2023 May_June TTHA Issue

Good Hunting From September to March S

pring is always welcome after a harsh winter. Now that I let the younger folks do the hunting, I don’t like winter! When I was younger and full of life, I liked winter because it was the season of hunting. Well, not exactly winter, as described by Webster. I put all the months together from September to March and called it winter. Doves, squirrels, ducks, deer, turkey—they were a challenge for six months, and I spent the other six months studying how I would hunt when the winter seasons opened again.

It’s spring—and turkey season—and I’m talking about winter hunting. Without a doubt, spring turkey hunting with a shotgun and turkey call is the most challenging hunt in Texas. I was late getting into spring hunting because Texas didn’t have a spring season until 1969, and only in one county. I had killed an Eastern gobbler at Fort Polk with some Louisiana friends, and spent a lot of time getting the leadership in Austin to approve a spring season.

When the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission finally approved a spring season, we wanted to start it in the Hill Country, which had the most Rio Grande turkey. Only one county approved the season: Kerr County. The county had about 10,000 turkeys, only gobblers were legal, but everyone was skeptical of such a season. There were more game wardens than hunters in the county during the season, and about 150 turkey toms were harvested. It was a slow start, but it was a START. Now, some 300,000 turkey hunters get enough enjoyment from the season that it is established as a regular, prominent hunting season.

Spring turkey hunting reminds me of my early days in Arkansas when hunters chased the gray fox with hounds. The hunters were usually in a small group, and the weather was cool, or even cold. They would release the dogs, and sometimes build a fire or pull a cork. The hunters would wait in anticipation for the first howl from the hounds, which meant the chase was on. Every hunter knew his dog’s yelp, and they would brag on whose dog took the lead. That first yelp from a hound is like the first gobble in the early dawn. It never fails to make the hair rise on my red neck.

Texas has a lot of good hunting from September doves to December whitetails, and I have done it all. But I will have to admit that the first turkey gobble at daylight puts a chill in my spine like no other hunt. It’s the anticipation, the waiting, and the sudden thrill as the first old gobbler breaks the silence of the morn. There’s just nothing like it in the hunting world.

Horace Gore

Founder Jerry Johnston

Publisher

Texas Trophy Hunters Association

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

Editor

Horace Gore • editor@ttha.com

Executive Editor Deborah Keene

Associate/Online Editor Martin Malacara

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

Graphic Designers

Faith Peña

Dust Devil Publishing/Todd & Tracey Woodard

Contributing Writers George Blitch, Adoriam DeWalt, John Goodspeed, Judy Jurek, Eric Stanosheck, Darwin White, Mark Williams, Ralph Winingham

Sales Representative Emily Lilie 713-389-0706 emily@ttha.com

Advertising Production

Deborah Keene 210-288-9491 deborah@ttha.com

Membership Manager Kirby Monroe 210-809-6060 kirby@ttha.com

Director of Media Relations Lauren Conklin 210-910-6344 lauren@ttha.com

Assistant Manager of Events

Jennifer Beaman 210-640-9554 jenn@ttha.com

Administrative Assistant Kelsey Morris 210-485-1386 kelsey@ttha.com

To carry our magazine in your store, please call 210-288-9491 • deborah@ttha.com

at (877) 261-2541.

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

106

18 Dr. Deer’s Prescription

| By Dr. James Kroll

22 Wanted: Deer Hunters

| By Jason Shipman

28 Rio Grande Turkey

| By Gary Roberson

42 Panhandle Pork Chops

| By Brandon Ray

52 Hogs, Dogs, and Guns

| By Jake Legg

58 Women and Their Shotguns

| By Judy Jurek

75 Deer Contests Results 2022-2023

By TTHA staff

98 2023 Compound Bow Roundup

| By John Goodspeed

102 Tips for Hunting Blue Bulls

| By Will Leschper

106 South of the Border Obstacles

| By Eric Stanosheck

110 Javelina of the Southwest

| By Jim Heffelfinger

122 Up on A Stump

98

ON THE COVER

37 Tale of Two Turkeys

| By George Blitch

48 Better To Be Lucky

| By Darwin White

94 A South Texas Ghost Named Booner

| By Mark Williams

accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope or return postage, and the publisher assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to unsolicited materials. Any material accepted is subject to revision as is necessary in our sole discretion to meet the requirements of our publication. The act of mailing a manuscript and/or material shall constitute an express warranty by the contributor that the material is original and in no way an infringement upon the rights of others. Photographs can either be RAW, TIFF, or JPEG formats, and should be high resolution and at least 300 dpi. All photographs submitted for publication in “Hunt’s End” become the sole property of the Texas Trophy Hunters Association Ltd. Moving? Please send notice of address change (new and old address) 6 weeks in advance to Texas Trophy Hunters Association, P.O. Box 3000, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9918. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, Texas Trophy Hunters Association, P.O. Box 3000, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9918.

Photo By: Jason Shipman Carrie Poffenberger’s Caldwell County buck is her best to date. Read about her and the buck on page 22.

Memorial and Father’s Day Specials from TTHA

Check out our latest specials for Memorial Day and Father’s Day by visiting TTHA.com. These deals won’t last,

Father’s Day Special Hunting Knife with gut hook, 1-year membership, 8" TTHA member decal.

Memorial Day Special American Flag iron skull mount, 1-year membership, 8" TTHA member decal.

SCI’s 51 st Annual Convention

TTHA staff traveled to the 2023 SCI Convention in Nashville to spread the word about our organization helping the future of Texas hunting, and made new friends along the way. “The convention was one for the books,” said our CEO Christina Pittman. “With record attendance in Nashville, we can only imagine what the 2024 SCI Convention will look like!”

TOM SNYDER

By Judy Jurek

Tom Snyder is a pioneer of our hunting heritage. Born in Massachusetts, Tom’s military dad moved to Pennsylvania before relocating to the Lone Star state where Tom’s mother’s family resided. He was in the second grade when he arrived. “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could,” Tom said.

His father loved the outdoors, so Tom claimed it naturally. Having hunted birds and big game, Tom’s dad suffered a heart attack at age 37, resulting in more fishing, and less hunting.

“It costs a lot to hunt in Texas,” Tom said, adding, “We didn’t have the means, so I hunted South Texas concrete senderos. Yes, I got caught poaching a few times but my desire to hunt often overshadowed the possible end result of a fine.”

At age 16, and sporting shotguns, Tom and a friend jumped a fence into the El Sauz Ranch with a plan to sneak up on a duckcovered pond. A truck drove up and parked, then a man exited with a rifle and commanded them to stop.

The man, Jerry Taylor, admonished the pair about trespassing, telling the young men IF they’d had rifles, he would have shot and buried them right there. After a stern warning to never trespass again, Taylor allowed them to leave. It worked, and the young men learned a valuable lesson.

Thirty years later, Tom had recently joined a hunting lease, and none other than Jerry Taylor stopped by camp to welcome newcomers. Someone asked Jerry if he had trouble with poachers. He replied, “Not really, but one time stands out.” He proceeded to tell of catching two boys toting shotguns 30 years before and scaring the you-know-what out of them.

“I kept my mouth shut,” Tom said with a grin. “I was scared I might get kicked off before I had a chance to hunt. My brother kept looking at me, knowing Jerry was talking about me. It’s amazing how things come back around in your life.”

At a young age, Tom made up his mind he would take kids

hunting so they didn’t rely on poaching. He was raised in an atmosphere of “if you don’t have it (money), you don’t do it.” Tom worked hard, and with a talent for business, became successful, thus achieving his goal of letting kids experience hunting.

At first, Tom believed he could just write a check but didn’t like the thought of someone charging to take kids hunting. After talking to various organizations, Tom and his brother Mike took 12 kids hunting on their ranch. He never dreamed where it would lead.

The next year it jumped to 50. The third year, 100 youngsters enjoyed a hunt, courtesy of the Snyder brothers. However, both Tom’s attorney and his CPA advised he was an “idiot,” due to liability issues, as well as gifting guns to the kids who hunted.

This resulted in the formation of Trinity Oaks in 2007, a nonprofit organization. Tom said, “It is not a business but a true charity. Until recently, no one ever received a salary, but it grew so much that two paid positions were created in 2020.”

One day Tom received a call from TTHA about taking a young boy who had cancer on a hunt. Tom learned the Make

Tom Synder

A Wish Foundation doesn’t grant wishes with firearms involved. Afterwards, Tom met the boy, Grant Wagner, who had told his doctor he wanted to hunt.

Grant named five species he wanted on the wall. He had a custom-built rifle made for his once-in-a-lifetime adventure. It was a great success, and now a cancer survivor, Grant said he beat it by using anticipation of hunting as motivation to keep going. This initial hunt led Tom to provide 40-50 trips per year for kids and adults facing serious medical issues.

Tom began giving hunts to military veterans, too. In 2018 the 2,000-acre Thumbtack Ranch near Batesville was named the first Purple Heart Ranch in the United States. Gold Star and first responder kids having lost a parent are now included for outdoor experiences.

Trinity Oaks also provided commercial processing of wild game meat for nine years. Over one million pounds of donated meat has contributed to more than five million individual meals to people in need. In 2022, the San Antonio Food Bank began servicing the wild game contributed by hunters and ranches.

In addition to the ranch, Trinity Oaks has an accessible fishing pier with accommodations for those with disabilities at Port Mansfield, called Paige’s Place. Tom donated it in 2011 in honor of his 17-yearold niece, Paige, who lost her battle with leukemia. She loved to fish but had trouble doing so from a wheelchair.

Pass the Torch

Do your part to preserve our hunting heritage. Share your passion with the next generation. Pass the torch.

Now, with over 100 events per year, Trinity Oaks also provided outdoor adventures for special needs, unique, and challenged youngsters and adults. Simple adventures like hunting arrowheads gets people outdoors. Since the charity’s inception, more than 15,000 youth and 5,000 veterans have been introduced to outdoor activities and over 250 dream trips have taken place—all at no cost to the participants.

Tom cannot say exactly what all this means to him, but is adamant about expressing two things: “God takes care of idiots because with only a high school diploma, I’ve been successful and able to fulfill my dream of taking kids hunting. But it’s not just me—it’s thanks to the volunteers, donors, and so many others constantly helping. We were blessed by a World War II veteran for the Thumbtack Ranch, the first designated Purple Heart Ranch in the entire United States.”

Tom envisions outdoor adventures as possibly life changing experiences, and he’s certainly done his part. His quest continues every day, and with Texas being 96% privately owned, it’s tough finding places to hunt or fish. Realizing too many kids today don’t spend enough time outdoors drives Tom Snyder and his organization.

Providing outdoor adventures to those who may not otherwise be able to experience and enjoy such, makes Tom Snyder a pioneer of our hunting heritage.

How do you pass the torch? Share your photos with us. Send them to editor@ttha. com. Make sure they’re 1-5 MB in file size.

Photos courtesy of Heffelfinger family

Trinity Oaks founders Tom and Mike Syder with a nilgai. Donated game to their organization has funished five million meals to the needy.

FENCE POSTS

NEWS ABOUT HUNTING, GUN RIGHTS, AND LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

SCI Sees Record-Setting 2023 Annual Convention In Nashville

Safari Club International hosted its 2023 annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, celebrating 51 years of protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting global wildlife conservation. There is no question that this year’s convention set records. Whether it was the number of attendees who passed through the doors, the money raised to defend the freedom to hunt and promote global conservation, the 853 exhibitors on the show floor, or the 140 countries represented, this landmark event was record-breaking by any standard.

“On behalf of everyone at SCI, I would like to say thank you to all who attended and supported the SCI Convention and Ultimate Sportsmen’s Market here in Nashville, Tennessee,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin. “Your attendance and steadfast support of this organization allows us to continue advocating for hunting freedoms in the U.S. and around the world. We look forward to seeing you all again next year for another fantastic convention.”

The convention show floor opened on Feb. 22, with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee cutting the opening ceremonial ribbon. Then some of the biggest names in country music poured into the Music City Center. Hall-of-fame athletes, celebrity stars, hunting-industry giants and thousands of everyday hunters and conservationists helped the convention live up to the hype. Forbes Magazine actually called the SCI convention the “Super Bowl of the hunting world.”

World-class exhibitors provided

attendees with exceptional opportunities to book hunting trips in locales near and far, from Alaska to Zimbabwe. Some of the outdoor industry’s most recognizable companies showcased cutting-edge products, including firearms, accessories, optics, ammunition, archery, gear and other tactical and hunting goods. Other notable vendors sold fine luxury goods like jewelry, furnishings, clothing and furs. Attendees enjoyed educational presentations about hunting, fishing, shooting and a myriad of other outdoor activities.

Seminars ranging from wildlife and habitat management to wild game cooking demos were held each day of the convention. Rooms were packed to hear hunting legends like Jim Shockey and Ramsey Russell speak. Each evening, SCI held dinners and live auctions, which set fundraising records for SCI’s and SCI Foundation’s advocacy and conservation efforts. Convention attendees listened

to speakers such as former U.S. Airforce Thunderbird pilot Michelle Curran and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris.

Following these functions, entertainers, including the Frontmen & Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Lee Brice and Lynyrd Skynyrd performed for an enthused audience. Also, Fox News’ Katie Pavlich promoted women in hunting and stressed the importance of introducing hunting to new, younger generations.

SCI executives presented prestigious awards to distinguished international guests and legislators, who are at the forefront of fighting for hunters’ rights abroad and here in the U.S.

Especially notable honorees included Eduardo Bolsonaro, member of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, who was given this year’s International Legislator of the Year award, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., who received the prestigious Federal Legislator of the Year award, and Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, who

received the Governor’s Award. SCI was also joined by honorable dignitaries from Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The energy and enthusiasm at the 2023 convention reflected the zeal with which SCI goes into its second 50 years. SCI is excited to announce the 2024 convention will return to Nashville at the Music City Center Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, 2024.

—courtesy SCI

SCIF Humanitarian Mission Reveals Heart of The Hunter

SCI Foundation is well-known for being the most active hunter-led wildlife conservation movement around. Education around conservation is just as essential as performing the actual work on the ground. but a lesser-known priority at SCI Foundation is humanitarian service. I’ve heard some say it’s an area that doesn’t align with our mission, and I want to address both why we prioritize it and what we’re doing with it.

If you’ve paid any attention at all to our wildlife conservation messaging, you know we stand strongly in support of community-based management of wildlife and natural resources. Community benefits are essential to global wildlife conservation success.

To provide a simple example: you’ve likely seen stories of watermelon farmers in Africa poisoning an entire herd of elephants just so they can grow their watermelons without destruction and turn a profit from their farm. When hunting is introduced to that community, the watermelon farmer is still in charge of farming watermelons, but now he encourages elephants to thrive in the area because he knows a hunter will pay to hunt a single elephant. Part of that money goes to the farmer and their community, and the rest of the elephant herd continues to repopulate. This is an example of a community benefit. Because of hunting, the community benefits.

Without hunting, wildlife is sometimes less tolerable to the communities that live with them. This principle can be applied all over the globe, and these benefits can express themselves in various ways. Community benefit is the reason SCI Foundation is involved in humanitarian

service, not only because it feels good to spread good fortune, but also because it makes different communities more understanding and appreciative of hunting when they see a direct benefit from having hunters on their land.

SCI Foundation has five primary humanitarian vehicles for different communities around the world:

BELL FAMILY BLUE BAGS: SCI Foundation donors cover the globe every year in their hunting pursuits. Named after the late Amy Bell, this program exists to remind people to “pay it forward” especially when hunting in remote areas, as Amy Bell always exemplified. It’s as simple as requesting a duffel bag from SCIF when you’re going on your hunt. Typically, hunters will work with their outfitter to ask what supplies are needed, and these bags are often filled with medical supplies, education supplies, clothing and toys.

PATHFINDER AWARD & HUNT: Pathfinders are those who due to a major life-changing experience must create a new path in life. It’s an unfortunate reality, but we receive more requests to sponsor disabled hunters each year than we would ever be able to fulfill. Pathfinder exists to allow all disabled hunters to submit their application, and then a large committee votes and honors one recipient as we share their story with all. Along with the award, each lucky recipient is honored with a special hunt.

PATHFINDER YOUTH HUNT: We also accept applications for youth Pathfinders and select one to award a special hunt each year. Telling their stories helps to inspire many others each year who are faced with life-altering realities.

SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER: Since the program’s inception in 1989, SCI Chapter members have organized community and statewide systems designed to help hunters annually share a portion of their wild game harvest with hungry people. This generosity provides millions of low-fat, low-cholesterol, preservative-free, high-protein meals annually at soup kitchens across the United States.

VETERANS HUNTS: SCI Foundation is dedicated to honoring those who give their blood, sweat and lives in the service

of their country. We have established a Veterans Committee for Humanitarian Services to oversee assisting veterans in local communities.

SCI Foundation has a global mission. The widespread effect we’re able to have with humanitarian service is largely a result of an active chapter network from local SCI Chapters. Properly executing on humanitarian service is a valuable way to make the true heart of hunters known with these unique community benefits. We thank you all who help to make these programs possible, because of the impact they have on our larger mission of promoting hunting to help ensure the future of wildlife. —Brook Minx, SCIF President

Airbows Hot Topic Across Lower Midwest

Following their approval in several states in 2022, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) continues to track airbow legislation during the early portions of 2023 legislative sessions around the Lower Midwest.

In Iowa, CSF submitted testimony regarding Senate File 138. This letter supported the limitation of airbows to firearm hunting seasons while urging an amendment that would require airbow users purchase a conservation stamp.

In Oklahoma, several bills have been pre-filed ahead of the 2023 session that would undermine the success of last year’s Senate Bill 1571 by removing the airbow conservation stamp requirement or allowing airbows to be used during archery hunting seasons.

Requiring hunters to purchase an airbow conservation stamp or permit ensures that airbows contribute to conservation funding in a manner similar to other methods of take.

Airbows continue to gain popularity among deer hunters across the nation. With this popularity has come growing calls for the legalization of airbows as a method of take in states in which their use is not currently allowed. CSF and others support the use of airbows so long as such use is limited to firearms hunting seasons and includes a mechanism by which airbows can contribute to the

American System of Conservation Funding as is currently required for all other methods of take through the Pittman-Robertson Act.

Airbows, also known as arrow-shooting airguns, use pneumatic power to fire a small arrow, or bolt, out of a barrel at a high rate of speed. Given their effectiveness on deer-sized game, many hunters—and state legislators—have called for their inclusion in state deer hunting seasons across the nation. However, airbow use brings important considerations that must be taken into account.

First, because they lack the basic components of archery equipment (limbs and a string), the Archery Trade Association does not consider an airbow to be archery equipment. Therefore, many agree that their use should be limited to firearm deer hunting seasons. Further, under current federal law, airbows do not contribute excise taxes under the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration (PittmanRobertson) Act the way other methods (firearms and archery equipment) do. As such, they fail to contribute to the “user pays – public benefits” American System of Conservation Funding without the inclusion of a special fee, permit, or stamp.

This latter consideration served as the primary point of discussion in a letter of testimony submitted by CSF to members Senate Natural Resources and Environment Subcommittee recommending amendments to Senate File 138 ahead of a Jan. 31 meeting on the bill. As written, SF 138 would limit airbow use to firearm deer hunting seasons, but current language lacks the inclusion of an airbow conservation stamp or permit. Following this meeting, members of the subcommittee recommended the passage of SF 138 with amendments, though those amendments have yet to be announced. Meanwhile in Oklahoma, a number of bills have been pre-filed that would either remove the current conservation stamp requirement or allow airbows to be used during all deer hunting seasons. Following the hard work of CSF and now-retired NASC EC Member and Oklahoma Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Mark Allen to pass a widely supported Senate Bill 1571 last

year, CSF will work closely with partners and Caucus members to ensure that Senator Allen’s legacy introducing the use of airbows is protected. —courtesy Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

CSC Member Introduces Effort to Maintain Access for Sportsmen and Women

In February, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) member Rep. Rob Wittman of Virginia reintroduced the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act, a bill to support the use of traditional ammo and tackle by sportsmen and women. This legislation is strongly supported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF).

Specifically, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act prohibits federal land management agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service, from instituting any restrictions on lead ammunition and tackle unless three triggers are met. First, any claims indicating a decline in wildlife populations at a specific unit of land where lead ammo and tackle is being restricted must be substantiated through field data from that unit. Additionally, the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act requires that any restrictions on lead ammo and tackle be consistent with the regulations of the impacted state fish and wildlife agency. Finally, any restriction must have the support of the respective state fish and wildlife agency.

Efforts to restrict the use of traditional ammunition and fishing tackle often ignore many of the existing variables that must be weighed and considered when looking to restrict such methods of take. CSF maintains that any decision that seeks to limit the use of traditional ammo and tackle must be rooted in a scientific process. The use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle should not be restricted by any arbitrary decisions that lack scientific justification.

Additionally, non-lead ammunition and tackle options are often cost-prohibitive and not widely available, and as the markets have shown (primarily for ammunition), supply is still struggling to meet demand. Lastly, the inability to locate non-lead options, especially those

that are reasonably affordable, has the potential to stave-off participation, which in-turn may result in a loss of revenue for state fish and wildlife agencies through the American System of Conservation Funding.

CSF will continue to work to protect the use of traditional ammo and tackle, a highly popular method of take for sportsmen and women. CSF will ensure that any efforts to restrict the use of lead ammo and tackle follow a science-driven process and have the support of the impacted state fish and wildlife agency, the entity best positioned to manage fish and wildlife. —courtesy Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Oklahoma Wildlife Commission Approves New Regs

During its regular February meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission approved the entire slate of proposed regulation changes as recommended by Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Communication and Education Chief Nels Rodefeld and Wildlife Chief Bill Dinkines, with the exception of one proposal dealing with season-long waterfowl blinds.

