Texas Hunting Leases

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.

AUSTIN — Expansion of mule deer hunting opportunities tops a short list of regulatory changes adopted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission as part of the 2010-2011 Statewide Hunting and Fishing Proclamation.

The commission approved an open general hunting season for mule deer in Dawson and Wheeler counties, and added a day to the mule deer season across the Trans Pecos region. The change addresses a priority goal in Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Land and Water Resource Conservation and Recreation Plan to increase access to and participation in the outdoors.

The commission finalized a nine-day, buck-only season in Dawson County and a 16-day, buck-only firearm season in Wheeler County and a 35-day archery-only season to offer increased hunter opportunity without adversely impacting mule deer reproduction or distribution.

The extra day of hunting for mule deer in the Trans Pecos region is being tacked onto the front end where the season will now begin the Friday immediately following Thanksgiving and continue for 17 days.

According to TPWD wildlife biologists, mule deer populations in these counties are limited, but are present in some areas having suitable habitat and implementation of a buck-only season will not have any measurable impact on herd productivity or expansion.

The Commission also adopted changes strengthening commercial fishing reporting requirements and administrative reorganization to split the commercial and recreational hunting and fishing regulations apart, as well as a clarification of rules regarding catching and possessing fish within protected length limits or in excess of bag limits.

The Texas Outdoor Annual, a complete digest of all Texas hunting and fishing regulations, including seasons and bag limits, will be available Aug. 15, 2010 wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold and on the TPWD Web site http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.