Outdoors

Texas AgriLife Extension Service will hold its first field day at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch near Roby Sept. 12.

The event, which runs 9 a.m. until 2 p.m., will highlight several studies conductively done cooperatively with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Kingsville. One study involves counting quail from a helicopter and monitoring fall-winter survival using radio telemetry. The other evaluated quail abundance using GPS-equipped bird dogs to find the quail.

"Our inaugural field day will be the first of what I hope are many significant events toward the proliferation of quail in West Texas ," said Dr. Dale Rollins, TAES wildlife specialist and the ranch's director.

An innovative approach to fire and grazing will also be a featured subject during the day, said Rollins.

"I'm really intrigued by the concept of patch-burn-grazing as it relates to quail habitat management," Rollins said. "We initiated this project last March as a way to develop a quail-friendly approach to prickly pear management.

"We only burn parts of pastures, then follow with a light stocking rate of cattle," he said. "The cows graze the burned area, resulting in more weeds beneficial to quail. But by not burning the whole pasture, we are leaving adjacent areas that provide excellent nesting and escape cover."

Other topics during the day will include food plots for quail, nesting ecology, renovating Bermuda grass and

Conservation Reserve Program Fields for quail, brush sculpting for quail and roadrunners, rattlesnakes and quail.

The ranch is located 12 miles west of Roby on U.S. 180.

Individual pre-registration by Sept. 5 is $10 and $15 thereafter. The fee includes lunch. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Roby Community Center.

For more information on the field day contact Rollins at 325-653-4576 or d-rollins@tamu.edu , or go to http://teamquail.tamu.edu for program updates.

Unaccustomed to the raucous crowds, Flint's Stacey Phetteplace had a disappointing finish at the Team Realtree Classic Archery Shooters Association Championship in Columbus, Ga., but still finished in second place for the shooter of the year standings.

After a strong opening round, the Tyler-based Department of Public Safety firearms technician struggled the second day to finish 16th in the Bow Hunter division at the national event.

Prior to the national shoot, Phetteplace, who has been shooting competitively just four years, also won Texas Federation state championship and shooter of the year title in the Bow Hunter division for the second consecutive year. She has earned enough points to move into the Women's Open Class next season.

At the shoot, Phetteplace signed on with the Mossy Oak Pro Staff, and will be doing promotions for the company in the future.

Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif., caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 24 pounds, 15 ounces to win $1 million in the Forrest Wood Cup on Lake Murray Sunday.

The 24-year-old Bennett is the youngest champion in the history of the Forrest Wood Cup and topped his closest rival, Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa., by more than five pounds to become the sport's second instant millionaire.

"This hasn't sunk in at all," said Bennett, who has banked $1.4 million in FLW Outdoors events. "I mean, I'm excited and have an unbelievable feeling inside, but overall it hasn't sunk in. It's incredible."

Lefebre caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 19-12 to claim second place and $100,000.

Former Tyler resident Jay Yelas finished 10th. No Texas anglers finished among the top fishermen in the tournament.