September 16, 2023 • 39 mins
Gib Surles is principal and founder of The Forrest Group, L.L.C., an estate management firm in Houston, Texas, that specializes in wealth transfer and business succession planning. Utilizing life insurance, his firm works with family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals in addressing problems common to the transfer of assets, lifestyles, and financial security to future generations.
Gib graduated from Texas A & M University in 1985 with a B.B.A in Marketing and received his Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College in 2001. He was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) in 1996, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) in 1997, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1997, and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) in 1999.
Gib has been married to his wife, Lauri, for thirty-five years. He has a twenty-nine-year-old son, Forrest, who is a 2016 Graduate of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. He is also father to twenty-six-year-old twin daughters, Autumn and Amy, who both graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019. He is an active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he serves on the Vestry. He also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Houston Safari Club Foundation’s annual Sporting Clays Tournament is a loyal supporter of the Hunters for the Hungry.
Gib graduated from Texas A & M University in 1985 with a B.B.A in Marketing and received his Master of Science in Financial Services (MSFS) from The American College in 2001. He was awarded the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) in 1996, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) in 1997, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) in 1997, and Accredited Estate Planner (AEP®) in 1999.
Gib has been married to his wife, Lauri, for thirty-five years. He has a twenty-nine-year-old son, Forrest, who is a 2016 Graduate of the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. He is also father to twenty-six-year-old twin daughters, Autumn and Amy, who both graduated from Texas A&M University in 2019. He is an active member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he serves on the Vestry. He also currently serves as the Chairperson of the Houston Safari Club Foundation’s annual Sporting Clays Tournament is a loyal supporter of the Hunters for the Hungry.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
The Houston Safari Club Foundation is afive zero one C three nonprofit organization that
supports the future of hunting and conservation. Wildlife and habitat conservation, youth education
and outdoor experiences, scholarships, andanti poaching efforts are just a few of
the programs supported by this organization.Monthly events, an annual convention, award
winning publications, networking opportunities, andvaluable resources for hunting knowledge or just a
(00:21):
few of the benefits of being amember of Houston Safari Club Foundation. If
you're searching for a group of peoplededicated to protecting the future of hunting,
look no further. Join Houston SafariClub Foundation today at we Hunt weegive dot
org or call seven one three sixtwo three eight eight four four. Tradition,
conservation, family, the outdoors.It matters to you, It matters
(00:48):
to us. This is Hunting Matterspresented by Houston Safari Club Foundation. Here's
Joe b. Tar, Good morningand welcome back to Hunting Matters on KPRS
on fifty. This is your host, Joe beat and Ramon Roebliss. How
are you doing today, sir,I am well, good to see you
you too. It's been a while, Yeah, a couple of weeks.
I think you were trying to giveme a sob story about how miserable the
(01:10):
flight was coming back or something fromthat. It was were you trying to
get sympathy then? And and Iknew you were going to ask me how
my trip to Alaska went. Wetalked about it on a previous podcast.
And the country is beautiful everything,but we had some challenges. Yeah,
we had some weather delays there.They the people there said they were having
November weather in September is exact,heavy winds. We had some periods of
(01:34):
sixty mile an hour gust at timesrainblowing sideways, so we couldn't get out
of get out of Kodiac to goto our destination. We were delayed two
days, just stuck in our rooms, sitting there and see that's kind of
that's a bummer. Yeah, thatwas a bummer. Yeah, it'd be
better to sit there at your destinationfor two days. Well. I was
telling our guest today that there werea couple times when the floatplane terminal called
(01:57):
and said we're gonna we got asmall window, let's go. So we
had to pack all of our stuffup through it in the truck, take
the truck back to the rental carplace, go to the floatplane terminal,
and we get on the ground andthey'd be like, we can't go now.
They just reported in fifty mile anhour gusts. So we did that
a couple of times. But wedefinitely were working that firefighter's mentality. We
(02:17):
had the boots by the door,we had everything, so that was kind
of that was kind of cool.But fellowshipping outdoors is a great time anytime.
It's just we we just had ourchallenges with the weather and things like
that. So how do you passthe time in Kodiak? Uh? Well,
that one of the days we werethere was we stayed in we had
we were in a a verbo,so we made I don't know how many
(02:38):
trips we made to Walmart and thesporting goods store and stuff like that,
and Kodiak there's only three or fourrestaurants, so you kind of run out
of places to eat. Yeah,but one of the days was Saturday,
which happened to be the opening weekendof college football season, so we actually
just sat around and watched some collegefootball six in the morning, watching yeah
or whatever there. Yeah, thethree hour time change. You know.
We were sit up there and watchthe hours three hours and one of the
(03:01):
couple of guys with us was fromthe East coast, so they were four
our difference. But yeah, itwas it was great. We had We
had a good time. It justdidn't work out exactly as play those trips.
They're never gonna go. It's allrely on especially Alaska. Anybody who
goes to Alaska has been to lastquote. Everything revolves around the weather.
Yeah, and you never know whatthe weather's gonna do. So and you
(03:21):
obviously didn't get anything because no,no, you would have told me,
but I would have told you aboutit. No, we did. We
saw a few deer, saw abear, saw a lot of bear fresh
bear sign because the salmon were startingstarting to spawn up, spawn up the
streams. Saw a lot of fishlaying around with no heads on them.
Oh yeah, yeah, that's whatthey do. Yeah, and our so
we we there was a lot ofbear activity. We only actually saw one
(03:43):
bear, but it was it wascool, it was good. I mean,
you know, yeah, I've seena bear. I don't need to
see one. I don't need tobe too closed, especially brown bear.
Yeah, because you just don't knowwhat they're gonna do, especially if they
have cubs, unless I'm hunting themexactly and they're they're notorious alcoholics too,
so exacts never know what they're gonnaget. There were beer cans all over
the over the tundra. It wasa little disappointed, so I spent most
(04:05):
of my time picking up beer cansand no fish. You didn't catch anything.
Caught a few, not not whatwe thought. The tides were kind
of funny, so caught a few. We did have one experience fishing.
We went out, laid up putout halibut lines, which I guess is
their version of a saltwater trot line, but weights on it, and you
put cut mullet and put mullet onthere. And we put twenty five hooks
out on a line. We pickedup twenty four. One of them had
(04:27):
a halibut on it decent size.The other twenty four had giant starfish on
them. No way. Every fewyears they have like this big flood of
starfish coming into that area, Andwhen a starfish gets around something, you
can't see the hook of the bait, so they would cover up the baits
and the halibuts couldn't get too,so we we threw out on twenty four
literally twenty four starfish bigger than myhead back in the water. It was
(04:47):
crazy. It was kind of crazy. So that was cool. That was
cool. But let's talk a realquick about his Smart Clod Foundation. The
upcoming events. We got some coolstuff happening. On the twenty first September,
there is a free happy hour atag Leather in the Woodlands. Ag
Leather is one of those places whereyou can take your game hides and they
can put it customize and making itabout just about anything you want. October
fifth is our big annual Sporting Playstournament, which we're gonna talk about here
(05:10):
and in a minute at the GreaterHouston Sports Club. And then in November
we are going to do a reallycool, really cool course at the spart
Club Foundation offices. US Law Shieldis going to be there and we're going
to be doing a course on firstaid for gunshot wounden victims nice, which
is something everybody should you know inthis day and age. Unsadly to say
it's something that everybody can use.You hope you never encounter something like that,
(05:31):
but just in case, so youcan go to we Hunt. We
give dot org and click on themembership drop down. The events are open
to the public. Sign up onlineand come out and join us. If
you're not a member, we'd lovefor you to join as a member.
But regardless, come out to oneof these monthly events. There's something happening
typically every month, and we tellyou about that each week each a week
on the show. So go towe hunt we give dot org and check
(05:53):
it out. A lot of coolstuff on the website. All right,
you're gonna be upset with me,but it says first date for gunshot wound
victims with US law shield at youroffices. I have no idea where your
offices are. Oh, we're upin the Energy Corridor right off Satan were
he's doing the show three years.You never come over there. You don't
want to come visit or anything restrainingorder thing. Unlike GiB You haven't offered
to take me to lunch or anythingrestraining order. All right, yeah,
(06:15):
we're Our offices are really easy toget to. Their right off Katie Freeway
at Dairy Ashford and Saint Mary's,so literally a block off Katy Freeway.
You got a lot of good restaurantsover there. We do patties is over
there a few others. Yeah,we your favorite, Yeah, your favorite.
People are wondering who this strange mankeeps talking over us is, and
I guess Mexican, Mexican food dining. But folks today with us as GiB
(06:38):
Searles now in his professional life,GiB is the principal and founder of the
Forest Group. We're going to learna little bit about what that is.
