2010 NBHA Donated South Texas Hunt
Written By:Ken Sauer
Dennis & Hope Beauford, Watson Dorn, & Tony Riddle from South Carolina were gracious enough to win (high bidder) at the NBHA Summer meeting a hunt donated by Ken Sauer at his hunting lease on the largest ranch in S. TX. All proceeds went to the NBHA. To host this event Ken Sauer, Shawn Rowan, & Matthew Rafferty hosted this event. Ken Sauer donated all the lodging at the Lugana Salada Lodge in Riviera, TX, hunting truck, & the dogs are owned by Ken Sauer, Shawn Rowan, & Matthew Rafferty. This hunt was originally scheduled last year (when the bird hunting was exceptional) but the S. Carolina gang couldn't make it.
They arrived at the lodge on 2/6/2010 welcomed by the "Texas Boy's" to wonderful Texas wild game dinner consisting of venison sausage, quail, and dove. I think we all gained a few pounds that weekend. We hunted Friday, Saturday, & 1/2 a day on Sunday. The weather was great (maybe a little warmer than I really like) but what a great time we had. The camaraderie was great. We laughed until our sides hurt.
Our labrador "fetch dog" was provided by Mathew Rafferty (Remmy). My fetch dog "Bones" was left at home for this trip. You can see pictures of all the dogs and action photo's in the NBHA web site gallery. The pointing dogs we hunted behind owned by Shawn Rowan that did a grat job were Rowan's Watchme Flea, Rowan's Shower Down, Cypress Creek Sugar, & Redneck Rex. The string from Ken Sauer KC's Kennels were KC's Shrimpboot (aka. Karl), KC's Blackhawk, KC's Leer Jett, KC's Blackrose, Mist's Superman, Honky Tonk Acquisition.
Friday we got to the pasture around 8:00AM. The AM hunt only produced three covies. The PM hunt produced four more covies. As compared to last year we were turning twelve to twnety plus covies a day. Saturday produced a similar day to Friday and Sunday we moved four covies in the 1/2 day hunt. On both Friday and Saturday in the last run of the day we saved for a run off with KC's Shrimpboot & Redneck Rex. Both wonderful runnig and strong bird finders. The ground race was exciting to see. Sorry for Shawn Karl came up with the only find in this brace. This brace lasted for over an hour and man it was a treat. At least Shawn & I think so. Shawn's dog "Flea" and Sauer's dog "Rose" seem to have the most bird finding contacts. Shawn thinks he won but all my photo's Flea's either backing or Rose is pointing. I guess we'll have to repeat this again next year until a final winner is announced.
With only getting 3" of rain from December of 2008 to August 28th, 2009 the hatch was drastically affected. We disk, mow, and feed to help wildlife and feel compelled to do this to be good stewards of the land.
Shawn & I compete on a regular basis and even on this hunting trip we were trying to out do each other. It's still in dispute who actually won (the dog) but in my eye's we are all winners. Able to spend great time with wonderful people, hunt on a great ranch, spend time with our dogs, and laugh like a bunch of kids. Thanks to Dennis & his group for donating to the NBHA!
