Texas Hunting License Expire Today

Texas hunting license expire today so be sure and go pickup or order online a new 07-08 hunting license. If you plan to hunt dove or other migratory birds don't forget to get HIP certified when purchasing your license. Also be sure and purchase any stamps you will need to hunt your favorite game bird or animals. Pick up a new TPWD Annual Hunting and Fishing Guide and go over the regulations. There are new regulations in both hunting and fishing this year and it is better to read and know the law than to find out the hard way while explaining to a game warden that you did not know the law. Falconers remember you must have a current Texas Hunting License along with your permits to be trapping or hunting your bird. Stay safe and have a great season. Wild Ed

Texas Style BBQ Dove

My favorite thing about dove is shooting them but I also enjoy eating them. My favorite way to prepare them is very simple and tasty. I warn you to have a bunch when you fix them as they go fast if anyone else is around.

You will need the following:
Clean and breasted Dove breasts
1 slice of bacon for each Dove breast
Cut up sweet onion in about 1 inch flat pieces
Cut up deseeded jalapeños in flat pieces
Your favorite BBQ sauce
Toothpicks

Salt and pepper dove breasts, place a piece of onion and jalapeno on each side of the breast and wrap tightly with bacon, toothpick in place. Prepare each breast and get your smoker going. You may also do these on the grill if you are in a hurry but I like mine slow smoked. Dip each breast in BBQ sauce and place on smoker. I cook mine for about 2 hours at 250 degrees you may like them more or less done. You can even leave them on until the almost dry and they are still a mouthful of flavor. If you grill use low heat and cook until bacon is done turning every few minutes. Enjoy Wild Ed

Deer Tick Fever in Texas

We again have a fever tick problem in South Texas. Many of us will soon be going into the field for the first time this year and need to plan ahead. This is something all Texas hunters should be aware of. The following article is a reprint from the TPWD site with information of interest about the Deer Fever Tick. Remember that some ticks also carry Lyme disease so make every effort to keep from getting bitten by ticks and check for them when the hunt is over. Wild Ed
Deer Hunters Urged To Take Precautions Against Fever Ticks

AUSTIN, Texas — State wildlife officials are urging deer hunters and meat processors in South Texas to take additional precautions when handling deer carcasses during the upcoming season due to concerns about possible spread of fever ticks in the region.
Portions of Maverick, Dimmit and Webb counties are currently under livestock quarantine by the Texas Animal Health Commission due to heightened levels of fever ticks outside the permanent quarantine zone along the Rio Grande border.
If not contained, according to TAHC officials, the fever ticks will continue to spread northward outside the permanent fever tick quarantine area and could become re-established in other areas of Texas and throughout much of the south, southeast and parts of California.
In addition to cattle, horses, white-tailed deer, Nilgai and elk can act as a host for the tick, perpetuating its population.
“We’re asking that hunters use common sense and take precautions when handling and transporting deer taken on ranches within the quarantine zone,” said Mike Berger, PhD, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department director of wildlife.
According to the TAHC, fever ticks can affect the condition and general well-being, but are unlikely to cause death in deer. It is safe to eat venison from fever tick infected deer.
Hunters are reminded that if you kill a deer on property that is NOT known to be infested, then you may process or transport the carcass as usual even though the ranch may be within the quarantine zone. However, if you kill a deer on property known to be infested, then you have three options: Leave the hide on ranch; freeze the hide for 24 hours, or have the hide/cape treated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Fever Tick Force before removing it from the ranch.
In addition to deer processing and transport restrictive measures, all use of corn treated with the anti-parasitic Ivermectin should cease immediately through March 1. Ivermectin use requires a withholding period of 60 days before slaughter or harvest.
“There is too much at stake here to take a chance on inadvertently carrying this deadly parasite outside the quarantine zone and we are asking hunters to be vigilant to help keep this tick from spreading,” Berger stressed.
Fever ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting a protozoa—or tiny blood parasite—that destroys red blood cells, causing the deadly livestock disease, "Texas Fever." Cattle are highly susceptible to "Texas Fever," and the disease may kill up to 90 percent of infected cattle.
"It took more than 50 years to eradicate fever ticks from the U.S.," said Dr. Bob Hillman, TAHC executive director and Texas’ state veterinarian.
A permanent fever tick quarantine zone runs through eight South Texas counties along the Rio Grande to prevent the reintroduction of the ticks into Texas and the U.S.

Good Hunting, Wild Ed

The Great Texas Crossbow Debate Part I

Every year before Bow Season this topic comes back up and a raging debate follows. The question is not whether crossbows should be used to harvest game as they are already legal in the general deer season. The question is should crossbows be allowed in the special archery season. I have my own opinion as to the answer to this question but will try to present as much of an unbiased article as possible. If you would like to comment on either side of the issue please write a civil comment and send me an email. I will try to publish as many of the comments as possible. Thanks, Wild Ed

Before I really get started I want to give you some background on my bowhunting so you will know where my experience and background in archery came from. Sometime in the early 1960s

my father gave me a Howard Hill Longbow, which I wish I had kept. I began to terrorize all the rabbits and armadillos in the country. Many a bullfrog and carp fell to an arrow from that bow but I was yet to get a close shot at a deer.

