HUNTING - TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

TEXAS BIG GAME SEASONS DAYS AWAY
By Jim Foster

The countdown to the South Texas whitetail deer season is only days away. The closer the date gets the quicker time will pass and before you know it opening day will be just one more alarm clock ring away.

Now, I will agree that most South Texas deer hunters don’t get really interested in hunting a buck until late November or maybe even late December when the big boys throw caution to the wind and start chasing the does around the brush. However, it has happened that Mr. Muy Grande will walk out of the brush on opening day in 80-degree weather. Like the Boy Scouts say, “Be prepared”.

So it is always a good idea to be ready when the season opens. Being ready means knowing your rifle is sighted in properly. If anything has changed since the last time you sighted in your rifle then you must spend some time on the range. Buying new scopes, different ammunition, different weight bullets fall under these conditions, and of course if you buy a new rifle will all require re-sighting in.

Most outfitters and guides I know require hunters to shoot their rifles before starting their hunt. Anything can happen to a rifle and scope over the course of a year, or even a week for that matter. Making sure is never a bad idea. And, if you are flying to a hunt then make it a habit of checking your sights. After all, airlines are airlines, not much safer but still can be quite destructive.

For South Texas hunters there will be one minor problem come opening day, finding a buck. Considering all the water that has fallen on the ranch country, the vegetation will be lush and wildlife will not need to move very far to find something to eat.

This year might be a good time to try still-hunting. That is, walking slowly through the trees or brush and pausing every five or six steps to look and listen for game. This method can be very productive. The key points are: be sure you are walking INTO the wind, walk quietly and slowly, look for anything that doesn’t fit with the background, wear camouflage, make certain of your target before you shoot. In addition to being a great way to hunt, it’s darn good exercise.

White-tailed Deer General Season for the South Deer Zone Counties will be November 3-January 20. In the South Deer Zone Counties Late Antlerless and Spike season will be January 21-February 3, and Muzzleloader Counties Late Antlerless and Spike season will run January 10-18. Once again this year there will be a Special Youth Antlerless Season held January 12-20.

Good Hunting.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - TWO HUNTING FAMILIES

FAMILIES THAT HUNT
By Jim Foster

What had started out as the opening morning of a Montana sharptail grouse hunt was quickly put on hold when our group rounded the corner to see several pronghorn hunters bringing in a pronghorn buck.

The hunter, 71-year-old Bud Williamson of Darby, Montana his sons, grandson, great grandson and son in law. All except great grandson, 9 year old Cole Schmitt who was a bit to young to big game hunt in Montana, had killed a pronghorn buck.

The photo above (from left to right) is Bud Williamson, Farren Williamson, Cole Schmitt, and Garrett Schmitt.

Congratulations to Bud and his hunting family.

To find the next hunting family I only had to go next door to the abode of the Manroe Family who had recently moved from Washington State.

In less than a week all of the youngster and good old dad filled their deer tags. Dad and 17-year-old Nick killed whitetail bucks near the Salmon River while younger son Mason 16 and 14-year-old daughter Jillian shot mule deer bucks. Needless to say there will be meat in the Manroe’s freezer.

From left to right, Mason, Nick, Jillian, and Jim Manroe.

My congratulations go out to these two families who get the kids outside and where hunting has become a family tradition.


JF

HUNTING - TEXAS WHITETAIL

SOUTH TEXAS BIG BUCKS – ARE BACK
By Jim Foster

Unless you have been asleep for the last few weeks and you are not a hunter you know that in a little over a week the Texas deer season will be opening.

According to Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) biologists the indicators leading into the opening of the November 3 deer season leads many to expect a potentially great deer hunting across much of the state.

“Generally speaking, it’s a banner year for fawn production,” said Mitch Lockwood, TPW deer program leader. “As far as the quality of the animals, the deer we’re seeing are in pretty good condition and I expect antler quality and body weights to be above average. Not only do we expect this year’s crop to be better, but there are more mature bucks out there simply because harvest was down in 2006.
”
Whitetails have responded well from last year’s extended dry spell, thanks to an unseasonably wet spring and summer, and have taken advantage of resurgent plant growth, Lockwood noted. That bodes well for the deer, but could pose a challenge for hunters hoping to find success from a blind over supplemental feed.

