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Here’s what’s worth reading today, Saturday, February 29, 2020:
Poacher of trophy deer faces felony, big fine by less than an inch: A 29-year-old man was charged with a felony after he was discovered having illegally killed a mule deer whose antler spread was a half-inch longer than the minimum length used for restitution for a Utah trophy deer. Ethan Lebaron was charged with wanton destruction of protected wildlife by using spotlights at night to kill the deer, in this case a third-degree felony. He was also charged with a tagging requirement violation, a class B misdemeanor, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources announced. A buck whose antler spread measures 24 inches or more makes it a trophy and illegally killing one a felony-level offense. It calls for a minimum restitution of $8,000. Lebaron’s deer measured 24.5 inches. Had it been under 24 inches, it would have been a Class A misdemeanor and the restitution would have been a minimum of $400.
Turkey hunting in Texas brings need to know tips, tactics, regulations
How hunting compounded feral hog problem in Texas; smart feral hogs require smart traps: Eradicating feral hogs is like a game of chess for Wyatt Walton, who traps and removes the invasive species. “Part of our thing is out-thinking and out-tricking these hogs,” said Walton, vice president of Lone Star Trapping. He made the remarks while standing by a $5,000 corral outfitted with a cellular-controlled gate during a feral hog presentation at the Texas Farm Ranch Wildlife Expo at the Taylor County Expo Center. His game board is the vast Texas landscape, including new subdivisions in urban fringes. Clients have included not only rural landowners but also homeowners associations around San Antonio, military bases and the Big Thicket National Preserve north of Beaumont. “We’re creating this concrete jungle, and we’re taking over their habitat,” Walton said. Human encroachment on wildlife spaces can dwindle other species such as quail, but “pigs are the only animal that have the ability to push back,” Walton said.
How coronavirus is impacting fly fishing: For the past few months, coronavirus has dominated the global news cycle. The virus, which originated in the city of Wuhan, China, has killed more than 2,600 people, with more than 79,000 infected. And now, the virus’s effects are being felt by the fishing and fly fishing industries, especially where travel is concerned. Recently, the Republic of Kiribati, home of the legendary Christmas Island atoll, announced that it will be requiring travelers “‘from countries with ongoing local transmission of novel coronavirus’ — which includes the United States — to spend at least 14 days in a country free of the virus before traveling to Kiribati, and to provide a medical clearance to confirm that they are virus-free,” according to the US Department of State.
Invasive tilapia are taking over Texas waters, including two San Antonio lakes: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is asking anyone who reels in tilapia at two San Antonio lakes to not return it to the water. There is apparently a lot of tilapia, a non-native species of fish that have been taking over freshwater lakes and rivers in Texas, including Calaveras and Braunig Lakes in San Antonio. “If you catch some, don’t release them back into the lake. Eat them!” TPWD said in a Facebook post. TPWD is labeling tilapia as invasive because they are having a detrimental impact on native fish such as catfish and largemouth bass, said Mitch Nisbet, the department’s fisheries biologist. It’s unclear how the species ended up in the San Antonio lakes as they were not placed there by TPWD, Nisbet added.
TPWD seeking public input on hunting regulation proposals for 2020-2021: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now accepting public comment on proposed changes to hunting regulations for 2020-2021. The proposed changes include amending definitions, application requirements and conditions for pronghorn and antlerless mule deer permits; and specifying season dates and bag limits for the 2020-2021 migratory game bird seasons. TPWD will be taking public comment on the following proposed changes to the 2020-2021 Statewide Recreational Hunting Proclamation, with input to be considered before any action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at its March 26 public hearing.
TPWD seeking public input on saltwater fishing regulation proposals for 2020-2021: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is now accepting public comment on proposed changes to saltwater fishing regulations for 2020-2021. These changes are focused on the recreational and commercial flounder fishery and paddle craft licenses. The proposed flounder changes include increasing the minimum size limit for flounder to 15 inches and closing all flounder fishing from Nov. 1 to Dec 15.
In the West, wildlife crossings save lives and money: Across the American West, a conflict has been quietly escalating for decades, leaving thousands of people injured and millions of animals dead. But the parties in this engagement aren’t out to harm each other; they’re mostly just trying to get where they’re going. The conflict is between motorists and wildlife, especially big game such as elk, deer, moose, and pronghorn, and it’s playing out primarily on highways and the outskirts of suburban developments — places where the animals’ centuries-old migration routes have been obstructed or cut off by roads, buildings, fences, and other structures. Now, however, a movement is afoot to preserve — and in some cases restore — wildlife migration corridors without sacrificing development, and to do so in ways that make travel safer for people and animals alike.
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