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Hill Country Hunting Guide 2021
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Articles 6 Time to Hunt in the Texas Hill Country 8 Hunters Prepare for Opening Day of Deer Season 12 Youth Only Hunting Seasons Set for 2021, early 2022 13 Biologists To Landowners, Hunters Be Mindful of CWD Ahead of Deer Season 14 Operation Orphans, Inc. Hunting and Fishing Programs
16 Jacob Krebs Memorial Hunt 18 Local Groups Help to Improve Area Deer Quality 20 Eyes, Ears of Texas Game Wardens 22 Photo Policy for Deer Photos 24 Harper Events 25 Wild Game Dinner Features a Variety of Fare
Hill Country Hunting Guide A product of Fredericksburg Publishing Company. 712 W. Main St. | P.O. Box 1639 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Phone 830-997-2155 www.fredericksburgstandard.com Publisher/Editor - Ken Esten Cooke
27 After the Hunt 29 Christian Bowhunters 30 Hog Invasion a Problem Across Texas 32 Phone Applications Help Take Hunting Mobile 34 Sunrise, Sunsets for the 2021-2022 Hunting Season 36 Hunters, Processors Pitch in for the Needy in Our Region.
About the cover: This unidentified youngster from the files of the Fredericksburg Standard had a productive day. Persons who may know this young hunter should contact the Standard-Radio Post at 830-997-2155 so we can follow up and mark our historical photo file. © 2021 Fredericksburg Publishing Company. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without permission of the publisher.
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Time to Hunt in the Texas Hill Country It’s hunting season time in the Texas Hill Country. The 2021-2022 big game season for white-tailed deer and other wild game such as turkey, quail and dove draw in hunters from around the United States for its notably successful harvests.
here are above average for 2021. Hunters here should expect to see more mature bucks (5.5 years old or older) relative to other age classes because of good fawn production in 2013 through 2016.
General rifle season for turkey and deer starts Saturday, Nov. 6, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
“With a high fawn recruitment expected this year, hunters are encouraged to fill their doe tags to help keep population growth in check, especially in the areas of the Hill Country and Cross Timbers ecoregion,” he said.
The Texas Hill Country also has an abundant amount of non-game wildlife such as armadillos, raccoons, hawks, opossums, coyotes and numerous other birds, not to mention an occasional porcupine and skunk.
Youth-only hunting weekends, for those licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger, are planned on Oct. “All areas of the state, except the Trans-Pecos (far western Texas), are 30-31, 2021, and Jan. 3-16, 2022. looking good for the upcoming deer A special late season during Alan Cain, whitetail deer program season,” says Cain. “Most of the which harvests are restricted to leader for the Texas Parks and state has received substantial antlerless deer and spikes, runs Wildlife Department, says he rainfall over the spring and simultaneously to the late youthexpects a great season throughout summer and relatively mild only season, from Jan. 3-16, 2022. most of the state. temperatures until late July. Habitat Aside from whitetails, Gillespie “If fawn recruitment predictions conditions are in great shape, and County is also considered to be in hold true, coupled with a good antler growth is looking really the Central Zone for dove hunting. carryover of deer from the 2020 good. The Trans-Pecos has been hunting season, landowners and dry, and antler quality might be Dove season will run from Sept. 1 hunters should expect to see an down in that region of the state.” through Oct. 31, and then again increase in the overall statewide from Dec. 17 through Jan. 14, 2022. He added that though the end of population,” Cain say. “Statewide 2020 was dry and most of Texas saw The quail season across Texas fawn recruitment estimates average freezing conditions in 2021, the late will run Oct. 30 to Feb. 27, 2022. about 39 percent, and this year, we spring summer provided a “buffet should expect to see fawning Information on bag limits, license of natural forages for deer.” recruitment in the 45 to 50 percent requirements and other general Cain noted hunters can expect the information is available from the range, if not higher.” “exceptional” habitat conditions to Texas Parks and Wildlife TPWD biologists estimate that the moderate deer movements at Department’s Outdoor Annual or at state’s deer population is around feeders and blind locations early on tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/ 5.4 million deer, or a density of in the season. outdoor-annual/. 49.25 deer per 1,000 acres. However, that density is not uniform across the state and those areas with better habitat tend to support higher deer populations. Cain added that the Edwards Plateau in south-central Texas has the highest deer numbers, with an estimated population of 2.06 million.
The Hill Country remains a great region, Cain said, and expectations
The archery-only season in the Among the factors accounting for designated North Zone (to which the large populations of deer and Gillespie County belongs) for turkey other forms of wildlife in the and deer runs from Oct. 2-Nov. 5. Fredericksburg area is the rugged,
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Hunting is one of Gillespie County’s big attractions in the fall and winter. White-tailed hunting’s general season starts Saturday, Nov. 6 and ends Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022. — Standard-Radio Post file photo
Information on bag limits, license requirements and other general information is available from the In other parts of Texas, the terrain Texas Parks and Wildlife is flatter and less wooded, perhaps Department’s Outdoor Annual or at tpwd.texas.gov/regulations/ even converted to farmland. Also, outdoor-annual/. the increasing development of The Texas Hill Country also has housing and expanding city limits an abundant amount of non-game in other places has forced wildlife wildlife such as armadillos, out of its natural habitat. raccoons, hawks, opossums, Gillespie County values wildlife. coyotes and numerous other birds, Farmers, ranchers and residents not to mention an occasional hold animals in high regard not only because of their presence, but porcupine and skunk. hilly terrain, which affords plenty of cover, vegetation and water to sustain the animals year-round.
also because of their contributions to the area’s economy.
Among the factors accounting for the large populations of deer and other forms of wildlife in the
Fredericksburg area is the rugged, hilly terrain, which affords plenty of cover, vegetation and water to sustain the animals year-round. In other parts of Texas, the terrain is flatter and less wooded, perhaps even converted to farmland. Also, the increasing development of housing and expanding city limits in other places has forced wildlife out of its natural habitat. Gillespie County values wildlife. Farmers, ranchers and residents hold animals in high regard not only because of their presence, but also because of their contributions to the area’s economy.
