Operation Orphans, Inc., enjoyed another successful season of taking less fortunate children deer hunting in the Texas hill country Saturday, January 13th. Forty-one boys from five child residential homes harvested 32 animals. During the four hunts held during the 2023 hunting season, 117 boys and girls from 12 residential and foster homes, harvested 80 animals on 27 area ranches. Since 1960, 19,233 children have participated in the “Take a Child Hunting” program of Operation Orphans, Inc.
While the hunting season is now over, Operation Orphans is already making preparations for the 2024 season. Any land owner who would like to host kids next season and allow them to harvest excess deer or hogs can go to the Operation Orphans website: www.operationorphans.org and sign up or get more information, or contact Jerry or Lyla Crouch, phone 325.347.6745. Lease hunters who are willing to forego hunting one day and possibly guide should talk with their landowners and see if they would like to help get kids outdoors hunting. Anyone who wishes to serve as a guide must complete a background check which can also be done on the Operation Orphans website. Hunt dates for 2024 are: girls hunt, October 26; boys hunts, November 16, December 7, and January 11. This hunting program is a way to harvest excess animals and get less fortunate kids into the outdoors with people who care.
The kids that participated January 13 came from Triple 7 Home, Houston; Sweeten Home, Brownwood; Methodist Home, Waco; Arms of Hope, Medina; and Fosters Home, Stephenville. Each boy received a new pair of hiking boots and a goody bag. They also visited the Clothing Room where they could get a cowboy hat and other clothing to keep. Friday evening, everyone enjoyed a meal of Louisiana gumbo and potato salad and cookies and cobbler.
Early Saturday morning, the kids enjoyed breakfast and traveled to the following ranches to spend the day with their guide: Baethge Ranch, Gillespie county; Bar 7 Bee Cave Ranch, Gillespie; Burkhalter Ranch, Mason; Cripple Creek Ranch, Bandera; Foxhollow Ranch, Menard; Gentry Springs Ranch, Kimble; McHale Ranch, Mason; Northcutt Ranch, Mason; Spencer Ranch, Gillespie; and Sultemeier Ranch, Mason.
Animals harvested were 21 does, five bucks, five hogs, and one axis for a total of 32 animals. Hunting was a bit tougher than normal this season, but the kids still enjoyed a memorable experience and had a super time.
Operation Orphans, Inc., would also like to announce fishing dates for this season. Boys fishing will take place April 13, and girls fishing will be April 20. Anyone who has a tank or pond and would like to allow these kids to come fish should sign up on the website or contact Jerry or Lyla. All fishing is catch and release unless the landowner states otherwise. Operation Orphans has hosted 1,308 kids fishing since 2004. This is another wonderful way to get kids who are wards of the State into the outdoors.