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!

            I would have to say that hunting is a major part of my life.  However, I do put God, family and my country before all, but the chance to spend time in the great outdoors is a special part of my life.  As a youth hunting coordinator, summer camp director, guide and outfitter, I find it hard to find time for myself when it comes to hunting.  I look so forward to sharing what God has given me with others and there is one animal that I want to share with you in this article. 

            That animal is the elusive and most amazing of creatures and that is the Axis deer.  Of course this just my opinion, but after years of guiding and looking through glass at these magnificent animals, I have come to the conclusion that hunting these animals and finding a true trophy is an awesome adventure.  Not only is the Axis the best of table fare, but also one of the most elusive game animals I have ever hunted.

            The Axis deer is one that is on alert at all times.  Their nervous nature and need to retreat at the first glance of an intruder is so curious to me.  As we Texans love to hunt big Whitetail each fall and marvel at their intelligence level, I am hear to tell you that I have found a note worthy opponent.

            I am a Whitetail hunter till my time on earth is done, but to bide my time, I have found an animal that not only challenges me, but challenges me as a guide and hunter.  They are extremely smart and like a Whitetail they reach trophy stature in the most limited of number.

            Over the past several years we have run a number of hunts for Axis and I have found the best time to go looking for these great animals is May through September.  As most of us take the field during the October through April time frame, and then head to the lakes and cost for the fishing and recreation, the Axis deer is in their prime rut activity and most prolific at this time. 

            The Axis bucks are very rare when it comes to breeding and they do so at two major times of the year.  They do this in the late fall and early summer.  Therefore most of us take the field hunting in October and those of us that have Axis on our properties will harvest a fair share of quality bucks during this time.

            Now it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that most of these bucks are hitting the ground during this time, there are bunches that do not have antlers or are growing new ones in the fall and winter.  Therefore, there are far more trophies that go un-hunted during the early summer and throughout the dog days of our Texas heat.  With that being said there are more hunters that have figured this out and are booking their summer time hunt.

            As with hunting any type of big game animal you want to hunt them during their peak season and with Whitetail that is during late November and mid December in most of Texas.  That is when we are the most successful at taking or trying to take a quality Whitetail buck.

            With Axis I will not be the first to acknowledge this but maybe the first to tell you that you increase your odds during the early summer.  There are far more big bucks at this time for the simple fact that there are fewer hunters taking the field.

            The Axis buck is quite vocal during their mating time of the year.  Just like an elk they will tell you of their whereabouts.  That is what makes it both fun and challenging.  Yes, you may hear them, but then you must move into a position to intersect their path and the great hunt of a spot and stalk is now on. 

            Axis bucks are a great trophy for the wall, but also the best meat on the planet.  Of course this is just my opinion, but if you are looking to take a wonderful animal and are looking for a great hunt you need to look toward the summer for the chance of a lifetime at these wonderful creatures.

Michael Marbach is the Executive Director of the Christian Outdoor Alliance and is a member of the LeaseHunter.com Pro Staff.  For more information on COA, please see www.mycoa.org.

AUSTIN — The Texas Animal Health Commission, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have issued a summer and early fall alert for ranchers, hunters and anyone who may be going afield in Texas. One case of anthrax has been confirmed in a white-tailed deer herd on a game ranch in Uvalde County, which is in an area of South Texas endemic to anthrax. Although humans are also susceptible, no cases have been reported to date, and simple precautions can effectively reduce the risks of humans contracting the disease.

Anthrax is a bacterial disease of sheep, goats, cattle, horses, deer and other animals. The bacteria which cause anthrax can remain dormant in the soil for many years. A period of drought followed by heavy rains frequently occurs just before the appearance of anthrax in livestock and deer. Animals that eat the rapidly growing grasses also consume soil that contains the bacteria. Currently, soil conditions are right to produce more outbreaks around the triangular geographic area bounded by Uvalde, Ozona and Eagle Pass, which cover portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton, Edwards, Kinney, and Maverick counties.

Transmission of anthrax to humans can occur whether an affected animal is alive or has died from the disease. Simple precautions can greatly reduce the risk of contracting the disease from these animals. Carcasses of dead livestock and deer should not be cut open to allow blood to escape. Under no circumstances should the hide, hair, skulls, or horns of an animal suspected of having anthrax be salvaged, nor should the meat of these animals be eaten.

During an anthrax outbreak, hunters in the affected areas are discouraged from taking feral hogs because they consume the meat of dead animals and could be carrying the bacteria. Fortunately, by the time deer hunting season starts, cool weather usually puts an end to the often seasonal anthrax outbreak. At minimum, hunters should harvest only healthy-looking deer and other hoof stock. If a deer has ingested anthrax bacteria, within hours, it will stagger, tremble or exhibit convulsions, and death is inevitable.

When an area experiences an anthrax outbreak, ranchers should wear long sleeves and gloves when handling or vaccinating livestock. Afterward, good sanitation measures should be followed, including hand washing and laundering of clothing. This aids in preventing contact with the anthrax bacteria which may have been picked up on the hides of animals. Do not pick up bones, horns or shed antlers, and pets and children should be kept away from dead animals. Healthy animals also should be moved from a contaminated pasture during an outbreak, but must remain on the premise and not hauled down the road to another pasture.

To prevent additional soil contamination, Texas Animal Health Commission regulations require that anthrax affected animal carcasses must be burned, until thoroughly consumed, along with any associated bedding and manure. This practice prevents wild pigs, coyotes, dogs or other predators from dragging carcasses (and the accompanying anthrax bacteria) from one pasture to another, and spilling out the anthrax spores.

TAHC regulations also require that livestock  on infected premises be quarantined for at least 10 days after all the livestock have been vaccinated against the disease. During this time, anthrax-exposed animals may still die from the disease, while healthy, vaccinated animals will develop immunity.

All anthrax cases — suspected or laboratory confirmed — must be reported to the TAHC. The regulatory agency operates a 24-hour hotline at               1-800-550-8242         1-800-550-8242, with state or federal regulatory veterinarians available at all times to take calls and work with private veterinary practitioners and producers.

More information about anthrax is available by contacting the TPWD Wildlife Division at (512) 389-4505, The Texas Animal Health Commission at  (512) 719-0710, or the Zoonosis Control Division, Texas Department of State Health Services, at  (512) 458-7255.