source and a fisheries commodity, only recently have they gained recognition for the numerous ecological benefits they provide, including shoreline protection, water quality, and habitat for a host of other species. Because oysters are target fishery as well as a critical habitat within our bay systems, they are uniquely challenging to manage. Harvesting by dredges removes both oysters and their shells, reducing the size and complexity of reefs. Larval oysters attach to and grow upon the shells of older generations, so when reefs
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are physically damaged or removed, we reduce the substrate— hard surface—that is available on which to grow new oysters. Fortunately, Texas is one of the last places in the world where large scale oyster reef conservation and sustainable fisheries are still compatible. Protecting oyster reefs can help reverse oyster population decline and bolster fish stocks, benefiting the economy and the environment. The economics for conserving oyster reefs are compelling: the estimated value of oysters in the water is $2,000-$40,000 per acre, which includes benefits of increased biodiversity and fish production, protected shorelines, and improved water quality1. Additional benefits of oyster reefs for recreational angling are estimated at $23,000 per acre2. In comparison, the value of oysters harvested commercially from a typical reef is estimated at only $880 per acre1.
A CASE FOR CONSERVING OYSTER REEFS
Oysters help clean bay waters. Each individual oyster filters up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing phytoplankton, detritus, and other particles from the waters in which they live. This filter feeding also removes nitrogen, incorporating it into oysters’ shells and tissues as they grow, much like the plants in our gardens take up the nitrogen from the soil. While nitrogen is naturally occurring in our bays, excess nitrogen from stormwater runoff can create algal blooms and eventually lower the dissolved oxygen levels in the bay; uptake of nitrogen by oysters helps to combat this issue. This process has a real economic benefit: our research in the Mission-Aransas Estuary estimated the value of nitrogen removal provided by oysters as $300,000 annually3. Oysters build habitat that increases biodiversity and enhances fish production. Oyster reefs can provide 50 times more habitat surface area than the otherwise flat, muddy and sandy bay bottom. Numerous recreationally and commercially important species of fish, shrimp, crabs, and other organisms depend on reefs for nursery habitat or feeding, so the presence of healthy oyster reefs greatly increases both the abundance and diversity of other species. Further, the community of organisms that inhabit oyster reefs is unlike that found in other coastal habitats like seagrass, marsh, or mangrove. Our team has documented measurable improvement in these habitat functions in local bays within just six months of restoring reefs. The more that we study oysters, the more evidence we find to support the case for conserving oyster reefs to benefit the environment and the economy. If you have ever cast a line into Texas bay waters, you surely recognize how oyster reefs support recreational angling. The millions of small organisms that inhabit oyster reefs provide key prey for sportfish and promote better fishing for Texas anglers. Oyster reefs also serve as natural breakwaters that protect shorelines from waves, reduce erosion, and support the growth of marshes and seagrasses. And we are only beginning to learn about the role of oysters in capturing and storing carbon.
Restoring oyster reefs in St. Charles Bay using recycled oyster shells to replace lost substrates needed for oyster attachment and growth and reef sustainability. Project funding provided by CCA, NFWF, NOAA, TGLO, and TPWD.
A pile of oyster shells recycled from Coastal Bend restaurants, wholesalers, and seafood festivals dries in the sun for six months before being used to restore degraded oyster reefs in Texas bays.
