By Mike Arnold
I love diversity. I don’t mean that I’m a big fan of the politics of DEI, but I do enjoy being in places where I’m surrounded by people different from me in looks, ideas, and culture. Likewise, as a hunter, I revel in opportunities for pursuing animals that, in my sarcasm-speak, are on the weird side of the morphological continuum. As an example, when I took my first safari to Africa many years ago, I did not put the ‘normal’ animals – zebra, impala, etc. – at the top of my wish list; that honor went to the difficult to find and hunt, and really strange looking, Vaal Rhebok. That choice led to magazine articles and book chapters with the words of a Professional Hunter in their titles, “The Strangest Client.”
Given my thirst for diversity in the animals I hunt, it is not surprising that, whenever possible I take the opportunity of pursuing non-native, a.k.a. exotic species. Ironically, all of the exotics hanging on the walls of my trophy room cum office lived in either Europe or the UK. This includes such species as a Fallow stag, Muntjac, Pheasant, Chinese water deer, and more. The irony of my choice of places where I hunted my animals was that the center of the exotic universe lies in my home state of Texas. In fact, the irony is even greater because I once watched Mountain Bongo, Dama gazelles, Addax, Axis deer, and more on Dan and Darlene Cabela’s Asante ranch, located in the Texas Hill Country. However, I was there for a trophy whitetail hunt.
Granted, I live in Georgia now, and so getting back ‘home’ involves either a long drive, or several hours in airports to reach this mecca of exotics. However, it is well worth the effort expended. This assertion proved very accurate during my time at the August 7-9, Exotic Wildlife Association’s (i.e., EWA) Conservation Extravaganza in San Antonio. With over 600 people in attendance (more than double the turnout compared to the previous EWA convention in February 2025), the atmosphere could have been difficult for an introvert like me. That was not the case. Executive Director, Ken Yancey and President, Pete Moore and a host of volunteers and vendors intentionally gave the Extravaganza a family atmosphere, rather than heavy-handed commerce. An example of this attitude came during the Saturday night auction when the first three ‘lots’ were 100% donation animals, raising around $250,000 for those affected by the recent Hill Country floods. Likewise, the EWA staff and Board made sure that fun activities for kids and adults abounded, including Armadillo races, Cornhole, and other equally enjoyable events. However, there was serious business attended to as well.
My time at the EWA Conservation Extravaganza provided numerous insights into the heart of the organization. I watched and listened as the attendees – whether vendors, ranch owners, or hunters like me – spoke of deeply-held concerns for the conservation of some of the most endangered species on the planet, including Addax, Dama gazelle, Scimitar-horned Oryx and Mountain bongo. Yet, the husbandry of these and many other exotic species is not based on unthinking “preservation,” but rather, as represented by the EWA vision statement, “Conservation through commerce.” Taking only Texas as an example of the economic importance of the work done by members of EWA, the exotic animal industry generates approximately $2 billion annually. This financial input into the state includes revenue from breeding, hunting, etc., with a total, estimated economic impact of $3.3 billion when including factors such as feed, fuel, and labor.
EWA’s foundation rests on providing support for their members. Thus, the assortment of vendors reflected well the industry and its needs – including those who produce breeding stock, stock feed and various time-saving equipment. Likewise, the seminars (excepting mine on conservation of native animals in the US and Africa) provided applicable information for those with boots-on-the-ground ranging from animal husbandry, proper use of drugs, and improvement of ponds designed for largemouth bass and other game species. Bud Dinges, the Texas State Veterinarian described the challenges and strategies for controlling diseases of native whitetail deer, and the exotic species possessed by members of EWA. Included in the list of dangerous maladies threatening Texas and the US were New World Screwworm, moving toward the Texas border from Mexico, Chronic Wasting Disease and Cattle Fever. Each of these diseases pose a significant risk to the existence of native and introduced game animals. The weapons aimed at these various infections are many, including such measures as sterile fly release for eradicating screwworms and the quarantining of animals carrying Cattle Fever Ticks or CWD.
One of the best-attended sessions, and one producing the most questions was also one of my favorites, covering necropsy techniques. I found the science behind determining the likely cause of fatalities among exotics and native game animals, as presented by Dr. J. Scot Estep, fascinating. It might have been a bit gross for some but having spent quite a bit of time ‘skinning-and-stuffing’ museum specimens, I guess I am immune. Though not in my wheelhouse, the panel discussion covering Prescription Drug use amazed me with the importance of careful supervision of drug application on ranches because, in the words of the panelists, “the Laws are clear, but interpretations by different agencies are conflicting.”
Walking around the convention floor on the final morning I mentally reviewed the previous three days. My realization was that whether on the floor, having conversations at meals, or sitting in seminars and panel discussions, it was a continual learning experience. I came away certain I would engage further with Ken, Pete and their teams. The furtherance of the goals of EWA benefit not only exotic species, but native species as well. Likewise, hunters in general should understand the incredible importance of, to again quote from the EWA vision statements, “Articulating the need for ‘sustainable utilization’ of wildlife, as a viable tool to maintain proper “carrying capacity” on private property.” I would add the same need for public, hunting areas as well.
Mike Arnold is professor and Head of the Department of Genetics at the University of Georgia and author of the 2022 book, BRINGING BACK THE LIONS: International Hunters, Local Tribespeople, and the Miraculous Rescue of a Doomed Ecosystem in Mozambique. Mike’s newest book, BRINGING BACK THE WILD – Stories from Revitalized Ecosystems Around the World and How Sport Hunting Supports Them, appeared in July 2025. You can find a description of Mike’s travels, talks, articles, and books at mikearnoldoutdoors.com.