Hunting Guide 2018

Page 1

In the

CR

SSHAIRS Weekend, October 6-7, 2018

Hill Country ranch receives top honor Turning Point offers endless possibilities


2 In the Cr sshairs

Full Page Joshua Creek PROCESS 8647

Joshua Creek Ranch is the 2018 Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Lodge of the Year. As a finalist for the prestigious award for the past three years, plus featuring an Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Guide of the Year winner in 2017 and finalist in 2018, there is little wonder to why Joshua Creek Ranch has been delighting guests from all over the world for nearly three decades. The sporting lifestyle meets luxury resort amenities at this Texas Hill Country paradise. A custom itinerary and extraordinary experience awaits guests seeking an unforgettable adventure surrounded by warm Texas hospitality. m Migratory Dove Hunting m Upland Bird Hunting for Quail, Pheasant and Chukar m European-Style Driven Pheasant Shoots m Decoyed Mallard Duck Hunting m Fly-Fishing for Rainbow Trout, Bluegill and Bass m Seasonal Whitetail Deer & Turkey Hunting m Trophy Axis Deer Hunting m Sporting Clays Shooting

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2018 Hunting Guide 3

A product of Publisher Neice Bell Managing Editor Travis Webb Assistant Managing Editor Jeanette Eastwood Nash Special Sections Editors Autumn Bernhard Chelsea M.K. Stack Photo Editor Tom Holden

Contributors Donna Provencher Noel Stacey Composing Manager Dean Heep Advertising Director John Doran Advertising Brandon Baldwin Jeff Herring Becky Kiner Luly Miller On the cover: A common site for hunters looking to bag some doves.

Photo by Tom Holden

Table of Contents

4 Season overview 4 2018-19 hunting updates 4 Season, bag and possession in Kerr County 5 Know before you go get your license 7 Turning Point offers endless possibilities 10 Hill Country ranch receives top wingshooting honor 16 Safety in the field 16 Gun safety tips 17 Most common poisonous snakes in the area 18 What to put in your survival kit 19 Wild Game Recipes

1/2 HC Propane 8383


4 In the Cr sshairs

2018-19 season predictions Season could start slow for Kerr County By Autumn Bernhard

Hunters who are counting down the days to the 2018 season might want to not hold their breath on getting the big one on opening weekend. Although Kenny Lee, the game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stationed in Kerr County, said there are plenty of nice deer around, he is skeptical how much they will be attracted to feeders at the beginning of the season. “It will be much like last year, since we had rain at the end of the warm months,” he said. “This will increase the (natural) vegetation, so deer will not be coming to the feeders as much. So hunters might spend less money on corn, but not see as many deer.” But don’t rule out heading to the blind on Nov. 3, because there are a lot of deer in the county. “There will be plenty of deer, and plenty of nice deer,” he said. “They just won’t be coming to the feeders as much. If you’re a weekend hunter, it might be tough to get one, but if you can stay in the blind more, you can get one, it just might take a little longer to get.” Part of the abundance of deer in the area can be attributed to the fawn crop. “The fawn crop was surprisingly good, considering the drought,” he said noting a lot of twins have been reported. “With the harvest last year, because of the rain (allowing deer to avoid visiting feeders), there are tons of deer left over.” And with regards to size, most of the deer are looking pretty good, Kenny said. “I’ve seen a few thin deer, but for the most part,

they are looking good,” he said. “Antler growth this year has been really good. There were a lot of dry months, but we got rain at the beginning of the summer that helped.” The rain and the dip in temperatures in the past few months will not effect the rut, according to Kenny. “The normal rut starts at the tail end of this month; if it’s exceptionally cold, that could be sooner,” he said. “But here it seems to be consistent toward the end of October, and they will start to fight in midOctober. But bucks will be chasing on into January.” So if the deer aren’t under your feeder, where should you look for them? Aside from looking for acorns after they fall, deer will likely be found in any area with new growth in the foliage. “They really like new growth in leafy plants, like shrubbery and new oak trees,” Kenny said. “There’s tons of it around here.” Even in the excitement of the new season, Kenny would like to remind hunters to always practice safety and read their Outdoor Annual, which produced annually by Texas Parks and Wildlife. “I suggest reading it every year, because things change, and it is a good refresher of things you might have forgot,” he said. “That could save yourself from a ticket.” The biggest hunting issue found by game wardens in Kerr County is tagging violations. “Remember to take a good look to make sure you are using the right tag. I’ve seen red drum and mule deer tags on a white tail,” he said. “And don’t forget to fill out the harvest log on the back of your license.”

Season, bag and possession in Kerr County White-tailed deer

Archery only: Sept. 29–Nov. 2, 2018 Early youth-only season: Oct. 27-28, 2018 General season: Nov. 3, 2018–Jan. 6, 2019 Late youth-only season: Jan. 7-20, 2019 Late antlerless and spike: Jan. 7-20, 2019 Bag limit: Five deer, no more than two bucks, all seasons combined

Dove

Season: Sept. 1–Nov. 4, 2018 and Dec. 21, 2018–Jan. 14, 2019 Bag limit: 15 white-winged, mourning and white-tipped doves in the aggregate, to include no more than two white-tipped Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit

Turkey

Fall season: Nov. 3, 2018-Jan. 6, 2019 Archery only: Sept. 29-Nov. 2, 2018 Youth only: Oct. 27-28, 2018 Bag composition: Either sex Bag limit: The annual bag limit for turkey in the aggregate for all counties is four, and no more than one of which may be an eastern turkey. Spring season: March 16-April 28, 2019 Youth only: March 9-10, 2019; May 4-5, 2019 Bag composition: Gobblers or bearded hens Bag limit: The annual bag limit for turkey in the aggregate for all counties is four, and no more than one of which may be an eastern turkey.