Commissioners had considered all public comments on the rule change proposals before voting. The changes will become effective later this year upon legislative and gubernatorial action, and they will be reflected in the annual 202324 Oklahoma Fishing and Hunting Regulations to be published around August.

Some of the new regulations approved will:

• Extend squirrel hunting season through Feb. 28 annually.

• Decrease the state hunter education course from eight hours to six hours.

• Extend the closing time to one-half hour after official sunset on shooting ranges at ODWC-managed properties.

• Establish archery range rules for ODWC shooting ranges with archery facilities.

• Add beehives to the list of agricultural crops subject to wildlife depredation complaints, and add black bears to the list of big game animals covered under the Nuisance Wildlife Control Program. — courtesy Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

A New Type of Hunting Lease

By Dr. James C. Kroll

To some folks, talking about deer management, especially among Texans, conjures up images of high fences, deer feeders, helicopter census and culling of “inferior” bucks. In my March/April column, I discussed how deer hunting and management have changed significantly since the turn of the 21st century. Emphasis on trophy bucks has created what I call “antler fatigue.” Success was measured in Boone & Crockett inches, and the old hunting camps and leases were dying, and replaced by package hunts and “guaranteed kill.” A new movement appeared, which brings families and friends back to deer hunting. In this issue, I show how committed folks are to managing wildlife on their land, whether they own it or not.

I first met Jason and Stephany Woods at the annual Dr. Deer’s Whitetail World Field Day, held annually at the Research Institute near Nacogdoches. We have noticed each year a larger percentage of the attendance is by couples and families. When we asked Jason and Stephany why they attended, the response was instant. “We want to leave something better than the way

we found it,” they said. “God put us here to do more and make land better, and do it right.” They manage an 1,100-acre property that had been in a local doctor’s family for years. Jason’s grandfather and the doctor had been close friends, and he let Grandpa (“Shorty”) and his family, including young Jason, hunt there until someone leased it in the 1990s. Until 2018, it was the typical lease story with hunters acquiring the lease, then over-shooting it, followed by a new group of hunters. Y’all know the story.

In 2018, Jason took a chance and wrote a long letter to the family, explaining his attachment to the land, and his desire to do something special with the land and its wild inhabitants. Whatever he said, it appealed to the owners and he got the lease. What followed has been magical and I bet the owners have no regrets in working out the lease with Jason and Stephany.

Ever since, the land and their family have prospered with the addition of a new daughter, Georgia Mae, now age 3. They had

the usual challenges, including the marauding wild hogs ever present in eastern Texas, and large areas principally devoted to pastures. A large bottomland forest is seasonally flooded, again offering challenges to management, other than ducks. They have neighbors interested in working with them. They have an added amenity, a house they turned into a family gathering place for hunts and working trips to the property. They decided to call it “Big W Whitetails.”

The Plan

Work gets done by the entire Woods family and hunting friends, overseen by Jason. A good management plan addresses three distinct areas: Population Management, Habitat Management and People Management. The first step was to find out everything they could about their deer population. This always begins with a census, but not what you are used to, because deer counts, whether they be spotlight counts, helicopter counts or pellet counts, are the “La Brea Tar Pits” of wildlife management.

Why? At best you are going to get a population estimate that is plus or minus 30%. We learned long ago, the deer and

habitat are perfectly willing to “tell” you how they are doing, if only you ask the right questions. They use regularly placed trail cameras to get the right information, as well as browse surveys.

The camera counts give an unbiased estimate of buck to doe ratio, fawn crop, recruitment and buck demographics. First year fawn crop appeared to be just about 60%, beneath the target goal of 70%. Buck to doe ratio was estimated at 1:3, below the 1:2 goal. Whitetails “want” to have eight points and score 130 inches in most of the species’ range. Jason and crew already had a couple of years on the program, so it’s no surprise that buck age structure was pretty good.

Long ago, we designated a certain kind of buck a “Freddie” buck—a buck that has a disproportionate effect to the negative on deer genetics. The property certainly has plenty of six-point mainframe bucks. They recruited novice youth hunters to harvest “Freddies.” It’s obvious from photographs the Freddies are genetically related. The goal for now is to leave the mature bucks with 10 or more points. Wild hogs are the usual problem, and everyone joins in removing as many as possible.

Habitat and nutrition management is more than just putting

One of the management “Freddie” bucks removed by young hunter, Jonah; a family friend.

out feeders. The habitat management plan involved manipulating species composition of the bottomland hardwood stands using selective herbicide of unwanted trees. They have food plots to plant, deer orchards to develop, and prescribed burns to safely perform. The group has learned prescribed fire takes training, preparation and the right equipment. The best time to burn in eastern Texas is late winter/ early spring just before green-up. Both the Texas Forest Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife provide certification training for landowners and their management agents.

Supplemental nutrition gets supplied by food plots and free-choice and spread feeders. Food plots are divided into cool season and warm season plots of Buck Forage Oats and cowpeas, respectively. Electric fencing will be used this coming year to regulate when the deer have access to the summer plots.

Deer orchards will be composed of pears, persimmons, sawtooth oak, live oak and chestnuts. Bucks are bad about rubbing such trees to death, so they have to be protected with cages. Drought is not uncommon, even in east Texas, so Jason followed our recommendation to develop a watering system for droughty periods.

Predator control is mandatory in eastern Texas, with coyotes and bobcats doing their mischief on your deer herd. Predator calling and shooting is just another fun activity for the family and friends. We suggested they use the trail cameras as a “red

flag” to trigger predator control. We plan to teach the folks how to trap, especially the young folks on the lease, something that has become a lost art, but a whole lot of fun.

At this point, I bet some of you are saying, why do all that when you might lose the lease? Well, that is possible, of course, but part of the people management of this process is to involve everyone—landowners, neighbors and members of the club—in the management process. The landowners have a long, trusting relationship with the Woods family, going back decades. There are the value-added benefits of improving the land and wildlife, and the intangibles that come from good land stewardship.

Jason summed it up beautifully: “This has totally changed our attitude about deer hunting and management. Shooting a deer is no longer about score, it’s the experience! Now you can shoot a deer, but it is no longer about score, but the ‘game.’ Our world has truly changed, and for the much, much better! Do you think anyone asked, what did it score?”

The Woods men: from left, father Mitch, Grandpa George (aka, Shorty), Jason, brothers Clint and Tyler.

Yep, another “Freddie” buck. Rylee Jo will never forget this day in her hopefully long time hunting career.

Carrie Poffenberger, a relative newbie to hunting, with her best trophy buck to date.

Trophy Hunters

In a time when license sales have remained unchanged for decades despite a growing population, Texas needs more deer hunters. Hunting is a wonderful sport that’s much more than just taking big game. It entails sharing experiences and creating memories with others while enjoying the serenity of the great outdoors and all it has to offer.

For some, hunting may be an annual tradition, but for others it may be an obsession. One thing is certain: We, as hunters, need to do a better job of introducing newcomers to the sport. These new hunters—the next generation of hunters—will ultimately determine the future of hunting as we know it.

Carrie Poffenberger’s introduction and progression to hunting should be told, and hopefully serve as an inspiration for others. Carrie is from the quaint little town of Bellville and is a relative “newbie” to hunting. Despite growing up with hunters and hunting, she was never an actual participant. “At this point, I’m really not quite sure why it took so long,” she said. “I guess I just never saw myself actually hunting. Ironically, my husband Marcus is one of the owners of the Bellville Meat Market, which processes countless numbers of deer every season. Marcus loves to hunt, and I have gone hunting with him many times, but I just never carried a rifle.”

That all changed about four years ago when Barry Hogan invited Marcus and Carrie to a hunt at the Hogan Wilderness Retreat in Caldwell County. Barry and his wife, Liz, have spent years transforming their ranch into a wildlife haven, and it shows the moment you pass through the gate. “There is some-

thing amazing in the way the ranch is managed and cared for,” Carrie said. “It is magical. It is the Texas we all love and know is there, but seldom get to see.”

The beautiful ranch backdrop would provide the setting for a hunt that would change her life and introduce her to the sport of hunting. “I was encouraged to go out and try for my first buck, and it just felt right,” Carrie said. “Marcus and I went hunting on the ranch and I ended up getting my very first buck. The buck was a nice eight-point, not necessarily big by the ranch’s standards, but that didn’t really matter to me. I couldn’t have been happier, and I was hooked! I will never forget the thrill, nor the feeling of gratitude. I was grateful to God for a successful hunt.”

From that point on, Carrie was a hunter, and she couldn’t wait to get back out into the woods with Marcus. They hunted every chance they could with friends and family, but it would not be until a few years later when they were given the opportunity to annually hunt at the Hogan Wilderness Retreat. “We jumped at the opportunity. The deer herd is first class, and the property is a female hunter’s dream: beautiful, comfy homes with amazing views and COFFEE!”

Carrie has taken some nice bucks since her unforgettable first eight-point, but last season was remarkable as she achieved another hunting milestone. “We had been keeping a close eye on a special buck that I thought was absolutely perfect,” Carrie said. “We had gone back and forth about taking him or giving him another year, for the past two seasons! As fate would have

Since Carrie started hunting, the Bellville Meat Market has more deer meat to process.

it, this was the year we decided to hunt him, and I was given the privilege! I was so excited and yet nervous at the same time. It was the same feeling I had when I took my first buck.”

Marcus had been keeping tabs on the buck via trail cameras and knew the area the buck frequented. They would hunt a tower blind overlooking a food plot surrounded by rolling post oaks and yaupon understory. Two sides of the food plot had good staging areas including a small pond where deer would congregate before entering the field.

“Our first attempt was a morning hunt. Not exactly the best for a food plot hunt, but I was there to hunt the big buck—not drink coffee,” Carrie said. “My 3-year-old son, Ash, accompanied Marcus and me on the hunt that morning. We sat until Ash gave out and could no longer sit still or be quiet. We left the blind to get rid of the wiggles and decided to resume the hunt that evening.”

Carrie and Marcus were back in the blind that afternoon, hoping the big buck would show. “It was very windy, and the deer were jumpy. We watched as a few does and young bucks entered the field and fed about nervously,” Carrie said. As the afternoon wore on, more deer entered the field.

“Late in the evening as the sun was setting, my buck appeared in the distance,” she said. “Marcus spotted him moving through the trees as he paused at the edge of the wood line before making his way down to the pond for a drink.” The distance was a bit far for a shot, so the hunters snapped a couple of quick photos as they waited to see what the buck would do next.

Some of the deer that were previously at the pond went over the hill and out of sight, while others had taken the trail to the food plot. Carrie and Marcus watched with anticipation as the big buck left the pond and slowly took the trail leading to the field. “At this point, all I had been doing was praying. Now I had to get ready to shoot,” Carrie said.

The hunters made some quick adjustments to prepare for the shot and were ready, just as the huge buck appeared in the field. “I waited for him to come in and start feeding. I took a few deep breaths to gain my composure before settling the crosshairs on his shoulder and squeezing the trigger,” she said. The distance was 120 yards and at the shot, the big buck quickly collapsed. “What a relief!” she said. “My buck of a lifetime was down!”

They exited the blind and made their way to the fallen

trophy. “The sunset was at our backs, and the evening and the moment were just beautiful,” Carrie said. “What a gift in so many ways!”

Carrie knelt with her buck and smiled as Marcus snapped as many photos as he could in the remaining light. “My buck would measure 200 2⁄8 gross B&C, and I am still in disbelief,” Carrie said. “I am thankful to Barry and Liz Hogan for providing me an opportunity that I never imagined possible, and I am grateful for this sacred pastime of hunting that builds character, families, and nourishes the body and soul.” Amen, Carrie!

Carrie shot the buck at a distance of 120 yards.

A Needle In The Haystack

By Horace Gore

Whitetail bucks on open range that meet the requirements of the Boone and Crockett Club’s All Time Record Book are as hard to find as a needle in the haystack. With 800,000 deer hunters taking some 400,000 buck each year, only two or three whitetails make the book. The club sets a high bar of 170 typical and 195 non-typical for whitetail bucks—a bar that’s hard to reach and denotes high quality antlers.

The key to B&C whitetails is symmetry, long, even tines, and mass of antler beams. Ironically, inside spread of more than 17 inches has little bearing on the final net score.

Areas of Texas where natural nutrition is high—12-14% protein—with added nutrients including calcium and phosphorus, usually produce the best bucks. Of course, an age of 5-6 years, along with genetics that grow large antlers in symmetrical proportions are necessary for B&C qualifying whitetails.

After studying deer for over 60 years, I believe the three most prolific areas for B&C whitetails in Texas are in and around La Salle County; in and around Dimmit County; and in and around Maverick County.

To state this more broadly, I coined a phrase in 2000 called “The Golden Triangle for Whitetails,” which includes an area inside a line from La Salle to Webb, up the Rio Grande to Maverick and back to La Salle County. This roughly described area produces more B&C bucks than all the other whitetail habitats in Texas. The area has a variety of brush that exceeds 14% protein, excellent antler-forming genetics, and the large ranches get minimal hunting pressure.

A significant part of the Golden Triangle and other areas of the state are high-fenced, making the deer from these ranches ineligible for the B&C book. Many exceptional bucks are taken from high-fenced ranches where intensive management

programs control age, nutrition, and genetics to a high level. Aficionados from all over the world come to hunt whitetails in South Texas.

Hunters are satisfied to enter their trophy bucks in several long-standing and popular deer contests in Freer, Pearsall, Ingram, Laredo, and Nuevo Laredo. Many hunters would prefer to win Best Overall in one of these contests than have their buck in the B&C book. As a rule, Texas taxidermists are busy trying to keep up with mounting bucks all over the state.

In recent years, game cameras have become a big factor for taking older, genetically superior bucks—especially in East, Central, and North Texas. Bowhunters seem to use cameras more often, but a combination of feeder and camera has become a mainstay for thousands of Texas deer hunters.

There are several reasons other than age, genetics and nutrition that prevent hunters from taking B&C bucks. Half of the bucks killed in Texas come from the 27-county Edwards Plateau, the Hill Country. The central mineral region of Gillespie, Llano and Mason counties provides more white-tailed deer than some states. However, natural nutrition is insufficient to produce exceptional bucks on open range, and seldom does a B&C buck come from this area.

A series of antler characteristics must come together to make a symmetrical B&C rack, and they don’t come together very often. Then, there are bucks that would have these superior quality antlers if they lived to maturity and beyond—which is rare in heavily hunted areas.

Folks have used the metaphor “needle in the haystack” since 1605, before Don Quixote fought his first windmill. The idiom refers to something hard to find, such as a good bird dog or a Boone and Crockett buck.

According to the author, a turkey hunter will make every excuse in the world about why a gobbling bird didn’t come into shotgun range.

Iam blessed to live in Menard County, “The Turkey Capital of Texas.”

At least that’s what the Menard Chamber of Commerce boasts. While I no longer hunt turkeys or guide turkey hunters every day of the season, I am fortunate to observe them most days. It’s not uncommon to look out the back door of my office and see wild turkeys feeding under the huge pecan trees across the San Saba River in the city park. If I want to see hundreds of turkeys in the fall and winter, I simply drive out to the Gainer Ranch, sit on the porch, and visit with Franklin while the birds fly up in the trees all around the house.

A couple years ago I purchased a small tract on the San Saba River, west of Menard. I put a couple feeders on it to keep the whitetails, axis and turkeys around so guests and Miss Deb and I could observe them. One recent evening, Deb and I observed something I am not sure that I have seen before.

Because we were in the middle of an ice storm, I decided to throw some extra corn with my tailgate feeder. Several of my “pet” axis came running to the truck like cattle to a feed truck. I drove up to the camp house to see what critters would show up. Within two minutes, the

One favorite excuse from the author: “I guess that bird gobbled up a hen and she took him away.”

usual whitetail doe and two fawns and approximately 30 axis were vacuuming up the corn almost as quickly as I had thrown it out. Approximately two minutes later, 13 longbeards came running and scattered some of the younger axis. It’s a sight I see most every evening.

I had studied the gobblers on several occasions, and it seems all the toms were about the same size. Most had about the same length beard, an average of 8 inches, typical of a 2-yearold bird. It’s rare to see them fighting or chasing each other around like turkeys jockeying for dominance would do. They really seemed to enjoy each other’s company get along really well.

The gobblers had been feeding for a couple of minutes when two strangers rode into town—two old toms, obviously much larger in size and supporting neckties that were thick and almost dragging the ground. In an attempt to show who was boss, the old boys walked up about half strutting. About the time the old timers got to the feed, some of the teenagers realized some strangers were among them. Their heads went straight up as they alerted to the outsiders. One of the youngsters, knowing his buddies would have his back made a run at the old gobblers.

He was correct because all the gang fell on the old gobblers and sent them running. I had to laugh because one of the 2-year-old birds was more interested in eating than ridding the neighborhood of the strangers. He was the only bird left, as the others had gone to the river bottom. A few minutes later, all of the youngsters were back but I never saw the two old timers again.

In years when we have had a huge hatch in the spring, I

have seen the large populations of jakes go to every gobbling bird they hear and whip him. Most years, we have gobblers from all age groups and the older birds will dominate the jakes and keep them from gobbling and mating.

A turkey hunter will make every excuse in the world about why a gobbling bird didn’t come into shotgun range. I know because I am a turkey caller/hunter. Usually, my go-to excuse is, “I guess that bird gobbled up a hen and she took him away,” or “That deer we spooked ran right toward that gobbler. I guess it ran him off.” I have used the excuse of just too many jakes ganging up on the old gobblers, whipping them and running them off. When this happens, you will hear the sound of turkeys fighting and few minutes later, the jakes will begin filing in, led by the most dominant one.

Last spring season was one of those “jakes from hell” seasons, as we were short on old mature birds but had a huge hatch the spring before. The old birds would vocalize a little early in the season, but after getting whipped so many times, hushed up. By mid to late season, the dominant jakes had begun to gobble and could gobble like an old bird. There’s nothing more disappointing than to sit down to a hard gobbling bird, call him up and discovering it’s a big jake followed by 10 of his gang members.

Until yesterday, I had not witnessed 2-year-old birds ganging up on really old birds. Usually, the 2-year-olds will follow along with the older toms and just avoid the jakes and hens this time of the year. I am guessing that the bond of the jake gangsters which was so strong last season bled over into this year, at least for now. Hmmm, I may have just found another excuse on why I didn’t get that turkey killed.

Another excuse from the author: “That deer we spooked ran right toward the gobbler. I guess it ran him off.”

Trophy Hunters

Jetty Fishing Tips

By Will Leschper

Texas has an amazing array of manmade fishing haunts, but none compare to the jetty systems that dot the Gulf Coast, providing some of the finest angling conditions imaginable.

The miles of rocky outcroppings from Sabine Pass to South Padre Island, and everywhere in between, are magnets for game fish of all shapes and sizes, offering the everyman angler their best chance to come close to the biggest fish swimming in the salt. While designed specifically for shipping and created to prevent silting-in of dredged channels, the fishing impact of jetties is almost incalculable.

The food chain in these locales is akin to hunting in the Hill Country: You never know what exotics you may cross paths with, especially during peak times of bait fish activity. Some of the largest fish ever documented by Texas anglers, including massive goliath grouper in the 1930s and 1940s weighing more than 500 pounds, were landed at jetties sweeping into the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to notable species such as bull redfish, it’s not uncommon for anglers to come face to face with offshore species such as ling and snapper while the rare snook and tarpon also can make an appearance.

In between are more common species such as speckled trout and sheepshead, but there also have been invasive lionfish caught near the fish-holding structure, proving that almost anything that swims will at some point be near the rocks. Add in other notable species such as jacks, kingfish, pompano, mangrove snapper and even sharks, and you’ve got a smorgasbord of targets that will take a variety of offerings.

Here’s a glimpse at enjoying a day on the rocks:

Use proper footwear

While some jetties such as those at Packery Channel in Corpus Christi offer paved walking paths, the huge granite boulders common in the most frequented areas simply are unforgiving. A short fall or slip can lead to serious injury, and a line of constant algae near the water line is a slick trap waiting for its next victim. A number of seasoned rock walkers are religious in the use of spikes, whether on track cleats or golf shoes, and it makes perfect sense if your feet can handle the mashing metal. Never wear flip flops

Speckled trout anglers can limit out quickly at the jetties. It should be noted that flip flops aren’t the best choice of footwear on the slick rocks.

or slip-on shoes. They exponentially increase the chance for injury and don’t help provide leverage if you’re fighting a beastly fish.

Use proper gear

The depths near the rocks are littered with lost lures of all shapes and sizes, and you should expect to add to that total. I’ve seen many jetty anglers use relatively lightweight tackle— the same kind of spinning and casting outfits you might see while wading coastal flats for tailing redfish—but it’s never a bad idea to up the ante and go heavier. Longer surf rods can help launch baits out farther, and if you do choose to go lighter, it doesn’t hurt to use braided line. The edges of jetties are crusted with barnacles and other sharp areas that will slice through lighter mono. Wire leaders can be a good choice, not only to add durability when fighting big fish, but also those toothy critters that often are closer than you may think.

Keep it simple

The most time-tested and productive lures remain staples of successful jetty anglers. Your tackle box should include plenty of extra hooks, line and leader, and also should have a number of select baits, including spoons, topwater plugs and especially small jigs and mullet and shrimp representations. Live or dead shrimp and crabs and baitfish are never a bad idea. Lightweight jigs also can be tipped with dead shrimp to catch a number of species such as sheepshead and mangrove snapper. There are a number of inventive ways to keep a lure from getting stuck in the rocky formations, including a simple lemon (or lime) rig. The rig is tied using a three-way swivel with two attached leaders, one of which has a hook at the end and the other the unmistakable squeeze bottle or similar float. Another common approach is to simply free-line an offering, which can take a lot of practice to master in a surging current but can pay off in a big way.

