Del Rio Grande 1119

NOVEMBER 2019

Chasing Trophy Whitetail Wildlife Rescue The Lady Wears Camo

NOVEMBER

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The Hunting Issue GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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FROM THE EDITOR On The Hunt!

PUBLISHER Sandra Castillo EDITOR Karen Gleason WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Xochitl Arteaga Laurel West Fisher Karen Gleason Atzimba Morales Jessy Colossus Derome West ADVERTISING Xochitl Arteaga Diamond Ward PRODUCTION

Miguel Campos Roland Cardenas EDITORIAL karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 247 ADVERTISING xochitl.arteaga@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 250 STORY IDEAS karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com

2205 North Bedell Avenue • Del Rio, TX 78840 delrionewsherald.com Del Rio Grande is published by the Del Rio News-Herald.

No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine.

Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative.

I

t’s hard for me to believe that it’s already November again, another year nearly behind us.

Here at Grande, November means our hunting and outdoors issue, and we’re very excited about this year’s content.

Once again, our friend Derome West took time out from his busy schedule as a husband, dad, law enforcer and costume creator to help us with this issue. Derome is an avid and excellent hunter, and this year, he was the regional winner of the big North American Whitetail Championship and a competitor in its national event.

Derome shared his experiences in the NAWC from start to finish and illustrated the text with photos he took along the way.

Derome created another piece for this issue of Grande, advice on some indispensable technologies that will ensure greater success in the field.

Again, thank you, Derome. We look forward to hearing about your adventures in the year ahead!

I also want to thank another friend, Donnie Bynum, for sharing his chili-making secrets – most of them, anyway. As part of documenting the chili-making process, Donnie and his lovely wife Candy invited me to their home and spent several hours showing me around the property and feeding me several truly delicious dishes.

Not to be outdone, we share the fascinating stories of two of Del Rio’s outdoorswomen this month: Nicki Helmer Carr, who works as the community outreach director for the Del Rio Council for the Arts, and Laurel West Fisher, who is a patrol deputy with the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office.

I got to know Laurel a little better over the course of putting this issue of the magazine together, and I know that when you finish reading her story, you will believe, as I do, that Del Rio is a better place because of her presence here.

Hunting, fishing and the outdoors play an integral part in the Del Rio community. Area ranches welcome hunters to their properties every year, and hunters contribute a great deal to our local economy.

Fishermen, too, flock to the Queen City and the fishing tournaments that are held at Lake Amistad nearly every weekend.

We hope you enjoy the issue and look forward to hearing about your adventures!

Karen Gleason Del Rio Grande Editor

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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CONTENTS 8

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44

CALENDAR

WILD LIFE

Keep busy this month at these local events.

Laurel West Fisher rescues

IT’S GETTING CHILI

injured birds and other wildlife.

Outdoors chef

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Donnie Bynum prepares the

Maximize your time outdoors

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WHITETAIL TROPHY Del Rioan Derome West hunts in a national championship.

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HIGH TECH HUNTING New products offer hunters great chances for success.

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OUTDOOR CHIC

GRANDE AFIELD with this great gear.

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perfect comfort food.

THE LADY WEARS CAMO

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL

Del Rioan Nicki Carr walks

Jerauld Smith III keeps it real.

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LAST LOOK

on the wild side.

Get ready for the field with

FALL FAVORITE

Writer/photographer

fashionable, functional looks.

Apples and brandy bring

Atzimba Morales

an autumn accent to sangria.

wraps up the issue.

ON THE COVER: Del Rio hunter Nicki Carr uses shed whitetail deer antlers to “rattle” a big buck into rifle range. Carr, who learned to hunt when she was a girl, is an avid hunter and works as the community outreach director for the Del Rio Council for the Arts.

• Photo by Karen Gleason.

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

Beauty at Amistad Lake

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NOVEMBER CALENDAR

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TURKEY TROT CAR SHOW • Noon – 5 P.M. Rudy’s Country Store and Bar-B -Q • 330 Braddie Drive A family friendly event featuring hot wheels from the area.

Categories include custom car, custom truck, modern truck, classic car, classic truck, modern muscle, classic muscle, modern import, classic import, European, lowrider, motorcycle, slingshot, unfinished, original and hot rod.

Event is free and open to the public.

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AN EVENING AT THE BRINKLEY HOME • 7 P.M. – 10 P.M. Brinkley Home • 512 Qualia Drive A minimum donation of $50 per person is requested to attend this event. Gates will open at 7 p.m. Heavy hors d’oeuvres will be served until 9 p.m. Guests may participate in the wine tasting or enjoy a beer until 10 p.m. Tours of the home will be given throughout the evening, so don’t miss your chance to see this beautiful home and learn a little about its history.

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‘THINGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME’ • 8 P.M. PAUL POAG THEATRE • 746 S. Main St. The Upstagers perform “Things My Mother Taught Me” by Katherine DiSavino. Join the cast for some laughs, tears and shared wisdom. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Adult tickets are $14, student tickets are $10 and are available at the door. Come out and enjoy Del Rio’s award-winning community theater group!

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MURAL BIKE TOUR • 3:30 P.M. – 5:30 P.M. CASA DE LA CULTURA • 302 Cantu St. Attendees will stop at 14 local murals throughout San Felipe, along the historic downtown area and San Felipe Creek. Meet up at 3:30ish in front of the Casa de la Cultura building, head out at 4:30 and be back by 5:30. B.Y.O.Bike!

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DEL RIO FARMERS MARKET • 9 A.M. – 11 A.M. Del Rio Community Garden • 210 Jones St.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

Magazine

Come by early and get your pick of locally-produced food and gifts. Farm fresh eggs, organically-grown produce and homemade jams, jellies and baked goods like breads and cookies are just some of the items typically sold at the market.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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Hunting The

NORTH AMERICAN WHITETAIL CHAMPIONSHIP Story and photos by DEROME WEST

D

ground blind in the brush of southwest Texas not far from eer hunting has taken its place among the elite the Rio Grande. I sat quietly waiting and watching. I had challenges of the outdoor world, thanks to seen a few deer earlier, but they wandered off through the the North American Whitetail Championship brush and out of sight. brought to you this year by Bone Collector.