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Hunters Prepare for Opening Day of Deer Season
Every great hunter knows that success throughout the season is more likely when not left to luck alone. Making sure to develop a game plan early will pay off in the late-autumn rut. Opening day for deer season began for bow hunters in 252 Texas counties on Oct. 2 and runs through Nov. 5.
Rifle season follows and spans from Nov. 6 through Jan. 2 in the North Zone and Jan. 16 in the South, with special a South Zone late season lasting through Jan. 30 and a special North Zone season ending Jan. 16. John Tomecek, Ph.D., is no stranger to this process. As a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service wildlife specialist and an avid hunter and gamesman himself, Tomecek knows that when hunting, preparation is key.
Ensuring that preparations are complete and everything is ready to go is half the battle, and half the fun, for many hunters looking to head out on opening day. “Good planning makes all the difference,” Tomecek said. “Planning should occur at the individual, party and property level. Individuals should know their goals and limitations and make a plan for achieving their goals during the season.”
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Making a game plan The best way to prepare is to scope out land and plots and talk with landowners to begin developing a plan.
in and out of land around their stand or blind. This also includes having the foresight to check blinds for any damage and survey for unwelcome critters like raccoons, mice, bird or insect nests. This helps take care of unwanted surprises and alleviates any burden or time constraints hunters might run into if they push it too close to opening day. “Nothing dulls the excitement of opening day more than discovering unexpected guests — like yellowjackets or black widow spiders — and having to make a rapid, noisy exit from your blind,” Tomecek said. While food plots should already be underway, making sure to monitor and maintain them through mowing, spraying, weeding and fertilization is a never-ending task. Hunters should also make sure to routinely visit their plots before opening day to check for any signs of deer. All of this information will be helpful to hunters as they start to determine where to hunt and what times of day usually see high activity.
Hunters will be looking for their opportunity to take a shot when deer season opens. — Standard-Radio Post file photo If they aren’t already, trail cameras should be set, and hunters should review footage — early and often — to pattern movement. Hunters should also take time to head out to their trails to clear brush and any debris that might have built up to pave the way for a clean shot and ensure easy access
While there is never any guarantee, keeping detailed notes about deer movement between now and opening day is a smart, easy way to increase the likelihood of a successful hunt.
Routine gear inspection Strategizing is a good start, but at the end of the day, it comes down to execution of that plan, which starts with making sure gear and equipment are ready to go.
and rifles or bows, each piece of gear plays an important role in hunting readiness. “Many hunters pull their gear out of storage right before the season begins, but hunters ought to spend time all year maintaining their gear and practicing their marksmanship,” Tomecek said. Smaller field-equipment preparations like checking batteries in flashlights and rangefinders are often overlooked steps, but ones that can have a big impact on ease of experience the first morning of the hunt. While clothing may not initially register as equipment, for deer hunters, ensuring that clothing is appropriate for weather and environmental hazards is a must. Folks should also take care to properly clean and treat clothing to eliminate odors. Deer have over 297 million olfactory receptors in their nose, making them incredibly sensitive to surrounding scents. Ultimately, Tomecek said at a minimum, bows and rifles should be inspected for safety and accuracy. Taking the time to sight in bows and rifles gives hunters plenty of time to find the right setup and adjustments that work for them, to assist in a quick, clean shot. Plus, it never hurts to get in a little extra target practice. Practice makes perfect, and hunting is definitely no exception.
Hunting is a sport of safety, and safety should go farther than responsible management of weaponry. For those in stands, returning home safely starts with When it comes to hunting, there is double-checking access and safety plenty of equipment involved. From equipment like ladders, climbing blinds to clothing, harvesting tools sticks, platforms, straps and
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harnesses for any rust, damage or breakage and replacing anything that raises concern.
A proper, legal harvest A successful hunt is a safe and legal hunt. Before hitting the blinds on opening day, hunters should brush up on regulations enforced by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, including those relating to licenses and permits, bag limits, tagging and chronic wasting disease. These regulations are put in place to ensure the long-term management of white-tail deer populations in Texas, and it is critical that hunters are familiar with them. “Always, check your Outdoor Annual for the areas in which you’re hunting. If you don’t carry the paper version, there’s a mobile application that works great, all available through Texas Parks and Wildlife,” Tomecek said. “Some general regulations apply everywhere. Check for special regulations in the county of harvest and be diligent at your recordkeeping.” Valid hunting licenses are required of Texas residents to hunt
on public or private lands and can be purchased online or through various local retailers, along with tags and other permits. In the event of a successful harvest under a hunting license, one should be prepared to tag the animal and log the hunt, immediately. The tag from the hunter’s license must be filled out with information pertaining to the type of deer and date of kill prior to field dressing. As long as evidence of tagging and proof of sex is ensured, deer can be transported. As a preparation for by-the-book field dressing, hunters should ensure that equipment used for field dressing is in good shape and easily accessible prior to opening day, either in the field, back at base or at a hunter’s residence. Knives and replacement blades should be sharpened and cleaned, and hunters should take time to pack disposable gloves. When it comes to processing the meat, Tomecek said those looking to butcher their own game should do research ahead of time. “Online resources make this far easier than it once was,” he said.
“Otherwise, there are many quality professional game processors across the state.” A final consideration for hunters in CWD Containment and Surveillance Zones is following protocol for reporting of Chronic Wasting Disease, a contagious, deadly disease in deer that causes a variety of somatic and neurological symptoms and poses a threat to conservation of deer in Texas. Deer harvested in these localized zones, must be taken to check stations managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department within 48 hours.
A greater appreciation for nature and the food it gives Hunting is as much a sport as it is a livelihood for individuals, families and local communities. “For many, opening day is the return to familiar places, smells and sights,” Tomecek said. “The air is electric with the promise and excitement of the coming weeks. It can be very busy in communities where hunting is a cornerstone of the local economy, as a kind of nature tourism.”
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It’s this very draw to nature that sends thousands of residents and visitors to the field. “Hunting is not all about harvesting an animal, it’s about interacting with the natural world around you in a very basic way — being a part of the ecosystem,” Tomecek explained. He cited documented evidence, which promotes that time spent outdoors increases personal health and teaches hunters, young and old, a variety of critical skills. It also puts food on the table for thousands of Texans each year, while helping manage the whitetailed deer population statewide.