Somewhere around sixteen I talked my folks into a Bear Grizzly recurve bow. It was a work of art of laminated green, grey and brown fiberglass and pulled fifty pounds. It would be my deer slayer for sure. I shot the grizzly for two years without killing a deer. I killed deer each year with a rifle but had not grasped getting close enough for a bow kill. Then I discovered an old 10 foot tripod that a lease hunter had left on our family place. I placed it right next to a big mesquite on a trail leading to an oat patch and cut enough limbs that I could see and shoot at anything coming down the trail. That year a nice eight point and a fat doe fell to the grizzly bow. I now was a true bow hunter.

Being a real bowhunter I wanted bigger, better and faster equipment. I let a store clerk talk me into a Jennings compound bow with all these pulleys and wheels that could really fling an arrow. I killed quite a few deer and a couple of turkeys with that Jennings and it was fine until one day I saw a Browning compound. It had wheels but the riser and limbs were made of beautiful laminated wood that took me back to the days when bows were works of art. I shot that Browning until one day the riser split. I guess the wood laminates were not really meant to be stressed with all that power. I went back to my Bear Grizzly until I saw a movie called “Rambo” You guessed it, I had to have a bow like that and Easton made it available to the public. Along with the Rambo I got rid of the old style arrows and went to aluminum arrows. This bow would draw seventy pounds, had sights and I even got a new high tech trigger release to put on the string. The deer and hogs started hitting the dirt on a regular basis. I had arrived.

As I became a better bowhunter something did not seem right. I was killing three or four deer a season and lots of our new found abundant target, feral hogs. I was successful but wanted more. About that time some of the top bowhunters in the “professional bowhunting category” were going back to traditional archery and many were shooting bows by custom bow makers. I decided to make the leap back to traditional gear. I bought a Martin three piece and began my journey back to my childhood. As time went on I saw more and more custom bows and came to possess a Chekmate take-down and again was taking an immense amount of pleasure in my sport, I also caught the longbow bug and ordered a custom Tomahawk that was fifty-three pounds at my draw of twenty-eight inches. I continued down the path of bowhunting bliss shooting deer, hogs and even some exotics until tragedy struck. Something had popped in my left shoulder and I could no longer pull a bow. I went to the doctor and got bad news. Because of old football injuries and youthful stupidity I had really messed up my shoulders and would have to have surgery. I could not even hold a glass of tea with my left so they would operate on it first. I asked Doc about shooting a bow and was told to wait and see how it went. After surgery and rehab I kept trying my recurve and if it hurt I stopped. When the Doc finally told me my shoulder was as good as it would get we had a serious talk and it was decided I could go back to a compound with the weight set much lower than I really wanted.

This brought about the next step in my bowhunting, I bought a Matthews compound and discovered I was in love with my bow. It shot like nothing I had ever had in my hands. I was again a bowhunter and life was good until the familiar pop but this time in my right shoulder. I went through radical surgery on my right shoulder and have not regained enough use to even throw a ball to my grandchildren. The Doc said my bowhunting days were over and wrote me a letter so I could hunt with a crossbow. I now own a 175 pound Horton Hunter HD and am starting the next phase of my bowhunting.

At age 53 I hope to still be in the woods for many more years to come. I hope to teach my grandchildren to hunt and take their journey one phase at a time. I have friends on both sides of this issue and it will not effect me as I have a legal pass to use a crossbow in both seasons. I have come up with 15 crossbow debate questions and will research them as well as I can and write down the answers. Good Hunting, Wild Ed

The Great Texas Crossbow Debate Part II

The following are issues I have seen bantered back and fourth in the debate of crossbows being legal as an archery weapon. I have used the Internet, magazine articles and personal interviews to research as much as possible and strive to be as accurate as possible. If you have another issue you would like me to comment on please hit the email at the top left of the page and send your request.

1. Crossbows wound too much game:

TPWD has made the crossbow legal in the general season so it is efficient enough for the powers that be to make it a legal weapon. Crossbows shoot an arrow with a broadhead guided by feathers or vanes at very similar speeds to bow fired arrows so the killing efficiency should be the same.

2. Crossbows are not primitive:

The crossbow came along somewhere around 200-300 BC so there is no question of primitive or traditional.

3. Crossbows are too easy to learn to use:

It takes about 15 minutes to learn the proper safe use of a crossbow and just about the similar time to use a compound. Both weapons require practice to become proficient. I have personally shown a non bowhunting buddy of mine how to shoot a compound with sights and release. He made his first kill that day.

4. Crossbows shoot much farther than a bow:

Crossbows shoot arrows at similar speeds and weights of those shot from a modern bow. Both are really a 40 yard and closer weapon. In fact my Matthews compound shot flatter than my crossbow. My Horton crossbow is a 175 pound pull and my Matthews switchback was set at 70 pounds. It took me a while to understand why the compound shot flatter than the crossbow. It has to do with the draw length of the crossbow compared to the compound. The crossbow had a 14 inch power stroke as compared to the compound 29 inches at my draw. It takes a lot more power or limb strength on a short power stroke to get the speed of a compound with a longer power stroke.

5. Crossbows will flood the bow season with hunters:

In the other States that have legalized crossbows they have gained some hunters but not large numbers. Many crossbow hunters are simply older bowhunters that switched because of physical reasons. TPWD has committed to making more hunting opportunities and more hunter hours in the field one of their goals so this should not be an issue but welcomed. More hunters would mean more dollars in the pockets of hunting communities and the Texas Economy.

