Coleman County Hunting and Outdoors 2019
Dove-Deer-Turkey-Quail-Fishing 1
DOMESTIC
WILD GAME
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Hall’s Processing
* Largest wild game processor in Central Texas * Everything vacuum packed * We process wild hogs * 24-hour refrigerated drop-off available * Taxidermy services available
“Hunters for the Hungry” Program Supporter & One-Stop convenience for all your processing needs!
Phone: 325-625-4813 Hours: 8am to 8pm 7 days/week Location: 3500 North Hwy. 84 - Coleman, Texas
Here since 1997. Going on Deer Season #23! See our Facebook Page - Hall's Processing
Inside the Magazine Welcome to Coleman County ...........................................................................6 Turkey Hunting-Coleman Style, Guest Writer Mike Bodenchuk .....................9 Circle of Life, Guest Writer Joshua Sears................................................13 Sears................................................13 “Bob White” by Randy Turner ......................................................................................16 The Deer of Coleman County, Guest Writer Mike Bodenchuk..........................18 Bodenchuk..........................18 Game Warden Corner ............................................................................................19 Fall-Winter Forecast for Coleman County .............................................................22 We Got A Brand New Lake Folks, Guest Writer Lynn “Big O” Owens.....23 Owens.....23 Coleman County Youth Hunt .................................................................................25 Donate to Hunters for the Hungry in Coleman County..............................28 Where to Buy Licenses in Coleman County ..........................................................28 Coleman County Lake Records ..............................................................................35 Conditions Ripe for Prime Texas Dove Hunting........................................................36 Thank you to our Advertisers - Alphabetical List ................................................42 Feral Hog Hunting, Guest Writer Mike Bodenchuk........................................47 Bodenchuk........................................47 Fishing License and APP Information .................................................................50
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COLEMAN COUNTY DOVE FESTIVAL Saturday, September 7, 2019 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Bill Franklin Center Coleman Rodeo Grounds All-You-Can-Eat Catfish & all the Trimmings $10 per person - $5 Kids 10 & Under ACTIVE MILITARY FREE
Paid admission makes you eligible for all door prize drawings. 6 Over/Under GUNS PLUS Other GREAT PRIZES to be GIVEN AWAY !!
COLEMAN COUNTY DEER HUNTER FESTIVAL Friday, November 1, 2019
6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Bill Franklin Center Coleman Rodeo Grounds BBQ Meal $10 per person - $5 Kids 10 & Under ACTIVE MILITARY FREE Paid admission makes you eligible for all door prize drawings. 20 GUNS PLUS OTHER GREAT PRIZES TO BE GIVEN AWAY !! Look for our annual ATV Raffle at Shoppin' Baskit (Tickets Available August through November 1st) Tickets $10 each at Shoppin' Baskit The ATV will be parked there for you to see during the hunting season.
The hunting industry has a huge economic impact in Coleman County. THANK YOU for choosing to hunt in Coleman County!! We Appreciate you !!
Coleman County Hunter Appreciation Events Committee
AND FISHING Coleman County, Texas... Welcome to the third year of the Coleman County Hunting and Outdoor Magazine. We send a special thanks to the businesses and outfitters who make this free magazine possible. We hope you enjoy your next hunting or fishing trip here, and please come back often!
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CHARLES CHESSHIR— Broker/Owner (325) 642-1999 • ANNISA TUCKER, Agent — (325) 214-1846 MARSHA SPINKS, Agent — (817) 964-0986 • GAYLENE GARRISON, Agent — (325) 220-0876 DAVID STEWART, Agent — (325) 370-3545 • JERRY BODINE, Agent — (325) 214-1924 • RICK EUDY, Agent — (817) 991-5014
55 +/- Acres in Coleman County Conveniently located, coastal, ranch home w/ open views. $349,500
328 +/- Acres in Callahan County Productive cattle ranch & farm with excellent hunting. $607,255
722.23 Acres in Runnels County Secluded premium hunting land bordering Colorado River Game Reserve. $1,028,850
130 +/- Acres in Coleman County Mukewater Creek, Oaks, 3 stock tanks, Hwy frontage. $292,500
505.87 Acres in Coleman County Turn-key, high-fence property with 4 BR-4 BA home. $1,950,000
992 +/- Acres in Coleman County Hunting & cattle property with scenic views, rolling hills. $1,637,295
285.91 Acres in Coleman County Secluded scenic prop, dbl prong Panther Creek, wildlife. $691,902
528.62 Acres in Runnels County High-fence hunting property with beautiful farmhouse. $1,480,136
1,345 Acres in Coleman County High-fence game ranch w/ exotic & native wildlife, 150’ elevation changes $3,968,812
Office: 1815 S. Commercial Avenue — Coleman, TX 76834 • Phone: (325) 625�4181 • Fax: (325) 625�3555
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GETTING TO THE ROOT OF YOUR BRUSH PROBLEM
TL Troy & Lisa Abernathy, Owners/Operators 3771 CR 256 Santa Anna, Texas 76878 tw.abernathy@yahoo.com 8
Turkey Hunting Coleman Style B y M ike B od enc huk
Soft “tree clucks” elicited a thunderous gobbling response, starting about 150 yards away and rolling down the creek bottom roost like a stadium wave, only to roll back up the drainage like the wave returning. We were close enough. I looked about in the darkness for a suitable bush to break up my silhouette and set up the decoy about 20 yards behind where I intended to sit. The gobblers were still in the trees and the show would really start in onehalf hour. It was time to sit down and shut up. I’ve hunted turkeys literally from Hawaii to Maine and from Chihuahua to Montana. While most people think of hunting season as a fall pastime, the spring brings turkey season and there is really no place like Coleman County Gobblers Photo by Ross Jones
Merriam’s turkeys and the hybrids of the 2 subspecies look identical to our Rio’s here in Texas. If you’re keeping track of such things, there are also 2 subspecies in Mexico - the Ocellated which lives in Yucatan and the Gould’s in Durango, Sonora and Chihuahua. The native range of Gould’s also extends into southern Arizona and New Mexico, but in the Coleman County! US there are few nonresident There are 4 recognized permits in Arizona. types of wild turkeys in North What makes the Rio’s so fun America; the Osceola turkey of to hunt (or maybe so frustrating, south Florida, the Eastern bird depending on your point of view) which resides east of the 100th is their habit of forming large Meridian, the Merriam’s turkey winter roosts, which only break in the mountains of the west up during the spring breeding and the Rio Grande gobbler season. Some of the largest which is native to Texas and roosts I’ve ever seen are in Oklahoma. The Rio is probably Coleman County and our habitat the most adaptable and has is a perfect blend of range and been introduced in many agricultural fields to produce places, including Hawaii, New and support large winter/spring Mexico, California and Oregon. flocks of turkeys. Interestingly, on the Standing Like most birds, turkeys Rock Lakota Reservation aren’t in breeding condition all in North Dakota, they have year long. While the process introduced both eastern and is a complex process involving chemical stimuli, male turkeys (gobblers) become breeders each spring with the help of Vitamin K, commonly found in fresh green grasses and forbs. Female turkeys become breeders based on photoperiod (the amount of daylight). This complex formula almost always guarantees that there are breeding males before there are receptive females and turkeys in Coleman may ( Cont. on p . 4 3 )
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Stephanie Garner 1303 Hwy 84 ~ 325-636-4484 Owner/Realtor www.ranchrealty-coleman.com
Farm & Ranch Commercial Residential James Steward Pati Barton Erlene Barker Glenda Keeney Johnny Allen
www.ranchrealty-coleman.com Ranch Realty of Texas
Where Friends Meet 312 S. Commercial
96th Year Download the Coleman Today app and stay up to date on all news, sports, and weather for Coleman County.
