Hunting Guide

E E FR

HUNTING GUIDE NOVEMBER 217

217 GAME DINNER SUTTON COUNTY’S 51ST ANNUAL

BEE AWARE BEE SAFE

WATCH OUT FOR AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES AROUND THE CAMP

NEW DEER HUNTING REGULATIONS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE - SEASON

THREE TIPS FOR YOUNG HUNTERS

STAY WARM OUT THERE WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN THE MERCURY FALLS?

ESTIMATE YOUR BOONE & CROCKETT SCORE

TIPS FROM GAME WARDEN Derek Rogers

THE D EVIL'S R IVER N EWS

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Local Game Warden Expects Good Season, Offers Last Minute Tips

BY DEREK ROGERS TEXAS GAME WARDEN

For most people in Texas, the end of summer brings on an excitement and eagerness for the start of hunting season. Dove season kicks off September 1st and runs through November 5th, then starts up again on December 15th and runs through January 7th. The daily limit of dove remains the same as last year at 15 per hunter. A new license must be purchased each year as the past year’s license expires August 31st.

If you have been hunting long enough you have probably been peppered a time or two.

Keep in mind that when you are dove hunting you need to be aware of your surroundings and that you should not swing around on other people hunting around you. Also remember that the legal shooting hours are half hour before sunrise to sunset.

General season for whitetail deer starts November 4th and ends January 7th. It should Derek Rogers be a pretty good season with all the rain we Texas Game Warden have had bringing plentiful amounts of forage for the deer. I have noticed an excellent fawn crop in many parts of the county seeing many does with twins. The deer were abundant and looking healthy in Sutton County.

Before starting your hunt, I would like to suggest picking up an Outdoor Annual where you purchased your license. The Outdoor Annual is a free publication offered by TPWD that gives a summary of hunting regulations. There are a few common violations I would like to share with you that I run across in the field.

The number one violation I encountered last year was a failure to complete the whitetail deer log. On the back of every hunting license is a log of the deer taken by the hunter throughout the current season.

Most hunters are aware of tagging the deer immediately upon kill but forget to complete the whitetail deer log on the back of the license. It is a good idea for hunters to bring a knife for cutting out dates and a pen to complete the log with them to the blind.

The second most common violation I come across is hunter education requirement. Every hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must complete this course. The online courses are available through the TPWD website (www.tpwd.texas.gov/education/hunter-education).

•The minimum age of certification is 9 years of age. (Any child under 9 years of age must be accompanied while hunting.)

•Those age 9 through 16 must complete Classroom course or Online (+) Field Course, or be accompanied by a person who is at least 17 and has completed the hunter education course; or a person who was born before Sept. 2, 1971.

•Those age 17 and above may complete the Online-only hunter education course in lieu of the traditional course.

I hope you have a successful hunting season. Being outdoors is an enjoyable and memorable way to spend time with family and friends.

Remember to take kids out hunting. A few hours with a young hunter will create memories that will last a lifetime. There is no greater joy than watching them harvest their first deer, turkey, quail, or dove.

THE DEVIL'S RIVER NEWS 224 E. Main Street • Sonora, Texas 76950 Ph: 325.387.2507 • Fax: 325.853.3378

Email: editor@devilsriver.news Website: www.devilsriver.news © Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved Masked Rider Publishing

2 • NOVEMBER 2017

Dear Visitors and Hunters, Welcome to Sonora, Sutton County! We hope you enjoy your stay and make use of all our great little city has to offer.

Our businesses have all you will need for your camp, so be sure to stock up before you head out. If you plan to stay in town, we have several excellent hotels. And if you don’t feel like cooking after cleaning your game or dropping it off for processing, take advantage of great cuisine at any of our many local restaurants.

If possible plan to be here for the Sutton County Game Dinner, which is always held the second Saturday evening of the regular hunting season. The meal is always delicious and over sixty guns, and hundreds of other prizes are raffled off.

After your morning hunt, take time to visit the Sonora Caverns just 13 miles from town, or visit our museum. The Ice House Ranch Museum actually has the gun that killed the outlaw Will Carver. These activities can easily be done between the morning and evening hunts!

Hudspeth Hospital is minutes away, so be assured that if needed, excellent health care is available.

Sincere wishes for a safe and successful hunt.

Sincerely,

Wanda Shurley Mayor

About This Publication This Hunting Guide was produced by the staff of The Devil’s River News newspaper for the use and enjoyment of the sportsmen and women who hunt in Sutton County. We hope you have an enjoyable and successful season and wish you well as you try to bag the big buck this year.

We encourage you to visit with our area merchants who support this publication with their advertisements and by allowing us to distribute it in their places of business.

We also hope you will take the opportunity to attend and participate in the annual Sutton County Game Dinner held each year by the Sutton Cunty Game Association. Through their efforts and with the support of their many generous donors, the Game Association will award hundreds of prizes, including a Wilderness kayak, Polaris four-wheeler, a gas-powered generator and more than 65 firearms to the lucky winners at their annual raffle.

Show Us Your Big Buck!

Bring your Big Buck by The Devil’s River News office for a photo! Selected photos will be published in The Devil’s River News as well as the 2018 edition of this Hunting Guide.

51st Annual

SUTTON COUNTY GAME DINNER Saturday, November 11, 2017 Sutton County Civic Center • Sonora, Texas Doors Open at 5 p.m.

Meal Starts at 6:00 p.m.

60+ Firearms Over $50,000 Worth Quality Prizes

Polaris Ranger

Credi t Cards Accep ted!

ADMISSION $10 PER PERSON CHILDREN UNDER 10 FREE WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY AND ADULT NO CHARGE FOR SERVICE MEN & WOMEN IN UNIFORM Sponsored by Sonora Game Dinner Association and the Sonora Chamber of Commerce.

Do not have to be present to win guns and/or Polaris.

Door prizes and other raffle you must be present.

GET YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

COOLERS WELCOME

Sonora Chamber of Commerce • Mr D’s Liquor • Rafter W Feed Rough Creek Taxidermy • Sonora Wool House Feed & Supply

NO GLASS

FMI Contact the Sonora Chamber of Commerce at 325-387-2880

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Game Association

Here to Support the Hunters and Our Local Community The Sutton County Game Association is hosting their Annual Game Dinner and Raffle on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 6:00 pm at the Sutton County Civic Center.

The game dinner is a fun event for all ages. Additionally, the meal, donated by area ranchers and business owners then cooked to perfection by local chefs, will excite the appetite of any person.

The cost for dinner is $10 per plate. Everyone, especially hunters visiting Sutton County, is invited to come out and enjoy the evening.

After the meal, the raffle begins where an estimated $50,000 plus is given away in rifles, shotguns, quality door prizes, and the grand prize of a 2017 Polaris Ranger.

Raffle tickets are available

to purchase in advance and they can be purchased at the door Saturday night.

Raffle prize donors will also be announced at the dinner.

The Sutton County Game Dinner Association is a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers from the community of Sonora, Texas in Sutton County, and it has remained a vital part of the local community since 1966.

This charitable organization is made possible through funds raised during their annual game dinner, held the second weekend of November, at the Sutton County Civic Center in Sonora.

As always, the Game Dinner Association is hoping to expand the association and the event in order to give more back to the community.

As always, the goal is to continue to support the people, businesses and local organizations in Sonora and Sutton County with funds from this year’s 2017 game dinner.

With proceeds from their annual dinners in past years, the Association has helped support a wide variety of activities and improvements in the local community.

In addition to donating money to build restrooms, a kitchen and enlarge the slab at the Sutton County Park, their generosity has also assisted with 4-H shooting sports and livestock show, the Relay for Life Survivor’s Dinner, the Downtown Lion’s Club, the Combat Marine Outdoors Devil’s River Weekend, the Boy Scouts, a Washington DC trip for Sonora Middle School

Scope Out the Latest Products & Gear

students and a freezer and commercial refrigerator to the local food pantry.

Aside from their financial and volunteer contributions, the Game Dinner Association is committed to promoting the sport of hunting in Sutton County.

We hope you will join us once again on November 11, 2017, for the 51st annual Sutton County Game Dinner.

Of course, all donations are welcomed and appreciated.

The Sutton County Game Dinner is one of the oldest in the state and its legacy depends upon continued support from everyone.

For more information or to make a donation, please contact Heather Cearly at heathercearley@hotmail.com or call 806-543-7317.

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Hunting • Fishing • Camping • Shooting • Archery • Apparel 4 • NOVEMBER 2017

Wishing You Big BUCKS This Hunting Season!

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THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Deer Hunting Regulations for 2017-18

DEFINITIONS A “buck deer” is a deer with a hardened antler protruding through the skin. An “unbranched antlered deer” is a buck with an antler having no more than one antler point. All other deer are antlerless deer. A buck must be tagged with a buck deer tag from the hunter’s hunting license tag or applicable permit.

White-tailed Deer - Except for deer taken under MLDP tag, no person may take more than five white-tailed deer or more than three bucks (all seasons combined) in one license year.

Bag limits in individual counties may be less.

STATEWIDE BAG LIMITS Except for deer taken under MLDP tag, no person may take more than five white-tailed deer or more than three bucks (all seasons combined) in one license year. Bag limits in individual counties may be less.

SPECIAL ANTLER RESTRICTIONS Antler restrictions apply in certain counties. In these counties, the bag limit is two legal bucks, but only ONE may have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. Find your county to determine if there are antler restrictions.

DEFINITION OF LEGAL BUCK In antler restricted counties, a legal buck deer is defined as a buck deer with: • a hardened antler protruding through the skin AND; • at least one unbranched antler; OR • an inside spread measurement between main beams of 13 inches or greater (does not apply to a buck that has an unbranched antler).

To determine if a buck has an inside spread measurement of at least 13 inches, look at the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip on a buck with ears in the “alert” position.

It is unlawful to take more than one buck with an inside

Legal

At least 13 inch inside spread

Legal

At least one unbranched antler

Illegal

Meets no criteria

spread of 13 inches or greater in a county where antler restrictions are in effect.

Does not apply on properties enrolled in the MLDP and for which MLDP buck tags have been issued.

During the Special Late Season, take is restricted to antlerless and “unbranched antlered” deer. An unbranched antlered deer is a buck deer with at least one antler that has no more than one point.

DEFINITION OF A POINT A point is a projection that extends at least one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of 6 • NOVEMBER 2017

the main bea is also a point.

YOUTH-ONLY REGULATIONS

Legal Point

Not a Point

Hunter education requirements apply to all youth hunters.

Age Restriction: Only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger are eligible to participate in youth-only deer seasons.

Youth Hunting License required. Hunter education requirements apply (Type 169).

Early Youth-Only Season: Oct. 28 - Oct.29, 2017. All legal hunting means and methods are allowed, except in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, where lawful means are restricted to archery only (no crossbows except for youth with upper limb disability).

Late Youth-Only Season: Jan. 8-21, 2018. The season is open in all counties where there is a general open season for white-tailed deer. All legal hunting means and methods are allowed, except in Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties, where lawful means are restricted to lawful archery equipment and crossbows.

Bag limits, take of antlerless deer, and special requirements: • In Bell (E. of I-35), Delta, Ellis, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Freestone, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Limestone, Milam, Navarro, Rains, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Williamson (E. of I-35) and Wood counties, the bag and permit requirements are the same as the period Nov. 23-26, 2017 for each respective county (see County Listings); and • For the remainder of the state, the bag, tag, and permit requirements are the same as for the first two days of the general season in the county (see County Listings).

• In a county where antlerless deer may be taken only by tag or permit, a tag or permit is required to take antlerless deer during the youth seasons.

Antlerless deer may be taken without a tag or permit on all USFS lands during youth-only deer seasons.

Does not apply to properties in the MLDP program enrolled under the Conservation Option, or in counties where there is no open general season for white-tailed deer.

CWD CHECK STATIONS Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal deer disease that has been discovered in white-tailed deer and mule deer in localized portions of Texas. In order to detect and manage this disease, the department has designated CWD zones within which the intact, unfrozen head of any white-tailed or mule SEE REGULATIONS ON PAGE 7

EMERGENCY DIAL

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Deer Hunting Regulations for 2017-18 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

deer harvested by a hunter must be presented at a TPWDdesignated check station within 48 hours of harvest.

Current CWD zones exist in all or portions of the following counties: Bandera, Culberson, Dallam, Deaf Smith, El Paso, Hartley, Hudspeth, Medina, Moore, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Sherman and Uvalde Additional regulations may apply and additional zones may be established without prior notice anywhere in the state upon discovery of CWD. The department will make every effort to publicize the designation and location of CWD zones and check stations, as well as any special regulations that may be adopted following the publication of this notice. For additional or updated information visit the CWD informational page, call any TPWD office or call 1-800-792-1112.

AFTER KILLING A DEER (Also applies to pronghorn, except for License Log) After a deer or pronghorn antelope is killed and before the deer is field dressed or moved, the appropriate hunting license tag must be immediately filled out and dates cut out.

Additionally, if a hunting license tag is used, then the Hunting License Harvest Log (White-tailed deer only) must be legibly completed.

A hunter may transport a deer or pronghorn antelope to a final destination, provided it is tagged and proof of sex accompanies the deer or pronghorn antelope.

