Published: November 19, 2008 11:57 am         

Youth harvest 12 deer during hunt

Local youth participated in the 7th Annual Cooke County Youth Deer Hunt and harvested 12 deer during the Nov. 15-16 weekend.

Approximately 20 youth, ages 10-16, camped out at the hunting lodge near Moss Lake and went deer hunting. Game wardens, guides and adult sponsors from Cooke, Grayson, Denton and Tarrant counties also participated in the event.

“This hunt is for kids that have the desire to hunt but don’t have a place to hunt,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Jim Lundberg.

When the youth first arrive at the hunting lodge, the first duty is to review safety training. Most of them have already completed safety and firearms training through the 4-H Shooting Clubs. Then comes a pizza lunch and group assignments to the different sites. The groups then head out to the deer blinds, dressed in warm clothing, including the standard blaze orange and camouflage.

Four deer were harvested on Saturday and the other eight on Sunday. The group also harvested two turkeys and one wild hog. Four girls participated this year and two harvested deer.

Everything for the deer hunt was donated, including financial support, use of property, supplies and food. Participants enjoyed an event that would cost about $1,000 per person if they had to pay out of pocket.

“Landowners have graciously donated use of their land for this event,” said Lundberg. “Public access to hunting property is very limited.” Jerry Stool, Roy Brewer, Brad Teal, Jim Riley and James Cole donated the use of their ranch land for the hunt. Rick Mobley donated the use of his hunting lodge.

Other donors included Ronnie Phillips, Mike Allison, Gainesville Glass, Tony’s Feed and Seed, Mike Graves Feed Store, Wal-Mart, Edelweiss, Cabela in Fort Worth, Muenster VFW, Muenster Jaycees and Tim Hess.

“This hunt is part of the deer management program,” said Lundberg. “We did take some excess animals off the properties.” The group was selective about the game they killed, and harvested 10 does and two inferior bucks.

“We feel like the hunt was a huge success and everyone is already looking forward to next year,” said Lundberg. “It gives the kids a chance to get out of town for a day or two.”