European Skull Mounts the Texas Way

A friend of mine called the other day and told me he had taken a nice Axis deer buck in Southwest Texas. It was not his largest, but was a nice deer and he wanted to keep it as a trophy. Deciding on a European skull mount he called his local taxidermist to get a quote. Shocked to find out the cost would be $250.00 he called me to find out where I had my skulls done and what they had cost. To say he was surprised to find out I had done my own and the cost was under $10.00 per skull for chemicals and $35.00 for the wood plaque to hang it on the wall was an under statement. He wanted to learn how to do his own skull mount so I am writing this for him and those of you that would like to do your own European style mounts.

European style mounts allow you to uniquely display the skulls of predators, deer and other animals. This style of mount allows one to preserve the memory of the hunt at a less expensive cost than traditional taxidermy. A couple of my favorites are a bobcat and Javelina on my fireplace mantle. I have even used this method to save the jaws from a black fin shark I caught in the Gulf of Mexico.

There are several methods of getting the same result in cleaning skulls. Some use dermatoid beetles to clean all the tissue from the bone and others boil the skulls in a chemical solution or other formulas to clean the skull. The method I use has turned out to be the easiest for me to do at home with the least hassle. This method will let you display the skull of predators, deer and other animals. I would however recommend that you use a professional service for a record or lifetime animal.

The method I have settled on is by maceration or letting water and bacteria do all the work of removing the tissues. It can take two to six weeks depending on how much meat and tissue is on the skull and how hot the outside temperature is at the time. The better you skin out the skull the faster the process. I have even done skulls that have simply been cut off with the skin, eyes and all meat tissues intact, it just takes more time in the water.

Take a large plastic container or bucket that will hold your skull and fill up to the level of the antlers. If you are doing a skull without antlers simply submerge in water. Now this process does smell so if you can put a lid on your container do so. I use plastic buckets most of the time so if the antlers stick out of the bucket I just put up with odor. About once a week I take the skull from the water and wash all the tissue that will come off with a high pressure nozzle on the water hose. You may have to stick a wire into the brain cavity and twirl it around to enable the water pressure to get all the brain matter out of the skull. A stiff brush will help remove stubborn tissue a little faster if needed. Make sure you do not lose any teeth as some will come out and have to be glued back in later. You can use plain Elmer’s glue to put the teeth back into place when the maceration process is complete. I then place the skull back in the rinsed bucket and replace the water with fresh water and let the process continue. Repeat this weekly until the skull is completely clean of all tissue.

I then use a mixture of 40% peroxide, available in beauty department of some drug stores or a beauty supply shop, to make a mixture of about 50/50 peroxide and water and soak the skull for 4-10 hours taking care not to get any of the solution on the antlers as it will bleach them white also. Check the skull during this process and remove when it is whitened. Rinse the skull well and dry when removed from the peroxide solution. If you get some on the horns you may stain with potassium permanganate, available from taxidermy supply houses, or wood stain matched to the antler color. If the skull has been outside for a while you may have to color the antlers anyway. The last step once the skull is dry is to seal the skull and mount to a plaque if you like. You may use a satin plastic spray sealer or a mixture of 50/50 Elmer’s glue and water painted on with a brush to seal and protect the skull. Wood wall or table top decorative plaques may be purchased from a taxidermy supply house or outdoor store to mount your skull if you like. Many skulls will look fine simply displayed without a plaque. As a final touch I rub a coat of boiled linseed oil on the antlers to give them that fresh appearance. You now have a trophy to be proudly displayed and the best part is that you did it all yourself.Good hunting, Wild Ed

Jaguar Collared in Arizona

Arizona officials have captured and placed a tracking collar on a wild jaguar for the first time ever in the United States, the state wildlife agency said Thursday. The male cat was captured last Wednesday southwest of Tucson during a research study concerning mountain lions and black bears. The location of the capture was not released. While individual jaguars have been photographed sporadically along the Mexican border the past few years, the capture occurred outside the area where the last known photograph of a jaguar was taken in January, state Game and Fish officials said in a press release. The jaguar was fitted with a satellite tracking collar and then released. The collar will provide biologists with location points every three hours, the press release said. Early tracking indicates the cat is doing well and has already traveled more than three miles from the capture site, the release said. The jaguar weighs 118 pounds with a thick and solid build, the department said. Field biologists said the cat appeared healthy and hardy. Game and Fish officials could not be reached Thursday night to answer questions about the capture. The data produced by the collar will shed light on a little-studied population segment of this species that uses Southern Arizona and New Mexico as the northern extent of its range. The jaguar has been listed as an endangered species by the federal government since 1997, the year after a Douglas-area rancher spotted the first one seen in the United States for many years. "While we didn't set out to collar a jaguar as part of the mountain lion and bear research project, we took advantage of an important opportunity," Terry Johnson, endangered species coordinator for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, said in the news release. "More than 10 years ago, Game and Fish attempted to collar a jaguar with no success. Since then, we've established handling protocols in case we inadvertently captured a jaguar in the course of one of our other wildlife management activities." The capture didn't surprise Jack L. Childs, project coordinator for the Borderlands jaguar Detection Project, based in Amado. Using remote-sensing cameras, the group has taken 26 photographs of jaguars in the wilds of Southern Arizona. "We've known we've had jaguars for 100 years in Arizona and we've been documenting it for the past 10 years. This just kind of further verifies that we do have jaguars down here," Childs said. The study on habitat connectivity for mountain lions and black bears that produced the accidental capture of the jaguar was intended, in part, to analyze the effects of new border fencing on the two large animals, he said. With this jaguar collared, officials now have a great opportunity to analyze the effects of the fencing. As long as the jaguar remains alive and the collar continues to work, they'll be able to follow the movements of the cat for about two years, he said. The capture was announced at Thursday's meeting of the jaguar Conservation Team, a group of scientists, agency officials, private individuals and conservationists seeking to map out an effort to improve the future of the animal in the borderlands area. Michael Robinson, an environmentalist on the team, said he was happy the jaguar sustained no injuries.

There have been reports of Jaguars in Texas and New Mexico through the years but this is the first capture in a border State. None of the Jaguars seen have been black as the black Jaguar is a rare cat that occurs deep in South American Jungles and no where near this far north. Wild Ed

Shooters Ridge 10/22 Magazine Loader

I am always looking for a better and faster way to load high capacity magazines. A good buddy of mine recently got a 10/22 magazine loader from Butler Creek and impressed me with the speed and ease which he loaded up .22 magazines while we were out shooting. While on the road the other day I saw a magazine loader that had a clip in the package along with the loader for around $30.00. This was what I thought was a comparable price to just what my friend had paid for the Butler Creek loader alone. It was by a known company, Shooters Ridge, so I bought it and brought it home. Like an idiot I did not keep the receipt. The very first time I tried to use it plastic parts and springs went everywhere when I pushed on the tabs per the instructions and tried to place the magazine in the loader. It was too complicated for me to reassemble and I am not sure I even found all the parts. I decided to send it back under warranty and found out it would cost about $5.00 to mail it back plus they wanted $7.00 to invoke the warranty. What a crock and what a piece of junk, live and learn. I paid the $5.00 just to send the pile of parts and a piece of my mind in a letter back to Shooters Ridge to tell them what I thought of them selling such a worthless tool to their customers. I have used Shooters Ridge rests in the past but have spent my last penny with them. Just thought you might like to know. One of these days I will do a review on the Butler Creek loader when I can get up the desire to try one. I may just keep using my thumbs for a while. Still thumbing, Wild Ed

The CZ 452 American in .17 HMR

As many have noticed I recently have become a fan of the CZ line of Rimfire rifles. When I was searching for information on them I was referred to a website called The Western Rifleman and you can visit it at the following link. You will find some great information there. http://westernrifleman.wordpress.com/

The following is a review reposted from the Western Rifleman of the CZ 452 American in .17 HMR. Since mine is a .22 long rifle I will let you read this review on the .17 HMR version. I think you will find that what ever rimfire cartridge you choose the CZ 452 American will become a favorite of yours.

The CZ 452 American in .17 HMR: A Review

It’s amazing to think only a few years ago the name CZ would have brought blank stares at your local shooting range. How quickly things have changed. Today, CZ is widely known amongst serious shooters as a manufacturer of top quality firearms, especially rimfire rifles.
While their products were basically unknown (and unavailable) to American consumers until 1991, Ceska Zbrojovka a.s. Uhersky Brod (CZUB) has been manufacturing rimfire rifles in what is now the Czech Republic since 1936. Initially imported and distributed by firms like Bauska, Action Arms, and Magnum research, CZUB quickly realized the need to have a corporate presence in such a significant firearms market. In 1997, CZ-USA was founded in Oakhurst, California and shortly thereafter was relocated to its present location in Kansas City, Kansas.
The CZ 452 action, manufactured since the late 1940’s, was originally offered in numerous stock configurations ranging from a basic beech to full-length walnut Mannlicher. Unfortunately, most of these models shared a very distinct European styling with a rounded comb profile and thick pistol grip. Just as CZ recognized the significance of having a storefront in the U.S., they quickly realized most Americans prefer sporting rifles with classic American lines - regardless of how well the rifle shoots.
In 1999, CZ-USA launched the 452 American Classic. Chambered in .22 LR, the American Classic featured a sporter-style premium Circassien walnut stock with 18 LPI checkering, slim pistol grip, and near straight comb profile. Instead of iron sights like those found on the European models, the 452 American Classic was sold without sights and featured a full-length receiver dovetail in 3/8″ for mounting a scope. Shortly after the release, CZ dropped the moniker “Classic” and the rifle has since been known as the 452 American.
It didn’t take long for word to spread that this new rifle from CZ wasn’t just a “looker”. In the initial review by Field & Stream (12/1999), the average group from all testers and ammunition was 0.642 inches at 50 yards, with several brands of ammo turning in groups under a half-inch. Not only did the American look good, it could shoot.
Take the above at an initial street price of less than $300 (as of January 2009 it is approximately $350), and you’ve got a rimfire that can compete with rifles twice its cost.
By 2003, the 452 American had established a solid foundation for the success of CZ in the U.S. market. Meanwhile, with the introduction of new loads by Federal and CCI, it was becoming evident the hot, little .17 caliber rimfire introduced by Hornady just over a year earlier was going to be a big success. Designed around the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR) case, the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (.17 HMR) provided better velocity, trajectory, accuracy and wind-bucking ability than its predecessor.
In another excellent business decision, CZ quickly jumped on the .17 HMR bandwagon. By mid-2003, CZ 452 American rifles in .17 HMR were on the shelves of American dealers.
I’m a traditionalist. I love my .270 Winchester, .30′06 Springfield and .22 LR. I try to buy American - especially when it comes to guns. With that said, I can appreciate quality and value, regardless of where it comes from. By 2006, I’d heard enough about the CZ 452 American and the .17 HMR to make up my mind.
The first thing I noticed about the CZ 452 American is the outstanding fit and finish of the external parts. From the seamlessly mated buttplate to the deep bluing of all metal surfaces, the American looks and feels like a rifle well above its price point.
The Turkish walnut stock is nicely figured and well finished. Although not as sharp or well done as what can be expected on a more expensive rifle, the checkering on the 452 is excellent for a rifle in its price range.
While the 452 American is clearly above its class in most areas, it does fall short in several others. It amazes me that such a well made rifle would have a cheap piece of sheet steel as a trigger guard. Obviously, this piece has no impact on the functionality of the rifle. Unfortunately, it does detract from the appearance. Although I can’t speak for others, I’d certainly be willing to pay a higher price for the American if it were fitted with a solid steel trigger guard.
Another issue I had with this rifle out of the box was the trigger. Although adjustable for weight of pull, the trigger on my American had a tremendous amount creep. Luckily, due to the popularity of CZ rifles, there are several aftermarket options available to remedy this problem. Even though there were cheaper options offered, I chose to install a Rifle Basix Adjustable Trigger.
For a product that can be installed at the kitchen table in less than 30 minutes and is priced around $80, the improvement is significant. The trigger now breaks like glass at 3 lbs, rivaling triggers found on high-end rimfires like Kimber and Anschutz.
My final gripe with the 452 is the operation of the safety. Unlike most rifles, in which the safety is engaged by pulling back toward the shooter, the safety on the 452 is actually off when in the rear position. For a shooter who is used to a “forward to fire, back for safe” safety, this takes some getting used to and could possibly lead to an accident. In my opinion, CZ should change the operation of the safety to work in a manner consistent with the vast majority of other rifles.
At the end of the day, no matter what a rifle looks like, it’s not going to leave the safe unless it shoots. As Col. Townsend Whelen so aptly put it, “only accurate rifles are interesting.” There’s no question my 452 American is interesting.
After two years of shooting every .17 HMR load available, I’m confident the 452 American can handle any small game chore it’s given out to the maximum point blank range of 150 yards - regardless of the ammunition used. With that said, my particular rifle definitely prefers Winchester Supreme 17 grain V-Max and Federal 17 grain V-Shok, grouping five shots of each consistently under 1-inch at 100 yards.
It’s important to note here that the American is designed to be a sporting rifle and not a varmint rifle. With its light, sporter-weight barrel, it tends to heat up pretty quickly which can negatively affect accuracy. If you’re looking for a rifle to handle a day of shooting over the local prairie dog town, I would suggest the CZ 452 Varmint. The Varmint has a similar American-style stock profile, but is fitted with a heavy barrel for the more intense shooting duties.
Although it’s not perfect, the CZ 452 American has been a favorite of mine since I purchased it. In fact, I like the American so much I find myself comparing it to significantly higher priced rifles. That may not be fair, but it speaks to the overall quality of this rifle. Even with the addition of a new trigger, the American is priced $200-$300 less than comparable mid- to high-end rifles. For this, I can readily accept its minor shortcomings.
With its classic good looks, tack-driving accuracy and excellent fit and finish, the 452 American is a great value anyone can appreciate.

