Hunting Magazine 2021

2021 BRUSH COUNTRY

H UNTING GUIDE Frio-Nueces Current

FRIO-NUECES CURRENT SPECIAL PUBLICATION NOVEMBER 2021

2 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

WELCOME HUNTERS! GOOD LUCK ON YOUR HUNT!

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Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Frio-Nueces Current

H UNTING GUIDE

Contents

4 6 10 14

AMMO SHORTAGE:

Panic buying, shelves empty

DOVE HUNTING: New rules

THE PRITCHETTS: Redstone Ranch

JAMES NEWPORT: Feeding the hungry

Current FRIO-NUECES

16 18 22 24

BIG CATS:

An uptick in mountain lions

FERAL HOGS: A nuisance

TEXAS BRIGADES:

Educating, inspiring kids

SUMMER RAIN:

Perfect conditions for fawns

Combining the Cotulla Record, Dilley Herald and Pearsall Leader USPS 424560

2021 BRUSH COUNTRY

Production Manager Lonnie Herrera .....................................(lherrera@fncnow.com) Office Manager/Classifieds Kasie Gonzales.......................(kgonzales@fncnow.com) Editor Marc Robertson...........................................................(mrobertson@fncnow.com) Chief Staff Writer Breyana Segura ............................................(bsegura@fncnow.com) Managing Editor/Photographer Manuel Azocar III.......(mazocar@fncnow.com) Advertising Sales Tony Perez ...........................................................(tperez@fncnow.com)

BRUSH COUNTRY HUNTING GUIDE IS A PRODUCTION OF FRIO-NUECES CURRENT

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4 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

White-tailed deer population looks strong this year

T

exas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists say that 2021-22 is expected to be a white-tailed deer season for the books.

Last year, the overall white-tailed deer population was estimated to be 5.4 million deer. While that estimate is down from the previous two years, TPWD biologists say that if fawn recruitment predictions hold true this season, coupled with good carryover of deer from last hunting season, hunters and landowners can expect to see an increase in the overall statewide whitetailed deer population.

“White-tailed deer forecasts and expectations are, in large part, driven by

habitat conditions that the deer are experiencing across their range in Texas in the

eight to ten months prior to the season,” TPWD WhiteTailed Deer Program Leader Alan Cain said. “Though the end of 2020 was dry, and early 2021 experienced freezing conditions that delayed green up of important browse plants, the late spring and summer rainfall acted like liquid fertilizer for forb, grass, and woody plant production and has provided a buffet of natural forages for deer.”

Cain says that the favorable habitat conditions should boost the body condition of deer populations and set up deer to enter the fall and winter (See FAVORABLE, Page 17)

“People panicked...”

Where is all the ammo?

BREYANA SEGURA

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nprecedented demand, hoarding and panic buying left many Americans scrounging to find ammunition over the past year.

Avid hunter AJ Cordova says due to the nationwide shortage many times he finds himself second-guessing a shot in an effort to not use up a bullet that has become so hard to come by.

“I was looking at my 143 grade Hornady ELDX rounds, which were scarce this year,” the hunter says. “And thinking to myself, do I really want to shoot?”

This year, gun owners were grabbing any extra rounds they could get their hands on.

Many were making daily stops at sporting goods and big box

stores on their way home from work.

Most gun stores continue to be hard-pressed to fill shelves with firearm ammunition. In addition, gun owners have found that if ammunition is found t=-hey should be prepared to pay a hefty price.

According to the FBI, there was a 40-percent increase in firearm background checks

from 2019 to 2020. Of those, the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimates about 8.4 million were for first-time gun owners.

“People panicked,” the hunter says. “With the pandemic, the political turmoil and social unrest, people just started buying guns for their own protection.”

FBI data shows the trend is not showing any signs of decline; 12,452,319 background checks were conducted during the first quarter of the year.

The demand for ammunition began around the time the pandemic started in 2020 and affected the supply as production slowed during the shutdown and manufacturers had a difficult time meeting those demands and getting employees to return to work.

Ammunition can be found resale shops; however, consumers can expect to pay twice the price.

“It is kind of ironic because those people who started panic buying created self-inflicted anxiety because they would go to buy bullets and the shelves were empty,” AJ says.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

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6 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

What’s in your bag?

New products, practical goods for the hunter...

BREYANA SEGURA

Camodust is an all-natural scent eliminator that promises to ‘camouflage the human scent,’ allowing the hunter to get within feet of deer, hog, bear, elk and coyote. The patented powder naturally prevents odors from forming that are offensive to wild game.

Underwood ammo: manufactured in the United States,

Underwood Ammo takes pride in providing hunters and gunmen with a large selection of bullets from rifles to handguns. The company offers discounts for active, honorably discharged, retired military and law enforcement officers.

With such a variety of ammunition available, the company is ideal for a range of applications like hunting, competition shooting and personal defense.

Shooting Sticks: Quick, accurate shots in the field are pertinent and the new Primos Gen3 shooting sticks can make it happen. Featuring a tall tripod that can adjust from 24 to 62 inches with one touch of the trigger and a quick-detach yoke system that provides a sturdy anchor, this shooting stick is ideal for any field hunter. The locking V-yoke can be swapped out for a camera base, 2-point gun rest or a crossbow yoke in seconds; the rest offers stability for a shooting bench or anyone who hunts from a blind.