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Circle of Life By Joshua Sears, Wildlife Biologist
My father introduced me to the great outdoors at an early age. He took me hunting. Instantly a genuine passion that has grown since that day gripped me like a hug from an old friend. I cut my teeth in the sacred Cross Timbers ecoregion that encompasses Coleman County. Eager to learn the land I had many questions as I grew older. Dad provided many answers and in Socratic fashion I always questioned the answers. He was an excellent wildlife teacher just like his dad was. Naturally it was imperative to learn the wildlife and regulations prior to
chasing game. I embraced the challenge, gaining my early independence academically and now was a legitimate part of the family hunt club.
wanted to be like them…my dad, my uncles, my grandfathers. I was determined to master the hunt like they had and vowed to be the best sportsman I could The times we had around the be. Magnificent trophies were campfire at the deer camp were respectfully displayed in their memorable. We used maps and homes. They had countless plotted our moves to increase stories of difficult quests to fill our chances for the next hunt. a tag. I couldn’t wait to start my The anticipation, the bonding, own big-game adventures. After the food over an open flame, shooting and safety skills on coupled with low-tech camping the range were demonstrated gear, muddy atvs and Coleman the time came quickly. By the ice chests made each trip an age of 6 I was packing my adrenaline filled excursion. It own centerfire rifle, a .22-250 was the family, friendship and Remington model 700 scoped the call of the wild that brought with a vintage K4 Weaver. A boltus together each fall. As purists action rifle passed down from and stewards of the land it was my Irish grandfather, Pappy. the fair-chase hunting for the Cruising the woodlands in elusive white-tailed deer that we traditional camouflage I carried craved. a notepad, a sharp knife and a hand-me-down set of Bushnell First tag punched binoculars. I spent much of my I was a sponge soaking in time waiting patiently for deer, all the adult knowledge during studying the different animals the talks after the hunt. I and documenting field notes in my journal. It was rare to see deer back then. We got ‘skunked’ many times but we hunted often and recorded countless hours in the field. After a long year, our luck finally changed as we never let up on the pursuit. On a cold January afternoon the rufoussided towhee was making that distinctive call at dusk, a signal that the natural light was fading fast…and so was my first deer season. However, in those last minutes things quickly changed. My dad saw him (Cont. on p. 21) 13
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Bob White by Randy Turner Being a grandparent is, as the name implies, grand! Our little two year old granddaughter loves the outdoors. She would live out there if we let her. We are fortunate to be able to babysit her pretty often. Summer mornings, before the Texas heat takes away the joy of being outside, we like to sit on our patio in the back yard with a good cup of coffee and, in the case of our granddaughter, her favorite bowl of cereal, usually
Fruit Loops. From somewhere nearby comes the unmistakable call of a “Bobwhite.” “What’s that?” she asked. We explain it’s a quail, a bird, and it makes the sound “Bob White.” Some may say “poor, Bob White.” She
caught on pretty quick. While we haven’t spotted the quail’s nest just yet, when she hears the call, she immediately says, “Bob White.” It brings a smile to our faces!
325-625-2412 1001 US Hwy 283 Coleman, Texas Wellness exams Anesthesia Surgery Dentistry Ultrasound Digital Radiology Microchiping In-house Laboratory
Herd Health Consultation Cattle processing Vaccinations Castration Branding Pregnancy exams Breeding soundness exams Calf pulls
Herd Health Management CWD Testing- Certified Post Mortem Exams Fecal testing Herd Health Consultation
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Generous rains in the Fall of 2018 filled this creek in northern Coleman County just as brilliant colors made the season near perfect.
The Deer of Coleman County By Mike Bodenchuk
I shot my first whitetail south of Santa Anna 37 years ago this autumn. I grew up out west and had considerable hunting experience by then, but none of it in whitetail country. In some circles, 37 years of experiences will give you considerable credibility, but in Coleman County I know hunters with more than 50 years of deer hunting experience, so I’m a relative newcomer. Back in the early 80’s there wasn’t any high fence or trophy management and my little buck (a small 8 point) was typical of what was being killed in the area. Landowners complained that the deer were all small; would always be small and could only be considered as meat deer for the BBQ. Imagine my surprise when I looked into his mouth and found he was only 1-year old! Today in Coleman County there are many properties, high and low fence, being managed for trophy deer. Hunters intentionally pass younger bucks to allow them to grow to their potential. Protein feeders are common and deer are bigger now than ever before. While I’m probably as guilty as the next guy, the focus on bigger and bigger antlers has taken something away from the deer hunting experience. Maybe because I’m getting older and more nostalgic, but these days I enjoy the sunrise and the anticipation. Making my way
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to the deer blind in the dark, my breath fogging in the headlamp, is an important part of the hunt. Watching the world around me wake up, listening for the first bird call and getting excited at the sound of rustling leaves is part of the enjoyment of deer hunting. Feeling silly when I discover that the leaves are being rustled by an armadillo is also part of it. I enjoy watching the cardinals assemble for the deer corn but mutter under my breath about the squirrels that steal my corn. Why do I feel charitable to cardinals and not squirrels? Each morning in the blind I promise myself that I’ll return to hunt those squirrels after deer season closes and each year I break the promise. Maybe I am charitable to squirrels after all. Sitting in a deer blind gives you time to think, to plan and to reflect. I’ve spent countless hours- literally years of my life if added together- waiting for game to appear. I’m a better person when I’m hunting deer. At home, with the TV news and the crowded commute to work, it’s easy to focus on the negative aspects of life. Not so in a deer blind. You can’t sit in a deer blind and be negative about the world. From the deer blind, everything is
exactly as it should be. The sun comes up perfectly; the animals go about their day as they do every day, without care. Even the rain is right. If the temperature is cold? Well, it’s supposed to be. The profits of a deer hunt are more than just the time to reflect and peace of mind. Beyond a set of antlers, you get loads of meat which meets all of the current dietary buzzwords: Locally sourced, Organic, Hormone-free, etc. It seems those of us who eat deer meat have been at the forefront of the Locavore Movement (I had to look it up- it means one who eats only locally produced food whenever possible) before there was even a name for it. While I have no problem with beef or pork, when my family was young my children were literally raised on game meat. Deer steaks and burgers were more available during those years and they knew no other meat. Deer hunting requires skills which need to be developed, practiced and honed to perfection. There may be nothing special to you about a whitetail doe, but to the hunter who practiced all summer with his bow and arrow, taking a management doe with one perfectly (Cont. on p.31)
Game Warden Corner Game Warden Lee Morrison
Hunting season this year should be as good as it can get. We got as much rain in the Coleman County area since I have been the Game Warden here. With this rain comes one of the best sunflower crops we’ve had in a while. Dove season should be good, as well as deer season. This year’s fawn crop is strong with the amount of cover and food they have. Our lakes are in the best shape they have been in 20
years. Lake O.H. Ivie a year ago was at 15% and now is at 77%. That’s nearly a 40-foot rise. Hords Creek Lake went from 50% to 95% and Lake Coleman is at 99% full. If you have any questions or need to report a game violation please contact Lee at 325-203-8541 or you can report a game violation to Operation Game Thief at
1-800-792-GAME. You can remain anonymous and possibly receive a cash reward.
