Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
October 28, 2022
Volume 19, Issue 5
Stalking a Trans-Pecos pronghorn Lone Star Outdoor News Blake Barnett hunted pronghorn in the Trans-Pecos, near Marathon, and, after multiple attempts at stalking up on a buck, finally got close enough. “The bucks were rutting hard during my hunt,” he said. “There was lots of chasing going on.” Hunting with Wildlife Systems, Barnett said they looked over a lot
of bucks, including mature bucks they passed on before finding the one they wanted. “On that buck, we made multiple stalks before finally having a chance at it,” he said. “Stalking them on the open flats made it difficult with minimal cover, and the goats would never stop moving.” Finally, the buck took his group of does over a ridge and Barnett
could get in position with his Ruger Hawkeye FTW Hunter in .308, topped with a Trijicon CredoHX scope. “I was able to sneak up behind them and shot the buck at close range — about 75 yards and drop him with one shot using Hornady’s Precision Hunter ammo in 178gr.” Barnett said pronghorn hunting holds a special place in his
heart. “It’s because they are a true part of a conservation success story due largely in part to a private and public funded partnership between landowners and state agencies,” he said. “Once nearly wiped out of the Trans Pecos region, their re-introduction has brought them back to huntable numbers.”
Photo by Chase Phillips
Big Cooke County buck
Dove more consistent By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News It has been one of those dove seasons where the hunting keeps on getting better, especially in south Texas. Cold fronts seemed to have pushed more birds down to certain areas, and those willing to do some scouting to find concentrations of dove have experienced good wingshooting action. Central and South Zone outfitter Steve Wilson said croton and dove weed fields in the Yancey, Bigfoot and Castroville areas have been consistently holding strong numbers of mourning dove since the middle of the month. “My fields in the South Zone really started turning on after we got a couple of cool fronts,” Wilson said. “During the first half of the season, bird numbers were lacking compared to what we usually have.” The white-winged dove around his fields in the Pearsall and Hondo areas left after recent frontal systems blew through. “Our whitewing numbers really fell off at about the midpoint of the month,” Wilson said. Getaway Lodge at Port Mansfield owner Mike Sutton said his afternoon dove hunts over standing milo fields between Rio Hondo and Los Fresnos have been excellent. Please turn to page 11
After Nathan Martin and his neighbors agreed to pass on this buck for two seasons, Martin harvested the buck during archery season. Photo by Blake Hunter.
Archery hunter, neighbors agreed to let it walk for years By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Nathan Martin harvested a buck that unofficially scored
209 3/8 inches with his bow on his family’s low fence ranch in Cooke County along the Red River. He and his neighbors had been watching the buck for the last two seasons and had agreed to not shoot the deer with hopes that it would continue to grow even bigger. When he first
saw the buck on camera this season and realized what deer it was, he decided he would have to make his decision on whether or not to let an arrow fly in person, after he saw him on the hoof. “I first noticed this buck two seasons ago,” Martin said. “He
was just an abnormally nice two year old that had 13 points. I knew that if he was able to grow to maturity, he could really become a giant.” Martin sent photos to his neighbors immediately, who all agreed with him. Collectively, he and the hunters on the Please turn to page 6
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Learning to fish helps vets By Lili Keys
Gretchen Jones caught the largest fish of the group while fishing with the North Texas Patriot Anglers in East Texas. Photo by Ron Gard. Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 11 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 15 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Datebook . . . . . . . . . Page 18
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News Patriot Anglers is a fly fishing group based in North Texas with a focus on increasing veteran well-being, renewing their sense of camaraderie, and enhancing their desire to move forward with the healing process. Since its founding, the program offers flyfishing 101 and fly tying classes, and has taken approximately 1,600 veterans on single day and multi day outings. Johnny Walker, a veteran himself, serves as the lead volunteer for the yearly local trips to Lake Emma in East Texas. “Ninety-nine percent of those who suffer from PTSD have two issues. First, they have
no hope for the future, or for anything for that matter and second, they struggle to focus on things,” Walker said. “When you flyfish, you quickly learn you have to focus to make that cast just right, otherwise it could end up in the tree! So taking the vets to fish, pushes them to focus on a task. They also go in with no expectations to catch anything but once they catch a fish, they hope to catch a larger one... and that feeling of hope comes back to them.” Recently, Patriot Anglers hosted five female veterans for a weekend-long program in East Texas. Gretchen Jones and her guide/coach, Cathy Case, pictured, caught the largest fish of the weekend despite the strong winds as a cool front blew through on Oct. 22.
HUNTING
FISHING
Hunting Texas elk (P. 4)
Under the birds (P. 8)
Rut brings bulls close.
Sabine Lake trout, reds.
Ribelin honored (P. 5)
Moving on up (P. 8)
Quail supporter receives Tall Timber highest honor.
Bass coming in to feed.