November 22, 2024
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 21, Issue 7
In a class of their own
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The definition of the term trophy buck varies. While many are in pursuit of a deer that will measure up to a certain score value, others get excited about targeting bucks with unique characteristics. So far this season, multiple extraordinary deer have been harvested by hunters, at least in terms of their antlers. Alek Cavazos shot a 6.5-year-old, 9-point buck with his bow in Brooks County that gives new meaning to the phrase “high-andtight.” The inside spread of the buck’s antlers was 6.75 inches. “I first noticed the deer during the summertime, and he immediately caught my attention,” Cavazos said. “I just thought he was a really cool-looking buck, and I made it my mission to target him this season.” Cavazos had the buck in bow range on the opening weekend of archery season, but the deer busted him while he was drawing his bow and ran off. Cavazos continued to pursue him from a bow blind, but the deer never showed back up. “I began to wonder if I had spooked him enough to bump him out of the area,” he said. “Then, during a morning hunt, the buck showed up well before legal shooting light. I really thought he was going to leave before I would have enough time to make an ethical shot.” The buck stuck around, though, and Cavazos was just about ready to draw his bow when a boar came out of the brush. “The large pig ran off all of the deer, and for about 45 minutes, I never saw another deer,” Cavazos said. “The boar finally left and the deer started to show back up. I could see the buck I was after coming my way, and he ended up turning broadside at about 25 yards from the blind. I let an arrow fly and I watched him fall about 30 yards away.” Tony Vindell Jr. harvested a unique spike
Danny Uribe found schools of bull reds feeding along the bottom in the channel near Port Aransas, and had success with jigs. Photo from Danny Uribe.
Redfish finally gaining momentum By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News With the passage of recent cold fronts and a drop in water temperatures, the action from bull reds and slot-sized redfish has become more consistent. Anglers and guides have been catching them from the boat and wading. Fishing gear and equipment designer, Danny Uribe of Protos Fishing, recently targeted redfish on a calm day between cold fronts out of Aransas Pass. He found upper slot redfish in shallow back lakes, as well as schools of bull redfish feeding along the bottom in the ship channel. “The tide was high and there were plenty of redfish feeding along cuts and back lakes off of the Lydia Ann Channel,” Uribe said. “Most of the fish were
Alek Cavazos harvested this narrow buck in Brooks County. Photo from Alek Cavazos.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Busy early morning opener Opening day of waterfowl season in the North Zone greeted hunters with clear skies and light winds, but many reported seeing good numbers of a variety of species. The best decoying action took place right at legal shooting time for some, while others had success later into the morning hours. Hunting buddies Mike Major and Matt Marsh spent opening morning in a blind at the edge of a pond northeast of Dallas.
“The first 20 minutes or so of legal light was absolute chaos,” Major said. “We were covered up with birds.” After the first flight or two of ducks, the birds trickled in over the pond in pairs or groups of threes until about 8 a.m. “It was a really great hunt for the opener,” Marsh said. “The birds were steady and they worked in over the decoys well. I don’t think we felt the need to pick up a call the entire morning.” Major and Marsh both took limits, Please turn to page 19
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Outdoor Blotter . . . . . . . . Page 12 Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 18 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 24 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26
INSIDE
CONTENTS
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Lone Star Outdoor News
Mike Major, left and Matt Marsh took limits on the opening morning of the North Zone duck season while hunting a pond northeast of Dallas. Photo from Matt Marsh.
HUNTING
FISHING
Wildlife students hunt (P. 4)
Heading downtown (P. 8)
First duck-hunting experience.
Gar and cats in Dallas.
Election Day buck (P. 6)
Sandies moving well (P. 8)
Hunt on day off from school.
Sifting through smaller fish.