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- East Region - Ag and Natural Resources
Wildlife Conservation and Management (includes fish)
Work Group Names: Billy Higginbotham, Bob Whitney, Barron Rector, Will Kiker, Donald Kelm, Eric Taylor, Gene Bobo
Region: EAST Circle which primary base program it addresses - ANR
Section 1. Relevance
Where did this issue surface?
Texas Community Futures Forum
County Committees
Commodity / Industry / Special Interest Groups
Specialist(s)
Other: County Extension Agents
What is the issue/problem?
Loss of the quality and quantity of habitat (i.e. freshwater ?, forest lands and rangelands) due to land fragmentation and lack of knowledge and skills among landowner managers leading to decreased profitability, ecosystem health and recreational opportunity.
Problem size and scope? (How many people does it affect? How wide spread?)
All rural counties in Texas
Problem severity? (How serious is this issue?) High
Description:
1) Landowners and Land Managers,
2) Consumers (i.e. anglers, wildlife watchers and hunters, nature tourism operators) in cases where they impact wildlife population and land management.
Target Audience? (Who does the problem impact and how many?)
Rural landowners, outdoor recreationists and lastly, all Texas because bio-diversity is an important measure of ecosystem health.
What are some general characteristics of the audience this program targets? How will you market this program to others?
1) Landowners that need to integrate wildlife management into existing forest lands/rangelands management that may or may not need to realize a profit from their wildlife management efforts. 2) Consumers (anglers, hunters and wildlife watchers, nature tourism operations).
Section 2. Response
State the goal of the program.
Enhance the quality and quantity of wildlife habitat for increasing farm and ranch recreation, nutrition and income.
State the outcome objectives
Client Change |
At the end of this program, will.... |
Knowledge |
increase knowledge on.... Species life histories habitat requirements. |
Skills |
develop
skills.... |
Attitude |
change their attitudes pertaining to... developing sustainable wildlife populations as a result of sound and viable habitat management principles. |
Behavior Change |
adopt.... practices that favor diverse wildlife populations that also support prevailing and future land usage (rangeland and forest land, livestock) |
New Technology |
adopt.... GIS systems as a means to identify and predict land fragmentation trends.
|
Best Practice |
adopt ..... BMPs for wildlife that are also cornerstones in forest and rangeland ecosystem management |
Program Design
Topic (Subject Matter) |
Strategy to Deliver Content (Method) |
Existing Resource(s) |
Contact Person(s) (Includes CEA’s Specialists, Commodity Reps) |
Habitat Management |
Field days, seminars, result demonstrations, publications, videos |
Texas Master Naturalists W.W.W. TCE TWA TPWD NRCS TWS |
Neal Wilkins Kirby Brown Mike Berger Gary Valentine |
Population Censuses |
Field days, seminars, result demonstrations, publications, videos |
Texas Master Naturalists W.W.W. TCE TWA TPWD NRCS TWS |
Neal Wilkins Kirby Brown Mike Berger Gary Valentine |
Exotic Species Impacts |
Field days, seminars, result demonstrations, publications, videos |
Texas Master Naturalists W.W.W. TCE TWA TPWD NRCS TWS Wildlife Services |
Neal Wilkins Kirby Brown Mike Berger Gary Valentine Gary Nunnelly |
Nuisance Animal Control |
Field days, seminars, result demonstrations, publications, videos |
Texas Master Naturalists W.W.W. TCE TWA TPWD NRCS TWS Wildlife Services |
Neal Wilkins Kirby Brown Mike Berger Gary Valentine Gary Nunnelly |
Topic (Subject Matter) |
Strategy to Deliver Content (Method) |
Existing Resource(s) |
Contact Person(s) (Includes CEA’s Specialists, Commodity Reps) |
Featured Species Management Strategies |
Field days, seminars, result demonstrations, publications, videos |
Texas Master Naturalists W.W.W. TCE TWA TPWD NRCS TWS |
Neal Wilkins Kirby Brown Mike Berger Gary Valentine |
Profitability Through Wildlife Management |
Field days, seminars, result demonstrations, publications, videos |
Texas Master Naturalists W.W.W. TCE TWA TPWD NRCS TWS Recreation, Parks, Tourism Dept. TAMU |
Neal Wilkins Kirby Brown Mike Berger Gary Valentine Andy Skadberg |
Section 3. Results
Client Change Level |
Sample Questions (Review the objectives section to help place questions or statements in the space below) |
Knowledge |
1. Do you believe an integrated approach to wildlife management in cooperation with rangeland/forest land management can result in optimum yields of all resources? 2. Design pre/post test questions to be administered at field days/seminars. |
Skills |
Measure impacts of result demonstrations on manipulating wildlife habitat, including aquatic ecosystems. |
Attitude |
Convince landowners that habitat should equal wildlife. “Build it and they will come.” |
Behavior Change |
Measure adoption rate and level of practice adoption that enhances the habitat’s ability to support wildlife community. |
New Technology |
Have clientele adopted GIS information to determine degree of fragmentation and accompanying limitations? |
Best Practice |
1. Acres impacted by practice adoption. 2. Income increases as a result of habitat management Are practices adopted favoring wildlife management also conducive to rangeland/forest land management? |
Sample Evaluation Questions
Perception of Knowledge
● Do you believe your knowledge about the merits concerning the practice of high fencing for white-tailed deer management was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about the drawbacks concerning the practice of high fencing for white-tailed deer management was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about habitat management for white-tailed deer was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about the importance of population management for white-tailed deer was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about the practice of supplemental feeding for white-tailed deer was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about marketing and the economics of white tailed deer enterprises was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about landowner’s risk as it relates to a hunting enterprise was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about a landowner’s liability as it relates to a hunting enterprise was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about the economics of brush management was increased due to this seminar?