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A CASE FOR CONSERVING OYSTER REEFS
There are a number of possible conservation actions that can be taken to increase protections of oyster reefs. One strategy is to develop a sanctuary network for legacy oyster reefs in strategic locations where commercial harvest is prohibited, to allow source populations of adult oysters to grow, reproduce, and replenish reefs throughout the bay. Another is to provide permanent sanctuary status to restored reefs to protect those conservation investments. A third strategy is to incorporate measures of reef structure into management criteria in order to better gauge loss of reef habitat in addition to loss of market-size oysters. Alternative methods of oyster harvest being explored by the Harte Research Institute and partners, including supplementing dredging with oyster aquaculture, may also help maintain a long-term supply of sustainable seafood. Opponents of limitations on commercial harvest activities from selected reefs argue that it will diminish the oyster fishery. Economic work at the Harte Research Institute indicates that, when protected, oyster reefs directly enhance recreationally and commercially important species to a degree that more than offsets the opportunity cost of incrementally reduced oyster harvest. Protected reefs yield larvae that nourish natural oyster reefs—including commercially harvested reefs—across a large geographic area, enhancing the productivity of those reefs. Protected reefs, whose physical complexity is not diminished
by repeated physical disruption from harvest, also provide key habitat for commercially and recreationally valued species, ultimately bolstering those stocks as well. Restoring and protecting select oyster reefs from commercial harvest may help to ensure fair access to this highly valued public resource. Such protections can also allow a more equitable distribution of the benefits that reefs provide to coastal communities, including enhancing environmental, community, and physical and economic resilience. Protection of reefs in strategic locations can reduce their recovery time following storms, enhancing their ability to buffer shorelines and increasing their value to coastal community economies. There is compelling science that quantifies the numerous ecological and economic benefits that oysters provide, and the Harte Research Institute is committed to working with resource managers and all stakeholders to advance data-driven conservation strategies to ensure the health and persistence of oyster reefs in Texas. 1. Grabowski et al. 2012, DOI: 10.1525/bio.2012.62.10.10 2. Carlton et al. 2016, Texas Sea Grant Publication TAMUSG-16-211 3. Beseres Pollack et al. 2013, DOI: 10.1371/journal. pone.0065314
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Photo by Jenny Sanders
R A I S I N G K I D S C L O S E T O N AT U R E
For hunting families, dove season is a great gateway for youngsters to learn to be ethical sportsmen as well as how to handle firearms safely.
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RAISING KIDS CLOSE TO NATURE Sage Advice From Moms Who Have Raised Great Outdoorsmen and Women Article by WHITNEY KLENZENDORF
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to what goes on inside our kids—their personal development into resilient, intelligent, patient, capable, and morallygrounded people. After I had my first child, I found myself looking for a navigational compass for raising my children into the people I wanted them to be. Of course, I wanted them to love the things that I loved like
Photo by Whitney Klenzendorf
t goes without saying among readers of this magazine that getting children out in nature is vital to the future of our outdoor heritage. Without ever experiencing nature, how can younger generations understand its value and take action to conserve it? We also know time spent outside in somewhere wild and unkempt is vital
Who says a deer blind is just for hunting? It makes a perfect playhouse, too.
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Blair Fitzsimons has three grown children that she raised on their family’s ranch in South Texas for much of their childhood. All of them can ride, hunt, competently take on outdoor excursions, and take on ranch work. As one example, Blair’s middle child, Jonny, completed a pack trip from the Mexican border to the Canadian border on wild mustangs he had helped train, riding all through public land in the West. Jenny Sanders, also a TWA member, is raising two boys, 8 and 12, who can usually be found running around their land with BB guns on any given afternoon and are avid hunters and fishermen. I’ll never forget when her oldest son, acting as a selfappointed game warden at the ripe age of 5, scribbled me a ticket for some game violation he determined I had made. Was there anything you did regularly when the kids were young to spark their interest—intentionally or unintentionally? Blair: “When they were little, we did a lot of river trips, usually one a year. We would go to the mountains and do a lot of hiking. Went all over the West and did every river you can imagine—the Salmon, Snake, Grand Canyon, and Rio Grande around Taos, New Mexico. “We did quite a few driving trips and stopped at state and national parks. We just got them outdoors. In the summer, we Photo by Whitney Klenzendorf
hunting, camping, and the like, but moreover I wanted them to turn out as responsible, level-headed people who were resilient and compassionate. I also wanted them to have a very happy childhood. I was looking for a curriculum, so to speak, of both educational subject matter and fun activities that were centered around our values and would give my children certain life skills. It wasn’t long before I realized mother nature provided what I was seeking. Nature delivers a million lessons for every age, from the ABCs to hydrology, and just like nature itself, the opportunities never seem to end. A beautiful thing I have learned is that the lessons and personal development happen on their own, most of the time with very little conscious effort on my part. My job is simply to make time outside happen for them regularly, and to bring along a sense of curiosity and fun. I don’t have to know every species of bird or plant, I just have to be in awe and share that excitement with them. I spoke with two outstanding examples of moms who have raised kids who are very capable outdoorsmen and women and who have an abiding love of the natural world. I hope you enjoy hearing about the wisdom they have gleaned in their years of taking their kids out into the woods.
Livestock and wildlife can coexist very well, and for youngsters, cattle can be as much of an outdoor experience as the wildlife that share their habitat.
