"WHAT HAPPENS IF...": ESTATE PLANNING FOR LANDOWNERS (PART 2)

The last edition of Seasons* discussed the simple steps you can take to protect your property in the event of mental disability. In addition to creating financial and medical powers of attorney to avoid a Court conservatorship, a conscientious landowner should also prepare other documents as part of a comprehensive estate plan, such as a will or revocable trust or documents establishing an ownership entity such as a partnership, or limited liability company..

Here is the second issue every landowner should consider.

What happens to my property when I die?

You have two choices. 1) Plan for an orderly disposition of everything your own - your estate. Or 2) Fail to plan. The horror stories in the news about the probate process usually involve people who did not plan their affairs. These people have an estate plan which can be called the "No Plan" estate plan. Under the "No Plan" estate plan, the State and Federal governments and the Courts step in to make decisions for you.

The government plan includes the federal and state laws and court cases including:

• the state intestacy statute determines who receives your assets at death, and if there is no one to receive it, the State takes title, and
• tax laws, including estate taxes, that determine how much of your assets will be confiscated by the government.

This "No Plan" estate plan is the most expensive plan for you and your loved ones, and usually produces the most disastrous results.

THE SOLUTION

The good news is that it is relatively easy to implement a comprehensive estate plan. Thoughtful estate planning allows you to protect your property and provide for your loved ones. You can transfer your property with an much or as little control as they may need and as you desire, and in ways which protect their inheritance from creditors and predators, while saving every possible administrative expense, transfer cost, tax dollar, attorney fee and court cost you can.

If you are creating an estate plan to transfer your land and other assets, you have three choices: 1) Use a will. Or 2) Use a revocable trust. Or 3) Create a business entity and design a succession strategy including provisions for the transfer of ownership at death. Often these three work together to produce the best result for the control and distribution of your land

A well-drafted will names an executor to administer your estate and carry out your wishes, names a guardian for any minor children, provides a comprehensive scheme to distribute your personal property and your land, and sometimes creates trusts to hold property for the benefit of loved ones. To distribute the property the will must usually be admitted to probate court in the County where you live or own land. In Texas you can minimize the costs associated with probate by providing for independent administration of your estate. Although wills can be contested in court, it is difficult to overturn your wishes for your property.

Alternatively, you can create a revocable trust while you are alive, place your property in the trust before you die, and avoid the probate process entirely at death. You can be the trustee of your trust while you are alive to maintain control of the trust and your property. You can change, amend or revoke the trust entirely as you see fit. At death, a successor trustee you name steps in to manage the trust assets and make distributions according to your instructions. The trustee is bound by law to follow your exact instructions. The time, trouble and expense of probate can be avoided, although a revocable trust can be more challenging to manage while you are alive.

If your land is owned in a business entity, then the way the ownership interest in the limited partnership or limited liability company is transferred controls what happens to the land. Company agreements often include buy-sell provisions and limitations on the transfer of ownership interest to keep land in the family. If the decedent's share of a business interest is sold at death then the proceeds can be controlled by the will or trust.

Regardless of whether you use a will or trust to manage and distribute your property, or coordinate these with a business entity, you are wise to begin the planning process by consulting a knowledgeable estate planning attorney.

* To read Part One, visit:

plateaulandwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/09/what-happens-if-estate-planning-for.html

TOP 10 LEGAL TIPS FOR THE OWNER OF RURAL LAND IN TEXAS

By Braun & Gresham, Attorneys at Law and Plateau Land & Wildlife Management

The owner of rural land in Texas...

Should not hold property in their own name, except their homestead.

Should claim their rights under Texas laws that limit liability.

Should claim all their homestead rights, if they live on their land.

Should have a will and special plans for leaving rural land to heirs.

Should fight for a fair price and reasonable limits if their land is condemned.

Should remove all possible exceptions to their title and title insurance policy.

Should use written hunting and grazing leases specifically drafted for their land.

Should maintain the lowest possible property tax rates on their land.

Should protest the market value of their land for property tax.

Should know there is no minimum acreage for open space valuations, except in subdivisions.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING: WINTER AND WILDLIFE (JANUARY - MARCH)

Wildlife management activities to consider for January - March:

BRUSH MANAGEMENT
While the cool of spring might be the most enticing time of year to fire up a chainsaw to clear brush, this type of "spring cleaning" might actually be detrimental to the wildlife you are trying to protect. Spring is a familial time of year for all the mama and the papa animals -- the whine of a saw and the disturbance of brush are not conducive to reproductive activities; nesting may be disrupted and newborns stressed. Rather, it is a much better practice to do your important brush thinning and habitat improvement now, before spring has sprung, or wait until the hot summer months.

MOWING (OR NOT MOWING, RATHER)
Another time-sensitive activity is mowing native meadows, it is important to not do so too early in the season. It is a much more effective practice to let the grass and wildflowers stand undisturbed until they go to seed. If you watch the plants carefully in the late spring and summer, you will actually see the many ways that seeds are formed and dispersed. Occasional mowing at the right time, in the right amount, and correct patterns can be important to the health of a grassland, but allowing nature to run its course is the best possible method of reseeding.

FIRE ANT CONTROL
While it is typically in the heat of the summer when seething fire ant rage really takes hold as mounds of imported red fire ants dot the land, Plateau finds the key time for fire ant control actually begins in March and winds down in June, before throes of summer and toes in sandals. Treatment starts up again in September after the hot, dry summer ends, and before the cold, wet of winter. Why this timing? It's a temperature issue. When the ants are cold, or hot, they go deep into the ground for temperature regulation and do not actively forage above ground. They also go deep during dry periods in order to find moisture, and come above ground during wet periods to avoid drowning. Now is the time to get on the schedule.

NEST BOX MAINTENANCE
For some birds, breeding season begins as early as February and for those who do not have Plateau maintain your nest boxes, consider this a friendly reminder that your boxes need to be checked and readied by the start of February. Some birds will not use boxes with abandoned nests in them, plus, removing debris (and other little critters who may have snuggled in for the winter) creates a healthier environment for the next brood of nestlings.