My favorite Mathews bow, a Heli-m, was propped beside Fourteen regional qualifiers from across the U.S. are me with the Tactacam in easy reach. I knew I would have eligible for the championship, which culminates in a grand to be stealthy in turning on the camera and drawing the championship hunt hosted at Wicked Outfitters in Kansas. bow, should an opportunity present itself. The one button All 14 regional winners and a few wildcard entries are operation of the Tactacam took a little of the stress out of it. selected to compete in the grand championship. For the 2020 season, 21 hunters will compete for their chance at $75,000 in cash and other prizes. the entry fee is $300.00, and you get a sponsor package worth more than that, just for signing up. Participants are also entered into other drawings for great gear, hunts, and other items. If you sign up by the end of October, you are entered into a drawing for an ATV. Certainly, this all sounds too good to be true, but let me assure you this is not the case. Here is a recap of my adventure last year and my experience at the grand championship just last month.

I entered the North American Whitetail Championship not because I expected to win, but because I enjoy the thrill of competition and because I feel it is important to help bring a positive light to the hunting lifestyle, our traditions and culture and to challenge myself by becoming a better solo hunter attempting to capture my hunts on film.

As mentioned earlier, the $300 signup fee for the North American Whitetail Championship is immediately rewarded by your entry package, which consists of a Tactacam camera that must be used to capture the phases of your hunt. The location, a brief opening interview, the shot, an after-shot interview, the tracking, recovery and scoring of the deer are all to be captured on the Tactacam.

This must all be done outside of high fence places and under fair chase conditions, using archery equipment. The highest-scoring deer, with all required video segments, is deemed the winner of the region.

Last year, Texas was Region 6 and was its own region.

Next year, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas will be combined into one region.

Derome West, right, and his cameraman and regulator, James Whitaker, in the blind on the first day of the championship hunt.

On New Year’s Day, I found myself nestled into a

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

Antlers used to draw for stand and hunting locations in the North American Whitetail Championship.

Ease of operation is crucial at the moment of truth.

A friend had told me a good deer was seen in the area, and he often approached the blind from the left. Most of the other deer would appear directly in front of me, but not this one. He had his own way of doing things.

Solitude is a common trait among mature bucks, and this old warrior did not like crowds. I had several nice deer, including a young and wide 8-pointer out to my front. The 8-pointer would chase the smaller bucks away from the clearing and away from the does. He certainly acted like he was the big man on campus. He would chase one buck off and then come back to run off another. He was always moving.

I had no intentions of shooting him. I knew he was far too young and had great potential in his future years. I was enjoying the show and his antics, but as I watched, I noticed he tucked his ears back and his posture appeared as if he was

cowering away from something.

I was caught up in his show and wasn’t watching the other areas. Just as I’d been told, the big buck had slipped up on my left and was eating. He paid little to no attention to the ruckus and antics of the young 8-pointer. He was only concerned with himself and grabbing a quick bite to eat.

I’m glad I had already positioned my bow close by, because my nerves were being tested, and my heart was beating so loudly that I was sure the buck could hear it.

I touched the Tactacam’s on button, felt the familiar vibration of the camera and watched the lights turn green and start blinking. This indicated to me that the camera was filming. I cannot stress the importance of being intimately familiar with your gear because in the heat of the hunt, your mind doesn’t always remember new steps and unfamiliar sequences.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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Derome West walks to the blind on the final day of the North American Whitetail Championship hunt.

Del Rioan Derome West and the whitetail buck that earned him the Region 6 win in this year’s North American Whitetail Championship.

Kansas or bust. Derome West leaves Del Rio to travel to LaCygne, Kan., to participate in the first North American Whitetail Championship.

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

I waited for the buck to turn broadside and used my Bushnell rangefinder to tell me he was 25 yards away. I came to full draw on my bow and put my 30-yard pin on the buck’s heart. The 20-yard pin hovered slightly above that but still in the vital zone. I knew my arrow would strike in the middle of the two, a technique known as gaping.

I exhaled and squeezed the trigger on my release. The arrow, tipped with a New Archery Products Killzone, struck its mark. The buck whirled left and ran through the brush and out of sight. I listened for a crash which could signify he fell, but heard none.

I turned the camera to me and spoke about what had just occurred. I was excited and hopeful, and you could hear it in my voice. I waited approximately 30 minutes before I stepped out of the blind to look for the arrow and a blood trail. I found neither.

I walked down trails leading away from the blind and still found nothing. I went to where the buck was standing when I shot him and looked at the ground. Again, no arrow or blood. I sat down and waited a little longer, trying to make sense of my

Andrew Lowe and his winning whitetail that scored 154 4/8.Â

situation. I thought it was a solid hit, right in the vitals. How could there be no sign of a hit, no blood or hair and no sign of the deer?

After a little contemplation and time to let the deer expire and to allow me to

collect my senses, I resumed the search.

I circled the area, and as I walked, I expanded the circles. I searched each trail and each bush. Several times I went back to where the deer was shot.

Finally, on one such occasion, in the middle of a bush, I saw a single drop of blood. With this, I had somewhat of a direction of travel. I walked slowly, studying the ground and vegetation for another sign: a broken branch, a scuffed hoof print, another drop of blood, anything. I found another drop of blood, then another.

I followed them for just a couple of meters before I again lost all sign.

Every hunter knows the sinking feeling of possibly losing an animal, and we also know how important it is to keep somewhat of a positive attitude. I decided to call my friend, who was allowing me to hunt on his place. I explained the situation and knew he heard the disappointment in my voice.

I was simply walking aimlessly while I spoke with him. I told him I thought it was a good hit, but I was quickly losing light and hope. He encouraged me to stay positive, and as we spoke, I walked right up on the deer. He lay dead, approximately 100 meters from where I had shot him.

My friend congratulated me, and I set to the task of getting the remaining video

First, second and third place checks awarded at the banquet. From left, Shannon Gladfelter, second; Andrew Lowe, first; and Ben Oliver, third.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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The view from Derome West’s blind down the power line cut he hunted at Wicked Outfitters in Kansas.

The buck Derome West passed over on the second day of the hunt, seen here through his Bushnell scope.

Tables set up with gear and prizes for each of the 18 hunters participating in the North American Whitetail Championship.

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

segments. Intrigued by my inability to track this deer, I decided to backtrack his blood and see how far I could follow it. I soon came upon the arrow. It wasn’t on the ground but on top of a bush, mixed with its branches. The blood was much easier to follow and revealed the buck hadn’t walked on any of the trails I searched, but instead ran right through the brush and scrubs.

He was certainly mortally wounded and running on auto, piling through instead of around the vegetation.

I began the task of dragging the deer back to the blind area, but knew I needed help. This was a 12-pointer, and he had a very mature body. I wasn’t going to do this alone. My friend Ruben met me at the gate and helped me with the task. He took the required pictures and held a light while I dressed the deer. New Year’s was certainly starting out right for me.

