Texas Dove Hunters Magazine Spring 2021

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com

Official Publication of the Texas Dove Hunters Association

SPRING 2021

TEXAS 4-H

MORE THAN COWS, PLOWS & SOWS

DRAWN DOVE HUNTS

DON & SANDY GILCHRIST

PREMIUM HUNTING ON PRIVATE LANDS

BUILDING A DREAM ONE DAY AT A TIME GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF HUNTERS AND WILDLIFE AMBASSADORS

Official Publication of the Texas Hunters Association

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com

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Publisher TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS, LLC Editor SUSAN THORNTON

10 ON OUR COVER

Don and Sandy Gilchrist

Childhood Pals Reconnect in Business and Love Decades Later

CONTENTS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: 8

Founders letter

15 Texas BB Challenge 20 Explanation of

Season Dates

30 Texas 4-H

Growing the Next Generation of Shooters

22 Ladies in the Field 24 Hunt with Heart 28 Texas Outfitters 34 Families in the Field 40 Texas Landowner

Liability Protection 42 Photos from the Field 44 Dove Recipe 46 TDHA Store

38

Contributing Photographers ATA-GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY BRETT JEPSEN CATHERINE KRUSE LARRY PEREZ JAY SCHWISOW Contributors CHRISTIE CUTHBERT OWEN FITZSIMMONS NATHANIEL GILBERT HOLLY HEARN CATHERINE KRUSE SHAUN OLDENBERGER LARRY PEREZ Advertising Sales CINDY JENNINGS Printing SHWEIKI MEDIA, SAN ANTONIO, TX

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FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL 210.764.1189 EMAIL info@TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com

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TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE is published bi-annually by Texas Dove Hunters, LLC (Publisher).

Reproduction in any manner in whole or part is prohibited without the express written consent of the Publisher. Material contained herein does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher or its staff. TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE reserves the right to edit materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our office to be used subject to the discretion and review of the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2021 Texas Dove Hunters, LLC. 2395 Bulverde Rd., Suite 104 Bulverde, TX 78163 210-764-1189 texasdovehunters.com

Drawn Dove Hunts

Premium Hunting on Private Lands FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 6 | SPRING 2021

Graphic Design STUDIO SYKES

15 slots for dove limit

Pointed base for hard ground

Holds shell box & drink

Quickly collapsable

Keeps ants away

DOVErack.com

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

W

hat a year it has been!

I don’t think anyone could have ever dreamed that we’d still be going through a pandemic a year after it started.

For some it has been a year of deep, personal loss and my heart goes out to you.

Like many other industries, COVID19 took its toll on the hunting industry. There were many questions before hunting season began.

Would there be new restrictions and regulations? Texas Outfitters did their best to guarantee a safe hunting environment by following social distancing guidelines and requiring masks when people were in groups. The results were mixed, some saying that the 2020-2021 season was the best they’ve ever had, with others saying it was one of the worst.

Hunters were chomping at the bits to get out of the house and into the field. But with the fear of COVID, many corporate hunts around the state were cancelled causing a huge hardship on outfitters who rely on the revenue from them. Fortunately, the hunters made it to the fields, just in smaller groups.

When I was young, like many of you, we just drove out to a farmer’s place and asked him if we could dove hunt on his property. Nowadays with so many competent and professional outfitters around the state, the dove hunting industry looks a lot different. We, as hunters, increase our chance of finding birds by calling on outfitters to scout for us. It comes at a cost, but usually the experience is worth it.

Outfitters spend hundreds of hours preparing and scouting for birds. Their success has even had a positive effect on the day leases; the industry is on the rise. Though we can’t always count on the weather and inconsistent birds, reputable outfitters (of which there are many) will do their best to put you on birds or let you to reschedule for a later date when conditions are more favorable. The birds are in the state, just not always where we want them to be when we want them to be.

The presence of the Eurasian Collared Dove has added a bonus bird to our bag.

Being an invasive species, there is no bag limit for them. In some cases, outfitters are taking advantage of this and planning their hunts near areas that attract Eurasian Collared Dove for increased chances of success for their hunters. Their goal of the outfitter is for you is to get your limit every time you go out to the field.

Personally, I am glad to have 2020 in the rearview mirror, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in the air. One thing is for sure, pandemic or no pandemic, the outfitters in Texas will be hard at work doing the best they can to find dove for you this Fall. In the meantime, keep your shooting sharp by practicing with sporting clays.

Stay safe and take a kid hunting,

Bobby Thornton

MISSION STATEMENT Texas Dove Hunters Association promotes strong family unity through hunting and outdoor programs. We are committed to research, education and habitat conservation.

8 | SPRING 2021

TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION CORPORATE OFFICE 2395 Bulverde Rd., Suite 104 Bulverde, TX 78163 Off: (210) 764-1189 Fax: (866) 233-0507 email: info@txdove.com texasdovehunters.com

Perfect for a family getaway EldeRio is nestled alongside the Nueces river. The deep springs on EldeRio never lose their depth. They maintain the same

FOUNDER

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DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Susan Thornton

place for family fun.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Two bedroom, two bath, sleeps eight

Myrna Hassfield

Located 12 miles north of Uvalde.

PHOTOGRAPHER Jay Schwisow

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christine Sykes

DESIGN CONSULTANT

ELDERADO.NET • 830 - 317- 0456

Tony Rodriguez

Buyers beware: Your children will be ready to go hunt and fish after the turn of the last page!

SUSAN THORNTON

MYRNA HASSFIELD

CHRISTINE SYKES

JAY SCHWISOW

Director of Operations

Graphic Designer

Hunting and fishing themed children’s books that are conservation oriented and educational while promoting spending time in the outdoors with family.

