HSCF Hunter's Horn Convention 2022

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T H E O F F I C I A L PU BLIC ATION OF HOUS T ON S AFARI CLUB F OUND AT I ON • CONVENT I O N 2022

ii HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

A DIFFERENCE YOU CAN SEE MAXIMIZE THEIR POTENTIAL

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 3

TABLE of

CONTENTS

FEATURES

CONVENTION 2022

2022 HSCF CON V ENTION

16 HSCF SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT

20 CONVENTION

27 HUNTING AWARDS

CHAIR MESSAGE

50 MOVING THE NEEDLE

SPONSORS

By Trey White

By Jeff Crane

28 FEATURED

54 THE SPORTING CHEF:

22 CONVENTION

62 GUNWERKS: PREPARING FOR

23 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

AUCTION ITEMS

SPONSORS

SEASONAL SELECTIONS THE SHOT OF A LIFETIME

25 GAZELLES LUNCHEON & AUCTION

70 KINGS OF THE PENINSULA

27 CONVENTION CHAIRS

By Travis Baker

34 DEUTSCH DRAHTHAAR: BRED FOR THE LOVE OF THE HUNT

By Eric Toribio

38 EXHIBITORS 44 2021 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

78 A TALK WITH CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO JEFF CRANE

16

By Gayne C. Young

86 THE BIG 5 IN THE 21ST CENTURY

By Gary E. Ellison

94 LET’S TRAVEL WITH

ESPLANADE TRAVEL

By Jacky Keith

102 ABF CASE STUDY: RESULTS

OF TWO BLADE BROADHEAD TESTS ON CAPE BUFFALO

108 ARE YOU RESCUE READY?

34

By Global Rescue

114 STEVE’S PAN PROJECT: FOR THE LOVE OF WILDLIFE AND WILD PLACES

By Suzanne Hixson

122 5 MINUTES WITH HSCF BOARD MEMBER JAMES LOFTON

124 MEET ERIK VISSER OF QUAGGA SAFARIS

128 GROWING GRIT: A TEXAS BRIGADES EXPERIENCE

By Madison Lugo

132 LOOKING BACK

By Tommy Morrison

COVER ARTWORK:

Photo by Ben Bertiggen 4 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

78

114

70

62

86

128 94

54 132

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About Houston Safari Club Foundation: Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage.

HSCF has awarded 625 scholarships totaling $2.8 million. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences for hundreds of students each year.

HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives.

HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization.

Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information.

HSCF. We Hunt.

We Give.

6 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

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2020-2021 HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION OFFICERS Jeff Birmingham, President Shaun Nelson, President-Elect Matt Pyle, Immediate Past President Will Perry, Vice President Kevin Comiskey, Vice President JD Burrows, Treasurer Jamison Smith, Secretary

2021 & 2020 Gold MarCom Award for Nonprofit Print Magazine

HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION DIRECTORS 2020-2022 Ross Melinchuk Trey White Jody Simpson James Lofton

2020 Folio Ozzie Honorable Mention for Association Magazine Design

2021-2023 Jeff Garrett Monica Williamson Bryan Ray Kevin Ormston Chris Ruhman

2021, 2020 & 2019 American Graphic Design Award for Publication Design

HISTORIAN Jerry Henderson HEADQUARTERS STAFF

2021, 2020 & 2018 Communicator Award for Print Distinction

Joe Betar, Executive Director Angi McCarthy, Director of Administrative Services Carla Nielsen, Marketing & Publications Manager Nancy Oka, Director, Events & Membership Nate Silva, Design Consultant

2021 Gold Davey Award, Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts

Alliance Printing and Graphics

Hunter’s Horn™ is published quarterly by Houston Safari Club Foundation 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 265 Houston, Texas 77079 713.623.8844 (p) 713.623.8866 (f) info@wehuntwegive.org wehuntwegive.org © Copyright 2021 Houston Safari Club Foundation Houston Safari Club Foundation welcomes contributing articles, photos and research. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right to edit submissions for spelling, grammar, clarity, organization and punctuation and to abridge length. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right not to publish submissions. Content may not be repurposed without the express written consent of the author and publisher. Please submit materials with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish materials to be returned. Houston Safari Club Foundation is not responsible for lost or unsolicited submissions. Digital submissions are preferred. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to Houston Safari Club Foundation, its members, employees or affiliates. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right to refuse any advertisement believed to be incompatible with our mission or deemed competitive or contrary to the best interests of Houston Safari Club Foundation.

U PCOMING EV EN TS JANUARY 13

Volunteer Recruitment & Orientation

FEBRUARY 3

Members Only Exhibitor Appreciation Event at Pitch 25

FEBRUARY 4-6

2022 Annual Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention

FEBRUARY 26

MAY

Tower Pheasant Shoot

Quail Shoot

MARCH 10

JUNE 9

Predator Calling with Gary Roberson

APRIL 14

Your 2nd Amendment Rights and Gun Ownership Laws in Texas with US LawShield

Professional Wildlife Biologist, Author, World Hunter and television personality, Larry Weishuhn

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 7

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE JEFF BIRMINGHAM, HSCF PRESIDENT

M

y favorite season of the year is finally here, hunting season! Of course, for the majority who are reading this, hunting season lasts all year because it is a passion and lifestyle that we live out every day. Something I look forward to is closing out the “season” on a high note by gathering at HSCF’s Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention in February. I left “annual” out of the previous sentence because as you all know last year, we did not have the pleasure of hosting our Convention and that is what makes the 2022 Convention even more important. The Convention and Expo is by far HSCF’s largest fundraiser, and as mentioned above, it is a very important time for us to gather and celebrate conservation and our hunting heritage.

We have all experienced the push by the “cancel culture” to restrict our ability to hunt, to import our trophies, and our 2nd Amendment rights. These are unprecedented times, and now more than ever it is crucial for us as hunters and conservationists to come together to raise money, to defend and celebrate those rights.

On October 23rd, we held the 2021 HSCF clay shooting event—Clay Crushing for Youth. We had over 150 shooters in attendance, with the proceeds going to our youth programs designed to get kids outdoors. I believe a fun time was had by all and once again what really matters is that we were able to gather (in person) with like-minded individuals for a common cause.

The 2022 Worldwide Hunting Expo and Convention (February 4-6) is in its final stages thanks to our Convention Chairman Trey White and a crew of volunteer chairs. We had a nice practice run last year so if you see Trey or any of the other volunteers, please thank them for their tireless efforts!

I would like to end by thanking our wonderful staff at HSCF for all they do to keep me on track and our members informed of all our happenings. If you are a member or if you are considering joining

8 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

HSCF please get involved, you will not regret it. Our members are our strength! It is an honor to serve you as president, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out.

At your service,

Jeff Birmingham HSCF President

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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR‘S

MESSAGE

JOE BETAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

W

ake the children! Light the fires! Release the Kraken! It is Convention time! The 2022 HSCF Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention is coming - February 4-6, 2021. This issue of Hunter’s Horn provides information about the weekend-long event and what to expect this year.

We are so thankful for our exhibitors and sponsors supporting HSCF’s largest annual fundraiser. Capital Farm Credit, Wildlife Partners, FORLOH, Boyd’s Hardwood Gunstocks, S&B Engineers & Constructors, Enterprise Products, LP, Global Rescue, McCorvey Sheet Metal, LP, Conroe Taxidermy, ProCargo USA, Texas Hunt Lodge, and Prairie Mountain Wildlife/Brush Country Studios have all stepped up to support HSCF. There are so many others who have pledged support for our scholarship program, hunting awards, youth programs, Gazelles event and more-way too many to list here, but we thank you for your continued support of HSCF’s mission to preserve the future of hunting. Last but not least, a sincere thank you to Gunwerks for their support as the Title Sponsor for our 2022 Convention.

I am excited about seeing our long-time exhibitors and all of the new exhibitors at our convention. And who could forget about all the incredible auction and raffle items we will be presenting on behalf of these exhibitors? There will be big surprises in store this year, so be sure to purchase your banquet tickets at wehuntwegive.org or by calling the office at 713.623.8844 today. There are going to be a variety of ways you could take home big prizes including our auctions, raffles, and new this year-a QR code contest. Be on the lookout for signs at various locations sporting a QR code and a list of prizes. All you have to do to enter is scan the QR code with your phone, follow the prompts, and you will be entered.

Look for other big announcements to come!

HSCF is pleased to announce, through the support of the Dan L. Duncan Foundation and in conjunction with the San Antonio Area Foundation, that an endowment has been created to support the HSCF scholarship program for many years to come. HSCF will continue to raise funds to supplement this benchmark program for which HSCF is famously known and respected. Thank you to the Duncan family for making this program a reality.

In regard to HSCF happenings, we are seeing great turnouts for our monthly events, and it has been a pleasure to see everyone in attendance. Your Board of Directors and staff have been busy providing support for hunting, habitat, wildlife and conservation through our grants program. Since the beginning of our fiscal year ( July 1), HSCF has provided over $50,000 in grants to support various efforts and organizations. We can all take pride in the fact we are making a difference in the outdoors.

In 2022, HSCF will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Wow! Has it already been 50 years? All I can say is ‘thank you!’ to the visionary founders of our organization, including Dr. 10 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Orian Westbrook, Leonard Burke, Frank Green, Raymond Schriewer, Ray Petty, Jerry Henderson and so many others.

We kicked off our celebration with the release of a limited-edition anniversary shirt. Be on the lookout for more celebratory activities over the next year, including an anniversary party.

In other news…in 2022, we will be launching a new HSCF merchandise program. Each quarter, we will present a limited edition, HSCF-branded item for sale. Pre-orders will be taken for a limited time, so be sure to place your orders when you receive notices by email. The HSCF Hunting Matters radio program and podcast is growing rapidly. We are averaging over 6,000 podcast downloads per month and reaching over 35,000 radio listeners each week. Be sure to subscribe to the podcast, listen, and leave us a review, wherever you listen to podcasts. We are also rolling out several new HSCF Member Reward programs with Guidefitter, GoWild, FORLOH and others. Look for announcements and special savings offer codes as new programs are launched. You may access these programs through the HSCF website under the ‘Membership’ tab by clicking on the ‘Members Only’ selection and then clicking on the ‘Member Benefits’ section of the HSCF member website.

Well, it’s time for me to get back to work but I look forward to seeing all of you at our Expo and banquets. Here’s to a rousing good time and to exceeding our fundraising goals to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation and the promotion of our hunting heritage.

In support of hunting and conservation,

Joe Betar Executive Director, Houston Safari Club Foundation

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 11

HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Bob Abernathy John Abraham Charlotte Alexander Richard Alexander Crystal Allison Shannon Alston Michael Ambrose Anne Avara Jacob Avara Skip Avara Paul Babaz Camp Bailey Cope Bailey Freddie Bailey Kenneth Bailey Frank Baird Jo Baird Mike Baird Jack Barksdale L. Irvin Barnhart* Wendy Barnhart-Lamplough Steven Beatte James Bell Lyndel Berry Tony Bessette Charlotte Betar Joe Betar James Biggerstaff Jeff Birmingham Craig Boddington Werner Boeer Jay Bonano E. Bond Greg Bond Pete Bonora Jeri Booth Frederick (Tony) Box Luanne Bozeman W. Steven Bozeman James Braus John Bridgwater Jack Brittingham Elizabeth Brueggeman Mark Brueggeman Joe Bruno Aaron Bulkley Matt Burke Robert Burke Byron Burris Grady Burris Quint Burris Angela Burrows

JD Burrows Prentiss Burt Daniel Butler Turner Butts Don Byrne C. Jack Cagle Dennis Cain Thomas Cain Rick Callison Alex Campbell Bill Carter* Ivan Carter Paul Carter Ben Case Barbara Cavender-Lewis Preston Cavner Chris Caywood Tracey Cearley Alan Cegielski Doug Centilli Christopher Clark James Clark Steve Clark Craig Clendenin Michael S. Clifford Stephen Coale Keith Coleman Randall Coleman* Russell Coleman Joe Collett Dwayne Collier Frank Comiskey Hunter Comiskey Kevin Comiskey Alan “Bink” Cooke Dian Cooper Rocky Cooper George Councill Steve Crawford Steve Crawford Kenneth Crockett Gary Crouch Deb Cunningham Ford Cunningham Linda Cunningham Ralph Cunningham* Ralph Daigle Joe Davis Laurent Delagrange Armando DeLeon Armando DeLeon Charlie Desautels

12 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Elliot Desautels Jen Desautels Perry Dillon Randy Donato Barry Donoho Tim Doucet Megan Doyel James (Red) Duke* Dannine Duncan Jan Duncan Scott Duncan Bruce Edwards Robert Elkins Walton Eller Susan Ellerbeck* Gary Ellison Will Ellison Shaun Essery Travis Findley Charlene Floyd Tommy Fogle Randy Fowler Nathan Foyil* Michael Franklin Bobby Frederick Aaron Freeman Nichol Freeman Donald French Warren Gallant Jeff Garrett Randal Garrett Scott Garrett Tanya Garrett Zachary Garrett Paul Geiger Frank Giacalone Salvatore Giannetti Gary Glesby Carl Godfrey Russell Gordy Jeff Gorski William Gouldin Sandra Green Kevin Gregory Edward Guinn Dodd Hackman Clayton Hagerman Cory Hall James Halley Greg Harvey Vickie Hayes Charles Head

Jerry Henderson Mark Herfort Heinert Hertling Robert Hibbert Greg Hill Loren Hill Steven Hill Nicholas Hinze Suzanne Hixson Edward Hoffman William Holder Bill Honza Toby Huerta Gene Human Tanya Hurlburt Terry Hurlburt Harold Inman* Justin Itzel Keith Itzel John Jackson Jack Jensen W.A. “Bill” Jentsch Clay Johnson Todd Johnson Robert Jones Harris Junell Darrell Kainer David Kalich Susan Kalich Kirk Kanady Michelle Kangas Gaye Kelsey John Kelsey William Kelsey Julianne King Mark King Rick Kirk Jim Klentzman Robert Kneppler Dustin Knutson Philip Koehne George Kollitides Tommy Kolwes Phil Koonce George Kopecky Keith Lake Fred Lamas Wayne LaPierre Joel Latham Kyle Lehne Richard Leibman John Lindholm

HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Eric Lipar Tom Lipar Bryant Littlefield Mark Livesay Ricardo Longoria Cody Loverin Doug Luger David Mafrige Shane Mahoney Paige Manard D Martin John Martin James Masten Chad Matherne Wyatt McBride Mitzy McCorvey Tony McCorvey Ed McCrory Travis McWilliams Gerald Meinecke Chris Metz Lewis Metzger Greg Mills Brook Minx Howard Monsour Forrest Montealegre Paul Montealegre G.L. Moore Reed Morian Tommy Morrison Ron Mostyn Dustin Mykyte Jason Nash Shannon Nash Bob Neese Rob Neilson Scott Nelson Shaun Nelson William B. Newlin Rudy Nix K. Nunnally Carol O’Day Kerry O’Day Charles Onstead Kevin Ormston Neal Overstreet John Painter Gus Pankonien Michael Park Michael Parr Steve Pate Trevor Penny

John Pepper Melanie Pepper Grant Perry Stephanie Perry Will Perry Justin Peter Timothy Peter Bryce Phillips Carson Phillips Dusty Phillips Wilson (Woody) Phillips Thomas Powell Kevin Poynter Andrew Pratt Kymberly Pratt Charles Prince Sharon Propes Matt Pyle Carlos Ramirez Bryan Ray Christina Ray Lawrence Rearick William Reed Gayle Rettig Tim Richardson Keith Riggs Theresa Riggs David Ristau John Robberson Eric Robinson Larry Robinson Mike Robinson* Chuck Rod Robert Rod* Stephen Rogers William Rohrbach William Roosevelt Gary Rose Mark Rose Jerry Rubenstein Chris Ruhman John Rulon Gerald Russell Byron Sadler Sandra Sadler Michael Sample William Sample Michael Sandeen Joseph Sayers Corey Schaefer Scott Scheinin Robert Scherer

Wade Schindewolf Adam Schindler George Severence Wayne Sheets John Shelby Richard Shepherd Jason Shrieve William Simmons Austin Simpson Autumn Simpson Barret Simpson Becky Simpson Dawn Simpson Jacob Simpson Jody Simpson Michael Simpson Mike Simpson Travis Simpson Tristan Simpson Weston Simpson Charles Sitomer Sam Skipper Aurelia Skipwith Carter Smith Cooper Smith Jason Smith Mandy Smith Steve Smith* Tom Snyder Norman Speer James Stacy Kaylee Stacy Mary Edith Stacy Larry Stifflemire Mark Stouse Randy Strickland H. Stuart Greg Stube David Swan Dr. Lloyd Swiedom Sally Swiedom Leah Symens Tyler Symens Peter Tam Stephen Tam Larry Tatom Terry Taylor Mark Terpstra Robert Thomas Heidi Thomas-Kersh J.B. Tinney* John Tobin

Pete Trammell Ted Trout* Hal Tryon Don Turner Aart Van Den Brink Jason Vanderbrink Phillip Veale Thom Venus Amanda Vick William Vick Juan Villaveces Glenn Vincent Jeffery Vinson Pierre Vorster Joshua Walker Greg Walla Rob Walsh John Waltz Dana Weber Rick Weber Larry Weishuhn Brian Welker Denise Welker Robert Wells Brian Welsh Lawrence West Matt West James Whaley Laurie-Leigh White Trey White Bruce Whitmire Bill Wilkinson* Ron Willenborg Steve Willenborg Gregory Williamson Monica Williamson Alan Winslette Robby Winstead Kurt Wiseman John Wood Bill Woodall J.D. Woods Patricia Woods Debi Young Preston Young Brian Zaitz

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 13

HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B F OU N DAT ION

COR POR ATE MEMBER S TH A NK YOU F OR SU PPORTING HSCF

Alaska Skookum Guides alaskaskookumguides.com

Capital Farm Credit capitalfarmcredit.com

Brush Country Studios / Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studios brushcountrystudios.com

Champion Ranch huntchampionranch.com

Forloh forloh.com

Gsell’s Whitetails gsellswhitetails.com

Hawkeye Hunting Club hawkeyehunting.com

Hutchinson Rack Attack huntrackattack.com

HuntersInc.com LLC

miltonlakelodge.com

Oilfield NextGen oilfieldnextgen.com

Royal Outfitters royaloutfittersuk.com

®

Savé Valley Conservancy savevalleyconservancy.org

14 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

SilencerCo silencerco.com

WildLife Partners wildlifepartners.com

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Gabrielius Alsenas

Chris Homrighaus

RobertD. Parker

Keith Ashley

Sarah Honadel

Danielle Pauline

Tim Bass

Michael Huff

Paul Rogers

Nathan Baxter

Zach Inskeep

Sabre Safi

Brian Bollinger

Cody Jacobsen

Clifford Bonacker

David Jones

Robert Sanders

Bobby Bruce

David Kadle Jr.

Jonathan Chanadet

Russell Leachman

Derek Colley

Andy Lehman

Adam Cook

Steve Leisher

Nate Cook

Logan Lewis

Nile Copeland

Chris Liggett

Chase Stacy

Brendan Corey

Austin Littleton

Chad Svacina

Edward Crain

John Lowry

Christopher Talbot

Spence Crisco

John MacNeill

Blake Taylor

Patty Curnutte

Steven Martin

Timothy Taylor

Luke Delmedico

Andries Marx

Norman Taylor

Jason Drerup

Skylar Masters

Curtis Teaster

Edward Duke

Joshua McGinley

Jacky Franklin

Lisa McNamee

Richard Thresher

David Fusselman

John Miller

Joe Giglia

Michele Miller

Eric Goodman

Danny Miller

Matt Gwerder

Chris Moore

Nancy Gysin

Norman Mullins

Iven Hamby III

Corey Near

Lauren Vrany

Don Harford

John Nicols

Charles Whitwam

Jim Hayes

Mick O’Brien

Richard Wilson

Christopher Heskett

Joe O’Kelley

William Wilson

Jacob Hinen

Daniel Parker

Scott Wise

Cody Schroeder Karen Seginak Craig Semrau Ross Sharp Michael Smith

Andrew Trone Brian Tucker Robert Tuller Paul Tyllick Dominic Vigil

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 15

SCT CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE DEREK HAM, SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT CHAIRMAN

Derek Ham, 2021 HSCF Sporting Clays Chairperson; Pablo Montealegre; Kim Shapiro; Steve Crawford.

T

he 2021 Houston Safari Club Foundation’s clay shooting event—Clay Crushing for Youth—ended with a louder bang than usual.

That being the familiar bang and sound of thunder. But, despite the rain and thunder toward the end of the event, a good time was had by all and it was a true success in so many ways. New friends were made, old friends got to catch up, and everyone enjoyed the fellowship of being around those with a like mind for the outdoors that makes this event so popular year after year. This year, however, was slightly different in that the proceeds will go to our youth programs, designed to get kids outdoors. An event that helps protect the future of hunting by educating our kids is one well worth supporting, and I was glad to see that support on full display. I’m proud to have been the chair of this event, but the real thanks and recognition needs to go to our incredible sponsors and the staff of HSCF for making this event a success. Our sponsors this year include the title sponsor Jan Resources, corporate sponsors Capital Farm Credit, FORLOH, and Wildlife Partners. Other important sponsors, we couldn’t have done this without included: Ruple Properties, COKINOS, Red River BBQ

16 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

(who supplied us with an amazing lunch), Sam Skipper Companies, Rummel Creek Builders, Karbach Brewing Company, The Gun Cleaners, and Alliance Graphics & Printing. Thanks to Cooper Wade for his performance during lunch—a great voice, a great talent, and an even better person. And, of course, another huge thanks goes to those who came and participated in the event. Thankyou! Much, much appreciated, and I hope to see you again next year!

Sincerely, Derek Ham 2021 Sporting Clays Tournament Chairman

1

1: Preparing for the next round.

2: The Huffman FFA youth shooting team sighting targets.

3: HSCF past President Matt Pyle presents Randy Hatmaker with his trophy from the HSCFsponsored Veteran’s hunt.

4: Man’s best friend out for a day of shooting.

PHOTOS BY BAR MC MEDIA www.BarMCMedia.com

2

3

4 CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 17

5 6

5: In pursuit of the elusive sporting clay bird.

6: Bourbon tastings following the event with Gulf Coast Distillers.

7: Pablo Montealegre focusing on the task at hand.

8: Katy Dusters youth shooting team member William Carl.

9: Former Houston Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini enjoying the day with his shooting team.

10: Harlee Alexander of Huffman FFA, the HOA women’s winner.

11: This young man was a big winner in the raffle.

8

7

18 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

CLAY SHOOT SPONSORS Title Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors Wildlife Partners

9

Capital Farm Credit FORLOH

Veterans Team Sponsor Southern Title, LLC Strategic Construction

Youth Team Sponsor Scattergun Podcast

Gold Team Sponsor LJA Engineering & Surveying Strategic Construction Masterson Advisors LLC

10

Capital Farm Credit Winnie Capital Farm Credit Katy

Underwriting Sponsors Red River BBQ Ruple Properties COKINOS Sam Skipper Companies Rummel Creek Builders Karbach Brewing Company The Gun Cleaners Alliance Graphics & Printing

11

Thank You! CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 19

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Convention Chair Message

I

By Trey White

hope that this finds all of you and your family healthy and well. The impact of Covid-19 has been felt all over the globe and in all walks of life, including the hunting industry. We were forced to cancel our Convention in 2021 as were many other hunting conservation organizations. I am sure that you are asking, are we having a Convention this year? YES! We are absolutely having a Convention this year. The recent easing of travel restrictions in the United States means that we should have a true global presence this year at Convention.

This year our Convention will be at the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton of the Americas on the weekend of February 4-6, 2022, and we will be back to the type of Convention that we have all come to expect. The expo will be at the George R. Brown and will be open all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

We will have a casual dinner and auction Friday night at the Hilton, which is always a great way to reconnect with fellow members, outfitters and friends. In addition, we will be doing our yearly hunting awards at this time.

Saturday afternoon, the ladies of the Gazelles will host their annual luncheon - an event that is always a highlight of the weekend. This year, the Gazelles lunch will include a live and silent auction as well as food, drinks, and games.

This lunch is not just for the ladies in our organization, and all are more than welcome to attend this rocking good time.

The Gazelle’s luncheon this year will harken back to the roots of both the Gazelles and the Houston Safari Club Foundation.

Saturday night will conclude with our annual black-tie gala, featuring a wonderful formal dinner with an open bar. We have worked hard to find some truly great entertainment for you this year, the comedian Tom Cotter will be the featured entertainer.

In addition, Ivan Carter, the famous professional hunter, conservationist, author, and TV personality will be our

20 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

keynote speaker. The Gala will conclude, as always, with a fantastic live auction. This is a great event for all, truly a highlight of the year!

Our annual Convention is a critical component of supporting our ongoing mission of education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. After missing the 2021 Convention, I am sure that you are as excited about the 2022 Convention as I am, and I hope that you are planning to attend. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Houston Safari Club Foundation, so you don’t want to miss what is so to be a great Convention and a great time by all! If you have any questions, feel free to call or email me at: (713) 444-3977 or treywhite77@ gmail.com. Tickets are available online or you can call/ email Nancy Oka at: (713) 623-8844 or nancy@wehuntwegive.org. ★

Join UsUsOnOn Join

February 4-6, 4-6,2022 2022

GEORGE R BROWN CONVENTION CENTER GEORGE R BROWN CONVENTION CENTER

Seek � Wild HOUSTON SAFARI SAFARI CLUB CLUBFOUNDATION FOUNDATION

FRIDAY FRIDAY9AM-5 9AM-5PM PM

SATURDAY 9AM-5 PM

SUNDAY9AM-3PM 9AM-3PM SUNDAY

Discount Voucher Voucher

BUY 1 TICKET GET GET 11 FREE FREE Terms & Conditions: Buy one admission, get one admission free to the 2022 HSCF Hunting Expo. Limit one coupon per person. Valid for the Terms & Conditions: Buy one admission, get one admission free to the 2022 HSCF Hunting Expo. Limit one coupon per person. Valid for the HSCF Expo only. Intended for single use only. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount or offer. Not for resale and not redeemable HSCF Expo only. Intended for single use only. May not be combined with any other coupon, discount or offer. Not for resale and not redeemable for cash. Must be presented at the time of transaction. Customers without coupon will be charged full price of admission. Excludes banquets for cash. Must be presented at the time of transaction. Customers without coupon will be charged full price of admission. Excludes banquets and/or any other convention-related events. Offer expires 02/7/22 and/or any other convention-related events. Offer expires 02/7/22 ™

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN

21

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Convention Sponsors T I T L E SP ONS OR

COR P OR AT E SP ONS OR S

PL AT IN UM SP ONS OR S

®

U N DERW R I T ING SP ONS OR S

G OL D SP ONS OR

GR A N T R ECOGN I T ION SP ONS OR

BRONZE SP ONS OR

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Schedule of Events

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Exhibitor Registration & Move In

George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A

Members, Volunteers and Exhibitors only event

Pitch 25 2120 Walker St, Houston, TX 77003

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4th 7:00 am - 9:00 am 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Exhibitor Registration & Move In Continues

outfitters, artists, craftsmen, gear & more from around the world!

George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A

9:30 am - 3:30 pm

Youth Wildlife Conservation Education (YWCE) Workshop

Hilton Americas - Houston Room 335 A-C

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Cocktail Hour

6:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Annual HSCF Hunting Awards Banquet, live entertainment, & live auction

Hilton Americas - Houston Lanier Grand Ballroom Foyer Hilton Americas - Houston Lanier Grand Ballroom A-F

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5th 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

outfitters, artists, craftsmen, gear & more from around the world!

George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A

10:30 am - 1:30 pm

Gazelles Luncheon featuring entertainment, live & silent auctions

Hilton Americas - Houston Lanier Grand Ballroom A-F

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Cocktail Hour

6:30 pm - 10:00 pm

Annual HSCF Formal Gala featuring live entertainment & a grand live auction.

Hilton Americas - Houston Lanier Grand Ballroom Foyer Hilton Americas - Houston Lanier Grand Ballroom A-F

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6th 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Exhibit Hall Open

George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A

NEW EXTENDED HOURS

2:00 pm

George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall A

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 23

713.623.8844

•

info@wehuntwegive.org

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AWA R D - W I N N I N G W I N G S H O OT I N G

Creek Ranch.

GOURMET DINING

Celebrating 30 years

T WO S C E N I C S P O RT I N G C L AY S C O U R S E S

Y E A R - RO U N D F LY - F I S H I N G

Renowned for its wingshooting since 1990, Joshua Creek Ranch is located just 45 minutes northwest of San Antonio along the pristine banks of the Guadalupe River. With plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures during wingshooting season, hunters enjoy spending most of their time outdoors when visiting this Texas Hill Country paradise. Open daily to the public, with Memberships available, JCR offers custom itineraries and exceptional outdoor sporting experiences complemented by luxury resort amenities and warm Texas hospitality. Enjoy...

• Migratory Dove Hunting • Upland Bird Hunting for Quail, Pheasant & Chukar • European-Style Driven Pheasant Shoots • Decoyed Mallard Duck Hunting • Trophy Axis Deer Hunting • Fly-Fishing for Rainbow Trout, Bluegill & Bass • Whitetail Deer & Turkey Hunting • Sporting Clays (20 Stations) • Simulated Driven Pheasant & Grouse Clays Shooting • Handgun & Long Range Rifle Shooting

J oshua Creek Ranch 132 Cravey Road , Boerne, TX 78006 | (830) 537-5090 | joshuacreek.com 24 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

PREMIER CONFERENCE & E V E N T FAC I L I T I E S

LU X U RY LO D G I N G & R E S O RT A M E N I T I E S

T RO P H Y A X I S DEER HUNTING

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Gazelles Luncheon & Auction

By Jody Simpson

H

owdy Cowgirls and Cowboys! It’s time to “round up” your friends and family for our Annual Gazelles Ladies Luncheon. Slip into your boots and get “gussied up” in your favorite Country Chic Attire as we gather together at the Hilton Americas Lanier Grand Ballroom on February 5, 2022 from 10:30 to 1:30 for a “Country Charm” themed event.

Female artist, Kenna Danielle, will open our cocktail hour with downhome country music. Enjoy music and mimosas as you sashay around the silent auction tables, then mosey over to the “Wine and Fifth Pull” to grab a bottle or two. Say “hey” to model and her entourage as she saunters around the tables with showcase jewelry for the 50/50 game. Be sure to bring your phone as we will be using mobile bidding. If you need assistance with mobile bidding, we will gladly help you.

The amazing Gazelles Silent Auction Chairman, Laurie-Leigh White, has again accumulated an array of items from vendors and members including beautiful jewelry and accessory items donated by Arlette and Fred Lamas. Monica Williamson has created another of her handmade domes with treasures from around the world. Fedha Nyuki has graciously donated select pieces from her elegant and sophisticated jewelry collection that is light and rugged at the same time. Bid on Vortex Optics binoculars to take with you on a weekend getaway for 4 guests to the 4B Ranch in Bandera, Texas or the Guadalupe River House from Cedar Eaters of Texas for 7 guests.

