October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
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Welcome Hunters Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
“A young Dolph Briscoe Jr. with one of his early deer kills, ca. 1933”
AD Proud Sponsor of the 40TH ANNUAL HUNTERS ROUNDUP presented by the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce
Friday, November 5 • 5 - 10 p.m. Uvalde County Fairplex
200 East Nopal Street • Uvalde, TX • 830-278-6231 • fsbuvalde.com Branches: camp Wood • carrizo springs • concan • Leakey • saBinaL • Utopia • main street • UvaLde
contents
October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
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Cover photo and page 3 deer photos by Bob Zaiglin
S n a ke s
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4 HUNTER'S ROUNDUP
Uvalde County Fairplex
6 FIRST HUNT PHOTO
Submit high quality photos
7 LICENSES
Hunting and fishing
9 HUNTER EDUCATION TPWD offers classes
10 BIOLOGISTS
Chronic wasting disease
14 FISHING
Lost Maples State Park
15 HUNTERS WELCOME Local antique store
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APPROVED REGULATIONS
20 TOURIST OPTIONS Historic Uvalde
26 WARDENS
Enforce fish and wildlife laws
30 "MR. WHITETAIL" Larry Weishuhn
33 OUTDOOR WRITING Kim Hicks
34 TEXAS BRIGADES Youth camp
37 MOVING SLOWER Gerry Shudde
41 WILDLIFE PROGRAM SWTJC management
LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER—SINCE 1879 A LE ADER IN SOUTHWEST TE X AS
110 N. EAST STREET UVALDE, TX 78801 | Phone: 830-278-3335 | Fax: 830-278-9191
www.uvaldeleadernews.com
@uvaldenews
facebook.com/uvaldeleadernews The Leader-News is available online www.uvaldeleadernews.com
HUNTER’S JOURNAL
is a production of the Uvalde Leader-News.
This magazine is published once a year, and is inserted into the Uvalde Leader-News and delivered to key locations throughout the newspaper’s Southwest Texas market area. The magazine is also available online at www.uvaldeleadernews.com Cover and page 3 photographs by Bob Zaiglin
Publisher/Owner: Craig Garnett . . . . . . . . . . . cgarnett@ulnnow .com Managing Editor: Meghann Garcia . . . . . . . . . . . . .mgarcia@ulnnow .com Graphic Designer/Layout/Sales: Gloria Resma . . . gresma@ulnnow .com Ad Representative: Lacey Heard . . . . . . . . . . . lheard@ulnnow .com Classified Manager: Norma Ybarra . . . . . . . . . . nybarra@ulnnow .com Staff Writer: Melissa Federspill . . . . . . . . mfederspill@ulnnow .com Staff Writer: Julye Keeble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jkeeble@ulnnow .com Staff Writer: Roberta Walden . . . . . . . . . . . . rwalden@ulnnow .com Uvalde Leader-News (SECD 654780) is an entirely locally owned, independent newspaper published every Thursday and Sunday. The newspaper’s address is 110 N. East Street or P.O. Box 740 Uvalde, Texas 78801. Second class postage paid at Uvalde, Texas. The policy of the present day Leader-News is a continuation of the statement made in 1898 by H.P. Hornby (1876-1948) and continued by Harry P. Hornby Jr. (1917-1978) and Mrs. Harry Hornby Jr. (1917-1995)
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
Hunters' Roundup
UVALDE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S
A 6x5 aluminum deer blind from Bitter Creek Manufacturing will be offered in a prize drawing at the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 Hunters’ Roundup, set Nov. 5 at the Uvalde County Fairplex.
The Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce’s 40th-annual Hunters’ Roundup will be held on Nov. 5 starting at 5 p.m. at the Uvalde County Fairplex, 215 Veterans Lane. The event will take place in the rodeo arena, where UACC director Regina Santos-Aviles said multiple doors may be opened for airflow. The roundup has been held for the past 39 years on the Friday evening before the general whitetail deer season opens. It originated as an appreciation dinner for visiting hunters in 1981 and has expanded as the years progressed. Admission is $10 per person, but the fee is waived for those with
a valid Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hunting license. There will also be no charge for first responders with identification or for children under 10. The event will feature vendor booths and exhibits. “The goal in hosting our annual Hunters’ Roundup event is to not only showcase the unique geographical aspects that make the Uvalde area a hunters’ paradise, but also our ‘sleeping giants’ of ranches that many of our locals may not know about,” SantosAviles said. The chamber will hold a prize drawing for about 41 guns PLEASE SEE ROUNDUP, PAGE 5
October/November 2021
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ROUNDUP: event will feature booths FROM PAGE 4
purchased from Oasis Outback, as well as a 6x5 aluminum deer blind from Bitter Creek Manufacturing. Winners need not be present to win. Any winners not present at the event will be contacted the following day. Tickets for the deer blind are $50 each. Monster gun drawing tickets cost $5 each, five for $20, or a book of 25 for $100. Tickets may be purchased online at www.uvalde.org/shop or at the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce, 340 N. Getty St., open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oasis Outback in Uvalde is the pickup location for the winning firearm. The person whose name is on
the ticket is the only person allowed to pick up the firearm. All state and federal firearm ownership laws must be adhered to during pickup (subject to a background check). All winners must be 18 years of age or older; and pistol winners must be 21 years of age or older. For those not located in the Uvalde area, guns may be shipped and forwarded to an approved FFL dealer for a small fee. Contact Oasis Outback for details.
Julye Keeble|Leader-News Two visitors stop to chat with Flights to Furever volunteer Judge Kelley Kimble and her adopted foster pup, Lin Emmanuel, known as “Manny.” The non-profit Flights to Furever program, which rescues and transports animals to new homes in New York, had numerous wares on offer at the 2020 Hunters’ Roundup organized by the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce.
WELCOME Hunters to
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Have a great HUNTING season!
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
Steps to sending in first hunt photo The Uvalde Leader-News staff encourages photo submissions of a hunter’s first harvest. For the photograph to be published, certain criteria is required. Pictures should be high quality to be considered for inclusion in the newspaper. Pictures taken with smartphones or tablets are acceptable, but two steps are imperative for publication. First, the original photo – before any cropping or editing was done – should be emailed. If using an Apple
(iPhone, iPad) product, the sender should select “actual size” when prompted by the email provider. Most Android devices automatically send photos at the optimal size. Submitting photos with a digital camera, please be sure to manually attach the file to the email rather than dragging the file directly into the email body. Email clients vary, but dragging the photo often attaches a thumbnail rather than the full-size photo. Following these steps will help
ensure the photo will be successfully reprinted in the newspaper. Basic photo-taking skills are still necessary. Also, please be sure to identify people pictured – by first and last name – left to right. If the hunter is a minor, please include the child’s age and parents’ names and city of residence. Grandparents may also be listed, in addition to any hunting companions. Send news stories and photos to the managing editor at mgarcia@ ulnnow.com.