“Careful management, according to science, has produced a situation where, in most areas, we have as many deer as the ecosystem can support,” Tomecek said. “Hunting provides us an opportunity to remove hungry mouths from the landscape to ensure that a smaller population of deer — what the landscape can naturally support — remain healthier, as does their habitat.”
learning the trade is a beautiful thing and nothing novices should fear. “Hunting is a tradition that requires a great deal of learning and time in the field,” Tomecek said. “I would suggest that folks seek out an experienced hunter as a mentor. There’s no shortage of folks glad to help a new hunter. These mentorships serve as a great reminder that even the best hunters didn’t become an expert overnight.”
So, harvesting of deer comes with great reward, but also great responsibility. Key to assuming this Visit Texas Parks and Wildlife’s responsibility as a hunter is being Outdoor Annual page for more informed and prepared prior to information on hunting restrictions opening day. and regulations of white-tailed For new hunters, this can be deer in Texas. daunting, but Tomecek contends
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Youth Only Hunting Seasons Set for 2021, early 2022 Young hunters will get their opportunity to bag big game during special hunting seasons in fall and winter. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has established statewide youth-only open seasons for deer, turkey, squirrel and waterfowl for hunters ages 16 and under in counties across the state, including Gillespie County. The purpose of youth-only open seasons is to provide young people with opportunities to learn about wildlife conservation through an enjoyable and memorable outdoor experience. It also gives parents and mentors an opportunity to introduce them to safe and responsible hunting, according to a spokesman for the TPWD. The youth-only open season hunts are scheduled to occur at times when young outdoorsmen and women are out of school. A Youth Hunting License (Type 169) is required to hunt during this season, and costs $7. The license can be purchased at any one of TPWD’s 28 field offices, more than 50 state parks or at over 1,700 retailers across the state. Licenses may be purchased online through the TPWD website at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buy. A $5 administrative fee is charged for each phone or online transaction.
Logan and Hunter Spalding show how it’s done. five white-tailed deer and no more than three bucks (all seasons combined) in one license year.
Turkey
White-tailed deer
Youth hunters also have a chance to bag turkeys during special youth-only seasons on Oct. 30-31, and Jan. 3-16, 2021.
The first youth-only season runs Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30-31, and another session runs from Jan. 3-16, 2022.
A youth-only spring season on March 26-27, 2022 and May 21-22, 2022 will give young marksmen and archers another chance to hunt turkeys.
The season is open in all counties where there is a general open season for white-tailed deer.
Only licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt turkey during this season with the bag limit as specified by the general fall turkey season.
All legal hunting means and methods are allowed. Collin, Dallas, Grayson and Rockwall counties require an archery endorsement. For much of the state, including Gillespie County and the remainder of the Hill Country, the bag and permit requirements are the same as for the general season in the county. Hunters may take no more than
The annual bag limit for turkey, in the aggregate for all counties, is four, no more than one of which may be an Eastern turkey. For more information on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s youth-only hunting seasons, as well as other general hunting information, log onto the website: www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
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Biologists To Landowners, Hunters Be Mindful of CWD Ahead of Deer Season
With the opening of deer season on the horizon, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists are asking that hunters and landowners throughout the state be mindful of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) as new cases of the disease have been discovered in multiple counties throughout Texas. The new positive cases were found in a free-ranging mule deer in Lubbock County, as well as within seven captive deer breeding facilities in Hunt, Uvalde, Matagorda, Mason, and Duval counties. TPWD is concerned that CWD could have been introduced into free-ranging deer herds on properties that received deer from these deer breeding facilities where CWD positive animals were discovered. More than 1,700 deer were released to high fence pastures in 119 properties scattered across the state. Although none of those properties are in Gillespie County, they are in each surrounding county. The level of suspected risk for these properties that received released deer exposed to CWD is of significant concern to TPWD. The movement of live deer is readily accepted as the greatest risk of spreading CWD across the state. Eradication of CWD is very difficult if not impossible when established in free-ranging deer populations and in the environment. TPWD and
Counties where CWD Exposed Deer were Released
The number for each county represents the number of properties in the county that received deer from a CWD-positive deer breeding facility since 2018. the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) have been conducting epidemiological investigations and established testing plans for those release sites in hopes of preventing CWD from becoming established in the freeranging deer populations. The recent discoveries of new cases bring the total number of CWD positive deer to 261 in 14 counties. To date, 168 of those positives are associated with captive breeding facilities, 25 from release sites associated with those positive captive breeding facilities, and 68 in free-ranging deer populations. Fifty-seven of the free-range positives are in the
Trans Pecos and Texas panhandle, with the remaining 11 in Medina and Val Verde counties. CWD surveillance of hunterharvested deer, road-kills, and sick deer is critical for early detection and containment of the disease. Landowners and hunters play a critical role in managing CWD and are encouraged to report any tagged deer, or deer that appear to be sick or behaving strangely, to a TPWD biologist. Anyone hunting deer this season is encouraged to voluntarily provide samples for testing by taking deer to the nearest check station or by contacting a biologist in their area.
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Operation Orphans, Inc. Hunting and Fishing Programs Over 18,000 boys and girls who live in child residential and foster homes have not only participated in hunting and fishing but have helped address the overpopulation of deer in the Hill Country by taking part in the “Take a Child Hunting Program” hosted by Operation Orphans. “Operation Orphans is a nonprofit organization that provides children with unique and wonderful outdoor experiences by sponsoring hunting and fishing trips in the Texas Hill Country since 1960,” according to the event website. “In many cases, this is the first such real experience these children have been able to do.” Dates selected for the 2021-22 season are Oct. 30, Girls’ Hunt No. 1; Nov. 20, Boys’ Hunt No. 1; Dec. 4, Boys’ Hunt No. 2 and Jan. 8, 2022, Boys’ Hunt No. 3. Operation Orphans, Inc., based at Camp Gene Ashby, in Mason County, along the Llano River, has taken kids who are wards of the state hunting since 1960. Gene Ashby was the brainchild behind the free hunts. The Texas Game Warden worked with local ranchers to allow orphans to hunt on their lands.
