7point whitetail shot in Brazos county on Nov. 28th 

Thanksgiving Whitetail Hunting

Happy Thanksgiving!

As some of you know I had the opportunity to deer hunt on the peach/pecan orchard owned by Lindsey's grandfather in Louisiana. Thanksgiving morning I was busy driving the 7 hours to the bayou state but I saw dozens of deer in the pastures as we drove. After dispensing with the turkey, dressing, cranberries etc. I went out at pre-dawn after getting the low down on where the deer should be. The spot I had available to hunt was small, about 20 acres but I could not see all of it at once since there were no elevated observation posts and it was placed on quite a grade. It was extremely windy just as it had been in Texas before the holiday and that together with the full moon made hunting very difficult. I guess waterfowl hunting is open since I heard lots of shotgun blasts from the neighbor. Anyway, I didn't see anything bigger than a squirrel so I went home quite discouraged.

This year Brazos county opened deer season up to does as well for four days around the holiday (25-28) So Sunday morning I went to the pig hole to see if that pack of does was anywhere to be found. Abour 8:25 my hopes were answered when I came around thespotted a couple deer near the edge of the overgrown fenceline at the top of the pighole where there is the tree over the fence and we have a snare set. I was just saying to myself that the doe was about to die as I set up for a nice supported shot when all three deer took off into the pasture and then made a big loop back toward the fence and went over right where they had the last time I saw them out in this area. I was depressed and suddenly I saw another deer come down the pasture toward the does, a young buck. I quickly moved the crosshairs over to him, he was turning away from me headed toward the spot where they jumped the fence.

I lightly yelled "bleah" attempting to sound like a doe bleat. the young bucks head spun around and he took two steps back toward me before the .270 roared. He bucked and then wobbled around for a moment before falling.

Forensic analysis showed that I hit the very bottom of the lung in front of heart, my bullet actually hit the sternum it was so low. I woudn't expect a single lung shot to drop him that fast so I imagine that shock of a bullet hitting its sternum after flying for only 75 yards must have been enough to stop the heart.

Hunting and Trapping in Brazos County

Saturday morning I went to the pig hole before dawn and waited hidden in a brushline near the main gate for the pigs show and and root in the pasture some more. There was no sign and when Alan and Chris showed up just as the sun rose we decided to go inspect our newest hunting spot.

Chris had spoken with a representative from the oil company and gained clearance to hunt the pigs that were tearing up the area.

We sat on top of a large catwalk and scanned the pasture for pigs but none showed up. We went back to the old pig hole and checked the snares and trap. We found a coyote in one snare which was dispatched by Chris with his pistol but nothing of any more importance. On the way to the new property we saw 5 deer but could not kill them. We then walked around the new property and determined that there were a ton of pigs there since it had rained that morning and there were fresh tracks everywhere.

I went to hunt in Gause that evening and it poured rain. The creeks were redicuously high and the hunting was non-existant but it had still been fun. That evening Chris alan and I made plans to meet at the oil company property at 6:30 and hunt. At 6:29 I was still on the highway when my phone rang and chris said he was going to be late since he was just leaving home. I pulled into the pig hole annex and parked near alan's truck and walked in. I was nearly to him when he began to wave frantically, I dropped my coat and ran up. A pig was on the far side of the pond all alone. We decided to sneak up to the pond dam and shoot from behind some trees with yellow leaves (poplar?) As we snuck alan asked if we should wait for chris to show up. I said we shouldn't since there was only 1 pig. We assumed prone positions, I put the crosshairs on the pig took up the slack in the trigger and told alan to shoot when he was ready. the noise from his shot made me pull the trigger just as I had planned and the pig fell down squeeling.

Just then Chris came around the bend in the road and waved to alan and I both very happy with how the morning was working out.

We walked over and alan finished the oinker off with one to the head.

That afternoon we took the pig to snook



After cleaning the pig that afternoon we had the opportunity to eat some delicious barbequed ribs.

Hunting Extravaganza in Gause

Steve and I decided a follow up hunt was in order this past Friday following our great display of miscommunication during our recon-turned-pig shoot earlier in the week. We skipped the pre-hunt blasting and made a bee-line to the same honey spot as last time (following the same route in to our blind). As we approached, Steve spotted a coyote with a beautiful coat along the fence line and to his dismay I put the cross-hairs right on him. As I was about to pull the trigger he started to move and I decided to pass on the shot since I knew Steve was uninterested in a fur and didn't want to scare off potential porkers. We took up our spots under a tree with brush surrounding it and commenced to waiting.

After a little while Steve jumps at the sight of a big boar (one of the largest I have seen on the property) that had snuck up behind us and was now walking away from us down the fence perpendicular to the one described by Steve previously. Although I think we were both embarrassed that the big guy walked right by us while we were looking in the wrong direction, I take solace in the fact that we were so well hidden that he failed to notice us as well. Regardless, Steve made a flanking maneuver with his 12 gauge in hand filled with buckshot as I attempted to sneak behind. The moment came and Steve let go a solid blast in his side and the boar took off like the Brits at the Battle of New Orleans. I managed to get a shot into his rear with the .270, but the hog had no interest in slowing down to check the damage despite his brief stumble. We proceeded to check for a blood trail and basically found even more of the property dug up with no sign of the hog. Regardless, it was a tough hog and I feel the meat would have been sub-par to say the least.

With our heads hung in disappointment, Steve and I made our way back out and I saw 3 white-tails milling around along the creek by the road. As I pulled the .270 up one of the deer looked back for a second and then looked the other way displaying a neon sign that said "shoot here" up and under his ribs. Letting go a blast at about 75 yards, the deer fell instantly - always a nice sign. Regardless, we decided to give it a little time before heading back to collect our venison. Upon our return, the other 2 geniuses had come back and were standing over their fallen comrade saying "Why is Joe taking a nap right now?". Of course a second shot went off, one of them jumped 10 feet in the air, turned and ran 20 feet and ended up in the same state as the first.

Steve and I then collected our bounty of two spikes and examine the ballistics. As we all know, partition bullets work incredibly well and both deer were sans lungs with no other damage to the meat imparted. This allowed us to have a wonderful dinner of sautéed venison heart prepared by Grand Master Chef Hoffman.

I will be going back for some pork either Friday or Saturday and plans are in the works for a group to join us afterwards for a nice Gause night out around the bonfire. Give me a call if anyone is interested.

Hog Hunting in Gause (Milam County, TX)

Yesterday Brian (a plant breeder whom I have classes with) and I decided to head north to chase some critters after we got out of class at 1:30. So, we went to class completely camoflauged up and as soon as class let out we kicked the tires and lit the fires.

We first went to the pig hole that Chris and I have been hunting right off of Highway 21 West of Bryan in Brazos County. We took the tour and inspected all the traps. We found some fresh rootings but saw nothing.

We then headed up further north up Highway 50 to Gause where we met Jeff about 3:00 or so. We made certain that all of our firearms were in adequate working order and gave brian a chance to shoot his .38 for the first time ever. Or so he claims, he shot extremely well for a first time.

We drove directly to the main ranch and parked at the southern most entrance, we walked in past the dilapidated house and swung further to the south and then walked down the pasture, overgrown with goat weed toward the bottom where pigs are most typically seen. When we were about half way down the pasture Jeff spotted a number of pigs moving from right to left along the far fence line.

I overreacted a bit and ran out to the left without laying out a plan with Jeff and Brian. I jumped the creek and ran way out to the left (North)in the next pasture and then advanced to the (East) fence line to cut the pigs off. I had hoped that Jeff and Brian would sneek up toward the pigs and it seemed as if everything was working perfectly. The pigs stopped in their tracks and milled around in nearly the same area that Mike F. shot his pig one night a couple years back. I went through an open gate in the fence and was now on the far side of the pigs, but not in the line of fire. I started to creep up toward the bunch of pigs when I noticed there was one small red one and about five black ones. Slowly the pigs pushed back across the fence toward Jeff and Brian. The .270 and the 30-30 let loose when I was about 80 yards from the pigs so I never even pointed the .44 at them, I am not sure of the shot distance. The pigs shagged it toward the woods to the south and made their escape. We searched the area for signs of a good hit but none were found. It was an exciting hunt and I was glad that brian's first pig hunt involved some action.

Chris Z shot a great deer Saturday, the rack was big enough for him to sit in! We are waiting for the story.


I am going to hunt next weekend if anyone is interested, Brian H. are you still going to be in town for the Texas Tech game?

Deer Hunting near Frankin (Robertson County)

I got the opportunity to go deer hunting this past weekend on about 225 acres just outside of Franklin, Texas. A co-worker/friend, Kenn, kindly invited me along.

We camped Saturday night outside of his unfinished cabin to the sounds of howling coyotes and acorns falling on the tin roof of the tractor shed. The land he owns is heavily wooded.

Sunday morning we headed out around 5:45, not exactly sure when the sun was to rise. I hunted up against a large tree that stood in a narrow clearing looking downhill to a creek bottom where a feeder was located. The only thing I saw were the two longhorn cattle Kenn has wandering the property. They appeared at the feeder and slowly meandered their way up the hill toward me. Needless to say that was quite distracting. While this was going on, I did see a hog at the creek bottom, but by the time I got my eye through the sight, it was gone.

Kenn hunted at the crown of a cleared hill looking over a patch of oats and rye and a feeder.

Kenn met up with me around 8 AM. Soon after we saw two big fawns about 20 yards away. Almost completely ignoring us! We called it quits for the day.

While moving a blind later that morning, two large does crossed the path behind us.

In talking to Kenn, a neighboring landowner and other hunters here at work, the consensus is that deer hunting will be slow going until the large crop of acorns disappears and grasses die off from cold weather.

Kenn was hunting with a 7mm Mag, and I borrowed his .22-250 w/ a Leupold 3x9 scope.

So no deer were to be had, but it sure was peaceful being in the woods again.

surfside 11/06-11/07

My in-laws wanted to spend a weekend on the beach so Michelle made arrangements for us to spend Friday & Saturday night in a beach house at Surfside. We arrived around mid day on Friday to find flat surf and clear water. We put out the surfrods right in front of the house for a few hours but we only got one bite and no hook-ups.

On Saturday I bought some fresh mullet and we rented a kayak so I could get the baits out farther. Fishing was really slow and I was starting to get worried that we wouldn’t catch anything. Right before the aggie game we get a hook up and Larry battles the fish. It was putting up a good fight but it seemed different. Finally I caught a glimpse of something I hadn’t seen before. It was a jack crevalle. Everybody, including me was pretty excited about that. Larry said it was the biggest fish he had ever caught.

We didn’t have long to wait before another hook-up. This time I talked michelle into fighting the fish. This one seemed to pull even harder and michelle tried to give me the rod back but I declined. I think she enjoyed it.

Eventually she dragged another jack onto the beach.

Larry and I stayed out and listened to the aggie game. We caught a small sharpnose shark and called it a day around 5:30. I couldn’t believe that we didn’t catch a redfish but I was happy to get the jacks.

There are a couple more pictures:
http://www.brianandmichelle.com/pictures.php?catid=32