2023 Jan_Feb TTHA Issue

Challenges to Recruiting More Hunters “W

ill the last family out of rural America please turn out the lights”—Goreism

Yes, rural America is getting smaller every day. A recent report noted only 10% of Texans now live in rural settings while 90% live in towns or cities. These demographics point out the reason why hunting gets the raw end of the deal and only 6% of hunting-age Texans buy a hunting license. To take it further, only 4% of these license buyers deer hunt and 2% dove hunt. When taken seriously, these figures are the harbinger of a more serious conclusion—there are more golfers than hunters in Texas.

Why is the percentage of Texans who buy a license and hunt getting smaller every year? Well, people—mostly millennials—moving to Texas from the west don’t have a place to hunt. They can go fishing almost anywhere, but they can’t go hunting just anywhere.

But you say, “TPWD is still selling over a million hunting licenses. What’s the problem?” The problem is hunting license sales have remained about the same— around one million—while Texans have increased by 10 million since the beginning of this century. The new residents aren’t buying a license or hunting because they don’t have a place to hunt.

The commendable Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission should look into this. It should also find ways to preserve the sport that involves 800,000 hunters and a $2 billion hunting industry. Even more, Texans annually consume about 15 million pounds of venison, “America’s healthy red meat,” and spend over five million recreational days chasing Texas whitetails.

As I write this, deer season is in full swing, with reports of good hunting. During drought, deer are hungry and tend to spend more time at the protein feeder. The high quality supplement during drought often produces better antler quality than in normal years. The past year was dry, and with deer having more protein in their diet, this year’s deer—and antlers—are quite good!

As many of you already know, Dr. David Yoskowitz has taken over the reins at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, replacing Carter Smith who enjoyed 14 exemplary years in that position. We wish Carter clear sailing ahead and David a good, fresh start at TPWD. TTHA, “The Voice of Texas Hunting,” looks forward to working with David and his staff to preserve and protect hunting for Texans and hunters all across America.

Hasta la vista, my big and little friends! Keep ’em running, swimming, and flying by being good sports.

January/February 2023 Volume 48, No. 1 www.ttha.com 700 E. Sonterra Blvd, Suite 1206 San Antonio, TX 78258 210-523-8500 • info@ttha.com

Official Publication of The Texas Trophy Hunters Association, Ltd.

Founder Jerry Johnston

Publisher Texas Trophy Hunters Association

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

Editor Horace Gore • editor@ttha.com

Executive Editor Deborah Keene

Associate/Online Editor Martin Malacara

North Texas Field Editor Brandon Ray

East Texas Field Editor Dr. James C. Kroll

Hill Country Field Editor Gary Roberson

South Texas Field Editor Jason Shipman

Coastal Plains Field Editor Will Leschper

Southwest Field Editor Jim Heffelfinger

Field Editor At Large Ted Nugent

Graphic Designers

Faith Peña Dust Devil Publishing/Todd & Tracey Woodard

Contributing Writers

Chappell Carter, Kemp Copeland, John Goodspeed, Judy Jurek, Meghan Sharber, George Siddons, Bill Swan, Steven Walker, Ralph Winingham

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TTHA

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TTHA protects, promotes and preserves Texas wildlife resources and hunting heritage for future generations. Founded in 1975, TTHA is a membership-based organization. Its bimonthly magazine, The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters®, is available via membership and newsstands.

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

Horace Gore

By Meghan Sharber

By Steven Walker

By Kemp Copeland

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: Marty Berry

Start The New Year with Something New

TTHA’s latest “Member Only” decal

Be the first to show off your TTHA membership with this new white Member decal. Available for a limited time, this decal is 8-inches tall and is just what you need for your truck window. Join or renew your TTHA membership today. See page 64 for more details and membership options.

New Columns Debut

The Journal likes to keep its content as fresh as possible, as well as relevant and entertaining. With that in mind, we’ve added two new columns to the mix. Horace Gore’s column, Voice of Texas Hunting (see page 33), will offer insight into the latest from around the state related to Texas hunting. Ralph Winingham returns from retirement to write Campfire Tales (see page 50). This column will offer a dose of nostalgia, as well as Ralph’s own tales from the many hunting camps he’s participated in through the years. We hope you’ll enjoy them.

Horace Gore hard at work on his next column.

GARY ROBERSON

Gary Thomas Roberson of Menard is a pioneer of our hunting heritage. A lifelong Texan rooted in the Edwards Plateau, Gary and his family have long been friends of Texas Trophy Hunters and have contributed much to the Texas hunting community. The entire family graduated from Texas State University, when it was Southwest Texas State University, and Texas A&M University.

Gary was born in Castroville, Texas, in 1953. He grew up in a ranching family and finished school in Devine. Gary graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1975, and after college, went to work for the Federal Land Bank Association (FLBA). He married Deb Wootan, an Aggie, in 1975, and they lived in Gatesville for a while. Gary worked for FLBA and Deb taught school and coached. Later, an opening came in Stephenville and they moved there for two years.

The FLBA office in Madisonville had an opening, and Gary moved there. “It was the closest I ever got to East Texas,” Gary recalled. “The folks around Madisonville said you had to cross the Trinity River to be in East Texas.”

Gary and Deb stayed in Madisonville for several years, and Gary left FLBA and moved to Menard in 1987 where he became president of Menard National Bank. By then, Gary and Deb had three sons who worked and hunted with Daddy every chance they got.

Gary and his close friend Murry Burnham hunted varmints and other game during the 1980s. Murry had mentioned selling Burnham Brothers Varmint Calls, a business he and his brother Winston had formed in Marble Falls in 1952. Gary bought the business in 1991 and left the bank in 1992 to put all his time and energy into the new Burnham Brothers company. A new and versatile caller, the Compucaller, was highly successful, and 30 years later, the company is going strong.

Varmint hunting seminars are popular, and Gary began giv-

Gary is a dyed-in-the-wool hunter. He killed his first whitetail at the age of 7, using a Winchester .30-30.

ing seminars at Hunters Extravaganzas in 1993, and continued to work with different companies like Savage, Winchester, and Nikon to develop rifles, ammo and scopes for varmint hunting. He continues with TTHA and gives seminars at each Extravaganza in Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.

Gary worked with Mossy Oak to develop a series of varmint calling videos in early 2000, and the first video, “Eyes Front,”

Editor's note: This is the thirtieth in a series of pioneers to be recognized for their contributions, past and present, to Texas hunting.

By Jake Legg

Varmint hunting seminars are popular, and Gary began giving seminars at Hunters Extravaganzas in 1993, and continued to work with different companies like Savage, Winchester, and Nikon to develop rifles, ammo and scopes for varmint hunting.

was Mossy Oak’s No. 1 selling video that year. They made a total of five videos on varmint hunting, and calling and hunting varmints took off like a rocket. Calling devices were improved, and a video on daytime bobcat calling, “Catastrophic,” was a hit with varmint hunters. That DVD outsold all of the other videos, giving hunters a new appreciation for calling bobcats during the day.

The TV show, “Carnivore,” has aired on Pursuit Channel for 12 years, sponsored by Ruger, Trijicon and Hornady. The popular varmint hunting show features Gary and friends hunting coyotes, bobcats, and other varmints.

Varmint callers keep getting better, and today Gary is working on the first-ever ultrasonic caller, which he’s developing for Burnham Brothers. The ultrasonic caller produces true frequencies that occur naturally, and shows to be the best varmint caller of all time. Gary is using a prototype, and hopes to add the caller to his product line in the near future. “The ultrasonic caller will be the greatest innovation in varmint callers in the last 75 years,” Gary said.

Gary is a dyed-in-the-wool hunter. He killed his first whitetail in the Hill Country at 7 years old, using a Winchester .30-30. It was a trophy spike with 6-inch antlers, and the first of many whitetails to Gary’s credit. Between varmint hunting every weekend with a .22 rifle, and hunting deer and turkey during the fall and winter, young Gary was a busy hunter.

Turkeyhunting for Gary was slow in the early days before a spring turkey season was established in 1969. The drought of the 1950s wiped out turkeys on their ranch in Medina County, so Gary’s grandfather brought in Rio Grande turkeys and tried to re-establish turkeys on the ranch. However, the neighbors found the turkey roosts and killed most of the turkeys.

Gary got into spring turkey hunting after he moved back to Menard in 1987. He hooked up with a turkey hunter from Mississippi and soon was taking all manner of hunters after spring turkey. In layman’s terms, Gary is “a spring turkey hunter of the first order.” Both he and the three sons are known as spring turkey hunters, and Deb likes to hear a gobbler sound off in the morning mist.

Today, Gary keeps busy with Burnham Brothers varmint calls; spends a lot of time testing his new equipment on coyotes and bobcats; hunts spring turkey and fall whitetails; gives seminars on varmint calling; and is generally busy in the wildlife world. For these reasons, Texas Trophy Hunters is proud to call Gary a pioneer of our hunting heritage.

Pass the Torch

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

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

Photos Courtesy of Robbie McQueen M4 Outdoors

FENCE POSTS

NEWS ABOUT HUNTING, GUN RIGHTS, AND LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Yoskowitz Named TPWD Executive Director

Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioners named David Yoskowitz as the executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in October at a special meeting of the TPW Commission in Austin, Texas. Yoskowitz previously served as the senior executive director and Endowed Chair for Socioeconomics at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Carter Smith, TPWD’s previous executive director, will officially retire in January 2023 but will serve as deputy executive director until then to help with Yoskowitz’s transition into the state agency.

Commissioners accepted the recommendation of the search committee in a public meeting. The search committee included TPW Commission Chairman Arch Aplin, and commissioners Anna Galo, Jeffery Hildebrand, and Oliver Bell.

“As an avid outdoorsman, David lives the mission of TPWD,” said Chairman Arch “Beaver” Aplin III. His business and economic acumen in the field of our cultural and natural resources will suit TPWD perfectly. David will continue a culture of inclusion with stakeholders and staff at the agency. Sixteen years at the Harte Institute in Corpus Christi has been a wonderful training ground preparing David to be our new executive director. Carter Smith will be missed immensely, but I could not be happier handing off the baton to David Yoskowitz.”

At A&M-Corpus Christi, Yoskowitz served in many roles, including professor of environmental economics, associate

director for research, policy and development, Endowed Chair for Socioeconomics, and since 2020, the senior executive director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. His experience as an economist and his interest in critical environmental and natural resource issues paved the way for collaboration with natural science colleagues to study the links between environmental and human well-being with a particular focus on the resilience of the Gulf of Mexico region. During his time in Corpus Christi, Yoskowitz and the institute’s team of scientists and researchers worked to develop science-based solutions for pressing fisheries, watershed, coastal, and ocean challenges.

“It’s such an honor to join the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and a privilege to work alongside the talented women and men throughout the agency that dedicate themselves to conserving the natural and cultural resources, and the outdoor legacies, that make Texas such a special place,” Yoskowitz said. “As a lifelong outdoorsman, a father, and someone who has spent the last several years of my career working toward creating a better future for the Gulf of Mexico, the TPWD mission is near and dear to

my heart. I am incredibly grateful for the work I’ve done for the last 16 years at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies and at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, and that work has really been about developing the science, as well as some of the solutions, that help support TPWD’s mission. I’m so excited to now be a part of the implementation of that science for present and future generations of Texans.”

Yoskowitz’s passion for pursuing connection with the natural environment reaches back to younger years when he fought forest fires and gained an appreciation for the connection between humans and nature. Yoskowitz spent much of his career as a leader on the A&M-Corpus Christi campus, with research extending his presence through much of North and Central America including Cuba, Nicaragua, Belize, El Salvador, and Mexico.

“This is bittersweet news for the Island University, as Dr. Yoskowitz has been an integral part of a highly successful and dedicated team at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies,” said Dr. Kelly M. Miller, President & CEO at A&M-Corpus Christi. “At the same, this is an amazing opportunity for him, and his appointment to such a prestigious role brings a great deal of pride to our campus. We appreciate his service and look forward to a continued relationship with him in his new role.”

Yoskowitz served as chief economist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2014-2015) where he helped develop the agency’s first Social Science Vision and Strategy. He also served on the National Research Council Committee on the Effects of the Deep -

David Yoskowitz

HUNTING NEWS

water Horizon Mississippi Canyon-252 Oil Spill on Ecosystem Services in the Gulf of Mexico. He previously sat on the Socioeconomic Scientific and Statistical Committee for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council. He serves on the Board of Directors of Indifly, an organization dedicated to using recreational fisheries to create sustainable livelihoods for indigenous peoples around the world.

Yoskowitz earned a Ph.D. in Economics, an M.A. in Economics from Texas Tech University, and a B.S. in Economics and Finance from Bentley College.

—courtesy TPWD

TPWD Establishes Two New CWD Surveillance Zones

Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission directed Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director Carter Smith to establish by emergency rule two new chronic wasting disease surveillance zones located primarily in Gillespie and Limestone counties. The new surveillance zones went into effect prior to the start of the general hunting season on Nov. 5.

TPWD developed the zones following the detection of CWD earlier in 2022 in a deer breeding facility located in Gillespie County and a deer breeding facility located in Limestone County.

Surveillance zones cover areas where the presence of CWD could reasonably be expected and enhance efforts to monitor and contain disease spread. Surveillance zone rules require hunters who harvest mule deer or white-tailed deer within the zone to bring their animals to a TPWD check station within 48 hours of harvest. Hunters must check each animal harvested and receive a CWD receipt before taking any part of that animal, including meat or quartered parts, from the zone.

“Testing for CWD allows wildlife biologists and animal health officials to get a clearer picture of the prevalence and distribution of the disease in those areas,” said TPWD Wildlife Division Director John Silovsky. “Proactive monitoring improves the state’s response time to a CWD detection and can greatly reduce the risk of the disease spreading further to neighboring captive and free-ranging populations.”

The surveillance zone located primarily in northwest Gillespie County encompasses 117,282 acres and includes parts of Kimble and Mason counties. TPWD will have two check stations – one in the city park in Harper, and the other on the grounds of the community center in Doss – along with self-serve drop boxes. The surveillance zone located primarily in northern Limestone County encompasses 118,687 acres and includes parts of two other counties – Navarro and Hill – allowing access to a processor in Hubbard and a check station in Coolidge.

Hunters can find maps of these and other zones, along with locations and hours of check stations and self-serve drop boxes, on the TPWD website.

—courtesy TPWD

Legends Dove Hunt Breaks $4 Million Mark

The Legends Dove Hunt has raised $4.2 million for the Hendrick Children’s Hospital in Abilene. The vision for the annual dove hunt came from Lanny Vinson, after his son Ross had a horse-riding accident and the Abilene hospital had no way of treating him. Ross was airlifted to a Dallas hospital where he was treated and brought back to good health.

After the ordeal, Lanny brought up the idea for a dove hunt with Drs. Bob Wiley and Shannon Cooke, which would raise money for a children’s wing of Hendrick Hospital. With the help of numerous sponsors in the Abilene area, and a staff of dedicated assistants, Lanny announced the first dove hunt in 2004.

Several hundred hunters, funded by their sponsors, hunted doves on various ranches near Abilene. The net profit from the first hunt was minimal, but it showed Lanny and his team an annual dove hunt could raise considerable funds for the hospital. That was 18 dove seasons ago, and the annual hunt has funded a children’s wing of Hendrick Hospital and bought equipment to create a ward for children in need of special treatment and care. Today, when a child in the Abilene area gets a traumatic injury, they get proper pediatric care at Hendrick.

The 2022 dove hunt, involving over 400 hunters, brought in $400,000, pushing the total money made for the kids to $4.2 million. Some folks wouldn’t believe dove hunters could accomplish such a feat—but they have, and the hunts are still going strong. Of course, such hunts for humanity would not be possible without the help of volunteers, sponsors, local ranches, and assistance from camo companies, local businesses, and the general support of the community.

The original hunts involved dove hunting, a steak dinner, an auction, and a Saturday 5-stand clay bird shoot, accompanied by a barbecue dinner at the shooting range. In 2020, Covid-19 seriously affected the hunt, but they accomplished everything except the steak dinner. Lanny says plans are underway for the 2023 dove hunt, which should push funds for the hospital over the $4.5 million mark, all because of a dove hunt for the kids.

—Horace Gore

The Legends Dove Hunt staff works hard each year to raise money for the Hendrick Children’s Hospital in Abilene.

Murkowski Helps Cut Red Tape for International Hunters

In late September, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced after extensive negotiations and continued advocacy from both Alaska’s senate delegation and sportsmen and women across the U.S, the Department of Homeland Security updated the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Form 4457 by eliminating the expiration date from it.

CBP form 4457 is required for U.S. citizens to travel abroad with their firearms. Up until late September, the form’s deadline and agency’s inability to update forms in a timely manner created unnavigable and unclear procedural hurdles for hunters, too often forcing compliant and prepared hunters to cancel trips for which they had already put significant time and money into planning.

As we enter the peak season for international hunting, CBP’s repeal of the arbitrary deadline on this form could not have come at a better time for American hunters looking to go afield outside the U.S.

“Since its inception, the internal, government expiration date on the CBP Form 4457 has caused undue headaches for U.S hunters travelling abroad. Thank you, Sen. Murkowski and Sen. Sullivan, for your efforts to finally resolve this issue. With the international hunting season in full swing, hunters can focus on their legal pursuit rather than an irrelevant date,” said Ben Cassidy, Executive Vice President of International Government & Public Affairs, Safari Club International. —courtesy SCI

Montana Senator Introduces Bill to Protect Hunting Access

Sen. Steve Daines of Montana introduced the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2022. The Act addresses the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2022 Hunt Fish rule, which includes several bans and phaseouts of

lead ammunition, and which will significantly limit access for hunters across the country. Safari Club International extends thanks to Sen. Daines for introducing this bill and for his constant support of the hunting community. —courtesy SCI

Federal Advisory Council Members Announced

The Departments of Interior and Agriculture announced the 18 members of the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council after being chartered last February. This announcement comes at a critical time as the hunter’s voice has gone unheard by the Biden Administration. With no commitment to maintaining hunting and fishing access, we’ve seen massive public land closures in Alaska, the recent Hunt Fish Rule that bans lead ammunition, no action on wolf issues, and a mounting backlog of import permits. While the charter for the council does not include protection of hunting and fishing access, SCI encourages the members to make this a priority. Hunting advocates want to see meaningful work done around international hunting and imports; state management authority; support of Pittman-Robertson; traditional ammunition; and No-Net-Loss. SCI members will continue to champion for these critical issues every day. —courtesy SCI

Safari Club International Opposes Fish and Wildlife Service Settlement

The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) have achieved a settlement in principle regarding CBD’s lawsuit challenging the 2020 FWS rule opening new hunting and fishing opportunities on more than two million acres of federal lands. CBD alleged these new hunting and fishing opportunities put endangered species at risk from harassment and the detrimental impact of increased use of lead ammunition and tackle. Safari Club International and partners, including the NRA, Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, denied these allegations and sought to intervene and to dismiss CBD’s baseless claims.

—courtesy SCI

Bill to Create NOAA Youth Fishing Program

On Sept. 22, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Don McEachin and Sens. Roger Wicker and Maria Cantwell introduced the Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act of 2022, a bill that would establish a grant program through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for youth fishing projects. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation supports the legislation and recently joined members of the recreational fishing and boating community on a letter expressing our appreciation for the development of the program under NOAA.

While the nation’s coastline represents less than 10% of the contiguous land area in the United States, around 40% of our population lives near the coast. The close proximity of so many Americans to our rich marine and Great Lakes resources provides a perfect opportunity to introduce young people to recreational fishing and instill a deeper appreciation of our nation’s marine and freshwater environments.

NOAA is the only federal land management agency that does not have a dedicated recreational program to introduce the public to the outdoors. This bill would create another pathway for federal agencies responsible for management of our natural resources to connect the public with those resources. Specifically, this program will provide grants to eligible entities to:

• Purchase or rent fishing equipment

• Cover the cost of transporting participants to and from a youth fishing project

• Cover the fees associated with boat rental, pier access, or other facilities

• Purchase a fishing license(s)

• Cover the cost of a fishing guide(s)

• Cover other expenses related to conducting a youth fishing project

Recreational anglers were among the nation’s first conservationists. The Youth Coastal Fishing Program Act will be instrumental in introducing more young people to the outdoors and help to build upon our nation’s conservation successes, ensuring we have abundant marine and Great Lakes fisheries resources for future generations. —courtesy Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Sen. Lisa Murkowski

Plant Wars

By Dr. James C. Kroll

We have likened deer management to a three-legged stool: one leg representing habitat; another, populations; and the last one, people management. We chose a threelegged stool because if you remove one leg, you will fall on your behind. So, any whitetail management program has to address each of the three elements. In this column, I will address one aspect of habitat management—manipulating vegetation to benefit your deer. The white-tailed deer is about 3-4 feet tall (the “Deer Zone”), so everything it needs in the way of nutrition has to be available in this zone. Deer management, even in South and West Texas, is a “war against vegetation.” You must implement practices that favor the plant species deer prefer and keep them in reach of your deer. In the eastern half of Texas, vegetation will grow above the deer zone in 3-5 years, while in drier portions of the region it may take 7-10 years. You have three “tools” to manage vegetation: fire, mechanical treatments, and chemicals.

