TTHA Welcomes Back An Old Friend

Texas Trophy Hunters Association welcomes back Horace Gore as The Journal’s editor. Gore, a self-proclaimed “ol’ East Texas country boy,” had served for 12 years as editor before taking a sabbatical. A 2008 inductee of the Muy Grande Hall of Fame, Gore has authored hundreds of articles in The Journal and numerous other publications. He is a renowned public speaker on all things whitetail, and is a sought-after Boone and Crockett official scorer. A graduate of Texas A&M University and a retired wildlife biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife, where he served as the Whitetail Deer Program Leader for 11 years, Gore also helped develop the special edition .224 TTH rifle and cartridge commemorating TTHA’s 25th anniversary with firearms expert Ralph Lermayer. Gore was also instrumental in creating the Texas Big Game Awards program. Welcome back, Horace!

One Big And Nasty Buck
Inches from full draw, the hunter was stunned to see the big bruiser head for the hills. Would he ever see him again?
By Gary Wisdom with Ernest Treviño

The hunt for the buck my hunting buddies and I dubbed “Big Nasty” started a year ago, when I had seen what looked like a 10-point buck at my bowhunting lease in South Texas. The first time I saw this buck, I wasn’t sure what to make of him. He had a really beautiful rack on the left side, but its right side wasn’t quite developed. We guessed the deer had experienced some sort of injury during the growing season. Yet despite the weaknesses on the right side, we believed the deer to be close to 22 inches wide and possibly have 10 points, hence the name, “Big Nasty”—he was big on one side and nasty on the other. I never had a shooting opportunity at Big Nasty, but two other hunting friends had seen the deer and decided to pass in hopes that next year his rack would be fully developed.

See full story from Texas Trophy Hunters Association

Student Hunting Organizations Thrive

Students at Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas, were visited by Steve Grams from Texas Trophy Hunters Association in March 2009. The students have organized an on-campus hunting-based group. Questions followed a brief presentation about hunting, land management and TTTHA. The students were also treated to some TTHA goodies.

As national attention continues to shift toward the rights of hunters and gun owners, it is great to see that more and more student groups are embracing their hunting heritage. TTHA will continue to support education and youth in hunting.

Commission Adopts Sweeping Changes to Deer Regulations

AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted a series of wildlife and hunting related regulations that expand special buck antler restrictions and liberalize antlerless harvest opportunities in dozens of counties. The new rules take effect during the 2009-10 hunting seasons.

See full story at Texas Trophy Hunters Government Affairs

Deer Takes Out Texas Marine

A Lufkin Marine survived Iraq unscathed, but found himself on the wrong end of a surprise attack by a rampaging deer Feb. 20 and wound up in the emergency room. Preston Stewart and his step-mom Christy Stewart were headed east on Whitehouse Drive in Lufkin when they noticed a baby deer in the parking lot of a sporting goods store. Stewart, a Marine who returned home from Iraq after a nine-month tour of duty, suffered a gash to his head and cuts to his face after the deer came crashing through his truck window.

"We were watching the baby walk across the parking lot when all of a sudden 'wham,' another deer slammed into the side of the truck," Christy said. "The deer's body hit the side of the truck and then its head came through the window and slammed into Preston's head."

It looked like something on television, according to witness Linda Tate.

"I was getting into my car in front of Dollar Tree and saw the deer just jump into the window," Tate said. "Glass went everywhere."

Stewart was taken by ambulance to Memorial Health System of East Texas where he was treated for his injuries. The deer's body dented the side of Stewart's newly purchased Chevy and its head shattered the driver's side passenger window.

"I just kept thinking the poor guy has been in Iraq for nine months and he's been dreaming about his new truck— then he gets it and gets hit by a deer," Christy said. The deer died on impact.—courtesy Lufkin Daily News, www.lufkindailynews.com.

2009 Member Round-Up Cranks
It’s not too late to enter and win!

The competition in the 2009 Membership Round-Up remained tight as the first month of the contest drew to a close. Members from all over have been referring friends and submitting names in the hopes of winning the Grand Prize Trophy Whitetail Hunt on the West Kerr Ranch.

“It’s so easy to win some great prizes,” states Steve Grams of TTHA. “With multiple hunts and all the big prizes to be given away, I would be signing up as many members as possible, …if I were eligible.”

It is still anyone’s contest, so don’t think you can’t win. Sign up members and win prizes in the 2009 Membership Round-Up!

Bad Boy Buggy announces the new 2009 Bad Boy Buggy XT

Bad Boy Enterprises, makers of the Bad Boy Buggy—the world’s first electric UTV—introduce the all-new 2009 Bad Boy XT. The Bad Boy Buggy XT includes the new features and improvements that Bad Boy riders demand. Some of the new features on the 2009 XT are independent MacPherson struts in the front and rear suspension, hydraulic disk brakes on all four wheels, a re-designed chassis and battery layout for optimal vehicle dynamics, improved traction to the front wheels, a re-designed electrical system with an automotive-style accelerator pedal, and 25 percent more powerful traction motors. The new Buggy is all-new from the ground up, 150 pounds lighter, yet with a notably stronger frame and a more powerful and rugged drive train. Bad Boy Enterprises of Natchez, Mississippi, makers of Bad Boy Buggies, is the leading North American manufacturer or electric-powered off-road vehicles.

“What’s Coming Up on Outdoor Channel”

Here’s what’s in the viewing lineup for the month of February 2009.

• Week of March 30: “Opening Weekend” “Our cameras hit the road chronicling small town Texas during opening weekend of deer season, the traditions and the emotions behind this American heritage.”
• Week of April 7: “Yukon Moose” “Two Texas bow hunters fly in to remote Canadian wilderness for giant Moose.
• Week of April 14: “Weekend at Whispering Waters” “The dramatic story of a little girl and her first whitetail hunt… and as it turns out, her last.”
• Week of April 21: “New Zealand Red Stag” “Travel with us to scenic New Zealand and the Makarora River , on a hunt for the worlds biggest Red Stags.”

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Note: This is a paid advertisement. Texas Trophy Hunters Association does not warrant or make representations or endorsements as to the quality, content, or accuracy of sponsorship ads.

In For A Pound

The compact size of the digital scale from Moultrie makes it convenient to carry in a gear bag and have handy whenever or wherever you need it. It accurately measures the weight of game animals up to 330 pounds and the digital screen takes the guess work out of reading the hash marks on older more traditional scales. Weight can be displayed in pounds or kilograms, and you can also use the scale to calculate tare weight. Batteries are included.

Contact Moultrie, 800-653-3334; www.moultriefeeders.com.

The TTHA Contest Winners for March 2009 are listed below. They’ve won fabulous prizes, and you can, too! Make sure you visit the Texas Trophy Hunters Contest page for your chance to enter and win.