Texas Dove Hunters Magazine - Fall 2018

TEXAS

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com

DOVE HUNTERS

Official Publication of the Texas Dove Hunters Association

MAGAZINE FALL 2018

CARTER SMITH TRAINING BIRD DOGS:

DEVOTED TO THE OUTDOORS

START THEM YOUNG

Plus “WOULDN’T HAVE MISSED IT” MAKING MEMORIES IN THE FIELD

Growing the next generation of hunters and wildlife ambassadors

CONTENTS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

6 LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER 15 TEXAS BB CHALLENGE

20 RETRIEVERS IN THE FIELD

10

CARTER SMITH

Mixing Business with Pleasure

26 OUTFITTERS SECTION 28 SCHOLARSHIPS

30 FAMILIES IN THE FIELD 32 FIELD GEAR 34 HABITAT

36 WILD ABOUT DOVE RECIPE 38 SHOOTING TIPS

40 PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD 43 CALENDAR

18

TRAINING BIRD DOGS Letting them learn to love retrieving

44 CHAPTER NEWS 47 RESEARCH

48 TDHA STORE

TEXAS

DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE

Official Publication of the Texas Dove Hunters Association

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com Publisher J. MICHAEL GAFFNEY Editor SUSAN THORNTON Graphic Design TAMARA HOOKS Contributing Photographer TOM GARZA ERIC GRAHMANN JONI HUWE EMILY JASCHKE STEVE SHEAFFER JAY SCHWISOW RALPH WININGHAM Contributors GIL ASH TOM GARZA GARRETT GILL ERIC GRAHMANN STEVE SHEAFFER HAYLEE UPTERGROVE RALPH WININGHAM Advertising Sales CINDY JENNINGS PATRICIA MCGRATH Administration & Customer Service NANCY A. GAFFNEY Printing Shweiki Media, San Antonio, TX

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WOULDN’T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD A mom’s perspective

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TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE is published bi-annually

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TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE reserves the right to edit all materials for clarity and space and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors or omissions. TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS MAGAZINE does not knowingly accept false or misleading advertisements or editorial, nor does the Publisher assume responsibility should such advertising or editorial appear. Articles and photographs are welcome and may be submitted to our offices to be used subject to the discretion and review of the Publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright ©2015 Pixelworks Corporation.

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4 | FALL 2018

Publication

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

It’s August and getting ready for hunting season is on everyone’s mind. On the cover of this issue is someone who is no exception to the excitement of this time of year. Carter Smith, Executive Director of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is a strong advocate not only for the sports of hunting and fishing but for any activity involving the great outdoors and some of the state’s amazing natural resources. Also, in this edition are many fantastic articles on dog training, shooting instruction, dove habitat, research and our also information on First Flight Youth Day coming up in San Antonio on August 18.

Texas Dove Hunters Association is now involved in a habitat research project with West Texas A&M. They are conducting a 3-year study on native habitats beneficial in the panhandle for dove, quail, and pheasant to be able to inhabit the same areas for landowners who want all three species. This extensive study will be available for reference once completed. Now in our 6th year, thanks to your continued support in membership and donations to our new donor program, TDHA is making some real progress.

Saving the best for last, I want to tell you about a very exciting new TDHA program. Please take time to read the article on page 15 about the “Texas BB Challenge.” The BB (banded bird) Challenge is a chance for any hunter with a Texas hunting license who shoots a banded Eurasian collared dove to win one of many fantastic prizes donated by our Texas BB Challenge sponsors. The birds are being trapped, banded and released by TDHA trappers all over the state. When you harvest dove this season, you never know which ones might be Eurasian Collared doves.

The other benefit of the BB Challenge is that every bird banded released and harvested is recorded as part of a research program to study Eurasian Collard Dove.

Your entry not only gives you the chance to win, but it also goes to help fund the research program. This data will be collected for many years to come as we learn more about this species that has infiltrated our state. Don’t go to the field without your BB Challenge entry, you will kick yourself all the way home if you harvest one and you haven’t entered beforehand.

Keep shooting, pick up your empties and take a kid hunting with you this year, it’s a memory you both will cherish forever.

Best Regards,

Bobby Thornton

6 | FALL 2018

MISSION STATEMENT: TDHA represents people of all ages who share a love for wing shooting and desire to preserve the sport and our natural habitat for future generations. We promote strong family unity through hunting and youth programs. The association is committed to research, education and restoration of natural habitats. Through our efforts we will support legislation protecting proper game management rules and regulations.

TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION CORPORATE OFFICE

900 N.E. Loop 410 Suite D213 San Antonio, TX 78209 Off: (210) 764-1189 Fax: (866) 233-0507 email: info@texasdovehunters.com www.texasdovehunters.com

FOUNDER

Bobby Thornton

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Susan Thornton

YOUTH ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR Jeff McMillan

PHOTOGRAPHER Jay Schwisow

DESIGN CONSULTANTS Jake Starr Tony Rodriguez

INTERN

Andrew Sharrick

BOBBY THORNTON FOUNDER

JEFF MCMILLAN

YOUTH ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR

TONY RODRIGUEZ

DESIGN CONSULTANT

SUSAN THORNTON

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

JAY SCHWISOW

PHOTOGRAPHER

JAKE STARR

DESIGN CONSULTANT

Texas Dove Hunters Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is funded through membership, fundraisers and donations. All donations are tax deductible. TDHA serves as a voice for the dove industry and as a liaison between hunters, outfitters and property owners.

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 7

TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Anthony V. Bass, O.D. - Amarillo, TX Tim Garcia – Houston TX David Heflin, D.V.M. – Mission, TX Don Jones - Corpus Christi, TX Bobby Thornton – San Antonio, TX JB Kolodzey – Ex-Officio Board Member

ANTHONY V. BASS O.D.

AMARILLO , TEXAS

DAVID HEFLIN, D.V.M

MISSION, TEXAS

BOBBY THORNTON SAN ANTONIO , TEXAS

TIM GARCIA

HOUSTON , TEXAS

DON JONES

CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS

JB KOLODZEY

EX- OFFICIO BOARD MEMBER

Corporate Sponsors

For more information on becoming a corporate sponsor contact our office at 210-764-1189

8 | FALL 2018

FEATURE

CARTER SMITH

CARTER SMITH

A Career Guided By A Love For Texas Outdoors

By Ralph Winningham

The memory of bagging his first white-tailed deer at the tender age of 12 remains a vivid and cherished recollection of Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

“It was Christmas Eve, and I was sitting in a tree stand with my Dad,’’ Smith said during a break in his duties helping manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of the Texas wildlife wonderland since January 2008.

“About 5 p.m., a doe walked out of the brush and into the

10 | FALL 2018

open, about 45 yards away,” he said. “I shot her with an opensights .30-30 lever action, and my dad and I used a pocket guide he carried in his back pocket to field dress her.”

“We left her hanging in a big mesquite tree, and we rushed back to a family gathering where I must have told everyone a hundred times that I had shot my first deer,” Smith recalled.

“They all had the same reaction – sharing the pride of a young boy harvesting his first deer. Looking back at that time of my life has inspired me to spend a lot of my time and effort giving

A succssful hunt for Carter as a young man

Smith is responsible for overseeing an agency of 3,100 professionals in 11 different divisions, including Wildlife, Law Enforcement, State Parks, Coastal Fisheries, and Inland Fisheries.

