SPRING 2020
Central Texas Simplifying catfishing
Page 4
Healing through the outdoors Page 2
2 Central Texas Outdoors
Spring 2020
PHOTO BY BILL HANCOCK
Whitetail doe are pictured on Trinity Oaks’ Thumb Tack Ranch during a Wounded Warriors hunt earlier this month.
Healing through the outdoors Trinity Oaks Ranch hosts Wounded Warriors hunts By Bill Hancock Runnels County Register
The voices echo in the bunkhouses; grandfather’s talking about their grandchildren; old men and young men talking about their exploits in days gone by. The army and Marine veterans banter is only interrupted by laughter. Good-hearted jokes abound on this cool February morning in south Texas, on a ranch 3.5 miles north of Batesville, and 90 miles south of San Antonio. It’s the laughter and enjoyment that comes from veterans being around fellow veterans, many of them meeting for the first time, some of them old friends
who have been on other adventures together. The participants’ ages range from 30 years old to 76 years old. No one is a stranger for more than 5 minutes. Everyone gravitates to the heart of the group that consists of Charlie, Ernie, Vince, Slick, Gary and Bo. There is no periphery here; every person is equally important and central to the fun and camaraderie. The group represent wars over the last 66 years, including the Vietnam War (1954-1975); the Gulf War (1991), Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2011) as well as Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2014) and the ongoing War on Terror (2001-present). One man, the overachiever of the group, sits laughing and joking in his wheelchair. Bo Jones lost both of his
legs and had one arm was severely injured when he was hit by an IED in Afghanistan on February 12th, 2012. That is his “Alive Day.” Jones is from Twin Falls, Idaho. He joined the army in 2009 and left to Fort Benning in May 2010. Jones was on foot when the IED detonated, changing his life forever in 2012. Jones has a positive attitude and is always smiling. He appreciates life and he appreciates the outdoors. Jones and the others are all here for the same reasons: to hunt among other veterans, but moreover, they’re here to connect. They’re among their own kind and talk about subjects and experiences that only other veterans understand. We’re at Trinity Oaks’ Thumb Tack Ranch, which is located down a partially paved road, 3.5 miles north of
Batesville. You drive through cultivated fields, that any other time of the year would have crops growing in them. Right now farmers who started before sunlight and will finish after sunset are in their tractors discing and plowing. The dust is thick in the air but soon the road winds to a tree line, the dust disappears and you come to a low water crossing with about 3” of the Leona River gently flowing over it. A short drive up a hill and you’re at the 2000 acre Thumbtack Ranch, which belongs to Trinity Oaks. Thumbtack is an oasis, in more ways than one, in the middle of cropland, USA. It’s an oasis of vegetation in a cultivated landscape and it’s an oasis for veterans and terminally ill
SEE HEALING, 16-17
Spring 2020
Central Texas Outdoors
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Shumaker Gunworks offers license to carry classes By Ashley Inge Stephenville Empire-Tribune
Shumaker Gunworks in Stephenville offers a license to carry class for those wanting to carry a gun. The class allows participants to submit an application to the state of Texas and pending a background check, they will receive their license to carry. Classes are offered once a month depending on how many participants have signed up. The class covers topics that are set by the state of Texas including safe handling and storage of firearms, basic types of handguns, fundamentals of marksmanship, laws regarding use of force and deadly force in the state when an individual is legally allowed to use it, where you are and are not allowed to carry a handgun and a non-violent dispute resolution. “It’s basically some techniques to help you improve your communication skills with other people and to help you recognize signs when someone may be getting upset to the point where they may turn violent,” said owner of Shumaker Gunworks Michael Shumaker. “Hopefully you can see what’s developing and you can get out of that situation before you’d ever be forced to use deadly force against someone else.” To participate in a class, an individual has to be within six months of turning 21 unless they are active duty military, in which case, they can take the class when they are 18.
An individual has to be 21 before they can submit an application to the state to receive a license to carry. Shumaker also offers one-on-one instruction. “I have to talk to you a little bit and see how much
HUNTING
experience you’ve had, and we’ll go from there to see what we need to instruct you on,” he said. For more information, call Shumaker Gunworks at 254-968-3852.
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Spring 2020
4 Central Texas Outdoors
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Pictured is a blue catfish.
Simplifying catfishing
By Bill Hancock Runnels County Register
Catfishing has been around since long before modern man, with baits and such discussed and debated almost as much as the smoke-ring on brisket or beans in chili. For the record, beans do not belong in chili if you’re making it in Texas. If you Google, “how to catfish,” prepare for your computer to freeze up while Google deciphers and creates the never-ending catfishing list. Catfishing is the complete opposite of that other favorite freshwater fishing sport; bass fishing. Most bass fisherman own boats that cost about as much as a mortgage,
more fishing poles than cattails in a farm pond and enough lures to stock the shelves of even the largest big-box store. And, bass fisherman usually have a lonely wife they’re trying not to wake up when they get up at 5 a.m. to get ready to hit the water in that bass boat with the 200 HP motor on it and a $1,000 trolling motor. My grandmother used to call herself the “fishing widow” when we’d be at the family lake house on weekends. Catfishing doesn’t require the boat, the lures and the lonely wife. Most catfishing is done from the bank, the angler soaking some piece of meat or ungodly concoction of cheese and cow blood on
a treble hook on the bottom of the lake, river or pond. It also typically involves a 6-pack or 12-pack of their favorite brew. Ah, the joys of catfishing. It can be as relaxing as bass fishing is hectic. We can’t forget the catfish legends and lore. There is always the story of some guy who had a friend of a friend whose 2nd cousin’s uncle was a SCUBA diver and was diving by a dam and saw a catfish, “big enough to swallow him whole.” And there are the legendary catfish that are “known” by every angler in the area; catfish with names like Charlie or Clyde or Cliff or Maurice, “I’ve hooked Catfish Clyde ten times and he’s broke the line every time.”
Everyone knows that legendary catfish, the catfish’s favorite place to hang out, the myriad of anglers who have hooked him and had him break their line, or, in the most amazing instances, “straightened the hook out as straight as preacher’s promise. I swear on a stack of bibles 9-stories high that he bent that hook as straight as a Methodist preacher.” Yes, we all know that catfish. The catfish of legend. The catfish that will make a boy into a man. The catfish that will cause a preacher to lose his religion. That catfish. What is the key to catching the big-
SEE CATFISHING, X
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PHOTO COURTESY OF YVAN JAYNE
La Tour is located on a ridge and surrounded by two large red oaks. It was built in July 2018 and the design is in respect to 17th century French pigeoneers.
Your next getaway: Discover your ‘nest’ at Skybox Cabins Ashley Inge Stephenville Empire-Tribune
If you’re looking for a unique getaway, consider heading to Skybox Cabins in Glen Rose where your own private “nest” awaits. Literally. Owners Yvan and Kristin Jayne opened Skybox Cabins in June 2017. “He [Yvan] had always had this idea of buying some property and building cabins and having the opportunity to host people on our place. He had been talking about it for years. I was kind of not really on board,” Kristin said, with a laugh. But Yvan’s idea finally came true and the couple has expanded Skybox Cabins to include their most popular and recent addition, The Nest, a hybrid cabin with features modeling a treehouse and bohemian bungalow. It is described as a “Pinterest perfect” cabin.
