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T H E O F F I C I A L PU BLIC ATION OF HOUS T ON S AFARI CLUB F OUND AT I ON • CONVENT I O N 2019
2 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
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Baby & Kids • Bath & Candles • Coffee • Couple’s Registry • Gourmet Foods • Grilling • Hardware • Housekeeping • Kitchen Luggage • Men’s Gift Shop • Outdoor & Patio • Pet Supplies • Stationery • Tabletop • Women’s Gift Shop 3900 Bissonnet: 713.665.0500 | 6102 Westheimer: 713.785.6400 | www.berings.com
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 3
TABLE of
CONTENTS
FEATURES
CONVENTION 2019
2 019 H S C F C ON V E N T ION
60 TRIBUTE: BILL CARTER
17 CONVENTION
27 2019 GAZELLES
61 CHENIER PLAN
18 CONVENTION
28 CONVENTION
20 5TH ANNUAL
30 2019 ARTIST OF
SPORTSMEN’S SUMMIT
By J.D. Burrows
62 THE AFRICAN TROPHY BAN CONTROVERSY: LEADING CONSERVATION THROUGH SCIENCE, NOT EMOTION
By Sara Leonard
CHAIR MESSAGE SPONSORS
YOUTH WILDLIFE/ CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE
22 IT’S BONGO TIME
FOR VOLUNTEERS
64 GLOBAL RESCUE: 2018 SOUTH AMERICA FIELD REPORT
By Matt Napiltonia
By Earle & Tina Freeman
24 THE BANSNER
PRESIDENTIAL RIFLE
70 TWO OF THE WORLD’S
By Phil Massaro
GREATEST HUNTS
LUNCHEON & AUCTION CHAIRPERSONS THE YEAR: SUZIE SEEREY-LESTER
By Nancy Johnson
34 LIVE AUCTION PREVIEW 39 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 40 EXHIBITORS 48 2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
By Tim Herald
80 HUNTING WITH YOUR KIDS By Kory Syle
88 HOW BOW BRINGS
80
WOMEN TO HUNTING
By Heidi Rao
92 OUTDOORS TOMORROW FOUNDATION
By Scot McClure
96 COME FLY WITH ME By Jody Simpson
100 STEW SEASON
By Scott Leysath
104 A RESILIENT TRADITION By Shane P. Mahoney
108 A WEEKEND AT THE FLYING A By Matt Pyle
112 THE BVC: THANKS TO SPORT
HUNTERS, A ZIMBABWEAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SUCCESS STORY
Story & Photos by Kevin Thomas
118 EXPLORE THE WORLD WITH ESPLANADE TRAVEL
COVER ARTWORK:
“Cliff Dwellers”— by Suzie Seerey-Lester, 2019 Artist of the Year 18x36 acrylic on panel
4 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
88
60
70
100
92 112
24
64 CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 5
OUR MISSION Preserving the sport of
hunting through education,
conservation and the promotion
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2018-2019 HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION OFFICERS Mitzy McCorvey–President Tommy Morrison–Immediate Past President JD Burrows–President Elect Patrick Bryan Anderson–Vice President Mark Brueggeman–Vice President Mark King–Treasurer Jerry Henderson–Secretary HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION DIRECTORS 2018–2020 Matt Pyle Darrell Kainer Monica Williamson Mills Shaun Nelson 2017–2019 Jeff Birmingham Linda Cunningham Matt Mann Travis Simpson HEADQUARTERS STAFF Joe Betar, Executive Director Angi McCarthy, Office Manager Carla Nielsen, Marketing & Publications Manager Nancy Oka, Director, Events & Membership Charlotte Betar, Advertising Sales
of our hunting
Vic Williams, Editorial Consultant Nate Silva, Design Consultant
heritage.
Alliance Printing and Graphics
6 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Hunter’s Horn™ is published quarterly by Houston Safari Club Foundation 9432 Katy Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77055 713.623.8844 (p) 713.623.8866 (f) info@hscfdn.org www.hscfdn.org © Copyright 2018 Houston Safari Club Foundation Houston Safari Club Foundation welcomes contributing articles, photos and research. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right to edit submissions for spelling, grammar, clarity, organization and punctuation and to abridge length. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right not to publish submissions. Content may not be repurposed without the express written consent of the author and publisher. Please submit materials with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you wish materials to be returned. Houston Safari Club Foundation is not responsible for lost or unsolicited submissions. Digital submissions are preferred. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to Houston Safari Club Foundation, its members, employees or affiliates. Houston Safari Club Foundation reserves the right to refuse any advertisement believed to be incompatible with our mission or deemed competitive or contrary to the best interests of Houston Safari Club Foundation.
U PCOMING EV EN TS JANUARY 25-27
MARCH 22-24
Annual HSC Hunting Expo & Convention; George R. Brown Convention Center and Hilton Americas Hotel
HSCF YO Ranch Weekend
HSCF Night at 11 Below Brewery
FEBRUARY 9
APRIL 13
MARCH 6
European Style Tower Pheasant Shoot; WGO Outfitters; Waller, TX, AM and PM flights
HSCF Annual Sporting Clays Tournament; Greater Houston Gun Club
FEBRUARY 22-24
JUNE 6
Hawkeye Hunting Club HSCF Weekend
Craig Boddington; 6:30 PM to 9 PM, location TBD
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 7
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MITZY MCCORVEY, HSCF PRESIDENT
T
hey say time flies when you are having fun...I must be having fun because the holidays and the Convention are fast upon us! Cooler weather, deer season and a very important election. I trust that everyone made it to the polls and cast their vote as this is a very important time for our great country. We have had a lot of exciting things happening this fall. Joe Betar, Doug Centilli and I traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier in the fall to represent and promote Houston Safari Club. We wanted to convey our position on various legislative issues such as The Recovering Americas Wildlife act, the 2018 Farm bill and chronic wasting disease. In one day, we walked the hill to meet with Senator John Cornyn, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, Congressman Ralph Abraham and Congressman Randy Weber. We attended the Chairman’s luncheon between meetings and later that evening we attended the annual Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation fundraiser where I had an interesting conversation with Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, regarding the grizzly bear. In addition to our efforts in Washington D.C., we have had some great membership events this fall and are looking forward to additional functions coming soon. The trophy room reception at the home of Life Member, Gary and Nancy Glesby, was a great time and we would like to thank them for their hospitality and generosity. The Gazelles fly fishing event was a great success and loads of fun, even in the cloudy, misty weather. We were
versed on everything from tying flies, equipment, appropriate clothing and most importantly – how to cast! Thank you, Triple Creek Ranch, for having us. The HSCF staff and this year’s Convention chairman, Jeff Birmingham, are moving right along and making things happen. Jeff has been extremely busy organizing the convention and assuring that people are in place to make this year’s convention better than ever. This will be our second year at the George R. Brown Convention Center and we are looking forward to an even bigger and better year! We have made a few tweaks as well as added some more booths as we move forward and those are sold out. If you have not registered yet, please do so quickly. There will be events, hunts, merchandise and much, much more that you won’t want to miss! You, as members, can spread the word and encourage others to be a part of this great event. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all the exhibitors as well as all the volunteers, for without them and their hard and steadfast work, none of this would be possible. There seems to be so much “anti” rhetoric these days for just about any and everything. We need to do our part to dispel these myths. We have a great platform and should use it to our advantage to promote the future of our hunting heritage, our conservation efforts and most importantly secure these things for the future of our YOUTH! See you at the Convention! Sincerely,
Mitzy McCorvey HSCF President
8 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
S– –VISIT U
BOOTH 6 0 2
ELEGANT
LODGE www.gastonglockstyle.com CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 9
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR‘S MESSAGE JOE BETAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I
t is Convention time again! Our busiest time of year, full of planning and implementation for HSCF’s largest annual fundraising effort. Our 2019 Convention Chair, Jeff Birmingham, will bring you up to date on all the activities we are planning this year in his column. The staff and volunteers are hard at work getting ready for this incredible event. It is not too late to raise your hand and volunteer. This is my official big ask of you for your time. Convention does not work without you! Contact us in the office to get signed up today! Join me in extending a big congratulations to our team. This fall, the staff of HSCF received advanced training at the first annual MemberClicks conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. MemberClicks is the system used by HSCF for membership, awards and grant submissions and event registration. While there, Nancy and Angi accepted several achievement awards on behalf of HSCF, including “Best Attribute Organization” and “Best Revenue Account Detail.” Thanks so much to our volunteer CRM consultant, Charlotte Betar, and our staff, for their persistence and hard work to improve our systems. HSCF is “giving back!” HSCF recently provided funding for a Patriot Warrior Foundation Veteran’s hunt, covering costs for hunting, lodging, food and taxidermy. We also supported another Veteran’s group, Oath, Inc., at their sporting clays tournament, and provided a $10,000 grant to the Texas Wildlife Association Foundation, to help increase the number of youth hunts and Hunt Masters in Houston and surrounding areas. In addition, HSCF provided a large grant to the Sportsman’s Alliance Foundation for their youth education program. Thank you so very much to our members, donors and sponsors. Fundraising to support these grants is just one of the many reasons to attend HSCF’s monthly events and annual Convention and participate in our auctions, raffles contests and banquets. In December, at the invitation of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL), I attended the Texas Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Symposium. At this meeting, an update was provided on the status of the disease and its management. Leading speakers from Texas and across the country presented some of the most recent research and management practices being implemented to control this disease with a focus on White-tailed Deer. The meeting also included a panel discussion covering some of the unique challenges to controlling CWD in Texas. Legislatively, Houston Safari Club continues to be actively involved in many issues. Among them, the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Transmission in Cervidae Study Act. H.R. 6272 which would require the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, to request a study by the National Academy of Sciences; The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 3223) was introduced into the Senate and now awaits being scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. This bill would allow state wildlife agencies to use Pittman-Robertson funds for the recruitment of hunters and recreational shooters. Making Public Lands Public (H.R. 502), a bill to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). 10 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
An amendment has been offered — 3 percent or $20 million, whichever is greater, of the funds appropriated to LWCF would be made available to maintain or increase public access to lands that provide recreational shooting, hunting, fishing, and other recreational outdoors opportunities. The amendment also requires the development of an annual priority list to help guide the use of the available funds for the purposes of expanding hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting opportunities on public lands. Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act: HSC joined other conservation groups in signing a support letter for the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (H.R. 788), requesting that the bill be included in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill would help facilitate access to public target shooting ranges by reducing existing state and local fund match requirements for the construction, operation, and maintenance of public target shooting ranges from 25 percent to 10 percent. The Farm Bill 2018 Reauthorization: along with 90 other conservation groups, HSC sent a letter supporting the Conservation Title within the upcoming Farm Bill. In September, Farm Bill conferees from both the House and Senate, met to begin discussing the 2018 Farm Bill drafts and develop a compromised final piece of legislation. The National Park Service has published a rule that individuals on foot or horseback no longer need to obtain a permit to carry unloaded bows and crossbows across NPS property. The new rule took effect on October 18. Regulations previously allowed bows and crossbows to be transported through a national park without a permit only if an individual was in a motor vehicle or other form of mechanical transport. An individual on foot or horseback was previously required to have a permit. On July 5, HSC along with other organizations, sent a letter to Secretary Zinke, Department of the Interior (DOI), in support of the proposed 2018-2019 Refuge-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations. These proposed regulations would open and expand hunting and fishing opportunities on 30 refuges spanning 248,000 acres. Following the letter, on September 7, DOI announced the opening of more than 251,000 acres to new or expanded hunting and fishing opportunities within the National Wildlife Refuge System. Thanks to each of you for your membership and support over the past year. I look forward to seeing each of you at Convention. Bring your friends, family, neighbors and let’s make 2019 our most successful Convention ever! Yours in Conservation,
Joe Betar
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Incredible Philippe Grifnee Deep Relief, Rhino Scene Master Engraved Holland & Holland Royal Deluxe Sidelock Double Rifle in Rare .600 Nitro Express with Oak & Exotic Leather Case & Full Complement of Accessories. Provenience - The Robert E. Petersen Gallery at the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum
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HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Bob Abernathy John Abraham Richard Alexander MD Charlotte Alexander MD Crystal Allison Shannon Alston Michael Ambrose Skip Avara Dannine Avara Jacob Avara Anne Avara Paul Babaz Kenneth Bailey Freddie Bailey Jr. Cope Bailey Camp Bailey Mike Baird Frank Baird Jo Baird Jack Barksdale L. Irvin Barnhart * Wendy Barnhart James Bell Lyndel Berry Tony Bessette Charlotte Betar Joe Betar James Biggerstaff Jeff Birmingham Craig Boddington Werner Boeer Jay Bonano E. Bond Greg Bond Pete Bonora Frederick (Tony) Box James Braus John Bridgwater Jack Brittingham Mark Brueggeman Elizabeth Brueggeman Joe Bruno Robert Burke Matt Burke Byron Burris II Quint Burris Grady Burris Prentiss Burt Daniel Butler Turner Butts MD Don Byrne C. Cagle Thomas Cain Jr. Dennis Cain Rick Callison Alex Campbell Bill Carter * Paul Carter Ivan Carter Ben Case Barbara Cavender-Lewis
12 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Preston Cavner Chris Caywood Tracey Cearley Alan Cegielski Doug Centilli Steve Clark James Clark Christopher Clark Craig Clendenin Stephen Coale Karen Coker Russell Coleman Randall Coleman * Joe Collett Dwayne Collier Frank Comiskey Kevin Comiskey Alan “Bink” Cooke Rocky Cooper Dian Cooper George Councill Steve Crawford Kenneth Crockett Gary Crouch Ralph Cunningham Deb Cunningham Ford Cunningham Linda Cunningham Ralph Daigle Joe Davis Laurent Delagrange Armando DeLeon III Armando DeLeon IV Gregory Desautels Elliot Desautels Charlie Desautels Perry Dillon Jr. Randy Donato Barry Donoho Tim Doucet MD James (Red) Duke MD * Jan Duncan Scott Duncan Bruce Edwards Robert Elkins Walton Eller Susan Ellerbeck * Gary Ellison Will Ellison Shaun Essery Travis Findley Charlene Floyd Tommy Fogle Randy Fowler Nathan Foyil * Bobby Frederick Aaron Freeman Donald French Jr. Warren Gallant Scott Garrett Zachary Garrett
Tanya Garrett Randal Garrett Paul Geiger Frank Giacalone Gary Glesby Carl Godfrey Russell Gordy Jeff Gorski William Gouldin Sandra Green Kevin Gregory Edward Guinn Dodd Hackman Clayton Hagerman Cory Hall James Halley Greg Harvey Charles Head Jr. Jerry Henderson Mark Herfort Heinert Hertling Robert Hibbert II Steven Hill Greg Hill Loren Hill Edward Hoffman William Holder III Bill Honza Gene Human Terry Hurlburt Tanya Hurlburt Harold Inman * Keith Itzel John Jackson III Jack Jensen MD W.A. Jentsch Jr. Todd Johnson Clay Johnson Robert Jones III Harris Junell Darrell Kainer David Kalich Susan Kalich Kirk Kanady Michelle Kangas John Kelsey Gaye Kelsey Mark King Julianne King Rick Kirk Jim Klentzman Robert Kneppler Philip Koehne George Kollitides Tommy Kolwes Phil Koonce George Kopecky Keith Lake Fred Lamas Wayne LaPierre Joel Latham
HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Kyle Lehne Richard Leibman John Lindholm Jr. Tom Lipar Bryant Littlefield Mark Livesay Ricardo Longoria Cody Loverin Doug Luger David Mafrige Shane Mahoney Paige Manard John Martin III D Martin IV James Masten Chad Matherne Wyatt McBride Tony McCorvey Mitzy McCorvey Ed McCrory III Vickie McMillan-Hayes Travis McWilliams Gerald Meinecke Lewis Metzger Greg Mills Brook Minx Howard Monsour Paul Montealegre Sr. Forrest Montealegre G.L. Moore Reed Morian Tommy Morrison Ron Mostyn Dustin Mykyte Shannon Nash Bob Neese Rob Neilson Scott Nelson Shaun Nelson William B. Newlin Rudy Nix K. Nunnally Kerry O’Day Carol O’Day Charles Onstead Kevin Ormston Neal Overstreet John Painter Michael Park Michael Parr Steve Pate Trevor Penny John Pepper Melanie Pepper Will Perry Timothy Peter Wilson (Woody) Phillips Jr. Bryce Phillips Carson Phillips Dusty Phillips Thomas Powell
Kevin Poynter Andrew Pratt Kymberly Pratt Charles Prince Jr. Sharon Propes Carlos Ramirez Bryan Ray III Lawrence Rearick William Reed Sr. Gayle Rettig MD Keith Riggs John Robberson Larry Robinson Mike Robinson * Chuck Rod Robert Rod Stephen Rogers William Rohrbach William Roosevelt Gary Rose Mark Rose Jerry Rubenstein Chris Ruhman John Rulon Gerald Russell Byron Sadler Sandra Sadler Michael Sample William Sample Jr. Michael Sandeen Corey Schaefer Scott Scheinin MD Robert Scherer Wade Schindewolf George Severence Wayne Sheets John Shelby Richard Shepherd Jason Shrieve William Simmons Jody Simpson Travis Simpson Barret Simpson Mike Simpson Becky Simpson Weston Simpson Michael Simpson Autumn Simpson Austin Simpson Jacob Simpson Tristan Simpson Dawn Simpson Sam Skipper Mandy Smith Jason Smith Steve Smith Tom Snyder Norman Speer MD Kaylee Stacy Mary Edith Stacy Larry Stifflemire
Mark Stouse Randy Strickland H. Stuart Greg Stube David Swan Lloyd Swiedom Sally Swiedom Leah Symens Tyler Symens Peter Tam Larry Tatom Terry Taylor Mark Terpstra Heidi Thomas Robert Thomas J.B. Tinney John Tobin Pete Trammell Ted Trout * Hal Tryon Don Turner Phillip Veale Thom Venus William Vick Amanda Vick Juan Villaveces Glenn Vincent Pierre Vorster Joshua Walker Greg Walla Rob Walsh John Waltz Dana Weber Rick Weber Larry Weishuhn Brian Welker Denise Welker Robert Wells Brian Welsh Lawrence West Matt West Bruce Whitmire Bill Wilkinson * Steve Willenborg Ron Willenborg Gregory Williamson Alan Winslette Robby Winstead Kurt Wiseman John Wood Bill Woodall J.D. (Des) Woods Jr. Patricia Woods Preston Young Debi Young Brian Zaitz
*Deceased
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 13
HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B F OU N DAT ION
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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Ronnie Andress
Richard Kyzar
Brian Bagent
Steven Leyh
Brad Beach
Chloe Pepper
Heather Bond
Connor Quinn
Eric Brueggeman
Neil Raguthu
Kevin Brueggeman
Donna Rhoades
Jayme Cherry
Mark Sanders
Mark Erickson
Jacey Symens
Gideon Geldenhuys
Lynne Taylor
Mark Harman
Leslie Tidwell
Chris Heath
David Wetzel
Heidi Helms
T.J. Winczewski
Earnest Houston
Meredith Winczewski
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 15
ER
LIFE MEM
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you
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Convention Chair Message
Y
our Houston Safari Club Foundation staff and Convention committee members have been putting in extra time and effort to make the HSCF 2019 Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention an event you do not want to miss. The featured entertainment alone will make this year’s event an exciting weekend. Friday night Cory Morrow will take the stage, Rickey Davis will entertain Gazelles guests and Saturday evening we are thrilled to feature Kevin Fowler. Cory Morrow is a native Houstonian who started playing guitar at Memorial High School. He continued to develop as a musician while attending Texas Tech University and in1993, Morrow moved to Austin, Texas to pursue music as a career. He is also considered part of the Red Dirt music scene that differentiates itself from the popular Nashville music scene. Come out Friday night and listen while Cory sings about “Whiskey & Pride.” Kevin Fowler is from Amarillo, Texas. His debut album, Beer, Bait & Ammo, sold over 30,000 copies in Texas alone. How thick is the hunting and fishing blood coursing through Fowler’s veins? You could say it’s totally innate. “My dad was a huge bow hunter, I still go bow hunting. That is what we did as a family. We also went on fishing trips every spring break. That made me who I am. It was camping in Colorado, bow hunting in the fall and fishing every spring break. Now it’s all about the camaraderie of friends, getting away, and the freedom of the outdoors.” Doors open for the 2019 Worldwide Convention and Hunting Expo in just a few short weeks; please add January 25-27 to your calendar. This fantastic weekend-long event is one you don’t want to miss! Registration is in full swing, so now is the time to purchase your event tickets if you haven’t already done so. There are a number of lively events to choose from — our Friday evening dinner, Saturday’s Gazelles Luncheon and our signature Saturday night Gala. Friday night is a great opportunity to share a fun and casual evening with fellow hunters and your favorite exhibitors. Be there as we honor all of our scholarship recipients for the year. If you have not attended before, it is a fantastic opportunity to see our fundraising dollars at work and meet the students who are truly at the forefront of research and conservation in Texas. We will also honor our fellow hunters’ accomplishments for the year. All of this will be followed up with a live auction, featuring firearms and numerous hunts from around the world.
Saturday morning is always fun with a luncheon hosted by the Gazelles. It’s a great time with an amazing silent auction, plenty of food, cocktails, entertainment and a very spirited live auction. Our signature event is the Saturday night gala, a beautiful evening featuring a fourcourse dinner, open bars and a live auction featuring many one of a kind items, including jewelry, firearms and of course hunts to destinations around the globe. Closing out the night will be entertainment by Kevin Fowler. Registration is open online at www.hscfdn.org. For more information or help with registration, please contact the HSCF office at (713) 623-8844. Jeff Birmingham 2019 HSCF Convention Chairman
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 17
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Convention Sponsors COR P OR AT E SP ONSOR S
PL AT I N U M SP ONSOR S
SI LV E R SP ONSOR S
G OL D SP ONSOR
SU PP ORT I NG PA RT N E R S
Art by L. Mower
E O
TAXIDERM M OM C CO YY..
C CO ON NR R
U N DE RW R I T I NG SP ONSOR S
MIKE SIMPSON (281) 367-2745
18 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 19
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
5th Annual Workshop
T
he Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Expo and Convention continuously surprises, entertains and informs attendees. The 2019 event celebrating wildlife, wild places and the sporting lifestyle is no exception. Friday morning, January 25, HSCF’s 5th Annual Youth Wildlife/Conservation Experience (YWCE), as part of the expo and convention, will introduce area high school students to the many possibilities their love of the outdoors can hold, whether participating in our honorable sport, as a career or in community service. Topics include Art of Taxidermy, Wildlife Law Enforcement, Wildlife Biology and Management, Gunsmithing, Sustainable Hunting as a Conservation Tool and Hunting Opportunities for Texas Youth. Keynote topics will be the HSCF Youth Hunting Program and the HSCF #WEHUNTWEGIVE initiative. Excellent presenters in each of these respective fields have graciously volunteered their time and will discuss how their personal love of the outdoors brought them to their respective fields of endeavor. They will educate in the areas of community awareness, safe and sportsmanlike use of firearms, hunting ethics, and conservation of wildlife and its habitat. In addition to the sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to not only visit with noted Wildlife Artist, Vicki McMillan, who will demonstrate her remarkable artistic talents, but they will individually contribute to the painting of a canvas that will be auctioned off during one of HSCF’s many auctions. Attendees will finish off a well-rounded Experience with a visit to the HSCF Exhibit Hall. HSCF sincerely thanks our YWCE sponsor, Midway U.S.A. We are appreciative of their interest in our endeavor and grateful for their support. It is through the collaboration of the hunting and wildlife businesses, organizations and community that will assure that this Experience will continue to gain momentum and achieve success. HSCF members agree that this hunting and fishing life has given us a passion for a sport that extends into wildlife and habitat conservation, hunter education, and the desire to pass on our hunting and fishing heritage to the future. The Youth Wildlife/Conservation Experience allows us to extend our reach into the community, have a presence and an influence. This is our legacy and our journey as we celebrate wildlife, wild places and the sporting lifestyle. ★
20 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
Art Of Taxidermy Caleb Townley, Conroe Taxidermy
Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer Hennie Volschenk, Texas Parks And Wildlife
Wildlife Biology And Management Gary Rose
Hunting Opportunities For Texas Youth Heidi Rao, Texas Parks And Wildlife
Sustainable Hunting: A Conservation Tool Briana Miles, Texas Wildlife Association
Texas Wildlife 101 Tracey Prothro, Baytown Natural Center
GENERAL SESSION SPEAKERS
#Wehuntwegive Deb Cunningham
Wildlife Artist Vickie McMillan-Hayes
THANK YOU
Brenda & Larry Potterfield and Midway USA Foundation
For Sponsoring Houston Safari Club Foundation’s Fifth Annual Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 21
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
It’s
Bongo Time For Volunteers
22 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
I
By Earle & Tina Freeman
t’s that time of the year for the coming 2019 HSCF Convention, which will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston. Volunteers are needed more than ever! Please give a little of your time to make this Convention a success. Stop by the office or call in to sign up to help and be sure to get your volunteer pin. It’s one of a kind so use it, just don’t lose it! The 2019 pin will be the bongo, whose scientific name is Boocercus Eurycerus. The bongo is found in the Central African Republic, Uganda, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Northeast Zaire, Southwest Sudan, Ghana, Nigeria (very rare), Togo, Cameroon, Kenya, Northeast Benin and Liberia. The bongo will weigh 480-500 pounds and will be 49-52 inches tall. Its coat is warm chestnut with a hairy ridge along backbone to haunch, tufted tail, 12-15 vertical stripes leading down from the spine, a half collar of white hair at base of neck, long ears lined with white fur, white
chevron between the eyes, white stripe running from jawbone to base of ears, and dark muzzle and dewlap. Of all the game in Africa, the bongo is rivaled in rarity only to the mountain Nyala. The bongo lives in small groups in the dense equatorial forest. An animal of twilight, it keeps close to the water but avoids swamps. The male is solitary except when mating season returns him to the females. The herd rarely exceeds 4-5 animals. It feeds on leaves and the roots it digs up. Its rarity, well protected habitat, suspicious nature and highly delicate sense of smell make the bongo the secret dream of all hunters. If one does have the luck to comes across a bongo, it is essential to move fast as there is a very short time to fire. The average life span is 14-16 years. The female bongo has horns, shorter, more slender and less twisted than males. Truly a beautiful animal to have in your collection. If you don’t have a bongo, come on down and volunteer as I will have your bongo pin in my pocket. See you at the Convention! ★
Houston Safari Club Foundation Convention Volunteers Needed
We need YOU! Each year, Houston Safari Club Foundation conducts activities to accomplish our mission to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation and the promotion of our hunting heritage. These efforts culminate with our annual Hunting Expo & Convention each January. We rely on the support and involvement of our volunteers - they really are the backbone of HSCF.