“It’s important for hunters to use those antlerless tags this season and get those excess animals off the range before winter sets in to ensure there’s enough food to go around,” Lockwood said.

There are no major changes to deer regulations this year. For all deer hunting regulations by county refer to the 2007-08 Outdoor Annual available wherever licenses are sold and on the TPW Web site.

In South Texas deer should be fat this year and fawn crops should be 50 percent or better, even on marginal ranges, according to TPW district biologist Joe Herrera in Pleasanton. He reported antler quality should also be excellent this fall.

“The deer are not moving much due to the good habitat conditions, and are eating very little supplemental feed,” said Herrera. “With the great range conditions consisting of tall grasses and green brush it may be difficult to hunt this season.”
With the high fawn survival biologists are expecting this fall, managers will have their work cut out for them trying to keep the deer populations in balance.

Hunters should remember that if they find themselves with more venison than they can use they can donate it to the Texas Hunters for the Hungry Program.

The Texas Association of Community Action Agencies (TACAA) provides outreach and coordination efforts for the Hunters for the Hungry program. For a complete list of participating meat processors, visit the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies on the web at http://www.tacaa.org/hunters.htm or call (800) 992-9767.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

TRAVEL / YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

YELLOWSTONE IN THE FALL
By Jim Foster

Visiting Yellowstone National Park during the fall has always been one of the high spots of my photographic year. The changing leaves mixing with the evergreens causes an explosion of color. This is also the time of the year when the wildlife are more relaxed because of the drastically reduced tourist numbers and traffic on the park roads.

One area is really worth the trip is found not far from the West entrance – the Firehole Falls. The falls is located on the Firehole River in the canyon of the same name. It would have taken more of my time but it was snowing and made photography a bit difficult. It is well worth the detour and your time. Look for the Firehole Falls loop road.

It should also be mentioned there were a goodly number of fly fishermen and women fishing the Firehole River as well as the Gibbons and the Madison. Most were catching fish in spite of the weather. One angler said he had caught over 70 fish in the two days he fished.

Fall also gives the photography near the many geothermal outlets a very interesting mood and produces at times a rather eerie image. The image of the bull elk took on this feeling.

On the down side, staying in West Yellowstone, Montana can become a challenge because of the numerous shops and restaurants closing. Some are for the season while others close for a month then open for the winter snow machine travelers. It’s a challenge.

During my late October visit there was a problem finding a good place to eat in West Yellowstone. One location, a chicken place, served a high priced biscuit that exploded (very dry) when I tried to break it in half for the butter. It shattered into a million crumbs. The chicken was good. The other small eating establishment really needs a new cook. Nuff said!

It would be a good idea to check with the West Yellowstone Chamber and the Park office for an idea of what's open and what’s closed.

All snow machine use in Yellowstone Park must be in the company of a "guide". Just how commercial are our public lands and parks going to become? Why is a guide needed when snow machines can’t leave the established roads and designated paths? You tell me. Drop me a E-Mail.

In spite of the negatives Yellowstone Park in the fall is a great outdoor experience.

For more information go to; http://www.nps.gov/yell/ and http://www.westyellowstonechamber.com/

HUNTING - UPLAND MONTANA

CHASING THE SHARPTAIL
By Jim Foster

It sounded like an entire henhouse had been launched into the air. The cackling left no doubt that the rapidly departing birds was a covey of Sharptail grouse. Shotguns spoke and a bird tumbled back to earth.

Alan Tarvid and I had traveled into Russell Country and settled at the MX Motel in Chester, Montana. Our hostess was Gayle Fisher, executive director of the Russell Country travel in Montana. Our guides in the field throughout the walking hunt in the “big” country were Stan Huhtala and Clarence Christian who live in and near Chester.

The sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) are one of the larger grouse sub-species. They have sharp pointed tails, which stick straight up when the birds are displaying during the mating season. They are often mistaken for their cousin, the prairie chicken.