If you have access to a boat, fishing the outside of jetties along the coast can be simply exceptional for redfish and other big game species.

Stay mobile

Certain areas along a jetty are honey holes for any number of reasons, whether it’s because of a slightly different flow of current or a spot with an eroded surface that provides a better hiding spot. The end always is a prime locale, though the early bird typically gets that worm. However, almost any area can be fished, and the decision on what side to work or what bait to use can be predicated on the conditions. If it’s windy and

choppy, the outside edge may not be the best place, though the inside edge can be tough in clear conditions when game fish can more easily detect a ruse from the genuine article. It’s also advantageous to know when the tide rises, bringing in an influx of bait fish targets.

Redfish are prolific on the Texas coast and are easy to cook, using their tough scales as a base to trap moisture while grilling.

Redfish on the Half Shell

Redfish on the Texas coast are prolific and tasty. Here’s an easy recipe to enjoy one of our best-eating game fish if you have success at the jetties!

Ingredients

• 4 to 6 redfish fillets with skin and scales on (one keeper-size fillet is good for at least one person)

• 6 tablespoons olive oil

• 2-3 lemons, halved

• salt and pepper, to taste

• *Paul Prudhomme’s Blackened Redfish Magic seasoning blend (You also can use fresh chopped herbs such as basil, mint or parsley in place of an all-in-one blend; there’s also Tony Chachere’s line of seafood spices that work great)

• *Compound butter mixture with the fresh herbs (optional, in place of olive oil or in addition to oil)

Instructions

Preheat your outdoor grill. Take your redfish fillets (with skin/scales still on one side) and drizzle/brush with olive oil. Sprinkle your seasoning mixture and salt and pepper on top of the oil.

Grill the fish, flesh side down, over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Flip the fillet so the scales are on the grilling surface and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until cooked through to your liking. Squeeze a lemon half over each fillet. You also can spoon the compound butter mixture on top as well. Spoon out the flesh that should release easily from the skin and serve by itself, with pasta or accompanying your favorite sides.

The

he shot on a hunt to celebrate his 40th birthday. It was his very first turkey.

author’s friend, Matthew Mitchell, with the gobbler

My first turkey hunt was on an early Thanksgiving morning in the late 1990s. My parents and I were at our family ranch in Dimmit County, located in Southwest Texas. We were about to go on a walk, when we saw a large group of turkeys making their way across a sendero about 100 yards down from the house. I went inside, grabbed my 12-gauge and put two turkey loads in the magazine, and stuffed a couple more in my pocket, along with my hunting license.

I sprinted down an adjoining sendero, and found a clump of mesquite that might provide some cover. I had to wait and see if the turkeys would continue down that direction. After a very long minute, the first line of turkeys crossed about 25 yards away from me. I racked the shotgun and fired immediately, as mass hysteria ensued. The cluster of turkeys, running in every direction, swirled up a tornado of dust. After the chaos settled, I could see my first turkey, a very robust longbeard, on the ground.

After that morning, I vowed I would always keep a shotgun with some turkey loads nearby during turkey season for anymore hunts that might come up. You never know when you might see a flock, or gaggle, passing through. Most of my turkey kills have been a result of driving around the property and spotting a group to sneak up on. I’ve taken a couple in South Texas from a deer blind, when one happened to pop out within range.

The majority of my turkeys have come off my ranch in Central Texas, located in the Post Oak Savannah region. A handful of years back, the ranch took a big step forward in our wildlife management program. We worked with our local Natural Resources Conservation Service to re-establish roughly 23 acres of non-native growth into flourishing fields of native grasses and forbs, through their Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Many of our choices were designed to directly benefit the turkeys. It has become commonplace to see turkeys in one of the five newly planted fields. We love seeing the positive impacts within the local wildlife by implementing these habitat improvements, and we thoroughly enjoy sharing this experience with family and friends.

Four years ago, my wife, Meg, and our youngest daughter, Ellie, planned a weekend trip to the ranch in the middle of April. We invited our good friends, Matthew and Elaine Mitchell, and their daughter, Charlotte, to join us. Once the families unpacked and settled in, Matthew and I went on a drive to pick

up the SD cards from our game trail cameras. It was during the middle of the spring turkey season, so we each grabbed our shotguns for the drive. Matthew has been one of my main hunting partners since we became close friends years ago. He didn’t have many opportunities to hunt turkeys in his past, but we hoped to change that, soon. After discussing our plans, Matthew told me to go ahead and have the first shot.

We drove down a fence line and turned down a road going into the property. Immediately, we saw two massive gobblers about 100 yards down the road. I turned off the ignition, grabbed my shotgun, and tried to cut the distance. Before I could get close enough, they dove into the thick brush, out of range.

George with the turkey he shot in 2019.

Trophy Hunters

We started walking back and noticed a few other turkeys about 90 yards away, down a separate clearing. We hugged the brush line and crept up towards them. The grass was high, which played to our advantage when we approached them. This particular pursuit made it difficult to identify the individual turkeys.

The spring season only allows for one gobbler in our county, and I hoped we had one in this group. Matthew stayed behind, as I started to make my final approach. I got within 30-35 yards of the group. After a couple minutes, I could see one of the turkeys break through the grass into a clearing. I could tell it was a healthy gobbler. A few seconds later, I took the safety off and fired. The gobbler fell immediately, flopped around for a bit and then drew still. I turned around to see Matthew walking up, saying, “OK, that was freaking awesome!” Indeed, it was.

After I tagged the gobbler, we took a couple pics and headed back to tell our ladies the story. I promised Matthew he had first shot on the next gobbler. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any lucky run-ins the rest of that trip. Matthew would have to wait another season for his first Central Texas Rio Grande gobbler.

But we never had a chance to meet up at the ranch during the spring turkey season. I did get a gobbler when I was there with my wife and our daughters. I hope the turkey cordon bleu I prepared for our families would help soothe the sting of a missed season. The next spring provided similar results, as we couldn’t quite get our schedules to overlap. Matthew was extremely busy with his architecture business, and my plate was also fairly full. We vowed we would not let April 2022 go by without having a trip out to the ranch to try to hunt some turkeys.

Matthew and I share a birthday on April 6. While I celebrated my 43rd in 2022, Matthew would hit the big 4-0! We celebrated with our own families on the 6th, and planned a 24-hour work trip to the ranch the following day. After arriving and tending to some chores around the property, we came back to the house to meet up with Jacob Spradling. We told him we wanted to take a quick lap and see if we could spot some turkeys for Matthew. He was game for the hunt.

I got behind the wheel of our side by side. Matthew took the passenger seat, while Jacob sat in the back seat. We decided to check out a field where we often see turkeys, on the far side of the property. As we approached the field, I told Matthew to get his shotgun ready. He put a couple rounds in the magazine, and a few more rounds in the ammo sleeve on his stock.

As we turned into the field, Matthew and I looked down a sendero on our left that hugged a row of massive oaks and pecans. We were both so focused on trying to see any sign of movement along the woods’ edge, we didn’t even think to look down an overgrown road to our right. Luckily, Jacob did.

“Turkeys to the right,” Jacob whispered. I coasted behind some brush and killed the engine. Jacob told us where he saw the group, which was about 150 yards down the overgrown road. Matthew racked a load in his shotgun, made sure it was on safety, and started to creep up towards the turkeys. He was concealed by the brush line between the two roads. He had no idea when he cleared the final stretch of brush if the turkeys would be there. Jacob and I stayed back to keep out of Matthew’s way. We saw him stealthily make his way to the edge

of the brush, stand up, and slowly bring his shotgun up to his shoulder. We waited. Finally, we heard the echoing announcement of his shot. He reported back, proudly, through a giddy grin, “I got him!”

Jacob and I walked up to congratulate Matthew and to check out his turkey. “Now that’s how you start off your forties!” I said. He smiled and declared he was now “40 and one turkey day old.” Matthew began filling out his turkey tag, as he recounted the tale of his hunt.

When Matthew reached the edge of the brush line, he told us he saw three gobblers. Two were out of range, but one strutted behind a tree cluster, well within range. After a very long minute, the gobbler moved into a slight clearing, 33 yards away. Matthew didn’t hesitate when he saw this window of opportunity.

He aimed at the base of the neck and his shot held true. Matthew took the time earlier in the day to pattern his shotgun with some new 3.5-inch turkey loads at 25-40 yards. It definitely helped. It made him confident when the turkey came within range. Matthew used a Benelli Nova that his father gifted to him. I know that made the experience extra special, and I was very excited for Matthew to relay the details of the hunt to his father.

Matthew’s first turkey was the perfect finale to a very successful 2021-2022 hunting season. In December 2021, he and I took a four-day hunting trip to my family ranch in Dimmit County. Matthew shot two does, a feral hog, a javelina, two sandhill cranes, and his first mature Texas buck, a massive 10-point. His freezers were full and we got some amazing stories to share over some delicious wild game meals, which are always served best with a side of family and friends.

George’s 2020 turkey.

Brandon with the big boar described in the opening paragraphs of the article. One arrow from 15 yards put the big porker down quickly.

It was late November and prime time for whitetails in the Panhandle. A small buck stood 20 yards from my blind. The sun was sinking and daylight was fading. I had the wind direction I needed and I was hopeful of what might show before dark.

Suddenly, the young buck cranked his head in a hard stare towards the creek. Maybe it was the mature 10-point I was waiting on? Instead, a mud-covered, black feral hog came at a steady walk to the free corn, his crooked tail swishing back and forth with each stride. He feared nothing. The young buck raised his flag and bolted. The big boar stopped twice to rub his muddy hide on a mesquite tree before circling downwind, then dropping his snout for the free grain.

With only minutes of shooting light remaining, the big hog turned broadside at 15 yards. I drew my bow, steadied the bright green sight pin, and cut the shot. I heard the unmistakable thump of the arrow meeting thick hide. Following a steady blood trail, I found the big boar stone dead 40 yards away. One arrow through the heart ended his reign as king of the corn feeder.

Wild hogs everywhere

The creek where I shot that wild hog in November 2022 was void of any wild swine in my youth. It was around the late 1990s when neighbors reported an occasional hog sighting. Today, feral hogs have spread across the northern part of the state, using river corridors like highways to expand their range. As of 2019, they have been documented in 253 of 254 counties in Texas. El Paso County is the only county without a confirmed wild hog population.

In the Panhandle, wild hogs find ideal habitat on wooded creeks. Here they have water, food and cover. At night, they travel far and wide to raid farmers’ fields. Crop fields like wheat, corn, milo and peanuts get raided by wild hogs under the cover of darkness. They do millions of dollars in damage to crop fields every year. How far do they travel? I know for sure of a couple of big boars that roamed at least several miles each night.

The two boars I’m thinking of, both large and with distinct spot patterns to easily identify them, were frequent visitors to one of my bait sites. I found both boars dead on the side of the highway near two differ-

ent milo fields. One boar was 3 miles from my blind and the other was 5 miles. Both boars were 300 pounders, so I’m sure they did some damage to the unlucky motorist’s vehicle that encountered them.

Look for sign

Not sure if your property has hogs? They leave lots of evidence of their existence. Rubs are common, especially near a water source. Look for trees, fence posts and telephone poles with a muddy smear roughly knee-high off the ground. This is a way of scratching an itch and marking their territory.

Hogs will wallow on the edge of ponds or creeks. These wallows might be as big as a car tire or as big as a bathtub, de-

Dagger-like bottom tusks on the big boar Brandon arrowed in November 2022 on a Panhandle creek.

pending on the size of the hog. At fence crossings, look for stiff hairs in the bottom strands where pigs duck under. Hog tracks have blunt toes, not pointed like a deer. A hog’s droppings are tubular, not pelleted like a deer.

On one Panhandle creek where I hunt deer, a small, muddy pond 100 yards off the main creek channel, is always covered in sign. That small mudhole is surrounded by tall grass and thick cedars where the hogs feel safe. The hogs wallow in the mud to cool their bodies in the heat, then they roll in the sticky, red-colored mud. Next, they duck under a nearby barbed wire fence, leaving wiry hairs stuck to the fence barbs. Their blunt toes leave tracks in the game trail and every small tree down the length of that trail is smeared with mud.

Shooting wild porkers

The chunky, brown-colored boar had been on the trail camera off and on for two weeks. He was usually there after sunset, but with enough daylight for a shot. Finally, my daughter Emma and I found time to hunt. It was late February, cold, and hogs were zeroed in on food sources. I’d seen two herds of hogs near wheat fields in my truck headlights, but the lone boar near the creek was the only daylight visitor I knew of.

Emma and I set up on a lofty vantage point overlooking the river. We scanned the river bottom with 10X binoculars. We were a quarter mile away from the feeder. The plan was to spot the hog when he came off the river headed to the feeder, scramble down the rocks in his direction, get the wind direction in our favor and make a stalk.

Just before sunset, the lone boar came down the creek with his nose into the wind. Emma and I grabbed our gear, stuffed a few extra bullets in our pockets and took off. Using the available cedars and hill to conceal our approach, we stalked above the boar until we were less than 100 yards away. Just as we were discussing shot angles and where to aim, the hog snorted and trotted back to the creek. A random coyote passing through startled the jumpy hog. We used the time to scramble a few yards closer.

We waited and then a short time later, the same boar came back to the feeder. Emma steadied her Browning .243 on forked shooting sticks. I whispered instructions in her ear. “Stay calm, he’s only 35 yards away. Take your time and make

a good shot.”

Emma tugged the trigger, dust puffed off the dirty hog’s chest and he only went 20 yards before tipping over. Emma’s well-placed bullet through the lungs made for a quick kill. What a rush for a 14-year-old kid to take down such an ominous-looking creature. Dad was proud, too.

Too many hunters think they need big rifles to kill wild hogs. Over the years I’ve shot lots of hogs with a .30-06, .270 Win., .300 WSM, .300 Win. Mag., .25-06 Rem., .243 Win. and .223 Rem. Out of all those calibers, I’ve killed more hogs with a simple .243. Shot placement through the ribs on a broadside target is more important than the caliber. Also, I prefer a bullet designed for deep penetration. I’ve used an 85-grain Nosler Partition out of my .243 on most of my recent rifle kills with good results.

Emma Ray with the brown-colored boar described in the article. Emma stalked the hog on a Panhandle creek and made a 35 yard shot with her .243.

I’m old school, so I prefer a reliable bolt action rifle with a simple 3-10X scope for any rifle hunting, whether it’s for deer, antelope or hogs. That said, AR type rifles have advantages. Most notably, the ability to shoot quickly with a large magazine. My friends who hunt with thermals eradicating hogs in crop fields at night, all use AR-type guns. Again, I’m old school and I prefer hunting hogs in daylight. But considering how nocturnal wild hogs get to where I hunt, that’s more and more difficult to do.

For archery hunting, I use the same bow setup I use for deer. I pull 60 pounds and shoot stiff carbon arrows with a quality fixed-blade broadhead. Finished arrow weight of 400-500 grains is good, with 500 grains or more and more FOC (front of center) ideal for deep penetration on big hogs. A few favorite broadheads include the Wasp Dart, G5 Montec, Iron Will Single Bevel or Iron Will Wide, Slick Trick Standard or the Slick Trick Vipertrick. Old school designs like the Zwickey Eskimo, Bear Razorhead and 2-blade Silver Flame are top picks for deep penetration, especially from a longbow or recurve.

In the summer months, when I hunt specifically for hogs over bait near windmills, I use a light on my bow sight and a stabilizer light. That way, if pigs show up just after shooting light, I can still get a shot. I’ve found red filtered lights work the best. I’ve tried white, green and red. Hogs spook at close range from a white or green light, but if you turn on the red light at a dim setting and slowly increase the brightness, most hogs do not notice it. The Piglet stabilizer flashlight from Elusive Wildlife is excellent. I use a green sight pin and a red flashlight. The green sight pin shows up good against the red illuminated target for a clear sight picture.

Feral hogs are not going away. Depending on which study you read, estimates put the population in America between five and nine million. They have been documented in more than 30 states, with the majority in southern states with warmer climates. Texas has the most with an estimated 2.6 million. There’s no bag limit and no closed season on feral hogs in Texas. Love them or hate them, they make a unique addition to the Texas hunting culture.

A popular mudhole for wild hogs and fresh rubs in a Panhandle creek bottom. Find sign like this and the hogs won’t be far away.

Paul Leamon with his nine-point buck.

Trophy Hunters

After seeing my daughter-in-law, Andrea, take her first buck in 2018, her dad, Paul Leamon, and her brother Mark were ready to try their hand at hunting in 2019. Trail cameras showed some potential bucks, but the heat was tough on our bowhunting season. It was impossible to stay dry, much less scent free that year for bowhunting. When the general season opened, we had everyone up to give it a try. In addition to the warm weather lingering on, we also had an almost full moon, so I was not too confident that we would have much luck. I was wrong.

Buck No. 1

Paul and I hunted together in the same pipeline stand where Andrea shot her buck the year before. Mark and my son Randall hunted together in another two-man stand. The trail cameras showed much of our deer movement happened between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so I let everyone know we should stay on stand until at least 10 a.m.

Paul and I were having a nice morning, including seeing a beautiful young eight-point walk up to within 7 yards of us. He caught a little movement and trotted away unharmed. I was glad to see it because he really needed at least one more year

to grow, and I knew we had some older bucks around. Randall and Mark had also seen a nice buck, but it kept moving and did not provide a shot opportunity. Their luck went downhill from there because the wasps started warming up with the sunrise. They fought wasps for a while, but they bailed out by about 9 a.m. Paul and I continued to enjoy the morning, but movement was very slow. At 9:58 a.m., Andrea texted, “Breakfast is ready.” We started packing up and closing windows. I was wrapping the neck strap around my binoculars when we saw a buck moving across the pipeline. I took a quick look and told Paul, “Get that window back open; he’s a good one.” Paul opened the window and got the rifle in position without drawing any attention. I did my best to coach quietly. I said, “He may stop at the feeder, but if you get a shot earlier, go ahead.” I barely got that out of my mouth, when suddenly—BANG—Paul made the shot. Everything looked good, so we unloaded our rifles and packed up again. Blood was obvious near the feeder, so we followed the short blood trail for about 30 yards to the creek bottom below. The buck was an old nine-point that scored near 125 B&C. We took one picture to answer the texts coming in and headed back for breakfast.

Mark Leamon with his 11-point buck.

Buck No. 2

After breakfast and plenty of storytelling, we all headed out to retrieve the first buck. My favorite tool for deer retrieval is my tractor and front-end loader, so I headed out towards the buck, mowing along the way. The rest of the family came from two different directions by UTV and on foot. I mowed my way into the bottom, and all the help I had along loaded him up. As I mowed back to the top, the family headed back to the pipeline.

When I got back on top, I searched for a nice place in the sun to pose for pictures. I looked down the way at the rest of the family who checked out the feeder and the original blood trail. I saw some extra commotion going on and noticed a buck with heavy dark antlers near the stand 65 yards away from the family standing at the feeder. Thankfully, Andrea brought along her favorite rifle, a .22-250 with a varmint barrel.

It’s a tack driver, but it’s very heavy and not the best choice for offhand shooting. Randall scrambled to get it out of the UTV and into Mark’s hands. Picture it: a nice buck standing a few feet from a deer stand, most of the family standing at the nearby feeder gasping and pointing, while I sat 50 yards away on a bright-orange running diesel tractor. Like they say, sometimes it’s better to be lucky.

Randall got Mark to step over in the feeder pen to use the pen for a solid rest. Somehow, the buck stayed around to watch the show, and Mark put a great shot on him to drop him in his tracks. Mark’s buck was a heavy-racked 11-point that scored near 120 B&C. We managed to bag two very nice bucks at the same location despite walking, driving, and mowing all over the area. Paul and Mark decided to have both bucks mounted. After several hours of skinning, caping, and cleaning, we were tired. We didn’t even hunt that afternoon. Instead, we took advantage of the warm weather and did some fishing.

Buck No. 3

Before leaving on Sunday, I retrieved the camera card from the stand with all the activity from the day before, just to see if it had captured the family at the feeder pen. It did. About 24 hours later and 10 minutes before I picked up the card, it captured another large 11-point buck. Randall and I went back to the ranch the following weekend.

We headed out on Saturday morning hoping the luck would continue. Randall and I usually text each other when we get to the stand, just to let each other know we’re OK. I settled into the pipeline stand and let Randall know. It turns out he was battling wasps again and didn’t get the text right away.

I had been in the stand for about 10 minutes when a large buck strolled up the same trail that I had just walked on. A quick look with binoculars verified he was a shooter. This buck went straight to the feeder and hopped in. It was 6 minutes into legal shooting light, so I settled my sights on the buck and fired.

The buck jumped from the pen, made a 10-yard half circle and buried himself in the underbrush. My phone buzzed, so I grabbed it. “I’m in too,” Randall said. “Did you get a hog?” I replied, “No, it’s a large buck; more later.”

I could see the buck from the stand, but all I could see was a rump and a tail because he was buried in the brush. After not seeing any movement for a while, I went down to check on the buck. When I walked up to the buck, he was buried so deeply in the brush, I couldn’t see his head. I pulled him out of the brush, and I realized he was the second 11-point from the weekend before.

This buck would score 133 4⁄8 B&C for my second Texas Big Game Award buck from the ranch. The lucky stand ended up producing three nice bucks in a one-week span. Considering the other two were first-harvest bucks, all three qualified for the Texas Big Game Awards.

During that first weekend, the bucks seemed to roam and display rut behavior. They had passed by our feeder areas, but they appeared more interested in other deer than the feed. By the second weekend, the bucks had showed up again for corn. The one I shot had made a beeline to the feeder and jumped in. Our main rut often takes place during bow season, and I’m not sure if we had caught the end of the rut or the beginning of post rut, but we were fortunate enough to take advantage of the deer movement, despite poor weather and moon conditions. It’s definitely better to be lucky.

