From the November/December issue of The Journal Of Texas Trophy Hunters

Giant Hunter, Giant Heart by Jeremy Bludau

Back in 2002, my cousin Ryan and I had the good fortune of meeting Tommy Novosad. He had leased 1,100 acres south of Los Angeles, in La Salle County, to take friends and clients deer hunting. My dad, Marty Bludau, was invited to go hunting on the ranch and allowed to bring me along. To make a long story short, it was evident that Mr. Novosad needed some help on the ranch with the maintenance chores, feeder upkeep, deer harvest, etc. We volunteered our services and he was very appreciative. In return, he allowed us to hunt the ranch at our will.

In February 2006, back in my hometown of Hallettsville, Texas, an event called the Valentine Extravaganza was put on by Sacred Heart Catholic School. It’s a fund raising dinner that benefits the school. Well, Mr. Novosad decided to donate a father and son management buck and doe hunt to the silent auction to benefit the school. My uncle, Mike Bludau, won the auction item and decided to give it to Ryan as a gift. They sent a letter to Ryan notifying him he’d won. It read:

“Mr. Ryan Bludau:
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected, due to your outstanding academic and athletic achievements, for a management buck hunt in the South Texas brush country. Given by Uncle Mike. Accompanied by Uncle Marty. Guided by Cousin Jeremy.”

To say that he was excited would be an extreme understatement.

There are a few things you should know about Ryan. At the time of his hunt, he was 22 years old. He has had numerous medical complications during his lifetime. He suffered from a collapsing chest cavity a few years back, which wouldn’t allow his heart to grow at the same rate of his body. He had a steel bar put into his chest to fix the problem. Despite this, he’s grown to 7 feet tall! He played on the Special Olympics basketball team and did great, hence the athletic achievements in the letter.

On Nov. 10, 2006, I had just gotten out of class at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi when I received a phone call from my dad. Everyone arrived at the ranch on Thursday night and he informed me that Ryan checked his gun out that morning and made a great shot on a javelina. He was ready to go after a buck that evening, but he was waiting for me to get down there because I would be his guide.

I arrived at the ranch at 4 p.m. and Ryan was sitting on pins and needles, anxious to get out there and find a buck. I hadn’t told him anything but I already had a buck spotted that I wanted him to kill.

It was about 4:30 before we got settled into the blind that we coincidently call, “The Jeremy Stand.” It was nearly 90 degrees outside and the inside of that stand felt like a sauna. It didn’t take long before the deer started coming out.

At about 5:15, I looked down the sendero and about 400 yards away stood Ryan’s buck. I motioned to him to look in that direction and instantly he started shaking. He couldn’t believe the size of the deer. “You mean I can kill that buck?” he asked. I replied, “That’s him!” I told him to take deep breaths to calm down.

About 15 minutes later, the deer was around 150 yards away and closing fast. I told Ryan to ease his gun out the window and start getting ready. I was preparing my video camera as the buck approached 100 yards and told Ryan to get ready, too. I braced my arm against the door of the stand so that he could rest his elbow on it. At about 90 yards the buck stopped, turned broadside, and looked at the stand. Camera rolling, I whispered, “Shoot whenever you’re ready.” Immediately, the .25-06 went off and the buck went to the ground. Spine shot. “Shoot again!” I told him. The deer tried to crawl into the brush when Ryan put another round in him and made a perfect heart shot. The deer stand erupted with excitement.

We waited about 10 minutes before we got down to go check out Ryan’s trophy, probably the longest 10 minutes of Ryan’s life. When we got to the deer, Ryan was speechless. The buck was beautiful, with eight points and a 201⁄8-inch inside spread, it was the biggest buck he had ever seen. The deer gross-scored 1221⁄2 Boone and Crockett.

This was probably one of the most exciting hunting experiences that I have ever had. To see the look of excitement in this fine young man’s eyes was priceless. To this day, when he meets someone new, he asks them, “Hey, did you hear about my buck?”

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My health gets better in October. Why is that? Is it because the weather is cooler and deer season is here? Most of you archery hunters are out in force, and I envy you. I’m not a bowhunter myself, but I have a lot of bowhunting friends. They love their sport, but I will stick to my old Jarrett 300.