2018-19 hunting updates

Stay up-to-date on all current laws and regulations when you go hunting. For an in-depth look at all the laws and regulations, grab a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s “Outdoor Annual.” Here are the new things to remember for the upcoming season.

• The 2019 eastern turkey season will open a little later than last year, starting April 22 and closing May 14, to boost bird production and increase population size. Also, the turkey season in Upshur and San Augustine counties has been closed. • The possession limit for squirrel, pheasant and chachalaca is expanding to three times the daily bag limit. • For waterfowl hunters, the daily bag limit for pintails will be increased to two during the 2018-19 season. • In Calhoun County, the Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area will offer its first public drawn hunts for

deer and exotics, including special draws for youth hunters. Hunters may apply at tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/ hunt/public.

• For mule deer, a new experimental antler-restriction regulation in Briscoe, Childress, Cottle, Floyd, Hall and Motley counties restricts buck harvest to bucks with an outside spread between the main beams of 20 inches or more. • A nine-day mule deer general season (no archery season) is starting in Lynn County. • The Big Time Texas Hunts program is offering a new big game hunt for a nilgai bull. This includes a guide, food and lodging for three nights on a historic ranch in deep South Texas. Entries are available at tpwd. texas.gov/win or at license retailers. Entry deadline is Oct. 15.


2018 Hunting Guide 5

Know before you go

Hunting licenses come in all shapes, sizes, costs

Complied by Autumn Bernhard

Every hunter is aware that one of the requirements before heading to the blind on opening day is purchasing their hunting license. But do hunters, and anglers for that matter, really know who spends their license dollars? In surveys throughout the years, it looks like the answer is a resounding “no.” But, as in every state, 100 percent of the money brought in from hunting and fishing license fees go toward conservation efforts. In fact, there are laws that specifically prohibit the use of license revenue for anything other than game and fish management. For Texas, the money goes to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for “on-the-ground conservation efforts that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish,” according to the TPWD website.

TPWD’s annual operating budget topped $373.9 million in 2017. Roughly $106 million of the budget was funded through the sale of nearly 3.3 million licenses, stamps, permits and tags of various kinds. Those funds help pay for fish stocking, wildlife management, habitat restoration, land conservation and Texas game wardens. With that being said, it is important to have an idea of what license, stamps and endorsements you need when you step up to the counter.

Hunting licenses • Youth hunting license- Valid for any person, resident or non-resident, 17 or younger at the date of license purchase. Exempt from state hunting endorsement requirements, except for reptile and amphibian endorsement. State endorsement exemptions remain valid for the

entire license year. $7 • Resident hunting license- Required for Texas residents to hunt any legal bird or animal (terrestrial vertebrates). Endorsement requirements apply. $25 • Senior resident hunting license- Valid only for residents age 65 years and older. Valid to hunt any legal bird or animal. Endorsement requirements apply. $7 • Resident trapper’s- Required to hunt, shoot or take for sale those species classified as fur-bearing animals or their pelts. $19 • Super combo hunting and all-water fishing package- For residents who hunt and fish freshwater and/or salt water. It includes the following at a discount price: a resident hunting license; a resident fishing license; and all five state endorsements (archery, freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing with a red drum tag, upland game bird and migratory game bird).

The federal duck stamp is not included. $68; senior (ages 65 and older) $32 • Disabled veteran super combo- Available to a resident or non-resident qualifying as a disabled veteran. Disabled veteran means a veteran with a service-connected disability, as defined by the Veterans Administration, consisting of the loss of the use of a foot or leg or a disability rating of 50 percent or more, and who is receiving compensation from the U.S. for the disability. Official proof of disability (issued by the V.A.) must be shown when applying for this license and must state the rate of disability. Includes all five state endorsements (archery, freshwater fishing, migratory game bird, saltwater fishing with a red drum tag, and upland game bird). The Federal Duck Stamp is not included. Free • Texas resident active duty military super combo- Available to any Texas resident on

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6 In the Cr sshairs active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Reserves, National or State Guard. Proof of residency for this license includes military service record(s) indicating that the person’s home of record is in Texas or that the person’s duty station for the six months immediately prior to the time of application is in Texas. Free • Texas resident active duty military hunting package- Available to any Texas resident on active duty in the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Reserves, National or State Guard. This package includes

a resident hunting license and three state endorsements (archery, upland game bird and migratory game bird). NOTE: The Federal Duck Stamp is NOT included. Proof of residency for this license is: military service record(s) indicating that the person’s home of record is in Texas or that the person’s duty station for the six months immediately prior to the time of application is in Texas. Free • Combo license packages- Include a resident hunting license; a resident fishing license; and either the saltwater endorsement (with a red drum tag), freshwater endorsement or

• Non-resident and hunting lease licenses are also available. Prices vary Most licenses, license packages, endorsements and tags can be purchased at approximately 1,700 locations statewide where licenses are sold. Many licenses may be purchased by phone or online. To purchase via phone, call 800-895-4248 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To purchase your license online, visit txfgsales.com. Licenses are not refundable.

both, depending on the specific package. Prices vary • Lifetime license- Residents may buy hunting and fishing licenses valid for the lifetime of the license holder. The holder of a lifetime license is exempt from all state endorsement requirements except the reptile and amphibian endorsement; however, the red drum license tag and federal duck stamp requirements still apply. Lifetime licenses are only available for sale from the TPWD Austin Headquarters and TPWD Law Enforcement Offices. Prices vary