Administration Assistant

Photographer

NEW: Available this Summer.

TONY RODRIGUEZ Design Consultant

@exploretheoutdoorsbooks

exploretheoutdoorsbooks.com TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 9

FEATURE

DON AND SANDY GILCHRIST Childhood Pals Reconnect in Business and Love Decades Later

By Christie Cuthbert Photography by Ata-Girl Photography

This is a story about two young kids from east Texas...

10 | FALL 2020

...who went their separate ways in life and reconnected five decades later.

They lived lifetimes while apart, but when reconnected, it was almost as if no time had passed.

Their successful, individual roads in life and their kismet in finding each other once again are all thanks to one man, James Golden.

A teacher, preacher, welder, school board member, and more, Golden was and is a pillar of the small community of Van, Texas. He believed in helping children build roots for their future and instilling important values, something his daughter, Sandy Gilchrist, and her husband, Don, remember all too well.

My job was to keep the gas tank watered down so when he lit the torch, we didn’t blow up

“He had a reputation for his rules,” Sandy said. “My dad could always recognize character, potential, and work ethic in people.”

Golden noticed the fire in the belly of one particular high school student of his – a young Don Gilchrist. The oldest of eight kids, Don took any extra jobs he could find to help support his family. At 15 years old, he began working for Golden as a welding assistant on the weekends.

“My job was to keep the gas tank watered down so when he lit the torch, we didn’t blow up,” Don said with a good laugh. “I worked with him all through high school.

Whatever he needed me to do, I did. On the weekends, we’d build cattle pens, put bumpers on cars, build up TV antennas, whatever he needed. He paid me $1 an hour.”

A few years older than Sandy, Don remembers seeing her as a kid while growing up in Van and working with her father. They attended the same elementary and high schools as well.

“She was just a ponytail kid back them,” Don said.

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 11

After graduating high school, Don lost contact with Sandy and went on to start his professional life. The two young kids from East Texas didn’t speak or see one another for more than 20 years.

After a year-and-a-half, Don left college to go into the commercial door business, where he spent the next 40 years building a family empire.

“It was the right place at the right time for me in the door industry,” Don said. “I got in right when people were starting to transition into automatic doors. It was the right era.”

His business, Door Control Services, Inc., grew over time, and he later began a second company, Developed Door Controls USA, which manufactured the parts for the doors. It was a

“win-win” in the business world, and while growing his company, he also grew his family, marrying and having four children.

Meanwhile, the “ponytail kid” grew up and started a successful career of her own, always remembering the values of hard work and determination her father instilled. Sandy graduated from Texas State University then began a career working for H-E-B. “All I wanted to do was break ceilings in the business world,” she said. “It was the early eighties, and it was a time of affirmative action. It was a phenomenal time for women. I had always chosen to build a career over a family.”

Sandy worked her way up the H-E-B corporate ladder, eventually becoming the first female district manager and then eventually transitioning to the gourmet food lines at Central Market – a job she loved.

“We would travel to Europe to study up on what different cultures did well,” Sandy said. “It taught me that there’s a difference between just bringing food to the table and actually sharing food with others.”

After 21 years in corporate America, Sandy found herself burnt out and decided to return home to her East Texas roots.

12 | SPRING 2021

The Lodge at G2 Ranch, in Pearsall, today.

“I had been working extremely long hours, and I was six hours away from my parents who were getting older, so I decided to retire early and come back to Van,” she said. “I came back home and felt a bit lost, and my dad said, ‘let’s go hit some nails with a hammer.’ We spent the next year together building my house, and it was the most wonderful year of my life.”

Sandy began farming four acres of flowers on her family’s land in Edom and taking them to the local farmer’s markets to sell. Her father would sit across the lake and watch her work her tail off each day for little money.

“James called me up and said ‘Don, I need to talk to you,’” Don recalled. “He told me, “Sandy has come back home and has gotten into the flower business, and she’s killing herself. Can you offer her a job at your company that will get her out of the dirt?’”

For $12 an hour, Don hired Sandy, who was completely overqualified for the position, thinking she’d only last 90 days. Within three years, she became the supervisor of all sales for the entire company.

“She can sell anything,” Don said. “And when it’s something she believes in, it’s incredible.”

Years later, Don’s company came out with a product that prevents suicides for veterans in VA Hospitals. At the time, many veterans were trying to commit suicide by using their pajamas to hang themselves on the door frames at the Dallas VA Hospital. The product would send a light and a message to the nurse’s station, letting them know something was wrong.

“Sandy exclusively took the product to the marketplace and did $5 million in sales in three years because she believed in it,” Don said. “She’s incredible.”

The couple carried on a platonic work friendship for many years.

Sandy adored Don’s four kids and his wife of 35 years, Sharon.

In 2015 Sharon sadly passed away from cancer, and Don, like many widowers, found himself lost.

“I was really down in the dumps after losing my life partner,” he said. “I was trying to figure out where to go in my life. I had tickets to see Chicago, and I ran into Sandy in the elevator. She was going to a job site, and I said, ‘would you consider going with me to see a concert?’”

The couple went, and the next several months, they dated and reconnected like old times.

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 13

“He asked my father for permission to court me even at this age,” Sandy said with a laugh. “I think he even hid in his truck when I invited him over to dinner one night because he didn’t want my father to see him there.”

The experience at the ranch can be curated for any type of hunter. From families with young children just starting out to experienced hunters looking for exotic trophies, there’s truly something for everyone.

The couple married in February of 2016 at sunset on the front porch of the home Sandy built with her father. James, who was the bond that brought the two back together so many years later, performed the ceremony.

