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Hunting GUIDE
Duck Dynasty’s
Uncle Si
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Hunting GUIDE
FEATURES
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Duck Dynasty’s UNCLE SI
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The bear went over the mountain
Bringing home the bacon
Managing fish ponds
Hunt the elusive red stag Cooking the catch
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HUNTING SEASONS
CONSIDER BOWHUNTING
HUNTER PRECAUTIONS
HUNTER GADGETS GUN SAFETY RULES
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KIDS & HUNTING
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QUAIL Statewide Regular Season: Oct. 31, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021 Daily Bag Limit: 15 Possession Limit: 45 Mearns’ (Montezuma) Quail: No open season. SQUIRREL East Texas Daily Bag Limit: 10 Possession Limit: 20 General Season: Oct. 1, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021 May 1 - 31, 2021 DUCK North Zone Duck Daily Bag Limit with Gun: 6 in the aggregate. Including no more than: 5 mallards (only two may be hens) 3 wood ducks 2 redheads 2 canvasback 1 scaup 1 pintail 1 “dusky” duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone) All other species not listed: 6 Merganser Daily Bag Limit: 5 in the aggregate, to include no more than 2 hooded mergansers. Coot Daily Bag Limit: 15 birds Possession Limit with Gun: Three times the daily bag limit Regular Season: Nov. 14 - 29, 2020 Dec. 5, 2020 - Jan. 31, 2021 “Dusky” Duck: Nov. 19 - 29, 2020 Dec. 5, 2020 - Jan. 31, 2021 GOOSE Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required East Zone Daily Bag Limit: 5 Early Canada geese; 5 regular dark geese (to include no more than 2 White-front-ed geese); 10 light geese in the aggregate. Possession: Limit Dark geese three times the daily bag limit. Light geese no possession limit. Early Canada Geese Season: Sept. 12 - 27, 2020 Light and Dark Geese: Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 31, 2021 Light Geese (Conservation Order) Feb. 1 - Mar. 14, 2021 Light Geese (Conservation Order) Only No bag limit, no possession limit. DOVE Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required Central Zone Regular Season: Sept. 1 - Nov. 1, 2020 Dec. 18, 2020 - Jan. 14, 2021 Daily Limit: 15 white-winged, mourning and whitetipped doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 2 white-tipped Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag limit
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WHITE-TAILED DEER Species Info Archery Endorsement Required for Archery Hunting North Zone Bag Limit: 4 deer, no more than 2 bucks, and no more than 2 antlerless, all seasons combined. Antler Restrictions: The bag limit in this county is two legal bucks, but only ONE may have an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. A legal buck deer is defined as a buck deer with: at least one unbranched antler; OR an inside spread of 13 inches or greater (does not apply to a buck that has an unbranched antler). A hunter may also take ONE buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater in a different county with antler restrictions, and not to exceed that county’s bag limit. Antlerless Deer Antlerless deer may be taken by hunting license tag during archery, muzzleloader, and youth-only seasons, except on properties where antlerless MLDP tags have been issued then take is by MLDP tag only. Antlerless deer may also be taken by hunting license tags during designated periods in the General Season, see General Season section below for specific dates. MLDP If MLDP buck tags have been issued for a property, harvest is by MLDP tag only and all bucks must be tagged with a MLDP tag. If MLDP antlerless tags have been issued for a property, harvest is by MLDP tag only and all antlerless deer must be tagged with a MLDP antlerless tag. The landowner or designated agent are responsible for providing MLDP tags to the hunters on MLDP properties. All hunters using MLDP tags are required to possess a Resident or Non-resident General hunting license. Archery Only: Oct. 3 - Nov. 6, 2020 General Season: Nov. 7, 2020 - Jan. 3, 2021 Antlerless Deer Nov. 7-22, antlerless by hunting license tag or MLDP tag; Nov. 23-Jan. 3, antlerless by MLDP only Youth-Only Early Youth-Only Season: Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2020 Late Youth-Only Season: Jan. 4 - 17, 2021 Muzzleloader: Jan. 4 - 17, 2021 Wilson’s Snipe (Common Snipe or Jacksnipe) Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required Statewide Regular Season: Nov. 7, 2020 - Feb. 21, 2021 Daily Bag Limit: 8 Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag limit WOODCOCK Species Info Migratory Game Bird Endorsement & HIP Certification Required Statewide Regular Season: Dec. 18, 2020 - Jan. 31, 2021 Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: Three times the daily bag limit
605 Highway 59 Queen City, Texas 75572
903-799-7296 Hours: M-F 8:305:30 • Sat 9-1 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK
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The bear went over the mountain...
Came home with a local hunter
Submitted Photo
Daniel Satterfield, Tommy Snow and Josh Snow pose with the troHUNTING GUIDE phy| from a recent trip 2020 to their Arkansas lease.
