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LoneOStar Outdoor News
Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
July 25, 2014
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July 25, 2014
Volume 10, Issue 23
Biggest ever 972.7-pound blue marlin bests 26-year-old state record
BIRDS MEAN FISH: If herons are near the water, they’re near fish. Photo by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News.
By Conor Harrison
First mate
Lone Star outdoor newS
A longstanding state record fell on July 11 when angler Richard Richardson brought a 972.7-pound blue marlin to the scales at the Bastante John Uhr Memorial Billfish Tournament in Rockport. The fish, caught aboard a 56-foot Viking, Legacy, broke the state record held since 1988 by James Farrow, which weighed 876.5 pounds. The big marlin hit a live, 5-pound tuna being trolled as bait. The fish was 137.5 inches long, had a girth of 74 inches, and was caught about 130 miles off of Port Aransas. The Legacy, based out of Houston, was captained by Kevin Deerman, along with owner George Gartner, of Houston; Galveston’s Jeff Owen and Cameron Plaag; Corpus Christi’s Michael Fitzpatrick; and Houston’s Richardson, Colin Ocker and Ruben Ramos. “It hasn’t even sunk in,” Deerman said. The captain said the fight lasted only 20 minutes. “The fish bit and started toward the bottom very slowly,” he said. “It acted like it didn’t know it was hooked. It swam straight down and took some line. We backed down on it pretty hard and it came up and jumped about 300 yards out. “We knew immediately it was over 500 pounds.” Although it only took 20 minutes to get the marlin to the boat, it took another 45 minutes to
Herons’ feeding patterns a key to fishing the summer heat By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
When the fish are tough to locate, especially in summer months, the herons’ feeding habits often is a key clue for anglers looking to hone in on a day’s catch. Cliff Shackelford, an ornithologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, has been studying these birds for 17 years, and knows a thing or two about their feeding behavior. “Anywhere there’s water, open water, they can be feeding,” Shackelford said. “They will even feed on the side of the road where water is pooling up after a rain.” There are around 12 species of birds similar to herons — recognizable by their elongated necks, long legs built for wading and long beaks — including egrets, bitterns and ibises. Shackelford said many anglers use the term “heron” as a catchall for these birds, but
See MARLIN, Page 23
MEASURING A RECORD: After the tape was stretched on this blue marlin and a trip to the scale, the new state record was announced at 972.7 pounds. Photo by Laura Middour.
Years of photos show keys to aging bucks on the hoof By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
See HERONS, Page 25
INSIDE
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
AGE ME: Quickly trying to determine a buck’s age can pose problems, and it’s best to know the bucks on the ranch to avoid mistakes. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
The buck appears and his antlers look good. The tougher question remains: How old is he? Before game cameras were the norm, photographer and marketing rep Dave Richards of Boerne spent years photographing and studying white-tailed bucks on the Hindes Ranch in Frio County. Later, with renowned wildlife biologist Al Brothers, he used those photos to help write “Observing & Evaluating Whitetails,” covering, in part, aging and scoring of the deer on the hoof. The 2003 book is considered by many to be a must-read for wildlife
HUNTING
FISHING
Facing the past
Always changing
High expectations
When a trip turns bad
Llano hunter takes a mountain lion near Big Bend almost 30 years after he was attacked there. Page 4
Recent rains and rebounding ground cover are leaving hunters with high hopes for quail season. Page 6
Nueces Bay has good fish to offer anglers, if they can adapt to the hazards and ever-changing conditions. Page 8
Group fishing the Pecos River narrowly escapes flash flood. Page 9
managers. At the Texas Wildlife Association Convention in San Antonio in July, Richards presented his thoughts on aging bucks on the hoof based on what he has seen and photographed. “Deer management has come a long way from the old saying, ‘Eight points and heavy — he’s down,’” Richards said. Richards’ top tips for aging bucks don’t involve the antlers. “Antler mass is not a benchmark,” he said. “It’s best to ignore them when aging deer — I’ve seen too many 4-year-olds with heavy mass.” See AGING, Page 19
CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Prime Time . . . . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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HUNTING
NOT EXACTLY REVENGE, BUT: After surviving a mountain lion attack in Big Bend National Park as a young boy, David Vaught evened the score with this lion taken on a hunt 35 miles south of Sheffield. Photo by David Vaught.
Closing a chapter Attacked by mountain lion as a boy, Llano hunter harvests cat in same area
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
David Vaught was 8 years old when he went hiking with his family on the Basin Loop Trail of Big Bend National Park on August 2, 1984. The popular trail is very near park headquarters, which made it even more surprising when David and his younger brother rounded a corner several yards in front of the main party and came face to face with a mountain lion. “The cat was three feet in front of us,” he said. “He latched onto me and his front teeth went into the front of my head and he completely took my scalp off my head.” Vaught’s step-dad jumped in and pulled the cat off David and hurled it down a slope. “He carried me about 30 yards from the attack
site and used his shirt to try and stop some of the bleeding because I didn’t have a scalp,” he said. “The trail loop was only about 1.5 miles, and we had walked about a mile and a quarter, but the cat was on the short side, so we made the 1.25-mile walk back to the headquarters. “We got about 50 yards down the trail from the attack and the cat showed up on our right side on a little ridge about 10 or 12 feet from us. He followed us the entire way.” At the park headquarters, Vaught received basic treatment for his wounds, but was quickly transported back to Dallas for surgery. After more than a dozen surgeries during the next few years, Vaught made a complete recovery, but still has many scars to remind him of that day. State predator hunter Bill McKinney and his See MOUNTAIN LION, Page 29
Desert bighorn auction, other awards highlight TWA convention By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS
DOLLARS FOR SHEEP: A permit to hunt a desert bighorn in Texas brought $75,000 at the Texas Wildlife Association Convention. Funds will be used to support further bighorn restoration in Texas. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
It wasn’t the massive amount raised a few years ago through the auction of a Texas desert bighorn sheep at the Texas Wildlife Association annual convention, but the amount raised will help fund one of Texas’ top wildlife success stories: bighorn restoration. At the July 12 auction, the final bid of $75,000 received the permit to hunt the ram. In 2011, the last time the auction was held at the Texas Wildlife Association convention, the hunt brought $151,000. The permit provides the opportunity for one hunter to hunt for the next available desert bighorn ram on Elephant Mountain, Sierra Diablo or Black Gap Wildlife Management Areas, as designated by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The three West Texas WMAs are managed for the restoration, conservation and management of desert bighorn sheep, and serve as the primary source of brood stock for reintroduction efforts. “This past January, approximately 60 bighorns were introduced into another unoccupied West Texas mountain range,” said TPWD Executive Director Carter Smith, who was the recipient of the See TWA, Page 7
First female wins Weatherby Award The Weatherby Foundation has announced Renee Snider as this year’s recipient of the highest honor in hunting. A world-class big game hunter, Snider’s passion for the outdoors began as a youngster as she accompanied her father, who was a skilled outdoorsman, hunting along the Renee Snider Continental Divide. Snider first traveled to Africa with her husband, Paul, in 1979. Finally, by 1982, he persuaded her to carry a rifle herself. She has enjoyed hunting with family and friends over the years, however for the past 20 years she has hunted alone. While in Africa, Snider’s humanitarian skills come into play. She takes medical supplies with her and treats native bush villagers topically and administers major first aid. In some remote areas, Snider is the only medical source these bush people have ever seen. Snider has received the prestigious Diana Award and is the only woman to receive the Golden Malek Award and the OVIS in the histories of their organizations. When asked about her favorite hunt, she said, “It is not just about the hunt. More importantly, it is about the beautiful people one meets, the different cultures one experiences and the breathtaking landscape one has the pleasure to see. They are all very special memories.” — Weatherby Foundation
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State 4-H games host 1,000 shooters By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS More than 1,000 shotgunners participated in the 2014 Texas 4-H Shooting Sports State Games held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio. Shooters in four different age groups competed in Modified Trap, International Skeet, American Skeet, American Trap, Sporting Clays and Whiz Bang (five-stand) Sporting Clays. “We had 1,044 shooters, which is up 150 shooters from last year,” said Jack Burch, founder of the Hill Country Shooting Sports Center, who volunteers at the games. “And we had a 30- to 40-percent increase in the number of kids that decided to shoot the international events.” The top overall award is the Gunsmoke Award, given to the high shooter in all rounds of all of the shooting disciplines. This year, Baylor Brooks of Stephenville topped the field with 420 total targets. Heston Graves and Konner Smith of Floydada topped the field of 35 teams in the 2-man team in American Trap. Both shot 97 of 100 targets and tied for first place, then headed to a shoot-off where both shot 100 percent to take the title. Burch said the success of local shooters in the Olympics and World Cup events is a reason for the increased participation, especially in the international events. “Those shooters were 4-H kids to begin
WINNING WAYS: Heston Graves and Konner Smith, both entering their junior year at Floydada High School, celebrate winning the 2-man team championship in American Trap at the 2014 Texas 4-H Shooting Sports State Games. Photo by Kyle Smith.
with, and the international events are the next step for those who want to shoot after 4-H is over.” In the overall awards, female shooters were right up there with the boys, Burch said. “It was impressive how much higher up the girls shot than in previous years,” he said. “There were a number of them in shoot-offs in the overall awards — those aren’t gender-specific.”
It’s showtime Hunting expos cranking up as season approaches
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Hunting season is quickly approaching, which means it’s time for hunting shows across the state to begin. This year, hunters can attend shows in several regions, with outfitter booths, product displays and special guests sure to make things interesting. Here is a rundown of some of the Texas hunting shows this year:
August 1-3
Texas Trophy Hunters Association Extravaganza, Houston The first of three TTHA shows happens at the Reliant Center in Houston. Old favorites like Joe Martin’s Snakes of Texas, Texas junior anglers’ catch fish tank, a youth archery shoot and Operation Game Thief’s Wall of Shame will be on display. Celebrity appearances by Jerry Campbell of American Hoggers, Bruce Mitchell from Swamp People and Brian “Pigman” Quaca. Hours for all TTHA shows are: Friday — 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids 13-17. Kids 12 and under and active military and veterans with an ID get in for free. For more information, go to ttha.com
August 2
Wichita Falls Deer Fest This one-day event held on Aug. 2 at the MPEC Exhibit Hall will feature Operation Game Thief’s Wall of Shame, Bass Tubs of Oklahoma and the Ultimate Shootout Archery Trailer. New this year will be gator queen Liz Chase and Brandon Landry from Swamp People. Also, there will be appearances from Matt Duff the Major League Bow Hunter and his wife, Jessie, the national shooter. Brian Trussel with foxpro and Gator Country will also be joining in on the fun. And don’t miss the Deer Fest girls. All proceeds for this event will help fund the Adopt A Box Program. Adopt A Box is a local charity designed to provide children in need with basic hygiene items. The cost of the show is $7 in advance or
$10 at the door. For more information, go to deerfestwichitafalls.com.
August 15-17
Texas Trophy Hunters Association Extravaganza, Fort Worth The Will Rogers Center will again host this year’s TTHA Show in Fort Worth. Along with all of the same attractions as above, celebrities like the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders and Miss Kansas Theresa Vail will be in attendance.
August 22-24
Texas Trophy Hunters Association Extravaganza, San Antonio Hunters in the Hill Country will want to head to the Alamodome for this three-day show featuring Realtree’s David Blanton, 8-time Major League Baseball all-star Chipper Jones and many more. All times and ticket prices are the same as above.
August 30-31
Texas Hunting and Outdoor Classic, San Antonio The Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio will host this two-day show for hunters. This show features something for everyone, beginners and veteran hunters alike. The show is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 30 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31. Children under 12 and servicemen or women in uniform get in for free, while everyone else pays $8 for a day pass, or $12 for a two-day pass. This show partners with the San Antonio Gun Show and features the Texas Jump Off Dog Dock Diving Competition. For more information, go to huntersclassic.com
August 31
Uvalde Dove Expo Hosted by the Texas Dove Hunters Association, the Uvalde Dove Expo will be held at Oasis Outback Sporting Goods in Uvalde. For more information, go to texasdovehunters.com.
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That sweet sound
MORE FOR THE DOGS TO FIND: This season’s conditions are the best they’ve been in years, and quail are responding with positive reports coming from many areas across the state. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Quail rebounding across Texas with rains, groundcover By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Texans sipping their morning coffee on front porches around the state are hearing an old familiar sound this year whistling across the plains and through the pines — the sound of a cock bobwhite calling to hens. “Everything is anecdotal right now — we won’t have our official counts until late August — but lots of people are hearing birds whistling,” said Jason Hardin, migratory game bird specialist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “I’m hearing from folks
in South Texas, the Rolling Plains and the Coastal Plains. I was in East Texas this week and heard birds calling in the morning — and if they’re calling in East Texas, other places have to be doing great.” Hardin said some areas in Texas had decent reproduction last year, but the population overall needs several good years in a row to truly make a comeback. “We should have more pairs out there this year,” he said. “We are definitely going in the right direction. This cooler weather is great for the birds. See QUAIL, Page 17
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TWA Continued from page 4
Sam Beason Conservation Leader Award at the convention. “None of this would be possible without the strong support of TWA, Texas Bighorn Society, Wild Sheep Foundation, and of course, private landowners.” The Texas Big Game Awards Landowner of the Year was presented to the 3,600-acre Flagler Ranch in Mountain Home. The ranch was a previous recipient of TPWD’s Lone Star Land Steward award in 2010. The ranch has participated in the Texas Youth Hunting Program, where young Texans hunt white-tailed deer and exotics, and has hosted field days and huntmaster training. “We have hosted 212 days of hunting over the past 12 years,” said Ranch Manager Lewis Scherer. Land management practices at the ranch include improving soil, water and vegetation, prescribed burning and cedar control.
Other awards:
TWA Volunteers of the Year Awards
Wylie man elected to DU board David Feckley, of Wylie, was elected to Ducks Unlimited Inc.’s national board of directors during the organization’s annual convention in St. Louis. Feckley was introduced to DU more than 30 years ago when his father took him to an event. Since then, he has been involved with DU in a variety of ways. He is currently a Diamond Life Sponsor serving his second term on DU’s Conservation Programs Committee.
