< Previous70 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 DEER AND DUCKS AND DOVES, OH YEAH December offers game on the wing and on the hoof story and photos by CAPT. NATE SKINNER Duck season reopens for the second split this month, providing waterfowl hunters with plenty of opportunities for wing-shooting action over decoys. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 71 D ecember is an outstanding month to be a Texas hunter. Deer season is in full force, while duck and dove season reopen for the second split. If you’re like me, you’ll try to figure out how to hunt all three, even during the Christmas Holidays. I’ve always enjoyed December deer hunting. Depending on where in Texas, the rut is either going strong, getting cranked up or winding down. Regardless of the stage, there’s an opportunity to encounter bucks that you have never seen before or even knew existed. Texas white-tailed deer are one the most significant wildlife management and conservation success stories in North America. As a result of management-minded decisions and regu- lations implemented over the years, deer hunters can walk out into the woods and enjoy a close encounter with a monster buck just about anywhere in this state. The second split of duck season also opens this month, providing waterfowl hunters with opportunity for wing-shooting action over decoys. One of the best things about the second half of the season is more birds have migrated down from northern locales. Our coastal estuaries, marshes and back lakes typi- cally are inundated with ducks during this time of the year.There are two things about duck hunting that I like the most. One is watching the birds respond to a call and come floating in over the decoys. When they do it right and want to land in your decoy spread, the show is absolutely beautiful. There’s nothing like the sight of ducks cupped up and committed as they drop in to land and the sound of their wings cutting the dawn air. The other is getting to see a loyal retriever hard at work. The passion a true gun dog has for retrieving ducks is indescribable. And the bond between hunter and dog is something that can never be broken. Waterfowl hunters also have the opportunity to pursue geese this month. These opportunities often occur at the same time hunters are trying to coax ducks into their spreads. Adding some geese into the mix on a duck hunt always makes for an exciting shoot. Wintertime dove hunting is among the most over- looked activities. Most folks get pumped up about doves in September when fall seasons commence, but drop them when deer and waterfowl seasons kick off. But winter dove hunting is some of the best, especially in southern parts of the state, because more birds have migrated down to the region. And the weather is much easier on hunters and re- trievers compared to September hunts that can be scorching hot. Another fun thing about dove hunting is it’s a very social sport. You don’t have to be quiet or sit in a blind to be successful, which allows for conversation among hunters. Even friends and relatives who don’t hunt can have fun tagging along in a dove field. One thing hunters should keep in mind this month is that the season dates and regulations vary with the species and zone. Season dates and regulations can be found at the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department website, as well as on the Texas Outdoor Annual app. Make sure to understand and adhere to the rules and regulations. There’s something special about the camaraderie that develops among hunters in the field, as well as back at hunting camp around a fire. Whether it’s the excitement of a harvest, or simply swapping tales of past adventures over a cocktail around the fire pit under a star- and moon-lit sky, the sport of hunting brings folks together. It creates bonds and strengthens friendships, and it’s something that you should plan to experience with your friends and family this holiday season. 72 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 FEATURE (From top) Seeing ducks come floating in over the decoys to land is an incredible experience; it’s a great time of year to pursue whitetails. (Opposite) The conditions during the winter dove season are much easier on retrievers because of the mild temperatures. COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 7374 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 St. Vincent’s House celebrated 70 years of service to the community with a Jazz brunch on Oct. 20 at the Moody Gardens Convention Center in Galveston. Honoring Drs. ben and Sharon raimer, the event featured jazz and New Orleans-inspired cuisine. St. Vincent’s House is a nonprofit social service agency providing comprehensive social services and community outreach programs for the entire family. The organization serves the disadvantaged, underserved and working poor population of the greater Galveston community with essential programs and services to enhance their mental, physical and spiritual well-being. Photos by Carla Peoples ST. VINCENT’S HOUSE JAZZ BRUNCH PARTY PICS PICTURED: 1. St. Vincent’s House Executive Director Paula Tobon with board president Linda Rutherford and her husband, John. 2. Seated: Beth Stum, Kathy Tiernan, Dr. Trish Beach; standing, honorees Drs. Sharon and Ben Raimer, Dr. Miles Farr, Bonnie Farmer and Dr. Robert Beach. 3. Diane Burns with Jim and Dancie Ware. 4. Vic Pierson, Cynthia Smith and Frank Dominguez. 5. Larry and Deanna Grissom, Jack and Georgianna Mullins, Joan and Doug McLeod. 6. Col. Mike Fossum, vice president of Texas A&M University and chief operating officer of the Galveston campus, and his wife, Melanie. 7. St. Vincent’s House board members Dotsy Balentine, Libbie Ansell and Dr. Vivian Hernandez. 8. Debra Jones and the Rev. Edward Lawson III. 9. Jennifer Ott, Linda Ott, Monica and David O’Donohoe. 