Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
“Here Come the Pork Choppers”
via Swamplot – August 8, 2011
After 4 hours of classroom training near Hobby Airport in “the first Professional Helicopter Hog Hunting Safety Course in the nation that is specific to hunters who would be hiring a helicopter service to hunt feral hogs,” reporter Sonia Smith goes out on her first aerial wild hog shoot, AR-15 in hand — near Knox City, with the same helicopter pilot who took Ted Nugent on a 30-plus pig run back in March. A new law effective September 1 allows sport hunters to rent helicopter gunner seats for hog or coyote kills, but the rush has already begun. Cedar Ridge Aviation’s Dustin Johnson tells her he’s scheduled 30 flights so far, “including one for a group of ATF agents from New York.” [Texas Monthly; course info; previously on Swamplot] Photo: Cedar Ridge Aviation
DALLAS — More than 11,000 middle- and high-school students across Texas are headed back to class this fall to learn about conservation, hunting, fishing, archery, orienteering, camping and other outdoor skills. The curriculum, now formally adopted by more than 100 schools (see list below), is part of the Outdoor Adventures education program developed by the Dallas Ecological Foundation. The Dallas Ecological Foundation is an affiliate of Dallas Safari Club (DSC).
“Outdoor Adventures is designed to introduce students to a lifetime of opportunities in the great outdoors through coursework and activities in their PE classes,” said Scot McClure, program coordinator for the Dallas Ecological Foundation. “This is not your traditional PE course. Instead of teaching PE with basketballs and tennis rackets, we use rods and reels and bows and arrows.”
The curriculum is accredited by the State of Texas and aligns with national education standards.
School participation has grown from 21 to 110 in just the past five years. The program appears poised for continued growth.
McClure said, “Many schools now have a waiting list because Outdoor Adventures classes fill so quickly. Teachers and principals say this is one of the most exciting programs because students need a fun class that motivates them to stay in school and concentrate on all of their studies.”
Educators say enrolled students often see improved self-esteem, attendance, discipline and grades.
Many students also get involved in extracurricular activities, especially at schools where archery teams, fishing clubs, etc., are created as spinoffs of the Outdoor Adventures program.
Joe O’Dell, a PE teacher at Austin Middle School in the Irving Independent School District scheduled over 200 students for Outdoor Adventures this fall, saying, (more…)
The Catskill Game Farm was opened in 1933 by Roland Lindemann, and was still owned by the Lindemann family, as Catskill Game Farm Inc. at the time of its closing. At first, it held only deer, donkeys and sheep. In 1958, the United States Department of Agriculture recognized Catskill as a zoo, and it became the first privately-owned venture to achieve such status. The collection was now allowed to grow more exotic and at the time of its closing played host to roughly 2,000 animals from over 150 species, imported from around the world.
The zoo spanned more than 370 hectares (914 acres), most of which was used to breed animals for other zoos worldwide. Only around 55 hectares (136 acres) was available for public viewing, and then only in the summer and autumn.
Closing
On August 2, 2006, the Catskill Game Farm announced that it would be closing on Columbus Day of that year, ending its 73-year run. Its owners attributed the closing to mounting financial difficulties, dropping attendance, and legal regulations leading to the shutdown of its Splashdown attraction, though Splashdown itself never violated regulations.
Auction
The auction was organized and conducted by Norton Auctioneers of Michigan, Inc., a worldwide auction group based in Coldwater, Michigan. Norton’s is known for auctions of tourist attractions of every shape and kind – amusement parks, zoos, carnivals, family entertainment centers, museums, carousels, and unique collections.
The two-day Catskill auction attracted over 1,000 potential bidders from across the nation, Canada, and Mexico. Selling the first day were the amusement park rides, restaurants, gift shops, and related items. The second day had over 900 animals, vehicles, and farm and construction equipment offered.
Animal highlights included two rhinos that went for $6,000 and $9,250 to an organization that will place them for the International Rhino Association. A bull elk sold at $1,325, and five female elks sold for $3,600. A small group of Dall sheep sold for (more…)
Jim "Bacon" Krupke w/ his blackbuck from the KLV Ranch
by Craig Ellwanger, AAE
Folks, take a page out of Jed Knowton’s book on taking good trophy pics! This is a great one taken recently at Knowlton’s Laguna Vista Ranch near Pearsall, Texas. Most hunters tend to rush through this aspect of the hunt (or skip it all together), but aside from a rug or shoulder mount, these pictures are all you’ll have to look back on & share with friends and family for years to come!
In 2001, I took a good friend hunting for the first time on our family ranch near Water Valley, Texas. As luck would have it, that morning, during the whitetail rut, found him in the right place as one of the largest deer we had ever seen crossed his path. Hearing a shot, I drove to his stand to find my friend standing over a 155″, 3-beam, non-typical 12 point w/ a 20+” inside spread! In our elation (and lack of “age = wisdom” at the time), we quickly loaded the deer up in the pickup to rush to town to start the “bragging circuit”. It wasn’t until we reached his house hours later that we thought “hmm, we should take some pictures of this”, but by then it was too late. A single picture of a stiff-as-a-board behemoth of a deer in the tailgate of my old red Dodge is all that remains for me to look back on to reflect on this exciting time in my hunting life. Man, if I only knew then what I know know…
The "What NOT to do" Pic...
Ten plus year later, picture taking during and after a hunt ranks right up there to me with putting on camo and cover scent! So…YOU just took the trophy you’ve always been after. Heart’s racing, blood’s pumping, head’s spinning…stop, take a deep breath (we know you’re excited), slow down and take a few minutes to compose some good pictures capturing the moment!! Here are a few quick & easy tips to remember the next time you take that trophy of a lifetime, so that it will forever be preserved that way: (in no particular order)
- Background – I like to take pics in or near the spot my quarry was harvested. Look to find what’s around or near that would make the most interesting backdrop for your picture. Regional or seasonal vegetation is always good, like cactus in South Texas or wildflowers in the Spring to add color and character. If there isn’t anything around, don’t be afraid to (more…)
