Mills County Hunting Guide 2020

2020 MILLS COUNTY

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6 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Wham, Bam... Thank You, Ma’am!

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle I don’t deer hunt much by myself at this point in my hunting life. I spend most of my time guiding friends, my kids, and my family. Last season, I guided my sister-in-law Lisa Thompson on a rare deer hunt.

Lisa and her husband Vince have three young children. Because she is always busy with the kids, she has very limited hunting opportunities.

In fact, she hadn’t been deer hunting since her youngest, Macy, was born three years ago.

So I jumped when she asked me to guide her on her one and only free afternoon last season.

The pressure was on me to try to get Lisa on a good buck in a single afternoon.

Lots of factors can mess up a hunt on any given day. I have had hunts derailed when weather turned foul on me. Once a neighboring rancher decided to gather stock right in the middle of my hunt. He blew his siren for an hour as he drove around yelling, “Wooo Cows! HEY COWS! Come On Cows!” And I’ve had hunts ruined many times by reasons only known to the deer.

Scouting helps before these short duration, pressure packed hunts. Unlike most of the family, I’m at the ranch a lot. While doing normal ranch chores, I keep

track of where and when I see deer. I also keep my eyes peeled for deer tracks, rubs and scrapes.

Over time, I have noticed patterns of deer movement on our ranch. These movements are more or less reliable. But on any given day, it is still a crap shoot.

That is why it is called hunting and not shooting.

So given the constraints of Lisa’s short window of oppor-

the stool and shoot. But a storm blew the stand over a few years back and the bar stool didn’t make it. Now I have a chair in the blind. I never cut new windows because all I do now is watch deer with binoculars. So now the windows are up at eye height on me with binoculars. But the window height would turn out to be a real shooting challenge for Lisa.

I told Lisa about the tight quar-

on the way to the blind. I sent Lisa up the ladder into the blind first. I held Lisa’s unloaded rifle, my little stool, and my blind bag that contains binoculars, grunt call, rattling horns, snacks, etc.

Lisa squeezed through the little door on the side of the blind and disappeared inside. I had just started up the ladder with the gear when I heard Lisa ‘whisper yelling’, “Hurry Steve! I see a buck!

Hurry!”

I got to the door and handed Lisa the rifle.

I threw the stool and my bag inside as quietly as possible. Of course, it sounded like I was banging on a drum set. I wrangled my body inside the tiny space feeling like a clown getting into the car before a performance at the circus.

Lisa busied herself loading the rifle while I dug in my bag for my binoculars. I hunched over to the window and put eyes on the buck a few seconds before Lisa told me that her rifle was loaded and ready.

I could see that this was indeed the buck I had seen in the area.

He was standing in the shade of a wide oak tree facing a big doe.

They were about 125 yards away.

Both the buck and the doe were looking at us fumbling around in the tiny blind.

“When I said I’d do anything to get a deer, I didn’t really mean ANYTHING!” said Lisa. tunity, I chose my most reliable stand at the ranch. Now when I say that this is “my” most reliable stand, I mean that it is where I sit to watch deer. In addition, I had been seeing a nice ten point buck near the blind every day for a week solid. He liked to hang out under the many oak trees near the blind. Every time I saw him, he was either eating acorns or chasing does.

On the downside, this is a one man box blind on stilts. I have hunted with my nine year-old son in this blind several times. It was a tight squeeze inside with my son. It would be even tighter quarters with my sister-in-law.

In addition to the small area inside the stand, I placed the shooting windows up high in the stand.

I had an old bar stool when I built the blind. I placed the shooting windows high up so I could sit on

ters, but I didn’t think about the windows being too high. She said a little desperately, “I just want to get a deer. I don’t really care what we have to do to get it.” She would live to regret that statement.

Since I only had one chair in the blind, I chose to pack along a little three legged stool for me. It was all I thought would fit in the blind next to the chair. I’d put Lisa up in the chair.

As luck (or three little kids) would have it, we got a late start on the hunt. We got to the ranch about an hour later than I would have liked and parked the truck.

We’d only have a couple hours of shooting light for our hunt.

We made a bee line for the blind walking into the wind, hoping not to get busted by any early moving deer.

Luckily, we didn’t see any deer

Continued on page 8...

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 7

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8 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Wham, Bam...

Continued from Page 6

FROM THE COVER: Lisa Thompson with her ‘Wham Bam’ trophy buck. Lisa harvested the buck with a .243 rifle on the XTC Graves Family Ranch near the community of Caradan in northeast Mills County. Lisa was guided (probably for the last time) by her brother-in-law Steven Bridges.

The buck obviously had the doe on his mind instead of his safety. He was looking annoyed as if to tell us to give him a little privacy. Meanwhile the doe was pleading with her eyes for us to shoot this SOB of a buck because he had more than acorns on his mind.

From my hunched position with binoculars to my eyes, I told Lisa to get her rifle up and shoot. She said, “Steve, exactly how would you like me to do that?”

I turned and saw that she was too short to get her rifle up to the window from the chair. I told her to stand up and shoot. She tried to stand, but the chair was too close to the front of the blind. She could stand straight up, but this put her up against the front of the blind and against the window, which was now too short for her. From a standing position, she couldn’t get the rifle through the window either. It didn’t help that we were squished shoulder to shoulder, complicating matters worse.

Then I remembered how Flint and I had handled this. Flint sat on my lap while we hunted. He took his shot from my lap too. I told Lisa this.

“When I said I’d do anything to get a deer, I didn’t really mean ANYTHING!” said Lisa.

In the end she agreed. It took some scooching, banging, and more than a few cuss words uttered under my breath to get myself seated in the chair with Lisa on my lap. I could just imagine the buck watching the thumping, shaking blind thinking, “If the blind is rocking...”

With Lisa seated on my lap, she was finally in position to put her crosshairs on the buck. Luckily, the buck was still under the oak tree with his doe. I guess love is blind.

Lisa has never missed a shot at a deer in all the years I have known her. Even with all the distractions, she nailed the buck right behind the shoulder. We watched the buck go down after just a few yards.

I looked up at Lisa, smiled and said, “Wham Bam Thank You Ma’am!”

She rolled her eyes and replied, “Not a word of this ever gets out ok?”

I replied, “Don’t worry. It will be our little secret.”

(Editor’s Note: I guess I really messed up that secret thing. Sorry Lisa!)

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 9

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10 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Henry .45-70 Rifle: Proof in the Pudding

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle Central Texas was in a drought this past summer. The ground had been rock hard and the grass and leaves made tons of noise, making still hunting impossible. I was itching to get out and still hunt in the brush for hogs with my new Henry .45-70 lever action rifle. But the hard ground showed no tracks and each step in the brush sounded like Rice Krispies ... Snap, Crackle, and Pop! Finally one weekday night, we got a little much needed rain.

It was only about a 1/4 inch of moisture. It was not enough to really break the drought, but just enough to show hog tracks in the dirt. Plus, the rain would quiet the leaves and grass, making for a quiet still hunt. So, I called into work with a bad case of flu... Swine Flu to be exact.

My plan was simple. I knew where hogs were crossing through a small water gap on our fence line at the ranch. I’d go to that spot and follow the tracks slowly into the brush until I found where the hogs were bedded.

Once I found the hogs, I’d be within twenty yards of them. I knew this because there was no place in that thick brush where I could see more than twenty yards. In this situation, a scope with any magnification would make my shot slower. At that range and in that thick of cover, fast would trump accuracy.

The fully adjustable semibuckhorn rear sight of my Henry .45-70 would fill the bill perfectly.

I imagined raising my rifle, finding the shoulder and squeezing the trigger. The reliable lever action would allow for a quick follow up shot if my aim was less than perfect.

The rifle comes from the factory tapped for adding a scope rail, but none would be needed here.

I made a mental note to order the scope rail base and match it with quick release scope mount and a low magnification scope for stand hunting porkers. That way, I could quickly change the rifle from a close range brush gun to a 100+ yard stand rifle.

I also chose not to put a sling on my seven pound Henry rifle.

A sling tends to catch on brush and make extra noise and movement. Plus, a sling can get in the

way of a snap shot. And on this hunt, speed would be key.

The information on the Henry rifle says that it holds four rounds of ammo. But I was able to load five rounds into the tubular magazine without any problem. I’m not sure if this is a best practice, but I didn’t want to be a shell short if I was charged by a big boar in the thick brush.

One good thing about the .45-70 is that most major manufacturers produce rounds for the caliber. The army popularized the .45-70 round in the 1870s when they made it standard issue for US Troops. Since then, the .45-70 has found a solid following in big and dangerous game hunters. The round has been in continuous production since the 1870s.

Knocking down a charging boar hog in close cover is quite an issue. Big hogs are famously tough. It takes a lot of power to drop a big porker in his tracks.

Hogs have thick, dense bones protecting their vitals. The two schools of thought on dropping a hog are to aim for the ear and make a brain shot, or aim for the shoulder area and hope to break one or both shoulders.

Ear shooting is fine from a stand with an accurate rifle and a good rest. But even so, I have

seen ear shots go horribly wrong in the past, so I am firmly in the shoulder shooting school. I feel shooting for the shoulder with plenty of lead gives me the most room for error. So, I chose Winchester 300 grain partition gold solid point ammo for this hunt.

This round is known for its deep penetration and delayed expansion for big game with thick bones.

••••• The morning dawned clear and crisp after the rain. I got to the gap in the fence right around daylight. It was no problem seeing the hog sign at the crossing.

A two foot wide swath of muddy tracks led into the brush. One set of tracks in particular got my blood pumping. The pig that laid down these tracks had hooves nearly as long as my hand. “This must be the lead boar of the group,” I thought. “I hope I get him in my sights this morning.”

I had no idea how far the hogs had gone into the brush to bed down. That is part of the excitement of this style of still hunting.

My rule when still hunting is that I never take more than a step or two at a time without pausing and taking a good look around.

I use the mantra from the Navy SEALS... “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast”.

Continued on Page 12

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12 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Henry .45-70 Rifle: Proof in the Pudding, Continued from Page 10 You never know when too far is too far until it is too late and the hogs are spooked and running in all directions. So, I carry six power, wide angle binoculars and use them often in thick cover. After taking a few slow steps, I raise the binos slowly and move the focus in and out to see through the layers in the brush.

Without the binos, it would just look like a solid wall of brush on all sides. But every once in a while, an animal just “pops out” of the brush when your focus hits it just right.

It works better than you might think, but you have to trust the process.

My hunt turned out to be short and sweet.

I hadn’t gone more than 100 yards into the brush before I spotted a big dark hump laying on the ground.

It looked like a big, dirt covered boulder laying amongst the leaves. I slowly raised my binos and focused on the lump. I could clearly see hair and finally a pig tail. He was facing nearly straight away from me at what I guessed was fifteen yards.

