Big year, big dear
This could be a big year for big deer my friends.
Regardless of where you're hunting, fall seasons are shaping up to be well above average for antlers and body weights thanks to superb moisture levels, and with recent rains dumped across Texas by the hurricane, the conditions are even more primed to aid a good carryover of animals from this past fall and winter.
New Texas Parks and Wildlife Department big game program leader Mitch Lockwood recently sent out preliminary white-tailed deer harvest estimates from the 2009-10 seasons, and a quick perusal shows a downward trend in overall deer taken despite a slight rise in hunter participation. Last season, 648,686 licensed hunters harvested 559,357 deer, including 300,575 bucks. The previous season, 645,398 hunters harvested 619,650 deer, including 340,159 bucks.
Last year's figure was just under the 10-year average of about 567,000 and the decreased harvest of about 60,000 animals bodes well for future production, especially in prime range years such as this one.
So what does it mean for the fall? The answer is simple: This likely is the year many hunters will harvest the buck of a lifetime -- or at least have the opportunity -- and could mean a busy fall for a program designed to highlight wildlife management.
David Brimager, vice president of hunting heritage for the Texas Wildlife Association who oversees the Texas Big Game Awards program, said last season saw an increase in the number of overall entries into the program.
"This past season we had 1,065 scored entries, those that meet the minimum score requirements from the various regions," Brimager said. "That's up about 100 from the previous year (which had the fifth-lowest entry total in program history).
"I think we had some improved conditions last year, but I think this year could blow everything out of the water," Brimager said. "If we get some more showers here and there heading into the fall I definitely think it could be a banner year for us and for hunters."
Brimager said that even though many hunters take the buck of a lifetime behind a high fence or on heavily-managed tracts of land, the majority of big whitetails entered into the program come from low-fence tracts and areas that really aren't under intense management.
"You're probably looking at 80 to 85 percent of the entries are coming from low-fence ranches," Brimager said. "And rifle is still the main harvest method, but bows, crossbows and handguns are picking up a little bit."
Brimager said that there are a variety of reasons that more and more hunters are seeing and actually harvesting bigger deer nowadays.
"You're seeing an increase in habitat management and you're seeing an increase in people just letting the deer age," Brimager said. "I think the antler restrictions are helping in many of those counties that have antler restrictions. Those that have been in it for a long time are definitely seeing an increase in the quantity and quality of the deer they're harvesting, so it's helping by more hunters knowing more and wanting to learn more about how to grow bigger and better deer. It helps benefit all wildlife, not just the big game."
South Texas Plains
An inspection of TBGA entries again proves that the first place to look for big bucks is below I-10 if you have the chance. South Texas again produced the highest number of TBGA entries, even though it has a higher minimum entry score than other regions. To be a TBGA entry from South Texas, a typical whitetail must score at least 140 Boone & Crockett points, while a non-typical buck must score a minimum of 155. In the Rolling Plains, High Plains, Cross Timbers and Edwards Plateau, a typical buck must meet a minimum of 130 and a non-typical 145. In the Post Oak Savannah, Blackland Prairies, Pineywoods and Coastal Prairies, the minimums are 125 and 140.
Kleberg County again led the way with 36 TBGA entries, followed by Dimmit (28), Webb (24), Duval (18) and Kenedy (15) counties.
Rolling Plains/Panhandle
Some areas in this wide region support few deer while others have numbers rivaling the Edwards Plateau. However, big bucks continue to be taken every year, and last season was no different. Collingsworth County was the top place to find a book deer, netting 13 TBGA entries, while Cottle (11) and Donley (10) counties also produced some fine animals that were harvested. The Rolling Plains was one of the few regions that had an increased harvest, going from 49,634 in 2008-09 to 53,712 last season.
Edwards Plateau
This region receives the most pressure in the state, but it also stands up to that amount of hunting by producing the highest harvest rates annually, including last season when hunters harvested 203,733 deer. While a good number of hunters often harvest the first mature buck they see in this region, many hold out for better quality, and even in a somewhat down year, the area still gave up some big bucks. Kerr County again produced the highest number of TBGA entries, leading the region with 20. Other counties that had improved showings were Irion (8) and Tom Green (6).
Pineywoods
East Texas hunters reaped the benefits of a wetter season than other parts of the state and Trinity County led the way as the top big buck hot spot with 22 TBGA entries. Houston County wasn't far behind with 18 while Angelina (12) and Nacogdoches (10) also had good showings.
Post Oak Savannah
This region continues to churn out some big bucks, despite hunters shifting their attention as other parts of the state receive heavier pressure. Anderson County to the north of the region produced 18 TBGA entries while Colorado County to the south also fared well with 16.
Will Leschper's e-mail address is leschperw@yahoo.com.
