April 15, 2008

Black Bears Are On The Move In Texas

Hunters Advised to ID Targets: That Hog Could Be A Bear

TYLER, Texas — In the dim light before dawn, it’s hard to tell what that dark shape is under the feeder 100 yards from your hunting blind. It’s probably a feral hog stealing corn you bought for deer to supplement native forage. But make a positive identification before you pull the trigger; that hog-like shape could be a black bear.

Black bears were almost gone in Texas by the end of World War II because of unregulated hunting and habitat loss. However, a small resident and reproducing black bear population now exists in Texas and it is slowly expanding its range.

To manage the return of bears in the forests of eastern Texas, a coalition of conservation partners called the East Texas Black Bear Task Force has created the East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan. The task force is working to pave the way for black bear restoration in its historic range in eastern Texas through education, research and habitat management.

Bears have been making a slow and natural return to Texas since 1984, when a black bear was observed in Big Bend National Park for the first time in nearly 50 years. A large portion of today’s bear population resides in the vast, arid desert and mountain country of the Trans Pecos Region in western Texas.

A few wild and free-roaming individual bears have been observed in south Texas, the western edge of the hill country, the northwestern panhandle and the forests of deep east Texas in recent years. They are considered to be primarily younger males moving hundreds of miles alone from their birth places of western Texas, northern Mexico or the bordering states of New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana where black bears are more common.

Black bears are protected in Texas and are on the state threatened species list. Only in far eastern Texas do black bears get additional protection through listing as a threatened subspecies under the federal Endangered Species Act. This listing is associated with the black bear population in adjacent Louisiana (Ursus americanus luteolus). Bear hunting of any kind has been prohibited statewide in Texas since 1983.

The forests of eastern Texas are similar to other occupied black bear habitats in adjacent states. East Texas contains approximately 12 million acres of forested private and public land, including four national forests and the Big Thicket National Preserve. This region is considered to be one of the next places in Texas for the continued slow, natural return of black bears.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has documented several reliable bear sightings in recent years in eastern Texas. Some of the most recent sightings have been verified by photos of bears taken by motion-sensitive cameras installed at deer feeders. Studies are in progress with researchers at Stephen F. Austin State University to better determine the distribution and occurrence of black bears in eastern Texas. This research involves the collection of hair samples for DNA analysis and the assessment of suitable forested habitats most likely to support bears.

The East Texas Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan adopted by TPWD in 2005 uses a partnership approach to facilitate the recovery of black bears in eastern Texas through cooperative efforts. One misconception about this plan was an early suggestion that TPWD would stock bears. This has never occurred and department biologists say it will not happen in the future unless there is solid public and political support for it. And, stocking may be unnecessary as bears continue to move slowly and naturally into the forests of eastern Texas from adjoining states where there are growing, expanding or stable black bear populations.

Bears are still rare in Texas and very few Texans have ever seen one here. Black bears are also normally shy and not aggressive to humans. This combination of factors makes it unlikely that you or someone you know will encounter one.

Even so, never approach a bear. If you do happen to encounter a black bear at close range in the wilds of Texas, it is advisable to talk in a calm manner while backing away slowly. Do not make direct eye contact and do not run. If a bear approaches you, stand your ground and raise your arms, backpack or jacket to appear larger. If the bear continues to approach, yell at it to scare it off. If a bear is visiting your deer stand or campsite, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or an air horn.

Hunters need to know their target and not mistake a bear for a feral hog or javelina. It is a violation of law to kill a black bear in Texas.

Public opinion surveys of residents in several Texas counties show general support for the return of black bears, while also indicating a need for more easily available information about bears.

Anyone can receive the recently created brochure "Bear Safety in Mind" from TPWD by calling one of the following regional offices nearest you: West Texas/Alpine — (432) 837-2051, Central Texas/Kerrville — (830) 896-2500, East Texas/Tyler — (903) 566-1626, North Texas/Canyon — (806) 655-3782), or South Texas/Pleasanton — (830) 569-8700.

The brochure and other information about black bears are also available on the TPWD Web site.

On the Net:

• http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/endang/animals/mammals/louisianablackbear/plan/

About the TBGA: Celebrating its 17th season, the Texas Big Game Awards (TBGA), a partnership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas Wildlife Association (TWA), continues to be the leader in recognizing the contributions that landowners, land managers and responsible hunters make to managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat on Texas’ private lands.  The Texas Big Game Awards program is designed to recognize 1) the quality of big game animals in Texas, 2) the hunters who harvest these animals, 3) the land managers who produce these animals through their management efforts, 4) the importance of our hunting heritage, and 5) the achievements of young and new hunters.  For more information on the program visit www.TexasBigGameAwards.com Or call (800) TEX-WILD, ext. 114.

Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, or pronghorn antelope this season meeting the minimum net score B&C requirements for their respective Region, may be eligible to receive recognition in the “Scored Entry” category as well as the landowner for where the trophy was taken.  Also new this year is the recognition only, of the hunters and landowners where desert bighorns are taken in Texas.  Hunters of any age who harvest their first big game animal in Texas are eligible for the “First Big Game Harvest” category.  Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope are eligible whether they harvest a buck or doe, regardless of score of the animal in this category.

