SW Hill Country Hunting Guide (2022-23)

TAXIDERMISTS

Heart O’ The Hills

High Country

Hill Country Hides (Camp Wood)

Rhodes Bros Taxidermy (Kerrville)

Tracking Services

Bravo Outdoors (Hill Country)

H

Services (Hill Country)

Feed Stores

Country Boys Feed & Supply (Rocksprings)

Frio Feed (Leakey)

Junction Warehouse

Priour Varga Wool & Mohair

(Junction)

Outdoor Accessories

R.A.M. Outdoor

Uvalco Powersports

Ranch Services

5A Ranch Services (Rocksprings)

Angora Equipment Services (Rocksprings)

Bainum Construction

Big Texas Solar (Hill Country)

Groom Ready Mix (Rocksprings)

Hill Country Water Well Drilling (Hunt)

Construction (Leakey)

Japonica Water Well Service

Juan Sanchez Fencing (Leakey)

Langenberg Specialty Services (Rocksprings)

MB Prime, LLC (Hill Country)

Plateau Metal Buildings LLC (Rocksprings)

Depot (Hill

and Dine Ranch

Tillman

Corporation

Fence (Rocksprings)

Hunting Ranches

Buck$

Convenience/Grocery

Restaurants/Specialty

Lodging

Del Rio Resort

Rocksprings

(Rocksprings)

Lodge (Rocksprings)

Tru Country

(Rocksprings)

(Brady)

Frio River Ranch

Real Estate

Monica Allison, Realtor

Blossom Real Estate (Rocksprings)

Hayden Benton, Agent/Legacy Home & Ranch Realty (Uvalde) 54

James Bigley/Maverick Real Estate (Hill Country)

Frank & Troebe Harlos/Texas Ranch Land Sales (Kerrville)

Glynn and Paige Hendley, John Morgan Davis Western Hill Country Realty (Rocksprings)

Zac Kerbow, Broker Associate Texas Ranch Sales (Rocksprings)

Linda Koehl/Riata Realty (Camp Wood/Uvalde)

Traci Phillips, The Texas Land Lady (Hill Country) 53

Gavin Scott/Texas Ranch Land Sales (Hill Country) 49

Events/Attractions/Art

Devil’s Sinkhole (Rocksprings) 24

Edwards County Fair Association 4th of July Celebration (Rocksprings) 20

Heinrichs Art Studio (Junction) 37

Hunter’s BBQ (Rocksprings)

19

London Dance Hall (London) 38

Sonora Chamber of Commerce & Area Attractions (Sonora) ......... 41 Texas Gun & Knife Shows (Hill Country) 43

Kimball County Wild Game Dinner (Junction) 33

Other Services

Craig Wolcott, Attorney at Law (Rocksprings/Kerrville) 9

Twice the Ice/Ice & Water (Rocksprings)

20

Johnson’s Pest Control (Junction) 37 Mobile RV Solutions (Hill Country)

14

People’s State Bank (Rocksprings/Center Point) 2

Plateau Metal Buildings LLC (Rocksprings) 5 Rocksprings Abstract and Title Company (Rocksprings) .11

Spears Homes (Kerrville) 44

Southwest Texas Communications (Hill Country) 52 SWT Service Corporation (Rocksprings) - Homes/Cabins 27

Shopping

Cowboy Cottage (Junction) 39

Dixie Printz (Camp Wood) 30

The Jazzy Cowgirl (Junction) 35 Rustic Frio (Leakey) 45 West Bear Creek General Store (Junction)

3

Welcome to Hunting Season!

to the 2022-2023 hunting season here in Edwards County and the great state of Texas! We are looking forward

season

contacts in the field, as Texas hunters continue the tradition of the hunt and the harvest.

have been several changes this

of the most significant

to the convenience of

the option to

a

the TPWD website at tpwd.texas.gov. Keep in mind that you will not have the option to print if you choose to purchase a digital license but will be expected to digitally present your license and report on your harvest. Please refer to the TPWD website for specific instructions on utilizing the digital license option. I wish you a happy and safe season. See you in the field!

Satterfield

Edwards County Game Warden

Getting started with

By Monica Allison | Big Buck$ Ranch

Manyland owners start out excited when they find their first dream property. If they’ve never owned land outside of a city, any animal they see on their piece of heaven seems amazing. Once the newness of being a landowner wears off, different species may pique their interest and they start exploring stocking their ranch differently, or actively managing the animals they now have to maximize health and production.