But more importantly to me, he'sthe chairperson of the twenty twenty three Houston
Story Club Foundation Sporting Plastern So getwelcome to the show. Thank you,
sir, Thank you, sir.Glad to be here. Let's talk a
little bit. We'd like to giveour guest a little bit of background,
or give our listeners a little bitof background on our guests. Tell us
(06:59):
what you do for living in thelife insurance business. Have been for thirty
nine years. We've got a focuson a state planning and business planning and
native Houstonian and know a lot ofpeople and been here a long time,
born and raised here and born andraised really close to where we're sitting right
now. That's crazy. And ofcourse you are you are an aggy Yes,
(07:19):
sir, last eighty four, NewMexico State. Aggie or dude,
I saw your car. I knewthe answer today, I see your ring.
Yeah. Uh huh So GiB youyou obviously you. And we're going
to talk a little bit about someof your hunting experiences. When did the
hunting bug bite you? How'd youget into it? Uh? Yeah?
(07:40):
My father was a h He wouldn'ta big hunter as a kid, but
as soon as he went to college, Yeah, that's when he, you
know, befriended some guys that werebig hunters and he started deer hunting then.
And so when I was born,my dad really had the bug.
Yeah, and you know, Ikilled my first deer when I was eight.
(08:03):
It was smitten with it from thatpoint forward. Hunting here in Texas.
Oh yeah, yeah, well Iwas gonna say all in Texas certainly
as a kid. Yeah, allin Texas. And uh my dad was
on a lease in Frio County outof Pearsaul for all of my formidable years,
you know, from the time Iwas eight until I was eighteen,
(08:24):
and so hunting the brush country andjust loving it. That's awesome. That's
awesome. All right, folks,We're gonna talk about some of gibbs past
hunting experiences and uh and adventures.Taking a quick break here on Hunting Matters
KPRC nine fifty. Hi, I'msorry some signs and hunts. Hi,
(09:20):
I am you? You well comeback to Honey Matters with KPRC nine fifty.
This is your host Joe b Toori. I am ramone Robots. Joining
us today is my buddy Gibbs.Sarles Gibbs is the principal founder of the
Forest Group, but he's also thechairperson of the twenty twenty three Houston's Far
(09:41):
Club supporting Clay's Tournament, which we'vetalked about here on the show for a
few weeks now. GiB welcome back, Thank you sir. We were talking
a little bit about how you firststarted hunting. Your your list is impressive
of place as you hunt. Okay, let's kind of run through a quick
launcher list. Besides the US,where else have you hunted? I've been
in Africa a couple of times,went on a planes game bow hunt in
(10:07):
South Africa, and then with anothergood friend of ours, Jeff Birmingham,
we did buffalo hunting as well inAfrica and hunted the Great Ose mountains in
Spain for ibex And last year wedid a dull sheep and cariboo hunt in
(10:31):
the Northwest Territories, which was offthe charts experience. And here in uh
forty eight hours we're leaving for Alaskato go carib hunt. That's crazy.
I want to talk about that tripa lot more with you. The sheep
hunt last year. Was that yourfirst sheep hunt? Yeah, yeah,
it was. What were what weresome of the things about that hunt that
you did not expect that you encounteredon the sheep hunt? Oh, I
(10:56):
don't know. I didn't I didn'texpect my left need to hurt as badly
as on the first day. Icould tell you that for sure. It
was as staggeringly beautiful as I waspraying it would be. It was a
moving experience, for sure. Thenorthern lights were beyond description. And the
(11:20):
blessing for me was that I wasable to harvest my sheep on the first
day. Wow. So And infact, everybody in camp killed their sheep
on the first day. They've saidthey've never had that happened before. How
many people? Six people? Thenyou got to go home? Oh no,
well some people did. Yeah,well, some people did well.
(11:41):
They charted a plane and left.You know, we moved and hunted cariboo,
you know, forty miles away,and two days later I killed a
cariboo. But I spent five daysin base camp and I had no desire
to go home. Man, Idon't relaxed very well. Yeah, and
(12:01):
I was relaxed. Yeah. Thatwas spectacular, Yeah, really really special.
That's great. That's great. Assheep become a thing for you.
Now, do you plan on huntingsheep more in the future. Well,
yes, I've already booked another dollsheep hunt for twenty twenty five with the
same people. You know, I'mI have a desire to do a slam,
(12:26):
but I don't know if I wantto mortgage my children. That the
inflationary pressures that have come across onspecifically stone sheep and Rocky Mountain Bighorn,
it's it's crazy. And so tothat end, I told the guys that
I'd love to kill my own slamof doll sheep and try to kill four
(12:50):
sheep, four doll sheep before I'mseventy. And so I'm sixty one right
now, and so I'll be sixtythree when I chase that one and we'll
see how how I feel. Idid book a a moose grizzly hunt for
September of twenty twenty four in Alaska, so I'm going back. Wow,
where will you do that hunt?Out of the south range or the south
(13:13):
face of the Brooks Range? Okay? Okay? Is that kind of a
semi d I y, Are youwant out with an outfit or oh,
we're definitely with an outfit. Yeah. Man, I don't have time to
go it, do it yourself,then I'd love the ideal. And if
I was thirty five years old anddidn't have the responsibility I have. Yeah.
Man, maybe are you a gunguy, you a bow guy?
You an equal opportunity hunter both ordo you have a preference for one or
(13:35):
the other. I love to bowhunt. I've bow hunted white tails forever.
I've bow hunted elk a couple oftimes. I've never harvested an elk
with my bow. But on thesetypes of hunts, now, I want
to go there. I want togo for the experience, but I do
want to harvest an animals. SoI'm going to take a rifle when I
go on these types of hunts.But where were hunting the brush country now
(13:58):
in webcam. I loved the bowhunt and wheel bow hunt every year,
right right, just something that justpopped in my head. Can you when's
the last time you spent time incamp with somebody that would be considered a
novice hunter? Have you had thatexperience in the past few years where you
(14:18):
had a first time hunter in thecamp where you've had the opportunity to kind
of take them around by the hand. And for sure, yeah, to
tell our listeners a little bit,because I've had that opportunity a few times
in my life, and I thinkit'd be I think it'd be good for
our listeners to understand kind of whatthat involves. You know, it is
so special. Yeah, So wehunt six thousand acres between Free and Insanel.
(14:41):
Right now, I've founded that ranchfor and I think there's my twentieth
year and I've got a twenty nineyear old son and twenty six year old
twin girls. So twenty years agoI had a nine year old a pair
of six year old so you know, made already y'all killed deer before we
got on this ranch, and sothey're all their friends would come and very
(15:07):
few of them had been hunting.And we've had this discussion many times in
our house. How many kids haveset in my lap and killed their first
deer. It is so fun andit's so funny because the girls are sure
shots. The boys have butt feverlike it's nobody's business. And the boys
(15:31):
have all the shakes and the girlssaid, oh that one, you know,
you could set it out boom,yep, yep. So much funny.
Yeah, I've had that, youknow when we first started, when
we first picked up the bow,my wife and I kind of did it
together. And I think I've saidthis before on the show. The archer
instructor that we enlisted to kind ofget us started, said, look,
he put his hand on my shoulder. Look, he said, she's gonna
(15:52):
get better. She's gonna be betterthan you, sooner and quicker than you
are, because women have more patientsand the body mechanics and they just they
listen and they and I was like, okay, I get it. And
sure enough, you know she was. She was sending them thirty yards down
range and hitting the bull's eye,you know, almost immediately, so which
was cool to watch. Well,girls are smarter than boys, you know,
so that's just telling roles. Yeah. Absolutely, You've done a lot
(16:15):
of hunting over your life. Wait, what, what's your favorite type of
hunting? I mean it is abig game, is it? Birds?
Is it? You know? Chasingmature white tail? Love chasing white tail.
And I'm a I love studying whitetail. And with the advent of
these name cameras, man, nowthe world is a different place. So
(16:37):
the majority of the mature deer thatwe harvest, we've got pictures of them
for the past three or four years. Yeah, and we know them.
Yeah, you know. And butbut studying white tail, the behaviors,
and you know, we've got thebiologist, and we feed protein and we
are not fenced, which is aWe're a little bit different than a lot
of people. So we don't havea high fence, but we manage the
(17:02):
herd and we do it. We'rewe put a lot of effort into it.
Sure. Sure, But I willsay this too, I have become
absolutely so rededicated to duck hunting overthe past five or six years. Oh
yeah, how did that? Whydid that kick back on? Well?
I grew up duck hunting a lotat a and m we duck hunted a
(17:23):
public late just I don't know,fifty miles west of College Station, and
that's where we cut our teeth.And at that point in time, right
after I graduated from A and M, we started duck hunting the coast around
Rockport. And I don't know,five years ago, somebody asked me to
join a hunting club down there,Saint Charles Bay, and I don't know,
(17:45):
man, I threw out deeks theretwelve thirteen times last year. And
then I've got a close friend thathas a great spot in Mississippi, so
we duck Hut Mississippi every year.Yeah, I think I remember you telling
me about that triple last year whenyou you and your buddy went over there.