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Dove Hunting in Central Texas ... where the Central Texas counties of Brown, Coleman and Callahan have been producing some of the best mourning dove hunting in Texas. Our hunting area is in the "open country" where the West really begins and the doves are acrobats at their best. Our crew of hosts have many years experience conducting dove hunts in this area.
Weekend hunts begin with lunch on Friday and terminate after an early Sunday breakfast. Mid -week hunts follow the same schedule of events over a two-and-a-half day period of time. Two afternoon field hunts at different locations. We have hunting leases at approximately 40 to 50 different fields over a three county area.
Our headquarters is located at the Texas 4-H Center on Lake Brownwood just 12 miles northwest of Brownwood, Texas. A large modern pavilion, air-conditioned and heated, which was designed specially for handling medium size groups (50 to 150) will be our central meeting place.
We are convinced that your dove hunting trip will be one of the most enjoyable and productive. In fact, we encourage you to ask others who have attended our dove hunts - and there are hundreds of them throughout the USA, and even the U.K.
Contact Ted Taylor at 325-214-0543 or Ben Taylor at 325-214-0548
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(Circle of Life from p. 13) first, a buck, 100 yards away and broadside at the edge of a cedar elm thicket. Now in my sights, steady on the shoulder, I squeezed the trigger. It happened fast. It felt good but he ran. Later our flashlights helped find the trail and we retrieved him from the forest. I proudly filled my first buck tag sitting alongside my father on the last day of the 1984 season. A perfect shot on an epic 7-point buck.
the Cross Timbers ecoregion (29e), a mere 5 miles from where I harvested my first buck. It was a cold, clear November day, packing that same .22250 and navigating the terrain with my Honda 3-wheeler that once belonged to my grandpa Poppa Joe. The keen-eyed American kestrel was hunting the same meadow, hovering, using its ultraviolet vision to locate small animals. While the falcon was on rodent patrol, our focus was geared toward quality deer management. Prerut in full swing, stalking through Kids in the Cross Timbers a live oak mott, the early action Most kids love a wild Texas was heavy. Mature bucks were adventure and we love our kids. on the move, bird-dogging They are our legacy and future females. Fun to observe but conservationists for the one not the objective, we patiently thing they’re not making any scanned the long, linear travel more of‌land. The lands of corridor that cut the edge of a Texas and its wildlife resources native tall-grass prairie. The hold significant value to us all. undulating elevation provided It’s important that children are good topography to sneak along involved in wildlife management the ground. A known bedding and conservation at an early age. area was nearby. We hustled We as adults can help bridge that to get into position careful not gap by simply taking them out to spook the deer as activity for an activity. Children embrace increased. Concealed well in the an educational experience with conifer foliage, we waited. The animals. Outdoor activities such target animal appeared from as hunting, supplement the the ecotype some 200 yards brain with powerful fuel and a away. The plan had worked to natural urgency to help protect perfection. Downwind of the deer our precious wildlife throughout and the rising sun on our backs the state and across different it was time to execute the final Same gun, same ecoregion, step. Prone-positioned between regions. Hunting through the wild terrain same results the Ashe junipers and across a of Texas in any of its diverse It all came full circle this past sea of little bluestem I was able regions is a satisfying privilege. deer season of 2018. Once to dial down long-range on a Especially when places like again hunting the Limestone butterball spike. Again, passing Coleman County and the Cut Plains, a subdivision of through completely, (Cont. p. 30) Cross Timbers/Rolling Plains/ Edwards Plateau ecological regions are in the conversation. Coleman County is located in a unique area where these 3 ecoregions collide. Coleman County is usually referred to as being part of the Cross Timbers, specifically the Western Cross Timbers section known as subdivision 29c. The soils here are primarily sandy and loamy and the rangeland varies from a mixed-grass prairie to savannahs and woodlands. Bordered by the hill country to the south the Cross Timbers (and subdivisions), included by the EPA as part of the expansive Great Plains, offer an exciting adventure for many reasons. Geological formations and plant life endemic to this range dictate the western habitat limit for many insect and mammal species. The biodiversity of both flora and fauna found on this landscape rivals that of any ecoregion. The habitats, balance, structure, wildlife communities, and population dynamics provide great hunting opportunities to participate in. And for kids growing up in or even visiting the Cross Timbers ecoregion is an extra special treat.
Fall-Winter Forecast for
Temperatures Sept-Nov
Coleman
Precipitation Sept-Nov
County by Randy Turner, Meteorologist Wow! What a wet Spring we enjoyed in Coleman County this year! Perhaps the most talked about weather event of the year was the fact that the O.H. Ivie Reservoir steadily rose for six months. When this magazine came out in late summer 2018, Ivie was 14% full. This year as we went to publication, Ivie was at 75% full after reaching a peak of 77.2% on June 22nd. Last Fall and early Winter was wet, but January and February precipitation was lacking. Once we got into the warmer Spring months, here came the rain, in abundance. Rainfall estimated by Doppler Radar from the San Angelo National Weather Service is shown for for the City of Coleman.
Temperatures Dec-Feb
•
October 2018 - 1.25 inches
•
November 2018 - 4.75 inches
•
December 2018 - 3.80 inches
•
January 2019 - 0.35 inches
•
February 2019 - 0.65 inches
•
March 2019 - 1.40 inches
•
April 2019 - 5.25 inches
•
May 2019 - 6.00 inches
•
June 2019 - 5.75 inches
•
July 2019 - 0.15 inches
So, what’s in store for Fall 2019 and Winter 2020? A “neutral” El Niño Southern Oscillation is favored to emerge in the next season and to then continue through the Northern Hempisphere Fall and Winter 2019-2020. Without a full blown
El Niño, like we had for Spring into early Summer 2019, we shouldn’t expect as much rain as last November and December or April through June. Neither should we expect La Niña which is the dreaded dry cycle we see all too often in these parts. The Climate Prediction Center long range models are showing temperatures that are warmer than average with above normal precipitation for the coming Fall and Winter returning to equal chances or average monthly precipitation by Spring of next year. We shall see!
