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OCTOBER 2014
JOURNALHUNTER’S
SOUTHWEST TEXAS OUTDOOR MAGAZINE
UVALDE: Wing-shooting hot spot
OUTLOOK: Perfect white-tail summer
HUNTING TALES: story winners
www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 3
Branches: camp Wood • carrizo springs • concan Leakey • saBinaL • Utopia • main street • UvaLde
Online & Mobile Banking Mastercard Debit Card • Commercial & Home Loans • Friendly Service
Proudly Serving Southwest Texas for over 107 years!
200 East Nopal Street • Uvalde, TX • 830-278-6231
ATTENTION HUNTERS: We invite you to visit our main bank and view our collection of art, antiques and
White-tailed deer mounts.
Proud sponsors of the 33RD ANNUAL
HUNTERS ROUND-UP presented by the
Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce.
Located at the Uvalde County Fairplex.
www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 3
Branches: camp Wood • carrizo springs • concan Leakey • saBinaL • Utopia • main street • UvaLde
Online & Mobile Banking Mastercard Debit Card • Commercial & Home Loans • Friendly Service
Proudly Serving Southwest Texas for over 107 years!
200 East Nopal Street • Uvalde, TX • 830-278-6231
ATTENTION HUNTERS: We invite you to visit our main bank and view our collection of art, antiques and
White-tailed deer mounts.
Proud sponsors of the 33RD ANNUAL
HUNTERS ROUND-UP presented by the
Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce.
Located at the Uvalde County Fairplex.
CONTENTS October 2014
4 HUNTERS ROUNDUPFriday, OCTOBER 31, 2014
7 WEAPON OF CHOICEKnow which weapon to use for the hunt
8 UVALDE CONVENTIONSurround yourself with adventure
9 VENISON DONATION PROGRAMLocal meat market provides for the hungry
10 TEXAS BIG GAME AWARDSUvalde 2015
11 HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHTDo you really know about camouflage
14 WILDLIFE MANAGEMENTSouthwest Texas Junior College
16 BE AWARENo Trespassing
18 HUNTING CONTEST WINNERSFinley takes first
21 HORNEDPossum-playing buck
24 SNAKESThe Good, The Bad, The Deadly
27 1ST PLACE - FINLEYCovert trip
30 2ND PLACE - WARDUnusual-looking trophy
39 3RD PLACE - HOPKINSHusband bests wife
42 DOVE CENTRALUvalde is wing-shooting hotspot
44 YOUR OTHER LICENSEObtain a hunting license
46 RECIPESVenison Salami and more
50 TIPS FOR PROPER CAREField dressing
LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER—SINCE 1879 A LEADER IN SOUTHWEST TEX AS
Publisher/Owner: Craig Garnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . cgarnett@uvaldeleadernews .comGeneral Manager: Logan Garnett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . lgarnett@uvaldeleadernews .comManaging Editor: Meghann Garcia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mgarcia@uvaldeleadernews .comGraphic Designer/Layout: Gloria Resma . . . . . . . . . . .gresma@uvaldeleadernews .comClassified Manager: Norma Ybarra . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .nybarra@uvaldeleadernews .comAdvertising Manager: Steve Balke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sbalke@uvaldeleadernews .comAdvertising ExecutivesMark Espinoza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mespinoza@uvaldeleadernews .comMichael Robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .mrobinson@uvaldeleadernews .comStaff WritersKim Eagle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . keagle@uvaldeleadernews .comKimberly Rubio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . krubio@uvaldeleadernews .comCover and page 3 photographs by Bob Zaiglin
Hunter’s Journal is a production of the Uvalde Leader-News . ©Copyright 2014
110 N. EAST STREET UVALDE, TX 78801Phone: 830-278-3335 | Fax: 830-278-9191
The Leader-News is available online www.uvaldeleadernews.com
facebook.com/uvaldeleadernews
@uvaldenews
www.uvaldeleadernews.com
4 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 5
830-278-5681
• Commercial• Residential• Farm&Ranch• OilField• Deliveries• Installations
33rd Annual Hunters’ Roundup Friday, October 31, 2014
Fairplex - Stardust Pavillion
Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce presents the…
The 33rd annual Hunters’ Roundup will be held Friday, Oct. 31, to welcome hunters to Uvalde County and celebrate the start of the season.
The event, organized by the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce, is scheduled from 6-11 p.m. at the Uvalde County Stardust Pavilion at the Fairplex, which is west of Uvalde on Highway 90.
Olivia Rish, executive director of the chamber, said this year the chamber is continuing the tradition of welcoming hunters and
showing community-wide appreciation with an entertaining expo, music, prize items, children’s hunting costume contest, and pumpkin coloring corral.
“It is going to be a great night. Our members work so hard together along with our Uvalde Area Chamber board and staff to welcome the
hunters the evening before their big hunt...” Rish said.
Last year, Rish said an estimated 3,000 people were in attendance and this year she hopes to have an even larger turnout.
“...So come trick-or-treat with us and if you are going to homecoming to support our Coyotes, come see us after the game and enjoy yourselves at this community-friendly event,” Rish said.
For more information, call the Uvalde Area Chamber of commerce at 830-278-3361.
4 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 5
Open 10:00 a.m. - 8:55 p.m. Monday - Saturday2026 E. Main • Uvalde, Texas 78801 • 830-278-5696
Family Owned since 1946
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Stop by one of our 4 locations
2222 E. Main • 830-278-6124UVALDE, TEXAS
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219 Hwy 90 • 830-988-2022SABINAL, TEXAS
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When the products are similar, the dealer makes the difference.
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6 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 7
www.tpwd.state.tx.us
2305 E. Main St. |Uvalde | 830-278-5628
Make work and play more fun
6 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 72305 E. Main St. |Uvalde | 830-278-5628
Make work and play more fun
Most hunters prefer one weapon to another. Some like to hunt with a rifle, some with a shotgun, some with a bow and some with all three.
Of course, prey can determine what weapon is used as can the hunting season. While guns and bows are popular, they are not the only lethal hunting instruments available.
Do you like to hunt with a bow? Why not try a crossbow? Crossbows offer some advantages over long bows or compound bows. They are easier to cock using a string or wind-up cocking device. They are also easier to aim. They do take some room to cock, however, and sitting in a tree stand might make that difficult. It also takes more time to reload a crossbow.
Think you have good aim? Try hunting with a slingshot. Hunting with a slingshot takes a great amount of skill and practice. Hunting slingshots are more than a tree branch and a rubber band. Today’s models are state of the art. They are lethal weapons and should be treated as such. The ammunition used is usually steel ball bearings. These weapons are great for hunting rabbits or squirrels, but you won’t want to go bear hunting with them.
Want a real challenge? Hunt with a blowgun. Like modern slingshots, blowguns are high tech and available at sporting goods stores. The concept is simple. Hitting something with a blowgun is hard. While most people don’t hunt with them, they are used for recreational target shooting and some people even load them with paintballs. Like the slingshot, blowguns are not for hunting big game.
It’s important to remember that not all these weapons are legal to hunt with in all states. So, before you go deer hunting with a crossbow, make sure it’s legal.
The hunter’s weapon of choice can be as important as their quarry. For a change of pace, don’t forget about other types of weaponry. The rabbit might not taste better if you tell everyone at the table that you got it with a slingshot, but it would certainly make for a good story.
What type of WEAPON TO USE
Possession of Firearms by FelonsA convicted felon, regardless of where the conviction occurred, may
not possess or use a firearm (as defined by Penal Code, §46.01) to hunt in the state of Texas. Under Penal Code, §46.01, a muzzleloading firearm is lawful if it is an antique or curio firearm manufactured before 1899 or a replica of an antique or curio firearm manufactured before 1899 that does not use rimfire or centerfire ammunition.
YOUR DIRECT SUPPLIER OF QUALITY ASSURED WILDLIFE FEED
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50 lb. bags…•Cottonseed•Milo•DeerCorn
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8 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 9TEXAS OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1967
Texas hospitality with convenience.
2809 East Main Street | Uvalde, TexasConveniently located across from Oasis Outback
830-278-2700 • Mon. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Easy drivE up window!
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raves
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Uvalde Comvention and Vistors Bureau300 E. Main St, Uvalde830-278-4115www.visituvalde.comMonday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau is a unique resource for hunters and their families.
The staff can answer any general questions about hunting and recommend restaurants, meeting locations, help with shopping inquiries and provide maps of Uvalde and its surrounding areas.
Debra Stifflemire, executive director of Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau, said that hunting is extremely popular in the area and attracts legions of visitors.
An inventory of the vehicles during hunting season in Uvalde is a dead giveaway to the popularity of the sport.
Camouflage trucks with gun racks mounted on the back and massive deer blinds being pulled by trailers can be found up and down Highway 90 and Highway 83.
No one will look twice at the occasional deer corpse lying in the bed of a pickup, because it is a common occurrence and helps boost the local economy.
Stifflemire said that visiting hunters contribute significantly to the local economy, and the impact is a welcome boost for hotels, attractions, restaurants, retail outlets, and other businesses.
“The Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau welcomes hunters to our town to enjoy this rural recreational sport, which is tradition and is an essential part of the area’s heritage,” Stifflemire said.
“This is our time to say thank you to our visitors for choosing Uvalde and making us a part of their travel plans,” she said. “Surrounded by all the
adventures of Texas including river country, the Hill Country, wild game and more, our area has so much to offer.”
Many of the visitors in the area can benefit from stopping by the CVB and picking up an area map.
“Our brochure includes area attractions and lodging information, and out website goes into specifics for where people can eat and things like that,” she said.
