This will help those animals remaining in the pasture to survive if dry conditions continue. As usual, our concern is inadequate harvest, which contributes to the overpopulation of whitetails and negatively affects the habitat, the whitetail herd, and other wildlife species. Range conditions are excellent going into the hunting season, reported TPWD wildlife biologist Joe Herrera of Pleasanton. The fawn crop was exceptional, with many twins and survival rates as high as 70 percent. After a dry late summer, Hurricane Brett soaked most of South Texas.
Conditions now are lush with bountiful mast, fruits and browse.
Soil moisture should also produce excellent winter forbs. Buck deer had excellent browse and forbs available throughout the antler-growing period, so antler development for mature bucks should be above average. Those are examples of the caliber of mature bucks waiting in the thornbrush this season. South Texas always dominates the top-end scores and weights, but the region also ranks second in the state in deer harvest. Deer numbers have stabilized.