PURPLE MARTIN BOX INSTALLATIONS
Purple Martins have been managed intentionally by humans longer than any other North American songbird. Today, whether for their beauty, song, or voracious appetite for pesky flying insects, an estimated 1 million North Americans provide housing for Purple Martins. Due to a decline in natural nesting sites (such as tree cavities) as a result of urban sprawl, farming and logging, as well as competition from the non-native House Sparrow and European Starling, human-provided housing and management has become vital to Purple Martins, especially east of the Rocky Mountains, where they have undergone a complete "tradition shift". Purple Martins are now the only bird species entirely dependent on humans for supplying them with nesting cavities. Purple Martins arrive in Texas around the first half of February. Installation of Purple Martin boxes by Plateau's expert field technicians is currently underway and will finish up for the season in February. Contact us for more details.

SPRING BREEDING BIRD CENSUS
Our Spring Breeding Bird Census (BBC) is conducted during the breeding season -- approximately mid-March through early June. These popular surveys begin at sunrise for the "dawn chorus" and give you the opportunity to walk your land accompanied by a skilled birdwatcher. This is a fantastic learning experience, not only for information about birds, but you can learn more about your land as well.

Plateau can help you meet all of your wildlife management goals. Contact us today for more information!

WILDFIRE RISK ASSESSMENT

By Shane Kiefer, CWB®, Senior Wildlife Biologist

With over $500 million in losses,the 2011 wildfire season was the most expensive in Texas history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. The Bastrop Fire alone was more destructive than any single year in history with $325 million in losses. In the past year, wildfires statewide have destroyed nearly 4 million acres and more than 2,900 homes, killing 10 people.

You have probably heard many of these statistics before. While they are scary, it might seem difficult to determine how you, as a landowner, can have any impact. The natural inclination is to go out and do big things that you hope will solve the problem or protect you. The problem is that big things are not always the right choice.

When it comes to ecological issues one of my favorite mantras is: "The quicker the fix, the higher the risk, and the greater the cost."

The good news regarding wildfires is that they are really only a problem when they threaten our property or lives. Fire is an important part of the ecology of our state. We cannot, and should not, rid the landscape of fire. That policy was tested in the western U.S. in the 20th century and resulted in catastrophic fires including the famous Yellowstone Fires of 1988. What we should do is address fires at the point where they threaten property and lives: the wildland/urban interface. This term includes any area where human habitat (houses, barns, etc.) meet wildlife habitat, so it is not limited to those sprawling suburbs with greenbelts.

The place where that fire threatens your house, barn, livestock, or life is where your action needs to occur. More good news: that area is relatively small. This makes it easy to create what should be the focus of any rural landowner: defensible space. Defensible space is an area around a structure that is managed to reduce the threat of wildfire reaching the structure and one that can be protected in the event it is threatened by wildfire. This space does not have to be large. Even if you went to an extreme of 200 feet from your house, that's only 3 acres that needs management. Compare the cost of that to the cost of managing 300, 3,000, or 30,000 acres of the landscape.

How should this space be managed? That depends on each particular situation including vegetation, topography, surrounding landscape, etc. Plateau has Texas Forest Service certified "Citizen Wildlife Ecology Specialists" on staff to help you identify your particular risk level and to help you mitigate your risk in the event you are ever threatened by fire. Many of the steps to reduce your risk are inexpensive and simple to do. While nothing can guarantee protection from fire, you can reduce your risk and increase the chances your home will survive. And with the right advice, it is a whole lot easier than you might think.

With over $500 million in losses,the 2011 wildfire season was the most expensive in Texas history, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. Photo: Texas Forest Service.

SNAKES 101: MYTHBUSTING

By Shantel Lewis, Products and Services Division Administrator

Few creatures instill more fear and are subject to more mythical misconceptions than snakes. Here are a few myths and truths about snakes.

Myth: Venomous snakes are out to get you (and bite you for no reason)
Truth: Snakes bite out of fear (being stepped on, being cornered, etc.) or to attack prey their size, such as a mouse or a bird. Venom creation requires energy and snakes, just like any other animal, strive to maintain all the energy they can. A snake bite can be avoided by being careful while walking around known venomous snake territory. Step carefully and if you come upon a venomous snake, do not give it a reason to strike (such as poking it!).

Myth: Snakes are slimy
Truth: Anyone who has held a snake knows that they are not at all slimy Snakes have hard, dry scales covering their entire body. Their ventral scales are specially designed to grip surfaces and their latitudinal and longitudinal muscles help with the well-known "slithering" motion. They shed their skin every few weeks but that process slows as they age and becomes every few months. A snake sheds in one piece, like a sock being rolled off your foot.

Myth: Snakes can squeeze you to death
Truth: Actually, yes, they can. But you're safe in Texas. Burmese and reticulate pythons have been known to suffocate their careless owners and, in a heartbreaking case brought to trial in 2011 in Florida, a 2 year old toddler was strangled to death by the family's pet python. However, these snakes are not native to Texas or the United States, for that matter. While their populations in the wild in Florida are growing to dangerous levels thanks to the shameful actions of people who buy them as exotic pets and then dump them when they become too large to manage, fortunately, this problem has not invaded Texas. Certainly people will operate outside of the law, but in Texas you must hold a license to own non-indigenous (species not native to Texas) venomous snakes and the following constrictors: African rock python (Python sebae), Asiatic rock python (Python molurus), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), reticulated python (python reticulates), and southern African python (Python natalensis). While most of our state's native snakes are nonvenomous and rely on constriction to kill their supper, there are no snakes native to Texas that are even remotely large enough to squeeze you to death. As long as your outdoor adventures are within the Texas borders you're safe.

Ultimately, most wild snakes will do what they're programmed to do -- slither away quickly before being captured or, if captured, attempt to get out of your hands and back to a safe hiding place. As with all wildlife, respect the snake and the snake will respect you.

Shantel safely captured this photo of rattlesnake. If you come upon a venomous snake, do not give it a reason to bite.

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD: A QUICK LOOK AT THE QUAIL AND SMALL WILDLIFE STATION

By Tim Milligan, Landowner Services

While on a property installing a quail station the other day, it dawned on me that there is a simple way to explain what we are trying to do with this great new product, and a simple reason why it makes so much sense.

The property where we did the install is the landowner's country place, a piece of land the family loves but is not as centrally located as their city place, where they make their home --  a place close to jobs and schools and day-to-day conveniences.