Be a part of the Convention Crew! If you are interested, please contact Joe Betar at joe@hscfdn.org or 713.623.8844
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 23
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
The
Bansner Presidential Rifle By Phil Massaro
Gestalt (\gə-ˈstält): something that is made of many parts and yet is somehow more than or different from the combination of its parts — Merriam Webster’s Dictionary This principle — while usually reserved for psychology — is absolutely applicable when it comes to a rifle from Bansner & Co.; while the rifle’s components are of the utmost quality, the whole is more than the sum of its parts. I own a Bansner rifle — a weather-proof .404 Jeffery that Mark built for hunting the Alaskan coast — and I would happily take that gun anywhere in the world. His attention to detail, the fluid feel of the action, the way Bansner tunes his triggers; all add up to a fluid machine which can be relied upon in any situation. To meet Mark Bansner is to know Mark Bansner; the man wears his heart on his sleeve, and if his passion for building an excellent rifle doesn’t inspire you, well, maybe golf is more your speed than hunting. Admittedly, I may be a bit biased; you see, Mark and I met, had a half-hour discussion about the workings and designs of a proper rifle, and became fast friends. He knows his stuff, he has built rifles for some of the most prominent figures in the hunting industry, including a couple of Weatherby Award winners, and knows how to make a rifle that is more than just functional. Yes, nearly all of the rifles that bear his name are set in a synthetic stock, but they are not soulless. Mark has a method to his madness, and though those stocks may not have been crafted from the lower sections of venerable walnut trees, there is no lack of attention and craftsmanship. That craftsmanship has been honed over decades; Mr. Bansner is no green horn. After a stint in the U.S Army — he was honorably discharged in 1979 as a Sergeant — he married his High School sweetheart Roslyn. Bansner then enrolled in the prestigious Pennsylvania Gunsmith School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was student teaching during his second year, instructing the part-time and evening students in metal finishing techniques. Mark graduated in 1982, and was immediately hired as a custom gunsmith at Bickle & Bansner in Reading, Pennsylvania, 24 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
specializing in custom walnut stocks and high-end bolt action rifles. Just a year later, Mark would open his own Bansner’s Gunsmithing Specialties, to develop a series of turkey shotgun chokes, as well as his custom rifles — by now featuring both wood and synthetic stocks. The company grew in size, eventually adding employees and attending trade shows; Bansner was becoming a name in the firearms industry. His products expanded to accurate bolt action slug guns — for the many areas of the Northeast where rifles are not allowed for hunting — with many of the larger manufacturers riding the wave Bansner started; the rifled, scoped shotgun gave a dramatic improvement in accuracy over the lead knuckleballs that the traditional smoothbores were launching and hunters in shotgun-only areas rejoiced. Bansner was taking full advantage of the lightweight, polymer stocks that were coming into vogue, relying on the rigidity and stability of the design to produce a reliable, lightweight rifle. “In 1992, I was using mostly stocks produced by High Tech Specialties, Janesville, California, primarily because of their weight and ease of installation. Due to the high number of units that I was ordering, the owner offered me the purchase of his company in June 1992,” Bansner relates, “We relocated the company to Adamstown, Pennsylvania, where it remains today. This was a great addition to the rifle building business because it allowed us to control the quality, strength and weight of stocks that we used on our custom rifles. Because of their high quality, many other custom rifle builders have requested the High Tech Specialties stocks for their rifles. The rifle business continued to grow and we changed the company name to Bansner’s Ultimate Rifles, LLC in 1998, while showcasing the rifles as our primary product.” In spite of the innovative shotgun products, Bansner’s heart lay with the custom rifle end of his business, and those rifles were
The Bansner & Company 2019 Houston Safari Club Foundation President’s Rifle – a fine 6.5 Creedmoor.
developing quite a reputation. “We had established a national following with big game hunters by attending and displaying at the largest hunting conventions around the country: Safari Club International (SCI), Dallas Safari Club, Foundation for Wild Sheep, and the Grand Slam Club/Ovis. Every year we donated a rifle to each of these organizations for auction at their fundraising event. This put us on the auction list as well as on stage to present our rifles. Some of our donated rifles included two custom walnut stocked fully engraved rifles for Grand Slam Club/Ovis which sold for $39,900 and $35,000. Two custom walnut stocked dangerous game rifles were donated to SCI and sold for $15,500 and $11,500. The highest price ever paid for any synthetic stock hunting rifle was one of our Ultimate Ovis rifles at the Shikar Safari Club banquet for $24,500. The Conklin Foundation’s number one rifle for their first fundraising event, also one of our Ultimate Ovis rifles, sold for $11,700. The Foundation for Wild Sheep ladies luncheon rifle, again an Ultimate Ovis rifle, sold for $8,400. Today, we continue to donate rifles to these organizations; their value is always exceeded when auctioned at these venues,” Bansner said. I can attest to the virtues of the Bansner Rifles, as my own .404 Jeffery will rival most deer guns in the accuracy department, but my rifle isn’t the focal point of this article; the Bansner & Co. Houston Safari Club Presidents Rifle is.
THE 2019 HSC PRESIDENTS RIFLE
Bansner & Co. isn’t just Mark Bansner alone; his right hand is a talented young gunsmith named Ben Moedinger, and they both rely on an up-and-coming engraver named Mike Crumling. Together, they have produced some very impressive and innovative rifles, and the 2019 HSC rifle is no exception. Moedinger, himself a Marine Corps Infantry veteran with three tours in Iraq, in addition to being a graduate of the Pennsylvania Gunsmithing School, brings youth and enthusiasm to Bansner’s wisdom, as well as a disciplined eye. “I am pleased to have Ben with me. He has the passion and is so very talented in all aspects
of the field of gunsmithing; I’m looking forward to the future with Ben onboard,” Bansner related. “He had a big hand in the Houston Safari Club rifle.” The rifle is built around the Bansner BM-1 action, a controlled round feed action designed for consistency and concentricity. The inner workings of the action are a unique design, with the bolt face picking up cartridges from the magazine, without the presence of the non-rotating Mauser side band extractor. This results in a smooth, fast action, with none of the chatter associated with the Mauser 98 and its clones, yet an action that will deliver true controlled round feed performance, yet with an extractor that takes up a full third of the bolt face, so there’s no worries of extractor failure, as I’ve experienced with some of the push feed designs. The exterior of the action has been milled to mirror the dimensions of the classic Mauser G33/40 mountain rifle, originally made in Czechoslovakia during the Second World War, for a familiar, vintage look. A one-piece bolt — spiral fluted to keep weight to a minimum while maintaining rigidity — with a checkered bolt knob, large extractor and a fixed blade ejector allows cartridges to feed smoothly and extract reliably. A twoposition safety — working fore and aft on the right side of the receiver — gives a positive feel from all shooting positions, and moves with a positive feel between positions. The action is mated to a 23-inch Hart barrel, which is chambered for the highly popular 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. Why the Creedmoor? The popularity of the 6.5mm cartridges — spurred on by the accuracy potential of the Creedmoor, not to mention its ease on the shooter’s shoulder — have shown us exactly how versatile those long, lean bullets are, whether in the hunting fields or at the target range. A premium 140-grain 6.5mm can and will take the majority of our North American game animals, as well as many of the African plains game species. The owner of a well-tuned 6.5 Creedmoor has both an effective hunting rifle, as well as a target rifle capable of punching steel out beyond 1,000 yards. The Creedmoor is equally at home in the deer woods as it is on a sheep mountain, or on the prairie for CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 25
pronghorns; factory ammunition is plentiful and accurate, and for the handloader, there are excellent component bullets available. If you wanted to have a 6.5mm cartridge in your stable, you could do a lot worse than the Creedmoor; and if I were handed an accurate Creedmoor in any deer camp, I’d feel very confident. Bansner’s creation features a removable muzzle brake, and a correlative cap for those who prefer a traditional setup. The metal-to-metal fit is impeccable, and one has to look hard to find the seam between the cap/brake and barrel. There are eight flutes in the barrel, serving two purposes: firstly to reduce weight, and secondly to increase surface area to aid in the dissipation of barrel heat. A trigger can make or break a rifle, especially on a rifle with the accuracy potential of a well-tuned Creedmoor. Bansner & Co. have chosen a Trigger-Tech trigger assembly, and in Mark’s usual manner, have properly tuned it for minimum creep or overtravel, setting it to break cleanly at 2 ½ pounds. Bansner & Co. have chosen a David Miller-style synthetic stock for the Houston Safari Club President’s rifle, replete with steel cross-bolts and raised cheekpiece, stocked properly for use with a riflescope. The butt features a one-inch red Pachmayr recoil pad, taking what little sting the Creedmoor generates out of the rifle, as well as offering a positive grip, keeping the rifle on your shoulder with no slip. A steel pistol grip cap adds a nice flair to the olive colored stock, which is textured enough to offer a positive grip — even with gloves — and yet not hang up on clothing or anything else. A steel trigger guard and hinged floorplate — from Sunny Hill Enterprises, inc. — with the release located on the muzzle side of the trigger guard, completes the metal work on the rifle, adding a classy touch, without risk of losing a detachable magazine. A set of sculpted bases — made to match the receiver — and mated to a classy set of EAW-style rings. Enter Mike Crumling. Crumling is one of those engravers who you’ll want to keep your eye on; he has a style that is classy, and almost understated, yet immediately pleasing to the eye. It was Mike’s responsibility to lend a bit of flair to Bansner’s simplistic approach; even a sensible, weather-proof rifle likes to dress up now and again. And dress it up Crumling has — starting with the floorplate. The centerpiece of the floorplate design is the Houston Safari Club charging elephant logo, but this is no simple laser engraving job. Crumling has done the elephant in relief, adding stippling to the shadowed parts to really make the logo pop, as well as the words “Houston Safari Club Foundation” in an appreciably respectable font under the beast. The remaining space is consumed by large scrollwork, giving what I consider a bold, yet intricate design. Again, the space surrounding the scroll is stippled, for a contrast that is eye-catching without being gaudy. The trigger guard is correspondingly scrolled, using Crumley’s well-thought out minimalist approach; he also had his way with the receiver, adding the Bansner & Company logo in script on the left side of the receiver, and enough scrollwork to make the metalwork special, without being audacious. He knurled the bolt knob and gave a bit of scroll to the upper portion of the bolt, for a package that represents an excellent blend of modern rifle construction with engraving that pays homage to the classics, somehow managing to tie the package together. Crumling’s engraving — when seen in the white — may seem deeper than most traditional sty;es, but there is a method to his madness. You see, Bansner uses a healthy layer of Cerakote on 26 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
The 6.5 Creedmoor is accurate, easy on the shoulder, and fast becoming an all-around hunting choice for many North American game animals.
With its fiberglass stock and Cerakoted metal, the Bansner rifle is impervious to any weather.
his rifles to keep the metal impervious to weather, and trying to apply Cerakote over traditional engraving usually ends up in a blurred, messy look. The style of Crumling’s engraving mates well with the Cerakote, the color of which has been especially chosen to highlight the young engraver’s work. Mike has worked with Bansner and Moedinger quite often of late, producing some very special rifles for a number of worthy causes and conservation groups. Put it all together and it spells BANSNER. Is Bansner & Company, LLC famous for its high-grade walnut stocks and painstakingly hand-rubbed finishes? No, they are not. While those rifles most certainly have a place in both the field and on the wall, Bansner’s idea is to create a rifle that is unaffected by the elements — taking full advantage of modern construction materials and methods — while giving a feel worthy of the most discriminating riflemen and women. And, after decades in the industry, having his finger on the pulse of the industry by receiving good feedback from both prominent figures in the hunting world, as well as from those who spend their time on the Back 40, equally, he has a rifle that is at home just about anywhere. Can a synthetic stocked rifle have a soul, the way a well-worn vintage piece of walnut takes on so many memories with each scratch, ding and wear in the finish? I say yes, most definitely, and especially when the rifle is labeled Bansner & Company. I know each little mark on my own Bansner rifle, where it came from, and what I was doing when it happened. To the high bidder of the Houston Safari Club Foundation President’s rifle, I wish you all the happy memories in the field and at the bench with this Bansner rifle; I am certain the two of you will become fast friends. ★
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
2019 Gazelles Luncheon & Auction GAZELLE SPONSORS Platinum Sponsors Barbara Crow Beeler Conroe Taxidermy New Lattitudes Charters Sandra & Byron Sadler
Gold Sponsors Rhoda Clark Gay & Bob Rod Rummel Creek Builders
FLY ME Y
to the Moon
ou won’t want to miss the 2019 Gazelles Luncheon and Auction on Saturday, January 26, 2019, in the Hilton Americas-Houston. This year we will “Fly to the Moon!” with “Sinatra Tribute Artist” Rickey Davis during our cocktail hour. The doors will open at 10:30 a.m. and the fun will begin right away. The ever-popular wine and liquor pull will be returning, but this time with a twist! Be prepared to test your luck by selecting the winning card. One lucky lady will be leaving wearing a beautiful jeweled necklace with a value of $7,000. Our Committee members have been working hard to make this a very successful luncheon. Our silent auction chairman, Laurie-Leigh White, along with her committee, have been busy accumulating an array of different items. Zlatko Sokolik and Arlette Lamas have donated some wonderful jewelry items and Fouche Studios contributed an African wild dog pup original soft pastel. We also have some awesome home decorations, great clothing items, hunting accouterments and much, much more. Darryl Kainer and Mark King have lined up some amazing live auction items once again this year. Mitzy McCorvey is donating her ever-popular weekend at their ranch, Rancho de Suenos, for 12 to 14 ladies. Melanie Pepper has a great collection of artworks for our live auction. Multiple hunts are available from Canada, Argentina, Africa, and many more amazing locations. Don’t forget to purchase your tickets early as there is limited seating and this is going to be a fun and exciting luncheon. We would like to thank our exhibitors for their live auction items, as most are 100 percent donations. ★
Silver Sponsors Wendy Barnhart Angie & JD Burrows Cheryl & Darrell Kainer Julianne & Mark King Arlette & Fred Lamas Mitzy & Tony McCorvey Pug & Ron Mostyn Carolyn & William Newlin Melanie & John Pepper Cindi & John Rulon Pro Cargo USA Susie & Matt Pyle Christina & Bryan Ray MaryAnn & Gerald Russell Sporting International Anna & Tommy Morrison Sally & Lloyd Swiedom Town Center Automotive Laurie-Leigh & Trey White
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 27
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Convention Chairpersons EXHIBITS COMMITTEE
HUNTING AWARDS COMMITTEE
RAFFLE COMMITTEE
Lloyd Swiedom
Kevin Ormston Eric Grunwald
LIVE AUCTION COMMITTEE
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
Jerry Henderson
FEMALE HUNTER OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE
Denise Welker
Darrell Kainer Mark King
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Ralph Cunningham
FIREARMS COMMITTEE
Matt Pyle Gene Human
GAMES COMMITTEE
Bryan Ray
GAZELLES LUNCHEON COMMITTEE
Dawn Simpson Jody Simpson
Gary Rose
MALE HUNTER OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE
SCHOLARSHIP-YOUTH HUNTER OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
SPONSORS & TABLE SALES COMMITTEE
William (Bill) Newlin Travis Simpson
Deb Cunningham
Hunter Comiskey
Mark Brueggeman
MERCHANDISE COMMITTEE
SPORTING CLAYS TOURNAMENT
Christina Ray
Matt Mann
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS COMMITTEE
GRANTS COMMITTEE
Matt Mann
Hunting Ranches • Recreational Properties • Farms Serving All Points of the Texas Land Markets
Court Murtland
YOUTH/YWCE COMMITTEE
Shaun Nelson
Texas Farm & Ranch Real Estate
VOLUNTEERS COMMITTEE
David Kalich Susan Kalich
Support the future of wildlife biology DAN L. and game management
DUNCAN
Houston Safari Club Foundation is home to one of the largest scholarship programs of its kind. Every year HSCF proudly awards scholarships to the students currently involved in the study of Wildlife Management and/or Range Management. Since the program's inception in 1999, over 525 scholarships have been awarded to well-deserving students, totalling almost 2.25 million dollars.
Scholarship Program
Steven J. Bilicek, ALC 281-497-2774 steve@texasagrealty.com
28 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Your sponsorship is crucial to raise the funds needed to support this program. For more information, contact the HSCF office at 713.623.8844, or visit the HSCF website at hscfdn.org.
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 29
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Suzie Seerey-Lester 2019 Artist of the Year By Nancy Johnson
W
hen Suzie Seerey-Lester was asked to paint the elusive snow leopard as the Artist of the Year, for the Houston Safari Club Foundation, she jumped at the chance. Suzie has had the privilege of working with these mysterious large cats many times. HSCF is very well known for its conservation efforts, so this is a perfect animal to represent them this year. These large quiet cats live in the snow-covered, rugged mountain slopes of Central Asia, mostly in the Himalayas. The snow leopard is unable to roar, unlike most big cats, because their vocal cords are less developed. Because of their remoteness and solitude, very little is known about them, they are therefore very mysterious. In some locations, the snow leopard is called ounce, and they live between 6,000 feet in the winter to over 18,000 feet in the summer. Their fur is very dense to keep them warm and is between two and five inches long. The color is usually smoky gray with darker rosettes and stripes along the spine. The adult males can grow to 7 feet long and two feet high.
