Published: August 21, 2008 11:18 am            

Chance for Big Time hunt worth the $10

Outdoors

While buying your hunting and fishing license during the next few days, you might want to shell out an extra $10 to enter the drawing for one of the Big Time Texas Hunts.

All proceeds raised from the raffle will benfit Texas conservation, wildlife management and public hunting opportunities in Texas.

Deer hunting enthusiats have the highest percentage possibility of winning. Eleven winners will get a high-quality, white-tailed deer hunt on popular Texas ranches and with the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area.

Guide service, food and lodging are provided with these three- to five-day hunts. Each winner can bring a hunting companion as well.

One of these hunts is called the Premiuim Buck Hunt. One winner and a guest will get a chance at a huge trophy buck.

The Texas Waterfowl Adventure is the package that will appeal to real duck hunters. Three hunts in someof the hottest waterfowl spots in Texas, including a coastal prairie hunt for geese, a coastal marsh duck hunt and an East Texas wood duck and mallard hunt, are offered to the winner and three of his/her invited guests. All hunts are guided.

Two winners will experience the thrill of hunting African exotic game right here in Texas on the Mason Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Winners can harvest two exotic species, including impala, gemsbok, scimitar-horned onyx and waterbuck. Modern rifles, muzzle-loaded, archery or crossbows are all legal. Winners can bring a companion who will be allowed to hunt a lesser quality exotic. Food and lodging will be provided at the scenic Mason Mountian WMA lodge.

If upland bird hunting is your cup of tea, then try for the Texas Big Time Bird Hunt. The winner and three friends will enjoy two days of quail hunting, pheasant hunts and for two days in the Panhandle and two afternoon dove hunts. Also, a two-day guided spring turkey hunt will follow in March. All food, guides, pointing dogs and lodging is provided.

Or, how about a Texas Gator Hunt? One winner and a guest will enjoy a rare and unique three-day trip pursuing alligators at the J.D. Murphree WMA near Port Arthur. Each hunter may harvest one trophy gator. All necessary equipment, lodging and gator hide removal are included.

I spent many hours on the Murphree WMA as a teenager. It’s an awesome marsh experience. Zipping down Big Hill Bayou and across the marsh in an airboat is an unforgettable experience. Alligators are literally everywhere.

The biggest win of all the hunts is the Texas Grand Slam. It’s truly the hunt of a lifetime. One lucky hunter gets four separate hunts for desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope and desert mule deer. Beyond including food, lodging and professional guides, Woodbury’s Taxidermy of Ingram will mount your trophies.

Texas Parks and Wildlife issues only two or three bighorn sheep public permits each year. To be one of those few allowed to hunt such a majestic animal would be awesome. The sheep hunt will take place in far West Texas on one of the state’s WMAs. The three other hunts will be on some of the most-exclusive privates ranches in Texas.

Your chances of winning one of these big time hunts are probably less than being struck by a lightning bolt. But the money goes to a good cause.

Tom Roughton, Texas Premium Buck winner last year said, “I’m not sure most people purchase entries not so mch for the thought of winning, but investing in the their kids ad their kids’ kids.”



James Darnell is an ordained minister. He is producer/host of the syndicated television show “God’s Great Outdoors.” His column appears every Thursday in the Daily Record.

        

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