Hill Country license agents Kerrville

Ingram

Gibson’s Discount Center: 111 W. Main St., 830-257-3511 H-E-B No. 089: 300 Main St., 830-896-3600 H-E-B No. 655: 313 Sidney Baker St. , 830-896-8030 Hill Country Arms Inc.:1013 Sidney Baker St., 830-792-7722 Kerrville Ranch & Pet Center: 1900 Junction Highway, 830-895-5800 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: 309 Sidney Baker St. South, 830-257-7611 Wal-Mart No. 508: 1216 Junction Highway, 830-895-7900

Texas Hunt Lodge: 120 Lakehouse Trail, 830-367-7611

Comfort Lowe’s Supermarket No. 159: 619 Front St., 830-995-2380

Harper Lindley’s Taxidermy & Deer Processing: 23868 U.S. 290, 830-864-5005

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2018 Hunting Guide 7

Turning Point offers endless possibilities Nonprofit works to adapt hunting to all

By Donna Provencher Hunting is already a pursuit that requires a unique set of skills, but for Lauren Taylor — who has a congenital form of muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair — it requires a little extra creativity. In seventh grade, Lauren — who comes from a family of hunters — got involved with Turning Point, a nonprofit organization based out of Terrell that plans and hosts adaptive sporting events for children and adults with disabilities. Lauren has also interned for Turning Point and been involved with its disability art show, and frequently refers contacts to them for adaptive sports. Adaptive sports offered by Turning Point include hand cycling, fishing, kayaking, sailing, shooting sports, boating, camping, hunting, archery, waterskiing and wheelchair basketball, said the organization’s president, Jason Swanson. The organization was founded more than

“It’s about the thrill of getting somebody their first animal and how excited they get. ... When somebody’s so hyped up on adrenaline at 10 years old and can’t control it, it’s awesome.” - Jason Swanson, Turning Point president

Photo courtesy of Nance Powers


8 In the Cr sshairs “(Faulkner Ranch) is stocked with deer that they raise there, and all of their blinds and stuff are (wheelchair) accessible,” Lauren said. “All of their roads are paved … they have great prize deer that just give the hunters the opportunity to get a trophy that they wouldn’t otherwise get.” Jason said that adapting sports is challenging because it must be managed on a case-by-case basis. “Every injury, every disease is different. We may have some kids that don’t need much — they walk with a cane or a crutch or something — so they can go into a raised blind,” he said. “But we have some kids who use power chairs, so we have to adapt the blinds, (or) there’s a special mount to hold the gun on the chair. Their upper body strength may differ.” There are also bite triggers, added Jason, so young hunters who don’t have much finger dexterity can bite the trigger to shoot it. “We (even) took a blind kid out hunting in Kerrville,” he said, noting that the child’s father stood beside him and told him when to pull the trigger. “When it

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30 years ago, Jason said, with his own involvement beginning in the early 1990s. “I was at a water skiing clinic and needed to borrow an adaptive water ski, and then somebody put me in touch with Shorty Powers,” he said. (Shorty, now deceased, co-founded the organization with his wife, Nance Powers.) The rest, Jason said, is history. For three or four years, Lauren attended an annual hunt in the Kerrville area offered by Turning Point, in partnership with hosting venue Faulkner Ranch, a local ranch that had ideal terrain for adaptive hunting. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department helped coordinate the visits to Faulkner Ranch by putting the owners of the ranch and Turning Point in contact with one another, Jason said. He noted that until about five years ago, he would take 15 children 18 and younger on a weekend-long hunt at the ranch once a year — usually in November — and they would stay at the Y.O. Ranch (now Y.O. Ranch Headquarters). One of those children was Lauren.

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2018 Hunting Guide 9 was over, that kid knew more about the deer than we ever did.” Lauren said, for her, adaptive hunting meant she needed to obtain a special tripod rest to hold her gun steady. Jason noted that Turning Point tries to incorporate whole families into adaptive hunting. “It’s about the thrill of getting somebody their first animal and how excited they get and the family gets,” Jason said. “Everyone thinks it’s fantastic. When somebody’s so hyped up on adrenaline at 10 years old and can’t control it, it’s awesome.” Lauren remembers her first adaptive hunting trip vividly. “It’s really exhilarating if it’s your first time,” she said. “My dad always said that when you shoot your first deer … you’re either going to love it or you’re going to hate it, and there’s not much of an in-between.” Her experiences with Turning Point and Faulkner Ranch were memorable, Lauren added. “It’s a hard thing to describe how hospitable these people are that are involved with Turning Point and Faulkner Ranch,” she said. “You meet them for 10 seconds, and it’s like you’ve known them your whole life. They make you feel like family, and I don’t think there’s a single person that ever feels left out or excluded or anything like that.” Jason agreed, noting that Faulkner Ranch

went so far as to install ground blinds for the youth hunters who were unable to climb into tower blinds. While Turning Point’s last trip to Faulkner Ranch was around five years ago, and the group does not currently offer any hunts in the Kerrville area, Jason said he would be eager to return to the Hill Country and begin taking students hunting there again — if another local ranch would be willing to offer Turning Point use of its property for a few days a year. “If you found me a place to a hunt — I would love to come down there (to Kerrville) and do it every year,” he said. Overall, Lauren said, she refers her friends with disabilities to Turning Point for adaptive sports because she considers the nonprofit an invaluable resource. “I never thought you could water ski (in a wheelchair) until I did, so they have so many different things that have been adapted that you could never think of,” she said. “I just tell (people) that there’s usually a way to do anything.” Jason said that almost anything is possible — if you’re passionate enough about it. “You never know you can’t do it until you try it,” he said. “Whatever you were doing before you got hurt or sick, adapt it. … If it’s what you love, then get out there and do it again.” For more information on Turning Point and adaptive sports, visit turningpointnation.org.