For more information, or to receive a brochure, map, or list of
local events, contact the CVB located at 300 E. Main St. or call 830-278-4115 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
People can also go to www.visituvalde.com for more information about what Uvalde has to offer not only during hunting season but year-round.
8 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 9
This year, as hunters from all over the state and country take to the brush for the big kill, they can also do their part to fill empty stomachs through the Hunters for the Hungry program.
This season, Hunters for the Hungry is again working with Uvalde Meat Market and Processing to accept venison donations. They are located at 508 S. Wood St. and may be reached at 830-278-6247.
Last season the business gave about 4,400 pounds of processed venison.
Food assistance agencies like food banks, food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters can count on venison donations from Hunters for the Hungry to help stretch agency budgets and provide a nutritious source of protein to the people they serve.
According to Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, or TACAA, one in five people in Texas struggle to afford food. TACAA has worked with the Hunters for the Hungry program for the past two decades, and has
administered the program directly for 16 years. Since the program’s inception, it has provided nearly 2.5 million pounds of meat or an estimated 10 million servings to Texans in need.
Through the program, hunters donate legally tagged, field-dressed deer at participating meat processors across the state. The hunter contributes a nominal fee to cover processing costs and meat processors prepare and package the venison, then contact local food assistance providers who distribute it to low income families and individuals.
To learn more about Hunters for the Hungry see the website www.tacaa.org/hunters-for-the-hungry or call 325-617-2228.
Local processing plant participating in venison donation program
Hunters feed the hungry
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10 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 11
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WELCOME AREA HUNTERS!
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830-278-1111• 800-543-26302621E. Main Street • Uvalde, TX 78801
On June 20, 2015, nearly 400 men, women and children will attend the Region 4 (Edwards Plateau) and Region 8 (South Texas) Texas Big Game Awards banquet at SSGT Willie de Leon Civic Center in Uvalde.
Centered around a dinner and an awards ceremony, the event will include children’s activities; a hunter education course; presentations on wildlife, photography, and hunting; contests that test your knowledge of wildlife and habitat; as well as numerous drawings and door prizes.
Texas Big Game Awards was developed in 1991 to promote big game hunting in Texas and encourage sound habitat and wildlife management.
It is co-sponsored by Texas Wildlife Association and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The program recognizes quality big game animals
taken in Texas, the hunters who harvest these animals, the landowners and managers who produce these animals, the importance of our hunting heritage, and the achievement of young and new hunters.
All entries must be native-born and wild-raised meaning they have not been translocated or released from a pen.
Young hunters are awarded a Youth Division certificate for their harvest of a white-tailed deer or javelina. New hunters are also recognized with a certificate of First Big Game Harvest for their harvest of a white-tailed deer or javelina. These entries are not scored.
Quality white-tailed deer and javelina harvested from south Texas and the Edwards plateau eco-regions may be entered in Texas Big Game Awards as scored entries.
Edwards Plateau minimums for
white-tailed deer are 130 Typical and 145 Non-typical. South Texas minimums for white-tailed deer are 140 Typical and 155 Non-typical. Minimum score for javelina is 13 4/16 across all regions and are scored using a simple measurement of the length and width of the cleaned skull.
Call David Rios at 830-591-4197 or visit www.texasbiggameawards.org to find an official scorer in your area and enter your trophy in the 2014-15 Texas Big Game Awards.
coming to Uvalde 2015Texas BIG Game Awards Banquet
The following was submitted by David Rios, wildlife biologist at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
SCORED CATEGORIES
Typical and non-typical white-tailed deer, typical and non-typical mule deer, pronghorn antelope, and javelina. All scoring is based on the Boone & Crockett Club scoring system and all ranked scores are based on net green Boone & Crockett score.
10 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 11
You see it on men, women, children and lizards. What is it? It’s camouflage. Long before people sat in tree stands covered in this eye-bending ware, the military used camouflage, which they learned about from the animals that roam the earth. You may wear it to hunt or as a fashion statement, but how much do you really know about camouflage?
The word “camouflage” comes from the French word “camoufler,” which means to blind or veil. Essentially camouflage amounts to hiding in plain sight. Man’s use of camouflage dates back to the 14th century. That’s when the technique was practiced by the masters of stealth…the ninjas! They didn’t dress in green and brown, though. They utilized black to conceal themselves in the darkness.
The military’s use of camouflage came about in part due to the advancements in firearms. In 1857, the British army suffered vast causalities because the red tunics
they wore made them targets that were easier to hit from long distances with more accurate
firearms. Bright and bold
military uniforms were intended to intimidate, foster a team environment and, in some cases, make soldiers easier to indentify. This, as the British found out, was not wise and they dyed their tunics khaki.
The military uses camouflage for survival and so do the ones who invented it…animals. Animals use camouflage in a couple of different ways to conceal themselves. First is general resemblance. This is what most people think of as camouflage. It involves blending into the natural environment. There is also special resemblance, which uses not only color but shape and behavior to blend into the environment. Take the walking stick, for example. It looks and acts more like a stick than an insect.
Another form of camouflage is called motion dazzle. This technique is all about confusing the eye. The Navy called it “razzle dazzle” and painted lines and patterns on ships to break up the actual lines of the ships. This confused the eye and made the ships harder to focus on in the
vast sea.Breaking up the shape of an object
is an important part of camouflage. Two techniques that use this principle are disruptive coloration and counter shading. Disruptive coloration relies on a pattern that does not follow the body shape or outline of the animal. With counter shading, an animal’s body is darker on the top and lighter on the bottom, which creates a lack of depth and makes the animal more 2D than 3D.
What started as a tool for survival has become a hunter’s friend and a teen’s fashion choice. Camouflage provides cover for hunters while they stalk their game and can be belted and accessorized for a night on the town. The next time you put on some camo for function or fun, take a moment to thank Mother Nature for all her hard work in perfecting it.
Hiding In Plain Sight
Since you can’t prevent, detect.
Common Hunting Injuries
• Snake Bites• Falls from tree stand• Firearm related injury• Foot injury• Accidental shootings• Anthrax Infections
We Are Here To Help!
Emergency room services and on-duty physician
available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Located one block south of Hwy. 90 East. Turn south off
Hwy. 90 at the light on Garner Field Road. The hospital will
be on your right.
1025 Garner Field Road • Uvalde, TX 78801 • (830) 278-6251 • www.umhtx.org
We wish you a happy & safe hunting season!
12 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 13
DEER - Archery, Sept. 27-Oct. 31; South of Hwy. 90: general, 5 deer, limit 3 bucks, Nov. 1-Jan. 18; special late general, antlerless and spike bucks only, Jan. 19-Feb. 1. North of Hwy. 90: 5 deer, limit 2 bucks, Nov. 1-Jan. 4; special late general, Jan. 5-18, antlerless and spike bucks only.
JAVELINA – No closed season; 2 per license year.SQUIRREL – No closed season; no bag limit.TURKEY - Archery, (countywide) Sept. 27-Oct. 31; South of Hwy. 90,
Nov. 1-Jan. 18 (gobblers or bearded hens); North of Hwy. 90: Nov. 1-Jan. 4 ; either sex; Spring Season (county wide), March 21-May 3 (gobblers or bearded hens). Bag limit: 4 (all seasons combined).
QUAIL - General season, Oct. 25-Feb. 22; bag limit of 15 per day with a possession limit of 45.
DUCKS – North zone, Nov. 6 – Dec. 7 and Dec. 20 – Jan. 25; South zone, Nov. 6 – 30 and Dec. 13 – Jan. 25; the daily bag limit is 6 ducks and can include no more than 5 mallards, only two of which may be hens. The following species restrictions also apply: two pintails, three scaup, two redheads, three wood ducks, one canvasback and one “dusky” duck (the season for mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck, and their hybrids is closed the first five days of the season in each zone).
MOURNING DOVE - Central zone, north of Hwy. 90, Sept. 1-Oct. 20 and Dec. 19-Jan. 7; south zone, south of Hwy. 90, Sept. 19-Oct. 20 and Dec. 19-Jan. 25; special white-winged dove area, Sept. 6, 7, 13 and 14, Sept. 19 – Oct. 20 and Dec. 19 – Jan. 21; daily bag limit, 15 mourning, white-winged, and white-tipped doves in the aggregate to include not more than 2 whitetips; possession limit is three times the daily bag limit.
GEESE - Western zone: Light and dark geese - Nov. 1 – Feb. 1; daily bag limit is 20 light geese in the aggregate and 5 dark geese in the aggregate to include no more than 1 white-fronted goose; possession limit is three times the daily bag limit for dark geese and no possession limit for light geese.
SANDHILL CRANE - Zone A (Uvalde County and most of southwest Texas): Nov. 1 – Feb. 1; 3 per day; possession limit, 9; hunting sandhill cranes requires a Federal Sandhill Crane Hunting Permit, in addition to a valid Texas hunting license, Texas Migratory Game Bird Stamp endorsement and HIP certification.
Uvalde County hunting dates
For info on lodging, attractions, events & tours visit
www.visituvalde.com
SSGT Willie De LeonCivic Center
Located just minutes from historic downtown Uvalde
• Large&smallmeetingroomsandlargebanquethall• Entirefacilityavailable• Convenientlylocatedclosetoshopping,hotels,and
restaurants
For more facility information800-588-2533
12 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 13
1. Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.2. Treat every firearm or bow with the same respect you would show a loaded
gun or nocked arrow.3. Be sure of your target and what is in front of and beyond your target.4. Unload firearms and unstring conventional bows when not in use.5. Handle the firearms, arrows and ammunition carefully.6. Know your safe zone-of-fire and stick to it.7. Control your emotions when it comes to safety.8. Wear hearing and eye protection.9. Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs before or while handling firearms or bow and arrows. 10. Be aware of additional circumstances that require added caution or safety awareness.