Angie and JD Burrows have donated an animal themed jewelry set and a Vera Bradley Basket. Max Lang Belts & Buckles has donated a solid sterling silver, hand-carved elephant buckle. Other items include a 400 lb. winchup auto feeder from South Texas Tripods and Feeders, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9MM from The Gun Cleaners, a dozen GrizzlyStik Arrows from Ashby Bowhunting Foundation, a HSCF Lifetime Membership, a custom Safari Photobook by Sunrise Images, a Pink Yeti Roadie 24 Cooler from Pro Cargo USA, and much, much, more.

Following lunch, the silent auction will end and the live auction will begin immediately. Don’t be afraid to “holler” out your bidding number as President Jeff Birmingham and the board have lined up some amazing live auction items. Mitzy McCorvey is again graciously donating her ever popular weekend at their ranch, Rancho de Suenos for 12-14 people. We have exciting hunting trip opportunities, rifles, and many more surprise items await.

We would like to thank our exhibitors for donating auction items, as most are 100% donations. A huge “shout out” goes to all of our sponsors and committee members for their continued generosity and dedication to the Gazelles and their mission to support conservation and the promotion of our hunting heritage. ★

GAZELLES SPONSORS TITLE SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS Conroe Taxidermy Sandra & Byron Sadler Ann & Marc Laird

GOLD SPONSORS Angie & J.D. Burrows Leah & Tyler Symens - Hal Watson Air Conditioning Co. Carolyn & William Newlin Laurie-Leigh and Trey White Gay Rod, In Memory of Bob Rod

SILVER SPONSORS Suzanne Hixson, In Memory of Steve Smith MaryAnn & Gerald Russell Nancy & Gary Ellison Pug & Ron Mostyn Melanie & John Pepper Ambassadors of Conservation Houseman Companies Susie and Matt Pyle Cheryl & Kevin Ormston Anna & Tommy Morrison

BRONZE SPONSORS Rebecca Booth Monica Williamson Rebekah Shandiz Akbari Boone Pro Cargo- Cindi & John Rulon Regina Kasowski Cheryl & Darrell Kainer Arlette & Fred Lamas Angie & Shaun Nelson

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 25

Taxidermy at its finest

Brush Country Studios 1.00

CAPTURE EVERY DETAIL

As A hunter you follow your dreams in pursuit of an experience that no man has ever seen, as a Taxidermist our pursuit is to re-create the experience of your dreams

26 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Convention Chairs DAN L. DUNCAN SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION

Gary Rose

2022 CONVENTION

Trey White ART

OUTSTANDING YOUTH HUNTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Travis Simpson

CONVENTION RAFFLE

Kevin Ormston GAZELLES

GRANTS

James Lofton LIVE AUCTIONS

Darrell Kainer & Mark King FINANCE

JD Burrows

Mitzy McCorvey

Jody Simpson

YOUTH EDUCATIONHUNTING & FIELD ACTIVITIES

OUTSTANDING FEMALE HUNTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS

Denise Welker

Jaime Latshaw

FIREARMS

ANNUAL HUNTING AWARDS/ HUNTER OF THE YEAR

OUTSTANDING PROFESSIONAL HUNTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Travis Simpson

Jeff Birmingham

2022 SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT

STAG & DOVE SOCIETY (YOUNG PROFESSIONALS)

Susan & David Kalich Jamison Smith

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR

Deb Cunningham YWCE

Susan & David Kalich VOLUNTEERS

Jacqueline & David Koch

Derek Ham

CONVENTION ACTIVITIES

Barret Simpson

Chase Schaefer

MEMBERSHIP

Rebekah Boone

HUNTING AWARDS SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSOR

Laurie-Leigh and Trey White Mitzy & Tony McCorvey Connie and Stephen Coale

Susie and Matt Pyle

Ramsey Law Group

Amy & Kevin Comiskey

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 27

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Incredible Auction Items!

Just a sampling of the items up for bid!

5-night/6-day Fishing Adventure for Two Anglers in Alaska VALUE: $9,380.00 OUTFITTER: McDougall Lodge Alaska DESCRIPTION: Two anglers will enjoy remote river fishing in the Lake Creek

area of Alaska at Alaska’s McDougall Lodge for six days of fishing for Pacific salmon, Rainbow trout, Northern pike and Arctic grayling. Schedule this 4x1 fully guided trip with the outfitter for open dates between June 1 - Sept 5, 2022 or 2023. McDougall Lodge is located approximately 65 miles NW of Anchorage on the Yentna River and 1.5 miles from the mouth of Lake Creek. This clear, gravel bottom river, where all species of Pacific Salmon flock to spawn each year, starts at the base of Mt. McKinley and runs 65 miles to the Yentna River. Your Coast Guardapproved guide will customize your trip to suit your individual style. Jet sleds allow you to fish the lower 8 miles of Lake Creek as well as various other clear water tributaries of the Yentna River. This donation includes comfortable cabin accommodations, meals, rods & reels, field prep and 4x1 guide service. Additional anglers may be added at $4,690 each, non-anglers at $2,345 each. These prices include the round-trip float plane. Not included are before and after travel expenses, hotel stay in Anchorage the first night, Licenses ($75/angler), King salmon stamp ($45/angler) and gratuities. Arrival/departure point is Anchorage, AK. HSCF thanks Alaska’s McDougall Lodge for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: mcdougalllodge.com

7-day Cape Buffalo Safari in the World Famous Selous Game Reserve for One Hunter VALUE: $16,850.00 OUTFITTER: Game Trackers Africa DESCRIPTION: Jaco & Magdel Oosthuizen of Game Trackers Africa are pleased

to donate a 7-day 1x1 Cape buffalo & Plains Game Safari rifle hunt for one hunter in Tanzania’s famed Selous Game Reserve. This trip promises to deliver yet another awesome hunting experience in Africa’s most magical and largest game reserve and includes trophy fees for 1 x Cape buffalo. This free-range hunt is available July- December 2022 or 2023 and may be upgraded to include a 2nd Cape buffalo at $6,000, and/or additional species at the current price list.

Additional hunters and non-hunters are welcome at current rates. Transportation during the hunt is mostly by vehicle and foot with hunting done by spot & stalk.

This package includes 1x1 guiding, field prep, luxury a-frame safari-style tent accommodations, all meals, drinks and daily laundry service. Not included are dip & pack services, transportation to shipper, permit/license fees at $4,800, rifle import fees, additional species taken, gratuities, RT transfers between Dar es Salaam and hunt concession by C208 air charter at $5,500 and accommodations before/after the hunt in Dar es Salaam at approx. $320/night. NOTE: a $5,000 deposit will be required at booking, to secure hunt dates. Deposit will be credited towards fees at the end of your hunt. See outfitter regarding additional taxes.

28 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

HSCF references include Craig Boddington, Mark van Ness, Clay Padgett, Steve Travis, Mannie Seale. HSCF thanks Game Trackers Africa for this donation.

WEBSITE: gametrackersafrica.com

5-day Red Stag Hunt in Patagonia, Argentina for One Hunter and One Non-Hunter VALUE: $9,250.00 OUTFITTER: Algar Safaris DESCRIPTION: Join Algar Safaris in Patagonia, Argentina on a fantastic 5-day

big game hunt for one hunter and one non-hunter which includes 1-Red stag up to 320 SCI points. Algar Safaris is a well-known company celebrating 30 years in the hunting business. The amazing big game hunt includes five full days of hunting and six nights at the ranch for one hunter and one non-hunter. The high bidder will have the opportunity to take one Red stag up to 320 SCI points. Algar Safaris owns two private hunting properties which cover 85,000 acres of pristine Patagonian steppe country. The hilly terrain and breathtaking views make Algar Safaris an excellent place to hunt the various species we offer. It’s a country unto itself! This hunt may be upgraded to include additional hunters, non-hunters, hunting days, and species per current price list, including Fallow deer, Axis deer, Blackbuck, Pere David’s deer, Russian boar, Patagonian Dall sheep, Wild goat, Multi-horned sheep, and many others. This hunt may be scheduled for any open dates from March through June 2023 or 2024. Arrival point is San Carlos de Bariloche airport (BRC). Included are one Red stag trophy fee up to 320 SCI points, top-notch accommodations for 1 hunter and 1 non-hunter, wines and beer during meals, world-class cuisine, valet laundry, professional guides, field transportation, and preparation of trophies. Not included are hunting license ($200), gun rental ($250), airfares, meet and greet in Buenos Aires, exportation and shipping of trophies, and trophy exportation tags for the animals taken.

HSCF References: P. Bryan Anderson, Steve Coale, Andi, Scott Scheinin, and Tyler Strickland. HSCF thanks Algar Safaris for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: algar-safaris.com

Texas Bighorn Sheep Photo Safari at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area for up to Four People VALUE: $2,500.00 OUTFITTER: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department DESCRIPTION: Join our friends at Texas Parks and Wildlife for a first-class

photo safari on Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area located just outside of Alpine, TX for up to four people. On-site transportation and guiding are provided by one of the knowledgeable wildlife biologists that work on the

area every day. You will be led on an unparalleled opportunity to photograph and observe Texas Bighorn sheep in their natural state, and to learn firsthand about their ongoing management and restoration efforts. Access to this portion of the management area is extremely limited so this truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Includes overnight stay in a bunkhouse with spectacular views!

This trip must be taken within one (1) year of purchase. Not included are meals, airfare, travel or lodging before or after photo safari. HSCF thanks Texas Parks and Wildlife for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: tpwd.texas.gov

6-Day/7-Night Safari for Crocodile Plus Tiger Fishing in Mozambique for One Hunter/Angler VALUE: $5,250.00 OUTFITTER: Cabassa Safaris DESCRIPTION: Join Cabassa Safaris for a 6-day/7-night safari for one hunter or

angler in our famous Nhenda camp in Mozambique located on the breathtaking lake of Cahorra Bassa. This area covers over 750,000 acres and animals are completely free roaming! It is well-known throughout the hunting community for its monster crocodiles and great Tiger fishing. Our average on crocodiles over the past 10 seasons has been 14.4 inches. Some even stretch the tape to 17.8 ft!

This area also has great hippo. A crocodile and/or hippo may be hunted during this timeframe, as well as Tiger fishing. The camp is located on the northern banks of the lake and have 3 on-suite chalets, as well as a bar and dining area that look over the lake. Included in this hunt are lodge accommodations, all meals and beverages, transportation during the hunt, trophy prep and transportation to the shipper. Not included are temporary rifle imports ($350), hunting license ($350), CITES Permit, and trophy fees (crocodile $5000 / hippo $6500). This hunt can be upgraded to include additional days and or species per the current price list. Additional hunters are welcome at $750/day and observers at $350/day. This hunt may be taken in 2022 or 2023. HSCF thanks Cabassa Safaris for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: cabassasafaris.com

8-Day Safari for Cape Buffalo and Sable in the North West Province of South Africa for Two Hunters and Two Observers VALUE: $28,860.00 OUTFITTER: Africa Maximum Safaris DESCRIPTION: Experience some of the best Cape buffalo hunting South Africa

has to offer on our large concessions in the North West province. Two hunters and two observers will be hosted by Africa Maximum Safaris, at our main lodge, on a Cape buffalo and sable hunt (trophies to be shared by the two hunters). The bushveld area we hunt ensures a close-up hunt in thick bush where hunters will get to experience Cape buffalo hunting at close range. Hunters will be guided by experienced Professional Hunters for a trophy Cape buffalo and sable of a lifetime. The hunt may be taken March to November, 2022 or the same season in 2023. All 8-days will be spent on the concessions of Africa Maximum Safaris’ 300,000 acres in the North West Province of South Africa. Additional hunters are welcome at $420/person and non-hunters at $220/person. Clients may upgrade to take an additional Cape buffalo ($9000) or sable ($3900) or any available species (per price list) to hunt on our extended concessions. We are fortunate as the area where we hunt offers our clients most of the species that are available throughout South Africa as it is a combination of bushveld, highveld and middleveld habitat systems. Not included are arrival and departure days ($200/ day/pp), gun clearance ($150/hunter) and 15% VAT tax on value of hunt. At Africa Maximum Safaris we are dedicated to make your African trophy hunting safari a memory of a lifetime. HSCF references: Justin Peter. HSCF thanks Africa Maximum Safaris for this donation.

WEBSITE: africamaximum.co.za

5-Night/4-Day Cast & Blast Dove Hunting and Fishing Adventure In Santa Fe, Argentina for up to Six Hunters VALUE: $16,200.00 OUTFITTER: Sierra Brava Lodge LLC DESCRIPTION: Rio Brava Lodge invites you to a 4-day cast & blast for dove,

for up to six hunters at Rio Brava Lodge in Sante Fe, Argentina. This hunt includes 3-full days of dove shooting and 1-full day of fishing. A total of 5 nights in their luxury double occupancy rooms. You may replace a day of dove hunting for a day of fishing at $250. Additional hunters are welcome at $650/day/person, as well as non-hunters at $350/day/person. Transportation during the hunt is mostly by vehicle. This package includes, meet and assistance on arrival and departure at Sante Fe Airport, all professionally guided hunts, Rio Brava deluxe double bedroom with private bathroom lodging, all gourmet meals, open bar including soft drinks, beer, fine wines, and local liquors, all field transfers between the lodge and hunting fields, well trained and experienced personal assistants, and US travel/logistics. Also includes use of shotguns, fishing gear & permits. Not included, are transfers from Sante Fe airport ($200 pp), field fees ($350/hunter), licenses at $65/pp/day, shells at $13.95/box, and any gratuities. This hunt may be taken in 2022 or 2023. HSCF thanks Rio Brava Lodge for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: sierrabrava.com

10-Day Spiral Horn Slam in South Africa for Two Hunters and Two Observers VALUE: $22,000.00 OUTFITTER: Quagga Safaris DESCRIPTION: Join Quagga Safaris for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

two hunters and two observers are invited on this 10-full day trophy hunt/culling package safari. Quagga Safaris will be offering this 5-star safari on the famous 56,000-acre Manketti Game Reserve in the Mecca of hunting/safari area of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The hunters will share the Spiral Horn Slam (1x kudu, 1x eland, 1x nyala, 1x bushbuck) with the opportunity to finish the Grand Slam. Also included is a culling hunt to be shared for 4x impala, 2x warthog, and 2x Blue wildebeest - 12 animals total! 5-star lodging in a Thatch Roof Safari Lodge with all amenities included. Additional hunters are welcome at $400/day and observers at $200/day. This hunt may be taken between March and October of 2022 or October 2023. This hunt may be taken with a rifle. Not included are overnight stay costs on arrival (approximately $200/room), airport transfers ($500/one way) and gratuities. Quagga Safaris has been offering quality safaris for over 30 years but this one is next level. Do not miss out! HSCF References: Bill Alexander, Craig Ellington, Floyd Parr. HSCF thanks Quagga Safaris for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: quagga.co.za

7-Day Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunt in East Central Alberta for One Hunter VALUE: $6,500.00 OUTFITTER: Buckbrush Outfitters DESCRIPTION: Buckbrush Outfitters has been attending and exhibiting

at the Houston Safari Club since 1984. They have once again offered a trophy Whitetail deer hunt at their original area in the farmlands of east-central Alberta.

The hunt will take place on primarily private farm and ranch land (the zone is approximately 1500 square miles) where Rod was born and raised and has been guiding for over 40 years. The hunt will take place in pickup trucks and heated, insulated blinds, using a combination of spot, stalk, glassing and sitting over active areas as well as deer drives. All hunters will stay at Rod and Sue’s 10-bedroom ranch house where Sue will prepare the meals. Upon a successful deer harvest, the guides will field dress your trophy, cape and skin the deer as well as provide any meat you may want to take home. This hunt may be taken in 2022. HSCF References: Tommy and Anna Morrison, Sam Williams, Jerry and Carol Henderson, Larry West, Cecil Hopper, Ed Phillips, Mark King and Wesley Pratka. HSCF thanks Buckbrush Outfitters for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: huntbuckbrush.com

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 29

7-Day White Rhino Vita-Dart Hunt in South Africa for One Hunter and One Observer VALUE: $11,000.00 OUTFITTER: Tam Safaris DESCRIPTION: Long time HSCF exhibitor and donor Tam Safaris has

generously donated this special opportunity for one hunter and one nonhunter to Vita-Dart one White rhino in beautiful Cradock, South Africa.

Additional hunters may be added for $350/day and non-hunters for $250/day.

Upgrades are available per current price list. Donation includes five-star luxury accommodations, meals, and drinks. There are well-appointed, comfortable en-suite rooms, individually decorated to experience top quality service. Lodge accommodation is serviced with a state of the art fully equipped kitchen and stocked bar. From the moment you first arrive, every possible effort is made to ensure that the comfort of your stay is as special and spectacular as only Tam Safaris affords their valued clients. Transportation to and from the lodge to Port Elizabeth ($500) and hunt insurance ($2800) not included. Like all big game hunting, the rhino is becoming so few that this hunt may well disappear. Hunt can be taken in 2022 or 2023. HSCF References: Tony & Mitzy McCorvey, Tommy & Anna Morrison, Mark & Julianne King, John & Melanie Pepper, and Barret Simpson. HSCF thanks Tam Safaris for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: tamsafaris.com

10-Day Crocodile Safari in Zambia for One Hunter

Tropic Star Lodge, airline transportation to Panama City, tips for the Captain and Mate, personal expenses and gratuities or hotel in Panama City. HSCF references: Gary Rose. HSCF thanks Tropic Star for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: tropicstar.com

Wine, Wheels & Wildlife Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Event at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina for Two People VALUE: $7,500.00 OUTFITTER: Houston Safari Club Foundation DESCRIPTION: Co-hosted by NASCAR legend Richard Childress, you and a

guest will accompany HSC Executive Director Joe Betar to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s annual Wine, Wheels & Wildlife Event at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, NC! Launched in 2004, by NASCAR team owner Richard Childress, Childress Vineyards features over 70 acres of vineyards and 15 varieties of European Vitis vinifera cultivars. Activities for the day include a reception, winery tours and outdoor activities followed by a dinner and live auction. This event usually occurs in October, on the Wednesday following Columbus Day (October 19, 2022; tentative date) and encompasses three (3) days, including travel. Final dates to be determined by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Includes air, hotel, event admission and meals for two (2) people.

VALUE: $16,500.00

7-Day/7-Night Deluxe Sport Fishing Adventure in Alaska for Two People

OUTFITTER: Tom Dreyer Safaris

VALUE: $14,790.00

DESCRIPTION: Join Tom Dreyer Safaris on a once in a lifetime monster

OUTFITTER: Wildman Lake Lodge

crocodile safari in the Nkala GMA bordering the southeastern part of the Kafue National Park. Zambia is known for its big crocodiles and the vast numbers. Tom Dreyer Safaris is a father & son business with more than 50 years of combined experience. The Nkala GMA borders the eastern side of the Kafue National Park and is situated alongside the Kafue River and Itezhi-Tezhi lake. The Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest park and covers an area of 22,400 kilometers. There are no fences between the Nkala GMA and the national park, with only a dividing road between the two areas. The Nkala GMA is one of the prime blocks in Zambia and boasts a high density of free-roaming animals. The area has elephant, lion, leopard, and groups of buffalo, which exceed over 2,000 in a herd, moving between the national park and the GMA. There are resident groups of buffalo as well as dagga boy groups in the GMA. Total size for the area is 350,000 acres.

Included in the donation is the trophy fee for one trophy crocodile. All other species to be hunted as per pricelist. Accommodations will be in a 4-star safaristyle tented lodge with all the amenities you need, excluding WIFI. This 1x1 hunt may be taken in 2022 only. Additional hunters are welcome at $1,300/day for dangerous game and $950 for plains game. Non-hunters are welcome at $600/ day. Not included are rifle and ammo import ($250) and Cities permit ($100).

HSCF References: Justin Peter and John Daugherty. HSCF thanks Tom Dreyer Safaris for this 100%.

WEBSITE: tomdreyersafaris.com

3-Day/4-Night Big Game Fishing Adventure in Panama for Two Anglers VALUE: $10,500.00 OUTFITTER: Tropic Star Lodge DESCRIPTION: Two lucky guests will enjoy world-class fishing in the veritable

paradise that is Tropic Star Lodge. Cut out of the side of a mountain at the edge of the Darien Jungle on the Pacific coast of Panama, Tropic Star is truly a superstar among the world’s big game fishing destinations. Take it from an expert, worldrenowned marine artist and IGFA Trustee Dr. Guy Harvey who raves, “Tropic Star Lodge offers the best Black Marlin fishing in the Americas. Combined with Blue Marlin and Sailfish, you have a great shot at catching a Grand Slam or a Super Grand Slam almost every day.” 300+ IGFA World Records have been set at the lodge - so don’t miss out on this chance to get down there and set one yourself!

Trip includes 3-days fishing, 4-nights lodging at Tropic Star Lodge in Pinas Bay, Panama between March - September 2022 or March - September 2023 (call for date availability or check out the calendar on www.tropicstar.com). All meals and non-alcoholic beverages included while at the lodge. Trip does not include transfers (charter flight and ground) between Panama City (Rep. of Panama) and

30 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

DESCRIPTION: 7-day/7-night Deluxe Sport Fishing Week for two people

during the Reel Smok’n Salmon month of July 2022 at Wildman Lake Lodge, home of Master Guide and Outfitters, Kathy and Butch King, Safari Club’s 2000 Professional Hunter of the Year. Donated package includes: 7 days of guided fishing and 7 nights deluxe accommodations at Wildman Lake Lodge where each well-appointed, heated guest cabin features comfortable twin beds and a full bathroom with a piping hot shower. Enjoy both fly out and local jet boat fishing days with our experienced bush pilots and sport fishing guides in pursuit of Pacific salmon, Rainbow trout and Arctic char on Alaska’s only crystal-clear artesian sport fishing river. Guests may also choose to spend an afternoon on the beach combing along the volcanic black sand beaches of the Bering Sea or visit a nearby walrus haul-out where you can view and photograph anywhere from 50 to 5,000 huge Pacific walrus in their native habitat. Wildman’s executive chef and professional kitchen staff prepare hearty breakfasts, fantastic shore lunches, and exceptionally fine evening dinners served in the lodge’s spacious dining room. This trip can be scheduled for June or July of 2022. Enjoy world-class sport fishing, incredible wilderness accommodations and the genuine Alaskan hospitality of Butch, Kathy and their professional staff. Additional persons may join the successful bidder at the published price of $8,895, which does include the round-trip cost of airfare of $1600/person from Anchorage to the lodge. Not included in this trip are stays in Anchorage before and after at $300/night, roundtrip flight from Anchorage ($1600/person) and $90 fishing license for a King salmon tag. HSCF References: Byron and Sandra Sadler, Tony and Mitzy McCorvey, John and Melanie Pepper, Tommy and Anna Morrison. HSCF thanks Wildman Lake Lodge for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: wildmanlodge.com

3-Day/2-Night Rio Turkey and Hog Hunt in Texas for One Hunter and One Observer VALUE: $5,600.00 OUTFITTER: Y Bar Ranch DESCRIPTION: Y Bar Ranch has donated a 3 day/2-night Rio turkey and hog

hunt for 1-hunter and 1-observer in Fowlerton, Texas! You and your guest will arrive at Y Bar Ranch at lunchtime on day one. After lunch, you and your group can shoot sporting clays and then load up in our vehicles and head to the fields for some of the best turkey hunting of your life. On the fully guided hunt, your guide will set up decoys and call in your trophy tom. On the semi-guided hunt for hogs, your guide will drop you off in a stand for your hog hunt. You will arrive

back to the lodge that evening where hors d’oeuvres and a campfire on our rock patio await. Shortly after, a sit-down dinner will be served. On day two of this Texas turkey/hog Hunting trip, after a continental breakfast, you will hunt in the morning until lunchtime. After lunch you may go out for the afternoon hunt.

Your evening would be the same as day one with the only exception being a new dinner menu. Day three of Texas turkey hunting, after a continental breakfast, you will hunt in the morning until lunchtime. As you depart you will be presented your processed bird and hogs. Included in this hunt are deluxe accommodations for 3 days and 2 nights, all meals & beverages (soft drinks, bottled water, etc.).

Guides and transportation, sporting clays, pool table & horseshoes, swimming pool, game processing, darts, wireless Internet and TV are included. You may bring alcohol for after your hunts. Additional hunters are welcome at $1,800/person and observers at $375/person. This hunt may be taken using rifle or shotgun and can be taken in March or April 2022 or Spring 2023. HSCF Reference: Monica Williamson. HSCF thanks Y Bar Ranch for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: ybarranch.com

2-Day/2-Night Upland Bird Hunting In Texas for Two Hunters and Two Observers VALUE: $5,700.00 OUTFITTER: Joshua Creek Ranch DESCRIPTION: Upland Bird Hunting package with overnight lodging & meals

for four guests (two hunters & two non-hunters) at Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne, TX just 45 minutes northwest of downtown San Antonio. Enjoy a visit to paradise...

Joshua Creek Ranch is the 2018 Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Lodge of the Year and the only lodge in Texas recognized by both Orvis and Beretta. This package includes two nights premium lodging for four guests (two creekside rooms in Branch Haus Lodge), two half-day upland bird mixed bag hunts (quail/pheasant/ chukar) for two guns, two breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners for four guests, one round of sporting clays (100 targets) for two guns, and complimentary fly-fishing in Joshua Creek. This package does not include hunting license, gun rentals, ammo, alcoholic beverages, bird processing, taxidermy, applicable taxes and 15% Service Fee. Airport transportation may be arranged on request. Extra hunters, hunts, activities, meals, lodging, etc. may be added to this package for an additional price by contacting guest services at 830-537-5090. HSCF References: Joe Betar and Jeff Birmingham. HSCF thanks Joshua Creek Ranch for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: joshuacreek.com

4-Day Southeastern Ibex Hunt in Spain for Two Hunters and Two Observers - Includes Trophy Fees VALUE: $18,400.00 OUTFITTER: Spanishibexhunts DESCRIPTION: Spanish Ibex Hunts has donated this incredible 4-day, 2x1

hunt for two hunters and two non-hunters for Southeastern ibex in Spain. The hunt will take place in south Spain which allows the high bidder not only to hunt but to discover the fantastic town of Granada. Included in this hunt are trophy fees for one Southeastern ibex up to 194.99 CIC point, accommodations in Granada City in one of the best hotels in the city center and includes all meals and beverages (alcohol in moderation), transportation to and from the airport in Madrid or Malaga (hunter´s choice). The hunt is for 1 representative ibex up to 194.99 CIC points. Additional hunters are welcome at $550/day and non-hunters at $250/day. This hunt may be upgraded to include additional species from the current price list but must be taken between late October 2022 to late May 2023 or late October 2023 to late May 2024. Hunt may be taken with rifle. Not included in this donation are hunting district license ($150 per district), hunting insurance ($150 per year), 21% VAT on total value of hunt, taxidermy for export (skin and skull) $250, vet certificates ($200), and trophy and shipping (cost varies). Please note: Each hunter must add at least one species of available game and are responsible for their trophy fees as per current price list. HSCF thanks Spanish Ibex Hunts for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: spanishibexhunts.com

7-Day Sable Bull and Golden Wildebeest Hunt in South African Safari for One Hunter and One Observer VALUE: $11,300.00 OUTFITTER: Spiral Horn Safaris DESCRIPTION: This awesome 7-day South African safari in the Limpopo

Bushveld for one hunter and one non-hunter for Sable and Golden Wildebeest can be yours! Join Spiral Horn Safaris on a 7-day safari for one hunter and one observer in pursuit of one beautiful Sable bull (40 - 43”) and one magnificent Golden wildebeest in South Africa. The hunt will take place on our private ranch.

Included in the hunt are trophy fees for these two animals for one hunter, accommodations at an exclusive and private hunting lodge with spacious en suite thatch roofed chalets, excellent cuisine, hearty breakfasts, hunting vehicles, trained trackers, skinners, and professional hunters. Road transfers to/from Johannesburg International Airport is included. Charter flights may be arranged at an additional cost as we have a private landing strip on the ranch. Additional hunters are welcome at $400/hunter and observers for $200/person per day.

This hunt may be upgraded to include additional species from the current price list but must be taken in 2022. Hunt may be taken with a rifle, crossbow or bow. HSCF References: Jeff Birmingham, Gib Surles, Prentiss Burt, Tom Peden, Kevin Ormston, Ross Melinchuk. HSCF thanks Spiral Horn Safaris for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: www.spiralhorn.co.za

3-Day Aoudad Sheep and Javelina Hunt in Texas For One Hunter with Chester Moore, Editor in Chief of Texas Fish and Game Magazine VALUE: $3,495.00 OUTFITTER: Hunt Aoudad DESCRIPTION: Come join Hunt Aoudad and Chester Moore on a fully guided

3-day hunt for 1 Aoudad ram and up to 2 free-range javelina in the mountains near Terlingua, Texas! Hunt includes lodging and guiding. Guided nighttime predator hunting from a truck mounted high-seat available for an additional charge. DIY sightseeing of beautiful Big Bend and a whole lot of fun! Not included are meals, beverages, hunting license and tags. Hunter may add up to two additional hunters at the current rate at the time of hunt. Hunt can be taken up to one year after purchase. HSCF thanks Hunt Aoudad and HSCF Board member Chris Ruhman for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: huntaoudad.com

7-Day Free Range Water Buffalo & European Boar Hunt in Argentina for Two Hunters VALUE: $12,100.00 OUTFITTER: TGB Outfitters Argentina DESCRIPTION: TGB Outfitters, one of the premier hunting companies in

Argentina with almost two decades catering to U.S. hunters, invites two hunters to La Pampa, Argentina on a 7-day trip for free range Water buffalo and European boar hunting. TGB Outfitters has abundant and healthy herds of Water buffalo roaming their extensive private hunting properties and holds the current #1 SCI ranking free range Water buffalo hunted in Argentina at 118” SCI. TGB owner Alejandro Trigo personally takes care of the operation and every detail involved.

Alejandro has been an SCI Master Measurer since 2008 and is currently one of the most experienced and reputable outfitters in Argentina. This donated hunt includes two trophy fees in total as follows: one free range Water buffalo (SCI Bronze Medal) and one free range European boar. Donated trophies are to be shared between hunters, one donated trophy per hunter. The Water buffalo trophy may be upgraded. This hunt may also be upgraded to include additional trophies and/or species such as Red stag, Fallow deer, Axis deer, Mouflon, Blackbuck, Hybrid sheep, Feral goat and Multi-Horn sheep. Method of take is rifle.

High-volume dove shooting, fishing and waterfowl can also be added to the trip as per outfitters current price list. Hunt can be scheduled with the outfitter for open dates March 1- May 30, 2022. Hunt will be conducted out of TGB Outfitters

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 31

newly-constructed premium lodge. Guests will be provided with all-inclusive first-class service, with staff always available to ensure satisfaction and success.

