MASON – Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct the multi-county Hill Country Wildlife Management Field Day beginning with registration at 8:15 a.m. April 9 at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The day’s activities will conclude by 3 p.m.
To reach the management area, take Ranch Road 386 north from the Mason Courthouse, travel about two and a half miles and turn left on Old Mason Road. Go two and a half miles down Old Mason Road to the management area entrance.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available (two integrated pest management and one general).
The AgriLife Extension offices in Mason, Gillespie, Menard, McCulloch, Kimble and Llano counties are conducting the field day.
The morning program will include a tour of prescribed fire as well as mechanical and herbicide brush control methods. Proper rate and volume of various brush herbicide applications will be demonstrated. There also will be discussions on deer nutritional needs during drought and on Web site design and marketing the wildlife resource.
“We also have a producer panel planned that’s comprised of landowners who are successful in marketing their wildlife,” said Brent Drennan, AgriLife Extension agent in Mason County. “In some cases they have operated wildlife enterprises in the Hill Country for several generations. Their presentations will range from non-guided hunts to total package deals.
“Some manage breeding programs behind game-proof fences and derive their income solely from wildlife and recreation, while others view hunting simply as a means of diversifying their operations. They’ll also speak on topics including raising penned quail, season leases and experiences related to running successful livestock and wildlife enterprises simultaneously.
“We’ll have quite a diversity of subject matter to meet a wide array of landowner informational needs,” Drennan said.
Individual pre-registration by April 6 is $15 and $20 thereafter. The fee includes lunch.
RSVP to the AgriLife Extension office in Mason County at 325-347-6459 or by calling any of the other participating counties.
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