Educational Seminars

Recently, TPWD also initiated an aoudad disease monitoring and surveillance program to look for pathogens and/or diseases that could potentially be transmitted to desert bighorn sheep. Preliminary results are finding a pathogen in the same group of pathogens that leads to bighorn die-offs in some western states. Therefore, to protect the habitat, as well as the native wildlife populations that inhabit the land, aoudad populations need to be drastically reduced. But recognizing the growing popularity of aoudad hunting, this level of reduction will be difficult to achieve. Aoudad hunting continues to be a supplemental source of income for some landowners, which adds to the challenge. Until the detrimental impacts of high aoudad densities are better understood, it will be difficult to make progress.

While some wildlife recreation, such as hunting, has seen a decline in participation, birding is an activity that has grown. In Texas, private landowners have an opportunity to build bird ecotourism into their management plans as an alternative income source for their property. In this talk, we will discuss the basics of birding that you should know as a landowner, the different types of birding activities, and some management strategies to improve your bird habitat.

Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Department will be presenting on cost share programs designed to assist private landowners with conservation habitat practices on their lands for the benefit of healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We’ll be covering programs from the NRCS Farm Bill, TPW Programs & the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Department will be presenting on cost share programs designed to assist private landowners with conservation habitat practices on their lands for the benefit of healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We’ll be covering programs from the NRCS Farm Bill, TPW Programs & the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Department will be presenting on cost share programs designed to assist private landowners with conservation habitat practices on their lands for the benefit of healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We’ll be covering programs from the NRCS Farm Bill, TPW Programs & the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Representatives from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the US Fish and Wildlife Department will be presenting on cost share programs designed to assist private landowners with conservation habitat practices on their lands for the benefit of healthy terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We’ll be covering programs from the NRCS Farm Bill, TPW Programs & the US Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.

Whether you are new to cooking wild game or looking to sharpen your culinary horizons, in this video you will learn simple campfire cooking techniques with a unique take on preparing wild game. Featuring Kristin’s original recipe for grilled summer tomato & corn chowder with sticky habanero pepper quail, this simple recipe is sure to impress family and friends at your next outdoor gathering.

Whether you are new to cooking wild game or looking to sharpen your culinary horizons, in this video you will learn simple campfire cooking techniques with a unique take on preparing wild game. Featuring Kristin’s original recipe for javelina scallopini with white wine and caper sauce, this take on a classic dish is sure to win over those who may have had their doubts about Texas’ native peccary.

When it comes to landowner liability, unlike many other legal issues, astute landowners can play offense instead of defense. This presentation will cover definitive steps that will help limit liability and prevent negative outcomes.

The Western Massasauga is a small rattlesnake of the North American prairies. We studied the genetic relationship between populations and also used modeling to determine the current distribution as well as looking at past and future hypothesis of distribution. All of this work is meant to help with a listing decision for the Desert Massasauga subspecies.

This presentation will highlight the ART OF GRAZING and how any landowner can utilize grazing to complement their wildlife habitat. Much like an artist creates a painting, so a land manager stewards a landscape. Each property is unique and each artist creates a different landscape, utilizing the knowledge in their palette. It is our goal to increase that skill set and empower landowners with the skills and/or contacts and resources they need to successfully create the landscape they desire.

This presentation describes the issues a Texas landowner should consider when he or she is presented with a wind or solar lease. It begins with preliminary questions covering fundamental issues such as whether or not you want renewables on your property and, if so, should you hire an attorney to represent you. For most landowners, a critical consideration concerns how many acres will be leased, the length of the lease term, and how much compensation will he or she receive. This presentation not only covers those issues but also other essential clauses which should be included in any wind or solar lease such as a removal bond for cleanup of the property, insurance, indemnity, site rules, damage payments for construction and reimbursement of attorney’s fees. Lastly, the presentation weighs the pros and cons of signing both a wind and solar lease in terms of surface use, value, disturbance, and concurrent possession of the property.

Once abundant throughout Texas, the Texas Horned Lizard’s population has declined or disappeared altogether in many parts of the state, so much so that it is now on the state’s threatened species list. To preserve the abundance of the State Reptile of Texas, San Antonio Zoo launched the Texas Horned Lizard Reintroduction Project. This program uses GIS data, genetics, and current knowledge about horned lizard ecology and distribution to release large numbers of captive-born individuals in suitable habitats.