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Operation Orphans, Inc. kicked off its 50th season of taking less fortunate children deer hunting Friday, October 30th. Twenty five girls from four Texas children's homes came to Camp Gene Ashby looking forward to their outdoor experience Saturday.

Homes represented were:

Boy's & Girl's Harbor, La Porte; Children's Home of Lubbock; Foster's Home, Stephenville; and Boy's & Girl's Country, Hockley.

The girls and their guides hunted on nine area ranches.

Ranches participating were:

Circle M Ranch, Gillespie

Hahndarosa, Gillespie

Karl Ransleben, Gillespie

Lov Kuykendall, San Saba

Mill Creek Ranch, Mason

Northcutt Ranch, Mason

Pfeuffer Ranch, Schleicher

Ray Ranch, Sutton

YMCA Roberts Ranch, Kerr. Each girl was accompanied by a woman or man/woman team.

The 25 girls harvested 13 animals. Animals harvested were five whitetail does, five spikes, two management bucks and one sika. The deer meat is used in the children facilities or in their outreach programs.

Grace Christian School members prepared the sack lunches for the hunting groups. Those preparing lunches were: K.C. Coleman, Ethan Guerrero, Randee Renfroe, Kalla Guerrero, Amber McGowan, Aspen Martin, Dakota Martin, and sponsors John Coleman, Gay Renfroe, and Operation Orphans director Sherry Lehmberg.

Mason Boy Scout members preparing the Saturday morning breakfast were Tyler Chew, Benjamin Morales, Chucky Martinez, Samual Martinez, Bodie Adams, and Bill Adams.

Four additional hunts of the Operation Orphans, Inc. "Take a Child Hunting" program will take place November 21st, December 5th, December 12th, and January 9th. These hunts will be for boys.

Anyone wishing additional information about the Operation Orphans, Inc. program should contact Jerry or Lyla Crouch, Camp Supervisors, or may visit the web site: www.operationorphans.org.