We Texans that love the outdoors travel to the far ends of the earth to hunt and fish but many have never experienced the beautiful mountain scenery and abundant game and fish just north of the Red River in southeast Oklahoma. Having grown up in Red River County in northeast Texas, I first experienced the Kiamichi Mountain country as a boy. The beautiful country was our playground and only a short drive from our home, even on the less than stellar roads of the 1950s. We fished the rivers and small lakes in the region and very often spent several days camping, fishing and swimming without seeing another person.

A few years ago, I was invited to hunt turkey at the Choctaw Lodge, situated a short drive north of Antlers, Oklahoma. This was a bit farther north and west than my childhood playground but the country was every bit as beautiful, possibly more so. The Choctaw Nation owns around 45,000 acres of this rugged, game rich country. The Lodge offers hunts for deer, turkey, hogs and exotics on a large portion of the land and the remainder is offered to hunters as season leases. The mountains and valleys encompassing what is called the Choctaw Lodge are intensively managed and one of the closest to Texas destinations for turkey hunters to have a high percentage opportunity of bagging an eastern gobbler.

During the past couple of decades, black bear numbers have increased to the point that the game department created a season for hunting them, but harvest is strictly controlled at Choctaw Lodge and only a few mature bear are taken here each year.

This past week, I joined my friends Larry Weishuhn and Jeff Rice at the Lodge for an action packed couple of days scouting for an upcoming deer hunt in October, fishing and looking the vast countryside over and enjoying the tastiest hamburger steak and gravy I’ve eaten, anywhere, but more on this in a bit!

We were greeted by manager Dusty Vickrey and his wife Nacolh. The Choctaw Nation could look far and wide and never find two better suited for managing their outdoor wonderland. Dusty’s duties are many including working with biologists, managing the guides and hunts, establishing food plots and the countless other jobs entailed in running such an operation. Dusty has an extensive background in land management and hunting and it’s obvious that he loves his job. He says he might be the official boss but it’s his wife Nacolh that keeps everything running smoothly.

Nacolh was busy in the kitchen that first afternoon when Dusty took us on a trip through the property that encompassed many miles. We drove through some deep valleys and atop what some would call mini mountains. Southeast Oklahoma is dry right now but nowhere nearly as dry as much of Texas. The ponds were close to normal level and the spring fed creeks had plenty of water. Abundant water is key to good wildlife habitat and one of the reasons for the abundant game here.

We spooked several bedded deer during mid-afternoon, mostly along the creek drainages or atop ridges with a cooling breeze but it was during the last hour of daylight when the land really came alive. Deer were up and feeding. We spotted a couple of bucks that made us wish for October and the opener of season! Choctaw Lodge offers free range hunting as well as hunting on a rugged 1,000-acre preserve which encompasses some of the most diverse habitat on the property. We drove for a solid hour through the preserve without seeing a fence. We saw and photographed a wide assortment of both native and exotic game. Weishuhn and I were collecting photos for upcoming articles and our buddy Jeff Rice, videographer deluxe had his video camera running the entire time, filming a show for A Sportsmans Life on Carbon TV and YouTube.

Most readers of this column know that I have a passion for hunting and eating wild hogs. Near the end of our scouting excursion, Dusty informed us that we were heading to see some ‘sure nuff’ Choctaw Hogs. These were descendents of the mule-footed, waddle-eared hogs brought to the Indian Nations in the 1800s when many of the Choctaw were relocated from areas of the deep South to southeast Oklahoma.

I had heard of mule-footed hogs which on rare occasion show up in parts of Texas but I had never actually seen one. The Choctaw Hog is smaller in stature than most hogs, wild or domestic, averaging about 120 pounds. There is no split on the front hoofs; they more closely resemble the hoof of a baby donkey or Shetland pony. Some of the hogs have waddles that hang below either side of their jaw, much like some breeds of goat. I learned that most Choctaw hogs are primarily black with a little white occasionally. What really got my blood pumping and fueled my desire to harvest one is the fact
that the meat is said to have a richer flavor than most pork.

In this past week’s column, I wrote about making carnitas from a fat little porker I harvested near home. I made some ‘tacos’ from this well-seasoned meat and brought it along for my friends to sample. Dusty and Nacolh both gave it the thumbs up and Dusty put in a requisition for more upon our return for the October deer hunt. How would this popular Mexican dish taste when prepared from the meat of a true Choctaw hog? I understand the Choctaw genetics is present is some of the wild hogs in the area. I now have a new ‘trophy’ animal to pursue! I’ll be on the outlook for that ‘mule-foot’!

I mentioned earlier that excellent dinner Nacolh prepared. The hamburger steak was from ground buffalo steak and I honestly have never tasted better meat. She topped it off with a tasty brown gravy, mashed potatoes and several veggies that complimented a meal I won’t forget.

As we wound the serpentine route that led through the Oklahoma hills from outdoor paradise back to civilization, my mind had fast tracked to October, cooler weather and the opportunity to once again visit this very special place.

To learn more about the Choctaw Lodge visit www.choctawlodge.com

Learn more about what Luke is up to at his website www.catfishradio.org