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LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 10, 2014
Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
October 10, 2014
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Volume 11, Issue 4
Flowing freely Cedar Bayou reopens By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS HECK OF A HUNT: Thirteen-year-old Aspen Hoover is proud of her fi rst archery buck taken on a lease near San Angelo opening weekend. Photo by Terry Hoover.
The last bucket of earth that restored the historical pass to the Gulf at Cedar Bayou was moved September 25, marking a day of celebration among coastal anglers. Mark Ray of Corpus Christi threw the first ceremonial cast with an age-old lure. “I threw a Johnson Silver Minnow Spoon with an orange tag,” he said. And by the weekend, the fishermen were already there. “A friend of mine caught his limit of redfish in no time and said there were plenty of boats there, and they were catching fish,” said retired Rockport fishing guide James Fox. The dredging effort took more than five months and wasn’t without drama. The construction crew had to constantly be on the lookout for turtle and piping plover nests. And had the crew known that Rockport guide Brian Holden observed four early arriving whooping cranes within six miles of the site on September 12, the completion of the project could have been in jeopardy. Fortunately, after years of engineering studies and fundraising efforts for the $9.4 million project, the vital connection from Mesquite Bay to the Gulf of Mexico was reinstated. Aransas County Judge Burt Mills, who signed the original dredging permit in 2011, operated the excavator for the final Please turn to page 14
Off to a great start Youth deer hunter connects on first bow buck; others having success By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Edgewood hunter Terry Hoover grew up having to earn everything that came to him when it came to hunting. He wasn’t allowed to shoot a buck until he could afford to pay his way onto a lease. He carried that philosophy when it came to his 13-year-old daughter, Aspen. If she wanted to shoot a buck with her bow, she was going to have to put in the time. “She is shooting her bow all the time,” he said. “She shoots in competitions around Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. We’ve got a tripod stand in the backyard and we practiced all the time shooting the 3-D targets at all different angles.” Hoover hunts a lease near San FINALLY: Excavator operators opened the historic Cedar Bayou pass on Sept. 25, allowing bay water to fl ow again into the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by Kim Ogonosky.
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PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Pronghorn season sees good bucks, less confusion on regulations By Conor Harrison The Texas pronghorn season got off to a good start Saturday, when more than 30 hunters checked antelope at the Dalhart check station. There was less confusion among
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hunters this season — year two of the experimental pronghorn units (8,17 and 25) where hunters could purchase over-the-counter tags for bucks, according to Sherman County Game Warden Ryan Hunter.
HUNTING
Making a comeback
Roadside counts show quail are on the rise in many parts of the state. Page 4
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GOOD GOATS: Texas hunters have reported plenty of nice pronghorn bucks hitting the ground this season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
CONTENTS
FISHING
Fresher for longer?
Some anglers believe bleeding a fish after being caught makes for better, long-lasting meat. Page 8
Classifieds . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report Game Warden Blotter . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data .
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HUNTING
Hunters ask the darndest questions
Roadside redemption
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS Many in the Texas deer feeder industry get a lot of questions at tradeshows and over the phone. A few of them are quite remarkable. “The funny comments usually come from people from the city who have a new lease or purchased some property,” said Stan Chism of West Texas Feeder Supply in Odessa. “We answer them as calmly as we can — it’s not their fault they don’t know. But later, we may laugh about it.” One of Chism’s customers had a new ranch near San Saba, and bought a feeder and timer. Chism mentioned that he could use an accessory, ‘The Eliminator,” that keeps raccoons and varmints from robbing the feeder. “I don’t need it, I don’t have any varmints,” the customer said. “What do you mean, you don’t have any varmints?” Chism asked. “I don’t have any varmints,” the customer repeated. “I have a high fence.” Chism kept his cool, but a friend in the store didn’t fare so well. “He had to go into the back, and I could still hear him laughing,” Chism said. Eric Gonzales owns A&E Outfitters in San Antonio, where a customer caught him off guard with his question: “How does the feeder know when the deer are there?” Gonzales calmly explained that the feeder feeds and later the deer come to the corn. Another favorite: “You don’t need a battery if you have a solar panel.” “We get that one all the time,” Gonzales said, and then shows them where the batteries go in the timer. Charles Reneau owns Chas-Mac, Inc. in Houston, with his wife, Elaine, and recalled a few memorable inquiries. “We were doing a hunting show, Please turn to page 16
PLENTY ON THE ROAD: TPWD roadside quail counts are up across the board this season, mirroring what ranch managers and hunters are also seeing across much of Texas. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Quail counts up from last year By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
All it took was a little rain. Bobwhite quail populations are on the rebound if you talk to quail hunters, ranch managers and biologists across the state. Although they are still well below longterm averages, the roadside quail counts conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch show significant upticks in coveys this season.
“We are moving in a good direction,” said Robert Perez, TPWD’s quail leader. “We need another good year next year, so we are really hoping for some good fall and winter moisture. It takes at least two good years in a row before we’d call it a comeback. “The numbers are still down significantly from long-term means.” In the Rolling Plains, early and midsummer rains fell over much of the land, triggering calling activity and green up. The amount of spring and summer rainfall
totals was highly variable but an overall improvement from last year. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 7.5 birds, compared to 2.9 last year. This is well below the long-term average of 19.7. Public hunting opportunities can be found at the Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area and at the Matador WMA. Chip Ruthven reported on the Gene Howe WMA in Hemphill County. He said Please turn to page 7
It’s always something Recent rains, flooded playa lakes might complicate hunting By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
WADING THROUGH IT: Following a lengthy drought, many West Texas playa lakes have more water than they can hold, making for some challenging conditions for the upcoming duck and goose season. Photo by LSON.
It’s feast or famine for the West Texas playa lakes — the rain is gone one day, and it’s flooding the next. Either way, it creates unique environments come duck season. “It’s been different this year,” said Ben Fournier, with Ogallala Outdoors. “There haven’t been full-on rainstorms, but we’ll get 3 or 4 inches at a time and it’s getting really sloshy. Playa lakes are to the maximum; more than what they should be.” So much so that it’s changing patterns for birds — from geese and
ducks to quail — and expectations are changing for the season, as well. “There are some spots that are so flooded out that they are just staging areas for birds going to the coast,” Fournier said. “The access is nearly impossible. I think a lot of people will try and hunt those spots, which is a slippery slope.” With an abundance of water comes an abundance of birds, however. Evan Botsford, a guide with Crooked Wing Outfitters, said they had a stellar teal season and it ended with good numbers and large birds. Limits can be hard to come by, though, as the Please turn to page 23
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On the uptick Mule deer hunters optimistic for great season after moisture By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News
Not too many Lone Star hunters have been chasing mule deer with a bow during the first two weeks of the season, according to West Texas guides. But those that have are reporting good numbers and good bucks — with many more being seen on trail cameras as operators head into the rifle season on Nov. 1. Bow season began Sept. 27 and runs until
Oct. 31. “We only had two mule deer archery hunters last year and we don’t have any this season,” said Hunter Ross of Desert Safaris. “We’ve got all of our regulars headed out Nov. 5 to get started.” Ross hunts ranches in Jeff Davis, Brewster and Pecos counties, with the majority in Jeff Davis. “We are looking really good,” he said. “We had rain since May and September Please turn to page 19
GOOD RAIN, GOOD BUCKS: Range conditions are excellent across much of Texas’ mule deer areas, giving hunters a good chance at a big buck this season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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Early teal a bust for many coastal WMA hunters Bluewings stall up north By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
The many hunters who crowded the coastal wildlife management areas for the threeweekend early teal season came away mostly disappointed. “Overall, it was a pretty dismal teal season,” said Matt Nelson, who overseas the coastal WMAs for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “The birds just weren’t here. We had good habitat, just didn’t have the ducks.” At the Guadalupe Delta WMA in Calhoun County, a total of 125 hunters harvested 275 birds for an average of 2.2 birds per hunter. At the Mad Island WMA in Matagorda County, 235 hunters killed a measly 305 birds during the three weekends.
At the Justin Hurst WMA in Brazoria County, more than 300 hunters killed just under two teal per hunter for a total of around 600 ducks. “We could use some more rain for big duck season,” Nelson said. “Mad Island needs it bad. The soil is still moist, so it wouldn’t take a big rain to get the water up. There is no standing water. Our fingers are crossed because the marsh is full because of the high tides we’ve been having. “But we could stand some more rain.” Nelson said the first weekend was very crowded at most hunting spots, but hunter numbers tailed off as the season went on. “The word got out that we just didn’t have the birds,” he said. “Over the last three years, Please turn to page 23
THANKS FOR BEING ON TIME: Many Texas WMA hunters were left wondering what happened to the teal this season. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
“Red” Duke selected for Capstick Award Physician, media personality, hunter and ardent conservationist, Dr. James Henry “Red” Duke of Houston has been selected to receive the Dallas Safari Club’s highest award. Duke, 84, will receive the Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award during the DSC convention and sporting expo, Jan. 15-18, in Dallas. Duke has been especially devoted to wild sheep restoration. He is a founder, past president and honorary lifetime director of the Texas Bighorn Society, which spearheaded successful desert sheep initiatives in West Texas. He has served in leadership roles for the Wild Sheep Foundation and Boone and Crockett Club. The Sportsman’s Club of Texas, Shikar Safari Foundation and now DSC have presented him with their most prestigious awards. Duke said, “Man is here and he has needs, but so do the wildlife. I really enjoy participating in activities to enhance the opportunity of wildlife to live in the best cohabitation with man.” As a hunter, Duke accomplished the coveted North American grand slam of wild sheep. He is especially fond of hunting Dall’s sheep, with more than 20 hunts under his belt so far, and he has three different sheep species in the Boone and Crockett records book. Duke’s professional accomplishments are extensive, with a distinguished and still-active career as a trauma surgeon and professor. He established Houston’s Hermann Hospital Life Flight operations in 1976 and remains the medical director of its trauma and emergency services. He is a founding member of the American Trauma Society and is an advanced trauma life-support instructor for the American College of Surgeons. — DSC
Red Duke
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Boy drowns while retrieving dove A 14-year-old boy drowned last week in a stock tank near Alvarado after he went in to retrieve a downed dove. According to Johnson County deputies, Fort Worth hunter Joseph Lopez went missing after swimming into a stock pond that was about 12 feet deep.
Sellmark recognized for excellence A Mansfield-based shooting sports manufacturer, Sellmark Corporation, has been recognized for the second time by the Dallas Business Journal as one of the best femaleowned businesses in North Texas. Dianna
The young man was hunting with another youth and an adult, who didn’t realize the boy was in trouble until it was too late to reach him. A boat from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and members of the Cleburne Fire Department’s dive team entered the pond and recovered the body. — Staff report
Sellers is the CEO. Honored for its double-digit growth, Sellmark appeared at No. 56 on the 2014 Top 100 women-owned businesses in North Texas, which highlights the accomplishments of influential women business owners in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. — Staff report
Quail counts up this year Continued from page 4
a roadside survey run at the Gene Howe resulted recorded 3.7 birds/mile. “Not great, but much better than recent years and better than we saw last week at the Matador WMA. I would give the forecast up there a solid ‘5’ (out of 10),” he said. In the South Texas plains, decent carryover from last season resulted in good numbers across much of the region. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 11.6 compared to 6.0 last year. “Despite an approximate 4-inch deficit to our average rainfall we are in surprisingly good shape with our population,” said Irvin Welch from Jim Hogg County on the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch newsletter. “I’d rate us a 7-7.5 as of today, even though we have hit another
dry spell.” In the Trans-Pecos Region, the average number of scaled quail observed per route was 6.0 compared to 8.4 last year. This is below the LTM of 15.6. Public hunting opportunities can be found at Elephant Mountain and Black Gap Wildlife Management Areas. The Edwards Plateau recorded 4.88 birds, compared to 1.25 last year and below the LTM of 5.72 birds. One area that seems to be doing better than the LTM, is the Gulf Prairies and Marshes area of the state. Bobwhite quail counts hit 19.9 birds this season, up from 11.33 last season and way over the LTM of 10.6 birds. Most of this area is private land, but quail are definitely on the rebound.
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FISHING
DIY Spots
A ‘fresh’ method
Bleed fish after the catch for better, cleaner meat By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
When Lake Texoma guide Chris Carey pulls a striper out of the water, he immediately tears one of the gills and puts the fish in a large cooler of cold water — a method he learned from a client more than two years ago. “I should have figured it out a long time ago,” Carey said. “I had a customer that insisted I bleed the fish out, and so I did. After 17 years of guiding, I can definitely tell a difference. I think it tastes better, and it definitely looks better.” An example: When Carey doesn’t cut a gill, the meat of the fish has a cloudier look, and when squeezed will release small bubbles of blood. When the gill is broken, the meat is white with no trace of blood. Nick Gutierrez, an employee at Katie’s Fish Market in Galveston, said he hadn’t seen any of his fishermen employ the practice on the coast. “Generally our boats do not do that on the gills specifically,” Gutierrez said. “The vendors want to see the gills to look at how fresh the fish is. They want to see those deep red gills.” He had heard of the method, though, when self-employed fishmonger PJ Stoops came through looking for sushi meat. “I’ve been fish mongering for the better part of a decade,” Stoops said. “Before that, I was a chef at several restaurants.” He has worked in high-end restaurants across the state, as well as France, and is now working to open a restaurant called Foreign Correspondence in Houston. Stoops has been using the “bleeding out” method for years, and to him it’s something that’s a no-brainer for anyone looking to dress a fish for consumption. “No matter what I catch on my own, I always bleed it out,” Stoops said. “I think of it as analogous to how you kill a land animal. I think of it like a chicken or a pig — you do it for the exact same reason; it’s as simple and boring as that.” The processes are simple. Tearing a gill is one method, but severing the spine below the gill plate is the way Stoops prefers to kill the fish. It is fast Please turn to page 31
NATURAL ART: Guide Scott Sommerlatte caught multiple bull reds this summer with rather unusual spots on their tail. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Can spots on redfish be enhanced? By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
It was early September when the group fishing near Port O’Connor found the big redfish at the mouth of a cut separating the bays from the Gulf of Mexico. Among the big redfish was a bull that had an almost perfect figure-eight spot near the base of the tail. Another fish had a perfect S-shaped spot, matching the anglers’ last names. But can redfish be bred to produce more spots? Or spots
of a certain pattern? They could, but don’t count on the state to start breeding redfish just for more spots. “From the standpoint of spots, there is no way to tell if a redfish was spawned in a hatchery or the wild,” said Shane Bonnot, hatchery manager at Sea Center Texas, who breeds redfish to be released into the wild for TPWD. “Those spots are just pigment in the skin — cromatophores — and certain things in the environment can trigger changes in spots, kind of like a chameleon changing colors.” Bonnot said his hatchery does not select brood stock to Please turn to page 34
From frustration to hopefulness Coastal guides work together to improve fishing etiquette By Craig Nyhus
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START AT THE GILLS: Bleeding a fish out through the gills after catching it may make for more fresh, white meat. Photo by Chris Carey, for LSON.
