Texas Wildlife Extra - January 2026

Texas Wildlife Extra JANUARY 2026

E-MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

PRESIDENT’S COMMENTS

Texas Wildlife Association M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T Serving Texas wildlife and its habitat, while protecting property rights, hunting heritage, and the conservation efforts of those who value and steward wildlife resources.

OFFICERS Nyle Maxwell, President, Georgetown Parley Dixon, Vice President, Austin Dr. Louis Harveson, Second Vice President for Programs, Alpine Spencer Lewis, Treasurer, San Antonio For a complete list of TWA Directors, go to www.texas-wildlife.org

H

appy New Year and welcome to 2026!

This time of year is always filled with anticipation and excitement over new things we want to accomplish.

I am excited to get to work as your president of TWA this year, and also excited by all that we can accomplish together.

Like many of you, I’ve got some New Year’s resolutions and goals! And it’s important to me that we make a positive impact where needed most.

First and foremost, having a successful membership drive, which is in full swing right now, is very important. If you know of a friend or family member who loves the outdoors, let’s sign them up! They will not regret joining TWA for all the amazing benefits it offers to its members. From educational programs for beginners to supporting legislative efforts that protect ranchers and landowners, TWA is bigger than you think. Please help us sustain these programs and efforts by growing our membership. Jan. 13 is the deadline for our current membership drive so please take the time to check out the different membership levels at www.texas-wildlife.org and share them with friends, family and acquaintances. It’s one of the easiest ways to keep TWA going strong.

My second resolution is to do everything humanly possible to prevent the New World screwworm from invading Texas. Working with livestock organizations as one coalition to provide timely and reliable information to ranchers on both status and best management practices is one of the critically important tasks we are undertaking. We will also be supporting state agencies and the USDA’s roll out of the Screwworm Response Plan and monitoring progress on sterile fly facility construction. It is my greatest hope that we see crucial victories on this front.

One more goal is to see increased participation in our Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA) program where hunters can enter their scores of impressive harvest achievements in the field. Top awards are presented each summer at the TWA convention. Not only do they put the spotlight on the wealth of exceptional wildlife Texas offers, the program also recognizes the ranchers and landowners who follow best practices in land management and wildlife conservation. This program also recognizes our youth and first harvest hunters with certificates granted at our regional banquets. You have until March 1 to enter your scores. Registration applications can be found at www. texasbiggameawards.org.

While these are just a few of my goals, I am excited about the joint efforts that will help us achieve each one thanks to our amazing TWA staff and also each and every one of our members. Together we can do so much and it will take all of us to ensure our great outdoors and hunting legacy are protected for generations to come.

Looking forward to working with you!

4

Texas Wildlife Extra

PROFESSIONAL STAFF/CONTRACT ASSOCIATES ADMINISTRATION & OPERATION Justin Dreibelbis, Chief Executive Officer TJ Goodpasture, Director of Development & Operations Denell Jackson, Director of Finance & Administration Becky Alizadeh, Office Manager

OUTREACH & MEMBER SERVICES Sean Hoffmann, Director of Communications Karly Bridges, Membership Manager

CONSERVATION LEGACY AND HUNTING HERITAGE PROGRAMS Kassi Scheffer-Geeslin, Director of Youth Education Andrew Earl, Director of Conservation Amber Brown, Conservation Education Specialist Gene Cooper, Conservation Education Specialist Sarah Hixon Miller, Conservation Education Specialist Megan Pineda, Conservation Education Specialist Lisa Allen, Conservation Educator Kay Bell, Conservation Educator Denise Correll, Conservation Educator Christine Foley, Conservation Educator Yvonne Keranen, Conservation Educator Terri McNutt, Conservation Educator Jeanette Reames, Conservation Educator Louise Smyth, Conservation Educator Marla Wolf, Curriculum Specialist Noelle Brooks, CL Program Assistant Matthew Hughes, Ph.D. Director of Hunting Heritage Mason Huffman TYHP Program Manager Bob Barnette, TYHP Field Operations Coordinator Taylor Heard, TYHP Field Operations Coordinator Briana Nicklow, TYHP Field Operations Coordinator Kim Hodges, TYHP Program Coordinator Kristin Parma, Hunting Heritage Program Specialist Jim Wentrcek, Adult Learn to Hunt Program Coordinator Abbye Shattuck, Hunting Heritage Administrative Assistant

TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION Justin Dreibelbis, Chief Executive Officer TJ Goodpasture, Director of Development & Operations Denell Jackson, Director of Finance & Administration

ADVOCACY Joey Park, Legislative Program Coordinator

MAGAZINE CORPS Sean Hoffmann, Managing Editor Publication Printers Corp., Printing, Denver, CO

Texas Wildlife Association 6644 FM 1102 New Braunfels, TX 78132 (210) 826-2904 FAX (210) 826-4933 (800) 839-9453 (TEX-WILD) www.texas-wildlife.org

Texas Wildlife Extra E-MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION JANUARY 2026

|

VOLUME 41

| NUMBER 9

Guadalupe River, Waring, TX, image by AdobeStock.com

8 CONSERVATION & POLICY

The Stakes (and Transmission Lines) Are Getting Higher

by ANDREW EARL

20 TAMU NEWS

White-tailed Deer: The Backbone of Texas’ Rural Economy

by BRITTANY WEGNER

12 TEXAS OUTDOOR NEWS

NAWCA Grant Supports Conservation on Texas Gulf Coast Late Season

22 GUNS & HUNTING Late Season

by LARRY WEISHUHN

by DUCKS UNLIMITED

14 Removing Encroaching Shrubs for

BORDERLANDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE Grassland Birds

WORLD SCREWWORM UPDATE 26 NEW

by USDA

28 TEXAS BIG GAME AWARDS

by AUDREY TAULLI, DR. CARLOS E. GONZALEZ, DR. JUSTIN T. FRENCH, and DR. MAUREEN G. FRANK

Hunters Encouraged to Participate in 34th Annual Texas Big Game Awards

by SEAN HOFFMANN

18 by BORDERLANDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

WATER IN THE DESERT CONFERENCE

ON THE COVER: This hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) was photographed by former TWA Executive Vice President David K. Langford. The species is a common winter visitor to Texas, where it is often seen foraging on the forest floor, before returning to northern conifer forests to nest. Plus, it’s the state bird of Vermont.