The TBGA website for this season will include the $20,000 College Scholarship Program sponsored by Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores.  Scholarship applications will be available in December and due by March 15, 2008.  All program information, program history, entry rules and minimum scores are also featured on the website.  Also this fall, keep up with news on the TBGA program and current hunting issues with the TBGA News Link this fall.  

You can also find a local scorer in your area for official entry forms, or download the First Harvest/Youth Division forms on-line, as no scorer signature is required for those entries.  The TBGA website will also feature photos of entries that are entered this season.  Last season over 700 photos were mailed in.  You can check out links to great TBGA Sponsors too.  

And, any youth hunter (under 17 years of age when they purchase their hunting license) with a Special Resident Hunting License who harvests a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope is eligible for the “Youth Division” whether they harvest a buck or doe, regardless of score.  The javelina is a new species added to the Youth Division and First Harvest Division this season.

The Texas Big Game Awards is proudly sponsored by: Statewide Sponsors Hixon Land and Cattle Company, Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores, and Budweiser.  Texas Regional Sponsors include: Remington Arms, Leupold and Stevens, Gerber Legendary Blades, Thompson Center Arms, C. Young and Company, DoskoSport, Mossy Oak Brand Camo, Tecomate Wildlife Systems, Smith’s Abrasives, Hunter’s Specialties, Moultrie Feeders, ThermaCell, Wildgame Innovations, Bass Prop Shops, Under Armour, Nunley Brothers, Universal Scoring Products, BogGear, Cocoon ATV Products, Game Guard, Academy Sports and Outdoors, Cabela's, Drury Outdoors, and Record Rack Premium Game Feeds.

 www.TexasBigGameAwards.com

Stop hunting for buyers for Christmas Mountains

By The Editorial Board | Monday, October 15, 2007
Austin American-Statesman 

Suddenly, the National Park Service expresses serious interest in acquiring the Christmas Mountains land in West Texas, near Big Bend National Park. You might think the cavalry is coming to the rescue of almost 10,000 acres of mostly unspoiled wilderness before it is sold into private hands.

But you wouldn’t be Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who sees only a threat: Not only is hunting banned in national parks, he says, there is an “unconstitutional” ban on anyone carrying a loaded weapon in a park.

To spare Texans the outrage of going unarmed onto land that they don’t even have access to now, the commissioner still intends to sell the Christmas Mountains to a private owner - preferably one who will allow hunting.

Furthermore, he said, the Christmas Mountains area is so wild - narcotics traffickers, for example - that no future visitor should be barred from carrying a weapon for self-defense.

Or as the commissioner neatly sums up his position: “No hunting, no firearms, no deal.”

A brief review: In 1991 the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Conservation Fund gave the people of Texas 9,269 acres in West Texas, just northwest of Big Bend National Park. The gift came with a considerable list of restraints on its use to keep it in its wild, natural condition. The hope was that the land would be turned over to the Texas Departments of Parks and Wildlife or to the National Park Service for permanent conservation.

But both the state and federal park departments declined, apparently mostly for budget reasons, and Patterson decided that the only way to save the land was to sell it. The land can’t be developed, so the likeliest buyers are wealthy individuals who could make some limited, private use of it - like hunting. The initial round of bids was rejected because of a map error, but a second round is scheduled for opening on Nov. 6.

Last week, though, Superintendent William Wellman of Big Bend National Park asked Patterson for more time for the National Park Service to reconsider acquisition of the Christmas Mountains, which he said “would be an appropriate addition” to the Big Bend park.

Patterson did not welcome the request, though he said a winning bidder wouldn’t necessarily be chosen next month.

Though Patterson insists he will not surrender 10,000 acres in West Texas that might be used by some hunters, there is in fact no hunting there now.

“Nobody’s hunting it now because there’s really no species to hunt,” Patterson told us on Monday. Several weeks ago, though, Patterson was arguing that it was important to sell this land into private hands to put a stop to invasive species - and poaching.

Patterson said the conservation easements on the land are so strict, and the original donors who hold them so strict about enforcement, that the land itself would be best off in the hands of a private owner motivated to conserve it (and, apparently most critically, to hunt on it). Kept in public hands, he said, the public will have little practical access to it.

Wellman, though, said in a telephone interview Monday that the restrictions “are not a barrier to the type of use that we envision, which would almost be wilderness-like use - hiking, camping, no permanent structures.” And no hunting.

The superintendent said he would need six months or so to determine if the land could be acquired.

Patterson should cancel the current round of bids and give the National Park Service the time it needs. The public interest requires it.

Directions: 

In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, mustard, DU Rotisserie Roast seasoning, garlic and lemon juice, then whisk together. While whisking vigorously, add olive oil in a thin stream until emulsified. Divide mixture in half. Brush half of the mixture over ducks, cover and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours, turning ducks often (up to 24 hours is fine). Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place ducks in a roasting pan, breast side up. Bake for 17 to 22 minutes, depending on the size of the duck. Baste with remaining marinade mixture, saving a few tablespoons, just before removing from oven. Let meat rest about 10 minutes before carving or serving whole. Serve with the Ducks Unlimited’s Pacific Flyway Wild Rice.