By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News
Photo by LSON
As a master’s student in range and wildlife management, Kyle Brewster, who didn’t grow up hunting, asked an all-to-familiar question.
“For hunting, where do you go?”
While he had given thought to hunting, the pressures of school and a family had to be considered. Mostly, though, it was the lack of opportunity.
“It’s a real barrier, there’s nowhere to go,” Brewster said.
Brewster grew up in Oologah, Oklahoma, and while his family fished, no one hunted. He did have a pellet gun as a kid, though, and enjoyed shooting it. Once at Texas A&M-Kingsville for his master’s studies, his interest in hunting piqued.
“Once I was in the program, I had been considering it,” Brewster said. “I was interested in learning how to do it. I wasn’t worried about the ability to shoot an animal, but I was with what to do after I shoot an animal.”
Knowing more and more students, even those studying wildlife, hadn’t hunted, a call from Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation to Dr. Fred Bryant at Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute gave Brewster the chance.
Arriving at the Williams Ranch in Atascosa County, it only took one shot on the range to show Brewster was ready. The bullet hit the bull’s eye.
During the first hunt, a buck presented a shot, and Brewster, hunting with guide Brad Williams, made a perfect shot.
“The buck ran about 50 yards,” Brewster said. “There was no sign of blood, but it didn’t take long to find him.”
Brewster jumped in and helped gut and skin the buck.
“I really enjoyed that,” he said.
On the last day of the hunt, Brewster experienced the other side of hunting. Missing.
“I got a shot at a doe,” he said. “I felt really good about it and thought it was a good shot, but it sailed right over her. I really had to pee for about 30 minutes, maybe that was it.”
Brewster isn’t a young college student. He’s married with two children, ages 4 and 2, and has several degrees. Still, hunting opportunities eluded him.
His master’s studies are on the cost-benefit analyses of coyote removal based on cattle management.
“I got a unique perspective for how ranchers feel about coyotes,” he said. “They are a pretty significant predator of calves.”
The new hunter appreciated his first time in the field.
“It was fun to get out,” Brewster said. “My kids are little, I don’t get a lot of time.”
Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides hunting and fishing opportunities to people who have the desire but lack the opportunity. LSONF also is looking for a hunting lease to provide additional opportunities. To donate or for more information, call (214) 361-2276.