Rockport fly-fishing guide Chuck Nasier was at his wit’s end. Increased boat traffic, and especially increased intrusion on the areas he fishes, was taking its toll on the guide and his customers. “When someone runs the shoreline in their boat, it’s over for me,” he said. Nasier decided to try to do something about it. He contacted top guides in the Coastal Bend area in the hopes of coming up with a positive solution. “We need to do something constructive without asking any regulatory entity to help,” he said, “because they won’t. And we need to stand for something positive.” The group of guides from all walks of the coastal fishing life came together September 23 for a candid discussion and the Please turn to page 33
MANNERS MATTER: Coastal Bend guides of all types are working together to educate anglers on the etiquette of coastal fi shing. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Key on grass COLETO CREEK RESERVOIR — The bass bite has been good on the lake between Victoria and Goliad, according to Internet reports from multiple anglers. Find the grass and find the bass is what anglers are saying, with good largemouths up to 8 pounds being caught on jigs with plastic craw trailers in 7 to 10 feet of water. Lipless crankbaits and chartreuse soft plastics are also catching fish. Crappie and white bass have been slow, and some decent catfish have been caught from trotlines. The ramps are steep but usable at this time. The water is murky and 80 degrees in the main lake and 93 degrees at the discharge.
Crappie pattern LAKE FORK — The crappie bite is finally getting good on Lake Fork, according to angler Todd Box on the Texas Fishing Forum. Submerged trees in 15 to 20 feet started producing this week, especially those at bends in creeks. “OK, what I’ve pieced together so far here, is that once fall approaches, the crappie leave their summer haunts and congregate on structure in the first major bends in the creeks chan-
ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 8.86’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, later switching to Texas rigs, lipless crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs over brush piles. AMISTAD: Water murky; 83–87 degrees; 36.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on buzzbaits, spooks and Pop–R’s in 4–12 feet. ATHENS: Water clear; 76–80 degrees; 1.64’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin shaky heads and wacky worms. Crappie are good on minnows and tube jigs. BASTROP: Water stained; 86–90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastics. BELTON: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 11.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits and lipless crankbaits near banks. Hybrid striper are slow. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 77–81 degrees; 2.54’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged creature baits and craws. White bass are good on slabs and top-waters. BONHAM: Water stained, 76–79 degrees; 2.97’ low. Largemouth bass are slow along creek channel and on the rocks with crankbaits, buzzbaits and Texas-rigged soft plastics. BRAUNIG: Water stained. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and spinner baits. Striped bass are good down rigging silver and gold spoons near the jetty and dam. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear, 76–80 degrees; 23.54’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and white spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and
top-waters. Channel catfish are good on trotlines. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 12.60’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits, lipless crankbaits and soft plastics over brush piles. BUCHANAN: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 31.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on green pumpkin soft plastics, Pop–R’s, and shad flukes along deeper creek points and ledges in 6–15 feet at daylight. CADDO: Water stained; 78–82 degrees; 0.35’ low. Largemouth bass are good on bladed jigs and buzzbaits. White and yellow bass are good on top-waters. CALAVERAS: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse lipless crankbaits and crankbaits. CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 80–84 degrees; 10.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on drop-shot rigs and watermelon red Whacky Sticks along grassy banks early and late. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 83–87 degrees; 26.99’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on perch-colored lipless crankbaits and white spinner baits. COLEMAN: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 18.54’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse spinner baits, soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. CONROE: Water stained; 82–86 degrees; 0.52’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse and watermelon red Carolina-rigged soft plastics, Senkos and lipless crankbaits. COOPER: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 11.10’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms in green pumpkin. FALCON: Water murky; 84–88 degrees; 31.90’ low. Largemouth bass are good on small crankbaits and spinner baits in 5–8 feet.
FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on perch-colored lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut shad, liver and shrimp under trees. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 79–83 degrees; 16.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on medium-running crankbaits, Senkos, Texas rigs and jigs. GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin Carolina-rigged soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. GRANBURY: Water murky; 83–87 degrees; 8.65’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/chartreuse spinner baits and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on green striper jigs. GRANGER: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 0.26’ high. Largemouth bass are good on white spinner baits upriver. Crappie are good on white tube jigs in 4–15 feet. Blue catfish are good on shad. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 76–81 degrees; 11.45’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rig craws and shallow crankbaits. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 82–86 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass to 3 pounds are excellent on silver lipless crankbaits and Texas-rigged pumpkinseed soft plastics. White bass are slow. Crappie are excellent on live minnows at night. HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 79–83 degrees; 28.71’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to jigs, Texas rigs and DT 10s. JOE POOL: Water clear; 77–80 degrees; 1.57’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and weightless Senkos. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 78–82;
nels in 19 to 20 feet of water,” Box wrote. “Now, hopefully, I’ll be able to duplicate this in other areas and follow them back as they migrate shallower to feed up for the winter months.” He was throwing a 1/32-ounce jig head with a blue/glo-treuse trailer. The water is clear, 76-80 degrees and largemouth bass are being caught on Texas-rigged creature baits near shallow timber. Topwaters are also working.
Solid white bass, hybrid bite CEDAR CREEK RESERVOIR — The white and hybrid striped bass bite has been good over structure, according to multiple anglers. Midday has been the best time to pick up lots of bites. Game Warden Hump, Iron Wall Hump, Key Ranch Drop-off, Spillway Hump and Enchanted Isle Ridge were all spots anglers said they were catching fish between 10 and 20 feet. Finesse patterns with Mepps spinners, small jigs and crappie rigs have all caught fish. The water is clear and largemouth bass are also being caught on Texasrigged craws in green pumpkin color. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. — Conor Harrison
degrees; 0.48’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 78–83 degrees; 12.69’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on square-billed crankbaits and black buzzbaits. LBJ: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 0.47’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on blue flake Whacky Sticks, black/blue jigs, and Texas-rigged soft plastics in 5–12 feet early. LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 77–81 degrees; 6.67’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, top-waters and spinner baits near shallow cover. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 82–88 degrees; 0.70’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and crankbaits. Striped bass are excellent on Zara spooks and lipless crankbaits. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 85–91 degrees; 1.89’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and drop-shot finesse worms along deeper points and breaks. MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 91–97 degrees; 0.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina-rigged soft plastics, deep-diving crankbaits and drop-shot finesse worms near breaks. NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 80–84 degrees; 1.54’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crappie jigs and shallow-running crankbaits near Crappie Point. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 78–83 degrees; 40.8’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-water frogs early, later switching to Texas rigs, jigs and shaky heads. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 78–83 degrees; 24.6’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Texas rigs, shaky heads, crankbaits, Carolina rigs
and jigs. PALESTINE: Water clear; 76–80 degrees; 1.07’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin finesse jigs and creature baits on brushed out docks. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 77–84 degrees; 15.59’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters early, later switching to drop-shot rigs, Carolina rigs, Texas rigs and jigs. PROCTOR: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 12.35’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 78–84 degrees; 9.98’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on deep-diving crankbaits and football jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs and topwaters. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 77–81 degrees; 6.98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white spinner baits and topwaters. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 77–80 degrees; 9.41’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on green pumpkin shaky heads. White bass are fair on top-waters. Hybrid striper are good on minnows and slabs. SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 81–85 degrees; 2.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on bone top-waters and watermelon soft plastic worms. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 81–85 degrees; 0.70’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 12.05’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastic worms. White bass are good on pet spoons and slabs. SWEETWATER: Water murky; 77–82 degrees; 27.4’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters early, later
n Saltwater reports: Please turn to
Page 14 switching to Carolina rigs, jigs and Texas rigs. TAWAKONI: Water stained; 78–83 degrees; 11.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, hollow-body frogs and black buzzbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. TEXOMA: Water clear; 76–80 degrees; 6.25’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, medium crankbaits and shakyhead worms. Striped bass are good on top-waters and slabs. TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 2.17’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black/blue soft plastic worms and deep-diving crankbaits. TRAVIS: Water murky; 83–87 degrees; 56.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on bone chuggers and watermelon worms in 15–28 feet. WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striper are fair on silver spoons. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and white/chartreuse tube jigs near the dam. WHITNEY: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 9.89’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon and chartreuse lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and soft plastics off points. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 78–83 degrees; 4.94’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on flipping tubes and flipping jigs near shallow cover. Crappie are good on white jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on trotlines. — TPWD
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October 10, 2014
Page 11
Some here, some there
Texas’ reservoirs receive mixed amounts of water from October storms By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
Some of the fall storms that swept across the state in early October hit reservoirs where they needed it, but others missed the major level fluctuations. West Texas received some big-time relief from the rains. “We’ve done pretty well actually,” said Charlie Munger, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “(Lake) Alan Henry came up about 10 feet, but J.B. Thomas was the big winner. It came up about 35 feet.” After years of severe drought in his district, large fall rains are having a significant impact. “Access was never really a problem at Alan Henry, but now at J.B. you can use the paved ramps,” he said. “We haven’t been able to launch boats there in a long time; it’s looking a lot better than it did last year.” Effects were less substantial from west to east across Texas. Possum Kingdom Lake, which is 15 feet low, came up about 10 inches, which is noticeable but not a game changer. “It took about a week for it to get down the Brazos,” said TPWD biologist Tom Lang. “But when you get that low, 10 inches can go a long way. “We’re hoping we can get those long, gradual increases so we can get back to where we’ve been in the past.” The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex was pounded by severe storms at the
beginning of the month, but lakes just to the east failed to capture what any of the biologists would consider substantial rises. “I don’t know if it’s had much of an impact out here at Tawakoni,” said TPWD biologist Kevin Storey. “By the time it (the storm) got to Tyler, we only got about 30 minutes of good rain.” As for the Central Texas reservoirs? Rains haven’t been able to move the needle on their drought-stricken bodies of water. “It hasn’t changed much at all, to be honest,” said Marcos De Jesus, a Lake Travis biologist with TPWD. “These rains helped a little, but our drought it so severe that we are going to need a lot more rain for it to make an impact.” While the low levels have not affected the quality of the fishing — less water actually means more concentrated fish — De Jesus said the major problem is getting a boat into the lake. “The fishing is actually still pretty good, as good as it’s probably going to be,” he said. “Our biggest concern is access. All of our boat ramps are out of the water. You can still get in if you’re willing to pay.” The biologists shared the sentiment that while rains may not have made drought-ending impacts, it did stop if from getting worse for now, and any rains are appreciated. “Ten inches for us isn’t going to open up any new ramps,” Lang said. “But we’ll take what we can get — every inch of rain helps.”
STILL LOW FOR MOST: Major reservoirs’ in Texas are still low, and this graphic reports just how many feet below normal they are. Illustration by Steve Schwartz, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER THESE PEOPLE NEEDED A MAP During dove season in the Central Zone, District 1 Game Wardens Derek Iden and Roland Fuentes cited four subjects hunting white-winged dove in closed season, since they were hunting in Atascosa County. The wardens seized 35 white-winged dove and cited each person. In the Natalia area, Medina County Game Warden Jorge Tamayo cited two subjects for hunting mourning dove in closed season and seized four dove. BOATING FATALITY ON INTRACOASTAL CANAL A boat struck a large mooring buoy in the Intracoastal Canal near Matagorda. Matagorda Game Wardens David Janssen, Aaron Koenig and Clay Shock responded. Crew members on a nearby barge resupply vessel responded when they heard the passenger’s calls for help. One individual was killed from being thrown from the boat at impact. The passenger was examined by paramedics on the scene and transported home. UNSUCCESSFUL HUNT WITHOUT LICENSES Game Wardens Christy Vales and Jeff Hill were driving down an isolated road when they observed two men walking down a caliche road leading to a house. The subjects had their backs turned to the wardens and appeared to be looking for something in the tall grass. One held a shotgun and the other carried a BB gun with a scope. One man said he was looking in the grass for dove that he could stir up
GOOD HUNT TURNED BAD Hays County Game Warden Jake Scott and Travis County Game Warden Chris Sanchez were patrolling opening day of dove season in Travis County when they encountered numerous hunters shooting dove in and around the area of a gun range. Scott climbed to the top of one of the earthen berms at the gun range to help a hunter locate his downed bird. He found that and shoot. Both subjects admitted to dove hunting and thought that as long as they were on private property they did not need a hunting license. The subjects stated they had not shot any birds. A search of the area was conducted and the wardens did not locate any dove. Citations were issued. MAN CLAIMED CORN WAS FOR DEER ONLY Williamson County Game Wardens Turk Jones and Joel Campos checked dove hunters in the area and came across a hunter who was 10 feet from a deer feeder. Campos noticed corn on the ground and the hunter stated he thought it was for deer only. MIDDLE OF COUNTY ROAD WAS GOOD SHOOTING SPOT Coleman County Game Wardens Lee Morrison and Norman Terry received a call regarding individuals who were hunting in the middle of a dirt road. At the location, the wardens located two individuals, both standing in the middle of the county road shooting away. Both individuals were cited for hunting from a public roadway.
someone had placed birdseed all along the top of the berm. Sanchez shut the hunt down and gathered all of the hunters in the immediate area while Scott collected and photographed the evidence. Other wardens were contacted for assistance. The landowner confessed to placing the bait. More than 50 hunters also received citations and birds were seized.
