The Hunters Converge at their meetup location in La Pryor, just south of Uvalde in South Texas. The Nueces River runs nearby, well into its transition from splashy Hill Country stream to the slower, wider river it becomes as it cuts across the state. Mesquite trees and prickly pear dot the scrubby landscape, which harbors wildlife such as quail, javelina and, most notably, white-tailed deer.

Some members of the group are lifelong hunters. For others, this will be their first time hunting. They are meeting here for a Stewards of the Wild mentored hunt.

Hunting isn't exactly an “I'll-figure-it-out-by-myself” kind of activity. It helps to have some guidance. Mentored programs like this one meet a crucial need in passing hunting knowledge from one generation to the next.

There to greet everyone are Katie Spurgin with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF) and Matt Hughes with Texas Wildlife Association (TWA). Spurgin manages TPWF's Stewards of the Wild conservation leadership program, and Hughes is the coordinator of TWA's Adult Learn to Hunt Program. TPWF partners with TWA to provide several mentored hunting weekends each year for Stewards members. At La Pryor, some of the more experienced hunters have participated in the program for several years together, and the gathering has the happy feel of a class reunion.

As the final members of the group arrive, La Ceniza Ranch foreman Carlos Gonzalez pulls up to lead the group to their weekend home. The group caravans to the ranch, where they are assigned cabins. An adjacent building contains a dining area where the group will convene for meals. Nearby is a facility for cleaning game once it has been harvested. The camp is nestled in a shady grove of oak trees, inviting the hunters to settle in.

Hunters Old and New

There are five mentors and five new hunters. One of the newbies is Eric Robbins, who grew up in North Texas and now lives in Fort Worth. Besides early childhood experiences with Cub Scouts, he didn't do much outdoors when he was young. A 2021 camping experience opened his eyes.

“I just fell in love with being outside,” says Robbins. “I'm a Type A kind of personality, and I like to keep taking things to the next level. So, once I got camping and fishing down, I wanted to explore more. I don't have access to hunting land, and when I heard about the mentored hunting opportunity through Stewards of the Wild, I signed up.”

Robbins is paired with Louie Sanchez, a member of the Austin chapter. Sanchez had his first hunting experience through the Stewards/TWA partnership in 2018, which was a transformative experience for him. He has continued hunting and volunteering, and for the last few years, he has been a mentor himself.

Ittzel Rodriguez, another newbie, was raised in Burnet in Central Texas. Living in a rural town, she was exposed to many outdoor experiences, and now as an adult, she especially loves to hike. She is first-generation American, and hunting has not been a family tradition. In recent years, her uncle purchased a ranch, and her dad has taken up hunting. Rodriguez accompanied her dad on a hunt last year but lacked the confidence to fully participate. She lives in Austin now, and when she learned about Stewards of the Wild and the mentored hunting opportunity through TWA's Adult Learn to Hunt Program, she signed up. “I jumped at the opportunity of being surrounded by people who have done this for many years and have a lot of experience,” says Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is partnered with Meagan McElya, who grew up spending a lot of time outdoors and as an adult has become an avid hunter. She joined the College Station chapter of Stewards of the Wild in 2021 and now belongs to the Austin chapter.

“The biggest draw for me was the opportunity to be a mentor and pass down my knowledge and experience to others,” says McElya. “I hope this effort will get more people to fall in love with what I care most about so that we can all protect our precious natural resources for future generations.”

Good, clean shot

A big emphasis for the program is education and safety. The weekend is filled with learning opportunities. All participants must fulfill TPWD's hunter education requirements, and before heading to the shooting range, Hughes briefs the group with clear instructions about what to expect on the range, along with some safety reminders.

At the range, the new hunters pair up with their mentors for shooting practice. The goal is for everyone to feel comfortable with their firearm. As Rodriguez settles into the shooter's chair, McElya sits close by.

“The most important thing is to take your time,” coaches McElya. “It's a breathing lesson. Inhale, and begin exhaling, and when you let out that final breath, pull the trigger.”

Rodriguez does, and hits the bulls-eye. The other pairs of hunters take their turns shooting, and the atmosphere of encouragement and support is palpable.

