TM
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TABLE of
CONTENTS
SPRING 2021
FEATURES 28 AFRICAN SPECIES
IMPORTATION BANS, PRESCRIBED FIRE, SUNDAY HUNTING: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN SPORTING CONSERVATION POLICY THIS YEAR?
By Jeff Crane
30 WHAT IS FIELD RESCUE? By Global Rescue
36 KNOW YOUR BUFFALO By Tim Herald
44 HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT: KNOWN JEWELS IN FRANCE AND ITALY
88
By Esplanade Travel
54 HIGH-OCTANE FUEL By Scott Leysath
54
60 STEWARDING THE
FUTURE OF HUNTING
By Lydia Saldaña, Photos by Jonathan Vail
66 THE ISIBAYA LEOPARD PROJECT By Andrew Buchanan
74 HUNTING AND CONSERVATION IN AFRICA DURING A PANDEMIC: A CONVERSATION WITH NAMIBIAN OUTFITTER JAMY TRAUT
80
By M. Arnold
80 ASSASSIN OF THE SHADOWS By John Wootters
82 BIG TECH CENSORS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON HARMING THE HUNTING COMMUNITY
By Corinne Weaver
84 HSCF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
5 Minutes With HSCF Life Member Jody Simpson
85 HSCF PH SPOTLIGHT
Meet Tom Dreyer Jr. of Tom Dreyer Safaris
88 A MONARCH FOR MY LADY By Shane Jahn
4 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
COVER ARTWORK:
BigSky Country Photography by Parker Hopkins 406.696.4644
92 STANDARD’S SUPERB SCORE
IN SWEDEN’S SKOGSMARKER
By Devin S. Standard
98 LOOKING BACK
By Tommy Morrison
102 ANNUAL TOWER
PHEASANT SHOOT
By JD Burrows
106 THE ODD ONES: NOT
ALL TROPHY ANIMALS ARE ‘CONVENTIONAL’
By Gayne C. Young
28
102
66 44
30
36
74 106
60 SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 5
About Houston Safari Club Foundation: Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 600 scholarships totaling $2.7 million. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences for hundreds of students each year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information.
HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.
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2020-2021 HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION OFFICERS Matt Pyle –President Jeff Birmingham –President-Elect JD Burrows –Immediate Past President Will Perry–Vice President Jamison Smith –Vice President Mark King–Treasurer Monica Mills–Secretary HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION DIRECTORS 2019-2021 Jeff Birmingham Hunter Comiskey Bryan Ray Travis Simpson Kevin Ormston 2020-2022 Ross Melinchuk Trey White Jody Simpson James Lofton
2020 Gold MarCom Award for Nonprofit Print Magazine
2020 Folio Ozzie Honorable Mention for Association Magazine Design
2020 & 2019 American Graphic Design Award for Publication Design
HISTORIAN Jerry Henderson HEADQUARTERS STAFF Joe Betar, Executive Director Angi McCarthy, Director of Administrative Services Carla Nielsen, Marketing & Publications Manager Nancy Oka, Director, Events & Membership
2020 & 2018 Communicator Award for Print Distinction
Nate Silva, Design Consultant Alliance Printing and Graphics Hunter’s Horn™ is published quarterly by Houston Safari Club Foundation 14811 St. Mary’s Lane, Suite 265 Houston, Texas 77079 713.623.8844 (p) 713.623.8866 (f) info@wehuntwegive.org wehuntwegive.org © Copyright 2021 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 APRIL 10, 2021
Crawfish Boil & Fun Shoot in Waller, TX
MAY 12, 2021
Trophy Room Reception at Stephanie & Will Perry’s Residence
JUNE 9, 2021
Craig Boddington Speaker Event (location TBD)
SEPTEMBER
Opening Day Dove Hunt (date & location TDB)
OCTOBER 23, 2021
Sporting Clays Tournament at Greater Houston Sports Club
DECEMBER 9, 2021
Christmas Party at House of Blues
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 7
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MATT PYLE, HSCF PRESIDENT
A
s I sit here writing this, I am still in disbelief that we are one year into this insanity known as COVID-19. This past year has not only been challenging to me personally but to the whole HSCF family. However, I am truly blessed not only with my own health but with the health of my family and I pray this message finds you and your families safe and healthy as well. We are not out of the woods yet, and I cannot help but think about all our PH friends from around the globe. HSCF is in touch with many of the PH’s regularly, checking on their country’s travel restrictions and what their governments are saying for the future. Many countries seem to be lifting restrictions for travel and many of our PH’s are starting to book hunts again. This is great news not only for their livelihoods but also a very important step for conservation in those countries. I am a firm believer that hunting is a very important part of the conservation efforts we hold so deeply. We need to continue to stay the course and continue to protect the ecosystem and the animals that we all hold so dear to us and our hunting heritage. I am proud to announce that we completed our firstever online virtual auction. This was a new arena for us, and I am pleased with how everything turned out. I must give a HUGE shout-out to Trey White our Convention Chairman, the HSCF staff, and the board of directors for their continued support, dedication, and patience as we had to change plans and directions several times these past few months! Without their support, ideas, and input we would have never been able to pull the auction together. I hope you all enjoyed the event and were able to bid (and win) the items you were after. As much of a success the online event was, I pray that we can be back together face to face for the 2022 Annual Convention! Even through these tough times, the club has not stopped working, and we have continued our monthly board meetings (although most by Zoom). Under the leadership of Gary Rose, we are still awarding college scholarships to the next generations of conservationists working on their postgraduate degrees & PhDs. We continue our stewardship through our Grants Program headed up by James Lofton and his committee. The club has had to tighten its belt a little but under James’ leadership, we have been able to grant dollars where we feel they could be most impactful. Thank you to our treasurer Mark King for keeping us squared away on our finances. He has had a very tough job over the past year. And lastly, I cannot say enough about Joe, Nancy, Angie, and Carla. We have put them through the wringer, and they have not missed a beat. Thank you to you all! As the club continues to wade through these uncharted waters, please know that as I stated when I took over as President, my goal was to “Make Hunting Great Again”. I wanted us to get back together on a monthly basis and
8 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
have fun! With that said, we had a sellout crowd for our first HSCF event of 2021. The European Tower Pheasant Shoot in January was a huge success! This has turned into a great event and I look forward to seeing it get even bigger in the years to follow. We also had our first face-to-face gathering in February at the Armadillo Palace. It was wonderful seeing so many familiar faces again. In March, we had our quail shoot at Providence Plantation which was another fun event. In April, we will have a crawfish boil & fun shoot and in May we will have a trophy room reception at the Perry residence, and Craig Boddington will join us in June! I want us to get back to monthly meetings and events, so we have more events planned throughout the summer. Please be on the lookout for our emails with the details. I hope you can make plans to attend some of them! In closing, the mission of HSCF stays the same. We will continue to work to defend our heritage as hunters and continue to support wildlife conservation. We cannot do it without your support! I look forward to seeing us all back together as we get back to a normal way of life. Yours in hunting & conservation,
Matt Pyle HSCF President
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 9
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR‘S
MESSAGE
JOE BETAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
I
n 1950, Brunswick Billiards released a popular novelty toyThe Magic 8 Ball. For those of you not familiar with this spherical device, it looks like a larger plastic version of the 8 Ball found on every billiards table. It contains a 20-sided die (an Icosahedron-don’t be impressed. I had to Google that word!) which floats in a sea of blue liquid. On the die, there are 10 positive answers, 5 negative answers, and 5 vague responses such as “Concentrate and ask again”. Shake the Magic 8 Ball, ask it a question, flip it over to the window and wait for the die to mystically provide a reply. I have one on my desk. The HSCF staff and I always have a good laugh when an issue comes up and we seek the wisdom of the Magic 8 Ball. “Will the pandemic end soon?” The Magic 8 Ball responds, “Concentrate and ask again.” “Will we be able to have a convention?” Again, the Magic 8 Ball casts its wisdom, “My sources say no.” We don’t actually use the Magic 8 Ball to make big decisions, but it does provide a slight bit of comedic relief to our day. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Magic 8 Ball has been as good a predictor as any as to what the future holds for all of us. In the last issue of Hunter’s Horn™ magazine, I told you we were still planning on having our convention. I was wrong. We had planned to conduct a fundraising banquet in April. Again, I was wrong. You see, the powers of the Magic 8 Ball are no match for an infectious disease process that has changed the way we go about our daily lives. By no means was this what we wanted or predicted for 2021. We like getting together with all of you-seeing your smiling faces, sharing a beverage, swapping stories from the field, looking at photos of your latest adventure, and raising money for HSCF’s mission and outreach efforts. It was not to be. This pandemic has affected each of us in some way, be it business struggles, illness, the tragic loss of loved ones. The difficult decision was made to not conduct our annual convention or an April fundraising banquet. Why? One of our highest priorities is your health, safety, and well-being. We did not feel it would be responsible to ask you to gather in large groups at a time when the potential infection rate was high and the rollout out of vaccines was not in a phase of widespread implementation. In addition, most exhibitors faced uncertain travel conditions, quarantines, and high incremental costs related to these factors. We did not wish to conduct a convention and Expo that were not of the quality you or our exhibitors have come to expect over the years. On February 27th, HSCF conducted a successful online, virtual fundraising auction to help support our mission areas. Thank you to all who participated and worked so hard to make this event a success. The HSCF staff is busy coordinating safe,
10 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
socially distanced monthly events so we may begin to reassemble and network once again. People and fellowship are two of the cornerstones of this organization. We are trying to do everything we can to bring that back to HSCF. Look for updates at hscfdn.org/upcoming-events/. Through it all, I applaud the HSCF Board of Directors for their leadership, advisement, and flexibility to adapt to conditions that change on a weekly basis. I would also like to recognize the small but mighty HSCF staff for their patience, hard work and positive attitudes as we navigate the maze of running a nonprofit organization during these difficult times. Many do not realize that each time a change in direction is required, there are literally hundreds of steps and thousands of action items that must occur as a result. Let it be known that you have a team of dedicated ‘rock stars’ working on your behalf each and every day. Please remember, the annual HSCF Board of Director elections will be coming up in April. This year, we will be conducting voting through an online process instead of mailing ballots. You will receive an email notice about how to vote and there will be notifications posted in the Bush Telegraph newsletter. The online process will save HSCF several thousands of dollars. Please join me in welcoming our newest Corporate Partner-FORLOH! FORLOH is now the Official Technical Apparel of HSCF. 100% made in America! Check out their website for all of your hunting apparel needs at FORLOH.com. Also, please join me in thanking Capital Farm Credit for once again renewing their Corporate Partnership. Ad Loans, Home Loans, Crop Insurance and more. Capital Farm Credit is Texas’ Largest Ag Lender. These companies provide funding for our outreach efforts. Please support them whenever possible. If I can leave you with a parting message, it would be this. If you are able, please support the Houston Safari Club Foundation. Sponsor a monthly event. Establish an endowment. Make a donation or commit to a recurring donation. Commit to a planned giving effort. Offer a matching gift. Advertise your business in the magazine or any of the numerous HSCF media channels. Renew or upgrade your membership and encourage others to join. This is YOUR organization, and your organization needs your support now more than ever. The programs we implement and support-scholarships, youth education programs, youth hunting and fishing trips, wildlife and habitat programs, and more, are mostly funded by the monies raised at our annual convention. Due to factors beyond our control, that convention did not happen. We are calling on you to help us continue our good works to support the future of hunting. In support of hunting and conservation,
Joe Betar Executive Director, Houston Safari Club Foundation
The Hunting Consortium 1 RHR ACROSS FROM ED MESSAGE ? SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 11
HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Bob Abernathy
Angela Burrows
Armando DeLeon
Greg Harvey
John Abraham
JD Burrows
Charlie Desautels
Vickie Hayes
Charlotte Alexander
Prentiss Burt
Elliot Desautels
Charles Head
Richard Alexander
Daniel Butler
Jen Desautels
Jerry Henderson
Crystal Allison
Turner Butts
Perry Dillon
Mark Herfort
Shannon Alston
Don Byrne
Randy Donato
Heinert Hertling
Michael Ambrose
C. Cagle
Barry Donoho
Robert Hibbert
Anne Avara
Dennis Cain
Tim Doucet
Greg Hill
Jacob Avara
Thomas Cain
Megan Doyel
Loren Hill
Skip Avara
Rick Callison
James (Red) Duke *
Steven Hill
Paul Babaz
Alex Campbell
Dannine Duncan
Nicholas Hinze
Camp Bailey
Bill Carter *
Jan Duncan
Suzanne Hixson
Cope Bailey
Ivan Carter
Scott Duncan
Edward Hoffman
Freddie Bailey
Paul Carter
Bruce Edwards
William Holder
Kenneth Bailey
Ben Case
Robert Elkins
Bill Honza
Frank Baird
Barbara Cavender-Lewis
Walton Eller
Toby Huerta
Jo Baird
Preston Cavner
Susan Ellerbeck *
Gene Human
Mike Baird
Chris Caywood
Gary Ellison
Tanya Hurlburt
Jack Barksdale
Tracey Cearley
Will Ellison
Terry Hurlburt
L. Irvin Barnhart *
Alan Cegielski
Shaun Essery
Harold Inman *
Wendy Barnhart-Lamplough
Doug Centilli
Travis Findley
Justin Itzel
Steven Beatte
Christopher Clark
Charlene Floyd
Keith Itzel John Jackson
James Bell
James Clark
Tommy Fogle
Lyndel Berry
Steve Clark
Randy Fowler
Jack Jensen
Tony Bessette
Craig Clendenin
Nathan Foyil *
W.A. “Bill” Jentsch
Charlotte Betar
Michael S. Clifford
Michael Franklin
Clay Johnson
Joe Betar
Stephen Coale
Bobby Frederick
Todd Johnson
James Biggerstaff
Keith Coleman
Aaron Freeman
Robert Jones
Jeff Birmingham
Randall Coleman *
Nichol Freeman
Harris Junell
Craig Boddington
Russell Coleman
Donald French
Darrell Kainer
Werner Boeer
Joe Collett
Warren Gallant
David Kalich
Jay Bonano
Dwayne Collier
Jeff Garrett
Susan Kalich
E. Bond
Frank Comiskey
Randal Garrett
Kirk Kanady
Greg Bond
Hunter Comiskey
Scott Garrett
Michelle Kangas Gaye Kelsey
Pete Bonora
Kevin Comiskey
Tanya Garrett
Jeri Booth
Alan “Bink” Cooke
Zachary Garrett
John Kelsey
Frederick (Tony) Box
Dian Cooper
Paul Geiger
William Kelsey
Luanne Bozeman
Rocky Cooper
Frank Giacalone
Julianne King
W. Steven Bozeman
George Councill
Salvatore Giannetti
Mark King
James Braus
Steve Crawford
Gary Glesby
Rick Kirk
John Bridgwater
Steve Crawford
Carl Godfrey
Jim Klentzman
Jack Brittingham
Kenneth Crockett
Russell Gordy
Robert Kneppler
Elizabeth Brueggeman
Gary Crouch
Jeff Gorski
Philip Koehne
Mark Brueggeman
Deb Cunningham
William Gouldin
George Kollitides
Joe Bruno
Ford Cunningham
Sandra Green
Tommy Kolwes
Aaron Bulkley
Linda Cunningham
Kevin Gregory
Phil Koonce George Kopecky
Matt Burke
Ralph Cunningham *
Edward Guinn
Robert Burke
Ralph Daigle
Dodd Hackman
Keith Lake
Byron Burris
Joe Davis
Clayton Hagerman
Fred Lamas
Grady Burris
Laurent Delagrange
Cory Hall
Wayne LaPierre
Quint Burris
Armando DeLeon
James Halley
Joel Latham
12 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
HSCF LIFE MEMBERS Kyle Lehne
Michael Park
Joseph Sayers
Robert Thomas
Richard Leibman
Michael Parr
Corey Schaefer
Heidi Thomas-Kersh
John Lindholm
Steve Pate
Scott Scheinin
J.B. Tinney
Eric Lipar
Trevor Penny
Robert Scherer
John Tobin
Tom Lipar
John Pepper
Wade Schindewolf
Pete Trammell
Bryant Littlefield
Melanie Pepper
Adam Schindler
Ted Trout *
Mark Livesay
Grant Perry
George Severence
Hal Tryon
Ricardo Longoria
Stephanie Perry
Wayne Sheets
Don Turner
Cody Loverin
Will Perry
John Shelby
Aart Van Den Brink
Doug Luger
Timothy Peter
Richard Shepherd
Jason Vanderbrink
David Mafrige
Bryce Phillips
Jason Shrieve
Phillip Veale
Shane Mahoney
Carson Phillips
William Simmons
Thom Venus
Paige Manard
Dusty Phillips
Austin Simpson
Amanda Vick
D Martin
Wilson (Woody) Phillips
Autumn Simpson
William Vick Juan Villaveces
John Martin
Thomas Powell
Barret Simpson
James Masten
Kevin Poynter
Becky Simpson
Glenn Vincent
Chad Matherne
Andrew Pratt
Dawn Simpson
Jeffery Vinson
Wyatt McBride
Kymberly Pratt
Jacob Simpson
Pierre Vorster
Mitzy McCorvey
Charles Prince
Jody Simpson
Joshua Walker
Tony McCorvey
Sharon Propes
Michael Simpson
Greg Walla
Ed McCrory
Matt Pyle
Mike Simpson
Rob Walsh
Travis McWilliams
Carlos Ramirez
Travis Simpson
John Waltz Dana Weber
Gerald Meinecke
Bryan Ray
Tristan Simpson
Chris Metz
Christina Ray
Weston Simpson
Rick Weber
Lewis Metzger
Lawrence Rearick
Sam Skipper
Larry Weishuhn
Greg Mills
William Reed
Aurelia Skipwith
Brian Welker
Brook Minx
Gayle Rettig
Carter Smith
Denise Welker
Howard Monsour
Tim Richardson
Cooper Smith
Robert Wells
Forrest Montealegre
Keith Riggs
Jason Smith
Brian Welsh
Paul Montealegre
Theresa Riggs
Mandy Smith
Lawrence West
G.L. Moore
David Ristau
Steve Smith *
Matt West
Reed Morian
John Robberson
Tom Snyder
James Whaley
Tommy Morrison
Eric Robinson
Norman Speer
Bruce Whitmire
Ron Mostyn
Larry Robinson
James Stacy
Bill Wilkinson *
Dustin Mykyte
Mike Robinson *
Kaylee Stacy
Ron Willenborg
Jason Nash
Chuck Rod
Mary Edith Stacy
Steve Willenborg
Shannon Nash
Robert Rod *
Larry Stifflemire
Gregory Williamson
Bob Neese
Stephen Rogers
Mark Stouse
Alan Winslette
Rob Neilson
William Rohrbach
Randy Strickland
Robby Winstead
Scott Nelson
William Roosevelt
H. Stuart
Kurt Wiseman
Shaun Nelson
Gary Rose
Greg Stube
John Wood
William B. Newlin
Mark Rose
David Swan
Bill Woodall
Rudy Nix
Jerry Rubenstein
Dr. Lloyd Swiedom
J.D. Woods
K. Nunnally
Chris Ruhman
Sally Swiedom
Patricia Woods
Carol O’Day
John Rulon
Leah Symens
Debi Young
Kerry O’Day
Gerald Russell
Tyler Symens
Preston Young Brian Zaitz
Charles Onstead
Byron Sadler
Peter Tam
Kevin Ormston
Sandra Sadler
Stephen Tam
Neal Overstreet
Michael Sample
Larry Tatom
John Painter
William Sample
Terry Taylor
Gus Pankonien
Michael Sandeen
Mark Terpstra
* Deceased SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 13
HOUS T ON S A FA R I C L U B F OU N DAT ION
COR POR ATE MEMBER S TH A NK YOU F OR SU PPORTING HSCF
Alaska Skookum Guides alaskaskookumguides.com
Brush Country Studios / Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studios brushcountrystudios.com
Capital Farm Credit capitalfarmcredit.com
Clay Time claytimebaycity.com
Forloh forloh.com
Gsell’s Whitetails gsellswhitetails.com
Hawkeye Hunting Club hawkeyehunting.com
HomeLand Properties homelandprop.com
HuntersInc.com LLC
miltonlakelodge.com
Republic Boot Co. republicbootcompany.com
Royal Outfitters royaloutfittersuk.com
Ruple Properties southtexasranches.com
Savé Valley Conservancy savevalleyconservancy.org
.
