deer - Pitchstone Waters

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deer

A collection of 22 posts

History of Conservation

History of Conservation

There are certain people and organizations — all tied to political leaders — who romanticize the concept of a land with vast wildlife areas from sea to sea.

By Learning to Hunt Otters, Wolves Decimate a Deer Population

By Learning to Hunt Otters, Wolves Decimate a Deer Population

“How wolf recovery on Pleasant Island Alaska affected deer populations NOTE: this article was originally published to ArsTechnica.com on January 26, 2023. It was written by Doug Johnson. People love otters, wolves, and deer. Respectively, they’re crafty, intelligent, and majestic. Put them all together on an island, though,

‘Forever Chemicals’ in Deer, Fish Challenge Hunters, Tourism

‘Forever Chemicals’ in Deer, Fish Challenge Hunters, Tourism

“As discussed below, industrial compounds used in numerous products, such as nonstick cookware and clothing are increasingly found in wild game and fish. This poses a health threat to animals and humans. NOTE: this article was originally published to APNews.com on October 5, 2022. It was written by Patrick

wyoming_migrations_wildlife

Big Game Migrations

Wyoming's Big Game Migrations 50 Years after the Creation of the Wilderness Areas

“Pitchstone Waters is just west of the Winegar Hole and Jedidiah Smith Wilderness Areas shown in this video. At this time, elk are migrating out of the Parks through us as an early winter drops snow and temperatures in Greater Yellowstone. We have observed herds of as many as 100-elk

Scientists to Study ‘Walking-Dead’ Deer in Wyoming’s Most CWD-Infected Herd

Chronic Wasting Disease

Scientists to Study ‘Walking-Dead’ Deer in Wyoming’s Most CWD-Infected Herd

As reported below, 98% of the animals in one of Wyoming’s deer herds have Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Infection rates like these will soon make Wyoming, Montana and Idaho the national leaders of the epidemic. Obvious ways to control CWD include stopping practices such as winter feeding that everyone

Culling Bucks for Genetic Improvement

Culling Bucks for Genetic Improvement: Fact or Fallacy?

As explained in the article below, deer culling does not improve deer genetics, therefore, it does not increase the antler size of the remaining bucks in the herd as many people believe—and desire. Stated differently, culling, the most-employed practice of deer “management” for the last 40 years not only

Wolves Scare Deer and Reduce Auto Collisions 24%, Study Says

Wolves reduce deer-automobile collisions. This saves more money than proven wolf depredation costs in livestock losses. NOTE: this article was originally published to Click2Houston.com’s Apple News Channel.com on May 24, 2021. It was written by Christina Larson. Scientists found that an unconventional way of reducing the frequency

Using Wolves as First Responders Against a Deadly Brain Disease

Using Wolves as First Responders Against a Deadly Brain Disease

Some scientists say that the predators are essential to curbing the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease because they pick off weak deer.

scary tall and thin black trees in blue background

Book Review: ‘I Know What I Saw’

Seriously weird wildlife. NOTE: this article was originally published to WSJ.com on August 2, 2019. It was written by Tom Shippey. A collection of ﬁrsthand sightings of mythical and mysterious creatures in the U.S., from the Oglala Deer Woman to the Texas Lobo Girl. Farmers on the Mediterranean

deer_culling_video

Deer Culling Does Not Improve Deer: Common Sense Habitat Management Does

In a landmark 13-year study based on 15,000 animal trappings, the Comanche (Farias) Ranch near Eagle Pass, Texas, has proven that culling of so-called “inferior” bucks, including spikes, does not increase antler size in wild deer herds—and often harms the herds. The study’s conclusions contradict what our

The Marvelous Migrations of Greater Yellowstone

The Marvelous Migrations of Greater Yellowstone

Pitchstone Waters Ranch is five miles southwest of the southwest corner of Yellowstone Park, surrounded on three sides by national forest. Our highest priority is addressing the issues set forth in the excellent report below. It was published by the Property and Environmental Research Center (PERC), a free-market environmental and

Animal Development

Managing for Better Habitat Works. Culling Doesn’t.