PROCESSING After a deer is killed and before the deer is field dressed or moved, the appropriate hunting license tag must be immediately filled out and date cut out.

If a deer is taken under MLDP tag, the tag must be attached to the deer.

A hunter may transport a deer to a final destination, provided the deer is tagged and proof of sex accompanies the deer.

A hunter may skin and quarter a deer or pronghorn antelope (two forequarters, two hindquarters, and two backstraps) and possess for transport, provided the quartered deer is tagged and proof of sex accompanies the deer. See Cold Storage or Processing Facility for exceptions.

A deer or pronghorn antelope may not be processed any further than four quarters and two backstraps (example, steaks, hamburger, chili meat, etc.) until the deer or pronghorn antelope reaches a final destination, except for immediate consumption in camp.

The four quarters and two backstraps are the only parts of a deer or pronghorn antelope required by law to be kept in edible condition. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

encourages all hunters to continue to keep other portions of the deer or pronghorn antelope (trimmings from the neck and rib cage) in edible condition. Edible condition does not include any portion of a game animal, game bird, or fish that is: bruised by bullet, shot, or arrow, or otherwise destroyed as a result of harvest; decayed or rotting at the time of harvest; or obviously infected or diseased at the time of harvest.

The tag must remain with the portion of a deer or pronghorn antelope the hunter possesses. If any portion is transferred to another person before it reaches a final destination, then the transferred portion must be accompanied by a Wildlife Resource Document (PDF).

WHITE-TAILED DEER HARVEST RESTRICTIONS (Sutton County) Bag Limit 5 deer, no more than 2 bucks, all seasons combined.

MLDP If MLDP buck tags have been issued for a property, harvest is by MLDP tag only and all bucks must be tagged with a MLDP tag. If MLDP antlerless tags have been issued for a property, harvest is by MLDP tag only and all antlerless deer must be tagged with a MLDP antlerless tag. The landowner or designated agent are responsible for providing MLDP tags to the hunters on MLDP properties.

Archery Only Sept. 30 - Nov. 3, 2017; General Seaon Nov. 4, 2017 - Jan. 7, 2018; Youth-Only - Early Youth-Only Season Oct. 28 - 29, 2017; Late Youth-Only Season Jan. 8 - 21, 2018; Special Late Jan. 8 - 21, 2018. Special Late Season During the Special Late Season, harvest is restricted to antlerless deer and unbranched antlered bucks. An unbranched antlered buck is any buck deer with an antler having no more than one point.

MANAGED LANDS DEER PROGRAM TAGS MLDP tags issued to landowners participating in the Managed Lands Deer Program. All deer taken on a property for which MLDP tags have been issued must be tagged with the appropriate type of MLDP tag. NOTE: No license log entry or tag from a hunting license is required for deer killed under a MLDP tag (see license log requirement). For more information about the MLDP program, landowners should call TPWD at (512) 389-4505.

For information about antlerless deer permits on National Forest lands, please call the U.S. Forest Service in Lufkin at (936) 639-8501.

NOTICE: The Landowner Assisted Managment Program (LAMPS) has been discontinued.

PROCESSING IN CAMP You are allowed to quarter a deer or antelope in camp, but tagging and proof-of-sex requirements continue to apply until the wildlife resource reaches a final destination (see Definitions).

Deer or antelope may not be processed beyond quarters in camp unless the camp qualifies as a final destination.

While in camp you may remove and prepare a part of a wildlife resource if the removal and preparation occur immediately before the part is cooked or consumed; however, all tagging and proof of sex regulations apply to remaining parts and those parts may be transported to a final destination.

NOVEMBER 2017 • 7

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Three Tips for Young Hunters hunting incidents.

By Pascual Hernandez, Sutton Contributing factors with County Extension Agent the most incidents included Dove hunting in September marks the start of the fall hunt- the victim being out of sight or moving into line of fire/ hit by ing season. But, deer season shooter swinging on game, and is just around the corner, and careless handling of a firearm. hunters will be in the field by Most were NOT Hunter the thousands in hot pursuit.

Education Course graduates.

For many youth, this may Take the course. be their first hunting expediThere were 60,115 students tion. They will be thinking certified in a hunter education about monster bucks, sitting program in 2016. in a blind, or processing their Every hunter (including deer. But, those going to deer out-of-state hunters) born on or camp should keep these things after September 2, 1971, must in mind: safety, the law, and successfully complete a Hunter that they are a part of wildlife Education Training Course. conservation efforts.

Minimum age requirement is 9 In 2016, 1,271,368 hunting years old. licenses were sold in Texas, Course topics include with a total of 24 accidents (5 Hunter Safety & Responsibilwere fatal). Dove hunting (with ity, Firearms, Hunting as A 7) continued to lead the list of Wildlife Management Tool, animals hunted at time of inciSurvival & Wilderness First dents in 2016.

Aid, Wildlife Identification, Regarding equipment used, Basic Hunting Techniques, shotguns continue to be the 00788_01_AdR2.pdf 1 9/22/17 10:36 AM and more. Upon satisfactory dominant firearm involved in

completion, those 9 years and older receive their hunter certification.

So how should youth know about hunting laws?

Well, every year the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) publishes an “Outdoor Annual”. The handy publication provides information on the seasons, regulations, laws, and license requirements for Texas.

It’s a must-have in order to comply with laws and regulations.

According to TPWD, sport hunting in Texas has been continuously evolving since World War II from small game hunting to deer hunting.

Today, there are more than a million licensed hunters afield in Texas. That number has remained constant for more than a decade, even as the state’s population has grown. So, it’s apparent that

new hunters are necessary to wildlife conservation efforts.

Why? Our state is home to an estimated 3.6 million whitetailed deer.

Hunters help maintain white-tailed deer populations within an ecological and cultural carrying capacity by harvesting deer.

Overpopulation leads to degrading of the habitat and poor health for deer. Thus, hunters are essential to the conservation and management of white-tailed deer.

Okay, back to where we started.

Deer hunting is the highlight of the fall and winter seasons for many.

Whether you finish the season with a big buck or a big story, it’ll have been successful if you stay safe, follow laws & regulations, and did your part in wildlife conservation.

Old Sonora • Ice House

Ranch Museum “Come in for a step back in time”

Located at 601 US-277 take exit 400 off of I-10

Breakfast starting at 6am

Our exhibits include a wide variety of old artifacts to educate and entertain visitors of all ages about ranch life in the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries..

Museum Hours: Wednesday - Friday 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Saturday 10:00 am. to 4:00 p.m.

Visit our unique gift shop

See our eclectic mix of memorabilia including relics of our own Will Carver, a member of the “Wild Bunch” gang.

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206 S Water Avenue • Sonora, Texas 76950 • 325-387-3754

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Let’s BEE Safe Out There Experts say that all honey bees in Texas have been africanized to one extent or another. That means they are more aggressive than in the past and pose a greater risk to humans and animals when they are distrubed.

Hunters should be aware that cabins and camps, which remain vacant for much of the year, offer transient bees a tempting place to build a hive. There are things you need to know if and when you encounter a hive of honey bees.

WHAT IS A HONEY BEE? • Honey bees are not native to the North America • Honey bees currently pollinate about 90 agricultural crops (accounting for 80% of the pollination in the US): ~ $10 billion pollination business, $150 million honey industry • Bees forage over large expanses of area: 8,000-25,000 acres • US honey bees originated in Europe (European honey bees = EHB) and were brought to the US to pollinate insect-pollinated crops originating in Old World countries • EHB (Apis mellifera mellifera) were also imported in the 1660-1700s to make candles used by emerging churches • Honey bees are not likely to sting when foraging for nectar and pollen in the back yard • Honey bees are not likely to sting when swarming (looking for a new home) • Honey bees are most docile when carrying out their daily chores • Honey bees are most likely to sting when their home (the hive) is threatened or they are accidentally crushed • Honey bees swarm (move in large numbers to establish new hives) in spring and fall and are most likely to be aggressive in those seasons.

• Honey bees sting to protect their hive but each bee can sting only once, and then it dies • Stings are usually not serious unless there are an large number of them or you are systemically allergic to the venom WHAT IS AN AFRICANIZED HONEY BEE? • In 1957, honey bees (Apis mellifera scutellata) were imported from Africa to Brazil • African bees escaped and became feral (wild) • As feral African bees mated with EHBs they produced a hybrid called an “Africanized honey bee” (AHB) • AHBs look like European bees to the eye

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• They are, on average, slightly smaller than EHBs, but can only be separated by molecular techniques or morphometric computer analysis • Africanized honey bees are less fussy in their choice of nesting sites: building nests in the ground, in tree cavities, in the walls of a home, and where ever they find a small hole through which to enter • Africanized honey bees will “abscond” (leave a location when conditions are not suitable) more often than European honey bees • The impulse to sting in AHBs is 10 times greater than that of European honey bees, and attacks last longer and involve more bees • AHBs have been known to follow victims as much as a 1/4 of a mile from the hive whereas EHBs will pursue only about 50 yards • AHB venon is same chemical found in EHBs • AHB have been moving north from South America at a rate of 100-300 miles per year • Once disturbed AHBs may remain aggressive for as long as 24 hours • The “killer bee” reputation of AHBs is highly exaggerated, AHB do not hunt for people to attack and they do not attack unless they feel threatened WHAT CAUSES AN AHB STINGING INCIDENT? • Load noise • Vibrations of equipment, lawn mowers, moving vehicles etc., even up to 100 feet or more from a hive • Pedestrian activity up to 50 feet from the hive: the hive does not have to be touched to provoke AHBs SEE BEE ON PAGE 10

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NOVEMBER 2017 • 9

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

BEE AWARE, BEE SAFE! CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

• Animal breath attracts bees to the face. Animals (e.g. horses) that cannot breath through their mouths are vulnerable to suffocation if stings cause swelling of the nasal passages • Smaller pets and small children are more impacted. On average, 8-10 stings per pound of body weight can be lethal. 100 stings is considered to be potentially life threatening. Some individuals are very sensitive to bee venom, and in this case, even one or a few stings can be life threatening (see below).

• AHBs are attracted to hair, dark colors, new mown grass, citrus-scented candles and perfume

How to Prevent a Stinging Incident • Bees need two basic things to colonize your property: water and a place to build a hive. Prevent access to these where possible • Repair dripping leaks in and around the yard and in irrigation systems • Be alert for the presence of colonizing bees around the home • Listen for bees in walls and abandoned building before approaching • Patrol yards periodically to look for signs of bee colonies.

Colonies can set up residence in as little as 24-48 hours • Prevent bees from colonizing the yard or home: fill cracks in the house, remove refuse (bees can establish in discarded cans), discard used tires, plug holes in open pipes and swing sets, move abandoned vehicles, check stock tanks and irrigation pump housings • Properly cover chimney openings • Place screens over drains, attic vents, irrigation control

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boxes etc.

• Close and lock doors to sheds and out buildings • Education is central to the issue. South Americans have lived with AHB for decades with a minimum of impact. Teach children and others respect for, and avoidance of, honeybees WHO IS MOST VULNERABLE? • Those that are allergic to bee stings. Only about ~1% of the population has a systemic allergy to bee stings. Symptoms: within 20 minutes the tongue or throat swell, hives may develop, dizziness may occur and there may be difficulty breathing or loss of consciousness.

• Pets which are tied so they cannot exit the area WHAT TO DO WHEN A STINGING INCIDENT OCCURS Remember that “ACE” is the best action (Alert, Cover, Exit) • Alert = Warn others in the area to flee • Cover = cover your head; pull a shirt over your face. Stings to the head and neck are more dangerous than those to the body • Exit the area. Get into a car or a house immediately. If bees follow, tolerating those stings is preferable to trying to swat bees away from an open doorway.

• Stingers are left in the skin by the bees after an attack and continue to deliver venom (for up to 10 min.) due to attached pulsating muscles of the stinger. When the situation has stabilized, remove the stingers as quickly as possible by scraping, do not remove with forceps • Above all, stay calm. Fear can cause accidents if bees get in cars or clothing.

• If you observe a serious stinging incident call 911.

• Bee attacks can disorient and if you attempt to aid an attack victim protect yourself first then call them toward you and lead them to safety • If a pet is involved seek veterinary attention • If you are seriously stung seek medical attention • If you are allergic, carry a bee sting kit prescribed by your personal physician WHAT NOT TO DO • Don’t tie or pen animals near bee hives as they will have nowhere to go if stung • Do not try to remove bee hives yourself if you find them. Fire departments, bee keepers and pest management operators are best equipped to remove bee colonies • Do not try to fog or spray colonies with insects bombs or sprays • Do not swat at bees. Swatting bees causes the release of an alarm signal and only increases the intensity of an attack by stimulating other bees to attack • Do not count on insect repellents sprayed on the skin to deter bees • Do not provoke bees by spraying the hive with a garden hose • Don’t place certain veterinary salves and creams on your pet. Some are made with bees wax and can increase the severity of AHB attacks to pets and livestock. Check with your vet before using salves and creams.