CLAIM THAT BIRDS WERE SHOT BY OTHERS DIDN’T WORK In the evening, Williamson County Game Wardens Turk Jones and Joel Campos came across a person who was hunting from his dad’s backyard. The hunter was cleaning birds at time of contact and said several hunters left the birds there with him so he could clean them. Campos asked for a wildlife resource document and the hunter could not produce one. He later admitted to possessing 34 mourning dove and going over the daily bag limit. Another man confessed to going over the daily bag in the morning hunt. Cases are pending. A LITTLE TOO FAR SOUTH During the Central Zone dove season, Fort Bend County Game Warden Barry Eversole located a group of five hunters illegally hunting dove near Needville in the closed South Zone. Cases pending. UNPLUGGED SHOTGUN ENDS HUNTING DAY Uvalde County Game Wardens Grant Moore and Henry Lutz entered a field bordering a large sunflower patch and made con-
tact with numerous hunters. Upon approaching two men underneath a large tree in the middle of the field, Moore noticed one individual put his shotgun back into the truck. After checking the man’s license, Moore requested permission to retrieve the man’s shotgun and check to make sure it was plugged. Moore and Lutz checked both with a plug checker and the hunter’s shells and discovered the shotgun was unplugged. A citation was issued and the man was told he could no longer hunt until his shotgun was within compliance. A GOOD REASON TO GET HUNTER ED CERTIFICATE Travis County Game Warden Jeff Hill was checking dove hunters and encountered an individual who had not completed Hunter Safety Education. The subject was nervous and unable to produce or provide any information for identification. After checking with the local police department, Hill found the hunter had two outstanding warrants and was placed in jail. TRESPASSING HOG/DOG HUNTERS Duval County Game Warden Patrick True was contacted by
Duval County deputies regarding a group of men who were hog hunting with dogs. The deputies made contact with the group of hunters on the public roadway and were advised the group was hunting the area and had permission to do so from surrounding landowners. Further investigation revealed that the subjects did not have permission nor did they possess hunting licenses. Cases pending. WARDENS HEAD NORTH FOR DOVE OPENER On the opening day of Dove Season for the Central Zone, Zavala County Game Warden Chris Stautzenberger and Dimmit County Game Warden Gene Fernandez travelled to Uvalde County to assist with enforcement. After making numerous contacts in the field, the two finished the day with a total of 61 seized dove that were taken illegally. Those violations included exceeding the daily bag limit and unplugged shotguns. Cases pending. DOVE WEREN’T COMING TO TANK FOR WATER Williamson County Wardens Turk Jones, Joel Campos and Capt. Scott Jurk came across a group of hunters who were hunting by a tank. As the wardens were checking the group, Jurk noticed milo all around the tank. Several hunters were cited, including the hunter who confessed to spreading milo the day before opening day. Several mourning dove were confiscated. Cases pending.
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October 10, 2014
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Reds in Dickinson DICKINSON BAY — The popular fishing bay on the west side of Galveston Bay near Texas City has been good for anglers looking for redfish and some flounder, according to Internet reports on 2coolfishing.com. One angler said the south shoreline was producing solid boxes of redfish when drifting a shrimp with a jig head under a popping cork. Along with solid redfish up to 26 inches, lots of smaller reds and sand trout are also being caught. Soft plastics are working for flounder. The afternoon bite when the wind dies down has been most productive.
Deep wading PORT MANSFIELD — LSON’s Craig Nyhus fished Port Mansfield this week and caught nice spotted seatrout in neck-deep water fishing with Capt. Ted Springer out of the GetA-Way Adventure Lodge. Most of the trout were undersized, although a few keeper fish were boxed. The best action came on the deeper drops and
NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under the birds when the wind allows on soft plastics and good in the river on live shad. Redfish are good in the marsh on small topwaters and Stanley Ribbits. SOUTH SABINE: Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair around the Reef on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on soft plastics, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on top-waters
and soft plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Gulf trout have been caught in the channel on shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good in the mud and shell on top-waters and Corkies. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. TEXAS CITY: Sand trout are good off the dike at night under lights. Flounder are fair along the drops on scented plastics. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Bull redfish are good in Cold Pass and San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal and Lake Austin on
cuts. Nyhus fished the saucer area the next day and found the trout holding in shallower water, along with a few redfish. According to other anglers also fishing in the area, scented plastics and soft plastics were catching the most fish. To contact Capt. Ted Springer, call (956) 944-4000.
Turning on NORTH END OF SABINE LAKE — According to Capt. Lindy Hebert at Lucky Lindy Charters, Sabine Lake is turning on with a little cool weather. “Speckled Trout were in 2 to 4 feet of water. Mullet and Shad were concentrated in one area. If you find the bait, stick with them,” he said. “When we were catching trout, we did not really catch any redfish of any size. The trout bite slowed, so we went looking for redfish. Ran up the Sabine River and started working the banks. It did not take long to run into some redfish. Again, in 2 to 4 feet of water, redfish were along the bank. Really surprised we did not catch a flounder everywhere we were fishing. We had to go to the Neches River to catch flounder.” To contact Capt. Lindy Hebert, call (409) 720-8148. — Conor Harrison
crabs and mullet. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are good in Oyster Lake on shrimp and mullet. Trout are fair on shell and grass on soft plastics. Flounder are fair to good on soft plastics over muddy bottoms. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on top-waters over soft mud in waist–deep water in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp and top-waters. ROCKPORT: Bull redfish are good in the Lydia Ann Channel on crabs. Trout are fair over grass while drifting with live shrimp. Redfish are good on the Estes Flats on mullet and shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Bull redfish are good in the Shrimpboat Channel and at the jetty on crabs and finger mullet. Redfish are good on the East Flats on top-waters and scented
plastics. CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are fair to good around Shamrock Cove on small top-waters and spoons. Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and top-waters. Redfish are good in the Land Cut on natural baits. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Sand trout, black drum and redfish are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and shad. PORT ISABEL: Snook are fair in the Brownsville Ship Channel on free–lined shrimp and on the flats on top-waters. Trout and redfish are fair to good in South Bay on live shrimp and finger mullet. — TPWD
Cedar Bayou breaks Gulf Coast Continued from page 1
few digs. In 1979, Cedar Bayou, a small inlet connecting Mesquite Bay to the Gulf of Mexico that serves as the formal boundary between San Jose Island and Matagorda Island, was closed due to a large oil spill in the Gulf. Larry McKinney, then the Coastal Fisheries director with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, was there. He never expected it would essentially be another 35 years before water again flowed from Vinson Slough to Cedar Bayou and into the Gulf of Mexico. “I was one of several biologists consulted about responding to the Ixtoc spill,” McKinney said. “I had worked in the area and sampled it regularly while doing a study on shell dredging and as part of a research program that involved the installation of current meters — I knew that part of the coast as well as anyone at the time.” The spill had oil heading up the coast from Mexico. “There was a lot of discussion about how and what to protect, but everyone agreed that we give up the beaches on the barrier islands and use the islands as natural oil booms,” McKinney said. “It was the estuaries that had to be protected — there was no real rocket science needed to make that call.” The bayou was bulldozed closed. “I still think it was the best move,” McKinney said. “The oil was moving fast.” Attempts to reopen the pass occurred in 1987 and 1995, with little success. Later engineering studies revealed that since neither project attempted to reconnect Cedar Bayou SCOOPING UP THE LAST FEW LOADS: Although boats won’t be able to go through Cedar Bayou, the fishing at and Vinson Slough, the system did not maintain the hydraulic forces necessary to remain the mouth of the new cut should be outstanding. Photo by James Fox. open. McKinney had fished it many times since the early 1970s. “Even compared with the Lower Laguna, Mesquite Bay and Cedar Bayou had the wildest feel to it,” he said. “You really felt you were far from civilization. Fishing was always good and sometimes spectacular. After it closed, the redfish definitely dropped off, which makes sense because they need a pass to spawn. After the closure, I seldom went there to fish.” James Fox retired as a fishing guide after 50 years, and fished Cedar Bayou for years out of his base in Rockport. “When it was flowing good, the fishing was unbelievable,” he said. “Cedar Bayou is the lifeblood of the whole area. Everything came through there. You could fish in the bayou in the fall, throw a MirroLure and catch trout or use bait for redfish.” Fox retired five years ago, but said the fishing has been waning in the entire Rockport area. “Especially on trout,” he said. “When Vinson Slough closed, there was no circulation and everything silted up. There were no openings between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor. The opening is a win-win for the fishing, the birds and the ducks — it’s kind of like opening up a plugged artery in your body.” Is Fox worried about the fishing pressure the area is likely to receive? “Goose Island was packed on Sunday (September 28),” he said. “People are already going up there. But even years ago, you wouldn’t even bother going there on weekends — it was so crowded.” And no one was happier than McKinney. “Cedar Bayou is just too special to remain closed,” he said. Photo by Lisa Laskowski
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GOOD IF THEY CAN GET OUT: Fishing has been productive for party boats on the coast, if they can bear the high swells from fronts moving across the Gulf. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Rough seas Head boats dealing with rough swells, good bite, slower crowds By Steve Schwartz Lone Star Outdoor News
It’s a tough time of year for the head boats along the north edge of the Gulf Coast, and it doesn’t have much to do with the fishing. “We haven’t been able to go offshore as much as we normally can just because of the weather, especially with this front moving through,” said Brock Schroeder, with Galveston Party Boats. “Lately it’s been really choppy, and later in the year it tends to be even rougher.” Rough seas aren’t the only issues keeping the boats at bay, as the fall season
means slow business across the board. Jillian Williams, with Williams Party Boats, said they haven’t been sending as many boats in the past week. Schroeder said the choppy seas have been anywhere from 3- to 5-foot swells, and even as high as 6 to 8 feet. Their 30-hour tuna excursion on Oct. 3 was forced to return early due to tough weather. With all of those issues, the good news is the fish have been producing — and producing well. “It varies from day-to-day on the species and location,” said Gary Carter, with Please turn to page 26
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Deer feeder vendors get asked interesting questions at times Continued from page 4
and a guy stopped in the aisle.” Reneau said. “We had a feeder sitting there, and one of the legs was made into a ladder. The man’s wife asked her husband, “How does the deer get the feed?”” The husband didn’t miss a beat. “Well, they climb up that ladder and stick their head in the barrel,” he said. Reneau sold another customer three of the crank-up feeders at a show. The next year, the man returned to buy more. “He told me we were putting the solar panel on the wrong side of the barrel,” Reneau said. “I explained to him that you could spin the barrel as you are cranking it up to keep the solar panel pointing south.”
A feed store owner sold a new landowner a battery for his tractor, and relayed the story to Chism. The customer had returned, saying the battery wouldn’t work, so the store owner followed him to the ranch. “He hadn’t removed the plastic cover off of the battery,” Chism said. “He spread the heck out of the clip to reach over it.” The dealers learn to be good sports and help educate those new to deer hunting and deer hunting products. “Just like all of us, they learn from their mistakes,” Reneau said. “It takes several years for them, and us, to make all of the mistakes.”
Anglers spot car, remains from 1987 found inside
wardens responded, and dive teams went in at about 9 a.m. to help extract the car from the lake, which was accomplished by about 11 a.m. Authorities say the car went in on the northeast end of Johnson Creek bridge near Bullfrog Marina. The game warden reports that human remains were located in the car. An official with the Marion Co. sheriff told a family member that they believe the remains are that of Joann Bryant, missing since 1987. The case had been closed for years.
A group of fishermen spotted what looked like an old car in Lake O’ The Pines Oct. 3 and notified local game wardens and other authorities, who extracted the car and found human remains. According to KSLA 12 in Marion County, the sheriff’s department, Texas DPS and area game
MYSTERY SOLVED? Thanks to alert anglers, this car was pulled from the bottom of Lake ‘O The Pines, ending a decades-long investigation. Photo by KSLA 12.
