11. 14. 17

EWA Member in Need of Prayer

Posted in: Association News, E.C. Blog, Featured

Article credited to Exotic Wildlife Association: http://www.myewa.org

 
Exotic Wildlife Association
NEWS ALERT
“Promoting Conservation through Commerce”

 

  

 
 
EWA Member in Need of Prayer
We were advised tonight that Lifetime EWA member, George Sistrunk, was seriously injured by a male Bongo. Mr. Sistrunk had entered the bull’s pen and was attacked and injured before he could escape. He is listed in extremely serious condition, has undergone surgery and is in the intensive care unit of Methodist hospital in San Antonio, Texas.
The family has asked that he not receive visitors or calls at this time but to keep him in your thoughts and prayers. The EWA office will give our members updates as we receive them from the family.
Exotic Wildlife Association
Charly Seale, Executive Director

105 Henderson Branch Rd., West
Ingram, Texas 78025
 
November 13, 2017
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10. 19. 17

Looking for Hoofstock?

Posted in: All Topics, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, Featured

LOOKING FOR HOOFSTOCK? WLB HAS SEVERAL ANIMAL AUCTIONS ENDING AFTER LUNCH TODAY!
CHECK OUT THESE AUCTIONS ENDING TODAY AFTER LUNCH TODAY!!! 

CLICK HERE TO TAKE A LOOK! 
http://wildlifebuyer.com/Browse/C160535/Exotics_Deer

Auction

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1.0 FALLOW (KB6-6)

Auction

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1.0 SPOTTED FALLOW (KB6-5)

DON’T MISS OUT!

Auction

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0.1 WHITE FALLOW TAG #219 (KB6-4)

NICE FALLOW DOE!

Auction

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0.1 SPOTTED FALLOW TAG #216 (KB6-4)

Auction

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0.1 SPOTTED FALLOW TAG #222 (KB6-4)

GET YOUR BIDS IN!

Auction

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1.0 SPOTTED FALLOW TAG #220 (KB6-4)

NICE FALLOW!

Auction

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1.0 SPOTTED FALLOW TAG #221 (KB6-4)

BID! BID! BID!

Auction

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0.1 BANTENG (NKB4)

RARE BANTENG COW!

Auction

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0.1 BANTENG TAG #249 (NKB4)

WIN THIS BANTENG COW!

Auction

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0.1 BANTENG TAG #366 (NKB4)

WIN THIS BANTENG COW!

Auction

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1.0 BANTENG (NKB5)

NICE BANTENG BULL!

Auction

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1.0 BANTENG TAG #365 (NKB5)

ANOTHER NICE BANTENG BULL!

Auction

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1.0 IBEX (RB2)

REALLY NICE IBEX!

Auction

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1.0 BLACK HAWAIIAN (RB2)

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE!

Auction

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1.0 Blackbuck Tag#378 (RBO 5) #8

Great Mature Male!!! NO RESERVE!!
Copyright © 2017 Wildlife Buyer, LLC, All rights reserved.
Thank you for being a registered user on www.wildlifebuyer.com!

Our mailing address is:

Wildlife Buyer, LLC

2658 Walter White Rd

10. 16. 17

Circle H Ranch, Inc.

Posted in: Advertising, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, E.C. Exotic Surplus List
Circle H Ranch, Inc.

** since 1977 **

830-232-6003 tel.

*********************************************************************************

There are over 20 BIG Blackbuck Listings

Warthogs

Scimitar

Fallow

Rams

Markhor

Aoudad

Red Deer

On WildlifeBuyer.com right now and many end on Monday so hurry and get your bids in before its too late!!!

www.wildlifebuyer.com

MORE COMING SOON!!!

**********************************************************************************

*Attention: The offer for sale is in Texas only for any animals that are listed on the US endangered specie list, or cities, or under the condition all parties obtain any and all necessary permits.

A Surplus list is coming out soon so get your animals on it TODAY!!! It’s FREE!!!

Have some animals for sale that you want to add to our “Surplus list” call or email us today.

Its free!!!!

Can’t catch your animals!!!!

Setting up capture dates NOW!!! Call to get booked!!!!

   IMG_1123

Cheers,

pic

John Harwood

President

Circle H Ranch, Inc.

830-232-6003 (office)

Skype ID: circleh2

facebook: Circle H Ranch

website: www.circlehranchtexas.com

See us on 1b      We also accept  1away to pay PP_CC_mark_74x46

WBsmlogo

No Lines, No Waiting.

Sign in, bid, get on with life!!!!

EC header

Website design and Hosting for $285/year

circle h

*** Since 1977 ***

ep1a

 ExoticPrices.com

10. 12. 17

AUCTIONS ENDING TODAY AT 1:00 P.M.!

Posted in: Advertising, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, Featured

WILDLIFE BUYER HS OVER 40 AUCTIONS ENDING TODAY AT 1:00 P.M.!

BLESBOKS, TEXAS DALLS, TRANSCASPIAN URIALS………AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

http://www.wildlifebuyer.com

 

09. 28. 17

Fill your trailers today! WLB has some great auctions ending after lunch today!

Posted in: Advertising, All Topics, Classifieds, E.C. Blog
Fill your trailers today! WLB has some great auctions ending after lunch today!
Looking for Ibex, Fallow, Aoudad and Axis?

WLB has it all today! Auctions end right after lunch!

Click here to start filling your trailers with some awesome animals!
http://wildlifebuyer.com/Browse/C160535/Exotics_Deer
09. 08. 17

Exotic Prices.com

Posted in: Advertising, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, Featured

ExoticPrices.com

09. 07. 17

NEW RECORD FOR WLB!