Donation includes lodge accommodations, all meals and beverages, trophy fees for donated species, 1x1 guide service, field prep, daily laundry service, Wi-fi high speed internet access and more. Additional hunters are welcome for $450/day plus trophy fees and observers for $300/day. Hunt may be extended, or game added per outfitter’s current price list. Not included: airfare, hunting license, personal expenses, firearm permits, all trophy export related costs, taxidermy, gratuities, etc. Arrival/Departure point is Santa Rosa Airport in La Pampa Argentina. HSCF thanks TGB Outfitters for this 100% donation.

Gunwerks Magnus Rifle System in .28 Nosler VALUE: $12,450.00 OUTFITTER: GUNWERKS DESCRIPTION: Gunwerks rifle systems are engineered from the ground up

Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle

for long range performance. The difference begins with each component. Rather than assembling various parts available on the market, we design and build our own to work together perfectly - the result is a system that performs flawlessly!

Presenting the Gunwerks Magnus Rifle System in .28 Nosler! This package includes a Kahles K525i MOAK scope, GLR Titanium action, Carbon Wrap barrel, Carbon Fiber stock, Tungsten metal finish and a Carbon Tan stock. Accessories include a Gunwerks custom rifle case, sling, and scope coat. IN ADDITION, this donation also includes 100 rounds of Gunwerks 180 grain ammunition. HSCF thanks Gunwerks for this 100% donation.

VALUE: $1,299.00

WEBSITE: gunwerks.com

WEBSITE: tgb-outfitters.com

OUTFITTER: TROP Guns, LLC DESCRIPTION: TROP Gun Shop has donated a Browning X-Bolt Hell’s Canyon

Speed edition rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor with Burnt Bronze Cerakote and Advanced Tactical Concealment Systems (A-TACS) “Arid/Urban” Camo finishes. This model was Outdoor Life’s Editor’s Choice Rifle of the Year for 2016 and remains in production. Features include a free-floating 22” fluted, sporter barrel with threaded muzzle brake, short-throw (60°) bolt; adjustable feather trigger (set to 3 ½ lbs), Tang safety, detachable rotary magazine, barreled action coated in Cerakote Burnt Bronze finish, glass-bedded, A-TACS AU camo-finished composite stock and an Inflex recoil pad - designed to redirect recoil down and away from the shooter’s cheek. HSCF thanks TROP Gun Shop for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: tropgun.com

MG Arms Ultra-Light .270 WSM Rifle Package VALUE: $6,100.00 OUTFITTER: MG Arms Inc. DESCRIPTION: MG Arms offers another great rifle package for Houston

Safari Club Foundation! The MG Arms Ultra-Light rifle is chambered in the .270 WSM caliber and possesses all the qualities and features that a custom rifle should have: lightweight, balanced with exceptional accuracy (guaranteed) and durability for the toughest conditions. Built on a customized Remington Model 700 action with a stainless-steel national match barrel and a finely tuned Jewell trigger then finished in Cerakote “Burnt Bronze” metal finish and a one-of-a-kind “chocolate camo” stock finish. It is topped with Talley rings and a Swarovski scope.

To complete the package, the rifle is packaged and ready to travel in a lightweight rifle case. Experience and enjoy a truly custom rifle that is easy to carry, comfortable to shoot, with accuracy exceeding all expectations! MG Arms Inc. thanks you for participating in this auction and supporting HSCF! HSCF thanks MG Arms Inc. for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: mgarmsinc.com

Hendershot’s HS Precision M-2000 “PLR” Professional Long Range Rifle Package in .300 Rem Ultra Mag VALUE: $8,186.00 OUTFITTER: Hendershot’s Sporting Goods, Inc DESCRIPTION: Presenting the HS Precision M-2000 “PLR” Professional Long-

Range Rifle in .300 Rem Ultra Mag from Hendershot’s! Complete with a 26” fluted barrel, muzzle brake, black Cerakote finish with Grasslands Camo stock and HSCF Logo Engraving. Optic & mounts include a Zeiss V6 5-30x50mm – Plex Reticle with extended turrets, Zeiss 30mm Ultralight 1913 MS rings with level, one-piece Picatinny Rail and a custom Kenton BDC Turret matched to developed load. IN ADDITON, this package comes complete with a custom load development (bullet, etc.) and 100 rounds of “Extreme” custom ammo, Pelican Storm iM3300 rifle case and a custom laser cut foam interior. HSCF thanks Lance Hendershot of Hendershot’s for this 100% donation! References: Kevin Ormston, Joe Betar WEBSITE: hendershots.net

32 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

4-Day/5-Night SAAMTM Precision & Safari/Hunt Combo Course in Texas for Two People - Includes $3,000 Trophy Fee Credit per Person VALUE: $14,900.00 OUTFITTER: FTW/SAAM DESCRIPTION: Two hunters will go through the 5-night, 4-day SAAMTM

Precision & Safari/Hunt Combo Course where our instructors help you improve your shooting/hunting skills with your own equipment being better prepared for that hunt of a lifetime. Most importantly, you will fully understand your shooting limitations and that “Makes You a Great Hunter!” There are 4 days of SAAM Training. The first 2 days are all SAAMTM Training followed by hunting on the mornings and afternoons of days three and four for top quality FTW Species with additional training during the middle of the day. You will be shooting 160-180 rounds during SAAMTM training. Trophy fees/hunting seasons apply. You will learn the effects of the environment on your ballistics and how to compensate on our “real world” ranges throughout the rugged FTW Ranch. You will spend a great deal of time in many challenging shooting scenarios and positions and learn how to use your own gear and surroundings to make great longer-range shots and learn how to be ready for dangerous game! Perfect for medium and big bore calibers! Bring 200 total of your hunting rounds, two guns max per shooter please. Hunts are expensive, rewarding and challenging! Know your weapons’ and your own capabilities and be at your best before you go! For additional information, check us out at www.ftwsaam.com. Purchaser is buying TWO SAAMTM/Hunt Combo spots and $3,000 trophy fees for the hunter. Must be taken in 2022 during scheduled SAAMTM Hunt Combo Courses. Additional spots welcome for a 10% Discount when booked with your course - they also receive the $3,000 Trophy Fee Credit! Included: $3,000 credit toward trophy fees for each of the 2 hunters (cannot be combined into one trophy and can only be applied to trophy fees), 5 nights/4 days of first-class meals and lodging, SAAM instruction, guiding and beverages/refreshments, Custom built range cards for your rifle/ bullet combo, rifle cleaning supplies, hearing protection, shoulder pads and other nice gear are yours to keep; please bring your favorite hunting backpack!

Arrive Friday PM; depart Wednesday AM. Should be scheduled within 60 days from date of purchase. Scheduled on a first come/first served basis during our 2022 regularly scheduled SAAM Hunt Combo courses throughout the year. Both students must attend at the same time. Purchaser must be one of the attendees, may not be transferred or resold. Excluded from the donation: trophy fees (below) above the $3,000 credit and other purchases payable at the FTW at checkout, gratuities, weapons and ammunition; bring your own weapons ammo; rental weapons are available, transportation to/from the FTW Ranch (3 hours west of San Antonio) & hunting license. Please bring the ammo that you plan to hunt with.

Can be shipped UPS/Fed Ex to the FTW Ranch. Extra spots $4,450, Youth $2,225, Observers $1,000. If a youth comes as one of two spots, no credits will be given.

The trophy fee credit is not transferrable to another time or expenses. If you would like to attend a Regular SAAM Precision or Safari Course without hunting, the trophy fee allowance is forfeited. HSCF thanks SAAM for this 100% donation.

WEBSITE: ftwsaam.com

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 33

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Deutsch Drahthaar Bred for the Love of the Hunt

By Eric Toribio | Photos by Leslie Reagan Photography

I

magine your perfect day hunting. Really…stop reading this article and think about what you would do? Maybe a trip to the duck blind or watching a mesquite thicket, waiting for a giant Whitetail to waltz across your shooting lane.

Perhaps it’s heading out west to meander in the rolling hills of the Dakotas in search of the native sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken.

Whatever pursuit you’re visualizing there is something that fits into almost every hunting adventure. The Deutsch Drahthaar. It’s a common occurrence for me to head into the marshes of southeast Texas watching the sunrise, with my bearded companion by my side, eager to retrieve a downed duck. This is only the start of the fun, as I’ll head over to quail country and watch the same dog eloquently quarter across the landscape only to abruptly slam into a staunch point. Maybe the same evening or the next, she’ll be methodically blood tracking a trophy buck or a gnarly boar. All with the same dog and it’s why I have fallen head over heels for this versatile breed.

Eyes on the sky

34 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

FEATURED PUPPY/BREED to be auctioned during Saturday night gala

The Deutsch Drahthaar, commonly referred to as a Drahthaar, DD, or bearded beast, is a versatile breed with its foundation firmly rooted in Germany. Back in the late 1800’s, the breed was created out of necessity, as many people couldn’t support a kennel of different specialty dogs. What was needed is one dog, serviceable in all aspects of hunting, whether it be in field, forest or water. By breeding the Stichelhaar, Pudelpointer, Griffon, and the Deutsch-Kurzhaar, the Drathaar breed was born.

In 1902, a group of breeders gathered and founded the breed group VDD or Verein Deutsch-Drahthaar. It was determined the driving factor of the breed would be its versatile performance ability. To this day the guiding principle is “through performance to standard.” Many hunters are familiar with the German Wirehair Pointer, which often times can look like a Drahthaar. However, due to relatively unrestricted breeding for nearly 70 years, and a significant difference in breed and performance standards, the Drahthaar has evolved into a distinctly different breed.

The versatility of the dog is what initially drew me in over 12-years ago. However, what hooked me is the breeding system. With other breeds, you’re relying on the ethics of the breeder, where the Drahthaar you can trust the system. The crux of the breed rests on a stringent testing system in which dogs are evaluated against a standard. Not only is hunting ability tested and critiqued, but the mental temperament, genetics, and physical attributes play a large part in having a dog deemed eligible for breeding.

The testing system starts with the VJP, known as the puppy test. The goal of the first evaluation is to

First duck of the morning

determine the natural ability of the dogs, which range from 6 months to 18 months in age, by testing for performance attributes such as use of nose, tracking, search, pointing, desire, cooperation, and temperament. In addition, the dog is examined for physical faults which would disqualify it from the breeding system. The following fall, the dog progresses to the HZP, or the fall natural ability test. This evaluation asks more out of the dog than the previous test. The pup is evaluated on its ability to be a reliable retriever, utilizing both fur and feathered game.

It’s also where the dog is first tested in the water, and required to complete a series of retrieves, proving it can find game, and deliver to hand. The use of nose is also tested further by having a judge drag a dead duck and rabbit through the field over several hundred meters for the dog to track and retrieve. Search behind the live duck is one testing subject which really starts to separate high performing dogs from the rest of the pack. A live duck is liberated in a marsh with ample cover for the duck to hide. The dog is then sent into the swamp to “produce” the duck, resulting in either the duck being shot or the dog catching it. The waters we use for testing, are thick and nasty, really showing off the desire of the dog. I’ve seen dogs trudge through gumbo mud over their back, climbing over fallen logs, with a fire in their soul, trying to do what they were put on this earth to do. It’s truly something special to watch a great water

dog complete this subject of the test.

When the dog passes the HZP, it is still not quite ready to be deemed eligible to breed. It has to be evaluated by a special set of judges which critique its physical attributes.

Before entering a breed show, a specific set of X-rays need to be sent to Germany, making certain there is little to no probability of hip, elbow, or shoulder problems.

While at the breed show, the dog isn’t evaluated for being “pretty.” Everything stems back to performance. The coat is scrutinized for its density and hardness, attributes which will keep the dog warm as it retrieves ducks in sub-freezing temps or allow the dogs to hunt day after day in the thick prairie grasses of the Midwest.

The confirmation of the dog is also evaluated to determine if the dog is built like an NFL linebacker, with the attributes allowing it to put on endless miles over its life. A dog that’s bred and built right can hunt effortlessly and can give you more time afield. They are bred specifically for functionality for hunting on field, forest, water and everything in-between.

After the dog passes the breed show it is eligible to breed as a Deutsch Drahthaar! Now this is where the fun only begins. More and more breeders are searching out dogs who have passed the VGP, or the utility test. This is the ultimate evaluation, spanning 2 days and critiquing the dog across 26 different subjects in the forest, field, and water. From retrieving vermin, and blood tracking CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 35

to extreme obedience, this test is what separates the men from the boys. It’s a grueling accomplishment for dog and handler alike. If a dog has passed the VGP, it’s in the top 1% of hunting dogs, and really proves the mental fortitude of the animal.

All of this for a hunting dog! My goal from the beginning was not only to have the best breed, but to breed the best of the best.

My start came far from the US, or Germany, and definitely way outside the realm of hunting dogs. I was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the great city of Texarkana, Texas when I was 25-years old. I was lucky enough to work with somebody who was an avid hunter and was able to tag along into a pecan grove hunting waterfowl and whitetails. That was the beginning of the end and since that time, my life revolved around hunting any critter I was able to pursue. Ultimately, it’s what led me to the Drahthaar. In 2015, I founded Deutsch Drahthaar kennel v.d. Überhütte, and my guiding light was to simply produce and train the best dogs possible for the dedicated sportsman.

Germany is the source of some of the world’s finest dogs, and I wanted nothing but the best. The Hegewald is the Drahthaar’s equivalent of the Olympics, with the best of the best gathering and testing together.

The foundation of my breeding program came from a dog with the highest performance score in the 2015 Hegewald. Since then, I’ve imported multiple winners of the event. It’s what separates me from a lot of breeders, I don’t buy mediocre dogs - I buy the best dogs in the world. Starting with a high-quality stock of dogs is just the beginning of the equation. It is important to create Midday quail hunt

breed dogs that complement each other and continue to push toward the goal of having truly exceptional versatile dogs. If I have a dog who is an absolute machine in the water but falls a little short of my expectations in another facet, such as blood tracking, then I will pair dogs to breed to address the shortfalls. Unfortunately, it isn’t always a cut and dry 1+1=2 scenario. With so many factors at play it looks more like \-x+sqrt1−x2\=sqrt2(2x2−1) with there never being the perfect answer, just something closer to it.

Because the breeding and testing aspect of the Drahthaar is so important to me and to the future of my kennel, I personally train and test a lot of the dogs while also stressing to my puppy buyers the importance of testing their dogs. Hours and hours are spent building and molding a young dog to become a true versatile dog, and it’s a challenge I absolutely relish.

There’s certainly no way I could do it alone and have been blessed to have many fantastic mentors. It’s because of so many people who helped me early on, that I now strive to be very involved with owners of the dogs I sell. I want them to be successful training their dogs, not only for their sake, but so I can see the potential of the dogs being produced. With 5-6 litters a year, I’m thrilled to say 80-90% of my puppy owners test their dogs, which is astounding!

Most of the people, myself included, enjoy the Drahthaar so much, because we love to hunt. At the end of the day, everything comes back to that point. All of the testing and training is to create a companion that is going to help you be more successful in the areas of field, forest and water.

I strive to be one of the biggest and best breeders in the world, and that requirement is what led me to start Wingchase & Co. I initially wanted a place to train dogs, but the dream grew from there. I don’t do many things in life half-hearted and hunting certainly isn’t one of them. Creating one of the best upland hunting destinations in the Houston area was my goal. The best flying quail, pheasants and chukar are brought in so your hunting experience is as close to wild birds as possible. The camp and grounds are a perfect place for you to enjoy a trip into the field and then settle in with good friends watching the sunset over the southeast Texas horizon.

I was able to bring everything full circle with Überhütte Drahthaars and Wingchase & Co. One of the greatest aspects of the Drahthaar community is the camaraderie you forge with countless people across the country. I am thankful to have many of these friends and their dogs guide for the operation. Every dog you’ll hunt over at Wingchase & Co. is one of the finest bred Deutsch Drahthaars in the world.

From generation to generation our dogs at v.d. Überhütte are bred for the love of the hunt that never ends. If this is the year that you are looking for a new hunting companion, v.d. Überhütte can help and guide you through the process. ★

Facebook: @uberhuttedrahts IG: @uberhuttedrahts 36 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Finishing the day strong

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 37

2022 HSCF CONVENTION

Exhibitors AAA Africa Serapa Safaris

American Forest Management

Bering Optics

Buffalo Kloof Hunting Safaris

www.serapasafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

americanforestmanagement.com Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending

beringoptics.com Optics

www.buffalokloofsafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 237

BOOTH: 548

BOOTH: 253

BOOTH: 845

Acute Angling

Argentina Puelo Expeditions

Beyond Horizon Safaris

Bush Africa Safaris

www.acuteangling.com Outfitter- South America

www.pueloexpeditions.com Outfitter- South America

Outfitter- Africa

www.bushafricasafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 825

BOOTH: 224

Africa Maximum Safaris

Art by L. Mower

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Artwork

BOOTH: 507

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African Elephant Hair Bracelets

Atascosa Wildlife Supply/Bushlan

safarijewelry.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

Awsblinds.com Wildlife Supply

BOOTH: 803

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Alaska Coastal Outfitters

ATP HUNT

alaskahunting.com Outfitter- North America

atphunt.com Outfitter- Europe

BOOTH: 231

BOOTH: 1024

Alaska Expedition Lodge

Avula Safaris

alaskaexpedition.com Outfitter- North America

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BOOTH: 538

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Alaska Fur Gallery

B&B Taxidermy

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Alaska Skookum Guides

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baranofjewelers.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

BOOTH: 207

Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge BOOTH: 201

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All Out Ranch Improvements, LLC- Texas Select Custom Builders BOOTH: 1100/1102

alloutranchimprovements.com Miscellaneous

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Barrange (Pty) Ltd T/A The Kalahari Sands Exclusive Safari Lodge BOOTH: 817

Big Easy Ranch BOOTH: 851

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Blaser Group BOOTH: 300

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Bolton Ranch Outfitters BOOTH: 202

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BoschNel Safaris BOOTH: 846

www.boschnelsafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

Boyds Gunstocks BOOTH: 637

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Braeside Safaris BOOTH: 1005

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Briley Mfg.

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Brush Country Studios/Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio

Bass Pro Shops / Cabela’s

www.brushcountrystudios.com Taxidermy

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Ambassadors of Conservation

Belkis Rojas

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Buccara Wildlife Reserve BOOTH: 902

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Buckbrush Outfitters BOOTH: 631

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38 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

BOOTH: 544

Bushmen Safaris BOOTH: 541

www.bushmensafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

Cabassa Safaris BOOTH: 732

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Candy Woolley Exotic Skin Handbags BOOTH: 650

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Cape to Cairo Safari BOOTH: 336

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Capital Farm Credit BOOTH: 615

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Capitol Ranch Real Estate, LLC BOOTH: 840

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Cazatur Spain & Europe BOOTH: 727

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Cedar Eaters of Texas BOOTH: 245

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Champion Ranch BOOTH: 315

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Chapungu-Kambako Safaris BOOTH: 600

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Cibolo Creek Ranch Resort BOOTH: 617

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Cindi & John RulonPRO CARGO BOOTH: 421

www.procargo.com Trophy Shipper

Epic Hunting Safaris South Africa BOOTH: 214

www.epichuntingsafari.com Outfitter- Africa

Exciting Outdoors BOOTH: 415

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Giuseppe Carrizosa- SPAIN

Horseshoe Creek Outfitters

www.giuseppecarrizosa.com Outfitter- Europe

www.horseshoecreekoutfitters.com Outfitter- North America

BOOTH: 621

Global Rescue

Hunt Trip Spain

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Conroe Taxidermy

Fausti Stefano SRL

GoWithBo Booking and Guide Service

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gowithbo-online.com Booking Agent

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Fedha Nyuki

Great European Hunts

huntingtrophy.com Trophy Shipper

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www.greateuropeanhunts.com Outfitter- Europe

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Hutchinson Rack Attack BOOTH: 933

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Coppersmith Global Logistics BOOTH: 904

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Intrepid Safaris BOOTH: 1000

www.intrepidsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

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Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail

Field Optics Research

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Cutco Cutlery

FORLOH

Gsell’s Whitetails

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Data Safaris

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Dave Freeburn Safaris BOOTH: 1035

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DEA Ranch

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Deko Safaris BOOTH: 125

www.dekosafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

Detail Company Adventures BOOTH: 425

detailcompany.com Booking Agent

DHM Traders

BOOTH: 945

Four Seasons Safaris New Zealand BOOTH: 824

www.fourseasons.co.nz Outfitter- New Zealand

Four Ws Outdoors non profit BOOTH: 100

Fourwsfishingteam@yahoo.com Association/Non-Profit

Freedom Hunters BOOTH: 746

www.freedomhunters.org Association/Non-Profit

Frontera Wingshooting BOOTH: 800

www.fronterawingshooting.com Outfitter- South America

www.ivysafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

J.B. Hill Boot & Kemosabe BOOTH: 500

www.jbhilltexas.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

BOOTH: 601

www.gunwerks.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

Johan Hermann Safaris

Hawkeye Hunting Club

BOOTH: 401

www.johanhermannsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 816

www.hawkeyehunting.com Outfitter- North America

John X Safaris

Hayden Outdoors

BOOTH: 638

www.johnxsafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 916

www.haydenoutdoors.com Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending

Joshua Creek Ranch

Hearthstone, Inc

BOOTH: 508

www.joshuacreek.com Outfitter- North America

BOOTH: 208

www.hearthstonehomes.com Miscellaneous

www.frosch.com Booking Agent

www.hendershots.net Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

BOOTH: 808

KANDO Gear BOOTH: 453

www.kandogear.com Miscellaneous

BOOTH: 1001

Keeper Ranch

BOOTH: 1006

FTW/SAAM

Herederos Hunting Co. - SPAIN

Dries Visser Safaris

www.ftwsaam.com Shooting Instruction

www.herederoshunting.com Outfitter- Europe

Outfitter- Africa BOOTH: 537

BOOTH: 715

BOOTH: 752

Game Trackers Africa

Heritage Safaris

Eastcape & Karoo Safaris

www.gametrackersafrica.com Outfitter- Africa

www.heritage-safaris.com Outfitter- Africa

www.hunteasterncape.com Outfitter- Africa

Getaway Lodge at Port Mansfield

Elizabeth Sass Fine Jewelry

www.getawaypm.com Outfitter- North America

www.driesvissersafaris.com Outfitter- Africa BOOTH: 632

BOOTH: 740

www.elizabethsassfinejewelry.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

BOOTH: 417

BOOTH: 749

BOOTH: 441

Higher Calling Wildlife BOOTH: 1016

www.highercallingwildlife.com Association/Non-Profit

www.iscope.com Hunting Gear BOOTH: 345

Gunwerks

Frosch

BOOTH: 444

Ivy Safaris

BOOTH: 325

Hendershot’s Sporting Goods, Inc.

iScope Optics LLC

BOOTH: 241

WWW.Keeperranch.com Outfitter- North America

King Ranch, Inc. BOOTH: 745

www.kingranchhunting.com Outfitter- North America

Kiowa Hunting Service BOOTH: 906

www.kiowahunting.com Outfitter- North America

Knives Ranch BOOTH: 1056

www.KnivesRanch.com Knives CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 39

Kou Kuas Adventure Safaris

McDonald Safaris

Outlaw Land Clearing

Roger Whittall Safaris

www.koukuasadventures.com Outfitter- Africa

www.mcdonaldsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

outlawlandclearingandfencing.com Miscellaneous

rogerwhittallsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 404

BOOTH: 744

BOOTH: 307

BOOTH: 438

Kuche Safaris

McDougall Lodge Alaska

Parker Guide Service

Rooibosbult Safaris

worldclassfishingandhunting.com Outfitter- Africa

www.mcdougalllodge.com Outfitter- North America

www.alaskaboathunts.com Outfitter- North America

rooibosbultsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 306

BOOTH: 218

BOOTH: 309

BOOTH: 103

Kwalata Safaris

MG Arms Inc.

Patriot Fiberglass MFG

Ruple Properties

www.kwalatasafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

www.mgarmsinc.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

patriotmfgtx.com Wildlife Supply

www.RupleProperties.com Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending

BOOTH: 853

BOOTH: 805

BOOTH: 251

BOOTH: 721

Laser Shot Inc.

Michel Mantheakis Safaris

Pointer Outfitters

Russ Field Safaris

www.lasershot.com Shooting Instruction

mm-safaris.co.tz/home Outfitter- Africa

pointeroutfitters.com Outfitter- South America

www.russfieldsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 1058

BOOTH: 550

BOOTH: 925

BOOTH: 753

Lategan Safaris

Midwest Custom Hunts

Powder Ridge Outfitters

Russell Moccasin Company

www.lategansafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

www.midwestcustomhunts.com Outfitter- North America

Powderridgeoutfitters.com Outfitter- North America

www.russellmoccasin.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

BOOTH: 1023

BOOTH: 605

BOOTH: 109

BOOTH: 801

Limcroma Safaris

Milton Lake Lodge

Purina Mills

Russell Selle Custom Hunts

www.limcroma.com Outfitter- Africa

miltonlakelodge.com Outfitter- North America

purinamills.com Wildlife Supply

www.rscustomhunts.com Booking Agent

BOOTH: 907

BOOTH: 303

BOOTH: 1008

BOOTH: 440

Link’s Wild Safaris

Moore Security

Quagga Safaris

Sabudawn Safaris

www.linkswildsafaris.com Booking Agent

mooresecuritysafes.com Gun Safes

www.quagga.co.za Outfitter- Africa

www.sabudawnsafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 353

BOOTH: 545

BOOTH: 737

BOOTH: 748

Lloyd Safaris

Motsomi Safaris

Queen Charlotte Lodge

Sadaka Safaris

www.lloyd-safaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

www.motsomi.com Outfitter- Africa

www.queencharlottelodge.com Outfitter- North America

www.sadakasafaris.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 203

BOOTH: 1014

BOOTH: 137

BOOTH: 730

Lonesome Coyote Ranch

Nahla Safaris

Recoil Gear

Safari Co Africa

Www.lonesomecoyoteranch.com Outfitter- North America

www.nahlasafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

recoilgear.us Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

safaricoafrica.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 639

BOOTH: 338

BOOTH: 402

BOOTH: 349

Lucid Optics

Ndloti Safari Adventures

RecordBuck Ranch

Safari International Macedonia

www.lucidoptics.com Optics

www.ndlotisafariadventures.com Outfitter- Africa

www.recordbuck.com Outfitter- North America

www.interhunts.com Outfitter- Europe

BOOTH: 232

BOOTH: 551

BOOTH: 609

BOOTH: 606

Lusco Outdoors LLC

Nighthawk Custom

Red Desert Rifles

Safari Specialists Group

luscoutdoors.com Outfitter- North America

www.nighthawkcustom.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

reddesertrifles.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

safari specialists group.com Booking Agent

BOOTH: 115

BOOTH: 645

BOOTH: 439

BOOTH: 502

Mashambanzou Safaris

NNNN Operations, LLC

Rhineland Cutlery

Sierra Brava Lodge LLC

www.mashambanzousafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

4NRanches.com Outfitter- North America

www.rhinelandcutlery.com Knives

www.sierrabrava.com Outfitter- South America

BOOTH: 215

BOOTH: 918

BOOTH: 841

BOOTH: 915

Max Lang Belts & Buckles

Norton and Hodges

Rhinoland Safaris

Silencer Central

maxlang.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

www.NortonandHodges.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

www.rhinolandsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

www.silencercentral.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

BOOTH: 704

BOOTH: 200

BOOTH: 747

BOOTH: 941

Maxine Bone LLC

Novagrade

Riton Optics

SilencerCo

Www.MaxineBone.com Artwork

www.novagrade.com Optics

ritonoptics.com Optics

www.silencerco.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

BOOTH: 647

BOOTH: 539

BOOTH: 339

BOOTH: 506

Mayo Oldiri Group

Outback Outfitters

River Plate Wingshooting

Sky Blu Hunting Adventures

www.mayoldiri.com Outfitter- Africa

www.outbackoutfittersnm.com Outfitter- North America

www.riverplateoutfitters.com Outfitter- South America

Booking Agent

BOOTH: 340

BOOTH: 1019

40 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

BOOTH: 445

BOOTH: 838

Somerby Safaris

Texan Knives

Trinity Oaks

Wanganui Safaris LTD

www.somerbysafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

Texanknives.com Knives

www.trinityoaks,org Association/Non-Profit

wsafaris.com Outfitter- New Zealand

BOOTH: 920

South Texas Tripods and Feeders Inc BOOTH: 901

southtexastripodsandfeeders.com Wildlife Supply

Spanish Ibex and Chamois BOOTH: 230

www.spanishibexandchamois.com Booking Agent

Spey Creek Trophy Hunting/ John W McBride BOOTH: 430

sctrophyhunting.com Outfitter- New Zealand

Spiral Horn Safaris BOOTH: 804

www.spiralhorn.co.za Outfitter- Africa

SportEar LLC BOOTH: 536

www.sportear.com and goaxil.com Miscellaneous

Sporting International Inc. BOOTH: 531

www.sportinginternational.com Booking Agent

Star S Ranch BOOTH: 501

www.star-s-ranch.com Outfitter- North America

Stealth Vision

BOOTH: 707

Tri-State Taxidermy

Wesley Silcox Outfitters Inc.

www.texasagrealty.com Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending

www.tri-statetaxidermy.com Taxidermy

wesleysilcoxoutfitters.com Outfitter- North America

BOOTH: 820

Texas Hunt Lodge BOOTH: 619

www.texashuntlodge.com Outfitter- North America

Texas Parks and Wildlife BOOTH: 114

tpwd.texas.gov Miscellaneous

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department BOOTH: 604

www.tpwd.texas.gov Association/Non-Profit

Trompettersfontein Safaris & Hunting Lodge BOOTH: 407

www.trompettersfonteinsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

www.whitepeaksranch.com Outfitter- North America

Trophy Ear

Whitetail Properties Real Estate

www.trophyear.com Hunting Gear

www.whitetailproperties.com Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending

BOOTH: 406

BOOTH: 806

Trophy Hunting Spain

Wilderness Quest New Zealand

www.TrophyHuntingSpain.com Outfitter- Europe

wildernessquestnz.com Outfitter- New Zealand

BOOTH: 814

BOOTH: 314

Trophy Shipper

whf-texas.org Association/Non-Profit

Third Coast Thermal BOOTH: 1032

www.thirdcoastthermal.com Optics

This is Africa/ This is Africa Five BOOTH: 337

www.tiafive.com Miscellaneous

Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris BOOTH: 914

www.tinashegroup.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 739

Suppressed Weapon Systems

Tom Dreyer Safaris

www.suppressedweaponsystems.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

www.tomdreyersafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 703

BOOTH: 330

Tropic Star Lodge BOOTH: 709

tropicstar.com Booking Agent

Tsala Hunting Safaris BOOTH: 607

www.tsalasafari.co.za Outfitter- Africa

Two Hats Ranch BOOTH: 837

twohats.com Outfitter- North America

U.S. LawShield BOOTH: 802

uslawshield.com Miscellaneous

Upfront Outfitters BOOTH: 905

www.upfrontoutfitters.com Outfitter- North America

Swamp Nasty Outfitters

TPWD Operation Game Thief

V.D. Uberhutte Deutsch Drahthaar

www.swampnastyoutfitters.com Outfitter- North America

tpwd.texas.gov/warden/connect/ogt Association/Non-Profit

Miscellaneous

BOOTH: 144

Tam Safaris

TRACT Optics

www.tamsafaris.com Outfitter- Africa

tractoptics.com Optics

BOOTH: 921

Tejas Custom Boots

Travel with Guns

www.tejascustomboots.com Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear

twg.travel Miscellaneous

BOOTH: 706

BOOTH: 1018

www.theglobalsportsman.com Booking Agent

stukels.com Outfitter- North America

BOOTH: 331

White Peaks Outfitters

Wildlife Habitat Federation

Tinashe Outfitters

BOOTH: 305

BOOTH: 437

Trophy Shippers

BOOTH: 221

Stukel’s Upland Adventures

BOOTH: 110

BOOTH: 301

The Global Sportsman

Optics

BOOTH: 815

BOOTH: 720

Texas Ag Realty, LLC

africatrophyhunting.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 127

BOOTH: 101

BOOTH: 206

BOOTH: 931

BOOTH: 819

Wildlife Partners, LLC BOOTH: 431

www.wildlifepartners.com Miscellaneous

Wildman Lake Lodge BOOTH: 518

www.wildmanlodge.com Outfitter- North America

Wingchase & Co. BOOTH: 1030

www.facebook.com/wingchaseandco Outfitter- North America

Woods & Water Taxidermy BOOTH: 917

www.woodsandwatertaxidermy.com Taxidermy

Xfactorwhitetails BOOTH: 636

xfactorwhitetails.com Outfitter- North America

Xtreme Whitetail Adventures BOOTH: 900

Outfitter- North America

Vanden Berg Custom

Zana Botes Safari

www.vandenbergcustom.com Firearms/ Firearms Accessories

www.zanabotessafari.com Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 818

BOOTH: 839

Venture North Outfitting

Zander Osmers Safaris

www.venturenorthoutfitting.com Outfitter- North America

www.osmers.co.za Outfitter- Africa

BOOTH: 351

BOOTH: 717

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 41

42 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

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A COLLEGE-PREP BOARDING SCHOOL FOR BOYS GRADES 7-12 IN HARLINGEN,

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 43

DAN L. DUNCAN

2021 Scholarship Recipients

44 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Brooke Bowman

Emily Card

Graduate Research Assistant for Borderlands Research Institute, Range & Wildlife Management

Graduate Research Assistant/Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management

Sul Ross State University

Sul Ross State University

Impacts of Oil & Gas Development on Scaled Quail Ecology in the Permian Basin, Texas

Impacts of woody plant removal on wintering grassland bird communities and habitat characteristics in the Trans-Pecos, Texas

My name is Brooke Bowman. I grew up in Baytown, TX, an industrial town on the Gulf Coast, where I witnessed firsthand the effects of energy development on coastal habitats. I realized I wanted to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. This is what led me to pursue an environmental science degree at The University of Texas, and what is driving me to continue my education in the Range & Wildlife Management master’s program at Sul Ross State University.