● Do you believe your knowledge about the technology of brush management was increased due to this seminar?
Actual Knowledge Questions (Pretest Post Test Strategy)
● What are three factors that determine antler size in deer?
● What season is it when nutrition is most likely to be limited to the deer population?
● How much does the rut vary across the state?
● What is the most limiting nutrient for deer in south Texas?
● Is it possible for a doe to conceive twins with different sires?
● What age do bucks reach their full potential for antler growth?
● What age do bucks maximize his body weight?
● How many estrus cycles are does capable of having during one breeding season?
● Is significant weight loss common or uncommon in rutting bucks?
● Doe fawns are capable of conceiving, but are they capable of birthing or raising offspring?
● The four components to habitat are?
● Forbs are?
● Which forage class do white-tailed deer prefer the most?
● True / False - Lush, green vegetation does not help white-tailed deer meet their water requirements.
● Which of the following is the preferred hiding cover for fawns? (A) Dense Brush, (B) Patches of Prickly Pear, (C) Tall grass and forbs
● The percent of brush cover for ideal white-tailed deer habitat is:
● True / False - Roller chopping is generally an effective means of controlling prickly pear.
● True / False - Controlled burns usually result in at least 90% kill on mesquite.
● True / False - Vine ephedra and Texas kidneywood are highly preferred deer browses.
● Whitebrush and lantana are highly preferred deer browses.
Measuring Behavior Changes
For each of the practices, listed below, in the LEFT column, circle the ONE number that best reflects you before your participation in the wildlife program. Then, in the RIGHT column, circle the ONE number that best reflects you after the wildlife program.
NEVER
/SELDOM /SOMETIMES /OFTEN /ALWAYS
1
----------2------------------
3 -------------4-----------
5
| Statements | Before
Program |
After
Program |
| I maintain healthy rangeland on my ranch. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I use visual appraisal to evaluate the range conditions. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I consider wildlife concerns before making a management decision. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I manage for native and improved grasses on my rangeland. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I practice proper land stewardship. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I manage for soil erosion properly. |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I practice proper livestock grazing management with wildlife and livestock. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I understand the economics of brush management. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I utilize water infiltration practices on my ranch. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I practice wildlife habitat management. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I test my wildlife water supplies annually. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I increased my percent deer crop. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
| I purchasde hay and supplement my wildlife. | --1---2---3---4---5-- |
--1---2---3---4---5-- |
Economic Indicators. Are there economic indicators that can be measured concerning this issue?
YES
Please list them below.
Leasing value of property.
Interpretation.
Internal to Extension Stakeholders |
External Stakeholders |
|
Range Science - TAMU Forest Science - TAMU Recreation, Parks & Tourism - TAMU Wildlife and Fisheries Science - TAMU Wildlife Services |
Texas Forest Service Texas Forestry Association Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas Wildlife Association Ducks Unlimited National Wild Turkey Federation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NRCS Sister Universities with Wildlife Programs |
Additional Resources. What additional resources are needed to address this issue? In other words, what is needed to design innovative programs that will impact our audiences? Use the space below or the back if needed.
1) More funding for additional wildlife positions (TCE) specialists, program specialists, Extension Associates
2) Restoration of operating budgets
3) More training opportunities for specialist and CEA faculty
       |
Texas
Cooperative Extension - http://texasextension.tamu.edu
For comments and questions about this site please contact s-cummings@
tamu.edu
Dr.
Chester P. Fehlis, Associate Vice Chancellor and Director
Room 112, Jack K. Williams Administration Building
College Station, Texas 77843-7101
Voice: 979.845.7800 | Fax: 979.845.9542
E-Mail: TCE@tamu.edu