Concerning his formative years developing a respect and admiration of the outdoors, Smith said he is extremely grateful for the efforts of his parents, along with a family friend and still favorite hunting buddy, Lance Tompkins.

“My parents like to hunt, but they don’t love to hunt,” he said. “I love to hunt. They were very supportive and recognized that was my passion. I was blessed to have farms and ranches where I could go to hunt. I was always more interested in chasing hogs, or quail, or doves than I was in chasing cattle.’’

Smith said that Tompkins was like a young uncle or older brother who took him under his wing and taught him marksmanship, hunting safety, conservation, and how to prepare for a hunt, among many other necessary outdoor skills.

“It was such an extraordinary relationship – he took me hunting every chance we would get,” he said. “We still get together to hunt whenever we can.”

Despite his hectic schedule as executive director, Smith said he makes a point of setting aside outdoor time with family or friends several days a year, adding, “I get grumpy if I don’t.”

The veteran wingshooter said that as he has developed his shooting skills, he has selected a quick handling and lighter recoil 20 gauge over and under – a Beretta Silver Pigeon – as his bird and clay target shotgun of choice. However, the venerable Remington Model 870 12 gauge pump that he cradled in his arms during many hunting seasons in his younger days still holds a special place in his heart.

Whenever possible, Smith said he participates in events such as Operation Game Thief sporting clay benefits to help

back to kids and those interested in enjoying Texas wildlife.”

The 50-year-old Smith, who admittedly wished he had more free time dedicated to hunting and fishing as part of his lifelong outdoor passion, began his professional career in 1992 as a management intern at TP&WD, working as a biologist with the Private Lands and Public Hunting programs.

He worked on a variety of research projects ranging from studying moose in the boreal forests of Saskatchewan, to monitoring mule deer and pronghorn antelope in far West Texas, to compiling data on waterfowl in the Laguna Madre of Texas and Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Smith likes to say he grew up with “one foot in the city and one in the country,” with the Austin native juggling his urban/rural schedule between the Texas Capitol and his family’s farm and ranch land in Gonzales, Williamson and Edwards counties.

He earned a wildlife management degree from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in conservation biology from Yale University. Prior to his selection as TP&WD executive director, Smith was with The Nature Conservancy of Texas, serving as state director.

Smith

enjoys sharing precious outdoor time with his wife, Stacy. www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 11

raise funds for the program and other wildlife management efforts. The annual Karnes City Lonesome Dove Fest, the largest family-oriented festival of its kind held on the opening day of the South Zone dove season, is another favorite of his.

“The Lonesome Dove Fest is at the top of my list because of the wonderful mix of people involved,” he said. “The entire community gets together to help raise funds for scholarships for local kids.”

The festival’s mission of helping families and friends enjoy the outdoors while supporting the younger generation helps inspire him to work as hard as he can to encourage everyone to support and experience the extraordinary wildlife wonderland of the Lone Star State, Smith added.

On a more personal note, Smith said he particularly enjoys sharing precious outdoor hours with his wife, Stacy, who has become quite skilled at thinning down the state’s feral hog population, and with their 5-year-old son, Ryland.

“My son is a little young, but he loves to get out to the ranch. I started tagging along with my Dad when I was six or seven and shot my first dove with a single-shot 410 when I was nine. I plan to start him out just like me – retrieving birds

12 | FALL 2018

Carter Smith with his 5 year old son Ryland

– until he is ready to shoot a shotgun,” he said. “My formative years were in the outdoors. I was blessed to be exposed to so much wildlife, nature and the land. That is something I wish everyone could share.”

For complete catalog: CZ-USA.com To purchase: dave@cz-usa.com

FEATURE

BANDED BIRDS

TDHA BANDED BIRD CONTEST KICKS OFF THIS SEASON

By Ralph Winningham

Texas Dove Hunters Association is kicking off a challenge this season to promote dove hunting by bird baggers of all ages, compile valuable research data, and give up to 300 wingshooters a chance to be a winner.

"We have been developing the Texas BB (Banded Bird) Challenge for some time as a way to promote our organization and the dove hunting industry while gathering valuable research information," said Bobby Thornton, founder of the TDHA. The challenge is modeled after the very successful Coastal Conservation Association State of Texas Angler Rodeo (STAR) tagged redfish contest, with an added bonus of being part of the first effort of its kind to compile information on Eurasian Collared Doves in Texas.

"As far as we know, there have been no extensive studies conducted on Eurasian doves anywhere in the country," Thornton said.

The birds that first entered the United States in the 1980s and have rapidly spread across the South, including nearly all the counties in Texas, are considered an invasive species that can be hunted year round with no bag limit.

"Game birds like mourning doves and white-winged doves have been monitored for many years, but this is the first program specifically designed for Eurasians," Thornton said.

TDHA trappers from all areas of the state are capturing, banding and releasing 300 Eurasian Collared Doves this year.

The bands have been placed on the left leg of each bird.

Emblazoned in large letters on the band is the line: “Winner!

Call 210-764-1189 or go to www.texasdovehunters.com.�

"The challenge will help gather data, and we hope it will encourage more and more hunters to get out in the field,'' Thornton said, explaining that the harvest report to be completed on each of the bagged, banded birds is very similar to the data gathered as part of on-going research conducted on migratory game birds.

Both the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department have monitored mourning doves and white-winged doves for many years through programs such as banded birds in order to study migration habits, climate

14 | FALL 2018

The Texas Banded Bird Challenge compiles information on the invasive species of Eurasian Collared Doves.

Registered hunters that report birds are eligible to win prizes.

preferences, and survival and harvest rates to help determine hunting regulations.

Thornton said the Texas BB Challenge is designed to assist in the monitoring effort while fulfilling the TDHA mission of promoting strong family unity through hunting and youth programs and being committed to research, education and habitat conservation.

"One of the things we are emphasizing is that everyone who enters our contest and harvests a banded bird is a winner,'' he said.

The entry fee for the contest is $20 for ages 14 and older, making the registered hunter who bags a banded bird eligible for a prize drawing including a Polaris Ranger UTV donated

by Hoffpauir Outdoors of Goldthwaite, CZ-USA shotguns, Frio Ice Chests, Chippewa snake boots, and TDHA lifetime, 3-year and annual memberships. Youth aged 10 though 13 are free but must enter the contest in order to be eligible to win, should they harvest a banded bird.

There is also a First Flight high school division (14 years -18) featuring a prize of a $1,000 scholarship; a First Flight youth division (10 though 13 years old) with a prize of a guided dove hunt for two; and a Guide/Outfitter division with a prize of a guided trophy trout fishing trip for two on Baffin Bay. Entry forms and a complete set of guidelines for the Texas BB Challenge are available on the TDHA website at www.texasdovehunters.com.

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DOG TRAINING

TRAINING BIRD DOGS

Let Them Learn to Love Retrieving

By Tom Garza

You have just welcomed home the cutest furry four-legged new addition to your bird hunting family, now what? How can you make them the next hunting legend? What are the first steps? We have been asked these questions and many more time and time again; how do you raise the best retrieving companion? My answer: Just like building your life, it all starts with a solid foundation; have a strong crate training method and start retrieving on day one. Its instinctive to start obedience early on, however, building a strong desire to retrieve first is much more important at this young age.