WW
TEMPER A S E M P E R A T U R E C O N TA T U RO E XW . T E X A S T L. C
R EO M
T
Champion Ranch huntchampionranch.com
SilencerCo silencerco.com
14 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
Soele Texas Best Ranches texasbestranches.com
NC
CO
NT
RO
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, I
Texas Temperature Control texastemperaturecontrol.com
WildLife Partners wildlifepartners.com
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Salim Ahmed
Randy Faas
Mark Loux
Clint Steffens
Mike Arnold
Cheryl Faust
Anthony Lupis
Chris Tabacca
Nick Ashley
George Geier
John McLemore
Andy Techmanski
Brennen Ashley
Travis Genz
Chris Metz
Damon Thornton
Kristi Ayers
Joe Gillespie
Ry Muzzarelli
John Tomlinson
Quinn Badder
Wayne Green
Jason Nash
Mackinzie Van Voorhees
Bruce Bain
Tracy Hatz
Kayla Ormston
Craig Vanarsdale
Joseph Barbknecht
Alwyn Hefer
Clay Padgett
Jason Vanderbrink
Connor Barker
Kayla Heineike
Kim Pankonien
Christian Weth
Carson Barker
Parker Hopkins
Robert Partin
Oliver Wettstein
Bill Barker
David Koch
Grant Perry
Andy Weynand
Dylan Bennett
Robert Kroger
Corey Power
Guy Whittall
Fred Blackmon, Jr.
Harry Kutner
Seth Rademacher
Chip Wittrock
Lucian Bukowski
Christopher Lad
Jason Scarbrough
Michael Zimmer
Hudson Cavner
Davis Lamberton
Eli Scarbrough
Scott Chopard
Jaime Latshaw
Cooper Smith
James Dodkin
Chesney Lofton
Payton Solise
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 15
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LIVE ONLINE AUCTION
Convention Chair Message By Trey White, 2021 HSCF Convention Chairman
I
would first like to say that I hope this finds all of you and your family safe and healthy. This year has been a crazy one for all and that has been no different for those of us planning the 2021 HSCF Convention. We were no able to have the full convention that we wanted, but we did have a very successful online auction. I would like to thank all of you that participated in that event. Without you it would not have been a success. Your continued support and generosity will ensure that the HSCF will be able to continue in its mission. I would like to express an enormous thank you to Conroe Taxidermy and the entire Simpson family for hosting our online auction, the Houston Safari Club Foundation would not be the same without your efforts.
18 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
I would also like to thank our great staff. Putting together a convention and all of the other activities our organization does takes a tremendous amount of work. Through all of this year, no matter what occurred our staff handled it with grace, perseverance, and good humor. We have the best staff in the world, bar none. So, thanks to Carla, Nancy, Angi, and Joe, you have made this year so much easier than it could have been. I will be forever grateful. We are already planning our 2022 HSCF Convention. Mark your calendars for February 4-6, 2022. Our 2022 Convention will be held at the George R Brown Convention Center and the Hilton of the Americas. Please contact Nancy Oka at (713) 623-8844 or nancy@ wehuntwegove.org. I cannot wait to see each and every one of you next year! ★
Top: Conroe Taxidermy hosted a watch party in their grand new showroom. Above: Auctioneer Nick Hinze kept the audience engaged. Right: HSCF President Matt Pyle presents 2021 HSCF Convention Chair Trey White with the President’s Award and Convention Chair thank you gift. Below: The HSCF viewing party was well attended.
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 19
2021 HSCF
CONVENTION
Convention Sponsors PRESENTING SPONSORS
BRONZE SPONSOR SUZANNE HIXSON In Memory of Steve Smith
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
20 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
UNDERWRITING SPONSORS
GAZELLES SPONSORS Title Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor Conroe Taxidermy
Gold Sponsors Angie & J.D. Burrows
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS
Leah & Tyler Symens - Hal Watson Air Conditioning Co.
Legacy Sponsors
Gay Rod, In Memory of Bob Rod
Ann & Randy Fowler In Memory of Ralph Cunningham
Silver Sponsors
Ellen and Hank Bachmann Edwin E. Smith
Carolyn & William Newlin Laurie-Leigh and Trey White
Suzanne Hixson, In Memory of Steve Smith MaryAnn & Gerald Russell Nancy & Gary Ellison
Patron Sponsors
Pug & Ron Mostyn
Mackenzie and Rudy Nix
Melanie & John Pepper
Cokinos Young - Craig Power
Bronze Sponsors
Connie and Stephen Coale Denise & Brian Welker
Rebecca Booth Monica and Greg Mills Rebekah Shandiz Akbari Boone
Pug & Ron Mostyn In Memory of Ralph Cunningham
Pro Cargo - Cindi & John Rulon
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 21
2021 HSCF
CONVENTION
Exhibitors & Donors Sorry we couldn’t meet up this year. Please keep our loyal exhibitors and donors in mind as you plan your next hunt, buy your hunting apparel and accessories, or look for that wide open space for your next home.
ARTWORK Art by L. Mower
www.facebook.com/lmowerart
Maxine Bone Art
www.maxinebone.com
Treasure Investments Corp www.fineart1.com
Wildlife Artist Vickie McMillan-Hayes www.vickiemcmillan.com
ASSOCIATION/ NON-PROFIT Ambassadors of Conservation www.ambassadorsofconservation.com
Higher Calling Wildlife
GoWithBo Booking and Guide Service
www.gowithbo-online.com
Link’s Wild Safaris
www.linkswildsafaris.com
Russell Selle Custom Hunts www.rscustomhunts.com
Safari Specialists Group
www.safarispecialistsgroup.com
Spanish Ibex and Chamois
www.spanishibexandchamois.com
Sporting International Inc. www.sportinginternational.com
The Global Sportsman
www.theglobalsportsman.com
MidwayUSA Foundation
www.midwayusafoundation.org
CLOTHING/ JEWELRY/ FOOTWEAR
Wildlife Habitat Federation
African Elephant Hair Bracelets www.safarijewelry.com
www.highercalling.com
www.whf-texas.org
BOOKING AGENT
Ala Blanca Jewelry
www.alablancajewelry.com
Baranof Jewelers
www.baranofjewelers.com
Elizabeth Sass Fine Jewelry www.elizabethsassfinejewelry.com
Fedha Nyuki
www.fedhanyuki.com
J.B. Hill Boot Company www.jbhilltexas.com
Max Lang Belts & Buckles www.maxlang.com
Russell Moccasin Company www.russellmoccasin.com
FIREARMS Blaser USA
www.blaser-group.com/us
Divide Gun Company www.dividegun.com
Fausti USA
www.faustiusa.com
HEYMUSA/Double Gun Imports www.heymusa.com
2 Continents Hunting
Alan Michael USA Leatherworks
KL Shelton Custom Kentucky Rifles LLC
Detail Company Adventures
Avanti by Avanti LLC
MG Arms Inc.
www.2continentshunting.com www.detailcompany.com
22 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
www.alanmichaelusa.com www.avantibyavanti.com
www.klsheltonkentuckyrifles.com www.mgarmsinc.com
Nighthawk Custom
Cedar Eaters of Texas
Red Desert Rifles
Frosch
Silencer Central
Hearthstone, Inc
www.hearthstonehomes.com
African Arrow Safaris
SilencerCo
Outlaw Land Clearing and Fencing
Beyond Horizon Safaris
www.nighthawkcustom.com www.reddesertrifles.com www.silencercentral.com www.silencerco.com
Suppressed Weapon Systems www.suppressedweaponsystems.com
Vanden Berg Custom
www.vandenbergcustom.com
FURNITURE Billiard Factory
www.billiardfactory.com
Terry Wilson Antler Designs www.wilsonantlers.com
FURS Alaska Fur Gallery
www.alaskafurgallery.com
GUN SAFES
www.cedareater.com www.frosch.com
www.outlawlandclearingandfencing.com
Texan Knives
www.texanknives.com
The Gun Cleaners
www.theguncleaners.com
Travel with Guns
www.sportear.com and www.goaxil.com
Trophy Ear
www.trophyear.com
MEDICAL Global Rescue
www.globalrescue.com
MISCELLANEOUS All Out Ranch Improvements, LLC
www.alloutranchimprovements.com
www.africanarrowsafaris.com
Boesmanskraal Safaris
www.boesmanskraalsafaris.com
BoschNel Safaris
www.boschnelsafaris.co.za
Boss Safaris and Outfitters LLC www.bosssafaris.com
www.buchananhunts.com
www.wildlifepartners.com
OPTICS Field Optics Research
www.fieldopticsresearch.com
iScope Optics LLC
SportEar, LLC
www.africamaximum.co.za
Wildlife Partners, LLC
www.facebook.com/uberhuttedrahts
HUNTING GEAR www.forloh.com
Africa Maximum Safaris
Braeside Safaris
Moore Security
FORLOH
www.acaciahunting.com www.huntingsafarisafrica.com
V.D. Uberhutte Deutsch Drahthaar
GPO USA- German Precision Optics
www.mooresecuritysafes.com
Acacia Hunting Safaris Namibia
www.gpo-usa.com www.iscope.com
Novagrade
www.novagrade.com
Riton Optics
www.ritonoptics.com
TRACT Optics
www.tractoptics.com
OTHER Norton & Hodges
www.nortonandhodges.com
OUTFITTERAFRICA AAA Africa Serapa Safaris www.serapasafaris.co.za
www.braesidesafaris.co.za
Buchanan Hunts
Buffalo Kloof Wildlife Safaris www.buffalokloofsafaris.co.za
Bush Africa Safaris
www.bushafricasafaris.co.za
Cabassa Safaris
www.cabassasafaris.com
Cape to Cairo Safari
www.capetocairosafari.com
Chapungu-Kambako Safaris www.chapungu-kambako.com
Dave Freeburn Safaris www.davefreeburn.com
Eastcape & Karoo Safaris www.hunteasterncape.com
Epic Hunting Safaris South Africa
www.huntingsafarisouthafrica.co.za
Game Trackers Africa
www.gametrackersafrica.com
Garry Kelly Safaris
www.garrykellysafaris.com
High Veld Safaris
www.highveldsafaris.com
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 23
Hunters Creek Safari Outfitters
Ndumo Safaris Namibia
Intrepid Safaris
Phillip Bronkhorst Safaris
Ivy Safaris
Quagga Safaris
Jannie Otto Safaris
Re a Lora Safaris
Johan Hermann Safaris
Sadaka Safaris
JWK Safaris
Sabudawn Safaris
Kuche Safaris
Somerby Safaris
Kwalata Safaris PTY (LTD)
Spiral Horn Safaris
Lategan Safaris
Tam Safaris
Leopard Rock Outfitters
Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris
Limcroma Safaris
Tinashe Outfitters
Lloyd Safaris
Tom Dreyer Safaris
Mabula Pro Safaris
Trompettersfontein Safaris & Hunting Lodge
www.hunterscreek.co.za
www.intrepidsafaris.com www.ivysafaris.com www.jannieotto.com
www.johanhermannsafaris.com www.jwksafaris.com www.kuche.co.za
www.kwalatasafaris.co.za www.lategansafaris.com
www.leopardrockoutfitters.com www.limcroma.com
www.lloyd-safaris.co.za www.mabulaprosafaris.co.za
Mashambanzou Safaris
www.mashambanzousafaris.com
Mayo Oldiri Group www.mayoldiri.com
McDonald Safaris
www.mcdonaldsafaris.com
Michel Mantheakis Safaris Ltd www.mm-safaris.com
Motsomi Safaris www.motsomi.com
Mwatisi Safaris Ltd
www.omarsherdell.wixsite.com/ mwatisi-safaris
Ndloti Safari Adventures
www.ndlotisafariadventures.com
24 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
www.huntingsafaris.net www.pbsafaris.co.za www.quagga.co.za
www.realorasafaris.co.za www.sadakasafaris.co.za www.sabudawnsafaris.co.za www.somerbysafaris.com www.spiralhorn.co.za www.tamsafaris.com www.africatrophyhunting.com www.tinashegroup.co.za www.tomdreyersafaris.com
www.trompettersfonteinsafaris.com
Tsala Hunting Safaris www.tsalasafari.com
White Lion Safaris
www.whitelionsafaris.com
Zander Osmers Safaris www.osmers.co.za
OUTFITTERAFRICA & AMERICA Mayo Oldiri Group / 2 Continents Hunting www.mayoldiri.com
OUTFITTER- ASIA Eventus Hunt Russia www.eventus-hunt.com
OUTFITTERCENTRAL AMERICA Tarpon Caye Lodge Belize www.tarponcaye.com
Tropic Star Lodge www.tropicstar.com
OUTFITTEREUROPE ATP Hunt
www.atphunt.com
Cazatur Spain & Europe www.cazatur.com
Giuseppe Carrizosa- SPAIN www.giuseppecarrizosa.com
Great European Hunts
www.greateuropeanhunts.com
Herederos Hunting Spain www.herederoshunting.com
Hunt in Croatia - Falco Safaris www.falcosafaris.com
Hunt Trip Spain
www.hunttripspain.com
Royal Outfitters UK
www.royaloutfittersuk.com
Safari International Macedonia www.interhunts.com
Safari Art
www.safari-eha.com
The Iberian Hunting Experience www.theiberianhuntingexperience.com
OUTFITTER- NEW ZEALAND Exclusive Adventures New Zealand
www.exclusiveadventures.nz.com
Four Seasons Safaris New Zealand
Great White Holdings Ltd.
Powder Ridge Outfitters
Greystone Castle Sporting Club
Prairies Edge Outfitting
Gsell’s Whitetails
Recordbuck Ranch
Hacienda Las Palmas
Star S Ranch
Hawkeye Hunting Club
Stukel’s Upland Adventures
Horseshoe Creek Outfitters
Swamp Nasty Outfitters
Joshua Creek Ranch
Texas Hunt Lodge
Alaska Coastal Outfitters
Keeper Ranch
Udell’s Guiding and Outfitting / Kelly Udell
Alaska Expedition Lodge
King Ranch
Alaska Skookum Guides
Kiowa Hunting Service
Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge
Lonesome Coyote Ranch
Big Easy Ranch
Lusco Outdoors LLC
Buckbrush Outfitters
McDougall Lodge Alaska
Buffalo Creek Ranch, Inc
Midwest Custom Hunts
www.midwestcustomhunts.com
www.wildmanlodge.com www.wildalaskahunting.com
Candle Lake Outfitters
Milton Lake Lodge
Wingchase & Co.
Cavner & Julian Inc
New Mexico LOH
Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail
NNNN Operations, LLC
Deshka Landing Charters & Lodge
Northern Giants Trophy Ranch
Dove Island Lodge
www.outbackoutfittersnm.com
www.fourseason.co.nz
Glen Dene Hunting & Fishing www.glendenehunting.com
Spey Creek Trophy Hunting w/ John McBride www.sctrophyhunting.com
Wanganui Safaris New Zealand www.wsafaris.com
Wilderness Quest New Zealand www.wildernessquestnz.com
OUTFITTERNORTH AMERICA www.alaskahunting.com
www.alaskaexpedition.com
www.alaskaskookumguides.com www.boardwalklodge.com www.bigeasyranch.com www.huntbuckbrush.com
www.buffalocreekranch.com
www.candlelakeoutfitters.com www.huntingadventure.com www.cottonmesawhitetail.com
www.deshka.com
www.doveislandlodge.com
Fishtail Ranch Outfitters www.fishtailranch.com
www.greatwhiteholdings.com www.greystonecastle.com www.gsellswhitetails.com www.laspalmashunting.com www.hawkeyehunting.com
www.horseshoecreekoutfitters.com www.joshuacreek.com
www.keeperranch.com www.kingranchhunting.com www.kiowahunting.com
www.lonesomecoyoteranch.com www.luscoutdoors.com
www.mcdougalllodge.com
www.miltonlakelodge.com www.lohoutfitters.com www.4nranches.com
www.northerngiantsranch.com
Outback Outfitters
Parker Guide Service
www.alaskaboathunts.com
www.powderridgeoutfitters.com www.prairiesedgeoutfitting.com www.recordbuck.com
www.star-s-ranch.com www.stukels.com
www.swampnastyoutfitters.com www.texashuntlodge.com
www.udellshunting.com
Upfront Outfitters
www.upfrontoutfitters.com
Wade Lemon Hunting
www.wadelemonhunting.com
Wesley Silcox Outfitters (Wild Man Adventures)
www.wesleysilcoxoutfitters.com
White Peaks Outfitters www.whitepeaksranch.com
Wildman Lake Lodge
Wollaston Lake Lodge
www.wollastonlakelodge.com
XFactor Whitetails of Indiana www.xfactorwhitetails.com
Y.O. Ranch
www.yoranchheadquarters.com
OUTFITTERSOUTH AMERICA Acute Angling
www.acuteangling.com
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 25
Conroe Taxidermy
www.pueloexpeditions.com
REAL ESTATE/ CREDIT/ PROPERTY LENDING
Catena Safaris Argentina
Capital Farm Credit
Tri-State Taxidermy
Chaku Peru
Capitol Ranch Real Estate
Woodbury Taxidermy and Wild Game Processing
Exciting Outdoors
Hayden Outdoors
Frontera Wingshooting
Ranchland Real Estate
MG Hunting
Ruple Properties
Norte Hunters
Texas Ag Realty, LLC
ARGENHUNTS
www.argenhunts.com
Argentina Puelo Expeditions www.catenasafarisargentina.com www.chakuperu.com www.excitingoutdoors.com www.fronterawingshooting.com www.mghunting.com www.nortehunters.com
Pointer Outfitters
www.pointerwingshooting.com
River Plate Wingshooting www.riverplateoutfitters.com
Rod & Gun Resources www.rodgunresources.com
Sierra Brava Lodge LLC www.sierrabrava.com
www.capitalfarmcredit.com www.ranchrealestate.com
www.haydenoutdoors.com www.ranchlandrealestate.com www.rupleproperties.com www.texasagrealty.com
Whitetail Properties, LLC www.whitetailproperties.com
SHOOTING INSTRUCTION FTW/SAAM
www.ftwsaam.com
TAXIDERMY B&B Taxidermy
www.bbtaxidermy.com
Brush Country Studios/Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studios www.brushcountrystudios.com
www.conroetaxidermy.com
Taxidermy America
www.taxidermyamerica.com www.tri-statetaxidermy.com
www.woodburytaxidermy.com
Woods & Water Taxidermy
www.woodsandwatertaxidermy.com
TROPHY SHIPPER Cindi and John Rulon - Pro Cargo www.procargo.com
Coppersmith Global Logistics www.huntingtrophy.com
Trophy Shippers
www.trophyshippers.com
WILDLIFE SUPPLY Atascosa Wildlife Supply/Bushlan www.awsblinds.com
Purina Mills
www.purinamills.com
South Texas Tripods and Feeders Inc
www.southtexastripodsandfeeders.com
Thank you! 26 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 27
African Species Importation Bans, Prescribed Fire, Sunday Hunting: What Can We Expect in Sporting Conservation Policy this Year?
BY JEFF CRANE, PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION
T
hat’s a big question. Sporting conservation policy ranges on a broad spectrum, especially when it comes to the many nuances that might arise in various states in the year ahead. Some of the same policies are reintroduced year-to-year with an attempt to finally be enacted, while others might be new ideas that require the sporting conservation community to stay on its toes. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) States Program Team (SPT) has been hard at work pushing back against or advocating for – depending on what is in the best interest of sportsmen and women and conservation – legislation and regulatory proposals in states across the country. With the collective force of policy experts that make up our SPT and through our working relationships with conservation partners like Houston Safari Club, CSF looks forward to furthering our mission to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting, and trapping in the halls of government. Representing the sporting conservation community in state capitols across the nation, our States Program Team works on hundreds of bills impacting sportsmen and women and tracks more than 10,000 regulatory bills and proposals each year. Below are just a few examples of some key policy proposals that will affect – for better or worse—America’s sportsmen and women in 2021.