Land-use change in relation to energy development will likely become a large driving factor in biodiversity loss in the future as habitat is further fragmented by the increased energy demands of a growing world population. The Permian Basin region of Texas supports a large portion of the oil and gas industry in the United States and is expected to expand. However, the region still hosts a variety of wildlife, including the most economically and ecologically important species of quail in West Texas – the scaled quail (Callipepla squamata) – whose population has been in decline since the early 1960s.

Scaled quail range encompasses the entire Permian Basin, therefore it is important to seek out whether energy development in this region is influencing their decline. I plan to monitor two different sites: a developed area with active oil and gas projects on-site and a control area with no oil and gas production. In this study, I will investigate the following objectives: 1. Assess habitat selection of scaled quail during breeding and nonbreeding seasons in relation to oil and gas development.

2. Determine whether the annual survival of scaled quail is affected by oil and gas development.

My name is Emily Card and I am from St. Clair, Michigan. I grew up in a household where I was encouraged to explore the natural world, and I quickly cultivated a love for birds and conservation biology during my outdoor experiences. After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, I worked as a wildlife technician for a variety of state and federal agencies across the country.

Desert grasslands within the Chihuhuan Desert are important wintering grounds for grassland birds, one of the most threatened avian groups in North America. The encroachment of woody plants into these places degrade grassland habitat and contribute to the decline of these bird species. I have been conducting grassland bird and vegetation surveys on ranches in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas that contain plots treated with herbicide to remove woody plants and untreated plots. The primary objective of my project is to assess how these treatments influence the structure of wintering bird communities and habitat characteristics in West Texas. This information will help researchers and landowners determine if woody plant removal via herbicide treatment is an effective way to restore grassland ecosystems and grassland bird assemblages.

SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS Ann & Randy Fowler In Memory of Ralph Cunningham Legacy Ellen and Hank Bachmann Legacy Edwin E. Smith Legacy

Mitzy & Tony McCorvey Legacy

Connie and Stephen Coale Patron Sponsor

Mackenzie and Rudy Nix Patron Sponsor

Denise & Brian Welker Patron Sponsor

Cokinos Young - Craig Power Patron Sponsor

Pug & Ron Mostyn In Memory of Ralph Cunningham

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 45

Danielle Deming

Dustin Golembiewski

Megan Granger

Thesis Master of Science in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management

Graduate Research Assistant / M.S. in Range & Wildlife Management / Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

M.S. Student/ Range and Wildlife Management/ Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute

Texas Tech University

Texas A&M University- Kingsville

Texas A&M University - Kingsville Texas Tech University Canid Study in Twentynine Palms, CA Growing up in a city, my passion for wildlife began with books and wildlife TV shows. My imagination ran wild reading Jack London, while I was inspired by wildlife icons like Steve Irwin and Richard Perkins. After I received my Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation at the University of Florida, I immediately moved out to the Rocky Mountain West. I have been fortunate enough to work on a range of wildlife research projects, from gray wolves to elk to wolverines, as well as endangered species like the desert tortoise and woodpeckers.

Now, as a Master’s student under Dr. Warren Conway, my research is focused on canid genetics and dietary habits in the Mojave Desert.

This study is a collaboration with the Marine Corps Air to Ground Combat Center and aims to build a population estimation model for the local coyote and fox populations, as well as get a comprehensive analysis of seasonal diet. I am a passionate dog trainer and my detection dog Radar is part of my methods, exemplifying the efficient use of dogs in wildlife research. With this study, I hope to enhance DNA analysis with canid scat as well as provide management recommendations for MCAGCC.

46 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Ecological Restoration of Frac Ponds with Topsoil Management and Native Plants Natural resource extraction activities are on the rise throughout Texas. Topsoil disturbances that accompany these activities can be damaging to biodiversity. Prior to beginning oil and gas extraction, it is commonly recommended that topsoil stockpiles be created to aid in the re-establishment of plant communities at a site. Our study area, a retired fracking pond, was restored in 2017 with stock-piled topsoil collected prior to construction. We segregated the existing stockpile into 3 layers that were 1.5 meters in thickness and distributed these layers (along with an unamended control surface) in separate strips over the pond. Each of the 5 surfaces was split into subplots and seeded with a mixture of (1) 13 native grasses, (2) 13 native grasses plus an annual warm-season grass cover crop, or (3) non-seeded. This research aims to quantitatively assess the common recommendations of stockpiling topsoil and seeding native grasses at restoration sites in South Texas. We will not only determine if stockpiling is helpful for restoring native grasslands, but also if different portions of the stockpile are equally useful after sitting for 5 years.

Population Demographics of Nilgai in South Texas I am currently pursuing my master’s degree in Range and Wildlife Management at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. My research project is focused on studying the population demographics of nilgai in South Texas. Nilgai populations in this region continue to increase since their initial introduction in the 1920’s; however, there is still little known about this species. Therefore, my objectives are to determine a reliable field-based method for aging nilgai, determine the reproductive rates and capabilities of nilgai cows, and determine habitat characteristics of the landscapes where nilgai was observed. Based off cementum annuli aging, I was able to distinguish six age class categories that can be used to age nilgai cows in the field by assessing tooth eruptions and wear patterns. I was also able to determine that nilgai cows have exceptionally high pregnancy and twinning rates compared to that of similar species. Lastly, I determined that nilgai cows tend to be found in denser shrublands, while bulls are found in more open shrublands. The outcomes of this study will provide tools for managers that will aid in determining the age structures of nilgai populations and determine at what rate these populations are rising.

Angela Grogan

Christian Guajardo

Jake Hill

Graduate Student/ M.S. Wildlife, Aquatic and Wildland Sciences

Master of Science in Wildlife Ecology

Bachelor of Science in ForestWildlife Management

Texas Tech University

Texas State University

Stephen F. Austin State University

Genetic surveillance of exotic cervids and pronghorn for susceptibility to chronic wasting disease and validation of a novel biomarker for CWD testing

Regional and Landscape-scale Analysis of the Habitat Associations of the Mexican Wolf

Growing up in Durango, Colorado, I was able to experience the best mountain living had to offer with numerous opportunities for hiking, viewing wildlife and camping. For college, I chose to remain in Durango and attend Fort Lewis College, earning a B.S. in Biology in 2018. I moved to Texas thereafter to pursue my M.S. in Wildlife Biology at West Texas A&M University but transferred to Texas Tech University in 2020 to pursue my interest in chronic wasting disease and prion diseases.

My current research project focuses upon genetic susceptibility of pronghorn as well as a variety of exotic cervids and bovids to prion diseases including red deer, sika deer, fallow deer, blackbuck. I am assisting with the validation of a novel biomarker for testing of CWD in native cervids such as white-tailed deer and mule deer. Given the rise of chronic wasting disease in Texas, many of these exotics, as well as pronghorn, often utilize the same or similar habitat to our native, CWD-susceptible cervids, white-tailed deer and mule deer. My goal is to identify other susceptible species through sequencing of the prion protein gene, PRNP, to increase knowledge of prion diseases like CWD.

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, I obtained a B.S. in wildlife biology from Texas State University in 2017. Subsequently, I completed several wildlife-based internships across the southwest including Texas, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Currently, I am in my third semester as an M.S. student in the Wildlife Ecology program at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

My thesis will utilize archived lat/long data from GPS collared Mexican wolves to determine their habitat usage on a regional and landscape-scale. As a corollary, I will also attempt to quantify the relationship between Mexican wolf habitat use and forest canopy cover. The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) will be used as a guideline for habitat classes within known Mexican wolf occupancy areas. The results from my research may aid USFWS in the management of the Mexican wolf population in Arizona and New Mexico.

My name is Jake Hill, and I am currently a junior Forest-Wildlife Management Major at Stephen F. Austin State University. Growing up in the rural countryside of deep East Texas, I have always been an avid hunter, fisherman, and outdoorsman. The excitement of the hunt and the mystic, grandeur, and vastness of nature drew me close to the land and its natural resources, specifically to the wildlife. It was this early connection that fueled my desire to make a career as a wildlife biologist. I currently am employed as a wildlife/forestry technician for a private forestry consulting company but have worked for state wildlife departments, hunting NGO’s, as well as private ranches. I also worked this past summer for the Buffalo Kloof Private Game Reserve in South Africa as an Assistant to the Reserve Manager. My work also extends into the administrative, organizational, and political side of the wildlife field as well. Within The Wildlife Society, I served as the chair of several committees designed for the advancement of wildlife policy such as Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742), both at the state and national levels in addition to serving as the President of the SFASU Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Within my college department, I was also an active officer in other organizations focused on wildlife and forestry, namely Ducks Unlimited and the Association of Southern Forestry Clubs. In addition to these, I have been heavily involved in the Texas Youth Hunting Program and the Texas Brigades.

After completing my degree at SFA, I intend to pursue a Natural Resource Law Degree ( J.D.) at the University of Montana. Funds from this scholarship will greatly support me in my pursuit of higher education, as well as fulfilling my mission of conserving wildlife across the globe through sustainable use and management.

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 47

Ashley G. Hodge Graduate Research Assistant, Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management Texas A&M University - Kingsville Population Reduction of WhiteTailed Deer for the Management of Cattle Fever Ticks in South Texas I originally hail from Northern New York, where I obtained my bachelor’s degree from Paul Smith’s College in biology. I spent my senior year at Paul Smith’s conducting a pilot study using dogs as sentinels for Lyme disease in the Adirondacks. After graduating, I spent time in the pharmaceutical industry, but quickly left to get back to wildlife. In 2019, I moved to Florida as a necropsy technician for white-tailed deer, and in 2020 accepted a graduate position at Texas A&M University – Kingsville.

My current project is focusing on the spatial ecology of white-tailed deer and how their movements influence cattle fever tick abundance on the landscape. We are currently analyzing long-distance movements, border crossings, and home ranges with landscape metrics to determine what may be driving movement and high tick numbers. Finally, we are interested in how fine-scale genetic structure influences deer movement, this will allow us to breakdown social structures and understand population dynamics.

48 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Erin Catherine O’Connell Graduate Researcher at Borderlands Research Institute/ Master’s Candidate in NRM ‘22 Sul Ross State University Modeling Pronghorn Behavior and Space-Use in West Texas Born and raised in North Carolina, I developed a passion for science and hunting from spending summers outside at my grandparents’ farm in West Virginia. In May 2020, I graduated from Wofford College in South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in Biology. During undergrad, I spent two summers capturing and tracking bats throughout West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky, researching population estimates and modeling the spread of white-nose Syndrome. I am interested in disease ecology, quantitative ecology, and animal social behavior. I now have the privilege to study iconic pronghorn at the Rocker b Ranch in West Texas. My research involves pronghorn behavior and space-use. Specifically, I am modeling the acclimation period of translocated pronghorn after translocation has taken place.

Additionally, I am modeling how resident and translocated pronghorn select for habitat in an energy dominated landscape though time.

Zachary Pearson Graduate Research Assistant/ PhD. / Wildlife Sciences Texas A&M University - Kingsville Transitioning to State of the Art Technology for Estimating Northern Bobwhite Quail Density I am currently a PhD student at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Originally from La Vernia, Texas, my passion for wildlife conservation was fueled by time spent hunting and fishing with his family.

Accurate population estimates are key in developing effective management protocols.

For more than a decade, helicopter surveys have been the golden standard for quail surveys over large acreages. Currently, I am working to refine the methods used to collect and analyze aerial quail survey data, additionally, I am looking into the feasibility of using drones equipped with thermal cameras to detect bobwhite quail.

Advancements in drone technology have made them a useful tool in wildlife management and research. I plan to complete my PhD program in the Fall of 2022. Thank you to all the Houston Safari Club Foundation members for your support!

Willis Sontheimer

Logan Thomas

Daniel Wilcox

M.Sc. Student in Wildlife Ecology

Doctoral student in the Cook Wildlife Lab studying wildlife pathology

Graduate Research Assistant for Borderlands Research Institute; Major: Range & Wildlife Management

Texas State University Factors influencing scaling relationships of body and antler mass in white-tailed deer I grew up in Norman, Oklahoma, and obtained a B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Oklahoma. I am currently in my second year as a M.Sc. student in the Wildlife Ecology program at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

My thesis investigates the degree to which diet and maternal attributes influence the relationship between body size and antler size throughout the lifespan, and at specific ages, of male white-tailed deer. I will examine the following questions: does the antler growth rate decline with increasing body size? Do maternal attributes influence antler growth? Are maternal effects most apparent in younger-aged males and diminished in older-aged males? The results from this research will be useful to deer managers to determine how maternal and nutritional conditions affect antler size of mature males.

Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine I completed a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife, fisheries, and conservation biology at Kansas State University in 2018 and am currently a Doctoral student in the Cook Wildlife Lab studying wildlife pathology at Texas A&M University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. I have a background in wildlife habitat management for game and non-game species under local, state, and federal conservation agency positions.

My current research is focused on the disease ecology dynamics of Bighorn sheep and Aoudad sheep in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. My work has been instrumental in shaping the research and management of both species. Additionally, I am involved in tackling various wildlife health issues across the state and am always working to enhance the use of novel technologies to better describe the relationships between animal health and various aspects of their habitats. I aspire to be a wildlife health biologist focused on maintaining and enhancing research and management goals with state agencies and university teams.

Sul Ross State University Habitat Selection and Survival of Aoudad, Desert Bighorn Sheep, and Mule Deer My name is Daniel Wilcox. I have been hunting and fishing with my father for so long that my first experiences pre-date my earliest memories.

I have always been able to rely on the outdoors for not only recreation, but for therapy and guidance as well. Hunting is an incredibly important conservation tool and has several beneficial influences on our state’s wildlife – both directly and indirectly. I want to spend my career analyzing these contributions to our ecosystems, to promote a long-term assurance that this pastime will persist through generations. With this sentiment, I pursued an undergraduate degree in wildlife, sustainability, and ecosystem science from Tarleton State University and became heavily involved with The Wildlife Society. I am fortunate to have found myself under the impression of these two institutions, as they offered many opportunities to refine my interests and skillsets in the wildlife ecology domain. I developed an interest in the ecology of large mammals, particularly questions regarding the “how, when, and why” they select habitat. I graduated from Tarleton in June 2019 and accepted a graduate research assistantship with Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University the following August. Here, I am investigating similarities in habitat associations between aoudad, desert bighorn sheep, and mule deer in Texas. Encroaching aoudad populations across Texas threaten a deleterious impact on desert bighorn and mule deer populations. Niche overlap between the three species and available niche space of recipient communities will influence the intensity of such impacts. These processes are difficult to quantify, however, investigating habitat use and survival between aoudad, desert bighorn, and mule deer in a co-occupied community will shed light on native species’ response to this invader.

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 49

Moving the Needle How the Hunting and Fishing Community is Trying to Steer the “America the Beautiful” Initiative Toward Better Conservation

BY JEFF CRANE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION

B

y now, it is likely that you have at least heard of the “America the Beautiful” Initiative, President Biden’s plan to conserve thirty percent of our nation’s lands and waters by 2030 based on the global “Thirty by Thirty” Initiative. Following the release of the Administration’s “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful” report published in May, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and members of the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition shared a degree of cautious optimism. Much of this optimism was bred out of the Administration’s repeated calls for a stakeholder-led process that focused on conservation, rather than protection or preservation.

As you may recall, the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition is a group of sporting-conservation organizations that came together in response to some potentially threatening state legislation based on the global “Thirty by Thirty” Initiative. The Coalition’s goal is to raise awareness about the role of hunting and fishing in biodiversity conservation, while advocating for solutions that allow hunters and anglers to continue our proud conservation legacy. The primary mission of the Coalition is to ensure that the voices of America’s hunters and anglers are heard as conversations regarding this Initiative continue to gain traction at the state and federal level, including through the “America the Beautiful” initiative.

Following the release of the report in May, members of the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition circled up to discuss opportunities to engage the Administration in the next step of the process—the development of the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas. This Atlas will serve as a rolling inventory of lands and waters considered to be conserved for the purposes of this initiative. Working together, 55 organizations developed a set of detailed recommendations that were shared with the Biden Administration on October 13.

These recommendations sought to reframe the current conversations around biodiversity trends in the United States as a conservation challenge, rather than a crisis. This simple change of perspective allows the Administration to focus on pragmatic, long-term conservation solutions, rather than hurried overreactions that will do little to promote biodiversity across the nation.

Furthermore, by treating this as a conservation challenge, we can once again turn to key stakeholders, including state fish and wildlife management agencies, the sporting-conservation community, Native American tribes, and conservation-minded private landowners who have historically taken the lead in successfully addressing previous challenges that have threatened our fish, wildlife, 50 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

and natural resources.

Arguably, the most important objective of the Coalition’s recommendations was to clearly define the term conservation to reflect the “wise use” of our nation’s fish, wildlife, and natural resources, a concept that has been championed by sportsmen and women in the United States for more than a century. This definition was critical in setting the stage for the rest of the recommendations, which call on the Administration to collaborate with key stakeholders and recognize all existing efforts that contribute directly to biodiversity conservation and should be considered for inclusion in the Atlas.

A locally-led, stakeholder-driven process is critical to the success of any conservation effort, but which stakeholders have the knowledge and experience needed to be leaders? CSF and other signatories of the recommendations agreed that key stakeholders are those who have the greatest track record of success in conserving and managing the land to promote healthy fish and wildlife populations. You wouldn’t ask your barber to rotate your tires, so why would you turn to anyone other than those with decades of boots-on-the-ground success in sustainably managing our lands and waters?

First and foremost, the Administration absolutely needs to look toward state fish and wildlife management agencies, the entities charged with the primary management of our nation’s public trust fish and wildlife resources. If you’ve been following the news related to the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (another CSF priority), then you have probably heard of the State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) that each state agency is required to prepare. These SWAPs, which focus on species of greatest conservation need, are literally biodiversity roadmaps. Combining these roadmaps with the intimate local knowledge and experience possessed by state agency biologists across the country, there is arguably no stakeholder group more critical to the success of this Initiative. Similar arguments can be made for regional fish and wildlife management bodies, such as the Migratory Bird Joint Ventures and the Regional Fishery Management Councils, which are key stakeholders who are Congressionally authorized to achieve specific conservation objectives for migratory birds and marine fisheries that cross jurisdictional boundaries (e.g., state lines).

In addition to these management bodies, sportsmen and women—the original conservationists—must be a part of the conversation, as originally called for by the Administration in the America the Beautiful report. Given the historic support of sportsmen and women through the wildly successful American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), the “user pays—public benefit” structure that largely supports the efforts of state agencies across the country, coupled with the engagement of the sporting

conservation community through the many conservation organizations that operate around the country, it is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of maintaining the engagement and support of the sporting-conservation community as it relates to this effort.

Finally, and just as important, there are two groups who arguably have the greatest understanding of the lands that they manage. They are the more than 500 federally recognized Native American tribes and our nation’s millions of private landowners. Native American tribes have successfully managed the land for millennia and bring an intimate understanding that few others can hope to match. Likewise, private landowners, particularly in those states in which most land is privately owned, represent a demographic critical to the success of any conservation effort. While recognizing both of these groups, the recommendations echo a sentiment shared by most in the conservation community that any conservation programs or practices implemented on private lands should be voluntary and incentive based. Recognizing property rights of both Tribal governments and private landowners is critically important to maintain healthy working relationships.

After addressing the core groups who need to be a part of the discussion, the recommendations, as did the conversation, naturally shifted to what lands and waters should be counted toward the 30% objective in the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas. Our Coalition argues that current estimates, such as the claim that 12% of lands in the United States are currently “conserved,” fail to recognize the important conservation work currently implemented on various lands and waters. On the terrestrial CSF President & CEO, Jeff Crane, archery hunting for elk in the ‘quakies’ in Utah. side of things, this includes pointing to the various federal (U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, etc.), state (Wildlife Management Areas, Conservation Areas, Game Production Areas), and priIt should be noted that the submission of these recommendations vate lands (Properties enrolled in programs like the Conservation does not imply a blind support for the Initiative. Quite the contrary, Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, etc.) these recommendations follow the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition’s that are clearly contributing to biodiversity conservation but are previous community statement in providing a clear and direct set omitted from the 12% estimate. In fact, the U.S. Geological Survey of principles that members of the hunting and angling community states on their own website that many of these lands represented wish to see implemented as this Initiative moves forward. This is in the 12% estimate provide very little in terms of promoting bionot an ultimatum, but, without the inclusion of the principles, there diversity. Recognizing this, a wider net must be cast to ensure that is little preventing this Initiative from relying solely on the use of we are thoroughly recognizing the great work being done across the preservationist tactics that serve to fuel the concerns shared by the country. Similar arguments can be made on the aquatic side as well. many who already publicly oppose the Initiative.

While not all Forest Service, BLM, state, or even private lands While largely born out of a global initiative focused on preserare actively contributing to biodiversity conservation, those that vation, President Biden’s America the Beautiful Initiative presents are should be evaluated and included. Declining biodiversity is a an opportunity for those who have contributed to conservation problem, and we should be looking at every tool in the toolbox in the United States for more than a century to continue buildto reverse current trends. Hands off preservation, such as the creing upon our history of conservation successes. Doing so will not ation of new wilderness, roadless areas, national parks, and national only maintain our position as a global leader in conservation, but monuments can be valuable in certain extreme cases, but they it will highlight both the important role that our time-honored should not be the only tool that we use. That would be like trying traditions have played in supporting conservation efforts through to rebuild a car with a single screwdriver. Instead, we should carefinancial contributions via the ASCF and the sweat equity that fully evaluate conservation needs, relying largely on the knowledge sportsmen and women, Tribes, farmers, ranchers, forest landownand expertise of the stakeholders, and design efforts that will best ers, and others have invested to ensure that our ecosystems remain address the conservation challenge. healthy and productive for generations to come. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 51

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 53

Seasonal Selections Warm venison and mushroom salad

BY SCOTT LEYSATH

COLD IS A RELATIVE CONCEPT.

For those who live in warmer climates, anything below 60 degrees is “freezing.” For those of us who have chased high-altitude big game or South Dakota sub-zero temperature pheasants, we have a different take on what’s a little cold and what it feels like to have a frozen trigger finger. No matter where you hang your hat, eating harvested game before it gets lost in the deep recesses of your freezer is best. Frozen meat does not get better with age.

These are a few of my favorite recipes to enjoy during cold weather hunting seasons.

And as much as I like to enjoy game in the summer, I appreciate it, even more, when my meal comes from a recently harvested animal.

If your freezer is overflowing from a successful season, consider making a large batch of stew and share it with your friends and neighbors, especially those unfortunate folks who don’t have access to wild game.

WARM VENISON AND MUSHROOM SALAD

Mushrooms and venison are a great match, especially if you know your way around the woods and can forage, rather than shop, for local shrooms. High-dollar mushrooms such as morels and chanterelles can be gathered by the bucket in some parts of the country, but it’s critically important that you can tell the difference between the edibles and the Shrimp and corn chowder ones that will make you really sick. When in doubt, don’t eat them. I use trimmed venison backstrap, tenderloin, or hindquarter muscles for this dish. If you happen to have any other leftover antlered 2. For each serving, mound arugula on plates. Spoon mushroom game, it can be sliced and used for this recipe. and venison mixture over. Top with shaved cheese. Drizzle any remaining dressing over.

4 servings

• • • • • • • • •

1/3 cup olive oil 4 cups mushrooms, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 lemons, juice only 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 1/2 cups cooked rare to medium-rare venison, thinly sliced 4 handfuls arugula 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and garlic and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Mushrooms should still be a little firm. Stir in lemon juice, basil, Dijon mustard, and sliced cooked venison. Heat to warm, and blend ingredients.

SHRIMP AND CORN CHOWDER

My wife calls me a “chowderhead.” I love a good chowder. But then I realized that she was not using the term endearingly and that it actually means “bonehead” or “knucklehead,” which I’ve been known to be from time to time. Nonetheless, I still love a good chowder. I prefer to make this chowder with stock made from light-fleshed fish bones and heads. Making fish stock is quicker than meat-based stocks. Rinse heads and carcasses with cold water. Make sure to remove the gills as they can impart nasty flavors. Start with a stock pot and sauté a few handfuls of vegetables like celery, carrots, and onions in a little oil until the onions are translucent, but not browned. Deglaze the pan with a big splash of white wine. Add the fish parts, cover everything in the pot with cold water, and bring to a high simmer over low CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 55

heat. Do not bring the liquid to a boil or the stock will be cloudy. After 30 to 45 minutes, pour everything through a colander lined with cheesecloth or paper towels and drain into another pot. If you want a more concentrated flavor, simmer uncovered for another 30 minutes to reduce the liquid.

For a heartier soup, add 1 cup of diced potatoes before adding the shrimp and simmer until potatoes are done. Garnish with paprika, chopped parsley, and more bacon. Is there such a thing as too much bacon?

4 to 6 servings

• 6 strips bacon, diced • 1/2 cup onion finely diced • 2/3 cup bell pepper, any color, finely diced • 2-3 cloves garlic minced • 1 tsp Hi Mountain Italian Herb Seasoning • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika • 1-quart chicken, fish, or upland bird game stock • 2 cups corn kernels fresh or frozen • 3/4 cup whole milk • 2 cups large shrimp, peeled and deveined • salt and pepper to taste 1. Add bacon to a large pot over medium heat. Cook until evenly browned. Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent. Sprinkle flour over and cook for 5 minutes while stirring often until flour mixture is lightly browned.

2. Stir in chicken stock, a little at a time. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add shrimp and cook until shrimp turns pink, about 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

For a heartier chowder, add 1 cup of diced potatoes.

56 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Above, below: Feral pig sausage and cheese balls Left: Stacy Lyn Harris

Coffee rubbed goose

FERAL PIG SAUSAGE AND CHEESE BALLS

I’ve hosted The Sporting Chef TV show (Sportsman Channel) for over 20 years. The show includes a cast of contributors from a wide variety of culinary disciplines. Stacy Lyn Harris has been an integral part of the show for the past 8 seasons. Her recipes include her version of traditional and contemporary Southern cuisine. Our viewers love her so much, she’s taking over hosting duties from me when the show moves to Outdoor Channel in September 2022. Stacy Lyn has several informative cookbooks and her website (stacylynharris.com) is loaded with tips, videos, and recipes to help make your game taste great.

These sausage balls are a Southern staple at breakfast, holidays, and parties. The meatballs can be prepared ahead and frozen uncooked. To bake from frozen, thaw on a baking sheet for 15 minutes. Bake in preheated oven 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Her simple mustard and pepper jelly dipping sauce works on just about anything worth dipping.

Makes 15 to 18 meatballs

• • • • • •

2 pounds ground feral pig, preferably from a young sow 3 cups Original Bisquick™ mix 3 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 3/4 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves crushed

Dipping Sauce • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard • 1/2 cup red pepper jelly 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease bottom of half sheet pan. In a large bowl, add ground meat, Bisquick and mix well.

Shape mixture into 1-inch balls and place in pan.

2. To make dipping sauce, combine Dijon mustard and red pepper jelly and mix well.

3. Bake 20 minutes, or until brown. Remove sausage balls from the pan. Serve with dipping sauce.

COFFEE RUBBED GOOSE BREAST

It might seem a bit odd to add coffee grounds to your game rub. When used properly, the coffee adds an earthy flavor and aroma to the cooked meat. Try adding a tablespoon or two of coffee grounds to your own seasoning blend and rub it into any dark-fleshed game. The rub can be made with either used or fresh grounds.

Geese, especially those that are on the lower end of the edibility scale, are often thought of as mediocre, or worse, table fare. And while I must agree that specklebelly geese are much more dinner-friendly than an old honker, all geese can be turned into something delicious. Regardless of the species, legs and thighs are best cooked for several hours at low temperature in CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 57

Bear Stew meat

Big game stew

58 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

a covered pan for several hours. Note how they recede off the bone after 2 or 3 hours. This can be done well in advance, even a day or two ahead. While the seasoned breast fillets are cooking, add the cooked legs to the flame and heat to serving temperature. Your guests will freak out and want to know how you got them so tender.

