Hunter's Journal Fall 2019

HUNTER’S JOURNAL What ' sYour Zone?

Fall 2019 FREE

HUNTER'S SIDEKICKS

HUNTING ADVENTURES

UVALDEAN TELLS OF SAFARI HUNT

Hunter's Journal

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Welcome Hunters to Uvalde and Southwest Texas

Proud Sponsor of the 38th Annual Hunter’s Roundup presented by the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce Friday, November 1 • 5 - 10 p.m. Uvalde County Fairplex

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contents

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Fall 2019

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A

Hunter

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HUNTING ADVENTURES – safari hunt 5 DOVE ZONE

20 FEEDING THE HUNGRY

6 HUNTING OUTFITTERS

24 STAYING SAFE

8 SIDEKICKS

26 HUNTING ADVENTURES

10 YOUNGSTERS

29 A WAY OF LIFE

Zone map LOCALLY OWNED INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER—SINCE 1879 A LE ADER IN SOUTHWEST TE X AS

110 N. EAST STREET UVALDE, TX 78801 | Phone: 830-278-3335 | Fax: 830-278-9191

www.uvaldeleadernews.com

@uvaldenews

facebook.com/uvaldeleadernews The Leader-News is available online www.uvaldeleadernews.com

HUNTER’S JOURNAL

is a production of the Uvalde Leader-News.

This magazine is published once a year, and is inserted into the Uvalde Leader-News and delivered to key locations throughout the newspaper’s Southwest Texas market area.

The magazine is also available online at www.uvaldeleadernews.com Cover and page 4 photographs by Bob Zaiglin

Publisher/Owner: Craig Garnett . . . . . . . . . . . cgarnett@ulnnow .com Managing Editor: Meghann Garcia . . . . . . . . . . . . .mgarcia@ulnnow .com Advertising Manager: Steve Balke . . . . . . . . . . . sbalke@ulnnow .com Graphic Designer/Layout/Sales: Gloria Resma . . . gresma@ulnnow .com Classified Manager: Norma Ybarra . . . . . . . . . . nybarra@ulnnow .com Staff Writer: Melissa Federspill . . . . . . . . mfederspill@ulnnow .com Staff Writer: Julye Keeble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jkeeble@ulnnow .com Ad Representative: Heather Nobiling . . . . . . hnobiling@ulnnow .com Uvalde Leader-News (SECD 654780) is an entirely locally owned, independent newspaper published every Thursday and Sunday. The newspaper’s address is 110 N. East Street or P.O. Box 740 Uvalde, Texas 78801. Second class postage paid at Uvalde, Texas. The policy of the present day Leader-News is a continuation of the statement made in 1898 by H.P. Hornby (1876-1948) and continued by Harry P. Hornby Jr. (1917-1978) and Mrs. Harry Hornby Jr. (1917-1995)

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Hunter's Journal Fall 2019

Guides provide important resources Man's best friend Prepare young ones for the first hunt

12 HUNTERS EDUCATION

Hunters for the hungry

Good practices to stay safe during hunting Hunting story contest Generations hunting

30 NEW FOR 2019

Youth and adult education

New regulations for hunting

14 EXILE

32 HUNTING OPPORTUNTIES

Custom rifles

16 HUNTER'S ROUNDUP

Plethora of hunting in Uvalde

Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce

18 WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A HUNTER Desire to hunt

e n o Z e v o D OPENING WEEKEND The 2019 dove hunting season opened at a fast pace with wardens facing a large influx of hunters and two cases of non-lethal hunting accidents involving shotguns over the Labor Day weekend.

Both cases involved visiting hunters, not residents. In one case the victim was shot by another hunter they were unacquainted with, and in the second, the victim was accidentally pelted by another member of their hunting party.

Both victims were treated for minor injuries at Uvalde memorial hospital. No citations were issued in these instances.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported ample doves. Uvalde game wardens Rachel Kellner, Henry Lutz and Dennis Gazaway Jr., were assisted by neighboring area wardens as they issued several citations for exceeding the daily bag limit of 15 doves.

Lutz said close to 30 birds overall were seized on opening weekend from several individuals in Uvalde County. Other violations encountered by wardens included failing to purchase a Migratory Game Bird Endorsement for their hunting license; failing to take a hunter’s education course; taking protected species; and hunting migratory birds with an unplugged shotgun, as shotguns in this instance must be modified to hold no more than three shells.

