Hebbronville Deer Hunting

07/15/2026

We’ve started putting out our trail cameras, and a few bucks are already catching our attention. These are just a couple that look especially promising.

This is what 35 years of year-round supplemental feeding and sound management can produce. Looking forward to seeing how these bucks develop over the rest of the summer.

06/27/2026

I copied this as I agree and think this is spot on. At this point, my verdict is:

There is no single cause. The evidence points to a combination of factors, with some contributing more than others.

If I had to rank them based on the evidence available today (June 27, 2026), I would estimate:

1. Movement of infested livestock or domestic animals — High confidence

This appears to be one of the most important drivers of spread over longer distances. The Texas Animal Health Commission’s movement restrictions support the conclusion that officials view animal movement as a significant risk factor.

2. Local spread by adult screwworm flies — High confidence

Once screwworm becomes established on a ranch, adult flies can readily infest nearby livestock. The Jim Hogg calf case strongly suggests there was already an active local fly population.

3. Wildlife movement — Moderate confidence

Deer, feral hogs, coyotes, and other wildlife can carry infestations and likely help spread screwworm locally, especially between neighboring ranches. Whether they explain all of the county-to-county spread is less certain.

4. Wind-assisted movement — Low confidence

There is little evidence that recent wind events have been a primary cause of the outbreak. Adult screwworm flies generally avoid sustained high winds, although occasional long-distance transport by weather cannot be completely ruled out.

⸻

The question that still concerns me

What continues to stand out is how quickly new counties are appearing.

If spread were occurring only through the normal flight of adult flies, we might expect a more gradual, continuous expansion.

Instead, we’ve seen cases appear in counties separated by considerable distances. That pattern suggests there may have been multiple undetected infestations or that movement of infested animals has accelerated the spread.

⸻

My biggest concern going forward

The Jim Hogg case changes the situation.

The calf shown in those photographs demonstrates that:

* adult flies are reproducing in that area,
* newborn calves are highly vulnerable,
* infestations can become severe in less than 24 hours.

That means ranchers in Jim Hogg, Starr, Zapata, Webb, Brooks, and surrounding counties should assume there is ongoing local risk, not just the possibility of infected animals arriving from elsewhere.

Overall conclusion

The outbreak is no longer just a border issue or an imported-animal issue. In parts of South Texas, it now appears that local transmission is occurring, while the movement of infested animals likely continues to introduce the parasite into new areas.

In other words, both are true:

* Animal movement likely explains much of the long-distance spread, and
* Local fly populations are now sustaining the outbreak once it reaches a new area.

That combination is what makes New World Screwworm particularly difficult to contain once it becomes established.

06/26/2026

Please listen to this podcast and learn the latest.

Podcast Episode · Gamekeeper Podcast · June 26 · 1h 22m

06/25/2026

I continue to speak with stakeholders every day about the New World screwworm situation. In my opinion, the spread we have seen so far has not primarily been caused by flies naturally expanding their range or by wildlife movement. The majority of reported cases have involved domestic animals and livestock, which leads me to believe that animal transportation is playing a significant role in the spread.

If you do not absolutely need to move livestock right now, please consider postponing those movements. If animals must be transported, have them thoroughly inspected, sprayed, and treated before shipment. We need to do everything possible to slow the spread.

We cannot rely solely on government agencies to solve this problem. As ranchers, producers, veterinarians, and livestock owners, we must police ourselves, remain vigilant, inspect our animals regularly, and immediately report any suspected cases.

Please keep your eyes open, look for outbreaks, and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

Prayers for Texas and for everyone working to protect our livestock industry. 🙏🙏🇨🇱🤠🐄🐎

06/22/2026

I spent the weekend talking with different people and thinking about screw worms. I continue to learn a lot as I try to understand the scope of the problem. At this point, there seem to be more questions than solutions.

The reason we are where we are today is that surveillance broke down. For more than 50 years, the world was diligent about keeping screw worms contained south of the Darién Gap. But through a combination of cartel-driven movement of people and livestock, wildlife migration, and a reduction in the number of sterile flies being produced and released, screw worms were able to break through that barrier.

History has shown that we can defeat this outbreak, but it will require renewed vigilance. We need to improve surveillance, and everyone involved in agriculture and wildlife management needs to be active in looking for and reporting suspected cases.

Livestock is only the visible part of the problem. The bigger challenge may be wildlife, where infestations can go unnoticed for long periods and spread across large areas. If we are going to get ahead of this outbreak, we need to understand what is happening in both livestock and wildlife populations.🙏🙏🙏🙏🦌🐄🐖

06/20/2026

I want to share a few thoughts on screwworms in Texas.

They did not enter the state as I expected by simply rolling across the border. Instead, the first cases have been found 50 to 150 miles north of the border. What I find interesting is that there have been few reported screwworm cases between the border and these initial outbreaks.

Does that mean there are screwworm cases that simply have not been found? I do not know, but it is a question worth considering.

After an initial week of new cases, this past week has been relatively quiet. The response has been impressive, with sterile screwworm flies being released not only around outbreak areas but also along the border. Time will tell how successful that effort proves to be.

If the initial screwworms were able to reproduce successfully, offspring from those first cases would likely be emerging around this time. That makes the next few weeks particularly important.

I also wonder whether the medicated feed program used to control cattle fever ticks along the border may have helped keep screwworm populations in check. Another possibility is that the rainstorms that moved north from Mexico throughout the spring helped transport adult flies around portions of the sterile-fly barrier.

I am just a simple rancher, not a scientist, but these are my observations and thoughts as of today. Time will tell whether any of them prove to be correct. Please pray for Texas ranchers and stay vigilant! 🙏🙏🙏

06/15/2026

I keep wondering why the new USDA research facility in Kerrville is not producing sterile flies to help fight the New World screwworm threat in Texas. Sterile insect technology was the key to eradicating screwworms from the United States decades ago, and it remains one of the most effective tools available today.

I also question why the USDA has not approved the use of Dectomax for wildlife as part of a broader screwworm control strategy. Dectomax has already been used successfully in efforts to control cattle fever ticks, and many ranchers believe it could be another valuable tool in protecting both livestock and wildlife from screwworm infestations.

If we are serious about preventing the spread of screwworms in Texas, we should be using every effective tool available.

06/11/2026

Waiting for the government to act is worse than watching paint dry. I do not understand why Governor Abbott has not pushed the USDA to allow ranchers to medicate feed for wildlife as part of the fight against the New World screwworm.

If we are going to stop this threat, we need to use every tool available. Ranchers, wildlife managers, state agencies, and the federal government must work together and act with urgency. Standing by and waiting is not a strategy.

06/04/2026

06/04/2026

Please keep all of the ranchers in Texas in your prayers. 🙏

Yesterday, the first confirmed case of the New World Screwworm was reported in Texas. This is a serious concern for livestock producers and wildlife managers alike. As is often the case, ranchers will be on the front lines of dealing with the immediate impacts while working alongside state and federal agencies to contain and eradicate the problem.

The New World Screwworm can have devastating effects on cattle, wildlife, and other warm-blooded animals, making early detection and a rapid response critical. We are hopeful that the lessons learned from past eradication efforts and the dedication of those who make their living on the land will help bring this latest challenge under control.

Please keep the ranching community, veterinarians, wildlife professionals, and all those involved in the response efforts in your thoughts and prayers. 🙏🤠🐄