Fire

When western man arrived in North America, he encountered a landscape already influenced by man. For thousands of years, Native Americans had used fire to manipulate vegetation to improve game production and control pests such as ticks. Native Americans once considered the Post Oak Savanna region of Texas as a fruitful hunting ground. They kept the region in a savannastate grassland with scattered trees by using fire. When early explorers first saw these savannas, they recorded that they saw what appeared to be herds of wild horses; which actually were whitetails.

The beautiful longleaf pine stands of the South once existed in a restricted region along the Southeast Coast, but periodic fires helped expand its range to eastern Texas. North America’s new inhabitants considered fire dangerous, and steps were taken to prevent the “wild fires.” The result was development

Prescribed fire is the least expensive way to manage habitats for whitetails.

uthor p hotos

of unnaturally dense forests and brush that no longer possessed their productive capacity for wildlife. Even today, fire is viewed and reported as detrimental and destructive and billions are spent each year to deal with the consequences of protecting unnatural ecosystems.

Wildlife managers use controlled versions of what the Native Americans did to manage wildlife. Unfortunately, however, public sentiment continues to frustrate these efforts. Sadly, I believe the day is near when we will lose fire as a management tool. Years of “education” and media exposure has eroded public acceptance of prescribed fire. That means wildlife managers and landowners will have to rely more and more on the remaining two vegetation management options.

Mechanical vegetation management

Wide arrays of mechanical vegetation management options are available to the wildlife manager. Unfortunately, however, they come at a much higher cost than fire. These include:

• Timber harvest and thinning

• Roller-chopping

• Shearing

• Chaining

• Disking

I listed these in ascending order of impact on the ecosystem being managed. The general idea is to push natural succession—the stepwise development of plant communities after disturbance—backward to improve deer forages. Of the five options, I discourage the last two in many cases because they reduce the diversity of deer forage plants —browse. My colleague and friend, the late Dr. John J. Stransky, was a pioneer in vegetation management in the South. His research clearly illustrated that roller-chopping tends to produce plant communities with an approximate balance of forage types: grasses, forbs (weeds) and shrubs (browse). We use roller-chopping in dry climates to improve deer foods, even in Mexico. Roller-chopping, followed later by prescribed fire is a powerful management tool, but again, fire often is not practical. Mechanical treatments vary in cost, with the most dramatic manipulation being the most expensive. Roller-chopping costs from $30-$60 per acre (highly variable), while burning costs on average $25 per acre using a professional applicator.

Mechanical treatment to manage vegetation to develop natural forages includes a host of new technologies such as this Quickattach grinder mounted on a Skidsteer.

The equipment—bulldozer and rollerchopper—costs upward of $100,000.

Chemical treatments

More and more, vegetation management involves use of chemicals called herbicides, or “plant killers.” Per-acre cost is in the range of roller-chopping, depending on the intensity of desired impact. Unfortunately, herbicides have a “bad rap” due to media coverage of herbicide use in Vietnam in the 1960s. I consider herbicides as important wildlife management tools, as long as they are properly and responsibly applied.

As far as I am concerned, the “tank mixes” (mixtures of several herbicides) used in forest site preparation are harmful to wildlife communities, because they deliberately reduce plant species diversity to benefit crop tree growth. Further, the use of genetically manipulated crops (GMOs) has seen serious reduction in plant species diversity and appearance of herbicide resistant noxious weeds. I want to make clear, however that the proper use of herbicides for wildlife management is a sound practice, as long as proper chemicals and application rates are employed. We recommend you acquire a pesticide applicator’s license from your state agricultural department (www.texasagriculture.gov).

Proper use of herbicides involved recommended application rates, timing, and equipment. My colleague and herbicide

expert, Dr. Jimmie Yeiser, once said: “The average landowner measures his chemicals in ‘glugs’: glug, glug, and glug!” Now, let’s look at the common herbicides that have application to habitat management. This is not meant to present a complete list of chemicals, only those we have found useful.

Proper application of herbicides includes consideration of temperature and wind velocity, as well as possible impacts on non-target areas and hazards. So, you can see why training is essential in herbicide use.

Glyphosate

Probably the best-known herbicide, glyphosate—aka, RoundUp—is the most used chemical today in vegetation management and control. Go to any gardening department and you will see impressive shelf space devoted to this herbicide. It comes normally in a 41 percent stock solution, but you can get it in higher or lower concentrations. The dilution rate for specific applications is given in tables provided with the container; but unfortunately, little attention is paid to proper dilution.

Glyphosate controls a wide range of vegetation types, including weeds, grasses, shrubs and vines. The advantage of glyphosate is its short term effect and relatively short persistence in the soil. That means you can kill the existing plants,

but not the seed bank in the soil. Recently, there have been charges that glyphosate can possibly be carcinogenic, but there still is debate on this. Whenever you use herbicides, you should follow label instructions on rates and use protective clothing, no matter how safe the chemical is generally considered! That does not mean you have to dress up in a HAZMAT suit. Just use common sense precautions.

Preparations of glyphosate are available that contain other chemicals, such as Diquat, intended to provide an added benefit of rapid kill. Modern society needs “instant gratification,” making these preparations popular. However, proper application of glyphosate will accomplish most goals of vegetation management. We prefer to use herbicides that allow targeted application to specific plant species or individual plants. Glyphosate, in most cases, does not supply this need, other than spraying of specific plants during active growth.

Targeted herbicide application

We often recommend chemicals that permit targeted application to kill specific plants and species. In food plot management, we have found grasses are a problem in that they compete with our forage crop. This particularly is true for summer food plots. For example, herbicides that target grasses specifically are very useful.

A host of chemicals are available, but we have had success with a chemical sold under the name Fusilade, with the totally unpronounceable chemical name Fluazifop-P-butyl (24.5%). It’s most commonly available under the name Grass-Be-Gone, but the cost and amount of chemical does not apply to food plot use. This herbicide is water soluble and effective at low application rates; but according to the EPA it can have environmental impacts if used improperly. It also has soil persistence that can affect oats in food plots if used within 60 days of planting. This means if we want to control grasses in a summer planting of cowpeas, and want to plant oats in the same plot in the fall, we have to be careful about application timing. There are other chemicals, considered as a group called “post-emergents,” which control both grasses and weeds, applied after your food plot emerges.

Chemicals that allow you to target specific species of woody plants and trees include triclopyr (Remedy or Chopper),

Here is a stand of trees treated by injection of herbicide into non-mast producing species to increase acorn production. Less than six months after application, you can see the unwanted trees have died, while the desired trees begin to expand their crowns, which increases mast crop.

2,4-D and 2,4-DP, hexazinone (Velpar), Imazapyr (Chopper) and Picloram (Tordon). In wildlife management, such chemicals are used to affect what is known as “Wildlife Stand Improvement” or WSI; in which we select specific trees to eliminate from the timber stand. For example, if the goal is to increase acorn production, and the stand contains non-oak species, selective treatment can be used to increase both the abundance and vigor of oaks. Contractors are available to conduct a professional application of WSI at a reasonable cost. Application either is by basal spraying of individual trees or “hack and squirt” by frilling and injection of the herbicide. We do not recommend use of chemicals commonly applied to the soil, as this can be environmentally unsound.

These methods can be used for WSI to increase mast, acorns and fruits, production on your property by increasing diversity of tree species and increasing crown diameter, which is directly related to mast production. They also provide the benefit of increasing the amount of sunlight reaching the ground in these areas.

Further, they do not apply just to forest management. Brush management also is enhanced using herbicides.

This has been a short primer on vegetation management, and there is a lot more for you to learn. A host of educational opportunities for professionals and laymen exist online. Take advantage of them. If you manage your land for whitetails, you will have to consider vegetation management to increase the variety and supply of native forages for deer and other wildlife species. This can include use of various tools, including fire, mechanical treatments and proper use of chemicals. The goal always is to increase availability of food in the “Deer Zone.” You need to develop a vegetation management plan designed to spread out food availability across your property’s landscape. It also requires involving professionals in your management program, as well as educating yourself about these methods so you can communicate and understand the concepts and language of vegetation management.

Is Texas Deer Hunting

Hanging in the Balance?

An age-old sheep disease threatens to erode Texas deer hunting. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is developing stringent controls for scrapie, which has been found in Texas deer. The disease has shown no effect on deer herds or human health. However, these controls have the potential to diminish deer hunting at a time when deer are thriving and expanding, and deer hunting recreation is at an all-time high. The intentions are good, but the results are bad.

A disease team at USDA in Ames, Iowa, has found using Western blotting that chronic wasting disease (CWD) and scrapie have the same molecular profile—PrPSc—which indicates CWD is either scrapie, or a variant of scrapie. CWD is considered an “insidious and deadly” disease of cervids, and TPWD has declared war on CWD/scrapie at the expense of landowners, deer hunters, and deer breeders. Truth is, CWD has never existed. It has always been scrapie.

Texas whitetails have been expanding over the 100 million acres of deer habitat since the state began regulating hunting in the early 1920s. There has been no evidence of any deer disease affecting reproduction or survival. Any losses from the known diseases, except anthrax, are replaced 10-fold by natural reproduction. The state’s whitetail herds have grown by a half-million since CWD/scrape was discovered.

Scrapie isn’t new to American agriculture. The disease has been around since Christopher Columbus brought sheep to the West Indies in 1492 and the colonists brought sheep to the East Coast in

Part I

1609. Sheep raising spread through the Colonies and Mexico, and then the rest of the United States. Most sheep were raised for wool, but people east of the Mississippi liked the meat, or mutton, of young lambs.

CWD/scrapie was discovered in wild whitetails in Wisconsin in 2002. The disease had been previously found in a research pen at Colorado State, and named chronic wasting disease by the research team, which had no knowledge that they had found scrapie in a mule

TPWD, with an exemplary record of achievements, has embarked on a mission that threatens Texas’ most valuable hunting sport. Large, multi-county containment/ surveillance zones, carved around a single CWD/ scrapie positive found on a Texas ranch, have the potential of creating untenable conditions for landowners and deer hunters. At present, these zones encompass parts of 28 counties, amounting to millions of acres of deer habitat. More recently, positive tests for scrapie have been found in breeder pens in Llano and Gillespie Counties, two of the three major deer hunting counties in the state.

deer. Cervids were not known to be susceptible to scrapie in 1967.

Sheep have a long history in the United States. By 1840, the states west of the Rocky Mountains had millions of sheep, and sheep were used to control grass and weeds in the eastern states. In 1828, sheep even grazed the White House lawn.

Texas has long been first in sheep production, but it’s interesting to note Wisconsin, where CWD/ scrapie was discovered in wild whitetails, was the second highest sheep raising state in the nation. Since CWD is scrapie, with the same molecular profile, it’s easy to see why the disease was discovered in wild deer in the second highest sheep raising state in the nation. In 1940, there were 55 million sheep in the United States.

TPWD is a highly credible state agency that administers outdoor activities to millions of Texans. I worked there for 33 years in the wildlife division, and was the white-tailed deer program leader for 11 years. Like me, all deer hunters should be concerned when Texas deer hunting is unnecessarily threatened by a sheep disease first reported in 1732 in the British Colonies.

TPWD, with an exemplary record of achievements, has embarked on a mission that threatens Texas’ most valuable hunting sport. Large, multi-county containment/surveillance zones, carved around a single CWD/scrapie positive found on a Texas ranch, have the potential of creating untenable conditions for landowners and deer hunters. At present, these zones encompass parts of 28 counties, amounting to millions of acres of deer habitat. More recently, positive tests for

Editorial by Horace Gore, wildlife biologist

scrapie have been found in breeder pens in Llano and Gillespie Counties, two of the three major deer hunting counties in the state. These zones, as large as 644 square miles are meant to control scrapie, but unintentionally evoke hardships on landowners, deer hunters, deer breeders, and rural communities—a situation that’s unnecessary and intolerable. Deer hunting communities, as well as landowners and hunters, are looking for relief from the large containment zones.

SCRAPIE: A

DISEASE

AS OLD AS THE HILLS

Scrapie is not new to American agriculture. The disease has been known in sheep for 300 years. Now, a disease test called Western blotting has shown scrapie is also a disease in deer, elk, moose, and other cervids. Western blotting was developed in 1979, and allows scientists to look at molecular profiles of TSEs, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, such as scrapie.

What was previously diagnosed as an “insidious and deadly “deer disease called CWD has now been revealed by Western blotting to be scrapie, a slow, clinically selective disease in sheep that has been known for three centuries. Although deadly to the animal that gets it, scrapie is rare, with little importance to wild cervids. It should be noted that scrapie has never been known to have any effect on Texas deer herds or human health.

TPWD’s wildlife division has developed a program for controlling scrapie in deer, and the newest approach is large containment/ surveillance zones where a single

positive is found. No deer, or any parts of deer, can be removed from the zones unless it has been taken to a check station and tested for CWD/scrapie. The nature and rules for these large zones are a source of concern for the future of Texas deer hunting, since the zones could eventually cover all of the state’s deer habitat where thousands of sheep once grazed.

All is not quiet on the Texas home front. Landowners and private entrepreneurs have been at odds with the wildlife division over scrapie regulations that hinder quality deer management. Containment zones, check stations, and rules that prevent deer breeding and transfer of deer from one property to another—all related to scrapie—are the center of conflict. The over-sized containment/surveillance zones are a thorn in the side of ranchers, and may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Many Texas ranches have management plans developed by private wildlife biologists. A new era in quality deer has emerged through progressive breeding, harvest, and feeding techniques that is not accepted by the wildlife division and the white-tailed deer advisory committee—thus, a turf battle. The Texas Wildlife Association, created years ago to help landowners, has shown no interest in the CWD/scrapie matter.

“NEW” DEER DISEASE HISTORY

CWD was first observed in a mule deer at Colorado State University in 1967. This discovery meant little to the hunting world, until CWD was discovered in wild whitetails in Wisconsin in 2002, and deer hunt-

ers went berserk. All kinds of false information was publicized, with no scientific evidence to warrant the wild accusations about CWD.

In 1978, the techniques used by Dr. Elizabeth Williams in her continued study of the malady in mule deer were not capable of distinguishing the molecular profiles of TSEs. Dr. Williams, who later named the disease chronic wasting disease, had no way of knowing that she had found scrapie in mule deer—something new to the wildlife world. The science she used did not show her the “new” disease was Old-World scrapie.

Is scrapie an historic disease of cervids, and was simply detected in a research herd of animals at Colorado State, or has scrapie mutated to cervids from sheep? There is no evidence whatsoever scrapie is new to cervids, or that scrapie is a problem to cervid herds or human health. Therefore, scrapie should be treated as one of the many deer diseases of Texas deer.

So, is there a problem? Not one deer is known to have ever died from scrapie. Deer populations are thriving, and millions of pounds of venison are consumed each year by hunting families. State agencies are taking a meaningless gamble by putting the future of deer hunting up against an old sheep disease that has shown no adverse effects on human society.

FOCUS ON DEER BREEDERS

Texas biologists began checking dead deer for CWD, and in 2012, a mule deer with symptoms was killed in Hudspeth County, near the New Mexico line. This finding caused a surge of new regulations

from the wildlife division, and started a program that harassed landowners, deer breeders, deer managers, and hunters that continues today. There’s a lot of money involved, and to coin a phrase, the wildlife division has a tiger by the tail, and those who are making the money are singing, “Hold That Tiger.”

TPWD needed to test a lot of deer, and gave immediate attention to deer breeders, because all deer were penned and easy to examine. We won’t say that TPWD wanted to find some way to eliminate deer breeders—but they found a way. CWD/scrapie was found in several breeder pens, and thousands of deer were depopulated—killed—on orders from the Texas Animal Health Commission. No one bothered to determine if TAHC had authority to direct TPWD to kill breeder deer, and now we know TAHC has no authority over whitetails or mule deer.

It should be noted states with radical CWD/scrape testing programs are states with a large number of deer breeders. Other deer hunting states with few or no breeders treat CWD/scrapie as one of the many deer diseases that take a natural toll on deer herds.

So, the finding of CWD/scrapie in breeder pens continues, with TAHC, sans authority, ordering TPWD to destroy the deer. The result has been the killing of thousands of valuable breeder deer in their pens—deer that were susceptible to scrapie. A court case is pending for one deer breeder who has challenged TPWD and TAHC after orders to destroy his 500 whitetails, the first such case in Texas.

In Part II we will look at the similarities of CWD and scrapie, the USDA research team’s findings about CWD and scrapie, and how containment zones for scrapie have the potential for degrading deer hunting. Don’t miss it in the MarchApril issue.

A much younger Meghan with her father, Ken Sharber, and her first buck.

STORY

Muy Grande is a name with a variety of images in Freer, Texas. It represents the oldest and largest deer contest in the world, a restaurant, a gas station, and the foundation of white-tailed deer hunting in South Texas since 1965. Founded by my grandfather, Leonel R. Garza, also known as “Muy,” the Muy Grande Deer Contest has not only impacted thousands of hunters worldwide, but emphasizes the value of “family,” or in this case, the Muy Grande family.

As a little girl, I spent most of my time at the original Muy Grande Headquarters and store. After school, my brother, Riley Sharber, and I would do our homework there, eat a snack, and then help around the store in any way we could. Riley was 7 and I was 5, and customers would see us cleaning, playing outside, or watching Grandpa “Muy” score another “Muy Grande” white-tailed deer.

I was the little girl who loved to talk and must admit that I probably conversed with every customer that entered the store. Seeing my grandpa welcome everyone was admirable and I wanted to be just like him. While I have many fond memories of growing up with Muy Grande and my grandfather, there is one I will never forget.

Freer, Texas, is known to host the Miss Freer pageant, where the pageant winners represent Freer and the annual Rattlesnake Round-Up. As a first grader, I qualified to participate in the 2007 Little Miss Freer pageant, and at the time I had absolutely no intention of doing so, until my grandpa found out.

“I’ll make you a deal,” my grandpa said. “If you participate in the pageant and win, I will take you on your first deer hunting trip, but you have to win.”

I did not hesitate to agree to the offer and immediately began to prepare. While it is the dream of many little girls to receive a crown, I was focused on getting to hunt for my very first “Muy Grande” buck.

On April 7, 2007, I won the title of Little Miss Freer, and my hunting trip was officially marked on the calendar. When hunting season arrived, my father and co-owner of the Muy Grande, Kenneth Sharber, and my grandpa took me to the T14 Ranch to fulfill the hunt I was promised.

Owned by Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback Ty Detmer, the T14 Ranch was a very special place for me to take my first buck. My grandmother, Elda Garza, said she always admired the friendship between Leonel and the late Sonny Detmer, Ty’s dad.

“Your grandpa became friends with Sonny when Ty and his brother Koy were little boys,” she said. “We watched them grow up and I remember how proud your grandpa was when Ty won the Heisman.”

I clearly remember waking up around 4 a.m., the morning of the deer hunt, without feeling an ounce of exhaustion. It was a cold winter morning, but as my grandpa said, “This is perfect hunting weather,” which indeed it was because after a few hours, I got my first white-tailed buck—an eight-point!

While this story may be portrayed as just a deal I made with my grandpa, it represents to me who he was as a person. Whether I had won the pageant or not, he more than likely would have taken me hunting either way. My grandpa believed in people, even when they did not believe in themselves. He could see potential in everyone, and if he felt you were not doing your best, he would encourage you until you did, which is what he always did for me.

The success from my hunting trip seemed to never fade. I remember telling everyone at school about it and even empha-

Meghan’s grandfather, Leonel “Muy” Garza (right), promised to take her on her first deer hunting trip if she won in the 2007 Little Miss Freer pageant. She kept her part of the deal.

sized that I only needed one single bullet for my hunt. Although that buck highlighted my entire world, I was later caught off guard with even bigger news that would change our lives forever—a new Muy Grande store!

The new store would be built on the corner of U.S. 59 and Texas State Highway 16, with the opening date set for fall 2008. This was an exciting time for the entire family, but everyone understood the amount of work ahead.

Construction began immediately and while the old store was still running, a new store was quickly being built. After school, I remember scraping paint off the floors, following my parents around as they planned the use of each section of the building, and just simply being amazed at the store’s potential, as we would soon witness.

When the new store was complete, the atmosphere was the same, just in a more “Grande” setting. I was so invested in this new chapter of the business that I used a mini clipboard to take notes on the progress of the new store. The store was big, and although it was harder for me to converse with every customer, little Meghan still tried. But when I was in the fourth grade, I made a lifelong friend.

Horace Gore, editor of The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, stopped by the store and instead of this being a normal day after school for me, my parents and I ended up having dinner with him. I learned about his friendship with my grandpa and the many stories about Texas Trophy Hunters. To say I was fascinated with Mr. Gore would be an understatement. He gave me my very first TTHA magazine and from that day, I knew I wanted to become a journalist.