Outdoor Edge RazorWork Knife: Who has time to be switching knives or making room for them in the hunting bag?

The new RazorWork is a replaceable blade knife that works in

the field as well as an everyday knife. Featuring a removable 3-inch utility blade constructed of Japanese 420J2 stainless steel ideal for the jobsite, the blade, with the push of a button, can change into a 3-inch drop-point blade for skinning animals. The knife comes with a textured polymer handle to help prevent slipping.

Binoculars: Every year your hunter may find an excuse to get a new ‘pair of eyes.’ The new Leupold BX-2 Alpine HD binoculars may be just worth the buy. Available in four different sizes, these binoculars are perfect for any big-game hunting, especially South Texas whitetail. These particular binoculars are appealing because they offer Leupold’s elite optical system, with edge-to-edge clarity, superb light transmission, glare reduction and excellent low-light color balance. They are worth the clarity.

Meat Grinder: So your hunter has bagged that prize whitetail and now what? You are left with meat and a lot of it. Deer processing can be quite expensive, therefore, many South Texas hunters have learned to butcher a deer. Many hunters purchase meat grinders to process game only to be disappointed by how easy these machines are to overload and how difficult they are to clean. MEAT! Your Maker 1.5HP grinder can effectively grind up to 18 pounds of meat per minute and the unit can be broken down into component parts quickly for thorough cleaning. Coarse and fine grinders and a stuffing plate with three stuffing tubes come standard and can be stowed away in the grinders’ built-in bottom drawer.

Don’t end up with a ticket...

Obey the law this season

BY KEVIN FRAZIER, TPW GAME WARDEN

Deer Season is finally here. Much like hunters, Game Wardens look forward to this season all year long. Most deer hunters comply and follow the laws. However, every hunting season some individuals unwittingly or knowingly violate game laws.

Here are some of the most common deer hunting violations: Hunter Education Violation: One of the most common hunting violations is hunting without proper hunter education.

Texas requires hunters born on or after Sept.

2, 1971 to have passed a state-approved Hunter Education Training course. Texas allows those falling under the hunter education requirement to purchase, for $10, a one-time, one-year deferral of the requirement. Effective September 1, 2017, Peace officers, state and

federal military, and retirees are exempt from Hunter Ed requirements.

Hunt without Valid Hunting License Violation: The definition of “hunt” is to capture, trap, take, kill, and includes any attempt to capture, trap, take or kill. Anybody engaged in deer hunting is obligated to obtain a valid hunting license.

Hunt in Closed Season Violation: The Closed Season is the period of time when hunting that species is not permitted. Note: There is no open season for any wild animal, wild bird, or exotic animal on public roads or the right-of-way of public roads.

Untagged Deer Violation: After a deer is killed and before the deer is field dressed or moved, the appropriate hunting license tag or permit must be immediately filled out and dates cut out. Except for deer killed by MLD permit, LAMPS permit, TPWD Special Drawn Legal Deer Tag, U.S. Forest Service

antlerless permit, or Big Time Texas Hunt, all deer must be tagged immediately upon kill in a secure manner anywhere on the deer, with an appropriate license tag with the month and date cut out.

Improperly Tagged Deer Violation: If required, the tag from the hunting license of the person who killed the deer must be correctly and legibly completed (including name of property and county) and must: * be used on a specific type of deer (for example, buck tags must be used only on buck deer, antlerless tags on antlerless deer, etc.). * have the month and date of kill CUT OUT * It is against the law to use: * a tag taken from the license of another person or allow your tag to be used by another person. * a tag more than one time (or on more (See LAW, Page 7)

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Law

7

(Continued from Page 6)

than one deer). * an incorrect tag on a deer (example: mule deer tag used on a white-tailed deer, etc.)

Harvest Log Violation: if a hunting license tag is used, then the Hunting License Harvest Log must be legibly completed. Immediately upon kill of a white-tailed deer the hunter must complete the log, in ink, on the back of the hunting license. Completion of the log is not required for mule deer, or for whitetailed deer lawfully taken under an MLD permit.

Illegal Dumping: a person commits an offense if the person disposes or allows or permits the disposal of a dead animal at a place that is not an approved solid waste site, including a place on or within 300 feet of a public highway, on a right-of-way, on other public or private property. If the carcass weighs more than five pounds the violation is a Class B misdemeanor, and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail, a fine of up to 2,000, or both.

Unplugged Shotgun Violation: If you plan to hunt migratory birds make sure that your shotgun has a plug in it. Federal and state regulations limit shotguns used to hunt migratory game birds to holding no more than three shotshells. In most pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns, this requires a wooden or plastic plug be secured inside the firearm’s magazine to limit that magazine to holding no more than two shotshells.

Exceeding the Daily Bag Limit Violation: The daily bag limit on doves is 15. That’s a daily bag limit, not a trip limit.

Each year, hunters are caught “doubledipping” – meaning, taking a limit of doves in a morning hunt, and then returning to the field for an afternoon hunt.

Hunting over a Baited Area Violation: A baited area is an area where bait has been directly or indirectly placed, exposed, scattered or distributed to serve as a lure or attraction for harvesting migratory birds. A hunter may be cited for hunting over bait, which can include salt, grain or other feed, even if they didn’t know it was there. A baited area is considered to be baited until 10 days after all the bait has been removed.

