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Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

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Gail Joiner: Publisher
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Staff: Judith Pannebaker, Editor
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Contributors: Stephanie Parker, Marlene Heavner, Doug White, Clare Barnett, Mikie Baker, Doris Doebbler, Jack Finger, Ed Longhurst, Bill Ellis, Bob Jamison and Jim Harris.

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The Bandera County Courier
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Items should be typed or printed and should include the name and daytime phone number of a contact person. Items submitted after deadline will be considered for that week's edition but may be held over for later publication. Photos should include information on the time and place of the event, as well as full names of people from left to right, front row to back.

First grader bags first deer Published Feb. 21, 2008    While hunting with her family recently on Bruni Ranch in Webb County, Sydney Graves, first grader at Hill Country Elementary, bagged her first deer. “We are all hunters in the family and her dad thought it was time to get her started,” said Sydney’s mom, Sonya Graves. “Our family primarily eats venison all year long, so now we have another person to help fill the freezer.”     Sydney took the deer at 114 yards with her new .223 rifle. Later in the day, she followed it up with another doe at 75 yards. She is the daughter of Chris & Sonya Graves of Lakehills.

Articles in the hunting section of the on-line Courier:

First grader bags first deer	Published Feb. 21, 2008
TDA announces new whitetail deer auctions	Published Jan. 31, 2008
Texas Deer Association Calendar of Events	Published Jan. 24, 2008
Hunters education course Jan. 26	Published Jan. 17, 2008
Great shot, Chance!	Published Dec. 27, 2007
Continuing a family tradition	Published Nov. 8, 2007
Buck bagged	Published Nov. 8, 2007
July 'Field & Stream' to feature area 'Dianas'	Published May 24, 2007
Buck taken on the Steve Forest Ranch	Published Dec. 7, 2006
First buck	Published Nov. 23, 2006
Big bucks bring big bucks to Bandera economy	Published Nov. 9, 2006
30 Years ago in Bandera County And a look at then and now…	Published Nov. 16, 2006
2005 Big Buck Contest Final Results	Published Jan., 2006
Big Buck Contest Final Results with photos Week 5	Published Dec. 8, 2005
Big Buck Contest Week 5	Published Dec. 8, 2005
Big Buck Contest Week 4	Published Dec. 1, 2005
Big Buck Contest Week 3	Published Nov. 24, 2005
Big Buck Contest Week 2	Published Nov. 17, 2005
Bandera County Big Buck Contest off to a good start Week 1	Published Nov. 10, 2005
1st Annual Bandera County Big Buck Contest Underway	Published Nov. 3, 2005
Aging deer on the hoof	Published Nov. 3, 2005
Venison quality depends on the hunter	Published Oct. 27, 2005
Water: the Most Important Nutrient for Deer	Published Oct. 20, 2005
Feeding: Supplementing or Baiting?	Published Oct. 13, 2005

TDA announces new whitetail deer auctions Published Jan. 31, 2008    The Texas Deer Association (TDA) will host an all-new Premier Producers Invitational Deer Auction and the February Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction during the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo.     Both auctions will both be held at the Live Stock Auction Barn located in the AT&T Center complex in San Antonio.     “The Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction series and our other TDA deer auctions showcase some of the best whitetail breeder deer in the industry,” noted Karl Kinsel, executive director of the Texas Deer Association. “The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo attracts hundreds of ranchers and wildlife managers who are striving to improve the quality of our whitetail deer in Texas, as well as sportsmen interested in the growing deer industry.”     At 7:30 pm, Thursday, Feb. 7, the new Texas Premier Producers Invitational Deer Auction will hammer down 44 lots from Texas-only deer breeders. Beginning at 5:30 pm, the event also includes a pre-auction dinner and visitation time for consignor and sponsor booths.     The February Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction will be held at 2 pm, Friday, Feb. 8, after the 21st Century Deer Management Workshop, co-hosted by Purina Mills. Dr. Dick Cain of Trophy Ridge Ranch will speak at the 9 am workshop and includes a 10:45 am panel discussion. For those unable to attend, the auctions will be broadcast live on the internet, allowing buyers to participate and purchase lots online. The webcast will be provided by www.TexasWhitetailDirectory.com.     To learn more about TDA, visit www.texasdeerassociation.com or call 210-767-8300.