Native Americans called the sharp-tailed grouse the "fire bird" because their habitat was kept open by fires killing trees and shrubs and allowing the grass to grow.

We would be hunting both broken sagebrush cover and grassy rolling hills bordering draws offering deeper cover. Finding this type of cover – many times CRP – adjoining grain fields is a great place to begin your hunt. We would also be hunting with a young pointing dog that became excited when he found fresh scent left by the sharpies.

The area also supports pheasant and Hungarian partridge that just add to the excitement of the hunt. It is also not uncommon to be hunting upland game and see a pronghorn antelope on a distant hill. We had a great hunt and met some great people. If your planning a western upland hunt give the area around Chester, Montana a whirl.

For more information you can contact the Russell Country Visitors office at 800-527-5348 or find them on the internet at http://russell.visitmt.com/

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

HUNTING - SANDHILL CRANE

[Published 10/12/07 in the PORT ISABEL/SOUTH PADRE ISLAND PRESS and the SAN BENITO NEWS]

FLIGHT OF THE SANDHILL
By Jim Foster

One the sure signs of fall are the lonesome and wild call of the sandhill crane on its way South to winter in the southern states.

The sandhill crane family - Grus Canadensis – and the huntable subspecies - Grus canadensis canadensis (Lesser Sandhill) and Grus canadensis tabida (Greater Sandhill).

The Sandhill Crane is a tall gray bird of open grasslands, meadows, and wetlands. It congregates in huge numbers during migration and has become a regular visitor to the grain fields of Texas and a common sight to hunters with their distinctive call.

The sandhill crane is a very large bird sporting a long neck, long legs, a gray body that may be stained a reddish color, a red forehead with white cheeks, and tufted feathers over its rump. Both sexes look alike, male slightly larger.

The sandhill crane is one of the few crane species in the world that is still common. The Mississippi and Cuban populations now considered endangered.

One of the reasons the sandhill has had problems in parts of the world is that sandhill will not breed until they are two to seven years old. They can live up to the age of twenty and mated pairs stay together year round, migrating south as a group with their offspring.

It must be mentioned that the very rare Whooping Crane is white overall with black primaries and a different head pattern. These cranes are the reason for the areas closed to hunting in Texas. However, it would take a hunter who is just “shooting” not looking to mistake a whooper for a sandhill. The rule is, IF YOU’RE NOT SURE – DON’T SHOOT.

Hunting the sandhill is quite similar to goose hunting and is accomplished over a large decoy spread. Some hunters will use a combination of a few solid body decoys and the rest will be dark rags fashioned like a white-spread for geese.

Here are the Texas hunting zones and bag limits. It’s a good idea to check the current hunting regulations before starting your hunt.

Zone A -- November 3-February 3 - Daily Bag Limit: 3 - Possession limit of 6.
In Zone B -- November 23-February 3, The Daily Bag Limit is: 3 with a possession limit of 6.
Zone C -- December 22-January 27 / has a daily Bag Limit: 2 with a possession limit of 4. Most of South Texas counties are in Zone C.

ZONE C CLOSED AREA DESCRIPTION: Everything to the Gulf of Mexico from a line beginning at the Kleberg-Nueces county line and the Gulf of Mexico, west along the county line to Park Road 22, to State Hwy. 358, to State Hwy. 286, north to IH 37, east to U.S. Hwy. 181, north and west to U.S. Hwy. 77 at Sinton, north and east along U.S. Hwy. 77 to U.S. Hwy. 87 at Victoria, east and south along U.S. Hwy. 87 to State Hwy. 35, north and east along State Hwy. 35 to the south end of Lavaca Bay Causeway, south and east along the shore of Lavaca Bay to the Port Lavaca Ship Channel, south and east along the Ship Channel to the Gulf of Mexico.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com

JIM'S GEMS - HOW NATURAL MUST WE BE?

NATURE GONE WILD
By Jim Foster

I am sure most TV viewers have been affronted by the ad for videos titled “Girls Gone Wild”. Well, now it would seem nature is doing the same thing.