Temperatures Mar-May
Precipitation Dec-Feb Precipitation Mar-May
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BIG O’s
Home of the Valera Style Sandwich
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www.bigosbbq.com Bigosvtexas We Got A Brand New Lake Folks Lake O. H. Ivie Reloaded by Lynn “Big O” Owens, Owner of Big O’s Restaurant Back in September of 2018 the rains started and lasted all the way until May of 2019. The lake was at 11% and 44 feet low. Many folks thought that was horribly low, but in reality there was plenty of deep waters. Many areas still had 50 feet of water and a whole lot of shallow water, too. Kinda depends on how you look at it. The lake continued to gradually increase for over 6 months. It wasn’t until late April or May before zero in-flow was registered. Then only once more ‘til the middle of June. Quite remarkable for this area of Texas.
Currently Lake Ivie sits at 76% and 7 feet low. The fullest it’s been in 25 years. Area locals and out of town folks have been driving to the lake just to see it. Immediately after deer season fisherman came from all over to try their luck in the new waters. Unfortunately, the bass fishing hasn’t been exactly cooperating. The new water scattered them everywhere, along with a new type of slimy grass. The combination shut down the bite. The slowing of fronts and continued hot weather should allow the bass to go deep and congregate, and allow the bass to bunch up and be easier to find. The heat should eliminate the slimy grass as well. Fishing guide Kenneth Morris says he’s had to turn away clients because of the slow bite. He continued to explain that customers don’t understand the guide can’t make the fish bite. Rather than take that money and have them bad mouth him and the lake, he said (Cont. p. 24)
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(Lake O. H. Ivie Reloaded from p. 23) he will just One thing about it... you go out and try to prove wait for the bite to turn on. That right there me wrong. Certainly wouldn’t be the first time. is the sign of an outstanding fishing guide in my opinion. Tournament weights have been at an all Lynn “Big O” Owens owns time low. Heard of an Eleven pound black and operates Big O’s BBQ bass being caught recently. Note-only restaurant in Valera, as one. Some bass fishermen have reported described in his ad on p. 23. catching a few more bass lately. He’s a BIG part of the county’s Catfishing has been steady since the rains folklore and is a celebrity among started. Big cats were turned on by the fresh the fishermen and hunters that water and keep coming. Reports of white frequent that part of the County. bass trolling have also increased. The Texas Parks and Wildlife released 200,000 bass fingerlings in May. This will be very beneficial in the coming years. We had a great spawn with all the new waters. Look for Lake Ivie to be spitting out those big trophy bass over the next few years. It’s been awhile since the lake produced a 13 pound bass for the SHARE-A-lunker program. Only a matter of time. It’s going to be a process to learn the bass patterns with the lake at this level. Look for the bigger bass tournaments to return. Looking forward to reliving the fantastic fishery that we have right here.
Downtown Deli & Bakery
(325) 625-3354
Coleman County Hunting Outlook
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The lack of spring rains in 2018 really put a hurt on the hunting of all the game animals in fall and spring of 2019. Numbers were lacking and the the rains came steady. Seemed like it rained every weekend messing things up for the hunters. The massive influx of vegetation made the deer and turkeys not come to the feeders. Making it tough to have a successful hunt. Quail went to hell in a hand basket. So far ranchers are seeing them paired up. Let’s hope for a major rebound on them this year. But more likely will take more time to fully recover...
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Coleman County Youth Hunt by Randy Turner
You couldn’t have asked for a nicer weekend. The weather was perfect as a dozen youngsters from Coleman County gathered on the Hemphill Ranch in northern Coleman County to be a part of the annual Coleman County Youth Hunt on youth only weekend 2018. The dates this year are October 26-27, 2019. The youth were able to take a Hunter Education Course, enjoyed some fried fish and all the trimmings and then set off with experienced guides to different locations around the ranch, waiting on the perfect deer to bag. Hall’s Processing in Coleman provides the processing of the deer. Families of the children receive the meat. Thanks to the many sponsors, guides and volunteers who make this outing possible for our local youth.
Hemphill Land and Cattle Ltd. Five genera�ons in the ca�le business in Coleman County.
JZ c HB V
Commercial Angus Ca�le - Age and Source Verified Registered Quarter Horses 25
Enter Our Big Buck Contest The Shoppin' Baskit Big Buck Contest has long been a favorite in Coleman County. The contest starts at the beginning of bow season and runs through the end of deer season. Be sure to enter!
See Store for Details
* * * * * *
Quality Meats and Produce Bakery - Deli Deer Corn Deer Blinds Deer Feeders Hunting Supplies
113 W. College Ave. 325-625-2624 Best of luck this Hunting Season !
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★ 174 Ac: Runnels. 3 Mi. South Elm Creek Reservoir. Both Sides Elm Creek. Home, Water Well, 22 Ac. Brush, 76 Ac. Improved Grasses, 74 Ac. Cult. Fish/Hunt. $495,000. ★ 319 Ac: Coleman County. 2 Ponds, Water Well w/Solar Pump, Heavy Mesq Brush, 1,479 AC: LAKE IVIE WATERFRONT! Cultivation, Cnty Road Frontage. Hunting! 4.8 Miles Shoreline! (Deer, Turkey, Dove, Quail). $1,695 Ac. $3,544,240. ★ 358.11 Ac: Brown. 3 Mi. West of B’wood. Homesite, Paved County Rd Front, Water/ Elect. New Pond. Spring That Flows Into Rock Reservoir. Hunting! $1,072,539.
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325-647-7889 325-214-5292
ndhuntingland.com27
Donate to Hunters for the Hungry in Coleman County Cornerstone Community Action Agency partners with Hall’s Processing in Coleman to operate the Hunters for the Hungry Program. During the 2018 deer season, 3,000 pounds of venison was processed to benefit those in need in Coleman County. All it takes is for you to field dress and take the legally tagged deer to Hall’s Processing in Coleman for meat processing. Funding for the program is made possible through the Coleman County Foundation with the Food Bank of West Central Texas providing bags for the meat. Food banks tell us that meat is their least available food item due to the high cost ($2-$5 per pound for beef) and that they gratefully accept venison donations. Venison is a nutritious, low fat, high protein meat that is distributed and/or cooked by community organizations such as church pantries, Salvation Army, community food banks, church feeding ministries, emergency assistance programs and senior citizen centers.
Hall’s & CCAA Partnering Cornerstone Community Action Agency 118 W. Pecan Suite 405 Coleman, TX (325) 625-4167
Where to Buy Hunting & Fishing Licenses in Coleman County
•Shoppin Baskit
113 West College
(325) 625-2624
•Executive Outfitters, Inc. (325) 625-3957
•Cooper Supply, Inc. 215 Santa Anna Avenue (325) 625-3543
•Higginbothams 1400 S. Commercial (325) 625-2124
Coleman County Equipment Service and Sales Now located at Coleman Grain 1000 W Gross St. CALL US at (325) 636-3033 or (325) 625-4835
Mechanic on duty
General repairs on tractors, UTV’s, ATV's, small engines
• Hustler Mower Dealer • Bushhog Dealer • Nichols Tillage Tools • Becknell Dealer
299 PR 2722 Santa Anna, Texas (325) 220-0901 (325) 348-7501 Guthrie Outfitters, LLC is a family owned small business with local ties to Coleman County and the West Central Texas area that date back to the 1870's. We are a used structural pipe company serving farmers, ranchers, and builders’ needs in the West Central Texas area. Our used oilfield tubing is great pipe for all fencing, structural, and construction needs. We also offer precut fence posts. Delivery services are available. Our yard is located in Santa Anna, TX and we make weekly runs to the surrounding area. Please call or text us. For more information, check Facebook at Guthrie Outfitters, LLC.
