T H E O FFI CI A L PU B L I C AT I O N O F H O US TO N S A FA R I CLU B • CO N V EN T I O N 2 017
The Legend
TABLE of
CONTENTS
CONVENTION 2017
FEATURES
2017 HSC CONVENTION
18 5 COUNTRIES, 5 CAPRAS, 25 DAYS
94 CHAIRMEN’S MESSAGE
By Gary Ingersoll
24 REBIRTH OF THE Y.O. RANCH By John Pepper
30 WHEN ONE CALL COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE By Andrew Merritt, Global Rescue
36 WORLD CONSERVATION FORCE BULLETIN By John Jackson
38 COMMUNITIES ON THE EDGE By Marco Pani
40 CSF REFLECTS ON NATIONAL HUNTING & FISHING DAY
By Jeff Crane
42 HUNTING & FISHING & LOVIN’ EVERY DAY
98 YOUTH WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EXPERIENCE 102 THE VOLUNTEER PIN STORY By Earle Freeman
104 2017 HSC PRESIDENT’S RIFLE 108 GAZELLE’S MESSAGE 112 HSC ARTIST OF THE YEAR: MOPHO GONDE By Todd Wilkinson
118 FRIDAY NIGHT SILENT AUCTION PREVIEW 119 CONVENTION LIVE AUCTION PREVIEW 122 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 123 CONVENTION EXHIBITORS
By Monica Williamson
46 TO HUNT WITH HEART
By Chance Sanford, Ed. D.
52 OREGON WINE: HOW THE STATE BECAME A VINTAGE CAPITAL
By Dave Hansen
56 AN EXTREME ADVENTURE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD
By Michael Ambrose
64 THE SPECKLED SPECIALIST By Harold Inman
68 BEYOND THE HUNT: ADVENTURES WORLDWIDE By West University Travel
72 SEEKING SUPPORT By Shane Mahoney
76 SLOW-COOKED & DELICIOUS By Scott Leysath
80 SCHOLARSHIPS AT WORK: HELPING DOVES THRIVE
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By Kelton Mote
82 SCHOLARSHIPS AT WORK: BELIEVING IN BATS
By Sara Weaver
84 2016 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Cover Artwork: Counter Attack, Leadwood, 2011, by Mopho Gonde, HSC Artist of the Year.
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56 112 104 76 102
UPCOMING EVENTS FEBRUARY 1 Matt Dunfee, Wildlife Management Institute Monthly Meeting at Norris Conference Centers at CityCenter (Red Oak Ballroom)
MARCH 1 George Severence, United States Navy SEAL, Lieutenant Commander, Retired Monthly Meeting at Norris Conference Centers at CityCenter (Red Oak Ballroom)
MAY 12 2017 Sporting Clays Tournament; Greater Houston Gun Club CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 5
OUR MISSION Preserving the
sport of hunting through
education,
conservation and the
protection of
hunters’ rights.
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2016–2017 HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB OFFICERS Mark King, President Scott Scheinin, MD, President Elect Kevin Ormston, Immediate Past President Deb Cunningham, Vice President Jeff Birmingham, Vice President John Pepper, Treasurer Jerry Henderson, Secretary HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB DIRECTORS 2015–2017 Linda Cunningham Harold Inman Mitzy McCorvey Shaun Nelson Matt Pyle 2016–2018 Monica Williamson John Bowers JD Burrows Darrell Kainer HEADQUARTERS STAFF Joe Betar, Executive Director Carla Nielsen, Marketing & Publications Manager Abby Rapp, Events & Membership Manager Vic Williams, Editorial Consultant Twist Creative Group / Keith Conforti, Design Consultant Alliance Printing and Graphics Hunter’s Horn is published quarterly by Houston Safari Club 9432 Katy Freeway, Suite 350 Houston, Texas 77055 713.623.8844 (p) 713.623.8866 (f) info@houstonsafariclub.org www.houstonsafariclub.org © Copyright 2016 Houston Safari Club
Houston Safari Club welcomes contributing articles, photos and research. Houston Safari Club reserves the right to edit submissions for spelling, grammar, clarity, organization and punctuation and to abridge length. Houston Safari Club 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 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, its members, employees or affiliates.
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8 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MARK KING, HSC PRESIDENT
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am inspired by the outstanding group of Houston Safari Club volunteers and staff who continue to work towards our goal of making the 2017 “Into the Wild” our best Convention ever. All of our committee chairmen and chairwomen have dedicated a significant amount of time and energy in this endeavor. I began this letter by mentioning the volunteers for one reason; none of our achievements would be possible without them. Every volunteer and staff member should receive our gratitude for a job well done. This year marks HSC’s 45th anniversary. This has offered me an opportunity to not only reflect on how much we have grown since 1972, but also to think about the people who are responsible for our early and continued success. Many of the challenges that faced these folks continue today. The anti-gun and anti-hunting communities will never stop pursuing their goal of shutting down our pastime—our lifestyle. We at the Houston Safari Club will likewise NEVER stop supporting wildlife conversation, education and promoting the sport of hunting. We intend to keep working hard to raise money in support of our causes. The hard working HSC staff puts in many long hours carrying an enormous part of the load to make our convention a success and certainly deserve our thanks and recognition. The staff is led by Executive Director Joe Betar who has done an excellent job managing our growth. Abby Rapp does a tremendous job as our Membership and Events Manager. Carla
Nielsen produces our awesome Hunter’s Horn and Bush Telegraph as Marketing and Publications Manager. Please take a moment to thank each of these folks when you see them. We continue to grow our Convention and corporate sponsorship program with new levels of partnership opportunities. I must thank all our donors, sponsors, and exhibitors who underwrite much of our Convention enabling HSC to better serve our mission and membership. Our Convention chairman J.D. Burrows tirelessly strives to keep us all focused and on schedule. J.D. and I had two distinct but equal goals for “Into the Wild”—to raise as much money and have as much fun as possible. I believe they should go hand in hand. I know J.D. and his committees have put forth ample effort in achieving both of these goals. It truly is an honor for me to serve as Houston Safari Club President. I enjoy working with our excellent Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers to serve our membership. I am confident that with “Into the Wild,” our club will continue to succeed in supporting our mission. Sincerely,
Mark King HSC President
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 9
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR‘S MESSAGE JOE BETAR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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ho doesn’t like this time of year? The North American hunting season is in full swing. We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with friends and family. Shortly thereafter, we will gather together to celebrate the annual Houston Safari Club Convention, a grand event at which we reconnect with our fellow conservationists, hunting partners and the supporters of HSC-our donors, exhibitors and sponsors. A feature auction item will be the 2017 state of Texas reserve desert bighorn sheep tag. Your support and involvement in Convention makes it possible to raise the funds necessary to continue our efforts in education, conservation and hunter’s rights. A heartfelt thank you to the committee chairs, volunteers, sponsors, HSC staff and the HSC Board of Directors for all of your hard work in making this great event possible. For more information, please visit the website for everything HSC Convention at houstonsafariclub.org/convention/. The new HSC membership platform has been launched in MemberClicks. We hope you have found the experience to be elevated as we strive to provide improved services for our members. MemberClicks can be used to join or renew memberships, sign up for events, apply for grants and so much more. Attendance at HSC monthly meetings has been very strong as we have been fortunate to host great speakers including Tommy Morrison, HSC past President and owner of Sporting International, 2016 HSC Outstanding Hunter of the Year, John Colglazier, and the always entertaining Ivan Carter. Thanks to those of you in attendance. We look forward to seeing more of you at future events. HSC President Mark King and I made our annual trip to Washington, DC for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) event. A full day was spent on Capitol Hill meeting with legislators and agencies, networking with various NGO and industry professionals and attending various CSF events for which HSC was a sponsor. HSC also sponsored the CSF Texas event shortly thereafter. In other HSC news, I am honored to announce I have been selected to represent HSC (and thus each of you) on the steering committee for the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP). AWCP is a consortium of 45 organizations representing the interests of America’s hunter conservationists, professional wildlife and natural resource managers, outdoor recreation users, conservation educators, and wildlife scientists.
10 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
In addition, we have been asked to be part of the Crucial to Conservation effort which includes representatives from the professional hunting industry, along with representatives from major hunting involved organizations, to explore why there is a rise in anti-hunting sentiment and discuss how to present and explain hunting as a conservation tool, to the general public. We are also now involved in the R3 project— Hunter Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation. This project centers on the development and use of partnerships and strategic models to halt and reverse the declining trend in hunting participation. I would like to extend our great appreciation to HSC Treasurer John Pepper for his work in securing a renewed partnership with the MidwayUSA Foundation. The MidwayUSA Foundation, founded by Larry and Brenda Potterfield, owners of MidwayUSA, is a public charity working to sustain the shooting sports industry by providing long-term funding to youth shooting teams. The MidwayUSA Foundation has generously accepted Houston Safari Club’s 501(c)(3) Foundation, the American Conservation and Education Society (ACES), as a partner to participate in its Donor Designated Endowment Program. The HSC endowment program will be matched and 5% will provide grant funding for HSC’s youth program 2017 will be HSC’s 45th anniversary. Look for exciting news and announcements as we embark on celebrating our legacy of education and conservation. There may even be a few surprise announcements as we plan another great 45 years. I would be remiss if I did not recognize the HSC founders and legacy members for their fortitude and vision in making HSC what it is today— a leader in conservation. As we look to the future, I reflect on a quote by Nelson Henderson, a second generation farmer from the Swan River Valley region of Manitoba, Canada. Nelson stated, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” As members and supporters of HSC, you are truly planting the seeds of the future of hunting and conservation through your works today. Yours in Conservation,
Joe Betar Executive Director
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Nicole Alonso
Jeffrey Hiller
Paul Anderson
Jay Holland
Thys van Rooyen Mark Rose
Ryan Anthony
Ronald Jankowiak
Heather Sanders
Timothy Basso
Bradley Kubecka
Chance Sanford
Emily Belser
Werner von Seydlitz-Kurzbach
Robin Schill
John Berry
Marina Lamprecht
Neal Simpson
Caitlin Curry
Albert Landoli
Amy Smith
Emily Degan
Tiffany Lane
Jamison Smith
Jose Etchart
George Larrimer
Rachel Smith
William Fowler
Grant Lawrence
Michael Tschaar
Lindsay Fraser
John Leonard
Clarie Veronie
Matthew Garrick
Jason Lombardi
Laura Warner
Bryce Gerlach
Melissa McDonald
Pierce Young
Laney Graham
Brandon Mitchell
Drew Ward
Nate Graham
Kelton Mote
Sara Weaver
Tod Graham
Woody Nassar
Victoria Welker
Samuel Harryman
Terry Nixson
William Wunderlich Michelle Vo
Victoria Haynes
Wesley Pratka
Amado Hernandez
Kevin Roberts
Tom Hewitt
Fred Rodee
Show off Your Membership with HSC Gear.
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 11
HSC LIFE MEMBERS Bob Abernathy John Abraham Richard Alexander MD Shannon Alston Michael Ambrose Skip Avara Anne Avara Jacob Avara Dannine Avara Cope Bailey Camp Bailey Kenneth Bailey Freddie Bailey Jr. Jack Barksdale Wendy Barnhart James Bell Lyndel Berry Tony Bessette Charlotte Betar Joe Betar James Biggerstaff Craig Boddington Werner Boeer Jay Bonano E. Bond Greg Bond Pete Bonora Jeri Booth Frederick (Tony) Box James Braus J. Bridgwater Jack Brittingham Joe Bruno Matt Burke Robert Burke Byron Burris II Quint Burris Grady Burris Prentiss Burt Daniel Butler Turner Butts Don Byrne C. Cagle Dennis Cain Thomas Cain Jr. Rick Callison Alex Campbell Bill Carter Paul Carter Ivan Carter Ben Case Barbara Cavender-Lewis Preston Cavner Chris Caywood
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Tracey Cearley Alan Cegielski James Clark Steve Clark Craig Clendenin Stephen Coale Russell Coleman Randall Coleman Joe Collett Dwayne Collier Frank Comiskey Kevin Comiskey Alan "Bink" Cooke Rocky Cooper Dian Cooper George Councill Steve Crawford Kenneth Crockett Gary Crouch Ford Cunningham Linda Cunningham Ralph Cunningham Deb Cunningham Ralph Daigle Mandy Daigle Joe Davis Laurent Delagrange Armando DeLeon III Armando DeLeon IV Elliot Desautels Charlie Desautels Gregory Desautels Perry Dillon Jr. Randy Donato Barry Donoho Tim Doucet MD Scott Duncan Jan Duncan Bruce Edwards Robert Elkins Walton Eller Will Ellison Gary Ellison Shaun Essery Travis Findley Charlene Floyd Tommy Fogle Randy Fowler Nathan Foyil Bobby Frederick Aaron Freeman Warren Gallant Tanya Garrett Zachary Garrett
Scott Garrett Paul Geiger Frank Giacalone Gary Glesby Carl Godfrey William Gouldin Sandra Green Kevin Gregory Edward Guinn Dodd Hackman Clayton Hagerman Cory Hall James Halley Greg Harvey Charles Head Jr. Jerry Henderson Mark Herfort Heinert Hertling Robert Hibbert II Greg Hill Steven Hill Edward Lawrence Hoffman William Holder III Bill Honza Gene Human Tanya Hurlburt Terry Hurlburt Harold Inman Keith Itzel John Jackson III Jack Jensen MD W.A. Jentsch Jr. Todd Johnson Clay Johnson Robert Jones III Harris Junell Darrell Kainer Susan Kalich David Kalich Kirk Kanady John Kelsey Gaye Kelsey Mark King Julianne King Robert Kneppler Philip Koehne George Kollitides Tommy Kolwes Phil Koonce George Kopecky Keith Lake Wayne LaPierre Joel Latham Kyle Lehne
HSC LIFE MEMBERS Richard Leibman John Lindholm Jr. Tom Lipar Bryant Littlefield Mark Livesay Ricardo Longoria Doug Luger David Mafrige Paige Manard John Martin III James Masten Chad Matherne Wyatt McBride Tony McCorvey Mitzy McCorvey Ed McCrory III Vickie McMillan Travis McWilliams Gerald Meinecke Lewis Metzger Greg Mills Brook Minx Howard Monsour Paul Montealegre G.L. Moore Reed Morian Tommy Morrison Ron Mostyn Dustin Mykyte Shannon Nash Bob Neese Rob Neilson Scott Nelson William Newlin Rudy Nix K. Nunnally Kerry O'Day Carol O'Day Charles Onstead Kevin Ormston Neal Overstreet John Painter Michael Park Michael Parr Steve Pate Trevor Penny John Pepper Melanie Pepper Timothy Peter Wilson (Woody) Phillips Jr. Bryce Phillips Carson Phillips Dusty Phillips Thomas Powell
Kevin Poynter Andrew Pratt Kymberly Pratt Charles Prince Jr. Sharon Propes Carlos Ramirez Lawrence Rearick William Reed Sr. Gayle Rettig MD Keith Riggs John Robberson Mike Robinson Larry Robinson Chuck Rod Robert Rod Stephen Rogers William Rohrbach William Roosevelt Mark Rose Gary Rose Jerry Rubenstein Chris Ruhman Gerald Russell Byron Sadler Sandra Sadler Michael Sample Scott Scheinin MD Robert Scherer Wade Schindewolf Wayne Sheets John Shelby Richard Shepherd Jason Shrieve William Simmons Jody Simpson Becky Simpson Barret Simpson Travis Simpson Mike Simpson Austin Simpson Michael Simpson Weston Simpson Tristan Simpson Autumn Simpson Jacob Simpson Sam Skipper Jason Smith Steve Smith Tom Snyder Norman Speer MD Larry Stifflemire Mark Stouse Randy Strickland H. Stuart
Greg Stube David Swan Lloyd Swiedom Sally Swiedom Peter Tam Larry Tatom Terry Taylor Mark Terpstra Heidi Thomas Robert Thomas J.B. Tinney John Tobin Pete Trammell Hal Tryon Don Turner Phillip Veale Thom Venus Amanda Vick William Vick Juan Villaveces Glenn Vincent Pierre Vorster Joshua Walker Greg Walla Rob Walsh John Waltz Rick Weber Dana Weber Larry Weishuhn Denise Welker Brian Welker Robert Wells Lawrence West Matt West Bruce Whitmire Steve Willenborg Ron Willenborg Gregory Williamson Alan Winslette Robby Winstead Kurt Wiseman John Wood Bill Woodall J.D. (Des) Woods Jr. Patricia Woods Preston Young Debi Young Brian Zaitz
*DECEASED
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 13
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14 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
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5 COUNTRIES
5 CAPRAS
25 DAYS BY GARY INGERSOLL
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I have taken 25 species of wild goat “Capra” and thought it would be a great challenge at my age, 76, to see if I could get another five species all at one time. I had no idea it would take a journey across Europe to do it.
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 19
5 COUNTRIES, 5 CAPRAS, 25 DAYS : BY GARY INGERSOLL
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ob Kern of the Hunting Consortium said adding five more species of Capra would be pretty hard to accomplish, but he thought he could put a trip together that would give me an excellent shot at my goal. Because France is not gun friendly, I would use Istanbul,
Turkey as my point of entry and could store my rifle there for my future hunts.
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The first hunt would be for three days in France for a Chartreuse Chamois. Just before I’m about to leave for Istanbul my Turkish representative tells me that all hunting has just been shut down because of the bombing in Ankara that killed 102 people and wounded hundreds. This was not a good way to start. I arrived in Lyon, France, and drove to the hunting area. On the way I’m given the weather report for the next three days: first day fog and light rain; second day sunshine; and third daylight rain and snow, which means I have to get my chamois on the second day. The first morning we start climbing at 7 a.m. and it’s so foggy I can’t see 50 yards in front of me. Vincent tells me if we climb higher that maybe the fog will clear, but four hours later and on the very top of the mountain I still can’t see 50 yards in front of me. I stay up there all day and head down to arrive at the truck at 7 p.m.; this made for a long first day. On my second day, there was no sun, same fog, and rain but worse. We climb only half way up the mountain and come down at 5 p.m. Rain is now light snow and we are getting nervous about not getting my Chamois. On the third day, we start to climb at 7 a.m. and there is no fog but it is snowing. About an hour into our climb we spot eight Chamois on the very top of the mountain about 1,000 yards away and Vincent says we should try for them before the fog comes in again. We get within 500 yards and he wants me to try a shot but I tell him, “let’s try to crawl to the next rock and see how close it is.” We get there and it’s right at 290–300 yards away and we can’t get any closer. I take the shot, just over his back, and he turns and looks. My next shot hits his shoulder and he drops over. It’s 10:15 a.m. and I can see the fog coming, and around 10:40 the fog is all over the mountain and again we can’t see 25 yards in front of us. I get the Chamois and come down to the bottom for pictures. This was cutting it close. One down.
Chartreuse Chamois, France. Vincent Lacoste, outfitter – Top 10 SCI Gold.
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Kri-Kri ibex, Macedonia. Anton Tonchev, outfitter - gold medal.
5 COUNTRIES, 5 CAPRAS, 25 DAYS : BY GARY INGERSOLL
I return to Istanbul to get my rifle and will try to move my hunt up in Croatia for the Kri-Kri Hybrid Ibex. I arrive the next day and start in Zagreb on Dogi Gtok Island. On the first day, I shoot a Gold Medal Kri-Kri Hybrid Ibex. With a few days before I go to Macedonia, we try for a Golden Jackal. The first day we try a couple of drives with the dogs but no luck. We go to another area the next day and just before dark I take a big male. I still have a day before I leave for Macedonia, so we are going to try for a European Badger. We hunt from a high seat (stand) and get lucky. A nice badger comes in and one shot later I have it. I can’t get any luckier than this… three great animals.
Racka sheep, Macedonia. Anton Tonchev, outfitter – Top 10 SCI Gold.
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Hybrid ibex, Croatia. Josip Tomljanović, outfitter – Top 10 SCI Gold.
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Now I’m off to Skopje, Macedonia, for a Kri-Kri Ibex. When I arrive, Tony says, “let’s drive to Tikvesh Lake where we will look around, have lunch and start hunting tomorrow.” Just before we arrive at camp we spot a European Wild Turkey, a big male with a nice beard, and I take him. We go to camp for pictures and skin for life size and I ask if the guys can cook him. They prepared a great casserole with potatoes, carrots, onions and tomatoes for lunch the next day. First thing the next morning I shoot a Gold Medal Kri-Kri Ibex. Afterward we come back for lunch and we had the best turkey casserole I’ve ever eaten. Tony wants to show me around his hunting area and maybe we can spot something else to hunt. I have all afternoon, so we go scouting. I see ibex, tur and a very big Racka sheep. We make a great stalk and I now have a gold medal sheep.
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European wild turkey, Macedonia. Anton Tonchev, outfitter.
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 21
5 COUNTRIES, 5 CAPRAS, 25 DAYS : BY GARY INGERSOLL
Next day I’m off to Madrid, Spain for the Balearic Boc (goat). We arrive in Mallorca, Spain, the next morning and go out hunting that afternoon. After an hour and a half of climbing, we spot three different groups of goats. I make a 225-yard shot and my long 25-day trip is over.
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Balearean Boc, Spain. Guiseppe Carrizosa, outfitter.
During the 21 days of the trip, I never slept in the same bed more than once. I shot four major Capras and four different species for a total of eight. Would I do it again? Probably not, knowing how much pressure I was under, but it sure was a great experience and lots of fun. And now I’m stuck on 29. They say Turkey might re-open between now and the end of the season (March). But Turkey is not going to re-open anytime soon, so I’ve booked a Tatra chamois for December 2017 in Slovakia and if they have a cancellation this year I might be able to go in December. With any luck, I will complete my goal of 30 Capra species by end of next year. ★
I would like to thank the following Outfitters who accompanied me on my hunts: Chartreuse Chamois / France / Vincent Lacoste / Top 10 SCI Gold Hybrid Ibex / Croatia / Josip Tomljanovic / Top 10 SCI Gold Racka Sheep / Macedonia / Anton Tonchev / Top 10 SCI Gold Balearean Boc / Spain / Guiseppe Carrizosa All will make SCI Record Book
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倀氀攀愀猀攀 樀漀椀渀 礀漀甀爀 䠀匀䌀 昀爀椀攀渀搀猀 䈀礀爀漀渀 愀渀搀 匀愀渀搀爀愀 匀愀搀氀攀爀Ⰰ 琀栀攀 渀攀眀 漀眀渀攀爀猀 愀渀搀 洀愀渀愀最椀渀最 瀀愀爀琀渀攀爀猀 漀昀 琀栀攀 夀⸀伀⸀ 刀愀渀挀栀 䠀攀愀搀焀甀愀爀琀攀爀猀Ⰰ 昀漀爀 礀漀甀爀 渀攀砀琀 栀甀渀琀 漀爀 昀愀洀椀氀礀 漀甀琀椀渀最⸀
㠀㌀ ⸀㘀㐀 ⸀㌀㈀㈀㈀⼀㠀㐀㐀⸀㠀㌀㔀⸀㌀㈀㈀㈀ CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 23
眀眀眀⸀夀伀刀愀渀挀栀䠀攀愀搀焀甀愀爀琀攀爀猀⸀挀漀洀
Rebirth
Sign at the entrance to the historic Y.O. Ranch Headquarters
24 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
of the Y.O. Ranch BY JOHN PEPPER
“L
ook at the giraffes, they’re beautiful,” said my daughter Erin as we surveyed the top of the hill in front of us — it was dotted with the long, graceful necks of several
giraffes. No, we weren’t in Africa where you’d certainly expect such a sight. We were in Texas — the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters to be specific — which was just finishing a year-long, and much needed, renovation. Fellow Houston Safari Club Life Members Byron and
Sandra Sadler and silent partners, Lacy and Dorothy Harber, had purchased the ranch almost a year ago and have been working nonstop at restoring the ranch to its former, true-to-Texas status. From the newly paved access road from Highway 41 to the removal of the massive amount of dead cedar that was such an eyesore just last year, the rebirth of the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters was remarkable.
Entrance to the historic Y.O. Ranch Headquarters
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 25
REBIRTH OF THE Y.O. RANCH : BY JOHN PEPPER
above: The old cowboy town cabin rooms
(still under construction.)
right: The Headquarters office and lodge
And those of us who know Byron and Sandra are not surprised at the total transformation that their vision, hard work, and substantial investment have made to the iconic Y.O. Ranch Headquarters. Melanie and I were at the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters for a weekend with my daughter Erin, her husband Brad and step-son Conner. In fact, six-year-old Conner was a big reason for the weekend, as this trip would be his introduction to firearms and hunting. He was very excited at finally being able to shoot our cut-down .223 REM on which his cousins all started their firearm training. And we were just as excited as Conner at the prospect of introducing yet another young man to the shooting and hunting sports. Our weekend had been expertly planned and coordinated by the Y.O. Headquarters’ Hunting Manager Pavel, a long-time PH with extensive experience in Cameroon, South Africa, and Mozambique. And how does his experience as a PH show? Every detail of our trip had been expertly choreographed as was our daily itinerary to say it kept us busy is a gross understatement! “Come on Carlita, come get your cookie,” Pavel said softly. The beautifully colored, graceful giraffe slowly bowed down and deftly took the oatmeal cookie out of my hand. “Now you must feed Carlita,” he said to Conner. Although a little tentative at such a large, looming head staring at him, Conner did his part feeding beautiful Carlita the giraffe at least half of the box of oatmeal cookies. Feeding the friendly giraffe was a huge hit with Conner and this was just half an hour after we’d arrived and checked into our rooms. If this was just the beginning, we were all excited at the prospects for the rest of the weekend. Did I mention the rooms? Byron and Sandra have completely renovated the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters Lodge, Chuckwagon, and Historic rooms. We were checked into the two-suite Sam Houston Cabin which had been completely renovated with salvaged barn siding and old doors from the ranch. The bathrooms all sported new fixtures, the beds were comfortable and 26 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
the new A/C worked perfectly. There was even a loft with four single beds overlooking the living area that was accessed by huge, heavy wooden beam-steps. In addition to renovating the existing Headquarters cabins, Byron and Sandra have added sixteen rooms built in an old cowboy town motif. The cowboy town sports an unusual light fixture made from wagon wheels and branding irons which Byron found on the ranch. Each room as a different storefront such as saloon, barber shop, stagecoach office and, well you get the idea. There’s even a Y.O. Ranch Headquarters jail for those that Sheriff Byron says take advantage of the open bar. We had time before dinner so we decided a visit to the rifle range to give Conner his first rifle lesson would be in order. As we worked our way out of the giraffe pasture we passed Père David deer, white-bearded wildebeest, Himalayan Tahr and emus, none of which Conner had seen before. Pavel informed us that Byron was planning on stocking white rhino in the near future which would really be an unusual sight for visitors wishing to experience Africa without leaving Texas. After Conner’s first rifle lesson where he proved to be a willing learner, we headed for the well-known Chuckwagon for dinner. Byron and Sandra’s “touch” was immediately evident when we walked in as it had a clean, fresh look that had been
The cowboy town sports an unusual light fixture made from wagon wheels and branding irons which Byron found on the ranch. Each room as a different storefront such as saloon, barber shop, stagecoach office and, well you get the idea.
REBIRTH OF THE Y.O. RANCH : BY JOHN PEPPER sadly missing on our previous trip to the Y.O. The food was excellent, filling and lots of it. All of us were happily stuffed as we left the Chuckwagon and piled into the Polaris for a quick trip to the blackbuck pasture where Pavel introduced Conner to several other species that he had never seen before, primarily blackbuck, Corsican Sheep, and sika deer. Speaking of sika, the Y.O. Headquarters has both Japanese and Dybowski sika, the Dybowski being especially large, trophy quality. The long drive that day and the several experiences that Pavel had arranged for us, made for a short evening as we were all ready for bed, but more importantly, looking forward to what the ranch would have to offer in the morning. We were up early for a great breakfast at the Chuckwagon, after which we headed back to the rifle range to continue Conner’s rifle lessons. Watching Conner practice his marksmanship gave Brad and Erin the itch to try their hand at the 100-yard targets. Loading up Melanie’s trusty Blaser .300 Win Mag, both proved to be true marksman as they put their shots within one MOA of dead center. Not bad for their first time on a .300. As we piled into the Polaris and left the rifle range, Pavel informed us of his next surprise — a visit to the Pig Playground. Byron and Pavel had concocted an interesting twist on pig hunting, one that was especially suited for young and new hunters — a five-acre enclosure literally overrun with the pigs that they trap on the ranch. Since Conner wasn’t yet ready for live shooting, Brad took the .223 where he and Melanie set up on one of the many wooden stands located throughout the Pig Playground. Pavel and the rest of us took off to “round up” the herd of pigs. And did I say “herd of pigs?” It wasn’t long before literally hundreds of pigs — big pigs, little pigs, black pigs, brown pigs, and spotted pigs — came barreling by the stand. A perfect brain shot and Brad had his pig. To say it was fun is an understatement — and not just for Brad as Erin and Conner could be heard hooting and hollering at the pigs as they rounded them up for Brad. An added treat was Conner’s introduction to cleaning and processing game. His experience at the skinning shed was a good one as Pavel’s PH background made short work of Brad’s pig — it was quickly hanging in the cooler. Pavel’s next surprise was a visit to the ranch camel, Samburu, and its star longhorn bull named Cowpoke, both of which Conner had a great time feeding protein cubes. It was here that we were surprised by both Byron and Sandra who had just returned the day before from nearly a month in Africa. Since it was already lunch time, they joined us for yet another great, filling meal at the Chuckwagon where they entertained Erin and Brad with their numerous stories about the Y.O. Headquarters and their trials and tribulations during its renovation. During lunch, Byron and Sandra invited us to their Two Dot Ranch to view their amazing trophy room — no, their amazing trophy house. We eagerly accepted and their beautiful home with its stunning views of the valley below didn’t disappoint. Firsttime visitors, Erin, Brad, and Conner were completely blown away as Sandra led them from room to room pointing out their many worldwide trophies. But the true icing on the cake was when Sandra asked little Conner to clap his hands in front of a bookshelf in the kitchen hallway. As Conner clapped, Sandra hit a hidden button and the bookshelf rolled back exposing a winding staircase to the dungeon below, also known as the Sadler wine cellar. However, Conner didn’t see anything as
Relaxing on the porch.
