Texas Wildlife Extra
E-MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION
It doesn’t matter what kind of life you lead or line of work you’re in, we all need that special place that grounds us. Securing a piece of recreational land in Texas is as good as it gets. And you don’t need to be a farmer or rancher to work with us to get it. As one of the only lenders in Texas who specializes in recreational land loans, we know how to put together a solution that works for you. Now breathe in. Breathe out.
Explore ExploreTEXAS SYMBOLS
Bats-A-Billion
Adaptable Armadillos
Learn about our state small mammal, the nine-banded armadillo. We will discuss the adaptations which help them find food, shelter, and protect themselves from predators.
Runtime: 13 minutes
We look at the unique body structures that allow bats to fly. We will also discuss other adaptations such as echolocation, and identify their basic needs and diverse habitats.
Runtime: 39 minutes
The Magic of Monarchs
During spring and fall, millions of monarchs will migrate through Texas. Join us as we discuss the basic needs, life cycle, adaptations, and migration patterns of the monarch butterfly and learn how you can help conserve this unique creature.
Runtime: 22 minutes
Want more? Check out our State Symbols issue of Critter Connections, TWA’s youth magazine, for more Texas Symbols and fun activities!
February in odd numbered years means the Texas Legislature is in session. Some of you will have joined our leadership team, Legislative Committee and many dedicated members at our Boots On The Ground event in Austin on Feb. 4-5. This is a great time to get to know our new legislators and renew our friendships with the returning members.
I am sure this session will bring some surprises, but I think we are in an excellent position to work on our key legislative agenda. The priorities for this session cover a wide range of issues. Below I will mention a few key items.
TWA supports $30 million to fund the Texas Farm and Ranchland Conservation Program. This funding will be a valuable tool toward keeping working lands, farms and ranches intact for future generations. Water is another issue that we closely monitor and with the ongoing drought in much of the state it will be front and center this session. Chairman Charles Perry has made water a key legislative goal this session. We support this issue as a priority and support the Texas Constitution and caselaw that all water, fresh and brackish, is vested real property of private landowners.
Regarding renewable energy, TWA supports the rights of private landowners to enter into renewable energy projects on their property. However, there needs to be consideration given to neighboring properties, the long-term impact on the environment and proper reclamation requirements.
TWA has spent a lot of time the past several months working with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Commission on CWD. We believe a recent rule package approved at the January Commission meeting, that was jointly agreed to by TWA and TDA, is a step in the right direction. However, we always need to keep a watchful eye on the legislature regarding this issue.
As you can tell, there are many issues that impact private landowners and our membership that are going to be addressed at the legislature this spring. This is where I need your involvement. You can make a critical impact by speaking to your legislator. The TWA leadership team and Legislative Committee will be there, but you can make a difference by being involved. If you have any questions regarding these issues, please contact Justin or me.
Spending time in wild Texas is an extraordinary gift-the morning sunrises, the peacefulness, watching the living creatures and then the spectacular evening sunsets. We are truly blessed to live in this beautiful state. Until next time, I hope you have some time to enjoy the outdoors.
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.
OFFICERS
Jonathan Letz, President, Comfort
Nyle Maxwell, Vice President, Georgetown
Dr. Louis Harveson, Second Vice President for Programs, Alpine Parley Dixon, Treasurer, Austin For a complete list of TWA Directors, go to www.texas-wildlife.org
PROFESSIONAL STAFF/CONTRACT ASSOCIATES
ADMINISTRATION & OPERATION
Justin Dreibelbis, Chief Executive Officer
TJ Goodpasture, Director of Development & Operations
Becky Alizadeh, Office Manager
OUTREACH & MEMBER SERVICES
Debbie Copeland, Director of Membership
Sean Hoffmann, Director of Communications
Nicole Vonkrosigk, Regional Membership Coordinator
CONSERVATION LEGACY AND HUNTING HERITAGE PROGRAMS
Kassi Scheffer-Geeslin, Director of Youth Education
Andrew Earl, Director of Conservation
Amber Brown, Conservation Education Specialist
Gene Cooper, Conservation Education Specialist
Sarah Hixon Miller, Conservation Education Specialist
Kay Bell, Conservation Educator
Taylor Cabler, Conservation Educator
Denise Correll, Conservation Educator
Christine Foley, Conservation Educator
Yvonne Keranen, Conservation Educator
Terri McNutt, Conservation Educator
Jeanette Reames, Conservation Educator
Louise Smyth, Conservation Educator
Jennifer Wade, Conservation Educator
Marla Wolf, Curriculum Specialist
Noelle Brooks, CL Program Assistant
Matthew Hughes, Ph.D. Director of Hunting Heritage
COL(R) Chris Mitchell, Texas Youth Hunting Program Director
Bob Barnette, TYHP Field Operations Coordinator
Taylor Heard, TYHP Field Operations Coordinator
Briana Nicklow, TYHP Field Operations Coordinator
Kim Hodges, TYHP Program Coordinator
Kristin Parma, Hunting Heritage Program Specialist
Jim Wentrcek, Adult Learn to Hunt Program Coordinator
Loryn Calderon, Hunting Heritage Administrative Assistant
TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
Justin Dreibelbis, Chief Executive Officer
TJ Goodpasture, Director of Development & Operations
Denell Jackson, Development Associate
ADVOCACY
Joey Park, Legislative Program Coordinator
MAGAZINE CORPS
Sean Hoffmann, Managing Editor
Lorie A. Woodward, Special Projects Editor
Publication Printers Corp., Printing, Denver, CO
Texas Wildlife Association
6644 FM 1102
New Braunfels, TX 78132 (210) 826-2904
FAX (210) 826-4933
(800) 839-9453 (TEX-WILD) www.texas-wildlife.org
Texas Wildlife Extra
FEBRUARY MARCH
February 6
Victoria Regional Banquet Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Sky Restaurant, 236 Foster Field Dr., Victoria, 77904. Email nvonkrosigk@texas-wildlife.org for details.