The regular season in the South Zone (south of U.S. Highway 90) runs from Sept. 14 to Nov. 3 and from Dec. 20 to Jan. 23, 2020.

The special white-winged dove days (also south of U.S. Highway 90) were Sept. 1-2 and Sept. 7-8, beginning at noon each day. Central Zone (north of U.S. Highway 90) runs Sept. 1 to Nov. 3 and Dec. 20 to Jan. 14, 2020.

Game law violations may be reported to Operation Game Thief at 1-800-7924263.

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Hunting Outfitters Hunting guide outfitters often provide important resources and knowledge during hunting season. With their expertise and personal experiences, outfitters can provide transportation, gear and also guide clients on hunting trips, for a successful experience.

Golden Triangle Outfitters, based in Uvalde for more than 20 years, said that using an outfitter will allow for a well-planned hunting expedition.

“As an outfitter we provide a service for the hunters and visitors that are not from the area and don’t know or understand the habits of the particular species they are wanting to hunt,” said Kendall White, owner of Golden Triangle Outfitters.

“We also help in recommendations of local businesses or land marks that may be enjoyable to check out while they are in the area.”

Similarly to other outfitters, they also provide catering and lodging.

The choosing of a good hunting outfitter requires research. Understanding price ranges, hidden fees, and any specializations, is key.

Another concept behind choosing an outfitter is conservation. “We are now working in conjunction with the Texas Dove Hunters Association and other organizations to help promote conservation for longevity within the hunting industry and region,” said White.

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S A L E S

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S E R V I C E

S A F E T Y

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Hunter’s trusted sidekick

Hunting dogs are a hunter’s trusted sidekick, and have been aiding mankind in hunting and foraging for centuries.

But not all hunting dogs are created equal. Tips for choosing the right type of hunting dog include understanding the breed, training requirements, and individual circumstances.

Local hunting enthusiast Vic Hilderbran hunts upland birds with his two English pointers, Sophie and Patch.

Pointers work far out in the field, and can point and flush the birds, and then retrieve them after they are shot, says Hilderbran.

He chose the pointers because their nose is superior, and can pick up a scent several hundred yards away. To hone their skills, he sent them to dog training facility for a few weeks in Pearsall.

It’s an additional cost, but allows for a foundation for obedience. When working with his dogs, Hilderbran says he uses a whistle, and will work them in 30 to 40 minute shifts.

He transports them on hunts in a kennel, for their safety.

Otherwise, says Hilderbran, they could jump from the truck bed to get a bird.

The pointers work well for Hilderbran’s lifestyle. He says that anyone considering getting a dog should think about where they live, and what breed will work with their personal circumstance. For example, how much exercise the dog will get, where will they live, and what works for their family.

“Some people will use a retriever breed, like a Labrador.

They have a different type of personality, and whether or not that is the right dog for hunting really depends on personal choice and circumstance,” said Hilderbran.

He recommends going to different breeders to see the dogs and observe the personalities. Considering a breed’s health traits is also important.

An easy way to learn about working with a hunting dog is to go on a guided hunt that uses dogs. “A guided hunt will provide the opportunity for a hunter who is considering getting a dog to check out if they like it, and if it works for them,” said Hilderbran.

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Hunter's Journal

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PREPARE YOUNGSTERS First hunting Trip

By Greg Fox & Courtney Farnet

A young person’s first hunting trip can be an incredible experience, sparking a lifelong love and appreciation for nature and wildlife. Parents who grew up hunting likely remember their first hunting trip and want to recreate that experience for their own children.

As memorable as a first hunting trip can be, parents of current youngsters might not recall all the pre-trip preparation their own folks did to make that first hunting experience so memorable.

Such preparation can ensure today’s youngsters enjoy the same magical experience their parents did when going hunting for the first time.

• Make sure kids are ready. Kids’ maturity levels merit consideration before taking them hunting for the first time. Children may experience a range of emotions on their first hunting trips.

Such emotions can include excitement, nervousness, sadness, and/or guilt.

