Texas Wildlife Extra

E-MAGAZINE OF THE TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

October has finally arrived and with it comes one of our favorite events of the year—the start of Texas’ archery and MLD whitetail season. Many of us are preparing for early mornings in the field, rifle or bow in hand and re-engaging with family and friends outdoors. It is what we have been working for all year.

But this fall brings more than just the promise of whitetails on the move. It brings new urgency to a threat we hoped was long behind us: the reemergence of the New World screwworm (NWS). Last seen in Texas in the late 60s and early 70s, this pest was eradicated from the United States through a cutting-edge sterile fly production and dispersal program which pushed the flies south of the Darien Gap in southern Panama for many years. For a variety of reasons, the NWS has made a rebound and moved northward into Mexico with a report last week indicating their occurrence just 70 miles south of the Texas border. While NWS poses enormous threats to the United States food supply through the livestock industry, they also significantly threaten our state’s multi-billion dollar wildlife and hunting industries since wildlife managers are rarely able to handle and treat individual animals in the field.

Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) has been actively engaged in policy discussions and response planning around this issue. Your staff and leadership team remain in constant contact with our agency and university partners to ensure landowners and wildlife managers are part of the conversation and the solution. Jonathan Letz is serving as our TWA representative on Gov. Abbott’s NWS Response Task Force, Andrew Earl and the education team continue building and distributing outreach materials for our members and our Advocacy team remains in close contact with the Texas Legislature on the issue. Our message has remained focused on ensuring that the response plan includes private land considerations, funding for sterile fly production and dispersal, and rapid communication strategies if outbreaks occur.

On Aug.15, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins was in Austin for a press conference with Gov. Abbott announcing that USDA will dedicate $750 million for a new sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Force Base in Edinburg, TX with an additional $100 million earmarked for research supporting evolving technologies. This is fantastic news for our ability to rid the U.S. of this pest once and for all but the construction and research will not happen overnight. It is going to take all of us being vigilant while we wait for the flies. Thanks to everyone putting in the work to find new tools for landowners.

Landowner and hunter vigilance is a vital component to the solution. We urge you to report any evidence of infestation to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and/or Texas Animal Health Commission immediately. The success of early detection and rapid response depends on communication and cooperation.

Thanks for being a member of TWA.

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

PROFESSIONAL STAFF/CONTRACT ASSOCIATES

ADMINISTRATION & OPERATION

Justin Dreibelbis, Chief Executive Officer

TJ Goodpasture, Director of Development & Operations

Denell Jackson, Controller

Becky Alizadeh, Office Manager

OUTREACH & MEMBER SERVICES

Sean Hoffmann, Director of Communications

Karly Bridges, Membership Manager

Nicole Vonkrosigk, Regional Membership Coordinator

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

COL(R) Chris Mitchell, Texas Youth Hunting Program Director

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

Loryn Calderon, Hunting Heritage Administrative Assistant

TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION

Justin Dreibelbis, Chief Executive Officer

TJ Goodpasture, Director of Development & Operations

Denell Jackson, Development Associate

ADVOCACY

Joey Park, Legislative Program Coordinator

MAGAZINE CORPS

Sean Hoffmann, Managing Editor

Publication Printers Corp., Printing, Denver, CO

Texas Wildlife Association MISSION STATEMENT 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

OCTOBER

October 9

James Green Wildlife & Conservation Initiative Fundraising Event, Fort Worth. For more info email djackson@texas-wildlife.org

October 17

An Evening of Conservation featuring Matt Hewitt of Borderlands Research Institute, 5 p.m., The Granada Theater, 207 E. Holland Ave., Alpine, 79830. https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ alpine/

October 24

Landowner Workshop: Management & Ecology of White-tailed Deer, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Irma Lewis Outdoor Learning Center, 1865 E. U.S. Hwy. 90, Seguin, 78155. https:// secure.qgiv.com/for/landownerworkshops/event/ seguinlandownerworkshop/

October 20

Wild at Work Webinar: New World Screwworm, A Framework for Management Decisions featuring Jason Sawyer, chief science officer, East Foundation. https://us06web.zoom.us/ meeting/register/6ZfPetN-R6yJWE11hI9Cjw#/ registration

OCTOBER

October 30

9th Annual TWA Clay Shoot, 9 a.m., Greater Houston Sports Club, 6700 McHard Rd., Houston, 77053. https://secure.qgiv.com/event/ clsho20/

NOVEMBER

November 13

Landowner Workshop: Diversifying Land Use in the Trans-Pecos, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Morgan University Center, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, 79832. https://secure. qgiv.com/for/landownerworkshops/event/ alternativelandusealpine2025/

FOR INFORMATION ON HUNTING SEASONS, call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) 792-1112, consult the 2024-2025 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual, or visit the TPWD website at: tpwd.state.tx.us.