Posted in: Advertising, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, Featured
WOW!!!! Wildlife Buyer has OVER 100 ANIMALS listed on the auction site!!!
Good Morning Wildlife Buyer Friends!

We are excited to tell you that we have set a NEW RECORD!!! Today Wildlife Buyer has OVER 100 animals listed on the auction site. 12 auctions will end right after lunch. There are so many different types of species to buy! Stock your ranch today with some amazing animals. 

You cant find better animals, or services, than right here!!!
No Lines, No Waiting, Bid or Post and then get on with your life!!!!

Click here to take you to the site.
http://wildlifebuyer.com/Browse/C160535/Exotics_Deer
09. 06. 17

Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species

Posted in: Animal Rights, E.C. Blog, Featured

Nongame, Exotic, Endangered, Threatened & Protected Species

Contents
  1. Nongame Animals
  2. Exotic Animals and Fowl
  3. Endangered, Threatened and Other Protected Nongame Species

Valid Sep. 1, 2017 through Aug. 31, 2018.

Nongame Animals

Includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Armadillos
  • Bobcats
  • Coyotes
  • Flying squirrels
  • Frogs
  • Ground squirrels
  • Mountain lions
  • Porcupines
  • Prairie dogs
  • Rabbits
  • Turtles
  • Does not include feral hog (see Exotic Animals and Fowl).
  • No closed season. These animals may be hunted at any time by any lawful means or methods on private property. Public hunting lands may have restrictions. A hunting license is required.
  • ARMADILLOS: Possession and sale of live armadillos is unlawful.
  • BOBCAT pelts sold, purchased, traded, transported or shipped out of state must have a pelt tag (CITES) attached. A pelt tag must be attached prior to being transported or shipped out of this state. Pelt tags may be obtained from any permitted bobcat pelt dealer, or TPWD Regional & Field Law Enforcement Offices. For additional information contact TPWD (800) 792-1112, menu 7, option 9 or (512) 389-4481.
  • Live COYOTES are currently under a statewide rabies quarantine that prohibits them from being transported or sold in Texas (see exceptions). For information on the rabies quarantine, visit the Texas Department of State Health Services Infectious Disease Control Unit Web site.
  • No person may possess a diamondback terrapin at any time.
  • No person may hunt (capture, trap, take, or kill) any wild animal or wild bird on a public road or the right-of-way of a public road, except that a person may capture indigenous reptiles and amphibians on the shoulder or unpaved right-of-way of a public roadway, provided that:
    • the person possesses a valid Reptile and Amphibian Stamp,
    • the person employs non-lethal means only to capture the reptiles or amphibians,
    • the person does not possess a trap, and
    • the person is visibly wearing at least 144 square inches of reflective material, both front and back.
  • No person may use artificial light from a motor vehicle to locate, capture, or attempt to capture a reptile or amphibian.

Possession and Sale of Certain Nongame Wildlife

  • The take of any nongame species for commercial purposes (sale, offer for sale, barter, or exchange) from public lands or waters is unlawful.
  • Provided the appropriate permit has been obtained, red-eared slider, common snapping turtle, and softshell turtle may be taken from private water for commercial purposes; however, the take or possession of any other species of turtle for commercial activity is unlawful.
  • Many species of nongame wildlife may be sold, offered for sale, bartered, or exchanged, provided the proper nongame permit has been obtained from TPWD and all reporting and recordkeeping requirements are met; however, the collection from the wild, sale, offer for sale, or exchange of certain species of nongame wildlife is unlawful.
  • A landowner or landowner’s agent may kill any nongame wildlife other than protected birds and threatened or endangered species (see below) at any time in any number, provided the wildlife is not taken into possession or used in a commercial activity.

For more information on nongame regulations, permit requirements, and lists of lawful and prohibited species, contact TPWD at (800) 792-1112, menu 7 or (512) 389-4481 or go to Nongame Permits.

Exotic Animals and Fowl

An exotic animal is any animal that is not indigenous to Texas, including but not limited to feral hog, Russian boar, aoudad sheep, axis deer, elk, sika deer, fallow deer, red deer, and blackbuck and nilgai antelope. An exotic fowl is any avian species that is not indigenous to this state, including ratites (emu, ostrich, rhea, cassowary, etc.).

There are no state bag or possession limits or closed seasons on exotic animals or fowl on private property. It is against the law to:

  • Hunt an exotic without a valid hunting license.
  • Hunt an exotic on a public road or right-of-way.
  • Hunt an exotic without the landowner’s permission.
  • Possess an exotic or the carcass of an exotic without the owner’s consent.

 

Penalty: A person who violates these laws commits an offense. Hunting exotic wildlife without a license is a Class C misdemeanor ($25-$500 fine). The remaining listed offenses are Class A misdemeanors ($500-$4,000 and/or up to one year in jail).

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) regulates the movement of feral swine for disease-control purposes. For more information please call TAHC at (800) 550-8242 or visit the TAHC Web site.

“Canned Hunts” (Dangerous Wild Animals)

No person may kill or attempt to injure a dangerous wild animal (African or Asiatic lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, hyena, bear, elephant, wolf, or rhinoceros, or any subspecies or hybrid of these animals) that is held in captivity in this state or that is released from captivity in this state for the purpose of being killed, nor may any person conduct, promote, advertise, or assist in the hunting of a dangerous wild animal.

Endangered, Threatened and
Other Protected Nongame Species

It is unlawful for any person to hunt (see Definitions – Hunt) threatened, endangered, or protected nongame species. To sell or purchase goods made from threatened or endangered species, proper documentation must accompany the goods. For a complete list of threatened and endangered species, and regulations relating to breeding threatened and endangered species, please call (800) 792-1112 (menu 5).

