Despite the drought and heat this summer, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is forecasting an average fall turkey season for Texas hunters.

“We didn’t get much production this year,” Jason Hardin, TPWD wild turkey program leader, said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “The drought and extreme temperatures for 50-plus days really took a toll on the birds. I don’t think we’re going to see many young birds out on the landscape, but we had good carryover with juvenile hens and adult hens this year. So, there are going to be a lot of birds out there in the two-year-old age range, which makes for great hunting.”

Fortunately, the state saw good turkey production last year. Hunters will likely see some of the jakes from last spring, that have become more mature, out on the landscape this fall.

“If it’s places where you’ve turkey hunted in the past, and you regularly see birds, they should still be there,” Hardin said.

Some of the areas that saw turkeys in 2015 and 2016 as a result of birds expanding into new areas may not see those turkeys again this year.

“I would imagine those birds have moved out of those locations or have become more restricted back to those primary roosting locations along the major rivers and creeks throughout the Rio Grande (turkey) range,” Hardin said. “If you have access to a creek bottom with big, tall trees or a river bottom, that’s where a lot of those turkeys are going to be. That’s where you should concentrate your efforts.”

Those who hunt in the eastern Rolling Plains from Canadian south to Paducah may not see as many turkeys this year.

“That area still has a lot of wild turkeys, but they’re just not meeting the numbers we historically saw,” Hardin said. “A turkey roost that may have at one time had 300 birds on it today has probably 75 birds on it. There’s still a lot of birds on that landscape, but when you’re from there, and you’ve hunted there in the past, it’s just not the same number you historically would have seen. We’re keeping close tabs on that.”

The archery-only fall Rio Grande turkey hunting season is open now through Nov. 4.

The general season for the north and south zones, as well as the Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy County zone, opens Nov. 5.

There is no fall turkey hunting season for eastern turkeys.

Hunters are reminded that the bag limit is an annual limit. Hunters who fulfill their bag in the fall will have no remaining tags for the spring.

Hunters are encouraged to check the Outdoor Annual, the Outdoor Annual app or OutdoorAnnual.com to ensure their county has a fall season before hunting.

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HOW TO WARD OFF ARMADILLOS

Armadillo’s damage Bermudagrass. The extra irrigation required by cool-season grasses is attractive to armadillos.

Armadillos are sneaky critters that destroy flower beds, root up lawns and test the sanity of homeowners. Oklahoma State University Extension offers advice on how to control armadillo damage during warm months when the animal’s destructive behavior is most visible.

“There is seldom a quick and easy fix to any wildlife damage problem,” said Dwayne Elmore, OSU Extension wildlife specialist. “Often the cost (time and money) of control exceeds the damage caused, and in this particular case, damage is mostly aesthetics or nuisance.”

Elmore’s OSU Extension fact sheet on nuisance armadillos suggests the following:

Armadillo damage to Bermudagrass is manageable because healthy grass will quickly fill in bare patches.

Bare patches in cool season grasses will need to be reseeded in the fall.

The extra irrigation required by cool-season grasses makes them especially attractive to armadillos.

Wear gloves when filling in holes with soil and turf or smoothing out flower beds.

Repellants and scare tactics are not effective in keeping armadillos out of the landscape.

Fences more than 12 inches tall should eliminate most armadillo activity.

The armadillo is a mammal that typically gives birth to four identical young. They have sparse hair under their armored shell. They feed on insects and earthworms by digging in loose soil with their long claws.

“The armadillo expanded its distribution north in recent decades but is not adapted to the cold,” Elmore said. “Its population is sometimes reduced in northern Oklahoma following prolonged cold winters.”

Other interesting facts about armadillos:

Armadillos have an excellent sense of smell but poor eyesight.

They can swim and sometimes walk under water when crossing shallow ditches.

They do not hibernate but become less active in the winter.

Armadillos are the only other mammal other than humans known to carry leprosy.

During the hottest months of the year, they are most active from 2 to 5 a.m.

It is illegal to move an armadillo to another location for release unless the landowner grants permission.

Elmore said armadillos are not protected in Oklahoma and may be trapped or shot year-round. Trapping is highly effective using a live catch trap that is 12 inches tall, 12 inches wide and 32 inches deep. Traps that include a door work best.

As a safety reminder to those who may encounter an armadillo in close range, they often jump several feet off the ground when frightened and can cause injury if a person is standing too close. While the probability of a leprosy infection is low, Elmore cautions against handling armadillos or disturbed soil with bare skin.

There is one armadillo trap that is on the market that several folks in our area have reported as having great success in trapping armadillos alive then they relocate them. Contact the Brown County Extension Office for more information.