Del Rio Grande 1117

NOVEMBER 2017

TROPHY TIME Taxidermist preserves memories of the hunt

OASIS FOR EXOTICS

GLOBETROTTING GUIDE Del Rio’s Tino Pruneda hunts around the world

Rare species thrive on Indianhead Ranch

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The Hunting Issue GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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FROM THE EDITOR

For love of the hunt PUBLISHER Sandra Castillo EDITOR Karen Gleason CREATIVE DIRECTOR Megan Tackett WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Brian Argabright Rubén Cantú Adriana Ibarra Karen Gleason Joe Pagan Megan Tackett Special Contributor: Derome West ADVERTISING Ashley Lopez Kim Dupill Albert Treviño PRODUCTION Adriana Ibarra Jorge Alarcon Roland Cardenas EDITORIAL karen.gleason@delrionewsherald.com 830-775-1551, Ext. 247 ADVERTISING ashley.lopez@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.

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

Let me say at the start that I am not a hunter, in the common, everyday sense of that word. Never have been, never will be.

Philosophically, I’m probably a lot closer to the tree-huggers than the trigger-pullers.

Having said that, though, I have learned that real hunters like the ones you’ll meet on the pages of our November issue – Derome West, Darren Carr and others – and I have a lot in common.

Like them, being out-of-doors gives me a deep, almost unspeakable joy, a feeling that I am in exactly the right place. For me, being indoors is merely a temporary arrangement.

Like them, the natural world and its inhabitants fill me with awe, respect and wonder and always leave me wanting to see and to learn more.

As we began planning the November issue, though, I knew that as a non-hunter, I lacked the necessary insight as to what hunters would like to see and read about in our magazine, so I called on the aid and expertise of a real hunter: Derome West.

I want to thank him for helping guide this issue, for taking time to sit with me and other members of the staff as we made our plans.

I also want to thank him for writing our main story this month and for sharing his hunting photos with us.

I also want to thank Creative Director Megan Tackett and the other members of the Grande team for picking up the slack while I was on vacation in September and October.

Megan interviewed taxidermist Kassidy Stock and game warden Allison Hatten about their interesting work and visited with Adriana and Taylor Goodwin about their unique relationship, built around their mutual love of the hunt.

Brian Argabright’s piece on hunting guide Tino Pruneda is fascinating reading, and Rubén Cantú’s article will help hunters make the most of the animals they take.

Finally, I want to thank Darren Carr of the Indianhead Ranch for taking me on a tour of that incredible property and its marvelous menagerie of rare species.

We believe that hunters and non-hunters alike will find this issue interesting and informative.

Enjoy!

Karen Gleason Grande Editor

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CONTENTS 6

CALENDAR Make room on your day planner for these exciting local events

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BOWHUNTING OASIS A local bowhunter shares what makes Del Rio a bowhunter’s dream

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ON THE COVER: DEROME WEST Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter pilot Derome West graces our cover

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THE TROPHY MAKER A Del Rio native opens shop on Highway 90 to preserve hunters’ conquests

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NOVEMBER 2017 26

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A VVRMC nutritionist helps you prepare the perfect mix

Everything you need to for your next hunting adventure

BUILD YOUR OWN TRAIL MIX

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TINO PRUNEDA: ON THE HUNT A Val Verde County guide leads hunting tours across the globe

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CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL: ADRIANA GOODWIN Avid hunter and southwest dresser Adriana Goodwin takes us inside her wardrobe

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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A GAME WARDEN Game warden Allison Hatten gives us some insight to a game warden’s day-to-day

GRANDE GEAR PICKS

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OUT THERE: INDIAN HEAD RANCH Exotic species abound on this incredible property

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GRANDE HUNTING GUIDE A guide to when you can score these popular game animals in the Val Verde County

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HUNTING AND FIREARM INFO AND SAFETY Be a hunter in the know with these helpful tips

MORE THAN ONE WAY TO SKIN A DEER

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Apache Meat Market helps hunters with their sport’s dirty work

Taylor and Adriana Goodwin built their relationship on hunting

Our creative director wraps up this month’s Grande

LOVE AND HUNTING

LAST LOOK

On the cover:

Like many avid hunters, Del Rioan Derome West loves sharing his hard-won hunting knowledge and stories. West, who works as a helicopter pilot for the Texas Department of Public Safety, also hosts a hunting show on the Hunt Channel, taking veterans and active-duty military members into the field.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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NOVEMBER CALENDAR

Enjoy all the elements of November during this month’s best local events.

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DIA DE LOS MUERTOS 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Whitehead Museum Pay respects to those who have passed at Whitehead’s community altar. The venue will also provide music, dancing, tamales, hot chocolate and pan de muerto.

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36TH ANNUAL HUNTERS ROUNDUP 5 p.m. - 10 p.m. Uvalde County Fairplex Event Center Monster 30 - Gun Raffle - UTV Raffle Vendors - Food - Music. $10 Admission or FREE for Valid TPWD Hunting License/First Responders/Under the age of 10

Whitehead 4

KINNEY COUNTY HUNTERS ROUNDUP 6 p.m. Kinney County Civic Center A must-do for Val Verde hunters. The event includes an eight gun raffle, door prizes and an auction. Individual tickets are for $5 each or five for $20.

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HOMECOMING GAME 7:30 p.m. Walter Levermann Ram Stadium Root on the Rams as they play Eagle Pass in the biggest game of the season. The homecoming parade takes place the Wednesday before at 5:30 p.m. starting at the CTE.

10, 11, 17, 18

UPSTAGERS: PUMP BOYS & DINETTES Paul Poage Theatre • It is a charming slice of life set in the 1980’s on highway 57 in rural North Carolina. This is a great show the whole family can enjoy together and actually be home by bedtime.

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FEAST OF SHARING 11 a.m. Del Rio Civic Center Spend an afternoon feasting with your community. Texas grocery giant HEB provides its annual, free Thanksgiving dinner for all of Val Verde County.

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MURAL BIKE TOUR 6 p.m. Casa de la Cultura Enjoy a ride full of sightseeing with great company. The tour will make 14 stops at the local murals in the San Felipe Creek area and throughout historic downtown Del Rio. BYOB (Bring your own bike).

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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Derome West with a blackbuck antelope he hunted on a property near Sisterdale, outside San Antonio. The blackbuck is an antelope species native to the Indian subcontinent.