You and your buddy went over there. I want to touch back on
something. We've got a little lessthan a minute here. Well, maybe
i'll say this question on the otherside. I don't want to because it's
(18:08):
a contemplation. Throw the question outand then that's a professional term. Here.
You've got some riveting or shaking questionthat I'm gonna come up with in
the next segment as soon as Ithink about it. That's fair. Folks
were joining today by Gibbs Searles.Gibbs is the chairperson of the twenty twenty
three He's Inspire Club Foundation Sporting Clay'sTournament. We're gonna get to that topic
(18:30):
here in a little bit. I'mgonna take a quick break here on Honey
Matters KPRC nine fifty. Welcome backto Honeymatters on KPRC nine fifty. This
(19:26):
is your host, Joe Batar.I'm Ramone Roeblists. We're joined to day
by GiB Searles, who was thechairperson of the twenty twenty three He's far
Club Foundation Sporting Clay's Tournament. Gibbs. I don't know why we've gone this
long without asking where that name comesfrom. Uh, Forrest Gibson Searles.
Gibson is my mother's maiden name.Very cool, and Forrest was a family
name on her side. Okay,So is it just a coincidence that you
(19:48):
work at the Forrest Groups my company? Oh okay, all right, how
coincidental is that? Like, hey, I just happened to have the same
name, okay, instead of itbeing the GiB Group. Yeah right,
Well, you know it's it's funnybecause my son is a junior and he
goes by Forrest and he was bornin nineteen ninety four and we named him
Junior, and then three weeks laterForrest Gump came out. But dad must
(20:12):
have been a big fan of themovie. Well run Forrest. You know,
common him for sure, but hisgodfather, his godfather had a plantation
in Mississippi and Mississippi Delta and itwas called Forrest. There. Really wow
(20:32):
about that. Yeah, that's crazyand that was a coincidence. Totally,
that's crazy. I want to touchsomething on you know, he talked about
taking out kids in first time hunters, that sort of thing, and it
kind of made me reflect little bit, you know the thing. And you
talked about studying deer and watching deerand that sort of thing. I think
one of the coolest things about huntersas you mature as a hunter is that
it becomes more pleasurable and more enjoyableto sit and watch dear behavior and activity
(20:57):
and all the other wildlife that yousee versus I'm going to be at the
beat the least or the ranch orwhatever for three days. I gotta shoot
a deer. You know, yourpatients uh seems to expand and it's like
I can sit here for eight hoursand just watch animals, you know,
no doubt, you know, isthat typically what you found as well?
Well? For sure, however,I have not lost the desire the harvest
(21:22):
animals right right. Yeah, wherea lot of people our age dude,
and then you know they just wantto watch him. No, I still
hate the blood lust for sure.Yeah. You know, my dad grew
up running the banks in the MississippiRiver and South Louisiana, and you know,
when I got of hunting age andolder, and he would go out
with me and stuff, but hejust he didn't really have a desire to
(21:44):
hunt or anything like, because youknow, I asked him one time why
and he said, he said,because everything we caught shot killed. I
was doing that for the family andbringing it home for the next day's meal.
It was work, and it waswork. And he said it wasn't
really that I don't enjoy it,but he said, it was just it's
ingrained to me that that was Iwas out just I was out shopping for
dinner, yea or breakfast or whateverthat was. And so I can definitely
(22:06):
understand that what do you what doyou love? Besides all the things we
talked about overall, what do youjust absolutely adore love about hunting man,
the outdoors, watching the sunrise,the things you see. Just it's a
freedom. It's absolutely a freedom.And I truly believe that we do have
a responsibility to be stewards man becausewe are. But I want to make
(22:32):
sure and it's not that the actualhunting part of it, but just the
outdoors that our kids are going tobe able to do that and our grandkids
and our great grandkids, and wehave to be proactive with it. We
cannot be silent on the sidelines.Yeah, I want to tagging onto that.
You know, we talk a lotabout legislation and policy and that sort
of thing, and in your ownindustry, I know you've been very actively
(22:52):
involved with with with the legislation andthings like that. Of course, it's
it's a requirement, how important.You know, some people that I've talked
to you that listen to the show, people I've talked to have been lifelong
hunters, have never ever looked atthe politics and legislation and policy that surrounds
(23:14):
wildlife and habitat. You know,I'd always like to kind of impart that
message to our listeners, give us, give us some of your opinions on
that. As far as staying engage, staying in activity, or at least
staying educated on what's happening at homeand abroad related to policy and legislation,
well, staying educated leads to beingproactive. We have to have a seat
(23:36):
at the table where people are discussingthe issues and the legislation as it pertains
to what we are so passionate about, and that's game management, that's hunting
laws, fishing logs, and soforth. And if you don't have a
seat at the table, they aregoing to throw you under the bus.
You have to be there engaging themin dialogue because these are five hundred and
(24:00):
thirty five men and women that representthe United States of America and they are
making laws that dictate how we cando what we want to do. And
we're the good guys. We arethe good guys in the white hat.
We want to do it the rightway. We want to do it in
a manner that will allow our kidsand grandkids to be able to do it.
(24:22):
And when we meet with our electedofficials, they're going to know that
we're serious. They're going to knowthat we mean what we say, and
they know that we are the goodguys, and to that end, we
want them hearing from us. Butmore importantly, we want their legislative assistants
and their legislative directors to hear fromus, and because they are going to
(24:45):
tell that representative how they should votebased on their constituency. So to that
end, it's incredibly important that weare politically active. Incredibly important. Yeah,
something Houston Varco has been involved withover the years, and even more
so it seemed to be I've beenpart of conversations with US fish and game
and that sort of thing about theissue and the subject of import permits.
(25:08):
So you said you've been to youknow, you've been to Africa twice.
Now there there are those who havehad trouble getting their animals back to the
United States because of the lack ofattention to import permits which are required to
get those animals back in. AndI know that we both know that the
outfitter you've been with and you've you'vemade friends with him. Did you guys
(25:32):
ever have a chance to discuss ona broader scale countries that try to affect,
influence, or legislate how they dobusiness in Africa in these other countries
uh their policies. I've never I'venever engaged in that level of dialogue.
I do. It's always been mythought is that the our inability to bring
(25:57):
back whatever trophies with which we haveharvested a lot is predicated on the people
who are making those rules over here. And if they're anti hunters, we
have a problem. Yeah, wehave a problem. And they don't understand
(26:17):
the value that hunters bring to thespecies, and they're just myopic in their
views. And oftentimes you cannot talkrationally to an irrational person, So you
have to be proactive talking to peoplesitting at the table and try to influence
legislation prior to being enacted. Yeah. Absolutely, And you know, Ramona
(26:44):
is Ramon's a prime example. He'sgot he's got two young boys that he's
getting into the outdoors and that sortof thing. And and the thing about
hunters to day, no matter howold you are, where you are in
your hunting journey, is that peopleneed to constantly remember that we're setting the
president for kids like ears Ormond,you know, that are coming up that
(27:06):
want to enjoy that, whether it'sfishing, hunting, camping, future generation,
whatever, it's future generation. Youknow, we're we are all pioneers
that in that aspect of that,we have to set the groundwork for future
generations that do want to do thosesorts of things, that do want to
go hunting and that sort of thing. Whether it's at the policy legislative level,
whether it's at the regulatory level,whatever it is, taking new people
(27:26):
hunting and that sort of thing.I mean, it's critical. You would
just hate to see that opportunity ifsomebody wants to do it, that opportunity
to go away, well said,because they have to. They don't have
to hunt, but we need themto have the opportunity to hunt, and
our exposing them to it is what'sgoing to do it. Well, you
talk about how important it is forkids to have that availability. So I'm
(27:49):
gonna assume, and you correct meeven if I'm wrong, that in twenty
twenty five you're gonna take my kidson the hunting trip that you were talking
about. Sure, come on tothat dollar sheep, Yeah, come home,
appreciate that. Yeah, rock androll. Just make sure you might
come home with two very tired boysafter that. I actually actually have a
friend of mine who was a professional. It was a professional Mma fighter,
(28:11):
and he said that was probably oneof the hardest things. I mean,
this guy was trained every day threesixty five. You know, it stayed
and fighty shape. He said,that was by far physically one of the
most challenging things he's ever done inhis life. The elevation, the climbing,
the terrain. The first the dayI killed my ram, I took
a picture of my in reach andI ascended and descended sixty eight hundred feet
(28:33):
Wow, in thirteen hours, Andit was only five miles geographically. Yeah,
but it was this yeah, upand down yeah wow yeah yeah.
This This guy actually sent me apictures to him and crevice is trying to
get down and up these crevices ofthe country again. Northwest Territory, Yeah,
said, that's where the That's wherethe yetie lives in the Northwest.
(28:56):
Yeah. Did you see big Footwhen you're out there? Negative, it
would have shot it. It hadbeen back to the east, that that
would have been. That would havebeen a heck of a trophy. Imports
to try to get try to getav back to the back to the States.