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| | Sun Moon Tides
Moon Phases Last
Date Time Oct 10 4:30 AM Oct 11 12:01 AM Oct 12 12:53 AM Oct 13 2:03 AM Oct 14 2:48 PM Oct 15 3:52 PM Oct 16 12:45 AM Oct 17 1:21 AM Oct 18 1:46 AM Oct 19 2:05 AM Oct 20 2:22 AM Oct 21 2:38 AM Oct 22 2:54 AM Oct 23 3:09 AM Oct 24 3:23 AM
Height 1.8H 1.4L 1.5L 1.6L 0.4L 0.5L 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H
Time 11:20 AM 4:57 AM 5:18 AM 5:17 AM 11:48 PM
Height 0.1L 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.8H
4:58 PM 8:16 AM 8:08 AM 8:11 AM 8:25 AM 8:47 AM 9:14 AM 9:45 AM 10:19 AM
0.6L 1.3L 1.2L 1.0L 0.9L 0.7L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date Time Oct 10 4:39 AM Oct 11 12:40 AM Oct 12 1:45 AM Oct 13 2:40 AM Oct 14 2:50 PM Oct 15 3:40 PM Oct 16 7:12 AM Oct 17 12:38 AM Oct 18 1:15 AM Oct 19 1:49 AM Oct 20 2:21 AM Oct 21 2:52 AM Oct 22 3:12 AM Oct 23 3:05 AM Oct 24 3:19 AM
San Luis Pass
Date Time Oct 10 12:05 AM Oct 11 12:58 AM Oct 12 2:01 AM Oct 13 2:24 PM Oct 14 3:25 PM Oct 15 12:27 AM Oct 16 1:22 AM Oct 17 1:53 AM Oct 18 2:13 AM Oct 19 2:28 AM Oct 20 2:43 AM Oct 21 2:58 AM Oct 22 3:14 AM Oct 23 3:28 AM Oct 24 3:41 AM
Freeport Harbor Date Time Oct 10 12:17 AM Oct 11 1:38 AM Oct 12 12:25 PM Oct 13 1:16 PM Oct 14 2:17 PM Oct 15 3:28 PM Oct 16 12:12 AM Oct 17 12:47 AM Oct 18 1:13 AM Oct 19 1:35 AM Oct 20 1:54 AM Oct 21 2:13 AM Oct 22 2:30 AM Oct 23 2:45 AM Oct 24 2:56 AM
Rollover Pass
Date Time Oct 10 4:11 AM Oct 11 3:46 PM Oct 12 1:20 AM Oct 13 3:15 AM Oct 14 4:30 AM Oct 15 5:12 AM Oct 16 5:35 AM Oct 17 5:43 AM Oct 18 5:42 AM Oct 19 5:28 AM Oct 20 5:27 AM Oct 21 12:03 AM Oct 22 12:47 AM Oct 23 1:37 AM Oct 24 2:34 AM
Time 6:41 PM 12:07 PM 12:57 PM 1:50 PM
Height 2.0H 0.1L 0.2L 0.3L
7:46 PM 9:00 PM 10:26 PM
2.0H 1.9H 1.9H
11:59 AM 1:07 PM 2:01 PM 2:47 PM 3:28 PM 4:07 PM 4:46 PM 5:26 PM
1.4H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H
6:00 PM 6:55 PM 7:41 PM 8:22 PM 8:59 PM 9:34 PM 10:09 PM 10:44 PM
0.7L 0.8L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L
Height 1.8H 1.5L 1.6L 1.6L 0.5L 0.7L 1.5L 1.9H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H 1.7H
Time 11:36 AM 4:57 AM 5:18 AM 5:37 AM 10:52 PM 11:52 PM 9:13 AM 7:27 AM 7:37 AM 7:45 AM 8:06 AM 8:37 AM 9:14 AM 9:54 AM 10:31 AM
Height 0.2L 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 2.0H 1.9H 1.5H 1.4L 1.3L 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 0.5L 0.4L
Time 7:04 PM 12:20 PM 1:10 PM 2:02 PM
Height 2.2H 0.2L 0.3L 0.4L
4:51 PM 11:53 AM 1:02 PM 2:00 PM 3:02 PM 3:56 PM 4:39 PM 5:18 PM 5:59 PM
0.8L 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H 1.9H 2.0H 2.1H 2.1H
Height 1.1L 1.3L 1.3L 0.3L 0.4L 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H
Time 4:51 AM 5:14 AM 5:32 AM 11:11 PM
Height 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H
Time 11:53 AM 12:40 PM 1:30 PM
Height 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L
4:33 PM 5:44 PM 8:45 AM 8:48 AM 8:56 AM 9:07 AM 9:24 AM 9:45 AM 10:11 AM 10:41 AM
0.5L 0.6L 1.2L 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 0.4L 0.3L
Height 1.4L 1.5L 0.3L 0.4L 0.5L 0.6L 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H
Time 3:59 AM 4:09 AM 9:03 PM 10:16 PM 11:23 PM
Height 1.6H 1.6H 2.1H 2.0H 2.0H
Height 1.2L 0.2L 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L
4:45 PM 7:51 AM 8:01 AM 8:17 AM 8:33 AM 8:50 AM 9:08 AM 9:28 AM 9:52 AM
0.7L 1.3L 1.2L 1.1L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 0.4L
11:16 AM 12:48 PM 2:00 PM 3:00 PM 3:53 PM 4:43 PM 5:31 PM 6:20 PM
1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H
Time 10:56 AM 11:38 AM
Height 0.3L 0.3L
10:43 AM 12:16 PM 1:27 PM 2:26 PM 3:18 PM 4:07 PM 4:53 PM 5:40 PM
1.4H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H 1.9H 2.0H 2.1H
Time
Height
Time
Height
8:12 PM 9:08 PM 9:58 PM
2.2H 2.1H 2.1H
6:20 PM 7:06 PM 7:43 PM 8:25 PM 9:19 PM 10:16 PM 10:58 PM 11:36 PM
0.9L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L 1.4L 1.5L
Time 7:33 PM 8:40 PM 9:53 PM
6:48 PM 7:40 PM 8:23 PM 8:59 PM 9:33 PM 10:05 PM 10:38 PM 11:12 PM
Time 6:46 PM 7:52 PM
5:56 PM 6:59 PM 7:55 PM 8:46 PM 9:34 PM 10:23 PM 11:14 PM
Height 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H
0.6L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L
Height 2.2H 2.1H
0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L 1.4L
Time 6:58 AM
Height 1.3H
Time 3:01 PM
Height 0.2L
Time 11:33 PM
Height 1.6H
4:38 PM 5:38 PM 6:50 PM 8:01 PM 9:02 PM 9:54 PM 12:04 PM 12:21 PM 12:44 PM 5:37 AM 5:51 AM 6:06 AM 6:21 AM
0.2L 0.3L 0.4L 0.5L 0.5L 0.6L 1.0L 0.8L 0.7L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H
3:04 PM 4:44 PM 5:58 PM 1:06 PM 1:26 PM 1:44 PM 2:05 PM
1.0H 1.0H 1.1H 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L 0.3L
10:39 PM 11:21 PM
0.7L 0.8L
6:59 PM 7:57 PM 8:56 PM 10:02 PM
1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H
OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen ACROSS 1. Used for bait at times 4. A breed of gundog 7. A gauge used by anglers 9. A game bird 10. A large game of the plains 11. To skin out a game 12. A French model rifle 17. A river lane marker 18. Hunters do this in the North 20. Black, polar, brown 21. The lens in a gunsight 22. A haven from foul weather 24. A breed of gundog 28. Part of a fishline 29. An area to fish 30. Hunters give this TLC 31. A salmon 32. Elk young 34. To fire the shotgun 35. A female bear 37. The tuskers
38. Still hunter’s locale 39. To pull the trigger DOWN 1. A valuable commercial catch 2. Points gun at a target 3. The black and white pelt bearers 4. Part of a gun scope 5. A deer food source 6. The outdoor regulations 7. A trout 8. A very large game 12. A name for an in-hole fireplace 13. The formation flyer 14. A bony food fish 15. A method of fishing 16. The trapper’s interest 17. Inside diameter of a gun barrel
Port O’Connor
Date Time Oct 10 1:28 PM Oct 11 2:26 AM Oct 12 3:15 AM Oct 13 3:56 AM Oct 14 4:29 AM Oct 15 4:49 AM Oct 16 4:53 AM Oct 17 4:54 AM Oct 18 5:06 AM Oct 19 5:17 AM Oct 20 5:02 AM Oct 21 3:46 AM Oct 22 2:53 AM Oct 23 2:07 AM Oct 24 12:22 PM
Rockport
Date Time Oct 10 4:27 AM Oct 11 5:03 AM Oct 12 5:49 AM Oct 13 6:43 AM Oct 14 7:42 AM Oct 15 8:44 AM Oct 16 9:48 AM Oct 17 10:55 AM Oct 18 12:09 PM Oct 19 4:12 AM Oct 20 3:48 AM Oct 21 3:41 AM Oct 22 3:42 AM Oct 23 3:47 AM Oct 24 3:54 AM
Port Aransas
Date Time Oct 10 3:20 AM Oct 11 12:42 AM Oct 12 1:47 AM Oct 13 1:06 PM Oct 14 1:42 AM Oct 15 2:29 AM Oct 16 3:02 AM Oct 17 3:02 AM Oct 18 1:55 AM Oct 19 1:45 AM Oct 20 1:21 AM Oct 21 1:33 AM Oct 22 1:52 AM Oct 23 2:12 AM Oct 24 2:28 AM
East Matagorda Date Time Oct 10 4:10 AM Oct 11 4:52 AM Oct 12 12:25 AM Oct 13 12:54 AM Oct 14 1:23 AM Oct 15 1:53 AM Oct 16 2:28 AM Oct 17 1:26 AM Oct 18 4:36 AM Oct 19 5:09 AM Oct 20 2:37 AM Oct 21 1:30 AM Oct 22 1:47 AM Oct 23 2:12 AM Oct 24 11:24 AM
Nov. 6
Houston Height 0.6L 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 0.7L
2:20 PM 3:13 PM 4:06 PM 4:58 PM 5:49 PM 6:37 PM 7:23 PM 8:09 PM 8:56 PM 10:44 AM 10:55 AM 11:18 AM 11:47 AM 11:18 PM
0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.7L 0.7L 0.8L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.0L 0.9L 0.8L 1.4H
Height 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H
Time 2:35 PM 3:26 PM 4:17 PM 5:07 PM 5:57 PM 6:45 PM 7:28 PM 8:05 PM 8:34 PM 8:34 AM 10:14 AM 11:21 AM 12:13 PM 12:58 PM 1:41 PM
Height 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.5L 0.5L 0.5L 0.5L 0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.5L 0.5L 0.5L
Height 1.3H 1.3L 1.4L 0.4L 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H
Time 10:55 AM 3:39 AM 3:50 AM
South Padre Island Date Time Oct 10 12:08 AM Oct 11 11:38 AM Oct 12 12:27 PM Oct 13 1:19 PM Oct 14 2:18 PM Oct 15 1:00 AM Oct 16 1:42 AM Oct 17 2:04 AM Oct 18 2:08 AM Oct 19 2:01 AM Oct 20 1:55 AM Oct 21 1:55 AM Oct 22 1:56 AM Oct 23 1:52 AM Oct 24 1:46 AM
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.
Full
Oct. 31
Oct. 23
Height 1.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.3L 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H
Height 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.3H 0.4H 0.1L
Time
1:57 PM 3:04 PM 4:32 PM 5:48 PM 7:31 AM 7:54 AM 8:19 AM 8:44 AM 9:05 AM 9:24 AM 9:45 AM
Time 2:46 AM 8:39 PM 10:14 PM 11:52 PM 3:24 PM 4:35 PM 5:43 PM 8:32 AM 8:05 AM 8:17 AM 8:34 AM 8:54 AM 9:17 AM 9:45 AM
Time 11:59 AM 1:20 PM 3:04 PM 3:30 PM 4:02 PM 6:20 PM 7:02 PM 7:40 AM 7:58 AM 7:55 AM 10:21 AM 10:42 AM 10:43 AM 10:59 AM 9:45 PM
Solution on Page 37
Page 17
Solunar | Sun times | Moon times First
New
Oct. 15
Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, north
October 10, 2014
Height
Time
Height
3:57 PM 7:14 PM 8:38 PM 9:57 PM
1.1H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H
Time
Height
Time
9:45 PM 10:39 PM 11:42 PM
Time
Height
Height
8:52 PM 8:57 PM
Height 0.3L 1.3H 1.4H
Time 7:01 PM 11:37 AM 12:20 PM
Height 1.5H 0.3L 0.4L
8:23 PM 10:00 PM
1.5H 1.4H
0.5L 0.6L 0.7L 0.7L 1.1L 1.0L 0.9L 0.8L 0.7L 0.6L 0.5L
10:37 AM 12:14 PM 1:41 PM 2:54 PM 3:55 PM 4:48 PM 5:38 PM
1.2H 1.2H 1.2H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H
6:52 PM 7:48 PM 8:40 PM 9:30 PM 10:19 PM 11:07 PM 11:55 PM
0.8L 0.9L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.1L 1.2L
Time 10:53 AM
Height 0.1L
Time 7:16 PM
Height 1.6H
10:58 AM 12:55 PM 2:12 PM 3:15 PM 4:10 PM 5:04 PM 5:58 PM
1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H
Height 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.3L 0.3L 0.2L 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.4H
A.M. Minor Major
Time
12:55 PM 1:29 PM 2:02 PM 3:22 PM 4:42 PM 8:23 PM 9:05 PM
Time
6:44 PM 7:39 PM 8:31 PM 9:21 PM 10:12 PM 11:06 PM
Height
0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H
Time
7:29 PM 7:47 PM 10:03 PM 10:44 PM 11:09 PM 11:12 PM
0.6L 0.6L
Height
0.7L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L
2014 October 10Fri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed
P.M. Minor Major
8:20 2:07 8:472:34 9:20 3:06 9:473:33 10:19 4:06 10:45 4:32 11:16 5:04 11:42 5:29 ----- 5:58 12:11 6:23 12:37 6:49 1:01 7:13 1:24 7:35 1:47 7:58 2:07 8:18 2:30 8:41 2:48 8:59 3:09 9:20 3:26 9:37 3:48 9:58 4:04 10:15 4:25 10:36 4:42 10:53 5:04 11:15 5:23 11:34 5:45 11:56 6:06 ----6:30 12:41 6:54 ----7:18 13:31 7:46 1:33 8:12 1:59 8:42 2:29 9:09 2:56 9:42 3:28 10:09 3:55 10:43 4:29 11:10 4:57 11:43 5:29 ----- 5:57
Dallas
0.6H 0.6H
0.4L 0.5L 0.6L 1.1L 0.9L 0.8L 0.7L 0.5L 0.4L 0.3L
10Fri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed
1.1L 1.1L 1.2L
1:41 PM 3:45 PM
Height 1.2H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H
2014 October
A.M. Minor Major 8:26 2:12 9:26 3:12 10:25 4:12 11:22 5:09 ----- 6:04 12:42 6:55 1:30 7:41 2:13 8:24 2:54 9:04 3:32 9:43 4:10 10:20 4:48 10:59 5:28 11:40 6:12 ----7:00 ----7:52 1:39 8:48 2:35 9:47 3:34 10:48 4:35 11:49 5:35
SUN Rises Sets
8:18 8:19 8:19 8:20 8:20 8:21 8:22 8:22 8:23 8:24 8:24 8:25 8:26 8:27 8:27 8:28 8:29 8:29 8:30 8:31
7:57 7:55 7:54 7:53 7:52 7:51 7:50 7:49 7:48 7:47 7:46 7:45 7:44 7:43 7:42 7:41 7:40 7:39 7:38 7:37
MOON Rises Sets
9:49p 10:32a 10:37p 11:33a 11:27p 12:30p NoMoon 1:23p 12:18a 2:11p 1:09a 2:55p 2:01a 3:35p 2:53a 4:13p 3:45a 4:48p 4:36a 5:22p 5:28a 5:56p 6:21a 6:31p 7:15a 7:07p 8:10a 7:45p 9:06a 8:26p 10:04a 9:11p 11:02a 10:00p 11:59a 10:53p 12:54p 11:51p 1:46p NoMoon
P.M. Minor Major 8:53 2:39 9:52 3:39 10:51 4:38 11:48 5:35 12:16 6:29 1:06 7:18 1:53 8:04 2:35 8:46 3:15 9:26 3:53 10:04 4:31 10:42 5:10 11:21 5:51 12:02 6:35 12:47 7:24 13:37 8:17 2:05 9:15 3:01 10:15 4:01 11:16 5:02 ----- 6:03
SUN Rises Sets 8:26 8:01 8:26 7:59 8:27 7:58 8:28 7:57 8:29 7:56 8:29 7:54 8:30 7:53 8:31 7:52 8:32 7:51 8:32 7:50 8:33 7:49 8:34 7:47 8:35 7:46 8:36 7:45 8:36 7:44 8:37 7:43 8:38 7:42 8:39 7:41 8:40 7:40 8:41 7:39
MOON Rises Sets 9:50p 10:42a 10:37p 11:44a 11:27p 12:41p NoMoon 1:34p 12:18a 2:23p 1:10a 3:06p 2:02a 3:45p 2:55a 4:22p 3:48a 4:56p 4:41a 5:29p 5:34a 6:02p 6:27a 6:36p 7:22a 7:11p 8:18a 7:48p 9:16a 8:28p 10:15a 9:12p 11:13a 10:00p 12:11p 10:53p 1:06p 11:51p 1:58p NoMoon
2014 A.M. October Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
10Fri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed
9:00 2:46 9:59 3:46 10:58 4:45 11:55 5:42 12:23 6:35 1:13 7:25 1:59 8:11 2:42 8:53 3:22 9:33 4:00 10:11 4:38 10:49 5:17 11:28 5:58 12:09 6:42 12:54 7:31 13:43 8:24 2:11 9:21 3:08 10:22 4:08 11:23 5:09 ----- 6:10
8:30 8:31 8:31 8:32 8:33 8:33 8:34 8:35 8:35 8:36 8:37 8:37 8:38 8:39 8:39 8:40 8:41 8:41 8:42 8:43
San Antonio
8:33 2:19 9:32 3:19 10:32 4:18 11:29 5:16 ----- 6:11 12:49 7:01 1:36 7:48 2:20 8:31 3:00 9:11 3:39 9:49 4:16 10:27 4:55 11:06 5:35 11:46 6:19 ----7:06 ----7:58 1:46 8:55 2:41 9:54 3:40 10:55 4:41 11:56 5:42