Amistad: Bowhunting Oasis Story by DEROME WEST: photos contributed by DEROME WEST

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rowing up in my native Wisconsin, I took up bowhunting to extend my time in the woods chasing the elusive whitetailed deer. The gun deer season ran for just nine days, starting on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and ending the Sunday after. My love for hunting required spending more time afield, and I yearned for opportunities to sharpen my craft.

Bowhunting was a logical and exciting challenge that soon became an obsession.

It was 1982 when I first walked through the pre-dawn darkness, stick and string in hand on my way to an adventure that would last a lifetime. Now, 35 years later, I still get the same nervous excitement and restlessness as the archery season approaches.

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

Texas is a unique state with diverse wildlife and seasons. We enjoy a generous general season and an archery season that can be extended throughout the general season. The challenge for many hunters isn’t finding the time to hunt, it’s finding the place. The vast majority of property in Texas is private, and leases are about the only other option.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department does offer drawn hunts on its wildlife management areas, a great opportunity if you are lucky enough to be drawn. Texas also boasts nearly one million acres of public land, mostly in east Texas with a few others scattered around the state, but hunting pressure and species limitations often discourage hunters.

Del Rio is unique in many ways. As a

non-native of the area, I firmly believe the title “The Best of the Border” is well deserved on many levels, one of which is the public hunting opportunities we have at the Amistad National Recreation Area (ANRA).

For a fee of $20, hunters can purchase a permit and gain access to five designated hunting areas, with approximately 3,842 acres available at lake level 1080.

Hunters are required to possess a valid and current Texas hunting license, identification and the park access permit and hunter safety course certification (if required), while hunting. White-tailed deer, javelina, turkey, rabbit, exotic mouflon sheep, exotic aoudad sheep, exotic blackbuck antelope and feral hog can be hunted with compound, recurve,

and long bows. The use of rifles or handguns is prohibited in the ANRA. The use of crossbows is prohibited, except by those hunters with an upperlimb disability as defined by Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations. Authorized (upper-limb disability) crossbow hunters may not walk or move with a bolt loaded.

Texas bag limits apply. Possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

Feeding, baiting or the possession of baiting material is prohibited, as well as hunting over a baited area.

Portable deer stands and blinds may be used but they may not be left unattended for longer than 48 hours. Permanent stands are prohibited. Ground blinds may be used, but a hunter can only use vegetation that is dead and down, any cutting is prohibited. Portable deer stands or blinds must be marked with the hunter’s permit number, or may be confiscated.

Other rules and regulations are available from the National Park Service.

This is by no means intended to be a complete and comprehensive list of rules and regulations. It is important to remember that this is a National Recreation Area, used by thousands of people annually, and hunting there is a privilege.

ANRA Hunt Areas 1, 2, 3 and 5 are all accessible by vehicle or walk in, and it is each hunter’s responsibility to know the boundaries to ensure he or she does not trespass onto private land or other park property not available for hunting. Hunt Area 4 is only accessible by boat.

A complete map of each area is available in the ANRA regulation booklet. Parking areas are also listed for each hunt area.

As mentioned earlier, white-tailed deer, javelina, turkey, rabbits, mouflon sheep, aoudad, blackbuck antelope and feral hog can all be hunted. There are some domestic animals, mostly sheep and goats that may not be hunted. It is the hunter’s responsibility to know the difference. Some of the exotic sheep could closely resemble domestic sheep.

Identification photos are provided in the back of the booklet. A good rule of thumb is when in doubt, don’t shoot.

White-tailed deer is probably the most sought after species, not only in the hunt

Derome West with a large aoudad ram he took during a hunt in Val Verde County.

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Derome West, right, with Adam Grandow, an injured soldier West took hunting through West’s “American Valor Outdoors” program. The two hunted successfully whitetailed deer on the Brush Ranch in Wisconsin, West’s home state.

areas, but in Texas in general.

In Texas, the whitetail is king. There are good numbers, and a dedicated hunter who puts in the work and time could be rewarded with a great buck.

Deer have incredible eyesight and sense of smell. Couple that with great hearing and they are a formidable adversary.

Stand hunting successes far outweigh spot and stalks, and it is important to be courteous to other hunters. Walking aimlessly through the area is a great way to ruin the hunting for those who have scouted and found areas the deer frequent. Archery equipment is deadly, but hunters need to know their limitations.

I am relatively experienced and accurate with my bow, and I impose a

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self-limitation on distance at 30 yards and never shoot at moving game. An ethical hunter knows his or her limits and operates inside of them. Finding a concealed spot over a well-used game trail should increase your odds for success. Natural feeding and watering areas are also good options for success.

Javelina is another native species found roaming the hills and brush of the ANRA’s hunt areas. Texas law only allows hunters to take two javelina per year, but with bow and arrow, that is not an easy task. They have limited eyesight and spot and stalk hunting is often successful. Although not nearly as abundant as deer, a little scouting will go a long way. Feral hogs are also listed, but I haven’t run across them in the ANRA.

Mouflon sheep are mostly located in Hunt Area 5 and are often found in good numbers. They too have keen eyesight, so good camouflage and concealment are a must. Since they often travel in groups, a hunter must be extremely stealthy. Alert one animal to your presence, and they may all soon be alerted, only to disappear over the next hill.

Aoudad are found mostly in Hunt Area 4, the area only accessible by boat. These sheep are hardy animals, and recovery and transportation of the animal back across the lake must be considered. Like mouflon, they generally travel in groups.

Some large rams may be isolated or herded with a group of ewes and lambs.

The safety in numbers tactic is a great defense against predators and hunters.

Derome West poses with a javelina he hunted on a property near Laredo. West, an avid bowhunter, has written for several hunting magazines and has appeared on several hunting television programs.

They are very agile and favor the rough landscape and rocky hills and ledges. With long hair forming manes on their neck and chaps on their front legs, aoudad make an incredible trophy and a hunting experience to remember.

Although the booklet lists blackbuck antelope, I’ve yet to see one. Blackbuck are a spiral-horned antelope that originated in India. The males turn black and white with maturity, giving the animal its name.

Younger males and females are tan and white. They are very fleet of foot and often prefer open areas for safety, making stalking very difficult. They are seemingly always on alert and prone to jumping the string, making them a challenge for a bowhunter.

Both males and females of each of these species are legal for hunting, as long as the

hunter has the required tags. Exotics are treated similar to livestock in Texas and are without season and bag limits. The ANRA limits the season hunters can hunt exotics, and it runs concurrent with seasons listed for other regulated species.