TWA MEMBER PHOTO CONTEST

EMAIL US YOUR BEST PHOTOS, TWA! We’ll accept them from current members through Oct. 31, 2025 and publish the best ones in upcoming issues to Texas Wildlife Extra. One entry per member per category, must be a current TWA member when photo is entered. Categories are landscape, wildlife, humor and game camera. Also, an open youth division for photographers who are 17 and under. Photos must be taken in Texas! Email your high resolution, unedited and unenhanced picture to TWA@texas-wildlife.org

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

Unpacking the 89th Special Sessions

Lawmakers are peeling out of Austin and not checking the rear-view after adjourning in September. Here’s a quick overview of the 89th special sessions, what shook out and what

ARTICLE BY ANDREW EARL, TWA DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION

Special sessions of the Texas Legislature don’t generally foster kinship amongst lawmakers and historians won’t read the special sessions of the 89th Session any differently.

With little exception, the Governor employs his authority to keep lawmakers in town to address legacy-building priorities left unresolved during the 140-day Regular Session. The Governor’s guardrails don’t leave room for photogenic issues like naming highways and handing our citizen

didn’t

recognitions. Instead, they force debate on contentious topics like tax reform, public education and state budgets.

Governor Abbott called the first special session on June 23, directing lawmakers to revise Congressional maps, improve flood safety & mitigation measures, address THC, and tackle water supply issues, among other subjects. On September 4, the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House happily concluded their business and adjourned the chambers until January 2027.

BELOW IS A BRIEF OUTLINE OF WHAT WAS (AND WAS NOT) ENACTED:

• Natural Disaster Preparedness, Safety and Mitigation—following the tragic Hill Country floods of July 4, lawmakers and grieving parents passed multiple reforms to address gaps in emergency planning. New laws will require overnight camps to adopt emergency response plans and warning systems and carry out staff and camper training. The state apportioned roughly $300 million for disaster response and infrastructure improvement needs.

• Congressional Redistricting—Despite turbulence, Texas’ congressional maps were redrawn for the first time since 2021. No districts were added however several boundaries were revised. Pending forthcoming legal challenges, this local redistricting may have national implications in 2026 mid-term elections.

• Water Supply & Conveyance—In response to a hotly debated water supply and conveyance project proposed in East Texas, lawmakers considered legislation to carry out a study into impacts on the underlying CarrizoWilcox Aquifer. House efforts to also place a local moratorium on the issuance of permits floundered in the Senate, and differences failed to be resolved before the chambers adjourned.

Notably, no legislative action was taken on new world screwworm eradication as... health officials initiate response plans.

Notably, no legislative action was taken on new world screwworm eradication as state wildlife, animal and human health officials initiate response plans. In July, USDA Secretary announced a historic investment of up to $750 million for sterile fly production in South Texas. In light of the announcement and ongoing containment efforts, the Governor suggested the state take time to reexamine legislative needs.

As the ink dries on the 89th, TWA is examining wins and losses of the past nine months and charting a course ahead of the 90th Session in January 2027. The challenges facing our resources are evolving and loom larger than ever. Fortunately, the motivation among landowners to rise to the occasion is even larger.

How can you help? If you’re so inclined, consider a donation to TWA’s Political Action Committee. Just as important, stay up to date via the TWA website, social media and magazine content and be ready to act in support of rural Texas when called upon. Your land depends on it.

What’s New for the 2025-26 Hunting Season

ARTICLE BY SEAN HOFFMANN, TWA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

The 2025-26 hunting season kicked off with the Sept. 1 dove opener across most of the state, and it’s still underway. Alligator season has already come and gone as has a shortened teal season.

TPWD has outlined a handful of changes that are in place for the 2025-26 hunting season, many of which will come into play soon.

EXPANDED DIGITAL LICENSE OPTIONS

Hunters have new options for digital licenses, including fully digital license options for all recreational hunting, fishing and combo license and tag types. Learn more in this how-to video.

REGULATION CHANGES

• For wild turkeys in Hill County, IH35E now serves as the zone boundary line.

• Lubbock County is now open to wild turkey hunting. North Zone regulations apply.

• The daily bag limit for northern pintails in all duck zones has increased.

SEASON DATE CHANGES

Mule deer archery only season:

• Panhandle: Sept. 27 – Nov. 21

• Trans-Pecos: Sept. 27 – Nov. 27

• Brewster, Pecos and Terrell counties: Sept. 27 – Nov. 27

Mule deer general season:

• Panhandle: Nov. 22 – Dec. 7

• Tran-Pecos: Nov. 28 – Dec. 14

• Brewster, Pecos and Terrell Counties: Nov. 28 – Dec. 14

Quail season statewide is Nov. 1, 2025– Feb. 28, 2026.

NON-RESIDENT NEWS

License options for non-resident hunters have been whittled from five to two. Out-of-staters hunting legal birds or game animals (alligator, wild turkey, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer), must possess a Non-resident General Hunting license. Non-residents who hunt exotics, small game birds (wild turkey being an exception), non-game animals, fur-bearing animals, squirrel and javelina for five or less days should purchase a Non-resident Special 5-Day Small Game/Exotic Hunting license.

