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2014 Mills County

HUNTING & OUTDOORS MUST HAVE MILLS COUNTY GEAR GUIDE EXPERT ADVICE FROM THE PROS MILLS COUNTY MONSTER BUCKS

DEER - DOVES - TURKEY HOGS - PREDATORS & MORE!

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4 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

The 2014 Hunting Season Is Here!

By Steven Bridges Can it be that it is hunting season already?

When deer season ended last year, I thought the 2014 season was so very far away. It seemed the new season would never get here. Now that the season is upon us, I can’t help but think of all the things I have had on my outdoor ‘to do’ list that have yet to be done.

I am thinking about getting food plots planted, feeders filled, stands repaired, bow tuned, rifle sighted in and a million other things I thought I’d have plenty of time to do in the summer. And of course, I’m praying for rain!

Well summer is nearly over and I have a lot to do in a short amount of time. I know that even as I run around preparing everything for the upcoming season, it will all be worth it on opening day.

All my worries will wash away that first morning as I sit in my deer stand and the first glimmer of light rises in the east. I’ll be waiting anxiously for that first movement in the brush. Will it be a yearling doe or that monster buck I glimpsed in velvet this summer?

Gear Up Locally

Even so, now is the time to gear up and get going on preparations for the hunting season. Goldthwaite offers many places to get feed, seed, deer stands, guns, camo and ammo. These businesses are featured throughout the pages of the 2014 Edition of the Mills County Hunting Guide.

Hunters are encouraged to shop locally

for their hunting supplies. You’ll get great prices, selection and personalized service that only our small town merchants can offer.

Take a Kid Too!

Also, I encourage our local hunters to take a child hunting this season. Introducing a child to the outdoors will help keep our way of life in the future. With none of the distractions of this busy world, a hunting trip can also be a great way to get some one-on-one quality time with a child.

All hunters should make safety the first priority this season. Have a set of rules for hunting camp that everyone knows and follows to the last letter. Remember, the object is to bag game, not each other or yourself.

Mills County is THE Place

Dove, deer, hogs, turkey and small game are all in abundance in Mills County.

Hunters from across Texas and farther descend on Mills County each fall to chase various game. Hunting is vital to our local economy, as well as our outdoor way of life in Mills County.

Best Special Section AGAIN!

This is the 13th year The Goldthwaite Eagle has printed a Mills County Hunting Guide. Our 2012 Mills County Hunting Guide won Special Section of the Year at the West Texas Press Association and South Texas Press Association. Our 2013 edition racked up just as many awards

Submit Your Trophy Photos and Stories to:

PO Box 249, 1002 Fisher Street Goldthwaite, Texas 76844 goldnews@centex.net • GoldthwaiteEagle.com

325-648-2244

Steven and his wife Debra enjoy a beautiful sunset after a successful Mills County dove hunt. and more last year!

We are honored to be recognized by our peers in the industry. However, we are just proud of the exposure we are able to provide to our local advertisers. And even more proud of the thousands who read the Hunting Guide. It is music to my ears when a camo-clad hunter sticks his head in the door of The Eagle and asks me, “What day is IT coming out this year?” No award can replace that feeling.

In my humble opinion, the 2014 Edition of our Hunting Guide is the best Hunting Guide to date. We upgraded the cover to a heavy, slick cover and upgraded the inside pages to a heavier weight also. Upgrading the cover and pages will add years to the shelf life of the magazine.

That way, hunters can read the Hunting Guide over and over at hunting camp or at home.

What is Inside this Year

You will find the pages of this publication filled with trophy game animals

harvested in Mills County by local hunters. You will also find wonderful stories written by local writers of hunts that took place right here in Mills County.

Of course, local advertisements are also featured throughout the Hunting Guide.

Please shop with our local advertisers.

I’d like to thank all those who advertised and submitted photos and articles for this year’s Hunting Guide.

Bragging Wall

I encourage everyone to mail, e-mail or bring pictures and stories of locally harvested deer and other wild game by for The Eagle to publish in the newspaper’s Bragging Wall that is featured every week of the season. The best of these are chosen to be included in next year’s Mills County Hunting Guide.

Special Thanks!

A special thanks goes out to our loyal advertisers who make this edition possible. Without our local advertisers, none of this would be possible.

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6 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Mills County Thanksgiving of First Deer Hunts

By Steven Bridges I had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. As usual, I had lots of food, family, and fun, but this year was a little different because I also had a hand in a lot of first deer harvested.

Most of our readers know I enjoy taking people hunting.

I especially like to take kids. I really like to guide kids on their first deer hunt, and I really, really like to take a kid on his or her first deer hunt when it ends in he or she bagging a first deer.

On Wednesday morning as I was getting ready to head to work, I got a call telling me that my good friend Jody Reven and his son, Tristan, had come by the office and that Tristan, 11, had bagged a nice buck. I came down to The Eagle, and took the photos for Jody and Tristan, which is the next best thing if I can’t be on the hunt myself.

When I saw them I asked where Jody’s youngest son, Mason, 8, was. It turned out, as Jody told me, that Mason had missed his chance at his first deer the day before and was crushed. Jody said he suspected Mason would be even more crushed when he saw Tristan’s buck.

Being the younger brother, I know all too well the sting of a big brother’s buck, and I felt awful for Mason. I never really need a reason to take a kid hunting, but that settled it. We dropped Tristan, who was tired from the early morning hunt, off in town and picked up Mason, heading for the XTC Ranch near Caradan.

It was still early enough for there to be deer moving and Above: Tristan and Dad Jody with Tristan’s nine-point buck. Below: feeding at the ranch, though it was later than ideal for try- Mason and Dad Jody with Mason’s first deer, a nice doe. ing to take a deer. We drove around and finally spotted a dozen does a half-mile away still feeding in the corner of a wheat field. This was not going to be a deer-blind-andfeeder hunt. It was going to be a Mills County “run and gun” hunt. We parked the truck and began the stalk. We snuck along using the brush along a fence line for cover. The cover finally ran out as it neared the corner of the field. It was a pretty long shot, but, having started a little behind, it was as good a shot as we were going to get.

I helped Mason get a rest on a fence post. I could see he was getting excited, so I coached him through a few deep breaths. Having just rediscovered how easy it is to get nervous myself when I took my big buck recently, the calming techniques were still fresh in my mind. Then while he had the doe in his scope, I took the rifle’s safety off for him. That way Mason didn’t have to take his eye off his target. He took one last breath and squeezed off a perfect shot. The doe ran a little way and crumpled up in the tall grass along the field. Just like that, Mason was happy once again, and that made me happy.

That was my first “first” of Thanksgiving, and it was only Wednesday morning. At the time I figured that was going to be my only hunt of the weekend, because as far as I knew, the relatives coming in for Thanksgiving were not really hunters. I turned my mind away from hunting and on to turkey and dressing. It wouldn’t last, though.

On Wednesday afternoon, Calvin Good, the greatgrandson of Minnie Graves (my grandmother-in-law), grandson of Earl and Martha Carolyn (Graves) Good of Albuquerque, N.M., and the son of Robert and Jackie Good of Corvalis, N.M., arrived with his family. Calvin is a sophomore in high school, and up until this time, had never hunted. I was surprised when Robert, his dad, got out of his car after a 12-hour drive from New Mexico and asked if I’d take Calvin out deer hunting.

Mostly, I wasn’t sure Calvin’s mom would approve of his hunting, but then again mom had not made the trip. After Robert assured me that taking Calvin hunting was officially sanctioned by his mom, I agreed to take him out. I was reluctant to abandon my duties helping Debra prepare the house for the 37 people attending Thanksgiving lunch at our house the next day, but I couldn’t very well let Calvin down, could I? So we hit the woods.

On the way to the ranch, I asked Calvin if he was OK, and if he was sure he really wanted to go hunting. He said he was, and asked every question about hunting I could imagine. He is a very intelligent young man, and I was doing my best to answer his barrage of questions. It was a beautiful, crisp, clear afternoon ... just perfect for a deer hunt. We arrived at the corner of a pasture and settled in under an oak tree. It didn’t take long for a young buck to chase a doe close enough for Calvin to take a shot, and he coolly and calmly executed a perfect shot on his first deer. It was a great shot, and of course, we had to ceremoniously and gratuitously photograph Calvin’s first deer. Then I completed the experience by showing him where he shot her, and how to field dress the deer. I was excited for Calvin, and that was my second “first” of the weekend.

After the dust had cleared, I again thought that my hunting for the weekend was over. Calvin was all smiles and had a changed air about him. He had completed that rite of passage that turns a boy into a man, at least here in Mills County, anyway. During Thanksgiving as we all sat and talked over the delicious meal, I offered my guide services to the rest of the family. I hadn’t expected anyone would want to go out over the weekend, but since Calvin surprised me, I thought, “Why not?” Also, we have to take 30 or so does off the ranch each year, so we can use all the help we can get. I assured everyone they could keep the venison if they wanted, or we would donate it. Either way it would not be wasted.

Calvin, of course, was quick to ask if we could go out again that day. In addition, Reese, Debra’s cousin, mentioned that his son, Judson, 5, had never been hunting and would like to go, but said they had not brought any hunting clothes or gear. I knew I had

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 7

Father Reese Graves took five-year-old son Judson on his first deer hunt. The duo harvested this nice Mills County doe.

COVER PHOTO: Calvin Good with his first buck, a big eight point Mills County buck he harvested after taking four does. Calvin and his Mills County buck are featured on the cover of this year’s Mills County Hunting Preview. more than enough clothes and equipment for a small army, but that meant they wanted to go on Thanksgiving day. I was sure enough was enough. I glanced at Debra, who smiled and rolled her eyes, but allowed me to take to the woods once again.

So, Calvin, Reese, Judson and I went to a watering hole on the ranch, and then to the edge of a field where I knew there would be traffic. Eventually we settled inside a barn, and I got chairs for everyone. I put a big coat over little Judson to keep him warm, and when he got a big doe a little while later, he was certainly happy with his first deer. (If you’re keeping track, readers, that’s “first” number three for me for the weekend.)

Friday came and brought another “first.” It was brought to my attention that Jody Hughes, another cousin, this cousin about my age, however, had never even been on a deer hunt. I couldn’t let that slide, so Jody, Calvin and I went out to the ranch early Friday morning. We had a pretty successful morning with Jody and Calvin taking two does each. Jody was as excited as any kid I’ve ever guided, and my fourth “first” of the weekend was in the bag.

By Saturday, Calvin, now with four does under his

belt, had graduated to “deer hunter.” He had killed everything he took aim at, and was ready to try for a trophy buck. I had confidence he would take a good shot, so I was happy to oblige. We headed to the ranch once again and settled in a place I knew bucks were sure to travel. We ended up in an old, dilapidated house we sometimes use as cover when hunting at the ranch.

Just as it was starting to get light we saw a bunch of deer come close, including one nice, heavy buck.

We backed out of the house so Calvin could get a clear shot at him. From next to the house it felt more like urban warfare than wilderness hunting. We fiddled around some and Calvin found his place for a good shot.

The buck walked around some and then right into the perfect spot, and Calvin took his shot. It was a perfect shot. The buck made it about 15 yards before he fell in a heap, giving up his ghost and leaving a nice trophy for Calvin. (And a fifth “first” for me.)

We decided Calvin’s first buck would be immortalized in a tasteful European mount, but the question remains — will Calvin’s mother allow him to keep his mount in the house?

Jody Hughes with his first deer, a nice Mills County doe.

8 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Mayor McMahan Welcomes Hunters, Visitors

By Mayor Mike McMahan I want to wish all our visitors a big Texas Hill Country welcome and I know you will enjoy your visit to Goldthwaite, the Gateway to the Hill Country. Goldthwaite is conveniently located in the center of Texas and stands at the entrance to what Texans call the “Hill Country.”

Goldthwaite, with a population of 1,878, is the county seat for Mills County and our newly-restored courthouse stands proudly on the town square. It is a lasting reminder of our industrious community and “can do” spirit.

Our rural roots run deep and now have grown to include Mayor Mike McMahan many family-owned businesses. Our business community takes pride in offering you competitive goods and services, many unique to Goldthwaite and the surrounding Hill Country area.

Recreational opportunities abound for those seeking to get out of the hustle and bustle of the “big city.”

You can hunt, fish, hike, bird watch, horseback ride or just enjoy the views along the scenic Colorado River.

A trip to Goldthwaite would not be complete without spending some time at our Mills County Historical Museum or crossing over the Regency Swinging Bridge.

We also offer other recreational activities including golf at our local municipal course located just outside of town on Highway 16 South. The city swimming pool provides welcome relief from the summer heat and is conveniently located in the Goldthwaite City Park. You can stop by the Jennie Trent Dew Library, now located in the heart of our business district, and get caught up on your reading or check your e-mail.

You can now fly into Goldthwaite via a 3,200-foot runway. The Goldthwaite Airport has a beautiful terminal building available for pilots or can be rented for family reunions, weddings, or social gatherings. It also serves as the headquarters for the golf course. New cart sheds and a putting green have been added at the terminal.

We have an active Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors family oriented events all year long. Goldthwaite is home to a sanctioned Official Texas State Championship Goat & Barbecue Cook-Off. This event is held the fourth Saturday in April of every year. Cookers compete for the right to be named the Texas Champion and to represent Texas at national competitions.

And you won’t want to miss Goldthwaite at Christmas!

We are part of the “Trail of Lights” and host our own annual Christmas Parade of Lights the first Saturday

in December. Fireworks on the Fourth of July, an egg hunt at Easter and the annual Hunters Wild Game Supper in November are all events you won’t want to miss.

Goldthwaite is a progressive community that seeks a balance between a pro-business environment while preserving our rural and agricultural heritage. The Economic Development Council focuses on assisting business and job creation for our area. The city does not collect property tax and sells competitively-priced utility services.

Goldthwaite CISD provides a quality-learning environment in a small school setting. Academic and athletic opportunities abound for our students. In addition to FFA, 4-H, Scouting, band, art and UIL academic competitions, Goldthwaite student athletes have achieved a reputation for being winners with a tradition of consistent playoff appearances in both girls’ and boys’ athletics. Earning the 2009 1A State Football Championship, Goldthwaite is now home to four high school state championship football titles. GCISD art projects have also been recognized at the state level, having earned several state awards and titles.

In 2014, we broke ground on a new Welcome Center, as well as the Legacy Plaza — Texas Botanical Gardens and Native American Interpretive Center.

Goldthwaite is a great place to hunt, visit, live, work or retire. I know your stay will be enjoyable. Come see us in Goldthwaite, America.

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10 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Taking My Turn at a Mills County Trophy

By Steven Bridges There are three big trophy buck Eagle Owner mounts in our living room, all taken The story of how I got my big

by Debra (with me) — two on one buck actually starts with my wife, side of the television and one on Debra, refusing to go hunting the other. with me.

“See that fourth spot? That’s Well, that’s not entirely true. yours,” Debra said. “It’s your turn.”

We went hunting a couple times I guess I couldn’t argue with that, this fall, and even took the kids, so I decided I’d go hunting Friday but we hadn’t seen the big bucks morning of last week. I called my we knew were out there. It wasn’t dad, Frank, to come along, but Frank serious hunting. said he really just wanted to sit next When I asked her last week to to a feeder to watch the deer. I told go out with me again to look for him I was trying for the big buck, those bucks, Debra told me she and he said he’d come along to see wasn’t hunting with me for any it at least, so I dropped him off at big bucks anymore until I got the other end of the ranch early in one. the morning and then went and sat “It’s your turn,” she said. in one of my hunting ‘honey’ holes About six years ago, I elected at the far end. myself wildlife manager at our This is where the big bucks usualfamily ranch, XTC Ranch near ly stake their claims during the rut.