Parents should assess their children’s maturity levels prior to announcing a trip to make sure they’re ready for that emotional roller coaster. Kids mature

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Hunter's Journal Fall 2019

at their own pace, so assess each child individually, resisting the temptation to assume one child is ready at a given age because an older sibling was ready at the same age. The American Forest Foundation recommends parents first take their youngsters along as hunting apprentices, which allows them to participate in the rituals of the hunt while their parents can gauge how mature they are to handle the hunt itself.

• Make sure kids can handle their guns. Wide Open Spaces, a website devoted to providing up-to-date information for hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts, notes the importance of kids knowing how to use their guns before they go hunting for the first time. Kids should know how to load and unload, check the chamber and turn the safety on and off. Kids should be confident with their guns, feeling comfortable enough to pull their firearms to their shoulders, get the gun’s sights on the animal and pull the trigger.

• Temper youngsters’ expectations.

Hunting is a rewarding hobby, but also one that requires a lot of work.

Weather also can be unpleasant during hunting season, and that can quickly spoil youngsters’ impressions of hunting. Temper kids’ expectations in advance of a hunting trip so they know it won’t necessarily be all fun. In addition, let children know many hunting trips end without a kill.

• Focus on the fun factor. The AFF notes that surveys indicate that young hunters are more excited to have fun and enjoy quality outdoor time than they are by the prospect of bagging and taking home a trophy animal.

Parents should focus on the fun and the beauty of nature when taking youngsters hunting to ensure kids have as good a time as possible.

Some pre-trip preparation on the part of moms and dads can make youngsters’ first hunting trips successful.

Texas Parks & Wildlife offers the Texas Youth Hunting Program for ages 9 to 17. Go online to www.texasyouthhunting.com

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s r e t n u H n o i t a c u ed

YOUTH AND ADULT HUNTERS

By Brock Minton Texas Parks and Wildlife

Volunteer hunter education instructors Susan and David Rios have certified hundreds of youth and adult hunters in a combined total of more than 20 years of service, and they show no signs of stopping anytime soon.

The couple received an award in April as the Hunter Education Team of the Year for 2018 from the Texas Hunter Education Instructors

Association. All hunter’s education courses are taught by volunteers and there are over 2,500 instructors in Texas.

Susan Rios, who is director of the Main Street program for the city of Uvalde said, “We both feel it is important to preserve our hunting heritage and teach people to be ambassadors for the sport.”

David Rios, a wildlife biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, became a volunteer instructor in 2004, and also serves as an Area Chief, able to answer general questions and train other instructors.

Susan Rios began teaching in 2013.

They emphasize that it is important hunters have a positive attitude, are respectful of others, and show respect to animals being harvested and the land they are hunting upon.

Though they have finished with the hunter education classes they offered this year, the couple The Open Range Bakery and Cafe plan to teach more

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Hunter's Journal Fall 2019

classes in 2020.

Rios says students should leave a hunter education class with the knowledge to ask these three questions when they are out in the field: Is it legal? Is it safe? And is it ethical?

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department requires that hunters born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete hunter education. The minimum age for certification is 9 years old.

Those age 9 through 16 years old must complete a classroom course or an online course with field training.

Ages 17 and up may complete an online-only course.

Hunter education classes include instruction in firearms handling and safety; hunting ethics, laws and regulations; wildlife conservation; field care of game; and wilderness first aid and survival.

Individuals may find a list of area classes and access frequently asked questions about hunter education by visiting www.tpwd.texas.gov/ education/hunter-education.

Pictured above:Volunteer course instructors David and Susan Rios display the Hunter Education Team of the Year Award for 2018 they received on April 27. The award was given at the Texas Hunter Education Instructors Association annual conference held in Uvalde April 26-28. They were nominated by Brock Minton, Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunter Education SpecialistSouth Texas Division.

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BROTHERS SHARE A LOVE FOR HUNTING...

S E L F I R M CUSTO

LEFT:GUNSMITH CORY RALEY DEMONSTRATES EQUIPMENT HE USES TO MACHINE CUSTOM RIFLE BARRELS AT LOCAL BUSINESS EXILE FIREARMS. BELOW: MERCHANDISE INCLUDING SOME STOCK AND BARREL OPTIONS USED TO BUILD CUSTOM BOLTACTION RIFLES ON DISPLAY AT EXILE FIREARMS.

ado with a letter “E” on his bandana, who Cory Raley says represents the business, Texas heritage and an outsider’s creative perspective.