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Adult — Paul and Charlie Grindstaff Adult — John Miller Youth — Andrew Skipton Youth — Austin Blackwell TWA Sam Beasom Conservation Leader Award — Carter Smith TWA Ray Murski Friend of Wildlife Award — Tina Y. Buford TBGA Conservation College Scholarship Statewide Winner — Skyler Henderson of Gorman TBGA Photo Contest Winners Youth division — Bradin Hanselka Whitetail division — Clayton Bonner Pronghorn division — Tyler Brimager Overall winner for the 2013-2014 season - Jenna Kelley TBGA Landowner of the Year Awards Region 3 — MT7 Ranch, Owners Mike and Mary Terry Family, Manager Ty Bartoskewitz Region 4 — Back Porch Ranch, Owners David and Crystal Watts, Manager Crystal Watts Statewide Winner — Flagler Ranch, Owner George Matthews, Manager Lewis Scherer
Through his position as senior natural resources manager for Nestle Waters, Feckley has helped DU form a partnership with the company to better manage and maintain existing wetlands on their property in East Texas. Nestlé Waters has also invested in DU’s Gulf Coast Initiative. “Since clean water is vitally important to our company and DU, and wetland habitats serve an enormous role in providing clean water, helping preserve and restore those habitats is important to both of us,” Feckley said. — DU
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FISHING
Worth the effort Nueces Bay’s changing conditions don’t stop trout bite By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
Nueces Bay has long been known as an area with changing variables, and fishing lately has proven that it takes a keen eye and knowledge of the area to bring in a full limit. Tide changes, reoccurring and disappearing reefs and alternating salinity levels aren’t enough to keep guides out of the region, and clients have had their fair share of success in recent weeks. “It’s a bay that overall has been pretty good throughout the season,” Capt. Allen Sifford said. “I’m catching fish on the reefs throughout the bay system.” The reefs are the key, he pointed out, but also make for some interesting navigation. As tides come in and out, boaters are often left unaware of oyster reefs hovering just below the surface. Capt. Noe Garza, a lifelong resident of the Corpus Christi area, said that isn’t always a bad thing. “There are a lot of reefs in there,” he said. “That deters a lot of people, which keeps the pressure down, and it’s
THEY’RE IN THERE: Quickly changing tides, shallow boating conditions and changing salinity levels keep anglers on their toes in Nueces Bay, but for those who are in the know, it can be one of the best spots on the Gulf Coast. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
a reason why I don’t go in there all the time.” Nevertheless, Capt. Pat Tabor said charters have been having success with keeper trout and even some bull reds in the area. “The weights have been better than I’ve seen in a long time,” Tabor said. “For the Nueces, it has been pretty consistent.” All three captains have primarily been using bait — throwing croakers and live shrimp with their clients. If conditions are right, with low winds, it will be one of
Biggest in the world 2.02-pound Lake Dunlap Rio Grande cichlid certified as world record By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Charles Dewey is one of the best panfish anglers in the state.
His multiple records and big fish awards from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department attest to that fact. Now, he might be known as
MORE THAN A STATE RECORD: Although only 2.02 pounds, this Rio Grande cichlid is the new world record. Photo by Charles Dewey.
one of the best in the world after a Rio Grande cichlid he caught on Sept. 2, 2011 was recently certified as the official world record by the International Game Fish Association. “I submitted paperwork to the IGF in March and just got the certificate back,” Dewey said. “The fish was 2.20 pounds, 11.1 inches long and had a 12-inch girth.” Dewey said he was fishing with ultralight tackle and using earthworms as bait. Along with Lake Dunlap, which Dewey said has been a little off this year for Rios, the Comal and San Marcos rivers are great places to look for trophy cichlids. “The hotspot right now is the Comal River,” he said. “But this time of year, there are a lot of swimmers you have to watch out for.” Dewey said the prime months to catch cichlids are August, September and October, before the first cold weather. “They are not a cold-water fish,” he said. “Anything below 58 degrees is fatal. Between 72 and 82 degrees is optimal.”
the first places they try during a day on the water. As for the water conditions, that just depends on the time of the year. The salinity levels of the bay change as water is released from Lake Corpus Christi into the Nueces River. “That’s one of the things about this bay system — it changes from year to year,” Sifford said. “One year it may be real hot, than the next year it may not be. It See NUECES BAY, Page 11
Water fight Shrimp boat captain shoots at kayaker during argument By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
The 61st Street Pier in Galveston got a little more interesting last week when a kayaker rowing a fishing line past the last sandbar off the pier got into an argument with a shrimp boat that ended with a gunshot. According to Game Warden Capt. Edward Tanuz of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the kayaker and shrimp boat captain had a disagreement. “At best, it comes down to two individuals who felt like they had the legal right to be where they were at,” Tanuz said. “It escalated and ended with the captain of the shrimp boat dis-
Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series coming to Texoma The Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series announced their schedule for the 2015 season. The new schedule will consist of the Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash, the Collegiate Bass Fishing Open, and the season-ending BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship. The 2015 Cabela’s Collegiate Bass Fishing Series presented by
charging a weapon. We can’t allow that to happen.” The captain, identified as Edward Dwayne Harrison, 49, of Webster, was arrested and charged with deadly conduct several hours after the incident. “The kayaker was dragging a line out there, which is common off of the 61st Street Pier,” Tanuz said. “The kayaker could have contributed to the situation escalating, but it still shouldn’t have gone as far as it did.” Tanuz said the round fired did not hit the kayaker or his boat, but was in a diagonal direction toward the beach, which could have endangered other people. A court date has not been set. BoatUS will showcase four nationally televised events on some of the nation’s top fisheries. The 2015 schedule is as follows: Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash — March 13-15, 2015 — Kentucky Lake — Paris, Tennessee Collegiate Bass Fishing Open — April 17-19, 2015 — Lake Chickamauga — Dayton, Tennessee The Texas Shootout — April 25-26, 2015 — Lake Texoma BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship — May 20-22, 2015 — Pickwick Lake — Florence, Alabama — Cabela’s
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Poco Bueno offshore cancelled The offshore portion of the famed Poco Bueno Fishing Tournament out of Port O’Connor was canceled last weekend due to high seas and winds offshore. However, the inshore portion of the tournament went off as scheduled and Vic Schaefer and Jim Wisor of team Hail State won the inshore portion as with a combined 46.55 pounds. Jerrod Poffenberger and Luke Luedeker of team Dragon Fly took first in the fly portion with 31.5 pounds. There were 107 inshore teams registered. About 65 weighed in on Friday and around the same number made it on Saturday. The largest redfish caught weighed 9.15 pounds and the largest trout pulled the scales to 6.55 pounds. There were 117 boats registered in the canceled offshore portion. — Staff report
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Nightmare on the Pecos Fishing trip turns into fight for survival during flash floods By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Mepps wants squirrel tails Attention Texas squirrel hunters, Mepps, the lure company, needs squirrel tails to create hand-tied, dressed hooks for their lures. “We’ve tried hundreds of other natural and synthetic materials; bear hair, fox, coyote, badger, skunk, deer, even Angus cow, but nothing works as well as squirrel tail hair,” said Kurt Mazurek, Mepps communications director. Mepps buys fox, black, grey and red squirrel tails and will pay up to 26 cents each for tails, depending on quality and quantity. Plus, the cash value is doubled if the tails are traded for Mepps lures. Go to mepps.com for more information and check local season dates. — Staff report
July 25, 2014
GLAD TO GET OUT: Dan Rodriguez stands and looks over the rim of a canyon where he and his party escaped before flash flood waters made the river rise 33 feet in a matter of hours, trapping several groups of anglers. Photo by Bert Rodriguez.
Fort Worth angler Bert Rodriguez, along with his son, Dan, and friends Ryan Dennehy and Scott Gartman, just wanted to get out and explore the Pecos River, do a little fishing and learn the river for future trips. Suffice to say they got more than they bargained for. The group began their trip near Pandale and planned to paddle 55 miles in five days, fishing and mapping the river along the way. On the third night, rain began to fall upriver from where the group had pulled over to camp for the night. “We saw clouds and used the satellite phone to check the weather,” Bert Rodriguez said. “The forecast was for rain until about 5 a.m. and we were also advised there was a flash flood watch in effect — not the kind of news you want to hear. We marked the river level with rocks. It began raining about 3 a.m.” The group checked the river again and talked about packing up and heading downriver, but being unfamiliar with what lay ahead, they decided to stay put. “We picked this campsite because it had a way out,” Rodriguez said. See FLOOD, Page 11
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT School in session LAKE BASTROP — Largemouth bass are schooling in Lake Bastrop and the fishing has been good when anglers can find the balls of bait below the surface and key on the feeding bass. According to multiple anglers, trolling crankbaits and throwing shad-colored top-waters has produced some action in the morning and through midday. Spinner baits fished above the thermocline are also producing. Hollow-body frogs are also catching fish near lily pads and reeds closer to shorelines. The water is between 83 and 87 degrees. Along with bass, crappie are fair on minnows and catfish are good on stinkbait.
Frog bite TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR — A Stanley Ribbit Frog fished around lily pads has been the ticket during the cooler morning and evening hours on the border lake. According to anglers on the Texas Fishing Forum, along with a decent frog bite, some are finding success fishing humps and ridges in the timber. Look for shallow areas with quick drop-offs to deeper water and fish them with finesse worms or Texas-rigged soft plastics.
ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 75–83 degrees; 16.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters, shallow-running crankbaits and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on live minnows and jigs over brush piles.
BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 82–86 degrees; 11.60’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow.
AMISTAD: Water stained; 82–86 degrees; 41.70’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, and on watermelon seed and green pumpkin soft plastics in 18–20 feet.
BUCHANAN: Water murky; 79–83 degrees; 28.18’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged grape worms, flukes, and watermelon top-waters around stumps in 5–15 feet. Striped bass are good on Red Fins, Zara Jr’s, and trolling crankbaits on the surface at daylight.
ATHENS: Water clear; 85–89 degrees; 0.20’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on watermelon creature baits and top-waters. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs.
CADDO: Water stained; 84–88 degrees; 0.20’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on bladed jigs and hollow-body frogs near stumps and shallow cover.
BELTON: Water murky; 79–83 degrees; 8.50’ low. Largemouth bass are good trolling lipless crankbaits.
CALAVERAS: Water stained. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse lipless crankbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are fair on chicken livers and shad along the shoreline.
BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 86–89 degrees; 1.24’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on weightless soft plastics and Texas rig plastic worms. Crappie are good on minnows. BONHAM: Water clear, 83–87 degrees; 2.82’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and soft plastics near shallow flats with grass, boat docks, ridges, creek channels and rocky points up to 15’ deep. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows on offshore brush piles. Catfish are excellent along the rocks with stinkbait, chicken liver and cut shad. BRAUNIG: Water stained. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms near the dam. Redfish are good down rigging near the jetty and dam. Channel and blue catfish are very good on cut bait and cheesebait near the hot water discharge. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear, 84–88 degrees; 22.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white medium crankbaits near riprap and green pumpkin shaky head worms on deeper docks. Crappie are good on minnows and tube jigs. White bass are good on slabs and topwaters. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and top-waters.
CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 8.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Pop R’s, crankbaits and Flukes upriver along shorelines in 4–8 feet at daylight. Striped bass are fair drifting live bait and trolling crankbaits. White bass are slow. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 84–89 degrees; 3.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged craws in green pumpkin and top-water poppers. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on top-waters. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 25.31’ low. Largemouth bass are good on deep-running crankbaits and white/chartreuse spinner baits. COLEMAN: Water clear; 79–83 degrees; 17.99’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red and watermelon green spinner baits and soft plastics. Hybrid striper are fair on live shad. COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 88 degrees in main lake, 100 degrees at hot water discharge; 1.51’ low. Largemouth bass to 5 pounds are good on soft plastics and spinner baits in 6–10 feet. White bass are slow.
CONROE: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 0.04’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on shad-colored crankbaits and silver striper jigs. COOPER: Water clear; 83–87 degrees; 8.40’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and drop-shot finesse worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. FALCON: Water murky; 83–87 degrees; 29.13’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shallow-running crankbaits and Carolina-rigged soft plastics. FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon and watermelon gold Carolinarigged soft plastics in 10–18 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and cut shad in 8–12 feet. FORK: Water clear; 84–89 degrees; 3.67’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on football jigs and drop-shot worms in 15–20’. White and yellow bass are good on top-waters. Crappie are good on minnows near the bridges. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 74–82 degrees; 14.87’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Zara Spooks, lipless crankbaits and Texas rigs. GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastics and spinner baits. GRANBURY: Water murky; 81–85 degrees; 4.83’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms and lizards, and on shad-colored crankbaits. GRANGER: Water stained; 80–84 degrees; 0.17’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs upriver. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs in 12-15 feet. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 84–87 degrees; 10.80’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky head worms and top-waters near main lake points. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on trotlines and
High air temperatures has made daytime fishing uncomfortable for many, and water temperatures are between 81 and 85 degrees. Along with largemouths, striped bass are being caught on white jigs, crappie are good with minnows in 15 to 20 feet and panfish are plentiful on nightcrawlers.
Minnows for crappie LAKE RAY ROBERTS — Recent rains have pushed the water higher on Ray Roberts and the crappie fishing has picked up. According to guide Cody Tucker, the crappie bite has been good, although a lot of undersized fish are being caught. “But the keepers we had were all really good ones,” he said. “This fish have been very scattered but we have been able to stay on top of them pretty good. Minnows have been a necessity. Fish are still relating to the bottom and any depth of water ranging from 10 to 25 feet (is working). Just don’t give up on an area too soon — just because the first couple of trees you fish don’t produce doesn’t mean they won’t be on the next.” To contact guide Cody Tucker, call (940) 230-1901. — Conor Harrison
nightcrawlers. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 86–90 degrees; 0.03’ low. Largemouth bass to 10 pounds are good on top-waters and purple or red soft plastics. Channel and blue catfish are good on juglines baited with cut shad. HUBBARD CREEK: Water off-color; 75–84 degrees; 27.20’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, jigs, Texas rigs and spinner baits.
