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| Murry Hatfield - and Missy |
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Murry Hatfield guided at our Adobe Lodge Home Camp way back in 1991-92. Since then, he's established a successful ranching operation and practices super habitat management for wildlife of all kinds.
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Exceptional Hatfield Camp Bucks
They show the potential of the ranch. |
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| Taken in 2007 |
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| Taken in 2007 |
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Hunt 4 January 1-5
The final hunt at the Hatfield Camp for the season found a father/son pair, Don and Max Kinser from Marietta, Georgia and their friend, Bruce Hare, from Franklin, NC. Bruce was a last-minute substitute when Don's father, Roland, had to cancel out.
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| Hunt 4 - Two from GA, one from NC |
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| Don Kinser - 8 pt. buck |
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| 10 pt. buck taken by Max Kinser. |
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| Bruce Hare's wide buck. |
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Hunt 3 December 28-31
Hunts during the Christmas holidays are perfect for family groups when the kids are out of school. The Hatfield Camp hosted New Jersey hunters Lawrence Bryan and son Jonathan last year. This year, they were back and brought along Lawrence's old friend, Jon Isaacs from Colorado, for whom Jonathan is named - a high honor for sure. Jon, in turn, brought along two nephews, Nick and Ben, who hail from the Bay Area of San Francisco. So on this particular hunt, the Hatfield Camp literally had hunters from coast to coast.
Since we first met Lawrence many years ago, he has hunted our Home Camp and McManus Camp, but now he seems to have found a home at the Hatfield Camp with three separate visits there in the past dozen months. And yep, he and Jonathan are already booked back there for '08. See what we're saying?
All the hunters collected bucks except for young Ben who had to clock-out early and go home. But the rest did plenty good with Nick taking his first-ever deer. Uncle Jon thought the best idea was to have Nick take a doe or two as a dress-rehersal for finally shooting a buck. Worked just like he planned, too.
Lawrence took a dandy buck on a rattling hunt very early in the hunt. When he first saw him, the buck was about 165 yards distant and out of sight to his guide. But here he came, and in a dead run. He passed to the right of Lawrence and was only about 35 yards when Lawrence put him down with one shot. Asked if he led the deer, Lawrence said no, he was too close to lead. Sounds like there was some mighty fancy rattling, and mighty fancy shooting in this hunting party.
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| Hunt 3 - one from CA, one from CO, two from NJ |
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| Jon checks out a flock of turkeys |
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| Nick Isaacs - first-ever deer. |
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| Proud uncle - happy young hunter |
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| 12 pointer - rattled in |
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| 10 pointer |
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| 8 pointer for Uncle Jon |
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| 10 point - FIRST BUCK |
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Hunt 2 November 14-18
The second hunt of the 2007 season at the Hatfield Camp was conducted in weather that hardly seemed like deer season. Plenty warm, but surprise, surprise - the hunting was as good as ever.
Back for the second year in a row was Heath Chambliss from Kentwood, LA. This year he brought his friend Greg Bennett who hails from Brookhaven, MS. Two southern good-old-boys for sure. The other hunter was from Zionsville, PA - Matt Shubert, also hunting the Hatfield Camp for the first time.
From the photos below, you'll see that the three hunters did mighty good. Heath took a couple of ten pointers. Greg and Matt both collected nice bucks. They were all "Happy Campers" no doubt.
Heath made one heck of a shot on a coyote. Even though we just don't have too many of these critters in this area, we encourage all hunters at all camps to take them out on sight. Heath did with a powerful eight yard shot. That's right - the coyote was almost in the blind with him. Heath had seen the coyote earlier sneaking up on a group of deer. When next seen, the coyote was just right there next to the blind. Good job, Heath.
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| Hunt Two: Two from MS, one from PA |
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| Murry Hatfield and Matt Shubert |
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| Skinning and processing. |
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| Murry's faithful old mule |
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| Watching videos of what they saw. |
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| Murry says lunch is on. |
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| 17 1/2" 9 pt. |
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| 17" 7 pt. |
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| 17 1/2" 10 pt. |
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| 16 1/2" 10 pt. |
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| Heath and Greg |
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| A better look. |
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Hatfield # 1 November 7-11
For the third year in a row, Mike Austill from Reading, PA was back hunting the Hatfield Camp. He had hunted our Home Camp before that. So it appears that Mike likes Adobe Lodge style hunting. Sadly, this year, his dad, Dan, was unable to accompany Mike due to health reasons. But it was great to see Mike, as always.
The other hunter in camp, Justin Thyme, was a first-time-ever hunter. In booking the hunt, Justin asked if he could be taught all the finer points of the sport - from hunting skills to butchering a deer and everything in-between. We told him there was no better camp and no better teacher than Murry Hatfield. Justin hails from Decatur, Texas.
We are proud to report the hunt was a success with Mike collecting a mighty impressive, tall-antlered buck. And indeed, Justin got his first-ever buck which is always the highlight on any Adobe Lodge hunt. Despite the fact that Justin has a couple of handicaps which are a continual challenge to him, he has a great spirit and we welcome him as a valuable new member of the hunting community.
The weather on this hunt at the Hatfield Camp was similar to all our other camps - hot and dry. Not exactly your favorite whitetail deer hunting weather. But it is safe to say that both Mike and Justin saw plenty of deer despite the less-than-ideal conditions.
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| 17" 9 pt. |
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| 16" 9 pt. FIRST BUCK |
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For more information about hunting at the Hatfield Camp,
Contact: Skipper Duncan 325 942-8040
skipper@adobelodge.com 325 374-7024
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