A shot of texas 14

Medical Plaza Mobile goes Nationwide!

Ducks on Rice Recipe or Strategy?

Upstream Adjusting Down Stream Ready ‘˜‡” ’Š‘–‘ …‘—”–‡•› ‘ˆ ‡Â?Â?› ‡š–‘Â? ™‹–Š Š‡ Â?ϔ‹Â?‹–› ”‘—’

MARCH/APRIL 2015 1 March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™

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2 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

proud member of the Farm Credit System

A Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April 2015

A Shot Of Texas Growing List Of Advertisers

4 Don’t replace, refurbish!

By Michael Breitsameter

Teffany and Robert Kahn Founders/ Co-Editors

2LO *DV 3HWURFKHP 3LSHOLQHUV Love to Duck It Up 1HWZRUNLQJ *RHV 2XWGRRUV 11 Ducks On Rice 12 Calling All Coyotes

By Kendall Rae “Camo Girl�

Kendall Rae Kahn Camo Girl Product & Ranch Review

Rod Daigle Senior Editor

Butch Ramirez Wild Life Photographer

Michael Breitsameter Industrial Content

Larry Weishuhn “Mr. Whitetail� Hunting Content

Shamus Dartanyon Contributing Writer

Jim Miller Bow Hunting Content

Efrain Martinez Safety Content

Steven Galan

14 Dark Thoughts Of Spring

By Larry Weishuhn

22 A Raft Full Of Adventure

By Steven Galan

([FHOOHQW 5HDVRQV WR +LUH D +XQWLQJ 2XWÂżWWHU ,6,6 -867 1(('6 025( -2%6

By Shamus Dartanyon

42 Tasajillo Gobblers

By Jim Miller

Active Camo Products Air Logistics Corporation Capital Farm Credit Carters Country Critter Gitters DEA Ranch FW Gartner Grainger Ranch Recruiting Grander Supply Grizzly Coolers Gulf Land & Wildlife Hogsback Ranch Huskemaw Long Range Optics ,QÂżQLW\ *URXS Innovative Turnaround Controls International Supplies Larco Industries Lonesome Coyote Ranch MB Ranches Medical Plaza Mobile Surveillance Meyer Ranch Meyer Custom Boots MG Arms Mobley Industrial Services My Core Control Performance Top Drives Record Buck Ranch South Coast Products Texas Industrial Medical Thandeka Safaris Tomorrow River Ranch UEI Welker WFMS Woods Cycle Country Valero Zoli International

Hunting Adventure Content

C 2014 A Shot of Texas Magazine.

All Rights Reserved. Printed in the USA. For current Media Kit, advertising or questions about our Traveling Trade Show contact Rob Kahn. Email rob@ashotoftexas.net 2IÂżFH RU &HOO

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 3

Don’t replace, refurbish! by: Michael Breitsameter

S

o here we are in the most challenging economy the Oil & Gas industry has seen for a good few years. Let’s face it, we all knew it would happen at some point- it had to. We all have to look for ways to pull back, to FXW FRVWV ZRUN PRUH HI¿FLHQWly, and only spend where and when we need to.

One area for potential saving that is often overlooked is refurbishing components that may have been worn or damaged in service. Often, these parts are being pulled out because of a leaking seal, a spun bearing, damaged keyway, or just normal wear and tear. In many cases these components can be refurbished for a fraction of the cost of a replacement part, and the process of refurbish-

ment and using improved materials/ processing can actually improve the original part’s performance.

In addition to improving a components functionality and future service life through the refurbishment process, the approach can also re-

PERFORMANCE TOP DRIVES & CUSTOM HUNTING RIGS

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4 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

HIGH RACKS TOP DRIVES ATV RACKS COMPLETE QUAIL RIGS “WE WILL MAKE YOUR RIG AMAZING “ THREE RIVERS TEXAS

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�Typical“ Whitetails With Mainbeam Mass

• Scenic, prime wildlife habitat • Rolling hills, steep drop-os • Natural springs • Oaks, pines, food plots • Massive mainbeam bucks

duce the cost of holding spare parts in inventory or waiting on a spare part to be delivered as a replacement. The many surface technologies that FW Gartner utilizes provide many different options for components that can be reclaimed or improved and materials that can be repaired or added to provide improved service life.

As an example, this 4000lb wheel, from a 350 Ton mining truck, was pulled from service based on wear amounting to losing less than 10lb of material. The worn regions were refurbished via laser cladding, using a material that will provide more than double the wear life when the part goes back into service, all for around 30% of the cost of a replacement part. Food for thought‌.

361-786-3034 WWW.PERFORMANCETOPDRIVES.COM

A Shot of Texas Magazine Spring Turkey Hunt .

Contact rob@ashotoftexas.net for details

A short one hour drive west of San Antonio lays Record Buck Ranch. We have 20,000 acres of beautiful terrain that varies from open green pasture to a rolling brushy hill country. We hunt it all, giving you different experience with each and every hunt.

Looking for a Trophy Hunt or to set a New World Record?

Some of the largest Whitetails harvested in the World?

The Best Hunting in Texas Year after Year?

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2XU H[SHULHQFHG JXLGHV VWDNH WKHLU UHSXWDWLRQV RQ ¿QGLQJ you world class trophies. Big terrain offers various levels of challenge, with unsurpassed opportunities for novice hunters, experienced hunters and hunters with special needs.

• Fabulous lodging, great meals, and top quality trophies!

• Visit our website and read about us in upcoming issues of A Shot of Texas Magazine. Drop us a line when you read about us and we will send you a beautiful shooters bag. www.recordbuck.com • Over 60 Species of Exotics Phone: 830-966-2301 March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 5

Innovative Turnaround Controls is the industry’s premier Project Controls solution for your overall management needs.

7KH NH\ WR RXU VXFFHVV KDV EHHQ SURYLGLQJ 4XDOLĂŽHG 'HGLFDWHG DQG WUDLQHG 6WDÇş 0DQDJHPHQW We have been providing Successful Event management in the Petrochemical and Power industry since 2004 Our Experience is the result of long term employees with years of knowledge and experience in closing your event LQ D 6DIH 7LPHO\ DQG &RVW HÇşHFWLYH PDQQHU ITC is not considered a contractor, but a business partner dedicated to supplying our industry leaders with the best resources and tools to make them successful.

We are also the leading provider in world class Project and Cost management software solutions.

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Toll Free: 1-866-268-7311 2ǸFH +RXUV 0RQ )UL 8am - 5pm (Central Time) Email: info@itc.jobs 6 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

Billing Tel: 281-598-9247 Technical Support 281-598-9248

Oil & Gas, Petrochem and Pipe Liners Love to Duck It Up

T

exas has been a major player in the oil, gas and petrochemical production and transportation industries for more than a century. Wherever there are manufacturing and storage tanks and pipelines, the men and women who line and maintain WKHP ZRUN KDUG WR NHHS WKH OLIHEORRG RI LQGXVWU\ DQG PRGHUQ FLYLOL]DWLRQ ÀRZLQJ ZLWKRXW interruption. So, when the work day is over and it’s time to play, they turn to another great tradition of Texas: duck and goose hunting!

The Gulf Coast of Texas is home to millions of waterfowl, both yearround species and migrating birds.

The vast acres of marshland, shallow lakes and flooded rice fields attract millions of water birds, where they feed, nest and breed. Species such as mallards, redheads, gadwalls, wigeons, canvasbacks, Canada geese and snow geese winter over along the coastal zone.

For unknown centuries, waterfowl have followed migration routes from the far-off subarctic northern reaches of North America, where they breed during the short summer months, to their southern wintering grounds. Some species migrate as far south as Patagonia, at the tip of South America, but many millions spend their winters along the Texas coast. As it happens, two separate broad migration paths - known as flyways - are found along this coast.

From Galveston Bay east to the state line, the migrating waterfowl follow the Mississippi flyway, a swath of territory reaching from the birds’ summering grounds along the south shore of Hudson’s Bay in Ontario, Canada down through the Midwest and central Southern states. Most of the Texas Gulf Coast, however, lies within the Central flyway. The waterfowl which follow this route summer in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Plains provinces, then cross the American plains states until they reach the Gulf Coast.

If the flocks of ducks and geese seem to be increasing, that’s because

they are. Through careful management and cooperation among state, provincial and national governments, the numbers of birds are showing a healthy growth. Every year, during their summer breeding season, a census of ducks and geese is taken, and

2I FRXUVH WKHVH DUH ÂżJXUHV IRU HQtire populations. What is seen in speFLÂżF DUHDV GHSHQGV RQ ORFDO FRQGLWLRQV LQĂ€XHQFHG E\ UDLQIDOO IRRG VRXUFHV suitable land and hunting pressure.

Dedicated waterfowl hunters are willing to go the extra mile, however, to

the 2014 results are very promising.

Overall, the total duck population is estimated to be 49.2 million, an 8% increase over 2013 and up 43% from the average population over the past 30 years (called the long-term average, or LTA). Some individual species show even greater growth in population: redheads are at 1.3 million (up 85% over LTA) and gadwall at 3.8 million (a whopping 102% above LTA).

ÂżQG WKH EHVW KXQWLQJ JURXQGV IRU WKHLU favorite sport. Whether they have their own little hunting camp in the marshlands along the coast, know a friendly farmer who lets them shoot over their ÂżHOGV WDNH D KXQWLQJ YDFDWLRQ ZLWK D professional guide or take advantage of public hunting land, every hunter has his own “special spotâ€? where he can be found in the early morning, eagerly waiting for the sound of an inFRPLQJ Ă€RFN

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 7

.

Networking IS Outdoors!

Everybody who’s anybody in industry realizes that networking and building client relationships are done both outdoors and indoors. Here’s a few networking photos which includes our favorite pastime.

ject Services & Carl Manchaca with Triple C Pro looks like she who e Ma Eda h Grander Supply wit just spotted a covey.

h the Quail harvest.