“The Nest is my favorite of all the cabins. It is this little bungalow with open shelving and an open shower. Everything is smooth and has a very relaxed boho-style to it. This amazing patio and porch out on the back looks like a nest, which is how the building got its name.” Because of The Nest, Skybox Cabins has recently been featured in several magazines and publications like 360 West and Southern Living. They will be featured in Texas Living this month. Skybox Cabins currently has three cabins with a fourth expected to be complete in June. The Birdhouse is a treehouse-inspired cabin that features a second-floor entry via bridge from a tree top platform. Ivan used cedar from their property to create the interior stairs and railing. The Birdhouse also features a second-floor balcony, small kitchen-
ette and outdoor fire pit with stone seating. La Tour (The Tower) was built in 2018 and is located on a ridge surrounded by two large red oaks. “La Tour is like a tower that comes straight out of the ground,” Kristin said. “It was designed in respect to 17th century French pigeoneers. Yvan is originally from France. He moved here when he was 16 and his grandfather and uncles are master builders in France, so they had these things called pigeon houses, which were a sign of wealth in the 17th century. That’s where that design came from.” None of the cabins have Wi-Fi or TVs. “When we moved out here, the peace and the calm that I felt from this property, it was just something that I wanted to share with other people that I know SEE CABINS, 19
Spring 2020
6 Central Texas Outdoors
The increasing popularity of kayaking
By Bill Hancock Runnels County Register
In 1998, a small group of people, including myself, joined an online group, Texas Kayak Fisherman (www. texaskayakfisherman.com). By the time I joined, there were already about 40 members. In the 22 years since that time the group has grown to 44,375 members. The reasons for the kayak explosion are as numerous and diverse as the kayaks are. One reason is that kayaks bridge the divide between boaters and bank fishermen and inland or wade fishermen on the coast. When kayaking really hit in about 1999, people realized that you no longer needed to spend $40,000 on a bay boat or bass boat. You could spend $800 on a kayak and fish lakes, streams, rivers, bays and beach fronts. One of the most popular areas of kayaking is “Beyond the breakers.” This refers to fishing off the beaches along the coast, out before waves start breaking as they approach shore. Every species is targeted in BTB, including various species of sharks. Also included are Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Dolphin fish aka Mahi Mahi, (not Flipper), along with many others popular species that weren’t always accessible to the average surf fisherman or angler. There isn’t much as exciting as fishing a few hundred yards off the beach and a ball of baitfish come through, with every species under the sun feasting on them. When you hook into a big fish, such as a shark or Cobia, they can pull your kayak and it’s colloquially referred to as a, “Texas sleigh ride.” The popularity in kayak fishing was meteoric, to say the least. Part of the reason for the quick rise was due to the fact that many companies like Wilderness Systems, Ocean Kayaks and Hobie were quick to respond to the public interest. Then came coastal kayak fishing tournaments, such as Extreme Edge Fishing (EEF). These tournaments went well beyond the borders of Texas, extending to Louisiana, Florida and Rhode Island. The EEF also held freshwater tournaments from the Oklahoma border to Austin. Texas Parks & Wildlife was quick to respond by setting up paddling trails along the coast. The kayak market was soon saturated with “Sit on top kayaks” aka, SOTs. The traditional whitewater kayaks that most people were used to seeing are referred to as SINKS (Sit inside kayaks). In the
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Pictured is a kayak angler in the marsh.
beginning, just the basic plastic rotomolded kayak would run you $900. Add in such luxuries as a seat (they didn’t come with seats), drift anchors, rudders, high-end paddles, paddle leashes, rod holders and other amenities and pretty soon you were spending $1500$2000 on a small plastic boat to go bob around the waves on. It was still considerably cheaper than the bass boats, bay boats and skiffs you find crowding the lakes and bays.
Just as with a cell phone, it’s not necessarily the actual device where you spend the money. Just like with apps, the kayaks had to have the above mentioned accessories. You could purchase a run-of-the-mill kayak paddle from Academy for $20. After an hour of paddling, you felt like someone had pulled your arms across the ground and jumped up and down on them. High end paddles weighing 26 ounces or less became all the rage, easily costing up-
wards of $300. A basic seat would run you $30, but a high-end cushioned seat with sturdy full back support started at $75. The rudder was a two-prong issue; you had to buy the rudder, then you had to go install it on your kayak. This meant drilling holes and installing the rudder and cables. A rudder alone would run you $200. Many of the shops would charge you $50 to install it for SEE KAYAKING, 11
Spring 2020
Central Texas Outdoors
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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Pictured is John Wolfstaetter with a fly fishing catch.
Getting into fly fishing
By Bill Hancock Runnels County Registerw
A quote, often incorrectly attributed to American humorist and author Mark Twain, goes, “Golf is a good walk, spoiled.” Some would say that you could say that when comparing conventional tackle fishing with fly fishing. In 1864, Thaddeus “Uncle Thad” Norris wrote The American Angler’s Book. It was a tome of fishing information and is considered by many to be the, “First significant American work to cover aspects of fly fishing.” By then fly fishing was already ingrained in the DNA of the northeastern United States anglers. It was in 1864 when Seth Green, an avid fly fisherman,
became a pioneer in pisciculture and aquaculture when he set up the first fish farm in the western hemisphere. He raised Atlantic salmon and Brook trout at his Caledonia, New York location. In recent years, fly fishing has become all the rage for Texas anglers. Previously, most people thought of fly fishermen as stalking streams and creeks from Colorado to Idaho to Maine to Canada to Alaska. It’s true that those places are where you’ll find the heart of the fly fishing world, but now you’ll find many Texas anglers out casting a fly. Instead of chasing Brown Trout or Rainbow Trout or salmon, you’ll find many Texas anglers chasing Largemouth Bass, Guadalupe Bass or Rio Grande Perch, but mostly you’ll find them
along the Texas coast chasing Redfish, Tarpon, Snook and Speckled Trout. The idea of taking up fly fishing can be intimidating, but it’s not as hard as many think it is. Yes, you’ll spend a great deal of time with “The whippin’ stick”, and dry casting to get your fly exactly where you want it, but you’ll also find enjoyment that conventional fisherman may never know. The worst thing an aspiring fly angler can do is buy a bargain basement fly rod. Conventional tackle is different, where you can go buy a $25 catfish rod and reel and go catch fish all day, but there are several factors SEE FLY FISHING, 13
Spring 2020
8 Central Texas Outdoors
Lone Star Fair & Expo in Brownwood March 20-22
BROWNWOOD BULLETIN FILE PHOTO
David “Hollywood” Eastep prepares to kiss a cobra during the opening show of the 2019 Lone Star Fair and Expo. By Derrick Stuckly Brownwood Bulletin
The 54th Lone Star Fair & Expo presented by the Brownwood Jaycees will be held on March 20-22 at the Brownwood Coliseum. The three-day event will feature all-day educational programs about rattlesnakes presented by the Jaycee Rattlesnake Corps, and various food and product booths. Saturday and Sunday will feature alligator educational shows by Gary Saurage from Gator Coun-
try. The Gator Country show will also include a pool filled with smaller alligators for spectators to hold and touch, pictures with an alligator, and alligator merchandise. “We’re really excited to bring Gary Saurage from Gator Country to Brownwood,” said Pat McLaughlin, the event chair for the 2020 Lone Star Fair & Expo. “The one-hour shows will feature an educational program about alligators with an 11-foot alligator named
Dallas.” Tickets will be $6 for adults 13 ages 13 and over and $4 for children ages 12 and under. Doors will open on Friday, March 20 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 21 from 10 a.n. To 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 22 from noon to 5 p.m. For more information about the Lone Star Fair & Expo, contact Pat McLaughlin via e-mail at brownwoodjaycees@gmail.com or by calling (325) 6426809.