• Don’t use meat tenderizer on bee-sting wounds, as this could lead to a secondary infection • Do not hike with your dog off-leash, if the dog encounters a hive and provoke the bees it may bring the attackers back to you For identification of honey bees: Samples (50 bees or more) can be collected and sent to the Texas Honey Bee Identification Lab at Texas A&M. Forms are available on the Texas Agrilife Extension Service website (http://lubbock.tamu.edu/ahb)

1 • NOVEMBER 2017

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Texas Big Game Awards Announces New Rules for 2017-18 Season The Texas Big Game Awards program is announcing rule changes designed to better reflect the objectives of this 27 year partnership between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Wildlife Association - to recognize the contributions hunters and landowners make in managing and conserving wildlife and wildlife habitat in Texas.

Effective with the 2017-18 hunting seasons, no scored entries will be accepted from release sites for five years following the last release date.

This will affect all properties with pen-raised, Trap/ Transport/Transplant, and/or Deer Management Permit deer released after March 1, 2017.

Also new for this season is the addition of javelina to the Texas Slam award category.

And finally, hunters will now be limited to one Texas Slam award per harvest means (rifle and archery only) during their lifetime.

Under the Texas Big Game Awards program, awards are given to all scored entries that meet minimum regional requirements, and there are no entry fees.

Deadline to enter is a postmark date of March 1, 2018. Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer,

pronghorn antelope, javelina, or desert bighorn sheep this season meeting the minimum Boone and Crockett net score requirements for their respective region may be eligible to receive recognition in the Scored Entry category, as well as the landowner of the property from which the trophy was taken.

Hunters of any age who harvest their first big game animal in Texas are eligible for the First Big Game Harvest category.

Hunters who harvest a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope are eligible whether they harvest a buck or doe, regardless of the score of the animal in this category.

Any youth hunter (under 17 years of age when they purchase their hunting license) with a Special Resident Hunting License who harvests a white-tailed deer, mule deer, javelina, or pronghorn antelope is eligible for the Youth Division whether they take a buck or doe and regardless of score.

For more information on the Texas Big Game Awards, certified scorers list, entry rules and minimum scores are also featured on the TBGA website at www.TexasBigGameAwards.org.

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Vaden Aldridge • 325.226.0904 Consultant/Sales NOVEMBER 2017 • 11

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Common Sense Precautions FOR HANDLING AND PROCESSING DEER Common sense precautions while handling and processing deer should be taken at all times. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is one of many diseases that can affect deer. CWD is a fatal transmissible neurological disease that affects cervid species such as white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, red deer and sika. It is classified as a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, a family of diseases that includes scrapie (found in sheep) and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE; found in cattle). Much remains unknown about this disease.

The peculiarities of its transmission, infection rate, incubation period, and potential for transmission to other species are still being investigated. What is known is that CWD is invariably fatal, and can be passed directly from deer to deer and indirectly through environmental contamination. Scientists believe CWD is caused by a misfolded protein (“prion”) that replicates and infects other normal proteins. Prions generally concentrate in the brain, spinal cord, eyes, lymph nodes and spleen, and they are shed in saliva, urine, blood, soft-antler material, feces, and from decomposition of an infected animal. There is no scientific evidence that chronic wasting disease can infect humans or domestic livestock.

Yes, There’s an App for That!

Hunting has gone hi-tech.

While the thrill of the hunt is a primitive pleasure, advancements in technology allow for better precision and efficiency.

If you are looking to enhance your hunt but don’t have the budget for big-ticket gadgetry, look no further than your own smartphone — the newest must-have hunting device.

Here are six smartphone applications that will enhance any hunt. All are available on both Apple and Android phones. You don’t need all the apps, so consider how you would like to develop your hunt before choosing.

SCOUTLOOK HUNTING Cost: FREE but has in-app purchases ScoutLook is a standard navigational app with weather features and a scent tracking system. Weather forecast details include temperature, cloud cover, barometric pressure and wind activity. And the Scentcone Wind Map feature lets you see where your scent will blow hour by hour.

SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE Cost: $5.99 You know what they say: Safety first. This application provides essential information to survive any situation. The app includes photo galleries of plants that are edible, medicinal and poisonous, knots and animal tracks. The first aid

section is comprehensive and user-friendly.

SHOOTING HOURS Cost: 99¢ This app performs a very basic function extremely well: calculating the times of sunrise and sunset using your GPS location — allowing you to always shoot legally.

POWDERHOOK Cost: FREE Need a place to hunt? This app will help you find one. The app includes free maps of public lands in all 50 states, with thousands of depth contours for lakes and rivers. It also populates listings of outdoor events near you.

DEER CALLS & TACTICS Cost: $1.99 This is one of the best and most comprehensive resources for learning and interpreting deer tactics and calls. The app provides tips on how and when to use each of the deer calls to maximize your chance of a successful hunt.

WHITETAIL FREAKS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Cost: $2.99 One of the best organizational hunting tools available from your phone, the app allows you to mark your property and pin the locations of your tree stands, trail cameras and food plots. You can even attach notes to each pin.

General Precaution

Field Dressing

Wear rubber or latex gloves.

All internal organs and inedible carcass parts should be left at the site of harvest.

Clean processing knives and equipment of residue and disinfect with a 50/50 solution of household chlorine bleach and water. Wipe down counters and let them dry; soak knives for one hour.

Cutting and Processing

Wear rubber or latex gloves.

If removing antlers, soak the blade of the saw used in a bleach solution for one hour.

If hunting within a CWD Containment Zone or High Risk Zone, it is recommended that harvested deer be quartered and head detached in the field and all other carcass parts be left at the site of harvest if it is not possible to dispose inedible carcass parts in a landfill (or buried at least 6 feet deep).

Bone out the meat from the deer and remove all fat and connective tissue (the web-like membranes attached to the meat). This will also remove lymph nodes.

These inedible parts also should be left at the site of harvest, or disposed of in a landfill, or buried at least 6 feet deep.

Thoroughly clean and sanitize equipment and work areas with bleach solution after processing.

What parts can I use?

There are some parts of the deer you should never eat, even if the animal looks healthy.

The parts listed below are tissues where prions generally concentrate.

Brain Eyeballs Lymph nodes in head and neck

Spinal cord

Tonsils

Lymph nodes near digestive system

Spleen

Normal field dressing and trimming fat from meat will remove lymph nodes and other parts that accumulate prions. The diagram shows some main locations of lymph nodes and other tissues where prions concentrate.

Never eat meat from a deer that looks sick.

Never eat a deer’s: • Brain • Eyeballs • Spinal cord • Spleen • Lymph nodes

To be sure you’ve removed all of the parts listed above: • Gut and skin the deer • Cut meat from the bone with a knife; don’t cut through bones • Remove all fat, membranes and tendons from the meat • Remove the head

Lymph nodes in/near joints

Clinical symptoms/signs of sick deer Please note that many diseases in deer cause many of the same symptoms as CWD, and not all symptoms/signs of CWD will occur in all cases.

Loss of fear of humans Nervousness or high excitability Teeth-grinding Loss of coordination Notable weakness Inability to stand Rough dull haircoat Excessive salivation Drooping of the head and ears Excessive thirst Difficulty swallowing Severe emaciation and dehydration

Report sick deer, especially those within a CWD zone to a TPWD Game Warden or Wildlife Biologist.

For additional information contact Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

www.tpwd.texas.gov © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

12 • NOVEMBER 2017

Do not shoot or eat any part of a deer that appears sick. If hunting within a CWD Containment Zone or High Risk Zone, please accurately document the location of any deer that appears sick and contact a TPWD office or call TPWD headquarters in Austin toll-free at (800) 792-1112 and enter 5 for wildlife and 1 for general wildlife information. Or contact TAHC toll-free at (800) 550-8242.

PWD LF W7000-859 (9/15)

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

GOING FOR THE KILL SHOT Importance of a Well-Placed Shot to a Vital Organ

When taking a shot at a game animal, the goal of the hunter should be to deliver a well placed shot to the vital organs. Knowing the anatomy of your quarry will allow you to place the shot in the most vital spot.

This insures a quick, clean kill, which minimizes the suffering of the animal and maximizes the chance of retrieving the downed animal. The angle that the animal is standing in relation to the hunter is the shot angle. If the animal does not present a good shot angle to the hunter, it’s best to wait for the shot angle to improve.

The Broadside Shot The Broadside Shot presents the largest target area to strike the heart and lungs.

For the novice hunter this is the best shot to take. It is just

behind the shoulder bones.

Properly placed, the bullet will strike the ribs and probably pass completely through the chest cavity.

To find the best shot placement, look at the front leg facing you, along a line on the back side of this leg, come up one third of the way into the body. This is the place you want your bullet or arrow to impact.

The broadside shot for turkey is the best for bowhunters.

With a firearm, the head and neck are the best place to aim.

Most of the meat on a turkey is in the breast. By aiming for the head with a rifle or grouping for the head and neck with a shotgun, you won’t damage the breast meat.

Quartering-Toward Quartering-Toward is a shot angle from the front of

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the animal when their body is angled towards you. This angle still affords a shot to the vital area, however, there is a greater chance of hitting bones in the shoulder. Since the animal is facing you, it can easily detect any movements. Bowhunters should avoid taking this shot because of the added density of the shoulder bones that the arrow must penetrate.

Also, many times the animal can see the arrow in flight.

Quartering-Away Quartering-Away is a shot angle where the animal’s body is angled away from you. You still have a shot at the vital areas and should aim behind the shoulder. You must be confident of your accuracy with your firearm as misplacement of the shot can result in a “gutshot,” a shot to the stomach and intestines. Not only does

the animal suffer when gutshot but it can still travel a great distance and there is a good chance you may lose it.

Head-On Head-On means the animal is standing directly facing you. The vital organs can still be hit but there is a good chance the bullet will damage a good deal of meat. Depending on the velocity of the bullet, it could also pass through and hit the stomach, even continuing into one of the rear legs, ruining even more meat.

Bowhunters should not take this shot.

Rear-End Rear-End is exactly that, an angle directly behind the animal. No large vital area is presented. Never take this shot with firearm or bow. Wait for a better shot or pass.

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NOVEMBER 2017 • 13

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

for Sonora, Texas

Daylight Saving Time Ends November 5, 2017

NOVEMBER 2017 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

RISE A.M.

SET P.M.

7:57 7:58 7:59 7:59 7:00 7:01 7:02 7:03 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:06 7:07 7:08 7:08 7:09 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:14 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:19 7:20 7:21

6:55 6:54 6:54 6:53 5:52 5:51 5:51 5:50 5:49 5:49 5:48 5:47 5:47 5:46 5:46 5:45 5:45 5:44 5:44 5:44 5:43 5:43 5:43 5:42 5:42 5:42 5:42 5:41 5:41 5:41

DECEMBER 2017 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

RISE A.M.

SET P.M.

7:22 7:23 7:23 7:24 7:25 7:26 7:27 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:29 7:30 7:31 7:31 7:32 7:33 7:33 7:34 7:34 7:36 7:35 7:36 7:36 7:37 7:37 7:38 7:38 7:39 7:39 7: 7:40

5:41 5:41 5:41 5:41 5:41 5:41 5:41 5:41 5:42 5:42 5:42 5:42 5:42 5:43 5:43 5:43 5:44 5:44 5:45 5:45 5:46 5:46 5:47 5:47 5:48 5:48 5:49 5:49 5:50 5:51 5:51

JANUARY 2018 1 2 3 14 • NOVEMBER 2017

RISE A.M.

SET P.M.

7:40 7:40 7:40

5:52 5:53 5:54

Whitetail Deer Season in Sutton County GENERAL SEASON November 4, 2017 - January 7, 2018 Special Late Season January 8 - 21, 2018 YOUTH-ONLY Early Youth-Only Season October 28-29, 2017 Late Youth-Only Season January 8-21, 2018 BAG LIMIT 5 deer - no more than 2 bucks, all seasons combined.

ANTLERLESS DEER No permit is required to hunt antlerless deer unless MLDP antlerless permits have been issued for the tract of land.

ARCHERY ONLY September 30 – November 3, 2017 Archery Only either sex. Archery Endorsement is required to hunt.

Stay warm out there

What happens to your body when the mercury falls?

Eyes:

Wind Chill

Temperature Fahrenheit 5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

5

-5

1

3

13

19

25

31

36

45

48

10

-10

-4

3

9

15

21

27

34

40

46

50

15

-13

-7

0

6

13

19

25

32

38

45

20

-15

-9

-2

4

11

17

24

30

37

44

25

-17

-11

-4

3

9

16

23

29

36

43

30

-19

-12

-5

1

8

15

22

28

35

42

35

-21

-14

-7

0

7

14

21

28

35

41

40

-22

-15

-8

-1

6

13

20

27

34

41

Wind Speed MPH

Sunrise/Sunset Charts

45

-23

-16

-9

-2

5

12

19

26

33

40

50

-24

-17

-10

-3

4

12

19

26

33

40

55

-25

-18

-11

-3

4

11

18

25

32

40

60

-26

-19

-11

-4

3

10

17

25

32

39

Eyeballs don’t freeze because they are protected by the head, which your body works very hard to keep warm. Also Tears are salty, which reduces the freezing point.

Ears:

At the greatest risk because there are no major muscles to provide heat.

Why does your nose run when it’s cold?

While trying to warm up cold air on the way to the lungs, extra blood flow within the nostrils leads to more mucus production.

Cheeks:

DANGER

BUNDLE UP

Skin can freeze in 10-30 minutes.

AT RISK

Risk of frostbite or hypothermia.

Be sure to wear warm clothing.

