Fall 2008 A publication of the Wildlife Diversity Program—Getting Texans Involved
Habitips
November throughout May
- Control feral hogs.
- Preserve brushy fence rows, shelterbelts and herbaceous zones around playas and other critical cover for wildlife.
- Black-oil sunflower seeds attract the greatest number of birds to a feeder
- The best cover for white-tailed deer is a pattern or mosaic of woody brush and trees interspersed within open areas at an approximate 1:1 ratio of open area to woody cover.
- Clumps or strips of brush should be wide enough so that an observer cannot see through them from one side to the other during the winter months when deciduous species are bare of leaves.
- Cover strips should be as continuous as possible to provide travel lanes.
- Continue predator control activities.
November
- Monitor grazing pressure on rangelands and adjust or move livestock accordingly.
- Monitor use and condition of key vegetation, especially browse, going into the winter period.
- Move livestock off fall food plots for wildlife.
- Disc fire lanes as needed.
- Order tree/shrub seedlings for spring plantings.
- Evaluate areas needing prescribed fire treatment.
- Begin development of prescribed burn plan.
- Doe harvest should be initiated at opening of appropriate season.
- Plant trees and shrubs as needed for wildlife cover.
- Plant native grass and forb plants.
December
- Prepare fireguards for prescribed burn program.
- Disc in proximity to woody cover to provide good habitat interspersion for game birds.
- Get prescribed burn equipment ready for use.
- Manipulate inadequate woody cover to enhance new growth.
- Strip disk to encourage native food resources.
- Focus on providing travel lanes, secure cover and over-winter cover for birds.
January
- Develop fireguards for prescribed burn program.
- Monitor turkey flocks.
- Clean out and repair martin houses, bluebird boxes and wood duck nesting boxes.
- Gather and compile deer harvest records; record sex, age, weight, body condition and antler size—this helps to monitor the health of the deer herd.
- Conduct post-season deer census if appropriate.
February
- Conduct prescribed burns as needed.
- Monitor turkey flocks.
- Conduct mechanical brush control if appropriate.
- Disk wetland areas to encourage moist soil plants as needed.
March
- Landowners who have received TPWD training should begin trapping brown-headed cowbirds.
- Plant warm season native grass, forb and legume seeds.
- Conduct prescribed burns as needed.
- Watch for wildflower bloom season to begin in late March.
- Conduct mechanical brush control if appropriate.
- De-water flooded areas to promote growth of wetland vegetation.
- Disk wetland areas to encourage moist soil plants as needed.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744
