Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute

Hunting is the primary method of population control for many ungulates across the United States like white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Previous research has focused primarily on the effects of hunting on prey behavior, rather than considering how the behavior of hunters may impact the probability of a successful hunt. Recording GPS and observation data from 83 individual hunters over 487 total hunts, researchers examined their movement speed, path shape, proportion of time spent in different vegetation types, and the average distance from key landscape features like roads and water sources. Their results suggested that hunter behavior did factor into how many deer were observed—hunters who used greater forested cover and moved more quickly observed more deer on average. This understanding of hunter behavior may help land managers adjust harvest success as needed. 🦌🌿

Read all our peer-reviewed publications at nri.tamu.edu/publications/.

📝 Authors: Meier, Little, Gee, Demarais, Webb, and Ranglack

For all you citizen scientists out there—there will be a webinar this Tuesday, August 4 at 11am Central focused on Smartphone Photography for iNaturalist 🌿

Our researchers, like so many others, depend on observations from folks like you to get the species information they need. Better quality photos mean faster identifications, more observations reaching "Research Grade," and better data for scientists like us. We recently discussed the importance of citizen science data for big game research on episode 13 of The Land Steward Podcast—find us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!

Register now to join live or receive the meeting recording: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zZaefDaDSJCDUeAFrSMoPg

Grimes and Madison Counties—see details for our feral hog program on August 13th 👇

Howdy folks! In just a few shorts weeks we will be hosting a feral hog program in Grimes and Madison counties. Sign up now so you don't miss out on this amazing opportunity to sharpen your feral pig management skills. The August 13th program will feature expert instruction, practical insights, and CEU credits to support your professional development.

To RSVP, please call (936) 836-3907.

Summer at NRI looks like...
Learning plant ecology in the field (and in the hallway) with Dr. Lucht, fishing with Dr. Cathey, celebrating the success of a former student and intern who is beginning his career as a Texas Game Warden, and letting our current student workers catch and hold a whole lot of reptiles. ☀️🎣🐍

Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management Texas Parks and Wildlife Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

For many Texas land stewards, big game species are among the most visible and valued wildlife on the landscape. White-tailed deer moving through a dusty sendero or javelina barreling into South Texas brush offer a glimpse into the connection between wildlife, habitat and land management. For Stephen Webb, Ph.D., research assistant professor with NRI and the Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, those observations are only the beginning.

Read his story or listen to our latest podcast episode:

Podcast Ep #13: What big game research can teach us with Dr. Stephen Webb For many Texas land stewards, big game species are among the most visible and valued wildlife on the landscape. White-tailed deer moving…

Basket clams (Corbicula spp.) are one of the most prolific aquatic invasive species in the world—they can negatively affect aquatic ecosystems by altering food web dynamics and harming native freshwater mussel populations. Through qualitative field surveys and review of literature, museum holdings, and citizen science data, researchers documented 885 records of basket clams in Mexico and its shared drainages with the USA. To date, they have been reported in 26 of the 32 Mexican states and most of the major river basins. Additional reports and verifiable data from citizen scientists on iNaturalist.org will aid researchers in further documenting the spread of this invasive species in Mexico and Central America.

Read all our peer-reviewed publications at nri.tamu.edu/publications/.

📝 Authors: Tiemann, Cummings, Barba, and Randklev
📸 Photo: Corbicula fluminea by Björn S. (Flickr), CC BY-SA 2.0.

Now available from the NRI Map Store—Texas working lands by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service District 🌿

Working lands support the agricultural and natural systems that produce our crops and livestock and provide timber and wildlife management. The Texas A&M AgriLife support network provides a tour of the state's agricultural areas, covering each region’s primary agricultural production strategy based on its unique landscapes.

Purchase a digital download or museum-quality print copy: https://tamu.estore.flywire.com/products/texas-working-lands-by-agrilife-extension-district-map-450585

Southern pine forests are at a crossroads where many are overstocked and under-diverse—we can no longer just sustain the past, we must reimagine the future. Forestry Forward is a summit focused on turning conversation into action. This event is intended for forestry organizations, stakeholders, researchers, industry partners, forestry specialists, and policy makers. Registration is capped at 200 participants, so don't wait to sign up for these meaningful discussions and conversations across industry, conservation, policy, and research.

Early registration is open now: https://4sciencesake.com/forestry-forward/

The 2022 Census of Ag found that agricultural tourism and recreational services contributed more than $191 million to the Texas economy, far surpassing other states. With such a high demand for nature-based activities in mind, Texas A&M Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management launched a new outdoor enterprise management program last year, merging the fields of ecology, business, and hospitality.

Read about it in our latest article in Texas Wildlife Association's July magazine—https://issuu.com/texaswildlifeassociation/docs/texas_wildlife_extra_-_july_2026/16

Texas Parks and Wildlife is hosting a new workshop series catering to landowners who are interested in wildlife and habitat management, especially those managing small tracts of land (under 200 acres). Register now for the FREE event beginning with the foundational principles of land stewardship on Friday, July 31st in Lockhart, TX—https://forms.gle/wzuw3MfRAa7AMLn79