EXTRA LAYER

Wear an extra layer of thermal protective clothing.

What is frostbite?

• Severe condition: both skin and underlying tissue (fat, muscle, bone) are frozen.

• Skin appears white and waxy; is hard to the touch.

• No sensation — the area is numb.

Turn red when surface blood vessels dilate as skin temperature drops below 15º F.

Fingers, Toes

50º F is the critical air temperature for good manual dexterity. 45º F is the point at which fingers lose sensitivity to touch.

Mild hypothermia Body temperature drops. Being cold over a prolonged period of time can cause a drop in body temperature to below 97º F.

Why do we shiver?

Moderate hypothermia Being cold over a prolonged period of time can cause a drop in body temperature to 95º F.

You’ve Gotta Go:

What is hypothermia?

Being cold over a prolonged period of time can cause a drop in Severe hypothermia body temperature. Normal body Being cold over a prolonged period of time can cause a drop in temperate is 98.6º F body temperature below 90º F.

Muscle contractions produce heat, so when we get cold we shiver.

You need to urinate more when you get cold. Exposure to cold causes reduction in blood flow to the surface of the skin, which reduces overall blood volume.

The body’s response is to reduce fluid volume by urinating.

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

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THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Determining the Age of a White-Tailed Deer

Tooth wear and replacement is one of several methods for aging white-tailed deer.

Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists have been using this deer aging technique to manage deer on ranches, wildlife management areas and by county since 1965.

Although this method is not perfect, it has been used for the past 35 years in the successful management of deer herds in Texas. Deer are aged by examining the wear and replacement of the premolars and molars of the lower jaw.

As a deer grows older, its teeth continue to wear. As the enamel begins to wear away, and exposes the dark

dentine material, noticeable distinctions in tooth wear occur between each age class.

Deer are aged in year and half increments, such as 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, etc., since fawns are born from late May through July and are not harvested until the fall hunting season.

Biologists, landowners or land managers may be interested in deer ages from a deer management standpoint. Age data provides information about deer herd characteristics, hunting or mortality pressure on a particular age class, and progress of the wildlife management program. Age data becomes a valuable piece of information

Fawn (1/2 year) Aging fawns should not be difficult. For more clarification, inspection of the lower jaw will indicate age. Fawns have 5 or less teeth present and the third premolar (tooth 3) has 3 cusps. Tooth 6 has not yet erupted. In younger fawns tooth 5 has not erupted and only 4 teeth will be visible.

when used with other data such as antler characteristics, dressed body weights or lactation in females. Deer herd trends can thus be monitored if enough data are collected over time. Often these trends can be related to a particular management style, climatic conditions or any other factors affecting deer. Dressed body weights, age and antler measurement data should be collected every year and from every deer harvested. Collecting partial data, only occasionally during a season, or every couple of years may result in land managers making uninformed decisions about deer management.

Deer Teeth Parts Cusp: a point or projection on a tooth Back Cusp: very last cusp on tooth 6 on cheek-side of the jaw Lingual Crest: tooth ridge adjacent to the tongue Enamel: hard, white, outer coating of a tooth Dentine: soft inner core of a tooth, dark brown color Infundibulum: crescent-shaped depression in the central crown of a tooth between the enamel ridge or crest Lingual Crests

Aging deer using the wear and replacement method is not difficult, but it does require practice. When aging a deer, it is helpful to cut the skin along the edge of the jaw to allow better inspection of the teeth. Do not cut the skin if planning to mount the deer. Taxidermists will cape out the deer head and save the lower jaw if asked. A jaw spreader and small flashlight may also be used to prop open the jaw while examining the teeth, especially when the skin is not to be cut. Be sure to remove any food particles or debris to maintain a clear view of the teeth along the jaw.

Inspect teeth on both sides of the jaw to confirm that wear is consistent.

1 1/2 years Tooth 3 (3rd premolar) has 3 cusps. Tooth 6 has erupted and is slightly visible just above the gum line.

3-Cusp Tooth Heavy Wear

Enamel Dentine

Back Cusp

3 1/2 years Infundibulum

Lingual crest on tooth 4 is blunt. The dentine is as wide or wider than the enamel in tooth 4. The back cusp on tooth 6 is forming a concavity.

2 1/2 years Lingual crest on all molars are sharp and pointed.

Tooth 3 now has 2 cusps. Back cusp of tooth 6 is sharp and pointed. Enamel is wider than the dentine in tooth 4, 5 and 6.

Permanent 2-Cusp Tooth

Pointed Cusp

4 1/2 years

Lingual crest on tooth 4 are almost rounded off and lingual crest in tooth 5 are blunt. The dentine in tooth 4 is twice as wide as the enamel. The dentine in tooth 5 is wider than the enamel. The back cusp on tooth 6 is worn so badly that it slopes downward towards the cheek.

Blunt Crests

A simple jaw spreader can be made from 1/4 inch rebar and welded into a similar shape as the above photo.

Insert jaw spreader into mouth as shown in photo. Be sure spreader is pushed completely through the mouth. Rotate jaw spreader downward as shown.

Teeth are now visible for inspection. A small light may be helpful for viewing teeth.

Cusp Worn To Concavity

Dentine Wider Than Enamel

5 1/2 years Lingual crest is worn away on tooth 4 and rounded in tooth 5. Lingual crest in tooth 6 is blunt. Dentine in tooth 6 is now wider than the enamel.

Dentine Twice As Wide As Enamel

Dentine Twice As Wide As Enamel

Dentine Wider Than Enamel

Cusp Slopes Downward

6 1/2 years Tooth 4 is worn completely smooth; no enamel ridge should be visible in the center of tooth 4.

Small enamel ridge will be present in center of tooth 5 and tooth 6. Lingual crest on tooth 5 is almost worn away and rounded in tooth 6.

7 1/2 years Tooth 4 and tooth 5 are worn smooth; no enamel ridges are present in the center of these teeth.

Lingual crest is gone from tooth 6. Infundibulum in tooth 6 is a narrow crescent shape.

Worn Smooth “Dished Out” Appearance

Worn Smooth “Dished Out” Appearance

Small Enamel Ridge In Center of Teeth

16 • NOVEMBER 2017

8 1/2 years Tooth 4, 5 and 6 are completely dished out and no enamel ridges are showing in the center of these teeth.

Small Enamel Ridge In Center of Teeth

Teeth 4, 5 & 6 Worn Completely Smooth

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Gun Safety Rules for Everyone at Deer Camp You love to hunt and your kids are starting to get to the age where they would like to try hunting. You appreciate their interest and have enrolled them in the appropriate education course to obtain a license.

You also plan to teach them the ropes yourself, starting first with gun safety.

To ensure you don’t forget anything, familiarize yourself with these dos and don’ts of gun safety.

DO...

• Treat every gun as though it were loaded.

• Read the owner’s manual for your gun and learn how to operate it properly.

• Use the correct ammunition for your gun.

• Carry your gun with the muzzle pointing toward

the ground.

• Keep your finger off the trigger until shooting.

• Look at the target and the area beyond it before pulling the trigger.

• Keep your gun unloaded when not in use.

• Store ammunition away from your gun and out of the reach of young children.

• Clean your gun and keep it free of obstructions.

• Make sure your gun is unloaded be fore cleaning it.

DON’T...

• Point your gun at anyone.

• Modify your gun.

• Run with your gun.

• Climb with your gun.

• Jump with your gun.

• Shoot at a hard, flat surface. The bullet will

ricochet.

• Shoot at water. The bullet will deflect and travel a few inches above the water.

• Go hunting when you are overly tired.

• Drink alcohol when hunting.

• Do drugs when hunting.

After you have familiarized yourself with these rules, find a time to discuss them with your kids. Stress to them the importance of following the rules of gun safety and the consequences of ignoring them. Point out, for example, how many people are killed each year in accidents involving guns that were stored loaded.

Rent a video or take your kids to a demonstration on

gun safety.

Kids learn best by example, so make sure you follow the rules of gun safety. More importantly, make sure you enforce the rules. Should a situation arise in which your kids forget or abandon a safety rule, take the steps necessary to correct the situation immediately. It could mean the difference between life and death.

Do your kids a favor.

Teach them the rules of gun safety, enforce the rules when necessary and help your kids mature into safe, responsible hunters.

Also, go over these gun safety rules with anyone at your hunting camp that you do not know. It NEVER hurts to review gun safety rules.

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Liquor & Beer LLC

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THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Be Smart about First Aid

In an emergency, there is no substitute for medical attention. Locally, the Sutton County EMS serves as the first responder.

Likewise, the Lillian M. Hudspeth Memorial Hospital, located at 308 Hudspeth Street in Sonora, has a fully-staffed trauma level-4 hospital with a 24-hour emergency department equipped with state-of-the-art shock/trauma and cardiac monitoring equipment.

The Clinic is open five days a week for routine visits.

However, there are those times when first aid must be administered and a wellstocked first aid kit is an essential item at any campsite.

Commercially available first aid kits suck. But, it’s cheap and easy to build your own, creating something that might just save your life. Here’s how.

According to the Center for Disease Control, around 213,000 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries that result from outdoor recreation.

The most common injuries (27.4 percent of them), are fractures, followed by muscle strain and sprains (23.9 percent), bruises and abrasions (15.9 percent), lacerations (14.81 percent) and dislocations (3.81 percent).

The CDC also lists concussions, burns, crushing, dental injuries, skin inflammation and poisoning as other common injuries experienced in the outdoors.

The good news is, pretty much all of that is stuff you can do something about.

No, you’re not going to fix a broken leg in the field, but you could make the potentially very long trip to the hospital much more comfortable and reduce the chances of further injury in the process. Quick, effective treatment can also reduce the severity of burns and cuts.

To avoid these injuries, the CDC makes the following recommendations: • Maintain fitness and don’t exceed skill levels or experience.

• Checking and maintaining equipment.

• Alert others about travel plans.

• Carrying a first-aid kit.

Let’s look at those most-common injuries and discuss how we can treat them ourselves. Typically, all it takes is a little preparation.

Fractures — broken bones — are no fun. The Mayo Clinic’s first aid advice for treating a fracture is to stop bleeding, immobilize the injured area, apply ice packs to limit swelling and reduce pain, and to treat the person for shock by laying them down with their trunk and legs slightly higher than the head.

18 • NOVEMBER 2017

Supplies you can add to your first aid kit to help with that are: • SAM Splints, which quickly and easily mold themselves to any shape you require, then provide stability for the fracture or joint in a comfortable, padded way.

• ACE Bandage to wrap around the splint and injured limb.

• Instant Ice Packs • Quick Clot to rapidly stop any major bleeding • Pain Killers Strains and Sprains — These commonly occur around major joints like the ankle and knee when the ligaments connecting those joints are ripped or torn.

These hurt like hell and can massively limit your mobility.

The Mayo Clinic recommends resting the joint in question, applying ice to limit swelling, compressing the muscles and elevating the injured body part.

Supplies you need to achieve that are: • ACE bandage • Instant Ice Packs • Ibuprofen or prescription strength muscle relaxants Bruises and Abrasions — Fall down go boom, get scraped up in the process.

Doesn’t sound like a big injury, but bruises and scrapes can be painful and you need to prevent infection.

Supplies that can help with that are: • Instant Ice Pack • Ibuprofen or stronger prescription meds • Hydrogen Peroxide or Iodine • Neosporin • Bandages • Medical Tape (to hold the bandages on) Lacerations — Cuts big and small. Your first concern is blood loss, followed by infection.

To treat them, the Mayo Clinic recommends you first stop the bleeding by elevating and compressing the wound, then rinsing the wound with clean water to remove any debris. Tweezers may help you pick out any foreign debris that remains in the wound after washing. You’ll then need to cover or seal the wound and keep it clean and dry.

Supplies that can help with that are: • A 60cc medical syringe (for wound irrigation) • Tincture of Iodine 2% to disinfect water • Quickclot • Superglue • Safety Pins • Needle and Thread (fishing line will work in a crunch) • Wound Closure Strips

• Bandages • Medical Tape Dislocation — The end of a bone moves out of its joint.

If you don’t know how to set a dislocated bone, don’t try to. The Mayo Clinic recommends stabilizing or immobilizing the joint and applying ice to reduce swelling.

Supplies you’ll need are: • SAM Splint • ACE Bandage • Instant Ice Pack • Pain Killers Other Injuries — Burns, blisters, poison ivy, allergic reactions, all the non life-threatening, but still painful or irritating stuff that happens often when you’re outside. Your first aid kit will most often be called on to help with the little things, so keep plenty of these supplies in it: Band-Aids; Mole Skin;Duct Tape; Neosporin; Benadryl (works for dogs, too); Calamine Lotion; Visine; Gel Blister pads; ACE Bandages; Anti-Diarrhea Pills; Laxatives; Extra supplies of any prescription medicines you might need; Soap; Small multitool with needlenose pliers and wire cutters.

And, some general supplies kept in your first aid kit will come in handy too: shears or scissors; a small LED flashlight w/spare lithium battery; nitrile gloves; emergency space blanket or bivvy sack; propane lighter; safety razor; aloe vera; first aid instruction manual; and a A positive attitude.

Don’t panic, you can fix it and you will be fine.