I went to RC Taxidermy in Del Rio, and the owner, Carmen, let me score and film the scoring there. My deer and its score of 122 7/8 put me in the lead in Region 6.

The waiting game ensued, and I had to sit and hope no other deer were entered that would beat mine. I checked the leader board regularly, but it wasn’t until the live broadcast of the winner was announced and I heard, “Region 6, Derome West,” that it really sunk in. I was going to Kansas and Wicked Outfitters. My buck had held on, and I was elated.

The grand championship was scheduled to begin Sept. 14 with the arrival of the hunters at Wicked Outfitters in LaCygne, Kan. Most hunters recognize Kansas as a big buck Mecca, and many believe the next world record whitetail will come from that area.

Clint Walker and his family own Wicked Outfitters, and they walked us all through the process of applying for a license.

The hunt there would be with muzzle loaders and during the opening week of the season. I had very little experience with black powder, but I was certainly excited about the opportunity to learn and compete with the other hunters.

As an added bonus, we didn’t need to purchase muzzle loaders. They were given to us as part of our prize package. Thompson Center supplied the guns, and Bushnell supplied the scopes. We were given rangefinders, wind checkers, arrows, socks, orange caps and vests and the bullets, powder and primers we would all need. These were ours to keep and leveled the playing field by ensuring all hunters had the same gear.

Eighteen hunters from across the country converged on Wicked Outfitters. We would hunt beginning Monday evening and finish Friday evening. Saturday was scheduled to score the deer and have the awards and recognition banquet and auction. A full week ahead, fueled by almost a year of anticipation.

We all sighted in our rifles and readied our gear in preparation of Monday, opening day.

It was a random draw for stand locations. All 18 hunters picked a piece of antler that had a number on it; mine was 15. This meant I would be near the end, with only four choices to choose from.

Once all the hunters had our stand locations, we were shown aerial photos and told how to get to them. We each had a cameraman called a regulator to accompany us. They would be there to film and ensure fair play. James Whitaker from Missouri would be mine.

We were all shown a slide show of previously taken deer and some trail camera photos of bucks we would be hunting. We were not told which bucks were where or what we should or should not shoot. Those decisions were solely ours. One more ingredient into the old pressure cooker.

I liked the location I drew, but wasn’t overly excited about sitting in a black plastic blind in 90-degree temperatures, but this blind would be my home for the next five evenings.

All the regional winners and wild cards arrive in Kansas for the first North American Whitetail Championship.

Since we were all hunting near deer food sources, morning hunts were not allowed in an effort to not spook the deer off the food source with our presence. We would slip in mid-afternoon, while the deer were still in their beds, before they moved to the food source.

The mornings would be filled with activities and competitions, with their own rewards and prizes. I was hunting a power line cut near a large bean field. I felt confident if the deer came across the power line, but was worried about being smelled if they walked into the beans and then behind me.

The weather was less than cooperative, with unseasonably high temperatures that were not forecasted to drop out of the 90s until the final day. I saw some decent deer, but I set the standard where I thought it should be.

I told myself if I needed to talk myself into shooting, it probably wasn’t the deer I was after. I knew once a “shooter” showed himself, there would be no doubt.

My theory was tested early on the second day when a nice buck stepped out of the brush and into the power line cut. He looked good, but my field judging put him in the mid- to high140s. I knew that wouldn’t win the competition and opted to let him walk. That decision remains very controversial.

Some of my fellow participants thought I was crazy for letting him go, while others echoed support and said they would have made the same decision. This wasn’t just a hunt for a deer,

$50,000 was also on the line.

I felt like the area I was hunting had some good deer, but I also knew the weather had stacked the deck against us. I felt my best chances would come on Friday with the arrival of cooler weather and the potential of rain.

As it turns out, a “shooter” buck never did show himself. I hunted hard and diligently, waiting for the opportunity, but it never appeared. Normally, I would be slightly disappointed in not taking an animal, but this was different.

I strongly felt all 18 of us were winners already. We all got a great opportunity to bond with some of the finest deer hunters across this land. We met new friends and learned new tactics and techniques. After all, we were the inaugural class of the North American Whitetail Championship.

The winner was crowned at Saturday’s banquet, and Andrew Lowe claimed the $50,000 grand prize. Shannon Gladfelter took second and won $20,000, and Ben Oliver claimed third, and took home a check for $5,000.

Lowe commented when he accepted his prize that one day the money would run out, but the friendships never would. This was a fitting remark to close a remarkable week.

• Are you signed up to compete in the second annual North American Whitetail Championship? if not, do it. You just may find yourself in Kansas next September. •

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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Call for your appointment or for more information at any of the three clinic sites in Del Rio to serve you. Evening and Saturday Clinics available.

Each Clinics Provides: Healthy Texas Women Program, Free Pregnancy Testing, Family Planning Clinic

UMC proporciona servicios médicos integrates que incluyen; Medicina Familiar; Pedratría, Podiatría, Obstetricia Dental, Ginecología, Planificacíon Familiar, Salud de la mujer, Laboratorio, Farmacia y Radiología.

Llame para su cita o para obtener más informacíon en cualquier de las tres clinicas en Del Rio para servirle. Clinicas de noche y Sábados disponibles. Cada Clinica brinda: El Programa Healthy Texas Woman, Pruebas de Embarazos Gratuitas y Planificación Familiar (M-F 8am - 5pm)

Visit our website at/visite nuestra pagina www.umchealth.

Dr. Keenen, D.P.M. Podiatry

United Medical Centers 913 S. Main St. • Del Rio, TX • (830) 774-5534 Medical

Dr. Martinez, Family Medicine

Dr. Mani, General Practice

Additional On-Site Services: X-Ray Pharmacy Laboratory

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Bedell Avenue Clinic

Dr. Eyestone, General Practice

Ms. Pendleton, RN, FNP-C, Family Medicine

Servicios Adicionales: Radiografía Farmacia Labortorio

Ms. Meza, WHNP Women’s Health

2209 N. Bedell Avenue • Del Rio, TX 78840 (830) 775-1272 or (830)488-6950 OB/GYN DEPT

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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Latest products offer hunters unprecedented chances for success Story and contributed photos by DEROME WEST

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

When a hunter can mask his or her scent, chances of getting close to prey animals like whitetail deer increase exponentially, giving the hunter the chance to capture a memorable moment like this on film.

I

t seems everywhere I look, modern technology is taking over. I would guess very little in our lives is untouched by technology and modern conveniences, and hunting is no exception.

I want to cover two of the areas I pay the most attention to while in the field: video and scent control.

Filming our hunts isn’t necessarily new. When hand held camcorders first made their way into families across America, hunters began trying to figure out how to attach them to bows and rifles.