(Circle of Life from p. 21) the 55 grain soft-point bullet found its mark, piercing the vitals. A successful, pure hunt on the ground and a hard earned trophy lay near the tasajillo cactus just yards away. The prized, semisweet backstraps offered up some of the best steaks on the planet. My favorite kind of organic grocery shopping at the Cross Timbers market!
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The feeling was great to accomplish so much using the same tools that my grandfathers had used 30+ years ago. The early years make very special memories for a lifetime and for that I thank my dad and the others. The day soon comes to pass along these items to my
son and share the experiences and the knowledge which are equally as valuable. With any luck I’ll grow old watching him perfect his own craft in the Cross Timbers. Happy hunting!
Do you have great field memories as a young hunter In the field? I would love to hear them. Email me at joshlegrande@gmail.com.
CS Pasture IMPROVEMENTS
Cooper Swening 325-656-1348
See his website for more!
West Texas Brush Control and Land Clearing Services cspastureimprovement.net
(The Deer of Coleman from p.18) placed arrow is affirmation that the skills were learned well. There are a thousand other reasons to hunt deer and everybody has their own special reasons. For some, it is a time for families to come back together. For others, a special challenge associated with a particular deer that keeps giving them the slip. It’s watching your children come of age- learning first-hand the joy of a job well done and the simultaneous sorrow at the death of something beautiful. There can be sorrowful memories associated with deer hunting too. The hill where I took my father-in-law for his last deer hunt or the place where Josh shot his first deer before he left us too soon are places which bring
mixed memories. In short, deer hunting encompasses the full depth of the human existence. And there are the “trophies.” As I write these words, 3 whitetail deer heads (and a host of other taxidermy) fill the spaces above my desk and bookshelves. To me, each mount represents an exceptional moment in time. One, from the south end of the county, took my breath away when he came out in a wheat field, well out of gun range. It took a lot of maneuvering to get in range and I don’t think I exhaled until after the shot broke and the deer dropped in its tracks. Another deer was shot when my son was with me. Up until that hunt he had always been the one I took hunting. On this hunt he picked me up and took me to camp. We
Coleman Lake View Cottages
hunted together and he held up his end; spotting deer before me, planning a stalk and filming the shot. The deer is a good one, but it represents to me was the day when I saw my son as a mature young man afield. Starting with archery season this October, deer hunters will be out in the fields in Coleman. The City and the Chamber will roll out the carpet once rifle season begins and many of our restaurants and businesses will be happy to see the hunters return. While they all start to look alike, each and every hunter has a special reason and a special story about why they hunt. If we look beyond the antlers, I know we all have a story of our own. Go add to your story this year!
1024 Quail Creek Dr. The Ranch Cottage Coleman, TX, 76834 Cedar Boat Cottage Phone: 325.370.4467 Dragonfly Cottage
Overlooking Beautiful Lake Coleman WiFi ~ Cable ~ Complimentary coffee Water ~ snacks .... for your stay!
www.colemanlakeviewcottages.com
Come see our TOP HAND Hun�ng Equipment
100 Lackland Street Coleman, Texas Local Phone # 325-214-5677 SUPPLY LLC. 325-214-5677
Panels, Feeders, Blinds Other hunting supplies
800-TOP-HAND
325-625-5152 800-588-8473
2003 S. Commercial Ave. Coleman, Texas
TERRA TRAC T/G MAX TERRA TRAC AT II www.williamstirestore.com The Coleman County Hunters’ Appreciation Events Committee, with the help of many others, puts on the Coleman County Dove and Deer Fests each year. Below is Sujo McKee preparing to announce gun winners.
Hush puppies being cooked on site of the 2018 Dove Fest at the Bill Franklin Center in Coleman. The event attracts hundreds of hungry hunters each year. 33
RAY/FOX GAME RANCH Dove Axis White Tail Other Exotics Guided Varmint Hunts
Coleman, Texas
1600 Sq. Feet Outdoor Pavilion With a Full Kitchen & Bar New Cabins Sleep 50
Call or Email
MITCHEL RAY to Book a Hunt Today!
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LAKE COLEMAN Hords Creek Lake Records
Largemouth Bass - 12.96 lbs - 26.00 inches - March 19, 2011 by Gary Comedy on crankbait Channel Catfish - 4.75 lbs - 22.00 inches August 5, 2014 by Evan Burling on chicken liver WhiteCrappie - 1.85 lbs - 14.50 inches April 17, 1994 by Roy Bamberg
Lake Coleman Records
Hybrid Striped Bass - 12.94 lbs - 26.00 inches April 4, 2006 by Jeff Coffey on crankbait Largemouth Bass - 12.92 lbs - 26.75 inches March 3, 2005 by Michael Casaway White Crappie - 1.79 lbs - 14.50 inches August 13, 2016 by Brandon O’dell on a jig
HORDS CREEK LAKE
Y G T N I N H U S FI AN CO
COLEM
O.H. Ivie Reservoir Records
O.H. IVIE RESERVOIR
S D R O REC AS OF
019 JULY 2
Hybrid Striped Bass - 16.40 lbs - 30.00 inches - April 12, 2003 by Dianna Sumrall Largemouth Bass - 16.08 lbs - 28.00 inches - April 30, 2010 by Jerry Bales Smallmouth Bass - 5.60 lbs - 21.00 inches - October 15, 2016 by Dennis Weaver on crankbait Striped Bass - 13.25 lbs - 30.00 inches February 10, 1995 by Sam Keel White Bass - 2.84 lbs - 19.25 inches - March 28, 1997 by Austin Terry Blue Catfish - 71 lbs - 50.25 inches - December 12, 2015 by Payton Cody on cut shad Channel Catfish - 27.45 lbs - 37.00 inches - March 4, 2000 by Terry Winchester Flathead Catfish - 55.50lbs - 45.13 inches May 29, 2005 by Jonathen Boone on perch
Conditions Ripe for Prime Texas Dove Hunting Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
While most Texans are sweltering under a brutal August heat wave, savvy dove hunters will gladly suffer along providing conditions don’t change before the Sept. 1 season opener. A hot, dry landscape heading into the season can concentrate dove around feeding and watering areas, making for excellent hunting, according to wildlife biologists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In addition to prime conditions heading into the opener, dove populations have thrived this year thanks to the amount and timing of spring rains across most of the state that kicked habitat into high gear for dove breeding season. “With the abundant highly-preferred dove foods available on the landscape this year, we’re seeing excellent production,” said Owen Fitzsimmons, TPWD
dove program leader. “White-winged dove production, in particular, has been very high in the southern half of the state. Plus, many of the states to the north had similar spring habitat conditions, which should result in a strong influx of migrant birds for Texas later in the season. I’m excited about the prospects this season, it should be fantastic.” Dove hunting is huge in Texas, with a deep culture that spans generations. Each fall, more than 300,000 Texas hunters take to the field where they harvest nearly one third of all mourning doves taken nationwide each year — on average an estimated 10 million birds — far more than any other state. While those statistics may appear staggering, consider Texas supports breeding populations of over 34 million mourning and 10 million white-winged doves, and those numbers rise even higher during the fall when birds from northern latitudes funnel south. The regular dove season in the North Zone runs Sept. 1-Nov. 12 and resumes Dec. 20-Jan.5, 2020. The regular season in the Central Zone is Sept. 1-Nov. 3, then resumes Dec. 20-Jan.14, 2020. The regular season in the South Zone is Sept. 14-Nov. 3 (Cont. p. 41)
Coleman County Sunflowers
Photo by Lisa Abernathy
QUALITY DRY CLEANERS
7 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday Same day service in by 9 am out by 5 pm 108 East Liveoak Street 325-625-5100
Welcome Hunters
PANTHER C REEK OUTFITTERS Valera, TX
Over 30 years of Experience in Dove and Quail Hunts
For information, call David Huff 325-214-0875
4202 Christoval Road
www.doublebarreloutfitters.com San Angelo, TX 76904 BOOK YOUR HUNT TODAY! Alan: 254-485-1926 Double Barrel Outfitters is home of some of the best hunting West Texas has to offer! We offer a variety of hunting experiences in San Angelo, Coleman County and the surrounding areas. Enjoy first-rate lodging accommodations with home-cooked meals during your hunt for the trophy of a lifetime.
