Category: Habitat Management

Wildfires Natural, Prescribed Fire is Planned

“Out of sight, out of mind”, I think we all have heard that one. I wish remembering was as easy as forgetting! Digestion of food, the battery in your phone or light bulb in the house are all chemical processes or reactions that when working properly, do not draw attention. The battery dies, bulb burns out or the stomach aches, we are suddenly imposed with actions that may be sidled with a groan. These reactions and many others exist in our environment; and we have become dependent upon many of them to contribute to our success.

The same can be said for fire, a chemical reaction that exists when the appropriate components of fuel, heat and oxygen are present. I think we all can agree, not only does fire contribute to heat in a camp stove, grill or oven but the potential for fire is present in any landscape with the appropriate resources, and fire has played significant evolutionary roles in the development of flora and fauna. Continue reading Prescribed Burning for Wildlife, Quail & Deer

Landowners are increasingly interested in wildlife and habitat management for native plants and animals. This is good because private lands and plant communities are becoming more and more fragmented, making it difficult to meet all of the needs of an animal on a single property. There are three essential ingredients of good wildlife habitat, and without them, wildlife can not exist. Food, cover and water are essential for all wild animals.

Food for Wildlife – Landowners interested in habitat management should first examine the plants on their property. Pay particular attention to the amount and distribution of trees, crops, brush and grass. Plant composition and structure largely determines the types of animals that can live on a plot of land. Plants are producers, the bottom of the food pyramid, and are needed by consumers (animals). Plants are not only used for food, but as for cover. They are critically important. Continue reading Wildlife Management on Private Lands: Evaluating Habitat Requirements

Question: “We own 84 acres in Texas and are interested in wildlife management as well as acquiring a wildlife exemption. I’m meeting with a wildlife biologist next week to talk about our property as well as the neighboring 258 acres, which my relative owns. I was thinking that combining these two properties would give us about 350 acres under wildlife management. It’s not a ton, but we are interested in doing anything we can to help wildlife in our area. I figure it will not hurt the deer hunting either.

I know that it would be even better if we could get some additional neighboring landowners to co-op with us for wildlife management, but we will start with us. If we already have an ag exemption on our place can we still apply for the wildlife tax exemption as well? Can a landowner have only one of these exemptions a property or can you have both exemptions to get more of a tax break?” Continue reading Wildlife Exemption for Wildlife Management in Texas

Wildlife management is just as much an art as it is a science. Many folks find this difficult to comprehend since science is based on measurements, data analysis and conclusions. These elements sound a lot like wildlife and habitat management, but environmental conditions are always changing. Wetter-than-average years, droughts, die-offs and reproduction mean ever-changing plant and animal populations. Science is important part of the picture, but when the palette is continually changing, so is the art of wildlife management. Both must work hand-in-hand, and the land manager must always be versed in the science of adaptive resource management.

With this in mind, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will be offering wildlife management classes for private landowners at the Kerr Wildlife Management Area (WMA) the first friday of every month during August, September and October. These classes will teach participants how to manage their Hill Country lands for the benefit of native plants and animals and will aim to address natural resource concerns in the Edward’s Plateau.  Continue reading Wildlife Management Classes at Kerr WMA

Prairie chickens are native to Texas and the Great Plains of the U.S., but wildlife officials are now hunting for prairie chickens, which have declined in numbers over the last 100 years. The first range-wide aerial survey to assess lesser prairie-chicken populations across portions of five states this spring detected several previously unknown breeding areas, known as leks, despite severe drought across their habitat last year. Aerial survey teams also detected leks in Kansas beyond what was thought to be the northern extent of the bird’s historic range.

Although complete survey results be tallied until later this summer, the survey data could be important as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers whether to list the lesser prairie-chicken under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The lesser prairie-chicken has been considered a candidate under the ESA since 1998, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated it will release a proposed rule on the status of the bird for public comment this fall. Information from surveys will be used as a baseline by the state fish and wildlife agencies for wildlife management, to monitor trends in prairie-chicken populations and to target conservation programs in partnership with private landowners, oil and gas industries, wind energy, and electric utilities. Continue reading Hunting for Prairie Chickens in Texas

Turkeys need suitable habitat to survive and thrive. Turkey management is primarily about habitat; maintaining, developing and managing suitable food, cover and water. The best turkey cover is a well-protected area of several hundred acres, preferably 500 acre or more. The majority, 60 to 90 percent, of the area can be forested/brushed, with a variety of tree species present. About 50 percent should be comprised of mature oaks, with an open understory. At least 10 to 15 percent of the area should consist of scattered, grassy openings at least one acre in size. Although the above describes ideal turkey habitat, habitat management is the key for healthy turkey populations.

The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) will be accepting grant proposals through November 1, 2012 for funding projects on TPWD’s WMAs, other public lands, cooperative habitat projects on Wildlife Cooperatives and Wildlife Management Associations, prescribed burn associations, youth outdoor education events, and upland game bird research projects. NWTF has a very simple application process and they are no longer focused solely on wild turkeys. Any project with a focus on upland game birds and habitat management qualify. Proposals will be reviewed/ranked at the January 2013 Texas State NWTF Board meeting and funds will be allocated soon after. Continue reading Turkey Management: Turkey Habitat Super Fund Proposal Projects

Located in the Llano Uplift of Central Texas, Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) was a working exotic game ranch before Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) acquired the tract in 1997. Soon after acquisition TPWD began reducing the exotic and native animal populations to desirable levels. Today, six species of resident exotics provide excellent opportunities to study the effects of African ungulates on local habitat and interactions between exotic and native wildlife such as whitetail deer. The resources of Mason Mountain WMA are dedicated to research concerning the ecology of the Central Mineral Region and its application to wildlife management on private lands.

Area biologists have conducted research projects investigating diets of exotic species, deer breeding behavior, deer census techniques and the re-introduction of the javelina. The Mason Mountain WMA is situated on the boundary between the Central Mineral Region and the Edwards Plateau, and as such, a variety of wildlife habitats are represented. About two-thirds of the area consists of granite-derived soils supporting a community of post oak and blackjack oak. The remainder of the area is dominated by live oak and Texas oak on limestone-derived soils. Continue reading Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA)