20 minute read
Up on a Stump
BLUE BULLS OF THE WILD HORSE DESERT
By Horace Gore
After chasing most of the big game of Texas for over 60 years, I’m convinced the three hardest trophies to come by, in their order of importance, are an open range 180 typical whitetail buck, a 36-inch eight-point axis buck, and a 10inch nilgai, the “blue bull of the Wild Horse Desert.”
My descriptions have been carefully chosen, between high fence and open range, and axis with eight points. Charlie Schreiner III told me years ago that the Y.O. Ranch had a few eight-point axis, and he tried to save as many as he could for breeding. The fourth point on each side was between the second and the beam tip. A 36-inch eight-point axis would be a trip to the moon. With nilgai, there are a few 9-inch bulls, but 10inch bulls are scarce as hen’s teeth! As for an open range 180 typical whitetail, such a trophy speaks for itself.
The majority of nilgai in South Texas live on natural food, which tends to limit herd management that would provide for better horn growth. Also, from what I hear, the demand for blue bulls is high, and any mature bull with 8-inch horns is a trophy. So, a 10-inch blue bull would be hard to come by, and most hunters are pleased with less.
An old nilgai bull can be a real challenge. From my experience, three ways exist to hunt nilgai in Texas: spot-and-stalk, safaristyle driving, and from waterhole stands. Safari driving is the most popular and exciting, but spot-and-stalk and waterhole hunting are probably much more productive where bulls are heavily hunted. A few herds on state and federal wildlife refuges
are rather tame and allow for closer shots with lighter bullets, but the average nilgai hunt in Texas will test the best hunters. On the King Ranch, I’ve seen bulls break and run out of sight when approached by a vehicle at 400 yards. Their eyes and ears are excellent for keeping them alive where they are continually
The author says three ways exist to hunt nilgai in Texas: spot-and stalk, safari-style driving, and from waterhole stands.
chased by hunters. On the other hand, it makes them a very challenging and sought-after big game trophy. There was a time when nilgai were not so wild, and a hunter riding in a vehicle could drive close enough to get a standing shot at less than 150 yards. On most ranches, those days are gone because hunting from vehicles has made the animal very wild. Spot-and-stalk and waterhole hunting are the most productive on such ranches and cut down on crippling losses.
Public lands in South Texas, such as the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge and others, offer nilgai hunting through public drawing. Most hunters come prepared to hunt deer, javelina, or hogs and are not ready for a nilgai, either in gun or equipment. A big bull nilgai can weigh 600 pounds on foot and would be a serious problem to a lone hunter who was lucky enough to kill one. In essence, public hunts are not suited for big exotics such as nilgai, where a hunter might have a light deer rifle such as the .243 and 6.5 Creedmoor. (Note: If you encounter a nilgai with a small caliber rifle, aim at the base of the neck and forget about shooting into the shoulder with the smaller bullets.)
Some guns are better for nilgai than others. The lungs of a nilgai are between the shoulders, and a good lung shot requires putting a big bullet into the shoulder bone to destroy the lungs. This is the best shot on a bull nilgai, even though he may run a hundred yards or more, he will be down.
A long barreled .30-06 with premium 180-grain ammo is adequate for nilgai in the hands of a good shot, but most guides will want their hunters to shoot big caliber loads, such as .300 Win. Mag., .300 Weatherby, .338 Mag., and even some of the bigger .375 Mags. There is good reason—nilgai are hard to kill. But these big calibers are a little much for some hunters, especially if they are on foot and using a shooting stick. If you can’t shoot a big caliber, you probably should stick to smaller game.
I have a couple friends who killed good nilgai on the King Ranch several years ago, when the animals were not so wild. They both shot .30-06s, and simply drove up to short range and blasted away at the standing bulls. Neither of them could consistently hit an 8-inch pie plate in hunting conditions at 200 yards, but they both got their nilgai.