Texas Deer Association Calendar of Events Published Jan. 24, 2008    • TDA Premier Producers Invitational Auction, Feb. 7, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio     • TDA Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction, Feb. 8, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio     • Hicks Whitetail Ranch Production Sale, April 4 and April 5, Marriott Hotel, Round Rock. For more information on these events, visit TDA website, www.texasdeerassociation.com, or contact Damon Thorpe at damon@texasdeerassociation.com or 210-767-8300     • YO Ranch Exotic Game Sales & Ranching Seminar, April 25 and April 26, YO Ranch, Mountain Home     • Mustang Creek Ranch Whitetail Workshop, May 3, 9 am to 3 pm, Mustang Creek Ranch, Salado     • TDA Leon Springs Chapter Banquet, May 22, Leon Springs     • TDA Superior Genetics Whitetail Deer Auction, August 22, Westin La Cantera Resort & Hotel, San Antonio     For more information, on these events, visit TDA website, www.texasdeerassociation.com, or contact Marta Ramos at marta@texasdeerassociation.com or 210-767-8300.     The Texas Deer Association is the only nonprofit organization that focuses on the preservation and beautification of Texas deer.

Hunters education course Jan. 26 Published Jan. 17, 2008    A hunters education course sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife will be taught by Linda Avey Saturday, Jan. 26, from 8 am to 5 pm at the Lakehills Civic Center.     Persons interested in the course must pre-register at the Lakehills Library. The cost is $15 per person.

Great shot, Chance! Published Dec. 27, 2007    Chance McCune shot this nice eight-point buck Thanksgiving Eve with a Remington Model 700 .243 at 200 yards. He shot the buck at his family's ranch.

Continuing a family tradition Published Nov. 8, 2007    Nine-year-old Carson Wilke exhibits the nine-point white tailed buck he bagged Oct. 27, during Youth Hunting Week. The Hill Country Elementary third grader took his first deer with one shot from a .222 on his family's property near Pipe Creek.     Wilke has been target shooting since he was five and harvested his first feral hog last year near Rocksprings. Parents Chad and Shanna say Carson is a model sportsman, always on hand to help his parents process the wild game they obtain during hunting season.     The Wilkes make their own sausage and jerky, in addition to having plenty of venison and pork cuts in the freezer year round.     "I can't remember the last time I had to buy ground beef," said Shanna.

Buck bagged Published Nov. 8, 2007    Seven-year-old Mason McLerran shot this eight-point buck in October at his family's deer lease in Kerr County. This was Mason's second year hunting and his very first bagged buck ­ but probably not his last.     The Alkek Elementary School second-grader lives with his family ­ Dad Sean, Mom Michelle and three-year-old brother, Bryce ­ in Bandera River Ranch. Michelle McLerran teaches first grade at Alkek Elementary.

July 'Field & Stream' to feature area 'Dianas' Published May 24, 2007 Looking good during the recent Field and Stream "shoot," Leslie Ann Reininger Cech and two of her hunting friends.    Look for some local talent in the July 2007 issue of Field and Stream. Specifically, women hunters on the Reininger Ranch.     Leslie Ann Reininger Cech and two of her hunting friends are to be featured in an upcoming edition of the magazine. "After eight hours and 400 pictures, I hope they found a couple they can use," said Cech.     Looks like Bandera is getting into the spotlight again, in more ways than one.

Open Range Division     MEN WOMEN YOUTH 1ST PLACE Drew Kelly Whitehouse Shana Penner Carthage Nikki Sandidge Bandera 2ND PLACE             3RD PLACE                 High Fence Division Bow Division 1ST PLACE Richard Adams Kingwood     2ND PLACE Ben Botello Spring     3RD PLACE Mike Williams Bandera

Buck taken on the Steve Forest Ranch Published Dec. 7, 2006    Seven-year-old Tyler Hargis of Bandera took this nine-point buck on the Steve Forest Ranch in Dryden.

First buck Published Nov. 23, 2006    J.D. Ortiz,12, of Medina shot his first buck of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 15, just two days after his football team (the Medina Fishbones) won the YMCA Superbowl in Kerrville. JD likes to hunt with his dad and Grandpa Joe on a ranch north of Medina. The spread on the horns measured in at 32"x32" and it had 6 nice points.