  • Protected Birds: Hawks, owls, eagles, and all other nongame birds and songbirds (except for the few unprotected birds listed below) are protected by various state and federal laws and may not be killed, taken from the nest, picked up, or possessed for any reason, and their feathers may not be possessed or sold. Arts and crafts may not include these protected species under any circumstances.
  • Unprotected Birds:
    • The only birds not protected by any state or federal law are European starlings, English sparrows, feral rock doves(common pigeon, Columba livia) and Eurasian collared-doves; these species may be killed at any time, their nests or eggs destroyed, and their feathers may be possessed.
    • Yellow-headed, red-winged, rusty, or Brewer’s blackbirds and all grackles, cowbirds (does not include cattle egret), crows, or magpies may be controlled without a federal or state depredation permit when found committing or about to commit depredations on ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated in numbers and in a manner that constitutes a health hazard or other nuisance.
  • Bats: May not be hunted, killed, possessed, purchased or sold; however, bats may be moved, trapped, or killed if inside or on a building occupied by people. A person may transport a bat for the purpose of laboratory testing if there is a rabies concern.

Black Bears and Mountain Lions

Black bears are protected and cannot be hunted or killed. Mountain lions are not protected and can be harvested at any time. Please report black bear sightings or mortalities, and mountain lion sightings, harvests, or mortalities to (512) 389-4505.

Controlled Exotic Snakes

It is unlawful (Class C misdemeanor) for any person, regardless of age, to possess certain nonindigenous snakes for commercial (Type 581) or recreational (Type 580) purposes if that person has not obtained a TPWD controlled exotic snake permit for that purpose. A controlled exotic snake is any species of venomous snakes not indigenous to Texas; African rock python (Python sebae); Asiatic rock python (Python molurus); green anaconda (Eunectes murinus); reticulated python (Python reticulatus); southern African python (Python natalensis), and includes ANY hybrid of these species. Permits may be purchased anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. In addition, it is unlawful (Class A misdemeanor) to intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence release or allow the release from captivity of any of these snakes. Snakes possessed without the necessary permit may be seized, removed, and disposed of at the cost of the person possessing the snakes. Controlled exotic snakes are regulated under Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 43, Subchapter V, which may be enforced by any licensed Texas peace officer. For further information, call (800) 792-1112 (menu 7) or visit Frequently Asked Questions on Controlled Exotic Snakes.

09. 01. 17

Don’t forget that WLB will donate a portion of its commission t help HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMS! Bid today on some fantastic auctions!

Posted in: E.C. Blog
Don’t forget that WLB will donate a portion of its commission t help HURRICANE HARVEY VICTIMS! Bid today on some fantastic auctions!
Donate to Hurricane Harvey Victims!
Don’t forget a portion of WLB’s commission will be donated this week to the Salvation Army. Get those animals posted on WLB to help out our fellow Texans in need!Today we have 14 auctions ending after lunch. These auctions include the following animals;

Dama Gazelle, Blackbuck, Sable, and Transcaspian Urials!

We have over 30 ACTIVE Auctions right now! Click this link to take you to the auctions.http://wildlifebuyer.com/Browse/C160535/Exotics_Deer?page=0
Copyright © 2017 Wildlife Buyer, LLC, All rights reserved.
Thank you for being a registered user on www.wildlifebuyer.com!Our mailing address is:

Wildlife Buyer, LLC

2658 Walter White Rd

Leakey, Tx 78873
08. 25. 17

23 Aug 2017 TDA Convention Is One For The Record Books

Posted in: Association News, E.C. Blog, Featured, Home page

23 Aug 2017 TDA Convention Is One For The Record Books

The annual convention is the hallmark event of the year for TDA and its membership. Each convention is carefully planned to include a balance of education, information, fun and fellowship, while offering access to exhibits offering high-quality products and services. Ours is the biggest deer show in the nation, and it is our utmost goal to make it an enjoyable and informative event for all deer enthusiasts.

This year’s event led off with the meeting of the National Cervid Congress on Thursday morning, bringing together representatives of the various associations across the nation to discuss issues affecting the deer industry. After that, a panel discussion on “Wildlife, Biology & Breeding” informed members about the latest trends and topics in the deer management world. After the kickoff lunch and Executive Director’s address, participants could enjoy the exhibits in the hall until the afternoon seminars begin. We were thrilled to have Mike Robinson, highly-regarded UK game chef, presenting deer butchering tips and cooking prep ideas. Also enjoyed by members was the MLDP seminar and the legal update. The first-ever legislative panel was hosted with dinner Thursday evening, featuring a candid discussion with Senator Craig Estes and Representatives Ernest Bailes, John Frullo, Larry Gonzales, Lance Gooden and Lyle Larson. We appreciate their participation and the update on the 85th Legislative Session. The evening closed with the auction benefitting the legal fund, which raised more than $55,000 to aide in our battle for the right to ownership for our deer.

Friday morning opened with the annual state-wide membership meeting, which saw record attendance. We were also pleased to offer a Family Hunter Safety Certification class sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife that day to benefit our TDA families! The “Make Deer Breeding Great Again” seminar was a tremendous success, providing a look at innovative industry tools to keep deer operations on the cutting-edge in technology and organization. The featured speaker at the luncheon was Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who presented on the growth in the Texas economy and industry predictions for the future. TDA was also proud to host a Continuing Education Veterinarian Seminar this year for all our member vets. Leading the way to assist veterinarians in understanding the complexities of practicing cervid medicine, TDA teamed up with the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) Cervid Committee to bring representatives from the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Texas Pharmacy Board, TVMA, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This event was a tremendous success and one that we hope to repeat in the future.