Windswept. 18x36 acrylic on panel 30 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Flight of the Ibis. 16x20 oil on panel
Their tail is an incredible three feet long, and besides acting as a counterbalance and rudder when they run, they are able to wrap it around their nose and mouth when they sleep to act as a muffler. They are solitary cats and only interact during the breeding season. The mothers will have between one and five cubs. The cubs will stay with the mother, up to two years, as she teaches them to hunt and other survival skills, but sadly most cubs do not reach adulthood. They have pale blue-gray to pale green-gray eyes which is very unusual for large cats. According to the latest estimate, the population of the endangered cats in the wild is between three and six thousand, today. Approximately 600 live in captivity worldwide. Their habitat is disappearing and they have declined in the past ten years. They have been reclassified as “vulnerable.” One of the major reasons for their decline is because they are poached for their fur, organs and claws for Chinese medicine. Snow leopards are very non-aggressive, and even when threatened by another predator, they may opt to leave their kill. They are known to silently attack their prey from behind, tearing it to shreds in seconds. The sheep, wild boar and goats they kill may last only two to three days before they need to hunt again. These solitary cats live in rocky outcroppings in which they can easily hide from their prey and surprise them. Their quarry ranges from gazelles and deer, to wild goats, sheep, markhor, bobak, tahr, and wild boars. They can leap as far as 45 feet and their prey can be three times their weight. Their enormous furry paws act like snowshoes, allowing them to move evenly and silently across the soft snow. After hunting down an animal, some snow leopards drag their kill into snow
tunnels for storage and safekeeping. As an artist, it is imperative that Suzie paints only the animals that she has seen in person. She can see how they move, what their fur is like, and the way the animal interacts with its surroundings. What is the habitat like and where is it more likely to be located, then research all of the important aspects of the location before painting it. “Sometimes the artists are the endangered species,” Says Suzie. First, let me begin explaining how she creates a painting. Suzie travels to the location of the animals she wants to paint — Africa, Europe, South and Central America — and of course in the U.S.: Yellowstone, Glacier, and the Everglades. The snow leopard is extremely difficult to see in the wild, weeks of waiting just to catch a glimpse of one can be timeconsuming and physically rugged. Suzie knows a ranch where they are hand raising and breeding snow leopards. They keep the DNA, and gene pool pure. Because these cats are bottle fed and hand raised makes them relatively easy to photograph. The handlers bring the cat out into the wild and release her on the side of a mountain that has similar characteristics and landscape to the Himalayas. It is amazing how this 100-pound cat seems to disappear into the side of the mountain with her camouflage, to such an extent that when only five feet in front of her, you might not be able to see the cat until she moves. Graceful and fast, with her huge tail acting like a rudder as she leaps and bounds up and down the mountain, snow leopards can cover a lot of difficult terrain in a short space of time. CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 31
Each time Suzie has worked with this cat, she has taken hundreds of photographs and has seen her grow from a kitten to a full adult over the years. These cats are not in cages, behind bars, or in a compound or so far away you can’t see them, they are free to run and exercise, right in front of Suzie, with nothing between her and the beautiful cat. After an hour or so, Suzie comes off the mountain, back to the studio to start designing the painting. Suzie goes through thousands of her photos to find maybe five or ten that she wants to use. One photo may have the snow she likes, one may have trees, or bushes to use; she may use several of just the cat itself to get the pose that is most pleasing to the eye. A thumbnail sketch is then created to work on the composition and scale. Five or more sketches may be used until she is happy with one. They are just quick pencil drawings on paper. The composition has to be pleasing to the eye, and tell a story. Suzie chose acrylic for this painting because she felt she could achieve the best results. A 16x12 panel was chosen, then a mid-gray gesso was applied to the panel. She does this to quickly see the lights and the darks. If the panel was white, which is most common, she couldn’t see the white of the snow, or get her values correct from the start. Since she is painting snow, the gray of the panel will help the shadow area in the snow. Suzie will draw the cat using charcoal until she is happy with it. It has to be the right size and scale. The anatomy also has to be correct, so it is measured over and over until it is perfect. Suzie then blocks in the animal, starting with the eyes. “If you don’t get the eyes right, the painting will never work.” says Suzie. “You will see in the second photo; the tail extends almost to the edge of the painting. In the final painting the tail was shortened to the correct size.” Because Suzie works in transparent layers of acrylic she has to build up the snow, making changes to the painting as she goes along. She will add rocks, take them out, and put them in a different place so as to draw the viewers eye up to the snow leopard. She also paints the snow so it will direct you to the cat. The rocks in the background are cooler and lighter, giving the illusion of distance. The rocks in the foreground are warm and dark, again the illusion of them being near; hard edges near, soft edges in the distance. She may apply as many as 50 layers of paint to give the illusion of snow, building it up slowly. “It is like watching paint dry,” Says Suzie. The process may take months, from the first photograph taken to the sketch of the actual painting. Once the painting is finished, Suzie will sign it and hide the initials ( J+S), for ( John and Suzie), somewhere in the painting. The initials are in every one of their paintings. Once the painting is completed, a serial number is assigned, and typed on the label along with the title, size, medium and copyright information, and placed on the back of the painting. The painting is professionally photographed, then varnished and framed. Suzie chooses silver or distressed wood frames for most of her paintings because she feels they complement the pieces best. The frames are heavy wood, three to five inches wide. Suzie and her husband, world-renowned historic and wildlife artist, John Seerey-Lester, paint side by side every day. They work seven days a week, eight to ten hours a day. They don’t take vacations but go into the field to do research every opportunity they get. They travel around the world to find the subjects they paint. 32 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Queen of the Mountain
Suzie’s career has been varied and different; having been taught by Navy Seals and Army divers, she became the first woman Instructor Trainer for one of the international scuba diving organizations. During her diving career she trained President Ford’s Secret Service agents, FBI, CIA, Park Police, and other law enforcement how to do specialized tasks. She eventually joined the CIA and continued to teach. While she was teaching diving, she started to paint. Not knowing what she was doing, she painted the animals and sights she saw underwater. Sharks, whales, dolphins and shipwrecks were her favorite. She took her first art lesson in 1990 where she learned how to mix colors, make things near, or far away. Then she started taking workshops to learn as much as she could while working full time as a Regional Manager for DHL (the international shipping company). While on one of these workshops in 1994 to Guatemala, she met her future husband, who was holding a class in the rainforest. Thirty students arrived at the camp late one evening. John met the tired group with a surprise; he told them four lucky students would go into the rainforest at 4 a.m. to discover a special treat. Suzie was one of the first four picked. On the way into the rainforest, it was pitch black; suddenly they heard the chuff of a jaguar. John shone his light on the other side of the path and discovered a few deer grazing in a clearing; they had walked between the big cat and its prey. “The group of wild life artists almost became endangered themselves,” Says Suzie. They then climbed 200 feet up a tree in the dark. Arriving at the top of the tree, the group crawled onto a very small platform, the size of an average dining table. Crowded together, the four artists experienced the
canopy waking up and coming permitted (licensed) by the State of Florida for the past 18 years to alive. Toucans and parrots flying by, and the temples of Tikal work with the endangered sea turcoming out of the mist. In the tles. For six months every year, Suzie background was the eerie sound and her friend, Mary Jo, walk a three of howler monkeys in the distance. mile stretch of beach at 6 a.m. They “It was magical,” Says Suzie. collect all the data on every turtle that visits their beach. They GPS Suzie went on to attend several more of John’s classes and took each nest, measure how far from the part in several of the same shows water and even record the depth of over the following years. the nests. Each nest then receives They were eventually married a coded set of stakes and protected in 2000 on a small private isby yellow tape. They then watch over land called Useppa, in southwest each nest every morning until they Florida, where John was a member hatch – usually 55 to 60 days after and once had a house. She turned they have laid. Three days after the professional artist the same year nest hatches, Suzie and Mary Jo will and she and John have been insepdig up the nest, collect DNA samarable ever since, spending all their ples, count the number of eggs that time either in the field or painting hatch, record how many were unside by side in the studio. hatched; often they find baby turtles Suzie has earned numerous that did not make it out with the honors over these years with some rest of the clutch. of her paintings. She has been feaThe “rescued” babies are placed in tured in several of the Society of buckets of sand from their nest, and Animal Artists Annual Exhibition taken home, placed in a dark warm in museums all over the United room until that evening, when the States, and is proud to have paintbabies are taken back to the same ings in the prestigious Birds in Art beach and released. The baby turtles at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson bond with the beach before enterArt Museum over the past ten ing the water, and will swim for 24 years. Her painting “Asleep in hours until they reach the sea grass the Saddle” was purchased by off the coast. It will take the adult The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art sea turtle approximately 35 years Museum for their permanent Birds to return to the same beach from In Art Collection; the Artists for which they hatched, to lay her nest. Asleep in the Saddle. 24x12 acrylic on panel Conservation show has showcased Only one in one thousand will surher paintings for the last 10 years; she was the Featured Acrylic vive to make this journey back. That is why Suzie spends so Instructor for Susan K. Black (SKB) Foundation Rendezvous in much time on the beach, or is it because some believe she is Dubois, Wyoming; and in 2016, Suzie was awarded the presa real mermaid? John and Suzie teach painting master class all over the World tigious Rose Award by the SKB for her dedication. Among her many other achievements, she was honored with — teaching new techniques, demonstrations, sales and mara Two-person Museum show “Keeping the World Wild” at the keting information to new students. One class they teach in Roger Tory Peterson Institute, June-Aug 2016, with husband Montana allows the students to photograph and sketch aniJohn; received The Simon Combes Award for Conservation mals in wild locations, with very little between them and the with John Seerey-Lester from Artists for Conservation (AFC); animals. Some of the animals are arctic wolves, timber wolves, she got the over of International Artist Magazine, and story tigers, mountain lions, fox, lynx, bobcat, otter, leopard, snow “Life on the Wild Side” October/November 2014 and became leopard, grizzly and black bear, just to name a few, then teach Artist of the year for the 23rd Annual Southeast Invitational students to paint these magnificent animals back in the studio, later in the day. This is a great opportunity for artists to see Miniature Art Show (2015). wildlife they may never get to see in the wild. Having gathered all her knowledge of the trials and tribu“Classes are always lots of fun,” Says Suzie. lations of being an artist, she wrote an award-winning book: Suzie is represented by Ross Parker’s Native Visions/Call of My Painting Is Done, Now What Do I Do? These are just a few Africa galleries in both Naples and Jupiter, Florida. Ross’s galof her proud accomplishments. leries are frequent exhibitors at the Houston Safari Club, Dallas Suzie is also a Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists (SAA), Artists for Conservation (AFC), American Safari Club as well as Safari Club International. You can find Women Artists (AWA), The Collective Member – Bennington Suzie’s work in Ross’s booth at any of those shows or his gallerMuseum, Oil Painters of America (OPA), to name a few. ies. You can also find her work at Trailside Galleries in Jackson, In Florida she received the Mote Marine Volunteer – 15 Wyoming, and Huey’s Fine Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. years of excellent volunteer service award 2017 for her work To view more of her work visit www.Seerey-Lester.com, call with the endangered Sea Turtles of Florida. She has been (941) 966-2163 or email seereylester@msn.com ★ CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 33
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Live Auction Preview FRIDAY NIGHT Cape to Cairo Safaris 2 Hartman Zebras and 2 Burchell Zebras for 2 Hunters in Namibia www.huntinafrica.com BOOTH: 431 VALUE: $10,800.00 Hidden Lakes Hunting Resort 2-Day Texas Bird Hunt www.hiddenlakeshr.com BOOTH: 502 VALUE: $2,900.00 High Mountain Hunts 6-Day Namibian Hunt for Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Gemsbock, Red Hartebeest, Kalahari Springbuck, and Warthog www.highmountainhunts.com BOOTH: 214 VALUE: $8,200.00 Gideon’s Wild Art and Davis Hardware & Picture Framing The Eagle Has Landed Original Oil Painting on Canvas www.gideons-wild-art.business/site VALUE: $3,700.00 Kiowa Hunting Service, Inc 3-Day Pronghorn Antelope Hunt in New Mexico www.kiowahunting.com BOOTH: 907 VALUE: $3,780.00 Brad Beach All Out Ranch Improvements One Day of Mulching with the Barko 937 www.alloutranchimprovements.com BOOTH: 1005 VALUE: $5,500.00 Kuranui New Zealand Hunting 5-Day Hunt for Rusa Stag & Red Stag in New Zealand for 2 People www.kuranui.co.nz BOOTH: 717 VALUE: $17,400.00 Houston Safari Club Foundation M&P-15 V-TAC II 5.56 Nato with Drago Case www.hscfdn.org VALUE: $2,000.00
34 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
L & L Adventures 3-Day Texas Hunt for Nilgai, Aoudad and Oryx for 1 hunter and 1 non-hunter (3 days) www.landladventures.net BOOTH: 1003 VALUE: $8,000.00
RecordBuck Ranch 3-Day Scimitar Horned Oryx Hunt for 1 Hunter and 1 Non-Hunter Hunt in the Texas Hill Country www.recordbuck.com BOOTH: 135 VALUE: $6,325.00
Safari International Macedonia 5-Day Balkan Gray Wolf Hunt for 1 Hunter and 1 NonHunter in Macedonia www.interhunts.com BOOTH: 340 VALUE: $10,400.00
Wildlife Artist Vickie McMillan-Hayes 2019 YWCE Collaborative Painting www.vickiemcmillan.com BOOTH: 100 VALUE: Priceless
Salva Monforte - Spain Hunting Ibex 3-Day Hunt in Spain for Beceite Ibex for 2 Hunters www.spainhuntingibex.com BOOTH: 330 VALUE: $17,000.00 Tom Dreyer Safaris 10-Day African Cat Hunt in Limpopo South Africa www.tomdreyersafaris.com BOOTH: 129 VALUE: $6,800.00 Y.O. Ranch Headquarters Youth Hunt for 1 Hunter Under 13 years Old and 1 Adult Non-Hunter for Black Hawaiian, Catalina, Corsican or 4-Horned Texas Dall Sheep www.yoranchheadquarters.com BOOTH: 302 VALUE: $3,700.00 Hunt Trip Spain 4-Day Hunt for Roe Deer for 1 hunter and 1 observer in Spain www.hunttripspain.com BOOTH: 408 VALUE: $8,630.00 Houston Safari Club Foundation 6.5 Creedmoor Z-Custom Rifle www.hscfdn.org VALUE: $5,049.00 Texas Hunt Lodge 2-Day Hunt for Blackbuck Antelope for 1 Hunter and 1 Observer in Texas www.texashuntlodge.com BOOTH: 506 VALUE: $3,500.00
Balam Mexico 7- Day Mexican Campeche Jungle Hunt for 2 Hunters www.balamhunting.com VALUE: $9,000.00 Lalapa Safaris 7-Day Hunt for Eastern Cape Kudu, Mountain Reed Buck, Cape Spring Buck for 1 hunter and 1 Observer in the Eastern Cape of South Africa www.lalapasafaris.co.za BOOTH: 849 VALUE: $7,092.00 Acute Angling 7-Day Amazon Fishing Trip for 1 Angler webmaster@acuteangling.com BOOTH: 823 VALUE: $5,750.00 Koch Safaris 5-Day, 1:1 Hunt for a Giraffe Bull in Botswana for 1 Hunter and 1 Observer www.kochsafaris.com BOOTH: 253 VALUE: $6,000.00 Xtreme Whitetail Adventures 3-Day Whitetail Hunt in Missouri for 2 Hunters www.xtremewhitetailadventures.com BOOTH: 500 VALUE: $8,000.00 Zander Osmers Safaris 5-day, 1:1 Hunt For Sable Impala in South Africa www.osmers.co.za BOOTH: 731 VALUE: $8,600.00
MG Hunting 5-Day Free Range Red Stag Hunt for 1 Hunter www.mghunting.com VALUE: $7,000.00 Houston Safari Club Foundation SX3 12G Shotgun www.hscfdn.org VALUE: $2,000.00 Cree River Lodge 4-Day Fishing Trip for 2 Anglers in Saskatchewan www.CreeRiverLodge.ca BOOTH: 637 VALUE: $7,190.00
GAZELLES LUNCHEON Original Wildlife Art by Ilse Mother & Baby Original Acrylic Painting www.ilsewildlife.com BOOTH: 1039 VALUE: $3,500.00
Joshua Creek Ranch 3-Day Upland Bird Hunt in Texas for 2 Hunters and 2 Non-Hunters www.joshuacreek.com BOOTH: 801 VALUE: $5,000.00 Cindi & John Rulon Pro Cargo TriStar Viper G2 Bronze 12G Shotgun www.procargo.com BOOTH: 905 VALUE: $759.00 Kississing/Tukto Lodges Lake Trout and Arctic Grayling Fishing Trip for Two in Canada www.kississinglodge.com BOOTH: 241 VALUE: $6,000.00 Fouche Studios The Painted Pup by Leon Fouche www.fouchestudios.com VALUE: $2,250.00
Wildlife Artist Vickie McMillan-Hayes “Enjoying Life” Original Acrylic on Board www.vickiemcmillan.com BOOTH: 100 VALUE: $2,900.00 Giuseppe Carrizosa - Spain Hunt for 2 Iberian Red Deer for 2 Hunters and 2 Non-Hunters in Spain www.giuseppecarrizosa.com BOOTH: 312 VALUE: $11,000.00 Baranof Jewelers Ladies Tanzanite & Diamond Earrings Set in 14K Gold www.baranofjewelry.com BOOTH: 223 VALUE: $15,000.00 Hartland Whitetails 3-day Saskatchewan WhiteTailed Deer Hunt for 1 Hunter www.hartlanddeer.com BOOTH: 718 VALUE: $5,500.00
You Can Take Home This Amazing
JACK RUSSELL PUPPY Saturday Night Grand Gala Auction
Once again we have a special Jack Russell puppy from Warwick Evans of Mapassa Big Game Hounds Hunting of South Africa. The puppy is from a prodigious lineage of Jack Russells bred over 40 years for the hunting and tracking of leopard, lion, caracal, jackal, and other wounded game. Warwick bred these dogs to have a fearless, disciplined attitude with an insatiable drive to trail and spot cats and trail blood of wounded animals. They have a sweet and lovable demeanor which makes them great as family pets as well as hunting dogs. The puppy will receive several months of intensive obedience training from
Pete Stewart of Good Manners Dog Obedience School. Pete trained all of our prior Convention auction puppies and many for Houston Safari Club Foundation members. For the past 10 years the puppies have sold at the Houston Safari Club Foundation Conventions and helped to raise funds to support our mission.
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 35
LIVE AUCTION PREVIEW Italian Safari 2-Day Wild Boar Hunt in Italy for 2 Hunters and 2 Non-Hunters www.italiansafari.com BOOTH: 919 VALUE: $8,500.00
Tony & Mitzy McCorvey Rancho De Suenos Weekend in the Hill Country for 14 women or 6 Couples VALUE: Priceless
Houston Safari Club Foundation Syren Tempio 28G Shotgun A Shotgun Designed Specifically For Women VALUE: $5,000.00
SATURDAY NIGHT GALA
Wanganui Safaris LTD 2 Hunters Pursue 1 Red Stag Each Up To 320 SCI with 2 Observers in New Zealand www.wsafaris.com BOOTH: 609 VALUE: $9,000.00 Africa Maximum Safaris 2 Hunters/2 Non-Hunters For 1 Gemsbuck, 1 Zebra, 1 Blue Wildebeest, 1 Impala and 1 Blesbuck www.africamaximum.co.za BOOTH: 1014 VALUE: $20,220.00 Casa Vieja Lodge 3 Day/4 Night Guatemala Fishing Trip for Sailfish, Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi for 2 Anglers www.casaviejalodge.com BOOTH: 941 VALUE: $8,780.00 Motsomi Safaris 7-Day Hunt for 2 Hunters and 2 Non-Hunters for Impala, Wildebeest and Zebra www.motsomi.com BOOTH: 140 VALUE: $15,255.00 Safari Art Wolf Hunt in Macedonia for 2 Hunters www.safari-eha.com VALUE: $6,600.00 Shikar Safaris Chamois! Hunter’s Choice of Destination and Specie www.shikarsafaris.com BOOTH: 313 VALUE: $12,750.00 Tam Safaris 5-Day, 1:1 Trophy Golden Wildebeest Hunt for 1 Hunter and 1 Non-Hunter www.tamsafaris.com BOOTH: 229 VALUE: $6,000.00
36 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Balla-Balla Safaris 7-Day Greater Kudu Hunt for 2 Hunters and 2 Non-Hunters in Limpopo, South Africa www.balla-balla.com BOOTH: 102 VALUE: $10,900.00 Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail 3-Day Trophy Whitetail Hunt For 1 Hunter In Texas www.cottonmesawhitetail.com BOOTH: 412 VALUE: $7,000.00 Sporting International Jack Russell Terrier Puppy BOOTH: 529 VALUE: Priceless Call of Africa’s Native Visions Galleries and David Langmead Framed “River of Eden” Print www.nativevisions.com/ artists/david-langmead VALUE: $1,860.00 Frontera Wingshooting 4-Day High Volume Dove Hunt for 4 Hunters in Cordoba, Argentina www.fronterawingshooting.com BOOTH: 300 VALUE: $7,140.00 Algar Safaris, Patagonia, Argentina Argentina Big Game hunt for 1 Hunter for 1 Red Stag up to 320 SCI www.algar-safaris.com BOOTH: 441 VALUE: $7,500.00 Bansner and Company 2019 HSCF Limited Edition President’s Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor www.bansnerandcompany.com VALUE: $12,895.00 Ignacio Navasques 3-Day Hunt for Iberian Mouflon Sheep in Spain for 2 People www.greatspanishhunts.com BOOTH: 712 VALUE: $14,000.00
Mashambanzou Safaris 7-Day Crocodile Hunt for 1 Hunter and 1 Observer on the Zambezi River www.mashambanzousafaris.com BOOTH: 507 VALUE: $12,700.00 Northern Giants Trophy Ranch 5-Day Hunt in Canada for a 180-250 Class Whitetail www.northerngiantsranch.com BOOTH: 228 VALUE: $7,500.00 Treasure Investments Corp “Primitive Power” Bronze Sculpture by Lorenzo Ghiglieri www.fineart1.com VALUE: $10,000.00 Call of Africa / Native Visions 2019 HSCF Artist of the Year Susy Seerey-Lester original “Queen of the Mountain.” www.seerey-lester.com VALUE: $15,000.00 Fouche Studios A Summer’s Play, 30”x20” unframed pastel by Leon Fouche www.fouchestudios.com VALUE: $8,500.00 Quagga Safaris 7-Day Sable Hunt for 2 Hunters in Limpopo South Africa www.quagga.co.za BOOTH: 816 VALUE: $21,000.00 Safari International Macedonia 5-Day Balkan Chamois Hunt for 1 Hunter and 1 NonHunter in Macedonia www.interhunts.com BOOTH: 340 VALUE: $10,400.00 Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris 10-day South African Safari for 2 Hunters and 2 Non-Hunters for Blesbuck, Springbuck or Impala, Zebra, and Blue Wildebeest www.africatrophyhunting.com BOOTH: 653 VALUE: $18,000.00 Banovich Art, Inc. “Ad Infinitum” Limited Edition Giclee www.johnbanovich.com VALUE: $2,225.00
Trophy Hunting Spain 4-Day Hunt in Spain for Iberian Mouflon Sheep for 1 Hunter and 1 Non-Hunter www.TrophyHuntingSpain.com BOOTH: 629 VALUE: $9,080.00 Wildlife Artist Vickie McMillan-Hayes 16x20 Acrylic Painting of Your Choice www.vickiemcmillan.com BOOTH: 100 VALUE: $3,600.00 Wildman Lake Lodge 7-Day Alaska Peninsula Fishing Adventure www.wildmanlodge.com BOOTH: 416 VALUE: $6,395.00
Houston Safari Club Foundation 6.5 Creedmoor Rifle www.larue.com VALUE: $1,999.00 Wilderness Quest New Zealand 6-Day Hunt for Red Stag plus a $1,500 credit torwards Tahr & Chamois in New Zealand for 1 Hunter and 1 Non-Hunter www.wildernessquestnz.com BOOTH: 139 VALUE: $15,700.00 Romtag 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10 VALUE: $4,500.00 Chattaronga Safaris 14-Day Hunt for Leopard and Cape Buffalo for 1 Hunter in Zimbabwe www.chattarongahunting.com VALUE: $50,000.00
Wollaston Lake Lodge 4-Day Fishing Trip for 2 Anglers in Saskatchewan, Canada www.wollastonlakelodge.com BOOTH: 217 VALUE: $10,200.00
Chattaronga Safaris 7-Day Hunt for Cape Buffalo and Sable for 1 Hunter in South Africa www.chattarongahunting.com VALUE: $16,000.00
Baranof Jewelers Emerald Cut Tanzanite & Diamond Ring www.baranofjewelry.com BOOTH: 223 VALUE: $25,800.00
Laurentian Wildlife Estate 4-Day Red Stag and Elk Bull Hunt in the Laurentian Mountains of Quebec www.laurentianwildlife.com BOOTH: 538 VALUE: $25,550.00
Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica 3 Days of Tower Boat Fishing for 2 in Costa Rica www.crocodilebay.com BOOTH: 830 VALUE: $8,464.00
Africa Maximum Safaris 10 Day Hunt for Cape Buffalo for 2 Hunters www.africamaximum@gmail.com BOOTH: 1014 VALUE: $42,400.00
Baranof Jewelers Mens Oval Tanzanite & Diamond Ring www.baranofjewelry.com BOOTH: 223 VALUE: $26,900.00
Double D Ranch Weekend for 6 Couples or 8 Individuals VALUE: $30,000.00
Chapungu-Kambako Safaris 5-Day Hippo Hunt and Fishing Trip in Zimbabwe www.chapungu-kambako.com BOOTH: 534 VALUE: $12,000.00 Lewis Jewelers Victor Velyan 18 kt Yellow Gold Elephant Pendant with Hippo Ivory Tusks www.lewisusa.com BOOTH: 1030 VALUE: $16,000.00
Gsell’s Whitetails 4 Day Whitetail Deer Hunt for 1 Hunter in PA www.gsellswhitetails.com BOOTH: 323 VALUE: $11,000.00 Game Trackers Africa 7 Day 1:1 Rifle Hunt for Cape Buffalo for One Hunter www.gametrackersafrica.com BOOTH: 1012 VALUE: $15,450.00 Okatjeru Hunting Safaris - Namibia 7 Day Multi-Species Namibian Trip for 1 Hunter and 1 Observer www.natron.net BOOTH: 316 VALUE: $7,650.00
Shikar Safaris Ibex - Hunter’s Choice of Destination and Specie www.shikarsafaris.com BOOTH: 313 VALUE: $15,500.00 Spey Creek Trophy Hunting 5-Day Stag Hunt for 2 Hunters in New Zealand www.sctrophyhunting.com BOOTH: 729 VALUE: $12,500.00 Spiral Horn Safaris 5-Day 1:1 Sable and Roan Hunt for 2 Hunters in South Africa www.spiralhorn.co.za BOOTH: 306 VALUE: $21,368.00 Four Seasons Safaris New Zealand 4-Day Red Stag Hunt for 2 Hunters fourseasons.co.nz BOOTH: 305 VALUE: $15,000.00 Tam Safaris 7-Day Trip for 1 Hunter and 1 NonHunter for the Chance to Dart a White Rhino in South Africa www.tamsafaris.com BOOTH: 229 VALUE: $10,000.00 Hunting Safaris South Africa 7-day 1:1 Roan hunt for 1 Hunter and 1 Non-Hunter in South Africa www.huntingsafarisouthafrica.co.za BOOTH: 548 VALUE: $10,000.00 Sadaka Safaris 5-Day 2:1 Hunt for 2 Hunters for Sable, Golden Wildebeest, Kudu and Nyala in Limpopo South Africa www.sadakasafaris.com BOOTH: 240 VALUE: $20,950.00 Stealth Precision Firearms, LLC 300 Remington Ultra Mag Bolt-Action Rifle www.stealthfirearmsllc.com BOOTH: 728 VALUE: $3,250.00 Fausti Class SLX 28 gauge shotgun with 5 chokes and case. www.faustiusa.com BOOTH: 405 VALUE: $4,570.00
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 37
Can't make it to one of our banquets? bid on select items online!
onlinehuntingauctions.com search for the Houston Safari Club Foundation auction
Start bidding now!
2018 Roxor LE by Mahindra
Retail Value: $26,664.67
Drawing to be held at the 2019 HSCF Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention Sunday, January 27, 2019 · Need Not Be Present To Win
Package Includes: Ranch Package HD fr bumper ∙ 8,000# Winch ∙ AGM battery Blue Tooth Sound Bar w/marine speakers ∙ Roof Basket (steel, powder coated) ∙ Padded Shooting Bar ∙ Utility Seat (steel, powder coated, HD cloth cushions UV protected) ∙
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∙ LED light bar 3 mirror package ∙ BF Goodrich wide tires ∙ HD Tire Sealant by Multi Seal Aluminum Slotted Powder Coated Wheels ∙ Grab Handles & Gun Holders ∙ 3M High Quality Camo Graphics w/ UV laminated protection Fr Roll Bar Basket (steel, powder coated) ∙
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$100 TICKET
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE CONVENTION EXPO AND ALL BANQUETS *Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a non-profit organization, exempt from federal income tax, under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. HSCF EIN 74-2177975. Please contact your tax advisor concerning deductibility of any payments as business deductions.
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Schedule of Events THURSDAY, JANUARY 24 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Exhibitor Registration & Move-In
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E
HUNTING AWARD SPONSORS Title Sponsor
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Exhibitor Registration & Move-In Continues
8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Youth Wildlife Conservation Education (YWCE) Workshop
Hilton Americas - Houston
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open, featuring raffles, guides outfitters, artists, craftsmen, gear and more from around the world
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E
6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E
Annual HSCF Hunting Awards Banquet, live entertainment and live auction
Hilton Americas – Houston Ballroom of the Americas
Gold Sponsors Australian Outfitters Connie & Stephen Coale Hunter & Frank Comiskey LaGloria Land Company
SATURDAY, JANUARY 26
Mitzy & Tony McCorvey
Exhibit Hall Open, featuring raffles, guides outfitters, artists, craftsmen, gear and more from around the world
Silver Sponsors
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Gazelles Luncheon featuring entertainment, live and silent auctions
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E Hilton Americas – Houston Ballroom of the Americas
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Hour, Hilton Americas
Houston Ballroom of the Americas Lobby
6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Hilton Americas – Houston Ballroom of the Americas
Annual HSCF Formal Gala featuring live entertainment & a grand live auction
Alliance Printing Angie & JD Burrows G’Sell’s Whitetails Carolyn & William Newlin Craig Phillips Cindi & John Rulon Pro Cargo USA
SUNDAY, JANUARY 27 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Exhibit Hall Open
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E
2 p.m.
Convention Raffle Drawing
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E
3 p.m.