Striped bass are fair on pet spoons, hellbenders, trolling tubes, and slabs. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 89–93 degrees; 0.45’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on hollow-body frogs near shallow cover as well as dropshot soft plastics. MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 94–100 degrees; 0.89’ low. Largemouth bass are good on deep-diving crankbaits and drop-shot finesse worms near the discharge. NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 80–84 degrees; 0.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon and June bug soft plastic worms, white or chartreuse spinner baits, and shallow-running crankbaits.
n Saltwater reports: SEE MORE
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JOE POOL: Water clear; 83–87 degrees; 0.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on medium- and deep-diving crankbaits. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 85–89; degrees; 1.84’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on flipping jigs in black and blue and weightless soft plastics. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 84–88 degrees; 11.92’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on black buzzbaits and Texas-rigged worms in 5–10’. LBJ: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 0.47’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on black/blue jigs, top-waters, and weightless watermelon red Whacky Sticks along seawalls and docks. Striped bass are fair on white striper jigs. LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 83–87 degrees; 8.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads and medium-diving crankbaits near submerged rock. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 81–85 degrees; 0.18’ high. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and crankbaits.
O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 76–84 degrees; 38.74’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Yellow Magics, Texas rigs, jigs and medium swimbaits. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 75–83 degrees; 23.12’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, jigs and chatterbaits. PALESTINE: Water clear; 83–88 degrees; 0.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin shaky heads and head rigs. Crappie are good on minnows. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 74–81 degrees; 15.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on drop-shot rigs, Carolina rigs, Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. PROCTOR: Water murky; 81–85 degrees; 10.58’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastic worms early. Striped bass are good on live shad. White bass are excellent on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines and juglines baited with goldfish. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 85–89 degrees; 8.23’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on deep-diving crankbaits. Crappie are good on white jigs and minnows. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 84–87 degrees; 7.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on
football jigs and Carolina-rigged worms. SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 0.04’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are very good on trotlines baited with live bait and cut bait. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 0.02’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are fair trolling slab spoons near the dam. STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 9.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red and green pumpkin soft plastics. White bass are fair on minnows and Li’l Fishies. SWEETWATER: Water murky; 75–82 degrees; 26.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on flukes and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 85–89 degrees; 9.53’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on hollow-body frogs and shallow crankbaits in shad patterns. TEXOMA: Water clear; 84–87 degrees; 5.85’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and Texasrigged plastics near floating docks. Crappie are good on minnows. TRAVIS: Water murky; 81–85 degrees; 52.48’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon worms and bone top-waters in 5–20 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on fresh cut bait and nightcrawlers. WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are fair on shad. Crappie are good on minnows and green/white tube jigs. WHITNEY: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 7.34’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. Catfish are good on bait shrimp, stinkbait and liver. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 85–89 degrees; 6.28’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on hollow-body frogs and swim jigs. Some fish being caught early on top-waters. Crappie are good on jigs minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared bait.
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Nueces Bay
Flood
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(the water) got really sweet for a couple of weeks, so that helped.” Sifford said the freshwater releases bring a jolt into the system, jumpstarting the bite on both trout and redfish — that’s what he’s been seeing recently. Tabor said salinity levels have been holding fairly steady as of late, and that has made the fishing more predictable on the reefs, which is good for clients — and business. He’s been catching limits of trout over 20 inches. Although the area has been affected by waste and refinery runoff in the past, reports from anglers show that the Nueces is doing better than ever. “I grew up in Corpus Christi, and I think it’s been getting a lot better,” Garza said. “Part of the thing is that you’ve got the refineries there, but I don’t think it has affected the water much.” In fact, he believes the pressure from additional anglers has had the biggest effect on the bay. Additional trout regulations from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department have curbed the issue, he said. “I don’t know if the bay has changed that much,” Garza said. “There are more regulations, and the more regulations, the better the fishing.” Tabor has seen changes over the years — in pressure and water pollution — but things generally find a balance in the end. Occasionally a reef will die off, and you have to give it some time,” he said. “The fishing pressure wasn’t as bad in the past; you didn’t have the people you do now. It’s still a relatively unknown bay, but the word is starting to get out.” Sifford said he hasn’t seen a notable decline in either the size or population of the trout, and he’s skeptical as to whether or not the TPWD regulations have had a positive effect. Redfish have been slower this season, but that’s not uncommon across Texas’ Gulf Coast. While the trout bite is on, however, the charters will keep on braving the waters of the Nueces. Tabor cautioned anglers who are looking to venture into the bay. “It’s really dangerous, I’ll tell you,” Tabor said. “I had a friend knock a hole in his boat the other day.” But, if fishermen can manage to dodge the obstacles, Nueces Bay seems to be in prime shape to give back its rewards — it just takes a little know-how. “You just find a reef and you hit it,” Tabor said. “Just go slow, working everything you can find and learning something new every time you head out there.”
‘The rain projected to end at 5 a.m., but around 6:30 we made another call and the rain had been extended until 2 p.m. The watch had also changed into a flash flood warning.” The group discussed options and figured the river would rise about 10 feet at the most. They were on a ledge about 12 feet above the river, so they stashed their gear and attempted to climb up on the route they found the previous day. “Water had begun flowing in from every nook and cranny of the canyon,” he said. “It was millions of gallons at this point. We couldn’t get up the route we had planned. There was a little draw that had a waterfall blocking it — there was no way across.” The options at this point seemed to be wait out the rains on the ledge or get back into the kayaks and head downriver — something that was becoming increasingly unlikely with the rapidly rising river. “Dan and Ryan went upriver but were blocked again by a bigger waterfall. We thought we might be able to get around it, so we paired up, locked arms and got by it. We found a jeep trail and climbed halfway up the canyon. At this point, we realized we weren’t going to die. I continued to watch the river and started seeing larger cane breaks and other debris floating down the now turbulent river. “It reminded me of the Indonesian tsunami video I watched after that disaster—muddy, undulating currents, carrying house-sized islands of thick debris.” After a failed attempt to get back to their campsite to retrieve gear due to the strengthening waterfalls, the group called the Border Patrol on their phone. “They handed us off to the Comstock Border Patrol Station,” Rodriguez said. “They called the game warden, but it sounded like we woke him up and he told us to call 911. We called 911 and they handed us off to the Val Verde County Emergency Services. Then we
Capt. Pat Tabor, (210) 643-0297 Capt. Allen Sifford, (361) 244-2747 Capt. Noe Garza, (361) 991-0775
July 25, 2014
got passed to a lady named Victoria who heard our tale of woe and quickly took control of the situation.” The group hiked to an abandoned building they had located from on top of the canyon. They gave Victoria their position and waited for help to arrive. “We had a hell of a view of the flooded river as we waited on the bluff,” he said. “When we’d left the river two hours before, it had only come up 5 or 6 feet. Now the river was easily over 20-feet higher. A half-hour later we called Victoria for an update, expecting to be told that a truck had been dispatched to retrieve us; we were surprised to learn a Texas DPS helicopter was coming to get us.” After several trips to pick the stranded anglers up, the group was safely transported to Seminole Canyon State Park, but not before checking on their nearly $20,000 worth of gear and kayaks. “We climbed aboard the helo and strapped in; then (the pilot) took off over the bluff, banking hard right and dropping into the river canyon to scout out our campsite. The kayaks were gone, and the muddy river was flowing well above the highest ledge in the canyon, obliterating any sign of our camp
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or the ledge where we left our things. It’s funny how the human mind works. I’d been watching the river rise for the last four hours and I knew it had gone up well passed the ledge, but a part of me refused to believe our gear was gone until I actually saw it with my own eyes.” Several more rescues were made that day on the Pecos — including a group of 16 and one paddler stranded on a vertical ledge above the river that had to be airlifted from the spot. Rodriguez said it was one lesson learned that he won’t soon forget. “We went to the lower Pecos River in search of adventure, and I guess you could say we found it, but we paid a high price,” he said. “Of course, as I’m reminded by my family and friends, it could have been worse. We made it off the river after an almost unprecedented flood, and in a strange turn of events, our call for help on the satellite phone led to the rescue of at least one stranded paddler who was in a much more precarious position than we were.” For the complete story of this amazing trip, go to Bert Rodriguez’s blog, lonestarchronicles.com.
TO THE RESCUE: A DPS helicopter finally arrived on scene and picked up the stranded kayakers after multiple calls to several agencies. Once in the air, Bert Rodriguez saw the water had swept away their gear and kayaks. Photo by Bert Rodriguez.
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WARDENS RESCUE MAN, SAVE HIS BOAT Tom Green County Game Warden Cynde Aguilar and Major Doug Seamands responded to a call of a man who had been thrown from his bass boat while the boat continued to run. The operator was pulled from the water and was OK. The wardens, along with an officer from the lake division, were able to get to the boat that was running in circles and throw a rope under the prop to get it to stop. The boat came to a halt just a few feet away from a bridge. ARMED FELON ARRESTED Hudspeth County Game Wardens Turi Salinas, Tyler Reed and Rocky Corona assisted the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s Office in serving a felony arrest warrant on a subject who was possibly armed with a rifle. Units were deployed and the subject was seen driving along Interstate 20. A traffic stop was conducted and the subject was taken into custody without incident. A rifle was recovered in the vehicle. POACHERS SHOOT FAWN AT NIGHT FROM BOAT Chambers County Game Wardens Daniel Pope, Patricia Vannoy, and David Vannoy were patrolling the Trinity River when they noticed a jonboat without lights approaching their location. The wardens contacted two subjects who said they had been out doing some frogging, but there were no frogs or frogging equipment in the vessel. The wardens discovered a freshly killed white-tailed fawn in a hidden compartment under the boat’s removable front deck. After interviewing the subjects separately, they admitted to shooting the fawn with a .22 rifle while spotlighting on the river. Charges were filed for hunting deer at night, hunting deer with a light, hunting deer from a boat on
BOAT DRIVER KISSING PASSENGER WHILE MOVING, NARROWLY MISSES WARDENS’ BOATS Trinity County Game Wardens Sam Shanafelt and Randy Watts, along with Houston County Game Wardens Eddie Lehr and Zak Benge, patrolled Lake Livingston, White Rock Creek and the Trinity River for water safety violations. At approximately 9:45 p.m., the two game warden boats were side by side with their navigation lights on when the wardens noticed a boat headed their direction. As the boat approached, it became clear that the vessel was not turning and was headed straight for them. The war-
dens shined lights on the driver of the vessel and saw him leaning over and kissing a female passenger. The operator leaned back and turned his vessel and avoided hitting the motors of the wardens’ boats by about a foot. As the wardens approached, the driver said the wardens’ vessels need brighter lights. During an inspection, several indicators of alcohol were present and sobriety tests were administered. After the tests, the operator was placed under arrest for BWI.
public water, hunting deer out of season, illegal means and methods, no hunter education, improper lights on vessel and improper registration. The subjects were arrested and cases are pending.
on the bank fishing with poles. The individuals in the water were found to be running a gill net. After all of the individuals were summoned to the bank, a 150-foot gill net was seized and cases were filed.
REPEAT BWI BOATER GIVES UP While patrolling Lake Texoma, Grayson County Game Warden Michael Hummert and Fannin County Game Warden Randolph McGee stopped a boat for a water safety inspection and noticed the driver seemed highly intoxicated. After stumbling around in the boat unsuccessfully searching for the fire extinguisher that was beside his feet, the driver said, “I’ll be honest with you guys, I am intoxicated right now.” The operator was arrested for BWI. He refused to give a voluntary blood specimen, so a search warrant was obtained and blood was collected. He was placed in the Grayson County Jail and charged with his second BWI.
ILLEGAL GATOR HUNTERS CLAIM THEY WERE HOG HUNTING Cherokee County Game Wardens Eric Collins and Brian Bearden responded to a call involving individuals trespassing and believed to be hunting alligators in closed season at Mud Creek. At the scene, the wardens made contact with the individuals who said they were hog hunting along the creek. Searching under the adjacent highway bridge, the wardens located the subject’s boat, which contained a .22 rifle and a large spool of line tied to a large, weighted treble hook. Presented with the evidence, the subjects finally admitted to hunting alligators. Cases pending.
GILL-NETTERS GRABBED While patrolling a city lake, Henderson County Game Warden Shawn Smith observed two individuals in a kayak and a third individual in the water next to the kayak. A group of fishermen were
NOODLERS NABBED USING POLES WITH TREBLE HOOKS Smith County Game Warden Chris Swift was patrolling around Lake Palestine when he observed three trucks parked by a bridge. A large group was seen noodling the rocks under the bridge. One pole
was observed, so contact was made. Swift discovered seven people were using a PVC pole with a treble hook attached; two more hooks were located and one snag pole was left in a hole. Multiple citations were issued for catching fish with illegal means and methods, a violation of hand fish law and fishing without a license. MAN USES RIFLE TO KEEP DOE OUT OF HIS GARDEN Henderson County Game Warden Dustin Balfanz received information about a deer that had just been shot. Balfanz patrolled to the suspect’s location and questioned him about the deer. After a brief interview, the man admitted to shooting a doe and hauling it off because it was in his garden. The suspect was educated on the laws regarding shooting deer and alternative ways to keep deer out of his garden. Cases pending for shooting a doe during closed season and waste of game. “COOL MOM” ARRESTED FOR PROVIDING ALCOHOL TO MINORS While patrolling the Lake Bryan recreation area, Brazos County Game Warden Dave Lewis and Grimes County Game Warden Jake Cawthon noticed a group of five
young people drinking alcohol. As the wardens neared, members of the group tried to hide their bottles. All members of the group were underage and admitted to drinking alcohol, which was provided by one of their mothers. The mother was contacted and arrived on the scene in 40 minutes. She admitted to buying the alcohol and stated that she “just wanted to be the cool mom.” She was arrested for providing alcohol to a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. JUST IN TIME, WARDENS HELP WOMAN IN LABOR Galveston County Game Wardens Mack Chambers, Travis Fountain, and Jennifer Provaznik were on their way to the ferry after responding to a nuisance alligator call on High Island when they noticed a driver in distress. The wardens found out the driver was in labor and on her way to the hospital to deliver her baby girl. The woman was alone with no help, so the wardens drove her car and escorted her to the ferry. After the ferry ride, the wardens drove her to the hospital, where she was taken straight into the delivery room. QUAIL TRAP AND BIRDS FOUND IN TRUNK OF CAR AFTER TRAFFIC STOP While returning home from a day in the field, Starr County Game Wardens Jack Pearl and Ryan McGinley were informed that a Rio Grande City Police Officer had made a traffic stop on an individual and arrested him on outstanding warrants. The individual said he had quail in a quail trap in the trunk of his car, so the wardens were called. The man told the wardens he had caught one more quail, in addition to what was in the trap, but had thrown it away because it had died. Citations were issued, cases pending.
