2023 Sept_Oct TTHA Issue

El Niño Not Good for Hunters

The La Niña drought of the last three years is over! Texas has received a lot of rain this summer, and experts say we will go into an El Niño weather cycle. A rainy season may be good for farmers, ranchers and wildlife, but it is tough on doves, deer and turkey hunters.

If El Niño comes our way in the fall, it may be welcomed. Texas has had three years of drought, and it is not unusual for the state to resolve its dry seasons with a wet El Niño that can spell havoc for a while. I can recall the many times it has rained the first week of dove season, and I have spent ultra-wet deer seasons in South Texas. The weather experts say, “Get ready!”

The summer went by without any severe consequences for outdoor lovers. Muy Grande held its 58th awards ceremony on June 24 (see page 7).

All looks good for dove season, which starts on Sept. 1 by treaty between Canada, U.S. and Mexico. Summer rains helped sunflowers and dove weed, but the weather may be wet for hunters. Texans always await dove season, which is the kick-off season for fall hunting. Beer distributors, gun shops, sporting goods (shotgun shells) and gas stations all hail the opening of Texas’ first hunting season.

Bobby Schmidt will see hunters at his place in Creedmoor that he hasn’t seen since last dove season. McBride Guns in Austin and Dury’s Gun Shop in the Alamo City will be full of hunters buying everything “dove.” September is a good month for hunters in Texas.

Deer hunting could be affected by El Niño, which is predicted to be a part of Texas weather this fall and winter. Hunters should be aware and take notice of possible wet pastures and long mudholes. Most deer hunters hunt from blinds, and getting to and from favorite blinds could be a problem. October through December could be very wet this year.

The Hunters Extravaganzas in Houston, Fort Worth and San Antonio went off without a hitch. Texans who love the outdoors are always anxious to attend one of the shows, which offer the excitement of alligators and kid fishing, along with a wide variety of whitetail and mule deer at the Annual Deer Competition. The combination of vendors, seminars and attractions adds up to the granddaddy of all hunting shows in the Southwest.

September gets football into full swing, with Friday night encounters all across the high schools of Texas. College football may be at its peak in sports history, and thousands will have to choose between college games and dove or deer hunting. In some cases, it is a big choice and hunters often justify watching the game—the doves and deer will still be there.

So, give “Ol’ Betsy” a good cleaning, and watch for cheap shotgun shells. There’s nothing better than getting out in the field after the fast-flying gray speedsters of the dove world, and the kids can shag the doves (for a price). Enjoy the season.

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

Horace Gore

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 Jon Bonnell, Bob Favor, John Goodspeed, Judy Jurek, Lee Leschper, Robert Mendoza, James Nugent, Rhett Rhode, 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 Courtney Carabajal 210-485-1386 courtney@ttha.com

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

TTHA

outdoor expositions, renowned as the largest whitetail hunting shows in the South. For membership information, please join at www.ttha.com or contact TTHA Membership Services at (877) 261-2541.

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®

38 Windy West Texas Hunting

Tales

| By Bob Favor

54 Ghost Buck from Archer County

| By Robert Mendoza

86 Brayden’s First Buck

| By James Nugent

94 Elk In The Rut

| By Jon Bonnell

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: Brandon Ray

TTHA Ear Candy

If you enjoy listening to podcasts, we recommend listening to our very own Horace Gore as he shares tales about his quail-hunting days and his experience researching quail for Texas Parks and Wildlife with highly noted quail expert Dr. Dale Rollins on his podcast, “Dr. Dale On Quail.” Dr. Rollins founded the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in 2007, and also founded the Texas Brigades, which helps train the next generation of wildlife stewards, game wardens and biologists. You can find a link to that podcast at TTHA.com or on your favorite podcast provider.

Check out our own podcast, “The Voice of Texas Hunting,” on your favorite podcast provider, too!

Lifetime Achievers in Hunting Receive Awards

At this year’s Muy Grande Awards, TTHA Platinum Life Member No. 2 Laura Berry and TTHA Founder Jerry Johnston received lifetime achievement awards for their contributions to the deer hunting industry. Both have been staunch supporters of hunting, and their services to the outdoor community have been far reaching. We salute Laura and Jerry for what they have meant to the deer hunting fraternity in Texas, and thank them for their untiring efforts to make Texas deer hunting the best in the nation. — HG

Dr. Dale Rollins and Li’l Annie

Left to right are Laura Berry, Jerry Johnston, and Kenneth Sharber.

JACK BRITTINGHAM

By Jason Shipman

Jack Brittingham is a pioneer of our hunting heritage. He’s a world-class archery hunter in a league of his own. His name is synonymous with archer, adventurer, and wildlife conservationist. Jack is a friend to many, including TTHA, and is Platinum Life Member No. 73. He fondly recalls the beginning years of TTHA. “Becoming a PLM was an easy decision,” he said. “I was immersed in hunting whitetail deer, and Jerry Johnston was a hero in the whitetail world. Deer hunting in Texas would not be where it is today without Texas Trophy Hunters.”

Jack killed his first buck, a small eight-point, when he was 6 years old with a Browning bolt action .243. Jack was fortunate in many ways, but perhaps the most important was his father taking him hunting and fishing. “I went with my dad on my first safari to Angola, Africa when I was 14 years old and took several fine trophies,” he said. “It would be many years before I returned, but it was an experience I’ll never forget.”

Of significant importance in shaping the lives of Jack and the Brittingham family is the amazing story of the family business. Robert (Jack’s dad) and Juan (Jack’s uncle) both graduated from the University of California at Berkeley where they both played football. The brothers each held dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico, and upon graduating, they operated a commercial shark fishing business in the Sea of Cortez.

At that time, shark livers, rich in Vitamin A, were in high demand by the military to be used for improved vision. When World War II began, the brothers had to declare citizenship, and both wanted to go fight. A coin toss would decide their fate. Juan would stay in Mexico and run the family business and Robert would go to war and operate a PT boat.

Jack Brittingham and his English cocker spaniel, “Keeper.”

The shark fishing business came to an end with the advent of synthetic vitamin A, and after working in a glass factory for a short stint, Juan started a ceramic tile business in Monterey. Robert returned from the war and started a companion tile business in Texas. Dal-Tile eventually became one of largest ceramic tile businesses in the world.

Jack attended Texas Tech and Southern Methodist universities where he earned a degree in business administration with a minor in range and wildlife management. Originally, he took up bowhunting as a means to enjoy extended hunting seasons and to hunt bugling bull elk during the rut. “I enjoyed the challenge of hunting with a bow, and working for Dal-Tile until it sold in 1990,” he said, “at which point I devoted my time in earnest to hunting and managing the family properties.”

Jack’s attention was focused on hunting as he travelled the world in pursuit of game about 260 days each year. He hunted giant whitetails in Illinois, Kansas, and Texas. Several of his trophy bucks taken in Texas graced the pages and covers of this Journal.

Grand slams of sheep, huge elk, and mule deer were just some of the many other trophies he claimed. A world record Alaskan brown bear and a giant typical 6x6 elk are standouts in his trophy room. “High altitude hunting at 17,000 feet above sea level in Tajikistan for Marco Polo sheep was the most challenging of all hunts,” Jack said. “Eventually, I returned to Africa for a safari with my young family so they could experience what I did at an early age. Afterwards we began hunting Africa regularly.”

“I captured most of my hunts on film and acquired and managed some of the

Pass the Torch

best recreational hunting properties. Early on, I realized the importance of sharing the hunting experience with others. I have hosted many hunts to include military veterans as well as many first hunts and many last hunts.

“Aside from physically taking people hunting, I brought the hunt to them with my videos. Through my video company, Briar Lakes Productions, we strived to produce the absolute highest quality hunting videos made.”

They were commercially available to the public and were well received. A TV show followed, and Jack’s status in the hunting community was elevated to the top echelons. The video success has gone its way.

“The biggest challenge to the future of hunting is getting people, especially the youth, involved. I did a TV show as a means to get my videos out there to share them with the hunting community,” he said. “At this point in my hunting career, I stay as far away from a video camera as possible.”

Jack may have set the video camera down, but not his bow. He’s arguably the most accomplished archery hunter in the country and perhaps the world, a title he quickly dismisses, explaining, “I wasn’t necessarily better, I just capitalized on opportunity.”

Jack’s story is one filled with amazing adventures to far-flung destinations that are becoming increasingly more difficult to experience in this day and time. Through the legacy of his hunting videos, we can view a lifetime of hunts and travels that we may never see in person. For Jack’s lifelong hunting adventures and sharing his hunts with the public, we are glad to honor him as a pioneer of our hunting heritage.

Photos Courtesy of Trinity Oaks trinityoaks.org

Jack and “Keeper” with Jack’s wife, Leigh, and a nice South Texas buck.

FENCE POSTS

NEWS ABOUT HUNTING, GUN RIGHTS, AND LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

El Niño Is Here

If national weather predictions are correct, Texas will feel the heat and rain of El Niño between July 2023 and March 2024. There is an 90% chance of a strong El Niño with hotter and wetter conditions in the southern U.S., and deer hunters could leave a lot of pickups, SUVs, even Jeeps in wet pastures and mudholes until spring.

If this sounds foolish, listen to someone who has witnessed the havoc and flooding of an El Niño period. In 1976, an El Niño winter, flooding disrupted deer season all over South Texas. I was hunting on some leases with Ted Clark, who had an old Army Jeep, and we barely made it out of the pastures on several occasions. Creeks and rivers rose, and many low-lying pastures had mudholes as long as a football field. I recall many stuck vehicles that weren’t retrieved until February and March.

The 1998 Guadalupe River flood occurred in October during an El Niño. The entire floodplain of the river was inundated with floodwater—sometimes for miles outside the riverbanks, and the peak of flooding reached 53 feet (29 feet normal flood stage). As I recall, the 2015 El Niño year caused the flooding of Wimberly and other areas of the Hill Country.

So, what does the coming El Niño mean to deer hunters? South Texas, as well as central counties and the Edwards Plateau, could see above average rainfall. The last severe El Niño occurred about 17 years ago, but the 2023-24 deer season could be wet. I suspect some dove hunts could also be rained out in September.

—Horace Gore

Berlanga Honored by Corpus Christi Rotarians

Hugo Berlanga of Corpus Christi has received the Harvey Weil Conservationist of the Year award at a recent dinner held at the Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation Refuge near Sinton. The annual gathering honors the best in sportsmen and conservationists from all parts of Texas, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Corpus Christi. All of Hugo’s friends at Texas Trophy Hunters congratulate him on the prestigious award.

The Harvey Weil Conservationist of the Year honorees exemplify the tradition of the sportsmen giving back to the lands and waters in measures far beyond the pleasures taken. The past honorees are a “Who’s Who” of Texas conservation.

A long-time member of the Texas Legislature (34th District, House of Representatives), Hugo was a stalwart supporter of issues involving health care, the Texas environment, and municipalities. As a working wildlife biologist with

Texas Parks and Wildlife, I can remember Hugo being there when hunting and fishing issues were before the Legislature. Today, Hugo specializes in providing services to clients for energy resources, health care, transportation, telecommunications, and county government.

The Harvey Weil Dinner is one of the most well-attended and successful events in South Texas. The annual gathering honors the life and achievements of Weil, a long-time South Texas sportsman, attorney, conservationist, and Rotarian who dedicated his life to wildlife preservation and sportsmanship.

Hugo is a friend of the people, a sportsman, and a conservationist of Texas wildlife resources. He has contributed a lifetime to the health and happiness of friends and neighbors in South Texas, and to the well-being of all things Texas. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award. Congrats, Hugo! —Horace Gore

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Names new COO, Chief of Staff

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department announced two promotions to its Executive Office staff. Inland Fisheries Division Director Craig Bonds will serve as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in place of Clayton Wolf, who announced his retirement after 30 years of service.

Senior Government Relations Specialist Allison Winney will fill a newly created chief of staff position administering agency policy, managing external partnerships and serving as liaison to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

“I want to extend sincere appreciation

Hugo Berlanga

to Clayton for his faithful service and unwavering stewardship of TPWD and the resources we work so diligently to protect for present and future generations,” said Executive Director Dr. David Yoskowitz, “I am personally grateful for his attentive guidance as I have settled into my role, so I will feel his loss keenly, but am grateful to have two fine leaders who humbly stepped up to embrace new challenges. Craig and Allison will ensure we remain agile and responsive to future opportunities.”

As COO, Bonds will implement agency strategic planning, oversee agency administration, prioritize key budgetary needs and apprise Yoskowitz on the dayto-day operations of the agency. He will also work with Winney to respond to the commissioners, elected officials, partners and constituents.

Bonds began his career with TPWD in 1999 as an assistant district fisheries biologist in Tyler and San Marcos. He later became a district supervisor in San Angelo and regional director in Tyler before accepting his division director role in 2015. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in fisheries management from Virginia Tech University.

Winney has been a “fierce champion” for TPWD at the Texas Capitol as a senior government relations specialist and liaison to the Sunset Commission. In her role as liaison, she led the compilation of the nearly 500-page report for sunset review and successfully ensured passage of TPWD’s sunset bill in the Texas Legislature.

Prior to joining TPWD nearly five years ago, she worked in the office of then-Texas House Speaker Joe Straus and as chief of staff in the Texas House of Representatives. Winney holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Baylor University, a Master of Science in information systems and security and a Master of Business Administration in management from Our Lady of the Lake University. —courtesy TPWD

Did You Know?

New deer hunters need not fret about going hunting and eating the normal cuts

of deer meat such as backstraps, roasts, sausage and jerky. Recent publicity of deer diseases should not be a concern for several reasons listed below. So, gather your gear and go hunting and enjoy “America’s healthy red meat” just like the 800,000 other Texas deer hunters across the state.

Everyone should steer clear of animals that occasionally die from anthrax, but rare maladies in wild deer that involve prion proteins or other infections and parasites are irrelevant to hunting and the consumption of venison for the following reasons:

• Texas deer hunting is great! Wild deer herds are not hindered by the genotype selectivity of prion proteins for scrapie (PrPSc). Reproduction and recruitment outweighs the slow pace of any individual deer mortality which is rare in wild whitetails. Parasites and internal maladies are gone with field dressing and skinning.

• Human health is not at issue with deer meat. A small loop on the human protein prevents attack by PrPSc prions, and diseases and viruses common to deer are harmless to humans. Over 100 million pounds of venison are consumed each year by 11.4 million deer hunting families all over America.

• Wild deer herds are replaced by mortality and recruitment every 5-6 years. The majority of Individual genotypes infected by PrPSc, and animals with other diseases such as anthrax, blue tongue (EHD), and brucellosis are systematically replaced in the deer herds through normal fawn recruitment.

• Texas whitetails have increased by a half-million during the last 20 years, with no evidence that any disease has had a deleterious effect on wild deer or humans. Hunters take some 800,000 bucks and does each season from a vast herd of five million whitetails.

• Hunting and non-hunting mortality of wild deer is about 1,100,000 (22%) annually. This includes all natural and man-made losses from hunting, predators, fences, viruses, diseases, and accidents. The result is a regular, natural replacement of healthy deer through fawn recruitment.

Texans enjoy the best deer hunting in the nation. Each year, eager hunters and their families and friends consume about 15 million pounds of deer meat in a variety of ways. Proud hunters of all ages display their trophy bucks, and many bring their deer to the annual Trophy Hunters Extravaganza deer contests to compete for prizes and bragging rights. So, be a part of Texas hunting and enjoy the outdoors and the many things to do as a Texas Trophy Hunter. —

Horace Gore

Study: Native Americans Play Large Role in Outdoor Activities

Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) released a comprehensive research study that provides quality insights into Native Americans’ participation in, and perceptions towards hunting, trapping and target shooting.

On May 23, OSCF’s Executive Director Jim Curcuruto presented key findings from the study to more than 200 attendees at the Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports R3 Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

With more than 500 federally recognized tribes containing more than seven million members, Native Americans play a large role in outdoor activities. With limited data available on this segment, it was important to learn about barriers, understand traditions, and establish a baseline of current participation in hunting, trapping and target shooting among Native Americans.

The study, funded by a Multistate Conservation Grant through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, shows that Native American’s currently participate at a much higher rate in hunting, trapping and target shooting than the general population, and importantly, also shows a much higher interest among Native Americans in getting started in such outdoor activities – they are simply looking for information and an invitation to become active participants.

Outdoor Stewards partnered with members of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (LRBOI) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to develop and

administer a comprehensive questionnaire. Chuck Wahr of the LRBOI was a key partner on this project and noted:

“For years, many of us felt that Native Americans had a higher rate of participation and interest in outdoor activities but now we know for sure. This project was sorely needed and provides justification for resources to be allocated to support recruitment and reactivation of Native Americans when it comes to hunting, trapping and target shooting. We hope these insights do not fall on deaf ears.”

OSCF’s Board Chair, Peter Churchbourne, stated: “The data in this report is definitive. There is no doubt that the Native American community is the perfect audience for R3 efforts. OSCF’s Come With! program will help increase participation in this segment but it will take a team effort of industry, NGO’s and state agencies to make a difference. We look forward to working with these groups to increase overall participation.”

The full report can be found at OutdoorStewards.org. —courtesy OSCF

SCI Advocacy Around The Nation

Alabama: SCI Eastern States and Local Liaison attended the Alabama Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus breakfast in Montgomery. During the event, which SCI served as a sponsor, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) gave various updates on the Alabama Conservation Advisory Board (CAB), which is the regulatory body of DCNR, as well as Alabama’s public land program Forever Wild. Various pieces of sportsmen’s related legislation were also discussed during the breakfast which was widely attended by both House and Senate members of the Alabama legislature along with Department staff and conservation partners.

Alaska: Western State and Local Liaison Chris Tymeson travelled to Alaska recently to attend the Kenai Peninsula Chapter’s Midnight Sun Fundraiser and Banquet in Soldotna and to meet with chapter leaders and Department of Fish and Game officials. Over 400 members of the community attended the event.

New York: Assembly Bill 2917 and

Senate Bill 4099 attempt to prohibit competitions or contests in which certain animals are harvested. These types of events, which are legal and regulated hunting are typically geared toward coyotes and have been the target of antihunting groups across the country. SCI opposes these emotionally based efforts that attempt to restrict legitimate hunting opportunities.

Utah: SCI submitted comments on the swan hunt recommendations for 2023.

Oregon: SCI joined a coalition letter on the Fish and Wildlife Commission bill.

Vermont: SCI submitted comments on the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Hunting and Fishing Plan and Supplemental Environmental Assessment.

Wyoming: SCI submitted comments in support of the proposed 2023 Wolf Hunting Seasons Regulation.

Safari Magazine Honors Winchester Anniversaries

It was a century ago this year that Winchester internally developed the .270 WCF cartridge (now known as the .270 Win.), although they did not introduce it publicly until 1925 — the same year that Winchester introduced the Model 54 rifle and Holland & Holland introduced what is now known as the .300 H&H Mag. cartridge (née H&H Super-Thirty).

Although the Model 54 Winchester rifle didn’t experience a long new sales lifespan (1925-1936), the .270 Win. and .300 H&H Mag. cartridges (both of which generate muzzle velocities more than 3,000 feet per second) continue to be used around the world to this day. So, they are valid subjects of discussion regardless of their age.

Interestingly, the Model 54 Winchester was replaced by the Model 70 in 1936, and the Model 70 became known as the Rifleman’s Rifle. But not immediately. Unsure what kind of rifle would dominate, the year before, in 1935, Winchester introduced the Model 71 lever-action rifle chambered for the .348 Win. cartridge.

So, in back-to-back years, Winchester introduced the Model 71 and Model 70. As much as the Model 70 is an evolved Model 54, the Model 71 is an evolved Model 1886.

The years of introduction of the Model 70 and 71 hint that Winchester had tandem sales numbers in mind, since the 71 was introduced a year before the 70. For those not familiar with the Model 54 Winchester rifle, it was Winchester’s first shot at a high intensity bolt-action rifle. The Model 70 essentially is an “improved” and evolved Model 54.

It was unclear at that time in the 1930s whether the lever-action or the bolt-action would win the sales wars. Hint: The Model 70 won hands-down, although the Model 71 in .348 is one heck of a great hunting rifle/cartridge combination. We congratulate Winchester on their Models 54 and 70, as well as the lever action Model 71. Hunters all over the world have used these rifles for nearly 100 years, and counting.

—Steve Comus, Safari Magazine

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rejects Petition Concerning Lead Ammo, Fishing Tackle

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rejected the Center for Biological Diversity’s petition to undertake a national rulemaking concerning lead ammunition and tackle on the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) supports this action and released a statement via press release.

“... we greatly appreciate Director (Martha) Williams’ commitment to coordinate closely with AFWA and the States on a workable path forward that considers all available science, relies on broadly tested and utilized state approaches and programs, and supports participation in hunting and angling. We acknowledge this is an important issue, and we firmly believe that continued expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities on America’s lands and waters is essential to our nation’s system of conservation and the wellbeing of people, fish, and wildlife.”

AFWA represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. Learn more at fishwildlife.org —courtesy AFWA

Conservation Easements The good, the bad, and more

By Dr. James C. Kroll

One of the most popular TV series in years is “Yellowstone,” a series best be described as “The Sopranos meet Bonanza.” The series is full of violence and treachery, but in reality depicts a new American story, the deterioration of land holdings in what is called fragmentation. In my five-decade career I have seen large, ecologically critical lands fragmented into smaller and smaller parcels, to the point where they no longer buffer the impacts of civilization expansion. Families who have owned large parcels since the 1800s are faced with holding on to their land in the midst of rising taxes, economic obligations, government regulations, and most important, offspring who just do not want to work hard on the land anymore. It’s too easy to “cash in” on their ancestors’ hard work and sacrifice. A friend of mine recently decided to sell out, when both of his children said, “Dad, we don’t want to work as hard as you did! We don’t want to live way out here anyway!”