I let my binos down slowly onto my chest and raised my

The Henry .45-70 had done its job perfectly. I kept my sights trained on him for a few seconds just in case, but he was stone-cold dead. Ground shrink was non existent on this big guy. As I walked the few steps up to him, he just seemed to get bigger.

It took all my effort just to roll the 300 plus pound hog over. I wanted to see if the 300 grain slug had gone all the way through. There was no exit wound. Later, I found the slug lodged in the far side shoulder blade just under the thick skin. The back side shoulder was just as broken as the front side shoulder. The shock of the impact of the round had stunned the hog while it expired, making blood trailing thankfully unnecessary.

Some say that the proof is in the pudding, but in this case the proof is in the porker. rifle. I had a clear sight window thought the brush. So, I snorted lightly trying to sound like another hog. The big boar was not fooled. He popped right up onto his feet. And as he began to pin-

wheel to the right to face me, I let loose with 300 grains of lead into his shoulder.

When the smoke cleared, I could see that he was laying on his side right where I shot him.

PHOTO CAPTION Steven Bridges is pictured above with his big, Mills County wild hog and his Henry .4570 rifle.

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 13

Bynum bags BIG buck!

Cole Bynum, age 14, of Corsicana, Texas, harvested this nice 17-point buck with his 30-10 rifle Sunday evening Oct. 28th, 2018 - during youth hunt weekend - on a local ranch in Mills County.

He was accompanied by his dad, Sean Bynum. Cole’s 17-point buck scored 149 3/8 B&C.

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14 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Tips & Tricks for Taking Kids Along

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle While you may not hunt the same way as you would when you’re by yourself or out with your best hunting/fishing buddy, taking kids into the outdoors is very rewarding. It takes a little more effort, but it’s well worth it.

Some of my fondest childhood memories were of hunting trips with my dad. I especially remember being Dad’s dove retriever, happily running out to get the doves he shot down. I can also remember the early mornings when Dad would load my brother and me into his truck well before daylight, and carry us one at a time, wrapped in a blanket, into the deer blind so we could sleep while he waited for that first deer sighting. When he saw the deer, he’d wake us up. He even lined the floor of the deer blind with some old 1970s shag carpet so we’d be more comfortable.

I was lucky to be brought up in the outdoors, and I feel it’s very important that the love of the outdoors be shared with the next generation.

I’ve been taking kids with me into the field for years and I’ve accumulated quite a list of tips and tricks that I’ve shared with my friends who want to take their kids into the outdoors.

My wife and I have learned that taking kids into the field requires a “tool box,” and the more tools you have, the more fun and rewarding the entire trip will be.

First, always have toilet paper on hand for obvious reasons. Their bladders aren’t as big as ours, and they always need to go at the most inopportune times. Also, when you’re shooting, a small wad of toilet paper can make a good ear plug in a pinch.

But even better are the packages of disposable earplugs you can get at any store for a couple of bucks. I have little packages of earplugs stuffed in every gun case and tackle box and tool box I own. And if you ask me why

Julie Thompson, Flint Bridges and Linley Graves check out a MOJO Dove Decoy during a dove hunt in Mills County last season. earplugs are so important, you’ll have to speak up because I grew up in a time when earplugs weren’t in vogue.

I’ve found the ear muffs that go over the whole ear get hot and kids don’t like them. The electronic ear muffs, though, are in the $30 range, and the benefit of using them is you don’t have to yell at the top of your lungs to get a kid’s attention, and once the kids are used to them, they enjoy them.

Sunglasses, bug spray and sunscreen are all necessary items, but in addition to that, it doesn’t hurt to have some little chairs and tables, some games, books, snacks, and drinks to keep the kids occupied when the doves aren’t flying, and the deer aren’t around. Kids have a short attention span, generally speaking, so

you have to adjust to their needs.

One thing Debra and I do is take three or four sheets of construction paper of different colors, and fold them into a little booklet we call “the observation journal.” With some markers and tape, the kids make the journal by drawing what they’ve seen while out hunting or fishing. They can also tape flowers, leaves and other things into the journal, and over time the collection becomes a history of your outdoor excursions. It’s amazing to see what happens to be important to the kids when you look at their journals afterward. You can catch a 10-pound bass, and the kid will draw a picture of the rod and reel. It gives you a look into the kid’s mind, and how it differs from an adult’s mind.

For kids a little older, our empha-

sis has always been to “unplug,” or to have a cell-phone, iPod, video game free experience. It becomes a time to communicate with each other and learn how to observe nature and use your five senses in the “real world.”

When your dove hunt gets rained out, though, and you’re stuck in the truck for hours waiting, all rules go out the window, and the outdoor doctor would recommend “apply electronic gizmos as needed.”

Debra and I also trade off when dove hunting. One of us drives the kids around to look at animals and flowers, etc., while the other one hunts. Then about every 30 minutes or so, we switch. During the handoff, you have about five minutes to hunt together while the kids are distracted, but then when they get antsy again, it’s time to split up and head out.

Lastly, kids love dirt and mud. After getting my truck mudded from the inside out by the kids a few times, my wife and I came up with a strategy that takes the stress out of cleaning up after the outdoor adventure. We picked up some free carpet squares (free samples from the carpet store), and we take a couple jugs of water, a towel and some clean, dry clothes.

(Don’t forget the underwear.) When we’re done for the day, we put the kids on the carpet square by the truck and give them a quick “field bath.” Then we dry them off, put their pajamas on them, and stick them in the truck.

After spending all day outside, the first thing they do when they get back in the truck is fall asleep in about the first 60 seconds of the drive home, so this saves you the headache of having to wake them back up to get cleaned up at home. You can just carry them, clean and dry, still sleeping, from the truck to their beds. And as anyone with small children knows, having tired-out kiddos who fall asleep in the truck on the way home is reason enough alone to take them out with you.

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16 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Flint’s First Deer & the ‘Oh No’ Buck

By Steven Bridges The Goldthwaite Eagle Flint has been deer hunting with me since he could walk. This year, my wife and I decided it was time to let Flint, now seven years old, actually pull the trigger.

Flint’s older sister Amber went on her first deer hunt when she was eight, but Flint is way more INTO hunting than Amber was at seven.

Flint is into guns and watches hunting shows with me on the couch at night. He is my trapping partner at our ranch, making many trips each year to run my lines.

On each trapping trip, we stop and have target practice for Flint. Most of the time, this means shooting turtles from a tank dam. Flint thinks he is

just shooting turtles. But I’m watching and helping him improve his shooting form and trigger control.

Over the last two years, Flint has gone from scaring a few turtles to consistently hitting them, sometimes at impressive ranges. But Flint had one more shooting hurdle to jump before his mom and I would let him deer hunt. He needed to be able to shoot a deer size rifle.

Before a recent trapping trip, I slipped my .223 rifle under the truck seat in addition to the customary .22 rifle. Instead of stopping to shoot turtles, I stopped at our shooting range at the ranch. Flint looked at me funny and said, “Dad, there aren’t any turtles here.”

I explained that this was a special

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Pictured above is seven year-old Flint Bridges with his first deer, a nice Mills County doe. stop for him to shoot a deer rifle. “If it goes well, your mom and I will let you start hunting deer this fall.”

Flint sat down at the shooting bench and put on hearing protection. I put the rifle in front of him and showed him how to load the internal magazine and work the bolt action of my Remington VTR rifle.

I loaded four rounds into the rifle.

I told him, “If you can hit the white metal target at 100 yards with three of those four rounds, you can hunt deer this fall.”

My main concern was the recoil and loud report of the bigger rifle.

I didn’t want to scare him or make him flinch while squeezing the trigger. So, I put the emphasis on the target shooting instead of the kick and sound.

I stood right behind Flint as he lined up the scope and put his shoulder to the stock. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Was Flint too young? Was he ready for this?

Then... Boom! The rifle fired and the metal target sounded off with a satisfying ‘clang’.

I looked down at Flint to see if the shot scared him. I was met with a wide smile. Flint worked the bolt ejecting the spent round and laughed, “Daddy, I LIKE this! I REALLY LIKE this rifle!”

Flint went on to hit the metal target with all four rounds. And more importantly, he did so flashing a big smile up at me after each shot.

With this shooting practice, Flint earned himself a hunting license that fall.

See the next page ...

Ranch Land Country Store S Flint’s First Deer Ranch Land Country 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 17

- Continued...

Feed & Fertilizer Feed & Fertilizer WILDLIFE FEEDERS:

Flint and I took our time picking Brady and Flint were loading up - BLINDS - BLINDS I still remember my first hunt- out of the way first keeps hunters a nice doe out of the group andBLINDS into my truck to go to the ranch to ing license Dad bought for me at from bagging a trophy, then decid- then lined up his shot. When the check traps when Debra grabbed BLIND Atascosa Blinds All Seasons - HCRCenter - Big Horn Wide Selection of ing that others can chase does and doe turned broadside Auldridge Building in Gold-PURINA A at around my arm andFiberglass whispered like only a ANTLERMAX Superior All Seasons - HCR - Big Horn Wide Selection of Remington Hang ‘em High ATTRACTANTS: Hunting Supplies thwaite in 1977. It was a rite of pas- spikes for management.

80 yards, Flint let her have it. The wife can into my ear, “Remember PURINA ANTLERMAX Sup Remington - Hang ‘em High ATTRACTANTS: Ranch King Supplies J Gotcha Feast & Ammo!

Amber has taken a doe and Beast a doe sage forDiamond me. Flint -and I made a trip to stumbled a Camo few steps and then that Flint can’t Hunting shoot a buck until Diamond - Jmaking Gotcha her eliFeast Deer Cocaine in the past, Mills County General Store for Flint’s spike keeled right over. Flint made a per-Beast Amber gets hers!”Camo & Ammo!

Recleaned Corn FEEDER ACCESSORIES: Deer Cocaine Buck Grub first hunting license. I am proud to gible to hunt for a trophy now. She fect shot right behind the shoulder.

I laughed and said ACCESSORIES: in a low voice, Recleaned Corn FEEDER Batteries - Timers Funnels Horn Corn Milo Buck Grub share that rite of passage with Flint. has gone on several hunts this fall, Buck It Bran was ‘high fives’ with me at the “No problem.

We are onFunnels the Batteries -clear Timers Horn Corn - Milo Plates - SolarBuck Bran Lids Spinner Country Acres Deer Blocks but hasn’t gotten a shot at a big one.

He has earned it. ranch and laterPanels hugs from Mom and Feeder Fire rules. Look, I Lids onlySpinner have my little- .22 Plates Solar Varmit Cages Blocks Feeder Firerifle. It isPanels made it clear when I tookCountry We have a progressive deer har- So, Debra Trophy Rock sister atAcres home. Deer Hornet all good. ” Varmit Cages Road Feeders Trophy Rock vest system at the ranch for hunters Flint out on his first hunt for a doe Road Feeders young or old. All hunters start out that Flint was not eligible to take a Insert plot thickening Insert louder plot hunting does, before moving up to trophy buck until Amber got hers. I music here. thickening music here. spikes and then eventually trophy replied, “No problem. I am clear on the rules... does only!” bucks.