Darwin with his 11-point buck.

H.C. Schmidt (R) and Grant Griffin with their dogs and a big Gonzales County boar.

Hog hunting with dogs is not for the meek or tenderhearted. Chasing a big hog to the finish line requires a hunting skill that is rare—whether if it’s with a knife or a gun. A good catch dog, usually a bulldog-crossbreed of some kind, can hold a squealing hog, but the coup de grace can be quite dangerous, especially sticking a big boar with a knife. For many hunters, guns are taboo.

Glen Pitt has hunted hogs all his adult life. His experience with dogs and hogs is long and eventful, and he thought about this as he took the phone out of his shirt pocket to call a young friend who wanted to go hog hunting with the dogs. Glen had hired Johnny Adams at the feed store, a young man who would graduate from high school in May.

“Take me hunting,” Johnny would say, and Glen always gave him the same answer. “John, you don’t strike me as someone who wants to fight the brush and follow a pack of dogs after a wild hog. My dogs catch the hog and I stick it with a knife. I think you should forget it.” But Johnny kept insisting on a hunt with Glen’s hog dogs, and finally Glen agreed to a hunt.

“Are you sure you want to go hunting Saturday?” Glen asked over his phone, as he opened the gate of the dog pen. The two black-mouth curs paid little attention to Glen, as they were lying in the shade of the hackberry, in the back side of the pen. His catch dog, a big pit bull crossbreed was in the doghouse with his broad, short head hanging out. It was hard to believe they could get so vicious with a hog.

“Of course I want to go,” Johnny said over the phone. “I’ve never hunted hogs with good dogs.” Glen thought about the hunt, and said, “Well, it can get pretty rich. Can you stick a

knife into a squealing hog? It’s loud, it’s dangerous, and not for the tender hearted.” Johnny replied, “Well, I don’t know about the knife, but I’ve shot a couple of spotted hogs with my rifle.”

The Quarry

An area east of town had a good population of Russian-strain hogs that had been brought in from Tennessee several years before, and released on the river. They were quite different from the “feral” hogs in the county, which were actually domestic hogs gone wild. Most of the feral hogs were spotted, with short snouts, big ears, and curly tails. Glen had often said, “You could catch a feral pig, fatten it up, and win first place at the county fair.”

The Russian hogs had done well, and it was not uncommon to see a big boar, or a group of 15-20 sows and pigs near the river. The old sows would wag their tails back and forth, and the little pigs had the familiar elongated orange stripes from head to tail, common to the Russian hogs. The animals are omnivores, and will eat practically anything—both plant and animal. Hogs also like meat, and will readily eat a new-born fawn or a rattlesnake.

Big Russian hogs are tough to hunt, and test the ability of both hunters and dogs. The Russians are solid black, gray, or red, with long snouts, small ears, large tusks, and straight tails. Older hogs have bad dispositions, and can whip a pack of dogs in any fight. A catch dog is absolutely necessary if the hunter is using a knife.

“I’ll meet you at the post office at five o’clock, and you can leave your car there. We will take my truck with the dog boxes

A black-mouth cur makes for a good hog-hunting companion.

and three dogs. That should be enough to get a hog if I put out a strike dog near a feeder about sundown,” Glen told Johnny as he laid out the plan.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

“Can I bring my Winchester .44 Mag.?” Glen didn’t like the tone of Johnny’s request, but said, “I guess you can bring the rifle, but no shell in the chamber while we are hunting. Wear some old clothes, snake-high boots, and wear a cap. You’ll lose a hat in the brush.” Glen felt uneasy about the young hunter wanting to take a rifle. He usually didn’t allow guns with the dogs.

Saturday came and they met at the post office. Johnny locked his car and got into Glen’s truck, wearing a feed store cap, cradling his Winchester carbine, with a water bottle in one front pocket and a 2-cell flashlight in the other. The trip to the river pasture and a corn feeder was short, and Glen released one of his curs, which was a good strike dog. They waited in the truck as the cur circled the area around the feeder, trying to pick up recent hog scent.

“We’ll try to pick up a good hog trail, and hopefully it will be a big boar or sow. You never know what the hog will be. Sometimes it’s just a pig,” Glen explained as Johnny took a long drink of water from the bottle. “I hope we find a big boar,” replied the excited Johnny. “I want to shoot him with my .44.” Glen looked over at Johnny. “Has the rifle got any shells in it?” Glen asked. “Sure. A gun is not worth much with no shells,” Johnny quipped. Glen took the keys out of the ignition and put them in the ash tray.

Glen didn’t like the idea of bringing the rifle. “I think we can get a hog with a knife,” Glen said. “Why don’t we leave the rifle in the truck. We don’t need it. My dogs will catch the hog and you can stick the knife in behind the hog’s front leg.” Johnny replied, “I don’t know if I can stick a hog.”

Glen took out his sack of Red Man and took a big chew. “Well, I prefer to stick hogs rather than shoot them, if it’s all right with you. I guess you can take the Winchester, but keep the chamber empty,” Glen replied with a grin, just as the strike dog let out a loud howl, indicating it had whiffed a good hog scent.

THE CHASE

“Get your stuff—we’ve got a hog,” Glen shouted as he went to the back of the truck to let the other cur out of the box. He kept the bulldog on a leash until the time to turn him loose to catch the hog. Johnny came around the truck with his water bottle and rifle. “Are you taking the rifle?” Glen asked. John quickly replied, “Of course. We may need it if the hog is big and mean.”

The strike dog was in hot pursuit of a hog. Glen didn’t know its size, but the chase was on. From the sound of the two dogs, the hog headed for the river. The hog moved fast, but the blackmouth curs also traveled fast, and Glen figured they would bay the hog before it got to the river. He had already decided that it was a big hog.

The catch dog pulled on the leash, and the curs barked constantly, but moving farther away. Glen was concerned the hog was getting close to the river, and wanted to catch it before it crossed. If the hog crossed the river, he would let it go.

Glen suddenly stopped and cupped his hand behind his ear. The curs had stopped barking. As Johnny caught up, Glen remarked, “The hog has stopped. The dogs have quit barking and are fighting the hog. We’ve got to get there in a hurry.” He wanted to get the catch dog into the fracas to keep the curs from being cut up in the fight.

THE FIGHT

Glen was sweating like a Dallas Democrat as he and Johnny made the last hundred yards, and could hear the dogs fight-

The author’s friend, hog hunter extraordinaire Horace Gore, with one of many hogs he’s killed through the years.

ing the squealing hog. They finally got close enough for Glen to see a big gray boar going in and out of the thin brush, with the curs nipping at his rear end and barking ferociously. Glen unsnapped the leash and the catch dog plowed into the fight, grabbing the boar by one ear. In a split second, the dog caught the Russian boar, which squealed like a banshee.

Glen stood close to the fight and yelled to Johnny, “Take my knife and stick the hog.” The barking dogs, the squealing hog, and Glen yelling, were more than Johnny could take. Glen tried to give him the sticking knife, but it fell on the ground, as Johnny levered the .44 Magnum, putting a shell in the chamber.

The fight got wilder and louder, as Johnny pointed the rifle at the squealing boar, and held by the bulldog. Glen tried to pull the youngest cur out of the fight, when Johnny saw an opening and quickly fired a bullet into the melee.

Glen had caught the cur, trying to put a leash on him, and at the blast of the rifle, fell backward with a burning sensation in his left leg. The wild shot from Johnny’s .44 Mag. had hit Glen at an angle just below his knee. The bullet had caught the bone and veered down, hitting his heel and went out the bottom of his boot.

Glen knew he had been shot in the leg, but he didn’t know where, or how bad. The hog-dog fight was on, and he managed to find his knife, grab the boar by a front leg, and stick the blade deep into the hog’s heart. The chase ended.

TWO KINDS OF BLOOD

Johnny had no idea he had shot Glen. The sound of the rifle

firing, the smell of gun powder, and the sudden silence had clouded his mind. He stood holding the rifle chest high in both hands. “I’m hit,” Glen yelled to Johnny, as he felt the blood running down his leg. “Go get the truck.” Johnny dropped the rifle, and began running toward the truck, which was barely visible on a rise near the feeder. Glen sat on the ground by the bleeding boar, attempting to stop his bleeding by pushing his index finger into the large bullet hole.

Johnny got to the truck, found the keys, and started down a dim road back to Glen. When he got close to Glen and the dogs and hog, Glen hobbled to the truck as Johnny put the dogs into the two boxes. A blood trail laid on the ground, which came from Glen’s left boot.

“Forget about the hog, but get your gun and empty the chamber,” Glen declared. Johnny levered the rifle, kicking out the live round, and left the action open. They immediately left the hog behind as Johnny hurriedly drove the eight miles back to town.

Glen was still conscious as the hospital staff took him into the emergency room, and the doctors stopped the bleeding. The bullet had gone through, but had injured Glen’s Achilles tendon. He would eventually recover from the gunshot, but would always wear a brace on his thigh and heel.

There is a moral to this story. Do not let an inexperienced hunter carry a firearm on a hog hunt with dogs. Short-barreled rifles are bad, and pistols are worse. Taking a young hunter with the dogs wasn’t worth a wild bullet from a .44 Magnum. Glen learned the hard way to turn down any request to go hog hunting with dogs, if a Nimrod wants to carry a gun.

Hog skulls make for excellent trophies, each with its own unique hunting story.

Erin Faulkenberry, an accomplished shotgunner, posing with her lab, “Beatrice,” on a duck hunt.

Let’s face it—women and shotguns go together like peanut butter and jelly. It’s a natural phenomenon and a pairing that’s continually growing in popularity. Why? Various motives come from a multitude of ladies. Please read on.

One reason women like shooting shotguns is simply because it’s fun. It’s a good way to release tension, take out frustrations using clay targets, and interact with like-minded people. Female shooters obtain a lot of satisfaction and confidence when that bright colored disk explodes or when a bird falls from the sky.

Athletic ability is not really required, except the ability to shoulder a shotgun. Depending on what you’re shooting, you might scream, holler, talk, and otherwise be vocal to both good and bad shooting. Verbalization adds entertainment to shotgunning.

In recent years, as women have become more involved in shooting of all kinds, firearms have greatly improved with the female body in mind. Women don’t possess the muscles and bone of men, and today many lightweight shotguns with shorter stocks are built especially for women.

As an 8-year-old, my dad had me kneel, shoulder his 12-gauge, and shoot at a coyote. The recoil knocked me over, but I felt powerful and important by protecting our family. I was hooked on shooting!

Many women like me began shotgun shooting with a parent, sibling, or boyfriend. Lynn had never fired a shotgun until she met Bob, who was an avid waterfowl hunter. He introduced her to shotguns, along with ducks and geese, and she loved it. She quickly added dove, quail and occasional skeet competitions to her list.

“I’m truly not a very good shot,” Lynn said, “but I love eating duck and dove so I try to brush up with skeet before those seasons. Competition shooting is good. You aren’t too serious about winning and more about (having) fun. To me, being outdoors and shooting is doing something I enjoy, whether I hit anything or not.”

Some women prefer a shotgun because of its scatter ability. Octogenarian Annette dislikes having to aim with a rifle, whether with open sights or riflescope. “With a shotgun, I can just point and shoot a varmint after my chickens, or blast away at a snake,” she said. Makes perfect sense.

Cecilia prefers one for self-defense. “I’m not comfortable with a pistol,” she said. “I’m a decent shot with a rifle, but a shotgun covers more area if I ever need to

Women also enjoy dove hunting. Connie Ashley of West Columbia shows off two doves she shot.

Trophy Hunters

use it on a burglar. Occasionally, I’ll join others shooting clay pigeons, and I enjoy it. I love my 20-gauge and have confidence in it.”

“My husband and sons were having too much fun dove hunting,” Kay said, “so I picked up a shotgun myself. I’ve never regretted a single moment.” With a chuckle, Kay added, “But I took lessons rather than rely on what they were telling me. Now I sometimes get more birds than they do, and I love that!”

“We’re a competitive family. My daughters-in-law are becoming shooters, adding more fun and flare,” Kay said, firmly. “As soon as my granddaughter is big enough to handle a .410 shotgun, she’ll be joining us!”

This writer isn’t much on statistics, but I did some research. Female gun ownership has greatly increased, which of course, includes shotguns. Ladies buy firearms for personal safety, hunting, and sporting contests. Skeet, trap, and 5-stand shotgun competitions continue to grow. Many groups and organizations are for women only.

Again, it’s all about desire and ability. Don’t expect a gal to be thrilled if a 12-gauge bruises her shoulder, or the gunstock puts a lump in her jaw. She should start out using a smaller gauge with less recoil, and sometimes professional instruction might be the key to shooting success.

Listening and following instructions are vital, unless you’re like me, and just go for it, whether you hit or miss. Over the years I’ve made a few doubles when dove hunting, and it’s always more fun when others are watching. Sometimes I’m hot and can’t miss. Other times I’m cold and can’t hit the broad side of a barn.

On a goose hunt long ago with Eagle Lake’s Clifton Tyler and a gaggle of male outdoor writers, the men kept claiming the birds, saying I wasn’t hitting any of the honkers. A single goose headed our way, and Clifton put pressure on me. “Nobody shoot,” he told the guys, and the goose was mine. You have no idea how proud I was when one shot dropped it. I just smiled.

Getting youngsters involved in dove hunting is a good initiation to shotguns. Many youth organizations have shooting teams. Angela, age 22, began shooting on a rifle team but after watching 5-stand one day, she made the switch. “I started shooting rifles in 4-H when I was 12. At 15, I began shooting shotguns and loved it.”

Angela’s dad is a bird hunter, but his daughter never seemed interested as a youngster. “I’m now my dad’s best hunting buddy,” Angela laughed. “He still outshoots me but he’s on a tight line now, as I’ve gained experience. A shotgun made to fit me has really improved my shooting ability.”

That, too, is a key to marksmanship—having a correct fitting shotgun. We all handle our firearms differently. Stock length, recoil pad, barrel length, and gun weight are all keys to shooting accuracy.

Organizations for Women Shooters

For more information, check out the following organizations designed for women of all firearms and shooting ability. The Lone Star state has numerous “women only” shooting groups in addition to the ones listed here.

National Rifle Association’s Women on Target – www.wot.nra.org

A Girl & A Gun – www.agirl&agun.org

DIVA – Women Outdoors Worldwide – www.Divawow.org

Shoulder placement, firmness when holding the gun, and how you look down the barrel—with both eyes open—are also important factors. As I tire from action-filled shooting, I sometimes find I push my jaw against the stock. It only takes one shot to realize what I’m doing and have a sore jaw. My sister does it often, saying she can’t help it. Her slightly bruised jaw lump soon appears.

Peggy York is an accomplished markswoman with a room full of trophies for both her rifle and shotgun expertise. Peggy is also a certified instructor, and she and husband Ladale blast away their retirement by going to the range at least once a week.

“We both love competing. I participate in many different women only and mixed events year-round.” Peggy said, “I’m getting used to a new shotgun Ladale gave me for my birthday. I plan on using it at the 3-day AG&AG (A Girl & A Gun) extravaganza in July.”

Not sure what you may like in a shotgun? Go with friends and shoot their shotguns. It’s fairly easy to discover what you don’t like about this or that shotgun.

It’s been said in westerns and on stage, “Annie, get your gun!” Shotgun that is, and discover many new things about shooting, and yourself. Dusting a clay pigeon or downing a fast-flying dove or duck has a pleasure that is enjoyed only by a woman who has mastered her shotgun. Try it—you’ll like it!

Brooke Jones enjoys retrieving doves, but said, “Next year I’m gonna be shootin’!”

The Ultimate Hunting Rig

By Ted Nugent

Always be prepared! As the old Boy Scout adage/truism says, to my way of thinking, it’s more important today than ever in history, given these rather interesting times we find ourselves in these days.

Raised in a hunting family in the glory-days celebration of the ultimate good over evil of America’s victory in World War II, rugged individualism and sensible preparedness were standard operating procedures. That every boy had a pocketknife and knew which end of a hammer to grab, the glaring difference between then and now is not only stunning, but extremely embarrassing. Such spiraling ineptitude and self-inflicted dependency can be traced to pretty much every ill plaguing our ruptured culture in 2023.

Just look at the goofball who’s the president! Ugh!

As I improvise, adapt and overcome the stupidity and brainwashed mindlessness that infects so many areas of our society, I can proudly say that rugged individualism and self-sufficiency in my America is still alive and well, and the man in the arena continues to excel in the swirling dust of the American Dream challenge.

Sure, I still unleash killer R&B rock-’n’-roll electric guitar mayhem on my new animal breeding soundtrack CD, “Detroit Muscle,” but in between bouts of exciting sonic bombast, the Great Spirit of the Wild continues to bring me much needed soul cleansing balance and unlimited, thrilling adventure in the great outdoors beyond description.

What fills my pockets and straps to my belt every day has me reasonably prepared for pretty much any challenge one might encounter, and will more than likely face just by simply living an active lifestyle.

Like my daily carry 10mm handgun and spare

magazines on my belt, these basic tools are for instant emergency use in order to control a dangerous situation so as to get to my long guns and increased firepower in my truck. And those long guns in my truck are merely the intermediate tools to get me safely home to yet more capable artillery for any potential escalation that may occur.

M artin M alacara photo

A Swiss Army knife is an excellent tool to have in your pocket for every day carry.

On my person are what I consider the minimal essentials for Boy Scout preparedness on a daily basis.

In one back pocket is the mandatory large, clean handkerchief. In the other pocket is my sturdy wallet with some cash, credit cards, a few standard sized Band-Aids, basic insurance cards, my hunting license and emergency medical transport identifications with emergency phone numbers.

In my front pockets are a pair of collapsible reading glasses, an old multi-blade Victorinox pocketknife, ChapStick, charged hearing aid case, hearing protector valves, a lighter, a Ted Nugent challenge coin or two, a slew of guitar picks, a large folding knife and a small fully charged flashlight.

On my belt is a Glock 10mm handgun with four spare magazines and a belt tool. There may also often be a second compact 10mm pistol as well.

In my shirt pockets are my sheriff credentials, driver’s license, pistol permit, a Sharpie, a ballpoint pen, and my fully charged cellphone.

Yes, all that, every day, everywhere no matter what since 1967.

In my daily driver, whether it be my firebreathing Dodge Hellcat or one of my Ford Broncos or pickup trucks, you will find the following:

A full first aid kit, fire extinguisher, shooting sunglasses, heavy duty tow straps, full toolkit, an assortment of zip ties, hose clamps and nuts and bolts, wire, road flares, spotlight, flashlight and spare batteries, heavy duty blanket, rope, work gloves, rain poncho, small umbrella, paper towels, toilet paper, shovel, axe, saw, Hi-Lift jack, spare tire, air compressor, tire repair kit, spare fuses, phone charging cable, oil, power-steering and brake fluid, backup fuel filters and fanbelts, an AR15, police vest, spare magazines, water, and a few protein bars.

After a lifetime of world travel and wilderness

hunting adventures, I have learned to never be without such basic supplies for whatever the world may throw at me. Call me radical—please—but my precious-gift-from-God life is worth every possible effort to protect and safeguard.

My Broncos and pickup trucks are built with survival capabilities in mind. Heavy duty everything, increased ride height, larger tires and increased wheel travel, winches, dual batteries, auxiliary lighting, and a slew of spare parts just in case.

Whether dealing with Michigan blizzards or raging Texas floods, my trucks have been built and engineered to take on and overcome the worst possible conditions to get me home safely.

I cannot tell you how many times my better prepared trucks have rescued people who were caught with their guard down.

I learned long ago to never be caught with my guard down, and my vehicles and daily preparedness reflects a lifetime of lessons learned.

Anybody got a pen? I got a pen.

Anybody got a match? I got a lighter.

Anybody got a bandage? I got a bandage. Anybody got a gun? (wounded deer on the road) I got a gun.

Anybody got a flashlight? I got a flashlight.

And so the list goes on. Be a Boy Scout, or at least the original Boy Scout, and always be prepared. The life you save may be your own, or possibly someone else’s. Either way, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Have the will, and be ready for anything.

As I always say: I’m cocked, locked, and ready to rock the Glock around the clock, doc! You should be too. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s the right thing to do. Real Boy Scouts forever.

MUST-HAVES

1. HD binoculars

New for 2023, Primary Arms GLx 10X42mm binoculars “focus” on essential quality with premium image clarity, color definition, and light transmission. The premium HD glass and close minimum focal distance mean you’ll be able to see fine detail at any distance. They also feature a lightweight Magnesium body with a durable rubber overmold for performance in even the most adverse conditions.

Visit primaryarms.com/ primary-arms-glx-10x42mm-ed-binoculars-grey

2. Ultralight cooler

Rugged Road ultralight coolers come in at less than half the weight of the competition with the same great ice retention. They also float upright every time—even when fully loaded—and are durable enough to support the weight of an entire Jeep. They’re available in three sizes (RR45, RR65 and RR85) in gray, blue, white, and tan.

Visit ruggedroadoutdoors.com/collections/coolers

3. Camo bolt-action rifles

Blaser Group introduces the award-winning Mauser M18 boltaction rifle in two camo patterns – U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and Fred Bear Old School Camo. These newest M18 models have a rugged composite stock with grip inserts and a threaded barrel for the addition of a suppressor or muzzle break. They feature a cold hammer-forged German-steel barrel, three-position safety, and adjustable trigger that allows you to set your own preferred pull weight from 2.25 - 4.25 pounds. The 60-degree oversized bolt with three locking lugs and two ejector pins allows for quick and smooth cycling of cartridges from the standard five-round magazine. Ten-round magazines are also available.

Visit mauser.com.