So, what should he and other landowners do? They have a host of remedies to consider, including trusts and conservation easements. This column considers the latter.

Unfortunately, I have a considerable amount of experience dealing with the ramifications of easements. So, let’s start with an explanation of what an easement is. Rather than give or even sell your land to the government or an NGO (non-government organization), on the surface it seems more reasonable to give

or sell an easement for conservation purposes. According to the Texas Land Trust Council (TLTC), a conservation easement, “… is a voluntary, written agreement between a landowner and the ‘holder’ of the conservation easement under which a landowner voluntarily restricts certain uses of the property to protect its natural, productive or cultural features. The holder of the conservation easement must be a governmental entity or a qualified conservation organization. With a conservation easement, the landowner retains legal title to the property and determines the types of land uses to continue and those to restrict. As part of the arrangement, the landowner grants the holder of the conservation easement the right to periodically (typically annually) assess the condition of the property to ensure that it is maintained according to the terms of the legal agreement.”

Sounds pretty good according to this definition. A landowner can sell an easement that “restricts certain uses of the property to protect its natural, productive or cultural features.” According to the TLTC, they have protected some 1.9 million acres in the state to date. Members include the Caddo Lake Institute, City of San Antonio, Hill Country Alliance, Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation, and many others. You’ll find similar groups in each of the 50 states.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, an easement is “a right to cross or otherwise use someone else’s land for a specified

purpose.” The positive side of a conservation easement is that the land you have owned, nurtured and developed for perhaps generations will be “conserved” in its present state in perpetuity. Sounds great and it often is, but the National Land Trust reminds you that, “Most conservation easements are permanent and bind all future landowners (including heirs). Conservation easement holders and farmers may not always share a common vision. Conservation easements can reduce the property’s overall value, making the land worth less for future sales.” (www.conservationeasement. us/) Both of these points are to be seriously considered prior to entering into an almost irrevocable legal agreement.

To help, let’s examine the financial benefits:

• By removing the potential for development, it lowers the assessed value of the property, thereby lowering your property taxes.

• Easements can be tailored to the desires of the individual property owner.

• It can potentially lower estate taxes, as well.

• This makes it easier to keep the land in the family.

• If you donate your easement, there are Federal Income Tax benefits.

• The “feel good” aspect that you are helping conservation of our natural resources.

• The landowner can retain the right to use the property for “pre-approved” activities.

Now, let’s examine the costs:

• Most conservation easements are permanent, binding all future landowners (including heirs).

• The landowner and the holder of the easement may not share common values. This especially applies to hunting/ fishing.

• Your heirs may not share your values.

• If you decide to sell the property, it will not have the same value as one without an easement.

• The legal work related to an easement can be, and should be quite complicated, requiring experienced legal professionals.

Easements can be tailored to the desires of the individual property owner, potentially lowering estate taxes and making it easier to keep land in the family.

What are my experiences regarding wildlife management on properties with a permanent conservation easement? I have certainly experienced some difficulties and frustrations, as have the owners and managers of these properties. This is particularly true for individuals who have purchased land, all or part of which was subject to a conservation easement.

On the surface, it seems a totally positive thing that the land will always remain undeveloped beyond what has been approved in the easement agreement. Yet often, you will be affected by the changing philosophy of the official caretakers of the easement agreement. What does that mean? It depends on the nature of the easement owner—government or private organization—but the personnel over-seeing the easement often have biases in regard to resource management. A growing percentage, for example, of young resource professionals are anti-hunting, making them less likely to approve activities that promote hunting.

One property I work with, half of which has a Wetland Reserve Conservation easement, has continued to have issues when we attempt to apply standard wildlife habitat management activities such as food plots, access development (woods roads) and timber management. Food plot species often are viewed as “exotic” or “invasive” species, and not allowed under the agreement. Timber cutting for the purpose of habitat management are often not approved, or difficult to get approved. Preservation often is conflated with conservation.

When other state or federal agencies are involved in the easement, this can create a nightmare of paperwork and regulations. These are issues the current owner inherited when he purchased the land with an existing easement. “I wouldn’t ad-

The author notes that on the surface, it seems a totally positive thing the land will always remain undeveloped beyond what has been approved in the easement agreement. Yet often, you will be affected by the changing philosophy of the official caretakers of the easement agreement.

vise anyone establish an easement,” says their manager, “There are other, better ways to get tax breaks and be environmentally responsible!” Yet, the problem here is that this is a second owner, who probably would have made other stipulations in the original agreement—something to consider.

I also work with another landowner, who purchased easement land and must conform to concrete agreements such as, “The right of the Conservancy to enter the property at reasonable times for the purposes to (i) inspecting the property to see if there is compliance with the terms of the conservation easement agreement, and (ii) obtaining evidence for the purpose of seeking judicial enforcement of this conservation easement.” This landowner can only cut and remove trees only under prior approval, except in the case of an emergency.

If you enter into a conservation easement, please consider what is “normal” today for the purposes of wildlife management, and include language in the final agreement that permits these activities.

There is not enough room in this column to continue, but you get the point. If you enter into a conservation easement, please consider what is “normal” today for the purposes of wildlife management, and include language in the final agreement that permits these activities. Don’t forget, the purpose is conservation not preservation. So, is it a good idea to create a conservation easement for your heritage-valued property? That is strictly up to you, but consider the pros and cons of entering into an easement, it is irrevocable (practically).

Emma Ray with her 2022 Texas whitetail. Emma used a Browning .243 to take the old buck in October 2022 on a solo hunt.

There are dates on the calendar we should never forget. Weddings, anniversaries, and graduations are all lifedefining moments. Each event marked by a date and a year. Likewise, the birth of a child is a life changing moment. A number that stamps a parent’s heart forever. And I would argue, the date of a young hunter’s first deer, and subsequent bucks taken in future years, are all worth celebrating. This is the story of three great dates, and three special Texas bucks, in the young life of my daughter, Emma Ray.

Wild child

Born in 2007, Emma was a spitfire from the get-go. Redheaded like her dad, she had the spirit to match her hair color. Growing up on a ranch in the Texas Panhandle, Emma was raised around chickens, barn cats, dogs, and hunting. There were times she raised ducks and turkeys in her bathroom under a heat lamp. She cut her own hair, with no supervision. When my truck was less than a week old, she took a black Sharpie marker and drew circles on the ceiling of the cab! There was another time she “borrowed” my truck, at age 12, to haul branches to the ranch dump. That is ten miles round trip. On her safe return, with tears in her eyes, she said, “Dad, I was just trying to help.” And people wonder why my beard is turning grey!

Emma’s first experience behind the gun came on Nov. 24, 2015. We were hunting her great grandfather’s Panhandle ranch. Sitting in a makeshift ground blind with her dad and then 88-year-old grandmother, Emma blasted a fine Rio Grande gobbler with a 20-gauge. She was 8 years old. Holding the gun

in one hand and the gobbler in the other, she declared, “Dad, I’m ready to hunt deer!”

The following year, now 9 years old, Emma would be hunting deer on the same property. A rugged piece of canyon land that is carefully managed for cattle and wildlife, part of Texas’ MLDP program and home to both whitetails and mule deer. Turkeys, feral hogs and aoudad sheep also inhabit the scenic landscape.

A lot of thought went into the preparation for Emma’s first deer hunt. What weapon would be best? Small in stature, Emma did not like the recoil of any gun. What kid does? Except for a .22, which she shot often as a kid at tin cans and targets, she disliked the thump in the shoulder from anything bigger. Even modest centerfire calibers like a .223 or .243 were too much. Lacking the strength to pull significant draw weight in a vertical bow, it was decided to use a crossbow, no recoil, for Emma’s first deer.

Nov. 13, 2016: eight-point mule deer

The setup was a pop-up blind near a windmill. Mule deer visited the scattered corn and alfalfa in route to get a drink. Evenings were best, so Emma and I settled into the blind in early afternoon. A blanket covered the floor to keep the dust to a minimum. A set of tripod-legged shooting sticks were ready to help steady the heavy crossbow.

After sunset, shadows growing long, two mulie bucks approached from the east. Both were cautious, taking their time to get inside bow range. Both were middle-aged eight-points.

Emma with her 2020 Texas whitetail. She shot the 11-point buck using a crossbow.

Trophy Hunters

I gave Emma the nod to shoot when the bigger of the two was broadside. As Emma lined up the shot and her finger tensed on the trigger, I’m sure I was more nervous than she.

The bolt blasted through the big-bodied buck’s ribs. He trotted 150 yards to a brushy ravine just out of view. That’s where Emma and I found him a short time later by the beam of my headlamp. Emma wrestled with the big antlers to pull the dead buck out of the thick oak brush. “Wow, he’s bigger than I thought,” Emma said with a grin. It took all the strength the two of us could muster to get the buck loaded in the truck. Emma was now a deer hunter!

Nov.

7, 2020: 11-point Whitetail

Somehow, a couple of years went by before Emma hunted deer again. She bagged a couple more gobblers and even a big aoudad ram, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2020 that she hunted whitetails.

Sweet November meant the whitetail bucks on the creek were now cruising for does. I convinced Emma a morning hunt was in order. Not an easy feat to get a teenager out of bed at 5 a.m.

Oct. 9, 2022: 10-point Whitetail

Emma and I spent the fall of 2021 chasing two specific Panhandle whitetails. Despite considerable effort, we never had either of those target bucks in front of us. By December, the two old-timers were moving in daylight, but a significant amount of their racks were now broken. In fact, virtually every buck we saw had a broken rack. We decided to let the bucks grow another year.

Fast forward to 2022. October is a busy month for me. Between pronghorn season, guiding aoudad hunters and trying to hunt deer for myself, there are never enough days in the month. It was early October and despite warm temperatures, a couple of older bucks were showing up on camera the last few minutes in the evenings at a remote blind. Most were familiar faces, but one was an old-looking 10-point with squiggly beams and big brow tines that I had never seen before. He looked old.

The afternoon of Oct. 9, I was scheduled to guide an aoudad hunter. The wind was right for the remote blind the bucks were hitting, so I dropped Emma off early for a solo hunt, then I went aoudad hunting. A few days shy of turning 15, this was only her second time to hunt by herself. Armed with her Browning Micro Midas .243, shooting sticks, iPhone, and a backpack full of snacks, she was prepared.

It was well after sunset, only two minutes of shooting light remaining according to Emma’s iPhone, when two bucks silently approached the blind. A scant 20 yards from the hideout, the bigger buck turned broadside. When he did, Emma’s crosshairs settled, and she tugged the trigger. The 85-grain Nosler Partition bullet took out both lungs. The big Panhandle whitetail trotted 30 yards and tipped over.

As daylight lit the river bottom, two average bucks showed up. Emma and I were waiting on one specific buck, an old nontypical, as our target. He was a no-show. Suddenly, I noticed Emma tense up and jab a finger to the left. A new buck was approaching. Sitting behind her in the small, natural brush blind, my view was limited. I just saw big brow tines and a bigger neck and body than on the two younger bucks. “Dad, he’s big. Can I shoot him?” It was a buck I had no history with.

As we momentarily debated what to do, the new buck drifted back into the cedars. “Yes, shoot him if he comes back,” I whispered. Maybe five minutes later, I saw Emma lean into the stock of her crossbow, her eye focused through the scope. Then I heard the safety click off. The new buck had returned, just barely in my field of view. Emma wasted no time. The broadhead-led bolt hit the big deer square in the heart. The buck jumped and was down just 30 yards later! With long brow tines, an extra tine by the left brow and a couple of kickers on the bases, the handsome Panhandle buck’s rack had 11 points and shreds of fresh green mesquite bark in his bases.

I got the call just after dark. Emma was shook up, her voice rattled and it sounded like she was crying. “Dad, I got a buck. He’s big. Is it OK if I shot the 10-point?” Of course it was more than OK. It was great! I sped through the darkness to pick her up. A 31-inch aoudad ram was in the back of my rig, but we made room for a special buck, too. I gave Emma a big hug and we celebrated her first solo success. The old buck’s rack was heavy and symmetrical. His back teeth were as smooth as a granite countertop. I guessed his age at 8½-years-old or older. Emma was 14. An old buck for a young hunter.

celebrate the date

Some days are better than others. Whether it’s a birthday or a fine buck wearing your tag, celebrate the date. When those special dates come around in the fall, I often remind Emma, “You remember what we were doing on this day last year?” She always answers with a big smile, and we retell the story from that memorable adventure.

Emma is now 15 years old. She gets good grades in high school and she is on the dance team. In her young life she has hunted doves, turkeys, whitetails, mule deer, aoudad, feral hogs and pronghorn antelope. To put things in perspective, I did not shoot my first deer, a small Hill Country doe, until I was 15. I would say she is off to a good start!

Emma in her dance uniform at a parade in the fall of 2022.

Young hunters like Alyssa Keene can learn from the sport’s past to help ensure its future.

Editor’s Note: Texas deer hunting has a long history, going back to the days of shotguns and dogs. This short, two-part treatise will bring back memories to older hunters and possibly enlighten younger aficionados of the Texas deer hunting fraternity. You might want to take notes.

Texas has a long history of white-tailed deer hunting that goes back to the late 19th century. Back then, there were few enforceable game laws or law enforcement, and dogs were legal for chasing deer. Shotguns with buckshot were the principal firearms, and the bag limit depended on the persistence of the hunter. When dogs and shotguns were used, it was common to shoot and then go see what you had killed.

Four game wardens were working along the Texas coast as early as 1895. In 1903, a bag limit of six fork-antlered whitetails could be taken during November and December. In 1907, “Game” was added to the Fish and Oyster Commission, and the first hunting license was sold in 1909. The Texas population was just over three million.

In 1919, six game wardens were hired to enforce the game and fish laws, and by 1928 the number had increased to 80. In 1933, national forests were established on 500,000 acres of pine timber in East Texas, and residents were moved to outlying areas.

Important changes in deer seasons and bag limits continually advanced, and in 1923 the Texas Legislature set a general season of Nov. 16 to Dec. 31, with a bag limit of two forked-

antler bucks. The first whitetail restocking occurred in 1932, when wardens in the Hill Country took confiscated fawns to East Texas. Texas Game and Fish magazine was first published by the Game, Fish and Oyster Department in 1942.

Predation on both wildlife and domestic livestock was a problem that got federal attention during the Great Depression. Federal trappers destroyed over 20,000 predators in 1930, in a statewide control of mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, bobcats, jaguars, and ocelots. 300,000 poison baits were distributed statewide, which also eliminated thousands of skunks and crows. The concern that game birds and animals needed protection was growing.

Texas hunters got into predator control, and in 1944 they killed 14,736 coyotes, 422 wolves, 2,280 bobcats, one jaguarundi, and three ocelots, which was a 10% increase over 1943. Hunters enjoyed hunting predators, but they also sold the furs for needed money. The last jaguar was killed in Texas in 1948 near Kingsville, and the last two Mexican grey wolves were killed in the Big Bend region in 1970.

As more game and fish laws were passed, a game warden academy began at College Station in 1946, and 14 new game wardens were added to enforce the laws. As late as 1952, the state deer harvest was estimated at 50,000 forked-antler bucks, taken mostly from the Edwards Plateau and South Texas.

Regulatory authority was legislated in the 1950s, which authorized the Texas Game and Fish Department to set seasons and bag limits. By 1962, 129 counties were under this author-

The author circa 1973 with his Laredo buck.

ity. Early changes included the experimental harvest of antlerless deer, but spike bucks continued to be illegal.

After three counties—Gillespie, Llano and Mason—experimentally issued doe permits beginning in 1957, the state continued to increase counties under regulatory authority of the Game and Fish Commission, and “antlerless” deer permits were issued in areas of high deer density. In 1961, 7,099 does were killed in Llano County—almost as many as the buck harvest of 7,794.

Experimental spike buck harvest on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Kerr County, and the Gus Engeling WMA in Anderson County, resulted in spike bucks being legalized statewide in 1962. The inclusion of all bucks and several thousand antlerless deer brought the total state harvest up to 200,000.

In 1961, the Game and Fish Commission was revamped on recommendations from The Texas Research League, to include nine commissioners, an executive secretary, Austin staff, and five regional headquarters. This reorganization enabled the state agency to expand all activities of regulating and protecting the state’s wildlife resources.

The Texas Game and Fish Commission took the form of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 1963, and began great strides in wildlife management. Money was available for wildlife conservation from the Pittman-Roberson Act of 1937, which set excise taxes on firearms and ammunition to be distributed to the states based on hunting license sales. The agency magazine was changed to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The horrendous screwworm fly of South Texas and the Hill Country was under control by 1962, after years of spreading neutered flies all over a large area of Texas. During the ’40s and ’50s, thousands of deer died from the flesh-eating larva that were deposited on flesh wounds and navels of adult and fawn deer.

Screwworm control was one of the most important aspects of ranching and wildlife in Texas history, and whitetails began to flourish after the fly was eliminated. Shortly afterward, all deer habitats in the Edwards Plateau and South Texas were filled to capacity. Deer hunters numbered about 300,000 (5%) from a license-age population of six million.

Texas got the maximum amount of federal aid funds for restoring and managing wildlife, with specific rules set and administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The ’60s saw increases in wildlife biologists (federal aid) and game wardens (legislated), making big changes that enhanced hunting all over the state.

Texas Parks and Wildlife had the money and manpower to trap and transplant pronghorn (antelope), white-tailed and mule deer, and wild turkey from abundant populations to vacant habitats in Texas. Intensive trapping of whitetails on the Aransas Wildlife Refuge (O.v. mcillhennyi) and King Ranch (O.v. texanus) continued after World War II, and thousands of whitetails were moved to selected areas east and north of the Colorado River.

All whitetail stocking efforts were successful with an initial 30 bucks and 70 does, and seasons were closed for five years. Today, practically every county east of the Pecos and south of the High Plains has a white-tailed deer season, with the 27-county Edwards Plateau (Hill Country) having half of the deer and half of the hunters.

Deer hunting history was in the making when Leonel Garza started the Muy Grande Deer Contest in 1965 at his Texaco gas station in Freer. It was the first contest of its kind in Texas, and the popularity of that contest generated interest for several more deer contests. The combined deer entered in all contests amounts to hundreds in the present major contests in Laredo, Nuevo Laredo (Mexico), Pearsall, Freer (two), and Ingram. Other less prominent deer contests are scattered over the state.

With whitetails thriving all over the state east of the Pecos, deer hunting was a revered outdoor activity in 1975 when Al Brothers and Murphy Ray published “Producing Quality Whitetails.” The book initiated new efforts toward age, nutrition, and genetic principles of quality deer management. For the first time, landowners and hunters thought more about whitetails than just hunting.

Part II will continue with Texas deer hunting from the ’70s to the present, with emphasis on extended seasons and bag limits. As Texas residents grow, the per capita deer hunting fraternity diminishes, but Texas continues to have the best deer hunting in the nation.

J erry J ohnston p hoto

Hunting doves in Texas is perhaps the best wing shooting anywhere. Our most hunted species are mourning, white-winged and Eurasians. Texas has seasons for mourning and whitewings while the Eurasian, considered an invasive species, may be hunted year-round. Just make sure you have a valid hunting license. Today, whitewings are scattered over most of the state west of the Pecos, so there’s a chance that you may take all three species in the same hunt.

Each fall, some 400,000 doves hunters of all genders spill out on the pastures and brushlands to take some five million or so doves of all species, and fire about 15 million shotgun shells. The good shots hunt more than the bad shots, but everyone loves doves cooked at least a half-dozen ways!

If you’re not totally familiar with each, the mourning dove is the smaller of the trio with whitewings being slightly larger. Eurasians are a bit bigger, although they’re much smaller than pigeons. White-winged doves are easily identified by the white on their outer wings that can be readily seen. Eurasians have a black neck ring, and are often called collared doves.

Dove hunting is very popular because it doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment. You need a shotgun, ammunition, a hunting license, and permission to hunt. Add in a cooler with cold beverages, perhaps a stool or chair, and camouflage clothing, if desired. Oh! Don’t forget hearing and eye protection AND knowing the bag limits and shooting hours.

Many years ago, the only whitewing doves were in deep South Texas, also known as the Rio Grande Valley. Citrus groves of grapefruit and oranges are grown way south due to milder climates, and the whitewings would migrate up from Mexico and use the citrus for roosting and nesting.

My family would annually trek to Harlingen to visit friends and hunt whitewings during the very short special white-wing only season. Young kids like me were “bird dogs” while teenage boys became shooters once they were big enough to handle a shotgun. My mother and other ladies hunted, but girls did not. Our return to Bay City had a car filled with doves, onions, fruit, and other goodies.

Fast forward from the 1960s to today, and whitewings are no longer relegated to the Rio Grande Valley. Freezes killed most of the citrus orchards in 1983, and farming practices brought the whitewings to the upper parts of the state.

Texas is divided into three hunting zones for doves: North, Central, and South. The South Zone hosts a special white-wing only season for the first two weekends of September. Otherwise, whitewing doves may be shot during dove season in all three zones.

Owen Fitzsimmons is the Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife. He’s the resident dove expert. “The statewide spring count estimates 10-12 million doves in Texas but that number can go double or triple

in the fall,” he said. “We use satellites, transmitters, and telemetry to track doves but it’s not a year-round count.” Of course, Texas has a lot of doves in the fall, when hunters can bring home five to six million, and cripple as much as 15%.