Later that same weekend, family Brady is now old enough to want (The reader should feel some fore- friend Brady Westlund, along with the challenge of fair chase hunting This accomplishes two things.

First, the hunter gets practice mak- boding right now, because this was me and Flint, went to check my trap adventures. Flint, not so much. So ing ethical harvest shots on live going to get complicated later on...) line at the ranch. Brady has gone Brady and I always let Flint dispatch Flint and I sat in a stand next through our progression of deer all the live animals while trapping. deer with a deer rifle. This reduces the chance of wounding a trophy to a food plot for his first real deer harvests over the last three years We don’t even discuss it. I simply FOOD PLOT buck later on. And second, we need hunt. Everything went as planned. at the ranch and the result was a Available! hand the rifle to Flint when we are Delivery Seed & and Avail to harvest lots of does and spikes off The deer cooperated, with 14 deer beautiful ten point buck we rattled standing right by the animal Delivery Fertilizer the property for herd management coming into the field in front of our up and Brady harvested a few weeks See the next page ...

1 MILE N. HWY 183 OF GOLDTHWAITE 325/648-2741 each year. Getting does and spikes stand. ago.

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18 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Flint’s First Deer - Continued...

Flint shoots it. We have done this act hundreds of times. It is in my muscle memory.

As we were driving this day in a pasture at the ranch, we came across a nice buck that had dislocated its back leg. I knew this buck well, since I had seen this buck in this pasture nearly every time I checked my traps over the previous two months.

In fact, I had seen this very buck the day before.

The buck was barely getting along. It could hardly run from us.

It wobbled over into the corner of the pasture and sadly stood there turning circles. It couldn’t jump the fence to get away and it couldn’t run much faster than I could walk.

Knowing what needed to be done, I grabbed my .22 Hornet rifle and the boys and I approached the buck. At first, I thought the buck had been shot and was wounded. But as we approached, I could clearly see that it wasn’t a hunter’s errant bullet that injured the buck. I could see where the buck had hung its back leg in the fence, dislocating his hip joint.

Since I had seen the buck the day before, I figured his meat was still in good shape. We could shoot it, tag it and have some good venison on the table in no time. So, when we were about five yards away, I loaded a single bullet into the rifle and handed it to Flint like I had done so many times before.

Flint put a round behind the buck’s shoulder. Flint handed me the rifle and as I unloaded it, Flint said, “I can’t wait to tell Mom and Amber about shooting MY FIRST BUCK! They will be soooo excited!”

Family Hunt A Success

Knox and Ashby Porter of Celina used a .30-30 to harvest this doe, dropping her in her tracks at 75 yards on a place in Mills County east of Goldthwaite. They were guided by Douglas Holtzclaw.

Insert the OH NOOOOOO! music right here.

Local youth hunter Flint Bridges shows off his “Oh No Buck” with family friend Brady Westlund in the background.

Nine year old Carter Hamm, from Florence, Texas, with his first buck. He took it on his family ranch SW of Goldthwaite with a single shot from his .223.

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 19

Wesley Head’s Wild Game Processing 123 84 E, Goldthwaite, TX 76844

Head’s Wild Game Processing 950 U.S. 281, Hamilton, TX 76531

Wesley: 325-451-4158 • Gary: 325-938-6330 • Travis: 325-938-0167

20 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Predator Association Helps Wildlife

By Kylee Sutherland they are going up sixteen Goldthwaite Eagle percent.”

Hunting is a common Jett Johnson, former pastime in Mills County. president, said money Deer leases are scattered was a problem when he throughout and men and was president from the women come from all over mid-80’s to the mid-90’s. “I to hunt on these pieces came back to Goldthwaite of land. It’s the earliest in ‘86 and I bought a feed some have ever woken and fur lodger business,” up, but they do it gladly Johnson said. “Of course I for the pleasure of huntdealt with all the ranchers ing the bountiful number and knew all the issues and of whitetails in this area. all the problems - that’s Even the residents are exbeen a long time ago, but cited when deer season as always, we were having rolls around. trouble getting enough Fathers can’t wait to money in to maintain the take their sons and the trapper fund.” Johnson was boys are just as excited. passionate about the purMost of the women and pose and the need of the girls are itching for the adassociation. venture, too. One thing ev- A coyote, one of the biggest fawn predators, snaps up a quick meal.

“The main deal of what eryone can’t wait for is the we see when we can’t before being taken over by local from local people and businesses. deer meat. Deer jerky, deer maintain these predators “Basically, we raise funds through is it really, really, hurts our deer popburgers - enough deer meat to last rancher Kody Sutherland.

“From raising livestock and being our fundraisers and annual dues let- ulation,” Johnson said. “All the wilda lifetime. But something no one is excited about is the possibility of a in the agriculture business, it didn’t ter to generate money that we pay life population - the deer, the turpredator killing the best deer before take me long to see the benefits of to Wildlife Services,” Sutherland said. key, the quail. Maintaining a good, the association and see the need “That money helps fund two trapper strong, trapper fund is vital for all of you do.

The Mills County Predator Asso- for it,” Sutherland said “It’s troubling, positions here in Mills County which Mills County and for our wildlife.” ciation works to keep the predator discouraging, and really aggravat- maintains the predator population.”

Sutherland agrees the association The money is sent to the Wildlife is not only crucial to livestock propopulation under control to protect ing when you put your efforts into the deer, turkey, quail, and other var- raising a kid crop or a lamb crop Services State Office in San Antonio. duction, but the welfare of wildlife ied wildlife populations in this area. only to go out there one morning Within that payment is the salary for as well.

They even work with local ranchers and see where something has killed the two trappers along with money “The damage a lot of people don’t that lamb or kid. Being in that line for fuel, vehicle maintenance, and all see is the damage predators have on to protect livestock. of work it didn’t take me long to see the equipment they need. Members wildlife,” Sutherland said. “The main What They Do For You The exact date when the associa- the need and appreciate what these and other supporters of the associa- cause of fawn mortality, or death tion was founded is difficult to un- gentlemen do and what the Wildlife tion contribute through volunteer- of fawns, is predation from animals ing their time and financial support, whether it be a coyote or bobcat or cover, although it’s believed to have Services do.”

The association holds two fun- but the association still struggles. begun in Mills County around the red fox. It’s not just counting livedraisers and sends out an annual “Wildlife Services has went up on mid-1900’s or possibly before. Texas stock damage, but damage to wildWildlife Services, on the other hand, dues letter in order to raise money us in cost every three years over the life as well.” has been around for 102 years. The and continue funding trappers that past nine years,” Sutherland said. Economic Issues Predator Association raises money keep the predator population under “This year the cost we are required Predator damage isn’t limited to control the Ranch Rodeo in the fall to pay to them is going up substanto pay Texas Wildlife Services to livestock and wildlife, but extends help fund two trapper positions in and a fundraiser at Melody Oaks in tially. Last year would have been into local economies.

Mills County. The program has gone the spring. Both fundraisers have an that third year for them to go up and See the next page ... through many presidential hands auction that include donated goods they didn’t. Now in January 2018,

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 21

Predator Association - Continued...

“The main industry we have in Mills County is agriculture related,” Sutherland said. “Farming and ranching along with the use of recreational wildlife in terms of hunting and fishing. Why we have to keep this program going is that it’s not only just our heritage and our way of life, but it’s also a way of bringing in tax dollars and dollars that can be used to help other organizations in the community.”

By keeping the predator population under control, local economies flourish. Farmers, ranchers, and those involved with wildlife recreation can make a profit on their animals and in turn are able to give back to the community.

“When it comes time to help out our volunteer fire departments within the county, we are able to donate individually to their fundraisers,” Sutherland said.

“It allows us as producers to help with the Youth Fair Association, donate to the Buyers Club, or buy premiums to be able to help the youth in Mills County that way. It allows us to be able to donate to something like the WWII memorial project and being able to give back to the community and other organizations that need financial help because having these predators under control allows us to be profitable in our line of work as farmers and ranchers.”

If the predator population were to

ever get out of control, the economy suffers.

“We have two trappers in this county,” Sutherland said. “If we were to lose one, the one remaining would be overwhelmed to the point where he could not be effective. We have to keep that balance between predators and feral hogs. If we let that get out of control, there will be people that won’t be able to raise sheep and goats and people that will have trouble farming due to the increase in feral hogs and other predators - that takes tax dollars and money out of our local economy. Eventually, we would be one of those one buck counties that have very low deer population and they do not have that big increase of money coming into the county which is what we have every year due to deer season and wildlife recreation.”

Mildred Peters, owner of the Service Feed Mill in Priddy and member since the association was founded, is a prime example of someone who has benefited from the association.

“It’s helped me by catching coyotes and putting out snares and traps to catch them so I don’t have 13 of my lambs dead,” Peters said. “I’m able to pay into the association donate feed and through the Service Feed Mill in Priddy to be sold so that they can get more money together to pay our two trappers. I don’t know how we could ever do without them.”

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Mills County is not just known for prime hunting and livestock land, but also for the friendly inhabitants and supportive community.

“We have such a great and supportive community,” Sutherland said.

“It’s amazing how they come together and work hard to get a job done

and help preserve our way of life and our heritage here in Mills County.”

As the weather cools and hunting season begins, remember the Predator Association and the way they contribute to make hunting season enjoyable and plentiful.

NOW OPEN IN GOLDTHWAITE!

TRIPLE B BBQ & More HOURS Saturday 10-6

• Brisket Plates • Ribs •Sausage • Pulled Pork • Chicken Salad • Brisket Baked Potatoes & Much More!

Barbecue by Mr. Chris Biehl!

Next to Goldthwaite City Hall • Call or Text 325-451-0629

7HITE TAILED DEER -ULE DEER

$ESERT BIGHORN SHEEP 0RONGHORN ANTELOPE

'RAY OR CAT SQUIRREL 2ED OR FOX SQUIRREL

#OLLARED PECCARY OR JAVELINA

22 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide PRONGHORN ANTELOPE (by permit only)

‘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 The so-called "13-inch rule" means that (in counties where it applies) hunters can CONSENT is a FELONY, see pg. 24). Additionally, hunters must present the entire head (intact) of take only one buckatper countycheck with antlers 13Forinches any harvested pronghorn 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 where permits may be obtained, and locations of mandatory check stations, county. The state bag limit is five deer total. 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.

"We're tryingSHEEP to get a better age class on the herd," said Mills County Game WarDESERT BIGHORN den herd should hunters "a better opportunity DesertVance bighornFlowers. 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 through the department’s hunting program at www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/public.