Just because something isn’t listed under these “ten commandments of shooting safety” doesn’t mean you can ignore it if it is dangerous. There may be rules such as in muzzleloading or archery or posted at a shooting range which should also be followed. Also, practice reloading safety by following and reading all specific instructions. Practice all commandments of shooting safety. Ensure a safe future for you, others and the shooting sports.
LOCKED OUT? CALL US!24 hour service as available
1005 E. Main • Next to Amber Sky • Uvalde
See us for Deer Lease Lock-outs/VehiclesLost Keys • Gun Safes • Gun Safety Lock • Key
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14 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 15
By Bob ZaiglinThinking back about my early
years in college, I recall the first two years grinding my way through a variety of academic courses, none of which satisfied my interest in wildlife management. Obviously, they were important, but it wasn’t until the last semester in my junior year that I began taking wildlife management courses. From that point forward, I really enjoyed college life and spent most of my time learning as much about wildlife and its management that I could.
This is definitely not the case at Southwest Texas Junior College as students in the wildlife management program are involved in a variety of
wildlife management activities as soon as their first semester begins.
Obviously, the courses taken are critical to our students’ professional and mental development, but the variety of wildlife-related basic hands-on experiences available sets them apart from their colleagues in four-year institutions. Matter of fact, the faculty at Sul Ross in Alpine accepts our students as juniors because of their wildlife experience obtained at SWTJC.
And to back up their respect of our graduates, Sul Ross has made it a seamless entry into their program for graduates of the SWTJC wildlife program by accepting all of their course work.
Now in our 10th year, we can look back and see the many students we have impacted in a positive fashion. We have graduates managing a number of prestigious ranches as well as students serving as interns and gaining valuable
experience on many others. Former graduate of the wildlife
program Daniel Tidwell just completed A Bachelor of Science degree at Sul Ross in Alpine and is presently working on a master’s degree in wildlife at the Border Lands Research Institute in Alpine. More importantly, like many of our successful graduates, Daniel continues to return as a guest lecturer, providing students tips on achieving success. Presently one of our students, Ashley Mumme, serves as a paid technician for Daniel’s graduate research project which focuses on the survival of pen-raised deer following their release into the wild.
Daniel, however, is not the only successful graduate of the wildlife program as a number of our students have made their mark in the wildlife profession, and all agree that it was their out-of-class hands-on experience that benefited them the most in achieving their dream.
Wildlife Management
An increased participation rate by women has occurred over the last few years, and in some cases the girls outperform the guys
PHOTO CREDIT BY BOB ZAIGLIN
at Southwest Texas Junior College
14 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 15
Education should not only be enriching, but fun, and that is how we approach it. Our students are in the field every Tuesday throughout the school year. In the fall, it’s all about identifying the various grass and brush species that make up the various habitat types that occur throughout the region. By the end of the fall semester, freshmen are able to identify some 20 different grasses and over 80 brush species. Their time is equally spent on assisting local deer breeders medicate and remove antlers on several hundred bucks. Those who exhibit an exceptionally strong work ethic combined with academic achievement can be invited to assist me on an aerial game survey. For some it represents a life-changing event, while for others it adds impetus to perform even better in school.
Last year, 13 deserving students accompanied me in a helicopter while surveying deer herds on some of the finest and most intensely managed ranches in South Texas.
Although much of our focus is on whitetail deer, students obtain a variety
of information from our many ranch cooperators. For example, this past spring the wildlife techniques class was extremely fortunate to visit the 4R Ranch near Tarpley.
What made the event so special was the fact that the ranch focuses primarily on quail. They listened to the owner speak reverently and knowledgeably about the popular game bird while being served lunch on the veranda of Camp Louise, originally a Girl Scout camp.
Unlike most of the deer authorities students get to visit, on the 4R they heard about the advantages quail represent to a commercial hunting ranch. Comments like ‘There is no such thing as trophy quail,” and “Each and every bird harvested is an enjoyable memory,’ and generating memories is their ultimate objective. Students were also privy to how the 40 spaniels housed at the ranch were treated like family and trained for various hunting situations. This is only one example of what our field trips are like.
Each semester, 14 different ranches representing 14 different viewpoints on
managing land and its inhabitants are entertained, and students are continually being interviewed for intern positions at every one of them.
Students also participate in three to four deer captures throughout the fall as well. Most of these activities are deer management permitted activities, but at times a Triple T is conducted to transfer deer from one ranch containing a surplus of deer to another inhabited by only a few. Over their two years at SWTJC, they will handle over 500 deer.
So if it’s excitement you’re after while obtaining the appropriate skill set to become a wildlife manager, the dynamicity of the wildlife program at Southwest Texas Junior College just might be your answer.
The wildlife techniques class relaxes following the presentation of their wild-life management plan to local rancher Mr. John Currie. PHOTO CREDIT BY BOB ZAIGLIN
16 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 17
P.O. Box 6309 | San Antonio, Texas | 800-447-8604 [email protected] | www.ranchinvestments.com
Real County, Texas 233± AcresLocated on the outskirts of the Hill Country town of Leakey. 40 miles north of Uvalde.• Access by paved road frontage • Municpal water and electricty• Incredible hilltop views • Abundant exotic ad native wildlife • Natrual Spring flow
Reduced to $3,650/acre Below Market Minerals included • Ag exempt
Crabapple Creek RanchGillespie County1,318± Acres North of Fredericksburg easy access to Hwy 16 • Refined main home with pool • 1.45 miles of Crabapple Creek and numerous
swimming holes Hunting - Whitetail, Fallow and Axis deer, Blackbuck Antelope, Turkey
• Rustic rock lodge - sleeps 15 • Horse stable • 64 acre Costal field and 5 acre peach orchard
Listed for $13,180,000Race Ranch Lampasas and Hamilton Counties1,556± Acres 98 miles north of Austin. 125 miles south-west of Dallas/Ft. Worth with easy access to Hwy 281 • Will divide • Wet weather creeks and great views • Outstanding hunting for Whitetail deer,
turkey, hogs, and gamebirds.
Listed for $2,250 per acre
Welcome Hunters!
109 E. Nopal | 830-591-1959 Top Row: Janie Ferguson, Lisa Buhler Allen. Front Row: Pat Ybarra, Renata Garcia, Dora M. Hanson
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For hunters, it’s a quandary. They shoot a dove and it glides to a landing on someone else’s property or they shoot a deer and it jumps the fence and dies, once again on someone else’s property.
“There’s a law that says you have to make a reasonable effort to retrieve game, but there’s a law that says a person commits an offense if he enters or remains on property without the consent of the owner,” Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden Javier Fuentes said.
He suggested that hunters find the owners of any property adjacent to where they are hunting and get permission to cross property lines ahead of time if it becomes necessary.
“Contact them prior to hunting, so the game doesn’t lie over there for six hours while you’re trying to find out who owns that piece of property,” Fuentes said. “Establish good relations with your neighbor; have a phone number.”
He said that when trespassers are caught, the excuse they use most often is they didn’t know who the neighboring landowner was or how to contact them.
“Make sure you’re not hunting or walking on someone else’s property,” Fuentes said. “Most landowners are pretty fair.”
To contact a game warden in Uvalde County call the dispatcher at 830-278-9147 or Austin Communications at 512-389-4848.
BE AWARE of property lines when hunting
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18 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 19
Nick Finley of Uvalde, Mary Lou Ward of Camp Wood and John Hopkins of Uvalde
Nick Finley won first place in this year’s Uvalde Leader-News Hunting Story Contest for his tale of a clandestine teenage hunting trip near Uvalde.
Second place went to Mary Lou Ward for her story about a teenager’s last-minute
hunt that resulted in a trophy buck.
John Hopkins won the third place honor for a story about a husband/wife hunt that could have ended in hurt feelings.
Start taking notes now for next years story and photography contest and send your entries to [email protected].
Finley takes top honors in story contest
Buck Laning – BROKER Rick Taylor – BROKERSherry Herndon – SALES ASSOCIATE
SWLANDTX.com830.278.3612
18 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 19
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Wildlife biologist David Rios of Uvalde says that thanks to a mild winter and summer rains, hunters should encounter an abundance of game during the coming season that opens Nov. 1.
According to Rios, mild winter temperatures allowed the browse to remain healthy, which was followed by spring rains and what he called “a perfect white-tailed deer summer.”
“We had a great fawn crop and excellent nutrition. I am expecting some really big deer to be harvested,” the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist said.
He added that the area needs to experience some cold weather to help clear out the vegetation. As it is, the deer have an abundance of food including acorns, mesquite beans, blackbrush and huajilla and are not much interested in the corn that most hunters use as an enticement.
“The deer take the very best parts of the plants because of the size of their rumen. They are not hungry right now,” he said.
Quail will be another bright spot, according to the biologist.
“You are hearing that there are quail everywhere. We had rainfall at important times. It should be above average for sure.”
The same timely rains that benefitted quail have also proven to be a boon for the Rio Grande turkey population.
“Of course we had a good hatch, so it should also be a great year for turkey,” Rios said. “There should be all kinds of young birds. As far as older birds, if you go back three years, we had another good summer. I would expect lots of mature gobblers.”
Finally, Rios said he had not received much feedback – positive or negative – on dove numbers, although
he said there are “plenty of white-wings in town.”
The biologist also said the numbers of Eurasian collared dove continue to grow, and they are not protected, which means they can be hunted year around.
Finally, Rios encouraged hunters to attend the Texas Big Game Awards banquet next June in Uvalde. To locate a scorer in the area or for more information, contact Rios at 830-591-4197 or visit www.texasbiggameawards.org.
