Deer Hunting Annual

CABELA’S page 4 YAMAHA page 6 DEER HUNTING CHANCES page 9 BOBCAT page 10 AVERY OUTDOORS page 12 REALTREE page 14 WINCHESTER page 16 SUNRISE-SUNSET page 18 GREYSTONE CASTLE page 20 FOR THE TABLE page 26 NIKON SPORT OPTICS page 27 2011-2012 SEASON DATES page 27

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Use to sight your riflescope

Name:_______________________________ Rifle:__________________________________ Date:________________________________ Load:__________________________________

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Cabela’s introduces new hunting gear

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abela’s product managers are excited to offer four new gear options for 2012. Each is designed to stand up to the demands of serious hunters.

MT050 Pro Gore-Tex Rainwear For this raingear, a brushed MT050 polyester shell, Gore-Tex laminate and super-slick polyester lining are bonded into one ultra-tough layer without compromising the 100-percent waterproof and breathable performance.

Eliminating movement between the layers increases durability and reduces noise.

This series includes a jacket, pants and bibs. The jacket features tapered, articulated sleeves with adjustable cuffs, armpit zippers, two front pockets, two vertical chest pockets and a pocket on the left arm, and a four-piece, quick-set adjustable hood.

The pants have an integrated elastic waist, gusseted crotch, articulated knees, two front pockets, two thigh pockets and two back pockets, and leg zippers that extend above the knees for easy on and off. The bibs include adjustable H-style elastic suspenders with quick-release buckles, integrated elastic waist, gusseted crotch, articulated knees, two chest pockets, two front pockets, two thigh pockets and two back pockets, and leg zippers above the knees.

Alaskan Guide Incline WindStopper Series Cabela’s Alaskan Guide Incline collection is constructed with windproof, breathable WindStopper fabric between a quiet, abrasion-resistant outer layer and a warmth-trapping, grid-fleece lining.

The jacket features tapered sleeves with adjustable cuffs, two chest pockets and two side pockets with easy-pull zippered openings, fully taped outside seams, and a draw-cord hood and hem.

The vest has two chest pockets, two side pockets and a draw-cord hem. The pants have knee-length leg zippers with snap-close storm flaps, and zippered side, hip and back pockets.

E.C.W.C.S. Thermal Zone Base Layers Cabela’s developed the Thermal Zone Polartec Power Dry Base Layer System to enhance its Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (E.C.W.C.S.) program.

Thermal Zone combines all three E.C.W.C.S. fabric weights in one garment. The weights are strategically located to provide the ultimate in thermal regulation. The heaviest Polar Weight is used in core and exposed areas to provide optimal heat retention for the most critical zones.

The Mid-Weight fabric is employed in less critical areas that still receive substantial exposure. The lightest Tech Weight is located in high-heat-output areas that are prone to excessive perspiration.

Thermal-regulating dualsurface Polartec Power Dry wicks moisture to the surface for quick-drying action. Its antimicrobial treatment keeps garments fresher between washes.

Crew and 1/4-Zip Mock TNeck tops have a drop tail and thumbholes. Bottoms have an elastic waistband and functional fly. dl Cabela’s Ultralight Hunter Boots by Meindl l-terrain Hunt with confidence in the ultralight, al all-terrain ’ss stability and broken-in flexibility of Meindl’s most revolutionary hunting boots.

Sound-deadening outsoles match rigid outer treads with a cushioned middle section for the ultimate combination of stability and stealth. Fullgrain nubuck leather and mesh uppers m decrease weight to an absolute minimum ovvawithout compromising durability. An innovalee tive tongue design and reinforced, flexible dlle laces, called Hunter’s nocks, in the middle of the boots promote flexibility. d Other features include: triple-stitched T lower section, waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex linings, Air-Active footbeds and shock-absorbing EVA midsoles with stability-enhancing TPU shanks. Available uninsulated or with 400- or 800-gram Thinsulate Insulation.

Cabela’s www.Cabelas.com 800.626.6074

Hunting the Edwards Plateau with the Rafter W

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t seemed weird leaving for a West Texas deer rifle hunt on Sept. 30.

But when LSON purchased the management buck donated by Rafter W Ranches to the Dallas Safari Club at last January’s convention, a view of calendars left that weekend the best choice for David Sams as the guest and me as the shooter.

“It’s going to be hot,” owner Jack Wardlaw said. “Bring your shorts.”

The dates turned out to be good choices when Jack called the office.

“Do you mind shooting some culls?” he asked. “We have too many deer, as dry as it is. So, David, bring your gun.”

To us, it was a rhetorical question.

Rafter W Ranches near Sonora isn’t just big; it’s a huge expanse of Edwards Plateau property covering 22,000 acres, 6,000 of which is behind a high fence.

“The land has been in the family since the pioneer days,” Jack said.

A working goat and cattle ranch, the rocky hills dotted with oaks, cedars and cactus are an impressive sight, and one can see why the land is so good for goats.

The drought had one positive effect as well, as many of the cedars were yellow.

“It saves me from having to bulldoze them out,” said Trey Wardlaw, who guides and works the ranch.

Opening day showed that the management efforts at the ranch were paying off, as many healthy

deer and turkeys were seen, including several bucks in the 160-170 range.

“The 200-class bucks haven’t come out yet,” Jack said.

After an hour or two without seeing a good management buck, Trey said it was time to shoot.

“There’s a six-pointer with no brow tines, take him,” he said. And 30 minutes later, a four-pointer.

The deer were spooky each afternoon, and no management buck appeared, so two more fourpointers were removed.

David, hunting with guide Matt Hicks, photographed many deer in another blind and helped thin the herd of four more deer.

The lodge holds upwards of 10 hunters, but most weekends are only booked with five or six. And Jack and his wife, Jessie, proved they also are good hands in the kitchen.

We hunted together with Trey on Sunday afternoon in the large, extremely clean and carpeted throughout Boss Blinds.

“What, do you guys drive around with a generator and a Shop-Vac to all of the blinds?” David asked the guide.

“Exactly,” Trey replied.

And finally, the eight-pointer we were looking for appeared.

Contact Jack Wardlaw at (325) 387-3085 www.RafterWguidedhunts.com

EARLY START!: Executive Editor Craig Nyhus gets ready for some early season hunting at a West Texas ranch enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Permit program. Despite rocky terrain, the Edwards Plateau grows healthy deer like the buck Nyhus harvested. Photos by David J. Sams.

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Story by Craig Nyhus Lone Star Outdoor News

Looking through Leica

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n the opening morning of deer season, I sat in a deer blind 10 feet above the ground below. I could hear deer crunching corn that I had spread earlier in the darkness — but I couldn’t see anything until I eased my rifle out of the window.

My left eye spied through the glass of my Leica scope and I could clearly see almost 30 deer. I dialed it up to 14 power and could still see them plain as day. Without the scope, I couldn’t see a thing.

As dawn approached, I kept looking and watching. The scope was attached to my new Rifles, Inc. custom 7mm-08. I was more than impressed to say the least as these were the first animals I had viewed through this incredible piece of glass.

How could the 42 mm optic let in so much light? It’s the quality of the glass.

Leica has always been known for good German glass. I have used their digital point-andshoot cameras for years with great results.

The sun was now up and I watched as the 30 deer ran to the corn feeder when it finally went off. I started shooting photographs. My guide, Matt Hicks, was getting restless.

“Have you got enough pictures yet,” he asked.

“Let’s do some shooting with that new gun.”

“Ok, let me shoot for five more minutes, there is still good light,” I said.

I turned my attention back to the scope and rifle.

I checked the first management buck with the high power of the scope to make sure Hicks had not missed any hidden points and then dialed back the scope to six power. A trick I learned in South Africa, less shaking and seeing the reticle move equals better shot placement.

The first bullet flew and took its target as I watched through the scope.

Five minutes later, another.

And then more.

At 125 yards, the clarity made checking the antlers easy. “No brow tines, take him. Check that buck with the fuzzy antlers,” Hicks commanded. “Take him too,” he added.