No person may 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, letwild, it walk, they found in the provided thesay. possessor did not cause or participate in the death of the ram, the landowner of the property where theequals skull was better found signs an affidavit attesting to theFlowers date and place skull"the was only 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 one inch from the edge of a main beam or another tine. The tip of the main beam is also a point.

Legal Point

Not a Point

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

Venison Donation Program Fills Pantries

By Steven Bridges The Ministerial Association and Mills County, Texas Game Warden Vance Flowers have a program where hunters can donate unwanted venison to the area’s needy families.

The Ministerial Association still needs the support of local hunters, churches, businesses and individuals to make the program a success.

Hunters willing to make a donation 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 deer processing plant on Hwy 84 near the FM 2005 turnoff.

The Ministerial Association is also asking local families willing to take a whole, field-dressed deer they can process themselves to contact Pastor Stewart Farrell at 325-938-6018 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, and distributed — either directly to the families or individuals, or through the Goldthwaite Evangelism Center’s Food Pantry in Goldthwaite.

The Ministerial Association is appreciative of all the hunters who donate venison, and would like more hunters to donate venison this season. 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 is asked to contact Pastor Farrell at 325-9386018 or Vance Flowers via the Sheriff ’s Office, 325-648-2245.

Welcome Hunters!

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LEGAL

at least one unbranched antler

LEGAL

at least one unbranched antler

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

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2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 23

Chamber Hunter Appreciation Lunch Who wants to go? Make that trip to Goldthwaite! The Goldthwaite Area Chamber of Commerce would like to welcome you to our city and invite you to our 4th Annual Hunter Appreciation Chili Lunch.

Free admission and the drinks are on the house!

Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at the Goldthwaite Pavilion, 1200 Parker Street, Goldthwaite Texas - downtown Goldthwaite - one block off the main street, behind Legacy Plaza Gardens.

We wish you a successful hunt in the morning, and hope you will come join us for a fantastic afternoon! Jammin’ Live music, numerous raffles, door prizes galore, and

a mouth watering buffet with a variety of homemade CHILI’S, beans, cornbread, and all the fixin’s. Top all that off with the Best of Texas homemade desserts, and FREE tea, water & hand-cramping cold “adult beverages! ” We will be adding an “all you can eat” option to our buffet this year. A one-time trip with drinks and all the fixin’s is $5, and an all you can eat is only $10. Don’t forget FREE tea, water, and cold adult beverages for all.

We will begin serving Chili at 11am, and will continue until 2 pm or whenever we run out. Don’t miss it!

Stopping by to get in on our fantastic gun raffles?! We are adding to the fun with 52-card drawings for a

Pellet grill and a Blackstone Flat Iron griddle. Try your luck at the wine and whiskey pull! Save your cupholder change to get in on DOLLAR RAFFLES for even more amazing items! Specially selected handcrafted leather bags, spa day packages, and exceptional swag for the ladies too!

FREE DOOR PRIZE drawings for all, every hour, starting at 11:15.

There will be merchant specials and events throughout town that day for the entire family. Walk the block to see it all! We will also have area vendor booths with all kinds of interesting and fabulous finds.

There will be plenty to see & do!

This year we are featuring a three-

for-one, $5 ticket or make it an even better deal with 5 tickets for $20. The three Guns up for raffle on this ticket are: Henry Big Boy 44 mag, Tikka T3 Creedmoor 6.5, and FN 5.7x28. Tickets can be purchased NOW, online at goldthwaiteareachamber.com or at the event. 3 chances to win with every ticket!

If you have any questions regarding this year’s Hunters Appreciation Chili Lunch, or would like to set up a FREE vendor booth, please give us a call at 325-648-3619 or 325-4514334 or email us gcc@centex.net.

Come see us in Goldthwaite America!

Goldthwaite Area Chamber of Commerce

FARDUELTE CHILI LUNCH GES Annual Hunter’s Appreciation

BEVERA

NS GU FFLE

RA !

E R O M &

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH

GOLDTHWAITE PAVILION LUNCH STARTS @ 11 AM • GUN DRAWING @ 2 p.m.

RAFFLES • 11 - 2 LIVE MUSIC & MORE!

Goldthwaite Area Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 308 • Goldthwaite, Texas 76844 goldthwaiteareachamber.com • gcc@centex.net • 325-648-3619

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512-734-0802 Tammy, Sales Manager

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2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 25

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WELCOME HUNTERS!

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BURGERS & DESSERTS HOURS: Mon-Sat: 7 am - 7pm Sunday: 11 am to 5 pm Grill Closes at 2 p.m. Daily (Call in Orders Welcome!) * Custom orders for desserts for special occasions also available!

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Cafe • Fuel • Beer • Wine Tobacco • Groceries

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325/648-2277 • Off Hwy 84 just North of Goldthwaite

26 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Dove Diablos: A Mills County Favorite

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle This is one of the great wild game recipes we like to cook at our house. Because they are on the spicy side, the kids are not so fond of them (yet!), which allows Debra, myself, and the other adults to actually get some of them. We eat a lot of wild game at our house, and usually the kids gobble it up and we don’t get any. But Dove Diablos are our sure fire way to get some of the goods!

This tried and true recipe comes in handy not just at home but also when I cook for parties and family get-togethers. When people have them for the first time, I get a lot of questions — “What is this? How do you make it?” So if you’ve never had it, try this:

what, so if you like your food really hot, you can leave it in. I think removing the pepper’s insides makes for a better flavor that is not overpowered by the jalapeño, but it’s up to the chef!

Assuming you scoop out the insides, it is then also easier to stuff some cream cheese in the cavity of the pepper. Then put the dove breast onto the cream cheese-filled pepper. Add more spices if you like; I typically use salt, black pepper, cumin, and paprika to taste, mainly on the dove meat itself. Then wrap the whole thing in bacon, and stick it with a toothpick.

(This is something you can make a whole load of in not much time, too. You can speed up the process by breasting the dove right after your hunt and freezing them for this purpose.)

I use a Traeger grill to smoke the Dove Diablos for about an hour at 180 degrees, then go up to 250 degrees for another 20-30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp.

I chose the name “Diablos,” because of the Southwestern feel and “Dove Diablos” sort of rolls off the tongue.

Also, when using fresh jalapeños, you never really know how hot or mild the pepper will be, so every once in awhile, you might get one that’s dang hot. You don’t know until you bite in if they’re gonna jump up and bite you back! So Dove Diablos is the perfect name for this great wild game dish.

Enoy!

My Dove Diablo assembly line in action.

The main ingredient is dove meat. Dove is not always the easiest thing to cook; it’s a darker meat and can be gamey, especially in some other recipes. But when you add cream cheese, bacon and jalapeños, you can’t go wrong. Aside from the classic Dove Diablos, you can also use wild pork (loins) or backstrap from venison. Honestly, I will eat pretty much anything wrapped with bacon, and my wife agrees.

The Dove Diablos, however, are the best in my opinion, especially cooked on the grill.

Start by “breasting out the doves.” To do this, I use a fillet knife to take out the sides of the breast. When you remove the chest bone, there are two sides of meat that equal about one small serving on each side of that bone. Slice up some fresh jalapeños and spoon out the halves of the pepper. This reduces the heat of the pepper some-

Dove Diablos are ready when the bacon is done to your liking. I usually pick one or two straight off the grill a little early telling my friends, “I’m just checking to see if they are done yet!”

Page 40 - 2012 Mills County Hunting Guide 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 27

Yes, You Do Need Real Firearm Training

By Bob Rich Delta Red Training Group, LLC You may have been shooting all your life so why should you take a defensive firearms training class?

• My dad taught me to shoot, or • My husband taught me to shoot, or • I shot cans with my dad when I was young, or • My friend took me to the range and showed me some things about shooting.

As instructors, we hear these comments regularly when the subject of defensive firearms training, or any formal firearms training, comes up.

In life, there are three categories of knowledge: 1. There are the things we know.

2. There are the things we know we don’t know.

3. There are the things we don’t know that we don’t know.

The largest category of knowledge is made up of the last classification and sadly, it often applies to the use of firearms. Unfortunately, many individuals who have handled and shot firearms all their life, and many who carry a firearm for selfdefense, are lacking in the training necessary to use the firearm properly, safely, and effectively. For example, they may not know how to return their firearm to an operational status should it stop functioning at a critical time.

At Delta Red we offer training that will enable you to easily, quickly, and

effectively check the loaded status of a firearm. We will also teach you how to clear the three most common types of malfunctions. You will become adept at methods of rapidly reloading a gun. You will learn how to recognize available cover and how to take advantage of the cover. You will become comfortable moving with a gun and using tactical lights in low light conditions.

These skills will enhance your ability to use a firearm for self-defense and enjoyment. All of the training at Delta Red is conducted while observing the four universally accepted firearms safety rules.

The title of this article was “Defensive Firearms Training: Who Needs It?” The answer is that anyone who owns a firearm. Every firearms owner should acquire these skills through proper and professional training. Delta Red Training Group, LLC provides this type of training.

It should be noted these skills are perishable without practice. Even if you have had prior professional training, our courses will be a great review and will enhance your firearms skills. We welcome your inquiries about our courses and training.

About Delta Red Delta Red Training Group, LLC, offers a defensive shooting and training school for law abiding citizens and professionals who may need to depend on the use of a firearm in the performance of their duties.

The range is located in the beautiful Texas Hill Country near San Saba.

Our location, near the geographic center of Texas, makes our facility very accessible from both rural and metropolitan areas.

Page 40 - 2012 Mills County Hunting Guide

By Bo Delta You life so firearm

• My • My •Is youn • My show ing.

As ments fensiv firearm

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30 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Mighty Thor: Trap Line Dog

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle Dog owners love to teach their pets to sit, roll over, and shake hands. Yes, I have taught my dog Thor a lot of those tricks too. But I never guessed that in return, Thor would teach me a lot about trapping.

In full disclosure, I didn’t come up with the idea of using a dog on the trap line... far from it. But I have read many other trappers’ accounts of using their dogs on their trap lines, and I just happen to now have a dog.

I don’t have a dog bred over many generations to maximize my trap line effectiveness. My dog is a male black Labrador Retriever named Thor. He is now two years old. He started out as my bird hunting and family dog.

But over the last year I have seen what he can do for my trapping.

Now Thor is my trapping dog first, followed by my bird hunting and family dog.

There are many reasons to have a trap line dog, not the least of which is company. True, there have been lots of times I have taken friends and family along with me to check my trap line. It is important to share the love of trapping with the outside world.

Friends and family are glad to go out checking the line when it is 65 degrees on a beautiful fall day.

But don’t ask them when it is 25 degrees and sleeting.

