Doug Snags First Trophy of the Season Before Trophy Snags First Doug

In the summer months, rattlesnakes often reverse the natural pecking order, forcing the hunters to become the hunted. One wrong step in the tall stuff, and its two sharp fangs to the shin. On August 20, Doug L. almost found out the hard way.

At about 10 p.m., Doug was heading back to the trailer from the barn. Just as he's about to hit the steps to the patio, he hears a rattle. Curled just one yard away from the deck was a 3 1/2-foot-long rattlesnake. As Doug explains, "I was one stride away from getting tagged when I heard him rattle." As the snake put it, "I was one stride away from getting dinner when I accidently rattled with excitement."

Doug got away before having to make his second trip to the Graham emergency room. Instead, he got himself the first trophy of the season. Doug's words of wisdom from the traumatic experience: "Makes you think twice about wearing flip flops out there."

Rain to Proffitt Lake: 'You're Welcome'

Well while South Texas was suffering from the worst drought in more than 50 years, Proffitt, Texas was receiving some of the best rainfall in recent years. It's looking mighty green throughout the entire 502 acres. It looks like the wildlife should be plenty fed by the time hunting season rolls around.

Proffitt Lake to Rain: 'I'm Thirsty!'

A quenched Proffitt Lake stretches far and wide in 2008. Area hunters hope rain returns the lake back to one of the most sought after drinking holes in the county. Photo credit/Teresa

With all this rain North Texas has been receiving in April and May, Bill and Elsie report that apparently it's been missing the ranch. The acre lake, recognized by Texas Parks and Wildlife as "the best place to catch a monster in Proffitt, Texas," has seen better days. Be sure to follow all the area weather out of our Newcastle Weather Center by clicking the link on the left. Here's to better, rainier days ahead.

Chupacabra

What looks like a dog, has a long rat tail, long hind legs, no fur, bluish black skin that shines in the sun, huge ears, large white fangs, and a head that is too large for its body? Guide Sam G and client Chris D do not know either, but this gnarly critter cut them off on the upper wheat field around 10 am on March 17 while the two were doing some preseason turkey scouting. The two ran down what they could only assume is a chupacabra, a popular urban legend down in south Texas. The animal seemed to be resting in a fallen deer blind between the upper and lower wheat fields when the "scouters" startled it while riding on a ATV. The alleged chupacabra then took off toward the western fence line, running about 30 mph. Sam G and Chris D got within 10 yards of the chupacabra while doing 25 mph on the 4 wheeler, but then the animal really kicked it up into high gear. Sam G stopped the ATV and Chris D took about a 100 yard shot with his rifle at the chupacabra while it was streaking across the upper wheat field. A long shot and a fast target equaled a miss, but burned a memory into both guide and client.

Chupacabras are said to be coyotes with a case of very bad mange, but sightings of these animals this far north are rare. Urban legend also labels them as "bloodsuckers", feeding on sheep and other livestock. They are most frequently sighted near the town of Cuervo, in south Texas. Also, the odd, almost alien looking animal seems to have characteristics that a "bald" coyote would not possess, further adding to the mystery of what exactly the animal is.

This is the second sighting of a chupacabra on the LG^2 Ranch. Trey L. had an encounter perhaps with the same animal near the front, 1 acre pond. It approached him one evening while he was dove hunting in late September, 2008.

After the experience, Trey L has two more hunters backing him up that the chupacabra of urban legends is living near the LG^2 Ranch property.

Spring Turkey Outlook

Yesterday was April Fools day, which can only mean one thing at the Texas LG^2 Ranch-that spring turkey season is right around the corner. One would have to be a "fool" to not want to get in on this action.

Guide Sam G and partner Chris D went out to the ranch for a little pre-season scouting in mid March to see if any gobblers were hanging around the 500-acre ranch. Deer hunters went all season this year without seeing a single turkey on the property, but things have heated up since then.

On Monday evening, the two hunters called in two large Toms using an electronic call while sitting in the black tower stand. The birds worked hard and circled the entire area trying to find the "hen" that was making such a commotion. However, they did not gobble once. The two turkeys then flew up to roost about 75 yards directly behind the Black Tower stand. Two more gobblers then flew up into the roost to join the first two, forming a group of three longbeards and a Jake.

Tuesday morning found the two guides at it again, scouting out hunting areas and checking feeders for tracks. There were four separate groups of turkeys responding to the electronic call, but none wanted to come in. The largest of the groups was roosting on the west fence line near the bottom wheat field. This may be the same group that is rumored to have over 20 Toms, Jakes, and hens. Turkey tracks were found in all feeders that were throwing at the time, with the black tower stand being completely covered in turkey tracks.

Gobblers were most responsive during the morning, but seem to be roosting with hens. Midday and afternoon hunting will produce birds wanting to come into turkey calls and decoys, but they tend to "sneak" up and not gobble too much before coming into the setup. If hunting in the morning, make sure you know where the birds are roosting in advance and try to get set within 100 yards of their roost.

The season opens this Saturday, April 4th. Good luck and safe huntin'.

Doug's Big Deer

For Doug, it's the sad tale of the one that got away. He could have fed a small village with this huge deer. To see it on YouTube, click here.

Waterfowl Wrap Up

The 2008-2009 duck season came to a close on Sunday, January 25th, and one could say the numbers were not as impressive as last year.

Two factors may have come in to play to why the season was not as productive as the 2007-2008 duck season. First, the waves of warm air allowed for open water farther to the north to remain unfrozen. Thus, the ducks had never migrated far enough south because there was plenty of water to inhabit in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska. Second, it was reported that this year had a poor hatch due to not enough rainfall in the Prairie Potholes region that runs along the United States and Canada border.

Or it could just have been bad timing, lousy shooting, and birds flaring off because of poorly made blinds.

Guide Sam G claims that, "...at least ten or so more ducks would have been harvested if my gun would have chambered shells. It was like shooting a single shot 4-10." This was a problem the hunter dealt with all season.

We saw average numbers of ducks throughout the season, but we never got the big push to where we could harvest 23 ducks in just 15 minutes. More ducks should have been harvested this season, but here are the results: 3 green-wing teal, 6 ring-necked ducks, 1 gadwall, and 2 mallards for a total of 12 ducks. Last year, close to 40 ducks were shot over Proffitt Lake.

What did make the waterfowl season quite special was the fact that it was a year of "firsts". The 2008-2009 waterfowl season has claimed the harvest of the first Canadian goose, the first snipe, and the first sandhill crane. Sandhill crane season wraps up Sunday, February the 8th. It is rumored that guide Sam G will be hunting the birds during the final weekend of the season.