Tecomante for ELK???

[NMHUNTNUTTG]

I was watching tv yesterday morning on either Versus or ESPN and was checking out the hunting shows , mostly turkey and goose and duck shows , which I don't mind as I love bird hunting too. Then there was a few whitetail shows , again which I don't mind as I really like most of them and wished I could do more whitetail hunting. Any how on one of the shows titled "White Tail of the Tecomante" they took the show to southern NM to a private ranch that is now planting feed plots with this "tecomante seed " for their elk. I was a bit unsure how I felt.There are plenty of "high fence" and "game farms" in North America that do use antler en hancing feed but it kind of struck me in a bad way to see it's happening in NM in a unit that consistantly produces big bull elk on its own the way nature dictates. If this type of hunting starts to whirlwind in the western states I'm afraid it will only benifit land owners and a wealthier person , let alone what will determine free range? A private land owner in the western states does offer free range big game to hunted inside thier land , but it's still free range and has grown antler on the feed produced by the grass and water from the year of what nature gives.

I was reading the 2007-2008 big game book for the NM hunting season and in there was a few words about "not bring fire wood from out of state" as it may contain insects and such that could be damaging to the States natural wood. If this is to be followed , then why does the State allow for "non native " grass to be planted and farmed for big game , can it not be damaging to our natural grass?

What to you'll think ???Larry

 

[NMHUNTNUTTG]

any thoughts at all?mmmm

 

[foghorn]

Hey Larry
Never heard of this stuff before. We do have a lot of non native grasses already established in New Mexico. I'll do some research on this plant and find out what I can.
Later
Foghorn

 

[sjhgraysage]

What about planting alfalfa!
I don't have a problem with planting something that game will eat that is good protein for them.

 

[foghorn]

Hey Larry
Tecomate is the name of a seed company. They have a variety of seeds for food plots for game.
I may try some of it myself. Have to do a little more research through the extension service and soil and water conservation service.
Later
Foghorn

 

[jamaro]

This is a load of BULL.... I am sure this ranch gets Landowner RO Tags... If you also saw the program they were hunting the food plot , which I am pretty sure it baiting because it was fenced to keep cattle out. When you grow Alfalfa you can say that you are going to sell it but Tecomante??? Please...
I hope Game and Fish is looking at this....

Jason

 

[NMHUNTNUTT1]

Yes I know "Tecomante" is the name of the seed , it's also the the name of the ranch owned by the family who sells this seed. If you go to any TX hunting websites you will see some very impressive whitetails taken off the Tecomante Ranch.


Big bulls grow big in certain areas because of the minerals in the vegitation grown as well as water . In NM , lets say unit 4 which is in northen NM.This area annually gets alot more rain fall and has knee high grass growing through out the summer than say unit 15 in more of the southwest area of the state. Yet unit 15 will produce numerous 350-400 inch bulls where as up in unit 4 will grow them in the 300-330 inch and a 350 bull is monsterous up there. It's because of the minerals in the earth producing the feed. This "tecomante' seed is known to produce big bone(thats why game ranchs use it)and so on but my thoughts are by using it and introducing the non native grass, a person is growing non natural bulls and thats kind of TABOO when speaking of big game western hunting. The feed plots,feeders and such should be left to other states not included in the western region hunting. Maybe I'm biased , but with less public land oppertunity for outdoorsman taking a back seat to more and more land being bought and sectioned off , it's just a worry.
I agree Jason , it's a bunch of bull and wished the game and fish could do something...

 

[jamaro]

I don't know if you guys saw but the ranch they are talking about is in 16( I think 16-E)

 

[gilamonster8]

teco is more about the system the use, grasses in the spring and carbs in the winter. Givem lots of food they will brow big and strong.

 

[jamaro]

I would tend to agree that it is more of a system and genetics... I used to guide Fly Fisherman at the Lodge at Chama and we had a private elk herd on the ranch and those animals had more feed and water than they could possibly use. BUT until new genetics were brought in the bulls were topping out at 330...

 

[foghorn]

Hey Guys
My first answer was a little short on info.
Tecomate seed company offers alfalfa, clover's, brassica's etc.
In short they offer a wide variety of plant material. Not just Tecomante Grass.
These plant sources are bred to be nutritious, palatable and available at different times of the year. They "hopefully" will provide the animal with all the nutrition needed to become the best their genetics will allow.
I understand the availability of minerals in the soils affect antler growth. What I don't understand is why it is different between Deer and Elk. As Larry pointed out the Elk in unit 4 top out a lot less than the Bulls from the Gila.
The opposite is true for Deer. Unit 4 has produced some of the biggest bucks in NM as well as the world. "Mundy" for example.
Not to mention the Bucks next door from the Jicarilla!!
I don't think there is any Bucks entered in the book from the Gila. Could be wrong on that!! Perhaps they eat different plant material, or their bodies have different requirements????
More research needed there.
As for the Landowner tags.............................
That discussion could take ALL of Founders bandwidth.
And the rest of our LIVES!!
Later
Foghorn