All right, folks, we're gonnatake a quick break here and we
are going to come back with ourguests, Gibs Searles. We're gonna talk
about Houston's Fire Club Foundation and itsannual Sporting Clay's Tournament. Taking a break
(29:19):
here on Honeymatters KPRC nine fifty.Welcome back to Honey Matters O KPRC nine
(30:11):
fifty. This is yours job tour. I'm Ramon Robelists. Our guest today's
Gifts, Charles Gifts, have beentalking to us a little bit about his
past hunting experiences and let's let's changethe change our direction here a little bit.
And I give you've been involved withthe Far Club for quite some time,
telling our listeners why you joined Houston'sFar Club and why it's important for
people who have an affinity for huntingand looking at the future of hunting be
(30:32):
part of these types of organizations.You know, I think our our our
website says it all, and ourwe hunt we give dot org says it
all because we are we're putting ourmoney where I'm out is, we are
proactively going out to do something aboutprotecting what we love to do, our
(30:57):
passion for the outdoors. So tothat end, when I became familiar with
the Safari Club. It was.It was cool because you meet people and
you get around people who are likeminded and enjoy the same thing you do,
(31:18):
and so we always have stuff totalk about and you get to learn
from other people. It's an ironsharpening iron type thing, right. So
it's it's a very strong organization tobe a part of. Twenty years ago.
Could you see yourself being part ofthis type deal where you're planning your
trips to go to Africa and thingslike that twenty years ago? No crazy
(31:38):
kids after nine year old and apair of six year old. Yeah,
you know. So we've told peopleon the show. You're you're the chairperson
of the Sporting Class Tournament. Nowthe Sporting Class Tournament the us FARI Club
Foundation spits on each year. Itis probably about the second largest fundraiser besides
convention. How'd you get how'd youget dragged into being the chairperson for this?
I wasn't drug into it, youknow. Yeah, I'll tell you
(32:01):
what we have. I was talkingwith Nancy yesterday. That's Nancy from our
office. Yeah, and we arewe're on fire. Yeah, it's it's
going to be a great tournament.A lot of people have signed up already,
and typically more teams are going tosign up now than in the previous
(32:22):
six weeks or so. So Ilike it that it's going to be in
the afternoon. We've got a twoo'clock start time, yea. And it's
just a lot of people excited aboutit. Yeah, And I think it's
probably because of the COVID craziness thathas a lot of pent up demand,
if you will, of people wantingto go do this type of stuff and
it's not at eight in the morningsand two in the afternoon. Right.
(32:45):
A lot of people have said they'rethey're glad about that. Yeah. And
one thing I think people need tounderstand is that the first time I did
Sporting Clays, I was intimidated.But the thing about it is this is
a great environment for people who arebeginners to come out too as well.
I mean, we've got some reallygood shooters out there. But it's open
to the public. It's not acompetition per se. I mean, we
give away great prizes at the endof the winning teams and shooters that sort
(33:06):
of thing. But it's open toeverybody, right, oh for sure.
For sure. In fact, whenyou see the people that I have shooting
on my team. You know thatwe're not trying to win exactly. We're
out there just that fun man.Yeah, yeah, absolutely, that's what
I found. I mean, thepeople I've shot with that there, it's
it's more just about giving each othera hard time, you know, when
you miss a shot and that sortof thing. Yeah. And the cool
thing is it's a it's a fullyou know, this starts in the afternoon,
(33:29):
but it's it's a full half halfday type event where there's you know,
there's there's we do raffles, wehave exhibitors out there, we have
the shooting. Of course, wehave some games we're shooting games where people
can shoot, and and you know, we wrap we we wrap it up
with a dinner that night, somesome nice barbecue and everybody loves good barbecue.
So now, some of the claytournaments I've done aren't probably as professional
(33:52):
z's. We actually had people throwingup plates and shooting. That is that
not what y'all do. That's notwhat we do. Okay, just I
wanted to get a feel for theenvironment. Okay, all right, cool,
I might I might show up.You should because I was designated play
thrower. You will not be aplate. Okay, right, and with
the location we have it, whichis a greater Houston Sports Club does a
(34:13):
really good job of organizing. There'sa big pavilion out there. Knock on
wood. We don't have any youknow, inclement weather, any weather challenges
that sort of thing. But aslong as it's not lightning and it's not
blowing everything sideways, we pretty muchgo forward with it. They still got
that big pit. Yeah, yeah, Wins. The last time you were
out there been a couple of years, so they've got a giant one now.
I don't know when they replaced it, but last year when I was
(34:35):
out there, I was like,whoa, look at you stepping out.
They got a new party. Yeah, it looks like you could like one
hundred fifty stakes on that thing.It's crazy, dude. It's it's a
great time. It is a lotof fun and Safari Club just there's a
great job put it on, puttingit together, and it's we've got a
lot of energy around it this year. Yeah for sure. Yeah, Well
(34:55):
we appreciate you chairing. I mean, it's it's a lot of work to
manage all the moving parts and logisticswith it. With his team win because
we're not going to win. Yousay that, but then there's that unwritten
rule you gotta let the German win. Yeah, well no, that's all
right. Hey, I'm making theserules. That's not one of them very
(35:16):
good. Well the other the otherthing cool, that's kind of cool about
I mean, not everybody's in itfor the trophies and that sort of thing.
We do something kind of unique amongWe do these handmade knives that are
engraved, you know, with theSporting Clays tournament logo, and a lot
of people do trophies and that sortof thing, and we started doing the
hand the hand the handmade knives thathave deer antler handles on them several years
(35:37):
ago and people fell in love withthem. So it's kind of become our
trademark. Uh. That. Andthe other thing, which is really tacky
and that we love it to death, is that we have one of those
WWE World Championships belts. Yeah,that's that we give out for the top
shooter because at the end of theday, all the top shooters can get
together and they compete individually against eachother. It's it's called an Anti Oakley
type competition, and they get toshoot for the belt, and you'll see
(35:59):
pe walk by the table, lookat the belt and what is that?
But every year whoever wins it hasthe biggest smile on there. But but
this is my office. This iscool. Yeah, they love that big
tackie belt. Yeah, I won'thave it. I got to hold it
one time. I bet you getsome ringers out there, though. Huh.
(36:20):
There's some guys out there that areprofessional competitor shoots. They go one
hundred for a hundred out there.Well, the guy he mentioned before,
Jeff Birmingham, who's actually has beena past president if He's far club and
has also chaired the tournament several times. I mean, Jeff could beat most
people out there with one, youknow, with with both eyes closed,
is a ring or Yeah, I'malways impressied with those guys. It's just
(36:40):
make it look so easy, soimpressive. Yeah, and he's so humble
about it. He's like, uh, yeah, it's just but yeah,
I'm in awe and I constantly goto him and I'm like, give me
a couple of tips, you know, And it's I love watching guys like
that. Shoot. But I'll tellyou, you know, because I'm gonna
go if I have a good day, I'll shoot a seventy something. And
(37:01):
if I have a bad day,I'll shoot a sixty something. Whatever.
But put me in a dove field. I'm good to go. Yeah,
I'm good to go. Yeah,yep, absolutely, I just don't take
it as seriously. It's just notas important, you know, the score
is not as important. It's thefun. Yeah. You see some of
those guys out there, they're they'rein it to win it. I mean
absolutely, they're in it to winit. Yeah. They check the scoreboards
(37:23):
afterwards, they're like, wait aminute, I think I got two more
than that. Let me double checkmy my numbers. It's almost like they
got a golf you know, thegolfing type sport card there. I think
I had more started a few fewerstrokes than that. So but yeah,
you should come out and even ifyou bring the boys around just to watch
watching. Yeah, how old arethey? They are not seven and five?
(37:44):
Actually the one will be eight byOctober five, all right, yeah,
eight and five, Yeah, perfectage. That is a perfect age.
Yeah. I gotta get him intothat. I have to because you
know, my dad never took mebecause he was too busy, you know,
working, and he said, heregretted, you know, not being
able to take us, and yeah, I gotta at least expose them.
Yeah, but that's it. It'sa perfect time to expose it to them
(38:04):
because they're they're in a comfortable environmentaround people with guns. Yeah, and
and very safe people with guns,and it's just a good environment yep.
Yeah. And we do have ontop of the you know, like like
we were talking about earlier, youcan be a professional shooter, you can
be an amateur shooter, you canbe a member if he's Spark Club or
not, it doesn't matter at us. We just want everybody to come out
(38:27):
and have to have an afternoon fellowshipand uh and get to know us and
and and maybe meet some new friends. I've talked to several people over the
years that have met business partners andclients and things like that out there at
the Sporting Clay's Tournament. And wewe sponsor veterans teams as well. So
we have we have veterans, acouple of veterans teams that we sponsor,
and we have a couple of youthteams that we sponsor from local local high
school programs, whether they're professional shootingteams, whether they've just assemble some kids
(38:51):
that want to get involved. That'salways fun to watch and we specifically recognize
them and the awards. The veteransand the youth teams have their own awards.