Exile Firearms, which is located at 26 Lou Stroup Drive near the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol station in the Uvalde Industrial Park, specializes in bolt action rifles.They buy barrel blanks and thread the chamber using in-house machines.

The barrels are crafted from carbon fiber wrapped steel.

The business carries a variety of wellknown brands, including Manners Composite Stocks, Bartlein Barrels Inc., Proof barrels, Swarovski optics and Nightforce optics.

Many custom-built rifles require four to six months, or longer, to create.

“Ours take about two weeks.We have barrels and stocks in-house, available for customization,” said Residential & gunsmith Cory Raley.

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830-275-3545 | 830-278-8457 Cerakote is www.joesplumbingtx.com Uvalde-raised brothers Cory and Brooks Raley share a love for hunting and together the pair opened Exile Firearms in December of 2018 to craft custom rifles.

The Raleys believe they have a good idea of what people want out of rifles in this area, and they aim to provide just that.

Their rifles are built by using the standards of benchrest chambering, a process which they state yields the most accuracy the action and barrel can attain.

Their website, www.exilefirearms.com, states, “Our custom rifles are a genuine representation of true craftsmanship and the skilled efforts of a certified gunsmith with a sweaty brow laboring to bring two pieces of metal to life.”

The business logo is a stylized desper-

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a durable proprietary finish that employs ceramic particles to create a surface that resists scratching and other abrasion.The Raleys offer the finish in a variety of colors as well as in a marbled look where the base color is swirled with another color to create a webbing-type effect.

Exile has ammunition in stock, as well as triggers and muzzle-guards.They also carry their own branded snap-back baseball caps and t-shirts.

Gunsmith and maintenance service offered include detailed gun cleaning; muzzle threading and re-barreling; scope mounting; and trigger tech installation.

In addition to custom-made rifles, Exile currently offers five models of ready-toship rifles.Though they do not craft handguns in house, they offer purchasing advice, and help with sourcing and customization.

One personal touch the locally-owned and operated business offers customers is a playing card, mounted in plastic, which accompanies each rifle, displaying the hole where they were shot with the gun they accompany.

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UACC HUNTERS ROUNDUP Friday, November 1, 2019 • 5 to 10 p.m. • Uvalde County Fairplex The 38th-annual Hunters Roundup will be held on Friday, Nov. 1, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Uvalde County Event Center at the Fairplex, 215 Veterans Lane, Uvalde.

The Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce says the roundup has been held on the Friday evening before opening general Whitetail deer season for the past 37 years.

The event originated as an appreciation dinner for visiting hunters in 1981, and has expanded to an expo and raffle, and sponsors and vendor booths have been added as the years progressed.

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Hunter's Journal Fall 2019

The chamber will hold a “Monster Raffle” for 30 guns, including six pistols, 15 rifles, 4 tactical rifles and five shotguns. Tickets cost $5 each. One may purchase 5 tickets for $20, or a book of 25 tickets costs $100.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.uvalde.org/shop; at Oasis Outback, 2900 E. Main St.; Uvalco Supply, 2521 E. Main St.; or at the Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce Office, 340 N. Getty St. Oasis Outback in Uvalde is the pick-up location for your winning firearm.

The name on the ticket is the only person allowed to pick up the firearm.

All State and Federal Firearm Ownership Laws must be adhered to during pickup (subject to a back-

ground check).

All winners must be 18 years of age or older.

All pistol winners must be 21 years of age or older.

Should you not be located in the Uvalde area, your gun can be shipped and forwarded to an approved FFL dealer in your area, for a small fee. Please contact Oasis Outback for details regarding this.

A raffle will also be held for a utility vehicle, 2019 UTV Bennche T-Boss 550, with four-wheel drive, electric front wench and a pneumatic dump bed, valued at $8,500.

Tickets will be sold for $25 each, or five tickets may be purchased for $100. A book of 25 tickets may be purchased for $500.

Winners need not be present to win.Winner is responsible for tax, title and license fees, and the UTV may be picked up from Uvalco Supply in Uvalde starting on Monday, Nov. 4.