Texas Wildlife Extra is published by the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), 6644 FM 1102, New Braunfels, TX 78132. E-mail address: twa@texas-wildlife.org.

TWA was organized in 1985 for the purpose of serving as an advocate for the benefit of wildlife and for the rights of wildlife managers, landowners and hunters in educational, scientific, political, regulatory and legislative arenas. Texas Wildlife Extra is an official TWA publication. All rights reserved. No parts of these digital magazines may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without express written permission from the publisher. Copyrighted 2026 Texas Wildlife Association. Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the TWA. Similarities between the name Texas Wildlife Association and those of advertisers or state agencies are coincidental, and do not indicate mutual affiliation, unless clearly noted. TWA reserves the right to refuse advertising.

JANUARY 2026

5

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

JANUARY

MARCH

January 10

March 2-7

Western Big Game Hunting Workshop, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., TWA Headquarters, 6644 FM 1102, New Braunfels, 78132. https://secure.qgiv.com/for/

Houston Rodeo Ranching & Wildlife Expo, Houston. Details at https://www.rodeohouston. com/plan-your-visit/ranching-wildlife-expo/

tyhp/event/thm-hc/

March 20

January 28 Wild at Work Webinar on Youth Conservation Opportunities, noon-1 p.m., https://www.texas-

Women of the Land Workshop, Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Mason. Registration details forthcoming.

wildlife.org/waw/

March 27

January 30-February 1 Alpine Wildlife Weekend, Sul Ross State University, Alpine. Details and registration at

Women of the Land Workshop, El Sauz Ranch, Port Mansfield. Registration details forthcoming.

https://visitalpinetx.com/wildlife/

JULY

FEBRUARY

July 10-12

February 1 Kids Gone Wild at Ft. Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Cattle Arena. https://www.

41st Annual TWA Convention, J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio.

fwssr.com/events/2026/kids-gone-wild

February 11-131 Water in the Desert Conference, Sul Ross State University, Alpine. Register at bri.sulross.edu/

FOR INFORMATION ON HUNTING SEASONS, call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112, consult the 2025-2026 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual, or visit the TPWD website at: tpwd.state.tx.us.

events/water-in-the-desert-2026

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR TWA LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY: Texas Wildlife Association members are encouraged to provide feedback about issues and topics. The CEO and editor will review letters (maximum 400 words) for possible publication. Email letters to shoffmann@texas-wildlife.org.

HELP PROTECT AND PRESERVE FUTURE

OUTDOOR EDUCATION. CONSIDER LEAVING A BEQUEST TO TWAF IN YOUR WILL Contact TJ Goodpasture for information | (800) 839-9453

6

Texas Wildlife Extra

Get the lay of the land before you lay any Owning land you can hunt or fish on is a goal for many. Being able to eventually live on it would be a dream. Well, get ready to pinch yourself because it’s possible. With a Capital Farm Credit And then when you find the perfect spot for a cabin or forever home, start building. We’re here for you to help you make your land your own with our knowledge, guidance and expertise in financing recreational land and loans that have competitive terms and rates. So get to it, we can’t wait to see what you can dream of.

To learn more, visit CapitalFarmCredit.com.

877.944.5500 NMLS493828

JANUARY 2026

7

CONSERVATION & POLICY According to ERCOT, the core plan for the TX 765-kV Strategic Transmission Expansion Plan is based on the 2024 regional transmission planning reliability needs for 2030. As the system continues to evolve, the core plan could be expanded to serve more of the ERCOT system as need materializes. In this potential expansion example from ERCOT, options could expand the 765-kV system into the Panhandle and Valley areas or add additional eastto-central pathways. Any potential future expansion options would be further evaluated as system needs evolve.

The Stakes (and Transmission Lines) Are Getting Higher Navigating Transmission Line Routing at the Texas Public Utilities Commission ARTICLE BY ANDREW EARL, TWA DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION

8

Texas Wildlife Extra

W

across the state. For others, a proposed right-of-way could cut across their fenceline.

These projects (in general terms) run from San Antonio to Fort Stockton, Temple to El Dorado, and Glen Rose to Farson.

The operators—American Electric Power, Lower Colorado River Authority, and Oncor respectively, are currently evaluating proposed routes on all three projects, and formal processes at the Texas Public Utilities Commission (PUC) are expected to begin as early as this month.

For some, this is an attack on their patch of Texas. Others welcome the income from a right-of-way easement. Of importance in either case is being aware of and engaged in the routing processes that play out. These processes break down into three phases:

ater is wet, the sky is blue, and energy demand in Texas is growing. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration electricity demand in the state is projected to grow by another 11% in 2026—far outpacing national estimates of 2.2% annual demand growth.

The need for the Texas power grid to upgrade and improve energy generation and transmission was laid bare in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri in 2021. In an effort to avoid another prolonged power crisis the 88th legislature enacted HB 5066, expediting the delivery of infrastructure able to move power from generation to consumption with more stability and fewer bottlenecks along the way.

Among the outcomes of HB 5066 was the Permian Basin Reliability Plan (PBRP), published in June 2024. The Permian basin is at the center of our changing electrical supply chain and is experiencing some of the most rapid demand growth not just in Texas, but in the whole US. The electrification of oil and gas operations, data center development and other industrial uses require power to be imported to a degree previously unseen. PBRP outlined various power needs for the region, including three transmission pathways of 765-kilovolts (kV) now available for public input.