The entire gamut statewide hunting and fishing season dates, bag limits, zones and regulations are online at outdoorannual.com, or through TPWD’s free Outdoor Annual mobile app

PHOTO

DR. LOUIS HARVESON

ASI: Animal Skull Investigation

Students will use clues to ID animal skulls. Adaptations will be discussed between predators and prey and students will be asked to identify common structures of animal skulls.

Bats-a-Billion

We will look at live bats and examine the unique body structures that allow bats to fly. We will also identify other adaptations such as echolocation, and discuss their basic needs and diverse habitats.

Creepy Critters

Join us as we take an up-close look at three creepy critters, discuss how they fit into the food chain, their adaptations, and the interesting structures that bring fear to many.

Owl Adaptations

This program features a live owl. We will examine the adaptations which allow them to fly, hunt, and survive in their environment We will also play the calls of some common Texas owls.

During spring and fall, millions of Monarchs will migrate through Texas. Join us as we discuss the basic needs, life cycle, adaptations, and migration patterns of the Monarch butterfly and learn how you can help conserve this unique creature.

The New World Screwworm and Why Texas Must Stay Vigilant

The New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax), or NWS, is no ordinary fly. Native to the Americas, this parasitic blowfly lays eggs in the open wounds of warm-blooded animals like ranch livestock, wildlife, pets, and even humans. The resulting maggots burrow into living tissue, causing severe, often fatal infections if left untreated, especially in free-ranging wildlife that do not receive veterinary care and cannot be closely monitored like livestock.

Although declared eradicated from the U.S. by 1966, with isolated outbreaks in 1976 in Texas and 2016 in Florida, recent detections in southern Mexico and Central America have reignited concern, especially for Texas, which lies closest to potential reintroduction zones. With more than 100 mammal species at risk as of mid-2025, including more than 5 million white-tailed deer, renewed focus is being placed on this parasite to safeguard livestock, wildlife, and landowner livelihoods.

SIGNS RANCHERS AND WILDLIFE MANAGERS, URBAN AND RURAL, SHOULD KNOW

Spotting screwworm presence early can mean the difference between swift control and widespread devastation. Key indicators include:

• Open sores, wounds, or tissue damage with visible maggots

• Foul odor like rotting flesh

• Animals biting or licking at wounds

• Lesions in navels, ears, dehorning, shedding, or branding sites

• Unusual restlessness or lethargy

If you suspect screwworm infestation, immediately report any sightings of live animals with maggots to your local Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist or the Texas Animal Health Commission. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service county agents and AgriLife Extension specialists can serve as key contacts to help connect you with proper resources and official reporting agencies.

WILDLIFE MONITORING CONSIDERATIONS

Monitoring wild, free-ranging wildlife populations is considerably more difficult than monitoring domestic or livestock animals; however, increased monitoring will assist state and federal agencies in responding to new outbreaks. Especially for landowners or wildlife managers who may be participating in Managed Lands Deer Programs and conducting wildlife surveys or using trail cameras, be

PHOTO BY

MICHAEL MILLER, TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

ARTICLE BY TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

especially vigilant. Monitor current movement patterns and behavior pre-outbreak so abnormalities in behavior, movement, and location will be more apparent should infestations of NWS occur.

Susceptibility to NWS infestation varies by sex due to seasonal behavioral changes that increase the likelihood of injury in animals, such as white-tailed deer during breeding season. Seasonal management practices among confined wildlife, such as ear tagging, de-horning, and capture, can also increase the potential risk for infestation.

LOOKING BACK: COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND CREATIVE TECHNIQUES

In the early 20th century, NWS wreaked havoc across southern U.S. livestock herds, inflicting staggering financial losses. In response, entomologists Edward F. Knipling and Raymond C. Bushland of the USDA developed an innovative and revolutionary solution: the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).

Late 1940s–1950s: Working in Menard and Kerrville, Texas, they demonstrated that exposing male screwworm flies to radiation could sterilize them without compromising their ability to compete for mates.

1954: The technique was successfully trialed on Curaçao, an isolated island off the coast of Venezuela, eradicating screwworms in under two months.

Late 1950s–1960s: Mass rearing facilities in Mission, Texas, produced sterile flies that were released throughout the southern U.S., culminating in national eradication by 1966 1970s–1980s: Outbreaks prompted renewed sterile fly releases; by the early 1980s, screwworms were again

WHAT TEXAS LANDOWNERS CAN DO TO PREPARE

• Be especially vigilant during wet seasons with wounds and insect activity.

• Inspect animals frequently, especially after procedures like castration, branding or calving.

• Report any suspicious wounds promptly to AgriLife Extension or a wildlife biologist, Texas Animal Health Commission, or your local veterinarian.

• Support survey and control programs.

• Educate your neighbors, staff, and peers.

HOW TO SPOT NEW WORLD SCREWWORM CHECKLIST

• Open sores and tissue damage found on living, warm-blooded wildlife.