Trophies on the walls.
The Y.O. Headquarters jail wagon.
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 27
As we wandered around the various pastures we eventually ended up on the top of a long hill where there in the middle of nowhere was a rock wall with a heavy wooden door. ‘Wow, a hidden entrance!’ exclaimed Pavel. We opened the doors to long, winding rock-lined passageway. As we reached the end of the tunnel, we all stood in amazement at the sight before us — a real Mayan Temple! The Pepper family visits the Mayan Temple.
Cliff view of the Mayan Temple.
The Pepper family enjoying the outdoors at the ranch.
28 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
he’d taken off down the hallway, convinced he’d broken Miss Sandra’s bookshelf. But it wasn’t long before he was down in the wine cellar with the rest of us being amazed at the collection of helmets, fossils, and other assorted “treasures” the Sadler’s have accumulated over the years. It was a fitting end to a truly amazing tour of an even more amazing home. As we said goodbye to Sandra thanking her for a wonderful visit, Pavel suggested a quick ride through a nearby pasture to see the Two Dot Ranch buffalo and yaks. Little did we know that Pavel had yet another surprise up his sleeve. As we wandered around the various pastures we eventually ended up on the top of a long hill where there in the middle of nowhere was a rock wall with a heavy wooden door. “Wow — a hidden entrance!” exclaimed Pavel. We opened the doors to long, winding rock lined passageway. Conner was understandably hesitant, especially when we started on the Mayan hiding place and human sacrifice. As we reached the end of the tunnel, we all stood in amazement at the sight before us — a real Mayan Temple! Well, maybe not a “real Mayan Temple” but surely one that will suffice for real in Texas. Byron had built what certainly appeared to be a real-life Mayan Temple for a simple reason — he had two large wooden doors that he needed to find a home for. So of course, why not build a Mayan Temple? It was complete with built-in wood burning chimineas, full catering kitchen, bathroom and large outdoor entertaining area. By the end of our Mayan Temple tour, we were on serious sensory overload. We had other great experiences during our time at the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters – additional trips to the rifle range, visits to other areas of the ranch to view even more exotic critters and of course more great meals at the Chuckwagon. Perhaps the best way to sum up the “New Y.O. Ranch Headquarters” is a remark that the vivacious, charming Receptionist/Hostess, Lisa Watson said to us. “I’m just so proud to be a part of this organization — I’m truly blessed!” That pretty much sums it up for us as well. Erin, Brad, and Conner were truly amazed at all that the Y.O. Headquarters has to offer its visitors and vowed to return soon. They won’t be the only ones as Melanie and I are already planning a late fall visit. Our fellow Houston Safari Club members Byron and Sandra Sadler have done a truly visionary job of restoring the Y.O. Ranch Headquarters to its historic charm and iconic status — congratulations on a job well done. ★
Y.O. Ranch Headquarters is now
Bigger & better!
Left: Byron and Sandra Sadler. Right: Lacy and Dorothy Harber.
T
o all HSC members it’s time to start planning our much anticipated weekend at the historic Y.O. Ranch Headquarters. In October 2015, the Y.O. Ranch came under new ownership to Byron and Sandra Sadler and their silent partners Dorothy and Lacy Harber. They are keeping the history and tradition alive by featuring true Texas hospitality! The improvements began immediately: • New road from entryway to Y.O. Ranch Headquarters • New hunting and tour vehicles • All existing cabins have been renovated including new heaters and air conditioners • Currently 16 new rooms resembling an old western town. • New offices located next to the lodge • They own Charlie Schreiner III’s home, which will be used for weddings and private parties. Byron and Sandra have toured the world and know what it takes to have a top notch corporate retreat and hunting ranch. They each enjoy a challenge and are looking forward to continuing the Y.O. Ranch legacy. They are offering us a special price at $175 per person / per night which includes all meals and open bar. Activities offered include a 2-hour wildlife tour for $75 per person. Horseback riding is approximately 2 hours and cost $120 per person or $100 per person for 4 or more riders. We’re bringing back the long range shooting contest at the 250-, 375- and 500-yard range. They will open up their sporting clays course for $100 per person. Please remember you can hunt exotic game year round. You need to make reservations in advance for these activities. Also, turkey season is open during the time we are there. If you plan on hunting let us know in advance so a guide can be arranged for you.
Save the date APRIL 7, 8 and 9, 2017 Contact Tommy Morrison at 281-452-6223 or Anna Morrison at 713-899-8488 if you plan on attending. Make checks payable to Y.O. Ranch Headquarters. If you plan to pay by credit card contact Debbie Hagebusch directly at 830-640-3222 to reserve your spot. Please visit us online to www.yoranchheadquarters.com or friend them on Facebook.
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 29
When One Call Could Save Your Life
Everything You Need To Know About Satellite Phones BY ANDREW MERRITT
30 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
WHEN ONE CALL COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE : BY ANDREW MERRITT
W
ith more than 12,000 missions completed since 2004, and eight operations centers in six countries across the world, Global Rescue prides itself on being able to bring members to safety no
matter where they travel or what kind of trouble they find. Still, there are some things a hunter can do to make survival and rescue easier. When a hunter’s quest takes him or her into remote and treacherous territory, it’s crucial to have the right survival equipment and know-how in case something goes awry. The right firearm, ammunition, and camouflage are vital to a successful hunt, but there’s a piece of equipment you should consider, and it’s one of the most important tools a hunter can carry on a long trek into a remote area: a satellite communication device. For Global Rescue’s team of highly trained security and medical evacuation professionals – many of whom are military special operations veterans – communication with a stricken or stranded member is vital for a speedy rescue and safe trip home. In most cases, cellular networks are quite robust around the world, even in remote areas of developing nations. Wi-Fi connections are also readily available. And it’s cheaper to use the cell phone you already own than it is to buy a new piece of equipment.
SO WHY SHOULD A HUNTER GET A SATELLITE PHONE?
The answer is simple: Reliability. Cellular networks rely on a ground-based system of poles stacked with transceivers, which forms the center of the “cell.” Wifi works in a similar way. In most urban, suburban and even rural areas, you and your phone are almost always inside one cell or another, able to connect to the nearest tower. But experienced hunters know that some of the best hunting can’t be found anywhere near civilization. A trip into the wilderness for elusive game is likely to take you well beyond the coverage of most cell networks. Satellite phones don’t rely on the robustness of a ground network, which makes them an ideal backup in case of emergency when you travel into parts of the world where man hasn’t left much of a footprint. Also, it should be noted that in the event of a natural disaster, civil unrest, terrorism, or some other major incident, cellular networks will be among the first failure points of local infrastructure.
In the event of a natural disaster or major security incident, everyone in the area will be trying to contact friends and family, and the overwhelming input of data can force a cellular network to a halt. Voice calls use a large amount of bandwidth and will be the first to drop, followed eventually by SMS, or text messages. (Note that if you are using a cell phone in the event of such a scenario, it’s important to keep messages brief to ensure they are small enough to clear the system.) If the local cellular network does crash, or if you have traveled beyond the reach of the nearest cell, having satellite capability as a back-up is crucial. It is also possible for satellite networks to crash due to an unexpected influx of data, but it takes longer and is less frequent. When you think of a satellite phone, you may be imagining a large, brick-shaped object with a giant fold-out antenna that doesn’t seem like it would fit in the pocket of any pants ever made. Yet just as conventional cell phones have shrunk, satellite phones are now truly portable — in fact, many models look and feel exactly like modern cell phones.
Satellite phones are somewhat comparable to cell phones from a cost perspective, though the most inexpensive satellite phone option will still run you about $250. The highest end of the market includes devices loaded with features, some of which are made for more rugged use than others, and costs for those can run in the neighborhood of $2,000. A more cost-effective option is a satellite messenger, which doesn’t have voice capability but can send SMS-style text messages. These devices are quite reasonably priced, starting at about $150. Any satellite device will require an activation fee as well as a monthly subscription plan. Many companies rent satellite phones, which helps defray the cost for short-term travel. We recommend that those who travel to remote areas with questionable connectivity carry a satellite device, and not just to make calls or send messages if they run into trouble. Many devices are equipped with a tracking function that allows the device to send breadcrumbs at predetermined intervals, allowing friends and family to monitor progress back home.
Satellite phone technology has advanced much like cell phones. Modern sat phones often look just like their cellular counterparts, and most have all the portability and ruggedness you’ll need while you’re out in the field.
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 31
WHEN ONE CALL COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE : BY ANDREW MERRITT
right: Searching for a lost hunter in the wilderness is challenging, but consistent communication makes it a lot easier. below: Global Rescue can come and pick
you up just about anywhere in the world, but good communication is an important first step in the process.
We put our members’ safety above all else. That’s why we recommend they have two-way communication capability, so we can provide assistance when they need it.
SATELLITE PHONES Q&A
Aaron Laurich is a supervisor of security operations at Global Rescue and a veteran of the U.S. military’s special operations teams. He sat down to answer some frequently asked questions about cell phones, satellite phones, and satellite messengers. My cellular phone is equipped with international dialing. Do I still need a satellite phone? AL: It depends. Travelers who spend their time around locations with reliable cellular networks might be just fine with their cellular phone. That said, in the event of an emergency (such as natural disaster or civil unrest) cellular networks are one of the first infrastructure platforms to crash as they are generally unable to handle the increase in voice and message traffic. A satellite phone or messenger would give you an alternative to your cellular phone in this situation. Regardless of your itinerary or travel destination, the ability to communicate is vital and we recommend having at least two such means to do so. How do I contact Global Rescue from my satellite phone? AL: You may contact our Operations Center at any time by dialing 001.617.459.4200 from your satellite 32 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
phone; alternatively emails and SMS can be addressed to ops@globalrescue.com. Satellite phones seem expensive. How do I keep the cost down? AL: Satellite phones loaded with the latest bells and whistles can cost as much as $2,000 and that doesn’t even include activation or airtime. That may seem daunting to someone who might not travel very often. Rentals offer an attractive solution for the short-term or infrequent traveler. We recommend using a reputable satellite communications provider, such as Explorer Satellite, who will be able to help you choose a device and plan suitable not only to your communication needs but also to your geographic location. What does geography have to do with choosing a satellite phone? AL: Most available satellite devices generally work on one of two networks; a high-earth orbit or a low-earth orbit network. High-earth orbit networks typically have three satellites that move in time with the earth’s rotation so that they are always in the same place relative to the earth’s surface. Low-earth orbit networks consist of multiple constellations each with several satellites that constantly move in quick orbits around the earth. You will need line-of-sight to connect with each network, the difference being that if you do not have line-of-sight to a low-earth orbit satellite because of a terrain feature like rocks or dense foliage, it’s
likely that within a few hours another satellite will pass over and provide you with a signal window. Satellites in high-earth orbit do not move relative to your position, so you will need to move to a spot where you have line-of-sight – and this is not always a possibility in an emergency or with an injury. What is a satellite messenger and how does it work? AL: Satellite messengers are devices that are able to send text messages via a satellite network. There are several types on the market including purpose built messengers with mapping software and other cool features, like an SOS function, breadcrumb tracking, and social media connectivity. Some satellite phones have an SMS capability as well. I don’t want to use the device’s emergency response provider. Is it possible to have my SOS function go to someone of my choosing? AL: In most cases, yes. When consumers purchase an off-the-shelf product and have it activated, they usually opt to pay an additional monthly fee in order to have someone on the other end of the SOS feature. If you want a spouse, relative, or provider of your choosing to be able to be the recipient of your SOS, contact your device’s manufacturer for assistance. Be prepared to provide the details of your device, including its IMEI number and have the contact information for your preferred SOS recipient available. When you
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WHEN ONE CALL COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE : BY ANDREW MERRITT
Global Rescue personnel arrive via helicopter to complete a medical evacuation mission.
are registering and activating your device you will be presented options to insert personal information. There is usually a notes section, and we recommend that all Global Rescue members make a note in their profile that they are Global Rescue members, supply their membership number, and request that Global Rescue be notified in the event of an emergency. This is an easy workaround when faced with not being able to directly program Global Rescue as your SOS-recipient. Are satellite phones legal everywhere? AL: Unfortunately, no. As of this writing, these countries have known satellite phone limitations or restrictions: Cuba. GPS units, satellite phones, listening devices, even radios are all prohibited in Cuba. North Korea. GPS units and satellite phones are prohibited. Cell phones are allowed on a case by case basis. Chad. Satellite phones listed as illegal. Sudan. There are restrictions on bringing electronic equipment into Sudan; ask about specific requirements when you apply for an entry visa. Sri Lanka. Foreign journalists and media personnel are required to receive a license for satellite phones and other media equipment. India. At present, satellite phones are illegal in India. There is a big push nationally for the government to reverse the ban on satellite phones, citing the loss of tourism revenue from foreigners scared away by the ban. There are exceptions for travelers to the country’s far north mountainous region, where communications 34 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
infrastructure is nearly non-existent; travelers to those areas can apply for a permit from India’s Department of Telecommunications. Russia. Satellite phones are legal, however, they must be registered with the government in order for them to work. Burma. For many years satellite phones have been illegal without a valid license. More recently, though, more and more travelers are taking satellite phones and messengers without incident. Hungary. There are several resources online that list Hungary among countries that ban satellite phones. While once true, the devices are reportedly allowed now. Poland. As with Hungary, above, devices are now permitted. What are your suggestions for traveling to those countries? How would I contact you if an emergency occurred in one of them? AL: We would encourage you to research your travel destination carefully and work closely with any local guides or outfitters you might be using. In some cases, outfitters and tour operators carry permitted communication devices that are available in the event of an emergency. Global Rescue requires two-way communication in order to provide assistance to our members. If your travels will keep you within urban confines and areas with a robust communications infrastructure, then relying on the cellular network and available Wi-Fi would be acceptable. If your travels will take you to more remote and isolated regions, where satellite communications devices are not allowed, our advice would be to strongly reevaluate
your own personal level of risk tolerance. Mitigate as many risks as you can control and then conduct a further analysis to determine whether this particular travel falls inside or outside of your tolerance level. Do you know of any satellite phones that look just like a normal smartphone (which are common everywhere, legal and arouse no suspicion)? AL: There are some devices showing up in the marketplace that are attempting to meet this need, mostly as an unintended happy consequence of slim and sleek design. A few of these devices are designed to slide onto your smartphone, like a sleeve, and then allow your smartphone to function on the sleeve’s satellite network. Use caution and diligence when researching these devices: many make false or overreaching claims on their coverage area. In general, most satellite phones look like just that — a satellite phone. But endusers are making demands for smaller and lower-profile devices while in the same request they ask for faster connection speeds, enhanced wireless features, lower costs, and the list goes on. Manufacturers are working to keep up with the requests but for at least the near future, there isn’t one device that meets all of those specs.
THE BEST PLACES TO HUNT ARE THE WORST PLACES TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY
If something goes wrong on your trip, your objective will quickly turn from harvesting that one last prize to simply getting yourself home. Global Rescue offers field rescue, medical advisory, and evacuation services when you need us most — no matter what — and those services are all included in the cost of membership. In addition to the gear, clothing, and supplies you pack for your hunt, you should also have a Global Rescue membership. ★ Global Rescue has provided hunters with field rescue, medical advisory and evacuation services since 2004, with more than 10,000 missions completed. Before your next hunt – especially one that takes you into cold wilderness – you should consider a Global Rescue membership as part of your survival plan. Global Rescue www.GlobalRescue.com Member Services 617-459-4200 memberservices@globalrescue.com
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 35
World Conservation Force Bulletin for November 2016 BY JOHN JACKSON
T
he World Wildlife Conference was held in Johannesburg from September 24 – October 5. The 17th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora was the largest in its 43-year history. In total, over 3,500 people attended, including 152 governments taking decisions on 62 proposals to list species on the CITES Appendices submitted by 64 countries, and with the highest number of side-events ever recorded. The Sandton Center proved to be an ideal site and South Africa an ideal host for the meeting. A number of game species were down listed because of their improved conservation status.
Listing Proposals Most Relevant to Hunting
Proposal 1 introduced by Canada was to delist its Wood Bison, Bison bison athabascae. The Canadian Wood Bison was delisted by consensus. It had been on Appendix II since transferred from Appendix I at CoP 9, 1997. The reported population today is 7,642–10,458 in 79 herds. The transfer means no export permit will be necessary for hunting trophies or other trade. But there is a hitch. Because it is no longer protected by CITES, its threatened listing under the ESA will require a ruling by USFWS before trophies are again importable into the US. ESA threatened listed species normally are exempt from import permitting when they are protected by listing on Appendix II of CITES; otherwise imports are prohibited unless a special rule is adopted. We understand that the Canadian and US authorities have this well in hand. There should only be a short delay and then a new ESA special rule exempting the bison from import permitting should be put in place by the USFWS. Because the delisting is not effective until 90 days after the CoP, trophies are still importable with a Canadian CITES export permit. Proposal 2 introduced by the EU and Georgia was of concern since it was to list all Western Tur, Capra caucasica, on Appendix II of CITES with a zero quota for commercial as well as hunting trophy trade. This would have prohibited any trophy trade (exports) of this wild goat from Russia Georgia, and Azerbaijan. The Russian Federation was not happy with the proposal because its population is reported to be recovering, unlike Georgia’s (where hunting is not even open). Georgia agreed to remove the zero quota and the Appendix II listing was adopted by consensus. This means CITES export permits will be necessary from the country of origin after the listing becomes effective in 90 days. Proposal 4 was to transfer all populations of African lion from Appendix II to Appendix I. It was introduced by Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Togo. This was largely based upon the disputed 2015 IUCN Red List assessment of lion status and misreading of the level of trade data from the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC) database. Also, reports of growing trade of lion bones for Asian medicinal purposes was a hot issue, despite a TRAFFIC report that the trade was not significant. The Committee considering this proposal formed a Lion Working Group that met three times 36 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
in two-three hour sessions. Conservation Force was a member of that group and made multiple interventions. Several Party countries pointedly challenged the recent IUCN Red Listing, which “inferred” population declines particularly in their countries. In Western Africa, Burkina Faso made it clear it had a secure population because of safari hunting and opposed an Appendix I listing. I made interventions that the proposal was inconsistent because it included the trade of captive bred lion from South Africa, but it excluded the 8,000 captive lion in South Africa in the population count. Also, the trade in recent years has been no more than 150 lion trophies a year from the wild. I made an intervention that the proposal conspicuously did not mention the high fecundity of lion that can double in two years or less. I also pointed out that both the EU and US adopted import permit requirements for lion this year. Both require proof of enhancement. The EU has only made a positive finding for a few countries and the US has not made a positive finding for any at all. What lion trophy trade? In the end the lion was left on Appendix II with a special twopart annotation governing bone trade. It sets a zero quota for all commercial trade of lion bones from the wild. “Bones” include bones, skulls, teeth, and claws. The second part limits trade in bones from South African captive-bred lions to a quota South Africa is to establish and communicate annually to the CITES Secretariat. All African lion trade and management concerns are now subject to special treatment governed by Decisions. The Standing Committee is to create a CITES “Task Force on African Lions” and “provide terms of reference and modus operandi” (open ended). The Secretariat is to take a significant list of actions and report to the Animals Committee, who in turn is to review and make recommendations to the Standing Committee, who in turn can propose an appropriate Resolution to the Parties at CoP 18 in three years. For the list of activities, see CoP17 Com. I. 29. This Task Force will require our close attention. Proposal 5 proposed transfer of two subspecies of cougar in North America from Appendix I to Appendix II. The proposal was introduced by the US and Canada after the CITES Periodic Review Process showed the two were no longer in trade — more of an administrative house cleaning. The two subspecies are the Puma concolor coryi listed as endangered under the ESA in the Southeast US (Florida Panther) and the extinct Puma concolor cougar. They were transferred by consensus to Appendix II. They are a different subspecies than the common mountain lion, 30,000 in the Western US and 7,000–10,000 in Canada, but now share an Appendix II listing. This makes no difference to the hunting community because the two are extinct or fully protected under the ESA. Proposal 6 proposed transfer of Cape Mountain Zebra, Equus zebra zebra, from Appendix I to Appendix II. The proposal passed by consensus. There are “at least 4,791” and they are increasing at the rate of 9.16 per year. Sixty-nine percent are on protected public lands in 75 sub-populations. The number have increased 531% in the past three generations or 31 years. The IUCN has recently rated them as “Least Concern” on the Red List (2015). They warranted downlisting because of the lack of trade and improved
status, but South Africa emphasized the benefit to the species if hunting trade was established. The species’ population growth is “constrained” by available habitat that would increase if private ranchers are incentivized through regulated hunting opportunities. South Africa has just completed a national action plan, a hunting quota and taken other measures to open hunting that in turn will build and secure habitat and populations, as hunting has proven to do so well in South Africa. One hitch: The Cape Mountain Zebra is endangered-listed under the ESA. Conservation Force is already working to correct this obstacle. Proposal 7 failed. It was proposed by Swaziland to commercially sell white rhino horn to create an endowment fund for rhino protection. The horn would come from a stockpile from natural deaths, recovered from poachers, and then dehorning of live rhino. The initial fund was estimated to be US$9.9 million, and trade was expected to yield $600,000 per annum. One opposition argument was that it was too small a stockpile to fulfill the demand it would stimulate unless RSA did the same. The vote was by secret ballot with 26 in favor, 100 against, and 17 abstaining. The loss was not about the status of Swaziland’s rhino but concern over stimulation of demand that is considered excessive, as demonstrated at its worst in Kruger National Park, which has barely been able to keep poaching in sustainable limits (total off-take less than reproduction rate). The elephant proposals this year were 14, 15, and 16. The status quo remains after voting. One important document, Inf. Doc .42, was a statement from the MIKE and ETIS Technical Advisory Group prepared at the request of the CITES Secretariat. It wholly refutes the representations that the 2008 CITES-authorized ivory sales (one-off sales) caused a jump in poaching and peak in 2011. The peak in 2011 was from a gradual increase of poaching predating the sale like the simultaneous increase in rhino poaching (when there was no sale of rhino horn). The oft-repeated claims that the sale of ivory sparked the current poaching crisis simply are not true. “The conclusion by Hsiang and Sekar that an apparent step change in elephant poaching was triggered by the one-off ivory sale in 2008 is flawed ... the claims ... are fundamentally flawed, both in logic and methodology ... the study should not be used to inform CITES policy on elephants.” Nevertheless, the Parties showed no appetite to authorize another authorized sale. In brief, Proposal 14 was an attempt by Namibia to free itself from the restraints of the annotation to the Appendix II listing of its elephants because the Secretariat and Standing Committee have not lived up to their promise to “establish a decision making mechanism for a process of future trade in ivory,” which was an integral part of the compromise not to trade for nine years. Removing the annotation would have left Namibia’s elephant on Appendix II without the limits against trading commercially. Namibia promised to place ivory trade funds in trust for elephant conservation, and pointed out its elephant population had grown from 7,500 in 1985 to over 22,000 today and its ivory stockpile is growing 4.5% per year. The proposal was amended but failed: 27 in favor, 100 against, with 9 abstentions. Proposal 15 was Zimbabwe doing the same thing, i.e., an attempted unleashing from the annotation that was part of the Appendix II listing of its elephant. It wished to remain on Appendix II but without the annotation that provides trade remains on Appendix I for all purposes other than trophies, live sales, and some lesser items. Zimbabwe’s proposal was rejected 21 in favor, 107 against, and 11 abstentions.
Overhead video screen showing John Jackson intervening in Committee 1 on proposed Trophy Hunting Resolution.
Zimbabwe’s 31-page proposal had some insightful information about all of Africa worth repeating here. There were more elephant in 2013 than in 1995. The overall population during that period has increased 3.9%, largely because Southern Africa’s population has increased 54.3%, from 229,682 in 1995 to 354,312 in 2013. There is no doubt that elephant poaching gradually climbed to a peak in parts of Africa in 2011, but poaching has been in decline since. Proposal 16 was filed by Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sri Lanka, and Uganda. It was written by an NGO and proposed to transfer elephant of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe from Appendix II to Appendix I — thus all elephant would be on Appendix I. It was rejected by a vote of 62 in favor, 71 against, and 12 abstentions. Botswana’s Minister Khama interjected during the debate that Botswana voluntarily surrendered its Appendix II listing to the startled participants, but of course, the Parties, not a Party itself, determine listing status. Canada’s Proposal 17 to transfer Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinos, from Appendix I to II, the last of the hunting-related proposals, was disappointing. In 2015 the IUCN had classified the Peregrine “Least Concern” estimating the world population to be 228,800– 443,000 and stable or increasing. The falcon’s original decline was caused by organochloride pesticides such as DDT that thinned its eggshells, which broke and disrupted breeding success. The proposal was rejected: 52 in favor, 57 against, and 12 abstentions.
Trade in Hunting Trophies of Species Listed in Appendix I or II
Agenda Item 39, Hunting Trophies, ended up with a number of preambular and declarative paragraphs supportive of hunting which we need not repeat here. Other paragraphs raise the bar and will require our attention. One paragraph directs “that trophy hunting activities relating to species listed in Appendix I should produce conservation benefits for the species concerned and thus may benefit from having a benefit sharing or incentive system in place to ensure that harvesting contributes to the offsetting of the cost of living with certain species such as elephants.” Annex 3 provides that the Parties review and justify their current leopard quotas at the next Animals Committee meeting which Committee will in turn review, report, and make recommendations to the Standing Committee, who in turn will make its own review, report, and recommendations to the Parties at CoP 18. ★ CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 37
Communities on the Edge: How a Wildlife Trade Conference Denied a Role to Communities BY MARCO PANI
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threw a stone in the pool ... and we have to see where the waves will go. In March 2016, after many years spent in developing countries (the last two for Conservation Force in several African countries), I drafted a Resolution for the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES. The governments of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Tanzania presented the Resolution on “Establishment of The Rural Communities Committee of The Conference of The Parties.” The Resolution requested the establishment of a CITES permanent Committee based, inter alia, on the participation of rural communities, in the CITES decisionmaking mechanisms, has been almost completely neglected. Yet the lack of community engagement in natural resource management is one of the main causes of increased illegal trade in wildlife and other resources, and it has far reaching ramifications. CITES has no mechanism for addressing effectively the social consequences of its decisions on Appendix listing and trade even though the livelihoods of many rural poor depend on that trade. This is a serious humanitarian and sustainable development shortcoming. An exclusively biological focus on the sustainability of biodiversity harvesting and trade can never guarantee sustainable use of any species. In fact it tragically refuses a critical tenet of sustainability as a principle, which requires, in its applications, an ecosystem scale of assessment, in which the social systems with their cultural, economic and political dimensions are embedded. The proposed draft Resolution sought to give an advisory role to representatives of legally recognized organizations of Rural Communities and/or Community-based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) organizations on issues pertaining to biodiversity conservation, through the establishment of a permanent Rural Communities Committee of the CoP. On September 27 the Resolution discussion was on the agenda and after an introduction by the proponents and their recognized wildlife communities, Brazil, Canada, the EU, Japan, Kenya, Norway, and the US all expressed understanding of the motives that led to document CoP17 Doc. 13, but said they were unable to support it. Kenya said it would be important for any new CITES documents pertaining to rural communities to reflect that wildlife was especially valuable as a live resource. The EU cited the financial implications of the formation of a permanent Rural Communities’ Committee as an obstacle to its support and also reasoned that its establishment could create a difficult precedent, as other groups might argue for the setting up of committees, leading to further pressures on the Convention. Norway concurred with several of the
obstacles to the setting-up of the committee noted by the Secretariat, while Canada raised logistical issues and expressed concern regarding the text of the draft resolution in the document. Japan, supported by Brazil, the EU, the US and IUCN (speaking also on behalf of TRAFFIC and WWF), favored the establishment of a Working Group to address the issues. Brazil, supported by the US, further commented that direct participation of rural community representatives in existing CITES mechanisms would be preferable to establishing a new permanent committee. A Working Group was convened which saw various attempts to give an advisory role to rural communities, but the Chair and the EU representative closed all doors for this. A decision was adopted that will see the CITES Standing Committee look in the next three years on how to better engage rural communities in CITES processes. It is the first time in 43 years of CITES’ history that rural communities have been in the agenda of CITES. The refusal of the Rural Communities Committee suggests that the existing CITES and Livelihood project is very superficial in its role and objectives. After all, there is no plan or mechanism for community intervention, suggesting that most Parties may not view rural communities as an integral part of resolving wildlife crime and achieving ecosystem and species conservation. Although most Parties officially preach the critical role of rural communities they do not place that knowledge into practice. The EU went against its own Action Plan against Wildlife Trafficking (Objective 1.2) in refusing the establishment of the Rural Communities Committee. It is crucial to guarantee a greater presence of local communities to CITES Conferences of the Parties in order to reduce poaching and advance conservation of wildlife. Decision-making mechanisms at the international level need to take into account the needs of people sharing the land and obtaining their livelihoods from wildlife, and nobody is in a better position than the communities to advocate their own needs. It is time to think about human welfare in the framework of conservation and development. Local communities and indigenous people worldwide are a real force for conservation and the basis for finding solutions to complex management issues. In the end, we must put ideology aside in the debate on wildlife and listen to those who live together with wildlife for the solutions they want to implement. Solutions should be locally driven — not imported, imposed or bought. And finally, it is essential to find an appropriate ownership mechanism and add benefits for those who live with wildlife who ultimately determine its survival. ★
Comment from John Jackson: Though the CoP did not create a Committee, it did create an intercessional Working Group to explore the alternatives and make recommendation at the next CoP. 38 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
THE NRA STANDS FOR HUNTERS There are more than 3 million active hunters among the National Rifle Association membership: proud men and women with an intimate connection to nature and to the traditions of our ancestors. The NRA is the premier organization for hunters in the world, and its role in supporting this noble pursuit is expanding. From sponsoring recreational activities in the United States and abroad to lobbying hard for hunter friendly legislation, NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum will be a powerful resource dedicated to the support of America’s outdoorsmen and women.
