Wildlife becoming as important as cattle on some ranches
By J.T. SMITH Farm Editor
"There will come a time when bobwhite quail will be as important -- or even more so -- than cattle on many Texas ranches."
Blasphemous words in the Lone Star State?
No, words of renowned Texas A&M Wildlife Specialist Dr. Dale Rollins.
Rollins works with ranchers throughout the state -- and he's seen this trend coming for a long time.
He visited the historic King Ranch in South Texas in February this year and noted that hunting leases -- for bobwhite quail alone -- were going for $8 per acre.
Rollins says ranchers will come to see wildlife as just part of their overall ranch resources.
"Whether you are interested in quails or cows -- steers or deers -- how you manage your resources is the key to the success of your enterprises," Rollins assures.
Ranchers in the Abilene region as well as South Texas will be seeing their wildlife more as a resource in years ahead, Rollins assures.
"West Texas and South Texas are the two final frontiers for bobwhite quail hunting in the United States," Rollins notes.
<B>Wildlife important to net worth<B>
Beyond cash flow, wildlife resources also make a difference in the value of the property.
"Wildlife is critically important to the net worth of many estates," Rollins observes.
Rollins recently hosted about 60 real estate appraisers at San Angelo area for a discussion on real estate values.
"Only two appraisers -- one of the High Plains and one from East Texas -- said their land values were agriculturally driven," Rollins reported.
The High Plains response wasn't surprising considering the cotton monoculture in cotton-dependent High Plains counties of row-crop farming.
But in ranching or farmer-stockman operations, the importance of a balanced wildlife program was clear.
<B>Too much brush control?<B>
Totally clearing land of brush can affect its value negatively for 20 or 30 years down the road, Rollins notes.
Ranchers are "rethinking" some old approaches to dealing with mesquite trees and other types brush, Rollins says.
J.F. Cadenhead III, Texas A&M Extension range specialist, agrees.
The Plains Indians manipulated brush and the prairie with fire many years ago.
Many ranchers have changed from wanting to wipe out every mesquite and seenothing but cattle in belly-deep grass, to the approach of leaving some brush for wildlife cover and a food source.
Cadenhead, based at the Texas A&M Research and Extension Center at Vernon, says the attitude toward brush on ranches has followed this progress:
-- 1950s -- Brush Eradication.
-- 1960s -- Brush Control.
-- 1970s and 80s -- Brush Management.
-- 1990s -- Brush Sculpting.
Brush sculpting?
Yes, brush sculpting or "sculpturing" is a term that is one of the hottest buzzwords in West Texas range management nowadays.
The idea of brush sculpting is to leave some brush in desired amounts and precise patterns for wildlife -- or wildlife and cattle operaitons.
And the principle behind brush sculpting is that a certain amount of brush is not only tolerable -- but beneficial -- to both livestock and wildlife.
<B>Texas' diversity is made for wildlife<B>
Lynn Pace of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says the diversity of plants makes for diverse wildlife in Texas.
Annual rainfall in Texas varies from an average of 50 inches along the Texas Coast to a mere 8 inches in Far West Texas.
The growing season ranges from 170 days up in the Texas Panhandle to some 330 days in Deep South Texas at Brownsville.
Texas topography varies from sea level to more than 8,000 feet elevation at the Trans Pecos, Pace notes.
The TPWD resource specialist says the many different plants in Texas are key to the great mix of wildlife in the state.
Plants -- including brush -- can provide vital habitats to wildlife as well as food.
"There are more than 5,000 different vascular plants in Texas," Pace points out. "And many of them are valuable to wildlife."
Texas Oak is desirable for many wildlife habitats.
Any number of species of wild plums are used by many wildlife species, including coyotes to racoons and birds. The bushes can also provide foliage for wildlife.
Wild grapes also are used by many wildlife species. Various berries help wildlife to have food through winter.
Sumacs can provide cover as well as small fruit for bird species, Pace notes.
Maximillian sunflowers are a valuable browse for wildlife because they are prolific seed producers.
Native pecan trees are used by many wildlife ranging from squirrels to feral hogs.
Pricklpear cactus is cursed and often attacked with various mechanical or chemical methods. But many wildlife species use the pricklypear for food.
"You need the diversity -- it all fits together," Pace notes.
Juniper provides an excellent cover for some wildlife and also is a browse for many.
Following prescribed burns and/or wildfires, some species of browse plants will come back rapidly.
Many plants in the wild are of the legume family and actually put nitrogen back into the soil, Pace notes.
<B>Bobwhite Brigade camps highly successful<B>
Dr. Rollins has put together wildlife camps known as "Bobwhite Brigades" where youngsters go through an intensive learning process on bobwhite quail.
The camps have become so popular now that they are held throughout the state.
Among other things, the young people learn about quail habitats and what types of food the quail prefers.
But the overall message is to teach these future managers of wildlife resources how to sustain wildlife in a balanced way.
"Don't be a wildlife miner," Rollins challenges. "Be a wildlife manager."
That's the message for youngters or adults.
In fact, it may be far easier to teach youngsters when they are 13 or 17 years old than to alter the thinking of an older person who not want to change.
Rollins says that is just human nature.
"It's natural to resist change," Rollins notes. "Rarely do we welcome change. But if you stick your head in the fence, the world will pass you by."
<B>Three days left for applications<B>
Applications are being accepted until April 1 for the Extension Service's three Bobwhite Brigade camps to be held during Summer '98 in Texas.
The Rolling Plains camp is June 21-25 at the Krooked River Ranch near Lueders (about an hour's drive north of Abilene).
A South Texas camp is July 12-16 on the 74 Ranch at Campbellton.
The East Texas camp at Camp Tyler is slated for Aug. 2-6.
The highly popular Bobwhite Brigade is a four-day camp for high school stduents that is designed to make them quail experts.
Cadets are given intensive training in quail biology and management by leading wildlife scientists from throughout Texas.
After graduation, each member also is expected to present quail management educational programs in his or her home county.
The East Texas Bobwhite Brigade is now in its third year.
In the immediate Abilene region, the Rolling Plains camp at Lueders is in its sixth year this summer.
These programs have received both state and national awards for conservation education.
Last year, Bobwhite Brigade cadets conducted more than 600 educational programs from audiences ranging from civic clubs to landowners and kindergarten classes.
Each camp is limited to 25 to 30 youngsters between the ages of 13 and 17. Incoming sophomores and juniors, usually 15- and 16-year-olds, are preferred.
Applicants should have a strong interest in wildlife and be able to show evidence of leadership development.
All Bobwhite Brigade graduates are asked to present educational programs on various aspects of conservation. Scholarships are available to those excelling in conducting such programs.
Bobwhite Brigade sponsors are the Texas A&M Agricultural Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Quail Unlimited, local soil and water conservation districts and private landowners.
Applications for this year's camps are available from the local County Extension Service office or by calling Rollins' office at (915) 653-4576 before by the April 1 deadline.