e l a s n o s e s n Lice
October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
Texas hunting & fishing
Texas hunting and fishing licenses for the 2021-22 season went on sale Aug. 15. Annually, Texans purchase more than 2.7 million hunting and fishing licenses and directly fund a multitude of conservation efforts and recreational opportunities. Some of the many projects made possible by license sales include fish stocking, wildlife management, habitat restoration, public hunting leases, river fishing access and Texas Game Wardens. Outdoorsmen and women can purchase a variety of licenses online through the official TPWD website, by phone at 1-800-895-4248 during regular business hours or in person at more than 1,800 retailers across
the state. Anyone planning to buy their license from TPWD’s Austin Headquarters must make an advance appointment up to one week in advance. Call 1-800-262-8755 or 512389-4828 to schedule. TPWD encourages repeat license buyers to use the expedited checkout process, which speeds up repurchasing the same license bought in recent years. Hunting and fishing regulations for the 2021-22 season are available online at outdoorannual.com, on the Outdoor Annual mobile app or in the printed Outdoor Annual booklet. The mobile app is free, and once downloaded, it works without
internet connectivity which makes it easy for hunters and anglers to view regulations in even the most remote locations. Other features include license lookup, locationbased functionality such as “Hunting Seasons and Regulations by Location,” “Where to Fish,” and more. Printed copies of the Outdoor Annual can be picked up at license retailers when customers purchase their license or at TPWD offices Additionally, the Outdoor Annual website offers the option to PLEASE SEE LICENSES, PAGE 8
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
LICENSES: variety available online FROM PAGE 7
download and print all or select sections of the Outdoor Annual. The My Texas Hunt Harvest app, which can be accessed through the Outdoor Annual app, enables electronic submission of mandatory harvest reports, including alligator gar harvest reporting. The app also allows hunters to complete their on-site registration for many TPWD public hunting lands. Hunters can hunt on more than one million acres of public land with the purchase of an Annual Public Hunting Permit. When buying their license, resident hunters and anglers may wish to purchase an entry in the Lifetime License Drawing. Three lucky winners will each win a Lifetime Super Combo License and never need to buy a Texas hunting or fishing license
again. Entries are $5 each and can be purchased online, by phone or at any license retailer. The first entry deadline is Sept. 30. When making their purchase, license buyers can also add a donation of $1, $5, $10 or $20 to help support the Hunters for the Hungry program or the Fund for Veterans Assistance. Donations to the Hunters for the Hungry program provide hunters with a way to donate legally harvested deer to participating processors. The processed meat goes to local food banks to feed Texas families in need. Donations to the Fund for Veterans Assistance program provide grants to veteran service organizations and
nonprofit charitable institutions, assisting veterans and their families at the community level throughout Texas. For frequently asked questions about Texas hunting and fishing licenses, visit the TPWD website.
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HUNTER EDUCATION COURSES
For local or out-of-area hunters coming to enjoy the plethora of abundant wildlife in Uvalde County, completion of a one-time educational course and annual purchase of a hunting license can help keep you on the right side of local game wardens. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has a free Texas Outdoor Annual application for mobile devices, where potential hunters may research hunting and fishing laws, seasonal dates and bag limits, and purchase licenses and endorsements online. In Uvalde, hunting licenses may be purchased at Minits No. 108 convenience store, 1301 N. Getty St.; Oasis Outback, 2900 E. Main St.; Minits No. 102/Country Junction store, 2204 Milam St.; and Walmart, 3100 E. Main St. Once purchased, verify that the hunting license has the correct name and information, including any certifications or endorsements.
Hunter education is required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and affected hunters must be able to prove they have completed the course and possess a valid Texas hunting license to legally hunt in Texas. The minimum age for certification is 9 years old. Texas Parks and Wildlife basic hunter education courses are designed for novice or young hunters, and include core competency instruction on firearms handling and safety; hunting ethics, laws and regulations; and wildlife conservation. Upon successful completion of six classroom hours and a grade of at least 75 percent on the written exam, a Texas Hunter Education certification card may be obtained. Hunters under 9 years of age must be accompanied by some age 17 or above, who is licensed to hunt in Texas and has either passed or is exempt
from hunter education requirements. Any hunter age 9-17 must complete a hunter education course or be similarly accompanied. In Texas you are not required to show your education certification when you purchase a hunting license, but proof of certification or a one-year deferral, available one time to hunters age 17 and above at a cost of $10, is required to be on your person while hunting. If you took a hunter education course in another state, you are still required to carry proof of completion on your person while hunting, but do not have to take another course. Texas recognizes hunter education certificates from all other states and provinces. To locate a course, call TPWD Austin headquarters at 1-800-792-1112, ext. 62, or visit the website at https://tinyurl. com/3fxcvw5v.
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830-278-0005 975 W. Main St. Uvalde • Agent
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
LANDOWNERS, HUNTERS SHOULD BE MINDUFL OF DISEASE
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are asking that hunters and landowners throughout the state be mindful of chronic wasting disease as new cases of the disease have been discovered in individual locations within multiple counties throughout Texas. The new positive cases were found in a free-ranging mule deer in Lubbock County, as well as within seven captive deer breeding facilities in Hunt, Uvalde, Matagorda, Mason, and Duval counties. TPWD is concerned that CWD could have been introduced
into free-ranging deer herds on properties that received deer from these deer breeding facilities where CWD positive animals were discovered. More than 1,700 deer were released to high fence pastures in 119 properties scattered across the state. These maps depict counties that contain properties where those deer were released and the number of potentially CWD exposed deer that were released by county. The level of suspected risk for these properties that received released deer exposed to CWD is of significant concern to TPWD.
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The movement of live deer is readily accepted as the greatest risk of spreading CWD across the state. Eradication of CWD is very difficult if not impossible when established in freeranging deer populations and in the environment. TPWD and the Texas Animal Health Commission TAHC have been working diligently to conduct epidemiological investigations and establish testing plans for those release sites in hopes of preventing CWD from becoming PLEASE SEE CWD CHECK, PAGE 11
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CWD CHECK: stations in Uvalde FROM PAGE 10
established in the free-ranging deer populations. These recent discoveries of new cases bring the total number of CWD positive deer to 261 in 14 counties. To date, 168 of those positives are associated with captive breeding facilities, 25 from release sites associated with those positive captive breeding facilities, and 68 in free-ranging deer populations. Fifty-seven of the free-range positives are in the Trans Pecos and Texas panhandle, with the remaining 11 in Medina and Val Verde counties. CWD surveillance of hunter-
harvested deer, road-kills, and sick deer is critical for early detection and containment of the disease. Landowners and hunters play a critical role in managing CWD and are encouraged to report any tagged deer, or deer that appear to be sick or behaving strangely, to a TPWD biologist. Anyone hunting deer this season is encouraged to voluntarily provide samples for testing by taking deer to the nearest check station or by contacting a biologist in their area.
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE The chronic wasting disease mandatory check station in Uvalde is located at 3333 E. Main St. at Speer Ag., and will be staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Nov. 5. Beginning Nov. 6, it will be open until 7 p.m. on weekends through Jan. 16, though weekday hours will still end at 5 p.m. CWD is a fatal disease that has been discovered in whitetailed deer, mule deer, elk, and red deer in localized portions of Texas. To detect and manage this disease, the department has designated CWD zones. Hunters who harvest mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, or other exotic CWD-susceptible species within the CWD zones are required to bring their animals to a TPWD check station within 48 hours of harvest. Hunters must check each animal harvested and receive a CWD receipt before taking any part of that animal from the CWD Zone, including any meat or quartered parts.
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
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Jerrell Baker REALTOR®
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Not pictured are Amanda McNeal, Maricela Leyva and Gina Ferrara.
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235 N. GETTY, UVALDE, TX. • 830-900-7722
October/November 2021
Residential & Commercial License #18484
Hunter's Journal
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
WANT TO SPEND TIME OUTDOORS?
