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SFS, TPWD & NWTF Holds Angelina National Forest Wheelin’ Sportsmen Event
Lufkin, Texas — People with disabilities are invited to apply for a two-day deer and hog hunt held on the Angelina National Forest, December 11-12, sponsored by the National Wild Turkey Federation’s (NWTF) Wheelin’ Sportsmen program, U.S. Forest Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Pineywoods Chapter NWTF.
Applications may be obtained online (www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas) or at any U.S. Forest Service office in Texas and must be completed and returned to the U.S. Forest Service office, (415 S. First St., Lufkin, TX, 75901) by Sept. 4. Individuals with any level of disability may apply. Twelve participants will be drawn for the event. Volunteers and expert instructors will be on hand to assist. There is no cost to attend and meals will be provided to participants and guests.
For more information about this event, please visit our website (www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas) or call (936) 897-1068 or (936) 639-8501.
For more information about the National Wild Turkey Federation visit the Web site at www.nwtf.org.
www.fs.fed.us/r8/texas
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Using prescribed burns to improve wildlife habitat
Fire
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By Ross Huffman
It is getting close to spring and hunters and landowners are asking what they can do to improve their property for turkeys and other wildlife. There are lots of options, but one of the most cost effective is using prescribed fire. When people hear about fire the first thing that comes to mind is what Smokey the Bear taught us. Fire can be very dangerous when out of control, but a prescribed burn is different.
So, what is a prescribed burn? A prescribed burn uses fire as a management tool for land stewardship. It is conducted under specific predetermined conditions to achieve specific goals. During a prescribed burn you light the fire during specific temperature, humidity, wind speed, and fuel moisture conditions to maximize the desired benefits. You also take additional precautions like having fire breaks, suppression equipment, and enough trained people on site to make sure only areas you want to burn do burn.
What are some of the objectives of a prescribed burn?
· Increase production of desired grasses, forbs and woody plants
· Improve the function of a watershed resulting in increased water quantity and quality
· Reduction and management of woody species, cacti and invasive plants
· Improve forage and browse quality and/or palatability
· Increase availability of desirable forage and browse plants
· Provide better grazing distribution of livestock
· Improve animal performance and achieve control of certain parasites and pests
· Enhance nutrient cycling
· Removal of accumulated vegetation and reduction in fuel loads
A burn plan needs to be developed based on your objectives so it is important to work with a trained professional to learn how to develop a burn plan.
That brings up the next question. What is a burn plan and who can help me develop one? A burn plan outlines all the steps and conditions needed to achieve your objectives. It will have requirements for preparation before you begin a burn. A burn plan will also have the specific weather requirements needed for a safe and effective burn. It will contain information on how to do the burn, like where to have black lines and where to ignite your main fire. There are several agencies and organizations that offer both financial and technical assistance with prescribed burns. The Texas Forest Service the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Texas Department of Wildlife and Parks can provide technical and financial assistance. If you want assistance conducting the burn or training you can work with any of the above agencies as well as The Nature Conservancy of Texas, the Texas Cooperative Extension, you can hire a certified prescribed burn manager, or you can join a prescribed burn associations in your area. A prescribed burn association is a cooperative of landowners that share knowledge, experience and equipment to conduct prescribed burns.
If you are interested in improving your property for wildlife you can contact any of the above agencies and organizations. For more information on the benefits of spring prescribed burns for wild turkeys read the NWTF press release or call NWTF regional biologist Ross Huffman at (806) 367-5711 or by email at rhuffman-nwtf@suddenlink.net.
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WITO Event at The Salano Ranch
Kayaking Class
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The Solana Ranch, south of Salado, Texas proved to be a perfect setting for a “Women in the Outdoors” event. On Saturday, June 28th, 2008 over 60 women participated in outdoor workshops. Classes that were available to the women included Shotgun and Handgun Basics, Archery, Fishing Basics, Kayaking, Geo-Caching, Varmint Hunting, Map and Compass, ATV Safety, and Backyard Habitat. In addition to the outdoor skills they acquired, many women also took classes to learn how to make Duct Tape Handbags, Natural Flower arrangements, Flower Pressing, Walking Sticks, and Wood Turning.
Not only did the event provide education and camaraderie opportunities but also an opportunity to help the local community. Each participant was asked to bring a new book, toy or pajamas to be given to the local Children’s Advocacy Center. The response was tremendous. Thank you to all those who participated in this community project.
The event Coordinators would like to thank the members of the NWTF Tri-County Longbeards Chapter, who assisted with this event. If you are interested in attending an upcoming event, you can log onto www.womenintheoutdoors.com for more information.
