In the first post above from the National Park Service, I feel like it is written with a political agenda, not with Truth as the priority. But then again, I have never been to the property and probably should keep my mouth shut.

1. The dove/quail comment is the same for anywhere.

2. The "deer" comment doesn't mention that we are talking about "Desert Mule Deer" which are pretty use to the local environment.

3. I am not aware of a wild hog in this area, but could be wrong. I would have thought when they mentioned "exotic species" that they would have mentioned Aoudad.

4. Are there any Aoudad, Big Horn, or other types of Rams?

5. How about hunting mountain lion, bobcat, and coyote?

6. The "extra info" about Javelina has nothing to do with the local javelina population, and only the last sentence is about the specific rules/regulations in the local county.

7. On one hand they mention that the neighboring ranches are a source of concern if they were to allow high-powered rifles for hunting; then they also express concern that the hunting on neighboring ranches and of course, the poaching, "may" effect the wildlife on the Christmas Mountains. Since when does one landowner have a say over another landowner hunting? Are there not already laws in place regarding neighbor property, shooting across property lines, and tracking animals across property lines? All the NPS anti-hunting arguments seem to be inflated and the pro-hunting arguments seem to be minimized.

I am not an expert of this property by any means, but after reading about the current hunting season on the NEIGHBORING property, it seems someone at the National Park Service is not doing a good job at reporting the simple facts. We don't need opinions, we need the simple facts.

I learned early that hunting is not a right, it's a privilege. My grandfather always went deer hunting afterChristmas. I would sit on the floor and listen to his stories of all the deer he had taken. I always dreamed of going with him one day. I made no secret of this wish with my grandfather. Yes I called him Pa Pa. His name was Rufus. My dad did not hunt so I had no opportunity to learn. When I turned 7, Pa Pa's health was failing and he could no
longer work or hunt. When I turned 8 on November 13, it was him who gave me a single shot 20 gauge. I was ready for anything now!
 My brother is 7 years older than me. It was his friends that offered opportunities to him to hunt. I only had to wait another year and then he got his drivers license. This would change everything. A family friend let us use his property out in Katy. We had many choices of game in the early 70's; dove, quail, ducks, geese, and varmints. I was the official retriever, frozen water tester, and basic pain in the butt. It took a couple of years before I actually was given credit for my first "official" kill a mature snow that I could not have been more proud of.
 After my brother moved to Huntsville for college, I had limited chances to hunt. We did make a couple trips down the Trinity but with little success. With everything changing in Houston, we moved to Conroe in 1978. I got my hardship license and began discovering duck filled potholes on Lake Conroe. It was there I introduced my friend Greg to snipe hunting. It only took about 4 years before the lake began to develop. The feds did away with points system and bird
limits dropped to 3 or 4 birds. I turned to deer hunting in the national forest. This was a new xperience. I had never hunted an animal that could use a sense of smell like deer. It took a few years before I was able to get one.
 I joined the army in 82. Met my wife in 87, and had my daughter in 89. I went 10 years without making hunting or fishing a priority. My wife understood that I was going to change this. I did not want my 2 step kids and daughter to miss out on the time they could spend in the great outdoors. We both knew that this would keep them out of trouble in the future and cement a solid set of values in them. The time we spend with friends and family in the outdoors
is our most treasured memories. My children have all been hunting and fishing with me. Even the time my oldest daughter was surrounded by coyotes and thought they were going to eat her have become treasured memories. They are now grown and making a life of their own.
 I have 2 grand children and 1 more on the way. My oldest grandson sits with me and watches the hunting and fishing shows on the weekend when he comes over. It's usually followed by a short fishing trip on the lake. He wants a bow and arrow and asks when Grand pappy is going to take him hunting. He is only 4 but I have him shooting pretty darn good with an adult air rifle. I can't wait to give him my old 20 gauge and buy him a 223 to go deer hunting with me. Actually it's just
a plot to get my grandson to help me with my honey-do's when I'm older so we can go hunting. Do you think he will ever read this?
 My name is Tim Truitt, I live in Willis Texas. My wonderful wife is Carol who still lets me go hunting and fishing. She will only fish. My son works with the same company as me doing low voltage electrical work. My oldest daughter is a school teacher in Spring. My youngest is a freshman at Baylor. It is the hunter who will save the animals and their habitat.
I'm a member of CCA and Ducks Unlimited. I have sure missed a lack of sleep, being freezing cold, wet feet, mosquitoes, super strong coffee, the filthy stinky sticky mud, and the friendship of the duck blind.
 Bobby, you and wingdinger have a great relationship. I would like to use your experinces to help me with my future times with my grand kids. Find out what both of you liked and disliked and what did all that time in a blind mean to the 2 of you. Also what jokes and mischief has occured. In other words who got who best. I think this is a fantastic idea. Thanks guys! 281-635-0714