DOMINION 1 LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION
DOMINION 1 LANDOWNERS ASSOCIATION WILDLIFE COMMITTEE WILDLIFE HARVEST QUOTAS FOR 2012-2013 October 5, 2012 Dominion Landowners, Another hunting season is almost here, with range conditions much improved from last year. In 2012 we have already had twenty plus inches of rain. Texas Parks & Wildlife and the Texas State Historical Association claim the normal annual rainfall for Kerr County is thirty inches. We have a good chance of getting there this year. Some of the oak trees are dropping acorns, something that was hard to find last year.The amount of game harvested here last year was consistent with the previous few years. Recent observations indicate that the population of most species is also similar to previous years. For those reasons, we are going to forgo the game surveys and biologist analysis this year. We will evaluate and decide if they are advisable in future years. The wildlife harvest quotas will start as outlined below and will be monitored and adjusted, if necessary, as the season progresses. The management goals for all of our wildlife should be: Retain the number of animals that the area inside the perimeter fence will adequately support, thereby providing owners with maximum viewing and hunting opportunity. Produce adequate number of trophy class animals through sensible harvest / hunting practices. The following guidelines are being made for the harvest of our wild game for the 2012 - 2013 hunting season;
Aoudad Sheep.We continue to have a stable herd which is not heavily hunted. While not usually hunted for the meat, there are locals that like it and can make use of it. We will get some information on possible locations to donate this and other game meat and provide it in a future e-mail. Landowners withless than 100 acres may harvest a total of 2 aoudad of either sex. Landowners having 100 acres or more may harvest a total of3 aoudad of either sex.
Axis deer.The population of axis deer is still historically quite low.
PLEASE DO NOT HARVEST AXIS DEER THIS SEASON. We will continue to takemeasuresthat will increase the herd to a desirable level for future years.
Blackbuck Antelope.They have had very good fawn crops over the past three years, and their total numbers have steadily risen. We were very conservative in the number of males taken last year in order to let them mature. We now have a reasonable number of male blackbuck, but their overall age class is a little low.The number of females harvested last year was minimal. Oneblackbuck malemay be harvested from each tract this season. However, please do so only if you wish to have a mature buck as a trophy. Landowners with less than 100 acres may harvest 1 blackbuck doe. Landowners having 100 acres or more may harvest 2 blackbuck does.
Fallow Deer.Their overall numbers are also still low. The age class of the fallow bucks is very low. PLEASE DO NOT HARVEST ANY FALLOW DEER THIS SEASON.
Sika Deer.Our sika herdhas an adequate number of bucks and far fewer does. Landowners with less than 100 acres may harvest 1 sika buck. Landowners with 100 acres or moremay harvest 2 sika bucks. PLEASE DO NOT HARVEST ANY SIKA DOES.We need to retain the breeding age females in order to maintain the overall population level.
Turkey. Being flock oriented most of the year, sometimes you see them, sometimes not. In order to maintain adequate numbers that offer opportunities for all, EACH LANDOWNER SHOULD HARVEST ONLY UP TO A TOTAL OF2 GOBBLERS OVER THE FALL AND SPRING SEASONS.
Whitetailed Deer. Antlered Bucks:The goal of managing whitetail deer is to produce and harvest “mature trophies”. Very few of the bucks on any property will ever fall into both categories. A whitetail buck is “mature” at 5 to 6 years of age. All mature bucks do not possess the large antlers that hunters desire.On the other hand, all eight or ten point bucks are not mature animals. In addition, a“trophy” in the eye of one hunter is not the same as another. For whitetail bucks, it is difficult to devise a simple harvest strategy. If we use an antler point limit, we will kill some immature bucks while allowing other bucks with fewer points
to die of old age. We have not harvested an excessive number of whitetail bucks on the ranch in past years, soit makes sense to allow our hunters to make some of the management decisions in the field. This approach will only be successful if everyone who hunts the whitetails is accountable and reports the harvest on the ranch log.If a hunter sees a nice buck, but is not so impressed with him as to want to have it mounted, then pass on him and let him mature another year or two. If the hunter is looking for freezer or sausage meat, try to harvest one of our many cull bucks or does. The owner of each tract is allowed one “trophy” buck and one “cull” buck for the 2012 – 2013 season. A “trophy” buck is one that the hunter seriously considers putting on the wall. “Cull” bucks arelarger spikes (most likely six inches and larger) that are at least 1 ½ years old, olderbucks with no brow tines, older bucks with small and narrow “basket” racks, and older bucks with abnormal “freak” racks. Antlerless Deer:In past years we have not harvested the number of female whitetail deer recommended by the biologist. The owner of each tract is allowed 2 whitetail does. We will monitor the harvest log and update everyone on how both the buck and doe harvest progresses. We can adjust the strategy during the season if higher (or lower) numbers than usual are being harvested. As in the past, hogs, predators, and varmints can be hunted year round with no limits. Please continue feeding as much as possible year-round. Please log all harvested game on the sheet inside the mailbox at the gate. Call or e-mail if you need assistance or have a question.Please respond by e-mail to Fred Wood, acknowledging that you have received this information.