Kim Godin
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Cuthand Women in the Outdoors Event
This was a first year event with 50 women attending. Classes included skeet
shooting, archery, trailer backing, personal protection & dutch oven
cooking. Over $1500 was raised & the event earned Golden Hen status in it's
first year. Congratulations to the committee: Julie, Tina, Kristi, Kristi &
Marina!
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New Scholarship Deadlines
National was very late getting out these Scholarship procedure changes to us. The new deadlines require :
Students to have all info downloaded and applicants sent in by January 1st--The Local chapter must get the winners to the State Chairman by February 1st and the State must get their winners to nationals by March 1st. The local chapters have about five weeks now to get their information to the schools.That gives the students from Christmas vacation to New Year's to get in their applications and essays.
Lots of quick pressure on the locals this year. National communication was not good on this change.
We need to get this info out to our chapters fast--Word of mouth and e-mail is best probably--plus website.
Just my thoughts BOB LINDER
http://www.nwtf.org/jakes/xtreme/scholarships.html
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TURKEY RELEASE AT LAKE LEWISVILLE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING AREA IN NORTH TEXAS
By Jennifer Barrow, TPWD Wildlife Biologist – Decatur, Texas
Sometime about September 2005, Dr. Ken Steigman, the director of Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area (LLELA), contacted me about re-introducing Rio Grande turkeys to the area south of the Lake Lewisville dam known as LLELA. This area consists of approximately 2,000 acres of undeveloped property along the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, as the river flows through the dam of the lake. Much of the area is in the Trinity River bottomland, and there are associated uplands on either side of the river. There were a few turkeys still remaining in the area, but the population had dwindled to only 1 or 2 birds.
I contacted Dr. T. Wayne Schwertner, TPWD’s turkey program leader, and he and I met with Dr. Steigman on the area. After evaluating the habitat to determine suitability to support turkeys, we determined that the project was something we wanted to pursue. Both parties would benefit. LLELA wished to gain several things by restocking turkeys to the property: 1) provide a large enough population to sustain itself through time; 2) provide research opportunities for master’s/doctoral students at University of North Texas and others; and 3) provide an opportunity for visitors to the area, mostly urban residents, to view native wildlife on the area. Through research conducted on the released turkeys, TPWD is attempting to gain insight into 1) minimum area required to sustain a population; 2) minimum number of turkeys stocked in order to be successful; and 3) habitat preference of turkeys in the eastern Cross Timbers area.
In January 2006, TPWD biologists trapped 34 hens and 15 gobblers in Jack County on private land and released them at LLELA. Radio transmitters were fitted on 20 hens and 5 gobblers, and a graduate student tracked the birds through the use of radio telemetry. Most of the birds survived the first few days, and are doing well now. A few hens were observed with poults this first breeding season on the area, and that’s what we were hoping for. Hopefully next season they will have settled in and the nesting and hatching success will be much higher. Currently the birds are beginning to congregate in fall flocks, as a flock of 12 and a flock of 15 were seen recently. I will try to have some numbers for you following spring ’07 nesting season regarding #’s of hens nesting and numbers of poults hatched. Look for me at the NWTF statewide awards banquet in January. I’d be happy to discuss this project with you there.
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Texas State Chapter pins
Texas State Chapter pins may be purchased from:
www.gumboranch.com or
Preston Lawson
110 Lindseys Cove
San Antonio, TX 78258
They will be $2.50 each, plus $0.60 postage for each 5 pins.
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GUIDELINES- TEXAS NWTF SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
FOR CHAPTER PRESIDENTS or SCHOLARSHIP CHAIRPERSON
1. The Scholarship forms usually arrive in September or October.
Immediately - go to the back page of the Scholarship form and put in your Chapter name and contact information—address-telephone in the box provided by nationals.. This is vital information for us to mail the scholarship winners check.
2. Get out your Scholarship forms to individuals or school counselors by November 15th .Give a deadline date of January 15th for the return of the forms to you. Double check that all forms are complete and have test scores, letters and transcripts.
3rd. Choose your winner by February 1st and mail your winners folder to the State Scholarship chairman by February 15th.
Presently Dr. Robert Linder-- NWTF Scholarship Chair
3302 Vista Lane
Marble Falls, TX 78654
4th—Option—If you have a banquet after February it is nice to recognize your scholarship winner at your banquet. The parents and winner are guests at the banquet—A Good banquet moment.
5th The Texas state NWTF Scholarship committee meets in early March so that they can get the state winner to Edgefield before April 1st.
## CONTACT INFORMATION from your NWTF chapter is vital.
Name, address and phone of President or Chair.
Send your Green Super Fund request form to the State Chapter president.
Robert Linder
President
3302 Vista Lane
Marble Falls, TX 78654
Make sure your Chapter President and address is included so that the NWTF can send the scholarship check to you
http://www.nwtf.org/jakes/xtreme/scholarships.html
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