Sam: 325-500-8970 doublebarreloutfitters@yahoo.com
Large Commercial Kitchen Wedding Venue Lodge Sleeps 80 people Family Reunions Skeet Shooting Corporate Retreats Fishing on site Corporate Style Dove Hunts
Lodge features glass windows leading out to a 3,800 sq. ft. deck with a beautiful view of Coleman County. (Located just east of Coleman)
To book your next hunt or special event, call: Alan Hutchins - 254-485-1926 Dusty Greaves - 325-280-2809
Brent McMillan & Richard Johnson 325-214-0026
Deer Corn & Feed
325-625-4161
GreenGo Feeders
Game Fish Chow & AquaMax
(Texas Dove Hunting from p. 36) and Dec. 20-Jan. 23, 2020. The Special White-Winged Dove Days in the South Zone are Sept. 1-2 and 7-8. Texas hunters should note the Sunday start to the season in the North and Central Zones, as well as for the Special White-Winged Dove Days this year due to calendar shift, but, hopefully hunters will be able to take advantage of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 2, too. South Zone hunters should also be sure to double-check their calendars this year for what is an unfamiliar Saturday start also due to calendar shift and federal restrictions on opening dates that prohibit starting the South Zone season prior to Sept. 14. “Over the years, TPWD has worked very hard to open up more of September to our hunters in the southern part of the state,” said Fitzsimmons. “The vast majority of our dove harvest occurs in September. Getting the feds to agree to a set Sept. 14 South Zone opener beginning last year ensures hunting opportunity in the south every weekend in September when you consider the early whitewing days.” During the early two weekends for the Special White-winged Dove Days (in the South Zone), hunting is allowed only from noon to sunset and the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than two mourning doves and two whitetipped doves. During the regular season in the South Zone, the aggregate bag limit is 15 with no more than two white-tipped doves. All of the most up-to-date hunting regulations for the new season can be found in the Texas Outdoor Annual mobile app or online at OutdoorAnnual.com. Hunters are reminded that licenses are on sale now for the 2019-2020 hunting seasons and
can be purchased through the agency’s 28 law enforcement field offices, at more than 50 state parks and over 1,700 retailers across the state. Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD website or by phone at (800) 895-4248. Call center hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there is a required $5 administrative fee for each phone or online transaction. The online transaction system is available 24/7. New this year, enhancements have been made to make the licensing process simpler and faster. “Expedited checkout” speeds the process of re-purchasing the same license items bought most recently within the last three years. It’s also now easier to show proof-of-license. Now hunters can use a digital image of their license as proof-of-license for any hunting that doesn’t require a tag, like dove hunting. Accepted formats include:
(1) a digital photo, (2) an emailed receipt, (3) within the Outdoor Annual app or the My Texas Hunt Harvest app, or 4) online purchase record. In addition to a hunting license, anyone born after Sept. 1, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education training course in order to hunt legally in Texas. The TPWD Hunter Education certification is valid for life and is honored in all other states and provinces. More information about hunter education is available online. If you misplace your certification you can print a replacement online at no cost. A Migratory Game Bird endorsement and Harvest Information Program (HIP) certification are also required to hunt dove. HIP certification involves a brief survey of previous year’s migratory bird hunting success and is conducted at the time licenses are purchased.
Thank You to Our Advertisers Big O’s Restaurant.........................................p. 23 Can-Doo Budget Rentals................................p.49 Central Texas Farm Credit............................ p. 51 Coleman County Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture & Tourist Bureau................... p. 42 Coleman County Equipment......................... p. 29 Coleman County Medical Center.................. p. 41 Coleman County State Bank......................... p. 52 Coleman Lake View Cottages ....................... p. 31 Coleman County Title Company....................p. 46 Coleman Veterinary Clinic............................p. 16 CS Pasture Improvements..............................p. 30 Dark Horse...................................................p. 48 Double Barrel Outfitters................................p. 38 Downtown Deli & Bakery..............................p. 24 Executive Outfitters, Inc. ..............................p. 20 First Shot Outfitters ......................................p. 14 Gaines Land Sales ........................................p. 42 Guthrie Outfitters, LLC.................................p. 30 Hall’s Processing..........................................p. 2, 3 Hayden J. Wise, Attorney at Law...................p. 46 Hemphill Land and Cattle LTD. ....................p. 25 Hunter’s BBQ & Fests ....................................p. 5 Interbank, Coleman...................................... p. 44 Johnson Feed Barn ....................................... p. 40 Liveoak Real Estate....................................... p. 7 MAG Construction & Welding ..................... p. 15 M-BAR-H Lodge .......................................... p. 12 MMT Supply LLC/ Top Hand Hunting Equipment................................................. p. 32 Owl Drug ..................................................... p. 12 Panther Creek Outfitters .............................. p. 37 Prickly Pear Coleman, Inc. ........................... p. 16 Quality Implement Co. ................................. p. 45 QuickStick Outfitters .................................... p. 11 Ranch and Hunting Land ............................. p. 27 Ranch Realty of Texas .................................. p. 10 Ray/Fox Game Ranch ................................... p. 34 Rhyder X-Press ............................................ p. 36 Rock House Ridge ........................................ p. 39 Santa Anna National Bank .......................... p. 19 Shoppin’ Baskit ............................................ p. 26 Troy Abernathy Construction ........................p. 8 Williams Tire................................................p. 33 42
Coleman County Sunset
Photo by Lisa Abernathy
AGRICULTURE & TOURIST BUREAU
218 S Commercial Ave Coleman, Texas (325) 625-2163
Stop by and visit our office. We have all the information you need for hunting, fishing, shopping, and living in Coleman County!