Top whitetails of 2009
Non-typical
HunterCountyNet score
Rick MerittCoryell232 3/8
Scott GreenwoodBurleson228
Buddy TempleDuval214 7/8
Greg KozmetskyTravis210
Deborah MerittBosque210
Mike GibsonCottle206 1/8
Michael HicksShackelford206 1/8
Nathan KingGarza205 7/8
Eric MinterKaufman205 2/8
Chip LoweryCottle199
Typical
HunterCountyNet score
Robert SandersDuval184 2/8
Edward Seay OglesbyTarrant182 3/8
Clayton LeonardWebb180 3/8
Gary Leasman IILampasas179 2/8
Richard YoungColorado177
Brad GoebelFrio175 4/8
Richard PaceWebb175 2/8
Chuck MeloyKleberg174 4/8
Alberto BailleresZavala174
Kevin BuralCollingsworth172 2/8
Source: Texas Big Game Awards
Duck numbers hold steady across North America
Special to The Eagle
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently released its preliminary report on mid-continent breeding ducks and habitats, based on surveys conducted in May. The total duck population is nearly 41 million, which is similar to last year's estimate and 21 percent above the long-term average.
"These are encouraging numbers as we see most species are at or above their long-term averages," said Dale Humburg, Ducks Unlimited chief biologist. "The habitat conditions in many regions should support a good breeding effort."
Habitat conditions across the U.S. and Canadian prairies U.S. and Canadian prairies and parklands were generally good. However, further north, wetland conditions in boreal regions of Alaska and northern Canada were only fair at the time of the survey. During the survey and into early summer, many regions important to breeding ducks received significant precipitation, which could increase later breeding efforts and ensure brood survival. If these wet conditions continue, prospects going into the winter and possibly into spring 2011 could be favorable as well.
Mallards, gadwalls, green-winged teal, northern shovelers and redheads mirrored last year's numbers, and all remained above their long-term averages. Canvasback and American wigeon numbers were similar to last year's, as were pintail and scaup numbers, although populations of these two species remain below their long-term averages.
"It's great to hear the report of steady duck populations, but habitat loss continues to be a significant threat to North America's waterfowl," said Dale Hall, DU CEO. "For most species, this year's numbers are encouraging, but DU must remain dedicated to its mission of long-term, landscape-level habitat conservation if we are to meet the life-cycle needs of the continent's waterfowl."
"I would expect to see a fall flight similar to last year's," Humburg says. "But everyone must keep in mind that weather and habitat strongly influence the timing and distribution of ducks in the fall flight, and these factors are very dynamic. Although I'm optimistic about the 2010 fall flight, it's several months before the season opens, and a lot could happen to migration and wintering habitat before then."
State Agencies Issue Anthrax Advisory
AUSTIN -- The Texas Animal Health Commission, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have issued a summer and early fall alert for ranchers, hunters and anyone who may be going afield in Texas. One case of anthrax has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer herd on a game ranch in Uvalde County, which is in an area of South Texas endemic to anthrax. Although humans are also susceptible, no cases have been reported to date, and simple precautions can effectively reduce the risks of humans contracting the disease.
Anthrax is a bacterial disease of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, deer and other animals. The bacteria which cause anthrax can remain dormant in the soil for many years. A period of drought followed by heavy rains frequently occurs just before the appearance of anthrax in livestock and deer. Animals that eat the rapidly growing grasses also consume soil that contains the bacteria. Currently, soil conditions are right to produce more outbreaks around the triangular geographic area bounded by Uvalde, Ozona and Eagle Pass, which cover portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton, Edwards, Kinney and Maverick counties.
Transmission of anthrax to humans can occur whether an affected animal is alive or dead. Simple precautions can greatly reduce the risk of contracting the disease from these animals. Carcasses of dead livestock and deer should not be cut open to allow blood to escape. Under no circumstances should the hide, hair, skulls or horns of an animal suspected of having anthrax be salvaged.
During an anthrax outbreak, hunters in the affected areas are discouraged from taking feral hogs because they consume the meat of dead animals and could be carrying the bacteria. Fortunately, by the time deer hunting season starts, cool weather usually puts an end to the often seasonal anthrax outbreak. At minimum, hunters should harvest only healthy-looking deer and other hoof stock. If a deer has ingested anthrax bacteria, within hours, it will stagger, tremble or exhibit convulsions, and death is inevitable.
When an area experiences an anthrax outbreak, ranchers should wear long sleeves and gloves when handling or vaccinating livestock. Afterward, good sanitation measures should be followed, including hand washing and laundering of clothing. This aids in preventing contact with the anthrax bacteria which may have been picked up on the hides of animals. Do not pick up bones, horns or shed antlers, and pets and children should be kept away from dead animals. Healthy animals also should be moved from a contaminated pasture during an outbreak, but must remain on the premise and not hauled down the road to another pasture.
To prevent additional soil contamination, Texas Animal Health Commission regulations require that anthrax affected animal carcasses must be burned, until thoroughly consumed, along with any associated bedding and manure. This practice prevents wild pigs, coyotes, dogs or other predators from dragging carcasses (and the accompanying anthrax bacteria) from one pasture to another, and spilling out the anthrax spores.
TAHC regulations also require that livestock on infected premises be quarantined for at least 10 days after all the livestock have been vaccinated against the disease. During this time, anthrax-exposed animals may still die from the disease, while healthy, vaccinated animals will develop immunity.
All anthrax cases -- suspected or laboratory confirmed -- must be reported to the TAHC. The regulatory agency operates a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-550-8242, with state or federal regulatory veterinarians available at all times to take calls and work with private veterinary practitioners and producers.
More information about anthrax is available by contacting the TPWD Wildlife Division at (512) 389-4505, The Texas Animal Health Commission at (512) 719-0710, or the Zoonosis Control Division, Texas Department of State Health Services, at (512) 458-7255.
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