For more information contact Don Chilcote, Director of the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum, at
989-859-7556 or DChilcote@nrahq.org. © 2016 National Rifle Association of America
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 39
CSF Reflects on National Hunting & Fishing Day BY JEFF CRANE PRESIDENT, CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION
I
n recognition of the important contributions that hunters and anglers make to fish and wildlife conservation, staff from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked with governors across the country to develop proclamations recognizing September 24, 2016 as National Hunting and Fishing Day. Thirty-six bipartisan governors signed proclamations this year, including many Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC) members. In addition to encouraging families to enjoy the great outdoors and learn about fish, wildlife, and other natural resources, National Hunting and Fishing Day recognizes the importance of the American System of Conservation Funding. This “user pay — public benefits” program, as described in many of the gubernatorial proclamations, directs a portion of revenues generated by hunting and fishing license sales as well as excise taxes from hunting, fishing and boating equipment towards a variety of efforts. These efforts include enhanced fish and wildlife habitat and populations, recreational access to public and private lands, shooting ranges and boat access facilities, wetlands protection and its associated water
filtration and flood retention functions, and improved soil and water conservation — all which benefit the American public. In fact, 80 percent of funding for state fish and wildlife agencies — the primary managers of our nation’s fish and wildlife resources — comes from this program. In a time when urbanization is to blame for younger generations spending more time indoors and less time connecting with nature, this designated holiday provides an opportunity for introducing people to hunting and fishing as a pastime. In addition to working with governors’ offices across the country, CSF joined other sportsmen’s organizations and businesses in sponsoring the official 2016 National Hunting and Fishing Day through the Wonders of Wildlife organization. Other sponsors included: Bass Pro Shops, Berkley Fishing, Cabela’s, Ducks Unlimited, GunBroker.com, Izaak Walton League, Keep America Fishing, National Rif le Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Outdoor Sportsman Group, Realtree, Safari Club International, Shakespeare, Smith & Wesson, and Yamaha Motor Corp. ★
To view the proclamations, visit: www.sportsmenslink.org/resource-center/NHFD.
Photo above: Proclamation signing with Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Phil Bryant in Mississippi, host state for the 2016 National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses 13th Annual Sportsman-Legislator Summit in Biloxi. 40 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
CSF, on behalf of the sportsmen’s conservation community, thanks the 36 governors who signed proclamations recognizing National Hunting and Fishing Day this year: Governor Robert Bentley, AL * Governor Bill Walker, AK * Governor Douglas Ducey, AZ Governor Asa Hutchinson, AR * Governor Edmund, Jerry Brown, CA Governor Rick Scott, FL * Governor Nathan Deal, GA * Governor C.L. Butch Otter, ID * Governor Mike Pence, IN * Governor Terry Branstad, IA * Governor Sam Brownback, KS * Governor Matthew Bevin, KY Governor Paul LaPage, ME Governor Charles Baker, MA Governor Rick Snyder, MI * Governor Phil Bryant, MS, Co-Chair* Governor Jay Nixon, MO Governor Steve Bullock, MT* Governor Pete Ricketts, NE* Governor Brian Sandoval, NV* Governor Chris Christie, NJ Governor Pat McCrory, NC* Governor Jack Dalrymple, ND* Governor John Kasich, OH Governor Mary Fallin, OK* Governor Kate Brown, OR* Governor Tom Wolf, PA* Governor Bill Haslam, TN* Governor Greg Abbott, TX* Governor Gary Herbert, UT* Governor Peter Shumlin, VT, Vice-Chair* Governor Terry McAuliffe, VA Governor Jay Inslee, WA Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, WV, Co-Chair* Governor Scott Walker, WI* Governor Matt Mead, WY, Vice-Chair*
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 41
Hunting and Fishing and Lovin’ Every Day BY MONICA WILLIAMSON
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had always had a hunting rule, “don’t hunt things that can hunt you back,” but I recently gave in to peer pressure (yes it has no age limit) and let my coworkers talk Greg and me into a bear hunting and fishing trip with Elaine Lake Outfitters, north of Prince Albert National Park in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. I tried to educate myself on black bear hunting, i.e., how to judge their size, where to aim, don’t take one with hide rubbed off, etc., whatver I could learn to help make my hunt a success. A night before we left I wasn’t tired, so I had a brilliant idea to watch YouTube videos of bear hunts. What I thought would eventually make me sleepy, instead had my heart racing. I don’t think I slept at all after seeing how fast bears could climb trees and how many times they almost ended up in the stand with the hunters. If that happened to me would I have a heart attack, wet my pants, jump, or all of the above? Either way, I decided that would be more than an “aha” moment and more of an “ah crap” moment. The next day I quizzed my coworkers, “Exactly how are we going to hunt these bears?” Finally, the day had arrived. Joe Kennedy and Amy flew in from Dallas, John Messerschmidt’s wife, Diane, flew in from California and John, Greg Mills and I flew from Houston. We all met at our connecting flight in Minneapolis before continuing to Saskatoon, Canada where we rented a car for our 4-hour ride. The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Delta managed to lose half of our luggage, and more importantly, lost our rifles. A plan was made. We went Cabela’s for some items and then went to the bar while we waited for our luggage to arrive on the 2:30 p.m. flight. Surprise, no luggage. Another plan, hotel reservations made, rental cars switched with Joe and Amy and they were headed to camp. That left John, Diane, Greg and me (aka the luggage-less lot) at the bar commiserating. While at the bar we spied a Houston Safari Club t-shirt at the lobby desk and it was Lloyd Swiedom who had just finished his bear hunt and was headed back to Houston. It is always nice to see a familiar face and a reminder to wear those HSC t-shirts — they do get noticed! We had dinner at the Grainery and then went to Bud’s Bar 42 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Elk still in velvet.
because alcohol and blues music seems fitting when one has no luggage. We were killing time until the 11:30 p.m. Delta flight arrived in hopes our luggage was aboard. Of course, the flight was late, but by 1:30 a.m. we were happily leaving with luggage in tow. A 6:30 a.m. rise and we were finally headed to camp. When we arrived, we discovered there were many others there, including two men from Utah, as well as Danny Pullins, his son Austin, Michelle Davis, and Tony Walker — all from Indiana. Tony is the producer of the TV show American Way and he harvested a huge bear on Sunday with his bow from about seven yards. It was all captured by his cameraman, Thomas Wadsworth. I can’t wait to watch that episode as they had a very close encounter, so Tony has a great story to go with his hunt. It was now time to hunt. John and Joe took Diane and Amy to sit with them in their blind, as they were not hunting, just supporting. Greg and I headed to our own blinds. While apprehensive about being on my own (darn YouTube videos) and then seeing that it was a ground blind (now I was even more apprehensive) the outfitter did hear my concern and put me about 80 yards from the bait with a pond in between so I felt a little calmer… NOT. While I didn’t see any bears at my bait, I was entertained by the many beautiful species of ducks that were flying in and out of the pond. I thought one was a kamikaze duck (he went under water forever). I could hear a pack of coyotes yelping close by. All in all, I thought I was pretty relaxed and doing well, until unbeknownst to me, two beaver slipped into the water with a huge slap on the surface very close to me — I jumped three feet out of my chair. Guess I wasn’t quite as chilled as I thought. Monday bear harvest list, John shot a beautiful black bear. John and Diane were entertained by many bears at their stand including a cub going up and down the tree right beside their blind. Bear hunting is so different from any other hunting I’ve done. It’s an easy start to the day around 8 a.m., breakfast, free time to fish for pike and walleye, lunch and then to the blinds around 3 p.m. until sunset at 9:30 p.m., return for dinner, conversation and libations until midnight and then repeat daily for the rest of the week.
Tuesday we woke up refreshed for the first time since we left out to see if I had hit the bear. We found no blood and no bear. Houston. After a hearty breakfast, we gathered our fishing poles Which was okay, since I’d much rather make a clean miss than and four-wheeled about three miles to Lake Phillion for some wound something. pike and walleye fishing. The lake was really rough, so for safety Back to camp for a quick change to fishing clothes, then we reasons we didn’t think it made sense to risk taking those little headed to the lake. Yesterday was so windy the lake had 2–3 foot boats out with no life jackets. Instead, we walked up the beach swells; today Lake Phillion was like glass. We started fishing, where we discovered cow moose with a young moose tracks being trolling around using Rapala size HJ-12 lure blue with an orange followed by a huge wolf track. This was at the same location one belly. I caught a 3-pound walleye, four pike from 3–7 pounds, and of the fellow hunters had seen a wolf the previous day. I’m not Greg caught one pike about 4 pounds. All perfect eating size. sure that story was going to have a happy ending, but I know cow Later that day, we headed out to the blind. Reg decided to moose can be fierce when protecting their young, so I hoped for sit me in a different blind, more out in the open (no lake buffer) the best and bet on the momma. and set up about 80 yards from the bait. Greg would sit with me We returned to the lodge for lunch, then left for the blinds since he had shot his bear already. It took me a bit to get situated around 3 p.m. When we arrived the first thing we noticed was the in the blind, as I couldn’t get a comfortable shot rest. I ended up barrel flipped over. A bear had hit the bait and hopefully would on the outside of the blind, just piling trees around me for cover. be back. Again, I was enthralled by the ducks, beautiful loons, Greg was beside me but on the inside of the blind. A long time and Canadian Geese. This blind was in an amazing location, like passed before I saw a bear coming to the bait. He stood up and having National Geographic on a big screen, but a zillion times bet- looked huge, really huge. This was the first bear I’d seen. Then he ter. I sat in this blind for hours and was very entertained. I had walked across the front of the barrel and I could tell he was defito keep reminding myself to watch the bear bait, as I was getting nitely shorter than the top of the barrel, so maybe not a shooter. caught up in watching the ducks. Each species making their own I tried to talk myself into “yes, he’s big enough.” I thought this song, but collectively sounding off in a beautiful unwritten melody, barrel was bigger than the others. Then he stuck his head into yet never at the same time. It was as if Mother Nature was the the side hole. I decided, probably not a shooter, but I was really maestro, cueing each on their turn to sound in the orchestra. The trying to justify a shot, “well it might be a really big hole because beavers were equally fun to watch as they would swim by with the I didn’t actually see the hole and it’s a different barrel and maybe ease of an Olympic swimmer. Each time unexpectedly slapping these are bigger.” Bottom line: I wanted to shoot a bear bad, but the water and scaring the bejeebers out of me. I honestly knew he wasn’t the right size. Fortunately, he looked I didn’t see a bear from the stand but was greeted by Greg and into the brush and then he started running toward us. This was a Reg, the outfitter. From the smile on Greg’s face, I knew he had good news/bad news scenario. Good meaning something bigger taken a bear. Greg said he had just got into the ground blind and is coming and spooked him, and bad that he was headed straight was adjusting everything to be ready. He had put his gun on the toward me. He got within 10 yards and looked straight at us. We sticks checking out his best rifle placement, and as he looked froze, he froze and after what seemed like an eternity, he deviated through the scope, there was a bear course and slipped into the forest. walking into the bait. He took the Wow! That had my adrenaline shot and harvested a beautiful bear pumping, and I was glad I didn’t with cinnamon colored legs and a shoot, as now a beautiful chocoblonde back. This bear will make late bear had moved onto the bait. a beautiful rug. It’s obvious this is our shooter; his As we were driving back to back was to the top of the barrel so camp, they told me about a bear I set up to take my shot. He moved, they’d driven by three times, so giving me a clean shot; I took it. I got ready in case he was still Greg watched through binoculars there. He was, and I took a 160and said, “great hit.” The bear ran yard shot. We saw dirt fly on the for several yards and sang his beauroad, so I wasn’t sure if I had hit tiful, haunting death song. I knew him, missed him, or if the bullet for sure I had harvested my bear. had gone through him. We scouted He will make a beautiful chocolate a bit and saw fresh scat, and then bear rug. saw he was standing looking at us Back at camp, Michelle, who from the trees. By now I couldn’t was hunting with Tony, had taken see to get another shot. We heard her first large animal. She harhim crash through the woods, so vested a beautiful black bear sow. thought we would leave him, hopHers was a barren sow, meaning ing to find a blood trail and a dead she had no cubs or yearlings with bear the next morning. her. As they were collecting the Back at camp we learned that bear, a big boar came into view, Randy and Dennis, the guys from heading straight towards them; Utah, both got nice black bears. not happy they had just shot his Wednesday morning, we headed Greg Mills with Pike and Walleye caught on Lake Phillion. girl. The bear got very agitated and CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 43
aggressive with them, so they but it did make us feel a bit like started backing up very slowly. voyeurs. The beavers showed Thankfully Tony had hunted up like clockwork to do their bears for many years and he got Olympic swimming. Simply them out of a tight situation. amazing experience to witness Thomas, Tony’s cameramen Mother Nature at her finest. shot a very nice cinnamon Joe and Danny were the only with a muzzleloader, which two in camp that did not get was great, as was usually only bears. They hit it hard on Friday shooting behind the camera. and headed out at daylight. Work weeks never fly by as While Danny, Michelle, fast as vacation weeks do. It and Reg were driving to the was already Thursday and we stand, they passed a couple of had planned more fishing. By camp trailers. The bears kept now we were just catching and getting into these trailers and releasing. There were some Reg has had to patch them up huge pike and walleye in Lake more than once. That day, a Phillion, and while they do not bear had made a real mess of put up much of a fight, they are the trailers and their contents. still fun to hook. Michelle won Interestingly, the bears did not the fishing award with the bigleave the way they came in. gest pike, at 10 pounds. They made a second hole to get It was time to go hunting Greg with cinnamon blond black bear. out. Sitting amongst the mess again. Greg and I decided to was a very nice black bear. They sit at the beaver pond where I had previously hunted and not seen first thought it’s the one I shot at and missed, but then noticed any bear. I wanted Greg to see the ducks because he would know some white on his chest — a different bear. They drove by and the species. We were there for the four Bs — birds, bears, bea- the bear ran off, but they went down the road and waited. When vers, and beer. No rifles, only bear mace to save us. We walked they drove by the bear was back sitting amongst the huge mess in on a nice cinnamon bear at the bait, her back was at top of the again. This bear ripped the outside wall out, ripped the off the barrel, so she would have been a shooter, but Saskatchewan has a back of the stove to get inside, threw stuff around inside and out, one bear tag limit. Where was this bear when I had a rifle in this tore the other side of the wall to get out, but also tore the front stand? How do they know when you can’t hunt them? door off and pitched things from the inside to the outdoors. The Behind the trees, we got settled in our chairs. I heard a twig trailer owner is going to have quite a surprise when he returns snap close to where we were sitting. In the bushes, I saw a big black and sees the remodeling job this bear has done. Quite a mess. The bear looking at me, who had also just realized we were there, and strength of these animals is unbelievable. as I reached down to hand Greg the bear spray (not really a warm Danny got into position and made a great shot and harvested fuzzy of safety) I noticed that there was a well-worn path and were an ornery black bear. No more interior designing on this bear’s sitting right in the middle of it. Evidently, this was his usual trail to do list. Danny was back at camp 30 minutes after departure, to the bait. Who knew? We quit breathing, and he moved to the so he would be fishing the rest of the day. bushes behind us (you’d be surprised at how long you can hold Joe wound up sitting 14 hours that last day, in a few different your breath and freeze in these situations). The bear was out of blinds, but he never saw a bear. No one has ever worked as hard sight, which didn’t really ease my fear since we were exposed all as Joe did to try and harvest a bear with his bow. This was the around except the front. I heard another twig snap and realized only downside to the trip, that Joe was going home with no bear, he had moved past us and was going to the road. We saw him in and Joe was the reason we were all on this trip. the brush as he was working his way to the bait barrel. The cinGreg and I decided to explore so we drove to Lake Waskesui. namon bear was still there, but now sensed the black bear was Our first stop was at Elk Ridge Resort for wine on the patio. We approaching, so he took off into the woods. planned to drive around the lake — beautiful with an abundance We were finally breathing again, so we settled in to watch the of wildlife. We saw an elk in velvet and a cow elk grazing. black bear for three hours. He would go into the brush and the While Elaine Lake Outfitters is not a 5-star hunting camp, cinnamon bear would come back to get a snack. He would run off they do have all the essentials and most of their clients are repeat whenever the black bear was coming back. Eventually, the black customers. They have a huge hunting concession area and 40 bear decided it was all too exhausting and hot. He laid down to percent color phase on their bears, so it’s common to see blond, eat his snack, then got up and waded into the pond. Once cooled cinnamon, and brown black bears, as evidenced by the myriad of off, he returned to the bait barrel. Much to our surprise, he did colored bears we all harvested. Reg and Tanis Qualle are perfect not shake like a dog when he got out of the water. I got a great hosts and the food is very good. Do not plan on dieting in this video of him, which I showed to Reg the outfitter, and he said he camp. Being able to fish for pike and walleye are an added bonus had never seen a bear do that before. on a bear hunting trip. We also got a sex ed class from the ducks, as we saw two ducks Just as country singer Luke Bryan sings, “Hunting and Fishing making baby ducks. This was beautiful and amazing to watch, and Lovin’ Every Day,” life is better when you’re outdoors. ★ 44 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 45
Heart TO HUNT WITH
Empowering Young People at Beaver Creek Ranch BY CHANCE SANFORD, Ed. D.
T
he room fell deftly silent as Nick peered at Toby from his hospital bed. From where he was lying he could see concerned look in Toby’s eyes as he shifted ever so slightly back from
Nick’s bed. Nick asked again, “Where did you say you were going?” “Hunting,” Toby replied. Nick started to get anxious. In over the year since he had known Toby from Camp Pump it Up, hunting had not come up, but he couldn’t help but feel jealous of Toby’s upcoming adventure. He had spent countless hours playing all the hunting games he could get his hands on and longed for the opportunity to one day get a chance to go, but through the frequent visits to the hospital and no real contact to the hunting world, he had never had the chance. “Can I come,” Nick said with a slight crack in his voice. “I mean when I get out of here, anyways.” “I’ll see what we can do about that Nick,” Toby said resiliently. And after that, he knew what he had to do. He had to take Nick hunting. 46 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Dr. Dreyer, most campers’ doctor, takes time to teach campers archery at Camp Beaver Creek. CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 47
below: Hunt with Heart members with Texas Game Wardens at the
Double D Ranch. right: Camp Beaver Creek provides opportunities for young people to feel empowered through the power of the outdoors. lower right: Hunt with Heart provides opportunities for sick youth to experience the outdoors that otherwise would not have the chance. next page: Hunt with Heart members are empowered through the outdoors as they learn the ins and outs of hunting.
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
It was in that very hospital room that the ball started rolling for a foundation that would one day impact more families in more ways than anyone would have ever thought. What Toby did not realize when he started a conversation with Nick about hunting was that hunting was something Nick had always wanted to do, and not one to be held back from helping someone out, Toby and his wife, Crystal, knew they needed to find a top-notch hunting experience for Nick. After some calls to various ranches, Crystal called the Elzners at Beaver Creek Ranch and was met with a resounding yes. It was the fall, and Beaver Creek’s busiest time of the year; however, the Elzners made it a priority to make sure Nick had the hunt of a lifetime. The hunt concluded with Nick harvesting a fallow buck, and he couldn’t have been more excited. Afterward, the Elzners, along with Toby and Crystal, felt they were on to something special, and so with Gregg Taney and Kassie Barron, Hunt with Heart was founded shortly thereafter. The goal of Hunt with Heart initially was to introduce young people, like Nick, battling severe, life threatening or life altering illness to outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and shooting. Yet, after the first Camp Beaver Creek, the mission became very clear.
CAMP BEAVER CREEK: A WEB OF IMPACT
After its founding, the Hunt with Heart organization set off to recreate the magic of Nick’s experience at Beaver Creek Ranch, and include more families. In the spring of 2012, six young people and their families walked onto the property of Beaver Creek and started what would become a biannual tradition. 48 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
The six young people came from all different backgrounds, yet were unified by their conditions. The campers had congenital heart issues. Most had been in the hospital numerous times for surgeries, and some even had a transplant. While a lot of their life had been focused on what they had been restricted from doing, Camp Beaver Creek was set up to focus on their ability to be successful. As the campers arrived on Friday afternoon, the families were introduced to all the other families that would be joining them that weekend, as well as the Hunt with Heart staff, guides, and medical team from Texas Children’s Hospital. After introductions, it was off to the range to qualify before heading out for the evening hunt. Throughout the weekend the campers had the opportunity to hunt a Corsican ram, and hogs. During the down time, the campers spent their time with the guides busting clays, learning archery, fishing, and/or shooting targets at the range. Everyone met up to share about their experience at a family-style dinner on Saturday evening. During that first camp in 2012, it became obvious very quickly that what was happening at Camp was greater than the opportunity to hunt and fish, or spend time in the outdoors. The impact the experience was producing, no one had anticipated. What we did not realize was due to the nature of their illness, most of the campers had not had the chance to participate in a team sport. Therefore, they had not had some of the opportunities other kids their age might have like celebrating team wins or commiserating with each other during a loss. When presented with the opportunity to do a sport in the outdoors that focused on their abilities rather than their disability, the campers started feeling empowered and proud of their accomplishments. This led to the campers quickly bonding with one another and creating
for them an emotional support system far greater than anyone could have imagined. While the impact Camp was having on the campers was becoming clear, what no one had anticipated was the impact Camp had on the parents. When parents of children facing life-threatening illness were sharing these amazing outdoor experiences with other parents of similar children, conversations started to take place. Conversations that just do not seem to happen in hospitals. Parents discussed with one another the struggles they were having, and other parents lent an ear or offered advice. Parents now had a support system to lean on as their camper continued on their medical journey. So as the first Camp came to a close, it was easy to see the impact the founders created. The organization could not be a wish foundation providing one-off experiences; it was imperative that this strong emotional support system created over a shared outdoor experience be recreated for the families of Hunt with Heart throughout their medical journey. Camp Beaver Creek would be a gateway into the Hunt with Heart organization, and open many more opportunities to hunt and fish throughout their lives. Hunt with Heart needed to create a sense of belonging for the young people and their families, and what better way than to have them be members of the organization? Therefore, the mission of Hunt with Heart is to empower and enhance the lives of our members, young people battling severe, life-threatening or life-altering illness through the power of the outdoors.
CONTINUING TO BUILD
For the next four years, the organization continued to grow. Each spring and fall Hunt with Heart invited six new young
people and their families to participate in Camp Beaver Creek. The idea of the young people being part of a family and a strong emotional support system continued to grow and evolve. As word got out about the organization, ranchers and hunters began to offer up opportunities for the young people to go and harvest some amazing animals. As a result, our members had the chance to hunt all across Texas and even into Canada. Also, the sense of being a part of something bigger, like a family, continued to grow. Hunt with Heart soon added opportunities for all the families to reconnect outside of hunting. The volunteer board for Hunt with Heart could see the strength in what they had created and knew they had to keep the momentum growing, but that would require more funding. In the late summer of 2013, they held the first ever Hunt with Heart Sporting Clays Tournament. This annual event has become a huge success for the organization, raising well over $100,000 annually to support the outdoor experiences for the members of Hunt with Heart. One of the main reasons for its success is the young people of Hunt with Heart have the opportunity to shoot alongside the shooters in the tournament. Shooters have the chance to help the members increase their shooting skill set, while also getting the chance to spend some time connecting with the young people of Hunt with Heart. We see many shooters returning year after year to spend time with the young person they shot with previously. As the organization grew, the experiences for young people increased, and the sense of family became ever more prevalent. The Board knew they needed to do more for families than offer a shared outdoor experience. Soon after the first few camps, a family assistance fund was started to add another layer of support for families of young people who go through so much. CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 49
top left: All campers at Camp Beaver Creek first learn how to
safely and responsibly use firearms. left: Hunt with Heart partnered with the Texas Dove Hunters Association for the organizations first ever dove hunt in 2016. above: Fishing is a Camp favorite during the down time of Camp Beaver Creek.
It is not unheard of for one of the young people of Hunt with Heart to be in the hospital for an extended period of time when facing another surgery or even a heart transplant. During these times, not only are some of the first visitors Hunt with Heart families, but the organization also helps the families. The strain of an extended medical stay on a family can be significant. Hunt with Heart assists families in subsidizing parking costs, and lodging during their stay. Additionally, the sad reality of working with children battling life-threatening illness is that sometimes they earn their angel wings. During the short four years Hunt with Heart has been in existence, we have said goodbye to three of our members, and Hunt with Heart helped the families with funeral costs during those times.
MORE HUNTING & FISHING, MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO BOND
Late in 2015, through a survey of our members and families, they informed Hunt with Heart they wanted more opportunities similar to Camp Beaver Creek. The opportunity to bond with other young people and families in an outdoor setting was important. So we set out to make that happen. This year, through generous donations and grants, such as the grant we received from the Houston Safari Club, we have attempted to find as many multi-family hunting and fishing opportunities as possible. Opportunities for multiple families to go big game hunting can be difficult to come by, so the priority for the organization was to find opportunities to expand into wing shooting and waterfowl hunting. Hunt with Heart established a partnership with the Texas Dove Hunters Association and held our initial hunt in Sabinal, Texas, in late September. Four families were able to join TDHA in a 50 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
fun-filled evening hunt. After a dove 101 course, it was time to get some practice on clays. Shortly thereafter, the families were in the field for the hunt. The afternoon was capped off with a great cookout, and chance to reconnect with each other. While opportunities do not always present themselves for multiple families to big game hunt at one time, Hunt with Heart has been blessed to have the chance to participate in HSC’s hunt at the Double D Ranch for the past two years. This past year, five young people and their families joined Blue Bonnet Youth Ranch for a day of wonderful hunting and connecting with nature. The young people harvested some excellent trophies and again had the chance to catch up with one another. The grant provided to Hunt with Heart from HSC has allowed for this continued organizational growth. As we continue to get new members and participate in more hunting and fishing opportunities, the support provided through the HSC grant helps to offset the costs of travel for the families to the hunting locations and supplies for the hunts. It is through your generosity more doors than ever are being opened, and we are able to capitalize on the many opportunities afforded us. The future for Hunt with Heart is bright. During this year, we hosted our ninth Camp Beaver Creek and now serve sixty families. The hunting community has had an amazing outpouring of support as they have provided more opportunities for our young people to hunt than ever before. Additionally, we have seen an increase in the support from wonderful organizations, like the Houston Safari Club. As we continue to grow, we could not do it without your support. Thank you so much for empowering the lives of our young people through the power of the outdoors. It means the world to us. ★
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Oregon Wine How The State Became A Vintage Capital BY DAVE HANSEN PROPRIETOR, ARBORBROOK VINEYARDS, NEWBERG, OREGON
T
he Oregon wine industry has deep roots, dating far back into the 1800s with the original plantings of wine grapes coming in the Southern part of the state. American
hybrid grapes can be traced as far back as the 1840s, but the onset of Prohibition in 1919 slowed the planting and development of new vineyards throughout Oregon. Post-prohibition in 1934, Honeywood Winery began producing fruit-based and some vinifera-based wines, setting the stage for the Modern-era wines commencing with Hillscrest Vineyard in 1961, near Roseberg, Oregon. Planted with Gewurztraminer, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Oregon began to emerge as a wine-growing region that has risen to world acclaim in recent years. 52 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Charles Coury and David Lett, two graduates of the University of California, Davis, had the wild vision that they could grow Pinot Noir in Oregon because of the climatic similarities between Burgundy in France and the Willamette Valley in Oregon, both of which orient closely to the 45th parallel. Importantly, both areas had a growing season and weather conditions that work well with Pinot Noir and its white mutation relative, Pinot Gris. Doubted by many onlookers, Coury and Lett pushed north from California and began planting in the Northern Willamette Valley in 1965 and 1966. Lett was drawn to the Dundee Hills and Coury was attracted to the foothills of the Pacific Coast Range to a site that is now known as David Hill Winery near Forest Grove. Lett’s plantings were the first in the Dundee Hills which became Eyrie Vineyards, still in existence today and operated by Lett’s son, Jason, who carries on the vision of his father in making beautiful Pinot Noir. With weather conditions similar to Burgundy but soils that were nothing compared to the popular French wine region, Coury and Lett pushed on and proved the naysayers wrong who claimed that it was too cold and wet to plant in the Northern Willamette Valley. Having both passed away within the past ten years, Coury and Lett would be amazed by the evolution that has occurred in the Oregon wine industry.Following on their heels, Dick Erath, the Ponzi family, David Adelsheim, Sokol-Bloser, the Campbell family (Elk Cove) and Amity Vineyards followed their dreams and planted Pinot Noir and other cool climate varietals that could be grown in the unique climate of the Willamette Valley.