“OK, do you like that scope and rifle now?”

Hicks asked.

I replied positively.

The Leica ER 3.5-14x42 is a fine optic for any rifle and will become a lifelong tool for hunting game all over the world, then passed on to the next generation.

Story by David J. Sams Lone Star Outdoor News

www.Leica-SportOptics.com

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Yamaha Outdoors chasing Texas whitetails

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amaha Outdoor’s Steve Nessl tagged this freeranging nine-point whitetail with a bow in Southwest Texas on Oct. 15. Nessl and Yamaha are no strangers to “… chasing North America’s most sought-after game animal — the whitetail deer…” as sponsors of the Yamaha Whitetail Diaries TV show, which is headquartered in the Lone Star state. Nessl has taken many an ATV and Rhino Side-by-Side vehicle over rough Texas terrain in pursuit of whitetail, aoudad and antelope.

“Yamaha is more involved in the world of hunting than any other ATV manufacturer, and I’m excited to be a part of the company’s commitment to the sport,” Nessl said.

“South Texas has some hard hunt-

ing and rough off-roading. We use the ATVs and Rhinos to get into some tight spots where you likely wouldn’t want to take a truck.”

MADE IN THE U.S.A.: Steve Nessl of Yamaha Whitetail Diaries arrowed this buck Oct. 15 in And hunting is not the only Southwest Texas. Meanwhile, the company has had a busy year. This spring the company thing Yamaha is doing in the South these days. This spring the announced that it is moving more ATV manufacturing from overseas to its factory in Georgia.

Photo by Yamaha. company announced that it is moving more ATV manufacturing in Georgia like to get out into the and it will donate all proceeds from overseas to its factory in Georgia. woods as well. We’re making sure equally between the Honored Since May, all of Yamaha’s fourwe have tough, off-road capable American Veterans Afield wheel-drive ATVs and Rhinos are now vehicles, in part because we take (HAVA) and Feed the Children assembled in the U.S.A. them hunting too.” charities. Find out more and “The Rhinos have always come In order to promote this new U.S. make a donation here: www. from our factory in Georgia, but manufacturing, Yamaha is giving yamaha-motor.com/grizzlyforstarting this spring our big Grizzly away one of the first ever assemcharity.

700s and 550s are assembled here bled-in-the-U.S.A. Grizzly 700 too,” Nessl added. “This is a huge ATVs with Electric Power Steering.

Yamaha deal for us and for our customYamaha is encouraging people to www.Yamaha-Motor.com/ ers. U.S. production supports U.S. donate $5 for a chance to win this Outdoor workers, and many of those guys ATV, worth more than $9,000,

The first is always the best

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was 9 years old the first time I came to the state of Texas for a deer hunt.

Ever since I can remember, I had read about the huge deer that lived in the famed brush country of South Texas. Getting ready for the hunt, I wore the cover off of a book in my father’s library about Texas deer hunting.

We traveled to San Antonio in late November and headed south to a ranch in Dimmit County.

I had killed several does in my home state of Florida, but never a buck. To say I was excited would an understatement. Visions of the type of buck I had been reading about filled my head as we drove through the front gate of the ranch.

I was too young to care about Boone and Crockett scores, whether or not the ranch fed their bucks protein or what the age structure of the bucks on the ranch was like — I just wanted to see a buck!

The beginning of the hunt was surreal. After hunting the post-rut in Florida during my childhood (the gun season started around Thanksgiving, but the rut begins in early October), I wasn’t used to seeing bucks walking around like all of the deer on this ranch. It was an eye-opening experience.

If my dad hadn’t been with me in the blind, I would have pulled the trigger on several of the bucks that stepped into the sendero to munch corn the first hour.

After a couple of days of seeing an incredible amount of deer, my dad and I went to a blind on the third afternoon of the hunt. After sitting in the blind for about 30 minutes, we heard the truck coming back. The guide ran up to the blind and said he had seen a great buck that would be perfect for me just down the road.

After driving about five minutes, we came to a cactus flat and stopped the truck.

Being from Florida and never having hunted

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during the pre-rut or rut, I wondered what the guide was thinking when he pulled a set of antlers from the truck before we walked to a mesquite bush and got ready. I was even more confused when he crashed the antlers together and began rubbing them on the brush.

Within 30 seconds of the first crack, a buck bounded out of the brush and stopped, staring at us from about 50 yards. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. We had made all sorts of noise and the buck had run out of the brush and was now staring at us. What the heck was going on?

I didn’t have much time to think about the situation, as the guide quickly told me that was the buck, and to use his shoulder as a rest.

I quickly positioned my .243 Winchester on his shoulder, found the buck’s vitals and squeezed off a shot.

The buck buckled but remained on his feet as he crashed through the thick stuff away from the cactus flat.

We immediately followed for about 100 yards before finding the downed buck.

He was an old deer with several broken points and a broken main beam. I found out years later that my dad was upset with the guide for letting me shoot this buck, but I couldn’t have cared less.

To me, he was a great deer. And the way we rattled him up is still one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. This was before rattling was widely discussed, and if it was, it was dismissed as “only working in Texas.”

I learned a lot that day. I’ve since rattled up bucks in Florida, Michigan, Montana, Canada and Texas, but none were as exciting as that first buck that opened my eyes to what calling deer is all about.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Story by Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Vortex Optics unveils Razor, Talon binoculars and Viper riflescopes

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ptically, ergonomically, aesthetically — Vortex Optics’ new Razor HD binoculars offer the highest level of performance obtainable, earning them the flagship position at the top of Vortex’s extensive selection of binoculars.

Premium, hand-selected HD (High Density) extra-low dispersion glass delivers the ultimate in resolution and color fidelity, resulting in astonishingly sharp, high-definition images.

Lenses fully multicoated with Vortex’s proprietary XR antireflective coatings guarantee maximum brightness and glassing confidence during critical low-light periods of dawn and dusk.

O-rings are sealed and purged with argon gas for 100 percent waterproof and fog-proof performance.

And, when it comes to packing value into optics, Vortex offers the new Talon HD binocular series. These openhinge binoculars deliver the features and performance demanded by discriminating hunters, but at a midrange price.

Carefully selected High Density (HD) extra-low dispersion glass delivers impressive clarity, resolution and color accuracy. External glass surfaces are protected with ArmorTek — an ultra-hard lens armor that is chemically bonded to outer glass elements, providing a scratch-resistant, stain-proof surface. Dust, dirt and smudges are easily removed without fear of scratching the optical glass beneath.

The rubber-armored magnesium chassis is rugged, lightweight and provides a secure, nonslip grip.

Twist-up eyecups offer a range of eye-relief options for comfortable, customized viewing.

For shooting optics, Vortex has upgraded its popular Viper HS riflescopes with an array of new features.

Built on tough 30mm one-piece machined aluminum tubes, these scopes deliver increased windage and elevation travel for optimal adjustment. A new optical system highlighted with a 4X zoom range provides magnification versatility. The eye box with increased eye relief gets shooters on target quickly and easily — because shooting opportunities can be measured in fractions of seconds.

XD (extra-low dispersion) glass guarantees sharp, crisp images from edge to edge. Lenses with XR coatings ensure superior light transmission, allowing hunters to take advantage of every minute of legal shooting time.

Exterior lenses feature ArmorTek. Shockproof construction withstands recoil and impact from every angle.

Vortex-The Force of Optics www.VortexOptics.com

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Archery-only whitetails DEER HUNTING CHANCES Buffalo Mountain Hunts offers 4,400 acres of bowhunter’s gold

NORTH TEXAS Tom Malouf, Malouf Trophy Whitetails Anthony Campagna, 3 Amigos Ranch Mike Ward, Rio Rojo Rancho Chris Scheel, Wildpoint Whitetails

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ot far south of Abilene is a ranch with high hills, canyons and rough terrain lined with oaks, cedars and mesquite.

And so far this season, more than 95 percent of the archers there have had an opportunity to take a Pope & Young white-tailed buck.

“It’s been a great season so far,” said Chad Davis, hunting manager.

