RANCHING Wildlife
around 50 percent, much higher than in other years. Fewer 4.5-year-old bucks will be present in the
population this year, because those bucks were born in 2011 when statewide fawn crop estimates were down to 29 percent. Although the annual variation in fawn production
obviously affects the number of future bucks in the population, the positive trend in the statewide deer population also means more deer on the landscape for hunters to pursue, including bucks. Fawn production for 2015 is expected to be above
average, probably 50 percent or better at a statewide scale, and a bit higher in some ecoregions.
Edwards Plateau A closer look into TPWD’s deer survey data reveals
deer populations vary dramatically depending on the region of the state. The highest deer densities can be found in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion in the central portion of the state, where 2014 survey results indicate a density of 116 deer per 1,000 acres, or about 2.2 mil- lion deer. Density and population estimates should be similar for 2015, if not a little higher. The extensive fl ooding in the eastern portion of the
Edwards Plateau may have caused some fawn mortal- ity this spring but should be of minor signifi cance in the overall production of the deer herd in the region. If your perception of a good deer hunt is seeing lots
of deer, then consider looking for a hunting location in this area.
Cross Timbers Moving north, we run into the Cross Timbers ecore-
gion that supports an estimated 603,000 deer, or 50.49 deer per 1,000 acres. In close proximity to Dallas/Fort
Ecological Region Cross Timbers
Eastern Rolling Plains Edwards Plateau Pineywoods
Post Oak Savannah South Texas Plains
Western Rolling Plains Statewide
Worth, this region is ideal for hunters from that area who do not want to spend hours traveling to a destina- tion down in South Texas or the Hill Country. Following statewide trends in buck age structure,
hunters should expect good numbers of bucks in the 2.5-, 3.5-, and 5.5-year-old age classes relative to other age groups. However, the Cross Timbers region has a track record of good fawn production, more than 50 percent for the last 10 years, with the exception of 2011 when fawn production dropped to 41 percent. Hunters should expect a reasonable number of
middle-aged and mature bucks this year in the Cross Timbers.
Post Oak Savannah and Pineywoods Deer populations continue to thrive in the Post Oak
Savannah ecoregion. Population estimates for 2014 were about 410,000 deer, or a density of 33.36 deer per 1,000 acres. The Pineywoods continues to show a positive trend
in deer population growth with an estimated 261,000 in 2014, or a density of about 19.73 deer per 1,000 acres. We expect deer numbers for 2015 to be about the
same, or we may see a slight increase compared to last year. The antler restriction regulation continues to im-
prove age structure of the buck population in these regions, and based on age and antler surveys, 55 per- cent of bucks harvested were 3.5 years or older in the Post Oak Savannah and 42 percent were 3.5 or older in the Pineywoods.
South Texas, Western and Eastern Rolling Plains For many hunters there is nothing more exciting
2.5-3.5 Age Group 4.5-5.5 Age Group 6.5+ Age Group 105 1/8 107 5/8 93 2/8
104 6/8 105 0/8 104 4/8 106 2/8 102 7/8
122 7/8 125 5/8 113 4/8 124 4/8 122 0/8 129 1/8 125 3/8 121 4/8
127 7/8 133 4/8 119 5/8 123 2/8 123 2/8 136 3/8 133 5/8 127 7/8
Table 1. Ten-year average estimated gross Boone and Crockett scores by ecoregion based on TPWD age and antler survey data collect each hunting season (2005 to 2014).
88 The Cattleman September 2015
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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