Industria Sportsman
MARCH 2017
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A Shot of Texas Magazine™ MARCH 2017 A Shot of Texas Magazine “Where Outdoors Meets Industryâ€?
Our Staff
Teffany and Robert Kahn Founders/ Co-Editors
CONTENT 6. Comancheria Whitetails by Jim Miller
10. Webster Eagles by Paul White
14. USS Illinois - None More Brave by Butch Ramirez
18. My Pants Saved My Butt! by Robert Kahn
Kendall Rae Kahn Camo Girl Product & Ranch Reviews
Rod Daigle Senior Industrial Editor
Butch Ramirez Wildlife Photographer
Dan Verrips Wildlife Photographer
Larry Weishuhn ‘Mr Whitetail� Field Writer
Shamus Dartanyon
22. The Investment of a Lifetime by Jeanine Johnson
Advertisers List Issue 28 Air Logistics Capital Farm Credit Diamond Refractory Grizzly Coolers +5 2XWÂżWWHUV HY-BON / EDI Knife & Fork Ranch Larco Ind LE Fence Medical Plaza Mobile Meyer Custom Boots
26. Big Trout
by Captain Nathan Beabout
29. Livestock Grazing & The Sage-Grouse by SCI Foundation
30. March Madness!!!
by Capt. Chance Angel
MG Arms N & M Sportsman Adventures NuWave Ohmstede Performance Top Drives Roseland Oil & Gas
34. Archery, Hunting & Fishing by Trevor Sides
SUPERHEAT FGH Triple C Project Services Tubal Cain Holdings Woods Cycle Country Wilderness Athlete
Political Editor
Jim Miller Bow Hunting Editor
Efrain Martinez Safety Editor
Terry Blaukamp Shooting Editor
Jeanine Johnson Product Review Editor
C 2014 A Shot of Texas Magazine. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA. For current Media Kit, advertising or questions about our Traveling Trade Show contact Rob Kahn. Email rob@ashotoftexas.net 2IÂżFH RU &HOO
A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 5
COMANCHERIA WHITETAILS by Jim Miller
ne late night, I was sitting LQ P\ RI¿FH ZKHQ RQH RI WKRVH FDOOV FDPH LQ ZLWK QR ,' ZKR ZDV FDOOLQJ" , GHFLGHG WR JR DKHDG DQG WDNH WKH FDOO DQG LW ZDV IURP .< 0F1HWW :LOGOLIH ELRORJLVW IRU WKH ,QIDPRXV %$5 121( +817 &203$1< $IWHU YLVLWLQJ ZH IRXQG RXW ZH NQHZ D ORW RI GLIIHUHQW SHRSOH (VSHFLDOO\ P\ ROG (GLWRU 9LGHRJUDSKHU 5XVW\ :HHG .< ZDV FDOOLQJ PH ZDQWLQJ WR NQRZ LI , ZRXOG OLNH WR FRPH XS ¿OP KXQW ZLWK %DU 1RQH +XQW &RPSDQ\ 0\ DQVZHU ZDV ³RI FRXUVH´ ZKR ZRXOG QRW OLNH WR KXQW RQH RI WKH SUHPLHU /RZ IHQFH :KLWHWDLO UDQFKHV RI 7H[DV :HOO OHW PH WHOO \RX WKH QH[W WZR PRQWKV DEVROXWHO\ GUDJJHG E\
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Finally, the date had arrived for us to travel to the “Tepee Ranchâ€?, and I was truly excited to be able to go hunt this fabled Ranch. We would be hunting where once buffalo, Antelope, Whitetail, Mule deer, and wild horses roamed. Along with the Comanche Indians, in this COMANCHERIA, were the “Pehnahterkah or better known as the “Honey Eatersâ€?. Later the Spanish referred to this band as “Southern Comanche’sâ€? These wander domain was the broad Edwards Plateau, both its High Mesas in the West and its Southern and Eastern timbered fringes where they found the trees and hone that gave them their Comanche name. This name, however was misleading, as the principal food of the Pehnahterkuh, as of all Comanche’s was the Buffalo. Today this 20,000 acre low fence cattle, Oil and hunting ranch, is loaded with monster free ranging whitetails. As we drove up to the Ranch house Ky McNett, the Wildlife Manager and Tuffy Wood the Ranch ManDJHU FDPH RXW WR PHHW XV :KDW WZR ÂżQH Gentlemen! We did our visitation, talking about Whitetail deer and their ground rules. Here’s some amazing information, they do not shoot any young deer! A Buck has to EH D PLQLPXP RI ÂżYH \HDUV ROG 7KH\ ZDQW their bucks to grow up and be able to meet 6 Shot of Texas Magazine™
th their i potential. t ti l Aft After a greatt lunch, l h cooked kd by Tuffy’s Dad Bie Wood and as they say in West Texas he did put on the “Feed Bagâ€? lunch was awesome. After much visitation, I went out set up my Hips “Herd Bullâ€? target and started to shoot. Let me tell y’all I was experiencing a severe problem called “TPâ€? I hate to even mention the real name “Target Panicâ€? if you never had it pray you don’t! They say it’s caused by the fear of missing! Here’s how bad it was! I would put my pin on the target and I would slap the trigger on my release. I have tried everything to get out of this but; it kept haunting me. After about 20 arrows I think I was ready? KY, told me it was time to go, so my camera man and I was out the door with visions of taking a huge 8 pointer they had on camera that was easily in the 160 class! Yes, you read right a monster 8 pointer. :H WUDYHOHG WR WKH ÂżUVW VHW XS DORQJ D IRRG plot, we was seeing lots of Mesquite, some Cedar, Hackberry, Tasajillo Cactus, plenty of Prickly Pear Cactus, Huisache & Acacia all excellent natural foods with plenty of protein in most of the plants that I named. We seen Blue Quail, BowWhite Quail, Cottontail Rabbits plus Jack Rabbits, Javelina, and
