As you know my new email address is rctribe@sbcglobal.net. I took advantage of a special that SBC was running ($29.95/month for six months then $49.95/month for six months). As I discontinued SWBell the FCS Website at http://home.swbell.net/rctribe/fcspage.htm was supposed to have been deleted. Fortunately it is still up and running. I say fortunately because I had major computer problems (I accidentally wiped the wrong hard drive) and had to recreate all the links for the site and the navigation structure. As of tonight I have finished uploading all 136 pages and 472 pictures into our new site: http://www.geocities.com/rctribe@sbcglobal.net/FCSpage.htm. The only bad news is the package deal with SBC includes only a 15 MB personal Website (we're currently using 12.3 MB). This means that, eventually, we will either have to delete pages, not add pages, or buy more space. We'll not have to cross that bridge for a while though. The annoying thing is we'll have those wonderful Geocities pop up ads.
We are getting close to a new year and that means it's time to start thinking about our 2003 Calendar. I plan on proposing a calendar at the 12/5/02 North Austin Chapter Meeting. During 2002 we instituted an Opening Day Dove Hunt (actually it was the second day) for the Central Zone. This event drew a lot of members and guests (24 total) although there were few birds. I would like to make this an annual event. I would also like to continue our popular Fall Dove Retreat, Annual Goose/Duck Hunt, and Annual Hog Hunts and Sporting Clays Shoots and squeeze in a fishing trip. My vote it either for chartered Stripped Bass or chartered Redfish/Speckled Trout. We have not had a fishing trip for several years. I've also heard from more than one member that they would like to plan a pheasant hunt. I covet your ideas.
Several members have expressed interest in having a Winter Dove Retreat in either late December or early January. The season starts on 12/21/02 and ends on 1/14/03. That means we could hunt on the following weekends: 12/21/02 - 12/22/02, 12/27/02 - 12/29/02, 1/3/03 - 1/5/03, or 1/10/02 - 1/12/03. A lot of members have Christmas plans on the 12/21/02 and 12/27/02 weekends. My vote will be for the weekend of 1/3/03. I'll send out an e-mail vote and we'll also take a vote at the 12/5/02 North Austin Chapter Meeting. We also have to decide whether we want to hunt at $25/day at Mr. Ewald's (where there have not usually been many birds during the winter) or with Texas Wild (where we have had good winter hunts) at $50/day. So far the membership who responded to an e-mail that I sent out about this subject were unanimous in that they wanted to hunt where there are birds.
Ryan and I are going to hunt at Jim Bob Cohenour's J B Hunting ranch near Blessing on 12/30/02 - 12/31/02. If we have a good hog/sheep hunt we will have the Annual Club Hog Hunt there in February. If we don't we'll hunt at the Arrowhead Ranch. For more information on Jim's ranch see the Classified Ads page (Hunting Opportunities section).
A couple members have expressed interest in having a doe hunt. Joe Avilla's brother, Roy, has several hunting opportunities on his ranch near Sisterdale (north of Boerne), including Axis does. The cost is $50 plus $75 if you kill a doe. Axis does are about 30% bigger than Whitetail does and they taste better. $125 for a doe is a good price but it is especially good for an Axis doe. Roy can be reached at 830-324-6595 (Home) or 830-879-5667 (Mobile). For more information on Roy's ranch see the Classified Ads page (Hunting Opportunities section). If you hunt at Roy's ranch please send let me know how it went. I can be reached via e-mail or at 512-963-0003. A good hunting report might possibly result in a future FCS Axis Doe Hunt at Roy's.
The new FCS T-shirts were available for sale at the 2002 Fall Dove Retreat. Several were sold but we have many more that we need to sell. They come in camo and Khaki and feature the new FCS logo. The camo shirts are available in X-Large and 3X-Large. The khaki shirts are available in X-Large and 2X-Large. They will be available at the 12/5/02 North Austin Chapter Meeting.
So far only two members have expressed interest in subscribing to the proposed FCS Magazine "Following His Trail." I will need at least five subscribers to warrant the 8+ hours that it will take me to put together each magazine. "Hunting His Way" will continue to be distributed, but in a significantly abbreviated form (no more than two pages, only upcoming events, prayer requests, and proposals for changes to the bylaws, statement of faith, and/or calendar). If you are interested in subscribing to the magazine please e-mail me or call me at 512-258-8396.
We will have our traditional chili supper at the 12/5/02 North Austin Chapter Meeting. I would appreciate two volunteers to make the chili. We'll take up a collection to defray the cost. Volunteers can call me at 512-258-8396 or e-mail me.
Serving you and Him,
Randy Rowley
FCS President and Webmaster