6. The majority of Bowhunters are against Crossbows:

Some of the forums and some of the magazines have run polls and they all have different outcomes. I find that the majority of hunters overall do not mind what weapon you choose as long as it is humane and safe. Most of the gun hunters that shoot a bow in archery season that I have talked to do not mind if crossbows are used in the archery season. I think the bowhunting community is fairly well split down the middle. It is the dyed in the wool bowhunters that hunt only with a bow that are against a crossbow. I find that many of these have never even shot a crossbow.

7. The scope on a Crossbow is to Efficient

If the scope is a magnifying scope it may be more efficient as you can see your target better. There are now bow scopes that magnify so a bowhunter can place one on the compound if they need the magnification. If it is a red dot scope that does not magnify it is no better than a high visibility fiber optic pin. Since we are talking about a 40 yard and closer weapon it really would not make much difference.

8. Crossbows are much more powerful than a bow:

Crossbows have much stronger weights than bows but are not really more powerful. It is because they have a short draw or power stroke as compared to the long power stroke of a bow. At hunting weights they both shoot similar speeds and distances.

9. You do not have to draw and hold the string on a Crossbow:

This is a true statement. TPWD has declared the “Draw- Loc” legal to hunt with in Texas so any compound shooter can lock a compound bow at full draw and release with a trigger just like a crossbow. This makes this a moot point.

10. The Crossbow is more accurate than the bow:

I would have to say a crossbow is more accurate than a bow from a rest. If fired from and off hand position a heavy crossbow is much harder to hold on target than a compound bow. A bow has push pull tension which helps steady the pins on target where a crossbow is like holding a heavy rifle steady in the off hand position.

11. Crossbows give the hunter too much advantage:

In Ohio where they have kept records of harvest and the weapon used it has been shown that crossbow hunters have been only 2-3 percent more successful than bowhunters or that the difference was hardly measurable.

12. Crossbow hunters are less dedicated and will practice less:

There is no evidence to support this. I know bowhunters and gun hunters that practice all year. I also know some of both groups that pull their weapon out of the closet and go hunting without any practice.

13. There will be too many deer killed:

There are only so many tags on your license so you can only kill so many deer. What does it matter if you kill them with a bow, rifle or crossbow? There will be some additional deer killed just because some hunters will spend more time hunting each year. States that have made the crossbow legal have not shown substantial increases in the amount of deer killed.

14. There will be more hunters in the Special Archery Season:

This is the real issue when you get down to brass tacks. Bowhunters have fought to have a special season for Archery and have continued to try and keep any other groups out. Many of the bowhunting clubs and organizations have been before the commissioners and talked to the legislature to preserve archery season. I have been down to support keeping the archery season myself. Here is the hard part for us to examine. Hunter numbers are dwindling and we should be recruiting more hunters. The TPWD has made it their goal to bring in more hunters and provide more hunting opportunities. Other States have shown you will get some of the rifle hunters that will hunt with crossbows if made legal in archery season but not the hordes most of us fear.

The following is my opinion. I really don’t have a dog in this hunt as the crossbow is all I can now hunt with in archery season. I do not work for nor do I have any relationship with a crossbow company or anyone else that pays me for my opinion.

In conclusion I found no real reason to keep the crossbow out of the special archery season unless you also keep out compound bow. Neither weapon is a primitive weapon and are so close in efficiency as to not matter at all. Both rely on getting close enough to make a good humane shot. There are too many benefits for Texas and Hunters as a group for us to continue this fight although I am sure there will be those that continue. As long as we are divided we will be giving ammunition to the anti hunting groups and continue to split our ranks. Choose you weapon and let’s go hunting.
Wild Ed

SUPPORT OTHER TEXAS HUNTERS

I recently witnessed a heated argument over allowing crossbows into the Texas Archery season. Both sides are convinced that there is no compromise and that they alone are right. I am old enough to remember the same thing happening when compound bows came on to the scene. I also remember when the first modern inline black powder rifles were produced and the conflict between modern and traditional black powder hunters. I have heard Falconers run down gun hunters, bowhunters condemn rifle hunters and rifle hunters claim that all bowhunters wound game. I have heard gun and bowhunters claim that crossbow hunters are sloppy lazy hunters and poachers. Most of those making the comments have not hunted with the others weapon of choice yet they have a strong opinion. Most of these opinions are dead wrong; there are individual hunters that may meet every argument as there are bad people in every sport. I have seen similar arguments about High fence hunting, whether or not you should hunt from blinds or have deer feeders. The latest argument is about long range shooting of legal game animals and even varmints. In other words if you do not use the equipment I use and practice the methods I do you should not be hunting. If you have any of the above opinions I would urge you to reconsider your views.

I only want to say this one time so read and pay attention!
If it is legal and others practice it you should support all hunting.

Someday you may want those other hunting groups to support your sport and method if it is to continue. If the method of hunting is legal then it has been judged by the powers to be as an ethical justified method of harvest. We are all different and have different tastes thus use different methods and tactics but we better all get on the same train to support each other and hunting. If we fail this test Hunting as we know it is on the way out. Have you seen the books, movies and other means of making the hunter the bad guy? Our schools in many areas are teaching anti-hunting to our children. My granddaughter has two favorite movies that make the hunter out as a criminal. We live in a new high tech world and many people have never left the city and have no experience with hunting other than the media. I am amazed at the number of bird watchers that want to declare all dove songbirds and you will not be able to hunt them any more. If you think they will support your sport you are sadly mistaken.



