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Wildlife Populations in Texas Five big game species White-tailed deer Mule deer Pronghorn Bighorn sheep Javelina Fifty-seven small game species Forty-six migratory game birds, nine upland game birds, two squirrels Sixteen furbearer species (i.e. beaver, raccoon, fox, skunk, etc) Approximately 900 terrestrial vertebrate nongame species Approximately 70 species of medium to large-sized exotic mammals and birds?

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Page 1: Wildlife Populations in Texas - Watershed Planningwatershedplanning.tamu.edu › ... › mwagner-wildlife-populations-in-te… · Wildlife Populations in Texas • Five big game species

Wildlife Populations in Texas • Five big game species

– White-tailed deer – Mule deer – Pronghorn – Bighorn sheep – Javelina

• Fifty-seven small game species – Forty-six migratory game birds, nine upland game birds,

two squirrels • Sixteen furbearer species (i.e. beaver, raccoon, fox, skunk,

etc) • Approximately 900 terrestrial vertebrate nongame

species • Approximately 70 species of medium to large-sized

exotic mammals and birds?

Page 2: Wildlife Populations in Texas - Watershed Planningwatershedplanning.tamu.edu › ... › mwagner-wildlife-populations-in-te… · Wildlife Populations in Texas • Five big game species

White-tailed Deer

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Deer Surveys

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08

30

05

07

19 23

18

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14 28

27 25

Figure 1. Monitored deer range within the Resource Management Units (RMU) of Texas.

31

15 02

03 06

16

29

24

26

11

13

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20

Ecoregion RMU Area (Ha) Blackland Prairie 20

21 731,745 367,820

Cross Timbers 22 23 24 25

771,971 1,430,907 1,080,818 1,552,348

Eastern Rolling Plains 26 27 29

564,404 1,162,939 1,091,385

Edwards Plateau 4 5 6 7

28

1,308,326 2,807,841 583,685

1,909,010 1,246,008

Pineywoods 13 14 15 16 17

949,342 1,755,050 862,622

1,056,147 735,592

31 1,622,158 39,557,788 Total

Ecoregion RMU Area (Ha) Post Oak Savannah 11 690,618

12 475,323 18 1,290,491 19 2,528,747

South Texas Plains 8 5,255,676 Southern High Plains 2 810,505 TransPecos 3 693,080 Western Rolling Plains 30 4,223,231

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5.3

18.1

17.9

18.6

27.8

35.4

37.8

29.2

112.8

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Southern High Plains

Pineywoods

South Texas Plains

Western Rolling Plains

Eastern Rolling Plains

Post Oak Savannah

Cross Timbers

Trans Pecos

Edwards Plateau

Figure 3. Estimated # Deer Per 1,000 Acres by Ecological Area 2013 Survey Period

Refer to Table 2 for Sample Size and Confidence Intervals.

Figure 2. Distribution of White-tailed Deer by Ecological Area 2013 Survey Period

53.77%

11.09%

6.60%

10.70%

5.89% 5.71%

0.26% 1.23% 4.75%

Edwards Plateau Cross Timbers Western Rolling Plains

Post Oak Savannah South Texas Plains Pineywoods

Eastern Rolling Plains Trans Pecos Southern High Plains

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Mule Deer

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Aerial transects (n = 76) by monitoring unit in the Trans-Pecos, 2013

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Figure 4. Randomly generated transects (n = 49) by monitoring unit in the Panhandle, 2013 (actual transects surveyed = 44).

Page 10: Wildlife Populations in Texas - Watershed Planningwatershedplanning.tamu.edu › ... › mwagner-wildlife-populations-in-te… · Wildlife Populations in Texas • Five big game species

Mule deer population estimates by ecoregion and statewide since 2005.

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Pronghorn

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Aerial Surveys

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Panhandle herd units colored red with surplus pronghorn populations used for restocking, 2013 and 2014.

In 2013, the estimated Panhandle pronghorn population was 12,831, including fawns

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In 2013, the estimated Trans-Pecos pronghorn population was 3,071, including fawns

Trans-Pecos herd units. Red units are where pronghorn were transplanted in 2013 and 2014.

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Bighorn Sheep

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Free-Ranging Bighorn Sheep Observations from Helicopter Surveys 2001-2013.

* Portions of mountain ranges were not included in survey or no survey was conducted. ** Sheep observed in ground surveys. *** No survey was conducted during reporting period. Monitoring efforts will be discontinued because economically unfeasible. **** No surveys were conducted because mountain range was uninhabited by bighorn sheep.