Archers across the country are discovering the treasure known as Buffalo Mountain Hunts. And they keep coming back.

“Our customer rebooking rate is 90 percent,” Davis said.

For white-tailed deer, the ranch is archeryonly at an affordable price — with no trophy fees. With 4,400 acres behind high fence, there is plenty of room.

The management plan at the ranch is working, consisting of management of the existing herd supplemented with quality genetics.

“We’ve been bringing in quality genetics for five years,” Davis said.

The year-round protein feeding, mineral placement and full water troughs are working, too.

“Our deer are very healthy — you can’t tell there was a drought from looking at our deer,” Davis said. “They are as fat as can be and most does have twins with them and a few have triplets.”

During the first few weeks of the 2011 season, archers have taken bucks scoring 156 5/8, 140, several in the 130s and “lots in the 120s,” Davis said.

Ted Nugent was one of the archers, filming an

Buffalo Mountain Hunts www.BuffaloMountainHunts.com 325.846.4800

222-2778 212-9292 674-3750 922-4225

WEST TEXAS Chad Davis, Buffalo Mountain Hunts

episode of Spirit in the Wild that will air soon.

The attention to detail and family atmosphere also set Buffalo Mountain Hunts apart, starting with the blinds, especially the ground blinds tucked into the cedars and oaks so tight that a non-hunter wouldn’t know they were there.

“We had a wind switch during the hunt the other day,” Davis said. “We told the hunter to go to the blind across the field because of the wind. He couldn’t find it.”

A new indoor archery range caters to experienced and novice archers, especially families, and bowhunting courses are being planned.

“We’ll spend whatever time it takes with a new or inexperienced bowhunter to get him or her comfortable,” Davis said.

If a shot is true but the deer is tough to find, tracking dogs are a few minutes away without a surcharge.

“I have a 9-month-old blue lacy named Lacy who’s doing great — and a black lab named Shadow,” he said. “We just finished trailing one — we do everything we can to find a deer.”

The clean and friendly lodge is a remodeled old Army base dormitory set up with the bowhunter in mind, and the remodeled kitchen provides great food and a spot for storytelling as well as eating.

“We want to be family-oriented and provide service like no other archery-only ranch,” Davis said. “And the opportunity to take a big buck is definitely here.”

(469) (214) (903) (979)

(325) 669-0592

CENTRAL TEXAS Robby Robinson Zane Holland Umbrella Ranching Joe Parker Bill Kirschner, North Mills Ranch Corporate Lease Jason Whitworth, Double Diamond Ranch Tom Vandiver, Llano Springs Ranch Stone Ledge Ranch Lindsay Davis Ranch High Lonesome Ranch Rio Bonito Ranch GLE Ranch Charles McGuire Ward Whitworth Wayne Sims, Estes Ranch Richard Cowie Clint Smith Jr., Rafter O Ranch Mudge Ranch Ivy Ranch Kurt Wiseman, Escondido Ranch Robbins Ranch Davis Bros. Ranch Tim Cowden Ranch Branch Ranch Maynard Ranch R & R Ranch Gene Bradford Treye Ransier, Threadgill Ranches Michael Clark, Rafter C Outfitters

(325) (325) (325) (830) (830) (940) (325) (512) (210) (210) (979) (800) (325) (325) (210) (817) (830) (325) (830) (361) (713) (325) (210) (830) (830) (512) (210) (832) (512) (281)

446-3165 446-2047 456-0130 864-4628 640-3423 683-1919 446-8535 615-3552 342-6250 222-1030 263-4143 864-4303 475-3492 446-2277 215-7790 448-9110 864-4587 446-3757 459-7409 648-2922 978-7631 446-3015 222-1030 640-3381 981-4225 477-7774 380-7933 309-2238 517-9259 491-0606

(210) (210) (830) (713)

669-6135.

288-1833 563-2658 907-2860

SOUTH TEXAS Valerie Hernandez, Double H Outfitters Kelly Carroll, Texas Star Ranch JD Cox, Cox Country Hunting Ranch Allen Rogers, Triple-R-Ranch

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Bobcat’s 3400 4x4 has power, accessories for work and play

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he hard-working Bobcat 3400 4x4 utility vehicle is ideal if you’re looking for a tool to serve your light-duty needs, and it offers many advantages over all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), pickup trucks and other types of equipment.

Standard on all 4x4 gas models, the electronic fuel-injection system provides reliable starting in colder weather, more responsiveness and better performance at low RPMs. In addition, extra horsepower and a top speed of 30 mph gives you a quicker machine with increased payload capacity — up to 1,850 pounds — that helps maximize productivity.

An optional speed kit increases the maximum speed to 35 mph.

Drive mode selection enables you to match the drive mode to conditions around you. Turf mode, or open rear

differential, allows the wheels to turn at different speeds, resulting in minimal ground disturbance as you turn. Twowheel drive, or locked rear differential, provides equal torque to both rear wheels for better traction. Four-wheel drive is optimized to send torque to every wheel. If the rear wheels start to lose traction, the front wheels engage to power you through the slippery terrain.

Bobcat’s easy-to-maintain utility vehicles feature machine protection that keep components from getting damaged and slowing you down, whether you’re working hard or enjoying your off-time. Adjustable suspension allows the operator to change the spring load tension to provide more or less stability. Two shockmounting locations enable them to be mounted straight up and down or at an angle for more stability.

If you want to outfit the Bobcat

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

utility vehicle for your specific tasks, the integrated accessory system is ready and waiting. Built into the cargo box, this handy function accepts a variety of optional, easy-to-secure accessories: a tool holder, cargo box divider, cargo box wall extensions and other job-matched add-ons like the chainsaw mount. Numerous customization options, including additional accessories such as gun scabbards, tool racks and more enable you to tailor your machine for specific jobs.

New features for 2012 include tilt steering, power steering and kits to increase the top performance speed of the machine to help you complete jobs comfortably and efficiently.

Bobcat www.Bobcat.com/new-utv 877.505.3580

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Avery BuckBrush camo suited for wooded duck pond, deer pasture

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f you can fool a turkey, you ought to be able to fool a deer.

That’s the logic of Dallas Branch of the Avery Outdoors Pro Staff.

Branch, a Dallas architect, spends his days designing buildings to be built across the globe. But as often as he can, he’s out in the rural areas of Oklahoma and Texas, hunting.

As a pro staffer for Avery, the nation’s leading maker of waterfowl hunting accessories, Branch isn’t just after ducks and geese.

That’s why he wears Avery’s BuckBrush camouflage pattern while hunting waterfowl, turkey and deer.

“Definitely, I think you could use it just about everywhere,” he said.

BuckBrush was first developed for waterfowlers set up in timber near

ponds and creeks.

The company has also rolled out other patterns: KW-1 (KillerWeed), developed to hide ground blinds in harvested fields; and MarshGrass, patterned after narrow leaf cattails, tules and flooded corn.

Dark-hued BuckBrush, however, has influences of tree bark, which is effective for all sorts of hunting, Branch said.

It was primarily designed from a duck’s view — while it’s airborne.

According to Avery, “A combination of blurred and in-focus brush over a slightly darker background produces the most effective depth and neutral tone ‘woods’ waterfowl pattern ever created.”

“It seemed to be the most versatile to fitting into mesquite and sagebrush areas,” Branch said. “I shot

turkey 10 to 15 yards away without them ever being able to see me.

“Turkeys have better eyesight than deer. If you can fool a turkey just with that, you’ll definitely fool a deer.”

Avery Outdoors www.AveryOutdoors.com 800.333.5119

Everyone thinks that ANGLE is the key to sharpening

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ruth is, most knives don’t even come from the factory with the same angle on both sides because they are sharpened by hand on machines.

This is the most common mistake when sharpening with a stone or any guided system that only sharpens one side at a time.

Guided sharpening systems that have preset angle adjustments still require equal pressure on both sides to achieve the edge.

This explains why most guided sharpening systems are only as good as the amount of pressure the user applies.

