Hurrah For Texas Brigades

Learning to measure antlers is but one aspect of cadets attending the North and South Texas Buckskin Brigades camps.

By Judy Jurek

Dr. Dale Rollins, a retired Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist, created the Texas Brigades with a single purpose: to educate youth about bobwhite quail. After 28 years and still working with the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, his zeal for this fine gamebird and all wildlife has not diminished one iota. “I’ve often said my Brigades odyssey mirrored Forrest Gump, when he got the urge to run across America,” Dr. Rollins said. “I had no idea back in 1994 (the same year “Forrest Gump” debuted) that our inaugural camp and effort at Krooked River Lodge would become so popular. I just felt like running! Along the way, we attracted lots of other passionate volunteers who wanted to expand this successful program.”

It didn’t take long for his original Bobwhite Brigade to grow into an educational series covering six focal areas and become known as the Texas Brigades. As 2021 ended, a remarkable 4,000 students have graduated from the Texas Brigade camps and programs. Today, their summer camps encompass conservation and stewardship topics on quail, white-tailed deer, black bass, waterfowl, ranching, and coastal species such as redfish.

What are the Brigade camps about? The purpose of the intense five-day camps is to instill leadership skills and knowl-

This logo has become a familiar sight around much of the Lone Star state. Started in 1993, the Texas Brigades is still going strong.

edge, combined with first-hand experience related to wildlife, fisheries, livestock, agriculture, and land stewardship. It also strives to produce conservation ambassadors for our state’s natural resources. Their motto is simple: “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.”

A separate, more concentrated program is their Wildlife Intensive Leadership Development (WILD). Applicants must have attended at least one Brigade camp. It’s for highly motivated young adults ages 18-23 with strong outdoor, wildlife, and natural resource conservation interests. Many WILD graduates have moved into wildlife or ranch-related careers.

Taylor Abshier is one such individual. In 2007, he attended a Buckskin Brigade. “It was a crash course on whitetails from anatomy to antler growth to habitat requirements,” he said. “It really opened the door, and my eyes, to new things.” In 2010 as a high school junior, he applied for and was accepted into WILD, which led to presenting a program to the state legislature.

Interning two summers at TPWD’s Chaparral and Justin Hurst Wildlife Management Areas also helped steer Taylor toward creating an outdoor photography avenue. With a Texas A&M-Kingsville degree in range and wildlife management, Abshier worked as a Welder Wildlife Foundation Conservation Educator, presenting wildlife conservation importance to K-12 grades.

Now beginning his sixth year as a Ducks Unlimited Regional Biologist, Abshier credits the Brigades, WILD, and TPWD with where he is today. “I wouldn’t have chosen this career without them. Texas Brigades is vital, educating the next generation youth on wildlife and all that’s related. Too bad every youngster can’t go through it.” Coming full circle this past July, Abshier served as a Waterfowl Brigade instructor.

In 2020, all but Ranch Brigades had to be cancelled due to COVID-19, but they came back strong in 2021 with waiting

Using telemetry, Bobwhite Brigade cadets zone in on a quail fitted with a radio collar to monitor its movements and range.

lists. New for 2022 is the addition of a second Ranch Brigade (South Texas), and Bobwhite and Buckskin Brigades will have two camps each. There will now be nine total camps including Bass, Waterfowl, and Coastal.

Natalie Wolff serves as the executive director of Texas Brigades. It’s a tough job, but this lady is quite capable of handling it. Her enthusiasm mirrors Dr. Rollins’, as she stated, “I am consistently humbled to work daily with this organization’s volunteers and staff to carry Dr. Rollins’ torch. His vision for Bobwhite Brigade was so clear nearly 30 years ago that we still use it today.”

It’s been said imitation is the best form of flattery. Over the years, several states tried following the Texas Brigades format. “To my knowledge only Pennsylvania has a sustainable version,” Dr. Rollins said. “The states that tried and failed didn’t set the bar high enough. They just held ‘another summer camp.’ I believe the rigor and pace of our camps is what attracts both youth and adult volunteers.”

Wolff concurred, adding, “It takes special, mentally prepared people to volunteer at Brigade camps, especially for five days! The camps don’t just happen. Volunteers and instructors work to push kids outside their comfort, speaking, and educational boundaries in a limited amount of time. They must push their own boundaries, too. The bar stays very high at a Brigade camp.”

A Brigade camp is not your average camp by any means. Events follow a tight schedule from dawn to nearly midnight. Inclement weather outdoors may change things, but backup plans are always in place. Attendees are divided into groups with each given a name related to that camp’s main species such as coveys, flocks, herds, or schools. They participate in team competitions and individual challenges. Cell phones are discouraged and rarely used with few exceptions.