Triple C & Grander Group wit Eda Mae stands proud!

Score The Buck Contest - measuring the Record Buck with the club shaft!

A Shot Of Texas Magazine Co-editor, Robert Kahn, and yes he did get more than one!

as Safari Club Gala Kendall Rae at the Central Tex Firmus ds checking out the goo at

s Tom Snyder with Trinity Oak the ng oyi enj l Gir o Cam and t.

Central Texas Safari banque

Triple C Project Services, com plete with bird dog Eda Mae, loads up for Quail with A Shot Of Texas Magazine near Uvalde Texas.

Rob Kahn and Camo Girl working the tent at Houston Pipe Liners Golf Tournament at Kin gwood Country Club.

Record Buck Ranch manager Chuck Herndon accepted the “Ranch Of The Year” award for 2014 at the Dallas Safari Club convention. Record Buck sold more giant deer than anyone in the state of Texas. Congratulations to owners Tom and Jan Hammond, Chuck Herndon, Houston Erskine, Kani Darden and the entire staff at Record Buck Ranch.

8 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

Stranco at Pipe Liners month ly meeting.

Marvin Bottera pouring Bird Dog Whiskey for thea taste of the Central Texas Safar guest at i Club Gala.

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 9

Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors

The Infinity Group

3rd Annual Clay Shoot & Outdoor Show April 23, 2015, 9am til 7pm American Shooting Centers – Houston, TX

Meet Larry Weishuhn – MR. WHITETAIL – Master Of Ceremonies

Booths – $350 Team Of 5 - $800 Individual - $150 Includes Outdoor Show, Networking Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Networking Only $25.00 (includes show, breakfast, lunch & dinner)

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Gold: $3000.00 / includes 2 teams Silver: $1500.00 / includes 1 team Gun Sponsor: $500.00 Beverage Sponsor: $300.00 Breakfast Sponsor: $200.00 Lunch Sponsor: $500.00 Dinner Sponsor: $800.00 Station Sponsor: $150.00 BBQ Teams FREE –Sign up in advance for lunch or dinner.

Contact Teffany Kahn for info & registration: tef@ashotoftexas.net 512-746-2729 10 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

DUCKS ON RICE

D

uck on rice is not only an excellent wild game dish, but a great hunting strategy as well. Hundreds of thousands of acres RI ULFH ÂżHOGV RIIHU RSportunities for some of the best waterfowl hunting in the Texas Gulf Coast region.

Risiculture – rice growing – has been a part of Texas history for nearly 400 years, since the days of early Spanish settlements. It was in the late 19th century, however, that large commercial rice farms began to be established and, even today, at least 1,200 rice farms utilize an estimated 350,000 acres along the coastal region of the state. After the crops are harvested and the land lies fallow, when duck and goose season EHJLQV WKHVH ¿HOGV DWWUDFW ODUJH ÀRFNV ,WœV D FKDQFH WKDW KXQWHUV should not overlook.

The average Texas rice farm has between 250 and 450 DFUHV RI ¿HOGV ,Q PDQ\ FDVHV WKH ¿HOGV DUH OHIW GU\ DIWHU WKH last harvest, either because of a farm’s limited water rights to local river sources or the high fuel costs to operate pumps WR ÀRRG WKH ¿HOGV IRU WKH ZLQWHU (YHQ GU\ ¿HOGV KRZHYHU can attract geese and dabbling GXFNV MXVW DV RWKHU JUDLQ ¿HOGV do. The dikes that separate

WKH ÂżHOGV RIIHU JRRG FRYHU IRU blinds, either on the forward or RSSRVLWH VORSH WR WKH ÂżHOG EHLQJ hunted.

One strategy that has found some success is to cover an DUHD RI D ÂżHOG ZLWK EOXH WDUSV Upright bundles of tall marsh grass and decoys with the keels removed can add to the effect of the irregular blue surface, giving the illusion of an instant “pondâ€? over an area of WKH GU\ ÂżHOG Farmers who are willing to Ă€RRG ÂżHOGV Âą SDUWLFXODUO\ DV part of a hunting lease agreement – should be encouraged to either roll the stubble or lightly disc the soil before diverting or SXPSLQJ ZDWHU LQWR WKH ÂżHOGV This allows the growth of some aquatic plants and invertebrates, encouraging both dabbling and diving ducks to come to the site.

Note that both federal and state laws prohibit manipulating standing rice crops in order to attract ducks, treating knocking down unharvested rice as “bait-

ing.� Areas of standing rice left XQKDUYHVWHG LQ D ¿HOG VKRXOG EH left alone to naturally drop the rice. Stubble – the stalks of rice plants that have been harvested – can be rolled or put under a disc. If there is any doubt, contact the local game warden and discuss your plans before taking any action to avoid the risk RI WLFNHWV DQG ¿QHV IRU EDLWLQJ The areas surrounding rice ¿HOGV FDQ DOVR PDNH IRU JRRG hunting grounds. Some waterfowl, being the contrary animals that they are, prefer

to avoid the crowds in active ¿HOGV ,QVWHDG WKH\œOO À\ WR nearby marshes and open water to rest, before moving on to IHHG LQ WKH WHPSWLQJ ÀRRGHG RU GU\ ULFH ¿HOGV 6FRXW RXW DUHDV that look promising and set up blinds in these alternative locations, just in case.

And at the end of a successful season, be sure to prepare at least one meal of tender duck breast on a bed of rice. It will remind you of the great times you had hunting waterfowl in the Texas Gulf Coast region.

Mike Barcelo Ranch Sales

830.377.7965

R A N C H E S

Owner Financing

w w w . m b h u n t i n g r a n c h e s . c o m mike@mbhuntingranches.com

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 11

Grizzly Cooled Me Down For A Lifetime After hours of comparing brand A to brand B, trying to find the cooler that met my needs and didn’t have bad drain plugs and latches that were breaking after just one use. I chose Grizzly hands down! Exclusively my cooler grizzlycoolers.com.

– Kept my beverage Freezing Cold – Large easy to drain plug – Heavy Duty Latches – Easy to move around – Awesome Appearance – Molded-in Fish Ruler – Extra durable cushioned stainless handle – Large interior space ¥ $ǺRUGDEOH 3ULFLQJ What more can you ask for?! Grizzly 20 QT Cooler

Product review by: Kendall Rae Kahn, AKA Camo Girl

CALLING ALL COYOTES

M

y dad and I went out to Walberg,Texas to do some predator control. It was pretty cool that the landowner called A Shot of Texas Magazine when she came across a problem with some coyotes.

The landowner’s recollection of the event was that it was 10 o’clock in the morning and the day was bright and sunny.

Laying hens were scratching around right off the back patio of her home. We have hens here

at A Shot of Texas Ranch in Georgetown so I know exactly what it must have sounded like when the commotion began.

Hens were squawking and going nuts just outside her sliding glass door. By the time she got to her shotgun a group of four coyotes had killed six of her hens and drug four of them off.

Needless to say she was pretty upset. But she had read articles over the last year about predator hunting in A Shot of Texas Magazine. Coincidently I had just been asked by Chuck Ames at Icotec Game Calls to review their latest and greatest GC-500 predator call the week prior.

This wasn’t a typical coyote hunt. We weren’t in the South Texas brush country or the Piney Woods of East Texas. Instead we were in farmland country in a little town called Walberg and only about 400 yards from the town’s famous beer garden. We

12 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

By Kendall Rae “Camo Girl” Kahn

were also surrounded by other farms and farmhouses so we knew that we had to pick our shots carefully.

After looking at all of our options we set up facing a wooded creek bed running to the center of the property. We also knew that if our strategy worked the shot that would probably presHQW LWVHOI ¿UVW ZRXOG EH DW D GLVtance of 400 yards. Anything farther than that could compromise the safety of the neighbors.

You may have read one of our articles from our Ibex Issue last October when my mom and I, Co-Editor and REAL Chief of A Shot of Texas Magazine, Tef Kahn, took long-range shooting lessons from our friends Latte Durance, Joe Cunningham and Daryl Peterson from %HVW 2I 7KH :HVW 5LÀH 6\Vtems & Huskemaw Optics. That weekend we were dove hunting with our friends at Record Buck

Ranch . Thanks to Chuck Herndon, Ranch Manager, not only was it a great dove hunt but the shooting range he set up for us offered targets from 600 to 800 yards. The guys from Best of the West had us all dialed in.

Neither my mom nor I missed a single shot. That day I walked away with a new 6.5 x 284 caliEHU ULÀH IURP %HVW RI WKH :HVW and I knew how to use it.

To make the coyote hunt more interesting we set up our shot from the announcer’s booth at the end of the rodeo arena located in the middle of the property.

It is just like a giant deer stand.

It had been there for years and the coyotes were used to it. The wind was blowing from left to right which meant that a predator would have to dip down into that creek bed in order to come up around the wind towards our call. We were so high up our scent was more than likely

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Grander Supply serves the Chemical, Pipeline, 2LO *DV DQG 5HÂżQLQJ ,QGXVWU\ 'HPDQGLQJ industries need reliable suppliers that XQGHUVWDQG WKHLU VSHFLÂżFDWLRQV DQG QHHGV *UDQGHUÂśV IRFXV LQFOXGHV 9DOXH DGGHG TXDOLW\ SURGXFWV DQG VHUYLFHV LQFOXGLQJ SLSH YDOYHV ÂżWWLQJV 33( FRQVXPDEOHV DQG RXWGRRU VXSSOLHV 9LVLW RXU QHZHVW DGGLWLRQDO ORFDWLRQ RQ , (DVW

masked anyway. We set the call up at about 200 yards. I had to laugh when my dad asked me if it was on because he couldn’t hear it (too much loud rock music from the 70’s I guess).

Since the coyotes had come in midmorning the week before we decided to be in the rodeo arena booth sitting quietly at 9 AM. At 9:30 AM sharp Dad hit the button and looked at me. I nodded yes that I could hear it. The electronic call was automatically set to pause every few minutes or so. Dad was on the binoculars and I was on the ULĂ€H ,W ZDV MXVW minutes later when my dad said ‘Kendall, you’re not going to believe this, but there they come, all four of themâ€?.

My dad was still whispering to me when I drew a bead on the lead dog. He said “It’s 480 yards away.

Baytown: 281-421-8800 6700 I-10 East Baytown, Texas 77521 Mont Belvieu: 281-385-5100 10818 Highway 146 North Mont Belvieu, Texas 77580

Hold on a minute, honey�.

Sometimes my dad makes me nervous so I decided to remember the voice of Joe Cunningham IURP WKH GD\ KH JDYH PH P\ ¿UVW long-range lesson. The crack of WKH ULÀH VXUSULVHG P\ GDG D ELW but the coyote hitting the ground surprised him even more. What a great day and a good time. I’m glad I could share it with all of you!

Record Buck Ranch Best of the West 5LĂ€H 6\VWHPV Huskemaw Optics

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 13

Dark Thoughts

F

aintly, in the distance, I could hear the cracking sounds of limbs breaking, not unlike distant drum beats. Hmmmm! Surely it couldn’t be a bear.

Faintly, in the distance, I could hear the cracking sounds of limbs breaking, not unlike distant drum beats. Hmmmm! Surely it couldn’t be a bear.

I took a couple of deep breaths. A cool northerly breeze blew through boughs of evergreen, creating an eerie basic symphonic melody. The wind song was joined by the buzzing of mosquitos, showing their displeasure over my having blocked their sanguine meal with my head net.

Those numerous pieces of natural music combined with the distant “lowing of loonsâ€? created a symphony rivaling the ÂżQHVW RI KXPDQ RUFKHVWUDV , FORVHG P\ eyes and imagined, the great Dame of the :RRGV FRQGXFWLQJ ZLWK VZD\LQJ ORQJ ÂżQgers! Then there it was again, the sound of breaking limbs, almost like a drummer gone mad. This time those “crackingsâ€? were much closer.

The sound of breaking limbs grew louder. First I thought, it’s one of my friends “messing with me�. But no, the sound was

coming from deep within the northern wilderness and none of my campmates would go to that much trouble. Then I thought maybe it’s a moose, perhaps gone blind, or deranged after years of dealing with PRVTXLWRV EODFN Ă€LHV DQG WLFNV 2U PD\be...it’s a legendary yeti, proclaiming his prominence in this vast stretch of Maine’s Northern Forest. , WLJKWO\ JULSSHG WKH Ă€LQWORFN PX]]OHloader rested in the crux of my shooting sticks. I pointed it in the general direction RI D EXFNHW KXQJ DERYH WKH JURXQG ÂżOOHG with aromatic “Hostess Twinkiesâ€?, only about 20 yards away.

The breaking of limbs sounded closer with each of my heartbeats, now happening quite rapidly. I’ll readily admit for a while I really wondered it was a blind moose, staggering through the dense northern woods. But also somewhere way back in there was that thought that this really could be a legendary yeti. I waited....

14 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

Then I heard dried limbs breaking just to my right, down in the little creek bottom where hung the bucket of pastries. Just then too, I saw something big and dark moving behind a screening of low growing evergreens. It appeared to be a bear, a black bear, but almost too big for the bear I had seen in that part of Maine in the past!

But it couldn’t be! Every bear I had ever seen come into a bait slipped in as quietly as possible, almost like a mist, simply appearing next to the bait without ever making a single sound!

This “mist� was noisy and big! Finally I could truly see what it was. It was a bear, but not just an every day Maine black bear.

This one was a true North Woods monster!

I watched slack-jawed as the biggest black bear I had ever seen walked up next to the bait bucket. His shoulders were far above the hanging bucket and his belly, too was almost above the the top of the bucket.

I started to rub my eyes, fearing I wasn’t really seeing what I thought I was.

This was truly a monster of the bruin

of Spring world. I recalled another truly big bear I had shot a few year earlier on Arizona’s White Mountain Apache Reservation.. I had gone there to hunt bear with Sam and Dick Ray, after they called to tell me they had found a truly big blonde bear.

I really wanted to shoot a monster “coloredâ€? black bear and a big blonde, they described as weighing probably close to SRXQGV SHUIHFWO\ ÂżW WKDW GHVLUH $W the time I was doing media relations for Thompson/Center Arms and I was trying WR EH WKH ÂżUVW WR VKRRW D FULWWHU ZLWK WKH then new .50 x 209 Encore. “Had a monster black show up, and if you see him I think you’ll shoot him even though I know you want the big blonde we told you about,â€? Dick Ray explained as we drove to camp. Later that afternoon, Sam Ray and I sat on the ground in a makeshift blind of oak limbs. The two trails, one on either side of us were covered with monstrous tracks.

We had been there less than 30 minutes when we heard the soft padding of a bear behind us; very close and downwind of us.

Then I saw the bear’s head. His ears were nearly at the side of his head, a sure sign of old and big male bears. Based on how tall the bear, less than 10 yards away, was from what I could see of him through the oak there was no question he was huge!

He strode forward obviously fully aware of our presence. But he showed no concern or caution. He did not seem to be the least bit worried of our presence. I slid the muzzleloader from a right hand shooting position to shoot left handed. A couple more steps and I’d have a clear shot.

As the bear, less than 10 yards away, stepped into the narrow shooting lane he immediately turned to face me, laid back his ears, “popped� his jaws and started to charge. There was no time to think, simply react! My muzzleloader was pointed at the bear’s chest, hammer cocked. As the bear charged fast toward me, I shot.

He reeled backwards, stared at me hard and then immediately turned and ran away. I reached down to grab the second muzzleloader I had brought with, in case I needed a fast follow up shot.... As I did I turned to my right to stare right into the barrel of Sam’s Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Mag pistol, only inches away from my

face. Sam had his pistol pointed where the EHDU KDG MXVW EHHQ , VXSSRVHG WR ÂżUH MXVW in case I failed to stop or turn the charging bear. “That sonofaboar wasn’t coming any closer!‘ was all he said! If you ask him about the incident, I suspect Sam will tell you I slightly misquoted him!

A few minutes later, my empty muzzleloader reloaded, Sam and I picked up the blood trail. We found the bear about 75 yard from where I’d shot. He was monstrous, easily a 7-foot plus bear. Inspecting and admiring my huge bear we found burned hairs on his chest from the fire coming out of my .50 barrel, verifying the closeness of my shot. He had only been about 8 feet from the end of my barrel when I pulled the trigger and still coming. Guess you could say my hunt turned out a bit more “western� than I had expected!

Later back at camp we learned the big black bear weighed 563 pounds and squared 7 feet 6 inches, without any stretch, and had better than a 21 inch Boone & Crockett measured skull. My biggest black bear...

Meanwhile back in the North Woods.... the bear standing broadside in front of me at less than 20 yards away made that Arizona bear look mediocre! I’ve shot Alaska brown bear and grizzly and this bear seemed every bit as big or even bigger than those! I believe this bear would easily have weigh way over 600 pounds! , KDG WKH Ă€LQWORFN SRLQWHG LQ WKH GLrection of the black monster. I cocked the hammer, then carefully took aim. I remember thinking, “Don’t shoot him mid-way up immediately behind the front leg. Shoot him farther down through the heart, where he’ll leave a blood trail quicker rather than bleed inside and not leave a blood trail....â€?

I gently pressed the set trigger and then PRYHG P\ ¿QJHU RQWR WKH WULJJHU (LWKHU the did not to know I was there, or he simply didn’t care. After all, he was the biggest, meanest, baddest critter in that part of the world.

With front bead perfectly in the notch of the rear sight and exactly where I wanted to place the big lead ball, I pulled the trigger. Almost as if in slow motion I saw and heard the hammer

Larry Weishuhn strike the frizzen and send sparks to the pan below igniting the powder in the pan...sssssssssssss... then nothing! No more smoke, no loud expected, “BANG. No other sound than my rapid, loud heart beat... I held the rifle pointed at the bear hoping it was a merely a momentary hang fire and it would go off at any moment. It didn’t!

At the sound of the hammer hitting the frizzen the bear turned to look at the sound, and me. I watched as he seemed to simply roll his eyes as if in complete boredom. I held strong until I knew the gun would not go off. That reality realized, the bear watched as if being amused, I madly re-primed the pan in hopes I could get a second opportunity....

Just as I did spill powder into the pan and cocked the hammer for a second try, the biggest bear in the North Woods simply seemed to melt into the surroundings... He was gone! I was nearly physically sick...

Needless to say that was the day I swore RII HYHU DJDLQ KXQWLQJ ZLWK D ÀLQWORFN Now many years hence, I still am keeping that promise and oath!

I’ve had the opportunity to hunt black bear from the western edges of the outO\LQJ LVODQG RQ WKH 3DFLÂżF 5LP DFURVV most of the Canadian provinces to Newfoundland and south to the arid cactus lands of the southwest. I’ve hunted them ZLWK PDQ\ GLIIHUHQW ULĂ€HV DQG FDOLEHUV muzzleloaders (modern inline), shotguns with slugs, and pistols, all things that essentially go “bangâ€? when the trigger is pulled. but as I promised myself, never DJDLQ D Ă€LQWORFN I’ve had the pleasure of sitting near many different kinds of bear baits; called them to me using varmint calls and elk calls; chased them over mountains, down valleys and through nasty swamps with well-trained hounds; and spotted and stalked them fairly across rocks, cut timEHU JUDLQ ÂżHOGV DQG IRRG SORWV With the coming spring, when others thoughts may turn toward diamonds (as in the baseball kind), silver (as in terms RI ÂżVK DQG JROG DV LQ UHPHPEHULQJ WKH golden sunsets of the fall season). Me? My thoughts turn “darkâ€?, as in the the darkness of black bear!