The Great Texas Crossbow Debate

The issue of using a crossbow during archery season is being resurrected in HB-968 of the Texas House. This issue has been killed in the past by a very vocal minority of bowhunters with the Lone Star Bowhunters Association leading the charge. I can remember the fight when compounds came on the scene with the Traditional bowhunters not wanting the compound bow to be used in the archery season. In today’s archery season the majority of hunters now shoot a modern compound bow. It is time for the compound and traditional bowhunters to move over and let the crossbow hunters have a crack at the early archery season. It is simply wanting to reserve the early season for themselves and keep others from being their competition in hunting and for the leases that drives this group. I can assure you that the LSBA do not represent all the bowhunters of Texas but a small part thereof. Let them prove out the number of members compared to the number of licensed bowhunters in Texas. I used to be a member of the LSBA but no longer because of their views on what is archery equipment. They and other bowhunters are free to make up their opinions I just do not want an organization claiming to represent the bowhunters of Texas when they do not represent me and others bowhunters in the State. Here is an article I wrote comparing the compound and the crossbow with the conclusion I came to. You might like to make up your own mind.

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.

1. Crossbows wound too much game:

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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 whether it is 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. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 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. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has declared the “Draw-Loc” legal to hunt with in Texas so any compound shooter can lock a compound bow at full draw with this device and release with a trigger just like a crossbow. This makes having to draw and hold the bow a moot point as it is legal to lock back the string on a compound bow if the hunter wishes.

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 an 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 with hardly 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. Isn’t that what TPWD wants is more hunters in the field? States that have made the crossbow legal have not shown substantial increases in the amount of deer killed. The State sets the limits based on the deer population and closely monitors them. If too many deer are being killed they will change the limits. Many areas in Texas have an overpopulation and would welcome additional hunters. It is also still up to the landowner how many hunters and how many deer they allow to be taken.

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

This is the real issue when you get down to brass tacks. Some bowhunter groups 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 including the Lone Star Bowhunting Association have been before the commissioners and talked to the legislature to preserve archery season. I have been down to support keeping the archery season just for archery hunters myself. Here is the hard part for many to accept. We are still preserving the special archery season we are just adding one more method as a legal piece of archery equipment and a legal method of archery harvest. Hunter numbers are dwindling and we should be recruiting more hunters. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has made it their goal to bring in more hunters and provide more hunting opportunities. Other States results 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 many bowhunters fear.

The following is my personal opinion. I really don’t have a dog in this hunt as I can legally hunt with the crossbow in archery season due to shoulder surgery on both shoulders. 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 find no real reason to keep the crossbow out of the special archery season unless you also keep out compound bow. Neither weapon is really 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 as hunters.
Choose you weapon and let’s go hunting. Wild Ed

Enough or Too Much Gun

I get the same question over and over from new hunters and even from experienced hunters that should know by now what calibers to use on specific quarry. The questions usually go something like the following. Is a ____good enough to hunt_______? You can fill in the blanks with whatever caliber and the other blank with whatever animal you wish to and the answer should still be the same. Use enough gun to humanely take the quarry you are hunting. It should also have enough energy to cleanly kill if your shot is off just a little bit. Bullet placement is so important in a clean kill. I have harvested surplus doe and exotics on game ranches where we use small fast varmint calibers and out of over a hundred deer taken all were killed cleanly. I also have spent hours trailing deer for clients that had been shot with the latest greatest magnum on the market. The difference was bullet placement. If you shoot a super magnum and the recoil makes you pull the shot it would be much better for you to shoot a lighter less powerful round that you could precisely call the shot. I guided Desert Mule Deer hunters for many years and carried a lightweight .243. That little gun put down many a wounded deer that had been shot by a large magnum but hit badly. If you wish to use a marginal caliber be sure and use the best bullet and power cartridge available and practice so you can put the bullet where it goes. A feral hog hit in the crease behind the ear with a .22 or .17 within 50 yards will go down like a sledge hammer hit it. Shoot it in the shoulder with the same load and all you have done is wound an animal. It seems a lot of people want to hunt coyotes and other predators with a .22 or .17HMR. Those calibers will work but they are by far not the best to use. How many of us shoot everyday, once a week or even once a month. I have guided many self-proclaimed expert shots that must of had something wrong with their rifles or just had bad luck because they could not shoot a decent group at the target range with their guns nor make a normal range shot on game. It is funny but experienced guides can tell which clients will be able to shoot and those who cannot. It is not some psychic sense but mostly how someone carries themselves. A truly good shooter pays attention to the guide and does not have to tell everyone what a good shot they are. The guns and scopes have been taken care of but show some wear. They carry shooting sticks or shooting bags for a rest. The rifle stock and strap fit them. The brands of ammo all match and are the same bullet weight. They do not tell me their rifle was bore sighted when I ask if they checked the zero on their rifle. They don’t tell me their last kill was made at 375 or 450 or 600 yards. If you think you can shoot that far tell me how far your bullet drops at 450 yards without looking at a ballistic chart. Then tell me you have a laser range finder and trained for several months in long range shooting and I might start to consider you did make that shot if you have a tactical ranging scope on your flat-shooting, well-worn, sniper rifle. Now if you can find a 400 yard range within a few hours driving time of your location go try to hit the target when you finally get time to practice. Remember shooting off a steady rest and bench is not like making a shot in the field.

