Letter From the Founder

We all know how unpredictable the weather is in Texas. Drought one minute, flood the next. This year we've been blessed with rain and that has hunters grinning from ear to ear. Last year was dry and gave hunters a poor season for nearly all game species.

Dove hunting was slow, and quail production was almost nothing. Deer hunters passed up a lot of bucks that just didn’t put on enough antler during the drought. Many of those bucks are still out there, and will probably look a lot better this year.

I might stick my neck out and say that we’re going to have an above average deer season—maybe nearly as good as the super years of ’92 and ’97, and certainly as good as 2003, which was an outstanding year. The abundant rainfall will make a lot of difference in bucks that are living at the will of nature, and will make some super-bucks out of those on well-managed ranches. So, deer hunters—get ready for the “big one.”

One problem for hunters this fall will be thick, high vegetation that will make for hard hunting. Deer will be hard to find if they run very far, and doves and quail will literally disappear when they fall into the high weeds and grass. You’ll have to mark your birds well if you don’t have a good dog.

Mule deer and pronghorn should be good in the Panhandle, but pronghorn numbers are down in West Texas. Only time will tell if the usual number of trophy antelope will be taken in West Texas. I’m still grinning about the good pronghorn I took a couple seasons ago north of the Canadian River while hunting with Horace Gore and Marty Berry. What a hunt!

The Hunters Extravaganzas® have been well attended this year, and everyone seems excited about the coming seasons. Hunters were there at all the shows to see the new products available for everything from hunting camps to high blinds. It’s amazing what hunters have to have to hunt and camp these days.

I would like to congratulate the newest inductees into the Muy Grande Hall of Fame. This year, Ms. Sue Killam of Laredo and Gene Riser of George West received the honor. Sue is a long-time rancher and hunter who’s killed her share of big bucks and won awards at the Muy Grande contest many times. Gene is an old friend who’s a pioneer in deer breeding and management. We’re all pleased to have them as Hall of Fame members.

Most of you live in Texas, and you should be proud. We have the best of everything, and we should be thankful. Our friends on the Gulf Coast states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida aren’t so fortunate right now. The oil spill is terrible, and probably would have been handled differently if it had occurred along the coast of Massachusetts or New York. I’m not sure our leaders in Washington, D.C., care that much for the “little people” of the Gulf Coast. The November elections might tell the tale.

I hope everyone has enjoyed the summer. Now it’s time to get ready for fall and a new hunting season. Remember to be a friend and take a kid hunting or fishing.