“Whitewings are now in every corner of the state,” Fitzsimmons said. “Mourning doves are mostly rural birds, and the whitewings are both urban and rural. They form colonies preferring to roost and nest in cities and towns, but feed on agriculture crops in the countryside. The latest big freeze of 2021 messed up much habitat for doves.” Fitzsimmons added whitewings seem to handle the cold better than mourning doves. “Both doves can find food, (by) dining on seeds, fruits, and mast,” he said. “Whitewing will perch on sorghum and sunflowers to feed, (and) mourning doves feed off the ground. Zero freezes kill more mourning doves that often roost on the ground, while whitewings always roost in small trees and brush.”

Asked about Eurasian doves, Fitzsimmons replied, “We really haven’t seen any population impacts except maybe a few localized areas. They tend to be urban and opportunistic feeders, dining in feedlots and backyard bird feeders.” I often see collared doves under my deer feeders or in my neighbor’s yard where she feeds her chickens.

Retrieving downed doves for his parents, Jax Riley, age 7, handles a white-wing.

Fitzsimmons said over the years many whitewinged doves may no longer be migratory, although banding records show some go to Central America. Intense rainfall, hailstorms and high winds can impact breeding and recruitment (new birds being hatched). If nests or eggs are disturbed, doves can breed and nest three to four times.

What are the differences when hunting between mourning and whitewing doves? How is a hunter affected? On one hand there’s no difference because you’re there to hunt doves, whichever variety flies within shooting range. On the other hand, from this writer’s hunting experience, there’s a big variance.

Mourning doves tend to fly in singles, doubles, triples, or a small spread-out group. This allows me to carefully choose which bird to focus on to shoot. And while I’m not the most accurate wing shooter, I often fill my limit if there are plenty of birds, and I have enough shotgun shells.

Whitewings often arrive in a swift moving flight filled with numerous birds. Sometimes in a tight group. It’s quite easy to empty a shotgun’s two or three shell limit too quickly. My problem is trying to pick out one bird to shoot when a mass of winged aviators fills the air.

This results in more misses than when I only have a couple of birds coming my way. In the excitement of an overhead onslaught many hunters, myself included, tend to simply shoot into the throng, hoping one falls. Many times, a handful of mourning doves fly over with one or more whitewings in their midst or vice versa.

I also believe mourning doves tend to be more aerial stunt performers as they dip, dive, and dart from ground movement or shotgun pellets being flung at them, thus making them a harder target. To me, whitewings often tend to have a straight flight, which is easier to lead for a good shot.

Good shot or bad, it sures adds to the fun. That’s what makes dove hunting so popular: the camaraderie whether you’re hunting with a handful or a whole pasture of hunters. Doves of any kind don’t care about laughter and hollering as it’s all about movement, hence wearing camouflage and sitting in shade helps enable hunters’ success.

Any dove hunter worth their ammo knows there are times when doves fly in every direction fast and furious while other days there’s little to no action. High winds are not conducive to good hunting. Area thunderstorms or heavy rainfall in an area will move doves because they don’t like getting wet or their little feet muddy.

Dove hunting is about being outdoors with like-minded people engaging in great sport while perhaps taking home delightful dining fare for a dove-hunt party. It’s an excellent time to bring new hunters into the fold, as novice and seasoned hunters work together. Bring the youngsters to experience wing shooting at its best, for they are our future hunters.

L-R: Freshly killed and plucked mourning, whitewing, and Eurasian doves show there’s only a tiny bit of difference in size, but all make for good eating.

A handful of whitewing doves rest on a power line in a residential area of Brownwood, Texas.

L-R: Freshly killed Eurasian, whitewing and mourning doves show there’s a difference in color and size.

Tarpon: THE SILVER KING

By Will Leschper

The premier inshore sport fishing target in Texas is a prehistoric monster.

It’s not fit to bring home for supper. It’s ornery and downright stubborn for anglers. And, most of all, it’s simply hard to locate.

Meet Megalops atlanticus, the “silver king.”

Tarpon have been around since prehistoric times and still carry a distinct look that continues to captivate anglers from Texas to Florida. Tarpon migrate up and down the Texas Gulf Coast, often coming closer to shore than many anglers may realize.

Big tarpon are distinctive to say the least. Cloaked in shimmering chrome scales larger than the size of your fist and equipped with a protruding, upturned jaw, these fish are a sight to behold. That’s certainly on full display when a determined angler hooks one and the behemoth erupts completely out of the water, signaling that something primordial is on the other end of the line.

Despite its looming stature, the tarpon remains somewhat of a mystery to biologists and anglers alike. Silver king habitat includes a massive range of water spanning the entire Gulf of Mexico and up the eastern seaboard. However, despite this widespread prevalence, the overall tarpon population continues to face a number of challenges. These include both naturally

occurring and manmade obstacles that have put a renewed spotlight on the conservation of the species and other saltwater dwellers alike.

Larry McKinney knows all about Texas tarpon.

He spent more than two decades with Texas Parks and Wildlife and was coastal fisheries director before assuming the role of executive director of the Harte Research Institute in Corpus Christi. McKinney, HRI Chair for Gulf Strategies, said the overall Texas tarpon story is one of many twists and turns.

“I’ve obviously been interested in tarpon along the coast and have been following the history of them going back to when we first started seeing declines after the droughts of the 1950s,” McKinney said. “At that time, we didn’t have many reservoirs built or dams on major rivers, and one of the things I did years ago was to track the development of dams throughout the state of Texas starting then up through the 1990s.

“Of course, now we know those manmade changes cut off a lot of freshwater that was going into our bays and estuaries, and that had a big impact on tarpon because they need that freshwater coming in. When they didn’t get it, that’s when we started seeing the tarpon numbers disappear to a great extent.”

McKinney points out tarpon research has shown two separate populations of migrating fish, one from Florida and one from Mexico, with the Mississippi River Delta dividing their east and west movements. He said the Delta area featuring estuaries and freshwater inflows represents one of the main feeding grounds for the fish.

While those populations represent the majority of tarpon along the Gulf Coast, McKinney said tarpon have continued to show up in other areas where they likely shouldn’t be, which could mean the overall population is actually rebounding.

“One thing we saw back in the freeze of 2021 (Winter Storm Uri in February) were tarpon that were impacted and were found floating in the Upper Laguna Madre,” McKinney said. “Research teams went out and actually found small tarpon in back bay areas along the coast, some up to 4 feet long. And then people always seem to catch smaller tarpon from time to time at the jetties up and down the coast, sometimes when the larger migrations aren’t occurring.”

McKinney noted another issue facing tarpon due their

migrating nature is they often are caught in nets in Mexico, where they are sold as a cheap option to eat. McKinney said the same thing occurs in Cuba, a locale he visited as part of a team attempting to help develop the recreational tarpon fishery there and help conserve tarpon that frequented the waters near the island nation. He said those efforts unfortunately didn’t come to fruition, and like Mexico, Cuba continues to see tarpon that end up in nets.

Looking toward future tarpon conservation efforts, McKinney is quick to point to one great source of information: the late outdoor writer Hart Stilwell, whose nearly finished manuscript was edited into a book titled “Glory of the Silver King.” It captures the history of tarpon and snook fishing on the Texas coast from the 1930s to the end of Stilwell’s life in the early 1970s. McKinney provided the foreword for the book.

“When I was at Parks and Wildlife, one of the writers on the magazine came to me with a box sent to them by the Stilwell family,” he said. “I read the manuscript and I said, ‘We have to get this published.’ Brandon Shuler did a great job of editing all the work together and it helped to highlight the importance of what was an outstanding fishery and the need to help conserve our natural resources.”

One key element that has come about due in large part to an increasing focus on tarpon conservation is acoustic tagging. The Bonefish & Tarpon Trust began the Tarpon Acoustic Tagging Project in waters off Florida during the past decade and the program has grown to include a collaborative effort from Chesapeake Bay all the way across the Gulf of Mexico. That effort includes “Tarpon Alley,” a known hot spot on the upper Texas coast, and the waters off South Padre Island, another key tarpon migration route.

Acoustic tags inserted into a tarpon’s abdomen provide the ability to track them for up to five years. They are also small enough they can be used on juvenile tarpon as small as 5 pounds and larger fish exceeding 200 pounds. When a tagged fish swims within range of an underwater receiver – of which there are more than 4,000 through the now multi-state collaboration – the receiver detects and stores the tag’s unique code. That data has provided researchers with boatloads of insight into tarpon migration and habitat preferences.

Jetty areas up and down the Texas coast will harbor juvenile tarpon for much of the year.

PLM No. 18 George LeGrand with his pronghorn, taken with a long-distance shot.

Editor’s note: George (Jorge) LeGrand of San Antonio—PLM No. 18—asked Bob Favor to write a story about some wild hunts and a head-bumping escapade on the Long X Ranch near Kent in Jeff Davis County and the Sibley Ranch in the shadow of El Capitan, Guadalupe Mountains, in Culberson County.

Nothing but long shots

Cliff Teinert, who was El Jefe of the Long X Ranch, and I were relaxing in the shade of the chuck wagon, waiting for the arrival of the new batch of hunters. We were cooking the evening meal, which consisted of sour dough biscuits, beans, salad, prime rib steak, and Jack Daniels flavored peach cobbler.

Looking up, we saw a dust trail on the pasture road leading to the Long X headquarters. A big Ford pickup that looked like it was on steroids pulled up to the yard fence, and three men alighted and stretched their arms and legs.

Gus, the big, bold Catahoola house dog looked over at Cliff, who nodded, and Gus promptly went to greet the new arrivals. One by one, Gus planted his nose in the pants seat of each of the visitors. Needless to say, this got their attention. Snorting to clear his sinuses, the big dog looked back at Cliff, who nodded his approval.

Gus led the new arrivals to the wagon, we all said “howdy,” shook hands, and said our names—Cliff, Bob, Aubry, Tom and Jorge. With familiarities out of the way, the stories began. Yes, the deer hunting would be great, and the weather would be good. Cliff and I had several big muley bucks located for the hunter’s interest, and Jorge wanted a good buck to commemorate his years of being Texas Trophy Hunters Platinum Life Member No. 18.

We took the three to the rifle range to see if they could hit a target at 100 and 200 yards. Aubry and Jorge fired, and it was obvious that either one could thread a needle at these distances. Tom did not shoot. “I build rifles, and I’m here to see how Aubry and Jorge do with their shooting.”

The next morning after breakfast, a coin toss showed Aubry as the first shooter. Cliff and I had been advised that the hunters were not after trophy deer. All they wanted was to be put on one of our “shooter” bucks, and if the distance was great enough, they would make the shot.

It was well after lunch before we located a good buck far enough away to interest Aubry. He got comfortable with his aim and squeezed off a round. The deer was dead before it hit the ground! When we got to the buck, we all agreed that the shot was farther than from Cliff’s headquarters to the mailbox, and that’s

a long way!

Cliff and I were impressed, but the three guys from San Antonio were not. Aubry looked over and said, “I just wasted a tag.” The rest of the hunt went well, and Aubry and Jorge went home with good bucks. Tom was satisfied with the way both hunters had taken long shots on the mule deer.

A shot at the moon

On a previous hunt during antelope season, Jorge had his chance to make a long shot on a nice pronghorn buck. Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson had joined us for the day, and the same problem hounded us with Jorge’s antelope that we had experienced with Aubry—everything was too close! It was well into the afternoon before we located a pronghorn buck far enough away to satisfy Jorge.

We glassed a string of about 10 antelope with a good buck running along a far ridge, and Jorge said, “Stop the rig. I’m going to take a shot at that buck.” Jorge got out and fired a quick shot straight up in the air, and all the antelope came to an abrupt stop.

Jorge had a bipod mounted on his rifle, and he quickly set

Cliff Teinert, the boss of the Long X Ranch.

it up on the hood of the truck. After a slow and deliberate aim through the scope, he let go of a round. After the noise of the shot died, and the recoil of the rifle had faded, the antelope’s head flew upward, and the animal collapsed in his tracks.

Joaquin looked at Jorge and remarked, “Good shot! Where were you aiming?” Jorge smiled and replied, “At the moon!” Joaquin and I were arguing about how far the antelope was, and suddenly he pushed his hat back and said, “I’m going to step it off. It’s a long way, and it’s gonna hurt, but I want to know exactly how long that shot was.” He pulled his hat down tight and began stepping off the distance.

We watched as Joaquin fought the rocky landscape to the antelope. When he got there, he waved for us to pick him up. We wormed out way to Joaquin and the antelope and found the fatal wound. Jorge had hit the buck in the throat, completely severing the neck bone.

“How many steps?” Jorge asked. “I can’t say,” replied Joaquin. “I stepped on a sharp rock and lost count at about 500. I suspect it’s close to 600.” We were all amazed at the distance, because it is hard to see a little antelope with the naked eye that far away. However, Joaquin did the walking, and we didn’t question his integrity. Jorge still brags about that antelope shot.

Jorge’s buck fever

Fast forward, and these same three fellows were back for another mule deer hunt. This time, we took them to the John Sibley Ranch that lies in the shadow of El Capitan in the Guadalupe Mountains. Each winter, a lot of big mule deer slip out

of New Mexico and come to the warmer weather in Texas.

The Sibley Ranch is close to nowhere. It starts at about 58 miles north of the Kent Mercantile store on I-10. The majority of the long distance is through bump gates, cattle guards, and open pasture roads. We located and hired a cowboy to guide us to the Sibley. Cliff and I had the chuck wagon, so the going was slow.

Eventually, we arrived at the ranch, and were greeted by Mr. Sibley, who was surprised to see us. “I thought you fellows would wander for days in the wilderness.” We told him that had it not been for the cowboy guide, that’s where we’d be!

Jimbo Humpreys, foreman of the Guitar Ranches and a world-renowned chuck wagon cook, had hired on to make the trip with us. Jimbo’s cooking was so good, we were reluctant to ever leave camp! Mr. Sibley told us about a particular mule deer buck that he had seen on several occasions. He had been close enough to count the buck’s points at either 16 or 17. A buck like that was enough to get Jorge and I out of camp. Tom Krcmar, the rifle maker, went along with us.

The West Texas ranches are noted for their huge pastures, and 10 to 15 thousand acres is the norm. Jorge, Tom and I were slowly driving through a pasture where “Mr. Grande” had set up housekeeping. As we topped a low ridge, we stopped, and I saw the buck!

I glassed him several hundred yards away. I pointed out the buck to Jorge, and after looking at him through the binoculars, we knew that this was the big buck Mr. Sibley had told us about. “That buck is too good for a long shot,” I said to Jorge.

The late Joaquin Jackson (left) with Bob Favor.

Texas Trophy Hunters —

“Let’s put a stalk on him. We need to get closer for a decent shot.”

Tom stayed in the truck while Jorge and I made the long stalk on the buck. We had good cover, and the wind was in our favor. We closed the distance on the deer, and that is when I noticed that he had two young bucks with him. This is common for old, smart bucks—the more eyes and ears, the better.

“Mr. Grande” was making his way onto a knoll, where he laid down. The two young bucks stood on their feet, keeping a close watch. We finally got to within 100 yards of the buck, and I told Jorge, “You can make an easy neck shot from here.” Suddenly, a “SNORT” came from one of the young deer, and the big buck was immediately on his feet.

Jorge had “Mr. Grande” in his crosshairs, but didn’t shoot— he was just staring. “You better shoot,” I whispered to Jorge. “He ain’t going to pose all afternoon. We can admire him after he’s dead.” Jorge’s rifle went BOOM, and we heard the RATTLE, RATTLE of the rocks as the three bouncing bucks left the knoll. Our last view of “Mr. Grande” was his rear end disappearing through the pinions. In all of my many years of hunting and guiding, I have never witnessed a better example of buck fever than I saw that afternoon.

The next day I put Jorge on a big 10-point muley that anyone would be proud of. We were not far from Guadalupe Peak when he made a long, one-shot kill on the trophy buck. Jorge showed his appreciation by giving me a beautiful hand-made pocketknife. It is too pretty to carry, so I keep it in the bank safety deposit box, and just get it out and admire it from time to time.

I will further identify the three gentlemen—Aubry is Aubry Flowers, and Jorge is George LeGrand, both prominent San Antonio attorneys. George is also TTHA Platinum Life Member No. 18. Tom is Tom Krcmar, a world-renowned rifle maker, who also lives in San Antonio. These hunts took place about 30 years ago.

Jorge, Joaquin, and the hat

I will get off of Jorge’s shooting, and close with another story. It involves Joaquin Jackson, George LeGrand, Me, and the over-sized Ford pickup—the one I earlier said appeared to be on steroids.

On a clear afternoon, Joaquin, Jorge, and I were sightseeing on the Long X Ranch. The pickup was outfitted with hydraulic jacks mounted under each fender, and was also equipped with enormous tires. As we drove along, we were startled by a loud BANG. We had run over a sharp cedar stump and blown a tire.

Jorge slid out of the front seat and looked at the tire. “No problem. I will show you guys how these jacks work.” He crawled under the truck and was piddling with the jack, when Joaquin said, “Watch this! I’m going to scare the hell out of Jorge.” He was standing right

next to Jorge’s rear end, when he pulled out his .45 and fire off a round that kicked dirt everywhere.

KABOOM went the pistol. THUMP! UGG! went George LeGrand. He flew from under the truck, madder than a steppedon possum. Jumping right up in Jackson’s face, he promptly slapped Joaquin’s hat off. My thought was, “Oh! Oh! This is not going to be good!” One of the few things in life that you don’t do is mess with a Ranger’s hat.

The two engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball showdown. Joaquin had the height advantage at 6 feet 7 inches in his high-heeled boots. George looked like he was going to get a crick in his neck from looking up. Jackson was the first to blink, as he put his hand on George’s head and asked, “Pard, are you OK?” LeGrand replied, “Hell no! My head hurts.” Joaquin then added, “My friend, you are the only tinhorn who has ever messed with my hat, and lived to tell it.”

I looked at Jorge, and was shocked at the size of the knot swelling rapidly on top of his head. “That knot is high enough for a yearling calf to suck,” I remarked. “I think it is getting bigger!” Joaquin told Jorge that he was sorry for his sore head, and the noise and dirt from the .45 bullet, as we hurriedly put on the spare tire. It was getting late, so we high-tailed it back to the Long X headquarters just in time for supper with Cliff, Tom, and Aubry.

Recent photo of Bob Favor (left), his wife Beth, and George LeGrand.

Boy Scout Braydon Bates with his trophy South Texas buck that many others can only dream about taking.

Achildhood spent growing up hunting and fishing is a beautiful thing. For some it’s hard to imagine any other way. The hot days of summertime catching fish and cool crisp fall mornings in a deer stand with kids in tow is hard to beat. Watching their faces light up in wonderment as they experience the outdoors and knowing you’re ushering in the next generation to the sport is priceless.

Justin and Rhonda Bates of Corpus Christi have set out to do just that as a family. The couple have an 11-year-old daughter, Taylor, and a 9-year-old son, Braydon. Living on the coast affords the family plenty of saltwater fishing opportunities and hunting seasons are spent at the family’s Atascosa County ranch, aptly named “The Family Ranch.”

Braydon is a member of the Boy Scouts and enjoys playing basketball when he’s not hunting or fishing. He helps his dad with work at the ranch throughout the year and has discovered that he loves deer hunting. Braydon killed his first buck, a spike, with a crossbow two years ago, and was hooked.

Last hunting season, Braydon would have an opportunity to kill a deer most hunters could only dream of. “We saw a giant buck on camera before the season and dad said I could hunt for him,” Braydon said. “I thought taking the deer would be a huge accomplishment and I might not forgive myself if I messed it up. I was excited just thinking about it, and couldn’t wait to hunt!”

Hunting season finally came and the father-son hunting team set out after the big buck. One morning while they were out hunting, the buck made an appearance. “The buck ran out of the brush chasing a doe,” Braydon said. “He ran straight toward the blind before stopping in the road. He looked a lot bigger in real life!”

The buck had first appeared at about 100 yards, then standing at 50 yards in front of the excited young hunter and his father. Braydon took the safety off of his .243 as he readied for the shot. Wanting to make a good shot, Braydon took his time and aimed carefully. “The buck moved just as I shot. We knew

I’d hit him, but didn’t think it was too good,” Braydon said.

Erring on the side of caution, they waited quite a while before taking up the trail. “We looked, but the brush was just too thick,” Braydon said. Justin added, “The sign and trail didn’t look very good, so I decided to call Roy Hindes. Roy came out and put the dogs on the trail and after a while, told us the buck wasn’t mortally wounded. We were disappointed that we didn’t recover the buck, but relieved in our confidence that he wasn’t laying out there in the brush.”

The hunters’ only option at this point was quite simple. They would just have to keep hunting the deer. They hunted hard over the next few days with no further sightings of the buck. Braydon’s confidence began to wane, and he wanted to sleep in one morning when his dad convinced him otherwise. “I told Braydon he needed to hunt as much as possible before the rest of the family arrived for Thanksgiving,” Justin said. It was a good thing Braydon changed his mind and went hunting that morning, because perseverance was about to pay off.

It was a cool morning and Braydon and his father waited and watched patiently from the stand as deer began to come out and feed. “All of a sudden, my big buck showed up and kind of

Braydon’s buck earned him top honors at the Muy Grande Deer Contest.

circled around a tree before coming out in the open,” Braydon said. “He had a limp and I could see the scar at the bottom of his chest where I hit him before.”