To Texas Falconers:
We are involved in a blood sport like it or not and should support other blood sports or we will all lose them. I am a bowhunter, gun hunter, wingshooter, crossbow hunter, varmint hunter, trapper and falconer. I have heard people from each group run down the other sports. I have a feeling they are talking about something they have not done and know nothing about. We can choose to be an elitist but will have few support falconry if we choose that path. If you take all the falconers in Texas we number less than 200 and have no impact on wildlife. No one other than falconers will care if we are gone. We better hope that other hunting groups are there when we need them. Wildlife departments exist for the gun and bowhunters and we are a side group that cost them money. We do not bring in a profit like the other hunting groups. Without other hunters falconry is gone. I for one will support hunters no matter which group they fit into. If it is a legal hunting method we need to support it 100%. Good Hunting, Wild Ed

Here is a link to an article I wrote about why the Non-Hunter should buy a license.

http://wildedtx.blogspot.com/2007/07/why-you-non-hunter-should-buy-hunting.html

New Texas Law Prohibits All Hunting From Public Roads

New Law Prohibits All Hunting of Wildlife From Roads
AUSTIN, Texas — With the passage of House Bill 12 by the 80th Texas Legislature, it is now unlawful to hunt any wild bird or animal on a public road or the right-of-way of a public road.
Prior to this year, it was unlawful to hunt game animals or game birds on a public road — meaning that nongame species such as snakes, turtles, frogs and most mammals other than deer, bighorn sheep, javelina, and pronghorn antelope could be legally taken, provided that the take was not by firearm and did not occur from a vehicle.
For many years, the department has informed the public that a hunting license was not required to take or possess any animal other than terrestrial vertebrates, such as insects. Although the new law could be construed to apply to the collection of invertebrates, the department will not enforce the provision as it relates to invertebrates at this time.
“The department strongly encourages all persons to avoid engaging in the collection of any animal life on public roads or the right-of-way of public roads,” said Maj. David Sinclair, TPWD chief of wildlife enforcement.

The new law does not apply to licensed falconers trapping raptors (birds of prey) or persons engaged in activities under department permits for scientific, educational, or zoological collection if allowed under the conditions of the permit.

Texas Falconers all owe a great big thank you to the Texas Hawking Association for the above paragraph. If not for the charge led by Steve Oleson along with John Graham, Sheldon Nicolle and other members of the THA, falconry as we know it would have ceased to exist in Texas. Can you imagine trying to trap your first hawk as an apprentice and not being able to drive and trap along public roads? Just locating raptors would have become almost impossible and all capture would have to take place on private land. The next time your renewal comes up or you are asked to help or donate to the THA rise to the occasion and let them know you appreciate all they do for your falconry rights. Ed Thomas

Want to be a Falconer?

I get a lot of requests from readers that ask how to get into Falconry. I want people to know what it takes to be a falconer and what kind of commitment to a raptor it takes. It is not like archery or gun hunting where you can take your gun or bow out of the closet once in while. It must become a way of life and the bird comes first. The following is an article from the Texas Hawking Associations publication “On the Wing” It was written by a Licensed General Falconer and friend of mine, Noel Murphy. This article should give you some idea of what it will take. Here is a link to the Texas Hawking Associations site and more information. http://texashawking.org/ Wild Ed