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Catching almost anything RED DOT PIER — The popular fishing pier near Corpus Christi is producing a little bit of everything right now, according to Lisa Perry. “They are catching black drum from 20 to 27 inches, redfish from 21 to 35 inches, speckled trout in various sizes and flounder from 15 to 20 inches,” she said. The bait being used is varying as much as the species being caught. Live or dead shrimp, perch, scented plastics, Fish Bites and mullet have all caught fish the past few days. According to Perry, the water is clear, but that could change with each shift in the wind — and the wind has been blowing. To contact Red Dot Pier, call (361) 937-5347.
Tougher bite SEADRIFT — According to Capt. Kris Kelley at Castaway Lodge, the bite is tougher than normal, although decent fish are being caught when anglers are patient. “We’ve been dealing with strong winds and very low water levels and a break in the wind on Saturday was just enough to light the trout up a bit off open bay reefs,” he said. “While noth-
NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad on soft plastics. Redfish are good in the cuts and drains leading to the marsh on shrimp and scented plastics.
plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Trout are good on the Ship Channel on croakers and plastics.
SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good while drifting the reefs on live shrimp and topwaters. Drifters have been working slicks and pods of shad on the Reef on the south end. Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are in the surf and off the piers on live bait. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Offshore is good for tarpon, kingfish, dorado and ling.
BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on soft and scented plastics. Black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. Deep shell has produced trout on the outgoing tide. Trout are good in the surf on live bait. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working wells and shell pads on shrimp, croakers, soft plastics, Gamblers and Lit’l Johns. Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs and at the spillway. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good for drifters working deep shell on limetreuse and plum
TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair to good on the reefs on live shrimp and croakers. Solid trout have come from the edge of the Ship Channel on croakers and shrimp. FREEPORT: Trout are good at San Luis Pass on shrimp and twitchbaits. Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs in Christmas Bay. Trout, Spanish mackerel and sand trout are good at the jetties on live bait. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of
ing about trout fishing this year may be up to our expectations, we continue to make a push at them under ‘prudent’ situations.” Capt. James Cunningham reported a frustrating attempt at wade fishing, as it seemed like there was a boat on every conceivable piece of structure with potential. Capt. Chris Cady has been taking solid numbers and size working the back marsh by airboat and is encountering numerous schools including wads of black drum. To contact Castaway Lodge, call (888) 618-4868.
Good gigging SAN LUIS PASS — The flounder gigging has been steady near San Luis Pass when the winds are still enough for giggers to see the fish. According to multiple giggers on Internet forums, the rising tide has been more productive than a falling tide, with the best success coming in less than a foot of water. Finding shallow reefs has put plenty of fish in the boat and the overall size has been good. A few decent fish have come from mud bottoms, but shell has been more consistent. Along with the San Luis Pass area, giggers in the Rockport area are reporting good gigging with a large average size in the back bays out of the wind. — Conor Harrison
the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. Trout are fair to good in the surf on live bait. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are fair on top-waters and live shrimp in Oyster Lake and Crab Lake. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on top-waters and live bait over sand, grass and shell in San Antonio Bay. Trout are fair to good in the surf and at the jetty on croakers. Redfish are good on the shorelines. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair in the guts and channels on free–lined shrimp. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are good on mullet on the Estes Flats and around Mud Island. PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. Trout are fair to good in the surf on top-waters, piggies and croakers. Offshore is good for kingfish and ling. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the
edge of the spoils on scented plastics and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes on shrimp. Trout are fair to good along the King Ranch shoreline on croakers and piggy perch. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good over grass in the Land Cut. Trout are good on top-waters around rocks and grass. Trout are fair to good on the King Ranch shoreline on croakers, top-waters and plum plastics. PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on top-waters around sand and grass. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes and on live bait. Offshore is good for ling and kingfish. SOUTH PADRE: Redfish and trout are good in the shallows of South Bay and Mexiquita Flats on shrimp and plastics under rattling corks. Tarpon are showing at the pass. Snook are fair on top-waters and shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the flats on live shrimp. Redfish are good on small top-waters. Trout are good on live bait on the edge of the channel drop–offs.
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A DAY ON THE LAKE: Four North Texas high schoolers had a productive day on Lake Ray Hubbard with guide Johnny Procell. The group spent the afternoon bringing in white bass and hybrid stripers, courtesy of a donation from Richard M. Hart to the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation. Photos by Steve Schwartz, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Broadening horizons LSONF offers fishing opportunity to students
By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
Sometimes new experiences are right out your back door, as four high school students learned on a recent excursion to Lake Ray Hubbard in July. Through a generous donation from Texas Freshwater Fisheries Hall of Fame member Richard M. Hart to the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation, the Bishop Lynch High School students had the chance to capitalize on the area’s stellar sand bass bite, as well as have a chance to fish with one of the area’s more notable guides — Johnny Procell. The anglers, Jack Navin, 17, Matt Clary, 17, Parker Arnspiger, 17, and Reese Collum, 16, filed onto Johnny’s boat at the Harbor Bay Marina on Lake Ray
Hubbard on a sweltering Wednesday afternoon. “I had never been fishing for white bass with slabs before,” Jack said. “It was pretty interesting.” That seemed to be the consensus from the group. All four are involved with their bass club at Bishop Lynch to some extent, but don’t get the chance to take guided trips on area lakes. After a short drive and brief instructions, the guide helped the four rig their lines. “You can see there are some big ones down there,” Procell said, looking at his electronics. “Let it (the lure) drop, and then give it four quick reels. Stop, then reel again.” It didn’t take long for them to catch on. Almost
Quail Continued from page 6
Range conditions got a late start but they are greening up now.” Like most of the state’s wildlife, quail seem to be about a month behind, but anywhere that receives rain between April and October should hold birds during hunting season. In South Texas, ranch owner Ron Howard said the outlook is the best he’s seen in more than 20 years. “It scares me to death to make this statement, but our quail numbers at Encino are the best I have seen since the early ’90s — ’92 and ’93,” Howard said. “We are seeing covey after covey of young birds ranging from ‘spiders that can not yet fly’ to 2- to 3-week-old chicks that can just clear the weeds, to young birds that you can barely distinguish from the adults. On top of this, I see one to three pairs for every covey I see, meaning the potential for growth is still immense. “We are still hearing the ‘bobwhiting’ throughout the pasture, but this has slowed in some areas where we have not recently received showers.” Howard said the areas that continue to see moisture are still the best areas to spot birds, but the last three weeks of heat have dried some areas out. “All in all, 2014-15 could be the best quail season we have experienced at Encino in 20-plus years if the birds we have and the pairs continue to nest.” In the Rolling Plains, hunters are reporting good nesting conditions and lots of birds — many in places that haven’t held many quail the past few seasons. “Forty-nine — that’s the number of nests recorded thus far at Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch; the most we’ve recorded since we started RPQRR in 2008,” according to the RPQRR Newsletter. “Nest survival (hatch rate) at this time stands at 51 percent. Across the bobwhite’s range, nest survival is only about 30 percent.”
See LSONF, Page 23
TPWD’s new online-only drawn hunts a breeze Hunters in the field don’t mind a hard hunt that takes lots of time and effort. The same can’t be said when applying online for hunting opportunities — those should be as quick and easy as possible. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s new online public hunt system meets both requirements. According to TPWD, “In addition to now being able to apply for multiple hunt areas within the same hunt category (i.e. apply for a Gun Deer — Either Sex hunt on more than one hunt area), the online system will give applicants more time to apply. With no paper applications to mail in, applicants will have until midnight CST on the day of the deadline to apply. Applicants will also retain and continue to accrue Preference Points, now called Loyalty Points, as in the past.” Signing up for the drawn hunts is easy, and if hunters have bought a hunting or fishing license, or applied for online hunts before, all that is required is the TPWD identification number. The LSON crew took some time to look the hunts over and applied for several that fit what categories they were hoping to draw for in the fall. The process was straightforward and the hunts were easy to locate, place in your online shopping cart and pay at checkout when done. The only “hidden fee” on a $15 purchase was a 59-cent fee on the bill for “privileges and fees.” Applications deadlines begin in August and end in January. — Staff report
Page 18
July 25, 2014
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
HEROES SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews. com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
ASPEN NELSON, 8, took her first deer on Oct. 26 in Bertram hunting with her mom and dad.
BARON BOYETTE caught this 29inch, 8-pound trout with a fly rod near Galveston. Farmersville angler ALYSON HENSON, fishing with her dad, BILL HENSON, and grandpa, JIM HENSON, caught a nice Lake Cooper crappie.
BRINLEY KLOSTERHOFF harvested her first deer on Nov. 16 with a .223 Savage.
BLAYR ROBERTS caught this 5-pound largemouth bass on Lake Texoma.
LSONews.com
Aging Continued from page 1
Aging deer is nowhere near an exact science, and Richards said the better you know your deer, the better you’ll be at aging them. “Learn to recognize individual deer on the ranch,” he said. “Beyond the antlers, look for unique white patches on the neck, cuts in the ears, markings on the face or tail patterns. With trail cameras, this has become much easier over the years.” If your plan is to look for bucks more than 5 years old to take, Richards’ photographs show what to watch. “Look where the neck joins the brisket,” he said. “It should look like one continuous muscle. Even during the rut, the 2 1/2- and 3 1/2-year-olds don’t get the big, swollen neck.” Next, check the face. “It should look like a fat triangle,” Richards said of the feature often called the Roman nose. Move to the belly and hips, and watch the deer move. “If the buck is 5, it should sag,” Richards said. “The hips may be pointed. And watch them walk and move around — in the older bucks things shake and jiggle a little.” More subtle cues also may help in aging that tempting buck. “If there are other deer around, watch how they stand,” Richards said. “The older deer stand higher.” And the rule about not looking at the antlers has an occasional exception. “If there is beading on the antlers, that doesn’t happen until the buck is at least 4, and usually 5 or 6,” Richards said. The buck’s skin, forehead and tarsal glands provide more clues. “More wrinkles do happen in older deer,” Richards said, “but don’t rely on it. Ear wrinkles don’t tell the age. I’ve seen big 3-year-olds with ear wrinkles.” The dark patch on a buck’s forehead is more telling, Richards said. “You’ll see the dark patch that looks like a skull cap from where the buck is secreting scent,” he said. “You don’t see that until he is at least 4 years old.” The staining at the buck’s tarsal gland often provides the final and determining information. “It gets larger with age,” Richards said. “After 6 years old, caloric staining may occur where the acid actually burns the hide. It gives it almost a silver look.”
LoneOStar Outdoor News
July 25, 2014
Page 19
The final tips to aging deer? Get close and get good optics. “If you’re judging or shooting deer at long distances, you’re going to make a lot of mistakes,” Richards said. “Distance and poor lighting lead to the most errors. And get good glass. There are a lot of quality optics out there, and they are becoming more and more affordable.”
Aging deer on the hoof — tips: 1½ “Little kids”
Body resembles that of a doe Be careful: Can carry up to 10 points
2½ “Teenagers”
Straight lines on back, belly Legs are too long for their body Long face Rounded hip Good distance between neck and brisket
3½ “Starting to mature”
Even during the rut, the neck still appears small Head is bigger than the neck Smaller tarsal stain Be careful: Can look tremendous
4½ “Best shape of their life”
Legs look proportional, but nothing sagging Back straight Still a gap between neck and brisket May have beginning of skull cap on forehead
5½ “Like a 40-year-old guy”
Body outgrowing the legs Sagging belly Triangulation of head, skull cap on forehead Brisket turns into a muscle
6½ “Like a 50- to 60-year-old”
Face looks like a small dot sitting on a pedestal, or a 50-gallon drum on a toothpick
7½ “Fat old guy”
Wrinkles, dimples, brisket hangs down, jiggles when he moves, hips may show
LOOK AT ALL ANGLES: At first glance, this 14-point buck with decent mass looks like a mature deer (top photo), but another angle of the same deer reveals a narrow face, body and other characteristics that show he is a young deer with great potential. Always try and get several views of the buck you are judging before accurately aging him. Photo by LSON.
Page 20
July 25, 2014
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
PRODUCTS FISHING CAMP BOARD GAME: Introduced by Education Outdoors, this new outdoor-themed game offers a chance for youngsters to indulge in their passion for angling — even when they are not actually fishing. In this game, up to eight players will race their opponents around the game board to be the first back to the docks. Enroute, they will learn fun facts and answer trivia questions as they “catch” fish. The first player to park his or her boat back at the docks with a fish on board wins. The game sells for about $25.