When we arrive home with a new puppy, one of the first and most important steps we take is crate training. Not only will the crate be the pup’s bed, it also becomes their “comfort place”; a place to eat, sleep, and relax. A crate is in no way “cruel” and is never used for punishment. Dogs who are crate trained properly at a young age love being in crates throughout their lives, and are much better citizens in the household and 18 | FALL 2018

the field. Their crate will be used to feed them, keep them out of trouble while you are away, and helps motivate them to work / play during training times.

During day one, it is very common for the new puppy to cry when first left unattended in their crate. Though hard to do, it is in your (and the pup’s) best interest to let them cry it out. If you come to the rescue every time the puppy throws a tantrum, you are teaching them that whining, crying, or barking, gives them what they want. DO NOT DO IT! You will regret it! Don’t let those cute eyes fool you, if you know they have had food, water, and their bladders recently emptied, just ignore them and they will quickly learn that they don’t always get their way. In our experience this will subside within the first 24-48 hours, with the first night being hell!

When talking about crate size, we start with a small crate just big enough for a food bowl and enough room for the pup to stand up and turn around. We move up in size as the pup

grows and learns to potty only outside. Dogs naturally do not want to lie in their own waste.

Limiting the space they have available to relief themselves will help them want to hold their bladder until they get to the grass outside. We begin the first week by letting them out about every 4 hours, and increase the time as the pup ages. If they potty in the crate, just take them outside and clean up. Don’t make a big deal out of it yet as they will learn with time it is much more pleasant to go outside.

The second most important step is retrieving. Retrieving begins immediately when the pup arrives home at 7 to 8 weeks of age. It is too often a common mistake to not work with the new puppy in fear of “ruining them”. Pups who start retrieving early on have a huge advantage over dogs that were not worked with when they began gun dog training!

A good time to begin a retrieving session is soon after the pup has been let out of their crate.

They will have pent-up energy making this a great time to use it. Keep retrieving very simple, fun, and always end with success. In the beginning, all your pup needs is 3-5 retrieves at a time, at a very short distance. You want to end right in the middle of all the excitement and leave them wanting more!!

If you do this 2 to 3 times a day, it can build tremendous drive to retrieve that will last a lifetime. We start with a soft squeak toy to get them interested, then quickly switch over to a small canvas “puppy bumper” or even a paint roller works really

well. They prefer the soft texture at this age rather than a plastic knobby bumper. Use lots of praise and encouragement, and if pup runs off DO NOT CHASE THEM, they will think it’s a game. Instead, walk the other way, cheer them on; and they will follow you. You can eliminate the option of running away by retrieving down a hallway or in the corner of a room. This will help them return straight to you; and realize the sooner they do, they get to retrieve again.

Formal obedience begins around 6 months of age. Prior to this they are enjoying being a puppy, getting well socialized, and learning to love retrieving. We will do some puppy obedience with dog food as a treat to teach some basic commands such as sit, here, heel, and name recognition. This is very simple and does not involve any correction, nor do we make them sit and stay to retrieve until much later during formal training. Too much too soon can take away their drive to retrieve.

Its good to take them on some “loose leash” walks but the main goal during all this time is for them to have FUN! It is much easier to steady up a dog later on who is crazy to retrieve, than it is to make them want to retrieve after they’ve lost interest.

Good luck with your new puppy!

Tom Garza and his wife, Samantha Garza, DVM are the owners of Lone Star Retrievers www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 19

BIRD DOGS WILL GIVE YOU ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY PERCENT: Keep Your Retriever From Overdoing It

By Steve Sheaffer

It was the long-awaited opening of the Texas South Zone Dove Season. Janie, my four-year-old black lab, and I were hunting with my longtime friend and outfitter Rene’ in Duval County. Always the pessimist, he had warned us not to expect the wave upon wave of eight to ten bird flights we sometimes see. Sure enough, the first hunt of the morning was not spectacular. Most of us downed three to four birds, while a few lucky guys in “the sweet spot” had close to ten.

Janie had performed well for her first hunt of the year. She retrieved the birds and brought them back to me with ease, her enjoyment obvious to any bystander. Well-trained retrievers are a priceless tool in any hunter’s arsenal, and Janie is no exception.

However, this furry companion of ours – whose drive to retrieve and desire to please her owner is rivaled by few other four-legged creatures – can have a tendency to overdo it in 20 | FALL 2018

the warm heat of Texas dove season. While our dogs may be willing to give us 150 percent at all times, it’s our responsibility to protect them and keep them from overdoing it.

Back at the camp, around mid-day, Rene’ suggested we try another field that could yield a better chance for us to finish our limits on the afternoon hunt. When 3:00 finally rolled around, we gathered for the short drive to the new field, the advantage being the groups of hay bales scattered across the hundred-plus acres of freshly mown grass.

After a bit of scouting, Janie and I picked a promising spot well away from the other hunters. In a hay bale group, there’s a cave-like space between two bales, which gave the two of us a good place to hunker down. We were almost completely concealed, with nothing showing but the top of my head as I scanned the skies above in all directions. With a place like this, our expectations of a high-volume hunt seemed to be well founded.

Soon, the birds began to arrive.

Thanks to our hiding spot, I was able to drop them on a regular basis. However, with the birds winging in from all directions, Janie was only able to mark the fall of a few. More often than not, most of our birds tumbled out of her sight. To her credit, she performed exceptionally, heeling out of the blind, lining in the direction of the fall, and then taking off upon my “back” command.

Early on in the hunt, she streaked in the general direction, then, when my whistle chirped softly to let her know she was in the area of the bird, she executed a short hunt. After nosing out the bird, my “huntin buddy” would proudly hustle back to deliver our prize.

However, the 100-degree heat began taking its toll on her. While Janie would never quit, her enthusiasm and pace slowed considerably with every retrieve. I continuously gave her a drink and a splash of water on her face, head and ears each time she returned. Having started her first retrieves at a dead run, she was now barely trotting after a downed bird, and only walking back for the delivery.

The hefty weight in my bird bag suggested I’d better take

Be sure to protect your dog from becoming overheated during a hunt.

Make sure you provide them with shade, water and rest.

a break to count our prizes. After the tally, we realized we only needed one to finish our limit. Judging by the tired dog at my side, I realized we needed to get the last bird in a hurry and head back sooner than later.

Janie was to my left at the edge of the haybales when a threesome appeared to my right, heading straight at us. I picked one, took aim, and dropped the little gray rocket just out of Janie’s sight, maybe thirty yards away.

One more time, she dutifully followed me out from behind the bales. Upon my release, she took off, but only in a fast walk. Once she reached the area of the fall, she let her nose do the work.

She winded it quickly, but suddenly the wounded bird flushed in her face and flew away, just above the Johnson grass.

With no regard for her heated and nearly exhausted state, this retriever of mine fired up and took off on an adrenalin-driven dash, her muzzle within inches of the struggling bird.

This was not the hot, dead-tired dog that I’d seen in the last half hour. This was one with the drive and excitement of a two-year-old hunting dog on its first retrieve. This was the Janie I remembered as a spry, energetic puppy. This was a retriever.

After sixty yards, the bird faltered and Janie nabbed it in mid-air. She rewarded herself with a slow return, about which I did not complain. I watched her poke along back to me in awe and wonder. It is still hard for me to understand how she could have summoned the energy and speed to catch that wounded bird, tired as she was. Then and there, I reflected on what a devine blessing it is to hunt with this amazing creature.