Caradan, and began the process I saw a buck with five does just as it of applying for and getting manwas getting light, and he was a nice aged land permits, consulting 10-point, but he wasn’t “the one.” I with biologists and all that goes backed out really quietly, and went along with that. to pick up Frank. On the way to the Once things got underway, we truck, I looked way across the ranch were told the first thing we had and even just with the naked eye at to do was start harvesting excess three quarters of a mile, I could see does. We had way too many. Then the antlers of another buck standwe started harvesting spikes as ing next to the brush. part of the process. I took nearly I looked through my binoculars, 90 does the first year, in the 50s and could tell right away he was a after that, and now we’re down big, mature, beautiful buck. He was to 30s for those deer that need to a long way away off, though and be harvested. The goal is to harnext to the brush. I knew that once vest these animals for the overall Pictured above is Goldthwaite resident Steven Bridges with his 10-point Mills County whitetail with a he got into the brush, he’d stay health of the herd, and we donat- 20-inch spread. He took the buck at about 275 yards with his .308 at his family’s ranch near Caradan.The hidden there all day. I thought my ed practically all of the venison to buck scored nearly 140 on the Boone & Crockett scale. chances were low, but I was on the local families and to the Ministeway to the truck, after all. rial Association program.

I used the brush to my advan So, I had become a “doe and spike harvester” and not a “big buck hunter,” like tage and moved down the hill in cover toward the truck. As I got near, I looked when I was younger. During that time, family members had taken nice bucks on the hill, and the buck was still in the open. along the way, and I love to take others out to help them get their bucks. My ob- Now, as most of you know, stalking a Mills County whitetail is not the easiest jective, though, for years, had been land management. But I knew all the man- thing to do. That’s why we use deer stands, feeders, attractants and all that. The agement would pay off, and I was waiting for that special, perfect buck. deer here are very wary.

We’d seen some really nice bucks this year, so I was ready. I asked Debra to Below the hill from this buck were about eight does feeding in a line toward come hunting with me, but she refused to get one of those bucks until I did. I the buck. I walked up the other side of the hill, and got as close as I could withdidn’t get it at first. She’s gotten big trophy bucks in recent years, and I get a kick out spooking the does. I was able to use one big tree to get into position. I used out of it when Debra shoots a big buck. Though I know she sees it as “her” buck, my range finder, which works up to 350 yards, and tried to put it on him. It just I look at it as “our” buck; it’s a team effort. said,“too far.” I put the range finder on the closest doe ... 285 yards.

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 11 Page 40 - 2012 Mills County Hunting Guide I didn’t think I could get all the way to the buck, because I would have to go through the does. About this time, another doe I hadn’t seen popped up and started feeding toward the rest of the does. The buck seemed to get impatient, and came jogging toward the does in classic rutting buck behavior. He came all the way back to the last doe to urge her into the brush with him.

As soon as he started jogging toward me, I took my jacket off and put it on my backpack to get a steady rest. I knew if I got a shot, it would be a long one. By the time the buck rousted the last doe out and started them back up the hill, they were at about 275 yards.

Since I had changed over to trophy hunting, I traded my trusty .223 in for my .308. The .308 cartridge carries more than twice the weight of bullet and holds accuracy and knock down power a lot more than the .223 cartridge. I was confident the bullet would do its job if I could get it on

target. I cranked up my scope to maximum magnification power and took a deep breath. All of a sudden, I got the shakes like I have not had since high school.

I had been shooting the spikes and does for the ranch for a long time. Shooting does is more like target practice than a hunting shot, and I had gotten away from the excitement and adrenalin rush, and in truth, just kind of forgotten about it until it hit me then all at once. It was a complete surprise to me, and it was a pretty big case of the shakes, I admit.

I had to completely look down from the scope and take a few breaths before finally settling the cross-hairs on the buck’s shoulders and making the shot.

The bullet did its job and took the buck cleanly. He only went a few yards before crumpling up. So I guess the proof of that managed land system is in the pudding, and now, Debra, it’s your turn again.

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12 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Hatchett’s Huge Mills County Hog

By Cheree Hamblen Hayes On the night of Feb. 6, when most sensible people were warming by their fireplace and watching outside for the cold and icy weather to break so they could check their livestock, one lone hog hunter challenged the night cold. Jason Hatchett, of Zephyr, Texas, killed this 352 pound boar hog at Smoky Bend Ranch, in Mullin, Texas.

Jason was not alone in the hunt as his trusty black-mouth Cur dogs, Dolly, Chica, Flea and Rita tracked down the hog on the 14thousand acre ranch. Jason uses GPS locating collars on his baying dogs and watches from his phone until they have cornered Pictured above is Jason Hatchett of Zephyr with the huge hog he took in February. a hog. He then follows to the location, spots the hog and lets his the hog by the ear until Jason has a with tusks, did not go down with a bull dog, Scrappy, out to take care of chance to stab the hog in the heart. knife because of his thick skin. Rethe rest. Definitely a site to see. Scrap- Don’t you just love our Texas men! luctantly Jason took him out with his py, with not an ounce of fear, grabs This 352 pound boar hog, complete lever-action. 44 mag rifle, hitting the hog behind shoulder, apparently the only place that even a bullet would penetrate. I say reluctantly because Jason apparently is fearless too, aided by his team of hounds, who he trusts with his life. with milk, bread, ice and other convenience items!

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have become so abundant here at Smoky Bend that they are now not only a nuisance to cattle crops and watering holes, a threat to other wild life, but a danger to hunters and other people that are out on the ranch alone.” Wild and feral hogs are not native to this area and are extremely prolific.

One hog can have as many as 10 piglets, twice a year. That adds up pretty fast.

Jason Hatchett has killed 146 hogs in two years on Smoky Bend. Hayes finally made him at least start keeping a gun with him. “We average around 300 hogs a year hunting with dogs in southern Brown and northern Mills Counties,” Hatchett claims.

Jason’s brother, Chad Hatchett, usually hunts with Jason to “keep me out of trouble,” Hatchett says.

For the city folk that think this is cruel just watch someone being attacked by a hog or see the damage it can do to farmers and ranchers just trying to make an honest living. Jason makes sure there is no cruelty involved. So if you are judging the death of an “innocent” animal, remember that next time you fire up your barbecue pit and put on those big T-bones to cook.

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14 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Couple Turn Date Night Into ‘Jake Night’

By Steven Bridges Debra and I were hoping for a date night. A few weeks ago Georgie and Frank, otherwise known as Mimi and Papa, took the kids for a few hours so Debra and I could have some time alone.

Instead of your normal dinner and a movie, Debra and I decided to try our hand at turkey hunting out at the ranch.

We got to the ranch about mid-afternoon. It was a beautiful day out in the country. We walked around and called every five or ten minutes in likely spots, and stopped and listened for any gobbling that might indicate a gobbler was coming our way.

We did this for about an hour, when we spotted our first group of turkeys. They didn’t gobble, but they were obviously coming toward us. Debra and I set up in

the brush, and I kept calling while Debra set up to take the shot.

But as it turned out it was three jakes.

(For those not in the know, jakes are turkeys that come by that are small, with small beards ... first-year birds.) One of the jakes got in range, but since it was early in the afternoon, Debra decided to pass on the jake and wait for a real gobbler. It was interesting, though, to see the jakes strut around a little bit and put on a show.

We moved to another likely spot where we’d seen turkeys before. As we did, we laughed wondering if the other parents with a night off were watching a matinee or eating a nice dinner, but we were getting a show in the woods watching the turkeys.

As we got to the second spot, I started

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Pictured above is Debra Bridges with her “date night” jake, taken this spring on the XTC Ranch in Mills County. calling and we heard gobbling off in the distance. We got situated, and I called and called. The gobbling got closer, and soon it was responding every time I sent out a hen’s call. They were coming from three directions. The problem was, it was getting late, and it was starting to get dark.

The first turkey to appear was another jake, and he strutted around in front of us as close as seven or eight yards away. He was close enough that when he would puff up in full strut, we could hear his feathers popping out. Not wanting to take that jake, we let him go and kept calling. We soon noticed there were jakes all around us. They were all walking

around trying to find that hen at the base of our tree.

I could hear the turkeys going into the trees, which meant they were roosting, and soon they would all be up there roosting and we wouldn’t get a shot at all.

By that time, Debra was a few yards away from me, and I saw her take a turkey who had come up behind us. When I went and got him, I saw he, too, was a jake.

Well, Debra and I don’t get to go turkey hunting very often so when we do go out, we try to make it count. Debra thought she had waited long enough.

So, yes while some couples have “date nights,” we had a very memorable “jake night.”

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16 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Mills County Predator Hunter On a ‘Roll’

By Steven Bridges It was a typical afternoon a few years ago , when I walked into my house after a day of work at the office. I immediately heard the ear-piercing screaming that indicated Amber, my 18-month old daughter, was in a bad mood.

I saw Debra, my wife, was frazzled — holding a screaming Amber in one hand and a poopy diaper in the other.

“Amber has gas; she’s upset, and she wants to go to the ranch,” Debra said, which I’ve come to understand translates ... roughly ... to “I need a break. Let’s go to the ranch.”

So, we all piled into the truck. Just as I was about to slide in behind the steering wheel, Amber screeched, “I need my baby!”

The “baby” is a soft, fuzzy satin blanket that Debra’s friend, Kim Meek, gave us when Amber was born. My daughter seldom sleeps without her “baby,” and it’s especially instrumental when she’s not feeling well. It’s the only thing that consoles her.

So, I rolled my eyes, sighed, and jogged back into the house to get the “baby.”

On the way, I decided we might see something at the ranch that I could shoot (i.e.

Steve Bridges with his ‘Baby’ AR-15 .223 rifle and his Mills County coyote. salvage this afternoon after all), so I grabbed my .223 varcaliber. Everyone has a baby now.” ing me the official “gate getter” for the mint rifle. With my rifle in one

I shrugged my shoulders and set off rest of the drive. hand and the precious “baby” in the toward the ranch.

Amber was settling As she drove by, I grinned — the other, I got back in the truck, throwing down, and all was going well. We drove rolling eye balls back in my court.

Amber her blanket.

She immediately stuck her thumb in along the highway, then bounced “It’s OK,” I thought. “At least I might her mouth, closed her eyes and smiled along a dirt road. As we approached get to shoot something.” the ranch gate, I got out to open it, as I got back in the truck after that first sweetly.

I then handed my rifle to Debra, Debra was in shorts, a T-shirt, and sans gate and reached under the seat, pullwho rolled her eyes and said, “Amber’s shoes. She quickly scooted into my ing out a magazine for my rifle. I held baby is pink ... looks like yours is .223 seat, taking the wheel, thereby mak- the rifle gently. The truck bumped

along the two track ranch road. The sun was setting behind us. Amber cooed at the cattle and goats. Life was good.

All of a sudden, out of some thick brush, a coyote dashed into sight about 75 yards away.

I told Debra to stop, and she hit the brakes. I swung the door open, jammed the clip into the rifle, loaded a shell and took a shot at the coyote just as he crossed the road right in front of us.

One shot. One less coyote in Mills County, Texas.

I don’t even remember seeing him in the scope, but I turned to Debra with a huge grin on my face, asking “Honey, did you see that?!”

Debra, however, was now leaned into the back seat, having sprung into action by covering Amber’s little ears, trying to make sure the sound of the rifle going off wouldn’t upset Amber all over again. There was once again a rolling of eyes as she replied, “Yes, I saw it, and now I’m going to have to hear about it forever. You know, that was the luckiest shot you’ve ever made in your life.”

“Luck? No way! That coyote never had a chance,” I joked.

As per my years of training, however, I quickly followed up my gratuitous bragging with, “I’d rather be lucky than good any day. That’s how I ended up with you.”

There wasn’t much she could say to that.

And Amber, as it turned out, didn’t seem to mind all the commotion. She sat giggling uncontrollably and rolling her eyes at us as if to say, “silly parents!”

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 17

Local Venison Donation Program Fills Pantries

By Tammarrah Pledger The Ministerial Association, with the help of local pastor Carlos Cloyd and Mills County Texas Game Warden Vance Flowers, has started a program where hunters can donate unwanted venison to the area’s needy families.

Cloyd told The Eagle he still needs the support of local hunters, churches, businesses and individuals to make the program a success.

Hunters willing to donate the $40 to have the deer processed are much appreciated. Hunters that simply want to drop off their field-dressed deer, however, are also welcome to participate.

In cases where the hunters do not pay for the processing, the Ministerial Association will cover the cost, which has been reduced for this project by the Mills County Meat Co., he said.

Cloyd said he is also asking local families willing to take a whole, fielddressed deer they can process themselves to contact him at the church (325-648-3026) so he can procure a list of persons that hunters can take the animals to directly.

The processed deer meat is collected by the Ministerial Association, he said, and distributed — either directly to the families or individuals, or through the Goldthwaite Evangelism Center’s Food Pantry in Goldthwaite.

According to Cloyd, the Ministerial Association would like more hunters to donate venison this season. “We have a lot of excess deer in Mills County,” said Cloyd. “We can help the habitat by harvesting the extra deer and help feed our neighbors by donating protein rich venison.”

Anyone who would like to help, by donating meat, funds for processing, or even freezer storage space, are asked to contact Cloyd at 325-6483026 or Vance Flowers via the Sheriff’s Office 325-648-2245.

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18 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Dove Hunting Tips for Safety, Fun & More These tips will help you have a safe, fun and proand remaining still as doves approach your position. ductive dove hunt in and around Mills County this SHOOT, FIND, SHOOT fall.

Find fallen birds by walking directly to the spot BE SAFE where the bird went down without taking your eye Stay aware of where other hunters are located in off the spot. Hunters are notoriously bad at marking the field and try to keep far enough apart so that fallen birds and often lose downed game as a reyou will not “pepper” fellow hunters. Wear shooting sult. When you get to the spot where the bird went glasses to protect your eyes. Unload your gun as down, mark it with your cap or carry a handkerchief soon as you've finished hunting and leave the shotas a marker. Walk in an ever-widening circle around the marker until you find the bird. Don’t be tempted gun action open so everyone can see the gun is safe. to take another shot until you have recovered the Many dove hunting accidents occur around the vedowned bird. You will increase your chances of loshicle. Remember: Treat Every Gun as if it is LOADED! SCOUT BEFORE YOU HUNT ing both birds.

Scout fields or stock ponds before you hunt.

TIPS GALORE! Study trees, power lines and fences for perching Every dove hunter needs a valid hunting license, birds. Take special note of where birds fly in and out with a migratory game bird stamp. The stamp, actuof fields and what direction they come from. Finding ally a stamp fee, is now required of all dove huntthe best hunting spot in any field requires pre-seaers 17 or older. Make certain your license states that son homework. Don’t ever shoot at a dove perched you’re HIP Certified, meaning you’ve answered the on a power line. mandatory harvest information program questions DON’T BAIT ON IT required of all migratory bird hunters.

Baiting is a sure way to get the Game Warden’s Camouflage or drab-colored clothing to make book thrown at you. A hunter can get a ticket even yourself less conspicuous to doves. Like most birds, if the hunter has no idea the field is baited. So, be doves have very good eyesight. Include a camo or extra careful hunting on unfamiliar property. drab-colored cap or wide-brimmed hat in your gear.