It's it's really a good time,Like GiB said, it's it's a
low pressure situation to come out andhave a good time and who knows you.
Maybe you hook up with somebody likea Birmingham and learn a few things
hell, which is pretty cool,GiB so so folks, if you're if
(39:12):
you're wanted to sign up, goto we hunt we give agot dot org.
That's we Hunt we give dot organd click on the drop down and
sign up today. That thing's comingup in October the fifth. GiB thanks
you so much for being here withus today. Thank you, Joe.
Good luck on your trip. Besafe, you got it. We will
see everyone next week here on HoneyMatters KPRC nine fifty and the stock markets
down and get only getting
The Houston Safari Club Foundation is afive zero one C three nonprofit organization that
supports the future of hunting and conservation. Wildlife and habitat conservation, youth education
and outdoor experiences, scholarships, andanti poaching efforts are just a few of
the programs supported by this organization.Monthly events, an annual convention, award
winning publications, networking opportunities, andvaluable resources for hunting knowledge or just a
(00:21):
few of the benefits of being amember of Houston Safari Club Foundation. If
you're searching for a group of peoplededicated to protecting the future of hunting,
look no further. Join Houston SafariClub Foundation today at we Hunt weegive dot
org or call seven one three sixtwo three eight eight four four. Tradition,
conservation, family, the outdoors.It matters to you, It matters
(00:48):
to us. This is Hunting Matterspresented by Houston Safari Club Foundation. Here's
Joe b. Tar, Good morningand welcome back to Hunting Matters on KPRS
on fifty. This is your host, Joe beat and Ramon Roebliss. How
are you doing today, sir,I am well, good to see you
you too. It's been a while, Yeah, a couple of weeks.
I think you were trying to giveme a sob story about how miserable the
(01:10):
flight was coming back or something fromthat. It was were you trying to
get sympathy then? And and Iknew you were going to ask me how
my trip to Alaska went. Wetalked about it on a previous podcast.
And the country is beautiful everything,but we had some challenges. Yeah,
we had some weather delays there.They the people there said they were having
November weather in September is exact,heavy winds. We had some periods of
(01:34):
sixty mile an hour gust at timesrainblowing sideways, so we couldn't get out
of get out of Kodiac to goto our destination. We were delayed two
days, just stuck in our rooms, sitting there and see that's kind of
that's a bummer. Yeah, thatwas a bummer. Yeah, it'd be
better to sit there at your destinationfor two days. Well. I was
telling our guest today that there werea couple times when the floatplane terminal called
(01:57):
and said we're gonna we got asmall window, let's go. So we
had to pack all of our stuffup through it in the truck, take
the truck back to the rental carplace, go to the floatplane terminal,
and we get on the ground andthey'd be like, we can't go now.
They just reported in fifty mile anhour gusts. So we did that
a couple of times. But wedefinitely were working that firefighter's mentality. We
(02:17):
had the boots by the door,we had everything, so that was kind
of that was kind of cool.But fellowshipping outdoors is a great time anytime.
It's just we we just had ourchallenges with the weather and things like
that. So how do you passthe time in Kodiak? Uh? Well,
that one of the days we werethere was we stayed in we had
we were in a a verbo,so we made I don't know how many
(02:38):
trips we made to Walmart and thesporting goods store and stuff like that,
and Kodiak there's only three or fourrestaurants, so you kind of run out
of places to eat. Yeah,but one of the days was Saturday,
which happened to be the opening weekendof college football season, so we actually
just sat around and watched some collegefootball six in the morning, watching yeah
or whatever there. Yeah, thethree hour time change. You know.
We were sit up there and watchthe hours three hours and one of the
(03:01):
couple of guys with us was fromthe East coast, so they were four
our difference. But yeah, itwas it was great. We had We
had a good time. It justdidn't work out exactly as play those trips.
They're never gonna go. It's allrely on especially Alaska. Anybody who
goes to Alaska has been to lastquote. Everything revolves around the weather.
Yeah, and you never know whatthe weather's gonna do. So and you
(03:21):
obviously didn't get anything because no,no, you would have told me,
but I would have told you aboutit. No, we did. We
saw a few deer, saw abear, saw a lot of bear fresh
bear sign because the salmon were startingstarting to spawn up, spawn up the
streams. Saw a lot of fishlaying around with no heads on them.
Oh yeah, yeah, that's whatthey do. Yeah, and our so
we we there was a lot ofbear activity. We only actually saw one
(03:43):
bear, but it was it wascool, it was good. I mean,
you know, yeah, I've seena bear. I don't need to
see one. I don't need tobe too closed, especially brown bear.
Yeah, because you just don't knowwhat they're gonna do, especially if they
have cubs, unless I'm hunting themexactly and they're they're notorious alcoholics too,
so exacts never know what they're gonnaget. There were beer cans all over
the over the tundra. It wasa little disappointed, so I spent most
(04:05):
of my time picking up beer cansand no fish. You didn't catch anything.
Caught a few, not not whatwe thought. The tides were kind
of funny, so caught a few. We did have one experience fishing.
We went out, laid up putout halibut lines, which I guess is
their version of a saltwater trot line, but weights on it, and you
put cut mullet and put mullet onthere. And we put twenty five hooks
out on a line. We pickedup twenty four. One of them had
(04:27):
a halibut on it decent size.The other twenty four had giant starfish on
them. No way. Every fewyears they have like this big flood of
starfish coming into that area, Andwhen a starfish gets around something, you
can't see the hook of the bait, so they would cover up the baits
and the halibuts couldn't get too,so we we threw out on twenty four
literally twenty four starfish bigger than myhead back in the water. It was
(04:47):
crazy. It was kind of crazy. So that was cool. That was
cool. But let's talk a realquick about his Smart Clod Foundation. The
upcoming events. We got some coolstuff happening. On the twenty first September,
there is a free happy hour atag Leather in the Woodlands. Ag
Leather is one of those places whereyou can take your game hides and they
can put it customize and making itabout just about anything you want. October
fifth is our big annual Sporting Playstournament, which we're gonna talk about here
(05:10):
and in a minute at the GreaterHouston Sports Club. And then in November
we are going to do a reallycool, really cool course at the spart
Club Foundation offices. US Law Shieldis going to be there and we're going
to be doing a course on firstaid for gunshot wounden victims nice, which
is something everybody should you know inthis day and age. Unsadly to say
it's something that everybody can use.You hope you never encounter something like that,
(05:31):
but just in case, so youcan go to we Hunt. We
give dot org and click on themembership drop down. The events are open
to the public. Sign up onlineand come out and join us. If
you're not a member, we'd lovefor you to join as a member.
But regardless, come out to oneof these monthly events. There's something happening
typically every month, and we tellyou about that each week each a week
on the show. So go towe hunt we give dot org and check
(05:53):
it out. A lot of coolstuff on the website. All right,
you're gonna be upset with me,but it says first date for gunshot wound
victims with US law shield at youroffices. I have no idea where your
offices are. Oh, we're upin the Energy Corridor right off Satan were
he's doing the show three years.You never come over there. You don't
want to come visit or anything restrainingorder thing. Unlike GiB You haven't offered
to take me to lunch or anythingrestraining order. All right, yeah,
(06:15):
we're Our offices are really easy toget to. Their right off Katie Freeway
at Dairy Ashford and Saint Mary's,so literally a block off Katy Freeway.
You got a lot of good restaurantsover there. We do patties is over
there a few others. Yeah,we your favorite, Yeah, your favorite.
People are wondering who this strange mankeeps talking over us is, and
I guess Mexican, Mexican food dining. But folks today with us as GiB
(06:38):
Searles now in his professional life,GiB is the principal and founder of the
Forest Group. We're going to learna little bit about what that is.
But more importantly to me, he'sthe chairperson of the twenty twenty three Houston
Story Club Foundation Sporting Plastern So getwelcome to the show. Thank you,
sir, Thank you, sir.Glad to be here. Let's talk a
little bit. We'd like to giveour guest a little bit of background,
or give our listeners a little bitof background on our guests. Tell us
(06:59):
what you do for living in thelife insurance business. Have been for thirty
nine years. We've got a focuson a state planning and business planning and
native Houstonian and know a lot ofpeople and been here a long time,
born and raised here and born andraised really close to where we're sitting right
now. That's crazy. And ofcourse you are you are an aggy Yes,
(07:19):
sir, last eighty four, NewMexico State. Aggie or dude,
I saw your car. I knewthe answer today, I see your ring.
Yeah. Uh huh So GiB youyou obviously you. And we're going
to talk a little bit about someof your hunting experiences. When did the
hunting bug bite you? How'd youget into it? Uh? Yeah?