TRY FISHING
Fishing is a fun option for spending time outdoors, and options abound for finding a fishing spot in the Uvalde area with Nueces, Frio and Sabinal rivers nearby. Lost Maples State Park in Vanderpool allows fishing on the Sabinal River which runs through the park, while Garner State Park in Concan also allows fishing on the Frio River. Garner State Park also participates in the Texas Parks and Wildlife on-site fishing tackle loaner program, which allows visitors to borrow rods, reels and tackle boxes complete with hooks, sinkers and bobbers. Individuals fishing in state parks do not need a license to fish from a shore or pier, per Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. To fish on the Nueces River, Uvalde County’s Wes Cooksey Park in Camp Wood, offers a day use option for visitors. Although there is a pier near the boat ramp at the park, fishing is perhaps more successful by boat or kayak. A fishing license is required to fish at this location, as it is not a state park. Fish that can be found in Uvalde County’s rivers include black bass, Rio Grande cichlid, spotted gar, and carp.
PHOTO BY MELISSA FEDERSPILL | LEADER-NEWS The Nueces River at Wes Cooksey Park
• • • • • •• • • • • • • •• • ••• •• •• •• • •• ••• ••• •• •• • • A fishing license is not required to fish at state parks,
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and Garner participates in a tackle loaner program.
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Entry fee for day use is $8 per person, ages 13 and older
• • •••• • • •• ••• •• •• •• • •• ••• • • •• • ••• •• • • A fishing license is not required to fish at state parks.
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Entry fee for day use $6 per person, ages 13 and older
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A Texas fishing license is required to fish at Wes Cooksey.
• • •• •• • ••• •
Entry fee for day use is $4 per person.
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Hunters
October/November 2021
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CAN SCORE BARGAINS, CAMARADERIE ROBERTA WALDEN Staff Writer
During hunting season, when he managed the antique store on what he called “Horners’ corner,” long-time antique vendor and flamboyant local character Wylie Walden would stretch a sign between the awning support poles reading “HUNTERS WELCOME.” He had guy stuff to sell that hunters could use.The sign worked.The hunters came, and their wives came, too, hunting for a bargain. Eventually,Walden put up a sign that said “Hunters welcome – and their wives.” Wylie is gone, but the antique store within Horners’ Building is still there, and much of the 15,000-square-foot
space is packed with “guy stuff” that hunting types, male and female use, like, or, sometimes, even, covet. And it is no wonder:Woody Massingill has several booths there, and so do Kyle McKeon, Britt Whyrick, Fred Castro, Bill Stege, Bill Cross, Phil Branch, Steve Giblin and Don Lee. Hunting traps, fishing lures, and camping stoves; screwdrivers, hammers, and wrenches; vintage saddles, lassos and spurs; bar room clocks, German beer steins, Pearl beer glasses; old books on wars, horses, and Texas; old maps; old hats; old boots; old coins; anything with a quail on it – man cave things, and more – are sold by the guys
PHOTO BY ROBERTA WALDEN | LEADER-NEWS Pictured right Kyle McKeon
at Horners’ on the Square, even old bow-hunting arrows from time to time. The guys are as interesting as the stuff they sell – and the historic Horner building in which they sell it. It is one of the oldest buildings in Uvalde County, and a true architectural landmark, with its unique arched façade and prime location on the square in historic downtown Uvalde. Once a dry goods store, car PLEASE SEE HORNERS, PAGE 18
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
Uvalde County
Rapid urbanization and higherthan-normal amounts of rain are a combination that increase the likelihood of human-snake encounters, and more interactions can lead to more bites. Maureen Frank, Ph.D.,Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist, Uvalde, has some tips on how to avoid snake bites and deal with objects and places around homes and properties that may attract snakes. Snakes, whether we like them or fear them, are becoming more active around the house and in their natural habitat this time of year. It’s still a little cool, but snake activity will increase as temperatures climb. People can encounter snakes while walking trails, camping or just doing summer yardwork around the house, Frank said.There’s little to fear about snakes if a few basic precautions and principles are applied before and during an encounter. Snakes are integral to Texas’ array of regional ecosystems.While many Texans view them as a dangerous pest, they are an important predator of insects and small mammals.There are around 75 snake species in the Lone Star State, but only about a dozen are venomous. Even though most species are nonvenomous, Frank said her best advice is to avoid contact with any snake. Snakes are typically not aggressive and will typically escape an area if they hear someone approaching. She said the best ways to avoid snake bites is to watch where you step or reach and to keep your distance if you see one.
The following story was written by Adam Russell, a communication specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife.
A milk snake’s black, white and red pattern mimics the black, yellow and red pattern of the venomous coral snake. Even non-venomous snakes will bite if they feel threatened, so it’s best to avoid them. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo by Maureen Frank)
“When you encounter a snake, it’s best to just leave it alone,” Frank said. “Most bites occur when a person is trying to handle the snake or trying to kill it. It’s best to give them plenty of room and let them go on their way.” WHERE AND WHEN YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER A SNAKE Frank said recent heavy rains and flooding could increase the potential for encounters with snakes. Flooding can push snakes from burrows and typical habitat to higher ground and create hiding places in those areas. “Heavy rains can push snakes from low-lying areas, and flooding can wash debris onto properties that can become good places for displaced snakes to shelter,” she said. “So, people need to take special care during cleanup.The thing to remember is to never put your hands or feet somewhere you can’t see and to use tools like hoes or a shovel to move debris or turn it over so you can see that it’s safe to handle.” Because snakes cannot generate their own body heat, they prefer
sun and/or stretching out on warm surfaces like rocks, pavement and other heat-absorbing materials while temperatures are cooler. But in the heat of the summer, they prefer shade, especially from the midday sun. “People need to take these environmental conditions into account,” she said. “On a cool morning, you may find a snake sunning a rock along a hiking trail or the stones in a walkway or a paved walking trail.When it’s hot, they may be in the shade under a bush or sheet of plywood or in a brush pile.These are things to consider when you go outside.” Frank said venomous snakes typically do not want to use their venom as a defense.They usually give warnings – like rattlesnakes rattling – before they strike.The Texas Department of Health Services reported that half the reported bites by venomous snakes were “dry,” meaning no venom was injected into the victim. “A snake strikes because it views
October/November 2021 you as a threat,” she said. “Producing venom is an energetically costly process, and they only have so much. If they use it, they must make more to hunt for food, and they have to work for every single meal, so striking to defend themselves is something they would rather avoid.” For more tips on precautions to take related to snakes and flooding, you can find Frank’s publication on this subject at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Bookstore. REDUCE SNAKE ATTRACTORS There are no chemical repellants proven to deter snakes, Frank said, but there are two things homeowners can do to reduce the likelihood of snakes hanging around a location – remove potential shelter and food. “It’s best to take the habitat approach and remove the things that attract snakes,” she said. “Cutting the grass, removing brush and debris, and trimming the lower branches on bushes and trees will go a long way in reducing the places a snake might want to hide.” Research Frank conducted last summer in the Hill Country indicated that snakes use a variety of materials to hide throughout the year, including plywood, sheet metal and other debris.These materials also attract scorpions and spiders, so snakes are just one reason to take caution when cleaning up debris. Reducing hiding spots for snakes will also reduce hiding spots for the prey they seek, like rats and mice, she said. Cleaning around the house and other structures to remove trash, which is shelter for small prey animals, also helps keep snakes away. Teach children not to reach inside crevices and under bushes with lowhanging limbs, she said. “They need to know they shouldn’t reach into a place if they can’t see what might be in there.” Frank said homeowners should also take precautions to reduce the chance of their pet encountering a
snake, such as having them on a leash during walks. SNAKES OF TEXAS Common non-venomous species found throughout Texas include garter snakes, which people also refer to as garden snakes; rat snakes, also known as chicken snakes; and bull snakes. Common venomous snakes include western diamond-backed rattlesnakes, copperheads and the cottonmouth, also known as the water moccasin. The range of species and likelihood of an encounter differ from region to region and specific locations. For instance, it’s much more likely to see a cottonmouth around bodies of water, like ponds, lakes or creeks, as well as bottomlands that maintain high levels of moisture throughout the seasons. “Being able to identify a snake can help you avoid danger,” she said. “But the best advice is to keep your distance and avoid contact.” Frank has published a useful guide to common snake species that can be purchased on the AgriLife Bookstore.
