Springtime Cleanup

Larry Weishuhn

While attending a DSC Foundation Board of Directors meeting, where I previously served on the Board and now serve as an Advisor to the Board. I was visiting with Abe Nayfa and Mark Little prior to the opening of the meeting to discuss among other things the DSC Summer Expo and DSC Foundation Gala we were lamenting the passing of the fall and winter hunting seasons.

I love the fall months my favorite time of the year, but, there is something to be said about spring and the opportunities it brings those of us who love hunting and the outdoors. Question that? There are after all spring turkey and spring bear hunts to be enjoyed, and traveling to the southern hemisphere where out spring and summer is their fall and winter.  But there are a few other fun things to do in the spring, beyond wetting a line. After all man cannot live on venison alone…

“It’s starting to green up here on the ranch. Got time to help do some spring cleaning? Whitetail does will start having fawns starting late May and into June. Turkey poults will be hatching about the same time. Mule deer, on the other part of the ranch will be having fawns in late June. We need to remove some feral hogs, but especially coyotes. And, I wouldn’t mind taking out some ‘coons as well. With all we’re doing on the ranch to improve habitat we’ve got room for a few more deer, both whitetail and mule deer. Taking out some predators should help not only our fawn survival, but also our growing turkey population.” Said Craig Archer.

Craig, beyond being a dear friend and an occasional hunting partner manages several ranches throughout Texas and adjoining states. Recently he has started using thermal drones to conduct game surveys. I help, where I can, making wildlife management suggestions based on my many years of working as wildlife management consultant throughout the country to improve wildlife habitat and maintain healthy game and non-game populations as a result of those surveys.

I knew Craig had done a great job on improving that particular ranch’s range conditions and was continually implementing additional ways to improve the habitat for bobwhite quail, mourning doves, Rio Grande wild turkey; whitetail and mule deer, but also the many other smaller wild species that lived in the area near Rotan, in the lower Texas Panhandle, including songbirds and butterflies!

Cattle play an integral role in his ongoing wildlife management programs, which I greatly appreciated. As a biologist, who has long helped establish and maintain quality wildlife management programs, one of the statements I did not like hearing from new landowners was and is, “There’ll never be another cow on my property!”

Proper seasonal or rotational grazing by cattle can actually greatly improve wildlife habitat where there is much grass, while also creating hoof-action which encourages rainfall to percolate into the soil, thereby stimulating “fresh” grass as well as “forb” growth.

I told Craig I would be honored to help him do his spring cleanup. He continued, “I know you like shooting those Taurus revolvers, but I’d suggest bringing a rifle maybe either your Rossi .30-30 or .45-70 if we can’t get close to hogs or see a coyote farther away than you feel comfortable taking a shot with your revolver.”

“Be there by noon on Monday and will have to depart Friday afternoon. I’ll also bring my Burnham Brothers’ FREQ electronic game call, a couple of their C3 mouth blown calls, .454 Casull Taurus revolvers, my Rossi M95 .30-30 Win lever action, and a supply of appropriate Hornady ammunition.”

Four days later Craig and I were set up for our first calling session. No sooner had I turned on the FREQ call than two coyotes charged out of a shin oak thicket, running across the food plot we sat next to. Whispered Craig, “Take the one on the right and I’ll shoot the one on left.” When both stopped 50-yards away, only a few paces apart, I dropped the male with my .454 Casull Raging Hunter. Less than a heart beat later Craig dropped the female. We continued calling but nothing else responded.

As we were picking up the coyotes I told Craig, “I stood outside last night about mid-night, just as the moon was coming up. There were coyotes howling in every direction, close, far and nearly out of hearing. No doubt the ranch needs some coyotes, but not as many as I heard last night.”  Craig nodded, then suggested we drive a mile and do another set up.

Our next stand, a coyote charged in so fast neither Craig nor I got a shot. I switched the FREQ from a distressed jackrabbit to a bird in distress. Moments later either the same or another coyote appeared to our right, about fifty steps away. This time I was ready, my .454 Casull Raging Hunter rested on sticks pointed exactly where the old male appeared. I cocked the hammer, centered the crosshairs on his broadside vitals and pulled the trigger. The coyote fell so quickly I almost did not see him fall.

We made a quick trip back to the ranch headquarters.  Strong winds and much cooler temperatures arrived. I wanted another layer of clothing to keep warm as did Craig. While at the headquarters I grabbed my Rossi R95 .30-30 and a handful of Hornady shells in hopes we might be able to find a hog.

In route to another part of the ranch we spotted a small sounder of hogs. Using the wind to my advantage I was able to stalk to within seventy-five yards. I set up my shooting sticks and dropped the hog closest to me.

The wind was now blowing 30+ mph hour, too stout to call.

Two days later, after four more hogs and one coyote, the wind subsided. We returned to calling with excellent success! By week’s end we had taken five more coyotes and seven wild hogs.

Craig’s spring cleaning had been a success!