Preliminary Wildlife Management Plan

Species of Interest: A maximum diversity of non-game native plants, animals and songbirds.

Property Description: Shallow soils, rocky ground, hardwood thickets, clearings with scattered grasses and flowers. Riverfront bluff and lower level is virgin woodlands. Rich soil.

Landowner Goals: To change agricultural use from current cattle grazing to Wildlife Management of non-game species and songbirds. (4-15-96 TPWD wildlife biologist Mike Reagan, recommends wildlife use for native Texas, non-game species and songbirds.)

Habitat Control and Management

Grazing Management: Rotational grazing lease. Grazing will be used to manage existing and improved range for maximum wildlife benefit. Yearly review of rangeland grasses will determine grazing use. (see attached Grazing Lease Agreement)

Range Enhancement: Maintain and expand Texas native plant diversity of range using existing native seeds. All new seed will be native Texas grass and forbs. These may include annual or perennial prairie grasses such as sideoats gramma, purple prairie clover, peas, gamma grass, sunflower, buffalo grass or bluestems, Grazing effects on range will be closely monitored in newly seeded areas. Manage for a maximum diversity of native plants and wildlife.

Brush Management:

Retain snags and stumps for cavity nesting wildlife.
Clear cedar overgrowth in draw and along draw edges. Plant native grasses and wildflowers to provide food, cover and erosion control.
Clear cedar in selected areas to encourage native grasses in thickets. Periodic thinning of cedars shall be determined for wildlife cover needs.
All cedar removal shall be mechanical or manual. No herbicides or pesticides will be used in habitat.
Brush piles are placed on slopes and at edges of thickets and in open areas for wildlife.
Maintain river bottomland of hardwood forest, overplant shoreline with existing natives like elderberry for the birds.
Propagate selected native species. Reseed wild grape, selected grasses, trees and wildflowers.
Increase browse plants in understory for deer.
Maintain buffer habitat along river.
Maintain and increase native plant diversity for the benefit of all wildlife.

Erosion Control

Clear cedar from draw, reseed with native grasses and forbs. Observe rainfall runoff in various rain events. Determine best sites for small log dam for erosion control. Allow draw to absorb runoff and prevent adding to siltation of island in river.
Brush piles in sloped areas to catch dirt and seed runoff.
Perennial vegetation on sloped areas.
Monitor rain runoff from road and walking trails to determine erosion problems. Reseed or change paths as needed.
Clearly mark walking trails throughout with signs to stay on trail.

Predator Control

Non-toxic fireant control, especially in sensitive ground dwelling habitats like river bottom, around pasture well, in recreation area, near draw. Apply on a regular treatment schedule.

Supplemental Water

Continue to supple existing cattle trough at pasture well
Rainwater collection tank at barn has overflow onto ground. Create collection basin for excess rainwater into tank for use as additional water for wildlife 2-3 feet deep.
Maintain existing river front.

Census Counts

Log species diversity every year with a checklist. (See attached plant and animal species logs.)
Monitor endangered songbirds.
List breeding birds in spring. Learn birdcalls.