Making The Grade, And Then Some
He had a 150s-class, and another one in the 160s. It was time to up the ante.
By Sully Woodland

I’ve hunted on a 2,200-acre high-fenced ranch in South Texas for the past 20 years. There are seven hunters plus the ranch owner and his son who also hunt this property. During the time I’ve been on the lease all of us have tried to do the things that enable us to take trophy deer on this land, such as removing the number of does and cull bucks the game biologist recommends each year. We have been very successful with this program, as the best buck killed was a beautiful 185 Boone and Crockett (B&C) typical buck. I’ve been fortunate to have killed two nice bucks, one scoring 155 B&C and another that went to 165 B&C. My goal was to kill another buck, one that would score better than 170 B&C.

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By the way, if you're a TTHA member who has a great story to tell, we’re always on the lookout for great content. Just take a minute to send us your best stories and photos, and you might see them published in The Journal. Click here for details.

Students Bear Stories About Hunting From TTHA

Students at Jefferson Middle School in Helotes, Texas, received a visit from Steve Grams of Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) in early February 2009. The students had been studying black bears for some time, so Grams brought a mounted black bear and skull to show to the class. Grams answered questions after a brief presentation on hunting and TTTHA. The students also watched a recently filmed television episode of The Journal of the American Trophy Hunters involving black bear hunting. The students were also treated to some TTHA goodies.

81st Texas Legislature In Session

As a service to our members and subscribers, TTHA, in partnership with the Texas State Rifle Association, is working to keep you informed on proposed legislation that may affect your hunting and Second Amendment rights.

HB 736 by State Rep. Chente Quintanilla (D-El Paso) amends the Local Government Code to give counties the authority to regulate noise. This noise regulating authority extends to firearms; and makes no allowances for hunters, sporting shooters, or shooting ranges. This bill has been assigned to House Committee on County Affairs. HB 1395 by State Rep. Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) is another animal cruelty bill, only this one directly attacks hunters. It removes the word "Exception," which means "not against the law," and inserts the legal phrase, "defense to prosecution.” If HB 1395 passes, Texas hunters could be charged with animal cruelty and forced to defend themselves in court.

Please contact your Texas State Representative today! For more information, click here.

200-pound Buck Breaks (into) Bank, Leaves Deposit

A downtown bank in Wapakoneta, Ohio, received an unwanted deposit from an unlikely customer Feb. 23. Employees reported hearing a crash and a commotion in the lower level of the Fifth Third Bank around 3:10 p.m., said Lt. Greg Lowry, of the Wapakoneta Police Department. Moments later, one person who had called the Police Department, said a deer had come crashing through a rear, lower-level window into the branch.

"At the back of the bank one of these large-paned windows that has a reflective tint to it was busted out. I approached the window, looked inside and saw a deer inside standing down the hallway from me in a room," Lowry said. "We were going to enter the bank that way and try to corral the deer. Once we got inside we realized it was a 200-pound buck and we decided we weren't going to corral it at all."

Lowry said it was likely the deer saw his reflection in the window. Bucks act aggressively toward other bucks, a natural instinct that likely led the deer to charge the window, he said. Once inside, the deer began tearing things up, jumping on a table in a conference room, kicking hoof-sized holes in the walls, and tearing down shelving inside a vault, Lowry said. There was deer fur, blood from a cut on its muzzle throughout the lower level of the bank, along with urine inside the vault, he said.

"We waited on him to decide if he was going to come back out," Lowry said. "After a few minutes, he took off running toward the open window, jumped, slammed into a small section of wall that was beside the window, crumpled to the floor, jumped up and then went out the window."

The deer ran through a parking lot that leads to the Auglaize River, went across the frozen waterway and was last seen running north out of town, Lowry said. Aside from damage at the bank, no one was hurt, he said.

"We thought that the buck entered the bank to get some ‘dough,'" Lowry said.—courtesy Lima News, www.limaohio.com.

TTHA’s GMC® Truck Giveaway Sweepstakes Winner Announced

Weatherford, Texas—Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) is proud to announce Mr. Lee Johnson of Aledo, Texas as the winner of the 2008 GMC Truck Giveaway Sweepstakes. On Monday, February 2, 2009, Johnson received his brand new, 4WD 2009 GMC truck at Jerry’s GMC in Weatherford, Texas. The beautiful black truck is valued at more than $35,000.