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 15

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March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 17

Waterfowl Hunting On the Water

T

Hunting waterfowl means going to the water. Don’t let the shore stop you, however: take on the same element as the ducks and geese. With most types of hunting - deer, upland birds, and even feral hogs - the hunter goes to where the game is. It would seem counter-productive, if not downright lazy, to stay within a few yards of a road when hunting on land. Why should it be any different with waterfowl?

18 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

Marshes, lakes and even flooded rice fields offer excellent hunting opportunities. Using boats - the right kind of boat - can give a hunter a way to quickly and efficiently place himself right in the thick of rich waterfowl areas. They can take a hunting party deep into seldom-visited areas where ducks feed and rest, have experienced little hunting pressure and feel more at ease.

Whether a boat is used as transportation to a blind located deep in a marsh or on an island, or if the boat is used as a hunting platform in its own right, a waterborne hunting strat-

egy can be very successful.

Some hunting outfitters offer airboat hunting trips, particularly in coastal marshes. With an experienced driver who knows the hot hunting spots - especially if the outfitter has established blinds deep in seldom-hunted areas - a party can quickly leave the crowd behind. The combination of a powerful air propeller and flat, shallow-draft boat design can take hunters far and fast. Admittedly, the noise of the craft can disturb the game birds as it approaches, but if the guide knows the movement patterns of the ducks and geese in the area, more birds will soon come to replace the one frightened away during the approach.

Airboats

have enough room to be able to transport a small group of hunters along with decoys, supplies and even retrievers.

Another choice is a flat-bottomed skiff.

This type of boat can be poled, rowed or powered with quiet trolling outboard motors to cover the same distances, with less noise (but slower) than an airboat. Their

to where the birds are gathered.

Kayaks have become more popular with wildfowl hunters in recent years. They are also shallow draft, so they can be paddled almost anywhere, in silence and with great precision. With proper FDPRXĂ€DJH WKH ND\ak-borne hunter can sit unnoticed as ducks and geese come within shooting distance.

It’s true that it’s dif¿FXOW WR EULQJ DORQJ D dog (unless you can train one to paddle a kayak), but the maneuverability of a kayak allows a hunter to act as his own retriever in any case.

Boats also allow hunters to quickly and efficiently move to new locations in reaction to changes in waterfowl movements throughout the day.

With proper camouflage, the kayak-borne hunter can sit unnoticed as ducks and geese come within shooting distance shallow draft allows this type of boat to travel into areas with just a foot or two of water, and they are roomy enough to carry hunters, their equipment and dogs

While a kayak doesn’t offer much additional room, aside from the paddler and minimal equipment, a few decoys can be lashed to the top of the boat for XVH RXW LQ WKH ³¿HOG ´

With careful planning and loading, a boat can act as a comfortable platform for an entire day’s hunt.

For your next duck or goose hunt, consider going by water.

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 19

20 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 21

A RAFT FULL OF ADVENTURE By: Stephen Galan

T

he rain was tapping against the windows of a trailer at 40 Mile Air charters, as I sat staring outside. Unfortunately, our trip had been delayed. Our party of four had been weathered in for a day and we were anxious to get into the air toward our hunt. Such is the nature of traveling by air in Alaska. There will ϔ Ǥ understand, even before you take off, that Mother Nature is in control in the “Great Land.” Luckily, it wasn’t long before the pilot came to tell us that there had been a break in the weather and we had a green light. All aboard! Ǧϔ ǡ Ǥ ϔ Ǥ ǡ ǡ Ǥ ϔ the Otter down onto a gravel airstrip. When you land, unload your gear and the pilot drones off into the distance, Ǥ Ǥ ǡ ϔ Ǥ Forget about a town. There wasn’t even a gravel road within hundreds of miles.

Shove off

Our hunting party began organizing our gear and inflating our rafts. We spent the afternoon getting ready to shove off into the river’s headwaters the following morning. After a brief dinner of freeze dried meals, we drifted off into a deep sleep. The following morning dawned crisp and clear. In no time at all we had everything loaded into our rafts and we were soon floating down the river into adventure. Eleven days of

rafting and hunting lay ahead of us. No work days, no schedules, no cell phones or emails, just a raft, rifles and camping gear. On this particular tributary, the first couple days are just for traveling downstream. The waters in the headwater portions are too low for heavy rafts loaded with meat. So, we just needed to travel downstream and take in some of the world’s most gorgeous country.

It is impossibly beautiful and vast. The only way I know to describe it is like a

22 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

gigantic buffet table for your eyes, ears and nose. The nice weather was only fleeting, however. Days two and three were a deluge of rain. A word of advicebring good rain gear and a change of dry clothes to Alaska. Most of days two and three were spent fighting the engorged river and drying our clothes by campfires. The rain raised the water levels noticeably and day four dawned frosty and clear. This meant it was finally time to hunt and we pushed our rafts into the

current with high hopes. Around midmorning we saw a lone caribou bull crossing the river. He was of average size and we decided to pass on him.

However, our spirits were raised after seeing some game. The day showed no more sign of game as we floated down stream, so we found a good looking spot and set-up camp. We spent the rest of the afternoon cruising the hills looking for caribou, moose and grizzly. We hunted until dark, but saw no more game.

A Bull in the River The next morning we loaded up our gear and pressed on down river. We had been ÀRDWLQJ OHVV WKDQ DQ KRXU ZKHQ ZH FDPH around a bend in the river and were greeted with a band of about 15 caribou. One tall antlered bull with a bright white mane caught my attention. I reached for my dry case and pulled the .338 Win Mag from within. My hunting partner swung the raft to the left to give me a clear shot. Shooting from a raft on a river is a new marksPDQVKLS H[SHULHQFH , UXVKHG WKH ¿UVW VKRW and missed clean. The caribou didn’t react badly and simply began to move to our left up the river bed. I instinctively worked the bolt and steadied myself. All attention was focused on the shoulder of the bull. This time I did right. I slowly squeezed and the ULÀH EXFNHG LQ UHFRLO 7KH EXOO GURSSHG immediately into ankle deep water. I had WDNHQ P\ ¿UVW $ODVNDQ ELJ JDPH DQLPDO The other raft had a caribou tag as well and within minutes we had a second bull down. I was elated. I felt like a little kid ZKR KDG MXVW VFRUHG KLV ¿UVW WRXFK GRZQ We spent the majority of the day skinning and quartering the bulls. We took our time and got every last morsel of meat. There would be no freeze dried food tonight! We celebrated our success with caribou ribs and backstraps. Then, we slipped into our sleeping bags and slept soundly after our warm meal.

The next morning we watched the carcasses of the bulls for any signs of a grizzly, but none arrived. The next few days brought

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 23

good weather, so we pressed on down river.

Some sections of the river had towering cliffs that came right to the water’s edge. Some of these cliffs harbored Dall’s sheep. They were easy to spot with their white coats, but getting to them would be a different matter. One of the party had a sheep tag as well and we were constantly stopping to glass the heights for a legal ram. The views were incredible. It seemed as if every turn of the river brought a sight worthy of a mural. Again, you just cannot describe the majesty and grandeur of Alaska in print. We stopped for lunch one day and found something that did dampen our spirits. A previous hunting or rafting party had left some of their trash at the river’s edge. It contrasted so sharply with the purity of the place and we could not leave it that way. We collected it all and made a place for it on our raft somehow. If nothing else, I felt it may bring us good luck. Little did I know, my feelings were about to be proved correct.

A Grizzly Encounter Later that afternoon, our two rafts got separated. I am unsure how it happened, but our partner’s raft got a few hundred yards ahead of us on the river. They rounded a sharp bend in the river and we lost sight of them for a few minutes.

When we rounded the river bend, we saw the two men with their raft beached on a small island in the middle of the river.

They were hunched over and pointing at the far side of the river bank. What I saw there took my breath away. There, bathed in the soft evening light, was a gorgeous

interior grizzly foraging along the river bank. For the moment, he was unaware of our presence. Once more I reached for the .338 and rested it on the side of the raft.

I was the one with a grizzly tag and the guys ahead of us wanted me to connect badly. The bear was on the far right of the river and the other raft was resting on an island in the middle of the river. I could see Kent with his .375 waiting to back me XS , QHHGHG WR VKRRW ÂżUVW 7KLFN EUXVK was only feet away from the bear and we were determined to deny him access. For those unaware, a wounded grizzly in thick cover is about as welcome as a tornado in a trailer park. The rule of thumb is that shooter one takes a good shot and if the bear does anything other than drop immeGLDWHO\ WKH RWKHU VKRRWHU ÂżUHV DV ZHOO <RX both keep shooting until the bear is down and still. The bear was walking upstream, SUHVHQWLQJ D IURQWDO VKRW DV ZH ZHUH Ă&#x20AC;RDWing downstream. The distance was about 300 yards. I chambered a 225 grain bullet LQWR WKH ULĂ&#x20AC;H LURQLFDOO\ NQRZQ DV WKH 7URphy Bonded Bear Claw bullet). Since the angle was bad and distance too great for grizzly shooting, I slowed my breathing and focused myself. There was no room for error. As we closed the distance to just under 200 yards, the bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s angle naturally shifted to a more open quartering angle.