NORTHEAST
Over the past several years, trophy import bans on African species have been a recurring theme in the Northeast region. Introduced this past January, Connecticut Senate Bill 62, New York Assembly Bills 716 and 805, and New York Senate Bill 2814, seek to prohibit the import, transportation, sale, and possession of certain African species. Whether intentionally misleading or due to sheer ignorance, these bills commonly misrepresent the “Big Five” species, ignoring the Cape buffalo and instead including white and black rhinoceros separately, as well as giraffes. These proposed bans fail to consider the consequences of undermining the source of funding for anti-poaching programs and the many rural African communities that rely on the much needed hunting-related tourism dollars. Legislators who propose and support these bills do not understand (or don’t care) 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, this revenue is the primary source of management, conservation, and anti-poaching funds for national wildlife authorities. These bills would also unnecessarily harm the economic development of these nations. For background, New Jersey enacted similar legislation (Senate 28 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
Bills 977 and 978) in 2016 that targeted lawfully harvested hunting trophies and banned the importation and possession of items from “Big 5” species by residents of the State. A lawsuit was promptly filed under the argument that the ban was preempted by Section 6(f ) of the Endangered Species Act. That same year, a judgment was entered against the State, thus overturning the ban. Similarly, in 2018, California’s former Governor Edmund G. Brown vetoed legislation that attempted to institute the Iconic African Species Protection Act. In the former Governor’s veto message, he stated that despite sharing “the sentiments of the author, this bill, if enacted, would be unenforceable.” Other concerning bills to look out for in the northeast include Connecticut House Bill 5031 (prohibition on the sale of fur products), Maryland Senate Bill 200 (ban on hunting contests for coyotes, foxes, and raccoons), and New York Assembly Bill 1518 (adds rhinoceroses and giraffes to the list of species of which the sale, barter, and trade of their parts, or products containing their parts, is prohibited). Bills such as these propagate misguided sentiments about hunting and trapping, and they serve no purpose other than to advance anti-sportsmen’s agendas in the northeast region. They are based purely on emotion, rather than scientific principles, and if enacted, would restrict opportunities that further our nation’s sporting heritage while negatively impacting the economy.
MIDWEST
Missouri House Bill (HB) 369 and Senate Bill (SB) 301 each seek to establish a Prescribed Burning Act to define liability standards for landowners and certified prescribed burn managers, certified by the Missouri Department of Conservation, who use prescribed fire as a management tool on private property. Liability concerns are often cited as a primary reason that many landowners are hesitant to utilize prescribed fire as a management practice. However, prescribed fire, when used appropriately, is an effective tool for managing wildlife habitat, promoting growth and regeneration of native plant communities, mitigating the risk of destructive wildfires, and benefitting overall forest health. CSF is working with partners in support of the Prescribed Burning Act to ensure that Missouri’s private landowners can successfully use all appropriate management tools for the benefit of the state’s wildlife resources. Indiana SB 49, sponsored by Indiana Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jim Tomes, provides that it is an unlawful discriminatory practice for a financial institution or government entity to refuse to do business with or discriminate against a person because the person supports or is engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition. This bill relates to the Firearms Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act, as it would protect the lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition businesses. It is unacceptable to discriminate against businesses simply because they
are engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Dakota HB 1242 would allow anyone who received an apprentice license in the 2020-2021 license year to be eligible for an additional apprentice license in their lifetime. Currently, in North Dakota, a resident may only receive an apprentice license for one year before having to complete a hunter education course. An apprentice hunting license is a tool that provides novice hunters of all ages the opportunity to hunt under the supervision of a licensed hunter before they have completed their hunter education course. The apprentice hunting license removes barriers, making entry into hunting less challenging or intimidating for new hunters while allowing them to receive hands-on experience.
SOUTHEAST
A common theme in the Southeastern region is Sunday hunting restrictions. CSF supports proposals in North Carolina and South Carolina that would lift restrictions that prohibit Sunday hunting on public lands, many of which are purchased and/or managed with sportsmen-generated dollars. Additionally, CSF worked with Virginia Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Chair Delegate James Edmunds to sponsor public lands Sunday hunting legislation in the 2021 legislative session, but unfortunately, the bill failed to move out of committee despite the strong showing of support from the Commonwealth’s sporting community. Hunters are the only user group excluded from public lands on Sunday in Virginia, and CSF will continue advocating for Sunday hunting heading into the 2022 session. In North Carolina, CSF has been working to support rule proposals that would open Sunday hunting on 51 Game Lands across the state comprising more than 1.6 million acres. CSF worked with the North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to pass legislation that transferred regulatory authority for public lands Sunday hunting to the state fish and wildlife agency in 2017, and since that time CSF has been pushing for the state to implement the law. CSF is optimistic that the Wildlife Resources Commission will adopt the rule proposals which would be a major victory for sportsmen’s access in the state. Currently, in South Carolina, CSF is working with the South Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to encourage the state fish and wildlife agency to repeal the regulation that prohibits Sunday hunting on all Wildlife Management Areas in the state, including the Francis Marion and Sumter National Forests. Sunday hunting bans are blue laws with no basis in wildlife management. Repealing the prohibitions on Sunday hunting will support conservation funding, have a positive impact on the state’s economy, and further hunter recruitment, retention, and reactivation efforts. CSF will continue to push for Sunday hunting expansions to increase access and opportunity for the sporting community.
WEST
In New Mexico, House Joint Resolution 5 seeks to establish the constitutional Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife in the state. Though hunting, fishing, and trapping has long been a part of America’s heritage, the “right” to hunt, fish, and trap has recently come into question through the efforts of anti-hunting organizations. Many states have amended their state constitutions to give citizens the right to hunt, fish, and trap in a responsible manner to formally recognize what has been in place for centuries. Currently, 22 states have enacted legislation or amended their constitution to protect the right to hunt and fish.
In Montana, SB 111 aims to allow the use of crossbows during archery season for disabled hunters. This legislation will expand access and opportunity for those who might not otherwise be able to participate in hunting without the ease of access and ability that a crossbow can provide for a disabled hunter. Expanding the ability for disabled sportsmen and women to participate in hunting is crucial for ensuring that all are able to enjoy the outdoors in a manner that fits their needs appropriately while ensuring that our heritage remains for years to come by being available and accessible to everyone. CSF also expects to engage on SB 62 in Montana, which would clarify statutes defining the unlawful possession of game animals, game fish, birds, or any fur-bearing animal. Wildlife are managed as public trust resources for the benefit of all citizens. This bill relates to the Lacey Act, a longstanding federal law that banned the possession, sale, and transport of illegally taken fish and wildlife. Hunters and professional wildlife managers work to ensure that healthy and sustainable populations of wildlife continue in perpetuity. To ensure the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation continues to thrive as it has for decades, this bill includes important language that would further exemplify and enhance these efforts at the state level. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is committed to protecting and advancing the interests of sportsmen and women in the political arena with our partners, including Houston Safari Club. The policy proposals discussed here are crucial to ensuring that our heritage remains vibrant and accessible for generations to come. CSF will not waver in our steadfast dedication to being a voice for sportsmen and women in state legislatures across the country. To stay up-to-date on the legislation mentioned in this article or to learn about the many other issues that CSF is working on, signup for our weekly newsletter, The Sportsmen’s Voice. Additionally, you can receive free personalized alerts on outdoor sporting conservation legislation in your state by signing up for CSF’s Tracking the Capitols. Visit congressionalsportsmen.org to learn more and to sign up for these free services. ★ SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 29
What Is Field Rescue? Contributed by www.globalrescue.com/hscf
G
lobal Rescue pioneered the concept of worldwide Field Rescue in 2004 and launched the ground-breaking Local Field Rescue in 2020. Now, with no mileage restrictions, members can call Global Rescue for help if ill or injured in a remote area and unable to get to safety on their own.
What Is Field Rescue? You’re on a lunch break and decide to take a solo hike on a one-mile trail loop near your home office. It’s only known to locals and inaccessible by motorized vehicles. A relatively steep incline is covered with wet leaves, and you accidentally slip and fall hard on a rock hidden underneath. When you try to stand, it’s obvious something is broken, and you won’t be able to walk out on your own. You need a Field Rescue even though you’re so close to home. You’ve trained for a Mount Everest climb. You’ve gathered your supplies in Kathmandu, taken the flight to Lukla airport, then made the slow climb to Base Camp, elevation 17,600 feet. You developed a noticeable cough on day three, which turned into a wet, hacking cough on day six. During your first night at base camp, you are out of breath while sitting still, your oxygen saturation reads 72%, and the cough is noticeably worse—all signs of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). You also need a Field Rescue. These are two examples of Field Rescue, “the rescue of a person who is injured or ill and in need of hospitalization—and can’t get there on their own. This would be someone who is remote or not immediately accessible via a consumer vehicle and can’t otherwise get to care,” said Jeffrey Weinstein, operations supervisor at Global Rescue. “It is a rescue of someone who is in a remote area to the nearest most appropriate medical facility.” 30 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
To ensure members stayed safe, Global Rescue added Local Field Rescue to its travel protection services memberships and lifted its 100mile requirement. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 31
The Importance of Field Rescue Global Rescue pioneered the concept of worldwide Field Rescue in 2004 to help travelers when they experience a medical or security emergency while traveling away from home. “There are many scenarios under the field rescue umbrella,” Weinstein said. “This could be someone trekking on a remote trail who starts to have heart attack symptoms or a climber in the high mountains with severe frostbite. Neither are accessible by standard emergency services and require specialty rescue services.” Global Rescue pioneered the concept of worldwide Field Rescue in 2004 to help travelers when they experience a medical or security emergency while traveling away from home.
32 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
“If they are a Global Rescue member, they will call us and be assessed by our medical team. Immediate medical advice will be delivered while our team works up the logistics to execute a Field Rescue,” Weinstein said. “Means of transport depends and varies greatly based on geographic location. Evacuation may be performed by helicopter, 4x4, snowmobile, ground team, mule, donkey, yak—it all depends on the local resources available and what is the safest way to move the injured or ill individual.”
Outdoor Recreation Close to Home Historically, Field Rescue had mileage restrictions—travelers were required to be away from home, sometimes 150 miles or more at some travel protection companies, to be eligible for
services. But the pandemic encouraged solo, outdoor activity close to home. To ensure members stayed safe, Global Rescue added Local Field Rescue to its travel protection services memberships and lifted its 100-mile requirement. Whether close to home or away from home, members can call Global Rescue for help if ill or injured in a remote area and unable to get to safety on their own. “More members are getting outdoors and enjoying nature during the pandemic, and they are cycling, hiking, biking, fishing, or walking close to home to follow coronavirus protocols and restrictions,” said Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue. “Offering Local Field Rescue—at no additional cost—was another way to keep our members safe.”
Frequently Asked Questions As with any new service, there are questions. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about traditional Field Rescue and the new Local Field Rescue.
WHAT IS FIELD RESCUE?
Field Rescue is the transport of a member by ground, air, or sea to the nearest hospital, clinic or medical provider. The trigger for a Field Rescue is if the member has a condition requiring hospitalization or likely to cause serious permanent injury or death and they are unable to get to a hospital themselves or by other commercial means.
DOES FIELD RESCUE INCLUDE SEARCH SERVICES?
Field Rescue does not include any activities related to the search.
HOW IS LOCAL FIELD RESCUE DIFFERENT?
You don’t need to be traveling for Local Field Rescue. You no longer need to be 100+ miles from your home. You do need to be in a remote area beyond the trailhead and inaccessible by motorized vehicles—sick or injured in the wilderness or backcountry and unable to get to safety on their own.
HOW MUCH DOES LOCAL FIELD RESCUE COST?
There is no additional cost. Local Field Rescue is included in your Global Rescue membership.
DOES LOCAL FIELD RESCUE INCLUDE ALL OF GLOBAL RESCUE’S SERVICES?
Local Field Rescue provides transport to the nearest appropriate facility. It also includes all related medical advisory services. Unlike Global Rescue services outside the 100-mile-from-home radius, however, it does not include additional hospital to hospital transport that may be required.
WHAT MOTIVATED GLOBAL RESCUE TO OFFER LOCAL FIELD RESCUE?
The pandemic has curtailed travel and boosted local outdoor recreation, exploration, and appreciation. According to Leave No Trace, more people are staying significantly closer to home, with 49.9% remaining within two miles. Sports and outdoor recreation often create medical emergencies, sending more than 3.7 million to the emergency room in 2019. To offer peace of mind during local recreation, Global Rescue removed the requirement for members to be beyond 100 miles of home to be eligible for field rescue services.
DOES ANY OTHER COMPANY OFFER THIS SERVICE?
Global Rescue is the first and only travel risk and crisis management company to offer this service. ★ Global Rescue highly recommends purchasing a Global Rescue membership prior to your next trip. Single trip, annual and family options are available. For more information, visit info.globalrescue.com/hscf or call 617-459-4200 and tell them you’re a Houston Safari Club Foundation member. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 33
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BE
R
Know Your Buffalo
MEM
BY TIM HERALD Over the past ten years, the world of safari hunters has made a shift in what is an acceptable or trophy buffalo. In days passed, everyone just looked at the width of the horn or overall measurements to determine a trophy. Things have evolved much for the better, and now age is the true measure of a trophy to most seasoned African hunters, and in my opinion, should be to even a first-timer. »
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Above: Tracking buffalo can take us to some beautiful wild places.
Ideally, the buffalo bulls that should be taken are old, past their breeding years, and are often cast out of the herds. At a minimum, bulls should be old enough to be completely hard bossed. Mistakes certainly do happen in the field, but shooting a buffalo with soft bosses should be avoided when at all possible. In today’s well-managed buffalo areas, finding a suitable old bull should be attainable on virtually every hunt. I remember my first buffalo hunt nearly 20 years ago like it was yesterday. I chartered into the Charisa Safari Area in Zimbabwe, and I absolutely could not wait to start following tracks. I had been to Africa a few times, but this was my first dangerous game hunt, and I had scrimped and saved for years to do what I thought would be my one and only buffalo hunt. My PH, Jim, picked me up at the airstrip, and we chatted and got to know each other a bit as we drove to camp. I told Jim that I absolutely wasn’t a tape measure hunter. I wanted mature animals that were representative of the species and area. I also told him numerous times that my only criteria for a buffalo were that it had to be old enough and have a completely hard boss. I had heard from other clients that Jim just liked to have clients shoot the first animals they could and be done and dusted as early as possible. So, I really tried to drive home my desire for older animals with him that first day. The next day we got on tracks, walked for hours in the heat, and finally came upon two bulls bedded in the thick stuff. We crawled into less than 50 yards, the closet bull was old, and Jim guessed him 40” wide, and he told me to shoot him. We were filming the hunt for a show on Outdoor Channel, and they had a rule that they would not air footage of an animal being shot while lying down, so I told Jim we had to wait for them to stand up. Of course, the fickle wind changed, the bulls blew out, and we had a 2-hour walk back to the truck in the mid-day heat. Jim was beside himself with anger, and it set a rough tone for the rest of the safari. 38 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
The next day, we were out and actually drove by a large herd of probably 80 buffalo. We continued on for a half-mile, stopped, and decided to stalk back to them with the wind in our favor. Within ten minutes, we were butt scooting closer to the herd, and Jim picked out a bull, pointed him out to me, and told me we were going to stand up, and I should shoot him as quickly as possible. Things worked just right, I made the shot, the bull ran about 70 yards and tipped over and was done. We walked up to the fallen bull from behind, and he wasn’t very wide, but he had really big bosses. All was great until we saw him from the front, and it was obvious that he had very soft bosses and was definitely a young bull. I was not happy, and I could tell that Jim couldn’t care less. That bull probably needed another 4-5 years, he wasn’t even close to being a shooter. I did end up shooting another buffalo on that trip, and while on the shooting sticks, I asked Jim 3 separate times if he was positive the bull was completely hard bossed. He was, and at least I was able to come home with one good bull, it just cost me the price of two! Since that hunt, I have been fortunate to take quite a few more buffalo. I still have the same talk with every PH about only wanting older bulls. Again, mistakes can be made, but you have to strive to take old bulls. A couple of years back, I shot a nice old bull in Zambia that was standing looking straight at us at the edge if some tall grass. I placed the red dot of my Trijicon RMR2 in the middle of his chest and sent a CEB Safari Raptor straight into the boiler room. He did a 180 and disappeared into the cover. My PH and I ran up, quickly were on his spoor, and only 60 yards away when the cover opened up a bit, we right into the bull standing facing us. I pulled up the .470, put another into his chest, and he lumbered off and fell within sight. As we walked up to him, I looked off slightly to our left, and there
Top left: Nice old bull from Tanzania taken with PH Charl Van Rooyen Top right: The author’s “mistake” 2nd bull taken in Zambia at point blank range. Below: The author’s first bull, a young one that should never have been shot.
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Good Buffalo Gear When hunting big dangerous animals like buffalo, your gear can literally make or break a hunt, so it is very important. My overwhelming choice for a bullet on buffalo is Cutting Edge Bullets’ Safari Raptors. These all-brass bullets penetrate a few inches into the buffalo, then 6 blades sheer off and travel in a star shape and do massive trauma. Then the core continues to penetrate like a jagged solid. I have shot buffalo with a number of other bullets, some good, and some bad, but there is nothing out that can compare with a CEB in my opinion. I have ultimate confidence in them, every time. cuttingedgebullets.com
Above: CEB Safari Raptors, before and after being recovered from two buffalo.
I also think optics are very important. I use a Trijicon RMR2 reflex or red dot style sight on my double rifle, and a 2.5x12x42 AccuPoint scope on my bolt action .416. Both have illuminated aiming points that allow for precise aiming and offer very quick target acquisition for follow-up shots which can be very important on buffalo. They also allow for shooting with both eyes open, and that’s a huge plus. trijicon.com
Above: Trijicon RMR2 Sight is perfect for hunting buffalo with a double
Lastly, I have been hunting in KUIU Tiburon shirts, shorts and pants for the past 4 years, and I have never worn anything so light, comfortable, and fast drying. The Tiburon material is basically see-through if you hold it up to the light, but it is durable, breathes, and me being a heavy sweater, it dries incredibly fast. I have found that I don’t sweat nearly as much when wearing it in hot temps because of the breathability. The Tiburon line comes in all the Kuiu camo patterns as well as solids for those who prefer those. I find myself wearing Tiburon shorts casually almost every day during summer at home. kuiu.com
Below: A brace of great old dagga boys in Uganda.
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Left: An experienced bunch of hunters with some truly old and remarkable bulls taken in a week in Karamoja.
was another dead buffalo! The bull to the left was the original buff I had shot, and the one we had run up on, was another we didn’t know about. It wouldn’t have mattered, we were so close to him and had startled him, we most likely would have had to shoot him in self-defense, and it was a two buffalo area. The bad thing was that the second bull had just a bit of soft boss. He was magnificent. He was a bit over 40” wide, had the best drop of any buffalo I have ever shot, and had big 17” bosses, but they were a bit soft at the front edge. In a couple more years, he would have been the kind of buffalo we all dream of. I hated that I had taken him out of the population, but we didn’t have time to assess his headgear when we ran up to him at almost point-blank range. I was in Tanzania a while back with my old buddy Charl Van Rooyen as my PH. Charl and I are close friends, and he knows I only want old buffalo. I was hunting with my .470 double rifle again, and by necessity, we had passed some phenomenal bulls as we couldn’t get close enough for me to be comfortable with the double. We had also passed up on some bulls that were marginal on age. On my last hunting day, we drove into a small group of bulls, and I saw a couple of definite shooters. They ran into a long narrow valley, so we followed and stayed high on one ridge. There ended up being hundreds of buffalo scattered in that valley, and we caught glimpses of quite a few good bulls, but most were on the opposite hill and 200-250 yards away. We shadowed them down the valley, and after about a mile, Charl pointed down the hill to where I could see parts of three bulls. He said the one farthest to the right was a very old bull. He wasn’t as big as many of the 42-45” bulls we had seen, but he was definitely old. I pulled up my Swarovski binos, immediately knew he fit my criteria, and I hit him hard with a big CEB Safari Raptor. The bull dropped on the first shot but was still moving. The grass was fairly high, so from
above him, I put a few more in him for insurance before we waded through the thick stuff to recover him. At the time, that was the ugliest buffalo I had ever shot, but he was perfect to me. He was obviously old, and I had taken him with a good friend at my side. Last spring, I was able to go to buffalo heaven in the Karamoja region of Uganda. I had been twice before, and I knew that it was not uncommon to see hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of Nile buffalo per day. I only wanted to shoot very old buffalo, and I was hoping to find an ancient old “scrum cap”, or a bull that had worn his horns down to the point that only his bosses remain like a cap on the top of his head. On day three after looking over a lot of buffalo, PH Edwin Young and I found two old bulls feeding in some hills. We watched them for a while, and when one swung his head in our direction, we saw that he really had no horns. We immediately dropped down into a small dry creek, flanked the bulls for a few hundred yards, and were able to pop up within 40 yards of the bulls who were completely oblivious of our presence. I put the tiny green aiming point of my Trijicon AccuPoint scope low on his shoulder and sent a 370 grain CEB to its mark. The bull turned and ran straight away, and I quickly worked the bolt and put another in his back end that dropped him right there. This was the bull of my dreams. I have taken some nice old bulls over the years, a few over the coveted 40” mark, but that old scrum cap is the pinnacle for me. That ugly skull will be displayed with prominence in my trophy, and I will never forget making that memory. Lord and COVID-19 willing, I will be back in Uganda about the time this article comes out. You can bet I will be looking for the oldest and gnarliest bull I can find, and that now is the real challenge that makes buff hunting so much fun to me. ★ SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 41
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7
HIDDEN PLAIN SIGHT
IN
Known Jewels in France and Italy PROVENCE, GORDES
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BORDEAUX, BORJA LOPEZ
AS
our world continues to evolve and adapt, dreaming of travel has become a wonderful escape from our day-to-day routines. At Esplanade we hope that soon dreams will become a reality, and what better way to jump back into travel than with off the beaten path locales in France and Italy! While it’s wonderful to spend time in Paris, Rome or Venice, countryside escapes offer space, fewer crowds, and outdoor activities while still allowing for wonderful history, food, and wine experiences. Let your imagination run wild – and give us a call to book your intimate European escape!