Janie is a good example of how a hunting dog will push its limits for the sake of the hunt. She’s strong, she’s driven, and she doesn’t give up easily. As owners, we have to keep an eye on these dogs of ours so they can keep retrieving for many years to come. There’s something special about a creature that gives us 150 percent all the time, every time. It’s our job to match that and give them 150 percent right back. www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 21

ZONE MAP & SEASON DATES

NORTH ZONE That portion of the state north of a line beginning at the International Bridge south of Fort Hancock; thence north along FM 1088 to State Highway 20; thence west along State Highway 20 to State Highway 148; thence north along State Highway 148 to Interstate Highway 10 at Fort Hancock; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to Interstate Highway 20; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 20 to Interstate Highway 30 at Fort Worth; thence northeast along Interstate Highway 30 to the Texas-Arkansas state line.

CENTRAL ZONE That portion of the state between the North Zone and the South Zone.

SOUTH ZONE That portion of the state south of a line beginning at the International Toll Bridge in Del Rio; thence northeast along U.S. Highway 277 Spur to U.S. Highway 90 in Del Rio; thence east along U.S. Highway 90 to State Loop 1604; thence following Loop 1604 south and east, then north, to Interstate Highway 10; thence east along Interstate Highway 10 to the Texas-Louisiana Line.

SEASON DATES & ZONE INFORMATION COURTESY OF TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT ZONE MAP ART BY MATT TUMLINSON, SAN ANTONIO www.tumlinsonart.com

DOVE SEASONS & REGULATIONS NORTH AND CENTRAL ZONE: September 1 - November 4, 2018 December 21, 2018 - January 14, 2019

SOUTH ZONE: September 14 - October 30, 2018 December 14, 2018 - January 21, 2019 Shooting hours unless otherwise noted are one half hour before sunrise to sunset

Shooting Hours: Unless otherwise noted, one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.

Daily Bag Composition* 15 mourning, white-winged and white-tipped (white-fronted) doves in aggregate, to include not more than 2 white-tipped (white-fronted doves. *Except South Zone Sept. 2,3,9 and 10.

SPECIAL WHITE-WINGED DOVE DAYS: September 1, 2, 8, & 9, 2018 Shooting hours are noon to sunset

IMPORTANT NUMBERS Banded Bird, If Harvested: Report at www.reportband.gov Public Hunting: http://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/ Operation Game Thief: Witness a Violation, call 800-792-4263 Texas Dove Hunters Association 210-764-1189

22 | FALL 2018

Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag limit.

Migratory Game Bird Stamp & HIP Certification required.

FEATURE

LADIES IN THE FIELD

I WOULDN’T HAVE MISSED IT FOR THE WORLD

Hunting is a Family Affair

By Susan Thornton

How many times have you stayed fast asleep when your husband and kids quietly got ready to leave for an early morning hunt? Do you have fond memories of your son or daughter running through the house yelling, “I got a dove!” or “I got a deer!”?

It's wonderful to hear the excitement in our kids' voices and see the exhilaration on their faces as they tell us every minute detail of their day. However, there's something even better than that: making memories in the field with your kids.

Times are changing, Moms.

It would be impossible for me to count how many hours I spent from the time my oldest son started sports at age four until my youngest one ended his sports career at 22. That’s 18 years, y’all. Soccer, t-ball, baseball, basketball, roller hockey, track and football. While it was all wonderful and I enjoyed every minute of cheering them on, I was only a spectator – their biggest cheerleader.

We lived in the Rio Grande Valley when my husband decided to take the boys on their first dove hunt. That was more than 20 years ago, so I don't recall whether he actually asked me to go or I just assumed I was going. As my husband taught the boys to hunt, he taught me right alongside them.

Every time I picked up a gun, the boys cheered me on. They loved it when I broke a clay or harvested a dove.

One of my favorite memories was sitting in a deer blind with my oldest. He was already in college by then, but he took on all of the qualities of his dad that morning. We sat in the freezing cold blind in silence, waiting for a deer to come into sight. We both experienced a huge adrenaline rush as we saw 24 | FALL 2018

a beautiful eight-point walk out of the trees.

That’s when he began to guide me in that slow, gentle whisper just as his daddy had guided him.

“Pick your gun up slowly. Try not to move, Mom. Get him in your crosshairs. Squeeze the trigger gently when you’re ready.” So I did… even though he wasn’t ready.

We saw the deer drop, and he immediately yelled, “You got it!” and gave me a huge high five. Then he went on to instruct further: “Now wait Mom, we need to sit here for a few minutes.” The next thing he did was get on his walkie-talkie: “Dad, Mom got one!” What a rush I got from seeing how proud my son was of me. Wow, our roles had completely reversed that morning.

We got out of the blind, walked over to the deer and my son said, “Mom, this is a good one!” as he proceeded to count the points, reminding me that if you could hang a ring on it, it counted. He set me up for a photo, making certain that it wouldn’t look gruesome.

I love being a part of what my guys do. I decided long ago that if I wanted to be with my family and not just a spectator, I’d have to do what they do – dove hunt, deer hunt, turkey hunt or wade fish. It’s all a blast! I must admit though, I’m not such a die-hard when it comes to cleaning my harvests, so I differ the gross stuff to my guys, pick up my camera and capture some of the other fun things going on.

With all of the great hunting and fishing attire out for

women now, including McKenna Quinn and Wild Rose Camo, it makes it fun to be a lady in the field. You don’t have to be the best. I’ve honestly missed more dove than I’ve harvested, but what I haven’t missed is time with my family, making memories and cheering one another on.

Our family has grown in the past year and a half. The boys were insistent that they wanted to marry girls who would hunt and fish right alongside them. They were both lucky enough to fall in love with beautiful, girls who also happened to grow up being their daddy’s hunting buddies.

Now, whether we’re in the field or in the bay, we’re all making memories together. You’ve heard the old saying: families who hunt together, stay together.

On a more recent fishing trip, we were all six out in the bay and it had been a pretty slow day, so we decided to fish out of the boat. I felt a tug on my line, so I set the hook and started to reel in like I had been taught. My youngest son looked over and noticed I had something on my line. He put down his pole and came over to guide me. “Keep reeling, Mom,” he said. “Oh wow, it looks like a red. Let him take it.”

Next thing you know, the fish partially appeared and it was

a monster red. “Wow!” I yelled. “Did you see that?” At this point, everyone in the boat was watching my line. I saw glances from the boys to my husband. I could read their thoughts: I don’t think she’s going to be able to bring it in.

However, they remained encouraging.

Minutes ticked by as we went round and round the boat, my son following me with the net. I finally managed to net the fish with lots of help from the guys in my family and encouragement from the girls.

They all pulled out their phones to start snapping pictures as my youngest son helped me lift up the fish for the photos. What happened afterward, however, was the best of all. After the fish was in the ice chest, I saw my youngest son sit down with his phone. I looked over his shoulder and saw the picture of my fish and me with a text to his best friend that said, "Look what my mom caught!"

All this to say: Moms, I want to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone. Whether your kids are 4, 14 or even 24, join them on their next hunt or fishing trip and be a participant, not a spectator. You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime that you won’t want to miss for the world.