I like to top the cooked goose with a slice or two of compound butter. Add garlic, rosemary, and cracked pepper to soften butter and blend well. Make a rectangle in the center of a piece of plastic wrap, roll it into a cylinder and tie off each end. Place into the fridge until firm.

4 servings

The Rub • 3 tablespoons ground coffee • 2 tablespoons brown sugar • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon onion powder • 1 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 1/2 teaspoon paprika

Bear meat is one of the few game animals that I do not serve medium-rare because of the danger of trichinosis. A rare bear steak is a bad idea, but there’s more danger lurking within that big old bear.

The Goose • 2 large Canada goose breast fillets • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil • 1 large onion, sliced into thick slices • 1 cup strong coffee • 3 tablespoons chilled butter cut into chunks 1. Combine rub ingredients and liberally coat goose breasts.

For added flavor, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for a few hours before cooking.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add goose and onion and brown evenly on both sides, but not past mediumrare. Remove goose from pan, keep warm and add coffee. Reduce liquid to 2 tablespoons, remove from heat and whisk in butter pieces until emulsified.

3. Slice goose across the grain, arrange on plates, top with onions, and drizzle sauce over. If desired, top with compound or plain butter slices.

BIG GAME STEW

the bear since it may have been mishandled. If you haven’t witnessed how much fat comes off a fall bear, picture a 2 to 3-inch layer of firm white fat, enough to fill a few 5-gallon buckets. If you do decide to render fat from any animal, cut it into chunks and place it into a large skillet over low heat. Add an inch or so of water and let it simmer for a couple of hours. The water will help draw out the fat and keep it from burning. Any bits of skin will turn into cracklings, and the fat can be strained into a jar and stored in the refrigerator for several months.

For stew building, cubed meat is well-browned before simmering in some form of stock or broth. Game meat isn’t quite as consistent as domestic meat. Lean, sinewy cuts can take an extra hour or two before they are tender. Stew recipes should be thought of as outlines, and I highly recommend not measuring anything.

While this concept might be difficult for precise-minded engineers to grasp, it’s easy enough to adjust the ingredients at the end and you’ll improve your skills as a home cook. Pair browned meat with seasonal vegetables, adding the sturdier vegetables like carrots, onions, and celery first, and add enough broth to cover the contents of the pot. Cover and simmer and take the dogs for a long walk. When you get back, it will be close to dinner time.

I made this stew with the cubed hindquarter of a 424-pound Minnesota black bear. Bear meat is one of the few game animals that I do not serve medium-rare because of the danger of trichinosis. A rare bear steak is a bad idea, but there’s more danger lurking within that big old bear. I was coaxed into sampling a bite or two of the cooked liver from the Minnesota bear.

Now, I’ve tried some funky critters, some good and others not so much, but the bear liver was awful. Adding insult to injury, I checked out the Minnesota DNR site after the hunt and there was a warning about toxic levels of B vitamins in bear livers and, therefore, they should not be eaten. Fortunately, I’m OK for now.

Many bear hunters swear that bear fat is great for baking, frying, and just about anything else that calls for rendered fat.

I’ve had great bear fat and rancid bear fat, but I didn’t render the rancid fat myself, so I’m not completely sure I can blame

8 to 10 servings

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

1-quart game meat, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 cans or bottles of flat beer 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1/3 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 quarts beef or game broth 6 garlic cloves, minced 1 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped 2 medium carrots, diced 2 stalks celery, diced 2 medium red potatoes, skin-on; diced into 1-inch cubes 1 14 1/2 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice 2 quarts beef or game broth

1. Combine beer with the next 3 ingredients in a glass or plastic bowl. Add meat, toss gently, cover, and refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours. Remove meat from marinade, reserve marinade. Drain well and pat meat dry with paper towels to help when browning.

2. Heat oil in a heavy-duty stockpot over medium-high heat.

Add meat and cook until browned evenly. Add enough broth to cover the meat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until meat is tender enough to break apart with moderate pressure. While simmering, check it often to make sure that there is enough broth to cover the meat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Add potatoes, reserved marinade, diced tomato, and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until meat falls apart with minimal pressure, about 30 to 45 minutes more. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 59

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60 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 61

The new Sheep Mountain training venue offers hunters the perfect location to learn advanced techniques to handle winds and angles at distance.

62 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Preparing

Shot of a for the

Lifetime THE PROBLEM: WE’VE ALL BEEN THERE. WE’VE MISSED—COMPLETELY MISSED. Some misses are easy enough to shake off, while others that involve a lost chance at a bull-of-a-lifetime or a bad hit on a game animal can haunt us for years. Idle times in the field can bring back memories of that elk, that sheep, that game animal of significance that you worked so hard for only to come home empty-handed and desperate to find some legitimate reason for missing.

Much like other stages of acceptance, there are various levels of reasoning to work through. Start with denial: “It wasn’t my fault, surely it was the equipment.”, “My scope must have gotten bumped in the field.”, “I had a flyer in my group once or twice and I bet this shot was like one of those, so it’s obviously the ammo.”, “The ballistic program must have given me bad dope.” The list goes on. Eventually, you may move on from denial to some anger or depression, depending on the amount of time, physical effort or money that went into the hunt.

Sometimes legitimate reasons can be found in the equipment. A loose scope mount, for example. More often than not, salt on the wound comes in the form of the rifle, optic, ammo, and ballistic equipment working perfectly when checked at the range. Finally, we may find acceptance. We missed. Now what?

Hunting equipment, from rifles to optics to electronic accessories, has come a long way in recent years. Most

of us have taken advantage of the benefits found in new technology and manufacturing and have very good shooting systems. We can research from the comfort of our homes or offices to find the best equipment money can buy. Improving our shooting ability and fully preparing for various positions, distances and angles requires getting out. Not just getting outside but getting out of our comfort zone.

THE SOLUTION:

Unless you’re upgrading from a slingshot to a modern rifle, formal shooting instruction can have more of a positive effect on your future hunts than any amount of new equipment can. If you’re willing to learn something new and possibly “un-learn” some bad habits, you’ll increase your shooting ability. By training, you will not only be better equipped to squeeze the trigger, but also enhance your ability to best use your support equipment.

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 63

Above: LRU training is available at both the Cody, WY headquarters and other unique locations like the Two Hats Ranch in Michigan (pictured).

Below: LRU offsite shooting instruction at the NRA Whittington Center in NM.

64 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

You will also increase awareness of your shooting environment and implement the best methods for getting ballistic data quickly while in the field.

Not long after Gunwerks started selling rifle systems, the need became clear: shooting instruction is essential.

ENTER LONG RANGE UNIVERSITY

an experienced shooter, we guarantee you will pick up valuable knowledge and techniques to improve your capability. You will learn how to utilize a ballistic program, how to “true” the program to your live fire results, and the basics of compensating for wind.

In addition, we provide an overview of the Gunwerks and Revic product lines to help you select the products that best suit your needs and hunting style.

“Taking a course can change the paradigm of what you believe you can do and what you believe your equipment can do.” - Aaron DEVELOPMENT COURSE Davidson, Gunwerks President & CEO In the spirit of progression, our 2-day Development Course Gunwerks has set up a series of courses from Level 1 to Level builds on the Foundation you learned. You will learn the more 3. The Level 1 will take students from equipment selection to technical aspects of long-range shooting such as spin drift, temmaintenance to external ballistics while bench shooting. It also perature, altitude, and coriolis effect. You will learn the science teaches how to calculate and validate trajectories. behind the ballistics, how to range effectively and accurately, and Once those steps are achieved, a Level 2 course focuses more how to read wind. You will learn the science behind a “cold bore on how to read the wind and compensate for it. Time will also shot”, which for a hunter is really the only shot that matters. You be spent in field position and advanced corrections to be made will learn how to build stable long range shooting positions in related to air density and elevation. the field, utilizing your hunting gear and what nature provides.

Level 3 courses focus even more on field work and less on the A large part of being an effective hunter is learning to perform classroom. Students shoot in challenging real-world settings where under stress and pressure in the moment of truth. We will introadditional factors are presented like vertical wind and long-distance duce you to stress inoculation drills to help you prepare for those high angle shooting. moments when all your dreams, the money “A structured training curriculum and you have spent, the time preparing, and the building foundational knowledge that you once-in-a-lifetime tag all come down to can add additional blocks of knowledge and one moment and one perfect shot.

“Taking a course can skills on top of will serve you well,” adds Aaron Davidson. “It will move you up the APPLICATION COURSE change the paradigm learning curve and put you in a position This 2-day course is designed for mounof what you believe where, when you go shooting, you have fun. tain hunters. The mountainous terrain is You’re actually learning and developing and unique in that shots are often taken at an you can do and what moving forward, rather than dealing with angle, and the mountainous terrain makes you believe your frustrating things like the gun’s performance wind very tricky. This is an “owners” class, equipment can do.” or maintenance issues or inconsistencies due meaning we encourage you to bring your to your shooting platform.” own rifle and ammunition. Rental rifles are —Aaron Davidson, Gunwerks Long Range University is headquaralways available if you prefer. You will learn President & CEO tered near Cody, Wyoming, with off-site how to calculate for inclination, read wind options also available around the counin an environment where there is rarely try. Nearly every week between June and mirage, build shooting positions, and put October offers some type of learning opportunity. Many students it all together in scenario-based field situations. We believe in take advantage of all the sites and tourist attractions near Cody using technology, however, we also realize that batteries die and before, during, and after their class. Yellowstone National Park, cold fingers and gloves are not compatible with touch screens. the Buffalo Bill Center of the West which includes the best colWe don’t want one dead battery to ruin a hunt, so we believe you lection of firearms in the U.S., area mountain ranges, fishing, and should always have backup techniques at the ready to function the nightly Cody Night Rodeo, just to name a few. without a wind meter, a ballistic program, or a laser rangefinder.

Local LRU classes are held at the Gunwerks private shooting In this class, we teach you these back-up techniques. facility that features a 4,500 square foot training building that sits on a 250-acre developed range with steel targets integrated into SHEEP MOUNTAIN the natural land contours. The classroom is air-conditioned and Expounding on the Level 3 Application course idea, Gunwerks only a dozen feet from covered indoor shooting stations. Each recently added the pristine Sheep Mountain training venue outside shooting station is fully kitted out with shooting, cleaning, and of Cody, Wyoming, overlooking the scenic Buffalo Bill Reservoir. observation equipment.

The goal of this course is to prepare hunters in real-world sceFurther breakdown of the Level 1 (Foundation), 2 narios for mountain hunting. This location provides opportunities (Development), and 3 (Application) courses come with the folto truly test one’s abilities with extended range, high-angle shots lowing descriptions: with mountain wind conditions. Where better to train for that sheep, mountain goat, ibex, or other high mountain game than FOUNDATION COURSE in the type of terrain in which they live and with the distances, In our 2-day Foundation Course, we focus on building your angles, and winds you’ll likely have to contend with. While there skills and knowledge base. You will learn about the long-range are plenty of flat spots to work with their equipment, the opporshooting system, the components, and the setup needed to be tunity to also shoot from various outcroppings, rocks, and tricky successful at long range. If you are a novice shooter, you will angles provides students to prepare more for their mountain hunts learn the basic foundations from which to build on. If you are than any normal shooting range.

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OFF-SITE TRAINING

In addition to on-site LRU shooting classes, various remote courses are offered each year in locales that offer a different environment or the convenience of a location closer to home for some students.

These include venues like the Two Hats Ranch in Michigan, Cameo Shooting Complex in Colorado, Highland Hills Ranch in Oregon, Ensign Ranch in Utah and more. Be sure to check out the Gunwerks website for more opportunities as they are added to the overall schedule.

Each class is different, and most condense Level 1 and 2 in a customized format. Below is an example of the 3-day training at the Two Hats Ranch class.

Day 1 • Long Range Equipment • Shooting fundamentals • 100 yard zero and shooting fundamentals • 800 yard data confirmation • Ballistic App Day 2 • Long Range External Ballistics • Long Range Wind • Cleaning demonstration • Shooting drills 300 - 1000 yards Day 3 • Internal and Terminal Ballistics • Laser Range finder • Field Shooting Positions Below: Sierra Langbell with Mountain Goat

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• Long Range Cold Bore shot • Unknown distance range drills • Field Shooting Position drills Whether the class is in Cody, Wyoming or one of the other beautiful off-site venues, the instruction is first rate and the information taught is constantly being reviewed and updated to incorporate the latest in equipment and ballistics software.

TRAIN AND HUNT

Throughout the year there are multiple opportunities for hunters to attend one-of-a-kind events that combine training and hunting. A longstanding yearly favorite is held in August near Raton, NM, and combines 2 days of shooting instruction at the NRA Whittington Center with 2 days of guided pronghorn hunting nearby for real world application of the skills learned in training.

Other events are held throughout the year that combine training and hunting in locales like Texas for aoudad, elk, and other game, and also South Africa for a variety of plains game. Each event is different, and some include a 1-day “refresher” course before the hunt while others have multiple day condensed courses.

Beyond specifically offering shooting instruction, Gunwerks has offered reloading classes that presented students with the knowledge and tools to hand load precision ammunition to go hand-in-hand with shooting drills. More specialty classes like this and other topics, like muzzleloaders are in the works. Be sure to check out the Gunwerks website as training classes and hunts are added throughout the year.

Above: Sierra Langbell with pronghorn

CASE IN POINT

Sierra Langbell (@sierra_langbell) drew one of only four nonresident Mountain Goat tags for a particularly tough unit in south-central Alaska. In addition to lots of physical training and gear preparation, she had a Gunwerks ClymR rifle configured and built to her specifications in 6.5 PRC. Finally, in preparation for the hunt, she attended a hunt-and-train LRU event in New Mexico where she was able to put the rifle through its paces, verify the external ballistics of her ammunition and practice various shooting positions and scenarios during two days of instruction.

Then, she and the rest of the class were able to put those skills to the test on a pronghorn hunt nearby.

A few weeks later, she was in Alaska on the adventure she’d been preparing for all year. After a float plane trip to the hunting area and an overnight in camp, Sierra and her hunting crew were treated to an unseasonably beautiful sunny, blue-sky day. A major storm was predicted for the following day, so, they promptly made use of the nice weather and hiked hard to set up and glass

in multiple locations. After finally spotting a good mountain goat and watching it work toward them, it finally bedded down at 580 yards. She had to wait over an hour before the billy stood up and offered her a shot. She was more than ready and quickly downed the animal she had invested so much preparation and training for over the course of many months.

“I worked with a trainer and nutritionist for over 100 days to prepare physically for this goat hunt.” Langbell added. “I prepared mentally by reading books and taking the Gunwerks LRU class.

Confidence is mental training. At the class I sighted in my rifle, and I was shooting 1550 yards before I even got through the 1st box of bullets. That was incredibly impressive to me. I have been behind a gun a lot, so I knew the basic mechanics and how to properly execute a shot, but I gained a level of confidence in my rifle I never knew existed. During the class we did an antelope hunt and my shot was 450 yards. The furthest I had shot an animal before that was 400 yards and a doe. Truly an impressive process from start to finish.” ★

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Male brown bear on the beach searching for sow.

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H

unting coastal brown bear in Alaska is the ultimate in North American big-game experiences. Some might say, no, it is sheep hunting or maybe elk, but there’s something extraordinary about having the opportunity to hunt these bears in some of the most magnificent and unforgiving terrain left in North America.

They are the kings, one of the largest land carnivores on the continent.

There are three key areas in Alaska to hunt brown bear. Kodiak Island, known for producing bears with some of the largest skulls; southeast Alaska’s ABC Islands, known for boat-based hunts and having the highest density of brown bears per square mile; and the Alaska Peninsula, known for producing some of the largest brown bears anywhere. Peninsula brown bears are closely managed for trophy quality, and seasons are rotated depending on the year. There’s a spring season (May 10-25) during even-numbered years and a fall season (October 7-21) during odd-numbered years. But when Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic in early 2020, the spring season was canceled and rescheduled for 2021. So these bears hadn’t been hunted, let alone had any human encounters, in nearly two years.

KINGS OF THE PENINSULA

BY TRAVIS BAKER, WORLDWIDE HUNTING CONSULTANT

The Peninsula extends nearly 500 miles southwest of mainland Alaska and separates the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay. It’s a tundra environment with countless salmon streams, alder-choked hillsides and volcanic peaks, some of which are still active. It truly is one of the last wild places left in North America and is home to a variety of wildlife from moose, caribou and brown bear to countless species of bird and marine life.

It’s a challenging hunt. You need to be in good physical condition to hunt here. But, more importantly, mentally prepared. You’ll spend long days on a hill glassing, especially during spring hunts, when there are 18plus hours of daylight. Like anywhere else, patience is key when hunting in Alaska. Just because it’s Alaska doesn’t mean there’s game everywhere.

There are a lot of bears, but a lot of places for bears to hide too. This is some of the biggest country most hunters will ever see. It’s amazing how much glassing you’ll do and still turn up nothing. Then, all of a sudden, there’s a bear!

Bears have a tremendous sense of smell, so it’s vital you play the wind CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 71

right, sit tight and not scent up the area. Everything needs to be perfect before you make that stalk. Also, be prepared for weather delays. The Peninsula sees some of the craziest weather anywhere, and if you can’t glass due to weather, you can’t hunt. Bring a book (or two!) and be prepared for a few days in the tent. Weather is just one of the reasons these are 10-day-plus hunts.

This would be my eighth time hunting Alaska and second attempt at a coastal brownie. I hunted the Peninsula back in the spring of 2008, but unsuccessfully. This hunt happened on short notice. I had two customers whose hunt was postponed from 2020 booked for this hunt, then a third spot opened up and I jumped all over the opportunity. To hunt brown bears, non-residents must go with a guide or next of kin who is an Alaskan resident, the same as for sheep and mountain goats.

Making it more intriguing, I’d be hunting in one of the few wildlife refuges on the Peninsula, along the Pacific side, where the outfitter has exclusive hunting rights for non-residents. This concession sets up perfectly for hunting these bears, spring or fall. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean inland for several miles

Long days spent glassing for bears.

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to high snow-covered mountains with countless miles of salmon streams in between. Spring hunts are typically spent glassing the snow fields up high as bears are just emerging from their dens, gradually moving down as boars seek sows as the mating season heightens. Fall hunts are spent focusing on one of the many rivers and streams where bears feed heavily on the protein-rich salmon prior to hibernation.

My travel to Alaska was uneventful; a direct flight to Anchorage followed by an overnight stay, then a quick onehour flight the next day to King Salmon, the jumping-off point for most hunts on the Peninsula. Luckily, we had good weather that day and were able to make the one-hour bush plane flight into base camp that evening. The base camp consisted of several tents with cots set up for hunters and guides, a dining tent, supply tent, and cook shack. While there’s plenty of good hunting around base camp, most of the hunting is done from smaller spike camps strategically placed throughout the hunting area.

Important pieces of equipment for a hunt like this consist of quality rainwear that can handle the harsh Alaskan elements.

Above: An aerial view of the rugged Alaska peninsula coastline.

Left: Bush planes are a necessity to access remote Alaska.

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Above:10’+ boar harvested on final day of season.

Below: Bears are typically found up high in the snow fields during Spring hunts.

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Tough rainwear like Helly Hansen or Grundens are preferred. Also, good-quality waterproof footwear, a pack of at least 5,500 cubic inches for carrying your personal gear, quality 10x (or higher) binoculars, and at a minimum a .338-caliber rifle with premium bullets that expand well. These bears are extremely tough animals with thick hides. You want to put them down as quickly as possible before they have a chance to run into the thick Alaskan brush. No one relishes the thought of tracking a wounded brown bear in that stuff.

My guide and I covered more than 80 miles on foot in 10 days to look over a large portion of the hunting area. We spent a few days in various spike camps, locating multiple bears each day, trying to find the right one. If you harvest a bear on the Peninsula you have to wait four years to hunt there again, so for me, it was go big or go home. In the spring, the majority of bears are found high in the snow fields, at times still hanging close to their dens. We saw sows with cubs, young boars, and mature boars—and we just needed one big boar in the right position for a stalk. In fact, we located A huge boar spotted at last light about a mile away. multiple 9’6”+ bears, including the same boar, in the same valley the first three days of the hunt. We just never caught him in the right spot.

Fast forward toward the end of the hunt. We located a large happening until 8 p.m. or later. The weather was beautiful and boar about two miles up the valley from where we’d been glassthe setting incredible. Perched high in these bluffs overlooking ing all day. It was the second to last day of the hunt. We’d picked the Pacific, it felt more like hunting in some tropical paradise apart this entire area and only turned up a small boar and a sow. rather than one of the harshest regions on the planet. I rememVery long day! It was already nearly 11 p.m. and we still had ber thinking back on the past 10-plus days and all the miles, all an hour hike back to our tents. I decided to do one more grid the bears (and other wildlife), plus stories back at camp. It was with my 15x binos, and just like that, a bear! A big boar too. already a successful hunt. Then, at about 7 p.m. I happened to Definitely a bear worth taking. But due to the wind, we were scan the ridge where we last saw the boar and sow. I could clearly forced to back out, hopeful we could relocate him the followsee a dark object with my naked eyes that wasn’t there a minute ing day. We’d been watching this particular ago. I threw up my binos and couldn’t believe ridge (that jutted into the ocean) off and on what I saw. It was the boar from this morning. throughout the hunt. It was four-plus miles He soon dropped to the beach and began away from our camp, but there seemed to be making his way in our direction. There was more activity that way each day. Plus, it was nowhere for him to go except right past us. where we thought that big bear we had just I lay prone on my pack at a very steep angle found may be headed. We knew we had a down toward the beach. I ranged some rocks full day ahead, so we woke early, grabbed a at 130 yards and waited. The bear covered the quick bite and cup of coffee and loaded our one mile rather quickly, and I’ll never forget packs for the morning hike. This area was watching him walk into my scope. The first located right along the coast, so most of the shot hit him square in the shoulder and spun hike was along the beach. There was already him around. I hit him a second and third time a spike camp in that area, so we could spend in the opposite shoulder. He quickly expired the night there if needed. Halfway there my right there on the beach, on the last day of guide located a bear about two miles in front of us, right on the the season. I couldn’t believe what had just happened. The outbeach. We needed to get a closer look. The wind was perfect. As fitter told me the first day that you earn a bear when you come we were closing the distance we caught sight of another bear to the Peninsula. I understood now what he meant. We hiked on the beach, a huge boar, who began to chase a sow up the hill down to the bear and snapped a few photos. The tide was risand over the ridge. It was late morning by now and we figured ing and we knew we had a few hours of skinning ahead of us. I they were going to bed up in the area for the day. took a quick measurement of his front pad; just over 9 inches.

We climbed up into the bluffs about 100 feet above the beach His teeth were worn down and he had long white claws; tellso we could get a better view of the area. The wind was in our tale signs of an old bear, a king. favor, and it was the perfect set up to intercept any bear coming To learn more about this hunt, and other worldwide huntdown the beach or in the hills to our north. We were confident ing and fishing trips, contact the staff at Worldwide Trophy this bear was going to come back to the beach in the evening.

Adventures. They can be reached at 1-800-346-8747 or visit We had a long day ahead of us as most evening activity wasn’t them at www.worldwidetrophyadventures.com ★

If you harvest a bear on the Peninsula you have to wait four years to hunt there again, so for me, it was go big or go home.

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MEM

BE

R

A TALK WITH CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO

JEFF CRANE

By Gayne C. Young

Jeff Crane is an avid outdoorsman and the President and CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF). I was lucky enough to speak to him about CSF, its mission, and his background.

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GAYNE C. YOUNG: The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation was founded in 1989. What was the original goal of the foundation and how did it come about?

JEFF CRANE: As you may be aware, there are lots

of caucuses in the United States Congress, over 400 caucuses, probably some of the more well-known ones is the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus. A couple of members of Congress realized that there was no Sportsman’s caucus. And those caucuses are loosely formed to just try to bring likeminded people together, and so a couple of members of Congress, bipartisan members got together and thought, it’d be a good idea to maybe get a Sportsman’s Caucus together…

How were we defining sportsman in 1989? Is that hunters hunting and...

Hunting, fishing, and shooting. When I talk sportsman, I’m not talking golf, or tennis. A sportsman is [involved in] outdoor pursuits, so we’re talking about hunting, fishing, recreational shooting, trapping.

These guys started this, I think smartly and shortly thereafter realized that even though they got dedicated

staff and whatnot, if there was going to be real communication back and forth from the community outside here [Washington DC], that we would need to have an entity set up to kind of be that link between the caucus and the Sportsmen’s Foundation was formed to serve that purpose. That’s where we initially got started, was to service this fledgling caucus in the United States Congress called the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, which in the subsequent 30 some years has grown into the largest, most active bipartisan caucus in the United States Congress with more than 220 members.

That’s nice to hear these days.

Yeah, it is.

We’ve got bipartisan leadership that rotates in both the House and the Senate, so we’ve got co-chairs in the House and the Senate and co-vice chairs, and we insist that it has a Republican and a Democrat in each one, and we try to look at these policy issues of conservation and frankly, the sportsmen’s issues as something that isn’t defined by a partisan label. We all agree conservation is a good thing and most Americans agree that the right to hunting or the ability to go out and hunt and fish is something that they support, and hence this caucus is very strong. In a highly partisan atmosphere in Washington,

Left: CSF President & CEO Jeff Crane on a Successful Turkey Hunt Below: Past and Current Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Members at CSF’s Annual Banquet & Auction

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DC, a bipartisan effort to support sportsmen’s policy issues is unique and something we are really proud of maintaining to achieve maximum success.

So, has the goal changed since 1989? I imagine it’s evolved somewhat.

It has evolved a lot. I joined the foundation in 2002, and one of the things that was in my mind was okay, we’ve got this big caucus in the United States Congress that is doing some pretty good stuff, and we’ve ramped it up considerably in the past 20 years or so in terms of how aggressively we’re getting out in front of stuff.

Realizing that a lot of the decisions that affect the average hunter and angler and recreational shooter takes place at the state level, because you bear in mind that yes, the Federal Government manages federal public lands, which are really big out West of the Mississippi River and in particular in the Rocky Mountains and beyond, but their other portfolios is really endangered species and migratory birds, and so that leaves the majority of our game species, which are managed at the state level.

We started pursuing an idea of, can we create these kinds of caucuses at the state level and held our first conference in 2002 where we brought some state legislators from various states around the country to try to see if there was going to be interest in a), creating a caucus in their own individual state and then b), building out a network of state caucuses that we would help to manage, and again, provide that information flow. It was formally launched at Lake Whitney, Texas in December of 2004 as a program that we manage here at CSF called the National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses…

Wait, I saw that only 49 states are involved.

Who’s the holdout?

Hawaii.

They’ve got a group of legislators that are essentially in an outdoor caucus in Hawaii and for whatever reason, it drives me crazy, because I hate the number 49 when we have 50 states, and it’s just that all I can chalk it up to is Hawaii thing. I really want to get that 50th state.

Then taking this a step further, as we looked at it, we were like, okay, we’ve got the legislative side at the federal and state level done, and we work with the Administration also here in Washington, DC, and most closely with Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture. We realize the governors have a big role in this, one, they get to veto or sign legislation, to appoint their wildlife commissions and their directors of the game agencies and things like that. We again set out with an idea of creating a bipartisan Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus and launched that in 2009 and currently have 30 of the sitting 50 governors that are in that bipartisan caucus. And again…

Like I said, I’m in Texas, so I have to ask, are we on board?

Oh yeah, absolutely. Okay. You have a legislative sportsmen’s caucus in Texas and your governor is involved. Yeah.

A lot of your delegation in Washington are members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus.

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Good. What would you say are some of the Foundation’s biggest wins?

Most recently, I would say last year, the Great American Outdoors Act was a huge win. That was a lot of money to deferred maintenance on federal public lands, and the original iteration of that was going to be just the national parks, which are great, but you and I both know, they’re not super friendly to hunting and even fishing. We went to some allies in the US Senate and talked to them and said, look, you’re leaving out the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service and the Refuge System.

That’s where a lot of federal public land recreational activity for hunters and anglers takes place. Why are you doing this and is there a way to expand the bill to include these other federal lands? I got to admit to my surprise, they went big and added an extra three and a half billion dollars onto the bill to include the deferred maintenance and access to these federal lands. The Great American Outdoors Act went from a park service deferred maintenance to a federal public lands deferred maintenance. At CSF, we were really quarterbacking that whole effort to do that.

I was at the White House last summer when President Trump signed it into law, and that was a really big win.

Now the challenge is to make sure that the projects that the Administration, the new Administration is identifying as their priorities for this money, include things that are important to the sportsmen’s community. The devil comes in the details on the backside of this. It’s great that Congress and the previous administration signed it into law, but now let’s see it hit the ground in a manner that actually benefits access for hunters and anglers and things that we use like trails, trail heads, parking areas for trail heads to hunt on federal public lands and fish on federal public lands, boat ramps, access, things like that. That was a giant win in the last Congress again, which is more important because not only was it a divided Congress where the House was controlled by the Democrats and the Republicans controlled the Senate, but it was a presidential election year.

To get consensus on these things in the midst of all of that, demonstrates that if you really apply yourself and be creative and talk about conservation, there are opportunities there to find that sweet spot and get things done.

Then the other one last Congress also passed after The Great American Outdoors Act was called the American Conservation Enhancement Act.

That’s great. I want to get back to bipartisanship. Again, so much of the news today is how the two parties are not working together. How do you get them to work together?

I think it starts immediately with the fact that we have bipartisan leadership in the House and the Senate. Then we meet with those leaders to set at the beginning of each session of Congress and set priorities out, and then we obviously have to go to the committees of jurisdiction and by having the largest bipartisan caucus in the United States Congress, there’s a good chance that some leaders

CSF President & CEO Jeff Crane Testifying before Congress

in our key committees are going to be a member of the caucus, oftentimes, the chair and the ranking member and many members on the committee, so we start to make that appeal. We use the network of the American Wildlife Conservation partners of which Houston Safari Club’s a member and Joe sits on the steering committee, to create a policy priority list that the community wants.

We, in turn, boil it down into a legislative strategy, o and then we use that bipartisan caucus to adopt it and try to enact in the Congress. Again, I think by leading with conservation, oftentimes you can get a lot of support for it, and say, okay, hunters and anglers are America’s first conservationists, and we still foot the bill for conservation through Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson taxes and our license fees. We care a heck of a lot about the wildlife and the fish and the habitat out there. We do hunt and fish, but we’re ultimately about conservation because without conservation and habitat, there’s no wildlife and there’s no fish, and then our pursuits are really severely impacted by that.

I would think another issue, other than the bipartisanship, is that hunting and fishing is such an emotional issue for some people. And some people are really like, “I don’t like this,

and no matter what you say is not going to change that.”

We get that and there are people in the United States Congress that we are never going to persuade, and that’s just a reality. They have a hard time voting for something that is really driven by conservation, like tying this Great American Outdoors Act to deferred maintenance, back logs, and things starting with the parks are, that’s still got the biggest share of that money. Our ability to work, to include the other lands, some of these folks may not even know what the Bureau of Land Management and the forest service really means and have no idea that there’s all kinds of recreational opportunities on those lands that we as American taxpayers and we as Americans, we own that land.