We have lists of outfitters, hunting guides and leases.
www.colemantexas.org
(Turkey Hunting - Coleman Style from p.9) start gobbling and strutting as early as mid-March. Hens, however, don’t start breeding until about the first of April. Understanding what happens next will help you hunt turkeys much more successfully. Turkey hens, like laying chickens, don’t dump a bunch of eggs on the ground in one simple step. Biologically, they can only lay one egg per day. However, they cannot sit on the eggs as soon as they are laid, or they would hatch over a period of 10-12 days. After breeding with a gobbler, the hen will locate a place to initiate a nest and sit down and lay one egg. They don’t really build a nest, but they usually cover the egg with some clipped grasses and resume their daily activities. Tomorrow, she’ll return and add another egg, hiding both of them. The act of sitting down helps put yesterday’s clipped grasses under the eggs, so slowly a vegetation mat forms around and under the eggs. Each day, she’ll return and lay another, single egg until her body tells her that she’s done and then she begins to incubate (sit on the eggs). Until she’s got a complete clutch of eggs, she’ll return to the roost each night and will usually be bred each day as she leaves the roost area. It’s probably important to note that if the clutch is depredated by a skunk, raccoon or coyote, the hen will find a new area and keep attempting a clutch. Egg predation probably extends the breeding season and certainly affects hen and gobbler behavior. Years ago, in south Coleman County, I saw a bunch of baseball-sized turkey chicks following a hen on the 4th of July! That had to be a third or fourth nest attempt! For the hunter, hen behavior affects gobbler behavior and your success is directly related to what the hens are doing. Early in the season, gobblers will sound off on the roost, but there will be lots of hens in the trees with them. Usually the gobblers fly down before the hens and begin to strut in open areas where the hens can see them. Once there are hens on the ground, the gobblers don’t need to gobble and you can’t practically call them away from a live hen. Successful hunting
involves calling the hens to you and letting them troll the gobblers into gun range. I often call aggressively in the early season, sounding like multiple hens with different calls and different cadence. If you can call a hen into gun range, you’ll get the gobbler following her. As the season progresses, the hen will spend more and more time around her developing clutch and soon-to-be-nest site. By mid-morning, she’ll pay no attention to the gobbler and he’ll wander off looking for new hens. This is a good time to set up in the travel corridors. If you had a gobbler walk by but pay no attention to your calls during the morning session, mid-day you can return to the same site and perhaps find him looking for the hen he heard but did not find. A decoy works very well for these gobblers, but I put it behind me or off to the side. If the gobbler hangs up 30 yards from the decoy, I still need him in shotgun range, so I don’t want the decoy out in front. By late season, hens are on nests and gobblers are breaking up. During this time, it’s important to cover a lot of ground and call frequently, The gobbler you’re looking for may not gobble much, but will come in quietly. I have a couple of rules for late season hunting; first, I will only walk about 100 yards between calling (Cont.p.45)
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HOURS Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 3:00pm Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm 100 Commercial Ave Coleman, TX 76834 Telephone: 325-625-2115
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511 Santa Anna Ave Coleman, TX 76834 (325)625-2126 Once you experience Quality, you'll never go anywhere else.
www.qualityimplement.com (Turkey Hunting-Coleman Style from p. 43) locations. I want the gobbler to think a lost hen is walking around the bush. Second, I never call from a place where I can’t immediately drop to the ground and set up. Frequently, you’ll make a simple call and the bird will fire off a gobble only 100 yards away. You can’t be running around while he’s trotting in, so be prepared every time you call. Third, expect the bird to call behind you. You may attract a gobbler which decides to come in silently. However, because you didn’t hear him you walked off an additional 100 yards and now he thinks you’re a hen leaving him. Even when you understand turkeys, it ain’t easy. There’s always some way to mess up what appears to be a sure thing. Probably most common is moving at exactly the wrong time- a turkey can see color and movement perfectly
and if you move while he’s watching, the deal is over. Another favorite is trying to get too close; I’ve often run to get 100 yards closer only to run smack into a turkey that was running towards me! There’s always the strong April wind that keeps turkeys from hearing you or you from hearing them. Once, while filming a turkey hunt in north Coleman County, I called a rattlesnake- on camera. He advanced every time I called and stopped crawling when I stopped. While we were filming the snake a gobbler came in silently and caught the camera man moving to get a better view.
The best turkey hunting I’ve ever had was here in Coleman and after 35 years of hunting here, I plan on returning each and every April.
Coleman’s Hunting Season will be here before you know it! Contact your outfitter or guide and make sure you are ready! Bring your family and make your hunting trip a family vacation! 45
Owner Hayden J. Wise 108 West Live Oak Street Coleman, Texas 76834 325-625-4628 PH 325-625-4417 FAX
ColemanCountyTitle.com The longevity and history of Coleman County Title Company are key advantages in our competitive real estate market. We are proud of our strong relationships and oer the most extensive and thorough real estate database in Coleman County, the only title records plant dating back to sovereignty.
