Even though the temperature outside is really hot and we are just beginning August, it is not too early to begin thinking about the hunting season. It will be here before we know it. The drought is ongoing, and we all wonder when the rains will return. With the high population of deer here in the Hill Country and the stress they have endured due to the dry conditions, one would be wise to harvest a high number of does and management bucks and do so early.
It was such conditions in 1960 that prompted area Texas game warden Gene Ashby to organize landowners to allow less fortunate children to harvest does to lower the deer population. Operation Orphans, Inc. and the “Take a Child Deer Hunting” program was born to assist landowners in harvesting excess numbers of deer and would allow under served youth an opportunity to experience a deer hunt and learn about game management and the outdoors.
Participating children are wards of the State living in child residential or foster homes. The deer meat is used in their facilities or in various outreach programs. Each young hunter is accompanied by a volunteer who serves as a hunting guide. During the girl’s hunt, a woman or man/ woman team will serve as guides. Landowners may have their own guides, or Operation Orphans can furnish guides. Each guide must submit to a background check.All Operation Orphans guides must have successfully completed a hunter safety course.
The dates Operation Orphans has scheduled for this deer season are October 29, a hunt for girl hunters, and November 19, December 3, and January 14 for boys. An MLD hunt is scheduled for February 4 if there is enough interest.
Since the first hunt in 1960, 19,042 boys and girls have harvested 18,944 animals. The groups of kids arrive at Camp Gene Ashby, which is located nine miles south of Mason just off Hwy. 87, on the Friday evening prior to their scheduled hunt. The groups sign in, attend an orientation/safety meeting, and visit the Clothing Room where they can find clothing which they can keep. They are then free to eat supper and snacks in the Mess Hall and go to the Janie & Milton Jordan Building where they can play ping pong, pool, Foosball and other games. Soon it is time for lights out since the next day will start early.
Local groups such as the Mason Volunteer Fire Department or Mason Boy Scouts come to Camp Gene Ashby very early Saturday morning to prepare breakfast. The kids and guides get up around 2:00 a.m. to eat and get directions to the ranch they will be hunting. Everyone rushes off to get to their designated ranches and deer stands before daylight.
Some landowners provide lunches for the hunting groups, but if not, Operation Orphans provides sack lunches. The groups spend the day in the field and then return to Camp Gene Ashby. Deer are processed if necessary, and groups enjoy a hot meal and tell tales of the adventures they enjoyed that day.
The Directors of Operation Orphans, Inc. hope to make participation in the upcoming season the best ever; however, this is dependent upon the number of ranchers who participate. Individuals who lease property for hunting may also participate by hosting a child and thus give up one day and one deer for the benefit of allowing more children to participate. Ranches wishing to participate should be within 2.5 hours of Camp Gene Ashby so traveling time will be reasonable.
During the first 20 years of the program, only boys participated. In 1980 a girl’s hunt was added to the program. Boys and girls fishing days were started in 2004. It has been a pleasure offering additional opportunities for disadvantaged children to enjoy the outdoors.
To further assist children who have participated with Operation Orphans, Inc., the Eddie Argo Scholarship was established. Boys and girls who participate with the hunting and fishing programs are able to apply to receive financial assistance with their education. Eddie Argo had attended the Operation Orphans hunts as a child from a children’s home and then later became a director and volunteer with Operation Orphans. At present, three individuals who participated as children are now directors of Operation Orphans.
Operation Orphans, Inc. is a non-profit 501©(3) organization made up of a board of directors whose sole purpose is to serve less fortunate youngsters by offering them a positive outdoor experience. Any persons who are interested in assisting with the “Take A Child Hunting” program or who would like additional information may go to the website: <www.operationorphans. org>. One will find videos and information on signing up as a ranch, guide, home, or volunteer on the site. One can also contact camp supervisors, Lyla or Jerry Crouch, Phone: 325.347.6745, e-mail: <operationorphans@yahoo.com> or Bob Moore, Hunt Director, Phone: 903.258.4366, e-mail: <bob.moore@operationorphans. org>.