August 23, 2024
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 21, Issue 1
Opening day fashion Apparel at the dove field By Meghan Olivia Sharber For Lone Star Outdoor News Bryce Long landed this bull redfish on a large shrimp-imitation fly. Photo by Cade Felps.
Bull red on the fly By Reis Ladd
For Lone Star Outdoor News Summer days along the Texas coast are known for the ever-present 15-20 mph southeast winds. Sprinkled throughout the gusty normalcy, though, there are days of an almost eerie stillness. Days where the surface of the water looks more like glass and the horizon line between the bay and the sky is difficult to distinguish. Those are the days coastal fly-fishermen relish. Bryce Long, of Ricardo, and friend Cade Felps found themselves poling through the shallows of Baffin Bay on one of these days in early August. “It was a glass morning with nervous water everywhere,” Long said. “In between spots, we burned through some nervous water and out from under the boat bull reds took off in all directions.” Long shut down the motor and made a loop back toward the fish. “It was hard to believe, there were at least 100 bull reds anywhere from 40 to 50 inches, and they were feeding on giant horse mullet,” Long said. The pair presented nearly every fly they had, but as frenzied as the feed was, the reds weren’t responding. “We tried all sorts of flies but don’t think anything was big enough,” Long said. “I finally found a 6- to 7-inch shrimp in my Please turn to page 11
For her dove hunting attire, Adrienne sported her J. Crew floral cotton shirt, Banana Republic cutoff jean shorts, Chippewa boots, Lone Star Ag Credit (now AgTrust) cap, Costa sunglasses, GameGuard shell bag and Beretta 28-gauge shotgun. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
One unusual question is circulating among both female and male hunters as dove season approaches. What are you wearing on opening day? Outdoorswoman Cami Rolf just snagged her opening day attire and is set from head to toe. Rolf believes it is not only important to blend in to have a successful hunt, but to also be comfortable and stylish. “I love to hunt, but I like to always have a sense of fashion while doing it,” she said. “This year, I’ve planned to wear my new Duck Camp shorts, Chippewa snake boots, and an olive green Lululemon tank top paired with an old school camo print trucker hat.” Rolf said she has been involved in the outdoors for as long as she can remember. No matter the hunt, Rolf said it is her passion, especially when she is doing it with friends and family. Fashion trends in the hunting industry continue to progress each day and, according to outdoorsman Dean Meyer, it is certainly on the rise. “I have been dove hunting since I was 5 or 6 years old,” Meyer said. “Everyone has their own way of enjoying the outdoors, but we can all agree on the positive impact it has.” Meyer attributed the role of fashion in the hunting industry to it becoming more business related. Many businesses host dove hunts and, while for the guys it might not be about the look per se, since hunts are often a business and social event, he said you need to look presentable. “On opening day, I have two options— my olive-green Skinny Water Culture long sleeve or Orvis camo,” Meyer said. “With the Texas heat, you can’t beat the lightweight material of Skinny Water Culture and Orvis has a great camo for dove Please turn to page 23
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Hog hunt with a drone By Nate Skinner
Rowdy Kunz, right and Garrett Matura tag-teamed this 273-pound boar near Nada using a drone to spot the animal and shooting with thermal optics. Photo by Katherine Ressler. Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 20 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26
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For Lone Star Outdoor News Rowdy Kunz recently went out to his family’s ranch near Nada with his girlfriend, Katherine Ressler, and his buddy, Garrett Matura, to hunt with thermal optics. Ressler sent a drone with thermal imaging into the air as soon as they entered the property, and it wasn’t long before she spotted what looked like a pretty
large boar feeding in a field. Kunz and Matura confirmed the animal was indeed a large hog, and they made a move to try to get into position to get a shot at the pig that had been spotted across the property with the drone. Ressler kept the drone hovering about 400 feet above the field so that she could keep an eye on the boar’s movements as they all three, stealthily approached the edge of the field on foot.
In Texas, a special exemption approved in November, 2022, allows hunters to pursue feral hogs with the aid of drones, a practice which is not legal for other game. “Using the drone really helped us figure out how to stalk in close enough for a shot,” Kunz said. “Katherine walked with us while piloting the drone and keeping us aware of the hog’s movements in the harvested cornfield where he was feeding.” Please turn to page 6
HUNTING
FISHING
Dove, teal to start (P. 4)
Summer stripers, hybrids (P. 8)
Prospects looking positive.
Rules revised (P. 25) Easier for dogs returning from Canada.
Best early, late.
Ladies catching kingfish (P. 8) Tourney in 43rd year.