February 11
New Braunfels Regional Banquet Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. TWA Headquarters, 6644 FM 1102, New Braunfels, 78132. Email nvonkrosigk@texas-wildlife.org for details.
February 12
Wild at Work Webinar: Landowner Perspectives on Renewable Leasing, noon-1 p.m. Featuring Laura Bowen with Braun & Gresham Attorneys at Law. Free! www.texas-wildlife.org/waw/
February 15
Rack Madness, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. TWA Headquarters, 6644 FM 1102, New Braunfels. TWA staff will be on hand to score white-tailed and mule deer antlers, pronghorn and javelina skulls. Plus, attendees can enter the Texas Big Game Awards. This family event is free and open to the public! Preregister at https://bit.ly/TWARackMadness
February 24
Alpine Regional Banquet Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Sul Ross State University Range Animal Science Center, E. Hwy. 90, Alpine, 79832. Email nvonkrosigk@texas-wildlife.org for details.
MARCH
March 7
Landowner Workshop: Managing Forestland for Multiple Use, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Habitat Select Nursery, 2121 CR 392, Nacogdoches. Register at www.texas-wildlife.org/lw/
March 7
Nacogdoches Regional Banquet Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m. Habitat Select Nursery, 2121 CR 392, Nacogdoches, 75964. Email nvonkrosigk@texas-wildlife.org for details.
March 13
College Station Regional Banquet Committee Meeting, 6 p.m. Capital Farm Credit HQ, 3902 S. Traditions Dr., College Station, 77845. Email nvonkrosigk@texas-wildlife.org for details.
APRIL
April 4
Landowner Workshop: Riverby Ranch in Bonham, 75488 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mark your calendar, more information to follow!
April 25
Landowner Workshop at Mason Mountain WMA, Mason, 76856. Mark your calendar, more information to follow!
MAY
May 8
Texas Outdoorsman of the Year, Fort Worth Zoo. For information, contact djackson@texaswildlife.org or www.twafoundation.org
JULY
July 10-12
WildLife 2025, TWA’s 40th Annual Convention, J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio. Mark your calendar, more information to follow!
HELP PROTECT AND PRESERVE FUTURE
OUTDOOR EDUCATION.
TEXAS LAND
Real estate transactions in Texas are like Texas rivers. Some are shallow and narrow; others are deep and wide, but all rivers are murky with hidden obstacles to navigate. You need a real estate attorney to guide you - a partner who understands your goals.
We are Texas land lawyers, who advocate for you and your land.
TWA Sets Legislative Priorities for the 89th Session
ARTICLE BY JUSTIN DREIBELBIS, TWA CEO
The 89th Texas Legislative Session began about two weeks ago and if the 1,500 bills that were filed on the opening day of early filing back in November were any indication of what is to come, this will be a busy session. With a diverse membership of over 7,000 members coming to the organization from a variety of backgrounds and with a variety of interests, our members care about a lot of the issues being discussed at the Texas Capitol.
As a private landowner and hunter rights organization, we use the TWA mission to serve as the compass as we develop legislative priorities, decide whether or not legislation is relevant to the organization and how we will react to it. On Jan. 8, after several rounds of review by our TWA Legislative Committee, the TWA Executive Committee approved our legislative priorities for the 89th session. While there are certainly other issues that will come up during the session
Keep an eye out for screwworm
COURTESY OF TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) asks hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts in South Texas to monitor for animals affected by New World screwworm (NWS) after a recent detection in Mexico.