Big bucks bring big bucks to Bandera economy by Stephanie Day BCC Staff Published Nov. 9, 2006    With Hunters' Weekend opening up the Texas Hill Country to hunters, hunters have opened up their wallets to Bandera County to the tune of $1.7 million annually just in hunting lease revenue.     Businesses from restaurants to convenience stores reported booming sales over Hunters' Weekend, opening week of this year's white tail deer season. The Bandera Chamber of Commerce reported Hunters' Barbecue plate sales at 1,100.     With 97 percent of the land in Texas privately owned, Texas landowners are in the unique position of profiting from the dual use of their ranches: traditional agriculture combined with hunting. With so little federally or state-owned land, hunters are forced to find private landowners who will sell them the right to hunt on their land. These hunting leases extend from a few days up to an entire hunting season. Prices range from a few dollars per day up to thousands per season.     The Bandera County Convention and Visitors Bureau keeps a two-page long list of hunting leases in the county. The list changes on nearly a daily basis­usually growing shorter as ranches are booked up for a year or two in advance. Agricultural land in the county brought in $120,174.97 in taxes in 2006.     Indigenous wild animals belong to the State of Texas. With increases in fees for new hunting and fishing licenses in 2005, the State of Texas expects to collect $1.5 million annually for selling the right to hunt indigenous wildlife.     Texas agricultural land production was valued at $18.5 billion in 2005. The income off that land for hunting leases exceeded $525 million.     Bandera County, and the rest of the Texas Hill Country, is also beginning to realize profit from nature-based tourism. Nature-based tourism­like Pipe Creek's Bear Springs Blossom Nature Conservation Group­promotes habitat conservation and public support for wildlife conservation programs while realizing sustainable economic development. The combination of revenue from hunting, fishing and nature-based tourism (mostly bird watching) led to 5 million participants spending $5.4 billion­approximately $1,100 per person) across Texas in 2001. Those numbers continue to increase.     Whether they flaunt their beauty in front of the camera lens of a wildlife enthusiast or crop up in the sights of a hunter's rifle, big bucks bring big bucks to buck up the local economy.

30 Years ago in Bandera County And a look at then and now… by Stephanie Day BCC Staff Published Nov. 16, 2006 Mr. and Mrs. Boots Morris of Pipe Creek with their hunting results in November, 1976.    Thirty years ago Nov. 12, 1976, Bandera was preparing for the 13th Annual Hunters' Barbecue. Brisket, sausage and all the trimmings were served for a $2 donation.     That $2 donation for the Hunters' Barbecue also brought a chance to win a .243 deer rifle, hunting knife or binoculars. Music was provided by Los Gringos.     McMullan Insurance Agency was one of the 41 contributors that made the event possible. This year, Joe and Cindy McMullan's daughter Shannon, who grew up hunting, returned to the Hunters' Barbecue with her imaginative hunting clothes for women­"BeauHunter." She married hunting and fashion to provide versatile, comfortable and stylish camouflage for women. Those who missed her exhibit at the Hunters' Barbecue can check it out at www.BeauHunter.com.     Other familiar community and business names that are mentioned as supporters of the Hunters' Barbecue in 1976 and continue in their support of the community are Dixie Dude Ranch, Roger Stevens Construction, Pat Boyle, Telvy Robbins and Hevenor's Lumber Company.     Approximately 1,100 hunters and local residents attended the 13th Annual Hunters' Barbecue in 1976.     On a sad note 30 years ago, Dixie Dude Ranch host and operator Dee Crowell died. Wife Billie took over the managing of the Dixie Dude and grandson Clay Conoly continues to operate the historic guest ranch.     Kelly Scott and his famous mule team participated in the Veterans Day parade in 1976. Several residents from Purple Hills Nursing Home rode in his uncovered mule-drawn covered wagon.     St. Victor's Chapel in Lakehills served their traditional turkey supper, now known as the "Hunters' Supper."     Also 30 years ago, Lola Stevens celebrated 92 years with a giant birthday cake and her entire family.     The new Bandera High School was nearing completion, at 72 percent. Thirty years later, additions and renovations have just been completed at Bandera High School. The Bulldogs can now play football games in their own stadium.     Thirty years ago and counting: "Texans concerned about skyrocketing property tax increases may not have seen the end of it…" Governor Briscoe's proposed program set the 100-percent market value of Bandera Independent School District at $173,397,230, an increase of $75,487,042 over the present 100-percent market value of $97,910,298. "This could in effect make taxes on school patrons unbearable."     Mr. and Mrs. Boots Morris of Pipe Creek bagged bucks and boar. Said he, "Louise did it again! She beats me fishing by catching the biggest and most fish. Now she beat me hunting. She killed the huge 300-pound boar and the six-point buck. I was lucky to get the nice eight-point buck."