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 25

TEXAS OUTFITTERS

OUTFITTERS IN TEXAS

E

CIRCLE E OUTFITTERS

RANDY EDWARDS 325-370-2185

•20 miles south of Abilene •10 miles south of Clyde •Sunflower, Milo and Wheat •Central Zone

• A major flyway for doves • Morning and afternoon hunts available

STONE YARD DOVE HUNT 484 18th St. E., Hondo, Texas 78861 (Corner of Hwy 90 and Hwy 173) (210) 415-4731 info@stoneyarddovehunt.com www.StoneYardDoveHunt.com

There are so many great outfitters throughout the state of Texas who work very hard to put their hunters on birds. Here are some top notch outfitters of varying size and with many different amenities offered. Whether you are looking in the South, Central or North zone you can find fantastic people who want to make sure that you have the most successful hunt possible.

D&D OUTFITTERS

Central and south Zone fields located in Sabinal and George West, Texas.

Deer & Spring turkey hunts available.

D & D OUTFITTERS Donny Bell Sr., Donny Bell Jr. belldonny21@gmail.com 210-467-2358

Y BAR RANCH Tilden, Texas 830-373-4452 Call today to book your hunt

• Dove • Quail • Deer • Hogs • Turkey

Corporate Hunts and Family Hunts

www.ybarranch.com

Dove hunts for large and small groups on 4000-5000 acres of good managed dove habitat in and around Live Oak County. We find the birds for you and your job is to bring them down.

Lodging Available.

KATZFEY RANCHES Co Rd 440 & Co Rd 409, George West, Texas 78022 Contact: Mark@katzfeyranches.com 361-362-8334 www.katzfeyranches.com

MARK ROBERTS DOVE HUNTING

• • • •

Upscale Wing Shooting Uvalde Dove Mecca Central and South Zones Mourning and White Wing

• • • •

Corporate Dream Facility Rustic Elegance/40 Beds Fine Dining Impeccable Service

830-317-0456 • joeelder@sbcglobal.net

26 | FALL 2018

Offering guided dove hunting tours for family and/or corporate hunts in the grain fields and pastures of Uvalde.

Located near the famous Garner State Park and crystal clear Frio River.

9631 N. US Hwy. 83, Uvalde, Texas 78801 830-261.9467 www.markrobertsdovehunting.com

• White-Winged & Mourning Dove Hunts • Hunting in Uvalde, Medina & Zavala counties • Lodging in Concan • Day, Corporate and Package Hunts • Black Oil Sunflowers, Milo, Tanks, Fly ways.

Jason Schneemann D’Hanis, Texas 78851 (830) 741-1717

www.DownSouthAdventures.com

Joshua Creek Ranch is the only Beretta Trident Lodge and Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Lodge in Texas.

Located in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, JCR is a true sportsman’s paradise where guests will experience some of the best hunting in the world complimented by luxury lodging, fine dining and warm Texas hospitality.

JOSHUA CREEK RANCH 132 Cravey Road, Boerne Texas 78006 830-537-5090 www.joshuacreek.com info@joshuacreek.com

Wing shooting North Texas - shooting ranches located in Young, Archer and Clay county & Metroplex Graham, TX

Most feilds located within 90 minutes of Fort Worth

Dove - Multiple fields (sunflowers/Croton) Day Hunts Quail - (Wild Liberated) - Pheasant - Duck

WING SPORT DEPOT Ed Micaletti Henrietta, Texas 214-663-1832

•Corporate outing 10-50+ guns •Custom Coporates Hunts •Optional Catering BBQ Field Lunch/Dinners •Optional Five Stand •Meeting Rooms •Bird Cleaning Service

www.wingsportdepot.com

DOVE | DUCKS | SPRING TURKEY

24 OUTFITTERS Ryan Gardner Winters, Texas 903-787-889

• Small Groups and Corporate Outings • Black Oil Sunflowers, Milo Millet, Winter Wheat and Wild Sunflowers • Friday, Saturday and Sunday Hunts • Meal Packages Available

www.24Outfitters.com

CEDAR SPRINGS OUTFITTERS

Guided bird hunts and exotic hunting and fishing trips Central & South zones

Greg Stoerner 210-363-0373

G4 Ranch is a family owned ranch located in the heart of Frio country just 45 minutes South of San Antonio.

Hunt over 100 acres of irrigated Peredovik sunflowers.

Day Hunt: $100 per Hunter

G4 RANCH 14449 E FM 140 Bigfoot Texas 78005 830-220-0579

www.g4ranch.com

COCHINA HUNTING CLUB John C. Austin 210-215-1837

3

Dilley and Pearsall Area 20,000 Acres of Prime Hunting Mexico Style: All Inclusive Food/Drinks, Lodging, Guide Groups of 2 to 30

CIRCLE 3 OUTDOORS LLC

South Texas Hunting at it’s BEST!

Sesame, Sunflowers, Grain, Sorghum, Brown-Top Millet, Wheat, Texas Croton Fly-ways, 48 tanks.

Large and small groups welcome Lodging available South Zone -Live Oak County

361-533-1938 Stan.circle3@hotmail.com 28 years of dove hunting in South Texas

Texas Dove Hunters Magazine offers outfitters lots of exposure in a publication that goes directly into the hands of dove hunters.

If you are an outfitter and are interested in advertising in the Spring 2019 Outfitters section email susan@texasdovehunters.com Special pricing for multiple issues.

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 27

SCHOLARSHIPS

Addison Flores - Helotes

Devin Sebera - West

Elise Hesseltine - Orange Grove

Ethan Conner - Canyon HS

Kyra Young - Brownwood

Reagan Bills - Early

Seth Chapman - Fort Worth

Tate Fuechec - El Campo

Jeremy Lee - Duncanville

TDHA SCHOLARSHIPS

Congratulations to our 2018 recipients.Each year Texas Dove Hunters Association awards 10 - $500 scholarships to high school seniors from Texas. Students must be attending a Texas High School in order to apply. They must also be planning to attend an institution of higher learning in Texas- trade school, junior college or university and must show proof of being a hunter by providing a copy of their Texas hunting license and proof of hunter’s education. Applicants must complete an application and write an essay. TDHA scholarships are available online at texasdovehunters.com each year on February 1.

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Kyle Magahee - Richmond

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

Title Sponsor Gun Raffle Sponsor Academy Sports & Outdoors US Law Shield Station Sponsors Ranger Firearms of Texas, Dallas Safari Club-SA, Best Wing Shooting, Holiday Farms and Cowboys Wild Game Washer

FAMILIES IN THE FIELD

30 | FALL

SEND YOUR DOVE HUNTING PHOTOS TO:

photos@txdove.org

FEATURE

SNAKE BOOTS

ONCE BITTEN, TWICE SHY

Why Hunters Need Snake Boots

By Haylee Uptergrove

There is an old saying that many parents often employ to encourage a young child to be more observant: “If it were a snake, it would’ve bitten you.” While kids may laugh it off, the experienced hunter knows there are few statements that ring truer than this.

Anyone who has spent time in the field knows the dangers that lurk in high grass, murky waters or dark crevices.

Common sense would say not to step where you can’t see the bottom, but practically speaking that’s not always the case.

With dove season fast approaching, more and more hunters are going to be out in the field. One of the things hunters should be aware of, and unfortunately often miss, are snakes.

Snakebite prevention begins first with paying attention to where you place your feet, even in areas where you do not expect to see snakes, and second, with what exactly goes on those feet.