Friday’s highlight was, of course, the Superior Genetics Deer Auction, which brought in a record amount–more than $820,000. Featuring some of the very best genetics in the nation, this event exceeded all expectations in scope and sales. The evening closed with the Hoffpauir Group/TDA Ultimate Sportsman’s Auction and Raffle, where more than $200,000 was raised!

Saturday began with exclusive exhibitor time followed by a solid slate of morning speakers, including Kerry Davis, Founder of Dark Angel Medical, and Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller. The TDA Select and Platinum Sale was the focal point of the day and did not disappoint. Raising a combined total of more than $1.3 million, this auction blew the top off last year’s earnings.

Before the Grand Auction began, TDA drew for the winner of its very first “cover model” buck contest! STRR Buck-n-Doe Ranch of Greenville took home the prize, and will be featured in the upcoming issue of TRACKS magazine! The other big winners of the evening were Billy Sage who won the Harley Davidson motorcycle and Drake & Ginny Heller who took home the prize in the Can-Am raffle! The Grand Auction brought in more than $120,000

The total raised in auctions over the weekend totaled more than $2.5 million! A very special thank you goes to our top buyers of the convention:

  • G2 Ranch (Don Gilchrist)
  • Blue Creek Whitetails (Billy Oehmig)
  • Cross Canyon Whitetails (Jason Millegan)
  • Cypress Ridge Whitetails (Pete Moore & Madison Michener)
  • Rancho El Recuerdo (Felizardo Elizondo)

The success of TDA and our annual convention depends on all of you—our guests, our members, our vendors, our sponsors, and our volunteers. You have made this association who we are today. Through difficult times, our TDA family has remained strong and unshaken! We are thousands of members strong, all across the great state of Texas and beyond, and we will continue to grow. It is time to be excited about the future of the deer industry in Texas again!

Thanks to all those who attended our 19th annual Convention, and for your continued support of your Texas Deer Association.

Sponsor List:

TDA 2017/2018 Title Sponsor
Rockstar Whitetails

Diamond Sponsors:
LoneHollow Whitetails
HighRoller Whitetails
Gist Kinsman Whitetails
Cross Canyon Whitetails
Cypress Ridge Whitetails
Purina
Derby~Sand~Ranch
RR Ranch
Mossy Rock Whitetails
Hoffpauir
Empire Whitetails

Platinum Sponsors:
Capital Farm Credit
Wilks Whitetails
Double Dime
Record Rack
Blue Creek Whitetails
All Seasons Feeders
Triple G Group
MVP Whitetails

Gold Sponsors:
Classic Canyon
G2 Ranch

Silver Sponsors:
ADM
Schmidt Ranch

Event Sponsors:

Happy Hour Sponsor:
Silverhorn Ranch

Auction Keg Sponsor:
Paco Deer Co, Inc

Beer & Wine Sponsor:
TDA Board of Directors

Entertainment Sponsor:
Rockstar Whitetails

Antler Contest Sponsor:
NADR

Auction Sponsors:
Purina
Sexy Whitetails
Pine Mountain Ranch
Texas M3 Ranch

Saturday Night Dinner Sponsors:
Blackjack Whitetails

Ringman Sponsors
Tajada Whitetails
LoneHollow Whitetails

Saturday Night Gala Table Sponsors:
Pinnacle Whitetails
Berry Whitetails
Big Rack Ranch
Gist Kinsman Whitetails
Hatton Ranch
Straightline Whitetails
Morgan Ranch
Prime Acres
Spring Creek Outdoors
J5 Ranch
Silverhorn Ranch
Varner Family / Purina
Yates Insurance

 

08. 23. 17

Big Time Texas HuntsLife’s Short, Hunt Big

Posted in: Advertising, Association Events, Classifieds, E.C. Blog
Big Time Texas HuntsLife’s Short, Hunt Big

Win nine premium hunt packages on some of the finest private ranches and prime wildlife management areas in Texas. Buy Now »

Enter by
Oct. 15

$9.00

per online entry

TEXAS GRAND SLAM

Hunt desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, pronghorn and desert mule deer.

 

Texas Grand Slam

ULTIMATE MULE DEER HUNT

An exclusive 3- to 5-day Panhandle hunt for mature mule deer bucks.

 

Ultimate Mule Deer Hunt

PREMIUM BUCK HUNT

Take aim at a trophy buck and enjoy top-notch accommodations in the South Texas brush country.

 

Premium Buck Hunt

WHITETAIL BONANZA

3- to 5-day trips to ranches and wildlife management areas.

 

Whitetail Bonanza
Exotic Safari

EXOTIC SAFARI

Hunt sable antelope, gemsbok, scimitar-horned oryx and axis deer on Mason Mountain WMA.

 

Gator Hunt

GATOR HUNT

Pursue trophy alligators on the Gulf Coast at the J.D. Murphree WMA.

 

Waterfowl Adventure

WATERFOWL ADVENTURE

Hunt wood ducks, mallards, snows, blues and more.

 

Big Time Bird Hunt

BIG TIME BIRD HUNT

A trio of bird hunts for dove, quail and Rio Grande turkey.

 

Wild Hog Adventure

WILD HOG ADVENTURE

Pursue wild hogs in South Texas brush country.

 

All hunts include

  • Guide service
  • Food and lodging
  • On-site transportation

Enter by October 15, 2017. $9 per entry online*. BUY NOW

Proceeds support wildlife conservation, habitat management, and public hunting. If you win, you’ll enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime hunting experience, but even if your name isn’t drawn, you’re still supporting the important work of wildlife conservation in Texas.

*Please note that a $5 online administrative fee is required, but you can purchase unlimited entries or licenses in a single transaction and only pay one fee.