“It’s a great place to spend time together as a family,” Sandy said. “And Don loves nothing more than teaching young hunters the ropes.”

“My Dad said, “never did I ever think that I would have the opportunity to marry my daughter to my best friend,’” Sandy said. “None of us got much further without tears. It was the most honest statement of love that Dad has for Don and me.”

The same year the two got married, Don sold his company to two of his children, who have grown the business even more.

“It really doesn’t get better than growing a company from nothing and then having your children take it to places you’d never even imagine,” Don said. “I’m so proud of them. They wear the company with dignity.”

While Don and Sandy aren’t working in a conventional setting anymore, they are still plenty busy running their hunting resort G2Ranch in Pearsall. Don originally purchased the land in 2004, but it’s become so much more over the years. Along with a gorgeous lodge with sleeping and dining accommodations, G2Ranch houses more than 500 adult deer, 53 certified pens, putting greens, ride-around safaris, skeet shooting, a rooftop golfing deck, target range, three lakes stocked with bass, a courtyard with a campfire, private chefs and more. There’s even a custom suspended train that chugs through the lodge, and the ranch mascot, “Zip,” the Yorkshire terrier, greets guests and also fetches dove.

“For Sandy’s birthday, we bought a pair of giraffes, Walter and Wilma,” Don said. “This ranch is all about the people who work here. We consider this our family. It’s all about fellowship and relationships.”

A small group of friends and colleagues of Sandy and Don’s can’t get over the ranch’s renovation throughout the last nine years. Once a stand-alone barn with a makeshift kitchen, some tables and chairs have become a luxurious one-of-a-kind experience.

“There weren’t any concrete plans for it,” Don said. “We’ve just built it up one day at a time. Our friends have been really wowed by what we’ve been able to do at the ranch. They’re kind of the pioneers, they’ve been coming from the very beginning, so they’ve watched it all come together.”

14 | SPRING 2021

While Sandy didn’t have children of her own, she’s grown especially close to Don’s, and this past August, his daughter, Summer, was married to her now-husband, Mikey.

“We love him to death,” Sandy said. “And just like us, they’ve known each other since they were kids.”

Don performed the marriage ceremony and kicked things off the same way Sandy’s dad James had three years prior, saying, “never did I ever think that I would have the opportunity to marry my daughter to my best friend.”

TEXAS BANDED BIRD CHALLENGE

2020 will forever be known as the year the pandemic began. Many were unsure of what effect, if any, it would have on dove season.

Nevertheless, 800 more Eurasian Collared-Dove were banded and released, hoping that many would be harvested, giving us more data to learn about this invasive species. With the additional 800 birds banded and released in various parts of the state, the total of Eurasian Collared-Dove having been released in Texas has risen to 2,100.

The bands reported this year were added to the ongoing list within the database that will assist in our education and research.

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 15

TEXAS BANDED BIRD CHALLENGE In preparation for the 2020 event, TDHA provided more opportunities for hunters to enter the contest at select retail stores around Texas. This year’s retailers included Oasis Outback in Uvalde, Hoffpauir Ranch & Supply in Lampasas, Ranger Firearms in San Antonio, Buck and Does in San Antonio, Los Cazadores in Pearsall, Stonewall and Fredericksburg, Mummes in Hondo, Tackle Town in Rockport, Texas Outdoors in Ft. Worth, Texas Wildlife Supply in Brady, Ables Ammo in Huntsville, Sharp Shooters in Lubbock, Wheelers Feed and Outfitters in Boerne, and Field and Stream in San Angelo.

This year’s Texas Banded Bird Challenge (TBBC) produced some interesting results.

Having now completed three years of collecting data from the program, we are ready to hand our findings over to a wildlife biologist who can review and decipher the information and begin the annual process of arriving at some initially broad results narrowed down in each year to come. Currently, the days from the time of release to the day it was harvested and the mileage it traveled have been the most interesting. In one case this year, a bird was harvested that had been 733 days since release and only traveled 8 miles. Another bird reported was harvested only 33 days from release but had already traveled 205 miles. It’s what triggers their migrating instincts vs. their natural instinct to be content where they are that we are most excited about being able to study. We look at the dominant habitat in each scenario to see if there is an apparent preference of habitat or if it is even a factor.

The annual contest runs the duration of both the first and second seasons from opening day to the south zone’s closing date in January.

It is open to anyone hunting dove in Texas with a Texas hunting license. You must be entered before harvesting the bird and willing to submit a polygraph if/when asked. There are four different divisions in the contest, the prize division, the Outfitter division, the First Flight high school division, and the First Flight youth division.

We had some very happy hunters in 2020 who came away with some great prizes. There were 42 bands recovered. Of the 42 people who reported bands, 12 of the hunters were entered in the contest and eligible to win prizes. The truck winner is determined by harvesting a preselected band number, but unfortunately, no one harvested that band this year. Additional prizes were introduced this year with scheduled social media promotional opportunities offering incentives to enter within designated periods. Whether they were entered in the TBBC or not, all 42 hunters that reported bands received a one-year membership to Texas Dove Hunters Association. Each hunter also received a certificate with details on the history of that particular banded bird they harvested.