Part of Brigade leadership strategy is formation marching while reciting cadences. It’s a form of exercise as well as learning discipline. Each cadet receives a coal lump their first day pinned to their shirt along with a Silver Bullet or Gold Hook, which is a famous quote that must be memorized. An official name tag is received by delivering their Silver Bullet or Gold Hook in front of everyone as it builds confidence in public speaking.

The young students learn about their Brigade theme specie, inside and

Right: Each Brigades features a necropsy (dissection) of the camp’s charismatic species for cadets to learn and understand everything about that subject. In this photo, cadets dissect a quail.

out, as well as their related habitat. Species necropsy (dissection) provides visual and hands on instruction about anatomy, body part functions, and the importance of each. Plant identification and their value is but one aspect along with live handling of birds, animals, fish and many other things species related.

Today, many people are totally unaware that quality of life depends on our natural environment. Our coastlines, rivers, clean air and water endure, thanks to healthy ranchlands, parklands, agriculture, and preservation of our natural resources. Texas Brigades instills the importance and value of such in our leaders of tomorrow, helping them make wise decisions for future generations.

Dr. Rollins and Wolff agree that one-third to more than half of Brigade graduates return to attend other Brigade camps, become assistant leaders (and earn college scholarships), and even become instructors and camp coordinators. The camps truly have impact on their lives and career choices.

Editor’s Note: See page 122 to read more about the Texas Brigades.

Celebrate the Sacred Flesh

By Ted Nugent

It was spectacular! The afternoon sun literally glistened through the big timber canopy into my sacred freedom domain, casting sparkle and shadows as far uity and ambush stand strategizing and setups are all as fascinating and as much fun as any moment-of-truth kill shot, but probably more dynamic than all that intensity as the eye could see.

If I were any more relaxed and happy, I may just float up, up and away into the heavens!

My Mathews bow hung at my side 16 feet up in my favorite pine tree, and in spite of the very ugly worldly conditions otherwise, my little deer hunting paradise could not have been more perfect and wonderful.

As always, the nonstop bird and squirrel activity kept me more than entertained, and the distant turkeys gave me increased hope for a Thanksgiving thunder chicken kill in the not too distant future.

I had dragged in some fresh cut green leafy maple branches and a dozen cornstalks along with a pile here and there of Big Tine critter attractant bait into the ideal broadside shot kill zone 25 yards yonder, and my backstrap dreams rumbled eagerly in my belly.

Lo and behold, if not an hour hence did a big, fat Michigan swamp donkey saunter into view from the distant marshlands, and as if on a mission from God, the crazy alert she-deer and my two blade Cold Steel BoneSaw broadhead did converge as if one to the juncture of life, and all that was left to do was celebrate and say a prayer for the wild things.

Thank God this beautiful, glorious series of traditional fall hunt season events will unfold many, many times again this year, and each and every encounter and hopeful kill will surely ignite a firestorm of spiritual joy and heartfelt appreciation deep within my soul.

The pre-season rituals of diligent archery range time, habitat scouting and enhancement, food plot sweat eqprior to animal recovery is the prime responsibility of carcass care for the table. In those early days of deer hunting trial and error back in the 1950s and ’60s, we pretty much fumbled along with the woodland gutting, tedious dragging, then delivering to the local deer processor, not really focusing on the critical importance of sacred flesh handling and respecting. Horror of horrors was the discovery that our reverentially handled deer carcass was more often than not added to a random pile of deer carcasses that God only knows how they were mishandled and mistreated, thereby delivering some pretty nasty tainted venison that created the standard and inexcusable myth that venison was gamey. Yuk! For more than 40 some odd years now, Tribe Nuge has literally perfected the respectful treatment of our venison from kill to butchering to dinner table by adhering to some glaringly basic and obvious steps to insure the most delicious venison possible. Much has been written and shared regarding the proper handling of our hard-earned deer carcasses, and as we unleash another soul cleansing hunt season celebration, it’s always important to review delicious venison 101 rules of engagement.

Rule #1—Know thy butcher

Right up there with choosing a trustworthy doctor and dentist is the importance of choosing a trustworthy

With the wonderful advent of ATVs, it is not uncommon these days to drive right up to or at least damn close to our kills for easy, cleaner transport. With the amazing Ox Rack unit installed on my Polaris, I can easily hoist any big-game animal straight up and away from the kill site effortlessly and bring the un-gutted deer back to our cleaning shed.

butcher. Though we ultimately cut up a number of our deer ourselves each season, sometimes the whacking and stacking gets so fast and furious that we have to call in the meat cutting calvary and hire our master of the knives friends.