765kV lines are new to Texas and atop 180-foot towers will become part of the viewshed for many landowners

A à

JAYTON

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380

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84

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STONEWALL COUNTY

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SCURRY COUNTY

277

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CLYDE

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BAIRD

20

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SH0163-KG

SH0153-KG

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BIG LAKE

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67

277

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67

TOM GREEN COUNTY

CONCHO COUNTY

EDEN

BLANKET

190

MELVIN

83

HAMILTON COUNTY

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SOUTH

CORYELL Preliminary MOUNTAIN Route Links 84 COUNTY GATESVILLE Project Endpoint

SAN SABA COUNTY

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Existing Transmission SH0036-KG Line

LAMPASAS COUNTY SAN SABA

Military Base FORT

StudyCAVAZOS Area Boundary

LOMETA

Major Road County Boundary

NOLAN LAKE COPPERAS 14 COVE Water Body

BRADY

SH0071-KG

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84

183

BRADY RESERVOIR

CLIFTON

CRANFILLS GAP

HAMILTON

MULLIN

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GOLDTHWAITE

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BROWNWOOD

WALNUT SPRINGS

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BOSQUE COUNTY

LAKE COMANCHE

MCCULLOCH COUNTY

87

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CAMP BOWIE MILITARY RESERVATION

283

SH0220-KG

GUSTINE

MILLS COUNTY

O. H. IVIE RESERVOIR

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SOMERVELL COUNTY

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BROWN COUNTY

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BANGS

DECORDOVA

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DUBLIN

COMANCHE

LAKE EANES

67

GODLEY

GRANBURY

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ERATH STEPHENVILLE COUNTY

GORMAN

EARLY

MILES

PAINT ROCK

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COLEMAN COUNTY

RUNNELS COUNTY

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IRION COUNTY

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COKE COUNTY

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STERLING CITY

GLASSCOCK COUNTY

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HUDSON OAKS ANNETTA

BROCK

STAR HOLLOW LAKE

DICKEY LAKE

SH0206-KG

NOVICE

WINTERS

E.V. SPENCE RESEVOIR

SH0158-KG

LAKE COLEMAN

84

83

PALO PINTO CREEK RESERVOIR

WEATHERFORD

180

281 MILLSAP

SH0108-KG

EASTLAND COUNTY

NOLAN COUNTY

MINERAL WELLS

RANGER

EASTLAND

CISCO

PUTNAM

BUFFALO GAP

PALO PINTO COUNTY

GORDON

ABILENE

TAYLOR COUNTY

20

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SH 16

PEASTER

STRAWN

MORAN

283

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MERKEL

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LORAINE

MITCHELL COUNTY

STEPHENS COUNTY

SANCTUARY

FORT WOLTERS MILITARY RESERVATION

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BRECKENRIDGE

LAKE DANIEL

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SPRINGTOWN

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ALBANY

180 HAWLEY SAYLES LAKE LAKE FORT PHANTOM HILL

BIG SPRING

SALT LAKE

LUEDERS

ANSON

81

PARADISE

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WISE COUNTY

EAGLE MOUNTAIN LAKE

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SHACKELFORD COUNTY

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YOUNG COUNTY

WOODSON

FISHER COUNTY

LAKE GREGORY

RUNAWAY BAY

JACK COUNTY

GRAHAM

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JONES COUNTY

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LAKE J B THOMAS

HOWARD COUNTY

LAKE STAMFORD

380

BRYSON

LAKE EDDLEMAN

THROCKMORTON COUNTY

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THROCKMORTON

HASKELL COUNTY

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DECATUR

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PLANNING & CONSULTATION • Prior to submitting an application to the PUC, electric utilities are required to carry out environmental analyses, notify potentially impacted landowners, develop route alternatives, and gather public feedback.

Ideally, considerations like ecological and agricultural impacts as well as community values are balanced with forecasted energy needs and project costs. This is the stage during which landowners and community groups can most effectively organize and sway the siting of a potential project before formal processes begin.

LAMPASAS

190

KEMPNER

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STILLHOUSE HOLLOW LAKE

Dinosaur-Longshore proposed map, Oncor

JANUARY 2026

9

Cross Plains

Nolan County

83

Taylor County

144

Eastland County

Callahan County 283

Dublin

36

6

83

84

153

279

281

144

Comanche County

153

283

Coke County 83

208

Lake Brownwood

Coleman

36

67

22

67 67

Hamilton County

16

Brownwood

67

281

Clifton

Brown County

277

22

Lake Whitney

22

183

279

Coleman County

67

Ballinger

Bosque County

36

67

153

Runnels County

158

Meridian

Comanche

206

Hill County

6

Winters

Robert Lee

¯

220

Erath County

16

174

Somervell County

Transmission System in Proximate Area 206

277

Hamilton

67

84

36 377 6 67

83

Mills County

San Angelo

San Angelo

36

84

Coryell County

183

87

Concho County 87

283 87

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McCulloch County " /

" /

277

San Saba County

190

87

83

Brady

190

San Saba

Fort Cavazos

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183

Copperas Cove

" /" /

" /

" /

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190

Lampasas

194.19 miles

190

Schleicher County

" /

Ding Dong

281

" /

183

Menard

190

Menard County

190

16

87 71

" /

Killeen

14

Harker Heights

Colorado Bend

83

35 317

71

277

29

Bell County East Switch

277

95

Bell County East - Big Hill East 765 kV Stations

" /

" / " /

" / " / " / " /

Longhorn Cavern

Kingsland

195

Lake Georgetown Recreational Area

183

71

Milam County

Bartlett

29

Llano County

Williamson County

Granger Lake

Georgetown

83 377

Oncor - 345kV (existing, overhead)

Sonora

183

29

29

Lake Lyndon B Johnson

87

10 Oncor - 138kV (existing, overhead) Sutton County

Round Rock

Cedar Park

71

Junction

79

Taylor

Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge

Kimble County

10

Leander

Marble Falls

16

Pflugerville

10

Oncor - 69kV (existing, overhead) 183

Lee County

1

71

LCRA TSC 290

277

290

83

Other Transmission Lines

Gillespie County

Elgin

290

Travis County 35

281

Fredericksburg

377

Blanco County

Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park

10 55 Proposed Transmission Lined Project

35 Austin

71

Camp Swift

290

16

35

290

71

Dripping Springs 71 45

27

41

21

Wyldwood

" /

Existing Oncor Substations

" /

Project Endpoint

55

53

190

" / " /

Burnet

29

Temple

Belton

35

195

Burnet County

261 29 Llano

Mason

Mason County

" / " / " / / " / " /" " / " / " /" " / / /" " /" / " / " " / / Bell County " / / " " / " / " / " / " / " / " / " / " /