How it works The groups come to Camp Gene Ashby on designated dates and hunt on area ranches. The ranches use this program as a way to harvest excess animals, usually whitetail does.
They also assist in educating these youngsters on the joys and responsibilities of hunting. Each child will have at least one guide who will spend the day with them. During the girls’ hunt, each girl will have a woman or a man and woman team to serve as guides. Individuals who volunteer as guides will have successfully completed the Hunter Safety Course and will have been subject to a background check.
How this helps This all began when a local Texas game warden, Ashby, saw the need to do something to address the overpopulation of deer in the area. Left unchecked, many of the animals would starve and suffer. It was also known at the time that many orphan homes and child residential facilities were struggling financially. By offering those youngsters an opportunity to hunt and harvest deer, the facilities would benefit from the meat obtained, thus lowering their food costs. It would also offer these kids who often felt unwanted or who had suffered so much, a chance to enjoy the outdoors.
Texas Game Warden Gene Ashby, founder of Camp Gene Ashby.
Where it happens Camp Gene Ashby became the headquarters for Operation Orphans. Today Camp Gene Ashby can house and feed over 250 people. In 1994, an orientation/recreation building, the Milton and Janie Jordan Building, was constructed. It includes a clothing room which allows the kids to obtain new and gently used items they may need for the hunt or for school.
Local individuals joined the cause Operation Orphans, Inc. can and ranches opened their places for provide the children, guides, and the kids to come and harvest food for the activity. antlerless deer.
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Who is sponsoring Some landowners offer their ranches to hunt, while others guide or prepare lunch for the attending groups. Most ranches allow doe hunting only, while others may allow the harvest of spikes or management bucks. Feral hogs may be also harvested. Each landowner specifies what animals are allowed to be harvested. While hunting may be the planned activity, it is not the main objective.
All the programs When Operation Orphans started in 1960, only boys participated. In 1980, a girls’ hunt was added. In 2004, boys’ and girls’ fishing
days started. Just as with the hunting, the youngsters fish on area ranches in ponds, tanks and rivers. The fishing is catch and release unless the landowner states otherwise. To date, over 1,100 boys and girls have enjoyed the “Take a Child Fishing” activities. To further assist children who have participated with Operation Orphans, Inc., the Eddie Argo Scholarship was established. Argo had attended the “Take a Child Hunting” program as a youngster in a home and later became a volunteer and director of Operation Orphans, Inc. He died in 2008, but his memory lives on. Kids who have participated in the hunting or
fishing program are able to apply to receive financial assistance with their education.
How to help Operation Orphans, Inc. is a nonprofit organization made up of a board of directors whose sole purpose is to serve less fortunate youngsters by offering them a positive outdoor experience. Additional information, videos and signup forms may be found on the Operation Orphans, Inc. website: www.operationorphans. org. More information is available by contacting camp supervisors, Lyla or Jerry Crouch, by phone at 325347-6745 or by email at operationorphans@yahoo.com.
Welcome Hunters Gear up
for Hunting Season! 3915 E. US Hwy 290 • Fredericksburg • 830-998-2079 • www.YeeHawRanch.com
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Jacob Krebs Memorial Hunt
9th Annual Hunt to be Held January 14-16 In 2013, and a few weeks shy of graduation at Harper High School and enlistment into the Navy, Jacob Krebs was swimming and training at the Hill Country Memorial Wellness Center in Fredericksburg.
instructor, helping other youth learn about conservation and the great outdoors.
He would swim several laps and stop, try to hold his breath and look at his watch to time himself. He set a benchmark and then would try to surpass it.
soldiers and their children.
After Krebs died, his parents wanted to honor him and the military, and especially the youth One afternoon while he was there, of the country’s military. he knew he would be practicing Nine years ago, the Krebs underwater drills and told several family began hosting youth hunt other swimmers what he was doing. weekends specifically for wounded This will be the ninth year to host the hunt which is held in Harper, Jan. 14-16, 2022.
The Harper Wildlife Management Association and Fredericksburg Salutes our Wounded Warriors have co-sponsored the hunt in years past along with the Texas Wildlife Krebs was airlifted to San Antonio Association (TWA) and the Texas where he remained unconscious for Youth Hunt Program (TYHP). The six days and put on a respirator. Harper community and landowners His family prayed for a miracle and volunteer their time and ranches miracles were performed that day, one weekend a year, and welcome but not the one his parents were the youth and their families. looking for. The hunt is not designed to Unfortunately, Krebs experienced a shallow water black out and was found unresponsive at the bottom at the pool.
Krebs lost his life that day but he saved the lives of five others through organ donation. His lungs were healed, even after he drowned. His lungs were successfully transplanted into a Vietnam War veteran who flew in medical helicopters and rescued wounded soldiers.
“just harvest a deer,” but provide an educational awareness of hunter safety, land management, conservation and stewardship.
“TYHP gives young Texans the opportunity to participate in youth hunting activities safely, legally and ethically, while learning about the valuable role Krebs was also an Eagle Scout and landowners and hunters play in strongly believed a person should wildlife conservation,” said a do a good turn daily. Especially if spokesperson for the hunt. the recipient was a veteran. He also The hunt hosts roughly 25 youth loved the outdoors and hunting. He of military, children ages 9-17, to loved to volunteer with the Texas give them the opportunity to Youth Hunt Program and became participate in youth and hunting an assistant hunter education activities. The hunt is not only
Jacob Krebs of Harper was training for enlistment in the U.S. Navy when he drowned. The memorial hunt honors the memory of this exceptional young man who loved the outdoors. designed to harvest a deer but also provides educational awareness of hunter safety, conservation, land management, and stewardship. TYHP gives young Texans the opportunity to youth hunting activities safely, legally and ethically, while learning about the valuable role landowners and hunters play. For more information about the upcoming hunt Jan. 17-19, contact William Krebs at krebslaser@yahoo.com or 830-889-2860 or follow Harper WMA Youth Hunt in memory of Jacob Krebs on Facebook.