Where I grew up in Austin was the city equivalent to good quail habitat. We lived where we did because of the area. There were nicer areas I'm sure, but none that I know of were quite as complete as my neighborhood. There were grocery stores, gas stations, a hardware store, banks, schools, a hospital, restaurants and a park, all within walking distance. We lived there because at  any given time we didn't have to venture far to get anything we needed and most things we wanted.

A quail lives life much the same way and by many of the same rules we do. They need a great neighborhood where they can put down roots and raise a family. The less they have to travel to get what they need, the better chance they'll have of making it from year to year and bringing up young.  If they can find a place that meets their needs for both habitat and food in close proximity, they'll stay there and not leave until something changes.

The Plateau Quail and Small Wildlife Station helps provide vital pieces of that habitat neighborhood and, by doing so, provides a boost to your quail and other small wildlife's survival by keeping their travel time to a minimum. If these vulnerable little species have to spend too much time out in the open looking to satisfy any one need, they will not last long -- or they will just find some place better suited to their way of life.

Whether you have done a considerable amount of work to create habitat, or have been blessed with great cover and nesting grasses from the very beginning, you may still be lacking a couple of key ingredients for your quail, songbirds and other small wildlife. Think about adding a grocery store and gas station to the neighborhood and just see if the number of families in the area doesn't increase over time. As it becomes more convenient to live there, you may end up with the most desirable wildlife neighborhood.

The Quail and Small Wildlife Station is available from Plateau and is a great fit for almost any property. Contact us to discuss your goals and habitat and see if the Plateau Quail and Small Wildlife Station is the right new addition to your neighborhood.

Welcome to the neighborhood. The Plateau Quail and Small Wildlife Station.

MILLICAN RESERVE HOSTS SUCCESSFUL YOUTH HUNT

By Kasey Mock, Account Manager - Texas Pines & Prairies
with Bill Bebee, Texas Youth Hunt Program, Hunt Master

Stretching out across 2,800 acres in the Texas Brazos Valley, Millican Reserve is an exciting development designed to set a new standard for stewardship and interactive planning. Set in a vast and pristine natural setting near College Station, Texas, the natural beauty and rich heritage of this place creates an authentic and healthy community to live, work, and play in while staying engaged with the land.

Early in the planning phase, the owners of Millican Reserve looked to Plateau Land & Wildlife Management as their partner in conservation. With the placement of a Wildlife Management Plan, Millican Reserve has been able to retain a favorable tax valuation without grazing pressure from livestock. By utilizing additional management activities such as habitat planning, nature trails, supplemental shelter, and census of indigenous wildlife, the property has seen a tremendous improvement in diversity of species and improvement of habitat which will set this project apart from other rural developments.

Recently, Millican Reserve hosted a successful Texas Youth Hunting Program hunt, allowing seven youth hunters to harvest four doe on the 2-day hunt. This is great opportunity to pass on our hunting heritage while helping the landowner meet their wildlife management objectives. Texas Youth Hunting Program is a partnership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association in San Antonio, Texas. Over the course of the hunting program weekend, youth ages 9 to 17 are educated on safe, legal and ethical hunting practices.

For information on Millican Reserve visit millicanreserve.com.
For information on the Texas Youth Hunting Program visit texasyouthhunting.com.

Texas Youth Hunting Program is a partnership of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association in San Antonio, Texas.

UP IN THE SKY! IT'S A BIRD, IT'S A PLANE...NO, IT'S DEFINITELY A BIRD!: THE NORTHERN HARRIER

By James Hall, Staff Biologist - Wildlife Planning Administrator

For many people, the word "Harrier" conjures images of gleaming, vertical-takeoff fighter jets roaring through the sky at nearly the speed of sound. For those of us grounded in a quiet, subsonic life, a Harrier is a very different type of winged predator, and it is best observed through binoculars rather than a NORAD radar, though the sighting may be equally as thrilling.

The Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus), a medium-sized hawk found throughout North America and across the northern latitudes of Eurasia, arrives in Texas during the winter months, coursing over live oak-mesquite savannahs, marshes, and farmlands. Though many diurnal (active in the daytime) raptors can give amateur bird watchers difficulty in identification, Harriers exhibit uniquely distinct features, such as an obvious white rump, and an owl-like facial disc visible from below. Unlike other hawks that rely mostly on sight to search for a meal, Harriers also depend on noise produced from prey, as they glide low over their hunting ground. The facial discs consist of stiff feathers allowing for greater transmission of sound, intensifying their hunting efforts. Following a swift and calculated pounce, prey such as small mammals, birds, and reptiles, will suddenly find themselves in the deadly embrace of talon and feather. Most wintering Harriers visiting central Texas are first-winter juveniles, which more closely resemble adult females. They typically have rust-colored bodies at an earlier age, or streaked chest, barred fan-like tail feathers, and a dark head. Breeding adult males will appear a clean white from underneath, and pale gray from above, with darker wingtips.

Much like their aluminum alloy technological cousins of the sky, Northern Harriers are tactical and auspicious predators. Keep your eyes peeled over open grasslands for a these hawks, coursing but a few feet above the earth -- just don't expect to see them featured at any future air shows.

Northern Harrier

IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME: WILDLIFE SEEKING REFUGE FROM DROUGHT

By Kasey Mock, Account Manager - Texas Pines & Prairies

The 1989 movie Field of Dreams tells the story of an Iowa corn farmer played by Kevin Costner who felt lead to build a baseball diamond in his fields. Those who have seen the classic film will recall the famous line: "If you build it, they will come." Now, pretend you are Kevin Costner, and the Black Sox represent local wildlife populations. Rather than looking for a place to play ball, they are searching for a steady supply of food and water that is quickly vanishing from many parts of the state.

"If you build it, they will come" is never truer than in a serious drought. La Nina has taken its tool on the Lone Star State leaving dry tanks and limited forage in its wake And despite the recent rains, there will be no quick fix for the ravages left in La Nina's wake. Wildlife and domestic animals alike are still actively searching throughout the day for food, water, and shelter, needs that Plateau is helping Wildlife Management property owners supply.

We have received many emails from clients sharing their success stories during the drought. Client reports of the first sightings of Bobwhite quail in over a decade, more and bigger deer, and increased diversity have been common threads as animals are forced to leave over-grazed pastures in search of the basic necessities.