>>
(231) 599-2763 WWW.EDUCATIONOUTDOORS.NET
SIZMIC SHAD: Introduced in 2014, the Kalin’s SIZMIC-Shad had both fish and fishermen responding — they loved the bait but wanted more colors. The bait, from Uncle Josh Bait Company, starts with a smooth, realistic plastic head that glides through the water and weeds with ease, and continues with ribs beginning one-third of the way down the body to help disrupt water, and ends with a conventional swimbait-style tail. It’s like combining a swimbait, ringworm and grub in one lure. A slot on the back of the lure allows for easy rigging and sure hook-ups whether used on a swim jig, Alabama rig or drop-shot rig. Six new colors will come to market in 2014, and the SIZMIC-Shad is available in 3.8-inch or 4.8-inch sizes. Prices start at $6.99 for a 6-pack of the 3.8-inch size or a 5-pack of the 4.8inch size.
>>
(866) BIG-BASS WWW.UNCLEJOSH.COM
BUCK NUT: In Sights Nutrition scientifically formulates its supplements not only with the nutrients deer need, but also with potent attractants that will draw them in and keep them coming back. Buck Nut is a blend of peanuts, protein, sugar and grain by-products. The supplement promotes antler growth in the summer and also provides all of the proteins and minerals deer need to maintain good health. Buck Nut is also designed to provide does with the nutrition they require for higher conception rates, fawn health, and lower fawn mortality rates. The Buck Nut powder can be mixed with grain products or used alone in deer traffic areas. A 4 1/2-pound container sells for $10.50.
SHIRE TENT: 12 Survivors’ new freestanding two-person tent offers outdoorsmen three-season reliability. Features include enough space to accommodate an inflatable sleeping pad, a removable rain fly, two inner pockets for gear storage, and rain fly doors that can be turned into awnings with the use of trekking poles (not included). The tent’s “bathtub-style” floor design includes waterproof fabric that extends up the side tent walls, which prevents pooling rainwater from leaking though the walls and swamping items inside the tent. Additionally, its sealed seams protect users from the elements. The Shire Tent sells for about $145.
>>
(512) 752-6503 WWW.INSIGHTSNUTRITION.COM
>>
(817) 225-0310 WWW.12SURVIVORS.COM
CLASSIFIEDS TDHA - JOIN TODAY TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOC. www.texasdovehunters.com (210) 764-1189 DECOYS WANTED WOODEN Duck and Goose. Top prices paid. Ask for David. (214) 361-2276 TEXAS DEER FOR SALE TRUE TEXAS GENETICS Stockerbucks for sale — 3 yr olds available for immediate delivery trophy typicals score 170 to 200 B&C. Bred does and open does to stock your ranch. Quantity pricing — pics available. Come see before your buy, tour our facility near Marble Falls, Texas. Call Jay (505) 681-5210 ARROWHEADS AND ARTIFACTS I buy and sell authentic Texas artifacts. Please call Nick. (210) 557-9478 PROFESSIONAL GUIDE SERVICE CEDAR BAYOU OUTFITTERS Capt. Jeff Sims (361) 403-7510
PORT MANSFIELD FISHING REDS, TROUT, FLOUNDER Screamin’ Reels Charters (956) 944-2392 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS & MAPPING RANCH & HUNTING, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENTAL, www.BalboaMapCompany.com (806) 777-8840 HUNTING EXOTICS $100/DAY GUIDE FEE, Plus trophy fee. Non-trophy $250-$350. Whitetail — High Fence $1,000-$1,500. Near Junction. Owner. (325) 475-2100 BAY FISHING ARANSAS PASS Upper Laguna Madre, Baffin and 9-mile Hole call Capt. Nino Gonzalez (361) 332-1568 SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses. Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com. www.CustomSportsAnglers.com (956) 551-1965
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PER WORD 2 issues CLASSIFIED minimum Call: (214) 361-2276 or Email: LSONacct@gmail.com
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LoneOStar Outdoor News
Sun | Moon | Tides Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 4:59 AM 26 5:23 AM 27 5:45 AM 28 6:06 AM 29 6:29 AM 30 6:53 AM 31 12:20 AM 01 12:57 AM 02 1:38 AM 03 2:30 AM 04 12:03 AM 05 1:14 AM 06 2:04 AM 07 2:46 AM 08 3:23 AM
Height 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 0.4L 0.6L 0.8L 1.0L 1.3H 1.4H 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H
Time 10:19 AM 10:33 AM 10:56 AM 11:27 AM 12:05 PM 12:48 PM 7:16 AM 7:36 AM 7:53 AM 8:08 AM 3:41 AM 5:08 AM 6:27 AM 7:25 AM 8:12 AM
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 5:05 AM 26 5:30 AM 27 5:58 AM 28 6:31 AM 29 7:07 AM 30 12:12 AM 31 12:46 AM 01 1:23 AM 02 1:58 AM 03 2:24 AM 04 12:01 AM 05 1:08 AM 06 2:07 AM 07 3:08 AM 08 3:55 AM
San Luis Pass Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 5:53 AM 26 6:12 AM 27 6:31 AM 28 6:52 AM 29 7:15 AM 30 7:38 AM 31 12:28 AM 01 12:59 AM 02 1:31 AM 03 2:08 AM 04 8:39 AM 05 8:47 AM 06 3:16 AM 07 3:53 AM 08 4:27 AM
Freeport Harbor Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 5:12 AM 26 5:34 AM 27 5:54 AM 28 6:13 AM 29 6:33 AM 30 6:52 AM 31 7:11 AM 01 12:18 AM 02 12:55 AM 03 1:46 AM 04 12:03 AM 05 1:22 AM 06 2:17 AM 07 3:03 AM 08 3:44 AM
Rollover Pass Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 1:01 AM 26 1:38 AM 27 2:06 AM 28 2:22 AM 29 2:35 AM 30 2:57 AM 31 3:25 AM 01 3:57 AM 02 12:16 AM 03 2:15 AM 04 11:52 AM 05 8:17 AM 06 8:18 AM 07 8:35 AM 08 8:57 AM
Height 1.2L 1.2L 1.1L 1.0L 0.9L 0.8L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.2L 1.3L 1.4L 1.3L 1.3L
Time 2:12 PM 2:47 PM 3:24 PM 4:06 PM 4:55 PM 5:53 PM 1:35 PM 2:23 PM 3:14 PM 4:06 PM 8:30 AM 9:10 AM 10:17 AM 11:34 AM 12:47 PM
Height 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 0.7L 0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H
Time Height 9:28 PM -0.2L 10:02 PM -0.1L 10:36 PM 0.0L 11:10 PM 0.1L 11:45 PM 0.3L 7:06 PM 8:38 PM 10:25 PM
1.1H 1.1H 1.2H
4:58 PM 5:50 PM 6:42 PM 7:33 PM 8:23 PM
0.0L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L
Height 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 0.2L 0.4L 0.6L 0.8L 1.0L 1.3H 1.4H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H
Time 11:10 AM 11:28 AM 11:39 AM 12:01 PM 12:33 PM 7:42 AM 8:06 AM 7:50 AM 7:57 AM 8:23 AM 2:46 AM 3:18 AM 6:44 AM 7:28 AM 8:14 AM
Height 1.2L 1.1L 1.1L 1.0L 0.9L 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.1L 1.3L 1.4L 1.4L 1.3L
Time 1:38 PM 2:39 PM 3:50 PM 4:30 PM 5:05 PM 1:12 PM 1:51 PM 2:27 PM 3:04 PM 3:47 PM 8:51 AM 9:22 AM 10:02 AM 11:15 AM 12:36 PM
Height 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 0.8L 0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H
Time Height 9:55 PM -0.2L 10:34 PM -0.1L 11:08 PM -0.1L 11:40 PM 0.1L
Height 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 0.3L 0.4L 0.6L 0.7L 1.0H 1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H
Time 11:03 AM 11:06 AM 11:22 AM 11:54 AM 12:36 PM 1:22 PM 8:00 AM 8:20 AM 8:34 AM 8:40 AM 5:29 PM 6:20 PM 6:24 AM 7:45 AM 8:34 AM
Height 1.0L 0.9L 0.9L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 0.0L -0.1L 1.1L 1.1L 1.1L
Time 1:55 PM 2:39 PM 3:24 PM 4:13 PM 5:09 PM 6:17 PM 2:11 PM 3:00 PM 3:49 PM 4:38 PM
Height 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.5L 0.4L 0.3L 0.2L
Time Height 10:07 PM -0.2L 10:35 PM -0.2L 11:02 PM -0.1L 11:30 PM 0.0L 11:58 PM 0.1L
9:41 AM 11:14 AM 12:40 PM
1.1H 1.2H 1.2H
7:12 PM -0.3L 8:04 PM -0.3L 8:55 PM -0.4L
Height 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 0.6L 0.8L 1.0L 1.3H 1.5H 1.6H 1.8H 1.8H
Time 9:25 PM 9:57 PM 12:42 PM 1:04 PM 1:24 PM 1:42 PM 2:00 PM 7:28 AM 7:42 AM 7:49 AM 4:14 AM 5:20 PM 6:16 PM 7:11 PM 8:06 PM
Height -0.2L -0.1L 1.0L 0.9L 0.9L 0.8L 0.6L 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L
Time
Height
Time
Height
2:59 PM 3:56 PM 4:56 PM 6:02 PM 7:18 PM 2:24 PM 2:56 PM 3:38 PM 7:11 AM
1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 1.2H
10:25 PM 10:52 PM 11:19 PM 11:47 PM
0.0L 0.1L 0.3L 0.4L
8:45 PM 10:23 PM
1.0H 1.1H
4:27 PM
0.0L
Height -0.1L 0.0L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.3L 0.4L 0.6L 0.8H 0.9H 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H
Time 10:07 AM 10:24 AM 10:26 AM 10:10 AM 10:06 AM 10:17 AM 10:34 AM 10:52 AM 4:28 AM 4:33 AM 8:51 PM 9:55 PM 10:55 PM 11:51 PM
Height 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 0.7L 0.9L 0.1L 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L
5:45 PM 6:55 PM 9:20 PM 10:32 PM
1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.2H
4:52 PM 6:03 PM 6:55 PM 7:41 PM 8:32 PM
0.1L -0.1L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L
7:44 PM 9:29 PM 11:22 PM
0.7H 0.7H 0.8H
Time
Height
Time
Height
4:41 PM 5:09 PM 5:33 PM 5:54 PM 6:18 PM 11:11 AM 11:31 AM
0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L 1.1H 1.1H
7:14 PM 8:19 PM 9:29 PM 10:47 PM
0.9H 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H
6:56 PM 7:49 PM
0.3L 0.2L
Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 10:45 AM 26 10:58 AM 27 12:21 AM 28 12:49 AM 29 1:19 AM 30 1:51 AM 31 2:23 AM 01 2:50 AM 02 8:35 AM 03 8:18 AM 04 8:06 AM 05 8:07 AM 06 8:38 AM 07 9:21 AM 08 10:12 AM
1. A large flat-bottomed boat 5. Buck’s domain markings 9. A graceful bird 10. A deer food source 11. A voice lure 13. A term for type bow 15. Still hunter’s deer platform 17. Movement of an arrow in flight 18. Of the tiger family 19. Trapped for the fur 22. The ______ retriever 23. 11 across lure is made by _____ sound 25. Many deer deaths are made by road ___ 26. A game bird 27. Term for a round in an archery shoot 29. Wary deer will ____ at a cover or blind 30. Old tracks are ____ 33. To put wildfowl to flight 37. Bowman’s protector, ____ pad 39. A buck mating dance
Height 0.5H 0.5H -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L -0.1L 0.0L 0.1L 0.4H 0.4H 0.5H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H
Rockport Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 2:37 PM 26 12:41 AM 27 1:19 AM 28 1:52 AM 29 2:19 AM 30 2:40 AM 31 2:55 AM 01 2:55 AM 02 10:08 AM 03 10:13 AM 04 10:26 AM 05 10:51 AM 06 11:29 AM 07 12:17 PM 08 1:13 PM
Port Aransas Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Time 25 7:37 AM 26 6:22 AM 27 6:15 AM 28 6:07 AM 29 6:05 AM 30 6:23 AM 31 6:46 AM 01 12:10 AM 02 12:33 AM 03 12:35 AM 04 7:39 AM 05 5:20 AM 06 5:54 AM 07 10:01 AM 08 11:31 AM
Time 25 8:07 AM 26 8:47 AM 27 3:20 PM 28 4:31 PM 29 12:19 AM 30 3:06 AM 31 3:18 AM 01 3:26 AM 02 1:46 AM 03 2:30 AM 04 4:04 AM 05 4:55 AM 06 11:31 AM 07 12:32 PM 08 7:19 AM
Time 11:52 PM
Height -0.3L
10:53 AM 10:53 AM 11:01 AM 10:55 AM 9:43 AM 9:22 AM 5:31 PM 6:15 PM 7:04 PM 7:57 PM 8:52 PM 9:47 PM 10:41 PM
0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L
Time
Height
3:27 PM 4:16 PM 5:07 PM 6:08 PM 10:36 AM 10:16 AM 10:09 AM 6:46 PM 7:30 PM 8:17 PM 9:08 PM 10:01 PM 10:55 PM 11:47 PM
0.2H 0.2H 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.0L 0.0L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L
Height 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.2L 0.4L 0.5L 0.7H 0.8H 0.9H 0.9H 0.9H
Time 9:44 AM 10:00 AM 10:00 AM 10:18 AM 11:06 AM 11:55 AM 12:46 PM 7:08 AM 7:28 AM 7:39 AM 4:37 PM 5:35 PM 6:29 PM 7:22 PM 8:14 PM
Time 9:24 PM 9:58 PM 10:29 PM 12:08 PM 12:41 PM 1:16 PM 7:23 AM 7:33 AM 7:35 AM 7:29 AM 4:39 PM 5:31 PM 6:26 PM 7:21 PM 8:15 PM
Time Height 25 7:06 AM 1.1H 26 7:24 AM 1.0H 27 7:17 AM 1.0H 28 7:04 AM 0.9H 29 7:03 AM 0.9H 30 7:11 AM 0.9H 31 12:01 AM 0.1L 01 12:34 AM 0.3L 02 1:07 AM 0.5L 03 1:34 AM 0.7L 04 7:23 AM 0.9H 05 4:12 AM 1.0H 06 4:30 AM 1.1H 07 4:58 AM 1.2H 08 5:21 AM 1.2H
