Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contacts: Pasquale Swaner, 254-865-2414, s-swaner@tamu.edu
Mike Marshall, 254-865-2061, mmarshall@ag.tamu.edu
Brian Hays, 254-865-2061, bhays@tamu.edu
GATESVILLE—The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a multi-county Range and Wildlife Management Field Day May 6 in Coryell County for landowners interested in managing both wildlife and livestock.
The field day is from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Harman School Community Center, located about 4 miles off of Farm-to-Market Road 580 on Harman Road. After lunch, attendees will travel to the Hannah Ranch for rangeland demonstrations.
The cost of the program is $10 and includes three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units, one integrated pest management, one laws and regulations, and one general. A $25 fee will be charged for tax appraisers interested in obtaining 5.5 property tax professional continuing education units.
A complimentary lunch will be provided by Coryell County from a Texas Department of Agriculture County Hog Abatement Matching Program, or CHAMP, grant. Those planning to attend should register by May 2 by calling the AgriLife Extension offices in Coryell County at 254-865-2414, Hamilton County at 254-386-3514 or Lampasas County at 512-556-8271.
“Many landowners in Texas are beginning to see the value in managing for wildlife on their ranch,” said Brian Hays, associate director of the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Gatesville and a speaker at the program. “Landowners interested in managing for wildlife can take advantage of various incentive programs to diversify their income through good land stewardship for livestock and wildlife.”
Pasquale Swaner, AgriLife Extension agent for Coryell County, said AgriLife Extension staff will discuss quail and turkey biology and management, feral hog biology and abatement, and rangeland evaluation during the morning session.
He said representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will speak on wildlife management planning and the Proposition 11 wildlife property tax exemption. Other talks will include a U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service representative speaking on proper brush management techniques such as dozing, prescribed fire and herbicide application.
“A particular focus will be given to quail because of their popularity as a game species, their extreme population decline in recent years, and the habitat that produces quail also supports scores of other wildlife species in the rangelands of Texas,” said Mike Marshall, AgriLife Extension associate for the institute at Gatesville. “We will also discuss feral hog abatement, as hogs have detrimental impacts on the wildlife landowners manage for.”
At the Hannah Ranch, attendees will observe demonstrations on calculating stocking rates, plant identification, habitat assessment and feral hog trapping.
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