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By Kate Stow The last time Tommy Snow went hunting for bear, he didn’t even see one until three days after bear season was over. This year, he got lucky on the first day of the season. Now his wife, Carla, is looking forward to deciding where the oversize stuffed animal will reside in the new home they are building. This was only the second time Tommy, his son Josh Snow, and son-in-law Daniel Satterfield traveled to Umpire, Arkansas to hunt on their 1200-acre lease in the mountains. Last year they had no luck. But this year – to Tommy’s surprise – they got lucky at five o’clock p.m. on the first day of archery season. “I hit him with a partial lung and liver shot. He ran off and we tracked him for a couple hundred yards,” Tommy said. “When I heard his death moan, I followed it right to him.” Once they found him, they discovered that hunting the beast down was the easy work. Now they had to haul him back up the mountain to their camp. “We had to cut a road down the mountain for the three-wheeler to bring it back up,” he said. “It took three of us pushing the three-wheeler up the mountain with the bear on it.” The bear, a male, weighed 200 lbs and was six feet long. Tommy won’t know the bear’s age until the results of the tooth test come back. In Arkansas, you are required to pull a bear’s tooth and mail it in so it can be aged. Tommy was using a Ram Cat Broadhead arrow on a PSD Fang Crossbow. The cost of an Arkansas out-of-state annual big game license is $350.00. The cost to have a taxidermist stuff the trophy starts at over $1,000.00. The cost of marking off your top bucket list item – priceless.
Submitted Photo
Tommy Snow was excited to kill his first bear.
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Bringin' home the bacon
Cass County wild pig program takes off By Tim Emmons temmons@casscountynow.com
America has a hog problem. A very big hog problem. You could literally call it a plague upon our soil. Texas carries the brunt of the hog dilemma with approximately 2.6 million feral hogs occupying 79 percent of Texas’ landscape. In fact Texas has the largest estimated population of feral hogs existing in 253 of its 254 counties. Feral hogs are an invasive, exotic species that cause approximately $52 million in damages to Texas agriculture producers annually. This estimate does not include damage to habitat used by native wildlife or suburban areas. There are also additional annual expenditures of $7 million for repairing damage and/or controlling pigs. A report from the USDA back in June of this year states that feral swine have been reported in at least 35 states and estimates that the total population is “more than six million and is rapidly expanding.” The hog issue is not a recent problem. Trapping and hunting of hogs has been going on at an increasing level for more than 10 years. Wild hogs are “opportunistic omnivores,” meaning they’ll eat most anything. Using their extra-long snouts, flattened and strengthened on the end by a plate of cartilage, they can root as deep as three feet. Hogs have no real natural predators and to make things worse, a single sow can have two litters of four to eight piglets in 12-15 months, which compounds the population problem. Feral pigs have incredible senses of smell and can be very aggressive. They can be extremely dangerous to people, particularly when the pigs travel in herds with their young, and should be avoided when possible. Feral pigs living in the United States have been known to attack without provocation and fatally injure human beings. Hogs also pass on diseases and parasites and can disrupt entire ecosystems. Nationwide, all forms of damage are estimated to exceed 1 to 1.5 billion dollars annually. Extension education directed at landowners focuses on the adoption of best management practices in order to abate wild pig damage. To accomplish this goal, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension utilized one-on-one con-
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tacts, group educational meetings, method and result demonstrations, mass media and websites in order to disseminate research-based information to landowners in particular with a secondary audience of the general public. Cass County AgriLife Extension Agent Jessica Rymel has been knee deep in hog talk since she arrived in May of 2018. In her early research concerning feral hogs she learned about a $100,000 grant on pig abatement from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The next move by the extension office was to purchase a BoarBuster trap. The BoarBuster is a research-based, cutting-edge trapping system developed as a solution for managing the nation’s exploding feral hog population. Scientific research conducted over a four-year period by The Noble Research Institute demonstrates that the BoarBuster feral hog trapping system captures 88 percent of the animals in a given area, effectively reducing the overall population. With that in the works Rymel included a bounty program dubbed the Wild Pig Abatement Program which took off in January of this year. There is a rental fee that pays for the bounty program and helps with the associated costs such as a monthly cell phone plan in addition to casual maintenance and repairs. In this manner, the pig abatement and education program will proceed without having to depend upon the county for support. Rymel encourages landowners to sign up with their intention to participate with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Cass County’s wild pig abatement program. She also reached out to volunteers to help curb the growth of these pests here in Cass County by taking the BoarBuster to landowners. In addition for each snout you bring in you receive a ticket which goes towards earning various outdoor equipment prizes such as tents, firearms, game cameras and more. Eligible hogs will be sold to a live hog buyer. The money from the sale of these hogs will be added to the pool of money to support the bounty fund. To use the trap, you have to be a Cass County property owner. To participate in the bounty, you must lease or own land in Cass County. For any questions concerning the Cass County Wild Pig Abatement Program, contact Jessica at 903-756-5391. You can also contact them on their Facebook page. HUNTING GUIDE 2020 |