Del Rio is also home to the Del Rio Archery Association, and 3D archery shoots are hosted monthly throughout the offseason. It’s a great place to hone your skills, share experiences and spend time with other bowhunters sharing tools, techniques and tactics. Involvement is the key to preserving archery and bowhunting, and kids are the future.

Yearly membership dues are very affordable, and in my honest opinion, you get more than what you pay for. The range is open to all members throughout

the year with permanent targets out to 60 yards. Many of the members are successful bowhunters and share their knowledge and expertise.

The excellent climate, the abundance of game and the presence of public hunting make Del Rio a real bowhunters’ oasis. Be safe and ethical, and the enjoyment and successes are limitless. Treat the hunt areas like they were your own and always leave the land better than you found it. Take out anything you bring in and leave anything natural, so that others can enjoy the beauty of Lake Amistad and the Amistad National Recreation Area.

Good luck and great hunting. •

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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On The Cover DEROME WEST

Passion for the hunt Story by KAREN GLEASON; photos contributed by DEROME WEST

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vid bowhunter Derome West loves sharing his passion for the hunt with others.

West, who appears on our cover this month, works as a helicopter pilot for the Texas Department of Public Safety.

He has served as a member of the Texas DPS for 20 years, joining the agency’s aircraft operations division in 2008 and becoming a helicopter pilot in 2012.

West is a native of Janesville, Wisc., and landed in Texas by invitation.

“I was in the military, stationed in Savannah, Ga., at the First Ranger Battalion, and I came here on block leave, and my brother John Duffy was part of the Texas Narcotics Control Program (TNCP), and he ran it from the Texas state side, like the Texas National Guard, and he worked with a guy named Eddie who was a captain with Texas DPS Narcotics. I just came here on leave to visit, and Eddie told me, ‘You know, the DPS is hiring. You should put in an application.’ So I did and fortunately got hired,” West recalled.

West served as a member of the U.S. Army for eight years.

He has been hunting with a bow for 35 years, since he was 12 years old.

“I actually started hunting at 10, going with my brother-in-law and my uncle, but I couldn’t carry a gun, because in Wisconsin you can’t carry a gun to hunt until you’re 12,” West said.

He credits his introduction and much of his early education as a hunter to the tutelage of his uncle and a close friend, Mike Lutzow.

“Hunting, shooting, guns, none of that appealed to my dad. The outdoors did, and he took me fishing and stuff, but hunting really wasn’t his thing, so my mom’s brother, my uncle Gerald, was a big hunter,” West said.

His association with his uncle and his uncle’s

friends led to his early interest in shooting, then hunting, with a bow.

“He fostered everything I was even remotely interested in. Everybody should have an uncle like that,” West recalled.

Why is hunting so important to him?

“For me, it’s the foundation of my life, really.

It’s the roots that allow me to get back to everything that’s simple. The stresses of work, the stresses of family, the stresses of everyday life, just being out in nature defuses those.

We’re not an overly religious family, but we believe in God and follow a Christian lifestyle.

We think church is important, but during the hunting season, on a Sunday morning, you will rarely find me anywhere but out-of-doors, and what better place for me than to be out there among things that were created by the Maker?”

West said.

West said although he prefers hunting with a bow, he is not a purist and also hunts with a rifle.

“I like the greater challenge of hunting with a bow. You have to get closer, and you learn more because you can shoot a deer at a 100 yards and the experience is over. At 100 yards, my hunt is just beginning. Now I have to be a little more stealthy, a little more quiet,” West said.

He also noted he follows a self-imposed 30yard limit for shooting an animal with a bow.

“I don’t shoot more than 30 yards. I can, and I practice diligently, and I’m effective on a target: I can hit a bull’s eye at 100 yards, but there’s no point in doing that because a bull’s eye doesn’t move. A wild animal can move while the arrow’s in flight,” he noted.

West said he hopes both of his sons will one day become avid hunters, but he added, only if they really want to.

“I’m the kind of person who believes that each person has to forge his or her own path,

and if you force something on a child, they learn to resent it and dislike it,” West said.

“I have three criteria about bowhunting and the outdoors: If it’s legal, ethical and you enjoy it, then you should pursue it with all your heart until your ambition stops. But a lot of times, you hear bad stories about people who shot a deer illegally in a park or someone who road hunted, but I challenge people who call that hunting. That’s not a hunter. That’s a poacher.

Let’s not label them as a hunter because they’re not. Hunters care for the animals and conservation,” West said.

West is also a writer, who chronicles his experiences in the outdoors.

He began writing as a columnist for the nationally-distributed Bowhunter magazine in 2000. He has served as archery editor for The Hunting Magazine and has contributed to several other magazines as a freelance writer.

He has also been a guest on numerous television programs dealing with hunting and was the co-host for TNT Outdoor Explosion on the Pursuit channel last year.

“This year, I am hosting my own show called ‘American Valor Outdoors’ on The Hunt Channel,” West said.

As for a favorite hunt, West said, “Anytime I can take my boys or other children out into the field certainly ranks pretty high on my list. I’ve taken many veterans and current active duty military members out through my ‘American Valor Outdoors’ program. All of those are rewarding.”

He added, “I’d also have to say that my next hunt is always my favorite, whatever it might be. I enjoy the preparation, the packing and the anticipation of the hunt. The hunt, successful or not, is the reward for me. I look at it as a total adventure from start to finish, more so than just the killing of an animal.” • GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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The Trophy Maker A Del Rio native opens shop on Highway 90 to preserve local hunters’ conquests Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

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When the hunt is over and the meat is cooked and consumed, seasoned hunters want something to remember their expedition: a trophy.

Kassidy Stock, owner of Devils River Taxidermy, has worked a variety of jobs in Val Verde County, some comfortable, some dirty, from customer service to concrete contracting. But the former Sul Ross University animal science student knew one day she’d find work handling animals, alive or dead.

“I love the outdoors, and I think it’s awesome you can recreate these animals and preserve them,” Stock, 31, said.

After working for a local taxidermy operation on and off for five years, Stock, a Del Rio native, said she began an apprenticeship with nationallyrenowned taxidermist Rob Stockwell, who runs Hip-O Taxidermy in Alpine.

“He taught me everything,” Stock said. “I can always pick up the phone and call him if I have any questions.”

Although Stock works mostly alone, her Rhodesian ridgeback puppy, June, scurries around the shop as Stock skins, assembles and paints her pieces. She says her husband, Curtis, comes by to help her occasionally and facetiously jokes about not receiving compensation for his efforts.