MUST-HAVES

4. Dot Circle sight

The Hawke Reflex Circle Dot Wide View with a 2 MOA Dot/35 MOA Circle has 25-layer multi-coated optics for clarity and eight levels of brightness to adapt to your conditions. It has long battery life from the included CR2023 battery, and the sight will go into standby mode if it detects that it hasn’t moved for 5 minutes. Being a reflex sight, eye relief is extremely generous, and the Weaver-rail mount allows you to place the sight wherever it best fits your shotgun and shooting style.

Visit hawkeoptics.com.

5. Disrupter earbuds

Walker’s Disrupter earbuds are designed to protect your hearing by cancelling dangerous-level noises, such as shots at the gun range or while target shooting. At the same time, the earbuds can enhance desired environmental sounds or deliver superior audio originating from a cell phone, tablet, or other device through Bluetooth connectivity.

The earbuds’ Forward Focus Mode emphasizes sounds directly in front minimizing peripheral noise; 360° Directional Sound allows users to better identify where a sound is coming from; ANC Technology employs Active Noise Cancellation to reduce unwanted background noise, improving concentration and delivering a better listening experience; and Rapid Impulse Cancellation provides lightning-fast reaction time to harmful noise levels to ensure optimum hearing protection. Earbuds operate through the Walker’s Link 2.0 app.

Visit WalkersGameEar.com.

6. Gun safe magnets

SnapSafe’s Magnetic Hook can be positioned on any exterior edge of any gun safe or any other metal surface. It has two rubber-coated prongs to hold range bags, binoculars, backpacks, etc. It’s easily able to reposition or move wherever it’s needed and rated to hold up to 15 pounds. SnapSafe’s Magnetic Gun Mount features a compact design and includes mounting hardware to attach securely to any surface. A rubberized coating protects firearms from scratches. Powerful, rare-earth magnets, rated to hold up to 43 pounds. The magnetic gun mount provides a discreet way to secure firearms under desks, tables, or even against a bedside table.

SnapSafe’s Magnetic Swivel Hooks (Two-Pack) provides an instant and easy way to add storage space anywhere they can be attached for holding smaller items inside a gun safe or anywhere you can imagine. Powerful, 11/4" rare earth magnets attach securely to any metal surface and are easily moved or repositioned.

Visit snapsafe.com.

7. Stainless steel pocketknife

The new Bear Edge 61125 is an American-built pocketknife featuring a bead finish blade, ergonomic stainless steel handle design, and the super smooth spring action of a modified drop-point 3 1/4 -inch hollow ground blade that rides on ball bearing washers. New flipper elements are influenced from the popular Bear OPS Incognito with clean lines, a slim build, and a matte gray finish. Designed with a contemporary appearance, the 440 stainless steel bead-finished blade and stainless-steel handles operate as good as they look. The ball bearing washers allow the 3 1/4 -inch blade to open smoothly with a simple downward push of the trigger. The stainlesssteel handles are lightweight, dependable, and equally comfortable in the hand or pocket. A reversible metal pocket clip is also included.

Visit bearandsoncutlery.com.

8. Spotting Scope Camera

SME’s Spotting Scope Camera is designed for universal fit on standard spotting scopes, courtesy of a simple and adjustable universal mount. Suitable for straight or angled spotting scope configurations, it secures easily to the eyepiece and in perfect alignment with the exit pupil. Once installed onto the optic, the camera sends a live view direct to your mobile device by way of the Bullseye Target Manager App. Boasting a 150-foot Wi-Fi range, the 1080p at 15 fps, live view can also be used to capture images and video, making it easy to monitor and record point-ofimpact at distant targets and to capture the excitement of the hunt. It’s powered by a USB rechargeable battery with a generous six hours of operational use between charges.

Visit shootingmadeeasy.com.

9. Varmint rifle

For 2023, Franchi’s Momentum Varmint Elite returns with five chamber offerings and a new camo finish. All Momentum Varmint Elite rifles now come with the TrueTimber Prairie pattern on the EVOLVED ERGONOM-X synthetic stock. Outof-the-box accuracy comes courtesy not only from the fluted and heavy-contour free-floating barrel but also other premium components like the 60-degree throw DEPENDA BOLT and 2- to 4-pound adjustable RELIA trigger.

An ergonomic and adjustable stock system significantly contributes to the rifle’s high accuracy potential. The cheek piece, TSA recoil pad with up to 50% reduction in felt recoil, and removable checkered polymer grip offer custom fitment options. Additional features include a flush and an extended box magazine, 5/8x24 threaded muzzle to accommodate a muzzle brake or suppressor, integrated QD sling/bipod mounting points, and a one-piece Picatinny rail for easy scope mounting.

Visit FranchiUSA.com.

10. Pioneer ammo

Designed specifically for lever guns and revolvers, Barnes Pioneer ammunition is carefully loaded for terminal performance and delivers massive expansion and weight retention for deeper penetration. Each round is engineered for flawless feeding and cycling from tubular magazine to chamber for lightning-fast follow-up shots. Offered in .30-30 Win., .45-70 Govt., .357 Mag, .45 Colt.

Visit barnesbullets.com/product/barnes-pioneer/

11. Fish Pyramid

Texas Hunter Products’ Fish Pyramid is a mid-water escape habitat for forage fish and sport fish. This structure is an ideal fish habitat for bluegill and other forage fish. It enhances fishing and fish production, attracts sport fish in ponds and lakes, and helps grows algae, plankton and other food sources. Engineered with eco-friendly and UV-protected materials, it won’t deteriorate like natural structures, it can be anchored or suspended, it creates shade that attracts bass and other sportfish. Its snag-free fishing-friendly design is engineered to last a lifetime. Quick and easy installation—no tools required. Made in America.

Visit texashunterproducts.com/fish-pyramid/

12. Souper Cubes

Souper Cubes are a unique invention that can turn game into perfectly portioned cubes. Designed like large ice-cube trays, they allow you to freeze big batches of food in 2 cups, 1 cup, ½ cup or 2 tablespoon portions. The 100% food-grade silicone containers are BPA free and can be frozen or baked up to 415 degrees Fahrenheit. Simply fill each portion with meat, fat, soup, chili, etc., freeze the trays and pop the cubes out when you’re ready to thaw and reheat. Visit soupercubes.com.

Texas Exotics

Where would hunting be in Texas if it were not for the exotic game animals that roam our great state? The whitetail deer is my favorite to hunt, but the axis deer is definitely my second favorite animal. The other animals we have mentioned are the aoudad, blackbuck, oryx, sika, fallow, and nilgai, to name a few. Not only are these animals a ton of fun to hunt, they are lots of fun to raise on our Hill Country ranches.

From a hunting standpoint, exotic hunting has given us lots of opportunity to hunt outside of our general hunting seasons. With the success of the native game animals in Texas and now the booming effect on our economy of the exotics, we are a year-round destination for hunting. Not only are hunters getting a great game animal to hang on the wall, they also are getting some of best tasting game meat on the planet.

How did the exotic game industry get started in Texas? You do not have to go far in your research to learn all about the different animals you might want to target.

“EXOTICS. The terms foreign, introduced, and exotic have different connotations but are often used interchangeably to refer to foreign species introduced into new environments. Since colonization began, thousands of species of plants and animals have been brought to North America. Many are now in Texas. The term exotic is commonly applied in Texas to foreign big game acquired by private landowners and released

Exotic hunting has provided lots of opportunity to hunt outside of the state’s general hunting seasons.

within fenced enclosures or allowed to range free.

“Although exotics are not distributed statewide, several species have become prominent in certain regions. The most popular and numerous are species of deer, antelope, and sheep. Though less popular as a game animal, the European wild boar has been stocked in numerous places.

“Most of the more successful free-ranging exotic species in Texas come from the Asian continent. Axis deer, nilgai antelope, and blackbuck antelope were originally from India. The sika deer was imported from Southeast Asia. The mouflon sheep was from Sardinia and Corsica, the fallow deer from Asia Minor and southern Europe, and the wild boar from Europe. The aoudad was brought to Texas from North Africa.

“Texans have acquired exotics to observe for pleasure, to substitute for extirpated native big game, to increase the variety of game for hunting, to increase production and income from rangelands by using combinations of animals that have varied food habits, and to sustain populations of species that are endangered on their native ranges. Most of the original exotic brood stock in Texas came from zoos. Subsequent stocking has been with animals mainly purchased from private landowners, zoos, and animal dealers. Exotics are not protected by the regulations that cover native game animals, and they are hunted at the prerogative of the landowner. Exceptions are the axis deer in Bexar and Kendall counties and aoudad in counties contiguous to Palo Duro Canyon, where they are under state game regulations.

“Perhaps the earliest releases of exotics were of nilgai antelope acquired by the King Ranch between 1930 and 1941 from the San Diego Zoo and stocked on the ranch’s South Texas rangelands. During the same decade blackbuck antelope and axis (also called chital and spotted deer), sika deer, and sambar deer were released. From the late 1930s through the 1950s mouflon sheep, eland antelope, red deer, swamp deer (barasingha), and other species were released.”

—William J. Sheffield, Texas State Historical Association

The Christian Outdoor Alliance has opened the door to kids through our summer camp program to get more children connected to God’s great outdoors. The

exotic game industry has given us the avenue to host our summer camps with each of the campers having the opportunity to take a big game animal during their weeklong adventure. There are so many animals that have horns year-round and a few will be antlered during our summertime camps. This gives us hunting opportunities all summer long.

The most popular at our camps are the different types of rams as well as blackbuck, axis, and aoudad. We hunt all these animals a variety of different ways that makes it a lot of fun as well. You have to remember kids are kids, and sitting in a deer stand can be like pulling teeth because it’s so hard for these young hunters to sit for long periods of time. So, we do a lot of different hunting styles to shake it up at the camp.

The kids love the safari hunting as we drive around and glass over large numbers of animals. There are times that driving just does not work and we have to do some spot-and-stalk. It’s the most popular hunting style at our camps and it also keeps the campers active and moving. Whenever we get into situations where the conditions are lush, and the animals are limited in their movement, we resort to more traditional blind hunting with the aid of game cameras.

No matter what your hunting style may be, the Texas exotics give you a different flavor based on the time of the year. For instance, the axis deer because they are an antlered critter, but we have summer and winter bucks. So it does not matter the time of year because you will always have some axis that are grown out. There are lots of ranches and outfitters that have caught on big time to our summer axis rut, which takes place dur ing our June and July time frames. The axis bucks are extremely vocal and the axis

doe are vocal as well. Because axis are so vocal, it adds to the hunt as you can either sit for them or listen for their roar and move toward them. Hunting axis during the rut is a lot like hunting elk in the mountains because they become extremely vocal during their rut time frame.

Fallow and sika deer are also extremely vocal but they’re more traditional in their antler growth. They grow their head gear in the summer months and shed each spring. They do, however, rut in September and October, which allows us another special opportunity at these majestic monarchs. Blackbuck and aoudad are horned animals that you can hunt year-round.

Blackbuck do better in our southern regions of Texas because of their thin skin, but the aoudad thrive in our

rugged, canyon country in West Texas. Both of these animals are herd animals and can be seen in great numbers in their areas. Both of these animals are extremely fun to hunt and are a great addition to your trophy room.

There are lots of places to hunt in Texas and you should do some research on the animals that you might want to target. It will add to your time in the field and give you more opportunities to spend outside.

Michael Marbach is the CEO of the Christian Outdoor Alliance, www.mycoa.org; 210-8279802. COA’s mission is to guide youth and outdoorsmen to a relationship with Jesus Christ through experience in God’s great outdoors.

Participate in SCI Houston’s 19th Annual Hunter Education Class

Hey, kids, the Houston Chapter of Safari Club International will host its 19th annual Hunter Education Class from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 20, 2023, at Acres Ranch in Richmond, Texas. This class will teach everything necessary to obtain the TPWD Hunters Education requirements for all participants over the age of nine years. They will have space for 100 attendees. All children must be accompanied by a guardian. Adults are also encouraged to participate.

SCI HOUSTON covers all expenses for this class. Breakfast, lunch, bottled water and snacks are provided as well. There will be lots of cool prizes, too! Register online at tpwd.elementlms.com/course/huntereducation-classroom-course-8606/.

For more information, contact Daniel Billings at ptoutdoors@ yahoo.com or 713-416-8020.

DEER CONTESTS RESULTS 2022-2023 W

ith the Pandemic over, and hunters getting back into the old buck hunting routine, we have seen some real trophy bucks come to the deer contests. A lot of “Biden” bucks—those that were more expensive—came in from across the state, but deer hunters suffered through inflation and hardships with everything from game, gas, and groceries to hard-to-get ammo and CWD containment zones.

Everyone was back with reports of several major contests, so please enjoy looking at the best bucks the state had to offer for this past season. We still have several Future Trophy Hunters who are proud of their bucks, and we’re proud of them! (See pictures on right.)

We appreciate all the contests that shared their winning entries with us, as well as those who took the time to enter and support the state’s hunting industry. Don’t forget our upcoming Annual Deer Competition this August at the Hunters Extravaganzas in Houston, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. All of the older hunters know the routine, and we especially invite young hunters and huntresses to bring their trophy bucks—whether whitetail or mule deer—and enter our contest. The Extravaganzas and deer contests offer a lot of fun and excitement, so we’ll see you there.

In case you didn’t know, Texas has more deer contests than any other state. There’s a good reason: Texas deer hunters have the best—and most— whitetail bucks to hunt and enjoy in the whole United States. Hurrah for Texas deer hunters! — HG

Kinley Neumann

Cooper Hoech

Creed Nohavitza

Jessica Adami

Hattie Kinser

Patton Reavis

John Douglas ReaDy eRic schepis

geRhaRD ReimeR Dyck enRique moRan RomeRo

shane shipman

Ricky RobeRts

Justin clay bennett

Dane Webb embRey

RobeRto gallegos eRnesto Rene gutieRRez JR.

ANGADI LOS GIGANTES

TYPICAL HIGH FENCE (GENETIC IMPROVEMENT)

NON-TYPICAL HIGH FENCE (GENETIC IMPROVEMENT)

FEMALE DIVISION (GENETIC IMPROVEMENT)

clauDia camaRillo

Rafael sanchez

peDRo a.h. llanos isiDRo cesaR lavin

Russel bRines mattheW chaRles metting

RicaRDo floRes

camaRillo

RoDolfo bazan

clinton bRaDley Jackson

lopez

COLA BLANCA

steven fischeR DaviD shashy tRavis caRteR

maRta hans aDelaiDe kenneDy sabella haass

mackayla schnautz tyleR oRsak Jake RiveRa

chRista lynch kinley knezek henRy hibbs

kenDal fRangeR henRy feRnanDez, vi sonny thompson

COLA BLANCA

Josh hanselman seth schatte RobeRt bRockman

geoRge maRtin, iii John RuDolph Jimmy buRns

Delfino oRnelas clint savino Roque vela

anDReW schatte

JeRRy Wascom

cal lamb

shane buRton

chelsea lesteR saDie lesteR

FREER DEER CAMP

All measurements shown are gross Boone and Crockett scores.

steven fischeR

haRlen meRks, JR. von meDeaRis Ryan Wenzel

tom humphRey katie seekeR tyleR oRsak

caDe mansouR caRoline oRsak Riley hoRnback

hughes klatt geRalD payne

JuRecek

FREER DEER CAMP

All measurements shown are gross Boone and Crockett scores.

hensley Donnie fischeR kasie seDlock

cotton haley leita RaymonD moRales

bRett toungate Julian aleJanDRo Reese muRRay

allison leita hunteRkay Despain

LOS CAZADORES

JeffRey mills sabella haass RobeRt floRes

chelsea WateRWall bRayDon bates tiffany tRuxaW

skylaR staRk

kevin sahaDi coRbin laDneR

shauna stRansky

Donnie fischeR coRbin DavenpoRt

Ryleigh phillips

Jace anDeRs

mattheW clem

LOS CAZADORES

JeRRy Wascom RichaRD muRRay bill schultz

lee oWens catheRine hoWRy

kellie Johnson

Rick young sean hunt

tanya DevillieR elton aRceneaux clifton kotRla

John RuDolph tanneR blakeR

aDam Doelle

MUY GRANDE

LONGEST SPIKE Chance Kalina ................195⁄8 inches (Right)

YOUTH MOST POINTS Beau Bures .............. 14 Points; 1572⁄8 Gross YOUTH WIDEST SPREAD Mackenzie Olle ....... 232⁄8 inches; 130 Gross

Jake JaRvis lauRa beRRy DaWson ReeD

mackayla schnautz

kolton kauffman

Donnie fischeR

kinley knezek

chRistopheR "Dos" peeleR

chance kalina

beau buRes

blake faRRis gigi maRtin melissa kelly

faith gaRneR steven fischeR

mackenzie olle

MUY GRANDE

MACHO GRANDE TYPICAL NET MEN'S

Corbin Ladner

2036⁄8 Net

MACHO GRANDE TYPICAL NET YOUTH BOY'S

Colten Simonton ........................... 1857⁄8 Net

MACHO GRANDE TYPICAL NET YOUTH GIRL'S

Katie Seeker..................................

1784⁄8 Net

MACHO GRANDE NON-TYP. GROSS MEN'S

Ruben Guerra............................... 384 Gross

MACHO GRANDE NON-TYP. GROSS YOUTH BOY'S

Braydon Bates .......................... 2377⁄8 Gross

MACHO GRANDE NON-TYP. GROSS YOUTH GIRL'S

Olivia Shumate .......................... 4352⁄8 Gross

POPE & YOUNG TYPICAL NET (OCTOBER WINNER)

Cal Lamb ....................................... 1725⁄8 Net

POPE & YOUNG NON-TYP. GROSS (OCTOBER WINNER)

Ella Hawk................................... 2034⁄8 Gross

POPE & YOUNG TYPICAL NET MEN'S

Michael Wascom .......................... 1745⁄8 Net

POPE & YOUNG TYPICAL NET WOMEN'S

Katie Herber ..................................... 147 Net

POPE & YOUNG TYPICAL NET YOUTH BOY'S

Rolando Villarreal, III .................... 1492⁄8 Net

POPE & YOUNG NON-TYP. GROSS MEN'S

Jerry Wascom ........................... 2087⁄8 Gross

YOUTH YOUNGEST MOST SUCCESSFUL HUNTER (BOY'S) 1ST PLACE

Colt Blaschke, Three Rivers, Texas 4 Years Old

YOUTH YOUNGEST MOST SUCCESSFUL HUNTER (GIRL'S)

Auctayvia Guerra

RolanDo villaRReal, iii JeRRy Wascom

coRbin laDneR colten simonton katie seekeR

Ruben gueRRa

bRayDon bates olivia shumate

cal lamb ella haWk michael Wascom

katie heRbeR

colt blaschke auctayvia gueRRa

TROPHY GAME RECORDS OF THE WORLD

OPEN DIVISION

Men’s Diamond Buck

Henry Adams

Women’s Diamond Buck

Lonnie Johnson

Youth Diamond Buck

Brandon Perkins

1ST PLACE WINNERS

Men’s Rodney Wenzel

Women’s Valary Puntes

Youth

Kase Kramer

HIGH FENCE DIVISION

Men’s Diamond Buck

Robert Crowe

Women’s Diamond Buck

Jennifer Webster

Youth Diamond Buck

Jaxon Robinson

1ST PLACE WINNERS

Men’s Elton Arceneaux

Women’s Brandi Scott

Youth

Levi Kenney

LOW FENCE DIVISION

Men’s Diamond Buck

Zeb McGhee

Women’s Diamond Buck

Emily Santos

Youth Diamond Buck

Blaine Johnson

henRy aDams lonnie Johnson bRanDon peRkins

RoDney Wenzel valaRy puntes kase kRameR

RobeRt cRoWe JennifeR WebsteR Jaxon Robinson

elton aRceneaux bRanDi scott levi kenney

zeb mcghee emily santos blaine Johnson

TROPHY GAME RECORDS OF THE WORLD

1ST PLACE WINNERS

Men’s Mark Dollar

Women’s Paula Hutsen

Youth Samuel Kubala

HILL COUNTRY DIVISION

Men’s Division Winning Buck

Quaid Durst

Women’s Division Winning Buck

Kaylyn Pehl

Youth Division Winning Buck

Colton Williamson

OUT

OF STATE DIVISION

Men’s Division Winning

George Luedtke

Women’s Division Winning

Cameron Luedtke

Method Of Collection

Archery/Crossbow

Lee Phillips

Method Of Collection

Modern Arms/Handgun

Craig Scruggs

Most Points Winner

Janet Scruggs

MULE DEER DIVISION

Adult Shane Maxwell

maRk DollaR paula hutsen samuel kubala

quaiD DuRst kaylyn pehl colton Williamson

geoRge leuDtke cameRon lueDtke lee phillips

cRaig scRuggs Janet scRuggs shane maxWell

Mark’s trophy buck, which he nicknamed “Booner,” surprised him when he discovered the buck grew double drop tines.

The 2019 hunting season would be a special one for me. I have been lucky enough to be a part of a South Texas low-fence ranch that has been managed for almost two decades. The group of hunters I share this property with have become great friends and have put their hearts and souls into growing some of the best native whitetails the Golden Triangle is known for. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to take some great bucks with a bow and rifle. However, the buck that would take my breath away this season would truly be the buck of a lifetime.

My Uncle Richard and I had seen a buck several times that really piqued my interest. He was a typical 10-point with long brow tines and great G2s and G3s. We could tell this buck could one day be something special. We named him “Booner” because we felt that given time, he could one day be a Boone and Crockett book buck. I had only ever seen him once in person, but Uncle Richard saw him at the end of the 2017 season and believed he could truly live up to his name.

Over the next two years, Booner blossomed. He also had become a ghost. He would take full advantage of the protein and cottonseed we fed the deer from February through October each year. But once he shed his velvet in late September, he was gone.