Growing up here, I can remember early visits to each of these wineries that were rough, yet full of intrigue. In the 1980s a trip to Amity Vineyards took you up an old gravel road to an old barn and mobile home…not fancy, but the site of the beginning of a transformational industry. My first visit to Adelsheim on Quarter Mile Lane near Newberg was on a rainy, muddy day but we made our way into their home for tastings. True pioneers chasing the dream of producing special wines from a yet-to-be-defined region that would one day rival the Pinot Noirs coming out of France. With many trials and tribulations early on, 1975 brought worldwide recognition when one of David Lett’s Pinot Noirs (Eyrie Vineyard) finished in the Top 10 wines at the Paris Wine Competition. Suddenly, Oregon had the attention of the world but belief would not come in just one year. In 1980, David Lett (Eyrie Vineyard) returned to Paris and placed second in the Paris Wine Competition and won high marks with another Oregon Pinot Noir; suddenly, a world audience began to take note. In 1987, that recognition became real when Robert Drouhin, one of the largest producers of Pinot Noir in France, purchased land in the Dundee Hills near Lett’s original plantings. Suddenly, Oregon was really on the international Pinot Noir map! Domaine Drouhin Oregon is the US-based operation for this highly-regarded wine family from France and is a must-visit location when you visit Oregon. Early in the industry’s evolution, the state followed France’s lead and planted the Pommard clone of Pinot Noir, an elegant variety associated with French Burgundy. Wadenswil, a Swiss clone of Pinot Noir, was also planted early on. In 1984, David Adelsheim was responsible for bringing the Dijon clone of Pinot Noir, and the industry continued to accelerate its growth. More clones meant more variety and more flavor profiles; people began to fall in love with the elegance and diversity of Oregon Pinot Noir brought about by a variety of clones and sites, founded in different soils, meso, and microclimates, illustrating some of the true meaning of terroir. Following on the heels of great Pinot Noir in Oregon, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay are also important varietals that are grown in Oregon because of their ability to grow and mature
With over 600 wineries statewide and over 400 in Yamhill County alone, Oregon is not a place to miss to experience some of the finest Pinot Noirs in the world. in cool climates. Pinot Gris is now the second most widely planted variety of grape in Oregon, albeit, a distant second to Pinot Noir. Chardonnay is making a comeback; some of the first productions of this variety were not impressive but time, experience, and learning has brought about newer productions of Chardonnay that are impressive. By the 1990s, the quality of Oregon wines continued to improve and Pinot Noirs, while still thinly distributed across the country, were attracting attention and more people began to travel to Oregon after having experienced the nuance and romance of an Oregon Pinot Noir. A common conversation now in our tasting room involves someone who has had an Oregon Pinot Noir in a restaurant, perhaps in Texas, Florida, or on the East Coast, and that prompted them to visit to see more. What travelers discover is a large number of small producers that are
making very high-quality Pinot Noir that frequently never makes it to the shelves in other states. This is a big reason to make a trip to Oregon to explore the back roads leading to more than 400 wineries in the North Willamette Valley alone. The epicenter for Pinot Noir in Oregon lies about an hour southwest of Portland, the largest city in the state. Yamhill County is the home of over 400 wineries and familiar towns that are surrounded by vineyards and wineries are Newberg, Dundee, McMinnville, and Carlton. As we go through 2016 and reflect on the emergence of Pinot Noir, we now see an international audience has discovered Oregon Pinot Noir. The continued growth and expansion of vineyards has vaulted the industry into the largest value-added agricultural product in the state and it shows no signs of slowing. Of late, while the Willamette Valley is known for its small acreage vineyards and laid-back tasting rooms, the industry’s success is drawing larger producers near and far. The Jackson Family Wine Group from California has been a big buyer in the last two years, buying up several well-regarded vineyards and wineries, including Penner-Ash Wine Cellars and Willakenzie Estate. Foley Wine Group, also from California, has invested in Oregon and a second French producer, Louis Jadot, has started to invest in Oregon Pinot Noir. As a small producer in Oregon, I am frequently asked how I feel about the entry of out-of-state producers. What I tell people is that we welcome their presence because it increases the visibility of the Willamette Valley across the country and the world. That drives more traffic to Oregon Wine Country to explore and seek out new brands. Each year in our tasting room, we see travelers from around the country and world that would not have come here if they had not tasted an Oregon Pinot Noir in a restaurant, wine bar, or at a friend’s house that had traveled here and brought the special juice back home to enjoy. We are a boutique producer of estategrown Pinot Noirs that you cannot find in stores outside of the state of Oregon, so a visit to ArborBrook and other small producers gives you a unique experience and fine wines that rival the quality of anything in the world. Oregon is truly a region of wine diversity; we have small CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 53
ArborBrook Vineyards 17770 NE Calkins Lane Newberg, Oregon 97132 (503) 538-0959 www.arborbrookwines.com TASTING ROOM HOURS: Monday–Friday, 11:00 am to 4:30 pm Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
producers like ourselves, ArborBrook Vineyards, who produce just over 3,000 cases a year and then large producers who make upwards of 50,000–100,000 cases per year. By and large, when you travel to Oregon, you will find smaller producers that are fun and exciting to seek out. Everyone has a different reason why they decided to join this industry. For the most part, at the core, is a great love for this wonderful grape that can be persnickety to grow but when it turns out well, it is like no other grape variety in terms of its beautiful flavor range and nuance. Every year brings new and unique challenges in making Oregon Pinot. We are a region that typically has a distinct growing season that can be punctuated by rain periodically, excessive heat, and other years with very mild conditions throughout the growing year. That is part of the challenge of making Pinot Noir here which leads us again to wonderful diversity, range of flavor and tremendous nuance. As with any evolution, the Oregon wine industry continues to change and become more focused on the differences within the state. In southern Oregon, where it is warmer than the North Willamette Valley, you will see Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris but you’ll also see some grape varieties that like more heat such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Moving North in the Willamette Valley, as it grows cooler and the growing year is shorter, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and some other cool climate varietals are more popular. As Oregon evolves, it has also broken into more American Viticultural 54 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Areas (AVAs) that help to further distinguish the unique growing regions of the state. Starting out many years ago with the “Willamette Valley AVA,” the state has morphed into more distinctive areas. AVAs are typically defined by the unique characteristics of any area, such as the soils, elevation, microclimates and other factors. In the Northern Willamette Valley, the area has a variety of soil types from marine sedimentary, volcanic, and wind-blown in loess soils. The area was also impacted by the Missoula floods that flowed west from Montana and coated the landscape with soils that produce some of the finest Pinots in the world. In the northern part of the Willamette Valley, these distinct AVAs that you should visit are the Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains, Eola-Amity, McMinnville, and the Yamhill-Carlton Uplands. When you travel to Oregon to experience the wonderful varieties of Pinot Noir, I recommend that you visit a variety of AVAs to taste how the wines vary. The same clones or varieties of Pinot Noir in two different soils and terroirs produce different wines and that is the beauty of this wine, there are never two Pinot Noirs alike. Differing weather, differing soils, differing sites — they all make a difference. Oregon Wine Country is a magical place, so plan to stay when you travel here to experience the culture and surroundings. As an emerging wine region, the vineyards and the wine came first, lodging was an after-thought with a few bed & breakfasts initially, but now standout properties have emerged, such as the Allison Inn & Spa, an 80-room resort
with one of the finest spas in the world. Located just five miles from our tasting room, it is one of the finest properties in the heart of Willamette Valley Wine Country. There are more B & Bs that provide wonderful experiences while staying here, including the Black Walnut Inn, Le Puy, Chehalem Ridge, and many others. Restaurants are also thriving along with the wineries. Dining here is a must to round out your experience. Some notables are the Painted Lady, Red Hills Provincial Dining, the Dundee Bistro, Red Hills Market, Jory at the Allison, Cuvee, Joel Palmer House, Thistle, and Bistro Maison. Oregon is on the map as a premier wine-growing region in the country and the world. With a long history of pioneers that came here and took risks, the industry in Oregon has proven that it is the real deal. With over 600 wineries statewide and over 400 wineries in Yamhill County alone, Oregon is not a place to miss to experience some of the finest Pinot Noirs in the world. Go to France, ask a winegrower in Burgundy about Oregon, and you will get a favorable response — they know that we too are producing premier Pinot Noir. Years ago, this may not have been the case, but we have become a bright spot on the radar screen. We invite you to visit Oregon and taste for yourself the outstanding wines that we offer. Some websites that may be helpful in planning your next visit to Oregon Wine Country include: willamettewines.com; arborbrook vineyards.com; chehalemmountains.org; dundeehills.org; eolaamityhills.com; yamhillcarlton.org; southernoregonwines.org. ★
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 55
AN EXTRE M E
ADVENTURE
ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD BY MICHAEL AMBROSE
56 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Michael Ambrose, guides, and his Himalayan Ibex.
J
Michael Ambrose, rifle and ram.
ohn Colglazier, Memphis heart surgeon Mike McDonald, and I left Houston on December 8 for Dushanbe, Tajikistan. I had considered and rejected this hunt for Marco Polo Sheep on a few occasions over the past couple of years, but Mike Simpson convinced me to give it go at the 2015
Houston Safari Club Convention. Encouragement from Ralph and Deb Cunningham, and John and Melanie Pepper, really sealed the deal so I booked the hunt with Shikar Safaris, owned by good friend Kaan Kaankarakaya. I convinced John to join me, but only if I agreed to go directly to Pakistan afterward, “since we would be right there,” and join him on a hunt for Himalayan Ibex, with Craig Phillips joining us for the warmer climate on a Sindh Ibex hunt in southern Pakistan. How I agreed to spend Christmas with John instead of my wife remains a mystery to this day, but at the time it seemed like a great idea. A year of anticipation followed — and several more discussions with Deb Cunningham, who had been to “hot springs camp” and taken a great ram there. John and I spent the year discussing and ordering clothing and gear, some of which actually arrived before we had to leave. In the end, it was HSC life member and good friend Stephen Rogers who provided both John and me with much of the clothing we would need. Turkish Air was the carrier of choice and Istanbul would be a layover stop when we transferred from Tajikistan to Pakistan, but we settled for a four-hour layover before going directly to Dushanbe on this initial flight. Arrival in Dushanbe went very smoothly thanks to Halit of Shikar Safaris, getting us settled in the VIP
lounge while our luggage was collected, guns cleared, and transportation arranged for the long trip to camp. At 6:30 a.m., two hours after arrival, we were underway in three Toyota Land Cruisers along with fellow hunter Jon Lee of Missoula Montana. The scenery was beautiful on the long, 17-hour, day one drive and we finally stopped at an inn around 10:30 that evening. Another eight hours was required to reach Hot Springs Camp at near 14,000 ft. in the province of Murgab. Recent earthquakes made the long road trip even more challenging and even harrowing at times. The road is the only one over the Pamir Mountains and is the main supply route to and from China. Large trucks are constantly on the move and breakdowns in these conditions are not unusual, often
blocking passage of traffic in both directions. On one occasion we actually exited the vehicles while one of the drivers took each vehicle between a broken down truck and the edge of the road and cliff. I swear half of the outside tires were over the cliff edge which offered a several hundred foot drop to a river below as a reward for failure. Once we exited the road for the last 70 km to camp we encountered another hazard, this time in the form of nails driven through wooden blocks and scattered on the main trails leading to camp by poachers who were operating in the area, and trying to disable the vehicles of the hunting camps who were working to keep their illegal activities in check. A couple of days later the police and military were in the area investigating as the Tajikistan CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 57
AN EXTREME ADVENTURE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD : BY MICHAEL AMBROSE
Dr. Mike and guides with his Marco Polo sheep.
government does take seriously wildlife offenses and activities that harm nature’s balance in this sensitive environment. Camp was very comfortable and both the hunters’ quarters, cement buildings warm and comfortable, and the main dining hall, offices and staff quarters, contained indoor “soaking” pools with water from the hot springs this camp was famous for. That evening we had a briefing on how the hunts would be conducted with some videotapes to illustrate previous field activities. We watched as several hunts were replayed, including that of Deb Cunningham and the 500-plus-yard shot she made a few years before to harvest her ram. The camp offered the hunters the option of renting two 4x4 “big foot” vehicles in camp to help battle the unusually heavy amount of snowfall on the plains. These were Russian jeeps with huge, near fourfoot diameter, tires. Dr. Mike and I hired these vehicles for the morning and we retired awaiting our 6 a.m. wake-up call. After breakfast and with the outside temperature at -45F/C — the Fahrenheit, and Centigrade measurements read identical at -40 — we headed for the range located just outside the hunters’ living quarters. An 80-yard and a 400-yard target were presented for each hunter to check his rifle and see if they had traveled unharmed or if there was a need to re-sight them. I have to admit that during this exercise my hands got so cold it took more than an hour holding them in front of the truck heater before they warmed and the pain finally ceased. Later everyone expressed suffering the same effect and Dr. Mike actually admitted wondering for some time if he 58 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Dr. Mike and his Marco Polo sheep.
would be needing to find a new way to make a living, but eventually, we all recovered famously. It was not long after leaving camp that I saw my first band of sheep; they were maybe a mile distant in a large open plain feeding but had already detected our presence and were heading for the then nearest mountain top. We were above 14,000 feet here at the top of the world and although the mountain tops were only 1,000 to 3,000 feet higher than the plains, they were formidable and the lack of oxygen at this elevation was near debilitating for us, although the local guides seemed unfazed and moved around with relative ease. Once a band of sheep is spotted, the two guides assigned to each hunter are quick to set up the spotting scopes to judge whether there is a shootable ram in the herd. If a ram is found an approach is determined and the truck is then used to get you into as close as possible. I had a “Gunwerks” 7 LRM custom rifle built which is pushing a 7 mm 180-grain Berger VLD bullet at 3025 fps from a 375 Ruger case holding the extra powder required. I had been practicing for weeks shooting to 600 yards at sea level in Houston, but the ballistic parameters here would be quite different. I employed a BR-2 Ballistic calculator, also designed and built by “Gunwerks,” which automatically ranges the target and produces a “shoot to range” based on altitude, temperature, barometric pressure, bullet ballistic coefficient, speed, and weight. These parameters are all preloaded into the BR-2 and actual use is as simple as a basic rangefinder, so a two-minute lesson and our Tajik guides could operate and
read it accurately. The calculator on site also adjusts for the uphill or downhill difference between hunter and target as well as confirms actual altitude and temperature and then reads the actual distance to the target and then replaces it with a “shoot to distance.” I was looking for a heavy, mature 7–8 year-old ram at or above the mid 50-inch mark and we finally spotted a band of sheep with such a ram present. We had seen several hundred sheep in 8 other bands, family groups or bachelor herds already today and though this band of sheep had spotted us and started the ascent to safety we finally got the vehicle into position to exit. Out of the truck and to the base of the hill we all headed. Assuming a prone position using a rise in the earth to steady my gun and bipod and locating the ram more than 40 degree angle uphill and at a “shoot to” distance, Kasim my head guide gave me, of 486 yards, I released the Berger bullet as the ram hesitated his accent to have a look back at us. “Hit,” I heard Kasim shout as I reloaded and tried to relocate the ram in the 22 power “Nightforce Scope.” “I got him, how far please,” I said, finding the ram still heading uphill trying to get over the top of the mountain. “540” was the response, and I adjusted the dial to 550 and squeezed the trigger. “Hit again” came the cry, but I was never able to re-establish a visual with the ram. “You got him,” they all cried and began slapping me on the back. “Is he down?” I said, “he did not fall, but we will go get him after lunch,” and nonchalantly as you please they began to break out bread and cold meat and sardines to
We were above 14,000 feet here at the top of the world and although the mountain tops were only 1,000 to 3,000 feet higher than the plains, they were formidable, and the lack of oxygen at this elevation was near debilitating for us… John Colglazier and his Marco Polo sheep.
have a leisurely lunch. I was amazed and nervous and angry all at the same time. Here was my one attempt at the trophy of a lifetime and I am certain if he did not drop to the shot there will be no way of recovering this animal in an environment so suited to the ram and not humans and certainly not this human. I have long ago learned that you just go with the flow in cases when you are clearly not in charge but the anticipation and worry persisted. An hour later Kasim and Shasha, the assistant guide, headed up the mountain and the driver and I tried to head to the back side of the range. There was no getting to the back side of the mountain the ram had crested as the terrain turned out to be a never-ending series of mountains and valleys and plains leading us away from our intended destination. We got word, on the walkie-talkie, that they had reached the top and found a lot of blood and that we should head to camp and return with a dog to track him. My heart sank as we returned to camp about an hour away. It was now 3 p.m. when we loaded the tracking dog and I was told there was no need in my returning and to just relax; they would return as soon as they had recovered the sheep. I found no joy in this but practically speaking I could do nothing but slow down the job at hand if I returned. The terrain is so inhospitable and the environmental conditions so severe I was having difficulty getting into a positive frame of mind about the potential success of the recovery. Mike McDonald was in camp with his ram in the skinning shed and here I was with a story with no end. He did manage to keep my spirits up as John and Jon returned to
camp just after dark. Colglazier had spent the entire day getting stuck and digging out the Toyota Land Cruiser and Jon Lee had declined to take a 700-plus-yard shot right at dark. Jon Lee used a gun identical to mine but with a lot more experience using it than I, and was a very confident long range shot. We headed to the dining hall for dinner. We were finishing our salad when the door came open and Kasim stood there with a big smile on his face and said, “I have something you should see.” My heart was in my throat as I headed towards the door neglecting to pick up my jacket. I barely notice the blast of cold air hitting me as my eyes immediately went to the game rack on the “Big Foot” and there was a very large pile of snow with a beautiful set of horns. It was now 7:30 and the recovery and return to camp in the dark had taken more than five hours. To this day I still find it hard to believe they were successful but I remain ever so grateful. Dr. Mike’s ram and mine both scored an identical 216 6/8 SCI. Two other hunters in camp, Joe Francois of Wisconsin and Herman Ledoux of New Mexico, returned shortly after we resumed our meal and both had taken mid 50-inch day one Rams as well. The next day John Lee was too ill to hunt, but Johnnie “C” was in “big foot” and away, as was Dr. Mike on a quest for his Mid-Asian Ibex. John returned in the early afternoon with his ram, taken with a 367 yard shot from his WBY 30-378 and his ram scored within an inch ours. Mike returned with his 42” Mid-Asian Ibex a short time later. At dinner that evening we were treated
to a video of Dr. Mike’s hunts as they had been filmed by the camp. Shooting a .338 Lapua the film depicted Mike taking his ram cleanly with a single shot at 650 yards, and a very similar shot of 590 yards on his ibex. The next morning John Lee had recovered sufficiently from the bug he had caught and he was off after his Sheep, while Johnnie “C” and I used the other “big foot” to try and score on an ibex of our own. We were both successful with mine being taken at 580 yards out of a herd of nearly 100 and it was a bit of a zoo as I had three different people trying to get me on the largest billy in the group. You can imagine the directions “in the front, on the right, now number 2, going left,” as I said a confusing state of affairs, but I finally made my own determination and took the shot. John took his with, amazingly enough, another 367-yard shot and we returned to camp near sundown and met Jon Lee who found himself in the position I had been in two nights before. He had taken a shot at a ram as he crested the top of a mountain 830 yards distant. A solid hit was reported but due to the advent of darkness and the severity of the terrain, Jon would have a long night to nurture his concern over the recovery of his ram. After a restless night, Jon was off with his team in the morning for the recovery attempt. Today saw Joe and Herman depart camp hoping to catch a plane the majority of the way home and avoid another 17-hour portion of the drive to Dushanbe. Now that we were finished, Dr. Mike, Johnnie “C” and I were also getting anxious to get to a lower altitude. Jon Lee returned shortly CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 59
AN EXTREME ADVENTURE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD : BY MICHAEL AMBROSE
John and his Himalayan Ibex new SCI #6.
John Colglaizer and his Chinkara Gazelle.
John and his Sindh Ibex.
after noon with a report that his ram was found just at the crest of the mountain and quite dead from a well-placed shot to the vitals. The next day we departed at about 1 p.m. after the capes had been sufficiently dried in the hot springs “drying room” uniquely fed by the heat from the hot springs. This is quite an operation and ingenious application and use of natural resources, which make it possible for hunters to harvest an animal and depart with their trophy for their home destination within 48 hours. Dr. Mike carried his as well as John’s and my rams back to the USA while we headed to Pakistan.
the Pamirs in structure form. Pakistan contains four of the five highest mountain peaks in the word, and these mountains were more vertical and rugged than the high plateaus of Tajikistan. The higher peaks were covered in snow, adding to the beauty of one of nature’s most remote sanctuaries which includes the convergence of three mountain ranges — Himalaya, Hindukush, and Karakoran — and the Indus River. Again we were on the only main road in the country to China, but here the passes were higher and closed for the winter so freight traffic was not as much of a problem as it had been in Tajikistan. There was more paved road, but frequent avalanches and earthquakes keep portions under constant repair or rerouting. Entering Hunza we encountered some of the spotters employed by Shikar to be searching the mountainside for a big billy. The Himalayan Ibex is considered the hardest to hunt and we were surrounded by the reason as the mountains ran to the sky, straight up, steep and treacherous. One of the spotters had a huge ibex in his spotting scope. He was more than two miles away, but clearly skylined and there was no doubt about the horn quality and quantity he possessed. John’s name was on the license for this block and he and Ejaz began devising a plan to go after this big boy in the morning. We saw three or four more ibex in other locations all judged to be in the 36-38-inch range, but nothing compared to “the billy” John was now dreaming of, judged at over 42 inches. We set up a target to check our rifles one more time then headed for the guest house. Shikar had employed our own cook and Farhad’s brother, Aziz and his son would be our hosts. The food was fantastic that night and the altitude of 9500 feet and
temperatures near zero degrees F required that the wood stoves be kept glowing to keep us all comfortable as we had our meal in the large communal room so common in Pakistan housing design. Our beds were covered in large heavy wool blankets to keep us warm through the night once the stove fires had extinguished. We had a hot breakfast and went our separate ways in the morning. John and Ejaz returned to the area they had agreed upon and began their long hike and climb to see if they could locate the billy that John had seen the day before. We were glassing and had spotted some smaller ibex on the other side of the river. One was a very nice billy, very old, but still under the 40-inch mark we were targeting, and we decided to make note of his location and to continue looking. We saw some others that day as we approached the site of a recent avalanche which had completely taken the road out and now was part of the river. We walked around this location and made our way up the road for a couple miles on foot. The wind was blowing harder here as we had climbed in elevation to above 12,000 feet and snow was beginning to fall and our visibility faded, so we decided to return to an area nearer the guesthouse. Near where we had left the truck was a police check station, and we had encountered many of them since leaving Islamabad. They exist at every district border at a minimum and sometimes more often. Security is very high-profile here and I never felt unsafe or threatened anywhere in Pakistan. This checkpoint was different, however, as it was also the home of a snow leopard. Found as a cub, in the river, the policeman and locals here saved it and now took care of it as part of the family. The snow leopard is prevalent
PART II — PAKISTAN
John and I arrived in Istanbul at 9 a.m. and with the help of Senol of Shikar Safaris, got our weapons stored in customs, an exception to normal procedures as our Islamabad flight created more than a 24-hour layover. We are no strangers to Istanbul, having flown through there on many occasions as well as previous hunting trips within Turkey, so we managed to take in some sights and enjoy some really great food. Arrival in Islamabad was again an early morning affair and we were met by Shikars Pakistan manager, Farhad and our guide for this trip, Ejaz. All formalities were addressed and we loaded the Toyota Land Cruiser to begin another Asian driving adventure, this time into the Himalayas. As in Tajik, we endured another 17-hour drive to the provincial capital of Gilgit. We enjoyed a great meal and a comfortable night’s sleep before again heading out mid-morning for our final destination of Hunza. Once again the scenery was awesome for our drive and the Himalayas differ dramatically from 60 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
AN EXTREME ADVENTURE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD : BY MICHAEL AMBROSE
I placed the cross hairs on the shoulder an inch above the rock he was looking over and let the 180 grain Berger loose. The solid hit was heard by all…
in this area and makes his living hunting the ibex, as we were. We changed our location and came across another spotter who had an ibex of interest he wanted to show us. This ibex was judged to be about 40 inches and was a few thousand feet higher and a mile distant, but we decided to make a play for him. Up the mountain we went with two guides, both my artificial knees and a determination to close the distance. This was a tough climb and the pebble rocks were as slippery as black shale in the white mountains of Alaska. Some
pushing and pulling from my guides and traversing a couple of overhangs we finally got to a position where we could see the ibex. He was some 350 yards above us but we had to be quite exposed to make visual contact. I tried to get into position but the steepness of the terrain made it difficult in the prone position not to slide down the hill. Finally, in an awkward position, and with my guide holding me in place I took a shot at the ibex. The assistant guide had used his camera to film the shot, but as the gun went off I began to slide and had to catch my balance but could no longer see the ibex, who was now putting distance between us. Regaining our stability the camera clearly showed I had shot just over the back of the ibex, a clean miss, and they were now in the next district so no second chance existed. We got back down as the sun was setting in the west and back to the guesthouse, to see John near the skinning shed with his trophy. They had found the billy, with his ladies in tow, in the next valley over from where he had been seen the last evening and successfully got to, you guessed it, 367 yards for the shot. John used one well-placed shoulder shot to anchor the billy and the
real work began. These ibex are not small and trying to get 250 lbs. of wool and horn down the mountain becomes quite a chore. There was no ground shrinkage on this billy either has he exceeded 44 inches on both horns and scored 107 6/8 SCI the new No. 6 Himalayan Ibex. Another great meal and a tormented night for me as I relived the missed shot over and over. New hope came with sunrise and we were off to try to find another billy as the local wildlife department granted us permission to hunt in the same area John had the day before. The area I was originally assigned to had been affected by the avalanche and a majority of it was not accessible. The wind was blowing 30 miles per hour and it made glassing very difficult so we headed to the site of a new home being built and took refuge there with the carpenters and their fire, a cup of tea and with the spotting scopes set up to scan the mountains from this sheltered position. After about an hour I was called to “take a look.” I was amazed to see a huge billy in the accompaniment of several ewes and young. Ejaz said this billy would rival the one John had taken the day before, so there was little more to be said except
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 61
John Colglazier, Dr. Mike Mac, Michael Ambrose, John Lee
how to we get there. We packed everything back to the cars a drove to a point of Ejaz’s choosing and began our ascent. The terrain was much like that of the day before and I again accepted the assistance of the guides in helping me climbing this mountain. I required a lot more stops than everyone else to catch my breath but having John along this time to encourage me was a big help. I learned to not look up but to just keep my eyes on the boots in front of me. We did not have sight of the ibex while we climbed but did have a spotter on the ground who kept them in sight as they fed along. After an hour or so, sure seemed like five times that, Ejaz took a call from the spotter and then pointed to an outcropping some 500 yards above us we needed to reach in order to be able to see the ibex who were just emerging from the cover of a drainage they had fed into. “Sucking it up,” we headed for our destination with renewed vigor, and after this giant surge of effort we finally achieved our goal and began setting up using the cover of the outcropping of rocks. Our billy had laid down partially guarded by a large boulder with the ewes and young mingling about as they fed nearby. I got the billy in my scope and ranged him at 297 with a “shoot to range” of 256 yards. “Are you going to shoot him laying down?” Ejaz asked. “If necessary, but what do you think?” I asked, “I think he’s looking right at us and you should shoot him quickly.” I placed the cross hairs on the shoulder an inch above the rock he was looking over and let the 180 grain Berger loose. The solid hit was heard by all, and I lost the sight picture in the recoil. Reloading and trying to acquire the ibex again, everyone 62 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Himalayan Ibex and the village kids on Christmas Eve.
had reverted to their native tongue and I could not understand anything but the urgency in their voice. I searched for the billy and finally found where he had been lying, when all at once the tone changed and hands were clapping and I knew the billy was down. Apparently when the billy was struck by the bullet he tensed up and never moved. “Shoot him again” was the message he yelled until he finally relaxed as he succumbed to the impact and slid down the mountain side and into the drainage. I was over the moon as John came up to congratulate me and was anxious to finally run my hands over his beautiful horns. The snow-covered drainage into which the ibex fell would be used to get him a third of the way down the mountain, as they let the ibex ride the snow as far as gravity would let him. We did get this on film and it seems he got up to over 40 mph on the descent. Again spotters met us part way down the mountain to assist in carrying the ibex to the roadside and then back to camp. The second batch of fresh meat to hit the village in two days brought all the youngsters and family to our guest house to celebrate with us. My ibex had one horn of 44.5 inches and one broomed off to 42.2 inches with a SCI score of 106 6/8 and the new No. 7 of the species. The cook served some kababs that night that were the best I have ever had, someone found some vodka and a celebratory glass was had by all. The next morning we made our way back to Gilget where we again spent the evening before the long day’s drive ahead. I woke about 3 a.m. with my bed vibrating and sliding across the floor, and although it only lasted a few seconds I looked for confirmation from John that it had really
happened. John slept through it, but verification that an earthquake had indeed happened was present everywhere on the road as we headed south. Debris covered the roads in many places and threatened to prevent our passage, but with less than an inch to spare we managed to thread the truck between two large boulders. We arrived into Saturday night traffic near Islamabad and this leg ended up taking 20 hours before we could put our heads down and await the arrival of Craig Phillips. We were up at 5 a.m. Craig had arrived at 3, but as exhausted as we were we needed to catch the early morning flight to Karachi. An uneventful flight ensued and we were met in Karachi by members of the Sindh Wildlife Conservancy. A short three hours later we arrived at the local prince’s guesthouse where we unpacked and got ready for an afternoon hunt. We all three went together this afternoon but I had drawn the long straw and was up first. We headed into the desert and within an hour came across a bunch of locals with a spotting scope, and they had an ibex in view. Ejaz judged the ibex to be too small, but he liked the canyon and the area and made plans for us to head down to the valley below, across to the far side and then up the far face into shooting position for a drive. As we rested in a semi-circle, framed with rocks to hide us from view, we watched the canyon floor for any sight of moving ibex. It wasn’t long before we spotted three heading our way, all billys, and from my point of view all looking pretty good. They continued to trot at a slow but determined pace and as I got first one and then another in my scope, I kept waiting for word from Ejaz. The ibex
AN EXTREME ADVENTURE ON THE ROOF OF THE WORLD : BY MICHAEL AMBROSE actually got within 50 yards before passing on out of sight. “None of those were good enough,” I asked. “No,” Ejaz responded but John and Craig and I were still discussing which one we thought was the best of the group. I liked No. 2, but the others had settled on No. 3 as the largest in the group. Soon Ejaz spotted more ibex and got me to move my position as these were approaching from a different direction. I watched as the ibex would come into view and then disappear as they worked their way toward us. “They’ll pass over there,” Ejaz informed me and I ranged that to be 264 yards almost on the same elevation as us but across the Canyon. Just like clockwork they did as predicted and when Ejaz stopped the lead ibex with a “whistle” I placed one in his left shoulder. He raced down the hill stumbled and then piled up within 20 yards. Congratulations all around and it was really great to have all been together for this hunt. “We’ll do them all like this if that’s OK,” and Ejaz agreed. The next morning found us in a similar setup but with Johnnie “C” manning his Weatherby. This drive worked pictureperfect as well and when the largest billy in the group got 100 yards out John took him on the run, and then knocked him off his
feet with a second shot in rapid succession. We tried another drive later that afternoon but with Craig in the wheelhouse we got no cooperation and the ibex went over the far side of the valley. The next morning we were on our way back into the desert when one of the spotting parties had found a Chinkara Gazelle that John had been wanting. These were non-exportable but John has taken most of the world’s gazelles and ibex; actually, he only has one ibex to go and that’s in Iran, so he and Ejaz headed off to see if he could be successful. Craig and I set up for another drive but it was a replay of the evening before and the ibex evaded the trap. John joined us later and had indeed managed to take his gazelle, and a fine mature specimen it was. We broke for lunch in the field and then drove back to the general vicinity of my Sindh Ibex success and headed into the canyon to set up. The drive ensued and Craig and John and I were ranging various locations so Craig would have the info needed for a shot. He was using John’s Weatherby now and as luck would have it the most likely spot for an ibex crossing turned out to be 367 yards, as reported by Johnnie “C.” My BR-2 and Craig’s Leupold both ranged the same spot at 256 yards. It seems there may
be an error with John’s rangefinder, but it’s obvious his gun shoots accurately to any distance, as it had all month. An ibex was spotted and heading straight toward us; as he rose off the canyon floor and into full view Ejaz told Craig to “take him.” The Weatherby barked and the ibex stumbled but kept moving directly to us and went out of sight below us. I could see the blood running before he disappeared and announced he was hit hard as Craig and Ejaz jumped to their feet to change positions in order to re-acquire the ibex. He came back into view having passed below us and now emerged behind us and going dead away at a very slow and unsteady pace. A well-placed “Texas heart shot” put, what turned out to be No. 2 — remember the night of my hunt when we let him go? — on the ground for good. All of our ibex exceeded the 40-inch bar with mine being 41.5, John’s being 40.5 and Craig’s being the biggest at 42.5. Three days and four great trophies and this brought to an end the “traveling safari in Asia.” We would spend 27 days gone from home and hunt a grand total of five days. Think of Shikar Safaris if you’re going to Asia — they certainly made our trip easy, enjoyable and safe. ★
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Speckled
The
BY HAROLD INMAN
Specialist
Showing off the first catch of the day.