llots t off Deer D hheaded d d tto our Ground G d Blind Bli d we planned to hunt for the afternoon. The tempts. Were in the high 80’s / NNW wind 14 MPH, on a Dark Moon with a Peak Game Movement of 3:56 PM? As we crawled into our ground blind, we sprayed down with the best cover scent in the world “Nose Jammerâ€? within minutes after getting settled in (KY, my Guide/ Josh Cameraman & Myself) we had a nice young 8 pointer to come out into the food plot and start feeding. By 5:40 PM ZH KDG D Ă€RFN RI 7XUNH\V WR PRYH LQ DQG they went to the feeder and they were like that bird on the dashboard on you truck that is always dipping his head! Those Turkeys SHFNHG XS HYHU\ JUDLQ RI FRUQ LQ QR WLPH Ă€DW and then moved off. Not long after the turkeys left we had a huge 8 pointer to come out, per KY this buck was a brother to the Buck we were hunting. KY advised this buck was off limits as he was only a 4 year old and would let him grow for another couple of years. As we started to get into “Magic Timeâ€? last half hour before dark the food plot had a ton of deer out feeding we had bucks within 15 yards of the blind and never paid attention to the Blind. The evening was moving quickly, lots of big bucks in the food plot
but nothing close enough to get a shot. As the Sun set behind a Butte “small Mesaâ€? it was absolutely beautiful, so many colors “Gods paint brush was at workâ€? What a way to end the day, and then back to the Ranch and another huge meal. There’s something about an alarm clock going off @ 4:00 AM, you realize that you spent “WAY TOO MANY HOURSâ€? talking about Whitetail Deer and not enough time sleeping in a hunting camp. Ky advised we was going to different blind on top of the butte that the sunset behind last night, this area was a great for bucks to move up off of the food plots, get a drink of water from a windmill and then bed down for the day! 6XQULVH WXUQHG LQWR D ÂżHU\ 5RVHWWD RI SLQNV oranges, blues & purple hues! God was busy with his paint brush again. We seen lots of bucks, had some really good bucks that was most likely shooters but; we had a lone doe, that was just plain goofy! She would blow and snort at anything! We knew she could not smell us. She was just plain nuts! As we viewed all of the deer, KY advised that the ranch had a 1 to 1 doe buck ratio! Unbelievable for a low fence operation. That my friends take a lot of work and management to keep those kinds of ratios. After lunch, I went out to practice “it was a pain in the buttâ€? I was having major problems, not only suffering from “TPâ€? I was having Bow problems, I had started shooting D QHZ ERZ DQG KDG ]HUR FRQÂżGHQFH LQ WKH bow! Then I had sight problems, my sight had worked loose and major vibrations, then my arrow rest moved and that created Arrow Ă€LJKW SUREOHPV , UHDOO\ ZDQWHG WR DVN Âł:KDW else can happen?â€? I knew better! For I would ÂżQG RXW ODWHU That afternoon, we were back in a different blind and Deer everywhere; we had bucks all around us. In fact we had one nice 8 point buck to come to our blind downwind VQLIÂżQJ WKH DLU WKDQN JRG IRU 1RVH -DPmer) as the buck walked around behind the blind and actually put his nose against the wall he tried to push the blind over! Let me tell you, we all had the “BIG EYEâ€? thinking any moment that Buck was coming thru the EDFN GRRU $V LI VDWLVÂżHG WKDW EXFN WXUQHG around and walked off! Around 6:00 PM we had a really nice 8 point to walk down the edge of the food plot; at 25 yards KY advised “take that buckâ€? he’s a shooter! Well I had my bow up, drew and settled the pin right behind the front shoulder and shot! To this day I don’t know what happened? As the arrow went thru both hams? I was sick!
There was lots of blood everywhere we watched the buck walk across the food plot then into the brush. We sat and talked about the shot and the hit, the decision was to wait till the next morning. And pick up the blood trail again. The next morning we blood trailed that buck for over 1 & 1/2 miles and QHYHU GLG ÂżQG WKDW EXFN , KDG HJJ on my face and felt like, crap! We hunted several different placess after that hunt and just could not J ÂżQG WKH %XFN ZH ZHUH ORRNLQJ for! Finally on my last day we went to an area that was in an Oil Patch! We crawled into a blind that had been set up a couple of days before I arrived. We had to walk right past a “Pump Jackâ€? and it was noisy but; KY advised don’t worry the deer are used to the noise. Well let me tell you as ole Saul poked his head up over the mesas in the East we had deer all over us. After 2 hours of deer walking around KY would say, “No, too youngâ€? “No, too Bigâ€? We was hunting an Old 8 Point Management %XFN :HOO ÂżQDOO\ DQ 2OG SRLQWHU ZDONHG in, scent checking all of the doe that was in feeding. Finally that buck gave me a quartering away shot @ 23 yards. I settled the HHA Sight pin on the back rib and drove that Victory 300 RIP completely thru that buck; he never knew what hit him! Everyone was excited, we had a great management buck in front of us, and I had made a good shot. We waited for about 1 hour and I FDQ WHOO \RX ZH ZHUH DOO UHDG\ WR JR ÂżQG WKDW buck. We blood trailed that buck for about 90 yards and found my arrow drenched in lung blood. We tracked the buck maybe another 60 yards and found him piled up near a brush pile. Everyone was relieved and happy that an old Monarch had hit the dirt.