"Great news Kasey, I saw a pair of Bobwhite Quail at 12:10 today, Sunday, August 28, 2011. This is the first we've seen in over ten years on the property! - Bob"

"Ever since June we have noticed several new big bucks showing up at one of our water tanks at dusk just about every night. We don't put out food, but they have adequate browse and forbs on the property." - Carolyn

These are just two examples of the results Plateau clients are experiencing in Texas. By managing pastures to promote native plants, providing a quality supplemental food source, and, most importantly providing a dependable source of clean water, property owners are doing their part to supply the three basic necessities to local wildlife.

As property owners and managers, we bear the responsibility to be good stewards of these resources. Stewardship is defined as the conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially, the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care. I would encourage you to do a quick evaluation of your management activities. If your wildlife numbers have decreased this is a sign that you could be doing more to supply their needs.

Have you seen more wildlife this year? Send us your stories! Email plateau@plateauwildlife.com.

Plateau has a full line of products and services designed to help you better manage these resources while improving your property and marinating a favorable tax valuation. Please don't hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance.

ADVENTURES IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT: SERVICE AGREEMENTS

By Kameron Bain, Business Development

Wow, another year at Plateau has flown by full of new adventures and many lessons learned. I am so amazed how year after year my knowledge of not only the wildlife management valuation but of land and wildlife in general keeps growing. I always thought I had to leave the Plateau office to find adventure, but over the past few months I went on adventures with many members of my team without leaving the cool, and just recently warm, comfort of the office.

As over 200 of Plateau landowners know when the air starts to cool and pumpkins start being replaced by wreathes and bright lights, Service Agreement proposals start hitting the email boxes. While it may seem to just suddenly appear like an unexpected surprise, there is a lot of planning and research that goes on behind the scenes. Plateau Service Agreements are annual contracts that assist landowners in fulfilling the goals of their wildlife management plan as well as other property goals or interest of individual landowners. Agreements can include everything from Annual Reports to feeder re-fills to bird surveys to consulting time with your biologist to learn more about your piece of land. I personally love service agreements. It is in my nature to make lists and spreadsheets and to plan and organize. I love seeing all the activities lined out so the landowner can view what will be done over the coming year. I was excited to uses some of my strengths to assist our landowners.

The adventure all started back in September when the Plateau biology team reviewed the 2011 agreements and offered recommendations on changes, additions or input they received from the landowner. Meanwhile our products and services team was busy creating a more efficient site visit structure based on the number of nest boxes and new options to re-charge rainwater collections systems, and re-fill and re-charge our newest product, the Quail and Small Wildlife Station. All was going very smooth. That was until the October bump in the road, a few weeks of technology issues stalled the process. Oh well, best laid plans.

By November, life in the office returned back to normal and it was time to build the agreements. I could not have done this part without my service agreement partner in crime, Steve Parker. Steve is Plateau's Products and Services Manager who is committed to giving each landowner exceptional client service. Hours upon hours were spent pouring over client history to make sure all bases had been covered to ensure that each individual client was in compliance with the wildlife management guidelines. 2011 log sheets were reviewed to check on missing nest boxes, and products and services suggestions made by our awesome wildlife services technicians. Slowly, we put all the pieces together to build each agreement, sometimes with multiple reviews by the biologist or account manager.

With the change of seasons this December, almost all of our 2012 Wildlife Management Services Agreement are in the clients hands. Now the fun can begin when I can interact with the clients, discuss their property and look forward to a new year. I have to give a very special Thank You to Steve. From Steve I learned a lot about wildlife management guidelines for many activities, how to view agreement in terms of compliance and more importantly that exceptional client service means to doing your due diligence and leaving no stone unturned. I am so proud to work with someone who takes care of our clients as well as Steve does.

Until, next Seasons and next service agreement season, have a Happy Holiday.

CREATING BUTTERFLY HABITAT: A NOVEL WAY TO EXECUTE ON YOUR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PLAN

By Monika Maeckle, Plateau client

When my husband and I first bought our property on the Llano River back in 2000, I had no idea we were on the Monarch butterfly migration flyway. Soon after signing the papers, we started camping at the top of our hill and exploring our stretch of the Llano.

It wasn't until five years later that we began to notice Monarch butterflies each spring and fall. I say "we didn't notice" because we weren't paying attention. They were there, we just didn't see them because we weren't looking.

That all changed in 2005. One fall afternoon my friend Jenny Singleton invited us to "come tag Monarchs" at her family's place on the San Saba River outside Menard. We didn't know what to expect, but even now the memories of that delightful day make me smile.

Over on the San Saba, Dallas natives Jenny and husband Matt play host to thousands of Monarch butterflies roosting in their pecan trees every mid-October as they migrate through Texas to their winter roosts in the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico. Jenny, an avid naturalist and teacher, organizes "tagging weekends" whereby groups of visiting friends help her net and tag the migrating Monarchs, later submitting the data to Monarch Watch, which oversees the citizen scientist program from the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

That day in 2005 my husband and I trotted along the Sabinal River bottom, long handled nets reaching into the pecans, where colorful clumps of Monarchs were resting on their journey south. After netting the Monarchs we carefully transferred them to ice chests to await the "tag team," which recorded their sex and then affixed a tiny weightless, numbered tag on to the discal cell of each butterfly's wing.

Our first experience reaching into the nets alive with Monarchs to gently extract them one at a time for tagging left us hooked. The Monarch is one of nature's most beautiful and noble creatures, remarkable for its migratory endurance.

That weekend changed our approach to wildlife management. Before, we were focused on deer, turkey, pigs, birds and fish. Now, creating butterfly habitat tops our list of wildlife management responsibilities.

How does one create a butterfly habitat on your property?

The exercise entails increasing the wildflower population, especially butterfly-friendly nectar and host plants. Depending on your property, it might mean simply providing more sun to areas already occupied by wildflowers.

We recently created a "riverwalk" on the banks of the Llano which resulted in more Goldenrod and Frostweed-attractive Fall nectar sources for butterflies. The task involved simply clearing a trail through the pervasive Poverty Weed that dominated our riverbanks.

For the last three years, we've thrown seedballs packed with Antelope Horn, Cowpen Daisy, and Jimsonweed seeds-host plants to Monarch butterflies, the Bordered Patch and the dramatic Sphinx Moth, respectively--onto recently cleared areas of our property. With the historic drought, results have been mixed, tied completely to the weather.