Cody Graves prepares to set out a Mojo Dove Decoy on The cap will help hide your face from overhead birds STAY MOBILE Watch how doves enter and leave the area and opening day of dove season last year. His trusty Labra- and shield your eyes from the sun. A wide-brimmed get into position to intercept them. Doves have dis- dor retriever “Backus” accompanies him. hat serves the same function while providing more tinct flight patterns. Observe how they fly and take protection from the sun. Despite the heat, wear advantage of the flight patterns. long pants and sturdy boots to protect your legs.

HIDE FROM DOVES Insect repellent will help protect you against mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers. Mos Doves have incredible eyesight and a lofty vantage point. Hundreds of times I've quito repellents must be applied to the skin, but clothing can be treated with tick and watched them fly directly toward me in a path that seemed as if it would offer a perfect chigger repellents before going afield. shot, only to have the dove slide subtly to one side and pass just out of range. That's Wear snake boots or chaps if you are hunting where rattlers are common. Make sure not an accident. Give yourself the advantage by dressing in clothes that blend with the your hunting dog gets rattlesnake ‘proofed’ and/or rattlesnake vaccinations. natural background but it also means using natural cover such as the shade of a tree Wear a hat or sunscreen to guard against sunburn. Early September is usually hot and sometimes the sun can be brutal.

All dove hunters should wear shooting glasses to help cut the sun’s glare and to protect your eyes from errant pellets.

Save your hearing by wearing ear plugs to protect your hearing from the loud shotgun report. New electric models allow you to hear quite well while protecting your ears from shotgun blasts.

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated on a hot day.

Keep an ice chest in the truck to keep drinking water cold and birds cool. To be safe, no hunters should drink alcoholic beverages until AFTER the hunt is over and the guns are safely put away.

Large, resealable plastic bags to keep your birds dry while storing them on ice and to keep your birds separate from those taken by hunting partners. Use a water resistant writing pen to write your name and the date on your bird bag.

Take some decoys along on the hunt. I especially like the MOJO DOVE battery-powered spinning- wing dove decoy. It’s the best $40 insurance policy you can buy against 1105 Parker St. • PO Box 581 • Goldthwaite, Tx a slow hunt.

Dove hunting is a great way to introduce kids to the outdoors. Educate the young hunter on gun safety. Bring clay targets to shoot if the action is slow. Or, bring a fishing outfit and as a back up plan if the doves are not flying. Above all... have fun!

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20 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Crossbow Hunting Gains Popularity

By Steven Bridges Crossbow hunting has gained popularity in Texas, since it was legalized in 2009. While some may think using a crossbow is unsafe, and traditional bow hunters do not consider a crossbow true archery equipment, there’s no doubt that the number of hunters using them — especially to harvest whitetail deer — has grown.

Some speculate, however, that the growing popularity has to do with extending the hunting season, and not increasing accuracy.

“Crossbows are no more deadly or effective than any recurve or cam-driven bow at ranges under 40 yards,” according to Crossbow Revolution magazine writer Stephen D. Carpenteri. “Beyond that ... crossbows are no more efficient at delivering a shaft ... than any other stick-and-string configuration.”

Carpenteri goes on to say in his article, “Target: Whitetails,” that a crossbow’s maximum effective range is 1/10 that of a rifle, but using a crossbow obviously allows the hunter to start trying to bag a deer earlier in the year.

He gives the following tips for effective crossbow hunting: • Aiming - When using the three or more wire reticles or lighted dots to sight in the crossbow, in wooded settings, 40 yards is a good maximum setting; in pastures, food plots or cut crop fields, you can go as much as 50 or 60 yards if weather is good.

• Patience - It’s best to wait for a close, broadside shot when using a crossbow. “In questionable situations, it’s more prudent to hold off for a better shot or let the animal walk away. A perfect shot taken tomorrow is far better than wounding and losing a deer today,” Carpenteri said.

• Crossbow Care - With proper care (string and cable maintenance and retuning), a hunter can get two or three years out of even the most inexpensive crossbows.

• Blinds - Ground or box blinds are extremely effective for crossbow deer hunters. The blind should be large, with openings at least eight inches in height on all sides to allow for the height of the crossbow scope over the limbs, barrel and stock.

• The Shot - Again, crossbows are not miracle weapons. The maximum effective range is just 40 yards. Arrow placement is the key. Aim midway up the body and directly behind the shoulder of a whitetail deer. Avoid risky shots at the head, neck, spine or shoulder.

10 Commandments of Crossbow Safety From Parkers Crossbows 1. A crossbow can cast an arrow 500 yards. Be aware of your backstop and use a quality target designed for use with crossbows.

2. Always treat a crossbow as if it were cocked and loaded.

3. Carefully inspect each arrow for damage after every shot.

4. Never climb a tree with a cocked or loaded crossbow.

Cock the crossbow while on the ground and hoist it into the stand after you are seated and securely harnessed.

5. Do not attempt to shoot a crossbow when the limbs are near or in contact with any object.

6. Do not attempt to shoot a crossbow while in an awkward or unstable position.

7. Always keep thumbs and fingers well away from the string and arrow rail.

8. Keep crossbows level while shooting. Avoid canting, sloping or dipping the limbs.

9. Wear shooting glasses while practicing or hunting with a crossbow.

10. Do not leave a cocked crossbow unsupervised, and do not allow any person who has not read the owner’s manual or received instructions to shoot a crossbow.

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‘13 Inch’ Rule

For all pronghorn harvested in Texas, a permit must be properly and completely filled out and attached anywhere on the pronghorn. Pronghorn permits are issued to the landowner or landowner’s agent in most areas where there is an open season for pronghorn (the Trans-Pecos, Permian Basin and Panhandle); however, the department is testing an experimental, BUCK ONLY season in selected areas of the 0ANHANDLE, beginning this year. On properties within the experimental areas, hunters must obtain a FREE Experimental Pronghorn Antelope permit directly from the department or a participating local merchant, not from the landowner.

Hunters must still obtain landowner consent to hunt (killing a pronghorn without LANDOWNER CONSENT Theisso-called "13-inch rule" means that (in counties where it applies) hunters can a FELONY, see pg. 24). Additionally, hunters must present the entire head (intact) of take only one buck countycheck with antlers 13Forinches any harvested pronghorn atper a designated station withinmeasuring 24 hours of take. more or more on the inside spread.

They can also take one buck with at least one unbranched antler per information on the experimental buck-only season in the Panhandle, including maps of the areas, locations may be andtotal. locations of mandatory check stations, county.

The where statepermits bag limit is obtained, five deer call (800) 792-1112, or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/pronghorn.

HUNTING REGULATIONS

This gives more bucks an opportunity to mature into larger animals.

DESERT "We're tryingSHEEP to get a better age class on the herd," said Mills County Game WarBIGHORN den Vance Flowers. herd should hunters "a better opportunity Desert bighorn sheep may A be healthier hunted only by permit.

Permitsgive are issued to landowners or their agents in theto areas of West Texas where harvest a larger deer."bighorn sheep populations exist. A limited number of permits are also available the department’s hunting program at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/public.

No person may through However, Flowerspublic acknowledged that it can be difficult to accurately determine possess a desert bighorn ram skull obtained after Sept. 1, 2003, unless the skull has been plugged by the antler spread, especially in low light conditions or from a distance.

But when in department or the possessor possesses proof that the skull was legally obtained outside of Texas. Skulls doubt, let it walk, they say. found in the wild, provided the possessor did not cause or participate in the death of the ram, the landowner property where theequals skull was better found signs an affidavit attesting to theFlowers date and place skull"the was only of the A healthier herd hunting in the future, said,the and found,we're and thegoing skull is plugged the department within hours of bucks) being found.

Individual horns and way to get by there is if we let (the48smaller walk." hornless skulls may be possessed without identification or documentation.

DEER (READ VERY CAREFULLY) • A “BUCK DEER” is a deer with a HARDENED ANTLER PROTRUDING THROUGH THE SKIN. A “SPIKE BUCK DEER” is a BUCK with no antler having more than one point. ALL OTHER DEER ARE ANTLERLESS DEER. A spike buck must be tagged with a buck deer tag from the hunter’s hunting license or applicable permit.

• 7HITE TAILED $EER – Except for deer taken under MLD permits, no person may take more than five white-tailed deer or more than three bucks (all seasons combined) in one license year. Bag limits in individual counties may be less (see County Listings).

• -ULE $EER – The annual bag limit is two mule deer with no more than one being a buck (all seasons combined). See County Listings for antlerless permit requirements.

• SPECIAL ANTLER RESTRICTIONS: - Antler restrictions apply only in certain counties (see County Listings, pgs. 80-103). In these counties, the bag limit is TWO LEGAL BUCKS BUT ONLY /.% may have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. In these counties, a LEGAL BUCK DEER is defined as having: • a hardened antler protruding through the skin AND; • at least one unbranched antler; OR • an inside spread measurement between main beams of 13 inches or greater (does not apply to a buck that has an unbranched antler).

- IT IS UNLAWFUL TO TAKE MORE THAN ONE BUCK WITH AN INSIDE SPREAD OF 13 INCHES OR GREATER IN A COUNTY WHERE ANTLER RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT. - To determine if a buck has an inside spread measurement of at least 13 inches, look at the distance from ear-tip to ear-tip on a buck with ears in the alert position (see illustration, pg. 69).

The 13-inch or greater inside spread requirement does not apply to any buck that has an unbranched antler.

- Does not apply on Level 2 or 3 MLDP properties.

• $El NITION OF A POINT A point is aAnnual projection that extends at least 68 Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor 2013-2014 REGULATIONS SUMMARY

2013–2014 Hunting Seasons 2013–2014 Hunting Seasons

In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt migratory bird, including mourninggame dovebird (a Federal Sandhill Crane($7) Permit is required to Inany addition to a game hunting license, a migratory stamp endorsement is required to hunt hunt crane). upland gamemourning bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, any sandhill migratory game An bird, including dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit is required to pheasant, or chachalacas.

See County Listings for specific county regulations. hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant, or chachalacas.

County Listings forINspecific regulations.

NEW: A FREE PERMIT IS REQUIRED TO HUNT BUCKSee PRONGHORN ANTELOPE CERTAINcounty PARTS OF THE PANHANDLE (SEE PG. 68).

NEW: A FREEALLIGAT PERMIT OR IS REQUIRED TO HUNT BUCK PRONGHORN ANTELOPE IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE PANHANDLE (SEE PG. 68).

22 counties & special properties (by permit only) ALLIGAT OR Remainder of the state (see pg. 70) 22 counties & special properties (by permit only) PRON GHORN ANTELOPE By permit only Remainder of the state (see pg. 70) DOVE (PLEASE REPORT BANDS TO 1-800-327-BAND) PRON GHORN ANTELOPE By permit only North Zone and Central Zone DOVE (PLEASE REPORT BANDS TO 1-800-327-BAND) South Zone North Zone and Central Zone Special White-winged Dove Area South Zone

Special White-winged Dove Area EARLY TEAL -ONLY Statewide (all counties) EARLY TEAL -ONLY C ANADA GOOSE-ONLY Statewide (all counties) East Zone Only C ANADA GOOSE-ONLY WHITE- TAILED DEER East Zone Only Archery-Only Season WHITE- TAILED DEER General Season: Archery-Only Season *Special Youth Season General Season: North Texas (209 counties) *Special Youth Season South Texas (30 counties) North Texas (209 counties) Late Antlerless and Spike: South Texas (30 counties) North Texas (106 counties) Late Antlerless and Spike: South Texas (30 counties) North Texas (106 counties) Muzzleloader (57 counties) South Texas (30 counties) MULE DEER Muzzleloader (57 counties) Archery-Only Season MULE DEER General Season: Archery-Only Season Panhandle (38 counties) General Season: SW Panhandle (10 counties) Panhandle (38 counties) Trans-Pecos (19 counties) SW Panhandle (10 counties) JAVELIN A (43 counties) Trans-Pecos (19 counties) (50 counties) JAVELIN A (43 counties) SQUIRREL (50 counties) **Special Youth Season SQUIRREL East Texas (51 counties) ** Special Youth Season Other Open counties (see County Listings) East Texas (51 counties) PHEASANT Other Open counties (see County Listings) Panhandle (37 counties) PHEASANT QUAIL Panhandle (37 counties) Statewide (all counties) QUAIL RIO GRANDE TURKEY Statewide (all counties) Archery-Only Season RIO GRANDE TURKEY Fall Season: Archery-Only Season *Special Youth Season Fall Season: North Texas (123 counties) *Special Youth Season South Texas (26 counties) North Texas (123 counties) Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy counties South Texas (26 counties) Spring Season: Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy counties North Zone (101 counties) Spring Season: *Special Youth Season North Zone (101 counties) South Zone (54 counties) *Special Youth Season *Special Youth Season South Zone (54 counties) 1-Turkey Bag Limit (8 counties) *Special Youth Season +EAS TERN TURKEY 1-Turkey Bag Limit (8 counties) Spring-Only Season: East Texas (28 counties) +EAS TERN TURKEY C HAC HAL AC A Spring-Only Season: East Texas (28 counties) Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties C HAC HAL AC A RABBIT S AND HARES Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties

Sept. 10–30 Apr. 1–June 30 Sept. 10–30 Sept. 28–Oct. 6 Apr. 1–June 30 Sept. 28–Oct. 6 Sept. 1–Oct. 23, Dec. 20–Jan. 5 Sept. 20–Oct. 27, Dec. 20–Jan. 20 Sept. 1–Oct. 23, Dec. 20–Jan. 5 Sept. 1, 2, 7, & 8, Sept. 20–Oct. 23 and Sept. 20–Oct. 27, Dec. 20–Jan. 20 Dec. 20–Jan. 20 Sept. 1, 2, 7, & 8, Sept. 20–Oct. 23 and Dec. 20–Jan. 20 Sept. 14–29 Sept. 14–29 Sept. 14–29 Sept. 14–29 Sept. 28–Nov. 1 Sept. 28–Nov. 1 Oct. 26–27, Jan. 6–19 Nov.2–Jan. 5 Oct. 26–27, Jan. 6–19 Nov. 2–Jan. 19 Nov.2–Jan. 5 Nov. 2–Jan. 19 Jan. 6–19 Jan. 20–Feb. 2 Jan. 6–19 Jan. 6–19 Jan. 20–Feb. 2 Jan. 6–19 Sept. 28–Nov. 1

permit only). Bag limit: 2 (no more than 1 buck, all seasons combined).

JAVELINA—Oct. 1-Feb. 23 . Bag limit: 2 per season.

TURKEY—Archery Season: Sept. 28-Nov. 1 (either sex); Fall Season: Nov. 2-Jan. 5 (either sex); Spring Season: Mar. 29-May 11 (gobblers or bearded hens). Bag limit: 4 (all seasons combined).

PRONGHORN—Sept. 28-Oct. 6. Bag limit: 1 (by permit only).

MILAM (CAMERON)

Special Antler Restrictions: see pg. 68.

