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Spring in the Hills: The allure of the country enough to draw anyone in
BY Luke Clayton, Special to Star Local News
The Texas Hill Country, depicted as the Edwards Plateau on regional maps of the Lone Star State, is an awe-inspiring area chock full of natural wonders.
One could easily spend a month, especially this time of year, touring the many natural wonders and fishing the crystal clear rivers and streams. And don't forget the roadsides, which are ablaze with wildflowers of all varieties.
I recently took a road trip through a region that began near Copperas Cove, just off Interstate 35 South, and ended near Kerrville. I joined fellow outdoors writer Bob Hood at his very remote hunting lease not far from the Colorado River, near the community of Bend. Our destination was Nature Blinds headquarters in Kerrville and the route from the lease took us through the heart of Hill County and some very famous deer hunting country.
Back when I was a fledging outdoors writer, I joined several friends each fall for three glorious days of day hunting near Llano. Raised in Northeast Texas in the late-1950s and 60s, I became enamored with deer hunting. We had a season, but they were an elusive dream more than a tangible game animal. My first two years of deer hunting resulted in the sighting of two does, not legal game back in those days.
I went absolutely wild the first time I had the opportunity to hunt around Llano.
Game management in those days equated to shooting any buck with hardened antlers. As a general rule, a 120-pound buck was considered big. I took a big spike buck that might have tipped the scales at 100 pounds on my first Hill Country Hunt, but I saw scores of deer.
To me, the Texas Hill County was, and still is, deer hunting heaven.
After three decades of intensive game management with improved whitetail genetics imported to the region (on many ranches those diminutive deer of yesteryear have become big bodies), heavy-antlered trophies will lure hunters from across the county this fall.
As Hood and I approached Llano, I noted the county road that led to the lease my friends and I hunted close to three decades ago. I'm betting today those rugged hills are home to some monster whitetails. It's also a good bet that I'd get laughed off the ranch if I showed up with the $210 we used to pay for our three-day deer hunt back in the 1970s.
After a scenic drive down memory lane, Hood and I arrived in Kerrville where we joined forces with the folks at Nature Blinds.
These innovative new blinds have generated huge interest at shows across the country and my buddy and I were invited down to get a firsthand look at the factory where they are created. We watched a happy workforce assembling the blinds and noted the dock was full of blinds ready to ship to ranches across the country.
The blinds look and feel exactly like a huge hollowed out tree trunk.
A tree trunk big enough to accommodate three adults with their cameras or hunting gear.
The big difference in the Tree Blind and the real thing is the fact it is a permanent addition to the landscape, it will never rot. Windows, doors, floor and a roof keeps the hunter comfortable and dry. Weighing 300 pounds, the blind can be transported by trailer into the field and two men can easily move it around into position.
Seeing the blinds at the factory was impressive but it takes observing one in a natural setting to fully appreciate the workmanship. Hood and I were taken out to a lease not far from the factory to photograph the blinds.
I was in awe when I walked up through the brush and spotted my first Tree Blind.
It blended perfectly into the brush and, because of its large diameter, I'm sure it would have attracted my attention had I been wandering through the woods and walked upon it. I would have stopped for a closer look at what was left of the huge dead tree trunk. Check out the images that accompany this article and then visit: natureblinds.com for more details. I believe you will be as impressed as Hood and myself.
When we wrapped up our tour of the blinds, that remote hunting lease of Hood's beckoned.
As we wound our way back through the Hill Country highways, our mind was on getting settled back at camp, hopefully in time to catch some fresh fish for supper from one of the little lakes on the lease. My buddy and I are cut out of the same mold in many ways. The freezer at the lease was well stocked with fish and game, but we both entertained the challenge of catching our own supper -- fresh.
With a rod baited with Uncle Josh Little Stinker Dip Bait set in its holder for catfish and a couple of spinning rigs with small inline spinners, we set out to catch supper.
In a little more than an hour of fishing, we had enough fish for a very nice fish fry.
A lone turkey gobbler sounded off back in the brush, causing my turkey hunting blood to race, but the tug on my line by a feisty 2-pound bass shocked me back into reality. Back at the camp, we broke out thin blade fillet knives and transformed the bass, crappie and catfish into boneless fillets. I'd caught a couple of big bream and Hood opted to scale them, leaving the fins on of course.
The evening was spent setting outside the cabin, soaking up the tranquility and watching a parade of whitetail deer skirt the brush, eying us dubiously. After all, they had the place all to themselves most of the time. As quiet as we were, the animals' keen senses detected our presence.
Some folks have problems sleeping at hunting camp. Luckily I am not one of them.
After a sound night of rest, Hood and I were sipping coffee at daylight, again watching deer heading from their night's feeding foray back to their beds.
Our whirlwind Hill Country tour had ended and it was time to pack up and head back to our homes. We each had deadlines to fulfill in the next few days, but our senses had been recharged by the wonders of spending time in the Hill Country. As I drove down Highway 190 heading back to Interstate 35, I took one last look at the wildflowers and stopped by the roadside to capture a couple of awe-inspiring vistas, vowing to return to the Texas Hill Country.
This country has a magical allure that always draws me back.
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