   The results with photos are below.

Open Range Division     MEN WOMEN YOUTH 1ST PLACE Travis Penner Carthage Linda Kindla Bandera Ty Matthews Bandera 2ND PLACE Mike Taylor Pearland Kathy Jankoski Tarpley Hailey Schmidt Bandera 3RD PLACE Tim Jankoski Tarpley Jeremy Armstrong Adkins High Fence Division     MEN WOMEN YOUTH 1ST PLACE Glenn Conrad Patterson, Louisiana Carol Tate Bandera Kendra Labus Floresville 2ND PLACE Ryan Fontaine         3RD PLACE Michael Williams

Big Buck Contest Final Standings for 2005 Published Jan. 12, 2006 Open Range Youth First Place Ty Mathews of El Campo -- score 126.5     Open Range Youth Second Place Hailey Schmidt of Bandera -- score 118.375 PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE Open Range Youth Third Place Jeremy Armstrong of Adkins -- score 110.5     Open Range Female First Place Linda Kindla of Bandera - Score 120.0 Open Range Female Second Place Kathy Jankoski of Tarpley -- score 67.375     Open Range Male First Place Travis Penner of Cathage - Score 125.25 Open Range Male Second Place Mike Taylor of Pearland - Score 108.0     Open Range Male Third Place Timothy Jankoski of Tarpley - Score 105.125 PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE High Fence Youth First Place Kendra Labus of Floresville -- score 110.875     High Fence Female First Place Carol Tate of Bandera -- score 108.25 High Fence Male First Place Glen Conrad of Paterson, LA -- score 141.375     High Fence Male Second Place Ryan Fontaine of Houston -- score 136.25 High Fence Male Third Place Michael Williams of Bandera -- score 113.25        First Place Winners Receive:     Remington Model 700 SPS Rifle (In the calibre of their choice)     Second Place Winners Receive:     Buschnell Laser Rangefinder (800 Yard Range)     Third Place Winners Receive:     Remington Deer Feeder (250 lb.)     Sponsors: Bandera County Courier, Texas Rose Realty, Teich Properties, Ginger Stehling & Associates Real Estate, Creative Instincts Taxidery.

Big Buck Contest Week 5's entries Published Dec. 8, 2005 Anthony Verciglio poses above with his first deer. He killed it with one shot at his grandparents (John & Paulette Hahn) ranch located in Evant. Photo Courtesy of Missy Verciglio     Bow hunter, Eric Lawless of Bandera took his first buck with a bow this season. Eric says that he is now hooked on bow hunting and may never use a rifle again. Eight year old Carson Mize of Pearland, took this nice 8-point buck in the western end of Bandera County.     Sixteen-year-old Justin Brown of Tarpley took this 8-point buck on the Brown Ranch the week of Thanksgiving.    The Bandera County Big Buck Contest is open to all hunters in Men, Women & Youth classes for both high fence and open range divisions with first, second and third place prizes being awarded in each of the 6 classes. See Ads in the Courier for details or call 830-796-9799.

Big Buck Contest Week 4's entries Published Dec. 1, 2005 Stan Mason was proud of this 10-point buck dressing out at 120 lbs. off the Diamond G Ranch in Pipe Creek. Photo Contributed     Travis Penner takes the lead in the men's class open range division with this 10-point buck taken in the western end of Bandera County. Mike Taylor moves into second place in the men's class, open range division with this 10-point high horn buck taken in the western end of Bnadera County.     Timothy Jankoski is setting in third place of the men's class, open range division with this 10-point taken on Thanksgiving day. Ryan Fontaine takes the lead in the high fence men's class with this 11-point buck taken in the northern end of the county. Congratulations Ryan.    The Bandera County Big Buck Contest is open to all hunters in Men, Women & Youth classes for both high fence and open range divisions with first, second and third place prizes being awarded in each of the 6 classes. See Ads in the Courier for details or call 830-796-9799.