Summer conditions perfect for white-tails
GAME GALOREPHOTO BY BOB RASA
20 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 21
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20 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 21
226 North Getty | Uvalde, Texas | 830-591-9101
Welcome Hunters to the Huddle
VIP & Private Party Rooms AvailableCatering • Full Bar
DJ Music • Live BandsLive Music on the outdoor patio
Game Room – Pool, Darts, ShuffleboardWEDNESDAY NIGHTS IS CAJUN NIGHTTake advantage of our local drop off/pickup service
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•November14•December12•January9,2015
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The following story was written by Leader-News publisher Craig Garnett.
The buck was supposed to be dead. My longtime-friend and hunting lease partner had drilled him through the shoulder with his .270 and the animal had humped up, charged a short distance through the brush and then collapsed.
At least that was the way Mike Moore described it to me when he called on a Sunday evening to ask if I could help him locate the big 10-pointer the following day.
I was happy to oblige and on the way to our lease just north of Batesville, Mike recounted the events that led up to the impending search.
He had shot the animal late in the evening and, believing it to be lying near the point of impact, walked into the pasture to find it. As he got close, however, the buck scrambled to its feet and began running. Mike fired again,
not knowing whether he had hit the deer, and then gave chase.
He didn’t have to travel far. The animal lay in a small clearing. Mike, who has been hunting since he was big enough to climb into his dad’s vehicle (and has forgotten more about white-tailed deer than I will ever know), approached the trophy cautiously, and if I remember correctly, even poked it with the muzzle of his gun.
Finding the white-tail unresponsive, he slung his rifle over his shoulder and reached down to pick up a horn. As he turned to begin dragging the buck to the road, the horn slipped from his hand. Mike turned, expecting to reach back for the antlers, but instead found himself face-to-face with a very much alive and mutually frightened animal.
Mike said that as he swung his rifle around, the buck bolted, and he fired from the hip. Nothing. The deer kept running and now with the light failing, the hunter decided to call it quits.
Walking back to his truck, he felt something squishy in his boot. When he bent over to examine the source of the liquid, he discovered that the buck, in getting back on its feet, had gored him in the back of the calf.
Needless to say, Mike very much wanted to find his nemesis. And when we arrived on the scene the following day, the search did not take long. We spread out about 50 yards and begin walking the same ground. After a couple of hundred yards, I walked up on Mike’s buck crumpled in the shade of a mesquite.
He had not suffered the typical ground shrinkage but was indeed a handsome animal. Of course, the meat was spoiled because of high temperatures over night, but the head and horns were intact.
I think Mike was going to have a European mount done for the horns. If so, I hope they have a patch of denim attached to the longest tine.
Possum-playing buck out for blood
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www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S GUIDE 23
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In late September, anthrax was confirmed in three White-tailed deer in Kinney County, approximately 20 miles north of Brackettville.
This is the third confirmed case of Anthrax in Texas this year; the second in deer.
The Texas Animal Health Commission rules require proper disposal of affected carcasses and vaccination of livestock on the premises prior to release of the quarantine.
Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is a naturally occurring organism with worldwide distribution, including certain parts of Texas. It is not uncommon for anthrax to be diagnosed in livestock or wildlife in the southwestern part of the state. A vaccine is available for use in susceptible livestock in high-risk areas.
Acute fever followed by rapid death with bleeding from body openings are common signs of anthrax in livestock. Carcasses may also appear bloated and decompose quickly. Livestock displaying symptoms consistent with
Anthrax should be reported to a private veterinary practitioner or a TAHC official. If affected livestock or carcasses must be handled, producers are encouraged to follow basic sanitation precautions such as wearing protective gloves, long sleeve shirts and washing thoroughly afterward to prevent accidental spread of the bacteria to people.
“The TAHC will continue to closely monitor the situation for possible new cases across the state. Producers are encouraged to consult their veterinary
practitioner or local TAHC office if they have questions about the disease,” said Dr. T.R. Lansford, TAHC assistant executive director for animal health programs.
For more information regarding Anthrax, contact your local TAHC region or call 1-800-550-8242 or visit www.tahc.texas.gov.
Anthrax confirmed in Kinney CountySYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE
THE FOLLOWING:Acute feverStaggeringDepressionDifficulty breathingSeizuresDark blood oozing from mouth, and noseSudden death
24 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 25
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Texans are no strangers to snakes, especially during the summertime when many of them are out and about.
Copperhead, coral, cottonmouth, and rattler: these are the names given to the four species of venomous snakes in Texas.
It is a good idea for anyone to be educated on the different types of dangerous snakes in Texas and how to avoid being bitten.
“Snakes tend to follow their food source,” said Teresa Shisk-Saling,
veterinary technician at
the Texas A &M College of Veterinary Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences. “If you
have problems with snakes in your home area, make sure to clean up any trash, debris, wood piles, rock piles or building material laying on the ground.
“Last summer when it was very hot out, a friend of mine had a problem with copperheads in her dog kennels so she took several litter pans and placed them along her fence line and kept them full of water,” Shisk-Saling said. “After that, there were no more snakes in the kennels because they were just looking for water. Problem solved.”
Coral SnakeThe coral snake, which is seen in
Uvalde County is not to be confused with the like-colored but non-venomous milk snake, whose red and black bands connect. The coloring pattern and differences between the two snakes are
best learned with the old adage, “Red and yellow kills a fellow; red and black is a friend to Jack.”
Coral snakes in the eastern part of the state mostly eat snakes and those in western part eat lizards. They tend to be very shy and secretive and will spend most of their time underground, in deep leaf litter, dens and burrows.
There is no anti-venom being manufactured in the United States that is available for people bitten by the coral snake, which has the most potent venom of any North American snake.The coral snake accounts for less than 1 percent of the number of annual snake bites. Respiratory paralysis can occur suddenly or within hours after a coral snake bite, therefore intubation and ventilation should be employed for a victim.
SNAKES The Good The Bad & The Deadly
Angela ClendeninTexas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
24 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 25
SNAKES…Lowdown on venomous snakesTexans are no strangers to snakes,
especially during the summertime when many of them are out and about.
Copperhead, coral, cottonmouth, and rattler: these are the names given to the four species of venomous snakes in Texas.
It is a good idea for anyone to be educated on the different types of dangerous snakes in Texas and how to avoid being bitten.
Coral SnakeThe coral snake, which is seen in
Uvalde County is not to be confused with the like-colored but non-venomous milk snake, whose red and black bands connect. The coloring pattern and differences between the two snakes are best learned with the old adage, “Red and yellow kills a fellow; red and black is a friend to Jack.”
Coral snakes in the eastern part of the state mostly eat snakes and those in western part eat lizards. They tend to be very shy and secretive and will spend most of their time underground, in deep leaf litter, dens and burrows.
There is no anti-venom being manufactured in the United States that is available for people bitten by the coral snake, which has the most potent venom of any North American snake.The coral snake accounts for less than 1 percent of the number of annual snake bites. Respiratory paralysis can occur suddenly or within hours after a coral snake bite, therefore intubation and ventilation should be employed for a victim.
RattlesnakeAnother pit viper family member
found in Uvalde County is the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. These snakes primarily eat rabbits or other small mammals. They are mostly found in central, south and southeast Texas and, since they use their rattlers as warning, can usually be heard before they are seen. There are a number of snakes, venomous and non-venomous, that will beat their tail in grass and leaf litter trying to sound like a rattlesnake. These snakes are a little more aggressive and will rarely back away
from confrontation.
Water MoccasinThese semi-aquatic pit vipers eat
fish and frogs and are among the snakes known to live in Uvalde County. All snakes swim on top of the water, however when they stop to rest or evaluate their surroundings, venomous snakes will continue to float on top of the water and non-venomous snakes will sink, leaving only their heads visible.
When a water moccasin feels threatened, it will stand its ground and flatten out its body to appear bigger. It will also hiss and gape open its mouth, revealing lighter colored tissue – hence its name.
Occasionally, one may find a snake stretched out warming itself in a sunny area. The best course of action is to leave the snake alone and respect its space.
CopperheadOut of the four most venomous
snakes, copperheads are the most prevalent in the Bryan/College Station
116 North Getty • Downtown Uvalde830-278-1667 • Open Mon. - Sat. 10:00 - 5:30 p.m.
HUNTING for that special gift
830-591-2711erby
HamActivity Center
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26 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 27
1st
The following story by Nick C. Finley Jr. won first place in this year’s Uvalde Leader-News Hunting Story Contest.
In December of 1963 my parents had to be out of town. My grandmother was left in charge in their absence. The day after they had gone, I was looking for a pen in my father’s desk. Not only did I find a pen but I also found the keys to my father’s truck. Eureka!
The next afternoon I was discussing my good fortune with my friends, Mike Moore and Roger Nelson, I reasoned that we should take full advantage of the unfolding situation (it’s cold, it’s December, my parents are out of town), that this must be divine intervention, that it was a moral imperative. We all agreed that this must be fate and any disruption of the evolving situation would disrupt the movement of the stars resulting in a rift in the time/space continuum, thereby causing the end of life on Earth as it was known at the time. (Not really, we weren’t that deep... we just wanted to go huntin’.)
In the pre-dawn darkness of the next morning I loaded the truck with a rifle, a shotgun and enough ammunition to start a small war. I heated some milk, raided the ice-box, fixed a lunch, and filled a couple of canteens with water and a Thermos with hot chocolate. Where my grandmother was in all this activity I’ll never know.