I recall one hunt on the King Ranch years ago when a young lady from one of the universities came to hunt nilgai with some of her friends. She carried a .270 that she used for deer hunting and convinced her guide she was a good shot. We loaded up in the truck and went off looking for nilgai in the sandy Norias Division on the southeast side of the ranch. This was 30 years ago, when nilgai would stand and safari-style hunting paid off.
I happened to be visiting the ranch at the time and went along on the hunt. We found a nice bull about 4 p.m., standing for a broadside shot at about 200 yards. The lady got out and took a good rest on the hood of the truck. Her guide had warned her to shoot straight into the shoulders for a lung shot. At the crack of the rifle, the bull humped up, threw up his tail, and lit a shuck for distant places.
We all took part in the hunt for the wounded bull—some in the truck, and some on foot. We jumped the bull three or four times before dark, but never got a shot. Darkness came and we gave up the hunt. The moral of the story: a .270 with deer hunting ammo is not enough for a 600-pound blue bull. The guide said the bull still had one good lung, which can take a nilgai a long way.
The lightest rifle that I have used on nilgai was a .30-06 with 180-grain Nosler partition bullets, but that was on 400 pound COWS. I have two .300 Weatherby Mags that will put a bull down pronto with heavy Nosler bullets. I’ve killed elk with a .264 Mag. and 140-grain Noslers, and I think it would do well on nilgai. My friends Tommy Kaye and Jimmy Gallagher have used .375 H&H and .375 Ultra Mag. to kill blue bulls, and Jason Shipman killed a big bull with his .300 Win. Mag. on the Kenedy. Nilgai bulls are big, tough, and they can move fast.
On a King Ranch hunt, Tommy Kaye used a heavily engraved .375 H&H, when three nilgai bulls ran out of some brush, heading for the other side of the ranch. Tommy shot at the lead bull, and killed the last one, that seemed to fall forever. Nilgai are big, but they can cover a lot of ground with their long stride. I’ve never shot at a running bull, and I don’t want to.
In some ways, nilgai hunting reminds me of elk hunting, especially when the animal goes down. A good knife, as well as a saw or limb clippers are necessary for field dressing a nilgai. The best way to handle a big bull is with a winch and boards to slide the animal up into the truck bed and take it to a high rack for hanging. A bull may stretch 10-12 feet when hung by the hind legs to clear the head above ground. As with elk, nilgai hunting is not for the meek.
When you kill a blue bull, you’ll have a unique trophy and a lot of meat. I’m not as familiar with eating bull nilgai as I am with cows, but I think nilgai cow is the best wild meat in Texas, possibly challenged by eland cow. The second would be axis doe, and the third would be whitetail doe. They could all be classified as “America’s healthy red meat.”
Horace Gore and Jimmy Gallagher with Jimmy’s blue bull on the King Ranch.
THE MYSTIQUE OF DROP TINES
Deer antlers have been a mystery to man through the ages. Early hunters marveled at the beams, the tines, and the various ways the antlers formed each year. They used deer antlers as ornaments, tools, and in ceremonial rituals. Today, Texas deer hunters hang their trophy antlers high, and the bigger, the better.
One of the most interesting and prized features of deer antlers is the rare occurrence of tines that grow on the bottom of the beams, most often referred to as drop tines. Even more rare is a drop tine on each beam, referred to as “double drops.” Through the eons, double drops have been sought by trophy deer hunters wherever deer are known to roam.
Early Texas deer hunters were no different than their predecessors. A big typical buck with double drops was the most prized of trophy whitetails. But the search for double drops was pushed over the top in 1975 when Jerry Johnston founded Texas Trophy Hunters Association and created a whitetail image of the “perfect” double drop-tine buck that has become one of the most recognizable logos in Texas and the Southwest.
For 46 years, the TTHA logo has been common on pickup windows, coffee cups, deer camp walls, outhouse doors, gun cases, and occasionally on some little old lady’s car that she drives only to the grocery store and church. Pickup bumpers and elaborate ranch entrance gates often display metal logos of the TTHA double-drop. It shows up everywhere in the deer hunting world.