Now that many landowners, including myself, have the advantage of Managed Land Deer Permits (MLD), there are a lot of gun hunters in the brush, trying to get that old mossback buck before he changes his habits and starts chasing does. MLD permits have made a big change in the quality of bucks killed each year in Texas. These old bucks, killed early in the fall, do not have broken antlers. Also, a lot of bucks that are taken early would not be killed at all later in the season because they get so secretive and elusive that they just can’t be killed by the average deer hunter.

Let’s face it. Deer hunting is changing fast. The trail camera is becoming a seemingly necessary tool in every hunter’s bag of tricks. Many landowners and hunters have found that cameras will show bucks that are never seen otherwise. Bucks that show up on cameras may never be killed or seen by a hunter, but the cameras let everyone know that they are out there.

Much of Texas has had a record-breaking drought during most of the year. Deer and quail hunters know what that means—below-average antler growth and poor quail production. Don’t get your hopes up about taking a prize-winning buck this year. There will be some good bucks killed, but they will come from ranches with very good management that include a good supplemental feeding program. Quail will be scarce except for North Texas.

If you attended one or more of our Extravaganzas this year, I’m sure that you were impressed with the new attractions, and the new (and more) exhibitors. The triple-digit weather may have been a factor, but all of the shows were up in attendance. Going to one of the shows and seeing all the hunting gadgets and big deer heads in our Deer Competition was a good way to kick off the beginning of a new hunting season.

As I write this letter, South Texas dove hunters are oiling their shotguns and counting their shells. The season in South Texas starts in about a week. It has been very dry, and dove food items are scarce, so the season may be just so-so. I haven’t heard much about the North and Central Zone hunts, but they were hardly better than average. We have a lot of doves, but nothing to concentrate them for good hunting. And, to top it all off, it has rained cats and dogs for the last two days in the southern half of the state. No telling where the doves will be by next week!

Speaking of rain, the weather folks tell us that El Niño is returning to the Pacific waters. We may get a lot of rain between November and February—that’s their prediction. We need the rain, but I remember the winter of ’76 when it rained so much that vehicles stuck in South Texas pastures were still there in March and April! A repeat of that would be a real departure from the drought we have suffered through these last few months. If you can find your rubber boots, you need to keep them handy.

Good luck with your hunting seasons, remember to practice hunter safety, and take the kids every chance you get.

Jerry Johnston, Founder

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 THE VOTING FOR THE GOLDENMOOSE AWARDS HAS BEGUN - BE SURE AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SHOW! THE DEADLINE FORVOTING IS DECEMBER 31ST, SO DON'T DELAY! JOURNALOF THE AMERICAN TROPHY HUNTERS TV SHOW!

http://www.outdoorchannel.com/GMARegister.aspx

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WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, MarkPryor, D-Ark., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, released the followingstatement after the Senate passed the DHS Appropriations BillConference Report, which includes their amendment to protect the use ofpocketknives.  The legislation, which is now on its way to PresidentObama for his signature, passed the House of Representatives last week.
 
Earlier this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) proposedamending and expanding the Switchblade Knife Act of 1958 to includespring-assisted or one-handed-opening knives. The Senators’ amendmentclarifies that assisted-opening pocketknives are exempt fromregulation. Sen. Cornyn introduced the amendment with Sens. Pryor andHatch in July.
 
“In these perilous economic times, the last thing the federalgovernment should do is take any action that will adversely affect jobcreation. This legislation ensures thousands of Texans and tens ofthousands of Americans in the sporting goods manufacturing and retailindustry will not lose their jobs. It will also ensure that the 35million Americans who own pocketknives are free to continue using themwithout the threat of federal agency intrusion. I’m hopeful thatPresident Obama will sign this important measure into law withoutdelay,” said Sen. Cornyn.
 
“Customs and Border Patrol missed the mark with their interpretation,inadvertently banning ordinary pocketknives. In Arkansas, I heard fromfiremen, construction workers, farmers, policemen, electricians,hunters and fishermen who all took notice. A pocketknife for manypeople can serve as an entire toolbox, and the government really has nobusiness taking that away from them. I’m pleased we could prevent thisunreasonable ban from advancing,” said Sen. Pryor.
 
“Without this amendment, there was a real danger that 80 percent of thepocketknives sold in the U.S. would have been reclassified as illegalswitchblades, which would not only hurt knife and tool manufacturersacross the nation but infringe on American’s knife-carrying rights,”said Hatch. “I am very pleased to see the amendment sponsored by myselfand Senators Pryor and Cornyn was accepted by the DHS appropriationsconference to ensure that knives used every day by men and women whoare craftsmen, sportsmen and tradesmen are not wrongly categorized as aswitchblade,” said Sen. Hatch.
 