Unlike people, Thor always looks forward to loading up in the truck. I never have to ask him twice. He never says it is too cold

Pictured is Steven Bridges with his trap line dog, Thor, and their coyote.

or wet. He doesn’t even mind the questionable smells that emanate from under the seats of my old ranch truck. He doesn’t care what I paid for gas or how little I get for my furs. Thor is always positive, even when I talk politics with him.

My neighbors and I run lots of sheep and goats in Mills County, located in Central Texas. I trap almost all year on my own ranch and neighboring ranches for predator damage control. Coyotes eat sheep all year in every season, in good weather and bad.

So most days will find me checking traps or scouting for new locations, and Thor is with me almost every time. He sits proudly by me, always happy and positive.

Many people are a little scared of catching their pet in a trap.

Luckily, Thor hasn’t gotten caught

in my choice of coyote trap, the K9 Extreme. I have often thought about letting him get snapped.

I’m pretty sure that would fix any future issue with him checking out my sets. But in the end, I just don’t have the heart to stand there and watch it happen. So I have taken Clint Locklear’s advice.

I yell “Danger!” anytime I see him get a whiff of a set. So far, this has helped avert any Thor catches.

I trap mostly using drags. I use drags for several reasons. First, Mills County seems to be one solid rock. Stakes bend, or simply won’t go more than six inches into the ground in lots of places.

And don’t even try to pound a disposable stake into our hard ground. I have a half dozen bent disposable stake drivers and the tennis elbow to prove it.

Second, I like to keep my sets

working. Coyotes in sheep country get mighty paranoid, so catch circles are no good for coyote set remakes. But once an animal gets pinched on a drag, he will run for cover, leaving my set relatively undisturbed and ready for my remake.

And, Thor has proven to be a pretty good drag/animal tracker, so I rarely have to search for a caught animal for long. I happen to like the thrill of finding an animal that has left the scene of the crime. It is like Christmas morning on every catch. I never know what we have until Thor and I get in the brush and look. Yes, Thor often trails the animal into the brush only to find a coon sitting there... but sometimes it is a big bobcat or a sheep killing coyote. That is when it is Merry Christmas to us!

A trap line dog has another great advantage, his nose for sign. On control jobs, I always like to set on sign. And the best sign I know of is poop. I’m always looking for poop as I drive along two track ranch roads. It used to be that our coyotes would poop right on the beat down dirt of the tire rut. When I saw the poop, I’d pull over and make some sets.

However, I think the constant pressure put on coyotes over the last 100 years in our sheep and goat country has made our coyotes a little extra cautious with their pooping. I don’t find much coyote poop out in the open in road ruts nearly as often as in years past.

See the next page ...

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 31

Mighty Thor: Trap Line Dog - Continued from page 30 Luckily, Thor is also a wonderful poop finder. Since I have been letting Thor out of the truck at stops, he has often shown me poop in the grass between the ruts, as well as poop well off the road. I would have missed these micro locations had Thor not shown them to me. I’m now starting to catch on to where these spots are too. In this way, Thor has really made me a better trapper.

Thor rides with me in my truck, or more often, runs in front of my Polaris Ranger. Many times, Thor has gotten excited and sniffed

the ground while we are driving.

I have learned to stop and let him smell around for few minutes.

Sometimes Thor is just interested in something I don’t understand.

But more often than not, he goes right to a spot beside the road and starts sniffing around. Then, he will lift his leg and mark a tuft or grass or stump. That is Thor language for, “Put a trap right here, Daddy.”

There is one added benefit of taking a trap line dog along. I believe the scent of the dog puts coyotes more at ease around my

sets. I trap some of the most paranoid coyotes anywhere. After a rare snowfall last year, I saw where one coyote went 10 yards out of its way to avoid what I thought was a well blended-in flat set.

Since taking Thor with me, I rarely see this sort of trap avoidance. Thor walks around leaving his scent and making inviting tracks in the dirt around my sets.

By the time the coyote gets to my set, he has smelled Thor, seen his tracks and is just relaxed enough to maybe work my set. I think his dog scent helps take the edge off

the human scent I leave as I make my sets. While I don’t have scientific evidence of this, it makes perfect sense to me.

Plus, while I make my sets now, I keep an eye on Thor. Of course, he pees on anything he deems worthy. You can’t get any fresher pee near your set. Often after I make my original set, I set a trap where he shows interest and pees also. I would tell you whose set outperforms, but it would be just too hard on this old trapper’s ego.

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32 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Local Hunter and Dog Get Skunked

By Steven Bridges The Goldthwaite Eagle A few years ago, when my wife, Debra, was pregnant with our daughter, Amber, we went out to the ranch to get my bird pen. I use pen raised quail to train Radar, my Vizsla bird dog. Debra, who self-admittedly has a “soft heart,” didn’t want Radar out in the September cold that night, so he was in the cab with us.

As we were making our way down the county road adjacent to our ranch, I spotted a wild covey of quail crossing the road. I jumped out of the truck with Radar thinking it would be a great opportunity for us both.

Debra says she remembers us both hustling over the fence and taking off into the pasture. We only made it about 10 yards when Radar went on point. It was the most elegant point a bird dog ever made, and I was pretty sure we were onto something. I had no shotgun, because this was just a training trip.

Radar was onto something alright, but not the wild covey I’d hoped for.

I walked over to Radar ... and then it happened.

From the truck, Debra says, she saw Radar and I suddenly enveloped in a huge greenish-yellow cloud of skunk

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spray. Radar cried out and went running into the grass, rolling and rubbing wildly. I knelt down to try to get him to come to me, and he literally jumped into my arms, whimpering like a little pup.

“They were literally just dripping with that skunk oil,” Debra has said, telling the story.

That’s when the long ride home started. From the time she caught wind of us, Debra (six months pregnant) was sick; she was leaning out the driver’s side window throwing up almost immediately.

Since it was obvious neither Radar nor myself would be permitted back into the truck cab for the ride home, we both got in the back, and Debra headed for home. We were quite the sight. I was throwing up. Debra was throwing up. Even Radar was throwing up.

Poor Debra had to stop about every 500 yards or so, open the door and throw up some more. It was a long ride home.

I guess it was temporary insanity

brought on by the horrendous assault on my senses, but when we finally got home to our house in Goldthwaite, I brought Radar through the house into the back yard. This was, as my little Amber says nowadays, - Debra Bridges “not a good decision.”

Radar went about rolling and rubbing his face and body against every available surface in our house, rendering it impassible to Debra, who was becoming more frantic every minute. I could hardly see, my eyes were burning badly and I was still dry heaving a bit. Debra was in the front yard, still getting sick herself, calling her parents on her cell phone to come help.

I tried every home remedy you could think of to get that smell off Radar and me — soap, baking soda, tomato sauce, ketchup. Let’s just say I put everything in the kitchen on that dog. And nothing was helping. He just ended up smelling like a skunk that crawled out of a McDonald’s dumpster.

In the meantime, my mother-inlaw, Carol, showed up with several boxes of Massingill douche, which she’d heard would cut the smell. She unceremoniously tossed the boxes to me, saying, “Here, Steve, use this ...,” and as I wondered first, “Does she mean on me or the dog?” and secondly, “How do I use this?” I made my way back to Radar.

Debra was still in the front yard, heaving away, and her parents were in the house trying to make it habitable once again as I fumbled with “solutions” and “applicators” and other things, which before that day, were all pretty unfamiliar to a guy like me.

I finally got everything mixed to-

“They were literally just dripping with skunk oil,”

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gether in a bucket and poured it on Radar. I would never have thought it, but it did a much better job cutting the smell than anything I’d tried beforehand. It still wasn’t enough, though.

Eventually I got in contact with a hunting buddy who advised me to use a mixture of peroxide, water, baking soda and dish soap, and I scrubbed Radar until he shined.

That was one task down, but the debacle was far from over. Just imagine ... I was still squeamish myself; I still had a sick, pregnant wife in the front yard; one in-law inside cleaning up after Radar, and another in-law asking me loud enough for neighbors to hear, “Did the douche work? Steve, did my douche work?”

I knew I still needed to get myself cleaned up before I’d be allowed in the house. I managed and was permitted to enter the house, but needless to say, I slept alone that night.

Debra went into the pharmacy about a month later. The pharmacist, Mike McMahan, asked her about the “funny skunk story,” but she only got about two lines into the story when the memory of the incident made her sick all over again, she told me. She still doesn’t really tell the story without getting a little queasy.

Two years later, I can finally tell the story and laugh. Believe me, no one who heard the story after it happened has let me forget it. I still get requests for “the skunk story,” and I wonder if my friends and family will ever forget.

Still, a more pressing question remains.

Just what the heck is in Massingill douche anyway?

Sadly, Radar has now passed away.

He gave me and my family many years of joy, comfort and sometimes frustration. He was truly one of the full members of my family. He is greatly missed.

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34 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Hunting & Trapping go Hand-in-Hand

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle In the last few years, I have noticed a definite correlation between my lifelong role as a hunter and my relatively new role as a trapper.

A few years ago, Mills County lost its county trapper for awhile, and before we hired another one, there was a period of time that going without a trapper really took a toll on our ranch.

Our ranch manager Craig Seward had called me during that time and reported that just in the few weeks prior, we had lost so many sheep and goats due to predators that it had cost us somewhere in the $10,000 neighborhood.

“This is gonna kill us,” he told me.

“We need a trapper out at the ranch.”

I told Craig I would see what I could do, and went to the Mills County General Store, and S&S Supply, and got two foot traps and about a dozen snares. I watched some You Tube videos and went to work.

Sure enough, I started catching coyotes, bobcats and raccoons, and even from the beginning of starting to trap, I realized this was a much bigger problem than I ever understood.

You see, I had always hunted the predators by calling and spotlighting.

Trapping raccoons saves valuable deer feed and helps the nesting bird population too.

The author trapped this large male coyote last fall in a pasture adjacent to where dorper sheep were lambing. Controlling coyote and other predator populations through trapping helps livestock and wildlife thrive.

We got some of the smaller ones that way, but the coyotes and bobcats were very few and far between, so I just always thought we didn’t have many.

The same went for hunting raccoons. I’d harvest a few every year while spotlighting, but never too many on our ranch. So, I thought we didn’t have too many.

When I started trapping, however, I soon understood that we do have way too many; we just don’t see them very often.

After my initial trapping purchase, I started to make my own snares and got some professional grade foot traps. I also bought a bunch of what are called dog proof traps for raccoon control around deer feeders.

There was a real need to manage these predators, especially the ones

that prey on our wildlife and livestock. In addition, I saw this as an opportunity to do my part to bring back quail numbers and turkey, too.

Anything that wrecks those nests — raccoons, opossums, skunks — as well as the coyotes and bobcats, they were all on my list.

The more I trapped, the more I realized my many years as a hunter were helping me to hone in on the art or science of trapping.

I already knew about tracks, funnel locations, how to read sign on different animals, and a lot of the where and why they move the way they do.