A cameraman was the easiest fix, but that added one more person who would have to be stealthy and scent-free. In essence, it doubled your chances of being detected.

Solo filming became popular, but that required a little ingenuity and adaptation. I tried everything from tape and zip ties to homemade metal brackets. These were heavy and clumsy, and the vibration of the shot would make them all but useless.

Tactacam has solved those issues. With this year’s introduction of the 5.0 model, these video cameras are small, easy to use and far more advanced than anything else on the market. I believe they have gone further than ever before in perfecting the art of self-filming.

The Tactacam 5.0 is easily mounted to a variety of weapons. Scope mounts, a stabilizer mount for bows, rail mounts for both rifles and crossbows, universal mounts for trees and your body, and the introduction of the Film Through Scope (FTS) feature make the use of the Tactacam virtually universal.

The camera itself films in three modes: 4k resolution, up to a user programmed 8x zoom and slow motion. It is supported by an app and is also Bluetooth capable.

The 5.0 has remote control capabilities and up to five cameras can be operated by a single remote, all turning on with the push of a single button.

Last year, I mounted one of these cameras on my son’s crossbow and one on our turkey decoy, basically turning our decoy into a third angle or cameraman. It worked great, and we captured some fantastic footage to share with friends and family.

We have also enjoyed reliving the hunt by watching it ourselves. It’s a memory I am very proud and happy to have, and now it is more than just a memory, thanks to Tactacam. Their motto, “Share Your Hunt,” is very well suited and fitting for the application of the camera.

Earlier, I mentioned the FTS. It is an adapter that slips over the eyepiece of your scope. It fits almost every

scope produced with the use of supplied adapters and is simple to set up. You slide on the adapter, then fit the FTS to your scope. Insert a camera and position it with the use of the app to ensure your crosshairs are aligned up and down and tighten it all down. Now, when you turn on your camera, you are videoing exactly what you see through your scope.

I certainly wish this technology existed just last year when I went to New Zealand after Himalayan Tahr. I opted to take only my Tactacam on this hunt and to leave my larger handheld cameras at home. I didn’t have a cameraman with me, so solo filming was my only option.

I put a Tactacam on my head with a head mount and on my rifle scope and set it to 5x zoom. My shot was 229 yards away, and you can see it all very clearly. I only wish I had an FTS as well. It would have been If a deer hears or great footage.

The FTS also assists sees you, it will hunters by allowing you attempt to detect to review the shot for shot placement verification you with another when it is time to recover sense. If it smells the animal. You can confirm if it is a vital shot you, that is all it and also help decide on needs to flee. how much time should be given before beginning to track the animal. After all, recovery of the animal is our most important goal after a shot has been made.

Speaking of getting a shot at an animal, the oldest issue facing hunters is scent control. We all know that most game animals live and die by their noses. I was always told that you have to alert both their eyes and ears together, but only their noses. If a deer hears or sees you, it will attempt to detect you with another sense. If it smells you, that is all it needs to flee. Often, hunters don’t even see deer that have smelled them, they simply sneak off in the direction they came. Having the wind in your face is a fundamental in hunting.

Years ago, odor eliminating clothing was first introduced to hunters. ScentLok clothing used activated charcoal to trap odor molecules inside the material and reduce human scent.

I know without a doubt that it worked and benefitted

“

”

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

19

from the technology on several occasions. I still would get busted at times, but not nearly as often. Sometimes, it reduced my scent enough the deer may have perceived it as old, giving me just enough of an edge to fool their noses.

Using scent free soaps and detergents is very common among hunters. We store our hunting clothing in scent free or scent proof containers and only dress in the field. We have sprays for our equipment, clothing and boots. The art of fooling a deer’s nose is big business.

I have recently taken it a step further. Several years ago a company called Ozonics developed an ozone generator that could be mounted to a tree or a blind. The Ozonics generator is operated by rechargeable batteries and is quiet. It acts like a fan, blowing ozone out through its vents.

By positioning the flow of ozone so it comes into contact with your odor, it molecularly changes the composition of the odor molecule. The odor molecule tries to revert to its original form, but the onslaught from the ozone continues to bombard the odor, making it unrecognizable.

It is explained best by comparing a deer’s sense of smell to our eyesight. They smell a human much like we see the word HUMAN. The ozone changes the composition so we now see UMA, and a deer doesn’t recognize the scent of UMA. It tricks them into believing the scent is either older than it is or farther away.

I have used the ozonics technology with great success. I still try to hunt into the wind and still use odor eliminating clothing, but I have had deer pass directly downwind of me and not smell me.

That is no easy task.

Recently, a company called HECS made its debut into the hunting world. HECS is basically a Faraday cage built into lightweight clothing that eliminates the electrical signal living beings emit.

The first time I wore it, I had more interaction with wildlife than I usually experience. I had songbirds land closer than normal, squirrels and raccoon climbed into my tree and never noticed me, and deer and turkeys paid less attention to my movements.

I think they accept your movement as if it were the wind blowing a branch or leaves. The woods aren’t still; movement is everywhere. Why is it that animals we hunt often detect drawing a bow or raising a rifle? HECS inventor Mike Slinkard believes it is the electrical impulse of our movements they detect, and I believe him.

Technology is and will continue to be a part of hunting, fishing and otherwise enjoying the outdoors. Some will resist its use, and others will embrace it.

My advice is simple. If you enjoy it, if it’s ethical and legal, and if it makes you a better hunter, then good luck to you my friend.

I look forward to hearing of your adventures and, just maybe, watching your hunts captured with your Tactacam.

Good luck and great hunting. •

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A new technology called Ozonics helps disrupt a hunter’s scent molecules, making it harder for deer to detect him or her. The ozone generator in this photo is mounted on the tree above the hunter.

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Fashion Shoot

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American Darling Fringe Purse - $110 Yeti 26oz Rambler Bottle - $39.99 Game Guard Shooter’s Accessory Bag - $42.95 Game Guard Rifle Case - $35 Game Guard Dove Chair $35

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Location, wardrobe & accessories by: DEL RIO FEED & SUPPLY

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Models (Left-Right): RACHEL TALAMANTEZ, JOHN TAVARES, VANESSA EZPINOSA

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Wild Life Laurel West Fisher helps rescue injured animals Story by KAREN GLEASON; Photos contributed by LAUREL WEST FISHER

L

aurel West Fisher is having a wild life, and that’s just how she likes it.

Fisher, a transplanted Del Rioan, was born in Buffalo, N.Y., in the Niagara Falls area of the state.

