Texans linebacker finds outlet for love of hunting
KRISTIE RIEKEN
Associated Press
August 6, 2005
HOUSTON - When Jason Babin isn't chasing down backs and receivers, the linebacker can be found stalking a different kind of prey.
The Houston Texans' former first round pick is an avid hunter who opened the 435-acre Babin Ranch in the offseason. Located near Center, Texas, visitors can hunt animals from deer and buffalo to zebras and wildebeests at the ranch whose slogan is "Hunt Where the Pros Hunt."
"I'd really never seen ranch-type hunting like that before and I went around hunting at a bunch of different ranches in Texas," Babin said. "I thought, man this is cool. I could do something like that."
He bought the ranch after surveying several different sites. He then made numerous upgrades to the property, including the installation of a high fence around its perimeter, and hired two of his former college teammates from Western Michigan to run the place.
Jason Feldpausch and C.J. Jansen handle the operations, but Babin makes most of the decisions related to its upkeep.
The ranch features hills, trees, pastures, two streams and swamps. It also has a 3D archery range to practice with a bow, and a lodge with a bunk house and game room. In 2006, a 25-acre lake with many kinds of fish will open.
Babin, who was with 27th pick in the first round of the 2004 draft, said his father introduced him to hunting when he was a child.
"My dad got me started when I was, gosh, probably 10 years old," he said. "We lived on the river in the woods back in Paw Paw, Michigan, and we used to hunt out there all the time."
Babin said he likes Texas hunting better because he doesn't have to deal with the cold.
"I love it here," he said. "Especially the weather. I don't have to fight the winters."
The Web site for his ranch (www.babinranch.com) features a camouflage background with pictures of his ranch as well as photos of Babin, his wife and father with various animal carcasses.
Babin said they have dozens of different types of animals at his ranch.
"You name it, we got it," he said.
He said none of his teammates have been to the ranch, which is about 35 miles northeast of Nacogdoches, but that he's planning a Texans celebrity hunt in February.
While his off-the-field work is taking off, Babin is also making strides on the field. A defensive end in college, Babin started all 16 games at outside linebacker as a rookie and finished with 76 tackles. He was also second on the team in sacks with four and had two fumble recoveries.
"I think he'll take his biggest jump from year one to year two," coach Dom Capers said.
Babin agrees.
"I want to feel more comfortable and contribute to the team more," he said.
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