I
always look forward to going back to Southeastern North Carolina to visit family and friends and enjoy country ham, grits with red-eye gravy, boiled peanuts, pork barbecue, and fresh seafood. As an added bonus, my brother, Philip, often arranges a hunting or fishing trip, depending on the time of year. Since it was June, we planned to go fishing for speckled trout in Onslow County, not far from where we grew up. Philip and I arrived at the New River Point Marina ten minutes early, but our guide, Ricky Kellum, already had “The Speckled Specialist” in the water and was ready to go. He headed the 23 foot Jones Brothers Bateau with a 115 horsepower Yamaha out of the Marina at the mouth of North Carolina’s New River and the Intercoastal Waterway. After a short trip up the river, we anchored and started fishing with live shrimp, mullet, and menhaden on spinning tackle with floats, on the falling tide. Ricky said that speckled trout are known for subtle strikes, so at the first tug on the line, jerk hard to set the hook, keep the rod tip up, and maintain pressure on the line at all times. It wasn’t long before I had an opportunity to do just that. With the hook set, the big speckled trout took the bait, leader, and line and headed for the Intercoastal. Keeping the line tight was easy as he was determined to get down river despite the protests 64 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
of the drag on the reel. Even when I was reeling aggressively, he sometimes stripped line. Fortunately, Ricky had set the drag so this would happen rather than break the 10-pound braided test line and 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. Eventually, I was able to get the fish closer and closer to the boat, but at about five yards out he got his second wind and started taking line off the reel again. By now he was tiring and the closer he got to the boat, the speculation as to size intensified. As we closed the last couple of feet, the tension mounted as everyone felt the unspoken fear that the spec would slip the hook as we tried to get him over the gunnel. Fortunately, our apprehension was unfounded as Ricky deftly maneuvered the dip net and delivered the fish on deck. Our suspicions that he was a big one were confirmed when he measured 29 inches. Even Ricky and Philip, both of whom are very experienced anglers, were excited. I was beside myself as I am a relative rookie and this was far and away the biggest speckled trout I had ever caught. Ricky and Philip said I had to take him to the official North Carolina weigh station at Tex’s Tackle in Wilmington when we got ashore. As the falling tide dissipated, Philip caught a nice spec and sheep’s head for the live well. We also caught about a dozen bait-stealing nuisance species such as pen and ladyfish and an occasional small flounder or spec. I was always amazed at how Ricky could immediately determine the species on the line by the way it struck the bait. When the tide began to reverse itself, Ricky decided to change locations. We headed for a marshy flat where a sand bar extended out into the river for a good distance and dropped off sharply on either side. It was decided that we would cast onto the sand bar and let the rising tide carry the bait into the deeper water. Upon our arrival in this new location, we had noticed a group of skate swimming in the shallows. Their long wings with upturned tips reminded me of a commercial airliner. This was a concern as the skate could steal bait or sting an unsuspecting foot hanging over the gunnel into the water. Given their size and power, if a skate took your line you had no alternative but to cut the line, losing bait, leader, float, and line. Once we had anchored and began fishing, the skate activity intensified. If you saw a skate near your bait you tried to skip it over the top of him. Fishing from the stern, I was drifting a live shrimp across the sand bar. When the bait approached the deeper water upriver, something struck the line. I quickly flipped the bail on the spinning reel and jerked the line. With the hook set, the fight was on! The spec took the bait and headed toward the Intercoastal,
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Outfitter: Erik Visser • E-Mail: safari@quagga.co.za • Website: www.quagga.co.za
Experience Africa in a class of its own
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 65
above: View from the Riverview Café. As you can tell from the
shrimp boats, the food was really fresh!
right: The second one fought even harder than the first one!
making the drag on the reel scream in protest. Even when I was reeling in he managed to take more line. Apparently, he realized that in spite of his efforts he was not enjoying much success and made a sharp turn to the left, running parallel with our starboard gunnel. Fortunately, “The Speckled Specialist” was designed for this very situation and I was able to move with the fish toward the bow. When the spec was directly in front of the bow, he made a run straight for the boat. Apparently, he was trying to generate enough slack in the line to throw the hook, or failing that, cut the line on the bottom of the hull. Fortunately, I was able to keep enough tension on the line to eventually maneuver him back toward the starboard gunnel. We fought our way back to the stern, and the speculation as to size began. However, when the spec was close to the boat he made a last gasp run, but he was exhausted. Given the intensity of the fight, we all thought he was even bigger than my previous spec. However, after Ricky expertly wielded the dip net, the spec only measured a little over 25 inches. In spite of being shorter, he looked stouter than the longer fish, which might have accounted for his extraordinary effort. By now we were all tired, but satisfied, and agreed to head back to the marina. We iced down our catch, thanked Ricky for a great day on the water, and headed to the Riverview Cafe for fresh shrimp and hush puppies. After lunch, we checked in at Tex’s Tackle in Wilmington. Tex’s is a Mecca for the really serious saltwater fishermen in the area. As an official weigh station, with a very knowledgeable staff, and extensive inventory, it is understandable why. The two specs weighed 7 pounds, 9 ounces, and 5 pounds, 8 ounces respectively. My best day speckled trout fishing, ever! I enjoyed my 15 minutes of fame and was given Official North Carolina Department of Marine Fisheries Award Certificates. Everyone wanted to know the details of where we caught them, but I did not want to give away any of Ricky’s secrets. I was able to get by saying I was from Houston and had no idea where we 66 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
had been fishing. Philip, being a well-known local patron, was not so lucky. However, he was able to give a vague description of places and procedures. Finally, we headed for my son Ross’ house and showed our catch to him and his family before the unglamorous process of cleaning our catch. However, specs are excellent table fare and a good excuse for a return to the coastal Carolinas. Epilogue: “The Speckled Specialist” is Ricky Kellum’s boat, nickname, and guide service. Ricky offers no frills inland fishing charters for serious fishermen in the coastal Carolinas, from Moorehead City, NC, to Little River, SC. Renowned for trophy speckled trout in waters in and around Onslow County, he guides for all major species year round. To learn more please go to www.speckledspecialist.com, or call him at 910-330-2745. Tex’s Tackle (www.texstackle.com) is one of those places only serious sportsmen know how to fully appreciate and always look for an excuse to visit. ★
Friday
May 12, 2017
CONVENTION 2016 HUNTER’S HUNTER'S HORN HORN 27 CONVENTION 2017 67
Beyond the Hunt:
Adventures Worldwide BY THE TRAVEL ADVISORS OF WEST UNIVERSITY TRAVEL
T
hroughout the year, sportsmen flock to various destinations around the globe in search of
the perfect hunt. The world is full of diverse locales offering unique experiences, memories,
and adventures. Whether it be Argentina for wingshooting, Alaska for grizzlies, or Mongolia
for argali and ibex, there is no distance too great. In addition, each of these locations offer an
opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture, enjoy the exotic cuisine, and explore the
unknown. For those looking to extend their trip or for family members who may not participate
in the hunt, let’s discover the luxurious hotels and top sightseeing destinations that coexist with
the top hunting locations worldwide.
AFRICA: ZIMBABWE
For most hunting enthusiasts, an African safari is the ultimate desire. From Cape buffalo to wildebeest, lion to warthog, Africa is ripe with innumerable safaris that will satisfy even the most experienced of hunters. For an unparalleled experience, enjoy a 14-day leopard safari in Zimbabwe and then extend your stay to truly embrace the south African culture. Stay at the luxurious Victoria Falls Hotel, where you can roam the beautiful grounds and soak in the magnificent views. Take an easy 10-minute walk along a private path, and you’ll arrive at Victoria Falls. Allow yourself to be mesmerized by one of the seven natural wonders of the world. If you’re looking for more adventure, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and gorge swings are all a short distance away. Don’t just come for the hunt — there’s something for everyone in Zimbabwe!
68 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
NORTH AMERICA: ALASKA
A stark contrast to the traditional African safari, Alaska offers an entirely different experience. From salmon to moose to bear, hunters attempt to tackle species that not only survive but thrive in the harsh, cold winters. After what is sure to be an enjoyable — albeit grueling — expedition, extend your stay in Alaska to include a relaxing cruise after your hunting trip. If you choose the Inner Reaches Eastern Coves cruise with Un-Cruise Adventures, you’ll explore southeast Alaska, including Dawes Glacier and Misty Fjords National Monument. You can whale watch in Stephens Passage and spot wildlife in Tongass National Forest, or stay on the ship and enjoy drinks and conversation at the cask wine bar. Cruises are the perfect way to travel through Alaska and a great option to add before or after any hunting trip.
Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm
SOUTH PACIFIC: NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand’s majestic Southern Alps are home to some of the finest big game animals found anywhere in the world. From red stag to tahr, elk to wild boar, ram to water buffalo, even the most experienced of hunters will be satisfied with the diverse selection of safaris. Before or after your hunting experience, plan a stay at the Matakauri Lodge, where you can soak in the stunning view of the Remarkable, Cecil, and Walter Peak mountain ranges from the infinity pool. Take a seven-minute drive to Queenstown and explore a town rich in history and breathtaking natural beauty. For those seeking out more adventure, you can find bungee jumping, jet boating, rafting, and scenic helicopter flights all around the capital. With adventure and relaxation both readily available, New Zealand is perfect for those looking to continue a trip full of adventure after their hunting safari, as well as those looking to unwind and calmly explore a new destination. Gobi Desert
ASIA: MONGOLIA
For an altogether unique experience, make Mongolia your next destination. The single least-populated area on Earth, Mongolia offers mystically beautiful views of juxtaposing landscapes. When the hunters in the family are finished stalking argali and ibex, extend your stay and explore this singularly unique locale. In the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, enjoy tea with a head monk at the Gandan Monastery and discover the delights of the Naran Tuul Market, otherwise known as the Black Market. It’s said that if you can’t find something there, it most likely doesn’t exist! If you decide to leave the city, head toward South Gobi, the largest desert in Asia. There, you can explore the Geegeet Valley and experience a camel ride through the Moltsog Els sand dunes. For those experienced travelers who are looking to stray from the traditional, put Mongolia at the top of your list.
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 69
BEYOND THE HUNT : BY TRAVEL ADVISORS OF WEST UNIVERSITY TRAVEL EUROPE: SPAIN
Looking to add fallow deer, Spanish red deer, or Iberian mouflon sheep to your trophy collection? Look no further. Spain is a perfect destination to enjoy a new hunting experience as part of a larger travel plan. When not hunting, explore Paseo de Gracia and Las Ramblas in Barcelona, the famous Prado Museum and Neptune Fountain in Madrid, or the Capilla Real Cathedral and the Alhambra in Granada. Enjoy authentic, healthy cuisine at Los Patos Restaurant in Granada, and savor top-class inventive food inspired by French nouvelle cuisine at The Caelis Restaurant in Barcelona. Stay as long as you like in Spain – there is always more to explore!
Alhambra
SOUTH AMERICA: ARGENTINA
Last but certainly not least, Argentina is a well-known hunting location. Whether you are on the search for red stags and water buffalo or interested in winghunting doves, perdiz, and ducks, Argentina is the place for you. After your hunt, dive into the local experience by enjoying Rojo Tango, Buenos Aires’ most passionate tango show. Stay at the Faena Hotel Buenos Aires, and enjoy an authentic estancia-style asado barbecue at El Mercado or devour contemporary Argentinean cuisine at the Bistro Sur. If you’re looking to mix comfort and luxury with authentic local experiences, cuisine, and even performances, in a location where you can also enjoy a hunting safari, Argentina can’t be beat. From the lush greenery and grandeur of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe to the stark beauty of the icebergs lining Stephens Passage in Alaska, and from the barren sand dunes of the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to the majestic remarkable mountain ranges in New Zealand, there’s a world of adventure waiting to be explored. Travelers who dare think outside the box, and who are eager to embrace all of the diverse experiences the world has to offer, will be rewarded with once-ina-lifetime journeys that friends back home won’t believe. Whether you’re in search of a relaxing five-star spa retreat to recover from your hunting expedition, or a brand new voyage that’s even more wild and exotic, West University Travel can provide inspiration, planning, resources, and support from start to finish. Interested in exploring more of the world’s top hunting destinations? Need help planning your pre- or post-safari adventures? Contact us at info@westutravel.com to speak to one of our knowledgeable travel advisors. ★ 70 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 71
Seeking Support BY SHANE MAHONEY
T
he most recent surveys of public attitudes toward regulated hunting in the United States indicate that more than 75 percent of those responding support this activity. This is a phenomenal statistic given the controversy that has surrounded hunting over the last thirty years and
more. As hunters, we may take solace in the fact that a very significant majority of people recognize the legitimacy of hunting despite the fact that over 90 percent of the populace does not participate, and has no intention of ever participating, in the activity. Given that our tradition involves the conscious killing of wild creatures, understandably loved and idolized by the general public, this statistic seems to beg an explanation. Apparently, though, no one is searching for it. Indeed, quite to the contrary; we as hunters seem to just accept this new information as one more inevitable and self-evident truth. It is this kind of reaction, however, that helps engender the great malaise in the hunting world: the belief that we have no need to reach out to the broad public, can keep representing ourselves to ourselves, and thus be continuously reinforced in the notion that all is well. Yet we know very well that not all is well. Participation in hunting is declining, state agency conservation programs are running out of money, privatization of wildlife and a host of other controversies are highly divisive in our own ranks, and 72 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
getting more so. Additionally, the hunting community is aging rapidly. Perhaps it is time we develop a real strategy to deal with all of this, comprehensively, and with an eye to what really matters. And one thing that surely matters, like it or not, is public opinion. Understanding why the general public remains so supportive of hunting is indeed a critical issue. How do we relate the social trends that have seen fewer and fewer people having direct contact with the land and wildlife, the declining participation in hunting, the rise of animal rights activities and aggressive anti-hunting campaigns, and the incredibly low interest level
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 73
SEEKING SUPPORT : BY SHANE MAHONEY
Most of the public supports hunting, but we cannot expect this to continue without some work on our part.
among young people today in hunting, with a near 80 percent approval rating in the public mind? How is it that a large majority of persons for whom hunting has no immediate relevance still express support for an activity that includes firearms, the pursuit and death of wild creatures, and that has been the subject of highly charged and well-financed opposition campaigns? Do we really believe it is because the general public understands the value and relevance of hunting in modern times? I don’t. I cannot see how they could, given that we make no effort to explain the complicated and often counterintuitive reality: that by hunting wildlife we contribute enormously to its conservation, financially and politically. To expect that the general public would see the benefits of our vested interest pursuits seems just too much to conceive. Hunting, even for hunters, is not that easy to understand, nor communicate! So, what might possibly be behind this amazing public support, if we cannot reasonably expect that they understand what we do? Why would the public support us in ignorance? What have we done for them lately? I believe their support may stem from the fondness of memory, and not from any real consideration of hunting itself. We can all remain personally engaged with events that form part of our family history and traditions, regardless of whether we have participated in them or not. For example, war means more to those whose family members have served, fought, and perhaps died, than to those whose family history does not include this sacrifice. Is it not entirely possible that significant numbers of 74 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
the public remain emotionally linked to hunting by the memories of childhood or family traditions that invoke the reality of hunting from times past? Could it not simply be that the memories of time spent as children on a family farm, or with a father or grandfather who hunted and whom they loved, or the photos upon the mantle that show an uncle with his hunting dogs or with a deer that he has taken, or an old hunting rifle, long disused, could these collective memories and family heirlooms and traditions not be responsible for the support we still receive? In the absence of an informed opinion or intellectual position must we not search for an emotional rationale for a supportive public that neither participates in our tradition nor understands that they may benefit from it? So why does this matter? Why should we care to dissect the favorable review the public has pronounced? Why should we not just accept it and await the next survey a number of years from now and keep on doing what we’ve been doing, as this has obviously worked so effectively? Because things change, and because strategic thinking suggests we should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. If we really care about the future of hunting, I believe we should carefully examine this reality. We should seek an explanation in order to safeguard our public support, recognizing that if we ever lose it we will find our hunting traditions much further imperiled. We should understand that if this support is generational, lurking still in the collective memory of a wave of citizens who have physically but not emotionally lost touch with an older way of life, it cannot be assumed to persist. Indeed, I suggest it is inevitable that in the near future, this fabric of memory and support will begin to dissolve, weaken, and possibly disappear. If we are uninformed as to its true nature and rationale, we run the risk of squandering our best chance to preserve this public endorsement, and that will be a failure we must avoid. A significant drop in public support for hunting will be of major consequence regardless of which political party is in power in Canada or the United States. In democracies, politics courts favor. We have seen it too many times to expect otherwise. As hunters, we ought to realize that our public support is a precious commodity, something to be both proud of and thankful for. Out of respect we ought to reach out to the community of others who support us and honestly share with them our commitments to conservation and to our hunting tradition. We need to keep the public close and ensure that once this generation passes, there will be a new wave of citizens supportive of what we do. Talking to ourselves won’t get the job done. ★ Born and raised in Newfoundland, Shane Mahoney is a leading international authority on wildlife conservation. A rare combination of scientist, hunter, angler, historian and philosopher, he brings a unique perspective to wildlife issues that has motivated and inspired audiences around the world.
CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 75
SLOW-COOKED & DELICIOUS BY SCOTT LEYSATH
I
’ve made a mark, perhaps annoyingly so, on the wild game cooking front over the last few decades by consistently repeating the “Don’t Overcook It” mantra. It’s been my experience that, if you don’t like the taste of wild game, it is likely
that it has been cooked longer than is necessary. But not all animal parts are best cooked quickly over high heat and served rare to medium rare. Tough parts, the ones that typically do most of the work, need to be cooked slowly at a lower temperature in order to turn otherwise tough meat into tender deliciousness. For those who just can’t stomach the thought of a juicy medium-rare elk steak, these recipes are for you.
Spicy goose stew
76 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
I understand that what is considered “perfectly cooked” to some is just not edible to others. If at a restaurant, you order your beef steaks well-done, it seems likely that you will also want your wild game meats cooked until there is little or no pink color in the center. On the other hand, those of us who like it red in the center find it hard to handle a piece of meat that has been cooked well-done. Fortunately, there is a middle ground where most folks can agree that it’s just too good to say “no thanks.” Sinewy neck, shoulder and other lesser parts of deer, elk and
antelope just aren’t fit for fast cooking over a hot flame. The same tough cuts can be browned and cooked at low temperature in a covered pan with vegetables and an inch or so of stock and, after several hours in the oven, the meat literally falls off the bone just like mom’s pot roast. Some of the parts most discarded on big game are the shanks, the lower leg sections that can change the minds of people who insist that wild game is unfit for human consumption. Just don’t tell them it’s venison until they sop up the last ribbon of sauce with their bread.
VENISON OSSU BUCCO
Literally translated from Italian, “osso bucco” means “bone with a hole.” The hole part refers to the marrow in the center of the lower leg. If they are saved at all, many processors will slice the lower legs sections into thin dog treats. Others will remove the stringy meat and add to the grind pile. It’s been my experience that this trim can clog up a grinder in short order. So, why go to all the trouble of sawing and trimming when there is a simpler solution that will yield a much more palatable meal? This recipe makes its own gravy which, when paired with a mound of garlic mashed potatoes or cheesy polenta, makes for a delicious cold-weather meal. Serves four. ingredients
8–10 venison shanks Salt and pepper 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 tablespoons butter 2 medium onions, roughly chopped 4 carrots, cut into 2- to 3-inch pieces 4 ribs celery, cut into 2- to 3-inch pieces 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup dry red wine 1 cup chicken, beef or game broth 1 28-ounce can whole plum tomatoes with juice, roughly chopped 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves, minced 2 bay leaves Shaved Parmesan cheese
preparation
1. Season shanks with salt and pepper. Place in a plastic bag with flour and shake to coat. 2. Heat two tablespoons each olive oil and butter over medium heat in a large oven-safe skillet or Dutch oven. Add shanks, a few at a time, and brown evenly. Transfer to a plate. 3. Heat remaining olive oil and butter. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until lightly browned. 4. Return browned shanks to skillet or Dutch oven. Add garlic, red wine, and broth. Bring to a boil, set heat to low and cover. An ovensafe skillet or Dutch oven can also be placed in a 325° oven. 5. Simmer shanks for 11/2 hours. Add tomatoes, rosemary and bay leaves. Cover and simmer for 2 hours more. 6. Check shanks for tenderness. If not tender, keep cooking until meat pulls away from the bone easily. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper. 7. To serve, place shanks in a shallow bowl or plate, spoon sauce and vegetables over and top with Parmesan cheese.
Canada geese are like flying feral hogs. They’re reproducing faster than we can harvest them and, in many parts of the country, they are an uncontrollable nuisance. Once they establish a territory, like your neighborhood park or golf course, they aren’t leaving without some encouragement. Many waterfowlers love to hunt them, but eating them can be a challenge, especially with the older ones. Anyone who has sawn through an old honker breast knows that it is going to be tough and chewy. Fortunately, there is a way to turn tough into tender, but it takes time. Although I usually advocate cooking waterfowl breast fillets until they are medium-rare in the center, about 135 degrees, Canada geese can be an exception. They are probably my least
favorite goose to eat. Yes, I prefer snow geese over Canada geese. A medium-rare honker breast is OK, but not great. And if you cook a big honker breast past medium-rare, it’ll get tougher and more livery tasting as you continue to cook it. That is, unless you slowly cook it with liquid until it is fork tender, much like perfectly cooked beef stew meat or a moist pot roast. I highly recommend that, prior to cooking, you soak your goose breasts for 12 hours in a saltwater brine (1 quart water and 1/4 cup each Kosher salt and brown sugar) to remove the blood. If you prepare this dish as per the recipe and the meat is not tender, keep cooking. It shouldn’t disintegrate, but you should be able to break it apart with just light pressure with your fingers. CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 77
SLOW-COOKED & DELICIOUS : BY SCOTT LEYSATH SPICY GOOSE STEW
The jalapeno pepper adds the “spicy” component to this recipe. If you prefer a stew without the heat, don’t add the pepper. Serve with warm, crusty bread and a good glass of zinfandel. Serves 8–10. ingredients
1/2 pound bacon, diced 4 cups skinless goose breast fillets, cut into 1- to 2-inch chunks 3 cups onion, roughly chopped 4 stalks celery, cut into ¼-inch-thick slices 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut into ¼-inch-thick slices 2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 quarts canned beef broth (or homemade stock) 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1/4 cup tomato paste 3 cups potato, peeled and sliced into rounds 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Salt and pepper to taste
preparation
1. Brown the bacon in a large stock pot over medium heat. Increase heat to medium-high, add the goose and cook until evenly browned. Add the onion, celery, carrot, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook for five minutes or until the onions are translucent. 2. Add beef broth, Worcestershire, rosemary and diced tomato. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours, covered, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste and potatoes. Remove lid and continue cooking until the meat is tender and potatoes are just cooked. 3. Remove rosemary sprigs, season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.
If you smell something funky, it could be the wafting aroma of an old boar hog on an outdoor cooker. The older the wild hog, the more time it will take to make it fit for the table. When it comes to shooting feral swine, make mine a young female. I’ve had younger wild hogs that loaded up on grain meant for livestock that tasted remarkably like domestic pigs. Before cooking, trim away much of the visible fat, especially on older males, since the fat can be off-tasting. As the meat cooks, pour off any of the fatty juices that can add unpleasant flavors to the finished dish. Lean feral swine are best cooked slowly, at lower temperatures than domestic pork, in order to break down the muscle into tender morsels of porky goodness.
Wild pig chile verde
WILD PIG CHILE VERDE
Serve with warm flour tortillas, shredded lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream and cold Mexican beer. Serves 6–8. ingredients
2 pounds (about 6 cups) feral pig shoulder, cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces 3 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 quarts chicken broth 2 cups yellow onion, chopped 8 garlic cloves, chopped 2 green bell peppers, 1 red bell pepper, chopped 2 Anaheim peppers, chopped 3 jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced 1 tablespoon dried oregano flakes 2 tablespoons chili powder 2 tablespoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 cups fresh tomatillos, skin removed; quartered (or canned / drained) 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped salt and pepper to taste
78 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
preparation
1. Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add meat and brown evenly. Drain off any fat or liquid rendered during browning. 2. Add 11/2 quarts chicken broth and any additional broth or water to cover meat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 2 hours or until meat is tender and breaks apart, but doesn’t fall apart with moderate finger pressure. Drain liquid from stockpot. 3. Add remaining 2 cups of chicken stock and all other ingredients except cilantro. Simmer until peppers are tender. Stir in cilantro and season with salt and pepper to taste.
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CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 79
Scholarships at Work
Helping Doves Thrive BY KELTON MOTE
Kelton holding an adult Mourning Dove.