Into the night I raced to pick up my cohorts, but before we could leave I realized we would need some gas. I pulled into Dudley Blair’s Conoco station. I topped off the tank, waived at
the attendant and yelled, “Just put that on my Dad’s tab.” (Ahhh, those were the good ol’ days.) We must have presented quite an image: Three 12- or 13-year-old boys driving west on Highway 90, armed to the teeth, in an inappropriately acquired vehicle with a full tank of gas thanks to a questionable fuel transaction, no driver’s license, and no thought of consequence. What could go wrong?
When arriving at the ranch, Mike and Roger loaded their weapons while I unlocked the gate (Yeah, I found those keys too). It was still dark so I drove to a large stock tank, parked on top of the dump and waited for sunrise. We heard the world waking up around us, a whistling covey of quail, the snort and squeal of a herd of javelinas, some ol’ cow bawlin’ way out in the pasture. It was great! We just rode around for most of the morning. The afternoon warmed up enough for a walk through the pasture. Roger was to walk the center of the pasture while Mike and I rode the fence. Mike and I finished our round and settled in to watch the main road. It wasn’t long however until we heard the unmistakable boom/thump from Roger’s rifle. Whatever he had pulled the trigger on had been successfully targeted.
Mike and I waited a short while before starting out, just in case something might cross the road in front of us. Mike then got in the back to guide me through the brush toward the
sound of Roger’s gunshot. We found Roger standing beside his trophy. Backslaps and congratulations were had all around and as we stood there admiring his prize; reality reared its ugly head! What are we gonna do now?
It was a long trip back into town as we contemplated our fate. Grounded for life? Jail time? Not only were we saddled with all the other aforementioned infractions, but we had just added this damned big, untagged buck, lying dead in the bed of my truck to the list. We decided to turn ourselves into Mr. Moore. I pulled into Mike’s driveway and all the way back to the garage. While Mike went in to get his dad, Roger and I unlatched the tailgate. Mr. Moore stepped out the back door and toward the truck. Roger and I let the tailgate fall. It hit the bumper with a loud metallic “thunk”, revealing our contraband. The smile that crossed Mr. Moore’s lips was quickly replaced with a stern, fatherly frown. The tongue lashin’ I had expected did not transpire. He admonished our actions and questioned our sanity and took us back home. Our great adventure had ended.
I don’t remember what happened to my buddies for their part in our little outing. The worst part for me was having to listen to my grandmother’s endless lectures on my errant and sinful ways. I don’t know how Mr. Moore smoothed things over with the other dads. He probably reminded them of atrocities committed, by them, of equal or greater significance in their youth. I do know that Roger’s deer was processed and the head mounted. I do know that our escapade was the subject of coffee shop talk at the Kincaid, where my dad was razzed by the regulars, and in the ladies’ Sunday school classes, where prayers for strength were offered up for my mother. I know that we
never operated another motor vehicle without proper authorization. I think that I also knew that this
act of audacious behavior was not going to be the last, but it was sure gonna be one of the best.
Covert trip brings teens too much adventure'Just put that on my dad's tab…'
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28 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 29
By now, there’s hardly a hunter or fisherman who hasn’t heard of deer ticks and the disease they can spread. Unfortunately, the scourge of Lyme disease, which the ticks can carry, has hardly been controlled, and its range continues to spread. Once confined to the East Coast, infected ticks have made headway into the Midwest and are increasing their range.
Lyme disease was first identified in 1975 with a cluster of a previously unidentified illness around Lyme, Connecticut. Infected patients complained of long-lasting rashes around a tick bite, followed by a continuous low-grade fever, stiffness in the neck and lingering pain in the joints. After some time, a treatment was discovered, but it is most effective when the disease is diagnosed early. Today, Lyme disease is still most prevalent in the Northeast, but has also cropped up in the Midwest, the South and California. In recent years, over 16,000
cases have been reported nationwide.Deer ticks are active from March
through September in most areas, so hunters and anglers need to be extra cautious during these times. They’re somewhat smaller than the far more common wood tick, and can be visually separated from other ticks by a
U-shaped line on the underside. They’re common wherever the foliage or grass is in full growth: along trails, through woodlands and meadows, and around stream brush.
Although harvested wild game may at one time have come in contact with an infected tick, according to the University of Minnesota Dept. of Food Science and Nutrition, there is no reported instance of Lyme disease being passed on through the ingestion of game meat.
There is, however, the danger of coming into contact with infected ticks while dressing game. The University of Minnesota staff recommends wearing gloves while dressing game to decrease the chance of contact with ticks, and keeping a pan of water beneath the carcass to drown ticks as they fall off. The area beneath the carcass can be sprayed with an insecticide, but don’t spray the carcass itself. Also, it’s a good rule to make sure any wild game is well cooked before eating.
Deer Ticks Ixodes scapularis is commonly known as the deer tick or blacklegged tick, and in some parts of the USA as the bear tick. It is a hard-bodied tick of the eastern and northern Midwestern United States.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TICKS
Long pants should be wornPants cuffs should be tucked into socks or
wear tall laced boots Wear a Long-sleeved shirtWear a hat Use insect repellant containing DEET gives
added protection. Do a thorough “tick check” of entire body
when changing clothes
30 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 31
2ndThe following story by Mary Lou Ward of Camp Wood won second place in this year’s Hunting Story Contest.
Time was running out, but somehow, the 11th hour showed up and gave Hollis a chance for a last-minute hunt.
Ross, a nearby rancher’s son and dear friend, drove up in his almost expired Jeep and yelled out, “Hey! Hollis, the hunters have packed up and left. Dad says you can come and have a hunt, if you want to.”
Now, what teenage country boy wouldn’t jump at the chance?
“Sure Ross, let me ask Mom and grab my rifle,” Hollis excitedly replied.
Ross said he felt they’d see the “big ‘un.” Hollis asked Ross if he reckoned there’ll be any deer left and if there was
still time. “Still time,” Ross said in a cocky, reassuring manner. The duo bounced around in the Jeep in search for any buck at this stage.
Hollis’s hopes were fading fast; the sun was getting closer and closer to the horizon.
“Ross, this doesn’t look good since it’s the last day. Ross! Look over there, there he is!” Hollis exclaimed, pointing east.
Hollis was shaking like a leaf and doubted his ability to fire a decent shot. They chased him through the brush and he ran into the open in a field of tall grass. Abruptly the buck stopped.
The boys figured that the only thing that would stop “Mr. Big” was a herd of does in sight! Hollis slipped out of the jeep with rifle in hand and took a stance. Ross goading him on “Shoot! Shoot!
Hollis drew a bead with his .222 and ka-pow! The buck deer dropped dead in his tracks. Hollis knelt down beside him and with a gleam in his eye he said “He’s got a perfect 10 point rack! I’d say he’s a sundowner!”
The prize was loaded on the Jeep and they sped to town for Hollis’s bragging rights. News travels fast in Camp Wood and it soon reached Ross’ dad. Now, the hunt was OK but Dad had his eyes set on that particular buck. He had been watching the deer for a long time and really didn’t want him shot.
After a brief discussion, Ross admitted he had wanted to bag this one himself, and until this day he’s never
told Hollis. That’s a true friend, wouldn’t you say?
Well, it was hunting season, and you can’t blame the boys for wanting a good hunt. After all, what are the odds of bagging a fine 10-point buck on the last day of the season, only the legal limited sunshine left, and one lone bullet? It was the only shell he had for the gun!
Hollis wanted to have the head full of horns mounted, so he could forever remember his conquest. Money was scarce, but we promised Hollis we’d do something. I called the Lone Star Taxidermy inquiring about the price of a head mount. When she quoted $250 for the fixing of the mount I almost freaked out. She recommended we leave the head in a deep freeze until we could do otherwise.
Ever try to find a large-enough deep freezer to hold a big deer head and horns? I searched frantically and finally an elderly gent from Barksdale came to Tom’s and my rescue. It seems he had an idle freezer we could use almost indefinitely. Months went by until we could afford to pay the fee.
The mounting finally took place. The taxidermist was elated over the rack. She said they were the most rare ones she’d ever had the privilege to fix. Their color was so unusual. White stripes ran around and up the horns. She thought they were dirty and she scrubbed them thoroughly only to find they were naturally colored that way.
The mount was fantastic; even the deer, itself had a true beauty. He was truly a magnificent beast. The taxidermist was well pleased with her own results in restoring the beauty of a most unusual rack of horns.
After a six-month wait from start to finish, surprise, surprise, surprise, we gave the mount to Hollis on his 17th birthday.
Twenty-nine years have passed, but every time Hollis sees the head decked out on the hallway wall, the hunt is still vivid and thrilling to him. I have no regrets to have the determination to preserve Hollis’ first buck!
GRAVES REAL ESTATE
1500 N. Getty St. • Uvalde, Tx 78801(830)278-9462 office
Kay Graves Jungerman, Broker (830) 279-7477
Kathie Carr (830) 279-7883
Kimberly DeRusha (830) 275-6700
Marvin Wimberley (830) 486-5117
Hunting ProPerty AvAilAble For SAle
Residential • Commercial • Homes With AcreageRanches • Water Access • Raw Land
www.gravesrealestate.net
Unusual-looking trophy buck is costly, priceless
30 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 31
TEXAS AGRILIFE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER
The major tooth parts used in determining a deer’s age are shown in this illustration.
Teeth 1,2,3 - Pre-Molars: The rather narrow jaw teeth in front of the molars adapted to cutting food.
Teeth 4,5,6 - Molars: The large jaw teeth adapted for grinding food.
A - Infundibulum: The funnel-shaped depression in the center crown of tooth between crests. Exterior surfaces will be stained dark.
B - Dentine: The softer inner core of the tooth, much darker in color than the enamel.
C - Enamel: The hard, white outer coat of a tooth.