Worldwide Hunting Expo Ends
George R. Brown Convention Center, Hall E
Bronze Sponsor Anita & John Colglazier Julianne & Mark King Sally & Lloyd Swiedom
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 39
2019 HSCF CONVENTION
Exhibitors Argentina Puelo Expeditions 641 Outfitter- South America
AAA Africa Serapa Safaris BOOTH: 347, 446 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Acacia Hunting Safaris Namibia 903 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Acute Angling 823, 825, 922, 924 Outfitter- South America
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Africa Maximum Safaris 1014, 1016 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
African Arrow Safaris BOOTH: 647, 746 Outfitter- Africa
Australian Outfitters by Andrew MacKay BOOTH: 716 Outfitter- Australia
BOOTH:
African Elephant Hair Bracelets BOOTH: 303 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear Alaska Fur Gallery BOOTH: 723, 725, 822, 824 Furs Alaska Skookum Guides BOOTH: 904 Outfitter- North America Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge BOOTH: 202 Outfitter- North America Algar Safaris, Patagonia, Argentina BOOTH: 441 Outfitter- South America Alpine Hunting New Zealand BOOTH: 404 Outfitter- New Zealand Angela West Designs BOOTH: 549 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear Angry Eagle Lodge and Outfitters BOOTH: 118, 120 Outfitter- North America Ardmore Ceramics by Pascoe Gallery BOOTH: 929, 1028 Artwork 40 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Art by L. Mower 815 Artwork ASJ Trophy Hunting New Zealand 1034 Outfitter- New Zealand Atascosa/Bushlan 101, 200 Wildlife Supply
B&B Taxidermy 123, 125, 222, 224 Taxidermy
BOOTH:
B&M Distributors/Sunset Swings 1049, 1051 Miscellaneous
BOOTH:
Baffin Bay Rod and Gun 633 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Balla-Balla Safaris 102 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Baranof Jewelers 223, 225, 322, 324 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
BOOTH:
Barela’s Alaskan Outfitters 706 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Billiard Factory 335, 337 Furniture
BOOTH:
Bolivian Adventures 114, 116 Outfitter- South America
BOOTH:
Brad Beach/ All Out Ranch Improvements BOOTH: 1005, 1007 Miscellaneous Brazos Ranch Group Bevers Real Estate, LLC BOOTH: 902 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending Brush Country Studios/Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio BOOTH: 147, 149, 151, 246, 248, 250 Taxidermy Buccara Wildlife Preserve 1043 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Buckbrush Outfitters 528 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Buffalo Kloof Wildlife Safaris BOOTH: 1048, 1050 Outfitter- Africa Bull Basin Ranch/Lee Cox 606, 608 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Bush Africa Safaris 813, 912 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Bushmen Safaris 841, 940 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
C&C Outfitters 232 Outfitter- South America
BOOTH:
Cabassa Safaris 951 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Candy Woolley Exotic Skin Handbags BOOTH: 249 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear Cape to Cairo 431, 433 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Captial Farm Credit BOOTH: 409, 508 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending
BOOTH:
Cutco Cutlery 348 Knives
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Carter’s Country Ranches 237 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Daggaboy Hunting Safaris 906 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Casa Vieja Lodge 941, 1040 Outfitter- Central America
BOOTH:
Dave Freeburn Safaris 130 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Castle Valley Outdoors LLC 349 Outfitter- North America
David Denies Bird Hunting/ Red Stag Patagonia BOOTH: 747, 846 Outfitter- South America
BOOTH:
Cazatur Spain & Europe 428 Outfitter- Europe
BOOTH:
Cedar Eaters of Texas 649, 651 Miscellaneous
BOOTH:
Chapungu-Kambako Safaris 534, 536 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Cindi & John Rulon Pro Cargo USA BOOTH: 905 Trophy Shipper
Deep South Barrels BOOTH: 233 Furniture Detail Company Adventures BOOTH: 422, 424 Booking Agent
Flagpoles by Uncommon USA 948, 950 Miscellaneous Four Seasons Safaris 305, 307 Outfitter- New Zealand Frontera Wingshooting 300 Outfitter- South America Frosch 319 Booking Agent
BOOTH:
FTW/SAAM 329 Shooting Instruction
BOOTH:
Game Trackers Africa (Hunting Company) BOOTH: 1012 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Dove Island Lodge 853, 952 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Gamka Safaris 1032 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Dries Visser Safaris 533 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Garry Kelly Safaris 918 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Circle P Pogue Ranch 352 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Dubarry of Ireland 203, 205 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Colorado Outfitters, LLC 531 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Eastcape & Karoo Safaris 333 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Comre Safaris 107 Outfitter- Africa
BOOTH:
Elk Creek Outfitting 239 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Conroe Taxidermy 613, 615, 617, 619 Taxidermy
BOOTH:
Ermilio Custom Clothier 207 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail 412, 414 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Exciting Outdoors Argentina 532 Outfitter- South America
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Cougar Ridge Outfitters 105 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Exclusive Adventures New Zealand 126, 128 Outfitter- New Zealand
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Covey Rise Magazine 332 Publications
BOOTH:
Fausti Stefano SRL 405, 407 Firearms
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Cree River Lodge 637 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Fedha Nyuki 1053 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
BOOTH:
Crocodile Bay Resort Costa Rica 830 Outfitter- Central America
Fishtail Ranch Outfitters BOOTH: 819 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
BOOTH:
Gaston J Glock Style, LP 602 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear Giuseppe Carrizosa- SPAIN 312 Outfitter- Europe Glacier Bay Eagles Nest Lodge 938 Outfitter- North America Glen Dene Hunting & Fishing 750 Outfitter- New Zealand Global Exhchange 937 Miscellaneous Global Rescue 812 Medical Global Safari Azerbaijan 530 Outfitter- Asia Graceland Safaris 930, 932 Outfitter- Africa Great White Holdings Ltd 553 Outfitter- North America
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 41
EXHIBITORS Greystone Castle Sporting Club BOOTH: 913 Outfitter- North America Griffin Fishing Charters & Lodge 803 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Gsell’s Whitetails 323, 325 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Guaranteed Guide Service 439 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Gunwerks LLC 909 Firearms
BOOTH:
Hartland Whitetails 718 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
Henneford Fine Furniture 449, 451 Furniture
BOOTH:
Hidden Lakes Hunting Resort 502 Outfitter- North America
BOOTH:
High Mountain Hunts 214, 216 Booking Agent
BOOTH:
Hoffman International Properties Inc BOOTH: 804, 806 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending Horizon Firearms BOOTH: 400, 402 Firearms Hunt Trip Spain BOOTH: 408 Outfitter- Europe Hunter’s Path Magazine BOOTH: 104 Publications Hunters Namibia Safaris BOOTH: 800 Outfitter- Africa Hunting Safari South Africa BOOTH: 548, 550 Outfitter- Africa IC Africa BOOTH: 238 Outfitter- Africa
Ignacio Navasques (Great Spanish Hunts) BOOTH: 712 Outfitter- Europe
Kississing/Tukto Lodges 241 Outfitter- North America
Intrepid Safaris BOOTH: 218 Outfitter- Africa
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Italian Safaris BOOTH: 919, 1018 Outfitter- Europe
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Ivy Safaris BOOTH: 652 Outfitter- Africa
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J.B. Hill Boot Company BOOTH: 301 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Jensen Ringmakers BOOTH: 635 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Joey Klutsch’s Aniakchak Guide Service BOOTH: 814 Outfitter- North America
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Johan Hermann Safaris 509 Outfitter- Africa
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John X Safaris 639 Outfitter- Africa
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Joshua Creek Ranch 801 Outfitter- North America
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JP Big Game Safaris 144 Outfitter- Africa
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JWK Safaris 350 Outfitter- Africa
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Kevin Mattice High North Outfitting BOOTH: 935 Outfitter- North America Kids Outdoor Zone 148 Association
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Kili Villa Luxury Retreats Tanzania 338 Outfitter- Africa
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Kingham Safaris 429 Outfitter- Australia
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42 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Kiowa Hunting Service 907 Outfitter- North America
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Koch Safaris 253 Outfitter- Africa Kudu Exclusives 447, 546 Furniture Kuranui New Zealand Hunting 717 Outfitter- New Zealand Kwalata Safaris PTY (LTD) 953, 1052 Outfitter- Africa L and L Adventures 1003 Outfitter- North America La Gloria Land Company 701 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending
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Lake Albert Safaris 751 Outfitter- Africa
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Lalapa Safaris 849 Outfitter- Africa
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Lategan Safaris 122 Outfitter- Africa
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Laurentian Wildlife Estate 538, 540 Outfitter- North America
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Legacy Shooting Products 933 Miscellaneous
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Leo Van Rooyan Safaris Africa 215 Outfitter- Africa
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Leopard Legend Hunting Safaris 836-838 Outfitter- Africa
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Leopard’s Valley Safaris 748 Outfitter- Africa
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Leota’s Indian Art 719 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Okatjeru Hunting Safaris - Namibia 316 Outfitter- Africa
Lewis Jewelers / Victor Velyan BOOTH: 1030 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Miles and Miles Outfitters 832, 834 Outfitter- South America
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Lil’ Toledo Lodge 631 Outfitter- North America
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Milk River Outfitters 802 Outfitter- North America
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Limcroma Safaris 501, 600 Outfitter- Africa
Mirr Ranch Group and Hunter’s Dream for a Cure BOOTH: 1041 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending
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Link’s Wild Safaris 1002, 1004, 1006 Booking Agent
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Lochow Ranch Pond & Lake Management LLC BOOTH: 703 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending Lone Star Outfitters BOOTH: 109, 208 Outfitter- North America
Montana Wilderness Lodge & Outfitting BOOTH: 435 Outfitter- North America Moore Security 341, 440 Gun Safes
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Motsomi Safaris 140 Outfitter- Africa
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Omega Rifles, LLC 630 Firearms Original Wildlife Paintings by ILSE 1039 Artwork
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Ornaments Fine Jewelry 132, 134, 136, 138 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Osprey Global 231 Optics
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Pack Rabbit Products 315, 317 Hunting Gear
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Pakmule, LLC 503 Hunting Gear
Maartens Safaris BOOTH: 450 Outfitter- Africa
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Mabula Pro Safaris BOOTH: 900 Outfitter- Africa
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MacMillan River Adventures & South Peace Outfitters BOOTH: 607 Outfitter- North America
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Marromeu Safaris BOOTH: 605 Outfitter- Africa
Nature Blinds BOOTH: 453, 552 Wildlife Supply
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Mashambanzou Safaris BOOTH: 507 Outfitter- Africa
NewZealandHunting.com BOOTH: 831 Outfitter- New Zealand
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Max Lang Belts & Buckles 917 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Nhoro Safaris 805 Outfitter- Africa
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McDonald Safaris 434, 436 Outfitter- Africa
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Nite Site LLC 704 Optics
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MG Arms 713, 715 Firearms
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North Star Outfitting 835 Outfitter- North America
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Michel Mantheakis Safaris Ltd 430, 432 Outfitter- Africa
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NorthCurl Outfitters 314 Outfitter- North America
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Northern Giants Trophy Ranch 228, 230 Outfitter- North America
Pro Guide Consortium/ Three Butte Ranch BOOTH: 749 Outfitter- North America
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Mike Currie Adventures / Wild Wingshooting Africa BOOTH: 931 Outfitter- Africa
Mount Carmel Safaris 235 Outfitter- Africa Mwatisi Safaris LTD 817 Outfitter- Africa
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Pampa Adventures & Mapu Hunting Lodge BOOTH: 504 Outfitter- South America Pelser Bowhunting 115, 117 Outfitter- Africa Pendleton Safe Compnay 601, 700 Gun Safes
Performance Top Drives & Custom Hunting Rigs BOOTH: 1015, 1017, 1019 Automotive Pierre Vorster Safaris 709, 808 Outfitter- Africa Plummer’s Artic Lodges 437 Outfitter- North America Pointer Outfitters 331 Outfitter- South America Prairies Edge Outfitting 947 Outfitter- North America
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 43
EXHIBITORS Safari Co Africa 949 Outfitter- Africa
Quagga Safaris BOOTH: 816, 818 Outfitter- Africa
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R&K Hunting 934, 936 Outfitter- North America
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RecordBuck Ranch 135, 137 Outfitter- North America
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Red Desert Rifles 734 Firearms
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Red Dog Forge - Bespoke Custom Knives BOOTH: 939 Knives
Safari International Macedonia 340 Outfitter- Europe Safari Unlimited LLC 438 Outfitter- Central America
Serengeti Hunting Safaris 837, 839 Outfitter- Africa
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Sierra Brava Lodge LLC 807, 809 Outfitter- South America
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Silencio Suppression Systems 353, 452 Firearms
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Rhineland Cutlery PNW, LLC BOOTH: 119 Knives
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Rod & Gun Resources 1001 Outfitter- South America Roxor by Mahindra 848, 850 Automotive
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Ruple Properties 714 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending
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Russell Selle Custom Hunts 650 Booking Agent
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RWS Guide Service 103 Outfitter- North America
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Sadaka Safaris BOOTH: 240 Outfitter- Africa
44 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
Sporting Adventures LLC 735, 737 Outfitter- South America
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SportEar 213 Hunting Gear
313 Outfitter- Asia
Rex Foster Artist BOOTH: 604 Artwork
Robin Hurt Safari Company 206 Outfitter- Africa
Spiral Horn Safaris 306 Outfitter- Africa
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Spey Creek Trophy Hunting BOOTH: 729, 828 Outfitter- New Zealand
Satterwhite Log Homes 648 Miscellaneous
Reel Hot Fishing Costa Rica BOOTH: 448 Outfitter- Central America
River Plate Wingshooting BOOTH: 632 Outfitter- South America
Spain Hunting Ibex Salva Monforte BOOTH: 330 Outfitter- Europe
Siswati Game Breeders and Hunting Safaris BOOTH: 851 Outfitter- Africa Sixsite Gear 535, 537, 539, 541, 634, 636, 638, 640 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
Sporting Classics 908 Publications Sporting International 529, 628 Booking Agent Springbok Imports 732 Artwork Star S Ranch 334, 336 Outfitter- North America
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Starry Night Ranch 112 Outfitter- North America
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Skull Hookers BOOTH: 915 Taxidermy
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Somerby Safaris BOOTH: 705, 707 Outfitter- Africa
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South Pioneers Outfitters Argentina BOOTH: 142 Outfitter- South America
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South Texas Tripods and Feeders Inc BOOTH: 401, 403 Wildlife Supply Southern Lake Safaris 739 Outfitter- New Zealand
Stealth Precision Firearms LLC 728 Firearms Stone Creations of Texas 150 Miscellaneous Suppressed Weapon Systems 106, 108 Firearms Tam Safaris 229, 328 Outfitter- Africa
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Tassels & Bows Antique Jewelry and Accessories BOOTH: 833 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Tejas Custom Boots 551 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Terry Wilson Antler Designs BOOTH: 923, 925, 1022, 1024 Furniture
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Tri State Taxidermy 901, 1000 Taxidermy
Whitetail Properties LLC BOOTH: 603 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending
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Texan Knives 304 Knives
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Trinity Oaks 110 Association
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Texas Ag Realty LLC 318 Real Estate/Credit/Property Lending
Trompettersfontein Safaris & Hunting Lodge BOOTH: 406 Outfitter- Africa
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Texas Hunt Lodge 506 Outfitter- North America
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Texas Law Shield 740 Miscellaneous
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Trophy Hunting Spain BOOTH: 629 Outfitter- Europe
Wilderness Family Outfitters 505 Outfitter- North America Wilderness Quest New Zealand 139, 141 Outfitter- New Zealand
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Wildlife Artist Vickie McMillan-Hayes BOOTH: 100 Artwork
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Trophy Shippers 339 Trophy Shipper
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Wildlife Partners 623, 625, 722, 724 Miscellaneous
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department 133 Miscellaneous
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Texas Pistol & Rifle Academy 916 Shooting Instruction
Tropic Star Lodge of Panama 309 Outfitter- Central America
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The Arrangement 308 Furniture
Two Hats Ranch 829, 928 Outfitter- North America
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The Global Sportsman 236 Booking Agent
Tyrrell’s Trails 730 Outfitter- North America
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The High Lonesome Ranch 753, 852 Outfitter- North America
Ubathi’s Global Safaris 1046 Outfitter- Africa
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Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris 653, 752 Outfitter- Africa
Venture North Outfitting 351 Outfitter- North America
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Threeways Safaris 209 Outfitter- Africa
Vertical Gun Racks 1047 Gun Safes
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Tinashe Outfitters 1036, 1038 Outfitter- Africa
W.C. Russell Moccasin Co 201 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear
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Wanganui Safaris 609, 708 Outfitter- New Zealand
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Tom Dreyer Safaris 129, 131 Outfitter- Africa
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Top Notch Outfitters 914 Outfitter- North America
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TRACT Optics 702 Optics
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Travel with Guns BOOTH: 204 Booking Agent
Well Worldwide Energy Logistics, Inc. BOOTH: 1009 Trophy Shipper
Wildman Lake Lodge 416, 418 Outfitter- North America Wollaston Lake Lodge 217, 219 Outfitter- North America Woods & Water Taxidermy 113, 212 Taxidermy Woody’s Furs 741, 840 Furs Worldwide Destinations 4 U 234 Outfitter- Africa WSI Sportswear 124 Clothing/Jewelry/Footwear Xtreme Whitetail Adventures 500 Outfitter- North America Y.O. Ranch Headquarters 302 Outfitter- North America Zander Osmers Safaris 731, 733 Outfitter- Africa
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Whimsical Whitetails Hunting Ranch BOOTH: 251 Outfitter- North America White Peak Outfitters 146 Outfitter- North America BOOTH:
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 45
46 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 47
DAN L. DUNCAN
2018 Scholarship Recipients
48 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
Matthew Buchholz
Darrion Crowley
Graduate Research Assistant / Ph.D. Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management/ Department of Natural Resources Management
Graduate Research Assistant, Range and Wildlife Management, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas Tech University
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Spatial Ecology, Population Dynamics, and Disease Ecology of Free-ranging Axis Deer on the Edwards Plateau
Developing Wild Turkey Survey Methodology of Fort Wolters and Camp Maxey Training Centers
I grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point for my undergraduate degree. After graduation I moved to Kentucky to pursue my master’s degree at Western Kentucky University studying the relationship between small mammals, ticks, and Lyme Disease. Afterwards, I decided that I enjoyed wildlife research so much that I wanted to pursue a Ph.D. and came to Texas Tech University to study the ecology of free-ranging axis deer. In my spare time I enjoy hunting, hiking, camping, and wildlife photography. Axis deer were initially introduced into Texas for hunting in 1932. Since then, large free-ranging populations have become established throughout the Edwards Plateau. However, due to the lack of regulatory authority over them as exotics, not much is known about their ecology and how they impact the native ecosystems and wildlife in Texas. This project seeks to fill in a number of knowledge gaps regarding the ecology of free-ranging axis deer including their impacts on riparian ecosystems from grazing, resource and habitat selection, population dynamics and herd structuring, disease occurrence and potential spread to white-tailed deer, and genetic diversity.
The Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) and the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) are two wild turkey subspecies found in North Texas. Recent breeding bird surveys show that turkey populations in Texas are at a standstill if not a steady decline. As a consequence of their growing popularity by hunters, surveys must be taken in order to detect population trends. Identifying the optimal survey methodology in order to determine accurate wild turkey population densities is a key factor used in deciding the intensiveness of their management. The objectives of this project are to 1) Determine the precision of wild turkey survey protocols in estimating wild turkey density while proposing an efficient protocol for estimating wild turkey abundance in the major habitats of both centers and 2) Develop habitat suitability models that will enable Texas Military Department staff to determine which habitats are optimal for harboring turkeys and integrating those models with survey protocol to identify protocols that provide the most precise estimate of turkey abundance. The survey methods being tested are road surveys, point count surveys, and roost count surveys. To accomplish this, study sites will be visited multiple times a year in which all survey methods being tested will be conducted. The number of turkeys observed during each of the three surveys will be recorded in which statistical analysis will be performed to conclude any differences between them. Data collection will take place in 2018 and 2019 between the months of January and March.
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS Deb & Ralph Cunningham Legacy Sponsor Ann & Randy Fowler Legacy Sponsor
Edwin Smith Benefactor Sponsor
Cokinos Young Supporting Sponsor
Mackenzie & Rudy Nix Patron Sponsor
Ellen & Hank Bachmann Benefactor Sponsor
Denise & Brian Welker Supporting Sponsor
Melanie & John Pepper - Langham, Pepper and Associates, Inc. Patron Sponsor
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 49
2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Taylor Daily
Dillan J. Drabek
Maribel Evalina Glass
Research Assistant/ Masters of Science/Natural Resource Management
Graduate Assistantship/Range and Wildlife Management/ Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Graduate Student/Master of Science/Department of Natural Resource Management
Sul Ross State University
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Sul Ross State University
Movements, Survival, and Habitat Use of Desert Bighorn Sheep in The Black Gap Wildlife Management Area
Cattle Grazing Effects on Whitetail Deer Forb Productions on the East Foundation Ranches
Assess the Effects of Management Prescriptions on Knotgrass and its Energetic Production Value for Migratory Birds
Historically, desert bighorn sheep were once a prevalent species throughout the Trans-Pecos ecological region of Texas, but unfortunately had become extirpated by the 1960s due to unregulated hunting and disease transmission from livestock. Restoration efforts from surrounding states were quickly implemented, in hopes of re-establishing a bighorn population throughout the Trans-Pecos. Since that time, the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area has developed a small subpopulation that has endured disease, stress, and predation; in order to ensure sustainability, we must continue our restoration efforts. The objective of this study is to restore and strengthen desert bighorn sheep at Black Gap WMA, by means of translocation. Bighorn was captured, equipped with a GPS satellite collar, and transported from Elephant Mountain WMA to Black Gap WMA. Movements, survival, and habitat utilization will be observed and compared between bighorn that are resident, hardreleased, and soft-released. Information from this study will assist Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists with future management decisions regarding desert bighorn sheep in the Trans-Pecos ecological region of Texas.
I am from Schulenburg, Texas and have received my bachelor’s degree and currently working on a master’s from Texas A&M University – Kingsville. I am passionate for the outdoors and my hobbies include hunting and fishing. The graduate research project is determining Cattle (Bos indicus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) interactions on East Foundation ranches in south Texas. The development of this study derived from the ideas of how incoherent results are between white-tailed deer and cattle. With forbs being the most important part of a deer diet, cattle can either promote or make it detrimental to the production of forbs. To help give a better understanding of interactions between white-tailed deer and cattle we formed objectives which are to 1) determine different intensities of grazing during various times of a plants growth stage and how they affect the forb standing crop production (kg/ha) for white-tailed deer; 2) determine the species richness when plant productivity is high from abiotic factors. We selected six 2,500-hectare study sites including 50 1.5m2 grazing exclosures. By determining how cattle utilization can increase white-tailed forb productions, managers will then be able to understand a foundation and threshold in which both can coexist from one another.
50 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
I was born and raised in Houston, Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University – Kingsville in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in Range and Wildlife Management and a minor in biology. My long-term academic goal includes earning a doctorate degree. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Science (thesis) with a major in Range & Wildlife Management. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge was established to provide a critical stopover site for migrating waterfowl. Refuge staff manages water using gates and ditches to create wetlands and mimic natural flooding cycles. These wetlands re-create the historic habitat that migratory birds need to thrive. As a result, the refuge provides food and habitat for migratory birds and a diversity of wildlife. However, refuge staff has noticed an increasing density of paspalum in wetland units. This particular genus has been known to be invasive and displace desirable vegetation if not managed properly. It is still uncertain whether this grass is useful to avifauna and, furthermore how management prescriptions affect its abundance. My thesis project is to determine the production value of paspalum, which management practices facilitate its spread and whether paspalum is a food source for avifauna.
Kristen Heath
Levi Heffelfinger
Matt Hewitt
Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Natural Resources Management
Ph.D. Student in Wildlife Science
Graduate Research Assistant, Masters of Science, Natural Resource Management
Texas Tech University Population Connectivity of Snowy Plovers on the Southern Great Plains of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma I am currently a second-year master’s student at Texas Tech University. Born in Odessa, Texas my interests have always focused on wildlife and the outdoors. In college, my focus shifted to avian conservation, a field that has taken me from New York to Panama. Recently awarded the opportunity to give back to the wildlife I grew up admiring, I returned to West Texas in 2017 to study Snowy Plovers. Snowy Plovers are a small, rare shorebird found on coastal shorelines and inland on saline lakes and salt flats. Recharged by freshwater springs flowing from the Ogallala Aquifer, many saline lakes — important Snowy Plover habitat — are drying up due to rapid anthropogenic depletion of the water table. In Texas, Snowy Plovers experienced a near 75 percent decline in population from 1998-2009. Data from Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge in eastern New Mexico suggest similar declines. Presently, my research focuses on the regional and winter movements of Snowy Plovers between isolated saline lakes on the Southern Great Plains of Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma and the role these movements play in the persistence or deterioration of subpopulations in the region.
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Sul Ross State University
The Influence of Agriculture on Mule Deer Demographics and Movement
Distribution of kit fox in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas
I was raised in Tucson, Arizona, where I found a passion for hunting, fishing, and everything outdoors. After receiving a B.S. at the University of Arizona, I went on to the University of Nevada, Reno to begin an M.S. While there, I worked on a population of mule deer on the Mojave National Preserve where I evaluated how environmental factors influenced fawn survival and female resource selection. Today I am currently working on my Ph.D. at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute in Kingsville, Texas. My current research is focused on learning how the influence of agriculture affects mule deer population parameters in the Texas Panhandle. Mule deer numbers have increased in the Panhandle region over the past several decades. However, the amount of native rangeland converted to cropland has also continued to increase in the region. This research will focus on placing GPS radio collars on adult bucks, does, and fawns among three study sites across the Panhandle. The research seeks to understand when they use cropland, how often, and how the use of agriculture affects survival, size, and antler growth within these populations of mule deer. This will prove beneficial to the management and conservation of the species moving forward.
The kit fox (Vulpes macrotis), is a small fox species endemic to the grasslands of the Western United States and Northern Mexico. To date no research has been conducted on the Texas population, resulting in a lack of understanding about the distribution and abundance of kit fox in the area. Interest in kit fox distribution in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas comes from a dramatic reduction from historical numbers of swift fox (Vulpes velox), a similar species of fox in the Texas Panhandle. This project will use trail cameras on a 3 km grid across suitable habitat (grasslands with less than 5 percent slope) in the Trans-Pecos region to determine occupancy and distribution. Each location will be surveyed in 10-day intervals with cameras being moved every 14 days. Surveys began in March 2018 and continue to May 2019. Photos will be sorted and organized with Adobe Bridge. With information from this study I hope to determine kit fox distribution in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, effects of co-occurrence of sympatric carnivores on kit fox distribution, and model future distributions based on habitat requirements.
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 51
2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Mikayla House
Austin K Killam
Jacob Lampman
Masters of Science in Range and Wildlife Management
Master of Science Degree in Range and Wildlife Management
Texas A&M University Kingsville
Texas A&M University- Kingsville
Graduate Research Assistant in Range and Wildlife Management in the Department of Natural Resource Management
Modeling Foraging Habitat for Shorebirds in the Laguna Madre of South Texas
Effects of water quality and availability on the consumption of pelleted feed in white-tailed deer
I was raised in South Texas where I regularly helped my family with odd jobs around our family property. It was on that ranch where my interest in the outdoors first peaked while feeding cattle, learning to fish, and eventually learning to hunt. From there my love for the outdoors has only grown. I received a Bachelors Degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M University. From there I went on to coordinate the K-12 education program at the Welder Wildlife Foundation. During my time in that position, I learned that I have a passion for wildlife outreach and education. I decided a master’s degree would better prepare me to communicate the importance of wildlife conservation to the people of Texas, so I began a master’s degree at Texas A&M University – Kingsville. My project is focused on creating a model that will predict shorebird foraging habitat in the Laguna Madre during migration. The model will be created by combining collected data with publicly available geospatial data sets which will provide managers with the information necessary to make decisions about the future of shorebird conservation in the area.