G
rowing up having a dad who was a wildlife biologist and is currently the District 3 Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opened my eyes to the possibility
of having a career relating to the conservation of wildlife. Being a part of activities such as spotlight surveys and white-tailed deer brain stem collections at locker plants on Saturday mornings instilled a passion in me to work with wildlife that will never go away. I graduated from high school in 2014 with 24 other students from May, Texas. I am currently a junior at Tarleton State University and will graduate in December of 2017. For the two summers that I have been in college, I have been fortunate to gain valuable experience working in the field of wildlife. During the summer of 2015, I spent time working as an intern at the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area located in the Texas Hill Country. My internship allowed me to play a role in research involving the reintroduction of the Texas Horned Lizards and research assessing prescribed fire as a wildlife management tool. Even though my internship at Mason Mountain was filled with labor intensive work, hot summer days, and 80 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
groundwork for research projects, it was one of the most rewarding times of my life. I learned more that summer about wildlife management than I had in all the previous summers combined. This past summer I was hired as a technician to work under Jordan Giese, a current Tarleton State University graduate student, who was conducting his field research for his master’s thesis. His thesis examined factors influencing nest survival of white-tipped doves in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. In addition to the technician position, I was offered an undergraduate research assistant position with a goal of examining factors that influence nest survival of mourning doves in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In the United States, mourning doves
are harvested more than all other game birds combined. Texas dove hunters alone make up 25% of the nation’s total dove hunting community and generate over $200 million in economic impact annually. The objective of my study was to investigate the impact of habitat and land use variation on mourning dove nest survival in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. All six of my study sites were placed into two categories based on land cover type. Natural habitat, which consisted of remnant woodland forests, and citrus groves, managed for the use of agriculture. My study sites comprised of two woodlands and four citrus groves. Seventy-one percent of all mourning dove nests monitored were in the Estero Llano Grande State Park near Weslaco, Texas. This study site contributed the majority of mourning dove nests in our data set. To observe these factors influencing nest survival, we located mourning dove nests randomly. Once a nest was located, we flushed nesting adults and checked nest contents. If the nest contained eggs, the contents of the nest were checked again in three days. This went on until the eggs hatched. Once eggs hatched, or if the nest contained squabs during the first nest check, the age of the chick(s) was recorded. Thereafter, nest contents were observed every six days. This was possible because once the eggs hatched, we were able to closely predict the age of the squabs based on physical characteristics. Once the age of the nestlings was known, we predicted when the nestlings would fledge. All nests were checked every three days, but if the age of the nest contents were known there was no need to Two hatchling (1–2 days old) Mourning Doves
Texas dove hunters alone make up 25% of the nation’s total dove hunting community and generate over $200 million in economic impact annually. flush the adult more frequently than every six days. This system of nest checks helped to reduce observer bias by reducing the amount of stress placed on the nesting adults. Nests were recorded as a success or failure based on nest site evidence. Examples of nest failure included broken eggs, several successive nests checks with an absent parent mourning dove, or the obvious clue, dead squabs. Signs of a successful nest included an active adult and fledgling feather casing remnants. All nests that contained at least one squab that lived to be greater than 12 days old, the age that most nestlings fledge by, was considered a success. We measured the success of mourning doves using daily survival rate (DSR hereafter), which is the likelihood of any given nest to survive from one day to the next. Once a nest succeeded or failed, we went back to the nest site to conduct vegetation sampling. We measured characteristics such as vertical density (ground vegetation density) below the nest, distance to stem and foliage edge, overhead cover, side cover, and nest and tree height. These measurements helped us determine why nests were failing or surviving to fledge. In total, we found 100 mourning dove nests. Seventy-nine of those nests were in woodland sites and 21 nests were located in citrus. While further data analysis is still needed, initial analysis has provided valuable information. Overall we found DSR to be higher in citrus groves and vertical density to play the most important role in predicting DSR. This means that the denser the vegetation was below the nest, the more likely the nest was to survive to the next day. To explain these results, we can infer that ground predators such as snakes, raccoons, cats, and opossums are important predators of mourning dove nests in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. These predators were less likely to predate a nest if the vertical density was high because these predators would be less likely to detect said nest. This past summer allowed me to expand my knowledge base on the process of designing and conducting wildlife research. However, my work is not done yet as we will look to publish a manuscript of this research in the near future. Thanks to donors such as the Houston Safari Club which help to relieve the enormous financial burden brought on through the attendance of college, I can obtain valuable field experience and focus on grades during the semester. Without financial help, I can honestly say I would not be as prepared for the next step of my wildlife career as I am now. I look forward to my future working as a wildlife biologist and helping to conserve wildlife for current and future generations to come. ★ CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 81
Scholarships at Work
Believing In Bats BY SARA WEAVER
I
should first let you know that I did not grow up a hunter. When I was young, I was given misleading information that painted an incorrect picture of hunters and hunting. Then I met my husband, an avid hunter. He told me about his connection to the land and
how for him hunting was more a bond with nature and wildlife than I had perceived it to be. He taught me that hunting can be an important source of sustenance for many families and how it can become a family tradition that bonds children with their parents while teaching them the importance of conservation. Despite my initial unwillingness to listen, he never stopped trying to convert me to a hunter. Soon after we were married, he succeeded in dispelling many of the myths I held. During our first years of marriage, I was not ready to become a hunter myself, but I was more than willing to feed our family the venison he brought home. After my son was born, and as I began to consider how I would help provide for my family, be a role model for my children and pursue my ideal career, I remembered a family vacation to Austin, Texas, when I was twelve years old. Among the many activities planned for our vacation was a stop at the Congress Avenue Bridge to see the Brazilian free-tailed bat emergence. I remember staring up into the stream of bats in awe as they ventured out for their nightly feeding on crop pests, such as corn earworm moths. I was amazed knowing animals, other than raccoons, mockingbirds, and squirrels could flourish in the city surrounded on all sides by human disturbance. This experience forever changed my life and remained with me through the years. As I began exploring university degrees and career options, this experience, combined with what my husband had shared with me about hunting, led me to search for wildlife degrees in Texas. This 82 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
is when I stumbled onto the wildlife biology program at Texas State University, a growing program I had not heard of. Texas State was centrally located between Austin and San Antonio, in the beautiful Texas Hill Country, and was a mere three hours from my family. They also listed bat ecology as a primary area of study in the wildlife program. I was sold! Soon I was attending classes, and as I pursued my bachelor’s degree, my course work at Texas State further instructed me about the importance of the North American Model of Conservation and hunting as a wildlife management tool. I learned about Aldo Leopold, the father of wildlife management, and how our influences on the landscape have led to the decline of natural predators, which had historically regulated the large herbivore populations. Hunting is a necessary component to help balance these changes. My education and my husband’s love of hunting changed my opinion, and in 2008 I hunted and killed my first whitetailed deer. Today, I am an avid hunter and dream of one day being fortunate enough to hunt a bull elk in Wyoming. To me, there is no game animal more majestic than an elk and no sound as beautiful as that of an elk bugle. Perhaps by fate, my first publication as an academic was on estimating Roosevelt elk populations in California. While pursuing my bachelor’s degree, I was fortunate enough to complete an internship with Bat Conservation International, which led to my thesis work studying
Today, I am an avid hunter and dream of one day being fortunate enough to hunt a bull elk in Wyoming. overwintering Brazilian free-tailed bats in central Texas. It seemed my experience at Congress Avenue Bridge had come full circle. After completing my master’s degree, I was hired as an ecologist with AECOM in Austin, Texas, a global engineering, and environmental consulting firm. There I worked on many projects that included threatened and endangered species habitat evaluations, wetlands and waters of the U.S. delineations, and avian and bat surveys for wind energy facilities, to name a few. Working with wind developers to properly locate projects and mitigate for environmental impacts became my primary focus, and is now the topic of my dissertation. Development of renewable energy alternatives has increased in response to climate change, and resulted in a global desire to become less reliant on fossil fuels as a primary energy resource. However, wind energy development, listed as a priority issue by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in the Texas Conservation Action Plan, has long been known to impact wildlife. Impacts have been highest to migratory populations of birds and bats that are killed in turbine-related collisions. Bird species most impacted include small passerines, raptors, waterfowl, owls, and upland game birds, such as turkey and quail. In the U.S., 21 species of bats have been killed by turbines at wind facilities. Bats provide an estimated $3.7 billion per year in pest control assistance to the agricultural industry in North America, and some species are in rapid decline, in part due to fatalities at wind energy facilities. According to the American Wind Energy Association, Texas is the leading producer of wind energy in the U.S. and has 10,751 turbines operating with an installed wind power capacity of over 18,500 MW. In fact, Texas accounts for over 24% of the country’s total installed wind capacity. In addition, Texas also has the highest diversity of birds and bats in the nation, with 639 bird and 32 bat species documented. Given Texas’s location in the central migratory flyway, traversed by millions of birds and bats each year, there is high risk to migratory species
from wind turbine-related collisions. Despite this, research on wind energy and wildlife impacts in the southwestern U.S., more specifically in Texas, is lacking. In addition, the U.S. and Texas do not have current regulations specific to wildlife impacts from wind energy development, and as a result, peerreviewed studies on wind and wildlife interactions in Texas are derived from a single facility in Cooke County. Understanding real and potential impacts to wildlife populations at wind energy facilities in Texas, and developing regional and site-specific impact reduction strategies are important conservation actions not only for wildlife in Texas but across the southwestern U.S. My dissertation project, a collaborative effort between Texas State University, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Bat Conservation International, and Duke Energy, is aimed at closing the data gap on wildlife impacts in Texas. My goals are to conduct post-construction monitoring at a large wind facility in Starr County in order to estimate bird and bat fatalities, conduct behavioral studies using thermal imaging to understand causes of fatalities, and test acoustic deterrents as a viable strategy for mitigating bat fatalities. In addition, I am interested in determining if particular landscape variables are influencing differential mortalities among turbines within wind farms. My long-term goal is to become a tenured professor at Texas A&M University, San Antonio, where I am currently employed as a wildlife lecturer. Teaching Wildlife Management while pursuing my Ph.D. has reinforced my education in wildlife management. I have a passion for teaching and research and have thoroughly enjoyed passing on my knowledge to the newest generation of wildlife biologists. The Dan L. Duncan Scholarship has provided me with additional financial resources to pay for school while raising my children and has allowed me to focus more on my research. I hope to repay the generosity of the Houston Safari Club by continuing to teach our youth the importance of hunting as a wildlife management tool and contribute to the conservation of wildlife populations in Texas. ★ CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 83
Scholarship 2016
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recipients Every July, the scholarship committee meets to select the annual Dan L. Duncan scholarship winners. It is a very tedious task, and each year the committee reviews approximately fifty resumes of students, with the number consistently growing. The students attend schools throughout Texas, such as Texas Tech University, Sul Ross University, Tarleton State University, Texas State University, Stephen F. Austin University, Texas A&M University, and Texas A&M University – Kingsville. Scholarships are given to undergraduates in their junior year or higher and graduate students in wildlife or range management programs. The student must be a hunter, and have a pro-hunting viewpoint toward land and wildlife management. The competition is great for these scholarships, each year more competitive than the last. While a 3.0 GPA is required, our winners often average above a 3.5! The students must exhibit good leadership skills, and are only eligible to receive the scholarship twice. Students are asked to supply packets including a cover letter, information sheet or resume, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and a hunting photo, graduate students must also include a one page outline of their thesis project.
Why do we make the students compile such a comprehensive packet? The goal is to engage the students, to get them to think on their own, a way a line by line form application couldn’t. As a committee, we want to connect with these students on a personal level. Throughout the process, committee members call them by phone to learn more and get them to think on their feet. We ask their opinions of hunting, of hunting as a tool of wildlife management, where are they going to be in 10 years and finally what are they are going to do with the money. By personally interviewing the student, we get a better idea of who each student really is as an individual and as a member of the community. Twenty-four scholarships totaling over $150,000 are given each year. All our past scholarship winners are now employed across the nation in various state, federal, private, NGO, and land management positions. Since the program’s inception in 1999, 449 scholarships have been awarded, totaling over $1.8 million. It is the largest scholarship program of its kind. HSC is truly making a difference. If you would like to support Houston Safari Club and the Dan L. Duncan Scholarship program, please contact the HSC office at 713.623.8844.
Sponsors LEGACY Deb & Ralph Cunningham Ann & Randy Fowler Mitzy & Tony McCorvey Sandra & Byron Sadler Edwin Smith
PATRON Ellen & Hank Bachmann CB&Y / Craig E. Power
supporting Peggy & Lewis Metzger
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S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
Nicole Alonso
Emily H. Belser
Caitlin Curry
MS Candidate, Range and Wildlife Sciences, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
PhD Student, Wildlife Science, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Ph.D. Candidate, Interdisciplinary Program of Genetics, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Effects of digestive heat and the thermal environment on the growth and health of white-tailed deer during summer
White-tailed deer behavior and feed use at supplemental feed sites
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), must maintain body temperature. High summer temperatures in South Texas negatively influence growth, but the magnitude of those effects is largely unknown. This study will help determine the effect of summer temperatures on growth and food consumption of mature bucks. To observe the impacts of summer heat, I will randomly assign bucks to either an ambient temperature treatment or a treatment in which they can access a cooler environment. I will record food intake, growth rate, behavior, and indices of health. Additionally, I will fit animal with rumen temperature monitors to understand relationships between food intake, water consumption, and rumen temperature. Four studies will be conducted. First, all animals will have food and water ad libitum. Second, half will have feed during the day while the other half will have feed overnight. Third, feed type will be altered. Half will only have alfalfa, which takes longer to ferment, and the other half will only have pelleted feed which ferments quickly. Finally, half will have water during the day while the other half will have water overnight. This study will quantify the effect consumption has on the temperature of the rumen and dissipation of metabolic heat.
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My name is Emily Belser, an I’m from Summerton, South Carolina, where I grew up hunting and fishing. I earned my Bachelor’s degree at Clemson University in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and completed my Master’s degree at the University of Georgia, studying cranial abscesses in whitetailed deer under the direction of Dr. Karl V. Miller. I am currently working toward her Ph.D., studying white-tailed deer feed consumption and social interactions at concentrated feed sites under the direction of Dr. Dave G. Hewitt. Preliminary results from my study indicate that high deer densities are limiting feed consumption by deer. This will be further analyzed using stable isotope signatures from deer tissue, which will give us more insight into feed consumption patterns by individuals. Behavior analyses are ongoing, but will likely provide more information on why deer densities are limiting feed consumption. Lastly, prickly pear fruits and mesquite beans are important sources of food for wildlife in South Texas. I have found that while prickly pear fruit production is relatively stable across years (making it a reliable food source), mesquite bean production is highest during drought. Therefore, mesquite beans could be particularly important during dry summers when other mast is not readily available.
Texas A&M University
A Century of Conservation Genetics: Reconstructing Historic Population Size & Genetic Diversity of African Lions (Panthera leo) to Ensure their Future My project is comparing genetic information from 100-year-old lions preserved in museums to modern lions to evaluate African lion biodiversity across the continent. This project will estimate the historical population size of African lions across the species range, compare levels of genetic diversity of lions over time to provide a baseline for determining the genetic health of current populations, and document regional differences in genetic diversity in populations that lived before extensive management efforts of the last 100 years. Scientific estimates of lion population sizes range from as low as 16,000 to as high as 200,000 individuals estimated using very different methods during different time periods. More reliable information is needed to make accurate conservation decisions. This study looks at genetic diversity from historic and modern lion populations so a true comparison can be made for estimating population size and evaluating population trends. With the data we’ll be able to set sustainable hunting quotas, identify existing wild lion populations that are most at risk, and make recommendations to guide management actions to ensure a future for wild lion populations.
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S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
Matthew Garrick
Bryce Gerlach
Sam Harryman
M.Sc. in Range and Wildlife Management
M.S. in Forest Wildlife Management
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Natural Resources Management, M.S. in Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Nutrient reserve dynamics of female northern pintails wintering along the Texas coast I grew up in New Zealand on a farm with a family of hunters. It was my father who instilled me with conservationist ethics, while also teaching me the importance of hunting as a management tool and a cultural past time. My passion for wildlife has only grown with my diversity of research and hunting experiences in New Zealand and throughout the United States — Alaska, Colorado, Iowa, and Texas. My thesis research is focused on studying nutrition of northern pintails. The abundance of northern pintails has remained below long-term average population levels and well below population objectives established by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. A large proportion of pintails in the Central flyway winter along the Texas coast where changes in land use over the last few decades have greatly changed the capacity of the region to support wintering pintail populations. Preliminary results suggest pintails on the central Texas coast are catabolizing protein and fat throughout winter, and departing for breeding areas in poor body condition. Comparatively, pintails wintering on the upper Texas coast have heavier fat and protein stores, which are maintained throughout winter. This research is informing land managers on how northern pintails are responding to their management practices and will guide future management decisions.
Stephen F. Austin State University
Reproductive Ecology of Translocated Eastern Wild Turkeys in East Texas
Texas Tech University
The eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) once occupied and thrived in east Texas. By the end of the 19th century, habitat destruction and the unregulated harvesting of turkeys almost entirely destroyed this population. The turkey population in the Pineywoods and the Post Oak Savannah ecoregions of Texas were estimated to have less than 100 birds total in 1942. Restoration efforts for the eastern wild turkey are currently being conducted across east Texas using the super-stocking method. This involves translocating approximately 80 birds to a large parcel (e.g., ≥4046.9 hectares) of suitable habitat identified by a regional Habitat Suitability Index (HSI). Highquality nesting and brooding habitat has been found to be a limiting factor for eastern wild turkeys in Texas and so we decided to study the reproductive ecology of these translocated birds to better understand current habitat use. We marked 52 hens with Minitrack Backpack GPS transmitters between 2015 and 2016. These birds were monitored using standard telemetry practices and GPS data was remotely downloaded weekly to monitor for nesting and brooding activity.
Understanding the ecology of lesser prairie-chickens in conservation reserve program-dominated landscapes with implications toward lesser prairiechicken management in Texas I received my Bachelor of Science degree from Stephen F. Austin State University in Forest Wildlife Management. My work experience as an undergraduate included maintaining hair snare lure stations for black bear research in east Texas, measuring vegetation at greater sage grouse nests in Montana, conducting call count surveys for Eastern wild turkeys, and banding mottled ducks on the Texas coast. My professional interests include upland game bird and big game management, general wildlife ecology, and wildlife parasitology. My goal is to be a wildlife biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife or a similar agency. During my off time, I enjoy hunting, hiking, camping, kayaking, bird watching, and spending time with friends and family. I am currently studying the ecology of lesser prairie-chickens in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands in Texas. Specifically, I am examining movements, space use, habitat selection, and survival during the breeding season. I place GPS transmitters on prairiechickens that I capture on breeding grounds, known as leks, and use the GPS data provided by the transmitters to answer my research questions. I will begin my third field season in March of 2017. The results of my study will aid lesser prairie-chicken conservation efforts in Texas.
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S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
Victoria Haynes
Bradley Kubecka
Tiffany Lane
Graduate Research Assistant in Range and Wildlife Sciences (Masters Candidate)
Graduate Research Assistant, Range and Wildlife Management, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
M.S., Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management, Department of Natural Resource’s
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Texas Tech University
Prescribed Patch Burning in Gulf Cordgrass Rangelands on Ungulate Distribution
An Evaluation of Population Indices and Density Estimators of Northern Bobwhite
Multi-Scale Habitat Selection of Wintering Waterfowl at Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge
Gulf cordgrass and seacoast bluestem are two native grass species along the Texas Coastal Prairies. While little research has been conducted on the nutritional value of seacoast bluestem, gulf cordgrass has been documented to lose value and mature into a coarse, unpalatable plant when not subjected to periodic defoliation. We will determine the effects of winter and summer burning on (1) the nutritional value of gulf cordgrass and seacoast bluestem, and (2) distribution patterns of animals prior to and following each burn.
Wildlife managers and researchers monitor bobwhite populations using indices and density estimators. Indices such as spring cock call counts, fall covey counts, and roadside counts provide measures of relative abundance (e.g., bobwhites per mile) and are assumed to be proportional to the actual population size. Density estimators, on the other hand, such as distance-based helicopter surveys and mark-recapture trapping provide estimates of actual population size (i.e., birds per acre). Indices generally are less expensive and easier for managers to implement than density estimators but often are less reliable. Our objectives are to (1) determine which index is the best predictor of fall hunting populations, and (2) evaluate whether helicopter surveys are comparable to mark-recapture estimates in the Rolling Plains.
I am a native Floridian who graduated from the University of Florida in 2014, currently pursuing my masters at Texas Tech University. I enjoy hiking, kayaking, hunting, fishing, and any other outdoor activity. My passion for the outdoors and sporting lifestyle led me to the field of wildlife conservation and management. My current research focuses on habitat selection of waterfowl wintering on the Texas Coast.
Our study on the East Foundation’s El Sauz property in Willacy County consists of 10 patches (>200 ha each) with two patches being burned each treatment season for a two-year period. Forage within the burned and nonburned patches will be clipped for 90 days following burning. We will analyze forage samples for variation in crude fiber, protein, and fat levels between burned and non-burned patches. We are also monitoring the movement of thirty cattle using Lotek’s LifeCycle GPS collars, which record locations every 13 hours. In addition, we are conducting ground-based vehicular visual counts for white-tailed deer, nilgai, and cattle. Our project will contribute to the knowledge of prescribed burning along the Gulf Coast Prairies to optimize utilization of cordgrass rangelands on a sustainable basis.
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Our study is being conducted at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in Fisher County, Texas, using population data collected from 2008 to 2017. We will compare spring cock call counts, fall covey counts, and roadside counts to density estimates provided through our mark-recapture. Data are currently being collected, and the study is to conclude in 2017. Our expected results will provide wildlife managers with important information on the reliability of indices and helicopter surveys as predictors of fall hunting populations.
Coastal marshes of the Gulf of Mexico comprise one of the most important waterfowl wintering areas in North America. The objective of my research is to assess wintering waterfowl habitat selection within Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, by quantifying waterfowl selection of vegetative communities, food resources, and coastal marshes. This research will fill major information gaps about wintering waterfowl ecology, influence management priorities and practices, and guide further research and funding for future waterfowl research.
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S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
Grant Lawrence
John Leonard
Jason V. Lombardi
M.S. Natural Resource Management
Ph.D. Candidate, Wildlife Sciences
Sul Ross State University
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Graduate Research Assistant, Ph.D. Student Wildlife Science: January 2016 – Present
Evaluation of pH-Dependent Feral Pig Toxicants
Home Range Characteristics, Activity Patterns, and Resource Selection of Sympatric Ocelots (Leopardus Pardalis) and Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) And Major Histocompatibility Complex Variation in Ocelots
Feral pigs are the most abundant free-ranging, exotic ungulate in North America. Current U.S. population estimates of feral pigs are over 5 million with approximately 2.6 pigs million residing in Texas. A combination of factors has created the perfect storm for a population explosion of feral pigs across the Lone Star State. Feral pigs have been verified in 253 of 254 Texas counties. The presence of feral pigs comes at a high price as they cause an estimated at $1.5 billion in national damages annually. A greater than 70% population removal rate is required annually for populations to remain stable. All current control techniques combined continue to fall short of this benchmark. Texas is in need of an additional control method for feral pigs. Toxicants can be deployed in a large variety of environments and have shown to be 11 times less expensive than shooting and 80 times less expensive than trapping. I tested 13 prototype feral pig toxic baits in hopes of determining a primary candidate for registration and use in the U.S. Two top performing formulations recorded 90.5% and 96.8% mortality rates in group pen trials. The leading toxicant is currently under review for approval by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
My research involves using GPS and radio-telemetry to track sympatric ocelots and bobcats on the East El Sauz ranch, in order to understand habitat selection and temporal activity patterns. Using GPS collars, we have obtained an unprecedented insight into the fine-scale movement patterns of ocelots and bobcats. This research will ultimately shed light on how two similarly-sized carnivores can coexist and may help us understand the extent to which ocelots and bobcats compete for the same resources. The second component of my research involves assessing the levels of functional genetic variation in the remaining U.S. ocelot populations through Next Generation sequencing of an important gene in the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). The MHC codes for genes that are instrumental to the vertebrate immune response, and diversity of MHC alleles is has been found to be essential for population resilience. My research makes use of ultra-high-throughput Illumina sequencing to characterize MHC diversity in historical and contemporary ocelot populations. Preliminary results of my research suggest that ocelots in the United States have already lost variation within the functionally important MHC.
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Ocelot Habitat Dynamics in South Texas I am originally from the suburbs of northern New Jersey. I received a B.S. in Conservation and Wildlife Management from Delaware Valley University and a M.S. in Forestry with an emphasis in Forest Wildlife Management from Stephen F. Austin State University. Over the last eight years, I have either conducted or assisted with research on 20 North American carnivore species as well as other large and small mammals. My research philosophy focuses on using traditional methods (e.g. live capture and telemetry), remote sensing and non-invasive survey techniques to explore different aspects of carnivore ecology, conservation, and management. I have broad research interests that include wildlife-habitat relationships, spatial ecology, urban wildlife ecology, and population dynamics. My doctoral research is examining different aspects of ocelot dynamics in South Texas. I am currently quantifying the amount of change in woody cover throughout in the Lower Rio Grande Valley from 1984–2016 in response to intensive agriculture and urbanization. I am also analyzing six years of remote trail camera data to examine how habitat influences ocelot occupancy at different spatial scales and will utilize GPS and satellite collar data to determine the minimum dynamic area of ocelots on the East El Sauz Ranch.
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S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
Kelton Mote
Heather Sanders
Rachel Ann Smith
Undergraduate Research Assistant/ Wildlife Science/ Department of Wildlife Sustainability and Ecosystem Sciences
MS Student, Range and Wildlife Sciences, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
M.S. Wildlife and Range Management, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Response of Feral Swine to the Seasonal Availability of Wild Turkey Nests
Measuring Northern Bobwhite Response to Post-Grazing Vegetation Recovery in South Texas
I was born and raised in rural southern Iowa, studying Animal Ecology at Iowa State University where my old hobby of mapping game trails quickly transformed into career aspirations. I am now pursuing a master’s degree at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, specializing in movement and behavioral ecology.
Northern bobwhites require habitat structure with substantial grass cover for nesting, predator avoidance, and thermal refuge. During the past two decades, many land managers have reduced or completely eliminated livestock across South Texas rangelands with the goal of improving their quail population. Resting the land from grazing allows native vegetation to recover, providing necessary nesting and foraging habitat. My objective is to investigate how bobwhites respond to the vegetative changes following removal of grazing. My study is being conducted on a private ranch in Jim Hogg County, Texas, and involves three different categories of post-grazing recovery: One area at 15 years postgrazing with restoration, one area of 2–3 years post-grazing at high intensity (7 ha/AU), and one area of 2–3 years post-grazing at medium intensity (14 ha/AU). Bobwhites were trapped, radio-collared, and located from March to September 2015 and 2016 on the three experimental units. I will document nest-site selection, nesting success, breeding season survival, and population density. Preliminary results indicate more robust populations on the recovered area compared to the recently grazed areas. My findings will inform managers about bobwhite preferences in post-grazing landscapes and potentially provide ideas for future restoration strategies.
Tarleton State University
Factors Influencing Nest Survival of Mourning Doves in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas In the United States, Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) are harvested more than all other game birds combined. Texas dove hunters make up 25% of the nation’s total dove hunting community and generate over $200 million in economic impact annually. In the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) doves nest in both citrus agriculture and remnant woodland habitats. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of habitat and land use variation on Mourning Dove nest survival. We conducted nest searches in both land cover types and monitored nests until nest fate was concluded. One hundred nests were located during the summer of 2016 in four citrus groves and two woodlots in Hidalgo and Willacy Counties, Texas. We collected nest site vegetation measurements and documented site evidence of suspected nest failures. AIC model selection will be utilized to determine which environmental variables predicted nest survival. Temporal variables and nest concealment variables such as overhead cover, side cover, distance to foliage edge, and vertical density will be tested for their value as predictors of nest survival. It is our hope to improve the management of the species by expanding the knowledge base of Mourning Dove in the LRGV.
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My research focuses on the response of feral swine to wild turkey nests as a food resource and the subsequent impact on wild turkey reproductive success. In 2016, I collared 36 feral swine and constructed 384 artificial wild turkey nests which I monitored for depredation. Preliminary results identify feral swine as the dominant nest predator at her study site near San Antonio, Texas. Ongoing analyses will quantify changes in the movements and space use of feral swine based on turkey nest density and determine whether feral swine forage for wild turkey nests randomly or strategically. In 2017, I will put GPS collars on both feral swine and wild turkeys which will help paint a more complete picture of the impact feral swine have on wild turkey reproductive success.
2 0 1 6
S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
Claire Veronie
Laura Warner
Sara Weaver
M.S. Thesis Candidate, Range and Wildlife Management, Natural Resource Management Department
Graduate Research Assistant—Master of Science in Range and Wildlife Management
Associate Wildlife Biologist, Doctoral Student, Aquatic Resources Program
Sul Ross State University
Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Assessing Range and Animal Nutrition for Pronghorn in Trans-Pecos, Texas
The Effects of Agriculture on Mule Deer in the Texas Panhandle
My name is Claire Veronie, and I have spent my whole life living in and loving Texas. Between my mother’s fascination with learning and my father’s love for the outdoors and hunting, my parents instilled in me passion for land and for stewardship of nature. These hunting weekends further enhanced my love for wildlife, and sparked my interest in hunting as a management tool. I wanted the chance to learn more about how people interact with the natural resources we have, and so I attended Texas A&M University and double majored in Animal Science and Wildlife and Fisheries Science. I am now pursuing my masters here at Sul Ross State University in Range and Wildlife Management. The Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Restoration Project (TPPRP) is a multi-year partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), the Borderlands Research Institute at Sul Ross State University (BRI), Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, the Trans-Pecos Pronghorn Working Group, and USDA-Wildlife Services to bolster pronghorn populations that historically declined from 2008–2012 using translocations, habitat improvements, and predator management. My research will focus on pronghorn nutrition and range quality and their importance in population growth and in estimating long-term pronghorn carrying capacity in the Trans-Pecos.
Row-crop agriculture is a prevalent and essential industry, but farming can fragment habitat and influence animal behavior. Wildlife may supplement natural forage with crops when vegetation is scarce or nutritional quality is low. Mule deer use crops in the Texas Panhandle; however, little is known about the effects crop use has on their ecology. My research seeks to evaluate mule deer movements and survival rates relative to crop use by tracking radiocollared mule deer at three different study sites in the Texas Panhandle. Deer location and survival is currently being monitored biweekly using radio telemetry, and crop type and growth stage in each field at each study site is being monitored monthly. GPS collars on adult mule deer record locations every two hours. Using these location data, I will compare deer that are located in cropland to deer that are located in rangeland, then determine how crop use affects movement patterns and survival rates. I will also determine which crops and growth stages deer prefer. This information will help to correct survey data, improve projections of the impact of changing agricultural practices on mule deer, and provide deer harvest recommendations that are appropriate for areas where agricultural crops are present.
Texas State University
Studying behavior and testing strategies to reduce wildlife impacts due to wind energy development in south Texas. Although wind-generated electricity is renewable and generally considered environmentally friendly, fatalities of bats and birds have been recorded at wind facilities worldwide. Wind energy development in south Texas is expanding rapidly with little scientific knowledge of the impacts to Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), including the state-listed threatened White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus) and southern yellow bat (Lasiurus ega). Understanding real and potential impacts to wildlife populations at wind energy facilities in Texas, and developing regional and site-specific impact reduction strategies are important conservation actions not only for wildlife in Texas, but across the southwestern U.S. The goals of my dissertation research are to study behavior of bats and birds in relationship to fatality events, and test newly developed acoustic deterrent technology for reducing impacts to bats at a wind energy facility in Starr County, Texas. Results from my research will assist wind energy operators and government agencies, such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with managing and reducing impacts to wildlife.
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S C H O L A R S H I P
R E C I P I E N T S
a d d i t iona l recipents
William Wunderlich
Pierce Young
Ryan Anthony
MS Candidate—Wildlife Ecology/ Department of Biology
Master of Science Candidate
Sul Ross State University
Texas State University
Maternal Investment by Female White-Tailed Deer It is important to understand the correlation between the environmental stresses female white-tailed deer endure and their resulting maternal output. My thesis studies the maternal investment of white-tailed deer in Central Texas’s stochastic environment. After harvesting freeranging white-tailed deer from the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Kerr County, Texas, I will examine the patterns between female body mass, condition and fecundity of the deer, as well as the differences in female body masses and fat stores in relation to variations in precipitation in autumn and winter. In March, I will evaluate fecundity associated with the body mass and fat stores of females observed in autumn and the effects on fetal size due to winter precipitation. I hypothesize that fecundity should increase with dams in better body condition aided by an increase in seasonal precipitation. I grew up hunting and fishing on my family’s livestock ranch near Fredericksburg, Texas. I received my bachelor’s from Texas Tech University in Animal Science. I believe that both livestock and wildlife, particularly white-tailed deer, are important to the Texas economy, inspiring my desire to promote the positive management implications of hunting and educate ranchers to utilize their wildlife and livestock to the best economic possibilities.
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Texas A&M University – Kingsville
White-Tailed Deer Population and Feeder Density Effects on Overwintering Fawns and Browse Species in South Texas
Jose Etchart Sul Ross State University
Ronald Jankowiak Overwinter Fawn Survival — Recruitment is essential for ensuring the future productivity of a whitetailed deer herd. My objective is to determine if deer density, and the number of feeders present, influence winter fawn survival by assessing habitat selection using GPS collars. This study was conducted within research enclosures with different feeder and deer densities. Understanding the conditions and types of habitats of South Texas in which fawns are more likely to survive will provide managers important information on how to increase recruitment of fawns into their deer herds. Browse Responses – Previous research suggests browsing may stimulate growth and nutritional quality of woody plant species. My objective is to test the browsing optimization hypothesis by determining the relationship between white-tailed deer densities and responses of growth and nutritional quality for common browse species in South Texas. Measurements for shoots and thorns were taken on marked stems within research enclosures with 0, 20, 40, and 60 deer per 200 acres to determine growth. Leaf and twig samples were analyzed for nutritional quality. Understanding the relationship between deer browsing and shrub responses will help managers determine optimal deer densities at which habitats can produce the highest quantity and quality natural forage.