“There was a smile on Lee’s face that you couldn’t pry off his face with a crow bar,” stated TTHA’s Steve Grams after handing the keys to Johnson. “It’s great to see good things happen to good people.”

Johnson had entered his name in the TTHA Truck Giveaway Sweepstakes at the 2008 Hunters Extravaganza in Ft. Worth, Texas. “You can’t win if you don’t enter,” remarked Johnson. After the truck presentation concluded, Johnson asked, “Is this really happening or are you going to take the truck away now?”

The TTHA Truck Giveaway Sweepstakes did happen and Johnson did drive away in his prize just after he put his TTHA member decal on the back window.

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 ends June 30, 2009, so what are you waiting for?

Get going and help our family grow!

Hustler Turf Equipment Introduces 2009 Mower Lineup

It’s that time of year again when the grass turns green and the spring air is refreshing. This means it’s time to look for a new mower and there’s no better place to look than Hustler Turf Equipment, one of Texas Trophy Hunters Association’s proud sponsors. Hustler makes the finest mowers and they know how to make mowing fun!

“What’s Coming Up on Outdoor Channel”

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

• Week of March 2 “Panhandle Pronghorns”
  “In a forgotten corner of the Texas panhandle, three lifelong friends scour the forever rolling plains for the American pronghorn.”
• Week of March 9 “Tanner’s Return”
  “A little boy’s amazing victory over Leukemia, and his dramatic return to a place where he killed his first whitetail deer.”
• Week of March 16 “Timberline Adventures”
  “Three separate exciting Elk Hunts with archery equipment.”
• Week of March 23 “Hunting South Texas Whitetails”
  “Two brothers place a pop-up blind deep the thick brush… where the unexpected is the norm.”

Minnesota’s Finest
Located in the Heart of Minnesota’s Northwoods

Set in the rolling mixed-hardwood terrain of central Minnesota, Autumn Antlers Trophy Whitetail Lodge offers the ultimate experience for a trophy hunt.  We offer both typical and non-typical trophies; all scored using Safari Club International (SCI) standards.  Our trophies begin at an impressive 140” mark and go well above 180”; all the way to a magnificent SCI 220” and even larger.  The elk are impressive.  Autumn Antlers’ all-inclusive hunt packages include a four night stay with a three day one-on-one professionally guided hunt, all top shelf beverages of choice and all gourmet meals.  Our chef brings you the flavor and tradition of cabin life with big city style.  At Autumn Antlers we’re “A little north of ordinary”.  Guests have the option of hunting from custom built insulated, heated tree stands or ground blinds, all located in a number of different terrains throughout the preserve.  All types of firearms and/or archery are the choice of the hunter.  After the hunt, our professionally trained staff takes care of all the details – field dressing and preparations for taxidermy in our state-of-the art processing center.  Your every expectation for a hunt of a lifetime will be met with our staff, guides and equipment at our world class five-star hunting preserve.  Autumn antlers will also accommodate non-hunters, accompanying the hunter, at a cost of $200.00 per night.  Their stay is also inclusive; lodging, gourmet meals and beverages.  Call today to reserve your dream hunt.  We are looking forward to providing you with the trophy hunting experience of a lifetime.

1-866-4BIGBUCKS
Email: bigbucks@autumnantlers.com
www.autumnantlers.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.

Load Up

Thanks to the Monarch Game Hitch’s unique 360-degree swiveling action, you can lift your trophy and load it into the back of your pickup or position it for easy processing back at the game pole quicker and easier than ever before. Just plug the Game Hitch frame into your vehicle’s two-inch receiver hitch for hassle-free lifting of most big-game animals. Comes complete with game hitch, pulley, cable, hook, and winch. Gambrel sold separately. Weighs less than 70 pounds but hoists up to 350 pounds.

Contact Monarch Hunting Products, 888-647-3449; www.deerfeeder.com.

CLICK HERE to visit our online store!

Check Out This Week’s Amazing Fast 50 Item!
The first 50 people to purchase this item will get it for the amazing low price of $19.99! (original price $32.99)

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