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SNAKE BITES Most snake bites to humans occur to the feet/lower leg or the hands, Frank said.
Hunter's Journal
Despite common misconceptions on how to deal with a venomous snake bite, she said it’s best to stay calm and get to a hospital as quickly as possible. First, try to identify the snake species, Frank said.This is especially important for coral snakes because the treatments differ significantly from those to treat copperhead, cottonmouth or rattlesnake bites. “Do not try to kill it,” she said. “The emergency room doctors don’t need it.They just need a decent description of the snake or take a photo of it with your cell phone if it’s safe to do so. If someone else tries to get the snake, you run the risk that the doctor may be dealing with two snake bite victims.” Frank said the victim should remove clothing like socks if bitten on the foot and items like rings on fingers if bitten on the hand because of swelling. Tourniquets and suction devices or using other mythologized methods to remove snake venom could do more harm than good, she said. Hospitals have anti-venom on hand to deal with bites. “Just focus on getting to the hospital quickly but safely,” she said.
The copperhead is among four venomous snakes, including rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and coral snakes, that people should watch for while walking. Their pattern blends well with fallen leaves and debris on the ground. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension photo by Maureen Frank)
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HORNERS: one of the oldest buildings multiple independent antique businesses. They have been under the umbrella names of Market Square Antiques,Antiques on the Square, and, most recently, Horners’ on the Square. Some of the guys who specialize in guy stuff in their booths at Horners’ on the Square look like Sixth Street,Austin, musicians who just walked off of a Sixth Street,Austin, stage – or maybe they PHOTO BY ROBERTA WALDEN | LEADER-NEWS look like backwoods Pictured are Don Lee and Fred Castro. hunters. dealership, fabric shop, and bank, In fact,Woody for the past 30-plus or minus years Massingill is a backwoods hunter, who the building has served as home to hunts bear, elk, antelope, white tail deer, and whatever else would make good jerky that anyone will let him near enough to shoot. Britt is a musician, a popular Getty and Main street one. His special areas of interest are old musical instruments – electric guitars, amplifiers, harmonicas – and guy toys, but, like all of the guys, he has an eclectic range of interests. REALTOR® Kyle is a retired U.S. “Since 2007...Helping buyers and sellers every step of the way.” Border Patrol agent who carries a business REALTOR® card that reads FROM PAGE 15
Rebekah James
Hunting for a home? – Rebekah James 830-279-1505
rebekahannjames2@gmail.com
“McKeon and Sons Antiques.” The McKeon sons are Wyatt, a Uvalde High School freshman, and Justus, a seventh-grader at Morales Junior High School.While, so far, the antiquing gene has not revealed itself in Wyatt, Justus thrives on helping his dad in the antique business.And, he is his hunting companion when they get out to hunt. Kyle’s wife,Vanessa, also a retired U.S. Border Patrol agent (a chief in charge) is now becoming involved with Kyle and the boys in the antiques and collectibles business. It must be said here: she likes gal stuff, and the sprawling store does have that, too. Kyle’s sections of the store reflect his grandmother’s tutoring in the antiques business. He has everything from an assortment of Dutch bread cutters to vintage radios and cabin furniture. Regarding hunting, he says,“It hurts too much.” It is not that it hurts him to shoot animals. It hurts him to camp out and sleep on the hard ground and do the hiking that they do when they hunt. But, he still hunts when one of he sons wants to go. Fred Castro is another antiquing guy who knows his way around the antique business. He is a retired UPS driver. “Thirty-four years and no accidents,” he says. His booths have cabin furniture, knives, old records, maybe a sword, maybe a telescope. Fred likes working his assigned booth days with Woody because there is no telling what kind of jerky Woody is going to bring in. It might be bear. It might be duck or goose.Woody likes working with Fred, too, because there is also no telling what kind of jerky he is going to bring in. Woody always has a story ready. In addition to being a bear hunter, a fisherman, and a backwoods pack-mule hunter, he’s owned, or watched work, nearly every hunting dog ever heard of, and there isn’t a horse breed or horse topic he doesn’t know something
October/November 2021 FROM PAGE 18
about. He has been everything from a lineman climbing utility poles to a Kinney County judge. He was also an auctioneer. His eclectic interests and years as an auctioneer reveal themselves in his areas of Horners’. He has everything from, literally, a horse’s skull to a century-old soup ladle, and, of course, old, already-seasoned cast iron dutch ovens and frying pans of every sort. But, also, there are possibly bows and quivers, canteens,“calls,” and, maybe compasses, hidden in those booths somewhere. Then, there’s Don Lee, another retired U.S. Border Patrol agent, and his wife,Trina, who is also former law enforcement. Don’s special areas of interest are western books, tack, sometimes spurs. He and Trina enjoy managing estate sales, and their booths are full of everything from heavy flannel shirts to old clocks and boots. These are not the only guys who sell
“guy stuff” at the antique store in the old building Wylie Walden used to like calling Horners’ corner. There are several others, such as Bill Stege, who sells vintage advertising doodads, such as Pearl Beer bottle openers, Falstaff pocket knives, and Lone Star beer mugs; and there’s Bill Cross, whose special interest is old coins. Bill and Bill have good guy stuff, even though they don’t look like they just walked off Sixth Street or an old west movie. And now, there’s a new guy on the block:Trebes Sasser, the new owner of the Horners’ Building, the business of which he has recently purchased and renamed Horners’ on the Square. While he doesn’t sell antiques at all, it does seem as if he is turning out to be a pretty good landlord. And, as always, hunters– and their wives –are welcome, just like they are everywhere in Uvalde. PHOTOS BY ROBERTA WALDEN LEADER-NEWS Pictured above right Woody Massingill and Britt Whyrick
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
TOURIST OPTIONS
For hunters’ companions who are not interested in participating in the sport, the scenic downtown of Uvalde boasts a multitude of opportunity for shopping, dining and recreating. The following listings provide a snapshot of the available resources in the area and highlight several located within Uvalde’s downtown. Additional shopping and dining experiences can be found throughout the area. SHOPPING Several businesses in downtown Uvalde offer various retail items, including the Blinged Buck, Mi Vida, Doll Haus Boutique, Gree’s Boutique and Fine Jewelry, Amy’s Attic and Monogramming, Julien’s, Horners’ on the Square, Southern Lace Marketplace, Edwards Furniture and the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Candle Shop.
