hunting - Wildlife Management Pro

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.

Anheuser-Busch Pulls Out on Texas Parks and Wildlife

Anheuser-Busch will no longer sponsor Texas Parks and Wildlife

Several Texas news outlets recently reported that Anheuser-Busch has ended its sponsorship relationship with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). In addition, the company has ended its cooperation with its official nonprofit partner, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. On Saturday, the Dallas Morning-News reported that late last year, Belgian-based InBev bought Anheuser-Busch and made some changes in their corporate relationships. The company’s history of support will leave a lasting conservation legacy in Texas. Since 1994, Anheuser-Busch has provided close to $15 million to support the department mission and keep Texas a great place to hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors.

Over the years the company has supported a wide variety of sites and programs, including ShareLunker, Texas Parks and Wildlife Expo, Big Time Texas Hunts, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, Coastal Fisheries Bay Team, Flat Out Fishing, Crab Trap Cleanup, Public Dove Hunting Program, Great Texas Birding Classic, Sheldon Lake Environment Learning Center, Government Canyon State Natural Area, tarpon research and the Texas Big Game Awards. The Dallas newspaper and other outlets have reported how the Anheuser-Busch departure offers new opportunities for companies or organizations that may wish to sponsor TPWD programs and sites.

Texas to Expand Antler Restrictions?

Will antler restriction regulations expand in Texas?

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is look at changing up the State’s hunting regulations. The white-tailed deer proposals are part of statewide proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. One key proposed change involves further expansion of the department’s successful antler restriction regulations into 52 additional counties where biologists have identified a need to provide greater protection of younger buck deer. In these counties, data indicates more than 55 percent of the harvested bucks are two-and-a-half years of age or younger, which creates an imbalance in the deer herd age structure.

According to Clayton Wolf, TPWD big game program director, the antler restrictions have improved age structure while maintaining ample hunting opportunity, based on data to date in the 61 counties where the rule is currently in effect. The impacted counties are listed below: Continue reading Texas to Expand Antler Restrictions?