What I Miss about West Texas

I grew up in the South Plains, went to college in the Big Country, and started my career in the Panhandle.  I spent over half my life in the Western portion of the state of Texas and I have many fond memories of my life there.  Growing up there had a major influence on my life.  Although I love living in McKinney and love the job I have, there are many things that I miss about West Texas.  In no particular order, this blog post will highlight the top 4 things I miss about West Texas.

 Texas Tech Football

Growing up about 15 miles outside of Lubbock, my dad took me to many Texas Tech football and basketball games as a kid.  Every male in my family loved Texas Tech Football and the Dallas Cowboys.  I really enjoyed watching the games in person and can remember a time when you could get $5 tickets and sit in the grass on the North end zone. 

Family trip to the 2009 Cotton Bowl

When it came time for me to choose a college, I decided fifteen miles from home was a little too close to home.  I ultimately chose McMurry University in Abilene which seemed like a great distance away at the time.  It took me about two and half hours to drive from Lorenzo to Abilene, which seemed like the perfect distance to me.  Far enough for me to get away and gain some experiences on my own but close enough where I could drive home when I wanted to.  Even while going to college at McMurry, I always made it back to Lubbock for at least a game or two each season.

My brother and I at the Cotton Bowl

As a life-long Tech fan, I am excited about the Kliff Kingsbury era.  I always enjoyed watching the Tech games when both Spike Dykes and Mike Leach were at the helm, but I quit going to games during the Tommy Tuberville era and have not attended a game since 2010.  I still watched all the games I could on TV, I just refused to buy a ticket that went towards Tuberville's salary.  Although it was probably time for Leach to go, I did not enjoy the product Tuberville put on the field.   That being said, I am looking forward to the 2013 season.

West Texas Restaurants

The say that distance makes the heart grow fonder.  This couldn’t be more true when it comes to my favorite eats in the region.  Any time that my wife and kids go home to visit my mom and grandmother, we always make sure we eat at Taco Villa.  Not only do we eat there, but we have been known to take burritos home with us and freeze them to eat later.  It is fast food at its finest.  What other Mexican fast food chain can you get both taco burgers and curly fries?  We used to really enjoy eating at Rosa’s Cantina too, but a couple of years ago one opened up in Frisco just two miles from my house.  We couldn't have been more excited.  Now if we could just get a Taco Villa in McKinney.  Other restaurants I really miss in the region are listed as follows:

Lubbock area -Taco Villa, Gardski’s, Cagle Steaks, Dimba’s Chicken and Seafood, and One Guy from Italy

A high quality meal at Taco Villa.  Tacos, Taco Burger, Burrito, and Mexi-curls

Abilene area- Perini Ranch Steakhouse (located in Buffalo Gap), Alfredo’s, Harold’s BBQ (recently closed down, but made one final trip there the month before it closed).

My wife and I took one last trip to Harold's before they closed the doors for good

Amarillo area- Coyote Bluff Cafe, Taco’s Garcia, and Feldman’s Wrong Way Diner (located in Canyon).

Coyote Bluff has fantastic burgers and fries

Hunting the Region

Growing up on a farm, I had plenty of opportunity to hunt as a kid.  I started out hunting pigeons with a pellet gun and later moved on to hunting the dangerous prairie dogs and jack rabbits.  As I got older, I was able to hunt dove, quail, and pheasant with my dad and maternal grandfather.  Later still, I was able to be included on a deer lease with my dad and grandfather.  As I mentioned in a previous post, there are few memories that are more enjoyable than those spent outdoors with my family.

My first whitetail buck that I killed in Dickens County

The ranch land of the area has some of the best deer hunting in the state.  Many counties in the region offer hunting for both Whitetail and Mule Deer.  Although Whitetails are much more numerous, I actually enjoy hunting Mule Deer better.  Even the farmland of the region offers a wide variety of wing shooting, including dove, quail, and pheasant.  The current drought and predators have taken their toll on quail and pheasant, but they are still there if you know where to look.  I am not especially fond of eating duck or geese, but there are plenty of opportunities to hunt them as well.  Many playa lakes dot the area, which means it could also be a paradise for waterfowl hunting if you know the right people and have access to the right water or fields.  Ducks, geese, and Sandhill cranes (ribeye in the sky) are abundant in the region.

My 151 inch Mule Deer buck I killed in Randall County

The People

In my opinion, you will not find better people than West Texans.   I still have a lot of friends and family in the region and we don’t get to see them near as often as we would like.  Now that I have children, we tend to focus on them more during our trips, which doesn’t leave much time for us to visit with old friends.  I especially enjoy my visits to my hometown when we visit my mother and grandmother.  Most everyone in West Texas always seems willing to lift a hand and help their neighbor when needed.  Although we have made some great friends here in the Metromess, the people as a whole are much friendlier in West Texas.

My oldest daughter on the Polar Express with my mom

My grandmother holding my youngest daughter

Why I Like to Hunt

There are few things I like to do more than hunting.  Although I love to read, play video games (especially the various Call of Duty games), watch sports, and occasionally play tennis, there is nothing that I enjoy more than hunting.  I love being in the outdoors in pursuit of game.  Although I will occasionally bird hunt, my quarry of choice is deer. 