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Managing fish ponds
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by Paul Hale I was raised on a 70-acre farm that had a pond about three acres in size. I am so thankful my dad stocked it with catfish in about 1970. Because after the catfish grew to a nice eating size, he taught me how to catch and clean them. Even though the pond was muddy at times because of also serving as a watering hole for daddy’s cows, I enjoyed catching channel cat and google-eye from it. This inundated three-acre part of the land and the banks surrounding it were a blessing as part of our property and gave this country boy more memories than all the rest of the farm. Now as an owner of several tracts of rural property that embody seven ponds, I enjoy the management of the land and the ponds. I enjoy the practical approach to this management that can be done mostly with farm tools and equipment, a shotgun, and fishing gear. Managing the fish can drive a person crazy when reading too much or trying to do this with templates of ideology. So many variables of depths, weather, predators, and fish species made me settle for simplicity. Fish have been here since the beginning of time and do not need us to survive. This fact along with moderation, common sense, a desire for being a steward to this resource, and an appreciation for eating fresh farm raised fish, makes management enjoyable. Predators from the pond itself, the air, and the ground are just as interested in having these fish as we are. They have been here since the beginning of time just like the fish have. Predator and pest control can be expensive, time consuming, and sometimes futile. Taking advice from radicals regarding this issue can be just as costly. A popula variety of native fish species is one answer to sustaining a healthy population of fish. From studying my own ponds, it seems to me that bluegill, black crappie, and spotted bass are the natives of our region (Ark-La-Tex) that are easiest to manage and the best to eat respectively. Catching them and eat eating them to keep them from overpopulating is another way to keep them healthy. Anybody that owns a pond and buys targets to shoot should save their money and practice on the turtles and snakes instead. These are natural and sustainable targets. Shooting them can be more satisfying and rewarding than the paper ones. Turtles are a nuisance that can be detrimental to a healthy fish size and population and when extremely overpopulated can cause small ponds to stay muddy. I practice the east Texas method of managing cottonmouths - kill them on sight. Of the native fish mentioned, the one most interesting to me is the spotted HUNTING GUIDE 2020 |
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bass. This fish, that looks almost identical to a largemouth bass (jaw-hinge is the difference), is a management tool itself. For example, before I started managing one of my ponds that is about an acre in size, it was infested with the nuisance polliwog catfish. I caught a dozen spotted bass and put them in this pond and let them reproduce. I started fishing it sometime later and only found two of the polliwogs. They were both pretty big. I can’t find any evidence they exist now. The spotted bass with that big mouth and big appetite are just too fast and too hungry. My analysis was, if I remove the big ones the bass will take care of the small ones. This fish also eats snakes, small turtles, and most anything that will fit in it’s mouth. Unlike the catfish, this bass prefers live prey over dead but will eat dead things too. So if there is an effort by the pond owner to do his share of the removal of bad fish, snakes, and turtles, the spotted bass is happy to do it’s part. This tenacious fighting fish is lots of fun to catch and eat. The black crappie and bluegill have their survival means against this predator and all three help somewhat in overpopulation and growth of each other. The science is lengthy and an overstudy of it is exhausting and mostly unfruitful. Trespassers, extreme drought, and floods can cause misunderstandings of data gathered when studying results of fish management. Keep it simple by accepting the things you cannot practically control. Accept the help of other wildlife that control nuisance critters and vegetation. A helper in management of the unwanted and excessive vegetation is the grass carp. This fish can eat up to three times its body weight each day in pond weeds. One way to help prevent two awful invasive plants, hydrilla and giant sylvania, is don’t allow others to put boats in your pond. Designate your pond boats to be just that and don’t take them to the lake or other water bodies in order to prevent contamination from such. In summary I manage my ponds by not allowing trees to grow on the dams, maintaining the grass around all of it by cutting it, keeping an eye on the spillway drainage, keeping turtles and snakes removed from it best I can, and try to enjoy catching enough of the fish to control the population without overfishing it. HUNTING GUIDE GUIDE 2020 2020 12 || HUNTING
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Hunt the elusive red stag at
Circle Rocking N
By Kate Stow Spread out on 1000 acres fronting Hwy 98, next door to the Barry Telford Unit in New Boston, the Circle Rocking N Ranch has a reputation of being a popular place for out-of-town hunters to visit. With 400 acres of that land high-fenced and a beautiful lodge that sleeps 14-16 people with additional floorspace for sleeping bags, hunting exotics has never been so accommodating. According to property manager Rudy Zwirnmann, there are a total of 70-80 deer held within the 400 acre fenced property, which includes whitetail deer, Red Stag and red does, black buck, axis deer and four colors of fallow deer. It also contains two ponds that can be fished year-round, and maybe a few feral hogs. The beautiful woods and pasture areas are free from underbrush, making it easier to see your target. The European Red Stag is the biggest prize of the bunch, and there are 12 at the ranch, with 14-16 red does. This deer is comparable to an elk’s size, measuring about 8 feet from tail to nose, standing 4 feet at shoulder and weighing 500-600 lbs.