Salado

138

281

377

Falls County

36 281

Belton Lake

Big Hill East

Hulldale

Eldorado

36

236

Lampasas County

190

377

Hewitt

84

183

83

Eden

84 84

McGregor

Gatesville

16

Tom Green County

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317

84

Goldthwaite

377

West Tom Green

281

Waco Lake

McLennan County

Tex as

67

83

Edwards County

16

Blanco

21

183

Buda

Rocksprings

Kendall County

83

Comfort

39

Real County

27

Study Area

Bandera County

21

Hays County

87

Kerrville

377

County Boundary

Bastrop County

Bastrop

10

27

Kerr County

41

0

Wimberley

22.5

35

45 Comal County

87

16

Kyle 304

11.25

281

Caldwell90 County

21

67.5

Lockhart

San Marcos

Canyon Lake

142

Miles

Guadalupe County

173

80

46

95

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Andrews

176

176

Transmission System in Proximate Area McKinney Acres

87

176

Big Spring

Andrews County

128

Martin County

Howard County

163

Mitchell County

Nolan County 208

385

Stanton 115

128

Jal

87 349

158 158

Midland

191

87 20 302

302

Winkler County

Ector County

Kermit

Loving County

Spraberry

20

302

302

20

Odessa

20

338

18

158

87

Glasscock County

Midland County

158

Sterling County 87

158

137

Robert Lee

Coke County

Sterling City

349

302

115

87 87

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20

Monahans

Sand Lake

285

" / " / " /

" /

163

385

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18

Ward County

20

20

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Pecos

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20

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Lindsay

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349

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Crane South

1450

Reeves County

176.37 mi

385

Irion County

349

329

" /" /

les

67

67 163

" /

Big Lake 385

285

West Tom Green

Reagan County

" /" /

" /

" /

277 67

67 137

18

Sand Lake - Big Hill 765 kV Stations

349

Big Hill

67 10

Oncor - 345kV (existing, overhead)

285

277 10

Iraan

190

10

Oncor - 138kV (existing, overhead)

Fort Stockton

190

Schleicher County

190

163

190

10 10

10

Eldorado

190

Oncor - 69kV (existing, overhead)

137

349

67

385

285

Pecos County

277

LCRA TSC

10 10

Jeff Davis Other Transmission Lines County

285

Crockett County

Ozona 10

10

290

67

Proposed Transmission Lined Project 10 163

385

" /

Sonora

Existing Oncor Substations 285

" /

Project Endpoint

Terrell County

Brewster County

County Boundary

67

0

Study Area 385 90

Big Hill-Sand Lake proposed map, LCRA

10

Texas Wildlife Extra

San Angelo

" / " /

" /

Upton County

329

" /

285

Tom Green County

137

" /

Crane

Sutton County

349

10

20

40

60

80

Miles

277

" /

Hulldale

The Stakes (and Transmission Lines) Are Getting Higher

Howard - Solstice

Transmission Line Project PECOS

SAN ANGELO

18

10

83

163

SOLSTICE SUBSTATION

FORT STOCKTON

230

229

227

FORT DAVIS 67

221

222

225

219

226

218

201

24 25

200 194

202

183 182

205 207

179

180

178 172

171 163

169

165

135

6

144

158

154 155

152

153

141

147

146

149

110

ME XI CO

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK

129 106 126

140

125

138 124

97

62

85

86

113 112

56 57

58

55 75 82

47 74

73

72 71

54

53 67

69 70

SAN ANTONIO

40

32 30

41

49

77 76

81

51

48

84

83

52

50

59

87

UVALDE

Potential Route Links**

61 60

90 88

115

64

63

95 89

92 93

114

96

94

118 102

116

DEL RIO

99

91

122 121 120

117

98

103

119 123

100

104

111

Legend

105 107

127 139

16

290

108

109

128

S

150

136 132

131 130

142

148 151

134

143

156

157

277

10 7

9

1604

10

133

145

167

166

161

160

137

168

162

159

XA

5

2

14

16

20

349

192 193 175 214 210 191 190 189 176 177 211 174 164 208 184 209 170 188 212 173 206

TE

23

4

15

19

8

199 198

90

18

204

3

13

195 196

223

216 213

385

203

1

17

21

26

224

215 220

190

35 12

22

285

228

27

28

44

38

46 45 43

39

31 37

42 36

35 34

68 66

65

27 29 22

14 33 16 11 20

12

13

HOWARD SUBSTATION 7

10

Existing Substation 00

Route Link Labels

**Potential route links are multiple route alternatives presented to determine a line route. Company representatives do not build all study segments, rather upon the PUCT's route determination and approval, one route is built based on public feedback and feasibility.

37

NO FINAL LINE ROUTE HAS BEEN DETERMINED

Howard-Solstice proposed map, AEP

The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is consulted but ultimately does not have oversight over the routing of a proposed project.

Maps on pages 9-11 of this article represent current stages of 756 kV projects. Impacted landowner are advised to retain legal counsel should they seek to affect project siting.

PUC PROCEEDINGS • Once applications are submitted to the PUC, the administrative process begins. Public comments can be submitted and those landowners that are directly impacted by the project can intervene as a party to the proceeding. Once admitted as a party, the landowner can provide testimony and other evidence, including expert witnesses, and conduct discovery in support of their case.

From initial public notice to final orders this formal consideration phase lasts 180 days. At its close, an Administrative Law Judge will hear all the evidence submitted and make a written decision with supportive recommendations to the PUC Commissioners. The Commission will decide and issue a final order on the final route. Affected parties are afforded 20 days to file an appeal once a final order is issued.

POST-PROJECT APPROVAL AND LAND ACQUISITION • Following a PUC decision, utilities have two years to negotiate easements and acquire rights-of-way then initiate construction.

Ensuring Texas’ meets its growing power needs is prudent to ratepayers from standpoints of both energy reliability and affordability. The unfortunate reality, however, is that the process of siting transmission infrastructure makes neighbors into winners and losers. Proactively engaging throughout the routing process is the best means to ensure the long-term goals and legacy of one’s property remain intact. Interested landowners should consult additional resources to better educate yourself on the process.

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TEXAS OUTDOOR NEWS With funding from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, DU and its partners are delivering several conservation projects along the Texas Gulf Coast to improve wetland habitat for wildlife such as this white ibis while strengthening natural storm defenses.

PHOTO BY JOSHUA J. COTTON

NAWCA Grant Supports Conservation on Texas Gulf Coast ARTICLE BY DUCKS UNLIMITED

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he Migratory Bird Conservation Council recently approved a $2.28 million North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant to Ducks Unlimited and partners for wetland restoration projects along the Texas Gulf Coast. This investment will protect and enhance more than 3,300 acres of habitat in the region, benefiting waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wildlife while expanding public access and strengthening natural storm defenses.