Amarillo
2014 A.M. October Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
10Fri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue 15Wed 16Thu 17Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25Sat 26Sun 27Mon 28Tue 29Wed
9:13 2:59 10:12 3:59 11:11 4:58 ----- 5:55 12:36 6:49 1:27 7:38 2:13 8:24 2:55 9:06 3:35 9:46 4:13 10:24 4:51 11:02 5:30 11:41 6:11 12:22 6:56 13:07 7:44 13:57 8:38 2:25 9:35 3:21 10:35 4:21 11:36 5:22 12:09 6:23
Height
0.1L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3L 0.3L
8:46 2:32 9:46 3:32 10:45 4:32 11:42 5:29 12:12 6:24 1:03 7:15 1:50 8:01 2:33 8:44 3:14 9:24 3:52 10:03 4:30 10:41 5:08 11:19 5:48 ----6:32 ----7:20 ----8:12 1:59 9:08 2:55 10:08 3:54 11:08 4:55 ----- 5:55
8:09 8:08 8:07 8:06 8:05 8:04 8:03 8:02 8:01 7:59 7:58 7:57 7:56 7:56 7:55 7:54 7:53 7:52 7:51 7:50
SUN Rises Sets
8:47 8:48 8:49 8:50 8:51 8:51 8:52 8:53 8:54 8:55 8:56 8:57 8:58 8:58 8:59 9:00 9:01 9:02 9:03 9:04
8:19 8:18 8:16 8:15 8:14 8:12 8:11 8:10 8:08 8:07 8:06 8:05 8:04 8:02 8:01 8:00 7:59 7:58 7:57 7:56
10:02p 10:45a 10:50p 11:45a 11:40p 12:42p NoMoon 1:35p 12:31a 2:23p 1:23a 3:07p 2:15a 3:48p 3:06a 4:25p 3:58a 5:00p 4:50a 5:35p 5:41a 6:09p 6:34a 6:44p 7:27a 7:20p 8:22a 7:58p 9:19a 8:39p 10:16a 9:24p 11:14a 10:14p 12:11p 11:07p 1:06p NoMoon 1:59p 12:04a
MOON Rises Sets
10:06p 11:07a 10:53p 12:09p 11:42p 1:07p NoMoon 2:00p 12:33a 2:48p 1:26a 3:31p 2:19a 4:10p 3:12a 4:45p 4:06a 5:19p 5:00a 5:51p 5:54a 6:23p 6:49a 6:55p 7:44a 7:29p 8:42a 8:05p 9:40a 8:45p 10:40a 9:28p 11:39a 10:16p 12:37p 11:09p 1:32p NoMoon 2:23p 12:07a
FOR THE TABLE Best way mallards
2 whole mallards (or other big duck), skin on 2 apples 2 medium onions 1/2 cup water or wine 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can cream of celery soup 2 bay leaves Garlic salt Black pepper Lemon pepper seasoning Long grain wild rice Cut an apple and onion in half and stuff them into one of the ducks. Repeat
process with other duck. Place them in a crockpot and season liberally with the garlic salt and pepper. Season to taste with the lemon pepper. In a bowl, mix the water and soups together. Pour mixture over the ducks. Add the bay leaves and cover. Cook on low 6–8 hours or until meat starts separating from the breastplate. Remove. Strain the juices into a small pan and thicken with flour or corn starch for gravy. Remove the meat from the bones and discard the apples, onions and bay leaves. Serve over long grain wild rice with the gravy on top. — backwoodsbound.com
Lemon seatrout with capers 19. 20. 23. 25. 26.
Deer meat A game bird A stag’s rack A very large game Mountain hunter’s name for the dall
27. Pintail, redhead 29. Of a bow with backing 30. A buck’s domain markings 33. A type of gunsight 36. A kind of fly lure
2 (1/2-inch thick) sea trout fillets 1/8 stick butter 1 whole lemon 1/2 tsp. pepper 1 (4 oz.) jar imported (pea size) capers Melt butter in skillet on medium heat. Peel lemon; chop pulp finely and evenly. Spread in butter. Place fillets in pan; sauté
on medium heat until meat is white (do not turn filets). Meat will lose its transparency and eventually flake when touched lightly with fork. Place fillets on plate; pour butter and lemon over fillets. Garnish with parsley and capers. — cooks.com
*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Page 18
October 10, 2014
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
HEROES
Dallas hunter JUDY RHODES was hunting in the Eastern Cape of South Africa when she took this red lechwe.
Abby Grant, 11, of Austin, was hunting on opening day near Granger with her father, Scott, and shot her first dove.
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.
LOUIS GRANGER caught this nice bass on Town Lake in Austin.
MATT BLEVINS was fishing on Benbrook Lake in August when he caught this largemouth bass.
JENNY JONES traveled from her home in Las Vegas to the Eastern Cape and harvested this ostrich.
Hallettsville angler LAYNE GERKE was fishing in Port O’Connor when he caught this big trout.
LSONews.com
Mule deer season comes with high expectations Continued from page 5
was just incredible. I’ve lived out here my whole life and we just completed our helicopter surveys — I’ve never seen it this lush.” Ross said he had 85 to 90 percent recruitment of fawns this year, as opposed to 60 percent last year and 20 percent two years ago. He said four years ago, they had one of the best fawn crops he can remember — 110 percent — and those bucks are all now in the 4-year-old age class. “A lot of these deer will reach their horn potential at 4 or 5 years old,” he said. “We’ve watched a lot of bucks that we waited until they were 6, and they declined after their fifth year. We make decisions on our management bucks when they get to 4 — if they don’t have the forks or the length we want, we take them as management bucks.” Ross said his ranches, where they have been supplementing feed for years, have a buck-doe ratio of 1.6 does per buck, and competition is fierce among the bucks. “We’ve already seen several bucks in the 180s and one in the 190s, although I know we have bigger,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything yet that really made me say, ‘Wow,’ but there will be a few.” Near Lometa, outfitter Randy Shipp said he also doesn’t have any bowhunters this year, but the bucks are looking good and the range conditions are very good. “The bucks look real good,” he said. “This country has been very blessed with some good rains and we expect our gun hunters to have a good year.” Shipp said his hunters passed on many bucks last season. “We left a lot of deer last year,” he said. “Those deer are a year older and with the fair winter and good rains at the right time, I think we’re in for a great season.”
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Good mulies have been showing up on Hunter Ross’ trail cams in Jeff Davis County. Photo by Hunter Ross.
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 10, 2014
Page 19
Texas Triggers equals Texas-sized fun Former Top Shot host brings TV stunts to Sonora ranch By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Fans of the History Channel Show Top Shot can now shoot all of the challenges seen on the show right here in Texas. Show host Colby Donaldson, a Texas native and ranch owner near Sonora, purchased all of the challenges from the show and rebuilt them on the family ranch after years of drought hurt their cattle ranching business and the family got sick of dealing with lease hunters. Texas Triggers was born. “We needed an income that was not based around rainfall, so after the last season of Top Shot, I talked to the production guys because I thought they owned all of the stuff. It was all just getting mothballed in Los Angeles. I struck a deal to get the zipline and other stuff — being
a builder I knew the value of it all.” After securing the hardware, Donaldson says another piece of the puzzle was the first-class instructors. “Off-camera, I became good friends with the instructors,” he said. “I’ve been hunting since I was 6, but I’ve done a lot more shooting since I became friends with these guys.” Donaldson knew he could run events on the ranch that consisted of a weekend of shooting in the spring and fall, and that’s just what he did. “I needed some help getting this off the ground, so I contacted the gun manufacturers we used on the show and they really helped us out,” he said. “The show was very good to the gun industry. That is how we built it — the Top Shot experience in FUN WITH GUNS: Anyone who watched the show Top Shot and wondered if they Please turn to page 27
could do something like that now can thanks to host Colby Donaldson and his ranch near Sonora. Photo by Texas Triggers.
Page 20
October 10, 2014
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
Dove active on border By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS On the outskirts of Brownsville, the twists and turns of the Rio Grande separates two nations. The white-winged and mourning dove from Mexico, though, didn’t get the memo. They fly across the border river to sunflower fields on the other side, where dove hunters await. Opening weekend in the South Zone brought excellent hunting along the river. “They piled across the river,” said Please turn to page 29 FLYING NORTH: Everett Johnson waits with his back to the Rio Grande River and watches for dove to fl y north across the border. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Former game warden wins award Retired Texas game warden Kris Bishop was awarded the Outstanding Leadership award by the State Agency Council to the Governor’s Commission for Women at their awards luncheon at Renaissance Austin on Sept. 24. “Through her service with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Kris has become a trailblazer and role model, not just for female game wardens, but for every game warden,” said Col. Craig Hunter, TPWD director of Law Enforcement. “She is an exceptional leader whose contributions to our agency will not soon be forgotten.” During her tenure as a game warden, Bishop paved the way for future female wardens by serving 10 years as the only female warden in Galveston County and by becoming the first female assistant chief of Fisheries Enforcement. She entered the game warden academy in 1993 after a professor at Southwest Texas State University suggested the career to her. She submitted her application and competed against the resumes of others — mostly men. After excelling at her preliminary tests and interviews, Bishop was accepted into the 43rd Texas game warden class and became one of less than a dozen female wardens in the state at the time. During her time as a Galveston County game warden, she attained her Texas Commission of Law Enforcement Master Peace Officer Certification, which is the highest accreditation a peace officer can receive in the state. In 2002, she was promoted to assistant chief of Fisheries Enforcement, becoming the first female to serve as a leader in law enforcement on the TPWD’s Austin headquarters staff, and the highest ranking female warden in the state. To this day, only two other female game wardens have reached the equivalent rank. In 2009, she returned to the field and became a Bastrop County game warden where she continued to mentor new field wardens, law enforcement interns, and game warden prospects. Last year, she was awarded the TPWD Director’s Life Saving Citation for saving a drowning and hypothermic victim who had been thrown from his boat in early January on Lake Bastrop. Bishop retired this past summer after 22 years of service. — TPWD
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 10, 2014
Page 21
Page 22
October 10, 2014
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
Deer hunters hit the ground running Continued from page 1
BIG MLDP BUCK: Wharton hunter James Ferguson harvested this monster, 300-plusinch buck opening weekend on a ranch with MLD permits. Photo by Jimmy Ferguson.
Angelo and had a long history with one old, heavy 10-pointer. “I almost let her shoot him two years ago when he was 6 1/2,” he said. “We got some good rains this year and even though he was 8 1/2, he grew a few extra tines and was now a 10-pointer. He’d lost a little tine length, but he gained some mass. I basically got on this lease for her — she put in the time and really wanted a buck. We agreed this buck was past his prime and we’d let her take him if we got a chance.” Opening morning found the father/daughter duo in the blind 22 yards away from a feeder where they had patterned the buck. “We had him patterned and wanted to get on him early in the season before he switched,” Hoover said. “Opening day we had a horrible west wind for the setup and it was blowing hard. We saw deer,
turkeys and a big pig came in, but he never presented a good shot. Sunday morning we got settled in and I heard a deer jump into the pen before daylight. I could tell it was a buck, but didn’t know if it was the buck we were looking for.” Hoover said the old buck had a knot below his chin they had used to identify the deer through the years. As it got lighter, he saw the knot and knew it was the right deer. “I whispered to Aspen, ‘That’s him,’ and she started smiling and shaking,” he said. “It was about 7:05 and it was light enough to shoot, but I knew the feeder was about to go off and I didn’t want her at full draw when that happened. I had her wait and the feeder finally went off.” The buck ran a short distance away from the feeder before returning to feed.