D - Lingual Crests: Tooth ridges running from front to back adjacent to the tongue.
E - Cusps: The points or projections on the surface of a tooth.
F - Gum line: Point to which flesh of the gum cover a tooth. Food stains are deposited above the gum.
Age From To2.5 years 0 0.633.5 years 0.64 1.194.5 years 1.2 1.745.5 years 1.75 2.36.5 years 2.31 2.867.5 years 2.87 3.418.5 years 3.42 3.979.5 years 3.98 4.5210.5 years 4.53 5.08
Dentine width (mm)Right jaw, first bicuspid molar, front cusp on cheek side
South Texas deer aging chart
32 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 33
32 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 33
T.J. MooreLumber Yard
Since 1892®
2400 E. Main • Uvalde • (830) 278-3344Mon - Fri 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Welcome Huntersto Uvalde County
FlooringPlywood
Roofing MaterialMasonry Products
Lawn/GardenPaint/Sundries
Hardware/Tools Plumbing/Electrical
Lumber/Building Materials
WE DELIVER!
www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 35
Classes offered monthly in UvaldePrivate classes available
Gun rental available
David Rios & Susan Ditto
956-330-1228 214-499-6856
https://www.facebook.com/ConcealedHandgunCourseswww.aegischl.wix.com/aegis
ALTA VISTA REALTY, INC.
121 N. West St. • 830-278-3030 • 830-278-1310Residential - Commercial - Acreage
Cynthia Rodriguez, Gracie Garcia,
Juanita Garcia. Not pictured
Adam Martinez.
JOE’S PLUMBING
Residential & Commercial
New Construction – Remodeling Complete Concrete Septic Tank Installation
Septic Tank PumpingRepairs - Drains Cleaned - Leaks Fixed
FREE ESTIMATES
P.O. Box 1672 | Uvalde, Texas 830-275-3545 | 830-278-8457
Joe’s Tree Trimming830-275-5311
Insured and Bonded
•HuntingLeases
•Residential
•Commercial
•ReasonableRates
direct 830.591.6658fax [email protected]
Raynice ShuddeReal Estate131 E. Nopal, Suite 201• Uvalde, TX 78801
Residential Commercial
Acreage
Stephanie SieckeniusBroker, ALHS, ABR, E-Pro
dba Raynice Shudde Real Estate
WEBER
W E E R
830-278-7358
Brush ControlGrass
SeedingSite Work
TanksDams
Farm & RanchRoads
Shop ServiceMachine Shop
Hydl Hoses
4045 Hwy 90 EUvalde, Texas
78801
LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER—SINCE 1879 A LEADER IN SOUTHWEST TEXAS
110 N. East Street | Uvalde, Texas 78801830-278-3335 | uvaldeleadernews.com
716 S. Getty | Uvalde | 830-278-1656
PREMIER AUTO COLLISON
COMMUNITY Business Directory
T.J. MooreLumber Yard
Since 1892®
2400 E. Main • Uvalde • (830) 278-3344Mon - Fri 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Welcome Huntersto Uvalde County
FlooringPlywood
Roofing MaterialMasonry Products
Lawn/GardenPaint/Sundries
Hardware/Tools Plumbing/Electrical
Lumber/Building Materials
WE DELIVER!
36 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 37
UTV – Baskets, Gun Racks, Game Loaders, Road Feeders, Hunting Seats, Deer Blinds and Feeders
830-278-5914lonestaroutdoor.com
* Valid at both locations 2809 E. Main and 335 E.Main, Uvalde. Coupon good November 1 - December 31, 2014.
Buy 1, Get 1 Free 6” sub
of equal or lesser value.*
HUNTING: Online or offline
It is the law in Texas for anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971 to complete a hunter safety course before getting their hunting license. Licenses can easily be obtained, via online, for a nominal fee.
The course, which is offered exclusively for hunters over the age of 9, costs $24 with an additional $5 charge for hunters 17 years of age or older. Successful completion results in an education certificate.
The course is broken up into units organized to form building blocks of information. Each unit is developed to help a person understand the information in the next unit.
For hunters 17 years of age or older, a score of 60 percent or greater is required on each unit before they are allowed to begin the next unit. After successfully completing all quizzes, hunters have
the option of proceeding directly to the online hunter education certification exam or first taking a practice exam.
A score of 75 percent or greater is needed to pass, and hunters have an unlimited amount of tries to pass.
For hunters 9 through 16 years of age an 80 percent or greater must be scored on each unit quiz before the test-takers are allowed to move onto the next unit. After successfully completing the course they can print out a field day voucher.
Following the completion of the required field day, which includes instruction on safe firearm techniques and participation in a live-fire exercise, the young hunters will receive a temporary student card issued by the instructor. The card may be carried until a permanent hunter education certificate is
A Southwest Texas Junior College student participates in a hunter education course conducted for wildlife students at SWTJC.
36 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 37
HUNTING: Online or offline
mailed to them. Receipt of the permanent certificate can come three to four weeks later.
Hunters not wishing to participate in the online course have several other options for receiving a certificate.
A basic education course is offered at a cost of $15 and consists of six hours of classroom instruction, led by a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department-certified instructor.
An enhanced education course which consists of a four-hour class taught in one day is also available following the completion of an online course.
An advanced education
course is another option and consists of more than six hours of instruction by a certified instructor.
In the advanced course, a variety of focus points are offered on particular types of hunting, including waterfowl hunting, deer hunting, small game hunting with children, field dressing and processing deer, tracking wildlife, cooking wild game, alligator hunting, sighting in a rifle, gun cleaning, and outdoor survival skills.
An exception to the education certificate can be made for the duration of one season if a deferral is purchased at a cost of $10. The deferral is good for one season and is not renewable.
HUNTING COURSE FEESAges 9-16 $2417 and older $29For more information or to take the online course visit www.hunter-ed.com,
www.hunteredcourse.com or www.huntercourse.com.
FRIO REGIONAL HOSPITALwww.frioregionalhospital.com 200 S. IH-35 Pearsall, TX 78061 TEL (830) 334-3617 FAX (830) 334-9812
Friday, October 31, 2014 • 6 to 11 p.m.Uvalde County Fairplex Pavillion
Live music byTaylor
Langford
For more information contact the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce at 830-278-3361 or uvalde.org.
Expo ✫ Gun Raffle ✫ Food ✫ Live Music Kids Hunting Costume Contest
Pumpkin Coloring Corral
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SILVER SPONSORSSSFCU • Faglie Construction • Amistad Nursing & Rehabilitation • Chicago Title • Crossfire Feeders • Hondo National Bank • OV Casey Plumbing • Franklins Auto Service • State Farm Insurance-Dean Sterling • State Farm Insurance-Jody Griffin • Hunting Etc
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www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 39
3rd
Brooke and Chad arrived shortly after noon on a Tuesday. Brooke was the first to check her rifle and scope alignment. She took a while getting settled and trying to figure out how to hold the rifle in the lead sled. When she finally squeezed off a shot from her .260, the bullet was in the bulls-eye. Chad’s rifle needed some adjustment.
For the evening hunt, Chad went into a blind on the southeast corner of our west pasture and Brooke and Ivan were in a blind in the middle of that same pasture.
Ivan is my foreman. Brooke wanted Ivan to coach her
on which buck, if any, to shoot. Brooke might have wanted Ivan to sit with her because she heard the cook tell me that the U.S. Border Patrol had sent us a message that trespassers were becoming more active. I wonder if there is a connection with the recent election results.
Chad called around 5:30 p.m. to say he’d taken a shot. He described the buck as a nice buck with a drop tine. Chad said he wasn’t nervous and felt like he was steady, but the buck didn’t react like he was hit. The buck was last seen running fast about 50 yards away from the impact site. The impact site was about 115 yards from the blind. We found no blood, but we found deep hoof prints where the buck had bolted. We searched the area, but found no downed buck or any blood. We returned to the impact site and found an elongated scrape about 8 inches long that was about 5 yards further than the impact site. The angle
from that little ground scrape to the blind window was consistent with a bullet passing a little less than knee high at the impact site. We think the bullet missed the buck and the impact site was really the where-the-buck-was-standing-when-the-bullet-passed-by site.
By the time we finished with Chad’s adventure and were almost back to the compound, Ivan sent a message that Brooke had a buck down. Brooke and Ivan had seen a lot of deer. The deer were very blind wary. Ivan is pretty savvy about how to stay in the shadows and keep movement to a minimum, so Brooke and Ivan kept the deer in the area.
Brooke was the first to see her buck. Ivan knew he was a good buck and a buck with a drop tine. Brooke had prepared for this trip for a long time. She had months to think about it. She wanted a drop tine buck, so this was perfect. As she raised the rifle and put it in the window, she started to get buck fever. Her heart was racing and adrenaline was rushing into her system. Somehow, she settled her shaky body long enough to squeeze the trigger.
The buck dropped in its tracks. Brooke was so overcome with emotion that she started crying. Then she had a bout of Tourette Syndrome. Not only did Brooke bag a unique buck, Ivan had a unique experience.
Brooke is a special huntress. She works hard as a stay-at-home mom. She likes the feminine side of life, so much so that she doesn’t go hunting without getting
pretty. Tuesday ended with Brooke having all the bragging rights. I’m sure Chad had mixed emotions. He was upset with himself for missing his buck, yet happy that his wife was happy. If I’d been in that situation, I might have had to fake the “I’m happy for you” part.
The Wednesday morning hunt was unproductive. For the evening hunt, we put Chad in a blind overlooking a big crater where the Big Pond used to be before the Big Drought. A previous hunter had recently reported seeing a big buck in that area. Around 6 p.m., Chad phoned and said he had a buck down. Chad had watched this buck come into the protein feeder which was south of the blind. But the buck was feeding on the western tube and the feeder leg was in the way.