08. 22. 17

HOW TO : Creating a Hunting Club: The Vision and Breaking Ground

Posted in: E.C. Blog, How To
HOW TO :

Creating a Hunting Club: The Vision and Breaking Ground

Editor’s note: This is the first installment to a 12-part series about building a hunting club with buddies from nearly the ground up. Author Thomas Allen will share what he learns as he learns it. His hope is that anyone who reads this series can learn from his successes and failures, and apply them to a one-day fruitful hunting club.

Hunting is a social pursuit. It’s best enjoyed with those we care the most about — family, friends and anyone who shares the passion for growing big bucks and filling the freezer with clean, pure venison.

The antlers represent the memories of our success, and remind us of the failures and lessons garnered along the way. Without our loved ones to share in these memories, the antlers and venison mean nothing.

The author and his daughter, Taylor, with two Alabama whitetails. The venison provided food for the family; the hunt meant memories for a lifetime.

I’ve had the opportunity to hunt with many people over my 20-plus years as a whitetail fanatic, and most of the time it’s been a tremendous blessing. A big part of successful whitetail hunting — and turkey hunting for that matter — in today’s day and age requires hunting with and around other hunters.

It’s a shared sport. And if we’re all honest with ourselves, we want to grow it and pass on the tradition that was gifted to us when our passion was blooming. But at some point, with more hunters doing the same thing, the result is . . . more hunters on less ground.

In its purest form, sharing the sport and watching it grow a good thing. But with how rapidly the sport’s popularity is increasing, competition for land access and permission also increases. As a result, hunting pressure goes up, and deer continue to get smarter.

How does one stay ahead of this trend? Buy land. Lease land. Work extra hard to maintain the relationships that extend land-access permission. Having property where you can completely manage the existing herd and create a private hunting mecca is the ultimate dream. Unfortunately, that’s hardly a reality for the vast majority of us.

The solution? Gather up a group of your best, like-minded buddies and start a hunting club.

The main campsite was left in quite a mess and will require some work to reestablish. It has two existing structures, one of which is a makeshift porch for a camper that is no longer there, but it will now nicely serve as a meeting location during the season, potential new sign-in area or butchering station.
The second structure is a skinning shed with a small cement pad at the base. There isn’t a block-and-tackle or hoist, but that’s an easy addition to make.
There is no electricity, which means a generator will be required if we want power. But that’s a discussion for later date. Substantial work will be required to dress the campsite up, but there’s a lot of promise here, and we like the vision.

The Vision

I was raised and taught to deer hunt among the Iowa hardwoods. To this day, nothing makes my heart race like the sound of a careless rutted-up buck shuffling through the crispy, frosted leaves on a November morning, as the sun peers over the horizon onto a golden cut cornfield.

The steam rolling out of his nostrils almost blinds him as he desperately seeks the next willing doe. Drool drips from his nose and mouth as he scans the timbered hillside, looking for any sign of life that requires further investigation. His bulging neck meets a barrel chest where his shoulders ripple with lean, toned muscles that makes his thighs seem trim. He could tip the scales somewhere between 275 and 300 pounds.

He licks both sides of his nose in a seemingly single motion, and as quickly as he appeared, the lusty intentions that made him appear that morning pulled him into the brush — and out of my life forever.

Whatever location made you as a hunter, you can probably place yourself in a similar scene from your early days as a hunter. Iowa is no longer my home; life brought me to the South where hunting clubs are the norm. For my children to have the same opportunities to hunt and build their passion for the sport, let alone feed my own obsession, I had to go the club route.

For a club to work long-term, all members must share the vision, be equally heard and invested in the vision.

When a club has existed for a long time, membership will eventually begin to turn over, and whatever original members are still there will likely become complacent and won’t be as willing to embrace new and younger members with modern hunting approaches.  That’s the beginning of the end for many clubs.

If that sounds familiar, it’s important to look into doing your own thing. Take the initiative and make it happen. Period.

This is the existing sign-in board, but it needs a complete overhaul to be effective to our objectives. We may build a small structure near the main entrance to hold a laminated map with stand and shooting house sites. We’re also going to implement a Deer/Turkey Sightings Log that will require hunters to log what they encountered at each location. This is not to keep tabs on hunters, rather deer movement patterns. They won’t have to list whether it was a big or small buck, just that they saw something. The kind of information derived from this effort will provide a tremendous amount of detail about the animals living on the property and how and when they move.

Getting Started

The process begins with finding the right property. There are plenty of entities that deal in providing leases, and you must determine where to begin that search based on geological location. But don’t settle on anything less than what fits into your potential dreams. Shop around, be selective.

Once you’ve located and reserved the location, you need to build your paying membership. Make sure dues include insurance, expenses to include food plot creation/implementation and seed, shooting house renovations, and whatever else might be required on an annual basis. Membership fees should provide a small cushion above annual operating expenses.

Then set a meeting with a group of friends and acquaintances that are willing to participate in a way that makes sense to the overall objective. Be open in explaining the club’s vision, and let them decide whether it’s headed in the right direction for their personal expectations.

Let the group determine club rules and bylaws. Let experienced members share their experiences; let the inexperienced members ask questions to fully understand why each rule is in place.

Rules need to be reasonable and support the overall vision, in both short and long term. In other words, don’t make silly rules that negatively impact membership, such as trail cam location restriction and specific dates when they can and can’t be used.

Also, consider implementing harvest restrictions that suit the club’s long-term management objectives. Just because the state allows hunters to kill deer and turkeys at an accelerated rate doesn’t mean club membership should as well. Think conservation.

It’s really that simple.

First Jobs

We found a 614-acre property just half an hour from my residence and office, which is a huge bonus. We’ve recruited eight members and established a game plan for food-plot re-establishment, a to-do list and we are at the very beginning of building a southern hunting paradise. All the photos and videos you see in this article are from our new property.

