Texas Almanac, 1949-1950 Page: 199
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Native Wildlife of Texas
In its primitive state the area of present
Texas was a natural sanctuary for an abund-
ant and varied fauna. Deer, bear, a host of
fur-bearing animals, the panther, the gray
wolf and other animals teemed in the well-
watered East Texas forest region. On the
western prairies roamed millions of bison,
antelope, prairie chicken and other plains-
loving animals. Deer, turkey, bison and a va-
riety of smaller wildlife lived on the Edwards
Plateau and concentrated in its sheltered Hill
Country when northers swept over the fence-
less plains. Fish were plentiful in streams
and coastal waters before siltation, sewage
and industrial refuse brought the problem of
pollution. There was an abundant inland and
coastal bird life, both permanent and migra-
tory.
The pattern is much the same today though
it is very faint in spots. The early settlers
looked upon game as a gift of nature, some-
thing in a class with.air and water. All forms
of wild life thinned rapidly, first in the East
Texas forests and then even more rapidly as
the vanguard of white settlement swept
across the prairies and Cross Timbers. The
lordly bison was slaughtered by the hun-
dreds of thousands, for sport and for its hide.
The antelope was reduced to the point of
extinction. The deer soon dwindled to the
vanishing point in East Texas and other
forms of wildlife decreased rapidly. Even in
thinly settled Southwest Texas the deer popu-
lation dwindled rapidly and the turkey, one
of the longest of Texas' prehistoric dwellers.
was almost exterminated.
A low point in Texas wildlife resources was
reached in the latter part of the last, or the
early part of the present, century. The State
Game, Fish and Oyster Commission was
established In 1895, though it was without
statutory basis or funds for effective work
until enactment of later legislation. Much
progress has been made in the Intervening
years. Deet and turkey have been restored
in Southwest Texas, and fair headway has
been made in restoring the antelope farther
north and west. Game laws, at first incon-
sistent and ineffective, have been made more
effective. The enforcement personnel has been
increased. 'he people have gradually come to
realize thai their co-operation is necessary.
An Important factor has been the policy
of the State Game, Fish and Oyster Com-
mission of entering into contracts with land
owners for the establishment of game pre-
serves. At the end of 1948 there were 1,177.530
acres in such contracts, located in twenty-
nine counties lying largely in the Central arid
Western parts of Texas. These preseri es have
a minimum of 10.000 acres each.
There were shooting preserves located in
about eighty-five counties, including a total
of 6,392,798 acres. These preserves are also
privately owned and their owners-ranchers
and farmers-derive a considerable income
from hunting privileges. On these preserves
alone 17,387 deer were killed during the
1947-48 fiscal year; and 3.597 turkeys, 20,117
ducks, 1,716 geese, and smaller numbers of
other wild game and fowl. These shooting
preserves are a constructive part cf the
state's wildlife conservation program. They
encourage farmers and ranchmen to give indi-
vidual attention to wildlife management and
reward them for their losses through the
grazing and browsing by deer.
During the fiscal year 1947-48, the State
Game Commission transplanted 398 antelope,
1,693 deer and 233 turkeys from areas of
plentiful to areas of thin game population.
Other activities of the State Game departmentinclude projects for restoration of inland and
coastal bird life. super sing sand and shell
operations along the coast, meeting the prob-
lems of siltation and pollution of inland and
coastal waters for the restoration of fish.
shrimp and oyster resources, fish manage-
ment and the operation of fish hatcheries,
and co-operation with the State Department
of Education in distribution of facts about
Texas wildlife resources. Through its marine
laboratory at Rockport a large number of
experimental and research projects are being
carried out.
A research program is carried on by the
Texas Co-operative Unit consisting of the
Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission.
the Fish and Wildlife Service of the U.S.
Department of the Interior, the Agricultural
and Mechanical College of Texas and the
Wildlife Management Institute.
The Federal Government operates several
fish hatcheries in Texas (p. 205) and two
wildlife sanctuaries (p. 204). During 1948. the
Audubon Nature Camp of Texas was estab-
lished on the Guadalupe River near Kerrville.
under direction of the National Audubon So-
ciety and sponsored by the Texas Garden
Clubs, Inc.
Annual Value of Wildlife Resources
The annual value of wildlife resources to
Texas In the form of meat fish, pelts and
furs and other direct benefits, including both
commercial and amateur activities, was esti-
mated n 1949 at $200,000,000, by the State
Game, Fish and Oyster Commission.
The average annual kill of wild game in
Texas is estimated as follows: Deer, 37,000 to
40.000; squirrels, 800,000; armadillos, 25.000;
Javelinas, 20.000; rabbits, 3.500.000; turkeys,
8.500; ducks, 800.000; geese. 100.000; rails and
gallinules. 5000: mourning doves, 3.000.000:
white-winged doves, 290.000: quail, 3,000.000.
Fur-bearing Animals-Fur Crop
The annual fur crop of Texas ares widely
with the weather cycles, and other factors.
It is estimated at $2,000,000 to $3,000.000
value annually in recent years. Authorities
think that the fur crop of Texas, with proper
statutory protection and authority, could be
raised to ten or more times its present
volume.
There is trapping in the Burnet-Llano area.
East Texas Pine Belt. Hill Country. along
the Rio Grande border and to some extent in
nearly ll parts of the state. There are fur
markets at Llano, San Antonio. Kerrville. San
Angelo. Beaumont. and other points Including
one at the little Northeast Texas town of
Pecan Gap.
The nearest to an orderly Industry is found
in the muskrat range management in South-
east Texas. Usually trapping is carried n in
a hit-and-miss manner. It is estimated that
about 15.000 to 20,000 persons engage in it
to some degree. Largest number of pelts are
from the opossum, skunk and muskrat. Other
producers of pelts are the ringtall, raccoon.
fox, mink. civet cat. coyote, wildcat, rabbit.
wolf, badger, ocelot, beaver, weasel and otter.
(See alphabetical list of mammals.)
Predator Kill
About 25,000 coyotes are killed annually in
Texas, this being the most numerous predator
animal. Usually several hundred other wolves
are killed In a year. 2.000 or more bobcats,
and 10 to 15 mountain lions. In addition to
State Game Commission efforts and that of
the State Livestock Sanitary Commission and
other public and private organizations an
office of a director of predator control is
maintained at Fort Worth by the U.S. Depart-
ment of the Interior.
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Texas Almanac, 1949-1950, book, 1949; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117167/m1/201/: accessed May 4, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.