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WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A HUNTER

By Bob Zaiglin Pictured are Madison and Beth Speer The desire to hunt is often kindled by an immediate family member who hunts, usually a parent.

As another hunting season is here, sportsmen begin to recall their experiences developed in years past pursuing the iconic whitetailed deer. For successful hunters, the conversations are exciting, even educational, while unlucky individuals focus on why some hunters take great deer every year and they don’t.

First of all hunting prowess is acquired over time in the field.The education process generally begins early in life as an attraction to the outdoors and its inhabitants.

The desire to hunt is often kindled by an immediate family member who hunts,

usually a parent. My father never hunted, but I had an inherent desire to pursue wild game.

My desire to hunt rabbits and pheasant was only intensified by my uncle, who provided my family with delicious wild game every fall. I can still vividly recall the sight, even smell of those fluorescent multi-colored ringneck pheasants he dropped off at our house. I’m not sure how many grocery sacks I filled with the rusty red-colored breast plumage and long tail feathers.

I can also recall my annual treks throughout the neighborhood during the short Pennsylvania deer hunting season in an attempt to see the bucks taken by lucky neighbors. In the ’60s it was customary to hang

deer from a tree in the back yard to age for several days prior to butchering, and the sight of a buck hanging in the cold of winter was an incredible sight to this youngster.

I began hunting in the late 1960s when hunters were respected members of the community.Although small game, rabbits, pheasant, and squirrel were abundant, deer were not. One had to be lucky just to see a doe.Today it’s difficult to find a place where deer are not overly abundant.

Shooting a deer today is not the challenge it once was.To compensate, sportsmen often elevate their standards based on antler size, even age of animal, to augment the challenge.

RESPECT FOR ANIMALS The one trait accomplished hunters have in common is respect for the animals they pursue.Their admiration for whitetails forces them to learn as much about their quarry as possible. Dedicated hunters have an insatiable appetite for deer information.Trophy hunters, particularly, are well read individuals with the innate ability to apply what they learn.

The real trophy hunters’ philosophy is not how many bucks they take, but more importantly, age of the deer, how it was taken, what it scored, and more importantly, with whom they shared the event.

These hunters in the advanced stage of their sport shoot few deer with most hunting seasons passing without firing a shot.They enjoy the challenge of pursuit and the experience is not measured in antler size, but duration of the hunt.

By passing up young bucks while waiting for that particular one, discretionary hunters enjoy lengthy seasons.

By doing so, they learn more about deer behavior in one year than the average weekend hunter does in several hunting seasons.Their high standards forces them to learn more about the prey they seek, and there is no better place than the outdoor classroom.

Accomplished hunters pride themselves on their skill of assessment. Before a rifle is raised, they must estimate the age and score of the animal.These validations may very well be their ultimate challenge, requiring substantial practice in order to hone their skill.

The ability to pass on immature bucks exhibiting above-average antlers is one

characteristic that separates the mature hunter from the average hunter.Trophy hunters are actually the consummate conservationists, removing little, while contributing much to the welfare of the herd.

The successful hunter is a byproduct of the environment in which he hunts.

The objective all trophy hunters adhere to is to hunt where big deer exist. In other words, they place more emphasis on the hunt and not the kill.

BIG BUCK TERRITORY Hunting on big buck turf may very well be the paramount ingredient to success, but locating such land can often be a difficult task.This is accomplished by much research and excellent communication skills.The research is the easy part as it’s commonly known where the largest bucks occur.

All one has to do is review the Boone and Crockett record book, and they will find out that Dimmit,Webb, and LaSalle counties are the top trophy buck producing counties in the state.The next step is the location of available landholdings. By conversing with Chamber of Commerce people along with game wardens and biologists, landowner contacts can be determined.The rest is dependent on their ability to communicate with the landowner.

Once desirable deer country is acquired, hunters spend much time scouting the area. Recognition of deer sign is second nature – their goal is to locate that ultimate buck, which takes time. By doing so, they become attached to the land, dedicated to improving it and the deer inhabiting it.Their willingness to spend time, energy, and money to elevate deer quality is another common thread of dedicated hunters.

Locating that ultimate piece of buck-rich real estate is obviously critical, but even then some hunters fail to capitalize.There is no silver bullet to taking a trophy buck.

Number one is confidence, which coerces them to hunt longer and harder, which increases success.