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N Ranch
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“The stag meat has a strong gamey taste, much like an elk,” Rudy said. “The Axis deer is the most sought after of all venison - it’s sweet, not gamey at all. It’s carcass doesn’t even stink.” The European fallow deer comes in four colors - white, chocolate, white/brown with spots and without spots - and though they are shorter, they have enough stamina to kill a Bull Elk. Black Bucks are the most aggressive of the deer, and five of them are there, with does. According to Rudy, you can hear them roar and fighting all night during rutting season. The ranch can accommodate 4-5 hunters at once with 3 days/2 nights packages starting at $3,500 per person. That price includes meals, lodging and one whitetail deer measuring at least 130” on the Boone and Crockett modern firearm scale. Each additional inch is $75 on the nontypical score, which includes every tine on the antlers. For bow hunters, the Pope and Young score is also 130”. Rudy maintains the game camera’s and deer stands, stocks all eight food plots and keeps the woods and pasture land clean. Texas Parks and Wildlife regulations are in effect for domestic animals and fish. The exotics are not regulated by Texas law and may be hunted all year, but a valid hunting license must be purchased. European Tower Hunts are also held, involving a 30 foot tower, 18 shooters, a kennel club, and live pheasants being turned out every 10-15 seconds. Duck and bird hunts are held year-round. To book a trip, call Rudy at 903-824-6671. The lodge may also be used as a venue for wedding, class and family reunions, luncheons, banquets, showers, etc.. For more information you may go to their Facebook page at Circle Rocking N Ranch, or website. www.circlerockingnranch.com Rudy Zwirnmann Phone Number 903-824-6671
Circle Rocking N Ranch 36 CR-4014, New Boston, TX 75570, USA
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Cooking the catch
A few years before taking a series of tours around the nation fishing, I started cooking crappie, spotted bass, bluegill, and catfish soon after catching them. When our new house was built, I had an outdoor kitchen with a grill, frying burner, smoker, and double sink built-in on the patio. This kitchen, along with our indoor stove and oven, became my labs as I experimented with the different ways to cook fish. After more than two years of fishing the Atlantic, the Gulf, the Pacific, and many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in between in search of the best tasting fish I could catch, I have learned a lot. One of the things I learned is that once I learned to cook them decently with a few trimmings, my backyard friends list started to grow. Most everybody likes a backyard fish-fry. Redfish may be my best success story with cooking. I had tried them three times at restaurants with all being prepared in the restaurant tradition of blackened with pepper. I would never have eaten another if I wouldn’t have caught them on my first guided trip in the Gulf. The extreme amount of pepper used in blackening them not only negatively altered the taste, but was an overabundance enough to upset my stomach. When I told these concerns to my guide Randy Hoyt in Rockport, TX, he ex-
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plained how he liked them. He said, “I will leave the skin on your fillets so you can try them grilled right.” Redfish have big thick scales on their skin that makes a natural and most effective grill sheet. Following Randy’s instructions by first turning the grill on high, I cut one of the fillets into serving sizes. Then I basted the meat side with melted butter and sprinkled on Tony’s seasoning. With the grill on high, I put the meat side down for 5 minutes on a screen-type grill topper and basted with butter again. After 25 minutes of grilling on high, it was ready to eat. To me this method called “redfish on the half-shell” is what redfish is made for. In my opinion, “Blackened Redfish” should be a chapter subtitle for a book titled “How To Ruin Good Fish.” Redfish is a “go to” for excellent table fare because it is great grilled, conventionally fried, baked, or pan fried. After discovering all these delicious preparations of this fish, it left me to ask, “Is there a law that requires restaurants to mess this up?” Is it really necessary to de-flavor something good, cause nausea, and give customers an upset stomach? The other fish that is superb using all these methods is the striped bass. Like the redfish, the striper is still good to eat even when the fish are large. These large pieces make it more suitable on the grill or oven baked than smaller fish that shrivel up under the heat of the grill or get over-drenched in sauce when baked. Fried in oil, baked in gourmet sauce, and buttered on the grill are some good ways to make them tasty. But last year for the first time, I tried several of my white meat fish broiled in an open pan (pan fried) on the stovetop. I was amazed at the results this easy and fast method produced. This is probably the healthiest way to prepare fish. When fish are already thawed it takes about five minutes to have them ready with hardly any mess. No oil, breading, or high fat/high calorie baking sauces. All you need is a non-stick skillet, no-stick cooking spray, and, salt and pepper. That sounds too easy, doesn’t it? Sometimes the simplicity of what’s at hand causes devil’s advocates to be close minded to things that are good. To me this is the low calorie/high protein food that goes with almost anything because it is so mild. It is also cheap if you have a pond to catch them from. I mostly cook crappie and spotted bass like this because that’s what lives in the ponds on HUNTING GUIDE 2020 |
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my personal property. But my favorites done this way are white bass and yellow bass. I have started weaning myself from the tradition of frying in oil and replacing it with this method. I understand that the very mention of eliminating unhealthy additives like oil soaked and fried into breading is worse than blasphemy to most people, but to each his own. If Jesus were here and asked me to cook Him something to eat, this is what and how I would cook it, not because of my ideology but because I read Luke 24:4143. Quickly prepared, great for a healthy diet, no gigantic fish fry or gourmet cooking ware to cleanup afterwards, this method is sound for most all species. Well, if all that sounds fishy or too good to be true, don’t knock it before you try it. Out of all the fish experiments I’ve tried, this simple one is my favorite. Anybody can do this.