“When people think of New York, they think it’s just the city. I’m from the western part of the state. My dad’s an architect, and my mom’s an artist, and I grew up with one brother, who is now a captain in the Air Force,” Fisher said.

She attended the University of Buffalo to study biomedical sciences.

“Originally, I wanted to be a doctor,” Fisher said. “I’d always worked with animals, ever since I was pretty young.”

Fisher credits her father with instilling in her the love of wild creatures.

“He was real outdoorsy, so I grew up hunting and fishing and camping with my dad and my grandfather, too, my dad’s father.

He took a five-mile walk every morning. He was really in touch with nature. I grew up on a good chunk of land out in the rural part of Buffalo, and my grandfather often found injured wildlife, orphaned wildlife, and he’d take care of them and release them, so my dad kind of did the same thing, and I grew up with little critters around the house and learned how to care for them,” she said.

She also grew up around horses and dogs.

“In high school, I had to do community service hours to graduate – we all did – and I started working at this wildlife sanctuary. We were supposed to do 16 hours or something like that, and they asked me to stay after I got done with my community service. I ended up

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meeting my best friend Tanya there, and she and I ended up running the center together,” Fisher said.

The center was called Hawk Creek Wildlife Sanctuary.

The center is 35 years old, and Fisher said her friend served as the sanctuary’s director, while she was its supervisor.

Fisher also trained to become an emergency medical technician, then a paramedic.

“Still, on my days off, I was always at the sanctuary,” Fisher said.

She said she began specializing in caring for injured birds of prey.

“The sanctuary founder of the center, Loretta Jones, had been given a hawk and a fox to rehab, and the state said, ‘Hey, you need all these permits,’ because it’s a ton of permitting, to be able to do that, and she ended up getting all the necessary permits and in 10 years had the largest wildlife sanctuary on the East Coast.”

Fisher said often birds of prey – or birds in general – are not truly injured, but simply concussed.

“I just give them a nice, dark, cool place to recuperate, throw them a frozen rat, make sure their weight’s good and release them,” she said.

In her time at the sanctuary, she also learned to deal with injured reptiles, including crocodilians, venomous snakes and large constrictors.

“We also had big cats,” she said.

Fisher said after high school she wasn’t really sure what she wanted to do with her life.

Transplanted Del Rioan Laurel West Fisher holds an Egyptian Vulture. The bird was one of several special wildlife guests at her 2017 wedding to Malachi Fisher.

“It’s an adventure. If you had asked me 10 years ago if I was going to be a police officer, living in De Rio, Texas, I would have said no,” she said.

In college, her degree focused on biology.

“I liked biology and medicine a lot, and it’s pretty interchangeable between people and animals, although animals are way more complex, because you’ve got a different structure for each animal,” she said.

Fisher said she decided against pursuing a medical degree after graduating from college.

“I was anxious to get out there in the working world, so that’s

when I became an EMT and then a paramedic,” she said.

She has worked in the emergency medical field since 2011.

Fisher came to Del Rio in 2017 after her husband, Malachi Fisher, was hired as the emergency medical services director at Val Verde Regional Medical Center.

Fisher said she met Malachi in 2011, when she began working as an EMT. “We were friends. A couple of times we worked together, and he asked me out on a date in 2014, and here we are,” she said, noting they were married in 2017.

“It was definitely scary because I’m so close to my family, but I told

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Laurel West Fisher holds a Turkey Vulture, a carrion eating bird she says is crucial to the environment.

Laurel Fisher with a Bald Eagle on her wedding day.

Laurel Fisher holds a Red-tailed Hawk.

Malachi I don’t want to be that person that lives their whole life in only one place. I’m a big traveler, and I really wanted to experience something completely different, and here I am,” she said.

One of Fisher’s new neighbors in Del Rio is a game warden, and she had met Malachi Fisher at the hospital. Fisher said Malachi showed the warden some of her photos and the warden asked if Fisher would be interested in “being used as a resource for birds of prey.”

“Birds of prey is a different ballgame. I understand birds, and raptors need different care than songbirds do. Baby songbirds can eat wet dog food, but baby birds of prey, you have to cut up mice and

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Laurel Fisher with a Snowy Owl at the rehabilitation center where Fisher worked in New York.

Laurel Fisher and a Coatimundi.

rats and much messier and more expensive,” Fisher said.

Some birds of prey, like Great Horned Owls, are dependent for up to 18 weeks, so rehabilitation is a long commitment, she said.

Within her first year in Del Rio, Fisher integrated into the small community of wildlife rehabilitators in Del Rio. She has also worked closely with the San Antonio raptor rehabilitators, Last Chance Forever.

She said she currently doesn’t have enough room to do a full rehabilitation set-up in her home, but she will keep injured or stunned birds until they can be released, usually a few hours or overnight. Ones too severely injured for her to care for long-term,

she transports to the rehabilitators in San Antonio.

Fisher, who said she has always been interested in law enforcement, also went through the Del Rio Police Department Academy in August 2018 and went to work for the Del Rio Police Department. After a year working for the police department, she accepted a position as a deputy with the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office in August.

Fisher said some of the most common injuries she sees are concussions from birds flying into windows and being hit by cars.

“Sometimes they just fall out of their nests. I got a Red-shouldered Hawk not that long ago and a baby Great Horned Owl, and I actually took them to San Antonio,” Fisher said.

What advice does she have for people who find possibly injured wildlife?

“I would say for the most part, just leave them alone. Most animals that are ‘rescued’ actually don’t need to be rescued, like deer. People find them on the ground, but unless they’re crying or visibly injured, they probably don’t need to be rescued. Birds on the ground, unless they’re completely covered with that baby fluff, their parents are probably nearby. I always tell people to leave them there, and if they’re still there in so many hours or the next day, they probably do need assistance. Call the game wardens because they’ll know a little bit better what to do,” Fisher said.

She said catching birds, especially some birds of prey, can injure them or injure them further.

Fisher said she also wants people to understand how vital birds of prey are.

“I think I’d like to tell people that hawks and owls won’t kill your kids or your dogs. I get a lot of people who think that Turkey Vultures are going to attack them, but they’re scavengers.

They eat carrion,” Fisher added.

“Also they are federally protected, so you can’t shoot them, and because they’re apex predator, they don’t breed like rabbits. Vultures are the garbagemen of the world, and they’re very important. People might think they’re ugly, but they’re crucial; they really are,” she added. •

A Serval, a type of African cat, sniffs Laurel Fisher’s bride’s bouquet.

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Grande Afield This Swiss Army Deluxe Tinker multi-tool, from Victorinox, is perfect for that handy man or woman to take afield. Features two knife blades, screwdriver, bottle opener, scissors, pliers, tweezers, wire cutter and more. Available from Russell True Value, $52.99.