Memories like these are constant when I reflect on growing up with the Muy Grande, but to be honest, I know I am not the only one who can agree. There is a “Muy Grande experience” my grandfather established that continues to this very day. From sitting down to eat a meal at the store to having a Muy Grande deer scored while a crowd of people surround to watch, all of this can be done with your friends or family. It’s not a coincidence my grandpa was nicknamed, “The Hunter’s Friend,” because it was the memories he made with his friends and family he valued and emphasized its importance the most. Of course, there were times he may have only met someone once, but to him, that was enough to recognize you as a friend.

Growing up in the Muy Grande family has been a blessing. The encouragement from my grandpa never quit as I later earned the title of Freer’s First Triple-Crown Winner, after winning Little Miss Freer in 2007, Junior Miss Freer in 2013, and then Miss Freer in 2015, during the pageant’s 50th Anniversary.

If it hadn’t been for my grandpa believing in me, I don’t think these three wins would have ever happened.

I also graduated from Texas A&M University on May 13, 2022, with a degree in communication, and of course, a minor in journalism. It was an uphill climb, but like anything that’s worthwhile, I worked extremely hard. I know it had something to do with the foundation my grandpa instilled in our family, the Muy Grande family.

Today, my family continues to actively contribute to the history of Muy Grande. My parents, Kenneth and Imelda Sharber, are the current owners of the business. My cousin, Alyssa Benavides, is the Muy Grande store manager, and helps organize the annual deer contest. Each family member contributes to the Muy Grande in various ways with the motivation my grandpa instilled in us all.

My grandpa passed away July 16, 2022. He will always be part of the main foundation of the hunting industry. The ideas we witness today were created because of a genuine admiration he had for the outdoors. I will always recognize him as the mastermind behind it all.

Our Muy Grande family is large and goes beyond immediate members. The family is everyone who enters the store, participates in the deer contest, or even those who simply say “hello” on our social media posts. My grandpa taught our family and me the importance of working hard and being strong, while being kind, even when others take advantage of your kindness. There’s no other way I would have wanted to grow up than with Muy Grande, and there’s no other person I admire more than Grandpa “Muy.” I will love and miss him forever.

Meghan with her buddy Horace Gore. His friendship inspired her to become a journalist.

After-season Axis

by Judy Jurek

The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters

xis deer are an exotic species in Texas that are fun, exciting, challenging, produce a beautiful hide and mount, and make for delicious dining. Native to India and Sri Lanka, axis were brought to high-fenced Texas ranches in 1932. Saying they loved the Lone Star state is an understatement. They flourished, and continue doing so. Exotics can be hunted year-round, offering a grand experience for axis after whitetail season is over.

Also known as chital or spotted deer, due to reddish coats covered with white spots, axis have a black stripe down their back. Like whitetails, females don’t have antlers. Males may grow impressive antlers normally sporting six points. Occasionally, there may be extra points, or unusual antler formations.

Main beams stretching the tape over 30 inches are considered a good buck. The world record is over 41 inches, with the No. 8 Safari Club International record held by a 37-inch Texas axis.

Today it’s really unknown how many axis deer thrive across the Hill Country and other areas. According to Texas Tech University and the Exotic Wildlife Association, Texas’ axis deer, the most abundant of all exotic ungulates, are increasing in numbers.

Axis deer on high-fenced ranches are estimated at 100,000 animals. Truly loving our state’s climate, terrain, and habitat, free ranging axis numbers are high, possibly more than anyone really knows. They’ve been reported in 92 counties, but the 27-county Edwards Plateau has the highest concentration.

Many Texans now consider axis an invasive species,

This axis doe is healthy and sleek in late July. Note the black stripe down its back. Bucks usually have a more prominent, broader stripe than does.

competing with whitetails for food and territory. While you may see only a few, it’s not unusual to see vast herds. This writer lost count at 78 axis spreading across a pasture near Medina. Driving in downtown Bandera at night, axis can be seen grazing on the courthouse lawn or casually walking the streets.

An interesting axis aspect is that bucks may be in hard antler any time of the year. This relates to fawning throughout the calendar. Based on when it’s born, a buck has hard antlers, thus adding one more lure enticing hunters. Axis are active during the day, which enables better access to hunters.

It can be thrilling to watch and wait for a whitetail, feral hog, turkey or whatever, and suddenly see a big axis buck. You only need a hunting license and landowner permission to put one on the ground. Being exotic, axis are legal yearround, another great aspect of hunting.

What’s the difference between hunting axis and whitetails? Interestingly, there are several factors. Whitetails eagerly come to feeders dispensing corn, protein, cottonseed or whatever. Mesquite beans, acorns, and mistletoe are also good bait.

On the other hand, axis prefer forbs,

browse, grasses, and in homeowners’ case, ornamental shrubs and beautiful flowers. If there’s “green” anywhere, you’ll most likely see axis. When their preferences for food are scarce, they may visit feeders, but not as regularly as whitetails. This is one factor making hunting axis a challenge.

Connie Hernandez lives in a “no hunting allowed” Brady Lake subdivision. “I’m not an axis fan,” she said. “You can’t grow pretty plants and shrubs. They eat almost everything. They lay around in yards and driveways and aren’t scared of humans, dogs, and automobiles. To me, they’re a nuisance.”

It’s not unusual to see axis up and about almost any time of the day. They prefer loafing in areas with cover and shade where their spotted hide blends easily with surroundings. They need water like every animal, so hunting near a water source may be key to success.

Another interesting fact: axis are vocal. There’s no way to describe the alarm “bark” they use to signal others. Fawns may squeal trying to locate mom. During mating, males bellow or roar, the sounds likened to elk and moose. If you’ve never heard any of these sounds before, they

p hotos by J udy b ishop J urek

definitely get your attention.

Josh Haese is the San Angelo Ridgeview Ranch manager. “March and April are usually cool, (and) a great time to hunt. We hunt most often by spot-andstalk,” he said.

“Axis breed year-round but May to July is typically the rut for them, and more hard-antler axis are available in August than any other time. Bucks almost sound like bugling elk. The louder, deeper bellow is likely an older buck. They're fun to hear.

“The biggest difference between whitetail and axis is, if there’s any green around, you likely won’t see an axis visit a feeder. They’d rather graze and forage than dine on supplements, but they do love alfalfa.”

Haese pointed out axis bucks are built like tanks, with tough mass and weighing up to 250 pounds. He recommends using a bigger deer rifle when hunting axis bucks. They offer a great challenge to bowhunters because they’re very wary of surroundings, noise, and smell.

Skylar Watkins with Black Water Guide Service uses three hunting styles: blind, spot-and-stalk, and safari style. “When winter hunting, you have a better

chance at bait sites,” Watkins said. “But the summer rut is when bucks bellow loudly and wander. It’s the hunter’s choice to hunt when it may be cold or hot.”

Of course, Texas being Texas, you may have 90-degree days in January or 60-degrees in May, depending where in the state you’re hunting. As the saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather today, wait until tomorrow.”

Taxidermist Paula Farr stated from her point of view, axis’ winter coats are thicker, fluffier with more vivid color than summer coats. “The key to a good mount is cooling the hide quickly after the hunt,” she said.

“Antlers in velvet with pointy tips are not a problem. Hanging velvet adds character to a mount,” Paula added, laughing. “If in velvet with bulbous tips, the antlers can be freeze dried to preserve and save the color. It’s the hunter’s choice.”

In 2019, Hailey Kulcak of Richmond won a youth whitetail contest. The prize: an axis hunt. It finally took place at Stonewall’s Iron Game Ranch in spring 2022. Unusually hot for late April, the guide had a particular buck in mind, but it proved elusive. Hailey, now 14, was

advised axis don’t loiter. If she spotted a buck she wanted, she needed to act quickly.

As the hunt ended, Hailey had to use her dad’s .270 instead of her own rifle. She’d never made a shot over 140 yards. Unaware of the hunters, a buck Hailey liked was some distance away, with the sun directly behind it. The glare required a change of scope power for the 175-yard shot.

With video rolling, Hailey fired. The axis ran straight towards the stand before dropping. “I was ecstatic, to say the least,” Hailey’s dad, Scott, said. “She’s a good shot. The buck running to us made great film.” Hailey declined having it scored, but the longest beam measured over 35 inches.

“It was a fun, exciting experience. I was a little worried about shooting so far, but I did it,” Hailey said. “I’m ready to go again!”

An axis hunt is a great hunt, producing a beautiful hide, delicious venison, and if it’s a buck, an interesting mount worthy of many conversations. So, when whitetail season is over, consider an after-season axis for your next hunt. You’ll be glad.

An axis doe, yearling, and fawns rest in thick brush near the Medina River in the heat of the day outside Bandera.

Fair Chase—Texas Style

By Horace Gore

Fair Chase is a description of hunting defined by the Boone and Crockett Club as giving a game animal “a fair chance to elude the hunter.” They define the variables of fair chase, but the bottom line is “give the bird or animal a chance to escape the advantages of the hunter.” Texans seldom discuss fair chase, because fair hunting in Texas is common to a variety of game. I’ve heard hunters say, “Everything I hunt has more than a fair chance.”

Most states have descriptions of fair chase in their hunting rules and regulations. States with public lands usually have more regulations defining fair chase and safety. Texas is a unique state with 95% private property, where someone owns the land you’re hunting on, and you need permission to hunt. This makes hunting in Texas different, and safer, from any other state in the union.

Private property rights have a wide variety of advantages to Texas hunters. They can lease hunting land; they know who is hunting private land and where; they can set their rules for hunting; and with MLDP permits, they can set their own bag limits for deer, and they can set their own rules for fair chase.

Most Texas hunters I’ve hunted with have no reason to violate Texas rules of fair chase. The only question comes from high fences, and I have never been able to tell any difference in hunting behind a high fence and hunting open range. The use of feeders, trail cameras, high blinds and bait makes fences a moot question.

I’ve hunted all over Texas and other states and I find it

unusual to get into a situation that violates fair chase. How can hunting pronghorns in the Panhandle or West Texas violate fair chase? The same is true with mule deer in Wyoming or Utah. It’s difficult to violate fair chase when hunting whitetails in Texas. The use of baiting, trail cameras, high-drive blinds and shooting out the pickup window are legal and common.

We can sprinkle milo on ranch roads and go back to cash in on a good quail supper. We can put corn in wire cages on the creek and go back for a good squirrel stew or fried squirrel with gravy. We bait deer and turkey, and we shoot thousands of doves coming to waterholes, or to water that we have created by letting the water trough run over. We even legally shoot hogs at night.

When you’re sitting in a blind, near a feeder and a trail camera that has shown a good buck coming to the feeder, is this violating fair chase? If so, thousands of Texans violate fair chase every year. Is checking several trail cameras to find where the big buck spends his time a violation of fair chase? If so, thousands of Texas hunters violate fair chase every year. If you kill a good buck from a high-drive on the ranch road, have you violated fair chase? If so, hundreds of hunters in South Texas violate fair chase every season.

Hunters like to hunt where every hunting situation is “fair chase,” based on state rules and regulations. That’s why thousands of out-of-state hunters come to Texas every year, and Texas is known far and wide as a hunting state where everything is fair chase except on Saturday night.

Bass Fishing

Tips

Frank Kirk of Athens caught this ShareLunker from Lake Athens on a January outing. The fish weighed 13.67 pounds and was 26.75 inches long.

BY WILL LESCHPER

While some of Texas’ prime largemouth bass waters remain in a subdued state of slumber during the winter, that doesn’t mean you can’t still catch the biggest bass of your life. In fact, this might be the best time of year to hunt lunkers, if you can stand the chill. The spring spawn is right around the corner, arguably the best time for any angler to catch the biggest bass of their lives in almost any lake, but fish currently are in a state of transition making the approach for anglers different than at other times of the year.

Though the eastern portion of the state has larger waters and gets more attention from many anglers looking for lunkers, the lakes west of the Metroplex remain some great spots any time of year, including this transition period. To understand the tactics and methods that work best this time of year, you first must get a grasp on the effects of Mother Nature on the largemouth bass. Because they are cold-blooded, largemouths must rely on outside temperatures to warm the waters they live in and allow them to carry out their life cycle. When water temperatures are lower, largemouths become much less active in their foraging activities, likely eating a fraction of what they normally do when it’s hotter while burning less energy. With a slower metabolism rate, the fish will look for structure or drops in the terrain from which

they can hide and launch their occasional attacks on prey items.

Fishing cover and structure becomes even more important this month since bass basically are waiting until the water warms up to turn on their spawning activities and are hiding out anywhere they feel safe. Since bass are apt to gravitate to warmer water

when it’s cold, one tactic you should think about employing is fishing in and around hot spots.

Fishing guides and other experienced anglers know that while water temperatures in open water areas are sure to be the coolest parts of a lake in January and February, areas near manmade objects such as marinas and boat docks and rocky areas such as riprap will be warmer. This simply revolves around the sun warming up objects that touch the water and making the surrounding area a little bit hotter. It’s similar to Texas inshore fishing when targeting shallow flats and other fish-holding areas that attract trout, redfish and flounder as temperatures rise and they come up lower in the water column searching for bait fish.

Though it won’t put the fish into a frenzy, this bit of warmth often will turn on fish that had been lethargic, making them more likely to seek out a bait that comes close rather than let it go by. A number of finesse offerings such as shaky head jigs or soft jerkbaits can be used in these types of situations, especially if they’re Texas-rigged to avoid snags. You might also be able to coax a bite with a spinner bait or other quicker lure if the fish are a little more amped up.

While water temperature plays a big part in where fish will be, water quality is also important since bass for the most part will avoid cloudy or muddy water if they have a choice. Most lakes actually do fare well when it comes to water quality right now, making fishing much easier than it would be if the water were dirtier and colder at the same time. With spring rains yet to arrive, there hasn’t been a bunch of runoff, which can cause cloudy depths that make fish harder to find.

The spawn also occurs at different times on different lakes across the state, so the fish may be in a longer transition period on some bodies of water, especially if the winter especially was harsh.

On O.H. Ivie Reservoir, Lake Alan Henry and some of the other lakes in the western portion of the state, the spawn might not really start until April and the peak may not be until May in some years. It all depends on the water temperature and hitting that magic number of 60 degrees and higher.

There’s no doubt that standing timber and laydowns and other vegetation will hold fish, but some of the best places often get overlooked for the function they serve. When fish go to spawn they’ll look for areas that will make for good nests and some of the best are rocky areas such as near dams and riprap and also along most shorelines.

And if you’re talking about structure, docks and piers and any other type of manmade

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objects also are great places to look for sluggish bass. Targeting docks and other structure with suspending and slow-falling baits can be dynamite for finding fish, including good ones right now. Winter definitely ranks as a transition month for largemouth bass across Texas. Water temperatures are on the rise from the cooler months, but they still have a ways to go to get the fish into the mood to spawn. By tailoring your offerings to slow-moving fish that are still on the prowl, you’ll be able to catch more fish during a month in which you might not have thought about hitting the water. When you put it like that, they’re bonus fish to add to the ones you’ll haul in during the spawn.

Robert

in this

Austin lunker during a February outing. The fish weighed 13.19 pounds and was 27.28 inches long.

Whitehead reeled

Lake

The author’s daughter, Bryleigh, was determined to shoot her first buck. She put in the time and effort to prepare, and found success with this nine-point buck.

Midsummer 2021, my daughter started asking me, “Daddy, I get to hunt this year, right?” I said, “Yes sweetie, you do. Are you excited?” “Yes,” she responded and went on for a little bit explaining she wanted to get a bigger deer than her dad, and she also wanted to shoot a wild hog as well. So as we do every year, we started going through the game pictures I had been getting on my cameras.

There were quite a few hogs that would show up every few days and a mixture of young six-, eight-, and 10-point bucks, with an occasional mature eight- or nine-point showing up that would make an excellent first deer. I started discussing with her how some deer were darker in color and how to tell older deer from younger deer. I answered questions she had and asked her if she’d seen a deer she wanted to shoot. She picked out a 2½-3½-year-old main frame eight-point. She said, “That one looks nice.” I replied, “It’s nice, but it’s not as big as your dad’s. It takes patience and sometimes a lot of hunts to come across a nice mature deer.” I have been hunting over 25 years and just recently got my first 130-class buck three years ago.

Weeks went by, and more deer pictures along with turkey and wild hogs continued to come in. We sat and went through dozens of game cam photos, looking to find one she would be happy with. As we had time on the weekends, we would go out back so she could practice shooting to better prepare herself for the upcoming deer season. We started at 25 yards and then a week later stepped out to 50 yards then 75 yards, and a week after that, out to 100 yards where her three-shot group landed just outside 4 inches with a .223 caliber.

As we got into September, I started looking for hunter’s education classes for her to attend after her birthday in September. She did great and learned a few things even I hadn’t taught her. We continued to go through 50-100 photos every couple of days for the next few weeks to become familiar with all her options. We talked about the deer and hogs she wanted to shoot.

On Oct. 22, 2021, her mind became set as we looked together at the widest main frame eight-point I had ever caught on a trail cam. This deer remained on my camera over the next 3 days, with Oct. 24 being the last day we saw the buck. It was a long week, as we kept hoping the buck would show up by the weekend of Sept. 30.

Day after day went by. Through the week she would ask, “Has it come back yet?” The buck didn’t. I explained to her that sometimes deer come and go and show up randomly, but we have a little over 2 months of deer season in Texas. It could be a waiting game if that’s the deer she wants to take. I let her know we hunt on public land so there’s no guarantee someone else won’t get that deer, and for her to keep her options open for whatever makes her happy, being her first ever hunt.

The public land where we hunt has a report time of 4 a.m., and we live about an hour away. It was an early morning for her for sure. She

had accompanied me on many hunts in the past, but were all evening hunts. This was her first early morning hunt.

We reported by 4 a.m. as needed for the hunter’s safety briefing and to prepare to go to the stand. We arrived at our stand at 5:25 a.m., a little over an hour and half before daybreak, where we sat in the dark and whispered back and forth for a while.

“When do the deer show up? Will the big one be here?” she asked. I whispered back, “Usually after the feeder goes off, they will start to show up.” At 7 a.m., just before 7:15 daybreak, the feeder went off. She said, “What was that?” I said, “That’s the feeder. Keep the noise down. The deer should start showing up shortly.”

As daylight came, she patiently waited. Nothing but birds fed on the corn. 7:45 rolled around when she started to lose interest and asked if she could play on my phone. I wasn’t quite sure what was going on that morning.

There’s usually animal movement of some sort other than birds. I proceed to hand her my phone to keep her content. No more than 4 or 5 minutes after handing it to her, I said, “Look! I think that’s the big one we haven’t seen in over five days!” She looked up as a smile grew upon her face and whispered, “I think it is!” as it disappeared at 200 yards behind some trees.

She said, “Where did it go?” I said, “Hopefully, it’s on its way to the feeder. You just need to be patient. Keep your eyes on the feeder and looking around the area for movement.”

Bryleigh found it challenging to keep her patience while she sat waiting for her opportunity. But with a little help from her dad, she managed well.

A few minutes passed and then excitedly, but as quietly as she could, said, “Look! There it is!” I said, “Yes!” as the buck proceeded towards the feeder. We continued to watch as the buck made its way and then stopped right behind a 5-foot tree to the left of the feeder at 140 yards. The buck started grazing on the corn like it knew to stay out of sight.

At this time, I had repositioned Bryleigh to my left across my knees to allow her to set up for her shot. She had the gun up in the window and watched the buck move around, lifting his head occasionally to look around as its body stayed hidden. She waited ever so patiently as 10 minutes went by. By this time my nerves ran wild, my heart raced, and my knees trembled as she sat so calmly.

She turned towards me and whispered, “Daddy, why are you shaking?” I responded, “Baby it’s cold.” You hunters out there know what was really happening. I calmed myself and told her to brace herself so when she was ready to shoot, she could.

Finally, at 8:05, the deer stepped out from behind the tree. She said, “I see him! Can I shoot?” I said, “Do you have a clear shot behind the shoulder?” “Yes,” I replied.

The deer started to turn away. We saw nothing but the buck’s antlers and butt. She had no shot at this point, but patiently

waited. The deer walked around in circles feeding, not presenting her with a shot.

Eight more minutes pass and then finally, the buck presented a quartering shot. I said, “If you’re behind his shoulder, shoot when you’re ready. POW! The buck crouched down like he’d been hit and disappeared.

About 30 seconds later, the deer reappeared at about 100 yards, coming straight toward us as it skirted the tree line. At this point she had reloaded, just in case, and I told her, “If you see it again, you may need to get the crosshairs on it and shoot a second time.” With the deer closing the distance, heading closer and closer to us, the buck stopped at 60 yards and looked to its left.

I said, “If you have a shot, you need to shoot. It looks like he’s about to go into the tree line.” She said, “I have him.” I said, “When you’re ready, pull the trigger. The .243 rang out again and the massive nine-point disappeared.

Bryleigh looked at me and said, “It dropped to the ground!” as she handed me the rifle. I set it down. She crawled back into her chair, looked at me with both hands upon her cheeks, smiling with joy and said, “Let’s go get him.” I told her, “We need to give it a little bit of time just to be sure.” I didn’t see the deer drop as I watched Bryleigh making sure she was braced and ready for her shot.