In our estimation, this piece of ground hasn’t been hunted in at least 1 year, but we aren’t certain on exactly when the last deer was shot. But, the existing food plots are quite overgrown, and will require extensive work and investment to get them up to snuff.

It’s hard to make a clear determination, but based on what we could gather, there seems to be two layers of growth on the plots. It appears as if nothing was managed or planted last year, but there were dead wheat heads at the base of the green growth. So we’re assuming that this is the second summer of growth on top of the previous plot planting.
There is a gas pipeline that runs right through the middle of the property, which we see as a huge benefit. There are several shooting houses already in position, and we have food plots staked out for production. Be sure you read the guidelines on planting on a pipeline, as it may not be allowed everywhere. Our regulations state that we can’t run a disk deeper than 12 inches. We can easily accommodate that, but it’s hard to tell how effective growing food will be because the ground is very hard.
An existing mineral site from the previous group was located near an overgrown food plot. This is a good piece of information and will serve as an early location for trail cameras and attractant.

Our first onsite meeting resulted in gathering soil samples (see how-to video above) on each prospective food plot, and surveying every shooting house, which are very much in need of repairs. Food plots and shooting houses will be receiving a lot of attention in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Acquiring soil samples from numerous locations on each food plot can be sent to companies like Mossy Oak BioLogic or Whitetail Institute to determine pH levels. This information is critical to applying the right amount of fertilizer, and planting the most effective and attractive food for the deer and turkeys.
Most of the shooting houses are functional, and will pretty easily hunt this fall. However, most need some repairs at the very least. We have plans to put in sliding plexiglass windows and curtains at each location for starters. We’d also like to apply spray-in foam to all the inside corners and seams to hopefully reduce the amount of wasps next year.

We noticed that nearly every shooting house is inundated with wasps. Not honey bees, but wasps that serve no other purpose than to make your life miserable. We’ll need a strategic approach to killing them while saving ourselves. We hit one wasp nest (see video below), but hardly put a dent in them.

No one said that building a hunting club from the ground up would be easy. But it’ll be fun — even spraying wasps isn’t so bad if you have buddy there for moral support.

Will this property fulfill our hunting fantasies? It’s too early to tell, but I invite you to come along for the ride.

About the author: Thomas Allen calls central Alabama home, where he lives with his beloved wife, Kathryn, and two growing children, Tommy and Taylor. Follow Thomas on Twitter: @ThomasAllenIV and Instagram: ThomasAllen4

As the group becomes familiar with the property, it’s extremely helpful if an aerial photo is created from Google Earth, or some type of global imaging software. An aerial photo provides priceless information, and is essential to scouting efforts.

Images and videos by Thomas Allen

08. 21. 17

The solar eclipse is here

Posted in: E.C. Blog, Featured, Home page, National News, News

The solar eclipse is here

Updated 10:15 AM ET, Mon August 21, 2017

Story highlights

  • Think of the eclipse as the moon’s day in the sun
  • “This will be like Woodstock 200 times over”
  • A once-in-375-years chance of seeing an eclipse where you live

For complete coverage of the Eclipse of the Century go to cnn.com/eclipse. Watch live, in virtual reality, as the eclipse moves coast to coast Monday.

(CNN)It’s not fake news; it’s good news. It’s a story that could eclipse all other stories.

There is no way you can stop today’s total solar eclipse from happening. It is celestial, and we have no control over it. The only way to stop it would be to extinguish the sun or knock the moon or Earth out of orbit.
Over the past few millennia, people who knew nothing about eclipses couldn’t explain the natural phenomena. Many cultures thought it was a sign from their sun god; it is even known to have ended full-flung battles.
Today, we understand how it works and how it looks. People chase eclipses like storm chasers chase weather.
What will the weather be for solar eclipse?

What will the weather be for solar eclipse?
But don’t try to keep up with the eclipse. You can’t catch it unless you’re in a jet traveling beyond the speed of sound — which NASA plans on doing.
Science geeks have been counting down to the millisecond for today’s eclipse.
Eighties music lovers have been humming “Total Eclipse of the Heart” for weeks.
Scientists are making last-minute preparations for experiments they have been planning for years, even decades.
Professional photographers and amateur astronomers have bought and tested special solar filters for their cameras.
Even the surfers at surfline.com have gone along the Oregon coast and cleaned the lenses off their surf cameras so they can catch the first glimpses of the moon’s shadow reaching the western shore.
Now, the day is here. And the rest of the country is joining in the excitement.

Sunrise, sunset and a starry night, all in the same sky

“The hair on the back of your neck is going to stand up, and you are going to feel different things as the eclipse reaches totality. It’s been described as peaceful, spiritual, exhilarating, shocking,” said Brian Carlstrom, deputy associate director of the National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate.
If you don’t believe, stop, watch and listen.

On mountaintops and in open fields, in the middle of America’s vast wilderness, people will stand together. They will stand on rooftops and city sidewalks. From big surf on beaches on the West Coast to wide-open sweeping beaches on the Eastern Seaboard, the moon’s shadow will fall. Towns in the path of totality that normally have 200 people will multiply by the thousands.
Millions are forecast to flock to the very narrow — 70 miles wide — swath that hugs the country like a belt.
“This will be like Woodstock 200 times over — but across the whole country,” said Alex Young, solar scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
The Federal Highway Administration is calling this a “planned special event for which there has been no recent precedent in the United States.”
The moon, which many of us often take for granted, will quite literally have its day in the spotlight.
In this celestial dance, the moon moves perfectly in between the Earth and the sun. During a total solar eclipse, the moon and the sun both appear to be about the same size from the ground.
Tips for photographing the solar eclipse