I think this really sped up my success as a trapper.

In the same way, I noticed I was becoming much more watchful for signs when hunting, so it also helped my hunting the more I trapped.

Since I started trapping, the awareness of the numbers of predators really just boggles my mind. I never realized just how many there are.

I went out spotlighting many times over the years. And, I have called for predators at night countless times.

But I would have never known how many predators are out there had I not begun trapping.

Speaking of numbers, due to my trapping over these last few years, I have seen turkey numbers explode and our quail numbers increase.

I have also noticed the positive effect trapping has had on our livestock herds. We rarely lose a lamb or kid goat to predation these days. It all adds up to real money saved for the ranching operation.

As an added benefit, we save hundreds of pounds of expensive deer feed each year by keeping the raccoon population down by trapping near feeders.

I have to say that managing our wildlife resources and livestock makes me feel really good, and I continue to refine my techniques, constantly learning more about different animals’ movement patterns. I think I have become more in tune with the ecosystem, noticing things I didn’t notice before.

Looking at the world as a hunter and as a trapper are different, sure, but since I’ve been doing both, I can really see how each one benefits the other.

So I encourage the ranchers and hunters in Mills County to really consider starting a trapping operation on their land. It is another arrow in your quiver of wildlife and livestock management. This is especially true for ranches that raise sheep and goats.

Plus, I’m willing to bet you’ll see trapping enhances your hunting abilities and vice versa. I know it has for me.

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a few seconds. I could see Kris trying not to look at me for fear I would begin the razzing.

I was just about to open my mouth with the first of my many clever comments,

but Kris was first to swing his gun up. He hit the dove at forty yards and its momentum carried it another twenty yards before it hit the ground. It was a world class shot.

I guess I can take the lesson several ways. One, never miss a chance to shut up.

Two, get your razzing in while the razzing is good. Or three, hunt doves alone... always.

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36 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Caleb’s Christmas Predator Hunt

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle One of the biggest changes I have seen in the nature of deer hunting in Mills County over the last twenty years is the increase of adults taking kids hunting. This is great for the continuation of the rural hunting tradition that we hold dear in Mills County.

And it is also a great way for parents and grandparents to spend blocks of uninterrupted quality time with their little ones.

Local Grandfather Robb “Poppi” Hemsath called me with a dilemma last week.

All his grandkids deemed old enough to hunt had bagged a deer this fall. That is, all but the youngest of the hunters... Caleb.

Robb had taken Caleb out deer hunting several times. But as anyone who takes kids hunting knows, it can be difficult to close the deal when a young kid is involved.

Robb admits that maybe Caleb, five, is a little young for deer hunting.

“He shoots great at targets from a bench,” said Robb. “I told him if he could hit the bull’s eye of a target at 100 yards, I’d take him deer hunting. Caleb did it the first try. But aiming a rifle at a live, moving deer from a blind is another thing altogether.”

Robb said the duo had been in their blind with deer close, only to have Caleb say, “Poppi... I can’t find the deer in my scope!” The excitement combined with all the variables of free range deer hunting turned out to be a little too much for young Caleb... and Robb.

During one of these hunts, Robb and Caleb saw a gray fox from their stand. Of course, the fox was running back and forth as foxes do. “There was no way Caleb could get the rifle on it,” said Robb.

Caleb got really excited about the fox, more so than even deer hunting. In short, Caleb got INTO predators. He asked a bunch of questions about predators. So Poppi read all about predators to Caleb.

They watched predator calling shows nearly every night. Caleb forgot about

deer hunting and now wanted to shoot a predator and get it mounted for his Christmas present.

Robb had another dilemma. There is no way Caleb could go out at night (way past his bedtime by the way) and have any chance of holding his rifle on a predator coming to a distress call.

In his day job, Robb is the CEO of Mills County State Bank. Strategic planning is one of his main duties. He has years of experience problem solving and planning for contingencies. And true to form, Robb had an idea for an easier way for Caleb to harvest a predator. His plan involved a local trapper... me.

Robb texted soon after and asked if I had a way for Caleb to shoot a predator on my trap line in a way that would make Caleb feel like he bagged it himself.

I knew just how to make that happen.

I have been taking my two kids, children from my extended family, and their friends trapping for several years now. They all like the fact that, unlike deer hunting, they don’t have to be still and quiet. Plus, they like to snack and sit in the front seat of my truck when we are checking my traps inside the ranch.

In addition to the relaxed atmosphere of the trapping “hunt,” there is no chance of missing an animal. Or more importantly... they can miss all they want. The animal will still be there for the next shot. “Fair Chase” is not much of a concern for kids just starting out. Success is more important in the early stages of hunting.

Over time, I have developed a little system of helping the kids feel like a part of the process. I played this out with Caleb and Robb. I told Caleb and Robb as they got in my truck, “Whoever sees the animal in the trap first gets to claim it and shoot it.”

Caleb perked right up and started pointing out every cactus, rock and stump in the area. At least I had his attention.

As I pulled up into the field where I knew See the next page ...

Caleb Hemsath and his first fox.

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 37

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a gray fox was trapped, I told Caleb to look close. I veered toward the fox and Robb and I pretended to study the scenery out each of our windows. Caleb jumped and pointed and yelled, “I see something! I see something! It is a fox! A big one!

It is mine! I get to shoot it, right Mr. Steve?”

I said, “Sure Caleb. He is all yours.”

We piled out of the truck and I loaded my little .22 rifle. I helped Caleb line up the shot at a very practical distance of six feet. Caleb downed the fox with one shot. Success is sooooo sweet.

As I unloaded the rifle, Robb and I smiled at each other. Robb said, “Poppi loves it when a plan comes together!”

We spent some time admiring Caleb’s fox and taking photos. Then, I showed him how to remake the trapping set that caught the fox.

I buried the trap in its original bed in front of a big, flat rock. Then I dug a hole in front of the trap sloping down under the edge of the rock.

Finally, I put bait down the hole and covered the hole with a little ball of grass. Caleb took it all in with wide eyes. I still had his attention.

But like the late-night salesmen say on TV, “But I’m not finished... there’s more!”

We drove to a brushy spot on the ranch where I had seen coyote sign.

We pulled up to a trap location. I pointed out that the trap was gone

from its bed.

I explained that this trap was attached to a big grappling hook called a drag. I told Caleb that now it was time to follow the drag marks and see what we had trapped.

I showed Caleb where the drag marks started and he took it from there. Robb followed closely with me and my .22 in the rear. Robb and I could see the coyote moving inside the brush, but Caleb was too short to see through the tall grass and brush. Robb and I found ourselves pretending to be enthralled with the Mills County scenery everywhere around us except in the coyote’s direction.

Caleb diligently followed the scrape marks in the grass leading all the way into the brush. It only took Caleb a minute or two to follow the marks to where the big male coyote stood in the brush. As soon as Caleb saw the coyote, he began yelling, “A deer! A fox! No, a coyote! A big one!

Can I shoot it Mr. Steve?”

One shot later, Caleb had scored his second predator of the day. And more importantly, Poppi succeeded in getting Caleb an animal to mount for Christmas.

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38 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Dove Hunting Slow? Give Teal a Try!

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle 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 twoweek season running from September 19-24 statewide. Daily bag limit is four in the aggregate (Blue-winged, Green-winged, and Cinnamon Teal).

Remember to use steel shot for all waterfowl hunting.

The First Ducks We See in the Sky Blue-winged teal are the early birds of the fall waterfowl migration. Most of these ducks nest in the prairie region of the northern U. S. and Canada, but when the first cool fronts of autumn blow through, they head south.

By the time regular duck seasons come in, most blue-wings have arrived on wintering grounds in Mexico and Central America. This is the reason for the early teal season. It gives hunters a chance before the ducks head offshore.

Blue-wings, green-wings and cinnamon teal are legal targets, though blue-wings make up the vast majority of the bag. Blue-winged teal are the most common in Mills County.

Early teal seasons were started in the mid-1960s. Today they are offered in “non-production states” in the Central, Mississippi and Atlantic flyways (not in the Pacific flyway). “Non-production states” including Texas are those in middle and southern latitudes where teal don’t nest in large numbers.

Despite warm temperatures and sometimes bothersome insects, the early teal season has grown more popular as the years have passed.

Texas Teal Season (September 19-14, 2019) is a great time to get out and enjoy some variety if you are wanting a change from hunting doves.

For many hunters, the early season provides a chance to sharpen their shooting eyes and give retrievers a refresher course before the regular duck season arrives.

Teal are also among the tastiest of ducks. Waterfowl hunters everywhere revere the teal as the waterfowl with the least “ducky” taste.

Tried and True Teal Tactics Migrating blue-winged teal stop over on marshes, reservoirs, river

sloughs and other waters, especially those with moss or aquatic grass growing near the surface. Teal haunts can be small and obscure, but offer superlative shooting to hunters who find them. They include such varied bodies of water as farm ponds, the Colorado River, Pecan Bayou and small Caliche mining pit ponds.

An understanding of the ducks’ migratory habits can help a hunter formulate a successful hunting strategy.

In September, any north wind can bring a new flight. A body of water can be devoid of teal one afternoon,

then covered up the next morning on the heels of a new front. Hunters should be diligent and pay attention to local weather forecasts.

Waterfowlers also should scout their hunting areas just before and during the season to locate teal. If ducks are present and there’s abundant food, they will usually hang around until the next cold front pushes them farther south.

Hunting teal is not difficult. The birds are typically uneducated as to the purposes of decoys and the hunters who set them out. A realistic spread and a good blind are important, but blue-winged teal are far less wary than bigger ducks that have been subjected to heavy pressure.

On small waters, hunters can usually make do with a small decoy spread and a temporary blind. Over the years I’ve enjoyed many teal shoots while hiding on a farm pond bank. I’ve used a hatchet to gather camouflage, sat on a 5-gallon plastic bucket and worn full camo to blend into the bushes.

Jump shooting teal on small ponds is both a fun and hassle-free way to hunt teal. Simply load your dove shotgun with steel shotshells, walk quietly up over the dam of your farm pond and blast away as the teal take off the water.

I use a 12 gauge with number six steel shot. Many more accomplished waterfowl hunters use teal as an opportunity to field a 20 gauge shotgun.

Either way, a modified choke will give you some room for error at teal shooting distances while still offering consistent patterns downrange.

When raising your shotgun up at fast-flying teal, don’t forget to mutter to yourself the Teal Hunters Motto: Lead them farther!

Texas teal hunters will be able to take up to six teal daily during the statewide September teal-only season, set to run September 14-29, 2019.

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 39

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Lauren DellaFranco bagged this nice 10 pt buck on Nov. 9, 2018 at the ranch of Amy & Gordon Hammett in western Mills County. She was hunting with Michael Hammett and used his Ruger .308 rifle for the 120 yard shot.