“He always complains, ‘I’ve been working here four months and I have yet to get a single paycheck,’” Stock laughs. “I tell him, ‘You’re never going to get employee of the month with that attitude.’”

While white-tailed deer are her most frequently requests, Stock said her favorite projects are exotic animals, such as aoudads, also known as Barbary sheep, which licensed hunters can find in designated parts of Amistad National Recreational Area.

“Aoudads are neat because a lot of them fight so they have scars,” Stock said. “ I just think they’re beautiful.”

While she and her husband enjoy fishing for recreation, Stock said performing the skin mounts for bass caught out at the lake are her lesser favorite orders. But being a mother of a two-yearold-daughter, Stock will always hold her nose, literally, especially for her young customers.

“I’m all about kids being outdoors and learning about how to be responsible,” Stock said. “Anything with kids, fishing, hunting, getting them outside.”

Stock is unsure what the future of her operation holds, but for now, she’s happy to make a living with a hobby she holds so close to her heart. •

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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“I love the outdoors, and I think it’s awesome you can recreate these animals and preserve them.”

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GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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Butcher Carlos Riojas, left, who is taking his first steps in the business of meat processing, works alongside Fernando Chapa with this axis deer.

More than one way to skin a deer Story and photos by RUBÉN CANTÚ

S

o you harvested that hefty, beautiful white-tailed deer you longed for all year long, the adrenaline rush of the hunt is running off, and you start thinking “Well, that’s a whole lot of meat.”

That might be a good problem to have if you have the skills, the time and the equipment to process the meat. But before you decide whether you will be field dressing the deer or quartering it, the first thing you need to do is to tag it with the appropriate hunting license tag. That procedure needs to be taken care of immediately and even before moving the wildlife resource.

Texas law allows you to quarter a deer or antelope in camp, provided that the hunter complies with the tagging and proof-of-sex requirements, until a final destination is reached. Deer or antelope cannot be processed beyond quarters in camp.

Harvesting a trophy deer may be something we

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have been dreaming of for a long time, but what about the long hours skinning, cutting and slicing, grinding or filling the link sausage casings?

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for a hunter to find the deer he wanted when there was nobody around, and depending on the size and weight of the wild game just putting it in the bed of your pickup truck can be quite a job – some hunters resort to commercially available winches while others design their own deer lifts.

So, starting the skinning, quartering and meat processing of wild game after reaching a final destination, is something not all of us are willing to do.

Fernando Chapa, who opened a meat market in Del Rio in 2005, said that when it comes down to processing wild game there are several options hunters can choose from.

Some hunters, he said, choose to field dress

their deer, leaving the skinning and the cutting to the processing plant.

“Depending on the season we process about 500 deer every year,” Chapa said.

Chapa carries on the tradition started in 1976, when his father, Raul Chapa, established Apache Meat Market. Fernando took over the business 12 years ago, when Chapa Sr. decided to retire.

The meat market and processing plant mostly receives white-tailed deer, but some ranches in the region offer exotic game. It is not uncommon for Apache Meat Market to receive mule deer, elk, buffalo, hogs, aoudad sheep, oryx antelope, etc.

White-tailed deer, a Texas native species, can be harvested during hunting season only — a few months in the winter time — but those regulations do not apply to exotics.

Chapa said that people ask for different types of cuts, including whole backstrap and backstrap steaks, deer chicken fried steaks, ham steaks and whole hams, ground meat, pan sausage and sausage links.

Depending on the size of the family and eating habits, the meat of a deer or two can go a long way. “We cut the meat, package it and freeze it; For some families that is the only meat they eat throughout the year,” Chapa said.

“We mark the packages and they keep them in the freezer. They only take out what they are going to eat each time,” he said.

Butchers Chris Ibarra and Carlos Riojas dice guisado meat at Apache Meat Market.

How you care for your wild game will make a huge impact on how much you will wind up enjoying your meal.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recommends to keep a close eye in three different aspects of your meat prepping to prevent meat spoiling through the spread of bacteria: heat, moisture and dirt. Always try to keep those at a minimum.

The use of gloves is always recommended when cleaning and or field dressing game animals, – especially feral hogs.

A good, sharp knife is also a great companion.

Furthermore, a sharpening stone or sharpening device comes in handy, as even the toughest steel may dull with the amount of cutting and slicing involved in the skinning of a white-tailed deer.

Whether you decide to process the meat yourself or to take it to the processing plant, it is always recommended to follow standard meat freezing procedures and to make sure that the meat is fully cooked before consumption.

So the next time you are out and about, harvesting either a white-tailed deer or exotic game with the intention to fill up your freezer, weigh your options and consider if you want to do it yourself, or if you rather take it to the processing plant before enjoying that deer chili, deer chicken fried steaks, a delicious deer guisado, deer tamales or hamburger meat. •

The use of specialty band saws like this one make the job easier for the meat processing plant.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

23

Build Your Own Trail Mix Story by MEGAN TACKETT and AMY JONES and photo by MEGAN TACKETT

Before heading out on your hunting excursion, follow Val Verde Regional Medical Center Nutritionist Amy Jones’ guide to preparing a healthy snack to keep you energized and alert during your trip.

Nuts: Almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts or peanuts are all great options.

Nuts are loaded with healthy fats, protein, fiber and vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E and magnesium. Choose the unsalted version, raw or roasted to control the sodium content.

Dried Fruit: Add in moderation as they are high in sugar, but a small amount added to trail mix adds a little sweetness.

Dried cranberries, blueberries, cherries, raisins, banana crisps, coconut, mangos 26

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

and apricots are all great options that will add some extra vitamins and minerals like vitamin A and C and fiber to your mix.

Coconut strips are also a great source of healthy fat and fiber.

Seeds: Seeds are packed with vitamins and minerals like zinc, iron and magnesium. They also are high in fiber, protein and healthy fats, like omega 3 fatty-acids. Sprinkle some pumpkin, sunflower, chia or hemp seeds to boost the nutrient content of your mix.

Sweets: Add some dark chocolate chips for a sweet treat. Dark chocolate is loaded with polyphenols and flavanols that function as antioxidants in your body, which help fight free-radicals.

It also contains some fiber and lots of vitamins and minerals.

