Texas Parks and Wildlife offers fall hunting preview

Some one million Texans are taking inventory of their supplies and counting down the days until hunting season begins.

The experiences of the hunt (sights, smells, sounds), as well as the thrill of the pursuit, are what draw many from comfy homes and stressful offices each fall to the outdoors.

This fall is shaping up to be a very nice hunting season around the state.

Abundant spring and summer rains have filled ponds and oxbows, allowed browse plants to grow to their fullest extent, and have primed mast producing trees to the brink of bumper crops.

Now all that is left to do is to wait for opening day and prepare for the experience.

To help prepare for this hunting season, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD), Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE), and the East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation are teaming up to sponsor our third annual Fall Hunting Preview.

The event will be held Sept. 18, at the TPWD Nature Center in Tyler, located at 11942 FM 848.

The preview starts at 6:30 p.m. and concludes about 9:30 p.m.

It's free to the public.

Topics and speakers for this year will be "Assessment of Antler Regulations for Deer Hunters" by Gary Calkins, TPWD Pineywoods Wildlife Leader; 'Venison Quality:

From Field to Table' by Dr. Billy Higginbotham, TCE Wildlife and Fisheries Specialist; "Eastern Wild Turkey Hunting Forecast and Tips to Locate Those Gobblers" by Sean Willis, TPWD Pineywoods Wildlife Biologist; "Waterfowl Hunting Forecast and Ways to Improve Your Harvest Success" by Corey Mason, TPWD Waterfowl and Wetland Biologist; and "Open Session" with TPWD Game Wardens and Wildlife Biologists.

For more information call the Smith County Extension office at 903- 590-2980 or visit the web site http://smithtx. tamu.edu.