Our butchers at JJ’s in Horton and Jerome’s Meat Market in Jerome, Michigan, along with Rob Fortson’s in Waco, Texas, assure us that we get back meat from our perfectly handled deer, never being mixed in with any of those terribly mishandled carcasses.

Yum vs yuk!

Rule #2—Kill ’em cleanly

Dedication to perfect shot placement is surely Job 1 for dedicated hunting ethics, but also is pivotal for ultimate quality table fare.

When killed cleanly with a good hit, no unwanted body fluids or adrenalin essence will taint the meat. Conversely, when guts are nicked, increased care must be made to cut away any flesh that has been thusly impacted.

Rule #3—Clean and cold ASAP

In those early days of big timber rough and tumble field dressing, and oftentimes long, arduous drags back to the truck, it usually caused dirt and debris to impact the carcass.

With the wonderful advent of ATVs, it is not uncommon these days to drive right up to or at least damn close to our kills for easy, cleaner transport.

With the amazing Ox Rack unit installed on my Polaris, I can easily hoist any big game animal straight up and away from the kill site effortlessly and bring the un-gutted deer back to our cleaning shed where full control of perfectly efficient gutting, hanging, hosing and draining can assure perfectly clean meat.

We made up this simple and effected angled stainless-steel trough that, under bright lights, we can open up our deer and carefully eviscerate the animal to ensure untainted venison.

Carefully hosing down the gutted, bloody carcass washing away all blood and fat, the meat is instantly cooled down then hoisted up to drain thoroughly.

Rule #4—Age that meat

Once drained, with the skin still on, we then hang our deer by the head in our walk-in cooler set at 35-40 degrees to further drain and age for a week or two. With the pelvic bone split and channeled, there is no better way for complete drainage. At some point during the aging process, we occasionally begin to skin the animal from the head down to extract pieces of neck meat, backstrap and tenderloins for ongoing consumption. Dining year round on this ultimate, organic, natural, healthy, deeeeelicious personally procured and handled flesh is the foundation of the smartest, best, most fun diet available to mankind. Go that extra mile this season to ensure the best venison possible. To my way of thinking, such diligent, careful handling is as much fun as the hunting and killing.

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1. Day/Night scope

The Noctis TR1 is digital day and night scope along with being an infrared night vision as well. It has traditional mounting options, allowing for use of all of Accufire’s built-in technology. The digital scope allows for a more versatile shooting by allowing many options within one unit. Some options include, smart finder, color correction, auto-ballistics, intuitive menu, unparalleled recoil rating, HD recording, streaming options to save your hunts, and other additional features. It’s simple to use with an intuitive menu allowing for easy transitions to different types of shooting and adjustments.

Visit accufiretech.com.

2. Sidewinder

The Sidewinder Weapon Mounted Game Call is designed for staying mobile and keeping a low profile. At just 9.6 ounces, it attaches to the handguard of an AR-type rifle and allows hunters to minimize movement while operating the call. It connects to a smartphone (iOS or Android) via USB-C cable and operated with apps. It offers 100+ dB of crystal-clear sound and works for calibers up to 6.8 SPC. It helps maintain a low profile and minimal movement when setting up to call. It runs up to 5 hours on a single charge.

Visit convergent.com.

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3. Alligator-wrapped rifle

The Southern Trapper has released an ultra-exclusive collection Southern Trapper Alligator R8 by Blaser. The 10-piece collection was painstakingly handcrafted over two years by Blaser’s Custom Shop in Germany. It’s made entirely from genuine American alligator skin, sustainably harvested and hand-selected after tanning by Captain Bligh, the Grand Imaginator at Southern Trapper. The alligator skin transforms a rifle into a lavish and functional piece of weaponry art. Each rifle is made from a single piece of alligator skin by the most talented craftsmen in the world, so no two rifles are alike.

The rifles are available exclusively at

thesoutherntrapper.com/pages/blaser-alligator-r8-rifle.

4. Turkey Camo Shotgun

The Henry Single Shot Turkey Camo Shotgun, model H015T, is a 12-gauge break-action shotgun packed with features for the dedicated gobbler getter, all wrapped in Mossy Oak Obsession camo. The barrel is topped with fiber optic sights, fitted with a removable Turkey choke for the tightest pattern possible, and drilled and tapped for a Weaver 82 optics base.

