OPINIONS
What’s the Hunting
Outlook? We asked our Facebook friends, special rangers and some TSCRA members about the hunting outlook for their area. Here are some answers from Texas and Oklahoma.
Tony Rast: Should be great in Coleman County. Successful dove hunts have already taken place. We’ve seen numerous big-bodied whitetails with larger antlers than last year on game cameras. Rain cures all. Steve Sikes: We do not lease our property, but we have noticed more hunt- ers in the Stephens/Throckmorton County areas. Habitat seems to be good but rain is always welcome. Deer hunting should be on target to be a good to above-average year
based upon our survey. We have observed good antler growth. Quail hunting will once again be very disappointing. We have seen some
encouragement in coveys being larger than expected, but still not up to the standards we enjoyed 3 to 4 years ago. We will not be hunting quail this year. Dove have been less than stellar so far, but being a migratory game bird
that doesn’t respond well to hunting pressure, this could either improve or deteriorate. We’ve seen good turkey numbers. Feral hogs are everywhere. We’ve started hunting them annually from helicopters to control. It looks like an impossible task. Tim Pennell: Seeing more quail in our area (Cuero) than we have seen in 20 years. I do not know if there is any correlation but we have fewer fi re ants, more rattlesnakes, red ants and horny toads Special Ranger Jimmy Dickson: Deer hunting is a family event for us. We spend the weekend at the lease in our fi fth-wheeler roughing it with satellite TV. We have a terrible wild hog problem so we are putting up panels around our feeders. We have a contest on our lease for trapping and shooting hogs. Jim Link: In spite of the dry weather and scarce water sources we seem to still have an adequate population of doves and deer. We do not expect much duck hunting because of the lack of tank water. We have seen and heard a few quail but will not allow any hunting until the population
Facebook Feedback Social media, Facebook, Twitter, Four- square, LinkedIn — there are so many ways to communicate electronically. We’re even jumping into the mix with The Cattleman NOW and The Cattle- man Plus, our smartphone and tablet apps. We’re using these new methods of communication to ask for your opinions on timely topics. Some, like this one, will be a bit light-hearted. Others may be more serious. Jump in when you see our monthly question on TSCRA’s Facebook page. Join the conversation in our community of cattle raisers.
130 The Cattleman October 2013
is increased substantially. Hope this helps you a little. Gerald Nobles Jr.: Rain showers in the Brady area have been very spotty. We have been on the lucky end and have abundant green grass and browse. The dove have been a little slow arriving this year, but our deer herd looks excellent. Our lease hunters should have a good season. Special Ranger Kent Dowell: I’m seeing big racks south central Oklahoma. Fawn mortality due to predators is a little down. Unlike past drought years it looks like a good mast crop of acorns this year. Paul Hicks: I’m always expecting a good hunting season because it’s not about the game near as much as it is about the adventure, the changing seasons, time spent with friends and/or family, or away from friends and/ or family, the anticipation, the planning and introducing new hunters to the fun. In short, hunting season is just a great reason to get out and enjoy God’s creation.
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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