Big Buck Contest Week 3's entries Published Nov. 24, 2005 Carol Tate took this 10-point buck to move into 2nd place in the female class. It has been a number of years since Carol has hunted but I guess it's like riding a bike. Congratulations, Carol.     Dalton Parker scored his first buck of the season taking this 9-point buck last Thursday evening. Dalton just missed out of being in 3rd place. However, we expect Dalton to be back with his 2nd buck. You can't count a good hunter out this early in the season. Hailey Schmidt is in 2nd place with her 10-point buck, taken last Thursday evening after school. Hailey is certainly proud of this deer and has a pretty good hunting story for anyone willing to listen.     John Grill, 16, harvested this buck at the Walter Buck wildlife management area in Junction on November 20. This was a lottery youth hunt that was entered through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The deer field dressed at 92 pounds and had an outside main beam width of 20 1/2 inches and was aged at 5 1/2 years old. John is the son of Richard and Tish Grill of Bandera. Linda Vandever of Houston enjoyed hunting in Bandera County. She took this axis buck opening weekend.     Mickie Towers of Bandera took these two bucks outside of Bandera County, last weekend. Ty Matthews has taken the lead in the Open Range Youth class with this 9-point 21.5-inch spread. Ty took this buck in the western end of Bandera County.    The Bandera County Big Buck Contest is open to all hunters in Men, Women & Youth classes for both high fence and open range divisions with first, second and third place prizes being awarded in each of the 6 classes. See Ads in the Courier for details or call 830-796-9799.

Big Buck Contest Week 2's entries Published Nov. 17, 2005 Kathy Jankoski of Tarpley currently sets in second-place in the Womens Class for the Bandera County Big Buck Contest with this 8-point whitetail buck.     Ty Neff of Bandera is currently in 1st place in the Youth Class for the Bandera County Big Buck Contest with this 7-point whitetail buck. Hannah Shaw of Bandera proudly diplays her first Axis buck. Although Axis is not eligible for the Big Buck Contest, the Courier salutes Hannah on her harvest.     Kyle Tomosini of Bandera is currentlly in 3rd place in the Youth Class for the Bandera County Big Buck Contest with this 8-point whitetail buck.    The Bandera County Big Buck Contest is open to all hunters in Men, Women & Youth classes for both high fence and open range divisions with first, second and third place prizes being awarded in each of the 6 classes. See Ads in the Courier for details or call 830-796-9799.

Bandera County Big Buck Contest off to a good start Entries from Week 1 Published Nov. 10, 2005 Linda Kindla Amanda Turner Luke Montgomery Photo courtesy of Lance Montgomery Jay Hill    The Bandera County Big Buck Contest is open to all hunters in Men, Women & Youth classes for both high fence and open range divisions with first-, second- and third-place prizes being awarded in each of the six classes.     In the Open Range Division, Linda Kindla of Bandera leads in the Women's class with the buck taken from the Fire Moon Ranch in Bandera.     In the Open Range Division, Amanda Turner of Bandera leads in the Youth's class with a buck taken opening weekend on the Turner Ranch.     Luke Montgomery, age nine, son of Mr. Lance Montgomery of Tarpley shot this 16 point buck opening morning in Bandera County on a low fence ranch in Tarpley.     C'MON GUYS....     The Men's class is falling behind with no scores recorded opening weekend.     Don't let this happen to you     Jay Hill of Medina stopped by the Courier office last week to sign up his family for the Bandera County Big Buck Contest. He decided to take the forms home to fill out and bring them back later. Opening morning, his daughter shot the deer above which is not eligible for entry in the competition. Jay says, don't let this happen to you.

1st Annual Bandera County Big Buck Contest Underway Published Nov. 3, 2005    Hunting has been a major source of income in Bandera County for as long as most can remember. Surprisingly Bandera County has never promoted a buck contest to give local hunters some recognition for the trophies they take home.     This year, the Bandera County Courier along with sponsor Texas Rose Realty is hosting the first annual Bandera County Big Buck Contest. The contest is open to everyone hunting in Bandera County and on ranches within a five-mile radius of the county line (with proper ranch registration). Three classes for men, women and youth (16 and under) are offered in two divisions for Open Range and High Fence. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners in each of the six classes. First place offers a Remington Rifle, second place awards a Bushnell Rangefinder while third place winners will receive a 270-pound deer feeder.     Additional prizes are being added by Teich Properties, LLC for ranches where first place bucks are taken.     The contest will run for the entire 2005 season with leading contenders published in the Courier weekly.