For art enthusiasts, there’s also the Encina Art Gallery, 114 N. Getty, and the Art Lab Contemporary Art Space, 227 N. Getty.The Art Lab is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers a contemporary art gallery and studio, per its Facebook page. Encina Art Gallery displays Uvalde and surrounding area artworks, as well as offers various art classes. It is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, 830-261-5130. The Blinged Buck, at 229 N. Getty, per its website, is a “southern inspired company offering handmade gifts from our ranch in Uvalde,Texas.” Offerings include bracelets, earrings and necklaces, lip balms, goat milk soaps and raw honey.The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information,
Locally owned & operated for over 40 years
HEADQUARTERED IN UVALDE Serving Southwest Texas
WELCOME HUNTERS! ProPane & ProPane accessories 830-278-1111 2621E. Main Street • Uvalde, TX 78801
S A L E S
S E R V I C E
S A F E T Y
I N S T A L L
“Your all ACES Full Service Propane Company”
407-467-0235. At Julien’s, a Lifestyle Store, 200 N. Getty, brand name offerings include monogrammed Jon Hart leather luggage, Consuela, Kendra Scott and Brighton. It is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturday until 5:30 p.m. For more information, 830-278-8185. Fine jewelry options as well as a selections of collectibles can be found at Gree’s Boutique, 111 N. Getty St.The business also offers jewelry repairs, and often previews new items, such as necklaces, earrings and gift items, on Facebook. Gree’s is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday until 4 p.m. For more information, 830-591-2550. The Candle Shop, 313 N. Getty, is operated by Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District high
October/November 2021 school students and their supervising teachers. Students are hands-on in the operation of the business and develop vocational skills. The shop sells various candlerelated items, such as gift baskets and fire starters.They are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, 830-591-2990. Edwards Furniture, 115 S.West St., offers living room, dining room and bedroom furniture, as well as miscellaneous household decor. Edwards is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, 830-278-5694. DINING There are several restaurants in the downtown Uvalde area, including The Fountain at Rexall, Carlito’s Way, the Tea Room and Broadway 830. The Fountain at Rexall, 201 N. Getty St. is the only soda fountain between San Antonio and El Paso. Its roots date back to 1883, per its website, though it has changed hands
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from time to time and also experienced a closure. Rexall offers dine-in and curbside service, and are open from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, MAP CREDIT: MAIN STREET UVALDE 830-900For more information, 830-900-7076. 7300. For lunch, the Uvalde Tea Room, Broadway 830, 100 E. Main, offers 114 W. North St., boasts daily specials a wide selection of items, including as well as soups, sandwiches and artisan pizza, pastas, craft beers and baked goods. It is open from 11 a.m. cocktails as well as live music. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, Hours of operation span 11 a.m to daily specials are often posted on 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and Facebook. until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
raves
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22 Hunter's Journal October/November 2021 www.DullnigRanches.com
184± Acres Zavala County Nueces River Ranch
280± Acres Zavala County Campo de Zavala
282± Acres Uvalde County Rancho Rio Lindo
598± Acres Uvalde County Montell Mountain Ranch
1,000± Acres Zavala County LTX Ranch
1,055± Acres Uvalde County Dos Rios Ranch
1,671± Acres Dimmit County Salt Creek Ranch
1,739± Acres Uvalde County Roof River Ranch
2,270± Acres Uvalde County Blue Hole Ranch
3,972± Acres Dimmit/Zavala County Rocky Lake Ranch
4,800± Acres Maverick County Rancho Anejo
6,571± Acres Edwards County Rancho El Mirasol
23 www.DullnigRanches.com
October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
396± Acres Kinney County East Elm Creek Ranch
521± Acres Medina County Sandstone Ranch
532± Acres Uvalde County Roof Ranch
1,085± Acres Frio County Johnson Farm
1,472± Acres Frio County Frio River Ranch
1,588± Acres Medina County Milstead Ranch
2,242± Acres Dimmit County Pendencia Ranch
3,000± Acres Maverick County El Tesoro Ranch
3,600± Acres Uvalde County High Places Ranch
7,300± Acres Zavala County El Mirador Ranch
9,252± Acres Frio County Oppenheimer Ranch
15,963± Acres Maverick County El Indio Cage Ranch
Robert Dullnig dullnigranches@gmail.com | 210.213.9700
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October/November 2021
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RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL FARM & RANCH • RIVER/RESORT • RAW LAND
Stephanie Sieckenius Owner/Broker, ALHS, ABR, E-PRO
830-591-6658 Alon Williams - 469-371-1604 Avery Milam - 830-591-4495 Brooke Emery - 775-781-3672 Denise Rogers - 830-591-7471 Eileen Woolsey - 830-931-1179 Gene Evans - 830-486-9682
Janel Horgeshimer - 830-261-0045 Kay Henry - 830-203-0690 Lilly Brunk - 830-624-5198 Raul Zamora - 210-912-1964 Samantha Sanford - 210-262-2196 Trish Driskill - 830-703-0884
Visit www.Lantanauvalde.com 131 E. Nopal Street • Uvalde, Texas • 830-900-5075
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
GAME
WARDENS Three local game wardens help enforce regulations intended to ensure the safety of wildlife, hunters and area residents in Uvalde County. Those wardens include Dennis Gazaway Jr., Miles Braesicke and Arturo
Contact game wardens Know how to contact local game wardens: Dennis Gazaway Jr. can be reached at 830-591-4806, Miles Braesicke at 361-885-5429, and Arturo Salinas at 956-371-5113. The San Antonio Regional Office may be reached at 210-348-7375. The phone numbers for Texas game wardens are listed by county on the TPWD website, https://tpwd.texas.gov/warden/game-warden-list. phtml.
Salinas, who patrol the approximately 1,600-square miles of the county. There are more than 550 game wardens in Texas, stationed across 254 counties, who patrol about 11 million miles of territory. Game wardens enforce Texas public waterway rules, assist in search and rescue efforts, work with K-9 units to assist in narcotics SPECIALS enforcement and detect illegally Homemade Tortillas BREAKFAST SPECIALS obtained fish and Tuesday - Friday game. A game warden’s 1105 West Main | Uvalde | 830-591-0083 primary duty is Tuesday - Saturday 6 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Daily Lunch
to enforce Texas fish and wildlife laws. Wardens are knowledgeable about hunting, fishing, wildlife management and other outdoor activities. Fish and game wardens serve as commissioned law enforcement officers responsible for monitoring and managing wildlife, as well as tracking and apprehending poachers. They protect wildlife, enforce fishing and hunting regulations and can also cite people for an assortment of crimes, conduct searches and investigations, and collect evidence, including illegallyobtained game. Game wardens also help educate the public, address civic organizations and provide assistance to other law enforcement agencies.
Supplying all your game feed needs. Recleaned Corn • Milo Acco Deer pellets and Blocks
Uvalde Producers Feed, LLC
Hwy 83 N. South of overpass • Uvalde •830-278-5646 Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.
October/November 2021
to encourage private land management and promote recruitment of new and young hunters. A private nonprofit organization,The Parks and Wildlife Foundation of Texas, Incorporated, was founded to raise private donations for department conservation efforts.