Sept. 28–Nov. 1 Nov. 23–Dec. 8 Nov. 23–Dec. 1 Nov. 23–Dec. 8 Nov. 29–Dec. 15 Nov. 23–Dec. 1 Oct. 1–Feb. 23 Nov. 29–Dec. 15 Sept. 1–Aug. 31 Oct. 1–Feb. 23 Sept. 1–Aug. 31 Sept. 28–29 Oct. 1–Feb. 2, May 1–31 Sept. 28–29 Sept. 1–Aug. 31 Oct. 1–Feb. 2, May 1–31 Sept. 1–Aug. 31 Dec. 7–Jan. 5 Dec. 7–Jan. 5 Oct. 26–Feb. 23 Oct. 26–Feb. 23 Sept. 28–Nov. 1

Sept. 28–Nov. 1 Oct. 26–27 (Statewide), Jan. 18–19 (North Zone only) Nov. 2–Jan. 5 Oct. 26–27 (Statewide), Jan. 18–19 (North Zone only) Nov. 2–Jan. 19 Nov. 2–Jan. 5 Nov. 2–Feb. 23 Nov. 2–Jan. 19 Nov. 2–Feb. 23 March 29–May 11 Mar. 22–23, May 17–18 March 29–May 11 Mar. 15–Apr. 27 Mar. 22–23, May 17–18 Mar. 8–9, May 3–4 Mar. 15–Apr. 27 Apr. 1–30 Mar. 8–9, May 3–4 Apr. 1–30 Apr. 15–May 14

WT DEER—Archery Season: Sept. 28-Nov. 1; General Season: Nov. 2-Jan. 5 (antlerless by LAMPS or MLD permit only). Bag limit: 4 (2 bucks and 2 antlerless, all seasons combined).

SQUIRREL—No closed season. Daily bag limit: 10.

TURKEY—Rio Grande Spring only: Apr. 1-30. Bag * In all counties that have an open Season season for those species. ** In all counties have that an Oct. 2 and May for 1–31 Open Squirrel Season. * In all that counties have1–Feb. an open season those species.

Rio Grande and be May hunted in Open these Squirrel counties.Season. limit: 1 (gobblers ** In all+counties thatonly). haveEastern an Oct.Turkey 1–Feb.may 2 and 1–31 RABBIT S AND HARES

Apr. 15–May 14 Nov. 2–Feb. 23 No closed Nov. 2–Feb.season.

23 No closed season.

+ Rio Grande and Eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties.

one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of the main beam is also a point.

2 | MILLS (GOLDTHWAITE) 2 |

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE OUTDOOR ANNUAL 2013–2014 TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE OUTDOOR ANNUAL 2013–2014

Special Antler Restrictions: see pg. 68.

Legal Point

LEGAL

at least one unbranched antler

Not a Point

LEGAL

at least one unbranched antler

Ears in alert position are approximately 13 inches apart and may be used to judge the inside spread.

LEGAL

inside spread of 13 inches or greater

ILLEGAL

This buck meets none of the criteria

• WHITE-TAILED DEER YOUTH-ONLY: - This does not apply to properties that have Level 3 MLD permits, or in counties where there is no open general season for white-tailed deer.

WT DEER—Archery Season: Sept. 28-Nov. 1; General Season: Nov. 2-Jan. 5; Special Late General Season: Jan. 6-19 (antlerless and spike buck only). Bag limit: 5 (no more than 2 bucks, all seasons combined).

SQUIRREL—No closed season. No bag limit.

TURKEY—Archery Season: Sept. 28-Nov. 1 (either sex); Fall Season: Nov. 2-Jan. 5 (either sex); Spring Season: Mar. 29-May 11 (gobblers or bearded hens). Bag limit: 4 (all seasons combined).

MITCHELL (COLORADO CITY) WT DEER—Archery Season: Sept. 28-Nov. 1; General Season: Nov. 2-Jan. 5; Special Late General Season:

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24 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Getting In Touch With Your 500th Grandfather

By Jim Hamm As the crimson hemorrhage of dawn spread slowly across the edge of the world I willed it, without success, to hurry. I shivered in the semi-darkness, the Arctic wind darting past as if anxious to be somewhere else. Twenty minutes before, when I left Paul on a distinct trail on the downwind side of the deer’s bedding area, he had whispered, “I’m hungry enough to lick bugs off the front bumper of a Kenworth.

Let’s kill something. ” Now, standing beside another trail a few hundred yards from Paul, I heartily concurred. We waited for Ted to complete his circle around the bedding area and move through it, pushing the deer toward us. At least that was the strategy. The raucous wind made it too cold to stay still for long, and I remembered how difficult it had been to leave the buffalo robe and the fire-warmed rocks under my feet well before daylight. But the aching void of hunger offered the motivation.

Animals regularly kill in order to live and the last time I checked we’re part of the food chain, too, though I was beginning to have some doubts. In three days of caveman living our small store of dried fruit and jerky quickly vanished.

In the last twenty-four hours the food chain appeared to have been broken entirely. There had been not a scrap to eat. If this current plan failed, getting the long distance fangs of our arrows into a deer looked hopeless. We had already tried early morning and late evening ambushes and stalking, none of which had gotten any of us a shot.

“Here’s what we’ll do, ” I had asserted last night, then detailed the plan for today’s drive through the bedding area.

“You really think that’ll work? ” Paul asked, one eyebrow elevated.

“Of course, ” I fibbed.

There are no atheists in foxholes, they say, and I would add that there are mighty few in rockshelters. If we had only known how, Paul, Ted, and I would have gladly invoked some Comanche puha, performed an elaborate dance, or repeated a chant to send a deer our way this morning. But we remained sadly ignorant on the subject of hunting ritual, since in the modern world, with control of our food supply through domesticated animals and agriculture, we’ve largely forgotten the feeling of being dependent upon Nature, of living by skill and luck.

The brothers who accompanied me seemed unfazed, however, no simple matter like starvation was going to dull their verbal darts. They had kept their sense of humor throughout our frozen ordeal, a survival trait often overlooked by anthropologists. When the canoe turned over, the sleet rattled down, the game vanished, the firewood got wet, the mosquitoes swarmed, or the food ran out, tough determination supported by rustic comedy may pull you through. Good lads, Paul and Ted, good company, though their no-prisoners sense of humor occasionally took an odd twist…

Years ago, I had stopped by to pick up Paul for a hunting trip when a man named Peters arrived to inquire about a pickup truck for sale. Though miffed at the delay, Paul took time to show him the old truck. Peters walked around it, examined under the hood, kicked tires, and let fly a covey

of questions.

“How much? ” he finally wanted to know.

Eight hundred, Paul said, which I knew was three hundred more than he’d been asking. But he was growing impatient to leave on our trip. “That’s sorta high, ” Peters whined, “could you knock a little off? ” Paul thought for a moment, then shook his head sadly, climbed into the pickup, and took off in a billow of dust.

He rammed a tree, crumpling one front fender, backed into

another tree, bending the tailgate, then jumped out, caved in the driver’s door with a foot, and kicked out both headlights.

“There, ” he said, walking back to a gaping Peters, “that knocked off about three hundred. ” Peters stammered something unintelligible for several seconds before declaring, “Y…y…you’re crazy! ” “Yep, ” Paul agreed, “where’s my five hundred bucks. ” Peters stammered some more, but was so awed that he finally, incredibly, pulled out his wallet and forked over the cash…

On another occasion, half a dozen of us were sighting in our rifles at the range behind Ted’s house.

A mutual friend had a new Remington. 22, a Nylon 66, of which he was especially proud, commenting on how well it shot.

Ted examined the weapon closely, then became deadly serious, a dangerous sign. “Mind if I shoot your rifle? ” The friend urged him to go ahead and shoot it, where-

upon Ted tossed it to the ground ten yards in front of him, then emptied his own. 22 into the new rifle amid a shower of broken pieces.

Ted nodded and offered sagely, “You’re right, that shoots pretty good. ” That fellow stammered quite a bit, too, as do most of their victims, though it’s only fair to note that the next day Ted bought the man an identical new rifle. There are plenty more Crow brothers stories, some of which left me stammering, but perhaps you’ve gotten the idea… My Osage orange longbow was still frost-laced, though the weak sun now hovered above the horizon. I tried wiggling my toes but couldn’t feel them. In the past, my hunting wardrobe had been described as sartorial Armageddon, a solid compliment considering my present hodgepodge of buckskin, wool, and fur, all of which was still not enough to keep me warm in the jostling wind.

Ted should be slowly moving through the bedding area.

Waiting with my handmade weapon, stomach growling, it was easy imagining how this country once appeared to those who hunted out of necessity - clear rivers, miles of rolling grass and timber, game and predators in the millions, no fences, no roads. Of course, this eco-system was also full of bowhunting, meat-eating, flintknapping, humans.

Early men walked lightly upon the land due to their small numbers. But these hunters, whether in Ice Age Europe, Asia, Africa, or North America, were opportunists - like herons congregating at an evaporating pond - and thought nothing of running a thousand buffalo off of a cliff to obtain enough meat to feed twenty people. Though they had a spiritual kinship with the animals, they also by necessity had a pack mentality and employed any means, fair or foul, to get meat - surrounds, traps, snares, poison, or chasing animals from a precipice or into deep water. A chasm exists between Paleo hunters’ reality and modern hunters’ notion of fair play and sportsmanship. The quail hunter won’t shoot birds on the ground, where he might kill five at one time, instead waiting for them to flush so he can take an infinitely more difficult shot on the wing. The same applies to duck hunters. And dove hunters. The highlight of a bowhunter’s season might be a missed shot or a close encounter with no shot at all. There are exceptions to these ideals, of course, carryovers from the old “if it’s meat, then kill it” school of the last century, but the modern hunting ethic compels the broad majority of hunters to play by the rules.

Knowing exactly how those ancients felt who ran buffalo off a cliff, I would shatter any such rules now if I could dynamite a deer, as long as enough was left after the explosion to eat…

Movement a hundred yards away drew my attention.

After long moments it came again, a small buck sneaking through the brush, his antlers maybe as wide as his ears.

He disappeared and no doubt slipped past me in the thick cedars, though his movement showed that Ted was having an effect on the bedded deer.

See 500th Grandfather, Page 26

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26 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Getting In Touch With Your 500th Grandfather No longer noticing the cold, I became more alert. But since my train of thought had about three cars on it my mind soon drifted and for some reason settled upon my earliest attempt at living off of the land, when I was twelve or so. A friend and I left with tent, bedroll, skillets, fishing poles, flashlights, a sack of candy bars, and enough additional gear in the packs that we grunted under the load. We communed with nature for five days, living on Tootsie Rolls and catfish fried in barbeque sauce. The tent leaked in a storm - before it blew down, that is. We threw a wasp-filled hollow log on the fire one night, and I went home with a 102 degree temperature.

I should have given up then, like a normal civilized human, but the wilderness had an attraction I’ve never been able to ignore for long. Perhaps it’s because the problems one encounters are generally amenable to

D’s

g i B

direct action - if you’re thirsty you get a drink, if you’re hungry you fix something to eat (often after catching or killing it), if you’re cold you build a fire, if you’re tired you go to sleep. All surmountable, understandable obstacles, unlike some of our modern problems - violence with no reason, diseases with no cure, politicians with no integrity, television preachers with no shame.

The wilderness had its down-side, however. For instance, in a rockshelter if one left out the last of the dried fruit one might awaken to the sound of sabertoothed tigers fighting over it. It turned out to be two half-grown coons, of course, though fighting three feet from ones sleeping head they made a most passable imitation of their extinct saber-toothed brethren...

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desperation shot. Alert as a bird dog on point, I gripped the bow in shaking hands. But the woods were silent now. After ten minutes it was evident no more deer were coming and I started back to Paul, glad to be moving in the cold. He was visible in the distance talking to Ted. When I walked up, they both wanted to know what happened and I related the tale of missed opportunity.

Paul grimaced. “I had half a dozen does try to take me prisoner. ” “What? ” “They ran by on both sides of me, so close I could’ve tripped one. ” “Did you shoot? ” I demanded.

“They were all going Mach 3. I couldn’t hit one with a shotgun. ” Though alertly creeping along, Ted said that he hadn’t seen a single deer though he pushed at least ten from the bedding area, a testament to their evasive skill.

“What now, Kemo Sabe? ” Paul wanted to know.

I just shook my head, for I was about ready to call out for pizza.

That night, shadows from the firelight danced on the walls of our small rockshelter. We huddled about the late evening fire, for the wind was now an agate-eyed beast, shoving against us, poking its frigid nose down collars and up coat sleeves, trying to grasp us in its eternal embrace.

Like a pack of coyotes, we had hunted hard the rest of the day. Finally, just before dark, we surrounded a jackrabbit in a brushpile. We wanted that rabbit. We needed that rabbit. Ted made a remarkable shot, threading an arrow through a fist-sized opening in the brush, to bag our first meal in two days.

Ted (aka Captain Cholesterol) was always the camp cook. As he propped the skinned rabbit above the coals, he declared that he was preparing his specialty, Jackrabbit Surprise. Sounded great, but I was having visions of chicken fried steak, cream gravy, and hash browns. Ted glanced over at me. “Say, would you mind blowing yourself up again? ” Early that morning, a waterlogged rock we had placed to form the firepit exploded from the heat, bowling me over unharmed but stunned. Paul and Ted went to their knees laughing and had been grinning off and on ever since. Clever fellows.

Ted announced the rabbit was done, and began passing out portions. The meal was a surprise, all right, the cremated rabbit was surprisingly good, especially considering the alternative.

As we dined, Paul told of how he once shot a rabbit with an arrow and chased it through the brush for ten minutes. When he finally caught it, he discovered it was unharmed, so he let it go and continued searching until he found the one he’d shot.

It occurred to me that hunting stories have probably changed little since men first fashioned weapons. And sitting there in that rockshelter, I suddenly felt a special kinship with my 500th grandfather.

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28 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Deer, Dove and Designated Drivers We came across about 10 in a shallow valBy Steven Bridges ley, and the boys leaned on a tree — one Editor’s Note: These two articles, the on each side. They bagged one doe out one on this page and the one on the next of that first group, and then we stalked page, are linked together. The first is a story through the brush to the next opening of two boys going hunting. The second is about a quarter mile down. In that field, about what this meant to their father... and there was tiny deer nub antlers so we let to me. him pass. Our final destination was the All of this was made possible by the advent of the Mills County Wounded Warcorner of a wheat field where I knew deer frequented, often in large numbers. rior Hunt previously held each January in

Goldthwaite. Many friendships have been We made our way through the brush, forged between soldiers and Mills County and when the brush ran out, we set up in landowners during this one day hunt. Many the tall grass. When we got there and into soldiers (and in this case sons of a soldier) position, using our binoculars we counthave come for repeat trips to hunt and enjoy the wild lands of Mills County. It makes ed 20 deer already in the field, including me proud to hear stories of soldiers coming several small bucks. I knew Garrett had back to visit their friends in Mills County. I his heart set on a buck, but I explained to hope these friendships endure for years to him about deer management, and that come. we don’t take any bucks unless they are • • • mature ... at least 4 1/2 years old. We saw Col. Jack Usrey was one of the men in one trophy buck, but he was too far off. the original small group of Wounded WarAs darkness neared, they settled in to take their shots, each one picking out a large riors who came to Mills County for the test hunt in December of 2010, that preceded mature doe in the field. the official start of what has become the Garrett and Chance Usrey with two of the three does they bagged while hunting with Steven Bridges When the smoke cleared, we had two on the Graves XTC Ranch in northeast Mills County last season.

Photo by Steven Bridges more deer down, for a total of three deer annual Mills County Wounded Warrior for the two boys. In the end, the boys doHunt.