Whether or not we, mankind, may be the cause is yet to be seen but there is strong indication our continual meddling with nature or just plain human stupidity may be at least part of the problem.

However much of our wildlife problems are the direct result of people, well meaning as they may think they are, but totally lacking the gray matter to do anything but mess things up more. Being politically correct has become more important than being scientifically correct. Losers like the members of PETA, The Defenders of Wildlife, and the Humane Society of the United States (Not to be confused with your local animal shelter) ARE a large part of the problem.

A classic example of nature doing what comes naturally and man doing, well let’s say displaying a total lack of the reason. In short, letting politics replace science such as in wildlife management.

New Jersey has because of it’s collective stupidity and total lack of good science allowed the politicians and the mass of uninformed voters to set regulations that are now having adverse effects on both wildlife and the populations of New Jersey. I am referring to the New Jersey black bear.

So what do the mental midgets in New Jersey propose to solve the problem? Easy, they want to pass a law making it criminal to feed the bear. This will include bird feeders, outside dog food bowls, and any trash containers that might be classified as not “bear proof”.

Great idea, let’s make criminals out of anyone who wishes to feed the birds or other wildlife in their back yards. An even more basic aspect of political thinking is to tell people what they can or can’t do on their own already highly taxed property.

But wait you say, after all it’s New Jersey right? This could never happen in a rural situation. Wrong! In the small Idaho community of Salmon, Idaho the mule and whitetail deer in and around the town are becoming numerous and a problem to yards as well as causing deer vehicle collisions. Something should be done, but what?

The mayor of Salmon, Idaho must be related to the politicians in New Jersey because his suggestion was –pass a law that makes feeding deer on your land against the law. There you go – don’t do anything to actually solve the problem or force the Fish and Game departments to solve the problem (it's their job), all we do is one again pass laws that make citizens criminals in their own back yards.

Another bit of fuzzy thinking came from the Idaho Department Fish and Game. They can’t seem to believe there is a problem. One employee said, “Well, we are moving onto land that was deer habitat.” Daaah, you think? Since when did people rate below animals? We have enough "stupid laws" what we need now is solutions.

The whole animal rights problem is caused by people who are full of the byproduct of grass and water after being processed through a male bovine.

JF

HUNTING - A SPECIAL BIRD

THE BOB WHITE QUAIL
By Jim Foster

(Published 10/5/2007 in the Port Isabel/ South Padre Island Press - The San Benito News)

I can remember fondly, when the hunting was good, getting out early with my dog to hunt one of the areas near home, and be back in time for lunch. Now, as I travel other areas and other states it’s always those mornings with now departed friends that come to mind.

These hunts are still special.

Among the several species of quail the bob white quail has been number one because – in most cases- it will hold for a pointing dog allowing the human part of the team to get off at least one shot. Of course many times the covey erupts in a flurry of wings only to land some distance away with all their members in tact.

A lesson needing to be learned early on is a quail hunter must pick one bird and not shoot at the covey. These little guys can fly and mostly not in a straight line.

For years South Texas has been one of the leading areas for Texas quail hunting. In recent years there has been a noticeable decline in quail numbers in some areas due to either the drought or predication or causes unknown. The latter is mostly the reason. This year seems to have been wetter and holds better prospects of good hunting.

Quail experts will tell you hunting has no effect on quail populations because 80 plus percent will die anyway. In a way I would like to believe this is true. The question I ask is what if the quail I killed during a late season hunt were part of the 20 percent to have survived, nest, and produce young?

After observing a ranch recover its quail population through a hunting closure over the last three years it seems that the closure is working. Quail have increased each year and now with the excellent range conditions going into winter will keep improving. On this ranch all of the 20 percent of the surviving birds will go into the nesting season. It may be just me but it seems to be working.

On those areas not closed by landowners and the state the expectations are high for a good quail season.
Quail season opens statewide October 27 and runs through February 24. The daily bag limit for quail is 15, with 45 in possession. The bag limit is the maximum number that may be killed during the shooting hours in one day.

Good hunting - Enjoy your four-legged hunting partner.

If you have comments or news for Jim Foster please e-mail him at: jim@jimfosteroutdoors.com