After 20 minutes or so, we got down out of the stand with our hunter orange on and made our way in the direction where the deer was last seen. I told her, “You go ahead. I’m gonna stay right here behind you. If you see something, you let me know.” She proceeded forward, looking back at me.

“I don’t see it,” she said. “Keep walking slowly and keep your eyes open.” Then suddenly, she spotted the buck and started smiling and giggling. I could tell her heart was pounding and she wanted to go get her trophy. I said, “Let’s make sure the deer is dead first.” It was. She wrapped her hands around its antlers and smiled from ear to ear.

The successful kill of her first deer, a ninepoint with a massive 20-inch spread with a gross score of 134 7⁄8 will be a hard family record to beat. This memory I made with my daughter will always stay with me—the joy, the laughter, the time we shared. Here’s to the start of a lifetime of hunting memories to be made. Daddy loves you. Congratulations.

An aoudad ram pauses on the edge of rough country in the Texas Panhandle.

The good thing about hunting in Texas is the season never ends. The bad thing about hunting in Texas is the season never ends!

Weary from a long deer season, I shifted gears to off-season opportunities. It was February and I was glassing rugged canyon country in the Panhandle. The red-rock mesas were covered in a blanket of icy snow. Icicles clung to the spines of short prickly pear pads. With the air temperature at 20 and the windchill at 10, I stayed behind bushy cedars and boulders while I glassed, avoiding the bite of the north wind. I was hunting near Amarillo, but it felt like I was at the North Pole.

Plotting a path down a narrow game trail halfway down the canyon rim below me were three aoudad rams. Each ram’s crescent-shaped horns were long with heavy bases. The rams plucked twigs off a mountain mahogany bush as I dialed them up in my tripodmounted spotting scope. There was one problem. The three amigos were just across a boundary line that I

could not hunt. I respect my neighbor’s boundaries, so instead of making a play on the rams I just watched. Venison stew and fresh sourdough bread were waiting on the stove at camp, so I eventually retreated to the warm fireplace at ranch headquarters. The afternoon forecast promised sunny skies and warmer temperatures. Maybe I could find a ram on fair ground after lunch?

Off-season options

What’s a guy to do when deer season is over? In Texas, you have many options. Feral hogs are open year-round. Focus winter efforts near wheat fields or corn feeders. Nilgai antelope are challenging hunted spot-and-stalk on the coast. Bring enough gun, as these are big, tough targets. Other common exotics like blackbuck and axis are fun. The hide of a blackbuck male will be coal black in the winter months. Axis can be hunted in the rut from May until July. But if

Brandon with a heavy-horned, 33-inch aoudad ram he shot in the Texas Panhandle in 2012. Gear included an HS Precision rifle chambered in .270 Win. with a Leupold scope.

you want adventure in scenic landscapes and like big horns, free-ranging aoudad are the game to hunt. Winter weather in the desert can be pleasant one day and an ice storm the next, so pack accordingly.

Aoudad hunting is excellent in the Trans-Pecos and the Panhandle. Hunting out west, you will see more aoudad and hunt larger ranches. Out west, ranches are measured in sections, not acres. Seeing herds of 50 or more aoudad is possible. In the Panhandle, the landscape is a little easier for hiking and you will probably see fewer aoudad. However, top-end rams are about the same size in both locations. My biggest-ever ram from the Trans-Pecos measured 35x34 inches. My biggest-ever ram from the Panhandle was also 35x34 inches. Both regions harbor good numbers of trophy-sized 30- to 33-inch rams. My taxidermist agrees the capes are better on Panhandle rams. The hides are more colorful, and the chaps and leggings have thicker hair.

Gear for this assignment includes quality optics, good boots and a straight-shooting, light to midweight rifle. A pair of 10X40 binoculars is first. Aoudad hunting is played mostly with your eyes, so invest in the best you can afford. Top names like Zeiss, Leica and Swarovski come to mind. Brands like Nikon, Leupold and Sig Sauer offer good glass at a reduced price. The last few years I’ve used a Sig Sauer Kilo3000BDX 10X42mm binocular/rangefinder for aoudad hunting. This unit combines the binocular with range-finding capabilities. If your binoculars do not include a rangefinder, a pocket-sized unit that includes decline and incline readings is worth packing. Most shots at aoudad in rough country are at steep angles, usually downward, where distances can be deceiving. Use the rangefinder, don’t guess! For a long hike in the rocks, choose a lightweight spotting scope stuffed in a daypack. My go-to lightweight model is a Nikon Fieldscope ED50 13-30X50mm spotting scope. It weighs about one pound. It’s brighter and clearer than the $700 price tag would indicate.

Once you spot the ram you want, your feet will get you there. I like thin merino wool socks and boots that lace up above the

ankle. Stiff, but not too stiff works best in the rocks. Soles with either air bob tread or Vibram grip best. A couple of my favorite brands include Danner and Crispi.

When I guide aoudad hunters, I recommend they bring whatever gun they are most comfortable shooting for deersized game. A big ram can weigh 300-350 pounds on-the-hoof, and they’re tough animals, but with a well-placed shot, I don’t see the need for shooting too much gun. A bolt action rifle in calibers like .270 Win, .270 WSM, .30-06 and .300 WSM are a few of my favorites. That said, I’ve seen large rams taken down cleanly with a single bullet from smaller calibers like .243 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor and a .25-06 Rem. Shot placement, through the ribs, with a bullet designed for deep penetration is more important than the caliber. Top that gun with a simple 3-10X40mm scope with a simple duplex crosshair and practice. Scopes with extra dots and crosshairs usually just confuse hunters more than they help at crunch time. Most shots at rams are under 300 yards. In 10 years of guiding aoudad hunters in rough country, the longest shot we’ve ever taken was 350 yards. Most rams on my hunts are shot at under 100 yards.

There’s a difference in hunting aoudad in winter versus early fall. While aoudad can breed year-round, the rut peaks in September and October. Even though temperatures can top 100 degrees in the early season, this is my preferred time to look for a big ram. I see more mature rams during this two-month window of time than at any other time of the year. The sweet smell of an ewe in heat brings old rams out of their hiding places. During winter months, like December through March, most of the breeding is over and a lot of times you find rams in bachelor herds. And even though this is the desert, weather conditions can vary from short sleeve to

A big aoudad ram on the edge of rough country in the Texas Panhandle.

The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters

a winter blizzard. It’s no hunt for softies that prefer lounging at the country club bar, so cowboy up for a real hunt.

After the storm

Most of the snow was melted by the afternoon, but it was still cold. The chilly air felt good while hiking through the scenic badlands of Palo Duro Canyon. My hunter, Daniel Arias, followed closely behind as we traversed mesas and dropped into small canyons where I’d seen aoudad in the past. We found lots of pea-sized droppings, tracks and old rubs on mesquite trees, but no aoudad. Mule deer does pogo-sticked away from us at every bend in the canyon. A covey of bobwhite quail exploded at our feet in a grass-filled ravine, but we found no rams. It was late in the afternoon when I spied a small herd about half a mile away. Cedars blocked a clear view of all the sandcolored animals, but at least one looked blocky in size. I could see chaps blowing in the wind and thought I saw enough horn to warrant a closer look. Daniel and I dropped into the small canyon to cut the gap on the distant herd.

We fought through the jungle-thick cedars at the bottom until we were scaling the rocky slope on the opposite side of the canyon. I was glad I packed leather gloves to grab yuccas and cedar stumps to pull myself up the rock wall. With the wind in our faces, we peaked over the ridge. Barely 150 yards away were six aoudad. Through the 10X glass, I could see one was worth taking. I recognized his long chaps and broomed left side as a mature ram I’d seen in that area months earlier. “That’s your aoudad,” I said to my partner in a whisper. Once I gave Daniel the nod, he wasted no time setting up for the shot. His .30-06 barked, aoudad scattered, but one stumbled and dropped.

Daniel was happy with his first-ever aoudad ram. We put on some tough miles over the course of three days and certainly felt like our efforts were rewarded. With the musky scent of aoudad on my gloves, I was already daydreaming about warmer days and gobbling turkeys in the spring. Afterall, in a place like Texas, the next hunt is never that far away.

Daniel Arias with the hard-won ram taken on a cold day in February and mentioned in the article. Daniel used a .30-06 for the shot.

The Palo Duro Canyon covered in snow.

The Daring Daylight Dance of the Big O Corn Fairy

By Ralph Winingham

Stories that stretch the imagination were as plentiful as raindrops during a thunderstorm at the Big O Ranch in Frio County, but few could equal the tale that had one veteran hunter dancing around the campfire. The South Texas camp was a 9,230-acre slice of hunting paradise just outside of Pearsall that played host to politicians, priests, poets and even a member of the British Parliament as guests of the regular hunters during its eight-decade reign as a brotherhood of campfire comrades. Officially called the Herbert M. Oppenheimer Ranch, the “Big O” was bound by strict rules: no alcohol, no women and no practical jokes that might cause serious injury or death.

The manly man gathering of about 30-40 hunters every weekend of the deer season was a haven for long hours in deer blinds interspersed with great home-cooked meals or yarns shared around a

crackling campfire. One of the favorite tales repeated time and again was courtesy of Wes Reed, a veteran hunting compadre with more than 70 years of hunting and shooting experience, including multiple decades at the Big O. Reed walked the walk and talked the talk. Greenhorns and veterans alike were wise to pay close attention when he held court. However, even Old Wes, who often advised his hunting companions to “expect the unexpected,” was hard pressed to make believers out of the Big O crew when he came back from a blind one afternoon with a report of the “corn fairy’’ that got away.

Fortunately for Reed, he was accompanied by a highly trained, professional observer when he witnessed one of the most unusual sights ever recorded at any deer camp. Unfortunately for the author, I was that trained observer. We had been in the blind, known as the “Taj Mahal” because of its satellite television dish, propane heater and other amenities, for about 30 minutes when Reed began toying with what resembled a remote-control device for the nearby corn spreaders. “This must set off the feeder,” he said as he pushed the bright red button on the control. No more than 20 seconds after he mashed down the button, Reed looked out the window and stammered, “Whoa, look at that!”

Out from the brush had stepped a statuesque brunette, wearing an all-black outfit of a dazzlingly short leather miniskirt; a daringly cut leather tank top; brightly shined cowboy

boots; and a cowboy hat that barely managed to contain her silky long hair wafting in the breeze. I know professional deer hunters will understand and I humbly apologize to any of my female acquaintances when I point out the corn fairy did indeed have a nice rack. Being a trained observer is a special talent.

The mysterious maiden gracefully made a small turn across the sendero, daintily tossing out handfuls of deer corn like a fairy sprinkling magic pixie dust in her wake. Her corn distribution duties completed, she stopped in the middle of the sendero and turned toward our blind. With a tip of her hat and a wave of her hand, she scampered off into the brush and disappeared from our sight.

In and out in less than 10 seconds, Reed and I simply did not have time to bring any camera into play to record the dainty display. All we could do was stare at each other in wide-eyed amazement at what had just taken place. “Did we just see what I thought we saw? Where could she have come from? How did she get through the brush without getting all scratched up?” Reed asked in a rapid-fire barrage of questions.

It’s doubtful he expected any answers, even if there were any that could be provided by a dumbstruck professional observer, as Reed was too busy repeatedly mashing down the button on the remote control. Push, look, push, look, push, look—he was a remote-control machine on steroids. After several minutes of fruitless attempts to inspire a repeat performance of the dancing deer corn distribution display, we deduced he must have worn out the battery on the remote.

When we got back to camp later that afternoon, obviously with no evidence of our corn fairy encounter, our camp compadres took great delight in having Reed demonstrate the dainty

corn-distribution technique of our mystery maiden. Skipping in a circle and gracefully flinging his hand in the air, I had to admit the 6-foot-tall, 200-pound Reed provided our wideeyed compadres with a very creative imitation of the vision we had witnessed. Despite Reed’s reputation and the fact he was accompanied by a witness with indisputable observation skills, our report of the corn fairy that got away was received with disbelief, interrupted by numerous boisterous bouts of laughter. Repeated comments about “erotic exotics” were just too much for us to handle, so Reed and I decided it was time to take our leave and retire for the night.

Days later, we were informed our corn fairy sighting was indeed an elaborate hoax perpetrated for our benefit with the ranch owner’s permission to “bend” the camp’s no-woman restriction. The corn fairy was, in fact, a lady friend and avid hunting companion of one of the camp regulars. The other members of the camp’s cadre were in on the practical joke, which had been intricately planned and orchestrated with cunning detail. After the end of deer season, a luncheon was arranged so Reed and his fellow corn fairy observer could get an up-close and personal view of our mystery maiden, plus enjoy a friendly chat with our ultimate “big one that got away.”

Come to think of it, the only subject that Reed never broached during our face-to-face with the corn fairy was his trademark philosophy of “expect the unexpected.”

Wes Reed, veteran outdoorsman, crackerjack rifle shot and legendary Tiro Al Pichon Association (live flyers) judge, passed away in January 2004 at the too-young age of 81. His corn fairy story was immortalized in “Revenge of Old Boots & Bacon Grease,” the Texas Outdoor Writers’ Association 2006 Book of the Year dedicated to my longtime hunting buddy and dear friend. Reed was fond of saying: “You know the best time to go hunting? When you can!” See page 122 for Reed’s recipe he shared with me during our hunting adventures.

The “Taj Mahal” blind at the Big O Ranch offered quite a view of one of the strangest apparitions ever observed by hunters at the veteran deer camp.

Rattling master Wes Reed was a longtime hunting companion and witness to the dancing “corn fairy.”

STORY

Rodney Roussarie shot this nice 10-pointer during a reunion hunt with his old college friends.

This story starts in 1979 when my friend Rodney Roussarie enrolled at Texas Tech University after graduating from Crane High School. I had started at Tech in 1978, and soon met Brad Teel, who had been there since 1977. Rodney joined the party in 1979. We hit it off well, and the three of us have been friends for 40-plus years.

We didn’t set any scholastic records at Tech, but we sure had a good time. We all graduated, have been blessed in many ways, and, of course, have dealt with our own life challenges along the way. Our careers and families took us in different directions, but we were able to reunite at Brad’s ranch in North Texas in November 2020.

A bit of background may be worthwhile. Brad acquired his ranch starting in the early 1990s. It’s superb whitetail deer habitat, with two creeks and associated drainages feeding into the Red River, and a great mix of bottomland, pastures, hardwood forests and thick cover. Deer hunting wasn’t a priority then, as the ranch had not been managed for quality deer, but after a few years, sightings of deer in general, and big old bucks in particular, began to increase. With great support from TPWD biologists and game wardens, participation in the MLDP program and coordination with adjoining landowners, this part of Texas is now a free-range whitetail honey hole.

I’ve been fortunate to be part of this since retiring early at the end of 2012. I reconnected with Brad in early 2013, and he invited me to hunt deer that fall. I told him then he just created a monster, and he’s been stuck with me ever since. We’ve done our best to manage his ranch for trophy bucks, mostly by shooting the high potential 3½- and 4 ½-year-olds with a camera instead of a gun, and respectfully requesting Brad’s guests to do the same. Despite a few hiccups along the way, we’ve been reasonably successful in this regard.

So, in November 2020, Brad and I were enjoying a couple of adult beverages after the evening hunt and we decided to call Rodney and invite him to join us. Although Rodney lives five hours away in Midland, and owns and operates a small business, he jumped at the opportunity. We had a great time recalling a representative subset of our youthful indiscretions, reducing the hog and coyote population, and Rodney connected

on a tall nine-pointer the last morning of the hunt.

This was the first time I had seen Rodney since the 1980s. We picked up right where we left off. He was always very fit and athletic, and had remained so. However, he shared with me his family history of cancer and heart disease, and that his father, Bud, had died of esophageal cancer at age 59. Rodney had a very close relationship with Bud. They spent considerable time together hunting, fishing and trapping, and Bud pushed him to excel at athletics and provided him the opportunity to fine-tune his work ethic on oil rigs in West Texas.

The bad news came in early 2021. Rodney was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, at age 59. We all knew this was going to be a difficult journey with an uncertain outcome. Rodney is one tough hombre, and his mental strength and great attitude throughout the ordeal was amazing. He endured months of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, six surgeries with complications, and six months on a feeding tube. From a very lean starting point of 175 pounds, he bottomed out at 145 pounds. He, Brad, and I stayed in touch throughout 2021. The good news is the tumor and surrounding lymph glands were removed, and the long-term prognosis is good.

In early October, Rodney sent me the following text: “I just wanted you to know that you need to get the cameras set at the ranch. Right now! I want the biggest bad-ass deer you can find!!! So the vacation is over and it’s time to go to work.”

This is “Rodney-speak” for: “After months of torture, I’m challenging myself to be able to hunt deer this season. I hope we can make it happen.” Of course, Brad and I were going to do everything we could towards that end.

Rodney didn’t become “tube-free” and start eating real food until December. We scheduled a late-season hunt in mid-

Rodney had been fighting cancer, but he wouldn’t let that get in the way of joining the fun everyone had with this hunt.

January. I arrived on Friday to check things out. Rodney arrived before noon on Sunday after leaving Midland at 4 a.m. Brad arrived on Monday, after escaping from an untimely heavy snowstorm in Colorado.

We had a great time again recalling the next portion of our youthful indiscretions, reducing the hog and coyote population, and hunting deer. The first few days yielded a couple of encouraging trail camera photos, but we didn’t have any live sightings that got our juices flowing. Although Rodney was still figuring out what, how, and how much he can eat with his new internal plumbing, he came equipped with his homemade wok and burner, and made his famous stir-fry which Brad and I agreed was the best deer camp meal we’ve ever had.

The stars lined up on Tuesday afternoon. Rodney spotted a large 10-point buck slinking through the tall grass about 75 yards away on the left side of his blind, and shot him with his trusty .270, a Christmas present from Bud when Rodney was 15 years old. It was a perfect shot. The buck only went a few steps before dropping. I heard him shoot from where I was hunting, and high-tailed it over to Rodney’s blind in case we had to look for a deer in the fading light. No need for that. We had time for photos, loaded the deer in the Mule, and headed for camp. Brad was waiting for us, and we exchanged big smiles and fist bumps. Rodney then insisted on field-dressing the deer himself. Afterwards we enjoyed a few adult beverages and told a few more stories.

The next day Rodney insisted on skinning and butchering the deer himself. I helped out as required, but kept looking at the antlers, which seemed to have grown overnight. I pulled out a tape measure and scored the buck at a bit over 160”, exceptional for a free-range buck anywhere. It was time for more big smiles and fist bumps. We dropped off the cape and antlers at the local taxidermist. Then it was time for Rodney to fire up

the wok again and feed us some incredible fried catfish with onions and jalapeños.

As much as we would have enjoyed hanging out for a few more days, life happens, and we all had other irons in the fire. So we broke camp on Thursday morning after agreeing we had just created an incredible lifetime memory.

Rodney is truly an inspiration on how to deal with a lifethreatening condition. His physical fitness, mental toughness, zest for life, and unwavering support from his lovely wife Donna—they were high school sweethearts, where she also was a track star—enabled him to pass this test with flying colors.

Three old friends enjoying the camaraderie and the great outdoors in our version of paradise is priceless. Rodney’s exceptional buck was the icing on the cake, and a notable milestone in his victory lap over cancer. He still has a ways to go to regain his previous level of strength and stamina, but I highly suspect he will be hard to keep up with by next deer season.

Rodney came to deer camp with his homemade wok in hand to do some stir-fry cooking for himself and his buddies.

The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters

Eleven-year-old McKenzie Yutzy is all smiles with this buck taken last season using a .243. This young huntress already wants a bigger caliber rifle.

Brian Yutzy photo

The future of hunting lies with the next generation. This statement covers much more than can be discussed in one feature. Growing up provides youngsters many grand adventures often enhanced by the great outdoors. Hunting is an endeavor helping build character, skill sets, bonding with others, experiencing new things, and above all, creating memories lasting a lifetime.

As Texas’ population increases daily along with urbanization, our state’s wildlife resources most certainly feel the effects. The majority of our state’s hunters are aging, with most over the half century mark. Encouraging and mentoring new hunters is something all experienced hunters should be doing.

The Lone Star state’s continued hunting success is about new recruits, male and female. The annual TTHA Hunters Extravaganzas are one venue helping do so. Each event location has contests for hunters to bring their last season’s trophy buck for scoring and possible prizes. Youth hunters are welcomed enthusiastically.

Eight young huntresses brought a buck to one of the 2022 Extravaganzas in either Houston, Dallas, or San Antonio. They took the time to tell this author a little about themselves and how they feel about hunting. Their bucks were taken from lowand high-fence properties with rifles or archery equipment.

Eleven-year-old McKenzie Yutzy lives in New Braunfels and hunts in South Texas and the Hill Country with her dad, Brian, and her brother. Both taught her how to hunt. Currently she uses a .243 rifle.

“My dad and brother attracted me to hunting,” she said. “I like it because you get to sit in a blind watching nature and all the animals. I also like shooting the deer. I don’t like waiting for the deer to come out.” Yet this young lady is well experienced having taken several whitetail and axis.