One area Texas excels in is exotic game availability. The Hill Country boasts the largest number of confined exotics in the state, and South Texas has the most free ranging, according to a survey by TPWD. If a land owner finds a ranch full of blackbuck and axis, herd management is important to keep them healthy.

In our case, we decided to stock our ranch with a set number of new exotic species that we did not currently have, as well as manage our current blackbuck and axis herds that came with the place when we bought it. I’d like to share our experiences in how we made some of our decisions in what to stock.

We were fortunate to find the Exotic Wildlife Association early on. We signed up for and atteneded their annual conference to see what raising exotics in Texas was all about.

The members there were willing to share their experiences, good and bad, with different species. We learned about range management, feed selection, predator control, and herd health to name just a few of the things. I cannot recommend strongly enough to anyone looking at exotics as an addition to their ranch: investigate the species versus your climate and conditions before jumping in. The Exotic Wildlife Association meetings were invaluable to us in our start.

In addition, before buying animals, choose a veterinarian that specializes in exotics and have them visit your ranch. Don’t be afraid to pick their brain on what species would work on your place. There are certain animals that cross breed with others, some that kill each other, and some that kill their own offspring. Learning this ahead of time can save anyone lots of heartache in animal loss.

It is also important to know which animals need shelter and what kind of shelter each requires. Taking away every area of cover may create a park-like appearance on your ranch, but it leaves the animals nowhere to get out of extreme weather if you do not provide another form of shelter.

Another important thing is to have a plan as to how many animals the land can manage without being overgrazed. Wildlife biologists can assist in this determination. It’s good to have a mix of grazers and browsers, so one food source is not entirely depleted.

If the property is under high fence, maintaining proper herd count and an adequate feeding program is essential to ensure the animals survive the extreme weather that Texas can dish out. Our snow-pocalypse caught a lot of folks by surprise, and the drought has been almost as challenging for some.

Having a plan to keep your place fed and watered when nature does not provide everything is important and we credit our feeding program and breaking water daily for keeping us from losing many adult animals during our freezes.

You can’t wait until the week before a snow storm to feed up. The animals need to be healthy going into those times, and will hopefully survive when they come. Photos courtesy Big Bucks Ranch.

FYI • Big Buck$ Ranch is located in Rocksprings, Texas. For more information, call or 210-421-8630 or visit BigBucksRanch.com.

Fallow Buck.

Ibex Buck. Nubian Ibex kids. Nyala cows and calf.

Sable cow.

Blackbuck.

Gemsbok calves.

Fire Safety Reminder Call Before You Burn

In August 2015, Edwards County was devastated by a Wildfire, The Brown Ranch fire scorched nearly 18,000 acres in its destruc tive path for over a week. Multiple State Agencies assisted the Texas Forest Service and Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System Strike Teams and a helicopter were deployed to support fire suppression activities. The county issued a Local Disaster Declaration.

A large part of Edwards County was under a mandatory evac uation as the fire was fast approaching when the winds shifted and subsided, saving many property owners the loss of most everything in the fires path.

Thanks to Gib, Danny and Richard Flores, owners of the ranch where these photos were taken.

Business Association of Rocksprings ...“The BAR”

By Monica Allison

Business Association of Rocksprings is a networking organization formed to connect community members- whether permanent or visiting- to the businesses of Rocksprings. Mixers are sponsored by different businesses, and everyone is invited to mix and mingle. Mixer locations move around the town. Neighbors meet neighbors- perhaps for the first time- and businesses can share their products and services with the community. The BAR group has a Facebook page for announcements and an interactive Facebook group where community members and businesses can openly communicate. The goal is to serve businesses as well as the community of Rocksprings and surrounding areas with in-person meet and greets, as well as an online forum.

Why did we form this group? We were part time in Rocksprings for about six years before we sold our of our city stuff and became fulltime residents. When we were in San Antonio, we participated in various business organizations and networking and we looked for that in Rocksprings as a way to meet new people and find out about the businesses. It took us several years to find some of Rocksprings “secrets” we share on The Business Association of Rocksprings’ page. We wanted new members to have an easier time than we did and we are excited to see the community grow and prosper. We know that small business is the backbone of America and we have both been business owners for many years. We also both came from small towns in Texas and feel blessed to have found this paradise here.

More and more people are moving to the area and this networking will provide connections to know “who does what and where.” Everyone has different reasons for living in a small town like Rocksprings, including the outlying areas. Some folks want to hunt, some just want to get away from the rat race of the city. Many folks dream of retiring in Rocksprings and are in the process of setting up their place to meet that purpose.