As luck would have it, we hit a smoother section of the river at that very moment. I will never forget that view. I was a twenty three year old kid and was looking over the crosshairs at a trophy men wait their whole lives for. His cream tipped hairs

24 Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ March/April Issue 2015

shifted as he walked and exposed the chocolate brown hair underneath causing ripples of dark bands moving through his coat. What a sight! The crosshairs steadied onto the front of his shoulder and when the moment seemed right, I pressed the trigger. He rolled into the river and for an instant, I thought I had stopped him with one shot. Nope. He rose out of the water in an understandably bad mood. He turned two quick circles clawing at the growing red section on his right shoulder. Water was streaming from his long hairs and claws in a silver stream illuminated by the evening sunlight. It was incredible. As I worked the bolt and chambered another cartridge, I knew I had hit him well. He was running away from me now, downstream. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ZKHQ , KHDUG .HQWÂśV ÂżUH 7KDW VKRW turned the bear around again and he came EDFN P\ GLUHFWLRQ , ERUH GRZQ RQ WKH ULĂ&#x20AC;H and tightened the sling around my forearm. The crosshairs locked on his shoulder again. I remember thinking, â&#x20AC;&#x153;you are headed the wrong way dudeâ&#x20AC;? as another shot left my Browning and found its mark.

That slowed him. I chambered a third URXQG DQG ÂżUHG DJDLQ )LQDOO\ HYHU\WKLQJ fell silent and the bear slumped into the river by the bank. I could now hear the waWHU Ă&#x20AC;RZLQJ DJDLQ DQG P\ KXQWLQJ SDUWQHUÂśV harried breath as he furiously tried to cover the distance and beach the raft. I quickly JRW RXW RI WKH UDIW DQG UHORDGHG WKH ULĂ&#x20AC;H As I approached the grizzly from behind, I could see his upper torso still on the bank with his rear half in the water. Standing in the knee deep water I carefully placed an

insurance shot between his scapulae from 50 yards. He lunged out of the water and fell dead on the bank. He was a beautiful interior grizzly and squared 6 feet. This is the smaller cousin of the coastal bears and brown bears of Alaska. They are known for their tenacity and bad attitudes. This one had taken three 225 grain bullets from a .338 through his chest and a .375 slug through the hind leg, just to stop him.

7KH ÂżQDO VKRW PD\ QRW KDYH EHHQ QHHGHG EXW , ÂżJXUHG LW ZDV HDVLHU WR SDWFK KROHV LQ the bearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hide than my own.

quiet allows a man to hear himself think. In the dark, cold night with glowing embers beside me, I stared up into the heavens. The northern lights painted the sky with a vivid light show. Shades of greens, pink and purple danced like gigantic ribbons against the gigantic black sky. I was breathless. More stars than I have ever seen were suddenly there, vibrant and twinkling. I could hear the river gurgling in the distance and smell the DOGHU ZRRG VPRNH RI RXU ÂżUH 0\ ZRROHQ clad feet were warmed in the frosty evening E\ WKH IDGLQJ HPEHUV RI WKH ÂżUH ,Q DOO P\ life I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know that I have ever felt more alive. I felt alone, yet part of a greater whole. , IHOW VR WLQ\ DQG \HW VLJQLÂżFDQW DW WKH VDPH $V , Ă&#x20AC;HVKHG RXW WKH KLGH RYHU WKH QH[W time. I knew what it meant to be placed into few nights, I marveled at Alaska. It truly is a time and place by God, be blessed by it a special place. With the other guys sleep- and know it was good. I pray I never forget ing soundly in their tents, I still had work to it and hope I get to repeat it often. I hope do to on the bear hide. On one night, I was you get experiences like this with your famVLWWLQJ EHVLGH WKH JORZLQJ ÂżUH FDUHIXOO\ UH- ily and friends. I hope you are all the better moving the fat from the hide. A Coleman for it. If you do get to go, give thanks and relantern sat faithfully hissing beside me. As member that you are part of a story so much I laid back on the rocks and sand, I turned bigger than yourself. In the wilds of Alaska, the lantern down really low. Even its hiss- listen deeply. You might just hear the voice ing seemed loud in this place. Out here the of God.

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0HGLFDO 3OD]D 0RELOH *RHV 1DWLRQZLGH

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ick Moses, President of Medical Plaza Mobile in La Porte, Texas, began his company in 1991. During the ups and downs of the last decade Rick and his team have managed to sustain and even grow. Rick’s primary customers are in the SHWURFKHPLFDO DQG UH¿QLQJ LQGXVWU\ :KHQ ZH DVNHG 5LFN DERXW his success he replied, “Our core belief is SERVICE followed by SERVICE! I believe our customers have stayed with us through all our years in business because of that philosophy. With their supSRUW ZH KDYH FRQWLQXHG WR DGG WR RXU PRELOH ÀHHW DQG KDYH WULSOHG the size of our facility here in La Porte, allowing us to provide a wide range of medical services from drug testing to chiropractic needs in Texas and now nationwide.” This dedication to hard work has transformed Medical Plaza Mobile into a recognized and dependable go to for on-site medical services.

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OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY: Leader in Job and Wage Growth

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The U.S. oil and gas industry is a long-running leader in job and wage growth, a new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration revealed.

(;3/26,9( -2% *52:7+ From 2003 to 2008, the oil and gas industry saw a whopping 63% growth in non-corporate jobs, but the sector could not escape the effects of the recession. However, the slowdown only lasted a year before the industry’s demand for labor regained traction, and another 28% increase in job growth occurred between 2009 and 2013.

Production from shale formations has been a major driver for the surge in employment. Given that the growth is for on-the-ground positions, it’s unsurprising that some of the nation’s brightest employment conditions are concentrated in oil-producing states.

Texas, home of Eagle Ford and large portions of the Permian and Haynesville formations, is leading the way in creating oil and gas industry jobs, having added 19,000 new positions in 2013 alone. That’s nearly six times the growth in New Mexico, the second largest oil and gas job creator, and copossessor of the Permian formation.

Oklahoma and North Dakota have DOVR PDGH VLJQL¿FDQW FRQWULEXWLRQV WR the industry’s employment gains, says the EIA. But with a national economy

plagued by low-wage, part-time work, how much jobs pay is just as important as how many jobs are available. Since 2009, average wages for all private industry workers increased 10%. During that time, average wages increased 12% for oil and gas workers, boosting the average salary to $108,000, more than twice the national average.

SPILLOVER EFFECT: BENEFITS BEYOND 7+( ,1'8675< %HQH¿WV RI RLO DQG JDV SURGXFWLRQ extend beyond the industry, and North Dakota serves as a prime example. Last year, while average personal income in the U.S. grew 2.6%, North Dakota residents witnessed the nation’s highest personal income growth at 7.6%, the Institute for Energy Research reported.

As of September 2014, North Dakota also enjoyed the nation’s lowest unemployment rate, which at 2.8% was well below the national average of 5.9%.

Oil production from the state’s Bakken shale formation has breathed life into industries ranging from transportation to construction to hospitality, benH¿WLQJ WKH VWDWH DQG ORFDO HFRQRPLHV

28 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

Take Williams County, home of the boom town, Williston. Its employment rate increased 276% between 2003 and 2012, the IER says government data show. With that rise, wages for even food-services workers have soared, rising from 97% of the state average to 146% of what the average North Dakota resident earns.

Spillover effects are found in other oil producing states, like Texas. In March, the state’s unemployment rate– already trending below the national DYHUDJH IHOO WR D ¿YH \HDU ORZ &LWLHV such as Houston and Midland, have even lower unemployment rates.

According to a Midland spokesperson, oil jobs are so lucrative that companies are offering starting wages that are “incredibly high for retail and restaurants,” to compete for labor. And many employers still have difficulties filling jobs, she told Breitbart Texas.

The oil and gas industry’s record for job growth and wages have outpaced the national average for the past decade, says the EIA. And the industry is increasingly becoming a backbone for the growth of VWURQJ GLYHUVL¿HG ORFDO DQG VWDWH HFRQRmies in oil-producing states.

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March/April Issue Issue 2015 2015 AA Shot Shot of of Texas Texas Magazine™ Magazine™ 29 29 March/April

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WILD DUCK ON RICE

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INGREDIENTS: 2 wild ducks, boiled until tender, deboned and chopped (save broth) 1 stick butter 2 boxes of Near East Wild Rice Pilaf 1 box of chicken broth on hand (you may not need this) Salt and pepper 1 c. chopped onion 1 c. chopped celery 1 c. chopped bell pepper 1/8 tsp. dried minced garlic 4 tbsp. soy sauce 1 lg. can sliced mushrooms and liquid 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 tbsp. chopped green onion

Boil ducks until tender. Reserve broth.

Brown rice in butter in a large Dutch oven.

Add vegetables and sauté 5 minutes more. Add wild rice flavor packets. Stir well. Add duck broth amount according to your rice box instructions. If necessary, canned chicken broth to make up liquid. Add remaining ingredients to rice except ducks and mushroom soup.

Simmer rice for 30 minutes or until done adding more water if necessary. Mixture should be kept moist. While rice is simmering and has only 10 minutes left, slice duck and sauté with salt, pepper and green onion just enough to heat. When done, fold in soup. Top the wild rice with sliced duck and ENJOY! Serves 10.