McKenzie said this about her future: “I would like to continue hunting more and I’m always looking for a bigger buck. I’d also like to introduce more of my friends to the outdoors and hunting. And I would like to look for a larger caliber gun, as I’m getting older.”

Blythe Brooks lives in Spring and hunts on low-fence property near Bruni in South Texas. Her dad, John, taught her to hunt. Whitetail with rifle and quail with shotgun are her favorite species and weapons of choice.

“I grew up hunting from a young age and enjoy the whole experience from the hunt to the kill,” Blythe, age 16, said. “The anticipation and excitement it brings when all the time and effort pays off.” She stated there’s nothing she dislikes about hunting.

Her future? “I hope to one day be able to travel the world and hunt bigger game animals.” Blythe said, adding, “My dream is to go on a hunt in Africa.”

Fallon Clepper lives in Montgomery. She hunts near Sabinal for whitetail, using a .243 “to do the damage.” She began hunting with her dad, Julian, before she could walk.

“My favorite thing about hunting is just being able to spend time in the outdoors with the ones I love and watching our deer grow big,” Fallon said, adding, they nickname deer. “I love to see a young buck turn into something amazing!” There’s nothing she dislikes about hunting.

Fallon, 18, said, “I hope to graduate college with an ag or wildlife major. I hope to get more into duck/waterfowl hunting in the future. I’ve been after a buck three years until it’s old enough, so I’m hoping this year will be a deer of a lifetime for me.”

Hunters Extravaganzas offer not only viewing great trophy bucks, but learning insight from young female hunters.

Ella Hawk, 17, of Huffman hunts in South Texas. This accomplished bow huntress has many accolades, as she began hunting at a young age. With her mom and dad as teachers, Ella said, “They taught me how to hunt basically from scratch. I love hunting and how much it brings my family together.”

She added, “Many say killing is the best part of hunting but not to me. I strive for the love and happiness coming from doing it as a family. Doing things like getting that shot on game wouldn’t be the same without celebrating with your favorite people. Being a part of nature, connecting with it and the environment is amazing.”

Ella said there’s nothing she dislikes about hunting. “Things don’t always go the way you plan or want them to, but that gives motivation.” She sees herself hunting the rest of her life. “I always strive for a bigger buck or the next game (animal).”

Ella concluded, “I can’t wait to pass the tradition and sport to my children and family, and to spend genuine time with them one day.”

Fifteen-year-old Macey Leichliter of Decatur hunts in Texas and Colorado using a 6.5 Creedmoor. “My dad taught me to hunt. I hunt with my family for meat, trophies, and memories,” she said. Her three favorite things: “The wait. We crack jokes, and talk about our day; the moment you’re fixing to take the shot; and the pictures with game.”

“I don’t dislike anything. It’s a great experience and I’m blessed to have the opportunity to do so.” Macey added. “I’ll continue to hunt throughout my life. I enjoy it and going with others to see them enjoy the challenge of hunting.”

Azura Linden, 13, of Fort Worth, said, “My grandpa Bo Linden is my teacher. I love spending time with him and (love) the thrill of shooting, tracking, and field dressing deer.” She’s an accomplished crossbow huntress who dislikes sitting still in the heat on family land near Fort Worth.

“We have fox. I’d like to get one or larger game such as elk.” This dynamic gal has her head on straight. “I love watching all animals in their natural state. I’m considering taking taxidermy when I get older.”

San Antonio resident Brooklyn Bowling hunts on her family’s Rancho De La Suerte in Encinal and at a friend’s place in La Vernia. The 15-year-old uses a .300 Win. Mag. on whitetail. “My parents both love to hunt, and once I tried, I liked it, too,” Brooklyn said.

She added, “I love the excitement hunting brings. Each time is a new experience plus I like spending time at the ranch with friends and love the environment.” Astute for her age, Brooklyn declared, “I dislike the negativity some have towards the sport of hunting. I feel like I have to be cautious about which friends I tell my hunting stories to.”

Brooklyn said she hopes to one day hunt in Africa and New Zealand like her parents. “My dream animal to hunt would be an elk.”

All these huntresses are smart, sharp, observant young ladies who relish the great outdoors and hunting. Many have definite thoughts garnered from the experiences of their young lives. Heed the advice about doing your part to take others hunting. You may help create a new young huntress.

The Spotted Ghosts of Texas

By Ted Nugent

Day 59, hour 200, and finally, the beast makes its entrance. Yeah, sure, I know all about the sheer stupidity of “canned hunts”, and the “fish in a barrel” nonsense by the know-nothing presumptuous goofballs out there, but this old 73.5-year-old gut pile addicted lifetime bowhunter knows reality from fiction, and I was all in to capitalize on this rare, longawaited encounter with the mighty axis deer of Texas. I earned this magical moment, and backstraps would be mine, come hell or high water.

If anybody knows how to ambush a deer with the bow and arrow, with all humility if I may, it would be me. Starting out following my Fred Bear gang member dad through the wilds of Michigan’s national and state forests from the time I could walk, the Spirit of the Wild and the mystical flight of the arrow have called my name nonstop.

Through excruciating trial and error, I eventually figured out the essential rules of engagement of reasoning predator strategies to get within striking distance of the world’s most elusive and high-strung critters; the mighty, hard hunted, public land whitetail deer of Michigan.

And, oh, what a glorious, though always frustrating adventure it has been.

Applying all the inescap-

able lessons of real world bowhunting 101, my ambush setups have proven rather effective as time throttles on, but as always, right place right time is in the very capable hands of the mythical beasts, and more often than not, the best laid plans of the deadly Whack Master end up skunked and backstrapless more often than I’d like to admit.

At the top of the bowhunting 101 list is perseverance.

So even though I was getting frustrated to the core after so many skunked sessions, I nevertheless grabbed my Mathews bow with its quiver full of GoldTip arrows, donned my Mossy Oak regalia

The author says the mighty and very delicious axis deer of Texas is a bowhunter’s dream.

and headed for the best ladder stand for the current wind on SpiritWild Ranch to give it yet another go.

Okay, nobody enjoys and appreciates the glorious birdsong concert every hunt, the always mesmerizing ballet of wildlife and the effervescent sanctuary healing powers of nature, especially in these treacherous times in America, but dammit, I need to kill something, and I need to kill something soon.

I had regularly enhanced my chosen ambush zones with ample doses of supplemental feed, secured my stand with adequate silhouette breaking cover deep in the shadows with the wind in my face and the sun at my back, made certain my arrow rest was completely silent, and had diligently practiced with my bow every day to zero-in accurately for the moment of truth.

Equal to the importance of perseverance is the maintaining of a strong, killer mindset, remaining confident and ultra-tuned in, ready for the moment of truth.

Having stuck to the routine, it was all about to pay off, finally, as the giant stag slowly, and carefully emerged from the cedar thicket shadows, cautiously making its way into my kill zone.

Consciously getting my breathing under control, and stealthily bringing my bow into shooting position, my oft repeated shot sequence unfolded with a power of its own, and the martial art of bowhunting executed a beautiful arrow straight into the pumpstation of the mighty stag, and all that was left was the celebration.

His death run was a short 50 yards, and he was a monster! I’m guessing he was more than 10 years old

and pushing a genuine 300-plus muscled pounds of mature axis deer beastdom.

The joys of success are in direct correlation with the challenge of the endeavor, so this celebration was totally out of control.

With the great deer gutted, cleaned and hung in the cooler for aging, my quest for axis deer was far from over as the herd on our SpiritWild Ranch had grown to near out of control levels due to their elusiveness.

Thusly, day after day I repeated my thrilling bowhunting maneuvers, and as usual, got skunked for another five days in a row.

But lo and behold, on day six, the predator planets once again aligned, and miracle of miracle, another giant, mature stag made his appearance, and once again, the old backstrapping guitar player pulled off his bowhunting dream with another old, heavy monarch in the bag.

I’m sure glad I don’t have to wait hundreds of hours between whitetail kills, but the hard-earned encounters with axis deer does make success a little sweeter.

With year-round hunting, no bag limits and a target rich environment, the mighty and very delicious axis deer of Texas is a bowhunter’s dream.

I’m still at it and will stay at it nonstop, because, quite simply, I am a bowhunter and the critters need me. And I need them. A marriage

made in heaven on Earth.

Through excruciating trial and error, I eventually figured out the essential rules of engagement of reasoning predator strategies to get within striking distance of the world’s most elusive and high-strung critters; the mighty, hard hunted, public land whitetail deer of Michigan. And, oh, what a glorious, though always frustrating adventure it has been.

MUST-HAVES

1. 7mm PRC

Hornady’s new 7mm PRC strikes the perfect balance of shootability and long-range performance. This long-action, Magnum cartridge was purposefully designed to use today’s modern, high BC bullets and temperature stable powder. By designing the cartridge and chamber concurrently, the 7mm PRC is a match accurate cartridge that produces repeatable accuracy and consistent velocity.

Visit Hornady.com.

2. Shotgun/rifle case

BONE-DRI’s Rust Prevention Shotgun & Rifle Case does its part to keep your gun clean. Humidity and moisture can affect the performance of your gun, cause rust and corrosion, and make cleaning difficult. BONE-DRI cases are engineered with Absorbits moisture-removal material, which automatically draws moisture from the firearm – inside and out – and can be used an unlimited number of times. Constructed with heavy-duty industrial 800D PVC nylon and lockable Mil-Spec zipper sliders, this soft case easily withstands heavy wear and tear and is backed by a lifetime warranty.

Visit bone-dri.com.

3. Owl-inspired jacket

The Búho Jacket, shown in True Owl Camo, is designed using 100% owl feather patterns. This jacket features a vent for armpits, non-slip gun sleeve shoulder, and built-in drawstrings inside hood to hold onto your head. The water-resistant material, water resistant zippers, adjustable cuffs, and high front pockets make for easy access when wearing waders. There are lower draw strings at the bottom, and multiple utility pockets to house your game calls and other hunting accessories.

Visit hunthoot.com.

MUST-HAVES

4. EDC knives

Gamakatsu introduces its new series of Everyday Carry (EDC) Knives, available in 2023. They’ve developed four different-sized folding knives to suit EDC needs for work and play. All four knives are ready to tackle any task. The blades offer durable high-end D2 steel. These knives have a frame lock style handle, a locking mechanism used in one-handed knives. The frame lock closure system makes it possible to open and close the knife with one hand. These knives also feature an assisted opening action/flipper mechanism to make opening easier.

Visit gamakatsu.com.

5. Heated seat pad

THAW’s Heated Seat Pad is not limited to wintry weather but can be used anytime. Light and portable, the 2-inch foam padding makes a comfortable sitting space. As a stand-alone unit, it’s constructed of heat retaining insulation and double stitched to reduce staining and resist water. When paired with a Power Bank, it can heat up to three levels: Low: 43°C/109°F; Medium: 52°C/125°F; and High: 58°C/136°F. Using THAW’s 10,000 mAh power bank, it can run for up to 2½ hours on high to 6 hours on low.

Visit thaw.acgbrands.com.

6. Children’s book

“Birthday Buck” is a wholesome, heartwarming story about a boy named Jet and his journey toward his first deer—a journey that teaches him many timeless truths about life. This thrilling adventure with several unexpected twists and turns is an excellent book for any kid who loves the outdoors. It’s family-friendly and great for reading together or alone. No matter how it’s read, it’ll keep kids excitedly turning the pages, eager to find out what’s going to happen next.

Visit huntclubkids.com.

7. Gravity box feeder

Whitetail Windows’ Gravity Box Feeder, the GB-1000, boasts 1,000-pound capacity with two hoppers that feed out of the opposite ends. Designed with raccoon suppressing technologies (RST) the all-steel construction keeps squirrels from chewing away at the unit like plastic and fiberglass feeders.

Visit whitetailwindows.com.

8. Water-repellent pullover

Lightweight and breathable, the Access NXT Pullover is made using Voormi’s Surface Hardened Technology, built with four-way stretch woven wool and finished with durable water repellent finish (DWR), meaning you’ll stay warm, dry, and comfortable. The athletic-fit shirt features integrated hidden thumbholes, external chest pocket with internal headphone port, and hidden hip pocket.

Visit voormi.com/collections/midlayers/products/ mens-access-nxt-pullover-1.

9. Broadhead Rangefinder

Bushnell’s Broadhead Rangefinder has 0.3-yard accuracy out to 150 yards, high-speed ranging, and the ActiveSync display that automatically changes from black to red when lighting conditions change. It also has an all-glass optics system, coated with EXO Barrier coating to repel water, oil and debris.

Visit bushnell.com/rangefinders/broadhead-laserrangefinder/BU-LA1500AD.html.

10. Gun light

Nightstick’s newest handgun weapon light, TWM-30, is rated at 1,200 lumens for an hour and 45 minutes runtime from two CR123 batteries. Optimized for handgun engagements, the reflector creates a tight bright beam for threat identification and confirmation and a wider, crisply defined halo for additional situational feedback. It features singlemotion ambidextrous switches for intuitive down-press activation. Each light comes two CR123 batteries and several modular rail inserts for Glocks, Sigs, and more than 150 other handguns on the market. Available in black, flat dark earth and OD green. Backed by Nightstick’s limited lifetime warranty. Visit nightstick.com/pages/twmtcm.

11. Dead Drop Jacket

The all-new Dead Drop Jacket from CORDIA has exceptional warmth for cold weather hunts. Packable and breathable Primaloft insulation keeps you comfortable in any winter condition. The stretchy shell allows ease of movement, while keeping you dry with DWR water repellent fabric. Available in a new late season camo. Visit HuntCordia.com.

12. Insulated sleeping bag

Klymit’s KSB 0 insulated sleeping bag has a 650fill power down top and synthetic fill bottom, which provides an exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio. When the temperature drops below freezing and into single digits, you need a bag that eliminates excessive air pockets to achieve lasting warmth through the night. Flexible Stretch Baffles keep fill next to your body and stretch when you move, while Length Locks allow you to adjust the bag to your height, creating a comfortable cocoon of fill around your feet.

Visit klymit.com/collections/sleeping-bags/products/ ksb-0-sleeping-bag-1.

The Critter Getters

In the last couple years, the outdoor and recreational businesses have exploded because people were trying to find any way possible to get outdoors and away from all the craziness of the coronavirus in the crowded cities. At that time our outdoor ministry exploded with parents and kids who wanted to spend time on the ranches we outfit. The most popular game animals were an assortment of hogs, javelina, coyotes, bobcats and rabbits. Of course, the kids had a blast chasing the critters around the countryside and the shared stories were worth the price of admission.

Of course, kids would like to take trophy animals, but if they can be outside and hunting for just about anything, they’re extremely excited and motivated. They can learn so much hunting varmints that will translate to hunting bigger animals when given that opportunity. The time spent working on their outdoor skills is key to getting to the next level. All of these animals are extremely cautious, and teaching the kids about wind direction, smells, concealment, controlled breathing, hunting from shooting sticks, or just staying quiet and listening, is very important.

Over the years we have hosted thousands of kids, and as long as the kids are getting some trigger time and camaraderie, they’re in outdoor heaven. We spend tons of time plinking with .22 rifles on the range because it’s cheaper and the ammo goes a lot further. Also, using a .22 builds confidence in the kids’ shooting abilities, as well as the lack of recoil and noise, and it doesn’t scare the kids like a big rifle might. Once they have confidence, it turns into hunting success. We have dulled a lot of hunting knives cleaning the critters the kids take.

We want the kids involved in the whole field-to-table process.

The idea of teaching kids hunting skills on varmints roaming our Texas ranches is really a great idea. It not only gets them outdoors, it helps with ranch management. Lots of lessons and techniques can be applied. At the same time, you can teach them “in-the-field” skills they need to learn about game cleaning, caping and quartering the animals they shoot.

So many of these animals are extremely good to eat and helping kids learn to prepare the animals for the table is very important. On our hunts we will often kill a hog and smoke it on the grill for hours, and the kids absolutely love the entire process. They particularly love the eating part as they tear through the tasty morsels of backstrap, ribs and tenders. It’s something often overlooked and I’m here to tell you that you want to learn about cooking wild game. I think it’s so important to share recipes, and it’s a huge part of our hunting process.

Here’s one of our favorite recipes:

FERAL HOG GUISADA

2 bell peppers 2 large onions

1 jar of mole 4 serrano peppers

1 50 lb. feral hog salt

fajita seasoning chili powder

Start with a young feral hog diced up in 1⁄2-inch size. Using a wash pot or large 5 gal. pot, pour about 1 cup of Wesson oil in the pot.

Dice up the bell peppers and onions. Fire up the pot. When the oil gets hot, place the diced bell peppers, serrano peppers and onions in the pot and lightly brown.

Place the diced feral hog in the pot and add about 1 quart of water. With a large spoon, stir and cook for about one hour.

Add salt, fajita seasoning and chili powder to your taste.

Add the jar of mole and continue stirring to keep the meat from sticking.

Add water as needed to have a gravy texture. Cook for an additional two hours until meat gets tender.

Serve with flour tortillas and pico de gallo sauce.

A couple years ago, we went to a ranch with a group of kids to dove hunt and the hunting was very good. The kids shot a lot, and in the end, they knocked down a good number of birds. On the road back to the house we also took the time to take several cottontails, which was a load of fun.

When we got back to the camp, I taught the kids how to clean the doves as we saved the breasts and hearts. We also skinned the rabbits and prepped them for the

table. We cut the meat from the bones on the doves and rabbits and breaded them with some flour.

Instead of chicken fingers for dinner, we made toasts with our sweet teas to dove and rabbit. The kids couldn’t believe how good the meat tasted and they couldn’t wait to do it again.

As we think back on our time in the outdoors and share the stories of our youth, it goes without saying we need to get more kids outdoors. We need to share this special resource and break bread together. We need to do all we can to pull people together and enjoy each other. The kids are the future as everyone knows and getting them hooked on a big fish or spending time in the shooting sports is very important to our future.

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.

ATVs & UTVs for 2023

The list of capabilities keeps getting stronger with each year of new all-terrain vehicles and utility terrain vehicles, also known as side-by-sides. Top ratings for ATVs include a whopping 78 horsepower, 1,650 pounds of towing and 12¼ inches of ground clearance. Those are not all on the same model, of course.

On the UTV side, horsepower for gasoline engines goes up to 100, a tow rating of 4,000 pounds and 14 inches of ground clearance. One comes with a 4,500-pound winch. While one veteran manufacturer of electric-powered UTVs introduces its

Arctic Cat

Alterra 600 EPS LTD, $10,499

This one in Fossil is of five new models in the Alterra 600 line, which offers seating for one or two riders. The line features a new drivetrain, chassis and 600cc 45-horsepower engine. The one-seater EPS LTD also is available as a two-seater with the TRV. It comes with 14-inch aluminum wheels, 12¼ inches of ground clearance, composite racks, winch and locking front differential. A new steering geometry adds agility. The exhaust is routed down and out of the middle of the vehicle to keep heat off the rider. There is storage below the handlebars.

Prowler Pro Crew EPS, $16,999

This six-seat model in Medium Green continues to build on last year’s improvements including a new suspension with increased ground clearance — 13 inches — which also are on the three-person Prowler Pro series. The Prowler Pro is known for its 50-horsepower, 812cc EFI engine and comfortable ride. It also has enhanced half-shafts to match the added capabilities of the revised suspension and a new performance-tuned CVTech clutch, with tuned Trailbloc drive and Invance driven clutches for increased performance, smooth low-speed engagement and long life. All are equipped with a new bumper with integrated headlight protection and new aluminum, sevenspoke wheels.

first 4x2, another debuts its first electric 4x4, which produces 110 horsepower, 140 foot-pounds of torque and an upgraded model with a range up to 80 miles.

Two new models from one manufacturer include such automotive-inspired features as leather seats, touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, Bluetooth, Sirius XM and a seven-speaker sound system. Electric power steering — or EPS — which provides assistance to reduce effort, bump steer and rider fatigue, is featured on more and more models. Manufacturers’ suggested retail prices are listed.

Argo XTV

www.argoxtv.com

Xplorer XR 700 LE, $9,399

This line is built around a 695cc liquid-cooled, EFI engine and an automatic CV transmission, independent double A-arm suspension with seven inches of travel in the front, 7.4 inches in the rear and a front differential lock. Steel racks can carry 114 pounds in the front and 209 pounds in the rear. Towing capacity is 1,000 pounds. Ground clearance is 10.2 inches. The digital instrument panel displays odometer, speedometer, tripmeter, RPM, transmission position, two-wheel drive/ four-wheel lock indicator, fuel gauge, temperature, low-battery, high beam and check engine lights. It’s available in red or green, shown here.

Magnum XF 500, $10,299

This two-seat line features a 443cc liquid-cooled EFI engine and independent double A-arm suspension with 6.9 inches of travel in the front and 6.8 inches in the rear. The Magnum XF features a tilt steering wheel, multi-function digital display, painted plastics, EPS, 25-inch aluminum wheels on Duro tires and a 3,000-pound winch. The cargo box can carry 441 pounds and features a dump-assist shock and cargo mat. It can tow 1,200 pounds. Like the Xplorer, it features an electronic two-wheel drive/four-wheel switch and a front differential lock. Ground clearance is 10 inches.