Whatever the reason for choosing Rocksprings — whether you were blessed to be born in Edwards County, or you just got here as fast as you could — we want the Business Association of Rocksprings to meet everyone’s needs and help you find your place as you enjoy the community to the fullest extent. New community members have a lot to offer as well, and “The BAR” has the goal to be the place to merge old and new and create a promising future for Rocksprings and the surrounding areas.

For more information about the Business Association of Rocksprings (BAR), call Monica Allison at 210-379-1940.

Rocksprings Courthouse. Photo by Monica McIntyre Allison.

Cull that buck ... right?

By Colton Stabeno

Thetopic of culling bucks can be a contentious one around deer camps.One hunter’s opinion on what defines a cull buck is can differ vastly from the next. I recall one lease I was a member of where a hunter brought in a ranch record, non-typical buck and pro ceeded to call him his cull buck based off his “trashy” rack.

Cull bucks are often defined as lacking certain desirable antler traits, such as number of points, length of points, etc. Something that is often overlooked is the effect an injury can have on antler development. An otherwise normal looking buck can develop an ex tremely abnormal rack as a result of an injury to the body or the ant ler while in velvet. Such was the case of one buck on a lease I hunted near Sabinal. Our first year on the lease, my game camera captured pictures of a buck that was quickly identified as a cull by many of my friends and family. His left antler produced a mainframe 5-point rack with two small kickers. His right beam, however, grew about 4-5” up then split into a small cluster of points. He showed no signs of having an injury to the left side of his body (bodily injuries are most often transposed on the opposite side antler), so my conclusion was he in jured the antler during the early stages of antler growth.

Whether I was right or wrong, the potential I saw in this buck was worth the pass for the year. Entering our second year hunting this ranch, my excitement was high to see how the buck looked. As I was clicking through my first round of pictures, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. There, under the feeder, stood a remarkable buck.

After quelling my initial excitement, I begin to study the deer. It didn’t take long for me to recognize the left antler of the buck. It was

an exact replica of the buck from the previous year, just bigger! And as I hoped, his right antler was normal, producing a perfect 5-point side. There was no doubt about it, I was looking at a buck that would be my biggest to date, should I have the opportunity at him.

When archery season commenced, I was confident a rendez vous with the 12 point was inevitable. He was a frequent visitor on my camera, showing himself at least once a day. As hunting goes, it wasn’t until the second weekend of archery season that I got my first look at the 12 point in person. He was every bit as impressive as he was on camera, and an instant jolt of buck fever set in.

As typical with archery hunting, it was an antagonizing 45-min ute ordeal before I was finally able to come to full draw with the buck standing at 20 yards. As I touched the release, my arrow found its mark behind the shoulder and the buck traveled 30 yards before suc cumbing to his double lung hit. The buck that would have been culled by many — and his antlers nailed to the side of the barn — now sits front and center in my living room as my top buck.

Biologists to ranch managers to lease members alike: you may never get everyone to agree on a standard set of parameters to define a cull buck. The best advice I can give is — whatever you decide those parameters to be — have clear and precise rules established that leave no question as to what you define as a cull buck. Lastly, if the goal is to produce big bucks, be sure to consider the possibility of injury before culling a unique buck. You never know, that “cull” buck may turn out to be your personal best the next year!

Photo courtesy Colton Stabeno.

Southwest Hill Country Hunting Guide

PREVENT BEAR CONFLICTS

•

•

•

•

•

• Planting food plots is best way to attract deer and avoid bear visits!

Electric fencing deters bears while allowing deer access to feeders. Feeders should be hung at least 8 feet high and 4 feet from the attachment point.

HOG HUNTERS, BEWARE!

Hogs and bears can look very similar. Know your target!

It is a violation of law to kill a black bear in Texas, with penalties of up to $10,000, added civil restitution fines, jail time and loss of all hunting privileges.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR:

Never approach a bear!

• Bears are normally shy and not aggressive to humans.

• If a bear regularly visits your deer stand, scare it with rocks, a slingshot or air horn.

• If you encounter a bear at close range, talk in a calm manner while backing away slowly. Do not make direct eye contact.

• Do not run! This can trigger a bear’s chase instinct.

• If a bear approaches you, stand your ground and raise your arms, backpack or jacket to appear larger. Yell at the bear to scare it off.