Persistence may be the paramount characteristic for success. Successful hunters

exhibit that “stick-to-it-never-give-up” attitude.This incessant desire to continue hunting, even under adverse conditions and over long periods of time, has enabled hunters to place more big bucks in their memory rooms than any other factor.

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE A good example is the hunting experience I enjoyed in 2000 when I spotted an exceptional buck on the morning of Dec. 23, but just as I was about to shoot, it was gone. I returned to the area for 16 long, cold, sometimes frustrating days and was rewarded with a 184-inch buck.

The area in which I hunted was occupied by few deer. Seldom would I see an animal, but fortunately I remained confident it would return. I doubt I could have waited out this deer in my younger years characterized by impatience.

Another characteristic exuded by the successful hunter is the ability to shoot precisely.This takes practice.Trophy-class bucks are rare, and in order to capitalize, one must be prepared.

Punching holes at the range can also help overcome buck fever, which can overwhelm anyone at any time.

By shooting often, it becomes instinctive; thus when that once in a lifetime buck shows up, one’s instincts can help override those nerves, at least until the shot is made.

Luck is important, but I define luck as the intersection where preparation meets opportunity. I would rather be lucky than good any day, but one cannot always rely on luck. Luck seems to increase exponentially with effort, thus my philosophy has always been the harder one works, the luckier they get.

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If you love to hunt but you, or your spouse, aren’t as enthusiastic about consuming your prey, have you considered donating it to the Hunters for the Hungry program?

The program helps feed the hungry and promotes environmental stewardship.

To donate, simply bring a field-dressed deer that you have legally hunted to a participating meat processor, at no cost to yourself.

Uvalde Meat Market and Processing, located at 508 S. Wood St., is a registered processing partner for the program, and has been for numerous years..

Administered by Feeding Texas, which is part of the Feeding America program, Hunters for the Hungry provides venison to Texans in need.

Feeding Texas states that one in seven Texans live in food-insecure homes, which is defined by the the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a lack of consistent access, often due to lack of financial resources, to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Through the program, hunters can drop off legally tagged deer with participating meat processors, who then prepare the venison for distribution through local food banks.

There is also an option to donate to the program when purchasing a Texas hunting license. Donations support meat processing fees.

Uvalde Meat Market processed approximately 5,000 pounds of donated meat, which was then given to the San Antonio Food Bank and the South Texas Food Bank

in Laredo for distribution to families and individuals.

The South Texas Food Bank serves eight counties in South Texas: Webb, Zapata, Jim Hogg, Val Verde, Maverick, Kinney, Dimmit, and Starr County. The food bank’s website is www.southtexasfoodbank.org.

The San Antonio Food Bank serves approximately 58,000 individuals a week in Southwest Texas. They have a partner network consisting of more than 500 agencies.

They serve 16 counties including Edwards, Real, Kerr, Bandera, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Wilson, Karnes, Atascosa, La Salle, Frio, Zavalla, Uvalde, Medina and Bexar.

For more information about the food banks Hunters For The Hungry program, contact: Chad Chittenden, hunters@ safoodbank.org.

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Staying safe during hunting

State Game Wardens Henry Lutz and Dennis Gazaway Jr. with Texas Parks and Wildlife would like to remind hunters to stay alert, safe, and on the correct side of game laws this hunting season.

Wardens recommend dove hunters be sure of their target before pulling the trigger and pay attention to where they are pointing their shotgun to avoid injury to others.

Check hunting licenses at the time of purchase to be sure all necessary endorsements and required information is listed before leaving the point of purchase. Hunter Education is required of any hunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, and proof of course completion is required.

Hunters are cautioned to be familiar with birds and game animals being hunted so that they don’t mistakenly shoot something that is illegal to kill.

According to Lutz, the most common violations found this dove season are failing to complete a Hunter Education

24

Hunter's Journal Fall 2019

course; not having a migratory game bird endorsement; and hunting migratory birds with an unplugged shotgun.

Some citations have been issued to hunters for taking over the daily bag limit, and some issues where an individual is transporting doves killed by other hunters and without a Wildlife Resource Document executed, so that puts the person in possession of all those doves over his possession limit. The remedy in that type of situation is for the hunter to complete the Wildlife Resource Document and it will then accompany the birds so that they are traceable back to the hunter who killed them.