Also, fixed-angle sharpeners, like ceramic sticks, rely on the user to hold the knife at a consistent angle while trying to apply the same pressure throughout the stroke. These ceramic sticks don’t take off enough material to create an edge despite how much pressure the user applies.

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Pressure Actually, angle is only 20 percent of the sharpening dynamic and is determined by blade use. Pocket and hunting knives get a wide bevel of 22-30 degrees for durability, while thin-bladed fillet knives require narrower bevels — 15-20 degrees — for cutting soft material like flesh and meat.

Sharpening surface is 10 percent of the dynamic. How rough or smooth it is determines how much pressure you want to apply.

Diamond sharpeners require less pressure due to the aggressiveness of the diamonds, while stones might require a little more pressure depending on how dull the knife is.

Which leads us to the true TRICK of sharpening — PRESSURE. It is the pressure that one applies that is really removing material in order to achieve “the edge,” thus making pressure 70 percent

of the sharpening dynamic.

You can sharpen at the same angle on both sides, but if you are not applying the same amount of pressure to both sides, you will either take off too little material needed to reach “the edge” or too much pressure, which produces a “rolled or burred edge.”

Please note: A knife will only stay as sharp as the metal that holds the edge. Hard steel blades — pocketknives or hunting knives — stay sharper longer, while soft steel kitchen knives dull more quickly. The harder the steel is, the longer the edge will hold. This is why cooks are always sharpening their knives; soft steel dulls quickly, but also re-sharpens more quickly.

Regardless of what knife you are sharpening, you must apply consistent pressure, while holding a constant angle throughout the entire stroke.

This is an almost impossible task due to the inability to hold your angle and apply the same pressure while holding that angle. This is why sharpening stones are considered to be “difficult” and time-consuming.

But a sharpening device or technique that allows a constant angle, combined with consistent pressure on any sharpening surface, will result in a sharp edge.

Shaving sharp vs. cutting sharp Why is it that everyone wants to sharpen their pocketknives until they shave the hair on their arms? That knife was made for cutting, not shaving. Most pocketknives have a wide bevel at a 22-30 degree angle, which means they will stay sharper, longer due to the amount of metal supporting the edge.

Thin blades like fillet knives have narrow bevels (15-20 degrees) because they are intended to cut through soft materials like flesh or meat. A cutting edge, examined under a microscope, has a toothy, microfine serrated

edge. This is the edge you want for cutting through meats, vegetables, rope and skin, regardless of angle. It is the microfine serrated edge that is actually doing the cutting for you.

A shaving edge has a very smooth edge with no serrations, and although it shaves the hair on your arm, it begins to dull as soon as you start using it, due to the fineness of the edge. Also, the edge that shaves hair is too smooth of an edge to cut through a tomato skin or plastic bailing twine. It is the roughness of the edge that slices through the skin of a tomato, and it is the roughness of the edge that cuts through rope or twine.

So when someone says their axe can shave the hair on their arm, it’s important to remember that no axe was ever intended to shave. It was meant to CHOP and that requires both a wide bevel for durability and a rough, toothy edge for breaking through the woody fibers.

The thumbnail test The thumbnail test is the best way to determine if you have achieved an edge. If you can place your blade edge on your thumbnail and it sticks, you have a cutting edge. Test several spots on your edge from the back of the blade to the tip by lightly setting the blade on your thumbnail. If the knife slips off your thumbnail in a particular spot, the edge has not been achieved.

Hopefully these tips will save you time, energy and frustration regardless of how you are sharpening and what you are sharpening.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Story by Jonathan West Warthog Sharpeners www.V-Sharp.com 877.719.0123

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Realtree founder’s biggest Texas whitetail scored 183 B&C

built ladder stands and Bill climbed into one.

It was windy and overcast, but Bill wore a fleece jacket covered with Realtree camo, same as his Thompson Center rifle.

“I know we’re in a good spot,” he said.

A little buck entered the field, and so did a coyote. But then came a much bigger buck, which appeared to be about eight points.

“Uh oh, there’s our big deer,” Bill said, although it was a long way off. “I don’t think he is going anywhere. I think he’s committed to the field.”

But light was fading.

“I need to go,” Bill said, aiming his rifle. “It’s now or never.”

It was dark by the time Bill caught up with the downed trophy, and he soon saw it was not just an eight-pointer. It actually had 18 points.

The final score: 183 B&C. It is Bill Jordan’s largest Texas whitetail so far.

“I did not know this deer had all this stuff on him,” Bill said of all the extra points. “That’s where advance scouting pays off.

Thanks to Dennis Traylor for knowing he was in that field.”

H

aving established the most wildly popular camouflage pattern today, Bill Jordan was bound to make friends in Texas.

Which is what brought Realtree’s designer and president to the historic Halff Brothers Ranch near Pearsall in Frio County.

The South Texas cattle ranch, now more than a century old, is first-rate white-tailed deer habitat, combining rugged brush country with forested bottomlands along the Frio River.

This year the ranch was among recipients of the Lone Star Land Steward Award presented by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Sand County Foundation.

The ranch was praised for its brush control, improvements for bobwhite quail and turkey habitat, and for adding watering systems for all wildlife.

The family is no longer outfitting the ranch for deer, but in 2004, Bill Jordan had the opportunity to hunt the ranch’s outstanding whitetail bucks.

One deer was a mature buck with a narrow inside spread.

Its left side was tall fork, and the other side had five points, including a kicker, twisting in different directions.

This deer, Bill said, was considered a management buck, but that didn’t matter to him. He was excited for the chance to stretch his bow on “a big old blocky big deer.”

The buck came into a forested area, following a spike. Bill’s arrow struck the target perfectly and made a complete pass through. The deer trotted about 40 yards and dropped.

“I am so pumped,” Bill exclaimed. “We’ve seen that deer a time or two and we’ve been trying to shoot him. He needs to come out of the herd.

“But he’s a trophy nonetheless.”

That’s not the only adventure Bill had on the Halff Brothers Ranch.

Guide Dennis Traylor spotted a big-racked buck from a ground blind overlooking a field. Later he set up some Strong-

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Realtree www.Realtree.com

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

| 15

Quite the management buck Winchester Power Max Bonded ammo proves its worth

J

ason Gilbertson, Winchester’s manager of marketing and communications, had the chance to head to the South Texas brush country to shoot a management buck and didn’t pass it up.

“It was my first opportunity to hunt whitetails in Texas,” he said.

Once in the blind looking out over the sendero, he got a taste of what he had heard about Texas whitetail hunting.

“It was late December, but it was really hot,” Gilbertson said. “We saw a tons of deer, but so many of them were too big — not management bucks.”

On the third day of hunting, Gilbertson and his guide saw a 10-pointer that fit the bill, “but it just didn’t present me with a good shot,” he said.

That evening, the same buck ventured out into the sendero at 150 yards.

Gilbertson’s shot from his Win-

16 |

calculator on the market. The calculator allows users to choose their ammo and compare up to five different Winchester products with easy-to-read, high-tech ballistics charts and graphs.

Details on things like drop, drift and down-range performance allow the hunter to choose the best ammunition for the intended hunt and shoot with confidence right out of the box.

The calculator is available at Winchester’s Web site, and also as a free Application for iPhone or iPad. “The hunter can take it with him wherever he goes,” Gilbertson said. chester Model 70 .30-06 using Power Max Bonded Ammunition was true, and the buck was down 15 yards into the brush.

And quite the “management buck” it was, scoring 143 B&C. Part of Gilbertson’s job is to share the benefits of the Power Max Bonded ammo, designed specifical-

ly for the white-tailed deer hunter.

“It delivers maximum performance,” he said. “We weld the lead core to the contoured copper alloy jacket.”

The bullet is a PHP — protected hollow point, “designed for longrange accuracy, maximum expansion and tremendous knock-down

power,” Gilbertson said.

And, best of all, the Power Max Bonded bullets are widely available at Winchester dealers for virtually all calibers used by whitetail hunters.

For hunters choosing ammunition for their whitetail hunt, Winchester offers its Ballistics Calculator, the most advanced ammo ballistics

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

For the Ballistics Calculator, click on the Learning Center to download the calculator or App.