What would you say is the average hunter’s or angler’s concern at this point in 2021?

In my personal opinion, it falls on two things – hunting and access. When you’re talking about hunting, it falls on guns and not withstanding things that are going on at the NRA where we have a very strong Second Amendment lobbyist. Secondly, it falls on stuff that immediately impacts me, like they’re closing off access, or they’re shutting down a unit that I used to hunt in, CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 81

Attendees enjoying some time at CSF’s Congressional Clays Competition. Photo by Pearcey Proper.

or we’re not seeing the deer that we used to see in an area that is my favorite hunting area. Unfortunately, too many folks don’t look at the big picture, and I think that’s where we come in because making policy is a little bit like sausage making, most people don’t really want to know all about the detail of it.

They just want to know that at the end of the process, there’s going to be something they can throw on the barbecue and eat, you know? It’s about relationship building.

We’ve been here for over 30 years, and I’ve been here personally for 20 years. I think we built a reputation of being honest brokers. We inform our members on what we think is important to our constituency, which are all the people that hunt and fish and why it’s important and why it’s a good idea to do this, because there’s huge economic drivers in what we do It’s good to have that information when we’re talking about our work and remind them that a lot of the mom and pop stores and little rural America rely on tourism dollars and hunting and fishing are really important.

From the gas station, to the motel, to the convenience store, to the bait and tackle stores, they all generate revenue and taxes and employ people and all of that adds up in the big picture of things, I think, again, it’s being known and having those relationships. We don’t always get unanimous agreement on things and we get into some pretty heated arguments sometimes with people that I know are my friends, but at the same time, our position is something that we stick hard to our guns on and say, 82 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

we’re not going to support something that we know is not in the best interest of conservation and hunting and fishing. We’re just not going to go there.

The average hunter or fisherman decides to make a donation to the Sportsmen’s Foundation, what will that money be used for?

Policy. All we do is policy. There are some great on the ground programs that lots of the other critter groups out there including Houston Safari Club do, that we don’t.

There are great partners of ours that do programs like youth hunts and specialize in areas like women in the outdoors. We work on the policy that supports those types of initiatives. Our role is to protect and promote anything that is going to be supportive of hunting, fishing, shooting, trapping, and if you support us, that’s what you’re getting. You’re getting the smartest people that are most well connected that are well known. I’ve got biologists, fisheries biologists, wildlife biologists, foresters, lawyers on our staff, so you’re basically paying for the expertise for us to advocate for you guys out there as Joe or Mary Hunter.

I can’t underscore how important that state component of it is. Everybody is drawn to Washington because that’s what it’s in the national news. That’s kind of the major leagues on stuff, but what happens in the states is really more likely to impact you as the average hunter and angler and where I personally want to go hunt and fish in my own area there, it’s what’s going on at the state

level, and we’ve got 10 full-time employees scattered from California to New England, to the Southeast and in between to try to cover all the states and make sure that we’re advancing things effectively at the state level.

Ever since I’ve been hunting and fishing and going to conventions and as a writer, it seems like every year, people say, “This is it. Hunting’s going to be over. This is it. This administration’s going to take your guns. This administration’s going to take your hunting rights,” and yet the world keeps spinning. Do you think we’re facing any serious issues like that right now?

I do, and by nature, I’m an optimistic person. and I figure that if you tell the story well, you are going to prevail, and I know if I don’t feel like that then suddenly, I’m not going to be able to hunt. I say that though, and you may be familiar with this, but there is a ballot initiative that they’re still collecting signatures on in Oregon, that’ll be on the ballot in the fall 2022 elections that would outlaw hunting and fishing in the state of Oregon.

That is extremely alarming, you know? We are working closely with a lot of the Oregon groups and a lot of the national groups to build a campaign strategy because we can’t just win that, which I think we will win, but I think that we’ve got to win that with an overwhelming majority that says, hell no to that ballot proposal. Otherwise, that just emboldens the other side to come out there and say, okay, well we almost got it done in Oregon, we’re going to try next in California or Washington or whatever it might be, you know?

I think social media is probably one of the worst things that’s ever happened to not the world, but certainly to hunting and fishing. I say this because you used to have some nut down in his basement with a printing press, and he is like, I’m going to print this and I’m going to pass them out and he didn’t really reach that many people. But now, anybody can post any nutty thing online, and people believe it and it reaches the world.

Right. Nobody bothers to fact check anything.

Depending on who picks it up, we can all just blast whatever we want out there. I couldn’t agree with you more. All of these things are not helpful to basically a heritage that is, yeah, we use our phones with On-X and some really cool applications that we use, but when you’re really hunting or fishing, you’re not looking at your phone, you’re concentrating on what you’re doing, you’re interacting with nature, and that is so far removed from that guy in his basement. That becomes a longerterm challenge, and I think reinforces how important it is to have these caucuses and to have an organization like CSF working with these policymakers.

First thing, when somebody comes on board on the policy side of our office and gets hired here, the first thing I tell them is read the bill. If you don’t read the bill, then you’re going to be a victim of whatever spin somebody else puts out there and wants to put on it.

My staff is well informed on what we’re talking about and understands the policy well enough to know what it’s going to do and what it’s not going to do. It is our job to inform the members of our Caucuses, on the impacts a bill may have to their constituency and if we, as the staff do not understand what we are speaking to, then our credibility goes down the tubes and you can’t have that.

Who first brought you into the outdoors? Was it a parent? Was it…

My dad.

Yeah, my dad. Yeah. So, I got to go along as a little kid and I was fortunate that I had a father that enjoyed the outdoors and brought me into it. I immediately found a huge passion for it. When the opportunity came to join the Sportsmen’s Foundation and take something that I deeply care about with my background and working in the political world, it was like a match.

You couldn’t write a better match for me.

And you’ve been involved for over 20 years, you said. Where did you grow up?

I grew up as a little kid overseas when my dad worked for the US Government, but essentially grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, right outside of Washington. I went all the way through high school here and came back after going away to college for four years and came back and worked in the US Congress for five years as a legislative guy. That connection to Washington and politics has been there since I was a kid. As I say, I’m just fortunate my dad was from upstate New York originally.

There is quite a bit to do here in the DC area. We hunt and fish around here. I keep a boat and fish for stripers on the Chesapeake Bay in the summertime. As I said, I’m going to be in my deer stand over on the Eastern shore of Maryland on Saturday.

What do you want to leave us with? The fight is still there, but it can be won…

We’re actually winning it, you know? In my mind, I think we’ve made huge progress on things at the federal level, the whole effort on the families appeal at the state level to create apprentice hunting licenses, and give people a try before you buy opportunity to try hunting before you take the whole hunter safety course. There’s close to 3 million of those licenses that have been sold across the United States in the last 10 or so years since we were working on that program, so that’s potentially 3 million new members to join the fraternity.

I think there’s a lot of positive things to be there, but it’s a case where you got to stay on top of it, you have to be diligent, and you have to be in the game all the time or otherwise bad things can happen and will happen. That’s what we exist for. Our partners like Houston Safari Club, we love what Joe and Houston Safari Club does for all its members. Our partnership is to try to be the eyes and ears for inside of the political circles, and we listen to them and a lot of the other groups when problems are coming up, because we can’t be in all places. That’s where the strength of the partnership comes from. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 83

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5

The Big In the 21st Century

By Gary E. Ellison,

Past President, HSCF Life Member

This 41" Cape Buffalo taken West of Kruger National Park at 8 yards, was way too close for a top 10, 2,000 lb. dangerous animal. The arrow passed through and was lost.

86 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

I HAD DREAMED OF HUNTING AFRICA SINCE CHILDHOOD, but thought the Big 5 was not attainable. The Big 5 for me was an accomplishment of skill over the baddest beasts in the jungle. I was fortunate to hunt the dangerous game of Africa successfully, and without injury, but I made it happen.

Sometimes you have to say “yes” and go. Before it is too late.

�1. THE BUFFALO In 2005, I went to hunt Buffalo with my son, Will, on our first dangerous game hunt. This was my second trip to Africa. I bought a buffalo/leopard hunt in the auction on a KKM Safaris concession in southern Zimbabwe. The country was in economic and political turmoil. Food, fuel, money and common sense were in desperate short supply. Dire travel warnings abounded. Currency restrictions had criminal consequences. Inflation was rampant.

I was quite anxious for my life at each military checkpoint. The ominous reports of murdered white farmers and stolen lands were true, but under-reported. But Zimbabwe has a wealth of wildlife, and I want to go where the game is. The charter flight that picked us up at Victoria Falls -- could not buy gas there, as there was no gas to buy. We left on half a tank and flew to Bulawayo, hoping to find gas. There was none available for sale there either. The pilot located a stashed 42-gallon drum of private gas that we rolled to the plane, hand-cranked into the wings, hid the unused balance and took off, knowing we could make it to the hunting camp and out. We focused first on the leopard, which Will took on the second night—a different story.

During the day, we searched for my buffalo. It was the classic spot-and-stalk tracking of a Dagga Boy—an old bull pushed out of the herd. We were instructed that on dangerous game you shoot until they are down. After several non starts and blank water holes, on the fourth day, we picked up the tracks of two bulls, following them for half a day. We closed in to sixty (60) yards, and my solid first shot, a 220-grain solid from my 375, smacked home in the boiler room. He took off, and we gave chase until he stopped. The second shot was a soft point, and it slammed home. He ran again, but not far. The third shot, another soft point, put him down. All three were fatally placed, but those buffalos can take a lot of lead. His 16” bosses were big, hard and gnarly; and he made the record book. My first of the Big 5.

�2. THE LION. 2007 South Africa. My son, Will, had been negotiating with Peter and Irvin Tam of Tam Safaris in the East Cape about darting rhinos. Peter Tam was probably the best darting rhino PH at the time and was an early proponent of this green hunt. The Tams were premier lion PH’s. They vetted our bow skills before committing. This discussion evolved until a commitment for rhinos

and lions was made for 2008. Rumors of South Africa closing lion hunting to bow hunting motivated us to move our hunt up to 2007. Friends in the industry had advised us to hunt lion while we could before it closed. Good advice. With the schedule change, our hunting days were limited.

So, we requested prebaiting to help us locate the quarry. On our first day, at least two baits were hit, and we split up. As I am working my way to my hide, we spotted a huge male lion that created both excitement and caused me to question my decision to use bow and arrow for the king of the jungle. The lion spotted us and slipped off into the bush. He was not afraid. I was. We went on to the blind, which was plastic camouflage draped over a skeleton pole for a hide with two oblong windows in front to shoot out of, with chairs. A zebra hind quarter bait was tied to a tree approximately twenty yards in front of the blind. The blind was concealment, not protection, and I guestimated the lion could reach me in half a second, if he tried. Peter’s 416 Ruger was backup. We sat anxiously and alertly until evening, with no activity. The trackers brought the truck in, picked us up, and we drove to find Will, who was in an elevated tree blind miles away. Having spotted the lion on the way to my blind, I knew we were in for action. At supper, we discussed the plan for the morning. Irvin said if the lion doesn’t feed all night, it should be back in the morning. Not wanting to chance the lion’s feeding at night, I insisted that we go back and take down the bait.

This met with some resistance, as no one wanted to go out in the dark; but, we did, and we returned the bait to camp. I slept very little that night and was up at 4:00 a.m. taking my warmup shots by flashlight. We ate a hearty breakfast and headed out hours before sunup and were driven to my spot. We slipped in quietly as the trackers rehung the bait, and the truck drove off.

We set up in the dark, awaiting daylight with great anticipation, and high alert. Nothing came in the dark. Dawn came, but no lion. Daylight came, and no cat. By 8:30, I was questioning my decision to take down the bait; but I knew of too many stories where the lions fed at night but disappeared before shooting light. The wait ended at 9:05, when the huge male lion returned, cautiously smelling; and it seems like he looked right at me in the blind. I stayed as still as possible. And, when he crouched down, pulling at the bait, I released the first arrow behind his right shoulder. He leapt and growled and crashed in the bushes to his left, then pivoted toward the creek bed he had come from.

“Hit him again, anywhere,” said Peter. As the lion crossed an CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 87

opening in the bushes, the second arrow hit mid-lungs at 35 yards. It all happened in seconds. He roared again and ran to the creek bed, then circled a bush and came back at us with low, guttural growls of anger and injury. He coughed and growled. We could see him lie down and heard his death rattle. “He’s down,” Peter said, “well done.” Very cautiously, we left the blind and approached the lion with Peter and his .416 at my side. Halfway there, the radio sounded, “We’ve got a lion on bait. Get Gary!

We’re sending in the truck,” Irvin said. “Gary’s lion is down,” Peter replied. “Get Will! Get Will!” Irvin responded. We continued the approach to my lion which had expired. Chills raised across my body as I surveyed the beast. A muffled celebration began. I retrieved the second arrow that had passed through; the first arrow had broken. We took pictures until the truck arrived. We left one tracker to guard my lion, piled in the truck and drove several miles to the other location a game scout reported a lion on bait. Will and Peter stalked into the blind area where a tree was shaking, and Will dispatched his lion, feasting on zebra, with two arrows. The video is outstanding.

As any good hunter does, I sometimes daydream about my adventures; and I always recall that my son and I both took African lions by bow and arrow on the same day in South Africa within an hour of each other, and I smile. Both lions were old, record-book specimens. My lion was a new SCI record by bow and arrow, and top ten all methods. I still try to convince myself

that you don’t have to be crazy to hunt lions with a bow and arrow; … but it helps!

�3. THE RHINO After our very successful lion hunt, we packed up and drove from the lion camp to a more open area near the Tam main camp to chase rhinoceros. Peter had arranged for a syringe to be affixed to an arrow with a 30-lb. draw bow. A mindset change was required. We would dart the rhinos with a tranquilizer; hence, a green hunt. Arrow placement is for muscle, not vitals. We practiced with the bow and arrow on a target out to 30 yards.

It didn’t take long to sight it in. We packed food and drink, coordinated with the chase truck and one horseman, and headed out in search of rhinos. One mid-afternoon, a pair was spotted, and we began our stalk on foot. Will had first draw. In the dry, semi-arid climate, the ground crunched with each step. The approach was slow, but steady, and utilizing the natural cover of the bushes, Will got within 25 yards before he released his darted arrow into the front shoulder/neck. The aim was true, and the dart lodged in the muscle, causing the rhino to bolt. Fortunately, he headed in the opposite direction. We returned to the trucks and gave chase some distance before the sedative took its effect.

When the 6,000-lb. beast wobbled to fall, its rear legs buckled; and he basically sat down. The photographs were spectacular. The

This South African lion measured 27 7/16 SCI, taken in 2007 and ranked No. 1 with a bow at the time. It was estimated to weigh 550 pounds.

88 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

This RSA White Rhino was darted, which only tranquilized him. He recovered and ran back into the bush.

trackers had covered its eyes to protect it from the sun. When the photo ops were over, a reversal drug was administered, water was splashed all over the animal to revive him, and we ran like hell to watch from a safe distance. The rhino did recover and staggered off into the bush to live another day.

Now, it was my turn to go after the “little brother,” a 5,000-plus-lb. beast. The second rhino had fled to an extensive creek bed, and it holed up in the thickest spot he could find.

Every step in was difficult. Every bush had thorns, and the ground had cactus and stickers. Peter and I were on our hands and knees, trying to crawl into position, hoping he does not charge. I had on leather gloves and knee pads, which I always use when tracking and stalking—a lesson I learned the hard way from thorns in Argentina. It wasn’t long before we had moved within 30 yards of this gray ghost in the bushes. I maneuvered my way for a clear lane to the rhino’s rump. The dart hit true in the rump, and the rhino crashed through the bushes like a tank. He ran out of the creek bottom and up onto the savannah flat and headed west. We scrambled to the trucks, loaded up and gave chase. We came upon him in less than a mile. He was staggering like it was last call at the bar. He went down on his side. We approached carefully, shielded his eyes from the sun with a blanket and tried to figure out if we could roll him on his stomach for pictures and to display his horns. It took six men to right him—four of them remained in position, hidden during the pictures. The rhino was administered a reversal drug, splashed with water, and we retreated a safe distance to watch him recover. He did come to, was very wobbly, but he staggered off into the bush, not certain what had happened or why. Both

rhinos were record-book quality, and Will’s rhino was the largest darted on record.

During the dinner celebration that evening, Irvin confided in me that the rhinos have sex organs in their feet. What? I was skeptical…… but I was not from Africa and not familiar with rhinos. “Sex organs in their feet? I didn’t know that. Are you sure?”

I said. “Of course, I’m sure,” Irvin said. I shook my head. And, he said, “Think about it, Gary. If they step on you, you’re screwed.”

�4. THE ELEPHANT My quest for the elephant took me to the northwest corner of Namibia, not quite to the Caprive. Greg Rodriguez had arranged this hunt with Dagga Boy Safaris in 2011. There were two elephant permits issued for the Reserve, and I had one of them. It was a long drive from Windhoek, and we arrived late evening at camp. Accommodations were upgraded wall tents with facilities, with grass-thatched roofs at the lodge. Each day consisted of driving the perimeters and internal roads of the Reserve looking for tracks. There were numerous elephants in the area, several large herds, but consisted mostly of females and young animals. On the third day, a wildfire ripped through the Reserve, burning hundreds of acres, and leaving areas open. At 6:30 a.m., on day four, we spotted large tracks at a water hole, leading out. Colin said, “Let’s take a walk.” We followed the tracks on foot through the morning, through the thick brush and dense undergrowth, until the tracks crossed the burn area.

The elephant tracks in the ash and sand were so visible, even I could track them. We had a brief lunch snack around 10:30 or CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 89

11:00, and we ran out of water about 12:30. It was 104 degrees in the shade, and the sun was baking the sand with a radiator effect. “Let’s keep going,” Colin said, and we pressed on.

Sometime after 2:00 p.m., we caught up with the elephants as they were taking their afternoon snooze. This was a cooling technique, where they would sway back and forth, with their big ears flapping slowly to try to cool down their bodies. These were the two large males we were after. They were huge, standing 12 feet tall. They made the trees look small. We crept our way to within 40 yards and ran out of cover. I took a hard rest on a tree limb to give support to the 457 lotte, the biggest gun I’d ever shot. Colin said, “He’s sleeping. You want to shoot him between the eyes.” “Can you see the eyes?” I said, “No, I can’t.”

He said, “Look again. You’ve got to place your shot just above the line between the eyes.” I could see the animal swaying, his ears gently flapping, but I could not make out the eyes. Then, I remembered I had on my polarized sunglasses. When I took my sunglasses off, I saw the eyes, I saw the line, I aimed just above it, and fired. The kaboom was deafening. I hit the elephant in the head, but he didn’t fall. “Come on, Gary, run,” said Colin.

And, I did. I ran toward the elephant, which was now running to his left, and I shot him again broadside, twice, aiming for the heart and front shoulder. He continued to run, stumbling, and we gave chase until he went down. It was the biggest beast I had ever encountered. It had thick massive tusks that showed many scrapes and scars from battle. They estimated him to be 60 years old—a fine specimen, somewhere in the 10,000-lb. range, with 70 lbs. of ivory. I was exhausted from the heat and excitement, but delighted with the success. The game scout sent word out by radio, and wagonloads of local villagers made their way

to the site, carving up the meat for distribution -- nothing was wasted, and they had food for months.

�5. THE LEOPARD AND BONUS BUFFALO One of my biggest rookie mistakes on my first trip to Africa in 1999 was turning down an opportunity for a nuisance leopard killing cattle. I thought the $5,000.00 kill fee for a cat was outrageous. Such naivete. Leopard was not a priority then. Now it was the only one of the Big 5 left. I let my son shoot the leopard on the first buffalo/leopard hunt; and when I rebooked a leopard hunt in Zimbabwe in 2014 with my wife, Nancy, she got first opportunity, and took a fine, old male outside of Hwange.

I only had females and young males on bait and came home empty-handed. My repeat attempt in 2015 had much adventure -- a big crocodile, other animals, but no mature males. I was almost resigned to not getting a leopard, but it was the only Big 5 missing. I did not think it was meant to be. Then, one May morning in 2018, I received an email from Tommy at Sporting International about a client’s cancellation leopard hunt in Zimbabwe. I called him immediately for details and confirmation that this hunt was in a prime area in Zimbabwe, the Bubye Valley Conservancy. He said it was first come, first served; and there were several interested parties. The hunt was a specific 14 days beginning August 1, and couldn’t be moved.

After confirming with my wife that there were no scheduled social conflicts, I called Tommy back, but the line was busy. I called several times, busy, then sent an email committing to take

This Namibian elephant was taken at the end of an 8-hour stalk in 100+ degrees, which exhausted the author. The local natives carved it up to feed their villages for months.

90 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

it. By noon, I reached him, committed and confirmed with deposit. On the way to Zimbabwe in July, I stopped for five days at Zander Osmers Safaris, on the west side of Krueger National Park, to fulfill my sable hunt that had been postponed twice.

On the third day of the hunt, buffalo came to the water hole. I wasn’t hunting buffalo. But that night, I improved my bow setup with a 700-grain arrow and 100-grain grizzly stick broad head.

The buffalo never came back. The last morning, we caught up with a small herd by spot-and-stalk. I positioned myself in front of a moving bachelor herd, set up basically in the open, and let them come to me. Eight mature bulls lined up like a Banovich defensive line painting, twelve yards in front of me, sizing us up, with three more lagging behind along the creek bed. My PH, Roux, whispered, “Take the second one on the left.”

“I don’t want the one on the left,” I said.

“Then take the one on the far right.”

“I don’t want him.”

Roux asked, incredulously, “Then, which one do you want?”

“I want the big one, back in the creek bed.”

“But he’s not here!” Reux said.

“Give him a minute,” I whispered.

Curiosity brought the big boy forward, and he bulled his way through the middle of the eight, pushed one off to the left, knocked another one off to the right with his big head, and he came forward to inspect me inside of ten yards. We stared at each other. From the look in his eyes, I don’t think he liked me. I slowly drew my bow, but did not release, because it was a frontal shot. But I was ready. And, when he got nervous (or bored), he stepped forward and turned to his right, exposing his flank. I zapped him broadside through both lungs inside of eight yards. Incredibly, the arrow passed through! The bull bellowed, ran back into the creek bed bottom, and piled up within 80 yards. We knew from the bellowing, it was fatal. A 41-inch, 1-ton beast was felled by one arrow that passed through both lungs and was lost.

It was an unexpected bonus buffalo, top 10 SCI (bow), and I thought it was a good omen that could change my luck on leopard. There is luck on every hunt; you just hope it is good luck. We took pictures, and I scrambled for the airport for my flight to Joberg.

I flew to Bulawayo the next morning, where my transport escort drove me the six hours down to the Bubye Valley. I arrived late evening in time for dinner, met my PH, Andries, and we discussed the plan. I wanted a mature cat and was not afraid of taking the first good one. As requested, the PH had been prebaiting with 8 baits scattered over a 25-mile area. Several leopards were on the prowl. He said one bait had been hit, and we’ll check it and the other baits first thing tomorrow. We got an early start, made the rounds, without any success, until the sixth bait, which had been hit. The tracks looked very good, and he surmised it was an old Tom. He put a toggle light in the tree to shine on the bait. The trackers built a blind, 75/80 yards away.

We went in the blind about 3:30 in the afternoon, with sleeping bags, pillows, food and drink, and gun, prepared to stay the night. I was given explicit instructions not to make any noise. The slightest rustle could be detected. Any movement could be heard, and the leopard’s senses were keen. A small hole was made for my .300 WinMag, and a second hole was made for the PH to view the bait. At 5:25, a large cat appeared up the tree, on bait, in daylight, but it was female. We watched her feed for twenty minutes before she left. Dark was setting in by 6:00, and Andries

This old monster leopard in Zimbabwe, measured 17 1/4, and weighed around 200 pounds. He completed the Big 5 in royal fashion by .300 WinMag and shows the jungle bounty of Zimbabwe.

said he heard something else, but nothing showed. We waited in the dark with great anticipation. I wasn’t allowed to move. Close to 7:00 p.m., I felt a slight squeeze on my right arm, the signal to get ready. I positioned my .300 WinMag. “Don’t shoot until we know it’s a male,” Andries said. He had heard the rustle of the leaves on the bait and knew something was in the tree, but it was pitch black, and impossible to see with scope or binoculars.

The light he had rigged up was a gradual, slow light that created visibility without spooking the cat. As the light enhanced, I caught my first view; it was no doubt! The head was huge, the body was muscular, and the sex was obvious. Before Andries could finish “OK,” I squeezed the trigger and shot the leopard, which fell stone-cold dead underneath the tree. No tracking was necessary. He was a beautiful beast. Preparation, good luck and persistence paid off. What had begun twenty years earlier was completed August 1, 2018, with a 17-1/4” leopard that ranked No. 23, SCI. It was my third attempt. Big 5 accomplished. The trophy was worth the wait. He stands guard on a tree limb in my TV den, watching my every move, reminding me daily of the thrill, the beauty, the lure and the dangers of Africa.

Sometimes you have to say “yes” and go. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 91

Open

season

Hunting for the right property.

As soon as the leaves turn and the temperature slightly drops, there is an itch to dawn camo and buy a license to take home big game. It’s hunting season. And no matter how you look at it, buying hunting land is a dream that takes the sport of hunting to a new level.

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Additional ammo

As a cooperative, Capital Farm Credit is owned by the same rural property owners we serve. Unlike an investor-owned bank, our members have a vote and a voice in the business. When you borrow money from Capital Farm Credit, you join the cooperative that operates in our members’ best interests.

We return a portion of our earnings to members through our cooperative returns program. This can result in significant reductions in borrowing costs. Our board of directors annually reviews the financial health of the cooperative and Flexible Loan Programs: decides how profits are returned — whether as cash, or as allocated • Real Estate Purchase equities. Our cooperative structure • Improvement Loans has maintained its integrity for more • Home Loans than 100 years.

Take the shot

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“Capital Farm Credit understands how to properly evaluate hunting property for several reasons,” says Abadie. “We have a long history of financing rural property, and consequently have a large database of customers and landowners, who are truly a wealth of information for us.”

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92 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 93

LET’S TRAVEL with Esplanade Travel

94 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

E

rnest Hemingway said, “where a man feels at home, outside of where he is born, is where he is meant to go.” Esplanade Travel can help you find that place you are meant to go, whether it is Africa, Iceland, or South America. Follow along as we explore lodges in these countries, and perhaps they will call out to you and cause your adrenaline to rush.

MOZAMBIQUE

BY JACKY KEITH, PRESIDENT JKEITH@ESPLANADETRAVEL.COM

Let’s begin our exploration in Mozambique.

It is located in Southeastern Africa and bordered on the east by the magnificent Indian Ocean. It consists of four main islands, Bazaruto, Benguers, Magaruque, and Santa Carolina. The most popular area in Mozambique is the Bazaruto Archipelago.

The Bazaruto Archipelago National Park was the first marine reserve under African Parks’ Management. The National Park is host to 140 bird species, 18 reptile species, 21 mammal species, 5 dolphin species, and an estimated 180 dugongs in the western Indian Ocean. The endangered dugong is a pale sea mammal that is fabled to have made ancient mariners believe in mermaids.

One luxury property is the Rio Azul. Located right on the ocean, just roll out of bed and snorkel, scuba dive, or relax in a hammock with your morning drink of choice.

The Benguera Island Lodge is an island getaway protected by a lagoon. Like most lodges, there is a range of luxurious thatched accommodations from which to choose.

No matter where you stay in the Archipelago, you can have an afternoon picnic on a castaway island or take a sunset cruise in a traditional wooden sailing vessel called a dhow and watch the sea turn to gold during a spectacular sunset.

The warm waters, pristine coral reefs, and idyllic beaches have shaped this haven called the Archipelago. It is a diver’s paradise for snorkeling or scuba diving and whether you are a beginner or experienced, the coral reefs with their vibrant colors and ocean inhabitants will leave you in awe.

NAMIBIA BAZARUTO ISLAND, MOZAMBIQUE

Namibia lies between the Namib and Kalahari deserts. The word Namib from the Nama people means vast place. Its capital is Windhoek. When you fly into Windhoek and need a place to stay before heading out to go CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 95

DESERT LIONS, NAMIBIA

BLUE LAGOON, ICELAND

96 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

on a safari, the Olive Grove Guesthouse is ideal. The Olive Grove has comfortable, well-appointed rooms. After a full day of flying, the comfort of the Olive Grove was most welcome.

But what stood out for us was the dining experience. The food here was simply some of the best we have had anywhere.

From the Olive Grove, we headed out to the safari lodge Hoanib (pronounced Whoa-nib). Hoanib is a modern tented safari lodge. Each tent is exquisitely appointed. At Hoanib, you are immediately struck by the landscape. The craters and mountains leave you feeling you are on a movie set for the moon. It is absolutely beautiful.

The Hoanib Skeleton Coast safari camp and lodge is in an isolated area of Namibia and allows us to explore rare fauna and a remarkable array of desert-adapted species such as the desert lion.

The Skeleton Coast has scenery that keeps researchers and naturalists returning every year. You will see the remains of old shipwrecks and colonies of Cape fur seals with their banshee calls that add so much to the atmosphere and landscape.

Namibia is home to the largest sand dunes in the world.

Sand dune #7 is said to be the highest dune. You will often see people sand surfing down many of the dunes, or some who climb the dunes and simply slide all the way down.

Wildlife has adapted to this climate. The desert lions and brown hyenas have thrived and in the Etosha National Park, you will likely see Ghost Elephants. Due to the climate, these beautiful elephants almost look white.

ICELAND

Icelandic singer-songwriter Bjork said, “In Reykjavik, Iceland, where I was born, you are in the middle of nature surrounded by mountains and ocean. But you are still in a capital in Europe. So I have never understood why I have to choose between nature or urban.”

This paradise has a landscape unlike anywhere else. It has volcanoes, black sand beaches, waterfalls, lagoons, glaciers, and of course the Northern Lights. Esplanade Travel can book you into many excursions and hotels in Iceland. Let’s look at some of them.

Hafnarfjordur is the third-largest city in Iceland with approximately 30,000 people. This city offers fresh local cuisine, geothermal pools, lava, and natural phenomena, and they host a yearly Viking festival.

Drive along the Golden Circle to Selfoss. This drive will show you Pingvellir where tectonic plates meet, a geyser where water spews out more than 100 times each day, and the magnificent waterfall Gullfoss. Once in Selfoss, you might stay at the luxurious 360 Hotel and Spa. A private driver can take you to Silfra, a fissure that was created by the separation of the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. The clear water at Silfra shows an astonishing array of colors you cannot see from the surface. A snorkel guide can take you on a 30-40 minute snorkeling tour of Silfra Hall, Silfra Cathedral, and Silfra Lagoon. The water here is so pure you are encouraged, while snorkeling, to drink some of this purest water.

Esplanade Travel can connect you with the Hotel Husafell which lies between a glacier and a lava field. While at the Hotel Husafell, tour Langjokull, Iceland’s second-largest glacier. Your tour will take you inside the man-made ice tunnels which lead you to the heart, the very blue heart of the glacier.