Sul Ross State University
Brandon Mitchell Texas A&M University – Kingsville
Claire Veronie Sul Ross State University
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Chairman’s Message BY JD BURROWS, HSC DIRECTOR, 2017 HSC CONVENTION CHAIRMAN, 2016–2017 GRANTS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
W
ell friends, we are getting very close to our 2017 Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention “Into the Wild.” Our teams have worked tirelessly to set up a fun experience for all of us, and the memories are not going to disappoint. Our exhibitors have traveled from far corners of the globe to join us in The Woodlands, one last time, and the stories from afield have told me that our efforts at wildlife conservation are working. We will be joined by outfitters from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. If you are looking for something special, or some trustworthy advice stop by any one of our 175 exhibitors, and they will be happy to help. Let us take a moment and think about our mission and why we gather at least once per year at our Convention. Our mission, for the past 45 years has been “Preserving the sport of hunting through education, conservation and the protection of hunters’ rights.” As such the work we do at the 2017 Convention goes to fund this important work through grants, scholarships, youth programs and military veterans programs. As we gather to celebrate and have fun, let’s commit to doing more for these deserved causes, and remember almost 90% of the money we raise at our convention goes directly into these programs and has an impact on wildlife, our children, and our rights. As usual, our auctions are stocked with tremendous opportunities. Starting with our coveted Texas Desert Bighorn Sheep Tag, generously donated by Texas Parks & Wildlife, red stag in
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New Zealand, followed by numerous opportunities for dangerous game in Africa, and don’t forget something for the ladies, the Gazelles have several beautiful pieces of jewelry on offer. Thanks to our auction chair, Darrell Kainer, our donors have stepped up and pledged their support, now it’s your turn. Remember, bid high, and bid often. John Pepper has gathered some beautiful pieces of art that celebrate our theme “Into the Wild,” on exhibit in the main convention hall, and available for bid. If you’re looking for something unique, Kevin Ormston has gathered some interesting firearms and a customized mule for you to win in the raffle. Tickets are available now, please see one of our ticket sales ladies or office staff if you are feeling lucky. I would like to take a moment and thank the dedicated HSC office staff, Joe, Abby, and Carla for their efforts to grow and support our organization. Additionally, I would like to thank all of the volunteers, committee chairs, and donors, for giving their time and money to our worthy cause. Special thanks to our sponsors, Sonic Automotive, Wildlife Partners, Capital Farm Credit, Enterprise Products, Gordy & Sons Outfitters, and many others for their continued support and trust in our organization. You may ask, “What can I do to make this 2017 Convention a success”? I would say invite many of your friends, support our mission by raising money through our auctions, and above all else, have fun.
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The Houston Safari Club annual expo and Convention continuously surprises, entertains and informs attendees. The up and coming 2017 event “Into the Wild” is no exception. Friday morning, January 13, HSC’s 4th Annual Youth Wildlife/Conservation Experience (YWCE), as part of the Convention, will introduce area high school students to the many possibilities their love of the outdoors can hold, whether participating in our honorable sport, as a career or in community service. Topics include Art of Taxidermy, Urban Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Law Enforcement, Wildlife Biology and Management, Craft of Gunsmithing, and Hunting Africa. Excellent presenters in each of these respective fields have graciously volunteered their time and will discuss how their personal love of the outdoors brought them to their respective fields of endeavor. They will educate in the areas of community awareness, safe and sportsmanlike use of firearms, hunting ethics, and conservation of the wildlife and its habitat. In addition to the sessions, attendees will have an opportunity to not only visit with noted wildlife artist, Vicki McMillan, who will demonstrate her remarkable artistic talents, but they will individually contribute to the painting of a canvas that will be auctioned off during one of HSC’s many auctions. Attendees will finish off a well-rounded Experience with a visit to the HSC Exhibit Hall. HSC sincerely thanks our YWCE sponsor, Midway U.S.A. We are appreciative of their interest in our endeavor and grateful for their support. It is through the collaboration of the hunting and wildlife businesses, organizations and community that will assure that this Experience will continue to gain momentum and achieve success. HSC members agree that this hunting and fishing life has given us a passion for the sport that extends into wildlife and habitat conservation, hunter education, and the desire to pass on our hunting and fishing heritage to the future. The Youth Wildlife/Conservation Experience allows us to extend our reach into our community, have a presence and an influence. This is our legacy and our journey Into the Wild. 98 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
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WORKSHOP SPEAKERS
ART OF TAXIDERMY
Caleb Towney, Conroe Taxidermy
URBAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
Kelly Norrid Texas Parks and Wildlife
WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT
CRAFT OF GUNSMITHING
Michael & Roxanne Beeson Romtag Riflewerks, llc
HUNTING AFRICA
Marina Lamprecht, Hunters Namibia Safaris
WILDLIFE ARTIST
Officer Hennie Volschenk Texas Parks and Wildlife
Vickie McMillan
WILDLIFE BIOLOGY & MANAGEMENT
SPECIAL GUEST; OPENING ADDRESS
Gary Rose
Heidi Ritter
THANK YOU
Brenda & Larry Potterfield and Midway USA Foundation
For Sponsoring Houston Safari Club’s Fourth Annual Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience
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Family is why we do it all. John Bowers CLU LUTCF ChFC LTCP, Agent 1650 Highway 6, Suite 450 Sugar Land, TX 77478 Bus: 281-242-4800 john@johnbowersclu.com
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Volunteer Pin Story What’s in a pin? A long story with a happy ending! BY EARLE FREEMAN
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ur story starts back in the early days of Houston Safari Club. Meetings were held in the back room of Sonny Look’s Steakhouse on South Main, the HSC office was a corner of Ray Petty’s and Jerry Henderson’s office in Bellaire, and the Convention was held at the Marriott Hotel at
Sage and Westheimer. There was little money for payroll and exhibitors were few and far between. There wasn’t even a phone listing for HSC. Those were the early days and Carol Mueller was doing all she could to keep HSC on even footing, and she did. With a few volunteers, the show would always take place. At the end of the Convention, all of the volunteers were given a small award with a pat on the back and the words “at-a-boy, you did a good job.” By 1994, HSC had grown to have such a great support and so many volunteers that it was time for a change. With my friend Dennis Cain, a longtime member and former president of the Convention, we created the HSC Volunteer Pin. The first series was the Big Five, the second series the sheep, and the third series showed Alaskan animals which was completed at the 2016 Convention with the golden eagle. We kick off our 45th anniversary with a new series of pins that will depict the spiral horn antelope of Africa. The 2017 HSC pin will feature the kudu, also known as the “tragelaphus strepsicderos,” or as Ernest Hemingway named it, the Grey Ghost. The kudu is large in size, fast on foot, and can disappear before your eyes, never to be seen again. Truly a beautiful animal. If you would like to start collecting the new series, call the
Vintage postcard for Look’s Steakhouse.
office or stop by and get your name on the volunteer list. There is something to do for everyone, young, and old to help carry on the HSC legacy. Volunteer today to get your kudu pin! You will be glad you did. Just remember to use it, don’t lose it. It’s one of a kind and cannot be replaced. See you at the convention. I will have pins in my pocket. ★
thank you Michael Ambrose would like to thank Shikar Safaris and Gunwerks Rifles for my excellent success in Tajikistan and Pakistan. A Long Range Success.
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2017 Houston Safari Club
President’s Rifle M
an has hunted since he walked the earth. Early cultures relied on hunting for survival and through hunting, forged a connection with the land and learned quickly that the upkeep of the land went hand-in-hand with maintaining wildlife as well as their own. In the first half of the 20th century, notable hunters such as Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold shaped a set of ideals that came to be known as the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. They articulated the philosophy that all wildlife belonged to all of us and that every citizen is entitled to the opportunity to hunt and fish. They also believed that ethical, regulated hunting is the driving force that maintains abundant wildlife. Hunting became regulated and guided by scientific research and in 1878; Iowa instituted the first bag limit on birds. Lawmakers passed the Lacey Act in 1900, prohibiting market hunting. Ding Darling created artwork for the first Duck Stamp in 1934. The Pittman-Robertson act was passed in 1937, through which hunters voluntarily imposed a tax on themselves, ensuring that a portion of the sale of all firearms and ammunition would be expressly dedicated to managing the wildlife entrusted to the public. The Pittman-Robertson Act generates $700 million annually, which is distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to state fish and game agencies across America. Today the United States has the most successful wildlife management system in the world. Hunters and anglers have contributed more financial and physical support to that system than any other group of individuals. It is this ideal that hunters have carried with them around the world and have helped promote and nurture hunting and conservancy in other countries. Over the past several years, Krieghoff has teamed up with the Houston Safari Club to help them continue their efforts of educating hunters, promoting conservancy and protecting the rights of hunters. Both organizations have a commitment to excellence and a strong legacy that has withstood the test of time through innovation. Each organization is unique in their traditions.
KRIEGHOFF
In 1886 the first Krieghoff was built. Throughout their journey, Krieghoff has gained over one hundred and thirty years of experience day by day, which they have used to continually improve products and develop new innovations. Today many hunters, as well as clay target shooters, trust in the quality and precision of Krieghoff Hunting and Sporting Guns. The beginning of Krieghoff lies in Suhl, Thuringia in 1886, where Ludwig Krieghoff and his partner founded the arms factory Sempert & Krieghoff. Since the company’s founding, the main focus lay on building fine hunting guns. Even today Ludwig 104 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
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Over the past several years, Krieghoff has teamed up with HSC to help them continue efforts of educating hunters, promoting conservancy and protecting the rights of hunters.
Krieghoff’s principle Die Läufe schießen, aber der Schaft trifft! (“You shoot with the barrels, you hit with the stock”) still stands. Therefore custom stock making became an integral part of the Krieghoff gun making process and guaranteed the excellent shooting results with Krieghoff guns – and still holds true today. In 1916 Ludwig’s son Heinrich founded his own company in Suhl which later incorporated his father’s business. An able engineer and businessman, Heinrich developed amongst other things a semiautomatic rifle and a hook-less shotgun. He also enhanced the legendary Krieghoff drillings, which are still part of today’s production program. After the war, Krieghoff relocated to Ulm, BadenWurttemberg, in 1950 and quickly gained ground again. The development of the K-32 shotgun bestowed international acclaim upon Krieghoff, especially when Kenneth A. Jones won the world championship in trap shooting in 1966. Dieter Krieghoff immigrated to the US at the end of the 1970s and claimed the American Clay shooting market for Krieghoff. In particular, the K-80, the successor to the trendsetting K-32 is highly coveted amongst American shooters. Today, after more than one hundred and thirty years, Krieghoff stands out for their quality craftsmanship and commitment to excellence. The aesthetic look of a hunting gun is more than the expression of personal style for the enthusiastic hunter. It is an homage to hunting and nature. It, therefore, is far more than just a tool. Masters of their trade — gun makers, stockers and engravers — will make every single Krieghoff to a unique piece of craftsmanship. This will give it “a soul” and expresses the personality of the hunter who owns and carries such a unique gun. The modern technical concept of all Krieghoff hunting guns with Combi-Cocking Device, as Krieghoff Optima, Ultra, Classic and Hubertus is consequently oriented towards best hunting performance.
ENGRAVING
For years, engravers have artfully applied the finishing touch to guns, lending them a unique character and an expression of their worth. Initial sketches stemming from a dialogue with the gun owner are used to produce a harmonious design encompassing motif, style, and material. Krieghoff engravers have a comprehensive repertoire: from deep relief to the very finest Bulino style and from classic hunting scenes to the multifaceted ornamentations of various eras. From precious metal inlays to surface finishing — there are no limits to their creative imagination. Using their experience, finesse, and talent, our skilled engravers create fine works of art that reflect both the passion and personality of the owner and the value and quality of an exquisite gun. The new Vienna Scroll engraving that is featured on the 2017 President’s Rifle is another example of Krieghoff’s commitment to quality and forward thinking.
STOCKMAKING
Being able to have a vision from the rather unimposing blank on how best to design a stock while utilizing the composition and grain to maximize both strength and beauty is the sign of an experienced stock maker. Before shaping the stock, the type of wood upgrade must be selected. It takes about eighty years before a stock can be made from the wood of a walnut tree. During this time, nature creates a thing that speaks to the senses with its noble and ever unique grain like almost no other material. Once the final shape has emerged from the chiseling and filing, and the stock has been seamlessly fitted to the receiver, finely carved checkering and surface finishing complete the work of art. Classic oiling or epoxying — both methods uniquely enhance the natural beauty of the wood. The end result is a stock that is a pleasure to hold and behold. For the Krieghoff Classic “Big Five,” the stock integrity and beauty are paired to create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that performs.
THE KRIEGHOFF CLASSIC
For the upcoming Houston Safari Club Convention, Krieghoff has donated a Classic “Big Five” Double Rifle for the 2017 President’s Rifle. The Krieghoff Classic demonstrates what can be expected of a modern double rifle these days: A gun with classical look and beauty. With superior technics and uncompromising design, the Classic is a gun for any hunting condition. Therefore the Classic is more than just a reproduction of a legendary gun. The Krieghoff Classic is the first and only double rifle with two hammers and Combi-Cocking Device. The wide assortment of barrels give the Classic a broad spectrum of use: as a double rifle in standard caliber, as a Classic “Big Five,” as side-by-side rifle/shotgun combination — or as a sideby-side shotgun, the Classic will be a tough companion for any situation in your familiar hunting field as well as on the safari of your life. And in quiet moments you can enjoy and admire the beautiful look, the perfect craftsmanship, the stylish engraving and noble wood that comes with it. The Krieghoff Classic is the double rifle for true hunting and the pleasure of a perfect gun. This year Krieghoff is providing Houston Safari Club with a new engraving that has never been used on the Classic. Each year Krieghoff spends time with our engravers to view new patterns and work on developing ideas. The Vienna Scroll is one of the new engravings now being offered and features a gentle flowing scroll with deep relief. Also featured on the rifle is the majestic elephant that is part of the HSC logo. Both Krieghoff and HSC take great pride in their efforts to promote worldwide hunting and conservancy. Hunting is a passion that should be passed on. Please join Krieghoff International along with Alamo Sporting Arms at the Houston Safari Club Convention, “Into the Wild,” in the Woodlands, Texas. For your chance to own this unique and one-of-kind Classic Double Rifle with the Vienna Scroll engraving, please contact the Houston Safari Club at 713.623.8844. Happy Hunting. ★ CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 105
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Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio prairiemountain@goldenwest.net www.prairiemountainwildlife.com Cell 605.490.2711 | Fax 605.985.5213
Brush Country Studios office@brushcountrystudios.com www.brushcountrystudios.com Cell 713.202.8956 | 281.256.0742
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Gazelle’s Message
Oh, The Places You’ll Go M any of you are familiar with the Dr. Seuss classic, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” because you have read it to your children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews. This year, the Gazelles have taken this whimsical theme to new heights. Join us on Saturday, January 14th, for a fun event full of laughter, music, great food, friendship and travel around the world. Doors open at 10:30am, where you will be greeted by music from our featured entertainment, the Texas Blues Brothers Tribute Band. Their classic rhythm and blues is sure to take us to “places” back in time! While enjoying our silent auction and open bar, take the opportunity to “pull” a superb bottle of wine or liquor at our ever-popular Wine and Liquor Pull…only $20 a shot! Our committee has worked diligently to make this one of the best luncheons to date! The silent auction is loaded with many one of a kind items including jewelry, artwork, custom knives, clothing, home décor and more. Our live auction is a standout this year with art from Leon Fouche, hunts in Namibia and France, and a houseboat hippo hunt from Gazelles Presenting Sponsor, Chattaronga, just to name a few. Our sponsors, shown opposite, are an invaluable part of our luncheon. We truly could not do it without their support! Lastly, we cannot forget our ladies…a huge thanks to all who worked tirelessly for nearly a year to put this event together. Without each and every one of you, none of this would be possible! Come get your Saturday morning kicked off with a bloody mary or mimosa, and join us for a delicious meal, jam packed auction and great fun. We guarantee you’ll want to be sure and make this event one of the “places you’ll go!” Angie Burrows, Mitzy McCorvey, Julianne King, Anna Morrison
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS Deb & Ralph Cunningham High Heel Huntress Sandra & Byron Sadler SILVER SPONSORS Angela & JD Burrows Julianne & Mark King Mitzy & Tony McCorvey Carolyn & Bill Newlin BRONZE SPONSORS Suzanne Hixson & Steve Smith Laurie-Leigh & Trey White Susie & Matt Pyle Robin & Gene Human Anna & Tommy Morrison Estelle & Ron Mostyn
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thank you
Carolyn Newlin thanks Charl Osmers of Zander Osmers Safaris for a great hunt. 16 different species taken...a fine way to celebrate my birthday!
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Chairpersons
CONVENTION 2017 CONVENTION CHAIR
JD Burrows
CONVENTION VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE
CONVENTION ACTIVITIES CHAIRMAN
CONVENTION SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE
LIVE AUCTION COMMITTEE
BANQUET & DECORATIONS COMMITTEE
Matt Pyle
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
John Bowers Leigh Martin
Harold Inman
Darrell Kainer
SILENT AUCTION COMMITTEE
Greg Mills
ART DONATION COMMITTEE
Monica Williamson
John Pepper Melanie Pepper
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSOR COMMITTEE
CONVENTION RAFFLE COMMITTEE
MERCHANDISE COMMITTEE
Barret Simpson
Julianne King
FIREARMS COMMITTEE
Gene Human
HUNTING AWARDS COMMITTEE
Lloyd Swiedom
Kevin Ormston
PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS COMMITTEE
DAN L. DUNCAN SCHOLARSHIP SELECTION COMMITTEE
CONVENTION BANQUET TABLE SALES COMMITTEE
HUNTER OF YEAR COMMITTEE
YOUTH EDUCATION & HUNTING COMMITTEE
EXHIBITS COMMITTEE
HUNTRESS OF THE YEAR AWARD
GAZELLES LUNCHEON COMMITTEE
YOUTH HUNTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Deb Cunningham
Gary Rose
Susan & David Kalich Heidi Rao
CONVENTION REGISTRATION COMMITTEE
Carol Mueller
Barret Simpson
Jerry Henderson
Julianne King Mitzy McCorvey Anna Morrison Angie Burrows
Matt Mann
Travis Simpson
Mitzy McCorvey
Deb Cunningham
Silver Eagle Distributors
OFFICIAL BEVERAGE SPONSOR
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Mopho Gonde elevates
Houston Safari Club’s Artist of the Year
wildlife carving to a level worthy of european masters BY TODD WILKINSON
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Counter Attack, Leadwood, 2011 27 x 46 x24 inches
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MOPHO GONDE ELEVATES WOOD CARVING : BY TODD WILKINSON
A
t his studio in Botswana, a day’s drive across the border from his traditional homeland in Zimbabwe, Mopho Gonde is locked in a zone of intense concentration as he carefully summons a bull elephant out of a massive, almost granite-hard trunk of a petrified tree. He sees the tusker clearly, in his mind; his job, he says, is to help the animal emerge for the rest of the world to behold.
Beside Gonde is an arsenal of tools—classic chisels of the kinds that could’ve easily been used by 16th century master carvers plying Carrera marble in Florence, but Gonde also takes advantage of the gifts of modernity: electric drill bits with diamond beads capable of making a pachyderm ear appear as supple as a waving piece of silk. With muscled forearms and calloused hands pressing his points deeper into the slab of ancient leadwood, Gonde, in four weeks’ time, will be sending this composition thousands of miles across the Atlantic Ocean to an eager collector in Texas. When asked what he thinks of being labeled “the Michelangelo of wildlife carvers in Southern Africa,” Gonde halts his focus only briefly, allowing a wry smile to cross his face as he considers the accolade and then returns to his subject. Thinking about the question, he turns and answers, “For me, Michelangelo was the greatest sculptor who ever lived. I would have liked to know him. I would have liked to see him in his world. And I think he might have enjoyed seeing wild Africa.” Gonde, the 2017 Houston Safari Club Artist of the Year, is a testament to the convergence of both raw innate talent and a classical eye. He was “discovered” by art deal Ross Parker of Call of Africa’s Native Visions Galleries nearly two decades ago. “I am Rhodesian-Zimbabwean born and raised,” Parker says, “and I know how some outsiders condescendingly regard the native carvers of Africa. Because those who go on safari may have encountered soapstone trinkets at a roadside stand in Harare or Bulawayo, they think all of the art being produced in the region is crafty folk art. But, like the Mashona animists whose stone carvings are represented in the most prestigious museums in the world, the top native wildlife artists of Africa similarly execute at a superior level.” Thinking about it for a moment longer, Parker adds, “Here’s the thing: I have profound respect for North American sculptors who are creating wildlife, but most of them couldn’t do what Mopho Gonde does. He has rare God-given talent, the kind that can’t be replicated simply because one goes to art school.” A few years ago, I joined Gonde and Parker on a research trip to Motobo National Park located near the border between 114 HUNTER’S HORN CONVENTION 2017
Zimbabwe and South Africa. On foot, we encountered black rhinos, Cape Buffalo, elephant, hippopotamus, and zebra. Later, we visited a wildlife rehab facility that offered temporary shelter to rhinos, leopards and dozens of lions injured or left orphaned by poachers. “Mopho Gonde is a creative genius,” says Tulsa, Oklahoma entrepreneur Burt Holmes, an avid art collector who owns four major Gondes. “His art is world class, and it’s the backstory of his life that makes him all the more extraordinary.” Gonde is Ndebele, a legendary warrior tribe. He also is an enigma and unlike any other artist, working professionally in three dimensions. His preferred medium isn’t
Sable Sojourn, Leadwood, 181/2 x 20 x 11 inches
MOPHO GONDE ELEVATES WOOD CARVING : BY TODD WILKINSON
metal or stone. Largely self-taught and incredibly insightful in his understanding of animal form and anatomy, he’s never attended studio classes at a prestigious fine art college in New York, London or Paris. Nor has he been a taxidermist as so many other great animal sculptors are. Emanating from Gonde’s sculptures is also a value-added secret unknown to the casual observer and tied to the natural history of his native bushveld. Technically speaking, Gonde is a wood carver but the rare material he uses—leadwood—is hard and heavy, more akin to rock. Leadwood can grow to be a millennium old, its tree rings tight and dense due to the harsh climate that steels it against the elements. Across the Lowveld, elephant, giraffe and a range of other animals, including kudu, impala, grey duiker and red lechwe, eat leadwood leaves. Pachyderms bend the trees and sometimes topple them to the ground, killing them. When that happens, the trunks don’t rot and decay. Often, they absorb minerals leaching out of the soil, leaving the wood in a petrified state. Gonde began working in leadwood decades ago and prefers to incorporate the beautiful patterns and nuances of the preserved trees into his designs. Like teak, leadwood is extremely hard and when polished turns a rich reddish color, giving it a wonderful earthy look. Mopho’s animal sculptures are painstakingly created by hand and capture the very essence of each animal in exacting detail. Because of the degree of workmanship that goes into creating each piece, we only receive between 17 and 20 pieces a year. This puts Mopho’s work in demand as serious wildlife art collectors recognize his great talent. “You can go into almost any gallery in the world and see artwork that can be duplicated by other artists. With Gonde, no one else on the entire planet can replicate what he does because of the degree of difficulty,” Parker says “Not only are his carvings one of a kind but so too are his bases which he handharvests in the bush. The bases alone are works of art and can take him weeks to complete.” Adhering to the direct carving method, he doesn’t compose by crudely plying chisel and mallet. Instead, he employs tungsten carbide burrs to penetrate the hard surfaces inch by inch. He works slow and methodically to avoid making mistakes because, like marble, leadwood is an unforgiving medium. “Mopho is highly selective about the quality of leadwood he chooses for his sculptures and distinctive bases. He’ll spend days in the bush searching for material that meets his standards,” explains Parker who is Gonde’s sole representative with galleries in the Florida art towns of Naples and Jupiter. “For Mopho’s larger pieces, he’s had to find leadwood that has been sitting out there for a couple hundred years,” Parker says. “When you think about it, this was leadwood that grew and had been foraged by an elephant, giraffe, and other wildlife well before the first Europeans arrived in southern Africa.” I heard about the phenomenon named Gonde when he was a young emerging talent in the late 1990s. Later, I visited Gonde in the town where he lived outside of Bulawayo in southern Zimbabwe. He has since relocated to Botswana because of ongoing social tensions in his homeland. I watched him gently separate a massive leadwood trunk weighing more than a ton into two pieces. Eventually, they
Debonaire, Original, Leadwood 34 x 29 x 12 inches
Mopho Gonde is a creative genius,” says Tulsa, Oklahoma entrepreneur Burt Holmes, an avid art collector who owns four major Gondes. “His art is world class, and it’s the backstory of his life that makes him all the more extraordinary. Grey Ghost, Leadwood
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Mopho is highly selective about the quality of leadwood he chooses for his sculptures and distinctive bases. He’ll spend days in the bush searching for material that meets his standards,” explains Parker who is Gonde’s sole representative with galleries in the Florida towns of Naples and Jupiter. were transformed into a Cape buffalo (he is especially revered for his depictions of buffalo) and a rhino. Along the way, I grew to admire Gonde’s knowledge of the behavior of wild bush animals and his remarkable prowess with making his subjects appear to come to life. For Gonde it’s about a connection to nature that he’s always had since he was a boy. He gets stir crazy, he says, basing himself in the city. Born in 1968, Gonde grew up in the rural village of Macingwanga near Plumtree, not far from the Botswana border. His given name emanates a powerful inference: “Mopho” is a word meaning “blood” in Zulu and “Gonde” refers to a tall tree species with golden leaves that grow prominently along the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls. Gonde is deeply concerned about the scourge of poaching taking a toll on the animals he strives to celebrate. “The crazy people who are destroying Africa don’t even think about the next generation,” he says. “We are creating deserts with animals in them.”
Under Foot, Original, 2013, Leadwood, 33 x 58 x 27 inches
When we were in the Matopos Hills, Gonde began every day with a ritual of cleansing his body. In search of water, he picked his way downslope through a jumble of hoodoos—distinctive rock formations that have made the hills globally famous. When we reached the bottom of the ravine, he knelt beside a spring creek where the fresh tracks of predators and prey were indented in the sand. “The rhinos come to drink here,” he said. “So do eland and impala. And, as you can see from these tracks, so do leopard.” Authenticity is an aspect of Gonde’s work that left a deep impression on collector Graham Hill. “I lived and worked in West Africa for several years. The African art I became acquainted with was of a very primitive variety,” Hill explains. “Of course, some of it today is very valuable and you can view it in museums around the world. But I never saw anything being done that had the quality of Mopho’s work. Most people who encounter it for the first time think it’s bronze.” Hill praises Gonde’s sophisticated approaches to portraying animal gestures, each one projecting a personality and individual spirit. Most impressive, he says, is that unlike sculptors who work in clay and bronze who can fix compositional imperfections before going to the foundry for casting, Gonde must get it right the first time. “We have two of Mopho’s Capes [buffalo] pieces, one small and another that’s large. I wouldn’t say that they rank just among his finest, but among the finest portrayals of the animal I’ve ever seen by anyone,” Hill says. The notion of Gonde pieces being treated as heirlooms isn’t abstract for the Holmes family. Businessman and art collector Jeff Holmes, the son of Burt, says they’ve had many fatherson conversations about what makes great art. Jeff knows that one day the Gondes that have delighted his dad will reside in his home.
MOPHO GONDE ELEVATES WOOD CARVING : BY TODD WILKINSON
“He is able to suggest the effects of detail in his work that other artists could only imagine,” Jeff Holmes says. “I’ve noticed an evolution of fluidity taking place in his work over the years. That said, the attention that he pays to small details is amazing when you look closer and then come together when you step back.” When Gonde visited the USA a few years ago, he was stunned by the number of people—collectors and others familiar with his work—who showed up to meet him. Joining him were painters David Langmead and Jaco Van Schalkwyk, who have accompanied Gonde into the bush on research gathering adventures for their artwork. “I’m not a person who makes compliments lightly,” says Langmead, who drew the Michelangelo comparison. “Black or white, most other wildlife sculptors are just not able to convey the feeling and drama that Mopho brings to his subjects. What he does is extraordinary. If he had been born and raised in America, he’d be much more widely known.” When I spoke with Burt Holmes, who has tracked the artist’s career for two decades, I noted that Gonde is regarded as a diamond in the rough. “Well, he is a diamond, but he’s not in the rough anymore,” Mr. Holmes said. “He’s being discovered for the talent he is.” ★
Southern Sable, Leadwood
thank you Thank you Ewert Vorster and everyone at Sadaka Safaris -Tyler and Leah Symens -Michael and Jody Simpson
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Silent Auction Preview A SAMPLING OF GREAT ITEMS
10-Day Hunt for Two in NW Province, South Africa with Watts Trophy Hunting VALUE: $12,200 DONOR: Watts Trophy Hunting WEBSITE: wattstrophyhunting.co.za 3-Day Axis Hunt for One Hunter and One Non-hunter in Junction, Texas VALUE: $3250 DONOR: Whitetail Junction Ranch WEBSITE: whitetailjunctionranch.com
4-Day, 2-Person hunt in Patagonia, Argentina VALUE: $6,600 DONOR: GBH Safari/Lost Horizons Outfitters WEBSITE: lonestaroutfitters.com Lion “Dew Claw” Pendant VALUE: $7,000 DONOR: Hinz Jewelry WEBSITE: hinzjewelers.com
Personal Layer System Clothing Gear VALUE: $2,800 DONOR: Onca Gear WEBSITE: oncagear.com
3-Day, 2-Person Photo Safari in Tanzania
His and Hers Grey Elephant “Joes” PH Boots (custom fit) VALUE: $1,800 DONOR: W.C. Russell Moccasin Co. WEBSITE: russellmoccasin.com
WEBSITE: rungwasafaris.com
RedHead Sportsman Elite 30'' Digital Electric Smoker by Masterbuilt VALUE: $240
VALUE: $4,000 DONOR: Nimala Africa/Rungwa Game
Safaris
Gift Certificate for Cape Buffalo Shoulder Mount VALUE: $3,500 DONOR: Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio and Brush Country Studios WEBSITES: brushcountrystudios.com and prairiemountainwildlifestudios.com
4-Night, 3-Day Trip for Two on a South Dakota Ringneck Pheasant Hunt VALUE: $3,600 DONOR: Spring Creek Lodge WEBSITE: springcreeksd.com Family Medical and Security Membership – Up to 45 Days Abroad VALUE: $1,555 DONOR: Global Rescue LLC WEBSITE: globalrescue.com 10x42 Monarch 7 Binoculars and Monarch 5 3-15x50 ED SF Ad. BDC Riflescope VALUE: $1200 DONOR: Nikon Sport Optics, courtesy of Owens Outdoors WEBSITES: nikonsportoptics.com and owensoutdoorsales.com 70qt Igloo Yukon Cold Locker VALUE: $375 DONOR: Capital Farm Credit WEBSITE: capitalfarmcredit.com
thank you Michael Ambrose would like to thank Northern Operations, Balla Balla Safaris and Crusader Safaris for helping me achieve my Africa Diamond award this year. It took us all to get it done in March.