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Photo by Whitney Klenzendorf
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There are plenty of fishing spots close to home and for many youngsters, fishing is their first encounter with the wild world.
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Photo by Kristin Parma
used to stay at a dude ranch up in Wyoming and people thought we were crazy. They said, ‘You live on a ranch, and you’re going to go vacation at another one?’ Nature doesn’t end at our fence line. There are wonderful places out there. Those of us who live on ranches sometimes forget to get out and enjoy other places and have other types of outdoor experiences,” she said. “We homeschooled and always tried to incorporate nature into the curriculum. The kids would gather and press grasses, excavate for arrowheads, and do outdoor science projects. They learned how to be outside and observe, and enjoying it came second nature. They did lots of riding. We would be done with our lessons at noon or 1, and they would have to be home by dinner.” Jenny: “We just made a point to drag the kids along anytime it was possible, even if it wasn’t the most convenient. We felt like it was important for them to participate in the things we loved and be a part of our lifestyle. Both boys spent time in the dove field in their pack-n-play, and as soon as they were old enough, they were bird boys. “Involve them in all parts of the hunting experience: scouting, packing, cleaning game, cleaning firearms. The harvest is a fun payoff at the end, but that’s not all it’s about! Nate’s job has always been to spray off the concrete under the skinning rack after we clean a deer or hog. He wasn’t very good at in in the beginning, but it gave him responsibility and purpose, and what kid doesn’t love spraying a water hose?
Everyone likes finding shed deer antlers. For youngsters, a shed becomes a tangible connection to the natural world.
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“Let them play the part: Get them the camo, let them carry a cheap pair of binoculars and a lanyard with a bunch of game calls on it. We would even let the boys carry a toy gun to the dove field so they could pretend they were hunting.” What were some of the outdoor activities that your kids loved the most? Blair: “They enjoyed just wandering around the ranch. Johnny would just go down to the creek and play. They were feral children. It made them resilient. It was hard when we moved to San Antonio. They didn’t have wide open spaces and unfettered places to wander.” Jenny: “My kids enjoy the ones where they could be somewhat independent, play and use their imagination, and really experience nature and the outdoors. Dove hunting, frog catching, canoeing, fishing, spot and stalk hunting, etc. Anything that’s not in a box blind.” As your kids’ lives filled up with school, sports, and friends, how did you make sure time outdoors was still a priority? Blair: “We went down to ranch as much as we could. We kept up with river trips and things like that. We did as many of those as we could. We went to Africa once. The family trips we would take were always outdoors in nature.” Jenny: “One thing we’ve realized with our oldest, who is the most social and busy at this point in his life, is that it’s important to get him away from his home turf from time to time. “Sometimes it’s easy for him to take the local opportunities at our land and local hunting lease for granted because they’re always ‘right there.’ So, making the effort to get him away from home for a fishing trip, or hunt, or kayaking trip is important to keep him grounded in his outdoor heritage without the distractions of home.” How do you handle the risk associated with outdoor activities? Blair: “When they were young, one of the first things we did was teach them about snakes and scorpions and what to do if you encounter them. We taught them to have situational awareness. We didn’t worry about it a lot. They took care of themselves.” Jenny: “From the moment they were taking toy guns on dove hunts, they were expected to be cognizant of safety with both the firearm, and their person (hearing and eye protection). At each stage in their development into independent hunters, they have had to prove their ability to be responsible and safe. “Once they graduated from toy guns to BB guns and archery equipment, they had to prove they could be safe—starting with walking in the woods with mom or dad, then alone, and now they can go together, but it took a long time for us to feel comfortable with that. Our oldest sat in a deer blind alone with a rifle for the first time when he was 10. Mom was a nervous wreck the whole time, but he used his skills he’d learned through many sits with mom and dad and was totally safe,” she said. “Now, at the age of 12, he sits in a tree stand with a harness and has harvested his first doe with a bow. An adult has to walk him in and watch him get in the stand and make sure he’s
