Mule Deer - Pitchstone Waters (Page 2)

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Mule Deer

A collection of 69 posts

The Vanishing Mule Deer

As this beautifully photographed video from The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) observes, our precious mule deer are vanishing. MDF blames ‘competition’ of humans for land. This is inaccurate. The irregular, long term decline of mule deer, quail, pronghorn, bighorn and so many other species is the unintended consequence of applying

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

chris_gill_circle_ranch_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Rancher Takes an Unconventional Path to Restoring His Land

“Chris Gill, 72, together with his family own Circle Ranch in far-West Texas. He thinks of the desert habitat, its flora and fauna, as a single system.” NOTE: this article was initially posted to ReportingTexas.com on December 12, 2017. It was written by Austin Price, and all photography credits

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

"Invasion Biology"

Mountain Lions of Far-West Texas

Much of what we used to ‘know’ about mountain lions turns out to be wrong, starting with the belief they are a threat to livestock or humans. Lions – and all other predators – are necessary to the health of wildlife and habitat. Note: This amazing video was produced by Yeti in

pronghorn_circle_ranch

Successful Pronghorn Transplants Require Ecosystem Health

Pronghorn cannot be restored by themselves. Healthy grasslands need periodic grazing by keystone species like bison or cattle, lots of prey and lots of predators. Removing any of these components will unwind the system. Animals, plants and the soil life biome are interdependent and inseparable. Hurt any piece and you

Desert Mule Deer "Management": Does Culling Low-Point Desert Mule Deer Bucks Help or Harm the Herd and Its Genetics?

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Mule Deer "Management": Does Culling Low-Point Desert Mule Deer Bucks Help or Harm the Herd and Its Genetics?

Culling Mule Deer – or whitetail – is scientifically unjustifiable, and does not improve herd genetics. Note: This post originally appeared on this blog in November 2014 Approach #1: Remove Cull Bucks to Improve Herd Genetics …Jerad Wayne Zachary, Deer Guide Dear Mr. Gill, I hope you are doing well. I just

Circle Ranch - Reds on Shrimp

"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

epa_scott_pruitt_feature

Pesticide Maker Tries to Kill Risk Study

Like the tobacco companies before them, for decades now the agrochemical companies have worked the system to avoid consequences from the health hazards of their products. According to the left, Big Government stands between the public and Big Businesses including the agrochemical giants. According to the President, a smaller EPA

west_texas_thunderstorm_circle_ranch

US Drought Falls to Record Low

Good news for quail and wildlife: It looks like we will dodge the drought bullet for the moment. Now is the time to implement the range recovery practices that will mitigate the next dry cycle. NOTE: This post initially appeared on TheGWPF.com on April 28, 2017 Drought in the

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

Mule Deer Hunting in the Sierra Diablos

Mule Deer Hunting in the Sierra Diablos

circle_ranch_high_country_sunrise

Circle Ranch High Country

Pronghorn, Desert Bighorn Sheep and Golden Eagles in the high-desert mountains of far-West Texas. Circle Ranch High Country from Christopher Gill on Vimeo. This video was shot, edited and scored by Jared and Tawny Zachary. They maintain our game cameras and guide. Jerad’s day job finds him in the

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

"Invasion Biology"

U.S. - Mexico Teamwork Where the Rio Grande Is but a Ribbon

The destructive and wasteful application of invasive species biology as promoted by The New York Times. Invasive species biology is based on the assumption that anything done by an “invasive” is by definition bad. According to the invasive species folks, cane is a sneaky invader that has driven out native

circle_ranch_chronic_wasting_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Parks and Wildlife Begins Reducing Deer Population at Texas Mountain Ranch

CWD and high-fenced deer go hand in hand. Chronic Wasting Disease was created in a government-funded, high-fenced experimental wildlife facility near Fort Collins, Colorado. They won’t say what was being done to these confined animals, but instead spin the story to imply CWD appeared spontaneously. The same agencies that

Circle Ranch Game Cameras: Using Biodiversity to Restore Desert Grasslands

"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

Recent Deer Breeding Survey Results Outlined By QDMA CEO

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

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

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Captive Deer Industry Jeopardizing Future of our Natural Resources

Animal Development

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): Captive Deer Industry Jeopardizing Future of our Natural Resources

Government experimentation with captive deer created Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Confinement operations — whether public or private — spread CWD. This fact has nothing to do with liking or disliking deer breeders, political persuasion, property rights, public rights, personal preference, hunting ethics or the motivation of any person or group who might

circle_ranch_west_texas_ram_feature

"Invasion Biology"

Animal and Plant Biodiversity Restoring Desert Habitats at Circle Ranch

A basic doctrine of wildlife “management” is that nature is under attack by thousands of “invasive” plant and animal species which “compete” with “natives” to “harm ecosystem health.” Analysis of the knowledge supporting this ideology exposes invasive species biology as pseudo-science: biological bigotry, dignified with empirically-hollow buzzwords. Efforts to eradicate

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Response Highlights Texas’ Claim to Own Deer, Even Captive Ones

"Invasion Biology"

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Response Highlights Texas’ Claim to Own Deer, Even Captive Ones

Texas’ deer policy suffers from a bad case of schizophrenia: deer belong to the public but can be treated like livestock. Small wonder deer breeders think they own “their” deer. In 1975 Al Brothers and Murphy Ray published Producing Quality Whitetails, showing how landowners might selectively harvest deer to produce

state_of_texas_culls_35_deer

"Invasion Biology"

State Culls 35 Deer From Area Ranch to Test For Chronic Wasting Disease

The dirty little secret of Chronic Wasting Disease is that it was created in a government-funded Colorado wildlife experimental facility: the Front Range Experimental Station in Fort Collins Colorado. While there is collective amnesia about what was being done to these confined animals, there is no doubt this is where

They Brought Wolves to Yellowstone But Had No Idea This Would Be The Result

"Invasion Biology"

They Brought Wolves to Yellowstone But Had No Idea This Would Be The Result

Predators including wolves are important to habitat because they influence animal behavior in ways that benefit plants. Predator eradications always harm habitat and the animals the eradications are intended to help. Cattlemen and conservations alike should take note. NOTE: post originally appeared on TheShrug.net on May 19, 2015 After

circle_ranch_game_cameras_west_texas

"Invasion Biology"

Desert Habitat Restoration: Opposing Assumptions about Wildlife Biodiversity

Pictured below are 10 species of animals photographed in our mountains at Circle Ranch during Spring 2015. Conventional wildlife “management” says six of these species should be removed as they are assumed to “harm” desert bighorn sheep, desert mule deer, pronghorn and their habitat. CLICK HERE FOR 75 PHOTOS: Diablo

circle_ranch_cats_feature

"Invasion Biology"

2.7 Million Creatures Killed Last Year in U.S.'s Secretive War on Animals

Publicly-funded wildlife eradications are a big surprise to many people. NOTE:orginially appeared on TheDodo.com Nearly 7,400 wild animals were slaughtered every single day on average across the U.S. last year — not by hunters or poachers, but by a government agency whose stated mission is “to resolve

circle-ranch-video-wildlife-west-texas

"Invasion Biology"

Game Videos Fall 2014

These videos were taken at what we call Sheep Tank, a water point that overlooks one of our largest canyons. Many species share this water, with no visible conflict with each other, or harm to habitat. Big Horn: Elk: Mule Deer: Quail: Others: Biodiversity is good, not bad, for our