www.gonzalesinquirer.com Hunters Guide Oct.

21, 2016 FRIDAY PAGE 9

East Texas has had their rst conrmed presences of black bears since September 2011.
Be aware and stay safe.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Charlie Stein (le) and Thomas Shaer of Ashns Taxidermy, take a break from making
a buck.

Residents, hunters in northeast PHOTO BY KELLY A. LINDNER/GONZALES INQUIRER

Texas advised to be bear aware Best to go with pro taxidermy
AUSTIN Wildlife biologists are advis-
ing hunters, ranchers and rural residents in
Northeast Texas of a handful of confirmed
black bear sightings recently.
At least four sightings have been docu-
mented on game trail cameras between
June and late August in Bowie, Red River
and Smith counties. Wildlife biologists with
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD) confirmed the sightings and spec-
ulate the bears, which appear to be young
males, are looking to establish their own
new home ranges and likely dispersed from
Oklahoma or Arkansas where bear num-
bers have increased in recent years.
This is the first confirmed presence of
black bears in East Texas since September
2011. Breeding black bear populations have
been absent from this region for almost 100
years, but bears from Oklahoma, Arkansas
and Louisiana occasionally wander into
East Texas.
Once these bears figure out theres no
opportunity for companionship over here
they will likely retreat, says Dave Holder-
mann, a non-game wildlife biologist with
TPWD in Tyler.
Holdermann said as hunters in this area
head to the field in preparation for deer
season, some might see signs of bears at-
tempting to enter camps where food is kept
or wildlife feeders overturned. Bears eat
mostly plant material and thats probably
their greatest source of protein; for exam-
ple, seeds, acorns, nuts and even herbage
has protein.
According to Holdermann, bears are
normally shy and not aggressive to humans.
But if a bear regularly visits a ranch or deer
stand, people should try to scare it with
rocks, a slingshot or air horn.
If people encounter a bear at close range,
they should talk calmly while backing away
slowly. Dont make direct eye contact, and
dont run away, he advised. If a bear ap-
proaches you, stand your ground and raise
your arms, backpack or jacket to appear
larger and yell at the bear to scare it off.
Hunters are encouraged to study their
game carefully to avoid mistaking a bear for
a feral hog or other legal game animal. It is
against the law to kill a black bear in Texas,
with penalties of up to $10,000, added civil
restitution fines, jail time and loss of all
hunting privileges. The black bear, Ursus
americanus, is listed as threatened by the
State of Texas.
To minimize encounters with bears,
hunters should keep camps clean to prevent
odors that will attract bears and discard gut
piles far from campsites. Placing deer corn
in piles or in open feeders will attract more
bears, while using an automated feeder
hung out of reach of bears will decrease
bear visits. Also, switching bait from corn
to soybeans will reduce bear activity. And,
planting food plots is the best way to attract
deer and avoid bear visits.
More information about black bears in
Texas, including safety tips, is available on-
line at www.tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/
resources/bear_safety/. Anyone observing
black bears in East Texas is urged to con-
tact Holdermann at 903-566-1626 ext. 209
so wildlife experts can track trends in black
bear populations and distributions.
I walked into the Ashtin Taxidermy the person he was going to open the shop
Shop in Shiner a week ago just in time to with 18 years ago, but after the sign was
see Thomas Shaffer skinning a bobcat; a made, his partner changed his mind, and
new experience for me, but not for Thom- went back to his career as a pipefitter.
as and certainly not for Charlie Stein, the Thats how Charlie got into the business of
owner of the shop. taxidermy, through his friend the
Charlie, who has owned the pipefitter, who encouraged Char-
taxidermy shop for 18 years, has lie to try the business along with
had hundreds of animals come him. It stuck with Charlie and hes
through the shop to be mounted. enjoyed this career ever since. He
While there, I saw them prepar- says there are lots of folks who do
ing a dear head for travel to Ker- taxidermy at home but its always
rville to get tanned. Charlie takes good to go to a professional. His
about 25 animals to Kerrville ev- shop walls are adorned with the
ery week, hes got a thriving busi- prizes of many hunters that Char-
ness because hes a true artist. Kelly A. lie and Thomas have turned into
He says hes wanted to do Lindner beautiful art. He has several pelts
this his whole life. He knew at for sale too.
an early age that taxidermy was his fu- I was taken aback by seeing what was
ture, he just wasnt sure how to get there. going on in the back room but found the
Charlie has always been an outdoorsmen shop a pleasant experience, no odd aro-
and says most taxidermists are, but not all mas, no messy areas. Charlie and Thomas
outdoorsmen are up for being taxidermists are knowledgeable and engaging. Charlie
and help has been hard to find. In fact, the is a proud Shiner resident, member of the
name of his shop Ashtins is a combina- Shiner Mens Business Club and an unof-
tion of his childs name and the name of ficial ambassador to the city of Shiner.

