Hunting

A collection of 151 posts

Bio-Diversity

TPWD Provides CWD Monitoring Results from 2016-2017

CWD could prove a disaster for far-West Texas mule deer and elk. High fences, artificial feeding and predator removals will accelerate the spread of CWD, as they have in South Texas. NOTE: This article was printed by Livestock Weekly and contributed to by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. It is

"Invasion Biology"

Tanglehead in South Texas - Changes and Challenges

The so-called “invasion” of Tanglehead grass is a symptom of cattle removals on South Texas rangeland. This excellent article contains insights and facts that point to this. The facts: * Tanglehead is a native grass. * Tanglehead was not ‘invasive’ so long as the ranges were being grazed. * With reduced grazing, it

Africa

High Above, Drones Keep Watchful Eyes on Wildlife

We have found drones to be a useful management tool. However the simplicity of drones is greatly overestimated, especially the notion of flying them by video monitor at great distances from the operator.   NOTE: This article was originally published on NYTimes.com. Drones seemed like the perfect anti-poaching tools. But

"Invasion Biology"

Reds on Shrimp, Gulls on Reds

On May 21, 2011 we were fly fishing for redfish in the lower Laguna Madre.  Here’s a wonderful photograph of a redfish pod feeding on shrimp, and gulls trailing the redfish to pick up their leavings.   You might wonder why this picture has been entered on a blog dedicated

Animal Development

Circle Ranch Game Camera Videos

Wildlife videos from our high-desert mountains, captured in the winter of 2015.

Agri-business

Eco Profits - Whose Money Harms The Environment?

Author Dan Dagger says in part, “Environmental corporatism is guilty of the same offense of which it has made a career of accusing capitalism, the free market, and private enterprise: Getting rich at the expense of the environment. And its consumers are just as blind to the damage they cause

"Invasion Biology"

Kaput Maker Pulls Feral Hog Poison Out of Texas

Those who oppose the idea of drenching Texas ranges with the rat poison Warfarin, are either “lawyers, misinformed or radical environmentalists”. Kaput has been withdrawn by its manufacturer, who in doing so reiterated all these false health claims about free range pigs. There has been no epiphany within Big Wildlife,

"Invasion Biology"

Texas House Orders Study Before Using Poison on Feral Hogs

The ‘feral pig apocalypse’ is a costly bureaucratic poisoning boondoggle that will harm wildlife in incalculable ways. There is an obvious alternative: Let the market solve the problem the bureaucrats created, and let Texas’ leaders lead towards a solution that benefits wildlife, habitat and the economics of land ownership. Feral

Bio-Diversity

Texas Hunters Want to Put the Kibosh on Ag Commissioner’s ‘Feral Hog Apocalypse'

The “feral hog apocalypse” is brought to you by Big Wildlife: The same folks who gave us CWD. NOTE: This post initially appeared on SAExpressNews.com on February 22, 2017 State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s call for a “feral hog apocalypse” has hunters across Texas up in arms about

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

"Invasion Biology"

The Ultimate Pursuit in Hunting: Sheep

Desert Bighorn Sheep are one of four wild sheep found in North America. All four are incredible animals. Few private landowners in far-West Texas have as much experience or success with Desert Bighorn Sheep as ourselves. Our experience is that sheep are easy to raise: Add lots of free water

"Invasion Biology"

Rattlesnakes and Yucca Bucks

Great thoughts on mule deer and ‘paradigms’, by Steve Nelle. NOTE: the following article was originally published in Texas Wildlife Magazine, November 2015. The article was provided by the publisher directly and permission for it’s use in this post has been granted. Document (PDF) can be viewed here

Conservation

Federal Lands: A 660 Million-Acre Mess

There is general consensus that Federal lands are mismanaged, but no agreement on how to fix the problem.   Should ownership and management: (1) remain as is? Or, should some federal lands (2) be transferred to the states, and/or (3) sold to the public? NOTE: this post initially appeared on

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

"Invasion Biology"

Slideshow: Circle Ranch Wildlife, December 2016

There is not a federal or state park in far-West Texas where one can see free ranging elk, sheep, pronghorn and mule deer together. These animals and many others are found in abundance at Circle Ranch, because of our (1) water system, (2) periodic planned cattle grazing, (3) protection of

Hunting

Mule Deer Hunting in the Sierra Diablos

"Invasion Biology"

Plan to Spray Herbicides along the Rio Grande Alarming, Risky

Down river from Big Bend, here is what they think of the plan to spray cane: Following the December 6, 2016 post on this topic, I came across this article from March 2016 dealing with the reaction of communities on the lower Rio Grande to the proposed use of glyphosate,

"Invasion Biology"

Thanksgiving at Circle Ranch

Our best wishes go to you and yours this holiday season. Circle Ranch Thanksgiving – 2016 from Christopher Gill on Vimeo.

habitat restoration

How to Buy a Cattle Ranch in the US: Don’t Get Emotional

The best ranch values in the United States, by far,  are found in far-West Texas. NOTE: This article initially appeared on FT.com on October 7, 2016 The price of ranches has fallen but Wild West romantics and would-be cowboys beware — they won’t make you much money Jason Spaeth

Animal Development

Stop Killing Coyotes

As repeatedly shown, predator “control” harms the species we seek to protect. In addition, there is the ethical issue of the control methods used, which true hunters would neither use, nor tolerate. NOTE: This post initially appeared on NYTimes.com on August 11, 2016 One morning in the late 1930s,

Animal Development

Game Cameras - Early Summer 2016

Update and photos from our guide and camera manager, Jerad: Hello Mr. Gill, Quite the lamb crop this year. I don’t remember seeing this many in years past. I have seen a couple of groups with 10 lambs and lots with 4-8 as seen in the pictures! Also thought

"Invasion Biology"

State of Texas - Resolution H.R. No. 2159: Legislation to Change the "Exotic" Classification of Elk

Elk are a Texas native which , before Europeans, roamed our state from north to south and east to west. For years a group of us have attempted to remove the “exotic” classification which has led to so much perversity in the treatment of this animal.   In the last legislature, despite

Hunting

Excellent Numbers Highlight Quail Season

The winter of 2015-2016 was the best in many in Hudspeth County, far-West Texas NOTE: post originally appeared on SAExpressNews.com on January 7, 2016 Excellent bird numbers attributed to wet weather A wet spring, wet winter and few summertime temperatures topping 100 degrees have provided the right combination to

"Invasion Biology"

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: Using Biodiversity to Restore Desert Grasslands

Many wildlife “managers” try to eliminate most of the species pictured below to increase bighorn, or some other favored species like deer or pronghorn. Their actions harm the animals they intend to help because biodiversity is necessary for healthy wild animals and habitat. Until our practices are based on this

Bio-Diversity

Recent Deer Breeding Survey Results Outlined By QDMA CEO

This survey was made before it was known that Chronic Wasting Disease has been introduced into South Texas by deer breeders. By Colleen Schreiber GLEN ROSE — Those attending the recent Deer Study Group meeting heard the results of two surveys focusing on various aspects of the deer breeding industry. To