{ Wounds as small as a tick bite can become infested.

{ Maggots may be visible in wounds.

eradicated in the U.S., with Mexico and Central America following by the 1990s.

1990s onward: A biological barrier in Panama helps prevent reinvasion into Central America and the U.S. Knipling and Bushland’s work earned them the 1992 World Food Prize, and their legacy continues via the Knipling–Bushland Southwest Animal Research Foundation, supporting ongoing entomological research at Texas A&M University.

MODERN REVIVAL: PREPARING FOR NEW CHALLENGES

With screwworms resurfacing near U.S. borders, swift and decisive action is underway. The USDA, in collaboration with Texas officials, is investing $750 million in a new sterile fly breeding facility at Moore Air Base near Edinburg capable of producing up to 300 million sterile flies weekly. This, combined with Mexican and Panamanian facilities, aims to fortify the southeastern barrier and push screwworm populations southward. Experts warn that another screwworm outbreak in Texas could cost livestock producers $1 billion and up to $3.7 billion to the U.S. economy.

The New World screwworm is more than a historical footnote—it’s a potential crisis that could devastate Texas’s livestock and wildlife economy and heritage. The story of Knipling and Bushland’s ingenuity, perseverance, and grit proves that coordinated action through science and technology is effective. Now, with new threats on the horizon, it’s up to Texas landowners, wildlife organizations, and the state’s agricultural community to remain vigilant, informed, and proactive. The next generation of this fight begins with us.

• Foul odor like rotting flesh.

• Strange behavior in wildlife, such as:

{ Head shaking.

{ Discomfort and irritated behavior.

{ Lethargy and isolation from other animals.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT SCREWWORM

Report any sightings of live animals with maggots to:

For wildlife biologist assistance: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) 512-389-4505

For livestock and pets:

Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) 800-550-8242

When Lever Actions Were King

ARTICLE BY LARRY WEISHUHN PHOTOS COURTESY LARRY WEISHUHN OUTDOORS

“El acción de palanca treinta y treinta es un buen rifle de caza, no? Con el he disparado a muchos ciervos y jabalina!”

I nodded in approval as Juan handed me his Model 94 .30-30 lever action rifle, offering to let me use it if my boltaction rifle was not shooting “recta.” Most of the bluing had long since worn off the old lever gun and the stock had several deep gouges. I glanced at the barrel. It was stamped .30 WCF, likely manufactured a short time after the .30 WCF was introduced in 1895.

I was admiring the old lever action when the ranch’s landowner walked up, smiling. “Juan is very proud of his rifle. It belonged to his grandfather who rode with Pancho Villa. I strongly suspect that rifle shot more than just deer and javelinas.”

“I’ve not shown you my rifle collection, have I? My dad and granddad liked guns and hunting. They particularly were enthralled by those manufactured the last days of the 1800s and early 1900s. Both hunted with lever actions in South and West Texas. They also took them to Africa to hunt buffalo, rhinos, lions and even a few elephants. They particularly liked lever-actions because they considered them most reliable and afforded quick follow-up shots.”

“They bought lots of rifles in Mexico. Many of which were used by Pancho Villa’s troops or at least of that era.” He handed me two Winchester Model 1894s. One was stamped .32-40 Winchester, the other .38-55 Winchester. From previous research I knew those were the first two blackpowder rounds chambered in Model 94 when it was first introduced back in 1894.

Larry with a whitetail doe taken with a vintage Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage.

“Juan is very proud of his rifle. It belonged to his grandfather who rode with Pancho Villa. I strongly suspect that rifle shot more than just deer and javelinas.”

“The .30 WCF, which soon became the .30-30 Winchester, was introduced in 1895. It became the most popular chambering. Since then, more than 7,500,000 of the rifles initially designed by John Browning have been manufactured and sold.”

“The Winchester 1895 lever action was another of John Browning’s designs. Frankly, it was a radical change in lever guns. The Model ‘95 had a stacked box magazine which accommodated rounds with pointed bullets loaded with the then new smokeless powder, as opposed to other lever action’s tubular magazine which safely could only hold round-nosed bulleted rounds. The first of these were chambered for .30-

40 Krag, .303 British and the .405 Winchester. The .405 Winchester was made popular by Teddy Roosevelt. He used his Model ‘95 in .405 Winchester to hunt in North America. Roosevelt made it his go to rifle, dubbing it the Big Stick, which he took to “The Dark Continent” to dispatch tough plains game, lions and leopards, Cape buffalo, rhinos and elephants. The .405 Winchester Model 1895 during the early twentieth century was popular with big game hunters worldwide. It was also the rifle of choice of the Texas Rangers and Arizona Rangers,” he said.

My new-found friend had several including three .405 Winchesters but also two stamped .30Gov’t06.

Larry’s three vintage lever action rifles, Winchester Model 94 in .30 WCF, Winchester ‘95 in .30GOV’T06, Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage. Rattling horns and three older books are included for comparison.