In general, think about the trips you take, identify any particularly high risks and pack some extra supplies to deal with those. If you’re several days from your car, then you’re several days from real medical care. Obtaining prescription pain killers and keeping them fresh can be a big help if you’re forced to self rescue or even if your buddies are just carrying you out. The further you’re going, the more supplies you’ll need too, as the time throughout which you’ll need to treat an injury before reaching hospital could be hours or days long. Obviously factor that into your risk taking too.

And, any first aid supplies are only as good as your ability to use them. Study before you go and consider taking a course.

Knowledge is the best first aid kit there is.

EMERGENCY DIAL

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Important Phone Numbers Sutton County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Dial 9-1-1 Non-Emergency 325-387-2288

Sonora Police Department Emergency Dial 9-1-1 City Hall 325-387-3888

City of Sonora

Emergency Dial 9-1-1 City Hall 325-387-2558

Lillian M. Hudspeth Hospital Emergency Dial 9-1-1 Hospital 325-387-2521 Family Clinic 325-387-7911

Sonora Volunteer Fire Department Emergency Dial 9-1-1 Dispatch 325-387-2428

Things You Need to Know The Devil’s River News

Sonora’s newspaper since 1890 224 E. Main Street • 325-387-2507 editor@devilsriver.news Bring your Big Buck by our office for a photo and possible publication in the next week’s newspaper and possible inclusion in the 2018 edition of this Hunting Guide.

Sonora Chamber of Commerce

205 Hwy 277 N. • PO Box 1172 • Sonora, Texas 76950 325-387-2880 chamber@sonoratexas.org • www.sonoratexas.org

Sonora Economic Development Corporation 307 East Oak Street • Sonora, Texas 76950 325-387-6280 www.sonoraedc.org

Old Ice House Ranch Museum

Located at 206 S Water Avenue in downtown Sonora adjacent to the Sutton County Courthouse.

325-387-3754 If you’ve lost your marbles, the volunteers at the museum just might know where they are.

Come by the museum to see ‘em.

Sutton County Food Pantry

704 Glasscock Road • PO Box 497 • Sonora, Texas 76950 325-387-2458 • scrc.director@gmail.com

Local Officials Sutton County

County Judge - Steve Smith County Sheriff - Oscar Chavez Justice of the Peace - Jody Harris County Attorney - David Wallace County Clerk - Rachel Duran Tax Assessor-Collector - Kathy Marshall County Treasurer - Janalyn Jones County Commissioner Precinct #1 - Mike Villanueva County Commissioner Precinct #2 - Bob Brockman County Commissioner Precinct #3 - Carl Teaff County Commissioner Precinct #4 - Fred Perez

City of Sonora

Mayor - Wanda Shurley Council Members - Cody Gann, Juanita Barrera, Manuel Martinez and Norm Rousselot Municipal Judge - Jerry Kemp City Manager - Ed Carrasco City Secretary - Belia Fay Public Works Administrator - Peter Duran

Sutton County Hospital District

Hospital Administrator - John Graves Board of Directors - Sharon Holman (president), Edward Earwood, Lenora Pool, Mary Humphrey, Adaleta Alvarez, Don Longoria and John Henry Strauch.

Sonora I.S.D. 325-387-6940

Superintendent - Ross Aschenbeck High School Principal - Sean Leamon Middle School Principal - Daron Worrell Elementary Principal - Michael Kissire Board of Trustees - Dawn Cahilll (president), Brady Johnson, Jerry Jimenez, Jesse Bustamante, Shana Castro, Cynthia Perez and Amber Killough.

Sutton County Underground Water Conservation District 325-387-2369 General Mamanger - Jim Polonis Board Members - Robert Sol Mayer, Joe David Ross, Max Howorth and James Archer

Sam Dillard, Agent Crystal Excellence

200 E. Main Street Sonora, TX 76950 Bus 325-387-3893 Fax 325-387-3415 Cell 325-650-2001 sam@samdillard.biz NMLS #139716 NMLS MLO #324098 MLO License #324098

Providing Insurance and Financial Services

NOVEMBER 2017 • 19

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

parks

and

wildlife

TEXAS TRACKS Do you know them?

Can you identify these tracks?

You may know Texas wildlife, but do you know their tracks? Some like the rabbit and opossum are easily recognized. Others such as the coyote, collared peccary and bobcat may be confused with their domestic look-alikes the dog, pig and house cat. Tracks are easily followed in snow or loose sand. Prints made in soft mud are best for study. (Answers at the bottom of page.)

1

4

FORE

2"

7

1 1/2"

2" FORE

FO

1 3/4"

HIND

1 1/2" 1 3/4"

2 3/4" FORE

1 1/4" 2 3/4"

HIND

5

2 1/4" HIND

HIND

8

RACCOON

FORE

FOX SQUIRR

FORE 2 3 /4 "

FORE

1 /" HIND 1

2

2

HIND

HIND

COYOTE

FORE

2"

HIND

9

6

3

FORE

HIND

1"

HIND

FORE

2"

HIND

FORE

WHITE-TAILED DEER

HIND

DEWCLAWS SHOW WHEN RUNNING

4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744 1-800-792-1112 www.tpwd.state.tx.us

© 2001 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department PWD LF K0700-001 (3/01) In accordance with Texas Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.

4. Collared Peccary

3 3/4"

3. Raccoon

5. Skunk

6. Fox Squirrel

7. Bobcat

8. Coyote

9. Ringtail

2 • NOVEMBER 2017

texas

FORE HIND

2. Opossum

Why Operation Game Thief Is Important Texas, as we all know, is a vast State with an already huge, ever burgeoning population. There are over 24 million people inhabiting 254 counties that encompass 262,017 square miles of land area, and over 3 million surface acres of water.

Currently, approximately 530 wardens, including supervisory personnel, are responsible for patrolling this vast area for the purposes of enforcement of our states hunting and fishing laws. It is evident from these figures that the wardens need all the eyes and ears they can get to assist in the intervention of the ever increasing, money driven, exploitation of the wildlife resources of this state.

Numerous examples of this exploitation exist. Mature white-tailed bucks are killed on

midnight runs, then beheaded, leaving the meat behind, in anticipation of selling the bragging-sized rack to a well-to-do, unsuccessful hunter. Various freshwater and saltwater fish, including white bass, crappie, striped and hybrid striped bass, catfish, redfish, specked trout, flounder, black drum and others are being taken through the use of illegal nets in large quantities, and without regard for size or bag limits. Shrimp and oysters are often harvested in illegal quantities and from areas closed to harvest. The product is then sold, both in and out of state, to select restaurants, wholesale and retail fish dealers, even to individuals from vacant city lots located in high traffic metropolitan areas. Even birds, snakes, BOBCAT turtles, mussels, and protected FORE plants fall prey to these unscruHINDoperators. pulous Unlike the opportunist poacher who shoots a deer from the roadside after an unanticipated encounter on his way home, or the twice a year crappie fisherman who justifies his over the bag limit FORE harvest to himself as “making up for the times he can’t get off work to fish,” these perpetrators are no more than thieves who steal all they can get while RINGTAIL they can get it, all in the name of making money. And the best of them apply their trade with a skill steeped in years of experience, often using tricks of the trade passed on from one generation to the next. How large is the scope of this illegal SKUNK commerce? No one knows for sure. While most of us tend to think of what is in our immediFORE ate area, the fact is that illegal operations routinely cross HIND lines, and ample evidence state exists that many operations

1. White-tailed Deer

Operation Game Thief is Texas’ wildlife Crime-stoppers program, offering rewards of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction for a wildlife crime.

Begun in 1981 as a result of laws passed by the 67th Legislature to help curtail poaching, the program, a function of the law enforcement division of Texas Parks and Wildlife, is highly successful. In the last ten years OGT has provided over $600,000 in grants to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for the purchase of specialized and technologically advanced equipment for Texas game wardens. Privately funded, the program is dependent on financial support from the public through the purchase of OGT memberships and merchandise, donations, sponsorships, and gifts.

before the warden can get there, there may be critical evidence, or even other witnesses with important information, that can be used to make a case in court. Make the poachers know that you won’t sit idly by while they exploit our resources. Pick up the phone and call 1-800-792-GAME. Remember YOU can make a difference! The reward hotline is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Over the life of the program, more than 28,000 calls have been received and investigated.

For more information on the Operation Game Thief program, contact Lt. Jason Jones at 512-565-3963.

have global contacts.

What can you do to help resolve this problem? Get involved at your own level.

Alert observation by concerned citizens such as yourself, followed by immediate reporting of the suspected violation, gives the local warden a much-needed edge in catching the bad guys. Operation Game Thief is the mechanism that allows you to get immediately involved and quickly get that information to the warden.

Receiving a tip on illegal activity while it is occurring can make a significant difference in whether or not the violator is apprehended. Even if the offender has left the scene

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

• discharge a firearm on or across a public road or hunt game animals, game birds, exotic animals or fur-bearing animals on public roads.

• hunt any wild animal or wild bird, including exotic animals, on foot or from a vehicle on any public road or road right-of-way, or a boat on public water, except that migratory waterfowl may be hunted from a boat or any floating craft (except a sink box) under certain conditions. (See Migratory Game Bird.)

• possess, shoot or hunt with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow on all land area and water in the Aransas and Poesta Rivers in Bee County; on all of the land area and public water in the state-owned riverbeds of La Salle or McMullen counties; and on all of the land area and public water in the state-owned riverbeds of the Nueces, Frio and Atascosa rivers in Live Oak County; except for waterfowl hunting on any reservoir (existing or to be constructed) owned, operated, or maintained by a government entity.

• discharge a firearm or shoot an arrow in or on the bed or bank of a navigable stream in Dimmit, Edwards, Frio, Kenedy, Llano, Maverick, Real, Uvalde, or Zavala counties, or discharge or shoot an arrow that could physically contact the bed or bank of a navigable stream in these counties. This law does not apply to persons fishing by means of archery equipment (special gear requirements apply) or shotguns loaded with shot, including buckshot. A shotgun slug is prohibited.

• hunt on water of Stillhouse Reservoir or land adjacent to the reservoir owned by the federal government in Bell County, except for game birds hunted with a shotgun.

A hunter must be 600 feet from the nearest private property line.

• discharge any firearm or shoot any crossbow or bow and arrow on, along, or across

Restricted Areas in Counties the waters of Oyster Bayou in Chambers County from State Hwy. 65 south to the mouth of Oyster Bayou in the East Bay. • discharge a pistol or rifle in, on, along, or across: Lake Baird in Callahan County; Lake Texarkana in Cass County; the water of the Trinity River, Wallisville Reservoir, and Lake Anahuac in Chambers County; the water of the Trinity River or Wallisville Reservoir in Liberty County; Lake Lavon in Collin County; Caddo Lake in Harrison and Marion counties; and Lakes Daingerfield and Texarkana in Morris County; except that a person may hunt migratory waterfowl on these waters with a shotgun during an open season.

• possess for shooting a rifle or pistol on or across the water of Murvaul Lake in Panola County.

• hunt wild animals or wild birds or target shoot on land in Harris County owned by another without having in immediate possession written consent of the landowner of that land. The written consent must contain the hunter’s name, identify the land on which hunting or target shooting is permitted, be signed by the landowner or legal agent for the owner, and must show the address and phone number of the person signing consent.

The owner or agent and any person hunting or target shooting with the owner or agent on public or private shooting ranges are exempt from this special regulation.

• use a boat or any other type of floating device to hunt or to access land to hunt any wild bird or wild animal on any portion of Big Sandy Creek in Wood County that is east of FM Road 2869 and within 2.18 miles of FM Road 2869 or between FM Road 2869 and FM Road 49. (Class A Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor: $500-$4,000 and/or one year in jail.)

• hunt on Public Hunting Areas without the required

permits.

• hunt in a subdivision on lots 10 acres or less in an unincorporated area of a county if the commissioners court, by order, prohibits the discharge of a firearm or the use of archery equipment in such subdivisions. (Contact local county clerk and ask about §235.022, Local Government Code.)

• hunt on any area named as a wildlife sanctuary, nesting, or propagation area.

• hunt in state or federal parks or refuges except as may be provided by special state or federal policies.

• hunt anywhere by means or methods that have been prohibited by county or city ordinance.

• hunt any wild animal or wild bird where legal means (firearms, air rifle, lawful archery equipment) on or over privately owned land that is submerged under public fresh water due to seasonal or occasional inundation or submerged under salt water above the mean high tide line.

The property must be posted to indicate that hunting is prohibited. (Class C Parks and Wildlife Code misdemeanor: $25-$500 fine only.)

Shooting Safety

It is against the law to:

Texans love to hunt. Nature beckons. There’s suspense and excitement and escape from the daily routine.

Here are the “ten commandments” of shooting safety: • Always point the muzzle of your gun in a safe direction.

• Treat every firearm or bow with the same respect you would show a loaded gun or nocked arrow.

• Be sure of your target.

• Unload firearms and unstring conventional bows when not in use.

• Handle firearms, arrows and ammunition with care.

• Know your safe zone-of-fire and stick to it.

• Control your emotions when using weapons.

• Wear hearing and eye protection.

STRAIGHT SHOOTING ON SAFETY

• Don’t consume alcohol or drugs before or while handling firearms or bows.

• Be aware of circumstances that require added caution or safety awareness.

If you practice these rules, you’ll help to ensure safety for everyone.