• If attacked, fight back aggressively with anything available. Let the bear know you are not easy prey. Do not play dead.

BLACK BEAR FACTS

• The black bear is a protected and rare species in the state of Texas.

• Male bears weigh 150 to 350+ lbs., and females weigh 120-250 lbs.

• Male home ranges average 20,000 acres, females average 5,000 acres.

• Denning can start as early and November and continue ‘til late May.

• Bears den in large, hollow trees, brush piles, thickets, rock crevices and caves.

• Denning bears go into a deep sleep but can be aroused if disturbed.

• Females mature at three to five years of age and, on average, have two cubs every other year

• Cubs are born in the den weighing 8 ounces and exit the den weighing 4 pounds. Cubs stay with their mother for 1-1/2 years.

• Bears are opportunistic feeders and eat almost anything available.

• Up to 90% of a bear’s diet is vegetable material, which includes nuts, fruits, berries and plants. Most of the protein in a bear’s diet comes from insects like beetles, wasps, termites and ants.

TO REPORT A BEAR ENCOUNTER

Call the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at 800-792-1112.

What you need to know about...

Elk in Texas

By James Bigley

Here’s

what you need to know about elk in Texas. Originally, elk were native to Texas, but mainly hunted out in the 1800s and then reintroduced in the 1920s in the Trans-Pecos region via high fence properties.

The elk over the years have escaped out of these high fence properties, and now they’re free range across the Edwards Plateau and West Texas. Free range means elk are free to move throughout Texas. This map shows an estimated range of elk in Texas at this time. All red, including the red dots or actual sightings, are a known range of low fence elk in Texas.

Why aren’t Texas elk regulated by Texas Parks and Wildlife? Because elk were designated in the 1990s as a non-game species

in Texas. TPWD classifies them as exotics or non-game species. Therefore, a hunter does not need a tag nor a season for elk, or a bag limit. You must have a hunting license, and permission from a landowner, or own your own property to hunt elk.

Aoudad in Texas

Aoudad

in Texas, also known as Barbary sheep, were imported into Texas in the early 1940s from North Africa. The population of aoudad in North Africa is threatened.

The population of aoudad in North America is seven times larger than in North Africa at this time. The Texas aoudad population is mainly in the Panhandle, Edwards Plateau, and West Texas.

The aoudad population in Texas is mainly free range, uninhibited by fences. The gestation period is 160 days and they’re able to have

one to three kids.Longevity is around 15 years and their weight is from 100 to 310 pounds plus.

Aoudad out-populates and compete in West Texas directly with bighorn sheep. In Texas, you’re allowed to hunt these year-round with no bag limits. You must have a hunting license, and permission from a landowner, or own your own property to hunt aoudad.

What you need to know about... from

26

Axis Deer In Texas

Alsoknown as chital, they were introduced into Texas around the 1930s. Axis or chital deer originate from India. They are considered a non-game species or an exotic in the state of Texas by TPWD, which means for hunting there’s no bag limit and no season for these animals.

You must have a hunting license, and permission from a landowner, or own your own property to hunt axis deer. Related to reproduction, they breed year-round and are the second largest large game invasive species in Texas compared to feral pigs.

They directly compete for resources against whitetails. The range is mainly on the Edwards Plateau and north to Comanche County. Axis deer territory is increasing year over year. One thing to note about the axis is that they only like valleys, dry creek beds, and lower

elevations. So, if you’re looking for land to hunt axis, you have to make sure it’s the right topography. Axis deer are also susceptible to cold weather and mostly resistant to diseases that whitetail are not.

About the author: James Bigley has produced more than 700 videos. See his work on YouTube, TikTok and Facebook.

Good Morning Edwards County Photo by Hillary Shanklin. Three peaks on Devils River Photo by Richard Powell.

Photo by Scott Cardwell.

By Caleb Hill

buck up and over a hill, and knew something wasn’t right. Once they started losing blood, they backed out and started calling for dogs. We took the

and made the trip to a working ranch where livestock utilized much of the vegetation, leaving behind a dry, and dusty environment for us to work in. We met the hunters at the gate and followed them to the site where the deer had been shot. We collared our longest running companion, Champagne, and turned her out. Champagne took to the trail immediately and split a small herd of sheep right at the start. We followed the same trail the hunters had already pursued for the first couple hundred yards and found small, inconsistent drops of blood along the way.

