Outdoor News - Wildlife Management Pro

Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry

With the help of Kansas deer hunters, meat processors, and private donors, Kansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry (KSHFH) annually provides thousands of meals to those in need. The Kansas deer firearm season, which runs from December 2 through the 13 this year, is the busiest time for the organization. Hunters donate hundreds of white-tailed and mule deer and occasionally an elk or even a bison. The organization supplies meat to nearly 100 food banks across the state by working in cooperating Kansas meat processors.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) makes it easy to help. When outdoorsmen and women buy hunting licenses, permits, or stamps, they can donate $2 to support this Hunters Feeding the Hungry, which the agency collects for KSHFH. To find the nearest meat processor involved in this program, go online to this site and click on “Lockers.”

Youth Hunting at Texas Wildlife Management Areas

Hundreds of kids and adults headed out to various Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wildlife management areas (WMA) this past weekend to do a little hunting. It was the first weekends for youth-only waterfowl and youth-only (gun) deer hunts. Even with the heavy rain and flooding that closed a few WMAs located in East Texas, those sites hosted youth hunters with good success.

The Justin Hurst WMA near Lake Jackson had 84 hunters killed about 1.5 birds each on Saturday. Ducks harvested were primarily bluewings and shovelers. Only 12 hunters showed up the second day and each of that youth bagged about a bird each, but they got some valuable experience in the field. Continue reading Youth Hunting at Texas Wildlife Management Areas

Red Tide Watch Along Texas Gulf Coast

Red tide along the Texas Gulf Coast

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) personnel are being pulled in to assist with fish kill assessments this week, as TPWD continues to monitor and assess red tide on the lower and central Texas coast. The current red tide event began about 10 days ago, originating on and affecting primarily the southern coast but extending up toward Mustang Island State Park. It is possible that a cool front late last week reduced the current red tide on the central coast, and a similar front later this week could do likewise.

However, there have been new reports of dead fish on the southern coast, including the first confirmed report of red tide in the Laguna Madre near Mansfield Pass. The current bloom has been relatively mild compared with some larger events in past years, but it has caused dead fish to wash onto beaches and produced a mild to moderate airborne aerosol that can cause human respiratory distress. Red tide has no negative impact on migrating waterfowl. During a red tide bloom, TPWD posts daily Web updates each weekday that allow beach visitors and news media to track the latest developments. Continue reading Red Tide Watch Along Texas Gulf Coast

Five Year Old Boy Bags Texas Sized Alligator

Alligators in Texas can get BIG!

We all know that alligator hunting is not for the faint of heart, but one Texas boy got more than he expected. As in a huge Texas sized alligator! There are hunters who go a lifetime dreaming of that big kill. Then there’s Simon Hughes, who helped nab a beast of an animal on an East Texas hunt — while still in the first grade. The 5-year-old boy from Goodrich was part of a hunting crew that recently killed an 800-pound, 12-foot-6-inch alligator that has wildlife experts shaking their heads.

The reptile, whose size is at a state record level, is now at the taxidermist waiting to be mounted. Simon’s family, meanwhile, is fielding calls from CNN and Good Morning America to feature his exploits. Simon learned to drive all-terrain vehicles and shoot firearms when he was only 4. So he was primed and ready to go on an alligator hunt this past weekend with his father, Scott Hughes, a sixth-generation rancher, and hunting guide Chuck Cotton. Continue reading Five Year Old Boy Bags Texas Sized Alligator

Texas Gets New Crossbow Hunting Regulations

Texas now allows crossbows during archery season for whitetail deer

Thirty-four years after the first Texas archery hunting stamp was sold in 1975, archery hunting will be open to crossbow use by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the first time in the special archery-only open season that runs October 3 through November 6. About 650,000 people participate in whitetail deer hunting in Texas, and an estimated more than 80,000 use a bow and arrow. Until this fall, crossbows could not be used during an archery-only season except by people with an upper-limb disability. Recent legislative action gave the TPWD Commission authority to allow anyone, regardless of physical ability, to use a crossbow during the archery-only season, provided they have an archery stamp and valid Texas hunting license. Rules, however, are different for Grayson County.

Several outdoor newspaper columnists recently reported crossbow sales have been brisk heading into archery season. The department has been encouraging anyone planning to take advantage of the new crossbow opportunity to review the rules and definitions for crossbow hunting listed under “Means and Methods” in the current Outdoor Annual regulation booklet available at hunting license sales locations and on the TPWD Web site.

Big South Carolina Alligator Harvested!

Most folks are afraid of alligators, but some people go out looking for them. In the United States, there is a limited hunting season for the American alligator. People look forward to this short season every year, and the hunting helps keep the number of gators down. Think we don’t have enough for an alligator hunting season? Well, think again. There are probably about one million alligators in the lower 48 states! Texas boast having over 250,000 of the large reptiles itself!

So with those kinds of numbers, regulated alligator hunting is more than warranted. Such was the case in South Carolina this year, where they also have a limited alligator season. The photos below were taken a few days ago at Cordrays meat processing and taxidermy in Charleston, South Carolina. This big male alligator was 14 feet long and weighed in at a whopping 1,000 pounds!

American alligators breed during May of each year and females build a nest of mostly grass with some mud in June. The eggs then hatch out in late summer, with the female remaining close to the nest to protect the vulnerable hatchlings. Male alligators, which can grow as large as the one featured above, will feed on anything than can catch, including smaller alligators.

Big Black Bear Killed Near Alpine, Texas

Black Bear Killed Near Alpine

Texas Parks and Wildife Department (TPWD) has reported that a huge black bear weighing at least 406 pounds has been killed near Alpine, Texas. The facts indicate that the big bear was struck by a vehicle and road-killed after it’s pelvis was broken. Initial coverage of the bear’s death made front page news across west Texas and has even been featured on the Midland area TV news several times. TPWD has taken possession of the large bear.

The animal is an extremely large black bear, even by Texass standards, but male black bear do occasionally get this big in the southern parts of black bear range. What makes this bear unique is that there was virtually no damage to the hide and skull. Because of this opportunity, TPWD has coordinated with several individuals and organizations in order to use this specimen as an educational opportunity. Donated funds from conservation partners have flooded in to have a full body mount of the bear completed and placed in the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University. The museum will host an educational display titled “Bears in West Texas”.