New Art Work Takes Deer License Plate from Pink to Macho

Austin, Texas – The white-tailed deer specialty license plate
that benefits big game management and research in Texas now sports
new and improved artwork depicting a white-tailed deer, an image
based fittingly on a trophy buck from a ranch served by the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department technical assistance program.

The white-tailed deer license plate used to have art that was,
well, pink. The new art portrays a true “venado macho” depicted in
original hand-drawn art by TPWD artist Clemente Guzman.

The photo on which the art is based was obtained by TPWD
Wildlife Biologist Jimmy Rutledge, who has worked with private
landowners in South Texas on some of the state’s finest white-tail
ranches for more than 20 years.

“John R. Nelson of Cotulla took that photo, a friend of mine and
the department,” Rutledge said. “He took it on the Wright Ranch in
La Salle County, which happens to be one of our cooperators
operating under a department-approved wildlife management plan. So
to me, that photo really symbolizes our department philosophy of
sound habitat management to achieve healthy wildlife.”

Since it debuted in March 2002, the white-tailed plate has
grossed more than $440,000 to benefit big game management and
hunting programs. That includes helping fund efforts like TPWD’s
Pronghorn Antelope Aerial Survey, Mule Deer Aerial Survey,
Pronghorn Antelope Genetics Study, Comparison of Deer Survey
Techniques for Small Acreages, White-tailed Deer Surveys and Texas
Wildlife Information Management Services (TWIMS).

The deer plate is one of five specialty plates that support the
TPWD mission. Others include the bluebonnet license plate
benefiting Texas State Parks, the largemouth bass license plate
benefiting largemouth bass management and production, the Texas
horned lizard license plate benefiting wildlife diversity and the
Ducks Unlimited plate benefiting wetlands habitat and diverse
waterfowl. All told, the plates have raised more than $4 million
for conservation work since 1999.

An expanded Texas
Conservation License Plate Web site not only makes it easy to
order the plates, but it includes a big section called Projects
Funded: Where The Money Goes that details how the money from each
plate is used.

All conservation license plates are available for vehicles,
trailers and mortorcycles and cost just $30, with $22 going
directly to help fund conservation efforts in Texas. The plate cost
is an annual fee in addition to the vehicle registration fee.
Motorists can order a plate anytime; it’s not necessary to wait for
a renewal notice. Plates can be purchased online or at any county
tax office in Texas, and should be ready about two weeks after the
order is placed.