Episode 098 – Deer Management from MS to TX

In this episode of Deer University, hosts Jacob Dykes and Eric Mitchell welcome Dr. Marcus Bloom, assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, to discuss the vast diversity of deer management across Texas. Bloom shares his journey from rural Caldwell, Texas, through graduate work in Nevada and a PhD on bighorn sheep, to returning home to serve as a wildlife extension specialist. He highlights the unique challenges and strategies across Texas’s distinct ecoregions—from the dense pine forests of East Texas and rugged Hill Country to the arid brush country of South Texas—emphasizing that management must be region-specific. Bloom also discusses his hands-on research project at Texas A&M’s Ecology and Natural Resources Teaching Area, where students gain critical experience in deer captures, collaring, and habitat assessments. The conversation turns to pressing issues like feral hog damage, urban deer conflicts, and the invasive threat of New World Screw Worm, which remains contained near the Mexican border but poses a significant risk to livestock, wildlife, and pets. Bloom stresses the importance of habitat management over supplemental feeding and promotes the Texas Wildlife Valuation Program as a tool to incentivize conservation on small landholdings. The episode closes with a lighthearted exchange on deer species preferences, underscoring the passion and camaraderie that drives wildlife professionals. Key takeaways include: 1) Deer management must be tailored to specific ecoregions—what works in East Texas won’t work in South Texas; 2) Hands-on student training through real-world deer captures is invaluable for future wildlife professionals; 3) Habitat improvement, not supplemental feeding, should be the primary focus for boosting deer health and antler growth; 4) The New World Screw Worm is a looming threat that requires constant vigilance and public awareness; 5) Programs like Texas’s Wildlife Valuation encourage landowners to manage for wildlife, even on small properties. The tone is enthusiastic, informative, and collaborative, reflecting the hosts’ and guest’s deep commitment to science-based wildlife management and education.