(07:40):
My father was a h He wouldn'ta big hunter as a kid, but
as soon as he went to college, Yeah, that's when he, you
know, befriended some guys that werebig hunters and he started deer hunting then.
And so when I was born,my dad really had the bug.
Yeah, and you know, Ikilled my first deer when I was eight.
(08:03):
It was smitten with it from thatpoint forward. Hunting here in Texas.
Oh yeah, yeah, well Iwas gonna say all in Texas certainly
as a kid. Yeah, allin Texas. And uh my dad was
on a lease in Frio County outof Pearsaul for all of my formidable years,
you know, from the time Iwas eight until I was eighteen,
(08:24):
and so hunting the brush country andjust loving it. That's awesome. That's
awesome. All right, folks,We're gonna talk about some of gibbs past
hunting experiences and uh and adventures.Taking a quick break here on Hunting Matters
KPRC nine fifty. Hi, I'msorry some signs and hunts. Hi,
(09:20):
I am you? You well comeback to Honey Matters with KPRC nine fifty.
This is your host Joe b Toori. I am ramone Robots. Joining
us today is my buddy Gibbs.Sarles Gibbs is the principal founder of the
Forest Group, but he's also thechairperson of the twenty twenty three Houston's Far
(09:41):
Club supporting Clay's Tournament, which we'vetalked about here on the show for a
few weeks now. GiB welcome back, Thank you sir. We were talking
a little bit about how you firststarted hunting. Your your list is impressive
of place as you hunt. Okay, let's kind of run through a quick
launcher list. Besides the US,where else have you hunted? I've been
in Africa a couple of times,went on a planes game bow hunt in
(10:07):
South Africa, and then with anothergood friend of ours, Jeff Birmingham,
we did buffalo hunting as well inAfrica and hunted the Great Ose mountains in
Spain for ibex And last year wedid a dull sheep and cariboo hunt in
(10:31):
the Northwest Territories, which was offthe charts experience. And here in uh
forty eight hours we're leaving for Alaskato go carib hunt. That's crazy.
I want to talk about that tripa lot more with you. The sheep
hunt last year. Was that yourfirst sheep hunt? Yeah, yeah,
it was. What were what weresome of the things about that hunt that
you did not expect that you encounteredon the sheep hunt? Oh, I
(10:56):
don't know. I didn't I didn'texpect my left need to hurt as badly
as on the first day. Icould tell you that for sure. It
was as staggeringly beautiful as I waspraying it would be. It was a
moving experience, for sure. Thenorthern lights were beyond description. And the
(11:20):
blessing for me was that I wasable to harvest my sheep on the first
day. Wow. So And infact, everybody in camp killed their sheep
on the first day. They've saidthey've never had that happened before. How
many people? Six people? Thenyou got to go home? Oh no,
well some people did. Yeah,well, some people did well.
(11:41):
They charted a plane and left.You know, we moved and hunted cariboo,
you know, forty miles away,and two days later I killed a
cariboo. But I spent five daysin base camp and I had no desire
to go home. Man, Idon't relaxed very well. Yeah, and
(12:01):
I was relaxed. Yeah. Thatwas spectacular, Yeah, really really special.
That's great. That's great. Assheep become a thing for you.
Now, do you plan on huntingsheep more in the future. Well,
yes, I've already booked another dollsheep hunt for twenty twenty five with the
same people. You know, I'mI have a desire to do a slam,
(12:26):
but I don't know if I wantto mortgage my children. That the
inflationary pressures that have come across onspecifically stone sheep and Rocky Mountain Bighorn,
it's it's crazy. And so tothat end, I told the guys that
I'd love to kill my own slamof doll sheep and try to kill four
(12:50):
sheep, four doll sheep before I'mseventy. And so I'm sixty one right
now, and so I'll be sixtythree when I chase that one and we'll
see how how I feel. Idid book a a moose grizzly hunt for
September of twenty twenty four in Alaska, so I'm going back. Wow,
where will you do that hunt?Out of the south range or the south
(13:13):
face of the Brooks Range? Okay? Okay? Is that kind of a
semi d I y, Are youwant out with an outfit or oh,
we're definitely with an outfit. Yeah. Man, I don't have time to
go it, do it yourself,then I'd love the ideal. And if
I was thirty five years old anddidn't have the responsibility I have. Yeah.
Man, maybe are you a gunguy, you a bow guy?
You an equal opportunity hunter both ordo you have a preference for one or
(13:35):
the other. I love to bowhunt. I've bow hunted white tails forever.
I've bow hunted elk a couple oftimes. I've never harvested an elk
with my bow. But on thesetypes of hunts, now, I want
to go there. I want togo for the experience, but I do
want to harvest an animals. SoI'm going to take a rifle when I
go on these types of hunts.But where were hunting the brush country now
(13:58):
in webcam. I loved the bowhunt and wheel bow hunt every year,
right right, just something that justpopped in my head. Can you when's
the last time you spent time incamp with somebody that would be considered a
novice hunter? Have you had thatexperience in the past few years where you
(14:18):
had a first time hunter in thecamp where you've had the opportunity to kind
of take them around by the hand. And for sure, yeah, to
tell our listeners a little bit,because I've had that opportunity a few times
in my life, and I thinkit'd be I think it'd be good for
our listeners to understand kind of whatthat involves. You know, it is
so special. Yeah, So wehunt six thousand acres between Free and Insanel.
(14:41):
Right now, I've founded that ranchfor and I think there's my twentieth
year and I've got a twenty nineyear old son and twenty six year old
twin girls. So twenty years agoI had a nine year old a pair
of six year old so you know, made already y'all killed deer before we
got on this ranch, and sothey're all their friends would come and very
(15:07):
few of them had been hunting.And we've had this discussion many times in
our house. How many kids haveset in my lap and killed their first
deer. It is so fun andit's so funny because the girls are sure
shots. The boys have butt feverlike it's nobody's business. And the boys
(15:31):
have all the shakes and the girlssaid, oh that one, you know,
you could set it out boom,yep, yep. So much funny.
Yeah, I've had that, youknow when we first started, when
we first picked up the bow,my wife and I kind of did it
together. And I think I've saidthis before on the show. The archer
instructor that we enlisted to kind ofget us started, said, look,
he put his hand on my shoulder. Look, he said, she's gonna
(15:52):
get better. She's gonna be betterthan you, sooner and quicker than you
are, because women have more patientsand the body mechanics and they just they
listen and they and I was like, okay, I get it. And
sure enough, you know she was. She was sending them thirty yards down
range and hitting the bull's eye,you know, almost immediately, so which
was cool to watch. Well,girls are smarter than boys, you know,
so that's just telling roles. Yeah. Absolutely, You've done a lot
(16:15):
of hunting over your life. Wait, what, what's your favorite type of
hunting? I mean it is abig game, is it? Birds?
Is it? You know? Chasingmature white tail? Love chasing white tail.
And I'm a I love studying whitetail. And with the advent of
these name cameras, man, nowthe world is a different place. So
(16:37):
the majority of the mature deer thatwe harvest, we've got pictures of them
for the past three or four years. Yeah, and we know them.
Yeah, you know. And butbut studying white tail, the behaviors,
and you know, we've got thebiologist, and we feed protein and we
are not fenced, which is aWe're a little bit different than a lot
of people. So we don't havea high fence, but we manage the
(17:02):
herd and we do it. We'rewe put a lot of effort into it.
Sure. Sure, But I willsay this too, I have become
absolutely so rededicated to duck hunting overthe past five or six years. Oh
yeah, how did that? Whydid that kick back on? Well?
I grew up duck hunting a lotat a and m we duck hunted a
(17:23):
public late just I don't know,fifty miles west of College Station, and
that's where we cut our teeth.And at that point in time, right
after I graduated from A and M, we started duck hunting the coast around
Rockport. And I don't know,five years ago, somebody asked me to
join a hunting club down there,Saint Charles Bay, and I don't know,
(17:45):
man, I threw out deeks theretwelve thirteen times last year. And
then I've got a close friend thathas a great spot in Mississippi, so
we duck Hut Mississippi every year.Yeah, I think I remember you telling
me about that triple last year whenyou you and your buddy went over there.
You and your buddy went over there. I want to touch back on
something. We've got a little lessthan a minute here. Well, maybe
i'll say this question on the otherside. I don't want to because it's
(18:08):
a contemplation. Throw the question outand then that's a professional term. Here.
You've got some riveting or shaking questionthat I'm gonna come up with in
the next segment as soon as Ithink about it. That's fair. Folks
were joining today by Gibbs Searles.Gibbs is the chairperson of the twenty twenty
three He's Inspire Club Foundation Sporting Clay'sTournament. We're gonna get to that topic
(18:30):
here in a little bit. I'mgonna take a quick break here on Honey
Matters KPRC nine fifty. Welcome backto Honeymatters on KPRC nine fifty. This
(19:26):
is your host, Joe Batar.I'm Ramone Roeblists. We're joined to day
by GiB Searles, who was thechairperson of the twenty twenty three He's far
Club Foundation Sporting Clay's Tournament. Gibbs. I don't know why we've gone this
long without asking where that name comesfrom. Uh, Forrest Gibson Searles.