16 | SPRING 2021

2020 TEXAS BB CHALLENGE WINNERS GRAND PRIZE WINNER Polaris Ranger:

Mike Martin

Donated by Hoffpauir Outdoor Superstore

Scimitar Horned Oryx Hunt: Louis Ara, Donated

by Record Buck Ranch

Casa Arroyo Cast and Blast: William Stripling, Donated by Casa Arroyo

Ultimate Dove Hunting Packages: Tony Lasater and Chance Pearson, Donated by CZ-USA, Chama Chair, Chippewa, Frio, Blake Jones Designs, Bird Down Brand, Peregrine Field Gear, Cowboys Wild Game Washer, and Dove Cord

TEXAS BANDED BIRD CHALLENGE

2020 TEXAS BB CHALLENGE WINNERS

CZ-USA Wing Shooter Elite Shotgun: Puncher Henley

TDHA Lifetime Membership:

Ross Weathers, Donated by Blake Jones Designs

TDHA Custom Fire Pit:

Morgan Kegebein,

TDHA Custom Frio Cedar Ice Chest:

Lyndon Smoot,

Donated by All Seasons Feeders

Donated by Frio

First Flight High School Division

Peregrine Bucket, Donated by Peregrine Field Gear and an Ultimate Shotgun Rest, Donated

by Brand Bird Down Brand:

Chase Morgan

First Flight Youth Division Outfitters Division:

$1,000 Scholarship:

Will Martin

Trophy trout fishing trip in Baffin Bay: Final Descent Guide Services, Donated

by Baffin Bay Rod & Gun Club

Hunt for two overnight at Elderado Lodge: Joaquin Portal Donated by Elderado Lodge

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 17

TEXAS BANDED BIRD CHALLENGE

2020 TEXAS BB CHALLENGE WINNERS Social Media Contest Winners

Social Media Promo Prize; Chama Chair: Mark O’Grady, Donated by Chama Chair

Early Bird Prize Winner CZ-USA Supreme Field shotgun:

Robert Martinez, Donated by CZ-USA

Social Media Promo Prize; Cowboys Game Washer Bundle: Josh Morejon, Donated

by Cowboys Game Washer Social Media Promo Prize; McKenna Quinn Polo Shirt Katy Cannon, Donated

by McKenna Quinn

THANK YOU TO THE 2020 TEXAS BB CHALLENGE SPONSORS Hoffpauir Outdoor Superstore Record Buck Ranch

Social Media Promo Prize; Ultimate Gun Rest: Jon Federspiel, Donated by Bird Down Brand

CZ-USA Baffin Bay Rod & Gun Club Frio Ice Chests Casa Arroyo Elderado Ranch Bird Down Brand Chama Chair

Chippewa Blake Jones Designs Cowboys Wild Game Washer Peregrine Field Gear McKenna Quinn Dove Cord

The Texas Banded Bird Challenge was developed to improve these chances that a harvested bird will be reported. Each year more birds will be trapped, banded, and released in Texas. As we progress, we will learn more and more about these birds. Bands do not expire from one year to the next, increasing the odds of winning. All you need to do for a chance to win one of many great prizes is to enter the TBBC at bandedbirdchallenge.com, harvest a banded Eurasian Collared Dove, and call in to report it.

Hunters must enter annually to be eligible to win. The entry fee is $20 and can be purchased online at bandedbirdchallenge.com or by calling the Texas Dove Hunters office at 210-764-1189.

Don’t go to the field without your entry into the BB Challenge!

18 | SPRING 2021

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 19

SELECTING SEASON DATES NOT AS EASY AS IT SOUNDS

By Shaun Oldenberger Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Program Leader Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

eptember means the start of dove season, but how does Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

(TWPD)

set

hunting season dates and regulations for doves and other migratory game birds? What we don’t do is just select some random dates and put them in the Outdoor Annual. The process of setting hunting season regulations started over 100 years ago.

In 1916, Great Britain (representing Canada) signed the Migratory Bird Convention with the United States.

Two years later, in 1918, Congress passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which effectively gave the US government federal authority on over

20 | SPRING 2021

1,100 species of birds.

This included a subset of birds that were classified as game birds, including the mourning dove. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act established the maximum length of a migratory game bird hunting season as 107 days or 3.5 months and the timing of hunting seasons, September 1 – March 10. Historically, individual states set their own hunting regulations, which often led to excessive season lengths and bag limits.

With the passage of the MBTA, hunting seasons could not be established without consultation with the federal government, or at that time, the Bureau of Biological Surveys. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) was established in 1940.

Shortly after establishing the USFWS and the earlier passages of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act in 1934 and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act in 1937, the Flyway concept was developed based on extensive bird banding operations on various migratory game birds across North America in the 1940s.

The Flyways, or Flyway Councils, were established as a partnership between multiple states and federal agencies to cooperatively discuss common migratory species that share habitats across those states, including provinces in Canada and the Canadian federal government.

There are four administrative flyways across North America, the Atlantic, Central, Mississippi, and Pacific flyways. Texas sits within the Central flyway. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has worked extensively with other states within our own Central flyway and others to develop various management plans and harvest strategies to determine hunting seasons. These harvest strategies or plans attempt to allow a sustainable harvest while also conserving the species populations.

many other regulations that govern the federal process of allowing states to have migratory game bird hunting seasons.

Additionally, all migratory game bird hunting seasons are closed unless opened by the USFWS, meaning that we need to follow federal regulations to have hunting seasons in Texas.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department does not set hunting regulations. Technically only the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPW Commission) has that authority. This group of nine men and women, selected by the Governor, make the final selection of hunting seasons for the citizens of Texas. Annually, TPWD consults with a wide range of people, including internal technical committees and external advisory committees such as the Migratory Game Bird Advisory Committee consisting of industry professionals in Texas, on the best hunting season dates to select for each season.

TPWD takes that information, along with other biological data, and presents it to the TPW Commission as a recommendation at both their January and March meetings. The TPW Commission makes the final selection of hunting season dates at their March meeting for the upcoming season. During this process, the public is welcome to officially comment on the proposed season dates, daily bag limits, and other changes that may be submitted in an open comment timeframe.

