Like mother, like daughters Kerr County I Hunting: Sisters, mother run West Kerr Ranch By Thomas Phillips Times Sports Design Editor thomas.ph [email protected] The pickup eases to a stop, and Ashley Kana peers into the brush outside. She grew up at the West Kerr Ranch and lives and works here full time now. She knows just about every bush, rock and shadow. This time, what has caught her eye is alive: A small group of elk shuffles Thomas Phillips/Times Sports Design Editor,[email protected] amidst cedar a few dozen yards away. Ashley Kana stands on a deck at her family's West Kerr Ranch. Ashley, The cows nervously trot off, and a her sister, Kelcie, and mother, Barbara, manage the 1O,SOO-acrespread . , lone bull tries to hold his ground but and guide hunters for white-tailed deer and exotics. relents to follow his harem. The West Kerrpresents so many in- fallow, Aoudad sheep, elk and black made since 1luIl's purchase, Ashley ~vt teresting angles. buck antelope. The exotics, except for Kana said. • Winner of the statewide Excel- the elk, carne with the property when 1luIl managed the West Kerr for lence in Range Management and Lone Barbara Kana's father,' Bob Trull, livestock. cattle and goats decimated Star Land Steward awards; bought it from the YO - legendary the vegetation, and in 1990 Barbara • A massive, 1O,SOO-acrtracte split for its exotics - in 1976. received permission to manage 2,500 offfrom the YORanch; The elk were introduced later, and • Run by two sisters and their no other exotic additions have been mother. Guiding hunts, booking hunters and maintaining the deer and exotics populations at this converted livestock ranch west of Mountain Home rests Wh·itetail and Exotic with mother Barbara Kana and sisters Kelcieand Ashley. Experience Hill Country huntinl "I've had a lot ofhunters shocked at first," Ashley Kana said. • Magnificent trophy White The shock must wear off. The Ka- • Big, 8 and 9-point Managl nas have grown the business through word of mouth and their Web site, $1,500 (many 'scoring abo Ashley said, so many hunters know about the ranch's situation before they • Axis deer make reservations. "My mom had a passion for hunt- • Blackbuck antelope ing; she taught us how to hunt," Ash- ley Kana said on a recent tour. "She www.BuckValley.com • Fallow deer had a passion for the land. • Red Deer "My mom's not in it for the money; none of us are. Youcan't get rich do- (830) 584-1266 • Scimitar horned Oryx ing this. We're doing it because this is what we love to do. It's our passion." • Lots of does Being rUn by women does not seem to attract more women hunt- UI ers, Ashley Kana said. But fathers Guided day hunts and luxurious full-service packages for of daughters who see women hunt- ing seem more_inclined to hunt here, Ashley Kana said. "1think that's attractive to a father," she said. Inthe field Species that hunters mainly pur- sue are native white-tailed deer, tur- key and hogs, and exotics: axis, sika, Indoors Lodging at the West Kerr provides acres for wildlife. She took courses modest space for dozens of hunters through the Texas Parks and Wildlife and guests. Two cabins and a mobile Department to learn management home have beds, bunk beds, dining techniques. She learned to use pre- space and living areas. scribed burns and began working The Game Room - that's game with a wildlife biologist to help man- as in wildlife - has walls covered in age her populations. taxidermy and provides a community Eighteen years later, wildlife biolo- space for down time during hunts. gist Fielding Harwell still studies those The buildings sit atop a hill, and animals, enclosed in the high-fenced the view stretches for miles. Decks property, though he now is semi-re- and ample seating look over the tired after 40 years with TPVJD. ranch from the Game Room and mo- He said managing the wildlife at bile home. the ranch is like managing it at seven ranches because of its size and how Price and priorities it is divided internally into seven sub- Prices vary depending, generally, sections by high fences. Gates on the Thomas Phillips/ [email protected] on the species and sex of the animal internal fences remain open, Ashley The West Kerr Ranch sits in western sought, hunting method used, length Kana said, but they still affect the Kerr County on U.S.83. of stay and other factors. Several wildlife management. package hunts are available. The Kanas work with TPWD on those on Google Maps. One of Barba- Taxidermy is available on site, and, their management program. They an- ra Kana's initial land treatments was yes, a Kana woman is involved with nually survey the game populations to cut swaths through the overgrown that, too. Kelcie Kana began prepar- and set harvest goals. cedar brush, leaving alternating ing mounts in 1998. They have achieved a one-to-one stripes of forested and open land. The male-female sex ratio and are working mixed landscape aids the wildlife. West Kerr Ranch to improve body mass and antler size. The Kanas try to burn the open www.westkerrranch.com (830) 329-5171 367· Hunters have 52 blinds and feed- spaces yearly to minimize cedar [email protected] ers to choose from when hunting the growth and promote the growth of West Kerr. Guides can escort hunt- leafy vegetation, which deer prefer. ers all day during their hunt or drop "This ranch was one of the first them off at the stand and retrieve ranches in this part of the country them later. that started burning," Harwell said. U.S. 83 divides the ranch, with "... It's essential to control the re- 4,000 acres west of the highway. Ani- growth of cedar. It improves the habi- mals on the western part receive a tat for wildlife and livestock while at - protein supplement in their diet. The the same time controlling cedar." additional protein boosts body and "Webattle cedar," AshleyKana said. antler size. No live creeks pass through the The ranch is noticeable when ranch, so windmills pump water to viewed from satellite photos such as troughs to meet animals' needs. ';'Zee ~¥- Speed 'J~ 72" TV In Lobby • Free Local Calls • R 214 Peterson Dr., Kerrville TX 78028 830-895-2888 . (PAST THE DEAD END SIGN) Meeting Room • Exercise Room • Co Jeeps, 4WD, Diesel HUNTERS GET READY FOR HUNTI:NG SEASON! We can rig your Diesel TrUCk, @ Jeep or IIWD for aU of your Hilton HHonors Hunting needs! 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