Finally, the buck moved around the feeder and exposed himself broadside. This time, Chad’s bullet was true and the
buck collapsed immediately. This was a nice buck.
Chad might have made a bigger mistake than missing
on Tuesday evening. He shot a buck bigger than his wife’s.
The long winter nights might be colder this year.
HUSBAND BESTS wife's prize buck
during weekend hunt
The following story by John Hopkins of Uvalde won second place in this year’s Hunting Story Contest.
www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 39
40 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 41
1105 West Main | Uvalde | 830-591-0083Monday - Saturday 6 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Los AlamosFamily Restaurant
Owned and operated by the Valdez family since 1993
Daily Breakfast & Lunch SPECIALS
Homemade TortillasFresh Menudo served Thursday, Friday and Saturday
Delivery available within
Uvalde city limits. Minimum
purchase of $25.
Customer & Vendor information – [email protected] • www.eagleoutfitterstexas.com
Join us for our upcoming Gun Shows in 2015 at the Uvalde County Fairplex
Saturday and SundayFebruary 21-22 • May 23-24 • August 15-16
October 17-18 • November 28-29
In that last-minute scramble around the house prior to heading out to hunting camp this fall or during that pre-dawn rush to get in the woods or even on the way back home after a successful hunt, it’s easy to forget something.
To help insure that hunters don’t end up pleading memory lapse in the face of possible citation for a game law violation, don’t forget to:
➣ Check for open season dates and bag limits for the county you are hunting.
➣ Check for legal means and methods in the county you are hunting. ➣ Carry your current hunting license. ➣ Clearly identify your target before pulling the trigger. ➣ Carry a sharp knife; cut out the date (month and day) of kill on deer
and turkey tags and immediately after kill, attach appropriate tag to the deer or turkey.
➣ Carry a ball-point pen; fill out ranch and county name on back of deer and turkey tags.
➣ Carry your hunter safety certification card, if applicable, with you in the field.
➣ Carry a state driver’s license or state personal identification card if you are 17 or older.
➣ Fill out a Wildlife Resource Document to accompany any part of a deer or turkey that you give to someone else.
➣ Keep all game animals and game birds in an edible condition.
Things to remember
PHOTO BY BILL DRAKER
40 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 41
42 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014
Hwy 90 E • Uvalde
HUNTERSHUNTERSheadquarters
Deer Feeders • Deer Stands • BBQ Pits • Grills & Disc • Grills • Tree Trunk Deer Blinds
Lorenzo Perez III and his son Lorenzo Perez IV of Uvalde show off the result of their first try at dove hunting. The pair hunted at Jeff Parker’s ranch, and they called the hunt a great experience and huge success. Lorenzo Perez IV reached his bag limit first.
As the white-winged dove population has multiplied across South Texas, Uvalde has taken its place as one of the hottest wing shooting locations in the state.
By the time the Central Zone season opens on Sept. 1, the birds are well established in leaving their roosts in the city each morning to find feed and then returning in the afternoon in numbers that sometimes leave your mouth ajar and your shoulder sore.
And outside of town, the mourning dove shooting over corn and sunflower fields can be ever bit as exciting as drawing down on the white-wings.
The Central Zone season runs through Oct. 20 and then again on Dec. 19 to Jan. 7. The South Zone also runs through Oct. 20 and then Dec. 19 to Jan. 25.
Shooting in the special white-winged zone is the same except it closes the second time on Jan. 21.
DOVE CENTRAL: Uvalde is wing-shooting hotspot
42 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014
Welcome to your Uvalde Walmart
3100 E. Main | Uvalde, TX | 830-278-9117Shop online at walmart.com
44 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 45
In order to comply with the law, property owners who lease land for hunting purposes must obtain a hunting-lease license, the cost of which varies based on acreage. They are encouraged to display the license in plain view.
Javier Fuentes, a game warden with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said the law applies to any type of hunting, whether it be for dove, deer, turkey or anything else.
“Placing a copy of the license at the hunting camp or in another conspicuous place, if possible, makes it easier to check compliance,” he said.
Fuentes said it is best if landowners make copies of the permit, holding on to the original, while posting copies in several locations as elements may compromise legibility over time.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department website shows that
hunting-lease licenses can be purchased anywhere that sells hunting licenses or online, with a credit card, through the TPWD website http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/licenses/online_sales/.
Hunters should also be aware, Fuentes said, that if game is downed on neighboring property the hunter must have permission from the property owner to retrieve the game.
In addition to the law requiring hunters to have permission from landowners before retrieving downed game from neighboring properties, Fuentes also said it is against the law to discharge a firearm across property lines.
“Be sure you know where your shotgun pellets or bullets are going,” he said, adding that simple adjustments often remedy wayward bullets. “We get called out to a lot of places during dove
season because of peppering of properties.”
Anyone who sees someone violating hunting laws is encouraged to report them by calling the 24-hour Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-792-4263.
‘Be sure you know where your shotgun pellets or bullets are going.’–Javier Fuentes,Game warden
Your other license, please
TAGGING TIPSMajority of citiations are due to tagging
violationsCarry knife, pen and zip tiesTag animal immediately after harvestUse appropriate tag for the animalCut out the correct date of the killFill out the back of the tag and harvest log on the
hunting licenseWhen Managaed Land Deer permit tags have
been issued, the deer must be tagged with the permit and the tag from the hunter's license.
44 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 45
PHOTO BY BILL DRAKER
Mule Deer photographed in Colorado in 2013
46 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014
Venison Salami6 lbs. Ground venison5 tbsp. quick salt3 tbsp. mustard seed3 tbsp. garlic powder3 tbsp. peppercorns2 tsp liquid smoke2 tsp sausage seasoning3 to 4 tbsp. Accent2 to 3 tbsp. red pepper
Mix all ingredients together. Cover and put in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days, mixing each day. On the last day, shape meat into 6 loaves. Cook at 200° for 4 hours on one side, then turn loaves and cook 4 hours on the other side. After allowing loaves to cool, wrap in Saranwrap and refrigerate. Serve with crackers and cheese for a great snack. These also freeze well if wrapped in Saranwrap and then foil.
Butterflied Lamb Leg4-5 lbs. Boned and flattened leg of lamb2 tbsp. Dijon mustard2 tbsp. olive oil½ tsp. Salt¼ tsp. Peppercorns1 garlic clove, crushed4 tbsp. brown sugar1/3 cup lemon juice2 tbsp. soy sauce
Preheat oven to 450° Prepare marinade: mix mustard, salt, pepper, garlic oil, sugar, juice and soy sauce. Pour over lamb and marinate 4 hours or more. Drain, reserving marinade. Bake in open pan 35 minutes while basting frequently with marinade. Remove from oven. Let stand 10-15 minutes. Slice thinly on diagonal. May cook on medium hot gill 15 minutes per side.
Turkey Soup1 stick of butter1 small onion2 tsp. Curry powder6 cups turkey or chicken broth1 cup carrots1 cup celery1 pkg. Frozen French-style beans2 cups potatoes3 cups cooked turkey1 tsp. Oregano2 tbsp. parsley
3 1/3 cup half-and-half cream4 tbsp. flourSalt and pepper to taste
Melt butter in soup pot; add chopped onion and saute until tender. Stir in curry and cook 1 minute; add broth, diced carrots, chopped celery, salt and pepper and cook 15 minutes. Add green beans, diced potatoes, diced turkey, oregano and minced parsley and cook 20 minutes. Combine cream and flour and stir in gently until soup is thick and well blended; check seasoning. Serve.
Grilled Quail with Bacon Barbecue Glaze
8 quail, rib bones removed (4 oz. Each)2 tsp. Vegetable oil2 tsp. Slat¼ tsp. Freshly ground black peppercorns½ cup Bacon-Barbecue Glaze, recipe below
Preheat a grill. Pat the quail dry with paper towels and position them in 1 layer on a baking sheet or large plate. Use a pastry brush to lightly coat each quail with some of the oil on both sides. Season the quail with the salt and pepper on both sides. Transfer the quail to the grill and grill for 3 minutes on each side. Brush the quail with the bacon barbecue glaze and cook for 1 minute longer, just until the glaze starts to caramelize, turning mid way to ensure even cooking on both sides. Serve immediately.
Bacon Barbecue Glaze1 lb. bacon, diced1 cup chopped yellow onions¼ cup tomato paste1 cup apple cider vinegar
Butterlied Lamb Leg
www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 47
1 tbsp. soy sauce1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce1 tbsp. hot sauce1 cup brown sugar2 tsp. salt½ tsp. red pepper flakes
Place the bacon in a medium pot and cook until golden brown and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Remove all but ¼ cup of bacon fat from the pan. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until the onions are soft, 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to incorporate. Add the vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Stir well and bring to a boil. Add the sugar, salt, red pepper, and cooked bacon, and cook at a boil until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened 7, to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat. With a hand-held immersion blender or in a food processor, lightly pulse to finely chop the bacon. Transfer to a bowl until ready to use.
TEXAS VENISON IN WINE SAUCE
1½ lbs. venison withtendons removed, thinlysliced¾ cup flourSalt and pepper to taste1 stick butter, divided½ cup chicken broth1 cup dry white wine½ tsp. saltFreshly ground pepper1 lemon, thinly sliced
Dredge venison slices in flour seasoned with salt and pepper to taste, shaking off excess flour. Melt ¼ stick butter in a skillet over medium heat. Saute venison quickly a few pieces at a time, adding remaining butter as needed. Remove venison and keep warm. Pour broth into skillet, stirring well to remove browned bits. Add wine and salt and cook 1 minute. Return venison to sauce and cook 2-3 minutes until bubbly. Sprinkle with pepper. Arrange meat on a serving platter, pour wine mixture over, and top with lemon slices.