FRANCE
From prehistoric cave dwellings and Roman ruins to Impressionism and New Wave cinema, champagne, and chocolate: France offers it all. Take your time exploring the landscapes of the country, from the lavender fields of Provence, to the ethereal cave paintings at Lascaux, to the Renaissance chateaux of the Loire Valley.
Prehistory, Wine, and Gastronomy in Southwestern France
Meet the winemakers and taste the dark red Malbec wines of Cahors. Learn to make duck confit from an expert chef in her kitchen. Visit historic sites that are closed to the public. All of this and more is possible in the charming region of Southwestern France. Start in Bordeaux, a beautiful 18th century city on the swift Garonne river. It’s well known for wine
houses, beautiful cobblestoned streets, perfectly preserved 18th century architecture, wonderful food and, of course, La Cité du Vin, the world’s largest wine museum. Spend a leisurely day with a private guide in the Medoc region visiting illustrious wine châteaux and surrounding vineyards on the Route des Châteaux. Take in the prestigious appellations which forged Bordeaux’s reputation for fine wines: Margaux, Saint-Julien, Pauillac - with wine tastings, of course! Head to the medieval town of St. Emilion, just 30 minutes from Bordeaux. This picture-perfect village is surrounded by vineyards and a thousand years of history, and its size belies all it has to offer. St. Emilion is heaven on earth for food and wine lovers alike. The town is easy to explore on foot, and there are winemakers around every corner who will welcome you into their cellars to learn about the winemaking techniques specific to the region. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 45
LOIRE VALLEY
Further east, toward the center of France, is the must-see Dordogne Valley, forever a favorite of those looking for a quieter, more intimate experience. This region has a wealth of remarkable places of interest, especially prehistoric sites, and appeals as much to architecture fans and lovers of unspoiled landscapes as it does to sporty types and foodies. Hundreds of enchanting villages and peaceful hamlets have been left scattered along its rolling hills, chalky cliffs and fields of sunflowers, and the sunny countryside never fails to impress visitors. Boasting a whopping 22 of ‘The Most Beautiful Villages in France,’ the Dordogne Valley is home to some of the finest residential treasures in France. You can stay in a Michelin-starred country hotel or one of the many ancient chateaux in the area and combine your experience with tastes of the region’s delicious red wines and cooking lessons from expert chefs. If it’s ancient history you’re after, have a guide take you through the Vézère Valley, home to the famous Lascaux caves and the troglodyte site of La Roque Saint Christophe and Les Eyzies de Tayac. Visit the Museum of Prehistory and wander through the village of Saint Leon sur Vézère, the city of Montignac or the Château de Losse showcasing beautiful formal gardens. Book a private guide through Esplanade who can take you on an indepth visit to obscure prehistoric sites - places that are not open to the public. There are many easy paths in the area that will take you through villages and wooded areas and canoeing along the Dordogne River is always a treat.
Picnics and Antiquing in Provence
Imagine strolling through lively town squares, generously shaded by plane trees, as you choose your cheese, bread, and charcuterie for a picnic. Savor delightful market days as you hop around beautiful hillside villages. This is the normal pace of life in Provence and adding this stop to your travel itinerary will bring a calm, centering element to your vacation. Your Esplanade Travel Consultant can arrange for wine tasting 46 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
and lunch with winemakers, gourmet meals at renowned restaurants, and scenic walks or bicycle rides through the Provençal lavender fields. Visit the Roman ruins at Nîmes or Orange and take in the towns of the Camargue region where you can see flocks of pink flamingoes and troops of wild horses. Inspired by the light and colors of this region, artists from Picasso and Van Gogh to Cezanne and Gauguin were inspired to live and create here in the early 20th century. Provence also boasts some of the best antiquing in France. On market day, Isle sur la Sorgue becomes a mecca for those looking to pick up antique linens or flatware and more. Villeneuve les Avignon and Arles are also wonderful spots to hunt for antiques and fun souvenirs.
Splendor and Style in the Loire Valley
If it’s French splendor, style, and gastronomy you seek, the Loire Valley will exceed your expectations, no matter how great. Just a short train or autoroute ride from Paris, the region was once of immense strategic importance. Kings, queens, dukes and nobles came here to establish feudal castles and, later on, sumptuous pleasure palaces – that’s why this fertile river valley is sprinkled with hundreds of France’s most opulent aristocratic estates. With crenellated towers, soaring cupolas, and glittering banquet halls, the region’s châteaux, and the villages and vineyards that surround them, attest to over a thousand years of rich architectural and artistic creativity. The Loire Valley is also known for its outstanding wines (red, white, rosé and sparkling) and lively, sophisticated cities, including Orléans, Blois, Tours and Angers – yet more reasons why the entire area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
ITALY
Everyone dreams of Italy, with its picture-perfect landscapes, remarkable food and wine, and rolling hills dotted with vineyards, villas, and olive groves. Stay in a beautiful villa that was once the property of a Medici cardinal or at a vineyard hotel that offers
luxury accommodations. To avoid crowds and have an experience all your own, let us suggest a few different areas: Tuscany, Umbria, and Alto Adige.
Medieval History and Rolling Countryside in Tuscany
With its perfectly preserved historic center, San Gimignano is hands down the most famous hilltop town in Tuscany. Nicknamed the “Manhattan of the Middle Ages,” San Gimignano is famed for the 13th century towers that give the town a recognizable silhouette. The towers were a show of wealth and power 800 years ago, and 14 towers remain to this day - there were 72 towers at one point! Stroll through the triangularly shaped Piazza della Cisterna or pop in at one of the many enotecas that line the streets to taste some local Chianti wine. If the Torre Grossa is open to visitors, you must climb it to see the views over the town and the surrounding hills and vineyards. In the rolling hills northwest of Siena sits a medieval marvel of a town called Monteriggioni. Flocked by vineyard- and olive grove-covered hillsides, this 13th century town is completely enclosed with ancient walls punctuated by 14 guard towers. From a distance the town looks like a crown, and its unique façade may be why Dante mentioned it in his Divine Comedy. Every July, the Medieval Festival of Monteriggioni is celebrated and the streets fill with craftsmen, knights, and people in period costume dancing, singing, performing theater, jousting, and more. Spend a
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TUSCANY
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UMBRIA, TREVI
morning strolling through the medieval village, visiting shops and relaxing in one of the many cafés to enjoy local wine or pastries. Don’t forget to take a walk on the walls that surround the town for incredible views of the surrounding countryside. The pretty hill town of Cortona on the border of Tuscany and Umbria was the setting for Frances Mayes’ “Under the Tuscan Sun” memoir. Located east of Siena, Cortona overlooks the rolling hills of the area as well as Lake Trasimeno in the distance. If you are a lover of early Renaissance art, this is the town for you! The Diocesan Museum boasts works by Fra Angelico and Luca Signorelli, who was born in Cortona. There is also a municipal museum that features works from the Etruscan era - which is appropriate given that the city is protected by Etruscan-era walls.
Charm and Color in Umbria
Within Monti Sibillini National Park sits a small village on a hill – Castelluccio. It overlooks a wide valley surrounded by the Sibillini Mountains, allowing for breathtaking views year-round. However from May to early June is the sweet spot for a visit here in order to see the Fioritura, or annual blossoming of flowers in the valley. It is as if one has stepped into the middle of a very colorful pointillist painting - the valley is carpeted with a striped quilt of blossoming flowers: purple cornflower, bright red poppies, daffodils and more. This area is also known for growing lentils, a staple food in Umbria. The plane is 1350 meters above sea level, so make sure to bring a sweater or jacket as the temperature difference is extreme - but so worth it. En route to Castelluccio, you will pass through the charming town of Norcia, known for 48 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
its wild boar products - sausages, ham, etc. - all delicious with a glass of red. The area is a hiker’s paradise and Esplanade’s excellent hiking guides can show you hidden gems.
Cultural Crossroads in Alto Adige
The Alto Adige is at the very northern part of Italy and was part of Austria until the end of WWI when it became Italian. Both Italian and Austrian cultures are very present here, making it a unique destination to spend several days. German is spoken as much as Italian, as well as the local dialect called Ladino. The spectacular jagged Dolomite mountains are the backdrop for picturesque small towns, hiking and skiing trails, cycling and, as with everywhere in Italy, excellent wines and food. There are more Michelin starred restaurants in this region than in any other region in Italy! Accommodations here are beautiful and varied - from 18th century castle stays to sleek, modern 5-star hotels to smaller B&Bs. All offer spa services, as wellness is important in the Alto Adige, and Esplanade’s consultants can home in on the right choice for your travel style. Hike the trails with one of our excellent guides who will arrange for a picnic stop along your walk. Or you could hike to a mountain hut where you can have the most exquisite lunch served to you by smiling locals. If you are not a hiker, you can take a cable car to some of the jagged peaks to take advantage of the views. Visit a cheese maker who will introduce you to his cows and explain the process for cheesemaking or a local winemaker who will share her knowledge and philosophy with you. The relaxed
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attitude of the region is a perfect complement to your days spent traveling and hiking – don’t be surprised when a shopkeeper you meet asks you to stop and sit while looking out over the vineyards. The towns are a cultural combination of Italy and Austria, and this cultural mix makes the region all the more fascinating and gives visitors a strong sense of place. The atmosphere is Austrian as reflected in the architectural details of much of the region, tempered by an Italian approach to food and wine. However you slice it, this region is well worth a visit, and definitely off the regular tourist route for most American travelers.
PRIVATE YACHT CRUISE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
It’s undeniable that the past year has changed how many view travel, and a private yacht charter in the Mediterranean may be the perfect solution for those less comfortable staying in town. Cruising is a perfect way to set your own agenda, take in the sights and have an ideal “off the beaten path” experience. The Victoria del Mar, for example, accommodates 12 guests with 11 crew and will cruise French and Italian waters in the summer of 2021. Her master stateroom is located on the bridge deck aft and boasts a semi-private, full-beam air-conditioned aft deck space with removable windows. Two VIP staterooms with queen-size beds are located on the main deck and below are four more with the most luxurious accompaniments. Food is exquisite
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and, while every diet and desire are catered for, special dishes include sea bass with grilled summer vegetables, beef tenderloin cooked with white wine, and scallop carpaccio. We recommend starting in the exotic port of Monaco, home to the most beautiful yachts in the world. The present-day principality of Monaco consists of three separate elements: Monaco itself, La Condamine, and Monte Carlo. Monaco is the Italianate town on “The Rock” where the Greek settlement was established two and a half millennia ago. Below The Rock is the resort area of La Condamine, the commercial area facing the port, now largely occupied by luxurious yachts. The third component of Monaco is Monte Carlo created in 1856 and where Prince Charles III opened a casino. Slightly inland are the Jardins Exotiques which contain over a thousand specimens of cacti and succulents. After you settle into your yacht, sail west to Nice, noted for its beautiful seaside promenade and colorful architecture. In the foothills just outside, you will find Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a perched 15th century village with a big personality. Artistic luminaries such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse and James Baldwin, seduced by the beautiful light, all spent time here. In fact, Chagall is buried in SPDV – a testament to his love for the village. If you are a contemporary art fan, you must visit the Fondation Maeght, which house the most incredible collection of 20th century pieces. Continue cruising into Italian waters and visit Italy’s largest
MONTE CARLO, PORT HERCULE
port, Genoa. It has been a considerable maritime and commercial center since the first half of the 1st millennium BC. Tombs have been excavated here which date back to Greek and Etruscan periods and it is also known as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Next to Portofino, once just a little fishing village but now quite upscale while still retaining its original charm. On the hill above the city is the church of San Giorgio which claims to house the relics of St. George pillaged from the Holy Land by the Crusaders. The 360-degree view from these monuments is quite spectacular. Continuing along the Ligurian coast, you will reach Lucca, a charming and lovely walled town just inland from the coast. It has retained its Roman layout and the 4 km of medieval walls around the city are a perfect place for a shaded stroll. A bit further south is Pisa, home to the famed Leaning Tower as well as a beautiful baptistry and cathedral and one of the oldest medical schools in Italy. Pisa is an opulent town dotted with white marble monuments and worth planning for a full day to explore. There are several islands for you to explore in this part of the Mediterranean. Each one is mountainous with beautiful beaches, crystal clear blue-green water, and a multitude of hiking trails. Island-hop, scuba and snorkel, and cap off your day with a glass of wine and unusual gourmet foods. Your cruise won’t be without a good dose of history and intrigue - midway between the coast of Tuscany and the Island of Corsica lies the island of Elba, made famous in 1814 when Napoleon was exiled here for 300 days. Stripped of all significant power on the European mainland, Napoleon was allowed to reign over Elba with his accustomed energy, and he did much to improve the administration and economy of the island. Ten months later, he escaped his captors and slipped away to lead France once more – to the Battle of Waterloo. The mountainous island of Corsica is French with a distinct Italian feel. It presents a mix of stylish coastal towns, fishing villages, dense forest, and craggy peaks (Monte Cinto is the highest). Donkeys still roam the countryside, and the music here is quite
unique - along with the island’s distinctive cuisine such as strong spicy cheeses, chestnut polenta and chestnut cookies. And as with everywhere in this region, the wine is delicious! Sardinia boasts the whitest sand and bluest water you can imagine. In addition to the beaches, this beautiful Italian island getaway is home to many flocks of sheep and a roughly 7000 nuraghi, which are Bronze age towers, and settlements such as the tombe dei giganti (‘giant’s grave’ tombs) and domus de janas (‘fairy house’ tombs). The culinary scene has its own distinct takes on pasta, bread and dolci, its own wines (Vermentino whites, Cannonau reds) and cheeses.
TIME TO GO!
Whether sipping wine in France’s Loire Valley, hiking in the Italian Dolomites, or privately cruising the Mediterranean, these destinations have multitudes to offer and travelers can’t go wrong. Esplanade has spent decades building relationships across these regions and can customize your vacation beyond what you thought possible. Don’t face the stress of creating the perfect trip alone – contact Esplanade Travel and work with an experienced Travel Consultant. Esplanade Travel focuses on international luxury travel, and unique custom-designed trips have been our trademark for over 65 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! In addition to the France and Italy, our primary destinations are Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, all of Europe and the UK, South America, India, United Arab Emirates and the islands of the South Pacific. ★
ESPLANADE TRAVEL 800-628-4893 | esplanadetravel.com info@esplanadetravel.com Instagram: @esplanadetravel SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 51
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www.wildlifepartners.com info@wildlifepartners.com
866.377.3000 Lowland Nyala The Nyala was first imported to the United States in 1927. There were 11 original founders. In zoos, there have been 2250 births from this group. Based on historical records, Nyala arrived in Texas between 1967-1976. In Texas the estimated population as of 2019 is 2000-3000 animals.
A breeder of Nyala in Texas could expect the following: Retail Price per Animal Herd Size
Male
Female
$7,500
$12,000
2
Total Capital Investment $135,000
10
$15,000
$120,000
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Year 6
8
8
8
8
8
8
Average Wholesale Price per Animal - $7000
$56,000
$56,000
$56,000
$56,000
$56,000
$56,000
Annual Income
$336,000
Tax Savings
$54,000
Original Herd Wholesale Value
$100,000
Total Return Before Supplemental Feed
$490,000
Cost of Initial Investment
$135,000
Annual Offspring to Sell
$355,000 Return - 262% Annual Income 41%
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53
High-Octane Fuel BY SCOTT LEYSATH
WHENEVER I’M COOKING WITH ALCOHOL AND SOMEONE else is in the room with me, making flames in a skillet never fails to elicit a response. Cooking with alcohol gets your attention, especially when the flammable fluid comes in contact with high heat or an open flame. We’re drawn to fire, much like many of us are drawn to the occasional alcoholic beverage. But alcoholic beverages aren’t just for drinking. BEER POACHED FISH
SAUTÉED HALIBUT WITH RED WINE REDUCTION.
GRILLED QUAIL WITH WHITE WINE BUTTER SAUCE.
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PASTA WITH MEATY SAUCE
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If liquor is not your cup of tea, keep in mind that the cooking process removes most, if not all, of the alcohol and leaves behind varying degrees of flavor and aroma. Steer clear of “cooking wine” and alcoholic beverages with other flavors added. They taste awful. Many fancy restaurants use bulk wines drawn from 18-liter boxes for wine reduction sauces. They also use partial bottles that have passed their prime at the bar. TV chefs will tell you that you shouldn’t cook with wine that you wouldn’t drink, but I disagree. Drink the good stuff and cook with whatever’s on sale. Burgundy or Chablis from a box works fine. If you want to forego alcohol completely, substitute stocks, broths, vinegars or non-alcoholic wine or beer. One word of caution – be extremely careful when cooking with alcohol near an open flame or hot pan. The visual effect of a flaming skillet can be enticing, but it can also set your face on fire. Alcohol is very flammable and will ignite even when you add it to a hot skillet on an electric range with no flames in sight. To be on the safe side, dilute the alcohol with another, non-flammable liquid and remove the pan from the heat source to add the mixture. Then return the pan to the heat and keep your face as far away from it as possible. I’m no stranger to a weekend glass or two of red wine, the occasional vodka drink or a really cold beer, but I’m not a big fan of dark-colored liquors, at least not in a glass. However, I often use them as flavoring ingredients in the kitchen. Rum, pineapple juice, chopped green onions, sliced jalapenos, garlic and olive oil make for a sensational marinade for upland game. A splash or two of whiskey and a pinch of brown sugar adds a whole new dimension to bottled barbecue sauce. Finish off a pair of pan-seared duck breasts with an ounce or two of bourbon, some diced onion and a dash of cream for a delicious dish that is sure to impress.
