Granite Shoals adds “Earn-a-Buck” incentive to deer management program
These three deer aren’t far from one of the designated harvesting sites of the Granite Shoals Deer Management Program. Staff photo by Maci Cottingham
The Granite Shoals Deer Management Program is shifting again, this time adding new incentives for participants through the “Earn-a-Buck” system, which rewards harvesters for donating antlerless deer. Under the new incentive structure, harvesters earn one buck tag for every five antlerless deer harvested and donated, with a maximum of 20 donations, or four buck tags, per person.
The revisions mark the newest round of updates since the program launched Sept. 27. Less than a month into harvesting operations, the Granite Shoals City Council approved modifications following complaints raised at the Oct. 14 city council meeting about public safety and unrecovered deer. Those concerns led to weekday-only harvesting, a full ban on hunting when school is not in session, and the recent cancellation of all afternoon slots.
Harvesting is now restricted to 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday.
Under the previous rules, the shooting of bucks was prohibited. Harvesters were only allowed to shoot antlerless deer, referring to does or bucks that did not have visible antlers. Now, bucks are fair game if a harvester meets the five antlerless deer requirement.
Monthly requalification requirements were also added after repeated worries about unrecovered deer that had been found after being shot. Harvesters must now pass an archery skills test each month, placing one shot within a 2-inch circle inside a bullseye and a second within a 4-inch boundary, a change from the previous standard of qualifying only once a year.
“We are roughly two months into the (managed lands deer program) season and have removed approximately 135 deer from the population,” Mark Hendshaw, chair of the city’s Wildlife Advisory Committee, told DailyTrib. “So we are 50 percent complete to our (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) target of 270 with three months of seasons remaining.”
Henshaw said the program is seeking additional harvesting locations, as deer numbers have decreased in actively used areas. Residents with secluded lots may volunteer land by contacting the Wildlife Advisory Committee at 830-265-1803.
To date, the program has produced 700 pounds of venison, half of which has been donated to Granite Shoals residents and the other half to The Helping Center food pantry in Marble Falls.
The requalification assessments are scheduled for Nov. 22 and Jan. 10 from 8-11 a.m.
To qualify, harvesters must have passed background checks, demonstrated shooting proficiency, held required hunting licenses, and completed a written exam. Full requirements are available on the WAC website.
All program activities require approval from the City Council and coordination with the city administration and police department.
The Wildlife Advisory Committee is also undergoing internal change. Former Chair Peter Hutnick, serving his second term after a unanimous vote at the City Council’s Jan. 6 meeting, resigned following the committee’s Nov. 4 session. He played a significant role in relaunching the management program and surveying the population after a hiatus, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The city is thankful for (Hutnick’s) contribution,” Mayor Ron Munos told DailyTrib.
Hutnick offered no comment regarding his resignation.
The program’s development dates back years, involving population counts, rebuilding the advisory committee, and working with TPWD for two full years before harvesting officially began in late September.