A great hunting experience in a sunflower field
By David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
You can still hunt dove on Sammy Nooner’s sunflower fields, but you will need to bring a large hunting party to do it.
A few years ago, the longtime dove outfitter sold his Hondo pavilion and some of his irrigated sunflower dove fields.
But not all of them — and his new lodge, Valdina Ranch, will get your attention and keep you going back. It over looks the first hills of the Hill Country and has a irrigated sunflower field right below the deck.
The dove hunting is still stellar. Over the opening weekend, thousands of white-winged dove poured into the field near Uvalde, keeping the hunters busy.
“I think it was more than 100,000 that came in,” said Mike Ford.
Lone Star Outdoor News’ David J. Sams found himself in San Antonio on the opening weekend moving in his daughter to her new home.
The unpacking was killing me, I knew there were dove to be hunted. I called Ford and he said, “Get down here, it’s amazing.”
Birds by the thousands dived in on the giant sunflower fields. The shooting was fast and furious. And when the birds came out, they left in large flocks flying low and fast.
My wife and daughter have never seen so many birds at one time. It was hard for them to pick out a single bird to shoot, but they did not seem to mind. They just watched many flocks go by in amazement.
After the hunt, the group returned to Valdina Ranch headquarters in D’Hanis, where the history of the old building was apparent.
The original brick and concrete building was used for training thoroughbred horses, dating back to the 1930s. The name Valdina is a combination of Uvalde and Medina counties, where the ranch sits. In 1942, Valdina Orphan, trained at the ranch, ran third in the Kentucky Derby.
Now, the original horse barns have been renovated into a one-of-a-kind hunting lodge that can accommodate up to 90 people. Each room is noticeably huge, each with two queen beds and a large bathroom. At the end of the building, the large, open-air sitting and eating area will remind hunters of Nooner’s old pavilion, only better, where hunters can gather around a giant-sized fire and relax. For those hot hunting days, the swimming pool provides cool relief.
The size of Valdina Ranch makes it a perfect place for a corporate retreat that can include dove or deer hunting, long-range rifle or shotgun training and practice. The property, a combination of Texas Hill Country and the Edwards Plateau, provides views perfect for a wedding or other celebration. Meeting rooms and an entertainment and game room provide plenty of opportunities for large groups.
Contact the lodge at (210) 415-7171