Winchester www.Winchester.com

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

| 17

Fast-track bucks

Sunrise-Sunset

Oct 2011 to Jan 2012

October

November

December

Date-Day Rise Set

Date-Day Rise Set

Date-Day Rise Set

1 Sat 7:19 2 Sun 7:20 3 Mon 7:20 4 Tue 7:21 5 Wed 7:22 6 Thu 7:22 7 Fri 7:23 8 Sat 7:24 9 Sun 7:25 10 Mon 7:25 11 Tue 7:26 12 Wed 7:27 13 Thu 7:27 14 Fri 7:28 15 Sat 7:29 16 Sun 7:30 17 Mon7:30 18 Tue 7:31 19 Wed 7:32 20 Thu 7:33 21 Fri 7:34 22 Sat 7:34 23 Sun 7:35 24 Mon 7:36 25 Tue 7:37 26 Wed 7:38 27 Thu 7:39 28 Fri 7:39 29 Sat 7:40 30 Sun 7:41 31 Mon 7:42

1 Tue 7:43 6:36 2 Wed 7:44 6:35 3 Thu 7:45 6:34 4 Fri 7:46 6:33 5 Sat 7:47 6:32 6 Sun 6:47 6:32 7 Mon 6:48 5:31 8 Tue 6:49 5:30 9 Wed 6:50 5:29 10 Thu 6:51 5:28 11 Fri 6:52 5:28 12 Sat 6:53 5:27 13 Sun 6:54 5:26 14 Mon 6:55 5:26 15 Tue 6:56 5:25 16 Wed 6:57 5:25 17 Thu 6:58 5:24 18 Fri 6:59 5:24 19 Sat 7:00 5:23 20 Sun 7:01 5:23 21 Mon 7:01 5:22 22 Tue 7:02 5:22 23 Wed 7:03 5:21 24 Thu 7:04 5:21 25 Fri 7:05 5:21 26 Sat 7:06 5:20 27 Sun 7:07 5:20 28 Mon 7:08 5:20 29 Tue 7:09 5:20 30 Wed 7:10 5:19

1 Thu 7:10 5:19 2 Fri 7:11 5:19 3 Sat 7:12 5:19 4 Sun 7:13 5:19 5 Mon 7:14 5:19 6 Tue 7:15 5:19 7 Wed 7:15 5:19 8 Thu 7:16 5:19 9 Fri 7:17 5:19 10 Sat 7:18 5:19 11 Sun 7:18 5:20 12 Mon 7:19 5:20 13 Tue 7:20 5:20 14 Wed 7:20 5:20 15 Thu 7:21 5:20 16 Fri 7:22 5:21 17 Sat 7:22 5:21 18 Sun 7:23 5:21 19 Mon 7:24 5:22 20 Tue 7:24 5:22 21 Wed 7:25 5:23 22 Thu 7:25 5:23 23 Fri 7:26 5:24 24 Sat 7:26 5:24 25 Sun 7:26 5:25 26 Mon 7:27 5:25 27 Tue 7:27 5:26 28 Wed 7:28 5:26 29 Thu 7:28 5:27 30 Fri 7:28 5:28 31 Sat 7:28 5:28

7:12 7:11 7:10 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:04 7:03 7:02 7:00 6:59 6:58 6:57 6:56 6:54 6:53 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:48 6:47 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:43 6:42 6:41 6:40 6:39 6:38 6:37

Enhanced genetics improve herds January Date-Day Rise Set 1 Sun 7:29 5:29 2 Mon 7:29 5:30 3 Tue 7:29 5:31 4 Wed 7:29 5:31 5 Thu 7:29 5:32 6 Fri 7:29 5:33 7 Sat 7:29 5:34 8 Sun 7:30 5:34 9 Mon 7:30 5:35 10 Tue 7:29 5:36 11 Wed 7:29 5:37 12 Thu 7:29 5:38 13 Fri 7:29 5:39 14 Sat 7:29 5:40 15 Sun 7:29 5:41 16 Mon 7:29 5:41 17 Tue 7:28 5:42 18 Wed 7:28 5:43 19 Thu 7:28 5:44 20 Fri 7:28 5:45 21 Sat 7:27 5:46 22 Sun 7:27 5:4 23 Mon 7:26 5:48 24 Tue 7:26 5:49 25 Wed 7:26 5:50 26 Thu 7:25 5:51 27 Fri 7:25 5:52 28 Sat 7:24 5:53 29 Sun 7:23 5:54 30 Mon 7:23 5:55 31 Tue 7:22 5:56

B

ecause the economic and recreational value of a deer is directly related to antler size, modern whitetail management plans focus on producing superior trophy bucks as quickly as possible. Today’s hunting operations place extraordinary expectations on native deer production and intense trophy management means going way beyond the natural capability of wild genetics and nutrition.

Infusing concentrated genetics from breeder facilities into managed native herds quickly influences both aspects of antler development; net antler size is increased at peak and maturation time is shortened.

“Peak” happens faster. Likewise, adding improved genetics to the wild herd after culling helps retain “local survivability” qualities of native populations while enhancing genetic traits for trophy production.

For many reasons, satisfactory results in superior antler production cannot be realized by simply adding big bucks to the general native population. It has become more

Times given above are for Dallas. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of Dallas, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of Dallas. The table below gives adjustments for some Texas cities. Information provided is the longitudinal distance from Dallas and the time adjustment for sunrise and sunset.

STOP POACHING: Call Operation Game Thief — 1-800-792-4263 (GAME)

18 |

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

evident that does also contribute largely to antler development in buck fawns, not only through genetic propensity, but equivalently important maternal care values (like some cows consistently produce better calves). This void is best filled by releasing premium bred does from deer facilities to the wild herd in midwinter; then improved fawns are born in the new environment and select does will continue to build genetic quality with future breeding.

Historically, many managers chose Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s TTT (trap, transport, and transplant) to build their deer herds. In this program, white-tailed deer are trapped by safe and legal means (usually helicopter and net guns), and then released to pre-approved sites that have current wildlife management plans in place, CWD surveillance and adequate habitat. TTT release sites are inspected and current population census approved by a TPWD biologist. There is a $750 application-processing fee per release site. Biggest negatives are difficulty with site approval and dealing with the unknown genetics of trapped deer.

The Deer Breeders Corporation (DBC) has a new program that will make selected white-tailed deer with enhanced genetics available to satisfy management requirements. The “Alternative TTT Program” provides managers with stocker doe packages that come from licensed breeding facilities.

To release deer that have been purchased from a breeding facility, a facility ID will have to be granted by TPWD for the release site. This service is free and maintains a user-friendly reputation.

Deer Breeders Corp. www.DBCdeer.com 866.972.5001

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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Greystone Castle: not just for wingshooters

S

ince 1995, travelers on I-20 have been wondering what it is they see as they approach the Thurber exit about 70 miles west of Fort Worth. They’ve noticed the big English-style castle that looms atop one of the majestic mesas... but have still questioned what it is. However, for avid wingshooters and sportsmen across Texas and the rest of the country — they know

20 |

it’s Greystone Castle Sporting Club.

For over a decade, Greystone Castle has been part of the Orvis family as one of their premier wingshooting destinations. In fact, their name has become synonymous with quality in the hunting industry. Recently, at a ceremony in Key Largo, Fla., Greystone Castle was named the 2011-2012 Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year.

Although wingshooting has

certainly been Greystone’s forte for many years now, one aspect of their management expertise that has sometimes been overlooked is their success in producing trophy whitetailed deer. Last year, their hunters harvested more than 25 trophy whitetails, including two in the top five of the SCI Record Book. This success has continued this year with their hunters taking numerous deer over 150 inches, including three over 200

inches. With that type of success just in October, the remaining part of the season promises to be one for the record books.

