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Santa Anna Quail Hunt March 2011

Santa Anna Quail Hunt

In March HGM joined friends for a two day hunt at the Santa Anna Hunting Area owned  by Gerry & Eldena Stearns (saha@web-access.net).  In addition to hunting Bob White and Tennessee Reds, we also found the occasional Chukar and Pheasant.  It was a wonderful 2 days and Eldena did a great job preparing our birds to be enjoyed for many future meals.

Rita and Gerry relaxing between courses.

 

First pheasant with the aid of Radar.
Skip, Ted, Rita and Rico enjoy the hospitality of the Stearns’.

 

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Troutfest 2011 Fly Fishing Expo

HGM attended the 2011 Troutfest Banquet and 2 day expo in New Braunfels, Tx .  The event was held on the banks of the Guadalupe River at Rio Raft Resort.  They had a phenomenal turnout and many fly fishing celebs showed up thanks to the hard work of dedicated volunteers under the supervision of Phil Dopson of the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited chapter.

"trout spots" handpainted margarita glasses painted by Rita Schimpff for the silent auction.
Celebrity guests, Dave & Emily Whitlock. Dave made each autograph special with a detailed drawing and personal note.
Celeb, Ed Engle provided river casting instruction as well as entertaining slide show presentations.
John Gierach's 'Ed' on the Guad.
The youngest celebrity, Tyler Befus brought an unprecidented amount of young people to troutfest.
Troutfest 2011 volunteer Gary Lehman, made it his mission to involve youth in the successful expo.

 

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4R Ranch Quail Hunt 2/14/2011

4R Ranch Quail Hunt

On Monday, Rita and Skip enjoyed a joint Valentine’s gift with a fabulous quail hunt at the 4R Ranch in Hondo,Tx.   It was a wonderful shoot behind experienced bird dogs,  English Pointers (Ginger & Junior) and English Cockers (Clover & Dixie) working seamlessly together.

Our hosts Jill and Deryl McKinnerney later treated us to a sunset tour of the kennels and ranch with abundant Axis, Whitetail and Turkey along the Hondo Creek.  Attention to detail and service is top shelf for their bird hunts as well as deer hunters.

Rita and guide, Scott Porter rest with Junior between courses.

 

Rita and Skip enjoy their Valentine’s Day hunt at the 4R Ranch in Hondo, TX.
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Houston-FlyFish Festival 2/5/2011

HGM visited the 19th annual Dr. Ed Rizzolo FlyFishing Festival in Houston on Sat. Feb 5, 2011.  Each year Texas FlyFishers hosts this event featuring fly tiers and rod builders from TX, LA, AR, OK, KS and NM.

Our day was capped off by a delicious dinner at one of our favorite spots, the Rainbow Lodge with a perfect Old Fashioned cocktail prepared in the Tied Fly Bar.  My dinner of lobster and grapefruit salad followed by spot on prepared venison, buffalo and quail was enjoyed in a room surrounded by a variety of game mounts on split log walls by a roaring fireplace.

Kevin Hutchison of Hill Country FlyFishers surprised me with one of his caps in pink!
Larry Offner, with Green Trout Fly Shop in LA, tying one of his jitterbees for me.
One of the creative and unique hand painted and tied bugs by John Maddox.