BEER POACHED FISH
Poaching firm to semi-firm fish is a great way to preserve its moisture. If you have experienced baked, broiled, grilled or pan-seared fish that ended up a bit dry when done, try poaching next time. It takes 5 to 10 minutes to prepare the poaching liquid and then another 10 minutes to cook an average-sized hunk of salmon, halibut, grouper or other fish. Keep in mind that poaching involves a very low heat simmer and the fish isn’t drowned in the liquid. Do not let the liquid come to a boil once the fish is added. Rather, gently set the fish in the skillet or pan so that the poaching liquid just barely covers the fish. Cover with a tight-fitting lid or foil. The fish is done when the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees. I prefer to poach fish in a skillet on a low-temperature stovetop, but larger fish can be poached in a covered baking dish in a 250-degree oven. If I have a mess of fresh herbs on hand, even a bunch of parsley, I’ll place a clump of herbs on the bottom of the skillet or dish and place the fish on top of the herbs. It adds another subtle flavor profile to the poached
MEATY SAUCE
fish. Poaching is not for delicate fish that will fall apart when cooking. Leftover poached fish is perfect for mixing with softened cream cheese, lemon and capers for a delicious fish dip. The type of beer used is a personal choice. Lighter beers will impart a lighter beer flavor and are best for light-fleshed fish. Darker beers will result in a more intense, earthy flavor and work well with oily fish like salmon and steelhead. 4 servings
• 1 1/2 to 2 pounds fish fillets • salt and pepper Poaching Liquid • 1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced • 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced • 1 lemon, thinly sliced • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt • 12 ounces beer 1. Prepare poaching liquid. In a large skillet, bring onion, garlic, lemon and salt and beer to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until the liquid is reduced by one-half. Reduce heat to a low simmer. 2. Season fish with salt and pepper and carefully place into the poaching liquid. Cover with foil or lid. 3. After 10 minutes, check fish for doneness by pressing down with your finger to determine firmness or use a thermometer to check the temperature at the center of the fillet(s). The fish is perfectly poached when the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees. 4. Remove fish from the poaching liquid with a slotted spoon. Pat dry with paper towels and top with a favorite sauce, if desired. If you want to add some texture, rub the fish with a light coating of olive oil and place under a high-heat broiler for a minute or two until lightly browned on top. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 57
BOUQUET GARNINI
GRILLED QUAIL WITH WHITE WINE BUTTER SAUCE
If you’ve ever wondered why the sauces taste so much better in some restaurants than the ones you make at home, the difference is usually butter or cream. Many of us throttle back on high-fat and high-calorie sauces at home so that we can still fit into our clothes. That filet mignon at your favorite eatery is often topped with a velvety sauce that might just mean you have to hit the treadmill a little longer the next day. A wine reduction sauce is both simple and delicious, but it does take a little extra time to do it properly. If you’ve ever made a wine sauce and it was too thin, you made the common mistake of not reducing the wine enough. And while a wine reduction sauce, like a classic beurre blanc, can be prepared with only a cup or so of wine, I prefer more intense wine flavor and will often use the better part of a bottle. Adding cream to the reduction will add body and richness to the finished sauce. If you want to add moisture to the quail, submerge in a saltwater brine (1/2 gallon water, plus 1/2 cup each coarse salt and brown sugar) for 6 to 12 hours before grilling. 4 servings
• 8 quail, rubbed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper • 3 cups dry white wine • 3 tablespoons shallot, minced (or substitute the white part of a few green onions) • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice • 1/3 cup heavy cream • 1/2 pound chilled butter, cut into small chunks • 1/4 teaspoon salt • pinch white pepper • 1 cup tomato, seeded and diced • fresh basil, chopped 1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, add wine, shallot and lemon juice and bring to a boil. Once the liquid is reduced by half, add heavy cream and reduce liquid down to a few tablespoons. 2. Remove pan from heat. For a smoother sauce, strain shallots 58 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
from reduced liquid. Whisk in butter, a few pieces at a time, until butter is emulsified. Season with salt and white pepper. 3. Place quail on a hot grill and cook on all sides until just done, but not overcooked. They should still be just a little pink at the thigh joint and still moist. 4. To warm the sauce, place over low heat while stirring constantly until warm, but not hot. If the sauce gets too hot, it will break. To serve, arrange quail on plates, spoon sauce over and top with tomato and basil.
PASTA WITH MEATY RED SAUCE
Most successful hunters have a fair amount of ground game in the freezer. Making a big batch of tomatoey red sauce is a great way to use up the ground meats and the finished product is infinitely more flavorful than the store-bought stuff in a jar. Any ground game meat will work, but I prefer to mix in either ground domestic pork or the ground meat from a young feral pig when using lean antlered game. Once prepared, allow to cool completely and transfer to freezer-safe containers or zipper lock bags. If you have a vacuum-sealer, transfer the frozen sauce to a vacuum-seal bag, seal and return to the freezer. Several months later, the vacuum-sealed bags can be placed in boiling water for a quick pasta sauce. Makes about 2 quarts
• • • • • • • • • •
2 tablespoons olive oil 2 pounds ground game, about 4 cups 1 large yellow onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 bell pepper, diced 1 bouquet garni (a variety of fresh herbs tied together with a string, or substitute 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning) 2 cups dry red wine 1 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes 1 15-ounce can tomato puree salt and pepper
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add ground meat and cook, stirring often, until evenly browned. Add onion, garlic and bell pepper and cook for 5 to 7 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add bouquet garni and red wine and cook,
uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes and tomato puree. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove cover and simmer for 5 minutes more. Remove bouquet garni. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• • • •
ANTELOPE WITH BOURBON SAUCE
1. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes. In another container, combine bourbon and beef stock. Remove pan from heat and add bourbon and beef stock mixture. Return pan over medium-high heat, add rosemary and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until liquid is reduced to about 1/2 cup. Stir in balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. For a smooth sauce, puree in a blender or remove solids by passing sauce through a strainer. ★
A good accompaniment for dark-fleshed game and domestic meats. Don’t waste your money on expensive bourbon, except perhaps to add a splash of the good stuff just before serving. Makes 1/2 cup sauce
• • • •
3 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons onion, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 1⁄2 cup bourbon
2 cups beef or game stock 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar salt and freshly ground black pepper
ANTELOPE WITH BOURBON SAUCE
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ALPHONSO GRAHAM’S LIFE JOURNEY
has taken him from his birthplace in Jamaica, to Brooklyn and then Philadelphia, and finally to Texas, a place he now calls home. He grew up in a totally urban environment, surrounded by concrete and asphalt. He joined the Army when he was 19, which opened up a whole new world for him. “It was similar to a college experience in that I was exposed to people and cultures I had never known before,” he said. “I did my basic training in Fort Benning, near Columbus, Georgia. That was a real culture shock.” He was stationed at Fort Hood in central Texas. “The military introduced me to spending time outdoors,” said Graham. “I met a couple of people and it started off simple. We would go out fishing or camping at state parks. I took up clay shooting with friends, and that opened up my eyes to a lot more stuff.” After serving four years in the army, Graham decided to stay put in Texas.
STEWARDING THE FUTURE OF HUNTING BY LYDIA SALDAÑA | PHOTOS BY JONATHAN VAIL
“I fell in love with Texas,” he said. “I had never been fishing or camping until I got here, and I think that’s why I have such an affinity for this state. For people who don’t understand what it’s like to get up to see the sun rise and enjoy the beauty of nature, it’s hard to explain it till you’ve experienced it.” Graham built a career in the vehicle service industry, and recently made the move to UPS, where his twin brother works. Most of his spare time is spent outdoors, fishing, kayaking and camping. He even purchased some land near Brownwood, where he and his wife like to take their dogs. He went dove hunting a few times with friends but had never experienced big game hunting until he got involved with Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation’s (TPWF) Stewards of the Wild program. Stewards of the Wild
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Alphonso Graham (right) takes aim as mentor Tanner Kneese looks on.
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Left: Tanner Kneese coaches Alphonso Graham. Above: Alphonso Graham breaks down his harvest.
is TPWF’s young professionals organization, with chapters all over the state. “A friend of mine told me that the Stewards were organizing mentored hunts and that they wanted to reach out to minority communities and involve them in these experiences,” said Graham. “It sounded almost too good to be true.” Graham did some research and learned about a mentored hunt that would be held at Powderhorn Ranch on the Texas coast. He met Matt Hughes, who leads the Stewards program, and signed up to be a member of the Austin chapter so he could participate. “These mentored hunts are designed to introduce folks who have little or no experience hunting to the full experience,” said Hughes. “We almost literally take them by hand through the whole process. We want to involve everyone and have worked hard to reach out to communities that might not otherwise have access to these opportunities.” Graham is comfortable with firearms, but not every new hunter is. Over the course of the weekend, novice hunters get experience shooting and learn about every aspect of hunting, from how to take an ethical shot to field-dressing, butchering and packing a harvested animal into an ice chest. They also learn about the role hunting plays in conservation from experts including state game wardens, wildlife biologists and university research scientists. The heart of the program is the mentor/ mentee relationship. Each novice hunter is paired with an experienced hunting partner. Tanner Kneese joined the Austin chapter of Stewards of the Wild a few years ago. Like Alphonso, he experienced his own kind of culture shock when he moved away from home.
“I grew up in Kerrville and my family are typical Hill Country folks,” said Kneese. “We killed deer, we made sausage and jerky, and we hunted pretty much every weekend during deer season. When I came to college in Austin, I realized that not everybody has that experience.” Kneese was thrilled to find an organization where he could socialize with like-minded people. “There’s not much of a hunting community in Austin, and it was great to get involved with Stewards of the Wild,” he said. “The folks I met through Stewards aren’t just hunting-minded or fishing-minded. They›re just outdoors-minded people, and they care about conservation. When Matt told me about the mentored hunts, I thought it was a great idea. I’m at that age now where I want to give back, and when Matt asked if I would help, I was all in.” Kneese has served as a mentor on several hunts, and he joined Graham and other novice hunters for a weekend at Powderhorn Ranch in December 2020. Powderhorn Ranch was acquired in 2014 by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, and the majority of the ranch has since been turned over to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) for a state wildlife management area. The remainder of the ranch, where the hunt took place, is owned by Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and will be donated to TPWD for a future state park. The ranch is home to a variety of native species, and there are also some exotic species that were stocked by previous ranch owners. The quarry for Graham’s hunt was white-tailed deer or sambar, which is an exotic deer native to India and Southeast Asia. The hunters were also encouraged to take any feral hogs SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 63
Matt Hughes congratulations Alphonso Graham on a successful hunt.
they could. Like many Texas ranches, Powderhorn Ranch has its share of feral hogs, which are a nuisance animal extremely destructive to wildlife habitat. Graham and Kneese spotted a sambar bull on their first foray into the field. Though Graham is quite comfortable with firearms and has an extensive personal collection, he had never used his 6.5 Creedmoor rifle in a hunting situation. “I discussed the rifle with Tanner because I wanted to be sure that it had sufficient firepower for a clean kill of a large animal,” said Graham. “We were about 70 yards away, but I felt pretty sure of the shot, so I took it.” The animal went down immediately. The excitement of the moment had Graham sprinting toward the sambar, and Kneese reminded him to be cautious until they knew for sure it was dead. The two men then loaded the animal onto a vehicle and transported it back to camp. There, Kneese coached Graham through the process of skinning, field dressing and butchering the animal. For Kneese, it was a deeply satisfying experience. “The whole experience is second nature to me, and something I’ve taken for granted,” said Kneese. “Walking Alphonso through that and putting all the pieces together to give him the confidence to do it on his own means everything to me.” The future of hunting in Texas is dependent on the next generation of hunters who will advocate for what they love. Making sure future hunters represent the demographics of America is a challenge that must be faced today. “I firmly believe that the best way for us to get others, especially unrepresented groups, involved in conservation and hunting is for them to see people like themselves in the outdoors,” said Hughes. “That’s why we are doing this.” 64 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
Graham shared his experience with friends and family, which resulted in others joining in on mentored hunts that took place at Powderhorn in January 2021. “My brother went on a mentored hunt organized to benefit veterans of the armed services, and so did two other friends,” said Graham. “Three people I know shot their first deer through the Stewards of the Wild program this year. It’s motivated me to get even more involved. I hope to one day be certified as a huntmaster so I can pay it forward as a mentor in the years to come.” Besides big game hunts, TPWF’s Stewards of the Wild hosts a variety of mentored bird hunting experiences and mentored fishing opportunities, too. The program is made possible through sponsors, including the Houston Safari Club Foundation, the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Private landowners across the state have also supported the program by hosting mentored hunts on their properties. “We couldn’t do this without the support of these organizations and private landowners who are passionate about preserving America’s hunting heritage,” said Hughes. “We hope to nurture the next generation of conservationists, one hunter at a time.” As far as Alphonso Graham is concerned, mission accomplished. “I think I can speak for a lot of people who grew up in cities and say that we never thought about conservation at all,” said Graham. “Most people don’t have any idea how conservation and hunting go hand in hand. Now I have a good understanding.” More information about Stewards of the Wild can be found online at tpwf.org/sotw/ ★
Above: An oak-lined road back to camp at Powderhorn Ranch. Below: Alphonso Graham had a successful hunt.
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THE ISIBAYA LEOPARD PROJECT BY ANDREW BUCHANAN
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H
abitat loss and human encroachment on wildlife land is a problem on the forefront of Conservation efforts across Africa. Nearly all rural farmers, regardless of the size of their operation, suffer from livestock loss due to predation by both leopard and spotted hyena. In turn, these farmers are using any means possible to reduce the impact of predation, frequently resorting to the use of poison, snares, and gin traps to deal with the “problem animals”. These methods are indiscriminate and often unintended victims such as antelope will find themselves in snares and poison not only kills the intended culprit but also any other scavenging predator such as other leopards, Hyena, small cats, and even predatory birds that might feed of the poisoned carcass. Poison has a ripple effect too, in that any predator that dies of poisoning can be eaten by another scavenger who in turn dies and so on until the poison is sufficiently diluted as to no longer be harmful.
»
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isibaya
Leopard Conservation Project
The Isibaya Leopard Project is a new and innovative approach to tackling human-wildlife conflict in Zimbabwe that has set out to remove the need for farmers to retaliate against wildlife in order to preserve their herds. “ISIBAYA” which is IsiNdebele for a kraal or cattle pen but also implies the “wellness and size of the herd” in that kraal. As the name implies, the project’s core initiative is to protect the community’s wealth by raising a herd of cattle from which any farmers’ livestock killed by predators will be replaced. By finding a workable solution, like the replacement of livestock, Isibaya aims to minimize the expanding rural community’s effects on predators by protecting the farmers’ livelihood and consequently eliminating the desperate measures used to stop the predators, ultimately conserving the leopard and other wild animals in the area. Isibaya was established by professional hunters Garth Adams and Vaughan Wilson who have witnessed the escalating humanwildlife conflict in the Mangwe district over the past 10 years. Their aim is to promote the conservation and protection of leopards in this area through the provision of alternative solutions to local farmers who usually perceive the leopard as a pest
68 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
“” Isibaya was established by professional hunters Garth Adams and Vaughan Wilson who have witnessed the escalating humanwildlife conflict in the Mangwe district over the past 10 years.
to their livestock. This particular region of Zimbabwe is littered with rocky outcrops that make an ideal habitat where the elusive leopard can hide in caves and hunt Rock Rabbit and small game such as baboon and Steinbeck that also call these hills home. Some of the solutions Isibaya are proposing to the local villagers are to distance the location of the livestock pen from the rocky outcrops and put them closer to the home so that in the event of an attack the owner will be easily awoken. Isibaya
Above: Sarah Adams looks over the Isibaya replacement sheep and goat flock. Left: Garth Adams hands over a replacement calf to a grateful elderly lady. Below: A dead cattle raiding leopard snared by the hind quarters.
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isibaya
Leopard Conservation Project
has also found that scarecrows planted between the hills and the livestock pen is also effective. Educating the community about the importance of the survival of wild game as a food source for leopards is essential if they wish to keep their livestock safe, therefore Isibaya has enforced a strict disqualification from the project for anyone caught poaching, that particular villager will not be reimbursed for any further livestock loss. Camera traps are being used on livestock kills to build a database of the problem leopard in the area, every leopard is distinguishable by its spots, and it hasn’t taken long to identify the main culprits and the necessary steps are being taken to apply for permits to move these problem cats to areas with fewer leopard and livestock. The project recently received a generous grant of $10,000 from the Houston Safari Club Foundation which is being used to further the steps in applying for permits to translocate problem cats as well as building the Isibaya reimbursement herd. A recent visit to the area by the Houston Safari Club Foundation sponsored TV show host of “This Is Africa” Andy Buchanan revealed a promising report of satisfied villagers and a big reduction in poisoning cases in the area. Isibaya aims to be a self-sustainable conservation project within five years by building a herd of cattle, sheep, and goats large enough to support the project’s operating costs without having to rely indefinitely on the generosity of hunter donations. The Isibaya herd will provide the animals required to run the livestock reimbursement project, provides enough surplus calves to local businesses every year to cover the annual operating costs. Any additional profits generated by the project’s herds will be fed back into the community; either by sharing the profits between the Rural District Council and the community, or channeling it towards the development of additional community incomegenerating projects such as fish farms and bailing initiatives. ★
Above: The Isibaya leopard project team from left to right: Garth Adams, Sarah Adams, Joe Sharp and Vaughan Whitehead.