SOUTHWEST TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE This public service message is brought to you by Southwest Texas Electric Cooperative.

NOVEMBER 2017 • 21

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Estimating Your Boone & Crockett Score The Boone & Crockett Scoring system has become the “gold standard” for measuring white-tailed deer antlers.

Although many people have tried, no scoring system has surpassed the Boone & Crockett (B&C) system for recognition and popularity. Even if you’re not familiar with how the scoring system works, you are likely familiar with the B&C scores that represent trophy animals.

For example, a B&C score of 170 inches for a typical white-tailed deer would make the all-time record book, and a score of 160 inches would make the buck eligible for the 3-year award. Similarly, for non-typical white-tailed deer, a buck scoring 195 inches would make the alltime record book, and a score of 185 inches would receive 3-year award recognition. If you or a friend has been lucky enough to harvest or find a buck that comes close to these minimum scores, you should locate an official Boone & Crockett measurer in your area. The Boone and Crockett website provides a list of official measurers located in each state.

But what if you want a simple estimate of B&C score without taking all the necessary measurements? Often times this scenario occurs among hunters or deer herd managers that wish to have an approximate score, or in many deer management programs, a manager may wish to monitor the average B&C score of

harvested bucks to determine the condition of the herd and if management activities are effective. Is the habitat management program working?

Did the average size of antlers increase after reducing the deer herd to below carrying capacity?

The Mississippi State University Deer Lab developed a few equations that may help.

Please keep in mind, this only an estimate of B&C score — to determine the true score, the antlers must be measured by someone familiar with the B&C scoring system. The MSU Deer Lab developed four equations using the sum of both main beams (inches), number of antler points, sum of both basal circumferences, and the inside spread. There’s an equation that uses only the sum of both main beams, but this is the least accurate equation.

The more measurement you can enter, the better. So, the best equation uses the sum of both main beams, number of points, sum of basal circumferences, and the inside spread.

The best results occur when the user enters the average antler measurements for a group of bucks. For example, if a manager was examining the harvest data from the previous hunting season they could take the average of all the main beams, circumferences, spread, and number of points from all the bucks harvested to determine the average B&C score. Or, a manager may want

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325-387-2223

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to estimate average B&C score by age class — for all the 3.5 year, 4.5-year, and 5.5-year bucks. In this context, the equations are most accurate.

If you have these antler measurements, visit the

5 6

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Daily 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

4

7

3

8

2

1

7 9

8

6

12

4

13

11

5

14 15

INSIDE SPREAD 16

3

10

2

1

Estimate Boone & Crockett Score from Simple Antler Measurements www.msudeer.com/estimateboonecrockettscore.asp LEAST ACCURATE EQUATION

Estimated B&C Score

115 Estimated B&C Score

109 Estimated B&C Score

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website listed below, enter the boxes at the bottom of the page, click on the calculate button and an estimate of your B&C score will be produced.

Remember — this is only an estimate.

113

= = =

Main Beams

36 Main Beams

36 Main Beams

36

Number of Points

8 Number of Points

8

MOST ACCURATE EQUATION

Estimated B&C Score

118

=

Main Beams

36

Number of Points

8

Circumferences

9

Circumferences

9

Inside Spread

16

Main Beams = Sum of left and right main beams in inches Number of Points = Total number of antler points 1 inches or longer. Includes typical and non-typical points.

Circumferences = Sum of left and right basal circumferences in inches.

Inside Spread = Inside spread on main beams in inches.

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Hog Tails Bring Big Bucks in Sutton County Feral hogs are recognized as one of the top predators in Sutton County and the surrounding areas destroying livestock, wildlife and property costing residents thousands of dollars every year.

For more than a decade the Sutton County Predator Association has been actively working to eradicate hogs through various methods including an annual Hot Tail Contest.

From October 1 to October 1 of each year, hunters of all ages take up arms in an effort to help decrease the number of Feral Hogs in the area and earn a chance to win prizes.

More than 1,000 hogs have been eradicated in Sutton County since January 1, 2016.

Local rancher and member of the SCPA said aside from other predators like bobcats, fox and coyotes, feral hogs pose a bigger threat because of their numbers. As if there are not enough hogs causing concern, Holman said he expects the number of feral hogs in Sutton County to explode within the next few years.

The reason is simple. As more and more land is sold and subdivided, new land owners are no longer practicing predator management, trapping nor

maintain necessary fencing to keep hogs out.

Since January of this year, Sutton County trappers have ensnared 142 hogs. That number is small compared to neighboring Edwards County where 3,018 hogs have been trapped so far, this year.

Those hogs are making their way to Sutton County lands.

Not only do hogs kill livestock the are responsible for a large number of deaths among wildlife like deer.

That makes them direct competition for hunters hoping to take home a trophy kills each season.

Mike Glover, President SCPM, said he thinks hog eradication is vital to the preservation of wildlife in the county. It is also a good opportunity for hunters to participate in some friendly competition.

“It’s very important to control the number of hogs in the area,” Glover said. “It is a year-round effort. The Hog Tail competition is good for predator management by eliminating large numbers of hogs and everyone who participates has a chance to win a prize.”

This year, fifteen participants submitted a total of 491

hog tails collected over the past twelve months.

Of those participants, the names of ten individuals were drawn to receive a cash prize.

In past years, three people meeting a specific set of criteria were chosen to receive prizes. This year’s contest required only that hunters turn in tails to earn tickets or chances to win one of ten cash prizes.

“The format was changed this year in hopes that more people would participate in the eradication efforts,” Glover said.

Hunters Kelsey Prescott and her father Jason both earned cash when their names

were drawn.

Prescott, age 8, her father and other members of her family frequent the Jerry Jones ranch, in Sutton County, where they killed hogs this past June.

In addition to the Prescott’s names, eight other individual names were drawn to receive a cash payout.

A small price to pay for the huge benefit of helping control the number of feral hogs in Sutton County.

A new hunting season has already begun and so have the continued efforts to control feral hogs as hunters keep in mind their chances to win next year’s top prize in the annual Hog Tail Contest.

2017 Sutton County Hog Tail Contest Winners

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

Kelsey Prescott David Knowles Reyes Lozano Quincy Crain John Goldston Tom E. Valliant Ben Hanson Tim Thorp David Peterson Jason Prescott

$1500 $500 $400 $300 $250 $225 $125 $100 $50 $50 Kelsey Prescott, 1st place winner of the Sutton County 2017 Hog Tail Contest.

NOVEMBER 2017 • 23

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Operation Orphans, Inc.

Making it Possible for Underprivileged Kids to Go Hunting The Board of Directors of Operation Orphans, Inc. has selected four dates for doe hunts during the forthcoming whitetail season. They are the following Saturdays: October 28 November 18, December 2 and January 6. The October date will be an all girls’ hunt, while the remaining dates will be all boys’ hunts.

This is the 58th year of the “Take a Child Hunting” program. To date, Operation Orphans, Inc. has hosted 18,474 youngsters with a total game harvest of 18,268 animals. Interested individuals are encouraged to check the Operation Orphans, Inc. web-site for information and videos of the program (www. operationorphans.org). During this program, landowners from the surrounding hill country allow children from child care facilities to harvest deer from their property.

Ranchers use the “Take a Child Hunting” program as a means to reduce the over population of does and feral hogs and to get buck to doe ratios in order. Landowners and hunters also participate in this program to help educate youngsters about the outdoors and provide a worthwhile outdoor adventure field trip. A summer fishing program was added in 2004. Thus far, 867 kids have participated. The hunting and fishing programs are offered free of charge to the children’s homes.

Operation Orphans, Inc. provides the children, guides, and food for the activity. The guides which Operation Orphans, Inc. provides have successfully completed the Hunter Safety Course. Some landowners wish to provide their own guides. One guide is assigned to each child. During the girl’s hunt, a woman or 24 • NOVEMBER 2017

a man/woman team serves as guides. All guides will have a background check. The meat which the childcare facilities receive from these hunts helps to relieve some of the burden of their rising food costs for the year. Some facilities use the meat in their outreach programs.

It all began when the late Gene Ashby, a State Game Warden, realized the Hill Country, primarily Mason and Llano counties, had an excessive deer population and needed a means to reduce the deer numbers. He approached some local ranchers with the idea of allowing orphans to harvest antlerless deer. They liked the idea, and Operation Orphans, Inc. came into being.

Housing the young hunters was a problem, so another idea was realized. With backing from sportsmen’s clubs throughout Texas, and other concerned individuals, a 320 acre tract of land on the North bank of the Llano River in Mason County was purchased from a generous landowner at a fraction of its market value.

Through donations, a kitchen/ dining hall, three dormitories, showering facility, and basketball court were built.

In 1994 an orientation and recreational building, The Milton & Janie Jordan Building, was constructed. It includes a clothing room which allows the kids to obtain boots, coats, jeans, and other clothing items that are donated by concerned individuals. The camp is managed by a supervisor who resides at the camp. Camp Gene Ashby, named in honor of the founder of Operation Orphans, is today a beautiful facility capable of housing and feeding 250 visitors.

During the first 20 years of the program only boys were

allowed to hunt. In 1980 a girl’s hunt was added to the program. Boys and girls fishing days were started in 2004.

It has been a pleasure offering additional opportunities for disadvantaged children to enjoy the outdoors.

Many volunteer organizations assist with the hunting and fishing programs. Several service organizations and caring individuals prepare the Friday evening meals.

Mason Girl Scout troops, 4-H, church groups, and others prepare the sack lunches which the children and guides enjoy Saturday during the hunts. Members of the Mason Boy Scouts and the Mason Volunteer Fire Department prepare the early Saturday breakfast.

The Directors of Operation Orphans, Inc. hope to make participation in the forthcoming hunts the best ever; however, this is dependent upon the number of ranchers who participate.

Individuals who lease property for hunting may also participate by hosting a child and thus give up one day and one deer for the benefit of allowing more children to partake in the outdoor activity. The children will arrive at Camp Gene Ashby from homes throughout Texas on the Friday preceding the Saturday hunt.

The youngsters will attend an orientation and safety meeting and will be given an opportunity to visit the “Clothing Room” where they can obtain boots and other clothing which will be theirs to keep. They will be housed, fed, and transported to the host ranches before daylight the following morning by guides from various Texas sporting clubs and other interested individuals.

Beginning in 1994, in an effort to maintain the highest safety standards, all individuals who wish to serve as guides with Operation Orphans, Inc. must show verification of successfully completing the Hunter Safety Course. All guides will also have a background check performed.

To further assist children who have participated with Operation Orphans, Inc., the Eddie Argo Scholarship was established. Boys and girls who participate with the hunting and fishing programs are able to apply to receive financial assistance with their education. Eddie Argo had attended the Operation Orphans, Inc. hunts as a child from a children’s home and then later became a director and volunteer of Operation Orphans, Inc. Operation Orphans, Inc. is a non-profit organization made up of a board of directors whose sole purpose is to serve less fortunate youngsters by offering them a positive outdoor experience. Any persons who are interested in assisting with the “Take a Child Hunting” program, please contact camp supervisors, Jerry or Lyla Crouch, at (325)347-6745, or write Operation Orphans, Inc., P.O. Box 535, Mason, Texas, 76856, e-mail: operationorphans@yahoo.com. Persons interested in guiding, please contact director Bob Moore, (903)258-4366, e-mail: fiddler22243@juno.com. The Operation Orphans, Inc. website: www.operationorphans. org. Please contact Jerry or Lyla Crouch if you wish to donate used coats, boots or hunting clothing for children ranging from 10 to 18 years of age.

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

ANITA B. HUDSON, BROKER 215 E. Main Street Sonora, Texas 76950

325-387-6115 info@msr-hp.com

E IC PR

D CE U D RE

3246+/- ACRES – SAWYER-JONES RANCH SUTTON COUNTY, TX

3,934 ACRES - SAWYER-CAMPBELL RANCH, SUTTON CO., TX - $4,307,730

Located 12 miles Southeast of Sonora on approx.

3246 acres, this long-time family owned ranch is a true one-of-a-kind! The Sawyer-Jones Ranch features beautiful rolling hills which previously served as a resort/ family meeting destination. This property features 3 houses, barn, shearing shed, shop with concrete flooring, large swimming pool, covered cooking pavilion, volley ball pit, putting green, and much more! The ranch features numerous wells, fences and abundant wildlife. Paved private road!!

Family owned property consists of 3,934 acres of native ranch land, low fenced and partially cleared which offers beautiful views of the rolling hills and abun-dance of wildlife. Ranch would be perfect for raising a variety of livestock or the hunting enthusiast. Game includes whitetail deer, turkey, dove, and quail. 3BR/1B home nestled among many large trees ideal for a ranch home or hunting camp centrally located on the ranch along with 6 water wells, 2 barns, numerous pipe working pens, livestock feeders and a shooting range. Can be divided. Some minerals are included!

Tracts available from 200 to 1000 acres. This property is located in Northern Val Verde County near the corner of Sutton, Crockett and Val Verde Counties. It features diverse topography with high bluffs and has many large live oak trees. Native and exotic wildlife includes White-tail deer, axis, aoudad, turkey, dove and quail. Call for de-tails and pricing.