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ŚĞƐƚ ŚĂƌŶĞƐƐĞƐ͗ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŽŶůLJ ůŝŵŝƚĞĚ ĨĂůů ŚĂnjĂƌĚƐ ;ŶŽ ǀĞƌƟĐĂů ĨƌĞĞ ĨĂůů ŚĂnjĂƌĚͿ͕ Žƌ ĨŽƌ ƌĞƚƌŝĞǀŝŶŐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ƚĂŶŬ Žƌ Ă ďŝŶ͘

Class 3

&Ƶůů ďŽĚLJ ŚĂƌŶĞƐƐĞƐ͗ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĞĚ ƚŽ ĂƌƌĞƐƚ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐĞǀĞƌĞ ĨƌĞĞ ĨĂůůƐ͘

Class 4

^ƵƐƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ ďĞůƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚ ǁŽƌŬ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚƐ ƵƐĞĚ ƚŽ ƐƵƐƉĞŶĚ Ă ǁŽƌŬĞƌ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ďŽĂƚƐǁĂŝŶ͛Ɛ ĐŚĂŝƌƐ Žƌ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ Žƌ ůŽǁĞƌŝŶŐ ŚĂƌŶĞƐƐĞƐ͘

Rope Lanyard

KīĞƌƐ ĞůĂƐƟĐ ƉƌŽƉĞƌƟĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƌĞƐƚƌĂŝŶƚ ƉƵƌƉŽƐĞ͘

Web Lanyard

ZĞƐƚƌĂŝŶƚƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĨĂůů ŚĂnjĂƌĚƐ ĂƌĞ ůĞƐƐ ƚŚĂŶ Ϯ ĨĞĞƚ͘

ĂďůĞ WŽƐŝƟŽŶŝŶŐ Lanyards

&Žƌ ĐŽƌƌŽƐŝǀĞ Žƌ ĞdžĐĞƐƐ ŚĞĂƚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ƵƐĞĚ ŝŶ ĐŽŶũƵŶĐƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƐŚŽĐŬ ĂďͲ ƐŽƌďŝŶŐ ĚĞǀŝĐĞƐ͘

Shock Absorbers

ZĞĚƵĐĞƐ ĨĂůů ĂƌƌĞƐƟŶŐ ĨŽƌĐĞ͘

Rope Grabs

ĞǀŝĐĞ ƚƌĂǀĞůƐ ŽŶ Ă ůŝĨĞůŝŶĞ͕ ƚŽ ƐĂĨĞůLJ ĂƐĐĞŶĚ Žƌ ĚĞƐĐĞŶĚ ůĂĚĚĞƌƐ Žƌ ƐůŽƉĞĚ ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƵƚŽŵĂƟĐĂůůLJ͕ ĞŶŐĂŐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ůŝĨĞůŝŶĞ ĂŶĚ ůŽĐŬƐ ƚŽ ĂƌƌĞƐƚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂůů͘

Safety Nets

>ĞƐƐĞŶƐ ĨĂůů ĞdžƉŽƐƵƌĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ ĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĞdžĐĞĞĚƐ Ϯϱ ĨĞĞƚ͘

ZĂŝů ƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ƵƐĞĚ ŽŶ ĂŶLJ ĮdžĞĚ ůĂĚĚĞƌ͘ Rail Systems ĨƌĂŝŶ EƵŶĞnj DĂƌƟŶĞnj ĞĂƌŶĞĚ Ă ĂĐŚĞůŽƌ ŽĨ ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ ĞŐƌĞĞ͕ DĂƐƚĞƌ ZĞĂů ƐƚĂƚĞ ;D͘Z͘ ͘Ϳ͕ Ă 'ĞŶĞƌĂů /ŶͲ ĚƵƐƚƌLJ͕ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ DĂƌŝƟŵĞ K^, dƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ /ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞ 'ƌĂĚƵĂƚĞͲhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ^ŽƵƚŚ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ͘ &ŽƌŵĞƌ ƌŝƟƐŚ WĞƚƌŽůĞƵŵ >ŽƵŝƐŝĂŶĂ KŝůͲ^Ɖŝůů ŚŝĞĨ ŝͲůŝŶŐƵĂů ^ĂĨĞƚLJ dƌĂŝŶĞƌ͕ ƚŚŝƌƚĞĞŶͲLJĞĂƌ & D ͞,ŽƵƐĞ ĂŵĂŐĞ /ŶƐƉĞĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ^ ͞^ĞŶŝŽƌ ŽŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ŶĂůLJƐƚ͘͟ ůŝĞŶƚƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ͗ ,ĂůůŝďƵƌƚŽŶ͕ ^ŚĞůů͕ tĞĂƚŚĞƌͲ ĨŽƌĚ͕ ŵĞƌŝĐĂŶ EĂƟŽŶĂů ZŽŽĨĞƌƐ͕ / ͕ >ŽĐŬŚĞĞĚ͕ ŝŽĐĞƐĞƐ͕ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ƉŚLJƐŝĐŝĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂůƐ ĂŶĚ >ŽƵŝƐŝĂŶĂ tŽƌŬĨŽƌĐĞ͘ Ăůů ƌ͘ ƵƌĂŶ͕ ůŝĐĞŶƐĞĚ DĞdžŝĐŽ ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ĚŽĐƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ŶŐŝŶĞĞƌ ďƌĂŚĂŵ WĞƌĞnj Ăƚ ϵϱϲͲϯϰϮͲϲϲϰϬ Žƌ ĞŵĂŝů ƵƐ Ăƚ ŵĂƌƟŶĞnjĞŵĂƌƟΛĂŽů͘ĐŽŵ͘

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32 Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ March/April Issue 2015

5

Excellent Reasons to Hire D +XQWLQJ 2XWÂżWWHU

E

very fall, the excitement of the upcoming duck and goose hunting season begins to build.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the time when hunters doublecheck their equipment and clothing, get in a few hours of shotgun practice at the range and begin to think about the special feeling of being in a blind just as the sun rises on opening day.

Unless youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re lucky enough to have a family hunting camp in a productive area â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or have a good friend who invites you to his â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll probably be facing the uncertainty of hunting on public land. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true that waterfowl populations are up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the summer 2014 duck survey showed an 8% increase in the flock numbers over the previous year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; local conditions vary, and can change quickly. There are no guarantees that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be on the flocks.

An alternative is to book a day or a few days with a duck and goose hunting outfitter. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an option that can be attractive, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always the nagging question, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is it worth the extra cost?â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a valid concern: it can cost anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars per person per day, depending on which outfitter you sign up with and the options they provide. Even so, there are definite advantages of using an outfitting lodge on a waterfowl hunt.

1. GREAT HUNTING SPOTS 2XWÂżWWHUV XVXDOO\ HLWKHU RZQ RU lease land (or both) that is virtually guaranteed to provide a productive hunt. This doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that they offer a â&#x20AC;&#x153;cannedâ&#x20AC;? hunt - far from it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the business of putting hunters where the action is, so they make sure that their spots are managed in such a way as to provide the greatest chance of success for their clients.

4. ALL THE EQUIPMENT IS PROVIDED As we all know, there is a lot of equipment involved in duck and goose hunting, but when you hire an outfitter you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry about any of that. From blinds and decoys to transportation out to the site, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s typically all provided as part of the package. Many outfitters even offer dogs and dog handlers (usually at an additional fee), in case 2. LITTLE OR NO COMPETING you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a trained bird dog of HUNTING PRESSURE your own. Some outfitters will even $Q RXWÂżWWHU ZLOO OLPLW WKH QXPEHU provide breakfast and lunch! of clients who are hunting a particular area at one time. Unlike on pub- 5. RELAX AND ENJOY THE lic land, where you might have other HUNT hunters within yards of your blind, All the details and worries are handled your guided hunt will provide you and by someone else. While someone else is your group with exclusive access to an making sure the decoys are set up proparea during your time there. erly, you can spend time talking with your hunting buddies, or giving advice 3. PROFESSIONAL GUIDES WR \RXU VRQ RQ KLV ÂżUVW GXFN KXQW 6SHQG KNOW THE AREA more time taking photographs and storTypically, each hunting party will have ing up memories, rather than worrying at least one professional guide to accom- about having to clean the ATV at the end pany it. That guide will know the area, of the day. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the client, so your job the weather and water conditions and the is to just enjoy the hunt. movement patterns of the birds. Setting Go for the most all-inclusive guidXS GHFR\V ZDWFKLQJ IRU Ă&#x20AC;RFNV DQG PDN- ed hunt or just stick with the bare ing calls are all part of his expertise. He bones; spend a little or spend a lot. can even give advice, if you want, on how You can decide. At the very least, to set up shots. If the birds arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t moving however, an outfitter offers a lot of in your direction, the guide knows where advantages that can make the differto reposition your party so you have the ence between a typical hunt and one best chance to get some good hunting. to be described for years to come.

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ 33

Corpus Christi Police Athletic League (CC-PAL) Valero-Bill Greehey Refineries

5th Annual

Charity Dove Hunt â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

October 3, 2015

Sponsorship Opportunities Gold Sponsor $5,000 16 tickets to event UDIĘ?H WLFNHWV Company name in all publicity and event signage

Silver Sponsor $2,500 8 tickets to event UDIĘ?H WLFNHWV Company name in all publicity and event signage

Bronze Sponsor $1,000 \4 tickets to event UDIĘ?H WLFNHWV Company recognition at event

Event Tickets: $100 per person â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Admits One Tickets will feature all you can eat, drink, dove hunting, skeet & trap shooting throughout the day Checks Payable: Corpus Christi Police Athletic League (CC-PAL) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tax ID #42-1554287

34 Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ March/April Issue 2015

Note: Please RSVP by returning this commitment form and your payment to Patsy Benchoff, Valero, P. O. Box 9370, Corpus Christi, TX 78469 or by email patsy.benchoff@valero.com.

For any questions, please contact Patsy Benchoff w/Valero @ 361-289-3104; Sgt. David Morris @ 361-533-5407 and/or Dennis Havel w/Valero @ 361-815-4340.

I

t would be hard to say just how many times either I have been asked, or seen the question posted on the internet, about how to duplicate factory loads. Most of the time a certain factory load will shoot really well for someone and they want to reload it themselves.