Smothered Doves10 dovesSalt and pepper to tasteFlour
Vegetable oil¾ cup chopped celery3 (10 ½ oz) cans beef bouillon1/3 cup chopped onion1 (3- to 4-oz.) can chopped mushrooms1 bay leaf, crushed
Wash birds and season lightly with salt and pepper. Shake birds 2-3 at a time in a sack with flour. Brown in hot oil, remove, and drain. In a roasting pan lined with foil, place birds with remaining ingredients, salt and pepper. Bake, covered at 350° for 1 hour. Turn birds and bake for 1 hour, adding water if needed. Pour gravy over birds to serve.
VENISON PEPPER STEAK2 lbs. venison steak orbackstrap1 stick butter1 clove garlic, mincedDash ground ginger½ cup, soy sauce1 cup canned beef bouillonPepper to taste3 green peppers, sliced instrips5 green onions with tops,sliced3-4 tbsp. cornstarch½ c. white wine or waterRice
Remove all tendons and connective tissue and slice steak into thin strips. This is easy if meat is partially frozen. Cook over medium heat in butter with garlic and ginger until well browned, adding more butter if necessary. Add soy sauce, bouillon and pepper. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes or until tender. Add peppers and onions and cook only until tender. Mix cornstarch with wine, simmer separately until clear, and add to meat mixture. When thickened serve over rice.
Vension Pepper Steak
48 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 49
830-278-7000 OwnersBruce E. Embry
and Dane W. Embry201 W. Main Street | Uvalde, Texas 78801
A-ACTION BAIL BONDS“The Sportman’s Connection”
Call Lou…
Serving the following counties in South Texas…
• Uvalde• Real• Edwards• Kinney• Medina• Andmanymore
WE’LL BEAT
ANY PRICE!
Steve LightfootTPWD information specialist
Celebrating a successful hunt over a cold beverage back in camp is a big part of the hunting heritage.
That’s where our hunting memories are first processed and then packaged into stories to be retold again and again. Before that happens, something else needs to be processed and packaged - the game you harvest.
It’s easy to get caught up in the adrenaline rush of taking a limit of dove or ducks, but that’s not the end of the hunt. Caring for game after the kill is crucial – no, it is mandatory.
Wasting wildlife resources is illegal, whether you fail to attempt to recover a downed bird or improperly care for a harvested deer. It’s just as much about ethics as it is law.
Time and temperature are your worst enemies when it comes to
processing game, especially in Texas, where it’s just as likely to hit 90 degrees in December as it is to drop below freezing. Taking precautions can prevent spoiling an otherwise memorable outing, not to mention the meat.
Arguably the most challenging game care situation occurs in September during dove and teal seasons. It’s easy to get caught up in fast-paced wingshooting when doves are pouring into a sunflower patch like moths to a flame.
But consider what’s happening in your bird bag as those feather-covered four ounces of tender meat begin to slow-roast under 90-degree temperatures. I carry a soft-sided insulated lunch bag with an ice pack to keep my birds cool until the hunt is over. It’s small and lightweight, and I can transport my cleaned birds in it. It
works well for cleaned fish fillets, too.Properly caring for larger game can
present a greater challenge, easy to overcome with preparation. My dad once told me “hunting is a lot like playing in the mud: sure, it’s a lot of fun, but when you’re done, there’s always cleaning involved.”
Venison qualityPeople who say they don’t like
the taste of venison may have eaten improperly handled meat. Numerous factors contribute to venison quality – deer age and genetics, stress level prior to harvest, field-dressing techniques, storage, aging, butchering and packaging and, of course, cooking. I would include a deer’s diet in this list of factors, but most free-ranging deer can’t be picky.
Anyone of these factors can affect the final product, so using good
MEMORIES processed and packaged
48 HUNTER’S JOURNAL ❘ October 2014 www.uvaldeleadernews.com ❘ HUNTER’S JOURNAL 49
www.rent-a-storage.com
LOCATION516 Crystal City Hwy
Uvalde, TX 78801830-278-6730
OFFICEAndy’ Express Service
441 S. GettyUvalde, TX 78801
Uvalde’s mane
attraction.
© Photo Courtesy Sarah Kathryn Portrait Design sarahkportraits.com
106 NORTH GETTY STREET • 830-591-2494 • CELL 830-261-8204Across from the Janey Slaughter Briscoe Grand Opera House
‘My dad once told me hunting is a lot like playing in the mud: sure, it’s a lot of fun, but when you’re done, there’s always cleaning involved.’ Steve Lightfoot – TPWD information specialist
processing practices will increase the odds of enjoying a tender, tasty cut of meat, rather than something akin to boot leather.
Happiness is a warm gut pileThink about it: The decomposition
clock starts ticking immediately after that deer’s heart stops ticking. Cold weather can help delay the damage in some cases, but field-dressing an animal immediately is the first step toward ensuring the meat will be edible when it hits the table.
Whether you plan to use a commercial deer processor, butcher it yourself at home or donate the meat, proper field-dressing is critical. It takes practice and patience – there are no shortcuts. If you’re new to hunting, there are plenty of how-to videos online. Watch experienced hunters and ask questions.
Three elements to remember: clean, cool and dry. Depending on the available facilities and the weather, your options for maintaining the meat will vary, but keep in mind the carcass needs to be cooled to 34 to 38 degrees during storage and aging. As a temporary solution to cold storage, you can pack ice sealed in plastic storage bags in the deer carcass. Secure the bags in place by tying the cavity shut with rope or cord.
You can wait a few days to skin and quarter a deer, but I have found skinning to be easiest immediately postmortem. Skinning allows you to remove the tenderloin, which doesn’t require any aging, and quartering gives you the option of transporting the meat in ice chests (don’t leave meat on ice for too long as it will also contribute to spoilage).
Better with age?My grandfather
believed you needed to age a deer or a hog
for weeks. I’ve found the meat to be sufficiently tenderized from aging no more than a few days. Venison headed for the grinder doesn’t need to be aged at all. The aging process is basically a chemical reaction that accelerates the tenderizing process, but there are other options.
A mechanical or handheld meat tenderizer will do the trick; soaking the meat in a vinegar-based marinade will also break down the tissue, particularly with waterfowl. (Tip for venison: Soaking the meat in milk helps remove any gamey taste that some folks dislike.)
Getting creativeButchering and processing
at home is work. It’s also an opportunity to experiment and create. In our home, it’s a family project. I still do all the butchering, but the other processes are shared – grinding and mixing sausage, curing and stuffing, making jerky, wrapping and freezing. My younger kids take great pride in sharing deer jerky at school and then telling teachers and
classmates where it came from. I have a friend whose daughter
has never eaten store-bought meat. Although it would take some effort for me to harvest enough game to feed my large family throughout the year, I do have concerns about food additives. Fortunately, wild game is the original all-natural health food. Bon appetit!
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Field-dressing tipsAs a safety precaution and for
quick cleanup, wear disposable plastic gloves while field-dressing game. There are 24 diseases that people can contract from feral hogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most will make you sick if you eat undercooked meat, but some, like brucellosis, are more severe.
Use clean water, disinfectant wipes or alcohol swabs to clean your knife frequently or between cuts to avoid dragging bacteria into meat.
If the organs smell offensive or exhibit greenish discharge, black blood or blood clots in the muscle, do not consume meat from this carcass. Discard the carcass properly.
Field-dressing Kit CheCKlistPut everything you need to care for game
after the kill into a small duffel bag.That includes sharp knives, sharpening
stone or steel, small hatchet or bone saw, pair of shears or heavy-duty scissors, rope or nylon cord, clean cloth or paper towels,
disinfectant cleaning wipes, sealable storage bags, cooler full of ice, disposable latex or rubber gloves, clean drinking water
KitChen proCessingStore any unfrozen meat in the refrigerator and use it within two to three days.Keep raw meat separated to prevent cross-contamination in the refrigerator. Marinate all meats in the refrigerator.Thaw all frozen meats in the refrigerator or microwave and use immediately.Heat all game meats, including jerky to, to 155° to reduce the risk of food-borne illness. Use a calibrated
meat thermometer to ensure proper cooking.Do not can meat unless you have a calibrated or recently tested pressure canner. Proper pressure and time are critical to ensure the safety of canned meat.
transporting, proCessing gameKeep the carcass cool and out of
sunlight during transport. Don’t tie the deer across the hood or roof of a car. Transport the carcass to the processing facility as soon as possible. Processing should be done only by businesses with fully refrigerated facilities.
If you are processing your own game, hold the carcass at 40 degrees or less. Freezing the carcass before processing may toughen the meat.
If aging the carcass, do so at 40 degrees or less for two to three days.
If you are using the meat for sausage, aging is not necessary.
During processing, clean your knife frequently or between cuts to avoid contaminating the meat.
Wash your knife, hands and cutting boards often with warm, soapy water.
Freezing tipsCut and package the meat into meal-size
portions.Use heavily waxed paper, freezer wrap,
heavy-duty aluminum foil or plastic freezer storage bags for meat storage.
Wrap meat tightly; remove all air from the bag before sealing.
Label packages with contents and dates. Space packages in freezer to allow proper
air circulation for cooling and freezing.Once packages are solidly frozen (within 24
hours), you can stack them in the freezer.Properly wrapped game meat will store in
the freezer for nine to 12 months.To avoid quality deterioration, do not
refreeze thawed products.
Tips for proper care of GAME
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