We trailed him over the hill where they had found the last drop of blood, and turned the job over to Champagne from that point on. I stayed on top of the hill and watched her work her way down at a quick pace until she disappeared into the cenizo flat at the base of the hill. From that point, I stared at the screen of my GPS tracking system and studied her movement. When she got out around 300 yards from us, I could tell by the tighter, circular tracks on my screen that she was on to something there.

The sight of that pattern always increases my heart rate a bit, and perks my ears up. After several intense minutes, we heard the first few exaggerated barks emphasized with a slight howls at the end of the series. The buck was still alive, and she had him bayed very well there in the brush. I made my way toward the duo and closed the distance until I got close enough to see the movement of the brush where the two of them were concealed. From there. I strategically made my way in to get a shot. We got him finished there and successfully recovered this buck. Once the buck was expired, we made the call to the hunters to inform them of the good news. They were able to make their way to us and were all ecstatic at the sight of this trophy buck, as well as relieved of the situation.

The use of dogs with a tracking skill set often times recovers animals which would either lay waste for buzzards to pick on, or finished off by coyotes in a brutal, but natural process. The dogs can expedite the recovery and allow the animal to be harvested and appreciated.

Photo courtesy Caleb Hill.

day from 11

a to-go

1

(one block east of the school).

Center

located at 104 E.

830–683–3722.

Delicious Deer Meat

Easy Texas Red Chili

• 2 lbs soup bones with marrow (or oxtail)

• 6 lbs beef or venison chili meat (or ground)

• 3/4 cup mild red chili powder

• 2 tbsp Mexican oregano

• 2 tbsp cumin seed

• 2 tbsp salt

• 5 large cloves garlic, minced

• 3 quarts water

• 1/2 cup masa harina

In a large stockpot, brown beef or venison (add a little oil if needed); add soup bones and seasonings and water. Bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer, cover, and cook 1 1/2 to two hours. Mix masa in about 1 cup cold water and gently stir into mixture. Simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes. Serves 16-20. Freezes well. Serve with pinto beans and cornbread. (Marcy Anderson Epperson)

BACK STRAP

Back strap seared then cut into very thin slices. Low and slow cooked in green salsa verde served on corn tortillas with lime, chopped onion and cilantro. Also beer. (Bobby Stovall)

POPPERS

Cut Jalapenos in half and we take cooked ground deer meat and cream cheese and mix it into a bowl. Scoop into half a jalapeno, top with cheese, and wrap in bacon then on the grill or oven ‘til cooked. (Bobby Stovall)

Carne Guisada

We’ve used axis, blackbuck, scimitar, and nilgai

• 3 lbs stew meat

• 1 tbsp oil

• 1 large sweet onion

• 1 bell pepper

• 1 large diced tomato

• 3 cloves minced garlic

• 2 tsp cumin

• 2 tsp salt

• ½ teaspoon ground pepper

• 2 tbsp flour

• 1 cup beef or chicken stock

• Flour tortillas for serving Brown stew meat in oil with onion, garlic, and green pepper over high heat - add diced tomato to meat mixture and add cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir well - sprinkle flour into mixture and stir, add stock and stir until no lumps - bring to boil and cover pan, reducing heat to low. Simmer for 1.5 hours or until meat is tender -adjust seasonings to taste - serve with warm tortillas For spicier version, try substituting 1 can of Rotel© for the diced tomato. Enjoy! (Monica Allison)

Garrett’s No Indigestion Chili

• 2 lbs ground deer(chili or hamburger grind)

• 2 tbsp Chili powder

• 2 tbsp Fancy New Mexico light chili powder

• 2 tsp cumin/comino

• 2 tsp garlic powder

• 2 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp salt

• 2-12 oz cans of tomato sauce

• 2- tomato sauce cans of plain water

Lightly but fully brown meat in pan,drain if needed. Take pan off burner and add all dry ingredients to meat and mix well. (If you have 15-30min,allow meat to cool with spice and lock in flavor to the meat) Add tomato sauce and water and bring to boil. Then cover and let simmer on low. Add or remove lid at end to get the consistency you like. Enjoy, I’ve had friends that said they can’t eat chili, but enjoy mine. Been cooking same recipe last 20 years. If you like it a little spicy,add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. If you like jalapeño,roast a fresh one in pan until toasted. (Chris Garrett)

Venison Chops

w/berry game sauce

• 12 (4-ounce) venison chops

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted for basting

• 2 tbsp Reata grilling spice (see recipe below)

• 1-½ cups Berry Good Game Sauce (see recipe below)