Want to be a falconer?
Careful what you wish for!
“Falconry, by definition, is the taking of wild quarry in its natural state and habitat by means of a trained raptor. Of all sports in America, falconry is the only one that utilizes a trained wild creature. Falcons, hawks, eagles and owls are essential elements of our wildlife. The competent falconer takes care to follow sound conservation principles in the pursuit of the sport. Even though the federal government’s environmental assessment states falconry has “no impact” on wild raptor populations, a careless, uninformed individual, attempting to satisfy a passing fancy, can do great harm to one or more birds and cast a shadow of discredit on the sport of falconry itself. Most falconers, therefore, before they will agree to help anyone newly attracted to the sport, will require evidence of a serious, committed interest in falconry. They feel that anything less is not worth bothering with.” Quoted from the North American Falconers Association.
Express to any falconer your interest in becoming a falconer and he/she should give you a lengthy spill on why you shouldn’t. Believe it or not, the purpose of this is not to keep new people from entering the sport/art of falconry. It is only to ensure that interested persons really know what they are asking for. If for some reason, after hearing all of this, you still think the pros out weigh the cons….. then you’re just the right sort of person. There are few decisions in a person’s life that can change it so drastically. For example: proposing marriage, deciding to have a child and ranking right up there, FALCONRY.
If you contact the game department in your state, they should have an information packet they will mail to you. This should contain your federal and state regulations plus it will also contains a reading list of books that reference materials the questions on the falconry exam were drawn from. The books are not always available at a local library. Many people do quite a few interlibrary loans to get the ones that are available. The rest can be purchased and they are quite expensive.
In Texas, the TPWD Falconry Permit Coordinator is Jennifer Brennan and her office is in Austin, Texas. To get in touch with her, e-mail her at jennifer.brennan@tpwd.state.tx.us and request a falconry packet. If you do talk to her, remember, be polite, she is our friend in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
I would suggest reading as much of this material as possible and then finding a falconer in your area to speak with. If all goes well, and that falconer can spare the time (a valuable commodity!), you may be able to hunt with him/her, giving you even more experience with the rewards of falconry. The hunting experience is the reward! Everything else is the work. If you are emotionally challenged, have more money and time than you know what to do with, and like to get cut to shreds in briar patches…..then my friend, falconry is for you! The rest of us have to carefully weigh the work vs. the reward.
A hawk is not a pet… It will not snuggle against you for warmth and affection. If it pecks your nose, it’s not an action of endearment…it merely wanted to know what you tasted like. If it follows you like a lost puppy, it is only because it knows you have pieces of cut up meat in your glove…if you run out of food, it will leave you for the nearest squirrel nest. If it latches onto you, it will be with eight very sharp talons and not the slightest hint of need for your existence, much less love. It will not terrorize the city to retrieve you a beer as seen in TV commercials, nor will it deliver you mail like the owls in Harry Potter.
As an apprentice you will be a subject to your sponsor. What that sponsor says is law and is only superseded by state or federal regulation. The sponsor is the first to decide if after two years you can advance to the general class. There isn’t a second test…. The only factor in your obtaining his/her approval is the impression you have given them over the past two years. Did your bird hunt well? .... Did you take care of the bird? …. Did you sacrifice what used to be your life to do what was best for the bird? If so, you are then still subject to the decision of the game department of the state and federal offices. If you like this type of control over your life, then falconry is for you!
You will need to build a mews (hawk house) and weathering yard for your bird at a size no smaller than 8’x8’ each. Every falconer you will meet will have an opinion on the design as the federal regulations are loosely constructed. You will spend a good deal of $$$ and try to satisfy your sponsor, the state inspector and yourself. No two of the aforementioned will ever agree that the final plan was appropriate. ….. Most will label it a death trap. Good luck!
You are, of course, responsible for the welfare of the bird. Squirrel bites and other accidents happen. You have a moral responsibility to the bird, and if that isn’t strong enough, this bird is protected by federal regulations. You don’t just tell your veterinarian you can’t afford the needed procedure and to put the bird to sleep. Also, veterinarians with the experience to treat raptors are often not found nearby…nor are they cheap!
Unless you’re hunting twice daily, seven days a week, you’re not going to catch enough game to feed your hawk for the entire year. You will soon be enlisting the help of friends and neighbors to pick up road kill squirrels, and ordering 50 pound boxes of frozen rats and quail for the off season.
Do you enjoy outdoor recreation like deer hunting, fishing, bicycling, etc… I can almost guarantee these activities be put on the back burner to falconry. If the weather is good enough for one of these and you have the time…you will be out with the hawk instead.
Do you work forty hours or more a week like most people? In the winter, is it dark when you leave the office? When are you going to hunt this bird? It needs to hunt several times a week and on unsuccessful hunts it may take several hours. Hawks do not see very well at night, so when it gets dark, you’re most likely done for the day.
Your initial contact with a falconer may be somewhat less than what you had hoped for. Think about this for a moment… this person has people who think they are interested approach him/her quite often. In the past, people have been loaned expensive books and sometimes not returned them… when invited to hunt with them, done things in the field that weren’t appropriate or that spooked the bird. I can almost guarantee that if the falconer you approach is a good falconer, he or she hardly has time to be bothered by another “wannabe” (harsh label, but true). Their time is better spent with the bird in the field. However, if you do your research and get a good understanding of what it is you’re trying to get into, you convey to them your understanding and appreciation for the time you’re taking from them and their bird… I am almost certain they will bend over backwards to help you.
There are thousands of other considerations… The more you research falconry, the more you will find that it is definitely not for everyone. Whether it is for you can only be answered by you…and only after you have a thorough understanding of the time and monetary commitments. Depending on your desire to precede with falconry you will reprioritize your life. Quit taking the wife to dinner, leave work two hours early on a regular basis, stay in the field from dawn to dusk on weekends, etc… Basically, when your desire to hunt with the hawk overrides all the good sense and responsibility your parents instilled in you…then you are ready to be a falconer. So far as I know, there is no cure or group therapy for this illness. All you can do is continue to hunt and hope it doesn’t wreck your entire life.
This article includes information gathered from “The North American Falconers Association” and is based on an article from Marty Hawkins, a falconer from South Carolina. Information compiled by Noel Murphy, Member of the North American Falconry Association and the Texas Hawking Association.

The Texas Harris Hawk

Several years ago I became aware of a mid-sized hawk (1.5-2.25 pounds) that lives in the South Texas Brush Country. It has the appearance of a miniature Golden Eagle with chestnut colored patches on the shoulders with a white rump patch and white terminal band on the tail. This is a most unique hawk living in a land where everything bites, stings or sticks. The terrain is thick brush and scrub trees that are often under extreme dry and hot conditions.
Harris Hawks are social birds that live and hunt in family groups. I have seen as many as 8 birds in a group. Some of the young will stay with the family unit up to 3 years and help raise younger siblings. The family group will hunt cooperatively for the good of the family and the current year’s young. This social nature is what makes the Harris such a good falconry bird as they develop a strong bond with the falconer and actually enjoy the hunting partnership. The Harris Hawk preys on mostly rodents, reptiles and small birds but is capable of taking prey up to and including jackrabbits. They are often observed eating carrion along the South Texas highways and roads. A very unique feature is you will see a group perching in the brush or on telephone poles all very close together. I have even observed a bird perched on a pole with a younger family member perched on its back. The next time you are in South Texas keep an eye out for one of our most unique raptors.
Here is a link to an article about a Harris Hawk family group and their rabbit hunt. Have a great time watching Texas Wildlife, Wild Ed.

http://wildedtx.blogspot.com/2007/07/carrizo-springs-harris-hawk-pack.html

Hawking photos by Noel Murphy and Brandi Quick

Cool Fish Dish for a Hot Day

Wild Ed’s Ceviche

1lb Trout, catfish, shrimp or Redfish ,we like to mix fish and shrimp – Scrape with a fork & remove membranes. Cut into small bite size pieces. Place fish in a glass bowl and add 4 oz of lemon juice and 4 oz of lime juice. Mix together and place in fridge for two hours.