East Matagorda Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Height 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.1L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.5H 0.4H
Time
Height
Time
Height
4:22 PM 4:53 PM
0.2L 0.1L
8:48 PM
0.2H
Time
Height
Time
Height
0.1L 0.0L 0.0L
Height 0.7L 0.7L 0.6L 0.6L 0.5L 0.5L 0.4L 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L
Time 12:42 PM 1:37 PM 2:29 PM 3:20 PM 4:15 PM 5:14 PM 6:22 PM 1:38 PM 2:35 PM 3:37 PM
Height 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.3L 0.2L 0.1L
Time 9:31 PM 10:00 PM 10:25 PM 10:49 PM 11:15 PM 11:43 PM 7:41 PM 9:19 PM
0.5H 0.5H
Height -0.4L -0.3L -0.2L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.9H -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L
Time
Height
Time
Height
2:18 PM 3:33 PM 4:54 PM 1:51 PM 2:26 PM 3:05 PM 3:49 PM
0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L
Time 11:05 AM 10:56 AM 11:46 PM
Height 0.4L 0.4L 0.1L
5:12 PM 12:30 PM 12:56 PM 9:32 AM 3:51 AM 6:57 PM 7:09 PM 7:24 AM 8:02 PM 10:00 PM 10:55 AM
0.4H 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3L 0.1L 0.1L 0.4L 0.0L 0.0L 0.4L
Solution on Page 28
2014 July-Aug. 25Fri 26Sat 27Sun 28Mon 29Tue 30Wed 31Thu 01Fri 02Sat 03Sun 04Mon 05Tue 06Wed 07Thu 08Fri 09Sat 10Sun 11Mon 12Tue 13Wed
A.M. Minor Major 5:37 11:48 6:22 ----7:07 12:56 7:54 1:43 8:40 2:30 9:28 3:17 10:16 4:05 11:04 4:53 11:52 5:41 12:17 6:29 1:07 7:18 1:55 8:08 2:45 8:59 3:36 9:51 4:29 10:44 5:24 11:39 6:21 12:11 7:19 1:05 8:19 2:05 9:20 3:06
Dallas 3:40 PM 5:05 PM 6:00 PM
41. A well populated elk state 42. A female bear 43. Cause of an arrow to drift 44. Animal’s feature is the head topping
7:41 PM 10:03 PM
0.1H 0.1H
Height -0.2L -0.2L -0.2L -0.1L 0.0L 0.1L
10:59 PM -0.1L 11:30 PM 0.0L 6:29 PM 8:18 PM 10:22 PM
0.7H 0.7H 0.7H
2014 July-Aug. 25Fri 26Sat 27Sun 28Mon 29Tue 30Wed 31Thu 01Fri 02Sat 03Sun 04Mon 05Tue 06Wed 07Thu 08Fri 09Sat 10Sun 11Mon 12Tue 13Wed
A.M. Minor Major 5:42 11:54 6:27 ----7:13 1:02 7:59 1:48 8:46 2:36 9:34 3:23 10:21 4:11 11:09 4:59 11:58 5:47 12:23 6:35 1:13 7:24 2:01 8:14 2:51 9:05 3:42 9:57 4:35 10:50 5:30 11:45 6:27 12:17 7:25 1:11 8:25 2:11 9:25 3:12
San Antonio 2014 July-Aug. 25Fri 26Sat 27Sun 28Mon 29Tue 30Wed 31Thu 01Fri 02Sat 03Sun 04Mon 05Tue 06Wed 07Thu 08Fri 09Sat 10Sun 11Mon 12Tue 13Wed
A.M. Minor Major 5:49 ----6:34 ----7:20 1:09 8:06 1:55 8:53 2:42 9:40 3:30 10:28 4:17 11:16 5:05 ----- 5:53 12:30 6:42 1:20 7:31 2:07 8:21 2:57 9:12 3:49 10:04 4:42 10:57 5:37 11:51 6:33 12:24 7:32 1:17 8:32 2:18 9:32 3:19
Amarillo
Time 1:42 PM 2:15 PM
Height 0.5H 0.4H
Time 11:12 PM 11:24 PM
Height 0.0L 0.0L
3:43 PM 3:47 PM 3:52 PM 8:31 AM
0.3L 0.3L 0.2L 0.3H
5:51 PM 6:51 PM
0.3H 0.3H
6:29 PM
0.2L
9:58 AM
0.4H
7:27 PM
0.0L
1:09 PM
0.5H
10:32 PM
0.0L
P.M. Minor Major 6:00 12:12 6:44 12:56 7:29 1:18 8:15 2:04 9:02 2:51 9:49 3:38 10:37 4:26 11:26 5:15 ----- 6:04 12:41 6:53 1:31 7:44 2:22 8:36 3:14 9:28 4:06 10:21 4:59 11:14 5:54 ----6:50 12:35 7:48 1:33 8:47 2:33 9:46 3:33
SUN Rises Sets 7:35 9:18 7:36 9:17 7:37 9:17 7:37 9:16 7:38 9:16 7:38 9:15 7:39 9:14 7:40 9:14 7:40 9:13 7:41 9:12 7:41 9:11 7:42 9:11 7:43 9:10 7:43 9:09 7:44 9:08 7:44 9:07 7:45 9:06 7:46 9:06 7:46 9:05 7:47 9:04
MOON Rises Sets 6:34a 8:19p 7:26a 8:59p 8:18a 9:36p 9:10a 10:11p 10:02a 10:45p 10:53a 11:18p 11:45a 11:52p 12:37p NoMoon 1:31p 12:27a 2:27p 1:05a 3:25p 1:46a 4:25p 2:32a 5:24p 3:22a 6:23p 4:19a 7:18p 5:21a 8:10p 6:27a 8:59p 7:36a 9:44p 8:44a 10:28p 9:52a 11:10p 10:57a
P.M. Minor Major 6:06 12:18 6:50 13:02 7:35 1:24 8:21 2:10 9:08 2:57 9:55 3:44 10:43 4:32 11:31 5:20 ----- 6:09 12:47 6:59 1:37 7:50 2:28 8:41 3:19 9:34 4:12 10:27 5:05 11:20 6:00 ----6:56 12:41 7:53 1:39 8:52 2:39 9:52 3:39
SUN Rises Sets 7:35 9:30 7:36 9:29 7:36 9:28 7:37 9:28 7:38 9:27 7:39 9:26 7:39 9:26 7:40 9:25 7:41 9:24 7:41 9:23 7:42 9:22 7:43 9:22 7:43 9:21 7:44 9:20 7:45 9:19 7:45 9:18 7:46 9:17 7:47 9:16 7:47 9:15 7:48 9:14
MOON Rises Sets 6:35a 8:30p 7:27a 9:09p 8:20a 9:45p 9:13a 10:19p 10:06a 10:52p 10:58a 11:24p 11:51a 11:57p 12:45p NoMoon 1:40p 12:31a 2:37p 1:08a 3:36p 1:48a 4:36p 2:32a 5:36p 3:23a 6:34p 4:19a 7:30p 5:22a 8:21p 6:28a 9:08p 7:38a 9:52p 8:48a 10:34p 9:57a 11:15p 11:04a
P.M. Minor 6:13 6:57 7:42 8:28 9:14 10:01 10:49 11:38 12:05 12:54 1:44 2:34 3:26 4:18 5:12 6:06 7:02 8:00 8:59 9:59
SUN Rises 7:49 7:49 7:50 7:50 7:51 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:53 7:54 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:56 7:57 7:57 7:58 7:59 7:59 8:00
MOON Rises Sets 6:48a 8:32p 7:39a 9:11p 8:31a 9:49p 9:23a 10:24p 10:15a 10:58p 11:06a 11:31p 11:58a NoMoon 12:50p 12:05a 1:44p 12:40a 2:40p 1:18a 3:38p 1:59a 4:37p 2:45a 5:37p 3:36a 6:35p 4:33a 7:31p 5:35a 8:23p 6:41a 9:11p 7:49a 9:57p 8:57a 10:40p 10:05a 11:23p 11:10a
Major 12:24 13:08 1:31 2:17 3:04 3:51 4:39 5:27 6:16 7:06 7:57 8:48 9:40 10:33 11:27 ----12:48 1:46 2:45 3:46
2014 A.M. July-Aug. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
25Fri 26Sat 27Sun 28Mon 29Tue 30Wed 31Thu 01Fri 02Sat 03Sun 04Mon 05Tue 06Wed 07Thu 08Fri 09Sat 10Sun 11Mon 12Tue 13Wed
6:26 7:10 7:55 8:41 9:28 10:15 11:03 11:51 12:18 1:07 1:57 2:48 3:39 4:32 5:25 6:20 7:16 8:13 9:12 10:12
6:02 ----6:47 ----7:33 1:22 8:19 2:09 9:06 2:56 9:54 3:43 10:41 4:31 11:30 5:19 ----- 6:07 12:43 6:55 1:33 7:44 2:21 8:34 3:11 9:25 4:02 10:17 4:55 11:10 5:50 ----6:47 12:37 7:45 1:31 8:45 2:31 9:45 3:32
12:38 13:22 1:44 2:30 3:17 4:04 4:52 5:40 6:30 7:19 8:10 9:01 9:54 10:47 11:40 12:05 1:01 1:59 2:59 3:59
Sets 9:30 9:29 9:29 9:28 9:27 9:27 9:26 9:25 9:25 9:24 9:23 9:22 9:22 9:21 9:20 9:19 9:18 9:18 9:17 9:16
SUN Rises Sets
7:50 7:51 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:54 7:54 7:55 7:56 7:57 7:57 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:00 8:01 8:02 8:03 8:04 8:04
9:55 9:54 9:54 9:53 9:52 9:51 9:50 9:50 9:49 9:48 9:47 9:46 9:45 9:44 9:43 9:42 9:41 9:40 9:39 9:38
MOON Rises Sets
6:51a 8:55p 7:44a 9:34p 8:37a 10:09p 9:31a 10:42p 10:25a 11:14p 11:19a 11:45p 12:13p NoMoon 1:07p 12:17a 2:04p 12:50a 3:02p 1:25a 4:01p 2:04a 5:02p 2:48a 6:02p 3:38a 7:00p 4:35a 7:55p 5:38a 8:45p 6:45a 9:31p 7:56a 10:14p 9:07a 10:54p 10:17a 11:34p 11:26a
FOR THE TABLE Greek-grilled red snapper 12 (8-oz.) snapper or grouper fillets 1/4 cup olive oil 1 tbsp. Greek seasoning 24 (1/4-inch-thick) lemon slices Rub fish fillets with oil; sprinkle evenly with Greek seasoning. Top each fillet with 2 lemon slices.
DOWN 1. A part on a rifle 2. Product from 17 down 3. A deer will do this to escape danger 4. A deer food source 6. The shoulder hide on a deer 7. A hawk is one 8. A wild turkey putt 12. A salmon 13. A method of hunting 14. Anything that attracts fish 15. Camo covers for gun scopes 16. A river’s undertow 17. The wild sheep 20. Racks 21. Distribution of shot pellets 24. To scan an area for
August 17
August 10
Height 0.2H -0.1L -0.1L -0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.2H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H
South Padre Island Date July July July July July July July Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug Aug
Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.
Last
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Houston
Port O’Connor
OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS
First
August 4
July 26
Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, north
Solunar | Sun times | Moon times
Moon Phases New
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July 25, 2014
Place a large piece of lightly greased heavy-duty aluminum foil over grill cooking grate. Arrange fish on foil. Grill fillets, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 15 minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. — myrecipes.com
Portabello mushrooms with pheasant
game 25. They hold food, medical items 26. To pull back a bow string 28. A rodent 31. To hunt or fish in wrong area
32. 34. 35. 36. 38.
The bowman’s ammo A male dall The wild pig A kind of bow Hunt whitetail in early ____ 40. To treat a hide
1 package sliced portabello mushrooms 2 boned pheasant breasts 2 oz. olive oil 3 oz. dry sherry wine 1 slice prosciutto ham cut in small pieces 1 clove minced garlic 1 pinch pepper 1 pinch oregano 1 pinch garlic powder 1 tbsp. butter (optional)
2 slices mozzarella cheese (or crumbled equivalent) Cut pheasant into finger-sized pieces and sauté in olive oil and garlic. Add wine, mushrooms, prosciutto ham, and spices. Cook until pheasant and mushrooms are tender. Add butter. Melt mozzarella cheese over top and simmer until it mixes with pheasant and mushrooms. — NSSF
*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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July 25, 2014
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NATIONAL Louisiana saltwater prices increasing For the first time in 14 years, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will increase its license fees for recreational, saltwater fishing from $15 to $22.50 on August 1. The increase places Louisiana in the middle of saltwater license fees among Gulf states. The department expects to generate an additional $2.25 million annually, which will be used to fund the agency’s LA Creel program. LDWF recognized the shortcomings of the federally established Marine Recreational Information Program to provide the best available data to fisheries managers and began collecting their own recreational statistics through a new data collection program called LA Creel. — LDWF
Land Management-administered public lands,” stated the scientists in a letter, “and we are concerned about mounting pressures that could result in the development and fragmentation of these lands. Barring responsive action by the BLM, many large landscapes could cease to support abundant fish and wildlife populations that have been restored and maintained over the past century.” The BLM is currently engaged in “Planning 2.0,” a process that will result in revision of the agency’s national land use planning handbook. Citing energy development — both traditional and renewable — and poorly managed off-road vehicle use as activities that can fragment key fish and wildlife habitat, the management professionals reiterated the need for careful, conscientious administration of valuable public lands. — Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Unlicensed Officials urge BLM Oregon guide, to conserve lands wife convicted of More than 200 professional fish numerous and wildlife scientists, including 12 former state fish and violations game agency directors and several former high-ranking federal agency officials, urged the U.S. Department of the Interior and Bureau of Land Management yesterday to “act promptly and meaningfully to conserve intact and unfragmented BLMadministered public lands across the West.” “We recognize the critical importance of habitat provided by 245 million acres of Bureau of
An extensive investigation by the Oregon State Police and the Fish and Wildlife Division led to 23 people being charged with more than 200 counts of illegal hunting activity. The investigation began with an anonymous tip to a Fish & Wildlife trooper in October, 2012, reporting that Alan Roy Aronson of Bend was conducting illegal guided hunts.
