MR. WHISKER'S GUIDE SERVICE
Hunt Type: Varmint Hunting
Guide: Mike Stuard
Contact: 325.636.3275

“How would you like to video an overnight varmint hunt with Mr. Whiskers’ Guide Service?”

This was how my first hunting experience began.  One minute I’m sitting behind a desk editing a video and within 24 hours I’m sitting in the passenger seat of the TexasHuntFish.Com Hummer cruising down the road to Valera, Texas.

But let’s back track a bit. 

First of all what the hell exactly is a “varmint?”  Growing up a non-hunter, the word “varmint” conjures up images of Yosemite Sam chasing Bugs Bunny around with both guns a’ blazin. “I’ll get you you mangy varmint!” (Turns out that’s not too far off.)

Actually I’m kidding.  It turns out a varmint could be anything ranging from a rabbit, raccoon, coyote, fox or bobcat and this trip would be an exciting way for me cut my “hunting videography” teeth.

Secondly, who the heck was Mr. Whiskers??  Turns out his name is actually Mike Stuard and he owns and operates a first class guide service out of Valera, Texas called, oddly enough, Mr. Whisker’s Guide Service.  With over 14 years of guiding experience, Mike can guide you on just about any type of hunt you could possibly want, be it varmint, turkey, whitetail, quail or even fishing.  The man loves what he does and does it full time.

So back to the report…

We rolled into the intersection that is Valera, Texas around 7 pm on a Tuesday evening and met our guide, “Mr. Whiskers”, at a quiet little BBQ joint called “Big O’s Restaurant.”   Mike was already there with his good friend and long time hunting partner, Lloyd Hopper.

After a brief introduction to “Big O” himself we were treated to some mighty fine brisket and sausage before heading out for the night.

With the sun having finally set and our bellies full, we said our farewells to “Big O” and transferred our equipment to Mr. Whisker’s truck.  On top of the pick-up truck’s bed, Mike had a solid, raised platform with what appeared to be a rotating chair with an adjustable rest for your gun.  A person could sit comfortably in the chair and, if need be, quickly and silently rotate 360 degrees.  (This homemade setup was like sitting in the gunner’s chair on a battleship…a battleship huntin’ varmints!)

VARMINT 1 - 11:15 P.M.

We pulled off the highway and Lloyd jumped out to open the gate and let us on to our first property.  We drove down the dusty road a bit and stopped about a mile from the gate.  After a brief explanation of our assigned posts and how it would all play out we, quickly and quietly, opened the truck doors and moved out into the cool, dark night.

Jason and Mike made their way onto the back of the truck and Jason settled into the gunner’s chair.  Trying my best to keep my camera at the ready and my head out of harm’s way, I stood on the ground at the back of the truck, beneath the swivel of Jason’s Bushmaster .223 Varmint Edition and Mike’s homemade spotlight.

The silence of the night was deafening.  That silence was abruptly broken as Mike began to imitate the sound of an injured rabbit, a high pitched squeak that was surely music to some late night predator’s ears.  A dim, red beam of light swung into view and then panned past me.  Back and forth, Mike moved the light across the land, hoping to hit upon the eyes of an approaching varmint.

After several minutes…nothing.  Then, out of the thin underbrush 50 feet directly in front of us, a rabbit appeared.  Mike’s light moved and so did the rifle.  In the whispered excitement, I was barely able to get the rabbit in focus before POP! 

Jason fired.

First thing I noticed was I’d have to work on my gunfire reflex.  (I wasn’t sure if I got the shot on film at the time but having seen the video now I did…sorta).  What I was sure of was that Jason practically took the rabbit’s head off.  Quick Draw McGraw proved his point.  The boy’s a crack shot.  Moving on to bigger and better things. The warm-up was over.

VARMINT 2 - 2:05 A.M.

We drove around the country side to various spots on Mr. Whisker’s route (see the GPS tracking photo) and at each location Mike and Lloyd would take turns on the back of the truck. Using various mouth calls (or by blasting tapes of mating calls, squealing birds or the cries of a wounded animal) our guide(s) would call for about 20 minutes at one spot and if nothing approached we would move on and come back later.  We had several strike-outs but were told that was to be expected this late in the season.

After stopping and calling a few times without success we finally came upon our next location.  It was well past midnight now and the temperature had really dropped.  We put on heavier jackets and hats and settled into our assigned locations.

It didn’t take long at this spot.  Following Mike’s spotlight and a signal from Jason I trained the camera on the horizon and POP again.  This time it was a raccoon.  We walked off 110 steps, located our prey and examined the shot.

Another direct hit.  (And this time less camera shake!)

VARMINT 3 - 3:15 A.M.

Bundled under a heavy jacket and parked in the middle of a huge, open field, holding my camera at the ready, I took a moment, crouched below the gun turret, to let my eyes adjust to the darkness and take in my surroundings.

I looked up at a sky smeared with more stars than any man could possibly count.  Lloyd’s eerie animal calls filled my ears and penetrated the cool, quiet of the night.  Being a screenwriter with an affinity and childhood love for horror, this was fertile ground for my imagination.  I could just imagine an army of creatures slowly creeping up on us just below the swing of the pale red light. 

But my imagination would have to wait.  I was quickly yanked back into reality as a pass of the spotlight brought back the glow of two shining eyes.  It was what we’d been waiting for all night.  A bobcat! 

Camera trained on the target.  Spotlight in place.  Safety off.

POP! (You can actually SEE the bullet slicing through the air on the video.)

We set off to retrieve our target and found ourselves a stunning specimen that Jason decided to take home to have mounted.  With no visible signs of blood, we had a difficult time locating the bullet’s entry and exit wound. (Maybe we scared it to death?)  To be honest, Mr. Whisker's found a small entry wound and no exit. This seemed strange to me, but Jason said the Hornady V-Max 55 grain was designed to do exactly what it did.

ADIOS - 4:15

With morning rapidly approaching and Mr. Whisker’s scheduled to guide a fishing trip in less than an hour (along with a turkey hunt that afternoon!) we decide to call it a night and head back to Big O’s and unload the truck.

The night had been a great success.  Three shots. Three kills.  Thanks to Jason’s accuracy and Mr. Whisker’s Guide Service I’d not only had a truly unique hunting experience but I’d literally had a blast.  Even at the locations where we had no luck calling up a varmint, the anticipation of the impending shot was still enjoyable.  If I had a son or daughter and wanted to get them interested in hunting, or if I merely wanted to work on my shot, then Mr. Whisker’s varmint hunting is the perfect hunting opportunity for both new and old alike.  (And if you’re working on a budget you really can’t beat the price!)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO (please be patient as this is a large file)

For more information on Mr. Whisker's Guide Service or Mike Stuard follow the links below:

CLICK HERE for Mr. Whiskers Guided Varmint Hunts (pricing, etc.)

CLICK HERE for Mr. Whiskers Guided Whitetail Deer Hunts (pricing, etc.)

CLICK HERE for Mr. Whiskers Guided Turkey Hunts (pricing, etc.)

CLICK HERE for Mr. Whiskers Guided Quail Hunts (pricing, etc.)

CLICK HERE for Mr. Whiskers Guided Fishing Trips (pricing, etc.)

Images and Files: View all 9 photos / videos here.