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Bar H Ranch
2007 Hunt Reports and Photos
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| Bob Helmers |
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The Bar H Ranch, owned and operated by Bob Helmers, produces both outstanding livestock and wildlife. They offer hunts for whitetails, axis deer, blackbuck antelope and Texas Dall rams. The Bar H is about 30 miles south of San Angelo. Accommodating four hunters per hunt, they can custom-tailor the hunt dates to the needs of the hunters.
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Hunt 2 December 12-16
The second and final hunt of the 2007 season at the Bar H Camp found a group of "good-old-boys" back for a return engagement. All four hunted the Bar H last season, and with the hunting and the fun to be found, it's just hard to stay away. It's always great to see former clients return. They were Charlie Fairchild, Magee, MS; Maxie Phillips, Bogue Chitto, MS; Ronnie Grice, Terry, MS; and Tim Howell, Morgan City, LA.
The group collected numerous deer: five whitetail bucks, one axis buck, and no telling how many does. They kept the guides, Joe Franklin and Fred Reyna, busy processing all that meat. Axis deer are especially good eating.
The big event of the hunt happened when Charlie Fairchild's buck escaped. Charlie, using his 7 mm. short magnum, put a bullet right through the tops of both front legs of a buck. With the shot being out of a vital area, the buck was able to hobble away up a hill. So his guide, Fred Reyna, returned to camp to get his faithful tracking dog, Ria, a two-year-old Lacy. Fred, it should be told, is an accomplished dog trainer having a kennel-full of good birddogs, as well.
Back at the "scene of the crime", Fred and Lia started after the buck and quickly left the hunters behind as the dog's nose was full of good scent going up that hill. After about 30 minutes and maybe 400 yards, Fred spotted the still-fairly-mobile buck. Lacy "surrounded" him and Fred was able to take a good hold of the buck's hind leg. But having neither gun nor knife with which to dispatch the buck, Fred began whistling and calling for help. He waited. And waited some more. Nothing. No one came to his rescue. Now what?
The only "tool" at his disposal was Ria's leash, so, enterprising guide that he is, Fred used that lease to tie the disabled buck to a small tree. He hung his cap up high on a limb to mark the spot and made the long trek back down the hill to search for the missing hunters. When finally they were found, Fred asked why they had not come to his shouts and whistles? Their answer: they thought he'd been hollering at his dog. Wind will sometimes do that to cries of alarm.
So everyone made their way back up the hill to retrieve the buck. But now there was a new problem: they couldn't spot Fred's cap anywhere. They searched and searched. Did the buck, using an old Houdini trick, somehow untie that leash, steal Fred's cap, and make his escape once again? After an incredibly long time, finally the buck and the cap were found, but Charlie, being out of bullets, had to cut the deer's throat to put an end to the adventure.
All's well that ends well, they say. But here's the important part: over the years, we have had many requests from hunters to "tie one to a tree for me until I get there". Finally, Fred Reyna was able to do just that.
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| Hunt 2 - Three from Mississippi, one from Lousiana. |
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| The whole group on Bar H # 2 |
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| Maxie gets an axis buck. |
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| Another look |
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| Tim, Maxie, Charlie. |
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| Ronnie Grice |
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| Tim Howell |
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| Maxie and his fine 10 point. |
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| Charlie's first buck. |
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| Charlie and both bucks. |
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| Maxie and Ronnie |
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| Fred Reyna and Ria |
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Hunt 1 November 7-11
About a year ago, we got a phone call from a nice lady named Lil Brendel from Forked River, NJ. She wanted to buy a hunt for her husband, John, as a surprise 50th birthday present. Also, his brother and some friends would like to come along.
The photos below tell their story best. There are additional photos of this group under "Latest News" dated 11-10-07. What a super group of guys they turned out to be. It was hard to tell who was having more fun - the hunters or the crew at the Bar H Ranch.
All four hunters collected mighty nice bucks, and they told their guide, Joe Franklin, that every buck taken by the group was a personal best. We just cannot imagine a better hunt than that.
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| L-R John Brendel, Tim Brendel, Chico Iapicco, Steve Conrad. |
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| 19 3/4" 8 pt. Maybe a 10 |
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| Another view of John's buck. |
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| 18" 8 pt. |
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| 19 3/4" 8 pt. |
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| 16" 11 pt. |
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| Four friends on a Texas hunt. |
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| Take care of that cook now. |
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| The Bar H Staff - Jim Holley (cook); Joe Franklin; Bob Helmers; Fred Reyna |
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Bob Helmers, a friend of ours for many, many years joined the Adobe Lodge group of whitetail camps in 2006. We are honored, and we think Adobe Lodge hunters will find an excellent hunting experience at the Bob's Bar H ranch.
The Bar H is located about 30 miles south of San Angelo. Bob has done an excellent job managing his deer herd. They also have a few blackbuck antelope with some outstanding trophies in the bunch.
The Bar H camp is a well-equipped ranch house with all the comforts of home. You will find good beds, a nice kitchen, hot water in the shower, and a comfortable living room with recliners and a t.v. for watching those "can't miss" football games in the fall.
Bob has done a lot of work with his ranch. It is very, very well cared for. His good range management means plenty of forage for both livestock and deer. Bob has even devoted a square-mile section (640 acres) of his propery to a high-fenced intense game management program. Most of his hunting, however, is low-fenced. But it is good. He has the proper amount of brush to hold an incredible deer population.
We are proud to welcome the Bar H and Bob Helmers to Adobe Lodge style hunting.
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To Book A Bar H Hunt, contact:
Skipper Duncan skipper@adobelodge.com
Adobe Lodge Hunting Camp 325 942-8040 - office
P.O. Box 60127 325 374-7024 - cell
San Angelo, TX 76906
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