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EF Hutton, when Butch Thompson speaks people listen. He is the wildlife
director at the world famous King Ranch. Thompson went to work there more
than 30 years ago for "Mr. Bob" (Robert Kleberg) and has the task of running
the wildlife division, brush control and security of the 825,000 acre ranch.
Thompson is someone that you instantly respect and trust. A handshake from
him is his bond and if he tells you something you can bank in Denver on
it. Although I only see him once in a while, he is someone I have a deep
respect and admiration for. I'm proud to call him a friend.
The buck-doe ratio at King ranch is kept at a 1-1 ratio and offers some
of the finest trophy whitetail hunting in the world. The habitat is carefully
maintained so that nutrition, cover and water are all available for the
abundant wildlife on the ranch. Nilgai, turkey, feral hogs, javelina, and
deer share the ground with cattle and the high quality horses the ranch
is famous for. Almost anyone will attest that the King ranch is one
of the finest examples of game management on earth. They have
a long history of being good stewards of the land & natural resources.
I met Butch in 1998 at a Texas Parks & Wildlife EXPO. InI was doing
shows there and Butch and I became friends. He attended my shows
and later invited me to do private shows at the ranch for the owners and
cowboys & their families. This was the highlight of my exhibition shooting
career. We did three private shows for the family and one for
the working cowboys of the ranch. Some of the cowboys there are fifth generation
vaqueros (cowboys) and are top hands. After the archery was
done I was able to spend a few days riding horse back with them and watch
as they herded cattle. These are the best quarter horses on earth
so it was a huge honor to ride King ranch mounts.
Recently my father and I were able to enjoy a day hunting with Butch
Thompson. He doesn't take hunters very often so it was a pleasure to spend
an entire day with him. When you start a day with Butch you start
out at Lydia's restaurant having breakfast taquitos and coffee at 5:30
AM SHARP. Taquitos are a Mexican dish of eggs, bacon or sausage and cheese
in a soft flour shell. Mix some spicy salsa in and you have a fine South
Texas breakfast.
We saw a lot of bucks and other game. One buck was pushing 180
BC and I captured him on video. We were after 150 class bucks but
most of those had busted up racks after the pre-rut fighting. We saw one
or two bucks during the hunt that Pop and I wanted to stalk that fit the
150 range & weren't busted up. Butch can instantly look at a
buck and tell you the BC score within a few points. It is amazing.
We saw some fine trophy bucks but those are pretty expensive so we stuck
with the 150 class.
The Nilgai on the ranch would be a great challenge with a bow---they
are very fast and don't stay put long. We saw a lot of big, dark
bulls. Everyone said the meat is fantastic. However,
we were on a mission after a trophy buck so we didn't focus on the Nilgai.
We also saw a lot of turkey --the gobblers were already gobbling.
The first day ended without us having harvested a buck but Pop and I sure
enjoyed seeing so much game with Butch & learning about the game management.
Pop did manage a 51 yard shot on a cactus after lunch---he hit the cactus
leaf dead center. He wanted to check his bow and pulled off a great
shot. I jokingly asked Butch what the cactus would score and if Pop
wanted it mounted. He didn't laugh.
The second day of bowhunting Butch had some important business so we
hunted with Gus Puente, a 5th generation King Ranch Kineno. (The cowboys
at the ranch are known as Kinenos--people of King Ranch) Gus showed us
some fine bucks, but most were bedded down and hard to find that day.
The weather wasn't good but I still managed a stalk on a beautiful 150
class buck. We were near the edge of the oak down near the Laguna Madre
and rolling sand dunes. I pursued the buck through the oak motte and into
the open pasture. I closed the distance to 35 yards when a younger
buck spooked and both deer disappeared back into the oak thicket. I grinned
as he disappeared. That's why they call it hunting. We went
back into the oak but it was so thick that we didn't find them, and my
hunting clothing got ripped up pretty bad. They say everything
in South Texas will bite you, stab you or stick you. When you
get into an oak or mesquite thicket you can't see much.
It was a blast just being on this historic ranch and seeing so much
game. There is no place in this country that has the quality
wildlife management like the King ranch. It is in a class all
its own.
We hunted the Norias Division of the ranch and it features about 72,000
acres of oak. I think the brush-pasture ratio is about 35%-65%. Whatever
it is it works. The ranch is low fenced, and the deer are free roaming.
Hunting pressure is limited so the deer stay fairly relaxed but are still
not easy to stalk. With 825,000 acres, that is a lot of land and
game to manage. King Ranch is known for the quality trophy whitetail deer
that have been harvested there. In 99 when I first visited a Kineno
had taken a 246 gross BC buck on the ranch. What a trophy!
(You can see a photo of this magnificent buck on my website at www.frankaddingtonjr.com)
My father and I had a great time and this was the opportunity of a lifetime
to bowhunt with Butch and Gus on King Ranch. Like Fred Bear so many years
before me, I judge a bowhunt on the total experience---the company, the
guide, the quality of animals seen and experiences as well as the lessons
learned. I do not have to harvest an animal to have had a successful adventure.
Hunting with Pop, Butch and Gus was one of the highlights of my 32 years
in the sport of archery.
I learned a lot about this land and its people and I continue to be
fascinated and captivated by the harsh, rugged beauty there and the people
that call it home. My grandfather had passed away the week before
we were there so it was good for my dad and I to get away. We spent hours
bowhunting when I was younger and hadn't taken time to hunt together in
almost 10 years. So this was a special trip in a lot of ways
and I sure appreciate the opportunity. That bond of a father-son
hunt is a pretty special experience.
We are planning a return trip with Butch earlier next year before the
racks get busted up. The buck-doe ratio is so closely managed that
the bucks really go at it just before the rut. Gary Bogner has some
great footage of some KING Ranch bowhunts. Visit his website at: http://www.arrowheadadventures.net/ArrowheadAdventures/Videos.htm
Gary Bogner's videos are great and will show you glimpses of south Texas
bowhunting. Bogner & I are both fond of Butch Thompson
and those breakfast meals at Lydia's.
Presidents, captains of industry, and celebrities have all hunted the
King Ranch. Thanks to my friend Butch Thompson now Pop
& I have too.
If you would like to learn more about King ranch, visit the website
at www.king-ranch.com .
The King Ranch just celebrated their 150th anniversary and have many
items for sale in the saddle shop to mark this milestone. visit the
website to see why this ranch is the grand daddy of American ranches.
FORD also has a special KING RANCH truck decked out in leather.
SPECIAL THANKS TO BUTCH
THOMPSON, THE STAFF AT THE RANCH, MATHEWS ARCHERY,
SIMS VIBRATION LABS, AND MY FATHER FOR A GREAT TIME IN SOUTH TEXAS.
LETS DO IT AGAIN IN DECEMBER....
SEND ME YOUR INDUSTRY NEWS, LATEST ADVENTURES, OR JUST A QUICK NOTE.
AMANDA AND I LOVE HEARING FROM YOU! Email: Aspirinbuster@aol.com
Web Site: FrankAddingtonJr.com
See you at the show! Adios & God Bless Shoot Straight, Frank Addington,
Jr.
Until then, Shoot Straight....
<-----------------------------((((
Frank Addington, Jr.
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Email: Aspirinbuster@aol.com
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