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FRIDAY NIGHT AC Ranch acranch.com Blackbuck & turkey combo hunt in San Angelo, Texas (3 days) VALUE: $4,000 BOOTH: 48 Algar Safaris algar-safaris.com Red Stag hunt in Patagonia, Argentina (5 days/6 nights) VALUE: $7,300 Alpine Hunting New Zealand alpinehunting.com Sika Deer hunt in New Zealand for one hunter (4 days) VALUE: $5,000 BOOTH: 700 Arctic North Guides arcticnorthguides.com Alaskan fishing trip for two anglers (5 days) VALUE: $10,000 BOOTH: 802 Argentina Puelo Expeditions pueloexpeditions.com Argentina dove hunt in Cordoba for three hunters (3 days) VALUE: $6,750 BOOTH: 824 Castle Valley Outdoors LLC castlevalleyoutdoors.com Pheasant, quail & chuckar hunt for two in Utah (2 day/3 nights) VALUE: $6,400 BOOTH: 803 Four Seasons Safaris New Zealand fourseasons.co.nz Red Stag hunt in Canterury, New Zealand (4 days/3 nights) VALUE: $10,000 BOOTH: 610, 612 Frontera Wingshooting fronterawingshooting.com Argentina dove hunt in Cordoba for four hunters (3 nights) VALUE: $8,040 BOOTH: 208 GunWerks gunwerks.com GunWerks: Magnus 300 RUM rifle VALUE: $12,200 BOOTH: 912
Hidden Lakes Hunting Resort hiddenlakeshr.com Quail hunt in Yantis, Texas for four hunters (2 day/1 night) VALUE: $4,400 BOOTH: 30
GAZELLES SATURDAY LUNCHEON
Hunt In Spain huntinspain.com Mouflon sheep, red stag, or fallow deer hunt in Spain VALUE: $9,650
Chattaronga chattaronga.com 10-day dangerous game houseboat hippo hunt and tiger fish expedition for one hunter on Lake Kariba, Sengwa River in Zimbabwe VALUE: $20,000 BOOTH: 23
Johann Muller Safaris johannmullersafaris.com South African hunt for a blue wildebeest, impala, blesbuck, warthog, duiker, or chacma baboon (5 days) VALUE: $5,900
High Mountain Hunts highmountainhunts.com Leopard, cheetah, or plainsgame hunt in Namibia (7 days) VALUE: $4,000 BOOTH: 812, 814
JP Big Game Safaris jpsafaris.com South African safari for one hunter (7 days) VALUE: $5,040
Hunters Namibia Safaris huntersnamibia.com Safari in Eastern Namibia for one hunter and one observer (7 days) VALUE: $9,350 BOOTH: 403
Lone Star Outfitters lonestaroutfitters.com Bull elk archery hunt in Colorado (5 days) VALUE: $6,500 BOOTH: 201, 203 Marromeu Safaris marromeusafaris.com Crocodile or duiker hunt for one hunter in Mozambique (7 days) VALUE: $8,835 BOOTH: 110 MG Hunting mghunting.com Argentina dove hunt for 4 hunters (2 days) VALUE: $4,850 RomTag RifleWerks RomTag RifleWerks 6.5 Creedmoor AR platform rifle VALUE: $3,800 BOOTH: 908
Leon Fouche Soft pastel original of wild dog pup by Leon Fouche (14"x10") VALUE: $2,250 Prairie Mountain Wildlife Studio and Brush Country Studios prairiemountainwildlifestudios.com brushcountrystudios.com Gift certificate for cape buffalo shoulder mount VALUE: $3,500 BOOTH: 715, 717 & 714, 716 Rancho de Sueños Weekend retreat for fourteen women or six couples at Rancho de Sueños VALUE: Priceless
Trompettersfontein Safaris and Hunting Lodge trompettersfontein.com South African plainsgame hunt for one hunter (6 days) VALUE: $5,500 BOOTH: 307 Uitkyk Safaris uitkykhunting.co.za Cape buffalo, sable, and plainsgame hunt in Kimberley, South Africa for two hunters (7 days) VALUE: $9,000 CONVENTION 2017 HUNTER’S HORN 119
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SATURDAY NIGHT GALA Acute Angling acuteangling.com Fishing trip in the Amazon region of Brazil for one angler (7 days) VALUE: $5,250 BOOTH: 217, 219 Balla-Balla Safaris balla-balla.com Plains game hunt for two hunters in Zambia (7 days) VALUE: $17,600 BOOTH: 207 Banovich Fine Art “The Defender” by John Banovich, oil on canvas. VALUE: $30,000 Baranof Jewelers baranofjewelry.com 12-carat tanzanite & diamond pendant set in 18-karat white gold VALUE: $36,900 BOOTH: 412, 414 Baranof Jewelers baranofjewelry.com 10-carat tanzanite & diamond ring set in 18-karat white gold VALUE: $38,000 C.E. Miller Ranch Pronghorn hunt in Valentine, Texas for one hunter and one non-hunter (2 days) VALUE: $2,500 BOOTH: 412, 414 Chattaronga chattaronga.com Leopard and cape buffalo game hunt in Zimbabwe for 2 hunters (14 days) VALUE: $60,000 BOOTH: 23
Detail Company Adventures/ Black River Outfitters detail.company.com Mixed bag bird hunting in Paysandu, Uruguay for 2 hunters (3 days) VALUE: $5,500 BOOTH: 417, 516 EAI Outdoors eaioutdoors.com Safari in South Africa for two hunters. Includes trophy fees for one kudu, impala, blesbuck, springbuck and warthog (9 days) VALUE: $4,400 BOOTH: 224 GBH Safaris & Lost Horizons Outfitters ibexbeceite.com Ibex or beceite hunt for one (4 days) VALUE: $10,000 Giuseppe Carrizosa, Spain giuseppecarrizosa.com Spanish hunt for Cantabrian Chamois for one hunter (4 days) VALUE: $7,700 BOOTH: 517 Hartland Whitetails hartlanddeer.com Whitetail deer hunt in Saskatchewan, Canada (5 days) VALUE: $3,500 BOOTH: 118 Hunt Trip Spain hunttripspain.com Roe deer hunt in Spain for two hunters, two non-hunters (4 days) VALUE: $15,220 BOOTH: 708 Immenhof Hunting Safaris immenhofhunting.com Plains game hunt for four in Namibia (4 days) VALUE: $7,500
Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail cottonmesawhitetail.com Whitetail hunt for one hunter in Corsicana, Texas (3 days) VALUE: $7,000 BOOTH: 506, 508
Intrepid Safaris Africa intrepidsafaris.com South African safari for two hunters with $1000 credit (5 days) VALUE: $6,400 BOOTH: 101
Crocodile Bay Resort crocodilebay.com Tower boat offshore or inshore fishing package in Costa Rica for two (3 days) VALUE: $8,486 BOOTH: 705
Jenobli Safaris jenoblisafaris.co.za Crocodile hunt in South Africa for one hunter and one non-hunter (5 days) VALUE: $7,550 BOOTH: 300
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Kississing & Tukto Lodge arcticfishing.com Canadian fishing trip for 2 anglers (6 days) VALUE: $10,200 BOOTH: 522, 523 Kreighoff International kreighoff.com President’s Rifle - Kreighoff International .470 Nitro Express 23.5" Ejector Model VALUE: $23,500 LaRue Tactical larue.com LaRue Tactical PredaOBR .260 Rem on an AR Platform VALUE: $3,350 BOOTH: 921 Lategan Safaris lategansafaris.com South African safari for two hunters with $1000 credit (10 days) VALUE: $16,000 BOOTH: 624 Laurel Barbieri Studios “Hoof’in It” by Laurel Barbieri VALUE: $8,500 BOOTH: 16, 17 Laurentian Wildlife Estate laurentianwildlife.com Canadian hunting trip for 2 hunters to take one red stag each (3 days) VALUE: $28,000 BOOTH: 404, 406 Limcroma Safaris limcroma.com Plains game hunt in South Africa for one hunter (10 days) VALUE: $7,250 BOOTH: 525, 622 MG Hunting mghunting.com Red stag hunt in Argentina for one (5 days) VALUE: $7,000 Mopho Gonde and Ross Parker’s Call of Africa ”Walkabout” by Mopho Gonde, leadwood sculpture VALUE: $9,499 BOOTH: 619, 718 Nimali Africa/Rungwa Game Safaris nimaliafrica.com Photo safari in Tanzania for two (3 days) VALUE: $4,000
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Northern Giants Trophy Ranch northerngiantsranch.com Whitetail deer hunt in SK, Canada (5 days) VALUE: $7,250 BOOTH: 301 Quagga Safaris quagga.co.za South Africa safari for one zebra, impala, wildebeest, blesbuck, steenbock, and gemsbock for two hunters (7 days) VALUE: $12,800 BOOTH: 202, 204 Richard Childress Racing rcrracing.com 2 pit passes to a NASCAR Spring Cup Series race of your choice VALUE: $3,500 RomTag RifleWerks RomTag RifleWerks 7mm-08 rifle on an AR platform VALUE: $11,000 BOOTH: 908 Sadaka Safaris sadakasafari.com Plains game hunt in South Africa for 2–4 hunters (5 days) VALUE: $13,200 BOOTH: 419 Spey Creek Trophy Hunting New Zealand sctrophyhunting.com New Zealand hunt for one red stag each for two hunters (5 days) VALUE: $19,000 BOOTH: 704, 706
Sporting International, Warwick Evans of Mapassa Big Game Hounds and Pete Stewart of Good Manners Dog School Jack Russell Terrier puppy from Warwick Evans of Mapassa Big Game Hounds of South Africa VALUE: Priceless BOOTH: 613, 615 Spiral Horn Safaris spiralhorn.co.za South Africa safari for 1 roan bull (5 days) VALUE: $13,550 BOOTH: 407 Texas Parks & Wildlife Department tpwd.texas.gov Texas desert bighorn reserve sheep tag by TPWD VALUE: Priceless BOOTH: 8 TGB Outfitters Argentina tgboutfitters.com Water buffalo hunt in Argentina for 1 hunter VALUE: $8,550 Three Butte Ranch threebutteranch.com Pheasant, partridge, and grouse hunt in Shields, North Dakota (3 days) VALUE: $8,000 BOOTH: 607
Tropic Star Lodge tropicstar.com Deep sea fishing in Panama (3 days/4 nights) VALUE: $9,248 BOOTH: 112 Wanganui Safaris wsafaris.com Red Stag hunt for three hunters and three non-hunters in New Zealand (5 days) VALUE: $15,000 BOOTH: 200 WOW Africa wowafrica.com Safari for two hunters and two observers in South Africa (12 days) VALUE: $26,650 BOOTH: 719 Xtreme Whitetail Adventures xtremewhitetailadventures.com Whitetail hunt in Conway, Missouri (3 days) VALUE: $6,000 BOOTH: 213 Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris africatrophyhunting.com South African safari for one hunter and one observer (7 days) VALUE: $10,000 BOOTH: 100, 102
Trophy Hunting Spain trophyhuntingspain.com Spanish Ibex hunt for two hunters and two observers (4 days) VALUE: $8,900 BOOTH: 608
Friday and Saturday night live auction items are now available for online bidding via onlinehuntingauctions.com. These auctions feature gear, worldwide excursions, and more! Bidders are encouraged to login now, build a profile, review auction items and start bidding. Then, on both Friday and Saturday nights during Convention, log back in and participate in the intensity and action of online bidding during our live auctions! For a full detailed listing of live auction items, please visit the HSC website as the auction catalog will be published there.
January 13-15, 2017
SPECIALS GALORE!
ARGENTINA URUGUAY BOLIVIA & MORE! detailcompany.com
713-524-
houstonsafariclub.org/membership/join
Ridgeback Resources LLC Robert Neilson, CPL, GM Oil and Gas Consultant
Phone: 832-851-7125 Email: Neilsonrob@gmail.com
16234 Crooked Lake Way N, Cypress, TX 77433
28+ years upstream experience representing landowners and energy companies.
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OF EVENTS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12th 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Exhibitor Registration
Registration Booth
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Exhibitor & Volunteer Appreciation Party
Exhibit Hall
H U N T I NG AWA R D
Sponsors Suzanne & Mike Ambrose Marla & Herb Atkinson B & B Taxidermy Angie & JD Burrows Stephen Coale
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13th 8:00 am – 10:00 am
Exhibitor Registration Continues
Registration Booth
Frank Comiskey Insurance Hunter & Frank Comiskey
8:30 pm – 2:30 pm
YWCE Workshop
Woodlands Room
Kevin Comiskey
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Attendee Registration & Exhibit Hall Open
Exhibit Hall
6:00 – 10:00 pm
Hunting Awards Banquet/ Live & Silent Auctions
Waterway Ballroom
Deb & Ralph Cunningham Nancy & Gary Ellison Robin & Gene Human Cheryl & Darrell Kainer
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14th
King Design Group, Inc. Arlette & Fred Lamas
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Attendee Registration & Exhibit Hall Open
Exhibit Hall
10:30 am – 1:30 pm
Gazelles Luncheon/ Live & Silent Auctions
Waterway 4 & 5
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Cocktail Hour
Waterway Ballroom
Cheryl & Kevin Ormston
6:00 – 10:00 pm
Saturday Night Gala/ Live Auction
Waterway Ballroom
Melanie & John Pepper
McCorvey Sheet Metal Estelle & Ron Mostyn
Susie & Matt Pyle
SUNDAY, JANUARY 15th 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Attendee Registration & Exhibit Hall Open
Exhibit Hall
2:00 pm
Convention Raffle Drawing
Exhibit Hall
3:00 pm
Worldwide Hunting Expo Ends
Exhibit Hall
Stephen Rogers Andi & Scott Scheinin Sally & Lloyd Swiedom Monica Williamson & Greg Mills Des Woods W4 Hunting & Fishing, LTD
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Exhibitors
1st National Reserve • 117, 119 Beaumont, TX 1stnationalreserve.com
Australian Outfitters • 606 Katherine, NT, Australia australianoutfitters.net
Casa Vieja Lodge • 222 Miami, FL casaviejalodge.com
AAA Africa Serapa Safaris • 107, 109 Tosca, North West, South Africa lionhuntingsafaris.com
B&B Taxidermy • 5, 7 Houston, TX bbtaxidermy.com
Castle Valley Outdoors • 803 Emery, UT castlevalleyoutdoors.com
AC Ranch • 46 San Angelo, TX acranch.net
Ball and Buck • 34 Brooklyn, NY ballandbuck.com
Cavner & Julian Inc. • 605 Port Alsworth, AK huntingadventure.com
Acute Angling • 217, 219 Hillsborough, NJ acuteangling.com
Balla-Balla Safaris • 207 Choma,Zambia balla-balla.com
Cazatur Spain & Europe • 302 Madrid, Spain cazatur.com
Africa Maximum Safaris • 9 Swartruggens, NW Province, South Africa africamaximum.com
Baranof Jewelers • 412, 414 Park City, UTbaranofjewelry.com
Chattaronga • 23 Houston, TX
Big Easy Ranch • 59 Columbus, TX bigeasyranch.com
Cheetah Safaris & Sable Safaris • 400, 402 Thabazimbi, Limpopo Province, RSA cheetahsafaris.co.za
African Elephant Hair Bracelets • 602 Santa Barbara, CA safarijewelry.com Alamo Sporting Arms LLC • 906 San Antonio, TX alamosportingarms.com Alaska Fur Gallery • 22, 24 Anchorage, AK akfurgallery.com Algar Safaris, Patagonia • 312 Buenos Aires, Argentina algar-safaris.com Alpine Hunting New Zealand • 700 Palmerston North, New Zealand alpinehunting.com Angry Eagle Lodge & Outfitters • 215 Nashville, TN angryeagle.com Ann’s Turquoise • 822, 823 Topeka, KS annsturquoise.com Arctic North Guides • 802 Wasilla, AK arcticnorthguides.com Argentina Puelo Expeditions • 824 Villa Allende, Cordoba, Argentina pueloexpeditions.com Atascosa Bushlan • 722, 723, 724 Jourdanton, TX awsblinds.com
Big Game Big Country • 105 Lexington, KY biggamebigcountry.com Billiard Factory, 322, 323 Houston, TX billiardfactory.com
Coastal Alaska Adventures • 52 Douglas, AK wehuntak.com Colorado Outfitters, LLC • 14 Clark, CO
Briley Mfg. • 801 Houston, TX briley.com
Comre Safaris • 216, 218 Hurleyville, NY comresafaris.co.za
Brush Country Studios • 714, 716 Cypress, TX brushcountrystudios.com
Conroe Taxidermy • 503, 505, 507, 509 Conroe, TX conroetaxidermy.com
Buckbrush Outfitters • 702 Vermilion, Alberta, Canada huntbuckbrush.com
Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail • 506, 508 Corsicana, TX cottonmesawhitetail.com
Call of Africa • 619, 718 Ft. Lauderdale, FL callofafrica.com
Covers & Camo • 214 Springville, UT coversandcamo.com
Canada North Outfitting • 617 Prince George, BC, Canada canadanorthoutfitting.com
Crocodile Bay Resort • 705 Petaluma, CA crocodilebay.com
Cape to Cairo Safari • 422, 423 Roswell, GA huntinafrica.com
Crusader Safaris • 804 Bedford, EC,South Africa crusdersafaris.com
Capital Farm Credit • 413 Rosenberg, TX capitalfarmcredit.com
Cutco Closing Gifts • 49 OleanNY cutco.com
Carlson Fine Art Studios • 807, 809 Ruston, LA corycarlson.com
Daggaboy Hunting Safaris • 314 Windhoek,Namibia daggaboy.com
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Exhibitors
David Denies Bird Hunting • 609 Millbrook, NY DavidDenies.com
Gems & Crystals Unlimited • 40, 41 Atlanta, GA gemsandcrystalsunlimited.com
High Mountain Hunts • 812, 814 Arlington, TX highmountainhunts.com
Deb Wight Studios • 57 Bergheim, TX debwightstudios.com
Giuseppe Carrizosa, Spain • 517 Madrid, Spain giuseppecarrizosa.com
Hunt Trip Spain • 708 Rubio, Barcelona, Spain hunttripspain.com
Detail Company Adventures • 417, 516 Houston, TX detailcompany.com
Global Rescue LLC • 707 Boston, MA globalrescue.com
Hunters Namibia Safaris • 403 Windhoek,Namibia huntersnamibia.com
Distinctive Burl Design • 42, 43, 44 Post Falls, ID distinctiveburldesign.com
Global Safari Azerbaijan • 50 Azerbaijan hunting.az
Dove Island Lodge • 816, 818 Sitka, AK doveislandlodge.com
Golden Thread • 45 Houston, TX goldenthreadshop.com
Immenhof Hunting & Guest Farm CC • 101 Omaruru, Namibia immenhofhunting.com
EAI Outdoors • 224 Fort Atkinson, WI eaioutdoors.com
Gordy & Sons Outfitters • 923 Houston, TX
Ermilio Clothiers & Specialty Shop Ltd. • 18 Malvern, PA ermilioclothiers.com Fausti Stefano SRL • 904 Marcheno, Brescia,Italy faustiarms.com Fishtail Ranch Outfitters • 108 Chama, NM fishtailranch.com Four Seasons Safaris New Zealand • 610, 612 Darfield, Canterbury, New Zealand hunting-fishing.co.nz Frontera Wingshooting • 208 Cordoba, Argentina fronterawingshooting.com Frosch • 409 Houston, TX frosch.com FTW/SAAM • 604 Barksdale, TX ftwoutfitters.com G4 Ranch • 48 Freer, TX G4lodge.com Garry Kelly Safaris • 209 Hilllcrest, KZN, South Africa gksafaris.co.za
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Great Spanish Hunts, Ignacio Navasques • 703 Madrid, Spain greatspanishhunts.com Great White Holdings Ltd. • 305 Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada greatwhiteholdings.com Gsell’s Whitetails • 601, 603 Brookshire, TX gsellswhitetails.com Gunwerks • 912 Burlington, WY gunwerks.com Hartland Whitetails • 116 Briercrest, SK, Canada hartlanddeer.com HEYM/Double Gun Imports, LCC • 914 Dallas, TX doublegunimports.com Hidden Lakes Hunting Resort • 30 Yantis, TX hiddenlakeshr.com Hides of Africa • 19, 21 Pietermaritzburg, KWA-Zulu Natal, South Africa hidesofafrica.com High Heel Huntress, • 805 Conroe, TX highheelhuntress.com
In Rut Rifles • 902 Orange City, IA inrutrifles.com Intrepid Safaris Africa • 616 Alldays, Limpopo, South Africa intrepidsafaris.com Italian Safari • 524 Turin, Italy italiansafari.com JB Hill Boot Company • 113 El Paso, TX jbhilltexas.com Jenobli Safaris • 300 Nietverdiend, North West South Africa jenoblisafaris.co.za Johan Hermann Safaris • 416 Phalaborwa, Limpopo, South Africa johanhermannsafaris.com Johann Muller Safaris • 56 Pretoria,South Africa johannmullersafaris.com Johnny Stout Handmade Knives • 309 New Braunfels, TX stoutknives.com Joshua Creek Ranch • 405 Boerne, TX joshuacreek.com Julian & Sons • 4, 6 Heber Springs, AR julianandsons.com Kingham Safaris Australia • 813 Kilcoy, QLD, Australia kinghamsafaris.com
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Exhibitors
Kississing Lake Lodge • 522, 523 St. Andrews, MB, Canada kississinglodge.com
McKenzie Knife Company • 15 Sugar Land, TX mckenzieknifeco.com
Pendleton Safe Co. • 614 Loganville, GA pendletonsafes.com
La Gloria Land Company • 623 Sugar Land, TX lgland.com
MG Arms Inc. • 900 Spring, TX mgarmsinc.com
LaRue Tactical • 921 Leander, TX larue.com
Michel Mantheakis Safaris, Ltd. • 205 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Performance Top Drives & Custom Hunting Rigs • 303 Three Rivers, TX performancetopdrives.com
Lategan Safaris • 624 Aliwal North, Freestate, RSA lategansafaris.com Laurel Barbieri Studios • 16, 17 Portland, OR laurelbarbieri.com Laurentian Wildlife Estate • 404, 406 Boileu, Quebec, Canada laurentianwildlife.com Leo Van Rooyen Safaris Africa • 521 Pongola, KZN, South Africa leovanrooyensafarisafrica.com Leota’s Indian Art • 313 Sugar Land, TX leotasindianart.com Limcroma Safaris • 525, 622 Groves, TX limcroma.com Lochow Ranch Pond & Lake Management LLC • 206 Bryan, TX lochowranch.com Lone Star Outfitters • 201, 203 McDade, TX lonestaroutfitters.com Lost Horizons Outfitters • 800 Barker, TX lhohunts.com
Miles & Miles Outfitters • 114 Villa del Totoral, Cordoba milesandmilesoutfitters.com Moore Security • 25 Houston, TX mooresecuritysafes.com Mwatisi Safaris LTD • 115 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania Namibian-Safari-Hunts/ORPA • 212 Conroe, TX namibian-safari-hunts.com Nhoro Safaris • 815 Pretoria, South Africa nhorosafaris.com Nick Nolte Hunting Safaris • 712 Omaruru, Erong Province, Namibia nicknoltehunting.com Night Vision Rentals • 10 Owasso, OK nightvisionrentals.com NiteSite • 911, 913 Fort Worth, TX nitesite.com North Haven Resort • 316, 318 Pewaukee, WI northhavenresort.ca NorthCurl Outfitters • 51 Whitehorse, YT, Canada
Maartens Safaris • 12 Paarl,South Africa maartenssafaris.com
Northern Giants Trophy Ranch • 301 Eckville, Alberta, Canada northerngiantsranch.com
Mad Dog Guns LLC • 915, 917, 919 Scottsdale, AZ maddoggunsglobal.com
Onca Gear • 817, 819 Colmenar Viejo, Madrid, Spain oncagear.com
Marromeu Safaris • 110 Grijo, Portugal marromeusafaris.com
Outback Wildlife Feeders • 27, 29 Gilmer, TXoutbackfeeders.com
Pierre Vorster Safaris • 502, 504 Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa pvsafaris.com Prairie Mountain Wildlife • 715, 717 Cypress, TX prairiemountainwildlifestudios.com Pro Safaris Africa • 418 Ascot, Zimbabwe Quagga Safaris • 202, 204 Lepualale, Limpopo, South Africa quagga.co.za RecordBuck Ranch • 916, 918 Utopia, TX recordbuck.com Reveille Hunting Ranch • 620 Okahandja, Namibia, Africa reveille-hunting.com Rhineland Cutlery PNW • 120 Bellingham, WA rhinelandcutlery.com Robin Hurt Safari Company • 47 Windhoek,Namibia robinhurtnamibia.com Romtag Riflewerks LLC • 908 Spring Branch, TX romtagriflewerks.com Ruple Properties • 13 Pleasanton, TX southtexasranches.com Sadaka Safaris • 419 Bela Bela, Limpopo, South Africa sadakasafaris.com Safari Specialty Importers • 103 Pine Bush, NY safarispecialtyimporters.com Safari Trails Mozambique • 38 Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa safari-international.com
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Exhibitors
Saint Hugh • 36 New Orleans, LA TheWomenWhoHunt.com
Tam Safaris • 306, 308 Cradock, EC, South Africa tamsafaris.com
Tropic Star Lodge • 112 Orlando, FL tropicstar.com
Salva Monforte, Spain Hunting Ibex • 11 Castellon, Spain spainhuntingibex.com
Terry Wilson Antler Designs • 26, 28 Kemp, TX wilsonantlers.com
Two Hats Ranch • 1, 2, 3 Big Rapids, MI twohats.com
Shaun Buffee Safaris • 709 Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa shaunbuffeesafaris.com
Texan Knives • 54 Porter, TX texanknives.com
Vast Alaska • 58 Chickaloon, AK vastalaska.com
Shikar Safaris • 713 Antalya, Turkey shikarsafaris.com
Texas Ag Realty • 223 Richmond, TX texasagrealty.com
W.C. Russell Moccasin Co. • 701 Berlin, WI russellmoccasin.com
Shingalana Hunting Safaris • 106 Hartbeesfontein, South Africa shingalana.co.za
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department • 8 Alpine, TX
Wanganui Safaris • 200 Wanganui,New Zealand wsafaris.com
South Pacific Safaris New Zealand • 304 Kaikoura, New Zealand huntingnewzealand.co.nz South Texas Tripods & Feeders Inc. • 901, 903, 905 Spring, TX southtexastripodsandfeeders.com Spey Creek Trophy Hunting, New Zealand • 704, 706 Visalia, CA sctrophyhunting.com Spiral Horn Safaris • 407 Thabazimbi, Limpopo, South Africa spiralhorn.co.za SportEAR • 319 Draper, UT sportear.com Sporting Classics • 31 Columbia, South Carolina sportingclassics.com
Texas Pistol & Rifle Academy • 37 Whitewright, TX texaspistol.com Texas Wildlife Supply, Inc. • 53 Brady, TX texaswildlifesupply.com The Arrangement Interiors • 20 Houston, TX thearrangement.com Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris • 100, 102 Nelsphut, South Africa africatrophyhunting.com
Wildlife Partners, LLC • 907, 909 San Antonio, TX wildlifepartners.com Wildman Lake Lodge • 408 Mountain Home, TX wildmanlodge.com Wollaston Lake Lodge • 621 Saskatoon, SK, Canada wollastonlakelodge.com
Timberline Lodge/Big Country Outfitters • 922 Daniel, WY timberlinetrips.com
Woods & Water Taxidermy • 806, 808 Conroe, TX woodsandwatertaxidermy.com
Sporting International • 613, 615 Channelview, TX sportinginternational.com Spring Creek Resort & South Dakota Outfitters • 520 Pierre, SD springcreeksd.com
Trompettersfontein Safaris & Hunting Lodge • 307 Pretoria, South Africa trompettersfontein.com
String Prairie Millworks • 35 Rosanky, TX
Trophy Hunting Spain by Bruno Rosich • 608 Olerdola, Barcelona, Spain trophyhuntingspain.com
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Wildhunting in Turkey • 324 Adana, Seyhan, Turkey wildhuntingagency.com
Three Butte Ranch • 607 Shields, ND threebutteranch.com
Tri-State Taxidermy/Save Safaris • 122, 123, 124 Houston, TX tri-statetaxidermy.com
SYC Sporting • 518, 519 Grand Prairie, TX sycsporting.com
Wilderness Quest New Zealand • 55 Greymouth-Westland, New Zealand wildernessquestnz.com
Woody’s Furs • 315, 317 Houston, TX woodysfurs.com WOW Africa • 719 Vryheid, Natal, South Africa wowafrica.com Xtreme Whitetail Adventures • 213 McEwen, TN xtremewhitetail.com Y.O. Ranch Headquarters • 39 Junction, TX Zander Osmers Safaris • 32, 33 Grauelotte, Limpopo,South Africa osmers.co.za
CONVENTION 2015 HUNTER'S HORN 3
Specializing in african SafariS for over 49 YearS From Plains Game to Elephant our outfitters are truly some of the Best in Africa
• True African Bush Safaris
• Wild Africa • No Fences
ConsistentlyTaking the
LARGEST LEOPARD in Africa
From Alaska to the South Pacific, Truly the Best of the Best
: (281) 452-6223 • Fax: (281) 457-5412 • 15608 South Brentwood • Channelview, TX 77530-4018 E-Mail: sport@sportinginternational.com • www.sportinginternational.com