Courtesy photo by Nance Powers

“You never know you can’t do it until you try it. Whatever you were doing before you got hurt or sick, adapt it. … If it’s what you love, then get out there and do it again.” Courtesy photo by Nance Powers

- Jason Swanson, Turning Point president


10 In the Cr sshairs

A wing about the rest

Joshua Creek Ranch earns top honor for gamebird hunting Compiled by Autumn Bernhard While birds might not be the most common game to hunt in the Hill Country, there is a Boerne ranch that has made wingshooting its specialty. Since 1990, Joshua Creek Ranch has built a reputation as one of the premier hunting lodges in the world. A large part of that is the fowl hunting, which includes dove season in the fall to upland bird hunting and decoyed mallard duck hunting from October through March. The natural Hill Country landscape and pure habitat of the area, combined with experienced guides and welltrained gundogs produce some of the finest wingshooting in North America. Since it’s opening 28 years ago, the ranch has been developed into a sportsmen’s paradise, the Texas Hill Country landscape — from fertile creek and river bottom land to lightly wooded grass pastures with intervening limestone bluffs and ledges — produces the prime wildlife habitat for quail, pheasant, mallard duck, Texas deer and turkey hunting, while remaining beautiful. The ranch prides itself on its gamebird hunting, and this year, it paid off with being awarded the 2018 Orvis Endorsed Wingshooting Lodge of the Year. The honor, awarded in April, recognizes the lodge that is “literally the best in the world based on customer feedback among other established criteria.” “This is about the highest honor you can get in the wingshooting world,” said Kevin Welborn, Joshua Creek Ranch marking director. Joshua Creek Ranch has been a part of the Orvis Endorsed Program for four years, being a finalist in the lodge of the year award for three consecutive years,

Photo courtesy of Joshua Creek Ranch


2018 Hunting Guide 11

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12 In the Cr sshairs time and money to go across the Atlantic.

from seven comfortable blinds.

Mallard ducks

Continental pheasant

As the newest addition to the wingshooting scenarios at Joshua Creek Ranch, decoyed mallard duck hunts have quickly become a customer favorite, especially for waterfowl enthusiasts who don’t have the opportunity to make it to the coastal marshes where prime duck hunting exists. Shallow ponds bordered by tall elms create an ideal decoyed mallard duck hunting habitat featuring fast and frequent shooting action

Continental pheasant shoots, often referred to as “tower shoots,” give a similar experience as driven pheasant shooting, but in a more controlled setting. From a central tower, pheasants are released to challenge shooters who rotate through 10 stations, each set in a different habitat location to give a variety of shots — high incoming, snap shots through tree tops, high left and right crossers. Photos courtesy of Joshua Creek Ranch

beginning in 2016.

The beginning The ranch, purchased in 1986 by Joe and Ann Kercheville, was originally planned as a site to raise a herd of registered Texas longhorn cattle. That changed after they participated in driven pheasant hunts in Scotland in 1988 and 1989. The similarities between the Scottish hunting terrain and the Texas Hill Country ranch were evident, so the couple spoke with Americans who were investing their time and money to travel across the Atlantic for fine pheasant hunting that was unavailable in the U.S. They set out to create an operation with top-quality employees who would provide an upscale wingshooting and hunting experience for every guest on every visit. On some of the finest hunt country nestled on an isolated stretch of the Guadalupe River and Joshua Creek, the diverse terrain created the perfect scenario for driven shooting, as well as the ideal habitat for walk-up hunting for a variety of upland birds. Today, the ranch features a combination of fertile creek and river bottom land, in addition to lightly wooded grass pastures rimmed by limestone bluffs and ledges. Wingshooting is the primary focus from Sept. 1 to May 1, with resort amenities and outdoor sporting recreation being the main attraction for summer months. The traditional upland mixed bag walkup hunt behind pointing and flushing dogs is the most popular style, but European-style

driven pheasant shoots and decoyed mallard duck hunts offer guests an unique hunting experience. Guests can come to the ranch for a variety of bird hunts and stay for the gourmet dining and luxury lodging.

Upland From mid-September through March, upland bird hunting is the main attraction at Joshua Creek Ranch. Texas bobwhite quail are found in great numbers on the ranch as are pheasant and chukar. Starting in December each year, hunters can also harvest Hungarian partridge. Traditional walk-up hunting with guides and dogs is the most popular style of hunting at Joshua Creek Ranch. Great care has been taken over the years of operation to develop and manage prime cover and food plots for attracting and holding gamebirds. Professional guides use both pointing and flushing dogs to ensure hunters of finding an abundance of birds and getting a hard flush when the birds fly.

Driven pheasant Sites for European-style driven pheasant shoots have been developed all over the ranch. Guides use the rugged areas above the bottom lands to drive pheasants high over the guns. Driven shoots can be organized for as little as a half-day, allowing opportunity for American hunters to experience this exciting style of shooting without having to spend the


2018 Hunting Guide 13

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2018 Hunting Guide 15 Dove You can find some of Texas’ finest white-wing and mourning dove hunting at the ranch. With a more private setting and fewer dove hunters afield than many over-crowded dove hunting ranches, Joshua Creek Ranch provides a unique experience for dove hunters.