Aging deer on the hoof Submitted by Warren Thigpen, County Extension Agent Agriculture/NR Bandera County Published Nov. 3, 2005    Deer hunters once used a simple rule when deciding to harvest a buck -- if it had antlers, take it. But that rule may be changing.     "While many still suffer from "buck fever," a growing number of serious hunters now try to judge the deer's age before making that final shot," said Warren Thigpen, Texas Cooperative Extension Agent here.     "Quality deer management was hampered for years by the attitude that - "if I don't harvest that buck, my neighbors will." Attitudes are changing and more hunters are willing to let young bucks go so they can mature."     Thigpen said bucks must first build their skeletal structure and muscle mass before they can reach their potential antler development. To develop top bucks requires a combination of factors that includes quality habitat and a good age structure within the herd.     Thigpen said hunters should catagorize deer into three categories: young (1.5 - 2.5 years old), middle-aged (3.5 - 4.5 years old), and mature (5.5 years and older).     "Don't be fooled by people who say they can age deer to the exact year of their birth." said Thigpen. "More likely hunters will encounter some overlap in physical features as bucks age."     Thigpen offers a few guidelines to use in the field: Younger deer have: long legs, long, thin necks, high flanks, rumps higher than their shoulders, and an overall slim, doe-like appearance. Middle-aged deer have: thick, muscular necks, necks that swell from the shoulders, heavily-muscled rounded hind-quarters, bellies that are full, but not sagging, legs that no longer appear long and lanky, and flat backs that do not sway. Old deer have: very heavy necks and shoulders, necks that blend into their chests, short or stubby-appearing legs, "squinty-eyes", "pot-bellies" and swayed backs.     Hunters should examine the facts before blaming poor deer on poor genetics. Managers should first make sure they are providing the best habitat for growing deer. They should also allow bucks to live long enough to reach their genetic potential, said Thigpen.     "If bucks are harvested at an early age, you will never know what they may have produced in the way of antlers," said Thigpen. "That's why it is so important to hone deer aging skills."     "There are a number of good books to further advance aging skills and watching deer in the field also helps. Take advantage to teachable moments while on the stand and share the process of aging deer on the hoof with the young hunters in the deer camp.     New and seasoned hunters can take pride in making a clean shot to take game. They can also feel a sense of accomplishment when they let a deer "walk" and age another year.