ll nice i Buck B k 7 years old, ld 8 This was a really point, and 129 5/6 inches. I was truly happy with that buck. If you’re ever interested in hunting with Bar None Hunting Company feel free to contact Tuffy or Ky to book your hunt. I also know they book out very quickly, so if you want a Pope & Young buck this is the place WR JR DQG IXO¿OO \RXU GUHDPV ZLWK D ERZ Thank You Tuffy & KY for offering a great hunt also being able to see some interesting places where the Comanche’s tread in the old days. Ladies & Gentlemen, this was a dream hunt come true. To Book a Hunt with BAR NONE HUNT COMPANY CONTACT: Tuffy Wood: phone: 325-617-5988 / email: tuffywood@barnoneranch.com
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WEBSTER EAGLES E\ 3DXO :KLWH
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10 Shot of Texas Magazineâ„¢
A couple of days later we saw them perched in a much closer tree and then we began wondering. They sure did look more like eagles than Osprey. Then the next day they were sitting in a tree in our back yard and that was when we accepted the fact that indeed they were eagles. Naturally, we were tickled pink since we had never seen an eagle in person and eagles have been non-existent here in South Texas. We began snapping pictures and shooting video enthusiastically. About 4 days before Christmas they began sitting in the very tall pine tree right in front of our garage. They would sit there most of the day watching our coming and going and yard activities, not seeming afraid at all. Then, on Christmas day they began bringing sticks and dried grass to the 4 way fork high in that pine tree, building a nest. We spotted one of them picking up a stick in the back yard, down by the water. Our property is in the city limits of Webster but way out from the main part of town, on sort of a country road. It is not a regular subdivision, the houses are all on 2 or 3 acre lots. Our property is waterfrontage on Clear Creek bayou, which is 150’ wide. The eagles selected this location because of the abundant supply RI ¿VK $OVR RXU SLQH WUHH LV WKH WDOOHVW one for miles around. We got pictures and video of them picking up sticks in the yard and began bringing suitable sticks from the front yard to scatter down there for them to get. Since we could not see into the nest 65 ft up, we did not know when the egg was laid or hatched. We suspected LW EXW GLG QRW FRQ¿UP WKH SUHVHQFH RI the baby until it was half grown and tall enough to be visible above the edge of the nest. We could only enjoy them from ground level as the chick grew to IXOO VL]H OHDUQHG WR À\ DQG EHFRPH VHOI VXI¿FLHQW (YHQWXDOO\ LI ÀHGJHG WKDW LV ÀHZ DZD\ WR VHHN D OLIH RI LWV own somewhere. Once they were no longer responsible the parents migrated away for the summer, as Bald Eagles do. In Nov. 2014 they returned to the nest and began bringing more sticks
and grass to refurbish the nest. Again we were not privileged to see the laying of eggs (2 the second year) or the hatching and caring for the chicks. We Only watched the coming and going, EULQJLQJ ÂżVK IRU WKH EDEHV ,Q GXH course the chicks grew up, learned to Ă€\ DQG Ă€HGJHG QHYHU WR EH VHHQ DJDLQ By now we had become determined to get a video camera installed up there so that we could watch the entire nesting cycle. We bought a PTZ video camera (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) and I began checking with rental companies to rent a manlift machine to go up that high. I was shocked that the rental was $900 per day, kinda out of the retired persons budget. But then I lucked out. The owner of Clear Lake Rentals got interested and enthusiastic about the project, since my plan was to record video clips and post them on Facebook. He really wanted to watch that. So he donated the use of a manlift, brought it down and I was able to install the camera myself. Fortunately the pine is actually a twin pine with the two trees about 8 ft apart at that high level. It was perfect because I could put the camera in the other tree about 10 ft higher for the perfect viewing angle. So, when the eagles returned in Nov. and began the whole cycle over again I recorded several clips each day and put them on Facebook. Word spread by word of mouth and we soon gained a huge following. :H KDG VRPH WHFKQLFDO GLIÂżFXOWLHV a couple of times and lost the video picture. Again, we lucked out. One of the excited new watchers was a man Named Brian Greely, the owner of the premier security company in the state, Texas Surveillance and Security Co. He sent his technicians down and they Âż[HG WKH SUREOHP RQ ERWK RFFDVLRQV that we had trouble. We and our “watchers groupâ€? got to see every detail of the cycle this time, the laying of the eggs, parents taking turns sitting on the eggs during the incubation period, hatching of the eggs, care and feeding Of the chick. Watching them grow up is a joy. When they got to be full size watching them standing in the
QHVW ÀDSSLQJ OLNH KHOO OHDUQLQJ WR JHW VRPH OLIW $V WKH\ JDLQHG VRPH SUR¿ciency, the chicks progressed to short WR IW ÀLJKWV WR WKH FORVHW OLPE DQG then farther and farther out. Eventually they were going on real ÀLJKWV DQG RI FRXUVH WKH\ ¿QDOO\ OHIW home and the parents left for the summer. During the nesting cycle there was a new problem that arose. When the manufacturer of the camera assembled the unit and sealed the dome, apparently they sealed some very humid air inside the dome. Whenever there was a change of weather the dome would fog up making visibility poor. We needed to bring it down to replace the KXPLG DLU ZLWK HLWKHU GHKXPLGL¿HG DLU or some inert gas such as Argon. I hated to impose on the rental company’s generosity for a third time. Then I found out that the City of Webster has a manlift machine that will do the job. It sits around unused most of the time. So I sent an e-mail to the mayor and each council member explaining the whole story and asking if the city could loan me the machine. They were all excited about this and quickly approved the project. A city crew brought the machine down and helped to get the camera down. By the time it was time to go back up for reinstallation Mr. Brian Greely got involved again. He sent his video technician, Taylor Bean, down with a top of the line surveillance camera and recording software for my computer which would record round the clock video of the nest activities. This system is just like the big companies have for their security surveillance. We can select segments from the recording and put them on Facebook. This is a vast improvement over the previous setup. So, as of now we are watching the incubation phase of two eggs, which will hatch around Valentine’s day. 7KLV ZHHN WKH $%& DI¿OLDWH .75. ch 13 of Houston got on board and did a 6:00 o’clock news story down here and they are following our story with enthusiasm. As a result a huge new audience of watchers have gotten on board. We look forward to a lot of fun this spring. A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 11