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Local Groups Help to Improve Area Deer Quality Promoting good stewardship of the land and natural resources while improving the quality of white-tailed deer is the mission of four wildlife management associations in Gillespie County. The four wildlife management associations include Cave Creek, Cherry Spring, Doss and Harper. The associations are under the umbrella of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Gillespie County.
All meetings are open to the public and individuals wanting more information or to join are encouraged to contact any of the officers. Members conduct three spotlight census surveys and collect data for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “By counting the number of females, males and fawns, we are able to get an idea of the buck-todoe ratio and fawn crop,” Burrow said.
Along with their efforts to help Due to the abundance of acorns manage the deer population, all last year, hunting was hard and four groups have sponsored youth hunts to expose children to hunting deer were not forced to move from the bedding grounds. and the outdoors. However, this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the groups are currently planning with modifications. The Cave Creek WMA was the first in the state to offer such a program. Following is information on the four groups:
“We could possibly see a slight increase in population this year,” Burrow said. The Cave Creek WMA will be hosting a meal, prize drawing and social on the Friday night before the opening weekend of hunting season. Social distancing and wearing of masks will be in place.
The group has a membership of 55 people. Wilfred Crenwelge is the president of the organization. Other officers include Ruben Sagebiel, vice president, and Alice Klein, secretary/treasurer. Meetings, which are open to the public, are held in February, August and October. Anyone in the north-central part of Gillespie County can join the Cherry Spring WMA by paying the yearly dues. Currently, dues are $25. Most meetings include a potluck dinner and presentations by speakers, including representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Members conduct three deer counts in August, September and the first two days of the whitetail hunting season. The association also hosts a youth hunt in January with voluntary participation by landowners.
Members also participate in Kerr During opening weekend, the and Mason wildlife areas. With approximately 70 members, Cave Creek WMA will have a big One of the goals of the group, buck contest, cull buck contest, and according to Crenwelge, is to the Cave Creek Wildlife a doe pot for members and hunters. provide guidance in wildlife Management Association covers the eastern part of Gillespie County. All entries will be weighed and management and related resources. aged. The winners will be Officers include Kade Burrow, Another goal is to help determined on Sunday night at 8 president; Keven Eckhardt, vice landowners produce high quality p.m. president; Carol Birmingham, and healthy wildlife. secretary, and Larry Ahrens, A reason to join the group, treasurer. Crenwelge said, is to help Cherry Spring WMA The organization meets three to landowners develop best four times a year. Covering about 19,574 acres in the management practices for north-central part of Gillespie improving wildlife and to help County is the Cherry Spring WMA.
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landowners achieve the same goals and management practices as their neighbors.
Doss WMA The Doss Wildlife Management Association (WMA) was started in the early 1980s by a group of local ranchers, wildlife biologists and extension agents, and includes northwest Gillespie County/South Central Mason County. Currently, there are 95 members encompassing 85,136 acres. Officers are Cory Brandon, president; Eddie Kramer, vice president, and Lance Feuge, secretary-treasurer. The association holds an annual meeting in late October and a membership sign-up in late June or July. Meetings are open to the public. Individuals interested in joining are invited to attend the membership sign-up meeting, the annual meeting in October or by contacting any of the officers. Annual membership dues are $25, which includes a lease permit. The Doss WMA includes seven census lines that perform three separate spotlight counts in September. The census line counts provide data which is used by wildlife biologists to determine harvest recommendations for the fall white-tailed hunting season.
hunters; while maintaining a balanced doe to buck ratio. “Hunting is both a great pastime as well as an economic boost for our community,” Brandon said. The youth hunt is a possibility with some modifications.
Harper WMA
to members and visitors. Meetings are held in July, October and January or February. The Harper WMA will sponsor its Annual Youth Hunt in cooperation with the Texas Youth Hunting Program this season. The youth hunt is being held in memory of the late Jacob Krebs and is primarily for children or grandchildren of wounded warriors.
The Harper Wildlife Management For more information or to apply Association (HWMA) is one of four for the youth hunt, visit www.tyhp. wildlife management associations org. in Gillespie County committed to successful game management practices, including habitat management, providing population data through various census techniques, recommending harvest levels based on deer censuses, maintaining accurate harvest records and recommending supplemental or enhanced food supplies. Membership is open to any landowner, land manager, hunter or any other interested individuals owning property, operating property, living in or hunting in the area defined by the boundaries of the Harper Independent School District.
Cooperation of members is on a voluntary basis in an area-wide effort to achieve the goals of balancing whitetail deer populations with the carrying capacity of the habitat, increasing body weight of white-tailed deer in the area, improving the overall antler characteristics, increasing Doss Wildlife Management fawn survival, promoting ongoing Association strives to bring education among members and landowners together to ensure a healthy and stable deer population. promoting community interest in wildlife management in general, The organization’s goal is to share explained Michelle Brangenberg, ideas, techniques, and experiences president of the Harper WMA. that will enable all members to The Harper WMA holds three have a successful hunting season for both themselves as well as their meetings annually which are open
In addition to Brangenberg, other officers of the Harper WMA include Will Krebs, vice president, and Pam Ransleben, secretary/treasurer. Directors are Richard Cowie, Brian Haschke and Steve Holekamp. Joyce Moore of TPWD serves in the capacity of Technical Guidance Biologist in the Western Edwards Plateau Region. Contact Brangenberg by email at mlbrangenberg@aol.com with any questions or comments related to the Harper WMA.
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Eyes, Ears of Texas Game Wardens Wildlife trafficking is a multibillion-dollar transnational industry that affects every part of the world, including Texas. In the Lone Star State, mature white-tailed bucks are killed on midnight runs, then beheaded for bragging rights. Various freshwater and saltwater fish are caught with illegal nets in large quantities, without regard for size or bag limits. Shrimp and oysters are harvested in illegal quantities and from areas closed to harvest. Even birds, snakes, turtles, mussels and protected plants fall prey to unscrupulous operators. This is why Operation Game Thief (OGT) was legislated into existence in 1981, in order to help curtail the poaching. The non-profit group helps the enforcement arm of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department by offering cash rewards for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of wildlife crime. The group provides $25,000 in financial support to the families of
every game warden and park police killed in the line of duty. They have also given $600,000 to the TPWD for purchasing specialized technological equipment for game wardens. Funding also goes toward outreach and education across Texas to protect natural resources and private property rights, through programs like its Wall of Shame traveling exhibit. OGT is dependent on financial support from the public through the purchase of memberships, merchandise, donations, sponsorships and gifts.