Ladies, head for the great outdoors in style with this layered look from Del Rio Feed & Supply: a soft olive long-sleeved ribbed shirt from Listicle, $34; a short-sleeved desert camo button-up from Gameguard Outdoors, $44.95; and a black poly vest from Ariat, $84.95.

Throw on this soft fleece Cinch pullover for an evening by the fireplace, après hunt. $59.95 in various colors from Del Rio Feed & Supply.

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Never be without a light while you’re out of doors with this Cryket work light, featuring a magnetic base, a 250-lumen spot light, a 240-lumen floodlight and a 15-lumen red light for night vision, $27.99 from Russell True Value.

These Leupold compact binoculars are perfect for all of your outdoor activities, $119 from Russell True Value.

Give yourself an extra layer of protection in the field with snake boots from Chippewa and Ariat, from $229 to $350.

Protect your firearms investment with this stylish Gameguard rifle case from Del Rio Feed & Supply, $35.

Carry your ammo and the rest of your shooting equipment in Gameguard’s shooter’s accessory case, $46.99 from Del Rio Feed & Supply.

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Jerauld Smith III I

CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL Photos by HAUS OF LONDYN; Photoshoot coordinated by Advertising Director Xochitl Arteaga

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was born in 1988 at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio. I attended Del Rio High School and graduated from the University of Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

I am a science teacher at Del Rio Middle School, and this is my eighth year teaching. I also coach multiple sports including cross country, basketball and track.

My parents are Jerauld and Kathy Smith.

I have one sister Alexandria who also coaches at DRMS. My mother is a teacher at Dr. Fermin Calderon and my father is an air traffic controller at Laughlin.

I have always enjoyed the outdoors, and my father’s family are all avid hunters. I think it was just a matter of time for me to become a hunter. When I think of my life as it pertains to hunting, I immediately think about the lasting memories I have created that will stick with me throughout my life: the first time I ever walked to a tree stand in the dark by myself, the very first deer I harvested and the all-day sits waiting patiently in the below 20-degree weather and of course making and eating jerky.

These are just examples to exemplify why I hunt. These memories make me happy.

I really believe that the decision to hunt is a personal one. I am a hunter. Hunting is challenging and requires a lot of skill.

People sometimes have difficulty understanding why I and others like to hunt. I know that on a larger scale hunting can help manage populations of animals. Hunting is a solo sport, and it suits me because generally I am a quiet person by nature. I enjoy the outdoors.

I would love to go elk hunting in New Mexico, because it’s a beautiful area with a spectacular view of the mountains.

“

I believe the decision to hunt is a personal one.

“

“These Irish Setter boots very comfortable to wear and keep my feet warm. I have had this pair for five years.”

“These are some of the deer I have harvested on past hunts.”

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“

I chose teaching as my career to make a difference in the lives of students.

I chose teaching as my career to make a difference in the lives of students. Being a teacher puts you in the position to influence decisions, behaviors, strengths, weaknesses and to impart lifelong lessons. I am in a position to be a role model for students.

My favorite part of being a coach is the daily interaction with the students and watching them develop their athletic skills and grow into young responsible adults. “A good coach can change a game; a great coach can change a life.”

My mentors and heroes are my parents.

They challenge me to be the best I can be. They have taught me family values, honesty, responsibility, true meaning of compassion and to show empathy for others. My parents have always supported me through all my endeavors.

I can always find them on the bleachers or at the finish line supporting the events my sister and I coach. •

“

“I use this Fox 40 whistle for coaching. It is loud and can be heard at a distance and over high noise levels.”

“When I coach I like to be comfortable.”

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“When I coach this is one of my favorite polos to wear.”

“I like to keep track of my steps when I coach, I try to reach 15-20,000 steps.”

“I prefer this Outdoor Edge folding pocket knife because you never have to sharpen the blade. It also comes with replaceable blades.”

“

Hunting is a solo sport, and it suits me because I am generally a quiet person.

“

“I take this pair of Vortex binoculars every hunt, so I can glass the hillsides for movement.”

Chilo

“When the timing is right you can simulate two bucks fighting.”

“I use this Leupold RX800 Range Finder to measure the distance to a target. Leupold is known specifically for having reliable glass.”

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Happy Thanksgiving!

We are so grateful to be part of this wonderful community!

Wishing you a blessed Holiday Season!

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Fall

Apple Sangria Recipe and photo by XOCHITL ARTEAGA

F

all is here, and gatherings of family and friends are very popular in my book. And there is no better way to enjoy these cooler nights than with a signature fall cocktail: fall apple sangria. You will really love this aggregate of red wine, brandy, my favorite fall spices and sweet Honeycrisp apples. It’s definitely the drink to enjoy this season.

I make big batches of this cocktail ahead of time so the flavors have a chance to really marry.

The juicy apples are the real star of my sangria recipe, but I combine all of my must-have fall flavors into one scrumptious cocktail. I must warn you: this drink disappears quickly!

Sangria is quite possibly the easiest homemade cocktail. You need less than five minutes to prepare a pitcher of it.

Ingredients • 3 cinnamon sticks; more for garnish • 2 Honeycrisp apples, chopped • 1 orange thinly sliced • 1 bottle (750ml) red wine; tempranillo is my favorite for sangria

• 1¾ cups apple cider • ½ cup brandy • ¼ cup orange juice • Juice of one lemon • Club soda to taste

Method - Place fruit and cinnamon sticks in pitcher - Add in all liquids except club soda - Combine thoroughly - Let mixture sit in the refrigerator - Add club soda before serving - Garnish with a cinnamon sugar rim - Sip and enjoy! *Note: If you’d like a cinnamon-sugar rim (highly recommended), really moisten the rim of your glasses with water, flip the glass upside down and dip it into a combine of cinnamon and sugar. Pour in the sangria with fruit and add a splash of club soda right before serving. This unsweetened fizz is super with the sangria! If added ahead of serving, the soda will lose its fizz. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, if desired. Cheers!

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Getting Chili Recipe by DONNIE BYNUM; Photo by KAREN GLEASON

W

e don’t think there’s anything more satisfying than a steaming bowl of hearty chili on a cold November morning. Chili recipes are closely-guarded secrets in the Lone Star State, and outdoor chef Donnie Bynum’s is no exception. As a retired law enforcement officer, he’s a little better at protecting that secret, too, but he agreed to share at least some of the recipe’s fundamentals with us.

Bynum said chili is a perfect place to use some of that deer meat in the freezer from your last hunt, though he said ground beef works just as well.

