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336 Operating a South Texas Quail Hunting Camp Ronnie Howard Unless the habitat is maintained, there will be little wildlife left to hunt or to see. Leopold (1978) The San Tomas Hunting Camp was established on the Encino Division of King Ranch during the summer of 1979. It was formed as a corporate hunting facility for Blocker Energy Corporation in Houston, Texas. John Blocker was a farsighted man with close ties to the Wildlife Science Department at Texas A&M University. He made the decision to build a world-class facility to entertain corporate and family guests in the heart of South Texas quail country. He also made a decision to hire a professional biologist to run the operation, rather than the standard hunting guide–dog trainer that was normally chosen for such a position . During 1979, I knew of only two individuals (Bill Kiel with King Ranch and myself) who were privately employed in the field of wildlife management in South Texas. In the beginning, San Tomas consisted of 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) of prime quail habitat. The hunting success during our first year dictated that we expand the operation to 9,700 hectares (24,000 acres) to accommodate the number of hunters we wanted to entertain. The lease was further increased to 14,500 hectares (36,000 acres) in 1986 and has remained at 13,770 hectares (34,000 acres) since 1988. John Blocker set a precedent for hunting camps throughout South Texas. He provided the resources needed to manage the camp and to develop professional guidelines required to run an intensive wild quail hunting operation that also sustained native northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus). My responsibilities were to run the operation from an entertainment standpoint but also to develop the habitat and hunting management plans that would allow us to offer quality hunts in a sustainable manner. In 1982, Blocker added partners at the hunting camp, one of whom purchased the camp in 1983. This partner brought in Freeport McMoRan (FMI) as a partner in 1983, and together they purchased the camp in 1985. It has operated as a corporate hunting facility continuously from 1979 until today. James Moffett, chairman of the board of FMI, and Richard Adkerson, CEO of FMI, have supported and expanded this operation with the same professional attitude that Blocker used to establish it. Our hunts have always emphasized a quality experience for a few guests (normal groups are six to eight guests) rather than entertain a maximum number of people at a time. San Tomas now employs four full-time people, three student interns (to gain practical field experience for their associates degree in commercial wildlife management from Southeastern Illinois College), and four seasonal employees. In addition , the camp is host to two to three graduate students from the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Management Institute who have been conducting quail-related research at San Tomas since 1998. 20 337 Operating a South Texas Quail Hunting Camp During the 26 years that San Tomas has been in operation, we have learned many lessons about the camp, hunting, and habitat management strategies that are required to sustain wild quail and quality hunting under a private land lease agreement. The purpose of this chapter is to share the history and experience of these lessons. Personnel and Facilities The hunting-camp staff can make or break a hunting lease. San Tomas has existed for more than 26 years under three different companies. When one company hit hard times and had to give up the camp, there was always someone from another company who had experienced San Tomas as a guest and wanted to step in and have his or her company represented as an owner of the camp. Through the years, one common link has held the camp together. We run a very personable, very relaxed camp. Guests are treated with respect, but they are also treated as friends. I have always encouraged camp staff to interact with guests. Over the years, we have developed a friendship bond with every host that comes to the camp and brings guests. After 26 years many of these guests are as familiar with our operation as the hosts who bring them. Camp employees wear shirts with name tags so that guests get to know them quickly and personally, and the staff is encouraged to learn the names of each guest. Everyone that comes to the camp has one of two first names: Mr. or Mrs. Many of the camp employees are...

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