The beautiful Hotel Akureyri in the north awaits. Cultural life, some of Iceland’s best skiing, and many natural wonders surround the Hotel Akureyri. While there, you can whale watch or white water raft, and no experience is required.

Your Icelandic journey might continue to Oraefi and the Fosshotel Glacier Lagoon. This hotel lies between Skafttafell and Jokulsarlon Glacier, two of Iceland’s most iconic attractions. This area is nirvana for nature lovers and hikers.

The Skalakot Manor Hotel is a farm run by the fourth generation. The farm is situated in the southern Iceland countryside.

For four generations, this farm has bred the famous Icelandic horses. The hotel offers short and multi-day horseback riding tours. There is a tour for everyone based on skill and riding experience. To sit on and ride one of these steeds is a thrill.

A trip to Iceland would not be complete without experiencing the Blue Lagoon. Esplanade Travel can put you in The Retreat by the Blue Lagoon, offering floor-to-ceiling windows.

You are able to see all that Iceland offers, geothermal waters, volcanic horizons, and moss-covered lava fields.

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa with dynamic algae. It renews, nourishes, and moisturizes your skin. The potent array of minerals has energizing effects on your mind and body. It is a must-stop on your way in or out of Iceland.

CHILE

Now let Esplanade Travel lead you to countries and lodges in South America, and we will begin in Chile. Your journey can begin with the World Heritage site of Easter Island. The remote beauty and mythical folklore of the ‘Rapa Nui’ will stay with you forever. Easter Island is not only a place of beauty, but it is also the caretaker of the mysteries of the Rapa Nui. The world continues to marvel at the silent, spectacular stone Moais. The island culture, history, music, and art will remain in your heart and soul.

You will enjoy this island because you can walk on the verge of an extinct volcano crater, view the ruined ceremonial village of Orongo, feel the pure white sands under your feet at Anakena Beach, be charmed by the ambiance of the village Hanga Roa, and yes, meet the magical and mysterious stone Moai.

While on the island, Esplanade Travel will book you into the marvelous Hotel Altiplanico-San Pedro De Atacama. The hotel features spectacular views from every angle.

Patagonia is one of the world’s natural relics and is shared between Chile and Argentina. Patagonia got its name from the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. In the 16th century, he named the indigenous people Patagoes. Magellan got that name from a character in the book Primaleon of Greece.

Because Patagonia is a rich territory, one should do a deep exploration of all it has to offer, breathtaking landscapes, nature, and a wide variety of species such as pumas, guanacos, and huemules.

While in Chile, you may also stay at the Hotel Las Torres, in the heart of Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park.

The Park offers granite peaks, water so blue it is a must-see, hiking to a viewpoint overlooking the Las Torres Mountains and cruising across the waters of Lake Pehoe.

Set against the backdrop of the Patagonian fjords of Last Hope Sound and the Andes Mountain Range is the Singular Patagonia Hotel, in Puerto Bories. This hotel with its sophistication, history, and extraordinary service lies at the so-called CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 97

ALTIPLANICO LODGE, EASTER ISLAND

“end of the world,” in the heart of Chilean Patagonia. This luxurious hotel connects with nature, culture, and extraordinary experiences like excursions to glaciers or a horseback ride.

Esplanade Travel can take you from the wonders of Patagonia to the “Oasis under the stars in the driest desert in the world,” the Atacama Desert, and the Alto Atacama Desert Lodge. The Atacama Desert has mesas and canyons that are irresistible.

You can hike lunar landscapes, cycle the sand dunes and caves, explore geysers and lagoons, go to the Tara Salt Flat and gaze at the Valley of the Moon.

It may be the driest desert in the world but your stay at the Alto Atacama Lodge will never be forgotten.

ARGENTINA

Now let’s cross the border from Chile and examine some outstanding properties in Argentina. If you enjoy wine, the Casa de Uco Vineyard & Wine Resort is a can’t miss stop on your trip. This resort lies at the foothills of the Andes Mountains which makes for a breathtaking setting. As a guest at the Casa de Uco Vineyard & Wine Resort, you will get to live and breathe the wine culture of this Argentinian vineyard.

The resort offers activities centered around the vineyard and the mountains. You can horseback ride through the vineyard or go on bike or trekking excursions. They also have horsedrawn carriage rides. For the more adventuresome, there is paragliding, net fishing, white water rafting and mountain biking in the Andes.

There are also indoor activities such as Argentine cooking classes, olive oil tastings, and of course, wine tastings. In the 98 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Mendoza wine country, the Uco Valley is the most sought out wine region in Argentina.

The Loi Suites Iguazu Hotel in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina is a luxurious hotel near the famous Iguazu Falls. The architecture is timber and gives the feel of being in the jungle. Part of the experience at the Loi Suites is that the balconies face the jungle. You might even catch a glimpse of playful toucans, many bird species, and perhaps some monkeys.

The Iguazu Falls comes from the Iguazu River, on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Parana. Together they make up the largest waterfall in the world. Iguazu is from the Tupi words meaning water and big. “Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipi, who fled with her mortal lover Taroba in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall.”

ECUADOR

The Mashpi Lodge is a luxuriant Ecuador rainforest lodge.

The Lodge was built on a scenic plateau. It features views of forested mountains to take your breath away. In your room, you have total immersion with the floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass windows. Mashpi Lodge offers a complete blend of comfort and engagement.

The Lodge is closer to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, than the Amazon rainforest, but for every nature lover’s dream, it offers the same adventure. At the Mashpi Lodge, you may meet 400 species of birds, trees, frogs, endemic species found nowhere else on our planet. There are waterfalls, incredible

flora, hidden paths to trek down, and rivers for splashing through.

You might choose to ride on the Lodge’s Dragonfly Canopy Gondola. You will glide along the tree line and take in all that nature offers from a vantage point unlike any other.

Should you trek the many paths, you will be amazed at the number of rivers and falls and experience up close how all these parts fit together. At night, take a guided tour and watch the wonder of the forest by night.

One reviewer of the Lodge wrote, “We were enchanted. A piece of glowing wood, thousands of fireflies, colorful birds, and ten lightning flashes later, we were back in our room, completely cocooned in what felt like a treehouse suspended above the forest.” A reviewer in Forbes magazine wrote, “There are times and places in our travels when we wonder just how in the world they pulled it off. Mashpi Lodge is one of those places.”

IGUAZU FALLS, The Mashpi Lodge is a “Rainforest Hotel ARGENTINA in the Clouds.”

In the Amazon is the Sacha Lodge. It may seem like you can’t get there from here, but Sacha Lodge is easily accessible from Quito. A short 25-minute flight from Quito and then an exhilarating journey up the Napo River in a motorized canoe and by lunchtime you can be laying in a hammock listening to all the chatter that are tamarind monkeys.

You will be among an animal and bird kingdom that offers 8 species of monkeys, anteaters, three-toed sloths, ocelots, and birds of unimaginable colors. Ecuador is home to over 1,600 registered species of birds. It is not uncommon in just a couple of days to view nearly 300 different birds.

Imagine yourself crossing a bridge susMASHPI LODGE, pended over the rainforest canopy, or ECUADOR perhaps boating through creeks in search of monkeys and river otters, or climbing to the top of a kapok tree, swimming in a black-water lake. This out, get your bids in and take advantage of this marvelous offer and much more awaits you at the Sacha Lodge. from Esplanade Travel.

From the rainforest, let Esplanade Travel take you to Quito, Esplanade Travel focuses on international luxury travel, the capital of Ecuador, and a stay at the iconic hotel in the and unique custom-designed trips have been our trademark heart of old Quito, The Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel. for nearly 70 years.

The Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel is of a bygone era Our staff has collectively traveled to over 150 countries and will place you in elegance and luxury. The mansion that around the world, and we sell the destinations we know the is the hotel is filled with the city’s history and is situated in best and love the most! Our primary destinations are Africa, the heart of Quito’s Old Town. The hotel is beautifully and New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Italy, France, Croatia, eclectically appointed.

South America, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the isWe hope that these countries and lodges have engaged you lands of the South Pacific. ★ to make your travel dreams come true. Esplanade Travel can help you find that special place you were meant to be.

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ESPLANADE TRAVEL

800-628-4893 | esplanadetravel.com info@esplanadetravel.com Instagram: @esplanadetravel CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 99

100 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

3

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Zephyr, TX

R A N C H

Brown County

1,240 Acre High Fence Recreational Ranch Multiple Luxury Residences |Lodge|14 Acre Lake| Trophy Whitetails & Exotics

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Martha Turner Sotheby's International Realty Linda Plant

713.240.5813 Linda.Plant@SIR.COM

Land | Ranch Country Properties

Tim Grimes

832.919.4452 Tim.Grimes@SIR.COM

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 101

ABF CASE STUDY: CAPE BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer) Results Of Two Blade Broadhead Tests On Cape Buffalo

LOCATION: SOUTH AFRICA DATE: JULY 2021 The following is the case study of outcome driven research done by Ashby Bowhunting Foundation in July, 2021 on Cape Buffalo in South Africa. This testing is to see what the Cape Buffalo did to the broadhead and not what the broadhead did to the Cape Buffalo. Over 160 data points per shot are recorded for further analysis to determine the most efficient broadhead/ arrow systems capable of performing the task at hand. A key takeaway from this testing cycle is the effect of broadhead efficiency on outcome arrow penetration when comparing 775 grain fully penetration enhanced arrow systems launched from a 39# bow to 1150 grain arrow systems with a similar shaped, but less efficient head from an 82# bow, and 660 grain arrow systems with various heads that have less mechanical advantage launched from a 72# bow. This type of unbiased research will continue to help people see through marketing and focus on the importance of choosing the right arrow and broadhead systems to do its intended job quickly and cleanly, as the animals we hunt deserve the best we can put forward and not wound them to death.

The Ashby Bowhunting Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based on science and education. The Foundation accepts no funding, direct or otherwise, from the archery industry, thus keeping the Foundation’s testing completely independent of industry influence. For more information please visit www.ashbybowhunting.org

BROADHEADS TESTED

• 300 gr original Tuffhead • 300 gr Evolution Tuffhead • 315 gr Ashby by GrizzlyStik • 315 gr Bishop Scientific Method • 200 gr Maasai by GrizzlyStik • 210 gr Silver Flame by GrizzlyStik • 200 gr Evolution by Tuffhead • 200 gr Single Bevel Iron Will • 200 gr Bishop Scientific Method • 200 gr Double Bevel Iron Will

COMMENTS

For this test, we looked at what the Cape Buffalo did to the broadhead - not what the broadhead did to the Cape Buffalo.

For all broadheads, we looked at structural integrity, mechanical advantage including edge bevel MA, broadhead silhouette, tip design, positives, negatives, questions arising for further testing, and pre-shot and post-shot sharpness. Except for the 210 grain Silver Flame, all tested broadheads are currently available to the 102 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

public, and all test shots were taken at 20 yards, 90 degrees broadside. Multiples of each head were shot for consistency, and the test medium was the southern Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer).

Testing was done by Rob Neilson and Rhonda Jones w/ABF, and Tony DuBryn w/PHASA (Professional Hunter’s Association of South Africa).

The bows used and arrows/heads shot from each: • 82# Hoyt Faktor 34” compound bow, 29” DL: 300+ grain heads were used with arrow weights from 1135 to 1210 gr, depending on the head weight. The shafts utilized were GrizzlyStik 170 spine shafts, with a FOC of 30-31%.

• 39# Mathews Avail compound bow, 25.5” DL:. Test shots were made using the 315 Ashby on a GrizzlyStik 320 wildcat cut shaft with total weight of 775 gr and 31% FOC. • 72# Hoyt Axius Ultra compound bow with a 29” DL. 200 Grain heads were used with arrow weights from 665 - 675 gr, depending on the head weight. The shafts utilized were GrizzlyStik 240 spine shafts, with a FOC of 25%.

The 315 grain Alaskan by GrizzlyStik was not used for the test and is not part of this case study’s summary results.

However, this is a proven recipe and therefore was part of the 1150 grain, 30% FOC arrow system used to kill the animals (with complete pass throughs), enabling us to conduct the testing.

That information will be plugged into the database on hunted animals.

A special THANK YOU to Tony DuBryn w/Wild Wildebeest Safaris and PHASA representative for his hospitality while in South Africa, lining up the hunt for Cape Buffalo and for helping with this testing, which could not have been possible without him. Also, a special THANK YOU to Ron Schwarz at KME Sharpeners for building and donating to ABF a custom broadhead holder to accurately and consistently test the sharpness of broadheads utilizing the EdgeOn-Up BESS sharpness tester.

A reminder Ashby Bowhunting Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and as with all testing, the Foundation accepts no funding from the archery industry, keeping all testing truly independent of industry influence. All Board Members and Ambassadors are unsalaried volunteers. Please donate. Your donations make our continuing independent research possible.

300+ GRAIN HEADS

82# Test Bow, 29” DL, 170 Spine GrizzlyStik Tapered Shaft w/315 Grain Grizzlystik Ashby, 1150 grains total weight, 30% FOC, 200 fps, Impact Momentum 1.021 slug ft/sec: The original

Left: Post-shot picture of 200 Grain Heads Tested, from top to bottom: GrizzlyStik Maasai, GrizzlyStik Silver Flame, Tuffhead Evolution 200, Iron Will Single Bevel, Iron Will Double Bevel, Bishop 200 Scientific Method.

Right: Post-shot picture of the three manufacturers 300+ Grain Heads Tested, from top to bottom: Tuffhead Evolution 300, GrizzlyStik Ashby 315, Original Tuffhead 300 w/75 gr Titanium adapter, Bishop 315.

Left: Replacement picture of Bishop 315 as author left his Bishop 315 heads in Africa—there was no structural integrity damage from the test shots.

315 Grain Ashby is a known and proven single bevel in hunting situations. Structural integrity during testing was solid, great mechanical advantage broadhead and 25-degree bevel for sharpness.

Smooth transitions from tip to tail with no bumps to impede penetration. While the head did well, we would like to see the ferrule fading out closer to the tip for lateral support as, in prior testing, we have seen that to be a potential point of weakness. Pre-shot sharpness testing was in the BESS razorblade category requiring 50 grams of pressure, and post-shot in the utility razor blade category requiring 188 grams of pressure. Post-shot sharpness on this head is sharper than others pre-shot sharpness measurement.

All shots were full pass-throughs.

82# Test Bow, 29” DL, 170 Spine GrizzlyStik Tapered Shaft w/300 gr Original Tuffhead w/75 gr Titanium adapter, 1210 grains total weight, 31% FOC, 196 fps, Impact Momentum 1.053 slug ft/sec: The original Tuffhead is a known and proven single bevel in hunting situations. Structural integrity during testing was solid, best mechanical advantage of the group and 25-degree bevel for sharpness. Smooth transitions from tip to tail with no bumps to impede penetration. While the head did well, we would like to see the trailing end of the head sharpened. Pre-shot sharpness testing was in the BESS utility razorblade category requiring 199 grams of pressure, and post shot in the high-end cutlery category requiring 332 grams of pressure. Post-shot sharpness on this head is sharper than others pre-shot sharpness measurement. All shots were full pass-throughs.

82# Test Bow, 29” DL, 170 Spine GrizzlyStik Tapered Shaft w/300 gr Evolution Tuffhead, 1135 grains total weight, 30% FOC, 201 fps, Impact Momentum 1.013 slug ft/sec: The newer lineup offering from Tuffhead made with S7 steel with a 20-degree bevel. Structural integrity during testing was solid, good mechanical advantage and a 20- degree bevel for sharpness with a slick finish. The head has a smooth transition from tip to tail, no bumps to impede penetration. As with all our heads, we would like

to see the trailing end of the head sharpened. Pre-shot sharpness tested was in the BESS utility razorblade category requiring 160 grams of pressure, and post-shot in the high-end cutlery category requiring 290 grams of pressure. Post-shot sharpness on this head is sharper than others pre-shot sharpness measurement. All shots were full pass-throughs.

82# Test Bow, 29” DL, 170 Spine GrizzlyStik Tapered Shaft w/315 Bishop Scientific Method, 1150 grains total weight, 30% FOC, 200 fps, Impact Momentum 1.021 slug ft/sec: ABF and PHASA were anxious to test this head, as all PH accounts with hunters utilizing this head have not made a pass through on a Cape Buffalo, with many being followed up with a gun due to lack of penetration. The structural integrity on this head is solid with the S7 steel, good mechanical advantage of the head design, but the steeper 40-degree bevel is built more for durability than sharpness. The head has a smooth transition from tip to tail, no bumps to impede penetration. On impact of all Bishop heads, there was a visual skip angle/re-direction of the entire arrow system, indicating a design flaw. We will study this head on impacts with the aid of our high-speed camera to confirm exactly what is happening with this head. The 40-degree bevel pre-shot sharpness testing required 460 grams of pressure, and the post-shot sharpness required 757 grams of pressure, both in the BESS category of need maintenance or repair. The Bishop Scientific Method heads achieved an average 12.5” of penetration in this testing and did not pass through the animal.

39# Bow, 25.5” DL, 320 W/C GrizzlyStik Shaft w/315 Grain Grizzlystik Ashby, 775 grains total weight, 30% FOC, 150fps, Impact Momentum .5162 slug ft./sec: Similar results as the test done with this head from the 82# bow but achieved an average of 22” of penetration into the thoracic cavity, stopping against the offside rib cage. While this arrow system did not pass through, this was from a low poundage, short draw, less efficient bow but still enough penetration to be lethal.

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 103

300+ GRAIN HEAD SYNOPSIS

All three of these manufacturers produced broadheads that were built well enough to make it to this stage of testing. With this type of testing, weaknesses will be exposed and should be used as a positive for improvement.

Apart from the Bishop Scientific Method, the poorest performing head over 300 grains, all 300+ grain heads tested with an overall weight of 1135 to 1210 gr from the 82# bow passedthrough the Cape Buffalo. A key takeaway from this testing cycle is the effect of broadhead efficiency on outcome arrow penetration.

Note that the 775-grain arrow from a 39# bow with an efficient broadhead penetrated better than the 1150 grain arrow off an 82# bow with the less efficient Bishop broadhead. That is 43# more draw weight of bow, 375 grains greater arrow mass, and .5 slug ft more impact momentum that could not overcome a lower efficiency broadhead design. While Bishop has some positive features, there are some improvements to be made to eliminate the skip-angle we witnessed along with the lack of sharpness. Other 300+ grain two-blade heads were reviewed and eliminated prior to this testing for various reasons, i.e., poor designs, lack of sharpness, lack of smooth transitions, history of failing on lesser game, etc. The animals we hunt deserve the best we can put forward to kill them quickly and cleanly.

200+ GRAIN HEADS

72# Test Bow, 29” DL, 240 spine GrizzlyStik shaft w/200 grain Maasai, 665 grains total weight, 25% FOC, 240 fps, Impact Momentum .7086 slug ft/sec: The 200 Grain Maasai is a convex design, making it stronger geometrically than a straight blade. Structural integrity on the testing was solid. It is shorter than the 300 grain heads tested, but decent mechanical advantage broadhead and a 25-degree bevel for sharpness. Smooth transitions from tip to tail with no bumps to impede penetration. Two screws are utilized to attach the blade securely to the ferrule which is common. Pre-shot sharpness testing was in the BESS razorblade category requiring 88 grams of pressure, and post shot in the high-end cutlery range requiring 262 grams of pressure. Post-shot sharpness on this head is sharper than others pre-shot sharpness measurement. This setup gave full pass-throughs, going through rib bones on both sides. Only rib bones encountered.

72# Test Bow, 29” DL, 240 spine GrizzlyStik shaft w/210 grain Silver Flame, 675 grains total weight, 25% FOC, 238 fps, Impact Momentum .7133 slug ft/sec: The 210 Grain Silver Flame is a convex design, making it stronger geometrically than a straight blade. This is the unicorn double bevel as it is no longer manufactured, and out penetrated all other 200 grains single bevel heads in the test except the Maasai. Structural integrity on the testing was solid. It is shorter than the 300 grain heads tested, but a decent mechanical advantage broadhead. Smooth transitions from tip to tail with no bumps to impede penetration. Two screws are utilized to attach the blade securely to the ferrule which is common.

104 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Pre and post sharpness measurements were done 3x with each broadhead to confirm consistency. The sharpness tester measures in grams of pressure (force) to cut through its test media. See BESS chart for reference on where these heads fall pre and post sharpness. For a quick conversion, 1 gram equals 15.4324 grains.

Pre-shot sharpness testing was in the BESS razorblade category requiring 91 grams of pressure, and post-shot in the razorblade category requiring 163 grams of pressure. Post-shot sharpness on this head is sharper than others pre-shot sharpness measurement.

This setup achieved penetration with the broadhead tip piercing, but not passing through, the offside hide of the Cape Buffalo. Only rib bones encountered. Note that the 200 grain Maasai and 200 grain Silver Flame, excepting the tip design, have near identical profiles and Mechanical Advantages yet there is a marked increase in outcome penetration, again demonstrating the single-bevel’s penetration advantage on bone impacts.

72# Test Bow, 29” DL, 240 spine GrizzlyStik shaft w/200 grain Evolution Tuffhead, 665 grains total weight, 25% FOC, 240 fps, Impact Momentum .7086 slug ft/sec: The 200 Grain Tuffhead is a short delta shaped head with a 20-degree bevel for sharpness and a slick finish. It is shorter than the Maasai and Silver Flame, therefore less mechanical advantage. Smooth transitions from tip to tail with no bumps to impede penetration. Unlike the Maasai and Silver Flame, it is a one-piece design made from S7 steel. Preshot sharpness testing was in the BESS utility razorblade category requiring 153 grams of pressure and a post-shot in the high-end cutlery range requiring 223 grams of pressure. Post-shot sharpness on this this head is sharper than others pre-shot sharpness. This setup averaged 23” of penetration, with the broadhead sticking in

PENETRATION CHART

the off-side rib. Only rib bones encountered.

Bishop SM 200, 665 grains, PENETRATION 25% FOC (72#) 20 CHART This also makes an interesting comparison Iron Will DB 200, 665 grains, 25% FOC (72#) 20 of the effects of arrow design and broadhead Iron Will SM SB 200, 665 grains, 25% FOC (72#) Bishop 21 20 Mechanical Advantage on outcome penetraTuffhead Iron WillEvo DB 200, 665 grains, 25% FOC (72#) 2023 tion. Compare these results with the test shot GS Silver Flame Iron Will SB 210, 200, 675 665 grains, 25% FOC (72#) FPT 21 GS Maasai results from the 39# Compound.

Tuffhead Evo 200, 665 grains, 25% FOC (72#) FPT 23 BishopFlame SM 315, GS Silver 210,1150 675 grains, 30% 25% FOC (82#) (72#) 12.5 FPT 72# Test Bow, 29” DL, 240 spine GrizzlyStik GSMaasai Ashby 315, (39#) GS 200, 775 665 grains, 30% 25% FOC (72#) 22 FPT shaft w/200 grain Iron Will Single Bevel, 665 GS Ashby Bishop SM 315, 1150 grains, 30% FOC (82#) FPT 12.5 grains total weight, 25% FOC, 240 fps, Impact TuffheadGS Original Ashby300, 315,1210 775 grains, grains, 31% 30% FOC FOC (82#) (39#) FPT 22 Momentum .7086 slug ft/sec: The Iron Will Tuffhead Evo 300, GS Ashby 315, 1135 1150 grains, 30% FOC (82#) FPT Tuffhead Original 300, 1210 grains, 31% FOC (82#) FPT is a short, delta shaped head with a 32-degree 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 Tuffhead Evo 300, 1135 grains, 30% FOC (82#) FPT bevel, built for a combination of sharpness and Inches of Penetration, FPT = full pass through 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 durability. It is made of A2 steel and shorter Inches of Penetration, FPT = full pass through than the Silver Flame or Maasai, therefore less mechanical advantage. The ferrule has an *NOTE: The average outcome penetration achieved by the 315 grain GS Ashby from bow is a dramatic example of the advantage achieved when using a fully abrupt radius and does not transition smoothly the 39# *NOTE: The average outcome penetration achieved by the 315 grain GS *NOTE: The average outcome penetration achieved by the 315 grain GS Ashby from penetration-maximized (12 Factor) arrow setup from the 39# bow is a dramatic example of the advantage achieved toward the tip for lateral support as preferred. the 39#Ashby bow is a dramatic example of the advantage achieved when using a fully when using a fully penetration-maximized (12 Factor) arrow setup The blade is held in place by one screw, while penetration-maximized (12 Factor) arrow setup the preference would be two. The base of the Pre & Post-Shot Sharpness Chart ferrule diameter is 5/16” limiting this head to Note: Above 200 grams of force out of box should not be used for skinny shafts. In this testing, these broadheads Pre & Post-Shot Sharpness Chart hunting. averaged 21” of penetration, not touching the Note: Above 200 grams of force out of box should not be used for 800 hunting. off-side ribs. There was typical dulling on all 700 heads, with one breaking off the tip in front of 600 800 700 500 the ferrule radius and having excessive chatter 600 400 for a 32- degree bevel designed with durability 500 300 in mind. The one screw held the blade in place, 400 200 but we noticed the blade rotated slightly. Pre300 100 200 0 shot sharpness testing was in the BESS utility GS GS Silver Tuffhead Iron Will Iron Will Bishop 100 Tuffhead Tuffhead GS Ashby Bishop razorblade category of 151 grams of pressure.

Evo 300 Original 315 SM 315 Maasai Flame Evo 200 SB 200 DB 200 SM 200 0 200 210 Post-shot sharpness ranged from 373 grams Tuffhead Tuffhead GS Ashby Bishop GS GS Silver Tuffhead Iron Will Iron Will Bishop Evo 300 Original AVERAGE 315 SM 315 Maasai Flame Evoof200 SB 200 DB 200 SM 200 PRE-SHOT SHARPNESS (Grams Pressure) of pressure on the heads that did not exhibit 200 210 AVERAGE POST-SHOT SHARPNESS (Grams of Pressure) any structural issues, to 1071 grams of pressure AVERAGE PRE-SHOT SHARPNESS (Grams of Pressure) on the head that had structural issues. Only AVERAGE POST-SHOT SHARPNESS (Grams of Pressure) on-side rib bones encountered.

72# Test Bow, 29” DL, 240 spine GrizzlyStik shaft w/200 grain least with an average of 20”, not reaching the off-side ribs. The Bishop Scientific Method, 665 grains total weight, 25% FOC, 240 A2 steel in double bevel form performed well structurally, with fps, Impact Momentum .7086 slug ft/sec: The 200 Grain Bishop typical dulling. Pre-shot sharpness testing was in the BESS utility Scientific Method is a short delta shaped head and a 40- degree razorblade category requiring 161 grams of pressure, and post-shot bevel built more for durability than sharpness. It is built with S7 sharpness in the category of needing maintenance or repair requir- 10 Copyright 2021, Ashby Bowhunting Foundation steel and has smooth transitions from tip to tail with no bumps to ing 405 grams of pressure. Only rib bones encountered. The two Copyright 2021, Ashby Bowhunting impede penetration. As mentioned with other heads, the preferIron Will heads in this test beingFoundation identical except for edge bevel 10 ence is for the ferrules to transition smoothly closer to the tip of makes an interesting outcome comparison of the effects of a single the blades for additional lateral support. The structural integrity bevel and double bevel design with the single bevel achieving an was solid on the testing, but as with the 315 Bishop, upon impact additional 1” of average penetration in this testing. we witnessed a skip/re-direction of the entire arrow system, indicating a design flaw. We will study this head on impacts with the 200+ GRAIN HEAD SYNOPSIS aid of our high-speed camera to confirm what is happening with These manufacturers produced broadheads that were built well this head. The 40-degree bevel pre-shot sharpness testing required enough to make it to this stage of testing. With this type of test542 grams of pressure with the post-shot sharpness was 670 grams ing, weaknesses will be exposed and should be used as a positive for of pressure, both in the BESS category of need maintenance or re- improvement. GrizzlyStik and Tuffhead, based on history and this pair. The Bishop Scientific Method heads achieved an average 20” testing, continue to impress. Iron Will is a younger company and of penetration in this testing and did not pass through the animal. has a lot of positives, builds an overall good head, and the shortcomOnly on-side rib bones encountered. ings mentioned in this case study will likely be improved upon over 72# Test Bow, 29” DL, 240 spine GrizzlyStik shaft w/200 grain time. Bishop also has some positive features, but as noted above, Iron Will Double Bevel, 665 grains total weight, 25% FOC, 240 there are some issues with the design that should be improved. fps, Impact Momentum .7086 slug ft/sec: This is Iron Will’s Double Note many other 200 grain two-blade heads were reviewed and Bevel head and the blue-print for building their single bevel. It is eliminated prior to this testing for various reasons, poor designs, the same short delta shaped head with minimal mechanical advan- lack of sharpness, lack of smooth transitions, history of failing on tage. This has the same design issues that were noted on the single lesser game, etc. The animals we hunt deserve the best we can put bevel, so no need to repeat here. These broadheads penetrated the forward to kill them quickly and cleanly. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 105

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Are You Rescue Ready?

The more prepared you are, less chance of illness or injury. But if the unexpected happens, you’ll also want to be prepared to share important information with rescue professionals.

Contributed by www.globalrescue.com/hscf

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE RESOURCES ARE ALWAYS AT OUR FINGERTIPS. But if you are hunting in an off-the-grid or remote destination, that statement may not be true. And what do you do if you are ill or injured?

“In a remote setting, the everyday problem is amplified. Something that is just a minor incident in everyday life can become catastrophic when you’re unreachable,” said Adam Bardwell, a former U.S. Army Green Beret, Special Operations Combat Medic and current Global Rescue medical operations supervisor.

Whether you are on a hunting trip one hour away from your home or 10, nationally or internationally, for a few days or a few weeks, you need to prepare for the worst-case scenario: an emergency evacuation due to injury or illness.

Here are the most essential safety preparations Global Rescue experts recommend prior to keep yourself “rescue ready.”

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RESEARCH THE LOCATION & CONSIDER YOUR LIMITATIONS

“Anytime I’m considering going to a remote area, the first thing I’m doing is a weather and terrain analysis of the location,” Jeff Weinstein, a paramedic and a medical operations supervisor for Global Rescue. “Do you have to hike in and what is that hike like? What is the closest city? Closest hospital? What are the roads like?”

Once you’ve gathered that essential info, you need to ask yourself: are you confident you could handle a worst-case scenario if you were to get stuck there?

“You might find out it is going to be heavy rain season in that location. What happens if your vehicle gets stuck?” Weinstein said. “Do you have a winch and do you know how to use it? If not, are you physically fit enough to hike out of there on your own? You need to think of the ‘what ifs’ posed by the particular location and determine if you can handle them.”

ASSESS THE AMENITIES & PREPARE APPROPRIATELY

Let’s say you’re heading to a remote hunting cabin in the woods. What is the water source (a well, nearby body of water, collected rainwater) and where is it? A heat source (woodburning stove, propane gas, solar heating)? Solar lights, kerosene lamps or nothing at all for the evening? What about cookware?

