TEJAS HUNTING RETRIEVER CLUB, INC P. O. Box 542236 Houston, Texas 77254-2236

FEBRUARY 1ST 2006 TEJAS HUNTING RETRIVER CLUB MONTHLY MEETING AT GANDER MOUNTAIN (HWY 290 AND HWY 6 (SE CORNER)) 832-237-7900, 7:00 P.M. – THE LODGE -MEETING ROOM – Larry Feland - a respected gunfitter and gunsmith will talk about the benefits of proper gunfit. _____________________________________________________________________

www.tejashrc.org President Vice-President John Moreman Marty Thompson 281-356-4339 281-370-7730

Secretary Treasurer Bryce Bezant Deborah Story 281-363-2102 281-787-8399

Member at Large Training Coordinator Mike Smith Mike Akeroyd

281-491-5226 281-731-5770 A Member of the Affiliated with: Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. United Kennel Club, Inc. American Kennel Club

PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT’’SS MMEESSSSAAGGEE FEBRUARY 2006

Greetings, Waterfowl season is finally winding down. I hope your hunting season was much better than mine. Hunt test season is fast approaching. TEJAS’ UKC test is coming up this month and I am quite sure Garrett still needs lots of help. James Davis and his AKC hunt test crew are light years ahead of schedule and will need our help as April draws near. It is important for each member to do their part to make these tests a success. This year’s test will require a little more effort from members as we begin the slow transition of supplementing our paid bird boys with club members. We are in the process of ordering four Zinger Wingers to replace the old and worn out wingers in the club trailer. The new wingers will be ready for use at our UKC test. It is my goal to have all of the old wingers replaced with Zingers Wingers by the end of the year. The Zinger Wingers require less man power to operate during hunt test which will result in a monetary savings. The old wingers will be raffled off at the end of the year. If you missed the January meeting you missed your chance to vote on some important issues regarding the Master National. This month we will be voting on rule changes concerning UKC test. I suggest you familiarize yourself with these proposed changes by checking out the Discussion Forum page of our website, TEJAS HRC ANNOUNCEMENTS. In closing I would like to thank member Todd Buffaloe for stepping up by volunteering to tow our club trailer in for some preventative maintenance and to Paul Beckley for volunteering to be our club historian. See you all at the meeting, John MINUTES FROM MEETING HELD 1/4/06 Treasure Report: Marty Thompson - Current Balance of $5,300 MOTIONS: None –

· Poll was taken by David Christianson regarding the Master Nationals to remain affiliated with AKC, which would require certain criteria set by the AKC to be followed. Club’s position or desire was for the Master Nationals to remain under the auspices of the AKC.

Hunting Retriever Club, Inc.

(Meeting Minutes con”t) ACTION ITEMS:

· New member packages to be provided to new members of 2005 and continued for future new members. – Glenda Akeroyd and Bryce Bezant to get set up.