Left: Garth hands over a replacement lamb for one killed by hyena. Right: The author covers the story that will air on the HSCF sponsored TV show “This Is Africa.” 70 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
Left: Local villagers gather to witness the replacement ceremonies. Right: Discussions with the villagers at the area chief’s home. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 71
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Hunting and Conservation in Africa During a Pandemic A Conversation with Namibian Outfitter Jamy Traut By M. Arnold
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I
PANORAMA OVERLOOK
THINK ‘IRONIC’ CAPTURES THE fact that Jamy Traut trained as a Marine Biologist, even though he grew up—and loves best—the arid Kalahari region of his Namibian homeland. His explanation? “As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be a Professional Hunter. In fact, my first ‘elephant hunt’ occurred around the age of 8, and involved stalking up to a bull with my .22 and pretending to shoot it. But, until the mid-80’s, there was really no organized hunting industry in Namibia. So, I went to Norway and obtained a Master’s degree in Marine Biology.” However, Jamy’s stint in wetter environments was not meant to last. In fact, his transition into his beloved field of PH’ing was encouraged by colleagues at the university from which he obtained his Master’s degree. They asked him to organize a hunting trip for them in Namibia. Putting together the logistics, and then hosting the hunters, put Jamy onto the path that would make him one of the most respected Professional Hunters and Outfitters in Namibia. With 20 days per month (April-October), over the past 25 years, spent in the field it’s no wonder that he is also one of the most experienced PHs of his generation. And, as his younger self ’s passion for ‘elephant hunting’ predicted, he is now one of the most experienced dangerous gamePH’s in Africa. Intriguingly, Jamy Traut admitted that a good bit of his motivation for being a PH came from reading the writings of people like Robert Ruark and Harry Selby. As an avid devourer of hunting literature, I understand the seductive nature of such books and articles. But, Jamy is the first PH/Outfitter I have encountered who mentioned literature as a catalyst for choosing their career. When he first read the classic Africana, he realized that he would never be a part of the long-gone, mobile Safaris described in such works as Horn of the Hunter. However, it and other classics propelled him forward into the different, but still rewarding, life of a modern-day Professional Hunter. As an aside, I asked Jamy whether he encourages young people to consider pursuing the path leading to a Professional Hunter. His answer: “Five years ago, I would have freely encouraged anyone interested to go after the PH training and qualifications. Now, I warn them of the changing political climate and the difficulties they will face.” Sad, but wise words. Though Jamy was affected greatly through his reading of books, in-person mentoring in how to be a hunter came from a bushman by the name of ‘Old Hans’. Among the invaluable lessons Hans taught Jamy was that the majority of hunters move much too quickly through the bush. Hans would stop frequently—pointing to birds, plants, tracks and even to pick berries to eat and to give to his young charge. Jamy’s frustration would grow-and-grow until he would let loose on Hans for moving too slowly. Hans’ dry response was “If you don’t have the time to stop and pick berries to eat, you’re going too fast! You’ll be walking right past bird alarm calls that might warn the animal you’re after and maybe even the browsed leaves and tracks from that animal.” SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 75
I know that Jamy learned Hans’ lessons well. When he and I went out hunting on his lovely home ranch, Panorama, I observed an incredibly gifted PH. Yes, he could quickly spot and judge animals and then plan a stalk to get us within range. But, most impressively, he accomplished this over-and-over with the minimum of cover—we were hunting in the Kalahari region after all, an ecosystem not known for its lush vegetation. I think this ability to stalk in close to animals has been developed and maintained by Jamy’s preference to personally hunt with open-sighted rifles. He points to ‘nostalgia’ as a driving force behind his choice of non-scoped rifles. Yet, his preference is also very consistent with that young boy who stalked up close to an elephant bull and [fortunately] chose not to plink it in the fanny with his tiny rifle! I would love to dwell longer on the beauty of the Panorama ranch, and the ‘reverse trophy hunting’ for meat animals that Jamy and I accomplished over my two days there. However, a prime object of my spending time with Jamy was to ask him about the effects of COVID-19 on the African hunting industry and the animals and ecosystems it helps conserve. For Jamy Traut and his colleagues, the first effect from the spread of COVID-19 occurred in March of 2020. It resulted in rushing a hunter from their
Kaokoland concession to the Windhoek airport before he was trapped by the Namibian lockdown. Jamy emphasized that throughout 2020, the Namibian government clearly communicated the how, when and why of their actions to try and moderate the effects of COVID-19. However, the repeated lockdowns brought the predictable economic devastation on the Outfitting industry, tourism in general and the Country as a whole. To use Jamy Traut Hunting Safaris as a microcosm of what happened, the Company’s revenue was reduced by more than 50%. The reason the loss wasn’t much greater was due to two factors 1) local (i.e., Namibian) hunters and 2) the government’s decision to open their borders again to tourists on October 1st. The border opening would seem to have been a particularly enlightened response. It reflected the Namibian government’s recognition of the centrality of tourism for the continuing health of the country’s economy, which in turn supports those in economic and physical need. Jamy wanted to make it clear that, though valuing the Namibians who hunted in their various concessions in 2020, local hunters will never provide the income required to run an operation like theirs. The total costs of concession/conservancy fees, renovations and maintenance of camps, food, travel etc. are astronomical. These types of expenses can only be covered by hunters
Jamy, tracker Petrus and Jock the Staffordshire side-kick preparing to glass from the top of a Panorama dune
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Jamy Traut Guided the Author to 6 ‘meat’ animals
coming from outside the country. To explain this better, Jamy gave the following statistics. This year, for the first time, they sold ‘non-trophy, meat-animal’ hunts to Namibians. These hunts brought in 15% of the value of a trophy hunt. Because of this difference in hunt value, prior to 2020, local hunters provided approximately 1% of the gross income of their company. This year, the business’ [much reduced] gross income will derive from 80% international and 20% local hunters. This gives a good indication of the overwhelming impact of bringing international hunters in to Namibia. In spite of having a greatly-reduced window (October 1st-November 30th) to bring in hunters such as myself, we still provided the vast majority of income needed to keep the Namibian Safari companies afloat in 2020. My next question to Jamy concerned the future. With the 2021 SCI convention cancelled, I wanted to explore how this would change their marketing. He clarified that 2021 was going to be a busy year—given no repetition of COVID-19 lockdowns—because Safaris canceled this year were in the main rebooked for next year. However, with few (if any) conventions available to actually meet potential clients in person, on-line marketing of Safaris for 2022 and beyond will be crucial. With this in mind the owners and staff of Jamy Traut Hunting Safaris are working through how to meet ‘face-to-face’, online. Synchronous Zoom, PowerPoint presentations and short videos displaying their many concessions and camps, were all mentioned as avenues they want to use to encourage clients to book Safaris. I joked that ‘real-time’ meetings with
North Americans might mean that they will all be working from 12 am—6 am. Jamy grinned and said “We’ve had to do worse things.” Their group, being as well-known and -respected as it is, has an advantage over smaller or younger outfits—that of repeat clients. However, the smallest or newest outfitters should also be able to utilize the same methods and tools employed by Jamy and his colleagues; in fact, moving forward, these approaches will be potentially of even more importance for the smaller businesses. I next wanted to know if there had been any positives to come out of the mess that has been 2020. Jamy smiled again and said “Absolutely!” He listed having the time for: 1) accomplishing long-planned renovations at their camps; 2) personal involvement with anti-poaching efforts; and 3) family. Finally, I asked Jamy if he had any additional thoughts or comments. Smiles come readily to Jamy’s face, but with this answer he became serious. “I, and every other outfitter in Namibia, want hunters who came across after the October 1st opening to know how grateful we are for their efforts. They provided much needed income to keep us going. We know they took a risk in traveling. Not just with regard to maybe encountering COVID-19, but more that they have been the guinea pigs who used new airlines to reach us, dealt with new gun registration regulations in countries flown through, and who dropped everything at home to come across with only a few weeks’ notice. Again, please express in your article how truly grateful we are for what they have done for our businesses, our families and our country.” ★ SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 77
78 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 79
ASSASSIN SHADOWS
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By John Wootters | Originally published in Petersen’s Hunting, February 1982
eopard maulings of sport hunters have never been particularly uncommon, but fatalities from them have never been as numerous as from the other members of the Big Five. One reason is simply size; even a big leopard is no heavier than an ordinary man, although he is infinitely stronger. Several cases are on record of leopards, presumably weakened in some way by their wounds, having been killed in hand-to-hand combat by strong (and desperate) men. The most famous of these was Carl Akeley, the taxidermist. Although he survived, I seriously doubt that he or any of the few other men in that exclusive fraternity would recommend leopard wrestling. Old inharugue devotes much of his attention to his favorite prey, the baboon, and the mere glimpse of something with spots on it will wend a wild baboon into hysterics. The big dog-faced monkeys regard the leopard as the supreme enemy, and a fairly comprehensive definition of the word “pandemonium” can be gleaned from listening to a troop of roosted baboons during a nighttime leopard attack. Actually, an old male baboon is a formidable beast in his own right, weighing close to 100 pounds and sporting great canine teeth at least equal to those of the leopard himself. Even the leopard will back away from a confrontation with three or four of these fighting males, and the females and young are the usual victims. However, on balance, the cat is probably beneficial to the bush natives of Africa by suppressing the baboons which incessantly raid the native’ little farming plots. The leopard is so intensely identified with Africa that most of us tend to forget that, in addition to the entire African continent, his range originally included all of what we now call the Middle East, India, and most of Asia. Today, like many other species, he is gone or nearly so from the Asian and Middle Eastern ranges (the location of a small wild population of desert leopards in Israel is a well-kept secret), and scarce to nonexistent in Africa north of the Sahara in Somalia and, apparently, in some of the 80 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
West African states. That’s the bad news. The good news is that in Africa south of the Sahara there is indisputable scientific evidence that the leopard is both numerous and increasing. Why, then, is he on the endangered species list? Don’t the people who administer federal and international endangered species affairs know what they’re doing? The answer, quite frankly, is no! Furthermore, they most devoutly desire not to be made aware of the leopard’s true status, even though the news is good. Surely they have more than enough evidence before them. In 1976, Safari Club International petitioned the Washington powers that before a new policy permitting the importation of legally taken leopard trophies into the US. Accompanying that petition was a study of the leopard’s status undertaken by Dr. Randall Eaton, a respected authority on the wild felines and president of the Institute for the Study and Preservation of Endangered Species. What this eminent scientist said, in part, was, “The leopard probably has a brighter future than any larger mammal in Africa. There could easily be one million leopards in Africa and population trends appear satisfactory” Except for the coyote, Dr. Eaton said, the leopard may be the most adaptable larger carnivore int eh world. His conclusion was that reclassification of the leopard would be beneficial to the species. In the same year, one Norman Myers of Nairobi, Kenya, concluded a two-year study in which he developed data to effect that even poaching had not really affected leopard populations in that nation. Faced with this evidence, the U.S. Department of Interior was writhing and squirming, looking for an out. They finally declared Dr. Eaton’s study “tainted” because Safari Club had paid for it, but Easton’s reputation forced them to commission another study, completed in 1978 by Drs. James G. Teer and Wendell G. Swank. These equally well-qualified biologists arrived at the same conclusion Dr. Eaton had: the leopard in sub-Saharan Africa is in fat city.
Wootters’ record-book male leopard was collected in Mozambique in 1972. It was taken at the last gleam of twilight at 45 yards with a Ruger No. 1 in. 45-70 caliber.
Remember, the Teer and Swank study was paid for by the Office of Endangered Species, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service-with guess whose dollars. With all this and others evidence in hand, one naturally assumes that the U.S. moved swiftly to reverse a policy proven wrong and permit importation of leopard Leopard baiting is a subtle art, requiring a great deal of skill, knowledge, and trophies, right? Wrong! There has been no change hard work. A hundred or more baits are probably hung for every leopard taken. in the situation at all. You can still legally shoot a leopard in any of a dozen African nations, but you can’t bring the hide home with you. So much for the intelligence of it and quickly, with the first bullet. There won’t be a second. and professional competence of the folks who take care of wildlife Almost any caliber you’d use for whitetail deer (or up) will do the matters for you in Washington. job, provided you put in where it belongs. Most leopards these It is for these reasons that I do not hesitate to write about days are clobbered with big guns, because those are rifles safari leopard hunting, even thought his wondrous creature is on the hunters take to Africa, and that’s all right; you can’t hit 150-plus endangered species list. pounds of dappled dynamite too hard! But a .270 or .30-06 or The actual hunting is almost invariably done by baiting. The 7mm magnum will topple Old Spots off his limb just as dead chances of just running across a prowling leopard in broad dayas a .375 H&H Magnum. On the other hand, a .375 slug in the light while out hunting range between not any and almost none, guts will make you wish you were back in Kansas City just as although a couple of friends of mine have collected leopards in devoutly as will a .270. that way. Leopard baiting is a subtle art, requiring a great deal of For my one and only leopard, I selected a Ruger No. 1 chamskill, knowledge, and hard work. Selection of the individual tree in bered to the .45-70 Government cartridge and handloaded to which to hang the bait is important, and a hundred or more baits junior magnum ballistics with a 400-grain Barnes soft-point. are probably hung for every leopard taken. When a cat feeds on a By luck, determination or whatever (the sight of that creature given bait for a couple of nights, a blind will be built. The huntthrough the 3X scope psyched me twice as badly as most sane ers occupy the blind only for the last hour or so of daylight, and men), I managed to pinpoint that slug exactly in the center of it can be extremely tense wait. The cat will come, if at all before the rosette of spots on the cat’s shoulder that I wanted to hit, and dark, just at dusk, and he will usually simply appear in the tree. his life exited with the bullet on the far side. It was, I’m here to Rarely do you see him on the ground. tell you, quite a moment. I wanted to spend a few minutes alone Leopard blinds are always built close to the tree, seldom more with this spotted fantasy I had shot, to try to really experience than 50 steps distant, but even so, I’m told the leopard is the him in death as I had not been allowed to while he lived. But most-missed animal in Africa. That’s because of the charisma there was a lot of whipping and hollering and back pounding and of the beast himself; hunters who, like me, have dreamed of that hand shaking and horn honking and singing in the by now dark moment for a lifetime simply psych themselves into missing what forest, with flashlights swinging and bobbing, and jabbering in at should be an easy chance. least three languages, and privacy with my leopard wasn’t possible. Although he is not very large or tough, a leopard is almost I suppose that’s the price you pay for shooting a flesh-and-blood immune to bullet shock, like all cats of any size. That means fantast. I stood and looked down at him, almost glowing in the that, in order to avoid the very sticky wounded leopard scenario lights, not a whisker out of place, and thought that if I ever have a in bad light and heavy bush, it’s well to destroy vital tissue, lots coat of arms, I will, like the kings of France, have leopards on it. ★ SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 81
Here is what happens when a Facebook user tries to post a link to the Hunting Consortium.
Big Tech Censors Set Their Sights on Harming the Hunting Community BY CORINNE WEAVER
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ASSISTANT EDITOR AT MEDIA RESEARCH CENTER
ocial media companies, especially Facebook, are targeting the hunting community with censorship, even if hunters don’t break the rules. Censorship is no stranger to the conservatives and others advocating a traditional lifestyle on social media. Former President Donald Trump and his campaign have been assaulted with innumerable instances of censorship. Multiple figures in the media have been suspended, banned, or suppressed in some way online for expressing opinions that the left deems offensive. It’s not just politics: guns, discussion of gender, and even religion are enough to get a user banned from social media. The hunting community falls into this category. Companies that arrange hunting trips, hunters, and hunting enthusiasts have repeatedly been removed, covered up, or suppressed by social media. Even if users adhere to the letter of the community guidelines, it doesn’t seem to matter. The Media Research Center has taken on the job of fighting for free speech online for conservatives. Through CensorTrack, the nonprofit organization provides numerical evidence of online censorship. Facebook attacked The Hunting Consortium, an international hunting agency, by censoring it into a state of paralysis. “The Hunting Consortium, (@huntingconsortium) has recently fallen victim to the censorship issue that has been plaguing the hunting community for some time now,” stated Vice President of the Hunting Consortium Rob Kern. “In July, we experienced a censorship issue greater than anything we, or any of the experts 82 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
we have talked to, have encountered.” According to Kern, between 1,000 and 1,500 photos were removed from the agency’s Facebook page. What is more troubling, however, is how links to the website are treated on Facebook, Facebook Messenger, and Instagram Direct Messaging. “Our URL www.huntcon.com has been banned on both Instagram and Facebook, to include Instagram messenger and Facebook Messenger,” he said. The nonprofit Media Research Center reached out to Facebook to intervene on behalf of the Hunting Consortium and was partially successful. However, even though some censorship was addressed, the Hunting Consortium is still under fire today, months later. Facebook refuses to fix the rest of the problem.
HYPOCRITICAL HUNTING CENSORSHIP
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg hunts animals, according to his own testimony. In 2011, he admitted to hunting “wild boar” with a bow and arrow. That personal detail does not seem to make Facebook sympathetic to the plight hunters face online. But the Hunting Consortium is not alone. In 2014, Facebook deleted a series of hunting photos from the account of cheerleader Kendall Jones. Later, in 2016, Facebook also reportedly deleted a photo of a man holding up a hammerhead shark that he had caught while fishing. “We remove reported content that promotes poaching of endangered species, the sale of animals for organized fight or content that includes extreme acts of animal abuse,” said a Facebook spokesperson in 2014 to Mashable. However, hunting itself is not poaching, organized fighting, or extreme animal abuse. It seems as if Facebook is interested in removing all photos of hunting, regardless of the settings.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
Facebook’s Community Standards do not explicitly ban hunting. In fact, while content calling for violence against animals is banned, Facebook specifically states that hunting is allowed: “except in cases of hunting, fishing, religious sacrifice, food preparation or processing, pest or vermin, self-defense or redemption.” Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) own shares in Facebook. This ownership allows PETA to “enabling the group to submit a shareholder resolution, attend the company’s annual meetings, and ask questions of executives there.” PETA complained that the warning labels on the organization’s posts had become too numerous, prompting them to become shareholders. “The move comes after the social media platform upped its use of warning screens on PETA videos showing real-life incidents of routine cruelty to animals, significantly limiting the group’s ability to expose animal suffering to a wide audience,” stated the PETA press release.
SWEPT UP IN THE GUN BAN
Facebook is not the only platform that objects to the hunting community. YouTube has implemented a blanket ban on guns and gun-related media, which has swept hunters up into the fray. YouTube banned gun videos that show repairs, upgrades, and tutorials. “YouTube also doesn’t allow live streams that show someone holding, handling, or transporting a firearm,” state the YouTube policies. Companies like Brownells Inc.’s channel, a gun-parts supply business, were banned from the site after the new policies were put into place. Brownell’s was eventually reinstated, but other casualties remained. The NRA issued a statement in response to YouTube’s ban, saying the site was “engaging in politically motivated censorship and alienating the millions of people who turn to the website for education and training.” Facebook also bans guns, gun-related content, and gun sales on its platform. A Florida state representative had his political ad pulled for gun-related content. State Rep. Matt Caldwell’s 15-second advertisement features him skeet shooting and saying, “I like guns. I love the Second Amendment. And I support our former president. That’s why I’m endorsed by the NRA.” When Callie Wolverton, PR manager for Girls With Guns,
tried to run an ad for her show on Facebook, she was rejected for saying the word “gun” several times. Facebook informed her that this was “promoting violence.”
DEVASTATING CENSORSHIP
“Today we are addressing a glaring issue - Facebook and therefore Instagram have blocked us from posting original content,” wrote the Consortium on Aug. 13 in a public Facebook post. “We are forced to ask, is hunting violating community standards? We are taking a stand against this inexplicable measure. We have not received any form of feedback or support from Facebook and see ourselves forced to make the issue public.” Facebook ignored several requests for responses when the Media Research Center reached out on behalf of the Hunting Consortium. This kind of censorship does not stop with the Hunting Consortium. “We have suffered a devastating blow with this censorship and have been in touch daily with some of the biggest hunting organizations and advocacy groups in the world,” said Kern. “We will not take this lying down and will fight to have Facebook and Instagram remove the censorship of our page.” Kern continued, “Although we do see posts within the hunting community that could be considered sensitive, it is not fair, ethical, or moral that a social media user can witness a human being violently assaulted or even murdered, yet hunting related content is removed. Hunting has become one of the most important tools in the saving of endangered species and the habitat these species require. It is recognized as such by the IUCN, CITES, and other conservation groups throughout the world. This can be substantiated with facts on the increase of wild populations of endangered species all over the world due to hunting.” Hunting organizations aren’t alone. Even influencers cannot post images of their hunting to social media. Conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair said Instagram removed a hunting photo and threatened to delete her account. ★ Corinne Weaver is an assistant editor for the Media Research Center’s online censorship branch, TechWatch. If you’d like to contact us, visit our website at newsbusters.org/techwatch, or censortrack.org. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 83
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HSCFMEMBERSPOTLIGHT LIFE MEM
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5 Minutes With HSCF Life Member Jody Simpson
1.
with a shotgun, but I am ready to learn how to shoot a bow.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A MEMBER OF HSCF?
6.
WHAT IS THE ONE ITEM YOU WOULD HAVE IF YOU WERE SHIPWRECKED ON AN ISLAND?
I became a lifetime member in 2013, but have been attending since 1984.
2.
WHY DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN HSCF?
I began attending with my now husband, Michael Simpson, at the age of 17. I had little experience with guns and no hunting experience when I attended my first HSCF Convention. I mostly remember listening to the ladies speak of their adventures in places far from home. While I had heard of men hunting, it was amazing to hear the strong involvement from women hunters. I continued to attend events and listen to experienced outdoorsmen and women and learned the importance of us all supporting our hunting heritage and outdoor way of life.
3.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING AN HSCF MEMBER?
I especially love and appreciate the kindness and comradery of the members of HSCF. My favorite group within HSCF would be the Gazelles. The Gazelles welcome women of all ages, with or without hunting experience, to attend outdoor events, shopping opportunities, wine tastings, and more while supporting our youth and their hunting rights for future generations.
4.
WHAT IS OR WAS YOUR CAREER FIELD?
Retired Special Education School Principal
5.
PREFERRED HUNTING WEAPONRIFLE, SHOTGUN OR BOW? I love my 308 rifle, and I’m fairly good
84 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
This is probably the worst answer, but I would want bug spray. Have you seen the TV show, ‘Naked and Afraid?’
7.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST CHALLENGING HUNTING EXPERIENCE?
Definitely shooting my Chamois off a snow-covered mountain after jumping out of a helicopter with Paul Bamber in New Zealand.
8.
OF ALL THE SPECIES YOU HAVE HUNTED, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE AND WHY?
I did not hunt much until after my children went off to college as I wanted them to always take the shot. So, I was in my 40’s when I really started hunting. I shot my eland in Namibia, after much tracking and him on the run. Quite the adventure!
9. 10.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? Mexican
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THE 18-YEAROLD VERSION OF YOURSELF?
Travel and experience as much as you can with family and good friends as these will be the memories you cherish most.
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HSCFPHSPOTLIGHT
Meet Tom Dreyer Jr. of Tom Dreyer Safaris L
I FM E EM MEBME BR E R
1.
WHAT IS THE PRIMARY AREA AND GAME FOR WHICH YOU GUIDE?
in South Africa versus hunting open areas in the rest of Southern Africa.
6.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HUNTING WEAPON AND/OR CALIBER?
South Africa and Mozambique. Although my favorite species to guide would be buffalo, elephant and eland, I enjoy guiding clients on all species. Everyone has their own trick that you have to figure out.
2.
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE A CAREER AS A PROFESSIONAL HUNTER?
Growing up in a hunting family it was a no-brainer, even though my father has a law practice he always ran an outfitting company on the side, naturally when I finished school and came of age to do my PH, I did.
3.
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST DANGEROUS HUNT?
