Precision Agriculture and Wildlife Management By Luke Hanks

Overview Wildlife Food Plots Wildlife Food Plots $$$ $$$ Increase deer quantity and quality Increase deer quantity and quality Decrease the use of feeders Decrease the use of feeders Improve water quality Improve water quality Increase CO 2 consumption Increase CO 2 consumption Conclusion Conclusion

Preparing Wildlife Food Plots

Wildlife Food Plots Wildlife Food Plots

$$$ Top-dress on average of 65 – 70 lbs. N/acre Top-dress on average of 65 – 70 lbs. N/acre 10% of land in food plots 10% of land in food plots Ranches vary in size, up to around 30,000+ acres Ranches vary in size, up to around 30,000+ acres Around 3,000 acres are in food plots Around 3,000 acres are in food plots Top-dressing around 210,000 lbs. N/Year Top-dressing around 210,000 lbs. N/Year Estimated $80, annually on top-dressing alone Estimated $80, annually on top-dressing alone

$$$ 25 – 30 Trophy Bucks per year 25 – 30 Trophy Bucks per year Average $12, per Trophy Buck Average $12, per Trophy Buck Around $350, just on Trophy Bucks Around $350, just on Trophy Bucks Additional profits are Additional profits are ~ Management Bucks and Does ~ Management Bucks and Does ~ Wild Boars ~ Wild Boars ~ Exotic Game ~ Exotic Game ~ Wild Turkeys ~ Wild Turkeys

Improves Deer Quantity and Quality # 1 Maximize antler growth # 1 Maximize antler growth Increases the # of deer Increases the # of deer Increases the weight and health of deer Increases the weight and health of deer Allows doe’s to increase protein intake = higher quality milk for fawns Allows doe’s to increase protein intake = higher quality milk for fawns Wildlife able to with stand harsh winter conditions Wildlife able to with stand harsh winter conditions

Deer with a limited supply or low quality food

Deer with an unlimited supply of high quality food

Decreases the use of Feeders Diseases Diseases Time Time No Sport No Sport Illegal Illegal

Baiting with Feeders Bovine Tuberculosis: an important contagious disease of cattle that can be spread from animals to humans and can lead to death. Baiting was identified as a key factor in the spread of Bovine TB in wild deer in Michigan. Bovine Tuberculosis: an important contagious disease of cattle that can be spread from animals to humans and can lead to death. Baiting was identified as a key factor in the spread of Bovine TB in wild deer in Michigan. Parasitism: transmission of many harmful parasites of deer including lungworms and stomach worms increases when deer are concentrated at bait sites. Parasitism: transmission of many harmful parasites of deer including lungworms and stomach worms increases when deer are concentrated at bait sites. States that have a full or partial ban on baiting include: AL, AK, CA, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NM, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WI, WY &WV. States that have a full or partial ban on baiting include: AL, AK, CA, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NM, NY, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, WI, WY &WV.

Water Quality Water Quality Leaching Leaching Run-off Run-off

Increases CO 2 Consumption Food Plots serve as an efficient carbon sink Food Plots serve as an efficient carbon sink Cool season food plots help consume CO 2 while most plants are dormant Cool season food plots help consume CO 2 while most plants are dormant

Hunters for the Hungry Texas donated 178,000 pounds of venison last year. Texas donated 178,000 pounds of venison last year. 712,000 meals served thanks to hunter’s in Texas alone. 712,000 meals served thanks to hunter’s in Texas alone.

Hunters Against Hunger

Possible Solutions to be Efficient Nitrogen Rich Strip / Hand held sensor Nitrogen Rich Strip / Hand held sensor Nitrogen Rich Strip / Ramp Nitrogen Rich Strip / Ramp Crop Rotation Crop Rotation Soil sample each individual food plot randomly Soil sample each individual food plot randomly

Suggested Solution To Maximize NUE with applied Nitrogen Nitrogen Rich Strip / Ramp Nitrogen Rich Strip / Ramp

Suggested Solution To Minimize Nitrogen Use Crop Rotation Crop Rotation ex. Alternate planting legumes with other forages to decrease amount of Nitrogen applied each year. ex. Alternate planting legumes with other forages to decrease amount of Nitrogen applied each year.

References Fulbright, Timothy Food Plots for White-tailed Deer. Texas A&M University. Fulbright, Timothy Food Plots for White-tailed Deer. Texas A&M University. Higginbotham, Billy; Kroll, James. Supplemental Forage Management for East Texas White-tailed Deer. Wildlife Management Handbook. Higginbotham, Billy; Kroll, James. Supplemental Forage Management for East Texas White-tailed Deer. Wildlife Management Handbook

Conclusion Precision agricultural practices can be used in wildlife management to save money and help improve the environment at the same time.

Thank You For Your Time Questions?