Precision Agriculture and Precision Agriculture and Wildlife ManagementWildlife Management

By By

Luke HanksLuke Hanks

Overview Overview

Wildlife Food PlotsWildlife Food Plots $$$$$$ Increase deer quantity and qualityIncrease deer quantity and quality Decrease the use of feedersDecrease the use of feeders Improve water qualityImprove water quality Increase COIncrease CO22 consumption consumption ConclusionConclusion

Preparing Wildlife Food PlotsPreparing Wildlife Food Plots

Wildlife Food PlotsWildlife Food Plots

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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 plots10% of land in food plots Ranches vary in size, up to around 30,000+ Ranches vary in size, up to around 30,000+

acres acres Around 3,000 acres are in food plotsAround 3,000 acres are in food plots Top-dressing around 210,000 lbs. N/YearTop-dressing around 210,000 lbs. N/Year Estimated $80,000.00 annually on top-dressing Estimated $80,000.00 annually on top-dressing

alonealone

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25 – 30 Trophy Bucks per year25 – 30 Trophy Bucks per year Average $12,500.00 per Trophy BuckAverage $12,500.00 per Trophy Buck Around $350,000.00 just on Trophy BucksAround $350,000.00 just on Trophy Bucks Additional profits areAdditional 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 QualityImproves 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 deerIncreases the weight and health of deer Allows doe’s to increase protein intake = Allows doe’s to increase protein intake =

higher quality milk for fawnshigher quality milk for fawns Wildlife able to with stand harsh winter Wildlife able to with stand harsh winter

conditionsconditions

Deer with a limited supply or low Deer with a limited supply or low quality foodquality food

Deer with an unlimited supply of Deer with an unlimited supply of high quality food high quality food

Decreases the use of FeedersDecreases the use of Feeders

DiseasesDiseases TimeTime No SportNo Sport Illegal Illegal

Baiting with FeedersBaiting with Feeders

Bovine Tuberculosis:Bovine Tuberculosis: an important contagious disease of cattle an important contagious disease of cattle that can be spread from animals to humans and can lead to death. Baiting 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 was identified as a key factor in the spread of Bovine TB in wild deer in Michigan.Michigan.

Parasitism:Parasitism: transmission of many harmful parasites of deer including transmission of many harmful parasites of deer including lungworms and stomach worms increases when deer are concentrated at lungworms and stomach worms increases when deer are concentrated at bait sites.bait sites.

States that have a full or partial ban on baiting include:States that have a full or partial ban on baiting include: AL, AK, 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, 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. WY &WV.

Water QualityWater Quality

LeachingLeaching

Run-offRun-off

Increases COIncreases CO2 2 ConsumptionConsumption

Food Plots serve as an efficient carbon sinkFood Plots serve as an efficient carbon sink

Cool season food plots help consume COCool season food plots help consume CO2 2

while most plants are dormantwhile most plants are dormant

Hunters for the HungryHunters for the Hungry

Texas donated 178,000 Texas donated 178,000 pounds of venison last pounds of venison last year.year.

712,000 meals served 712,000 meals served thanks to hunter’s in thanks to hunter’s in Texas alone.Texas alone.

Types of Wild Meat Donated In Texas

Other, 6%

Venison, 94%

Hunters Against HungerHunters Against Hunger

Possible Solutions to be EfficientPossible Solutions to be Efficient

Nitrogen Rich Strip / Hand held sensorNitrogen Rich Strip / Hand held sensor Nitrogen Rich Strip / RampNitrogen Rich Strip / Ramp Crop RotationCrop Rotation Soil sample each individual food plot Soil sample each individual food plot

randomlyrandomly

Suggested SolutionSuggested Solution

To Maximize NUE with applied NitrogenTo Maximize NUE with applied Nitrogen

Nitrogen Rich Strip / RampNitrogen Rich Strip / Ramp

http://www.nue.okstate.edu/Index_RI.htmhttp://www.nue.okstate.edu/Index_RI.htm

Suggested SolutionSuggested Solution

To Minimize Nitrogen UseTo Minimize Nitrogen Use

Crop RotationCrop Rotation

ex. Alternate planting legumes with other ex. Alternate planting legumes with other forages to decrease amount of Nitrogen forages to decrease amount of Nitrogen applied each year.applied each year.

ReferencesReferences

http://www.nue.okstate.edu/Index_RI.htmhttp://www.nue.okstate.edu/Index_RI.htm Fulbright, Timothy. 1999. Fulbright, Timothy. 1999. Food Plots for White-tailed DeerFood Plots for White-tailed Deer. .

Texas A&M University.Texas A&M University. Higginbotham, Billy; Kroll, James. Higginbotham, Billy; Kroll, James. Supplemental Forage Supplemental Forage

Management for East Texas White-tailed DeerManagement for East Texas White-tailed Deer. Wildlife . Wildlife Management Handbook.Management Handbook.

http://teachplants.okstate.edu/http://teachplants.okstate.edu/ http://www.alabamawildlife.org/baitingbill/http://www.alabamawildlife.org/baitingbill/

ConclusionConclusion

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

Thank You For Your Thank You For Your TimeTime

Questions?Questions?