The NAWCA grant will enhance 2,252 acres of wildlife habitat on private lands through the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project; improve freshwater inflows on 258 acres of wetlands and enhance a 50-acre emergent wetland along a public trail on the Jocelyn Nungaray National Wildlife Refuge; protect critical shoreline habitat along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway; and facilitate the transfer of

271.5 acres of DU-owned property to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

“This NAWCA grant represents a major step forward for wetlands conservation on the Texas Gulf Coast,” said DU Biologist Taylor Abshier. “By working with private landowners and other agency partners, we’re conserving essential habitat while also improving water quality, reducing storm surge, and expanding opportunities for hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing.”

DU’s partners in this work include Apex Clean Energy, ConocoPhillips, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Thomas and Sandra Hunt, and several private landowners. These projects will build upon more than three decades of NAWCAfunded conservation work along the Texas Gulf Coast, which has provided tens of thousands of acres of crucial habitat for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.

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Pictured is a grasshopper sparrow, a species of grassland-obligate bird that heavily relies on intact grasslands. Grassland-obligate bird populations are experiencing sharp declines across North America’s grasslands.

PHOTO BY EMILY CARD/BRI

Removing Encroaching Shrubs for Grassland Birds

ARTICLE BY AUDREY TAULLI, DR. CARLOS E. GONZALEZ, DR. JUSTIN T. FRENCH, and DR. MAUREEN G. FRANK

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rassland habitat is one of the fastest-declining habitat types in the world, and grassland-obligate bird populations have followed the same trend.

Birds that need grassland habitats, known as grasslandobligate species, require intact grasslands throughout the different stages of their lives, which includes breeding, migration, and over the winter. The decline in grasslandobligate birds is attributed to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation through overgrazing, conversion for human use, and woody plant encroachment.

Ninety percent of migrating grassland-obligate birds spend the winter within the Chihuahuan Desert, spanning from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas down into Mexico. The Marfa and Marathon grasslands in Texas provide important habitat, and this is where Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) manages a Wintering Grassland Birds Restoration Project. This ongoing project aims to implement habitat restoration efforts on degraded grasslands within the Trans-Pecos region and evaluate responses from the avian communities in those areas. The target for the restoration

PHOTO BY BRI

PHOTO BY BRI

Above left: Grassland habitat in 2018 that is heavily encroached by western honey mesquite, prior to any restoration treatments being carried out on a private ranch outside of Marfa, Texas. Above right: Recovering grassland habitat in 2025 on the same ranch, after receiving both herbicide treatment in 2019 and mechanical removal treatment in 2023.

work is removal of encroaching woody vegetation, including species like mesquite.

In a healthy grassland, shrubs are typically limited to slopes and draws. However, shrubs can spread when grassland habitat becomes degraded over time. Things like disrupted fire regimes and the spreading of seeds from grazing livestock allows for brush to move into an area and become wellestablished. Encroaching shrubs can reduce grass production during the monsoon season by outcompeting grasses for precious water and nutrient resources. The reduction in grass leads to fewer grass seeds available to be eaten by birds in the winter. Larger perennial grasses also provide thermal cover overnight, so a reduction in grasses decreases available shelter that birds need to survive harsh temperatures. In addition, shrubs serve as perches for avian predators like American kestrels and loggerhead shrikes, so an increase in shrub cover potentially provides more hunting opportunities for these predators that target small grassland-obligate birds like sparrows.

To combat encroaching shrubs and evaluate the impact of restoration on birds, we applied herbicides that target western honey mesquite, creosote, and tarbush on multiple properties located in the Marfa and Marathon grasslands.

This herbicide application occurred in 2019. In the spring of 2023, some of the previously treated mesquite was mechanically removed via roller-chopping.

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Researchers at BRI established survey grids across the study sites in the winter of 2019, covering intact grassland habitat, untreated shrubland habitat, herbicide-treated shrubland habitat, and combination-treated (herbicide followed by roller chopping) shrubland habitat. We conducted bird surveys across these habitat types to determine bird species presence and abundance on the landscape. Surveyors walked 800-meter transects across sites, documenting bird species seen, how many birds were present, and the distance from the birds to the observer. These bird surveys were run every winter from 2019 to 2025 across these sites.

After seven years of surveys, we analyzed the data to look for trends and potential impacts of restoration treatments.

In total, we detected 33,106 birds during surveys. Of these, 20,277 individuals were species that are classified as grassland-obligates. To determine if the bird communities in treated areas were changing, we first looked at overall community compositions. We compared each type of treatment with each other and with the intact grassland to look for trends or similar groupings. Surveys conducted in areas with treated and untreated shrubs tended to have bird communities that were more similar to each other than intact grassland communities.

We then analyzed whether the bird communities in any of the treated shrubland plots were becoming more similar to the bird communities found within the grassland

Removing Encroaching Shrubs for Grassland Birds habitats—in other words, examining whether the communities changed over the seven years. We found that bird communities in untreated plots and plots treated with just herbicide became increasingly dissimilar to those in grassland plots over time.

Bird communities in the combinationtreated plots, however, became more like those in grassland plots over the course of seven years, meaning that the bird communities shifted to have more of the same species and relatively similar abundances.

When we think about how grassland birds utilize the landscape, these results make sense. A grassland-obligate bird may functionally view herbicide-treated brush and dormant untreated brush similarly due to their relatively identical structure. The physical presence of the shrub, dead or alive, creates the same functional disadvantage to grassland birds. The shrub structure can still provide perches for avian predators or may still cause lower grass production.

Due to the functional similarity between herbicide-treated dead brush and dormant untreated brush, bird communities in both of these habitat types are not becoming any more similar to communities found in grassland habitats. Removing the skeletal structures of treated shrubs creates more suitable wintering habitat for some grasslandobligate birds. Resources like available grass for shelter and food may be more abundant, and the risk of predation may be lower.

Ultimately, our study shows that the structure of the brush, regardless of whether or not the plant is alive, can negatively impact grassland bird species. Effective treatment of encroaching woody vegetation that positively impacts grassland-reliant birds requires integrated brush management that completely removes the brush from the landscape.