I grew up hunting and fishing from a very early age. At 3 years old I went on my first dove hunt and at age 5, I went on my first deer hunt. Since then, I have loved the outdoors. I earned my Bachelors of Science Degree in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University Kingsville in the spring 2018 and began my master’s degree there immediately after. I worked with many species throughout my Bachelors, but the species I enjoyed working with most was white-tailed deer. I was involved in many ongoing white-tailed deer projects including stress hormones, social hierarchy, and various feed studies. Now I am beginning my own nutrition-based study involving white-tailed deer. We are investigating how water salinity and water availability will affect feed consumption in whitetailed deer. Current literature is lacking in the impact that water availability and quality will have on white-tailed deer. This study has the potential to be instrumental in the continued management of this important game species.
52 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Sul Ross State University Influence of Agriculture on Mule Deer Diets and Nutrition in the Texas Panhandle I grew up on a small farm east of San Antonio in Marion, Texas. While growing up I spent a lot of time at my grandparent’s ranch where I developed a great love for the outdoors and wildlife. This led me to decide to major in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University. Texas A&M provided me with many volunteer opportunities to gain different experiences, including a study abroad to South Africa. While working as a technician on a project with Bobwhite Quail, I decided to continue my education. I am now working towards a Master’s Degree in Range and Wildlife Management at Sul Ross State University under the advisement of Dr. Louis Harveson. My project is titled “Influence of Agriculture on Mule Deer Diets and Nutrition in the Texas Panhandle.” This project aims to identify which crops mule deer are eating and during which times of the year, as well as, document the monthly nutritive values of what they are eating throughout the year. We are also trying to answer whether the use of crops put deer on a higher nutritional plane and if these foraging behaviors are correlated with body mass, body condition, antler size, and fawn recruitment. Understanding how mule deer are using agriculture in the Texas Panhandle is vital in making sound management decisions.
Carolina Medina-Nava Graduate Research Assistant/ Master of Science – Range and Wildlife Management Sul Ross State University, Natural Resource Management Graduate Program Developing a soil water balance and reseeding techniques of native grasses in a grassland restoration area after being chemically treated with Tebuthiuron in the Chihuahuan Desert My name is Carolina Medina-Nava and since I was a child I have developed a love for wildlife and rangeland ecology by spending most of my time working on my parents’ cattle ranch. I am currently working towards earning my Master of Science degree in Range and Wildlife Management at Sul Ross State University through the Borderlands Research Institute and the Sustainable Ranch Management program under Dr. Bonnie Warnock. The specific goal of my research project is to evaluate if native grasses can be restored in an area treated with Tebuthiuron by identifying and ameliorating recruitment limitations such as predation, soil moisture, and temperature. The main objectives of this research project are: 1) measure the effectiveness of different reseeding methods, and 2) create a baseline soil moisture and temperature in different type of soils and vegetation in the Chihuahuan desert. I would one day like to manage for (and persuade others to manage for) quality rangelands on private and/or public properties by implementing a combination of proper hunting recommendations, habitat management, and scientific research.
Gary Leon Mizer
Kelton Mote
M.S. in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management
Graduate Assistant / Thesis M.S. in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management / Quail-Tech Alliance Research Program
Texas Tech University Influence of Agriculture Production and Anthropomorphic Structures on Pronghorn Movements, Survival, and Diet in the Texas Panhandle I was raised on a small farm outside Munday, Texas. Much of my childhood consisted of hunting, trapping, fishing, and a general desire to get my hands on anything that moved. I received my B.S. from Texas Tech University in Natural Resources Management in 2014. After my graduation, I worked on a few projects in Wyoming, working with local government as well as the state department again. I’ve worked with endangered species such as Black-Footed Ferret, Preble’s Meadow Jumping Mouse, and the charismatic Grizzly Bear. My current research project focuses on how pronghorn movements, survival, and diet are affected by agriculture. We have animals collared in two study sites in the Panhandle which record a GPS location every two hours. We are using these data points to determine how roads, fence lines, and other barriers can alter movements. I have also been collecting monthly fecal samples two determine how crops influence diets.
Texas Tech University Effects of Predator Reduction on Northern Bobwhite Nest Success and Chick Survival in the Rolling Plains of Texas I recently graduated from Tarleton State University and began my fieldwork as a master’s student in January at Texas Tech. Growing up the son of a wildlife biologist provided me with opportunities to experience wildlife conservation up close from a young age. While most of these opportunities were through hunting and fishing, sometimes they came as glimpses of wildlife research. My research is being conducted at the 6666 Ranch in Guthrie, Texas. Our goal is to determine if the reduction of mammalian nest predators has an effect on northern bobwhite nest success and/or chick survival. To accomplish this goal, we are trapping and removing meso-mammals and monitoring nest success and chick survival with the use of radio telemetry. By equipping hens with VHF necklacestyle transmitters we are able to monitor their movements and locate nests. Chick survival is monitored by equipping 9 to 12-day old chicks with miniature VHF transmitters. This project is one facet of a large-scale quail research and education program being initiated in the Rolling Plains of Texas.
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 53
2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Howell A. Pugh
Kelly Redmond
Alec Ritzell
Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management
Graduate Research Assistant studying Range and Wildlife Management
Graduate Research Assistant/ Master of Science in Wildlife Management/Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Sul Ross State University Movement and Habitat Use of Translocated Pronghorn in Trans-Pecos, Texas I grew up in the Cross Timbers region of North Texas. Some of my favorite memories are from those days that I spent exploring the surrounding countryside searching out all the hidden wildlife. I did not discover that you could make wildlife a career until late in life when I was transitioning from the Army back to civilian life. After the Army, my family and I moved to San Marcos, Texas to attend Texas State University where I received my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology. I currently working towards a Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management while working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on the pronghorn restoration project in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas. Movement data for pronghorn translocated in the years 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018 were collected using GPS and satellite enabled collars. I will be using this data to determine the home range and habitat use of translocated pronghorn in Trans-Pecos, Texas. This data will directly help Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and landowners make sound management decisions about the future of pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos region.
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Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville Effects of plant-community structure and red imported fire ants on gamebirds in the coastal prairie of Texas I’m from Brookfield, Wisconsin, and knew I was interested in ecology from an early age. After earning a degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and moving around working different wildlife jobs, I discovered my passion for game birds and management-based research. I am now working on a master’s degree project looking at the effect of plant-community structure and fire ants on bobwhites and Attwater’s prairie-chickens in the Texas Coastal Prairie. Specifically our objectives are to 1) Determine the impact of red imported fire ant density on nest success, adult survival and brood survival for bobwhites and Attwater’s, 2) Determine the effectiveness of using an aerially applied insecticide to reduce fire ant densities and how insecticide treatment effects individual bobwhites and bobwhite densities, and 3) Quantify the amounts of grass, forb, woody cover selected by bobwhites and Attwater’s at the point-of-use scale. I am so grateful for the Dan L. Duncan scholarship which allows me to continue my education and make a positive contribution to the wildlife field all while doing what I love.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Precipitation and Management as Drivers of Northern Bobwhite Populations My name is Alec Ritzell and I was raised in Katy, Texas. During my formative years, I enjoyed hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities that motivated me to pursue a career in conservation. I completed a Bachelor’s of Science in wildlife management at Sul Ross State University in May 2017, and I started my master’s at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in August 2017. For my master’s research, I am investigating the relative influence of precipitation and management on northern bobwhite density and population variability. I will be conducting helicopter surveys in the Rio Grande Plains (December 2017 and 2018) and Rolling Plains ( January 2018 and 2019) of Texas to determine quail density on 10 study sites. These surveys will complement a 2014–2016 quail density dataset collected by the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. I also will quantify the intensity of management in each study area via land owner questionnaires. Properties that conduct effective management practices as determined by literature will receive the highest point score for management intensity. My hypothesis is that on sites with greater management intensity, bobwhite populations will be higher and less variable from year-to-year.
Cody Rodgers
Gael Sanchez
Wildlife, Sustainability and Ecosystem Sciences
Graduate Assistant/ Wildlife Science
Master’s in Wildlife Ecology
Tarleton State University
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Texas State University
My name is Cody Rodgers and I am a senior in Wildlife Science at Tarleton State University. I am in my final semester as an undergrad, as a prepare to graduate in December. I was born and raised in the Texas Hill Country with an adventurous spirit geared for the outdoors. I spent the majority of my boyhood hunting, fishing and camping. I achieved the Eagle Scout Rank in the Boy Scouts of America at the age of 17. After I graduated from high school in 2014, I began the course to achieve my degree at Tarleton State, where I have discovered my true passion for wildlife conservation. This past summer, I worked as a full-time intern at Colorado Bend State Park in San Saba County. The Internship provided me with the opportunity to learn the daily operations and practices of a Texas State Park including natural resource management, search and rescue operations, and law enforcement. Upon graduation, I plan to pursue a career with Texas Parks and Wildlife in the Law Enforcement Division.
Landscape Genetic Analysis of Mule Deer to Guide Management for Chronic Wasting Disease in Texas
Rumen papillae morphology of White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) consuming two different energy diets.
I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and received a degree in Conservation Ecology from New Mexico State University. After two years of seasonal technician jobs around the country, I began a graduate degree in Wildlife Science at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. My project uses genetics to research the potential spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in mule deer throughout west Texas and mutations in the prion protein gene. I have always had a passion for hunting and was able to harvest both a javelina and a white-tailed deer in the past year. Thanks to the Dan L. Duncan Scholarship, I am able to pursue a career in wildlife that will enable me to support conservation in both my job and pastimes.
Sterling Goodin Spilinek
Born and raised in Douglas, Wyoming, I graduated from Whitman College with a degree in biology and thesis on effects of flower cutting on the foraging activity of Chelostoma rapunculi. I played college varsity baseball all four years with a short stint of semi-professional baseball as a left-handed pitcher. I worked seasonal wildlife jobs for three years for state and federal agencies and assisted in a foundation called Forever West, where youth individuals were introduced to hunting. In the Fall of 2017, I enrolled at Texas State University, under Dr. Weckerly. My thesis research is on the white-tailed deer, looking at rumen morphology as a function of nutrient absorption. Deer were collected at the Kerr WMA from research pens, where true age and energy of diet was known. In total, seventy-four deer were culled, and four samples were collected from each rumen. Samples were then quantified by measuring the length, width, and density of papillae, and averaged across the four samples to get an average surface enlargement factor of the rumen. Preliminary results indicate a significant positive correlation between the absorption potential of the rumen and the quality of the diet, as well as more molar wear and rumen weight in deer consuming the lower energy diet.
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2018 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Kristyn Stewart
Amanda M. Veals
Jay VonBank
Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management
Graduate Research Assistant/ Ph.D. in Wildlife Science/ Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Ph.D. Candidate, Wildlife Science, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Texas A&M University - Kingsville
Landscape Ecology of Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) in South Texas
Migration, Movements, and Winter Ecology of Midcontinent Greater White-fronted Geese
Texas A&M University-Kingsville Influence of Juniper on Montezuma Quail Distribution and Habitat Use in the Edwards Plateau of Texas I began my career in wildlife at a very young age, although I did not recognize all the signs pointing me to this profession until my senior year of high school. I was raised in Chatfield, Texas (which you will have to google to find) on what seemed to me as a forty-acre playground. My father taught me to hunt ethically, fish successfully, and appreciate what nature had to offer. My educational journey in wildlife science began at Tarleton State University, where I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in the fall of 2017 and then accepted a master’s position at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. My project is focused on determining the influence of juniper on Montezuma quail site use and distribution in the Edwards Plateau of Texas. Our goal is to fit Montezuma quail with backpack GPS transmitters to track movement throughout the day. After accumulating points used by individual quail, I will collect vegetation data to identify suitable habitat and potential site selection preferences. With this research, I look forward to providing land managers and biologists with a better understanding of specific habitat requirements of Montezuma quail, to aid in the future conservation of this secretive species.
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I earned my masters studying gray foxes and the control of rabies in Arizona. I have spent my career working with controversial carnivores, endangered species, and furbearer species. My Ph.D. focuses on the ocelot in Texas and how roads impact their survival. Wildlife across the globe are faced with landscapes that are becoming more difficult to move through due to habitat loss. Roadways are a major cause of habitat loss and have significant impacts on wildlife populations. The ocelot is an endangered cat in the United States, with less than 80 individuals in southern Texas in and near the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV). The LRGV is one of the most rapidly developing urban areas in the U.S., which means an increase in traffic and number of roads crisscrossing the landscape. More traffic means more possibilities for ocelot-vehicle collisions. I will develop a model to understand what resources ocelots are using and selecting for on the landscape and how roads influence the way ocelots are selecting for these resources. This information can be used to advise on the future placement of road crossings. These crossings aim to decrease ocelot-vehicle collisions and increase movement across the landscape for this endangered species.
I am a Minnesota native who received my Bachelor of Science degree in Aquatic Biology from Bemidji State University in 2013. I completed his Master of Science degree in Biological Sciences in 2015 from Western Illinois University studying invasive plant species in riverine and floodplain wetlands and waterfowl bioenergetics. Currently, I research ecology and movements of greater white-fronted geese. Greater white-fronted geese historically utilized the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast region exclusively during winter, but in recent years have shifted their primary wintering range northward. My research uses advanced GPS tracking devices attached to white-fronted geese to determine if factors such as climate, landscape and habitat changes, and environmental variables affect the movement and wintering distribution of white-fronted geese. Fall and spring migrations are energetically taxing events, and I will describe migration characteristics (such as stopover locations, duration, and timing), and determine if specific breeding populations, migration characteristics, and environmental variables affect winter distribution. Spring migration precedes breeding season, and I will determine if migration characteristics during spring affect the breeding success or failure of white-fronted geese. The implications of this research will address the scientific needs of several organizations and aid in establishing future hunting regulations and conservation efforts.
Ellart “Dutch” Vreugdenhil Graduate Research Assistant, Working for a MS in Wildlife Management
Kaitlyn Williams M.S. Graduate Research Assistant in Range and Wildlife Management Sul Ross State University
Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Scaled Quail as Indicators of Grassland Ecosystem Health in the Chihuahuan Desert, Texas
Quail Habitat Restoration in Areas Dominated by Non-Native Grasses
My name is Kaitlyn Williams and I grew up west of Fort Worth in Aledo, Texas. I graduated from Texas A&M University in 2016. While working as a technician for Project Puffin in Maine, and for Borderlands Research Institute in New Mexico, I decided to further my education by pursuing a Master’s Degree in Range and Wildlife Management. I am currently a second-year Graduate Research Assistant at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. I work for Borderlands Research Institute, and my thesis project explores using scaled quail and other grassland birds as indicators of grassland health in the Chihuahuan Desert. My study compares the abundance of quail and the abundance and diversity of other grassland birds between grazing regimes. Additionally, I explore how shrub density across the landscape affects the abundance of different grassland bird species.
I grew up in the Netherlands and moved to Texas in 2009. Since then I have increased my interest in the outdoors and have decided to take my career that direction. I got my undergraduate degree in forestry at Stephen F. Austin State University. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Wildlife Management at Texas A&M University Kingsville with the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. My Master’s thesis research is on a quail habitat restoration in areas dominated by non-native grasses. In South Texas, non-native grasses have attributed to the long-term quail decline by reducing the amount of habitat available for the birds. We are seeking a way to restore these areas back to quality quail habitat. We are using a combination of repeated disking and herbicide application to rid the area of non-natives. After that, we planted native grasses, forbs, shrubs, and cacti to accommodate all the needs of quail. The vegetation has been monitored since before the restoration started and is still being monitored. If this restoration proves to be successful it could alter the landscape in South Texas and combat the quail decline.
Donal Abraham Woodard, “Abe” Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy, Wildlife Science Texas A&M University - Kingsville Aspects of Hunting on Northern Bobwhite Quail Populations: Temporal and Spatial Analysis My objectives are to (1) test whether a 20 percent harvest rate is sustainable and (2) determine if hunting influences bobwhite distribution and habitat use. Harvest will be conducted on 15,030 acres. Non-hunted control areas are located 12 miles west of the harvest site and comprised of similar size, soils, vegetation, and grazing pressure. The harvest prescription will be by pasture and represent 20 percent of late November abundance. This harvest prescription will be distributed evenly across three designated periods: December, January, and February. Line-transect distance sampling using helicopter surveys will be conducted prior to hunting for estimating bobwhite density (November), once a month during hunting (December, January), and after hunting (March). Hunting-effort data will be collected using GPS units on trucks and hunting dogs, along with demographic data (age and sex ratios) from harvested bobwhites. We will (1) compare variations in abundance estimates between hunted and non-hunted populations and (2) quantify associations between hunting pressure and potential changes in covey distributions as detected by linetransect distance sampling from a helicopter. This research will test the hypothesis that quail harvest is a sustainable element of quail management in South Texas.
Daniel Brown is also a 2018 scholarship recipient.
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866.377.3000 CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ 59
TRIBUTE:
Bill Carter Bill Carter was born in the backwoods of North Carolina, where his hunting career and love for the outdoors began. He served as a USMC Staff Sergeant in the elite fighting unit of Force Recon. After leaving the Marine Corps he moved to Texas with his wife, Ellen, to start his career. Through hard work and his passion for working on guns, it wasn’t long before Carter’s Country was established. Bill quickly became a pioneer
in the gun industry as an advocate for protecting our Second Amendment Rights. Over the years his passion for personal hunting turned to sharing his love of the outdoors and hunting with others. One of Bill’s favorite things was to spend time with hunters and help them fulfill their dreams of a lifetime hunt. Bill Carter was a man of integrity and vision and is a True Texas Legend.
A Giant in the Sporting Goods & Firearms Industry Bill Carter: A Houston Safari Club Foundation Legend Bill was a tremendous supporter of our club and convention since 1972. He was there to support us on our very first auction and never stopped giving. As a dedicated life member, he never said no to the Houston Safari Club Foundation. He donated rifles, pistols and shotguns to every convention
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we had, not to mention the hundreds of knives, coolers, clothing and hunting items received from Carter’s Country over the years. Pictured above is a bronze presented to Bill last year for his persistent and endless support of the Houston Safari Club Foundation.
EMBER
Chenier Plan Sportsmen’s Summit
M
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BY J.D. BURROWS
I
had the honor of participating in the Chenier Plan Sportsmen’s summit along with representatives from Texas Parks & Wildlife, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. The two-day summit was an investigation of the restoration projects designed to harden and diversify the 6.5 million acres of endangered ecological Texas & Louisiana Gulf Coast. After meeting with County Judge, Jeff Branick, the summit participants toured McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge and JD Murphree Wildlife Management Area, where we saw first-hand the flora and fauna of the region and how they are trying to recover from recent hurricanes and salt-water inclusion. Texas Chenier Plain coast is a critical wintering destination for waterfowl and other migratory birds that is part of the largest migratory waterfowl flyway in North America supporting one of the largest public land hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities in the State of Texas. We also learned that, the nation’s largest military embarkation port is the Port of Beaumont, and 75 percent of the nation’s military jet fuel is produced in Jefferson County, and over 50 percent of the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve utilizes the Sabine Neches Waterway. Several projects are underway or planned to restore the region. Six Texas and United States natural resource agencies, Jefferson County’s Engineering Department and Drainage District #6 and Ducks Unlimited formed the Salt Bayou Working Group in 2000 recognizing that the 139,000-acre “Salt Bayou” Chenier Plain marsh in Jefferson County — the largest contiguous coastal marsh in Texas — was severely degrading due to altered hydrology from manmade and natural causes. Funding from the 2012 Federal Restore Act, the Deepwater Horizon Restoration, the State of Texas and other NGO’s is being used to restore the Salt Bayou, and make sure this region is healthy for the long term. The working group resolved to work with Governor Abbott, the Texas GLO, TPWD and other agencies to encourage the completion of the McFaddin Beach restoration, the approval of the Siphon projects, and breakwater installation along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. HSCF was proud to participate, and our support will help get this message to Austin, and help restore our much beloved Texas Gulf Coast. ★ CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 61
The African Trophy Ban Controversy: Leading Conservation through Science, Not Emotion
BY SARA LEONARD POLICY & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION
IN
an increasingly urban world, the public has become more and more detached from nature, and the natural resources that people have traditionally relied upon. Because of this isolation, the concept of conservation is lost and replaced with a misconception that the outdoor world is best left untouched by humans. Of course, this is unrealistic. As a result, some elected officials have found political opportunity in responding to this emotional disconnect with nature by introducing unnecessary and poorly conceived legislation to prove a point about their views on preservation and hunting. The case of the African “Big 5” (elephant, Cape buffalo, lion, white and black rhinoceros, and leopard) trophy ban is a classic example of this misguided approach. Most recently in September, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed Senate Bill 1487 (the Iconic African Species Protection Act), which would have banned the importation of 11 African species, many of which are legal to hunt, into the state. Legal, regulated hunting of African species has proven to be a successful tool for management and recovery; and this bill would have done nothing to stop poaching or illegal hunting — it would have merely tried to prove a point that some Californians do not approve of hunting. Prior to the veto, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) joined a coalition of sportsmen’s conservation groups in opposing SB 1487 in the California Legislature. This outreach highlighted that revenue generated by licensed, regulated safari hunting is the single most important source of funding for conservation and anti-poaching efforts in Africa. In many Southern and Eastern African countries, revenues generated from licensed, regulated hunting are the primary source of management, conservation, and anti-poaching funds for national wildlife authorities. These hunting programs have been designed by experts to allow a limited, sustainable take, and to generate funds for conservation, anti-poaching, and community incentives. A similar case was presented in May 2016, when New 62 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Jersey Governor Chris Christie issued a constitutional veto on Senate Bills 977 and 978, which would have prohibited the import, export, sale, possession, and transport of “Big 5” African species (including parts and taxidermy). While the veto allowed for transport, import, and export of animal parts, it still prohibited keeping those trophies in the state. Conservation Force, a pro-hunting conservation legal services organization, sued the state of New Jersey, successfully arguing that the ban was preempted by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which voids any state law or regulation that applies to importation and exportation, domestic or foreign, outside of ESA ruling. The legal arguments put forward in the New Jersey case also proved to be important in requesting a veto of SB 1487 in California as it was clear that signing the bill into law would likely put the state in the position of defending itself against unwinnable lawsuits. Wildlife management should be guided by science — not emotion. This principle has been too central to the successful recovery and conservation of numerous species, and should not be abandoned in favor of knee-jerk emotional responses. State fish and wildlife agencies are the entities best-equipped to manage wildlife in the United States through the use of science (and yes, hunting), and African countries should be afforded the same opportunity to manage their wildlife in keeping with the needs of their communities and unique conservation challenges. Ultimately, sportsmen are the world’s true conservationists, not only in terms of the dedicated funds that come directly from hunting pursuits for conservation efforts, but also in terms of their real connection to nature. Hunters are passionate about the great outdoors and see first-hand the effects of what they do for conservation everyday while watching wildlife thrive in their habitats. CSF will continue to work with true conservation-minded legislators and other partners on preventing emotionally-driven anti-conservation hunting bills from advancing. For more information on trophy importation bans, visit: www.congressionalsportsmen.org/policies/state/ big-5-trophy-importation-bans ★
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South America Field Report
By Matt Napiltonia
Former Navy SEAL and Medical Services Officer, Operations Manager, Medical Operations, Global Rescue LLC
Global Rescue’s medical, security, and intelligence teams of critical care paramedics, physicians and special operations veterans routinely perform boots-on-the-ground assessments of destinations important to our traveling members. Comprehensive in-country reconnaissance and ongoing intelligence reporting are just a few of the reasons why serious travelers trust Global Rescue. 64 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Above: Mendoza, Argentina
SECURITY / AVIATION / MEDICAL AWARENESS FOR OUR TRAVELERS TO SOUTH AMERICA
MANAUS, BRAZIL Medical — Global Rescue recently made site visits to several hospitals in the Manaus region. While medical care is lacking in the jungle areas, the hospitals within Manaus City are of a high standard, fully equipped and capable to diagnose and treat a wide range of complex medical problems. Manaus acts as the regional medical center for the entire Brazilian Amazon region. Members traveling into the jungle areas should ensure that their group has access to a first aid kit and basic medical supplies. Aviation — There are numerous aviation providers that support Amazon fly fishing adventures and local tourism. Global Rescue has numerous assets under contract and our recent site visit reinforced the quality of maintenance and professionalism of these aviation outfits. Fly fishers travel deep into the Amazon, requiring multifaceted rescue operations consisting of extractions by boat to unimproved jungle airstrips. In the alternative, some terrain allows for float planes to land near lodges where members can be medically evacuated to Manaus for higher level care. Manaus International Airport-Eduardo Gomes is the major international airport in Northern Brazil, located in the city of Manaus and the busiest in the number of international passengers in this region. In cargo transport, it is the third-busiest in Brazil, behind only the airports of Guarulhos and Viracopos. The airport supports local tourism with many, affordable transport options to downtown Manaus. Security — Petty crime is rife in Brazil, especially in large cities. Murders, burglaries, and carjackings are not uncommon. Favelas, or shanty-towns, have higher levels of drugrelated violence, theft, and muggings. In the Amazon, and especially near the border with Colombia, the FARC have conducted kidnappings. The tri-border area in western Paraná State is known for the activities of smugglers of illicit goods. Many international organized crime syndicates conduct illicit drug and prostitution operations in Brazil. These groups account for much of the violent crime in Brazil, especially in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Guayaquil, Ecuador
Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
ARGENTINA Medical — Global Rescue visited hospitals and clinics in areas ranging from Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Mendoza and the Patagonia Region. All major cities are equipped with Western standard facilities. While the regional hospitals are small, they are equipped to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions. Should a member require transport from a regional facility, there are several world class facilities situated in Buenos Aires.