A couple of years back I got a call from the manager on one of our concessions which borders the Kruger National Park about an Elephant bull that was causing problems in the area. While driving around looking for the bull he broke cover and charged the truck, we managed to get out underneath him just enough to be able to put a shot in him, needless to say with all the commotion the shot placement was not at all where it was supposed to be, but at least the bull turned and gave us a chance to follow him. After tracking it for about 2 hours we closed the gap and I managed to put a stop the troublemaker with a frontal brain shot not too far from me.
4.
For dangerous game my 500NE double rifle no questions asked. Everything else, my custom 375H&H
WHAT DO YOU WANT A FIRSTTIME CLIENT TO KNOW BEFORE HUNTING WITH YOU?
7.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT HUNTING?
Spend time with my wife and family.
8. 9.
FAVORITE MEAL? Anything as long as it has meat in it. WHY DO YOU HUNT?
I am a firm believer that if possible, one must earn a living by using the talents and skills the Lord gave us. It just so happens that I am in the fortunate position to do exactly that. To me hunting is a passion and a lifestyle, that is what I grew up doing and 30 years later I still do it.
10.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU COULD NOT DO YOUR JOB WITHOUT?
Excluding all the tools you need to do the job, I am certain that without my wife’s blessing and patience it would be quite hard to run my business and my job.
That they will be guided by me personally.
5.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING HUNTING AND HUNTERS TODAY?
The misinterpretation of trophy hunting and conservation, and the misconception of hunting a big fenced area
Tom Dreyer Jr. TOM DREYER SAFARIS
tomdreyersafaris.com +27 73 927 4208
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SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 87
A MONARCH FOR
My Lady
BY SHANE JAHN
88 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
H
ome of the Caverns of Sonora, Sutton, County, Texas encompasses 1,454 square miles of rugged country known as the Edwards Plateau. Sheep and goat ranching empires thrive there and oil and gas reserves boost the local economy. The county gets its name from John Schuyler Sutton, a Texas Ranger and Confederate Army Officer who must have packed a lot of living and adventure into his 40 years before suffering a leg-shattering wound while leading a mounted charge at the Battle of Valverde. After a surgeon told him, his life could only be spared by leg amputation, it is said Sutton replied that he had no intention of hobbling around on one leg and “when his leg went, he would go with it.” In Gus McCrea-style he passed away the following day. A soft, southerly, Sutton County breeze greeted us in the early dawn as we began our first full day of a free-range axis hunt. A ceaseless soundtrack filled with chirping and singing by an orchestra of song birds played in the background, periodically interrupted by calls of the dignified bob white quail. With just a touch of humidity in the air from previous evening thunderstorms, it felt like spring should in the brushy ranch country south of Sonora, Texas. The terrain is relatively flat in that area, and the vegetation is thick with oak and mesquite trees surrounded by prickly pear, agarita shrub, and variety of other desert flora that would excite fervent botanists. Most of the trees are not big per se, so as you are hunting it is frequently necessary to kneel or stoop to see under the canopies of mesquite thickets and oak mots. The country looked good, much greener than where I live out in far west Texas. These range conditions make for great still-hunting, and that was how we intended to hunt the illusive spotted deer. The axis deer, or chital, is native to India, however, the Lone Star State has a sizable and well-established wild population of the handsome animals. Generally speaking, the majority of males are found in hard antler in the summer months and they rut or “roar” in what is typically a deer hunter’s “off-season”. Although they are said to breed year-round, June and July are reported to be the most active months. This gives hunters a unique hunting opportunity between traditional hunting seasons we normally associate with fall. Chital bucks are also correctly called “stags”, in Texas you’re usually going to hear “axis buck.” This short hunt would be a great getaway for shared interests in hunting and the outdoors, as well as an excellent way to spend time with the lady in my life, my wife Jill. We were hunting with Wildlife Systems guide, Jackie Murphy. Jackie is an independent kind of man who walked away from a successful career in the corporate world years ago to pursue his passion. Hunting, it’s what he does and he does it well. The previous night we discussed the pending hunt over a thick steak grilled to perfection by camp chef Jason Powell. Jason is a retired fire fighter, a profession where culinary skill and courage are requirements! Jackie formulated a plan to hunt an area where we had seen a monster axis, maybe the biggest he’s ever seen, on the afternoon of our arrival in camp. Coming from a guide who is known for finding his hunters 30-plus-inch mature trophies, that should tell you something! We spotted the big guy right before dark and he had it all, main beam length, long cottle tines, and massive bell-shaped antlers. After unloading our gear, Jackie asked me what we were looking for and I explained my wife and I would be happy with a fully mature, good representative buck, hoping to add two shoulder mounts to our collection and exceptional axis meat to the freezer. We are not “score hunters”, we take great pride in hunting the old
ones. He seemed happy with my answer and assured me we would find some nice ones. After seeing the huge axis, we agreed that we would try to relocate him, but we would not focus all of our time solely on that one buck. It just wouldn’t be the smart thing to do on a two-and-a-half-day hunt.
THE LADY EARNS HER TROPHY
After a hearty 5:30 AM breakfast, we made our way about a mile east of where we had seen the big boy and numerous other axis does and other nice bucks the evening before. Jackie’s plan of attack had the wind to our advantage and the sun to our backs. We slowly stillhunted, stopping frequently to use our binoculars to see through the brush, looking for movement and the rusty, white-dotted hides. An earlier aerial survey revealed a dense population of axis on the ranch. Everywhere we looked we saw fresh rubs in the brush from the bucks. Besides the uncanny alertness of the axis (and let me tell you, they are wild!) we had to make our way through and around whitetail deer, trying not to have them bust through the brush alerting every chital in the county. Sporadic roars kept us focused, proving axis bucks were in the area, but we were nearing the end of our targeted hunting area before we found our quarry. The roar of the axis is a very guttural call produced by the males. Jackie likens the noise to sticking a sharp knife into a fully inflated truck tire! Jill said it reminds her of the bawl of a hound. I’ll just suggest you search it on the web and come to your own conclusion. Jackie spotted pieces of two axis in the thick stuff up ahead, but it was some time before we could tell that it was axis does, and a little longer yet, after carefully changing our position, to see that there were several in the herd, including two nice bucks. One was in velvet with cottles that matched his back tines in length. The other was majestic and hard-antlered with long main beams that went more straight up than curved. Jackie whispered that he was a good one and asked Jill if he was what she was looking for. He was. We were all on our knees, peering under the brush at the group of thirteen when a couple of the does saw something they didn’t like and started “barking”, producing a very shrill chirp that is every bit as distinct as the roar produced by these deer. I fully expected that they were getting ready to vacate the area in a blur of red hair and polka dots! We held our breaths and remained as still as possible, but the herd was less than 60 yards and it felt like there was really no way to completely conceal ourselves from all of those alert eyes! Jill’s buck moved out of my view, but Jackie still had him. Then, in all of the axis chaos and heart beats, he casually laid down and started chewing his cud, seemingly without a care in the world. We couldn’t believe it! We all stayed still and eventually the herd calmed down, and resumed feeding while a couple more plopped down to rest alongside the monarch. Now we had to wait on him to get up. Taking advantage of the situation, we ever so carefully eased right just a bit to get Jill a clear shooting lane. Then we waited. Jill was kneeling, rifle up on the shooting sticks, watching the buck’s antlers through her scope. Time lagged to the speed of government efficiency. We encouraged Jill to rest, stay calm, keep breathing. She ignored us and remained vigilant on the rifle. I didn’t time it, but I suspect we sat like that for half an hour, long enough for my feet to fall asleep as I knelt! Then, as smoothly as he had bedded, he stood. Jill was on him, Jackie instructed her to shoot as the buck, standing broad-side but ever so slightly quartering away, arched his neck around to the off-side to lick or scratch an itch. “I have to wait until he turns his neck” she whispered. “Don’t worry about it” I answered, and in an instant, she pressed the trigger and SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 89
dropped him in his tracks! She put the 140-grain bullet square in his shoulder with her little 7MM-08 Remington. The slight quartering shot sent the bullet into the turned neck and spine, explaining the dramatic finale. He was a beautiful animal and we took time to admire the colorations of his unique cape, his wonderful tall antlers, and the dense muscle structure of the stately buck.
quick look through my binocular showed axis does standing taught, focused on our every move. Jackie set up the shooting sticks. As I reached him, I threw a round into the Ruger single shot and stepped up to the sticks. As I rested my rifle, I did a quick double-check on the buck with my binocular. Tall, bell-shaped antlers, a mature trophy. I was shooting! Dropping my eye into the Trijicon, I went too far right looking for the buck. Jackie was right behind me, “you’re AN AXIS BUCK AT DUSK too far right, look left!” We started our afternoon hunt by stopping in a likely spot and When I found the buck in the scope he immediately began to listening for roars after we spotted some axis does. Jackie blew his move, walking to our right. I swung with him, settled the tiny green axis roar mouth call several times and we quietly awaited answers. dot on his shoulder, and without thinking, the 280 bucked. I can’t A buck cut loose once and we moved in that direction, but as many tell you exactly how quickly all of this happened, but this was the previous times, he roared one time and went silent. Jackie said the most rushed shot I have had on a trophy animal in a long time. I bucks cover a lot of country when cruising for does, so we assumed would guess that the quick glance at the buck through my binocuhe might have moved off out of ear shot. We made our way to Jackie’s lar to pressing the trigger took maybe five seconds. At the shot, he lucky spot, an area with open flats surrounded by thick brush and jumped and a cracking sound of a hit echoed back to us. I followed heard several bucks roaring at varying distances. One had the deep, the buck in the scope briefly as departed at a dead run, then reloaded raspy voice of a chain-smoker, unlike any we had previously heard. and searched the darkening woods with my binocular. No moveI think we all mentally pictured a monster axis in the brush, twistment. It had all happened so fast. Jackie had lost him at about the ing and turning his enormous rack as he made his way through the same time I had. We made a quick walk over to the general area 150 Texas tangle in search of romance. I know I did! We heard him sevyards away. Nothing but oak trees and damp grass. eral times, then nothing. Suddenly, a different buck roared close, we It was getting too dark to see well and we only had a basic idea of guessed him about100 yards away, and he continued to roar as we where he had been when I shot. Jackie queried, “how did the shot carefully made our way in his direction. Without warning, an unseafeel?”, “I was shooting for the shoulder.” I could tell he was worried, sonable cool front blew in and the wind really picked up from the but he wasn’t saying it. I tried to ignore my thoughts of having shot north as storm clouds brewed and thunder rumbled. After bumping so late, possibly pulling a shot and wounding an animal. Silently, a couple whitetail, which is not at all hard to do, Jill spotted an axis I said a short prayer and replayed the shot in my mind. It looked herd up ahead with about fifteen in the group good and the sound of bullet impact was reassurconsisting of does, fawns and young bucks. No ing. Jackie set up his shooting sticks as a marker mature bucks were in the bunch and our caller and we hurried to the truck for flashlights. Jill again went silent. I can’t tell you exactly had watched the show unfold and confirmed We made it back to the pickup as a cold, hard buck jumped and ran, but she lost him in how quickly all of this the rain began to fall. With less than an hour of the trees as well. happened, but this daylight remaining, I figured our hunting was We all grabbed a light, spread out and started done for the day. I should have known Jackie was the most rushed looking for any sign of the buck. After a couhad a plan. We made our way out of that side shot I have had on a ple long minutes searching, my flashlight beam of the ranch and as we neared the main gate, the over a white belly and antlers sticking up trophy animal in a swept rain stopped and we saw several axis deer flying from the tall, rain-soaked grass. I let out a loud long time. across the ranch road and through the brush. “whoo-ha!” mostly from excitement and relief, There was no time to follow them to see if the but also to let Jackie and Jill know I had found herd contained any shooter bucks. We continhim. Then I walked up to the fine-looking axis ued on our way. buck, took of my hat, and gave thanks. The sun was setting as Jackie eased his truck towards the area Hit square in both shoulders, with the bullet under the hide on where we spotted the huge buck on the first evening. Axis were the off-side, he had not run far at all. In the dusk, none of us had grazing in the tree line and a closer look revealed a big one raking seen him fall. I had gotten lucky on a quick shot, in low light, on a his impressive antlers on some brush at the edge of thick cover. He trophy animal. I am truly grateful, for many reasons. finally gave me a good look and I knew he was a shooter. At his Celebratory cold drinks at the old ranch house were especially angle Jackie couldn’t see him at first, then the buck walked forward refreshing that night as we recounted our exciting axis hunts and into view. I was admiring the bell-shape of his horns and I told made plans to hunt big bull nilgai down in deep south Texas in the Jackie he was “the big one.” Jackie knew he wasn’t, but he did know future. My Lady and I were elated to have taken such beautiful chital he was really good. deer. Most importantly we hunted them fair and square, together, Light was fading and I asked Jackie “What are our options?” To and each collected a mature trophy and a cooler full of great meat! ★ which he replied, “We have to get closer!” Simultaneously we exited his Toyota and Jackie grabbed his shooting sticks from the bed. Jill stayed while we took off at a fast jog across the open field to the Shane Jahn is a Houston Safari Club Foundation member, a freelance tree line 150 yards away. Jackie had told me that axis deer seem to outdoor writer with a background in law enforcement and strong inget less wild right before dark. He was right. We later agreed that terests in good guns, old firearms with stories, and fair chase hunting in had we been there twenty minutes earlier, our approach would the wild outdoors. He has written for NRA Family, Gun Digest 2019, never have worked. 2021 and 2022 Annuals, Guns of the Old West Magazine, Lone Star As we reached the trees we slowed to a fast, careful walk. I could Outdoor News, African Hunting Gazette, and Texas Outback. Contact make out movement and shapes in the shadowed brush ahead and a him at shane_jahn@hotmail.com. 90 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
GEAR USED AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS RIFLES: I hunted with my Ruger No.1 “Joe Clayton Classic” I bought from Lee Newton at Classic Sporting Arms. It is chambered in 280 Ackley Improved, has really nice wood, and is scoped with a Trijicon 3x9. Jill’s rifle is a Remington 700 SPS Youth Model with a 2x7 Leupold and SilencerCo Harvester suppressor. AMMO: We used Nosler ammunition in both rifles and they each are loaded with the same bullet, the 140 grain AccuBond. We have used this bullet and ammunition on everything from kudu and gemsbok to pronghorn with excellent results. BINOCULARS: You don’t need high powered scopes or binoculars hunting the thicker country. You need a binocular that can be carried easily and you will need it to see through the brush searching out color, shapes, and movement. We each use 10X Zeiss, I’m sure 8X would work just fine. PRACTICE YOUR FIELD SHOOTING POSITIONS and shooting off the sticks. We both shot our axis from shooting sticks and it would have been really tough had they not been available. WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES OR BOOTS, you will be still-hunting, so wear something sturdy enough to ward off the occasional cactus that you can walk quietly in. If you are worried about snakes this would be a good time to take your snake guards. We only saw one rattler, but having a little extra protection on your shin and calves could give you piece of mind while searching for your trophy axis. DON’T FORGET THE BUG SPRAY. As we neared the ranch, I mentioned to Jill that this looked like chigger country. I was right! The axis we took had plenty of ticks on them also, so protect yourself from those annoying critters.
BELOW: Fine ammunition by Nosler
ABOVE: The author and a good, trophy axis buck.
WILDLIFE SYSTEMS wildlifesystems.com Wildlife Systems is a top-notch outfit. Jackie treated our animals like they were his own, taking great care with capes and meat preparation, even insisting on skinning my axis down past the shoulders at midnight to ensure the meat cooled properly in the walk-in cooler. I paid full-price for this hunt for my wife and I and didn’t mention that I might write an article about the hunts until I was back at home and wanted to get the guy’s permission to use their names in my story. Prior to the hunt, owner Greg Simons and his staff answered any questions we had. The food was good and the camp was clean. They are the kind of guys who mind their manners around women and kids and are professional and fun to be around. We’ll be hunting with them again!
EXCELLENT AXIS ROAST • Axis roast (2-3 pounds) • 1 package Ranch Dressing (powder) • 1 package Au Jus mix(dry) • 1 stick of butter • 1/2 jar of pepperoncini peppers, juice and all. Cook on low in a crock pot all day. I usually break the meat up a bit with a potato masher once it is done. This is always a big hit with some good mashed potatoes and makes great burritos as well. If you want extra gravy add a can of beef broth.
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Standard’s Superb Score in Sweden’s SkogsMarker An American’s Moose Hunting Adventure in Sweden’s North Country BY DEVIN S. STANDARD
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THE INVITATION
Every big game hunter has a moose in his dreams. Mine was about to come true as I’d recently reestablished a connection with an old high school ice hockey buddy while on a business trip to Sweden. While Skyping, we marveled at the fact that we had both gotten into hunting as adults, neither having had family traditions to encourage us. After swapping many lies (hunting camp tales) and photos, he invited me to join his boys and him for a moose hunt on their lease. He told me his hunting team had shot an unbelievable 18 moose on their lease last year, an incredible number to me. I said “YES” before knowing how I was going to get there, how I was going to pay for it, nor, especially, how to get the days off of work, as a good week is generally needed for a reasonable chance at spotting a good moose in this highly-taxed, sparsely-populated, Scandinavian country of 10 million tall blondes. Yep, I was about to go MOOSE HUNTING in Sweden!
SWEDISH FAUNA
Sweden is home to an astounding 300,000-400,000 moose which they call Älg (pronounced like our Elk). 100,000 moose are harvested by hunters and wolves every season and 100,000 baby moose bless Sweden’s verdant forests each spring. Shoulder height for mature animals ranges from 170-210 cm (~5 ½ -7 feet) at the shoulder with moose males weighing from 380-850 kilos (~840-1,875 lbs) and cows weighing from 200-360 kilos (~440-800 lbs). (source www.wildsweden.com) This sparsely populated Nordic country’s coniferous forests and wetlands are additionally home to wolves, foxes, lynx, beavers, black bears, marmots, wolverines, and a few other mammals.
BACKGROUND
Clean harvest via a single, suppressed, .30-06 round!
A proud NRA certified firearms instructor trained RSO, and a Pew Semi-professional, I make it a point to get in a good amount of range time every year. I religiously do this just in case I get invited to New Zealand or Scotland for Red Stag, to South Africa for the Big 4, to Argentina for Doves, for Wolves anywhere on the planet, to Georgia for Quail, Pheasants in South Dakota, or Moose in Sweden, Canada or Alaska (hint hint). You get the picture. When not performing volunteer NRA duties, I can frequently be found sending money downrange via AR-15 pattern modern sporting rifles, a quiver of 12- and 20gauge shotties, or by focusing on the front sights of a very diverse assortment of hand artillery. I only occasionally break out the well-worn, truly loved, and 100% proven, bolties. I additionally hunt feral hogs a couple of times each year, manage to squeeze in a Pennsylvania deer hunt with a bunch of outlandish Eagles fans every winter, and get myself invited to the occasional dove hunt. So essentially, “Have Gun, Will Travel,” if adventure is to be had.
PLANNING
I really desired to stalk the Skogsmarker, or woodlands of Northern Sweden during the rut. The rut, AKA “Moose Prom Season” has these giant beasts of the forest SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 93
recklessly careening through the woods in hot pursuit of that which Shakespeare, James Brown, and Alan Jackson all put to poetry, LOVE. Like a 17-year-old with a muscle car, a fifth of Wild Turkey, and a hot date to prom, the rut can prove deadly for thousands of hormone drunk moose studs and their lovely ladies.
out. I frustratingly waited 8 hours in the Stockholm airport’s train station and, eventually, caught the 3:56 AM train for a 4 ½-hour northward journey. The side trip to Oslo was a surprise gift from Norwegian Airlines. I still don’t care to add up all the travel time.
