Regional Highlights - West Texas Issues

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Rio Grande Flood Washes out Big Bend Ranch State Park Facilities (West)

The recent record-setting flooding of the Rio Grande has caused considerable damage to state park facilities along the river. State park staff had done a lot of work getting the park ready for increased public access. A restroom facility, interpretive signage, picnic tables and in one case, an entire campground have been washed away. TPWD expects to have all river campgrounds assessed, cleaned up and ready for visitors again by the end of the year, assuming it dries up enough to get heavy equipment into the area. Of even greater concern to the locals is the damage to FM 170, the scenic river drive between Lajitas and Presidio. The road is open to local traffic only and six miles east of Presidio the road is closed with a detour over a gravel road. There is a growing concern about the impact this is having on tourism to the Big Bend area. Despite these concerns, the flooding did have some positive environmental impacts, including clearing away a lot of salt cedar. As a result, you can now see the river in places where it had been hidden before.

Texas Bighorn Sheep Numbers Continue to Climb (West)

The last wild desert bighorn sheep in Texas was seen in a remote area of far West Texas a half century ago, in October 1958. That might have been the last chapter for the majestic animal in the Lone Star State, but today, thanks to ongoing efforts to restore this majestic game animal in far West Texas, there are more sheep than you can shake a stick at with numbers unseen since the late 1800s.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists recently completed annual desert bighorn sheep counts and report a record 1,193 desert bighorn sheep observed, up from 991 sheep last year. (More information)

Prospects Looking Good for Deer Season (West)

Hunters hoping for a shot at a quality deer during the 2008-09 deer season will need to get off the bench and into the game, suggest state wildlife biologists, as current range conditions indicate increased availability of native food sources.

The general deer hunting season opens statewide Nov. 1. This change in deer feeding patterns could also have an impact on opportunity around feeders during the Special Youth Season weekend Oct. 25-26. The youth-only season is available to licensed hunters ages 16 and under.

Trans Pecos Report:

Most of the Trans-Pecos suffered an extended drought that lasted through last winter, spring, and half of this summer. Only in the last month have good wide-spread rains come to the Trans-Pecos, said Tim Bone, TPWD biologist in Alpine. Currently range conditions over much of the area are very good.

"Because it was so dry during the spring and early summer, I expect only an average year at best regarding mule deer antler development," Bone noted. "However, if current forage conditions hold, mule deer in the Trans-Pecos should be in good body condition."