OUTDOOR LIVING | THE WILDERNESS
Spring 2020
C
Central Texas Outdoors
Backcountry Camping
Campers staying ampers stayingininthe thebackcountry backcountrytypically typicallyaren’t aren’tlooking lookingfor forcampsites campsiteswith withtoilets, toilets,electrical electrical outlets outlets or or trash trash cans. They just need a piece of land that’s flat enough to pitch a tent, and not much else. While everyone in the cans. They just need a piece of land that’s flat enough to pitch a tent, and not much else. While everyone outdoors should for backcountry backcountry camping. camping. in the outdoors shouldpractice practice“leave “leaveno no trace” trace” practices, practices, this this is is especially especially true true for The National Park Foundation released a guide to help novice backcountry campers have a safe and fun experience.
KNOW WHERE TO GO
Many national parks allow backcountry campers to leave the beaten path and stay at areas not designated as campsites, but you should still have an idea of where you can be and where you’re not allowed. Have a detailed map of the area and know the paths and good places to camp. Avoid areas that could be dangerous, such as those that are prone to flash floods.
GET PERMISSION
Check with the National Parks Service or the agency that owns the land to determine if you need a backcountry permit. Also look up seasonal restrictions on fires and camp stoves.
PACK IN, PACK OUT
There is no trash service in the backcountry, so be sure you pack out any trash that you make. Bring a plastic zippered bag for trash. This includes biodegradable food waste, like apple cores, and toilet paper.
you may need and what you can live without. Carefully consider how much and what type of food you bring. For a onenight trip, most campers can get by with prepackaged food; ONLY WHAT YOU NEED look at granola and energy This seems like a given, but it bars, jerky, fruit and other calocan be hard to determine what rie-dense, high protein foods. If
© ADOBE STOCK
you’re going on a longer trip and will be cooking, plan the menu before. Dehydrated food can help save weight and space in your pack. Make sure you have enough food for the trip, remembering you’ll burn more calories hiking than you would on a regular day, but don’t
bring too much that you’re stuck carrying around for days.
STAY HYDRATED
Drinking enough water is critical for anyone doing any physical activity. Have at least 32 ounces of water and know where other water sources are
in the area. This could be filtered water, which some parks have; if not, have a filtering system or water purification chemicals and locate the nearest stream. You always want to fill your bottle from a source of running water, not a pond or lake.
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Spring 2020
Central Texas Outdoors
KAYAKING
CONTINUED FROM 11
you, which was cheap compared to you cutting the wrong sized hole or hole in the wrong place on your little unforgiving plastic boat. It’s a lot harder to paddle a kayak with a hull full of water. With the abrupt increase in kayak fishing tournaments, sponsors came along and every guy with a fishin’ pole and a kayak was talking to potential sponsors. The sponsors from Wilderness Systems to Ocean Kayaks were inundated with calls, emails and people coming up to them at tournaments to tell them why they should sponsor him or her. Originally the sponsored kayak anglers were some of the best anglers that had sponsors. Many of them were and still are full-time fishing guides who knew how to fish and where to fish. They could find Tarpon in Texas or Snook in Florida. Kayak companies, lure companies, accessory manufacturers, kayak shops and breweries sponsored the anglers. Where there are kayaks, there are fishing poles; where there are fishing poles, there is beer. The sponsored anglers fished every tournament in a series, which usually went from April through September. You would start a year at a tournament series stop in Corpus Christi and go on around the bend of the Texas coast, into Louisiana, on to Florida and up to Rhode Island as the tournament year wound down. Most of the kayak fishing tournaments have gone away now, and that’s mainly due to the popular boater fishing tournaments adding kayak divisions. The more entries, the more prize money. Some of the tournaments draw almost a thousand anglers. Now, the market is saturated with kayaks, all the way down to models that cost $99 and come with seats and a paddle. They can be found on every body of water in the state on a weekend or holiday. Kayak manufacturers went from a few dozen to now over 100. According to Statista.com, 228,000 kayaks were sold in 2010 and there are now over 16 million kayakers in the United States. Kayak companies now sell almost $100,000,000 worth of kayaks every year. This doesn’t include the accessories. What is the draw of kayak fishing? Why has it become so popular? First of all, you don’t have to pay for gas, tuneups, broken parts and be constantly charging deep-cycle marine batteries. It’s also quite peaceful. Typically the only sounds you will hear will be fish hitting the surface of the water and
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
There are more than 44,000 members of the Texas Kayak FIsherman organization.
birds singing. Many people view kayaking as getting back to nature, the peace and success of a day on the water isn’t typically measured in the number of fish you catch. Chris Lutz has been involved in the outdoor scene for decades and spoke about what he sees as the biggest factor in the growth of kayaking, “I think the biggest factor is every average Joe now has a quick and cost effective way to get on the water. It’s nice just being out there, but it can also offer you the chance to fish some good spots on anyone’s home water easily without the headaches and hassles of a larger boat and/or trailer.” Lutz was asked if he felt that kayaking got people outdoors, people who may not have already been the outdoors type, or if it’s just a beacon to those who were already avid outdoorspeople, “I think it’s both. For those of us that were already outdoorsy, it was just a bonus, but it has certainly gotten more people on the water who otherwise might not have gotten out there.” Lutz said that the diverse options that kayakers have is also enticing to many, “There are all different kinds of kayaking, so there should be something for everybody. Whitewater kayaking can appeal to the adrenaline junkie while kayak fishing, recreational kayaks, and something like paddle boarding can appeal to those looking to have a relaxing day on the water. The technical person can certainly obtain enjoyment from the myriad of DIY opportunities in rigging their own kayaks for any kind of kayaking pursuit. It could be adding rod
holders to fish, electronics, or building it out into a fully motorized operation.” According to Lutz, the most important aspect of kayaking takes precedence before you ever get out on the water, “People should definitely get some kayaking education. Boating edu-
11
cation in general. Just because you’re in a small plastic boat doesn’t mean that you are free from the rules out there. Specifically, the rules of navigation. Safety too, of course, as more people join the sport, more die because they are unprepared with PFD’s (life jacket) or cold-water gear. I always recommend wearing a paddling specific PFD that allows you to hold some gear you need while fishing. That way you’ll have it at the ready and it’s part of your attire. It may save your life.” In addition to the boating rule and safety, Lutz says that kayak paddling classes can help a great deal, “A paddling class certainly couldn’t hurt. I got into it by taking a canoe class in college and the knowledge I gained from that helped me be a better boater/paddler in general.” Chris Lutz has been fishing his entire life and specifically kayak fishing since being introduced to the paddle sports in college in 2000. He wants others to have this amazing experience too and plans to be a life-long ambassador for the sport. He has fished freshwater and saltwater across the country and every coast and major island in Florida. His mission is to help people have more fun, be a more successful angler, and spend more quality time on the water with your loved ones.”