A lot of people out there have misconceptions about hunters and hunting.  Some think that we are Neanderthals; others think we only hunt to put trophies on the wall and are cruel people who like to kill innocent animals (now worries there as I only harvest animals that are guilty of being tasty).  These misconceptions could not be farther from the truth with most hunters.  I would like to share why I like to hunt.  I will also share a few pictures I have taken or were taken of me over the last few years.

Me hunting a ranch that bordered Palo Duro Canyon

Another view of Palo Duro Canyon

I Enjoy Being Out of the City

           

Waking up at 5 a.m. to be in a stand, tripod, or blind before sunrise may not appeal to everyone, but it allows hunters to get settled in before deer start to move in the morning.  Few things are better than watching the sun rise or set over the Texas horizon.  I am also of the opinion that the best time to view nature is the first thirty minutes after sunrise and the first thirty minutes before sunset.  This is when you will see a lot of animals moving across the landscape.

Thick brush in Palo Duro Canyon

My view for Thanksgiving lunch in 2011

I like scanning the terrain for animals and just taking it all in.  Hunting is a spiritual thing to me.   Being out in nature, I feel closest to God.  When I harvest an animal, I feel blessed that I have been provided the opportunity to take an animal that will provide nourishment for my family.  Nothing is better than getting away from the city for a few days and relaxing in the outdoors.  Every time I get back from hunting, I fell refreshed and rejuvenated.  I just wish I could go hunting more often.

Texas sunset in Eastland County

My view from a blind 

I Enjoy Viewing Wildlife

This may seem odd for some to believe, but hunting isn’t just about the kill.  I have had many memorable hunting trips where I never even pulled the trigger.  During some trips, the only "shooting" I do is with a camera.  Just watching animals interact in the wild is a great experience.  There have been many times I have seen multiple animals, but never pulled the trigger. 

Young Whitetail buck who just exited the brush

Same Whitetail buck eating a turnip in a field

Most hunters don’t shoot every deer they see and I am no different.  There have been times when I have been hunting for a mature buck and all I see are does and young bucks.  Other times, I am specifically looking for a mature doe to put meat in the freezer, but I only see young ones.    Even while targeting a specific animal, it doesn’t stop me from enjoying the beautiful creatures that God has put on this earth.  Even watching squirrels, birds, or rabbits can be enjoyable.

Mule Deer does going under an electric fence

Young Mule Deer buck

Same Mule Deer buck jumping a fence just 20 yards from my pop-up blind

I Enjoy the Fellowship

My father loved to hunt and shared his love for the outdoors with me.  Some of my best memories as a young man were hunting with my dad and grandfather.  I enjoyed hunting with my family, whether I was hunting deer or just hunting rabbits and prairie dogs behind our house.  I feel blessed to have grown up on a farm and had the opportunity to hunt dove, quail, and pheasant on our family land.  Although there were no deer on our land, my dad would take me deer hunting when he had the opportunity.  I plan on sharing my love of hunting with my daughters and I hope to instill my love for the outdoors and hunting in them.

My dad's best Whitetail he killed in Floyd County

When I got a little older, I also was able to enjoy hunting with my brother and friends.  Even today I enjoy hunting with friends and making new friends on hunting trips that I take.  After a day of hunting, it is always nice to set around the cabin and share a meal with other hunters.  These times of fellowship and stories are always the perfect end to a day of hunting.

Cabin in Eastland County

I Like Eating Wild Game

If I did not enjoy eating wild game, I would not hunt.  Venison is just about the healthiest red meat you can eat and it is absolutely delicious.  There are few things I enjoy eating than a free range, hormone free, and organic venison dish.  I enjoy chicken fried venison, venison fajitas, venison breakfast sausage, smoked sausage, jerky, and ground venison. My wife and I have made tacos, meatloaf, and chili from ground venison. 

Venison steaks and venison sausage to go along with some chicken

Chicken Fried Venison Backstraps

I often get asked how I could enjoy “cleaning” a deer.  Although it can be a time consuming task, there is nothing distasteful about it.  Gutting, skinning, and quartering a deer may seem gross to some, but it is not different than handling meat one gets from the grocery store. I enjoy eating dove, quail, and pheasant as well.  Duck is not a favorite of mine, which is why I don’t hunt ducks.  Well that and the fact you are usually cold and wet while hunting for waterfowl.  I can handle being cold, but cold and wet is not much fun.

Cleaning a buck I killed in Eastland County

There are many other reasons that make hunting enjoyable, but those are the primary reasons.  I am not some bloodthirsty cave man looking to put heads on a wall.  I am just a guy who enjoys the outdoors, spending time with other hunters, and eating what I cook.  This was the first year in several years that I was unable to go hunting due to many reasons.  My second daughter was born in August and hospital bills took away my hunting funds.  We also had to buy two sets of tires, a new hot water heater, and a new fence in the months prior to my daughter's birth.  Hopefully we will be blessed in 2013 and I will once again be able to pursue my favorite hobby.