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Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
#6398196
08/08/16 12:07 AM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768
jeh7mmmag
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gramps
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OP
gramps
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768 |
Pronghorn in Far West Texas are making a comeback thanks to a years-long restoration effort, with new data showing the animals’ numbers have bounced back from historic lows just a few years ago. Researchers at Sul Ross State University in Alpine have been working to restore pronghorn populations after they dropped to an alarming low of about 2,000 across the Trans-Pecos region around 2009. They’ve been relocating groups of the animals into the region from the panhandle, where they’re more abundant. In the 1980’s, about 17,000 pronghorn roamed the area, and while the numbers still aren’t anywhere near that again, Dr. Whitney Gann with the Borderlands Research Institute said things are looking better. “We are just above 5,000, so in just the past six or seven years, we’ve doubled that number and we’re still growing,” she said. Gann says the pronghorn’s decline in recent decades was due to a number of factors, ranging from fencing methods that obstructed their movement, to invasive species of brush that harmed some of the grasses they eat. In this desert part of Texas, drought has also been a big problem. “And unfortunately, in the past 20-30 years, we’ve had a period of increased drought frequencies,” Gann said, “and that kinda came to a head in 2011 with one of the worst droughts on record in the region.” Researchers are encouraged by the most recent data, which showed a 90% survival rate for the latest round of the animals they relocated to the Marfa area. That’s a rate Gann says is “unheard of” in her field. The researchers aim to relocate more pronghorn to the area early next year. http://marfapublicradio.org/blog/pronghorn-making-a-comeback-in-far-west-texas/
�Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.� ~ John Muir
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6398296
08/08/16 01:24 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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We saw several groups along with a near record book buck around alpine and marathon back in March
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6398307
08/08/16 01:40 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,612
QuitShootinYoungBucks
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Speed goat is high on my list.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks]
#6398856
08/08/16 04:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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Speed goat is high on my list. Go to Wyoming they are infested with them
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6398902
08/08/16 04:32 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,770
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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I have three from Wyoming and two from west texas. The Wyoming ones are much larger.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6399233
08/08/16 08:45 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,788
dogcatcher
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Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6399266
08/08/16 09:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,138
Creekrunner
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Excellent news. Thanks for posting.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: Mr. T.]
#6399320
08/08/16 09:42 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,612
QuitShootinYoungBucks
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I have three from Wyoming and two from west texas. The Wyoming ones are much larger. Horns, body, or both?
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6399344
08/08/16 09:54 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,111
Red Cloud
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Outstanding effort by good people doing the right. Ray Krebs, Texas A&M
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: QuitShootinYoungBucks]
#6399358
08/08/16 10:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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I have three from Wyoming and two from west texas. The Wyoming ones are much larger. Horns, body, or both? Body size are the same from what I saw.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6400730
08/09/16 08:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 14,768
jeh7mmmag
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gramps
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And some more information on there come back Pronghorn antelope populations are gradually being rebuilt in the Trans-Pecos region through a relocation program. By Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Posted: Yesterday 2:05 p.m. 💬0   ✉ ⎙ The continuation of the Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project progressed with another successful relocation of 112 pronghorn in late January. The animals were captured from healthy populations around Dalhart and moved to an area northwest of Marfa to supplement severely depleted pronghorn populations. The relocation process was coordinated among the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University (BRI), Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Working Group, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and USDA-Wildlife Services. Quicksilver Air, Inc. conducted the capture. The objective of the Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project is to bolster pronghorn populations that reached historic lows. The program includes translocations, habitat improvements and predator management. At least 17,000 pronghorn once roamed the West Texas region; in 2012 there were estimated to be less than 3,000. However, during last summer's TPWD aerial survey effort, over 6,000 were calculated. With the help of Mother Nature, translocations, and other management actions, populations are bouncing back in this region of Texas. The Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Program is a $1.4 million public-private partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation. To date, $854,000 has been secured. Translocations also occurred in January and February of 2011, 2013 and 2014. Survival of the transplanted animals was low in 2011 (20 percent), but was significantly better in 2013 (80 percent), and 2014 (70 percent). Historic drought severely impacted survival in 2011, while good range conditions and more intensive management actions lead to much higher survival in 2013 and 2014. Over the last three years, herds that received transplanted pronghorn have done well and have had above average fawn production. "We hope populations in our restoration areas will continue to grow and become another source for pronghorn in the next few years to help supplement other herds in the Trans-Pecos," said Shawn Gray, TPWD Mule Deer and Pronghorn Program Leader. At the capture site, workers took each animal's temperature to monitor stress, along with blood and fecal samples for disease surveillance. The pronghorn also received a mild sedative to minimize stress related to capture and transport. Ear tags were attached for identification. Seventy of the captured pronghorn were fitted with radio collars, including 50 GPS collars programmed to collect GPS locations every three hours. One year post-release, the GPS collars will automatically drop from the animals and be retrieved by researchers to download and analyze the GPS data. After processing, the pronghorn were moved by trailer to the release site northwest of Marfa. "The capture could not have gone any smoother," said Dr. Louis Harveson, BRI director and Sul Ross professor of Natural Resource Management. "The pronghorn were in excellent shape and traveled really well." During the next year, the BRI and TPWD will closely monitor the translocated pronghorn to determine survival, reproductive productivity, fawn survival, habitat utilization and movements. "We sincerely appreciate all the cooperation and support from our partners and the Dalhart and Trans-Pecos communities," stated Gray. "Their continued support will ensure pronghorn herds in the Trans-Pecos will recover and thrive in our desert grasslands." http://www.gosanangelo.com/sports/outdoo...-389513871.html
�Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.� ~ John Muir
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6401185
08/10/16 01:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
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Pronghorns are a great critter to hunt. Low stress, lots of stalking, and (usually) plenty of opportunities. Fun for large groups and hunters of all experience levels. The panhandle is home to some bruiser bucks. I'm not familiar with those in the Trans Pecos region, but am glad to hear they are making a comeback.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6401769
08/10/16 01:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825
poisonivie
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 7,825 |
I have heard many a landowner call them pasture maggots and wish they were all gone. I just don't understand the hate for them, but I'm not there with them yearround.
Pee on Photobucket
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: poisonivie]
#6401937
08/10/16 03:34 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,655
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,655 |
I have heard many a landowner call them pasture maggots and wish they were all gone. I just don't understand the hate for them, but I'm not there with them yearround. fence busters
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: jeh7mmmag]
#6403574
08/11/16 04:12 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,214
deerfeeder
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There does not appear to be any shortage of them around Marfa. I see groups of 10-20 regularly between Marfa and Shafter or Marfa and Alpine. Also some nice groups between Alpine and Marathon. Used to be a group that hung out right next door to Sul Ross, in Alpine, but they aren't there any longer.
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Re: Pronghorn Making a Comeback in Far West Texas
[Re: poisonivie]
#6404268
08/12/16 12:26 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 687
AdThomps
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 687 |
I have heard many a landowner call them pasture maggots and wish they were all gone. I just don't understand the hate for them, but I'm not there with them yearround. If you find any of these landowners that need help with getting rid of them I am available anytime!!
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