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Illinois
When I received a call from Commander Dinis Pimentel, he expressed interest in using my photo as part of the commissioning of the USS Illinois that was to be commissioned on Oct. 29, 2016. As you can imagine, my first question was “what does a White tailed buck have to do with a nuclear submarine”? He then went on to explain that the new submarine is sponsored by First Lady Michelle Obama. The sub is named after her home state of Illinois. As it turns out, the
white tailed deer is the state’s official animal and serves as the state symbol. The USS Illinois is the 13th Virginia class submarine to be commissioned. With all that in mind, the commissioning committee had searched for a 13 point buck to fit the bill. An internet search directed them to several photos including mine, which I had posted on Fineart America, a photography website, and was appropriately titled 13 point buck. My photo was chosen to represent the crest. The A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 15
crest is comprised of several items of significance to the State of Illinois. Above the crest appears the starboard aspect of a Virginia class submarine, and standing atop is a 13 point white-tailed deer, each point representing the 13 Virginia class submarines. The deer also represents the strength of the state and the Navy. My family and I were invited and attended several of the commissioning events in Groton, CT on October 28th and 29th. At the Commanders reception, I was asked to speak and also presented a 20� x 30� canvas gallery print of the image to the ships commanders. The image shows the magnificent buck along with the ships motto, None More Brave, and the ships ID. During the speech, I introduced my dad, Fidel Ramirez Sr., which is a Navy veteran, and served as a sonar man on the USS Chauncey. First Lady Michelle Obama was a featured speaker at the Commissioning ceremony. I am honored that my photo was chosen to be used in such a historic event and that we were there in person to be part of commissioning. My family and I met so many great people in the process, including many older Navy veterans, and current servicemen and women. The Navy will use the photo as they see fit, for the entire life of the USS Illinois, which is expected to be 33 years. This event has sparked some greatly appreciated atten attention and recognition of my passion for wildlife photo photography, especially that of the majestic whitetaile deer. The City of Laredo, TX. presented tailed w me with a really nice certificate of recognition at the Oct. 17th city council meeting, which I will alwa treasure. A very special thanks to Mayor always Pete Saenz and Blasita Lopez. I was also notified that Congressman Henry Cuellar will be submitting an official Congressional record recognition m honor. He will read the proclamation at in my u an upcoming session of congress and will become par of the Congressional Record. In 2011, the part Cit of Laredo presented President Obama with a City can canvas gallery wrap of the same image as a gift fro our city. This image has been on several from ma magazine covers, including the cover of Cola Bl Blanca magazine, as winner of their annual photog tography contest. As a photographer, my goal is to promote and sh share the beauty of God’s creatures and the natura world around us, as seen through my eyes, ral in hope of creating a positive awareness and a li lifelong connection. %XWFK 5DPLUH] EXWFKUDPLUH]SKRWRJUDSK\#\DKRR FRP EXWFK#EXWFKUDPLUH]SKRWRJUDSK\ FRP
16 Shot of Texas Magazine™
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MY PANTS by Robert Kahn
18 Shot of Texas Magazineâ„¢
SAVED MY BUTT!
I have alway been a fan of having the right equipment for wilderness hunting. HunWLQJ ĘŽVKLQJ RU KLNLQJ LQ WKH ZLOGHUQHVV DOORZV QR URRP IRU HUURUV DQG WKHUHIRUH EHLQJ SUHSDUHG LV RI SDUDPRXQW LPSRUWDQFH 6R ZKDW KDSSHQV ZKHQ \RX ĘŽQG D QHZ use for the right equipment and what if that equipment literally saves your butt.
This what happened to me last October in the wilderness outside Stanley Idaho. My buddy and I spent the day scouting for mules and had worked our way to the tallest outcropping of rock for a good vantage point. While we glassed around we actually saw the trail way down below that led to our camp . We were using binoculars of course but even with optics’s the winding dirt road looked like a simple jog down the hill. I was comforted in the fact that our walk back would be a breeze. We had seen several mule deer but none worth the shot. This was especially true being that it was the first day of our hunt. We continued glassing until a couple of hours or so before it got dark. We wrapped it up and prepared to pack back down . My buddy headed off , when I stopped him and said “ Lets take the easy way dude� and pointed to that little road down the back side of the slope. “I don’t know about that� he replied “this topo map sure has these lines drawn tightly together�. this was a key statement in that moment and it completely passed me by .The thing about being a tad A.D.D is that you don’t ask pertinent or detailed questions. One might have said “ what do you mean tight lines�? We headed down the back side although my buddy Monty Janak had expressed some reservations. At the time I was 56 and Monty was about 10 years younger. Maybe he figured that if the old man wanted to try it then he would just go along. all went well for about twenty minutes. The slope became suddenly much steeper and the fallen leaves made the descent very slippery . We had already lost sight of the road but our general direction was on course. For a moment we wanted to head back up but we were quickly losing light and the temperature was dropping to below twenty degrees. If we did make it back up we would then need to find our way in the pitch dark..Surely the road we had seen from high above would soon be upon us. We kept on for another half hour. The sun was long gone and there was no way that we are going to make it down anytime soon. Rocks were covered in snow and leaves and the angle was so steep that there was no way we were walking down on two feet. All we could do was sit down and slide our way down on our backsides. At this point I was a bit scared. There was no site of the road and the woods had grown thick and tall. When we felt we had reached the bottom it turned out to be the edge of a cliff. At that point we were able to stand but only because we had the opportunity to walk parrallel to the cliff. for a quarter mile we walked and then it was back on our butts again.