B y John Goodspeed

arcticcat.txtsv.com/offroad

Can-Am Off Road

can-am.brp.com/off-road

Outlander 850 Hunting Edition, $13,049

This model comes in Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo with 26-inch Carlisle ACT HD six-ply tires. The 854cc Vtwin Rotax engine puts out 78 horsepower. Features include heated grips and throttle with wind deflectors, a 3,500-pound winch, Visco-Lok QE auto-locking front differential and TriMode Dynamic Power Steering. The front rack can hold 100 pounds with 200 pounds in the rear. The racks support the LinQ quick-attach accessory system. It can tow 1,650 pounds. Ground clearance is 12 inches. The front suspension is arched double A-arm with 9.2 inches of travel. Rear is an independent torsional trailing arm with 9.9 inches of travel.

Commander Max XT 1000R, $24,199

Also wearing Mossy Oak Break-Up Country camo, this fourseater is powered by a 100-horsepower 976cc Rotax V-twin and rides on 28-inch XPS Trail King tires on 12-inch aluminum wheels. Ground clearance is 13 inches. The arched double A-arm front suspension can travel 15 inches, the same as the arched torsional trailing arm rear. The cargo box can carry 600 pounds. It can tow 2,000 pounds. It comes with a 4,500-pound winch, dynamic power steering, tilt steering wheel and a ViscoLok QE auto-locking front differential. The Max XT also comes in Oxford Blue and Triple Black.

Honda Powersports

Pioneer 1000-6 Deluxe Crew, $21,899

This new addition features seating for six with extra shoulder room in the rear, thanks to the center seat moved forward. The tilt bed can handle 1,000 pounds. Tow rating is 2,500 pounds. Ground clearance is 12.6 inches. Suspension is independent double-wishbone front and rear, with a travel of 10½ inches and 10 inches respectively. It’s powered by a 999cc Unicam parallel-twin engine and Dual Clutch Transmission with six forward gears and four drive modes — two-wheel, four-wheel, turf and differential lock. Features include EPS, tilt steering wheel, self-leveling rear suspension and a pre-wiring package for the addition of such accessories as a winch.

HuntVe huntve.com

Onrange 4x2, $17,900

The pioneer in electric UTVs continues to blaze a trail in 2023 with its first 4x2, which is powered by a 72-volt, 18-horsepower electrical system. The new model is perfect for areas where four-wheel drive is not needed while the stealthiness of an electric motor can provide an edge. Features include speeds up to 25 mph, a power dump bed, LED headlights and tail lights, 110-volt on-board battery charger, charge meter, four-wheel independent suspension, 25-inch six-ply tires and optional EPS. The twoseater’s capacity is 950 pounds. Color options are Black, Montana Blue, Sage Green, Orange, Fire Red and Realtree camo.

powersports.honda.com

John Deere

XUV835R Signature Edition Gator

Utility Vehicle, $32,619

John Deere unveiled two new Signature Edition Gators, the one shown here and the diesel-powered XUV865R ($41,199). Both take the line of utility vehicles to the next level with such premium, automotive-inspired features as leather seats and grab handles; touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, Bluetooth, Sirius XM and Harman Kardon sevenspeaker sound system; rear-facing camera; roof-mounted LED driving lights; and a sliding rear window. Those amenities join such previous features as climate-controlled cab, easier shifting and switch differential lock. Both models share specifications including a 1,000-pound cargo box, 4,000-pound towing and independent dual A-arm suspension front and rear with eight and nine inches of travel, respectively.

Kawasaki Motors Corp.

Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS, $11,999

This flagship line with the model here sporting Realtree Xtra Green Camo is equipped with a 749cc V-twin engine and Engine Break Control, which automatically compensates for CVT belt wear to maintain consistent engagement and applies engine braking when descending hills. The Variable Limited-Slip Front Differential allows control of torque to the front wheels. The front and rear suspension are double wishbone with 6.7 and 7½ inches of

travel, respectively. Ground clearance is 9.4 inches. The front rack can hold 88 pounds while the rear can carry 176 pounds. Towing is rated at 1,250 pounds.

Mule PRO-FXT EPS, $19,099

kawasaki.com

Polaris Industries

Sportsman 570, $7,999

Saying the Sportsman is the No. 1-selling automatic 4x4 ATV, Polaris points to such reasons as smooth ride, good handling and ground clearance of 11½ inches. The 570, shown here in Polaris Pursuit Camo, is powered by a 567cc, single cylinder Prostar engine that generates 44 horsepower and helps provide a tow rating of 1,350 pounds. Front suspension is a MacPherson strut with 8.2 inches of travel. Rear is a dual A-arm with 9½ inches of travel. On-Demand AWD can sense wheel spin and automatically deliver power to the wheels for traction. The front rack can hold 90 pounds with 180 pounds on the rear.

Suzuki Motor of America

suzuki.com

KingQuad 750AXi Power Steering SE, $11,249

Suzuki continues to evolve its iconic KingQuad, shown here in True Timber Kanati Camouflage. It’s powered by a 722cc single-cylinder engine coupled with a torque-sensing limitedslip front differential

Yamaha Motorsports U.S.A.

www.yamahamotorsports.com

Kodiak 700 EPS SE, $10,999

This special edition enhances the Kodiak with black aluminum wheels with 25-inch Maxxis tires to complement the blackpainted plastics and a factory-installed 2,500-pound Warn VRX 25 winch. It’s powered by a 686cc engine tuned for low rpms coupled to the CVT Ultramatic Transmission with all-wheel braking. The limited-slip four-wheel drive can be locked with the push of a button. With a tow rating of 1,322 pounds, it can carry 110 pounds on the front rack and 198 pounds on the rear. Suspension front and rear is independent double wishbone with 7.1 inches and 9.1 inches, respectively. Ground clearance is 10.8 inches.

Ranger XP Kinetic Premium, $24,999

With the introduction of the three-seat XP Kinetic, Polaris debuts its first electric powertrain with a 14.9kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers 110 horsepower and 140 foot-pounds of torque with an estimated range of up to 45 miles. Another model, the Ultimate ($29,999) has a range of up to 80 miles. The Premium comes with an on-board three-kW battery charger. It only is available in Icy Blue Pearl. Both models share some specifications including a tow rating of 2,500 pounds, box capacity of 1,250 pounds, ground clearance of 14 inches and dual A-arm front and rear suspension with 10 inches of travel.

with a differential-lock system. Features include Quadmatic CVT-type automatic transmission, engine-braking system and cargo rack covers that are removable for mounting accessories or other gear. Independent A-arm/I-beam suspension front and rear both can travel 7.7 inches. The gas shocks have a five-way spring preload adjustment. Ground clearance is 10.2 inches. It comes with mounts and wire conduit to aid winch installation.

Viking EPS Ranch Edition, $16,399

The Ranch Edition features Copper Metallic painted bodywork, complementary-colored aluminum wheels, a hard top, rearview mirror, under-seat storage and a large-capacity air intake system to aid performance. The air cleaner box is accessible from inside. The middle seat is set back for driver and passenger comfort. Padded head rests and three-point seatbelts are included. It is powered by a 686cc engine and the CVT Ultramatic Transmission.

The steel bed’s capacity is 600 pounds. Towing capacity is 1,500 pounds. Front and rear suspension is independent double wishbone with 81 inches of travel. Ground clearance is 11.8 inches.

The Laguna Madre, which runs from Corpus Christi all the way down to the Mexican border, can harbor loads of ducks one day and seemingly none the next. However, South Texas almost always has the highest concentration of wintering ducks in the state.

Texas waterfowl hunting has had tough times the past few seasons. The pandemic killed off the annual estimate counts performed by biologists while habitat conditions across the duck factories that are Canada and the Dakotas simply didn’t help out production.

In looking forward to another season, the prognostications almost always will rest on habitat and production again, which may be along the lines of what hunters have recently experienced.

Kevin Kraai, waterfowl program leader with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said the Lone Star state conditions last fall and winter just weren’t conducive to success across most traditionally good areas.

“In all reality, Texas is really about five different states when you start thinking about the diversity of the state and the different habitats we have north to south and east to west, so making a comment about everyone’s hunting is very difficult because it changes so much as you move around the state,”

Kraai said. “The reports overall came down to the state not having good habitat throughout most of the year.”

“Last year we saw about a 40% decline in our overall duck harvest from the previous season and about a 35% decrease in the goose harvest, which was correlative to what we had been hearing. We did have some good cold fronts that moved through later in the season that helped some hunters out, but by and far, it was pretty frustrating for a lot of people. As a whole, we were down a good bit from the previous seasons.”

Much like deer hunters targeting high-success areas such as the Hill Country and South Texas, it’s imperative for waterfowl hunters to do the same. Kraai noted South Texas remains tops in the state for a variety of reasons.

“When we do our mid-winter surveys to get the 10,000-footlook at the overall outlook, we do it using our five different ecoregions across the state that are divided up based on habitat,” Kraai said. “The Gulf Coast marshes and prairies area is that area that runs from about Beaumont all the way down the coast to Corpus Christi. That includes all the bays and estuaries, and includes the famed rice and agricultural regions further inland from the coast.

“This is arguably our most important waterfowl region in the state and it’s where most of our hunters occur and most of our harvest occurs. Historically it’s also one of the most important areas in all of North America for wintering waterfowl. Most of our public lands for waterfowl hunting that the state owns and operates are in this landscape.”

Kraai also pointed out another South Texas ecoregion can harbor waterfowl.

“The sand plain region that starts south of Corpus Christi and runs to Brownsville does feature isolated, playa-type wetlands when we have good moisture and when they do get good rain they can be very good for waterfowl hunting,” Kraai said. “If you go slightly west into the brush country, the habitat is similar to the Rolling Plains where there are lots of agricultural water features and stock ponds that can hold ducks and there’s not a lot of pressure.”

Kraai noted the duck life cycle can play a large role in waterfowl distribution as some will seek out refuge in non-traditional areas.

Getting away from the masses, if possible, can mean the difference between having decoying ducks and not. It’s always great to have a retriever, too!

“One thing hunters may not think about much is that once you get to a certain point in your annual life cycle and you pair with a mate, you don’t want to be around other ducks,” Kraai said. “You don’t want your mate stolen so you’re going to run off and hide, and that has huge impacts on duck behavior and hunter success, especially as you get later in the season. The really healthy ducks like hens with a lot of fat and dealing with molt aren’t going to be gregarious and the last thing they want to do is go land with a bunch of plastic look-alikes.

“That means those birds are going to leave larger, more traditional areas and seek out smaller ponds and bodies of water.”

Kraai said that hot and dry conditions that have dominated Texas for most of the spring and summer months actually can help once moisture does come through.

“We focus a lot on wetlands habitat and those areas do need a dry period so that they can grow foods for waterfowl. It kinds of helps reset the table for those vital habitats,” Kraai said. “When it’s dry that also allows those land managers who focus on ducks to get in there and do soil disturbance and land maintenance that they can’t do when it’s wet. When we look at a lot of public waterfowl hunting habitats, the dry months help expose shorelines and those shorelines are growing duck foods rapidly.”

Most coastal duck hunts run by guides are from airboats. They always bring along extra hunting buddies as well.

Waterfowl Hunting Safety Checklist

• Duck and goose hunting bring inherent dangers that shouldn’t be overlooked. Here are safety aspects to consider during winter hunts, especially on larger bodies of water:

• Always make plans with your family and friends; never go hunting without telling somebody where you’re going and when you expect to return.

Texas Duck, Goose and Sandhill Crane Bag Limits

Duck Bag Limit: 6/day in the aggregate to include no more than 5 mallards (of which only 2 may be hens), 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 1 pintail, 1 scaup, 1 “dusky duck” (mottled, black or Mexican-like) may only be taken after the first 5 days of the season in the respective zones. Mergansers: 5/day with no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Coots: 15/day. Possession limit is 3 times the daily bag limit for all migratory game birds except snow geese which have no possession limit.

Goose Bag Limit: 5 dark geese, to include no more than 2 white-fronted geese, 10 light geese (no possession limit on light geese).

Sandhill Crane Bag Limit: Zones A and B: Bag Limit: 3, possession limit 9; Zone C: Bag Limit: 2, possession limit 6.

• Have safety gear on standby in your boat or in your vehicle near where you’re hunting, including extra warm clothing, food and water, first-aid kit and extra phone(s).

• Carry your cellphone in some type of waterproof bag or box, and make sure it’s accessible should you need to call for help or relay your location.

• Always wear a certified personal flotation device when running or paddling a boat.

• Never run a boat that’s overloaded, and if you’re hunting open-water areas that can blow up quickly, make sure you’re operating a craft big enough to get out of bad weather conditions

• Be aware of every firearm’s location, treat every shotgun like it’s loaded and never swing into an unsafe line of fire, especially if you’re hunting with others in tight quarters, which includes most duck blind situations.

STORY

Steve Siddons (left) with Stanton Smith and Smith’s aoudad.

My first cousin, Steve Siddons, made an off-hand comment to me at the dinner table during our gun hunt at Fox Canyon Ranch in the Davis Mountains of West Texas. He mentioned he was staying through the whole nine days so he could hunt with his son-in-law, Kerby Smith, and his grandson, Stanton Smith, during the “relatives only” part of our hunt. I told him I got my son-in-law, Chris Goodwin, and my grandson, William Goodwin, coming at the same time.

I asked Steve, “How old is Stanton?” He replied, “Sixteen. How old is William?” With a smile, I said, “Sixteen.” Now this could be fun, and we would have the whole ranch to ourselves, just the six of us!

Thursday

Everyone arrived Thursday. On our first afternoon, Chris, William and I headed for the area we call the “Dish,” while Steve, Kerby and Stanton headed up Prizer Canyon. We Dish hunters saw a few whitetail does and small bucks. Nothing worthy for the likes of seasoned hunters.

On our return to the lodge, we immediately learned the Prizer Canyon hunters hit pay dirt. Stanton killed a nice aoudad ram with one shot. Just above the second creek crossing, Kerby spotted three solo aoudad rams, about 200 yards, up on the left side of the canyon. The rams had spotted the hunters and were heading around the point and out of sight.

Stanton quickly jumped up into the high seat of Steve’s Mule, rested Kerby’s .338 on a backpack, aimed, and pulled the trigger. KaBoom! The third ram in the line went down. We had a big time celebrating at the lodge on our first night.

Friday

Steve and I had planned ahead for the Friday hunt. Our friend Robert Borgers had hunted the meadow halfway up Solomon Canyon a week earlier. He was bowhunting and had made a ground blind 20 yards from the protein feeder. He was covered over by 22 mule deer, with none being trophies. That same day, Steve and I had seen 16 mule deer while hiding in a rock pile overlooking the protein feeder 190 yards below us. Seven were bucks, with one being a shooter. We had also seen a “variety pack” of 12 dif-

ferent sized feral hogs at a corn feeder, which was also within shooting distance of our rock pile vantage point.

Chris, William, and I planned to be at the rock pile before daylight. Kerby, Stanton and Steve would follow us as far as the meadow. They would park below the meadow and sneak into a pop-up camouflaged hunting tent, with three chairs, that Steve and I had erected earlier in the week for this hunt. The tent stood about 75 yards from the protein feeder.

From the rock pile, Chris, William, and I had just enough light to see two deer at the protein feeder, but not enough light to see their antlers. The next time we poked our heads over the rocks to take a look, they had vanished. Ten minutes later, we determined why they weren’t feeding. We saw several small mule deer bucks chasing four or five does on our level behind us.

One doe was in heat and the bucks weren’t giving her any time to rest. Then a larger buck appeared and took command of the situation, flashing his antlers and blocking the smaller bucks from the hot doe. We deliberated about whether he was a shooter buck.

Steve and I had seen a bigger buck in this same area a couple of days before, so William decided not to pull the trigger. But the closer we got, the bigger the buck seemed to get. And he refused to leave. And the show just went on and on.

Finally, in total defiance, the buck stood broadside, held still for an eternity, and I could see he was a 10-point and he got bigger by the second. I couldn’t take it any longer and I muttered, “Kill him!” William’s .300 Win. Mag. rifle immediately reported. The buck dropped like a stone, with one shot through the heart.

We caped and butchered him on the spot, took a few pictures, and received a call on our radio from the other hunters who had heard the shot. We gave them our location and they soon arrived for the post kill celebration over William’s deer. Afterwards we all headed to the top of the mountain to have a campfire smoked bratwurst lunch at camp.

Afterwards, we split up. Steve took Kerby and Stanton and headed toward Antenna Mountain, close to where he had once killed a monster mule deer buck while “guided” by his wife, Carol. My team headed to the Dish, an hour and a half away,

William Goodwin with his 10-point mule deer buck.

with whitetail on our mind.

The corn feeder would go off at 5:30 p.m. and we were back to full-bore hunting mode. I told William and Chris I couldn’t remember anyone getting a mule deer, aoudad and whitetail on the same hunt on the ranch in my 45 years of hunting it. We talked about how gluttonous it sounded. A few moments later, a large 10-point whitetail jumped the feeder fence. His head was down and he stood broadside. His rack was well outside his ears, and his tines were long, all except his G-4s. He needed another year or two before reaching “monstrous” status, so we agreed to let him live to do exactly that.

Saturday

Our alarms went off at 5 a.m. on our last day to hunt. It was foggy and raining. Steve’s group went to the pop-up tent in the meadow for one more try. With the bad weather, the deer patterns had changed.

They saw eight does and zero bucks and decided to head to the red rock pile above the protein feeder. After considerable glassing of the area, they found two mule deer bucks bedded down in the rainy fog. Stanton took a shot at one of them. After lunch, Steve’s team headed to the mesa, while my team headed for the lodge, where I took a mandatory nap while Chris and William checked out the Army-Navy game.

While we relaxed at the lodge, Steve’s team was rounding the point above Buck Hollow. Kerby spotted deer on the mesa at least 1,000 yards away. They were too far away to tell how big the deer were, so the group planned to drive part of the way before starting their stalk. They turned left just past Buck Hollow, onto the mesa road and had gone about a 100 yards when three mule deer bucks started crossing the road, right to left, 30 to 40 yards in front of them.

They could tell all three were good bucks, so Steve hollered for Stanton to shoot. He did, and the bucks continued down the canyon on the left, with Kerby and Stanton in hot pursuit.

Steve went to the spot where the deer stood when Stanton took the shot. He found a blood trail a foot wide, leading to the dead buck, only 10 yards away.

He sent up a howl that quickly brought Kerby and Stanton back up the canyon. They stood there a long time, admiring Stanton’s impressive kill before caping the head and taking the meat. He had killed a trophy Trans-Pecos mule deer buck.

Mid-afternoon, my team was ready to re-enter the hunt. We would return to the Dish in hope of killing a big whitetail. I grabbed a couple things to take with us when Chris and William hollered, “There’s a giant aoudad walking toward the lodge feeder!” I put my glasses on him.

He was big, old and alone. He had battle scars on his horns and his hide. He seemed to not see us or ignored us as he walked towards the feeder as we inched down the road on foot. There was nothing for William to brace on.

I went to my Jeep for my shooting stick as Chris assumed a sitting knee brace. He told William, “The heart on an aoudad is a couple of inches lower and a couple of inches forward compared to a mule deer.” As I headed for my Jeep, I turned to William and told him if he saw it standing broadside, don’t wait for me to get back, but assume the sitting knee brace position and squeeze the trigger.

I got the shooting stick and as I turned to take it to him, I heard the loud report of his .300 Win. Mag. I saw the aoudad hit the ground and not make another move. As we approached the ram, we could see the bullet hole, 2 inches lower and 2 inches forward of the placement for a mule deer. A perfect heart shot.

To shorten a long capping story, let’s just say I did the cutting, while Chris and William sharpened knives and kept the flashlight in just the right position. Under those conditions it took an hour to finish the job, and at 78 years of age, I was “stumbling tired” when I finished.

The best horn on William’s ram measured 32 inches. The tip of the other horn had been torn to shreds from fighting or from some God-awful wreck on one of our mountains, or both.

We returned home on Sunday, but we stopped in Abilene to drop off two aoudad and two mule deer at Steve’s favorite taxidermist. If Steve and I had scripted the perfect hunt, it couldn’t have been much better than this one. Plenty of action, plenty of success, and plenty of memories.

Stanton with his mule deer.

William and his aoudad.

Mountain lions kill mule deer, but the effects of predation on deer populations depend on many interrelated factors.

V alentina a le J andra t orres

Throughout history many carnivores, such as mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, mountain lions, coyotes, golden eagles, wolves, and transient jaguars preyed on mule deer in the Southwest. The population-level effects of these predators are variable and depend on how productive the deer population is, the ratio of predators to prey, what other predators are present, and what other prey species are also feeding the local predators. These predator-prey relationships are complicated because deer population fluctuations are not simply a matter of one factor determining deer abundance. Today’s deer managers must understand the current assemblage of predators and consider their potential impact as part of a holistic management program.