LIVE OAK VALLEY RANCH OZONA CAMP VAL VERDE AND CROCKETT COUNTIES

ROLLING OAKS RANCH S/D – SUTTON CO. TX CALL FOR PRICING

794 ACRES – CROCKETT COUNTY, TEXAS $1,192,500

The Rolling Oaks Ranch offers hunting and ranching tracts ranging from just over 100 acres up to nearly 600 acres. These tracts are highlighted by their beau-tiful live oak cover, free ranging axis deer, and the active oil/gas production which creates an instant cash flow on your property. Water and electricity access are readily available and the road systems around this property are excellent. Don’t miss out on this unique offering located just 20 minutes outside of Sonora, TX.

This 794 acre ranch on HWY 163 is a great oppor-tunity to own property only 6 miles from Ozona. The property consists of 2 pastures and 1 trap, 2 water wells, 2 sets of working pens, shop and a barn with a 750 sq ft apartment. The apartment consists of a living room, kitchen, 1 bedroom and bathroom. A ca-liche pit is also located on the property and the mate-rial is currently producing income for the owner. This is an excellent livestock or hunting ranch with commercial potential. No restrictions!

Tracts available from 300 acres and up. The Southern half of this property is located in Val Verde County with the Northern half in Crock-ett County.

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LIVE OAK VALLEY RANCH SUTTON CAMP VAL VERDE COUNTY, TX

ACREAGE Sutton County 24.397 Acres - Adjoining City Limits, Unimproved. $100,000 Rolling Oaks Ranch S/D - Tracts from 100 – 600 acres. Call for pricing 105.38 Acres - N. Service Rd. to IH-10, Unimproved. 144,897 24+/- Acres - 3BR/2B Home, 2 Water Wells, Barn. $239,500 150.01 Acres - Rolling Hills Ranch S/D (Tract 5), Water, Electricity. PENDING 184.80 Acres - Rolling Hills Ranch S/D (Tract 4), Electricity. $300,000 178.86 Acres - Rolling Hills Ranch S/D (Tract 6), Double-Wide Home. PENDING 600 Acres - S. Service Rd. to IH-10, Near City Limits. $957,000 2424 Acres - FM 1691 (Bond Rd), 4 Water Wells, 3 Ponds & House. $3,600,000 3242 Acres - PR 44123, Homes, Barn, Shop, Pool. $3,950,000 3934 Acres - PR 4412, Minerals and Improvements. $4,307,730 Crockett County 30 Acres - Hwy 137, Frontage, Unrestricted. $150,000 99.5 Acres - Texas West Ranch S/D Tract 49, House, Water, Electric. $179,000

794 Acres - HWY 163, 2 Wells, Shop, Barn, Pens, $1,192,500 2004 Acres - CR 101, House, Barn, Pens. $2,104,935 Val Verde County 5.46 Acres (Rough Canyon at Lake Amistad), Commercial Lot. $85,000 26.27 Acres (Juno Rd), Rock House, Log Cabin. SOLD 1660 Acres (Juno Rd), High Fenced, 2 Houses, Exotics. SOLD Live Oak Valley Ranch - Sutton Camp Tracts from 200 Acres to 1000 Acres.

Call For Pricing Live Oak Valley Ranch - Ozona Camp Tracts from 300 Acres and up. $850$995/ac Other Areas 996 Acres - Schleicher Co., TexasHouse, 3 Water Wells, Minerals. $2,200,000 2440+/- Acres - Edwards County, Texas, 3 Water Wells, 4 Dirt Tanks. $4,880,000

View all listings at www.msr-hudsonproperties.com NOVEMBER 2017 • 25

THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Post-Hunting Season Management Can Help Deer Herds The end of deer season marks the beginning of winter management for landowners who monitor deer populations and want to maximize their potential, said a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.

The general Texas deer season closes Jan. 1 for hunters in the north zone, said Dr. Billy Higginbotham, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Overton, but there is still much to do in terms of managing deer herds throughout winter.

“January thru mid-March typically brings the hardest winter weather and ramps up the nutritional needs for white-tailed deer, Higginbotham said. “Native food supplies like acorns and forbs become scarce, and deer can experience nutritional stress during this time period.”

Bucks are still trying to recover from the rut, he said.

26 • NOVEMBER 2017

Fawns need access to good food sources to gain weight and survive and does bred in the fall will have increased nutritional needs as well.

Higginbotham said landowners with deer feeders on their properties should keep them running to provide supplemental feeding after deer season closes up to April 1 or until deer use stops.

“Corn is a good supplemental energy source for the deer leading up to spring greenup,” he said. “Despite a heavy acorn crop, those food sources will eventually be gone and the availability of supplemental feed can help.”

Higginbotham said landowners can also improve fall food plots by giving them a boost of nitrogen.

Small grain food plots, such as rye, wheat and oats, planted earlier in the fall may begin to show yellowing in late December and January,

Higginbotham said. If so, top dress plots with 200 pounds of 34-0-0 nitrogen/phosphorous/potassium fertilizer or equivalent per acre to boost production.

“Deer will continue to use these plots until springgreenup,” he said.

Excluder pens should be built around feeders or food plots if wild pigs are also on the property to prevent access to supplemental feed, Higginbotham said. Wild pigs reduce the available supplements for deer and their presence can cause deer to alter their behavior because they try to avoid wild pigs. Supplemental feed also improves the nutritional plane for wild pigs and increases sow breeding condition, which could mean more piglets and better survivability.

Higginbotham said landowners should consider conducting post-season deer

census sometime in January, but certainly before antlers are shed.

“Typically in East Texas you want to census deer populations by mid-February,” he said. “You may not be able to differentiate does from bucks that have shed their antlers beyond that point.”

Use the same census method employed prior to the season opener including spotlights or remote-sensing cameras to count deer numbers, Higginbotham said.

“There have been some outstanding bucks harvested this season in East Texas, but relatively mild weather conditions and an abundant acorn crop in many areas of the state likely limited deer movement, especially outside of the rut,” he said.

The end of deer season also provides opportunities for landowners to address wild pigs, Higginbotham said.

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

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THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Keeping Feral Hogs Away from Feeders Research conducted in the South Texas Brush country has found that exclosure fences are an effective way to keep feral hogs from eating corn and supplemental feeds that are intended for other animals. These fences protect corn and protein pellets from feral hogs and though labor intensive, they will pay for themselves in feed savings.

Wildlife managers and hunters manage many properties for whitetailed deer. They use corn as feed and as bait to attract them into hunting areas. They also provide supplemental feed such as protein pellets in order to increase antler scores, body weights, survival and fawn production.

Hunters and land managers put out thousands of tons of corn each year and though most of this corn is intended for deer, feral hogs consume a substantial portion of it (Fig. 1B). Hogs also are detrimental to other game species such as ground-nesting birds like quail and wild turkey.

Keeping Hogs Out of the Corn To determine whether fencing could exclude feral hogs while still allowing deer to enter the feeding area, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and AgriLife Extension Service erected various heights of welded-panel fences and studied their effectiveness.

The fences tested were 20, 28, and 34 inches tall.

The 20- and 28-inch fences used six 16-foot-long utility panels with 4-inch squares.

The 34-inch fence was constructed using graduated 28 • NOVEMBER 2017

hog panel, with the smaller openings closest to the ground. Where the panels overlapped, they were tied to steel T posts with bailing wire. T-posts were also placed halfway between each overlap. Each exclosure measured 28 feet in diameter and was placed around a broadcast corn feeder.

The study was conducted in two phases, one during the summer of 2010 and the other in the fall. Researchers used remote-sensing infrared cameras to monitor the feeders for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after setting the fences. They found that the 20-inch fence reduced feral hog access while the 28- and 34-inch-tall fences kept them out completely.

Adult deer visits to the feeders did not decline significantly after the fences were erected. The 2009 drought severely limited the fawn crop and may be the reason that no fawns visited the feeders before or after the fences were built. Also, fawns have a lower social status and may have been kept away by more dominant deer. As fawns grow larger, their access to feeding stations should increase.

Another study was conducted by the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and Texas A&M University–Kingsville. This study found that fences taller than 33 inches limited fawn access to feeding stations. This group also conducted a study on exclosures around protein feeders and suggested that fences be 80 by 80 feet or larger to prevent deer from crowding while feeding.

The materials for the 20-,

28-, and 34-inch fences cost $170, $187, and $190 respectively. The 28-inch fence required more labor because 5-foot-tall utility panels were cut in half to create the six panels needed for the circular fence.

Choosing the Right Height Remote-sensing infrared cameras can confirm if feral hogs are visiting your bait or feed stations. You can also inspect the area for hog tracks, rooting, rubs, and wallows. If hogs are a problem around your feeders, 28- or 34-inch-tall fences will keep them from reaching your corn. These two fence heights will keep out feral hogs but still allow adult deer to enter and feed.

However, fencing that is 34 inches high may be too tall for fawns. When fawns are present, the 20- and 28-inch fences are a better choice. If you do build a fence that is 34 inches tall, you can improve accessibility for fawns by cutting at least two slots that are 6 inches deep by 3 feet wide into the top of the fence.

Also, place the smaller openings of the graduated panel closest to the ground.

Building the Fence A 28-inch-tall fence requires the following: • Three 60-inch by 16-foot utility panels • Twelve 5-foot T-posts • Wire clips • T-post driver • Fencing pliers • Bolt cutters 1. Use the bolt cutters to cut each panellength-wise exactly in half.

2. Place the utility panels end to end to form an approximately 28-foot-diameter circle. Overlap the ends by one 4-inch square and push the cut end into the ground.

3. Fasten the ends together with wire clips.

4. Position the fence so the feeder is in the middle of the circle.

5. Drive steel T-posts on the outside of the circle in the middle of each panel and where they overlap.

6. Fasten the T-posts to the panels with wire clips.

Make sure the panels are flush to the ground and leave no gaps that hogs might dig under.

Deterring Feral Hogs Has Many Benefits In many parts of Texas, feral hogs damage landscapes, pollute the water, and hinder farming, ranching and wildlife management. They cause an estimated $52 million in damage to the state’s agriculture industry each year.

Because feral hogs are non-native and damage water quality and wildlife management, fencing them from supplemental feed should be part of every ranch management plan.

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

Field Care of Game How you care for game once it has been harvested will make a tremendous impact on how much you, your family and friends will culminate your hunt by enjoying a wonderful meal. Cut corners here and you will regret it later. Any complaints at the table about “gaminess” can be traced straight back to how you handled, or mishandled, your game after the harvest.

The three factors that can spoil meat through the spread of bacteria are: heat, moisture and dirt.

Field Dressing, whether in the field or back at camp, it should be done soon after harvesting the animal. It involves removing all the internal organs from the body cavity. This first step begins the cooling down of the meat. An experienced hunter should guide the novice in the

procedure. Plastic gloves are recommended when cleaning game animals, especially feral hogs. Some diseases or parasites can be transmitted by the animal’s blood into any nicks or cuts the hunter may have.

Packs of disposable gloves are readily available at pharmacies and large supermarkets.

They don’t take up much space and are easily carried in a pocket while hunting.

A good, sharp knife is needed in all phases of cleaning game animals. A sharp knife makes the work safer and easier since it is less likely to force the blade and lose control of the cut. Many experienced hunters have a sharpening device nearby to touch up the blade as needed.

Skinning It helps to hang a deer after field dressing to facilitate

draining any excess blood. Use a hose and water to help clean off excess blood but remember that moisture is one of the factors which contribute to bacteria growth, so dry the animal off well. Once the deer is hung, the next step is to remove the skin. Skinning the deer also helps cool down the meat.

Quartering Quartering when you butcher the deer by removing the forequarters (shoulders), the hindquarters (hams) and the backstraps from the carcass. By Texas law, you may not process the deer beyond quartering until you reach your final destination. This means you may not ‘bone-out” the shoulders and hams. You may take trimmings from the neck and ribs. Don’t forget the tenders on the inside of the chest cavity that parallel the backstraps.

Transportation Keep your quartered deer meat cool and dry by placing your meat in plastic bags inside an ice chest. Add some ice and you’re ready for the trip home. You will need to retain the tags, along with proper “evidence of sex” (head of a doe or antlers of a buck) to your final destination. Consult the regulations in the Outdoor Annual for more information. Under no circumstances should you ever transport game animals on the hood or roof of cars. This is a sure way to spoil the meat. It is also very likely to offend many of the non-hunting public. Most non-hunters are not against

hunting but witnessing this type of disregard for the animal could turn them against hunting. Just don’t do it!

Transferring Game It is possible to give game to other people when hunting.

The hunter that harvests the game must fill out and sign a Wildlife Resource Document.

Field Care of Game Birds Many hunters clean and dress their birds right after the hunt. It is important not to leave a pile of feathers and entrails at the hunting site or in town at a motel. Contain and dispose of feathers and entrails properly.

Remember: One fully feathered wing or head must remain attached to dressed waterfowl while being transported between the place taken and the personal residence (personal abode) of the hunter, the personal residence of another person receiving the dressed birds or a migratory bird processing facility. One fully feathered wing or head must remain attached to all migratory game birds imported from Mexico.

Plastic gloves and a good pair of game shears are helpful for the task of cleaning birds.

There are two basic styles of cleaning birds. First is picking the feathers and leaving the skin on.

The other method is called “breasting” where the skin is removed with the feathers intact, along with the back and legs, leaving only the breast meat attached to the breastbone.