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A Shot of Texas Magazineâ„¢ 21
The Investment of a Lifetime The call of the open road seems to get stronger the older I get. When we were young, we camped in tents until we could afford a nice, used truck and camper. We were in heaven when we bought that rig. We were all of 25 years old and were on top of the world! But the older we get, the more we desire the comforts of home, even when we are away from home.
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o satisfy this need, we bought an enormous 5th wheel trailer. It suited our purpose at the time. It’s a toy hauler, so we can take our two Harleys with us wherever we go and the garage area doubles as an extra bedroom. Of course, pulling that big old beast, setting up, breaking down and hooking back up to haul her home are not how we want to spend our leisure time. As we plan to travel much more in the coming years, perhaps even full time, we have come to the realization that what we really need is a motorhome - and not just any motorhome, but a 40 some odd foot diesel pusher! This is not a purchase for the faint or heart (or pocket book!). We are looking at units that cost more than what we paid for our house, which we’ll not doubt have to sell to buy the thing! When you are looking to make an investment of this magnitude, research is the key to success. We did tons of on-line research, including reading all the owner forums and product ratings. We also talked to people in the RV Resorts where we stay in our trailer. People are always happy to tell you about their rigs and even show you around. While anecdotal evidence is not reliable, it never hurts to hear what issues your fellow RVers have had.
After months of research, we had narrowed our choices to 3 brands, each with it’s own unique set of plusses and minuses. No unit is perfect, but we had a wish list as well as a list of deal breakers! Our research done, we bought a couple of plane tickets and headed off to Elkhart, Indiana, the center of the world when it comes to RV production. We wanted to actually see how these units DUH SXW WRJHWKHU QRW MXVW WKH ÀDVK\ H[WHULRU EXW WKH DFWXDO ERQHV RI the behemoths! 2XU ¿UVW VWRS ZDV WKH -D\FR (QWHJUD IDFWRU\ $V PDQ\ EUDQGV KDYH FRQVROLGDWHG LQ UHFHQW \HDUV LWV QRW XQFRPPRQ WR ¿QG WKH brand you like now under the umbrella of a different parent comSDQ\ ,Q IDFW -D\FR (QWHJUD ZHUH DFWXDOO\ UHFHQWO\ SXUFKDVHG E\ Thor Industries (not to be confused with Thor Motorcoach). Thor Industries is an investment group and while it also owns Thor MoWRUFRDFK WKH\ VHHP WR EH OHDYLQJ -D\FR DQG (QWHJUD WR EXLOG DV WKH\ always have. Since we also visited the Thor Motorcoach factory, we could see stark differences. Our trip through the Entegra production line was fascinating. We were the only people scheduled at our tour time, so we truly had one-on-one attention. Our guide gave us very detailed information RQ HDFK FRPSRQHQW VWDUWLQJ ZLWK WKH FKDVVLV WKURXJK WR WKH ¿QLVKHG product. This level of detail was helpful as it equipped us compare each model as we went to the next two factories. Entegra builds a small number of coaches per year, so they are able to focus their WHDP RQ D VSHFL¿F PRGHO EHIRUH PRYLQJ RQ WR WKH QH[W 7KH DUHD we visited only builds diesel pushers. Other factories mixed up the models going through the line at any one time. The Entegra line ranges from about $383,000 to $670,00, depending on number of axels, horse power, features, etc. Our second tour was through the Newmar Factory. Newmar builds coaches ranging from $230,000 all the way up to around $900,000. If you are looking for something on the higher end, you’ll be looking at Newmar. While the opening price point is a bit lower than Entegra, many of the items you would expect are ‘optional’, and therefore drive up the price. In the Entegra, just about everything is included. If you really want to go crazy and pay ¿JXUHV \RX¶OO QHHG WR ORRN DW WKH KLJKO\ EHVSRNH EUDQGV 3UHYRVW Newell or the Texas based Foretravel. Our last stop was at the Thor factory. This tour was not as in-depth, but mainly because we visited later in the day after many of the workers had already gone home. We felt the quality of the Thor was not quite up WR SDU ZLWK WKH RWKHU WZR DOWKRXJK LQ D IHZ VSHFL¿F DUHDV WKH\ GLG H[FHO This was just our opinion, but you have to go with your gut on some of this as a lot of the technology is over our heads. We did really like a new feature they were just starting to build into several models. It’s a drop-down bed above the front seats. At this point, no one but Thor offers this feature. It is highly tempting as we RIWHQ KDYH RXU DGXOW FKLOGUHQ DQG RU JUDQGFKLOGUHQ ZLWK XV 7KH 7KRU coaches ranged from $213,000 to $400,000. My intention here is not to sell or recommend any particular brand, so I won’t say which coach we decided on, but I will tell you that seeing the production, the features and the quality of each coach was very helpful in making our ultimate decision. We had visited many RV dealers and seen the completed coaches on the lots, heard each sales pitch and the reasons each dealer thought that theirs was the better coach. This had left us nothing but confused. We now feel we have a much better handle RQ WKH ¿QHU SRLQWV DQG ZKHQ \RX DUH PDNLQJ DQ LQYHVWPHQW RI WKLV VL]H the price of a couple of plane tickets and a hotel room are well worth the piece of mind they help buy!