Col. Usrey returned the following year with his eldest son, Chance, to help with the nated one to the Ministerial Association for our local food pantry, and processed the hunt, and they both were pleasantly surprised when they got a chance to hunt them- other two for their family to eat. selves. We were all standing around that day after the soldiers and guides/landowners We drove from the ranch to my house, and the boys were pretty excited about the were matched up, and I said, “Well, y’all are here. Let’s go hunting.” deer they harvested. I told them, though, that what I was most proud of was how safe I remember Chance bagged a nice deer with a nice long shot on that hunt several they were, and that I didn’t have to correct them on hunting safety at any point. I was years ago. This was shortly before Col. Usrey was deployed to Afghanistan, where he also impressed how cordial they were to each other during the hunt, taking turns with has been now for 25 of the last 36 months. their shots and not fighting about who was going to shoot what and when. They are Last year, while Col. Usrey was home on leave, we got to go on a hunt with both of really good boys, and that is a testament to their parents. his sons, Garrett and Chance. We bagged several does, and everyone had a good time. Then the big test came. When we got home, Debra had a huge, steaming casserole This hunting season, I knew Col. Usrey was deployed and didn’t expect to be home dish of nearly 40 doves, all under a blanket of bacon. She was smiling from ear to ear, until February, so I was surprised to get an e-mail asking if there was any chance I could and the smell of the doves was beyond tantalizing. We had all been so hungry on the take the boys hunting again. I jumped at the opportunity to take Col. Usrey’s two boys hunt that at one point, all three of our stomachs were growling at the same time, and I hunting while their dad is serving in Afghanistan. While he is keeping us all safe, it was told them, “That’s the doves talking, boys.” certainly a small thing to do for him.

They were excited to try the doves, and I told them there is no dignified or clean way Arrangements were made, and the boys drove up from Harker Heights. Debra said, to eat doves. You can pick them up and eat them or try to pick the meat off the bones, “Steve, I think I’m going to make a big pan of my mom’s (Carol Graves’) dove recipe.” but there is no way to eat doves and not make a mess.

I hesitated. I mean, these boys are from the city, and dove is what you might call an I don’t know if they were just extra hungry or if it was all the fresh air and the exercise, “acquired taste.” It is a wild game that does NOT taste like chicken. I balked for a little or more likely, Carol’s good recipe and Debra’s expert preparation, but the boys dug while, but finally on Saturday morning as we were deciding what to have for dinner right into those doves. with the boys after our hunt, I said, “Let’s just go with dove.” I knew we had back up Chance, who leaves for the BUD/S 6-month Navy SEAL training in six weeks, deham if they really hated it, so I took the leap and pulled out a humongous amount of voured 18 doves. (Now, granted there’s not that much meat on a dove, but there was doves to defrost. no shortage of sides — rice, black-eyed peas, etc. — too.)

The boys came in, and we all got into our camo from my trusty pile of clothes and Garrett totaled about 10 doves, and our son, Flint, 2 1/2, came in third with six doves. gear in the corner of my garage. They had brought one rifle between the two of them, I should never have doubted Debra’s instinct on the doves. Now the Usrey boys want Chance’s .243, so I grabbed Debra’s .243 and we all loaded into my truck to head for the to come dove hunting and replenish our stock. ranch. On the way out, I told them we were not going to be in a stand, but instead we’d And Chance was so stuffed with doves that he handed his keys to his younger brothbe out amongst the deer stalking from the brush until we could get close enough to er, which is never an easy thing to do, and said “I think you’re driving me home tonight.” get a shot.

Yes, it’s always a good idea to have a designated driver when you’ve had one too There was no shortage of deer this day. We saw them almost as soon as we parked. many Mills County doves.

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 29

Local Man Humbled by a True Hero

By Col. Jack Usrey, U.S. Army Rarely does one come across a man as selfless as the one I met purely by accident.

That man is Steve Bridges, and I am humbled that our paths crossed back in 2010. Four years later, because of Steve and the amazing town of Goldthwaite, my wife and I have added it to our short list of possible retirement locations following our military career.

Because of the amazing work Steve did and continues to do for our Wounded Warriors and the Wounded Warrior Project, I had the honor of carrying an American flag around in my rucksack during my last deployment to Afghanistan with his name on it. That flag accompanied me on several foot patrols between our compound and the International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) headquarters, and we flew it over our compound in downtown Kabul on Sept. 11, 2013, in Steve’s honor. It was my way of telling the world it will never defeat us when we have men like Steve and communities like Goldthwaite raising our nation’s sons and daughters.

I suspect this is the first time you’ve heard this story because that’s the man I’ve come to know as Steve Bridges.

Humble, a servant leader, and a man that through his actions proves that others coming first is as natural as breathing, I wanted you to hear this story.

I was one of the four soldiers in the original Wounded Warrior “test” Hunt and have been able to attend two more since then. I was deployed two of the last three years and unable to attend the others but I heard the stories and saw the pictures. I witnessed this amazing event, and the remarkable town that rolls out the red carpet for Wounded Warriors and their families grow each year.

I’ll never forget the first year when we had a little over 50 Wounded Warriors.

Ranchers opened their land, and Goldthwaite opened its heart. We ate until we could eat no more and then off to the hunt we went. More than 50 deer and exotic animals were harvested, and I was able to be with my oldest son when he harvested a deer on Steve’s land with a 275+ yard shot (I’d missed his first deer a few years before because I was deployed to Iraq so this was a special moment for me.)

After the hunt the Texas Game Wardens and most of the town fed us again; it was

the biggest fish fry I have ever attended.

Sitting there listening to all the stories and “there I was, and it came out of the bushes,” or “I turned around, and there they were,” lasted well beyond the fish and hushpuppies. Men who lost something on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan were among their own, and I can only imagine how much it helped each on their journey.

That was just the beginning.

Not only did Steve and Goldthwaite continue to welcome Wounded Warriors each January for the Wounded Warrior Whitetail Deer Hunt, several relationships were formed that go well beyond the annual hunt, which leads to my thoughts below.

As a father nothing is more important than my family. And making memories with and for my family is priceless. Goldthwaite and Steve are responsible for several of those memories my family will talk about and pass on for generations. I’ve already told you about being there with my oldest son and his long shot but you have to hear about two more.

My oldest son joined the Navy, and shortly before he went to boot camp, Steve invited my two sons and me up for a hunt. This was the first time I’d ever hunted with both sons at the same time, and I’ll carry the memories of that day to my deathbed. It was also the last time all of my family would be living in the same house — a bittersweet day. The entire day was amazing. All three of us harvested deer, and Steve and his family fed us supper that night. It just doesn’t get any better than that, or so I thought.

While I was deployed to Afghanistan this last year my son in the Navy came home for Christmas. Almost hesitant to ask because I didn’t want to wear out our welcome, I sent Steve a note asking him if he could take the boys hunting while Chance was home on leave. Steve jumped at the opportunity and another memory was born. The boys had a blast, and Steve and his family once again took my boys into their home and fed them until they could eat no more.

Ms. Debra fixed the boys dove; it was the first time they’d eaten it, and they loved it. My oldest son ate so much he made his little brother drive home so he could sleep. Sitting over 7,000 miles away in Afghanistan, late one night after a pretty rough day, I received an email and

saw a picture of my two sons enjoying life in the best possible way — dirty, smiling, and surrounded by deer on their way to our freezer. I needed that picture that day.

God has a way of knowing things like that, and I shed a few tears of happiness. That’s why I carried a flag with Steve’s name on it in my rucksack.

The night we flew the flag for Steve is a special day in our nation’s history. It’s our generation’s Pearl Harbor. The night was cool and very dark. In Kabul the families are so poor they burn trash and tires to stay warm. It creates a dense haze across the town, which is a bowl surrounded by mountains. There is one light shining on this night — a spot light that highlights the top of the flag pole. Several stand around, reflecting upon that day our nation changed forever.

Someone called “attention,” and in one swift moment we all became one. Steve’s flag was attached to the line and a young soldier, no doubt in grade school when the towers were hit, raised the flag. When the flag hit the top another called out “present arms,” and we all saluted the colors as they blew in the wind. All had their own thoughts. I was thanking Steve for taking care of my boys and giving them memories to pass on to their children.

The flag was lowered, and we lowered our salutes. Three soldiers silently and reverently folded Steve’s flag into a tight triangle and placed it in its box. When I returned from Afghanistan, we placed that flag, never having been unfolded into the flag case we presented to Steve.

That flag holds the promise that our soldiers will never be defeated. It holds the hopes and dreams of my children. It holds the thanks and respect I have for the man that gives his time for others so that they can make memories.

It’s rare to find a town like Goldthwaite, and it’s rare to find a man like Steve Bridges. Finding them all in one place was and is a blessing to me and my family. The town and the man are what make this the greatest nation in the world, and I am thankful the Lord put both in my life.

Humbled by a True Hero I am so humbled by what Col. Usrey did for me. I received the flag and certificate months ago, and was certainly honored,

Steven Bridges with the US Flag Col. Usrey flew in Kabul, Afghanistan last Sept. 11th. but didn’t know the whole story until he sent it to us recently. Col. Usrey’s description of the actual flying of the flag over Kabul, and how he carried it along with him all that time ... not to mention why he did it ... well, I simply do not have the words to describe how that makes me feel. The closest I can come, as I said in the headline, is that I feel truly humbled.

I am so grateful for Col. Usrey’s service to our country. I’ve said many times taking people hunting, especially kids, is one of my joys in life. Taking a couple of kids hunting is something I love to do; taking two very pleasant boys hunting while their dad is in a war zone in Afghanistan is a no-brainer. I would certainly hope someone would do that for my kids if the situation were reversed.

Until I read this story, I had no idea how much taking Garrett and Chance hunting meant to Col. Usrey. I think anyone reading this will see that it really says more about him than about me. He is a true American hero whose love for his country is possibly only outweighed by his love for his family.

The flag, still in its case, sits on my mantle. It’s the centerpiece of our living room.

It has a special place in my home and my heart, and it always will.

To Col. Usrey, I send out the sincerest of “thank yous.” Thank you for the flag, for the thought behind it, and for sending us this story. I look forward to seeing you again.

In the meantime, please be as safe as you can.

Send those boys back to hunt any time.

Steven Bridges

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32 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Turbines Change Landscape, Not Hunting

By Steven Bridges If this is the first time this year you have come to your deer lease or hunting ranch, you probably noticed the tall, wind turbines dotting the horizon south and east of Goldthwaite in Mills County.

Hunting Little Changed

Luckily, whitetail deer, Mills County most coveted game species, adapt quickly to new environmental changes. As soon as the workers completed the towers, deer moved right back into ‘their’ pastures. I have driven along the dirt roads right under wind turbines watching deer feed right under a spinning turbine seemingly without a care in the world.

True, hunters will see sunrises and sunsets with turbines on the horizon. But, hunters should see little if any change in deer behavior as the new season approaches.

Peace, Quiet & the View

The three bladed turbines have acted more like a three edged sword in the county. Some love them, some hate them and some don’t much care. But, no matter where you stand on the matter, the Goldthwaite Wind Turbine Project has changed the landscape of Mills County.

The horizon has been altered for at least the next 30 years or so. Sun rises and sunsets previously unencumbered will now feature large turbines along with the rising and setting sun.

There is also sound generated by the turbines in addition to the normal sound of the wind.

These facts have upset many of those who moved here for that view and the peace and quiet.

Follow the Money

The project has pitted some neighbors against each other because some have financially benefitted from the installation of turbines. The classic ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ drew lines in the sand that will take time to heal.

It’s the Economy

There have been other financial impacts as well. Many workers spent lots of dollars buying food, gas, merchandise and more helping our local economy. The taxable value has gone up in Mills County due to the sheer dollars of the project. Even after local tax abatements, there will be tax dollars flowing into the area in the future.

They’re Here

The Goldthwaite Wind Project is now complete and generating electricity in Mills County.

All of the 83 GE 1.7 MW turbines and three GE 2.5 MW Brilliant turbines are erected and operating.

Goldthwaite Wind Project Facts provided by Invenergy and General Electric

LOCATION - The project footprint consists of more than 14,000 acres of private land in Mills County, Texas. The site is just southeast of the town of Goldthwaite, approximately 100 miles northwest of Austin.

PROJECT COST - Approximately $250 million capital investment is involved.

CAPACITY - 148.6 MW NUMBER OF TURBINES - 86 TYPE OF TURBINES - 83 GE 1.7-100 MW capacity wind turbines, and 3 GE 2.5 MW brilliant wind turbines, which feature integrated battery storage

LANDOWNERS - There are lease agreements with more than 40 landowners.

LOCAL ECONOMIC IMPACT - During operation, the project is expected to contribute more than $2.5 million annually in local payments. This includes property tax revenue for Mills County, Goldthwaite CISD, and Lometa ISD; as well as lease payments to landowners; and salaries to local staff.

FIRST OF THEIR KIND - Three of the 86 wind turbines going up in Mills County are “brilliant” — the very first three GE 2.5-120 Brilliant Wind Turbines purchased since GE introduced the new turbines in January, that is.

GE Power & Water announced last May that Invenergy had become the first customer to buy the new turbines, which are the first to use short-term battery storage in their operation, according to GE.

An Invenergy wind turbine being constructed just south of Goldthwaite in Mills County last year.

Photo by Steven Bridges

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2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 33

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34 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

It NEVER Hurts to Review Gun Safety Rules You love to hunt and your kids are starting to get to the age where they would like to try hunting. You appreciate their interest and have enrolled them in the appropriate education course to obtain a license. You also plan to teach them the ropes yourself, starting first with gun safety.

To ensure you don't forget anything, familiarize yourself with these dos and don'ts of gun safety.

DO...

• Treat every gun as though it were loaded.

• Read the owner's manual for your gun and learn how to operate it properly.

• Use the correct ammunition for your gun.

WELCOME HUNTERS!

• Carry your gun with the muzzle pointing toward the ground.

• Keep your finger off the trigger until shooting.

• Look at the target and the area beyond it before pulling the trigger.

• Keep your gun unloaded when not in use.

• Store ammunition away from your gun and out of the reach of young children.

• Clean your gun and keep it free of obstructions.

• Make sure your gun is unloaded before cleaning it.

DON'T...

• Point your gun at anyone.

• Modify your gun.

• Run with your gun.

• Climb with your gun.

• Jump with your gun.

• Shoot at a hard, flat surface. The bullet will ricochet.

• Shoot at water. The bullet will deflect and travel a few inches above the water.

• Go hunting when you are overly tired.

• Drink alcohol when hunting.

• Do drugs when hunting.

After you have familiarized yourself with these rules, find a time to discuss them with your kids. Stress to them the importance of following the rules of gun safety and the consequences of ignoring them. Point out, for example, how many people are killed each year in accidents involving guns that

were stored loaded. Rent a video or take your kids to a demonstration on gun safety.

Kids learn best by example, so make sure you follow the rules of gun safety. More importantly, make sure you enforce the rules. Should a situation arise in which your kids forget or abandon a safety rule, take the steps necessary to correct the situation immediately. It could mean the difference between life and death.

Do your kids a favor. Teach them the rules of gun safety, enforce the rules when necessary and help your kids mature into safe, responsible hunters.

Also, go over these gun safety rules with anyone at your hunting camp that you do not know. It NEVER hurts to review gun safety rules.

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2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 35

Chamber Wild Game Supper Nov. 29 The Goldthwaite Area Chamber of Commerce’s 10th Annual Wild Game Supper will be a tremendous success, organizers said.

Chamber President Linda Head said last year’s Wild Game Supper “went great.” She says she expects the annual event to be even better this year.

Head said they served nearly 1,000 people last year. Head went on to say the Chamber directors had a blast and were also pleased with the turn out. They are already making plans to ensure this year’s event will be “even bigger and better.”

“Overall, it went very smoothly,” Head said.

“Everyone had their fill of locally cooked game. We gave out lots of prizes and guns, too. It was great!”

Head said the attendees represented a healthy combination of locals and visitors. Many locals brought out-of-towners along with them, she said. “Our locals like to show off what Mills County people can put together. The out-of-towners are usually pleasantly surprised.”

The many raffles held went off without a

hitch, and door prizes were given away all night, Head added. The supper lasted until about 9:00 p.m., she said.