“Take your time,” Justin whispered. “I got all of my jitters out and that’s when I took the shot,” Braydon said. At 75 yards, Braydon’s aim was true and the bullet from the .243 found its mark. After being hit, the huge buck ran a short distance before becoming entangled in the brush and crashing to the ground within sight of the blind.

“He’s down – YEAH!!” the excited hunters said. They waited a few minutes, making sure the buck was down for good, before making their way over to him. “He was so big, and I was so happy! I wasn’t sure I could do this, but dad kept telling me I could all along,” Braydon said.

Justin said, “I knew he was ready and could handle it. I couldn’t have been prouder of him. We were thankful we had a second chance and that it was a successful hunt with a good ending.”

After taking photos and cleaning the buck, they took him to the Muy Grande Deer Contest in Freer. “At the contest we got a high score and people were telling me I had a good deer. I was really proud of my buck,” Braydon said.

The buck was very good indeed, scoring 2377⁄8 and securing a top place in the deer contest. “I never thought I’d kill a deer this big and really couldn’t have been happier,” Braydon said. It may be a while before Braydon kills a bigger deer, but one thing is certain, time is on his side and we know he’ll be out there trying his best.

Braydon wounded the deer on his first attempt. Braydon kept hunting, with his dad’s encouragement. The buck appeared again, giving Braydon a second, successful opportunity.

Some portions of the state, like the western edge of the Hill Country, experienced subpar range conditions during last year’s seasons. Timely rains through the spring this year should help set the stage for better overall habitat for multiple species.

2023-24 Hunting Forecast

BY WILL LESCHPER

ur great state is blessed with an abundance of hunting opportunities for both small game and big game, and the overall hunting forecast has shaped up to be good for deer, doves, ducks and a host of other wildlife.

White-Tailed Deer

Texas deer hunting is a booming business. A report released in May by Texas A&M’s Natural Resources Institute estimates approximately 555,000 hunters spend nearly $2 billion each year on white-tailed deer hunting in Texas while 200,000 landowners spend about $2.5 billion. A&M used hunter and landowner questionnaires to gather its data, which yielded these insights:

• The top five most common expenditures for hunters are licenses, transportation, meals, shooting equipment and feed/feeders. The five largest are outfitter/guide fees, lease fees, lodging, land management and feed/feeders. The average lease fee was $2,904 and each hunter spends a total of $3,348 annually on deer hunting.

• More than half (52%) hunt land owned by family or friends. Another portion (41%) hunt on leases and the rest use public land (5%) and outfitters (2%).

• Landowners spend an average of $18,812 and bring in $20,658 in revenue. The top five most common expenses are supplemental feed, property taxes, land management, equipment maintenance and capital improvements. The five largest are payroll, land management, supplemental feed, hospitality and property taxes. Landowners spend an average of $3,593 per year on supplemental feed.

In looking toward another Texas deer season, it’s clear that regardless of quantity or quality of the herd you’re hunting, big bucks will continue to be spent on big bucks. Alan Cain, white-tailed deer program leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said the Texas deer outlook is always good in terms of the population, which continues to rest at more than five million animals across the state. The highest densities and harvests of both whitetail bucks and does always rest in the Edwards Plateau region that encompasses the Hill Country and part of Central Texas.

Cain notes that surveys conducted by biologists have shown that in recent years, the vast majority of the Texas buck harvest is composed of deer that are 3½ or 4½ years old.

“That shows hunters are not killing a bunch of young bucks and they’re letting them walk, and it’s also in part to the antler restrictions we have in many counties,” Cain said. “I also think a large part in what we see today from our surveys is most hunters and landowners are taking more of an interest in deer management, which is a good thing for everyone

involved with deer.”

Anecdotally, many hunters saw a decrease in both antler quality and overall numbers in many traditional hunting hot spots such as the Hill Country last season. That was due in large part to lingering extreme drought that saw little to no rainfall for most of the year. Without adequate rain at the right times, deer start off with a deficit and sometimes end up scratching to get by, which can decrease both headgear and body size, Cain noted.

In some areas of the Hill Country, the

A recent study from Texas A&M University showed that Texas hunters and landowners spent more than $4 billion on deer hunting pursuits during the season. That includes everything from lease fees to supplemental feeding costs.

deer densities are more than 200 per 1,000 acres, Cain said, and when range conditions are poor, those numbers can drop due to the carrying capacity of forage not being sustainable.

“We always recommend hunters to use their tags, especially doe tags, in those areas with higher numbers,” Cain said. “It’s always tough to predict exactly how the season will play out ahead of time, but things are all looking good for us to have another great season across the state.”

Doves

As with deer hunting in Texas, dove hunting is a major economic driver, particularly due to the fact that it’s the first framework to open up fall and winter hunting frameworks. Federal estimates have shown that roughly a third of the more than one million dove hunters nationally are in Texas and state estimates have shown those hunters pump more

than $300 million into dove hunting across the board in average seasons. Even in years with lower production, the state still boasts exceptional numbers of birds (roughly 25 million mourning doves and 12 million whitewings, according to the long-term averages from spring surveys).

Owen Fitzsimmons, dove program leader for TPWD, said the outlook should be on par with previous seasons in terms of numbers and good habitat thanks to having good moisture in the spring.

“In looking at the data, 2021 was the lowest harvest we’ve had on record going back to at least the early 2000s,” Fitzsimmons said. “Last year’s numbers were better and most hunters saw at least average conditions. The hunting in the South Zone was really good as it has been in recent years and (as of June) I’ve gotten a lot of really good reports out of areas such as between Abilene and Fort Worth that they saw more birds than

they had going back a number of years. Those areas have seen tougher hunting and fewer birds in our surveys the past few years.”

The success of any dove season rests on nesting conditions and bird production that always rests on adequate moisture and good range conditions. Fitzsimmons pointed to a relatively cool spring as being beneficial to this year’s dove crop.

“A big part of that also is that we didn’t have a lot of severe storms that bring heavy winds and hail,” Fitzsimmons said. “Those severe storms are detrimental and when they come through areas like the Hill Country and Central Texas, they’ll knock dove nests out of trees easily. They build pretty flimsy nests, but I think this year we got some good rains without those negative impacts, and I think that’s really helped with numbers, too.”

Dove hunting in Texas has been known to be cyclical with multiple-year

Dove hunting success usually rests on the size of the population. Roughly 25 million mourning doves and 12 million whitewings have been documented as the long-term averages in Texas from spring surveys conducted by biologists.

periods of exceptional harvests followed by years of below-average hunting.

Fitzsimmons noted the data shows the pursuit should be on an uptick, especially in locales like the Panhandle that have seen tougher hunting in recent seasons.

“We’ve really been below the long-term average for the past four or five years now,” Fitzsimmons said. “We had a really good few years coming out of 2013 through about 2016 and saw some of the highest harvest years we’ve had in a long time. And after that, it kind of dropped down below average and we kind of stayed there. And that’s where we were last year, too, a little bit below average across the state.

“That could just be due to environmental conditions, and again I think this year we’re going to see those numbers bounce back up. They might not respond to rain as quickly as quail do but they’re still in that kind of boom-and-bust cycle.”

Waterfowl

Texas duck hunting has gotten tougher for most hunters, a fact due in large part to having fewer birds on a landscape that has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The traditional hot spots like the Gulf Coast rice belt and marshes haven’t been drawing in and keeping as many ducks and geese as they once did, and biologists have pointed to hunting pressure and changing migration patterns as factors.

In looking at data, the population decline is among the most troubling issue. Federal and state biologists completed the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey in 2022 for the first time since 2019 after dealing with COVID-19

closures for multiple seasons. Results from the survey revealed much as was expected due to prior years of extreme drought — 34.2 million ducks in the Traditional Survey Area, a 12% decline from 2019 when the figure was 38.9 million and down 4% from the long-term average. The waterfowl count had been as high as about 45 million less than a decade ago.

Kevin Kraai, waterfowl program leader for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said prognostications for waterfowl always rest on range conditions, which last year were affected in many notable hunting haunts due to lingering drought bordering on extreme levels. He noted that having good range conditions and steady water levels in the Dakotas—the so-called “duck factory’’—is always vital to having better duck hunts along our Central Flyway.

“Very dry and very hot is a bad combination heading into the summer before the season, but it’s actually interesting in one way,” Kraai said. “When we have really dry years, we actually record better waterfowl harvests and higher success rates because with less water on the landscape the birds don’t have as many places to go. Looking back at years with better moisture, we had lower success rates and birds just had more locations to

go where they could avoid hunters.

“Additionally, in drier years, bay hunters on the coast tend to have a better season. Those conditions push more pintails and redheads out into the bay, so that’s a positive for those hunters.”

In looking at the other issue that has determined hunter success in recent years, Kraai noted ducks and geese get smarter as the season progresses. Juvenile birds typically are the first ones to be taken while the older ones quickly learn the game.

“We have strong evidence from a bunch of different data streams pointing toward distribution of waterfowl being highly correlated to the amount of hunting pressure they’re receiving,” Kraai said. “We’re seeing strong evidence of redheads avoiding certain locations along the coast due to hunting pressure because so many people are pursuing them with airboats and by other means. We’re also seeing large duck numbers in places where they were absent 10 years ago.

“Waterfowl also are utilizing nontraditional habitat including locations like stock ponds in Central Texas and up into the Rolling Plains with effluent water. They were built for other reasons and now ducks are taking advantage of them. That means those waterfowl can get out there and not be harassed very much at all.”

Sally Black with Baffin Bay Rod & Gun keeps her eyes on the sky during a coastal hunt. The coast remains a duck hotbed with redheads being the dominant species taken by hunters.

A bit of patience, and a lot of luck, led Robert to taking this trophy buck. Robert’s brother told him a buck like this has to be earned.

In December during the 2020-2021 deer season, a buck entered the sendero several hundred yards away, trailing a doe. The doe would have none of the buck’s advances, but she continued down the sendero while the buck kept pace. My granddaughter, Makayla Mitchell, and I could tell he was a nice deer with our naked eyes and confirmed it once we put the binoculars on him. I turned to Makayla and asked her to get the rifle positioned and pointing out the window to prepare for the shot.

After taking her “Shooter Buck” (Journal Vol. 45 No. 4, July 2020) one year prior, Makayla was back at the ranch looking to add a trophy buck to her wall. I was proud of the fact she had passed up numerous young deer and other bucks that would have future potential when allowed to live to develop into mature, trophy bucks. She was becoming a seasoned hunter.

We studied the buck as he slowly made his way down the sendero towards our deer stand. The distance was still too far for a prudent shot. The rack grew as it got closer and it was now easy to see the buck with tall, chocolate-colored antlers, long G-2s, and good mass throughout would be a welcome addition to anyone’s trophy room. As the buck approached the 250yard mark, he exited the sendero to the right and entered the thick brush.

Makayla’s spirits fell, as she thought her opportunity was lost. I assured her the buck would most likely continue on through the brush and travel in our direction towards the feeder on another sendero, and once there, he would present us with a closer and more ethical shot opportunity. She proceeded to shift the rifle from one window to the next in anticipation of the buck’s arrival, but he never got there.

We can only guess he had plans different from ours. The weekend hunt ended without another sighting and the season ended without anyone taking the buck. Hopefully, the buck would survive the summer and grow an even more impressive set of antlers.

In the 2021-2022 season, trail camera photos indicated we had at least five bucks that qualified as bona fide trophies and

would be targeted by our hunters for the new season. One was clearly the chocolate-antlered 10-point Makayla had seen, and his antlers did indeed grow from the previous season. The property is in Archer County and is low fenced with soft, rolling hills and thick brush.

In 2020, we added cotton seed at the protein stations, so looking at the pictures, it was obvious the feed program was working. The buck still had his basic 10-point frame but had now added several new points on both antlers along with numerous kickers around the bases and on the back of the main beams. He had at least 16 scorable points.

I decided to hunt for this particular buck along with a heavy, 10-point buck with even better mass and a lot of typical qualities the 16-point non-typical did not possess. Either one would make any hunter happy. We would see him mostly on nighttime trail cam pictures, and when someone hunted that particular stand the following day, the hunter would never even get a glimpse of him. Most often he would be spotted at another area of the ranch and too far away for a shot. This routine continued through the season and became frustrating.

I hunted that specific deer every weekend from opening day and long into the season with no sightings. As my brother Fred, who runs our lease explained, “You have to earn a deer like that.” His comments did not alleviate my lack of patience, but I did persevere.

Saturday night Dec. 18, 2021, Jeff Blackwell, another frustrated hunter also hunting the two deer on my list, and I were enjoying an adult beverage after dinner. We had been chasing the big typical and non-typical bucks from stand to stand with no luck. Both deer had been photographed numerous times at several blinds: the Green Blind, the Ritz, the Highway Blind, the Turkey Draw Blind, and the Cliff Blind. Sunday morning, I intended to hunt the Green Blind instead of the Ritz to try to change my luck. I turned to my good friend and said, “Jeff, we have 16 stands on this ranch. I’ll give you first choice on where to hunt tomorrow morning and then I will choose another

The buck had only been seen on nighttime trail cam photos, until Robert spotted him from his deer blind.

stand.” As luck would have it, he chose the Green Blind. My disappointment on his decision was brief. I decided to go back to the Ritz.

As I exited my camper early on the morning of Dec. 19, 2021, frost covered the ground, and the temperature was 18 degrees. Looking up at the sky I saw thousands of stars and no clouds to obstruct my view at the stand with low light or cover to warm the day. The forecast was for continued cold with blue skies, lots of sunshine and a slight wind of 5 to 7 mph out of the north. It was a great morning to hunt and I thought it held great promise.

I left camp early. After feeding the five senderos that surround the blind, I parked my truck and I sat in the cab, debating how soon to leave the comfort of the heated cab for the coldness of the deer stand. I was in the stand and in position by 5:30 a.m. As daylight wouldn’t arrive until about 7, I had plenty of time to wait for things to settle down. But it wasn’t getting any warmer and daybreak would bring even colder temperatures.

Prior to daybreak, I could see several deer on two of the senderos, but it was still too dark to determine if they were bucks or does. As the light increased, I saw two small bucks and several does. Things were looking up.

I glassed the deer to make sure they were non-shooters and then focused on the brush surrounding my stand. There was nothing else to look at and it was getting colder. As I continued to glass the area, a large eight-point buck appeared at the feeder. After making sure there was no immediate danger, he proceeded to feast on the kernels on the ground and inside

the feed pen. More does appeared all around me and I was busy checking out all the new deer.

Looking down the long, main sendero, I saw another buck had joined the large eight-point at the main feeder. I was immediately aware this was a far larger deer than the eight-point, and he had multiple points. While raising my binoculars to further inspect the deer, I had already made up my mind that I would take this deer.

I made sure the buck had no broken points and was a mature deer. I reached for my rifle to get in position for the shot. The deer stared at the blind, trying to figure out what the heck was going on. The wind was right, I sat behind a see-through camo curtain, and I was sure I had not spooked the deer. He continued eating his breakfast.

Unfortunately, he stood behind the eight point, so I couldn’t take the shot. I continued to hold on the deer with the Winchester Ultra-Light .30-06 rifle, waiting for the right shot opportunity. As he walked out from behind the eight-point, he looked directly at me. I was confident I could make the shot, but in this case, and with this deer, I wanted a broadside killing shot with less chance of wounding the deer, so I waited.

As he edged out from behind the other buck, he presented a broadside position, but the fence post on the feed pen was exactly in line with the area on his shoulder where I wanted to shoot. More waiting. By now he was definitely edgy, and I could tell he was ready to bolt into the brush. I was determined to be patient but also take an ethical shot anywhere on the body when it was presented. I wouldn’t lose this deer.

The buck finally took a few steps from behind the feeder and the fence post. As I located him in the Zeiss telescopic sight, he stood somewhat broadside but also quartering away from me. I squeezed the trigger and waited for the shot as I sighted through the scope. Upon firing I saw the deer go straight to the ground and kick his hind legs twice with no following movements. I jacked another shell from the magazine into the chamber and held on the downed deer in case he tried to stand or crawl into the brush. After waiting a few minutes, he did not move and I decided it was time to go check out my deer up close and personal.

As I got down from the stand and walked towards the downed monarch, I saw no ground shrinkage. In fact, the closer I got, the bigger the deer became. It was now very obvious this was my target buck. The one that I and others had hunted all season that was almost a ghost, only seen in pictures taken at night.

After inspecting the deer, I took a few camera phone pictures and sent them to my brothers, Fred and Joe, who unfortunately had decided not to hunt that weekend. I also sent them to Jeff at the Green Blind and asked for his help loading the deer. When he arrived, I thanked him for choosing the Green Blind.

I recounted the hunt to him and he helped take more pictures and load the buck onto my truck for the triumphant ride back to camp. Once in camp, more pictures were taken and I relived the hunt with other hunters. The buck had 17 scorable points and 60 days later was scored by a Boone and Crockett official. The gross score was 170 7⁄8 with a net score of 163 6⁄8 . It will be hard to surpass that special 2021 season.

From the silence of the ice floes of the Arctic Circle to the mountains of New Zealand and the hot bushlands of Africa, Milton Schultz of Glen Rose has experienced every kind of hunt the world has to offer. As a young man, he hunted everything in Texas, and became hooked on big game of other places when he hunted for Dall sheep in Alaska. Since that first

white sheep, Milton has traveled the world after all manner of big game from dangerous to harmless, and hard to find.

Milton is widely known in the hunting world for his North American 29 and his African 37. Only 174 hunters around the world have taken the North American 29, which includes the following species: 1) four bears, 2) five deer, 3) three elk, 4)

Platinum Life Member Milton Schultz with a bongo he took—the last animal he needed to complete his African 37—during an eight-day hunt.

five caribou, 5) three moose, 6) four sheep, along with cougar, bison, muskox, mountain goat, and American pronghorn. The Africa 37 includes all the major big game species in Africa.

Milton has been recognized and rewarded by various conservation and hunting organizations for his prowess as an international hunter and conservationist. “I’m a life member of most conservation organizations, but my first life membership was Texas Trophy Hunters,” he said.

Milton was born in Austin, where he started to school. The family later moved to Cleburne, Texas, where he finished high school. As a Baylor pre-med student, Milton graduated with honors, but missed medical school. He was waiting for a bus going to the Army and Vietnam when his uncle suggested he go to pharmacy school. Milton got a one-year delay from Vietnam, and graduated from the University of Texas in Austin as a registered pharmacist.

The war was winding down, so Milton didn’t have to go. Instead, he took a job with a pharmaceutical company in Fort Worth and began a lifelong career in pharmacy. Eight years later, Milton developed his own pharmacy called Discount Drug in Glen Rose. He then took a job as director of pharmacy at Glen Rose Medical Center, and added another store in Granbury. Through more than 50 years, Milton managed his pharmaceutical businesses and hunted all over the world.

Milton hunted whitetails early in life, sitting on a board across two tree limbs near Columbus, Texas, and holding his uncle’s .30 military carbine. His first deer came to an oats patch when he was 7 years old, and he’s been a hunter ever since. Milton’s Texas hunting has involved whitetails, mule deer, wild turkey and pronghorn antelope. Of course, he sandwiched in fishing, dove and quail hunting between his big game hunts.

Milton and Jerry Johnston were friends, and when Jerry started Texas Trophy Hunters in 1975, Milton was there. Later, when Jerry chartered Platinum Life Members, Milton asked Jerry for No. 7, his lucky number. Since then, Milton Schultz has been PLM No. 7.

“My first sheep hunt was a new kind of excitement,” Milton said. “I had a friend who talked me into going on a Dall sheep hunt in the Yukon, and I flew up to White Horse and took a short hop to meet my guide. He said, ‘Throw you stuff in a cabin—we’re going sheep hunting!’ I said, ‘But, I just got here.’ The guide said, ‘We’ll be out for a couple of days—no worry.’ Famous last words! I wore the same shorts and undershirt for the next 10 days!’

“We saw sheep, caribou, and other Alaska wildlife, and on my tenth day, I killed a beautiful Dall ram. The year was 1981, and I was hooked on hunting game in faraway places! My next

hunt in Alaska was for caribou, and I got two nice bulls. I also hunted ptarmigan grouse, and fished for salmon.

“While on that hunt, I made arrangements to come back to Alaska for brown bear. The next year, I went back and hunted for six days before getting a good Alaskan brown with my .338 Win. Mag. While on the bear hunt, I made arrangements to come back to British Columbia for a stone sheep. With a Dall and Stone, I was on my way to the Grand Slam of sheep.

“I finished my slam of sheep in Mexico in 1995, when I got a desert ram on Baja Peninsula after the second hunt. The Dall, Stone, Rocky Mountain, and Desert sheep are all mounted full size. All of the sheep were taken with a Weatherby .270 Mag., serial number 7777—my lucky number. I have carried that rifle all over the world.”

Milton made a trip to New Zealand for Himalayan tahr, chamois, and red stag. “I told them I wanted to hunt fair chase—no high fence red stags. I got a nice open-range red deer, but they ribbed me for going all the way to New Zealand for a ‘fair chase’ stag, while they killed monstrous stags behind high fence. Later on, I got a chamois, and went to the mountains to get a nice tahr.”

As a world-wide hunter, Milton has lived with the three

Milton with his Dall sheep, taken in the Yukon.

“Ps”—passion, pursuit, and patience. One of his passions was getting a polar bear. He applied through a hunting consortium at Arctic Bay in Nunavut Territory, Canada, and it took five years to get a permit.