“It took him 20 long minutes to come back,” he said. “He finally came back, but he wasn’t in the perfect spot where we hoped he would come. He was 22 yards and she looked at me and mouthed, ‘Now? I got this.’ She got the bow drawn and he finally put his head down and relaxed.” Hoover said Aspen is very good at waiting for just the right shot and proved her patience by holding until the buck moved his leg forward and offered her the perfect shot. “She shot and it looked a little low,” he said. “She was really excited but I was a little worried. We waited 30 minutes before going to where she shot the deer. There was good blood coming from both sides of the buck, and after 20 yards I was pretty confident. We walked up a little hill and I saw him dead on top of the rise with the sun coming up behind him. She did a happy dance — it was a great morning.” Hoover said the San Angelo area got timely rains and prospects are good for this season. “We’ve got some good bucks this year,” he said. “The area looks real good.” Other hunters are seeing the same thing in many parts of the state during the first two weeks of the season. Gabe Mitchell was hunting Austin County and shot a 155-inch buck the opening weekend in a riverbottom. Several good bucks fell in East Texas, especially Freestone County. The Hill Country had some respectable bow bucks taken, as well. Message boards were full of nice deer taken around the Kerrville area. “We’ve been real fortunate,” said Gloria Velasek at Bernhards Meat Processing in Kerrville. “The acorns and rain fell just right and we’ve had a lot of deer come in, including some nice bucks. This is definitely not a below-average year.” Around Spring Branch, hunter Eddie Gonzales of Anytime Outdoors passed lots of bucks waiting on a big one during the second week of the season. It finally happened for him on his seventh hunt. “Well, it took me seven hunts and passing a lot of does and spikes, but I finally outsmarted my buck,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but this year I was prepared for them and set an extra stand in some oaks where there are plenty of acorns. And this morning he passed by just as I knew he would at 35 yards. I stopped him with a sound and let the arrow fly. “As the arrow was in flight, he tried to turn and run but he wasn’t quick enough — meat in the freezer.” Reports of a strong acorn crop are dominating message boards from East Texas hunters — deer were moving well the second weekend when a cool front came through, but movement at feeders was spotty. Hunters who experienced success hunted in oak patches with natural food in the form of acorns. South Texas reports continued to be slow with hot weather and slow deer movement, although several big deer were taken on ranches with MLD permits. “We’ve had a couple of big ones come in,” said Dana Levee, owner of Freer Deer Camp. “We had an MLDP buck come in that was 321 inches and a free-range crossbow buck that will score over 200 inches. Those were both the first weekend and we didn’t see much at all the second weekend.” The big deer Levee mentioned was taken by Wharton hunter James Ferguson.
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More water, more challenges Continued from page 4
large amount of water leaves endless options for ducks to land. “Our teal hunting was ridiculous, it wasn’t even fair,” Botsford said. “But now the birds have so much water to sit on it’s hard to get a limit.” The water increases from north to south in the western section of the state. Playa lakes received healthy amounts of water near Amarillo, and the totals reached and exceeded flood levels south of Lubbock. Fournier said the numbers he has been scouting have been better than he has seen in several years — particularly for pintails. “I’m seeing insane amounts of pinnies right now. I don’t think I’ve ever had flocks of 1,000 fly over my head before,” he said. “It’s bizarre — I think they were ready to come out early.” He saw healthy amounts of green wings and cinnamon teal during the early season, as well. Dane Swinburn, out of Tulia, said the big ducks aren’t coming through in numbers quite yet, and the birds he’s seeing are more spread out than usual. Farm crops received the rains well in his area, and he said he’s hopeful for a strong showing from the birds.
Some hunters have rough teal season Continued from page 6
though, we’ve seen a surge in hunters on the coastal WMAs. Maybe it’s the Duck Dynasty effect, but we are seeing a lot of hunters who have never even hunted ducks before — ever. We recommend going with a friend for the first few hunts, if for nothing else than to learn to identify some of the ducks.” Smith County game warden Chris Swift said he hunted the Katy Prairie in a spot he and friends have hunted for a decade, and it was not good this season. “The birds just weren’t there in numbers like they have been in the past,” he said. “We managed a good shoot here or there, but overall it was poor.” Final numbers for the Thunderbird Hunting Club showed 141 guns shot 694 teal for a respective average of 4.9 birds per hunter.
UNCHARTED breaks records A new television series launched this summer with sponsorship from Dallas Safari Club, Jim Shockey’s UNCHARTED reached the most viewers of any show on Outdoor Channel. DSC Executive Director Ben Carter offered congratulations to the UNCHARTED team. “This series is breaking new ground in production as well as storytelling. It portrays hunting as part of larger adventures, and within the context of modern life as well as primitive cultures,” said Carter. “I’m even hearing from people who aren’t avid hunters but who enjoy this show nonetheless, and it’s exciting to be affiliated with a series enjoying that kind of broad appeal.” DSC uses its sponsorship to promote hunters’ contributions to conservation, education and advocacy. Over the past five years, DSC has granted more than $4.5 million for these purposes. According to Rentrak TV Essentials, Jim Shockey’s UNCHARTED was the top TV show on Outdoor Channel for 10 weeks ending Sept. 19 in gross unduplicated households, reaching the most viewers of any show on the leading outdoor lifestyle entertainment network. — DSC
“The big ducks have started moving in a bit with this cold front,” Swinburn said. “There’s lots of grain, so that’ll make for a lot better hunting. It just depends on the lakes you’re hunting.” Fournier said while the excess water may make hunting more difficult logistically, it is always a good thing for populations across the board. “If we keep getting light rains like this, our quail are going to start coming back — I’ve been seeing more than I’ve seen in a while — and the pheasant are going to be on their way,” Fournier said. “I haven’t been able to say that with confidence for a long time.” As for the upcoming duck season, it’s a crapshoot as to whether or not a playa lake will be a good place to hunker down. “It’s really micro-climates,” Botsford said. “The birds are really going to be spread out and it can differ from mile to mile. We’ve just got water everywhere.” Which isn’t a bad thing, Botsford said, as competition has only gotten more and more intense for the prime spots from 2013 and 2014, based on the sheer amount of hunters
SCATTERED: Hunters are expecting lots of ducks and geese for the upcoming waterfowl season in the Panhandle, although with so much water birds may be tough to pattern. Photo by LSON.
out west. “It’s going to keep outfitters from going to the same spots,” he said. “The competition has gotten ridiculous, so that should help.” Fournier pointed out that while the conditions may be a bit different, the principles are just the same. “With the teal, from what I’ve noticed, it’s going to be the same as hunting big ducks this
year,” Fournier said. “It’ll be tricky, but it could be a high-volume year. But every year out here is the same old thing: There’s that good spot, and once you find it, that’s where the money is.” Ben Fournier, (214) 577-4745 Evan Botsford, (512) 217-6229 Dane Swinburn, (806) 441-4868
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NATIONAL EHD has minimal impact this year
HUNTER JONES, 14, A HUNTER FROM KELLER, HARVESTED THIS BIG TOM ON A SPRING HUNT IN SOUTH TEXAS.
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The deer-killing hemorrhagic disease, including EHD and bluetongue virus, did not expand this summer, and the danger of a serious outbreak this year has now passed. Transmitted by biting gnats, the disease usually hits deer hardest in late summer and early fall, especially in unusually hot, dry years. “A small number of reports are trickling in from scattered states, but we’re not seeing any nationwide trends or large outbreaks this year,” said Dr. David Stallknecht with the Southeast Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia. “This year is definitely below average so far.” David said one or two positive cases had come in from each of a handful of states scattered in the South and North, including Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, and New Jersey. “We won’t see a big outbreak at this point. I expect a few cases to keep trickling in, but we’ve never had a large outbreak pop up this late in the year,” he said. — QDMA
Federal judge rules against Wyoming wolf hunts A federal judge in Washington D.C. ruled Wyoming’s wolf management plan was inadequate and gave control back to the federal government. Wyoming Game and Fish Department spokesman Jeff Obrecht told the Jackson Hole News & Guide that the decision makes it illegal for anyone to shoot a wolf. “It’s immediate,” Obrecht said. “Everything is suspended, [and] we just want people to know that. We’ve got a responsibility to get that word out.” At last count, the state had 199 wolves in 30 different packs. “There are many positives in Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s decision,” Gov. Matt Mead said in a news release. “However, she held that Wyoming’s plan was not sufficiently formalized to support the Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2012 rule allowing limited take of gray wolves. We believe an emergency rule can remedy this, and I have instructed the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and the Attorney General to proceed accordingly.” — Staff report
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One of the largest bull elk ever recorded in Pennsylvania was shot illegally along with two other bulls this month, and three Centre County men have been charged with teaming in a poaching effort, the Pennsylvania Game Commission announced. Charged in the incident are Frank Gordo Buchanan Jr., 25, and Jeffrey Scott Bickle, 46, both of Bellefonte; and Cody Allen Lyons, 20, of Milesburg. The largest of the three bulls had a 10- by 9-point non-typical rack that initially was measured at 432 7/8 inches, based on standards set forth by the Boone & Crockett big-game scoring program. At that score, and if the bull had been legally harvested, it would rank as Pennsylvania’s third-largest bull elk ever. Buchanan is accused of shooting all three bulls at night from a vehicle. — PGC
New lifevest rules designed to simplify In a move that’s expected to benefit recreational boaters, on Oct. 22 the US Coast Guard dropped the current life jacket type code scheme — Type I, II, III, IV and V — that has been used for years to label and differentiate the types of life jackets and their specific use. Chris Edmonston, BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety president and chairman of the National Safe Boating Council, said, “The boating safety community believes this move by the Coast Guard will help lead the way toward more comfortable and innovative life jacket designs, help boaters stay on the right side of the law, lower costs, and save lives.” Inflatable PFD’s have become very popular in recent years thanks to their comfort and ease of stowage.
However, Edmonston cautioned boaters must still abide by the current standards when using older life jackets marked with the Type I-V labeling, as they will remain legal for use. — BoatUS
Huge outbreak of CWD in Iowa The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announces that the test results from the depopulation of a quarantined captive deer herd in north-central Iowa showed that 284 of the 356 deer, or 79.8 precent of the herd, tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. The owners of the quarantined herd have entered into a fence maintenance agreement with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which requires the owners to maintain the 8-foot perimeter fence around the herd premises for five years after the depopulation was complete and the premises had been cleaned and disinfected. On July 18, 2012, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s National Veterinary Services Lab in Ames, Iowa confirmed that a male white tail deer harvested from a hunting preserve in southeast Iowa was positive for CWD. An investigation revealed that this animal had just been introduced into the hunting preserve from the above-referenced captive deer herd in north-central Iowa. The captive deer herd was immediately quarantined to prevent the spread of CWD. The herd has remained in quarantine until its depopulation on August 25 to 27, 2014. Once the depopulation was complete and the premises had been cleaned and disinfected, indemnity of $917,100.00 from the USDA has been or will be paid to the owners as compensation for the 356 captive deer depopulated. — Iowa Dept. of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Manhunt places Pa. hunting seasons on hold The Pennsylvania Game Commission has temporarily closed all hunting and trapping seasons within seven townships in northeastern Pennsylvania, where the search continues for a fugitive wanted in the shooting death of a state police trooper. Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough today issued an executive order to close temporarily the hunting and trapping seasons within Price, Barrett and Paradise townships in Monroe County; and Blooming Grove, Porter, Lehman and Greene townships in Pike County. “While we realize this temporary closure might disappoint some of the hunters and trappers it affects, we’re certain, too, they understand the gravity of the situation, as well as the danger in allowing the seasons to continue as scheduled, given this new information,” Hough said. “Plenty of good hunting and trapping opportunities remain outside of the temporarily closed area, and we need hunters to readily adjust their plans to help bring resolution to this case and see that justice is served.” — PGC
Sage grouse helping mule deer Measures taken to conserve sage grouse in Wyoming also benefit mule deer migration routes, according to a new study by scientists from The Nature Conservancy, the University of Wyoming, Western Ecosystems Technology Inc., the University of Montana and the U.S. Geological Survey. Researchers found that areas identified as core grouse habitat in this region overlap with winter range, stopover areas and migration corridors used by deer — and that grouse core-area provisions are generally sufficient to limit impacts on deer as well as grouse. Those provisions primarily include restrictions on surface disturbances for activities such as oil and gas drilling. In addition, land trusts have purchased a significant number of voluntary conservation easements on private lands in the area, limiting development. “The study results are heartening, because they show that benefits of sage grouse conservation by many private and public stakeholders in Wyoming go even further than we first realized,” says Dave Naugle, paper coauthor and science adviser for the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Sage Grouse Initiative. — Sage Grouse Initiative
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Head boats dealing with rough seas, rough business in October Continued from page 15
Dolphin Dock Inc. in Port Aransas. “We’ve been heading about 25 to 30 miles off the coast to follow behind shrimpers or sit on the rocks.” He said across the board they’ve been pulling in yellowfin and blackfin tuna, grouper, snapper and many more in good numbers. Sharks have been biting, as well. “It seems like you’re always going to get a good number of the blacktip sharks,” Carter said. Boats have been dropping bait and jigs to about 190 feet near the rocks, and drifting shallower below the shrimpers. Schroeder said the boats have been making the best of the rough seas and sticking to the bays lately in Galveston. “For bay fishing, we have been head-
ing out to the jetties and catching a good amount of bull reds,” he said. Farther out, near the Gunnison offshore rig, they’ve been hauling in tuna on the top-water, and fishing near the bottom for grouper with jigs at around 300 feet. Bait supplies have been doing well, the charter services mentioned; they’ve been mainly using squid and Spanish sardines. As more fronts are moving in along the coast, the charters aren’t seeing any sort of break in the rough seas, however. “It’s just that time of year,” Schroeder said. Galveston Party Boats, (409) 763-5423 Williams Party Boats, (409) 762-8808 Dolphin Dock Inc., (800) 393-3474
Collins wins on Rayburn Albert Collins weighed a 17-12 sack on Saturday to win the Sam Rayburn Reservoir Texas Rayovac with a three-day total of 52-07. His winning margin over runnerup Rich Dalbey was just an ounce shy of 11 pounds. “Going into day 3, it wasn’t a sure thing that I would win,” he said. “I wasn’t even sure that I would catch a limit because of that cold front that came through. Luckily the first three fish I caught in the morning were my biggest and I got to cull a couple of times throughout the day, so it all worked out really great. “I have a lot of knowledge about Sam Rayburn and it helped. Once I keyed on something, I knew where more like it was. I didn’t have to spend my practice finding spots; I just had to run and check them.” His primary focus was on mainlake points and channel swings and he threw Texas-rigged worms. “I was targeting breaks. Most of the breaks had stumps and brush on them, but that was just for a target. I think the fish were relating to the drop-off. I fished some areas that ranged from 8 to 12 feet deep, and some areas that were from 20 to 22 feet deep. “It feels great to win. I’ve been to Wheeler Lake before and I’m looking forward to going back for the Rayovac Championship. Collins said his primary bait was a blue fleck-colored Missile Baits Tomahawk worm, but he also threw a Mister Twister HANG 10! worm. He Texas-rigged both with a 1/2-ounce weight. — FLW
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FULLY AUTOMATIC: Even beginning shooters can shoot machine guns and grenade launchers at Texas Triggers. Photo by Texas Triggers.
