Outdoor Opportunities Abound in Springtime

from 2023 Mar_April TTHA Issue

THE ROUND-UP

As a hunter of long vintage, I sometimes reminisce about the sounds of nature—the squeals, howls, hoots, gobbles, and cackles coming from denizens of the wild. From 12 years old, I have spent much time in the woods and fields of Texas, listening to the sounds of the animals and birds that have been an important part of my life.

I’m prejudiced when it comes to nature. The poor souls in New York City or Philadelphia who have never heard a pack of hounds in the chase; the eerie calls of the giant pileated woodpecker; the howl of a coyote; or the morning gobble of a wild turkey have missed a part of living.

I feel fortunate to have been raised to appreciate the wilds of Texas—hunting and hearing all that the fields and forests have to offer a woodsman. I’m proud to have seen and heard it all—or, at least, all that was important to me.

Spring has “sprung” in South Texas, and creeps towards Dallas and Amarillo. Early daffodils are blooming, the birds are singing, and the turkeys are gobbling. Crappie fishing is at a peak, and baseball is just around the corner. Spring is great in Texas!

Now that deer season is over, hunters’ minds will turn to exotics and Rio Grande turkeys. March is a good time to hunt nilgai and axis, and the April calls of the wild turkey will lure a few 100,000 nimrods to various parts of Texas west of the Brazos to chase the elusive turkey gobbler.

I was a good turkey hunter for over 30 years, and I know “Old Tom” pretty well. He’s a wild and wary creature, but his traits of love often cause his demise. An old gobbler can’t resist the seductive yelp of a lovelorn hen, imitated by the call of the hunter, and each spring, thousands of Texans tote shotguns and heavy gobblers to the truck. In many ways, there’s nothing more exciting than spring turkey hunting. There are other things to do in the spring if you’re not into exotics or turkey. Shed antler hunting can be enjoyable before the grass and weeds hide the discarded head bones of whitetail bucks. The dry weather that Texas has experienced in the last year or two makes it easier to find off-white antlers on the green turf. It’s almost as enjoyable as looking for arrowheads or four-leaf clovers.

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you … .” Alfred Lord Tennyson, the English poet-laureate, had it right. Spring IS the time when a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of love. This is a good time of the year, so enjoy it to the fullest.

Founder Jerry Johnston

Publisher

Texas Trophy Hunters Association

President and Chief Executive Officer Christina Pittman 210-729-0993 • christina@ttha.com

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Executive Editor Deborah Keene

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North Texas Field Editor Brandon Ray

East Texas Field Editor Dr. James C. Kroll

Hill Country Field Editor Gary Roberson

South Texas Field Editor Jason Shipman

Coastal Plains Field Editor Will Leschper

Southwest Field Editor Jim Heffelfinger

Field Editor At Large Ted Nugent

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TTHA protects, promotes and preserves Texas wildlife resources and hunting heritage for future generations. Founded in 1975, TTHA is a membership-based organization. Its bimonthly magazine, The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters®, is available via membership and newsstands. TTHA hosts the Hunters Extravaganza® outdoor expositions, renowned as the largest whitetail hunting shows in the South. For membership information, please join at www.ttha.com or contact TTHA Membership Services at (877) 261-2541.