Tips for photographing the solar eclipse
According to NASA, this is a “celestial coincidence,” as the sun is about 400 times wider than the moon and about 400 times farther away. From certain vantage points on Earth, the moon will completely block the sun. This is called totality.
Then, it is just basic geometry. When the Earth, moon and sun line up just right, the moon blocks the sun’s entire surface, creating the total eclipse.
Even if you’re not in totality, everyone in North America will experience some version of a partial eclipse. Just make sure that you don’t look directly at the sun without your eclipse glasses.
If you pay close attention, you may notice that things you walk every day all of a sudden look a little bit different.
In New York, for example, stop by a tree in Central Park. Watch the shadows underneath the big oak trees and look for the small crescent shapes that the moon will leave fluttering on the ground.
No matter where you live in the United States, the environment around you is likely to change.
Some animals will go into their bedtime routines, while nocturnal animals will jump up from deepaily slumber. Streetlights will come on, and the stars will come out. It will be like you have sunrise, sunset and the night sky all at the same time.
Even if it’s cloudy, stay a while. Experts say that the cooling from the eclipse can make some cumulus clouds dissipate just moments before the peak.

Do you have FOMO? Experts say ‘don’t miss it!’

Just like you count on the sun to rise every morning and set every night, you can rely on this happening precisely, down to the millisecond. In fact, NASA has made those calculations for us.
You have now probably realized that the science geek in your office asked for a day off on this random August Monday over a year ago. Now, you are stuck covering for them.
People look into the sky near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.

People look into the sky near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany.
Look at your calendar and block out the hours from 1 to 3 p.m. EST. Cancel your meetings, or have them outdoors. Take a break or have a late lunch.
According to NASA, experiencing a total solar eclipse where you live happens about once in 375 years. So unless modern medicine advances considerably in the next few years, you might not make it to the next one.
The last time anyone in the United States witnessed a total solar eclipse was almost 40 years ago, on February 26, 1979. It’s been even longer — 99 years — since a total solar eclipse crossed the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The total eclipse on June 8, 1918, passed from Washington to Florida.
It is an event made for sharing. This evening, we can all sit around the dinner table and say, “this is what it looked liked where I was.”
It is one of the first eclipses since the beginning of our recent technological advances. Most everyone in the path will have a phone capable of taking a photo of their surroundings.
How to watch the eclipse in virtual reality

How to watch the eclipse in virtual reality
Could this eclipse be the biggest thing on social media ever? No one really knows. But it could be the biggest social media event since the presidential election in November.
If you have FOMO (fear of missing out) — don’t. We have your back. If you’re not in the path of totality, still take in everything you can where you are. Or if you’re in the path but socked in with clouds that won’t dissipate, see how the world around you still is maybe a little bit different.
And no matter where you are in the world, you can immerse yourself in totality with us by watching the first ever live virtual reality broadcast that starts at 1 p.m.

Precision timing

The lunar shadow first crosses the West Coast at 9:05 a.m. PDT.
People in Lincoln City, Oregon, will be the first in the continental United States to see the total solar eclipse, beginning at 10:15 a.m.
A total solar eclipse can sometimes take as long as 7½ minutes. The longest eclipse duration for this event will occur near Carbondale, Illinois, and will clock in at two minutes, 43 seconds, beginning at 1:20 p.m. CDT.
Eventually, all good things must come to an end, and the lunar shadow will depart the East Coast at 4:09 p.m. EDT.
This will be the last total solar eclipse in the United States until April 4, 2024.
It’s not quite as long of a wait as you might have thought, but the next one won’t stretch the width of the country. Instead, it will move from Mexico to Maine and then traverse New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
For another eclipse similar to this year’s, one that moves from coast to coast, you will have to wait until August 12, 2045.

CNN’s Brandon Miller, Dave Hennen, Ashley Strickland and Amanda Barnett contributed to this report.

08. 18. 17

WLB Back to School Special!

Posted in: Advertising, All Topics, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, Featured, Home page
Enter your name for a chance to win a FREE BANNER for 1 YEAR!
Don’t miss your chance to win a Free 1 Year Banner Ad! We reach thousands of potential buyers each day. All you have to do is call the office by August 24th, 2017 and request your name be entered into the drawing. On Monday August 28th the winner will be announced!

Today we have around 20 auctions closing right after lunch! Click this link to take you to the auctions.

http://wildlifebuyer.com/Browse/C160535/Exotics_Deer

HAPPY BIDDING!!!!!
08. 18. 17

Florida Woman Curses at Angler, then Drunkenly Bites His Fishing Line and Swims Off with Lure

Posted in: E.C. Blog, Featured, Home page
NEWS | 

Florida Woman Curses at Angler, then Drunkenly Bites His Fishing Line and Swims Off with Lure

A Florida woman has made headlines after she drunkenly bit a man’s fishing line and then swam off with his lure, according to police reports.

According to Action News Jax, St. Johns County deputies were called to the scene on St Johns County Pier, where a fisherman told them 22-year-old Alexandria Turner swam up to his fishing line, cursed him out, then bit the line and swam off with his whole rig.

Seriously, you can’t make this up . . .

Apparently, when deputies arrived and asked Turner to walk to shore, she became belligerent and wouldn’t comply with the officers. Deputies finally got her to shore, and after a brief struggle in the surf, arrested her on suspicion of disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest without violence.

Now, we’ve seen our share of coo-coo antis before, but this lady may have just taken the bait – pun totally intended.

Image courtesy Action News Jax

08. 15. 17

THREE SITES YOUR MUST CHECK OUT!