The entire polar bear hunt was unbearable—minus 50-degree weather, native guides, being pulled across the ocean in a wooden box, running out of fuel, break-down of snowmobile, a lost rifle, and no bear. On the first run, Milton and his guides were stranded about 100 miles out in the ice fields—no fuel or food—and were rescued by Canadian Search and Rescue. Another trip was required to Arctic Bay to get a trophy polar bear, Milton’s lost .338 Win. Mag., and to go through many challenges to get the bear cape through U.S. Customs.

“It has to be the longest, coldest, most confused, ill-fated hunt of my career,” Milton said. “I finally got my polar bear— the last one to come through U.S. Customs, prior to its endangered listing. I shot the bear with a borrowed Remington open sight .375 H&H, and finally got my .338 Win. Mag. back after a lot of legal red tape!”

Another interesting story recounted by Milton involved a leopard hunt in Africa. After making all the arrangements to go to leopard country, the hunters spent many dull nights in a blind, waiting for a leopard to come to the bait—an impala hanging from a tree limb. The outfitter had fixed a small dim rheostat light to come on when the leopard was at the bait.

“We hunted every night for 14 days—no legal male leopard,” Milton recalled. “We saw a lot of females, but no males. My guide found a male leopard track, and we baited that area and built a blind. While in the blind, we had to remain completely silent—no talking; no coughing or sneezing; no scratching; just quiet.

“On the last night of the hunt, the guide, his wife (she wanted to film the hunt) and I were in the blind. The small rheostat light was placed to show the leopard if he came to the

bait about 75 yards away. The guide would tap me twice on the shoulder when it was time to shoot.

“About 9 p.m. it was so dark you couldn’t see your hand before your face, when the guide’s wife tapped me once on the shoulder. I was waiting for another tap as the signal to shoot. Nothing. Then, the guide tapped me on the shoulder. I looked through the scope of my Weatherby .270 Mag., but saw nothing but black. I was tired and knew that we would have to leave for Johannesburg in a few hours, so I just put the scope where I thought the leopard would be and fired.

“We waited a while, and the guide called to the trackers to come and look. We looked for blood. Nothing. The trackers searched and found tracks where the leopard had jumped from the tree and they carefully followed the tracks, as we followed. Several yards away, we found the big male leopard—I had shot him in the liver, and he had bled internally! We celebrated, and I was a happy hunter!

“I got back to Johannesburg just in time to catch my flight back home. About a month later, I got a call from the taxidermist in Johannesburg, and she told me my animals were ready to be shipped. ‘How do they look?’ I asked. ‘How does my leopard look?’ The lady said, ‘I’m sorry, there is no leopard.’ I couldn’t believe what she was saying. ‘I killed a leopard and you should have it.’ She said, ‘You better call your outfitter.’”

“I called my outfitter, who was getting a messy divorce from his wife. I said, ‘Where is my leopard?’ The outfitter mumbled some excuses, and finally said, ‘We didn’t have a legal permit.’ I was beside myself, thinking of what would have happened if we had been stopped by the law with a leopard and no permit! Then, the outfitter gave me a plan.

“‘We will fly you back to Johannesburg, and you can put up in the lodge. In a couple of days, we will go to the authorities and say that you have killed a leopard, and they will give—and charge you—for a permit. With the permit, you can get your leopard to the United States.’ That’s what we did, and I finally got my leopard, which was one of my African Dangerous Five—elephant, lion, leopard, rhino, and Cape buffalo.”

Milton says that the last animal in his “African 37” was a bongo, a large African antelope that dwells in the dense jungle. “I hunted eight days in the jungle—hot, soaking wet, with two locals cutting a path through the dense brush,” he said. “Mosquitoes were thick—a miserable hunt at my age. However, I finally got a good forest bongo that is high in the SCI book.”

Milton is still the pharmacist living in Glen Rose. He’s 75 years old and challenged by pancreatic cancer. However, in a recent interview, he assured me the medical folks are doing all they can to get him through this dilemma. Milton seemed happy as we recounted the many hunts of his career. Reminiscing about the hunts all over the world was like going on the hunts again. Milton is quite the hunter!

Milton with one of many Texas whitetails he’s taken through the years.

Trophy Hunters

Blood Trail Mysteries

By Ted Nugent

The big, fat, gorgeous, uppity matriarch doe tested and tortured me as they always do, scanning, peering, pausing, sniffing, staring, as if the world was out to kill her. And of course, indeed this old bowhunter’s world was surely out to kill her.

Statue still for the entire 30-minute standoff, I was as cocked, locked and ultra-ready to rock as any predator in God’s beautiful tooth, fang and claw world, and when she finally turned broadside to climb the slight embankment to the standing cornfield, my GoldTip death ray came back to full draw unto its own power and my Samurai, Martial Art archery life pulse did the rest.

In a blink of the eye, the glowing Lumenok vanished into the crease behind her shoulder blade and off she exploded into the wild, gold yonder.

The incredible sense of accomplishment in getting to full draw on a crazed, wild-eyed Michigan Swamp Donky is one of life’s greatest joys, and I knew that razor-sharp, old two-blade Satellite broadhead had certainly disconnected her heart beating pumpstation

for the ultimate, quick, clean, humane kill at the hands of a dedicated, reasoning backstrap addict predator.

Sure enough, picking up the bloody arrow, the ample crimson blood trail was visible and graphic the entire 90yard tracking, making the recovery of my trophy doe perfect for our Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV show conservation celebration on the Pursuit channel.

That is how all dedicated bowhunters dream it should be, and often enough, it is. But the next day, old troublemaker Murphy would rear his ugly head and throw a rather discomforting wrench in my bowhunting works, just to keep me on my toes and guessing.

That very next day, far away in a distant forest, another dreamy whitetail encounter unfolded, and with the same 45-pound Mathews Image bow, another 400-grain GoldTip arrow and the exact same, razor-sharp two-blade broadhead, I sent my shaft of life into the pumpstation crease of another handsome deer.

Same everything, including the angle and posture of the deer, same shot placement, same everything.

The arrow was again coated in blood, crimson stem to stern, but the glaring difference was that I could not find one speck of blood on the ground.

Fortunately, I was able to make a quick tracking job and recovery, but by sheer luck of following easily identified trails, tracks and other telltale spoor.

When gutting the previous day’s doe, there was very little blood remaining in the cavity, while the second deer appeared to still have 100% of its blood inside.

Entrance and exit wounds appeared to be identical, but the bloodletting difference could not have been more different.

As my exciting bowhunting season throttled on, I continued to make some very exciting kills with an assortment of broadheads. Though no actual conclusion is warranted, the disparity from one blood trail to another was always inexplicable.

With the popular Rage, Levi Morgan Shwacker, Pigman Shank and other deadly mechanicals, I would experience dramatic changes

on occasion from one blood trail to another.

All this is nothing really new to me, for as I celebrate and enjoy my 74th year of life and more than 65 years of bowhunting, nothing surprises me at all.

I haven’t seen it all, but damn close!

My Queen of the Forest wife, Shemane, kills big game consistently with her 30-pound Mathews Jewel bow, shooting the same 400-grain GoldTip arrows, always with a razor-sharp two-blade broadhead. Because she always waits for the absolutely perfect shot into the heart, her blood trails are mostly copious, but every once in a while, she too gets frustrated for lack of blood on the ground.

One mandatory truism I have taught myself over these many, wonderful bowhunting years is to pay very close attention to the reaction and direction of the animal’s

In that hyper, Gonzo-emotional out-of-body moment upon making a kill, it takes maximum focus to watch that animal’s exit by noting landmarks and identifiable terrain. Walking to the spot where the animal was when we hit them can have a totally different look than the perspective from where we made the

Great blood trails are surely rejoiceful moments, but without blood, we must learn to be the best tracker we can be, and slow, easy-does-it is the rule I live by.

Aim small, miss small, practice in pursuit of perfection, but always remember: Ma Nature and her critters don’t always play by the rules, so be prepared to improvise, adapt and overcome when the blood trails are

1. Track your game

The Pro-Tracker System tracks your game, not your arrow, by detaching from the arrow and staying in the hide of the animal. Using radio transmission, the transmitter allows you to pinpoint the location of your fatally wounded animal. The tracker works with any fixed blade broadhead and horizontally opening mechanical broadheads. The transmitter and carrier must rest on top of the arrow shaft. The transmitter deploys when the arrow penetrates the hide of the animal. Your arrow continues to penetrate while the transmitter remains in the hide. From this point, the transmitter sends a signal to the receiver, giving you direction to find the animal. The transmitter has a battery life of 18-20 hours and a range up to 2 miles. Visit pro-tracker.com.

2. Next generation boots

Irish Setter’s next generation Elk Tracker XD boots feature the original Elk Tracker’s legendary comfort in an even more rugged, durable boot that take the award-winning boots to the next level. A full leather camo upper with leather gusset overlay protects feet and prevents debris from entering the boot. Welted construction enhances durability while a wraparound rubber rand offers abrasion resistance against rocks, sticks and other sharp objects. Irish Setter Field Camo Desert Leather offers superior concealment and coordinates with other popular camo patterns to match a variety of terrain. Visit irishsetterboots.com to learn more.

3. Scent Thief

Scent Thief’s Laundry detergent is designed to be smelled by deer. The unique formula temporarily disables a deer’s sense of smell rather than using chemicals to mask human odor. Washing your clothes in this detergent before a hunt is no mistake. It’s phosphate-free and safe for technical fibers, carbon apparel, and wool. It’s safe for the skin as well as the environment and it won’t compromise the lifespan of your hunting clothing.

It’s available in a 32-ounce container and is recommended to be used with the rest of the Scent Thief line of products. Visit scentthief.com.

4. Moultrie Mobile Edge

The Edge is the most reliable and easy-to-use cellular game camera built. It automatically finds and uses the strongest cell signal in the area regardless of the service provider. With a simple one-button design, setup is fast and easy. Built-in memory eliminates the need for an SD card, while the Edge runs on 8 or 16 AA alkaline or lithium batteries and features a 12V power port for solar panel options.

Visit MoultrieMobile.com.

5. Waterfowl shotshells

For 2023, Fiocchi has extended its line of Golden Waterfowl Bismuth to include 28-gauge shotshells. This new load joins the 20- and 12-gauge Golden Waterfowl Bismuth models that discriminating waterfowl hunters have come to rely on. Comprised of Fiocchi’s highestquality hulls, primers, wads, and high-density 9.75g/ cc bismuth shot, the new 28-gauge Golden Waterfowl Bismuth is a precision load that hits hard and accurate even at extended ranges. It’s also moisture-resistant to withstand the foulest of waterfowl hunting conditions. Visit FiocchiUSA.com.

6. Benelli 828U Steel

Benelli presents a fresh model to the 828U line of shotguns with the 828U Steel. It’s made with a steel receiver versus aluminum. This adds a slight amount of weight to the gun to help mitigate recoil when using heavier loads and offers a subtle balance shift for smoother swings—even on fast crossing shots. Another feature is the addition of the Benelli Surface Treatment (BE.S.T.) to the barrels, receiver, and lock plate. This proprietary coating offers superior corrosion and abrasion resistance, making the shotgun practically impervious to harsh environments. It comes chambered for 23/4- and 3-inch shotshells in both 12- and 20-gauge. Barrel lengths offered are 26-, 28-, and 30-inch. Crio-treated chokes in C, IC, M, IM, and F are also included. Visit BenelliUSA.com.

7. Red dot scope mount

The new Burris SpeedBead Vent Rib Mount is designed for use with the Burris FastFire series red dots or any red dot that uses a Docter mounting pattern, the SpeedBead Vent Rib Mount is a simple DIY installation that requires no drilling or tapping. The mount’s unique design makes it self-centering, and the mount comes with assorted rib adapters to fit multiple shotgun vent rib widths. Constructed of aluminum with a black anodized finish, the SpeedBead Vent Rib Mount completely captures the vent rib on both sides for maximum clamping power along the full length of the mount. Simply install your red dot onto the mount and clamp the mount to your preferred location on your shotgun’s rib.

Visit BurrisOptics.com.

8. Condition 1 cases

Designed and manufactured in Texas, Condition 1 cases are built to protect your firearms, camera equipment, collectibles, and anything else that needs a second skin. The waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof cases meet or exceed industry standards, adhere to all airline regulations, and provide exceptional protection while our low overhead allows us to pass real savings on to you.

Visit condition1.com.

9. Ankle boots

Muck’s new Edgewater Ankle boots for men offer an allterrain outsole for protection, grip, and stability. They feature a self-cleaning outsole and a reinforced, protective rubber shell for the heel and toe for extra durability. Composed of neoprene and rubber, the boots are 100% waterproof, quick drying, and lightweight.

Visit muckbootcompany.com.

10. Elk Target

GlenDel 3-D targets introduces the first-of-its-kind half-scale elk. Constructed of ultra-durable self-healing polyfoam and incorporating GlenDel’s exclusive 12"x12"x12" 4-sided core system, it combines easy arrow removal with exceptional target life in a manageable package. With up to 5X the shooting surface, three different vital views give bowhunters lifelike aiming solutions at various shot angles, while also to enhancing target durability. It offers easy arrow removal and is built to withstand years’ worth of shots. Sporting a large removable six-point rack, the body size simulates a bull weighing approximately 300 pounds, stands 38 inches tall at the shoulder, and is the largest in its class. The head and legs have a new-and-improved locking system to boost rigidity and durability while eliminating excess weight.

Visit feradyne.com/glendel/.

11. Bino harness

The all-new DEADQUIET Shield Bino Harness uses a proprietary fabric to create a bino harness that not only protects expensive optics from weather and environmental hazards but is also quiet in operation. Its layered fabric consists of a fleece exterior to deaden the sound of contact. The inside layer is a rugged suede that offers silent retrieval and replacement of binoculars and exhibits a high wear resistance for years of hard use. Sandwiched between these layers is a waterproof membrane that keeps binos dry and protected in the harshest weather.

It’s adjustable for a perfect fit and has MOLLE webbing integrated into both sides of the harness. A suede-lined shove pocket accommodates a phone, handgun, or other gear. The harness offers silent, zipperfree access; reinforced elastic tethers with silent swivels that can be easily adjusted or removed; and bottom MOLLE webbing perfect for securing the DEADQUIET Ember Handwarmer.

Visit alpsoutdoorz.com.

12. Handmade leather gun rack

South Texas Slings introduces a handmade leather gun rack for your truck or SUV. It’s fully adjustable with dual mounting options. Get your firearms off of your seats at the hunting lease or ranch, while keeping them secure and accessible at all times. Proudly made in Texas. Visit stsslings.com.

Editor’s note: We featured this product in our July/August issue with an incorrect website. We’re featuring it again with the correct website.

Hunter Education

It all started 23 years ago with an idea to impact kids for a life in the outdoors and most important, in a Christian atmosphere. We call it the Christian Outdoor Alliance Summer Hunting and Fishing adventure camps for kids. We offer a variety of youth events throughout the year that get kids and their parents in the outdoors together, and along the way we do packaged hunts that help us raise money for these activities. It has been a roller coaster of a ride to say the least, and as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity we are always raising money to keep influencing so many children with outdoor adventures.

After 22 years, I would not change my career path and my love for helping others. At this point, we have parents who sent their children to camp and are now sending their grandchildren. We are continuing to grow the COA program so many more people can get their families involved with a life in the Christian-oriented outdoors.

During the past 20-plus years, we have hosted our summer camps, hunts, and fishing trips on various properties all over the state. However, this past year we have been fortunate enough to build our own building to host numbers of different events on the Klein Ranch near Mountain Home in Kerr County. Another fun fact is that we’re directly across from the famed Y.O. Ranch sign on Highway 41. What an incredible landmark, not to mention one of the more famous ranches in Texas. This location is on a hill with fantastic views of the Hill Country and is a part of the Klein Ranch that had never been developed.

This project was a challenge to break ground and see through the building process. But we went to work, and

it has been a fun ride. Of course, there has been a lot of planning, and with an organization such as ours where everyone wants to get involved, it takes lots of time and discussion before you can actually break ground.

At all the camps, the kids receive Hunter Education,

and each day a few chapters get discussed. Then, we go out on the ranch and do the things that we’re teaching. For instance, the archery section of the Hunter Education book is interesting, but we actually put the bows in the kids’ hands and show them how to shoot. We do the same with the gun safety part of the book when we transfer the book knowledge to the range. It takes the Hunter Education program to an all-new level.

We then take this a step further and the kids actually get to go out and hunt a big game animal. We use all the different techniques such as stand hunting, spotand-stalk, glassing, and more. The kids then put their range time to work to get in close for a good clean kill.

Who needs to take Hunter Education? Every hunter in Texas (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete hunter education. Minimum age for certification is 9 years and costs $15.

If you were born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and you are:

• under 9 years of age, you must be accompanied

• age 9 through 16, you must successfully complete hunter education OR you must be accompanied

• age 17 and over, you must successfully complete

hunter education OR purchase a “Hunter Education Deferral,” and you must be accompanied

What does “accompanied” mean? Accompanied means: by a person who is at least 17, who is licensed to hunt in Texas, who has passed Hunter Education or is exempt (born before Sept. 2, 1971), and you must be within normal voice control. Proof of certification or deferral is required to be on your person while hunting. Note: Proof of certification is not required to purchase a hunting license.

This past summer we hosted a lot of kids with all types of skill levels. We get new hunters as well as skilled teenagers that have been hunting several years. The kids help each other with the learning curves associated with hunting and fishing.

The Hunter Education program helps jump-start their learning process and gets them on the road to being

safe and ethical hunters. The No. 1 thing we do not take for granted is gun safety. When taking a game animal, we load the gun with the safety on, and then move in for a clean shot. New hunters have a hard time finding the animal in the scope, so the kids are taught to adjust the scope, allowing for the widest field of view. All of this gets practiced at the range so when the time comes the kids can make the best of their opportunities.

With all that is happening in the world today, it is important to get the young people in the outdoors and give them the experience of God’s creation.

Michael Marbach is the CEO of the Christian Outdoor Alliance, www.mycoa.org; 210-827-9802. COA’s mission is to guide youth and outdoorsmen to a relationship with Jesus Christ through experience in God’s great outdoors.

Riflescope Roundup

When it comes to riflescopes, hunters have plenty of options with this quick look at the latest. Long-range hunting and shooting continues to drive many manufacturers to design products that more

than fill the bill with powerful magnification, special reticles and massive amounts of elevation and windage adjustments, including one

that can go up to a whopping 160 MOA. Many more first-focal-plane reticles are

hitting the market. Those reticles scale with magnification making the subtensions accurate at all

magnification ranges for holdover and windage corrections. A secondfocal-plane

reticle stays the same size across the magnification range, making those aiming points accurate only on one magnification, usually the highest.

Some new models, though, stick to old-school zoom ranges and one-inch tubes for quality optics at an affordable price. Many are covered by a lifetime warranty. FOV stands for field of view in feet at 100 yards. Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.

BY JOHN GOODSPEED

www.blaser-usa.com

B2 2.5-15X56 iC, $1,900

This is the top model in the new B2 riflescope line, which can use thermal-imaging clip-on devices and features a six-power zoom and a 30mm tube. The compact scopes are built to handle the additional weight when shooting with a thermal unit attached. The other models are the 1-6X24iC ($1,700) and the 2-12X50 iC ($1,900). All use a daylight bright, illuminated fiber optic 4C second-focal-plane reticles and water-repelling coatings on outer lenses. The $300 optional QDC+ (Quick Distance Control+) allows adjustment of distances to more than 500 yards on the elevation turret. Ten engraved rings are included to cover a range of ammunition. The scopes are made in Germany with German optics.

Burris Company

www.burrisoptics.com

Veracity PH 4-20X50, $1,200

This new model not only features optics are based on the Veracity 4-20X50mm riflescope, but also includes such high-tech items as the new PEK (Programable Elevation Knob), a Heads-Up Display and Bluetooth connectivity for uploading ballistic data from the BurrisConnect Mobile App. The Heads-Up Display shows the dialed distance, wind hold, rifle cant and battery level. The user-configurable ballistic data assures precise aiming. FOV is 26 feet to 5½ feet. Eye relief is 3½ inches to 4¼ inches. Exit pupil is 12mm to 1½mm. It’s 15 inches long and weighs 27.2 ounces.

Bushnell Outdoor Products

www.bushnell.com

Prime 3-12X44 Multi-Turret Riflescope, $244.99

Bushnell expanded the Prime line with BDC turrets — one with two, for .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster, and another with BDC turrets for 6.5 Creedmoor, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .3006 Springfield and .300 Winchester Magnum, 165 grain and 180 grain. They also will come with a standard MOA turret. Features include Multi-X reticle, multi-coated optics, one-inch tubes and EXO Barrier on external lenses to repel water, oil and dust. They also share such specifications as a 3½-inch eye relief, 12-inch length and weigh 17 ounces. FOV is 29 feet to 7½ feet. Total elevation and windage adjustment travel is 50 MOA each.