In a nutshell, season dates are not selected at random. Many hours and a lot of consideration go into the process in the best interest of hunters, outfitters, and most importantly, the migratory game birds.

For mourning doves, “federal frameworks” are established using a population estimate derived from band recoveries and estimated harvest from USFWS surveys. This is why it is so important to report any bands recovered and fill out your harvest surveys. Federal frameworks are the rules of the playing field for each state. For instance, in Texas, by federal regulation, we cannot have a hunting season on mourning doves or whitewinged doves any longer than 90 days or a daily bag limit larger than 15 birds. Nor can we have more than three zones (North, Central, and South) or have more than one “split” or break period during the hunting season in each of those zones.

USFWS guidelines also state that we cannot begin the season in the North or Central zones any earlier than September 1 or the South zone any earlier than September 14. To change any of these frameworks requires a lengthy process that includes approval from other states in the flyway and the USFWS, and the changes need to be highly justified. Federal frameworks are the “maximum” of what’s allowed; Texas can restrict season length and bag limits but may not exceed the federal frameworks.

There is another separate process involving the Federal Register, Administrative Procedures Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Policy Act, and Paperwork Reduction, along with TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 21

LADIES IN THE FIELD

PREPARING KIDS FOR A DOVE HUNT

By Catherine Kruse

Y

ou all know that moment when you get so excited to teach or show your child something super awesome, and they have zero interest? Welcome to parenting 101. My husband, Cory, and I were so excited to bring Claire dove hunting with us for the first time. She was two years old, and we were beaming.

However, once we arrived, she could have cared less about hunting dove.

Then, a small amount of fear and anxiety started to creep in, and questions began rolling through my head. What if she doesn’t ever like hunting? What if we force it on her, and she hates it? When we do want to go hunting in the future, would she ever want to go again? As all these “what-if’s” started creeping in, I noticed her playing contently about 10 yards away.

What she did love was playing in the dirt, using shotgun shell hulls as a shovel to attempt and bury our Labrador retriever (sorry Jewel), taking pictures with the iPad, and eating lots of snacks.

It was then that I had a flashback to my childhood of being raised hunting. My parents never forced me to love the outdoors; they let me fall in love with it all on my own and in my own way. Come to think of it; I was the same as Claire. I’d preferred playing in the dirt and mud and exploring for critters than hunting at first. So, that’s exactly what they allowed me to do.

I will never forget, I was about seven years old when my dad took me out of school to play a little “hooky.” They were stocking a lake in town, and they allowed parents to take their children fishing. We got out of the truck and headed to the lake. I noticed all these “mud towers” surrounding the lake.

When I went to kick them down, dad taught me they were crawfish habitats. Nothing like a girl on a mission, I had never seen a crawfish before, and I was not going to let the day go by without finding one. So, that’s what we did. Dad allowed me to explore the outdoors in my own way.

Low and behold, there were news trucks and newspaper outlets all over covering the story. So many children had shown up with their parents, it was wonderful. That is until my school teacher saw me in the newspaper the next day catching “craw-dads” and knee-deep in mud, healthy as all get out. That is still one of my favorite days with my dad.

The summary of this rabbit trail is to have FUN with your kids. Allow them to explore, and don’t pressure them or expect them to fall in love with the outdoors the same way you did. The important part as a parent is to steward their hearts, keep them safe and be there to answer any questions they may have. It is amazing when you allow a child to have zero boundaries outside and see what they discover. No one knows your child better than you do. Trust your instincts.

22 | SPRING 2021

LADIES IN THE FIELD

•

PRACTICAL & SAFETY TIPS

Turn your truck or vehicle into a playpen - if it is getting too hot or they get bored, we love to let Claire sit inside the truck to cool off and play with her toys. Disclaimer: we keep windows rolled down to ensure full supervision and that she doesn’t drive to the next state.

• Always

plan for the climate - ensure your kids are wearing comfortable clothes and shoes. We always bring a change of clothes.

•

Safety - eye and ear protection.

It is best to have them use to these before making a trip, so they are comfortable with both. We have used everything from big ear muffs to swimmers’ wax earplugs for the hotter months.

• Once

Claire turned five, we allowed her to start shooting a BB gun, and she loves to “practice” shooting the dove with her BB gun.

•

Find rocks to take home and paint.

•

Bright colors - We always like to dress Claire in bright color patterns because kids are unpredictable and little ninjas. They can be across an entire dove field in 2.5 seconds while you turn to reload your gun.

We feel it is so important to have bright colors to see them always, and have others hunting around you see them as well.

• Have

a game plan with your spouse or others around you. Cory and I like to plan to alternate keeping eyes on Claire every other 20 minutes or so. This allows for both parents to hunt and keeps a happy marriage.

•

Grab sticks and let them spell out words in the dirt.

• I

usually refrain from any technology when we are outside; however, Claire loves taking pictures and documenting anything fun, so we let her take our phones and document the trip.

And she feels so included within the hunt.

• Let them walk with you to find the birds and put them in their own pouch.

• Ask

your friends - I love collaborating with other moms to see what creative ideas they have. One of my best friends rocks all the best mom ideas in the world, and she is always my go-to person.

•

Bug spray and sunscreen because it’s Texas.

•

Go with other families and their kids. It is great for the kids to play together and learn the outdoors together.

HOW TO ENTERTAIN YOUR CHILD DURING THE HUNT • Bring

items you know your kiddo loves. Claire loves to snack, so we pack a whole cooler of snacks and drinks.

