Bar B Bar Ranch Turkey Hunt

Over the weekend of March 26 - 28, 2010, the special youth weekend of the north zone spring turkey season, Huntmasters and volunteers from the Austin Woods & Waters Club led six youth on the Bar B Ranch in Burnet County. Doug DuBois served as Lead Huntmaster for the weekend and was assisted by HM Bill Bebee as guide coordinator, HM Mark Capps as calling guide, volunteer Tom Compton as calling guide and black powder educator, with Matthew Watson as camp cook.

The Bar B Bar Ranch is owned by Mary and Bruce Evans of Houston and is a pretty piece of the Hill Country in Burnet County. This is the second time we have hunted turkeys on this ranch and it appeared to have good habitat for what we hoped would be a successful hunt. We hosted four boys and two girls from around the state, with homes around Houston, Dallas and Diana (look that one up on Google Maps). Our father/daughter team from Diana included Shaine Nixon, who brought a wealth of turkey calling and turkey hunting experience to the hunt, selflessly sharing with everyone on Saturday with a calling seminar. New volunteer Tom Compton, friend of new AWWC member C.W. Smith, brought his enthusiasm for and knowledge of black powder firearms to the hunt with discussion and demonstration of a flintlock rifle.

Mark and Tom were successful in calling turkeys in for their hunters, both who were first time turkey hunters. First to bag a gobbler Saturday morning was Jake (that's right) from Sweeny, down near Brazoria. He hunted another piece of the ranch Saturday afternoon with his dad and Mark and bagged his second bird! What a way to get started? The youngest hunter was Luke, who travelled from Pasadena with his dad, mom and younger brother. Tom led Luke to a jake Saturday evening to round out the day. Unfortunately, the other four hunters experienced a great weekend of turkey calling and hunting, but no harvesta. However, with all the activities and thrill of seeing two other hunters harvest, all had a great time, being regaled by stories from Bill Bebee and well-fed from the kitchen of young Mr. Watson.