OUTDOOR LIVING | GETTING BACK TO NATURE
12 Central Texas Outdoors
T
Pitch a Tent
Spring 2020
Thinking about going camping? Whether it’sit’s thethe thought of cooking over a fire, falling asleep to the sound of hinking about going camping? Whether thought of cooking over a fire, falling asleep to the sound the of wind a nearby stream, or waking up to up a beautiful sunrise, camping is a fun spend more more time the or wind or a nearby stream, or waking to a beautiful sunrise, camping is away funto way to spend in nature better, de-stress and enjoy time with your family and friends. time in nature thatthat cancan helphelp youyou feelfeel better, de-stress and enjoy time with your family and friends.
Camping can be simple. With a little planning and the right gear, you’re ready to hit the local the campsites and pitch the tent. Gizmodo offered tips to have a fun and safe camping trip that doesn’t end in a rain-flooded tent.
FIND THE RIGHT SLEEPING BAG
Sleeping bags with cartoon characters are great for indoor slumber parties, but for camping when it’s going to get at all chilly, invest in heavier bags. Unless you’re planning a very cold trip, a sleeping bag that rates at 20 degrees Fahrenheit should be warm enough. Sleeping mats or hammocks can make a world of difference, both in comfort and in staying warm at night. You can get mats that roll up, similar to a yoga mat, air mattresses or hammocks, which offer different levels of removal from the cold, hard ground. If you take an air mattress, make sure to bring a pump as well. © ADOBE STOCK
COOKING
Many campsites have grills or fire pits. Know what you’re getting so you can have either charcoal or wood and kindling to start a fire. You can have traditional food from the grill or cook many of the same foods on a stick over a fire. You
can also use the coals to cook, either with a Dutch oven or with foil dinners. S’mores are a must. Keep food and anything that smells like food locked in the car when you’re not eating so you don’t entice animals to your campsite.
GIMME SHELTER
The first rule of thumb for a tent: one listed as sleeping six people will not sleep six adults. Have a tent that can fit at least one person more than the number of people on your trip. Gizmodo’s camping
expert recommended a dome• Lantern, flashlight, extra style tent with flexible poles. batteries, headlamp; Putting a tarp under the tent • Water bucket (to douse the can help some with warmth fire); and also keep water away • Drinking water; from your tent. • Rain gear; Must-have items •Warm clothes; and • Insect repellent; • Soap, hand towel.
Spring 2020
FLY FISHING CONTINUED FROM 7
to consider when purchasing a fly fishing rod and reel. You’re going to be doing a lot of casting and the heavier or more cumbersome a rod is, the quicker it will wear you out. It also makes it difficult to put the fly exactly where you want it, and this can be crucial because a matter of 3” or 4” can be the difference between a trophy fish and a trophy ribbing from your buddies. In fly fishing, perhaps more so than in any other type of fishing, quality equipment matters. Part of the enjoyment of fly fishing is when you get to the point where you tie your own flies. There isn’t much that compares to catching a fish that you sight-casted to and that engulfed a fly that you tied. On those cold, blustery days where fly fishing is next to impossible, it’s relaxing to be able to sit in your own workroom and spend a few hours tying various flies. It also gives you a lot of time to think about what you did right and what you did incorrectly on your last fly fishing trip. Being on a skiff on the Texas coast and casting to a 30” Redfish, only to have your fly land on its nose and spook it off can give you a serious case of PTSD and cause veins to pop out on fire-engine-red foreheads. That scenario has caused more than one fly fisherman to slap the front of the boat with his 9’ or 11’ rod and immediately regret it, and it will be about as close as you’ll ever come to losing your religion. Fly fishing seems complicated but it really isn’t. You have your reel and your rod. The most popular fly rod is a 9’, 4-piece rod. On your reel, you have your “backing” line. This is in turned tied to your fly line. This gets tied to your leader. Your leader, in turn, is tied to your tippet. The tippet is tied to your fly. There is floating fly line and sinking fly line. Many newbies like the floating fly line because you can see it move when a fish strikes. Fly fishing isn’t like tight-line fishing on the bottom for catfish or casting and reeling in lures for bass. The fly moves up and down in the water column and it moves with the speed of the current. There is almost always some level of slack in your line. But once you get used to the intricacies of fly fishing, you won’t need to consider trying to see when a fish hits your fly. Captain Scott Null has more than 2 decades of experience as a fishing guide on the Texas and Louisiana coast. Null
PHOTO BY BILL HANCOCK
Pictured is an assortment of fly lures.