Venison quality depends on the hunter Warren Thigpen County Extension Agent - Agriculture, Bandera County Published Oct. 27, 2005    Has the cook said "no" to venison at your house?     There are lots of reasons why people don't like venison, but the truth is, the decisions the hunter makes in the field influence venison quality more than what occurs in the kitchen.     Warren Thigpen, Texas Cooperative Extension Agent here, said venison is a quality red meat, rich in protein, and low in fat. He said over 11 million pounds of boneless venison are brought home every year.     Thigpen said how the deer is handled prior to the kill and until its meat is eaten should be the prime concern when it comes to human health issues and culinary excellence.     "The hunter's role in venison quality begins with the animal harvested," Thigpen said. "A Texas A&M University taste panel found most participants preferred doe venison. That doesn't mean buck venison is low in quality. It simple means a female animal provides less flavor intensity."     "Shot placement is another factor influencing quality that's controlled by the hunter. Hunters should ensure a clean rapid kill. This reduces stress on the animal and is the ethical responsibility of every hunter."     Thigpen said deer should be tagged immediately and field-dressed as soon as possible. Any method allowing clean removal of all viscera is acceptable. Immediate field-dressing also facilitates rapid carcass cooling.     "Wear latex gloves when field dressing any big game for added safety," said the agent. "Debone all meat before freezing and don't eat the brain, spinal cord, eyes, tonsils, lymph nodes, or spleen."     Once field dressing is complete, the hunter is faced with a decision. If cold storage facilities are used, the animal should be refrigerated with the skin on to help conserve moisture.     "If the whole carcass is going home after cold storage, keep it covered to protect it from the drying effects of sun and wind and to prevent contamination from dirt or insects. Large frozen water bottles or gallon milk jugs placed inside the body cavity will help keep the deer cool on the trip home if the weather is warm."     "If the decision is made to skin the deer at camp, the hide is easiest to remove while the animal is still warm. Skinning also helps cool the carcass faster."     "Once skinned, the carcass should be hung in a shady spot and allowed to cool. If insects are a problem, cover the cooled carcass with a fly-proof bag."     "In warm weather, quarter and store the meat in coolers with frozen ice bottles. There's no need to wash the carcass unless the abdominal cavity was pierced during shot placement. Added moisture may even enhance bacterial activity, so drain any water that accumulates in the ice chests."     Thigpen said most of our deer season is too warm to let deer hang outside. Daytime temperatures in the 70's and 80's cause spoilage or loss of venison quality.     In warm weather, the agent recommends skinning the carcass immediately after field dressing if refrigeration is impossible. Once the carcass has cooled, quarter and chill it in a cooler with several large frozen water bottles. This requires an extra cooler containing the frozen bottles. As the bottled ice melts, the water stays in the bottle instead of soaking into the meat. Venison can be safely kept for several days if the cooler is shaded and the bottles are changed daily.     Thigpen said correctly prepared venison can be stored in a refrigerator for up to a week after the kill if a more intense flavor similar to aged beef is preferred.     "Home processing consists of first removing tenderloins from inside the body cavity beneath the hams," said Thigpen. "Next, remove the backstraps and muscle out the hams for steaks and roasts. Trimmings from the shoulders, neck and ribs may be used for stews or ground for burger or sausage."     "Wrapping venison cuts properly is the final step before freezing. Wrap each cut in cling wrap removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Then wrap the meat in freezer paper and label the package with the name of the cut and date. Normally, venison wrapped in this manner can be stored for up to a year and still be of high quality."     To prepare venison for the table, Thigpen recommends the cuts be thawed in the refrigerator or defrosted in a microwave. Never thaw them in water or allow cuts to sit at room temperature for extended periods.     Since venison is a low fat red meat, Thigpen said to prepare it using a moist cooking method such as braising, stewing or pot roasting. If fat is present on the cut, remove it before cooking.     "If the recipe calls for marinade, try vinegar, tomato sauce or Italian dressing," he said. "Venison has short muscle fibers that toughen quickly if overcooked or cooked at too high a temperature which defeats the purpose of marination."     "On your next hunting trip treat venison like the top quality meat product it is. A little consideration, care and preparation on the front end can lead to some of the best table fare possible after the hunt has become a memory. Besides, proper care and preparation may also help you regain any status you may have lost in the kitchen!"

Water: The Most Important Nutrient for Deer by Warren Thigpen County Extension Agent - Agriculture/NR Published Oct. 20, 2005    It's not surprising people often take water for granted. It usually doesn't take more than a twist of a top to get a drink.     For Texas deer though, finding drinking water is a daily quest that's a matter of life or death.     Warren Thigpen, County Extension Agent at Bandera, said deer obtain moisture three ways -- free, performed, and metabolic water. Having water in all three forms is a must for proper deer management.     "Free water is the standing water found in creeks, and water troughs," he said. "Performed water refers to water within the plants themselves. Prickly pear cactus for example, is composed of about 85 percent water and only 15 percent solid material. It's used widely by deer in dry regions.     Deer gain metabolic water through the chemical breakdown of nutrients during everyday activity.     "Deer managers can ensure an adequate water supply by capitalizing on existing livestock water facilities. This seems like common sense, but I have found many empty water troughs in pastures without livestock as I travel from ranch to ranch. I understand the expense involved in the upkeep and labor of water sources, but the revenue generated from wildlife could justify the cost. The general recommendation of one water source per mile for livestock also works well for deer".     Thigpen said a major deer management goal should be to maximize the usable space of a property. Poor water distribution, which leaves gaps between areas of quality habitat, is usually the limiting factor. At the same time, cost, and rough country often make active system maintenance difficult. In such cases, he recommends using passive systems.     There are a number of designs for passive rainwater catchment devises," he said. "Think about the water that pours off your roof during a heavy downpour. The same idea applies to these passive rainwater catchment devices. They just sit there waiting for a thunderstorm to fill them for wildlife.     "Designs can be found by doing a quick search for "water guzzlers" on the internet. County Extension Agents and other natural resource personnel can direct you to more sources. These devises are better utilized by wildlife in the drier regions of southern and western Texas. A variety of wildlife use such watering facilities. Songbirds, quail, javelina, deer and predators like bobcats, raccoons, and coyotes are common customers."     Thigpen said top wildlife managers know quality habitat provides not only food and shelter, but also the potential for rainwater harvest. Good stands of grasses and forbs slow runoff, which allows more water to penetrate the soil. This water stockpile nutures plants, which eventually are eaten and contribute to the deer manager's goal of bigger deer with optimum antler development.

