Lucas

To day during Hunting I was the only one that saw a group of hogs. They were standing behind a large clump of trees making it impossible to to shoot any one of them. After what seemed like 100 years they finally came in to feed. I drew back my bow aimed down my sites and I fired. The arrow seemed to be in slow motion it I was able to see the arrow through my sites it flew through the air air and skimmed the back of the hog. All of the hogs lead will my arrow landed in the ground. That was the last I saw of the hogs for that hunt. 

Gray MacDonald

Today we had a nice sleep in. We woke to an overcast day but no rain. In the morning we shot practice targets to get warmed up for the hunt in the afternoon. After shooting most of the morning we had a bit of rest before we went out to hunt. At around four in the afternoon we geared to go and finally start hunting. the first hour was slow, but at five the feeders went off. My tree stand partner, Carl Liu, and I waited and waited. But over the course of two and a half hours, we had only seen a baby hog. After a slow hunt, we went back to camp and helped butcher animals others had killed. All around it was a pretty good day.

Oliver Santry: Today was a very successful day on the ranch. We started off with a little sleep in which was nice. I woke up had a wonderful breakfast and was off to the range outside the cabin. We had two broadhead targets set up at 20 yards and just started shooting. It was a nice day with no rain. Dave came back with a hog that he shot. We put it up on the hooks and I helped Mark skin it. After we seperated the meat Burke did a wonderful job cooking lunch. It was delicious. We then kept shooting and stayed in the cabin waiting for the evening hunt. Once it hit four o'clock we packed up the pickup truck and went out to hunt. I got to my stand with Henry and we sat and talked very quietly. We saw a red stag, an eland, and a couple other exotics. Then came the hogs. We sat and waited for the hogs to start eating. I waited for a moment for the perfect shot. Right as my hog separated from the other animals I took a shot and hit it. Being my first kill it was quite emotional. But all around a good day.

On site at Cactus Creek

We are at the ranch for the start of Texas Hunt III.  Arrived yesterday in Austin after an uneventful trip from Logan Airport.  Thank you JetBlue!

After a stop at Cabela's and HEB Plus for provisions we set off for Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, TX for dinner.  The food was a good as we remembered.

It looks like we will have a few days of alternating clouds and drizzle.  Although it will not be warm and sunny, compared to the last month in New Hampshire, which I believe is now the coldest on record in Concord NH, the temps will be positively balmy.

More from Day 2 later.

Cactus Creek / Nixon TX

Our destination is the Cactus Creek ranch in Nixon, TX.  Cactus Creek has treated us extremely well on our previous visits and we are looking looking forward to Year 3.  The ranch's two bunkhouses will be arranged differently this year as we need a males/females set-up for the first time.  Women get the cool cabin in the foreground.

Below are a few photos of downtown Nixon.  It is located about 1 hour 15 from Austin, pretty much directly south. Nixon was founded when the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway was built through the John T. Nixon Ranch in 1906.  Population is close to some of the small towns in New Hampshire (2,000+) where Proctor Academy is located.  We were thrilled to discover discover Nixon has a Dairy Queen and an awesome donut place.  Donuts from Dave's daily run before our morning sits may not be nutritionally optimal, but they taste great.  We'll be laying in plenty of cereal, milk and OJ for our post-sit breakfasts!

Three in a Row!

The blog has been renamed to just Texas Hunts.  Going into Year 3 of the trip it seemed time to change the naming convention.  The student archers will be returning to Proctor Academy this week for the remainder of the Winter Term.  Winter term is reputed to be a long slog of Northeast cold and daylight ending too soon.  For 14 students the reward after exams will be boarding our flight to Austin Texas, where we hope the weather will be a little more friendly in 2015.  No return of the Polar Vortex, please!

This year's group includes some threepeat archers, some for their second outing and a few first-timers.  Stay tuned in the weeks to come for introductions.  Dave is organizing some visits to local indoor facilities so we can start practicing our shots - Northeast cold and short daylight means the team's 3D targets are all safely stored in the shed, but we'll still find places to send some arrows down range!

Please use the Links to the upper right to learn about Proctor Academy and to visit our Sponsor sites!

Linnea

This trip to Texas was an amazing experience that I am so happy I was able to have. Every day was filled with fun and opportunities to learn new things. On the last hunting day, I still had not gotten a pig, and had not seen many animals up close. Dave Kenney helped me spot and stalk on the last day of hunting so that I could have an opportunity to shoot. Even though it was freezing cold outside, I was getting caught on cactus needles and trees, and I spent much of my time hunched over, I still had a ton of fun. Spot and stalking isn't only about being able to find the animals you are looking for, it is about being able to use your natural surroundings to your advantage and having patience. Dave and I were out for an hour or so before I was able to draw back my bow and take a shot, and when I did I was so happy that the time we had spent walking around in the bushes ended in success. Texas was amazing and I am so happy that I was able to experience it with so many great people.

Burke

The first hunting day was the best for me. It was real cold and I was positioned inside a wooden blind and had my eyes pealed on the feeder. I was getting really cold due to the wind and was bored out of my mind until a clan of rams came and gave me company. The feeder then went off and a massive herd of hogs came. I picked out the juiciest and fattest hog and let my arrow fly, but I missed. I could not get my arm back far enough so I cramped up and pulled the trigger too early. I was so mad, so I prayed to god for another chance and about an hour later another group of hogs trotted over. I picked another out and extended my bow outside the blind this time and dropped the hog. I had such a good shot on him that he did not run more than 15 yards.

Max

This was my first hunting trip, and even though the weather was cold and rainy, we all got to hunt   and have a good time.  The weather was not what we expected in South Texas.  We learned whatTexas mud is like.   

David

I went to Texas last year and it was insane! The energy was kept up through the entire time we were here, everyone was so pyched to be here whether they got anything or not. This year was no different, everyone loved being here in Texas and loved having this amazing opportunity to do such an amazing program with some of the most amazing guys and girls.

David is one of the students who hunted more than hogs.