Preheat the grill to high. Lightly dust both sides of each chop w/Reata Grill Spice. Place chops directly on grill, basting continuously w/the melted butter, about 4 minutes. Overcooked venison gets really tough, so stop at medium-rare. Don’t forget to baste, baste, baste while the chops are on the grill. Carefully turn the chops, liberally basting with melted butter and cook about 4 minutes, or until reach desired temperature. Drizzle each serving w/1 tbsp of Berry Good Game Sauce, and garnish w/a few cooked, whole blackberries from the sauce.(Submitted by Buffy Tackett - recipe from Reata Restaurant in Alpine)

Berry Good Game Sauce (makes 1 ½ cups)

• 1 cup Port Wine Glaze

• ¼ cup brown sugar

• 1 ½ cups fresh blackberries

• ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in small saucepan over low heat. Simmer for 20-30 minutes, taking care to not break down the blackberries (though some will naturally occur).

Reata Grill Spice (Makes 1 ½ cups)

Mix together and store in an airtight container:

• ¼ cup freshly ground black pepper

• 2 tbsp kosher salt

• 4 tbsp ground thyme

• 3 tbsp garlic

• 2 ½ tbsp sugar

• ¼ cup ground cumin

• ½ cup ground paprika

Tenderizing Tips

Mix 20% of ground bacon with your ground venison. It’s good in everything, chili, stew, meatloaf, and it helps your venison burgers hold together. You can get bacon ends and pieces at the grocery store. Next, use a tenderizer mallet on all steaks.

It not only tenderizes the meat but it releases the flavor. I take mine outside on a cutting board and beat the hell out of it. There is some splatter the way I tenderize it. Whatever recipe you use, it will be better with these two tips. (Randy LaVerne)

The beauty of Southwest Texas

Day is done. Photo by Patti Ward.

Nueces River beauty. Photo courtesy The RIV Resort.

Thriving. Photo by Nancy Craddock.

Axis. Photo by Scott Cardwell.

Twins down for an evening drink. Photo by Jackie Lumry.

Edwards County

Rainbow over Rocksprings. Photo by Jeff O’Block.

Fallow Deer roaming free in Edwards County. Photo by Scott Cardwell.

JAVELINA

MULE

Panhandle

WHITE-TAILED

The 12 point that wasn’t

By Colton Stabeno

Throughoutmy time hunting, there are a few bucks I have harvested that stand out from the others. These deer coincidentally educated me about a buck’s characteristics or behavior, likely contributing to why I am so fond of these particular bucks.

The story of the 12 that wasn’t began in 2018. Clicking through game camera photos at a feeder on a lease of mine produced a picture of a unique main frame 10 point. He had tall brows and long beams that both curved in. I was not presented with an opportunity to see that buck in person that year, however, I was excited to see what he grew the following year as he had all the characteristics of a 4.5 year old buck.

As the 2019 season commenced, my camera finally captured of picture of the buck. He was even more impressive than the previous year, having added a G5 on his left side making him an 11 point. Luckily for me, I was a little trigger happy that year and shot a different mature 11 point I had watched for two years, or the story of this buck would have ended here.

Entering the 2020 season, my thoughts were solely on this buck. One thing that had eluded me in my hunting life was a mainframe 12 point, and I was convinced this buck was going to remedy that. As the pictures started coming in, I came across a picture of a big 8 point that commanded my attention. I didn’t immediately recognize the 8 point and continued scrolling through pictures without giving the buck a second thought.

A few weeks later showed the same big 8 on camera. This time I studied the 8 point closer, and it finally dawned on me which deer this was. The buck that I was certain would fill out to a mainframe 12 point had dropped down to an 8! There was no denying it was the same buck; the shape of his beams and the length and curvature of his brow tines gave it away. Admittedly, I was somewhat disappointed in my discovery, and contemplated whether or not I would shoot him if given the opportunity, even though he was mature.

As the hunting season began, I focused my attention on hunting my primary spot where the buck frequented. Although I had several pictures of him here, he was not a regular visitor by any means. On November 7, I laid eyes on the buck for the first time in person. My father always told me when asked about knowing when to take a buck “you’ll just know when you see him,” which held true here as I instantly knew he was worthy of my buck tag.

I tried for 45 minutes that morning to get drawn on him with my bow without success. My disappointment was further exasperated after pulling my game camera card to realize this was the first appearance from the big 8 in four weeks!

