Texas Wildlife Association presents...

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1 Texas Wildlife Association presents... December 2007 Kid s Quarterly Mini-Mag! Vol. 1 No. 4 Postcard s from Nanc y... Dear TWA, Howdy! The days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler which means one thing: FALL IS HERE! Yeah! I love this time of year but I ll admit that I am starting to get a little homesick. I miss Mom and Dad (and even Ned) and I was starting to feel really sad that I was going to be on the road during the Holidays this year. The last time I talked to Mom she suggested that I go see Papaw in La Grange and so that is where I am! Papaw and I have been having lots of fun together. We usually get up early and take a long walk before breakfast. Then we sit on the porch together and Papaw tells me stories while we work on carving a new walking stick for my trip. On Wednesday nights, he takes me to play BINGO with his buddies at this place on the river called BUCK S. Papaw s friend Buck owns it. They serve all sorts of food there like fried earthworms, and baked acorns but their specialty is steamed sideoats grama because it s the state grass of Texas. I tried some but I didn t think it was all that special! Blech. Buck is a funny guy. He is old like Papaw and I don t think he can see very well anymore. He keeps calling me a Spring Chicken and when I tell him that I m an armadillo and not a chicken he just laughs and laughs! White-tailed deer sure have a weird sense of humor! By Sarah Stannard Speaking of weird!! One night, after dinner, I saw Buck take his teeth clear out of his mouth! He pulled them right out and set them in a glass of water! I asked Papaw about it later. He told me that old deer like Buck sometimes need fake teeth to eat because their real teeth get really worn down from years and years of chewing up plants and nuts. In fact, he told me that you can tell about how old a deer is by looking at how worn down their teeth are! Wow! I hope you all have a wonderful holiday! I better run for now. It s BINGO night and we don t want to keep the fellas waiting! Take care! Your friend, Critter Connections is made possible by a grant from the San Antonio Livestock Exposition. Nancy Nine-band Youth Sponsored New Members Contest! Sign up new TWA members and win great prizes! The contest runs from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008 For more contest details, see the Membership page in Texas Wildlife or contact TWA at TEX-WILD

2 Texas Wildlife Association (TWA) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) have joined forces to offer youth hunts that are safe, educational and very affordable. We sponsor introductory, instructive youth hunts for deer, turkey, hogs, javelina, exotics, dove, small game, waterfowl, varmints and other species. Normally, we provide mentors, lodging and meals. Our Mission The Texas Youth Hunting Program was established to increase the numbers of youths participating in wildlife and hunting activities and to promote the hunting heritage in Texas. Our Goals To preserve the hunting heritage in Texas for present and future generations. To instill in youth a basic understanding of practical conservation measures. To encourage wildlife habitat access, enhancement and management. To teach the basic skills, values, techniques and responsibilities of hunting. To promote the highest ethical standards in hunting. To give our youth an initial, positive, safe, educational, mentored hunting experience To participate in the Texas Youth Hunting Program, you must... Be 9 to 17 years old. Complete and submit the Texas Youth Hunting Program Application at To hunt with TYHP, youth must... Complete the Texas Hunter Education Program and be able to provide a copy of your certificate, card or student registration form that shows your test score, etc. You must have Hunter Education to hunt with TYHP, regardless of age. If you are less than 12 years old, you cannot be certified by the Hunter Education program and must retake the course after your twelfth birthday. Call Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at (800) for more information and a schedule of upcoming Hunter Education courses in your area. Have a valid Texas hunting license and appropriate tags or stamps when required. Be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Complete a TYHP Hunting Application that lists your choice of hunts by priority. TYHP hunting schedules will be sent to you periodically. Complete the TYHP release forms sent to you when you are selected for a youth hunt. Submit a refundable deposit to secure your position when you are selected for a youth hunt to insure all youth hunt opportunities are utilized. 2

3 word searches... puzzles...mazes...oh my! go ahead... ANTLERS BUCK DEER DOE FAWN FLAG GAME GRASS Deer Sudoku Cut your deer pieces out below and then fill in the grid so that in each row, column and square each deer only appears once. Deer Word Find R M N A G F S R O A W F U R G E W A H R R L V O H A F I Y N E P W M E J G A I T K C U B I D U N L M G K T G E A F O D T X J T K G A E D M P M D R O N N N H R U T L A S Y U L E Q U A S A B A U G H Z U L B S R H N S P I C E R O V I B R E H P S W L S H R U B S G D W C Z S U E A O S M B N H I L Y Q C E D B U F P D I Q I Z Q D W R R B N U X O O U K P R E Y U D B Z K X U T E W S F G H T A X Q E N F R S O F W T Q O I Z E H I W F J O T X O U Z O S C Z F HERBIVORE HUNTING MAMMAL PREDATOR PREY RUT SHRUBS SPOTS WHITETAILED give it a try! 3