Place your birds in plastic bags and then into a cooler with ice for transportation.

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THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Purple Paint Means NO TRESPASSING Question: We recently moved to rural Texas and I keep seeing purple paint on trees and fence posts. What’s with the purple paint?

Answer: In Texas, as well as several other states (Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, Arkansas), purple paint is a method of prohibiting trespassing. Basically, the purple paint is one alternative to posting “No Trespassing” signs.

The Texas Penal Code 30.05 provides that a person commits criminal trespass if he or she (1) enters or remains on the property of another; (2) without effective consent; and (3) the person had notice the entry was forbidden or received notice to depart but failed to do so.

The “notice” required in the third prong of this test may be given in various ways, including (a) oral or written communication from the landowner or someone with apparent authority to act for the landowner; (b) fencing or other enclosure obviously designed to exclude intruders or to contain livestock; (c) a sign or signs posted on the property or at the entrance to the building, reasonably likely to come to the attention of intruders, indicating that entry is forbidden; (d) the placement of purple paint marks on trees or posts on the property; or (e) the visible presence on the property of a crop grown for human consumption that is under cultivation, in the process of being harvested, or marketable if harvested at the time of entry. Essentially, any of these five options constitute notice to people that trespassing is prohibited.

In order to constitute the required “notice” that trespassing is prohibited, purple paint marks on posts or trees must meet the following criteria: (1) vertical lines of not less than 8 inches

in length and not less than 1 inch in width; (2) placed so that the bottom of the mark is not less than 3 feet from the ground or more than 5 feet from the ground; and (3) placed at locations readily visible to any person approaching the property and no more than 100 feet apart on forest land or 1,000 feet apart on land other than forest land.

Thus, in summary, purple paint is used to indicate that the public is not permitted to trespass on private property and is one of five alternative options for giving the notice required so that trespassers may be held criminally liable.

Source: Texas Agriculture Blog - Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

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THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS | HUNTING GUIDE

Hill Country Wildlife Management Historical Perspective The appearance of Hill Country rangelands is very different today compared to 150 years ago. The grasslands, which were dotted with an occasional live oak motte, are no more. Midgrass and tallgrass communities have been replaced with shortgrass communities (where grasses persist). Grasslands were replaced by parklands and woodlands. Ashe juniper has spread from the steep draws and canyons and exploited the uplands. Replacement of many deciduous trees (e.g., Spanish oak, madrone, Lacey oak) is nonexistent, and the species will die (locally) with the parent trees.

Climatic conditions in the Hill Country, and their highly variable nature, undoubtedly contribute to alterations of the landscape. While several factors contribute to long-term and large-scale landscape changes, recent changes in the appearance of the Hill Country are primarily a result of two factors: (1) overgrazing/over-browsing by domestic livestock and wild herbivores, and (2) fire suppression. Since the “Golden Period,” many rangelands have been overstocked with sheep, goats, and cattle. More recently, white-tailed deer and exotic ungulates have increased to numbers far surpassing the rangeland’s carrying capacity. Overstocking rangelands with livestock is largely a result of our naivete of the widely fluctuating patterns of climatic conditions in the Hill Country. Terry Jordan (1966) best describes this logic: If overall averages are considered, the western end of the German belt lies just on the humid subtropical side of the border with the semi-arid climates. However, as is often the case in climatic transition zones, the averages are misleading, for in any given 32 • NOVEMBER 2017

year the Texas Hill Country and the plains which border it may fall well within the area of semi-arid climates, and feel the hot, withering breath of the desert to the West. Average temperatures range from about 50° F. in January to over 80° F. in July and August, and the growing season is around 250 days.

Perhaps the most outstanding characteristic of the climate is the unreliability of precipitation. The for the average annual rainfall at Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, 27.5 inches, means very little when only 11 inches fall in one year and 41 inches the very next, as happened in 1956 and 1957. In the nineteenth century, two of the four census years used, 1859 and 1879, were marred by severe drought. The wet years served only to convince the inhabitants that the dry ones were exceptional strokes of bad fortune, while in fact they were part of the normal course of climatic events, to be expected in such a transition zone. As was often the case along the border of the semiarid lands in North America, the settlers did not realize or would not admit that they were on the rim of a desert.

European settlement thrived during the “Golden Period” when grasslands were lush and seemed capable of supporting an unlimited number of livestock. As Jordan wrote, “the settlers did not realize or would not admit that they were on the rim of a desert.” This attitude resulted in abused rangelands lacking adequate groundcover and available browse to support healthy livestock and wildlife populations.

Some may best know the Hill Country as the Deer Factory of Texas, as it supports the largest white-tailed deer population in the state.

Although deer hunting is a major industry in this region,

the area where Mason, Gillespie, and Llano counties converge supports the highest deer density in the nation, with one deer for every 2-3 acres. Several species of exotic ungulates also range freely throughout much of the central and western plateau. Deer densities of this magnitude are denuding rangelands.

A single-species approach to wildlife management also has led to large-scale landscape changes in the Hill Country. The expansion of Ashe juniper has had a tremendous impact on the ecosystem, causing a decrease in plant species diversity and an increase in soil erosion. Cedar brakes lose a significant amount of precipitation through transpiration and overland flow, leaving much less water for aquifer recharge. While overgrazing

and fire suppression have contributed to cedar invasion of upland sites, subsequent protection of Ashe juniper (for endangered wildlife) has compounded the problem. As the groundwater resources are being depleted, associated fauna is threatened.

The key to managing natural resources is to use a holistic approach, where all of “Leopold’s Tools” (cow, plow, ax, fire, and gun) are applied to develop and maintain healthy ecosystems. Single species deserve less attention, while the system in which they thrive requires more.

Knowing how that system functions, and applying the techniques with which that system developed (e.g., moderate cattle grazing, prescribed burning, hunting) is imperative for its continued existence.

Hill Country Wildlife District

The wildlife district for the Texas Hill Country is comprised of 25 counties stretching from the southern Pecos River valley eastward to the I-35 corridor north of San Antonio

Wildlife Management Contacts

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

TRACKING AFTER THE SHOT Tracking and Retrieving Your Game

After the Shot What you do after the shot can be just as critical to the success of your hunt as everything you have done before taking the shot. Retrieving your game, properly tagging if necessary, cleaning, transporting, processing and storage are all equally important components of the hunt.

Mark the Spot Before the shot is made, mark in your mind the exact location of animal. Notice any landmarks that will aid you to find that exact spot. If the animal runs off this will help you begin trailing. It is easy to become so focused on the quarry that you lose perspective of its location after the shot. Above there is a stump to the right of the buck, a distinctive tree to the left and a

row of cactus behind.

Watch and Listen Above is the classic broadside shot. A typical reaction by a deer to such a heart-lung shot is to jump or lurch straight up, then sprint off, usually in the direction they were facing when hit. Many times you can hear when the bullet strikes. Right after the report of the rifle, there will be an audible, “Thwack.” Also listen as the deer moves off into the brush. You may hear branches breaking and the body crashing into brush, giving you clues for directions to search later.

Wait a Bit If the deer has run off, mark the time then wait for at least 30 minutes to an hour before beginning to trail.

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After incurring a mortal wound, an animal, after a short run, will usually lie down, go into shock and die.

If you move in too quickly, the animal’s flight instinct will kick in. With a flush of adrenaline, that animal can jump up and continue running for several hundred yards. In dense cover, this can make finding and retrieving that animal very difficult, if not impossible. By simply waiting and being patient you will be better able to find the animal.

Trailing Wounded Game Just because an animal flees after being shot does not mean it is lost. There is a good chance you can recover the animal.

First go the exact spot that you remember where the animal stood when you shot. Look for hair and blood. Depending on the placement of the shot you may even find meat and bone. Even if you think you missed, you should check thoroughly for any sign of impact.

From there, move slowly in the direction the animal fled. Look for more blood on the ground but also look for blood higher off the ground on plants.

Many hunters carry toilet paper in the field with them.

It can come in handy to mark the blood trail. Tie a piece above or very near where you find blood sign. After marking several spots the toilet paper

“flags” will give you a good idea of the direction of flight.

Once the animal is located remove the toilet paper. If you miss one or two, the next rain will probably knock them down and in a short time they will disintegrate. Biodegradable orange tape is also available for use to mark trails.

Approach with Caution A wounded deer can be dangerous, especially its sharp hooves or antlers.

Approach from behind, watch the chest to detect any rise and fall from breathing. Notice the eyes. If the deer is dead usually the eyes will be open, motionless and with a glazed appearance.

Tag immediately Find the appropriate tag on your license, with a pen fill out the name of the property and the correct county then cut out the day and month.

Attach the tag to deer (or turkey) in a secure manner before field dressing, photos, or transporting. If you harvest a white-tailed deer, you must also completely fill out the White-Tailed Deer Log found on the back of your hunting license.

When taking photos clean up any blood, place the tongue back in the mouth, and position for good presentation.

If firearm is used in the photo, open action and point in a safe direction.

New Hunters Alert: Take Hunter Ed Now Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a Hunter Education Training Course, or be accompanied while hunting.

Minimum age of certification is 9 years of age.

EMERGENCY DIAL NOVEMBER 2017 • 33

Sutton County Hunting Contacts Day or Guided Hunts AM3 Ranches LLC David Wallace Dub Wallace Ranch LLC Evans Ranch Ft. McKavett Ranch Hudspeth River Ranch JCH Ranch LP Jimmy Cahill Larry Finklea Lazy Two Ranch Company, LLC McPherson 4M Hunting Rafter W Ranches Guided Hunts Red Mill Ranch WL Whitehead Ranch

Year-Round and Seasonal Leases 20 Hunter Lease Askew-Fisher Ranch Cleve T. Jones Ranch Condra Ranch CR Pfluger Ranch David Wallace Encino Blanco Ranch Evans Ranch Ft. McKavett Ranch JCH Ranch LP Joe Wallace Ranch Larry Finklea Lee Bloodworth Mark Hardeman Mark Whitehead Newby Ranch LTD Reinhart Ranch Shurley Elbow Lake Ranch Shurley Ranch Tittle Ranch Valliant Ranch Wallace Quin Sabe Ranches X Bar Ranch

Spring Turkey Hunting Condra Ranch CR Pfluger Ranch David Wallace Evans Ranch Ft. McKavett Ranch Hudspeth River Ranch Indio Ranch JCH Ranch, LP Larry Finklea McPherson 4M Hunting Newby Ranch, LTD Rafter W Ranches Guided Hunts Valliant Ranch X Bar Ranch

HUNTING GUIDE | THE DEVIL’S RIVER NEWS

The Mystique of the Texas Horned Toad Have you ever heard the legend of “Old RIP”? Well, in 1897 a horned toad was placed in the cornerstone of the courthouse in Eastland, Texas, as it was being sealed. People remembered the event, but no one thought much of it until February 18, 1928, when the courthouse was demolished to make way for a new model. Three-thousand people were on hand to watch the opening of the old cornerstone. Legend has it that inside lay the horned toad — flat and covered with dust — and ALIVE! After 31 years! If you don’t know it already, it is a hilarious story that you should Google just for fun.

Old Rip, real or fake, makes a wonderful story. There is no debate, however, over the existence of the legendary reptile itself, the Texas Horned Frog, the Horny Toad, or officially, the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum).

The Texas horned lizard, official state reptile of Texas, is a flat-bodied and fierce-looking lizard. The head has numerous horns, all of which are prominent, with two central head spines being much longer than any of the others.

Horned lizards are named for the crown of horns found on their heads, the size and number of which vary

among species. Although often called horned toads, horny toads, or even horned frogs because of their wide, flattened bodies (their scientific name Phrynosoma actually means “toadbody”), they are not amphibians like other toads, but are reptiles with scales, claws and young produced on land. Three horned lizard species call Texas home, with the most widespread being the Texas Horned Lizard, or the familiar “horny toad.”

• Round-tailed Horned Lizard (Phrysonsoma modestum) Horns: four horns of medium length lined up on the back of the head Range: rocky areas in the western third of Texas • Greatern Short-horned Lizard (Phrysonsoma hernandesi) Horns: robust head that is wider than long and heart-shaped, back of the head is tipped only with small horns Range: only higher elevations, in the forests of the Davis and Guadalupe mountains of West Texas • Texas Horned Lizard (Phrysonsoma cornutum) Horns: two prominent horns at the rear and center of the skull Range: most of Texas, though now nearly gone from the eastern third

Texas Horned Lizards have some amazing defenses. Its horny appearance and coloration helps it to blend into sparse vegetation. Its horns may make it less palatable. It can also inflate itself to a larger apparent size.

Finally, the horned lizard is renowned for its ability to shoot a stream of blood from its eyelid. Don’t mess with horny toads!

Everyone loves horny toads, but for many Texans the fierce-looking yet amiable reptile is only a fond childhood memory. The Texas horned lizard currently is listed as a threatened species in Texas (federal category C2).

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has initiated a Texas Horned Lizard Watch. By participating, you can take part in an effort to better understand why our official state reptile is doing well in some locations and what factors may have contributed to its decline in other areas. All the information you need to participate can be found at: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/ wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_ trackers/horned_lizard/watcher/ or by contacting: Texas Nature Trackers, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744, (800) 792-1112 ext. 8062, or tracker@tpwd.state.tx.us .

NOVEMBER 2017 • 35

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