Wearing snake-proof boots that have a shaft that goes to the bottom of the knee is common sense for hunters who spend many hours out in the wild. A snake’s striking range is typically two-thirds of its body length, so keeping your eyes open and maintaining vigilance could save you from a belowthe-knee blow. In the field, peace of mind is important. With these specially designed boots on, you can walk with confidence through most terrain and not worry about the inadvertent encounter with a serious snake.

Billy Lovell, of Chippewa Boot Company, said vigilance is only one aspect of snake safety. “The thing is that you’ve got to always have protection while you’re in the field, because you never know when you’re going to run across a 32 | FALL 2018

snake,” he said. With September maintaining the typical Texas heat, Lovell said dove season is a particularly active season for snakes.

“They’re agitated, and they’re always just out and about,” he said. “So no matter what you’re doing – whether you’re still back at the camp, or going from the truck to open the gate, or you’re going to go pick up a downed bird – it’s always a good thing to have the boots on, because you just never know when you might come across one.”

Although it’s true that snakes want to avoid people as badly as people want to avoid them, they will bite nine times out of ten if they feel threatened, surprised, or cornered – it’s just in their nature. Lovell said hunters are often likely to run across snakes when they’re on a hunt of their own.

“A lot of times, they like to hang out in areas where field mice and the small animals are attracted. Basically, a snake is always going to go where the food source is,” he said. “So they’re going to be around the old barns, and the old woodpiles, and the cars that are parked in the field that have been there forever.”

Snake boots are made with durable materials like cordura leather welting and viper cloth snake proof fabric that provide you with an impenetrable shield. The high-quality materials used in the boots will safeguard you from the venomous fangs, and they will not be able to reach you. If you stumble upon a snake’s path, you will not suffer any harm.

While hunters are less likely to run across a rattler in the middle of an open field than they are when hunting near old structures or woodpiles, the potential is still there. Lovell said the people who get bit – or “hit”– are often completely unaware that there’s a snake near them. “You just can never be too safe.”

No matter the age, skill level, or the amount of time spent in the field, Lovell said it’s better for hunters to be safe than sorry, especially when bringing kids out into the field. “If they’re able to carry a shotgun and retrieve birds, as soon as they can get a pair of snake boots on, the better off they are,” he said.

Throughout his years spent selling the protective footwear to hunters, Lovell said there are always a few stories that stick out to him. “Every year, we get at least two or three stories from someone who says, ‘Man, I’m glad I had those snake boots on, because I got hit and fortunately, they didn’t penetrate.”

A pair of snake boots can provide you with the comfort that you are looking for, as well as complete protection from snakes and other critters.

Texas Dove Hunters Association founder Bobby Thornton has had his Chippewas for nearly twenty years. “They are the most comfortable and durable boots I own,” Thornton said.

“When it comes to hunting, it’s just another piece of equipment necessary for the success of the hunt. Everyone in my family has a pair.”

When out hunting, it’s easy to focus only on the task at hand: harvesting doves. However, if you want to spend many more dove seasons out in the field, take the advice of the pros and don a pair of snake boots.

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 33

HABITAT

THE DOVE WEEDS

By Eric Grahmann, Ph.D

Most dove hunters have undoubtedly viewed the abundance of seed found in a mourning dove or white-wing dove’s crop while processing harvested birds. It’s likely that nearly all of the crop contents were composed of seed, as mourning dove and white-wing dove diets are comprised of more than 99 percent seed by weight. Even though these dove species are known to consume seeds from over 1,000 plant species nation-wide, seeds from certain plant species or families are represented repeatedly in dove diets. In Texas, doveweed is king.

Doveweed, as the name implies, is a super important group of plants for dove. Instead of one plant species, the name “doveweed” is used in reference to several plants in the Croton genus. In fact, there are more than 25 species of Croton in Texas, and at least one-third of these species are referred to as doveweed in the areas they grow. Doveweeds are members of the euphorbiaceae family, which includes other important plants to dove such as spurges, sandmats and the Chinese tallow tree. Excluding crop seed, nationwide, this group of plants is represented as the 3rd most important plant group for dove, behind the grass and legume (e.g. beans) families (the sunflower family is ranked 4th). In Texas, plants from the euphorbiaceae family are the most represented in dove crops.

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Figure 2. Three doveweed (croton) species including wooly croton (left), northern croton (center), and white-leaf croton (Croton leucophyllus, right) growing in a plot for dove. All three species of croton are important food sources for dove in Texas.

In two studies, Dillon (1961) and Davison and Sullivan (1963), reported that croton seed was 31 percent and 37 percent, respectively, of seed content (by volume) in mourning dove crops in Texas. Croton was one of 28 plant species that routinely comprised more than 99 percent of crop contents.

Davison and Sullivan (1963) also reported that four doveweed species were of 63 preferred plants among 144 plant species documented in mourning dove crops.

There are three primary reasons the doveweeds are so important to dove in Texas. First, this plant guild is readily accessible to dove statewide as a species of doveweed can be found in every county across the state. Secondly, the seeds of doveweed are highly preferred and nutritious, as they are slick-sided (this is an important attribute in seed selection by dove), relatively large, and high in energy-rich oil and carbohydrates (Fig. 1). Doveweed seed is also high in crude protein, as levels tend to range between 20-25 percent.

Doveweed seed meets both the energy and protein demands of mourning and white-winged dove. This attribute is generally not the norm for most plant species, as dove typically must consume a variety of plant seed to meet dietary needs. Finally, the doveweeds are prolific seed producers. In a study conducted by Fessler (1960), wooly croton (a doveweed) reportedly produced between 307 to

461 pounds of seed per acre. Now that’s a lot of seed!

Across the state, the most important species of doveweed (in order of prevalence in dove crops) include: 1. wooly croton (Croton capitatus); 2. one-seed or prairie tea croton (Croton monanthogynus); 3. Pott’s croton (Croton pottsii); 4. Texas croton (Croton texensis); and 5. northern or tropic croton (Croton glandulosus) (Fig. 2). With the exception of Pott’s croton (a warm season perennial), the other species are annuals. Wooly croton, Texas croton, and northern croton tend to favor sandy soils, while one-seed croton typically occurs on more clayey soils. Pott’s croton is found on a variety of soil types on the semi-arid rangelands of West Texas. Although the seed sizes vary among species, most have seeds that resemble a beetle in appearance with mottled coloration (Fig. 1).

Most annual doveweeds can be cultivated easily by disking or plowing soil during late winter (Fig. 3). This practice stimulates croton emergence as conditions warm with soil moisture. On most sites, seed of at least one of these species will likely be present in the soil seed bank, and the plant’s prevalence should increase with each year of cultivation.

Deep-disking is best (if possible) as this method tends to favor more robust plants as their roots are able to grow deeper into the soil profile. As always, cultivation is highly discouraged in diverse native plant communities, and this practice should be focused on sites dominated by non-native plants or those that have seen cultivation in the past. In the case no doveweed emerges in sandy soil plots on the eastern one-third of the state, wooly croton seed is available commercially and can be

Figure 1. A patch of wooly croton in South Texas: Wooly croton germinates from this disturbed plot (planted to oats during winter) each spring and provides ample food, and thus a steady influx of dove September through October.