•

We know she loves arts and crafts, so I always bring colors, and we go exploring to find leaves, feathers, etc., to draw.

• Claire

loves to be “in charge” of our labrador, Jewel, so we allow her to sit and hold her leash. Once a bird falls, she gets to yell “back,” and Jewel brings the bird back to her. She absolutely loves this “game.”

• Ask

what they are learning or enjoying about the hunting trip. If they’re a toddler, ask them to take your hand and show you.

• Run

to the local dollar store and stock up on outdoor toys we love bug-catching kits, nets, mini shovels and rakes, and little buckets. It’s always fun for kids to have new toys and keeps them busy.

WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR A HUNT •

Let them know about harvesting.

•

Ask if they have any questions.

•

Print out coloring sheets of hunting or dove.

•

Ask them what they would like to pack for the trip.

•

Show them YouTube videos and pictures of dove hunts.

•

Teach them the beauty of watching the world wake up and go to sleep with sunsets and sunrises. Show them the beauty in the birds’ feathers and all the iridescent colors.

•

For younger kiddos, let them know it is like a game of hide and seek - the dove won’t fly over unless we hide and be quiet.

•

Teach them about safety and how they should act like every gun is loaded. They shouldn’t have fear, but be confident in knowing how to avoid danger. If they have toy guns, start with gun safety! Only allow them to point it at animals they would shoot, like deer or birds, never humans. Always hold the barrel down, never in an unsafe direction.

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 23

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5TH ANNUAL HUNT WITH HEART

T

exas Dove Hunters Association’s (TDHA) annual Hunt with Heart hunt has always been a favorite event. For the 5th year, TDHA has teamed up with the Hunt with Heart organization, based out of Houston, for lunch, an afternoon dove hunt, and dinner. Double H Outfitters was the sponsor again this year, providing lunch and the hunt. Many thanks to Daniel and Valerie Hernandez for partnering with TDHA and Hunt with Heart for a fun day in the field.

This year’s hunt included six youth, each accompanied by at least one parent, traveling from the Houston area. Each of them was paired up with a TDHA or Hunt with Heart volunteer. One of TDHA’s mentor kids, Seth, and his father, Jason, were able to join the group this year as well.

As with every hunt, gun safety was the top priority. While enjoying lunch, the hunters reviewed gun safety rules and Dove 101 basics, including bird identification, field etiquette, and shooting tips. After a short drive from Circle C in Devine to the field in Big Foot, everyone participated in a safe zone of fire drill before breaking up to go to their hunting spots.

This year, unlike the previous years, the hunt was in an open field in the country that was more prone to attracting mourning dove. Once in their positions, each youth got the opportunity to try their shooting skills with some clay pigeons before the hunt began.

After the hunt, while the people from Double H prepared hamburgers in the field for dinner, the hunters told stories of the dove they hit and those they should’ve hit.

Everyone had some luck in the field and came away dove to clean.

They learned three different ways to clean and breast a dove. Dinner was served, and each family went home with dove and instructions on making dove poppers. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

24 | SPRING 2021

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5TH ANNUAL HUNT WITH HEART

26 | SPRING 2021

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TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 27

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Premier Dove Hunting TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 29

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TEXAS 4-H

GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF SHOOTERS

By Larry Perez Extension Program Specialist I Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service

T

he Texas 4-H Program is rooted in agriculture, but it is now widely accepted that 4-H is more than just “Cows, Plows, and Sows.” 4-H Shooting Sports is a prime example. There are around 9,000 4-H’ers enrolled in shooting sports in Texas. Roughly half of those kids have no projects other than shooting sports. They don’t do food show; they don’t have a steer or a pig; they just shoot.

There are seven “disciplines” in 4-H: Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle Loading, Hunting Skills, Archery, Shotgun, and the newest, Western Heritage.

Each discipline is broken down further into other projects like Air Rifle and Air Pistol. The most popular, by far, is the shotgun program.

4-H’ers learn basic safety from the very start of their involvement and are not allowed to shoot until they have successfully completed the safety portion of the training. Once they have achieved that, they go to the range with a certified 4-H coach and begin the shooting process.

The goal is to have kids shooting within an hour. The steps are the same for all disciplines, not just Shotgun.

Youth are allowed to participate in 4-H Shooting Sports beginning in the third grade, and they can compete until they graduate from high school. They must contact their County Extension Agent in the county of residence to become a 4-H member. To find the local County Extension Office, go to the Texas 4-H website. There is a link on how to find the local office, and it will have all the contact information.

The 4-H club is managed at the county level by volunteers with oversight by the local county agent. Volunteers must be trained by state 4-H Shooting sports instructors that have been trained at the national level.

The State 4-H Office in College Station hosts numerous matches at the state level, the largest of these being the “State Games.” This

30 | SPRING 2021

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TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 31

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is the state championship for 4-H shooting sports. The Shotgun State Games are held at the National Shooting Complex (NSC) in San Antonio. This is always a great event where the NSC staff goes above and beyond to make kids and their families feel welcome.

The 4-H shooting programs encourage parents to become and stay active in the sport with their kids. The success of 4-H depends on parents and volunteer coaches. In addition to the state games, there are county shoots and district contests. On average, there is probably a 4-H Shotgun shoot at least 40 weekends out of the year and more than likely two per weekend somewhere in the state.

Texas 4-H has a cooperative program with Texas Parks and Wildlife called “Whiz-Bang.” It was adapted to fit youth and is fashioned after the 5-stand sporting clay contest. TPWD manages this program and schedules the weekends and venues where they will be held. Clubs and organizations typically host a “Whiz-Bang” to raise funds for their 4-H club.