Wardens receive numerous calls every year from residents involving houses being peppered by stray shot from nearby dove hunters. Game wardens suggested homeowners, in addition to contacting wardens, reach out to neighboring landowners, outfitters and guides, to get to know each other and help each other work for a more positive result for

everyone.

Dove hunters are reminded to pay attention to which way they are shooting and realize that shot from their shotgun carries farther than they realize. The shot from the shotgun should not leave the property being hunted upon.

Outfitters and guides can help with hunter safety by paying close attention to hunters they are directing and positioning them in the field where firing shot will not cause it to hit neighboring homes, hunters, or vehicles traveling on nearby roads.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

SAFETY TIPS Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

Treat every firearm or bow with the same respect you would show a loaded gun or nocked arrow.

Be sure of your target and what is in front of and beyond your target.

Unload firearms and unstring conventional bows when not in use.

Handle the firearms, arrows and ammunition carefully.

Hunter's Journal

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hunting adventures The following story by John Hopkins of Uvalde was an entry in the Uvalde Leader-News 2019 hunting story contest.

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Jim Eagan once again brought loved ones to the Live Oak Ranch for a little R&R. I don’t have the space to relate all the hunting adventures to you, so we’ll just tell you of the Steven and Kristine McNally hunts, brother and sister hunts.When this New York group is at the ranch, we must be at the top of our trash talk game.

On a Thursday afternoon, Jim and his brother-in-law, Mike McNally and I took Kristine on a safari hunt.The wind was 30-40 mph with 50 mph gusts, so I wasn’t sure if we’d be able to find the Wildebeest. Before we left the compound, I spent a little time with Kristine in order to see how she’d be most comfortable in taking a shot from a vehicle. It was too windy for the high rack.

We headed off to the Rolling Hills pasture. As we drove the trails through the pasture, we were not seeing any animals.They were obviously hunkered down in the brush out of the wind. However, much to my surprise, a small herd of Wildebeest were seen on the north side of an open field.

Apparently, the cool wind didn’t bother them. I positioned the truck on the south side of the field.The truck was canted so that Kristine had a good shot opportunity.The herd bull was staring right at us.We needed to wait until the bull presented a broadside shot.We had coached Kristine about

making multiple shots because the Wildebeest would be hard to bring down. She was ready!

The bull continued to look straight at us.The others were sometimes stationary and sometimes moving.

After a while, the bull turned sideways, but there were other Wildebeest now behind him. Kristine had to wait.The bull moved to the west just enough to create a window of opportunity.

I said, “Now.” Kristine squeezed the trigger.The big guy was hit hard. He ran to the north. She fired again, and again. He went down.Then the other Wildebeest were in the way.When they cleared, Kristine fired again.The bull moved to the west. Kristine fired again. I think she put six bullets into him.We waited a few minutes, then drove within a few yards. I asked Jim and Mike to stay in the vehicle so that in case something went wrong as we approached the bull, I would only have to worry about one person, the one with the firearm. I positioned Kristine so that she could put a bullet between the two front legs into the heart.That finished the Wildebeest.

How windy was it? Our basketball goal blew over onto the driveway. No one picked it up. I think Ivan rotated it 90 degrees to get it off the driveway.

Within another hour or so, the wind set it back up. God knew I’m too old and weak to lift it.

For the Thursday evening blind hunts, Steven McNally and his sister, Kristine, went to Blind 4. Steven

was hunting a Waterbuck. About 30 we were. minutes later, Steven called to say he When John and I arrived, we could was sick and needed to return to the see Steven stalking the Waterbuck. compound. It sucks to be ill, but to be Steven fired, and the Waterbuck ran ill away from home is worse and to be west. It took a bit of searching through sick on a hunting trip is indescribable. thick brush before the Waterbuck was Steven was still quarantined on found in a small open area.

Friday morning.

Steven might look a little pale, but After breakfast on Friday morning, he was happy. Right after the photo, he one of the pilots, John Zier, wanted went back to bed. Steven was feeling a to practice with his 45 pistol.While little better when he left the ranch. we were on the gun range, someone spotted a trophy Waterbuck.They rousted Steve out of his sick bed, made him get dressed and drug him outdoors.