But we remain hopeful as recent rains drench the ranch. Now is prime time for planting wildflowers: plant them and butterflies will come. Talk to your Plateau consultant to find out what might work for your property.

Monika Maeckle, a principal of the Arsenal Group, a communications consultancy, is a Master Gardener, avid butterfly evangelist and caterpillar wrangler. She has tagged more than 1,500 Monarch butterflies and had 22 recovered in Michoacan. She writes about butterflies and their life cycle at www.texasbutterflyranch.com. You can find her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @butterflybeat. Email butterfly questions to Monika at butterflybeat@gmail.com.

MY OUTDOOR HERITAGE

By Craig Bowen, Account Manager - Hill Country North

I was standing over a human cadaver performing an academic autopsy when I realized I wanted to devote my career to rural land and the associated people. I will admit this is a curious situation in which to reach such a decision, but a little background information will help in understanding.

I grew up surrounded by rural land management, primarily ranching and farming, at the base of the Llano Estacado region of Texas. As many young people in my position do, I took for granted the freedom of hunting and fishing whenever I wanted, solitarily roaming the pastures and fields at my discretion, and learning about rural land culture from experienced elders.

My maternal grandfather taught me biology and ecology, and I can remember effortlessly sitting in his considerable lap very early in life pouring through volumes of outdoor encyclopedias, learning about everything from animal identification and behavior to flint knapping; my paternal grandfather took me fishing frequently, and we wandered around various farms and native pastures for hours on end; my father took me hunting in every season, and taught me about the work involved in rural land, from hoeing cotton to breaking ice in livestock water troughs; and my mother made sure she, my father, and I went on frequent camping trips, inhabiting state parks on school-year weekends and even longer jaunts during the summer.

Academically, I was most interested in science. During high school, I attended two science-based leadership camps which changed me forever. The first chronologically was the Buckskin Brigades, a leadership camp designed by the Texas Wildlife Association focused on wildlife management. This camp is 100 rigorous hours of everything from drill-style marches complete with cadences to classroom debates. The second, which my AP Biology teacher recommended me for, was the NYLF/MED (National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine) which is a pre-medical school camp designed to teach high school students what it takes to become a doctor. This camp is what brought me to a well-lit basement in Chicago's Loyola University Medical School standing over the aforementioned cadaver.

The day before the autopsy, I had visited the Chicago Field Museum as an elective event associated with the Forum. As I stood over the dead body, an elderly female whose chest plate had been removed by my partner - who, given her exuberance towards the subject, is almost certainly a surgeon today - I stared at the internal organs and appreciated the fact that I was much more entertained the day prior gazing upon the awe-inspiring maneless, man-eating lions of Tsavo and full skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus rex. The realization floored me because I had thought of nothing more in the last few years than medical school and all which follows. I enjoyed the rest of my time at Loyola, but my sights were now set on much different things. I eventually attended University and earned degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Agricultural Economics, all the while searching for ways to earn a living serving landowners and helping native Texas wildlife.

Today, I have many outlets directly related to my outdoor heritage: my career, which takes me from property taxes to real estate sales, and my hobbies, which range from shooting sports in arenas all over the country to casting for redfish on the Texas coast. At the Buckskin Brigades when I was 16 years old, Dr. Dale Rollins, who eventually found himself on my Master's committee at Texas A&M University, said to me, "Let your vocation be your avocation," and both are now without question rural land and the outdoors in general.

For most, outdoor heritage means teaching young people to enjoy outdoor sports or simply spend time outdoors for recreation. For me, outdoor heritage became a life full of rural land and the outdoors, and encompasses the way I make my money; the way I spend it; the food I eat; what I teach my son; the time I spend with my wife; the way I process my surroundings; and how I relate to my fellow humans. My friend Justin Dreibelbis, who serves as the Conservation Programs Coordinator with Texas Wildlife Association, put it this way: "Hunters, anglers, and other outdoor sportsmen are the original conservationists, and they pay for conservation across the country. Moreover, I wouldn't have near the relationship I have with my father or grandfather if we had not hunted together."

So, the next time you are enjoying your property and the outdoors, think of others who may not be so lucky, particularly our young people, and make every effort to teach a child something about the outdoors, or take your own children on an open-air adventure.

You never know, it just may define their entire life.

A young Craig Bowen celebrates the outdoors.

*****

Plateau Land & Wildlife Management helps Texas landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- with wildlife management plans, wildlife tax valuation assistance, qualifying wildlife management valuation activities, and more.

Securing the Legacy Video

We would like to introduce you to another friend of Plateau Land & Wildlife, Wyman Meinzer. Mr. Meinzer is the Texas State Photographer and has a number of wonderful videos documenting the beauty of the Texas landscape. One of his videos, “Securing the Legacy,” documents the critically important work of the Natural Resources Management program at Texas Tech University. Instructing the students in both the ecological history of Texan ecosystems as well as proper management of it is range of ecosystems, the program prepares students to serve as environmental stewards for generations to come. Several Plateau biologists have come from TTU including Shane Kiefer, our very own Senior Biologist, shown in the video. We invite you to check out the video below.

Securing The Legacy from Wyman Meinzer on Vimeo.

Texas Forest Services Certifies Plateau Land & Wildlife to offer Wildfire Risk Assessments

Plateau has recently completed the Texas Forest Service training class to learn the best practices of assessing risks and making recomendations to improve safety in case of a wildfire. Lexi Maxwell, of the Texas Forest Service said that Plateau was wonderful to teach because they are wonderful biologist who already understand the land and plants. Plateau will offer this service to any rural landowner that wants to protect their land and property.
The following Plateau employees completed the class and carry the title

CERTIFIED CITIZEN WILDFIRE ECOLOGY SPECIALIST

Steve Parker
Mark Gray
Lee Kothmann
James Hall
Zach Stark
Shane Kiefer
Eric Lee
Romey Swanson
Congratulations Team

WILDFIRES: PREPARATION AND RESTORATION

Since last November, more than 3.6 million Texas acres have been burned by wildfires. The Texas Forest Service reports nearly 190 wildfires just since the early days of this September, with more than 1,700 homes destroyed. Central Texas witnessed the costliest fire in the state's history as the Bastrop fire, assisted by drought and high winds, charred 50 square miles, taking homes, pets, livestock, wildlife, and lives with it.