Visit henryusa.com.

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5. Men’s camo vest

The Barrier NXT Camo Vest is constructed with windproof fabric and a microfleece backer, which adds warmth without bulk. The vest features two chest pockets and two hand pockets and is available in Mossy Oak Migrate, Mossy Oak Droptine and Moss.

Visit nomadoutdoor.com.

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6. The Ox Mat

The Ox Mat is an industrial strength multi-purpose mat used by anyone who needs to carry or move heavy loads. Weighing under 5 pounds, this mat can carry up to 1,000 pounds. Each heavy-duty mat is built with durable inner and outer webbing, No. 6 heavy duty thread, zigzag/bar-tack stitching at critical pressure points, and high-strength soft rubber handles for easy lifting. They’re laminated for style, safety, and durability and easily cleaned by pressure washing. Simply fold it up and store anywhere for quick access to lift or move heavy items or anything too heavy to lift without the mat.

Visit theoxstore.com.

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7. Fishing kayak

The new 10 Ft. Fishing Kayak is your number one choice for a quality fishing kayak for an affordable price. Offered with a comfortable seat and useful angler features such as flush rod holders and rudder system, this is a must have for the hunting/ fishing season.

Visit theaffordableadventures.com.

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8. Taxidermy Life

Taxidermy Life is a book containing a collection of thoughts, ideas, and experiences from a decade spent building one of the largest taxidermy studios in North America. Over 100 images are included that allow the reader to visually experience a behind the scenes peek into one of the more secretive industries. Struggles, triumphs, advice, how-to’s, and comic relief are all encompassed to provide a well-rounded look into the taxidermy world.

Get it on Amazon.com.

9. Women’s reversible vest

DSG Outerwear’s Reversible Puffer Vest for women is engineered with featherless down insulation and a reversible Realtree Edge camo/black design. The new nobulk vest will keep heat close to your core whether you’re out in the field or around camp. The vest also features two front hand-warmer pockets as well as a front heavy-duty zip closure that zips all the way up past the neckline, both of which keep you extra warm when the temperature drops. Available in sizes XS-5XL.

Visit DSGOuterwear.com.

10. 3-D Deer Anatomy

The 3-D Whitetail Deer Anatomy Sectional is an excellent tool for hunter education classes and hunter certification courses. It’s molded to near life size and pre-drilled to show arrow shot placement on whitetailed deer. A removable magnetic scapula and display stand are included. Allow for possible long lead times when ordering this product.

Visit shop.nbef.org/ products/3-d-whitetail-anatomy-section-pre-drilled.

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11. Under Bed Safe

SnapSafe Under Bed Safes keep larger firearms, ammunition and other valuables secure, allowing quick and convenient slide-out access when needed. Three sizes offer the right-sized secure storage and feature a slide-out draw for easy access. All models have a slim profile for mounting below a bed’s frame. Large and XXL models are wide enough to hold most defense shotguns and carbine rifles. The medium safe is best suited to pistols or jewelry, documents, data backup hard drives and extra ammunition.

The digital lock uses a user-programmable three-toeight-digit access code. Safes open with a push-button keypad or key backup. The ability to set multiple safes with the same code means there’s only one number to remember.

Pry-resistant door and heavy-duty 14-gauge steel construction blocks unauthorized users.

Visit snapsafe.com.

12. Shadow Hunter 6x8 Octagon Blind

The Shadow Hunter Marksman Series 6x8 Octagon is optimized for gun, bow, or crossbow hunting and can comfortably accommodate up to four people. Shelves, hooks, and a built-in weapon holder provide plenty of room for gear, while 10 windows and five shooting rails offer visibility and shot opportunities from every angle. Hunters can safely stow gear with the locking door handle for added security. An enhanced structural floor support beam boasts added strength and durability.

Made in the USA, the blinds feature a composite panel construction for weather protection as well as sound- and scent-blocking stealth. A ShadowTech multi-layer wall system provides insulation, and the ShadowMesh floor keeps critters out. The easyadjust ShadowView windows offer silent operation and blackout shields for an extra layer of protection. They’re clad in exclusive Vengeance camo.

Visit shadowhunterblinds.com.

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Double Trouble

Editor’s Note: This story previously ran in the

March-April 2017 issue of The Journal.

My wife and I moved our family up to the Texas Hill Country in 2011. The idea was to be closer to the family ranch as well as be closer to the ranches where we run summer camps and youth hunts each year. The progress of our Texas cities made it more difficult to navigate through town each time I had to go to one of the ranches. Therefore, moving to a small town enabled me to get more work done on the ranches and less time driving.

