Last year I had to go to West Texas for some training. We were installing wind generators at a wind farm west of San Angelo out in the middle of nowhere. Frank was great and was driving me all over the site. I kept seeing these huts up on stilts. After awhile I had to ask him what they were. “Those are deer blinds” he said. I wasn’t really getting it so I asked him to explain. Frank told me that people pay to hunt in certain areas in Texas, it’s called a Deer Lease. To ensure that the hunters get their deer, the deer are fed in a certain location at a certain time near the deer stand. Then all the hunters have to do is park their rig, get in the deer stand, wait and shoot. Most of these deer are farm raised so it’s like shooting into a herd of cattle. I was stunned.
I grew up in a hunting family and was drug out against my will on hunts all the time. I can remember being woken up way before dawn and driving to the mountains. And then walking and walking and walking looking for deer, elk or whatever else we were hunting for. Sometimes you got one. Sometimes you didn’t. That was supposed to be the thrill of it.
This Texas hunt thing reminded me of the time I caught my ex-husband Bill baiting the pheasants in the back yard and then shooting them from the dining room window. I threw a freakin’ fit.
I am not a big proponent of hunting, but if you are going to hunt……HUNT! I don’t think baiting and waiting is hunting. Why don’t you just tie them to a post? I challenge all you big bad Texas deer hunters to come up to Washington and hunt. Let’s see if you can hang with the big boys….and girls.
The photo above is a permanently installed deer blind in Texas.
This is a photo of a deer feeder. It’s programmed to feed at specific times every day.
To all my Texas friends…..I love ya but this is ridiculous.
So…..comments anyone?
Ms Sparky
Ambush–noun Also, ambushment
An act or instance of lying concealed so as to attack by surprise: The “ hunter” waited in ambush near the deer feeder to kill his prey. .
Hunting–verb (used with object)
To chase or search for (game or other wild animals) for the purpose of catching or killing.
Please note: This not in reference to those with disabilities.
Baboo–noun
1. a Hindu title of address equivalent to Sir, Mr., or Esquire.
2. a Hindu gentleman.
3. a native Indian clerk who writes English.
4. Usually Disparaging. any native Indian having only a limited knowledge of English.
Sooo, which are you? A Hindu gentleman or a disparaging term for native Indians?
Hey not bad, Baboo also means old guy in Hindi slang.
Hey Hof;
By the way, I did see my favorite hat in the store with the logo, “Old Guys Rule” with the underscore of “Living Legend”
I have had a lot of fun reading the posts for this blog. Although I have not hunted outside of Texas, I am very respectful of methods used in other states. I can’t make many comments that haven’t already been said. However, I must say that I am embarressed by some of my fellow texans’ behavior toward you ms sparky. That is no way to treat a woman. Most of us live be the adage “treat others the way you would like to be treated”. I will mention that quite a few of the folks on texashuntingforum are very argumentative and love playing devils advocate. But I have to say that there is no place on both sides for name calling.
My opinion is “Frank” did not accurately explain to you the nature of hunting in texas. I am in the feeder camp. I utilize 8 feeders on a 2000 acre ranch in south texas brush country. This helps greatly in attracting deer to our land and retaining them. It also assists in patterning the deer by forming “congregating” areas. However, this does NOT make it much easier to find deer. As many others have stated and will agree, you still have to “do your homework”. Just as a member of your elk hunting party attempted to locate and pattern the game in WA, so we must also do. We still have to figure out what trails are used at what times, locations of bedding areas, which foods sources are utilized at what times of the year, etc. Since most private ranches in TX are less than a quarter the size of mine, the spot and stalk method is rarely used due to the issue of space
My plea is to all the hunters here and in all states to be ethical sportsmen, and honor the laws in the areas you hunt; Most of us hunters strive to make clean quick kills, utilize the as much of the animal as we can, donate useable parts that we don’t care for, and dispose of the remainder in a manner that doesn’t threaten the health of others. All of us should be appalled by poachers and those that abuse the priviledge of hunting. These “hunters” are the ones that give the anti-hunting and animal rights activists their ammunition. In the same manner, criminals and gun owners that can’t keep their anger in check, give ammunition to the gun control crowd. (No, I’m NOT an NRA member! I just happen to thing that the idea of guns killing people is horrible logic. That same logic would say that pencils cause spelling and grammar errors, and matches cause arson. Guns have an IQ of ZERO! They cannot discharge by themselves. A person must make the decision to pull the trigger and then actually do it!) As for myself and all my friends that are hunters, we don’t shoot if we can’t make a clean swift kill, we make every effort to recover any animal that was shot, handle the carcass so that waste is kept to an absolute minimum, and donate any edible parts that we don’t need/want. If this was the message the non hunting public received, then the animal rights activists would not have the clout that they do. It’s those irresponsible individuals that abuse the resource and their hunting privileges that give hunters a bad name. We are in an age where beef, poultry, and pork can be produced commercially in sufficient quantities so that hunting is not the NECESSITY it once was but is now a PREFERENCE. ( this is a response to the one that would not accept the argument of hunting for meat.)Just as that person may prefer to eat beef, poultry, fish, pork, shellfish, or just vegetables & grain based food, I and most other hunters prefer to eat venison, wild boar, wild birds, etc. and choose to hunt for them . WE ALL HAVE THAT SAME CHOICE TO MAKE EVERY SINGLE DAY! WE HUNTERS DON’T CRITICIZE THE NONHUNTER’S OR VEGETARIAN’S CHOICE SO DON’T CRITICIZE OURS!