Ingredients • 1 pound ground meat – beef or venison (can be whitetail, axis, fallow, mule deer or elk) • 1 large white onion • 1 can beef broth • 1 can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles • 1 can Hunt’s tomato sauce • 1 can pinto beans – any type of bean can be substituted • Minced garlic • Hatch red chili powder • Ground cayenne pepper • Ground cumin • Dried basil • Salt • Pepper

Method • Brown ground meat in slowly heating cast iron skillet. If using venison, you may have to add a little oil, such as avocado oil, as this meat is very lean.

• Once meat is browned, remove to plate and sauté onion in drippings.

• When onions begin to brown, remove from heat.

• Place browned meat, sautéed onion, beef broth, diced tomatoes and chiles, tomato sauce and seasonings to taste in slow cooker or Dutch oven.

• Bring up heat until liquid begins to bubble, then reduce heat and cook for at least half an hour.

• Check liquid and seasonings throughout and adjust according to desired thickness and spiciness.

• Add can of pinto beans and simmer 15-20 more minutes.

• Serve immediately over generous chunks of homemade cornbread fresh from the oven.

• If desired, garnish with additional diced onions, cheese and sour cream.

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UNITED MEDICAL CENTERS “Providing High Quality, Affordable & Accessible Patient Care” “Propocionado la mejor Calidad de Atención al Cliente y Economicamente Accesible”

UMC would like to welcome our

NEW PEDIATRICIAN Dr. Paul C. Hessler, Pediatrician

Dr. Paul C. Hessler, Pediatrician is located at the San Felipe Health Center. Dr. Hessler received his medical degree from Ponce School of Medicine and trained at The Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper and has been in practice for more than 5 years. Dr. Hessler sees patients from newborn to 18 years. He is board certified in Pediatrics and has an application submitted for hospital privileges at Val Verde Regional Medical Center.

El Dr. Paul C. Hessler, Pediatra, se encuentra en el Centro de Salud de San Felipe. El Dr. Hessler recibió su título de Médico de la Facultad de Medicina de Ponce y se formó en el Hospital Regional de Niños de Cooper y ha estado en práctica durante más de 5 años. El Dr. Hessler atiende pacientes desde recién nacidos hasta los 18 años. Tiene certificación de la junta en Pediatría y tiene una solicitud presentada para privilegios hospitalarios en el Hospital Val Verde.

SAN FELIPE HEALTH CENTER

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

47

Nicki Carr with a pronghorn she harvested while on a recent hunting trip to Wyoming with her husband Darren Carr.

The Lady Wears Camo Del Rioan Nicki Carr walks on the wild side Story by KAREN GLEASON; Photos contributed by NICKI and DARREN CARR

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

N

icki Carr grew up in east Texas, close to tall trees and sparkling lakes.

She was born and raised in The Woodlands, north of Houston, where she lived until she was 16.

“I was a girly-girl, but at the same time I was also very sporty. I did cheerleading and band, but I also did lacrosse and went hunting and fishing,” she said.

Carr’s father, Mike Helmer, took her afield with him, and her earliest memories of hunting are of accompanying him into the woods on chilly November mornings.

“I was an only child, so I was his running buddy, and on the weekends, that’s pretty much where we spent all of our time, either at the lake or, during hunting season, in the woods,” she said.

Carr said her father was primarily a hunter of whitetail deer, and she soon followed suit.

“I enjoyed going with him when I was very young. He

would take me out to the deer stand with him, and I think the first time I ever actually pulled the trigger and harvested my first animal, I was 12, and it was a whitetail deer, with my dad. It was a little, bitty spike buck, but I was so proud, and I think my dad was even more proud,” she said.

Carr said her father instilled in her a lasting appreciation of the outdoor life.

“I don’t think I would have as much of an appreciation for that if it hadn’t been for him. There are a lot of things I remember from that time.

“After Christmas, we would go and pick up everybody’s Christmas trees from the sidewalks, and we would put them in the lake to bait a hole for fishing. Then a year a later, we’d go there and catch our limit of crappie and take them home and cook them. That was always fun for me: I caught that fish, and now I’m eating it,” Carr said.

Carr moved to Del Rio when she was 16, arriving here with her mother, who had married her high school sweetheart, a man who became Carr’s stepfather and who was in the Air Force and stationed at Laughlin Air Force Base.

“It was definitely a cultural shock. The scenery and landscape is completely different from where I grew up, and frankly, it was hard for me at first. I was an only child, and my mom was my best friend, she had just gotten remarried, so moving here was definitely hard, but now it’s my favorite place in the world, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” she said.

Carr lived in Del Rio for six months, then her mother and stepfather moved to San Antonio, where she graduated from Judson High School in the Alamo City.

Carr said she had originally thought about becoming a lawyer, and attended Blinn College in San Antonio for twoand-a-half years.

“I was studying religion and then had some family issues that brought me back to Del Rio, and I’ve been here ever since,” she said.

Carr has worked for the Del Rio Council for the Arts (DRCA) for 13 years.

“My mother was here doing the books, and I’d always enjoyed coming and seeing performances with her here at the Firehouse. I grew up as a dancer, and I knew they had a dance program here, which also enticed me, so I started here part-time as an administrative assistant,” Carr said.

From there, Carr became the DRCA’s community outreach director, a position she’s held for almost 12 years.

Between moving, school and work, Carr lost touch with hunting and the outdoors.

Her way back to the wild came by way of another man: Darren Carr, whom she married in 2017.

“He showed me the value that hunting can bring to a person’s life and definitely had more of an appreciation of hunting, not necessarily as a sport, but as a way to provide for your family,” she said.

Darren and Nicki met through mutual friends.

“We ran into each other on the patio at Chili’s one day,” she recalled with a laugh. “He’s been out at the Indianhead

Mike Helmer, left, and daughter Nicki Helmer Carr, right, with the first deer she harvested, a whitetail spike buck, while hunting in east Texas.

Ranch for the majority of his life. He was a guide, and now he’s the ranch manager, so we have the opportunity to be around animals from all over the world, basically in our backyard, so I kind of feel like I live in their home versus them living in mine.

“When you wake up every morning and you have buffalo roaming outside your window or you’re putting on your makeup and you see blackbuck antelope jumping around, it’s kind of fun, I’m not going to lie,” she said.

It wasn’t long after meeting Darren that Nicki picked up a rifle and began hunting again regularly.

“The second or third time I had ever been out to the ranch to visit him, the owners needed some meat to provide for themselves and some of the clients they had coming out, so they decided to let me harvest an axis doe, and that had been the first animal I’d taken since my dad and I hunted together, so I was really excited to get back into it. I’d forgotten how exhilarating it was and how neat it felt to take an animal and know that it was going to be used to feed people,” Carr said.