“Take a robust inventory of what the site has and doesn’t have,” Bardwell said. “Then start making a list of the essentials you need to bring...and what you won’t.”

ALWAYS PACK A FIRST-AID KIT

While it is impractical to pack for every single situation you could encounter, it is possible to create a small, packable first aid kit full of highly useful items.

An easy starting point is to purchase an off-the-shelf product.

A commercial first aid kit will contain the items you need to treat minor travel illnesses and injuries. Blisters, minor soft tissue injuries (scrapes and cuts), orthopedic injuries (ankle sprains), and animal attacks or insect bites are the more frequently encountered issues on a hunting trip.

GET AN OFF-THE-GRID COMMUNICATION DEVICE

If you need rescue, you need a way to communicate your emergency. Whether you’re by yourself or with a group, rescues begin with a distress call. That means you must have the ability to make an emergency outreach.

“With two-way communication, you can provide additional information, so rescue can organize the most appropriate resources to get to you,” Weinstein said.

Global Rescue recommends using a satellite messaging device capable of two-way communication via satellites to send an email, SMS or SOS message. There are several available devices like the Bivy Stick and Zoleo devices. These devices are easier to use, manage and carry than a satellite phone. They are also significantly less expensive: between $300 and $500 versus $1,500 and up for a satellite phone.

The most important aspect of using any communications

tool, whether it’s a cell phone or satellite device, is understanding how to operate the equipment.

During an emergency, there is a good chance you may be scared or injured. This may affect your ability to operate the device efficiently. It is wise to make certain everyone in your group knows how to use the device.

“An emergency is not the time to learn how to use a satellite phone,” said Harding Bush, a former Navy SEAL and associate manager of operations for Global Rescue.

Bush recommends sending a test e-mail from the communication device to Global Rescue at operations@globalrescue.com. When Global Rescue receives that email message, it automatically includes a map with the member’s name and their geographic coordinates.

“The message also includes a dialog box permitting direct exchanges between the member and the Global Rescue operations team,” he said. “Since we already have a map with your location, you do not need to include it in the body of your email, which is useful since some devices only allow for 160 characters.”

SHARE THE RIGHT INFORMATION

Rescue begins with knowing your location and conditions.

“The ability to communicate with the rescue service allows them to ask you specific questions to help them assemble the most capable or efficient resources,” Bush said. “This includes your location, your physical state, weather conditions and more.”

The more details rescue operation professionals have related to your situation, the better they can facilitate the most appropriate rescue assets for you. Without these details then your rescue can take much longer or be more complicated, or both.

For example, identifying the physical state of the individual is vital. Knowing whether you’re alone or with someone who can assist, determining if you can walk, or if you have food, water, suitable clothing or shelter are helpful details.

Similarly, sharing the on-the-ground weather and terrain conditions helps tremendously. Our rescue operations team has access to global weather monitoring information and topography maps but gleaning the additional perspective from the individual on the ground is abundantly useful.

MAKE A CONTINGENCY PLAN & SHARE IT

It isn’t enough to make others aware that you’re going remote.

You need to provide details and put action steps into place—specifically the kind laid out in a five-point contingency plan—in order to speed up rescue response should you not return or get in touch within the appropriate time frame.

Guided by the acronym GOTWA, it’s a brief you create outlining these details: going where (G), others going with you (O), time span you will be gone (T), what to do if you do not return in that timely manner (W) and final actions to take if you do not return (A).

“I type up all these details, then disperse it to my friends and family,” Weinstein said, who in addition to his medical background is also a wilderness expert.

GET A GLOBAL RESCUE MEMBERSHIP

If you’re heading to a remote or backcountry area to hunt, Houston Safari Club Foundation recommends you purchase a Global Rescue membership and add it to your kit. It provides necessary travel protection services such as field rescue, medical evacuation and advisory services in case of any emergency.

Single trip, annual and family options are available. For more information, visit info.globalrescue.com/hscf or call 617-4594200 and tell them you’re a Houston Safari Club, Foundation member. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 111

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Steve’s Pan Project For the Love of Wildlife and Wild Places | BY SUZANNE HIXSON

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It

was my first night in hunting camp. Not my first night in a hunting camp—I’d traveled six continents as an observer—but rather my first experience on my own in a setting which felt comfortably familiar yet strangely foreign. After a threeand-half-year battle with glioblastoma, my husband Steve Smith passed away in May 2020. During his illness he’d continued to hunt, amassing quite a collection in various stages of processing, prompting taxidermist Mike Baird to delicately inquire what I intended to do with all of it.

I gave him the reply he told me he was expecting—“keep mounting it, and I’m going to try to bring you some more”.

Steve’s trophies not only represent species taken but a very significant part of our lives together. When I look around our home at these souvenirs of our adventures, I hear his voice recounting the tales of the hunt and the stories of the people and places we saw along the way. His memories are now committed to my memory, and I often find myself sentimentally repeating them to friends, the UPS guy, or patient repairmen that I’m paying by the hour. It is a privilege to keep this piece of Steve’s history alive. When I quipped to friends that I might start hunting, I was mostly joking. Or so I thought. A little over a year after Steve’s death, I found myself heading back on safari. Only this time I would be carrying a rifle rather than a Canon.

It’s late July 2021, unseasonably wet and cold in Zimbabwe. It’s freezing in my chalet. I’m huddled under

the covers in my long underwear with a plan to just pull my clothes over them at daylight. I’m wearing a wool cap and mittens while lying under mosquito netting wondering what sort of Africanized hybrid killer mozzies could survive this bitter chill. The silver elephant hair bracelet that Steve had given me when he booked his first elephant safari had broken earlier that day. I solemnly tucked it away in my bag hoping it was not a bad omen or a sign of the severing of our bond. I got much-needed reinforcement in my dreams that night when I vividly saw Steve smiling at me and laughing.

I was sharing camp with Tommy and Anna Morrison, their grandson Wes Pratka, Mitzy McCorvey and her granddaughter McKenna Ratliff, and David and Terri Smith—all friends met through the Houston Safari Club Foundation. I have learned through many years of travel with this crew that thick skin is the first thing one should pack. Our idea of camaraderie is finding each other’s weaknesses and preying on them like lions on a wounded wildebeest—and being a first-time hunter did not imply they were going to give me a pass. These people became a part of my life because I was married to a hunter, and they later stood by Steve and me during the most difficult time

Elephant herd enjoying a sundowner at Steve’s Pan. Thousands of elephants will drink at this water hole during the migration through Hwange National Park.

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The Steve’s Pan project, a collaboration of Texans and Zimbabweans, was initiated by Tommy Morrison and Mark Butcher who presented the concept to Suzanne in June of 2020.

in our lives. This return to Africa was made even more special by their companionship and together we faced tough hunting conditions which challenged even the most experienced of our group. Opportunities to shoot were few, but I eagerly pursued eland, impala, bushbuck, and even cape buffalo, enthusiastically describing the details over sundowners while Tommy waited, cocktail in hand, for me to say if I’d actually shot anything. I’d tracked many a mile with Steve, but the perspective changes significantly when the observer becomes the hunter. It’s not just a sense of power but of obligation. It’s not life or death when a photographer misses a shot. As the end of the hunt approached with very little to show for it in the skinning shed, it clicked in my mind what my dream might have meant—it was Steve’s way of saying, “I’m proud of you, but this isn’t going to be easy!”.

As the charter transferred us from our camp in the Bubye Valley Conservancy to Hwange National Park, the primary purpose of my journey was on my mind. I stared down at the rugged landscape as my finger kept tracing words from the Book of Matthew—‘And Lo, I am with you always’—inscribed on another bracelet, a gift received shortly after Steve’s death. It’s a beautiful reminder of God’s presence and Steve’s guidance. I had just completed my first hunt, and now I was headed to Hwange to honor my husband in a way I could only hope would make him smile even more. Steve Smith was the man who always advised me to “take a lot of photos because we’re not coming back—we’ve got too many other places to see”. But I knew this man would have gladly traded the rest of the world for one more chance to return to Zimbabwe. Texas had our hearts, but the Zimbabwean people, the wildlife, and the resilient nature of both was embedded in our souls. As the plane landed at Hwange airport, we were greeted by the sight of a huge Texas flag being 116 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

waved from atop a Landcruiser. It felt like I was coming home.

I had been approached by Tommy Morrison of Sporting International and Mark Butcher of Imvelo Safari Lodges in June 2020 with a proposal to honor Steve’s memory, and I could think of no better tribute than what became the Steve’s Pan Project. Butcher tackled the groundwork in Zimbabwe while Tommy rallied the troops stateside and recruited Tony and Mitzy McCorvey, Ty and Becky Hunter, Shaun and Angie Nelson, Mark and Julianne King, and Danny and Shirley Butler to the support team. A location in a remote area of Hwange National Park which desperately needed a well workover was selected as our site. Imvelo had already established a primitive tented camp, Jozibanini, and the staff there witnessed the pressures of an unsustainable growing elephant population. Steve and I had visited there on our final trip to Zimbabwe together in 2016.

We had remained at the pan past dark one evening surrounded by beasts we could not see, listening to their shadowy tummy rumblings as they calmly drank, oblivious to or uncaring of our presence. Facts may have decided the choice of borehole location, but Jozi was destined to carry Steve’s name.

Arriving at Hwange we met up with Mark Butcher, his wife Antonia and daughters Baelyn and Bo. Fellow Texans Darren and Mary Granger joined the team. Videographer Lauri Alanthwaite, who had captured our hunt in the Bubye, stayed on to record the official opening of Steve’s Pan. Together we enjoyed game drives, drilled with the anti-poaching unit, visited local communities and toured a school supported by the McCorvey family. One of the activities which Steve and I always enjoyed on previous trips to Hwange was a pump run through the park, which involved a full day of dropping off fuel and supplies to each of the boreholes supported by Imvelo. Our road trip to Jozibanini camp allowed for those who had never had the opportunity to do this to

Above: Project team members at the site where fresh borehole water from the troughs empties into Steve’s Pan. Below: Suzanne Hixson pours water brought from Texas into one of the troughs which feed Steve’s Pan. In the background is the look-up blind designed to blend into nature.

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understand the vastness of this national park. Over the next two days we celebrated the success of the pan project with impromptu dedication ceremonies and more than a few cool drinks.

Around a campfire, under a magnificent African night sky of shooting stars which we were convinced Steve had a hand in sending our way, Mark Butcher spoke of the history of Jozibanini.

Originally a ranger station established in the 1970’s to protect this sector of the park, a borehole, or water well, was drilled by park staff to supplement a nearby pan. A pan is a naturally occurring depression in the earth that holds water during the wet season. As wildlife, specifically, elephants, drink, stomp, and fling mud the pans become larger and deeper. The long southern African dry season, often exacerbated by drought, means many pans are left empty for months. Man-made pumps powered by windmills, introduced to the park in the 1920s, helped to bridge the gap for decades. Generator-powered pumps were eventually introduced, and today solar or diesel-solar hybrids are being utilized at most boreholes in Hwange. For about a twenty-year period, the borehole at Jozibanini provided adequate water to supplement the natural pan. When the economic and political climate of Zimbabwe changed in the early 90s one of the first things to suffer was the maintenance of national parks. By the year 2000 the Jozibanini ranger station had been abandoned, the pump shut down, and the roads left untended.

For over a decade, few humans made the trek there. Then, in 2012, researchers approached park officials to document the elephant migration and the impact of pumped pans. As many as fifty thousand elephants have been known to travel through Hwange National Park annually. There are natural food and One of the first thirsty customers at Steve’s Pan.

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water resources to provide for about one third of this number.

As a model of what would result if pumping were shut down completely in Hwange, Mark Butcher escorted a film crew to the remains of Jozibanini. They discovered a dry pan surrounded by no less than three herds of elephant cows and calves. Desperately moving from pan to pan seeking water, the older females had resorted to returning to the places they remembered drinking from as calves. These elephants led their families fifty miles to a place they drank forty years before, only to find cracked earth and little chance of making it to the next possible water. Upwards of one thousand elephants died that year from drought. The ease of harvesting tusks from dead elephants created an opportunity for ivory gatherers who sold to Chinese markets. Nature played a cruel trick on their trade in 2013 with abundant rains reducing natural deaths. With demand for ivory still high, poaching became commonplace and the practice of poisoning pans with cyanide was soon epidemic. Not only did the poison kill every elephant that drank, but it also killed off other wildlife and the scavengers which fed on the carcasses.

In an attempt to reclaim the Jozibanini pan and surrounding area, Imvelo Safaris constructed their photographic camp in 2014.

The 1970’s borehole was put back into use, pumping approximately fifteen hundred liters per hour—a good amount of water, until one learns that a single bull elephant can consume two hundred liters in one hour. This left nothing for cows and calves, who were often seen on their knees peering into the troughs, waiting for the water to replenish. As alternative means of controlling the elephant population faced roadblocks, the herd sizes increased steadily for the next five years and by 2019 the pans were being consumed

more rapidly, resulting in young calves dying from thirst or being trampled by aggressive older elephants in fights over water. The once sufficient borehole was obsolete. When the Steve’s Pan Project was initiated, Jozibanini was on the shortlist of sites. Engineers determined that at eighty-five meters, the depth of the original borehole, there was still good water. They believed that below that, through roughly another forty meters of rock, was a significant aquifer. The Steve’s Pan team had to take a gamble on pre-emptively building concrete troughs to hold the water and setting in place overflow pipes to feed the pan. This needed to be done before the rainy season even though the actual drilling of the borehole would not take place for a few more months. The logistics of moving the necessary equipment to the distant location required extra planning and expense as well.

Butcher, with over forty years of experience drilling wells in Hwange, admitted this would be one of his biggest challenges, but if the water we thought was there could be tapped, it would be a game-changer for this part of the park.

The drill hit good water at eighty-five meters as predicted. Mark Butcher was in constant communication with the rig foreman and messaged me to not start drinking champagne just yet but to put a bottle in the cooler. He instructed the crew to attempt to drill through the rock. At one hundred-ten A photograph of Steve Smith, taken on his final visit to Zimbabwe, has a place in the meters, the water shot up and out over the look-up blind at Jozibanini Camp. His words are taken from a letter written as his cancer rig, giving everyone a proper washdown. It journey began. was suggested I should open two bottles of bubbly. We had gone from producing fifteen hundred liters to seven-thousand liters per hour. The timing could a common goal. Collaborating on this project also changed my not have been better, as the migration from west to east had begun life. What began as a means to honor my husband inspired me and twenty thousand elephants were expected to pass through to step out of my comfort zone and test my shooting skills, Jozibanini. We hurriedly organized the installation of a more something Steve had always encouraged but I had always declined substantial solar-diesel hybrid pump to handle the additional by teasingly pointing out that if I started hunting, his trophy fee volume. Even during times of high demand, the troughs are budget could get cut in half. I have no regrets that I chose to be providing good clean water and are a favorite watering hole for his ‘and one observer’. It gave me joy to follow his love of hunting elephants and their human guests, who often get splashed while and to be alongside him as he pursued his passion. Although enjoying the view from the comfort of the look-up blind.

I had often claimed the title of hunter, feeling worthy from On the morning we reluctantly departed Steve’s Pan at my experiences spotting and stalking with a camera, I learned Jozibanini our trucks topped a ridge and immediately came to that there are marked differences in how the hunter views the a halt. We scrambled to crawl on the roof racks for a view of an environment and how the photographer frames it. It remains to estimated one thousand elephants all making their way in the be seen if my desire to hunt will ever equal Steve’s, but I do know direction from which we had just come. It was an overwhelming that should I choose to carry on in the hunting lifestyle that he feeling to know that when they arrived at Steve’s Pan they would will be with me always. all drink. A few weeks after returning from Zimbabwe I received For someone who enjoys words, I seem to be at a loss for them a whispered voice message from Mark Butcher. He was sitting when trying to express my gratitude to the remarkable friends in the blind at Jozi with photographic clients. In a hushed tone who made this project possible. Steve Smith would know exactly he described observing hundreds of elephants drinking their fill. what to say. He would be proud of what we accomplished. He Steve was no doubt smiling. would be thankful to have had all of you in his life, and even Steve’s Pan changed lives in Hwange National Park by more thankful that you are still in my life. He would appreciate providing for wildlife, which will in turn bring tourism to support the honor of having his name memorialized, but he would also local communities. The project is evidence that conservationists, insist that Steve’s Pan is a legacy that belongs to all of us who whether hunters or non-hunters, can indeed cooperate towards love wildlife and wild places as he did. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 119

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Andy Buc:frlaraara Africa born TIA FIVE founder Andy Buchanan is here to help you find the perfect hunting destination regar:dless of your: price point. "frlA FIVE produces the hit TV show "This is Africa" which aims at promoting the prosperity of Africa's wildlife through conservation Hunting. proudly sponsored by the Houston Safari Club Foundation.

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120 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 121

BOARDMEMBERSPOTLIGHT MEM

BE

Get To Know Me!

R

5 Minutes With HSCF Board Member James Lofton

1.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF HSCF?

I’ve only been a member of HSCF for 3 years, once I discovered the group shortly after moving back to the Houston area after many years away.

2.

WHY DID YOU WANT TO SERVE ON THE HSCF OR HSC BOARD?

I embraced the mission and vision of this organization and wanted to do my part in helping protect and preserve our hunting heritage. As a lifelong avid hunter and an outspoken advocate of hunters’ rights, I no longer was content with just sitting back and hoping others would do the work needed.

After meeting several board members, I found they had the same passion and dedication to hunting, and I wanted to be a part of this fantastic group.

3.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH AS A BOARD MEMBER?

All great organizations like this need a tremendous number of volunteers to keep the wheels turning. My desire is to help expand the reach and influence of HSCF with our members, our community, and our leaders. I hope to help strengthen the legacy and impact of this organization in Texas, the United States, and around the world.

I’ve had the privilege of chairing the grant committee since 2020 and take pride in helping direct our organization’s funds towards youth, conservation, education, veterans, and hunters’ rights. These grants change people’s lives and impact the hunting community around the world.

To sum it up – I want to preserve, protect and share the great sport of hunting.

4.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING AN HSCF MEMBER?

My favorite part is making new friends with other members. When you are attending an HSCF event, you feel like you are in a hunting camp, surrounded by lifelong friends. There 122 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

are lots of stories about adventures taken and adventures on the horizon. Regardless of whether you want to talk about hunting squirrels in the forest of East Texas, elk in the Rockies, or kudu in Africa, someone in our family of members has been there and is willing to quickly offer advice or just share memories. This club respects family, our country, and the great outdoors the world over.

5.

WHAT IS/WAS YOUR CAREER FIELD?

I have worked in the oil and gas industry my entire career and am currently a co-owner in an O&G Service company.

6.

PREFERRED HUNTING WEAPONRIFLE, SHOTGUN OR BOW?

I love to bow hunt but have often said I will hunt with any weapon, for anything, anywhere given the chance.

7.

WHAT IS THE ONE ITEM YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE SHIPWRECKED ON AN ISLAND?

A knife

8.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST CHALLENGING HUNTING EXPERIENCE?

I’d have to say it was a bow hunt in southern Colorado for elk. This was a DIY hunt on public lands in mountains I’d never set foot in before. We put over 50 miles on our boots in 5 days, climbing to 11,000 ft (did you know torch lighters don’t work at that elevation? We found out the hard way!) Even though I never let an arrow loose, it was an awesome hunt in a beautiful country that I will always remember.

9.

OF ALL THE SPECIES YOU HAVE HUNTED, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?

Ah, the question with no easy answer. The great thing about hunting is all the different experiences we get to enjoy. It’s hard to beat the elk in the majestic setting of the Rocky Mountains, challenging and in a beautiful setting. But I also cherish the 2 kudu hunts in Africa, also very challenging, in a land far away. One final favorite is dove hunting in Argentina. The sheer volume of birds is hard to comprehend with endless shooting and fun with family and friends.

10.

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE 18-YEAR-OLD VERSION OF YOURSELF?

Go see and experience as many places as you can in this great country of ours before the constraints of full adulthood get in the way. Time is a commodity that can never be regained. And PS – buy the Kansas and Oklahoma lifetime hunting licenses while you live there.

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HSCFPHSPOTLIGHT

Meet Erik Visser of Quagga Safaris

1.

WHAT IS THE PRIMARY AREA AND GAME FOR WHICH YOU GUIDE?

I had the privilege of hunting in most of the Southern Africa countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Tanzania, and Namibia. Over the past 30 years, I hunted most species occurring in these countries, including all the Big 5 and other dangerous game.

Currently, I spend most of my time as an outfitter. I primarily hunt the Limpopo Province of South Africa, where I specialize now in Buffalo hunting.

2.

HOW DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL HUNTER?

My uncle introduced me to hunting at a young age, and the love for that developed into wanting to learn more, to develop more skills and experience. This lead to attending a professional hunting school in 1991. While attending this course, I realized I want to do that full-time and professionally. That is where it started and developed into the dream of building up a leading safari company.

3.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST DANGEROUS HUNT?

During the past 30 years, I was involved in a number of very dangerous situations that included hunts of buffalo, leopard, elephant, and lions.

Every dangerous situation is so different and every dangerous species has such a different attitude and approach; it is difficult to call one more dangerous than another. If I have to rank them, it would probably be a leopard that we followed after being wounded by a bow hunter. A leopard is very fast without any warning, more like a chainsaw on steroids.

4.

WHAT DO YOU WANT A FIRSTTIME CLIENT TO KNOW BEFORE HUNTING WITH YOU?

Safety when hunting or using firearms is always the most

124 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

important. Therefore, I would like first-time clients to know their equipment and safety walking behind me. That helps to have fun together and build memories together while the focus is on the experience together.

5.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING HUNTING AND HUNTERS TODAY?

I have seen many changes in the industry and world over the past 30 years. I think social media took away privacy and through that, we face the impact of anti-hunters and groups that do not understand why we hunt. This also had an impact on what the youth think of hunting. So, it’s not “cool” to the youth. I’m concerned that we will end up with a generation that does not hunt anymore. Most important is for parents to explain to the kids why we hunt and take them on hunting and safari trips.

6.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HUNTING WEAPON AND/OR CALIBER?

I think any hunter or professional hunter owns a few weapons or calibers but grabs one most of the time, as it feels good and grew on you.

I always enjoyed walking with my Marlin 30-30 when on plains game safari and my Krieghoff .470 NE on dangerous game.

7.

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT HUNTING?

When I’m not hunting as a PH I take my children for hunting.

Being that I am also the owner and outfitter of Quagga Safaris, I spend most of my time on that and marketing and having fun with friends and family but still out in the Africa bush.

8.

FAVORITE MEAL?

Any barbecue or “braai” as we call it in South Africa. As long as it’s around the fire and on coals.

Eland steaks are probably our favorite next to lamb chops and “braai broodjie” (grilled sandwich on coals).

9.

WHY DO YOU HUNT?

I hunt because of the experience to be close to nature and just the challenge out there. It clears your mind like playing golf. It makes you focus on one thing, the hunt. Even if not always successful by a kill, the hunt is the experience. I hunt as PH because it’s a fantastic profession. It’s a lifestyle, not a job, and I do it out of the challenge to help my client to have fun, action and success.

10.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU COULD NOT DO YOUR JOB WITHOUT?

Include name of PH, business name, contact information (phone, email, website URL).

I think the most important tool to be a PH is his binoculars, for sure lost without it.

Off course without clients I cannot do my job and without protection from God I would not be here.

Erik Visser QUAGGA SAFARIS

quagga.co.za

safari@quagga.co.za

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 125

Quagga Safaris invites you on safari to the 56 000 acre Manketti Game Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

• Celebrating 31 years as one of the leading Safari Companies in Africa • Quality at every aspect, personal attention, no large groups and attention to detail • Join our satisfied 80% return clientele on your next Classic Safari Experience Contact Outfitter: Erik Visser e: safari@quagga.co.za w: www.quagga.co.za Facebook: Quagga Safaris Instagram: quagga_safaris 126 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 127

Growing

ABOVE: The "Bucks and Babes Herd."

128 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Grit

A TEXAS BRIGADES EXPERIENCE

BY MADISON LUGO

ABOVE: Author practicing shooting. | BELOW: Team building exercise.

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Plant identification.

T

hanks to a generous donation by the Houston Safari leadership, and team building, as well as practice public speaking.

Club Foundation, I was blessed to be able to attend North Texas Buckskin Brigade was such an amazing experiNorth Texas Buckskin Brigade at Warren Ranch in ence, I will remember this forever! It was so great to make friends Santa Anna, TX this summer. from all over the state of Texas who share a love for hunting I really wanted to attend camp to learn more and conservation. There are not many people from my school about managing and hunting whitetail deer. I have who understand and share this passion. When I first arrived at been hunting for about 3 years now, and I look forward to playing Warren Ranch in July, we were separated into “herds” where a stronger role as a hunter in the conservation of Texas’ natural we learned and competed throughout the week as a team. Our resources. Not only that, but I also hoped herd had the best name at camp, we were that I could improve my public speaking called the Bucks and Babes! Throughout abilities and this would help me take on the week, we worked on cadence calling Before camp, I was very more leadership roles inside and outside of and marching and towards the end of shy. I would rarely speak school. Before camp, I was already involved the week, most of us had lost our voices in front of people and in some outdoor activities. I am currently from yelling so much. One of my favoronly do so when there a member of Venture Scouts Crew .3006, ite things about camp was the hands-on was no other choice. where all our crew activities are hunting experiences. From the beginning, we were and shooting-related. I am also NRAgetting our hands dirty! On the first day After camp, I became certified as Range Safety Officer, Shotgun, of camp, we got to participate in a deer much more confident in and Pistol Instructor. Furthermore, I am necropsy and sift through the contents of myself and my ability to heavily involved in my high school FFA the doe’s stomach to learn about her diet, speak in front of people. program, acting as our chapter reporter which tied into our daily plant identificaand currently raising a steer, hog, and rabtion lessons. I really enjoyed getting to see bits for show. I have a love for the outdoors real-life fawn fetuses at different stages of and try to find any opportunity to learn more and get involved! development that day.

Texas Brigades is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that Throughout camp, we learned about ideal conditions for deer develops youth conservation leaders in every community. They habitat. Successful deer management does not happen automatioffer 8 different summer camps during the months of June and cally or by accident. The main things they need to thrive are July. The camps cover everything from deer, quail, bass, waterproper access to food, cover, water, and space. Habitat should fowl, and cattle. North Texas Buckskin Brigade summer camp have a variety of grasses, forbs, and browse available. Ideally, invites youth “cadets” ages 13-17 to study deer anatomy, physiolthere are large tracts of cover, including moderate to thick brush. ogy, habitat, learn plant identification, apply aging and scoring A great example of browse is Cedar Elm. The leaves and new techniques, practice surveying, firearm safety and shooting, twigs provide excellent browse value and good cover for deer.

130 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Bush Sunflower is a good quality forb, providing 26-31% crude protein in early spring. Canada Wild-rye grass is palatable and nutritious forage for whitetail deer. The land can have open spaces but must have cover within 50 yards. A permanent source of water is preferably within a ½ mile. Access to moving water is important, as whitetail deer typically drink about ¾ - 1 ½ gallons of water per day.

When hunting in the past, I heavily depended on my parent or a guide to help me pick a buck or doe and whether it was a good age to harvest or not. Now I know how to age deer before harvest and how to identify if it is a nubbin buck, spike, yearling, or mature whitetail deer. A few ways I learned to identify them are by the profile of the snout, the appearance of the neck, the top of the back, and knee patches. This will help me to be a more confident, independent hunter and future conservation leader. I was already interested in aging deer after harvest, using a laminated chart that my grandpa shared gave me, but at camp, we learned even more about the basic parts of the deer jawbone and teeth, as well as how to best identify the deer based on how many teeth are present and the condition or wear of the molars.

In addition to learning about everything from deer anatomy to sharpening our shooting skills on the gun range, we frequently repeated the motto “hydrate so you don’t DIE-drate!” As you know, Texas summers can be brutal, so we made sure to stay well hydrated throughout the week.

I had a great time taking out trucks after dark to survey for bucks, does, and fawns. Surveying is so much fun! It can also be done using game cameras or helicopter. Using a helicopter is the most expensive method and can result in under-counted deer populations. After we surveyed, the data was used to plan the buck and doe harvest for the next year. This helps to keep the deer populations stable, improve the habitat, increase buck numbers, as well as improve the size of the bucks harvested. In the future, I hope to work in wildlife management, so learning how to collect data and use it to develop the best deer populations was very exciting!

Texas Brigades helps to prepare us as confident land stewards.

On the fourth day of camp, we participated in a mock stakeholder meeting. We were assigned groups or organizations of a make-believe town called Deer Haven. The deer were starting to overrun the neighborhood, so the town had a scheduled meeting to vote on a solution to the deer problem. Our group was given the hard job of representing the “save the animals” approach. My herd dressed up, made signs, and prepared our solution. It was a tough job! Public speaking has been one of my biggest fears for the better part of my life, but I was able to introduce myself and present in front of a big group of people.

Being pushed out of my comfort zone has helped me to be a better FFA officer, and I am so grateful that Brigades helped me with that. Our herd didn’t win this competition, but I learned a lot about the process and how important it is to get involved in your community and state.

The last night of camp is called poster night. After four long days and nights, (and about 8-12 hours of sleep total) we got to design a poster to use for future conservation presentations.

Mine was titled, “What’s on the Menu?” It was based on what we learned about plant identification. It breaks down the different types of plants into the following categories: browse, forbs and grasses. I was excited when my poster was voted the “Top Poster” of camp this year! It is currently on display in the Ag

Author at graduation.

room at my high school. I will use it to present on Texas Brigades over the next year. Camp cadets stay involved over the next year as Texas Brigades ambassadors, encouraged to share what they learned at camp with youth in their community.

North Texas Buckskin Brigade has really changed my life!

Before camp, I was very shy. I would rarely speak in front of people and only do so when there was no other choice. After camp, I became much more confident in myself and my ability to speak in front of people. During camp, cadets are assigned a quote that we had to memorize. It’s called our silver bullet. My quote was by Thomas Edison. “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.” What that means to me is that you can have a really good idea, but that is only a small part of it. The biggest part of it is actually putting in the hard work. Just recently, my Ag advisor said that I have grit. I believe that North Texas Buckskin Brigade helped me to develop this grit. I truly did not realize how much I could learn, accomplish, and achieve before my week at North Texas Buckskin Brigade. I would highly recommend this camp to anyone who is interested in learning more about hunting, conservation, or its leadership opportunities. It was the opportunity of a lifetime! I look forward to continuing to represent Texas Brigades in the coming year and hope to spread hunting and conservation education to young people in the Houston area. ★ CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ 131

Above: Bill Carter & Mike Simpson

LOOKING

BACK

By Tommy Morrison

Below: (l-r) Sally Swiedom, Bill Hintze, Doris Hintze, Pug Mostyn & Ron Mostyn

132 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2022

Above: Gene & Robin Human Below middle: Anna & Tommy Morrison Below bottom: Mike & Becky Simpson

Above: Kerry O’Day Below: Bert Klienberger

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© 2019

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CONVENTION 2022 HUNTER’S HORN™ iii

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