Head noted all the meat served at the supper came from local landowners and donors. “Our local cooks outdid themselves.

Everyone was impressed with both the amount and quality of the food.”

The menu included whitetail venison, venison chili, black buck, axis deer, catfish, mountain oysters, and wild hog, along with sides, bread, beverages and desserts. “No one went away hungry,” said Head.

Saturday, November 29th This year’s event will be held Saturday, November 29 beginning at 6 p.m. at the Mills County Civic Center. Raffle items will be on display with tickets available for purchase in downtown Goldthwaite on Saturdays until the event.

Gun Raffles Galore This year, several firearms will be raffled off during the Wild Game Supper. Come check them out. See you there!

Alexis Gaspar and Nita Frazier present Deb Brown with the Grand Prize .44 Magnum Henry Lever Action Rifle for her husband Jeff Brown during the 2013 Chamber Wild Game Supper.

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36 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Knox Knocks Down First Whitetail Deer

By Steven Bridges Douglas Holtzclaw knows I have a soft place for taking kids on their first deer hunt.

I took Douglas’ son Trey to bag his first deer a few years ago.

Douglas called me this November to set up a ‘first’ deer hunt for a small boy.

“I know a boy that has never been deer hunting,” said Holtzclaw. “He is the son of a friend of mine, Ashby Porter, up here in the Metroplex. He is eight years old and his name is Knox.”

Of course, I told Douglas to bring Knox and his dad down to Goldthwaite at their first opportunity. But, as life would have it we kept having conflicts.

Every time we thought we had the hunt planned, something came up. I either had to go out of town or icy weather made traveling impossible.

Douglas finally called and told me that they would not be able to make the trip down to Goldthwaite before deer season ended this January.

I told Douglas that I had a solution.

Since the Graves XTC Ranch is part of the Managed Land Permit System, we could still take excess deer after deer season closed for the rest of the Mills County.

We were back in business. We set the hunt up for the

WELCOME HUNTERS!

morning of Saturday, February 1st.

Douglas, Ashby and Knox all gathered at my house well before dawn and we drove to the ranch. We got all set up in an old barn where deer frequent. As soon as it was light enough to see, we spotted a nice doe far to our right.

All four of us shifted positions and got ready for Knox to make the pretty long shot.

I estimated the doe was about 150 yards. Not a super long shot, but not optimal for an eight year old boy’s first try at a deer.

Knox snuggled in behind the scope and steadied the rifle like we had practiced. He took a slow breath and squeezed the trigger. He knocked the doe down in her tracks.

We all hugged and gave high fives. I let out a sigh of relief.

A little while later, Ashby also bagged a doe to round out the hunt.

“Another wonderful Mills County memory,” Douglas said.

“Better late than never!”

I totally agree.

PHOTO: Knox Porter shows off his first ever deer, a nice Mills County doe taken February 1st, 2014 with a Managed Land Deer Permit. Knox’s dad Ashby also bagged a nice doe during the hunt.

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38 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Local Outdoor Family Goes on ‘Sockeye’ Road Trip Debra and she told Ed, "You'll only hear 'man overboard' if Steve

By Steven Bridges catches more fish than me!" We all had a good laugh, but I think Editor’s Note: I love to take people hunting and fishing in and Debra just might have had a little bit of serious undercurrent in around Mills County. I am blessed to guide lots of friends, relatives, the comment. soldiers and more on lots of local outings. So, it was quite a change In short order, a rod started to jump up and down, indicatto be guided this summer on a sockeye fishing charter while on ing another fish was hooked. Ed yelled, Fish On!" He grabbed vacation in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was a great experience the rod and handed it to Debra. She handled the rod expertly, for me and my family to go on this memorable fishing adventure. fighting the seven pound silver bullet of a fish right into Ed's • • • net. Everyone smiled and cheered for Debra. We also now had Ed Matthei, head guide from Pacific Anglers based in Vancouver, British Columbia took Debra, Flint, Amber and me on a the full attention of the kids, who had come up from below to salmon fishing trip on the next to last day of our vacation. watch the excitement.

The weather was beautiful, warm and not a cloud in the sky.

Right about the time Debra landed her fish, another rod beJust a little breeze kept the sun from getting too hot. gan jumping. Debra yelled "fish on!" and we were at it again, Ed explained with patience all of the ins and outs of trolling only this time it was my turn. Ed handed me the rod and I felt for salmon near Vancouver. We motored only about 15 minutes the incredible pulsating strength of the salmon swimming 50 from the boat dock and put lines in the water. With all of Vanfeet below the surface. Faster than I can write these words, this couver and Stanley Park to the east and Grouse Mountain to the fish rocketed to the surface and jump one, two and a third time. north and Vancouver Island to the west, we were surrounded It was quite a sight. On the third jump, however, the fish spit the with wonderful scenery. I could not believe that we were fishhook right out. ing just a few hundred yards from Stanley Beach.

I turned around to a perplexed guide and a wife not even Ed explained that we were fishing just off shore from the trying to control her laughter. I have to admit that this sort of mouth of one of the most prolific salmon rivers in the world. fishing was completely out of my comfort zone. Now, I was a Huge schools of salmon gather at the mouth of the river waitlittle embarrassed to boot. ing for a rain to raise the level of the river. Once the river rises, Debra and Steve Bridges with some of their Sockeye I didn't have much time to lick my wounded ego because anthe salmon move upstream to their spawning areas in the up- Salmon from Vancouver, BC this summer. other rod stared to jump and jive. Ed handed me the rod and per parts of the river. dead panned, "Don't screw this one up. We are all watching."

Once hatched, the salmon grow for a year and then head out I'd like to say I fought the fish, but I really just hung on for dear to sea to mature then return to the river to repeat the process life as the sockeye swam back and forth in back of the boat. Ed completing what Amber called "The Circle of Life". stayed busy untangling me from the other trolling lines again She got that from one of the songs from The Lion King, a Disand again. Finally, I got the fish to the back of the boat and Ed ney animated movie. You'd never guess that we had just gotdipped the net into the water just as the fish spit the hook out. ten off a Disney Cruise to Alaska where Amber was engulfed in The hoochie zipped right past my ear on the way to the front of Disney movies, songs and live characters for a week. She sang the boat. Luckily, the only thing hurt was my ego... again. parts of the song for the rest of the day. It was pretty cute.

Ed said, "I've never seen one lost like that."

We had a fish after only a few minutes of trolling, but the Debra laughed and blurted out, "You have now!" She went salmon shook the hook out even before Ed could grab it. Ed on to explain that if anything odd is going to happen, it will explained that Sockeye Salmon, which were the salmon conhappen to me. She started to tell Ed about my bear encounter, gregating in front of the mouth of the river have soft mouths. but she was laughing too hard to finish the story.

Sockeyes eat plankton, giving them what anglers call a "soft I was again saved by Ed yelling "Fish On!" mouth" so we would be lucky to land 50% of the fish we hook.

I started toward the rod, but Ed waved me off. "I'd like Debra After the first bit of excitement, we experienced a lull in the to get a few fish in the boat, then you can take your turn and action. Amber and Flint went below in the cabin of the boat to lose a few more fish."

All Debra could do was smile at me as she skipped by me to play and take naps. This gave Ed time to go further into his fishing techniques and strategies. He explained that big schools of take the rod. She may have commented about the redness of Sockeyes were just beginning to show up at the mouth of the Captain Ed and Amber Bridges with Amber’s contribu- my face, but I'm sure it was sunburn.

I finally did land a couple of fish, but somehow all anyone river. Canadian fishery biologists are expecting an all-time re- tion to the day’s catch. SMILES ALL AROUND! cord influx of Sockeyes in just a few weeks. But, sockeyes had wanted to talk about was the ones I lost. Funny how fishermen already started to show up in decent numbers. and fisher wives are sometimes.

According to Ed, schools of Sockeye travel between about 30 and 50 feet below the In total we hooked 13 fish and landed four. We didn't quite land 50%, but both Ed and surface. So, he sank flashers and small lures called Hoochies down at those two levels. In Debra agreed that we would have landed well over 50% had I not been on the boat. all, we had four baited rods and two lines with flashers. The flashers only had foot long As our beautiful day on the water came to an end, Ed pulled up the lures and trolling pieces of metal on the line. Ed explained that the flashers would hopefully keep any equipment. He winked at me and said, "Watch this." He left one lure trailing the boat on school of sockeyes following the boat, even if all four of the rods had fish. the surface about twenty yards back. He said, "Get Amber up out of the cabin."

"When we hit a school of fish, it is going to be a lot of action real fast," said Ed. "If you Just as I got Amber from below, the rod began jumping. We all yelled, "Fish On Amsee a rod start jumping, yell 'FISH ON' loudly. Only two phrases really get my attention on the water. I only jump into action when I hear 'fish on' or 'man overboard'. I looked at Continued Next Page...

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 39 four salmon to the fish cleaning table. And there swam ber!”

Ed handed her the rod and she reeled like mad with a Huey and Duey ... two of the three huge, spotted, harbor huge grin adorning her little face. In short order, Ed net- seals that usually greet Ed. The kids clapped and shrieked ted a juvenile sockeye salmon about 10 inches long. Am- in delight. ber jumped up and down in excitement. The rest of us Ed cleaned the fish and fed the left overs to the seals as beamed and shouted congratulations to Amber. they jumped from the water and lurched on the catwalk.

As soon as Amber was out of earshot I asked Ed, “How It was better than anything at Hunting Seaworld.

Huey-and 2010 Mills County Guide PageDuey 45 did you do that?” capped off a great adventure.

Ed just gave a sage smile and whispered, “I just had a Ed was a superb guide... an expert fisherman, patient, feeling.” informative and personable. I take a lot of people huntby Steven Bridges On the way to shore, Ed explained to all of us that he ing and fishing in Mills County. So, I’m not used to being had some friends he wanted Amber and Flint to meet. He guided. Ed made it easy for me. And I appreciate that.

Needless to say, I never got to comment when aWith dovetheir came whizzing the fun oftheir Krisnames for this are particular said Huey,miss.

DueyI saand Louey.

Debra over appreciated me losing a lot of fish.

Years from on theher easyDisney miss. Kris justto turned to me as top of But, the tree at whatnow seemed likeasked light about vored thepiqued, long silence theall miss. interest thefollowing kids were questions.

Ed just when Cruise Alaska she’ll if to should say, “What was that all youthe were about I letsaying, the thought of razzing kept “You just wait. I Kris thinkwith you’llspeed. really like them. laughed and say, “You have seen sockeye to say Steve? ” Kris and I saw the bird at the same some verbal abuse simmer my mind We have been friends forinyears. ” for salmon Stevetime, lost!”

I guess I can take the lesson several a few seconds. I could see Kris trying not but Kris was first to swing his gun up. He At the dock, we all got off the boat and Ed hauled our That is great withways. to look at me for fear I would begin the hit the dove at forty yards and its momen- me! One, never miss a chance to shut up. tum carried it another twenty yards be- Two, get your razzing in while the razzrazzing.

I was just about to open my mouth with fore it hit the ground. It was a world class ing is good. Or three, hunt doves alone... always. the first of my many clever comments, shot.

ove Hunt Alone... ALWAYS!

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truck on a of the field ted me in iting out”. ves as fast hat, if you t any dove ds. Somein my gun ve was fly-

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Captain Ed feeds some of the sockeye fish scraps to Huey and Duey, while Debra, Amber and Flint watch on. The two harbor seals have befriended Captain Ed and meet him at the dock after each fishing charter.

40 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Map of Goldthwaite Goldthwaite

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Extension Office - 648-2650 Clerk’s Office - 648-2711 Driver’s License Office - 648-2266

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1. Public Library 2. Civic Center & Rodeo Arena 3. Goldthwaite Airport 4. Goldthwaite Golf Course 5. Mills County Courthouse 6. Goldthwaite City Park 7. Goldthwaite Cemetery 8. Goldthwaite High School 9. Goldthwaite Elementary

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*Mills County Area Code - 325

STATE

Established in 1885, Goldthwaite is the county seat of Mills County.

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US

Established in 1885, Food Goldthwaite is the county seat of Mills County, which is named Lodging for John T. Mills, a justice of the Supreme Court for the former Republic of Texas.

RODEO ARENA

ALWAYS DIAL 911

STATE

Shopping

Population 1,782 (2010 Census) County Pop. 4,936 (2010 Census) Elevation 1,580 Zip Code 76844

IN AN EMERGENCY

US

84

according to the 2000 census.

Lodging

183

STATE

Goldthwaite, Texas is Gsituated at the OLDTHWAITE EXAS Goldthwaite (elevation 1,580), isTsituated the intersections of U.S.84 Highways 84 intersections ofatandUS Highways and 183, Texas State Highway 16, and Texas Point of Interest Farm-to-Market Roads 572 and 574.

183, and State Highway 16, and Farm to Shopping Market Roads 572 and 574.

The population of Goldthwaite is 1,802 Point of Interest Food

Local Phone Numbers

US

183

Wel com e Hun ters !

These Maps Brought to You By:

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 41

MILLS COUNTY MAP - Including Towns of Goldthwaite, Mullin, Priddy and Star

42 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Dove & Teal Seasons Set, Licenses Available

By Steven Bridges Dove hunters will have more opportunity later in the season with dates and bag limits finalized.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved the 2014-2015 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide, and a 16-day early teal and Canada goose season.

The traditional September 1 dove season opening day in the North and Central Zones remains; this year falling on Labor Day Monday. However, the first segment in those zones will be shorter than last season, closing on Monday, Oct. 20. The season will reopen Friday, Dec. 19 and run through Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 in the North and Central Zones. Note: Mills County falls into the Central Zone.

The daily bag limit for doves statewide is 15 and the possession limit is 45. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves.

Early Teal Season Set

Mills County dove hunting can be hit or miss. I’m not talking about lack of shooting ability on the part of our hunters, but the here today gone tomorrow dove themselves.

If dove hunting on your land or around your ranch pond is slow, give teal hunting a try.

Teal hunting is a little utilized two-week season running from September 15-30 statewide. Daily bag limit is four in the aggregate (Blue-winged, Green-winged, and

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Cinnamon Teal). Remember to use steel shot for all waterfowl hunting.

A 16-day statewide early teal and Eastern Zone Canada goose season will run Saturday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 28. The daily bag on teal remains six, with a possession limit of 18. Bag limit for Canada geese will be three and a possession limit of 6 in the Eastern Zone only.

on sale Friday, August 15. The current year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except year-to-date fishing licenses) will expire Aug. 31.

Every year, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department issues about 2.5 million hunting and fishing licenses.

Licenses Available Locally

In addition to a hunting license, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education training course or purchase a one-time deferral good for one license year in order to hunt legally in Texas. The certification is valid for life and is honored in all other states and provinces.

Licenses are available locally at Mills County General Store, Higginbotham Brothers, Head’s Hardware and more.

New Texas licenses for the 201415 hunting and fishing seasons go

Hunter Education Mandatory

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 43

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44 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Avoid These Common Dove Hunting Violations A ticket from a Game Warden can ruin an otherwise great day of dove hunting. So, take note of these common dove hunting violations and stay legal. Keeping your hunts legal will ensure you have a happy Mills County dove season.

Failure to plug the magazine of a pump or autoloading shotgun.

For all migratory bird hunting, the gun must be plugged to a three-shot capacity. That means one shell in the firing chamber, no more than two in the magazine.

Hunters who remove their plugs for quail or turkey hunting may forget to replace them for dove hunting. That's one thing you can be sure the game wardens will check.

Failure to keep your doves separate from birds shot by others.

