Rick Thomas has done it again.  Nearly one year after getting a second chance on a muzzleloader buck, Rick was able to defy the odds once again to score on a great Missouri whitetail.  

With Steven Jobe behind the camera, Rick was hunting an area known to produce large deer.  On their second day, Rick spotted a nice buck coming into their setup.  In the process of getting the camera on it, Steven looked behind them to see that another buck has slipped in only 30 yards away! 

In a repeat of the previous year, Rick’s shot hit a tree branch, deflecting the bullet low.  While Rick was conducting his post-shot interview for the camera, the buck circled around and came right back to their set-up!  In the frantic moments that followed, Rick reloaded his muzzleloader and squeezed off a second shot through some thick brush to make a fatal shot on the deer.  After some difficult tracking, he and friend Dave Johnson recovered the deer the following day making another great story for Rick and his muzzleloader.

 Bow season has started off well for the Three Timbers crew (minus a few early season misses).  Both Rick Thomas and Casey Dixon have managed to get their 1st kill of 2006 under their belts with a few does for the freezer.  Although no one has connected on anything with antlers yet, a few of us have come REALLY close and nearly everyone is reporting sightings of good bucks (including the one pictured above that refused to come past the 60 yard mark for Rance Walls and Casey).

 Things are already looking good for the coming season.  We’ll keep things updated here as the season progresses. 

With turkey seasons across the Midwest winding down and temperatures going up, 3TO staffer Rick Thomas hopped a plane and headed down to Lake Agua Milpa to catch some early summer bass fishing action with Billy Chapman Sr. Resorts.  Upon arriving, he found what has to be some of the hottest bass fishing that Mexico has to offer.

Located near the town of Tepic, Agua Milpa is situated along the Sierra Madre mountain range making it one of the most scenic places that God has ever created.  As the man who is responsible for stocking Agua Milpa with Florida-strain bass, Billy Chapman Sr. is an expert on bass fishing the area.  In just a few days of fishing, Rick was able to see just how far Mr. Chapman’s expertise stretched.

Rick was lucky enough to be paired with one of the resorts expert guides, Arturo, whose knowledge of where to go and what to throw kept the bass coming into the boat at a heart pumping pace.  In just 2 1/2 days of fishing, a whopping total of 357 bass were caught (many in the 5-7 lb. range) and released making Aqua Milpa one of our new favorite spots for catching largemouths. 

We’d like to offer a special word of thanks to Billy Chapman Sr. for his hospitality and accomodations at his beautiful resort.  Also thanks to Bob Mauldin B & B Worldwide Fishing Adventures who set us up on this bass fishing trip of a lifetime.  

For information on booking a fishing trip with Billy Chapman Sr. at Agua Milpa, visit B & B Worldwide Fishing Adventures or call 1-888-479-BASS.  If you’re interested in booking a trip and want to talk to Rick Thomas in person about his experiences, call him at 636-629-5059.