Operation Orphans Reports Their Final 2016 Deer Hunt Results
Operation Orphans, Inc. held its final hunt of the 2016 deer season, Saturday, January 7. 56 boys from 7 child residential and foster homes participated. Animals harvested during the hunt were 48 whitetail does, 2 bucks, 8 spikes, 14 hogs and 2 axis for a total of 74 animals. Homes bringing kids were Presbyterian Children’s Home, Itasca/Waxahachie; Sweeten Home, Brownwood; Methodist Home, Waco; Methodist Boy’s Ranch, Waco; Acuna Home, La Porte; Texas Baptist Children’s Home, Round Rock and Kidz Harbor, Liverpool.
The youngsters along with their guides spent Saturday deer hunting and enjoying the cold weather. Area ranches which allowed the groups to hunt were 4L Ranch, San Saba County; Behrens Ranch, San Saba; Brady Lake, McCulloch; Burkhalter Ranch, Mason; Craft Alaca, Blanco; Cripple Creek, Ranch, Bandera; Crooked E Ranch, Blanco; Indian Springs Ranch, Kerr; Karl Ransleben Ranch, Gillespie; Kurt Zesch Ranch, Mason; Lazy H Ranch, Mason; Northcutt Ranch, Mason; Ray Ranch, Sutton; Turkey Valley Ranch, Mason; Whitetail Ranch, Gillespie and White Ranch, Mason.
Prior hunts were held in October (Girl’s Hunt), November and December. Totals for the four hunts held this season had 194 boys and girls harvesting 288 animals. During the two fishing camps held last spring had 98 boys and girls participating. Operation Orphans, Inc. takes children who are wards of the State and offers hunting and fishing opportunities.
Dates for the 2017 Operation Orphans, Inc. Hunting and Fishing Programs are as follows:
April 22 – Boy’s Fishing; April 29 – Girl’s Fishing; October 28 – Girl’s Hunt; November 18 – Boy’s Hunt; December 2 – Boy’s Hunt and January 6, 2018 – Boy’s Hunt.
Volunteers who prepared the lunches for Saturday’s hunt were Sherry Lehmberg, Ashley Osbourn, Della Osbourn and Deana Hentz. Mason Boy Scouts who prepared the very early Saturday morning breakfast were James Simonton, Austin Simonton, Jacob Kruso and Nick Rodriguez along with leaders, Terry Simonton and Stephen Kruso. Mason Bottling Company provided soft drinks for the sack lunches. Houston Gulf Coast Safari Club graciously provided 12 dozen gloves this season.
Since the beginning in 1960, Operation Orphans, Inc. has hosted 18,472 boys and girls with a total of 18,268 animals harvested. 747 kids have taken part in the fishing program since 2004.
Please contact camp supervisors, Jerry or Lyla Crouch, phone: 325.347.6745, or on the web, www.operationorphans.org if you would like additional information. Operation Orphans, Inc. is in need of gently used coats, boots and camouflage clothing. Warm socks and gloves, along with rain ponchos are also appreciated.