is highly regarded as one of the premier fly fishing guides, regularly putting his customers on quality Redfish, along with other species, including Tarpon, Speckled Trout and Snook. Null’s regular customers include country music star Radney Foster as well as Dan Rather (son of the famous anchorman). Null said that he’s seen an increase in fly fishing enthusiasts over the last few years, “There has been a slow but steady increase over the last 15-20 years. Most of my regular customers have been at it a long time and range from mid-40’s up to their 80’s. Most of the guys I’m seeing come into the sport are in their 20’s. It’s good to see some youth coming in. I’m also seeing a handful of really young anglers in their early teens. The youngest I’ve had on the skiff was an eight year old who could out cast a high percentage of the adults who fish with me.” Null says that the most important aspect of learning to fly fish is learning to cast properly, “The place to learn is with a competent instructor in a non-fishing environment. I’ve had fresh newbies show up for a guided trip expecting me to be able to teach them everything from casting to catching their first fish in a single morning on the water. Don’t do that. A guided trip is a good bit more expensive than a casting lesson. Your money is more wisely spent on that guided trip learning the fishing aspects of the sport, not the bare basics of casting.” Why get into fly fishing? Fly fishing requires a lot of practice and some studying is also required to understand the concept, such as you’re casting the fly line, you’re not trying to cast the fly. You cast the line and the fly follows. You should be able to cast out at least 50’ of line in fishing a stream or river and around 100’ in lakes and on
the coast. It can sound intimidating but it isn’t if you learn how to correctly cast, as Null suggests. Once you have the casting basics, you’ll find that you’ll get better sooner rather than later. Many anglers and many fly fishing instructors will tie a small piece of yarn to the tip of your line and you’ll practice casting with that, because again, you’re casting the line and not the yarn. Null was asked what the difference is between fly fishers and conventional tackle users, “Attitude. You have to slow down and accept that you might not catch as many fish on a fly in saltwater. You have to embrace the challenge. There are certainly times when a well-placed fly beats a lure. Sight casting in clear shallow water with zero wind requires a quiet presentation. That’s hard to do with conventional lure. On the other hand, when conditions require blind casting, a guy with conventional gear can cover more water efficiently and likely run into more fish.” Null was also asked if he saw the challenge as a reason for more people taking up fly fishing, “Most people I see getting in the game are accomplished anglers who have excelled with lure fishing and want to challenge themselves. You are intentionally making it harder to catch fish.” It’s not just men that are taking up the sport; more women have been taking it up as well. Null was asked if he had noticed an increase in the number of women taking up fly fishing, “A few, but those few are very focused and learn it really well. There are absolutely no reasons for women not to get into fly fishing. Being good at it requires technique, not strength.” As for gear, the precision of fly fishing requires that you purchase the best gear that is available in your particular price-range, something that Null says is important, “Buy the best gear you can afford. Take the casting lessons first and then decide which rod you want. Your casting style and ability should dictate the rod purchase. A beginner with an ultra high-end rod will get frustrated because they can’t make the rod perform properly. Honestly, most intermediate to good casters can’t really cast those ultra fast high-end rods. At the same time, a low end “kit” rod will also be frustrating because you will quickly get beyond it. If you are getting into saltwater fly fishing, pick a reel that is an anodized machined aluminum reel with a decent drag. Lesser reels simply won’t hold up and you’ll be going back to buy a better reel. Just get the good reel to start with
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and save the expense of the mistake reel.” As for the freshwater fly fishers, many groups travel around the state on their excursions. Some of the most fished rivers in Texas include the Guadalupe (Rainbow Trout live in areas of it year-round), as well as the Llano, Blanco, Lampasas, Pedernales and San Gabriel rivers. Casting a fly that you tied, in a Texas hill country river on a beautiful spring day is about as picturesque as fly fishing in Texas can get. While many anglers up north are still wearing waders to brave the ice cold water, you can wade out in shorts and a T-shirt here in most Texas rivers and lakes. When it comes to tying your own flies, it isn’t complicated unless you’re tying something that requires epoxy, such as spoon flies. Most other flies from Wooly Boogers to streamers to midges are easily tied in just a few minutes. It’s nothing for someone to sit down and tie 1 or 2 dozen of their favorite fly in an hour. This is where, “Match the hatch” comes into play. Small mosquito flies and midges are usually the flavor of the day in Texas. As we all know, Texas is full of mosquitoes, no matter which part of the state you’re in. Fish love to snack on them and their larvae. Streamers and poppers are popular flies among bass anglers. A popper is probably the most popular bass fishing fly in the state. They are usually larger than the others, with the exception of some streamers. There is no shortage of patterns and materials to choose from and the “recipe” for each type of fly can be found online. If you are looking for a fly fishing instructor, you can look to Fly Fishers International (www.flyfishersinternational.org). There are instructors in almost every region of the United States. A certified instructor can greatly reduce the learning curve and teach you the right way to fly fish. They don’t only offer casting instruction, you can go to fly tying classes, fly fishing camp, learn the various knots and find a fly fishing group in or close to your area. There is a Fly Fishers International club in Abilene (www.facebook.com/abileneflyfishers/). Captain Scott Null guides fly and conventional fishing trips from a Sabine Versatile poling skiff and a large center console Dargel Kat, chasing everything from trout and redfish in the bays to tarpon on the beachfront. “Captain Scott Null” on Facebook & and Instagram and can be contacted at captscottnull@gmail.com.
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CATFISHING CONTINUED FROM 4
gest, fattest, meanest, orneriest, most stubborn, hookstraightening catfish in the lake or river? Well, there are more ways to catch a catfish than your grandmother had to turn leftover Thanksgiving turkey into other dishes for the next 8 days. Okay, maybe not that many ways, but there are a lot of ways. Tactics, gear, hooks, bait, location, time of day, time of night, etc. differ from angler to angler. Let’s start with the bait, the key ingredient to a successful catfishing trip, if the catfish happen to be biting on that day, or night. Growing up fishing Matagorda Bay, there were cattle all along the land adjacent to the bay. There was a saying, “If the cows ain’t eatin’, don’t go fishin’. The rationale was that all animals have a natural feeding cycle and feed at pretty much the same times. So, if the cattle are grazin’, the fish are bitin’. I don’t know if it’s true. The only times I remember not catching fish were when I didn’t go fishin’. Many anglers like to use live bait, mainly pan fish, such as perch or Bluegill. They’ll stick that unfortunate fish on a hook big enough to yank an old Vaudeville duo off the stage. Typically they’re a large hook, such as a 3/0 or 4/0 hook. For those not familiar with the lingo, the “0” in 3/0 is pronounced three-aught. My grandfather used to say, “It’s because that aught means you probably ought to have used a different hook.” The theory behind live bait is, “the bigger the bait, the bigger the fish.” That’s logic that you don’t often find just laying about. But, there is truth to it in most cases, although small catfish in the 2 lbs. range have been found with large pan fish stuck in their mouth. Usually it doesn’t end well for either the catfish or the pan fish. Just like overachieving anglers, there are wanna-be overachieving catfish. The old adage, “Your eyes are bigger than your stomach,” would seeming apply in this case. But, back to