Gundogs Joshua Creek Ranch has professionally trained field dogs — pointers, flushers and retrievers — that are handled by experienced guides on all upland bird hunts. They are truly a sight to behold as they perform their job in the field. Breeds include English setters, German short-hair pointers, springers, Brittany spaniels and English cockers. The ranch also has hunts for white-tailed deer, Axis deer and Rio Grande turkeys. Although, the ranch puts a heavy emphasis on the hunting aspect, there is also world-class clay target shooting that includes three different fullyautomated scenarios on one of the country’s most scenic settings for sporting clays.

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16 In the Cr sshairs Gun safety tips The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers many tips for gun and hunting safety, including:

• Always point the muzzle in a safe direction, controlling the muzzle at all times. Never point a firearm or bow at anything you don’t intend to shoot. Never rest a muzzle on your toe or foot and keep your finger off the trigger until you are going to fire. Keep the safety on until ready to fire. • Always point a firearm in a safe direction and check to see if it is loaded. Be sure the chamber and magazine are empty and that the action is open until ready to be fired. If you do not understand how to determine if it is loaded, do not accept the firearm until someone has safely shown you that it is unloaded. Read your instruction manual carefully before you handle new firearms or bows. • Be sure of your target and what is in front of and beyond it. Never take a shot at any animals on top of ridges or hillsides. Know how far bullets, arrows and pellets can travel. Never shoot at flat, hard surfaces, such as water, rocks or steel, because of ricochets. • Properly identify game animals using binoculars, not a scope. Don’t shoot until a target is fully visible and in good light. • Unload firearms and unstring conventional bows

when not in use. • Leave actions open, and store sporting arms in cases when traveling to and from shooting areas. Take bolts out or break down shotguns, if necessary. Know how your equipment operates. Store and transport firearms and ammunition separately and under lock and key. Store firearms and bows in cool, dry places. Use gun or trigger locks and guards when not in use. • Avoid horseplay with firearms. Never climb a fence, tree or ladder; walk through difficult terrain; or jump a ditch with a loaded firearm or bow and arrows. Never face or look down the barrel from the muzzle end. Match ammunition to the gauge or caliber you are shooting. Always carry arrows in a protected cover or quiver. Learn the proper carries. Use the two-hand carry for best muzzle control. Always carry handguns with hammers over an empty chamber or cylinder. If you fall, be sure to disassemble the gun and check the barrel from the breech end for obstructions. Carry a field cleaning kit. • When hunting, wear daylight fluorescent orange, so you can be seen from a distance or in heavy cover. • Wear hearing and eye protection. • Don’t drink alcohol or take drugs before or while handling firearms or bow and arrows.

Safety in the field

What to look out for this season By Travis Webb Avid hunters know the drill — when hunting season rolls around, safety is the top priority. And while experts agree that gun safety should always be first and foremost in a hunter’s mind, there are other hazards an intrepid outdoorsman may come across in the field. Some, such as mosquitos and ticks, can be serious despite seemingly being mere nuisances. Others, such as stumbling across a rattlesnake, can prove deadly. But with the right prep work, any hunter — whether new to the sport or a seasoned veteran — can ensure they remain the predator and not the prey. Bobby Pickens knows hunting. He should, considering he’s a lifelong hunter himself and also manages the sporting goods department as

Gibson’s Discount Center — one of the area’s most popular stops for hunters of all stripes. He’s got a hundred stories of hunting trips that went well — and slightly more where something went wrong. But that’s OK — as a former law enforcement officer, Bobby knows how to handle a crisis. And, for him, the first step is to be prepared ahead of time. “A lot of it is common sense,” he said. “Like being careful with your hands when you’re cleaning out a blind or cabin. Hornets and wasps love those places. Things like that.” Of course, common sense alone won’t keep ticks off or stop Texas’ legendary mosquitos from swarming. Fortunately, these days, a wide variety of products aimed at doing just that exist.


2018 Hunting Guide 17 “When you’re walking through the woods, you definitely want to make sure you have some kind of spray for ticks,” he said. “They love any warm place.” And ticks can be far more than a mere annoyance — the tiny bloodsuckers can carry a variety of serious diseases that can infect humans, including Lyme disease. Mosquitos can also carry blood-borne illnesses, including the West Nile virus. Plus, they can ruin your trip simply by being aggravating, Bobby added. “When you’re sitting there in a blind and you hear that ‘buzz,’ what’s the first thing you’re gonna do? You swat at it,” he said. “But a deer or other animal sees that movement.” While there’s a wide array of products designed to help hunters deal with mosquitos, including conventional insect repellants, Bobby recommends a product called Thermacell, which is available in a number of forms. “They’ve got it in a spray, a lantern, mist-form,” he said. “They didn’t have that stuff when I was growing up.” And as serious as Lyme disease or West Nile are, there’s a more immediate danger Texas hunters face: snake bites. According to information from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Central Texas is home to a wider variety of snakes than anywhere else in the Lone Star State — and several of them are venomous.