Concern that I might have missed my only opportunity at this buck immediately set in. Three days passed before I found myself back in the ladder stand at the same spot. It was Veteran’s Day, with all the makings of the perfect morning you dream of all summer long. The weather was crisp, the wind was blowing in the right direction, and deer were on their feet early.

As light began slowing painting the scene in front of me, I took notice of a deer moving in the draw to my south. It was evident he was a mature buck, prompting me to nock an arrow. Clearing

Kerrville/Ingram

pray

pray

pray

pray for

pain

thank you,

for this land.

thank you for the sights from

stand.

of one & all.

may return next fall.

brush and stepping out at the feeder, my heart hit overdrive as I realized it was the big 8! Following the same script as our previous encounter, the 8 circled around and began feeding facing towards me.

A 30-minute game of cat-and-mouse ensued, as I continued trying to get drawn on this buck. Twice I would apply pressure to my string only to bail on the draw due to another buck looking in my direction. I knew my time was running out, and decided to go for it as soon as the buck gave the slightest opportunity to draw. A smaller buck working behind the 8 drew his attention, and as the 8 turned back to look at him, I quickly came to full draw, undetected by the other deer. As the 8-point turned broadside, I touched the release and watched my lighted nock zip through him in what I considered to be the perfect spot.

I instantly threw my hands in the air, knowing that a threeyear story had come to an end. Even though I figured it to be a moot point, I still gave the buck 30 minutes just to be safe. About 75 yards into my track, the unmistakable sight of antlers sticking up from the ground caught my attention. As I got to the buck, he was every bit as big as I was expecting. I knelt to the ground to give thanks for the buck and the life that I live, as I gave thought towards all the veterans who have sacrificed so much.

My “hopeful 12” would end up scoring 141 - 6/8 as a perfect 8 point. If this buck taught me anything, it is that there are no certainties when it comes to antler growth. Just when you think you can predict what a buck will look like the following year, he does the complete opposite. I also learned to be thorough in your analysis of a buck. Keeping photos from the previous years to reference are a big help in identifying a particular buck.

Photos courtesy Colton Stabeno.

Save your pumpkins for the wildlife!

a source of

hydration

B6, C

Casa Falcon Mexican Restaurant

2nd Street, Camp Wood, TX. 830-597-5111.

Kingburger Drive Inn

102 N. State Highway, Rocksprings, TX. 830-683-4127.

Lotus Thai Café

103 W. Main Street, Rocksprings, TX. 830-683-3711.

Miss Buffy’s Fried Chicken

215 W. Main Street, Rocksprings, TX. 830-234-7197.

Sonia’s Tacos 304 E. Main Street, Rocksprings, TX. 830-834-0037.

The Chicken Coop Grill 25607 TX-55, Barksdale, TX. 830-234-3244.

The Jailhouse Bar & Grill 108 W Austin St, Rocksprings, TX. 830-683-3366.

Horny Hills Cafe 104 US-377, Rocksprings, TX. 830-683-2522.

Lil Orange Mirage Food Truck 3885 Hwy. 41. Mountain Home, TX. 830-357-8700.

The Tamale Lady Year-round. Call to order 303-564-2180.

Texas Scratch Kitchen

At the Junction and Menard Farmers’ Markets. 300 Ellis Street, Menard, TX. TexasScratchKitchen.com.

Menard/BradyMountain Home

useful contacts & info

COMMUNICATIONS

Claude H. Gilmer Memorial Library

308 US Hwy. 377, Rocksprings, Texas Computers, Free WiFi 830-683-8130

Rocksprings TX Hunting and Property Owners FaceBook Group www.facebook.com/groups/367594347352600/

MEDICAL

Rocksprings Kimble Hospital Medical Clinic (Tues, Thurs. Fri.)

212 W. Main Street, Rocksprings, TX. 830-308-7734

Air MedCare Network Membership Swift access to emergency care you need with transport services. 830-928-1226, 800-793-0010

VETERINARY

Sonora Animal Hospital, Dr. Gene Gibbens 300 N. Service Rd, Sonora, TX. 325-387-2481

Town & Country Veterinary Hospital 2710 Junction Hwy., Kerrville, TX. 830-367-5316.

Junction Veterinary Clinic, Dr. Larry Brooks 102 Bluebonnet Dr. Junction, TX. 325-446-2776.

GOVERNMENT

Agriculture Extension Agent James Crockett, 830-683-4310.

Edwards County Chamber of Commerce Edwardscountychamber.org 830-683-6466.