Gibson is my mother's maiden name.Very cool, and Forrest was a family
name on her side. Okay,So is it just a coincidence that you
(19:48):
work at the Forrest Groups my company? Oh okay, all right, how
coincidental is that? Like, hey, I just happened to have the same
name, okay, instead of itbeing the GiB Group. Yeah right,
Well, you know it's it's funnybecause my son is a junior and he
goes by Forrest and he was bornin nineteen ninety four and we named him
Junior, and then three weeks laterForrest Gump came out. But dad must
(20:12):
have been a big fan of themovie. Well run Forrest. You know,
common him for sure, but hisgodfather, his godfather had a plantation
in Mississippi and Mississippi Delta and itwas called Forrest. There. Really wow
(20:32):
about that. Yeah, that's crazyand that was a coincidence. Totally,
that's crazy. I want to touchsomething on you know, he talked about
taking out kids in first time hunters, that sort of thing, and it
kind of made me reflect little bit, you know the thing. And you
talked about studying deer and watching deerand that sort of thing. I think
one of the coolest things about huntersas you mature as a hunter is that
it becomes more pleasurable and more enjoyableto sit and watch dear behavior and activity
(20:57):
and all the other wildlife that yousee versus I'm going to be at the
beat the least or the ranch orwhatever for three days. I gotta shoot
a deer. You know, yourpatients uh seems to expand and it's like
I can sit here for eight hoursand just watch animals, you know,
no doubt, you know, isthat typically what you found as well?
Well? For sure, however,I have not lost the desire the harvest
(21:22):
animals right right. Yeah, wherea lot of people our age dude,
and then you know they just wantto watch him. No, I still
hate the blood lust for sure.Yeah. You know, my dad grew
up running the banks in the MississippiRiver and South Louisiana, and you know,
when I got of hunting age andolder, and he would go out
with me and stuff, but hejust he didn't really have a desire to
(21:44):
hunt or anything like, because youknow, I asked him one time why
and he said, he said,because everything we caught shot killed. I
was doing that for the family andbringing it home for the next day's meal.
It was work, and it waswork. And he said it wasn't
really that I don't enjoy it,but he said, it was just it's
ingrained to me that that was Iwas out just I was out shopping for
dinner, yea or breakfast or whateverthat was. And so I can definitely
(22:06):
understand that what do you what doyou love? Besides all the things we
talked about overall, what do youjust absolutely adore love about hunting man,
the outdoors, watching the sunrise,the things you see. Just it's a
freedom. It's absolutely a freedom.And I truly believe that we do have
a responsibility to be stewards man becausewe are. But I want to make
(22:32):
sure and it's not that the actualhunting part of it, but just the
outdoors that our kids are going tobe able to do that and our grandkids
and our great grandkids, and wehave to be proactive with it. We
cannot be silent on the sidelines.Yeah, I want to tagging onto that.
You know, we talk a lotabout legislation and policy and that sort
of thing, and in your ownindustry, I know you've been very actively
(22:52):
involved with with with the legislation andthings like that. Of course, it's
it's a requirement, how important.You know, some people that I've talked
to you that listen to the show, people I've talked to have been lifelong
hunters, have never ever looked atthe politics and legislation and policy that surrounds
(23:14):
wildlife and habitat. You know,I'd always like to kind of impart that
message to our listeners, give us, give us some of your opinions on
that. As far as staying engage, staying in activity, or at least
staying educated on what's happening at homeand abroad related to policy and legislation,
well, staying educated leads to beingproactive. We have to have a seat
(23:36):
at the table where people are discussingthe issues and the legislation as it pertains
to what we are so passionate about, and that's game management, that's hunting
laws, fishing logs, and soforth. And if you don't have a
seat at the table, they aregoing to throw you under the bus.
You have to be there engaging themin dialogue because these are five hundred and
(24:00):
thirty five men and women that representthe United States of America and they are
making laws that dictate how we cando what we want to do. And
we're the good guys. We arethe good guys in the white hat.
We want to do it the rightway. We want to do it in
a manner that will allow our kidsand grandkids to be able to do it.
(24:22):
And when we meet with our electedofficials, they're going to know that
we're serious. They're going to knowthat we mean what we say, and
they know that we are the goodguys, and to that end, we
want them hearing from us. Butmore importantly, we want their legislative assistants
and their legislative directors to hear fromus, and because they are going to
(24:45):
tell that representative how they should votebased on their constituency. So to that
end, it's incredibly important that weare politically active. Incredibly important. Yeah,
something Houston Varco has been involved withover the years, and even more
so it seemed to be I've beenpart of conversations with US fish and game
and that sort of thing about theissue and the subject of import permits.
(25:08):
So you said you've been to youknow, you've been to Africa twice.
Now there there are those who havehad trouble getting their animals back to the
United States because of the lack ofattention to import permits which are required to
get those animals back in. AndI know that we both know that the
outfitter you've been with and you've you'vemade friends with him. Did you guys
(25:32):
ever have a chance to discuss ona broader scale countries that try to affect,
influence, or legislate how they dobusiness in Africa in these other countries
uh their policies. I've never I'venever engaged in that level of dialogue.
I do. It's always been mythought is that the our inability to bring
(25:57):
back whatever trophies with which we haveharvested a lot is predicated on the people
who are making those rules over here. And if they're anti hunters, we
have a problem. Yeah, wehave a problem. And they don't understand
(26:17):
the value that hunters bring to thespecies, and they're just myopic in their
views. And oftentimes you cannot talkrationally to an irrational person, So you
have to be proactive talking to peoplesitting at the table and try to influence
legislation prior to being enacted. Yeah. Absolutely, And you know, Ramona
(26:44):
is Ramon's a prime example. He'sgot he's got two young boys that he's
getting into the outdoors and that sortof thing. And and the thing about
hunters to day, no matter howold you are, where you are in
your hunting journey, is that peopleneed to constantly remember that we're setting the
president for kids like ears Ormond,you know, that are coming up that
(27:06):
want to enjoy that, whether it'sfishing, hunting, camping, future generation,
whatever, it's future generation. Youknow, we're we are all pioneers
that in that aspect of that,we have to set the groundwork for future
generations that do want to do thosesorts of things, that do want to
go hunting and that sort of thing. Whether it's at the policy legislative level,
whether it's at the regulatory level,whatever it is, taking new people
(27:26):
hunting and that sort of thing.I mean, it's critical. You would
just hate to see that opportunity ifsomebody wants to do it, that opportunity
to go away, well said,because they have to. They don't have
to hunt, but we need themto have the opportunity to hunt, and
our exposing them to it is what'sgoing to do it. Well, you
talk about how important it is forkids to have that availability. So I'm
(27:49):
gonna assume, and you correct meeven if I'm wrong, that in twenty
twenty five you're gonna take my kidson the hunting trip that you were talking
about. Sure, come on tothat dollar sheep, Yeah, come home,
appreciate that. Yeah, rock androll. Just make sure you might
come home with two very tired boysafter that. I actually actually have a
friend of mine who was a professional. It was a professional Mma fighter,
(28:11):
and he said that was probably oneof the hardest things. I mean,
this guy was trained every day threesixty five. You know, it stayed
and fighty shape. He said,that was by far physically one of the
most challenging things he's ever done inhis life. The elevation, the climbing,
the terrain. The first the dayI killed my ram, I took
a picture of my in reach andI ascended and descended sixty eight hundred feet
(28:33):
Wow, in thirteen hours, Andit was only five miles geographically. Yeah,
but it was this yeah, upand down yeah wow yeah yeah.
This This guy actually sent me apictures to him and crevice is trying to
get down and up these crevices ofthe country again. Northwest Territory, Yeah,
said, that's where the That's wherethe yetie lives in the Northwest.
(28:56):
Yeah. Did you see big Footwhen you're out there? Negative, it
would have shot it. It hadbeen back to the east, that that
would have been. That would havebeen a heck of a trophy. Imports
to try to get try to getav back to the back to the States.
All right, folks, we're gonnatake a quick break here and we
are going to come back with ourguests, Gibs Searles. We're gonna talk
about Houston's Fire Club Foundation and itsannual Sporting Clay's Tournament. Taking a break
(29:19):
here on Honeymatters KPRC nine fifty.Welcome back to Honey Matters O KPRC nine
(30:11):
fifty. This is yours job tour. I'm Ramon Robelists. Our guest today's
Gifts, Charles Gifts, have beentalking to us a little bit about his
past hunting experiences and let's let's changethe change our direction here a little bit.