the catfishing. Catfish are not sight feeders, for the most part. Remember, catfish whiskers are sensitive feelers called “barbels.” Each barbel is loaded with tiny taste buds and special olfactory sensors to help the fish smell. Catfish tend to live in dark, murky waters where their vision isn’t very useful. Barbels help the fish search out food using their senses of touch and taste. Many people think that you have to fish in the deepest part of the lake or river to catch catfish. The catfish is like most other fish, it’s an ambush predator when the situation calls for it. They’ll be where the perch or Bluegill are at, and this usually means a few feet from shore or up in the cattails. Catfish also like submerged logs so if you have one where you’re fishing, drop your bait down there and see what happens. Anglers have fished in the coldest water that was the color of chocolate milk on the windiest and most miserable day and have caught big catfish. I’ve never known a catfish to complain about the weather. They have to eat regardless of weather conditions. The key is that movement means energy. If a big catfish is lurking on the bottom, he or she may not move much for a ½ ounce of punch bait. But put a big ol’ perch down there and they can’t resist it. Big meal = big energy, especially on cold days. While large catfish have been caught on large live caught, large catfish have also been caught on blood bait or dough bait or punch bait put on a size 4 treble hook. A
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size 4 treble hook is fairly small and differs a great deal from the 4/0 hook that is much larger. So, think about it like this, “Big pan fish for bait = big hook that needs to have an ‘aught’ behind the number and slash. Dough bait, blood bait and punch bait = smaller hooks, numbers with no “aught.” I promise that I’m not trying to confuse you. Okay, so you decide on blood bait or punch bait or dough bait. Good idea. What are they made of? Well, each bait is made using a different recipe. You can use Catfish Charlie Blood B bait or Danny King’s punch bait or some other prepackaged bait. Some of the baits come in a tub or plastic container and some are preformed and in a bag. Do you really want to know what is in them? Does it matter as long as it catches fish? Blood bait contains blood, usually cattle blood. No one really knows what is in punch bait, although many swear that it’s the best thing since sliced bread. I can hear the question now, “Why do they call it punch bait?” Well, if you’ve ever smelled catfish bait, you know that it smells worse than a non-alcoholic beer on St. Patrick’s Day. Punch bait is called that because you don’t touch it with your hands. Ever. Don’t do it. You put your treble hook on top of the bait and use a stick to “punch” the hook down into the bait. Think about the worst smell that has ever assaulted your nose and dignity and then multiply that by infinity. That’s how bad punch bait smells. All punch bait. When it comes to “dough bait,” the recipe consists of almost anything that you can think of. It’s like what you’d get if Dr. Frankenstein had been a fisherman and not a mad scientist. Dough bait has ground up fish in it or cheese or blood or liver or all of that plus anything else under the stars. It smells bad, but not as bad as punch bait. Some people will tell you to get the one with the cheese while others will tell you to get the one with ground up fish in it. Does one work better than the other? I won’t answer that because I don’t want to start a fight. I’ve used both and they have both done well. Do you really need a $100 fishing pole with a $200 reel on it to go catfishing? No, that kind of expense is reserved for bass anglers. I have fished for catfish for 50+ years and I still use the cheap big-box store fishing poles. Typically I pay about $25 for them. It’s a pole that comes with the reel already on it. I call that a win-win, although my high-falutin friends call it cheap-cheap. I don’t know what the first reel was that I used all them decades ago. I only know that it was a Zebco and made sometime in the late 50s. And, it caught catfish like that’s all that it was made to do. It also caught bass, crappie, perch, Bluegill and a couple of times it caught me a stringer of trouble when I snuck out to go fishing with it. From there I progressed to newer model Zebco reels in the 70s, Zebco in the 80s, Zebco in the 90s and yes, I still use a Zebco. A Zebco comes in all sorts of flavors, much like dough bait. There is the Zebco 202, the Zebco 33, the Zebco 404, the Zebco 808, the Zebco 808-Saltwater and a thousand other models. After all, the Zebco was named by President Eisenhower. A modest fishing reel with chief executive backing like that can’t be overlooked. Originally the company was named the, “Zero Hour Bomb Company.” You can’t make this stuff up. So, you’ve got your fishin’ pole, your reel, your hook and your bait. What now? Oh, you need a weight. Catfishing is done on the bottom so you need something to hold your bait on the bottom of the lake or river. Here we go; weights for catfishing are typically, ¼ ounce, ½
ounce, ¾ ounce, 3/8 ounce, 1 ounce or even 1.5 ounces. The size of weight depends on what you need to hold your bait in place. Wind and water current typically determine what size weight you need. Fishing from the bank at a lake with no wind and little water current is much different that fishing in a river, such as the Colorado River, with strong currents. If you’re using dough bait or punch bait, you will not need as much weight as when you’re using live perch. A live perch no bigger than your palm can pull an ounce of weight all over the lake. Now we come to how it’s all set up. You have your fishin’ pole, your reel and your line. Your fishing line for catfish can be anywhere from 6 lbs. test monofilament line to 100 lbs. test braided line. A good medium line is 15 lbs. or 20 lbs. test. When you get ready to set up your line, cut off about 16” of it before you tie on the swivel. Yes, you need a swivel. Big or small, don’t go without a swivel. You get your main line tied onto the swivel and then tie one end of your 16” piece onto the other side of the swivel. Then put your weight on that piece of line, leaving about 12” of line on there. You want it to anchor your bait. You can also use a 3-way swivel. Same principle except instead of one piece of 16” line, you cut 2 pieces of it. Tie the main line to one hoop on your swivel. Tie your weight onto another hoop of the swivel and then tie your hook onto the 3rd hoop. This holds your bait up off the bottom, which is especially handy if where you’re fishing has a lot of vegetation on the bottom. Once you get your hook, line and sinker/weight tied on, use your favorite bait. If you’re going to use live bait, tie on a single barb hook as mentioned above. If you’re using dough bait or blood bait or punch bait, tie on a treble hook. Cast out your line. The key is that you want your line to be tight, so you can feel the fish strike. Catfish aren’t necessarily like bass. They don’t always hit like a freight train. Sometimes they will “mouth” the bait before sucking it in. They’ll be there, doing catfishing things while they slowly nibble. It’s like watching the Super Bowl and eating popcorn VS tortilla chips and salsa. One is more involved than the other. Keep your line tight and if you feel the fish nibble, let it nibble. Let the catfish get all nice and comfortable, like, “This is really good punch bait. I wonder which brand it is.” Then when he sucks it in, you set the hook. You don’t have to yank back on the fishing pole like pulling back a check from the plumber who said he fixed your plumbing as the leak suddenly shoots up from the ground again. Most of the time many anglers yank the pole back to set the hook. Reeling in the line slowly will also set the hook, it just takes longer. The catfish smells the bait, maybe even sees the bait and eats the bait. He’s swimming off with a mouthful of blood bait when he’s suddenly yanked back to reality. But steady pressure also works, it’s just up to you on which method you prefer. If you’re just starting out, get yourself a fishin’ pole and reel (don’t spend a fortune on it), a pack of size #4 or #6 treble hooks, some blood bait or punch bait, some ½ ounce sinkers and a pack of swivels. Tie the swivel to your fishing line. Tie the hook to the other side. Tie on your weight. Put some bait on your hook. Cast. Wait. Repeat. Just remember, when it comes to catfishing, nothing you do is really “wrong,” it’s just a matter of opinion. The only wrong thing you can do is not go catfishing on a beautiful Texas day (or night).
