TPWD's Mission: To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generation. Wildlife Division Mission: To foster on-the-ground conservation of diverse native wildlife and their habitats through sound science and land stewardship for the benefit of the resource an
d our hunting and outdoor heritage. The TPWD Panhandle Wildlife District (District 2) covers 54 counties in the High and Rolling Plains ecoregions of the Texas Panhandle. Rolling Red Plains
Location and topography - The Rolling Red Plains extends north from the Edwards Plateau in Texas to western Oklahoma. Landscape is flat to rolling, with natural vegetation of mixed-grass plains, shortgrass high plains, shinnery oak grasslands, and mesquite grasslands. Mixed prairie represents the transition zone between tall-grass prairie and other plant associations in the western part of this physiographic area. Grasses and forbs are dominant vegetation. Shinnery oak grasslands occur in broad rolling topographic relief of the western and northern parts of the area. Oak mottes (clumps) occur throughout broad expanses of tall, mixed, or short grasses. Mesquite-grassland is perhaps the most extensive vegetation community; this association typically occurs on flat gently rolling topography with an open canopy of short mesquite trees with an understory of prickly pear and thorny shrubs. These natural communities were maintained by numerous harsh weather events, such as sever winter weather, cycles of hot temperatures, drought, and fire. Major conservation issues - Much of the Rolling Red Plains has been altered by agriculture and ranching. Remaining natural plant communities are affected by fragmentation, direct loss due to crops, pasture, and overgrazing. Efforts to conserve wildife and habitat diversity will require strong cooperation with private landowners to provide increased incentives for management of riparian zones and oak motte restoration, and increased management of natural grassland systems. High (Pecos & Staked) Plains
Location and physiography - The High Plains cover the western panhandle of Texas, west end of the panhandle of Oklahoma, and extensive areas in eastern New Mexico. These high and dry plains are covered with shortgrass prairie dominated by grama and buffalo grasses. There also are extensive areas of shinnery oak with short to midgrass prairie and low shrubs. This area grades from tall-grass in the east to scrub savanna in the southern Trans-Pecos, and more chaparral and pinyon-juniper in the Mesa and Plains areas to the west. The northern border of Oklahoma is as an arbitrary northern limit. Major conservation issues and recommendations - Much of this area is used for ranching, it remains in relatively good condition, and supports numerous populations of native wildlife. However, conversion to agriculture with use of circle-pivot irrigation is taking its toll on wildife habitat, particularly in the east. A careful grazing regime with rest and rotation that allows moderate fuel buildup for occasional fires provides the best long-term benefit to both the rancher and to wildlife. For example, black-tailed prairie dog towns, which have greatly diminished, provide conditions preferred by many priority birds. Shrubland components used by some of the highest priority birds, including Lesser Prairie-Chicken, should not be eliminated through herbicide treatment. Management of Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat needs to be aggressive to halt decline of this rare bird. Native rangeland surrounding lek sites should be retained and grazing managed to create conditions required by the species. Ephemeral playas and non-riparian wetlands are unique features of this physiographic area in which grazing and water management can benefit many birds. Termination of residual pesticide run-off, dumping of oil and gas waste by-products and disruption of clay bottoms for creation of more permanent water sources will maintain playa conditions needed by many species of wildlife.