For example, they have had great success with factory .308 Winchester 150 grain Soft Point Federal Classic ammo, so they pulled one apart and found it has 38 grains of extruded powder in it, and now they want to know what powder number it is so they can â&#x20AC;&#x153;duplicateâ&#x20AC;? it.

Odds are it is an Alliant â&#x20AC;&#x153;Reloaderâ&#x20AC;? series powder like Reloader 15 because Federal is owned by ATK, who owns Alliant Powder, Speer, RCBS, and a host of other shooting companies. What they have not considered, is that it just might be the â&#x20AC;&#x153;bulletâ&#x20AC;? that is shooting so well, and they certainly canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t duplicate that as Federal Cartridge does not sell itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bullets to reloaders, so the closest thing will be a Speer or Hornady 150 grain Pointed Soft Point.

We can usually duplicate factory ammo velocity but that is not a sure thing either.

Many times I have had factory loads go faster than my handloads, (especially Federal and Hornady ammo), and also shoot better groups.

You can just bet that the manufactures are going to use their own resources to load their ammo. This does not mean that they are using Reloader 15. All Alliant Reloader brand powders look pretty much alike but those that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet the certain burning

is a natural occurrence that they will be for different lot numbers.

The only way to solve this is to buy several boxes of the same lot number when you buy ammo. Look inside the box on the HQG Ă&#x20AC;DS IRU WKH QXPEHU GRQÂśW MXVW EX\ D single box every year.

Of all the factory ammo I get a chance to shoot, Federal, Hornady, and the new Barnes VOR-TX are the most consistent day after day, and lot to lot.

What really gets folks into â&#x20AC;&#x153;troubleâ&#x20AC;? is when they are trying to reload ammo to duplicate the new Hornady Heavy Magnum or new Superformance ammunition as this ammo is loaded with a proprietary powder and process that enables them to get higher velocity and still stay within pressure limits.

(This powder has recently been made available to reloaders from Hodgdon, but one must read the loading data very closely. It will tell you that this powder is 9(5< Âą 9(5< FDOLEHU DQG ORDG VSHFLÂżF This means you just canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take any 150 grain bullet and use this powder in your .300 Winchester Short Magnum as it is WDLORUHG WR D VSHFLÂżF +RUQDG\ JUDLQ bullet, and tells you not to substitute.)

For example, Hornady lists a .30-06 165 rates specs for Reloaders are used for OEM grain bullet in their Custom Ammo at 2800 or factory loads. This is because they can fps, and they offer a Superformance load at customize certain loads regardless of the 2960 fps. So that is quite a substantial incaliber as long as the results are within their crease in velocity.

They also offer a favorite load of mine, parameters of both velocity and pressure.

Now take Remington ammo as another a .338 Winchester Magnum Superformance example. They have no particular ties to load with 225 grain bullets at 2840 fps as any powder company, so you might get compared to a normal load of 2785 fps. This powder made by Alliant, Hodgdon, Ac- is not nearly as much of a velocity increase, curate, IMR, or even some other foreign and I doubt yonder Wildebeest will ever manufacturer. know the difference.

So if a reloader intends to try and duAs an example, I recently took several 6SULQJÂżHOG JUDLQ &RUH /RNW plicate those loads he is going to â&#x20AC;&#x153;cross Remington cartridges apart and found one the lineâ&#x20AC;? somewhere. Surely he is going to lot to have Ball powder and the next lot had be dealing with pressures higher than norshort kernels of extruded powder, while mal, and if he does proceed to get away another lot has long thin extruded powder, with it for a while, it will take only one DQG HYHQ DQRWKHU ORW ZLWK ÂłĂ&#x20AC;DNHV´ RI SRZ- minor change in components or conditions to blow a primer, stick a case, and heaven der I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t recognize at all. $V , WHVW ÂżUHG HDFK ORW , IRXQG WKHP DOO WR forbid, split a barrel or action and hurt be about the same velocity but they all had a somebody. different point of impact. Were you to mix Just leave well enough alone and load them together you would get a horrible group whatever you wish according to the loading and this sometimes happens when shooters manuals that are available. Start 10% under a buy ammo from different lot numbers and max load, and work up carefully.

Just remember no matter how fast the bulWKHQ ZRQGHU ZK\ WKHLU IDYRULWH 'HHU ULĂ&#x20AC;H let is going, nothing beats bullet placement. doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to shoot so well anymore.

If I can be of any further assistance in your Really ya canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t blame the shooter as he is buying the same Remington 150 grain reloading endeavors, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t hesitate to write to Soft Point Core Lokt, but a year apart, so it TBlauwkamp@superior-sales.com March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ 35

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Fracking

F

racking involves pumping large quantities of water, sand and chemicals into bedrock to fracture it and release oil and gas trapped there. Wells are drilled 5000 to 10,000 feet down and then turned to drill horizontally for extended distances. When the mixture of water and solvents is pumped in, the pressure cracks the rock and the sand keeps the pores open. Gas and oil can then be pumped back up through the well. $GYDQWDJHV LQFOXGH HFRQRPLF EHQHÂżWV IRU WKH ORFDO HFRQRP\ UHduced costs for oil imports and greater energy security for the country. Disadvantages include local property damage, a negative impact on the living conditions of residents close to fracking operations and environmental concerns. Governments, businesses and residents are VWUXJJOLQJ WR GHÂżQH DQ DFFHSWDEOH EDODQFH EHWZHHQ WKH DGYDQWDJHV and disadvantages, reducing environmental impact to a minimum ZKLOH SUHVHUYLQJ WKH PD[LPXP LQ HFRQRPLF EHQHÂżWV LOCAL CONCERNS 7KH ELJJHVW EHQHÂżWV IRU D ORFDO HFRQRP\ DUH WKH MREV VSHQGLQJ and increased economic activity that come with fracking in a particular locality. Areas in which extensive fracking takes place have seen economic booms, the creation of highly paid jobs and healthy ORFDO ÂżQDQFHV ,Q VRPH FDVHV UHVLGHQWV LQ SUHYLRXVO\ GHSUHVVHG areas welcome the development of their shale deposits, but some residents face problems, especially in highly populated areas.

Fracking can create noise, damage property and poison wells.

Affected residents have to be compensated by well operators and there may be expensive legal entanglements. The fracking process itself pumps the chemicals deep underground, far below ground water levels, but leaks of the fracking liquids and the gas being pumped out can affect wells. Government regulations forcing operators to limit leaks to a minimum and to reduce the environmental IRRWSULQW RI WKH ZHOOKHDG PD\ DFKLHYH D EHWWHU EDODQFH RI EHQHÂżWV and disadvantages.

NATIONAL ISSUES From a national perspective, advantages in energy supply and economic activity are balanced against the overall environmental impact of fracking. A major concern on a national level is the depletion of aquifers as fracking uses large quantities of water. On the other hand, carbon dioxide emissions are being reduced through the use of natural gas generated by fracking. The large quantities of natural gas from shale formations have depressed prices in the United States and made natural gas competitive in energy markets, causing a switch from other, dirtier fuels. The resulting reduced volume of imported oil has improved the trade balance and reduced reliance on insecure foreign oil supplies.

36 Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ March/April Issue 2015

2YHUDOO WKH ORFDO HFRQRPLF EHQHÂżWV EULQJ ZLWK WKHP D GLVUXSWLRQ RI residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lifestyles through industrial scale activity across large areas.

State and municipal governments can limit fracking if they believe the GLVDGYDQWDJHV RXWZHLJK WKH EHQHÂżWV 7KH VZLWFK WR QDWXUDO JDV IURP fossil fuels that emit more pollution and greenhouse gases has had a SRVLWLYH HQYLURQPHQWDO LPSDFW 1DWLRQDOO\ WKH ZKROH FRXQWU\ EHQHÂżWV from having to import less oil and from a more secure energy supply.

While the advantages of fracking are well-established and will continue, the disadvantages can be reduced through better drilling practices, an improvement that will tend to reduce current opposition to fracking.

T R O P H Y

W H I T E T A I L S

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The Man Behind the Bucks: Nathan Wininger Phone: (715) 572-1724 or (715) 572-5938 WWW.HOGSBACKRANCH.COM

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Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. Š2015 Polaris Industries Inc.

ISIS JUST NEEDS MORE JOBS!

I

â&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure most of you remember the movie Tombstone from back in the 80s. One of the scenes in the movie had Ike Clanton losing his latest hand of poker to Doc Holliday. As Doc showed his winning

hand and raked in his winnings , Ike Clanton scowled. Docs reply was, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ike maybe poker just ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t your gameâ&#x20AC;?. Doc followed that with: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I know letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have a spelling contestâ&#x20AC;?. I believe that even Ike Clanton could

come up with a better idea than the latest liberal bull (#@*&). Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so glad I wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t driving when I heard the latest plan on dealing with ISIS. The liberals in Washington claim that the reasons that terrorists like

ISIS exist and the reason that they hate so much is that they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have jobs. The State Department spokesman then went on to reiterate that the USSA (United Socialist States of America) as I so lovingly refer to them, is going to allow thousands of Syrians into the USSA and provide them with jobs. I would hope that even those on the left might be dis-

By Shamus Dartanyon turbed if jobs were being provided for foreigners instead of themselves.

This latest action is just another example of how the current administration deplores the real United States of America and in my opinion seeks to destroy her from within. Of course the State Department promises to do background checks and screening on all these individuals.

I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about you, but I think Lincoln had a brighter future the day his carriage dropped him at Fordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theater. Now letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talk about these jobs. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking public schools would be a natural place to start followed Day Care &HQWHUV JRYHUQPHQW RIÂżFHV DQG of course computer programmers are always in demand. Hey maybe NORAD could use a few of those guys in their IT department. Either way, the main thing is that we make them feel comfortable DQG ZHOFRPH ZKLOH WKH\ LQÂżOWUDWH and plot to destroy us and our way of life. The real enemy sits in the :KLWH +RXVH DQG KH QHYHU Ă&#x20AC;LHV LQ the same plane with his dog.