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Consider bowhunting
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Looking to take your hunting skills to the next level? Bowhunting may be the next natural step for you. Many hunters across the country have taken to archery, and there are many reasons. Bowhunting has a way of connecting you with nature as you discover a more primitive approach of hunting. It also teaches you discipline and patience as you hunt your game and opens up a world of new equipment and gear to explore. According to a recent study by bowhunter-ed.com (provider of recreational safety education materials for all 50 states), 24 percent of those who claimed they hunt with a bow cited the longer season as their top reason, and 11 percent said it was because bow season had an earlier start. No matter your reason for entering this fast-growing hunting segment, it’s easy to find the right equipment and get started on advancing your newfound passion. Choosing the Right Bow Before heading to your local outdoors shop, you have to decide what type of bow you want to use. Do some research on the variations, including compound, recurve or long bow. If you’re just starting out, the compound bow will most likely be your best bet. That’s because they are equipped with various accessories to increase your shooting accuracy and improve your sight. The other types of bows require more training and practice before you can expect to feasibly take down your game of choice, but you may be up to the challenge. Sign up at your local range for training sessions to start sharpening your skills. When it comes to what you’re looking for in a bow, draw weight is one of the biggest factors to consider. Defined as the amount of force it takes to pull the bowstring back to the full draw, this measurement can vary by weapon. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources recommends 40 pounds or greater for a clean, ethical shot. Bowhunting Safety According to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, there are two general bowhunting practices that lead to injuries: not being safe in tree stands and having arrows out of the quiver when they shouldn’t be. Equally important is making sure your equipment is in good shape. Shoddy equipment can lead to personal or animal injury, both of which should be avoided at all costs. Here are some things to check on before heading out on your hunt, according to the UDWR: • Make sure the laminations on your bow are not flaking or separating; • Check the strings on your bow for fraying; • On a compound bow, make sure the pulleys and cables are in working order; and • Assess the the stiffness of the arrow’s shaft to make sure it matches your bow’s HUNTING GUIDE 2020 | draw weight.
