The Group Effort
Several hunters discover the true meaning of serendipity and have a whopper of a time doing it.
By James Schulte

No one was prepared for what took place on a cool December afternoon on a South Texas ranch. I was sitting in a blind watching several good bucks feed with my friend and hunting buddy Bubba Shaw, when I got a text message from fellow hunter Mike Dixon on the other side of the ranch. Mike had already taken a very nice eight-point with his bow that morning, so he was sitting in Blind No. 1, trying to coax a javelina into bow range. The text read, “Double drop tine buck with kickers everywhere chasing a doe down the sendero.” I showed the message to Bubba, and we both got a good laugh out of it. I sent Mike a message back that said, “Yeah, right. I’ll be right there.” After a couple more text messages and a frantic phone call, it became clear that this was not a joke.

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Texas Hill Country Town Thrives Through Hunting

The Chamber of Commerce in Llano, Texas, held its annual banquet on January 24, and this year’s theme was, uniquely, “Camo and Diamonds.” In a true tribute to the sport and culture of hunting, Chamber President Bill Miller informed the energetic crowd that hunting alone brought in $8 million to the city of Llano in 2008. Texas Trophy Hunters Association’s Steve Grams attended the event to show support and appreciation for the hard work put forth by such a strong community.

Towns just like Llano often persevere through hard economic times largely due to the money spent by hunters. The people and communities of the Texas Hill Country, including Llano, were recently featured on an episode of The Journal of the American Trophy Hunters TV show. Portions of that same episode can be viewed on home page of TTHA’s website by clicking here www.ttha.com.

Sweeping Texas Deer Reg Changes Proposed, Public Hearings Set

On January 21, 2009, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorized the department (TPWD) to seek public comment on a suite of proposed wildlife and hunting related regulations that would expand special buck antler restrictions and liberalize antlerless harvest opportunities in dozens of counties, part of a broader move to transition away from political boundaries and toward biologically-based communities for managing deer populations.

The deer proposals are part of statewide proposed hunting and fishing regulation changes for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has set a record 46 public hearings across the state in February and March to explain the proposals and seek public input. After the regulations proposals are published in the Texas Register in early February, anyone may also comment online via the TPWD Opportunities for Comment Web page. The TPW Commission will make final decisions about proposed regulations at its March 25-26 meeting in Austin.—Courtesy TPWD

You Thought That Was An Elk? Really?
Photo of hunting mistake becomes web sensation

A New York hunter may be feeling a bit sheepish after mistaking a feral llama in Paradise Valley for a Rocky Mountain elk, but he apparently did not violate any laws. Rusty Saunders of Fort Edward, New York, called a Fish, Wildlife and Parks warden in Livingston [Montana] in November to turn himself in after shooting the llama, according to Mel Frost, FWP information officer in Bozeman.

Since FWP does not deal with livestock shootings, they immediately turned the investigation over to the Montana Department of Livestock. After investigating, the Livestock Department turned the matter over to Park County authorities without issuing any citations.

“We don't have any statute to prevent that kind of thing,” said Steve Merritt, information officer for the Livestock Department in Helena. …

Photos that the Livestock Department took during its investigation … have ended up on blogs across the country, generating derisive remarks from hunters.

Under a subject heading of “Hunting llamas in Big Sky Country,” e-mail parodied MasterCard's “priceless” advertising campaign:
.30-06 rifle with Leupold Scope—$650
Out of state license—$600
Gas to drive from New York—$700
Taking a trophy Montana llama— priceless

It’s not clear how Saunders realized his error, and it’s not known what happened to the wild llama. … Montana's hunter safety education program emphasizes that hunters should always identify their target before pulling the trigger.—Courtesy Brett French, staff Billings Gazette; www.billingsgazette.com.

2009 Member Round-Up—Win a Trophy Whitetail Hunt!
Membership Round-Up kicks off March 1!

Starting March 1, when you help sign up members to the Texas Trophy Hunters Association, you might find yourself staring down your rifle barrel or through your peep sight for a FREE Texas trophy whitetail at the West Kerr Ranch! All you have to do is get your hunting buddies, business partners, friends, and anyone else you meet to join the Texas Trophy Hunters Association. Whoever signs up the most new members and earns the most points wins the grand prize—and there are heaps of other prizes, too. Contest starts March 1, 2009 and ends June 30, 2009, so what are you waiting for?

Get going and help our family grow!

FREE is good! Friday is good.
At Texas Trophy Hunters Association, we combined the two into: FREEBIE FRIDAYS

AND…to kick it off this Friday, we are giving away NIKON Pro Gear Gift Cards to 20 lucky winners!

Click here, or go to ttha.com to enter for your chance to win! All you need to do is fill out a simple form, and check back on Friday to see if you won! Winners will be drawn weekly, so don’t miss your chance to win great prizes, for FREE!

Coming Up on Outdoor Channel!
“New Videos to View!”

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

• Week of February 2 “Colorado Mule Deer”
  —Great hunting in Colorado at Three Forks Ranch.
• Week of February 9 “Bucks of Charco Marrano”
  —Some of the best whitetail hunting in all of South Texas.
• Week of February 16 “Quest for Black Bears”
  —Muzzleloaders, bows, and rifles.
• Week of February 23 “Samson’s Ridge”
  —It was another great year at one of the best hunting spots in North America.

Go to www.ttha.com for more information about The Journal of the American Trophy Hunter TV show airing on Outdoor Channel now!

Rio Bonito—The Most Prestigious Ranch in Texas

Join us where you’ll reside in our 19 bedroom, 28,000-square-foot hacienda-style mansion, just west of San Antonio. Nestled in the heart of 25 square miles of the highest concentration of whitetail deer, Rio Bonito also has 16 species of exotic game, Rio Grande turkeys, and wild Russian boar hogs—not to mention unlimited fishing on one of the top private bass lakes in Texas! Rio Bonito features:

• Fair-chase ranch
• Transportation to hunting areas
• All hunt packages include meals and lodging
• Luxurious private suites available
• Fishing on mile-long private lake
• Corporate meeting and conference packages available

For more information, contact:

RIO BONITO RANCH
5309 Rio Bonito Ranch Road
Junction, Texas  76849
800-864-4303

Or visit us at www.riobonito.com

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.

Just Like Johnny Appleseed—

Food plots can be created via tractor, ATV, and even by hand if you use the Mossy Oak Biologic Hand Seeder. Simply fill the nylon bag through its zippered top, slide the strap over your shoulder, and you’re ready to begin seeding for future trophy bucks. An oscillating shut-off plate prevents clumping and aids in flow control. Mossy Oak’s Hand Seeder also features a convenient spring-action rate, setting control, and support grip for desired output and stability. A high-rpm gearbox provides a smooth, feathered-edge broadcast.

Contact Mossy Oak Biologic, 866-357-3337; www.mossyoakbiologic.com.

CLICK HERE to visit our online store!

Give our new Fast 50 program a try!
The first 50 people to purchase this TTHA cap will get it for the amazingly low price of $4.99!

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