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BIG TROUT
MARCH! NOW WE ARE GETTING INTO SOME OF MY MOST MEMORABLE BIG TROUT PERIODS. SO MANY GREAT THINGS HAPPEN IN OUR BAY SYSTEM THIS TIME OF YEAR, ESPECIALLY COMING OUT OF ANOTHER MILD WINTER. WIND AND WEATHER WILL STILL DICTATE WHERE THE FISHABLE GROUND IS, BUT BEING THAT OUR BAY TEMPS CAN BE ON THE RISE, IT OPENS UP EVERYTHING FROM BACK LAKES TO OYSTER SHELL, AND EVEN CEDAR BAYOU. WITH SO MANY HOT LOCATIONS TO FISH THIS MONTH, IT’S NOT HARD TO LOOK DOWN AT THE WATCH AND REALIZE IT IS 4-5 O’CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON. 26 Shot of Texas Magazine™
Obviously, if the wind is cranking out of the South or a late season cool front, most of the shell and some of the outside shorelines will be out of the question. For that, I will run to the many productive back lakes, looking for areas of knee to thigh deep mud/shell or mud/grass. One of the important factors I will be looking for is dirty streaks in the water. These dirty streaks tend to concentrate bait, as it offers protection for them. In turn, predator fish will patrol the edges of the dirty areas waiting to ambush bait fish. Certain lakes on Matagorda Island can be so productive this time of year that you can make small
micro adjustments in a particular lake, and spend the entire day in one lake. On days when the weather is cooperative, many stretches of shoreline, and even oyster shell can hold the same dirty streaks with bait. On any oyster shell the best success will come from any tip of the reef, a bend, or cut in the reef. These are all ambush points for trout and reds. In my experience, the oyster shell, while it can hold some nice trout, more times than not, I see just keeper fish. Nothing is wrong with that, but I personally like to be in the same zip code as the trophy trout. In March, many trophy trout will start to make their beds on the outside shorelines getting ready for the first spawn of the year. We will see this push to the shoreline when our spring tide arrives. Many fish will push up over the grass tight against the bank, because of the protection offered. Now that we have a few key areas to fish, let’s talk bait selection. Anytime you are over a grassy bottom, soft plastics may prove difficult to work. Therefore we choose either suspended baits, such as Corky Softdines, Fatboys, and even topwaters. These suspended baits, when worked correctly, will float and dance just above the grass exposing itself like a wounded baitfish. The topwater bite can be phenomenal during the month of March, and I will switch back and forth from One Knockers to Spook Jr. depending on wave height
and wind. When we fish over areas of scattered grass a 1/16 or 1/8oz jig head and one of Down South Lures many colors can be a deadly combination. As for what color you have to check your water at each location, but some of the all-around colors for this month include pumpkinseed, true plum, dirty tequila, blue moon, the roach, red shad, and pearl. Key things to remember this month, water temp will tell you where fish should be holding, wind and weather will tell you where you can fish. But most of all is to locate bait. If our March is seasonably warm, keep your eyes open for glass minnows, gin clear or stained water, get out and fish in the glass minnow bait balls.
I have dedicated myself to running a full time guiding operation since 2007, and will do my best to meet the needs and standards of any customer. Much of this wouldn’t be possible without great companies and fine folks standing beside me. I am thankful I get to make my living sharing my saltwater/ hunting experience with people. I would like to thank Kresta’s Boats and Motors in Edna, Texas, for always keeping me on the water. Majek boats for building a dependable and smooth ride. Waterloo Rods in Victoria, Texas, for an awesome product that allows me the best sensitivity in a rod. Fins Braid for making line I can depend on to never fail when fighting fish, and Hookset Marine Gear for great wading products. Their
wading belts offer so much back support, I do not ache at the end of a long day. Thanks to Down South Lures for providing my customers and I with durable soft plastics with a great action. Port O’Connor Rod and Gun team, they have a great selection of tackle, clothing, and waterfowl needs for all levels of outdoorsmen. Also, Buggs T. Fishing lures, baits that redfish can’t resist. Thank y’all! &DSWDLQ 1DWKDQ %HDERXW ZZZ QPVSRUWVPDQVDGYHQWXUHV FRP ³/LNH´ XV RQ )DFHERRN WR IROORZ SLFWXUHV DQG GDLO\ UHSRUWV
A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 27
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LIVESTOCK GRAZING
AND THE GREATER SAGE-GROUSE
T
he greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) is an icon of the western United States. Its conservation status has been steeped in controversy for many years, as various groups petitioned the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) eight times since 1999 to list the sage-grouse under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). However, in September 2015 the decades long efforts of several agencies and private landowners to reach agreement on habitat management avoided the need for FWS to list the sage-grouse under the ESA. But the ESA decisions are not over.