PREPARATION
The air was crisp, fresh, pine-scented and delightful. Sleep deprived brain cells jumped to alert. A few minutes off the train and I was hunting in Sweden with a borrowed Ruger Hawkeye 77, chambered in .30-06, topped with a nice Leupold VX3-15-5x20mm scope and enhanced with a Finnish-made, Ase-branded, Utra S .30 Cal suppressor, was neatly ensconced, within reach, in my Eberle backpack’s scabbard. Although I hadn’t fired the rifle, I had been told that it was zeroed at 50 meters. I trusted that my buddy’s son was correct. He appeared a competent woodsman and hunter, jaw full of chew; and all. The borrowed rifle felt good. Both the suppressor and the scope were tightly mounted with no wiggle. My familiarity with bolt actions, the Leupold’s clear glass and duplex reticle gave me confidence that if I could see anything shootable, I would hit it. Swedish swamp water immediately soaked the inside of my boots, making me even more alert while testing my wool socks, as the falsely frozen clumps of green and brown marsh grass yielded to my weight. With many a splash, my feet sunk until the ice water crested the top of my boots. It was -5⁰ centigrade (~23⁰F) and windy as snow flurried from Northern Sweden’s immense steel gray sky. My hunting buddy and I slogged through the muck in pursuit of his dog which was trying to help us locate a moose in a vast 4,500 hectare (+11,000 acres) sized parcel of unspoiled Swedish timberland (surprisingly swampy woodland). At the time I didn’t realize I was due for several grueling days of hiking up and down hills, through swamps, bushwhacking through thick Pines and Asps, ducking branches, high stepping countless fallen logs, skirting boulders and attempting to elegantly leap nearfrozen, poorly delineated, streams. We came across bunches of wild, intensely red, Lingo berries, a few remaining Blueberries and several giant colonies of super-tasty wild mushrooms which we stopped to pick. The bears clearly loved the Lingo berries too. We saw ample evidence of their meals during our hikes. I started missing my trusty SA 1911 as I encountered all the bear sign. The hunting dogs search out and follow the scent of moose. How they can discern the freshness of one moose track from another, not get sidelined by a bear, fox, lynx or wolf scent, I do not know. However, these gleeful hounds routinely run 20 plus kilometers per day once on the scent. Once they pinpoint the moose, they follow silently for a bit, then start barking, which generally slows the moose. The hunters need to identify the direction of the dogs and start hiking in that direction. Once within a couple of hundred yards hunters slow to ensure a silent approach from upwind. The woods are so thick that they usually try to get within 50 yards of the moose in order to get a clean shot, sometimes as close as 30 yards. Maximum stealth is required to avoid spooking the moose. After two days of wet feet, moose tracks, bear scat, mocking crows and campfire-cooked “dirt pancakes,” we had not seen a single giant brown thing. Maybe the moose had swum to the other side of the lake. They are apparently great swimmers. My buddy was convinced there were still some in our territory. I had one morning hunt left before I had to think about packing up and heading across Europe to my meeting. I have been buffaloed before and I needed to consciously push away a miserable gnawing feeling in my gut so I could get some sleep.
Wanting to maximize my chance for success in case I were to actually see a suitable moose, I dusted off a number of bolties and headed to the range. I fired my Yugo Mauser 98, my Thompson Center Icon .30TC, and my Browning A-Bolt II .338WM from the bench, standing and kneeling positions until I could nail the 100- yard, 10x10, gong, effortlessly, and the 3” diameter gong with concentration. I silently thanked my various marksmanship instructors as I rang steel again and again. (Ray-Dog Sanchez, Neal Ashe & Jason Wilson) I imagined hitting the moose’s heart, spine, or shoulder as I worked the actions over and over. Note: for the record, all of my precious firearms were lost overboard in a bizarre boating accident.
THE MENTAL DEBATE
Browning’s A-Bolt II, chambered in .338 Winchester Magnum, was the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s “Gun of the Year” back near the beginning of this 21st Century. I won it at the banquet in Greeley, Colorado. The A-Bolt II was built to accurately and efficiently knockdown big game, precisely, the size of elk and moose. I really wanted to harvest my first moose with this special stainless steel and camouflaged polymer masterpiece. I knew it was seriously accurate as I had consistently rung steel at 1,100 yards with it during a long-range workshop in Wyoming, and the bolt and trigger are both really smooth. The recoil is a bit tough; but hey, that’s a small price to pay for a moose memory of a lifetime. Alas, the USA and so many other government’s onerous regulations diminish so much fun for the brotherhood of sportsmen worldwide. The International Trafficking and Arms Control Regulation (ITAR) control the export of weapons from the US. If you take your rifle out, you must bring it back in, or it is deemed an export; and that means a lot of paperwork. I really wanted to bring my shooting iron; but my business trip was going to take me in and out of 3 or 4 European countries. Reluctantly, I decided to borrow one of my buddy’s rifles when I got to Sweden rather than risk running afoul of the authorities and risking losing my awesome A-Bolt to some bureaucrat as I crossed multiple international borders.
ESCAPE FROM THE OFFICE
As my children required my help paying for their education and my bookkeeper wife enjoys an aspiration of a retirement, my corporate day job prevented me from crashing the Moose Prom (AKA hunting the rut). Woe was me. I was going to miss it unless I quit my job and got a divorce. Fortunately, my despair was short-lived and my marriage remains intact. A number of European customers suddenly needed some of my world-class night vision business development expertise at the beginning of November, As I had a few vacation days available, I sensed the stars starting to align. I immediately booked my European ticket, got my mini-vacation approved, called my buddy and told him I was coming for 3 days bridging the end of October and the start of November. The joy of anticipation started warming my soul. My itinerary took me from the US to London, Gatwick to Oslo, Norway and then to Stockholm, Sweden where I deliriously discovered that the last train ticket for the 9PM Express was sold 94 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
THE HUNT
and fury of a red-hot projectile. A gleaming fresh round worked itself into the Ruger’s action without any thought on my part. A gallon of adrenalin dumped into my bloodstream as I watched the empty case arc to the ground in extreme slow motion. My body’s thermostat shot up to 100 something degrees and I became nearly weightless. The moose’s heart was missed by ½ inch (visualization works). He jumped backward, pivoted, and drunkenly careened downhill, disappearing ever deeper into the forest. I thought about pursuit as I replayed the shot in my mind. I knew in my gut that pursuit would not be needed as I had heard, saw, and almost felt the “kugelschlag.” The bullet hit him precisely as I had intended. The shot’s distance was only 50 or 60 meters away, point-blank distance for Norma’s Oryx 180gr .30-06 hunting round traveling at 2700 FPS (823M/S). I walked to the sight of the shot and laid my blaze orange hat on the ground next to a small patch of blood and finally exhaled the remaining half breath I had been holding.
THE HARD PART
Giant Swedish logging machines are modern marvels.
The third, and last, morning’s coffee was downed at daybreak. We loaded up and headed to the hunting grounds. White flurries drifted down from a blurry grey steel sky. The plan was to enter the edge of the woods from different positions, a mile or two apart. I was finishing the adjustment of my gear’s straps and buckles while standing on a huge boulder getting ready to head into the woods.
THE HARVEST
A tiny clip-clop of hooves from within the Skogsmarker tickled my ears and jerked my eyes wide open, intensely focusing my attention on my goal. Staring toward the direction of the rhythmic footsteps, I inhaled deeply and let a half a breath out as I shouldered my rifle. Forcing my heartbeats to remain calm, I stared at an opening in the woods as I solidified the purchase of my sling around my left forearm. A brown and gray ghost trotted in and out of view. “A MOOSE” I screamed inside my own brain. My safety magically switched to hot as muscle memory welded that Ruger to my shoulder and cheek. The finger pressure on the trigger increasing as I assessed if the moose was a shooter. Yes! Good to go! Big, brown, and moving too fast; fortunately, broadside. I let a small whistle sail across the clearing. The moose halted his trot for a millisecond, looked my way, and 180 grains of .30-06 caliber Norma goodness center punched his chest, with about 2,500 foot-pounds of energy (~3,500J), as he performed his threat assessment. The moose’s alarmed, next step was interrupted by the shock, sound
My hunting companions, having all heard the shot, stopped hunting and called on the radio. Because moose are such awesome and magnificent creatures, local custom dictates that everyone on the lease quit hunting and assemble at the sight of the shot, ASAP, in order to assist with the rapid recovery of any wounded or killed animal. My team of lovable, Swedish, tobacco-dipping fellows rapidly appeared. They had taken sixteen moose so far this season, so they know exactly what they are doing. My teammates brought their eyes, their dogs, a chainsaw and an ATV with a trailer. It was easy to follow the blood trail down the hill right into the swamp. My moose had expired in about 8 inches of near-freezing water and swamp mush. One antler was recovered. Part of the team felled a good ½ dozen trees, hacked bushes and sawed through fallen trees in order to make a path for the ATV (fortunately, my buddy’s sons are lumberjacks). We gutted the moose, removed the huge and beautiful heart, the kidneys and discovered that the liver had been destroyed by the round. A birch twig was gifted to me in honor of my first moose and I had to wear it in my hat as is the custom in Sweden. Four men and a winch manhandled the moose into a narrow trailer which was attached to the ATV after 15 minutes of struggle. Then, after 20 additional minutes of pushing, pulling, cajoling, skidding, rocking, sliding, sweating, swearing and of spinning/ sinking tire mud spraying everywhere, the ATV and my moose arrived back on the road.
THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
In the slaughterhouse, the team efficiently got the animal ready for final processing. We turned off the lights, locked the barn door and then headed for a whiskey. Comfortably ensconced by the fireplace I was informed that I am the first American to harvest a moose in this part of Northern Sweden and that I am invited back. Yee Haw! ★ Devin Standard is a night vision industry executive, a global adventurer and a member of the NRA since 1970something. When not hunting, shooting, teaching marksmanship, or advocating for the Bill of Rights, he may be found skiing, motorcycling, scuba diving, hiking or exploring. A New Hampshire Man at heart, he wishes you Liberty in Your Lifetime and encourages you to take young people hunting and fishing. SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 95
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Top left: Rudy Nix | Top right: Past President Ray Petty with elephant trophy of a lifetime! 138 lbs. x 142 lbs.
LOOKING
BACK By Tommy Morrison
Bottom left: (l-r) Dr. Sam Williams, Bill Hintze & guide | Bottom right: Past Director Rick Young
98 HUNTER'S HORN™ SPRING 2021
Top left: Past President Lloyd Swiedom, Past President Sally Swiedom, unknown, David Smith, Culver Love, Riecke Baumann, Past President Rick Callison & Kerry O’Day Top right: Joe Keathley Left: A throwback to outfitter pricing, supplied by Historian Jerry Henderson & Tommy Morrison Bottom left: (l-r) Mary Lee Hopper, Past President Cecil Hopper & long-time assistant Bottom right: Anna Morrison with President George HW Bush
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Annual Tower Pheasant Shoot EU ROPE A N ST Y LE TOW ER PHE A SA N T SHOOT, ONE HOU R FROM HOME
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BY JD BURROWS
tanding here looking at the birds laid out by Moving around and changing wind directions gave our guide and hosts, WGO Outfitters, reminds us a variety of shooting patterns, some birds were high me of just how much fun and excitement is flyers, some would try and stay in the trees. Each shot had at this annual HSFC was fun. My shooting party had a event. This is the fifth consecutive fantastic time, and by mid-mornSPONSORED BY year that I have participated in the ing, we were well on our way to event, and as in similar years, it did having one of our better shoots. not disappoint. This was my father-in-law’s first We arrived at the shooting field tower pheasant shoot, and Terry reat about 7am and prepared for our ally enjoyed it. As a novice shooter, safety briefing. This morning I was he felt comfortable with the arshooting with my son, Trevor, and rangement. We paired him up my father-in-law Terry. And just with Trevor, and between the two like that, the initial siren and there of them, they were able to clean up. is the first bird. We are stationed After a great January morning around a large acreage of trees, in Texas, we had rotated around all and the birds are released from the 26 stations and worked up quite middle and choose to fly in any dian appetite. Our hosts, prepared a EQUIPMENT: rection. The first few birds didn’t nice fireside lunch, BBQ, drinks, • 12 gauge, automatic shotgun come in our direction, but we could and peach cobbler. We all came in • #6 shot, 3 boxes see and hear the well-placed shots and ate lunch together, swapped • Shell pouch by other shooters. Next bird... and stories, and recounted fun shots • Skill Level: Novice – Intermediate oh boy it’s coming straight for us. and trick birds. As a group, we We wait for it to clear the tree line, shot 260 birds, and looking at the and we all open fire. We eventually colorful display of feathers I was got the bird, but often as is the case our first bird almost reminded just how pretty these Kansas-based birds are. got away. As soon as it was down, the retrieval dog was Another great year for the tower pheasant shoot and on the case and brought the bird back to our feet. Twenty a special thank you to FORLOH for sponsoring the birds later and the first flight was over, time to rotate. event this year! ★
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1: Waiting for the next round of birds.
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2: Trevor Burrows, JD Burrows, Terry Heath. 3: HSCF Youth Programs Coordinator David Kalich enjoying the day. 4: Shooters sporting all forms of snappy attire.
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5: The dogs were hard at work as there were very few misses for the day. 6: Not a bad day’s work! 7: Connor, Carson and Trey Barker. 8: One of the dog handlers from our host, WGO Outfitters, working a beautiful black Lab. 9: Michael Talmin & C. Ahmed. 10: Ready to go! 11: The shooting was fast and furious. 12: Good times! 13: The morning flight begins to assemble for a day of shooting.
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THE ODD ONES Not all trophy animals are ‘conventional’ By Gayne C. Young “I’ve never seen anybody as excited at shooting a giant rat than you are,” Jacob Osborn explained. He added that, as Assistant Manager and Head Guide of Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch, he had seen lots of excited clients who were ecstatic at taking record smashing whitetails but, “…not at having popped a woodchuck.” “Trophy woodchuck,” I corrected Jacob. “He’s as big a trophy woodchuck as I’ve ever seen. Or taken!” Yes, I’m a trophy hunter. And, yes, I have some not so conventional ideas on what constitutes a trophy. They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I believe the same holds true for what constitutes a trophy animal. For me, a trophy represents the time put into planning the hunt, my time in the field, and the actual animal taken. I love traditional trophy animals like whitetail, elk, and African plains game but I also love the odd animals. These weird animals no one else seems to consider worthy of their time hold a special appeal to me. Here’s a look at some of my favorite oddities.
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Left: The author with the first and only ever trophy woodchuck taken at Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch. Right: Ox Ranch produces some HUGE ostrich.
WOODCHUCK
Why do I love my mounted woodchuck so much? Lots of reasons: I’m never seen a mounted one outside of my house or a museum, I went 30 years before actually seeing one in the wild, and I’m from Texas where there are no woodchuck. I first saw a woodchuck (AKA whistle pig, prairie beaver, rat, groundhog, etc.). while hunting Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch in Missouri. Five trips later I finally got the opportunity to take one. It was the week of Thanksgiving and I was sitting in a blind with guide Jacob and my friend Joel O’Shoney. “What’s that?” Joel said of the dark object waddling across the field. “Gayne! It’s your woodchuck!” Jacob exclaimed knowing of my wanting to take one. “It’s a Thanksgiving miracle. He’s supposed to be hibernating!” I wasted no time at all and quickly took the over-sized rat with an easy 50-yard shot. He was every bit the trophy and then some. He carried massive claws, super elongated rodent teeth, a gorgeous red and tawny colored hide, and weighed more than 30 pounds. Despite the fact that he was obviously one of the finest woodchucks ever taken, I had to explain just how special a trophy he was and my thoughts on trophies in general upon my return to Texas. “Why the hell do you want me to mount that thing?” My taxidermist Neal Coldwell asked. “I asked Neal how many trophy rooms he had been in. “Hundreds.” I asked him to describe the nicest one he’d ever been in. He told me of one located in the Hill Country that was so large it
featured manikins in native garb and a full-size replica of the straw hut they lived in. The room also contained full body mounts of the Dangerous Seven of Africa, shoulder mounts of all the oxen of the world, Grand Slam after Grand Slam, and more. “The guy has hundreds of mounts,” Neil explained. “The room rivals most museums of been in.” “Did you see a woodchuck in the trophy room?” I asked. Neil laughed. “No sir, I did not.” “Mine will.” My woodchuck now commands full attention on my entry table where people ask about him and his story all the time. Usually things like, “What the hell is that?” and “Why would you mount that thing?”
OSTRICH
I fell in love with ostrich meat while in South Africa while hunting with Limcroma Safaris. During that hunt I took a fantastic kudu, an extraordinary eland, a superb bushbuck, and one hell’uva a nayla but got no opportunity at a wild ostrich. I did years later however when I made a special trip to the Ox Ranch near Uvalde, Texas specifically to do such. My 13-yearold son at the time of the hunt said it best when he exclaimed, “Ostriches are the world’s largest bird. They’re basically living dinosaurs. They even kind’a look like dinosaurs. Hunting one of those would be cool. Just like hunting a dinosaur.” It was cool. I can’t say that it was the most difficult hunt I’ve ever been on, but it was a great hunt nonetheless. After several failed stalks on foot, my guide Paul Hromadka
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Above: A coatimundi in the canopy of the Yucatan Jungle. Below: A hard earned “mutant racoon.”
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This ostrich’s foot puts the bird’s true size into perspective.
got me within striking distance of an old rooster (Yes, male ostriches are roosters, females are hens) the color of tar and with a disposition almost as dark. Paul told me that the ancient bird was, “Too old to mate but not too old to fight. He beats up on the other males and even a few rheas.” Paul and I stalked through a motte of oak and errant yaupon trees to the open field where the rooster was feeding. At the end of the island of trees, Paul patted a tree and said it would make a good rifle rest. “I don’t want to get any closer. Like I said, he’s a mean one n’ can cover a lot of ground real fast,” Paul assured me. I leaned into my rifle and against the tree and made steady and found the dinosaur descendent in my crosshairs. I moved forward from the hip then to the of center chest and fired. The gargantuan lunged forward with legs in midair and poised for attack then tumbled to the ground. I chambered another round but there was no need. Paul congratulated me with a slap on the back and a fast handshake. The rooster stood almost nine feet tall and weighed over 280 pounds. His two-toed feet were larger than my hand, his legs almost as tall as my body, and his thighs half the size my of torso. He was one hell’uva trophy.
COATIMUNDI
Out of all the animals I have mounted in my house, none garners more questions than my coatimundi. When people see him mounted in my house, they ask questions like, “What the hell is that thing?” “Is that some kind of mutant raccoon?” and “Where’d you find that thing?” I took him while turkey hunting in the Yucatán Forest in Mexico along the Guatemala border with Balam Outfitters. This hunt was one of my most memorable hunts I’ve even embarked upon. It took place in one of the most remote and wildest environments I’ve ever been to and during that week long hunt I not only took a half a dozen jungle birds but also fell into the bottom of the freshly used eight foot deep latrine upon my first usage. Happy times. I had just taken my second ocellated turkey when, on the way back to the Jeep my guide Mencho and I came across a
band of nine coatimundis scrambling into the jungle canopy above. I took aim on the largest of the long-tailed raccoons and fired. The big jungle rat fell and Mencho when into the thick after it. He found it quickly and lifted it by the tail and smiled in triumph. The not-quite-dead-yet coatimundi didn’t care for that and swung into my guide’s leg and bit down hard. Mencho screamed in surprise and pain and dropped the vermin. The frantic attack took the animal’s last moments of life as it died almost immediately after. My coatimundi is the only mounted animal in my house that I’ve witness tear into human flesh.
NUTRIA
The first time I ever saw a nutria rat I was underwater. I was attending Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas and spending the afternoon spearfishing for carp in the close to campus Lake Jacksonville. I shot the animal thinking it was just a huge rat but discovered once back at campus that it was an invasive species called a nutria. My friend told me the history of the animal, of its relation to the owners of Tabasco, of its destructive nature, and how some, “Cajuns in Louisiana eat ‘em. They think it’s a delicacy.” A case of beer later and my friends were grilling the nutria’s carcass while I was rubbing salt into its hide. “I’m gonna make this guy into a flat rug,” I proudly exclaimed. “Gonna do the taxidermy myself.” “Oh yeah?” my friend slurred. “Well try what the inside of your rug tastes like.” My friends and I devoured the barbecued rat and drank more beer, then they watched as I prepared my nutria for high art. Long story short: Everyone that ate even the slightest amount of nutria got diarrhea for three days or more, my attempt at taxidermy was abhorrent, and my first and only nutria rotted. I miss him and long for the day I can spear another.
MORE TO COME
I love hunting the odd ones. There worth the effort and their pursuit always leads to one hell’uva story. ★ SPRING 2021 HUNTER’S HORN™ 109
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