And that’s what is so unique and compelling about Greystone Castle. It can be so many things to so many different sportsmen. To the upland gunner, large fields of sorghum, millet, and switch grass bring memories of great gun dogs, flushing pheasants, bobwhite covey rises, and days in the field with friends. For the big game hunter, it’s more than 6,000 acres that offer some of the best whitetail hunting in the country and over 40 species of exotic game. For the clay shooter, it’s the great sporting clays and pyramid five-stand courses that will test the best of shooters. And

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

for the avid angler, the trophy bass lakes present year-round opportunities for tight lines on largemouth and hybrid stripers.

What appeals to all visitors at Greystone are its top-of-the-line accommodations and gourmet meals. There are five elegantly decorated suites capable of hosting more than 30 guests, a dining room complete with a full-time executive chef, spacious conference facilities, a swimming pool with hot tub, and just outside the castle walls, a scenic lookout affords a breathtaking view of the entire estate.

The ownership and staff have been dedicated to creating one of the finest sporting destinations found anywhere in the world. Long-term habitat improvement and wildlife management has made Greystone an extraordinary hunting destination.

This coupled with the unique castle facility and outstanding customer service makes Greystone Castle a place without equal.

Greystone Castle www.GreystoneCastle.com 254.672.5927

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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‘Big, wide typicals’ Wildpoint Whitetails puts hunters on Red River trophies

C

hris Scheel has a simple breeding philosophy for the bucks on his Wildpoint Whitetails ranch near Gainesville, Texas.

“We breed for big, wide typicals,” Scheel said. “We have a buck that is over 28 inches wide and we are putting a lot of his offspring on the ranch. We have multiple deer in the 160s and 170s.”

Located along the historical route of the Chisholm Trail, the ranch consists of the Red River breaks country with lots of trees and a ridge running down the center of the ranch.

Scheel only takes 12 hunters each season, ensuring the deer aren’t pressured and great bucks remain on the ranch after each season.

“We are a family-owned and operated business,” he said. “We don’t want five or six hunters in camp at one time. My father and myself guide our clients personally.

We don’t want anyone to feel like they have been run through a mill.”

When you take incredible hunting, personalized service and great, new accommodations, it makes for a great hunting experience.

“Our lodge is only three years old, furnished really nicely with couches and kitchen,” Scheel said. “Our

22 |

hunting is done out of blinds because the thick topography makes it difficult to spotand-stalk. The meals are cooked by my mother, and most hunters have to turn away dessert because they are too full.”

Along with whitetails, the ranch also has numerous blackbuck over 20 inches and trophy axis.

The ranch offers free transportation to the DFW International Airport, which is about an hour away.

“We have openings this year in December,” Scheel said. “We are on the Man-

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

aged Lands Deer Permit program, so we can hunt with a rifle from the beginning of October through the extended season (into February).”

Along with rifle hunts, hunters can choose to hunt with the weapon of their choice — bow, black powder or handgun.

“This is a one-on-one guided hunt with no extra fees,” Scheel said. “The listed price is the price you pay.”

Wildpoint Whitetails www.WildpointWhitetails.com 972.922.4225

Knives of Alaska C harles Allen, owner of Knives of Alaska and a professional onal Alaskan guide, likes to hunt his own way.

That means a lot of walking, glassing and not sitting g in a blind staring at a feeder.

So, when asked about a hunting story, Allen didn’t hesitate to recall a long-ago deer he shot in Trinity County, East Texas on a windy day early in the season.

“He was a 12-point deer I took years ago at the beginning off the rut,” Allen said. “It’s a story about persistence. It was windy and hott — about 85 degrees — as it can be during the early season.”

Despite the high wind, Allen was walking and rattling in a hardwood ood bottom.

“I worked the bottom all morning,” Allen said. “I didn’t see a deer; not even a doe. The wind was howling about 25 mph, and I wass pretty discouraged.”

Allen moved only short distances between rattling sessions, finally ending up in a patch of tall buffalo grass.

“After I was done rattling, I looked up and there he stood — att 15 yards,” Allen said. “He was right there! I knew he was good, but he saw me when I turned. He ran flat out.”

Allen put a shot right behind the buck’s shoulder as he departed, ed, dropping the deer.

“That buck is in my office right above my desk,” he said. “It’s always been a good lesson about staying persistent. I like to move around d when I hunt — the main lesson is, during the rut, don’t give up. Stay out ut and hunt all day.”

The buck sported 27-inch main beams with an 18-inch inside spread.

Allen said he doesn’t pay attention to score and couldn’t tell you what the buck’s total tally ended up being.

“This was back before high fences became popular,” he said. “Itt was a great hunt and that is what matters. It should be all about the hunt.” t.”

Once someone takes a great buck on a great hunt like Allen’s, nothing othing beats a Knives of Alaska design to field-dress and cape the animal.

“Our knives are all built in the U.S.,” Allen said, “Right here in Texas.

All of the prototypes are then brought up here (Alaska), and once we e are assured it works, we’ll offer it to outdoorsmen.”

With 44 styles of knives and 100 different models, Knives of Alaska ska is a leader in the outdoor knife industry.

“We have 450 nationwide dealers, and we do all manufacturing in-house. house.

Since 1992, we’ve had an outstanding reputation with outdoorsmen,” ” Allen said. “We have remained true to our mission statement ‘Finest Qualityy Outdoorsmen’s Knives’ and this has been the basis for our success.”

Knives of Alaska ka KnivesofAlaska.com om 800.572.0980 80

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

| 23

Sharpen anything with Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener SHARPER: The Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener is an electric, hand-held device that uses small abrasive belts to quickly restore the edge to a dull hunting blade or fillet knife. Photo by Work Sharp.

T

he Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener is the first knife sharpener designed to sharpen every knife you own. Using flexible abrasive belts, the sharpener is able to sharpen not just straight bladed knives, but also curved knives, tanto blades, fillet knives, serrated knives, gut hooks and virtually any other shape of knife blade.

The Knife & Tool Sharpener uses precision angle sharpening guides to ensure that you get the proper angle every time. Two guides are included: a 50-degree guide for hunting and outdoor knives (25 degrees per bevel) and a 40-degree guide for thinner blades and kitchen knives (20 degrees per bevel). This combination of flexible belts and precision

guides lets you sharpen your blade to hair-popping results with speed, ease and repeatability. This is the fastest and easiest way to get your knives as sharp as you need them to be. Stop tolerating dull knives and time-consuming sharpening methods!

Professional knife makers use flexible belts to put a razor-sharp edge on their blades, and now you can have the same technology at home to use any time your knives get dull. You may already have other sharpening methods, but never before has a knife sharpener been able to quickly and easily sharpen this broad range of knives with such precision.

The Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener is also able to sharpen other common tools including scissors, axes and

hatchets, mower blades, garden shears, shovels, and most any tool with a blade. The versatility of the Knife & Tool Sharpener makes it an invaluable tool for keeping all your blades in razor-sharp condition and ready whenever you need them.

We know you need your tools to work as hard as you do. That’s why we designed them to stand up to the rigors of daily use. Tools are an investment and we make our tools to ensure you get the most from your hard-earned investment. You can buy cheaper, but you cannot buy better. Your purchase of this tool is also an investment in your work and ours. Now get sharp and get back outdoors!

Work Sharp www.WorkSharpTools.com 800.597.6170

Lesson (re)learned Shot placement critical no matter what you’re shooting

T

hwack went the crossbow and down went the doe in a cloud of dust.

I was relieved; finally, I had taken a deer without a firearm.

But the story didn’t end there, and it didn’t end well. Nevertheless, there are lessons to share. Hopefully, it’s just a chapter in a longer narrative.

I have lost count of how many deer I’ve taken since I first hunted in 1974.

What is certain is that most of them were Texas whitetails, shot with rifles from blinds near feeders. Seems I have mastered that technique.

Then last summer, while researching an article on hunting ethics, I interviewed Eric Nuse, executive director of Orion The Hunters Institute, which promotes fair chase throughout North America.

“How you hunt is a personal issue,” Nuse said. “One of our jobs at Orion is not to say, ‘Thou shalt not or you’re a flop as a hunter…’

“Rather, our job is to point out there are other ways, and you may want to challenge yourself with them. As your skill level comes up, the more barriers you need to put in your way … and you may enjoy the hunt in another way.”