Texas is very proud to have been the first state to develop such a successful shooting sports program that has been adopted nationally. 4-H has always had a Rifle program, but one man, Tom Davison, saw the opportunity to design a complete 4-H shooting sports project, and it all started with Shotgun.

Another part of the 4-H Shooting Sports is our Ambassador Program. Senior members of Texas 4-H can apply to be “Shooting Sports Ambassadors.” These outstanding 4-H’ers are trained in public speaking and are the face of Texas 4-H shooting sports. The 4-H ambassadors’ primary responsibility is to promote the sport, and in general, Texas 4-H, many times by manning booths at fairs and expos.

Many ambassadors have submitted short educational video clips to our 4-H office in all facets of shooting. These clips inform and educate the general public in events such as legislative questions and promotion on webpages. Subjects include gun safety, youth viewpoints on gun control, and informational clips on each of the Texas Shooting Sports Program’s disciplines. When asked about how 4-H has impacted their lives, one member responded: “Hunting has been a natural catalyst from my beginnings in 4-H Shooting Sports. 4-H Shooting Sports has taught me skills that I have utilized to hunt deer, hog, turkey, dove, and waterfowl. The techniques taught by our 4-H Shooting Sports coaches have enabled me to be successful in the field, broaden my knowledge and learn skills I can use for a lifetime.” -Casin Sellears The National 4-H Shooting Sports Championships are held in June of each year. This year they will be held in Grand Island, Nebraska. Texas sends an overall team made up of nine specific discipline teams: Air Rifle, Air Pistol, Shotgun, Smallbore Pistol, Smallbore Rifle, Muzzle Loading, Compound Archery, Recurve Archery, and a Hunting Skills team. Each team includes four members and a volunteer coach. The teams have represented Texas well, winning the overall championship 16 times since its inception in 2001.

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FAMILIES IN THE FIELD

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FAMILIES IN THE FIELD

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 35

TPWD PREMIUM PRIVATE LAND DOVE DRAWN HUNTS

By Owen Fitzsimmons Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

f the 750,000 US dove hunters that hit the fields each September, more than one-third are loading their shotguns in Texas, a testament to how dove-rich the Lone Star State is. This popular recreational pastime is a tradition for many and an excellent way to introduce new hunters to the sport.

However, beginning and veteran hunters alike may find it challenging to secure a place to hunt every year due to cost, access, or just knowing where to go. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department provides several public dove hunting opportunities that include Regular Permit hunts at select State Parks, “Type-II” walk-in areas on leased private lands, E-postcard hunts at select Wildlife Management Areas, and, most recently, Premium Private Land Dove Drawn Hunts.

If you are not familiar with the Premium Dove Drawn Hunts, for a $10 fee, you enter a lottery to win a day hunt with a reputable private outfitter typically worth $150 or more. These hunts truly are “premium.” Participating outfitters operate in some of the hottest dove-hunting areas of the state and work hard to provide the best experience possible. It is not uncommon for drawn winners to have such an enjoyable hunt that they pay out-of-pocket for an extra day or two with an outfitter. The Premium Drawn Hunts were first offered by TPWD in 2016 and have quickly become one of the more popular drawn hunt options. By working with local outfitters, TPWD can provide high-quality public hunting opportunities on private lands that many wing shooters might not otherwise get. The feedback from participants thus far has been overwhelmingly positive.

There are currently around 200 available permits, but TPWD plans to expand the Premium Drawn Hunt options by adding permits and new hunt locations for doves and possibly introducing hunts for other game birds like waterfowl, sandhill cranes, and quail. The Premium Dove Drawn Hunts are supported primarily with Migratory Game Bird Stamp funds. Revenue from the $7 Migratory Game Bird Endorsement, or “stamp” required of all Texas migratory game bird hunters, goes directly back into migratory game bird habitat projects, research, and public hunting opportunities like draw hunts. The Texas Legislature determines the proportion of Stamp funds appropriated for use by TPWD each funding cycle.

While it is unclear how the ongoing pandemic may affect legislative decisions in the immediate future, TPWD is committed to expanding the Premium Drawn Hunt program whenever funding allows.

All of the TPWD Drawn Hunts require application online, so you

36 | SPRING 2021

IMPORTANT LINKS TPWD Public Hunting Main https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/ TPWD Drawn Hunts Mainhttps://tpwd.texas.gov/ huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_drawing/ TPWD Public Hunt Drawing System Overview https://youtube.com/embed/dFgpeWzNFYo?autoplay=1 For more information, contact the Public Hunting Program at (512) 389-4505 or email at hunt@tpwd.texas.gov.

will need to visit the TPWD website. There you can find the entire Drawn Hunt catalog, check your application status and Loyalty Points, and even purchase any required permits or licenses. The Premium Private Land Dove Drawn Hunts can be found in the “Special Permit Hunts” category under “Private Lands - Dove.”

Once you navigate to the page, you will see a list of all the locations and outfitters for each hunt and specific details like hunting hours (some are afternoon only), dates, and the number of available permits.

You can apply on your own or in groups of up to 3 or 4, depending on the hunt. The application fee for each hunt is $10 per person, except for youth under 17 who can apply free with a supervising adult. Each hunter can only apply once for each hunt.

The deadline to apply for the Premium Private Lands Dove Draw Hunts is August 1, so be sure to apply before that date.

Drawings typically take place the next business day after the deadline. If you are drawn, you will be notified immediately via email. Be sure to accept the permit by the given deadline, usually around ten business days after your notification, or you forfeit your permit, and a second drawing will be held to pick alternate winners.

Once you accept your permit, you will be contacted by the specific outfitter operating the hunt and given additional information like directions, meet-up times, and safety instructions.