“This amendment was necessary to prevent commonly-used pocketknivesfrom being branded as illegal switchblades. The National RifleAssociation is grateful to Sens. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), Mark Pryor(D-Ark.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) whose leadership fixed a provisionthat would have criminalized millions of law-abiding Americans --including millions of hunters and sportsmen,” said Chris W. Cox,Executive Director for NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action.
 
“Our thanks to Texas Senator John Cornyn and many other federallawmakers. Senate Amendment 1447, based on the AKTI-initiated Texasstatute passed in June, was the basis for saving more than 35 millionknife owners and users and the entire sporting knife industry,” saidMike Manrose of Meyerco in Dallas, Texas and a member company of theAmerican Knife & Tool Institute.

Get all of the latest hunting news and learn more about TTHA at www.ttha.com ! 

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Texas Proposition 11, also known as House Joint Resolution 14-1, will appear on the Nov. 3, 2009 ballot in Texas as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. If passed after the November election, the measure will strengthen Senate Bill 7, which prohibits the government from acquiring land for non-public use.

The bill will also require the government to first determine if each property in a neighborhood is blighted before deciding if the neighborhood itself is blighted. According to Sen. Robert Duncan, who is sponsoring the amendment, “Texas voters are the most appropriate authority on the government's use of eminent domain. This proposition gives them the final word on that authority.”

The Texas House of Representatives approved the proposed amendment on May 11, 2009 with a vote of 144-0, followed by the State Senate on May 25, 2009 with a vote of 30-1. Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed the legislation on June 15, 2009, therefore allowing voters to decide on the constitutional amendment in the fall. LEARN MORE AT: http://bit.ly/2U5Ylm

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Win a FREE Texas Whitetail Deer Hunt

at the Charco Marrano Ranch

Enter the TTHA’s 2009 Fall Getaway Giveaway simply by joining or renewing your TTHA membership between October 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009. You could win a 2-day South Texas Whitetail Hunt on the Charco Marrano Ranch located near Cotulla, Texas.  This hunt includes 1 Mature Whitetail buck (up to 135 B&C), with meals and lodging included. Complete rules at www.ttha.com

Click here to join and enter

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TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION REMINDER

National Hunting and Fishing day

Saturday, September 26, 2009

San Antonio, Texas – Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) wants to send out a friendly reminder that National Hunting and Fishing Day is fast approaching.

Under the encouraging guidance of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (http://www.nssf.org/), the proclamation of the first National Hunting and Fishing Day occurred in 1972. The main goal of this day it to promote outdoor sports and conservation.

Joe Betar, VP, COO of Texas Trophy Hunters Association states, "It’s hard to believe that the fall hunting season is already here again. Hunters across this great country are taking to the field in pursuit of elk, dove and early season waterfowl. Deer season is just a short time away. Now is the perfect time to introduce someone to the great sports of hunting and fishing-your kids, your neighbors and others. Especially those that have a desire to hunt or fish but do not have the means or knowledge. TTHA encourages its members to seek these people out and invite them into the woods and water now!"

The 2009 honorary chairman for National Hunting and Fishing Day is country music artist Luke Bryan.

TTHA encourages you to participate in the outdoors on this great day! For more information about National Hunting and Fishing Day and to find events in your area, go to http://www.nhfday.org/.

TTHA strives to unite all segments of the hunting community for the dissemination of information and joining of energies to promote and protect our hunting heritage. Founded in 1975, TTHA, a membership-based organization, publishes a bimonthly magazine, The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters, and produces the award-winning outdoor television program, The Journal of the American Trophy Hunters. In addition, TTHA hosts the Hunters Extravaganza^® outdoor expositions, renowned as the largest whitetail hunting shows in the South. For membership information, please join online at www.ttha.com or contact TTHA Membership Services at (877) 261-2541.

Texas Trophy Hunters Association: The Voice of Texas Hunting™

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IMPORTANT TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH OR THAT WATCH OUTDOOR TELEVISION!