For landowners and managers who want to benefit grassland birds, this

We performed statistical analyses of avian communities found in shrubland habitats vs. grassland habitats for each year. Over the seven years of the project, plots that were treated by a combination of chemical and mechanical treatments became more similar to their grassland counterparts, indicated by the downward-trending line. Bird communities in the untreated and herbicide-onlytreated plots, represented by the two upward-trending lines, are becoming more dissimilar to the grassland bird communities found during the same time period.

study justifies the use of integrated brush management and establishes a solid restoration-based foundation that can give managers the opportunity to implement species-specific management practices. To further improve habitat for grassland-obligate birds, landowners and land managers may consider seeding native annual and perennial grasses in conjunction with brush management. Future research on the scale of management (how much intact grassland is needed) would help fine-tune these recommendations, but landowners and land managers can reduce brush in some

areas while leaving brush in other areas, such as where scaled quail are common if hunting is also a priority.

By attempting to remove encroaching brush in degraded grassland habitat, restoration efforts are showing a potential positive impact on grassland birds, as some species may begin returning to areas that were previously unoccupied. Property managers and landowners may have a path forward for restoring their grassland habitat, with a methodology that can become a good foundational start to restoring and conserving the habitat and wildlife on their land.

CENTER FOR LAND STEWARDSHIP & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Helping Landowners Meet Their Conservation Goals

Water in the Desert Conference ARTICLE BY BORDERLANDS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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egistration is now open for the second Water in the Desert Conference, slated for Feb. 11–13 at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. The conference will once again bring together landowners, scientists, policymakers and community leaders to explore the future of water across West Texas.

Organized by the Borderlands Research Institute (BRI) in partnership with the West Texas Water Research Center (WTWRC), the conference will build on the success of the 2024 gathering that drew more than 260 participants from across the region. This year’s event will take place on the Sul Ross campus and feature thought-provoking sessions, field trips and opportunities for collaboration.

“Water in the Desert has become a trusted forum for real conversations about West Texas water,” said Billy Tarrant, interim director of the WTWRC. “We’re looking forward to bringing everyone back together to share new science, strengthen partnerships and keep the momentum going.”

Highlights will include panels on groundwater and surfacewater science, a regional legislative outlook, landowner perspectives, and the unveiling of draft priorities for the new West Texas Water Research Center. Speakers and detailed program information will be announced soon.

The registration fee is $95. Attendees are encouraged to register early at bri.sulross.edu/events/water-in-the-desert-2026 to ensure lodging availability in Alpine.

“The Water in the Desert Conference has energized our university’s role in addressing water challenges across the region,” said Dr. Louis Harveson, associate provost of research and development and the director of BRI. “By coupling a strong convening with a service-oriented research center, we can help provide the science and partnerships that West Texans need to plan for the future.”

Organizing partners include Borderlands Research Institute, West Texas Water Research Center, Sul Ross State University, Dixon Water Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, Texas Water Foundation, Rio Grande Joint Venture, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Texas Wildlife Association and Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

For more information, visit bri.sulross.edu/events/water-inthe-desert-2026

PHOTO BY SEAN HOFFMANN

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White-tailed Deer The Backbone of Texas’ Rural Economy ARTICLE BY BRITTANY WEGNER, TEXAS A&M NATURAL RESOURCES INSTITUTE

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ew species shape Texas’s culture, land, and rural economies quite like the white-tailed deer. For generations, deer hunting has been more than a pastime; it’s been a cornerstone of land stewardship, a driver of rural enterprise, and a critical source of revenue for communities across the state. Today, as Texas grows and landownership shifts, the economic role of white-tailed deer has never been more vital and more visible.

Recent statewide surveys conducted by the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management reaffirm this truth with striking clarity: white-tailed deer hunting contributes nearly $10 billion to the Texas economy each year, supporting local businesses, landowners, and the landscapes we depend on.

HUNTING DOLLARS FLOW FROM CITIES TO RURAL TOWNS Texas has more deer hunters than any other state, and they come from every corner of our urban and rural communities. But what’s especially powerful is the direction of the economic flow: hunters overwhelmingly live in metro areas while doing most of their hunting in rural counties.

This movement creates a natural financial pipeline that strengthens small towns.

In 2022–2023, hunters spent an estimated: • $2.7 billion in direct expenditures on items such as fuel, meals, lodging, equipment, leases, and land management • $446 million in tax revenue • $1.3 billion in labor income through the jobs supported by hunting activity Together, hunters generated $4.6 billion in economic output.

These dollars touch nearly every local business you’d expect from feed stores, gas stations, hardware suppliers, meat processors, and outfitters. And during peak hunting season, they often determine whether small rural businesses finish the year strong.

LANDOWNERS: THE QUIET ECONOMIC ENGINE BEHIND WILDLIFE While hunters drive demand, Texas landowners supply the habitat. And supporting that habitat, including water distribution systems, brush management, prescribed fire, supplemental feeding, fencing, roads, and more, requires real investment.

From the landowner-focused portion of the statewide survey: • Landowners’ average annual expenditures on deerrelated management totaled $18,812 per property.

• Their average revenue from deer hunting enterprises was $20,658.

• Across Texas, landowners generate $5 billion in economic output related to deer management and hunting access.

• Their operations support 34,528 jobs and contribute over $90 million in state and local taxes.

Importantly, white-tailed deer are the primary incomegenerating wildlife species for 75 percent of landowners surveyed. Hunting access, which was shown to be primarily through leases, continues to be a vital part of rural economic viability and encourages active habitat stewardship.

Across the state, from the Hill Country to the Pineywoods, deer-related income helps landowners keep working lands intact. It supports multigenerational ranching families, incentivizes conservation practices, and maintains Texas’ rural character against strong development pressures.

THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT: HOW DEER HUNTING BENEFITS EVERYONE The reports highlight a powerful concept often overlooked in discussions about wildlife: the multiplier effect. Money spent on hunting doesn’t stay isolated. A single dollar spent on:

• fuel to reach a hunting lease • a bag of corn at the local feed store • a weekend of lodging in a rural town • a landowner’s investment in habitat improvement …circulates through supporting industries, employee wages, contractor services, and tax revenue multiple times.

This circulation amplifies the contribution of whitetailed deer well beyond the field or the lease gate, ultimately benefiting schools, small-town infrastructure, local employment, and conservation funding.

STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY GO HAND-INHAND More than 95 percent of Texas landowners surveyed describe their deer herds as 100 percent free-ranging native deer, which is a testament to the strength of Texas’s natural system and the stewardship ethic of private landowners.

These same landowners cite wildlife, family, and hunting as their top reasons for owning land. Simply put, stewardship is both a lifestyle and an investment.

Yet the surveys also highlight emerging challenges, including the potential spread of disease or parasites and the long-term consequences for hunter participation, rural economies, and landowners who depend on deer revenue. Continued vigilance, science-based management, and coordinated efforts between agencies and private landowners will be essential to safeguard this resource.

BY THE NUMBERS: WHITE-TAILED DEER AT THE HEART OF TEXAS’S ECONOMY From combined hunter and landowner contributions: • 554.9K deer hunters in Texas • 198.5K landowners managing deer habitat • $4.3B in annual expenditures • $9.6B total annual economic contribution • 58,000+ jobs supported each year statewide These figures underscore a simple reality: white-tailed deer are an economic powerhouse for Texas, far beyond their ecological and cultural value.

A RESOURCE WORTH PROTECTING White-tailed deer are more than wildlife. They’re one of Texas’s most significant natural resource assets. Their presence shapes land management decisions, drives billions in economic activity, binds rural and urban communities together, and supports a deep-rooted outdoor heritage.

The economic story told through these surveys reinforces what Texans have known for generations: hunting and conservation are inseparable, and when we protect the resource, we protect the livelihoods, landscapes, and traditions that depend on it.

As Texas continues to change, maintaining healthy wildlife populations and supporting the landowners who steward them will remain central to sustaining the state’s rural economies and ensuring that future generations experience the richness of our wildlife heritage.

To read the full reports, readers can head to: tx.ag/5HAAfCB

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GUNS & HUNTING

Late Season ARTICLE BY LARRY WEISHUHN PHOTOS COURTESY LARRY WEISHUHN OUTDOORS

“Y

ou planning on doing any rattling?” asked Luke Clayton.

“You know me too well! I am, even though it may be a little late in the season. However, I have been seeing some chasing. We had a high fawn survival rate this year. Six-month old doe fawns are in great body condition, a high percentage of them are having their first estrus. I’m basing this on the number of bucks I’ve seen checking and chasing young does. That being the case and seeing active scrapes I think rattling might still work! Regardless I’ll give it a try,” I said.

Luke and I have been hunting and fishing together for about 20 years. We started back when he began doing his weekly radio show, heard across Texas, adjoining states and even in Georgia. We recently turned his hour-long radio show into a weekly podcast, “Catfish Radio with Luke Clayton and

as well as finding small pockets away from where others hunt. I found two such places on previous trips to the ranch.

To sweeten these areas, I put out several bags of Vineyard Max, (www.vineyardmax.net). Comprised of hammer-milled red and white dried grape skins, rice bran and cracked corn, the mixture readily attracts deer, even where they have never been exposed to grapes of any kind. And, it’s good for the deer because of the high energy content.

My intent was to draw deer into areas others do not hunt.

I put out Vineyard Max in these areas as soon as we arrived, then hunted one of those places the first afternoon in camp.

I asked Luke and Jeff to sit in blinds overlooking established feed stations.

That afternoon I watched eight bucks feed on the Vineyard Max. All were younger 8 and 10-points. The does had other plans, however.

My intent was to draw deer into areas others do not hunt.

I put out Vineyard Max in these areas as soon as we arrived, then hunted one of those places the first afternoon in camp. I asked Luke and Jeff to sit in blinds overlooking established feed stations.

Friends.” I have always done the opening 15 minutes of the Campfire Talk segment. Luke’s podcast, like my weekly “DSC’s Campfires with Larry Weishuhn,” can be listened to just about anywhere podcasts can be heard including Apple podcasts, Spotify, outdooraction.com, carbontv.com and others.

Jeff Rice, producer our weekly digital “A Sportsman’s Life” television show, which airs on Carbontv.com and is also available on our YouTube channel of the same name, Luke and I were hunting my lease in western Texas. I invited them to help me take late season does and management bucks.

The property had a great amount of filaree, a low-growing forb which is ideal deer forage. Deer were still coming to long established feed areas. While I occasionally may hunt from traditional deer blinds, I really enjoy rattling, spot and stalk,

Back at camp that night I got the same story from Luke and Jeff. “Saw 13 different bucks. All were relatively young.

One was an older 8-point but he never gave me an ethical shot” said Luke.

“All bucks and no does, other than a small herd of them about 700 yards away,” said Jeff. He then added, “I did see a real good buck, but he was even further away than the group of does. Seems like the bucks are dominating the feed areas right now, same as they did last year when we were here in mid-January as now, trying to harvest does.”

The next morning, I rattled near the areas I had baited.

I did five rattling sequences and had two bucks respond; one 8-point that was likely a three-year old and a young forkhorn. Regardless of antler size or age, I love rattling in

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bucks. During the evening hunt, between the three of us, we saw only bucks, mostly youngsters.

The morning of day three I still hunted through mesquites and cedars and was able to harvest three does. I shot one with my.44 Mag and another with my .454 Casull Taurus Raging Hunter revolver using Hornady Custom 240-grain XTP ammo. The third was taken with my 7mm PRC bolt action rifle, topped with a 3-18x44 Stealth Vision SVT scope using Hornady’s Precision Hunter 175-grain ELD-X ammo.

One of the things I like about being involved in leases with our Texas MLDP program is the ability to take several does and occasionally bucks using a variety of firearms.

Thankfully, Luke and Jeff finally found and shot does as well, plus each took a management buck.

On the last afternoon of our January hunt, I returned to one of the secluded baited areas I had set up at the beginning of the hunt. I hoped to take an ancient 10-point I had seen in the area earlier in the fall. About an hour into my hunt the buck appeared. This time I was hunting with a 6.5 PRC topped with a Stealth Vision scope and shooting Hornady’s 143-grain ELD-X Precision Hunter. My plan was to take the same rifle on a Coues deer hunt in Mexico shortly after returning home.

I had my rattling horns at my side and was about to pick them up and start rattling when the old 10-point appeared.

There was no doubt it was him. I cautiously raised the rifle, centered the crosshairs on his vitals, then slowly pulled the trigger. My buck took two steps and dropped. I love it when a plan comes together!