All the outfitters that partic-

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 37

ipate in the program are professional, courteous, and will do their best to provide a safe, quality hunt for you and your group.

Remember, to legally hunt doves in Texas, you must possess a current Texas hunting license, be HIP-certified, and purchase the $7 state Migratory Game Bird Endorsement. Purchase of the $48 Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit is not necessary for the Premium Private Lands Dove Drawn Hunts. Still, it does allow you to take advantage of several other public dove hunting opportunities offered by TPWD. The APH Permit gives you access to the 120 or so “Type-II” walk-in hunting areas around the state, entry into select TPWD Wildlife Management Areas and State Parks for hunting and special Youth and Youth/ Adult hunts, as well as fishing, camping, hiking, and other outdoor recreational pursuits in certain areas.

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threecurl.com TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 39

TEXAS LANDOWNER LIABILITY PROTECTION: STATUTES AND WAIVERS Nathaniel Gilbert, Attorney The Law Office of Nathaniel Gilbert, LLC

40 | SPRING 2021

A

ll too often, property owners that wish to allow hunting on their property are left with feelings of dread: What if someone gets hurt while hunting here? Will I get sued? How can I protect my family and my investment? In Texas, there are three main shields of liability that are available to landowners. Each of these shields has specific requirements or standards that the landowner must meet to receive the benefits of liability protection.

The Texas Recreational Use Statute (RUS) The Texas RUS provides liability protection to Texas landowners who allow the use of their property for recreation purposes either for free or a specified, limited price. This protection applies to owners, lessees, or occupiers of the property in question, provided that the property in question is agricultural (or at least suited to that use) and the individual entered the property for a recreational purpose, be that dove hunting or picnicking.

Additionally, there are requirements for landowners as far as what is charged to hunt their property and be covered under the RUS: 1) landowners may allow hunters on their property free of charge. 2) the landowner may charge a fee, but that fee can be no more than 20 times the amount the landowner pays in ad valorem tax each year. 3) even if the landowner charges a fee greater than what is described above, if the landowner maintains a liability insurance policy, they enjoy the protections of the statute regardless of the fee charged. As long as the insurance policy held by the landowner is greater than the limits outlined in the statute ($500k per person, $1million per bodily injury, and $100k per occurrence of property damage), the landowner will have the liability protection of the statute.

The Texas Agritourism Act (TAA) The TAA protects landowners from liability to individuals for any injury occurring on agricultural land, as long as the landowner: 1) Posts a sign on the property with the specific, statutory language provided in the Act, OR 2) Has each person sign a form containing separate statutory language, also provided in the Act itself.

kinds of equipment or tools will they be utilizing while on your property?

For instance, a deer lease using tree stands should have a waiver outlining the use of treestands and their dangers. In contrast, a dove hunting waiver would discuss shooting lanes to prevent overswinging on a flying bird and injuring another hunter. Warning people of the hazards and risks involved in the activities helps prevent accidents in the first place and counter any claims that the participants did not know what they were getting into.

Texas subscribes to the Express Negligence Doctrine when interpreting the validity of liability waivers. This doctrine dictates that the waiver must unequivocally state which claims are being waived; that is, the waiver should do more than simply say that the hunter is releasing all claims and instead state specifically which of those claims they are waiving.

Additionally, under Texas law, a release must be “conspicuous.” If you are taking steps to create and implement a liability waiver for your property, it is imperative that you create a separate document with a conspicuous title that brings attention to what the hunter is signing. This is as simple as creating bolded headlines or larger size type—The waiver must be clearly presented to the person signing the document. Even a liability waiver drafted by an attorney should be written in language understandable by the average individual.

Liability Waivers Moving a step beyond the statutory protections available to Texas landowners, we can consider a third shield: Liability Waivers. Waivers are not an automatic liability shield—Just because you found a form online and had someone sign it before hunting on your property does not automatically mean you will never be liable for any injury to that person. Waivers should be thought of as a warning that you are giving people who enter the property. What will they encounter while on the property? What activities will they be engaging in? What

While there is no 100% effective liability shield, if a landowner wants to allow hunting on their property, the State of Texas has created several avenues by which they might protect themselves and their property from nuisance lawsuits alleging injury. Landowners should create and implement a comprehensive risk management program that takes into account the statutory protections as well as a written liability waiver for each guest on their property. Doing so will enjoy many benefits for years to come.

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 41

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

42 | SPRING 2021

Send your dove hunting photos to:

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PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 43

WILD ABOUT DOVE RECIPE

PROSCIUTTO WRAPPED DOVE BREAST SANDWICH

By Holly Hearn of Game Girl Gourmet

INGREDIENTS

PREPARATION

6 doves breasted (12 breasts)

1 Marinate dove breast in balsamic vinegar for 15-20 minutes

5 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar 8 ounce round Brie sliced 1/4 inch pieces Peach preserves Mayo 1 French baguette 6 pieces of thin sliced prosciutto cut in ½ Arugula lettuce Grape seed oil

2 Wrap each dove breast in a ½ piece of prosciutto 3

Heat 1 tbsp of grapeseed oil in a cast iron pan over medium heat and sear each prosciutto wrapped breast until prosciutto is brown and crisp on each side (if browning too quickly turn the heat down to medium low)

4 Cut baguette into 4 equal pieces. Slice each section about ¾ of the way through and open to expose both halves of the bread 5 Places a very light coating of mayo on one side and slices of brie on the other, Broil on high until bread is brown and crispy and brie is bubbly 6 Place 3 prosciutto wrapped dove breast on top of brie side, spread peach preserves on opposite side, top with arugula and enjoy

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