Also, some of our ranks are hunting just for sport in order to get the big “trophies” and not for the meat. As long as the edible part of the deer is responsibly used, then I have no problem with it. Personally, I hunt for trophy bucks and kill does for meat. My only issue with fellow hunters comes when only the best parts of the meat(backstraps & tenderloins), along with the horns, is taken and the rest left to rot. I find that to be irresponsible and abuse of the resource. Sorry for the lengthy post. I’m getting off my soapbox now.
You sound like a true sportsman. And your argument is valid. And with all that explanation not one time was there a threat or name calling. THANK YOU!!
Your welcome. I find that cussing and name calling may vent frustration but still get you nowhere. Not to mention offend the recipient, get their back up, inviting the same response back, and (if this was in person) potentially end up in physical violence. Calm reasoned discussion combined with an open mind can get things done with both sides coming out for the better. God gave us one mouth and 2 ears for good reason.
2 ears? we’re supposed to have 2 ears? hmmmm
“My only issue with fellow hunters comes when only the best parts of the meat(backstraps & tenderloins), along with the horns, is taken and the rest left to rot. I find that to be irresponsible and abuse of the resource.”
Not to mention very illegal. Very well said sir, thank you.
Let me add my 2 cents:
As a Native Texan, Decorated & Disable Veteran, and a supporter of the Ms Sparky website, I take offense to most of the name calling on here.
If you are truly a native Texan and have time to argue about Hunting this and Hunting that, maybe you should look up some of this other issues relating to Texans on this site and do something to defend them.
Start with Jamie Leigh Jones. She is from Houston.
Or Tracy Barker.
Also look at Chris Everett.
Try this, go Google, “US District Court Texas KBR” Link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=US+District+Court+Texas+KBR&aq=f&oq=&aqi=
(Notice only 28,000 hits in our own back yard).
This site is really the only voice some people have to stand up to not only KBR, but to DynCorp, Fluor, Agility, and many other companies.
But some of the “Texans” on here are an embarrassment. Try to talk, or should I say write, with more respect. If you want to talk Hunting, please respect people with different Opinions.
I only put my two cents in because some of the people who served recently as civilians who supported the soldiers on the ground could really use your help.
2 Cents
Native Texan
Decorated & Disable Veteran
Thank you! And thank you for serving.
Ms Sparky,
I guess by now it is easy to see that Texans are very passionate about our hunting. Most of us strive to be good stewards of the land and it’s bounty. Owing to the fact that most of our deer hunting lands are also used for ranching we have a decided lack of predators capable of killing deer sized game, so we truly are responsible for the well being and control of our deer herd. For the few that have carried their disagreeing with you too far, I apologize. In Washington the WDFW manages your elk herd for you through the manipulation of seasons and the number of permits issued. [url]http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/elk/management.htm[/url]. In Texas the hunters are pretty much responsible for the management of our deer herd. In Washington the weather, terrain, availability of forage and natural herding instincts of elk dictate the hunting opportunities that are available to your hunters. In Texas there are areas that agriculture and/or food plots provide congregation areas for hunting, but in a vast majority of the state (keep in mind you can fit a little more than 4 Washingtons in Texas) there is nothing of any sort that promotes natural concentration of the deer herd except the rut (period of active breeding behavior). The rut is too short lived to provide ample hunting opportunities to effectively manage the population, so the TPWD allows us to use other means to concentrate our herd. So whether or not some on here understand it, the health and well-being of our deer herd is tied to our use of feeders. Feeders also provide opportunities for hunters to help control one of the biggest threats to our natural ecosystems that we have ever faced in the invasive feral hog, who is propagating beyond all sustainability and wreaking destruction hard to believe, but that is another discussion altogether.
I would ask that even though your initial impression of some of our methods was negative, that you be open-minded in understanding that our situation bares little resemblance to the hunting you are accustomed to, and thus has different requirements. Our state agency (TPWD) has made it’s regulations with the effective management of the state’s deer herd in mind, and those regulations allow feeders.
A reasonably stated comment such as this could make a person reconsider their stand on this issue. Thank you.
I love it when people are passionate about what they believe in and are willing to stand up in a positive constructive manner and fight for their right to continue to believe that way. You all believe in your right to hunt in a particular manner and I think most of the participants on this particular post do it with integrity and sportsmanship according to the laws of their state. So we disagree about methods. Big freakin’ deal. Like my opinion on this issue is going to change anything.
I only wish people could harness that same passion and direct it towards something I feel is as important as the safety and well being of our combat troops in the Middle East. The safety and well being of our civilian contractors who support them. Making rape, assault, theft, fraud and murder illegal for contractors even in a war zone. Making sure companies like Dyncorp pay their employees in Afghanistan on time and as agreed to. Making sure companies like KBR protect and assist rape vicitims in Iraq. Making sure not one more soldier or civilian is electrocuted in a shower after a hard day on patrol or at work in Iraq and Afghanistan!
