Second Big Freeze?

I REMEMBER IN 2020, reading your story about the big freezes of the past on the Texas Coast and saying that we were due another. Well, as we all know in February 2021 we got it, and it caused much damage to fisheries, especially trout, on the Middle and Lower Coasts.

My question is what if we get another one this year, or maybe next year? What type of impact will that have in terms of recovery and regulations?

Evan Wolf

Editor: This is a great question and one I have pondered quite a bit. Our weather patterns are just completely out of whack in America right now. Honestly, it would not surprise me if we do get hit with something comparable in the next few years. It generally takes about three years for a fishery to recover without more stresses such as a giant freeze or red tide event, so it would set things back. Of course, it depends on the scale of kill. If it were something like we experience in 2021, it would be bad.

On the regulation front, I have no inside information, but it is my opinion if we had another mega freeze with as many or more trout killed as last year, we would see some sort of permanent regulation change at least in the areas that had the most devastation.

Green Hunts

I ENJOYED YOUR STORY on green hunts and found it very interesting. I can definitely see the opportunity to get young people involved in those kinds of things. I appreciated the way you honored your late mentor in that story. That was a nice touch.

Freddy Gibson

THE GREEN HUNTS story was a lot of fun! It made me want to go out and help ranchers do that kind of work. It also made me look into the green hunts in Africa for rhinos, which is pretty amazing. It’s a little pricey, but maybe something for the future. Anything we can have to boost conservation, while at the same time getting young people involved in the sport, is a plus.

Lana Schmidt 

E-Newsletter Elk

I READ A story in your e-newsletter (which I love) about elk in Texas and found it fascinating. I had no idea they once ranged into the eastern part of the state. My question is, do you ever think the state will restock elk in East Texas?

J. Brockman

Editor: That was a fun story to research. I do not believe state officials will ever restock elk in the Piney Woods. Elk are not considered a game animal in Texas, so our state has no real authority over them. Interestingly, elk populations out in West Texas seem to be on the rise according to multiple sources, and there are elk in fair numbers in parts of Southwest Texas. The ones in West Texas seem to trade between there and New Mexico.

The ones in Southwest Texas are likely a result from high fenced ranch escapes. Either way it would be great to see free-ranging elk in Texas. I do know of an area in the southern part of the Piney Woods that has a small population of elk from a high fence escape scenario. I have seen multiple game camera photos from the area. These elk will likely be killed, but if they were left alone, it’s possible a small population could be established well enough to thrive.

 

Email your comments to: editor@fishgame.com

 

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