10. Priscilla Files and Dave Baca. 123 654 7 8 910 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 75 Be Prepared to Read a Medical Memoir Unlike Any That Has Been Written! Comments from verified purchases five star Amazon reviews M.ALRAC: Unique medical memoir. Wonderfully engaging… through a series of funny and poignant vignettes. Insight into the many ways medicine has changed since the 60s, but more importantly how the human condition remains so much the same. Highly recommended. J.DAR: Fast moving, insightful…, C.HARRIS: Handel’s wit shines., KATHY R.: The writer candidly reflects on his personal experiences...choices he made which set his life’s course. An easy read. A wonderful book looking back in Galveston and UTMB in the early 1960’s Scan Here to find it on Amazon.com A Memoir of the University of Texas Medical Branch UTMB 1961-1965: A Five-Year Transition to Physician Imagine your home, totally organized! 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Offer expires in 30 days.76 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 The Texas City Independent School District Foundation for the Future hosted its Legacy Hall of Honor event Sept. 26 at the Doyle Convention Center. Six distinguished alumni from La Marque High School and Texas City High School along with community and district honorees were recognized for their dedicated service to education. The evening, which featured live and silent auctions, raised funds for teacher grants, supporting innovative classroom projects. Past grant recipients also were in attendance, proudly showcasing the impactful projects made possible by the foundation and its generous donors. Photos courtesy of Texas City Independent School District Foundation for the Future LEGACY HALL OF HONOR PARTY PICS PICTURED: 1. Texas City High School honorees Jaime Benson Clark, Lawrence Wade Johnson and Vickie Tennent Kloeris. 2. La Marque High School honorees Matthew Lockwood, Thomas N. Benford and Texas City ISD Foundation board member Tara Taylor accepting in honor of Dr. Charlene Taylor Evans. 3. Roger Whitener with Sandy and Don Gartman. 4. Artie and Sam Myers with Terri Burchfield. 5. Teachers Kalilah Cole and Adriana Kushner. 6. Sonny and Dawn Tholcken with Lee Skipper. 7. Kenneth Clark with Denise and Perry O’Brien. 8. Terry Vasichko and Frances Cantu. 9. Heights Elementary School Principal Sarah Furman, Sarah Riske and Heights Elementary School Assistant Principal Ashley Knape. 123 654 789 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 77 Toujouse Lobby Bar EnjoySignature CraftCocktails Daily! Livemusic: EveryThursday 6-9PM In Independent Living you can be who you were meant to be.... It’s never too late to discover new hobbies, start an exercise program, and make new life-long friends. Choose The Meridian Independent Living and let us take care of the little things ~ so you can live big! Enjoy our fine dining, coffee bar, on-site library, fitness room and movie theater. Spend some quiet time in our chapel. Participate in scheduled activities. Take a walk on the beach. Your days can be filled with all of this and more! The Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care gives the residents the support they need while they maintain their dignity and independence. On our Post-Acute Skilled Unit we provide Skilled Nursing and Therapy after a hospital stay where Medicare and Insurance will often cover your stay. We also offer Long-Term Care. At The Meridian, we are not just community... we are Family. Call us today or Book a Tour here! We can’t wait to meet you! www.themeridian-galveston.com Call today 409.763.6437 2228 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77550 The Meridian is a Senior Living Community Happy Holiday from All Of Us78 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston hosted a Grace and Gratitude reception on Oct. 17 at Moody Gardens Hotel for friends, volunteers and donors. Catholic Charities provides food and financial assistance for low-income families with support from donors and friends. Catholic Charities in 2023 provided 618,030 pounds of nutritious food through the beacon of Hope Isle Market, 4700 broadway in Galveston, and families visited the food pantry more than 18,000 times. In addition, Catholic Charities provided nearly $97,000 in rental, utility and other emergency financial assistance. Co-hosts for the reception included Peaches and Shrub Kempner, Jeffrey and Marc Hill, and Susanne and Gerald Sullivan. blessings were offered by Monsignor James Anderson of Queen of Peace Catholic Church in La Marque and rabbi Peter Kessler of Congregation b’Nai Israel in Galveston. Photos courtesy of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston GRACE AND GRATITUDE RECEPTION PARTY PICS PICTURED: 1. Cynthia Colbert, CEO and president of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; Craig Brown, mayor of Galveston; and Elizabeth Kinard, regional director of Beacon of Hope Center. 2. Cynthia Colbert and Susanne Sullivan. 3. Carolyn Sunseri, Monsignor James Anderson and Andrea Sunseri. 4. Jeffrey and Marc Hill. 5. Raffaela Davidson, Betty Mora, Charles McVey and Brenda Addison. 6. Grace Mansfield, Stacey Weber-Rubio and Jesse Rubio III. 7. Gloria Milton, Grace Otin and Antoinette Ozark. 8. Adrienne and Roland Bassett. 9. Seated: Retired Lt. Col. Carol Hodges, Marilyn McFatridge, Shelley Kessler; standing: Rabbi Peter Kessler. 123 456 987 COASTMONTHLY.COM | DeCeMber 2024 79 Bay Area Kitchens Our Showroom is Open BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 17306 Highway 3, Webster, TX 77598 | | 281.338.2737 We Begin With Thoughtful Design. HIGH-END KITCHEN DESIGN | GOURMET APPLIANCES | LUXURY CUSTOM CABINETRY SCAN TO VIEW OUR WORK Favorites Buy it now! Oh what fun! COASTMONTHLY.COM/ COOKBOOK Shopping for a foodie this holiday season? Give the gift of coastal cuisine with the Coast Monthly cookbook!Next >