About Us

The Lavaca County Wildlife Management Association (hereafter, LCWMA) began in the fall of 1993 when a concerned group of landowners and hunters near the small community of Ezzell came together in a farm shop. Members of the group were concerned about the state of the white-tailed deer herd in the area, and were interested in what could be done to address the situation. Under the guidance of Texas Parks and Wildlife biologist, Gene Rees, the small group of landowners organized themselves under the title of the South Central Lavaca County Wildlife Management Association. The group operated on the belief that landowners and hunters working together to manage the wildlife, and more importantly their habitats, on and among their properties would yield a greater good than each landowner or group of hunters working only for themselves.

Throughout the years new co-ops were split out of the South Central Lavaca County Wildlife Management Association and more wildlife management associations (WMA’s), more commonly known as co-ops, organized in other parts of Lavaca County. At one time, 6 different wildlife co-ops (Rocky Creek WMA, Honey Creek WMA, West Sandy Creek WMA, Vienna WMA, South Central Lavaca County WMA, and Sweet Home WMA) made up the parent organization of the LCWMA. In 2007, the process began to solidify the unity of all of the individual co-ops under their original title of the LCWMA. Today the old individual WMA’s, now known as management units, have been merged into one organization under the LCWMA title. A single Board of Directors oversees the operation of the LCWMA, and all 5 management units {Honey Creek, West Sandy Creek, Vienna, South Central Lavaca County, and Western Lavaca County (formerly Sweet Home WMA and Rocky Creek WMA)} are represented.

The goals of the LCWMA have not changed much since its inception in the fall of 1993. The Association still emphasizes strong neighbor relations as the key to cooperative wildlife management, especially on small tracts of land. However, from the beginning sound habitat management has been at the forefront of the WMA’s goals. Meetings and field days continue to emphasize principles of habitat management as the foundation for maintaining thriving wildlife populations.

Today, the function of the LCWMA largely remains focused on white-tailed deer habitat and population management. Much has been done to improve the status of the white-tailed deer herd in the County, and with the implementation of the antler restriction regulations the quality of bucks harvested continues to increase. However, the future points toward more emphasis on a broader range of natural resources issues. Recent efforts have been made to address water quality and water quantity, and to restore native grassland habitats for a myriad of declining species. Being the largest cow-calf county in Texas, Lavaca County, still has many properties where cattle grazing takes precedence over wildlife habitat management. Our goal is to educate and empower landowners to integrate sound resource management practices into their operation, that benefit both their cattle operation and wildlife populations, while improving their bottom line and the health of our natural resources.

LCWMA Board of Directors

  • Chairman: Joel Wagner (Western Lavaca County)
  • Vice-chairman: Jason Johnson (West Sandy Creek)
  • Secretary: Tom Grahmann (At-large)
  • Treasurer: Sam Bordovsky (South Central Lavaca County)
  • Member: Jason Kubeczka (At-large)
  • Member: Wayne Rother (Vienna)
  • Member: William “Rusty” Wallace (Honey Creek)
  • Member: Mike Hoelscher (At-large)
  • Member: David Pohl (At-large)