Bowhunting Reports From Tony Dukes

FIELD REPORT - Meet Joe Hajek

Tony Dukes

Meet Joe Hajek, a San Antonio born man that was basically brought up in the South Texas' big buck country. Joe's father, a veteran bowhunter, took Joe and his two brothers to the hunting camp since age 3. By age 12 the family was hunting in Colorado on regular occasions.

I met Joe while I was conducting a hunt on his wife's grandfather's ranch in Zavala county, Bill Soyars. Mr. Soyars had donated a hunt for a D A R E (Drug Awareness Resistance Education) graduate and I was doing the guiding and covering the hunt for Texas Fish and Game (June issue). 

Not only was I impressed with Hajek's manners and hunting knowledge, but the way he encouraged the boy that was hunting. When the deer was down, Hajek donated the labor of the mount for free as a tangible motivation for the young man to continue his life of discipline. 

That tells me all I need to know about a man, the way he treats a kid.

Joe began bowhunting in '91 buying a Mathews bow and started working for their rep in Texas. Like us once Joe had taken his first critter, a hog, with the bow, he was hooked. Over the years Joe would take his share of hogs, exotics and whitetail including a 140 class 8 point.

A couple of years after picking up the bow, Joe was hit by a car and had a while to rethink his life. At this point he embarked on taxidermy and currently runs Hajek Taxidermy in La Vernia, Texas, near San Antonio. Joe prides himself in the more detailed full body mounts and pedestals. He is currently mounting all my African trophies. He seems to have a particular knack for the more unique critters although his love is whitetail.

Joe will be joining the crew of Bowhunting.net and other bear hunters in Ontario for his first bear hunt and later on the Wildhorse Prairie Ranch whitetail bowhunt in Burnet Texas, the upcoming Bowhunting.net first invitational bowhunt.

Get use to seeing Joe's name for he and I have many plans for sharing future hunts with each other as well as some deserving youth. For quick, affordable, professional taxidermy work, contact Joe Hajek PO 441 La Vernia TX 78121 phone 210-380-4402. Tell him Tony Dukes from Bowhunting.net sent ya.

Tony Dukes