Last weekend,October 9-11, was my first chance this season to “get into the woods” and chase a few exotics. Our good friends, the Fields family were gracious enough to let me join their son and my friend, Tanner, for a couple days of good bowhunting (and a little ranch work). Their ranch is a 1,900 acre ranch located near Sonora, Texas in Sutton County. With an ever-growing axis deer population and very little hunting pressure, anticipation was high for this year’s hunting opportunities and this weekend.
Day1
I have to admit to sneaking out of town a bit early from work in hopes of making the Friday evening hunt. The 300 mile journey across the state from College Station to Sonora flew by despite pouring rains and a lack of satellite radio in “The Beast” (our beloved, but grizzled ’99 Dodge 4×4). Arriving at just after 4:30, I greeted Mr. Fields, who was headed to call some Friday night football for the Sonora Broncos. If you ever saw Friday Night Lights and said there’s no way high school football is THAT big in Texas, think again.
(more…)
Hi Spirit: Texas Fallow Deer
Here’s some cool, off-season fun!
By: Ted Nugent
The intense, nonstop grunting of rutting fallow deer can best be described as the continuous, deep guttural growling of a hyperventilating leopard. Hell, if I had to wait all year to breed, I’d probably make obnoxious noises too! It’s wildly eerie and foreboding, especially if you may be unfamiliar with these big, handsome European deer. Their breeding grunts are much louder than that of a whitetail, more intense and seemingly around the clock.
The good news is that some real smart Texan hunters began importing these beautiful, delicious beasts into the wilds of the Lone Star State back in the late 1800s. Now, for the simple reason that they are valued as game animals, there are far more fallow deer in Texas today than can be found on the entire European continent. That’s how ya do that if ya truly care about wildlife, one of the many reasons I’m so proud to be a hunter. No animal rights fleeb has ever done jack squat for any animals or habitat. The idea of animal rights is one big lie.
But my ears don’t lie, and the surround sound of intense growls stabbin in and out of the thick Texas Hill Country ceaderbreaks had me vibrating with joyful anticipation. Bookend bull elk screamed their rutting glory from both sides nearby on the north and south ridgelines, lifting the hair on the back of my neck up a notch or two.
(more…)
Last weekend,October 9-11, was my first chance this season to “get into the woods” and chase a few exotics. Our good friends, the Fields family were gracious enough to let me join their son and my friend, Tanner, for a couple days of good bowhunting (and a little ranch work). Their ranch is a 1,900 acre ranch located near Sonora, Texas in Sutton County. With an ever-growing axis deer population and very little hunting pressure, anticipation was high for this year’s hunting opportunities and this weekend.
