Wildlife Biologist Chris Gregory, who has served the community since 1989, shared valuable insights on hunting and wildlife management in Texas during a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Livingston. Gregory expressed his passion for his work and provided an informative update on various hunting regulations and trends, specifically focusing on geese, dove and turkey hunting.
During his talk, Gregory highlighted the significant economic impact of hunting in Polk County. He revealed that deer hunting generates between $20 million and $30 million annually for the local economy. He also shared some fascinating statistics about the local deer population, estimating that Polk County is home to between 20,000 and 40,000 deer. The hunter population fluctuates between 3,500 and 5,000, with hunters spending an average of 10 to 16 days in the field. Each year, the county sees a harvest of around 3,500 to 5,000 deer.
Gregory also discussed disease monitoring efforts and reassured attendees that there are no current disease threats to the local deer population. On a statewide level, he noted that deer hunting alone generates a staggering $9.6 billion in revenue annually.
He shared photos of local game wardens taking youth out alligator hunting at Dam B in September. Gregory also touched on changes to the endangered species list, reporting that while loggerhead turtles have been added, timber rattlesnakes have been removed.
As for the wild hog population, Gregory said it continues to be a significant challenge, with numbers too high to accurately count.
Gregory’s presentation offered a valuable glimpse into the current state of wildlife and hunting in the region, reaffirming the importance of conservation efforts and the economic benefits of hunting to the community.
