Washington County Wildlife Society

Wildlife Guidelines

• History of Wildlife in Washington County
• The History of White-Tailed Deer in Washington County
• Planting Wildlife Food Plots
  • Introduction
  • Site Selection and Land Preparation
  •      Disking for Wildlife
  • Food Plot Size and Shape
  • Forage Species
  • Feeding Corn to Deer
  • Summary

History of Wildlife in Washington County

Wildlife was abundant in Washington County according to written accounts from the early explorers and settlers in the 1800’s. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, squirrel and the now extinct passenger pigeon were hunted in order the these settlers to survive in this “new land.” William J. Tucker, Executive Secretary, Texas game, Fish and Oyster Commission, stated that never since, in any portion of Texas, has he found quail in such numbers as were present in portions of Washington County thirty years ago (1907).

The disappearance of deer in the 1800’s was due to non-regulated hunting and very liberal game laws. In 1903, the bag limit was six bucks and year round hunting. Between 1954-57, Washington County was restocked with 137 deer. Numbers increased to a record high of 9385 deer in 1977 and then down to 265 in 1985. Numbers have increased to approximately 2000 deer in 1994.

Agriculture use of the land has changed over the years from native grasslands, trees and shrubs to clearing and plowing for farming back to planting of improved grasses for livestock production. The result was loss of wildlife habitat and wildlife populations.

Landowners became concerned and as a result the Washington County Wildlife Management and Conservation Society was organized. It’s mission statement: “Washington County landowners individually and collectively adopt environmental sound management and conservation practices for the enhancement, preservation and conservation of wildlife to improve the quality of life.”

Major emphasis of the Society will be the organization of wildlife management co-ops in the various areas of the county that have potential habitat for deer, turkey and quail production.

The History of White-Tailed Deer in Washington County

Prior to 1950, white-tailed deer were basically gone from Washington County. The disappearance of the deer was primarily due to non-regulated hunting during the early 1800’s. In the mid-1800’s, very liberal game laws were set, but even as late as 1903, the bag limit was six bucks per season, and year round hunting was common. By the late 1920’s, deer were virtually gone all over this region of the state.

Between 1954 and 1957 a restocking and protection program began in Washington County, 137 deer were released along Yeuga Creek in the north part of the county. Deer were also being released in surrounding counties, such as Austin and Burleson.

Deer numbers increased drastically throughout the 60’s and the deer began to expand their range. They began to infiltrate in from Austin County to the Latium, Wesley and Mill Creek areas. By 1977 the deer population in Washington County was as high as the habitat could stand.

The estimated deer populations, starting at nearly zero prior to the 1954 stocking, increased to a high of 9385 deer in 1977. Then after 23 years, the “boom” turned into a “crash.” The population started an 8 year decline and fell to a low of 265 in 1985. Since 1985 the deer population has increased slightly to approximately 2000 deer in 1994.

During the 70’s and 80’s, changes to the deer habitat were being made. Woods were cleared for pastures. Pastures were being put in to coastal Bermuda grass and cattle were being stocked at a higher rate. This forced the deer to survive on smaller tracts of habitat and to compete with more cattle for less food.

The return of high deer numbers will require a commitment from landowners to provide high quality deer habitat by reserving some part of their property exclusively for wildlife. Landowners are encouraged to join together and combine their property with surrounding properties to create a large controlled area where deer management techniques can be applied.

Planting Wildlife Food Plots

Introduction

The establishment of supplemental food plots is an important deer management strategy which is becoming widely accepted throughout eastern Texas. The use of supplemental food plots as an intensive management tool evolved from hunter’s efforts to concentrate deer in one area for harvest. It is just as important to use plots to improve the nutrition of white-tails and add critical minerals (particularly calcium and phosphorus) to the diet of a deer herd.

Well planned food plots can increase forage availability and at least partially compensate for decreases in suitable deer habitat. However, maximum benefits can be obtained only in forages compliment the diet available from native vegetation and if forages are available when native vegetation is lacking or is low in nutritional value.

In addition to timing the availability of supplemental forage properly, landowners also must plant appropriate species in the best available sites, use correct techniques and ensure soil fertility.

Site Selection and Land Preparation

The area selected for planting will depend on the plant species to be established and the goals of the landowner/deer manager. Some landowners may want to plant both types of supplemental forage plots (warm and cool) to increase the amount of nutritious forages available in both late summer and late winter.