DALLAM
I – San Angelo (325) 651-4844
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II – Fort Worth (817) 831-3128 III – Lufkin (936) 632-1311
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Law Enforcement Division Col.Chad N. Jones
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IV – Houston (North) (281) 931-6471
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V – San Antonio (210) 348-7375
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VIII – Corpus Christi (361) 289-5566
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Special Operations (512) 389-8631
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Game Warden Training Center (325) 948-3301
Headquarters (512) 389-4846
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Family Owned Since 1954 Residential and Commerical Sales and Service New Construction and Remodel Water, Sewer and Gas Repair Parts Complete Concrete Septic Tank Installation
ry to is h , s e n la p y jo En and g reat food
Make memories with family and friends
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4215 E US Hwy 90 • Uvalde, Texas 78801 Joey Casey M-40703 ovcaseyplumbing@yahoo.com www.ovcaseyplumbing.com
“Our Reputation is our Best Protection”
Cornhole Tournaments Download the ChowNow app and order ahead
Open: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Daily
Burgers • Hot Plates Sandwiches • Salads • Drinks Appetizers • Desserts Kids Menu 249 Airport Blvd. • Uvalde, Texas • 830-900-3113
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tractor-trailer filled with various native animals which visited county fairs and traveled to various communities. Game wardens soon became licensed peace officers, and after Sept. 1, 1970, game warden accreditation through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education required 140 hours of law enforcement training. Around this time, 20 bighorn sheep were released in the Black Gap Wildlife Management area, which border Big Bend National Park, beginning the reestablishment of the species in the state. The state legislature bestowed the authority for managing fish and wildlife resources in all Texas counties with the Parks and Wildlife Department in 1983, when the Wildlife Conservation Act was passed; before that county commissioners typically had veto power over department regulations. In 1991, the Texas Big Game Awards Program was established
FRANKLIN
Game wardens were first commissioned in 1895 by the Texas Legislature to help enforce game laws enacted to prevent over-harvesting of wildlife.The Fish and Oyster Commission was created in 1895, with a handful of enforcement agents appointed to regulate the harvesting of oysters and fish in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1907, the agency was expanded to include game animals, and it became the Game, Fish and Oyster Commission. In the 1930s, the introduction of radios allowed the approximately 80 working wardens to communicate as they patrolled on horseback or in their personal vehicles; and in 1946, the first warden cadet class of 17 people graduated from Texas A&M University. In 1963, when the Commission was merged with the State Parks Board, the organization became the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The new department initiated a traveling wildlife exhibit show. According to TPWD, most wardens referred to it as the “Possum Show.” It consisted of a
SAN AUGUSTINE
GAME WARDEN HISTORY
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THE ULTIMATE HUNTING EXPERIENCE 28
Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
T R O P H Y & M A N A G E M E N T D E E R H U N T S
F I R S T C L A S S Q U A I L & D O V E H U N T I N G
12,000 Acres of permier brush country habitat located 6 miles south of Uvalde, Tx.
Please Contact James Saunders for additional information (830)900-4501 ~ 501 ranch office (830)278-3939 Hunts@501ranch.com www.501ranch.com
October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
12 2 2 0 fo 2 s r ge n a on ch ti eg la r u g Approv es huntin
Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
Hunters will be subject to rule changes this fall, including the addition of two days of hunting opportunity in the special white-winged dove days within the south dove zone. The following modifications and clarifications to the 2021-22 Statewide Hunting Proclamation were adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission during an online meeting held March 25: • •
•
• •
Add crossbow to the definition of lawful archery equipment Remove the prohibition on trailing wounded deer with dogs in Angelina, Hardin, Nacogdoches, Orange, Shelby, and Tyler counties Allow the trailing of wounded deer to no more than two dogs on a leash in Jasper, Newton, Sabine, and San Augustine counties Eliminate the experimental pronghorn season in the northern Panhandle Extend the general pronghorn season from nine days to 16 days statewide
• •
•
• •
Close Panola County to hunting Eastern turkey season during the spring in 2022 Implement mandatory reporting for spring turkey hunting (April 1-30) in the “Western 1 Gobbler” counties in southcentral Texas in 2022 Add two days of hunting opportunity in the special whitewinged dove days within the south dove zone Establish season dates and daily bag limits for all migratory game bird hunting seasons Modify the muzzleloader definition to clarify only the bullet
Hunters hitting the field in the upcoming season should make note of these changes and follow all regulations set for species, tagging, bag limits, counties, season dates and means and methods. Hunters can check the online version of the Outdoor Annual for complete and updated regulations. Information currently in the online version of the Outdoor Annual reflects last season’s information. The 2021-22 season information will not be online until mid-August per usual practice. More information regarding these amendments and hunting season dates for the 2021-22 seasons can be viewed on the TPWD website, https://tpwd.texas.gov/
• •
•
or projectile and powder must be loaded through the muzzle Modify opening day for chachalacas to be concurrent with quail season Align spring and fall wild turkey hunting seasons with consistent north and south zone boundaries along Highway 90 starting in the fall of 2021 Allow squirrel hunting statewide by opening the remaining closed counties to a year-round hunting season. Traditional East Texas squirrel season, May 1-31 and Oct. 1 through the last Sunday in February remains unchanged
The Open Range Bakery and Cafe Old-fashioned home cooked meals ranging
from Biscuits & Gravy to Roast Beef & Mashed Potatoes to Pies & Cakes to Coffees & Lattes
Something for anyone’s taste
A taste of Fall
A large selection of desserts with our Pumpkin Spice Latte
2211 E. Main St. • Uvalde, Texas
830-261-1866
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
"MR. WHITETAIL" LARRY WEISHUHN
Uvalde-based Larry Weishuhn, or “Mr. Whitetail” to many, is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Zeiss Lifetime Achievement Award, and holds a place in the Muy Grande Hall of Fame and National Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame for his work in outdoor writing, wildlife education, and habitat conservation. As a professional wildlife biologist, Weishuhn began his career upon graduation from Texas A&M University. Weishuhn began his career by dedicating his time to protecting wildlife and private property rights. And as he grew in his career so did the programs he established. His hunts are filmed for his show, “Trailing the Hunter’s Moon.” These hunts appear on The Sportsman Channel on Sunday nights at 9:30 p.m. Central, with three repeat airings happening throughout the week. The show, which features Weishuhn and Blake Barnett and airs 52 weeks a year, has won Telly Awards and has also been nominated for Emmys. “The Muy Grande Hall of Fame was established to honor hunters, landowners, wildlife managers, conservationists [and] outdoor writers who have contributed greatly to whitetail deer management, hunting, and conservation in Texas,” Weishuhn said. “I was told I was inducted
October/November 2021 into this elite group because of the many years I helped establish wildlife management programs in Texas; something over 12,000,000 acres in Texas and internationally in such places as Mexico, Canada, various African countries, Austria, England, New Zealand, Argentina, and elsewhere.” The Muy Grande Hall of Fame holds special importance for Weishuhn. “I was inducted into the National Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame in 2007, but being inducted into the Muy Grande Hall of Fame [in 2016] means in many ways that I was accepted by South Texans and Texans across our great state as someone who has tried very hard to promote proper whitetail deer herd and habitat management,” he said. The work that Weishuhn has put toward his career is evident, as he has published more than 2,500 feature articles for publications like “Deer & Deer Hunting,” “Petersen’s Hunting,” “Shooting Times,” and “Sporting Classics.” Weishuhn has also written books, one of which is “Trailing the Hunter’s Moon,” published in 2004. The book was named Foreword Magazine’s “Book of the Year for Adventure and Recreation.” He has won numerous honors worldwide for his published books. Another milestone is the numerous professional papers that he has published, making him a key featured speaker at
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national and international wildlife symposiums. All of these accomplishments are the reasons for his selection for the Zeiss Lifetime Achievement Award. “The Zeiss Award has only been presented a couple of times before, so to receive this honor meant a great deal to me. I’ve been involved in the outdoor world all my life, a professional biologist for over 40 years, an outdoor writer who sold his first national article and cover photo in 1970, involved in outdoor television since the late 1980s, and involved in wildlife conservation for many years,” Weishuhn said. “I was honored beyond words. The award was totally unexpected but also greatly appreciated. In a way, it reinforces that I made some good decisions during my life and career.” His accomplishments stem from his childhood and the influence his family had on his passion for the outdoors – hunting, fishing, and protecting wildlife.
