As the afternoon progressed some hunters were shifted to better hunting sites, their ammo supply and cold drinks replenished, and their birds were gathered, cleaned and packaged as they left the field. After the hunt the group was reassembled at the Gallery Restaurant in Coleman and treated to a West Texas style fajita feast with all the trimmings. If the hunters failed to OD on fajitas, or did but could still struggle into their cammies on Saturday, the hunt will continue through noon today, with a skeet shoot thrown in Saturday morning. The hunters involved in the Coleman ISD Foundation hunt included women and several youngsters. Aflatoxin, as you'll recall from our columns last year, can be deadly when fed to wildlife such as deer, turkeys, quail and other birds.
Biologists say aflatoxin is particularly deadly to smaller birds like doves and quail.
Corn can easily be tested for this toxin, and most major feed companies do voluntarily test for this problem. But you need to ask your supplier if his corn is tested before you buy it. According to the recent TPWD release, corn that has been tested and found to be unsafe for livestock is often sold as 'Deer Corn' in untagged sacks to unsuspecting hunters. Hunters and others who feed wildlife untested corn may be harming and killing the very birds and animals they are trying to help. Our wildlife populations are far too valuable a resource to take chances with.