However, a hunter may hunt migratory game birds over standing crops, standing flooded crops, flooded harvested crops,

and at any time over natural vegetation that has been manipulated, where seeds or grains have been scattered as a result of normal agricultural planting, harvesting or post-harvest manipulation.

Most of these violations are Class C misdemeanors, punishable by a fine of from $25 to $500 plus court costs. Also, when resources are seized, the department can seek civil restitution for the value of any game

confiscated.

Game Wardens urge hunters to review an Outdoor Annual of rules and regulations to ensure they act within the law and that they recognize when others violate the hunting regulations and related laws. Outdoor Annuals are available where licenses are sold. TPW encourages hunters to protect the future of their sport by hunting responsibly and reporting hunting violations to their local Game Warden.

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8 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide A healthy season...

New bird rules for 2021

BREYANA SEGURA

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recent change by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife has allowed the South Zone dove season to open for hunters two days earlier this year.

In a March commission meeting, members noted that the end of the season, late January, has limited dove-hunting opportunities.

Federal law allows hunters 90 days to harvest dove, therefore the commission pulled the last two days in January and opened the South Zone on

September 14.

The South Zone, as defined by the TPWD, encompasses the portion south of Del Rio and eastward of Orange to south of San Antonio.

“Basically, we are proposing to change that four-day afternoononly season to a sixday afternoon-only season,” TPWD Small Game Director Shaun Oldenburger said.

Daily bag limits remain at 15 birds A group of east Texas hunters took advantage for dove season opening two days per day for all zones, early this year; the group bagged their limit within an hour. including the special white-winged dove days season or bag limit doves or rock pigeons. remain a protected in the South Zone. restrictions for Band-tailed pigeons species and are illegal There is no closed Eurasian collared and the Inca dove to hunt in the state.

Texas bird hunting season outlook:

Dove populations point to favorable season

S

eptember marks the start of dove season for almost 300,000 Texas hunters per year. After Winter Storm Uri hit the state in February, many hunters are wondering how the snowfall and below-freezing temperatures may have affected dove populations. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists report that hunters can expect a good dove season, especially in the South Zone.

“Our spring dove surveys suggest that there may have been some impacts from the winter storm, particularly in the northern half of the state, but it’s difficult to know the extent since dove populations naturally fluctuate from year to year,” said Owen

population estimates range Fitzsimmons, TPWD Dove from average to below-average Program Leader. “The most evident impact 2021-22 DOVE SEASON CALENDAR seems to North Zone: Sep. 1 - Nov. 12 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 2 be in the Central Zone: Sep. 1 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 14 North South Zone: Sep. 14 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 21 Zone, where in the North and Central white-wing estimates are Zones, but they are still well below average overall. I don’t within normal, and even a anticipate any long-term little up from 2019, when we impacts. The good rainfall last did surveys,” Fitzsimmons this spring and summer has added. “In the areas with good resulted in good production, hatch-year production, we are which will help offset any expecting an average to good losses and allow a quick season. Our estimates for the recovery.”

South Zone are above average Fitzsimmons says so we anticipate another that statewide breeding populations are about average excellent season there.”

One effect of the winter this year with 25 million storm that hunters in every mourning doves and 12 million white-winged doves.

Dove Zone may notice this fall “Overall, breeding is frostbite damage on doves

they harvest. The frostbite damage, however, doesn’t appear to be impacting the overall health of the birds.

Fitzsimmons says that it’s not unusual to find doves that migrate in from the northern states with missing toes or even the tips of their bills. Fitzsimmons notes that Winter Storm Uri did take a toll on Texas birds though, especially white-winged doves.

“They are a sub-tropical species and not very coldhardy, but they are pretty resilient,” Fitzsimmons said.

“Despite their injuries, most of the ones we’ve encountered are otherwise healthy and in good condition.”

Habitat conditions have (See CONDITIONS, Page 19)

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

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10 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Cover Story:

What the customers want Discovering friends and family fun at the Redstone Ranch BREYANA SEGURA

N

estled five miles southwest of Dilley along Highway 85, the Redstone Ranch lies directly in the center of the migration flight corridor for dove.

The 1,400-acre ranch was purchased three years ago by KW and Amy Pritchett, who pride themselves on turning the once

male-dominated hunting camp into a family-friendly, “woman-welcoming outfit.”

“We are the new kids on the block,” KW says of his enterprise in the Brush Country. “There are some phenomenal lodges in South Texas. In fact, there are four fantastic lodges within fifteen miles of us.”

KW Pritchett, owner of Redstone Ranch, enjoys an afternoon hunt with his father and sister.

The Pritchetts are first-generation beef masters who share a love for hunting that dates back generations.

“I started hunting at the age of nine with my father,” KW says. “And some of the best hunting was in Dilley.”

KW tells a story of taking his son dove hunting

at the age of four, remembering that “back then you just knocked on a door and asked the owner if you could hunt on their land.

All for a $20 bill.”

Sitting on the ‘highway’ for dove migration between Hondo and Alice, the Redstone Ranch benefits from the agriculture surrounding the land.

Dove are not the only thing Redstone Ranch has become known for, this aoudad was bagged on a recent hunt.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

With over 25,000 acres of milo, sesame, native and commercially harvested sunflowers, native croatan and dove weed, wildlife is provided a natural recharge zone.