Posted in: Advertising, All Topics, Classifieds, E.C. Blog

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08. 14. 17

Axis Deer History and Health

Posted in: Animal Health, E.C. Blog

Axis Deer

History

The axis deer can be traced to the foothills of the Indian Himalayas and island of Sri Lanka ( Ceylon). Their original habitat was open country at lower elevations in forested regions. They have been introduced onto other continents and are a favorite of zoological gardens around the world. Free ranging populations exist in the continental United States, Hawaii, and Australia. Axis deer were introduced into Texas in 1932. Texas has by far the largest population of axis deer in the United States.

SPECIES SPECIFICS

General

Axis deer have striking reddish-brown coats marked by white spots arranged in undisciplined rows along their sides. They have a black dorsal stripe and a white bib on their neck, white inner legs, stomach, and undertail.

Male heights range from 29 to 39.5 inches. Mature weight is from 145 pounds to 250 pounds. Males have darker facial markings with a more pronounced “scowling” expression the older they get. Female axis stand 26 to 33 inches and weigh from 90 to 150 pounds.

Axis bucks can be in hard horn any time of the year. They grow and shed antlers on their own clock so in one heard there may be a newly shed buck, a hard horn buck and a buck in velvet.

Usual antlers are 22 to 27 inches, with trophies ranging from 30 to 36 inches. Axis have a typical antler structure of three points on each side consisting of a main beam, one secondary point halfway up the beam, and a brow tine. However, four points are not uncommon.

It is thought the axis deer are not cold tolerant. In Texas, they have adapted from their Indian average temperatures of 70 degrees to the varied temperatures of Texas.

During stressful times, good animal condition and heavy situational feeding have made the difference between high death loss and virtually none.

Axis deer appear incapable of putting on intra-muscular fat and are very efficient grazers.

They produce lean meat with 0.2% fat or less, and therefore are legally “fat free.”

Nutrition/Health

The primary diet of axis deer is grass, and they will graze on new weeds and forbs. When grass is not in sufficient quantity, they may browse. Axis graze successfully on native Texas grasses such as curly-mesquite, Indian-grass, side oats grama, big and little bluestem. They do well on improved grasses, such as Klein. Seasonally, they do well on winter wheat. Browse species include live oak and hackberry. Mast includes acorns and mushrooms.

In a ranched situation, axis deer are disease resistant and do not require inoculations or worming.

Texas fleas and ticks appear to be species-specific and do not bother axis. Axis can get tuberculosis but cases are extremely rare and, in the only documented case found in axis deer, was present in a Hawaiian dairy cattle herd where axis fed.

Reproduction

Axis deer have a high fertility rate and can breed year round, usually based on their birth date. A primary harvester of excess animals in the Texas Hill Country reports that they have never harvested an axis female that was not pregnant, lactating or both.

Gestation is approximately 7.5 months (210-238 days). In Texas, fawning peaks in January-April and October-November. Researchers report that males in velvet antler can breed. Eight to twelve month old females can breed but the first fawning is usually at 23 months of age or later.

It is generally believed that axis does are capable of producing four fawns in three years and are productive to at least age 15. Multiple births are extremely rare but have been reported in zoos and wild populations.

One axis buck can service ten to forty females, maybe more. As the excess and older breeder bucks provide good trophy income, there is no reason to skimp on buck availability.

07. 06. 17

NICE MALE AOUDAD!

Posted in: Advertising, Classifieds, E.C. Blog, Featured

Listing Image

NICE MALE AOUDAD UP FOR AUCTION!  AUCTION ENDS ON MONDAY AT 1:00 P.M.!  LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT AT www.wildlifebuyer.com AND GET YOUR BIDS IN!

06. 29. 17

1.0 Gemsbok!

Posted in: Advertising, Classifieds, E.C. Blog

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Wildlife Buyer Exotics

06. 27. 17

UPDATE: Bill Busbice, Star of Outdoor Channel’s Wildgame Nation, Sentenced for Elk Poaching in Wyoming

Posted in: E.C. Blog, Featured
BREAKING NEWS |

UPDATE: Bill Busbice, Star of Outdoor Channel’s Wildgame Nation, Sentenced for Elk Poaching in Wyoming

Bill Busbice, host of Wildgame Nation on the Outdoor Channel has reportedly been sentenced for intentionally allowing an antlerless elk to go to waste and for hunting without a proper license.

According to the Star Tribune, Busbice appeared before Lincoln County Circuit Court Judge Frank Zebre, who sentenced him to one and a half years of unsupervised probation and ordered Busbice to pay $23,000 in fines and restitution AND will lose his hunting and fishing privileges across 45 states until 2019.

The original news release from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department was taken down due to “inaccurate information,” and representatives of Mr. Busbice have also asked us to remove the original press release from our website. Other sources are reporting, however, that Bill Busbice was observed on October 16, 2016 shoot and kill a female calf and then a bull elk on a ranch Busbice owns himself.

“The case started on October 16, 2016 when Kemmerer Game Warden Chris Baird received a report from a group of hunters that had observed a possible wildlife violation on the Spring Creek Ranch, which is owned by Busbice, on La Barge Creek.”

The hunters who watched Busbice and the other man who was with him that day say they saw the men walk to both carcasses, leave, and then eventually returned and retrieved the bull elk with a backhoe but left the calf out in the field to go to waste.

“Apparently, there was a younger man with the hunter who had a video camera and appeared to be filming the hunt. They watched the hunter shoot one elk, presumably a cow, and then shoot a bull. The first elk fell within around 60 yards of where the bull went down. They observed the hunter and the cameraman walk up to look at the bull and then leave the area,” said Game Warden Chris Baird

Busbice was cited before this incident in 2016 for purchasing a resident elk tag even though he was not a resident. He was also cited for purchasing more than the authorized number of deer tags and paid $1,430 in fines for those violations.

Here’s a video of Bill Busbice crossbow hunting whitetail deer: