"I’m back in the saddle again!"
Life sometimes throws you some interesting curves, and occasionally you simply have to make some adjustments. In my instance it was primarily one of trying to figure out not to be gone ALL the time. So after many days, nay weeks, of being on the road, I’m finally home once again and this time I hope to spend a little more time there at least for a while. Seminars in such northerly places as Virginia, Minnesota, Wisconsin, as well as appearances in Florida, Nevada and of course the Dallas Safari Club Convention, along with many other commitments regarding television and the like are at least momentarily behind me. Now I can kick back, get back to writing and start planning the next round of adventures.
Those next adventures include trying to finish out our upcoming television show, T/C’s ONE GOOD SHOT, which will start appearing again in July on Sunday nights on Men’s Outdoors & Recreation at 8:00 pm our time, and getting to work on our next annual issue of LOS CAZADORES which will not only be bigger than last year’s issue, but also better. Incidentally the publication won a host of awards on the various literary scenes, including being selected as the best in Texas, by the Texas Outdoor Writers Association. So we’ve got some tall boots to fill, but with what we have set forward, I think you’ll agree it’ll be the best yet.
This year we’ll again have several informative articles, but also some written to entertain. Another change with the LOS CAZADORES annual is that everyone who enters our Los Cazadores Deer Contest this year will receive a copy, as part of their entry fee.
Regarding the LOS CAZADORES publication, I’m looking for a cover photo, specifically a vintage hunting photo, much like last issue’s in that I want it to be of a hunter from the early 1900’s. If you know where I might find such a photo, I’d appreciate hearing from you. Please email me at larry@loscazadores.com.
As this is being written in mid-March for the April column, there are a few drops of rain falling from the sky. And they are indeed most welcome. Throughout much of South Texas we’ve had a little rain which has helped start things greening up a bit. While we’ve had rain, much of the Brush Country still hasn’t had sufficient rain to get us out of our perpetual drought, or to run any "tank water". We’re in better shape than last year, but not nearly where we’d like to be. But, then I guess we never are, and still at the same time we can’t forget South Texas is a desert and any rain fall is a blessing and a bonus.
Bucks are just now starting to lose their antlers. After a few trips to try to find sheds, we’re about to enter what Gary Machen calls "The Most Boring Time in Texas!". Bucks have lost their antlers and all deer pretty much look alike, there’s not really much to hunt if you’re a serious deer "afficianado" and we’re in for at least four or so months of boring, until the bucks again have antlers larger enough to truly appreciate and enjoy.
Now I know there are a bunch of serious turkey and hog hunters who will disagree with that "boring" statement. True these are nice "divergencies" from boring times. So are "bear hunting up north" and heading back to Africa. I’m going to miss bear hunting this year in favor of returning to Namibia with Frontier Safaris (Barry Burchell) to again hunt the same area I did last year in search of a big greater kudu, and a bunch of other plains game.
I dearly love hunting kudu! If kudu bulls responded to horn rattling, I’d like it even better, but I’ll take it as is. The gray ghost of Africa is truly a magnificent animal. I also love hunting the little antelope such as klipspringer (I shot my first one last year after four other trips to Africa in hopes of taking one), steenbok (which to me is much like hunting tiny whitetails) and the like. This time too I hope to take a grey duiker (in my trips to Africa I’ve thus far not yet taken this fairly common critter, and it hasn’t been for a lack of trying!).
But before Africa….we’ve got our annual LOS CAZADORES WHITETAIL CAMP and AWARDS coming up on Saturday, May 19, at Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio. We’ll have a great show this year, including many interesting vendor booths, the best display of whitetail heads and mounts taken during the past hunting season seen anywhere in North America, various events going on throughout the day, including inter-active seminars, our drawing for a free Polaris pulled from among those who entered our Los Cazadores Deer Contest during the 2006 hunting season, an opportunity to visit with old friends and maybe even a surprise or two. If you’ve not already made plans to attend this must see and attend event, it’s time to do so. We’ll have more information on the website shortly!
It’s good to be back once again on the column. With a few changes I’ve made I should be back here every month from here on. Remember this is as much your column as it’s mine, so if you’ve got a question or would like me to address a particular subject, please drop me an email.
Wish ya’ll the best of the beginning of the most boring time in Texas!
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