Wildlife Populations in Texas

Home , Canvasback, Davis Mountains, Edwards Plateau

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?

White-tailed Deer Deer Surveys Figure 1. Monitored deer range within the Resource Management Units (RMU) of Texas.

29 30 26 22 18 25 27 17 16

24 21

15 02 20 28 23 19 14

03 05 06 13 04 07

11 12

Ecoregion RMU Area (Ha) 08 Blackland Prairie 20 731,745 21 367,820 Cross Timbers 22 771,971 23 1,430,907 24 1,080,818 25 1,552,348 Eastern Rolling Plains 26 564,404 27 1,162,939 Ecoregion RMU Area (Ha) 29 1,091,385 Post Oak Savannah 11 690,618 Edwards Plateau 4 1,308,326 12 475,323 5 2,807,841 18 1,290,491 6 583,685 19 2,528,747 7 1,909,010 South Texas Plains 8 5,255,676 28 1,246,008 Southern High Plains 2 810,505 Pineywoods 13 949,342 TransPecos 3 693,080 14 1,755,050 Western Rolling Plains 30 4,223,231 15 862,622 31 1,622,158 16 1,056,147 39,557,788 Total 17 735,592 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

Figure 3. Estimated # Deer Per 1,000 Acres by Ecological Area 2013 Survey Period Refer to Table 2 for Sample Size and Confidence Intervals.

Edwards Plateau 112.8

Trans Pecos 29.2

Cross Timbers 37.8

Post Oak Savannah 35.4

Eastern Rolling Plains 27.8

Western Rolling Plains 18.6

South Texas Plains 17.9

Pineywoods 18.1

Southern High Plains 5.3 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Mule Deer

Aerial transects (n = 76) by monitoring unit in the Trans-Pecos, 2013 Figure 4. Randomly generated transects (n = 49) by monitoring unit in the Panhandle, 2013 (actual transects surveyed = 44). Mule deer population estimates by ecoregion and statewide since 2005. Pronghorn Aerial Surveys 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 Trans-Pecos herd units. Red units are where pronghorn were transplanted in 2013 and 2014.

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

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

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

* 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. Javelina

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.

Rolling Plains = 38.3 birds/20 miles in 2015 50

30 Bobwhite Quail

5 0 South Texas = 21 birds/20 miles in 2015 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

55 Mean Quail… 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Gulf Prairies = 14.9 birds/20 miles in 2015 20

12 Bobwhite Quail

0 High Plains = 10.9 birds/20 miles in 2015 18 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

0 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Cross Timbers = 1.2 birds/20 miles in 2015 40

25 Bobwhite Quail

0 Edwards Plateau = 6 birds/20 miles in 2015 16 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014

0 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Migratory Birds • Waterfowl – Five species of goose – Five species of rails and gallinules – Twenty-eight species of ducks – One crane species

Doves (Three species)

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

• 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. 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 N = 20,543

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

TRANS-PECOS PANHANDLE POSSUM KINGDOM STATEWIDE (DISTRICT 1) (DISTRICT 2) (DISTRICT 3) YEAR BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL BUCKS DOES FAWNS TOTAL 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 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.

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.