TPWD
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

keep the safety on until ready

to fire.
2. Treat every firearm or
bow with the same respect
you would show a loaded
gun or nocked arrow.
Do not handle a firearm
or bow until you know how
to check if its loaded or not,
then make sure the chamber
and magazine are empty.
Read your instruction man-
ual carefully before you han-
dle new firearms or bows.
3. Be sure of your target
and what is in front of and
beyond your target.
Always make sure you
know whats in front of you.
Know how far your bullets,
arrows and pellets can travel.
This is especially important if
you miss. Dont shoot at the
top of ridges or hillsides since
you dont know whats on the
other side. Be careful of rico-
chets, so avoid shooting at
flat, hard surfaces. Until your
target is fully visible and in
good light, do not even raise
your scope to see it.
4. Unload firearms and
unstring conventional bows
when not in use.
5. Handle the firearms, ar-
rows and ammunition care-
fully.
Avoid horseplay with fire-
arms. Be sure the only am-
munition you carry correctly
matches the gauge or caliber
you are shooting. Always
carry arrows in a protected
cover or quiver. Learn the
proper carries. Try to use the
two-hand carry whenever
possible because it affords
you the best muzzle control.
If you fall, be sure to disas-
semble the gun and check
the barrel from the breech
end for obstructions. Bring
with you a field cleaning kit.
6. Know your safe zone-of-
body functions. You need
to be in full control of your
body when handling fire-
arms or archery equipment.
INDEPENDENCE
fire and stick to it. Its easier to lose control,
Your safe zone-of-fire is that
area or direction in which you
can safely fire a shot. Always
be sure where your compan-
ions are at. Never swing your
especially since these sub-
stances affect your emotions,
under the influence of drugs.
10. Be aware of additional
circumstances which re-
RANCH
gun or bow out of your safe
zone-of-fire. Know the safe
carries when there are persons
quire added caution or safety
awareness.
Know the laws and fol-
Hog Hunting
to your sides, in front of, or low additional rules that are
behind you. If in doubt, never posted. Know your weapon.
take a shot. When hunting,
wear daylight fluorescent or-
It makes it easier to figure
out whats wrong when out
Independenceranch.com
ange so you can be seen from in the field.
a distance or in heavy cover.
7. Control your emotions
when it comes to safety.
If you lose control of your
emotions you may do some-
thing carelessly. If you hit or
miss your shot, you may get
excited. Dont let that get in
the way of being safe at all
times. You may lose control
and your firearm may go
off, causing an accident. Re-
hearse safe actions and keep
control at all times. When in
doubt, always choose safety
over shooting.
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8. Wear hearing and eye
protection.
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BOEDEKER AG SUPPLY + LAND SERVICES
Firearms are loud and can
create noises which are dam-
aging to a persons hearing.
They can have a gradual ef- 862 FM 958, SHINER, TX 77984 | CONTACT RICK BRAUN 3617727414
fect or damage can be imme-
diate, especially if youre near
a buzzle blast. Meanwhile,
glasses protect you from de-
bris including burnt powder
and escaping gases.
9. Dont drink alcohol or
take drugs before or while
handling firearms or bow
and arrows.
Alcohol and drugs impair
normal physical and mental