“Darren definitely reintroduced me to hunting seriously,” she added.

She said she had gone hunting on different ranches around Val Verde County before she met Darren, but with Darren, it became a way of life.

Many of her most memorable hunts, she said, have come since she has known Darren.

“Probably my favorites include one of our very first dates, when he took me bow fishing, and I fell absolutely fell in love with it. It took me forever to shoot my first fish, and I was getting super-irritated, but I finally got it, I think it was a carp, and ever since then I’ve loved it.

“I think the most fun I ever had with him on a hunt was

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

49

Nicki and Darren Carr with a “mess” of tilapia they bow fished at Lake Amistad.

Nicki Carr with a fallow deer she harvested on a draw hunt in the Dan A. Hughes State Natural Area.

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

when we were both drawn for a public hunt in the Dan A. Hughes State Natural Area on the Devils River, and that hunt was hard. The drawing was primarily for a whitetail buck, and you could also take two does, but one of the great things about that park is that they also have exotics out there, so you could take any of those, with a few exceptions,” she said.

The hunt started on Friday afternoon and ended on Monday morning, and she and Darren couldn’t stay overnight in the park, but have to drive in every morning.

“It was so cold. There was snow on the mountains in Mexico, which is unusual, and you could take a vehicle and drive in to your section, but out there we ended up hiking a lot and found some places to overlook some trails. We ended up being very, very successful. Within our first hour we had spotted a fallow deer and got it and had it in our coolers,” she said.

Hunting has also given Carr the opportunity to travel and pursue her passion.

“I also like the fact that hunting takes us to interesting places all over the world. Recently we got back from a trip to Wyoming for a pronghorn hunt, and that took us on a road trip through Rocky Mountain National Park, where we got to see elk and wolves and coyotes. Just the experience of getting there was wonderful.

“I think probably most exciting was going to Namibia, in Africa. I think that was also one of my most rewarding hunts.

We had to work to get there. Darren had been there several times; he’s worked there, but I’d never been. . . The people, the animals, the place is just beautiful.

The people there genuinely love and need hunters, and it’s neat to see how excited they are for you when you harvest an animal, because they know they get a meal for the next weeks and months,” Carr said.

Why does she feel it is important for women to hunt?

“I think it’s really empowering. I think a lot of times women see themselves as wives, mothers, cooks, maids, whereas we can also be hunters, and we can see that we’re not just the gatherers, we can also be the hunters and provide for our families in that way.

“For me, it’s also about spending time

Dylan Carr, left, along with dad Darren Carr and stepmom Nicki Carr and the eland antelope Dylan harvested while on a hunt in Namibia, Africa.

Nicki Carr harvested this nyala antelope while hunting with her husband, Darren Carr, in the southwest African country of Namibia.

with my family. I think it’s a really good way to bond with your kids. I have an 11-year-old stepson with Darren, and he loves to hunt, so every time he’s with us, that’s pretty much what we’re doing, and if I didn’t enjoy that, I wouldn’t be able to spend as much time with him, and that would be a missed opportunity,” Carr said.

Carr said for her, hunting is about respect for, and love of, the animals.

“The love and respect for the animals that most people may not realize that hunters have, and for me, I truly do. Living in and among them, and seeing them all on a daily basis, it can sometimes be hard to take an animal, but at the same time, there’s something about taking an animal, literally harvesting it, processing the meat, and at any time, you can go into our freezer and we have meat from a bunch of different animals, whether it’s fallow or axis or whitetail or fish or birds, and it’s nice to know that you’re eating good, clean, organic meat that you know exactly where it came from,” Carr said. •

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

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YEARS

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

53

Last Look Gobble gobble. It’s that time of the year again, the hunting issue is back and Grande staff found some interesting pieces to share with the community.

Laurel West Fisher goes beyond basic interactions with wild animals.

Needless

to

say,

her

work

is

impressive and readers should take the opportunity read how she incorporated birds of prey into her wedding.

Fisher isn’t the only female featured in this month’s magazine. Grande Editor Karen Gleason sat down with Nicki Carr and listened to Carr’s return to the wild side.

Speaking of the wild, Derome West gives a first-hand experience on the North American Whitetail Championship.

The art of hunting has changed tremendously and readers can take a look at how modern technology helps hunters in this day and age.

Hunters and lovers of camouflage can take a look at the fashion shoot for clothing inspiration. Del Rio Feed and Supply regulars may spot some familiar faces in those pages.

Another familiar face is this month’s Closet Confidential Jerauld Smith. Smith shares some of his favorite items this month.

Grande staff didn’t forget about Thanksgiving. This month’s drink recipe is perfect for those chilly nights and meant to be shared with adult family, if the maker is willing to share.

Make sure to follow Grande magazine on Facebook and Instagram, @del_rio_grande, for future updates. Grande staff is always looking to hear from the public and feature new faces.

Until next month, Atzimba Morales Grande Writer/Photographer

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

- Grande Editor Karen Gleason continues photographing Nicki Carr until she obtains the perfect photo.

- Closet Confidential Jerauld Smith is prepared by Advertising Director Xochitl Arteaga and Haus of Londyn photographer before photos are taken for the November issue.

- Grande Editor Karen Gleason sits down with Derome West and discusses possible ideas for the November issue.

- Bianca De Hoyos, John Tavares, Xochitl Arteaga, Rachel Talamantez, Vanessa Espinoza Del Rio Feed & Supply models.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019

55

V

VVRMC Radiology & Imaging MRI Breast Coil

VRMC’s Radiology and Imaging Department now offers a Phillips Sentinelle Breast Coil. This purchase was made possible with support from a Moody Foundation grant and will support diagnostic capabilities for breast issues.

What is a breast coil? It is a specialized form and table which allows VVRMC’s MRI to take clear, precise images of breasts without using any radiation. This breast coil is the only one available in the area. The form is adjustable to any body and allows open access breast positioning for better intervention. A clear image can be taken of any breast - regardless of shape or size. In fact, this technology even makes it easier to get a clear image of the remaining breast tissue for women who have implants.

When is an MRI needed? When a mammogram shows further investigation is needed, an MRI may be ordered using the breast coil. This new technology provides detailed images to help the healthcare provider decide if a biopsy is necessary or not. This means avoiding unnecessary medical procedures.

Who does the testing? There are three trained technicians at VVRMC who can perform this Breast Coil MRI from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Ask your physician to refer you if your mammogram was abnormal.

830.282.0088

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2019