MARCH 2016

VOL 7 ISSUE 1

The Grind
Tough Year
SRO went into 2015 very excited for the possibilities of
antler growth and overall herd health. If 2014 was the
year of surprises, 2015 was going to become a grind.
Starting in Caddo, early season was very successful
with all but one of our HIT LIST bucks being harvested
before muzzleloader season. October 16th proved to
be a day that will be remembered for a long time with
three HIT LIST being harvested, Jones, Cash and Knife.
Jones and Knife were both 9.5 plus years old. Our first
two groups of the season ended up having an 88%
success rate with only one hunter out of 8 not
harvesting a buck. During muzzleloader season we
were able to have a 60% success rate with three out of
five hunters harvesting a buck. The season is now into
early November and the rut is kicking in and the
acorns are falling, the grind is kicking in. SRO guides
are having to put many miles on checking trail cams,
scouting and glassing to get our clients on deer. In the
month of November we were able to harvest five more
bucks but only having a 45% success rate. One of the
bucks ended up being the largest buck of the season.
The 6x7 buck scored 166. At the end of the season,
the decision was made to try to combat what happened
in 2015. The goal is to maximize every inch of antler
we can. Protein stations have been a vital part of our
management strategy, usually starting in late April.
This year protein was put out first of February and will
be available free choice through the season. Spring
and summer food plots will be planted for the first time
this year as well. We are looking to put In close to 30
acres spread across the ranch. In addition to food
plots and protein, 10-12 new stands and cameras will
be purchased to help enhance inventory and hunt
more effectively.
In Waurika early season was where the grind
happened. Even though we had a record breaking year
with rainfall, it became dry when it came time to plant
winter wheat and Jefferson County. had an infestation
of army worms this year so needless to say, wheat
pasture didnt get planted until much later than normal.
Not having wheat in caused the deer to stay in the tall
native grass to bed and feed. According to logs on
mile books, we were driving close to 100 miles

a day checking cameras and trying to find deer for

our clients. We were adjusting sets and hanging
news ones, what seemed like every day. There were
seven hunters in camp with us in October and there
were four bucks harvested and each of them was
earned. November rolled around, wheat finally was
planted and starting to come up and mature deer
became more visible. There was one bow group
and two rifle groups to round out the season with
us. Two of the three bow hunters saw good mature
bucks but they just wouldnt quite close the gap to
get a shot opportunity. The third bow hunter was
able to connect with a great mature buck. Our first
group in camp during rifle season left with a 100%
success rate, all three hunters went home with a
great deer, including the largest of the year scoring
156. Our second group also went 100% with all five
hunters tagging out. Just like in Caddo, we are
adding to our management program in Waurika.
Protein feeders were bought and filled starting in
late February. They will be out through the season
free choice. Panels were purchased to keep pigs
and cattle out of the protein and only let the deer
use the feeders. Specific food plot farm equipment
has been purchased and we plan to put in many
small food plots across the ranch to compliment the
2800 acres of winter wheat on the ranch. New
stands and cameras also have been purchased for
inventory and providing more opportunity to hunt
other areas of the ranch this year. Extensive dozer
work for new fences also gained us new access to
prime areas of the ranch we have not be able to
access in years past. With these new additions and
changes plus a lot of sweat equity, our confidence
level is high that 2016 could be a year for the SRO
record books.
Continued

Questions or comments? Email us at clay@stuartranch.com

Rollercoaster Ride
The record breaking rainfall had us very
excited to scan the skies in 2015-2016
waterfowl season. Waurika Lake was
full for the first time since 2010, our new
sloughs were planted with millet and
flooded. New blinds were built and
brushed in ready to welcome clients.
Little did we know the grind was going
to carry over from deer season to
waterfowl season. Ducks Unlimited put
it best, this was a season for the ducks
and geese. Record numbers of ducks
were counted this year in their breeding
grounds and I am pretty sure thats
where they stayed this year. A warm
winter and ample water and vegetation
kept waterfowl to the north of us most
of the season (Example Stuttgart,
Arkansas only had 10-12,000 duck
during their mid-season census when
they expect to see 50-60,000: source
Ducks Unlimited). The rollercoaster ride
of this year is one we will soon forget.
We did have some great hunts this year,
but they were very sporadic. You really
never knew what was going to happen
each morning. Multiple times the day
before scout looked to be a great
morning hunt and a fraction of the
ducks and geese would come back.
This was especially frustration with
what appeared to be zero weather or
environment changes. Although it was
a tough year, we are committed to not
settling. Dirt work is already scheduled
for late this month to fix and build new
sloughs. Permanent large comfortable
blinds will be put on each slough each
slough will be flooded and planted with
a waterfowl mix or a millet mix to help
provide different food sources for
ducks throughout the year. We will
continue to lease ground around
Waurika Lake to provide dry-land goose
and ducks hunting opportunities.

Currently we have openings for bow,

muzzleloader and rifle hunts at the
Waurika Division. In addition there are
openings for waterfowl only and the
waterfowl combo hunt (includes three
days of waterfowl and hog hunting)
available for this year.
If you are interested in booking, have
questions or need more information
please feel free to call or email us. We
will be happy to answer questions and
provide any information you might
provide any information you might
want.

Questions or comments? Email us at clay@stuartranch.com

Knifes Story
It was a bittersweet moment when we found Knife at the bottom of a ridge in his home range
on October 17th. SRO has more history with him than any other deer in our seven years of
existence. He has been on the last five HIT LISTS and has managed to stay out of an arrow
and bullets path all the while staying in at most a 150 acre home range. You have to tip your
hat to the wherewithal and 6th sense of danger he had when the calendar rolled to October
1st each year. I call it a bittersweet moment only because the chase has come to an end. Our
clients have had many encounters and there are countless trail camera pictures of him. Next
year when I check "Middle Bow" I know his trade mark spilt brow tines will not be on camera
and there will be no excitement of maybe this is the year he makes a mistake. Knife will go
down as one of the all-time great deer taken with SRO. He deserves and has my highest
respect has a hunter and outfitter. Knife called Stuart Ranch home for nine years and his
journey has come to an end. From all the guides and hunters who had the pleasure of
hunting this amazing creature, Thank You! (Knife was aged at 9 and scored 151)

Questions or comments? Email us at clay@stuartranch.com