Aviation — There are numerous aviation providers that support adventure tourism throughout Argentina. On a recent South American asset development trip, Global Rescue secured the use of more than 125 different aeromedevac fixed and rotary wing aircraft in the region. Global Rescue’s air providers can operate in remote areas of Argentina to include the Patagonia parks. Security — The threat from terrorism is low. Civil unrest is common and tends to cause only traffic disruptions. Demonstrations CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 65
Manaus, Brazil
Santiago, Chile
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Quito, Ecuador
and strikes do not often devolve into violence but may disrupt road travel and public transit. However, crime is a concern, particularly in Buenos Aires and other major cities. The majority of crimes reported by foreign visitors are thefts or non-violent robberies, especially in tourist locations and while using public transportation.
to anarchist groups. Though crime is a concern, the country has a reliable police force. Demonstrations and strikes are common, and some of these events have turned violent in the past. Minefields are found in parts of the country. While most are marked, mines and signs may shift for various environmental reasons.
CHILE
ECUADOR AND THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Medical — Global Rescue visited hospitals in Santiago and Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas acts as the initial evacuation destination for the Falkland Islands and Antarctica and as such is well equipped with several high standard facilities. From all regions of Chile, members can be transported to Santiago where several World class facilities are located. Aviation — There are numerous fixed and rotary wing aviation providers that support adventure tourism throughout Chile. Global Rescue’s aeromedevac air providers can operate in remote areas of Chile to include the Patagonia parks. Security — There is a low threat of international terrorist activity in Chile. However, there remains a risk of domestic terrorist activity and small-scale bombings attributed
Medical — Ecuador has invested heavily in its health care system since 2014. Facilities visited by the Global Rescue team were predominantly of a high standard. Hospitals in Quito and Guayaquil are of a high standard, fully equipped and capable to diagnose and treat a wide range of complex medical problems. Hospitals are limited on the Galapagos Islands and serious cases would be initially moved to Guayaquil, where several Western standard facilities are situated. The capital city, Quito, is also well equipped with medical facilities. Aviation — Aviation assets in support of tourism are modern and well maintained, but limited in number. Currently, there is only one reputable commercial air ambulance provider operating inside the country, so availability can be limited. Aircraft used in
support of extraction operations are located in Quito, but support medical evacuation operations throughout Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Global Rescue’s Asset Development Team recently spent a week in the Galapagos opening up new aeromedical fixed and rotary wing air assets. Additionally, the Team identified new naval assets that will provide another level of medevac coverage for our Members. The airports in Ecuador are capable of handling jet aeromedevac aircraft. The airports in the Galapagos are small, but capable of supporting some fixed-wing aeromedevac aircraft. Injured and sick Members will be medically evacuated back the mainland for comprehensive medical treatment when needed. Security — Ecuador is a hotspot for both petty and violent crimes, including sexual assault and homicide. It is also plagued by political instability, which sometimes manifests itself in riots and demonstrations. While there are no international or regional terrorist outfits operating within the country, the Colombia-based Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) terrorist organization has been active along the countries’ shared border since 2012 and there is a potential of violence spilling over into Ecuador. ★ CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 67
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Nothing like glassing in elk country
70 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
TWO OF THE
World’s Greatest Hunts Elk In New Mexico, Elephant In Africa, Expert Guides Make For Fun & Intense Excursions BY TIM HERALD
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Above: The shot in the thick stuff | Below: The author and PH Pieter DeLange with a great own use bull
72 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
I AM TRULY BLESSED
to be able to make my living as an outdoor writer, television host and consultant for Worldwide Trophy Adventures. In these capacities, I have had the opportunity to travel the world in search of the best hunting destinations and experiences and meet thousands of like-minded hunters. The question I am asked the most is without a doubt, “What is your favorite hunt?” That is a tough one as so many hunting experiences are unique when considering the location, hunting method, the animal being pursued, season and climate, etc. I have narrowed my absolute favorites down to two. I always answer that my favorite North American hunt is elk during the bugle, and my favorite international hunt is elephant by tracking. These hunts are very different, but they both stand out for a number of reasons that catapult them to the top of my list. Hunting bugling elk is just plain fun. It can get intense at times, but the fun factor of pursuing vocal bulls is off the charts, in my opinion. You generally hunt elk in beautiful country, and with the rut being in September and early October in most places, the weather is generally pleasant. After enduring warm summers, the onset of cooler temperatures and fall is a welcome change. I like the fact that elk hunting is generally a physical hunt where you move with the animals trying to get yourself into the right position for a shot, and you aren’t just sitting and waiting (unless you take up a stand at a waterhole). Glassing can be an important tool while locating, judging and deciding how to move on elk, and sitting across a canyon watching a big bull corral up his harem of cows through my Swarovski spotting scope trying to figure out how to get in close is always a fun puzzle to try to solve. My favorite part of elk hunting is the interaction with the animals through calling. I love being able to get a bull to bugle, moving to the right position, and trying to lure him into range by talking back and forth to him. With a bow you really need to get the bulls to commit and come all the way into close range for a quality shot. With a rifle or muzzleloader, as long as you can keep a bull talking and keep the wind in your favor, you can usually move on him to a point where you can get a shot depending on terrain. On a recent hunt, I was hunting in western New Mexico with my friends at Black
Precious protein for the locals provided by hunting
Mountain Outfitters one of the country’s best elk and mule deer operations. I had a rut rifle tag, and the bulls were bugling some, but the peak of rut had not hit yet. It was warm and we only had an hour or so in the morning and one to two hours in the afternoons when the bulls were vocal. For a couple of days we chased a huge 370 class bull around, but he always seemed to be across the property line during legal shooting hours. One afternoon my guide Hunter Dane and I were on a high lookout glassing a huge brushy flat that elk were using regularly when I spotted some cows moving below us at about 500 yards. Most of the elk we had been seeing were between half a mile and a mile away, so the cows were a surprise. A few minutes later, I saw a nice 6x6 bull step through an opening following the ladies, and I got Hunter’s attention and showed him the bull. He wasn’t the 370 we were after, but he was a beautiful mature bull, and on the third afternoon of a five-day hunt, I told Hunter that we should make a play for him. We piled off our perch, and within minutes we were in the thick brush where we had last seen the elk. Hunter made a few cow calls, and the bull screamed back from about 100 yards. We decided to move to an opening and see if we could call him out for a clean shot, but as soon as we moved, we bumped a cow that tore off through the brush after alarm barking. We rushed up to the opening to see if we could spot the elk running off, and sure enough, about 200 yards out, the cows dashed across. I got my rifle on shooting sticks, and when the bull trotted out
QUALITY ELK SETUP I have never been a long-range shooter, mainly because I am not a very good long-range marksman. That is all changing with great products. I recently got a Ruger .300 Win FTW model and topped it with a 5x20x50 Trijicon Accupoint scope with a turret, and this has really extended my effective shooting range compared to my more traditional setups. I developed a load that the rifle loves using a 165- grain Cutting Edge Bullets (CEB) Lazer that has three large petals that sheer off to cause trauma after about 2 inches of penetration, while the copper back end remains intact for incredible penetration, and I am super confident at over 500 yards. When I get a reading from my Swarovski EL Range (rangefinding binocular), I simply dial the yardage in on my turret, aim and fire. As long as I know the range and do my job of staying steady, the rifle, scope and bullet will do their parts, and this setup has made even me into a pretty decent shot way outside of my old comfort zone. I have two upcoming elk hunt that the outfitters told me might require some long shooting, and I know this setup is going to pay off big time when I get a shot in the mountains. The confidence I have in the Ruger/Trijicon/CEB combination at longer ranges is something I never thought I would have.
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Delivering meat to the locals is a highlight
following the cows, Hunter hit him with a long pleading cow call, and he locked up and looked straight at us. I quickly put the crosshairs on his shoulder, squeezed the trigger, and shot right over his back! I rushed the shot and blew my opportunity. The next morning we were back in the same general area on some bugling bulls, but they beat us again. On the walk back to the truck we heard a bugle, cut the distance, and Hunter began an elk conversation with the bull. I eased ahead trying to stalk the vocal elk, but eventually, I came to a large meadow and the bull sounded like he was just across it barely in the timber. I felt he was bedded, so I backed out. I told Hunter I had him located pretty well, and we should come back in the afternoon and try to get him in the meadow. So at 3:30 we were sitting under a cedar waiting and discussing our game plan when the bull bugled from the same spot. I told Hunter I could get us closer and the wind was perfect, so we moved up a couple of hundred yards and set up. Hunter gave a few cow calls and a highpitched bugle imitating a young bull, and that really got the big boy fired up. Within minute cows began filtering out into the meadow, and behind them we could see a bull coming through the trees. When he stepped out, Hunter said, “don’t shoot, he has one antler broken off at the base.” About then a deep bugle erupted from
Sharing elephant meat at a local village 74 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
deeper in the timber, so Hunter called some more. The one antlered bull moved into the meadow, and about 30 seconds later, a much better bull trotted out pushing a cow and calf. Hunter stopped him with a loud cow call, and I took a my time, lined up the crosshair on my Trijicon 5x20 Accupoint scope, and squeezed the trigger. The bull jumped straight in the air and took off. I knew I had hit him with my 165-grain CEB Lazer, but at over 300 yards, I wasn’t sure where. We gave it a few minutes but then hustled over to track him before dark. It didn’t take long and we were standing over a beautiful New Mexico monarch, and it just so happened it was the same bull I had missed the evening before. Tom McReynolds and
Beautiful elk country
his Black Mountain Outfitters crew certainly know their elk hunting! I don’t know that you can have much more pure fun than on a bugling elk hunt like that, but tracking elephants is a completely different experience that ranks just as high for me as far as favorite hunts. I love hunting Africa, so that is the first plus for elephant hunts. It is generally a very physical hunt where you will put miles and miles on a good pair of boots while tracking elephants looking for the right one. Watching trackers work is one of the real treats of elephant hunting. Some of the guys I have hunted with are simply amazing, and the tracking and walking until
you are up close makes elephant hunting the purest form of hunting there is to me. You don’t have to shoot to have a great day elephant hunting, and being able to track elephants, get on close, observe them and walk away is a great thrill. Any time you get within 50 yards of elephants on foot, it is intense, and I feel fortunate whenever I can share space up close with these incredible beasts. Elephants are dangerous, maybe the most dangerous animals that we can hunt, so where I think of elk encounters as FUN, I think of elephant encounters as INTENSE and often scary. The fact that these huge animals can effortlessly
knock trees and brush down, cover short distances as frighteningly fast speed and smash a human body into an unrecognizable mess effortlessly certainly heightens the senses and produces an adrenaline rush every time you get close. I had a great elephant hunt last August with Pieter Delange of ChapunguKambako Safaris. I had an “own use” elephant bull tag in the Caprivi of Namibia, which means that the community gets all the proceeds and the meat and skin of the elephant. It is to be a mature bull, but not a bull carrying trophy ivory. What Pieter and I were looking for was an old bull with genetically inferior tusks, CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 75
Above: Early into a 25KM trek | Left: The author’s fine NM bull elk
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Herald and guide Hunter Dane enjoying success
or one with a broken tusk. Early in the hunt we were into elephants and even some bulls that would have been legal, but Pieter felt like they had the potential to grow into trophy class bulls, so we passed. It was great being into herds and watching them feed on trees and interact with each other. One morning we got on tracks of a small group of bulls, and one of the tracks showed lots of wear, and we felt like it was an old bull. Before 7 a.m. we were walking on tracks, and an hour later the tracks and dung appeared very fresh. I expected to spot the bulls at any moment, but four hours later when they led us into a very dense thicket, I was starting to doubt that we would ever catch up to them. Then it happened. We heard them crash off as the very slight mid-day breeze shifted, and they got our scent. This scenario played out a couple more times, so the bulls knew we were after them, and my hopes dwindled in the 95-degree heat. We had walked 25 kilometers with never more than a five-minute water break, and we were all hot and tired. Pieter suggested we lie down in the shade for about 30 minutes and give the bulls time to calm down. When we got back on the tracks, we didn’t walk a kilometer when one of the trackers locked up and pointed ahead.
Through the dense brush, we could see a huge ear fanning in the shade under a large acacia tree. Pieter and I moved up to about 50 yards and glassed the bulls, and to our astonishment, the closest elephant had one tusk that was in the mid-30pound range, and the other was broken off. He was an old bull and just what we were looking for. After getting approval from our game scout, Pieter and I moved in for the shot. The last few yards we literally had to crawl about five yards under some branches and, let me tell you, being on your hands and knees inside of 20 yards of three bull elephants is beyond nerve-racking. At a mere 16 paces, Pieter and I were crouched down and discussed the shot. It was a side brain angle, and we agreed if I didn’t drop the bull, he would back me up with a heart-lung shot. Seemingly in one motion, we came to our feet, I brought my Verney-Carron .470 NE double to my shoulder, and sent a 500-grain Cutting Edge Bullets solid to its mark just in front of the ear hole. The bull’s trunk went straight up as his rear end crumbled, and it was all over quickly and very humanely. After paying much deserved homage to such a majestic old animal, we began the process of butchering and delivering the tons of precious meat to the local villages.
This is another wonderful aspect of elephant hunting. When you see how needy the locals are for protein and how much they appreciate the meat provided from an elephant hunt, you see firsthand how hunting does great things for the people of Africa. All hunters are different, and some would rather sit in a treestand for days on end waiting on that elusive buck of their dreams while others love nothing more than challenging themselves physically and mentally on sheep hunts in the roughest country to be found. I have shared that I prefer elk and elephant hunting above all others, and there is no wrong favorite hunt. To each their own, and as long as we are out there hunting and supporting each other, they are all great experiences to be cherished and revered. I hope that you get to go on your favorite type of hunt this year, as I will when I share an elephant hunt in Zimbabwe with two very close friends. I wish you the best of luck… ★ Tim Herald is an owner and hunt consultant at Worldwide Trophy Adventures (www. worldwidetrophyadventures.com. To book a quality elk or elephant hunt, or any other type of hunt worldwide, you can contact him directly at tim@trophyadventures.com. CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 77
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78 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
7 year-old Joey at full draw during a local 3D archery shoot
80 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
Kory Syle and his son on a hiking trip to check on a few tree stands prior to Pennsylvania’s rifle season
HUNTING With Your KIDS An Early Start, Planning, Patience And Respect Lead To A Lifetime Family Tradition
I
BY KORY SYLE
distinctly remember going squirrel hunting for the first time with my Dad when I was 12 years old. It was on a cool evening during Pennsylvania’s archery season, and the chances of my Dad seeing a buck were high. But he didn’t mind that I had my 20 gauge with me while he was archery hunting, knowing full well that I would see a squirrel, scaring away any chance of him seeing a buck. I remember taking two gray and one red squirrel that evening; the memories are still fresh in my mind. But that memorable evening with my Dad in the woods wouldn’t have happened if he wasn’t willing to allow me to have fun as a young hunter. That year my Dad archery hunted much less than usual; we took to the fields and fencerows with our shotguns and a rabbit dog. Sometimes we, as hunters, are too serious and focus too much on getting that buck that we’ve been watching on the trail cameras. Instead, we need to give
children the chance to have fun while hunting. This is important if we want them to continue on their journey and grow as hunters and to reverse the trend of declining hunter numbers. In the last edition of Hunter’s Horn, I talked about why it is so important to take children hunting. But it is equally important how you introduce children to hunting. A miserable experience can easily lead to the untimely end of an emerging hunting career for a child. My experiences are with taking my own kids hunting; they are young and my perspective reflects that much. But many of these tactics can work for older children as well.
START AS SOON AND AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN
The more you are able to involve the young hunters in all aspects of hunting the better. I try to include my kids in as much as possible so they get the full experience. It doesn’t have to
and shouldn’t just be the sitting still and quiet part of the hunting equation. I have taken my kids on scouting trips before they were old enough to walk. They have helped check on and set up tree stands and trail cameras. They have been to the rifle range with me to take part in the yearly sighting-in process before the rifle season opener. We enjoy going to 3D archery shoots together in preparation for the archery season. We have gone on short hunts for both big and small game, some successful, some not so much. They have helped me butcher and process animals after a successful hunt. And they enjoy helping me cook the wild game. All of these build upon each other, creating a strong foundation for a growing hunter. This foundation is important in order to create a successful and respectful lifelong hunter. Involving them in the entire process, from preparing for the hunt to the actual hunt, and especially after the shot, gives them a sense of ownership, involvement, and contribution. My daughter’s eyes will light up when I tell her I got a doe from the tree stand she helped me put up. My son, who is a notoriously picky eater, will devour his meal when I tell him it’s from the venison we cut up and put through the meat grinder together. No matter how small or trivial it seems, involve them in every step of the process. While scouting with my kids, we have experienced many different wonders that nature has to offer. My daughter was about a year old, riding in a hiking backpack, when we stumbled upon a young black bear. Riding in that same backpack, my son and I watched a small whitetail four-point trying to figure out what we were while we quietly made our way to check on a few tree stands. Together we have flushed grouse, had squirrels bark at us from tree limbs, found where predators were successful, gathered turkey feathers, and have come across all manner of animal tracks. Each one of these outings they have learned something; it has added to their sense of wonder for the natural world and builds their love for all things wild. You might not be able to cover the area you want to when they are scouting with you, but the bonds you create and strengthen with them are much more important.
PLANNING FOR A CHILD FRIENDLY HUNT
There are many elements to consider when planning to take a child hunting for the first time. What wild game to pursue, where to go, and how to prepare are aspects that need to be carefully considered and determined. When taking children hunting, you have to keep your expectations in check and, above all else, have the patience to avoid getting frustrated. You are taking your children hunting to help the experience the wild and not just for your own benefit. Small game is the perfect opportunity to introduce children to hunting. In my area, that means squirrel hunting. Game is abundant and opportunities can happen often. The first hunt I took my kids on was a morning squirrel hunt in the forests surrounding our home in northwest Pennsylvania. With squirrel hunting, being still and quiet is not as important as other types of hunting. The ability to be up and moving while searching the treetops for bushy tails will keep children active, attentive, and focused on the hunt. It is important to prepare the night before the hunt. Know what the weather is supposed to be for the next day’s hunt and have the appropriate clothes for the situation laid out and ready. Know your child’s limitations as well. I know my daughter doesn’t mind the cold if she’s dressed well. She can handle a little bit of rain if it’s relatively warm. But, if it’s cold and rainy, I know it’s best to stay home and plan for another time. Nothing makes a child feel worse than being cold, wet, and bored. Dress them in layers and be sure 82 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
While out scouting Kory and his daughter found where a predator was successful
to have hats, gloves, and boots that fit well. Having a complete camouflage outfit shouldn’t be the top priority. They need to be warm and comfortable first and foremost and remember to bring their orange hat and vest. Snacks and hunting go hand in hand. To this day I still enjoy a Snickers bar in the tree stand, hardened by the cold of the morning. When taking children hunting, bring plenty of snacks. Have the snacks ready the night before and take them out of the noisy wrappers they often are packaged in to cut down on the noise while in the woods. Snacks will stave off boredom and have the ability to improve the sour mood of a restless child. Location! Location! Location! An appropriate hunting location is a crucial element when hunting with children. The best spot, with the most opportunities, might be two miles into the woods, on the other side of the river, and on top of that hillside. But, that is not an ideal situation when going with a young hunter. Pick a location that is a relatively short walk in and easy to get to so more time is actually spent hunting. Crossing streams and climbing mountains are better left when your child is older and can handle those obstacles.
Far left: Kory’s kids helping look for sheds in late winter Left: Kory’s son glassing a cut cornfield from their hunting blind during Pennsylvania’s archery season Below: Kory’s daughter taking aim with a .22 caliber rifle
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Kory’s daughter tired out from a scouting trip
Hunting is a communal activity and being able to share a hunt with close friends helps create lasting memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Each year, we plan a group squirrel hunt with several friends and their children, who are similar in age to my kids. After the hunt, we always have a big meal where the parents can sit and talk, and the kids are able to play together. It’s a weekend that everyone enjoys and looks forward to each year. Planning a hunt with friends and family is a great way to involve your children in hunting. It is a tradition that your child will love and anticipate each year.
THE HUNT
Each child is going to react differently, so be prepared for an emotional response, especially if it’s the child’s first harvest. It is important to be understanding of their emotions, shaming them will only have negative consequences.
Before stepping foot in the woods, safety must be emphasized. If the child is carrying the rifle or shotgun, go over the four main rules of firearms safety; treat the gun as if it’s always loaded, never point it at anything you do not intend to shoot, keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot, and be sure of your target and what’s beyond it. Make them repeat it and say they understand to ensure that the importance of these rules have been fully absorbed and understood. Lead by example, not only for firearm safety but for hunting ethics in general as well. Show your child that hunters are stewards of the land and wildlife. Hunters never take more than what is responsible, hunters respect landowners and their property, and hunters always respect the harvested animal. Be the best example you know how to be. There will come a time when your child is done, ready to go home and could not care less about hunting at that moment. This seems to almost always come at the worst possible time. This is a pivotal moment for both you and the child, a moment that requires an immense amount of patience and understanding. You will fight every instinct in your body so that you can continue 84 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
hunting. However, it is better to give up on one day of hunting than to push your child to a point where they don’t enjoy hunting. Instead, use this time to go for a hike or collect leaves, and spend time with them. Earlier this fall, I took my son archery hunting with me on a neighboring farm. We made the walk back to the edge of the field, set up our ground blind, and settled in for the evening. Once my son was done with his snacks, he was ready to go. He saw the tractors working near the barn and no longer had any interest in hunting at that moment; he wanted to check out those tractors. Begrudgingly, I repacked our gear and we headed back to check out the tractors. He still had fun and it was a learning experience for both of us. We’ll stick to squirrel hunting together for now.
AFTER THE SHOT
My daughter and I have gone squirrel hunting together for the last several seasons, and she has witnessed me shoot and kill multiple squirrels. Her reactions are similar each time — happy that we were successful on our hunt. However, each child is going to react differently, so be prepared for an emotional response, especially if it’s the child’s first harvest. It is important to be understanding of their emotions, shaming them will only have negative consequences. They are allowed to feel sadness at this moment. Use this moment for a time of reflection and gratitude. Use this moment to explain why we hunt. We hunt to feed our family, to spend time in the outdoors together, and to contribute to conservation. Use this moment to emphasize the importance of respecting the harvested animal by fully utilizing it. Field dressing an animal is an opportunity to teach your child about the animal that was harvested. Not only how to do the act of field dressing, but the anatomy of the animal. Children are full
Above: Kory’s daughter running the meat grinder venison in their kitchen Below: Kory and his son processing venison together in their kitchen
Kory and his son admiring the fruits of their labor
of questions, satisfy their curiosity and involve them in the entire process. From field dressing to preparing that first meal of fresh wild game, celebrate the hunt and the animal with your children. There will be times that are extraordinarily frustrating, where you ask yourself is it really worth the trouble. The short and simple answer is; absolutely. When you find yourself overwhelmed and exasperated just take a step back, remind yourself why you are doing this and don’t be so serious. Getting that big buck or limit of cottontails is not worth jeopardizing your relationship with your child and their experiences with hunting. Going hunting is more than just shooting a deer, it’s an experience that should be shared with our children. It is how we can continue our traditions, share our love for the wild, and forge our bonds with our children. The memories made with our children while hunting will be permanently etched in our minds and theirs. These memories will be shared around campfires, kitchen tables, and hunting camps for years to come. You won’t realize it at the time, but the days hunting with your kids will be the good ol’ days to be remembered with fond nostalgia. Some hunters spend a lifetime looking for a hunting buddy; if the time and care is taken you can raise yours. ★ CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 85
86 HUNTER'S HORNâ„¢ CONVENTION 2019
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HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION
Save the date
MARCH 22-24, 2019
To all HSCF members: It’s time to start planning our much anticipated weekend at the historic Y.O. Ranch Headquarters. Byron and Sandra have toured the world and know what it takes to have a top notch corporate retreat and hunting ranch. They each enjoy a challenge and are looking forward to continuing the Y.O. Ranch legacy and true Texas hospitality.
Details to follow at a later date. Contact Tommy Morrison at 281-452-6223 or Anna Morrison at 713-899-8488 if you have any questions. CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 87
Intro to Firearms
How BOW Brings Women To Hunting A Very Special Program Celebrates 25 Years In Texas
G
BY HEIDI RAO
lancing around the campfire more often than not, you see more males than females sharing each other’s company and love of the outdoors. Why? There are a variety of barriers, both real and perceived, that prevent women from participating in outdoor recreation. A lot of women may have been raised feeling it is not their “place” in the outdoors. Many women were raised with brothers, who earned the right to wet a fishing line or clamber into a tree stand with Dad or Grandpa, while the women stayed at home doing other “girl” activities and chores. As young children, boys were given sleeping bags and BB guns while the girls typically were spoiled with baby dolls and toy strollers. Bottom line is most of these women were not given an opportunity to learn outdoor skills as girls or young adults. The “Becoming an Outdoors-Woman” (BOW) program is changing that.