“I've been practicing shooting leading up to this weekend because I really want to get a good, clean shot,” says Rodriguez. “I don't want to injure an animal and cause it undue pain. I'm really curious about the hunt tomorrow and whether I will be able to get a good shot off. I think I am ready.”

After shooting practice, the group participates in field skills education. Hughes leads them through a trail illustrating different hunting scenarios. They learn how to spot a blood trail and safely pursue an injured animal if needed.

As the sun sets, the group settles in on the patio by the dining hall for conversation and camaraderie. Inside, Hughes supervises several members of the group preparing dinner. The newbies handle cleanup after the meal. The meal tonight (and all meals throughout the weekend) features wild game prepared in inventive ways. Hughes is an accomplished self-taught chef, and tonight's offering of venison carne guisada empanadas is delicious and filling.

During dinner, Hughes and Spurgin share the goals of the program, and explain the roles that TPWD, TPWF and TWA play in conservation in Texas. They explain how hunting contributes to conservation through advocacy and funding.

All participants introduce themselves and tell the others what they hope to get out of the weekend. Hughes emphasizes that he hopes this isn't a one-and-done weekend.

“Look around the room,” Hughes says as the evening meal wraps. “We hope to build a community with you. We hope you stay engaged with us beyond this weekend. Stay with us. Hunt with us. Volunteer and mentor. The future of hunting and conservation rests with you.”

After the meal, the sound of laughter and conversation carries well into the night.

Time to Hunt

Despite the late evening, everyone is up and at it before dawn on Saturday morning. Breakfast is a sandwich Hughes calls the “McWild,” a tasty concoction featuring axis chorizo, a fried egg, guacamole and Monterey jack cheese served up on an English muffin. By 6:30 the hunters are on their way to the blinds.

Heading out, McElya and Rodriguez spot feral hogs, foreshadowing a wildlife viewing bonanza to come. Once they settle into the blind, a doe shows up almost immediately at the feeder with a fawn. McElya explains that ethical hunters don't shoot a deer if she is still nursing or is accompanied by a fawn with spots. The pair also spot a buck, which they did not have permission to shoot. Then they hear an elk bugle, and moments later, Rodriguez spots a bull elk in the distance.

“Oh my, look at that,” whispers Rodriguez. “That is so cool, I've never seen one before!”

“First for me, too,” responds McElya. “I've been on ranches that have them but have never seen one in Texas. Good eye!”

They see more deer, a coyote, an aoudad, a roadrunner and many other birds. At one point a doe looks promising, and Rodriguez positions her rifle to shoot, but then the doe shifts and the shot isn't right. The wildlife viewing show continues until 9:30 in the morning, their designated cease-fire time. As they are ferried back to camp, they spot Robbins and Sanchez. Robbins successfully took his first deer, and even had the opportunity to shoot a second. Sharing a hunting tradition that goes back untold generations, Sanchez marked Robbins' cheeks with blood from the fallen animal.

“To be initiated by the blood of the animal signifies the great responsibility that comes with taking an animal's life,” says Sanchez. “And it underscores that this program is not about trophy hunting. This is a conservation program, from beginning to end, from field to table. What we hope new hunters take away from this experience is their responsibility in having dominion over the land and the animals with conservation in mind. We hunt for sustenance. And we also do it to provide a strong ecological balance for our environment.”

Back at camp, those who have been successful get their first lessons in cleaning game. After a tasty lunch of Italian sliders featuring seasoned ground venison, the hunters take an afternoon break before heading back to the blinds.

For Rodriguez and McElya, it's a waiting game. Rodriguez manages to get a shot off, but it goes right over the doe's back. As she reflects over dinner that evening, “I need to be patient and not rush a shot. I was a hot mess and will do better tomorrow.”

The following morning, Rodriguez is successful in taking her first doe. She waits for almost 20 minutes with the gun poised to take the shot.

“During that time, my watch kept giving me alerts because my heart rate was over 120 beats per minute,” says Rodriguez. “I was a little self-conscious and nervous that I would miss again. And I was just so excited when she went down immediately.”

Rodriguez and McElya join the rest of the hunters at camp after the morning hunt to finish cleaning up the game. In all, the group harvests eight deer, one feral pig and one javelina.

“It just makes me so happy to see them have this experience for the first time,” says Gonzalez as the group prepares to depart. “You can really see what the experience means to them, and I just love to see that.”

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