“We are successful because we scout the land and have landowners that allow us to hunt their land as well,” KW says, crediting part of his success at the ranch to the small town atmosphere that Dilley offers.

“The real hunting begins two days before the actual hunt,” he says.

Hunting doesn’t stop with dove. The ranch has a variety of wildlife that includes addax, axis, aoudad, blackbuck, elk, feral hogs, gemsbok, impala, mouflon rams, oryx, red lechwe, springbok, waterbuck and whitetail.

“But we reserve the quail for us,” he laughs. “The herds are growing, so we do not go crazy killing everything in the same year.”

Over the course of the past three years, the Redstone has become known for its lively barbecues, shooting tournaments and weekend pachangas.

Each night’s meal is themed, complete with decorations. For instance, to tie in the strong Hispan-

ic heritage of deep South Texas, staff set up a nacho bar where chips are served from a giant sombrero.

The Redstone is turning into a thriving hunting operation and has hosted people from around the United States.

Tucked away in a landscape of thick prickly pear and open plains, the Redstone has provided a hunting haven with an upbeat twist.

The location and existing buildings on the ranch were ideal for the Prichetts.

“The previous owners had remodeled in 2016,” K.W. says. “It’s been momen-ized.”

The 15,000 square-foot main house rivals the landscape in its appeal; it is redesigned as an entertainment space where groups gather for social events.

Outside the French doors, visitors are greeted with a Texas-shaped hot tub filled by the 98-degree Carrizo sand well water, a swimming pool with a beach entrance, a fire pit

“

and an outside kitchen to accommodate up to 25 guests.

Alongside the outdoor oasis are fruit trees with an endless supply of fresh limes, oranges and grapefruit.

KW says it is not uncommon to see his guests go pick some fresh fruit to dress their drinks while relaxing poolside.

Housing up to 54 guests who are served three meals a day by a five-star chef, the Pritchetts have attracted more than just the normal hunting crew.

Ranch Coordinator Kaktys Kral has coordinated bachelor and bachelorette parties, family reunions and the occasional girls’ weekend.

“I wanted to include the mom, the women,” KW says. “My wife and daughter both love to hunt and I felt it was important they were included.”

Before sitting around the fire pit after a long day of hunting, guests can enjoy the pristine

11

We judge people’s trips based on the chuckling,

”

Lifelong friends of KW’s, the Nickerson family, bagged two bucks during an afternoon hunt last season.

lodge that includes a theatre room, shuffleboard, foosball, pingpong, arcade games, air hockey and darts.

Between the morning and evening hunts, ranch manager Dallas Payne likes to entertain guests by taking safari rides, hand-feeding cattle, skeet shooting, or fishing for bass and catfish.

The ranch also boasts a realistic skeet ranch, known as the trap house.

The Pritchetts are in the process of adding dog (See REDSTONE, Page 18)

This season, hunters visiting the ranch have shot two banded doves.

12 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

It’s all in the pre-game

Don’t blame the deer M

BREYANA SEGURA

any are quick to claim that venison is not fit to eat because of a horrible first experience.

In most cases, that rancid first bite is a direct consequence of a fresh kill being mishandled in the field, freezer or kitchen.

Hunters and chefs often go to great lengths to mask the wild game taste of venison by soaking the meat in marinades.

In South Texas, the go-to for chefs is slicing a jalapeno pepper in half lengthwise, hulling the seeds out and filling it with spreadable cream cheese. The cook will then add thinly sliced venison before wrapping the pepper with bacon and placing the jalapeno popper on the barbecue pit.

We cannot forget the backstrap that is best served fried with a side of mashed potatoes and some homemade gravy.

Hunters may sit in a blind for hours on end waiting for the right shot. Once that perfect buck is bagged, though, it will be a long night of skinning and quartering the deer, followed by packing and labeling before the meat is stored in the freezer.

The process requires carefully planned steps if everything is to go right.

While the deer is hung on the rack, take a hot, soapy rag and clean the table, knives and any other utensils that will be used. It may sound like a no-brainer that the kitchen area should be clean, but sometimes the excitement of a fresh kill can cloud a hunter’s thinking.

It is not uncommon for the person skinning and gutting the deer to wear disposable gloves to reduce the risk of exposure to disease.

The process of preparing the meat begins with field dressing.

Many may argue that keeping some fat on the meat helps with tenderness and prevents the venison from drying out. To each their own, however. Others believe that trimming the fat gives the meat better taste.

They say that bigger is better. It is certainly true of cutting venison.

Chopping the deer meat into bigger chunks adds longevity and a

fresher taste, and that also applies to ground venison. Use heavily waxed paper, freezer wrap, heavy-duty aluminum foil, vacuum bags or plastic freezer storage bags for meat storage. Wrap the meat tightly to remove all air from the bag before sealing. Use a permanent marker to label the packages with contents and date of packaging.

The properly packaged meat should be stored in the freezer within hours and, if wrapped properly, last up to a year.

Once the meat is thawed, the trimmed muscles can be cut into steaks and the ground venison divided for multiple meals.

Thaw all frozen meat in the refrigerator or under cold, running water. Do not leave it on the counter to defrost.

FOOD HANDLING SAFETY WHEN FIELD DRESSING To reduce the risk of exposure to disease, wear disposable gloves while handling deer.