Model 1895

.300 Savage

30 WCF Model 94

I had grown up occasionally getting to hunt with my dad’s Model 94 .30-30, and had always wanted a Model 1895 since I had seen photos of Teddy Roosevelt with his.

With a sweep of his hand, my host ushered me toward another rack, all Savage Model ‘99s. These lever actions were designed and manufactured by Arthur W. Savage. The ’99 was the first lever-action rifle without an external hammer. It too had a rotary magazine, both truly revolutionary.

My host added, “Introduced in 1899 it soon led the way to the development of the .22 Hi-Power in 1912. In 1915 the .250-3000 Savage became the first cartridge that broke the 3,000 feet per second velocity barrier. In 1921 the company introduced the .300 Savage. There were numerous other calibers and rounds chambered for a variety of smokeless powder cartridges.”

In his collection he had many Winchester Model 94s and Model 1895s, Savage Model 99s chambered in a variety of calibers and rounds. He too had a large collection of the early Winchester blackpowder lever actions.

That visit occurred in 1970. Handling those guns along with vintage photos and much reading instilled in me a deep desire to own the early lever actions chambered for smokeless powder rounds.

I finally own one each of the three lever-actions mentioned: my late father-in-law, E.V. Potter’s Winchester Model 94 chambered in .30 WCF; a .30Gov’t06 Winchester Model 1895 which I bought a couple of years ago; and the .300 Savage Model 99 I used to take my first mule deer. The two Winchesters were manufactured prior to 1910. The Savage was built in 1921.

I have taken deer and other game with both the .30 WCF and .300 Savage. This hunting season I will hunt some with both. I also plan on taking at least one deer with my Model 1895 .30Gov’t06.

I know the history of my father-in-law’s Model 94. I know the Model 99’s history starting in 1970. I know nothing about my Model 1895, but plan to start my own legacy with it in the next few months.

I suspect you have a rifle that has been in your family for years, which, if it could talk would tell some most interesting stories. If you do not already have a “relationship” with some of your ancestor’s older lever-actions or even boltactions, it’s time you created one—make some memories this hunting season!

TEXAS WILDLIFEASSOCIATION 9th Annual

CLAYSHOOTINGCO PETITION

experience at Clay Shoot at Join us for a amaraderie inconservation.

30 THURSDAY OCTOBER AT GREATER HOUSTON SPORTS CLUB

Spikes were long maligned as genetically inferior. Long-term research at Comanche Ranch indicates that yearling antler traits are more influenced by environment than genetics.

Is It Time To End The War On Spikes?

ARTICLE BY RANDY W. DEYOUNG, PH.D.

Spikes. In hunting and deer management circles, the word is often associated with adjectives like inferior, mediocre or below-average. To some, a spike is more than substandard—more like a genetic threat to an intensive management program. How did these animals acquire such an unsavory reputation?

To the uninitiated, a spike is simply a 1.5-year-old buck with unbranched or “spike” antlers. Between 1925 and the 1960s, Texas wildlife regulations protected yearling bucks with unbranched antlers. In areas where buck harvest was intense, some began to worry that this practice might result in “high-grading,” where hunters harvested the best animals and left only the lower-quality spikes. Over time, this might result in smaller antlers in an entire population.

Early research on antler size stemmed in part from concerns about negative effects of the early harvest regulations on antler size. Studies in captive white-tailed deer in the 1970s to 1980s confirmed that antler size had a genetic basis. Furthermore, yearling antler traits were found to be highly heritable and thus a good predictor of genetic quality. The verdict was in: yearling spikes were genetically inferior to fork-antlered yearlings. These findings led biologists to advocate for halting the protection of spike-antlered yearlings and for increased harvest of spikes to improve antler quality.

Intensive management for antler size in white-tailed deer became increasingly common in Texas during the 1980s to 1990s, as land use shifted from a focus on livestock to focus on wildlife. Along with improving deer nutrition and age structure, managers aimed for genetic improvement. Spikes were the perfect target—they could be easily identified and removing them felt like tangible progress. Shooting spikes began to be widely recommended as a management best practice.

Not everyone was onboard with targeting spikes, however. Although the results of early captive studies were compelling, there was uncertainty whether similar results could be achieved in wild populations. Meanwhile, other research in captive deer concluded that yearling antler traits were a poor predictor of genetic quality because antler size was influenced more by environmental than genetic factors. Finally, there were concerns that hunter harvest was too inefficient to achieve genetic changes, especially in low-fenced properties.

The “spike question” resulted in lengthy debates both around the campfire and at scientific meetings. Meanwhile, attempts to affect antler size expanded past yearlings to culling small-antlered bucks of all age classes. The debate continued, but without more information, there was no clear

resolution. Out of this stalemate, the Comanche Ranch Buck Culling Study was born.

