Shrimpers Lance Nacio (l-r) from Houma, Ronald Durfrene of Lafitte and his son Ronald Dufrene, Jr. of Lafayette with their trophies from a deer hunt on the Benson Ranch in the Hill Country of Texas. Photo: Lance Nacio
by Ed Lallo/Gulf Seafood News Editor
Trading white boots for hunting boots, three Gulf Coast shrimpers gathered with family members and friends around a glowing fire pit as the sunset over their Texas Hill Country lodge. Stories of the day’s deer hunt were relived over beer and Gulf oysters they packed alongside guns, ammunition, camouflage, and boots.
Randell Pinel of Chauvin, Ronald Durfrene of Lafitte and Lance Nacio of Houma braved heavy fog and rain on their day long travels from the bayous of Louisiana to the Hill Country of Texas west of Austin. Joining the fisherman at the Benson Farm & Ranch were Pinel’s son Brandon, Durfrene’s son Ronald, Jr. and Dusty Rhodes the owner of Rhodes Electronics in Houma, a company providing electronics for the fishing and oil and gas industries.
The Gulf Coast hunters with pose with their trophies; (l-r) Ronald Dufrene, Jr., Dusty Rhodes, Ronald Durfrene, Brandon Pinel, Randall Pinel and Lance Nacio. Photo: Benson Farm and Ranch
Tom Benson, the popular owner of New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans, purchased the 300 acres of pristine Texas Hill Country in 1963. Located a mile and a half outside of Johnson City, hometown to former President Lyndon Baines Johnson, the Benson Farm & Ranch has grown to a sportsman paradise covering more than 2600 acres.
“This trip has been like going to Disneyland for me,” said Gulf shrimper Ronald Durfrene who brought his son Ronald Durfrene, Jr. along on the trip. “My son who is now a land man in the oil and gas industry took down a nine point buck.
Dufrene cherishes the time on the hunt with his son. He doesn’t regret sending his boys in a different direction than shrimping, but says ” it just hurts my heart that there not fishing with me. It gives a good perspective on where the industry is going and how it is dying out as less and less young people get into the business.”
Since 2001, the ranch has been transformed into one of the top hunting ranches in Texas. Careful attention has been taken to bring in the finest whitetail deer and exotic deer genetics from around the state.
Dusty Rhodes, owner of Rhodes Electronics, and his prize buck. Photo: Lance Nacio
According to its website, the ranch provides the finest guided hunting experiences for trophy whitetail deer and a wide variety exotic game. Guests also have the opportunity to witness monster whitetail bucks and other exotic species such as Black Buck Antelope, Axis, and Fallow. It also has a large herd of challenging trophy rams including Aoudad and Mouflon.
After a slow start on a cold and rainy first Friday morning, the hunters lucked improved on Saturday, along with the weather. Rhodes took an eight pointer while Durfrene harvested a nine-point whitetail buck.
“Saturday was clear and cold,” said Nacio who harvested a nine-pointer on the hunt. “The deer turned out in force. There were more trophy animals than I’ve ever seen in my life. I’m can’t wait to go back in the fall with my bow. It’s the way that I enjoy hunting most. You’re up close and personal with the animals when you shoot one with a bow.”
The group of six headed back to the bayous laden with five nine-pointers and one eight-pointer. “This has been a great experience, especially having the opportunity to see another guest take down a bobcat,” Nacio said as he loaded his truck.
“The staff was awesome and the cooks great! Everyone was very knowledgeable and made every effort to put us in the right spot for trophy of a lifetime,” said Durfrene about his Texas experience. “This was my sixth trip and it gets better every time. I met some great people and made great new friends.”
Visitor Comments