As the fires continued to rage, landowner client inquiries increased: How can wildfire destruction be prevented? How at risk is my property?

Plateau has always offered fire prevention services, but sometimes it takes a disaster hitting close to home to bring attention to an important area of land management. Our fire prevention-related services include:

• Brush management
• Debris clearing
• Creating fire breaks, buffer zones, and access trails
• Risk assessment

If you or someone you know was impacted by the fire, we also offer post-fire restoration services including:

• Post-fire clean up
• Cutting and shredding dead trees
• Erosion control
• Land restoration
• Fence rebuilding

For more information on how we can help protect and restore your property, contact Plateau at (512) 894-3479.

For quick and easy actions you can take right now to reduce your risk of fire:

• Cut the grass and weeds, rake leaves and pine needles around your house and structures and remove yard debris and branches
• Relocate woodpiles and leftover building materials at least 30 feet from the house
• Prune dead limbs to 6-8 feet from the ground around the house
• Store all gas, oil, and other combustibles away from the house
• Leave a minimum of 30 feet cleared space around the house to accommodate fire fighters and their equipment

And, finally, the most important thing to remember is to get out! If you've been ordered to evacuate, do not try to "stick it out." You're only risking your health, safety, and life, as well as the health, safety, and lives of others.

Tips courtesy Texas Forest Service. For more valuable information, visit the Texas Forest Service website at http://txforestservice.tamu.edu.

Want to help those battling the 2011 wildfires?
Those who want to help the departments battling the devastating 2011 wildfires are encouraged to donate directly to their local volunteer fire department.

Texas Forest Service has established the VFD Emergency Assistance Fund to help volunteer fire departments. Donations are tax deductible and can be earmarked for particular departments, counties or regions. All proceeds (100 percent) will be distributed to volunteer fire departments via grants for firefighting expenses.

Checks should be made payable to Texas Forest Service. If you'd like your donation to go to a specific department, region or county, please indicate that on the check.

Donations can be mailed to:
Texas Forest Service
John B. Connally Building
301 Tarrow, Ste. 421
College Station, Texas 77840-7896

If you have additional questions about how you can help, email HelpingTexas@tfs.tamu.edu.

Photo of a wildfire on property owned by a Plateau team member's family.

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Plateau Land & Wildlife Management helps Texas landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- with wildlife management plans, wildlife tax valuation assistance, qualifying wildlife management valuation activities, and more.

DEER HARVEST STRATEGIES FOR A DROUGHT YEAR

By Shane Kiefer, CWB®, Senior Wildlife Biologist

As opening day approaches and annual deer surveys begin, I am getting questions about harvest strategies for this coming deer season. The severity of this drought (and its apparent stubbornness about overstaying its welcome) may have you thinking that Mother Nature is doing enough damage to our deer herds so maybe we should go easy on them this year. While I have yet to gather enough information from surveys to say it with certainty, fawn crops in many places will be extremely low, but that doesn't mean that curtailing your harvest is a good idea.

It is natural to think that an extra conservative approach to harvest is warranted and that, perhaps, those harvest recommendations from your biologist should be relaxed a bit. However, it is times like this when following those harvest recommendations is more important than ever. This is particularly true if you are one of the many landowners still in the "population reduction" phase of your management plan.

Given the timing and severity of this drought, you likely have less available forage on your land this year than in any other in recent history, with very little chance of growing much more between now and the end of this growing season. Most properties I have seen, appear to have produced nearly zero new growth this year. No widespread deer die-offs have been reported, and given that the animals have not stopped eating in that time, it means you will enter spring 2012 with less available browse than you had 2 years ago. And unless you keep up with harvest recommendations, you will have a lot more deer than you can support. In short - it's a great time to shoot more deer.

If you are farther along in your management plan, with strong, healthy habitats and a goal of maintaining stable deer populations, then lower fawn recruitment numbers may mean that your harvest recommendations are a little lower than normal. It is still very important to meet those harvest goals to avoid a population increase and a loss of past gains in habitat quality. Those top-choice browse plants you have been growing are stressed by the drought, too, so you don't want extra mouths full of sharp incisors nipping on them all winter. In short - it's still a great time to shoot deer.

Healthy habitats produce healthy, quality deer, just like healthy grasslands produce healthy, quality cows. You wouldn't leave extra cows on the range if it couldn't support them, and you shouldn't leave extra deer on the range, either. When the rains return (and they will, eventually), properties that took the time to reduce their herds during the worst times will recover the fastest.

Yes, many places might lose a whole age class of deer this year, but deer are not in short supply across most of Texas. The herds will respond when the drought lifts, and if you take the time to focus on your long-term goals and follow those harvest recommendations from your annual surveys, you might just be ahead of the game when they do.

P.S. Pay extra attention to body condition of the deer you harvest this year. Lean deer with little fat may be the standard in many areas, but if you see body weights consistent with history on your property and good fat deposits on your deer in a year like this, then that is an excellent indicator that your population management is on the right track.

When the rains return (and they will, eventually), properties that took the time to reduce their herds during the worst times will recover the fastest.

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Plateau Land & Wildlife Management helps Texas landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- with wildlife management plans, wildlife tax valuation assistance, qualifying wildlife management valuation activities, and more.

BACK IN BLACK: THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR RETURNS TO TEXAS

By Romey Swanson, AWB®, Staff Biologist II

From the passive degradation of habitats to the relentless persecution of apex predators, man has done his utmost to completely tame this once fiercely rugged frontier - indeed, most of us would not recognize the Texas of 200 years ago. But nature is determined, and even as we lament the "progress" of man, the unwillingness of one species to abandon its rightful heritage gives us cause to celebrate.

Difficult to imagine, but in the early 1940s it was still possible (albeit unlikely) to see gray wolf, red wolf, jaguar, and black bear in Texas. Unfortunately, within a couple of decades, all of these species were extirpated. Due to ecological, political, and socio-economic reasons, it is highly unlikely that we will see wolves or North America's largest cat in Texas again anytime soon, perhaps ever. In a majority of cases, once a large carnivore is completely lost from an area, it is unlikely to return. However, the American black bear, Ursus americanus, has completely turned this model on its side by naturally reestablishing a portion of its former range, including the Edwards Plateau.