The interview reminded me of conversations with bowhunters who proclaimed their sport is the purest form of hunting because it demands stealth, cunning and mastery of archery equipment that is more limiting than firearms.

I decided to be a bowhunter.

But there was only about a month before the Oct. 1 archery season opener — not enough time to acquire and perfect archery skills.

The crossbow was the most convenient answer. It shoots like a rifle and Texas allows hunting with them during archery season.

The bow I used has a velocity of 305 feet per second and a draw weight of 175 pounds — much more powerful than com-

24 |

pound or traditional “stick” bows.

But I thought this was a reasonable entry into the sport because I’d still have to get close shots.

That was the case Oct. 15 when I dropped the doe on a ranch in DeWitt County. The 20-inch bolt (arrow), tipped with a 150-grain broadhead, was fired at 20 yards.

She hit the ground hard and scattered dust. I saw blood on her right side, just left from where I aimed behind the shoulder.

Sticking from the ground a couple yards away was the bloody bolt; the shot was a “pass through.”

Several minutes passed and the deer struggled to get up, but couldn’t. With two holes in her I thought she would expire soon.

I got a text from Lone Star Outdoor News Associate Editor Conor Harrison, a longtime bowhunter.

“Anything hit the ground this morning?”

“Indeed, sir,” I responded. “Just shot a doe 20 yards from a tripod stand. Bolt made a pass through.”

I was about to add, “I’ll text you a pic in a few mins,” but I glanced up and saw the doe up and hobbling into thick brush. This was about 20 minutes after being shot.

“It looks like she mustered some strength,” I texted. “Got up and ran. Hope I find her.”

But I didn’t.

I had waited another 20 minutes; then I went looking for more blood. I found one big drop, but not a speck more.

Other hunters helped me search late into the afternoon, which was in the high 80s.

“Well, Bill,” said Johnny Pospech of Goliad, “from what you said I believe your deer is dead. But I also believe she’s on the neighbor’s property.”

Conor had another theory.

“You might have hit her above the lungs and below the spine,” he said. “That’s a small area but it’s not always fatal.

“You are getting a good lesson on the downside of bowhunting. It happens.

Don’t let it discourage you.”

But I was discouraged.

Wounding an animal weighs on the conscience. I had lost another deer, also a doe, about 15 years earlier in Real County.

Now I was relearning an old lesson: Shot placement is critical, no matter what you’re shooting.

Maybe bowhunting wasn’t for me, but then I remembered what Nuse said: “As your skill level comes up, the more barriers you need to put in your way…”

And: “How you hunt is a personal issue…”

I could stick to hunting with just rifles, but I’d only be as good a hunter as I am now. That doesn’t seem good enough — neither for me nor the deer.

I’ll be practicing more with the crossbow, with hopes of graduating to compound bows and recurves.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

Story by Bill Miller Lone Star Outdoor News

Whitetails Unlimited growing in Texas Is your group looking for a fun and profitable fundraiser?

W

hitetails Unlimited celebrates deer hunting, and deer hunters.

They’ve also raised millions of dollars to support local conservation and education projects across the country.

“Unique among conservation groups, Whitetails Unlimited returns 50 percent of net banquet proceeds to local groups, to use on local projects,” said Andrew Gwynn, WTU’s field director in North, Central, and West Texas.

“We fund a huge range of local projects, from hunter education to archery in the schools to handicapped hunter programs. A WTU banquet is a quality resource for a group that is

looking to raise funds for conservation.”

WTU started in the Midwest in 1982 and has been expanding nationally since then.

“Fundraising banquets started in Texas a couple of years ago, and we’ve already got some excellent chapters,” said Gary Moore, WTU’s field director for East Texas and the Hill Country. “We’re looking for groups that are willing to put some effort into the banquet, but WTU already has the support system in place to make the entire process easy and painless.

“We do need some local people, but since half of the net proceeds are returned to the local group to improve their community, it’s a pretty good partnership.”

“Anyone with questions can give either Gary or me a call,” said Gwynn, “or call the national headquarters. We are absolutely low-key and have no desire to hard sell anyone.

“We’re looking to partner with quality people and local groups in a long-term relationship. You can’t do that if you look at this as a one-way street. We want to do well, by doing good.”

Gary Moore can be reached by calling (936) 238-9889 or e-mailing gmoorewtu@ gmail.com. Andrew Gwynn is available at (972) 345-8265 or by e-mail at agwynnwtu@ gmail.com.

NOT JUST FOR DEER: Whitetails Unlimited has raised funds for many conservation and education projects in Texas, including support of the 4-H Shooting Sports program, and the 4-H Shooting Sports Instructors Workshop in Texas. Photo by Whitetails Unlimited.

Whitetails Unlimited www.WhitetailsUnlimited.com 920.743.6777

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

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For the table Venison Spaghetti INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup fresh parsley 1 28 oz. can crushed 1 1/2 lbs. ground venison 5 cloves garlic tomatoes 1-2 links sweet Italian sau1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes 1 large onion, chopped sage w/o casings — optional 1/2 tsp. dried oregano 3 tsps. tomato paste (adds flavor and works well 1 cup red wine 2 tbsps. olive oil with lean ground venison) Pasta of your choice 3/4 cup fresh basil Place onion, fresh parsley, some fresh basil, and garlic in food processor, chop until all is combined. Sauté the meat in olive oil. When nearly complete, add chopped mixture from food processor and dried oregano. Turn down heat, mix with meat and cook for five minutes.

Add all products, tomatoes and wine, simmer until all flavors are well blended — at least one to two hours. When pasta is nearly done, add remaining fresh chopped basil, and stir.

Serve over cooked pasta. To garnish, add grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy.

— Adrienne Sams

Shari’s Drip Venison Roast INGREDIENTS 3-4 lbs. of rump venison roast 2 cloves freshly minced garlic 2-3 tsps. oregano

2 tsps. rosemary 2 tsps. savory salt 2 tsps. beef bouillon granules

Place venison roast in crock pot with only 1 1/2 to 2 inches of water with dissolved bouillon granules. Add all dry spices and minced garlic onto the top of the venison roast evenly.

Cook on low heat in the crock pot for approximately 8 hours. Slice and eat as a main entrée or shred and serve on fresh buns.

— Shari Nyhus

Chicken Fried Venison INGREDIENTS 2 lbs. venison cuts (your choice, but no thicker than 1/4 inch) 13 ozs. evaporated milk

Salt and pepper Flour Shortening or vegetable oil Optional: onion powder, garlic powder

Cover meat in large mixing bowl with the milk. (If the 13 ounces isn’t enough to cover the cuts, add water to make up the difference.) Let stand for one hour. Remove meat, drain slightly, cover with seasonings and roll in flour. Cook in hot shortening or vegetable oil (375 degrees) until browned. Don’t overcook. Serve with gravy made from the flour and the milk.

— Janet Hughs

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2010 a year to remember for outdoors family

W

ith bow season in full swing, and rifle season upon us, I want to remind everyone to take your kids out into God’s wonderful creation of the great outdoors. Some of my fondest memories are of being with my dad on our South Texas ranch in LaSalle County.

I remember sometimes leaving after home football games to make the fourTy Gerke — 2010 hour trip from my hometown after probably 30-plus years of East Bernard, down old of trying! I had put us in on Highway 90, straight through the Chap for a new category my current hometown of Halfor crossbows. lettsville, and then on to Los Now with my son Ty (9 Angeles (yes, Texas) to our years old), how special would little piece of heaven. it be if we could all get drawn We didn’t kill many for this hunt? Well, unfortutrophies when I was growing nately, my wife, Amy, did not up because the managelike the idea of pulling my ment practices we use now son out of school for a week. were not yet in place. And I called dad to tell him we the reality was our odds had been drawn. I don’t think were not high because our property was fairly small and he believed me, but since Ty would be in school, I said, poaching was a problem.

“Dad, we will be heading That did not matter to me down the first of December, one bit; I just enjoyed being and you need to get ready.” with my dad.