This detection, found in a cow at an inspection checkpoint in the southern Mexico State of Chiapas, close to the border with Guatemala, follows the progressively northward movement of NWS through South and Central America.
As a protective measure, animal health officials ask those along the southern Texas border to monitor wildlife, livestock and pets for clinical signs of NWS and immediately report potential cases.
WHAT IS NWS?
NWS are larvae or maggots of the NWS fly (Cochliomyia hominivorax), that cause a painful condition known as NWS myiasis. NWS flies lay eggs in open wounds or orifices of live tissue such as nostrils, eyes or mouth. These eggs hatch into dangerous parasitic larvae which burrow or screw into flesh with sharp mouth hooks. Wounds can become larger, and an infestation can often cause serious, deadly damage or death to the infected animal.
NWS primarily infests livestock but can also affect humans and wildlife including deer and birds.
The parasite was last eradicated from the U.S. in 1966, with costly efforts by federal and state animal health officials, livestock producers and veterinary practitioners. Eradication efforts have continued in Central America, but the pest is considered widespread in Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic and South American countries.
Clinical signs of NWS myiasis may include irritated or depressed behavior, loss of appetite, head shaking, smell of decaying flesh, presence of fly larvae (maggots) in wounds and isolation from other animals or people.
TRANSMISSION
NWS infestations begin when a female NWS fly is drawn to the odor of a wound or natural opening on a live, warmblooded animal, where she lays her eggs. These openings can include wounds as small as a tick bite, nasal or eye openings, navel of a newborn or genitalia.
One NWS female fly can lay up to 300 eggs at a time and may lay up to 3,000 eggs during her lifespan. Eggs hatch into larvae (maggots) that burrow into an opening to feed. After feeding, larvae drop to the ground, burrow into the soil and emerge as adult NWS flies. Adult NWS flies can fly long distances and the movement of infested livestock or wildlife can increase the rate of spread.
PREVENTION
When spending time outdoors (especially if traveling abroad to NWS-affected areas), be sure to clean and cover all wounds and apply insect repellant to outdoor clothing to help avoid contact with NWS and other harmful insects.
HOW TO HELP
While in field to hunt, hike, camp or bird watch, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts are asked to report suspected signs of NWS. Any wildlife with suspicious clinical signs consistent with NWS should be immediately reported to a local wildlife biologist. Livestock reports should be made to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) or U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“Those enjoying Texas’ natural resources have an opportunity to serve as the first line of defense in protecting wildlife, livestock and human health,” said TPWD Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. J Hunter Reed. “Their eyes and ears will be critical to quickly responding and managing this threat.”
Additional information about NWS can be found on TAHC, USDA and the Center for Disease Control NWS webpages.
PHOTO BY USDA/APHIS
Turning Up the Heat!
How white-tailed deer balance high temperatures and pregnancy demands in South Texas
ARTICLE BY BREANNA R. GREEN, EVAN P. TANNER, CLAYTON D. HILTON, and MICHAEL J. CHERRY
BY BREANNA R. GREEN
PHOTOS
Late gestation and fawn rearing for white-tailed deer in South Texas coincides with the time of year that sees high temperatures throughout the day and night. Pregnant deer, like this doe carrying triplets, must balance staying cool while meeting the energetic needs of growing fawns.
Nothing quite encompasses the meaning of ‘heat’ like a Texas summer, and as our electric bills will attest, summer temperatures in the state aren’t restricted by a calendar. High temperatures before the spring equinox herald a season that could see months without a daily high temperature below 90°F. These extended periods of heat put considerable strain on our air conditioners, but at least we have a cool refuge to escape the heat. Refuge for wildlife is relegated to what they can find around them: shady trees, swimming holes, and sweet treats from the icebox.
Of course, wildlife don’t actually have popsicles to soothe overheated bodies, but they do decide how best to get on with their days while staying as cool as possible. Namely, they adjust their daily schedules: when they eat, sleep, socialize and visit water. Hot days are best spent doing as little as possible, while the cooler nights can be used to catch up on all those procrastinated activities.
White-tailed deer are naturally crepuscular (active during dawn and dusk). This is in part because deer have greater visual sensitivities to shorter wavelength light and some sensitivity to ultraviolent light suggesting deer visual perception is specialized for crepuscular conditions. This also gives them a leg up on dealing with the heat. But what about when they’ve got a bun (i.e., a fawn) in the oven on top of the heat?
In South Texas, white-tailed deer breed in December and January, giving birth approximately 200 days later. Third trimester, birth and fawn rearing--the most energetically
demanding periods of reproduction--coincide with the time of year where daytime highs frequently reach 95°105°F in the region. It begs the question: how do these deer balance increased heat stress and energetic demands during reproduction? In the past, researchers have employed the use of vaginal implant transmitters (VITs) which are deployed following the rut and are expelled just prior to the birth event allowing researchers to capture fawns shortly after birth for studies on fawn survival. We, however, wanted to investigate what was going on before fawns were born, when does were dealing with the stress of high temperatures and the extra load of developing a fawn.