Mountain Range 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Sierra Diablo/ Baylor/ Beach 225* 274 324 448 338* 599 686 868 852 764 752 665 737

Elephant Mountain WMA 130* 48 76 47 36 119** 139** 146 159 167 144 156 176

Van Horn 12* * 6* 10* 12** 25** 20* 28 37 55 47 63 46

Eagle * * * * * * 8 * 1* 12 10 0 13

Sierra Vieja 7* * * * * * * * * *** *** *** ***

Black Gap WMA 87 29 71 76 66 104 138 151 95 117 43 81 85

Big Bend Ranch State Park **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 30 44 56

9 Point Mesa **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** **** 54

Carrizo Mountains * * * * * * * * * * * * 23

Total Observed 461 351 477 581 452 847 991 1,193 1,144 1115 1026 1009 1190

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Javelina

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Elk (classified as exotic in Texas since 1997)

In the mid-1990’s the population of free-ranging elk in the Trans-Pecos was estimated at 325 individuals. The estimates are as follows: 40 in the Davis Mountains, 30 in the Wylie Mountains, 30 in the Eagle Mountains, 170 in the Glass Mountains, and 40 in the Guadalupe Mountains. The range of the Glass Mountain herd continues to expand southward into the adjacent Del Norte Mountains. The Panhandle herd remained constant at 15 individuals.

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Based on Breeding Bird Survey data, the Texas turkey population has grown considerably over the past ten years and appears to still be growing. The Texas turkey population is estimated to exceed 500,000 birds.

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Rolling Plains = 38.3 birds/20 miles in 2015

South Texas = 21 birds/20 miles in 2015

Bobwhite Quail

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Mean Quail…

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Gulf Prairies = 14.9 birds/20 miles in 2015

High Plains = 10.9 birds/20 miles in 2015

Bobwhite Quail

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Cross Timbers = 1.2 birds/20 miles in 2015

Edwards Plateau = 6 birds/20 miles in 2015

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Bobwhite Quail

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• Waterfowl – Five species of goose – Five species of rails and

gallinules – Twenty-eight species of ducks – One crane species

Migratory Birds

Doves (Three species)

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Estimated Waterfowl Populations From Winter Aerial Surveys

2014 2015 19-year avg

Mallard 457,567 564,868 647,612

Mottled Duck 32,736 17,028 29,818

Pintail 548,319 398,071 625,197

Gadwall 735,130 842,979 698,642

Wigeon 139,692 219,787 244,038

Shoveler 306,963 164,501 129,152

Wood Duck 24,726 56,777 19,204

G-W Teal 634,689 276,951 457,835

B-W/Cinn. Teal 6,082 27,953 66,355

Black-bellied W.D. - - 11,611

Fulvous W.D. - - 1,423 TOTAL DABBLERS 2,885,904 2,568,915 2,930,094

Canvasback 51,597 26,167 42,854

Redhead 180,095 429,850 240,336

Scaup 357,957 140,992 205,261

Ring-necked Duck 255,769 354,071 167,464

Bufflehead 19,352 31,538 18,335

Goldeneye 4,371 13,916 5,934

Ruddy Duck 6,063 5,879 4,283 TOTAL DIVERS 875,204 1,002,413 684,466 TOTAL DUCKS 4,182,963 4,036,763 3,708,145

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Estimated Mourning Dove Populations from Rural Roadside Call Counts

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Estimated White-winged Dove Populations from Rural Call Counts and Urban Point Counts

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• The last survey of medium to large-sized exotic mammals and birds was conducted in 1988.

• At that time there were an estimated 67 species of exotics totaling 164,257 confined, or free-ranging animals, statewide (not including feral hogs).

• The majority were located in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains.

Exotics

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Feral Hogs • The estimated statewide feral hog

population is approximately 3.5 – 4.0 M.

• Approximately 45,000 hogs are killed annually by Texas Wildlife Services and aerial control agents

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N = 20,543

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Table 1. Estimated pronghorn populations by Wildlife District, 1987-2013

YEAR BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL

POSSUM KINGDOM (DISTRICT 3)

PANHANDLE (DISTRICT 2)

TRANS-PECOS (DISTRICT 1)

STATEWIDE

1987 4,825 8,012 4,389 17,226 1,102 2,179 826 4,107 1,041 1,182 1,018 3,241 6,968 11,373 6,233 24,574

1988 4,664 7,180 1,256 13,100 1,024 2,137 532 3,693 617 672 205 1,494 6,305 9,989 1,993 18,287

1989 2,929 4,576 772 8,277 1,149 2,132 392 3,673 464 522 307 1,293 4,542 7,230 1,471 13,243

1990 2,443 4,585 974 8,002 641 1,593 334 2,568 447 473 345 1,265 3,531 6,651 1,653 11,835

1991 3,029 5,594 3,206 11,829 792 1,809 467 3,068 578 669 551 1,798 4,399 8,072 4,224 16,695

1992 4,310 7,241 3,275 14,826 762 1,759 499 3,020 773 646 501 1,920 5,845 9,646 4,275 19,766

1993 4,531 7,157 1,774 13,462 737 1,900 654 3,291 204 366 80 650 5,472 9,423 2,508 17,403

1994 3,112 5,127 802 9,041 859 1,905 458 3,222 274 305 121 700 4,245 7,337 1,381 12,963

1995 2,322 4,210 993 7,525 965 2,079 526 3,570 250 351 207 808 3,537 6,640 1,726 11,903