Carl

Zeiss Sports Optics

www.zeiss.com/consumer-products/us/hunting.html

Victory V8 2.8-20X56, $3,699.99

Four models comprise the new V8 line — the 2.8-20X56 shown here for high performance in low light, the 1.1-8X24 for quick target acquisition, the versatile 1.8-14X50 and the 4.8-35X60 for the most magnification. Prices range from $2,999.99 to $3,999.99. All feature a 30mm or 34mm tube, an extra-large eye box, an illuminated dot reticle, 92 percent light transmission, Schott FL lenses, Zeiss T coatings and the LotuTec coating for a clearer view in inclement weather. Specifications for the 2.8-20X56 include FOV, 45.9 feet to 6.3 feet, 3.6-inch eye relief and exit pupil 9.9mm to 2.8mm. Zeiss also introduced a first-focal-plane line, the LRP S3, with two models — the 4-25X50 and 6-36X56.

www.gpo-usa.com

SPECTRA 6X 4.5-27X50i SFP, $1,249.99

The latest from GPO is designed for long range and high performance. It comes with a 30mm tube, proprietary iCONTROL microdot illumination, Double HD objective lens and PASSIONtrac Zero-Stop-Lock turrets with 30 inches of adjustment at 100 yards in ¼ MOA clicks. Laminating multiple ED lenses forms the Double HD lens. The process minimizes light reflection, creates enhanced resolution and color contrast and reduces chromatic aberrations. GPObright lens coatings can increase light transmission to more than 92 percent. FOV ranges from 22.7 feet to 3.6 feet and exit pupil from 11.1mm to 1.7mm. Eye relief is 3.96 inches. GPO also introduced its first fixed-power scope, the 7.5X50i ($599.99), which features an illuminated reticle.

Leica Sport Optics

https://us.leica-camera.com/sport-optics

Amplus 6 3-18X44i BDC MOA, $1,399

Now in its third year of production, the Amplus 6 line gets another reticle choice, the 4w. It features fewer subtensions for holdover, which provides a simplified precision reticle for those who don’t want a larger drop compensated reticle. The illuminated reticle provides a fine red dot. With a six-power magnification range, second-focal-plane reticle and a 30mm tube, each scope in the line provides light transmission of more than 90 percent, according to Leica. The side parallax adjustment ranges from 65 feet to infinity. FOV ranges from 39 feet to 6.8 feet. Eye relief is 3½ inches. Exit pupil is up to 7.3mm to 2.4mm. It is 12½ inches long and weighs 23.6 ounces.

Leupold & Stevens

www.leupold.com

Mark 5HD 2-10X30 M5C3 FFP

Illuminated TMR, $2,499.99

Leupold expands its Mark 5HD line with a trio of new 2-10X30 riflescopes, the one shown here, another with a TMR reticle and milliradian adjustments and a third with a PR1MOA reticle and MOA adjustments. The latter two are priced at $1,999.99. The Mark 5HD line is designed around accuracy, optical performance and reliability. The 2-10X30 provides the same in a shorter, lighter scope ideal for carbines. It is 11 inches long and weighs 24 ounces. It has Three-Turn ZeroLock adjustments and side focus. FOV is from 52.9 feet to 10½ feet. Eye relief ranges from 3.6 inches to 3.7 inches.

Maven Outdoor Equipment Co.

www.mavenbuilt.com

RS3.2 5-30X50 FFP, $1,600

Customer feedback prompted Maven to expand on the original first-focal-plane RS.3 5-30x50 with the RS3.2, which features a larger, more tactile elevation turret, a capped windage turret and a tool-less internal zero-stop. The rest of the scope remains pretty much the same as the RS.3. It features ED glass and a lens system and coatings paired with a 30mm tube that provide 90 percent light transmission, according to Maven. Elevation can be adjusted up to 80 MOA and windage 50 MOA in ¼-MOA clicks. FOV ranges from 22.2 feet to 3.7 feet. The Wyoming-based company sells high-end, Japanesesourced optics directly to consumers.

Primary Arms

www.primaryarms.com

GLx3-18X44F, $749.99

This new offering builds on the features of the GLx line with three 3-18X44 riflescopes on 34mm tubes and a choice of two first-focalplane illuminated reticles, the MIL-based ACSS Athena for any caliber and the ACSS Apollo for either 6.5mm Creedmoor and .224 Valkyrie or .308 Winchester and 6.5mm Grendel. The Apollo scopes feature 180 MOA of elevation adjustment in tactile 0.1 MIL clicks. The Athena’s holdover grid encompasses 50 MIL of drop. The locking turrets have a high-speed return to zero. With the Apollo reticles, sight in at 100 yards and engage targets out to 1,000 yards. FOV is 36.7 feet to 6.10 feet. Eye relief is 3½ inches. Exit pupil is 9.3mm to 2.4mm.

Riton Optics

www.ritonusa.com

3 Primal 3-18X50, $659.99

Designed for long-range shooting and hunting, it features Riton’s multi-coated optical system, the LRH (Long Range/Hunter) first-focal-plane illuminated reticle 30mm tube, and exposed zero-stop tur rets. Adjustments for windage and elevation are in 1⁄10 MRAD adjustments up to 25 MRAD. With six brightness levels, the red illumination adjustment is located on the knob for parallax. FOV is 35 feet to 6.2 feet. Eye relief is 3½ inches. Exit pupil is 8.2mm and 2.8mm. The scope is 133/4 inches long and weighs 29.6 ounces.

Sig Sauer

www.sigoptics.com

WHISKEY4 3-12X44 FFPIR, $359.99-$449.99

The new WHISKEY4 line provides a range of riflescopes with first- and second-focal-plane reticles with some models equipped with Sig’s illuminated Hellfire reticle. The scopes feature a removable magnification throw lever and some have a locking zero-stop elevation turret. The 3-12X44 model shown here only comes with a second-focal-plane reticle and choices of illumination and locking zero-stop elevation turret or low-profile with a cap — capped with no illumination, $359.99, and with illumination, $429.99; and locking zero-stop no illumination, $389.99, and with illumination, $449.99. The line ranges

with flip-up lens covers.

Sightron

www.sightron.com

S1 3-9X40 G2, $249.99

This is one of five in the second generation S1 riflescope line that was introduced in 2002. Sightron reduced weight and improved light transmission, eye relief and sight picture. The company kept one-inch tubes, standard zoom ranges and used modern optical technologies and materials. Three reticle options for the 3-9X40 are offered — duplex, hunter holdover and mil-dot. FOV is 48.6 feet to 18.1 feet. Windage and elevation travel at 100 yards is 70 MOA. It’s 11.7 inches long and weighs 13.9 ounces. Others in the line are the 1.755X32, 3.5-10X50, 4-12X40 and 4-12X40 AO with adjustable objective front focus. Prices range from $239.99 to $319.99.

TRACT Optics

www.tractoptics.com

TORIC 4-25X50 34mm FFP Riflescope, $1,494

The newest addition to the TORIC line was designed for long-range shooting and hunting with a 34mm tube and first-focal-plane reticle with locking zero-stop windage and elevation adjustments up to a whopping 160 MOA or 47 MRAD. Parallax can be adjusted from 15 yards to infinity. The scope also pairs Schott HT glass with ED lenses and a glass-etched illuminated reticle, available with either the MOA ELR or MRAD ELR Christmas-tree-style reticle with a floating center dot that does not obscure the target. Eye relief is a constant four inches. It’s 13½ inches long and weighs 29 ounces. It includes a three-inch sunshade. TRACT sells direct to consumers.

in price from $359.99 to $649.99. They come

Trijicon

www.trijicon.com

Huron 3-12X40, $699

Trijicon designed this new line of four riflescopes for the North American deer hunter with uncluttered, easyto-use reticles for fast and accurate shooting. Besides the one shown here, they are 1-4X24, 2.5-10X40 and 3-9X40, and 3-12X40. They are available with a Standard Duplex, German No. 4 and the new BDC Hunter Holds reticle. The scopes offer up to 100 MOA of adjustment in ¼-MOA clicks from either a 30mm or one-inch main tube. Prices range from $650 to $699. FOV for the 3-12X40 is 36.3 feet to 9.1 feet. Eye relief is from 3.2 inches to 2.2 inches. Exit pupil goes from 13.2mm to 3.4mm.

Vortex Optics

www.vortexoptics.com

Strike Eagle 3-18X44 FFP, $849.99

The latest addition to the Strike Eagle line closes the gap between tactical and mid- and long-range shooting with its magnification and first-focal-plane illuminated reticle that comes with MOA or MRAD hash marks. The 34mm tube allows a maximum elevation adjustment of 154 MOA and 62 MOA windage or 45 MRAD elevation and 18 MRAD windage. The XD Optical System produces higher resolution and color fidelity. The RevStop Zero System ensures a reliable return to zero and exposed and locking turrets feature a tactile feel. At 27.3 ounces and 13.3 inches long, it is lighter and smaller than its 5-25X56 big brother. FOV is 39.3 feet to 6.7 feet. Eye relief is 3.7 inches.

Brigade Life Lessons

By Rhett Rohde

Texas Brigades is known for developing “conservation leaders in every community.” After attending South Texas Buckskin Brigade and Waterfowl Brigade, I can attest they are doing just that—teaching conservation education to youth. Texas Brigades has been around for over 30 years, educating kids from all walks of life around the country. Not only is Texas Brigades grooming tomorrow’s natural resource leaders, but they are also ensuring the legacy and core values of naturalists persist.

I joined my first Brigade camp at 14, and looking back, I wish I would have started sooner. After my first attempt attending a Brigades camp was derailed by COVID, I again applied to South Texas Buckskin Brigade and got accepted. The next summer, I attended Waterfowl Brigade as a cadet, and returned back to South Texas Buckskin Brigade as an Assistant Leader. Brigade camps are much more than just a fun place to spend a week in the summer.

I have greatly benefitted from the lifelong leadership skills and public speaking teaching experiences. Initially, I was very shy and didn’t like talking to people. But with the help of my team and the instructors’ encouragement, I found my voice. I transitioned from feeling like I didn’t fit in with my team, to my team feeling more like a family unit that worked and encouraged each other.

When I left South Texas Buckskin Brigade that first sum-

Rhett Rohde

Waterfowl Brigade is one of eight summer camps youths can participate in to not only learn biology and outdoor skills, but leadership skills for the future.

mer, I knew I wanted to come back as an assistant leader. From August to March, I worked to promote Texas Brigades through my Book of Accomplishments. My accomplishments are detailed activities and projects that I’ve done to further my education in agriculture and natural resources, promote conservation, and spread the word about Texas Brigades. Nearly all of my activities involved public speaking through presentations, conducting interviews, teaching classes, talking to business owners, and even a radio interview while at camp. This experience fostered confidence during the 2022 Waterfowl Brigade, where I volunteered to be the spokesperson for my team. A year earlier, you wouldn’t have seen me get up in front of a room full of strangers to articulate a point, but thanks to my Brigade camp training, I am now more willing to express my thoughts. While South Texas Buckskin Brigade was a great experience, I especially enjoyed attending the camp again as an Assistant Leader. I also earned a $2,000 scholarship based on my Book of Accomplishments that will help to further my college education.

I’ve grown up sitting in the deer blind since I was a toddler and have been a hunter for as long as I can remember. I love watching deer, experiencing nature waking up and most of all, the excitement of the hunt. During the off season, while putting out feed with my grandpa, I have learned to look for deer behavior, movement patterns, and preferred habitats. Due to the teachings from my dad and grandpa, I had a pretty good idea of what I would experience going into South Texas Buckskin Brigade.

When the week ended, however, I had a deeper understanding of all those lessons. For example, my dad has always made a point of teaching me and my brothers how to clean our animals, identify where to cut, and what muscles to avoid so you don’t make a mess of the deer when cleaning it. The first day of South Texas Buckskin Brigade, a deer was procured through an educational permit to perform a necropsy. The instructors had us identify stomach content and examine fetuses.

Based on the stomach content, instructors taught us about a deer’s diet and how they grow. All these teachings are educating tomorrow’s hunters who are the voice and will be preserving the hunting and wildlife legacy. These camps are not only equipped with knowledge about one specific topic, but are actually loaded with leadership, public speaking, communication, photography, social media skills, and so much more. It’s incredible the amount of knowledge we cadets absorb in such a small amount of time, but over the week, you will walk away with so much more.

Texas Brigades changed how I look at life experiences and pushed me out of my comfort zone, showing me that I have a strong voice and can be an important ambassador for our natural resources. I strongly recommend Brigade camps to everyone, even if you don’t know a lot about natural resources. I can guarantee that you will not regret joining any Brigade camp and will come out with a heightened leadership voice and passion for our natural resources.

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.

Cadets take instruction from a Texas game warden.

Cadets must complete field work for class instruction and to get hands-on experience.

Brayden Nugent beaming with pride after getting his first trophy buck.

Trophy Hunters

Isuppose it’s human nature to instinctually shape and mold the next generation out of our own image by sharing with them our own interests and experiences. From the day he was born, I had no doubt that my nephew, Brayden, would someday join the ranks of the hunting community. All the men in his family are avid hunters. It’s not a stretch to say that he had his first gun before he took his first breath. Brayden was introduced to the outdoors right out of the gate. Whether it was fishing with his father, Mike, watching outdoor shows or exploring his grandparents’ ranch, this little man had a natural affinity to the wild. However, out of all his outdoor adventures he had never been hunting, and although watching weekend hunting shows with his dad may have given him a glimpse into the sport, it wasn’t until the fall of 2020 when both of his big sisters brought home their first deer that he saw

that hunting was more than just something that was done on television. His desire to become a hunter was set into motion.

After seeing his sisters’ bucks, Brayden practically begged his dad to take him to get his very own first deer, which didn’t exactly take a lot of convincing. So, after a short discussion, we decided the young outdoorsman would get his shot at his grandparents’ ranch near Flatonia. Although he had been given the green light, the young protégé would first have to learn a lesson in patience, because part of the agreement was he would have to wait until the following season for his chance. While it was a longer wait than he had in mind, it would provide valuable time during the offseason for him to learn the behindthe-scenes aspects that go into a successful hunt. Over the next several months, the soon-to-be hunter experienced some of the less exciting but equally important facets of hunting, including filling feeders, clearing vegetation, and building feeder pens as he accompanied his father and myself on work weekend trips to the ranch. He also took every opportunity to hone his marksmanship skills as he got introduced to another essential element of hunting preparation, varmint control.

On the eve of the October 2021 youth-only weekend, it seemed that his wait was finally over. I picked up the little man from school and we hit the road for the ranch to rendezvous with Mike, who was already there. The ranch was just over a two-hour drive from League City, Texas, but I’m sure it felt like much less to Brayden, as his “long blink” helped him do a little time travelling once we hit the highway.

By the time we arrived, Mike had already collected the SD cards from

Brayden with his father, Mike. Brayden insisted his hunt wasn’t complete until he got his face “painted.”

the trail cameras, which we were all eager to review. Like kids on Christmas morning, restless with excitement, we carefully studied each image in hopes of catching a glimpse of a “Muy Grande” or at least a suitable candidate that would be worthy of an anxious 8-year-old’s first deer. Although we didn’t see any racks that would break any records, we did identify a few very handsome bucks that were definitely Brayden-approved for a potential first deer.

Finally, the long-awaited morning was upon us. I’m sure Brayden’s excitement equaled our own for the impending adventure that lay before us, even if his heavy eyelids didn’t quite reflect it at 5:30 in the morning. With snacks, drinks, and rifle in hand, we loaded up the buggy and headed out into the pre-dawn darkness. We managed to squeeze all three of us into the 4x6 blind and hunted all weekend, watching the parade of turkeys, does with yearlings and the occasional small buck that came out to be seen.

Of the potential target bucks we identified on camera, not one of them decided to make an appearance. So, as fate would have it, this would not be the weekend for his initiation. We left the ranch that Sunday disappointed but not defeated because opening weekend of the general season was just under a week away, which meant a second chance for redemption. Although we headed home emptyhanded, our spirits remained high because strategies for the following weekend were already being developed before we even hit the blacktop.

With high hopes and ready for round two, Brayden was chomping at the bit to get back in the blind. The opening morning hunt was relatively uneventful, with just a few does and young bucks for entertainment. After breaking for lunch, the hunt resumed that afternoon because the blind was reoccupied for the evening hunt. The deer attendance was a little lighter this time compared to the previous weekend, but that wasn’t going to sway the determination of a young hunter that was hellbent on getting his first antlered trophy.

Not long into the hunt, and with a lack of stimuli for his little mind, Brayden inevitably caught an opportunistic power nap while he waited for the deer to start moving. Nearly two hours after climbing back into the blind, it became game-time as one of the target bucks, a mature eight-point, emerged from the right fence line and began grazing towards the feeder, meandering in and out of view behind clumps of vine-covered trees. After waking the slumbering hunter, Mike pointed out the buck to him as he helped him prepare for a shot.

After watching the buck for nearly 15 minutes, Mike noticed Brayden shaking, breathing like he

was cold and teeth chattering. Recognizing the telltale signs of buck fever, Mike asked him if he was cold, to which he assured him that he wasn’t. Mike instructed him to take some slow deep breaths to calm himself down before taking a shot. After regaining some composure, Brayden carefully positioned the rifle in the window and found his quarry in the crosshairs as Mike gave him some last-second guidance.

Just a few steps from the feeder pen, the buck finally stepped out from behind a tree and turned broadside, but another, smaller buck stood just behind him, preventing a clear shot. Moments later, the target buck took another step forward, clear of the other buck, and Mike gave him the go-ahead. Almost as soon as he said it, the shot rang out, and the young marksman had placed the 123-grain 6.5 Grendel exactly where he had intended. The buck leapt in the air, only to land right on one of the feeder pen panels before making a short 40-yard run and expiring in spectacular fashion.

After exchanging high fives and hugs, the newest official

Despite coming down with a case of buck fever before the moment of truth, young Brayden persevered.

Trophy Hunters

deer hunter in the family put his hands on his trophy. The proud father positioned the buck for pictures as Brayden knelt behind it. After nearly a year of preparation, with antlers in-hand and a smile as big as Texas, Brayden posed with his very own first deer. After capturing a few pictures, Mike congratulated him again as he prepared to retrieve the buggy to load up his stag.

Brayden had other plans. He insisted his dad mark his face with the crimson, time-honored, rite of passage that he had rightfully earned, which of course called for another round of pictures of the new hunter in his fresh “war paint.” Watching him with such pride and excitement on his little face, it was hard to tell which of us was prouder of his triumph. Back at the ranch house, he wasn’t afraid to get his hands messy as he concluded his initiation by assisting his dad and uncle prepare his prize for the processor. Now with the pressure of his first deer relieved, it’s time to start planning the next hunt.

Brayde n with Uncle James.

Gary Raba (l) with his moose and his guide, Kyle Corded.

Good things come to those who wait. And those who hunt hard. And especially those who make the most of luck when it smiles. Gary Raba has made the most of all three.

Native to San Antonio, Gary has hunted all over the world and takes his share of world-class animals, including a grand slam of North American sheep, massive Marco Polo ram and ibex from Central Asia, and a wealth of animals from Africa. But the Alaskan moose Gary collected in the fall of 2022 will likely be near the top of any list of trophies won through persistence and hard work and good luck. I’ve known Gary since high school and our time together at Texas A&M, but we’ve only recently started hunting together.

We had a memorable trip to the Pamirs of Tajikistan in 2021. We hiked and rode yaks to 14,000 feet in the midst of the most rugged mountains on Earth. We hunted two different drainages and after a lung-busting climb, Gary shot a great ibex at 890 yards. I came home without an ibex but with good photographs and great memories.

A trophy moose had always been on Gary’s wish list, and he’d been pursuing Alaskan moose with master guide Sam Fejes near Cordova Alaska for several years. But mother nature and fate always intervened and sent Gary home without a moose. For 2022, he was back with Sam in a proven moose camp some distance from Cordova in southeast Alaska. Even that did not start out easy.

A once-in-a-century massive storm with 100 mph winds and torrential rain slammed into western Alaska just a week before Gary’s scheduled September dates. So, he and Sam called an audible and decided to move his hunt to early October. In most of Alaska, moose is a September season. By early October bulls are hard in the rut and where it’s possible to give him the best time to find a giant bull.

Then the airlines intervened with their own curveball. Arriving in Cordova, Gary discovered the custom .280 Ackley Improved he planned to hunt with had been lost by the airlines. Sam offered his well-worn .375 H&H Magnum until Gary’s rifle showed up. From Cordova, it’s one bush plane flight to Sam’s lodge and then from there it’s another flight to a spike moose camp.

While others in camp saw some respectable bulls, Sam had another plan. The first evening he pulled Gary aside and asked, “How hard are you willing to hunt?” Gary’s quick reply was, “You know I don’t mind hunting hard.” The next day, Gary, his guide, and a packer flew into remote tent camp adjacent to a small river and surrounded by many miles of swamp and timber.

Here, as in much of Alaska, where the bulls can be difficult to spot, hunters will climb up a spruce tree or a hemlock to get a better view and glass for animals. However, from their spike camp to reach their hunting spot, the boys donned chest waders and began a two-mile hike across several deep and beaver sloughs through a lot of fog and a nice mix of devil’s club and alder. Their hunting area was a mix of timber and open areas, if you can call short alder muskeg and brush open. And the goal was to spot a bull looking for cows and moving around.

Climbing a little distance up in the tree, they spent a good part of the day glassing. But nothing promising appeared.

Eric Lipka packs out the meat from Gary’s moose. By law, Alaska moose have to remain in quarters until processed.

After that hike back through bog and stream crossings back to camp, Gary wolfed down two quick bowls of ramen noodles and called it a night. The next day they repeated the process. This time Gary decided to let their young guide do the tree climbing while he stayed on the ground. After it only a few moments up in the tree the young spotter scramble down with the agility of a red squirrel.

“Bull! Really big bull!” he stammered.

It was all he could say before they grabbed their gear and started a stalk into the scattered alders.

They closed on the huge moose before Gary saw it for the first time. The guide mixed in some imitation bowl grunts with waving a boat paddle back-and-forth above his head imitating another bull. It is a common technique during the rut, as the aggressive animals are quick to pick a fight with anything that looks like a competitor.