This violation is called "co-mingling game" and it simply means that a warden cannot look in an ice chest where several bags of birds are deposited and tell which hunter shot which birds. Whether birds are cleaned or not, keep each hunter's daily bag segregated in a plastic storage bag with the hunter's name and the date the birds were shot written on the bag. If you hunt two days, label a new bag to hold your second day's harvest.

Hunting in a baited field.

You can get a ticket even if you did not know you were hunting a baited field. So, be careful where and with who you hunt doves.

Violation of "possession limit."

For doves this season, the possession limit is 45 doves. You can now make an extended dovehunting trip, hunt three days, shoot three limits and have them all in your possession.

Double dipping.

This means shooting a daily bag limit of doves in the morning and another limit in the afternoon. Regulations once prohibited morning hunting of doves, just to avoid the potential for double dipping. It is now legal to hunt mornings and afternoons, but it is not legal to exceed the daily bag limit in any given hunting day.

Shooting from the tailgate of a parked pickup truck or from the seat or bed of an ATV. This is a federal rule adapted by TP&W. As stated in the regulations booklet "It is unlawful to hunt from or by means of motor-driven vehicles and land conveyances or aircraft of any kind."

Shooting too early or too late.

Legal shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. While doves don't often fly earlier than 30 minutes before sunrise, they frequently fly after sunset.

Be sure to check the Texas Parks & Wildlife Outdoor Annual for full rules and regulations.

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2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 45

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46 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Special Local Teen Goes On a Special Hunt

By Tammarrah Pledger Eagle Asst. Editor Most teenagers in Mills County have been on a whitetail deer hunt at one point in their lives.

Christian Snodgrass of Goldthwaite is now among them.

Christian, who is better known both locally and now nation-wide for her talent as a singer, said she grew up watching her Daddy, her Grandpa and her uncles hunting and was always fascinated by it. Her disabilities, however, presented some practical problems as far as Christian being able to use a deer blind or sit in a field to hunt like most kids her age.

That all changed when she got a call from the folks at Buckmasters American Deer Foundation.

Tim Schoen, Chairman of the Buckmasters American Deer Foundation Heart of Texas Chapter, said his organization has been doing this sort of assisted hunt for the past seven years. He saw a picture of Christian with Kevin Fowler at KOXE, he said, and decided then that he would contact her to see if she was interested in going hunting.

Christian mentioned that she was actually wearing her camo shirt in the picture with Fowler.

“I guess something just made them want to ask if I wanted to go hunting,” she said.

Schoen said when he contacted Christian and her family, they had no clue Buckmasters could make it work.

“They just didn’t see how it would be possible,” he said, “but I said ‘We can make it work.’”

“I was excited,” Christian said. “I was surprised there was equipment I could use to help me hunt.”

The 5F Ranch at Zephyr, where Christian hunted, is an annual hunt sponsor for the Heart of Texas Chapter of Buckmasters, Schoen said, so when he contacted them they said “they’d love to have her,” so they made a schedule and got things rolling.

Buckmasters does similar hunts regularly for disabled youth, Schoen said, as well as for wounded veterans, local food pantry deer meat processing, hunter education, and so on. (Learn more at Buckmasters.com.)

They arranged for Christian to use a Be-Adaptive motorized gun rest with a joystick and video scope, Schoen said.

He said he was running video of the hunt while Lane Lanning and Larry Hart assisted Christian, but in the end, he said “she got it all on her own.”

Christian said she used the joystick to control the gun and the video scope to watch the deer and to aim. Finally there was a button to push when she was ready to shoot.

“I knew if I set my mind to it, I could do anything,” Christian said.

“She got a real nice 8-point and then a doe the next morning,” Schoen said. “She loved it. She was excited!”

Schoen said he watched the buck fall, and then heard Christian exclaim, “I got him, I got him!”

“When I got him, it was surprising and awesome,” Christian said. “It was a feeling of success, and now it was something I could do.

True to her Mills County upbringing, Christian said she of course kept the venison to eat, and would have the buck’s antlers mounted.

“I would like to thank everyone who was there to help make this possible,” Christian added.

Above, Christian Snodgrass of Goldthwaite practices with the special equipment she used on the Buckmasters hunt she went on last season at the 5F Ranch in Zephyr, Texas.

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48 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Blind Marine Enjoys Mills County Deer Hunt

By Mickey Donahoo fle on the “middle one” while I watched What would you expect the outcome the cross hairs on the iPhone screen. It to be if you had Warren Blesh (The Bull) seemed like forever but we got the shot and Mike Jernigan (Jarhead) sitting in a lined up just as the other big 8-point deer blind with Jo Spradley praying for stepped directly behind our target and their success? Well, I would expect the just stood there. I quickly assumed, Bull and the Jarhead to be successful and rightly so, that there were not two but the deer would be at a tremendous permits in the mail and, to further comdisadvantage. plicate things, we were in a “one buck” This is exactly what happened on the county. Probably just guessing, the Bull recent Wounded Warrior Hunt when a and Dori would not be real tickled with blind Marine was teamed up with the two nice bucks on the ground.

Bull on the RRR Ranch. I had informed Time ticked slowly away as I kept the Bull that Col. Smith had lined up a Mike on target waiting for #2 to clear. blind Marine for the Saturday hunt and Shortly, #2 and everyone else cleared needed a good set-up. Warren quickly and we were left with an empty space jumped on the opportunity to share his in front of us. ranch and went about, on real short no Eventually, the rag horn started back and the two eights finally followed to tice, preparing for maximum success. about 80 yards out and stopped with Warren already had some experia lot of apprehension evident. In a ence with a “blind” hunt when he inminute Bull said to shoot one of them vited Dale Allen out several years ago before they left for other parts of the and Dale was able to take his first deer county. Well the Jarhead said he was since becoming blind. I was able to tag good out to 400 yards but I was a lot along on that hunt and, for a while, it more nervous at 80 yards than I had looked like the Keystone Cops trying been at 50. to get the hunt done. Thanks to a very We got lined up, I gave Mike the “fire” patient deer that hung around until the command (I’m not sure a civie can comshadow allowed the laser to show up, the hunt was a one-shot success. mand a Lt. Col. to do anything) and he Well I got to tag along on this hunt confidently pulled the trigger with full with a one-lady camera crew in a norfaith he was on target. The buck was mal two person blind. We were once dead but ran about 50 yards before again waiting patiently for a doe or tipping over just to further add to my spike to get things underway. anxiety. It looks like the Dale Allen ex Finally, two nice 8 pointers and a rag perience would have prepared me for horn showed up 50 yards out front but Former Marine Michael Jernigan of Dallas poses with the nice 8-point buck he harvested on the this but apparently had no effect on no doe. They socialized and posed for RRR Ranch during the annual Mills County Wounded Warrior Hunt. me whatsoever. I was on the verge of a us for quite a while but still no doe. mental breakdown.

Unknown to the rest of the blind occu The Bull and the camera lady yelled pants, the Bull had applied for an additional buck permit earlier in the week, they “he’s down” at the same time, allowing the Jarhead and me to decompress. I have said “yes,” and the permit was in the mail but not in our hands. been on quite a few hunts along the way but don’t think I have ever experienced As time dragged on the bucks continued to put on a show and I noticed Warren anything like this. Thanks everyone for letting me tag along for such an experience had pulled out his iPhone and was texting. I would have expected this of a teen- I will never forget. ager (or younger) but not of Bull (he is a seasoned hunter). Well he was texting our This would not have been possible without the local organizers, the landownlocal game warden, Vance Flowers, concerning our situation and asking permis- ers, the guides, many helpers and Col. Smith making it all come together. It is just sion to shoot a buck. Vance agreed considering the permit was on the way. a small way that we can say to our wounded warriors thanks for your part in ensur After this, the Bull looked at me, the spotter and said “shoot the middle one.” Well ing that we, as Americans, have the freedom we have. Also, the whole world is safer I can barely hear it thunder, let alone whispering and I asked for confirmation, “the because of the sacrifices all of our troops have made throughout the world ever little one?” No, the middle one.” I asked for confirmation again and the blind warrior since we have been a country. turned and “looked” at me and said “the middle one.”

Maybe you shouldn’t ask me about this experience in public because I might cry We immediately sprang into action as I tried to prompt Mike into lining up his ri- and that would not be becoming of a spotter for a Marine and a Bull.

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 49

me o c l e W s! r e t n Hu

Mark Yo ur Calenda r!

Lath Boykin shot this 20 inch wide 12 point buck last season near Ridge in western Mills County.

He used rattling antlers to “rattle” the buck into rifle range.

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50 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

New ‘Must Haves’ for the 2014 Season

By Rodney Spies Mills County General Store These eight must-have items are brand new and guaranteed to enhance your Mills County hunting season. Come by the store for a free demonstration of all the following items.

MAX BOX GUN REST I first saw this at the 2014 shot show and, was amazed at the simplicity in appearance yet proven effectiveness of its use. It has integrated magnets, super lightweight and different cut outs for various rifle sizes with two different heights. I think this is a must for every hunter and offered at an affordable price of just $49.99.

SPYPOINT GAME TRAIL CAMERA Now this is a camera! We found this company three years ago at the 2011 shot show and were very impressed with the quality, simplicity, and performance of all of their products. The problem was…it’s a Canadian based company and trying to do business with the French “I don’t speak French very well” was a bit challenging to say the least. They now have representation in the United States and we are buying them direct from Spy Point. There are several models to choose from however… the “Smart 10MP” is the camera I’ve become excited about. It’s called the Smart

camera because it is “smart”…It offers 10Megapixels, 36 LED lights, video from 10 to 90 seconds, infrared adjustments, color photos by day, black & white at night, time lapse mode, multi-shot mode, senses from 5 to 65 feet, uses 6 alkaline batteries or powered by a rechargeable battery pack (not included). The interface is simple with a touch wheel that enables you to control the camera in one simple action. Come by and check it out.

ISCOPE ISCOPE is another new item we found at the 2014 shot show this past January and we got very excited about it. Why? How many folks do you know that have a smart phone? You can mount the housing on any rifle or bow scope and, video tape your hunt or take photos without using a camera or video recording device. You don’t even have to look through your scope to pull the trigger on your target because the crosshairs are on your phone! All you do is purchase the ISCOPE, buy a 99 cent download app, and your off and running.

The unit sells for $99.00.

TRACER SPOT LIGHTS TRACER SPOT LIGHTS are now available at the Mills County General Store! They are high power handheld lights ideal for varmint hunting, observing wildlife and game counts, and feature an adjustable focus system. You zero in on small targets or, flood large areas with the built in rheostat. Available in 210 or 140 Power for a

distance from 400 to 800 meters. Colored filter lenses are also available in red and green.

HAWKE SPORT OPTICS HAWKE SPORT OPTICS have now made available an affordable Night Vision Monocular. Perfect to enhance your night vision and take photos and record videos in total darkness. A 5x fixed zoom and 8x digital zoom gets you closer to the action.

Up to 1 ½ hours runtime and operates on a rechargeable battery. 9 level brightness and the media can be viewed on a TV, computer, or monocular.

SUN OPTICS 3-9x32 RIFLE SCOPE Who says you’ve got to spend a lot of money if you want to have a good rifle or tactical scope? Sun optics designed a series of tactical scopes to fit any need at an affordable price. We carry a 3-9 x 32 mildot reticle scope which illuminates red or green on the crosshairs, nitrogen filled, waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof all for an affordable price of $159.99. Mounts on any picatinny rail.

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TINKS NEW HOT SHOT SCENT Unlike other aerosol bombs, the Hot Shot bag in can technology separates the lure from the propellant. Many other sprays are diluted and the “bag in can” design isolates the lure and uses compressed air around the bag to squeeze the lure out of the can therefore, it’s 100% pure lure product.

Available in Tinks famous doe in rut, doe-p, and buck mist bombs.

TENPOINT CROSSBOWS TENPOINT CROSSBOWS are the choice of hunters today. The new “Tenpoint” Titan Extreme package consists of 3x Pro View scope, 3 aluminum arrows with practice points and a 3 arrow quiver. Mossy Oak camo pattern. Crossbows are an up and coming way to get that early Big Buck monster! Package retails for $599.99 complete.

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52 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Don’t Let Your Camouflage Get Out of Date

By Steven Bridges A few years ago, I bought my nephew, Blake, a camouflage bed sheet set complete with matching pillow cases.

Blake then asked for a camo bed spread to match the sheets he received for his birthday.

Camo bed sheets might seem funny to the non-hunter.

Blake isn’t going to be hiding from any deer while tucked snugly into his bed for the night. What makes my situation even more funny is that the bed spread that matches Blake’s sheets are on backorder everywhere.

I got flashbacks of parents waiting in line before Christmas, hoping to get their little child the right Tickle-Me-Elmo, Beany Babies and before that Cabbage Patch Dolls.

For Blake, and many of us, his bed sheet set speaks volumes about who Blake is. Blake is an outdoorsman. Marketing professionals know who people like Blake are. Just ask Ginger and Rodney at the Mills County General Store where Blake runs when he enters their store. They’ll say, “Blake runs

straight past the toys and runs right into the outdoor section.”

Camo has changed from a way to hide from animals into a silent, political fashion statement. Bird watchers don’t wear camo, bird hunters do.

It turns out that camouflage makers don’t even make camouflage clothing, truck seat covers or bed spreads. Realtree®, Mossy Oak® and Seclusion 3D® all develop the camo patterns, not the fabric. These companies make their money licensing the use of their patterns to other companies that actually produce the products. Don’t be surprised if you see telephones, ceiling fan blades, sun glasses and toothbrush holders in your favorite camo pattern. I have enough trouble finding my cell phone. Imagine if I put a camo cover on it.

Industry experts say camo licensing is a multi-billion dollar industry. Because product producers must pay to make things camo, don’t be surprised if a salesperson tells you,

“For just $15 more, you can get that shower curtain in Mossy Oak Breakup®.”

Blake has bought into camo marketing hook, line and sinker. Not only must he wear camo when we hunt, but it must also match. Think about that a minute ... a 10-year old boy worrying about “matching.” I have spent valuable hunting time looking for the shirt that matches a specific pair of camo pants. Tears rolled full force when we couldn’t find Blake’s camo boots before a deer hunt. No matter that we were to hunt from a box blind, where his white, athletic shoes would never be seen.

I look at the new camo patterns with fascination. Computer imaging has made complex, high definition camo a reality. Marketing experts have made camo into a fashion statement. I just want to be made into a bush, invisible to deer.

I guess I don’t care if another hunter says to me, “That camo pattern is so last season.”

Hunters Bag Bucks in Mills County Last Season

Schunke Bags ‘Casa Dilaipido’ Bruiser

Mills County Man Bags 19 Point Buck

Barnett Bags Trophy Whitetail Buck

Richard Schunke bagged this nice 10-point buck with a 17.75inch spread last season on the Casa Dilapidado Ranch off FM 572 just a a few miles from the town of Goldthwaite.

Greg Owens downed this 19 point deer with a 17 “ spread north of Goldthwaite on Friday, November 8th. It scored 172.25 Boone & Crockett points.

Levi Barnett killed this trophy buck recently in Mills County.

Levi is the son of Lance and Martha Barnett, and the grandson of Del and Joy Barnett, and Bill and Mary Blackwell.

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54 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

But Honey... You Just Don’t Understand go varmint hunting.

Now, every shot counted. We only had a handful of shells, so it was one shot, one kill, trying to snipe these raccoons.

Brandon talked a lot about how good it would be for the pecan trees and the crop to get rid of these raccoons, but in the end, the best part was having fun together.

It was nearly 4 a.m. when we called it quits, having taken out more than 80 raccoons.