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harnessed in, and then we walk in before he’s allowed to get down as well.” DON’T GIVE UP There will always be a good reason not to choose the outdoor activity—it’s too hot, we have to book too far in advance, it’s going to be hard work, and so on. These are all valid points. However, we are rewarded in the end because those adverse circumstances make the time even more memorable, give children the chance to overcome something difficult, and be a team player. Being away from the comforts of home gives our kids a new level of appreciation for what they have. Personally, I’ve found it is easier to get our family into a routine of getting outside. On Fridays, I take my kids to a park. If I don’t have time to research a new one, I go with one of our old standbyes. We camp once every fall and spring. In the summertime, we take an outdoors-focused trip, sometimes out of state, sometimes in state. Interspersed throughout the year are trips to the ranch and Guadalupe River, and on our “in town” weekends we try to squeeze in a little hike or fishing. It has been incredibly rewarding to see my kids learn and grow from their time outside. They eagerly point out what they see and my three-year-old son has developed a kinship with some of our local wildlife. He calls the deer that come up to our house “our deer.” The hawk that nests near our yard and frequently flies overhead with a snake in its talons is “our hawk.” The fox is “our fox.” I love that he feels attached to his surroundings and imagine it blossoming into a desire to be a good caretaker. I am also starting to trust him more with some freedom as he wanders around the woods by our house looking for sheds, a favorite activity of his ever since I planted one in his path a while ago. He loves to go fishing with dad, an interest we avidly encourage. Fishing is an entry point for our son to get to know and understand the outdoors and connect with the landscape no matter where he is. When he showed half an interest, we took him to Bass Pro and bought him a
decent fishing rod. Waiting on a fish to nibble, learning what life is underwater and what it eats, following laws, and making the right choice when no one is watching are just a few benefits of the activity. My daughter, who just turned two, currently bops around behind her brother enjoying whatever he’s doing. I can’t help being grateful that we are helping develop in them some interests that are productive – unlike so many idle young people who spend their time in front of a screen or at the park in less meaningful (or legal) ways. It has been a
sacrifice at times, when we haven’t hiked as far as we wanted or have spent more time getting fishing lines out of trees than actually fishing. As I see inklings of resilience, patience, teamwork, curiosity, situational awareness, tenderness, and other virtues emerge, it proves to be so worth it. And most importantly, I’ve never had more fun in my life. For more reading on this topic, I highly encourage you to dive into Steve Rinella’s latest book, “Outdoor Kids in an Inside World.”
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Small sunfish are not only fun to catch, but you can fry these tasty treats in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop or grill.
RECIPES FOR ENJOYING A SUMMERTIME FAVORITE Fresh Fish
Article and photos by TAMRA M. BOLTON
Editor’s Note—This is the second in a series of articles designed to help TWA members enjoy the fruits of their harvest. Watch for future articles, where we’ll look at game and drink pairings for wild boar, exotics, venison, dove, quail, and duck.
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W
hether you enjoy wrangling bass on the lake, landing a trophy in the Gulf, or just lounging on the bank of a nearby pond or stream, fishing is one of Texas’ most popular pastimes. Fishing is a sport that
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anyone can participate in and is one of the easiest ways to draw the younger generation to the great outdoors. Next to the thrill of catching one of the state’s many game fish is the exciting challenge of preparing those delicious
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morsels. We have several recipes to try, along with suggested pairings for your summertime pleasure. MARINATED GRILLED FISH Ingredients: • 4-6 8-ounce fish fillets, cleaned, rinsed, and patted dry • 1/3 cup red wine vinegar • 1/3 cup orange juice • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 3 green onions, minced • 1/3 cup tomato, seeded and finely diced • 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and chopped • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1 cup olive oil Fresh vegetables for grilling — squash (zucchini and yellow), peppers (red and yellow bell peppers or small sweet minipeppers and Anaheim chili peppers work well), and asparagus. I like to add small tomatoes the last few minutes of cooking. Not only do they add a layer of flavor, but also give an extra pop of color. Directions: In a medium bowl, combine vinegar and next seven ingredients. Add olive oil in a thin stream while whisking vigorously to emulsify. Place fish fillets in a plastic or glass container and pour half of the vinegar mixture over them. Reserve some mari-
A colorful plate with a side of crusty warm bread is a beautiful way to enjoy the days’ catch.
nade to baste fish and vegetables during grilling and set aside a small amount to use when serving. Cover fish and refrigerate for 2 hours, turning every 30 minutes. Prepare vegetables for grilling. Slice squash into 1/4-inch slices, trim ends of asparagus, split and core peppers and cut into strips. Remove fish from marinade and pat dry to avoid flare-ups from marinade while grilling. On a hot, well-oiled grill, brown fish on one side, about 5 minutes, flip fillets and cook 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the
Using a variety of fresh ingredients to complement your fish will give you not only a delicious meal, but a healthy one, too.