Gary stuck close behind the guide.

“I’d already chambered a round in Sam’s .375,” Gary recounted. “I was just waiting for an opening.

He marveled at the antler-waving, ponderous steady approach of what was now obviously a very big bull moose. And the side-to-side horn waggle is a clear indication the old bull was ready to fight

When the bull closed to 60 yards, Gary stepped behind the guide and raised the borrowed rifle.

“Wait! I can get him closer!” the guide hissed.

“That’s close enough!” he replied.

Settling the sights on the bull’s shoulder, Gary squeezed off a shot. At the bellow of the big Magnum, the moose

collapsed on the spot, head down and antlers underwater in the shin-deep swamp.

After the short walk up to the giant moose, Gary realized just how big an animal he had taken.

A legal bull in most of Alaska is 50 inches wide. The gold standard for giant moose in Alaska is 60 inches, and only a few in a decade ever exceed 70 inches.

Later they would tape the bull’s outside spread at 72 inches. That’s 6 feet of massive antler making this one, if not the largest moose, taken in Alaska this year or any other year. As impressive as the antlers, the rest of the massive animal now had to be quartered and carried out through the same mud bog and creek crossings back to the spike camp. By law, Alaska moose have to remain in the quarters until they’re processed, meaning the packer and guide had to carry out those 150-pound hindquarters on their backs.

Gary is very humble about taking what most people would agree is a moose of 100 lifetimes.

“The best part of any hunt is always the comradery you develop with your guide and packer(s),” he said. I had the opportunity with my guide Kyle Corded and packer Evan Lipka to do just that. Their collective enthusiasm upon seeing the moose on the ground still makes me smile when I think of their expressions. It was meant to be for all three of us.”

It will be some time before Gary’s moose is scored, if ever, for the record books. Though there’s no doubt it will qualify for Boone & Crockett. Clearly good things come to those who wait. And hunt hard.

Gary’s moose antlers measured 72 inches, making it the largest moose taken in 2022, or any other year, according to the author.

It’s The Trigger, Waldo

By Horace Gore

As a rifle shooter for many years, I’m a firm believer that the trigger of a rifle is one of the most important parts of the action. A good rifle with a “hard-to-pull” trigger is untenable in the hands of many hunters. Let’s discuss triggers, and what can be done with a 4- to 5-pound trigger in a storebought rifle.

To begin with, trigger adjustments are verboten in most gun shops. The liability associated with triggers is too much for most gunsmiths. However, good rifles today have adjustable triggers that can be made lighter by the gun owner. It has been my experience that factory rifles have hard trigger pull for liability protection. My last Winchester Model 70 had a 5-pound trigger out of the box. It now has a 2-pound trigger.

Experienced hunters know shooting a rifle out a blind window or from a pickup is much different than shooting from the bench rest. We have laughed many times at the thought of a shooter trying to put three holes the size of a quarter in a 100-yard target, and the same hunter being lucky to put three bullets in a 4-inch circle at a 100-yard deer or coyote.

The average hunter could use a 3-pound trigger very well, but I like a 2-pound trigger. I have adjusted more triggers than you can imagine, and I always use a good trigger pull gauge. Rifles with adjustable triggers have two screws: one for pull weight, and one for trigger slack. Both can be adjusted to give

you the exact trigger pull that you like best—usually 2 or 3 pounds.

The way you hunt, and the conditions where you hunt, make a difference in trigger pull. Most hunters going after dangerous game like a 3-pound trigger that has to be deliberately pulled when the lion or Cape buffalo is upon you. Texas deer hunters would do well with a 2- to 3-pound trigger, pulled by the bare hand.

Take my advice and take your glove off in cold weather. It’s difficult to tell how much pressure you’re putting on a trigger with a gloved hand. And a misfired first shot may be the only one you will get!

Hunters have different preferences about trigger slack. Some like to pull the trigger a bit until they feel pressure, and then finish firing the gun. Some—like me—prefer no slack in the trigger pull. Whatever your choice is, it can be accomplished with an adjustable trigger. So, if you have a good rifle with a bad trigger, you can do something about it. A good 2-pound trigger has meant a lot to me when the chips were down.

A good rifle has everything that works together: a stock that fits; a barrel that is balanced; a scope that is set well for sighting; and a trigger that fires the gun at the right moment. A deer hunter needs them all.

Jon (right) with his brother Ric with their trophy elk taken on their West Texas ranch several years ago.

The day began much the same as many other hunting days at the Fox Canyon Ranch lodge in West Texas, with an early alarm ringing at 4:40 a.m. My brother Ric and I scrambled to get dressed and ready in the dark, which wasn’t much of a difficult task, considering we had already packed and strapped most of what we needed on the back of two four-wheelers. This was the elk rut, and we had big plans. In an attempt to show at least a little respect for the other “hunters” in the cabin, we made as little noise as possible.

Ric and I checked our gear one last time and went through our checklist before pointing the four-wheelers up the mountain for the long, cold, and dark trip ahead. We planned to stay at least one night on top of the mountain, so we took plenty of food and a tent for the trip. From what we heard later, not a creature stirred in the lodge after we left until well after 10 a.m. We packed two different weapons and had a team plan for this trip.

If we could bring a bull inside of 150 yards, I would attempt a shot with my pistol, a Remington XP 100 in 7mm BR caliber. This little pistol is just as accurate as any rifle I own at 100 yards, and I felt very confident with it up to a certain distance. Ric was on backup with a 7mm Mag. rifle, just in case I needed a follow-up shot, or if we couldn’t get a bull to come close enough for a pistol shot. We ditched the ATVs in the usual spot and topped out on foot just in time to catch one of those legendary mountain sunrises in the distance.

As daylight came, Ric made the first bugle call to try and locate some elk. We got three responses. We became almost giddy as we realized that right off the bat, we were in business.

We carefully analyzed the tone of the three different bulls and decided the low-pitched, raspy grunter nearest to us was likely the older bull in the area. For the next two hours, we gingerly crept to a vantage point looking over Mud Springs to an opening where we thought our bull might make his first showing. Putting away the bugle in favor of a smaller cow call, the “Hootchie Mama,” I kept the old guy answering us for the better part of the morning. We finally spotted him in the deep cat-claw brush that had grown in thicker than anyone had ever seen that year.

The bull stood 500 yards away and had three cows with him. But judging by the way he answered that Hootchie Mama call every time, this guy was looking hard to increase his harem. We stayed put on that spot

for over three hours, only catching occasional glimpses of any elk all the while. At one point, we finally convinced ourselves that he must have taken a different route around us and began packing our gear to intercept him.

As Ric stood up and began to walk away, I pulled the binoculars up one last time for a glance. I froze dead in my tracks as I tried to silently grab behind for Ric’s arm. The bull headed right for us, coming over a slight hill, revealing only the slight tips of his huge antlers. I succeeded in getting Ric’s attention without making a sound and gave him the signal to get a gun rest and take off the safety.

The bull was about 225 yards and possibly closing, so using the pistol was too risky and we needed to take any opportunity we could get at this point. Ric slipped off his backpack faster than you can imagine and had a prone rest across his jacket in under a second. With the safety off, I trained my eyes through the binos, not daring to move even an inch in fear of spooking this elk. The bull walked directly towards us, closing to just under 200 yards, but the only shot possible from this high vantage point would be straight down, right between the antlers and through the spine.

Neither of us wanted to risk this shot, so we waited without taking a breath for what seemed like an eternity, though it probably lasted about 6 minutes. Finally, the bull turned just enough for a perfect broadside shot and without hesitation—

Shooting the elk was the easy part. Packing it out and bringing it down the mountain proved quite challenging.

BOOM! Ric’s shot rang out through the canyon. In horror, I watched as the big bull didn’t even flinch.

Panicked thoughts of a scope being bounced around and possibly damaged made me grab for my pistol. Ric managed to get off two more shots in less than 3 seconds. As I began to steady my aim, a comforting sight of a perfectly placed bullet hole draining blood from his lungs appeared in my scope. I pulled the trigger on the pistol just in time to see the big guy go down, only a couple of steps from his initial position. After catching our breath and a few high fives, we made our way down to see just what we had taken down. To our surprise and delight, we found a monster 7x7 lying there with three different bullet holes in him.

With the fun work done, the hard part had just begun. The temperature had reached the high 50s by the early afternoon and we knew we had to work fast to keep any meat from this elk. His massive body was so cumbersome, we had to use the four-wheelers to roll him over and begin the field dressing job, because the big guy found his final resting place on top of an enormous cactus. It took the two of us about 3 hours to get him caped out and pull as much meat as we could fit into the coolers we had brought.

We ditched the food that would’ve been dinner, in favor of saving more elk meat to take home. Once we strapped the massive head to the front end of one four-wheeler and packed the backs of each with full coolers, we knew the only chance of saving any meat was getting back to the lodge without stopping. But we made one brief stop to get a quick cell phone call and grab a sandwich. I managed to get one call out to my friend George Siddons and when he picked up the phone, I simply said, “George, we got him!”

George, in bed in Fort Worth with an injured back and unable to make the trip this year, knew instantly what I meant, and then managed to get word to the boys at the lodge that we’d be back later in the evening and to wait up. The trip, which took us only 45 minutes on the way there, took 2½ hours on the return, as switchback turns and hills were navigated with the added difficulty of 14 sharp points bouncing uncontrollably right in front of my face. With one hand on the rack to keep it in check, while operating the throttle on the right handlebar with the other, we made our way down the treacherous road as a light rain began to fall as darkness loomed. We finally returned to the lodge around 10 p.m.

Shouts and screams infectiously spread to every single man, as we all felt victorious in finally bagging a really big trophy elk from our own ranch. The rain had been falling all day on this side of the ranch, and no other hunters got even as far as the driveway on that drizzly day. Ric and I had managed to get to the far back corner

of the ranch, bag a monster, clean him and get back, just as the rain increased its intensity. Cold, wet, hungry and tired, we got some elk tenderloin on the fire and imbibed as we told and retold the story late into the night, before collapsing into bed. The big bull finally measured and scored 385½ inches and was estimated at 10 years old. He now hangs in the dining room at Bonnell’s Restaurant. Few people believe us when we tell them we shot a record book bull, by any standards, in the only state with wild elk but without a record book. We’ve been accused of shooting a high fence animal and many other things, but we know the truth. We know this was a clean kill, hard-earned, and no one will ever take away the memory of that perfect day. When the taxidermist asked how in the world we found such an old bull, I replied, “They die of old age where we hunt.”

The elk on the wall at Bonnell’s Restaurant.

That’s The Worst Hunt I’ve Ever Been On

By Gary Robertson

Because Brain Hawkins is a pretty good cameraman and producer of the TV show, “CARNIVORE,” we have hunted together more times than I can remember. On more than one occasion when the hunt was a little slower than we expected, Brian would make the comment, “This is the worst hunt I’ve ever been on.” The first time he ever made the comment, I was taken aback but now I realize that’s

just Hawkins being Hawkins, probing to see what sort of comeback he would get.

While most all of the articles in this Journal are accounts of successful deer hunts, not all hunts end the way we hoped they would. While I hunt deer and turkey, I’m first and foremost a predator caller and your chances of success are much less predictable. After 60 years of hunting and

supposedly being somewhat of a hunting professional, I have experienced many slow hunts.

Anyone who claims to be a predator hunter and says they have never had a slow hunt is lying to you. While the weather and moon phases can influence all types of hunting, many other factors affect predator hunting. Here are just a few of the reasons that might cause you to experience the worst hunt you have ever been on.

Without a doubt, weather has the most influence on the success or failure of a hunt. Obviously, rain keeps the hunter indoors but also causes the predators to seek shelter where they can stay reasonably dry until the rain passes. This is especially true with cats because they simply do not like to hunt when moisture is falling in the form of rain. Bobcats and lions will hunt in a light snowfall and stay dry by simply shaking off from time to time.

Coyotes on the other hand, will hunt and are very responsive to calling when it’s foggy or misty. I think this is due to the fact that winds are generally low in a fog and scenting conditions are excellent with the increased moisture. Coyotes feed with their nose while felines depend upon their vision and hearing when feeding. Both senses are affected in a light rain or heavy snow.

Wind is a killer when trying to call predators. I have discovered critters respond well in South Texas until winds exceed 10 mph. The winds just don’t blow there as they do on the lower plains of North Texas or the Panhandle. Fortunately, coyotes are accustomed to wind in those parts of Texas so coyotes are more tolerant and will respond until wind velocity exceeds 20 miles per hour.

When calling in the Panhandle, New Mexico and Arizona, the prevailing winds come from the west, and they increase as the temperatures rise throughout the day. Skies are generally clear so you’ll need to set up with the sun over your shoulder to increase your visibility and reduce the responding critter’s vision. Calling with the wind at your back will greatly decrease your success.

In South Texas, the winds blow from the southeast and rarely change from the west as the day warms. Winds are generally calm most mornings and are rarely a factor. As the day warms, the winds increase from the southeast, which aid

Here’s a photo of an old female coyote the author killed. Luckily, he sat down close to where she was hunting, as she was there in less than a minute.

Author photos

the hunter on bright, sunshiny days.

Then there’s barometric pressure. Here’s a subject that has been debated for many years. Is calling better when the pressure is high or when it’s low?

While I do not see barometric pressure affecting my calling success with felines, the same is not true with coyotes. As previously stated, coyotes feed with their noses. If the pressure is low, winds are generally calm and the pressure will hold the scent closer to the ground, improving their scenting/hunting ability. If the coyote feels that hunting conditions are good, he is more likely to respond to calling.

Moon phases are important. I just returned from West Texas where Steve and I tried to call on a beautiful ranch under a full moon. If you have not experienced a full moon in the Big Bend region, you might have difficulty imagining just how well you can see in this arid climate.

The ranch was covered with rodents of

all kinds, including kangaroo rats. The coyotes were feeding all night under the full moon and laying up after daylight until about 5 p.m. when they would get up and hunt again. We called three mornings and called only one coyote while most of the evening stands produced feeding critters.

Winter is the best season of the year to call predators. Not only are the critters burning more calories to stay warm and are therefore hungrier, but there is also much less vegetation on the trees and brush, making visibility much better. Spring is the worst time to call coyotes. Not only is food more readily available and brush leafing out, this is also the time when coyotes are denning and have their young.

Both the female and the male tend the youngsters and both parents will bring food to the den after six to eight weeks. Perhaps it’s just Mother Nature’s way of perpetuating the species because they

don’t travel far from the den and are extra cautious. Sometime in June when the pups begin to venture out of the den and depend more on hard food than mother’s milk, the coyotes become somewhat easier to call.

Food availability is important in calling. Predators are much easier to trick when their bellies are empty. Years ago, I hunted on a ranch in South Texas where they had aerially eradicated hundreds of wild hogs the week before. While coyote tracks and scat with pig hair was up and down all of the ranch roads, the coyotes totally ignored my calling. I moved to a ranch about 10 miles away and while there was less sign, most every stand had a coyote—sometimes more than one.

A good coyote hunter can come up with lots of excuses for why a hunt was so slow. If you want to avoid going on the worst hunt you’ve ever been on, try scheduling the hunt when many of these factors are not working against you.

Here’s a full moon in West Texas that the author battled. Notice how the mountains are lit up in the distance.

The Progression of Women in the Hunt

By Judy Jurek

“We don’t allow no skirts on our lease. Sorry, Honey,” said the man on the phone before promptly hanging up.

“Women and kids are only allowed Thanksgiving and right at Christmas when school’s out. They stay in camp and don’t disturb the men hunting.”

“You hunt? Oh, Sugar, I can’t believe that. I don’t know any girl hunters. Your husband’s welcome but we don’t want women in camp. That’s why WE HUNT—to get away from home!”

These quotes, and more, were actual comments I encountered in the mid-to-late 1970s while scouting for potential hunting leases for me and my husband. I wasn’t offended. People back then weren’t politically correct. I appreciated their honesty. If I wasn’t welcome, John wasn’t going without me.

Only a handful of hunting leases with women hunters existed. I’d grown up going to some with my parents. Although I didn’t actually hunt as a kid, many times I sat with someone as their extra eyes and ears. I knew how to clean and process a deer before I ever killed one at age 19 with my mother’s .300 Savage—after I’d married.

John, his dad, and other men day hunted a Jackson County ranch. No blinds, no feeders. You walked to wherever you thought would make a good hunting spot. I had to meet the owner to prove myself before being allowed to hunt. He’d give me one chance. It was a grand morale boost when I killed the only deer on my inaugural hunt.

Kate Waldrop took to hunting with exuberance, becoming quite skillful with a variety of firearms and knives.

I remember three women attending my first Hunters Extravaganza: Jenny Crowder (founder Jerry Johnston’s Girl Friday), me, and one other female. A man asked why I was there. After telling him I was a hunter, he let out a big “Hrrrumpft!” while shaking his head in disbelief.

Slowly, things began to change. Our first deer lease consisted of five couples, and all the women hunted. It was a memorable group, and we’ve remained good friends over the years. The youngsters, now parents and even grandparents themselves, recall many lasting impressions, such as John catching and barbequing an armadillo just for the kids.

Few women entered a buck in the small, local deer contests. However, the Muy Grande competition as well as the original Hunter’s Hotline magazine helped accentuate women hunting. As new deer contests appeared, and the magazine transformed into The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, more females began joining the hunting ranks.

During many deer seasons, I was often the only woman on a lease. I didn’t mind. Along the way, many men asked John how he found a woman like me. I’d encourage them to bring their spouse, girlfriend, or daughter along, and we would introduce them slowly to shooting, gun safety, and blood and guts. Other male members were asked to tone down rude, crude behavior, at least for the initial visit or two.

Female hunters long ago had to use gear and wear

clothes made for men. Insulated coveralls and hunting boots did not fit properly, but I made the most of what I had, while enduring various comments on my appearance. Looking back, we can laugh now, but sometimes it wasn’t so funny.

Today, manufacturers have totally embraced lady hunters. Firearms, archery equipment, footwear, and most importantly clothing are made with every size huntress in mind. What an accomplishment! Ladies of all ages hunting today have luxury compared to what I began with some 50 years ago.

Looking back, the few women hunters long ago often began hunting with relatives. In today’s hunting world, many people are introduced by someone other than family. The numerous television shows have opened doors to others never exposed to hunting by anyone, and creating a desire to learn how.

Another change in the outdoor world has been lady game wardens. Game law enforcement had long been an exclusive men’s club. In 1979, Stacy Bishop became the first female graduate in Texas’ 33rd Game Warden Academy, and now female game wardens are scattered across the state.

Many ladies of all ages enjoy wildlife and hunting but will never, ever shoot. Nothing’s wrong with that. Men should have patience and not be surprised if one day a female says, “I’m ready to hunt and kill (something) myself.” We’ve been hunters since time began, so relish and embrace it.

Laura Lee Sanders is in a 4-H club that has shooting instruction and teams.

Sanee Wolter (left) accepted the author’s guidance to tag and process her first deer in 1984.

Blue Boy

A pointer too stubborn for any shock collar

By Ralph Winingham

Back in the days when the outdoor page was the first stop for a majority of newspaper readers, San Antonio Express-News Outdoor Editor Dan Klepper excelled as a master wordsmith. The tales he crafted, both those based on fact or pulled from the depths of his fertile imagination, were a delight to read in black and white. Old Dan, who lost his battle with cancer in 1993, was also adept at entertaining camp compadres with a yarn or two based upon his extensive experience in the field.

One of these yarns involved a friend’s faithful four-footed hunting companion that Old Dan shared with his campmates and was a featured presentation in his outdoorsman’s notebook called “The 13th Month,” published in 1973.

This author makes it a point to re-read “The 13th Month” at least once a year and highly recommends the book to anyone who savors good tales about the wonderful world of hunting, fishing and other

outdoor endeavors. Here are excerpts from Old Dan’s dog tale that he called “Bird Hunting with Blue Boy”:

It was with deep regret that I learned of Blue Boy’s death. I liked that dog. I probably wouldn’t have liked him if he had been mine, because I can’t stand stubbornness in an animal. But since he wasn’t mine, I managed to tolerate, even enjoy, the trait.

Besides, I like to watch Mutt Perkins squirm whenever he turned the big lemon and white pointer out. Mutt refused to admit Blue Boy was hardheaded. Independent. That was the way he described him . . .

Blue Boy wouldn’t pay any more attention to a whistle than he did a hearty shout or hand signal. The dog was so independent that Mutt learned to be an expert bird finder and retriever all by himself. In one respect, it’s a good thing he did. When Blue Boy retrieved, which wasn’t too often, he ate every third bird. . .

Blue Boy usually ranged so far into the adjoining pasture that we could hunt a field quite thoroughly without inter-

ference from the dog, and we could watch him flush birds, pinpoint spots they went down, then try to kick them up on the way back to the car. Blue Boy wouldn’t hold worth a hoot, and this, along with the position of the dog’s tail, bothered Mutt. He invested $89.95 in a rebuilt electronic training collar to try to break Blue Boy’s flushing habit.

It was a cold, wet, foreboding day when he strapped the collar on Blue Boy and got set to teach him a lesson or two about obedience. The dog came down on a quick point on the windmill covey, a bunch of dependable bobwhites which nearly always could be found near a mill on Mutt’s lease.

The point didn’t last long. Blue Boy jumped the birds. Mutt punched the button on the remote-control unit, and the resulting shock should have turned Blue Boy for a flip. It didn’t even slow him down.

The same thing happened on the next covey. The dog showed no visible effects when Mutt punched the button.