The FWS will reevaluate sagegrouse status by 2021. To conserve sage-grouse and help prevent a future ESA listing, SCI Foundation joined a collaborative partnership between Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks (FWP) and the University of Montana (UMT) to assess the impacts of grazing to the sagebrush ecosystem in central Montana. Livestock grazing is often assumed to have only has negative impacts on the sagebrush ecosystem, and should be reduced or eliminated to conserve species like sage-grouse. 1RZ LQ \HDU ¿YH RI WHQ WKH ¿QGings from this research will help FWPs and other agencies manage sage-grouse and grazing in sagebrush habitats. The project will also produce a sagebrush habitat assessment tool to aid private landowners and other agencies. other agencies manage sage-grouse and grazing in sagebrush habitats. The project will also produce a sagebrush habitat assessment tool to aid private landowners and other agencies. Maintaining working ranches rather than eliminated grazing entirely is a forward-thinking approach to sagegrouse conservation. It keeps ranches intact, conserving large swaths of habitat needed by sage-grouse. The Sage-Grouse Initiative (SGI) created by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) started evaluating grazing systems as part of NRCS’s efforts to improve conservation for sage-grouse and avoid
an ESA listing. NRCS now provides incentives for landowners to implement known sage-grouse friendly grazing systems to discourage conversion of sagebrush rangelands to farmlands. A variety of other wildlife speFLHV DOVR EHQHÂżW IURP HIIRUWV WR sustain sage-grouse populations. Sagebrush ecosystems provide important habitat for songbirds, elk, mule deer, pronghorn and many other species. Scientists have idenWLÂżHG PRUH WKDQ VSHFLHV RI FRQservation concern that depend on sagebrush ecosystems.We are still uncertain about the direct impacts of grazing management on sagegrouse, sagebrush systems, and communities associated with sagebrush systems. By continuing to study the effects of livestock grazing on sage-grouse, SCI Foundation and our partners will help determine how to use livestock grazing as management tool to maintain or enhance current sage-grouse populations and sagebrush ecosystems. Developing best practices for livestock grazing in sage-grouse habitat that maintain rangeland health as well as wildlife habitat will provide the best option to encourage maintenance and sustainable use of sagegrouse populations. ,Q WKH ORQJ WHUP ÂżQGLQJ FRPPRQ VHQVH VROXWLRQV WKDW EHQHÂżW DOO stakeholders will be the best hope for conserving sage-grouse, making an ESA listing unnecessary.
For more information on SCI Foundation go to the First For Wildlife blog, like on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram, or visit www.safariclubfoundation.org. A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 29
MARCH MADNESS!!! 30 Shot of Texas Magazineâ„¢
A
s winter transitions into spring patterns, the speckled trout fishing fever runs high along the Gulf Coast. Water temperatures begin to rise to the “magical 68” degree mark that marine biologist claim starts the speckled trout spawn. During this period trophy trout in the 7 to 8 pound class are not uncommon and just about every professional guide or trophy trout enthusiast is hitting the water to get their fix on trout of a life time over 9 or 10 pounds! Most big speckled trout anglers know that many factors such as water temperature, salinity, tide movement and bait activity all play major roles in where and when these big fish can be targeted. Water temperature of course will depend on late frontal pushes. Salinity will depend
mostly on post flooding run off. Most anglers try to pattern their fish on a simple journal or an “it’s that time of year for that spot” theory. So many factors can change the behavior of these fish that will make them stage in a different area than where they have been caught in the past. This is one of my favorite times of the year to spend most of my time guiding wade fishermen in between tournaments to locate larger schools of 4 to 6 pound fish and finding the good kicker fish over 7 or 8 pounds. These fish get extremely hungry at this time of year and are continuously searching for food to supplement their bodies from the hard activities of spawning. I like to fish with large top water plugs such as a Rapala SkitA Shot of Texas Magazine™ 31
let to add to that, you are more than likely going to stumble upon something good. Flats with shell adjacent to channels or guts with vast drop offs and ledges can hold a lot of big fish traveling with the tide and pulling up onto these flats searching for an easy meal. I want to touch on a good subject to end this article. Good conservation should always be kept in mind when targeting these big fish in the spawning class considering they hold the key to the future for our fish stocks. They should be handled as little as possible and CPR’d (Catch, Photo, Released) as soon as possible. I myself am guilty of stringing plenty of fish over 6 pounds and even a few 7 and 8 pound fish in the past. It was before I realized how sensitive this issue is. Believe me, I love catching these big fish and love to eat them more but the smaller male fish are better eating fish. They are less oily and not as tough as the bigger fish say 4 pounds and over.
terwalk or Super Spook. These lures provoke a fish into a violent explosion on the surface of the water mimicking an injured mullet. It is definitely a sight to see! Corkies and large soft plastics on a 1/8th ounce jig head are always a good choice as well when targeting these fish in the 32 Shot of Texas Magazine™
spring time. They dart back and forth through the water with every twitch showing the profile of an injured or scared baitfish trying to flee. If you can find water as shallow as knee deep to waist deep with mixed mud and shell, and find active mul-
In the past it was not uncommon for anglers to go out and catch multiple 6 or 7 pound speckled trout and even bigger any given day. Fishing laws were not nearly as strict therefore the resource sustained a heavy loss due to a massive number of large fish being killed as well as past freezes that also resulted in major fish kills. Now days you really don’t see too many anglers able to go out and catch these large fish nearly as frequently as in the old days. I believe it is in our best interest for the future generation to be able to enjoy and respect our resource that we get to enjoy now and the only way that will be achieved is through conservation on our part. Thank you, Capt. Chance Angel Straps and Stringers 281-851-8707
ARCHERY, I HUNTING AND FISHING: CONSERVING OUR WORLD AND OURSELVES %\ 7UHYRU 6LGHV WHAT DO HUNTING AND FISHING HAVE TO DO WITH CONSERVATION? EVERYTHING. WITHOUT THE EFFORTS OF HUNTERS AND ANGLERS, OUR WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES WOULD BE IN A STATE OF TROUBLE. HUNTING AND FISHING ARE MORE THAN MERE SPORTS OR PASTIMES, HOWEVER, AND ARE EVEN MORE THAN A CONSERVATION EFFORT. THE MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF LIFE AND OUR HUMANITY ARE EMBODIED IN ARCHERY, FISHING AND HUNTING.