Feeding Deer: Supplementing or Baiting? by Warren Thigpen County Extension Agent - Agriculture/NR Published Oct. 13, 2005    Wildlife biologists are often asked what and when deer should be fed. "Are you sure they need supplemental feed?" is the usual response they get from Warren Thigpen, Texas Cooperative Extension Agent at Bandera.     Usually, the best way to feed deer is to let them find their own groceries on the range," said Thigpen. "We can ensure deer are getting adequate nutrients for optimal growth, reproduction, and antler development through good land stewardship. This means sound-grazing practices and well-planned brush management. Few things are more rewarding to a land manager-- and all wildlife managers are land managers--- than knowing his or her efforts have improved the health of the range land and the wildlife that live there. The first step then in feeding deer is to have the range in top shape through proper use and proper stocking of livestock and wildlife."     Thigpen said land managers with properly stocked range and high quality pasture who still insist on feeding should consider three important factors before proceeding.     First, assuming that feeding deer will produce more fawns, the manager must have some means to thin the herd to avoid overstocking. "Too many deer on the range land will cause overuse and degradation of the habitat, in other words, they'll literally eat themselves out of house and home," said Thigpen.     "Second, unless 'money is no object', plans must be made to somehow recoup the feeding expense which will be considerable, especially if done year round.     "And third, consider the effect of abruptly halting a feeding program if it becomes necessary. Will the deer have become dependent on the supplement for their existence? If so, they will suffer because an artificially high number of deer are present compared to what the habitat alone can support. Simply put, once started, you may become locked in to a feeding program forever."     Thigpen said specific goals must be set before becoming married to a deer feeding program. Bucks with larger and more massive antlers are often a major factor. Sometimes a greater number of fawns are sought. Or the objective might be to help carry the animals through a particularly stressful dry time or extremely cold period. Maybe the need is simply to attract deer for observation or hunting.     "Managers serious about accomplishing their goals should decide whether they want to feed a dietary supplement or just use feed as an attractant or bait," said Thigpen. "The two feeding methods are not the same, and require considerably different feed stuffs."     "True supplementation involves feeding nutrients that are lacking in the diet. These feeds commonly contain sources of energy and/or minerals, and protein. Protein is usually the primary nutrient of concern. A level of 16-20 percent crude protein in the deer diet supplement is generally considered best. There are scores of high quality deer feeds made today that will meet this protein level."     Baiting is what is practiced by many, if not most, Texas deer hunters and many wildlife observers to draw deer within range. Thigpen said since shelled corn is highly palatable to deer and is thus a strong attractant, millions of pounds of "deer corn" are sold every year in Texas for these purposes.     "If you want to just attract deer and not necessarily increase their nutritional plane, shelled corn will probably fill the bill," said Thigpen.     "Avoid using corn to fill a large portion of the deer's diet because it's basically a source of starch, or energy, and it's woefully short on protein and mineral content.     "White-tailed deer are ruminants, meaning they have a four-chambered stomach like a cow. They eat until the rumen (the first chamber) is full, then bed down and ruminate, or chew the cud -- regurgitated rumen contents -- and swallow again.     "Their digestive system requires at least an eight percent protein level to enable the rumen's digestive bacteria to break down the plant material for further digestion.     Corn's protein content isn't high enough to maintain rumen function. Corn is a high energy feed. It's good for boosting deer through extraordinarily stressful periods, such as extreme cold." All things considered, Thigpen feels balancing a well-managed habitat with a proper stocking rate is the most gratifying and cost-effective way to provide for a deer herd's dietary needs. He warns managers who remain convinced that supplemental deer feeding is advantageous to carefully weigh all the options and consequences they'll face before ordering that first truckload of feed.