Texas Triggers breaks into the scene Continued from page 19
one weekend.” Donaldson said the weekend is not a training course or an instructional course, although the instructors are very diligent in both areas. “This is for fun,” he said. “Although, everyone is surprised at how much they learn. At each challenge, the instructors make sure the shooters know what they are doing. The experience is so much more than shooting. It’s about as actionpacked as you can get.” The weekends start Friday evening with a catered dinner and wine tasting in nearby Christoval. Saturday mornings are spent with a safety briefing before going to one of the three ranges. “There is the lever-action station with matched guns,” Donaldson said. “It was really important to have matched everything. We learned real quick at Top Shot that nobody wants to shoot against a clock. They want to compete against someone and the only way to do that is with perfectly matched guns.” Guests then shoot Colt singleaction pistols before heading to the medium range (400 yards) for tactical carbine shooting with AR-platform rifles through Top Shot challenges like the “cannonball run” and “full metal madness.” Then it gets really fun, with guests shooting long-range rifles up to .50-caliber out to 1,000 yards on a sniper course. “Ringing that steel at 1,000 yards is awesome,” Donaldson said. Finally, on Sunday, guests get to shoot on the zipline with the AR rifles and head to the range for fun with the MP-5s, belt-fed machine guns and grenade launchers. “We love carbonite out here,” Donaldson said. “It is so much sensory overload. We’ve never had a single injury and we are proud of that.” Donaldson said he and several local outfitters have worked deals allowing hunters in the area, once they have completed their hunt early, to come to the ranch for fun. He can also cater to groups looking to spend the weekend, and can also tailor instruction for groups wanting more of one thing. “We had a group of guys that were all going to Africa,” he said. “They wanted to spend a bunch of time on the range shooting scenarios they were likely to encounter over there, so we brought in the correct instructors and tailored their weekend to that.”
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Pronghorn season off to a successful start Continued from page 1
“We had a busy weekend with the experi“It was about your average pronghorn openmental herd units,” Hunter said. “All in all, ing weekend,” Hunter added. things were much less chaotic this season Lone Star Outdoor Show host Cable Smith was with the regulations. We think the concen- hunting during the second week with outfittrated education efforts combined with good ter Clay Pope, and said they had been seeing enforcement presence resulted in a very low a lot of big bucks, but had not pulled the trignumber of violations. ger, yet. “Everyone we encountered had a good “We are hunting Dallam County and Clay’s understanding of the regulations.” hunters killed 10 antelope opening weekend,” As for the hunting, Hunter said he checked Smith said. “They had a great start to the seaseveral hunters with nice pronghorn . son. The big“We had gest went 85 5/8 beautiful inches — it was a weather and monster prongthere were lots horn.” of pronghorn Smith said taken,” he said. hunters as far “I checked three away as Iowa came or four hunters with bucks. in for the opener I didn’t see anyand nobody thing out of this has been disapworld, but I’d pointed. say the bucks “We saw a good I saw averaged buck this mornin the mid-70s. ing and are going As far as health to try and get on goes, every one him again this of them looked afternoon,” he extremely said. “I don’t think healthy. We’ve I will have any had good rains problems filling and lots of does my tag.” dropped twin GOOD OPENER: Cable Smith shows off a nice pronghorn from B r e w s t e r fawns this year Dallam County. Panhandle hunters had good success throughCounty Game — that tells me out the first five days of the season. Photo by Cable Smith. Warden John the conditions were excellent.” Newman reported Hunter said his Trans-Pecos county only received four tags, 14 antelope were checked at the Dalhart check and although he searched during the openstation manned by TPWD biologists — and ing weekend, he couldn’t find any pronghorn that number was over 30 by the end of open- hunters. ing day. The season ends statewide on Oct. 12.
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Rio Grande dove action still good Continued from page 20
Mike Sutton of Get-A-Way Lodge in Port Mansfield, who took hunters to the border. “But it has dropped off a little each week since then.” The group of hunters on October 6 stood with their backs to the brush lining the river, waiting for the dove to come to the field to feed, and then head back to their southern home. Like many Texas dove hunts, the people in the right spots got the most shots. U.S. Border Patrol were visible during the hunt, driving around and kicking up dust. Hunters that improvised did the best.
Platinum Team Trail announces Texas schedule The Platinum Team Trail enters its second season offering anglers one the highest level team tournament trails available. With a $1,000 entry fee, $500 optional side pot, and 100-team limit, Platinum Team Trail offers anglers the chance to win big money. The 2014-2015 season will offer the chance to win even more cash than before with the addition of the Top 70 Championship. Dec. 6-7, 2014: Sam Rayburn Reservoir Jan. 10-11, 2015: Falcon International Reservoir May 2-3, 2015: Lake Ray Roberts July 25-26, 2015: Toledo Bend Reservoir Top 70 Championship: Lake LBJ, Dates TBD — PTT
“We moved to where we saw the white-wings coming in to the field,” said Ruben Garza of Port Mansfield. “It was some quick shooting but then the birds moved to the middle of the field.” A few of the dozen-or-so hunters shot limits, fighting 90-degree temperatures and an influx of mosquitos, but the local birds from two nations were educated to a degree, leaving the hunters hoping for cooler weather and a migration from the North. “We’re waiting for a push of new birds,” Sutton said. “The cold front didn’t last long down here.”
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GRINDING IT OUT: Sean Curless spent many hours battling high winds, waves and strong current to pull in his winning 74-inch blacktip shark. Photo by Sean Curless.
Big bites Sharkathon brings surf anglers in search of jaws By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News High tides, high winds and big waves made Sharkathon 2014 a tough test for surf anglers as they battled conditions to try and reel in the biggest shark on the Texas coast during the last weekend of September. San Antonio angler Sean Curless took the top overall win with the biggest shark — a 74-inch blacktip — and the top overall angler with three sharks totaling
210.25 inches. “I found them,” Curless said. “The wind and the weeds were definitely up that weekend. I spent half the time in the kayak and the other half in the water. There was a strong current and we had to grind it out.” Curless said his first baits were in the water somewhere about halfway down Padre Island National Seashore by 10 a.m., and it was 6 p.m. before the first shark hit. “It took a while,” he said. “I scouted on Please turn to page 34
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Flounder run varying from north to south By Steve Schwartz Lone Star outdoor newS
Flounder may or may not be showing some October activity, it just depends on where on the Gulf Coast you’re looking for them. “They’re not running, but they’re showing up,” Capt. Dan Pike said of the Rockport area. Pike said high tides, warm temperatures and slow water activity has pushed the flounder in the reeds and shallow inlets, making them a bit more difficult to find — but they’re there. “We’ve had such an anomaly of high tides lately,” he said. “It was up so high that we were gigging for them in the reeds next to the duck blinds.” Farther south along the coast, the summer pattern is in full swing, as expected with water temperatures still in the high 70s and low 80s.
Bleeding out fish may lead to better meat Continued from page 8
and less stressful for the fish (and the meat). “It’s stressful for the meat when it’s slowly dying,” he said. “The fish needs to die fast, bleed out fast and go into the ice fast. That’s the way I like to do it. You see it (the effect) immediately. The fish spits out the dark blood, the good stuff, relaxes slowly and goes very limp.” Not only does this leave the meat better looking, but also the major effect is the lasting power of the product. The freshness of the meat can be seen for days longer than a fish that isn’t bled out, and it cooks better — crispier when fried, according to him. Carey said there are some guides who have taken notice to their cleaning methods, and the guides that work with Striper Express employ the method, as well. Bill Carey, owner of the service, said it has become a tradition for them. “It’s something that we’ve come to be known for, and our clients can really tell the difference,” he said. Stoops said he hasn’t seen the “bleeding out” method used in commercial situations — save for tuna fishermen — and isn’t quite sure why. “It’s better for everyone; I’m not sure why it’s not done more,” Stoops said. “No commercial fisherman I know of on the Gulf Coast does this, other than tuna. Most people don’t eat fish like this: I don’t understand it.”
“We are still in full summer mode here,” said Jack McPartland, south of Port Aransas. “Without a cold front we aren’t going to be ready for any sort of run for a while now. They’re definitely not congregating in deeper water; it’s more like August fishing.” In fact, Pike said they were gigging for the larger flounder in as little as 6 inches of water, but seeing fish that were up to 20 inches long. The large flounder that southern anglers have been seeing are not ready to be on the move, McPartland pointed out. “If you want big, we have to go back in the skinny water like its still summertime,” he said. “The big females we have been catching still have those crème-colored eggs, so they’re not even close to ready — that’ll happen when the water temperature drops another 6 or 8 Please turn to page 33
RUNNING UP NORTH: While summer patterns are still in full effect south of the Galveston area, fl ounder are starting their fall run in the Sabine Lake area. Photo by LSON.
October 10, 2014
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Guides along the coast work to improve fishing etiquette Continued from page 8
outline for a plan for the future. Dubbed the “Frustration Forum,” the group discussed how bay boats, airboats, wade-fishermen, kayak fishermen and skiffs carrying fly anglers could co-exist in a time of increased congestion on the water. “We are seeing trends in etiquette and traffic,” Nasier said. “The quality of our lives is being challenged. We would like to go back to how it was in the ’70s, but that can’t happen.” The issue of primary concern to kayak, wade- and fly-fishermen was bay boats and airboats entering the area they are fishing. “How can I help educate the bay boater and airboater with what harms me without affecting what he wants to do?” Nasier asked. Dean Thomas, a kayak outfitter from Aransas Pass, said the type of craft is not the issue, but the behavior of the operator is.
Flounder running Continued from page 31
degrees.” The big fish are predictably holding up in the shallow inlets, though. “We saw a couple of giant flounder in the grass in the middle of the flats,” Pike said. “South of the ship channel, we’ve been looking for them in about 6 inches of water.” Reports up north, in Sabine Lake, are a different story. “My run started about a week ago,” Capt. Randy Foreman said. “They’re staging up on the points and in some of the deeper areas. They’re definitely staging and they’re definitely moving.” While fishing redfish in early October, Foreman said they were unintentionally bringing in some large flounder that were holding up under the reds and feeding on croaker and mullet. “They’re good Texas fish too,” he said. “We caught five or so, and I think the smallest one was about 17 inches.” He said he is throwing paddletail soft plastics on his charters, and having good luck. Water temperatures in Sabine are staying in the low 70s for now, as the flounder activity continues to ramp up. The live bait fishermen are throwing live mullet with some success, as well. McPartland said it could still be a while before the flounder start showing any sort of run, even as late as early November — unless a notable cold front sweeps across the southern coast. “It’ll be a real slow start if the weather change is slow,” he said. “It’s the way it is if we don’t have water movement. They are out there, but they’re scattered. Don’t be afraid to gig the flats like you would redfish.” Capt. Jack McPartland, (361) 290-6302 Capt. Dan Pike, (361) 386-3219 Capt. Randy Foreman, (409) 719-6067
“It’s just congestion — regardless of the type of craft,” he said. “We have educated everyone how to run shallow boats, but not how to behave on the water — with the burning of shorelines and shortcutting of the flats, the flats have turned into highways. We need to educate people to recognize bad behavior and not repeat it. And we need to teach people to run in deep water.” David Nesloney and his son, Austin, guide fishermen from airboats, and said airboats have their rights to the water, too, and pointed out that kayaks and wade-fishermen may hear them coming from some distance, but that doesn’t mean the airboat operator sees them. “People hear the airboats, but sometimes we don’t see the kayakers and wadefishermen until we’re right on them,” he said. The Nesloneys and Ed Woodard, who guides from a boat, said wind and current play a role in why boaters make their runs
near the shore. Jay Ray Watkins, who guides from a bay boat, said most boat buyers fish with guides before their purchase, and the education process should start there, especially in a time when boats are made to run in skinnier water. “It starts with us,” he said. “We set the bar. If we can educate them, it’s better for all. We’re a reflection to new boat buyers.” The group agreed that most problems occur in smaller areas of coastal water, i.e., lakes, ponds and sloughs, and that before entering a lake, all should take the time to look and see who is there. “We all need to look at how we might adversely affect the other guy,” Nasier said. Will Myers and Billy Trimble use skiffs, and said their biggest problem was the constant running of shorelines. “There are other routes,” Trimble said. “The fishing grounds can be avoided. Channels are for travelling. Flats are for
fishing.” Thomas agreed. “Everybody benefits from teaching people not to shortcut the flats,” he said. The group agreed on an initial set of statements to help educate all types of coastal boaters and fishermen: 1. Don’t shortcut the flats 2. Don’t go through fishing grounds needlessly 3. Look before entering fishing areas 4. Respect the other fishermen Future plans include recruiting guides from up and down the Texas coast to further the on-the-water educational cause they all feel is of crucial importance. “We are stewards of this place,” Nasier said. “And we’re very lucky. For a minor fee we have access to all of the area’s trout and redfish — it’s like the greatest deer lease ever.”
