Operation Orphans is gearing up for the upcoming deer season. This season will be the 65th year that the organization has taken youngsters who are wards of the State deer hunting in the Texas hill country. The children come from child residential facilities and foster homes located across Texas. The kids hunt on area ranches and harvest does which helps the ranches control their deer populations. Some ranches allow the kids to harvest spikes or management bucks as well. It all depends on what management the landowner desires. These landowners offer an experience the kids will never forget. They have an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors learning about rural life and wildlife management. Each child is matched with a volunteer guide. These individuals spend a day in the field sharing their love and respect for the outdoors. During the girl’s hunt, a knowledgeable woman or a man/woman team will guide. All guides Operation Orphans provides must successfully complete a background check and hunter safety course. If a landowner supplies guides, they too must complete the background check.
The dates for this season’s program are October 25, Girl’s Hunt; November 15, Boy’s Hunt; December 13, Boy’s Hunt; and January 10, Boy’s Hunt. The children, guides, and Operation Orphans volunteers all meet at the base headquarters, Camp Gene Ashby, located on the banks of the Llano River in Mason County. The groups arrive on the Friday prior to their hunt date. Everyone signs in, and during the evening the guides and kids will take part in orientation and safety meetings. The kids will have an opportunity to visit the Clothing Room where volunteers will help them choose camouflage clothing and other items that they will get to keep. The youngsters each receive a “Goodie” Bag which has a pair of gloves, a knit cap, toiletries, and a few other items. Each child will also receive a pair of hiking boots. Everyone goes to the Mess Hall to enjoy a hearty meal and delicious snacks. The Janie and Milton Jordan Building have games and tables where everyone can hang out. Some kids enjoy playing basketball or football outside. Groups also have an opportunity to drive around the Operation Orphans Game Pasture to look at animals such as fallow, blackbuck antelope, aoudad, axis and whitetail.
Saturday morning, the groups get up very early for breakfast and travel with directions to the ranches where they will spend the day. The guides do their best to answer all the questions the youngsters have about hunting, cows, wildlife, etc. It becomes a touching bonding experience. Many guides keep in touch with the kids after the hunts. At noon, the kids and guides enjoy a sack lunch or often, landowners choose to provide a meal. Landowners can be as involved as they wish. Some want to guide and interact with the kids, while some just offer their land and give directions to blinds, etc. Operation Orphans gratefully works with each landowner. At the end of the day, once the groups return to Camp Gene Ashby, they check in and the deer are quartered for the kids to take home. This also becomes a great learning experience as the kids learn to skin and process the deer. Groups return to the Mess Hall for a hearty meal and fellowship. Everyone, even the unsuccessful hunters, have a story or two to share. Groups spend another night or head back to their homes.
If you are a lease hunter or a landowner, please consider participating with Operation Orphans. This program is a great educational tool for youngsters who may otherwise never have the opportunity to see a working ranch or enjoy the wilds and wonders of the outdoors.
Information about the Operation Orphans, Inc “Take a Child Hunting & Fishing” Programs can be found on the website: www.operationorphans. org. There you can find information to sign up as a guide, host ranch, volunteer, or to donate. Operation Orphans is a 501(c) (3) organization. If you have any questions, please contact Lyla or Jerry Crouch, Camp Supervisors, phone: 325.347.6745; Gary Brown, President, phone: 817.800.5889; or Bryan Clemons, Hunt Director, phone: 512.844.7169.