Amy’s Combo: Almonds, pistachios, roasted pumpkin seeds, dried coconut strips, dried blueberries and dark chocolate chips. •

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

27

Tino Pruneda On The Hunt Story by BRIAN ARGABRIGHT; photos contributed by TINO PRUNEDA

F

rom Amistad to Africa, hunting has taken Del Rio’s Tino Pruneda all across the world.

Pruneda, a preserve manager for the Nature Conservancy of Texas, has served as hunting guide for 14 years. It’s more than just a job for the 26-year-old. It’s

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a passion that was born out of family hunting trips with his father, Gerry.

“My father, and role model, introduced me to the outdoors at a very young age.

Growing up, it was hunting and fishing and just getting dirty outside,” Pruneda said. “I started going on my first deer hunts when I

was six years old. It wasn’t until I was eight when my dad let me shoot my first deer.

After that I never looked back.”

Those early hunting lessons weren’t just about bonding. The elder Pruneda also showed Tino what to look for in terms of a hunt and why choosing the right target

Here, Tino Pruneda, (right), helps display an elk that was harvested in Montana. According to Pruneda, he called the elk to within 26 years of he and the hunter allowing for the archery shot.

Tino Pruneda helped this hunter harvest this aoudad sheep with an 80-yard shot.

From Amistad to Africa, Tino Pruneda’s career as a hunting guide has taken him all across the world. Here, Pruneda poses with a free range kudu that was harvested in Namibia, Africa.

was key.

“He taught me how to age and score deer on the hoof, a tool used to successfully harvest the ‘right’ kind of deer in a herd. Once I nailed it down, I saw how valuable the trade was and started to spread my wings out into the hunting world,” Pruneda said.

Tino Pruneda’s clients can often include celebrities, such as Kendal Briles (left), currently the offensive coordinator at Florida Atlantic and his father, former Baylor University head football coach Art Briles (third from right).

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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Tino Pruneda serves as a hunting guide on 23 ranches around the world. Here he poses with a free-range blue wildebeest that was harvested in Namibia, Africa.

Tino Pruneda, kneeling served as a guide for a film crew from the Changing Seezyns hunting show which airs on the Sportsman Channel.

Tino Pruneda peers through his binoculars and helps the hunter sneak in close for a shot on an aoudad sheep.

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Though Pruneda still calls Southwest Texas home, his job takes him all over the country and the world.

From the mountains of Montana to the plains of Africa, Pruneda said the travel is a big bonus in his line of work.

“I have been able to guide all over the country. All of the hunts I participate in are all working under private contracts,” Pruneda explained. “Hunting on private property is a big plus versus hunting on public land.

Some states require outfitters licenses in order to guide hunters. Private land is a simple contract agreement.”

Hunting is a serious business. According to the Outdoor Industry Association’s 2017 report, Americans spent more than $23.7 billion on retail hunting-related purchases including more than $11.3 billion on hunting trip-related expenses.

Every hunt is different, but Pruneda said that for him, as the guide, it comes down to two big principles – make sure the hunt is safe and successful. And reaching those two goals isn’t always easy, he said.

“Safety is a huge factor when it comes to hunting.

Guns, bullets, knives, wild hoof-stock, etc. Sometimes I have two to six hunters at a time, and this can get very complicated at times as you’re everyone’s eyes,” Pruneda said. “Of course, being very observant and having good common sense is mandatory. Ninety percent of the time most of these hunters are on a paid hunt. Some hunts

I’ve guided have added up to more than $100,000, so we make sure we show them a good time inside and outside of the hunt. I also work to show respect at all times, and be very generous, even if the hunter decides to not give it in return. This is normally a hunt they have planned and saved up for. We give it our best, as he, or she, has to earn their way to get on this hunt.”

Hunting guides are easy to find. Go online and search “hunting guides Val Verde county” and you are immediately greeted with a page full of links to ranches and experiences catered to fit all kinds of budgets.

Pruneda said people interested in a memorable hunt should always do their research and make sure they know as much as possible before making their plans.

“Some of these hunts are a once-in-a-lifetime event.

A hunter should look deep into the property they’re going to hunt. Call and ask questions, visit with a few guides and then evaluate. The world hunting industry is massive, but if you can find a guide that’s good and fits your needs, stick with him or her,” Pruneda said.

“Most places that have a hunting operation require you to have a guide. Guides normally have the experience and knowledge of the property and wildlife. Most of the hunts are two to five days long, and a good guide will allow the hunt to be more successful in the small time frame.”

Pruneda’s job is a year-round one and takes him to 23 different ranches all across the country. In his case, Hunting guide Tino Pruneda doesn’t just harvest things on land. He took this alligator gar from Del Rio’s own Lake Amistad.

the private entity will call or email him with the dates of hunters they book. Once he gets the details, he’s off to work.

And like any job, Pruneda said he’s seen a lot in his more than a decade of being a hunting guide.

“I’ve seen gunshots through the roofs of pickups, seen flat tires in the middle of nowhere with no service … it’s a list that might be a little long,” Pruneda joked.

“However, one of the perks I see with guiding is you get to meet different people from all over the world and make new connections and new friends. I started only guiding for three ranches. One ranch and hunter led to another, and now I’m on 23 different private properties, and I’ve been able to personally hunt all over the world.” • A hunt Tino Pruneda guided in North Texas yielded this whitetail deer.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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CLOSET CONFIDENTIAL Story by MEGAN TACKETT with photos by ADRIANA IBARRA

Adriana Goodwin Editor’s note: Whether she’s working for Border Federal Credit Union, spending time with friends, or hunting with her husband, Adriana Goodwin’s fashion is always on point. Her personal style exudes southern border influence with bright colors, embroidered designs and statement jewelry pieces. And although Adriana can rough it with the best of them, for her, there’s no reason to forego mascara and eyeliner.

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These pieces I got in Acuña from a boutique called Bloom. Both are made by Harumy Berain.

Shopping Downtown Downtown I mainly go for the jewelry stores. I also love La Florentina because it’s very unique. You can’t find the same pieces anywhere else in town. I’ll go to Buffalo Girls too. One of my best friends works there and they have so many things to look at.

Clasyk has a collection called Unyk and they personalize their jewelry.

Border Style My friends who see something very colorful they automatically think of me. They’ll send me pictures and say “Look!” I love embroidered and beaded pieces that represent the border.

Public Image I always dress up no matter what. I’ll go to Walmart in gym clothes as long as I’m wearing a little bit of makeup.

My husband tells me, “You’re always getting ready!” I try not to but I still end up dressing up.