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people. Even if it can’t heal the old wounds and cancer, it heals the mind through the outdoors. The entire reason that this ranch exists is to help those who are hurting. Not just those missing limbs, but those also suffering from traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and illness. Trinity Oaks does “dream hunts” for terminally ill adults and children. The ranch is a 501c3 and it does more good, for more people, over a thousand of them every year, than could ever be monetarily measured. The beautiful and spacious clubhouse, that easily cost 6-figures, is situated just inside the massive main gate. An immense fireplace is the centerpiece between the dining area and the living room area. There’s also a bar built of beautiful masonry rockwork along the side of the room, just in case you need to wet your whistle. The kitchen is big, like everything else on this sprawling ranch 90 mile south of San Antonio. The meals are varied recipes of moose burgers (yes, real moose), Axis sausage, Nilgai, Blackbuck, Whitetail, Boar, alligators, etc. The man who cooks, “Slick”, is non-stop energy and don’t think about asking to help him clean up. If you’re here, you’re a guest and you don’t work. You hunt; you fish; you get driven around to see the various animals on the ranch, depending on the time of year and depending on the group. The dream hunts for the massive trophy Axis bucks, Scimitar Horned Oryx, Eland, etc., are reserved for the dream hunts, as they should be. On this hunt we’re after doe, spike bucks or feral hogs. The doe can be Whitetail or Axis. The meals and the non-alcoholic drinks are provided free of charge. They’re the heartiest meals you’ll find outside of your grandmother’s kitchen. And they even give you some bling. They gave each hunter on the veteran hunt a Trinity Oaks hat, a Heroes coin and a T-shirt. It’s what they do on every hunt. You don’t just leave with an animal; you leave with fond memories and memorabilia. Jones talks fondly of Trinity Oaks, “Coming here is uplifting. It gives you your sense of freedom back. It’s always nice to hang out with other veterans and people who can relate. It’s nice to have a gun in your hand again. It’s good for the spirit. It can take you from depressed to happy. I use it to chal-
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lenge myself.” Having only one good arm doesn’t stop Jones from climbing a ladder to a deer stand. There are spacious handicap accessible blinds but that isn’t Jones’ style. He’s 100% all-in on everything he does and looks for challenges. Jones says that the positive psychological impact of a weekend at Thumbtack is immense, “It helps you forget everything. My surgeon, Dr. Joseph Shu, says that what fills his cup is his patients living their best lives. He wants me to do the things that I can do and that bring joy to my life. He’s a retired army colonel and runs the orthopedics center in Charlotte, N.C. I climbed up on a rack earlier. A couple of weeks ago I climbed in a high blind. It seems to be the month of ladders for me.” Many veterans in Jones’ position might tune out and live off of their VA disability, but that isn’t Jones’ way, “I build and fabricate custom aluminum box wheelchairs for disabled people and I surf, skydive, ride a custom motorcycle, fish, pretty much do everything that everyone else can do. I just do it differently. That’s my mindset.” Jones was an 11C, which is an 11-Charlie in the army vernacular. It’s an indirect fire infantryman, which means he was a mortar man. Jones was with the 1/25 Infantry Regiment out of Ft. Wainwright when he was wounded, “I was with a Striker Brigade. I had to learn how to fight in the desert and the snow. I had to learn how to crosscountry ski and I hated that. I won’t touch cross-country skiing anymore. I don’t know if it was the 80 lbs......... in gear or just the fact that it was crosscountry skiing, but I didn’t like it,” he says with a laugh. Jones has a calming demeanor and quiet confidence that belies the hard driving mentality of the former soldier, “I’ve been told that other people get inspiration from the things I do but all I’m doing is trying to do is live my best life.” When Jones says, that he’s trying to “live his best life,” he means it. He’s doing his best to do his best and get everything out of life that he can. Gary Renick is the man who lines up the veterans’ hunts. He’s organized, efficient and he truly cares about what he’s doing. Jones said that Renick has been central to many of his adventures, “I’ve known Gary Renick for about 7 years. Gary is the one who got me into hunting. I didn’t grow up hunting. I’d never shot a deer rifle in my life. Since I met Gary they have taken me dove hunting, deer hunting and hunting for
everything from Aoudad to alligators.” Ryan Cantu is a volunteer with Trinity Oaks and serves on the executive board and the advisory board. He runs the calendar for the Thumbtack ranch, manages the ranch and runs many of the hunts. Cantu has been a volunteer for Trinity Oaks for about 10 years. He owns a commercial swimming pool business in San Antonio. Cantu tells how he became involved with Trinity Oaks, “I ran into an old friend mine from high school in 2008 when I was 33 years old. He invited me out to attend a youth hunt. I didn’t make it to the hunt, but after the hunt a bunch of volunteers stayed to take a hunter safety instructor’s course. I took the course and met Tom Snyder for the first time.” Snyder is the founder of Trinity Oaks. Cantu said that he wanted to help and talked to Snyder about it, “I asked him what I could do to help and he brought me in on the next hero celebration we had. I gutted animals, cooked meals, prepped food and did all that I could to help. After that, I became involved and kept getting involved more and more. My oldest daughter, Madeline, was 13 years old at the time and she loves to hunt. Tom invited us out on a youth hunt. Now she comes out and helps as a mentor on the youth hunts. I didn’t realize, at the time, the passion and desire I’d have to do something to give back. I didn’t realize that the role that I would end up playing in Trinity Oaks. I saw the impact it had on our veterans and on the kids we bring out to hunt. It could be troubled kids or sick kids and when they get out here, they really open up and have a good time. The veterans also open up and have a good time, especially someone seriously disabled. When they’re here they just fit in, they’re just here and one of the guys.” Cantu spoke of other veterans he’s met along the way, “I was on one of the most profound veteran hunts a while back. Monte Bernardo is a bilateral leg amputee and arm amputee. I took him to a 12’ tower stand and told him that I didn’t think that he could get up in it. He said that he could and he sat on the rungs of the ladder and pushed himself up each rung with his one good arm. Another veteran had an impact on me, telling me about his story in war and dealing with PTSD. I get a sense of fulfillment out of being part of Trinity Oaks. I grew up hunting and fishing and I try to give my time to others. I have a very understanding family that allows me to be away to help others,
my wife, Ann Cantu, two daughters Madeline (now 20 years old) and Viola, who is 15 years old, all support me. Without their support, I couldn’t do this.” The number of hunts that they have every year is staggering. Cantu says that there are hunters there almost every day, “The hunting has been a growing thing. Typically there are 1 or 2 groups of hunters here every weekend. During the week are the dream trips. There were hunters here 6 days every week. One group would come in Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and the next group would come in Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday is clean up day.’ Cantu talked about the force that is Tom Snyder and how Trinity Oaks came into existence, “Tom (Snyder) grew up poor and said that when he became successful, he wanted to do something for kids because he couldn’t afford to hunt when he was a kid. He looked for groups to donate money to but he couldn’t find something where there wasn’t some type of fee for the hunters involved, even if it was $20. Some of the events were $100. He said that he wasn’t going to give to an organization that was going to charge any fee to a kid, because he couldn’t afford any amount of fees when he was a kid. The first year he took 10-15 kids, the next year 30-40 kids, the next year 100 kids. It got to where he was spending so much money doing it he decided to make it a non-profit. It’s just grown exponentially ever since. It was originally a youth-based organization.” Cantu says that Trinity Oaks is a collaborative effort in many ways, “Somebody came along and asked why we were paying to process the meat. Church groups came along and started volunteering, processing the meat for the hunters. Some of the meat also goes to the community. We’re donating 100,000 lbs. of processed meat every year. That’s processed meat.” Cantu said that 2019 was as busy as any year, “We had 900+ veterans, and 1500 kids and distributed over 100,000 lbs. of meat.” Not all of the adventures are hunting related. Cantu says that they have other events at other Trinity Oaks properties, “They aren’t all hunting. We have a place on the Guadalupe where we do barbecues and other things. We have fishing trips in Louisiana and Page’s Place in Port Mansfield.” Cantu says that Page’s Place is a fully handicap accessible facility that sleeps 21 people with a 300’ lighted fishing pier,
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“Tom’s niece had leukemia and one of her dying wishes was to go fishing. They looked but they couldn’t find any handicap-equipped places. He found a house, bought it, built a 300’ pier and now there’s a fully accessible handicap facility for our groups to fish at. Everything that we do at Trinity Oaks is free.” Cantu said that members of the groups connect with each other, “We see the kids get here and at first they’re shy and keep to themselves. The kids are around each other for the week or weekend and by the time the kids leave, they leave with new friends. Most of the veterans haven’t met each other before and they get together and make new friends, just like the kids.” Cantu said that Trinity Oaks also has a 5000 square foot meat processing plant, “The guy running it was going to retire and so we brought on our first paid employee. Tom had a donor who asked what he needed. Tom told him that he needed to hire someone to run the processing plant. The man asked Tom how much he was going to pay him and Tom said that it was going to cost about $45,000 per year. The donor said, ‘OK. I’ll pay for him.’ Our donors fund our paid employees. We partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank and now the food bank mans the processing plant and we don’t have that cost coming out anymore. We donate 30% of the meat to them.” According to Cantu, the dream hunts are integral to Trinity Oaks’ existence, “The dream hunts take precedence over everything else because they’re for terminally ill people. It’s for those fighting life-threatening illnesses that have a terminal diagnosis. A dream trip is the trip of a lifetime.” Trinity Oaks also does its due diligence when it comes to people who want to volunteer, “We do background checks on all of the volunteers, especially if they’re going to be around kids. We have a database of 300-400 volunteers. The executive director is Brittney Hosmer-Longoria and she’s been the executive director for 2 years. She was a volunteer for 2-3 years before that while she was going to school to get her non-profit management degree. Once she got her degree we hired her. She already knew the organization. She basically became paid for the same thing she was doing and it’s a full-time job. We train people to do things the way we want things to be done.” Cantu says that partnerships help fuel Trinity Oaks ability to help others, “We have a taxidermist who does all of
Central Texas Outdoors
PHOTO COURTESY OF TRINITY OAKS RANCH
Leaving the wheelchair behind, Bo Jones climbs to a mobile hunting blind.