And I give you've been involved withthe Far Club for quite some time,
telling our listeners why you joined Houston'sFar Club and why it's important for
people who have an affinity for huntingand looking at the future of hunting be
(30:32):
part of these types of organizations.You know, I think our our our
website says it all, and ourwe hunt we give dot org says it
all because we are we're putting ourmoney where I'm out is, we are
proactively going out to do something aboutprotecting what we love to do, our
(30:57):
passion for the outdoors. So tothat end, when I became familiar with
the Safari Club. It was.It was cool because you meet people and
you get around people who are likeminded and enjoy the same thing you do,
(31:18):
and so we always have stuff totalk about and you get to learn
from other people. It's an ironsharpening iron type thing, right. So
it's it's a very strong organization tobe a part of. Twenty years ago.
Could you see yourself being part ofthis type deal where you're planning your
trips to go to Africa and thingslike that twenty years ago? No crazy
(31:38):
kids after nine year old and apair of six year old. Yeah,
you know. So we've told peopleon the show. You're you're the chairperson
of the Sporting Class Tournament. Nowthe Sporting Class Tournament the us FARI Club
Foundation spits on each year. Itis probably about the second largest fundraiser besides
convention. How'd you get how'd youget dragged into being the chairperson for this?
I wasn't drug into it, youknow. Yeah, I'll tell you
(32:01):
what we have. I was talkingwith Nancy yesterday. That's Nancy from our
office. Yeah, and we arewe're on fire. Yeah, it's it's
going to be a great tournament.A lot of people have signed up already,
and typically more teams are going tosign up now than in the previous
(32:22):
six weeks or so. So Ilike it that it's going to be in
the afternoon. We've got a twoo'clock start time, yea. And it's
just a lot of people excited aboutit. Yeah, And I think it's
probably because of the COVID craziness thathas a lot of pent up demand,
if you will, of people wantingto go do this type of stuff and
it's not at eight in the morningsand two in the afternoon. Right.
(32:45):
A lot of people have said they'rethey're glad about that. Yeah. And
one thing I think people need tounderstand is that the first time I did
Sporting Clays, I was intimidated.But the thing about it is this is
a great environment for people who arebeginners to come out too as well.
I mean, we've got some reallygood shooters out there. But it's open
to the public. It's not acompetition per se. I mean, we
give away great prizes at the endof the winning teams and shooters that sort
(33:06):
of thing. But it's open toeverybody, right, oh for sure.
For sure. In fact, whenyou see the people that I have shooting
on my team. You know thatwe're not trying to win exactly. We're
out there just that fun man.Yeah, yeah, absolutely, that's what
I found. I mean, thepeople I've shot with that there, it's
it's more just about giving each othera hard time, you know, when
you miss a shot and that sortof thing. Yeah. And the cool
thing is it's a it's a fullyou know, this starts in the afternoon,
(33:29):
but it's it's a full half halfday type event where there's you know,
there's there's we do raffles, wehave exhibitors out there, we have
the shooting. Of course, wehave some games we're shooting games where people
can shoot, and and you know, we wrap we we wrap it up
with a dinner that night, somesome nice barbecue and everybody loves good barbecue.
So now, some of the claytournaments I've done aren't probably as professional
(33:52):
z's. We actually had people throwingup plates and shooting. That is that
not what y'all do. That's notwhat we do. Okay, just I
wanted to get a feel for theenvironment. Okay, all right, cool,
I might I might show up.You should because I was designated play
thrower. You will not be aplate. Okay, right, and with
the location we have it, whichis a greater Houston Sports Club does a
(34:13):
really good job of organizing. There'sa big pavilion out there. Knock on
wood. We don't have any youknow, inclement weather, any weather challenges
that sort of thing. But aslong as it's not lightning and it's not
blowing everything sideways, we pretty muchgo forward with it. They still got
that big pit. Yeah, yeah, Wins. The last time you were
out there been a couple of years, so they've got a giant one now.
I don't know when they replaced it, but last year when I was
(34:35):
out there, I was like,whoa, look at you stepping out.
They got a new party. Yeah, it looks like you could like one
hundred fifty stakes on that thing.It's crazy, dude. It's it's a
great time. It is a lotof fun and Safari Club just there's a
great job put it on, puttingit together, and it's we've got a
lot of energy around it this year. Yeah for sure. Yeah, Well
(34:55):
we appreciate you chairing. I mean, it's it's a lot of work to
manage all the moving parts and logisticswith it. With his team win because
we're not going to win. Yousay that, but then there's that unwritten
rule you gotta let the German win. Yeah, well no, that's all
right. Hey, I'm making theserules. That's not one of them very
(35:16):
good. Well the other the otherthing cool, that's kind of cool about
I mean, not everybody's in itfor the trophies and that sort of thing.
We do something kind of unique amongWe do these handmade knives that are
engraved, you know, with theSporting Clays tournament logo, and a lot
of people do trophies and that sortof thing, and we started doing the
hand the hand the handmade knives thathave deer antler handles on them several years
(35:37):
ago and people fell in love withthem. So it's kind of become our
trademark. Uh. That. Andthe other thing, which is really tacky
and that we love it to death, is that we have one of those
WWE World Championships belts. Yeah,that's that we give out for the top
shooter because at the end of theday, all the top shooters can get
together and they compete individually against eachother. It's it's called an Anti Oakley
type competition, and they get toshoot for the belt, and you'll see
(35:59):
pe walk by the table, lookat the belt and what is that?
But every year whoever wins it hasthe biggest smile on there. But but
this is my office. This iscool. Yeah, they love that big
tackie belt. Yeah, I won'thave it. I got to hold it
one time. I bet you getsome ringers out there, though. Huh.
(36:20):
There's some guys out there that areprofessional competitor shoots. They go one
hundred for a hundred out there.Well, the guy he mentioned before,
Jeff Birmingham, who's actually has beena past president if He's far club and
has also chaired the tournament several times. I mean, Jeff could beat most
people out there with one, youknow, with with both eyes closed,
is a ring or Yeah, I'malways impressied with those guys. It's just
(36:40):
make it look so easy, soimpressive. Yeah, and he's so humble
about it. He's like, uh, yeah, it's just but yeah,
I'm in awe and I constantly goto him and I'm like, give me
a couple of tips, you know, And it's I love watching guys like
that. Shoot. But I'll tellyou, you know, because I'm gonna
go if I have a good day, I'll shoot a seventy something. And
(37:01):
if I have a bad day,I'll shoot a sixty something. Whatever.
But put me in a dove field. I'm good to go. Yeah,
I'm good to go. Yeah,yep, absolutely, I just don't take
it as seriously. It's just notas important, you know, the score
is not as important. It's thefun. Yeah. You see some of
those guys out there, they're they'rein it to win it. I mean
absolutely, they're in it to winit. Yeah. They check the scoreboards
(37:23):
afterwards, they're like, wait aminute, I think I got two more
than that. Let me double checkmy my numbers. It's almost like they
got a golf you know, thegolfing type sport card there. I think
I had more started a few fewerstrokes than that. So but yeah,
you should come out and even ifyou bring the boys around just to watch
watching. Yeah, how old arethey? They are not seven and five?
(37:44):
Actually the one will be eight byOctober five, all right, yeah,
eight and five, Yeah, perfectage. That is a perfect age.
Yeah. I gotta get him intothat. I have to because you
know, my dad never took mebecause he was too busy, you know,
working, and he said, heregretted, you know, not being
able to take us, and yeah, I gotta at least expose them.
Yeah, but that's it. It'sa perfect time to expose it to them
(38:04):
because they're they're in a comfortable environmentaround people with guns. Yeah, and
and very safe people with guns,and it's just a good environment yep.
Yeah. And we do have ontop of the you know, like like
we were talking about earlier, youcan be a professional shooter, you can
be an amateur shooter, you canbe a member if he's Spark Club or
not, it doesn't matter at us. We just want everybody to come out
(38:27):
and have to have an afternoon fellowshipand uh and get to know us and
and and maybe meet some new friends. I've talked to several people over the
years that have met business partners andclients and things like that out there at
the Sporting Clay's Tournament. And wewe sponsor veterans teams as well. So
we have we have veterans, acouple of veterans teams that we sponsor,
and we have a couple of youthteams that we sponsor from local local high
school programs, whether they're professional shootingteams, whether they've just assemble some kids
(38:51):
that want to get involved. That'salways fun to watch and we specifically recognize
them and the awards. The veteransand the youth teams have their own awards.
It's it's really a good time,Like GiB said, it's it's a
low pressure situation to come out andhave a good time and who knows you.
Maybe you hook up with somebody likea Birmingham and learn a few things
hell, which is pretty cool,GiB so so folks, if you're if
(39:12):
you're wanted to sign up, goto we hunt we give agot dot org.
That's we Hunt we give dot organd click on the drop down and
sign up today. That thing's comingup in October the fifth. GiB thanks
you so much for being here withus today. Thank you, Joe.
Good luck on your trip. Besafe, you got it. We will
see everyone next week here on HoneyMatters KPRC nine fifty and the stock markets
down and get only getting
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.