He totally turned down the supplemental feed and would not show up until the following February. Even during the rut, we never saw hide nor hair of him. He would then only show up at night after the rut and start building his body back up over the summer months.

After a long and hot summer of filling protein and cottonseed feeders, it was finally time to put out the game cameras. We had passed on several great bucks in 2018, but I really hoped Booner would make a big leap at 7½ years old. When I finally saw Booner’s picture in late August, I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was still a big typical 10-point, but he had suddenly grown not one, but two drop tines. And not just little drop tines, we’re talking Texas Trophy Hunter logo type drop tines.

Booner had turned into the type of buck one only dreams of. I called Uncle Richard and told him I had found my target buck for the year. Over the next two months, Booner stayed fairly consistent on the cameras. But he stuck with the same pattern he had from the previous years. He ate the cottonseed and protein at night, but we only had one daylight pic of him in velvet. As September rolled around, Booner finally shed his velvet. He didn’t turn into a ghost like he had in

previous years. He still showed up every two or three days right before daylight or right after dark.

As opening weekend of the 2019 season inched closer, I felt like a kid waiting on Christmas day. I had to attend a fishing tournament my company sponsors in Rockport, so I missed opening day. But I drove to the ranch Saturday night and planned to stay all week. As it turned out, Booner and I started a chess match that weekend. It drove me crazy!

I got in the blind an hour before daylight. As the first light crept across the South Texas mesquite flat, I would find myself straining to make out every shadow, looking for those double drop tines to no avail. Since early September we had declared that corner of the ranch a sanctuary so Booner would not feel any pressure. We would only feed and pull cards around midday.

After several long weeks of sitting in 90-100-degree weather, I started to think Booner would finally disappear altogether like he always did. But I finally caught a break. The first cool front

Booner earned Mark first place-low fence division in Muy Grande and Cola Blanca deer contests.

Texas Trophy Hunters

would arrive that Saturday night. As I watched the South Texas brush come to life that next morning, I had high hopes.

But as the first 45 minutes of daylight passed, I figured it was another busted day. I had been watching a couple nice bucks and had taken out the video camera to get some footage. I casually glanced down the sendero to my left and saw several deer feeding, including one with a big body. But a doe blocked my view of the rest of the body, so I kept filming the bucks in front of me.

After a few minutes I moved the camera to the left window and focused on the deer down the sendero. As the deer came in focus I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Booner and he was BIG. As I stared at Booner, who I had only seen live one time before, I was left breathless.

I reached for my rifle but knocked it to the floor in the blind. By this time my heart was racing, and I feared I had blown my chance. As I eased the gun to the window rest I could see Booner still standing there. I clicked the safety off the Remington 7 Mag.

I tried to control my breathing and focus on Booner’s shoulder. He stood slightly quartering to me and I had to wait before both shoulders lined up perfectly broadside. I said to myself, “Lord, I am about to send it and I need a little help.” BOOM! The rifle leapt in my hands. I heard the report of the bullet hit and saw Booner’s back half hit the ground, followed by the rest of him.

I quickly jacked another round into the chamber and brought my focus back to him, but it was over. Booner lay in

a heap in the middle of the sendero. I stared at him for what seemed like an eternity. A flood of emotions rolled thru me. My Buck of a lifetime was down.

I felt a tinge of sadness knowing the chess match was over, but I also felt elated. As I eased down from the blind and started walking towards him, I saw no ground shrinkage on this buck. As I lifted his head, I felt humbled about taking a truly special South Texas buck. Both drop tines still had dried velvet on the ends.

I sat down and just took the whole scene in. The first rays of the sun broke over the horizon. I called Uncle Richard to let him know about Booner. I then called Dad and thanked him for introducing this wonderful sport we both enjoy. I sat in awe as another friend drove up. He had heard the shot and was eager to see this buck that had captivated us all at the ranch. After a round of hugs and congratulations, we loaded Booner and headed back to the ranch headquarters to celebrate.

I met Uncle Richard later that day at the Muy Grande Deer Contest scoring location in Freer. He waited for me as I pulled up. Lionel Garza was there to score my buck, too. Booner had broken about 1½ inches off his right G2, but he scored 188 6 ⁄8 B&C. He wouldn’t be a book deer. The double drop tines had taken away from his typical frame, but what he turned into was so much more. Booner took first place in the low fence division at Muy Grande, and the Cola Blanca deer contest. Few people every have their dreams come true, but my buck of a lifetime was one of them. A special thanks to all those who made it possible.

The author (right) with his uncle, Richard Jonas (left) and good friend John Meyer (center). Uncle Richard had taken this buck in a previous season.

Trophy Hunters

Compound Bow

Roundup

By John Goodspeed

Compound bow manufacturers listen to their customers, who receive special attention with a steady stream of innovations, and 2023 models feature an abundance of them. This roundup includes plenty of carbon-fiber bows, which offer more strength and lighter weight than aluminum while reducing vibrations and noise. One manufacturer, though, is focusing on a proprietary alloy that it says tops carbon with more strength, better consistency and increased vibration dampening and is lighter than aluminum. The bow it is touting weighs 3¾ pounds.

Cam systems continue to evolve with improved ways to dampen vibrations and sounds while providing smoother draw cycles. Manufacturers also are focusing on designing systems for easy tuning by customers without the need of a bow press. There also is a continued need for speed. The slowest bow in this roundup shoots up to 330 feet per second. The fastest is rated at 347.

The lightest weighs 3.65 pounds.

While there are no budget bows below, some are more affordable. The least expensive one is $649.99 while the one with the biggest price tag is $1,949.99. The fps speeds listed below are the manufacturers’ ratings using the International Bowhunting Organization standards. Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.

Execute 32, $1,199

Bear is celebrating its 90th anniversary with two new flagship models for 2023, the Execute 32, shown here in Stone — one of a number of available finishes — and the Execute 30, also $1,199. The numbers, of course signify the bows’ axle-to-axle measurements. The models, which both shoot up to 340 fps, received a ground-up redesign with a new forged riser, a new Shock Management System, increased weight and rigidity for what Bear says is best-in-class stability and a revised Equalized Kinetic Orientation cam system. The EKO cam system brings familiar performance with a more forgiving and smoother draw cycle. The EKO cam allows four let-offs — 75 percent, 80 percent, 85 percent, and 90 percent.

The Shock Management System in the bow’s riser brings increased vibration reduction and sound-deadening technology. The Execute 32 accommodates draw lengths of 26½ inches to 30½ inches. The shorter Execute 30 offers adjustment from 26 inches to 30 inches. Both models can be ordered with either 45- to 60-pound or 55- to 70-pound limbs.

BARNETT OUTDOORS PHOTO

www.bowtecharchery.com

Carbon One, $1,799

Prelude E 32, $1,149.99

This new bow combines the comfort of carbon fiber with a riser that eliminates nearly all felt vibration with the DeadLock Cam System. BowTech says it’s the most tunable and accurate cam system available. It provides easy tuning, accuracy and smooth draw and locks it all in with the DeadLock Cam System. It measures 30 inches axle to axle, weighs 4½ pounds and shoots up to 335 fps.

Other specifications include a 6.63-inch brace height, draw length of 25½ inches to 30½ inches and draw weight of 50 pounds, 60 pounds and 70 pounds. Dual Lock Pockets lock every component in the bow structure together for a rigid, accurate platform. The Integrate Mounting System is machined into the riser to eliminate rest movement. The Orbit Dampeners are set in line with the travel of the string to further reduce vibration and noise. The trademarked FlipDisc allows the shooter to customize the draw cycle.

This new model that flings arrows up to 347 fps was designed from the ground up around a new riser that adds strength and stability and an improved cam that Darton says makes the model feel like a target bow but shoot like a speed bow. An easily removable adjustable draw module with 1/4-inch draw length adjustments and three sets of draw stop tabs creates eight holding weight options. Adding more control over draw length and holding weight are the dual cable stops and an adjustable roller guard. The split yoke system that anchors on the axles outside the limbs equalize and stabilize the limbs and reduces the load on the cam bearings for smooth shooting.

The bow measures 32 inches axle to axle and has a 6-inch brace height. Draw lengths range from 27 inches to 30½ inches. Draw weights are 40 pounds, 50 pounds, 60 pounds, 70 pounds and 80 pounds. Let-off is 80 percent. It comes with custom bowstrings by Darton.

The new Alter is driven by the patented Synchronized Binary Cam System, which pushes arrows up to 330 fps while providing easy set-and-forget tuning. With 10 inches of draw length adjustability and a draw weight range from eight pounds to 70 pounds, the Alter is suitable for beginner or expert, young or old and anyone in between. With an Allen wrench, the draw length can be set from 21 inches to 31 inches. To adjust the draw weight, simply turn it up or down as needed. It measures 31½ inches axle to axle. Brace height is seven inches. It weighs 4.1 pounds.

The Alter comes with accessories from the brand Octane including a Furnace five-arrow quiver, Stryker three-pin sight, Octagon full capture arrow rest and Boost 5-inch stabilizer. Also included are a Diamond wrist strap and peep sight. Finishes are Mossy Oak Country DNA, shown here, and black.

Elite Archery

www.elitearchery.com Era, $1,699

VTM 31, $1,349

Weighing 3.95 pounds, the company’s first carbon bow features Elite’s high-performance SP Cam, which can provide speeds up to 336 fps, and offers a forgiving 71/4-inch brace height. The Micro Mod Let-Off Adjustment allows fine-tuning holding weight in one-percent increments within the 70 percent to 90 percent range. The draw length is adjustable in 1/4-inch increments. The bow features Elite’s Simplified. Exact. Tuning. — or S.E.T. Technology — which allows micro-adjustments of the limb pivot angle to change the lean of the cams and the lateral position to optimize arrow flight. The dual cage riser adds rigidity through key transition areas. Wider limbs and a strategic weight distribution creates a shooting platform that enhances aim-ability and balance for faster shot acquisition. The axle-to-axle measurement is 311/4 inches. Draw length ranges from 24½ inches to 30 inches. Draw weight is from 30 pounds to 70 pounds.

This 2023 model with speeds up to 342 fps also has a big brother, the VTM 34 ($1,499). With longer axleto-axle measurements than predecessors, both are based on an evolution of Hoyt’s most proven riser design, the Ventum Pro. The riser uses integrated mounts for accessories. The new Tec-Riser cutout allows an Integrate rest while a new riser tunnel allows routing of the trigger cord for a Garmin or other electronic sight. Hoyt claims a 31 percent sound reduction with a number of new features including the Holeshot V2 string silencer and Shock Pod Technology as well as such proven items as Limb Shox and Stealth Shot string stop. Hoyt also offers accessories such as stabilizers and quivers that are optimized for the bow. The company’s tests showed the VTM 31 was 11 percent quieter equipped with accessories than without them. The bow uses the HBX Pro Cam System that allows easier tuning with two available modules. The VTM’s brace height is six inches. It weighs 4.6 pounds.

This model sports a new design that uses Martin’s DSX Cam system, which features a Helix Groove in the lower cam and a new mass distribution system allowing adjustment for tuning by determining where to place the required weight. The Helix Groove prevents cam lean by displacing and transferring the load across the cam as the bow cycles from static to dynamic position. One-inch parallel limbs increase cam spacing for strength and smoothness. Weighing four pounds, the bow propels arrows up to 338 fps. It measures 303⁄8 inches axle to axle. Brace height is 6 inches. Draw weights with up to 90 percent let-off are 45 pounds to 55 pounds, 55 pounds to 65 pounds or 65 pounds to 75 pounds. Draw lengths range from 28 inches to 30½ inches.

www.mathewsinc.com

Phase4

The latest from Mathews strives to reduce noise and felt vibration, which the company says is reduced by 13 percent and 37 percent, respectively. The Phase4 is available in 29-inch or 33-inch axle-to-axle lengths. The Phase4 33, shown here, has a 6½-inch brace height and accommodates draw lengths from 27 inches to 31½ inches. The Phase4 29 ($1,299) has a 6-inch brace height and accommodates draw lengths from 25½ inches to 30 inches. To reduce vibration and noise, two new systems are used — Resistance Phase Damping and BridgeLock Stabilizers. RPD tackles excess energy in the limbs while BLS offers better balance and a stiffer connection to the bow. The threadless, stackable weight system uses one set screw and is available in lengths of 8 inches, 10 inches and 12 inches. The Phase4 33 shoots up to 336 fps. Draw weights are 60 pounds, 65 pounds, 70 pounds or 75 pounds. The bow weighs 4.68 pounds.

Prime Archery by G5 Outdoors Xpedition

www.g5prime.com

REVEX 2, $1,299.00

For 2023, Prime introduces the REVEX line, which is available in axle-to-axle lengths of 32 inches, shown here, 34 inches ($1,299) and 36 inches ($1,399). The new CORE Cam System features draw-length-specific mods that allow the REVEX to reach maximum efficiency at every draw length, from 26 inches to 31½ inches. The new cam still features Prime’s cam balancing technology that brings the strings and cables in line with each other for perfect balance throughout the draw cycle. Prime’s exclusive center-gripped riser is still a primary feature to improve aiming and accuracy. By moving the grip to the center of the bow, more mass is shifted below the grip to eliminate the need to add additional weight. Features include a new carbon string stop that cuts sound and vibration and Prime’s warmto-the-touch Nano grip. The REVEX 2 reaches speeds up to 338 fps and weighs 4½ pounds. Brace height is 61/4 inches. Draw weight ranges from 40 pounds to 80 pounds.

The E2 Cam offers the longest draw length — 29 inches to 33 inches — in the Mach 34 lineup, which includes the S2 and EC (all $1,799). Dead Frequency Carbon is PSE’s proprietary carbon material that provides quiet shots and a dead-inthe-hand feel.

The Mach 34 is built on PSE’s Full Draw Stability Technology, which actively resists induced torque, resulting in increased accuracy, with an increased effective brace height, which is 71⁄8 inches. The new EZ.220 Snap Spacer System allows for quick bow tuning and cam lean adjustment in a bow press. The wide limb pockets tighten against the handle surface to keep the pocket centered over the riser. The Mach 34 E2 produces speeds up to 335 fps. It weighs 3.65 pounds. Draw weights are 60 pounds, 70 pounds and 80 pounds with 80 percent to 90 percent let-off.

Xpedition says the Xlite, made from the proprietary alloy Magnite, is stronger and more consistently manufactured than carbon, 33 percent lighter than 6061 aluminum and dead in the hand. In addition, Magnite provides 20 times more vibration dampening than commercial grade carbon and three times more vibration dampening than 6061 aluminum. The new XB1 dual cam system simplifies shooting while providing Xpedition’s smoothest draw cycle. The two-module system is designed for optimal performance at all draw lengths, which range from 25½ inches to 30½ inches and are adjustable in ½-inch increments. Strategically positioned dual cable stops create a solid back wall. The Xlite also is available in 31-inch or 33-inch axle-to-axle lengths. The Xlite 31 shoots up to 336 fps and weighs 3¾ pounds. Brace height is 6½ inches. Draw weights are 50 pounds, 60 pounds, 65 pounds and 70 pounds with 80 percent let-off.

Nilgai antelope are right at home in the vast reaches of the brush country. Starting south of Corpus Christi and extending through the Wild Horse Desert and into the Rio Grande Valley, you’ll find the perfect habitat for “blue bulls,” which have continued to thrive since being introduced in the 1930s in and around the King Ranch. Today, tens of thousands—by some estimates upward of 50,000 nilgai—roam across some of the most distinct and sometimes unforgiving territory in Texas.

Many high-fence tracts harbor the offspring of transplants from Asia, but plenty of these hefty critters eclipsing 600 pounds roam free and with little regard for low fences of any design. For better or worse—as with many other hunting opportunities—the overall investment involved with setting up a hunt for the largest Asian antelope species has continued to rise in the Lone Star state. While there are public hunt drawings for national wildlife refuges in South Texas, the main way to get in on our state’s prime big game hunting quarry is to set up a

The nilgai is right at home in deep South Texas, which provides a habitat ideally suited for the ancestors of antelope native to southern Asia.

hunt through an outfitter, guide or landowner.

If you’re going to shell out some of your hard-earned treasure on what likely is a bucket list hunt for almost any Texan, you’re advised to consider many aspects of what goes into pursuing blue bulls. With that in mind, here’s a primer on nilgai hunting and how you can make the most of your time and effort in aiming at a successful hunt.

Do your research

The cost associated with hunting either a bull or a smaller cow nilgai has risen in the past decade, something that’s simply a sign of the times. Any reputable guide or outfitter will charge thousands of dollars to shoot a nice bull and somewhat less for a cow. Some folks out there will, however, try to take advantage of the situation by offering “cheap hunts,” which is a red flag by any definition, no matter what the hunt might be.

I’ve known hunters and heard of others who were offered an opportunity that turned out too good to be true. Some of those stories included being taken advantage of under the guise of being a cheaper nilgai alternative without any actual animals being seen all the way up to hunters being unaware the land they were hunting on constituted trespassing because their “guide” either didn’t have access or simply was trying to circumvent all proper hunting practices to make a buck. The last thing you want or can afford on multiple fronts is being caught trespassing by a landowner or game warden.

A simple online search yields numerous nilgai hunting operations ranging from large-scale outfitters to single guides and this is where getting all the right information is vital, especially with the cost involved. A trustworthy hunting operation can provide all the right information and answer all the questions quite succinctly that a paying hunter should have. That being said, it’s up to you to ensure everything is aboveboard before you even think about stepping into the field.

Prepare accordingly

Nilgai offer a challenging hunt, plain and simple. That’s especially true on large swaths of the Wild Horse Desert that are seemingly inhospitable for human encroachment. As stated previously, nilgai are right at home in an environment where they can thrive and have no known natural predators. Nilgai, much like every other antelope species, rely on sight to detect anything they deem a threat. Hunting the open country of South Texas equates to a much different experience than most deer hunters face.

The typical nilgai hunt is done safari style, trekking around in a four-wheel drive or UTV until either a herd of animals or a single bull is spotted, and then disembarking and pursuing on foot. Another approach is spot-and-stalk, which usually involves hiking over great distances, sometimes measured in miles at the end of the day.

This is where using good gear isn’t just important, it’s imperative. It’s possible a hunting party may be able to drive up close and hop out to get a quick shot, but that’s certainly a long shot. As noted before, if you’re shelling out a hefty bounty, you want to stack the odds in your favor, which means having qual-

Nilgai can come in different color phases, with older, more dominant males looking almost dark blue.

ity boots and optimal gear for either cold or warm weather, or possibly both, as conditions can change quickly in South Texas, just like any part of the state.

Almost every reputable nilgai hunting outfit will have a way to transport a big animal from the field to the skinning rack and cooler, which is another question to think about when booking a trip. You’re not dragging one out by yourself.

Pick your shots

The greatest debate in nilgai hunting comes down to caliber. I’ve seen numerous pictures of hunters with nilgai felled by rifles ranging from the .243 and the .257 to the 6.5 and 7 Mag. I’ve also seen nilgai killed with a compound bow, and yes, it can be done. However, most guides—and rightly so—will stress using a larger bore and stouter bullets, starting at .30 caliber and going up from there for animals that can simply be hard to knock down and can run a long way even with what will become a mortal wound. Part of that rationale, I believe, is more sheer force and shock is one way of overcoming what could possibly be a misplaced shot, no matter the circumstance.

Whatever caliber you happen to tote afield, you’d best be proficient with it when you’re pursuing nilgai. You might get an 80-yard shot, or it could be three football fields away, or farther. That means practicing with the ammo you’ll be using at the range, and also focusing on how you’ll be shooting. Some hunters can punch paper solid all day long sitting with a rest at the range but aren’t as adept shooting prone or off a stick, which might be how your nilgai shot lines up if you’re doing a spot-and-stalk up and down the rise and fall of

coastal sand dunes.

Another consideration is the anatomy of the nilgai when discussing shot placement. The vitals sit farther forward in the chest cavity than those of a Texas whitetail. If you’re sizing up the ideal broadside shot to clip the heart or lungs, it would be about a third of the way up from where the front shoulder starts.

Plan for success

Not all successful hunts are measured by a kill, but in the case of nilgai, there’s nothing better than celebrating the spoils of exceptional table fare. Make no mistake, there may be no finer a lean meat on this planet, and if you successfully down one of these critters, you’ll quickly find out that you may have more protein than you know what to do with. It’s hard to fathom the size of a hefty blue bull until you walk up on one or until it’s hanging up to be skinned. They resemble a side of beef once you’ve got the hide off and a big bull will yield hundreds of pounds of meat once it’s all finally been taken off the animal.

If you’re going to take the animal to a processor to have it turned into any number of fine cuts or grinds, you might be in for another surprise price tag that’s ultimately going to accompany your hunting bill. Even if you decide to process the meat yourself, the best advice is to either invest in another freezer if you’ve got other wild game spoils or share the meat with others.

Every successful nilgai hunter I know always has extra “friends” coming out of the woodwork when it’s time to find a place for all that delicious, healthy meat.

Proper shot placement with a large-caliber round is essential when you’re pursuing Texas’ premier big game animal.

Eric planned on getting a Coues deer with his muzzleloader, but the Mexican military denied his gun permit and refused to allow him to bring it into the country. Despite that setback, he borrowed a rifle from a friend already in Mexico.

There are times in life when things aren’t perfect, don’t go as planned, schedules change, or things outside our control throw a wrench in our lives. In these times, it’s not what happens to us that matters, it’s how we respond to the uncertainty and change that dictate the course of our lives and ultimately our success. This really explains the month leading up to my hunt in Mexico for Coues deer last year.

As hunters, we share the same passion towards pursuing big game each fall. However, within that passion we all have our own preferences as to how we choose to do it, from different types of weapons to styles of hunting, to specific animals we pursue. Over two decades ago I became a muzzleloader hunter and have taken all but a few of my big game animals in that time with a .50 or .54 cal. smokepole. For me it’s the billowing white cloud of smoke and the one-shot challenge that lured me in.