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Information obtained indicated Aronson provided guided hunts to hunters on private lands, whether or not the hunters had valid licenses or tags. At least nine buffalo were killed from a neighboring ranch without the ranch owner’s consent. Dozens of elk also were killed illegally. Aronson was not a registered hunting guide in Oregon at the time of the unlawful activities. Aronson’s wife pleaded no contest to illegally killing a 6x7 bull elk, was fined $15,350 in restitution, and received a three-year hunting license suspension. Aronson pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor counts of failure to register as an outfitter and two felony counts of theft in the first degree. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $66,050, in addition to forfeiture of a 2005 pickup truck and two UTVs, and received a lifetime hunting license suspension. — Oregon.gov
Florida wardens catch turtle poachers Three Lakeland men and an Okeechobee freshwater turtle farmer were caught illegally harvesting, selling and buying wild-caught freshwater turtles as a result of a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission investigation. FWC investigators throughout Polk and Seminole counties developed the case over a threeand-a-half-month period after the March 21 arrest of My Van Vo. Van Vo was caught by FWC officers on Lake Apopka in possession of 87
live softshell turtles weighing in excess of 500 pounds. Subsequently, FWC investigators learned two other Lakeland men were poaching freshwater turtles on Lake Marion, Lake Haines, Crooked Lake and Lake Walk-In-Water as well as from the St. Johns River. The two men were transporting and selling their illegal catch to Harden and Son’s Turtle Farm in Okeechobee. The three men were known to be involved in the illegal capture and exchange of a total of 2,100 pounds of live turtles. — FWC
Senate kills sportsmen bill The U.S. Senate effectively killed the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014 when it failed to pass a vote that would have moved the bill forward. After 81 amendments were offered to the bill, many of which were not supported by the sporting community or germane to the original bill, the vote reflected the partisan animosity of the mid-year elections. The bill had 46 cosponsors and had the strong support of most hunting and angling organizations and many conservation organizations. “Upfront, we wish to thank the bill’s sponsors Senators Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for working with us to craft a bipartisan bill that we, and others in the sporting community, believe should have passed,” said American Sportfishing Association Vice President Gordon Robertson. “It’s very disheartening that the Senate
Houston hunter Baker Wardell, 9, was hunting with his dad near La Pryor on the opening morning of youth season on March 8 when this big gobbler came to the call and presented himself at 15 yards. Baker made a one-shot kill with his dad’s 12-gauage Remington 1100 Magnum.
process and partisan politics pulled down, for the second time in two years, a comprehensive sportsmen’s package that would have benefited this nation’s fish and wildlife resources as well as hunters and anglers. “The failure had nothing to do with the merits of the bill and much to do with mid-term elections this year,” Robertson said. “Neither party wants to give an advantage to the other. We understand that this has always been the way of politics, but we also understand that good public policy requires discipline to do what is right for the nation. The former is what killed this legislation and other recent bills in the Senate.” — ASA
Duck stamp prices rising?
Officials from Ducks Unlimited voiced strong support for the Federal Duck Stamp Act of 2014, a bill introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate that would raise the price of the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp) to $25 from its current level of $15. Since its enactment in 1934, the federal duck stamp program has protected nearly 6 million acres of habitat through expenditures of more than $900 million. The price of the duck stamp has been raised only seven times. It has been 24 years since the last increase, which raised the price of the stamp to $15 — the single longest period without a price increase in the program’s history. — DU
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Marlin
Continued from page 17
Continued from page 1
immediately, each of them was pulling in fish — some small yellow bass, but some white bass were in the mix as well. “I got a bigger one,” Reese said with excitement, as his rod bowed towards the nearside of the boat. The other four anglers had a chance to turn and see him bring in what would be the largest fish of the day — a large hybrid striper, approximately 5 pounds. “Don’t pick up that fish with just the rod or you’ll break it,” Procell said, as he nabbed the fish with his net. All four anglers have been fishing for most of their lives. Jack enjoys spending time fly-fishing with his grandfather around the area. Parker said he actually got his dad involved in the sport after developing a passion at a young age. “I’m a first-generation fisherman,” Parker said. “The first fish I ever caught was a little bluegill that I caught with my hand.” Matt and Reese, the two juniors on the trip, said they have been fishing for most of their lives, as well. Reese grew up fishing with his uncle in the area and Matt spent a lot of time fishing different area ponds, especially focusing on the golf courses. As the afternoon passed, more and more fish piled into the cooler. Procell zipped across the lake to some of the spots he knew would produce fish. Each angler managed to catch several more — including a tree branch and Procell’s trolling motor — before the bite slowed down. The students then settled in for a quick ride across the lake to the marina. Jack and Parker are preparing to finish up school by spring, then it’s off to college for the both of them — their plans aren’t solidified yet. Matt and Reese are just enjoying their summer off before beginning their junior year. The four weren’t expecting a trip like the one on Ray Hubbard — LSON’s David J. Sams literally approached Jack and Parker in their neighborhood to offer them the opportunity — but welcomed a break from the summer heat to experience something new. “Can you get a picture of me with the fish?” Jack asked Reese as Procell was fileting the day’s catch at the marina. “That was pretty awesome, I’ve never done anything like that before,” Matt commented as they were preparing to pack up their things. A short afternoon in the near 100-degree temperatures was enough for everyone, but the four anglers left with a smile on their faces — and a few fish in their bag, as well.
figure out how to get the fish in the boat. “It took a while to get it behind the chair and situated,” Deerman said. “It finally cooperated after several gaffs. I looked down on the run to the dock and it was surreal. The anal fin looked like a dorsal fin on marlin we usually catch.” The anglers knew the fish would top 900 pounds based on the formula using length and girth measurements, but didn’t know the official weight until it was hoisted onto the block and tackle in Rockport. “I was talking to friends on the dock and everyone at the scales started yelling at me to come over,” Deerman said. “It blew my mind. We caught a 561-pound blue marlin in
this tournament last year, and that had been the biggest fish caught on the boat.” Bastante Tournament Director Tami Noling said she was just hoping the scale was big enough when the fish was hoisted. “I heard how big the fish was on the radio when they were on their way in,” she said. “I just kept having someone repeat it — 137.5 inches.” The fish was filleted at the dock and distributed to local charities and anyone with a cooler nearby. “Whoever was there with a cooler got some,” Noling said. “Tournament rules said the fish had to be brought to the scales in edible condition, and this was. Lots of people got to eat some of this fish.” For their catch, the Legacy team earned a little more than $36,000.
July 25, 2014
Page 23
74 INCHES AROUND: The new state record marlin measured an incredible 74-plus inches in diameter. Photo by Larry Doonan.
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July 25, 2014
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Herons Continued from page 1
their feeding patterns are similar. “They’re usually eating crayfish, dragonflies and other things,” he said. “It’s not just fish; actually fish are a fairly small part of their diet.” The key? They feed on anything that fish will feed on, which usually means they are where the fish are. “I always encourage people to bring a pair of binoculars,” said Royce Simmons, a guide on Lake Richland Chambers. While some anglers may think they’ve seen herons diving for fish, Shackelford said they are most likely seeing a different type of bird, such as a cormorant or pelican. “They never completely submerge their body,” Shackelford said. “The great blue heron is our tallest — it looks like he’s in deep water sometimes but it’s almost always a stump or something like that.” But, he said if they’re near the water it’s a good sign for everyone. Herons will only venture near water to feed on something — their natural predators live near the water too, including snapping turtles. “They’re usually not just standing in the water loafing. If the herons are in the water, they are feeding,” Shackelford said. “A lot of smart fishermen will key in on something like that.”
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Simmons said they normally see the herons from late spring until fall. They don’t go seeking the birds, but when they do see them it’s definitely a red flag for fish. “We look for them on shorelines and points,” Simmons said. “It doesn’t always necessarily mean that there are fish, but if we see a bunch of them in a timbered area, it’s dead giveaway.” As for the type of fish, Shackelford said it does not matter — it’s all about the size. He’s seen them go after anything that they could possibly eat, and the results can be interesting. “They’re not saying ‘Oh crap, that’s a grass carp, I’m not going to eat that,’” he said. “If it moves, it dies.” This hunting mentality doesn’t always work in their favor, however. “Your big herons could eat a catfish. In fact, I’ve seen some birds choke on them,” Shackelford said. “I saw one catch a bullfrog that puffed up. He tried to eat that thing for 30 minutes before he gave up.” Simmons said searching for the herons has become a part of their routine, and it’s something they are always looking for in the summer months. Sometimes it can turn a slow day on the water into something memorable. “We’ve been fishing the lake since 1994,” Simmons said. “We’ve become pretty good bird watchers.”
IF IT MOVES, IT DIES: Herons feed based on the size of their target, not the species of their kill. Photo by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News.
July 25, 2014
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July 25, 2014
LoneOStar Outdoor News
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HBSF grant shooters win nationals The Collegiate National Shotgun Championships were held in San Antonio at the National Shooting Complex during the spring. More than a dozen current and former Higgins Branchini Shooting Foundation grant recipients participated. Ten HBSF grant recipients placed in the top 30 in a variety of events out of more than 700 competitors from 73 schools. Several HBSF grant recipients placed in the top 3 in different events at the ACUI Nationals, including: Michael Harbin, University of Texas — 1st place Men’s American Skeet Alex Rennert, University of Florida — 1st place Men’s International Bunker, 3rd place Men’s International Trap Caitlin Connor, Louisiana State University — 1st place, Women’s International Skeet Invitational, 1st place, Women’s International Skeet Open (4th place Women’s High Over All for entire tournament) Katie Lackey, Laramie Community College — 2nd place, Women’s International Skeet Invitational, 2nd place Women’s American Skeet Katie Bonn, Portland State University — 2nd place, Women’s International Trap Dania Vizzi, University of Florida — 3rd place, Women’s International Skeet Logan Brinkley, Schreiner University — 3rd place, Women’s American Skeet — HBSF
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Fourteen-year-old leading CCA STAR kingfish division with 56.8-pounder By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Seamus Caskey knows how to catch big fish — this isn’t the first time he has been leading a division in the Coastal Conservation Association’s Texas STAR Tournament. Seamus, a rising freshman at Dripping Spring High School, and his dad, Bobby, departed out of Port Aransas but planned to fish closer to Port O’Connor. “We were fishing by Big Red,” Seamus Caskey said. “We were trolling a 2-pound blue runner. Only the big ones can eat a bait that big.” Bobby Caskey said they had just caught a 46-pound king, and had just put the second bait behind the boat when the reel started to sing. “I had just put it in,” he said. “It had soaked a few minutes and we had just started to troll. I thought the 46-pounder was big and this one made him look tiny.”
Seamus knew the fish was big by the amount of line taken off his reel. “It went through 300 yards of line in a hurry,” he said. “It stripped half the reel in no time. The fight lasted about 25 minutes using 30-pound test line. It is definitely my biggest kingfish.” The boat quickly headed to the scales at Deep Sea Roundup in Port Aransas, and then on to the official CCA STAR scale at Woody’s, where it was confirmed at 56 pounds, 12 ounces. That put Caskey just ahead of Chris Jacobs, who landed a 55 pound, 7 ounce kingfish. Caskey also won a $20,000 scholarship in 2008 from CCA STAR. Two anglers — Derek Nethercutt of Highlands and Mark Richner of Temple — have caught tagged redfish. The tournament runs through Labor Day weekend.
YOU THOUGHT THE FIRST ONE WAS BIG? After landing a 46-pound kingfish, Seamus Caskey, along with his dad and friends, hooked into a 56.8-pounder. Photo by Bobby Caskey.