This medium-sized bear, black to brown in color, with rather long coarse fur, is considered shy and retiring. A typical adult black bear weighs between 200 and 400 pounds, with some reaching 500 pounds. Preferring woodland and forested habitats, they formerly roamed the majority of Texas in considerable abundance. Although deemed carnivores, black bears are more accuractely described as omnivores, showing considerable variation in their diets. Along with an affinity for honey, insects, nuts, acorns, berries, roots, and forbs, black bears will take fish, carrion, and camp garbage. Occasionally, a stressed or otherwise ornery individual may take young deer or small livestock - an infrequent behavior that was a contributing factor to the bear's eventual demise in Texas.

It is largely believed that Texas bears were entirely gone from the state by the 1950s. The last documented strongholds occurred in the Davis and Chisos Mountain ranges of far West Texas, and a rumor of bear sightings in the wild woodlands of eastern Matagorda County was never dismissed. As a cheap and readily available source of meat for ranch/plantation workers and hounds, as a trophy hunt for both size and number killed, and to prevent depredation of livestock (primarily hogs, sheep, and goats), these animals experienced unsustainable hunting pressure through the 19th and early part of the 20th century. Plateau's Beryl Armstrong shares the story of John Leakey founding a sawmill in Rio Frio in the late 1870s. Leakey hired a local hunter to provide meat for the workers until they could get a livestock operation established. During the course of a year, the hunter brought in 51 bears, after which bears were never again seen in abundance in the area. A 1945 report from the Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission (precursor to Texas Parks and Wildlife) illustrates the yearly tradition of the Womble Family. From 1850-1860, Mr. Womble engaged in a yearly bear hunt in the Devil's Pocket area of southeastern Wharton County. Over a couple of days, Mr. Womble would hunt and kill enough bears to fill a wagon. Little to no control was exercised in the management of bears until it was virtually too late.

Thanks to historic folly in game and wildlife management, bears and many other imperiled species were offered protection only after they were completely lost from the state. It was not until 1973, effectively decades after their loss, that restrictions on bear hunting were put in place and, not until a decade later in 1983, was hunting bear completely prohibited. Finally, after reports of infrequent sightings and a five year investigation by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, black bear were placed on the state endangered species list, currently listed as threatened. The federally threatened Louisiana sub-species, formerly found in east Texas, offered additional federal protection by the Endangered Species Act. These protections make it illegal and punishable by jail and/or fine to kill, harm, or harass all bears in the state of Texas.

The black bear reoccupation of eastern Texas was confirmed during the late 1970s. Wildlife biologists originally met reports of bears from private landowners with skepticism, followed by cautious optimism, and finally excited revelation. Reports of reestablishment in west Texas began in the mid 1980s and, in 1988, photographic documentation of a sow with cubs near Emory Peak in Big Bend National Park provided the undeniable evidence. With these occurrences, black bear could again be counted present on the wildlife roll call of Texas. In the beginning, the majority of bear sightings on both sides of the state were likely of nomadic young males wondering in search of productive forage sites but, with the documented presence of females and young, support for a self-perpetuating west Texas population grew.

Black bear sightings within the western Edwards Plateau region are not new, but have been primarily confined to the area surrounding Del Rio. Relatively recently, many reports and verified observations have occurred north and east of the area. A black bear was recently killed near Mountain Home by a man who reported he felt threatened for himself and his dogs. This particular bear was a young 103-pound male that had been a welcome guest of some of the local landowners. Necropsy results show that its last meal consisted of prickly pear tuna (cactus fruit) and a feral hog. Another bear was killed this year in an auto collision near Comstock, and additional bear sightings have been confirmed recently near Menard, Leaky, and Kerrville. These sightings are more frequent during drought years as younger individuals search for steady food sources and territories. Meteorological conditions appear to serve as the fuel for migrations, whereas surplus animals, in an area of pre-established occupation, are the engine.

The natural reestablishment of black bears in central and west Texas is a two-fold success. With landowner initiative and government encouragement, black bears now thrive near Coahuila, Mexico, a montane area where they were once imperiled. The surplus bears from this favorable circumstance provided the source for reestablishment in west and central Texas. But Texas deserves credit, too. By rightfully offering protection to the species and innovating a landowner initiative meant to maximize sound land stewardship practices, Texans and their government have provided bears an opportunity to not only occupy but once again prosper throughout the state. Wildlife biologists have been tracking observations throughout the Edwards Plateau, collecting photographs (mostly from game cameras), estimating their numbers, and even tracking the movement of individuals. Many challenges remain, but biologists are optimistic about the possibility of an inter-breeding black bear population returning to Edwards Plateau and beyond.

The return of the black bear is exciting and encouraging - the type of event wildlife biologists live for! Plateau has digital reports/management plans that we can provide to landowners interested in learning more about the black bear. Also, Mike Kruegar of Texas Parks and Wildife is the main "bear guy" in the Hill Country and west Texas and can be reached at (830) 896-2500.

Black bear in west Texas. Photo by Romey Swanson, June 2011.

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Plateau Land & Wildlife Management helps Texas landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- with wildlife management plans, wildlife tax valuation assistance, qualifying wildlife management valuation activities, and more.

"WHAT HAPPENS IF...": ESTATE PLANNING FOR LANDOWNERS

Your land is one of the most valuable assets you own. Most landowners spend significant time and resources managing and protecting their land, including implementing Wildlife Management Planning to reduce their property tax burden. However, there are other legal steps for conscientious landowners to consider to further protect their property. This article presents some basic information about estate planning, especially for those who own rural land.

Here is the first issue every landowner should consider.

What happens if I become mentally disabled?

Paradoxically, with better health care many more people are encountering problems with mental disability, perhaps due to an accident, stoke, or dementia. If you become mentally disabled and cannot manage your affairs, how do you want to be cared for, and who is to make the many difficult decisions for you? Who will manage your property? What instructions can you give them to make their job easier and more successful is this stressful situation?

The horror stories in the news about the probate process or end-of-life decision-making usually involve people who did not plan their affairs. These people have an estate plan which can be called the "No Plan" estate plan.

