WMA's of West Texas

[SHANEA]

Has anyone done any explorations of the other WMA's of the West Texas Trans Pecos Big Bend Region?  (WMA-Wildlife Management Area - part of TPWD - Texas Parks and Wildlife (Party) Department).

We've already talked about BGWMA (BlackGap WMA), and I know that Sierra Diablo WMA is pretty much off limits as it is landlocked and has a large heard of Texas Big Horn Sheep, but what about Elephant Mountain WMA and Las Palomas WMA - Octillo Unit.

I never seem to find time to stop at Elephant Mountain.  This last trip it was pedal to the metal as we drove right past it.  Maybe someone from the ALPINE area could go and explore it sometime.  All you need is a $12.00 TPWD Limited Use Permit to get on it.  What is the "camping" like there?    NOTE:  There are some very strict rules on this area due to the bighorn sheep population there.  You are not allowed to climb to the top of Elephant Mountain, must be in your camp 2 hours after sunset and remain to 2 hours before sunrise, etc.  ALSO, you must call in advance.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=7

I've driven past Las Palomas WMA several times over in the Ruiodosa area, but have never taken the time to explore it.  
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/wma/find_a_wma/list/?id=16

[chisos muse]

I think Joe is going to Elephant Mtn as part of his outdoor study with his current class....Joe's our "inside" man!

Perhaps sometime, he'll even share his story about when he was a student of "Sir" Barton Warnock!

[Joe]

I think Joe is going to Elephant Mtn as part of his outdoor study with his current class...

I'm taking a plant taxonomy class, but we're not going to Elephant Mt        However, we are going to CDRI, Davis Mts Preserve, and Cattail Falls!

But, I'm applying for the fall class of the Tierra Grande chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists, and we'll be going to Big Bend, Davis Mts Preserve, Balmorhea, and...Elephant Mt.    It won't be until October, though.

Last month, the Big Bend Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas had a field trip to Elephant Mt that was open to anyone.  That was the same day that Shane, Chisos Muse and I met up in the Basin, though, and I had my priorities...

[Joe]

Perhaps he'll share his story about when he was a student of "Sir" Barton Warnock!

I was lucky enough to be a student of Barton Warnock's when I went to Sul Ross way back in 1977.  I was studying biology, and I got to take botany, plants of the Trans-Pecos, plant taxonomy, and plant ecology from him.

Two of those classes, plants of the Trans-Pecos and plant ecology, spent lots of time in the field.  Even though Dr. Warnock was in his mid-sixties, it was all the class could do to keep up with him, as he pointed out plants left and right, spewing out the common names, scientific names, family names, economic and medicinal uses, and anything else that came off the top of his head.  He had so much knowledge that it just bubbled out.

He knew the Trans-Pecos like most people know their own back yard.  We went all over in an old Sul Ross school bus that didn't have a/c.  We visited Big Bend, the Davis Mts., the Glass Mts., the sand dunes around Monahans, the high desert grasslands around Alpine and Marfa, and probably other places I've forgotten.

Dr. Warnock almost always had a smile on his face.  The one time I remember seeing him upset was in the basic botany class I took.  He thought that the class was slacking off and not paying attention, and he let us know it!

He also loved practical jokes.  On one of our field trips, he saw some species of nettle by the side of the road and asked me to grab it so we could take a closer look.  Luckily for me, I recognized what it was and pulled out my knife, cut it off, speared it and brought it on the bus.  I could tell that Dr. Warnock was disappointed; he was hoping I was just going to reach down and grab it!

I feel very lucky that I was able to learn about the Chihuahuan Desert from some of the old-timers like Barton Warnock.

[Joe]

Sorry, I double posted somehow...

[SHANEA]

Dr. Warnock almost always had a smile on his face.

Don't suppose you have any pics of those field trips?

[Joe]

Don't suppose you have any pics of those field trips?

Sorry  

[Bobcat]

Perhaps he'll share his story about when he was a student of "Sir" Barton Warnock!

I was lucky enough to be a student of Barton Warnock's when I went to Sul Ross way back in 1977.  I was studying biology, and I got to take botany, plants of the Trans-Pecos, plant taxonomy, and plant ecology from him.

Two of those classes, plants of the Trans-Pecos and plant ecology, spent lots of time in the field.  Even though Dr. Warnock was in his mid-sixties, it was all the class could do to keep up with him, as he pointed out plants left and right, spewing out the common names, scientific names, family names, economic and medicinal uses, and anything else that came off the top of his head.  He had so much knowledge that it just bubbled out.

He knew the Trans-Pecos like most people know their own back yard.  We went all over in an old Sul Ross school bus that didn't have a/c.  We visited Big Bend, the Davis Mts., the Glass Mts., the sand dunes around Monahans, the high desert grasslands around Alpine and Marfa, and probably other places I've forgotten.