Behavior isn’t impossible to monitor. GPS collars commonly track how animals move about, and cameras can capture when and who is visiting specific areas. But we wanted to take it a step further. After all, it’s one thing to say an animal is doing something because they’re pregnant or hot, it’s another to link it to consequences of those behaviors.
Facilities like the Alkek Ungulate Research Facility at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute provide the perfect place for conducting such studies. First, even with precise GPS coordinates, it can be difficult to infer behavior and how an animal used a given location. Secondly, to identify the effect of pregnancy, one would need adult does that weren’t pregnant, a rare find in wild populations. With captive deer, we can selectively breed half of our does while using trail cameras on feeders to identify exactly who was feeding where and when. Additionally, we used
Behavior isn’t impossible to monitor. GPS collars commonly track how animals move about... But we wanted to take it a step further.
White-tailed deer can beat the heat by taking advantage of water, either by drinking it or, like this doe at the Albert and Margaret Alkek Ungulate Research Facility, immersing in it.
the oven turning up the heat, but it is also reducing the effectiveness of behavior changes meant to mitigate heat stress. When animals like deer can’t dump the heat, their metabolism rises to compensate. But this burns energy needed to grow a fawn, which increases their foraging needs and the time they need to be active. Long-term fever-like temperatures can be detrimental to the health of the animal, so deer must decide between prioritizing their own needs versus those of their future fawn.
Unexpectedly, visits to water did not vary based on pregnancy status or outside temperature. This suggests that, like camels, deer are able to adjust the quantity of intake in response to other conditions, rather than strictly needing to increase visits. This can be especially advantageous in semi-
by increasing intake quantity rather than needing to find water more often. But their adaptability has limits. Despite these efforts, pregnancy induces a physiological cost of higher internal temperatures regardless of conditions, and a compounding cost when outside temperatures rise. These limits could have implications towards fawn recruitment when conditions promote prioritizing the does’ health over pregnancy needs.
Ultimately, we can’t expect deer to have limitless adaptability when it comes to these pressures. But perhaps we could help the efficiency of their innate behavioral modifications by considering how their needs on rangelands change with pregnancy and high temperatures. We know that they need to forage more to meet higher energy
Pregnancy caused deer to have internal body temperatures that were nearly 1°F warmer than their unbred counterparts and almost 2°F warmer when outside temperatures were high (>95°F). However, this doe successfully adjusted her activity patterns to meet her own needs and that of her pregnancy, producing a healthy and strong fawn.
arid landscapes like South Texas where water availability and temperature can vary throughout the day and season. After all, no one enjoys a hot drink on an even hotter day.
White-tailed deer are widespread across a large variety of climates and are renowned for their adaptability. Here in South Texas, they balance intense heat and competing demands for activity to successfully reproduce. While the increased energy demands push them into feeding more frequently throughout the day, they balance the stress of heat exposure by increasing selection of feeding locations which provide some refuge from the sun. Additionally, they may be able to compensate for higher water needs
demands, but now we also know that they need that food accessible at all hours of the day. Of course, not all forage options are equally available to pregnant deer, and they may forgo accessible forage if the calories are not worth the heat exposure. Rangelands with characteristics which help lessen the degree at which deer must choose between foraging and staying cool (i.e., woody mottes for thermal refuge near forage resources) could help them continue to produce healthy fawns despite continued rising temperatures. After all, big bucks were once healthy fawns, and healthy fawns come from does who can best stay cool and keep their stomachs full.
Last Moments and Last Chances
ARTICLE BY LARRY WEISHUHN
LARRY WEISHUHN OUTDOORS
be
PHOTOS BY
Sometimes plans need to
modified to
chances for success. Luke Clayton filled a February MLDP doe tag by hunting off the beaten path late morning.
Me and The Undertaker, my .308 Browning X-Bolt Long Range rifle.
The Rest of the Story
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY PAUL STAFFORD, TWA MEMBER
Iwoke at 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 5, 2024, had a cup of coffee from an $89 Keurig coffee maker and a blueberry muffin from the H-E-B in Kerrville. After dressing in Realtree camo and the zip-up Rocky snakeproof, waterproof boots, I belted my $1,210 Kimber K6s combat .357 mag, my Leatherman utility tool, my Buck Crosslock knife and my Leupold RX-1200i TBRW rangefinder. I gathered my $1,129.99 Browning X Bolt Long Range Stalker rifle in .308 Winchester 1-10, affectionally named The Undertaker. Sitting atop the rifle is a 3.5-10X50 Vortex Diamondback scope valued at $399.