Fashion Icon Eva Shockey is a female hunter. She co-hosts her dad’s show on Outdoor Channel called Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures. In my mind she’s pretty badass. I want to be like her. She dresses very nice. Laid back but country and modern. And if not, she’s in hunting clothes.

Use of Pinterest I use Pinterest to find outfit inspiration. Everything I see I try to put together. The other day I bought some yellow mustard pants so I searched on Pinterest, “what to wear with mustard pants.” I keep seeing a bunch of striped shirts I’m still trying to find the perfect shirt.

I got this shirt in three other colors just because they were all embroidered. It’s from Free People. I love that store.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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“I absolutely love shopping even though I’m not allowed to as much any more. Once you get married that kind of stops.”

“I absolutely love everything colorful so these necklaces were a must have.”

“Yellow is one of my favorite colors so I had to buy these.”

“My husband surprised me with these as a Christmas gift. He says I have too many so it never crossed my mind that he would buy me another pair.”

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37

A Day In The Life Of A Warden Story and photos by MEGAN TACKETT

Game warden Allison Hatten grew up in Temple, Texas, graduated from the Game Warden Training Academy in Hamilton and, in 2012, joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Val Verde branch.

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A

game warden’s daily responsibilities are all-encompassing, especially in Val Verde County where wild game, an international border and the sixth largest lake in Texas all come together.

Game warden Allison Hatten grew up in Temple, Texas and joined the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Val Verde branch in 2012. She and the six other game wardens in Val Verde County all graduated, as required, from the Game Warden Training Academy in Hamilton, Texas, a seven month program that includes physical conditioning, defensive tactics, firearm training and arrest procedures.

“It was tough,” Hatten said. “It’s a big learning process. It’s boot camp, basically.”

Each morning, Hatten said she wakes up with an idea in mind about how she plans to execute her day. But 12 hours later, Hatten said, that idea is a distant memory.

“That’s what I love about this job,” Hatten said. “I’ll set out one day to work on my boat, and I’ll end up rescuing people on the Devils River.”

A noticeable difference between Del Rio’s unique corner of Texas and the state’s other regions, Hatten said, is the welcoming disposition of the hunters and fishermen she encounters on a daily basis.

“What I love about west Texas, most people I come in contact with are glad to see me,” Hatten said. “When I go back to east Texas, my own family doesn’t like getting checked by game wardens.”

One day, Hatten and her former partner received coordinates from the Department of Public Safety’s helicopter unit regarding a commercial fisherman from Mexico gill netting on the U.S. side of Lake Amistad. A chase ensued and, despite Hatten’s efforts, the man barely escaped back to the lake’s Mexico shore.

“It was a shot in the dark whether the coordinates were still good,” Hatten said. “I splashed into the water and missed him by an arm’s length.”

The duties of a game warden aren’t necessarily limited to the border of their assigned county.

In August, Hatten and three other warden were deployed to Refugio, Rockport and Houston to provide search-and-rescue support to disaster-struck areas after Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall.

Hatten said she and her partner rescued a family of five, two elderly persons, a pair of two-month old twins, and another woman, who were trapped in their flooded home. While responding to the emergency call, she and her partner had to pass other flood victims signaling for help.

“People were waving us over. It was chaotic because we were trying to get to the emergency ones, elderly, infants,” Hatten said. “It was hard going by people but we knew we had boats behind us.”

When she’s not on duty, Hatten said she and her Labrador retriever, Backup, often hunt redhead ducks, buffleheads, blue bills and canvasback in her favorite Val Verde spots. She loves to see the community taking advantage of the county’s recreational opportunities, but, for everyone’s enjoyment, follow regulations and keep it safe. •

Hatten and three other wardens were deployed to Refugio, Rockport and Houston to provide search-and-rescue support to disaster-struck areas after Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, made landfall.

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41

Love and Hunting Story by MEGAN TACKETT. Photos by ADRIANA IBARRA

Taylor and Adriana Goodwin married in 2014 and have accompanied each other on countless hunting expeditions.

This month, the pair will travel to New Mexico to hunt in Lincoln National Forest and Cibola National Forest.

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Taylor, who grew up hunting in northeast Arkansas, creates his own ammo using an at-home gun powder compressor and a reloading press.

T

aylor Goodwin felt like he won the lottery when he met a woman willing to take on his lifelong hunting hobby. Taylor, who was born and raised in northeast Arkansas, introduced Adriana to hunting within a month of their first date. And while Adriana exudes femininity, Taylor was instantly impressed at her willingness to try such a ruthless sport with such brazen.

The two married in October 2014 and have since accompanied each other on countless hunting excursions. The Goodwins recently won an actual lottery, the New Mexico Big Game Draw, where they’ll hunt elk, mule deer and antelope in the Lincoln National Forest and Cibola National Forest in New Mexico in November for one week.

Taylor- When we started hunting, she would get dolled up, which is fine, but then she’d put on her perfume and I would tell her, “You can’t be wearing perfume when we go hunting. They can smell everything!”

Adriana- I don’t wear perfume anymore because of that. And I started to see so many more animals.

The hunter’s challenge A- We were out predator hunting one day and a bobcat snuck in on us super close but he got away before I could shoot. Ever since then I’ve made it my mission to get one. It took me four years but I finally got him this year.

T- All hunters are like that. You always want a challenge. What can I do now that I haven’t done before? What

can I do that someone else hasn’t done?

That’s when you start working on your ninja skills.

A- You have to be super quiet!

T- Some people take their boots off once they start getting close.

A- I haven’t been to that extreme yet.

I keep my shoes on.

Love and hunting

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Adriana admits she only started hunting with Taylor to spend more time with him when they first started dating. However, after a couple of trips, she was hooked.

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Adriana’s favorite hunting apparel line is the “SHE” brand, which she purchases from Bass Pro Shop.

A- Every new adventure is like going on another first date. I only went the first few times just so I could spend time with him.

I didn’t imagine I’d end up on the side of a mountain in New Mexico chasing my own mule deer.

T- Having a wife who hunts and just so happens to be your soulmate is like finding a unicorn. She can outshoot some of my friends who have been hunting their whole lives. I saw her shoot an aoudad while on the run at 186 yards. She’s a natural.

The lottery hunt A- I’ve been preparing. I’ve been going to the gym at five in the morning because of the hike. He keeps scaring me and I think, “I’m not going to make it.”

