Author: WM Pro

Texas Tarpon Observation Network

Texas Tarpon Observation Network 

Collaboration between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Coastal Fisheries Division and the GIS Lab’s Resource Information System (RIS) team has resulted in a new online Texas Tarpon Observation Network application. The new web resource is the first of its kind for the Gulf of Mexico. The intent is to use angler observations to help monitor tarpon occurrences along the Texas coast, augment past and current tarpon research along the coast, and help raise awareness of the popular gamefish. Research is needed because the species has been declining in recent years possibly due to reservoir construction on rivers, droughts, pesticides and/or overfishing. Continue reading Texas Tarpon Observation Network

Texas State Record Carp

Texas has a new state record carp — The biggest carp ever! 

In an amazing turn of events, it has been determined that a Fort Worth angler in March established the new state record for common carp with the same fish that held the previous state record three years ago. K.C. Crawford hauled in the monstrous 43 lbs. 12 oz. common carp during the Carp Anglers Group’s 8th Annual Austin Team Championship at Lady Bird Lake in late March. TPWD has ratified the catch as the newest state record for common carp, knocking out Al St. Cyr’s 43 lbs. 2 oz. record from 2006. Experts were able to compare distinctive markings and scale patterns from archived photographs of St. Cyr’s former record catch and determined precise matches to confirm Crawford’s new record is the same fish.

The carp was re-released back to Lady Bird Lake. Thirty-four anglers–some from as far as South Africa and Mexico–participated in this year’s 26-hour Austin tournament. The membership-based Carp Anglers Group two years ago lobbied and supported TPWD designating Lady Bird Lake as a trophy lake for catch-and-release carp anglers.

TPWD Public Meetings

Texas seeks public comment on waterfowl seasons and more 

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) willl be holding public meetings across the state that continue until May 15. Meetings will take place this week in Midland, Bay City, Ozona, Tyler, Brownsville, Abilene, and Garland. In addition to seeking public comment on proposed fee increases and dove hunting seasons, TPWD is scoping issues related to migratory game birds. The TPWD Commission will consider proposals in late May that could increase certain license and boat registration fees, as well as general waterfowl season framework options for the 2009-2010 seasons. The meetings will seek public feedback on issues related to migratory game bird seasons in the future. More information, including the complete public meeting schedule, is in a TPWD news release online.

Bobwhite Quail Habitat Management

Habitat management is the key to bobwhite quail management. To better understand strategies to improve quail and quail habitat, additional research is necessary. One project in South Texas has been taking place on Tanglehead grass. This species is a native grass that has been behaving much like an invasive exotic grass in Jim Hogg and Brooks counties during the past decade. It does provide usable nesting cover for quail, but poor foraging habitat for bobwhites. This falls in line with of the research on buffelgrass from previous quail research.

In this on-going quail management research, research found that a combined brush control treatment (herbicide followed with fire followed with roller-chopping) versus summer prescribed fire, were about equally effective, and have similar effects, on grassland birds in the coastal prairie region of South Texas. Continue reading Bobwhite Quail Habitat Management

Texas Dove Leases Wanted

Texas Dove Leases Wanted! 

Looking for a dove lease or to make some extra money? Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Public Dove Hunting Program is not only an opportunity for hunters, but it is also an opportunity for landowners to make some extra money by leasing the hunting rights for dove and other small game to TPWD. This is a short termed lease that usually last for 45 to 60 days in length, the equivalent of the first split of the dove season. Revenue from the sale of hunting licenses and the annual public hunting permit enable TPWD to expand public hunting opportunities through private land lease programs.

“We are looking for properties that are at least 50 or more acres where hunting is legal, with access, food, water and cover to attract dove,” said Kelly Edmiston with TPWD’s public hunting program. “Ideal sites have a good food source such as grain crops; sunflowers, croton (goat weeds), water or that have become recently fallowed.”

Additionally, each tract must have a public access point where hunters can park their vehicles, from which they will walk to the hunting area. Temporary signs will clearly identify property boundaries. Game wardens and other departmental staff will monitor the units to ensure compliance with all regulations. Edmiston said most entrance points are designated for parking to protect the private property and reserve the maximum acreage for actual hunting activities. Continue reading Texas Dove Leases Wanted

Ducks Unlimited Donations Help Texas Wetlands, WMA

DU helps Texas wetlands and the Murphree WMA 

Ducks Unlimited announced last week it was awarded a federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant to enhance more than 5,728 acres of wetland habitat in Chambers and Jefferson counties along the Texas coast. Partners contributed more than $2 million to match the $1 million received from the federal grant. The project will restore high priority wintering habitat for ducks, geese, and other migratory birds within the Chenier Plain of Texas, including at TPWD sites such as the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area. The project will replace degraded culverts and pipes with modern water control structures, improve existing levees, and construct new levees to provide efficiently managed wetland habitat.

“This partnership project will enhance management capabilities on approximately 1,100 acres of freshwater coastal marsh habitat,” said Jim Sutherlin, area manager at Murphree WMA for TPWD. “The aging water management infrastructure is in need of upgrades to enhance wetland habitat for wildlife and especially migratory waterfowl.”

The NAWCA grant project is made possible with financial support from partners BP America, Suemaur Exploration and Production, LLC, and Jefferson County Drainage District #6.

Dry Weather Impacts Native Wildlife

Drought impacts deer, turkey, and wildlife habitat 

Despite welcome rains in late March, much of Texas remains parched by prolonged drought of historic proportions, and wildlife die-offs of whooping cranes and deer have been reported. However, experts say native wildlife evolved to bounce back from drought, and a bigger issue is how human water use is changing the equation, and how drought underscores the need for water planning and conservation. “The current drought affecting all of Texas has reached historic proportions, with the past six months among the driest since the long-term drought of the 1950’s and 1917, the driest year on record.” That sentence begins the March 11 situation report from the governor’s Drought Preparedness Council.

The council report said last December through February was the driest period on record for the east, south central, and upper coast regions. It also noted the entire state was classified as at least “Abnormally Dry” according to the United States Drought Monitor. Continued dry range conditions could have a negative impact on wild turkey production and hunting prospects for spring turkey season, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists. If parts of Texas remain parched, particularly the south, experts say Rio Grande turkey breeding activity and nesting effort will be greatly reduced or nonexistent. Rio Grande spring turkey hunting season runs April 4-May 17 in the North Zone, with special youth-only weekends March 28-29 and May 23-24. The South Zone season runs March 21-May 3, with youth weekends March 14-15 and May 9-10. Harvest data is collected and used for turkey management. Continue reading Dry Weather Impacts Native Wildlife