34 Shot of Texas Magazine™
t’s not easy being the “environment.” It receives more attention than Paris Hilton in a prison cell. Everyone is all about “saving” the environment, and we’re all aware of the powerful cultural movement focused on living “green”and being “environmentally - friendly.” Cultural elites and politicians tell us that if we ride our bikes more, take the bus, use different light bulbs, only then will we become truly “green” and a friend of the earth. Yet changing our driving habits or riding our bikes simply isn’t practical or convenient. We care about our world but we feel left out in the cold, wondering, “What can I do to help? None of that other stuff is for me.” Chances are, if you’re reading this you’re into ar-
chery, fishing and/or hunting. And if you’re a lover of archery,fishing or hunting or all three - and if you have a desire to keep the “environment” in good working condition, just keep doing what you’re doing. But if you’re on the fence about archery, fishing and hunting, keep an open mind and read on to find out why we do what we do. Naturally (no pun intended), we in the archery, fishing and hunting world have a vested interest in keeping our planet’s resources and wildlife in top condition. As Canadian biologist and philosopher Shane Mahoney said, “Hunters and fishermen are the piston that drives the conservation engine. If you take hunting and fishing out of the equation, the whole (wildlife management) effort collapses.”
So it’s no surprise that sportsmen - those involved in archery, fishing and hunting - provide over $1 billion annually towards conservation efforts. It’s no surprise that sportsmen have paid several billion dollars over the last 70-80 years on self-imposed excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and certain archery and fishing equipment. It’s no surprise that through hunting and fishing conservation efforts, wildlife populations and habitats flourish. There are now over 18 million white-tailed deer in the U.S. when there used to be less than half-a- million around 1900. Today’s elk population is around 800,000 when in 1917 it was a mere 41,000. And is it surprising that a handful of African nations are now using conservation-hunting methods to increase the populations of endangered animals like elephants and black and white rhinos? And is it surprising that the polar bear population in northern Canada has increased because of 30-some years of conservation-hunting? For those of us actively engaged in archery,fishing and hunting, no, we are not surprised. But listing the many and wonderful benefits of archery, fishing and hunting doesn’t explain the “why� behind it all - especially to those on the fence about the issue. Why do we hunt? Why do we fish? The answer rests in another kind of conservation - the conservation of meaning and humanity. Many think that by changing driving habits and using renewable energy that we’re being “natural� or somehow experiencing the natural world. But hunters and fishermen possess a deep and
intense connection with our world that goes beyond any “greenâ€? campaign. Why? Because hunters and fishermen actually come into physical contact with the world; they don’t experience it through a screen in their living room. When was the last time you saw a politician or celebrity out in the wilderness hunting or fishing? To quote Mahoney, “Hunting is a love affair.â€? It is the passionate interaction between two forces of the natural world - man and wild. The two come together to create the essence of being, the essence of life and meaning. Continues Mahoney, “Hunting is an immersion; a drowning connection that squanders pride and privilege; the true hunter is the humble man, the enthralled child and the knowing prince... Hunting is a cataclysm of inward progress. We hunt for spiritual reasons; we KXQW WR ÂżQG LQQHU SHDFH ZH hunt to understand the world... The true hunter is both the alert and meditative man. Thought and action combined in pur-
pose; a hymn for the unity of world and self.� This may be a bit romantic for some of you, but hunting and fishing are much more than pastimes and even a conservation method. Hunting and fishing embody an intrinsic understanding of life. We conserve ourselves, as well as our world, through hunting, fishing and archery. In a world where “reality� exists in an XBOX, archery,fishing and hunting reconnect us to what makes us human;to what makes life, in part, meaningful and purposeful.In the field, we experience sacrifice, life and passion.As Dr. Randall L. Eaton writes, “that is why hunters have been and still are, by far, the foremost conservationists of wildlife and wild places, to the benefit of everyone.� Over the last ten years, the number of adult hunters has dropped by nearly two million and the number of adult anglers has dropped more than five million. These declining numbers mean less money for the conservation of wildlife and wild places,
but it also signifies the continuing distance we put between ourselves and the natural world. So as you sit at your computer, ask yourself, “Why do I love archery, fishing and hunting?� And if you’re not into archery, fishing and hunting, ask yourself, “Why am I not a lover of archery, fishing and hunting?� ABOUT THE AUTHOR 7UHYRU 6LGHV ZULWHV IRU $PHULFDQ +XQWLQJ &OXE /LYH WKH ILUVW KXQWLQJ YLGHR EURDGFDVW VLWH RQ WKH ZHE /HDUQ IURP DQG RU EURDGFDVW \RXU RZQ KXQWLQJ WLSV DQG KXQWLQJ YLGHRV $PHULFDQ +XQWLQJ &OXE /LYH WDNHV WKH <RX7XEH IRUmat for hunters to anothHU OHYHO +RVWHG E\ ZRUOG FODVV DWKOHWH DQG 2O\PSLF *ROG 0HGDOLVW &DVH\ )LW]5DQGROSK ZH RIIHU KLJK TXDOLW\ IXOO VFUHHQ YLGHR IRU RXU PHPEHUV :KDW DUH \RX ZDLWLQJ IRU" 9LVLW \RXU YLGHR EURDGFDVW VLWH QRZ KWWS ZZZ DPHULFDQKXQWLQJFOXEOLYH FRP
A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 35
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