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Duck Dynasty A phone interview with Uncle Si Robertson By Kate Stow and Shawn Larson One would be hard-pressed to find a family more involved in hunting than the Robertson clan from Louisiana. Owners of the Duck Commander duck call man-ufacturing business in Monroe, and stars of the former A&E show Duck Dynasty from 2012-2017, they pretty much eat, breathe and sleep hunting. While several of the family members appeared in the series, Silas Merritt Robertson, or “Uncle Si” turned out to be the most popular of the bunch. He is the younger brother of Phil, brother-in-law to Ms. Kay, and uncle to Willie, Jace and Jeb, Si became the breakout comic of the pack. Born in 1938 just over the line in Vivian, Louisiana, Si was the sixth of seventh children born to James and Merritt Robertson. He played football at North Caddo High School and dropped out of Louisiana Tech after just three semesters. He was then drafted into the United States Army and sent to Vietnam. While in Vietnam, Si’s mother sent him a set of Tupperware cups. He is rarely seen without one full of ice tea. In 1993 Sergeant First Class Robertson retired and went to work for big brother Phil, fashioning reeds for his duck calls. Si and his wife, Christine, were married in 1971 and have two children and eight grandsons. In a recent, short, phone interview, Si shared his philosophies on life, hunting and being a television star. Although he is associated with duck hunting, he told us he loves dove hunting more than any other type of hunting. Si came to us fresh off Dove season. (Si jokes) “We go every year for the last forty years. I go expecting to get nothing. The place we go to is great, and they have pictures of all these doves but I get nothing. This year I did get one and Phil did good he got nine or 10.” “I find a little spot,” says Si. “They’re scared of me,” as we all chuckle. Addressing rumors about the show being staged, he explained exactly how it worked. “Let me tell you how it worked: in the morning, on the set, they passed out these
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pieces of paper with the words they wanted you to say,” he said. “I’d wad up my piece of paper and throw it away. I’m a director’s worst nightmare – a real improv king.” People from the area asked a number of questions. First Si was asked if he ever got his beard caught in a boat string. Si responded, “No but he has got it caught in a shotgun and it will jerk your head back sideways.” He next was asked what he would rather have more a case of Tannerite or a new fishing pole. The answer was easy “A new fishing pole, Tannerite hurts your ears.” Next he was asked when he gets a gut feeling, how long does it take to start, an action plan. “Almost immediately,” responded Si. “I play poker a lot and when I get that gut feeling hits, I go all in. It’s going to cost you all your money.” When asked about what was his favorite fish to catch around there he responded with white perch. “When we go fishing around here, we don’t go fishing, we go catch fish We just go throw our bait out three of four times and then fill our cooler and go back home and eat them,” said Si. For his last question, he was asked for a piece of wisdom. Do not think of yourself higher than you ought to? “Learn to laugh at yourself and move on. Here is the best thing to treat everyone the way you want to be treated. This world would be so much better if we did that.”
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Precautions for Hunters
Infectious prions concentrate in the brain, spinal cord, eyes, lymph nodes and spleen. They are shed in saliva, urine, blood, soft-antler material, feces, and from decomposing infected animals. Proper disposal of carcass parts is important to prevent contamination and spread of this disease. Leave these inedible parts at the site of harvest, or preferably, dispose of them in a landfill, or bury them at least 6-feet deep on the property of harvest in any Chronic Waste Disease (CWD) Zone. Use common sense precautions while handling and processing any species susceptible to CWD. Never eat meat from an animal that appears sickly. Never eat brain, eyeballs, spinal cord, spleen, or lymph nodes from CWD-susceptible species. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports no strong evidence that CWD can infect humans; however, CDC recommends that hunters consider testing CWD-susceptible species harvested in CWD Zones before consumption.
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Gadgets for the Hunter
There is something wildly primitive about tracking down your next trophy, but there also is room for technology in the hunt. From Bluetooth trackers and hearing protectors to mobile applications that function as game call systems, there are a ton of options on the market for the tech-savvy hunter. Whether you’re planning for the perfect Christmas gift or buying a present for any occasion, you shouldn’t have a problem tracking down a unique item — even for the hunter who seemingly already has it all.
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Wind Detectors A few companies have recently come out with innovative wind detectors that use advanced technology to identify wind direction and air movement shifts. These handheld devices can even pick up wind that may be undetectable to humans. Why is wind so important? Its direction and velocity can send your scent downwind to your target game and can wreak havoc on a bow shot. Knowing the specifics of the wind around you can help you be a more prepared, focused hunter. Rangefinders You can purchase a rangefinder that attaches directly to your bow. The newest models emit a constant beam that displays a real-time reading. This helps prevent misses and gives you an accurate understanding of the distance between you and the animal. Rangefinders have long been friends to hunters looking to fire accurate shots. Being able to affix one to your weapon will help you avoid toggling back and forth between a handheld option and your bow, which can waste precious time. Handheld Radios Communication can be everything on hunting day, especially if you’re with a group of friends spread across a field or forest. You can find a rugged, reliable set of handheld radios to help you keep in touch during inclement weather. Most are waterproof and able to attach to your hunting vest. This makes working with your hunting party convenient. Many radios come with a desk charging station and USB cables to make sure you’re always charged up.