I loaded my backpack with some non-essential essentials: a $999 Leica Trinovid 10X40 binocular and a Nikon Z50 camera with the Nikkor 28-400/48 lens. I hopped in the $13,111.11 Kubota RTVX 950 loaded with enough tools and gadgets to rival a Home Depot. After signing out for one of the 36 hunting blinds on the ranch I headed out on the
chilly, damp morning. With more than $31,168.99 of gear I am either carrying or riding on, I begin my day’s hunt.
I arrived at Leeville, one of the blinds at the south end of the ranch. About 30 minutes later, daybreak quietly illuminated the surrounding valley tucked away in the hills covered in oak and ashe juniper along with 53 varieties of grasses, much cactus, yucca and other vegetation protruding from about 6 million rocks of various shapes and sizes. Home to cattle, horses, chickens, ducks, peacocks, quail, an occasional woodcock or snipe, goats, domesticated pigs, feral hogs, a miniature Kangaroo, two burros and a menagerie of miniature cows and horses; coral, copperhead, and rattlesnakes, at least one indigo snake and several other varieties of snakes, lizards, toads, turtles, salamanders, scorpions, spiders and possibly every insect known to the region. Birds, including hawks, crows and ravens and nature’s own garbage collec-
Above: My first eight point buck. My gear included a shotgun borrowed from my Grandfather, John Donewar. He used the gun for dove and duck hunting as he never cared for hunting deer. Patched Levi’s, a cotton flannel shirt, lace up non-waterproof, non-snakeproof boots, a shell belt with maybe 6-8 double 00 buckshot and a corduroy cap. Net worth of gear about $447!
Right: The author, left, with cousin Charles and great Uncle Charlie Donewar after a successful Louisiana deer drive.
tors—black and turkey vultures--are seen regularly. The ranch is also often host to migrating monarch butterflies.
At 7:15 the $476 feeder (filled with 300 pounds of corn at $19 per 100 lbs.) noisily scattered corn. I approached the $2,800 5X7 Atascosa blind sitting five feet above ground, easily accessed with a handrailed stairway to a landing with an entrance door six feet tall. As I entered the fully carpeted, luxury accommodation with six 10”x24” spacious glass windows, I settled in with my thermos of coffee, an Igloo loaded with bottled water, two Coke Zeros, a sandwich, two moon pies and my usual 9 a.m. “blind” breakfast: two hard boiled eggs. I waited patiently.
At 8:23 a doe, her female yearling and nubbin’ buck followed, drifting silently toward breakfast. I watched, took a couple of photos with my newly acquired Nikkor Z 800mm 1.63 VR S lens mounted on a Nikon Z9 camera body.
A few white winged doves joined in to feast on the corn. I continued to watch through one of the large windows as the doe and her yearlings continued to have breakfast. And I watched. And I waited.
Then it happened! The doe stood alert, fanning her ears forward, focusing intently and continuously in one direction. Usually, a sure sign of something approaching. And then he appeared, walking from the brush into the opening cautiously yet comforted by the appearance of the other deer. No sign of the rut, just a tired, hungry buck looking to join in on a free meal.
As the doe and her youngsters backed nervously off, he took over and began eating. I shot, not with rifle, rather with camera. As I have done so many times, I know the picture with help boost my memory in my fading years. There is satisfaction in sharing the photos with my fellow hunters, family and friends that is far more important than the harvest of an animal. However, I am also aware the almost silent clicking of a camera shutter going off can be heard by whitetails from as far away as 115 yards. But it’s worth the chance.
I continued to photograph and study through the power of my binoculars. I judged the buck to be at least 5.5, maybe 6.5 years old. And decide to take him.
Reflecting on two earlier misses on feral hogs, I remembered that my shots, on a steep, downhill angles, were low of target. I fixed my crosshairs slightly higher than normal, released the safety, took a deep breath, exhaled very slowly and gently squeezed the trigger. No tracking was necessary; he dropped in his tracks.
As the other Paul would say, now, for the rest of the story!
The purpose of the present-day narrative is not intended to impress you with the expensive equipment used on today’s hunts. It merely exemplifies the vast differences in my 76 years of the sport I most love. We have come a very long way! And my current gear lineup pales in comparison to some of my fellow hunters whom I respect, trust and hold dear to my heart.
Reflecting back to the 1950s, I hunted deer in southernmost Louisiana, south of New Orleans with my cousin, Charles Donewar, my great uncle Charlie Donewar and my great grandfather, Gus Donewar. Uncle Charlie had a pack of deerhounds numbering in the twenties so the group of hunters was known as the Donewar gang. There were at least three other “gangs” in the area.
We hunted with deerhounds as there were no hills or milewide views. Only briars as big as a house, marsh that you could sink knee deep in, water moccasins and the occasional rattlesnake nearly as big as a boa constrictor.
