Image credit: Texas Parks and Wildlife
The story of the property began with Burns’ great-grandfather, Simon Pierce Burns, who purchased the original tract in 1873. Over time, they assembled about 6,000 acres, which became known as the Colonel Burns Ranch. Burns, born in Brownwood in 1938, had meanwhile pursued a medical career, studying at the University of Texas and Baylor College of Medicine before serving in the US Army during the Vietnam War and establishing an ear, nose and throat practice in Austin. He attended more than 100 conferences and seminars, took courses at Texas A&M, visited successfully managed ranches and consulted TPWD, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Texas AgriLife. In 2012, Paul and Toni Burns received TPWD’s Lone Star Land Steward Award for their efforts. Burns also developed a close relationship with TPWD wildlife biologist Devin Erxleben, whom he met in 2009.
TPWD says the property had been overgrazed, native tall prairie had largely disappeared, severe soil erosion had occurred and historic wildlife populations had been heavily depleted. TPWD says the property is used to demonstrate habitat development and wildlife-management practices, develop new management techniques through research and provide public hunting and other appropriate opportunities. The family eventually built a large cattle operation, but the Great Depression forced them to lose much of their ranch holdings. In the mid-1970s, Paul Burns and his siblings began buying pieces of the former family property as parcels came back onto the market. When Burns and his family reacquired the land, it was in poor ecological condition after decades of intensive use. Only one of the property’s many historic springs was still flowing. Burns initially thought restoring the ranch would be straightforward, but after about a decade he decided he needed to understand the landscape before trying to change it. He also studied historical records to understand the landscape before settlement. The two shared an interest in habitat management, and Burns attended landowner workshops organised by Erxleben while opening his ranch for field days where other landowners could learn about restoration techniques. The Burns family also financially supported habitat work, research and outreach at the nearby Muse Wildlife Management Area. The new WMA is intended not only to preserve habitat but also to demonstrate conservation techniques, support wildlife research and provide compatible public uses. Drawn hunts are offered for white-tailed deer, with additional opportunities for feral pigs and coyotes during designated deer hunts.
The conservation work had been recognised before the land entered state ownership.