The first obstacle beyond my control that impacted my plans to hunt in Sonora was the Mexican military. They denied my gun permit and refused to allow me to bring a muzzleloader

into the country to hunt with for the first time in 6 years. We tried all avenues we could, but it was clear it just wouldn’t happen. After a couple weeks of debating, I hesitantly decided I would still go.

The second hurdle was a high school sports event. There was no way I would miss my daughter’s home wrestling meet, which was also her “Senior Wrestling Night.” That meet just happened to be on the day all my buddies were driving to camp and starting the five-day hunt. I would just have to be late and fly directly into Hermosillo. It was a special moment in her high school career and I’m glad I didn’t miss it.

When I arrived in camp, Jim Reynolds let me borrow his Maserati of a rifle, chambered in 7.82 Warbird. It was definitely way more gun than I needed, but I appreciated Jim’s offering and kindness. That evening I really struggled mentally with not hunting with a muzzleloader, but I found a way to make peace with it as we glassed from a few of our favorite vantage points where we could see for miles. I decided I would impose my personal limits. I would only place a single bullet in the gun

Eric getting his binoculars into position to await his quarry.

and not shoot a buck unless he was in muzzleloader range.

That next morning, we saw a few nice bucks. These last few days of January are always my favorite for hunting big mature Coues deer. You truly don’t know what will magically appear chasing a hot doe.

At 3:30 p.m., Cesar and I were at one of my favorite spots on the ranch. We settled in and relaxed behind our spotting scopes and binoculars. Young bucks and does with fawns fed in and out of cover as caracaras and coyotes kept us entertained. As the sun started to set, I caught the glimpse of a doe sprinting through the trees 300 yards north of our position.

I knew instantly she was being pushed by a buck, so I crawled into position behind the gun just in case. Minutes passed before the buck appeared. And when he did, he ran at full speed through the trees and tall grass. The glimpse I got was all mass and frame and I saw enough to know I was committed if he chose to appear again before dark.

Fifteen minutes later I heard some excitement in Cesar’s voice as he whispered, “Doe coming. Get ready.” The doe ran into a large clearing 250

yards from us and stopped to feed. I trained the Warbird and my eyes in the direction she had come from, anxiously awaiting the big buck. I began losing hope just as Cesar whispered, “Macho coming.”

I raised my head higher as the buck bolted straight towards the doe and quickly closed the distance to 144 yards, well within my imposed range. The buck stopped to sniff the ground and feed. I settled in the prone position and found his shoulder as the 2-pound trigger melted under my finger.

For the first time in 20-plus years, I had no billowing cloud of white smoke as the gun went off. I instantly saw the buck collapse in the grass as the bullet found its mark. We grabbed our gear and walked over to where the buck fell. We were in shock.

We knelt down next to this once-in-alifetime buck and said our thanks then sat there and admired the buck, knowing this was a rare moment. This buck truly is the exclamation point on my Coues deer hunting journey that started 30 years ago. After the 60-day drying period, my buck ranks No. 38 all-time in the Boone & Crockett record book and grosses over 138 inches. This proves you should always find a way to go on your adventures.

Eric with another friend of his, Kevin Railsback, showing off their Coues skulls.

Eric’s buck grossed over 138 inches and ranks No. 38 all-time in the B&C record book.

Javelina are perfectly suited for hunting with a wide variety of different firearms, primitive weapons, pistols, and archery equipment.

avelina are one of the most underappreciated big game animals in North America. Even the Boone and Crockett Club does not have a records category for these wonderful “desert pigs.” Perhaps they suffer from a lack of marketing because there’s no national conservation organization named “PU” (Peccaries Unlimited) fighting for their conservation. Regardless, this species has an important, but short, history in the United States.

If it looks and smells like a pig

Contrary to the perpetual myth, javelina are not members of the rodent family, nor are they actually members of the pig family. They have characteristics unique enough for placement

in a separate family (Tayassuidae) that’s closely related to the pig family (Suidae). Javelina are also known as collared peccary, named for the white band or collar running across the shoulders. It occupies the peccary family with two other species: the white-lipped and the Chacoan peccary.

Javelina is not its official name but derived from the Spanish word “jabali.” In Texas they’re usually not referred to as pigs because we have feral hogs, but in the mostly pigless Arizona, they’re frequently, and affectionately, called pigs.

Javelina differ from real pigs in several important ways. The most obvious is the scent gland that both sexes have about 6 inches above the tail on their lower back. This gland is filled with strong smelling liquid secretions, which they use to mark their territory. Besides the scent gland, javelina differ from pigs because they do not have a clearly visible tail, they have three (not four) toes on the hind foot, only 38 teeth, a more complex stomach, and no gall bladder. Most of these differences are not very important to those who observe “it looks like a pig, smells like a pig, and sounds like a pig.”

The New World oinker

Javelina, and all peccaries, are 100% New World. The real pig family evolved in Europe but all peccaries evolved in Central and South America and spread northward into North America. This northward spread occurred on the Pacific coast into southern Arizona, New Mexico, and along the Atlantic coast into southwestern Texas. Although the journals of early explorers in the 1800s are sparsely sprinkled with reports of “Mexican hogs” and “jabali” along the rivers and lowland valleys of the Southwest, these critters were relative newcomers to the United States. Archeological remains around Native American habitations prior to 1700 show no evidence of javelina. The first European settlers in the Southwest were probably documenting a relative newcomer that just barely beat them there.

Pig parts

Javelina do indeed have a good sense of smell, but their eyesight is poor. Because javelina evolved in the thick thorn scrub of Central America, they never needed to see much farther than 75 yards. Their sense of smell is their main defense, supplemented by average or below average hearing. When they do sense danger they do not delay in getting away and are surprising fast for the short-legged little porkers they are. The “attacks” we sometimes hear about in the wild are more likely javelina trying to get away. But with their poor eyesight, they just don’t know which direction “away” actually is.

Most of their diet comes from cactus or forbs (weeds) easily rooted out of the ground.

The iconic self-sharpening canines look like something that might be used to deliver the killing bite to a horse, but javelina use them to process vegetation. When habituated to humans, which they do readily, they are unpredictable and will literally bite the hand that feeds them. When a javelina bites with the over-lapping canine teeth, it creates a single wound channel through whatever body part they felt like biting at the time. Their mouths are loaded with bacteria so infection is always a concern.

Biology and ecology

Collared peccaries weigh 40-60 pounds onthe-hoof and live 7-10 years in the wild. One would think their stench would relegate them to living a solitary life, but they find safety in numbers and live in large groups, or herds, of 7-15. Herds occupy territories ranging in size from 200-900 acres in South Texas and larger as you move west to drier habitat. In Arizona they have territories of 600-1,300 acres because they need more space to find the food, water and shelter needed to sustain themselves. In good javelina habitat, each territorial boundary abuts the boundary of adjacent herds, but they sometimes call a truce and agree to share a common watering source. They reach their highest densities in areas where prickly pear cactus is dense and more than 50% brush canopy cover remains.

Javelina feed heavily on all kinds of cactus because the fruits and fleshy parts provide not only nutritious feed, but water as well. When javelina feed on prickly pear pads they grasp the pad and pull, which shreds the pad and all that remains are tell-tale stringy fibers. Roots and tubers are also dug or “rooted” up by javelina in search of dinner.

Javelina spend almost all their time resting and feeding. Resting occurs primarily in traditional bedgrounds located in low areas of thick brush or caves throughout their territory. Bedgrounds offer soft soil to lay on and protection from predators and the weather. If it’s rainy or windy, the herd will be found in low, protected areas out of the weather.

Pursuing peccaries

If properly cared for in the field, javelina provide decent table fare. The key is to field dress the animal immediately and skin it at your first opportunity. The scent gland is attached to the skin, not the meat, and will come off cleanly when you skin the animal. The hairs of the javelina are covered with this scent from animals rubbing against each other, so it’s important you don’t touch the meat with the hand that has been holding the hide. The worst thing you can do is try to cut out this gland and, in the process, smear the scent all over your knife and hands.

Settlers learned javelina hides are tough and valuable for making high quality leather goods. This high demand for an animal with such poor eyesight was a recipe for trouble. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, javelina were pursued with rifles, steel traps, dogs, and about any means possible. Their tough hides were shipped to the East Coast and to Europe not only for leather articles, but also for bristles used for brushes. Historical reports exist of thousands and thousands of javelina hides being shipped out of the Southwest and Mexico. The javelina gradually attained the more respectable role as a game animal in Texas and now provide another species that can be hunted and a more diversified income to landowners.

Javelina hunting is an excellent opportunity to get out into the field to sharpen your hunting skills, relax, scout for next year, or hunt for shed antlers. You can even break up a javelina hunt with some predator calling stands, which might coincidentally produce some curious peccaries. The great thing about hunting javelina in the Southwest is there’s much less pressure than deer hunting so you can just get out in the field, relax, and have fun.

Low-pressure javelina hunts are great for teaching young hunters important hunting and game care skills.

SEASON REVIEW

As Texas deer season ends, start planning the next one

By Brandon Ray

Brandon had this decent eight-point whitetail at 15 yards sniffing a doe. Because he was hunting a bigger 10-point, the author shot the buck with his camera instead of his bow.

It was my 25th sit of the season for the big 10-point by the creek. Twenty-five sits between early November and this day, December 16. I had seen him four previous times, but always just a fleeting glimpse of him passing through. The symmetrical 10-point was always tense, very alert, and cautious. Finally, at sunset on the 16th day of December, he was broadside at 18 yards. A small buck with him kept him distracted. I eased my bow to full draw unnoticed, aimed just behind the shoulder and let it fly.

The buck charged away after the shot. I felt good about the release, but at the impact site I found a lot of white hair and an arrow smeared with watery blood. Deer only have white hair on their bellies and legs, so I knew the shot was low.

I took up the trail too soon. I found a small puddle of blood 60 yards from where I hit the deer, then spotted the buck moving away slowly down the creek another 100 yards away from me. I bumped him. Rookie mistake. I backed out and called my friend Jeff Bonner to bring his tracking dog, “Rey,” the following morning.

The next morning, a chilly 20 degrees, we found two more spots of watery blood and a wad of clean-shaven white hair not far from where I glassed the buck the night before. Rey took up the trail with little coaxing from Jeff. Ultimately, she tracked over a mile to the south, but we never found the deer or any other fresh sign. I was crushed. I suspect I brisket shot the deer. I was hopeful the buck would return, either soon or someday. Bowhunting, no matter how long you have done it, is a humbling sport. The following two days, I watched the skies for buzzards or crows. I dissected the river bottom with a spotting scope from a mesa overlook, looking for coyotes that might indicate where the wounded buck was. I found nothing.

Highlights

Overall, my contacts said the 2022 season was average. Most friends hunting in the northern half of the state reported antler size was down due to the drought and fawn numbers were extremely low. A few friends still managed to tag big bucks. R.A. Brown thumped a gorgeous Panhandle whitetail in early October. That stud 150-class buck is his first whitetail with archery tackle. My friend Steven Tisdale shot a dandy 11-point mule deer. Steven reported his mulie buck field-dressed 270 pounds. For me personally, the bucks I recognized from last year had antlers either the same size as the previous year or slightly smaller. The only exception being the 10-point I shot on December 16. His rack grew from the previous year.

In late September and October, my trail cameras revealed the same faces week after week. It was not until early November that a couple of new mature bucks showed up. Year after year, those first two weeks in November are prime time for seeing mature bucks on the move in the Panhandle. The best day for buck sightings was November 12. My daughter, Emma, sat in a tripod stand a mile down the creek from me. Emma reported nine different bucks chasing two does around her that afternoon. Emma had already taken a buck earlier in the season, or she would have had a chip shot at the buck of her choice.

Gear

In 2022, I hunted with two different bow models. The first, a Prime Inline 3. I set it at 59 pounds and 28-inch draw length. Using a Magnus Bullhead broadhead, I thumped a Panhandle gobbler with it in April. Next, I set up two identical

Steven Tisdale with a mule deer buck he shot in the Texas Panhandle in 2022. The big buck field-dressed at 270 pounds.

R.A. Brown with a fine whitetail buck he shot October 2022 in the Texas Panhandle. This was his first-ever archery deer.

Mathews V3X-29 bows with Gas Ghost XV bowstrings and a 1/4 -inch peep sight, the Mathews QAD Integrate arrow rest and HHA Optimizer Lite sights. Both were set at 60 pounds and my 28-inch draw length. I used Victory VAP shafts with Easton 55-grain titanium half out inserts plus a 100-grain point for a total arrow weight of 400 grains.

Using a standard Slick Trick broadhead, I thumped a Booner-sized pronghorn in New Mexico in August at 52 yards. In early November, I shot an old aoudad ram at 12 yards with the same arrow, but tipped with an Iron Will Single Bevel 100 broadhead. That old ram had a live weight of 308 pounds and only made it 40 yards before going down. Next, I got a pass through on a large feral hog boar at 15 yards with another Iron Will Single Bevel broadhead. Hit through the heart, he only went 40 yards. Finally, in December, I loaded my quiver with slightly heavier, Victory VAP TKO shafts that weighed 425 grains for no other reason than just the fact I had good luck with them the year before. Tipped with an Iron Will Wide 100-grain broadhead, I killed a fine 10-point mule deer buck. Shot distance was 20 yards and he only went 30 yards before tipping over.

Other quality gear I used included the new Ozonics HR500. It worked multiple times as I watched deer walk downwind at 20 yards and not react to my scent. However, it doesn’t seem to work on hogs. Their noses are unbelievable. A couple of times, I had a feral hog walk the same trail as a deer from earlier,

but the hog went berserk when it hit my scent stream. I used Sig Sauer’s 10X32 Kilo6K-HD rangefinding binoculars with good results. I like the lighter weight 10X32 versus the heavier 10X42 models. Other good gear included Browning trail cameras and Primos Double Bull ground blinds.

Next year

Late in the fall of 2022, a flock of 16 gobblers started hanging around my favorite blind on the creek. That has me excited for the spring 2023 turkey season. Even if half of those birds disperse down the river channel, which they probably will, it should be a better spring season than the last couple of years.

Every year, I make a list of survivors, both mule deer and whitetails, so I know what bucks to look for next season. In those notes I write down what time of the year that buck was most visible, what parts of the ranch they frequent, their estimated age and antler size. I also jot down any oddities like a torn ear, double throat patch or scars so it is easier to identify them next season. This list helps me establish realistic goals for the future.

Winters are cold at the top of Texas. Sitting indoors by a roaring fire gives a man plenty of time to think. I’m hopeful the buck I wounded last December makes a reappearance in 2023. We can all pray for a wet spring, bigger antlers, and lots of fawns. Bowhunting is a humbling sport, and a man must always be optimistic.

Brandon arrowed this fine 10-point mule deer in December 2022.

Trophy Hunters

A Mission to the Top

By Adoriam DeWalt

At 5 a.m. on July 10, I embarked on my most serious mission yet: to survive Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade. I excitingly hopped in the car and five hours later, I was in Rising Star, Texas, meeting my new camp assistant covey leader and covey leader. I saw the familiar faces of some of the instructors from my past experience with Buckskin Brigade, but everything else was new to me.

The people who escorted me to my room were very polite and welcoming. It brought warmth to my heart that I had a chance at making friends at camp. Because Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade is about quail, they called our teams “coveys” to represent groups of quail in the wild. They gave us multiple covey and individual projects, such as policy-oriented position speeches, thank you note writing, and shooting. At the end of the week, the team with the highest amount of points associated with each of these projects and competitions wins not only the title of “Top Covey,” but an invitation to a quail hunt. At camp, I was the city kid with sneakers, streetwear, a SpongeBob t-shirt saying “bubbles,” and no knowledge of the subject matter at hand. This made me feel like I stood out in the crowd of people who do this for a living. Although standing out in the crowd might be a setback in my mission of survival, I can still use it to my advantage.

Breaking the ice

The first mission may just be the scariest and most intense of all five missions at camp. The reason: When you meet new people, first impressions are everything. If you mess up on this crucial step or start off on the wrong foot, it can hinder the teamwork relationship in future scenarios and will resurface later when you and the other party need to work together on something. They say the first step is to “physically” walk, so I strode to my new covey’s table, put on the biggest smile I could possibly muster up, and introduced myself. The relief I felt in my chest when my teammate smiled back at me and said, “Let’s win this thing,” made me feel like I belonged. I can proudly say the hardest part of getting along with others is out of the way and we would have more time to get to know each other and not only become a better team, but better friends. Mission 1 is complete.

Titles

Although the hardest part has passed, the next phase had only begun. A new target emerged from the depths of my backpack—my notes. The leaders established on the first day I had the best handwriting and could write fast, so they gave me

the title of “note taker.” It had a nice ring to it. I took my role as the “note taker” with pride and wrote the most detailed notes I could make. I felt like Alexander Hamilton writing the Federalist Papers for the ratification of the Constitution. I was on fire! Or so I thought until my worst enemy approached: burnout. I should have seen this setback coming since I was already sleep deprived by the second day, due to staying up the night before to finish part of our team project. I couldn’t bring myself to take a break. I realized if I wanted to win, I would have to cut myself some slack. The biggest enemy I have to face in the end is myself.

I was honestly scared to tell my team I was too tired to take notes anymore due to burnout. I thought I would look lazy and my value to the team would drop. Note-taking has always been my specialty, and because I didn’t have a lot of prior knowledge about quail like the rest of my group, I was scared to become dead weight in the competition. I’m glad my team proved me wrong in the end and understood my situation. They said I shouldn’t have to feel so much pressure in a team effort and it brightened my heart. Mission 2 is complete.

B rigades P hotos

Adoriam “Dori” DeWalt had fun at Buckskin Brigade, and wanted to build on that experience with Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade.

Defeating the court

On day four, each covey had to compete in the most tedious and time-consuming event yet: Quail Politics. At the beginning of the week, each covey was assigned a stakeholder group and asked to present a position statement as that group related to Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). These were fake scenarios for the purpose of competition, but based on real life.

Not all stakeholder groups were in favor of RAWA. For instance, my team was against any unnecessary taxes that drastically affected Texans. We wanted to use our tax money to support more education, infrastructure, and healthcare, as opposed to continually funding agriculture. It’s difficult to advocate for something on the opposing side, but I volunteered to be the spokesperson on the podium for my team due to my previous accomplishments in speech.

The night before the event, my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. I felt the heavy burden would cave in over me if I fumbled when the time came to perform. I practiced as much as my teammates would listen, but I would always mess up or stop halfway. Both I and my team questioned if I was a good choice to speak for my team, but the next day I would prove them wrong.

The second I stepped on the podium to speak, I felt like a voice inside of me would lead me to victory. All the informa-

tion I studied the night before was being recited under my control and I felt confident in every word I said. I felt in control of myself, and it made me feel more awake for the rest of the camp. In the end, my team won first place in Quail Politics, and I felt like I offered a special type of value to the team. Mission 3 is complete.

Final boss

On the final day, I felt energized for the last competition results to come in. I quickly cleaned my room and did an elaborate inspection of the place so the room inspector would have nothing to say to my team. I felt like I was going into a battle with the final boss in a video game. In this case, that would be the score board.

The best part about this camp experience was everyone wanted to win, so the competition was tight. In these last moments, the camp committee would announce the Top Covey and the competition was so stiff that it could have been any of the four coveys. I thought it was hilarious that my covey and another covey tied for second place. It was a great achievement nonetheless, but the final surprise came right after.

After they announced the Top Covey, everyone voted for the Top Cadet. Another cadet and I tied twice for Top Cadet, and I was at a loss for words. I was on the older side in age of the cadets at camp and didn’t expect to achieve too much during my time at camp, other than taking good notes. I was correct when I said that my greatest enemy was myself. If it weren’t for the encouragement my covey gave me, and learning to believe in myself, I wouldn’t have been voted Top Cadet. Mission complete.

Texas Brigades is a conservation-based leadership organization which organizes wildlife and natural resource-based leadership camps for participants ranging in age from 13-17. Its mission is to educate and empower youths with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship to become conservation ambassadors for a sustained natural resource legacy. There are multiple camps scheduled in the summers, focusing on different animal species while incorporating leadership development. Summer camps include Rolling Plains and South Texas Bobwhite Brigade, South and North Texas Buckskin Brigade, Bass Brigade, Waterfowl Brigade, Coastal Brigade, and Ranch Brigade. Visit texasbrigades.org or call 210-556-1391 for more information.

Dori and her covey acting out quail behaviors.

Dori and her covey getting to know their quail.

A Mother/Daughter Hunting Duo

By Judy Jurek

Mothers and daughters create tight bonds. Throughout their years, many activities may keep them enjoying adventures as a pair or family unit. Dena Kana and her daughter, Hunter, not only have family ties but each is the other’s ready-at-the-word-go hunting partner.

Together they form quite the formidable bowhunting team. To back them up if ever necessary is husband and father, 30-year veteran game warden Bobby Kana.

Dena began hunting with her dad at an early age. At 19, a friend introduced her to bowhunting. She fell in love with the challenge that has never diminished. At 24, she moved to the Texas Coast where she met a future warden on a blind date. Her archery passion truly began as the pair tied the knot of matrimony.

Dena Kana became the first female president of the Lone Star Bowhunters Association (LSBA) after serving on various LSBA committees. Now a LSBA Hall of Famer, Dena’s accolades are numerous, including having served on pro staffs for Bass Pro, StickNLimbs Camo, and Parker Bows. When she’s not hunting, Dena is a senior litigation paralegal for a well-known law firm.

