Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area
Historical marker location:The Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area contains approximately 6,000 acres of upland sandhills, pastures, natural meadows and woodlands fronting the north bank of the Canadian River. Named for Eugene A. Howe, Amarillo newspaper publisher, dedicated conservationist and member of the Texas Game and Fish Commission for more than 19 years, the area was acquired by the State in 1951. The objectives are to develop, through research and demonstration, better methods of game management which can be applied to major vegetative types found in the High Plains and Panhandle regions of Texas. Chief projects on the area involve the white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail and migratory waterfowl. Lesser prairie chickens and ring-necked pheasants may be found throughout the year and winter brings a wide variety of visiting shorebirds. To improve wildlife habitat and increase the yield of natural foods for wildlife, dikes have been constructed to create marshes which are planted with waterfowl food plants; brush clearing have been made in the cottonwood thickets and bottomlands to provide suitable feeding areas and game openings; small grain is sowed for winter feeding of deer and turkey. Scientific information acquired through work done on this Federal-State cooperative project is available to surrounding landowners and others who are interested. Game surpluses produced on the area are harvested periodically by hunters under a controlled public hunt program.
(1963).