About the same time I But he would always raise received notification that Ty my hopes, saying he was going had been drawn on another to enter us into a drawing to property for a special youth hunt the Chaparral Wildlife hunt in South Texas.

Management Area, or, as my I was one happy camper, to dad would the say, the “Chap.” say the least. Now I would be This property is located able to hunt with two people south of Cotulla, Texas and is who mean the world to me. a state-owned sanctuary for Dad and I began our hunt wildlife, especially big bucks. at the Chap in early December “Son,” dad would say, “maybe of last year, but we had our this will be our year.” work cut out. A lot of public I think he gave up on the hunts are run on WMAs, so idea so I took the lead. In 2010, our ticket got pulled the deer know what is going

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

on; it’s not a cakewalk.

We set up blinds and actually saw some really nice deer out of crossbow range, but my dad ended up taking a doe near a water hole on the last evening.

It really did not matter if we got anything at all; it was just special that we had finally been able to hunt the “Chap” together.

Ty and I arrived for his draw hunt two days after Christmas and he harvested his biggest buck to date that I rattled in. He also filled a doe tag the very next morning. The warden could not believe we had filled both our tags; he could not remember anyone doing that before.

“Well, I would rather be lucky than good anytime,” was my answer.

Luck was definitely on our side in 2010.

Amy shot a really nice deer on our ranch; I took the best bow deer of my career; and my dad took the best deer of his life right there on our little piece of heaven in LaSalle County.

Amy and my youngest son, Layne, have now starting pulling back the bow, so look out, deer, we have a couple of new bowhunters in the family!

Thanks, dad, for starting my passion and fueling my fire so that I can now make a living doing what I love so much and have been blessed to share with my family!

Story by Billy Gerke ForEverlast www.ForEverlast.com

Three deer down Confidence in Monarch scope makes distant shots comfortable

I

’ve had the chance to test the Nikon Monarch scope attached to my Ruger Hawkeye 7mm-08 on three nice deer and one javelina in my short rifle-hunting career.

The first came last December with a Childress mule deer buck at 150 yards.

Next, last January at the Sombrerito Ranch north of Laredo, an old management eight-pointer at less than 100 yards.

The next day, the javelina showed itself in the distance at about 200 yards. I put the first circle of the BDC reticle on him, exhaled and squeezed the trigger. He dropped.

They say confidence is of the utmost importance in shooting, and the circles instead of crosshairs for

shots of 200, 300, 400 and even 500 yards in the BDC reticle provide it. With no jittering crosshairs to distract you, relaxation is easier before taking the shot.

A third deer almost turned out to be another test of the second circle.

The nine-pointer came in front of the blind on the final afternoon of the early October hunt near Sonora.

“That’s your buck,” said guide Trey Wardlaw. “You like him?”

“Yes,” I said, as it was 6 p.m. and a five-hour drive home awaited.

“Let me get the video set up,” Trey said.

While I got ready, he slid the camera into the tripod.

“Click,” as the camera lodged into place.

The buck, along with a dozen

or so other deer about 100 yards away, scattered. These deer were spooky. Was it the lack of cover and grass? The many whitetail eyes scanning around? We didn’t know, but they took off up the hill and most disappeared.

The nine-pointer and one other buck stopped just short of the hill’s crest.

“How far are they?” I asked.

“About 225 yards,” Trey replied.

“Put the first circle on him and pull the trigger,” said David Sams, my hunting partner.

“Are you comfortable with the shot?” Trey asked.

“If you’re comfortable with the yardage, I am,” I replied.

A few more moments passed and the buck stayed put, not moving in our direction, so I prepared

to take the shot.

“Wait, look to the right, two big bucks are coming,” Trey said.

He was right — two better bucks were hesitant but moving our way.

It seemed like hours but probably only 10 minutes or so passed and the first came to the clearing.

He wasn’t a management buck, but rather a big 10-pointer — outof-bounds.

The next buck stayed behind some brush but finally came out. He fit the bill. And sure enough, the nine-pointer on the hill came back, too. I was glad he was spooked by the camera, though, as a nice eight-pointer was my goal, and this one was better.

“Just slide that safety off easy,” Trey said. “Some of them know we’re here.”

It was like I had clicked that video camera onto the tripod.

A minute or so later, at 120 yards or so, the shot wasn’t as difficult, but was true, and after a short, easy search, the buck was found.

Even better was the sound of the feeder going off well after the buck had been dragged to a clearing for pickup.

The Monarch scope has performed perfectly in my practice time and my increasing riflehunting experience. And it was nice to have the confidence to take the longer shot, even though it wasn’t necessary on that day.

Story by Craig Nyhus Lone Star Outdoor News www.NikonHunting.com

<— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — Clip for your camp ✄ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — >

DOVE North Zone and Central Zone Sept. 1-Oct. 23 and Dec. 23-Jan. 8 South Zone Sept. 23-Oct. 30 and Dec. 23-Jan. 23 Bag limit: 15 birds and not more than two white-tipped doves.

Special White-winged Dove Area Sept. 3-4, 10-11, Sept. 23-Oct. 30, Dec. 23-Jan. 19 The daily bag limit in the SWWDA during the first two weekends is 15 doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 4 mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

EARLY TEAL-ONLY

Sept. 10-25

EARLY CANADA GEESE

Sept. 10-25 (Eastern Zone Only)

ALLIGATOR 22 counties & special properties Remainder of the state

Sept. 10-30 (by permit only) Apr. 1-June 30

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE (By permit only)

Oct. 1-9

WHITE-TAILED DEER Archery-Only Season Special Youth Season* General Season Late Antlerless and Spike Muzzleloader (57 counties) MULE DEER Archery-Only Season General Season

Oct. 1-Nov. 4 Oct. 29-30, Jan. 2-15 North Texas (209 counties) South Texas (30 counties) North Texas (106 counties) South Texas (30 counties) Jan. 2-15 Oct. 1-Nov. 4 Panhandle (38 counties) SW Panhandle (11 counties) Trans Pecos (19 counties)

JAVELINA Northern (43 counties) Southern (50 counties)

Oct. 1-Feb. 26 Sept. 1-Aug. 31

PHEASANT Panhandle (37 counties) Chambers, Jefferson & Liberty counties

Dec. 3-Jan. 1 Oct. 29-Feb. 26

Nov. 5-Jan. 1 Nov. 5-Jan. 15 Jan. 2-15 Jan. 16-29

SQUIRREL Special Youth Season** East Texas (51 counties) Other Open counties

Sept. 24-25 Oct. 1-Feb. 5, May 1-31 Sept. 1-Aug. 31

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN No open season for lesser prairie chicken.

QUAIL Statewide (all counties)

Oct. 29-Feb. 26

RIO GRANDE TURKEY Archery-Only Season Fall Season Special Youth Season* North Zone (122 counties) South Zone (26 counties) Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, & Willacy counties Spring Season North Zone (101 counties) Special Youth Season* South Zone (54 counties) Special Youth Season* 1-Turkey Bag Limit (11 counties)

Oct. 1-Nov. 4 Oct. 29-30, Jan. 21-22 Nov. 5-Jan. 1 Nov. 5-Jan. 15 Nov. 5-Feb. 26 Mar. 31-May 13 Mar. 24-25, May 19-20 Mar. 17-April 29 Mar. 10-11, May 5-6 Apr. 1-30

EASTERN TURKEY+ Spring-Only Season East Texas (28 counties)

Apr. 15-May 14

CHACHALACA Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties

Oct. 29-Feb. 26

RABBITS and HARES No closed season.

Nov. 19-Dec. 4 Nov. 19-27 Nov. 25-Dec. 11

In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit also is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant or chachalacas. See County Listings in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual for specific county regulations and more detailed information. *In all counties that have an open season for those species. ** In all counties that have an Oct. 1-Feb. 5 and May 1-31 open squirrel season. + Rio Grande and Eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011

DOWNLOAD Charts for season C d dates, sunrise aand sunset may b be downloaded aatt LSONews.com.

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Deer Hunting Texas Annual 2011