Use clean water, pre-moistened wipes, or alcohol swabs to clean the knife frequently or between cuts to avoid dragging bacteria into the meat.

Place the deer on its back, elevate its front legs, and spread its hind legs. Support the carcass in this position with rocks or sticks.

Cut around the anus to loosen the bung so it will come out when the entrails are removed. Tying off the bung with rope, cord or rubber bands will prevent feces from contacting the carcass during removal.

Using a clean knife, cut along the midline from the breastbone to the genitals. Make the cut by lifting the skin and muscle together.

Avoid cutting the paunch and intestines; bacteria associated with food-borne illness may be found in these organs.

If the organs smell offensive or exhibit greenish discharge, black blood, or blood clots in the muscle, do not consume meat from this carcass. Discard the carcass properly.

Cut the diaphragm free from the rib cage.

Cut the windpipe and gullet at the base of the throat.

Pull out the lungs, heart, and entrails. Place variety meats in a plastic storage bag and store on ice or refrigerate as soon as possible.

Happy Hunting!

Remember: The cardinal rule of firearm safety is that every gun must be treated as if it were loaded.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

13

2021-22 Hunting Season Dates DOVE North Zone: Sep. 1 - Nov. 12 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 2 Central Zone: Sep. 1 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 14 South Zone: Sep. 14 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 Jan. 21 Special White-winged Dove Days South Zone: Sep. 3-5 & Sept. 10-12 JAVELINA North Zone: Oct. 1 - Feb. 27 South Zone: Sep. 1 - Aug. 31 MULE DEER General Season Panhandle: Nov. 20 - Dec. 5 SW Panhandle: Nov. 20 - Nov. 28 Trans-Pecos: Nov. 26 - Dec. 12 Archery: 59 of 254 counties: Oct. 2 - Nov. 5

QUAIL Statewide: Oct. 30 - Feb. 27 TURKEY Rio Grande Turkey Fall Season North Zone: Nov. 6 - Jan. 2 South Zone: Nov. 6 - Jan. 16 Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties: Nov. 6 - Feb. 27 Archery-only: Oct. 2 - Nov. 5 Fall Youth-Only North Zone: Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 3-16 South Zone: Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 17-30

Youth-only North: Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 3-16 South: Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 3-16

Archery Season - 252 of 254 counties: Oct. 2 - Nov. 5 Muzzleloader-90 of 254 counties: Jan. 3-16

Spring Youth-Only North Zone: Mar. 26-27 & May 21-22 South Zone: Mar. 12-13 & May 7-8

Hope you bag that trophy!

WHITE-TAILED DEER General Season North Zone: Nov. 6 - Jan. 2 South Zone: Nov. 6 - Jan. 16

Special Late Season North Zone: Jan. 3-16 South Zone: Jan. 17-30

Spring Season North Zone: April 2 - May 15 South Zone: Mar. 19 - May 1 One-turkey Counties: Apr. 1-30

Good Luck To All Area Hunters!

Eastern Turkey Spring Season East Texas: Apr. 22 - May 14

RABBITS AND HARES Regular Statewide: No closed season

Happy

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14 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

From mounts to mouths: Local taxidermist starts food charity

BREYANA SEGURA

F

ueled by a need among conservationist hunters and landowners to forward the surplus of wild game availability, local taxidermist James and wife, Carla Newport have founded a charity to feed those in need in the region.

Yearning to bring a fresh meal to the table, James felt it was an obligation to help his fellow man by donating the surplus meat to local charities.

“A landowner with a thousand acres will need to kill fifty to sixty deer a year,” James says. “Even if a family loves to eat deer meat, they can only eat three to four a year.”

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, South Texas accommodated an increase in hunters who bagged their limits and were overwhelmed with meat.

“My wife was literally giving away meat via social media,” he says. “We could not donate the meat because no one was taking it due to COVID.” The number of deer produced with supplemental feed have increased the number of deer landowners have to harvest. Ranchers must harvest a certain number of whitetail per year so they do not degrade the habitat. The need to harvest this amount of deer provides the Newports with an avenue to have those South Texas whitetails returned to the community.

As deer season begins, the couple want hunters to keep in mind what they plan to do with their harvested game.

The Newports’ charity, The Conservationist’s Hunger Fund, allows hunters to donate their legally harvested game.

James says the charity will be funded through charitable donations or the hunter has the option to donate the venison and pay the processing fee. If the hunter wishes to pay for the entire processing fee, the donation is also taxdeductible.

The Newports plan to work hand in hand with local churches and veterans’ organizations to distribute the processed venison to local families in need.

“Pastors know their congregations and those who have the most need,” he says.

The couple will not have to travel far to have the donated meat processed.

Earlier this year, in August, they moved their taxidermy shop to an abandoned eatery beside IH-35, complete with a commercial kitchen. The kitchen is being updated to accommodate a wild game processing center.

South Texas hunting is such a necessity for so many,

James says, that the pandemic did not affect his business or any outdoor activities. With no extra-curricular activities, parents were availab-le for hunting trips that had previously been put on the back burner.

“People were either terrified or mad because they could not go on their vacations,” James says. “So everyone went hunting. A new generation of hunters were put back into the outdoors. So it is like the pandemic forced people back outdoors.”

The Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife reported a 10-percent increase in license sales; the taxidermy shop saw a 20-percent increase.