Lance said when he got home, he crawled into bed with his wife, Martha, and told her,

“Honey, I just had the best night of my life.”

Martha, he said, rubbed her eyes and rolled over, asking him, “What about the day we got married? What about the births of our children?”

In his infinite wisdom, Lance replied, “But Honey! You don’t understand ... 84 ‘coons!”

You can imagine her response.

And so, we’ve been telling the story of the raccoon hunt ever since.

Brandon Grebe and Lance Barnett prepare to assault the pecan-eating coons.

By Steven Bridges A few years ago, a nasty January night turned into one of the best nights I can remember.

It was about 35 degrees outside with drizzling cold rain, and Brandon Grebe, Lance Barnett and I got the bright idea to go raccoon hunting.

The raccoons had been eating all the pecans in the orchard on Brandon’s family’s ranch, and it was turning into a real problem. So we decided we’d help out, and also get in some target practice and “play time.”

We bundled up in our winter clothes and drove out to the creek bottom on Brandon’s family’s place.

I was driving, and Brandon and Lance were in the back sitting on chairs I’d put in the bed of my truck for just such an occasion. When they turned the spotlight on, the trees lit up like it was Christmas, aglow with raccoon eyes looking back at us from every branch on every tree we could see.

(Editor’s note: If you decide to go

varmint hunting at night and use a spot light, it’s a good idea to notify the Mills County Sheriff’s Department [325-648-2245] so they can let the Game Warden know what’s going on).

I sat in the cab, and Brandon and Lance took turns — one holding the spotlight and one shooting.

And shooting, and shooting, and shooting some more.

After about 30 minutes of driving around and shooting in this pecan bottom, we realized we didn’t have enough shells. So we drove back into town, but as many of you know, there’s no place to buy ammunition in the wee hours of the night. We then went to our respective houses and tried to rustle up some more shells. We dug through closets and junk drawers and came up with a small Ziplock bag of shells.

We drove back out to the ranch, giddy as school boys. We all have our own families now, so it’s a rare treat to get out at night with the guys and

Local raccoon hunters Brandon Grebe and Lance Barnett with just a few of the 84 raccoons harvested out of a Mills County pecan orchard.

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56 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

How I Bowhunted Totally NAKED!

By Steven Bridges hoped my luck would hold out.

The wind blew for four days straight in Mills County in the early fall a few years ago. As the sun began to set, the field contained around fifteen deer, all does and little On the fifth day, the wind laid, so I took off work early. I grabbed my bow and headed bucks, grazing like cattle. The deer already in the field seemed to give approaching for my homemade tripod stand located on a busy trail leading to an oat field. I had deer confidence. I watched as new deer approached the edge of the field. The deer high hopes of taking a mature doe from that tall vantage point. The best laid plans... would watch the feeding deer for a while. Then, swish their tails and trot right into My hand-built tripod stand is over 23 feet tall. I could usually see the top of the the field with no worries. tripod from where I park the truck several hundred yards from the oat patch.

As light waned, a doe eased her way down my trail. She was alone and very ner As I parked the truck this day, I saw no tripod stand. I groaned. vous. And, she was huge! I knew right then that this was a trophy doe. By her size and I knew the stand had been knocked over by the wind. My heart dropped as I the fact that she didn’t have a fawn with her, I figured she was barren due to her age. walked toward the downed stand. I really had my heart set on hunting that stand. This was the deer I was hoping for.

Sure enough, the wind had laid the tri I hunched lower in my chair. She was pod over on it’s side, right over the hot less than fifty yards and closing. I just deer trail. In fact, a new faint trail could hoped she didn’t decide to veer downwind like the yearling had done earlier be seen going around the stand. So, I figured the stand had been down for several that afternoon. I knew for a fact that this days. doe would snort up a storm if she got wind of me, ending my hunt for sure.

I had no other stand option in this area. I looked around and considered go As luck would have it, the old doe stayed on my trail. I began to feel the “Doe ing back to work. I happened to see the Fever” that always tries to give me the chair from the tripod stand laying in the shakes. My nervousness seemed more intall grass twenty yards from the tripod. I guess I’d just have to hunt on the ground tense than normal, feeling exposed with with no blind... NAKED! nothing between me and my quarry.

I knew the odds were stacked against The doe slowed her already cautious me, but I decided a bad day hunting progress as she stopped broad side to would be better than going back to the me within ten yards. I even squinted for office. So, I grabbed the chair and hunfear of her seeing the whites of my eyes. kered down in the tall grass up against Luckily, she was more focussed on the the trunk of a big oak tree downwind of deer feeding in the field than me under the oak tree. the trail.

It was not too long before deer began Even with her broad side to me, I still to move through the brush toward the didn’t feel I could draw my bow without oat field. A yearling doe sauntered right her busting me. So, I decided to let her down my trail to within fifty yards of me pass me. I’d try for a quartering away shot.

The author with the doe he harvested while hunting “naked” (without a blind).

After what seemed like an eternity, the before veering downwind and directly big doe took about five quick steps up behind me. I thought to myself, “Here it comes. Let the snorting begin. ” the rise to get a better look at the deer al But, to my surprise, the little doe never snorted. When she got downwind and got a ready in the field. This was going to be my only chance. In a few seconds she would snout full of me, she simply froze and looked my way. She seemed more curious than swish her tail and trot into the field. It was now or never. alarmed. She slowly stomped her way toward me as I peered at her from around the With her full attention diverted away from me, I slowly drew my bow. At fifteen trunk. She came to within twenty yards of me before deciding I was bad news. She yards, almost all my pins were in her vitals. I released my arrow. My arrow angled up bounded back into the brush. But, she never snorted. I let out a sigh of relief. But, I through her chest and into her spine, dropping her in her tracks. suddenly felt very exposed.

There was a surreal silence. I was stunned. I often get a delayed “doe fever” after I could usually get away with quite a bit of movement sitting atop my tall, camo- making a bow shot. Sure enough, my hands began to shake and my knees went covered tripod stand. Plus, I almost always saw the deer before they saw me, giving weak. It was a good thing I was sitting down. me a definite advantage.

I glanced out into the field. The feeding deer had not noticed a thing. They kept Down on the ground with no blind, I had to think before I even moved an eyelash. eating with their heads down. I couldn’t believe I had beat the odds. I bagged a maIt seemed every deer was looking right at me whenever they lifted their head up. I ture whitetail with my bow from the ground without the aid of a blind. wondered how I was ever going to get drawn back on a deer. I figured the problem I love it when a plan comes together and the deer cooperate just right. But somewas moot since I was probably not going to get that close to a deer sitting on the times, the best laid plans can go awry. When I saw my tripod down, I could have ground with no blind. packed up and gone back to the office. I would have missed one of my most exciting As the afternoon wore on, deer began to move into the oat field. None decided whitetail hunts. to come down my trail. But, at least none decided to walk right down wind of me. I

2014 Mills County Hunting Guide - 57

Remembering the Good Old Days

By Steven Bridges There were two seasons when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s in Mills County — fishing season and hunting season.

I was born with an innate yearning to get out of the house and hunt and fish, and my parents were more than happy to oblige. As far as I’m concerned, I have the best parents in the world. They always sent me out of the house with a little bit of money in my pocket to buy worms, .22 shells, and whatever else that would help keep me occupied for the day.

In the summer, my day went like this. I would get up, put my fishing rod across my handlebars, go to the local drive-in gas station, buy worms, a Milky Way and an RC Cola, and go to what was then called “The Frog Pond” — a little pool of run off water by the Goldthwaite City Park. I’d fish until lunch, then I’d come have a hamburger with my parents at the Wagon Wheel next door to The Eagle office, and entertain them with my stories of almost hooking “Myrtle the Turtle.”

Myrtle’s story is for another day.

Back then a kid could stay off by himself nearly all day. There were no concerns about kidnapping or any other nonsense, and as Georgie, my mom, used to say, “Who would keep him anyway?”

After lunch, I’d go to the swimming pool, park my bike on the fence, where I leaned my fishing pole, take my shirt off, walk in with my quarter, and swim in the same cut off jeans I wore fishing. When they closed the pool, I’d bike back home, and my buddies and I would

stay out until dark fishing at nearby ponds and stock tanks. Georgie always kept a package of chicken livers defrosted on hand, so we could try to catch catfish.

As the sun would begin to set, we would maybe be fishing, maybe throwing rocks, or even swimming in the pond, depending on how hot it was and how the fish were biting.

out for the day. There were about 25 acres between the back door of my house and the front door of the elementary school cafeteria. As soon as it was light out, I’d be out the door with my pellet gun and pocket full of pellets.

My pellet rifle, a Benjamin .22 caliber pump pellet rifle, was the envy of every kid in town. At that time, the maximum pressure for a My pellet rifle, a Benjamin .22 pellet gun was 10 pumps; at 5 pumps, though, my rifle was caliber pump pellet rifle, was faster and more accurate than the envy of every kid in town. anyone else’s. I could shoot birds, rabbits, and could even - Steven Bridges kill armadillos and raccoons in the right situation. I never considered whether it was The night usually ended when one hunting season or not. There was kid’s head shot up, and he’d fear- no such thing. I was just a kid, and that was my excuse for everything. fully utter, Nothing made me more happy “That’s my mom! I gotta go!”

At that point, all bets were off. than to show Edith Daniel a dead Someone was almost certainly in rabbit. Edith had a wonderful vegetrouble, and the rest of us would table garden, and for that reason, as scramble home for dinner before you can imagine, she hated rabbits. meeting a similar fate. Muddy, No matter how she tried to keep nasty, chigger bit, and stinking of them out of her garden, they would pond muck, we would head home always find a hole to get in and eat for supper. I remember stripping her vegetables. I considered myself in the back yard, so Georgie could her knight in shining armor. spray me off with water and check I ruthlessly hunted rabbits to my nether regions for ticks and oth- show her, and even tied the raber vermin. She’d put a pair of tighty bits’ tales to a necklace to show her. whiteys on me and smile while I She never paid me, but I didn’t care. devoured the chicken fried steak, I just wanted to have an excuse to corn, green beans, biscuits, and hunt. all the other delicious food she’d Eventually I’d get bored and hunmade for our family. gry again, however, so I’d walk to This went on over and over, day the main fence post at the boundafter day, until school started. ary of the school property, lean my When school started, I would pellet gun against a fence post, and wake up at about 5 a.m., watch then go into the elementary cafThe Three Stooges and eat my ce- eteria where the ladies were makreal, before dressing and heading ing breakfast. I’d usually show up

at about 7 a.m. even though school didn’t start until 8:15 a.m.

I remember my parents telling me one day that Mr. Williams, our principal, stopped by the house after this had gone on awhile. He asked my parents to tell me not to go to school until 7:30 a.m. at least, and that I could only have one breakfast a day.

Eventually deer season would roll around. My parents had a lease place west of Goldthwaite in 1979, when I was 9-years old or so. I hunted nearly every day of deer season.

My dad, Frank, would take me to the “blind,” which looking back was more like a box I imagine resembled a German concentration camp solitary confinement box for bad behavior. It didn’t bother me then, though. I’d happily sit there as soon as school let out until dark looking out of that blind every day of deer season.

It’s hard to imagine in this day and age, taking a 9-year old to a deer blind, dropping him off with rifle, bologna sandwich, and an RC cola and saying, “Get a big one!” At the time, I know I couldn’t imagine anything better.

Nowadays hunters take it for granted to see deer. At that time, there weren’t as many whitetails roaming around in Mills County.

I hunted nearly every day of the season of that year, and I only saw three deer the entire time.

But you can be sure I shot all three — two spikes and a doe.

Steven Bridges is now the owner of The Goldthwaite Eagle and Editor of the yearly Mills County Hunting Guide published every fall.

58 - 2014 Mills County Hunting Guide

Local Game Warden Vance Flowers Offers Tips

Vance Flowers, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Game Warden for Mills County Call Before Spotlighting Hunters doing night surveys or varmint shooting should contact the local sheriff’s department at 325648-2245 to notify the dispatcher of his or her intent. The call will be recorded in a log, which helps reduce misunderstandings about why people may be spotlighting at night, he said.

Operation Game Thief Help stop the illegal hunting and fishing in Texas. If you have information which will assist game wardens in apprehending persons who are violating the hunting and fishing regulations of this state, Operation Game Thief needs your help!

Call immediately! Dial toll-free, 1-800-792-GAME (4263), any time, day or night and provide the following information to the Texas Parks and Wildlife police communi-

cations officer: - the nature of the violation - the location of the violation - the name and/or description of the violator - a description of any vehicle or boat involved in the violation - any other important information which will assist in apprehending the violator If you wish to remain anonymous, a code number will be assigned to you. You do not have to give your name if you do not want to. The more information you can provide at the earliest opportunity will increase the probability of arrest and conviction.

Archery Hunting and Handguns There has been some confusion about carrying a handgun while archery hunting for deer. You do NOT need a Conceal Carry License to carry a handgun while archery hunting. Of course, you must use only the archery gear to harvest a deer during archery season.

Landowner Relations Count Landowners who have deer leases are encouraged to post a copy of the lease documents at their camps or give a copy to the hunters using the land so the documents can be accessed quickly. Leasers should make an effort to talk with neighbors in case a wounded deer jumps the fence. Always gain permission to follow a deer into a neighboring place BEFORE you follow it.

Hunter Safety Certification Options In addition to a hunting license, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education training course or purchase a one-time deferral good for

one license year in order to hunt legally in Texas. The certification is valid for life and is honored in all other states and provinces.

Hunters who need hunter education certification now have expanded contemporary options including a streamlined, one-day basic course and an option for anyone 17 years of age or older to take the hunting safety training completely online.

A combination online home study and 4 to 5 hour skills field day course is also offered. More information on hunter education certification is available online at www. tpwd.state.tx.us/outdoor-learning/ hunter-education .

Local Game Donation Program Hunters who take a deer and decide they do not want to keep the meat can donate the animal to the local Ministerial Association, which has a program to get the meat processed and to needy families locally. Hunters who wish to donate an animal are asked to field dress it before taking it to the Mills County Meat Co. or to contact the Game Warden to pick it up.

13 Inch Rule in Fourth Year This marks the fourth year of the 13-inch antler restriction and each year has shown a decrease in the number of illegal bucks harvested.

I think this has also improved the overall condition of the deer herds.

Along with this antler restriction, please keep in mind that the doe population needs to be managed as well.

Tags & Hunter Ed Hunters may only hunt with their own tags. Hunters should keep their hunter education cards with

them or have that status indicated on their licenses.

Dove Rules During dove season, hunters may NOT hunt from any vehicle (trucks, cars, UTVs, ATVs, etc.)

Hunting over placed bait (grain, rock salt, etc.) is NOT permitted.

The dove aggregate limit is 15 and the total possession limit is 45 for the 2014 season. Ring neck or Eurasian doves are not considered as part of that daily limit and in fact are not controlled by us since they are an exotic species of dove.

There is no limit or a closed season on those.

Turkeys Still on the Rise Here A personal observation I have made is that in the spring of 2013 and 2014, there was a considerable increase in the local turkey population with much larger than average numbers seen and harvested.

Most Common Hunting Violation The most common hunting violation in Mills County is improper tagging or failure to update the hunter’s log. Keep that in mind.

Thank You Mills County

Thanks to the landowners and lease hunters I have dealt with over the last four years. I hope to continue that positive relationship with the community in the future.

Happy hunting.

Flowers took over as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden for Mills County in 2009. Originally from the San Angelo area, Flowers grew up traveling between San Angelo and Early, where he had family, and as such, was already very familiar with Mills County before moving here.

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