The Comanche study was the brainchild of Comanche Ranch manager Don Draeger and CKWRI scientist Charlie DeYoung, in cooperation with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists and Mississippi State University scientist Bronson Strickland. First, they partitioned Comanche Ranch into 3 study sites: one where bucks of all ages were culled, one where only bucks 3.5 years and older were culled, and a “control” site, where no culling was done. All sites were either high-fenced or otherwise located to minimize bucks dispersing into or out of the area; all had access to water and supplemental feed. Culling was done via helicopter, far more intensively than hunters could ever accomplish. All bucks were captured, brought to a central processing site, aged and measured. Each buck also received a microchip, similar to the ones used in pets, for later recognition. Bucks that did not meet the culling minimums were removed and all culling was done before the rut. The ranch culled for 6 years, from 2006-2012 and continued to capture, age and measure bucks from 2013-2018 to monitor the results of the culling.

Range of Gross Boone & Crockett Score >5.5 yrs

Gross Boone & Crockett score of spike-antlered yearlings vs. fork-antlered yearlings at 5.5+ years old at the Comanche Ranch during 2006-2018. Spike-antlered yearlings averaged 10” smaller at maturity, but the difference was attributed mostly to non-genetic factors associated with early life conditions.

Genetic change can only occur on a generational basis, when the sons of selected bucks breed. In long-lived animals like deer, if selection decisions can be made in early life, generation time is shorter and response to selection occurs quicker. The response to culling then depends on two factors: 1) how well antler traits predict the genetic value of an individual, termed the “heritability” of the trait, and 2) the intensity of culling, or how far above the average are the bucks that a manager keeps. To answer these questions, I worked with graduate students Masa Ohnishi and David Navarro to conduct genetic parentage analyses. This allowed us to calculate heritability of antler traits in wild deer for the first time.

We captured 3,332 individual bucks during the study period and used genetic parentage to assign sires to 1,227 of 1,699 yearling bucks captured. Based on the antler records and genetic relationships among bucks, we found that heritability for yearling antler traits was low; less than 14% of all differences in antler size among yearling

bucks was due to genetics inherited from their parents. Environmental conditions in early life had a much greater influence on antler traits than genetics. Antler size of bucks 3.5 years old and older was a more reliable predictor of genetic quality. Genetics accounted for 25% of differences among bucks for antler points and 39% for gross Boone & Crockett (B&C) score. However, early life conditions carried over to adulthood. Up to 30% of the differences among bucks for antler points and 15% for B&C score were due to early life conditions.

Culling is unlikely to result in genetic change in wild deer. Nonetheless, culling may still have a role in management. Spike-antlered yearlings had smaller antlers at maturity than fork-antlered yearlings, about 10” B&C smaller. This is probably due to the lingering influence of early life environmental conditions versus genetics. However, there was much overlap—14% of spikes exceeded 150” B&C, while 15% of forks were less than 130” B&C at maturity.

To cull or not to cull? Outside of a high-fence, culling makes less sense

The argument for culling based on yearling antler traits assumed that antler size of young bucks was a good indicator of genetic quality; it was not. Antlers were a better predictor of genetic quality in older deer, yet culling had no effect on population antler size. The variable South Texas environment made culling inefficient—a buck with good antlers one year could get culled the next. If culling was intensive, over time there would be few bucks left. In captivity, managers have total control over breeding. In the wild, bucks had to compete for mating opportunities; even the largest bucks only sired a few sons each year. This lack of control limited our ability to affect genetics in the wild. Management aimed at minimizing environmental effects, such as supplemental feed, may have a greater population-level impact than culling.

because most yearling bucks will disperse anyway, leaving to set up a new range miles away. If hunters routinely harvest bucks <5.5 years old, culling may not be useful. If fawn crops average less than 40%, increasing fawn survival is probably a bigger priority than culling. If managers value mature bucks of all sizes, culling young bucks will reduce the number of mature bucks. Conversely, a manager may choose not to invest several years of supplemental feed and resources in young bucks that are unlikely to meet their goals. In the end, managers have been successful with and without culling. The results of this study can help managers decide whether culling will be useful for their program. For the average hunter, it may be time to end the war on spikes.

THEPOSSUM CO P CHRONICLES

Cres Caro with seized shrimp.

Shootout on the Seashore

ARTICLE BY JON BRAUCHLE

“If he flinches and I step out of the way, shoot him.”

It sounds like something straight out of a John Wayne movie, but unlike anything John Wayne ever did on screen, this was real. “He” was a man who was laying on his side in the fetal position next to his pickup truck on the Padre Island National Seashore (PINS) after being shot in the chest by law enforcement. How that man ended up there, still breathing and with his hands underneath him with two Texas Game Wardens and two Nueces County constables cautiously approaching, vividly illustrates the dangers law enforcement officers face every time they put on the badge and that there really is no such thing as “routine patrol.”