Reporting People who have information on lawbreakers are asked to call (800) 792-GAME (4263). The reward hotline is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Operation Game Thief website at www.ogttx.org.
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Operation Game Thief’s exhibition trailer is 20 feet by 40 feet and holds illegal game and firearms. — Photo courtesy Operation Game Thief
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Photo Policy for Deer Photos The Fredericksburg StandardRadio Post has set guidelines for 2021-2022 hunting season photo submissions for print. To qualify for free publication, photos must meet the following criteria: animals pictured must be legally-harvested following all Texas regulations;
office, 712 West Main Street. (Such images are in digital format and reprints will be made available for purchase through the newspaper’s online site, found at: www.fredericksburgstandard. smugmug.com.)
• All
• Either
the animal or the hunter must be from Gillespie County;
• Only
the hunter who shot the deer may appear in the photo with the animal — no exceptions;
• Each
hunter may submit no more than one photo per season — no exceptions;
• The
animal’s entire carcass must be present and attached to the head. (No caped out or head-only/ antler-only photos will be accepted.)
• Pictures
of does or spikes will not be accepted;
During regular business hours — Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — available staff photographers will take photos of those stopping in at the newspaper
Submit a photo Hunters may submit color photographs by emailing original, unedited images as separate .jpg attachments to: fbgnews@ fredericksburgstandard.com.
their cities of residence, if this was the hunter’s first buck and who was accompanying the youth while hunting. 3. Daytime contact phone number. 4. Specific location where the deer was harvested (i.e. property or ranch name, general location in the county). 5. Time and date of the kill.
6. Number of points on the buck. (Newspaper staff are not responsible for counting points. that number must be provided before publication will take Digital submissions should be 300 place.) pixels per inch or higher in 7. Measurements of the antlers, resolution. Pictures of low including width and height, and, resolution or otherwise poor if applicable, a Boone & Crockett quality in regard to lighting, score. framing and sharpness, will not be accepted. Photos printed on home 8. Field-dressed weight of the deer, printers and taken with older cell if available. phones are generally not All photos from the 2021-2022 acceptable. season will be published no later Complete and include the than the Feb. 2, 2022 issue. Any following information: hunters wishing to see their photos in print should submit them in a 1. Name of the hunter and the city timely manner so the photo may be in which they live. processed properly in time prior to 2. If the hunter is a youth, include the cut-off date. his/her age, parents’ names and
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Chris Spalding of Harper downed this 10-point buck during the 2020-2021 whitetail season.
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Harper Events Two events are planned in Harper to coincide with the opening of the 2021-2022 big game season. The Harper Turkey Shoot is set for Friday, Nov. 5, while members of the Harper Volunteer Fire Department and EMS will host their annual benefit fish fry on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Turkey Shoot set for Friday, Nov. 5 Sponsored by Harper American Legion Post 650, the turkey shoot is planned for 10 a.m. to around 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at the rodeo grounds in the Harper Community Park. Offered will be archery targets and rifle targets. Cost is $5 per shot. Shots are 100 yards and shooters can win a turkey or a ham. Persons are asked to bring their own weapons and ammunition. Children 12 and under can use a support to shoot but adults must stand. There will also be a paddle wheel with a large selection of prizes for the winners. The Harper American Legion Auxiliary will be offering food and drinks for sale throughout the day. Attendees can also purchase tickets for a prize drawing. The winning tickets will be drawn at the end of the day of the shoot. For more information, contact Elizabeth Fargason at 830-998-3254.
Benefit Fish Fry, Saturday, Nov. 6 On Saturday, Nov. 6, the Harper Volunteer Fire Department and EMS will host their annual benefit fish fry at 11 a.m. at the HVFD station. The cost for a plate of food, including all of the trimmings, is by donation. The menu includes fried American catfish, hush puppies, beans, bread and dessert. The event is reverting back to a traditional fish-fry, with to-go plates offered, as well. A prize drawing will also be held. Among the many prizes will be guns, knives, hunts, sporting equipment, jewelry and more. Tickets for the prize
The Harper Volunteer Fire Department Benefit Fish Fry serves fried catfish, beans, hush puppies and dessert to area residents and visitors every year to raise money for the Harper VFD. — Standard-Radio Post file photo drawing are $5 each. In advance, prize drawing tickets are available from department members as well as at Waldo’s, Bode’s and Dauna’s, all in Harper. Prize drawing tickets are also available the day of the fish fry and from any Harper VFD member. There will also be a live auction.
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Wild Game Dinner Features a Variety of Fare The Gillespie County Wild Game Dinner is back for its 14th year at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds on Saturday, Nov. 20. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and food will be served until 8:30 p.m. The event will wrap up around 10 p.m. Advance tickets are available for $25 (same price at the gate) at https://buy.ticketstothecity.com/ purchase.php?event_id=10080. This year’s dinner will feature an enlarged seating area, food court and added tents for games and dining. Axis, white-tailed deer, black buck, wild turkey, hog, mountain sheep, goat, elk, alligator, quail, seafood gumbo, shish kebabs, chili and boudin sausage will be served by Gillespie County 4-H and FFA students. Barbecue plates will also be available with all the trimmings. Firearms and hunting trips will be the highlight of the live auction but numerous prizes, including jewelry, artwork, archery items and prizes for the entire family are given away throughout the evening.
hunters and the patrons who attend the event are key in helping raise money for the youth of Gillespie County.
All of the funds raised — over $1 million since 2007 — goes to support youth agricultural “Prize drawings will be held education in Gillespie County, throughout the night and game funding equipment and projects for winners will be announced after Gillespie County AgriLife Extension the live auction,” said board Service, the YALL Tour, 4-H clubs, member Lester Meier. “There are over 100 prizes ranging in values up Gillespie County Farm Bureau, Fredericksburg FFA, Harper FFA, to $1,150.” NRCS Range Management Schools, More than 200 volunteers, Heart of the Hills Barrel Racing hundreds of sponsors, donors, Association and Gillespie County business owners, out-of-town Fair and Festivals Association.