Peel and chop 4 to 5 medium tomatoes

Chop 1 large onion

2-4 fresh seeded jalapeno peppers chopped, depending on heat index you desire

1 teaspoon of salt

1 clove of fresh garlic chopped

Chopped fresh cilantro to taste

5 shakes of Tabasco


After fish has set in juice for two hours mix in the rest of the ingredients and put back in fridge for 2 hours. You do not actually cook the fish as the citrus juice pickles the fish. I typically increase this recipe by just adding more fish. I have added 8 to 10 fillets to this recipe without changing a thing except for the amount of lemon & lime juice I use. You need to make sure you have enough to “cook” the amount of fish you use. You can’t use too much citrus juice because if has too much liquid then just drain some off before you add the other ingredients. Serve with fresh tortilla chips or fried sweet potato chips.

Enjoy, Wild Ed

More Dove Hunting Tips........

Eye Wear: During the early and late shooting hours I like to wear amber shooting lenses as the contrast gives me better target acquisition. During the bright part of the day I wear brown, green or smoke lens colors to kill the glare.

Choke Choice: Unless you are shooting high flying pass over doves you should leave the modified and full chokes in the case. Improved cylinder will help most hunters increase the number of birds in the game bag. If I am sitting at a tank or a feeding area I will shoot a skeet or cylinder choke for the more open pattern.

Shot size: I carry two sizes with me to change the density and distance. I mostly shoot 8 shot as it has good distance and a dense pattern without many holes. If I need to extend my distance just a bit I will use 7 ½ shot. The pattern has a few more holes in it but it will get me another 10 yards of kill distance.

Barrel length: I am a fan of longer shotgun barrels as I find it is harder to mess up a good swing and follow through with a long barrel. A short barrel tends to increase poking or spot shooting. Remember to insert the barrel in front of the bird pull out and shoot while keeping the gun moving until the target falls. Follow through is very important and hard to maintain with short barrels.

Clothing: White or bright clothing is definitely out as it will scare the birds. Camo or dark earth tones that will match the terrain you are hunting in. As it is super hot this time of year remember to keep the clothing light in weight for coolness. Put on a good insect repellent as ticks and chiggers are out in force this time of year.

Hydration: The temperatures this time of year can be extremely hot so drink lots of water or sport drinks. Keep the alcoholic beverages locked away until after the guns are cased for the day. Don’t forget to keep fluids in your canine buddy as dogs can get heat stressed easily this time of year. Above all be safe and have a great hunt, Wild Ed.

Have The Most Tender and Best Tasting Game Meats

Chicken fried venison was most likely one of the first meats I ever chewed on as a child. It must have made quite an impression as it is still one of my most favorite foods. I have had good venison and some that was so gamey I could not eat it. The main problem that creates gamey tasting wild game is care in the field. I have always said if someone shot a prime Texas steer, dressed it out and hung it in a tree at deer camp for a couple of days before throwing it in the back of the truck for the long drive home it would taste like gamey venison.
There are a few simple keys to great tasting wild game. The first is to dress out your kill as soon as possible and keep it clean. Hang big game to dress as it is easier to keep clean and the stretching of the muscles tissues in hanging helps tenderize the meat. Next quarter and place the meat in a cooler covered with ice ASAP. The faster you get it on ice the better unless the temperature is less than 40 degrees and then you can let it hang until ready to take home and process. Did I say be sure and keep the meat clean. As soon as I arrive at home I drain all the ice water off the meat and rinse to make sure it is clean. I then repack in ice and sprinkle with ice cream salt. This will help keep the meat cold and draw out the blood from the tissues. Place the cooler in a shady place where it can drain melted ice and fluids out of the drain. Keep adding ice until the water draining out of the cooler runs clear. This usually takes about 2-3 days to complete. I will re-rinse the meat and process by the 4th day no matter what. This process will give you a well chilled meat drained of all blood and ready to cut up and process. I think you will find the flavor some of the best you ever tried.

We grind up a lot of our venison into burger. We have discovered that venison burger is a wonderful dish but is very dry as it has very little fat. Here is the solution in our house and one that many others have enjoyed and never knew they were having wild game, not that I would not tell them. Grind your venison and add ¼ ground bacon to the meat before you mix and use or package. We buy the cheap bacon ends in a box at the store since we are going to grind it up anyway. This ground meat product can be used in any dish you would use hamburger. Enjoy, Wild Ed