We wore tattered clothing, owned no camouflage and didn’t have fancy, comfortable blinds. We would hunt in gangs consisting of nine to 20 or more. We would form a line along a straightaway where you could see the next hunter, usually no less than 75 yards away as a measure of safety. This could be along the railroad tracks, the fenceline of the Naval ammunition dump, a pipeline or powerline clearing or perhaps along Corncob Road. We hunted with shotguns and buckshot. If the deer drive resulted in a harvest or two, the deer were processed by my cousin, a professional butcher. A piece of deer meat would be placed on a piece of numbered butcher paper and the hunters drew a number from a hat. Once matched to the meat, the gang member went home happily from a successful hunt.
I hunted with my grandfather’s double barrel L.C. Smith 12 gauge shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot. We would load up in an available vehicle with a pocket of two or three extra shells. Those were our frills. My first kill was on a Mississippi River levee as the deer tried to avoid the hunters and escape the bugling hounds. And I could not have been more excited. That same adrenaline rush happens to this day as I steady to make the shot
And now, you know the rest of the story!
How to Identify and Control Chara Skunkgrass Spotlight
ARTICLE BY BRITTANY CHESSER, AQUATIC VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM SPECIALIST, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE and TODD SINK, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND AQUACULTURE EXTENSION SPECIALIST, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION SERVICE
Chara remains submerged and does not extend above the water’s surface. In shallow areas experiencing water loss due to evaporation, exposed Chara desiccates, becoming white and brittle due to its calcium deposits when subjected to open air.
Chara (top images), a macroalgae, has 6 to 16 whorled, un-forked branchlets around each node, but no true leaves. Coontail (bottom images), a true submerged vascular plant that is commonly confused with Chara, has up to 12 true leaves per whorl that are forked at least once.
If you’ve ever waded into a pond and encountered something that smells like garlic or skunk and feels gritty, you’ve likely come across Chara. Commonly referred to as skunkgrass or muskgrass, Chara is a type of macroalgae often mistaken for submerged rooted or vascular aquatic plants. Its cylindrical, whorled branches resemble rooted aquatic plants, but Chara is distinct. Unlike true vascular plants, it is a primitive form of multicellular algae, lacking true roots, stems, or leaves. It reproduces through spores and anchors to the substrate using holdfasts rather than roots.
One of Chara’s unique characteristics is its texture. It can precipitate calcium from the water column, forming calcium deposits on its branches, which creates a crunchy, sandpaper-like feel. This feature also makes color unreliable for identification, as younger growth appears bright green while older growth takes on a grayish hue.
Chara can grow from under an inch to over six feet tall and thrives in alkaline or hard water. It is often among the first species to colonize new ponds or seasonal water bodies. Without competition, it can form dense underwater “meadows,” sometimes dominating a pond and creating concerns about management.
Although Chara can be a nuisance when it grows unchecked, it also has ecological benefits. It provides habitat for invertebrates and small fish, and its detritus becomes an important food source for other aquatic organisms. Ducks are known to graze on it as well. However, its rapid growth can outcompete other aquatic plants, reducing biodiversity and making ponds less suitable for recreational or aesthetic purposes. Its spores and fragments are easily dispersed by water currents and waterfowl, contributing to its spread.
If Chara becomes a problem, there are several ways to manage it. Biological control, such as introducing triploid grass carp, can be effective for younger, softer growth. These fish are known to graze on Chara, but as the algae matures, its calcium deposits make it too tough to eat. In such cases, mechanical removal may be necessary. While labor-intensive, physically or mechanically removing older Chara can clear the way for more effective chemical treatments.
When it comes to chemical control, copper-based herbicides are the go-to solution and work quickly to kill Chara. However, it’s important to use them carefully to avoid harming fish or the pond’s ecosystem. Only treat 25–30% of the pond at a time and wait 7–10 days before tackling another section. This gradual approach prevents low dissolved oxygen levels caused by decaying vegetation, which can lead to fish kills. Be cautious about treating during hot weather—if the water temperature is above 85°F, hold off to avoid stressing fish. Testing the pond’s alkalinity is also a good idea, as copper dosages should be adjusted based on alkalinity levels for safe and effective treatment.
While Chara can be a challenge, it doesn’t have to ruin your pond. Understanding its role in the ecosystem and combining biological, mechanical, and chemical controls can help keep it in check. By managing Chara thoughtfully, you can strike a balance between preserving its benefits and preventing it from taking over. For more tips and detailed management strategies, visit AquaPlant.tamu.edu.
THEPOSSUM CO P CHRONICLES
Norman Anthony Spotlight On
ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY JON BRAUCHLE
It’s not every day that you can include the New York Times, the 1958 big screen movie adaptation of The Old Man and the Sea, the Antlers Inn in Falfurrias and of course Game Warden Norman Anthony all in the same story, but we’re fixing to go down that road. We’ll start in the beginning.
