Texas Hunting Leases

You know when it is getting close.  There just seems to be both subliminal and overt markers that tell a hunter’s inner clock to start thinking about it.  Dove Season.  In Texas it is the annual kick-off of all good things to come in the outdoors each Fall.  It is first before horns and most wings can be harvested and is an annual pilgrimage for many Texans each year.  The obvious signs that the season is near include walking through your local sporting good store and seeing camo buckets, dove loads and light-weight camouflage clothing.  Or, noticing a few more 20 gauges, and shooters, around the gun range working a clays course.  Subliminally, the heat of August makes one look forward to the cool of Fall.  And the hunter finds him or herself pulling out camouflage apparel from the back of the closet to take stock in one’s needs before the first cold front arrive.

For 2010, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has released their dates for this year’s wing-shooting primer.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service SRC (Service Regulation Committee) has approved the 2010-2011 Texas dove season, including a 70-day season and 15-bird daily bag statewide.  Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Wednesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 24 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 9, with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.  The South Zone dove season will run Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 31, reopening Saturday, Dec. 25 through Tuesday, Jan. 18 with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.  Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

The Special  White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September running from Sept. 4-5 and 11-12 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 31 and again from Saturday, Dec. 25 through Friday, Jan. 14. The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area must close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. During the early two weekends, the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than four mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

Because Dove season begins essentially in hottest time of the year and is the first hunting season to partake in, special preparations should be taken before packing up and heading out. Among the obvious at this time of year is getting an early start on your hunting license.  Knowing your hunting zones and regulations is also a must. For the heat, make sure that you are prepared to keep cool and hydrated.  And finally, make sure you have done your homework on your Dove Species and hunting lease or outfitter.

2010 Texas Dove Hunting Leases

Dove hunting opportunities are abundant throughout Texas.  Private land leases and public hunting are readily available.  Texas Parks and Wildlife offers approximately 140 locations to hunt dove to hunters who purchase an Annual Public Hunting Permit.  Doing some homework by calling around and getting prices, types of hunting terrain and amenities is a good idea.  With this season’s bag limits up to 15 birds this year, you can certainly get a full day’s shooting.  Finally, after a great hunt, enjoy your dove with a good beverage and a few of your favorite fixins’. The little bird is a favorite on the grill, the frying pan and even in the casserole dish. Good Hunting!

You probably have read the emails for months now.   Something along the lines of  “Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has signed on to the UN Gun Ban Treaty and the Obama Administration is preparing to take your weapons”.  Fortunately, Mrs. Clinton has not signed such an agreement.  Yet.  According to the NRA-ILA website, “She could not have done so, in fact, because no such treaty has yet been negotiated”.   But, the drafting of the UN treaty is taking place and should be complete by 2012.  Furthermore, despite what is sure to be the Obama Administration’s best efforts, the United States Senate must ratify it before it could take effect.  Thank goodness it did not get drafted prior to this year’s Massachuesets Senate Race and hopefully by 2012 we will have a more favorable 2nd Amendment climate in Washington DC. 

Hunters should remain vigilant though.  With recent comments from such “effective” gun-controlling foreign leaders like that of Mexico,  outdoors men and women need to keep a close eye on their political representatives.  And, by all means, support the efforts of the NRA with not only your pocket book, but your word of mouth as well.

(NEW BRAUNFELS, TEXAS – May 5, 2010)  The Texas Safari Camps have announced the 2010 Summer Camp dates that will take place in the Texas hill country.  The Hunting and Fishing Adventure camp is all set for its 9th year and will host five camps in 2010 with the possibility of adding camps.  “As of right now are camps are just about full, we are looking at adding a camp or two as we continue to get phone calls,” said Michael Marbach, Executive Director of the Christian Outdoor Alliance. 

The camp is designed for kids ages 10-16 to come out and enjoy God’s great outdoors.  The children have the opportunity to harvest a big game animal, gain their hunter education certificate, angler education certificate, learn about archery, rifles, shotguns, wildlife management, land management, fellowship with other young outdoorsman and have fun on a ranch for a week. 

“This will be an experience that the kids will not soon forget,” said Austin Brashier, the Camp Director.  “To spend a week in the outdoors hunting, fishing, swimming and fellowshipping with other young people will be the ultimate outdoor adventure.”  

 The campers are given the opportunity to raise their own money to pay for camp.  Each year the Adventure Camp offers a raffle that includes hunts, fishing trips and summer camp spots.  The tickets cost is $10 each and 100% of the proceeds go directly toward the camper’s tuition.  

 The camps will take place the months of June, July and August.  The ranches that host the camps are Kent Creek Ranch,  and the 700 Springs Ranch.   This year the girls camp will take place at,  Rhino Outdoors.   

 The daily activities include hunting in the morning followed up by brunch and morning activities. During the afternoon hours the kids spend time swimming and fishing on the different rivers and creeks on the ranches.  During the mid afternoon hours the kids enjoy a quiet fellowship time, hunting videos or sports related activities.  In the evening the campers gear up hunting and playing on the ranch.  After we return from the evening hunt we share stories from the hunt and head to the fire ring for our fireside devotional time.

For more information you can go to the website at www.coacamps.org.  Or you can give us a call at 830-708-1198.