size of the fish. While cooking fish, place vegetables on grill and brown evenly. Tip: Place your vegetables in a heavy wire grill basket so you can shake them occasionally for more even cooking. Baste vegetables and fish with marinade at least twice while cooking. Vegetables should still be firm when done; don’t overcook. Arrange vegetables on plates, top with cooked fish, and drizzle with reserved marinade. Note: If your fish tends to stick to the grill, you’re not alone. To avoid this, make sure that your grill is clean, well oiled, and hot before placing fish on the grates. Rubbing your fish with some decent olive oil prior to grilling will improve the flavor and help keep it from sticking. QUICK STOVETOP FISH N’ VEGGIES This is an easy alternative recipe to grilling your fish. Simply use a spicy seafood seasoning on your fish fillets and vegetables and cook in a cast iron skillet on the stove top. First, use a tablespoon of olive oil to cook your vegetables. I use the same vegetables mentioned in the grilling recipe—squash, peppers, asparagus, tomatoes. Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes, then push them to the outer edges of the cast iron skillet and
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Check your fillets for doneness with a fork…if it flakes, it’s perfect!
add another tablespoon of oil to the center of the pan to cook your fillets. Cook fillets about 4 to 5 minutes on each side, sprinkling on more seasoning if desired. Test doneness of the fish with a fork. If it flakes easily, it is done. Don’t overcook. Serve on a warm plate with crusty sourdough or French bread on the side. This method is especially helpful when you are in a hurry, don’t have a grill handy, or it is too hot or too cold to grill… if there is such a thing!
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Put the garlic and paprika into a mortar, add the salt, and pound to a smooth
paste. Add a few drops of olive oil, then rub the bass fillets with the paste and set aside. Make the vinaigrette. Put all the ingredients into a small bowl and whisk together with a fork. Season the fillets with salt and pepper to taste. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and brush lightly with olive oil. Lay the bass fillets on the paper and season with sea salt. Roast for 8-10 minutes until the fish is cooked through. Remove from the oven and leave to rest. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in a large pan of salted water for about 15 minutes until tender, then drain. Return to the pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Crush lightly with the back of a fork, then add the scallions and stir to combine. Season with salt and then add a couple of tablespoons of the vinaigrette. Serve the crushed potatoes topped with the bass and a drizzle of the remaining vinaigrette. WINE & SPIRIT PAIRINGS To complete your meal of fresh Texas game fish, consider pairing with these wines and spirits. Texas Wines Llano Estacado 2020 Signature White Blend - This white wine is an aromatic blend of Sauvi-
ROASTED BASS WITH GARLIC AND PAPRIKA Ingredients: • 2 garlic cloves, peeled • 2 teaspoons paprika • 1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste • Olive oil • 8 bass filets • 1 pound new potatoes • 2-3 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced For the vinaigrette: • Pinch of saffron • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
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Giving your guests plenty of choices in their beverages ensures everyone the perfect pairing for their tastes.
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gnon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, and Semillon. Signature White is a terrific reception and food wine. With aromas of peach, apple, citrus oil, and tangerine alongside bright acidity, this is a perfect pairing for a flaky white fish or just to enjoy as a glass. 2020 Llano Rosé – The 2020 Llano Rosé is a wine that truly reflects West Texas terroir. Grown in the high elevation, this wine is an expression of what classic rosé should be: fruity, aromatic, food friendly, or enjoyable on its own on a hot Texas summer day. With its citrus flavors and delicate aromatics, this crisp rosé is perfectly paired with oily game fish, charcuterie, and soft cheeses. It is best served cold at 45 F. William Chris 2017 Trebbiano William Chris Vineyards – This Hill Country gem is a light golden wine perfect to pair with fried Rio Grande perch or pan-fried sunfish. It is delightfully smooth on the palate with a surprising, almost peppery finish that will make this white a new favorite. English Newsome 2018 Reserve Viognier English Newsome Cellars – The unofficial wine grape for the state of Texas, this versatile varietal boasts a predominant orange blossom and a honeysuckle nose with a lingering finish. Flavors of citrus and stone fruit rise to make this Rhone varietal have a little more body than your usual white wine. This outstanding wine is excellent with any type of white meat, especially grilled fish.