Dr. Warnock almost always had a smile on his face.  The one time I remember seeing him upset was in the basic botany class I took.  He thought that the class was slacking off and not paying attention, and he let us know it!

He also loved practical jokes.  On one of our field trips, he saw some species of nettle by the side of the road and asked me to grab it so we could take a closer look.  Luckily for me, I recognized what it was and pulled out my knife, cut it off, speared it and brought it on the bus.  I could tell that Dr. Warnock was disappointed; he was hoping I was just going to reach down and grab it!

I feel very lucky that I was able to learn about the Chihuahuan Desert from some of the old-timers like Barton Warnock.

"Nettle" reminded me of a photo I took on Cerro Castellan.  I saw another pic that referred to this plant as Yellow Rock Nettle, but apparently it's not a nettle.  The Chihuahuan Desert Plant site has it as Yellow Sting Bush(Eucnide Bartonioides).

[SHANEA]

How do you cure a nettle bite/sting :?:   Cost me quite a bit of money to get the answer to this one. :!:

[Bobcat]

How do you cure a nettle bite/sting :?:   Cost me quite a bit of money to get the answer to this one. :!:

Drink a bottle of expensive Scotch, I spose : /

[SHANEA]

I don't know about all nettles that "sting", but this applies to bull nettle and I'm 100% serious.  I got into bull nettle playing golf one summer afternoon - had no idea what it was.  I just knew both my legs were stinging after chasing a ball out-of-bounds.  Didn't think much of it, just popped another top.

By the next day, both legs were swelled huge and I was running a 103 fever - after 5pm, no Dr's, felt like hammerered dog doo, so I went to the local ER.  Told the doc what was wrong and he said "you got in bull nettle, why didn't you piss on it".  I looked at him funny and said what - he said serious, if you get into bull nettle stop what you are doing and piss on it.  He said the amonia in the urine neutralizes the bull nettle, but you got to do it quick.  He said if it happens at home, get a bottle of ammonia and dillute it and bathe in it.  He said as sick as it sounds, he said urine is the best cure for it.  Really thought he was yanking my chain.  But, I went to the Rx place to get a script filled and the Rxer said, ah, you got in bull nettle, you should have pissed on it.  He said the same thing had happened to him at the same golf course and even as gross as it sounds, it will prevent the nettle from attacking you.  Everyone at work told me the same thing.

[Bobcat]

I don't know about all nettles that "sting", but this applies to bull nettle and I'm 100% serious.  I got into bull nettle playing golf one summer afternoon - had no idea what it was.  I just knew both my legs were stinging after chasing a ball out-of-bounds.  Didn't think much of it, just popped another top.

By the next day, both legs were swelled huge and I was running a 103 fever - after 5pm, no Dr's, felt like hammerered dog doo, so I went to the local ER.  Told the doc what was wrong and he said "you got in bull nettle, why didn't you piss on it".  I looked at him funny and said what - he said serious, if you get into bull nettle stop what you are doing and piss on it.  He said the amonia in the urine neutralizes the bull nettle, but you got to do it quick.  He said if it happens at home, get a bottle of ammonia and dillute it and bathe in it.  He said as sick as it sounds, he said urine is the best cure for it.  Really thought he was yanking my chain.  But, I went to the Rx place to get a script filled and the Rxer said, ah, you got in bull nettle, you should have pissed on it.  He said the same thing had happened to him at the same golf course and even as gross as it sounds, it will prevent the nettle from attacking you.  Everyone at work told me the same thing.

Maybe one should piss on themselves jjust prior to playing golf, as preventative solution  You may have to play solo, but if you can convince the rest of the group to do the same, it should be a good day on the ol course.

[homerboy2u]

OR...i you were to piss on yourself, you would surely get a dog gathering around your ankle taking turns to piss on it as well...sounds like a tough day.

[SHANEA]

Maybe one should piss on themselves jjust prior to

Better yet, I have a new rule that I've played by since that time, don't go chasing balls out of bounds, no such thing as a lost ball, so no penalty stroke.  I know exactly where it is, just don't want to get it.

[Roy]

Nettle toxins are alkaline, so treatment involves neutralizing with an acidic substance;  the ammonia in urine works well or you can use vinegar, etc..
Insect, jelly fish, etc.. stings are acidic, and you treat them with alkaline substance;  MSG, worcestshire sauce work pretty well.  NOTE:  these are only effective if you get to the site quickly while the toxins are still localized.

Both kinds cause localized histamine release like a (usually) mild allergic reaction, so keeping a little diphenhydramine (Benadryl) on hand is a good idea.  Of course, if you have a true anaphylactic allergic reaction, you'd better have a epinephrine injector handy or it's lights out.  

Shane, you might want to check with an allergist;  that sounds like a pretty severe reaction, and if you are developing a severe allergy to nettle toxins, it'd be a real good idea to find out about it before you find out the hard way.