Game wardens Crescencio Caro (Cres) and Michael Wheelington (Mike) began that evening in February of 1997 working fishermen around the John F. Kennedy Memorial Causeway (JFK) in Corpus Christi. They were in their respective patrol vehicles when they heard traffic on their county radios about the low-speed chase of a vehicle from which the driver had reportedly fired rounds into an apartment complex in Flour Bluff. Soon afterwards, they saw the red and blue lights of four law enforcement vehicles that were pursuing the suspect vehicle on the JFK headed towards North Padre Island. Cres and Mike dropped what they were doing and joined in the pursuit. But first, Cres grabbed his department issued Ruger Mini-14 semiautomatic rifle from the back seat and placed it against the outside of his thigh with the end of the barrel in the floorboard, just in case.

Once on the island, the suspect turned on to the first beach access road, and when he got to the beach, he turned right and headed south towards PINS. Cres followed the other pursuing officers onto the beach. Mike stayed on the pavement and parallelled the pursuit on Park Road 22.

The suspect blew through the pilings that mark the northern PINS boundary by using the only spot in which a breakaway plastic piling allowed such access. He must’ve known it was there, or he was extremely lucky. Past that point laid 66 miles of wild coastline of what was then, the Gulf of Mexico. Unless you planned a trip with the intent of utilizing low tide to avoid getting stuck, four-wheel drive vehicles were a must. The suspect was in a brand new, two-wheel drive Ford truck.

At this time, there were two Corpus Christi Police Department (CCPD) units, two Nueces County Constable units, and two game warden units involved in the chase. When it was apparent that the suspect was going to stay on the

beach, Mike left the park road and fell behind the other units.

Who knows why people do what they do in stressful situations, but after a few miles into PINS, the suspect abruptly made a U-turn and started heading back north toward pursuing law enforcement vehicles. Knowing that the guy was armed, Mike and Cres both pulled over and ducked down until the suspect passed. Then, they re-engaged in the chase.

After blowing back through the PINS boundary, the suspect took the first beach access road back towards Park Road 22 with the two constable units hot on his heels followed by Mike, Cres, and the two CCPD units, respectively. When the suspect made a hard right

Mike Wheelington’s patrol vehicle windshield after the gun fight.

straight into the sand dunes, the constables pulled over, leaving only the two game wardens following. For whatever reason, the CCPD units were no longer in the chase. Mike later heard that one of them got stuck in the sand.

The dunes were a little too much for the suspect’s truck to handle. When he came to a stop, Mike stopped too – about 50 feet behind him and canted slightly to the left so he could utilize his vehicle’s engine block for cover. Cres stopped to the right of, and just behind, Mike. With both of their lights and sirens still going and a spotlight trained on the suspect’s truck, Mike opened his door and jumped out. The suspect jumped out of his truck, too, and he was holding a gun. Mike yelled, “Drop your gun! Drop your gun!” That’s when the suspect started shooting.

Mike returned fire with his .40 caliber Glock duty pistol from behind the partially opened door of his truck. Cres got out of his vehicle and returned fire with his Mini-14 rifle from the same position relative to his patrol vehicle. The suspect then jumped back into his truck and started shooting from the busted-out rear glass by ducking down below the top of the seat and raising the weapon with one hand up to fire over it.

After firing 16 shots and emptying the magazine of his duty pistol, Mike retreated to the rear of his vehicle to reload. Alarmed by Mike’s movement, Cres yelled at Mike, asking if he was okay. He was, so Cres walked around to the passenger’s side of his patrol vehicle to get a better angle and kept firing his rifle back at the suspect in sequences of three. The two constables, having left their vehicles back at the pavement, had run on foot and made it up to where Mike and Cres were. They stayed in the scrub brush a little north of Mike and began firing at the suspect with their duty pistols.

Cres can’t remember how many shots he had fired, but suddenly, the shooting stopped, and it was eerily quiet. Mike saw the suspect fall out of the driver’s side of the vehicle into a clump on the ground. The four remaining officers, two game wardens and two constables, gathered closer together and began slowly approaching the downed man with each of their weapons trained on him in the event the suspect tried to do something stupid. When they got close, Cres shuffled around toward the passenger’s side to make sure there was no one else in or around the vehicle.

That’s when, as he was removing the handcuffs from his duty belt, Mike said, “If he flinches and I step out of the way, shoot him.” Mike then bent down and grabbed the guy’s arm to turn him over. The suspect was handcuffed without incident and soon HALO-flighted to Spohn Memorial Hospital with a bullet wound to the chest. He survived and was later charged with attempted capital murder, carrying a firearm to commit a crime of violence and committing a felony on federal land. It was never determined whose bullet stopped the suspect’s assault.

You know, the thing about writing stories that few people have thought about in however many years it has been since they occurred is that the people involved in those stories can’t always recall particulars. In this case, to the best of anyone’s recollection, the suspect was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

However, the things that are remembered, especially here, are interesting. At the suspect’s trial, the defense attorney asked Cres, “How do you know my client was shooting at you?” Cres responded, “Because I heard at least two rounds buzz by me.” The attorney pressed further, “How do you know? Can you describe that?” Cres replied, “I was never in the military but when I was a little kid, I used to do this thing where I’d break a popsicle stick in half and then get a rubber band and put it between my thumb and forefinger. Then, I would wind the popsicle stick in the rubber band, real tight, and then let it go. The whirling sound that made was very similar to that of a couple of rounds that buzzed by me.”