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40 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

PTSD & Deer Camp

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle PTSD when it comes to deer hunting is Pre-Trip Stress Syndrome. It’s the lack of sleep leading up to the day a hunter leaves for camp. It’s the obsessive compulsive list making of all the gear he needs to take with him.

It’s making sure your ATV is in working order and loading it up on the trailer, with at least one tire flat but more than likely two flat tires.

PTSD is the frenzied monkeying with the ATV to get it to start, before

being forced to hand it off to the local mechanic, promising several hundreds of dollars if he can “just have it done by Friday,” and the mechanic’s smile when he knows he has you where he wants you. It’s hoping it’s nothing too serious, and that the ATV will just make it through the weekend.

It’s the many calls and group chats with the hunting buddies, which if overheard by a therapist, sounds more like group therapy than hunting preparations.

‘Ole Bad Breath’ Bags a Big Mills County Buck

By Steven Bridges The Goldthwaite Eagle At The Goldthwaite Eagle, we don’t go around publishing malicious nicknames in the pages of the newspaper or any of our publications. But in this case, we simply couldn’t resist. So here it is...

‘Ole Bad Breath’ bagged a nice eight-point Whitetail buck in Mills County on Opening Day of deer season. The buck was entered in

the Chamber Opening Day Big Buck Contest where it scored over 111 Boone & Crockett points.

No, ‘Ole Bad Breath’ is not Gary Farley’s nickname. It is Gary’s nickname for his favorite deer rifle.

“I was just going to shoot a doe this morning,” said Gary. “But when this buck walked out, well...”

Congratulations Gary and ‘Ole Bad Breath’.

Johnny will tell his friends, “Guys, I can’t go this weekend. My wife’s grandmother turns 86 and I can’t miss it. I just can’t go ... my life is over ... I might as well end it all now.”

The guys will pat him on the back and tell him, “it’ll be okay,” but Johnny will reply, “I’ve seen this 12-pointer in my deer cam every day for the last week, coming to the feeder at 8 a.m. like clockwork. What do I do?!”

Johnny is reassured by his buddies that there will be other hunts, but all the while they make a note to themselves, and internally they each hatch a similar plan to get the other guys totally wasted the first night at camp so that they can be the one who get to the blind early the next morning to get Johnny’s 12-point. All is fair in love, war, and deer hunting.

Another day passes, and they dream of that 12-pointer in addition to all the things that can go wrong between now and getting to camp.

They think about road work, job assignments, family obligations, the 47-point check list that has to be completed before leaving town. They plod through their honey-do lists before they can leave, and it’s the one and only time they envy their divorced friend, who was cleaned out of everything but his deer camp. Sitting up in bed at 2 a.m., they lean over to glance at their pretty wives, and mutter, “huh.”

The day has finally arrived and about four guys are in the truck, everything is loaded up and ready to go.

Bobby’s phone rings, and his wife tells him Junior has sore throat and fever.

She’s called to tell him he needs to come home, because she can’t go to soccer games all weekend and take care of their sick son at the same time.

Bobby manufactures some static noise and tells his wife he can’t hear her and that his phone is cutting out before hanging it up and turning it off.

Bobby’s friends don’t know if they should smile or what, and Bobby tells the driver to hit the gas and go before his wife thinks to start tracking his phone. Now a speeding ticket in the middle of nowhere amid the speed traps set up by the DPS troopers waiting for the overloaded deer hunters is among their worries.

At long last — after a flat on the trailer, 14 phone calls, two speeding tickets, all that guilt built up, all that stress of getting to the camp, wide eyed and jacked up on coffee — the hunters make it to camp and pile out of the vehicle. One kisses the ground and thanks God they made it. They’re so happy to be there and start unloading, before deciding, “Aww, screw it. Just unload the beer.”

They build a fire and drink until the wee hours of the morning, passing out or falling into their bunks in the ratty old RV they’d never stay in otherwise. Each one of them cracks a big smile, because the only known cure for this sort of PTSD is actually being at deer camp. They dream sweet dreams of the 12-point at Johnny’s stand, and wonder who will get up first, but somehow it’s just not as big a deal as it was the days before. Just being at camp is 90 percent of the battle.

The hunters wake up at 11 a.m., make a pot of coffee and a big breakfast. They’ll lament that they missed the morning hunt, and decide they might as well start drinking instead.

They have a great time, and come back to the city rested and relaxed, and it won’t be until those red brake lights come on as they hit the traffic on the first loop going back into the city that the PTSD returns.

All that stress and worry comes back and they’ll wonder if they can make it until the next hunting trip.

They know they have to make it, though, because Johnny’s 12-point is still out there.

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42 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Brother & Sister Bag Mills County Bucks The Stephens family lives in Rogers and bought a ranch in Mills County three years ago. "The ranch is just far enough away from Rogers to feel like we are really 'away' from home, but not too far of a drive," said Robert. "We love coming here to hunt, shop and relax."

LEFT - Kash Stephens, guided by his mom Kelly, bagged this nice eight point buck opening day morning with a Browning X Bolt .270 rifle at around 80 yards. Kelly shot a spike from the same stand just 20 minutes after Kash bagged his buck. Kash is pictured with his buck, his dad Robert, and older brother Kole in front

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of Mills County General Store. The buck, nicknamed 'Kick Nine, sported long tines and a 9th kicker point on his left G2.

BELOW - Kash's big sister Karsen (12) got her a nice nine point buck Sunday morning of Opening Weekend while hunting with Dad. She shot the buck with her 6.5 Creedmoor she got for her birthday. The 75 yard shot was no problem for Karsen and her Creedmoor.

Big brother Kole saw lots of legal bucks this weekend, but didn't see one big enough to shoot. Watch for a photo of Kole's buck in a future edition of The Goldthwaite Eagle.

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 43

Eleven year-old Jackson Potts bagged this big buck between Goldthwaite and Lometa while hunting with his dad last season.

The buck sported tall antlers and wide spread. Jackson took the buck Nikki Beebe shot this buck west of Garner Carr, a third grader in Co- down with a single shot from his town on December 28th, 2018. The manche, killed this nice 9 point 6.5 Creedmoor rifle. Jackson is big buck scored 149 4/8 at Mills buck hunting with his dad Stacy in the grandson of Charles and Cindy Caradan on November 3rd, 2018. Potts of Goldthwaite.

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Kristin Parma harvested her first Texas Big Game Awards scored entry at the RRR Ranch in Mills County. The buck’s gross score was 149. Kristin will attend the region 3 banquet. For more information on the awards go to www.texasbiggameawards.org.

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44 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

COVID-19: Plan Ahead & Play it Safe!

By Steve Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle When the COVID-19 pandemic first started making itself known, rumors ran rampant. No one knew what was going on. School let out, some people had to start working from home, and some of those people came to their Mills County hunting camps to get out of the crowded cit-

ies.

This past spring these folks were seen coming to spend some extra time fixing up their camps here, doing some fishing, spring turkey hunting, hog hunting, and all the things you can do in the country without fear of a virus, at least not like it is in the city.

Some of the out-of-town hunters were using their camps as “bug out locations,”

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in the “prepper” sense where you can gather up supplies and hunker down in a crisis.

Whether it’s to escape destructive weather, as we’ve seen the past, or with this virus, people come do this.

Having non-locals coming more often is certainly great for our economy, and we’re happy to see them, as many have become friends.

Plenty of our hunters have always been people who live and work in the city, and since they are forced to work from home, and the kids are at home, this makes perfect sense and Mills County is the perfect place to do it. The risk of getting sick is lower here, and no one is policing you at your deer lease to wear a mask. What safer place could there be?

Many of our readers are people just like I’ve described, and so if you are in the process of planning extra hunts, fishing trips, etc., that you might not have time for in otherwise “normal” conditions, we encourage you to come spend some extra time in Mills County. If you do so, you might consider a few best practices in this scenario: • If you are coming from the city or a place with a high rate of cases of the virus, you

might stay at the lease an extra week to make sure you don’t have symptoms once you’re here.

• When you do come into town to get groceries, hunting supplies, shop and eat, please wear your mask in town.

• You might want to upgrade your deer camp to a more permanent dwelling, including taking advantage of the high speed fiber service from CTTC. • Consider buying a place instead of leasing, so you have a more permanent refuge location if it’s needed.

For those of us who live here year round, we’re always forced to be more of a “prepper,” or stock up a bit more as we maybe don’t get into the city as often, so we’re always a little more prepared. It shows in how we run our day to day lives.

This pandemic has brought out the “prepper” in all of us to some degree, like it or not, when you think about the shortages of items like toilet paper, sanitizer, masks, fresh foods, and so on.

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46 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Big Bucks on Small Property? You Bet!

By Steven Bridges The Goldthwaite Eagle Good Mills County hunting properties are often selling for well over $2,500 an acre and leasing for over $20 per acre per year. Unless you have some seriously deep pockets in your camo pants, chances of owning or leasing a large ranch in or around Mills County are slim.

But a small ranch managed and hunted correctly can produce large, mature bucks year after year. Many of the trophy bucks in each edition of The Mills County Hunting Guide each year are taken on these smaller ranches.

Over the years, I have taken hun-

dreds of trophy photos of hunters with a buck taken from a small ranch.

I invariably ask the hunters how they find success on small ranches in Mills County. I have boiled down the answers to what I call my Tiny Ranch Tips & Tricks.

Food, Water, and Cover.

If a buck has food, water and cover he won’t go anywhere. On a small place, this will probably mean supplemental feeding year-round combined with one or more food plots.

To keep deer close, keep the feeder full.

Another necessity is water. Deer need water every day in the summer

and about every other day in winter.

So keep an open water source on your small property at all times. If a buck has to travel off your place every day or so to get a drink, he’s fair game for the neighbors.

The last basic necessity that deer in general, but especially bucks, require is a thick cover sanctuary near the food sources. Place your feeders and food plots as close to bedding areas as possible on a small property.

If the deer only have to travel a short distance to their feeding area, they will feel safer and stay put. Having cover close to the food source also improves the chances of seeing that mature buck in daylight hours when

hunting season begins.

Remember, though, you must stay out of those deer sanctuaries!

Bucks especially need to know they can come to your property, enter a sanctuary, and be totally safe. No shed hunting in the spring, no scouting and no ATV riding at all except to retrieve a dead buck or follow a wounded one.

The Ladies.

Why do they let ladies into a bar free and charge the guys a $20 cover? It is the same reason that you should take great care to keep the

See the next page ...

2020 Mills County Hunting Guide - 47

Small Place, Big Bucks - Continued... does healthy and happy on your tiny ranch.

Hunting near does during the rut will bring the big bucks out of the cover. So, keep your does as comfortable as possible.

DO NOT DISTURB. I have seen places as small as 15 acres produce massive bucks. But it takes a little stealth. On large properties, disturbed deer have plenty of other places to move and feel secure. Not so on small areas. If you disturb a buck on a small property, he will leave and he might not be back for months, if ever.

