Texas continues to lead the nation in whitetail deer sales. Two weeks ago, the nation’s largest state association dedicated to whitetail deer — the Texas Deer Association (TDA) — welcomed hundreds of deer enthusiasts to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and raised more than $850,000 at its 1st Annual Spring Gala Banquet and in Grapevine, Texas.

Approximately 100 Venturing Scouts will learn about firearms safety while having the opportunity to fire .22 rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, and practice archery. This free event is held to recruit new Venturing Scouts to the program and teach them about handling firearms safely. Fifteen to twenty NRA Certified Instructors will be on hand to provide instruction and supervision.

Game Warden Tracy Large of Seguin has been honored by the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) for his efforts in conserving America’s wildlife. Large was recognized as the NWTF’s Texas Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer of the Year at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting here March 26.

Texas Game Wardens today recovered the body of Jarod David Dawkins, 27, who was missing since the boat he was on capsized March 17 near Sparta Valley Park on Belton Lake. Dawkins’ body was recovered at 9:03 a.m. just north of the water treatment plant near Westcliff Park.

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. is now offering discounts for Hunter Education Instructors for 2009 and has announced its committed sponsorship of both Hunter's Handbook and the Hunter and Shooting Sports Education Journal. All of these tools support the Hunter Education network and are integral in effectively communicating safety in the outdoors as well as perpetuation of the sport.

Try to imagine life in Texas without cattle, farm-to-market roads, trout and redfish.   It’s an odd combination of omissions to ponder, but there is a connection that leads to former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, this year’s Rotary Club of Corpus Christi Harvey Weil Sportsman Conservationist of the year, a distinction that labels him a man for all seasons.