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THE PERSONALIZED SPOT: LSON Founder David J. Sams caught this bull redfish with a distinctive S spot on its tail. Photo by Scott Sommerlatte.
Only Mother Nature knows Continued from page 8
specifically produce spots, although in theory, it could be done, much like a whitetailed deer breeder produces bucks with certain antler characteristics. “Actually, we try and avoid anything like that,” he said. “We don’t want to alter the genetics of the wild stock in any way. You can select for traits, so it is possible.” Some redfish are genetically different in their coloring, depending on where they live. Private hatcheries in the state that produce redfish for commercial restaurants said they haven’t experimented with spawning redfish to develop more spots.
“Well, we haven’t,” said Vicki Ekstrom of Ekstrom Enterprises. “We’ve never tried to grow redfish based on their spots. They grow so fast and the market size is well within a reasonable growth period. We’ve never thought about breeding for spots.” Ekstrom said they get their brood stock from the wild, but no genetic modification occurs once the fish are at the hatchery. When anglers catch a redfish in Texas, the number and shape of spots is something only Mother Nature can predict. If any of our readers catch a redfish with unusual spots, email a picture to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com
Anglers hit the surf for sharks Continued from page 30
Tuesday and Wednesday, and the current had really picked up by the time we went back on Friday. But the spot still looked good and we caught the winning shark about 8:30 p.m. The fight wasn’t that exciting — he hit and went straight offshore. The line wrapped around another line with a float on it and the float ended up breaking, but not the line, thankfully. “Lots of anglers dealt with lines being crossed by the current and tangling.” Another angler battling the conditions was JP Cantu from the Fishing Locos fishing team, who set up shop at the mile 33 marker on PINS and attempted to catch a big shark. “Fishing was good, but it was really hard to yak out baits,” Cantu said. Yakking out baits is the term anglers use when they row their baited hooks out past the breakers in search of deeper water and bigger sharks. “It was really too windy,” Cantu said. “I’ve caught sharks in rough conditions like that, but it was really tough to get out. We couldn’t get (baits) out past the second gut — everything was right there.” Cantu’s wife, Nora, caught the group’s
biggest shark — a 63.5-inch bull shark — and took second place in the woman’s division. “We caught two sharks and five redfish,” Cantu said. “We were using jacks for the big sharks and mullet and stingrays on the other rods. The shark that Nora caught picked up a 7-inch mullet. She had a real good fight and reeled it in — it was her first time.” The five-year Sharkathon veteran said all sharks caught were tagged and released. “It was an awesome time,” he added. Overall winners included: 1st place: Sean Curless with a 74-inch blacktip shark 2nd place: Joseph Prince, 72-inch blacktip shark 3rd place: Blayne Mozisek, 71.5-inch blacktip shark Most total inches: Sean Curliss, 210.25 inches, 74-inch blacktip shark, 72-inch bull shark and a 64.25-inch blacktip shark 1st place women: Melinda Cedillo, 68.5inch blacktip shark 2nd place women: Nora Cantu, 63.5-inch bull shark
THIS GIRL CAN FISH: Nora Cantu shows off the big shark that helped her to second place at this year’s Sharkathon. Photo by JP Cantu.
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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
FRIDAY SATURDAY
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
SUNDAY
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY TUESDAY
MONDAY
Prime Time | October OUTDOOR CHANNEL HeadHunters TV Whitetail Freaks Legends of the Fall Gregg Ritz’s Hunt Masters Ridge Reaper Heartland Bowhunter Addicted to the Outdoors Scentblocker’s Most Wanted Jim Shockey’s Uncharted
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
HeadHunters TV Heartland Bowhunter Swarovski OPTIK Quest 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 A Fight to Survive OUTDOOR CHANNEL Shooting USA’s Impossible Shots Midway USA’s Gun Stories The Gunfather Remington Country Shooting USA
Flyway Highways TNT Outdoor Explosion Winchester & Drurys Natural Born
American Rifleman TV NRA’s All Access Midway USA’s Gun Stories The Gunfather Midway USA’s Gun Stories OUTDOOR CHANNEL The Fowl Life Summit’s 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 The Jackie Bushman Show The Crush with Lee and Tiffany Ultimate Hunting OUTDOOR CHANNEL Solo Hunter Jim Shockey’s Uncharted Winchester Legends Fear No Evil Primal Instinct Razor Dobbs Alive Winchester Rack Masters Driven with Pat and Nicole Deadliest Hunts 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 TV Roger Raglin Outdoors Ultimate Hunting Trophy Quest Choose Your Weapon Heartland Bowhunter Fight to Survive 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 The Jackie Bushman Show Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector Craig Morgan All Access Outdoors Red Arrow Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures Realtree Roadtrips Dream Season
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 Woods N Water PURSUIT CHANNEL DU TV Woods N Water 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 Midwest Outdoors Struttinbucks Wallhanger TV Backland Outdoors Whitetail Diaries Big Boys Adventure Where in the World is Colorado Buck Ultimate Outdoors TNT Outdoor Explosion Ducks Unlimited Boundless Hunting ATSN 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 Amazing America with Sarah Palin
WORLD FISHING NETWORK Mark Berg’s Fishing Addiction
Guns & Ammo Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Handguns and Defensive Weapons Ruger Inside and Out Beyond the Battlefield Winchester Archery’s Whitetail Frenzy Guns & Ammo Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Handguns and Defensive Weapons Ruger Inside and Out Beyond the Battlefield SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Amazing America with Sarah Palin
The Scott Martin Challenge
Realtree’s Monster Bucks Major League Bowhunter Rival Wild Whitetail Properties 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 Buckventures Big Deer TV SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Meateater Dropped Project Alaska 2.0 Meet the McMillans The Outfitters Fresh Tracks The Zone The Prieferts Big Deer TV Meet the McMillans The Outfitters Fresh Tracks The Zone SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Meateater
Show of Support Where in the World is Colorado Buck Just Hunt Gun Talk TV
Bowhunter TV Relentless Pursuit Name the Game Midwest Whitetail Outback Outdoors American Rebel Bowhunter TV Relentless Pursuit Name the Game Midwest Whitetail Outback Outdoors SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Full Draw Adventures Whitetail Fix Hardcore Pursuit World of Sports Afield World of Beretta The Wildlifers Blue Collar Adventures On The Road with Rock and Aaron 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
Puzzle solution from Page 17
Wild Fish Wild Places Guided with Mark Melnyk Facts of Fishing Angler West TV George Poveromo’s Saltwater Fishing IGFA Saltwater Adventures Wheels and Reels South Bend’s Lunkerville Know Fishing WORLD FISHING NETWORK Beyond the Cast The Next Bite TV Fishing in the Footsteps of Mr. Crabtree Sportfishing on the Fly Fishing the Flats Sportsman 360 TV Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing The Legacy Experience IGFA Saltwater Adventures Fishing in the Footsteps of Mr. Crabtree Sportfishing on the Fly WORLD FISHING NETWORK Fishing with Bill Miller The Fish Finders Big Bass Battle Westcoast Sporting Journal Lindner’s Ultimate Angler In the Loop Hooked on Africa George Poveromo’s Saltwater Fishing Chilly on Carp Facts of Fishing Big Bass Battle Westcoast Sporting Journal Lindner’s Ultimate Angler WORLD FISHING NETWORK The Legacy Experience George Poveromo’s Saltwater Fishing Lindner’s Angling Edge Hookin’ Up with Nick and Mariko Bill Boyce’s Baja The Session Wild Fisherman Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing IGFA Saltwater Adventures Lindner’s Angling Edge Hookin’ Up with Nick and Mariko Bill Boyce’s Baja The Session WORLD FISHING NETWORK Inside Sportfishing Guided with Mark Melnyk John Gillespie’s Water & Woods Fish TV South Bend’s Lunkerville Flatsclass Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing BC Outdoors Sport Fishing Facts of Fishing John Gillespie’s Water & Woods Fish TV South Bend’s Lunkerville WORLD FISHING NETWORK Krappie Kings Wild Fish Wild Places Hooked Up with Tom Collicchio Crappie Time Reel Animals Fishing Expedition Amazonia Fishful Thinker Canadian Sportfishing Lost Lake IGFA Saltwater Adventures Hooked up with Tom Collicchio Crappie Time Reel Animals WORLD FISHING NETWORK Mark Berg’s Fishing Addiction Wild Fish Wild Places Lindner’s Ultimate Angler In the Loop Wheels and Reels Big Bass Battle Crappie Time Fishing in the Footsteps of Mr. Crabtree Westcoast Sporting Journal Wild Fish Wild Places Lindner’s Ultimate Angler In the Loop
Meateater brings it Great cinematography and exciting hunts highlight one of the most popular hunting shows out today. Meateater, with Steven Rinella, is a fast-paced hunting show that does away with the fluff and focuses on the meat-and-potatoes of hard hunting, literally. The show, which airs on Sportsman Channel Wednesday through Friday at 6 p.m., follows Rinella on his adventures hunting big game across the country. His shows are dedicated to the hunt and he isn’t always successful, which endears him to the hunters who watch the show and have been there, so to speak. Rinella is an in-your-face type of personality, which may rub some watching the wrong way, but he is entertaining and not as over the top as some hunting show personalities. I like this show because it doesn’t feel as if most of the shots on camera are taken after the fact in a reenactment type of scenario. He doesn’t always wait for the cameraman to catch up on his shots, which I like, since that is the way it often happens in real life. Sometimes the animal presents itself and you have one chance — Rinella usually takes it without apologies. One episode shows a rifle malfunction and Rinella almost gets trampled by a very mad moose. Good stuff. After the hunt, Rinella often does just what the show says — eat meat. This is a good hunting show that I enjoyed watching. I thought the production could have slowed down in spots instead of turning the page very quickly from one shot to the next, but overall, this is a solid hunting show. — Conor Harrison
LSON Ratings (1-4 horns) Production Quality: Narration: Kill Shots: Overall:
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DATEBOOK OCTOBER 11
Texas Dove Hunters Association Pullin’ for Kids Sporting Clays Fundraisers American Shooting Center, Houston (210) 764-1189 texasdovehunters.com Ducks Unlimited Jasper Dinner The Event Center, Jasper (409) 384-7005 ducks.org/texas
OCTOBER 14
Houston Safari Club Athena Gun Club HSC Membership Drive Athena Gun Club (713) 461-5900 houstonsafariclub.org Ducks Unlimited Orange Dinner Texas Longhorn Club, Vinton (409) 882-1217 ducks.org/texas
OCTOBER 16
Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org Whitetails Unlimited 2014 Deer Camp Spring Creek Place, Victoria (800) 274-5471 whitetailsunlimited.com Ducks Unlimited Denton Dinner Roberts Banquet Hall (940) 390-6235 ducks.org/texas
Ducks Unlimited Baytown Banquet American Legion Hall, Crosby (832) 514-9010 ducks.org/texas Ducks Unlimited Texas A&M Kingsville Banquet Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Center (361) 593-3954 ducks.org/texas
OCTOBER 17
Delta Waterfowl Brazos River Dinner Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds, Cleburne (817) 307-4468 deltawaterfowl.org Rob Harper Memorial Fund Sporting Clay Shoot Elm Fork Shooting Range, Dallas (972) 567-4683 fcdallas.com/community/txshootout Ducks Unlimited The Woodlands Dinner The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center (409) 893-2399 ducks.org/texas
OCTOBER 22
Central Texas Chapter SCI Wild Game Dinner Chinatown Restaurant North (512) 773-5674 centexsci.org
OCTOBER 23
Dallas Safari Club Hill Country Regional Meeting (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
OCTOBER 24-25
Taxidermy King World Class Big Game Trophy Mount and Western Auction Will Rogers Center, Fort Worth (512) 451-7633 taxidermyking.com
Exotic Wildlife Association Congressional/Legislative Fundraiser Y.O Ranch Hotel, Kerrville (830) 367-7761 myewa.org
Ducks Unlimited Dallas Dinner Centennial Hall at Fair Park (214) 673-9636
Mule Deer Foundation Odessa Chapter Banquet (970) 846-5489 muledeer.org
NOVEMBER 8
Tomorrow’s Hunter 2014 Pam Redfearn Holman Memorial Shoot Dallas Gun Club (505) 360-3336 youthoutdoors.org
OCTOBER 31
Guerini’s Ladies Day Shooting Event Capitol City Trap and Skeet, Austin (210) 875-2234
NOVEMBER 1
NOVEMBER 13
Mule Deer Foundation Amarillo Chapter Banquet (806) 679-3983 muledeer.org
Craig Nyhus Conor Harrison
Associate Editor
Mark England
NOVEMBER 5
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OCTOBER 30
Managing Editor
Texas Indoor Archery League Texas Archery Academy, Plano Indoor Range (214) 960-4088 texasarchery.info
Houston Safari Club Monthly Meeting Houston Racquet Club (713) 623-8844 houstonsafariclub.org
OCTOBER 25
Executive Editor
NOVEMBER 2
Dallas Safari Club Monthly Meeting Location TBD (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
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Lone Star Outdoor News, Founded 2004, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2014 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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