Texas Hunting License on Sale August 15th

Texas new hunting and fishing licenses for 2007-08 will be available beginning Wednesday, Aug. 15, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is encouraging hunters to buy early and avoid the rush heading into the Sept. 1 dove season opener.
If you wait until the Friday before the dove season opener, you’re probably going to be standing in line to buy a license. It takes an average of five minutes to process a license sale transaction, so it’s likely there will be delays if you wait ‘til the last minute.
Remember your current annual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license) expire Aug. 31.
Texas issues 3.2 million hunting and fishing licenses annually through 28 TPWD field offices, more than 100 state parks and at over 1,400 retailers across Texas.
You may also purchase licenses online through the TPWD web site (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/) or by calling (800) 895-4248. There is a $5 convenience fee for either option and a major credit card is required.
License sales call center hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday — Friday. The online transaction system is available 24/7.
A license confirmation number is issued at the time of purchase for online and phone orders, and the physical license is mailed separately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased, which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fish or wildlife that requires a tag.
Be sure to get HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification if you intend to hunt migratory birds. HIP certification will be printed on the license at the time of sale only after the purchaser answers a few brief migratory bird questions.
Good hunting, Wild Ed

There's a New Dove in the Texas Sky

Like the lyrics to an old Eagles song “Johnny come lately, the new kid in town everybody loves you, so don't let them down.”
The new kid on the dove hunting scene is the Eurasian Collared Dove. Also like the song all the hunters seem to love the new dove and as a fan of exotics and more hunting opportunities I don’t think the Eurasian Dove will let us down. As a non-native introduced species there is no bag limit and no season. This means they do not count towards the daily bag limit and Texas hunters may shoot as many as they like. It is a great target and also is excellent table fare.


The Eurasian Collared Dove is an introduced exotic dove, grayish buff in color with black rings around the back of the neck. It is a little larger than a Whitewing with a long squared off tail. It has a flying style much like the Mourning Dove. They are native to the Indian Subcontinent and have expanded across Europe and North Africa. The first Eurasian Doves in the Western Hemisphere apparently escaped from a bird dealer in the Bahamas in the 1970s and were found in Florida in the early 1980s. Birds were first seen in Texas in the mid 1990s and now number several hundred thousand strong in the State.
Although not near as numerous as Mourning Dove and Whitewing Dove the Eurasian Dove is here to stay. I believe it will fill a niche in the habitat and not really have an impact on our native species but time will tell. Perhaps it is here to replace the Passenger Pigeon. However the Eurasian Dove will be a welcome target and help fill hunter’s bags in the future. Good Shooting, Wild Ed

Texas Ranch House and Deer Camp Recipes

I have been collecting some of my favorite Ranch House and Hunting camp recipes for years and am now compiling them into a cookbook. I plan on passing a few recipes on to the readers of this site for as long as I keep it going or until I publish the book. When I was a younger one of my favorite times of year was the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. It was not because of all the gifts but because of hunting season and all the special foods that showed up on our table. Both of my grandmothers were excellent cooks and my mom turned out the most wonderful pies. It was not unusual to have pecan, maple nut, buttermilk, chocolate and chess pies all for the tasting. My favorite was chess. It is a simple pie with a cheesecake like texture and a wonderfully addictive taste. I now pass on this recipe to you but I warn you it can become a habit.
Enjoy, Wild Ed


CHESS PIE

2 CUPS SUGAR
1 CUP MILK
1 TBSP. FLOUR
3 EGGS
1 STICK BUTTER
PINCH SALT
1 TSP. VANILLA
I MIX ALL TOGETHER IN A BLENDER AND POUR INTO A 9 INCH DEEP DISH PIE SHELL. COOK AT 350 DEGREES FOR 45 MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.
I SHAKE IT AND IF IT IS SET IN THE MIDDLE, IT IS DONE.

Non-Resident Hunting Fees

HUNTER INTRODUCES TEDDY ROOSEVELT BRING BACK OUR PUBLIC LANDS ACT (Duncan Hunter) Washington, D.C.

U.S. Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) today announced the introduction of the Teddy Roosevelt Bring Back our Public Lands Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation seeks to reduce costs incurred by out-of-state American outdoorsmen who hunt exclusively on federal property. Congressman Hunter’s statement of introduction follows: “In 1909, when President Theodore Roosevelt signed the last piece of legislation successfully creating over 42 million acres of national forest, the American outdoorsman came into his own. Our great “Outdoor President,” with a stroke of his pen, dedicated more land to American citizens for hunting and fishing than all the royal estates of Europe combined. “From the Adirondacks and the Blue Ridge of the East to the Sierra Nevada of California, every outdoorsman could now be the master of enormous sporting opportunities. The only price was a stretch of the legs and an investment of time and a modicum of woodsmanship. “Because of Teddy’s Roosevelt’s leadership and efforts, the public land of the federal government became truly the “estate” of the average American. “A carpenter in Indiana or Iowa could saddle up the old Chevy pick-up and take his sons elk or deer hunting on a long weekend in Colorado. A steel worker in Pennsylvania could drive “straight through” with his pals to that certain Aspen grove in Western Wyoming where big bucks always abounded on opening morning. Thus, until a few years ago, the outdoor legacy of Teddy Roosevelt and the birthright of outdoor Americans were secure. “Not any more. “Today, bureaucracies in state governments are closing down the outdoor opportunities for average Americans. They are slamming the door on outdoor families the old fashioned way: with outrageous fees for non-resident hunters, even when the hunting is done exclusively on federal land. “For example, the out-of-state license fee in Wyoming is $281 for deer, $481 for elk; in Colorado it is $301 for deer, $501 for elk; in Montana, it is $643 for both. In New Mexico, if two sons decide to take their dad on a weekend getaway, they each face fees of $355 for deer and $766 for elk. “What makes these high prices so unfair is that they are applied to out-of-state American outdoorsmen who hunt exclusively on federal property. The 190 million acres of national forest and 258 million acres of BLM are the birthright of all Americans. The notion that they are viewed as the domain of state legislatures runs against the principle of public usage of federal property. “Certainly, individual states have the right to regulate the private land and state-owned property within their boundaries. No one quarrels with that. But placing prohibitive fees on hunting that is conducted on federal public lands quickly becomes a method of exclusion. “What happens, for example, if New Mexico should raise its out-of-state fees to $2,000 for bull elk? This increase would have the same effect as a locked gate for thousands of average Americans who want to hunt elk on any of the six national forests in New Mexico, over 11 million acres of federally owned land. “The bill I am introducing today will restore acres for all American hunters to Theodore Roosevelt’s “Great Estate” of national forests and other public land. I acknowledge that some small amount of states’ wildlife resources are expended on federally owned and managed lands. Therefore, it is only right that out-of-state hunters share in this minimal expense. “My bill, therefore, says this: No state may charge more than $200 for a big game license, specifically, elk, deer, antelope or bear, for hunting that is carried out exclusively on national forest or BLM federal land. “The $200 fee strikes a balance between two interests. The first interest is the state’s legitimate need to recoup the few dollars that it expends in the management of federal land. The second, and most important, is the interest of helping that father with two teenagers who does not have the $2,300 the state of New Mexico will charge this year for a family of three to hunt on national forest for bull elk. “In most cases, even a $200 fee will be a windfall for states; far out-pacing any help they give the federal government for wildlife management in national forests. Any American, from any state, should be allowed to earn a fall morning hunting elk in the Rockies with a healthy hike and a good shooting eye, regardless if he has a large bank account. My bill restores that opportunity.” The Teddy Roosevelt Bring Back Our Public Lands Act has been referred to the House Committee on Resources for further consideration.