· Request for volunteers to fill appointed positions as Club Historian and Equipment Manager – members are to submit recommendations – Minutes (meeting 1/4/06): The meeting was called to order by President John Moreman. Garrett Bigelow provided a report on the HRC/UKC Hunt Test scheduled for February 25th and 26th. Raffle prizes include Zinger Winger (Zinger Winger discounted cost to the club is 50%), Briley Chokes and Goose Bands to name a few. Judges gifts are ordered consisting of personalized canisters and hand towels. Judges will stay at Paradise Hunting Lodge and Judges dinner will be provided at that site. Volunteers are identified and Bryce Bezant will be Head Marshall. Free runs for volunteers will not be given but existing free runs will be honored. Glenda and Garret to inventory the trailer but Marty and Janis have already done much of the work following the spring hunt test. James Davis reported on the AKC Hunt Test coming up in April (April 29th and 30th). Judges have been confirmed. James is to get hold of the bird steward to order birds. Venue will be near Giddings Texas. Members will have to volunteer as bird boys. The lunches are to be supplied by the club. Deborah Story will check on barbeque catering. Deborah Story provided the treasurer’s report showing $5,300.11 in the account. A poll was taken by David Christianson regarding the Master Nationals to remain affiliated with AKC. This would require that certain criteria, set by the AKC, to be followed by the Master Nationals. James Davis commented that he felt that the Master National should be affiliated with AKC. Members attending decided that the club’s position or desire should be for the Master Nationals to remain under the auspices of the AKC. John Moreman introduced a slide show showing the Giddings test grounds. Greg Lohse presented. A request for volunteers to come forward for a Club Historian and Equipment Manager was made by John Moreman noting that it would be best if the Equipment Manager would have access or own a ¾ Ton truck for hauling the trailer. John encouraged attending members to be thinking about people that may want to fill these appointed positions. Greg Lohse provided a program regarding orientation to the Tejas web site, which he has overhauled. Meeting was adjourned so that members could see the Horns beat USC – Hook em Horns – RBB NEW MEMBERS MENTORING Thanks goes out to Chet Beaty who has agreed to head up the club’s mentoring program. This program is designed to pair up new members with members who have been in the club and who can act as a guide to club activities such as hunt tests and training days. Also as a resource for getting the novice up to speed on training their dog to be a reliable hunting companion. Chet will start by contacting people who joined in 2005. As most of the old members know, it was that one person in the club that took an interest in him or her that catapulted the us into the dog training arena and helped us benefit from all that the club has to offer. So, please be open to taking on a new member to mentor. Basically, it is fairly simple job of performing as a guide for the new member on training and hunt test, keeping the new member abreast of club activities and potentially developing a training partner relationship with that new member.

(Mentoring con’t) Old and new members who are interested can call or contact : Chet Beaty (Cedar Bayou Kennels, 38162 Menke Road, Hempstead, TX.) 979-826-4490 -cedarbayoukennel@worldnet.att.net

CALENDAR -

January 25TH, Tejas HRC Executive Meeting – 7:00 PM – Gander Mountain – The Lodge Meeting Room JANUARY 4TH 2006 – Tejas HRC Club Meeing- 2006 Kick Off – Business Meeting and 2006 Agenda Old Business: 1. Progress of UKC/AKC hunt test 2. Progress of Mentor program New Business: 1. Vote on UKC proposed rule changes (reference the TEJAS website for details) 2. Open the floor for nominations for club sec 3. Guest Speaker AKC – Events Feb 4-5 Coastal Bend Retriever Club of Texas (Corpus Christi) Feb 18-19 Rose Country Retriever Club of East (Tyler Area) Mar 4-5 Bryan-College Station Retriever Club (Somerville TX) Mar 10 - 12 Port Arthur Retriever Club (Field Trial) Mar 10 - 12 Wichita Falls Retriever Club (Field trial) Mar 11 & 12 Brazosport Retriever Club Mar 17 - 19 Lonestar Retriever Club (Field trial) Mar 18 & 19 Waterloo Amateur Retriever Club (Round Rock) Mar 31 - Apr 2 Rose Country Retriever Club of East Texas (field trial) (Tyler Area) Apr 1-2 Heart of Texas Retriever Club (Temple) Apr 8- 9 Greater Houston Golden Retriever Club Apr 14 - 16 North Texas RC (field trial) (Sanger TX) Apr 15 & 16 Alamo Retriever Club (San Antonio TX) Apr 21 - 23 Piney Woods Retriever Club Apr 22-23 Port Arthur Retriever Club Apr 28- 30 Metro Alliance Retriever Club (field trial) (McKinney TX) Apr 30 Port Arthur Retriever Club (Field Trial DQ) Apr 29-30 DFW Metro Golden Retriever Club ÿ Apr 29 & 30 Tejas HRC (El Campo, TX) May 7-8 BigD HRC (Tioga, TX) UKC- HRC Events Feb 4-5 Raven's Way HRC (Madisonville, TX) Sat. test is a Prelim; Sun.test is licensed Feb 11-12 Colorado River HRC (Angleton, TX) ÿ Feb 25-26 Tejas HRC (El Campo, TX) Mar 4-5 Four States HRC (Maud, TX) Mar 11-12 Central Louisiana Retriever Club (Pineville LA) March 18-19 Lone Star HRC (Dallas, TX) April 1 & 2 Northeast Texas HRC (Tyler Area) April 1& 2 Cajun Retriever Club (Crowley LA) Apr 8 & 9 Bryan/College Station Retriever Club Apr 22 - 25 HRC International Grand (Baton Rouge, LA) Apr 29-30 Texas Panhandle HRC (Lubbock) May 6 & 7 Deep East Texas HRC (Lufkin, TX) May 20 & 21 Alamo Retriever RC (Mountain Home) Jun 3- 4 Colorado River HRC (Freeport, TX)