For decades now, state agencies, universities and wildlife managers have urged culling of so-called “inferior” bucks from herds in order to improve genetics and produce bigger trophies. Since the early 1970s, belief in the effectiveness of culling has become so widely-held it is now considered common “knowledge.” Small-antlered “management” bucks

Disease Threatening Deer Population Has Spread to 26 States

"Invasion Biology"

Disease Threatening Deer Population Has Spread to 26 States

According to this article, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was first “discovered” in mule deer at a wildlife research facility in Colorado in 1967. Here is, as Paul Harvey used to say, “The rest of the story.” The so-called “discovery” occurred in the Front Range experimental station in Fort Collins. Early

white_tail_deer

Chronic Wasting Disease

Things You May Have Heard About Chronic Wasting Disease

This is a very good article about specific CWD misconceptions. But it needs more context. CWD was created in a Colorado state wildlife experimental facility. It is spread by high fences, artificial feeding, predator removals and any other practice that maintains animals at artificially high populations and/or crowds them

"Invasion Biology"

Fire May Be the Only Remedy for a Plague Killing Deer and Elk

The noted agronomist and “Father of Soil Fertility” Professor William A. Albrecht said, “We should not fear the aggressive parasite and invader but rather the declining health of their victims.” He said this 80 years before the terms “environmentalism” or “holism” had been coined, in an era when attacks on

Understanding Mule Deer and Winter Feeding Fact Sheet

Animal Development

Understanding Mule Deer and Winter Feeding Fact Sheet

Supplemental feeding of deer and elk – especially in winter – is widespread across the West, including far-West Texas and New Mexico. In this report, the Mule Deer Foundation concludes that, “At best, feeding has a limited nutritional benefit often negated by undesirable, even catastrophic, behavioral and biological effects.” NOTE: This document

"Invasion Biology"

States Confront the Spread of a Deadly Disease in Deer

The creation of CWD – a new wildlife disease – in a Colorado experimental station, and its subsequent spread, proves the adage that “Industrial agronomic principles applied to ecological systems will almost always cause harm.” NOTE: this article is from the NYTimes.com, and was published on January 8th, 2018. The author

Circle Ranch Wildlife Cameras - Summer 2017

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Wildlife Cameras - Summer 2017

Every month we review 5,000 pictures and post a few of the most interesting. What is pictured here is biodiversity. Multiple species are complimentary – not competitive. Ranges need keystone grazers like bison or cattle, lots of predators and lots of prey species. Without all these, the systems come apart.

chronic_wasting_deer_texas

Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease Spreads

“Feeding can cause deer to gather in a certain place and spread the disease more rapidly. “We would discourage any artificial supplemental feeding,” Lightfoot said. “It does congregate deer and have potential for additional risk.” NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on January 26, 2017 State wildlife officials

circle_ranch_mule_deer_fawns_feature

Animal Development

5 Rules for Bigger, Better and More Mulies

A great article by Steve Nelle that outlines how to have more and healthier mule deer, quail and pronghorn. 1. Grazing management is the single most important way to affect mule deer food supply. When grass conditions permit, practice light-to-moderate seasonal grazing, in some rotational form (examples include “holistic planned

circle_ranch_chronic_wasting

Chronic Wasting Disease

Deer Hunted in Medina, Uvalde Counties Tests Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease

“The rules developed by TPWD to deal with CWD accelerate the proliferation of high fences and their associated industrial deer raising methods. These practices both caused, and now spread CWD.” NOTE: post initially appeared on KSAT.comFebruary 5, 2016 State Creating New Management Plan A new case of chronic wasting

sa_express_news_deer_wasting_lavaca

"Invasion Biology"

Chronic Wasting Disease Found in Lavaca County Deer; Ranch Quarantined

Obvious responses to CWD are blocked by the economic interdependence of universities, agencies, conservation organizations and legislatures with the agricultural and agrochemical giants. Decisions within this coalition of special interests are often based internal politics, turf fights and cronyism. Another block is the crippling dogma of invasive species “biology”, which