The following article will highlight two hunts of Operation Orphans, held October 28 and November 18. Two additional hunts are planned December 9 and January 13. At the present time, Operation Orphans, Inc. is looking for additional places to take kids hunting during those dates. If you would like to host some kids and help get them outdoors, and harvest any excess deer, please contact Jerry or Lyla Crouch, 325.347.6745 or at 325.347.7306 (leave a message if no answer, please) or sign up on at www.operationorphans.org.
Friday, October 27th, 30 girls from six child residential homes came to Camp Gene Ashby in Mason, Texas. The groups were welcomed by volunteers and directors of Operation Orphans, Inc. The girls were excited to come to the beautiful hill country and have an opportunity to go deer hunting. Homes bringing girls were Foster’s Home, Stephenville; Methodist Children’s Home, Waco; Boys & Girls Country, Hockley; Arms of Home, Medina; Concho Valley Home for Girls, San Angelo; and Road to Wisdom, Houston.
Saturday, the girls, along with their guides, would travel to area ranches to hunt. Ranches hosting were Bar 7 Ranch, Gillespie county; Bearden Ranch, Mason; Bloys Ranch, Kerr; Blue Mountain Peak Ranch, Mason; IX Ranch, Mason; Ransleben Ranch, Gillespie; Northcutt Ranch, Mason; Spencer Ranch, Gillespie; Straley Ranch, Mills; White Ranch, Mason; Woelfel’s Stone Throw Ranch, Mason; and the Operation Orphans Game Pasture.
The Operation Orphans, Inc. hunting program assists ranches in harvesting excess deer. The hill country is known for its abundance of whitetail deer. The over population can cause starvation due to the competition of limited feed and grasses, especially during periods of drought. Most ranches allow harvesting of does and long spikes. Some harvest management bucks and even a few allow the harvesting of trophy caliber bucks. It is up to the landowner what animals are harvested. Each girl has a woman or man and woman team who serve as guides. The guides share their knowledge and love of the outdoors. Each guide must submit to a background check. It can be done on the Operation Orphans website (www.operationorphans. org).
Once arriving at the camp Friday evening, the girls were signed in and assigned bunks in the dormitory. Everyone attended a safety and orientation meeting so all know what is expected of them and what they can expect to happen during their time at the camp and at the ranches. They then went through the Clothing Room where they obtained clothing and coats to keep. To ensure the youngsters have adequate footwear, Operation Orphans gets sizes of the kids prior to arriving and then purchase each child a pair of hiking or hunting boots. Faces light up when they receive those boots!
This year, we were so fortunate to have many experienced ladies to serve as guides. These ladies shared their love of the outdoors and were wonderful mentors for the young inexperienced hunters. One of the ladies held two clinics showing the girls and adults how to properly skin and process a deer. The girls were able to ask questions and see everything up close.
Saturday the groups headed out early to their appointed ranches. The 30 girls harvested 10 does, 2 spikes, 6 bucks and 1 aoudad for a total of 19 animals. Two of the bucks harvested were of outstanding quality and are going to be mounted for the girls.
On November 17, four child residential homes and foster homes brought 21 boys to hunt. Homes bringing boys were West Texas Boys Ranch, San Angelo; Boys & Girls Country, Hockley; Triple 7 Home, Houston; and Collard Home, Walnut Springs. Two homes unexpectedly had to cancel due to football playoffs and illness.
Ranches hosting the boys to hunt were Bloys Ranch, Kerr county; Century Ridge Ranch, Mason; DTR Family Ranch, Menard; Gentry Springs Ranch, Kimble; Karl Ransleben, Gillespie; Riley Creek Ranch, Gillespie; Woelfel Stone Throw Ranch, Mason; and Baethge Ranch, Gillespie.
The 21 boys harvested seven deer which were 3 does and 4 bucks. Hunting was hard. It seemed at ranches that were wanting does harvested, only bucks showed up and at places where bucks were to be harvested, only does showed up. The young and eager hunters learned a valuable lesson: When hunting, you don’t always come home with a deer.
The boys enjoyed getting out at the ranches. They were fortunate that it was a beautiful day.
In the Operation Orphans Clothing Room, there is a need for small and medium sized gloves, and small and medium adult sized camouflage shirts and pants.
Please search your heart and see if you can fulfill the needs of places to hunt or gloves and camo.