July 25, 2014
CCA Star Leaderboard
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July 25, 2014
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Prime Time | July Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight Time 6:00 PM 6:30 PM 7:00 PM 7:30 PM 8:00 PM 8:30 PM 9:00 PM 9:30 PM 10:00 PM 10:30 PM 11:00 PM 11:30 PM Midnight
OUTDOOR CHANNEL Western Extreme Whitetail Freaks Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector Gregg Ritz’s Hunt Masters Heartland Bowhunter Territories Wild Adventure Bowhunter Ram Outdoorsman The Best of the West Wardens presented by Streamlight Pro Hunt Journal RMEF Team Elk Ram Outdoorsman OUTDOOR CHANNEL Inside Outdoors TV Flesh and Blood The Hit List Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild Mossy Oak’s Hunting the Country Driven with Pat and Nicole Drury’s THIRTEEN Dream Season Eastman’s Hunting TV Shawn Michael’s MRA Primos Truth About Hunting Drury’s THIRTEEN PSE’s Wild Outdoors OUTDOOR CHANNEL Jim Shockey’s Uncharted Midway USA’s Gun Stories Remington Country Shooting USA American Rifleman TV NRA’s All Access Shooting USA’s Impossible Shots Midway USA’s Gun Stories Shooting USA Midway USA’s Gun Stories OUTDOOR CHANNEL The Fowl Life High Places Beyond the Hunt The Hunt with Greg and Jake Realtree Roadtrips Realtree’s NASCAR Outdoors Bow Madness Jim Shockey’s Uncharted PSE’s Wild Outdoors Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures The Jackie Bushman Show The Crush with Lee and Tiffany Ultimate Hunting OUTDOOR CHANNEL Jim Shockey’s Uncharted Solo Hunter Winchester Legends Fear No Evil Primal Instinct Razor Dobbs Alive Winchester Rack Masters Driven with Pat and Nicole Ram Outdoorsman Mossy Oak’s Hunting the Country Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector Jim Shockey’s Uncharted OUTDOOR CHANNEL Under Wild Skies Shawn Michael’s MRA Best of the West Steve’s Outdoor Adventures Roger Raglin Outdoors Ultimate Hunting Trophy Quest Choose Your Weapon Heartland Bowhunter Buck Commander Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild Craig Morgan’s All Access Outdoors Live 2 Hunt OUTDOOR CHANNEL Mathews TV with Dave Watson Crush with Lee and Tiffany Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures Wildgame Nation Realtree Outdoors Primos Truth About Hunting NRA All Access Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector Bottom Feeders Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures Realtree Outdoors Wildgame Nation
PURSUIT CHANNEL F&Ts Freedom Outdoors Avian X Canadian Whitetails Real Shot Outdoors Just Hunt The American Way Spook Nation Love of the Hunt Cabela’s Deer Gear TV Flyway Highways TNT Outdoor Explosion Winchester & Drurys Natural Born PURSUIT CHANNEL Double Lung TV Hartcraft Hunting Adventures The Bear Whisperer Bucket List Hank Parker 3D Wildlife Pursuit TV Bowhunting Addiction TV Shoot Straight Bob Redfern Outdoor Magazine Bloodline Spook Nation Bucket List PURSUIT CHANNEL DU TV Buttermilk TV Spiritual Outdoor Adventures Honey Brake Experience Gamekeepers of Mossy Oak Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt KT Diaries Hunt Wicked Close Open Season Sportingdog Adventures The High Road w/Keith Warren The Bear Whisperer NWTF 365 PURSUIT CHANNEL Natural Born AWA Whitetail Presents Struttinbucks Wallhanger TV Backland Outdoors Whitetail Diaries Big Boys Adventure Where in the World is Colorado Buck Ultimate Outdoors TNT Outdoor Explosion Hartcraft Hunting Carnivore Americana Outdoors PURSUIT CHANNEL The Rush Radical Hunter Trigger Time American Airgunner American Trigger Sports Gun Talk TV Championship Season Guns and Gear TV 3 Gun Nation
SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Meateater Guns & Ammo Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Handguns and Defensive Weapons Ruger Inside and Out Beyond the Battlefield Winchester Archery Guns & Ammo Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Handguns and Defensive Weapons Ruger Inside and Out Beyond the Battlefield SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Meateater Realtree’s Monster Bucks Major League Bowhunter Rival Wild Whitetail Properties Dreams to Reality Savage Outdoors Brad Farris’ Game Plan Realtree’s Monster Bucks Major League Bowhunter Rival Wild Whitetail Properties Savage Outdoors SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Meateater North American Whitetail Destination Whitetail Mathews Dominant Bucks Buckventures Big Deer TV Adrenaline Junkies North American Whitetail Destination Whitetail Mathews Dominant Bucks Outfittersrating TV Whitetail SLAM SPORTSMAN CHANNEL America Unplugged Camp Stew The Outfitters Fresh Tracks The Zone The Prieferts Camp Stew The Outfitters Fresh Tracks The Zone SPORTSMAN CHANNEL America Unplugged
Where in the World is Colorado Buck Just Hunt Gun Talk TV
Bowhunter TV Relentless Pursuit Name the Game Midwest Whitetail Easton Bowhunting American Rebel Bowhunter TV Relentless Pursuit Name the Game Midwest Whitetail Easton Bowhunting SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Full Draw Adventure Whitetail Fix Hardcore Pursuit World of Sports Afield World of Beretta The Wildlifers Blue Collar Adventures On The Road Hardcore Pursuit World of Sports Afield World of Beretta The Wildlifers Blue Collar Adventures
PURSUIT CHANNEL Carnivore Into the Wild Headhunter Chronicles The High Road w/Keith Warren Deer Thugs Winchester & Drury’s Natural Born NWTF 365 Bloodline Brush Country Monsters Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt Just Hunt Hunting with HECS DU TV
SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Bohning’s Whitetail Journey Whitetail Slam Pigman: The Series Gun It with Benny Spies Petersen’s Hunting Off-Grid Hunter Pure Hunting Travelin’ Hunter Pigman: The Series Gun It with Benny Spies Petersen’s Hunting Off-Grid Hunter Pure Hunting
Backland Outdoors Carnivore Americana Outdoors PURSUIT CHANNEL Honey Brake Experience Flyway Highway The Grind DU TV Avian X Sportingdog Adventure Hunting with HECS Campfire Stories Show of Support
Puzzle solution from Page 21
WORLD FISHING NETWORK The Scott Martin Challenge Kayak Bassin’ TV Jack Links’ MLF Facts of FIshins FLW Tour Bigg Bass Battle South Bend’s Lunkerville Skeeter Bass Champs Jack Links’ MLF WORLD FISHING NETWORK Fin N Skins The New Fly Fisher Guided with Mark Melnyk The Session Kings of the River Destination Spain The Next Bite TV Ultimate Fishing Experience The Legacy Experience Florida Adventure Quest Guided with Mark Melnyk The Session WORLD FISHING NETWORK Reel Animals Lindner’s Ultimate Angler Bill Boyce’s Baja George Poveromo’s Saltwater Fishing Flats Class The Hook and the Cook Canadian Sportfishing Jarrett Edward’s Outdoors Fishing 411 Extreme Angler TV Bill Boyce’s Baja George Poveromo’s Saltwater Fishing WORLD FISHING NETWORK Musky Hunter The Fishi’n’ Crazee Show Guided with Mark Melnyk Musky Hunter Fishing 411 Game Fisher’s Diary Fishing with Bill Miller Big Coast Sportfishing Fish TV Hookin’ Up with Nick and Mariko Silent Invaders The Kayak Fishing Show WORLD FISHING NETWORK Krappie Kings Jimmy Houston Outdoors Million Dollar Catch South Bend Lunkerville John Gillespie’s Water & Woods Fishing 411 The Next Bite TV Mark Berg’s Fishing Addiction BC Outdoors Million Dollar Catch South Bend Lunkerville John Gillespie’s Water & Woods WORLD FISHING NETWORK The Fish ‘n’ Crazee Show Fishful Thinker Flats Class King of the River American Fly Guide Jack Links’ MLF Sportfishing on the Fly Jarrett Edward’s Outdoors Force on Force Flats Class King of the River WORLD FISHING NETWORK In the Loop Ultimate Catch Lindner’s Ultimate Angler World Fishing Journal Facts of Fishing Kayak Bassin’ TV FLW Tour Angler West TV Force on Force Lindner’s Ultimate Angler World Fishing Journal
Remote territory on season premier of MeatEater Adventure, exploration and education are a few integral components that fuel the success of the award-winning program, MeatEater with Steven Rinella. Sportsman Channel, the exclusive network home for MeatEater, unveils a season four recap week beginning Monday, July 28 at 6 p.m. CT. The marathon leads viewers into the premiere of season five of MeatEater on Thursday, July 31 at 7 p.m. MeatEater is primed to take audiences on an outdoor thrill-ride across America as Steven Rinella ventures into new hunting and fishing territories. While traversing the country, Rinella will visit Kentucky for his first eastern elk hunt — a place once roamed by his hero Daniel Boone. Additionally, the show will take viewers to Alaska, Colorado, Wisconsin and New Mexico for unforgettable journeys which stretch the limits of spot and stalk hunting, while also featuring the masterful culinary prowess of the host cooking what he harvests. “Steven is a master storyteller and does a great job of engaging viewers and making them feel a part of the adventure,” said Marc Fein, executive vice president of programming and production for Sportsman Channel. “His breadth of hunting and culinary knowledge is exceptional.” “The locations featured in season five are raw and exciting because there are a few areas I have never hunted,” said Rinella. “I have the opportunity to hunt mule deer, elk and explore regions that offer challenging variables and factors of the unknown. Besides the unpredictable hunting and fishing, the show will feature three cooking specials that may give viewers a different perspective on how to consume breakfast and eat wild game.” — Staff report
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Mountain lion Continued from page 4
pack of hounds quickly tracked down that cat. The young tom weighed 85 pounds and Vaught said park rangers told him it was probably trying to establish a new home range when it attacked. Vaught, who owns Hills of Texas Taxidermy in Llano, never forgot that day, and had wanted to harvest a mountain lion with his bow ever since. He got his chance recently when he called veteran houndsman Lloyd Ward in Sheffield. “He’s been out there since ’78 and really knows his business when it comes to cats,” Vaught said. “I got a call on Friday morning and he asked if I could be out here that afternoon? He had a big cat that had killed a colt and wounded a mare. I loaded up and headed toward Sheffield.” The hunters could not locate the stock-killing cat, but did
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find another cat quickly the first morning. “We chased him a long ways but never got close,” Vaught said. “We got in the truck and drove about 300 yards to a feeder canyon and got out to look for tracks. One of the guys went up to the top of the canyon and I was looking in the bottom. We hadn’t been there five minutes when the guy on the top said he’d just jumped a cat and he was headed downhill.” Instead of coming toward the hunters in the bottom of the canyon, the cat decided to make a stand on a rock ledge above the hounds. “It was pretty cool,” Vaught said. “We took a few pictures with the dogs below and us at eye level with the cat. The lion wasn’t real concerned with us; it stayed focused on the dogs.” Vaught had been told not to expect a lion on the first day of the hunt, so he had left his recurve bow at the house and had
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to shoot the cat with a pistol. “I shot the cat and she ran up into a tree, where she got a foot stuck and died up there,” he said. “I had to climb the tree to get her down.” The mature female weighed about 100 pounds. Vaught said he had no idea how he would feel being face to face with another mountain lion. “Being face to face with another one, I wasn’t nervous,” he said. “It was like closing a chapter in my life.” Vaught is making a full-body mount out of the cat, with her sitting on a rock ledge. He said the lion populations have risen in West Texas because the sheep ranchers that once controlled the population have left, and not many people hunt them anymore. “There are more of them than people think,” he said. “Big Bend is very dry, so they leave the park looking for water.”
BAYED ON A LEDGE: The mountain lion harvested by David Vaught was perched on a outcropping with the hounds close behind. Photo by David Vaught.
YO Ranch owner dies in car crash Sixty-year-old Walter Schreiner, one of the owners of the YO Ranch, a historic game ranch near Kerrville, died in a single-vehicle crash outside Fredericksburg. According to a preliminary investigation by state troopers, Schreiner was driving a 2000 Chevy Tahoe north on FM 1376 at 10:31 p.m. July 17 when the SUV left the roadway to the right for unknown reasons. Schreiner apparently overcorrected and the vehicle overturned on its right side, according to the investigation. He was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene, 10 miles southeast of Fredericksburg. — Staff report
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DATEBOOK JULY 30-AUGUST 3
Texas International Fishing Tournament Port Isabel (956) 943-8438 tift.org
JULY 31
Ducks Unlimited North Houston Dinner Shirley Acres (281) 541-9263 ducks.org/Texas
AUGUST 1
National Wild Turkey Federation North Texas Chapter The Courses at Watters Creek, Plano (432) 352-3257 nwtf.org/Texas
AUGUST 1-3
Texas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza Reliant Center, Houston ttha.com Matagorda “Big 5” Offshore Tournament Matagorda Harbor matagordabluewater.com
AUGUST 2
Mule Deer Foundation Brown County Chapter Banquet (817) 565-7121 muledeer.org/events
Deer Fest MPEC Exhibit Hall, Wichita Falls (940) 704-2984 deerfestwichitafalls.com Coastal Conservation Association Galveston Chapter Banquet Galveston Island Convention Center (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org
AUGUST 5
Houston Safari Club Monthly Meeting Houston Racquet Club (713) 623-8844 houstonsafariclub.org
AUGUST 6
Delta Waterfowl North Houston banquet Houston Distribution Company (281) 914-8954 deltawaterfowl.org
AUGUST 7
Ducks Unlimited Allen Dinner Cross Creek Ranch, Parker (214) 455-3082 ducks.org/Texas Delta Waterfowl Lamar County Banquet Love Civic Center, Paris (903) 517-5889 deltawaterfowl.org
Coastal Conservation Association San Gabriel Chapter Banquet Dell Diamond (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org
AUGUST 7-9
Texas Deer Association Annual Convention and Fundraiser JW Marriott Hill Country, San Antonio (210) 767-8300 texasdeerassociation.com
AUGUST 8
National Wild Turkey Federation Harris County Wildlife Group banquet Whitney Oaks Hall (832) 292-1811 nwtf.org Ducks Unlimited Brazoria County Banquet Lake Jackson Civic Center (979) 665-8007 ducks.org/texas
AUGUST 8-10
Ladies Kingfish Tournament South Padre Island (956) 761-4412 spichamber.com
AUGUST 9
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation North Texas Banquet Embassy Suites, Grapevine (972) 740-7744
National Wild Turkey Federation Cross Timbers Banquet Decatur Civic Center (940) 393-8908 nwtf.org National Wild Turkey Federation Deep East Texas Banquet The Event Center, Jasper (409) 382-5752 nwtf.org Coastal Conservation Association Aransas Bay Chapter Banquet Paws N’ Taws (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org
AUGUST 14
Coastal Conservation Association Lower Laguna Madre Chapter Banquet Port Isabel Event and Cultural Center (713) 626-4222 Coastal Conservation Association Northwest Houston ChapterBanquet Crowne Plaza (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org
AUGUST 15
Coastal Conservation Association Lower Colorado Chapter Banquet Bay City Civic Center (713) 626-4222
AUGUST 21
Coastal Conservation Association Orange County Chapter Banquet Orange County Convention and Expo Center (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org Coastal Conservation Association Hill Country Chapter Banquet New Braunfels Civic Center (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Bent Tree Country Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
AUGUST 22
Coastal Conservation Association Trinity Bay Chapter Banquet Nuevo Leon Event Center (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org
AUGUST 22-24
Deer Breeders Corporation Annual Convention Westin La Cantera, San Antonio (972) 289-3100 dbcdeer.com
AUGUST 23
Quail Coalition South Texas Banquet Kingsville southtexasquailcoalition.org
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July 25, 2014
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