Predation is a complex and contentious subject that can cause friction between researchers, wildlife managers, and the public. Often it seems that biologists keep pointing to weather and habitat while some members of the public believe agencies are simply reluctant to do anything about the predator problem. There’s good reason for confusion and the apparent split between the “habitat” and “predator” camps. The effects of predators on southwestern mule deer herds are so complicated that you can find scientific studies to reinforce any view you have on predators, if you’re selective. Unfortunately, the truth behind how and when predators affect mule deer populations is mired in details.

The habitat-predator connection

In reality, “habitat” and “predators” are simply two parts of a complex equation that describes what makes deer populations fluctuate. One basic ecological principle called “carrying capacity” is at the heart of understanding the relationship between habitat quality and predators. Skipping the technical jargon, let’s just say when the habitat cannot support any more deer, then fawns saved from the jaws of coyotes will die from something else. For example, consider the mule deer killed by mountain lions in an over-populated herd right before a bad drought or harsh winter. Since a lot of deer will die of starvation or malnutrition during those harsh conditions, those killed earlier by lions did not have any effect on the number of deer

the next year. When the deer population is well below the maximum carrying capacity of the habitat, then there’s enough food, water and cover to support those deer saved from preda-

tors. Since drought conditions and carrying capacity fluctuate dramatically from year to year, it’s difficult to predict whether the habitat will be able to support more deer six months from now. This makes it difficult to forecast how effective a predator management program will be.

The interaction between predation and habitat carrying capacity is illustrated well by a New Mexico lion study, where removing more than half the lion population was followed by a severe drought. In this case, they saw no benefit to mule deer fawn recruitment or adult survival because the habitat couldn’t support the deer saved from predation. If mountain lion population reduction had been done for the purposes of increasing deer abundance, it would have been a waste of time and money.

Predator impacts

When deer populations decline, predators become a focus of concern because they can kill considerable numbers of deer. Mountain lions are the most important predators of adult mule deer, but coyotes can kill a large number of young fawns. These

Paying attention while in the field can help determine what predators are in the area and represent sources of deer mortality.

two predator species garner most of the attention when it comes to predation on mule deer in the Southwest. Elsewhere in the West, grizzlies, wolves, black bears, bobcats, and golden eagles kill mule deer at varying degrees. Of these, only black bears at locally high densities and wolves on islands have been shown to substantially influence mule deer abundance.

Predators certainly can and do affect deer populations, but just because they’re affecting deer populations doesn’t mean they’re the primary factor regulating how many deer we have. Predators have been shown to accelerate deer declines caused by poor habitat conditions—drought or harsh winter—and delay the recovery of deer populations. However, coyotes and mountain lions don’t suddenly cause declines of mule deer populations living in good habitat.

Knowing when to manage predators

One cannot make any wide-sweeping generalizations about how predators affect mule deer populations because of the variability of their environment. We can say with confidence predators eat deer, and beyond that, we need to get into the details. Predators certainly are an important part of the ecosystem as a whole, but that doesn’t free them from the need to be

managed. Wildlife biologists spend a lot of time managing prey populations, so it only makes sense we also manage predator populations when needed.

Experiments that exclude coyotes from an area are often followed by an increase in the deer population, indicating coyotes depressed deer abundance. If you could duplicate that and remove 100% of the predators from an area, and the habitat can support more deer, the deer population will increase. However, what can be done in a small research enclosure is impossible to replicate cost effectively on a statewide level or even a few counties.

The fact is, there’s a place for predator management, but managers should implement predator reduction plans only when there is a high probability for success in accomplishing a clearly defined goal. Killing predators in a vague attempt to blindly “help the deer” is not likely to accomplish anything that would be noticed on annual deer surveys. No predator management should be done without some long-term monitoring of deer populations and an understanding of what actually affects them. Documenting the conditions when predator management does or does not work will help achieve wildlife management goals without unnecessary waste of time and money, and will help avoid conflict with the media and those who don’t ever want to see a predator killed.

It would be nice if issues like predation were clear-cut, and we could all decide the best course of action for helping mule deer populations. The truth is predator-prey relationships are complicated and must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Broad-brushed general statements about the impacts of predation and predator management are not helpful without specifics.

Embrace the complexity

Deer population dynamics aren’t simply a matter of one factor determining deer abundance, but instead governed by extremely complex interrelationships among many environmental factors. This doesn’t mean we throw up our hands and give up. It means we have to make informed decisions about predator management. We must learn from the past predator management actions and look realistically at biological and logistical facts, and consider for each case whether predator management is the right tool to manage that deer population at that time.

Coyotes kill a lot of fawns every year and our effectiveness in reducing that predation loss varies with many other factors.

The Brigades Experience

By Chappell Carter

From El Paso to Bastrop and from Dalhart to Brownwood, Texas is beautiful. Its splendor derives from so many special things about our state, one of them being its diverse and beautiful wildlife and lands. Like everything in this world, the things precious to us need protection and conservation. There are countless programs across Texas dedicated to conserving the wildlife and lands of Texas and preserving the tradition of enjoying the outdoors, but there is one that looks toward the future: the Texas Brigades.

Texas Brigades is a nonprofit organization that offers programs to promote and educate youth about the conservation and sustainable practices of hunting and ranching. They hold one-day experiences for ages 9-17, the W.I.L.D. program for young adults, and most popular, their summer camps for ages 13-17. The nine camps are held all across Texas, including Coastal Brigade, Bass Brigade, Waterfowl Brigade, two Ranch Brigades, two Bobwhite Brigades, and two Buckskin Brigades. These camps are an intensive five days full of conservation and leadership education, and are some of the best experiences I have ever had the chance to have.

This past June, I attended Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade as a cadet. Last summer, I participated as a cadet at Ranch Brigade, so I had a bit of an idea of what I would get into. As I arrived at the ranch, many instructors and fellow cadets greeted me, all unfamiliar with each other, yet eager for the five days ahead of us.

After we all got situated in our rooms, everyone then moved outside to meet our coveys. Cadets get split up into their own covey with a few other cadets, an assistant covey leader who had been a cadet at Rolling Plains Bobwhite Brigade the past summer, and a covey leader, an adult who has a passion for the conservation field. These coveys work together during field work, group activities, and various competitions. As I acclimated with all the people in my Bobwhite covey, we gathered for our first activity.

One might think we just do a simple ice breaker or something of that type to get started, but no. We walked down to a pavilion and proceeded to dissect a bobwhite and a blue quail. To start, we learned how to correctly determine age by the primary covert feathers and examined basic external anatomy. But before I knew it, we were dissecting the birds and following the digestive tract and discussing quail reproduction. Mind you, this was just in the first few hours of camp!

Furthermore, over the next five days of camp, we learned lots of new things. From 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., we experienced

everything—marching, how to work as a team, dog training, GPS, GIS, how to be a good TV and radio interviewee, prescribed burning, habitat evaluation, and so much more. One of my favorite things we learned was radio telemetry, which is an extremely useful and important conservation tool that has been used since the 1970s. It’s great for determining quail movement patterns, which can provide information about survival, mortality, habitat usage, reproduction, and movement. Although some might think this is an inefficient process or think that radio technology is outdated when compared to GPS, radio telemetry is much more cost effective.

The telemetry process starts when quail are captured and

Chappell uses a Yagi antenna to search for his covey’s radiocollared quail.

Chappell and his covey pose for a picture with a taxidermy bobwhite.

then a radio collar is put around each bird’s neck. Each of these collars has its own frequency signal that it emits. These birds are then released, and after a desired amount of time, the researcher can go out with a receiver with a three element Yagi antenna and track the birds. After the receiver is set to the bird’s unique frequency, the researcher walks or drives around with the antenna listening for “beeps” from the receiver. The louder and clearer the beeps, the closer one is to the quail.

Once the researcher has either recaptured each bird or thinks they have a good idea of where they are, their location can be plotted and therefore data is collected. A researcher can plot each quail’s location as often or as many times as wanted. At camp, we took part in this same process, and shortly after our dissection, each covey was given a pen-raised quail and a radio transmitter collar.

Once the collar was attached, the birds were released. On the third day of camp, we went out into the field and tracked down our bird. After a quick hike, we were able to locate our quail and retrieve the collar.

Overall, my Texas Brigades experience has been one of the most influential things I have done. Not only have I learned so much about conservation, but I have a newfound passion and have met some of my best friends through the program. In the end, Texas Brigades is doing its part to fulfill their mis -

days.

sion 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.”

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.

Chappell and his covey pose with the bobwhite quail they radio-collared. They’ll release the quail and search for him in a few

There’s a reason they’re called mountain caribou and mountain grizzlies. They’re not to be confused with their lowland brethren. They live in inhospitable terrain ranging from vertical mountain peaks reaching skyward to winding streams resembling blue satin ribbons meandering through rugged valley floors. There are crystal clear lakes with diamond like sparkles in the sunlight. And there’s the towering Alaska Yukon moose with antlers shining like two sheets of sun-bleached plywood in the afternoon sun on a mountainside. This is the Yukon.

While standing in the valley floor with my guide, Will Schenn, we were looking at a majestic mountain caribou bedded on the top of a 6,000-foot peak above us. As he turned his head, all we could see was a tangled mass of antler points protruding from the center of his brow. Will said, “I have never seen a shovel that large in all my years of guiding.”

We were back on our third adventure, hunting at Misty Lake with Jim Shockey’s Rogue River Outfitters. My wife Vicki, my son Bill III, and I were on a third trip for a mixed bag hunt. I can never get enough of the visions of dancing Northern Lights,

The author’s son, Billy, with his first Yukon moose. The moose had a 60-inch spread.

clear sparkling lakes, rugged mountain peaks and nature’s kaleidoscope of colors on the steep mountainsides.

Having just arrived the day prior, I was remembering an old saying, “Don’t pass up the first day what you would shoot on the last day.” For me, it is never about having to shoot something; it is more about the challenge and experience. When Will looked at me and asked, “Are you up for the climb?” My answer was, “Yes, but don’t expect me to be the first one there!”

Will told me earlier about some clients not wanting to pursue any game in difficult areas. Even though I’m an old fart, I wasn’t about to miss the adventure of a vertical climb to have a chance at an awesome animal. While climbing, I would whisper to Will to stop and when ready to go, would say, “OK.” It was like eating an elephant. Take one bite, or in this case, one step at a time.

Upon reaching the summit, two smaller caribou trotted off, which prompted the larger one to become wary. As the group began easing away to our right over the summit, Will held his hands in the air as if he were signaling for a touchdown. Caribou are curious animals, and these were no different. It allowed enough time for a shot, which sent the bull caribou sliding and tumbling straight down the mountainside more than 100 feet. Upon approaching him, it was all we could do to keep him from continuing his slide once we tried to move him. Finally, we took our photos while doing our best to hold him in place. Our biggest challenge getting him to the bottom was not to become human bowling pins mixed up in a concoction of antlers and fur.

A couple days later while we were glassing for moose from a mountaintop, Billy spotted two grizzly bears down below on a sandbar. One was guarding a caribou kill while the other, a female, paced back and forth about 50 safe yards away from the boar. He stood in the river with body language screaming to the sow that “you are not welcome here.” Reducing the distance from thousands of yards down to 125, it was now or never as Will set up the shooting sticks. The first shot from my Kimber .325 WSM anchored the bear, and I added some insurance. The bruin was a chocolate brown bear with contrasting silver tips. Apparently, a pack of wolves had killed a very big bull caribou and the grizzly, being the apex predator, had claimed it as his own.

The moose that had been hanging around behind camp the day before and the day we arrived decided he did not want to be part of the table fare the next evening and left for parts unknown during the night. After a couple days of glassing the valleys for a big bull moose, Pierre Duc, one of our guides who’s a Swiss immigrant trapper now living off the grid near Whitehorse, spotted our quarry across the valley on a mountainside.

We hastily devised a plan for getting close for a shot. We wrestled our way through a seemingly interwoven jungle of head-high willows which might as well have posted no trespassing signs. It was raining while we were getting in position for the stalk. We eventually spooked a cow, which turned the quarry into an apparition that wanted no part of our surprise attack. We made the seven-mile Argo ride back to camp tired and empty handed.

Will, Bob Stacey—Billy’s guide from the prior trip to Misty— and Pierre suggested we move farther south for spotting, hoping to spot a sufficient sized moose to stalk. After stopping on a hillside to glass across the valley, we immediately located a big bull and it was game on. Bob and Billy were again attempting to move into position for a shot.

Finally, after an hour or so game of cat-and-mouse, the bull passed by at 70 yards. Bob was saying it was only a too-small,

The author (left) shot this caribou. He and his guide, Will, did their best to hold it in place for the photo.

mid-50-inch bull and not to shoot. Bob must have been psychic. As they were passing on that shot, Will and I spotted a larger moose a couple miles downriver from our vantage point. After a teethchattering ride bouncing down the river bottom, we were on a knoll, glassing for the massive cervid spotted earlier.

We spotted part of a white antler tip at the base of a hillside, sending Bob along with Billy off again, slowly maneuvering through the labyrinth of tangled mass, head-high willow bushes that covered the terrain. Like a couple days previously, the moose sensed something was not right when ptarmigan were flushed by the pair and the animals headed for parts unknown, with Will and me looking on helplessly.

As Bob and Billy were headed back to the Argos, Will and I spotted another equally impressive bull where the previous one had just made a hasty departure. We frantically attempted to give them hand signals, probably resembling hip hop dancers, hoping they would spot the big bull, which had seen Billy and Bob. Because we could not tell if they could see him or not, we were anxiously watching the events as they unfolded.

The big bull wanted no part of them and was turning to make a hasty retreat when they spotted him and started calling. I was frantically waving the yellow firearms case from the Argo, trying to replicate the movements of a moose antler. The moose stopped and turned, allowing Billy to fire a quick shot from his Model 70 Winchester in .300 WSM, striking the shoulder and knocking the moose down. Will and I were watching the action from about 500 yards away. We were stunned as we watched the bull get back up and slowly walk away. Two more shots and Billy had his first Alaska Yukon

moose, which measured 60 inches wide.

The 14-mile ride back to camp, as the crow flies, was highlighted with flashes of color in the sky as only mother nature can create from her palette known as the northern lights. They rocked the evening with greens and purples, leaving our very tired souls feeling very much alive. It was as if a giant disco ball were spinning in the heavens. We arrived back at camp for a 1:30 a.m. dinner with a large glass of celebratory wine. We were both worn out and exuberant from the day’s hunt. Will there be a fourth trip? Who knows? But one thing is certain: Once you have experienced the Yukon, you will always want to return. Your body may leave, but your mind and being will never escape its awe.

The author with his trophy bear.

According to the author (pictured), duck hunting has a learning curve. You can learn through trial and error, or you can start hunting with a seasoned duck hunter.

Your alarm goes off as you fumble around to turn it off while getting out of bed. It was a short night, and you feel sluggish as you make your way to the coffee pot. You put on assorted clothes, load up your gear, and head out to your favorite duck hunting spot. The wind and water are cold as you wade about, placing decoys. Afterwards, sitting in the dark, you wonder, “Why would anyone subject themselves to this?” You begin to question your sanity as you wait for the sun to come up over the lakeside mesquites.

You hear wings cutting through the cool morning air as the birds fly past. You hear them splash down as they land around you, and listen to them whistle and make feeding calls as they swim about. The negatives get quickly replaced by positives, and all is forgotten. As the sun comes up and legal shooting time arrives, the action begins as more birds circle the decoy spread. The rest of the morning is exhilarating as the best wing shooting imaginable unfolds.

Duck hunting has gained some popularity in recent years as more people venture outdoors to experience one of Texas’ oldest hunts. The Duck Dynasty TV series brought duck hunting into American homes from 2012-2017, and featured the Robert-

son family living their lives in Louisiana, while duck hunting and making duck calls for the family business. The successful TV series provided a new appreciation for duck calling and hunting.

Historically, duck hunting in Texas is one of the oldest wingshooting sports, but has been overshadowed by dove, quail, and turkey hunting. Inland duck hunting is often overlooked, resulting in many hunters missing out on great wingshooting on inland lakes and stock tanks. Like a lot of hunting, it may not be for everyone and is certainly more involved than some of the other hunts. But for those who enjoy wingshooting and consider themselves well-rounded sportspersons, it should be given close consideration because inland Texas is virtually an untapped duck-hunting mecca.

From the drab appearance of a gadwall to the beautifully ornate coloring of the wood duck, the variety of species found wintering in Texas is impressive. There’s no telling what will come into a decoy spread when you’re out hunting.

There are two types of ducks: dabblers and divers. Dabbling ducks feed on, or just below, the surface by dabbling their upper half of their body under the water to reach aquatic vegeta-

The author says to think about your decoy spread because ducks will fly into the wind on their approach.

tion. Dabbling ducks can spring up off the water on take-off and include widgeons, gadwalls, mallards, mottled ducks, pintails, shovelers (“Hollywood mallards”), blue, green, and cinnamon teal, and wood ducks.

Diving ducks feed by diving completely below the surface and swimming to find aquatic vegetation and invertebrates. Diving ducks rise off the water by running across the top to gain momentum while gradually becoming airborne. Divers include buffleheads, canvasbacks, common and hooded mergansers, redheads, ring-necked ducks, ruddy ducks, and scaup. Texas has a lot of prime waterfowl habitat extending from the playa lakes of the Panhandle to the miles of coastline. The Coastal Bend stretching from the Rio Grande Valley to East Texas arguably has some of the best duck hunting. Ducks are migratory waterfowl and move to satisfy their biological needs. They spend spring and summer in northern latitudes and fall and winter in southern latitudes. Migration patterns are extensive with four flyways traversing North America. Texas is positioned in the Central Flyway. During mild winters, ducks may take their time making their way down to Texas, and each winter, thousands of ducks remain inland, feeding and resting on lakes and the many stock tanks.

Waterfowl require unique management strategies because their migration patterns transcend international borders. The Migratory Game Bird Treaty Act of 1918 sought to establish guidelines to apply across borders for the management of the resource. The Federal Duck Stamp followed in 1934 in an effort to help offset declining waterfowl populations. Management efforts were successful and today’s waterfowl populations are stable, and only threatened by loss of habitat from urban sprawl. Another problem is the draining of wetland areas for agriculture.

For those looking to get started duck hunting, it’s best to go with an experienced hunter to learn the ropes. Make sure your hunting license has a HIP endorsement and Federal Duck Stamp. Having the right gear is critical. Waders, an appropriate duck gun, No. 3 and No. 4 steel shotshells, decoys, and calls are a must. Be sure to wear camo because ducks have incredible eyesight. A boat will help with accessibility and a trained retriever is always nice. Watching a good dog work is enjoyable and makes retrieval a pleasant experience.

Like anything else, duck hunting has a learning curve. You can learn through trial and error, or you can start hunting with a seasoned duck hunter. Think about your decoy spread because ducks will fly into the wind on their approach. When it comes to wind, duck and deer hunting are exactly opposite.

When you’re deer hunting, you want the wind in your face. When you’re duck hunting you want the wind at your back. Take this into account when putting out your decoy spread, taking care to leave a landing zone for ducks to home in on. As ducks turn or circle, use light calling to convince them it’s the real deal. Patience is the key, and you should wait until they commit to your decoys. When you see the landing gear coming out, then it’s time to let the steel shot fly.

How many decoys? Some hunters say to use six to eight mallard decoys, with two to three pintails slightly away. Some duck hunters say you can’t have too many mallard decoys. Others use a spread of mallards and pintails—separated—with a couple of teal off to the side. It’s a hunter’s choice, but have plenty of decoys.

Duck hunting offers a unique outdoor experience that can be enjoyed by all ages. It’s extremely rewarding to see everything come together for a successful hunt. Setting out a good spread, calling, and watching the ducks cup their wings makes it all worthwhile. Texas has a lot of winter ducks, so give it a try. Duck hunting can be a lot of fun and possibly a bit addictive.

A retriever makes for an excellent hunting companion.

Sarah Wennersten: North Texas Lady Game Warden

By Judy Jurek

Game Warden Sarah Wennersten, an energetic, physically fit gal, is the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s law enforcement covering three North Texas Panhandle counties: Castro, Deaf Smith, and Parmer. Flat, open farm and ranch land, this sparsely populated area with less than 36,000 human inhabitants covers 3,300 square miles, the total combined numbers of all three counties in the western Panhandle.

Yet, the three-county area is a wildlife mecca. Whitetail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, sandhill cranes, geese, ducks, doves, quail, and pheasants call this area home, permanently and seasonally. All this and more keeps Sarah very busy.

“A Texas game warden is like a Swiss army knife of law enforcement,” she said. “Yes, we focus on and specialize in conservation law enforcement and regulations, but we also participate with traffic, criminal law, rescue operations, and educating the public. It’s something different every day.”

Sarah was born and raised near Seattle, Washington, but her mother came from the Plainview area. She grew up visiting extended family Texans. Attending Plainview’s Wayland Baptist University, she earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sports science and master’s degree in sports administration.

She ran a personal training business for eight years and became a university adjunct professor of nutrition and fitness training. Sarah always desired being in law enforcement like her policeman father. After completing training, she worked one year as a police officer near Lubbock.