The Gillespie County Wild Game Dinner will be the talk of the town on Saturday, Nov. 20, as the event’s live auction will feature firearms and hunting trips, as well as other prizes like jewelry, artwork, archery items and more. — Standard-Radio Post file photo For more information, visit the Gillespie County Wild Game Dinner Facebook page or email wildgame@ beecreek.net, or call Shawn Lehne at 830-997-5508 or Charlie Wilson at 830-990-4917.
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To be featured in this year’s supper will be Axis, white-tailed deer, black buck, wild turkey, hog, mountain sheep, goat, elk, alligator, quail, seafood gumbo, shish kebabs, chili and boudin sausage. — Standard-Radio Post file photo
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Things to do After the Hunt After a long day in the field, hunters can wind down, stretch their legs and enjoy all that Fredericksburg and Gillespie County has to offer.
Live entertainment Live music of all styles and eras fills the Fredericksburg air every weekend as musicians entertain visitors and locals, alike, with styles ranging from soothing to upbeat, classical to rock and roll and everything in between. On weeknights and weekends, dozens of clubs, restaurants and dance halls feature live entertainment. There are also special theater productions, festivals and concerts that happen throughout the year. The Fredericksburg StandardRadio Post features a weekly listing of live music in the “It’s On” section of the newspaper. The list is compiled by the Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Time Next Year.” The production will be presented Oct. 8-24, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. The FTC will also have a special presentation of “Scrooge the Musical” on Dec. 10-19. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
They will also be hosting a Prince-tribute show, titled “Purple Madness.” The performance will be at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Nov. 27. More information and tickets are available at www.rockboxtheater. com.
Hunters can also …
Tickets are $29 for adults and $12 for kids ages 17 and under.
• Enjoy
Rockbox Theater
Call 830-997-3224 for more information.
Located “99 steps off Main Street,” the Rockbox Theater is a 392-seat indoor venue at 109 N. Llano St. that offers a wide assortment of live music, bands and tribute shows. Set on stage during hunting season are various events.
Fredericksburg Theater Company
The venue will be hosting several shows throughout the hunting season, including “Four by Four”. The show will feature some of the best music from The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Bee Gees and Motown.
Fredericksburg Theater Company will stage several events during hunting season, including “Same
This performance will be presented on Saturday, Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
live music and a cold beer in historic Luckenbach Texas, located eight miles southeast of Fredericksburg.
• Experience
a gun show by Texas Gun and Knife Shows at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31. Events are subject to change.
Call Janice Hill at 830-285-0575 for up-to-date information. • Take
a ghost tour with Fredericksburg Ghost Tours, www.fredericksburgghosts.com.
• Take
friends and family to enjoy a large menu, live music and a full bar at Hondo’s on Main, located at 312 W. Main St.
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The Fredericksburg Theater Company presents shows throughout the Christmas season like the 2020 show, Sanders Family Christmas. — Standard-Radio Post File Photo
Call 830-997-1633 to see who is playing. • Buy
propane supplies at Vapo Propane, 1201 E. Main Street.
• Stock
up on deer corn and other hunting supplies at Allied Ag, 255 Loring Street, Stonewall.
• Get
hunting licenses, guns, ammo and camping supplies at Biedermann’s Ace Hardware, 1102 E. Main St., Ste. B or 830997-7611.
• Enjoy
fresh meats, cheeses and sandwiches or pick up sausagemaking supplies at Dutchman’s Market, Inc. at 1609 E. Main St.
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Christian Bowhunters In the last eight years, the Christian Bowhunters of America and Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry have donated approximately 46,00o pounds of game to local and area communities, which provides about 184,000 servings of protein in total. These groups provide wild game to help fill the need in local churches, families and food pantries. Meat is delivered in vacuum-sealed packages that include a printed gospel message in both English and Spanish Recipients get nourishment for the body and soul, said organizer Danny Bezet. To help continue its mission of providing meat year-round, the group needs support from the community. They are seeking legally harvested deer and or monetary donations to help with related-expenses. For more information, visit their website at huntforchrist.com or their social media pages on Instagram at: Christianbowhuntersoftexas, Facebook and YouTube at: Christian Bowhunters of
Danny Bezet delivers packages of processed and frozen wild game to local communities to help feed the needy through churches and food pantries. — Submitted photo
Texas. “The incentive is that hunters will be able to use their extra tags to harvest animals that will help feed hungry families, and at no cost to the hunter,” Bezet said. “This places farmers and hunters back into their traditional roles as food providers in the community instead of the government.” Bezet said the organization has donated approximately 5,900 pounds of packaged meat so far this year. The group’s annual goal is 10,000-plus pounds every year. According to Bezet, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Bandera counties can each use 250-500 pounds of processed wild game each month. One processed animal can result in 100 to 200 servings depending on its size, Bezet said. In order to be donated, animals need to be field dressed before they are delivered to the Christian Bowhunters of America. If donors cannot dress the animal themselves, they can deliver the meat to
Bernhard’s Meat Processing and Market, just east of Ingram, in Kerrville. Information is also available by contacting Bezet at 210-669-4543 or email him at dannybezet@yahoo.com. The local chapter is a formal non-profit organization, Christian Bowhunters of Texas, Inc. that distributes wild game meat, Bibles, Christian literature and Christian Bowhunter Magazines. “We are all blessed and have a responsibility to our communities to do whatever God is calling us to do for His glory and purpose,” Bezet said.
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Hog Invasion a Problem Across Texas One of the most destructive forces to American ranches and farms has become the feral hog, an invasive species that is growing in numbers faster than can be controlled. According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), there was an estimated population of 2.4 million feral hogs in Texas in 2016. In the United States, there are reportedly 6.9 million hogs over 40 states, all causing more than $400 million dollars in damages annually.
The hogs have been classified as one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world. Pigs cause damage through rooting to direct consumption of plant or animal materials, according to the TPWD. “Hogs are very destructive,” Gillespie County Game Warden Tommy Johnson said. “It’s not a matter of if you have hogs, it’s a matter of when. It’s a never-ending battle. Hogs have become such a problem that Texas does not require a license to hunt them.”