Here is your chance to contact your representatives and let them know you support this act. Wild Ed

Hit Those Fast Flying Doves this Hunting Season

I spent many years shooting competitive Sporting Clays and also as a National Sporting Clays Association Level II gunning instructor. I have seen the best and worst shooters in the country. In this article I want to give you some tips you can use to be a better more effective dove hunter.

1. Practice: Do not just go out and blast away, have someone that is a better shooter than you watch your style and help you along. A professional lesson or two are well worth the investment. If you have no one to help you get a good video or book to help you along. Practice your mount in front of a mirror until you become smooth and fluid. Always remember speed is not fast, smooth is fast.

2. Focus: Learn to focus on the eye of the bird or front of the target. Too many people focus on the whole target or on bird’s tails as they are easily seen. Have you ever shot at a bird and it leaves a trail of floating tail feathers. I wonder why? Focus on the head or eye of the bird, I have had people call me when they see a dove blink for the first time. It will happen if you focus on the eyes and you will be amazed as your bird count goes up.

3. Mount on the target or just in front: Many people practice the old style of pass through shooting where they come from behind the target and try to brush it out of the sky. No one with this method wins major competitions anymore. Your shot string is approximately six foot long, if the first pellet in the string goes behind the target guess where the rest of them go? If half of the shot string goes in front of the target you still get a kill. What does all this mean? It means you should always mount in front of the target and never get behind it in your swing and follow through.

4. Move, Mount, Shoot: This phrase should be engraved in your mind. Move with the flight of the bird. This means move the gun with the flight of the bird in the ready to mount position (NOT MOUNTED) when the bird reaches the area where you wish to shoot simply mount the gun on the front of the target pull out in front of the target and pull the trigger. I see hunters every year that spot a dove coming in from a long way off and mount the gun and track the bird, shoot and miss. Yet when someone yells bird and they look up, see the bird and shoot, then crush it. If you track the bird you will almost always try to aim and miss the bird.

5. Do Not Aim: The bead on a shotgun is not to aim with unless you hunt turkeys or shoot slugs. Compare it to the hood ornament on a car; it is simply there for your subconscious to know you are on target. Focus only on the target so you can swing smoothly and stay in front of the target. If you feel like your swing is jerky in movement it means you are changing focus from the target to the front bead and back to the target. A shotgun swing is not jerky only your focus back and forth. This is one of the most important tips I can give you. Consider the shotgun bead the miss me bead and stay focused on the bird.

Remember above all to stay safe, be sure of your target and have fun. The September heat can be brutal on dove hunters so be sure and consume water and or sports drinks during the day. Don’t forget to provide liquid refreshment for your canine friends as well. Good hunting, Wild Ed

Get Ready for Hunting Season in your Own Home

The one thing that most of us that shoot rifles in the pursuit of big game need is practice. You can read, dream and watch TV hunting shows all year but it will not make you a better shot especially at long range. If you are like me trips to the range are far and few between these days. Ammo costs are out of sight and when I do get to the range I cannot afford to burn up large amounts of high dollar rifle ammo. I along with some of my friends have discovered a low cost way of enjoying the shooting sports while practicing trigger control, breathing and blinking while actually shooting. I shoot in my backyard and my living room right here in town. I have discovered the world of air guns. A full size adult air rifle can be outfitted with a scope just like on your big game rifle. You can fire hundreds of shots for the price of one round of ammo for you deer rifle. You can make a backstop or purchase a bullet trap made just for lead pellets. You have the choice of Co2 or Spring powered air guns. They come in pistol and rifle models and are extremely accurate. The best part about this is they are loads of fun and will make you a much better shot in the field. If you would like to learn more about hunting with Air Guns here is a favorite site of mine. http://www.network54.com/Forum/543831/