I assist injured and ill veterans and civilians with benefits and give them a place to vent about the system. They truly have the right to complain. Many of them have lost their homes and families.
So if you want to know what I am passionate about and what I do when I am not bashing Texas deer hunters, check the category list on the left side of this post. There are 543 published posts. Only one of those is about hunting. And yes…I spend the biggest majority of my days sitting behind this damn computer investigating and writing about the injustices to our soldiers, our civilians and our US Taxpayers….that would include Texas as well. Please note I DO NOT take advertising, I do not blog for money. If readers want to donate they can. Either way I will still blog it my way and assist whoever asks for help.
Just so we’re clear…..this is NOT a public forum. This is my blog, my URL, my server. I pay the bills I am the sole moderator. I am allowing the majority of you to voice your opinions because you have been civil in your disagreement. I welcome disagreement, ask any of my long time Ms Sparky readers. For those of you whose comments were not approved or you have been blocked….you know why. Some of you I am just ignoring and letting you run your mouth!
And….if you are feeling slighted because I have not responded to your personal insult or opinion, I have several investigations going on and stories breaking…..a KBR employee was brutally raped in Balad, Dyncorp employees are not being paid in Afghanistan, Agility employees are stranded in Kuwait, Ecolog (a KBR subcontractor in Iraq) is facing indictments in Germany, The Franken Amendment passed (woo hoo) and I have to finish my Christmas decorating and shopping.
So if anyone has the desire to educate themselves on an issue that affects Texas as much as anyone, click on a category on the left or just click HOME in the upper right corner and scroll down.
Feel free to comment on anyone of those posts as well. Same rules apply!
It appears you got the last word there Ms Sparky. I am not surprised. You gave them there Texans a lot more free reign than I would have. I would have shut them down when the name calling started.
Too bad you can get them as fired about about KBR killing our soldiers or making them sick or locking up rape victims like criminals.
I always find it interesting to see which hill people choose to die on and which hills they walk completely around.
I am still amazed when I talk to people and they have never heard of the soldier electrocutions in Iraq but yet they know how many times Tiger’s wife whacked him with the golf club!
Not all of us name called Dwight. And just because it is not what we discussed in THIS blog (since it wasn’t about those things) doesn’t mean we lack concern for those issues. Nor does it mean that we don’t appreciate and admire Ms Sparky for the work that she does. It just means we were trying to correct what we saw as incorrect information. So if you want to see what hill I fight and die from, you better check them all.
I see IBEW brother Jim ran off whimpering like a girl. (no offense)
What a blow hard jerk off. Send me his email address I am going to look him up and see if he is really a member and if so what LU he belongs to.
None taken (but I don’t whimper). Just let it go…seriously, he’s not worth the trouble.
jake: read ms sparky’s earlier comment. she blocked him so no further posts allowed even if he wanted to. I agree he was the most unpleasant person on this blog and am embarrased that he is hails from my state. However, I am sure we would find people like him in all 50 states. So lets just call it water under the bridge and move on.
I thought I was pretty patient with him.
i cant believe that after all the name calling and ms sparky bashing you people would invite her down here to go hunting. it doesnt take a rocket scientist to know you dont piss a woman off and then hand her a loaded weapon. she will be hunting alright. she will be hunting texan.
I was thinking the same thing…not the brightest crayon in the box!
Ms Sparky, I may not be the brightest crayon in the box, but I would be proud to show you the work I do in my management efforts. It’s going to have to wait till next year, but the offer is extended. I feel quite safe that you are a passionate, yet reasonable person, and with all you do, you deserve some rec-time.
To all the vets who have left comments on the Texas hunting issue I thank you for serving.
I’ve got to admit this has been the best chuckle I’ve had in a while. So I just have to put my 2 cents in too . . I live in Michigan where our lovely DNR (Department of Natural Resources) has decided that we can no longer use “deer bait” during hunting season, but that we can plant certain foods for the deer to feed on (useful for summer and fall, but what do the deer eat after the snow falls?). Yes, we too utilize blinds, tree stands, tree ladders etc for hunting in the thick woods here, plus many still utilize the stalking method. All are effective in their own way, and many here do utilize their kills for food or donate to organizations that will use the meat, and no I personally do not hunt, my brothers do enough. But I do cook all the meat that they bring home. And yes there are some bad apples up here too!!!
I personally feed deer in my yard and everyone in the neighborhood knows it and do not even attempt to kill what I’m feeding, as most of them are young does or fawns. But under the new DNR rules my bird feeders are in violation of the new “bait” rules. Let’s see how long it takes for me to get a ticket!!!
Keep the posts up and the name calling to a minimum and we will all get a brief break from the madness of dealing with war, injury, death and corrupt contractors that this site originated with.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all
Edited by Ms Sparky: CTK3-You didn’t actually think I was going to allow that comment to be viewed publicly did you. You are disgusting!