I think we would be safe in calling a double drop buck one of 1,000. I’ve dealt with deer and deer hunters for the last 60 years, and I can assure you that of the thousands of bucks killed each year in Texas, the double drop is as scarce as hen’s teeth and probably much less than one in 1,000. Half of the whitetail bucks get taken from the Hill Country, and I don’t recall ever seeing a drop tine buck from that area.
The chances of taking a drop-tine buck are better today than 50 years ago. High fences that control deer harvest, along with supplemental feeding, have given deer good antlers, and a chance to get older. Drop tines are age related, and a buck hardly ever shows a drop tine at less than 4 years of age.
I’ve deer hunted since 1958 in some good places, and I have killed only two bucks with a 5-inch drop tine, out of about 50 mature bucks. In my work as a wildlife biologist, I have seen thousands of dead bucks without drop tines. Two reasons for this: Drop tines are a heritable quality in deer, and most deer herds don’t have that heritage. Also, a majority of Texas whitetails are killed when they are 3 years old, too young to show the rarity of a drop tine.
Back in 1975, Jerry Johnston had the memory of a big typical 10-point with double drop tines he had seen in Mexico. When he decided to carve a Texas Trophy Hunter logo buck out of a brick of hard wax, he copied the old Mexican double drop. The first logo showed the artistry of an amateur, and Jerry eventually improved the logo, which is the one you will see today.
Thanks to Jerry and Texas Trophy Hunters, the mystique of the drop-tine buck will be with us for a long time, and maybe even forever!
—Horace Gore
Editor’s Note: The farther along we crawl through the 21st century, the more we crave just a little bit of nostalgia. If you would like to share some vintage hunting photos (anything before 1960) with our readers, please send them our way, along with a brief description or story.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb. ground venison • 1 large sweet onion, chopped • 1 fresh large jalapeño, seeded and chopped • 1 green bell pepper, chopped • ¼ tsp. garlic powder • 1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes • ½ tsp. salt • ½ tsp. black pepper • ½ cup chopped dill pickle • 4-5 small zucchini, sliced ¼ inch cross-wise or long
VENISON WITH ZUCCHINI
DIRECTIONS
In a large skillet with lid, brown venison with onion over MEDIUM heat, stirring continuously. Add all other ingredients except zucchini. Cook for 7 to 10 minutes. Add sliced zucchini and cover. Cook for 15-18 minutes.
Servings may be sprinkled with parmesan cheese, if desired. Serves 4-6 adults.
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., Ste. 1206 San Antonio, TX 78258
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.
JANUARY 2022
30 31
NEW
9:00A - 2:00P 9:50A - 2:50P 1
9:10A - 2:10P 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
NEW
10:00A - 3:00P 10:55A - 3:55P 11:55A - 4:55P 12:55P - 5:55P 1:55P - 6:55P 2:55P - 7:55P 3:55P - 8:55P 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
FQ
4:20A - 9:20A 5:10A - 10:10A 5:55A - 10:55A 6:35A - 11:35A 7:15A - 12:15P 7:55A - 12:55P 8:35A - 1:35P
FULL
9:15A - 2:15P 10:00A - 3:00P 10:45A - 3:45P 11:30A - 4:30P 12:20P - 5:20P 1:10P - 6:10P 2:00P - 7:00P
LQ
3:05P - 8:05P 4:00P - 9:00P 4:30A - 9:30A 5:25A - 10:25A 6:20A - 11:20A 7:15A - 12:15P 8:10A - 1:10P
FEBRUARY 2022
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
10:45A - 3:45P 11:40A - 4:40P 12:30P - 5:30P 1:20P - 6:20P 2:10P - 7:10P
FQ
3:00P- 8:00P 4:00P - 9:00P 4:25A - 9:25A 5:20A - 10:20A 6:15A - 11:15A 7:05A - 12:05P 7:50A - 12:50P
FULL
8:35A - 1:35P 9:25A - 2:25P 10:20A - 3:20P 11:15A - 4:15P 12:05P - 5:05P 12:50P - 5:50P 1:35P - 6:35P 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
LQ
2:20P - 7:20P 3:00P - 8:00P 3:50P - 8:50P 4:10A - 9:10A 5:00A - 10:00A 5:50A - 10:50A 6:40A - 11:40A
27 28
7:35A - 12:35P 8:30A - 1:30P
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.