1996 2,202 3,908 1,061 7,171 938 1,830 399 3,167 123 211 80 414 3,263 5,949 1,540 10,752

1997 2,906 4,866 2,387 10,159 697 1,986 801 3,484 252 333 330 915 3,855 7,185 3,518 14,558

1998 2,212 3,192 305 5,709 988 2,158 512 3,658 110 204 44 358 3,310 5,554 861 9,725

1999 2,228 3,446 931 6,605 1,189 2,948 847 4,984 240 288 181 709 3,657 6,682 1,959 12,298

2000 1,824 3,132 312 5,268 1,036 2,825 847 4,708 156 207 36 399 3,016 6,164 1,195 10,375

2001 1,533 2,613 915 5,061 1,130 2,636 942 4,708 96 168 117 381 2,759 5,417 1,974 10,150

2002 1,793 2,935 753 5,481 1,188 2,294 614 4,096 83 115 62 260 3,064 5,344 1,429 9,837

2003 1,978 3,214 1,625 6,817 1,290 2,735 1,135 5,160 60 128 85 273 3,328 6,077 2,845 12,250

2004 2,038 3,576 2,595 8,209 1,087 2,048 1,045 4,180 125 221 140 486 3,250 5,845 3,780 12,875

2005 2,825 4,291 2,836 9,952 1,456 2,588 1,348 5,392 214 262 184 660 4,495 7,141 4,368 16,004

2006 2,492 4,089 793 7,374 1,223 2,446 861 4,530 149 210 78 437 3,864 6,745 1,732 12,341

2007 3,020 4,583 2,466 10,069 1,663 3,022 1,286 5,971 164 246 102 512 4,847 7,851 3,854 16,552

2008 2,437 3,689 552 6,678 3,067 5,933 1,911 10,911 81 125 5 211 5,585 9,747 2,468 17,800

2009 2,080 3,394 445 5,919 3,139 6,321 2,439 11,899 109 185 21 315 5,328 9,900 2,905 18,133

2010 1,271 2,836 624 4,731 2,779 5,813 1,327 9,919 90 141 44 275 4,140 8,790 1,995 14,925

2011 1,076 2,416 253 3,745 2,997 6,361 1,317 10,675 84 139 5 228 4,157 8,916 1,575 14,648

2012 748 1,722 281 2,751 2,983 7,461 1,721 12,189 51 96 52 199 3,782 9,279 2,054 15,115

2013 752 1,809 510 3,071 3,083 7,476 2,272 12,831 88 169 22 279 3,923 9,454 2,804 16,181

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ABSTRACT In 2014, 163, 20-mile quail survey lines were conducted in August. The mean number of bobwhite quail observed/ecological region was as follows: Gulf Prairies 19.90, Cross Timbers 1.34, South Texas Plains 11.59, Edwards Plateau 4.88, Rolling Plains 7.53 and the High Plains 5.89. The mean number of scaled quail observed/ecological region was as follows: Trans-Pecos 6.00, South Texas Plains 0.88, Edwards Plateau 2.63, Rolling Plains 0.55 and the High Plains 0.09. Also based on roadside surveys, a total of 83 bobwhite broods and 14 scaled quail broods were observed. The mean bobwhite brood size was 11.10, and the mean scaled quail brood size was 11.18. In 2013-2014 hunting season, 31,568 quail hunters harvested 220,502 bobwhite quail and 10,516 hunters harvested 100,063 scaled quail.

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ABSTRACT Based on Breeding Bird Survey data, the Texas turkey population has grown considerably over the past ten years and appears to still be growing. The Texas turkey population is estimated to exceed 500,000 birds. Statewide harvest data is obtained through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Small Game Harvest Survey. Approximately 87,846 hunters harvested 38,839 wild turkeys during the combined 2013-2014 spring and fall turkey seasons. If our estimates are accurate, the statewide harvest is about 7.8% of the statewide population. During the 2013 spring season, 55,194 hunters harvested 19,941 wild turkeys. During the 2013-2014 fall season 54,753 hunters harvested 19,066 wild turkeys. The Eastern turkey population is estimated to be approximately 10,000 birds. The Eastern turkey is historically the only game animal in Texas with mandatory reporting following harvest. All harvested birds must be reported to one of TPWD’s eastern turkey check stations within 24 hours of harvest. Check stations are distributed in each county with an open eastern turkey season. During the FY2014 Commission cycle, the TPWD Commission approved the use of an electronic checking system for reporting Eastern turkey harvest “My Texas Hunt Harvest”. The My Hunt Harvest app is available for download on both Apple and Android devices. Hunters can also report their harvest online at http://tpwd.texas.gov/turkey. My Hunt Harvest also provides hunters an opportunity to provide voluntary harvest data for all other resident game species. Check Station data from the 2014 Eastern turkey season identified 203 wild turkeys harvested. This harvest estimate is up approximately 10% from the 2013 Eastern turkey season, yet still about 13% below the 8 year average. Data from the 2015 season has not yet been analyzed.

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