T- You stop everything you’re doing to start preparing for it. You want to be successful because you probably won’t get the opportunity to do it again. (To Adriana) Your hair is going to be a mess.

A- It doesn’t matter! •

Taylor purchases much of his apparel and gear from Del Rio Feed and Seed.

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Grande Gear Guide

Make the most of your next excursion with these must-have hunting essentials. All items are available for purchase at Russell’s True Value.

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7 6

8 2

4 9 3

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1) Super Charged Scent Killer Autumn Formula Spray for Hunting Outerwear and Boot Bottoms. When fully treated, your hunting clothes can effectively become a high powered scent elimination suit while adding a subtle scent of the woods and fields during the fall.

2) This fitted solid camo hunting cap by Outdoor

4)

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Light-weight stretch-fit gloves with sure-grip are cool and breathable with a 5” extended cuff. They are great for spring turkey season or early bow season. One size fits most.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

7) Hunting Compass - Never get lost with your compass for your camping trip or outdoor adventures this gadget will help you find your way home.

8)

Buck Knife Selkirk - is a mid-sized knife with added features to help maximize survival in rugged and tough conditions perfect for hunting.

9)

ICOtec Electronic Game Call - The new GC300: Durable, easy to operate, loud, and extremely affordable, you cannot go wrong with this electronic game call. It is perfect for all hunters.

5) Carson VP Series - The VP Series binoculars are all phase coated, waterproof and fogproof and come available in compact and full-sized styles to meet whatever your needs may be.

Cap is great for any hunting or going out for leisure wear.

3)

CVLIFE 3-9x40 R4 Reticle Crosshair Hunting Rifle Scope with Free Mounts. Fully multicoated glass provides over 90% light transmission, brilliant images and exceptional color contrast.

6)

Joe’s USA - Realtree Camo Hunting Long Sleeve T-Shirts are Great for layering or for good ol’ fashion hunting.

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49

Out There

On The Indianhead Story and photos by KAREN GLEASON

T

A cliff face towering above Slaughter Bend on the Devils River gives the Indianhead Ranch its name: The dark stone at the top of the cliff looks like the “Indian’s” hair and forehead, with the rock below it completing the profile of nose, mouth and chin.

he deep rocky canyons and dry, brush-covered flats of central Val Verde County are a landscape largely inimical to human beings.

But that very landscape – specifically the 10,000 acres of the Indianhead Ranch – is a paradise, an oasis, for an astonishing diversity of animal species growing increasingly rare, even endangered, in their homelands.

Hunters from all over the country flock to the Indianhead for year-round hunting of its many exotic ungulates, which include blackbuck antelope and axis deer from India, scimitar-horned oryx, aoudad sheep, addax and Dama gazelle from north Africa, red deer from Europe and Armenian mouflon, Transcaspian urial and Bukharan markhor from central Asia.

Indianhead Manager Darren Carr, who oversees the operation of the ranch for San Antonio owner Stan Sutor, said the three most popular species among hunters are the aoudad, also known as

A male Dama gazelle, right, courts an almost-willing female on the 10,000acre Indianhead Ranch. Now extremely rare in their north African homeland, these gazalles are thriving in west Texas.

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Barbary sheep, the blackbuck antelope with their elegant spiral horns and the axis, or chital, deer.

Carr said the land on which the Indianhead is now sited was purchased by the De La Grange family in the early 1980s. The De La Granges bought the ranch, he said, because it reminded them of Africa, where they loved to hunt.

Immediately after the De La Granges bought the ranch, they began installing breeding pastures and high fences in some areas and imported a variety of animals from around the world, many of which, like the rare Dama gazelle are faring better than in their countries of origin.

Carr, has managed the Indianhead for about six years, but has worked as a guide on the property for 18 years.

“I love the wide-open space and feel of it. I like the feeling, as I tell my hunters, that you never know what you are going to see,” he said. •

A herd of aoudad, also known as Barbary sheep, make themselves at home on the rocky slopes above the Devils River on the Indianhead Ranch. This sure-footed species is native to the mountains of northern Africa.

A male red deer roars on the Indianhead Ranch in central Val Verde County. Red deer are native to Europe and parts of Asia. Like native wapiti or American elk, mature male red deer gather groups of females into “harems� during the rut, or breeding season.

The Indianhead Ranch mascot, a male blackbuck antelope named Pedro, relaxes near the ranch headquarters. Blackbuck antelope are one of the most sought-after species of exotics on the ranch.

An elegant bull scimitar-horned oryx basks in the warm morning sun on the Indianhead Ranch. This species of oryx is native to north Africa, where it was believed to have gone extinct in 2000.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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A red deer stag stares down trouble on the Indianhead Ranch. For more information about the ranch and hunting opportunities there, visit www.indianheadranch.com

An axis buck pursues a doe over a brush-covered hillside on the Indianhead Ranch. Axis deer, also known as chital deer, are native to India. This deer species develops impressive antlers, but keeps a spotted coat into adulthood.

A male blackbuck antelope checks the wind.

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Aoudads move across the top of a canyon near the Devils River on the Indianhead Ranch. Ranch manager Darren Carr said these sheep.

Darren Carr and wife Nicki Carr with Nicki’s big aoudad ram.

Darren Carr, left, with Jim Gresham and a monster white-tail buck.

Darren Carr and former Indianhead Ranch owner Laurent De La Grange with a nice axis buck.

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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Del Rio Grande Hunting Guide A guide to when you can score these popular animals in the Del Rio area.

Compiled by ADRIANA IBARRA

White-Tailed Deer Hunting season begins on November 4, 2017 through January 21, 2018 with the Special Late Season between January 22, 2018 to February 4, 2018.

Javelina Hunting season begins on September 1, 2017 and runs until August 31, 2018.

Quail Hunting season begins on October 28, 2017 and runs statewide until February 25, 2018.

Dove Hunting season begins on September 22, 2017 and runs until November 8, 2017. Hunting resumes again on December 15,2017 through January 21, 2018.

Duck Hunting season runs from November 4, 2017 through the 26. Hunting resumes on December 9th and runs through January 28, 2018.

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Amistad Bank, Powered by “Friendship!”

NEW FREE MOBILE APP!

• Bank Smart • Bank Local • Bank Amistad “WE MAKE YOUR HUNT LAST A LIFETIME”

8073 US Highway 90 West Del Rio TX 78840

Your Amistad Family Just A Click Away!

Get immediate access to your money with ATM’s at ALL STRIPES STORES in Texas!

