Big Game Animals In Texas AGSC 381 Hunter Education Big Game Animals In Texas Original Power Point Created by Manuel Morro Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office June 2002

Objectives Identify game species in Texas Determine: Elk, White-Tailed, & Mule Deer Determine: Description Range Habitat/Habits

Elk (WAPITI) Description: Range: Large, hoofed mammal Cream colored rump patch Small cream colored tail General reddish-brown body with chestnut brown neck (mane in males) Huge spreading antlers on males in summer and autumn Range: In Texas, free roaming elk are limited to the trans-pecos region Some private herds are not considered game animals located in Central and South Texas regions

Elk (WAPITI) Habitat/Habits Lives in semi-open forest, mountains, meadows, foothills plains, and valleys Herbivorous- eats grasses, forbs, some brush, twigs/bark Usually migrate to higher elevations in spring Live 14 years and males are polygamous (breeds more than one female) Ruts start in September – calves born in May-June – normally one calf per cow - spotted

Elk

White–Tailed Deer Description: Range: Small to medium hoofed mammal with reddish brown to blue-gray or tan colorings Underside of tail is white Antlers on male consist mainly of main beam with tines growing from it Range: Texas has the most white-tailed deer of any state (over four million) Texas hill country is most densely populated area in the country West Texas and the Panhandle are the only spotty areas with whitetails

White-Tailed Deer Habitat/Habits Lives in forest, swamps, open brushy areas, foothills plains and river bottoms Herbivorous- eats forbs, browse, wigs, shrubs, acorns, fungi and some grasses Limited movement (rarely more than one to two miles) Lives to 16 years in the wild Male is polygamous (breeds more than one female) Rut starts in October through December, spotted twin fawns are normal

White-Tailed Deer

Mule Deer Description: Range: Medium to large hoofed mammal with reddish (summer) to blue-gray (winter) coloring Rump patch is cream colored with black-tipped Cream colored tail Ears are larger than white-tailed deer Antlers are dichotomous (branches equally---not all from one beam) Range: Located primarily in the High Plains and Trans-Pecos regions (west) Some Mule Deer overlap with ranges of Whitetail deer

Mule Deer Habitat/Habits: Live in forest, desert shrubs, chaparral, grasslands, plains, foothills and river bottoms Herbivorous- eats forbs, browse, shrubs, twigs, and some grasses Migrate similar to elk, but in Texas limited movement may occur Lives to 16 years in the wild Male is polygamous (breeds more than female) Rut starts in October through December One to two fawns are typical - spotted

Mule Deer

Work Sheet Activity Use the work sheet provided and identify the specie. List one or more physical descriptions Name the range/area Name habitat or habits

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