88 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Above: Kayak Basics | Below left: Stand Up Paddleboard | Below right: Intro to Horses
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Top Left: Flyfishing Basics | Top Right: Mountain Biking | Below: Shotgun Basics
It all began in 1991 when Doctor Christine L. Thomas, Professor of Resource Management, University of WisconsinStevens Point, offered a workshop. She offered a workshop that focused on providing opportunities for women to learn skills that enhanced and encouraged participation in hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities at an introductory level. This workshop was designed for women 18 years of age or older to participate. The BOW workshop focuses on learning outdoor skills — skills usually associated with hunting and fishing, but useful for many other outdoor pursuits. BOW was designed to break down barriers women have or believe they have, to participate in a variety of outdoor activities. BOW provides an atmosphere where women feel comfortable learning new skills in a supportive and non-threatening environment. The concept of BOW was so powerful that women signed up in record numbers. They traveled across the state to meet other like-minded women who also attended BOW workshops so they too could to learn outdoor skills. These ladies soon discovered they were surrounded by others who shared the same desire to learn. After successful completion of this threeday workshop, another was soon offered then another, and another, and so on until almost all of North America and even a few other places around the globe, have developed this inspiring program. Today, we proudly tell the success story of BOW. Twenty-eighteen marks 25 years of BOW here in Texas. We are kicking off a year-long celebration during our BOW workshops. In Texas, we offer one spring BOW and one fall BOW workshop. The location is determined based 90 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
on accommodations, staffing, facilities, and so on. Ideally, we find a location able to host anywhere from 125 to 175 participants and instructors. In addition, BOW offers a balance of sessions participants can sign up for. A third of the classes are focused on hunting (introduction to hunting, introduction to bowhunting, wildlife management 101, etc.), and shooting (shotgun basics, rifle and handgun, introduction to bowfishing, archery, etc.); a third are water-based including kayaking, Stand Up Paddling, fishing basics, fly fishing, and fly tying; and a third are outdoor skills such as land navigation, geocaching, outdoor survival, mountain biking, outdoor cooking,
plant identification, and astronomy — just to name a few. BOW classes are taught by highly motivated, knowledgeable and dedicated volunteers. These volunteer instructors take time from their busy work and personal schedules to attend BOW and share their wealth of knowledge and skills to attendees. Even though BOW has a supply of equipment for instructors to use, these volunteers collect their own equipment and often haul their own trailers to workshops twice per year. The list goes on and on. BOW has been offered from the Texas Panhandle to the Valley, from desert to coast. Volunteers have eagerly and without
Rifle Shooting
hesitation traveled across the state to teach the classes that they take so much pride in having developed. It is rare for an instructor to decline an invitation to teach, as a matter of fact, there is a long waiting list of volunteers ready to step in at a moment’s notice when needed. Each BOW participant has an amazing story to tell. This program perpetuates through these life-changing experiences and reminds all of us why we continue to come back year after year to stay involved with the program. One of our “repeat offenders,” as we lovingly call them, shared her story. The day she received her registration packet she noticed this BOW offered a new class to the lineup: a challenge course. She signed up for it, hoping to get in. She shared with her journey for several weeks to get into better shape so she could conquer the course. She worked hard toward her personal goal and when the day arrived for her to tackle the course — she persevered and conquered the challenge course with a glow on her face and tears in her eyes. The entire weekend this participant walked the grounds of BOW with a grin from ear to ear that nothing would take away. Several groups of ladies register for
BOW and use the long weekend as an opportunity to gather their family or friends and celebrate an “outdoor” reunion. These ladies have requested to all room together in the same dorm or cabin and share the weekend of fun together. BOW has been an avenue for grade school, high school and even college reunions for ladies who travel across the state and even across the county to attend. There have been several times where a mother will bring her daughter and her own mother, and BOW welcomes two, three and sometimes four generations of ladies sharing these special memories together. BOW has also become a bucket list for some participants, who have a mission to attend as many if not all workshops offered in every state nationwide. BOW allows participants to step outside of their comfort zone in a non-threatening, fun and exciting environment. When a participant successfully completes a class in a subject area once never believed to accomplish, the sense of empowerment and confidence is an amazing transformation to witness. Instructors provide support and guidance to their students every step of the way as they patiently instruct and educate. Participants thrive in
UPCOMING CLASSES April 5-7, 2019: MO Ranch, Hunt December 6-8, 2019: CampForAll, Burton
MORE BOW INFO: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ learning/bow/ “Like” BOW on Facebook: facebook.com/ tpwdoutdoorwoman To be added to the BOW database for information of upcoming events email Heidi. Rao@tpwd.texas.gov
this environment and for this reason, and all others previously mentioned, continue to spread the good word about Becoming an Outdoors-Woman. Fee for a BOW weekend ranges from $250-$275 depending on location. ★ CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 91
Outdoors
Tomorrow Foundation Unique Education Effort Brings Lifelong Skills To Kids Nationwide
BY DAVID PRICE, Past Chairman Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation The Outdoors Tomorrow foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Dallas, Texas, is the proud sponsor of the Outdoor Adventures (OA) education program, which is offered in 428 schools in 29 states nation-wide reaching over 42,000 students. By Christmas 2018 the OA program will reach over 45,000 students. Outdoor Adventures is a regular in-school program which can be taught as a physical education class, an agriculture/ wildlife management course or as a local school elective. The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation (OTF) is grateful to the Houston Safari
92 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Club Foundation for their support of the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation and Outdoor Adventures. Thanks to a generous grant of $20,000 from the Houston Safari Club Foundation, thousands of public and private school students will learn about the outdoors, wildlife conservation and hunter and boater education through the Outdoor Adventures program. The Houston Safari Club Foundation is proudly promoted to each Outdoor Adventure school across the nation and the state of Texas via newsletters and weekly updates. Thank you Houston Safari Club Foundation for your generous support! >>
Outdoor Adventures’ students competing in a Tournament
CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 93
Classroom – Burnet Middle School’s Outdoor Adventures classroom.
Burnet Middle School’s mock firearms for Hunter Education
Outdoor Adventures is a fun, interactive course where students are taught lifelong skills using an integrated curriculum made up of math, science, writing and critical thinking skills. Outdoor Adventures is focused on outdoor activities including archery, fishing, hiking, backpacking, camping, outdoor cooking, boater education, hunter education, survival skills, first aid training and wildlife conservation, to name a partial list of the curriculum. But OA isn’t a traditional physical education course – the teaching tools in an Outdoor Adventures class are fishing rods and reels, bows and arrows and camping equipment. The Outdoor Adventures program exposes its students to a variety of life-changing opportunities in the outdoors. According to our educators, students who are enrolled in our Outdoor Adventures classes have improved self-esteem, higher class attendance, fewer disciplinary problems and greater scholastic achievement. Outdoor Adventures is a gender neutral, all-inclusive program without barriers imposed by a student’s race, religion, or other socio-economic factors. Anyone and everyone can participate on an equal basis. As a result of OA’s popularity among its students, many of our host schools have formed after-school archery, competitive shooting and fishing teams. In the Outdoor Adventures program, over 9200 students received the Texas Hunter Education certification in 2016. As a short measure of OA’s effectiveness, over 11,000 students received their Hunter Education certification after taking our class in 2017, and that number should continue to increase in 2018 and the years beyond. The Outdoor Adventures curriculum is aligned with the National Standards NPE K1-12.1.7 and for Texas schools, the curriculum covers all of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). Further, the program includes an established curriculum and daily lesson plans covering a wide range of subjects including an end of unit exam. For a complete listing of the courses offered through the Outdoor Adventures program please visit our website (www.gootf.com). The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation will be a scholarship merit grant donor starting in 2019. Additionally, $30,000 in college scholarship money will be awarded to the top high school boys and girls at the Texas NASP State Archery Tournament. There will be over 2500 student 94 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
archers participating in the tournament in 2019. The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation is recruiting sponsorships and donors to grow the Texas NASP State Archery tournament to accommodate 5000 student archers in the near future. The mission of the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation is, “to teach outdoor education and to promote and fund conservation worldwide.” The goal of the Outdoor Adventures program is to expose its students to a wide range of activities, engage their communities and to partner with local conservation groups to ensure that the student’s learning experiences are relevant, highly effective and meaningful. The generous grant awarded to the Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation by the Houston Safari Club Foundation will be used to grow the Outdoor Adventures program at schools in the greater Houston area. In the past, the Houston Safari Club has supported school programs in Katy, Pasadena, Alvin, and Sweeney, among others. Of the $20,000 awarded to Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation by the Houston Safari Club Foundation, each dollar will be matched by schools buying equipment to start up their local Outdoor Adventure program including archery gear and fishing tackle. It is estimated that the Houston Safari Club Foundation grant will impact over 10,000 students during the next two years. The Houston Safari Club and the Houston Safari Club Foundation have sponsored a number of youth-oriented hunting and fishing trips on ranches and property belonging to HSC members. Given the HSCF’s grant supporting the OTF’s Outdoor Adventure program, we hope that Houston Safari Club sponsored youth events will continue building on the skills students learn in Outdoor Adventures classes. For more information about the Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation and the Outdoor Adventures program, and to learn how to start the Outdoor Adventures program in your local school system, please contact Scot McClure, the Outdoor Tomorrow Foundation’s Education Coordinator at scot@gootf.com or call 972-504-9008. Remember — it’s all about the kids! Thank you Houston Safari Club and the Houston Safari Club Foundation for your generous support! The Outdoors Tomorrow Foundation is proud to support and promote the organizations that support Outdoor Adventures! ★
Outdoor Adventures student competing in sporting clay tournament
Above left & right: Pasadena Memorial students showing off their catches of the day!
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Gazelles’ Ladies Gather For A Very Special Fishing Adventure BY JODY SIMPSON
IT WAS OVERCAST ON THE DAY WE attempted to fly away. This was the first Gazelles sponsored event outside of the Convention and a little rain wasn’t going to stop us. We were absolutely petrified, but some exotic booze saved the day. Our fearless leader Mitzy McCorvey told us it was a perfect day for fly fishing. “Have some lunch,” Mitzy said. Kelli Prescott served us this day with her honey chicken legs and hand cured salmon. With our bellies full, we stood starry-eyed, but that’s okay, Mike Wilson from Triple Creek Ranch served as our angel and cheered us on throughout the day. With guidance from Heather Bond and Stacy Lynn, the Gazelles women slowly learned to fly away — 10 and 1; 10 and 1; 10 and 1 — we held our rod so near, as Heather told us to “glide this way.” Stacy taught as about fly fishing clothing appropriate for Peru and even Bombay. By the end of the day, the Gazelle’s ladies were ready to pack up and fly
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away to Acapulco Bay. We waved and said goodbye, shouting our thanks to Heidi Helms with Reserve at St. Charles Bay for our lovely ladies’ day. In Frank’s words, “We had the best day!” The feedback from the ladies that attended the “Come Fly with Me” fly fishing event was very positive. We had multiple guests attend and they expressed an interest in joining the Houston Safari Club Foundation. While some of the ladies were more experienced fly fishers, most of us had no experience at all. Regardless of our ability level, we all enjoyed ourselves and the comraderie was the best part of all. Mike Wilson’s ranch was beautiful and he and his wife were amazing hosts. Noel Orsak is leading the way to ensure this great experience will continue in the future. Gazelles’ ladies, let us know what you would like in the future. Archery, shooting, fishing, as women we are ready for adventure. The “Come Fly with Me” event is just the beginning! ★
HSCF President Mitzy McCorvey, Jody Simpson & Dawn Simpson.
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Above: Venison and Butternut Squash Stew | Below: Duck Gumbo
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STEWSEASON BY SCOTT LEYSATH
Pressure Cooker, Instant Pot
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ong before slow-cookers and instant pots became standard kitchen equipment, New World settlers took whatever proteins, starches and vegetables were available and placed them into a community pot and let it simmer all day. If by chance, you bagged a bunny while you were exploring the countryside, you cleaned it, quartered it and tossed it into the pot. By day’s end, everyone enjoyed a heaping bowl of the day’s stew. I’m guessing that they weren’t too particular about what went into the pot. Nobody asked whether the ingredients were organic, steroid-free or free-ranging. Everything was locally sourced.
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Today, we’re going back to our roots and using fruits, vegetables and grains that are grown close to home. Just because you can buy a tomato or peach in January doesn’t mean it’s going to taste good. It’s a long way for unripened produce to travel from South America to Texas. During cold-weather months, use winter squash, citrus fruits and anything else that’s been grown with a hundred miles or so from home. Your food will taste better and you will support local growers. Consider this when buying fish and shellfish. Shrimp that has been raised in questionable waters in Southeast Asia is, in my opinion, far inferior to wild-caught shrimp harvested by American shrimpers. Of course, the fish and game you bring home needs to be processed and packaged properly. Always label and date everything and make sure to use the oldest meat and fish first. When it comes to making stews, soups and chowders I usually opt for a Dutch oven to do the cooking. However, I’m no stranger to slow-cookers and the latest big deal — the Instant Pot. I often
don’t plan far enough ahead, so a slow-cooker isn’t usually an option. For those who are not familiar with the Instant Pot, it’s a programmable pressure cooker that also works as a slow-cooker. Far superior, less messy and more user-friendly than old-school pressure cookers, Instant Pots will greatly reduce cooking time while making tough cuts tender. I recently turned three pounds of frozen chicken breasts into shredded chicken in about thirty-five minutes. Instant Pots also have a setting for searing meats, making yogurt and cooking perfect rice. The prices range from about fifty to one-hundred dollars and you can put your rice cooker and slow-cookers in the garage for the next yard sale. For all you engineer-types who prefer exact measurements, use these recipes as an outline or a suggestion, but stews aren’t meant to be measured. Brown the meat, add some liquid, vegetables and seasonings while slow, moist heat turns the whole concoction into a flavorful dinner. When the meat is tender, adjust the seasonings to suit your taste buds. ★
VENISON AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW
Winter squashes add body and flavor to soups and stews. If butternut squash is not available, use any other winter squash like acorn, Hubbard or pumpkin. When using more sinewy venison cuts from the shoulder or hindquarter, allow a few hours for the moist heat to transform the meat into spoon-tender morsels. preparation
ingredients
6 to 8 servings
• • • • • • • • • • • •
1 cup flour 2 tablespoons Kosher salt 1 tablespoon black pepper 4 cups venison, trimmed and cut into 2-inch cubes 1/4 cup vegetable oil 6 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups onion, chopped 1 cup celery, chopped 2 cups beef broth 2 bay leaves 2 cups butternut squash, cubed Italian parsley for garnish
1. In a gallon-sized zipper-lock bag, mix together flour, Kosher salt and black pepper. Add cubed venison and toss to coat evenly. Remove venison and shake off excess flour mixture. 2. Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add venison, a few pieces at a time, and cook until evenly browned on all sides. Add garlic, onion and celery and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. 3. Add beef broth and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Check meat for doneness after 2 hours. 4. Once the venison is tender, add butternut squash and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes or until squash is just cooked, but not mushy. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, ladle into bowls and top with parsley.
DUCK GUMBO
Gumbo is a great way to clean out your freezer – use that duck that has been sitting in there for some time. Gumbo freezes well too. Serve in bowls over rice. preparation
ingredients
Makes about 1 gallon
• Chicken or beef broth • 6 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning • 2 tablespoons garlic powder • 1 tablespoon oregano • 1 tablespoon salt • 3 tablespoons filé powder • 5 bay leaves • 4 large yellow onions — coarsely chopped
• 4 red bell peppers — coarsely chopped • 1 cup olive oil • 1½ cup all-purpose flour • 20 ounces frozen cut okra - thawed • 2 pounds shelled large shrimp • 1 ½ pounds Andouille, Kielbasa, or any smoked sausage, sliced
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1. Place ducks in a large pot, cover with water, bring to a boil and simmer for 5 -6 hours or until meat can be easily removed from body. Pull meat from body, roughly chop and set aside. Strain liquid into another large pot over medium heat, adding addition chicken or beef broth to make 3 quarts of liquid. 2. Add Old Bay Seasoning and next 7 ingredients. Simmer until onions are translucent. While simmering, heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Slowly whisk in flour, stirring constantly until mixture (roux) is chocolate brown, but not burnt. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before stirring roux into pot. Add reserved duck, okra, shrimp and sausage and stir. Simmer for 10 minutes.
GOOSE, BLACK BEAN AND RICE STEW
This is a mildly spicy stick-toyour-ribs stew to refuel you after a long day in the field. It’s also a great recipe to turn a mess of late-season goose breasts into a delicious meal. ingredients
6 to 8 servings
• 3 cups skinless goose breast fillets, cut into 2 to 3-inch pieces • salt and pepper • 6 strips thick-cut bacon, roughly chopped • 1 1/2 cups onion, diced • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 quart beef broth • 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced • 2 cups cooked rice • 1 cup cooked black beans • Croutons
preparation
1. Season goose pieces with salt and pepper. Heat bacon in a heavy stock pot over medium heat. Once browned, remove and reserve bacon. Add seasoned goose to the pot and brown in bacon grease on all sides. Add onion and garlic. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add beef broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover
and simmer for 2 to 3 hours or until goose breast is soft and shreds easily with moderate pressure. 2. Add diced jalapeño pepper, reserved bacon, rice and black beans. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, ladle into bowls and top with croutons.
FAST FISH CHOWDER
When you’re short on time and long on fish, this dish is done in 15 to 20 minutes from start to finish. preparation
1. Heat butter in a stock pot over medium heat and add potato, carrot, celery, garlic and onion. Cook for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent, but not brown. Sprinkle flour over vegetables and stir. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, stirring often. Stir in fish stock, a little at a time and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. 2. Add cream and bring to a boil again. Simmer for 5 minutes more. If thickness is to your liking, do not use the cornstarch mixture. If you would like the chowder
a little thicker, add some of the cornstarch mixture, a little at a time, until you reach your desired thickness. If you are using heavy cream, you shouldn’t need much, if any. If you are using milk, especially skim milk, you may want to thicken it up a bit. 3. Once you have the desired thickness of the chowder, add the fish. Cook for a few minutes until fish is just cooked, stirring gently only a time or two. Add salt and pepper as desired. To serve, ladle chowder into bowls and garnish with parsley.
ingredients
6 to 8 servings
• 1 cup potato, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes • 1/2 cup carrot, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes • 1/2 cup celery, diced into 1/4 inch cubes • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 cup onion, peeled and diced into 1/4 inch cubes • 4 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoons flour • 1 quart cold fish stock, clam juice or chicken broth
• 2 cups heavy cream, half and half or milk • 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with equal part cold water • 2 cups fish fillets, cut into 2 inch pieces (can also add shrimp, scallops, etc.) • Salt and freshly ground pepper • 2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley leaves
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A Few Choice Words For The Future Of Our Great Sport BY SHANE P. MAHONEY
D
espite the drumbeats of doom and gloom, there are many reasons to be optimistic about hunting’s future. I have always believed in the power of words. They have the capacity to inspire us, to lead us to powerful achievements and to great sacrifice. They can carry us to war; encourage us to peace. Weightless and without physical dimension, words remain agile weapons in our search for good and evil … and for truth. Words carriage our thoughts. They transport our ideas. They give color, tone and emphasis to our impressions. We should be careful when we use them; thoughtful when we hear them. We should remember that Adolph Hitler visited untold misery on the world through his rhetorical power. Nelson Mandela did the opposite. His rhetoric dispatched frontiers of gratuitous violence to the cradles of justice and reconciliation. So perhaps we can all agree: words really do matter. If this is true, then we ought to carefully consider the words we use to convey messages about things we believe in. If our words do not match the true feelings or impressions we
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wish to convey, our audiences will hear something quite different from what we intend. Further, if we don’t listen carefully to the words of others, we too run the risk of hearing and responding to the wrong message. In choosing a word carelessly we may inadvertently choose sides or create divisions that need not have existed. Over time these crippled exchanges undermine any hope of reconciliation between points of view that often hold much in common, but which eventually settle upon the differences between them, no matter how small. This is how opportunities are lost and coalitions are sacrificed. Words can be the architects of conflict, or the engineers of progress. None of us who care about hunting and the conservation of wildlife can any longer ignore the influence the word “trophy” now exerts on public attitudes and activism against hunting. The evidence is everywhere, from public opinion surveys to newspaper and television exposés, to the cackling of social media and the slightly more refined discussions in our halls of political power. Indeed, while many of us have tried to explain how the word
As long as hunters remain passionate about their traditions and continue to pass them on to the next generation, hunting will continue to be a powerful force in society.
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is misinterpreted and how, in a real sense, we are all trophy hunters, seeking to acquire mementos or remembrances of our hunting experiences — whether photos, horns, antlers or capes — it just doesn’t seem to matter. Nor does it seem to matter that many of the world’s most respected conservation organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature support legal, sustainable hunting in many parts of the world because they see the proof of its value in conserving wildlife and supporting human livelihoods. Sadly, no matter how we try and argue the case, the public worldwide has taken a clear and likely unchangeable position that is negative to trophy hunting. Furthermore, this has now largely become a values-based debate, not a scientific one. No matter how much hunters wish that animal conservation could be the basis of the discussion, it is the behavior of the human beings involved and the very nature of the activity that are under scrutiny. This is the negative power of the word “trophy.” It has driven citizens to oppose a significant conservation mechanism. Lost to the public’s understanding is the idea that classic trophy hunters would pursue only mature animals that have already contributed to the genetic pool of the species, animals that are of an age where death is a pressing reality and likelihood, and animals that, because of their physical size and attributes, will uniquely attract international hunters and thus provide badly needed income to support local human communities and wider conservation campaigns. Rather, the broad public impression of the trophy hunter is of a wealthy, white male who seeks thrills and self-aggrandizement through the willful killing of magnificent animals, and who cares nothing for wildlife except that they exist for him to shoot. From this perspective, any benefit to conservation or humanity that may derive from trophy hunting is accidental and not an acceptable reason or rationale. But the situation is even more complicated. Meat hunting, for example, is widely supported. Thus, a motivational line is drawn between the word meat and the word “trophy,” even though the vast bulk of all meat from all hunted animals is utilized, including from most animals harvested by so-called trophy hunters. Frustrating, isn’t it? From this vantage point we begin to see the convoluted world of words in which hunting is now immersed, and we can begin to forecast how difficult it will be to disentangle it. It is now undeniable that communications on hunting must enter a maze of misinterpretation, confusion and sometimes deliberate distortion that can squander much of our time, money and talent if we are not cautious in how we approach it. Many great intentions, as well as great armies, have been lost in swamps of exactly this kind. The point is this: the hunting community now, more than ever, needs to choose its words carefully. Yet communication on this issue is desperately required! Eliminate trophy hunting from areas such as parts of
Africa and wildlife will suffer and suffer greatly…especially the big, dangerous and destructive species…the very ones that often plague local communities but which are the darlings of the western conservation conscience. Funny isn’t it that we in our high-rise condominiums in Brussels or New York want lions and elephants everywhere in Africa but cannot stand so much as a mosquito, cockroach or mouse in our own domiciles! It is marvelous what wealth and distance can afford. But local people will not accept wildlife-caused human fatality and crop destruction. In the absence of incentives, such as income from guiding hunters and the wild meat provided to them as a result, local people will kill the wildlife around them using whatever means they can. Regardless of this likely prospect, the fact remains that trophy hunting is unpalatable to a broad section of our modern public. That is the reality we face and must address. This is true in much of Europe and it is true in much of North America as well. What are we to do? How are we to address this hall of mirrors? In this context, the word “modern” is also highly relevant and highly problematic. It, too, is a word the hunting world needs to closely examine. Is there such a thing as a modern public, and if so, how should we approach it? Differently, I suggest. Yet it seems pretty obvious that many hunters think the world is the same one we grew up in or believe it can somehow be transformed back to that time, a time when our classic arguments favoring trophy hunting would be an easy sell to the public. Thus we promote the word “trophy” and believe that more statistics and better information will be our silver bullet. Once we present the public with our evidence, they will see the light of day and accept trophy hunting as a reputable undertaking of benefit to both wildlife and people, or so the expectation goes. Unfortunately, none of the foregoing assumptions are necessarily correct. First, the world really has changed; and second, for as long as we have been conducting public attitude surveys in North America — forty years or so — a significant majority of the public has perceived trophy hunting as unacceptable. Thus, presenting our arguments on trophy hunting’s benefits to conservation has obviously been of little impact for a very long time, probably because the public reaction is more against trophy hunting than for wildlife. So why do we think more of the same will work now? This long-standing opposition to trophy hunting also directly challenges the belief of those who see Facebook or other modern electronic communication vehicles as the fundamental cause of the public’s reaction to this activity. Even before Facebook inventor Mark Zuckerberg was born (!) the American public was decidedly against trophy hunting. Who should we blame for this? Is it possible hunters were part of the problem? Could it be that our messaging, our photos, our magazines, our
Sadly, no matter how we try and argue the case, the public worldwide has taken a clear and likely unchangeable position that is negative to trophy hunting.
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conventions, our websites, our advertisements, our terminology, our rhetoric, our modern heroes have all been a significant part of the problem, major influences shaping the public aversion to trophy hunting? I am afraid blaming the internet medium is a childlike fallacy and a conclusion that will lead us down paths of false hope and useless effort. We can analyze the reasons to death, hold town hall meetings, focus groups and phone surveys of public attitudes, but the angst over trophy hunting is now a virus in the public conscience, reproducing itself and presenting unlimited variants to us who wish to challenge it. Like a lot of problems in life, it would be nice if the public reaction to trophy hunting could be blamed on one single cause or instrument. Unfortunately, it cannot. The reasons are many and their collective influence is highly interwoven and complex … we cannot unravel this with a simple key. There is no painless, magic wand. So, is the word “trophy” now lethal to hunting? I suspect
it is and believe we should deal with this reality. We should consider a guerrilla tactic for the language war we are engaged in. Let us leave the landscape of the big battle to those who oppose trophy hunting, Let us quietly retire the term trophy, burn the treasured icon they seek and leave nothing for the Marauders to take. For many in the hunting community, surrendering the term will be difficult and a sign of capitulation. In reality, we give nothing over. We hunt for the reasons we do. No one can take this from us. What the public can take, however, is hunting itself. Let us not lead them there. I see no reason to sacrifice the cultural, economic and conservation benefits of hunting for an adjective — for, as powerful as the term trophy may be for some, it is just a word, isn’t it? Indeed, while I think of it, why don’t we drop all the hunting adjectives such as meat, trophy, and sport, and simply call it what it is: hunting. ★
Born and raised in Newfoundland, Shane Mahoney is a leading international authority on wildlife conservation. A rare combination of scientist, hunter, angler, historian and philosopher, he brings a unique perspective to wildlife issues that has motivated and inspired audiences around the world.