325-625-2515 PO Box 32 Coleman, Texas haydenwiselaw@yahoo.com
Feral Hog Hunting By Mike Bodenchuk
Wesley and I sat in the too-small blind watching the feeder as the sun set behind us. Deer season was open and my god-son was hunting with me over the Christmas break from school. I was hoping for a whitetail buck bigger than the one he shot last year- he was secretly wishing for a big boar hog. Sometimes a little boys’ Christmas wish comes true! Two boars appeared upwind from the feeder and crossed the creek, disappearing into the brush on the far side. The wind was right and I was certain that they would come to the feeder, but it was a matter of time and it would be dark within 45 minutes. As it happened, we didn’t have to wait too long. The boars had scented a sounder of pigs hanging back in the brush and once they joined them they all came to the feeder as if scripted by a young hunter. Wesley is a good shot and the 75 yard shot was a simple one once the biggest boar separated himself from the sounder. This trophy boar meant more to the young hunter than any whitetail buck ever could. And that’s how it goes with feral hogs. Farmers hate them for the damage they do to crops; wildlife conservationists hate them for the damage they do to the environment and hunters love them for the trophy, the challenge and the meat. Feral hogs first appeared in Texas with the De Soto party of Spanish explorers around 1542. De Soto himself was dead by the time his explorers reached what is now East Texas, but his expedition herded hogs along the entire route. Hogs were an important source of food and certainly many were lost along the way. By the time the French reached the Texas Gulf Coast one hundred and forty-three years later, the Indians were using and trading in pork fat. Two 20th century introductions of European-origin wild boars (on the Aransas peninsula and in Bexar County) added wild boar genes to the mix and pigs from these introductions
were moved around the state liberally. Today, there are no pure “Russian wild boar” in Texas but geneticists can track the percentage of European wild boar in populations across the State- it ranges from 10% to 58%, depending on where you’re hunting. Feral hogs are a popular hunting target for a number of reasons. They are prolific; sows breed at about 7 months of age and have their first litter before their first birthday. They can also breed year-round and in wild populations we see a 7 month interval between litters meaning that the average sow will have three litters in two years. The average litter is 6 piglets and survival rates are high. Feral hogs travel in groups of related females (an older female, some of her female offspring and all of their collective piglets) called sounders. Feral hogs are also highly adaptable, and their adaptation to hunting pressure makes them a difficult target across the year. Pigs require water daily when it is hot or when faced with hunting pressure they become nocturnal. Pigs have relatively poor eyesight, but an excellent sense of smell and an equally acute sense of hearing. Because they are nonnative and cause extensive damage ($89.8M in annual damage to Texas corn, rice, soybeans, milo, wheat and peanuts alone), feral hogs are unprotected in Texas. That means that you can hunt them year-round, without bag limit and without restrictions. (Cont. p. 48)
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(Feral Hog Hunting from p 47) Night hunting with night vision or thermal imaging is a popular and growing sport and the State has even legalized recreational hunting from helicopters in order to address the damage. As a hunter, a former outfitter and a professional biologist, this next part hurts me to say, but it’s true: Nowhere in the world has sport hunting ever limited a wild pig population. Germany- which is about half the size of Texas- has sport hunters remove about 900,000 pigs a year and they don’t limit populations. In Texas hunters shoot about 700,000 pigs a year (a scientific guess), and hunting doesn’t limit populations. But every pig killed is one less pig on the landscape. Scientists have evaluated pig damage and peg the value of damage between $200 and $390 per pig per year, so each pig killed helps. Like my godchild Wesley, hunters in Coleman County often kill pigs on deer hunts while waiting at a feeder. And like Wesley, they often shoot the biggest boar or, absent a boar, they will shoot an adult show. Boars, by the way, have a different flavor called “boar taint” by the meat industry and if you’ve ever tried to eat an older boar you know what I mean. For biological and meat consumption reasons, a younger sow or a boar weighing under 50 lbs. might be a better target. Other ways to hunt feral hogs include night hunting with thermal imaging hand held units and scopes. Hand held units are available for a reasonable cost and are useful for looking from a UTV or pickup while scouting fields and feeders. Thermal image scopes are rather expensive: once you’ve committed $3,500 to hog hunting, you’re pretty well committed to several nights a year!
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325-348-3212
Check Our Facebook Page Dark Horse Suppressors
Thermal imaging allows a hunter to locate hogs, stalk within range and shoot several pigs out of the same sounder. Modern rifles (AR style) are probably the best tool for multiple shots utilizing thermal image scopes. For the hunter not interested in spending several months’ mortgage payments for a scope, the use of a motion-detector night light at a feeder can be an efficient way to night hunt hogs. These lights, for around $100 each and pictured below, are solar powered and turn on after dark. The light burns at a low intensity when no motion is detected, but once the pigs arrive the light turns to a brighter setting allowing the hunter to see clearly and identify his target through a normal scope. The use of game cameras helps hunters considerably by identifying when and where the hogs are appearing. I would rather hunt hogs without a gun than hunt them without good game camera data. While not necessary, some cameras can be coupled with a digital modem which will transmit photos to your cell phone or other device and let you know when the hogs are at the feeder. For the hunter camping on the hunting lease or for the landowner trying to protect his crop, these modem-equipped cameras can let you know when to approach the area with some certainty that hogs are present. These systems run around $350 but also include a monthly data plan for the modem. Almost any rifle and caliber can kill a hog, but
not every hog can be killed with any caliber. Little piglets can be shot in the head with rimfire calibers effectively, but if you’re after a big sow or boar, plan on something in the .30 cal. family. A popular round is the .308Win which when paired with an AR-10 platform will provide both firepower and punch for the biggest hogs. There’s nothing worse than blood trailing a hog in the dark of night and the ability of a larger caliber to knock down a hog will help prevent many hours of night trailing. Finally, if you’re considering investing in a specialty hog outfit, consider a sound suppressor. When night shooting with a modern, full-power round the firearm suppressor will reduce the muzzle blast, but will not suppress the supersonic crack of the bullet in flight. For hog hunting, the difference is important. When you hit the first hog out of the sounder, the pig willlikely squeal and the impact of the bullet will be heard. However, of the hogs cannot detect from which direction the shot was fired, they do not react in an organized way. A night shooter with a suppressor can often make several shots at hogs due to the confusion due to the lack of a muzzle blast. Several companies, including Dark Horse Suppressors (See ad on page 48) here in Coleman County, offer suppressors for hog hunting.
If you leave hungry when you attend Coleman’s Deer Fest, it’s your own fault. Great food, a chance to win many outstanding guns and prizes and great hospitality are just a few reasons why you don’t want to miss the Deer Fest.
Whether you hunt hogs along with deer or take up the challenge of specialty hog hunting, shooting feral hogs is an exciting way to pass the year and you might be doing the environment a favor.
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Fishing License and App Information Access the official Texas Hunting and Fishing Regulations summary from Texas Parks and Wildlife‌ without internet connection.* Get the information you need when you are afield or afloat! In the field or in a blind: - Find hunting season dates &limits for your county - See seasons and bag limits for all game animals - Review means and methods restrictions - See deer and turkey tagging instructions - Find public hunting lands - Apply for drawn hunts for mule deer, bighorn and other game - Read the latest hunting news from TPWD* On the water or on the shores: - See statewide bag and length limits - Find exceptions to statewide limits by water body - Find places to fish nearby - See tips for identifying bass and catfish - See tips for measuring and releasing fish - View weekly fishing reports* - Read the latest fishing news from TPWD* Licenses, stamps and permits: - See types of licenses, permits & stamps - Find license retailers near you - Purchase licenses online* *Some features require internet connection. For general license questions, please call TPWD Headquarters in Austin at (800) 792-1112 or (512) 389-4800. Staff is available to help answer questions Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, Central Standard Time.
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Coleman County Hunting and Outdoors 2019
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wning a piece of Texas land can be easier than you think, with a loan from Central Texas Farm Credit. For over 100 years, we’ve been the experts in rural lending. We understand the ins and outs of buying land in the country and offer customized loans to match your specific needs. Plus, when you do business with Central Texas Farm Credit you become an owner. That means you share in our cooperative success in the form of a cash patronage refund. There’s no one who knows Coleman County better - call our experts today.
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325.625.2165 | 215 W. Elm www.ranchmoney.com NMLS#469508
Let us show you how we can help with your next recreational land purchase!
Coleman County State Bank 118 West Pecan - Coleman 325-625-2172
Abilene Banking Center 4609 Southwest Drive 325-692-8660 www.colemanbank.com