our European mounts for free and they give us a significant discount on shoulder mounts. The name of the taxidermy business is Double Nickel Taxidermy and the owner is John Wilson. Recently a 6-year old girl with terminal brain cancer hunted on the Thumb Tack ranch. Her parents and her siblings spent the week here with her. Her situation is dire so Double Nickel Taxidermy completed her shoulder mount in 6 days.” Trinity Oaks also gave her a memory box with photos of her hunt. You can tell the impact the girl had on the volunteers as one of them tears up while talking about her. He chokes up as he shows me photos of her and her family and spoke about her, “She was everything. Her family was here with her and she was an incredible girl. We really enjoyed having her here. While she was here, she was walking and stuff, but within a week, when the taxi-
dermist got her mount to her, she was no longer able to walk.” The impact that Trinity Oaks has on the people it helps can’t be overstated. Cantu says that another considerable contributor to Trinity Oaks is Record Rack, “They donate all of our protein feed to us.” The amount of protein that they use every month is measured in tons. It’s an incredible partnership and it’s easy to see and hear the appreciation and respect that Cantu has for those places like Record Rack and Double Nickel Taxidermy. Tom Snyder is the Managing General Agent with Colonial Life Insurance. His business savvy and ability to make friendships and build solid business relationships with others is one of the reasons Trinity Oaks is able to do what it does for veterans and the terminally ill. The passion that Snyder has for those he serves is evident in the
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construction of every building on the property and on the face of every volunteer. The Thumbtack ranch doesn’t just have hunting; it also has kayaks and a large fishing pond stocked with Largemouth Bass, Crappie and Catfish. There are feeders set up on the pier to ensure that the fish, like the other animals on the property, reach their full potential. Everything that can possibly be done to make the experience of the terminally ill and veterans a positive experience is done with passion and dedication. Cantu says that the donors come from all areas of life, “A girl’s family, through the SCI Foundation (Safari Club International), made a sizeable donation. She was killed in an ATV accident. The clubhouse on the ranch is sponsored by SCI.” The work on Trinity Oaks never ends and it never gets easier because they’re always looking to improve or add new options. Cantu says that they’re have a Director of Development, Marisa Poole, and will be hiring an event/volunteer coordinator in the near future, “There will be monthly volunteer training, coordinating and educating our volunteer base. There is more to come. We’ll probably look at hiring another position but it all depends on securing funds because we won’t take funds away from donors.” Cantu says that Trinity Oaks also gets involved with other nonprofits, “We sponsor other like-minded nonprofits. If we can get involved with another nonprofit and help them, we’ll do it. Trinity Oaks is a group of volunteers with the same mentality: changing the lives of others through the outdoors. It could be hunt, a kayaking trip, a fishing trip or a barbecue. It’s not just hunting.” Saturday evening all of the veterans gather in the clubhouse for another fantastic meal of meat from various game animals. The laughter and conversations echo throughout the immense building, filling every square inch of it with joy and happiness as the thoughts of war and wounds disappear for a few precious hours. The veterans talk of large packs of Javelina that they saw or about the massive Whitetail bucks that roam the property. You can’t glance around without seeing a deer or an Eland or an Axis or any of the numerous other species that live and thrive on the ranch. Good memories are made and good memories are shared. Everyone leaves with a new friend, brought together by Trinity Oaks’ generosity for quality time in the outdoors.
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CABINS
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can get caught up in day-to-day living,” Kristin said. “We really want people to find quiet and find calm and reconnect with themselves without distractions from the outside world.” Skybox Cabins also has a camping spot on a creek and “glamping area” situated near the top of the property. To book a stay at Skybox Cabins, call Kristin at 936-355-5811.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF YVAN JAYNE
The Nest was built in 2019 and is a hybrid cabin with features modeling a treehouse and bohemian bungalow.
919 N. Fisk • Brownwood 325-643-6661 Sun - Thurs 10AM - 8PM Fri & Sat 10AM - 9PM
BR-00115896
We accept Visa, MC, Discover, Am. EX & Checks
WE TAKE CARE OF ALL YOUR CATERING NEEDS. LIP SMACKIN' TONGUE WAGGIN' DOWN-HOME-GOOD!
BR-00100354
Drive Thru • Dine In • Catering
11801 US-84, Zephyr TX
325-739-2068 2012 West Washington, Stephenville, Texas
CATERING AVAILABLE Phone Orders Welcome
254-434-5180
We accept Visa, MC, Discover, Am. EX & Checks
Don’t forget the
Cinnabons and Carvel ice cream
Menu
Sandwiches • 8” Pizzas • Salads • Soups Chips • Fresh Baked Cookies • Chocolate Cake New York Style Cheesecake • Bunless
PARTY TRAYS AVAILABLE
OPEN 9:00 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sun. - Thurs. | 9:00 a.m. - 10 p.m Fri. & Sat. | Drive Thru • Dine In • Carry Out visit our website at www.schlotzskys.com
SV-00094435
254-842-5409
Home of delicious hot sandwiches served on our famous Baked Fresh Daily buns, your choice of Rye, Sourdough, Wheat, and Jalapeño Cheese, and individual sized Sourdough Crust Pizzas
BR-00097397
Fish, Chicken, Steaks (Sirloins & Ribeye.) Chicken Fried Steaks on Lunch • Shrimp CATERING 7 DAYS A WEEK Hours: Friday & Saturday 5 pm to 10 pm Highway 36 Between Rising Star and Comanche 16 miles west from Comanche 11 miles east from Rising Star
20 Central Texas Outdoors
Spring 2020