Eastman continues to maintain the population of the deer in the habitat area, such as planting vetch, soybean, rye, and wheat for food plots during the summer and winter, installing an automatic deer feeder, routing the Nature Trails away from a favorite bedding site for the whitetail deer, and placing deer crossing signs on the county roads located close to our Nature and Wildlife Habitat Center.
The population of whitetail has grown over the years. Visitors can observe deer throughout the Nature and Wildlife Habitat Center at various times during the day.
Members of the Eastman Archery Club manage a spotlight deer survey (with assistance
from Texas Parks and Wildlife when needed). These employees brave mosquitoes and
summer heat to conduct the late night survey of whitetail deer. The purpose of the
count is to estimate the population per acre in the Nature and Wildlife Habitat Center
and surrounding Eastman property in order to determine the health of the deer population.
The first survey was conducted in 1998. Another survey was not conducted again until
2008. Surveys are now conducted every two years. Most recent surveys show that there
is an abundance of deer on the property. Strategies to better manage the population
have been recommended by the wildlife biologist, but have not yet been implemented.