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THE FLYING A Top: Major Eric Burkett Middle: Vietnam Veteran Johnny Guardado Bottom: Kirk Black, a U.S. Army Veteran
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Group photo of those that participated in the Patriot Warrior Foundation hunt.
BY MATT PYLE
All our hunters from the Patriot Warrior Foundation started arriving at The Flying A Ranch Friday afternoon. We said our hellos, unpacked and immediately loaded back up and headed to the range to sight in our rifles. After just a few rounds down range, everyone was dialed in and ready to go. We set out for the evening with Vietnam Veteran Johnny Guardado going after a Scimitar Oryx. Within a few hours he was at the skinning shed with a monster 41inch cow! He was extremely happy as he had never had the opportunity to hunt for such a magnificent animal. Next back to the skinning shed was Major Eric Burkett, a.k.a. “Train Wreck.” Maj. Burkett was a Marine Aviator flying the V-22 Osprey before his crash took his legs. Train Wreck took a beautiful Axis buck with one well-placed shot. Kirk Black, a U.S. Army Veteran, paralyzed from the waist down, was up next. He came pulling up the skinning shed next with a huge Dybowski Sika. This old buck was in full rut and covered in mud. And last but not least was Ryan Snowden. Ryan is a U.S. Army Veteran, paralyzed from the chest down with very little use of his arms and hands as well. He was unable to connect Friday evening as we could not get him
steady. Then the rains came, and boy did it rain! Saturday morning we were flooded in at the lodge and couldn’t hunt. By Saturday afternoon we were finally get back out to the ranch and hunt. We had to improvise a shooting platform for Ryan that consisted of serval pillows and straps. After a lot of makeshift ideas, he was off, and a few hours later he was finally able to connect of a beautiful Axis buck and we all met at the skinning shed to congratulate him. That night we all ate some great steaks, drank some wonderful wine and shared “entertaining” stories as we celebrated the great weekend. As we all packed up Sunday morning, traded contact information, took our last pictures and said our last goodbyes — this is when I feel blessed to be able to lead these weekends. To see the joy and pride in the eyes of these warriors makes my heart warm. Thanks to continued support of the Houston Safari Club Foundation I hope to continue to share these stories for many years to come. ★
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Thanks To Sport Hunters, A Zimbabwean Wildlife Conservation Success Story STORY & PHOTOS BY KEVIN THOMAS
BEYOND ZIMBABWE’S CURRENT OVERALL media image of doom and gloom there is a shining light in the country’s sustainable wildlife utilization field, and it goes by the name of the Bubye Valley Conservancy, or more simplistically by the acronym BVC. It’s a success story that certainly wouldn’t be were it not for paying sport hunters. For therein lies the secret to the vast project’s success. Significant in its achievements has been the establishment of large and flourishing populations of black rhino, elephant, and African lion. This 3,740 square kilometer landmass (in excess of 850,000 acres) is situated in what is termed Zimbabwe’s southern lowveld region, one of the country’s hottest and driest areas. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 40 degrees Celsius C (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and the average recorded rainfall over forty-five years is 347 mm (13.6 inches). Totally unsuited to agricultural practices or ecotourism and despite the low rainfall, the BVC has an exceedingly high nutrient ecosystem that ably supports large numbers of medium size herbivores — particularly blue wildebeest and Burchell’s zebra. This means high densities of predators can potentially be sustained.
To look briefly at the BVC’s history: at the turn of the 20th century Lemco (Liebig’s Extract of Meat Company) established a vast cattle ranching operation on this landmass. Most indigenous wildlife species, because they were deemed to compete with livestock for grazing, coupled to the fact that buffalo and wildebeest had the potential to transmit disease to cattle, were eradicated. Due to predation on cattle, lion, leopard, and hyena were also heavily persecuted. Despite the Lemco wildlife eradication program, and as is often the case under similar circumstances, most of the indigenous wildlife species survived in small isolated pockets. However, by the 1990s the resident buffalo, lion, and elephant populations had been completely eradicated. Black and white rhino populations which had occurred in the area historically had disappeared well prior to the establishment of Lemco Ranch. Crippled by devastating droughts in 1982-83 and again in 1992-93, Lemco Ranch was sold off in 1994 due to it being deemed unsuitable and economically non-viable for cattle ranching. The shareholders who bought the property then established the Bubye Valley Conservancy, the intention being to revert this vast landmass back to wildlife only,
Vast buffalo herds on the BVC are not only an important prey species for lion; a buffalo bull is considered one of Africa’s most dangerous game species and attracts trophy hunters.
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Sound scientifically based wildlife management systems and low seasonal trophy take offs on the BVC ensure excellent trophy quality such as this superb buffalo bull with the writer and his trackers; it was shot by American client Peter Tague.
and after the decision was made an immediate program was implemented to remove all of the internal cattle fencing. Obviously, this conversion to wildlife from cattle ranching necessitated massive investment. A 2.1-meter-high double electrified game fence had to be erected surrounding the entire area. The fence follows the 440 kilometer boundary (880 kilometers for both fences) and cost approximately $2.1 million to erect, with an annual maintenance cost of $220,000 a year. During 2014, a further $350,000 was spent converting the Malangani section to the same specs as the rest of the BVC game fence. On the wildlife front, and although a number of residual populations had remained in the aftermath of Lemco, their numbers had to be boosted through re-introductions, again at huge cost to the shareholders. Nine well-appointed safari camps were also constructed across the BVC, and the internal road networks improved. These kinds of developments always carry significant annual running and maintenance costs, all of the aforementioned aside from game fence maintenance. Notable annual costs on the BVC are the ongoing anti-poaching program in excess of $600,000, diesel fuel at $350,000, wages and salaries at $1,220,000 (2015), electricity at $70,000 and safari camp running and maintenance costs at $850,000. These figures adequately illustrate that in order for wildlife to continue being the primary land use factor on
the BVC, a substantial income base is required. From the outset the BVC shareholders policy has always been that their main intended form of income would be derived from commercial trophy hunting. However, during the initial development phase and as an experiment into non-consumptive ecotourism, the southern Samanyanga section (approximately 80,000 acres) was fenced off and separated from the main, and no hunting was allowed, only photographic safaris. By 2002 and for a variety of reasons, this experiment had proven non-viable and the partition fence was removed. Once this had happened, the sole form of income for the conservancy was through trophy hunting. A situation that remains unchanged to this day. As is well proven, in the African context there is absolutely no way that wildlife conservation will succeed in any form unless you have the support of the surrounding communities. Without this, it is doomed. During the early development stages, the BVC planners recognized this crucial fact, and implemented the highly successful BVC Outreach Program which embraces three surrounding tribal districts — Mwenezi, Maranda and Jopempe. In addition, and through funds donated by the BVC they have established the Mtetengwe Trust in the Beit Bridge district. In a further unique experiment, any poachers arrested for
As is well proven, in the African context there is absolutely no way that wildlife conservation will succeed in any form unless you have the support of the surrounding communities. Without this, it is doomed.
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Above: Photos such as this of a poached black rhino and her calf on the BVC need to be widely circulated to illustrate just how serious this greed driven scourge is. Monies accrued from trophy hunters are contributing directly to the ongoing anti-poaching operations – photo credit the BVC. Below: Nine well-appointed safari camps have been built across the BVC to accommodate sport hunters – this photo shows Dyers Camp from across the Bubye River.
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An excellent 30-inch waterbuck taken on the BVC by UK client Josh Cox.
poaching antelope on the BVC appear before a tribal court presided over by the chief within their community, and not before a magistrate; thus far it is proving highly successful. Aside from school’s infrastructure, clinic construction, essential boreholes being sunk and equipped in tribal areas, and various other assistance programs, the BVC also supplies the neighboring tribal communities with 45 tons of meat free of charge each year. Right across Africa’s rural tribal areas protein in any form is always in short supply. Income derived from commercial trophy hunting on the BVC has also been directly responsible for the achievement of some extremely meaningful conservation goals. Probably the most important of these is the black rhino story. The continued protection of this endangered species on the BVC by their anti-poaching program has been made possible by the revenue generated from trophy hunting of lion, elephant, buffalo, and other species (donor funds too, do partially offset these costs). White rhinos were first introduced onto the BVC in 1998. This population was boosted by further continual translocations of both black and white rhino from other areas unable to protect their rhino populations, in the face of the rhino poaching escalations facing Zimbabwe and South Africa during the mid-2000s. Because of the rhino poaching onslaught in Zimbabwe, only the big privately-owned conservancies have been able to maintain positive rhino population growth rates. The most successful of these has been the BVC with an average 8 percent annual increase. The BVC hasn’t been immune from this rhino poaching scourge despite having a superbly led, motivated, disciplined, and managed anti-poaching team of 120-armed game scouts. Poaching losses have been incremental since 2012 when they lost 5 rhinos. In 2013 the losses rose to 22 (see the accompanying graph). Anti-rhino poaching patrols and constant monitoring on a landmass this size, is a huge and costly exercise. Gun battles with poachers aren’t unheard of on the BVC 116 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
and with Zimbabwe’s “shoot to kill” policy towards poachers; trying to poach a rhino on the BVC is indeed a high-risk pastime. In 2010, when I was hunting out of Nengo Camp with Bill Haslett from Pennsylvania, an anti-poaching game scout patrol shot and killed AK-47-toting Samuel “Big Sam” Mazhongwe, who’d stupidly initiated the contact. At the time he was one of Zimbabwe’s most notorious rhino poachers. With regard to lion on the BVC, during 1999 thirteen lions were re-introduced to the Samanyanga section, and during the same year four young males managed to enter the conservancy naturally. In 2002, following the collapse of the Samanyanga ecotourism experiment and with the removal of the partition fence, the lion were free to roam across the entire conservancy. This resulted in the lion population increasing significantly. By 2015 it was estimated through scientific research that the lion population was over 500. These figures make the BVC’s wild African lion population the largest in Zimbabwe, and indications are that the conservancy’s lion population has now reached saturation. Allied to the above, the elephant population on the BVC has now also reached the carrying capacity at 700 and needs to be managed. To address the skewed sex ratio, the BVC have been offering a few bull elephants each year (10 to 20-yearold bulls that have been breaking into the conservancy) on non-trophy elephant hunts, the requirement being that only lone animal’s with tusks of less than 25 pounds aside be taken off. Funds from these management hunts have been plowed straight back into the conservancy and the meat has gone to the surrounding communities. Despite the high levels of protection afforded to all wildlife species on the BVC, and the moderate annual off-take levels via trophy hunting adequately serving to highlight how trophy hunting can be sustainable – provided poaching is controlled – the lion and elephant populations on the BVC do face a slightly worrying future.
The main lodge at Ripple Creek – one of nine such luxury safari camps built across the BVC.
The end game for both of these species on the conservancy is one of two likely scenarios. If lion and elephant hunting is severely restricted either through a USFWS listing as endangered, or the banning of trophies into the U.S. makes hunting of both these species undesirable, or impossible for BVC clientele (over 90 percent are American), then the numbers will have to be reduced drastically by management, as they will have absolutely no value to the Conservancy and will be seen as competitive. Elephant have a detrimental effect on habitat, and lion on other species. If, on the other hand, sanity prevails among those international players who at times seemingly make some ill-informed decisions regarding how Africans should manage their wildlife, the outcome would be a lot more positive. If lion and elephant hunting is allowed to continue with scientifically arrived-at sustainable quotas, based on sound ecological assessments and independent monitoring, then both species will remain financially valuable and desirable. Equally important, it would allow the BVC to maintain
populations that are available for restocking other areas. I’ve had the privilege of guiding hunting safaris on the BVC regularly since 1992, when the cattle operation was still being phased out. General Manager Blondie Leatham, who has been on the Conservancy since 1987, is backed up by one of the most dedicated wildlife conservation teams in Southern Africa. If one looks at the results of their achievements during the last 22 years it is obvious the Bubye Valley Conservancy represents one of the finest examples of wildlife conservation success throughout the whole of Africa, particularly for lion, elephant, and black rhino. Trophy hunters haven’t only ensured the well-being of black rhino, elephant and lion on the BVC. They can be equally proud in the knowledge that the monies they spend hunting on this bespoke venue, also protects cheetah, painted dog (African wild dog), and pangolin. In a nutshell, trophy hunter spending has created a conservation umbrella under which all of the above species can continue to thrive and expand. Let’s hope it will continue. ★
ABOUT THE WRITER Kevin Thomas, a fifth-generation African was born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1950. In March 1968 at age 17 he joined the Rhodesian Department of National Parks & Wildlife Management under their cadet game ranger scheme. Having spent 6 years as a game ranger and after having served on various remote Zambezi Valley stations, he left the department and ventured into a short-lived Zambezi Valley-based hunting safari venture as a PH. Due to a worsening insurgency war erupting in Rhodesia, Kevin stopped hunting and in January 1974 became a founder
member of the Rhodesian Army’s elite Selous Scouts Special Forces counter insurgency unit, serving in the unit for 5 years as an operational NCO. In mid1979 he departed the Selous Scouts as a senior NCO and became a PH, a career choice that has afforded him the opportunity to hunt across much of Southern Africa. In 1993 Kevin began writing hunting stories for African Hunter magazine, and in addition he has for several years been a regular contributor of hunting articles to South Africa’s popular Magnum magazine. He has also written for the US magazine
Successful Hunter and he also regularly contributes hunting stories in the UK to Sporting Rifle magazine. Kevin is the author of four published books and retired from hunting at the end of 2013, but continues to write. During 2015 and at age 65, he and his wife Brenda chose to depart Africa for the UK, where they now reside on their own 60-foot live aboard cruiser narrowboat on the UK’s 2,000 miles of canals & waterways, an ideal environment for Kevin to continue with his writing, art, and photography. www.kevindthomas.com
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Explore the
World
Y
with Esplanade Travel
ou’ve just booked your dream hunt, and you’re now starting to think about the logistics of your trip. Between checking in and security, waiting to board, the flight itself, and customs and immigration, traveling internationally can be a tiring experience. It doesn’t matter if you’re in business class or economy – a long flight can be exhausting for anyone! You may wonder how you can make the trip more pleasant and endurable – or how you can convince your spouse and kids to come along when it may mean 12-14 hours in the air. If you’re working with an experienced travel company, like Esplanade Travel, the answer is easy: a luxurious stopover to break up the journey. Rather than showing up for your hunt tired and jet lagged, catch up to the time zone on a white sand beach in the Cook Islands. Or, if you’re an urbanite, leave the airport behind for bustling downtown Dubai. Better yet, take some time to soak in the history, culture, and fine wine in various European locales before heading out into the wilderness to track down your animals. Not convinced? Read on for some of the best stopover ideas in the world – and then get packing!
DUBAI
Jacky Keith, President of Esplanade Travel, finds herself returning to Africa time and time again. One aspect that makes these yearly treks more manageable 118 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
is flying on Emirates with a stopover in vibrant Dubai. Emirates flies direct to Dubai, and their new terminal in the airport makes you want to arrive early to enjoy all the amenities. Jacky flies Emirates directly from Boston and can attest to the superb service and experience in business class. Start your trip with a night or two in a spectacular room at Jumeirah Beach Hotel, enjoying days of sun and fun. The ocean is so warm you can stay in the water all day — a great selling point for adults and children alike. The beautiful Burj al Arab continues to dominate the waterfront but is now dwarfed by the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, which stands at almost 3,000 feet. Guests can visit the Observation Deck or have a meal at the top, and it goes without saying that the views are unmatched anywhere else in the world. Next, head out to the desert for a stay at Al Maha Resort & Spa. Al Maha is a fabulous collection of luxury suites with private pools and you’ll need 2 nights to fully appreciate the property and its surroundings.
Dubai skyline, an impressive aerial top view of the city in Dubai Marina
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Above: Sunset in the beautiful sand dunes of Dubai, UAE
You’ll come across oryx and small gazelle wandering the property as you head off to one of the many exciting excursion options. Watch daily displays of falconry including an owl and eagle, camel rides, rides on world-class Arabian horses, and dune rides. After each desert adventure, return to the oasis of Al Maha, where the food is fantastic and the service second to none. Whether you are headed to Africa, India, or points beyond, consider a stop in Dubai. It’s a lot of fun and totally outrageous with the skydome, 24 hour golf, spice and gold souks, and some of the best hotels in the world.
COOK ISLANDS
Spending 12-plus hours on a flight from the U.S. to New Zealand can be intimidating. A stopover on the idyllic Cook Islands is the perfect answer to a long flight and a wonderful way to relax and recoup from jet lag. If you choose to stop here, your best gateway is Los Angeles, as Air New Zealand flies non-stop to Rarotonga in 10 hours. With a late evening departure in both directions, the timing is perfect for dinner and a movie before a good sleep, and then wake up in paradise at daybreak. Air New Zealand offers the same three-cabin service on the Rarotonga flight as it does on their other long haul flights, so you’ll have your choice of economy, premium economy, or business premier. There aren’t any bad choices on Air New Zealand, as they pay just as much attention to the back of the aircraft as the front, but upgraded fares are very manageable as both the airline and the tourism board continue to shine a bigger light on this often overlooked South Pacific island chain. The Cook Islands feel very “old South Pacific” — full of friendly people, the freshest food, spectacular (but not busy) beaches, crystal clear lagoons, and a throwback to when stopping in the exotic South Pacific felt a little like being castaway, in the best ways, before the glitzy international resorts arrived on the more well-known islands at the same latitude. The plane will land lagoon-side, allowing you to step off and immediately begin your vacation. Rarotonga is the ultimate island resort destination, with luxe boutique hotels, inspired cuisine, and some of the most beautiful beaches in the South Pacific. 120 HUNTER'S HORN™ CONVENTION 2019
Stopping here is a breeze in every way — not only is it easy to fly in and out, it’s also easy and fun to navigate the island by scooter or shuttle, allowing for maximum relaxation time on the beach. Continuing on from Rarotonga to Aitutaki is a no-brainer. Just 45 minutes away, Aitutaki has consistently been hailed the most beautiful island in the world and is a favorite destination of Kit Schultze, Vice President of Esplanade. White sandy beaches stretch for miles, accompanied by a laid-back atmosphere, cold drinks, the friendliest people, and crystal blue water stretching to the horizon. Whether traveling with a partner, family, or a group of friends, spending time on beautiful Aitutaki is the perfect start or finish to your vacation. So rather than worry about surviving a long haul flight, add on a stopover at the Cook Islands and experience all the South Pacific has to offer!
ISTANBUL
Turkish Airlines is the natural choice for flights if you are traveling to Eastern Europe or Central Asia for your hunt. With 10 gateways in the U.S., connections through Istanbul are easy and their two-cabin aircraft offers ample space and excellent service in both classes. Business Class seating converts into completely lie-flat beds, and fares in this cabin are among the most competitive on their routes, making an upgrade an easy decision that won’t break the budget. Depart the U.S. in the evening and land the next day in Istanbul, a magical city that manages to have an abundance of green with parks everywhere and thousands of tulips blooming in the springtime. Ataturk Airport in Istanbul is sleek, modern, and easy to navigate, and since it’s located only about 15 miles outside the city, transferring from airport to hotel is painless, allowing maximum time to enjoy Istanbul during your stopover. Plan for at least two nights to see the city highlights, but you could easily stretch it to four nights, as Kit did recently. Kit stayed in the Sultanahmet neighborhood of Istanbul and promptly fell in love with the city. Worlds collide in Istanbul in the best way – it is the crossroads where continents, hemispheres,
Above: Amazing beach with white sand and black rocks on Rarotonga, Cook Islands | Below: Blue Mosque in Istanbul
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Above: Public Square in La Boca, Buenos Aires, Argentina | Below: Classic red brick building in Mayfair, London
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religion, cuisine, culture and history all intersect and coexist in harmony. Spend the first full day in Istanbul with a great private guide, and be sure to stay at a hotel near the major sites to avoid needing a vehicle. Start with the Blue Mosque – built 400 years ago and famous not only for its six minarets but also for the incredible blue tile mosaics on the interior walls. Marvel at the intricatelypainted, high-domed ceilings, the stained-glass windows, and the tiled walls. From there, walk across the old Roman Hippodrome where chariot races were frequently held in front of 100,000 spectators nearly 2000 years ago. Next up should be Topkapi Palace, where you should plan to spend a few solid hours exploring. The historic and cultural significance of this palace was eclipsed only by the exceptional views of the surroundings. From the hilltop, the major landmarks of the Golden Horn, the Galata Tower and Sultan Ahmed Mosque are aligned and there is a stunning panoramic view over Istanbul with the Bosphorus Strait dividing Europe on the left from Asia on the right. Finish this cultural feast at Hagia Sophia, one of the most significant architectural sites in the world. It was built as an Orthodox cathedral, then converted to a Roman Catholic church, then a mosque, and finally a museum. The tile mosaics were not removed over the centuries, the way many others were — they were simply plastered over, and now there is a huge restoration project underway to uncover the original mosaics in certain areas. The marble steps are worn shiny, with rounded edges due to so many centuries of use. It is cool, quiet, and peaceful inside. After seeing the major sites, spend the rest of your time in this fascinating city wandering and exploring on your own. The Grand Bazaar is not to be missed, but maybe even more fun is exploring all the little alleys, side streets, and shops surrounding it. By the time your stay in Istanbul is over, you’ll be wondering how soon you can return.
Inveruwe Gardens. Or, you could even take the chunnel train for lunch in Paris! There are endless possibilities, so chat with Jacky or Diane, our Europe specialist here in the office, and they will design a perfect stop for you.
LONDON
TIME TO GO!
A stopover in London en route to your hunting destination can be a number of things. There is excellent air service from many U.S. cities to London and Virgin Atlantic is one of our favorites. If you go Upper Class you have wonderful Club House experiences that only Sir Richard Branson can provide! We’ll pick you up at Heathrow, take you to your hotel, and provide guides who will bring the history and pageantry of the U.K. alive. Even for those of you who have visited many times, there are always new experiences. Stay in Mayfair and visit Purdey’s, Holland & Holland and William Evans and it is also possible to join some of their country shoots, depending on the time of year. Fabulous food can be found at The Ivy, The Wolseley, Le Boudin Blanc in Shepherd Market and at historic pubs all around the city, and there is always good theatre, music, and exhibits not only in galleries but throughout the West End, most notably in Berkeley Square. Shopping on Bond Street is an event in itself, with famous shops like Bulgari, Burberry, Hermes, Prada, and De Beers. You will find Fortnum & Mason on Piccadilly along with the best book shop – Hatchards. Leave the city for a day trip to Oxford, Stonehenge and Salisbury, or venture into the Cotswolds for a stay at the Lygon Arms and a visit to Bath. If you have more than a couple of days, why not take the train up to Scotland and fish the River Spey for the elusive salmon and venture up to Wester Ross where you will see palm trees at
BUENOS AIRES
There are many reasons to head to Argentina, but a main one for Esplanade’s travelers is dove shooting in Cordoba. But just because wing shooting is the main event doesn’t mean you can’t bring along your spouse for a romantic stopover in Buenos Aires! Two nights is the perfect amount of time to enjoy this city and head off any jetlag before hopping to other parts of the country. Oftentimes you’ll land in the city in the morning. Rather than doing the stressful road transfer between the international and domestic airports, let us plan a relaxing day for you, including an early check-in at your accommodations so you can freshen up before hitting the town. In a city like Buenos Aires with so much to offer, a guided tour is a great starting point, introducing everything from the historical sites such as the Cathedral and Cabildo in the Plaza de Mayo, to the brightly colored streets of La Boca, to the impressive Recoleta Cemetery. Another favorite cultural experience is to attend a dinner and tango show. Enjoy fine cuisine and wine while watching a spectacular live performance – and for the brave, arrive early and learn to tango yourself ! A nice accompaniment to this tour is to plan for a more intimate dinner on your second night, eating like a true Argentine family and learning to cook steak and empanadas along the way. There’s so much to do in the region, from visiting a traditional farm, or estancia, outside the city to having a personal guide for shopping to bring home fine leather goods. Or if you prefer the unplanned, spend your time hopping from café to restaurant while taking in the architecture of this historical and vibrant city. Esplanade Travel offers “everything but the hunt” — customized ground arrangements around the world, airfare, travel insurance, visas, and more. We have excellent airfares on any route you may choose to fly. When you work with us, the hardest part of the trip is deciding where to go! Show special discounts on Air New Zealand and South African Airways are available for booking during the month of January. On Air New Zealand, book between January 9 – 20 and take $400 off business premier fares, $200 off premium economy fares, and $100 off economy fares for travel from March 1 –July 31, 2019. On South African Airways, book between January 9 – 20 and take advantage of our business class show special from $4,850 roundtrip to Johannesburg or Cape Town from Dulles or $5,550 from JFK, based on availability at the time of booking. These special fares are valid for travel from February 1, 2019 – March 15, 2020. Esplanade Travel focuses on international luxury travel, and unique custom-designed trips have been our trademark for 60 years. Our staff has collectively traveled to over 150 countries around the world, and we sell the destinations we know the best and love the most! Our primary destinations are Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, Italy, France, South America, India, United Arab Emirates and the islands of the South Pacific. ★ CONVENTION 2019 HUNTER'S HORN™ 123
Your partner for the thrill of the hunt. Flexible financing options to fit your needs Owning land is more than an investment. It means having a private retreat where you can create memories with family and friends. At Capital Farm Credit, we’re a cooperative — your goals are our goals. Our local experts can turn your dream into a reality and our patronage dividend program has returned more than $750 million to our borrowers over the last decade.
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