The "Take a Child Hunting" program of Operation Orphans, Inc. had 45 girls from eight Texas children's homes come to Camp Gene Ashby to enjoy a deer hunt November 20. This was the second hunt of the 2010-2011 season. Homes bringing girls hunting were Texas Baptist Home, Round Rock; Texas Pythian Home, Weatherford; Boys & Girls Country of Houston, Hockley; Children's Home of Lubbock, Lubbock; Cherokee Home, Cherokee; Presbyterian Home, Waxahachie; Hughes Foster Home, San Angelo; and Boys & Girls Harbor, La Porte. The 45 girls harvested 39 animals. Animals harvested were 22 whitetail does, six spikes, one buck, two management bucks, one blackbuck three hogs, three aoudad, and one axis. The young hunters along with their guides spent Saturday hunting 14 area ranches. Ranches hosting the girls were CC Davis Ranch McCulloch County; Chris Shaw, Mason; Cripple Creek Ranch, Bandera; Hahn Ranch, Gillespie; High Lonesome, Mason; J&L Ranch/Lawrence Hollow, Mason; Karl Ransleben, Gillespie; Lov Kuykendall, San Saba; Northcutt Ranch, Mason; Operation Orphans Game Pasture, Mason; Rancho Rimar, Mason; Rocking K Ranch, Mason; Woelfel Ranch, Mason; and YMCA Roberts Ranch, Kerr. Each girl was accompanied by a female guide or a man and woman guide team.

Operation Orphans directors Deana Hentz and Katie Hunter prepared the Friday evening meal. Aspen and Dakota Martin along with their mother, Rea Ann Martin, prepared the sack lunches for the hunting groups to enjoy Saturday. Mason Boy Scout members Dyllan Hofmann, Bodie Adams, Lerret Hemphill, Elliot Bibb, Tyler Chew, and T.J. Schovajsa prepared the Saturday morning breakfast. Mason Bottle Company provided soft drinks for the sack lunches and Fredericksburg Bakery provided baked goods.

The "Take a Child Hunting" program will continue with hunts December 4, December 11, and January 8. During the two hunts held already this season, 77 boys and girls have harvested 71 animals.

Individuals who desire additional information about the Operation Orphan, Inc. program may contact Jerry or Lyla Crouch, Camp Supervisors, at 325.347.6743 or may visit the Operation Orphans, Inc. web-site: www.operationorphans.org.