4 corner pounds (depending where they live), while the females will weigh less. c r i t t e r Photo Courtesy of Russell Graves White-tailed deer can be found in most of the United States and southern Canada. They live primarily in lightly wooded and brushy areas that offer good cover, as well as access to a wide variety of food sources. They are most active just before sunset and shortly after sunrise. Texas W T White-tails! hit t il! Article by Jessica Risien When you think of deer, what comes to your mind first? Some of you may say Bambi while others may say hunting. When it comes down to describing their behavior and characteristics, the deer s life is complex and fascinating! Among all deer species, the white-tailed deer is the most abundant game species in North America, with the largest population residing in Texas. The white-tailed deer is tan or brown in the summer and grayish-brown in the winter. It has white on its throat, around its eyes and nose, on its stomach, and on the underside of its tail. Males have antlers and weigh between 66 and 155 The male deer, known as a buck, sheds its antlers between December and March. Starting in late spring, the buck grows a new set of antlers, which are covered by velvet, a fuzzy, outside covering that provides nutrients to the growing antlers. After the antlers are fully developed, the velvet falls off. White-tailed deer mate between November and February, depending on their location, and the females, also referred to as does, may carry 1 to 3 fawns for about fo months 6 after mating. afte Beginning at Be birth, fawns birt are reddishbrown with br white spots wh that help th camouflage them from th predators. Within several Wi days, they can da

5 r forage for their own food and are weaned usually around six weeks. The mother deer leaves her fawns well hidden for hours at a time while she forages for food. While they are waiting for their mother to return, fawns lay on the ground with their heads and necks stretched out flat, which also aids in protection from predators. Fawns start to lose their spots, as they get older. The white-tailed deer is an herbivore, or plant eater. A deer s diet changes depending on its habitat and the season, but it mainly consist of green plants in the spring and summer and acorns and buds and twigs of woody plants in the fall and winter. White-tailed deer are just one of the many types of game species in Texas, and they play a significant ecological and recreational role in nature and human activities, such as hunting and wildlife watching. There is no doubt that their importance in Texan culture will remain to flourish for generations to come. When a white-tailed deer is alarmed, it may stomp its hooves or snort in order to warn other deer of potential danger. Also, it will commonly flag or raise its tail, displaying its white underside, and escape as fast as possible. When a mother deer is running away, this white underside can help her fawns follow her. Besides running at speeds of up to 30 miles an hour, white-tailed deer are also good leapers and swimmers.

6 WHITE-TAILED DEER Odocoileus virginianus (Warm-blooded)...the white-tailed deer is a big game mammal found throughout the state? Estimates place its population at more than four million....it feeds on twigs, leaves, grasses, forbs (weed plants), fruits and nuts? Breeding takes place as early as September in the coastal area and reaches a peak in South Texas in December....fawns, born in seven months, are hidden for the first two weeks? They follow the mother as soon as they are able. Did you know that......the buck s majestic antlers are shed between December and March, and a new rack is grown the following year, appearing in May?...predators include the coyote, bobcat, cougar and feral dog? Hunting helps keep the deer population in balance with its food supply. Photo Courtesy of Russell Graves Color Me... Art courtesy of... 6

7 Deer Cupcakes Here is a simple, fun, edible activity to try over the upcoming holidays! Materials Needed: Cupcakes with chocolate frosting (you should make them yourself!) Large pretzels Raisins M&M s Chocolate kisses candy Steps to prepare deer cupcakes: 1. Break the pretzel in half and poke the 2 pieces into the sides of the cupcakes. This makes the antlers! 2. Use the chocolate kisses for the eyes. 3. Make an M&M the nose. 4. Line the raisins up for the mouth 5. Serve to your family! As always, consult a parent before making anything in the kitchen! Kids Sp tlight We re looking for some young outdoorsman to spotlight in this section of Critter Connections. Why not you? It is simple. Just answer the questions below and send your answers, along with 3-4 really good pictures of you pursuing your favorite outdoor activities! We will select one person each quarter to spin the spotlight on! The next issue is published in March, so the deadline for consideration is January 1, Mail your information to: TWA Attn: Critter Connections 2800 NE Loop 410, Ste. 105 San Antonio, TX Or it to: h_holdsworth@texas-wildlife.org Questionnaire 1. What is your full name? 2. What city/town do you live in? 3. How old are you? 4. What grade are you in? 5. What is your favorite school subject? Why? 6. What is your least favorite school subject? Why? 7. What are some of your hobbies? 8. What is your favorite outdoor activity? 9. What do you want to be when you grow up? 10. Who is your hero? 11. If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for? 12. Describe yourself in three words. 13. What is the best way for kids to get involved with the outdoors? 7 YOUR PHOTO COULD BE HERE!