While there are products such as snake gaiters or boots, designed to prevent bites, Bobby said it pays to know what to do in the event it does happen. “Don’t do the old-fashioned thing, the cut and suck method,” he said. “The important thing is to stay calm.” The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers several tips on how to handle a potentially dangerous snake bite: • Assume envenomation has occurred, especially if initial symptoms are present. Those symptoms include fang puncture marks and an almost immediate burning pain at the bite site, rapid and progressive local swelling within five minutes, as well as local discoloration of the skin. Initial symptoms of coral snake bites include tremors, slurred speech, blurred or double vision, drowsiness or euphoria and a marked increase in salivation within four hours; however, life-threatening effects from coral snake envenomation may not be evident for 24 hours or longer. • Identify the species of venomous snake that inflicted the bite, if possible, taking care to avoid another person being bitten. Identification is not necessary but may be helpful. • Keep the victim as calm as possible. This helps reduce the spread of venom and the onset of shock. • Keep yourself and any other members of the group calm, as well. This will help reassure the victim and ensure that the appropriate first-aid measures are followed, as well as prevent anyone else from

Most common poisonous snakes • Western diamond back: has brown, diamond-shaped markings along the middle of the back and alternating black and white rings on the tail. Averages 3.5 to 4.5 feet in length, and can reach 7 feet. This is the most common and widespread venomous snake in Texas, found in all but the easternmost part of the state. • Coral snake: venomous, do not have cat’s-eye pupils. They are the only venomous snake in Texas that is brightly colored with red, yellow and black bands completely encircling the body. Because harmless Texas scarlet snakes and Louisiana and Mexican milk snakes share the red, black and yellow coloration pattern, it is important to notice the order of the colored bands. A good memory-jogging device to learn is “Red next to black-friend of Jack; red next to yellow will kill a fellow.” Finally, with scarlet and milk snakes, the bands do not completely encircle the body but stop at ground level, under-bellies being uniform in color. Texas coral snakes are extremely shy and

non-aggressive. Although their mouths are smaller than most venomous snakes, they can still inflict a serious bite if handled. • Copperhead: characterized by the rich “new penny” copper colors with wide alternating bands extending completely around the snake’s underside. They often frequent garden flowerbeds around houses, preferring to dine on small rodents and frogs attracted to the dampness in these areas. The bite of a copperhead is seldom fatal because of its short fangs (1.2 to 7.2 mm in length) and small amount of venom. • Western cottonmouth: also known as water moccasins. They are the world’s only semi-aquatic viper. Cottonmouths can be dark brown, olive-brown, olive green or almost solid black. They are marked with wide, dark bands, which are more distinct in some individuals than in others. The cottonmouth gets its name from the white tissue inside its mouth, which it displays when threatened. This heavy-bodied snake averages about 3.5 feet in length.

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18 In the Cr sshairs becoming injured. • Know and be alert for the symptoms of shock, and institute the proper treatment should it ensue. Difficulty in breathing and/ or kidney failure are frequent symptoms of envenomation. • Wash the bite area with a disinfectant, if available. • Remove jewelry, such as rings and watches, as well as tight-fitting clothes, before the onset of swelling. • Reduce or prevent movement of a bitten extremity, using a splint if possible. This helps decrease the spread of venom. For the same reason, position the extremity below the level of the heart. • Get the victim to a medical facility as soon as possible and begin treatment with intravenous anti-venom, crystalloid solutions and antibiotics. Anti-venom treatment is generally most effective within the first four hours of envenomation and is ineffective after eight to 10 hours. In addition to the hazards of snakes and insects, Mother Nature herself can be an

unpredictable adversary. Bobby suggested hunters take that into account before setting out. “Check the weather, tell your friends and family where you’ll be, check in with a park ranger or game warden, bring a flashlight and some extra batteries,” he said. He also recommends hunters safeguard their water. “Make sure it’s sanitized, either bottled water or sanitized with tablets,” he said. Items such as first aid kits, rain gear and an emergency blanket all make good additions to a hunter’s gear. Of course, no matter how well you’re prepared or supplied, it does little good if — when an emergency occurs — you can’t find the tools you need. That’s why Bobby recommends packing a separate bag exclusively for emergency supplies. “It really doesn’t hurt to have a separate bag,” he said. “That way, if something does happen, you know it’s got everything in it you might possibly need.”

Survival kit contents Many hunters put together a survival kit and carry it with them whenever they hunt, especially in remote areas. Texas Parks and Wildlife recommend including: • Two compasses: If lost, you might doubt one, so check them together • Topographical map of the area you are hunting. • GPS device and extra batteries • Cellphone or personal distress beacon • Signaling device - a mirror or CD • Whistle • Flashlight or headlight and spare bulbs and batteries • Fire starters: waterproof matches, butane lighter, metal match and striker • Knife • Thermal foil blanket - or space blanket • Water • Water purification device • Metal cup • Fishing kit • Poncho • Food, high energy (chocolate) and protein (jerky) • Pliers • Insect repellant • Sun block

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First aid kit should contain: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

2-inch square sterile gauze pads 4-inch square sterile gauze pads Sterile gauze bandage roll Soft-wrap bandage Adhesive bandages, various sizes Antibiotic ointment Antihistamines Aspirin Antacid Chemical cold packs Chemical hot packs Tweezers Needles Latex gloves Routine medications, if taking any