Some hunters harvest the game for a trophy mount; others to fill their freezers. Some want just a steak or two but not the whole deer. The couple understands each hunter has his or her own motivation, but there is no reason good meat should go bad.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

15

The walls, shelves and floors at Mesquite Creek Taxidermy in Pearsall are at capacity as owner James and Carla Newport await the finished mounts to be picked up by customers. Last year their business saw a 20-percent increase, which they attribute to the coronavirus forcing people outdoors.

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16 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Number of mountain lion sightings on the rise:

Any cool cats out there?

BREYANA SEGURA

M

ountain lions have always had a presence in Texas, but over the past five years reports indicate a heavy presence in the brush lands of South

Texas.

The increase in mountain lion spotting in the Wintergarden area could be attributed to cellular cameras providing instant feedback to ranchers and farmers. Some avid hunters believe the supplemental feed may play a role in the increase of sightings.

“The animals are more concentrated, so the prey have more opportunity,” local taxidermist James Newport says.

Cougars, also known as mountain lions, will travel up to 20 miles from their home range. However, the protein stations have reduced their home range drastically.

From March 2020 until now, Newport, who owns Mesquite Creek Taxidermy, has mounted 16 mountain lions.

“That is a lot for an 18-month period,” he says.

In 2017 and 2018, his shop mounted one lion per year; 2019, none.

The mountain lion is a large, slender cat with a smallish head and noticeably long tail. The cat is usually a light, tawny brown, which can appear gray or almost black, depending on the light conditions. A male mountain lion normally is about 9 feet long while a female is around 7 feet. Male lions weigh between 100 and 150 pounds and female weigh between 45 and 96 pounds.

Mountain lions tend to be active in the mornings and evenings as well as at night. Several game trail and feeder

In late May, a game camera captured this female mountain lion on a ranch in the southern corner of La Salle County.

cameras have captured the predators during the middle of the night preying on wild game.

They are carnivores that prey on a variety of animals with some of their favorites that include deer and wild hogs. However, the cats are not picky eaters and include rabbits, jackrabbits, javelinas and other rodents in their diets. Occasionally some lions will attack and eat livestock or domestic dogs.

Although there has always been a presence of mountain lions in South Texas, the population may have gone unnoticed due to factors such as a low number of reported sightings and minimal complaints of attacks.

PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS TO HELP AVOID CONTACT: Install outdoor lighting in areas you walk after dark.

Remove any vegetation a lion could hide in near children’s play areas and your home.

Do not feed wildlife, including deer, predators follow prey.

Keep pets under control; if pets are left outside overnight, confine them to kennels with tops.

Store all garbage securely.

Hike with others, carry pepper spray and a walking stick and avoid early-morning, dusk and nighttime excursions.

Do not approach a mountain lion for a better view or picture.

SHOULD YOU ENCOUNTER A MOUNTAIN LION: Pick up small children to prevent them from running and triggering a rush or attack.

Stay calm, talk calmly and slowly back away; keeping eye contact with the mountain lion. Do not run or turn your back.

Do what you can to appear larger by raising your arms or waving a stick.

If the lion is aggressive, throw rocks or sticks and speak loudly and firmly.

Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions can be driven off by fighting back. Do not play dead.

Even children have successfully driven off a mountain lion by fighting back.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Favorable

(Continued from Page 4)

with a substantial layer of fat.

The favorable weather conditions were also vital in helping bucks maximize antlers as they finish out the growing season. Antler quality is predicted to be well above average for the 2021-22 season.

While the archeryonly season kicks off the first weekend of October, the general season opener is on November 6. The general season runs through January 2, 2022 in the North Zone and January 16, 2021 in the South Zone.

A special youth-only gun deer season is set for October 30-31 and January 3-16, 2022.

For additional late season deer hunting opportunities,

Lic. No. 1892

“

ROBLEDO’S PEST CONTROL

Though the end of 2020 was dry, and early 2021 experienced freezing conditions, the late spring and summer rainfall acted like liquid fertilizer... county specific regulations and information on how to property tag and report a harvest, consult the 2021-22 Outdoor Annual.

Archery hunters are required to purchase an Archery Endorsement in addition to their hunting license.

Hunters taking advantage of Texas Public Hunting Lands must also have the Annual Public Hunting Permit. It’s also important

”

for public land hunters to consult the Public Hunting Lands Map Booklet to review regulations that may apply to specific areas.

The My Texas Hunt Harvest app can be used to complete on-site registration electronically at a public hunting area.

Hunters are reminded to review information about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) for information about testing requirements

and carcass movement restrictions in the CWD zones for the 2021-22 season.

Discovery of new cases of CWD in Hunt, Lubbock, and Uvalde counties has prompted TPWD to establish new containment and surveillance zones in those areas to mitigate the potential spread of CWD. Those interested in learning more about archery and bowhunting, or anyone who is looking to brush-up on their skills ahead of the season, are encouraged to explore Bowhunter by Fall, a newsletter series presented by TPWD’s Community Archery Program.

Information courtesy: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

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18 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Feral hogs:

No need for a license in Texas BREYANA SEGURA

T

hey’re a nuisance, plain an simple, feral hogs are killing wildlife, uprooting crops and damaging property.

