Horace G. Gore

Spike-antlered white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are common in Texas. Research has shown these animals to be inferior to their herd cohorts. Attempts to upgrade buck quality have focused attention on the removal of spikes from the herd to a point of annihilation. An evaluation of harvest data collected annually in Texas shows that spike bucks are essentially a product of deteriorated range conditions. Harvest regulations aimed at the systematic removal of spike-antlered bucks have been proposed as a solution for improving deer quality. Such regulations on a statewide scale have...

Within 12 hours posthatching, poults from captive-reared wild eastern turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were placed under broody domestic bronze turkey hens to imprint the poults (Gore and Synatske 1978). As many as 15 eastern poults were placed under each broody hen at night without disturbing the hens. After 1 week, surviving poults were removed and replaced with newly hatched poults. The week-old eastern poults were then placed with wild-trapped Rio Grande turkey hens (M g. intermedia). Broodiness was induced in the wild hens by oral administration of 50% ethyl alcohol (1 ml/0.45...

Bobwhite age and weight data were collected from 5 study areas in North Central Texas to determine characteristics contributable to optimal harvest. A total of 24,324 bobwhites were aged and 12,735 were weighed and examined during December and January (hunting season), 1962-67. The_peak in nesting as shown by molt patterns occurred prior to July 15 each year. The mean weight of all birds was 176.2 - a standard error of .5 grams. Weights increased through December and began to decline during the final 3 weeks of January. Average weights of January-killed birds did not decline below the...

The pre-Columbian population of 2 million turkey in Texas (Schorger 1966) had declined to less than 100 thousand in 1928 (Anon. 1929). Written accounts of early explorers, travelers, and hunters noted numerous flocks of turkey and equally massive slaughter for food and ornamentations. Encroachment of civilization in the mid 80's, changes in land use, and indiscriminate hunting practices caused a drastic decrease in turkey numbers between 1840 and 1880. Game laws to protect turkey were initiated in 1881 and subsequent laws imposed stringent bag limits and protected hens. During the late...