Figure 1. Seeds of wooly croton: Seeds of croton exhibit variation in coloration and size. However, seeds of all species slightly resemble beetles with distinct mottling patterns.

sown at 10 bulk lbs. of seed per acre. The stand may be weak initially due to seed dormancy, but will improve with each year of cultivation. Finally, most doveweeds are unpalatable to cattle and deer, so they can be grown without fencing from these animals. Depending on the species, the area of the state, temperature, rainfall, and the timing of disturbance, doveweeds shatter seed from May through December. However, most seed is released during late summer though early fall, just in time for dove season.

Dove consume seed from many planted crops and wild plants, but in Texas, few plants stand up to the importance and quality seed provided by the doveweeds. Fortunately, this guild of plants is easy to grow and can provide fantastic hunting opportunity statewide. www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 35

WILD ABOUT DOVE RECIPES

Dove with Roasted Vegetables INGREDIENTS:

1 red bell pepper 2 broccoli crowns mushrooms 2 yellow squash 2 carrots 1 bag small potatoes 24 dove breasts

DIRECTIONS

Prepare vegetables and place in a Ziploc bag, add olive oil, fresh garlic, rosemary or any of your other favorite spices. Shake well and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.

Saute’ the dove breasts in a small amount of olive oil until brown. Season to taste.

Serve with roasted vegetables. Can be mixed together or served separately. Also, excellent served on a bed of wild rice with the vegetables.

Submit your favorite dove recipes with photos to info@texasdovehunters.com for a chance to be our featured recipe.

36 | FALL 2018

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 37

SHOOTING TIPS

THINGS YOU MUST DO BEFORE THE SEASON By: Gil Ash - OSP Shooting School

September is quickly approaching, and with that comes what every dove hunter anticipates, beginning in July when they begin to see dove everywhere. You know you should get your shotgun out and go shoot some sporting clays to warm up for the season, but then the reality of August in Texas hits like standing in front of an open oven.

The most common misconception when thinking about improving your shot in wing shooting is that you should look down the barrel and aim three feet in front of the target.

Hunters often cite that they have trouble stopping their swing, getting the lead right, or they are cross-dominant, so they have to shoot with one eye closed. Sound familiar?

If there was a pill that guaranteed the ability to shoot at least 60 to 70 percent on doves for a lifetime – or even just for this season – it would sell out in a week at any price. The reality of skill building is that you can’t buy it, because it takes dedicated time and work.

Skill begins as a conscious image or thought. You think your way through the act in your short-term memory, and, when done often enough, the brain chunks together the different parts of the act until all parts become one. It is at that point that the action becomes a dedicated circuit in your brain and is passed off to long-term memory. The more you fire the circuit, the better and more synchronous it becomes, and the better you get at that particular skill. Skill with a shotgun 38 | FALL 2018

comes down to one thing: time on target with the gun. That has nothing to do with how well you understand what you are about to do (or trying to do). In fact, research shows the more you think about what you are doing when shooting a shotgun at a moving target, the worse you will do!

So, why does thinking while shooting at a moving target cause you to miss? If you are thinking, you are in your shortterm memory, which operates one third of a second behind what you are doing. If the target were still, you could think your way through the aiming process and become relatively successful. However, when the target is moving, and you must see the target where it is and shoot where it will be, then the process overwhelms the short-term memory, which can only handle about 40 bits of data per second. This is why it is so essential for you to practice your gun mount and the actual sight pictures required to hit a moving target with a shotgun before you head out to the field.

Often, new shooters don’t put in the time it takes to learn to move and mount the gun. In fact, over 95 percent of the dove hunters out there couldn’t say what the sight picture looks like when shooting a left-to-right or right-to-left shot.

This issue is compounded when the first shot that a typical beginner is introduced to is a straight going away clay target, which puts the gun and the target in the same place and creates eye-dominance problems.

It is going to take about 3,000 repetitions to begin the process of learning how to move and mount the gun, and begin to show the brain what the sight picture really looks like. While there is no app that represents a shortcut to proficiency and consistency, there are a few exercises you can do to help improve your skill.

Place two objects in a bookshelf about 15 inches apart, and back up about 12 to 15 feet away from them. With an unloaded gun, look at the left object and mount the gun on the right object, which is the sight picture on a left-to-right target (eyes to the left of the barrel for right handed shooters). Now look at the right object and mount on the left object, which would be the sight picture on a right-to-left target (eyes across the barrel for a right-handed shooter). Repeat until the confusion goes away. Your brain is having to combine two retinal images into one that are 32 inches in front of your nose while focusing on a distant object 30 yards away. This is very confusing in the beginning, but after practicing this drill 20 minutes a day for 21 days it will look clear and the eye problems will go away. There are so many things that will happen to your ability to hit a moving object with your shotgun after you do this one simple drill, but you must do the work to receive the reward.

Practicing the left-to-right and right-to-left sight picture is paramount to becoming a good wing-shooter. The thinking brain simply cannot respond or react fast enough to put the gun in the right place consistently. The unfortunate thing about building skill is that regardless of how well you under-

stand what you must do to complete the skill, your ability to do so comes down to how many times you have done it successfully! You can get your 3,000 reps by doing the drill we have mentioned above, or you can go to the sporting clays range and actually shoot your gun so you begin to understand things like seeing the target behind the muzzle, moving the muzzle the same speed as the target, what recoil is like, where your feet need to be, follow through, and how to correct from a miss. Like it or not, these are things that must be done enough times for you to shoot without thinking.

You hear a lot about gun fit and follow through and, while they are important, the bottom line is this: if the sight picture is correct and the muzzle speed is the same as the targets speed and the gun mount is a little off, you have a better-than -average chance to hit the bird. Conversely, if the sight picture is wrong, no amount of perfection in the gun fit, gun mount, foot position, follow through, choke selection or ammo selection will hit the target!

The two things that are the most important to having success with a shotgun on a moving target are the sight picture being correct and adjusting the muzzle speed to the targets speed before you send the shot. When you combine a good practiced move and mount with a gun that reasonably fits the shooter with a clear practiced sight picture, good things happen in the field.

So, shooters, you have a choice to make: if you begin practicing the move mount and sight pictures a month or more before your first hunt of the season, you will definitely see some success.

Start today!

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 39

PHOTOS FROM THE FIELD

SEND YOUR DOVE HUNTING PHOTOS TO:

photos@txdove.org

40 | FALL 2018

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 41

HOUSTON BAG LIMIT BANQUET

BECOME A LIFETIME TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION MEMBER

We invite you to Join Texas Dove Hunter’s Association, a group of dedicated wildlife ambassadors committed to research, education and habitat conservation: Your lifetime membership includes: 2 issues of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine per year

A Custom Shooting Game Belt with the TDHA Logo and Your Initials A Custom Gun Sleeve with the TDHA Logo and your initials A TDHA Lifetime Member Hat A TDHA Vehicle Decal

and a TDHA GameGuard Hunting License Holder For details and to sign up visit

www.TexasDoveHunters.com

42 | FALL 2018

BAG LIMIT BANQUET

Our 2nd annual Houston area Bag Limit Banquet was a huge success. This year’s event was held at Chateau Crystale on Wednesday, April 18. Special thanks to our White Wing Sponsors-Federal Maintenance Services, Jerry & Brenda Copeland and Silver Eagle Distributors, our Mourning Dove Sponsors-People’s United Equipment Finance Corp., WDVG-Petroleum Engineering Laboratories, Platinum Homes, Inc. and Inca Sponsors-Tech Cal, Brooks Construction Services and Stone Castle Construction. Congratulations to Vence Petrenella, the 2018 recipient of the Texas Dove Hunters Association’s Side X Side award. Vence has been a vital part of programs and events for TDHA in San Antonio and Houston for the past 5 years.