They feed off wild acorns, hazelnuts and corn left for deer. They show no respect for corn fields and peanut crops and are known to tear up hay fields. Repeated wallowing and rooting of tanks can destroy livestock water sources. In extreme cases, hogs have been suspected of eating wildlife eggs.

In 2019, the legislation answered the pleas of landowner’s from across the state and passed Senate Bill 317.

Under the measure Governor Greg Abbott signed into law in July the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code will be amended to allow residents in the state to kill wild boars, or feral hogs, without having acquired a hunting license.

The legislation, Senate Bill 317, states that a “resident landowner or any person, with the consent of the landowner, [the landowner’s agent or lessee] may take feral hogs [causing

REDSTONE

depredation] on the resident landowner’s land without having acquired a hunting license.”

Abbot’s signature comes after the bill sailed through the state Senate by an unanimous margin earlier this year. The bill was also reportedly passed overwhelmingly by the state’s House of Representatives in a 141-9 vote.

Wild boars have plagued South Texas for many years and leaving landowner’s no choice but to set traps or hire help in an effort to try and control the hog population.

However, the dent in the population goes unnoticed as hogs breed every three months and can have litters up to 20.

“When you think about how nocturnal hogs are and the habitate they live in, there is just no way to put a dent in the overall population,” Frio County Game Warden Kevin Frazier says.

Wild hogs have multiplied in numbers over several decades in South Texas and are now accountable for millions of dollars in damage to agribusiness, crops and property, according to the state’s AgriLife Extension Service.

“When you think about how nocturnal hogs are and the habitat they live in, there is just no way to put a dent in the overall population.”

(Continued from Page 11)

Guests at the Redstone Ranch enjoy an afternoon shooting skeet at the ‘trap house.’

kennels, a 60’ x 30’ air-conditioned bar, stage, six additional cabins and a 360-degree lookout tower.

“We judge people’s trips based on the chuckling,” KW says. “I was in the oilfield for twenty-five years on the service side and learned to provide what the customers want.”

This year, the ranch harvested two banded dove for the BB Challenge, a contest for which hunters register before the season starts.

About 250 Eurasian or collared doves are banded as a research effort to track migration patterns.

The Pritchett family has created an upscale experience for outdoors, all because the Mesquite couple fell in love with the South Texas sunset, cactus and mesquite trees.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Conditions

19

(Continued from Page 8)

been favorable throughout the state this year thanks to abundant rainfall, which could make for good hunting conditions all season long.

Fitzsimmons encourages hunters to be ready for actionpacked days in the field throughout October and even into the second half of the season.

Hunters may notice there are six Special White-winged Dove Days instead of the usual four this year. This is the only regulatory change for the 2021-22 season.

“Since federal regulations restrict the South Zone Regular Season from opening prior to September 14, the Special White-winged Days provide some early September hunting opportunity, and they continue to grow in popularity

every year,” Fitzsimmons said.

“We worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service this year to bump up from four days to six, which will provide three-day weekend opportunities for our hunters.”

Dove hunters should purchase their new 2021-22 Texas hunting license prior to hitting the field this fall.

Along with their hunting license, those hunting dove must have the migratory game bird endorsement and be HIP-certified. Hunters

“

must accurately answer the HIP questions when getting certified, and, if a vendor does not ask questions about hunting activity last season, hunters are

South Zone hunters should be ready for some potential late-season action

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encouraged to ask that they do so. It’s also required by law that hunters have proof of their completion of a hunter education course.

Dove season dates for the North, Central and South Zones, along with regulations, bag limits and

more can be found in the Outdoor Annual. Hunters can also access digital copies of their licenses via the Outdoor Annual and My Texas Hunt Harvest apps.

Additionally, hunters are encouraged to report any birds they recover that have leg bands.

Anyone hunting on Texas Public Hunting Lands are also required to purchase an Annual Public Hunting Permit.

Texas has more than 1 million acres of land that is accessible to the public.

More information about these lands and locations can be found on the TPWD Public Hunting website.

Information courtesy: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Welcome Hunters to Frio County Wishing you the best on your hunt!

Welcome Hunters!

Aaron Ibarra Frio County Clerk Welcome Hunters!

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20 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide S’MORES

INGREDIENTS: 1 package fudge striped cookies 1 package of large marshmallows

INSTRUCTIONS: Oven: Place cookies upside down (chocolate side up) on a cookie sheet and then place the marshmallows on top of the cookies. Top each marshmallow with another cookie right side up and place in the oven at 300 degrees for 5-7 minutes.

Campfire: Place a large marshmallow on a stick and get it as crisp as you want it. Stick the marshmallow between two cookies and you’re good to go.

GRILLED MARINATED VENSION BACKSTRAP

Ingredients: vension 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar Mix it all up and pour it over the meat. Let 1/4 c. worcestershire sauce 1/4 c. soy sauce marinate for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.

1/4 c. olive oil 2 minced cloves of garlic Directions: Let the grill pre-heat on high for 10 minutes. When the grill is nice and hot put the backstraps on, and immediately turn the burners down to a medium-high. Grill for 3 minutes on each side (turn them 90 degrees to get that cool cross hatch on them). Serve them medium rate with a warm red center. ***Vension backstraps are the filet mignon of a deer and one of the best ways to have them is marinated and grilled. For all those people who might turn their nose up at a piece of venison, the backstrap is the perfect gateway sampling. Backstrap is high in protein, low in fat, and oh so tender.