For Mike, the evidence of being shot at was more tangible. The window-mounted spotlight on the driver’s side door was shot, and there was a busted-up portion of his patrol vehicle’s windshield that couldn’t have been very far from his head when the bullet that caused it hit. When asked about it, Mike said that he really didn’t think about getting shot while the bullets were whizzing by, adding, “It’s kind of like getting hit by lightning; by the time you duck, it’s too late.”

In addition to the law enforcement agencies responsible for the investigation and prosecution of the man who opened fire on the apartment complex, and later, the responding officers, headquarters personnel from the Law Enforcement Division of Texas Parks and Wildlife investigated the incident and used their findings as a training tool for game wardens, highlighting what Cres and Mike did right that night. When the bullets started to fly, their training kicked in and it all worked out like it was supposed to. Indeed, every law enforcement officer’s ultimate goal each time they go to work is to make it home.

Game Warden Crescencio Caro retired in 2011 after 28 years of service, and Game Warden Michael Wheelington followed suit in 2016 with 23 years.

Mike Wheelington with an illegal gill net picked up in the Nueces River.

Purpose

O er rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest & conviction of natural resource crimes

Provide nancial aid to the families of game wardens & park peace o cers killed in the line of duty

Obtain technologically advanced equipment for game wardens, resulting in safer & more e cient operations

Outreach

Operation Game Thief is a 501(c)(3) nonpro t organization whose mission is to improve our quality of

by intentionally engaging individuals and communities across Texas to prevent theft and destruction of our natural resources through outreach, education, and a direct con dential link to report violators.

Cargile Family Named San Angelo Conservationist of the Year

ARTICLE BY SEAN HOFFMANN, TWA DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Texas Wildlife Association Foundation (TWAF) hosted another sold-out 2025 San Angelo Conservationist of the Year gala at Bentwood Country Club. The second annual event, held Aug. 28, honored the John Cargile family for conservation and stewardship efforts through their multigenerational ranching operation.

“The Cargile family started ranching on Rocky Creek in Irion County in 1904 and have continued to ranch in West Texas for the last 120 plus years. Generation after generation of the Cargile family have exemplified natural resource

conservation and land stewardship for the livestock and wildlife that call their pastures home,” said TWAF President Alan Curry.

A 15 minute video showcasing the Cargile’s connection to the land as well as a testimonial from Curry were highlights of the event, which was instrumental in raising funds to support the San Angelo Area Conservation Education Initiative (SAAC-ED) that provides hands-on, classroom and outdoor educational programming for students in the San Angelo region.

“Conservation of our natural resources and preserving important local cultures are among the greatest challenges facing societies-globally, nationally and right here in our back yard.”

Greg Simons, TWAF trustee

Several Cargile family members and friends were in attendance to celebrate the occasion.

Greg Simons, TWAF trustee, notes that 2024’s gala success created immediate momentum for the initiative. “Monies raised through last year’s gala allowed us to hire Christine Foley as our conservation educator who is servicing schools in 11 nearby counties. In less than one year, Christine’s education efforts have reached over 7,000 students, 34 schools, and more that 450 teachers.”

According to Simons, “Conservation of our natural resources and preserving important local cultures are among the greatest challenges facing societies—globally, nationally and right here in our back yard. Addressing these challenges, effectively, must fundamentally begin through education.”

Simons also added, “By applying a proven education model that TWA has been deploying in other Texas regions for many years, we can educate people on the importance of sustainably healthy natural resources and the role that private lands stewardship plays in this process.”

TWAF’s inaugural San Angelo Conservationist of the Year was awarded to the Virgil James Powell families including the James L. Powell family, the Madolyn Powell Mertz family and the Marolyn Powell Bean family in August 2024.

With two successful galas, the TWAF is poised to strengthen this new chapter in conservation education, bringing invaluable resources and knowledge to the San Angelo community and beyond.

Youth Hunter and Father Share Thoughts on TYHP

ARTICLE AND PHOTOS COURTESY ERIN & CHUCK STAGE

It is customary that our Texas Youth Hunting Program (TYHP) youth hunters, along with their adult chaperone, are asked to complete an evaluation form following their respective hunts.

Erin Stage and her father Chuck travelled 900 miles roundtrip for a West Texas aoudad hunt on the Apache Ranch. The hunt was held in early June 2025 and Erin successfully harvested an aoudad and javelina.

According to Chuck, Erin was 9 when she began participating in TYHP. In the spring she graduated high school in the top 10% and now studies nursing at Texas Women’s University in Denton.

Erin and Chuck’s post-hunt evaluations resonated with us and we are sharing them in this edition of Texas Wildlife Extra because we think they’ll resonate with you as well.