1301 Veterans Blvd Del Rio, Texas 78840

830-313-1443

830-775-0295

Devilsrivertaxidermy@outlook.com

NMLS#266337

NEED WATER? Call

Cardwell Water Well Service LLC

There When Needed Since 1937

It’s all about family OPEN ENROLLMENT MEDICARE PLANS

October 15 - December 7

ACA “OBAMACARE”

Questions about open enrollment?

Visit us at our Wal-Mart kiosk 10/9-12/15

November 1 - December 15

SOLAR PUMPS LIC 54505-KLP LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE

JUAN DIEGO - Agent MARGARITA DIEGO - Agent

1102 N. Bedell Avenue • Del Rio, Texas

(830)719-9342 • (830)422-3232

• Windmills • Pumps • Waterlines • Throughs • Storage Tanks • Repairs

830-703-0220 GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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Garbage Recycling Yard Rubbish Bulky Waste Roll Off Proudly serving the city of Del Rio, Val Verde County and surrounding areas!

1020 Virginia Ave. Del Rio, TX 78840 830-775-2715 Office Hours: Monday-Friday • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm 58

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Online: www.rrws.com Email: delrio@rrws.com Customer Service: Phone: 830.775.2715 • 830.774.2574 • Fax: 830.775.2717

Wild Game Headquarters & One Stop Shop ?

P M A C O T D E D A HE Come in or call ahead to order!

We can handle all of your • CAPING • CUSTOM PROCESSING • & SHIPPING NEEDS

Offer a full line

ak • Fresh Cuts Ste d Quail Bites • Bacon Wrappe n Wings • Buffalo Chicke oal • Mesquite Charc Winning • And Our Award Fajitas Marinated Beef

• DRY SAUSAGE • PAN SAUSAGE • JERKY • SMOKED SAUSAGE • SUMMER SAUSAGE • SNACK STICKS

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Uvalde Meat Market & Processing 29 years in Business- Jackowski Family

Location & Hours: Open 7 days a week 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

508 S. WOOD STREET UVALDE TX 78801 830-278-6247

GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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“Let us be the one you turn to.”

Hunting and Firearm Information and Safety Tips Compiled by ADRIANA IBARRA

Hunter Education Judy Cox G.W. Cox Memorial Funeral Home 114 Fletcher Drive • Del Rio, Texas 78840 830-775-2000

• Every hunter (including-out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a Hunter Education training course. Proof of certification or deferral is required to be on your person while hunting. Minimum age of certification is 9 years, and the cost per certification is $15.

• Individuals under 9 years of age MUST be accompanied.* • Individuals between the ages of 9 and 16 must successfully complete a Hunter Education course, or be accompanied.

• Individuals aged 17 and over must successfully complete a Hunter Education course or purchase a “Hunter Education Deferral,” and you must be accompanied.

Hunter Education - Deferral (cost $10) • Allows a person 17 years of age or older who has not completed a Hunter Education program to defer completion for up to one year. A deferral may only be obtained once and is only valid until the end of the current license year. A person who has been convicted or has received deferred adjudication for violation of the mandatory hunter education requirement is prohibited from applying for a deferral. * Accompanied means: By a person who is at least 17, who is licensed to hunt in Texas, who has passed hunter education or is exempt (born before Sept.

2, 1971), and you must be within normal voice control. Proof of certification or deferral is required to be on your person while hunting.

• Note: Certification is not required to purchase a hunting license.

Bowhunter Education

(830) 775-0153 60

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• Certification is required on certain areas of Texas (Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, Pottsboro, and Camp Bullis, San Antonio).

• Note: Bowhunter education does not substitute for Hunter Education certification.

M

T.J. Moore LuMber Yard Since 1892

Shooting Safety Rules • ALWAYS point the muzzle or nocked arrow in a safe direction.

• Treat every firearm or bow with the same respect you would show a loaded gun or nocked arrow.

• Be sure of your target- what is in front of and beyond your target.

• Unload firearms and unstring conventional bows when not in use.

• Handle firearms, arrows, and ammunition carefully.

• Know your safe-zone-of-fire and stick to it.

• Control your emotions when it comes to safety.

• Wear hearing and eye protection.

• Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs before or while handling firearms or bows and arrows.

• Be aware of additional circumstances which require added caution or safety awareness.

HUNTER ORANGE • Hunters on public land MUST visibly wear at least 400 SQUARE INCHES of hunter orange material with orange headwear and at least 144 square inches appearing both on chest and back during daylight hours at times when hunting with firearms is permitted.

For more information and exemptions call • (512) 389-4505

Clubs and Associations TEXAS HUNTING CLUBS AND ASSOCATIONS Texas Wildlife Association...(800) 839-9453 Dallas Safari Club...............(972) 980-9800 Houston Safari Club............(713) 623-8844 Tx. Game Warden Assoc....(800) 322-8492 Tx. State Rifle Assoc...........(800) 462-8772 Tx. 4-H Shooting Sports......(979) 845-5961 Tx. Youth Hunting Program..(210) 826-2904 PRIVATE LAND HUNTING LEASE REGISTRIES “Hunt Texas Online” https://www2.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/planning/hunt_lease

Tools Lumber Plywood Roofing Plumbing Electrical Paint Fencing Doors & Windows Cement & Sand Links & MSDS Resources

#1 Moore St Del Rio, Tx 830-775-2433 GRANDE / NOVEMBER 2017

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Last Look H

unting is a somewhat polarizing topic.

When encountering a white-tailed deer, some people see Bambi, others see venison.

As an animal lover, I mentally pour one out every time I pass a deer carcass on the highway. But I understand for many, hunting is a hobby, a sport and an organic way to put food on the table.

While compiling this issue, our team, none of us hunters, wanted to give our readers a sense of how hunting as a recreation is abundantly sewn into Del Rio’s patchwork.

Many businesses in our community, including taxidermists, meat processors and apparel outfitters, exist specifically to cash in on the abundance of ranches, public land and exotic game farms that surround our city.

I personally had the privilege of interviewing and spending time with three talented women who are achieving great success in an industry that is somewhat dominated by our male counterparts. It’s no wonder, considering the number of women hunters increased by 85 percent between 2001 and 2013, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, that more and more women are finding a role to fill in the recreational hunting field.

Whether you’re a carnivore, omnivore, vegetarian or vegan, we hoped you enjoyed our second annual hunting edition. It was a blast to put together. See you next month!

Sincerely, Megan Tackett Creative Director

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