Ivan, my right-hand man, called me for permission to shoot the Waterbuck. Jim couldn’t understand why I was saying no. From Ivan’s description, I knew where the Waterbuck was, and I was afraid that if the Waterbuck ran west, then John and I might be in the line of fire. I then decided that John and I would leave the gun range Agro Equipment Co., Inc. because I couldn’t get the group to 633 South Getty • Uvalde, Texas understand where

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A WAY OF LIFE ‘MOST OF THE WOMEN IN MY FAMILY HUNT, AND MOST HAVE LARGER TROPHIES MOUNTED ON THE WALL THAN THE MEN DO.’ RYAN SHANNON UVALDE RESIDENT PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN SHANNON

When asked why hunting is important to him and the generations in his family before him, Uvaldean Ryan Shannon said, “It’s a way of life.”

“We grew up hunting for meat,” said Shannon. “Like I have always been told, all you need is a hunting license to be able to provide for your family.

“The $68 super combo will allow you to fill a freezer up with game to consume all year long.”

The art of hunting has been in the family for generations, and men are not the only ones hunting in Shannon’s family. Women in the family also participate.

Shannon was exposed to hunting at a young age, and it was a family affair.

His father was a hunter, along with his mother, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

“Most of the women in my family hunt, and most have larger trophies mounted on the wall than the men do,” chuckled Shannon.

“I learned to hunt from quite a few people. I would go to the blinds with my mom, PawPaw, aunts and uncles from an early age,” said Shannon.

His dad, who grew up in Sonora, was taught to hunt by both his dad and stepdad, said Shannon.

Shannon’s paternal step-grandfather, Rodney Knight, was a Sutton County Game Warden for 30 years.

His maternal grandfather, Billy Martin, is a rancher in Sonora.

“I killed my first deer while with my dad when I was 8 years old with my great-grandfather’s Savage .222 in Atascosa County,” said Shannon.

Growing up they would always plan weekends for everyone to try to be at the ranch together, but as everyone has grown older it’s more difficult, said Shannon.

These days, Shannon helps guide hunters for meat, recreation and for sport. When he dove hunts and guides, he takes his chocolate lab Moose out with him.

Shannon is married to Uvalde County Extension agent Samantha Shannon, lives in Uvalde, and works as a sales manager for Sanford Irrigation and Landscaping.

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EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 • Establishment of hunting season on antlerless whitetailed deer in 21 counties in south-central Texas • Expansion of hunting seasons on antlerless white-tailed deer in 20 counties in northeast Texas • Establishment of javelina season in 6 counties in the South Plains • Implementation of antler spread restrictions on mule deer in Lynn County • Legalization of arrow gun for methods of take while hunting • Harvest reporting is now mandatory for antlerless deer in select south-central Texas counties. Reporting must be done online, through the My Texas Hunt Harvest mobile app, or through the Outdoor Annual mobile app once you have downloaded both apps.

• Daily bag limits on northern pintails during duck season will decrease statewide from 2 to 1 in the daily bag limit for the 2019-20 hunting season.

• The check station near the Hueco Mountains for the Trans-Pecos’s Mandatory CWD Sampling and Carcass Movement Restriction Zone has changed locations this hunting season.

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For more facility information 800-588-2533 • 830-278-4115 Hunter's Journal Fall 2019 civiccenter@visituvalde.com

https://tpwd.texas.gov/ regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/new-thisyear-hunting

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Uvalde County has a plethora of hunting opportunities, from deer to dove and exotics. However, most hunting is only available on private lands. Using a guide will allow for access to hunting spots in and around Uvalde County.

In Texas, publicly-accessible land

is managed by the Texas Parks of Wildlife Department.

“Todays Public Hunting Program includes over a million acres of land located throughout Texas,” reads their website.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, access is provided by two types of annual permits.

The annual public hunting permit is $48, for full privileges including hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and other recreational uses. The limited public use permit is $12 and provides access for all other recreational activities except hunting.

Information on game animals and hunting season, and license information is available on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website, www.tpwd.state.tx.us . Individuals can also call 800792-1112 and select menu 5 for wildlife information.

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Historic Downtown Uvalde These businesses among others, offer you a great selection of items and great customer service.

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Hunter's Journal Fall 2019