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2018 Hunting Guide 19

Tasty wild game treats

1/8 Page Firefly & Farm 8762

Staying connected with our food and heritage

Jeremiah Doughty, wild game harvester, chef and owner of FromFieldtoPlate.com, reAside from farmers and ranchers, there is no cently documented a moving experience where other group in the world that can relate more he took a self-acclaimed vegan on his first dove hunt, teaching him how to go from field closely to where their food comes from to plate in a way that preserves the than hunters. Hunters, gatherers and hunting lifestyle and heritage for genfishermen are connected with their erations to come. food sources in a profound, intimate As hunters, we should all be askway. ing ourselves, “How can I guarantee As hunters, the future of our famthe preservation of this hunting ily’s food is in our hands. From heritage for future generations?” caring for our hunting equipment There is no single answer to that — whether bows, crossbows, question, and, unfortunately, it shotguns or rifles — to caring will be a long uphill battle, but for the land where our harvests STACEY there are plenty of places to start. will be made, to making wise, careWild Kitchen Think back to your first hunting ful and conservation-minded kills, hunters must be involved in every step of gath- experience. Why did you go? For most of us, ering food in a safe, ethical and sustaining way. we probably went hunting as part of a family In a culture where knowing our food source tradition. Our parents or grandparents loaded has become a hot topic, it’s tempting for hunt- us up, taught us about firearm safety, showed ers to wonder, “How can they not know what us the effects of conservation practices and inwe know? How does society know so little structed us to make the most of every useable about where their food comes from? How it’s part of the animals we hunted. For others, we married into hunting families produced? How the animals are cleaned, processed, and prepared for human consumption?” or found a friend in college or at work that inWe take this information for granted, but the troduced us to the practice of putting our own truth is that we’re blessed to have this deep food on our tables. However you found your way into this selfconnection with our food that most American’s sustaining lifestyle, there’s probably someone don’t have. A study conducted by the U.S. Fish and in your life waiting for you to invite them in Wildlife Service and published in 2017 by the and show them the truth about hunting and Department of the Interior found that around hunters. Start with the young ones. Take a child hunt40 percent of Americans participate in wildliferelated activities, including hunting, fishing ing. Let them participate in providing for the and wildlife observation. While this number family. Invite a coworker to join you in the sounds high, the survey also found that the woods. Take your spouse along. Help them feel number of hunters showed a slight but steady welcome and let them know it’s a safe place to decrease every year during the five-year study. learn new things. Like it or not, the future of hunting could While this seems to be a dreary forecast for the future of hunting, there are some other very well be in your hands. You have a callreports that show a glimmer of hope. Google ing to get involved and make a difference. How is full of stories and accounts of young men will you answer the call? After taking someone new along on a hunt, and women who are concerned about the food they’re feeding to their families and have be sure to have some delicious recipes for preturned to hunting as a solution for their con- paring the meat. Here are five recipes that can help sway the pickiest eater. cerns for food safety.

Story and photos by Noel Stacey

We

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20 In the Cr sshairs Bear-n-Hare Jambalaya Ingredients • 2 rabbits, skinned and dressed, bone-in • 1 pound sausage (bear, whitetail, feral hog, etc.), sliced • 2 red or yellow bell peppers, diced • 3 to 4 ribs celery, sliced • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, sliced • 1/2 onion, chopped • 1/2 cup green onion, sliced • 2- to 15-ounce cans chicken broth • Cajun seasoning to taste • 2 tablespoons oil • 2 1/2 cups rice, uncooked

Directions 1. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet. 2. Rub bone-in whole rabbits generously with Cajun seasoning. Pan-fry whole rabbit in the hot oil, searing on all sides. Rabbit will not be cooked through.

3. Transfer rabbits to a large stockpot and set aside. 4. Add bell pepper, celery, garlic, onion and green onion to the drippings in the skillet and sauté until onion is translucent. 5. Transfer sautéed vegetables to the large stockpot. Add the sliced sausage, chicken broth and additional Cajun seasoning as desired to the stockpot. Add enough water to almost cover the rabbit. 6. Cover stockpot loosely with a lid and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook jambalaya for 1 to 3 hours over low heat. 7. When the rabbit is tender, remove it from the stockpot and allow to cool enough to handle. Remove the bones from the rabbit and return the meat to the stockpot. 8. Stir in 2 1/2 cups uncooked rice. Cover and simmer on low heat for 25 minutes until rice is tender. 9. Serve warm with crackers or a French bread baguette and hot sauce.

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2018 Hunting Guide 21 Venison Mississippi Roast Stuffed Baked Potatoes

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup water

• 2-pound venison roast

• 2 teaspoons onion powder

• 2 tablespoons beef bouillon granules • 1 teaspoon parsley flakes • 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/8 teaspoon pepper • 2 tablespoons corn starch • 1/2 packet ranch powder • 6 tablespoons butter • 6 pepperoncini peppers • 3 to 5 baking potatoes • Olive oil • Sea salt • 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded • 1 to 2 green onions, sliced

Directions

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1. In the morning, prepare the Mississippi Roast in the crock pot, allowing it to cook all day. 2. Pour 1/4 cup water in the bottom of a crock pot. Place the roast inside the crock pot. 3. In a small dish, prepare dry au jus mix by combining beef bouillon granules, onion

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powder, parsley flakes, garlic powder, pepper and corn starch. 4. Sprinkle half a packet of dry ranch powder over the roast, followed by the dry au jus mix. 5. Place the butter in one piece on top of the roast. 6. Scatter pepperoncini peppers around the roast. 7. Cover crock pot with a tight lid and cook on low for 8 hours. Roast will be fall-apart tender. 8. Shred the roast into large chunks, stirring to coat evenly in the saucy mixture. 9. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 F. 10. Wash and dry baking potatoes. Generously coat outsides of potatoes with olive oil, and sprinkle all over with sea salt. 11. Bake potatoes for 25 to 30 minutes until outsides are crispy and insides are tender. 12. Slice potatoes open lengthwise. Stuff each potato with a little Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup Mississippi Roast, a pepperoncini pepper, more Parmesan cheese and sliced green onions on top. 13. Return potatoes to oven for about 5 minutes, until Parmesan cheese is melted on top. 14. Serve hot.