“Hunting, archery, bow fishing, and the outdoors became a lifestyle for our family,” Dean said. “Our son Ty hunted when young but has since moved to other pursuits. Hunter was a different story. At age 4 she had her first bow with blunt arrows but used a rifle until she was big enough to use a bow with kill power.

“We eat what we kill or catch—wild game, fish, shrimp, oysters, and fresh vegetables. My kids grew up healthy without preservatives, additives, and steroids. Ty only missed three school days. Hunter had perfect attendance K-12. If you’ve never had javelina tamales, they’re the best! We also donate

meat to various causes and events,” she added.

Along the way, the family helps promote hunting and outdoor activities. Thousands of youngsters have used the LSBA’s Youth Archery Range set up at TTHA’s Hunter Extravaganzas and other outdoor venues. The Kanas assist with LSBA and game warden youth hunts. They also promote conservation, often explaining why hunting is an important tool.

Hunter (right) and Dena Kana are dyed-in-the wool bowhunters eager for the next outdoor adventure.

Kana family photos

“Being raised by a game warden certainly influenced my love for the outdoors,” Hunter said. “I was always around interesting animals. Watching my parents and older brother hunt, I wanted to join in. I obey all laws and regulations and keep an open mind about what hunting opportunities I take.”

Hunter says her mother has played a huge role. Besides being her biggest cheerleader, following Dena’s footsteps has always inspired Hunter.

“I wouldn’t be a bowhunter if it wasn’t for her,” she said. “She has guided me every step, yet let me make my own way, too. At age 12, I announced I wanted to hunt Africa. My parents said

‘only with a bow’ so the next day we went shopping. I got my first compound bow. Eleven years later, my Mathews Craze Mission is still my favorite.” Smiling, Hunter said, “It has special meaning behind it, as it’s been to Africa twice.”

Hunter thought her parents were kidding about Africa. It wasn’t until they bought the tickets when it became reality. The first trip was her 18th birthday present.

“I’ve been in love with Africa since I could remember,” Hunter said. “My bedroom is African themed. It’s beautiful country with the most amazing animals and ecosystem. We have another trip planned this summer. I can’t wait!”

On her first trip Hunter took two impalas, a monster warthog, gemsbok, and a bushbuck, being only the second person to take a bushbuck with a bow. She arrowed one impala on her last trip.

“I love hunting unique or hard to get animals,” Hunter said. “I’m definitely the best shot. Mom is the quickest to draw. She’s sometimes trigger happy. Dad is the most composed under pressure. He doesn’t have little freak-out moments like Mom and me. I will cry if I think I made a bad shot.”

A competitive spirit and desire to succeed at whatever task drives this young lady. In December 2021, she graduated from Texas A&M University with a wildlife and fisheries degree. Hunter currently works three jobs because she hasn’t yet chosen a definite career path. Her ultimate dream is to own a hunting ranch.

Over her youthful years, Hunter volunteered often while also competing in various events and winning numerous awards. The duo has placed and won contests with various animals. Both Dena and Hunter say there’s no more room for mounts in their homes.

Dena’s advice about bowhunting: “You don’t have to let an arrow fly to have a successful hunt. There’s always a hunter glad to help you but learn to do things yourself, or at least know how and don’t expect special treatment.” Dena added TPWD has the Becoming an Outdoor Woman program that’s a great place to begin.

Hunter’s advice: “Don’t hunt in a bad mood; it’s not good for you or the animal. Know you’ll never be able to make everyone happy and it’s not your job to do so. All that really matters is YOU are happy! And bow hunting makes me happy.”

Both ladies agree having a best friend as a hunting partner adds to the experience and memories. Being a mother/daughter team with a game warden behind them just makes life sweeter.

Hunter, Dena, and Bobby Kana also love bowfishing.

Rooster Rules The Roost of Richly Deserved Nicknames

By Ralph Winingham

Back in the days when outdoor experiences went hand-in-hand with some pretty vivid imaginations—a polite way of saying a lot of us were prone to exaggeration—nicknames were a fact of life. Under no circumstances, however, did anyone even begin to think they could select their own nickname. Some of the monikers for the close-knit community of outdoor enthusiasts just sort of happened because of those funny little tricks of nature.

The guy with a dearth of natural cover on top of his head might pick up the handle of “Curly” or a height-challenged individual could end up as “Shorty.” The largest guy in the group very often was called “Tiny” and in the case of the compadre who could never commit to showing up on time and in the right

place for any gathering was known simply as “Maybe.” As for this writer, my moniker was “Sureshot.”

Surprisingly, the nickname had nothing to do with my ability to swing a smokepole that had earned me a TAPA Live Flyer World Championship title in 1984 and multiple other shooting accolades throughout nearly four decades of competitions on the local, state and national level. During a journalism career that also spanned multiple decades, this writer spent most of his journalistic efforts as a breaking news disaster reporter/photographer and as a capital murder trial expert covering 36 life-or-death court cases. A small, self-focusing camera was a constant companion and was always at the ready in case a photographic opportunity presented itself. Putting the “Sureshot” camera into play on multiple occasions when the newspaper staff photographers could not reach a breaking news scene in time, my photos were prominently displayed on

the pages of the San Antonio Express-News on a regular basis. My moniker is testament to the fact this humble writer is quite possibly the only San Antonio daily newspaper reporter with at least a half-dozen front page photos to his credit, along with multiple news and feature photos displayed in other sections of the newspaper.

Venturing back into the outdoor arena, several veteran members of our cadre of camp compadre were tagged with nicknames that were richly deserved, at least in the unanimous opinion of our group of hunting buddies. One fellow was tagged with the nickname of “Pincher” because of how he hated to part with any money to cover his share of the camp supplies. “He pinches his pennies so hard, by the time they leave his hand, Lincoln’s beard is worn off,’’ one of our sage observers said. Another colorful comment about Pincher was: “He wouldn’t pay a nickel to see Jesus Christ eat a bale of hay.” That observation mixes up at least three sayings common to old timers, but probably requires a Google search for younger readers.

Pincher also seemed incapable of parting with 50 cents to buy a disposable pair of ear plugs, opting to stuff pieces of paper towels or spent pistol ammunition cases into in his ears as a cheap attempt to prevent hearing loss. That practice is ineffective—there’s a lesson there for both greenhorn and veteran outdoor enthusiasts alike—but the end result was it really did not matter what we might have called him or even tried to tell him. Pincher had the hearing sensitivity of a fence post.

Probably the most entertaining handle bestowed upon a member of our little group followed a festive gathering at the

rural home of an associate looking to reward our just-completed hunting season success with some adult beverages and fine wild game dishes. The celebration was well under way when a commotion at his back yard fence distracted everyone in the party crowd. A neighbor had built a chicken coop next to the fence, and the hens were under the watchful care of a feisty Banty cock. The king of the coop was loose, strutting his stuff on both sides of the fence, resulting in a near panic situation among barking dogs, chattering people and clucking chickens.

Our compadre, having already consumed quite a few adult beverages, came to the rescue by chasing down the Banty, stuffing him in a large plastic garbage bag and then throwing the bundle in the back of his pickup truck. Unfortunately, the party hero simply forgot about the bag full of Banty when he headed for home, parked his truck in his garage, closed the door and stumbled into bed. As the clock softly signaled the pre-dawn hour of 5 a.m., his wife suddenly shook him awake and shouted, “There’s some kind of wild animal in the garage and it’s tearing the place apart!” Struggling to gain his senses while shaking off the feeling like someone was driving an ice pick into his brain, our hero stumbled into the garage and found the now free-ranging and frantic Banty racing around like a tiny toddler having a tantrum.

Managing to find the garage door opener through bloodshot eyes, he mashed down the button after several frantic stabs and watched as the unfettered rooster raced into the dawn, never to be seen again. From that day on, our compadre was permanently shackled with the moniker of “Rooster.’’

Despite being quite capable of handling both a rifle and a revolver at the same time, Ralph earned the nickname “Sureshot” because he carried a point-and-shoot camera along with him on his journalistic assignments.

POPULAR HUNTING CARTRIDGES THEN AND NOW

By Horace Gore

There was a time before feeders, trail cameras, and live-in blinds when deer hunters were more concerned about shooting distance and killing power. Hunters in the Southwest were receptive to gun writers who promoted longrange loads. Bucks could show up any time, at any distance, and hunters had to have rifles that could take the short or long shot. I killed whitetails at distances up to 275 yards—my longest shot—before the use of corn and feeders, but my last several bucks were closer than 100 yards.

The .30-06 and .270 were standards for a long time, and both are dependable for bringing down a buck at 50 yards or 300 yards. Jack O’Connor recommended sighting in 3-inches high at 100 yards, which would put the bullet in a vital area from close to far away. Both calibers continue to be favorites for most North American game.

Other calibers were good for deer up to 200 yards, and even more. The .250 and .300 Savage were popular in the Model 99 lever gun, and the .257 Roberts was the “cat’s meow” for many hunters. A few hunters shot the 7mm Mauser and the Magnum .300 H&H—but only a few. Of course, the .30-30 was popular for brush hunting.

Deer hunting changed when Bill Weaver brought out his cheap, but durable J and K series of scopes in 1946, and Winchester brought out the .308 in 1954, and the .243 in 1956. The .308 was similar to the .300 Savage for velocity and killing power, but the .243 shooting a 100-grain bullet at near 3,000 fps took the hunting world by storm. A good Winchester Model 70 with a 6-power Weaver in .243 was advertised as “Better than the Best,” and many hunters of deer-size game worshiped the .243.

The Winchester Featherweight in 7mm-08 may be the perfect Texas deer rifle.

Remington saw the light, and came out with the .244 with a 26-inch barrel and 12-inch rifling twist. Gun writers said the rifling in the long barreled .244 wouldn’t stabilize the 100-grain bullet, which was hogwash. I had friends like Al Brothers and Bob Carrol who shot .244s, and their bullets brought down a deer or coyote with every good shot.

Remington couldn’t stand the bad talk about the .244, and soon brought out the Remington Model 700 with a 24-inch barrel with 9-inch twist, and called it the 6mm Remington. This rifle was the cheese for deer, antelope and exotics, but never did catch up to the .243 Winchester.

In the 1960s, the hunting world seemed to turn to belted Magnums—especially in the Southwest. The gun writers promoted the .264 Win. Mag., the 7mm Rem. Mag., and even the series of Weatherby Magnums. Later the .338 Win. Mag. was said to be perfect for elk, moose, and the Texas nilgai. Before long, a big percentage of hunters carried a Magnum rifle.

I shot several belted Magnums in .264, .257 Weatherby, .338 Mag, .300 H&H, and .300 Weatherby in custom rifles, and I thought all but the .338 were good for the game I was after. The .257 and .264 Magnums and the .300 H&H are excellent for deer through elk. The .300 Mag. put down everything I shot at—deer, hogs, nilgai and bull elk. I didn’t need Magnums every time to get the game, and through the years I used the .270 and .30-06 for most big game.

The belted Magnum craze went on through the 1960s and ’70s, but as corn feeders and comfortable blinds became popular in the ’80s and ’90s, Magnum power was not needed for the 70-to-100-yard shots at deer eating corn at the feeder. Then came game cameras, and fewer and fewer belted Magnums showed up on deer hunts.

The owners didn’t get rid of the Magnums, they just put them

aside and bought guns in smaller calibers with less noise and recoil. Some new calibers like the .26 Nosler, 6.5 PRC and 7 PRC are really Magnums with no belt. The 7 PRC hangs its hat on long, heavy bullets, which puts it in the target corner. All are good, but they are still Magnums.

Deer hunting has changed from shooting a deer wherever they appear, to shooting them under or near the feeder. Long shots at whitetails are few and far between, and most are shot at less than 100 yards. These closer shots let hunters get away with shooting lighter calibers that most hunters wouldn’t use for long shots—.222 Rem., .223 in black guns, and .22-250. All these will kill a buck at 70 yards, which would be a long shot at the feeder. I have used all of these to take deer at close range, but I prefer .243, 7mm-08, or .270.

Big game rifles have come a long way during the last 20-30 years, but any good cartridge will kill a deer. I think about the old days when Savage, Remington, and Winchester rifles in ancient calibers were the rage, and now we could pull out those old guns, put on a good scope, and they would do quite well on deer at the feeder.

Some of us old hunters keep the Magnums for an occasional antelope or elk hunt, but the “tamer” cartridges have proven time and again that with good Barnes, Hornady or Sierra bullets, they will do well for most hunts. Whatever you want is available, but there’s a long list of good cartridges that will put the bullet in the right place without rattling your teeth.

Hunters are getting smarter and deer hunting is getting easier. Today, it’s harder to kill 10 squirrels with a .22 rifle than it is to kill a 10-point buck from the blind with a .270 rifle. Regardless of which rifle we use, Texas has a lot of hunters who kill a lot of deer, and that’s exactly what we need to manage a deer population that’s reaching five million.

Old and new cartridges popular for whitetails, pronghorns and hogs. Left to right: .222 Rem., .22-250, .250 Savage, 7mm-08, .25-06, .30-06, .300 Win. Mag.

YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 cup golden raisins

• 1⁄2 cup spiced rum

• 1 cup sugar

• 1⁄2 cup shortening

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 eggs

• 2 cups flour

• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1⁄2 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1⁄2 cup black walnuts

CHEF RALPH’S RUM RAISIN COOKIES

DIRECTIONS

Pour the raisins in a measuring cup and cover with the rum. Allow to soak overnight. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the sugar and shortening. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, and mix it well. Stir in the walnuts and rum-soaked raisins. Roll the batter into balls about the size of a hulled black walnut (about 1 inch in diameter) place about a dozen on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes. —

Ralph Winingham

Do you have a favorite Wild Game recipe that you would like to share with our readers? If so, please type or print recipe and send to:

Texas Trophy Hunters Association, ATTN: Editor 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 1206

San Antonio, TX 78258

This recipe was featured in Ralph Winingham’s third outdoor cookbook, “Bustin’ Clays & Cookin’ Game with Old Boots & Bacon Grease II.” The collection of simple, tasty dishes and wingshooting tips is among several outdoor cooking items available at ralphwiningham.com.

Fish and game move in search of food in cycles relative to the moon’s location to the Earth. The time spans listed are the prime or major period times to start each day and along each time zone meridian of longitude 75° (Eastern), 90° (Central), 105° (Mountain) and 120° (Pacific). To determine the feeding cycle time for fishing and hunting in the area you plan to fish or hunt, advance the sum of 4 minutes for each degree west and back up 4 minutes for each degree east. The next prime feeding cycle (not listed on the calendar) will be approximately 121⁄2 hours later. There are minor periods that occur between the prime or major periods. The moon’s phases are shown as New, First Quarter (FQ), Full and Last Quarter (LQ). The feeding times are not a cure-all. Weather and other environmental conditions affect wildlife feeding activity.

JUNE 2023 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

BEST GOOD FAIR POOR

Annual vest pocket books, which show all the major and minor periods, can be ordered by sending a check or money order for $19.95 per book. For shipping and handling, please add $4.95 to an order of 1 to 4 books. Make check or money order payable to Feeding Times. Send to Feeding Times, P.O. Box 2240, Covington, GA 30015. After October 1, please indicate book year in your order. For questions or comments, call 404-373-7151.

MAY

June 18

June 26

JUNE

June 03

June 10

RYLEE COOKE: whitetail 12-point taken 11/24/22 in La Salle County.

GEAR: grandmother’s .270 OUTFITTER: family ranch.

RACHEL BURKHALTER: whitetail doe taken 11/5/22 in Floyd County, Georgia.

GEAR: Remington 770, .243 ammo, 3-9X scope.

OUTFITTER: Wayne Casey Farm (grandfather).

GEAR: 6.5 Creedmoor.

OUTFITTER: family ranch.

12/28/22 in Webb County.

GEAR: .308.

OUTFITTER: family ranch.

LEIGHTON NEWMAN: whitetail eight-point with 19-inch inside spread taken 11/5/22 in Webb County.

LANDRY VARGO: whitetail 10-point taken

NOTE: Only

JAKE BURKHALTER: whitetail eight-point with 18-inch inside spread taken 11/4/22 in Floyd County, Georgia.

GEAR: Remington 700, .270 ammo, Leupold scope.

OUTFITTER: Wayne Casey Farm (grandfather).

HANNA BISSON: whitetail eight-point taken 12/11/21 in Crockett County.

GEAR: Ruger 7mm-08.

OUTFITTER: Dad.

CHRIS CONWAY: whitetail 10-point taken 12/16/22 in La Salle County.

GEAR: rifle.

OUTFITTER: family ranch.

BROOKS BACAK: whitetail nine-point taken 11/26/22.

GEAR: .243.

OUTFITTER: Rhodes family ranch.

SEND US YOUR HUNTING PHOTOS!

NO ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS THIS FORM IS COMPLETED PROPERLY.

Send To: Hunt’s End, 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 1206, San Antonio, TX 78258

members of Texas Trophy Hunters Association or immediate family may submit photos. Out of fairness to all members, only one photo of each family member will be accepted each year. Do not paperclip or staple photos as this can damage them. Prints must be no larger than 4x6 inches and printed on photo-quality paper. No photos will be returned. Photos may also be e-mailed to HuntsEnd@ttha.com. If sent by e-mail, please make sure to include all information from the form below and limit your photo size to less than 5MB. Send a separate e-mail for each entry.

THE ROUND-UP

Texas Trophy Hunters Association Round-Up ads provide excellent exposure at a minimal cost. For more information on placing your ad in the Round-Up, please contact Debbie Keene at 210-288-9491 or deborah@ttha.com.

Trophy Hunters

“MEMBERS ONLY” Benefit!

Don’t forget to use your free classified ad! It’s once per year and you must have an active membership in good standing. Send to:

TTHA Classified

700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Suite 1206, San Antonio, TX 78258

You may fax your ad to (210) 523-8871, Attn: Debbie Keene or e-mail to Deborah@ttha.com. Send your ad in by May 12 to run in the next issue!

FREE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING!

Available to current members of Texas Trophy Hunters Association only! Limit 25 words per ad. Each member may run 1 FREE ad in one issue per year. 25 word ads after FREE issue are $40 each. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR REFUSE ANY AD.

WANTED: South Texas Deer Lease (400-500 + acres) for 3-4 experienced, responsible adult family members. Recently lost our long term deer lease. Call Bubba (713) 3986090.

TOP QUALITY ANTELOPE Hunts. Large private ranch in NE Wyoming. Strictly limited access. Fully guided. Highly personalized. Call Ben (307) 758-4477.

MEXICO RANCH 8,500 ac. Trophy whitetail, protein program. 4-Day Hunt Pkgs for 2023/2024 Season. All Inclusive – transportation, permits, lodging/meals! 210-379-7510, email jharlan29@gmail.com.

AOUDAD HUNT! Hunt free ranging aoudad in Llano County. Hunts begin in late August thru late October, 2023. Nice accommodations. For additional info, email darrellsteffek@gmail.com.

TEXAS LAND ASSOCIATES, INC, Representing Buyers and Sellers of Hunting Properties Across Texas. Contact Dillon Varner, Sales Agent/ Ranch Land specialist at 210-4266332 or dillon@txlandassociates.com.

C4 RANCH - WHITETAIL & Exotic Hunts. Cull, Management & Trophies up to 300”. Duval County, TX. High Fenced & MLD Managed 10+ Years. Vernon Carr (361) 774-2442.

SM FENCING, Welding and Dozing. Net wire, Barbed wire & Game Fencing. Contact Shawn Mangham 325-451-7120.

CAPTAIN SCOTT’S ADVENTURES

- 956 Glenn Dr., Canyon Lake Texas 78133. Port O’Connor or Local lakes. Call 830-456-6061 for information or to book your trip.

AFRICAN SAFARI $2,995 3 animals in 1 week. Lodging, meals, open bar, guide, airport transfers and trophy fees included!! Call 956-867-4964 for details. www.matorisafaris.com.

28 YR. OUTFITTER in search of more land to outfit and hunt in Central TX. Looking for high fence with deer from 150-200”. We are outgrowing ourselves! Will also consider So. TX. Call Dale 325-642-7596 SDWhitetails. com.

VETERANS CREED OUTDOORS

Team Texas. Outdoor Trips for Veterans and First Responders. Find us on Facebook on our page and group.

MAP MY RANCH specializes in developing printed maps for all your outdoor needs. We can create basic boundary maps, or those with customized features - locations of deer blinds, feeders, food plots, ponds, etc. Contact today to get started! www.MapMyRanch.com or 713-302-2028.

RUSTY HINGE Ranch offers whitetail, hogs, squirrels, rabbits, coon, fox, duck hunting, fishing. Blinds, treestands, feeders & water year-round. 70 mi. north of Houston. $100/day or $800/year. 713-823-7139.

HELP FEED THE HOMELESS –donate excess game animals to feed the homeless, orphans, and needy families. Go to www.trinityoaks.org “contact us” tab.

THE LONE STAR Bowhunters Association. Preserving and Promoting bow hunting in Texas since 1974. Join today at www. lonestarbowhunter.com. Take a kid hunting.

S & D WHITETAILS – Limited hunts avail. Booking 2021 now. All native S TX deer from 140-230 class. Deer & Dove hunts Central TX. Over 7500 ac. 24-yrs experience. 5 Star rating. 325-642-7596.

TEXAS HUNTER FISH FEEDERS create ‘feeding zones’ that make catching fish fun for the whole family. Project fish feed up to 45ft. into the water to feed fish on a regular basis which helps you grow bigger fish faster. Call 800-969-3337 or www. TexasHunter.com.

TEXANS ARCHERY CLUB wants to expand our state’s archery range infrastructure. Looking for local partners/land to expand our network. www.TexasArchery.info 501c3.

WILDLIFE & HABITAT Consulting. Commercial hunts available. Contact Certified Wildlife Biologist Jason Shipman 210-508-8447 or jasonashipman@gmail.com.