JANUARY
N
FQ
F
LQ
Jan 02, 31 Jan 09 Jan 17 Jan 25
FEBRUARY
N
FQ
F
LQ
N/A Feb 08 Feb 16 Feb 23
RILEY GRAHAM: whitetail 10-point taken 9/26/21 in Pope County, Arkansas. GEAR: Xpedition crossbow OUTFITTER: family farm.
SUNNY GARCIA: axis taken 7/30/21 in Medina County. GEAR: .243 Browning X-bolt, Remington Core-Lokt, Nikon scope. OUTFITTER: Record Buck Ranch. SOPHIA MAGID: Dall sheep (first biggame animal) taken 6/19/21 in Kerr County. GEAR: Barnett Whitetail Pro STR crossbow, 100-grain Swhacker broadhead. OUTFITTER: Texas Hunt Lodge.
MATT HELMS: whitetail eight-point, scoring 1496⁄8 B&C net, taken 11/27/20 in Anderson County. GEAR: Ruger Hawkeye, .30-06 ammo. OUTFITTER: self.
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.
Don’t forget to use your free classified ad! It’s once per year and you must have an active membership in good standing. Send to: TTHA Classified 700 E. Sonterra Blvd., Ste. 1206, San Antonio, TX 78258
You may fax your ad to (210) 523-8871, Attn: Debbie Keene or e-mail to Deborah@ttha.com. Send your ad in by January 12 to run in the next issue!
FREE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING!
Available to current members of Texas Trophy Hunters Association only! Limit 25 words per ad. Each member may run 1 FREE ad in one issue per year. 25 word ads after FREE issue are $40 each. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EDIT OR REFUSE ANY AD.
WANTED: 2011 or 2012 HuntVe (Dream Season Edition) all electric 4x4 hunting cart. Must be in excellent condition. Please call Larry 214-460-1346 or email larrypcurtis@yahoo.com.
FOR SALE: TEXAS TROPHY Hunters Association magazine collection. Believed to be full set from first to last issue. Excellent condition. $650.00. Call Don 361-319-4440.
PREDATOR CONTROL Service. 25-yrs. Experienced. Specialized in removal of Coyotes, Bobcats and Feral Hogs. Contact Ronnie 830-739-5336.
CAPTAIN SCOTT’S ADVENTURES – Fishing out of Port O’Connor, TX. Halfday $500, Afternoon/Morning $800, Local Lakes $300+, Site Seeing Trips Canyon Lake $350. Call 830-456-6061 or email harrell51@gvtc.com.
HUNT TROPHY & MANAGEMENT Whitetails on the “Out of Hand” Ranch, 50 mi. SE of San Antonio. Lodging, meals included. Starting at $2,000. For more details & info text/call Vernon @ 210-6336945. Or email: blockerhuntingservices@ yahoo.com.
SM FENCING, Welding and Dozing. Net wire, Barbed wire & Game Fencing. Contact Shawn Mangham 325-451-7120.
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. TECOMATE PLOTMASTER 600 for sale. All In One System/ Used Once $4500. All Seasons 300 Lb Protein Feeder $175. Call Bill 830-305-4009 for details.
RANCH MAPS - Get the highest quality, fully customizable aerial maps of your property, today! Large Maps, Field Maps, CoolerTop Maps, etc. www. MapMyRanch.com. 713-302-2028.
HELP FEED THE HOMELESS – donate excess game animals to feed the homeless, orphans, and needy families. Go to www. trinityoaks.org “contact us” tab.
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.
4F RANCHES Live Oak County Texas. Whitetail and exotic hunts. Reasonable pricing. Contact Larry 830-570-3570.
VERY SECLUDED, peaceful 321 acres with rolling terrain in Lipan, TX. Newer 3 BR 2 BA manufactured home and 24x130 covered pavilion. Property has 5 ponds and a wet weather creek. Deer, turkey, hogs, ducks. Perfect retreat 50 min. from Fort Worth. Offered by Bobby Norris Preferred Properties. Jason Jarvis 469600-7787.
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. MEXICO RANCH 8,500 ac. Available for group of 4 or 5 hunters. Trophy Whitetail, hogs, birds. 4-1/2 mi. of flowing river. 4 BR house w/ electricity, blinds, feeders – Hunt Ready! 210-379-7510, email jharlan29@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.
WILDLIFE & HABITAT Consulting. Commercial hunts available. Contact Certified Wildlife Biologist Jason Shipman 210508-8447 or jasonashipman@gmail.com.
SOUTH TEXAS TROPHY Deer Lease in Zapata Co. 3,000 acre high fence. No guests allowed during MLDP season. $3750.00 per gun, 8 members. Call Bill 713-202-7205. Please no texts.
JOURNAL ADVERTISERS
FEATURED ADVERTISERS IN THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022 ISSUE
Berry Whitetails............................................. 17
Big & J........................................................... 3
Briscoe-Cochina & Catarina Ranches.........100 Bruton Trailers ...............................................56 Capital Farm Credit .....................................107 Carters Country Ranches...............................89 Case IH Agriculture ..................................... 101 Charco Marrano Ranch .................................22 Christian Outdoor Alliance ...........................70 Dullnig Ranch Sales.....................................106 Federal............................................................45 Full-O-Pep Muy Grande Wildlife Nutrition..36
G2 Ranch .................................................. 8, 9
Grainger Ranch Recruiting ............................40 HB Hunting Products .................................... 41
Henna Chevrolet................................... 18, 19
Hornady .........................................................27
HuntStand................................................... 22
Jason A. Shipman.........................................121 Jerry Johnston ............................................... 26 Lone Star Ag Credit...................................... 114 Lyssy & Eckel.................................................79 MyPlates .......................................................134 New Mexico Professional Big Game ..............51 Outback Feeders ......................................84, 85 Paradise Trophy Ranch ..................................37 Ranch Investments.........................................55 Ranch King Blinds .......................................IFC Reata Insurance Group ................................120 Rebecca Creek Distillery..............................115 Safari Club International Convention .............5 Sig Sauer.........................................................83 South Texas Tripods & Feeders...................134 Speer Ag .........................................................96 Texas Direct Hunting Products ...................134 Texas Hunter Products................................... 31 Texas State Rifle Association........................120 The-Eliminator.............................................134 The-Remote....................................................78 The-Timer.....................................................134 Tina Kahlig & Associates............................. 111 TPWD Gear Up for Game Wardens ............134 TTHA Bucks & BBQ .......................12, 13, 134 TTHA Digital Series.....................................105 TTHA Gear ......................................32, 33, 134 TTHA Hunters Extravaganza Save the Date 2022........................................1 TTHA Jr. Trophy Hunters..............................73 TTHA Licensing Opportunities .................. 116 TTHA Member Discount Program..........60, 61 TTHA Membership..................................64, 65 TTHA Platinum Life Membership.................92 TTHA PLM Listing .................................. 93-96 TTHA School Chapters........................ 114, 128 TTHA Special Membership Offer..................50 TTHA Write A Story............................124, 132 West Texas Feeder Supply ....................BC, IBC Whittaker Country ......................................125