In 1967, Norman was hired under a federal grant as a water safety game warden. Before reporting to the Game Warden Academy in College Station, he spent a couple of months
assigned to Falcon Lake as a water safety cadet under Game Warden J.D. Gorman. It’s the only time besides a short period spent as a field training officer in Zapata County after he retired that he was stationed in a county with any public water. Yes, government bureaucracies work in mysterious ways. Then and now.
Norman has seen it all in his 36 years of service. The good, the bad and the ugly. When he officially started as a full-fledged game warden after graduating the 21st Game
Norman in 1968 with his department-issued 1967 Plymouth Fury.
Yep, Norman arrested a lot of poachers in his day and made a lot of big cases for all sorts of violations, but there was none bigger than one he made in 1982. Heck, it may be one of the biggest Texas Game Warden cases of all time.
Warden Academy in January of 1968, times were tough, and the quality of the equipment wardens had to work with was nowhere near what it is today. But, as game wardens always do, he and his contemporaries adapted and did the best they could with what they had.
Norman’s first vehicle was a 1967 Plymouth Fury with a 318 horsepower engine. And though his car was a bit underpowered, most patrol cars in the 60s and 70s came with big engines. Indeed, they were fast enough to turn the broken yellow lines in the middle of the road into one single solid one, but they weren’t the best option for driving offroad, especially on low bid state contract tires.
To overcome the poor offroad performance, Norman used to carry two spare tires and a propane tank in the trunk of his patrol vehicle. Obviously, the spares were for flats. The propane tank was fitted with an air chuck and hose and was used to reinflate the tires after having to deflate them so they could traverse over sand without getting stuck (hopefully). Norman just had to be careful not to smoke when handling the tires after the propane fill-ups. Ironically, he quit smoking in 1986, the same year he got his first proper four-wheel drive vehicle.
City and county jails came a long way during Norman’s career as well. In 1969, Norman was stationed in Jim Hogg County, but he would slip over into Duval County at times when needed. Poachers who were caught night hunting in Duval County back then were taken to the city jail in Freer. Norman said, “It looked like an old, abandoned house that had never been painted. The only people in there besides the arresting officer were prisoners. The jail cell part was like a bedroom, only there were bars on the windows. The door wasn’t reinforced, and the key was hanging on the wall in the ‘lobby’ area. I don’t think the front door was even locked. Somebody could’ve gone in there and let everybody out, but they never did. We just went in, put ‘em in jail and left.”
Yep, Norman arrested a lot of poachers in his day and made a lot of big cases for all sorts of violations, but there was none bigger than one he made in 1982. Heck, it may be one of the biggest Texas Game Warden cases of all time. Surely, it’s in the top 10.
I guess we should start with what The New York Times said about it. It was on page 42 of section 1 of the Oct. 31, 1982 edition. The article was titled, Increase In Poaching Is Reported In Many States, by Assistant News Editor William Dicke. The article starts as follows:
Acting on an anonymous tip, a Texas Game Warden stopped a group of men early this year as they prepared to leave a motel in Falfurrias, a small town 60 miles southwest of Corpus Christi.
In their rooms and pickup trucks, the warden, Norman Anthony, found an illegal harvest from three days of hunting: 1,300 mourning doves, cleaned and packed neatly into ice chests or jammed into plastic bags. Thirteen men were arrested, and each was later fined $1,000 for exceeding a hunter’s legal allotment of 10 birds.
“They didn’t have any real explanation for killing all those birds,’’ Mr. Anthony said. ‘’I guess they just like killing that much.’’
Pulling illegal gill nets in Falcon Lake, 2003.
The Antlers Inn in Falfurrias, Texas is where Game Warden Anthony made a bust that made The New York Times.
From there, the article continued with other noteworthy poaching cases from around the country. The entire article is available online in The New York Times Archives.
Here’s what really happened. Game Warden Norman Anthony, indeed, acted on an anonymous tip and corralled 13 Louisiana hunters as they were leaving the Antlers Inn in Falfurrias with way more dove than the law allowed back in 1982. The limit then was 12 birds a day, not 10 as The Times reported. The total number of birds was 1,487, putting the 13 hunters 1,175 birds over their two (The Times reported three) day possession limit. Each man was, indeed, fined $1,000 (plus court costs) and was required to come up with the cash before they were allowed to head home to Louisiana.
As for Norman’s quote, he never spoke to anyone from The New York Times and never would have said, “I guess they just like killing that much.” But really, we all know why Cajuns would want to kill that much. They like gumbo. And who doesn’t?
That takes care of The New York Times and the Antlers Inn. What about all that The Old Man and the Sea stuff?