If you question your firearm or caliber, go shoot it awhile before the hunt and you will know if it is enough gun or maybe even too much gun. Good Shooting, Wild Ed

Websites for the Texas Sportsman

I am always getting calls or emails looking for information on the Outdoors. We all have so much information at our fingertips with the world wide net. I have put together a list of my favorite sites for the Texas Sportsman that I use on a regular basis. I have not ranked them and will not choose favorites but I have been to the all and recommend them to you. We all have different tastes and if a site offends you don’t go there again or if you don’t like a topic don’t go there in the first place.

I hate to recommend a site and do so with some worry but there is a wealth of how to information on this site. It is however full of worldly things with which I disagree so be careful in going there or letting your children go there and that is You Tube. If you want to learn how to set a trap, take a firearm apart, Knapp an arrowhead or cast a surf rod you can find a how to video online.

Good Surfing, Wild Ed

Predator and Varmint Hunting

http://www.varminthunters.com/

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/

http://texaspredatorposse.ipbhost.com/http://texasvarminthunter.com/

http://www.trapperman.com/forum/

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php


General Outdoors

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php


Bowhunting

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/


Air Guns and Rimfire Firearms

http://www.network54.com/Forum/543831/

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/index.php


Saltwater fishing and Kayaks

http://nickawaymedia.com/phpBB3/index.php

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/portal.php

http://www.corpusfishing.com/http://www.surf-masters.com/http://www.surf-masters.com/

http://2coolfishing.com/ttmbforum/


Flint Knapping and Primitive Skills

http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/


Photography

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php

http://www.naturescapes.net/phpBB2/index.php

http://www.fredmiranda.com/


Falconry

http://apfalconry.proboards19.com/

http://www.nafex.net/

http://texashawking.org/THABulletinBoard/

http://falconryforum.proboards46.com/index.cgi

http://www.falconryforum.co.uk/


Homesteading

http://www.fiveacresandindependence.us/phpBB3/

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/

http://homesteadworld.com/index.php


Texas Guns

http://www.texasguntrader.com/index.php

http://www.texasguntalk.com/forums/

http://www.zombiecrisis.org/

Texas Wildlife Suffer in Drought

In many parts of the Texas Hill Country the wildlife are really starting to suffer from the lack of rain. In some areas the fire danger is extremely high and the country looks all dried up and cracked.


This has a tremendous effect on wildlife populations as the food and water is nonexistent during the time that many species are breeding to provide next year’s crop of youngsters. The losses are not just in big game but affect turkeys, quail, dove and other animals. This goes right up the food chain and we even see losses in the predators as the prey base decreases. There is almost no browse left in some areas and many of the stock ponds and tanks have dried up. If you have the resources and opportunity to provide water or food for your wildlife now is the time.

On a side note we have taken several dead or almost dead deer out of fences in the last month. My brother and I are working to make the fences on our place where they cannot trap a deer in the top two wires. When a deer jumps the fence if the hind feet go between the top two wires they will loop over the fence and trap the deer to die a slow death. The answer is to use fence stays between the posts. This is simply a twisted piece of steel wire that keeps the strands of wire at an even distance apart and prevents them from trapping deer. They can be purchased at most fencing supply stores. Help our wildlife if you can, meanwhile send up a few prayers for rain. Thanks, Wild Ed