Don’t set up an RV and a big camp on a tiny ranch. Every deer within a mile knows you are there to hunt. True, a few does and immature bucks might still show up at the feeder in the morning, but not the big guy.

He took off when you unlocked the gate. My advice is to stay in town. Don’t let the deer know you are coming. When you drive to your hunting area, approach your property from down wind if possible. Ease your truck door closed and be in hunting mode the second you step out of the truck.

If you have a year-round lease and use the property for summer picnics, fishing or ATV riding, etc., then you are lowering your ability to hold big bucks. The idea is to create a property where the bigger bucks feel safe all

year round. The bucks then will come there in the hunting season from neighboring area properties, because it is on your land where they feel totally secure. This might not fit your family needs, but it’s a must if you want to hold big bucks.

When scouting, stay on the fringe of the property as much as possible. Erect some “observation stands” on the perimeter of your property and work from the perimeter in. Never drive any vehicles or ATVs on the property. You can do so on the perimeter, but never the interior (except for work on food plots, and even then, keep it reduced as much as possible). Do not place any tree stands within 100 yards of the sanctuaries you have created. Hunt the fringe of your property, and only travel into the interior of your property to blood-trail your trophy.

The Mills Central Appraisal District (325) 648-2253 has contact information for landowners’ neighbors. Honestly discuss your hunting goals and preferences with your neighbors. I have often seen neighbors come together and agree on harvest standards. I have even seen neighbors agree not to harvest specific bucks that roam between two places.

Some of these agreements even formalize into Wildlife Management Associations. One very successful local program is the Simms

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NEIGHBORS. If hunters on neighboring properties harvest any buck that moves, your bucks just aren’t going to be able to grow up. Is there anything you can do to get and keep good bucks on your property? The best thing you can do to keep your bucks alive a few more years is to call around and find out who hunts the areas around your small lease or a ranch you own.

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••• Small properties offer some special challenges for the deer hunter, but trophies are taken each year by the hunters who take a little extra time to follow some basic trophy deer management principles. Good luck this season!

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50 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Make Your Trophy Photos Memorable

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle It’s amazing to see how photographing trophies has progressed over the past 70 years. Back then, cameras were different, hunters were different, and the times surely were different. I enjoy seeing some of the old photos from the 1930s and 1940s. Back then, there was no concept of field photos, because the cameras were much different than today’s compact cameras. In the early days, cameras were large, heavy objects—too big to move easily—so most of the photos taken were on vehicles, horses, or at homes and hunting camps.

Hunting is a pastime. It’s a way to bring friends and families together to share the enjoyment of the great outdoors. It’s a special fraternity. All hunting trips can provide memories that last a lifetime. Why not take quality field photos to capture those memories forever? It’s a chance to return to that place and time and re-live those experiences.

When taking these photos, we must keep in mind that hunting is not held in the same regard by all, as it was several years ago. In today’s world, there are many antihunting groups and people who are looking for ways to condemn our hunting heritage. Some of the blame for their disdain of hunting lies in the perception of hunting they get from what they view as offensive images of dead animals.

Therefore, we must be better hunters and help champion the hunting industry. One way to do that is by taking quality field photos.

First, let’s discuss the gear you need to take some great photos. To begin, you obviously need a good camera. Today’s are easy to use and many are digital, so you can review your photos in the field and delete

wipes to use for cleaning blood and dirt. On that topic, let’s move into setting up the field photo.

First, take the photo in the field and area where you are hunting.

Truck bed and ATV photos are undesirable. There are many different poses you can use, but one I always like is the animal presented in a respectful position. Tuck the animal’s legs under its body. Clean the animal so no blood or wounds are visible. Remove the tongue or place it deep in the mouth so it is not hanging out.

Make sure there is no brush or objects in the way. Have the area clean of trash, hunting items, drinks, etc. Decide if you want your bow or firearm in the photo and present it properly. Many favorite shots from quality photographers use the sky as a backdrop. Position the animal on a small hill with the sky as a background.

Remember that too much scenery in the background may distract the viewer from the focal point— the animal. If possible, take some photos with yourself behind and beside the trophy; that way you are not blocking the antlers. Try taking your photos in mid-morning or early afternoon. Make sure you have ample light. Also, make sure to always use your flash. Even with great lighting, there always are Richard Schunke harvested this twelve point buck just a few miles from shadows that might distract from Goldthwaite on the Casa Delapidato Ranch a few seasons ago. Richard the picture. Flash will fill those artook the buck with his .308 rifle at 187 yards. The buck scores 139-6/8 eas and make the colors in the inches at Mills County General Store. Photo by Steven Bridges photo brighter. Finally, take your time. When taking that photo of a the ones you don’t want, so you Consider one with a timer, in case lifetime, make sure to take plenty get the right photos the first time. you are by yourself with the trophy of them. You can never have too Some use expensive cameras like a of a lifetime. many photos of your trip. Use difCanon EOS or similar camera. Even Take plenty of film if you don’t ferent positions and perspectives disposable cameras can take a use a digital camera. A tripod might to get all aspects of the hunt and good photo. When you are on long help in uncertain situations as well. I the animal to be sure to capture the backpacking hunts, take a simple also like to carry in my truck or pack memories you’re after. camera that fits easily in your pack. some paper towels, water, or baby

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52 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

We’ll Make You Famous!

Send Your Mills County Trophy Photos to...

goldnews@centex.net Don’t Forget to include Who, What, Where, When and What Caliber!

Dennis 'Buddy' Gustafson downed this big, wide thirteen point buck near his house about five miles northwest of Goldthwaite last season. His wife told The Eagle that Buddy shot the deer in their back yard from their kitchen window.

One man's home is another man's deer blind.

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Kinnley Shillings shot this nice tenpoint buck last season on her Pops and Mimi's ranch just southwest of Goldthwaite in Mills County.

Charles Cody Bags Big Doe Charles Cody, 86-years young, of Baytown bagged this nice doe with his .30-06 rifle on the XTC Graves Family Ranch in northeast Mills County over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend last year.

Charles was guided by his nephew Dr. Tom Cody Graves. Other members of the family also hunted that afternoon, but Charles was the only hunter to bag a deer.

Pictured from right to left above are: Ben Cody, Tom Cody, Laura Dyer, Alisa Cody, Charles Cody, Dr. Tom Cody Graves, Cameron Dyer and Michael Dyer.

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54 - 2020 Mills County Hunting Guide

Inexpensive Dove Hunting Insurance

The author avoided getting skunked during a recent dove hunt by fishing for bass.

By Steven Bridges Goldthwaite Eagle I sat with my wife, Debra, next to our favorite dove hunting stock pond with our game bags full of shells and cold shotguns. We had not fired a shot. Not a single dove flew through the air.

My wife is competitive. She likes to

keep score on antler size, numbers of doves and fish as well as board games.

But neither of us could count birds that don’t fly by...

We were both getting skunked.

But like a good Boy Scout, I came prepared for the possibility the doves had moved on. So, I unloaded my shotgun and put it next to my seat. I

hiked over to my pick up and pulled out my “Dove Hunting Insurance Policy,” my fishing rod. It was already strung with a topwater Torpedo.

I strolled back over to where Debra still sat scanning the sky. I stepped up to the bank of the pond and flipped the lure just past the moss line in front of me.

I let the Torpedo sit still for a few seconds until the water rings settled.

When I couldn’t stand it any longer, I gave the frog the smallest of jiggles.

WHAM! A nice bass blew up from inside the moss line, engulfed the lure and went airborne. I gave the rod a big yank to set the hook. The bass dove straight back into the moss. He burrowed deep inside the thick weeds. I had 20 pound test line in preparation for just such an event. But a three pound bass and 25 pounds of pond weeds can be too much. Just do the math!

I pulled with steady pressure and moved down the bank to change the angle of my force against the bass... and the weeds. I gently increased the pressure on the line until the bass slowly pulled loose of the entanglement. I now had three pounds of fish and many pounds of moss on the line... all in one big blob.

I carefully eased the whole mess up to the bank. I slowly began pulling off the moss from the fish. Finally, I was able to grab the lip of the bass and hold it up for my wife, Debra, to see. I was no longer skunked!

Debra said, “Wash that thing off and I’ll take a picture.”

As always, I immediately followed her orders. I washed the fish off and posed for a quick snapshot.

After I released the fish, she handed me her phone and held her hand out.

“My turn,” she said.

Of course, I handed her the rod and got out of her way. Her casting can get a little wild when she gets competitive.

In no time Debra landed a bass. She didn’t even look back at me as she quickly released the fish and cast back into the water. The only thing Debra hates more than losing is a tie.

I just kept scanning the horizon from my bucket. My only chance now to fish was for a dove to fly by.

••• A fishing rod has saved more than a few poor dove hunting days. I always keep the rod and a few choice lures in the toolbox of my truck, just in case the doves are not flying.

Dove season is also a great time to fish in Mills County. The bass are especially hungry putting on extra weight before winter. Top water lures work well until the water really begins to cool down, which is usually not until October.

Brown Bag Bass Fishing There is no need for a bass boat. You don’t need a bunch of rods and a big tackle box full of lures to gear up for your dove hunting insurance policy.

You only need a rod rigged up with your favorite lure. I have a Mills County General Store bag in my truck toolbox with a few extra lures just in case the bass breaks the line (or just in case Debra gets ahead).

So, next time you go out dove hunting near a stock pond, don’t forget to throw a fishing rod in the truck. That little piece of fishing insurance might just keep you from getting skunked.

Pictured above is my brown bag bass fishing insurance policy purchased at Mills County General Store in Goldthwaite. Included: Worms, hooks and weights, POP-R and my favorite Heddon TORPEDO.

Back to a Healthy Lifestyle Surgical Excellence and Prompt, Compassionate Care.

Don’t let illness or injury hold you back from a healthy lifestyle. From colonoscopies to gallbladder removal and knee replacement, outpatients and inpatients are in capable hands with Hamilton General Hospital’s surgical specialists.

R. Adams, MD General Surgeon

General surgeon, Ryan Adams has extensive knowledge and training and treats a broad range of conditions that require surgery at Hamilton General Hospital.

Orthopedic Surgeon Keith Ellison performs knee replacement surgeries, shoulder and knee scopes at Hamilton General Hospital. He is skilled in hand surgeries including carpal tunnel release.

When you need a surgical procedure, our surgical suite is here for you.

Reach out to your primary care physician for a referral.

(254) 386-1524

K. Ellison, MD Orthopedic Surgeon

Family Practice Rural Health Clinic (254) 386-1700

HAMILTON HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

400 North Brown • Hamilton, TX 76531 www.hamiltonhospital.org

Hico Clinic (254) 796-4224

Family Practice Clinic of Mills County (325) 648-2850

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