Public Hunts available
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
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OUTDOOR WRITING BY: CHARLEY ROBINSON STAFF WRITER
Kim Hicks, a Uvalde High School graduate and Uvalde native, has succeeded in multiple businesses including that of big game hunting guide. Here, he poses with his own company-founded Bog-Pod tripod and an antelope.
F
orty-six years ago, a young Kim Hicks, was preparing for his final football season and looking forward to his senior year at Uvalde High School. At the same time the young man already knew what he wanted out of life. “I was a kid. I loved high school and playing sports, especially football,” said Hicks.“But, looking forward back then, I simply wanted to be an outdoor writer – not much more.” Looking back on Hicks’ career the past four decades, he has certainly succeeded in attaining that goal plus much more. He not only has had one successful career, but multiple related ones. He became that outdoor writer as well as a hunting guide, magazine publisher and editor, outdoor events and seminar
kinds of hunters, from all walks of life, producer,TV host and producer, and from my mid-20s to the mid-30s. It was product manufacturer. spectacular fun,” he said.“One thing I “As a kid, like most kids, my dad and his friends taught me and my brothers PLEASE SEE OUTDOOR, PAGE 35 what hunting was all about,” began Hicks.“Those early hunting experiences is what led me to read every article the famous outdoor writers of the time produced. “It was the romance, the intrigue of those articles, that led to my dreams of becoming an outdoor writer myself someday.” So Hicks became a guide. www.redbackpestmanagement.com “I would guide all
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
Texas Brigades: Editor’s note: The following information was contributed by Lyfe Tyme, Inc., representative Rose Cooper, who serves as a board director for the Texas Brigades.
A different kind of camp
The sun has not yet made its appearance when the five young campers make themselves comfortable on a small piece of South Texas brushland. As the songs of birds begin to fill the air, they take notice of all of the sights and sounds that nature brings in the early dawn. A doe walks out of the brush line to forage on forbs that the recent rains have brought. A pair of bobwhite quail scurry down the road with several chicks in tow. For many teenagers, this is their first time RANCH ROADS • CHIP SEAL PAVING to experience the natural world CRUSHED BASE ROADS • HAULING & MORE waking up and Texas Brigades made this opportunity possible. Locally Owned & Insured Texas Brigades was founded Uvalde, Texas 29 years ago as a single
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youth camp focusing on the ecology of bobwhite quail. This non-profit organization has now grown to encompass eight leadership camps across the state, each focusing on different species of wildlife and their habitats. These camps are five days of intense, interactive, and fun learning from some of the top wildlife and natural resource professionals in Texas.Volunteers contribute more than 10,000 hours annually, and include individuals from cooperating partners such as Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Texas Wildlife Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service. The subjects covered during camps include biology, habitat management, PLEASE SEE CAMP, PAGE 36
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October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
OUTDOOR: writer, publisher, editor FROM PAGE 33
learned was a hunter’s expectation had to be fulfilled. If the prey wasn’t moving or where you thought it to be, you had to go on the offensive and find it.That means wherever.” While guiding, Hicks met Joe Graham, who ran the publishing division of the NRA.That led to the publishing dream that Hicks always had. MAGAZINE PUBLISHER “My first opportunity as an outdoor writer came to life when my wife and I started the publication called ‘The Texas Hunting Directory,’ ” Hicks said.“We founded the publication in 1987, edited it, wrote articles for it until it was sold in 2003. “During this time I was fortunate enough to write for other publications including an outdoor-related article in the Wall Street Journal. “Although infrequent, I continued to guide good friends on hunts when possible. Our publishing company launched a second hunting related event called ‘Hunt Texas’ and I gave seminars at various events around the country. “We produced a very popular outdoor event in downtown Fredericksburg called ‘Opening Day’ and it brought thousands of hunters during Labor Day weekend. “With that decision ‘Hunting 201’ was born and we decided the future was in television. Our program had great ratings and I hosted and produced ‘Hunting 201’ for the next seven years. “Our team traveled the world in search of great stories about people, places, and magnificent animals of many, many species.” Hicks and his team have produced a new pilot show called “American Deer Camp.” “If sponsors get on board we will produce it in the near future,” he said, giving the following website address
for more information: http://www. americandeercamp.com. Hicks founded a company called BOgear LLC.This company produced the famous Bog-Pod tripods, bi-pods, mono pods and several patented shooting rests and accessories that are still popular. “We sold BOgear to BTI about five years ago,” said Hicks. Smith & Wesson purchased BTI about a year later. “Today Smith owns BOGear.When we sold this company I had nine patents in my name,” added Hicks.
outdoor magazine publishing company, a professional hunter and television host, a seminar speaker, special events producer, and owner and founder of two products manufacturKIM HICKS ing companies. “I feel very blessed,” concluded Hicks.“I guess not bad for a poor kid and second son of a humble military man from Uvalde,Texas.” Hicks and his wife reside in Fredericksburg.
In January of 2018, Hicks founded his current company called BINO DOCK, LLC. It is a patent-pending device used to hold or carry expensive binoculars in cars, trucks boats etc. “Looking back you can see my career has been varied to say the least,” related Hicks,“but I would not do a single thing differently. “I was as proud a Uvalde Coyote as there has ever been and today those are still some of my fondest memories. But as I said in the beginning, I simply wanted to be an outdoor writer.” Summing up Hicks’ career, he has been a professional hunting guide, the founder 201 N. Getty • Uvalde • 830-900-7102 and editor of an
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
South Texas Buckskin Brigade cadets learn about antler development and how to score antlers in Pearsall.
CAMP: founded 29 years ago FROM PAGE 34
population dynamics, ecology, botany, photography, journalism, firearm safety, communication skills, criticalthinking, team building, and leadership. The aim of Texas Brigades is to build the self-confidence and leadership skills of our youth and provide them with the tools necessary to speak effectively on behalf of our wildlife and natural resources. When sharing their camp experiences with members of their community, participants build their speaking and leadership skills and are inspired to learn and interact more with nature. It is with
this process that Texas Brigades is able to continue its mission of “Conservation Leaders in Every Community.” Texas Brigades has educated and inspired 3,800-plus cadets in conservation and ambassadorship over the last 29 years. Through these camps, Texas Brigades awards approximately $40,000 in college scholarships annually and has positively impacted 1,000-plus communities. Come join us in 2022 as a cadet, adult leader, or volunteer. Applications for Texas Brigades camps open Nov. 15 and can be found at https://www.texasbrigades. org/.
October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
MOVING SLOWER GERRY SHUDDE
For me and my culture, rattlesnakes have always been a creature in nature to get rid of or kill. This has been my perception of this “snake in the grass” all of my 85 years. Today I learned another lesson from Mother Nature that is also taught in the Bible, but I never had it soaked into my fiber like I did today. A good friend of mine came out to the ranch to take pictures of the grass, the flowers and the cows to produce a DVD for a magazine. I invite him to ride out in the pasture in my old ranch pickup, but he has his entire camera gear
in his Jeep with 4X4 drive, so I jump in. He drives slow… real slow… more like creeping… all the way. He observes all of God’s creation, like plants, flowers, animals. I also marvel at the landscape but at a depth I usually did when I was young. He stops now and then to take a picture, and I notice so many different species blooming.The slowness allows me to soak up the beauty at a different level. “Slow down and smell the roses” comes to my mind.Wow. And then I see this rattlesnake crossing the road, 50 feet in front of us, over gravel and sticks. He is not alarmed due to our slow movement. Larry stops and gets out with his cameras.The snake has now felt our heat and makes a 90-degree turn toward our presence.