THE BREWERY LBK From The Brewery LBK, known for its unusual beer combinations, come the Kerb Crawler and the Doc Chilton, both great choices for pairing with fish dishes. Served ice cold, the Kerb Crawler delivers a complex bouquet with spice, citrus, pepper, and clove with corresponding spicy and citrus fruit esters with rounded malts. This Belgian-style Tripel features Saaz and Hallertau Mittelfruh hops and is a summer favorite. The Doc Chilton pays homage to Lubbock’s famous Chilton cocktail. It is a light, crisp, refreshing and unapologetically lemony brew with a touch of salinity that makes it a fantastic complement to game fish. This tart summer ale features Amarillo and Lemondrop hops with additions of lemon peel and lemon zest to create a oneof-a-kind brew—super refreshing on a hot Texas afternoon. CHASE’S PLACE For those of you who prefer a cocktail with your meal, Tara Guthrie, co-owner
of Chase’s Place – Cocktails + Kitchen in Fredericksburg, suggests the following recipe called “The Last Word.” The citrus in this drink brightens the flavors of the fish without overwhelming them. The saltiness of the dish and the citrus of the drink turn the dish into an elevated experience for your palate, highlighting just the right flavor profiles of both the cocktail and the fish. The Last Word 3/4 ounce Waterloo Yaupon Gin 3/4 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice 3/4 ounce Luxardo liqueur 3/4 ounce green Chartreuse Garnish with Luxardo cherry Optional: Dash of lavender bitters—we make ours in-house from Hill Countrygrown lavender Editor’s Note – Special thanks to Justin McDonald for providing the “catch of the day” for the photos.
OTHER SPIRITS Since not everyone is a fan of wine, it makes sense to include other spirits as well. With every game dish, I will include craft beer suggestions as well as cocktail recipes alongside the featured dishes. Texas is well known for its growing list of award-winning craft breweries, and I am happy to introduce The Brewery LBK in Lubbock in our first installment of suggested beer pairings. This outstanding craft brewery was named the “Best Brewpub in the Nation” by USA Today in 2021, proving once again that Texas is the hotspot for all types of new ventures.
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TEXAS WILDLIFE
OUTDOOR TRADITIONS
Harvest Lessons Article and photo by SALLIE LEWIS
Country life is full of special moments, whether it be watching and listening to the sounds of wildlife or watching a field of corn sprout, grow and mature.
W
hen I moved to Fredericksburg in February 2020, COVID-19 felt like a faraway problem. Little did I know in those final weeks before lockdown how much the world would change, or how much the next 12 months would change me. Looking back, I count those pandemic days under the Hill Country sun as some of the greatest of my life thus far. Nature became a refuge during a strange and difficult time, and in the process, I felt myself grow in ways I had never anticipated.
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When I forget or need to be reminded of that truth, I return to the journal I kept throughout my country sojourn. The short and candid entries always make me smile as I relive the daily moments that broadened my awareness. With the turn of a page, I can walk in my footsteps and hunt for spring sheds or sit on the porch with a long summer rain. After a page or two more, I can hear wild turkeys calling at dawn, or watch a gaggle of geese fly into the sunset. Collectively, those memories are like
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souvenirs, reminding me of the things I saw and the lessons I learned from living somewhere new. One of the entries I love most inspired a revelation. Every year, a local farmer plants his crops in an open field on my family’s Fredericksburg property. Some years, his seeds of wheat turn that pasture into amber waves of grain. In the spring of 2020, however, I watched him plant a crop of corn. As the weeks turned to months, tiny sprouts gave way to a sea of stalks. By early August it was harvest time. To my delight, I had the opportunity to ride in the combine one morning. As the minutes ticked past, I listened to the gears and belts, blades and augers at work, and thought about how drastically times have changed with the advent of tools and technology. Recently, I re-read my journal entry from that day and remembered with vivid clarity the floating fragments of chaff and straw dancing outside the combine windows, like golden butterflies in a summer breeze. Country living is full of special moments like this. Though I have been visiting the Hill Country all my life, living there for a year allowed me to actually witness and participate in the cycle of seasons. I have come to realize that growth happens in all kinds of ways. Like the small green sprouts that emerged from the soil, there are micro-movements happening all around us, most of which we can’t see or appreciate without time and perspective. The changing farmland is a great metaphor for that. It reminds me that if we till the ground within ourselves and sow the seeds of our potential, there is hope in a harvest to come.
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