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Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Have A Safe and Successful Hunt!

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22 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Texas Brigades: A Different Kind of Camp “Conservation leaders in every community.”

T

he sun has not yet put in 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, the youths 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 to experience the natural world waking up, and Texas Brigades made this opportunity possible.

Texas Brigades was founded 29 years ago as a single youth camp focusing on the ecology of bobwhite quail. The non-profit organization has now grown to encompass eight leadership camps across the state, each focusing on different species of wildlife and their habitats. The 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 & Wildlife Department, Texas Wildlife Association, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation (See CAMP Page 23)

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Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Camp

23

(Continued from Page 22)

Service. Subjects covered during camps include biology, habitat management, population dynamics, ecology, botany, photography, journalism, firearm safety, communication skills, critical-thinking, team building, and leadership.

The aim of Texas Brigades is to build the self-confidence and leadership skills among youths and provide them with the tools necessary to speak effectively on behalf of 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+ cadets in conservation and ambassadorship over the last 29 years.

Through the camps, Texas Brigades awards approximately

$40,000 in college scholarships annually and has positively impacted 1,000+ communities. The organization welcomes volunteeers, cadets, or adult leaders.

Applications for Texas Brigades camps open November 15 and can be found at https://www.texasbrigades.org/

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24 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Summer rain prompts high fawn survival rate BREYANA SEGURA

D

eer management is complex and varies across the United States, and this year’s unprecedented summer rainfall provided optimal conditions for whitetail fawns.

Fawn survival is an important part of population growth and is often more variable from year to year than adult survival, due to deer susceptibility to predation and environmental extremes.

This summer, South Texas had great rainfall amounts in the summer months, and the ensuing growth provides great coverage for fawns. Cooler weather helps regulate their temperatures. Altogether, they have been protected from predation.

Summer rain also aids in antler growth, but this year the rainfall came a little late to help.

Habitat is the key to wildlife abundance and wildlife would

not continue to exist without a good habitat.

According to a recent study by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TPW), whitetail does are known for producing twins. Failure to breed is not the problem when the state has a low number of whitetail fawn population.

Life is full of dangers for a fawn, and food and cover – the fawning habitat – is the difference in living or dying for these fawns. Fawn survival depends primarily on the habitat quality; malnutrition is responsible for a poor fawn survival rate.

But not this year. The high summer rainfall amounts eliminated the dry South Texas conditions and helped control the ‘empty belly disease.’

Hunters often use the term to describe dead fawns who consumed inadequate amounts of food due to arid conditions.

(See FAWNS Page 26)

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Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

WELCOME HUNTERS Frio Rehabilitation Center strives at providing the best Physical, Occupational and Speech Pathology Services for the Frio community including Pearsall, Dilley and Cotulla and other outlying areas. Our outpatient center prides itself in working with both Pediatric and adults and varying diagnosis across populations. Diagnosis include, but not limited to:  CVA (Stroke); Brain/Head Injury Spinal Cord Injury Sports Injury i.e. Hamstring Strain, Ankle Sprain Workers Compensation

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25

26 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

How to determine if your target is working: Set up to shoot at exactly 100 yards.

Shoot five rounds, aiming at the bullseye.

Score the ring in which all five shots strike; this ring identifies your effective range.

Knowing your effective range is crucial to making a one-shot kill. A staggered ring target has been designed using complicated differential mathematics to determine the progressive spacing of the concentric, staggered rings.

Fawn

In plain sight...

A South Texas preteen sights in her gun on a Sunday evening.

Sighting in a firearm is pertinent to help identify any potential problems, determine the farthest range when hitting a target, improving safety by knowing where your firearm will hit and building confidence in a person’s shooting ability.

(Continued from Page 24)

Newborn whitetail fawns are restricted to the habitat found within about a 100 acres of their mother’s home

range. At an early age, fawns learn two types of predator avoidance strategies.

During the first month of life, fawns

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are mostly immobile and rely on their camouflage to hide from predators; this is known as the hider strategy. When fawns begin to follow their mothers around, usually at about a month old, they use the fleeing strategy to escape predators.

Fawns’ natural predators are feral hogs, coyotes, bobcats and domestic dog packs.

Rainfall variability affects both nutrient content and forages and in turn is the single most important factor influencing the region’s deer productivity. A lack of high-quality forage to meet a doe’s needs for lactation has several implications.

The more fat and muscle a doe carries entering the summer, the more milk she can produce.

Therefore, having access to highquality foods during the late summer and early autumn will increase her milk production and help her fawn to grow fast.

Every hunter wants that trophy buck to mount on his wall, but let’s not forget where it all started – with a fawn fighting all odds to survive.

Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide PAGE 22

Good Luck, Hunters!

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Welcome Hunters to Our Neck of the Woods!

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28 Frio-Nueces Current Hunting Guide

Hunting Safety For Everyone

SAFETY RULES

As another season begins, we ask local hunters to pay extra attention to the rules of hunting.

1. Obtain specific permission before hunting on private property. Use current maps and pay careful attention to boundaries so as not to intrude on populated areas.

2.To be extra safe, unload guns while traveling to and from the hunting site.

3. Always wear distinctive hunter’s orange clothing.

4. When storing a gun, always unload it first.

It’s the extra effort on our part that makes the season safer for everyone.

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