PREDATOR ANNUAL INSIDE February 28, 2025
predator hunting texas
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
AN N UAL 2025
THE VALUE OF FUR
Advertising Section
Volume 21, Issue 13
Montana brothers head south for javelina By Reis Ladd
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Brothers Paul, left, and David Lautner came to Texas from Montana to pursue javelina. Photo by Reis Ladd, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Brothers David and Paul Lautner, 75 and 72 years young, hail from the prairies north of Billings, Montana, where cold temps are typical and collared peccaries are not. The brothers made the two-day drive to hunt javelina with Texas Hunting Resources in the Trans Pecos region and escape the cold February Montana temperatures.
Ironically, their hunt ended up coinciding with the harshest cold front Texas has seen in a while, with lows around 12 degrees and highs seldom above freezing. The Lautner brothers live to hunt and booked the trip to bridge the gap from the end of fall hunting season and start of spring turkey season. They love to hunt so much they moved to Alaska together in their early 20s for the sole purpose of increasing their hunting opportunities.
“We lived in Alaska for about 30 years,” David said. While some locals of the southwest may question the desire of others to travel long distances to hunt a 60-pound critter, David and Paul are certainly not alone in their endearment for javelina hunting. With the Boone and Crockett club announcing the javelina as their newest big-game trophy category in December of 2024 the species could continue to grow in popularity and appreciation among Please turn to page 11
A trout stream feel All types of anglers head to the Brazos River below Possum Kingdom Reservoir for a chance at rainbow trout in a scenic setting. Here, Walker Kirk fishes below the Highway 16 bridge under the bridge arches. Anglers reported good catches using both conventional and fly-fishing equipment, but one learned if you leave a trout on the bank, a great blue heron may come and take it. More trout were scheduled to be stocked in the river on Feb. 28. Photo by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Focusing on big blues By Nate Skinner
Cole Thompson has been finding big blue catfish over deep timber on Lake Ray Roberts. Photo from Cole Thompson.
Hefty blue catfish have been providing anglers with exciting memories. The fish have been moving back and forth between shallow and deep water as they follow concentrations of baitfish in varying water temperatures. Cole Thompson guides on Lake Ray Roberts and said areas with deep timber along creek channel ledges in 25-50 feet of water have been holding good
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Outdoor Blotter . . . . . . . . Page 12 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 17 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 22
numbers of trophy-sized blue cats during cold conditions. Cut gizzard shad has been producing the best action. Most of the blues have been in the 20- to 30-pound range, with some pushing 40 pounds or more. “Some days the catfish want bigger baits and some days they want smaller baits,” Thompson said. “The same can be said about the length of the leader we are using. Some days longer leaders catch more fish, and some days shorter leaders work better. I like
to change it up with the bait presentation and rigging until I figure out what works best on any given day.” On warm days, shallower timber in 10 feet or less has been the ticket for locating the cats. Along with trophy-sized fish, blue cats have started concentrating around shallow timber during stretches of warm weather. “Windblown banks adjacent to mud flats also are good areas to find solid numbers of blue cats in the 2- to 10-pound range Please turn to page 17
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
HUNTING
FISHING
Quail season over (P. 4)
Fine-tuning along coast (P. 8)
More birds seen this year.
Tides, temps, winds require adjustments.
Raffled desert bighorn (P. 4)
Landing a lunker twice (P. 9)
Hunter heads to Mexico for ram.
Anglers strikes gold again in same spot.