Warm-season species (black-eyed peas, cowpeas, millets and sorghums) are more reliable when planted in bottomland soils that retain moisture during the drier summer months. Droughty upland soils are not good sites for warm-season species. Warm season species should be selected for their ability to grow quickly and compete with native weeds.

Cool-season species are not as susceptible to drought or weed competition as warm-season species. Cool-season species can be planted on either upland or bottomland sites. Most landowners plant oats, wheat, rye and ryegrass in late September or early October.

Other commonly used plants for cool-season food plots include various clovers, alfalfa, hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas and some mustards (turnips). Clovers are an excellent source of nutritious forage for deer. Local landowners should plant clover according to soil type and pH levels.

Whenever possible, food plots should be planted in existing openings to reduce costs. Examples include fallow fields, pipelines and transmission line rights-of-way, fire lanes, interior road rights-of-way and in clearings of woody areas. Landowners are encouraged not to plant food plots adjacent to public roads or areas of public access. Cool-season plantings are often established in hunting areas, and particular care should be given to placing these plots near adequate escape cover.

The site should be shredded and disced to prepare a clean seedbed for the planting of most food plot plant species, except for ryegrass which can be over-seeded in sod grassland areas. All legumes should be inoculated to increase nitrogen fixation. The best way to determine fertility needs is to submit a soil sample for soil testing.

Planting depth is also critical for successful establishment. Failure to plant species at the recommended seed depth may result in poor stands.

Disking for Wildlife

Disking is a method of soil disturbance that encourages the growth of forbs (commonly called weeds or wildflowers) and other annual plants.  Common seed producing forbs enhanced through disking include croton (doveweed), sunflower, and ragweed.  Many forb seeds are present in the soil and only require shallow disking to germinate. 

The best method of disking for wildlife is long strips 15-30 feet in width.  These strips should be adjacent to wooded areas or meander through natural cover.  The second year in a disking program a new strip adjacent to the first year’s disked area should be selected.  Thereafter, the strips should be disked in alternate years.  This creates a more diverse plant community by maintaining different stages of re-growth.

The optimum time for disking is October through February.  It is important to disk before spring green-up or forb growth may not be promoted.  Care should be taken to avoid areas where disturbance may cause erosion to occur.

Food Plot Size and Shape

The size and shape of supplemental food plots vary tremendously. Most plots are from .05 to 3.0 acres in size. Since deer are most apt to feed along the edges of plots than in the center, several small plots are more effective than one large plot. Long, narrow food plots maximize the edge available and can cut across more home ranges of deer.

Property established food plots are expensive, and this may limit the acreage that can be established. A good rule of thumb is to plant 1 to 3 percent of the total habitat in both warm- and cool-season forages. Food plots should be distributed at the rate of at least one plot per 160 acres of habitat.

Whenever possible, livestock should be excluded from food plots established for deer. Failure to exclude livestock may result in stand failure and certainly will limit the forage available for deer. Fence wires should be spaced to permit deer easy access to plots.

Forage Species

There is no one forage species that can satisfy all the nutritional requirements of the white-tailed deer throughout the year. For this reason, warm- and cool-season forage combinations are recommended over the establishment of individual species.

In choosing a species or combination, keep in mind that the forage should: 1) increase the nutrition available to the deer; 2) be readily accepted by deer; and 3) be available at a time when native forage is lacking in quality and quantity.

Warm-season forages supplement the deer diet throughout the important summer and early fall months when doe lactation, fawn growth and antler development occur. Cool-season forages provide additional nutrition during the hunting season, as well as during the critical stress period in January to March.

Listed below are the different types of forages which a landowner should consider planting:

Feeding Corn to Deer

Hunters commonly use shelled corn as a “supplemental” deer feed. Deer are attracted to corn because it’s relatively high carbohydrate content makes it sweet. Corn is low in crude protein (only 7 to 9 percent) and deficient in certain important amino acids. Corn can be used to increase energy availability during extremely cold periods. Corn has proved to be a beneficial bait to aid in hunting.

Summary

Supplemental forages are not cure alls for poor deer management practices. Without proper habitat management and population control, food plot establishment is a waste of time and money for the hunter, landowner and deer manager. Properly established food plots can increase the productive capacity of deer habitat by enhancing the nutritional level of deer food supply throughout the year.

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