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22 In the Cr sshairs Salisbury Meatballs Ingredients • 1 1/2 pounds ground venison • 1/2 pound ground pork • 1 package dry onion soup mix • 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs • 1/4 cup milk • 2 tablespoons oil • 2 cans cream of chicken soup • 1 packet au jus seasoning (or use directions for au jus mix from Mississippi Roast recipe) • 3/4 cup water • 4 ounces mushrooms • Wide egg noodles

Directions 1. In a large bowl, combine ground venison, ground pork, dry onion soup mix and Italian breadcrumbs. Add milk and mix by hand until thoroughly combined.

2. Shape meat mixture into 1.5-inch meatballs, storing on a wax paper lined pan. 3. Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet and lightly fry meatballs in batches. Meatballs will not be cooked through.* 4. Back in the large bowl, combine two cans cream of chicken, au jus powder and 3/4 cup water, stirring until smooth. 5. Place the meatballs in a large crock pot and cover with cream of chicken sauce. 6. Close crock pot and cook meatballs on low heat for 6 to 8 hours. 7. When the meatballs are almost finished cooking, slice mushrooms and sauté in a splash of oil until tender. 8. Meanwhile, prepare egg noodles, according to package directions. 9. Stir the mushrooms into the crock pot. 10. Serve Salisbury Meatballs over a bed of egg noodles. *The meatballs can be prepared and lightly fried the night before, then refrigerated, making morning assembly easier and faster.

Stuffed Shells and Meatballs Ingredients • 2 cup Gram Yozzo’s Meatballs with homemade sauce • 1 box jumbo shells • 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt • 1 teaspoon parsley flakes • 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and drained • 1 egg • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded • 32 ounce ricotta cheese

Directions 1. Prepare meatballs with homemade sauce using the recipe at mywildkitchen.com/ gram-yozzos-meatballs-withvenison-in-homemade-sauce. 2. Prepare a box of jumbo

shells according to package directions. 3. In a medium bowl, combine the garlic salt, parsley flakes, spinach, egg, Parmesan, 1/2 cup mozzarella and ricotta cheese. 4. In a 9-by-13 casserole dish, spread some sauce from the meatballs over the bottom of the dish. 5. Drain the cooked shells and stuff them individually with the ricotta/spinach mixture. 6. Arrange the stuffed shells in the casserole dish. Spoon some extra marinara sauce over the tops of the shells and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. 7. Cover and bake dish at 350 F for 20 minutes until heated through. 8. Meanwhile, reheat meatballs and sauce in a microwave safe dish. Serve shells topped with 2 to 3 meatballs and plenty of sauce.


2018 Hunting Guide 23 Venison Fajita Stir Fry Ingredients • 1 pound venison steaks • 1 lime • 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce • 1/4 cup soy sauce • 2 tablespoon fajita seasoning • 1/2 bunch cilantro • 1 chicken bouillon cube • 2 cup water • 1 cup rice, uncooked • 1 onion, sliced in rings • 1 bell pepper, sliced in rings • 3 tomatoes, diced • 1 tablespoons butter • 1 tablespoons oil • 1 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Directions 1. On a large cutting board, cover venison steaks with plastic wrap and pound them with a rubber mallet to tenderize. 2. In a large glass dish, squeeze the juice

of half a lime and sprinkle with half the Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and fajita seasoning. Lay the steaks over top of the seasonings and cover with the remaining lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce and fajita seasoning. Refrigerate meat for 2 hours. 3. Meanwhile, prepare cilantro rice. In a medium saucepan, combine cilantro, chicken bouillon cube, water and rice. Heat to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook rice, covered, for 25 minutes. 4. In a large cast iron skillet, heat oil and butter. Sauté the sliced bell pepper and onion for about 15 minutes until tender and slightly charred. 5. Slice the marinated meat into thin strips. Once vegetables are cooked, scoot them to the edge of the skillet and add meat in one large pile to the skillet. Use a large spatula to flip the pile of meat every minute until it’s seared but still very rare. 6. Add the cooked cilantro rice and diced tomatoes to the skillet and stir to combine. Top the stir-fried ingredients with shredded cheese and cook over low heat until meat is cooked through and cheese is melted. 7. Serve Venison Fajita Stir Fry over tortilla chips and topped with sliced avocado.

JANUARY 11 TH-13 TH, 2019 “Quality time in a deer blind and a lot more!”

WHERE: Harper, TX (Gillespie County) WHO: Youth (ages 9-17) children of Wound and Fallen Warriors or Special Ops COST: $150.00 (Covers the cost of meals & insurance for both the youth and adult) Scholarships are available SPONSORED BY: The Krebs Family, The Texas Youth Hunting Program, Fredericksburg Salutes Our Wounded Warriors, and the Harper Wildlife Management Association ABOUT THE HUNT: This event is to honor our son Jacob who drowned on March 26th, 2013, while training for his Navy S.E.A.L. contract. Jacob had enlisted in the Navy and was about to ship out in June but never made it. Jacob died on April 1st, but his legacy lives on through his organ, tissue, and graft donations, and the many kids he inspired. Jacob loved the outdoors and loved his country. He was very adamant about honoring all soldiers, specifically wounded warriors. We would like to honor them as well by hosting a special youth hunt weekend for their children ages 9-17. Educational opportunities during the hunt weekend include: Learning about hunter safety and laws; white tail deer anatomy; how to process game; how to make sausage; enjoying the shooting range; ethical hunting; land and wildlife management; and conservation and stewardship. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Hunt Master Will Krebs at krebslaser@yahoo.com 830-669-2860 REGISTER AT: http://texasyouthhunting.com/youth-hunters/youth-hunt-schedule/ Hunt #19-006 Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Youth must have a valid Hunting License and have completed Hunter’s Education.


24 In the Cr sshairs

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