Many thanks to all of the volunteers, members and donors who contributed their time, talents and resources to make this a wonderful evening.

SHOOTING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

The National Shooting Complex was hoppin’ for the 5th annual Shooting for Scholarships! Thank you to 12-gauge sponsors CZ-USA and Silver Eagle Distributors and to Aguila Ammunition for donating the ammo.

Congratulations to HOA team: Clayton Lewis, Wyatt Lewis, TJ Jones, and Jeff Lewis, also to HOA Rudy Bazan, Lady HOA Caitlyn Homewood and Youth HOA Jacob Cameron.

2018

TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION

CALENDAR August 4 TTHA HUNTERS EXTRAVAGANZA Houston August 11 DOVE 101 AND HUNT HONDO AT PALOMA PACHANGA HONDO August 18 TDHA’S 2ND ANNUAL FIRST FLIGHT YOUTH DAY San Antonio September 1 16TH ANNUAL WINTERS DOVE FEST Winters September 8 DOVE 101 AND DOVE HUNT WITH TEXAS BRIGADES Graham September 14-15 25TH ANNUAL LONESOME DOVE FEST Karnes City September 15 FIESTA DE PALOMA AT KING RANCH SADDLE SHOP Kingsville September 28-29 ATASCOSA COUNTY CHAPTER HORSESHOE & WASHER TOURNAMENT Poteet October 27 PULLIN’ FOR KIDS SPORTING CLAY SHOOT Sealy 4TH ANNUAL HAMILTON COUNTY DOVE FEST Hamilton

Looking Ahead January 17-20 DALLAS SAFARI CLUB CONVENTION Dallas March 2, 2019 6TH ANNUAL SHOOTING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS San Antonio TBD 3RD ANNUAL HOUSTON BAG LIMIT BANQUET HOUSTON

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 43

CHAPTER NEWS

ATASCOSA COUNTY

The Atascosa County chapter has new officers: Travis Briseno will continue as chairman, Roger Garcia-vicechairman, Chris Gonzales-membership chairman, Deborah Ogden-treasurer and Nicole Briseno-secretary.

We are looking forward to putting on another DOVE 101 class for Hunt Hondo on August 11. We will also be hosting our 2nd annual horseshoe and washer tournament at the Poteet Lions Club Barbecue Cook-off on September 28-29.

Chairman: Travis Briseno travisjbriseno@hotmail.com

NORTH TEXAS CHAPTER

The North Texas Chapter will be hosting a DOVE 101 class and dove hunt on Saturday, September 8 in Graham Texas in partnership with of Texas Brigades. For information, contact the TDHA office at 210-764-1189.

Chairman: Kevin Burk kevburk@hotmail.com

SAN ANTONIO

The San Antonio chapter held our 5th annual Shooting for Scholarships earlier this year and it was the best yet! Ranger Firearms of Texas hosted our EAT…SHOP…GIVE day for us for The Big Give on March 22. We are hosting our 2nd annual Youth Day on Saturday, August 18 from 9am-1pm.

This event is open to all youth ages 5-17 who are accompanied by an adult. To sign your child up for this event, go to: www.tdha.formstack.com/forms/tdha_youth_day_2018 .

Chairman: Susan Thornton susan@texasdovehunters.com

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

The Texas A&M University chapter has been in a restructuring process this summer and is looking forward to getting started recruiting new members this fall.

Chairman: Kenneth Miller millken0932@tamu.edu

HOUSTON RIO GRANDE VALLEY

The Rio Grande Valley chapter just came off a very successful Hunters & Sportsman’s Expo. We are in the process of scheduling another snake avoidance training for dogs. Our chapter is growing and we are excited about hosting more events like Youth Day and Dove 101 classes in the future.

Chairman: Brent Mangum dbmmangum@gmail.com 44 | FALL 2018

The Houston chapter hosted our 2nd annual Bag Limit Banquet in April. This annual event continues to grow and in size and popularity. Our first Outfitters Day was held in July in the trophy room of Federal Maintenance Services. We will be at this year’s TTHA Hunters Extravaganza to help promote the Texas BB Challenge. We are also gearing up for our 5th annual Pullin’ for Kids Sporting Clay event at Texas Premier Sporting Arms in Sealy on October 27.

Chairman: Tim Garcia tim@txdove.org

www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 45

46 | FALL 2018

RESEARCH

TDHA RESEARCH PROJECT WITH WEST TEXAS A&M

Native vegetation ideal for trials

By:Garrett Gill

As eloquently stated by the venerable wildlife biologist Aldo Leopold, “Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land”. Arguably, there is no greater embodiment of this truth than that found on the family farms and ranches of the Texas Panhandle.

Since the days of Charles Goodnight, farmers and ranchers of the Texas Panhandle have relied on the land for their income, as well as using its natural resources and beauty to strengthen friendships and the bonds of family. Unsurprisingly, every fall you can find the folks of the Texas Panhandle heading out to hunt dove, quail and pheasant with their friends and family.

The ultimate goal for good land management is to maximize the “harmony between men and land” that Leopold spoke of, said Dr. James B. Johnson, assistant professor at West Texas A&M University. This is the objective behind a management project with Dr. Johnson, his graduate student Garrett Gill, and a local landowner, Dr. Sam Bass. The project aims to showcase management practices that benefit upland game birds while maintaining a profitable agricultural investment.

“We are at a very early stage, but we hope to create a showcase for landowners to see management practices which will benefit their bird populations as well as their bottom-line,” said Dr. Johnson. “Our approach is to try different techniques which have worked elsewhere and see how useful they are in the Texas Panhandle.”

Johnson, Gill and Bass are hoping to be able to demonstrate affordable alternatives for landowners to increase the amount of birds on their property while maintaining use of the land. These alternatives include concepts such as crop rotations, crop combinations, and managing the land for proper vegetation cover.

Through these practices, along with proper water management, they are hoping to note an increase in game bird abundance.

Representatives from WT A&M,NRCS and TDHA discussing goals and objectives.

“The primary focus of this project is on dove, but quail and pheasant are also being considered,” Gill said. “Our methods for estimating the abundance of each species are both from traditional surveying methods and the use of game cameras.

We are also attempting to showcase the diversity of resources available to land owners such as universities, federal and state agencies, and non-governmental organizations such as the Texas Dove Hunters Association.”

In 2017, TDHA contacted West Texas A&M to assist in a joint project with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to study a habitat beneficial to dove, quail and pheasant without negatively affecting any of the three. The real challenge is to enhance each of the three bird populations while also restoring parts of the land back to native habitat.

“Dove prefer to eat seed on barren ground and only account about one percent of their diet to insects, just the opposite of quail and pheasant,” said Bob Thornton of TDHA. This has led to the planting of natives and seed crops in certain areas, native grasses for cover in others, as well as some pollinators in other locations.

West Texas A&M, TDHA and NRCS have all contributed to not only the plan for the property, but the goals of the study with the intent of publishing a documented study of the region that can be used by many other land owners in the panhandle. www.TexasDoveHuntersMagazine.com | 47

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