Growing up hunting deer, elk, and bears, Sarah had once considered becoming a Washington State game warden. Texas looked much different than the Pacific Northwest, but after applying and getting accepted, Sarah graduated from the 63rd Texas Game Warden class in 2020.

TPWD photos

Sarah requested to work in Starr County along the U.S.-Mexico border as her first assignment because she wanted to “learn as much as quickly as possible” about being a game warden. One year later, a job opening near Plainview became available. The area’s also home to the famed XIT Ranch and other huge ranches encompassing thousands of acres.

“I pretty much went from almost as far south to as far north in Texas as possible,” Sarah said. “Not only a change of terrain but a change of climate, agriculture, people, and of course, wildlife. I believe it’s made me much more rounded as a warden to work both areas.”

Sarah says Deaf Smith County has more cattle while Castro County has more farming. Like elsewhere across Texas, things vary with rain and snowfall. There are no big public lakes but numerous city and private water sources—lots of shallow water for waterfowl.

Sarah’s work area is also pheasant, quail, and dove country. Interestingly, there are no feral hogs—yet. And no wild turkeys. “It’s so flat and open, there’s no place for them,” Sarah said.

“There’s not one species or season I prefer over others,” she

added. “Many seasons overlap. Pronghorn antelope and archery deer open early October with sandhill crane and quail opening late October. Goose, duck, general mule deer and whitetail seasons start in November. Pheasant (season) opens December.”

With the varied hunting and fishing seasons across the Lone Star state’s expanse, as well as all other related law enforcement duties, game wardens are often sent to assist other areas. “Summer is typically water safety. I enjoy going to Possum Kingdom Lake to help check boaters and fishermen,” she said.

“It’s a great way to constantly be learning. I’ve patrolled for mule deer hunters by plane, worked on the big boat offshore, and patrolled using ATVs along the border. And always, lots of walking! Game wardens are greatly diversified.”

Sarah studied hard to become a FAA licensed unmanned aerial systems drone pilot. Drone use has proven instrumental in protecting state resources, with search and rescue missions, crime scenes, and accident investigations. In addition to TPWD, she assists other law enforcement agencies.

A bird’s-eye view often assesses dangers invisible from ground level. Sarah recently used a drone to check for weapons before officers approached a suicidal subject barricaded in a vehicle. Searching large areas for crime suspects and missing persons saves manpower resources as well.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys hunting, woodworking, camping, and hiking. Her dogs, Adeara Jane and Adley Mae, help turn off her “work brain.” Sarah also helps rescue and foster other canines. Involved heavily in fitness and martial arts, she’s finishing her black belt in Shotokan karate, but currently focuses on Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Sarah laughed, “Jiu-jitsu is easier on the body.” The strict motto she lives by: “Today I will be a better version of myself than I was yesterday.”

Her advice to anyone considering a game warden career: “Maintain your fitness. Volunteer in anything for experience dealing with people,” she said. “Get comfortable engaging strangers in conversation. Physical skills will come, but building mental toughness and fortitude gives the foundation needed for success as a game warden. Do your best at every job tackled, and be disciplined in all your life’s aspects.”

Sarah said the best part of her job is freedom. “I love my job! It’s not 8 to 5; we’re on call 24/7. You change your schedule as necessary,” she said. “It’s not always writing tickets but educating the public, making sure they understand the bigger picture of conserving our state natural resources for generations to come. You stay busy.”

Removing an illegal gill net at Falcon Lake, Wennersten encountered this armored catfish. Due to people dumping aquarium fish, this suckermouth algae eater is now an invasive species in Texas’ waters.

The Journal of the Texas Trophy

Gary with his Ruger Single 7. He considers the gun his new favorite for predator hunting.

As a youngster, my heroes were Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey and Rex Allen. Saturday mornings you had the choice of these great cowboy actors as well as The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Rin Tin Tin, and Sky King. Chances were pretty good there would be gun play, though no one would be seriously hurt, and just enough to put the bad guys in jail where they belonged. I grew up with six guns strapped on my narrow hips, a feeling I’ve never outgrown. The desire to shoot handguns is part of my genetic makeup. My Great Uncle Baz Outlaw was a Texas Ranger in the late 1800s and was considered to have been one of the greatest “pistoleros” in the Old West. While no one doubted Uncle Baz’s

dexterity with a handgun, he did not always make the best decisions, as documented by Bob Alexander in the book he wrote about Baz, entitled “Whiskey River Ranger.”

I began carrying a handgun for ’coon hunting when I was 15 years old when a gentleman driving by my house saw one of my hound pups. He made a U-turn on FM 2200 and stopped to inquire if the pup was for sale. I think I had three walker pups left from that litter, so I told him I might sell him. He pulled a Ruger Single Six with interchangeable .22 rimfire and .22WMR cylinders out from under his seat to see if I would trade even. My response was, “Do you want the collar left on him or not?”

I never was very accurate with that Single Six with the fixed iron sights, but I was an excellent tree climber. After I missed a shot or two from the ground on a treed ’coon, I would climb up within shooting range and finish the job.

About 10 years ago, my weapon of choice when calling gray fox became a handgun. The Ruger Single Nine, .22 WMR with the adjustable sights and 6.5inch barrel is extremely accurate and a revolver that I’m comfortable shooting at a fox-sized target out to 40 yards. There’s an excellent population of gray foxes across the Hill Country and Edwards Plateau, anywhere there’s not a healthy population of coyotes, for coyotes eat foxes.

When targeting gray fox, I enjoy going light with just a handgun and hand calls, such as the Mini Blaster. However, I’ve found that I’m much more successful when using an electronic caller to keep the fox’s attention directed at something other than me. It’s difficult to draw and secure the target without being detected when you’re the source of the sound.

Using a decoy will also help to keep the fox’s attention away from the shooter. I use a decoy as simple as a turkey tail feather tied to a 1⁄8 -inch fiberglass rod with lightweight monofilament line. The slightest breeze will cause the feather to move and get the fox’s attention. It’s fairly common for the aggressive little critter to attack and bite the feather.

Unfortunately, a fox that’s totally fooled by the authenticity of the sound and motion stimuli of the decoy can be a difficult target for the handgunner. A

Another one of Gary’s favorite handguns for predator hunting is his Ruger 57.

fox that’s totally fooled doesn’t hold still as it darts in and out, attempting to catch its prey. When this happens, the hunter has one of two options. Sit still and wait until the fox tires and be-

ger 57. The 5.7x28mm is loaded in a couple of different ballistic tip bullets, a 27-grain and a 40-grain Hornady V-Max bullet. I prefer the 40-grain bullet because it shoots more accurately out

A simple feather draws the attention of a fox, and helps keep its attention off the hunter.

gins to lose interest. The fox will stand still, staring at the decoy and caller as it tries to understand why it can’t eat something that sounds and looks so good.

The other option to get the target to hold still is to make a squeaking sound with a call or sucking on your lip. While this practice is generally effective to make the fox stop and search for the sound in the direction away from the caller, it may not make him hold still for very long. It may cause the fox to move directly to you, which is a terrible target, or may cause the critter to spook from seeing the hunter. At any rate, be sure you’re prepared to take the shot almost as soon as you squeak.

While I’m a traditionalist and usually shoot with iron sights, I’ve found the Trijicon RMR sights are excellent for the calling game. The small dot takes a lot of the guess work out of acquiring your target because it doesn’t cover most of the target area as the iron sights do.

On a recent hunt, I traded my Single Nine .22 WMR for a Ru-

of my 57 and packs a heavy punch. I killed a wild boar hog that weighed over 200 pounds at 35 steps when I shot him square in the shoulder. I was shocked when the hog fell in his tracks, attempted to get up but couldn’t, and died in a matter of seconds.

Perhaps my new favorite predator calling handgun is the Ruger Single Seven. The Single Seven is a revolver that will shoot the .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long, .32 H&R Magnum or the .327 Federal Magnum. For predators such as fox, bobcats and coyotes, I prefer the .32 H&R Magnum because I will not attempt shots past 50 yards. Again, this is another handgun that can be much more lethal with the addition of a Trijicon RMR sight.

If you want to put a challenge into calling predators, especially gray fox, strap on your favorite sidearm. It can be a pretty humbling experience.

By the way, who was your favorite singing cowboy? Mine was Rex Allen who was also the voice on so many of the great Walt Disney films.

DROUGHT TURKEY

In lean years, one gobbler is enough

By Brandon Ray

Brandon with his 2022 Texas gobbler. Gear included a Prime Inline 3 bow, HHA Optimizer sight, QAD HDX drop-away rest, Bee Stinger stabilizer, Victory VAP TKO shaft, real barred turkey fletchings and a 100-grain Magnus Bullhead broadhead.

The calendar said April 6, but the landscape looked like the middle of winter. The grass was dry and brown. It was cold, 40 degrees with a wind chill of 35. The soil was powdery like dust. In the spring of 2022, the drought continued its wrath at the top of Texas. I sat in the dark in my ground blind, listening to turkeys gobble and chatter in the cottonwood trees just 150 yards to the west—a sound that has hypnotized hunters for generations. Why else would a guy get up at 4:50 a.m.? I waited for the day to wake with an arrow nocked.

A year earlier, drought conditions meant few turkeys were in my favorite Panhandle creek bottom. I decided to let the riparian strip rest that year. No turkeys were shot in the spring of 2021. Some timely rains in May and June no doubt helped the poult hatch. In winter 2022, scouting for the upcoming spring turkey season, I saw six jakes. Proof that a few poults made it through the previous dry summer.

More scouting before opening day produced a sighting of seven longbeards together. That was encouraging, but by early March 2022, the seven longbeards had dispersed up and down the creek. Now only three mature gobblers were on my trail camera. A flock of 16 hens and five jakes were a common sight near my corn feeder.

Knowing it would be a lean year, I decided one turkey would be my limit. Even though every Texas hunting license comes with four turkey tags, I would only use one. Making sure there were birds for the future seemed more important than filling tags. And even though I could hunt other places, word from other turkey friends was the flock numbers were

down in most places across the Panhandle and North Texas. The drought was so bad in northeastern New Mexico, the rancher where I lease land to hunt Merriam’s turkeys agreed it was smart to sit out the 2022 season.

Moisture is important in the spring for turkeys. Turkey hens need tall grass to conceal their nests from predators. For this reason, we do not graze cattle along the riparian strip on our ranch. So even in good years and bad ones, there should

Abundant turkey tracks and strut marks in the sandy road near the cottonwood trees.

always be some grass cover for nesting hens and for does raising fawns. Spring rain also means forb production. Those forbs, “weeds,” are good for both deer and turkeys. The weeds and the water along a creek foster insect production. Newborn poults rely on insects to grow. Hen turkeys get their wings and bodies wet to regulate nest temperature. As you can see, rain is important to grow new turkeys just like it is to grow big antlers on bucks and raise fawns.

One and done

The birds flew down from the trees on the creek and the gobblers went silent. I called a few times with a box call and a mouth call. The lead hen answered me, a good sign, but the boys had laryngitis. Through a slit in the side of the blind, I could see the tops of three big tail fans strutting down the road that parallels the creek. Six hens and four jakes were also with the three amigos.

The hens entered my shooting window first at 7:30 a.m. I stayed in the back of the blind in the shadows, my release hooked to the string. Next, two fluffed-up gobblers came from the right, moving to the left. Both were wearing 9-inch beards.

I eased the 59-pound Prime Inline 3 bow to full draw. When the lead bird hesitated at nine yards, I sent a 455-grain carbon missile tipped with a Magnus Bullhead broadhead at his neck. The gobbler flew straight up in the air and back to the west, just out of my limited view out of the shooting window. Did I miss?

Dumbfounded, I sat wondering what happened. Then, I heard the unmistakable sound of heavy wings beating the ground, the death flop of a wild turkey. I poked my long-lensed camera out the side blind window to find my gobbler flopping with the rest of the flock staring and prancing around him. I could have flung another arrow at a second big gobbler, but two birds was never part of the plan. I snapped a few pictures as one of the other gobblers pecked and jumped on top of the dying bird. Turkeys are so weird!

My gobbler had a 9-inch beard and 1-inch spurs. I would guess he was a 2-year-old. I propped him over a log for some photos as the sun chinned itself higher over the canyon walls. Knowing this would be my only bird of spring 2022, I took in all the sights and sounds.

His barred wing feathers would be saved to make new fletchings for next year’s turkey arrows. His tail fan would adorn next year’s decoy. The iridescent colors on his breast feathers flickered in the morning sunshine like a rainbow. His scaly legs looked more like something on a lizard than a big bird.

As I clicked off photos with a tripod and self-timer, I could hear the same flock I’d shot my bird from, talking just across the fence, south down the creek. As the hens chattered and the jakes and gobblers sounded off, I loaded my gobbler in the truck. I left the birds alone for the rest of the season.

So, it was a one turkey season for me. I’m thankful for that memorable morning last April. With rain and time, there will be more birds to hunt in the future.

This was part of the flock of Rio Grande turkeys that walked by Brandon’s blind on April 6, 2022.

THE BELOVED COTTONTAIL

By Horace Gore

Igrew up rabbit hunting in Bowie County, Texas. My grandmother gave me a $6.15

Sears Roebuck single shot .22 for my 12th birthday, and one of the first things I brought home with it was a cottontail rabbit. Joe Ed Scudder and I went hunting in the flat woods north of Hooks where I tried out my new .22. My English cocker pointed the rabbit, and when it broke the brush, I got a clean shot.

Joe Ed and I took the rabbit home, skinned it, and cut it up to fry. My mother turned the kitchen over to us, and I fried the cottontail to a golden brown. The trouble came when I made the cream gravy, one of thousands of batches I’ve made since. I did everything right—put grease in the skillet, put flour in the grease, added a little salt and pepper, but when I poured the milk, I didn’t get it right and the gravy was so thick it wouldn’t come out of the spoon. But it was no problem for 12-year-olds, and we enjoyed a fine cottontail dinner. I have killed and eaten many cottontail rabbits since that first one, and I’m here to say cottontails are some of the finest eating in the wild.

Like squirrel hunting, rabbit hunting is a thing of the past. Today’s teenagers have their cell phones and iPads, and by the time they turn 16, most are driving a car or pickup and chasing girls. They don’t have the time, or inclination, to go rabbit hunting. The rabbits are still there, and if the time comes to go back to basics, rabbit hunting will furnish a lot of

Brooke and Hunter Shipman with “eating” cottontails.

thrills for young people.

Jerry Barrow, a friend who lived on a farm north of Hooks, had an old Army Jeep that we drove to go rabbit hunting at night. We would drive around on the farm and down the gravel roads, shooting every rabbit we saw. Most of the time we used a 16-gauge shotgun, and some of the rabbits were big swamp rabbits that weighed 3-4 pounds. It was a financial deal because we would take the rabbits to “Black Bottom” and sell them to the folks for 50 cents for cottontails and $1 each for swamp rabbits. On a good night, we might make $4 to $6, which paid for Jeep gas and more shotgun shells.

Cottontail rabbit and swamp rabbit have white meat with a rather sweet taste. Fried rabbit, cream gravy, and a side of cut green beans seasoned with bacon grease is hard to beat—especially if topped with hot biscuits. Such a meal was regular fare for a lot of people I grew up with in East Texas. There are other good recipes: rabbit stew, rabbit mulligan, baked rabbit and sweet potatoes, broiled rabbit, and when camping out—rabbit on a stick, over an open fire.

Back in the 1990s, when I lived on the Kokernot Ranch in Gonzales County, Al Brothers and I went to a QDMA Convention in Athens, Georgia, on several occasions. Our good friend, Dr. Larry Marchinton, was a rabbit hunter par excellence, who had a pack of beagles. While we were there, Larry took us on a few cottontail hunts I still remember. On one occasion, with snow on the ground, we hunted in some timber-cleared country. In all my years, it was my first time to hunt rabbits with beagle hounds. Like a lot of rednecks, the sound of dogs chasing their quarry raises the hair on my neck.

On another occasion, we hunted in an area near a creek bottom strewn with blackberry vines so thick you couldn’t walk through them. We put on coats to keep the briars away, and hunted in the blackberry thickets. Cottontails were plentiful, and we—and the dogs—ended up with four or five cottontails that eventually went into a 5-gallon rabbit mulligan stew, which fed a crowd of Georgia Bulldog fans back in Athens.

On the hunt with the dogs in the blackberry thickets, I learned something about dogs and cottontails. The beagles never give up, and the rabbit either finds a hole in the ground or a hollow tree for escape, or finally runs out of gas. When the rabbit can’t run any more, he will lay there and squeal, knowing the dogs are coming. I didn’t like that.

There have been a lot of arguments about eating rabbits. People talk about “rabbit fever,” and I guess some of it may be true. I have killed and eaten many rabbits in my time, and have never seen a rabbit with fever. The old wives’ tale of eating

rabbits during months with an “R” seems practical, because the eight months with an R are in fall, winter, and early spring, which is the best time to hunt and eat rabbits. I always figured if a rabbit ran fast to get away, it wasn’t sick with anything. Distribution of cottontails is wide. Several species of cottontails, exist, but our Eastern cottontail can be found from the East Coast to the Great Plains. Cottontails are rather secretive, hiding during the day and coming out at dusk. Weather patterns control populations, and wet years mean more rabbits all over Texas. While studying bobwhite quail in my young days as a wildlife biologist, I discovered rabbits and bobwhites follow the same patterns with rainfall. The more rain, the more quail and rabbits, but with drought you’ll have fewer.

It’s safe to say the days of rabbit hunting in the U.S. have come and gone. The interest isn’t there, the need isn’t there, and more people are urban, and not associated with rabbit hunting. You’ll hear a few rural kids talk about hunting rabbits, but they hardly ever talk about eating rabbits. My thinking is rabbit hunting could keep a lot of kids off the street and out of trouble. If I could, I would declare a national rabbit hunting day, where all high school kids had to go rabbit hunting somewhere one day each year. I would even name the beagle hound the national rabbit dog. What do you think?

Dr. Larry Marchinton (right) releasing the beagles for a rabbit hunt near Athens, Georgia.

a uthor photo

• 2 pounds boneless pork chops

• Chef Ralph’s Super Seasoning, or your own

• 25 Ritz crackers, finely crushed

• 1⁄4 cup bacon grease or butter

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can cream of mushroom soup

• Prepared dressing mix or cooked brown rice

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

WHEN-YOU-CAN PORK CHOPS

Editor’s note: The following is a recipe Ralph Winingham’s friend, the late Wes Reed, enjoyed on several of their hunting adventures in Webb County near Laredo. See page 50.

DIRECTIONS

Season pork chops on both sides with Chef Ralph’s Super Seasoning, or your own favorite seasonings.

Pour crushed crackers into a plastic bag, add a little more seasoning to the crackers; then drop seasoned chops into the bag.

Shake well to coat meat with seasoned cracker mix.

Heat bacon grease or butter in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat.

Brown coated chops on both sides, about three minutes per side.

Reduce heat and spoon soup onto the browned chops. Cover skillet and simmer about 15 minutes.

Serve chops on top of prepared dressing or cooked brown rice.

This recipe was featured in Ralph Winingham’s first outdoor cookbook, “The Campfire Chef: Old Boots & Bacon Grease.”

BRICEN SALAZAR: whitetail 10-point (first buck) with 19-inch inside spread, scoring 1301⁄8, taken 1/2/22 in Real County.

GEAR: Remington .22-250.

OUTFITTER: James Brice (Papa).

TRIP TIDEY: whitetail spike taken 11/23/21 in Burleson County.

GEAR: Winchester Model 70 pre-war 22 K-Hornet, 45-grain Hornady Spire Point ammo, Leupold 6X scope.

OUTFITTER: Rex Spahn (Pa).

CHASE DITTMAN: whitetail six-point (first buck) taken 11/23/21 in Menard County.

GEAR: Remington .243, Remington 100-grain Core-Lokt ammo, Nikon 4-12X50 scope.

OUTFITTER: James Boehm (Grandpa).

JACK CLANCY: nilgai (first) taken 6/28/22 in Willacy County.

GEAR: Sig Cross, 150-grain .308 ammo, Zeiss scope.

OUTFITTER: Dad (Carricitas lease).

DREW BONILLA: whitetail nine-point taken 12/11/21 in La Salle County

GEAR: McWhorter 6.5 PRC.

OUTFITTER: family ranch.

CHISUM COOKE: scimitar horned oryx with 38½-inch horns taken 2/1/22 in Willacy County.

GEAR: .300 Browning A-bolt short Mag. OUTFITTER: H Yturria Ranch.

DOUG PROVENCE: mule deer 10-point with 235⁄8-inch inside spread taken 11/20/21 in Bailey County.

GEAR: Ruger Precision .308, 150-grain Winchester deer season XP ammo, Vortex Viper scope.

OUTFITTER: self.

JOSH NEWMAN: nilgai taken 2/2/22 in Willacy County.

GEAR: .300 Win. Mag.

OUTFITTER: H Yturria Ranch.

Antonio, TX

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

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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.

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Atascosa

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