COLLEGE STATION The Texas A&M University Gamebird Conference will be held June 6-7.
Sponsored by the department of poultry science and Texas Cooperative Extension, the conference will be held in the Kleberg Animal and Food Sciences Center at Texas A&M. The conference begins with registration at noon.
It is geared toward helping landowners start a new business or manage their land for gamebird and hunting enterprises, said Dr. Lee Cartwright, Extension poultry specialist and one of the organizers for the event.
A general session will begin at 1 p.m. on June 6. Speakers and topics include:
-Kim Shira, Show Me Birds Hunting Resort, “Birds, Land, European Hunts and Cash Flow”;
-Kent Matherne, Fly Bye Birdie, “Production Cost, Setting Prices and Paying Yourself”;
-Ray Burdette, El Canelo Ranch, “Bird Watching and Hunting Enterprises on One Property”;
-Robert M. Perez, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, “Native Quail Decline”; and
-Chuck Kowaleski, Texas Parks and Wildlife, “Habitat Management and Cost Sharing With Conservation Programs”.
That evening, a mixer and dinner begins at 6 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in College Station.
The next morning’s program begins at 8 a.m. John Long, United Insurance Agency Inc., will discuss liability insurance for landowner/preserve operators.
Concurrent sessions will begin at 8:50 a.m. The preserve and landowner session will feature:
-Perez, “Hunting Regulations and Licensing”;
-Cartwright, “Maintaining Flight-Ready Birds on the Preserve”;
-Gerry Stearns, Santa Anna Hunting Preserve, “Life with Land, Birds and Dogs”; and
-Helen Holdsworth, Texas Wildlife Association, “Educating Youth With Wildlife”.
The production session will feature
-Dr. Fred Thornberry, professor and Extension poultry specialist, “Isolation Rearing”;
-Dr. Tom Blount, Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, “Disease and Husbandry”;
-Tom Herrington, Diamond H, “Breeding and Hatching”; and
-Cartwright, “Nutrition, Feeding and Quality”.
The meeting will conclude with lunch in the Kleberg atrium.
Pre-registration by May 21 is requested. The cost is $50 per family or farm, and optional per person tickets for the Friday dinner and Saturday lunch. Registration at the door is $60.
Further information is available from Cartwright, (979) 845-4319, a-cartwright@tamu.edu; Thornberry, (979) 845-4319; or the Texas Gamebird Association, (830) 796-4820, http://www.texasgamebirdassn.org
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