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Kids and hunting
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t of in the spor ts n e m g e s rowing ensive the fastest-g an ever for compreh f o e n o t n th se tment imperative ate’s depar Youth repre st re r o u m o Y it s. g nitie akin rams in hunting, m cation in our commu safety prog g n ti o o u d sh e ild handling gun safety kely has ch r basic gun li e s v e o c rc t u a o s th re classes of natural ertification c g , ofin d lu c for example ge place, in s, e rc u o s e atural R rting at a techniques. rtment of N urse for children sta a p e D ta o s co llowing The Minne dren the fo ertification il c h c ty g fe a in s h s c rm ed on tea fers a firea on is focus ti a n g si e d 11. This ded; principles: s if it is loa a m r rm; and a re fi h f your firea o le z • Treat eac z u m d to beyond. ontrol the ms dedicate t nd what is a • Always c r a g t e ro rg p g ta n r f you al shooti youth, bu • Be sure o nt for our rous nation e e m m n u o n ir v re n a ge , responsiThere also safe learnin on of safety-minded a g in id v not only pro ing the next generati elop also to dev ners. w ble gun o e sport king up th ta d n a s s id n K u s with ur in g nversation Talk to Yo o al interest c r re la a u s g w o re d sh ve open, s to safely If your chil rtant to ha en it come o h p w r im e h ’s c it a , hunt. eir best te of hunting , you are th nimals you onsible firell a a e r e th ft g A n . ti them respec play resp ut rearms and rtant to dis o p im cked and o ’s lo it handling fi s r, n e u h g c a r u te t and eping yo eparately As a paren includes ke munition s is m a Th p . u ip g h in to never arm owners dren, as well as lock r children u o y h c a il te h c o ember’s of reach of r family m mber to als o e d m e n R ie . fr n a o eap ft out at from the w y see one le e th if n u g gun. pick up a s like a toy k o lo it if n house, eve nrograms ce p g in in s jo m a y b orogr nting skills ooters seeking an intr u h Shooting P ir e th n sharpe junior sh ting Youth Youth can ment. For USA Shoo p e lo th e , v e ts d r o ir e sp ble in tered on th y be availa le shooting a ty m -s n ic io p is m Oly pment div duction to lete Develo th A d n a the s Program cities across , orgay n a m in t presen mination your area. anization is ence, deter rg ti o goal a l p a g n o in ti h a c awareness, The n ty on tea fe d a e s s u l, c o fo tr d is sical con country an ip. tal and phy n e m , ortsmansh ls il sp sk d o n o o g ti a d niz g an blem solvin setting, pro HUNTING GUIDE GUIDE 2020 2020 || HUNTING
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Finding the
Right Dog
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How much money should you spend on your hunting dog? If you’re like most American hunters, the answer is likely, “A lot!” Hunters in the United States spend $605 million per year on hunting dogs, according to the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. From buying top breeds and dishing out major dollars for top-flight training, hunters are willing to spend big bucks for the right gundog. If you’re looking to add a new partner to your hunting repertoire, there are many steps to take to ensure the right fit for your needs, as well as the needs of your new pup. Finding the Right Retriever Waterfowl hunting is the major segment of the sport requiring a quality retriever. Hunting dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so be sure to do your research before shelling out your cash for one. A few of the main factors that should guide your decision-making process are temperament, size and trainability. Talk with your fellow hunters and work with your local breeding professionals to find out what kind of retriever will be best for you. The commitment of training a new gundog can be a costly one, so covering all your bases before the purchase is a smart move. Choosing the Right Breeder Finding the right hunting dog starts with finding the right breeder. Choose an experienced breeder with proven bloodlines and a long-standing reputation for producing healthy dogs. There are desirable traits for gundogs, depending on how you plan to use yours, so work with your local professionals to talk through some of your requirements and expectations for your new dog. They will be able to match you up with the right personality traits and genes for your needs. Trust Your Instincts The best hunters have strong instincts. Follow yours when choosing your next gundog. Avoid picking litters based solely on pedigree designations. These are titles used by buyers to identify pups that may have award-winning blood in their pedigree. Some of these titles from the American Kennel Club include Amateur Field Champion (AFC) and National Field Champion (NFC). While these designations are important characteristics to consider, these traits are not guaranteed to be passed down to your pup. Trust your instincts to uncover positive genetic traits, including calm temperament, tractability, nose, retrieving desire and natural delivery to hand. HUNTING GUIDE GUIDE 2020 2020 || HUNTING
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Hunting ethics Any responsible outdoorsman or woman knows there is a certain respect that comes with the sport. Not only must you respect your fellow hunters to ensure their safety, but you also must show reverence to the game you are hunting and the grounds upon which you hunt. Big-game hunters in particular have made the news recently – their actions being criticized by animal activist groups. In this age of technology and information-sharing, it is critical that we maintain a healthy hunting discipline at all times, even when you think there is no one watching. Follow the Law There are a number of laws you must follow as a hunter. Rules and regulations are in place for a reason. Taking them seriously is paramount if you hope to have a safe, successful hunt. Hunting out of season is a major law to adhere to, as your state’s department of natural resources has put in restrictions to protect animal populations. Hunting seasons for all types of game vary from state to state, so be sure to check in with your local offices to make sure you are in compliance. Tips on Hunting Ethics Here are some