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ 37

UNMATCHED TEXAS HUNTING RETREAT

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We are located in the famous South Texas Golden triangle that is famous for variety of exceptional hunting opportunities. Our corporate tailored facilities can host your next sales meeting this or guide you to your next exceptional trophy.

We offer: White Tail Deer Rio Grande Turkey Upland Game Birds Hogs and Predators 38 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

2015 OIL PRICE FORECAST

C

rude oil prices have slipped to their lowest levels since 2009 as U.S. production continues to surge, and the world economy continues its slowdown. But, exactly the forces that are sending prices down – supply and demand – start reversing with low oil prices.

What burst the oil bubble initially were basic Economics 101 principles: Increased supply brought about by the application of advanced technology in North America. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) have unlocked an enormous resource in shale formations from Texas to North Dakota, while increasing (even restarting) production from formations thought to be played out.

Reduced demand from a world economy pummeled by high (and spiking) oil prices.

Never in recent economic history had oil price stayed so high for so long.

But, the twin dynamics that brought prices down from their June 2014 highs will be the victims of their own success, reversing the very effect they brought about.

LOWER OIL PRICES REVERSE DYNAMICS . . .

When in late-November 2014 the 12-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to maintain output levels, pundits declared it to

More importantly, as lower oil prices slow marginal production in the U.S., they goose the world economy. When these basic economic forces meet in the middle on the supply-demand curve, oil prices should firm up again.

BUT, IN THE MEANTIME . . .

be OPEC’s strategy to let oil prices fall to a level that would slow higher-cost U.S. production.

Adam Sieminski, Energy Information Administration (EIA) Administrator, said last December that “U.S. oil production growth is expected to

slow next year in response to lower crude process, but annual output is forecast to still increase to the highest level since 1972.” Students of economic history will note that was just before the first OPEC-led oil price rise in 1973-4.

Major investment groups are issuing even more bearish forecast for oil price in 2015 than they were at the end of 2014 – while predicting no significant price rally in the first half of the year.

British bank Barclays cut its 2015 average price forecast for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude to $42 from $66 per barrel, predicting further declines to come: “We expect to see further downside to prices in the next few months, with both WTI and Brent likely to trade into the high $30s before the oil price decline is arrested.”

Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, said it expects WTI to trade close to $40 per barrel for most of the first half of 2015. The U.S. investment group forecasts after a weak first half of the year, oil prices should recover to $65 per barrel for WTI and $70 for Brent.

For all the reasons oil prices fall, they can rise again – all very predictably.

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 39

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March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ 41

TASAJILLO GOBBLERS !

I received an invitation from my close friend Chad Stevenson of the famed Elusive Wildlife Technology “Flashlights” to hunt his ranch for hogs and gobblers and to do some filming and field testing of his various new products. The ranch is located in the central part of Texas in the beautiful Hill Country. This Ranch is covered with Tasajillo Cactus, a cactus with red fruit that Rio Grande turkeys love. The weather was not kind to us this week. Thunderstorms had us locked down in camp for two full days. Low water crossings were too dangerous to cross and it’s against the law to ford low water crossings during flooding!

Finally the weather broke and we decided to go out and give the gobblers a try! “Running & Bowing”, we stopped on a ridge, gave a few sweet yelps and had several different gobblers respond. We found an area where we could use the cedar to our advantage. If you’re going to try “Running & Bowing” I recommend you have a light weight folding stool and a small backpack like the Tenzing 1140 light weight. It has a padded front organizer compartment that is perfect to hold your different turkey calls. It is also hydration compatible. For turkey hunting I use inexpensive aluminum water bottles that are both easy to reach and drink from when I’m sitting in the brush.

The first set up was not productive. We heard lots of gobbles but no one came to see us. We next set up about a mile away after having heard several new gobblers. As we set up in an oak motte we did not have much time to get ready. I had given a lost call like a hen that is looking for company! Immediately I heard a gobbler and he was coming fast.

We were ready, I thought! That gobbler was on top of us immediately. I was looking for an open shot. There were none. Finally at 25 yards I had a shot as the gobbler went behind a bush. I started to draw my bow, but a gobbler’s eyes can pick up the slightest movement. The race was on! The gobbler had seen me draw my bow and was off in the opposite direction faster than I could get my sight pin on him. Such is the challenge of “Running & Bowing”, I guess. Any bow hunter can tell you that it is very tough to accomplish!

Within minutes, however, I heard another gobbler off to our left. I cutt at this gobbler and he quickly responded. I tried to cut him off as quickly as possible. All of sudden there were three gobblers coming and making all kinds of noise. And they were coming on a run! We spun around, moved our Avian-X feeding hen to our left so the gobblers could see the decoy. This took the pressure off of me from being seen drawing my bow. Well, the best laid plans of mice and men do go awry! The gobblers came quick, gobbling, but then shut up. Not a peep. I picked up my glass friction pot call, gave a soft sweet cluck and that was all it took. Those three gobblers went nuts, making all kinds of racket! The

42 Shot of Texas Magazine™ March/April Issue 2015

first gobbler went past us not 30 yards from the motte. As he went past me I knew I was going to shoot one of these monster brutes!

The first tom had a huge rope of a beard hanging from his chest. He looked like one of the ZZ Top boys! The next turkey was the dominate gobbler. He had a real paint brush of a beard. It was really thick! I never did see the third tom as I was now drawing on the dominate gobbler. I was again picked off by one of the other gobblers. It gave an alarm putt and started walking off pretty fast. I think it was Roy Orbison who sang “it’s now or never”. I had a shot at 40 yards.

I launched the wicked VAP 350 Arrow with a Grim Reaper 1 1 /2 inch razor tip broad head. Within a second the arrow hammered the old gobbler dead center thru the wing butt. He took off low, running for about 20 yards before he fell. What a thrill! A monster, dominate 4 year old tom was down.

During our filming cut a ways for a future airing of Tex Mex Outdoors we did our recovery. Where the arrow hit that tom looked like someone had dumped a bag of turkey feathers! This new Matthews Creed bow is a deadly piece of equipment. It delivered my payload quietly, quickly and furiously. That Rio Grande gobbler had three beards; 11 inches, 7 inches and 6 inches long, for a total of 24 inches of beards. The spurs were 1 ¼ inches long and the gobbler weighed 23 lbs.

This was my best Rio Grande gobbler ever! If you love hunting turkeys and want to extend your hunting season try “Running & Bowing”. I know you will love it.

Buena Caceria /Good Hunting Jim Miller, Host @ Tex Mex Outdoors

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazineâ&#x201E;˘ 43

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Texas Energy Production: Permian Basin vs Eagle Ford O

il and gas production in Texas supports economic activity in a number of ways: • A source of oil and gas, both economically important commodities • Creation of jobs in the core activities of exploration, drilling and production • Creation of jobs in the non-core activities of pipeline construction and operation, transportation, refining and equipment manufacturing • New demand for financial services, real estate and housing, wholesale and retail products, and supplier activity • Generation of tax revenues from production, sale and employment • Lower CO 2 emissions, shale gas vs coal, and thus lower remediation costs • Increased investments, economic growth and value added to the gross state produce of Texas Many people still conjure up classic oil wells when discussing oil production, but new technologies, such as horizontal drilling and multi-stage hydraulic fracturing (fracking), have greatly increased productivity in recent years.

Two areas in Texas contain substantial energy resources: the Permian Basin in West Texas (and southeastern New Mexico) and the Eagle Ford Shale Formation in South Texas.

41 percent of new drilling permits were for horizontal drilling rigs. In total, the Texas Permian Basis accounts for 57 percent of annual Texas crude oil production and 14 percent of the nation’s.

About 14 percent of the world’s operating oilrigs are located in the Permian Basin.

Highlights from a recent Texas Tech University study of the total economic impact (i.e. direct, indirect and induced effects) of the Texas Permian %DVLQ VKRZ WKH IROORZLQJ ¿JXUHV • Employment: More than 444,000 jobs • Labor Income: More than $26 billion • Total Value Added: More than $60 billion 3(50,$1 %$6,1 • Output: Almost The Permian Basin is roughly 250 miles $114 billion wide and 300 miles long. Oil wells have According to the study’s dotted the Permian Basin since the 1920s. authors, the state’s receipt of Today, it is the site of several thousand oil taxes on oil and gas produc¿HOGV ZLWKLQ VHYHUDO IRUPDWLRQV VSDQQLQJ tion can’t be determined by over 50 Texas counties. As of 2013, the Tex- location, but the total colas portion of the Basin has produced over lected in 2013 by Texas was 29 billion barrels of oil and 75 trillion cubic $1.5 billion from gas producfeet of natural gas. Daily crude oil produc- tion and $2.1 billion from oil tion is about 1.4 million barrels. In 2013, production.

($*/( )25' 6+$/( Eagle Ford Shale is the world’s largest single shale oil and gas development, based on capital expenditures.

It encompasses a 20-country region of South Texas, of which at least 14 counties are actively producing. Shale drilling occurs at depths between 4,000 and 14,000 feet. Over 200 shale-drilling rigs now operate there.

Oil and gas companies spent approximately $30 billion in Eagle Ford Shale in 2013. Economic impact highlights from a 2012 University of Texas study include: • Employment: More than 86,000 jobs • Labor Income: More than $3 billion • Total Value Added: More than $22 billion • Output: Almost $47 billion According to the study, the estimated state tax revenue, including severance taxes, exceeded $1 billion in 2012.

As is apparent, although the Permian Basin is a far larger production region, the economic benefit of both regions upon Texas and the entire country is immense.

March/April Issue 2015 A Shot of Texas Magazine™ 45

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