“My gosh! Is this one of those rare aggressive snakes that bit Alan Sparger several years ago?! Why is he coming at us in a slow combative way?!” I am ready to kill him, as I remember my bull being killed by a snake and my aunt being bit as a teen. He licks out his tongue, and slithers our way, head up, looking back and forth. He is stalking Larry and gives a soft rattle as he moves forward.The video is running all this time when the snake slows to a stop. Larry clearly has done this kind of filming and is still cool when I spot another rattler 40 feet on down the road. Larry nods and gets into the Jeep. Now it hits me.We are interruptPLEASE SEE SLOW, PAGE 38
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
PHOTO/CUTLINE BY LARRY TRULOVE | BACKROADIMAGES Rattlesnake in the grass.
SLOW: connected to one another FROM PAGE 37
ing spring courtship for one of Gods creatures! And I and mankind have made a judgment about how terrible they are. My head stirs quickly, knowing we would have missed this if I had been driving fast. And likely I would have killed them had I not been going slow and experienced snake communication. Is this the reason we think and treat other people so poorly if they do not talk our language and if they look differ-
ent from us? Can we move slower and can we learn to hear and see people as ones that have purpose… and can teach us, like this snake has done with me.Yes, he has purpose in eating rodents and keeping their population in balance. I understand the words, “We are all connected by golden thread of our creator’s spirit.” Moving slower gives me time to open up, watch, smell the roses, and be a part
of understanding. Yes, I know. At 85, slow comes naturally. Editor’s note: The preceding column, written by contributor Gerry Shudde, was first published in the Uvalde Leader-News Viewpoint section in July of 2019. Shudde, a Sabinal resident and former rancher with experience with honey and grass-fed beef, is retired from a career in education.
October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
Historic Downtown Uvalde
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Welcome Hunters to Uvalde County
Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
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October/November 2021
Hunter's Journal
BY: CRAIG GARNETT PUBLISHER
WILDLIFE PROGRAM COMMITTEE HEARS ANNUAL REPORT
Members of the Southwest Texas Junior College Wildlife Management advisory committee on Sept. 23 held their annual meeting via Zoom, offering support and praise for the instructors and students. Program director Bob Zaiglin opened the meeting with a prayer and moment of silence for two committee members who recently died, Jim Marmion and Earl Martin. “I lost a good friend and one of our first-ever board members – since the program began in 2004. Jim operated an 8,000-acre family ranch near Asherton. He contributed financially and offered assistance,” Zaiglin said. “Earl Martin, who sadly died of COVID, was instrumental in his help with the program. He was very free with his time and ranch. They will be missed, never to be replaced.” Program instructor Daniel Tidwell provided an overview of student activities, ranging from antler cutting to spotlight surveys, plant identification and deer capture. Tidwell said that COVID-19 had created significant stress for students over the last year but that the program and college had been a source of stability. “We want to be mentors and not just teachers,” Tidwell said. “One of Bob Zaiglin’s statements that I take to heart is that we want to take common sense to a higher level.” According to Tidwell, the handson experience that students gain from the program would not be possible without the more than 20 area ranches that cooperate in what amounts to an “open gate” policy.
Participating properties include McCall 501 Ranch, Santa Rosa Ranch, Cedar Hollow Ranch, Morgan Ranch, Great Horizon Ranch, La Paloma Ranch, Leona River Ranch, Shield Ranch, Goofy Ranch, Rancho Arenosa, Dead Man’s Pass, Broken Bow Ranch, Black Ranch, Cherry Springs, Four Canyon Ranch, Clayton Ranch, Trinity Ranch, Agape Ranch, Byler Ranch, Chaparrosa Ranch and Mark Paul Terk Charitable Foundation. STUDENT EMPLOYMENT Adding to that experience is the fact that participating ranches also employ students part time and full time or take them as interns. At present there are 18 internships at nine different ranches. “What’s important about this is they are creating niches for these students,” Zaiglin added. “Our students are impressively hardworking, honest individuals with a good work ethic and that’s what we are trying demonstrate and adhere to throughout the program.” According to Tidwell, the program has instructed 1,300 students since 2005. The current enrollment is 82, with 34 of those appearing regularly in program classes. The remaining enrollees are taking the courses as part of a high school dual-credit arrangement or another pathway that leads to the program. The Wildlife Management program recorded 32 graduates last May, which included those receiving the one-year wildlife certificate and those earning the two-year associate degree. In 2019-20, there were 27
graduates and the year before, 34. Tidwell told the committee he anticipates 30 graduates for the coming year, with the majority who choose to continue their education attending Sul Ross State University in Alpine or Texas A&M Kingsville. Tidwell explained that the wildlife program has an articulation agreement with SRSU, which allows courses taken in the SWTJC wildlife management program to transfer and count toward a bachelor’s degree. There is no articulation agreement in place with TAMUK but a spoken understanding for courses to transfer. Tidwell also reported that the Locke-Zaiglin Wildlife Endowment has a current balance of $80,793. Students receiving funding during the 2020-2021 school year were Eddie Santoya, $1,000; and Steve Garza and Lindsey Mitchell, $500 each. John Locke, owner of El Rancho Arenosa, makes an annual contribution, as do various other individuals and businesses. In response to a question posed earlier by Locke about where the wildlife program graduates end up, Tidwell reported that of the nine graduates in spring of 2021, six continued their education, two became employed and one changed his career path. Tidwell also reported that a questionnaire had been prepared in an attempt to better track graduates STUDENT ENGAGEMENT Students, who were able to join the Zoom meeting, introduced themselves PLEASE SEE REPORT, PAGE 38
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
REPORT: 1,300 students since 2005 FROM PAGE 37
and concurred about the value of the hands-on learning they derive from the program. Lauryn Moos of Helotes told committee members that she could “talk their ear off” about how much the wildlife program means to her. “I came into this school pretty close-minded.You know, get my wildlife
degree and get out of there. I started school and little did I know this program would definitely change my life. “It is super hands-on. The professors really care about you and your well-being, and how you are doing. I love this program so much, and I am constantly eager to learn more and more every day and every week,” Moos said. Locke-Zaiglin fund recipient Eddie Santoya of Carrizo Springs praised Zaiglin and instructors Tidwell and Dean Wiemars for their knowledge and teaching skills. “I’ve learned everything from birds to plants – worked deer. I like every second, every
minute of it.” Committee member J.R. Ramirez with the Chaparrosa Ranch near La Pryor suggested that students gain more knowledge about the financial side of wildlife management, perhaps through guest speakers. “I think it’s amazing all the exposure for the students in all the different ranches. We’ve had wonderful experience with our intern. I think at the moment he is taking care of hunters,” Ramirez said. Longtime board chairman Jimmy Hasslocher of San Antonio was re-elected to his post. “The enthusiasm shows on their faces,” Hasslocher said of the students. “I applaud them and the staff for their continued mentoring.”
Photo credit and cutline: Southwest Texas Junior College Wildlife Management Wildlife management students (left to right) Kirstin “Nikki” Brady, Lauryn Moos, Syndilyn Maguglin, Laryssa Talamantes and Emily Gibbs hold up deer horns they cut as part of their training.
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Hunter's Journal October/November 2021
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Photo donated & by Bob Zaiglin