tips on hunting ethics and how to follow them: • Always think of safety first and shooting game second. • Respect the rights of landowners. You should never go on private property without permission and remember that cooperation and respect are the keys to getting permission to hunt. • Know your gun and what it can do. Maintain your equipment so it functions properly and does not pose a safety threat. • Shoot only when absolutely certain of your target and make every effort to locate crippled or lost game. • Pick up spent shells and other litter. • Clean and care for your game properly. • Alcohol and hunting can make for a dangerous combination. • Be mindful of local regulations and always be properly licensed. Taking game out of season and before or after legal shooting hours is poaching, not hunting. • Realize that just being out there is what a good hunt is all about and you can have a great day without taking the bag limit. HUNTING GUIDE GUIDE 2020 2020 34 || HUNTING
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Restricted Areas in Counties Valid Sep. 1, 2020 through Aug. 31, 2021
Hunting on Federal Lands • It is the responsibility of the hunter to be aware of applicable federal regulations on federal lands (Forest Service, National Recreation Areas, Corps of Engineers, etc.). • On the LBJ National Grasslands in Montague and Wise counties, antlerless may only be taken during archery, youth-only, and during the 4-day season (known as doe days). • On all other US Forest Service (USFS) lands, antlerless deer may only be taken during archery, muzzleloader, and youth-only seasons. Hunting on Federal or Other Governmental Lands When hunting on U.S. Forest Service, Army Corps of Engineers, River Authority properties or other lands owned or administered by units of government (federal, state, or local), additional regulations and/or requirements may apply. It is the responsibility of the hunter to determine if such additional regulations or requirements apply. • U.S. Forest Service (USFS) - on USFS properties managed by TPWD through the Public Hunting Program, antlerless deer may be taken by special drawn hunt permit. These properties include Alabama Creek WMA, Bannister WMA, Caddo National Grasslands WMA, Moore Plantation WMA, Sam Houston National Forest WMA. • Army Corps of Engineers • River Authority Annual Public Hunting Permit The Annual Public Hunting Permit (also known as walk-in) provides nearly year-round hunting on property that TPWD owns or leases from various agencies, corporations, and private landowners. In order to hunt on these public hunting lands, persons age 17 or older must possess a TPWD Annual Public Hunting Permit, a hunting license, and any required endorsements. Youth (under age 17) are required to have a Texas hunting license but are not required to possess their own permit to hunt or fish on these lands; however, they must hunt or fish under the supervision of an authorized adult (age 18 or older) who possesses the permit.
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How to bring harvest to check stations 1. All Chronic Waste Disease (CWD)-susceptible species harvested within the CWD Zones are required to be sampled for CWD. 2. Carcass movement restrictions do not apply if the carcass will not be moved outside of a CWD Zone. However, it is recommended to always properly dispose of unused carcass parts. 3. A hunter who leaves a CWD Zone with a harvested animal must quarter the animal and remove the head from the carcass 2–3 vertebrae below the head. 4. Place head in a plastic trash bag and keep cool until arriving at a CWD check station. 5. Heads can be disposed of at the CWD check stations provided the hunter has a CWD receipt, which serves as a proofof-sex document.
enjoy your hunt
BE SAFE
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Gun safety rules Statistically speaking, hunting is among the safest sports in the world. Basic safe gun handling and storage is easy to achieve, especially for responsible gun owners. Whether you have been taught gun safety by a family member or have enrolled in a training course, it’s important to always put your knowledge into practice when heading out for your next big hunt. Doing so will help ensure your safety and the protection of others.
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Safe Handling One of the first lessons every shooter and hunter should learn is to treat every gun like it is loaded and ready to fire at all times. Following this mindset will help you handle your gun with the respect it deserves. Experts teach that even the safety of a gun — the mechanical device designed to prevent unintentional firing — can become faulty and inoperable. Trusting that a safety will always perform as intended can lead to deadly consequences. Follow your common sense to realize that a gun can cause serious harm and death if improperly handled. There is no margin for error. You owe it to yourself to know as much about your gun as possible to ensure safe handling 100 percent of the time. Helpful Tips The National Shooting Sports Foundation offers the following tips for safe gun handling: • Never touch the trigger on a firearm until you actually intend to shoot; • Keep your fingers away from the trigger while loading or unloading; and • Never pull the trigger on any firearm with the safety on the “safe” position. Following these tips will help keep your hunting trip enjoyable and safe. Don’t forget to pass along these tips to others, especially inexperienced shooters. One of the tenets of responsible gun ownership is sharing what you know with others, so spread the word. Wear the Right Gear Understanding your weapon is the most important aspect of safe hunting. Another key factor is wearing the right protective gear while you’re hunkered down in your blind or taking in the view from your tree stand. Wear shooting glasses and some form of hearing protection at all times when shooting. If you’re exposed to shooting noise without the appropriate buffer, your hearing may become damaged. The right glasses can protect your eyes from debris and falling shot during your hunt.
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Great Prices on Deer Feed!
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