HOW TO FOOL 5,000 GEESE (Taken from November 2005 issue of Field and Stream) Perhaps you may have seen this in the November 2005 Field and Stream (by Philip Bourjaily). I thought it might be pertinent for the Conservation Order Extended Season on light geese. You will need about 5 to 8 hunters who will

(How to Fool 5,000 Geese con’t) commit to being organized and getting to the field early. (Refer to the schematic. I have reproduced the captions here since they are too small to read. )- RBB

1) WIND – The front edge of the spread should lie perpendicular to the wind. That way birds landing into the wind will work its entire width. First, set two decoys to mark the downwind edge of the spread. Put them 60 to 80 yards apart, exactly perpendicular to the wind. If the breeze shifts during the hunt, reset the front decoys and blinds.

2) SHAPE – Place you decoys in the shape of a giant lightblub, with the narrow end pointing downwind. The width of that end depends on how many shooters you have. Add one or two family groups 25 to 50 yards beyond the upwind edge to simulate birds that have just landed or are feeding ahead of the others. Put one hunter in charge of outlining the spread. He or she should take a bunch of decoys and drop them around what will be the perimeter while the rest of the party fills in the middle.

3) DECOYS - Keep your most realistic decoys along the sides and the downwind edge of the spread. Full bodies and shells should be in family groups of three to eight birds with 20 to 30 feet between groups. To help hide the hunter, also put some full bodies among the blinds. Fill in the back of the spread with a mass of rags and silhouettes set 3 to 5 feet apart. On the east and west coast, snow geese are all white. The lesser snows that migrate through the middle of the country come in white and blue phases. For all-white birds, include 15% gray juveniles. For snows and blues, go with 15% juveniles and 15%-25% blues. You should have many more feeders than sentries – about a 10-1 ratio.

4) MOTION – Feeding snow geese are always moving, hopping over one another to get to uneaten grain first. Jig flags up and down from the blinds to simulate their movement. Fly black and white helium balloons about half a dozen of each, 4 feet off the ground, weighted with decoy anchors or tied to stubble.

5) OTHER BIRDS - Canadas and specklebellies often feed in the same field as snows. Set a few dozen Canada or speck shells and full bodies downwind of the spread. You can put out duck decoys too, but white spreads will suck in flocks of mallards and pintails whether they see other ducks or not.

6) Landing Zones – Leave gaps of 10 to 15 yards in front of and behind the blinds where the birds can land. Snows and ducks will aim for the holes.

7) Blinds – Set the blind about three steps apart, in a line 15 yards from the

downwind edge of the spread. If flocks consistently come close, inspect the decoys, and then slide off to one side or the other, move the blinds 50 yards downwind of the spread and shoot the geese as they’re looking. Wearing white coveralls and becoming one with the decoys is the classic way to hide. You can also use a goose chair, which is a combination decoy and field chair. Lay down field blinds blend in best and are the most comfortable way to hunt.

(How to Fool 5,000 Geese con’t)

· Wind Socks – A step up from rags, wind socks are made of tough Tyvek material that lasts much longer than rags. Like rags, they add motion to the spread.

· Texas Rags – Inexpensive and light weight sheet plastic rag decoys can be tied into wind socks that waddle in the breeze. Tie them up yourself and you can make decoys for 60 cents apiece.

· Silhouettes – Silhouettes offer two qualities prized by snow goose hunters. They

are realistic, and they take up very little room for transport and storage. · Shells – Shells look like geese, they’re stackable and you set them out simply by

throwing them on the ground. · Full Bodies – The ultimate in realism, full bodies take up lots of trailer space but

help close the deal when the birds are hanging 70 yards out-side the spread deciding whether to stay or go.

Articles for the news letter may be submitted to:Bryce Bezant – News Letter Editor email: frogston1@houston.rr.com Mailing address: 2 Deer Lake Ct, The Woodlands TX 77381