The U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear oral arguments in U.S. v. Stevens on Oct. 6. This case could adversely affect depictions of hunting scenes in outdoor-related media. http://bit.ly/15PbTH

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Homes For Our Troops www.homesforourtroops.org is a nationwide non-profit organization that builds and retrofits specially adapted homes for our most severely wounded returning veterans, at no cost to the veteran. Two homes have been completed in Texas and four more are in progress, including a home for Fort Worth Army Specialist Brett Wolf. Brett survived a large bomb in Iraq, sustaining serious injuries to his right arm, abdomen, face and damage that resulted in the amputation of both legs above the knees. You can help! Go to: http://bit.ly/128x5Y

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TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES PROFESSIONAL MEDIA ORGANIZATION AFFILIATIONS

Read the whole story at: http://bit.ly/3H2qXs

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Texashunting and fishing licenses for 2009-2010 will go on sale Aug. 15. Sportsmenare reminded all current Texasannual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license)expire Aug. 31.

Most fees for recreational hunting and fishing licenses haveincreased by five percent; resident hunting licenses now cost $25, while theSuper Combo all-inclusive license costs $68. There is no increase in price forany of the required stamp endorsements or the $48 Annual Public Hunting permit.

Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to$315, which also reflects a five percent hike.The resident freshwater fishingpackage costs $30 and the saltwater fishing package is $35.

Effective Sept. 1, the resident lifetime fishing and huntinglicenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increasesto $1,800.

Licenses may also be purchased online through the TPWD Website or by phone (800-895-4248). Call center hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondaythrough Friday. The online transaction system is available 24/7. A $5convenience fee will be charged for online and phone orders.

A license confirmation number is issued at the time ofpurchase for online and phone orders, and the physical license is mailedseparately. Confirmation numbers will verify that a license has been purchased,which is sufficient for dove hunting, but will not allow hunters to take fishor wildlife that requires a tag.

In addition to a hunting license, all wing shooters willneed to purchase a game bird stamp. To hunt doves or teal in September, aMigratory Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required. Duck hunters also need to purchasea Federal Duck Stamp and receive HIP (Harvest Information Program) certification.HIP certification will be printed on the license at the time of sale only afterthe purchaser answers a few brief migratory bird questions. Lifetime licenseholders must also be HIP-certified and purchase the Federal Duck Stamp to huntmigratory birds. All other state stamp endorsements are included with alifetime license.

New this year, purchase of the Federal Duck Stamp will cost$15-$17 depending on where you buy. If purchased through the TPWD licensesystem there is a $2 administrative fee. Your license will indicate FederalDuck Stamp purchase and the physical stamp will be mailed. There are otheroptions for purchasing the stamp, either at some major post offices or online.

There are other mandatory endorsements to consider at thetime of purchase, too. An Upland Game Bird Stamp ($7) is required to hunt allnon-migratory game birds, including turkey, quail, pheasant, chachalaca, andlesser prairie chicken.

Of course, anyone who purchases the Super Combo licensepackage, the best bang for the buck, automatically gets these needed stamps.

Also new this year, sandhill crane permits may be obtainedin person at no cost only through TPWD Law Enforcement offices and TPWDheadquarters in Austin.Permits are also available anytime online through TPWD's online license salesand by calling 800-792-1112 (option 5, menu 2) or 512-389-4820 between 8 a.m.and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For online and phone orders, a confirmationnumber will be issued in lieu of a permit and a $5 transaction fee will be charged.

Hunter Education Certification is also required of anyhunter born on or after Sept. 2, 1971 and who is at least 17 years old. Forhunters who are unable to work in a hunter education class before huntingseason for whatever reason, TPWD does offer a deferral option.

The deferral option allows people 17 years of age or older aone-time only extension to complete the state's hunter education requirements.The individual must first purchase a hunting license and then may purchase thedeferral option.

Hunters using the deferral must be accompanied by someone 17years old or older who is also licensed to hunt in Texas. The accompanying individual must havecompleted hunter education or be exempt from the requirements (born beforeSept. 2, 1971). The extension is good for one license year, by which time theperson with the deferred option needs to complete a hunter education course.

This option is not available to those who have ever receiveda conviction or deferred adjudication for lack of hunter educationcertification. They still must take the course before going afield.

Also available through license agents and online are chancesfor TPWD's Big Time Texas Hunts. The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers theopportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided,as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the TexasGrand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas' most prized biggame animals -- the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer andpronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packagesavailable, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game,waterfowl and upland game birds.

Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each andare available wherever hunting licenses are sold. They may also be purchasedonline at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number ofentries an individual may purchase, and entries may be given as gifts forothers. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.

On the Net:

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

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/

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