Be safe and have a good time when at the ranch! Clint Cummings 830-257-7979 (office)
Fred Wood 830-640-3555 (ranch) 210-218-6060 (cell) [email protected]
Aoudad Sheep.We continue to have a stable herd which is not heavily hunted. While not usually hunted for the meat, there are locals that like it and can make use of it. We will get some information on possible locations to donate this and other game meat and provide it in a future e-mail. Landowners withless than 100 acres may harvest a total of 2 aoudad of either sex. Landowners having 100 acres or more may harvest a total of3 aoudad of either sex.
Axis deer.The population of axis deer is still historically quite low.
PLEASE DO NOT HARVEST AXIS DEER THIS SEASON. We will continue to takemeasuresthat will increase the herd to a desirable level for future years.
Blackbuck Antelope.They have had very good fawn crops over the past three years, and their total numbers have steadily risen. We were very conservative in the number of males taken last year in order to let them mature. We now have a reasonable number of male blackbuck, but their overall age class is a little low.The number of females harvested last year was minimal. Oneblackbuck malemay be harvested from each tract this season. However, please do so only if you wish to have a mature buck as a trophy. Landowners with less than 100 acres may harvest 1 blackbuck doe. Landowners having 100 acres or more may harvest 2 blackbuck does.
Fallow Deer.Their overall numbers are also still low. The age class of the fallow bucks is very low. PLEASE DO NOT HARVEST ANY FALLOW DEER THIS SEASON.
Sika Deer.Our sika herdhas an adequate number of bucks and far fewer does. Landowners with less than 100 acres may harvest 1 sika buck. Landowners with 100 acres or moremay harvest 2 sika bucks. PLEASE DO NOT HARVEST ANY SIKA DOES.We need to retain the breeding age females in order to maintain the overall population level.
Turkey. Being flock oriented most of the year, sometimes you see them, sometimes not. In order to maintain adequate numbers that offer opportunities for all, EACH LANDOWNER SHOULD HARVEST ONLY UP TO A TOTAL OF2 GOBBLERS OVER THE FALL AND SPRING SEASONS.
Whitetailed Deer. Antlered Bucks:The goal of managing whitetail deer is to produce and harvest “mature trophies”. Very few of the bucks on any property will ever fall into both categories. A whitetail buck is “mature” at 5 to 6 years of age. All mature bucks do not possess the large antlers that hunters desire.On the other hand, all eight or ten point bucks are not mature animals. In addition, a“trophy” in the eye of one hunter is not the same as another. For whitetail bucks, it is difficult to devise a simple harvest strategy. If we use an antler point limit, we will kill some immature bucks while allowing other bucks with fewer points
to die of old age. We have not harvested an excessive number of whitetail bucks on the ranch in past years, soit makes sense to allow our hunters to make some of the management decisions in the field. This approach will only be successful if everyone who hunts the whitetails is accountable and reports the harvest on the ranch log.If a hunter sees a nice buck, but is not so impressed with him as to want to have it mounted, then pass on him and let him mature another year or two. If the hunter is looking for freezer or sausage meat, try to harvest one of our many cull bucks or does. The owner of each tract is allowed one “trophy” buck and one “cull” buck for the 2012 – 2013 season. A “trophy” buck is one that the hunter seriously considers putting on the wall. “Cull” bucks arelarger spikes (most likely six inches and larger) that are at least 1 ½ years old, olderbucks with no brow tines, older bucks with small and narrow “basket” racks, and older bucks with abnormal “freak” racks. Antlerless Deer:In past years we have not harvested the number of female whitetail deer recommended by the biologist. The owner of each tract is allowed 2 whitetail does. We will monitor the harvest log and update everyone on how both the buck and doe harvest progresses. We can adjust the strategy during the season if higher (or lower) numbers than usual are being harvested. As in the past, hogs, predators, and varmints can be hunted year round with no limits. Please continue feeding as much as possible year-round. Please log all harvested game on the sheet inside the mailbox at the gate. Call or e-mail if you need assistance or have a question.Please respond by e-mail to Fred Wood, acknowledging that you have received this information.
Be safe and have a good time when at the ranch! Clint Cummings 830-257-7979 (office)
Fred Wood 830-640-3555 (ranch) 210-218-6060 (cell) [email protected]