Many hunting opportunities are still available before all of our Texas seasons come to an end for the year. The best advice there is: Go hunt!

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Pictured is the sterile fly dispersal facility in Panama, comanaged by the USDA. It has been operational since 2006.

New World Screwworm Update ARTICLE BY USDA

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n Nov. 13, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the next milestone in the fight against New World screwworm (NWS) – the opening of a sterile fly dispersal facility in Tampico, Mexico. The Tampico facility will allow USDA to disperse sterile flies aerially across northeastern Mexico, including in Nuevo Leon.

“The opening of the Tampico sterile fly dispersal facility is another incredibly important tool in our arsenal to stop the spread of screwworm. The facility will ensure flexibility and responsiveness in northern Mexico, giving us a greater ability to drop sterile flies and continue to push the pest south,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.

“Stopping the spread of screwworm is a top priority for the entire Trump Administration. Last week I had a productive meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and my counterpart Secretary Julio Berdegue on the joint response to screwworm. We are boosting our efforts and completing a joint review of our screwworm operations in Mexico to ensure our protocols are being followed. As we enter the winter months, we continue to prioritize the response in Mexico and the rest of our five-pronged plan (PDF, 434 KB) to protect U.S. livestock and the livelihoods of American farmers and ranchers.”

There are two methods of dispersing sterile insects – aerial dispersal and ground release chambers. Aerial operations are preferred because they allow for dispersal at a steady rate through a large area and also because sterile insects may be dispersed in areas that are unreachable from the ground. Ground release chambers are used when there’s a need to quickly deploy sterile insects outside of the dispersal facility range.

USDA continues to disperse 100 million sterile flies per week in Mexico, but until now, aerial operations have been limited to southern Mexico, necessitating the use of ground release chambers in more northern areas of the country.

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Mass production and targeted dispersal of sterile flies remain critical components of our effective response.

Although Mexico continues to confirm new cases of NWS, the overwhelming majority of these remain in the far southern part of the country, with no significant northward expansion over the past several months. Should that change, the Tampico facility will allow USDA to immediately tackle any cases that occur elsewhere in Mexico.

The two northernmost detections (approximately 70 and 170 miles from the U.S. border, respectively) occurred in Nuevo León, on September 20 and October 5, in young cattle transported from Chiapas, Mexico. Neither of those cases is still active and there have been no additional detections of NWS flies in traps or cases in animals in Nuevo Leon. USDA continues to disperse sterile insects in Nuevo Leon, and will now transition from ground release chambers to aerial dispersal in those areas.

USDA produces sterile flies for dispersal at the COPEG facility in Panama. USDA is also investing $21 million to support Mexico’s renovation of an existing fruit fly facility in Metapa—which will double NWS production capacity once complete. With ongoing support from APHIS technical experts, Mexico anticipates this sterile fly production to begin as soon as summer 2026.

To expand our domestic response capacity, USDA has also begun construction on a sterile fly dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, TX that is projected to begin operating in early 2026. APHIS is also expediting design and construction of a sterile fly production facility in Southern Texas, with a targeted maximum capacity of 300 million sterile flies per week.

USDA continues to work with Mexico’s agriculture authority, SENASICA, to implement the collaborative NWS Action Plan and guide trapping, surveillance, and movement protocols to help stop the northward spread of NWS.

New World Screwworm Response Update Friday, January 9, 2026

12:00 – 1:00 PM

A webinar link will be provided prior to the event date.

• New World Screwworm Background and Status Update Dr. Hunter Reed, Senior Wildlife Veterinarian, TPWD • Wildlife Surveillance, Reporting, and TPWD’s Response Efforts Kory Gann, Big Game Program Director, TPWD Visit the TPWD NWS Webpage for additional information and the webinar link.

Hunters Encouraged to Participate in 34th Annual Texas Big Game Awards ARTICLE BY SEAN HOFFMANN, TWA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

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ith the sun setting on the 2025-26 hunting season for many Texans, hunters are reminded that it’s not too late to participate in the Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA).

Established in 1991, this free program is designed to promote big game hunting in Texas and encourage proactive habitat and wildlife management. The Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department co-sponsor the program and the ensuing eight regional recognition banquets that will be held in summer 2026.

Shon Lorg’s Grayson County buck entry for the 2024-25 TBGA.

This Terrell County mule deer TBGA entry was submitted by Daniel Gonzales.

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Nicole Powell and her TBGA javelina harvest from Maverick County.

The TBGAs recognize youth hunters, first big game harvests, and qualifying scored entries for white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn, javelina and bighorn sheep. Each hunter is honored with a certificate presented during one of the banquets.

The deadline to apply is March 1, 2026. Online entry forms and program rules are available at https://www. texasbiggameawards.org/.

“The Texas Big Game Awards program recognizes exceptional native Texas big game animals, as well as the landowners whose conservation efforts and stewardship create ideal habitat that supports our native wildlife. The program celebrates our hunting heritage and brings together Texans of all ages,” said TWA CEO Justin Dreibelbis.

Last season, more than 1,000 award applications were received from hunters across the state.

“It is encouraging to see high levels of participation in the TBGAs, especially the young Texans and new hunters experiencing what our great state has to offer,” he said.

TBGA program sponsors include the Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships, Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores, Busch Light, Hixon Land and Cattle Company, Capital Farm Credit, Yeti, Lee Hoffpauir Outdoor Superstore, Mossberg Rifles, Stealth Cam, Walker’s, SOG, Avian-X, Boss Buck, Cold Steel, Wildgame Innovations, Hawk Hunting, Tenzing, Halo and Skull Hooker.

Jennifer Hawley with her Angelina County whitetail that she entered in the 2024-25 TBGA.

For more information about TBGA, email Matt Hughes at mhughes@texas-wildlife.org.

In celebration of Texas Wildlife Association’s 40th Anniversary, Texas artist Noelle M. Brooks presents The Look of the Land—a breathtaking original oil painting capturing the wild heart of our state.

Order prints to commemorate TWA’s 40 years of impact—this is not just art; it’s a legacy.

40 SIGNED & NUMBERED LIMITED EDITION PRINTS AVAILABLE

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Order prints online at bit.ly/TWA40Print

JANUARY 2026

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