If you do not take responsibility for yourself, your loved ones and your assets, then the State and Federal governments step in to answer these questions for you. If you do not plan your estate, the government has a ready-made, expensive, one-size-fits-all estate plan prepared for you which controls you and your property in the event you become mentally disabled. The government plan includes the federal and state laws and court cases regarding:

• conservatorships and guardianships to appoint someone to care for you and your property if you become incapacitated,
• statutes, case law and court proceedings governing end-of-life decision-making if you have not made your wishes known.

This "No Plan" estate plan is the most expensive plan for you and your loved ones, and usually produces the most disastrous results.

The Answers to This Question!
The good news is that it is relatively easy to implement a comprehensive estate plan to protect you and your property in the event of mental disability. To address the issue of planning for mental disability, your plan may include some of the following:

• Durable Power of Attorney for Financial and Real Estate Matters, including the necessary Certificates and Affidavits;
• Medical Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decision-Making;
• Pre-Need Declaration of Guardian for you;
• Designation of Guardian for minor children; and
• Living Will, or Directive to Physician and Family.

If you have these types of documents, and have named a family member, friend or trusted advisor to act on your behalf in the event of mental disability, you will likely avoid costly legal wrangling. Certain assets, such as a ranch or farm, or a small business, may require special planning strategies, including added instructions to deal with special problems involved with owning and managing these assets in the event of your disability.

Seek Competent Help.
For the peace of mind that comprehensive estate planning can bring, seek competent help. Thomas Hall, Senior Attorney at our sister company, Braun & Gresham, PLLC, is an experienced estate planning attorney. He can discuss your specific concerns and goals. Visit their website at www.braungresham.com for more information, or call (512) 894-5426 to speak with Thomas personally about your vision for the future of your family and your land.

PLATEAU IS LISTENING! INTRODUCING NEW PLATEAU PRODUCTS

Plateau is an always evolving company. We grew 50% in 2010, and again in 2011 we are growing at almost 50%. Our growth is thanks to our clients - we listen to our clients and respond with new and improved products and services. Some examples:

Our new Total Quail and Small Animal System is a direct result of our clients seeking to enhance their property for quail or to introduce quail. The system includes a 50 gallon drum for food, 55 gallon drum for water, and shelter that also serves as a rainwater collection device. The Total Quail and Small Animal System also prevents non-target animals (feral hogs, raccoons, and skunks) from using the system. Our early installations are giving us terrific quail usage results. We are also offering the Quail Feeder, a 50 gallon drum, as a separate product for those who prefer to do it themselves.

Plateau's rainwater collection devices for wildlife have always been both successful and effective, but clients asked for an even bigger brother for our 55 Gallon Water Table and 305 Gallon Water Table. We have listened and are in the final stages of delivering the 550 Gallon Water Table which offers 2x the collection area as our previous versions.

As we all know, wildfires have caused tremendous damage across Texas, affecting friends, families, and neighbors. Plateau is currently working with the Texas Forest Service to finalize our Wildfire Risk Assessment Certification training. This assessment is designed to review your property, identify the areas and potential hazards, and create the action items to be completed to make you, your home, and your property safer. Some of these activities, such as brush control and creating water features, will also improve your habitat for wildlife,.

Plateau is always researching better ways to help our clients improve, profit, and enjoy their property. Contact us today fore more information on any of our product, or if you have a suggestion on how we can improve our services!

GROWING A NATURE LOVER

By Stacy Marcus, Sales and Marketing Assistant

Plateau is in the business of helping landowners protect their greatest asset, their land. The ultimate goal for many landowners we work with is to become a better steward of the land, a "title" that can be passed to the next generation of responsible land stewards by simply sharing your love of nature now. For the children in your life, you hold the key to unlocking the beauty and wonder of all things wild. Over the past several years, we have heard about the increase in childhood obesity, depression and ADHD.There seems to be a strong and direct correlation between these conditions and the lack of nature in the lives of children today. In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv gives a label to this very condition, Nature-Deficit Disorder.

Think back to your childhood memories, how did you spend your free time? Did you collect fireflies in a glass jar and watch them in your dark room while drifting to sleep? Maybe you had a favorite climbing tree where you watched storms blow in. Or were you the collector? I bet your mom learned early on she needed to check each and every pocket for your precious, sometimes perishable souvenirs before sending them through the laundry. Now, think about that special child in your life. How do they spend their free time? The common answer usually involves one or another screened device. Our busy lives have called us away from our family dinners; instead we watch TV or read emails. Surely, you've seen families eating out in restaurants where each member is either on their phone or gaming device.Think back to road trips. This is where I first learned to read a map as I watched mile markers and road signs pass. Now, most families just turn on a movie.

You might be asking yourself, "How do I change this?" Start with what you know and love. Invite that special little person to join you on your next adventure. Whether it's fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, bird watching or kayaking, bring them along. Chances are they will be excited just to be able to spend this time together with you. Occasions like this can forever change and enhance their quality of life. Knowledge is power, and by providing these opportunities for children to learn how to engage with nature, you allow them to know it intimately. Author Louv writes: "To know the name of something is to know it personally." Studies also show that children who are able to connect with nature cope more favorably with stressful events in their lives. This is also true for adults, even an afternoon walk around the office helps clear the mind (3pm seems to be the preferred walking time here at Plateau).

While connecting with nature doesn't have to be planned (sometimes the best experiences are spontaneous), having the basic tools at the ready certainly enriches the experience. Find an unused backpack or bag and begin making your field pack. Depending on the age of the child you'll need: sun block, water, journal or notebook with pencil, binoculars (they have children's versions too), empty containers to collect specimens, tweezers, magnifying glass, field guides, butterfly net and camera. Now go outside and explore! You never know what mysteries are just waiting to be discovered. Still feel stumped? Open the door and let your child lead the way.

Additional resources can also be found online. Texas Parks and Wildlife at www.tpwd.state.tx.us has a wonderfully informative site including a section devoted especially to kids. Another suggested site is the Children's Nature Network at www.childrenandnature.org.

For the children in your life, you hold the key to unlocking the beauty and wonder of all things wild.

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Plateau Land & Wildlife Management helps Texas landowners protect and enhance their greatest asset -- their land -- with wildlife management plans, wildlife tax valuation assistance, qualifying wildlife management valuation activities, and more.