When we moved to Harper, Texas, my boys were in middle school and elementary school. With that being said we became very involved in all the youth activities of the community. I coached my oldest boy in Little League baseball and met lots of awesome parents in the community. Steve Wade coached my youngest son in baseball along with his twin boys Stephen and Ryder. Our boys have remained good friends

Above: Stephen with his first deer. Right: Ryder with his first whitetail. Ryder (left) and Stephen Wade with their rams.

and the Wade boys both attend our Christian Outdoor Alliance summer camps each year. It was at that point that I learned how much the twins enjoy the outdoors and have a sincere passion for hunting. The twins both shot their first deer at the age of four and so began their hunting competition. They are competitive when it comes to games and sports, but especially with hunting. They have matched each other rabbit for rabbit, bird for bird, and deer for deer for years. Not only are they great shots with a gun, they’re also avid bowhunters.

It all started on their grandparents’ ranch near Mason, Texas. They have spent countless hours tagging along with their dad as they try to improve the wildlife habitat on the ranch. They have been taught from an early age to kill the right deer based on age, which leads to incredible patience, which is very hard to do even if you are an adult. Because of their patience, the

boys have been reaping the rewards of quality management and are now taking some really great deer. Though the ranch near Mason is a sizable ranch, it is low fence, and trying to protect and grow mature deer can be difficult when the surrounding ranches don’t do the same.

For Stephen and Ryder to take such great deer on the ranch, their father has taught them hunting can be challenging, but their persistence would pay off. He also wanted to keep them from shooting trophy deer at a young age and working them up the ladder with cull bucks and management bucks. The boys are hunter education certified, as they received their certificates at the COA summer camps. Because of this and their knowledge of the outdoors, they’re

Above: Stephen with his buck.

able to hunt by themselves on the property. Steve had located a very good deer and gave Ryder first crack at the deer. Stephen had taken a nice eight-point the year before, so Ryder was first up to bat. After a slow morning hunt on opening day and some bad luck from the family’s horse—who hates deer and chased several from the feeder—the boys regrouped for the evening hunt.

An hour into the hunt, Steve heard a shot come from Ryder’s direction. He knows Ryder experiences buck fever and was hopeful he made a great shot, but according to a text message from Ryder, he was afraid he had missed. Steve never lets the boys go after their deer by themselves because he wants to be there and add his experience to the blood trail. Their initial search came up empty handed with no blood and a very upset young man.

Steve knew he had to go get Stephen before it was too dark, but he made a plan to come back and continue the search. When they arrived back at the area, Steve walked to the back of the buggy where the boys were sitting. He was giving Ryder a pep talk and trying to encourage his sons that it was OK to miss, but they needed to give every effort to try and find

Above: Ryder with a nice buck.

the deer if it was hit. As Steve finished his pep talk, he looked down and saw, four inches from his foot, a chunk of lung. It was a gift from the Lord and the anxiety of the moment led to more encouraging times to come. After a few minutes blood trailing, they found the buck about 50 yards away. To say the least, Ryder was relieved and rewarded with a great Hill Country buck.

The next morning was Stephen’s turn, and to say this young man is lucky is an understatement. Steve told me that he could put Stephen in an open field with no cover and a deer would walk up to him. After dropping Stephen off before daylight, Ryder and Steve went back to the house. As they were sitting on the porch enjoying the silence of the morning, the silence was broken by a shot from Stephen’s direction.

After a few minutes they headed to the stand to find Stephen smiling, as the deer had done the mule kick upon impact. Stephen glanced at his brother saying that his buck was bigger. As they started looking for the deer, they could not find any blood, so they spread out walking the lanes looking for the deer and suddenly Stephen started yelling he had found the deer. As Steve made his way toward Stephen and worried that his son had committed the family’s cardinal rule of not approaching a downed deer without him, he came around a bush to find himself face to face with the buck who was sitting up with eyes wide open. Steve fell backwards to keep the buck from coming at him, but it quickly became evident that the deer was hit solid and was going down. Now Stephen had his deer, and the weekend was complete.

Ryder, Stephen and Steve celebrated with hugs and high fives. What a weekend for the twins from Harper, Texas! I can only wait to hear more about their adventures in God’s great outdoors.

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.

Hey Junior Trophy Hunters –

Did you get your deer this hunting season? Or a hog or anything else that’s fun to hunt? Then tell your parents to send in your photo for Hunt’s End so we can share it with everyone! See page 133 for details and the form to send in with your picture.