According to the TPWD, the most common methods of control in the U.S. are trapping, ground shooting and aerial gunning. Hogs can be hunted on private property without a hunting license thanks to Senate Bill 317, which was passed in May of 2019. With the growing concerns over the control of the hog population and a need to rid their properties of the species, ranches across the southern portion of the United States began offering hog hunting trips.
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A wild boar picks a fight with a cow to decide who gets the corn under a deer feeder on a Gillespie County ranch. Feral hogs are a top-100 invasive species on the planet. - Submitted photo These trips range from a traditional hunt to helicopter hunting. Some ranches, including the Headwaters Ranch in Fredericksburg, began offering hog hunts complimentary to their other trophy hunts. A few of the ranches in Gillespie County that offer hog hunts include Droptine Ranch, Masser Ranch, HeliHogHunt, Hog Hollow Ranch and Independence Ranch. For more information on hogs in Texas, go to https://tpwd.texas.gov/ huntwild/wild/nuisance/feral_hogs/.
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Phone Applications Help Take Hunting Mobile The hunting world is going digital, as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers a pair of mobile apps that afford hunters more choices in how they access information when hunting. The My Texas Hunt Harvest mobile app offers:
• Harvest • Photo • GPS
The Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app offers: • Updated
hunting, fishing and boating regulations for each season;
hunt harvest reporting;
• Access
to TPWD hunting guide;
game species harvest log;
• Offline
access to regulations;
• Mandatory • Resident
Texas Outdoor Annual
history;
library and sharing;
details in harvest history.
The app is available for download at tpwd.texas.gov/myhunt or by searching MY Texas Hunt Harvest in a cell-phone app store.
• Location-based
information on hunting and freshwater fishing seasons and locations.
The app is available for download at outdoorannual.com or by searching Texas Outdoor Annual in a cell-phone app store.
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The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Outdoor Annual app has access to hunting, fishing and boating regulations for each season.
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Sunrise, Sunsets for the 2021-2022 Hunting Season Gillespie County, Texas - Northern Zone
Make sure to be aware of area sunrise and sunset times to best prepare for the hunt. — Standard-Radio Post file photo The times given below are the general times of sunrise and sunset for Gillespie County, Texas, for the general hunting
season (in the northern zone) — Nov. 6 through Jan. 2, 2022. Texas is in the Central Standard Time Zone.
Nov. 6, 2021 – Jan. 2, 2022 Date Sunrise Sunset
NOVEMBER 6 7:54 6:43 7 6:55 5:43 8 6:56 5:42 9 6:57 5:41 10 6:58 5:41 11 6:59 5:40 12 6:59 5:40 13 7:00 5:39 14 7:01 5:39 15 7:02 5:38 16 7:03 5:38 17 7:04 5:37 18 7:04 5:37
19 7:05 20 7:06 21 7:07 22 7:08 23 7:09 24 7:09 25 7:10 26 7:11 27 7:12 28 7:13 29 7:13 30 7:14
5:37 5:36 5:36 5:36 5:35 5:35 5:35 5:35 5:35 5:35 5:34 5:34
DECEMBER 1 7:15 5:34 2 7:16 5:34
3 7:17 5:34 4 7:17 5:34 5 7:18 5:35 6 7:19 5:35 7 7:20 5:35 8 7:20 5:35 9 7:21 5:35 10 7:22 5:35 11 7:22 5:36 12 7:23 5:36 13 7:24 5:36 14 7:24 5:37 15 7:25 5:37 16 7:26 5:37 17 7:26 5:38 18 7:27 5:38 19 7:27 5:39 20 7:28 5:39
21 7:28 22 7:29 23 7:29 24 7:29 25 7:30 26 7:30 27 7:31 28 7:31 29 7:31 30 7:32 31 7:32
5:40 5:40 5:41 5:41 5:42 5:42 5:43 5:44 5:44 5:45 5:46
JANUARY 1 7:32 5:47 2 7:32 5:47
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Hunters for the Hungry Helps Those in Need Hunters who want to help others and not see their sport go to waste this season can donate the meat they harvest to a program that helps the needy. “Hunters for the Hungry” is a statewide program associated with Feeding Texas, formerly the Texas Food Bank Network.
• Rabke’s Table Ready Meats, 3875 Eckert Road, Willow City; 830-685-3266. Other participating processors in the Hill Country area include one in Kerr County: • Milton Bernhard Meat Processing, 2920 Junction Highway, Ingram; 830-367-2995.
The program helps ease hunger in For a complete list of Texas the state through donated meat. processors, visit the website of the Since its inception in 1997, the Hunters for the Hungry sponsor, program has provided more than the Texas Association of 2.6 million pounds of meat — over Community Action Agencies, Inc., 10 million servings — to hungry (TACAA) at: www.feedingtexas.org/ Texans. Last year, food banks get-involved/hunt and click on the distributed more than 145,093 hyperlink “participating meat pounds of meat or 580,372 servings processors.” to the hungry. To donate deer for the Hunters for The program connects a hunter with participating deer/meat processors and the meat is distributed through food banks.
the Hungry program, hunters should bring their legally tagged and field dressed deer to a participating meat processor.
Although it doesn’t donate to individuals, those in need of food should call 211, visit www.211texas. org or contact a food assistance provider directly.
There is no processing fee this year as meat processors are reimbursed through donations from hunters who donate when purchasing hunting and fishing licenses or through online donations.
Gillespie County processors accepting donations for this season include:
The participating meat processor will then prepare the meat and get it to a local food assistance provider. Other wild game will not be accepted by processors for this program. Hunters for the Hungry cannot accept meat that has already been processed, but can help find a food assistance provider who may be able to accept it directly. Another Hill Country processor participating in a similar program is Schneider’s Deer Processing. Owner Greg Schneider processes about 20-25 deer that are donated and once processed, donates the meat to the Fredericksburg Food Pantry and other area churches. Schneider’s is located at 731 Mustang Street in Fredericksburg. Call 990-0420 for more information. More information about the Hunters for the Hungry program is available by calling 512-527-3613 or email hfth@tfbn.org.
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Celebrating our 93rd Year!
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