Rocksprings Emergency Management Coordinator Jordan Aguilera After Hours 830-683-4105, 830-890-1043.

US Agriculture Department 830-683-2187.

US Homeland Security Border Patrol Rocksprings 830-683-2255.

US Natural Resources Conservation Service 830-683-2125.

SHERIFF

Sheriff & DPS Dispatch 830-683-4104.

EMS EMS Camp Wood Real County 830-597-4200.

EMS Rocksprings Edwards County 830-683-3305.

FIRE DEPARTMENTS

Barksdale Edwards County 830-234-3473.

Camp Wood Real County 830-597-6100.

RECVFD Rocksprings Edwards County FD 830-683-2504.

TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT

Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Warden Blake Satterfield 830-776-6219

Texas Parks & Wildlife Game Warden Paige McCain 254-784-5860

Texas Parks & Wildlife Biologist Ryan V Schmidt 830-703-6808.

U.S. POST OFFICES

Barksdale 25594 TX-55, Barksdale, TX. 830-234-3617.

Camp Wood 309 Nueces St, Camp Wood, TX. 830-597-3262. Rocksprings 102 W Bandera St, Rocksprings, TX. 830-683-2143.

From the Texas State Historical Association

EdwardsCounty is located in Southwest Texas east of the Big Bend country and 100 miles west of San Antonio. The center point of the county is 29°45’ north latitude, 100°16’ west lon gitude. The county encompasses 2,120 square miles of the Edwards Plateau region. The elevation varies from 1,500 feet to 2,410 feet. The average annual rainfall is 22”. The temperature ranges from 34° F to 62° in January and 71° to 97° in July; the growing season lasts 250 days, beginning in mid-March and ending in late November. The eastern section of the county has generally rolling terrain, with many hills and caves.

The western region is typically flat. The county is situated upon a major limestone deposit surfaced with dark, calcareous stony clays and clay loams that principally support oak, juniper, mesquite, and cedar trees, as well as prairie grasses. Edwards County has more than fifteen natural springs that flow year-round; the headwaters of the Llano, Nueces, and West Nueces rivers are in the county. The vegeta tion, temperature, and abundant water supply make this an ideal area for many types of game animals, including white-tail deer, javelina, turkey, and quail. The area is rich in iron ore and sulfur and has some silver deposits, though these have not been mined or developed.

The region that became Edwards County was home to Lipan Apache Indians. Spain established the mission of San Lorenzo de la Santa Cruz in 1762 to help Christianize the Indians, but was other wise unable to settle the area. White settlement in the region did not begin until the mid-1800s. In 1858 the county was formed from Bexar County; the first land was sold in 1876.

Edwards County was not officially organized until 1883. It was named for Hayden Edwards, one of the first American settlers of Nacogdoches. The county seat was originally Bullhead, which subse quently changed its name to Vance. Rock Springs (now Rocksprings) became county seat in 1891. In 1913, Real County was taken from the eastern section of Edwards County, thus de-creasing Edwards County to its present size.

The early settlers of this region soon realized that the area was not suitable for farming, but that it did supply ample natural food for sheep and angora goats. Ranching began to dominate the county as the demand for wool and mohair increased in the early twentieth century. The production of wool and mohair reached its apex in 1940, with 331,970 sheep and 376,322 an-gora goats being counted in the county, after which Rocksprings called itself the “Top-o-the-World” in mohair production. The number of animals declined to 43,293 sheep and 154,144 angora goats in 1987. Ranching continues to con trol the economy of the county, with most available land still used for raising sheep and goats. Less than 5 percent of the county is under cultivation.

So here is a lesson my Dad taught me years ago on a deer

trip. I try to pass this along to those I take hunting. The bloodtrail is awesome because at times it is the only thing that connect us to to the animal that gave his life for us. If we lose the bloodtrail, we can lose the animal. If you get off the bloodtrail, it can take you through briars and thickets that just waste time. At times it is hard to follow and requires a lot of hard work, other times it is easy to see. Sometimes the bloodtrail takes you right through the briars, but it still leads you to the prize. In our faith, Jesus left a bloodtrail. When we lose sight of it, we can get lost. When we stay on the bloodtrail, even though the briars of life tear at us and tangle us up, we are making progress toward the prize. The bloodtrail leads to the lamb that gave his life for us. This bloodtrail leads right to the foot of the cross. Stay on the bloodtrail....

Thanks, Dad. RIP. - David Unger