Well, Norman would have never known about his The New York Times notoriety were it not for a guy named Alfred C. Glassel Jr. Who the heck is he? According to Wikipedia:
Alfred Curry Glassel Jr. (March 31, 1913 – October 29, 2008) was an American businessman and philanthropist. He made a fortune in the oil and gas industry in Louisiana and Texas and was a co-founder of Transcontinental Pipeline. He amassed a significant collection of gold artifacts and had a long association with the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, also making significant contributions to the Houston Museum of Natural Science and in oceanographic research. As a sport fisherman he set a longstanding record for the largest black marlin caught by handheld rod, weighing
1,560 pounds (710 kg), which is recognized by the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) as the largest bony fish caught by hand.
Alfred Glassel caught that record black marlin off the coast of Peru in 1953, and 72 years later, that record still stands. Glassel, obviously a man of means, filmed all his marlin catches, and one of them is included in the 1958 feature film, The Old Man and the Sea, starring Spencer Tracy.
We’re still not there yet, but we’re getting close. Glassel often hunted in Brooks County, the county seat of which is Falfurrias. Norman was stationed in Brooks County from 1976 to 2002, and in the course of his patrols during hunting season, got to know Mr. Glassel.
It goes without saying that a man with the fame, fortune and philanthropical largesse of Glassel would’ve surely been a regular reader of The New York Times. Most assuredly, so ardently so that he would’ve picked out the obscure story on page 42 of section 1 about the Texas game warden from Falfurrias who frequented the ranch he had leased for hunting. Anyhow, after reading that article, Glassel picked up the phone and spread the news to Norman. It’s a tangled web we weave, for sure.
Norman retired in 2003. To this day and to my knowledge, Norman’s 1982 case stands as one of the biggest dove hunting cases ever made in the State of Texas.
Sometimes, game wardens get to rub elbows with VIPs.
TWA Member
Photo Contest
Email us your best photos, TWA! We’ll accept them rom membership through Oct. 31, 2025 and publish the best ones in upcoming issues to Texas Wildlife Extra. One entry per member per category, must be a current TWA member when photo is entered. Categories are landscape, wildlife, humor and game camera. Also,
an open youth division for photographers who are 17 and under. Photos must be taken in Texas! Email your high resolution, unedited and unenhanced picture to TWA@texas-wildlife.org.
This month’s winner is Chris Seidel who captured a beautiful sunrise at his property in Bastrop County.
YOUR COMPANY HERE
To find out how you can advertise in Texas Wildlife magazine, contact Sean Hoffmann at (800) 839-9453 for more information.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
TWA LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY: Texas Wildlife Association members are encouraged to provide feedback about issues and topics. The CEO and editor will review letters (maximum 400 words) for possible publication. Email letters to shoffmann@texas-wildlife.org.
I want to take a moment to thank you and your team for the incredible outdoor experience my son, Dylan, and I shared Jan. 10-12 at Rancho Buen Vecinos.
Aside from a Cub Scout campout, this was our first big outing since my other son and I were burned in a minor house fire last year. That incident led us to relocate to Shriners Galveston Burn Center for 65 days. Being able to accompany my 10-year-old on his first hunting trip was a truly remarkable way to start a new year.
We laughed, we cried, and we almost froze, but most importantly, we got out of the house and created lifelong memories. I will never forget the moment I watched my son harvest and skin his first deer. On the way home, he told me he’s eager to hunt again and wants to share more experiences like this with me.
Brandon Kirby planted the seed that brought us to this experience, but the field expertise, the patience of your team, and the heartfelt hospitality of Mr. Janke truly nurtured his interest. Please pass along my deepest gratitude to Rodney, Mr. Janke and everyone at Rancho Buen Vecinos. I couldn’t bring myself to express all of this at the end of the hunt without becoming too emotional.
Thank you once again for giving us such a memorable and meaningful experience.
Warm regards,
Tamica Barnes
Dylan and mom, Tamica, on the Rancho Buen Vecinos Ranch. Rodney Koenig served as huntmaster.
February 25 - Rodeo Palms Junior High - Field Day in Richmond
March 18 - Brenham Junior High - Field Day in Brenham
March 21 - Compass Rose Journey - Field Day in Boerne
March 27 - Medlin Middle School - Field Day in Northlake
April 8 - Thomas C. Marsh Preparatory - Field Day Site TBD
April 10 - San Antonio Academy - Field Day in Boerne
April 16 - Fort Worth Country Day - Field Day in Cresson
May 1 - JSTEM Academy - Field Day in Floresville
May 8 - Andrews Middle School - Field Day in Andrews
May 8 - Barnes Middle School - Field Day in Seguin
May 9 - Briesemeister Middle School - Field Day in Seguin
