Everything Outdoors at DUX

Lone Star outdoor newS

Dogs were the stars at the Ducks Unlimited Everything Outdoors Expo, held May 5-7 at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Purina Pro Plan hosted the Dog Village, including the Incredible Dog Challenge, the premier canine performance sport event. Crowds lined up to cheer dogs jumping off the platform, traveling nearly 30 feet before crashing into the water.

The three-day, family-friendly DUX event, presented by Purina Pro Plan, took place May 5-7 for its third year and continued as a hands-on consumer show. The event featured several villages where attendees tried and bought the latest outdoor products and talked with industry experts.

Animal had wandered well into Baffin Bay

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

Justin Cooper had seen a young nilgai along the Kenedy Ranch shoreline on the south side of Baffin Bay while fishing and checking the floating cabins his company, Laguna Adventures, owns.

A few hours later, he and his friend, Louie, noticed the animal — way out in the water.

“We drove by and it didn’t even phase him,” Cooper said.

“His head was out of the water.”

After a short discussion, they decided to try to rope the young nilgai bull.

“We roped him and tried idling back in,” Cooper said. “We got to where it was belly deep for him, but he got out of the rope.”

Once freed from the noose, the nilgai didn’t move an inch.

“We tried to splash water toward him, but that didn’t work,” Cooper said. “Then we got out and walked him to the beach. He didn’t bolt, it was just like walking a dog.”

Cooper guessed the nilgai was 4-5 months old.

“His head came up to your chest,” he said. “He had two little buttons on his skull.”

Cooper figured the animal lost his mother or was just lost.

“I’ve seen deer crossing before, but not nilgai,” he said. “Usually they are so skittish.”

Not this young bull, even after reaching shore, as the pair recorded on a video on Laguna Adventures’ Instagram page.

“Once we got him to shore, he trotted up on the grass,” Cooper said. “Then he left.”

Sportsmen and women from across the area spent time at the shooting ranges, where they could “Try it and buy it,” as the expo had a unique shooting village where people could shoot their new favorite shotgun, handgun or rifle at spacious ranges, and make their choices.

The event included duck and goose calling competitions with $5,000 purses for the top winners, including the Texas State Duck champion, Steve Elmore and the Ducks Unlimited Regional winner, Domingo Sanchez.

Other winners included Haiden Richard in the Mallard Meat contest, Sanchez and Richard in the Team Mallard Meat event, and Richard for Specklebelly Goose.

Texas Motor Speedway is expansive, with plenty of room for people to take ATV and UTV test rides, and then have time to browse the booths of exhibitors, mostly showing their products and services appealing to waterfowlers. That time was usually accompanied by the sounds of duck and goose calls in the background — but when they got too close, nearly piercing their ears.

Rao honored for firearms training career

Heidi Rao was named the recipient of the Marrion P. Hammer Woman of Distinction Award from the National Rifle Association.

Rao began her career 24 years ago with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as the training specialist for the Hunter Education program in southeast Texas. She later became the statewide coordinator of the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program. She also conducts basic and instructor firearms training classes in rifle, shotgun, pistol, defense and protection in and out of the home and teaches the Texas License to Carry Course.

Hammer was the NRA’s first woman president (1995-1998) and continues as a gun advocate and lobbyist.

“Marion Hammer has been an inspiration to all who believe in and respect our Second Amendment, and I am honored to be the recipient of the award named after her,” Rao said.

—Staff report

HSCF convention moving back to The Woodlands

The Houston Safari Club Foundation announced the relocation of the HSCF Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in The Woodlands.

The group’s convention was held in The Woodlands before moving to the downtown Houston George R. Brown Convention Center in 2018.

The 2024 convention dates are from Jan. 19-21.

State sporting clays champs

—HSCF

Dominic Grossi and Haylyn Hanks were crowned champions at the 2023 Texas State Sporting Clays Championships, held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio.

Beretta shooter Grassi won the overall championship, topping 778 total shooters, with a three-round score of 192. He was followed by Cory Kruse and Theo Ribbs, both with scores of 190.

Hanks topped the women’s division with a score of 181, and was followed by Savanna Barks and Haley Satterwhite, who both scored 178.

Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch was recognized as the Club of the Year, and the Texas Sporting Clays Association inducted two new members into its Hall of Fame, John Calandro III, who won the Brister Shooter Award, and Gonzala Vargas, M.D., who was recognized for his years of service to the sport.

—Staff report