Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576, s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Josh Blanek, 325-659-6523, j-blanek@tamu.edu
SAN ANGELO – Two Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service staffers are collaborating on a yearlong project aimed at providing wildlife education opportunities to West Texans.
Josh Blanek, AgriLife Extension agent in Tom Green County, and Dr. John Tomecek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at San Angelo, will conduct “Wildlife Wednesdays,” a series of 11 wildlife related one-hour seminars from noon to 1 p.m. starting Feb. 10.
The series will cover a variety of topics tailored to the time of year each seminar is presented. And, as the the name implies, they are all scheduled for a Wednesday.
All the sessions, which are free and open to the public, will be at Palmer Feed and Supply, located at 1318 N. Chadbourne St. in San Angelo.
“These sessions are meant to be very informal,” Blanek said. “We liken them to AgriLife Extension’s longstanding turnrow meetings where we meet at the end of a turnrow on a farmer’s field to discuss matters of concern or of interest to area farmers.
“We want participants to have a chance to learn about various current wildlife topics in a casual atmosphere.”
Blanek said Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered when appropriate.
The dates and topics will include:
– Feb 10 – Managing Browse for Livestock and Wildlife.
– March 16 – Turkeys in Spring: Maximizing Management and Hunting.
– April 13 – Supplemental Feeding of White-tailed Deer.
– May 18 – Conducting Brush Management to Benefit Wildlife.
– June 22 – Integrating Wildlife and Livestock Grazing.
– July 13 – Dove Management.
– Aug. 17 – Preparing for Fall Turkey Management.
– Sept. 14 – Using Wildlife Sign as a Management Tool.
– Oct. 12 – Quail Management.
– Nov.16 – Managing for Mature Deer: Aging on the Hoof.
– Dec.14 – Feral Hog Management.
For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office in Tom Green County at 325-659-6523.