“That outfit isn’t working,” I told him. “That’s what you get when you go cheap. You thought you were getting a bargain when you bought a rebuilt unit. Instead, you got bilked.”

We managed to catch the dog later that morning to remove the collar and check it.

“Here, give me that,” I said. I strapped it tightly to my thigh and told Mutt to push the button. He did. Whooeeee!

The jolt of electricity went from my thigh to the wet ground, made a U turn and zoomed up my spine to singe the hair on the back of my neck. I was clawing at the buckle to remove the collar when Mutt giggled and hit the button again. I had to threaten to shoot him before he gave me time to shuck my leg out of that devilish contraption.

We put it back on Blue Boy’s neck, tied the rawboned dog on a long rope and worked along the edge of a maize field where we had found birds earlier in the season. I carried the remote-control unit, and as soon as Blue Boy went on point, Mutt planted both feet firmly on the rope. He wanted to be able to catch Blue Boy in a hurry in case the collar “failed”

again.

I eased forward to flush the birds, but I didn’t get very far. Blue Boy broke point. I hit the button. The dog hit the end of the rope. And Mutt hit the ground like a sack of wet mush as his feet were jerked from beneath him.

“What happened?” he asked as he slowly got to his feet. I told him, but he didn’t want to believe me. The collar had worked, but the stubborn dog had gritted his teeth and bowed his neck against the electrical jolt.

Mutt and Blue Boy moved away a few months later and began bothering birds in the north part of the state. But we keep in touch. Mutt called the other night to tell me that Blue Boy had died. Old age, Mutt figured. He just went to sleep and didn’t wake up.”

Dan Klepper was outdoor editor of the San Antonio Express-News from 1959 until his death on Dec. 4, 1993. He was recognized as a legendary writer, photographer and fearless champion of the great outdoors. Sharing tales and an adult beverage or two around a campfire with his friends was his particular passion. Those of us who he took into his confidence are blessed to have known him.

Illustration of Dan Klepper on the back of his book.

Relying on a well-trained canine such as this retriever posing with a morning’s bag of quail he expertly found and brought back to his hunter was a wonderful experience completely unlike the tale of Blue Boy.

The history of Arizona’s bighorn sheep is a classic story of successful conservation efforts to restore and conserve a native southwestern icon. Early indigenous inhabitants of the Southwest left evidence they were bighorn sheep enthusiasts in the petroglyph images they pecked into rocks depicting bighorn sheep and their hunts for them. With European expansion through the Southwest, bighorn sheep were shot and eaten along with all the other edible big game to fuel a growing nation. Like many other parts of North America, Arizona’s bighorn sheep populations faced significant declines from many factors in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Unregulated hunting of all big game species caused massive declines, but for bighorn sheep, the most serious impact was probably the grazing competition and diseases brought by domestic sheep and goats. The “Old World” diseases carried, and tolerated, by domestic sheep were foreign to wild North American sheep and exposure to them was devastating to our

native sheep populations.

As many wildlife populations declined, forward-thinking people took action to save them. As early as 1893, the Arizona territorial government passed a five-year ban on bighorn sheep hunting in the state. Four years later they amended the game laws to close the season permanently until and unless populations recovered enough for the season to be open again.

Protection, then conservation

We often pit “preservation” against “conservation” as if we have to choose between the two, or we talk about preservation as if it were a bad thing. But, in the early years of saving North America’s wildlife from unregulated killing, the first thing we had to do is stop the hemorrhaging (literally). By preserving what we had, we could then turn our efforts to conservation to reverse the negative trends and bring them back.

Recognizing the need for protection, in 1939 Arizona established the Kofa Game Range with the primary purpose of pro -

With considerable effort, bighorn sheep were brought back from the brink of extinction.

tecting bighorn sheep. This game range became the focal point of bighorn sheep restoration in Arizona and continues in that role after becoming the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in 1976. Despite these efforts, the bighorn sheep populations continued to decline because protection alone doesn’t work very well in the long term. Our system of conservation in North America was built on a model where we use the resource sustainably and that gives everyone a vested interest in wildlife and their habitat. Those who would like the opportunity to hunt bighorn someday strive to do everything they can to promote more of them and make sure their populations are doing well.

Transition from saving to sustainable use

Preservation served us well at the very beginning, but eventually we had to move on to research, habitat protection and enhancement, and generating funding for monitoring and conservation. In 1950, an Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) biologist named John Russo began a six-year investigation of Arizona’s bighorns and published his findings in a book titled “The Desert Bighorn Sheep in Arizona.” This work was the catalyst for all the active bighorn sheep restoration in Arizona that would follow. Arizona desert bighorn sheep hunting seasons resumed in 1953 which sparked a renewed interest in this species.

Armed with the information gathered by John Russo, the AZGFD started to translocate sheep from robust populations to areas where they had disappeared or needed a boost. The Kofa Game Range became a focal point for population recovery efforts as the department began to translocate bighorn sheep from the Kofa Mountains to other areas where populations had declined or disappeared. These translocations began with an agreement in 1955 between AZGFD and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The agreement: Texas would pay for the translocation of 50 sheep captured on the Kofa Game Range and half of those would go to the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area in Texas and the other half to Aravaipa Canyon in southeastern Arizona. It took from 1957 through 1959 to capture the sheep for Black Gap WMA before sheep were sent to Aravaipa Canyon and other suitable habitat within Arizona.

Translocations for population restoration and enhancement continue to the current day with sheep being moved from abundant populations to vacant historical habitat or currently occupied habitat that could use a boost in numbers. Today, all important bighorn habitat in Arizona is occupied thanks to 140 translocations involving 2,190 animals. Of those total animals moved, 128 were moved into Arizona, 306 were moved out, and 1,756 translocated to other areas within the state.

Alongside translocation efforts, AZGFD conducted extensive research on bighorn sheep behavior, movements, habitat re-

Arizona Game and Fish Department has conducted 140 translocations since 1957, moving 2,190 individual sheep to new areas. AZGFD

Trophy Hunters

quirements, mortality factors, disease exposure, and population dynamics. This knowledge helps inform management strategies, including habitat improvement, predator control, and disease prevention measures. AZGFD has focused on improving and expanding suitable habitat for bighorn sheep by adding water development projects to provide reliable water sources, reducing competition from livestock grazing, and addressing habitat fragmentation issues.

Successful bighorn sheep restoration and management in Arizona relies on collaboration among many stakeholders. State agencies, federal agencies, land management agencies, tribal nations, and conservation groups work together to protect and restore bighorn sheep populations. The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS) was formed in 1967 with the sole purpose of conservation and population enhancement of bighorn sheep in Arizona. The ADBSS has been a critical partner in restoring and properly managing wild sheep in Arizona for more than a half century.

Rocky Mountain sheep

Arizona is famous for its desert bighorn found in the western two-thirds of the state, but Rocky Mountain bighorns also call Arizona home. “Rockies” are found in the steep canyon walls of several eastern rivers near the state border with New Mexico. The true history of what type of bighorn sheep we had where is unclear, but we have recognizable Rocky Mountain bighorn now as a result of translocations from Alberta to neighboring New Mexico in the 1960s. This small nucleus of bighorns increased in number and distribution,

spreading southwest into Arizona along the rugged cliffs lining the San Francisco, Blue, Gila rivers and the Eagle Creek Drainage. A few more translocations from Colorado in 1979-95 has resulted in a current population of more than 1,000 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in eastern Arizona.

Ongoing conservation efforts

The restoration of bighorn sheep in Arizona has been one of the great wildlife management success stories. AZGFD remains committed to bighorn sheep conservation and conducts surveys on a three-year cycle to assess population abundance, age classes, ram-ewe ratios, and distribution. Adaptive management approaches ensure that conservation efforts can be adjusted with changing population and habitat conditions. Each year, three tags are auctioned or raffled to raise money for bighorn sheep. A single bighorn permit has been auctioned for as much as $303,000, with all of that money used solely for bighorn sheep management and research. These tags and the 150 or so public permits are very conservative and this limited ram-only hunting has no effect on the population. The scientifically guided sustainable harvest of these rams has built and maintained an incredible army of supporters and constituents who work very hard on behalf of wild sheep in the state and elsewhere.

Thanks to these concerted conservation efforts, bighorn sheep populations have made a significant recovery in Arizona and throughout their range. Perhaps not surprising, the interest garnered from hunting this southwestern icon is the fuel that drove its restoration and continued conservation.

Translocated bighorn sheep are generally enthusiastic about their new homes.

A total of 306 bighorn sheep have been translocated out of Arizona to help restore herds in other states, including Texas.

AZGFD p hoto

By Brandon Ray

Prepare now for success ARE YOU READY?

Opening day is close. There’s a lot to do to be ready. It starts with your bow rig, but blinds need to be set, shooting lanes trimmed, and more. Follow this list so success is no accident.

Bow rig

According to the Pope & Young Club’s 31st Statistical Summary Booklet, 75% of record-class whitetails entered during that scoring period were shot at 29 yards or less. My friend and Texas bowhunting legend, Ronnie Parsons, has tagged more than 50 Texas bucks. Most of those with P&Y-class racks. Parsons reports that all those bucks were taken at 25 yards or less. My experience has been similar. Out of 32 P&Y-class whitetails I’ve entered, only four were shot from 3036 yards. All the rest were arrowed at 25 yards or less.

For close range deer, a simple rig is best. I prefer a compound drawing 60 pounds with a short stabilizer, drop-away rest, single pin sight and a ¼-inch peep sight. I set the single pin for 20 yards, practice from 10-30 so I know where to hold, and rarely move it during whitetail season. Arrows are fletched, weighed for consistency on

a grain scale and spun for straightness. I start each season with two dozen perfect arrows. Each one is numbered and shot on the range to confirm accuracy.

Real practice

Once my rig is finely tuned and sighted in, I switch from shooting at bullseyes on targets to lifelike 3-D deer targets. The realistic foam makes you pick a spot behind the shoulder, not a dot to focus on, just like on a real hunt. Delta/McKenzie offers a full range of life-

Brandon with the big Panhandle buck he arrowed in 2019. The hunt for this buck is detailed at the end of the article.

like targets ranging in size from javelina to elk. Practicing on the same lifelike critter you plan to hunt is smart.

I practice strictly with broadheadtipped arrows. Nothing builds confidence like shooting the exact arrow you will fire at a big buck. Yes, broadheads tear up targets and yes it can get expensive, but this is a critical step in preparation. Replace the blades or sharpen them and you are ready to hunt. Don’t believe manufacturers when they say their broadheads fly just like field points. Shoot for yourself and know for sure! My go-to broadheads in recent years have been 100-grain fixed blades from brands like Slick Trick, Iron Will and Wasp.

Rare is the opportunity at a big buck where you stand up, feet shoulder width apart and take a relaxed shot. Practice shooting from your knees, seated in a chair or from a tripod stand. If you can’t draw the bow in one fluid, smooth motion, turn the poundage down. I often set a pop-up blind on my target range to simulate a real shot. A ladder to the flat roof of a short, shed building, giving me a slightly

A 3-D deer target is excellent practice for the real thing. The realistic foam makes you pick a spot behind the shoulder.

elevated shot like from a tripod setup, likewise duplicating the real deal. Practice at first and last light, the times most likely to get a shot at a mature buck. Better to find out now if you need a bigger peep sight to see your pins clearly than when you’re at full draw on a Booner!

Scouting

August 1 has always been my personal deadline for serious scouting efforts to begin. Feeders should be filled and batteries replaced. Spray wasp nests in permanent blinds, cut firewood for camp and start getting ground blinds out of the barn. A soft blanket or pad of carpet on the floor of each blind keeps dust to a minimum and keeps feet quiet. Use pruners to trim overgrown mesquites that block clear shooting lanes.

Bucks have enough antler growth by early August to distinguish the dinks from the big boys. I set trail cameras at windmills and feeders. Bucks are often in bachelor groups in August and September, meaning you can take inventory in one area over water or feed.

I keep a detailed hit list. It starts at the end of one deer season, a survivor’s list of who to look for come next season. I include details like the buck’s rack dimensions, antler oddities like kickers, estimated age, what time of year he was most visible and anything else noteworthy. When I start getting trail camera images in August and September, I look for distinct characteristics on each buck. Details like a double throat patch, torn ear, facial scar or other detail. Since antlers change year to year, I try to find other unique features other than the rack to identify a buck.

Trail cameras don’t tell the whole story. Do some long-range scouting with a spotting scope. Late in the evening, I watch from a bluff or mesa overlooking a blind setup. I’m one-half to 1 mile away, so the deer don’t know they are being watched. Even if a big buck has been confirmed at a specific location by

trail camera, scouting through a scope tells me where he comes from and where he beds.

Being ready pays off

I remember a fine Panhandle buck from 2019. He was on the trail camera in August almost daily. I recognized him from the year before, an odd, over-sized left antler and one small notch in his ear confirmed his identity. He grew from the previous year, now carrying almost 160 inches of antler. In September, when the velvet came off, he was less predictable and moving mostly in the dark, but I knew where he lived from my scouting. I set up the blind in late August and I stayed out of that area, except for occasional visits, always at midday, to check the trail camera. My bow rig was tuned to a cat’s whisker, and I was confident from practicing all summer.

The buck finally started to make daylight visits again in late October. The rut was gaining steam. On Nov. 6, with a cold drizzle falling from grey skies, he showed up trailing four does. He gave me a broadside shot at 15 yards at sunset. I was on my knees inside the pop-up blind at full draw, a shot I had rehearsed many times. My arrow flew true and I found the buck stone dead less than 100 yards away. It was no accident I got that buck. It pays to be ready!

Ronnie Parsons with one of his many Texas bucks. Parsons reports that all his bucks have been arrowed at 25 yards or less.

TEXAS DOVES COME FIRST

By The Old Dove Hunter

By treaty with Canada and Mexico, dove season opens Sept. 1 of each year. Seasons can be adjusted within the state, but not before Sept. 1. It’s a magic day for hunters—the first hunting season of the year. Dove hunters rush to get their license on Aug. 15, and start looking for good prices on shotgun shells. Some 400,000 doves hunters converge on fields and water holes each Fall to challenge the fast-flying, darting mourning dove.

Texas dove hunts come in four varieties—small groups of two to four hunters who go for an evening hunt; bigger groups of 15 to 25 hunters with their dogs, refreshments, and maybe some BBQ; and large groups of 50-75 hunters who hunt for a weekend, with all kinds of social garnishments. Then there are the big hunts like the Legends Dove Hunt of Abilene, where hundreds of hunters join to raise money for the children’s wing of the Hendrick Hospital. Another big event is the Lonesome Dove Fest of Karnes City for youth scholarships.

Dove hunters also come in about three varieties—those who get about six doves with a box of 25 shells; those who get the

limit with their 12 and 20 gauges; and those who carry dainty .410 and 28-gauge shotguns, and hardly ever miss a bird. I can remember four special dove hunts in Brownwood, Brackettville, Creedmoor, and Hondo. There are many others, but these four stand out in my memory. I like to shoot shotguns, and the first season of the year, with fast flying doves has always been special.

Brownwood is a good place to hunt doves. The farmlands toward the west have good feed for doves, which come east for water and roosting sites. Several ranches have good roosting brush and water, and the last hours before sunset show a constant flight of doves coming to the Texas Tank, where we enjoyed many hunts. Marvin Faulks at the Yellow Wagon Café would cook up a big batch of doves with onion rings, cream gravy and rolls. What a treat!

When I worked in the Austin office, a planeload of Louisiana wildlife executives came for a business visit, and I was asked to take them on a Texas dove hunt. I furnished guns and shells, and met them at the Brownwood airport. It’s well-known Loui-

siana hunters don’t bother with bag limits, so we just gathered the birds from the hunters, and they kept shooting until all the shells were gone.

Murph Bledsoe, an oil lease executive in Houston, leased thousands of acres of hunting land in South Texas, and then sub-leased to hunting parties. Murph always saved some good deer and dove hunts for friends, and we enjoyed many memorable hunts with Murph. One of Murph’s annual hunts took place at Brackettville, where he had access to two barracks buildings on old Fort Clark. Murph would lease a ranch for dove hunting, and invite his crew of “lease hounds,” along with several friends. We met annually for a weekend of hunting and partying. I never did count the crowd, but I helped cook hundreds of doves for the Sunday brunch, and we fed a lot of people.

Jerry Johnston bought a white-wing dove hunt near Hondo, and invited three or four of us to go with him. A lot of giant sunflowers were farmed around Hondo, and white-winged doves came to the fields by the thousands, returning to roost on the golf course. This was one of my few hunts for nothing

but white-wings, and I learned a lot. They feed on the sunflowers and get a craw full of seed, so their flight back to the roost is slow and steady—easy shooting. I got my limit with the 20-gauge early in the evening. The next morning was different because the birds were lighter and faster, and it took more shells to get a limit of birds.

Bobby Schmidt of Neiderwald has an annual dove hunt at one of his places near Creedmoor. Bobby provides sunflower and milo on a small acreage that has concentrations of both mourning and white-wing doves. Bobby seems to have a lot of friends when dove season opens. “I see people during the dove hunts that I never see again until the next dove season,” he says with a laugh. I have made many of Bobby’s hunts, both at Creedmoor and Pilot Knob, with celebs such as former Gov. Rick Perry and Gen. Leroy Sisco.

Texas hunters rest their laurels on deer and dove hunting. There are other hunts like exotics, varmints, turkey, ducks, with a few squirrel hunts thrown in. But for wing shooting, doves come first.

YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 pound chopped or cubed venison

• 2 tablespoons oil (I suggest bacon grease)

• 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste

• 1 can (15 ounces) ranch-style beans

• 2 cups shredded longhorn cheese

KLEPPER’S NO JOKE MEAT CASSEROLE

Editor’s Note: Ralph Winingham’s friend, the late Dan Klepper, San Antonio Express-News outdoor editor for 30 years, shared the following recipe with him.

DIRECTIONS

Heat oil over medium heat in a large castiron skillet and brown venison. (Feel free to sprinkle the meat with your seasonings of choice to kick up the flavor a notch). Stir in tomato paste. Place half of the meat mixture in the bottom of a casserole dish or Dutch oven. Add a layer (about ½ can) of beans and top with a layer of cheese. Repeat with another layer of meat, then beans and then cheese. Cover dish or Dutch oven and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with corn chips for dipping. —

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 second outdoor cookbook, “The Revenge of Old Boots & Bacon Grease.” 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.

SEPTEMBER 2023

OCTOBER 2023

SEPTEMBER

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29 30 31

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.

Oct 14

OCTOBER

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Oct 06

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6 Robert Moseley Palestine, TX

7 Allan G. Willis Caldwell, TX

CAPP CURRY: whitetail six-point (first buck) taken 12/23/22 in Kerr County.

GEAR: 7mm-08.

OUTFITTER: Geggy. (Y.O. Ranch)

ELRYK NIETO: whitetail nine-point (first buck) taken late December 2022 in La Salle County.

GEAR: rifle.

OUTFITTER: family ranch.

MORGAN BARRETTO: whitetail eightpoint (first deer) taken 11/26/22 in Jim Wells County.

GEAR: Remington 700, .243 ammo, Leupold scope.

OUTFITTER: Papa and Dad.

PAXTON INGALLS: whitetail 10-point taken 12/18/22 in La Salle County.

GEAR: Savage Axis, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 4-12X Vortex Diamondback scope. OUTFITTER: Charco Marrano Ranch.

ROBERT RUIZ: javelina taken 2/15/23 in La Salle County.

GEAR: Winchester .22-250.

OUTFITTER: Callaghan Ranch.

GERALD GREEN: whitetail eight-point with 14-inch inside spread, taken 12/26/22 in Lampasas County.

GEAR: Savage rifle, Federal .30-06 ammo, Bushnell scope.

OUTFITTER: self.

JERRY VILLARREAL: whitetail ninepoint with 14½-inch inside spread taken 11/7/22 in Maverick County.

GEAR: Browning .270 A-bolt, 130-grain Hornady ammo, Redfield Tracker scope.

OUTFITTER: Hold Pasture.

MICAH GUERRERO: whitetail 10-point taken 12/3/22 in Throckmorton County.

GEAR: Savage MSR 10, .308 ammo, Vortex Viper HS 4-16X44 scope.

OUTFITTER: 192 Ranch.

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

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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:

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

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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.

THE PRECISION RIFLE for the serious hunter, because accuracy matters. Check out our rifle options at blackbrushprecisionrifles.com.

CEDAR CREEK CAMO – Own your own camo company. $30,000… First and Only Cedar Pattern. LETS TALK, Kris 210.772.0803. PRICED TO SELL FAST!!!

TRAPPER FOR HIRE. High-fence or no fence. Predator management is crucial for fawn survival. Call Bob 317-326-4670 for details.

GUIDED MANAGEMENT DEER HUNTS

Leifeste Ranch, Mason, Tx.Only Mature Deer Harvested. Lodging available upon request. Limited Trophies are available. For more info call Michael Freeman 512633-4924. Please leave a message/text.

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) 398-6090.

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. 713823-7139.

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.

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

VIC NIXON, REAL ESTATE BROKER for 45 years selling the Texas Hill Country. Ranches, small acreage, homes, STR’s, and other real estate in or around Fredericksburg, TX. Please call Vic Nixon 830-889-2325 or email: vic@ nixonrealestate.com.

C4 RANCH - WHITETAIL & Exotic Hunts. Cull, Management & Trophies up to 300”. Lodging & Meals. 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 830456-6061 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 325642-7596 SDWhitetails.com.

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. 713823-7139.

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

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

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.