December 24, 2010 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

Volume 7, Issue 9

How to be the smartest (sounding) hunter in deer camp

Inside

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Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

December 24, 2010

No choice TPWD defends Hunt County deer event

❘❚ FISHING

Chill out Anglers suggest cold-water baits, tactics for bass.

Page 8

By Bill Miller

Yellowfin tuna

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Fishing for tuna can be time-consuming and expensive, but worth it, say coastal captains.

Page 9

Everyone in the deer camp automatically knows what the hunter is talking about when he describes a deer’s size with terms like G1 and G2.

Often, H1, H2, H3 and H4 also are used to describe the circumference measurements of a buck.

But where did these terms come from and for what do they stand?

The answers were at the Boone and Crockett Club

The state wildlife official in charge of the recent killing of 70 breeder deer in Hunt County has agreed with critics of the operation — partially.

No scientific benefit resulted from the killing the deer Dec. 6 at the Anderton ranch near Quinlan, said Mitch Lockwood, big game program director for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Lockwood said TPWD had no choice; operators of the ranch could not prove the deer did not come from a state free of Chronic Wasting Disease or other illnesses.

A Dallas television news crew videotaped the Dec. 6 operation, and the fallout, according to one TPWD spokesman, was “scathing.”

That wasn’t the worst part for biologists, Lockwood said.

“The hard thing was the actual act of going out there and exterminating animals,” said Lockwood, who was at the Anderton ranch on Dec. 6.

“No good can come out of this situation like what happened in Hunt County,” he added, “other than being sure there was no transmission of

See HOW TO, Page 14

See NO CHOICE, Page 14

❘❚ HUNTING

Buckscore Hunters can now turn to the Internet to learn a live buck’s B&C score.

Page 4 NICE G2S: A hunter in West Texas admires a recently harvested mule deer. The deer sports large G2s and G3s — terminology used to describe tine length. Many hunters know the lingo, but don’t know where the terms originated. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Ohio death grip

What does the ‘G’ in G2, G3 stand for?

Three rut-craze bucks lock antlers, die fighting in Ohio.

Page 21

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

❘❚ CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . .

Crossword . . . . . . . .

Fishing Report . . . . . .

For the Table. . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes. . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook . . . .

Outfitters and Businesses .

Products . . . . . . . . .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

❘❚ LSONews.com

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How many times have you sat in a deer camp after a day of hunting and heard the following?

“I saw a really nice buck tonight,” says one hunter.

“How big was he?” asks another.

“Big. His G1s were at least six inches and he must have had 12-inch G2s. His G3s were also great, maybe 10 inches.”

Presentation key to Guadalupe rainbows

By Nicholas Conklin

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Quality over quantity has been the benchmark when flyfishing for rainbow trout in December on the Guadalupe River.

RAINBOW: Trout have averaged between Guide Steve 16-20 inches in December on the Bowka said the Hill Guadalupe River. There just hasn’t been Country portion that many of them. Photo by LSON. of the river, below Canyon Dam, has been producing quality trout since the third week of November.

He said fish have averaged 16 to 18 inches, due in part to the annual stocking by Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited and carryover from previous stockings.

Fishing has been picking up in the tailwater, Bowka said, See RAINBOWS, Page 23

Milestone limits Friends do the impossible, shoot 500 straight limits

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS THE STREAK: James Perry, left and Tim Mercer, center,

“Fifty, maybe 100 years from shot their 500th consecutive limit of ducks on Dec. 11 now, there will be people saying, with guide Robert Korenek. Photo by Craig Nyhus, LSON. ‘Those were the days. I wish I had The Houston men, Mercer, in the offbeen around back then. I heard about two guys that shot their limit of ducks shore drilling business, and Perry, a retired professor of architecture at the University 500 straight times.’”

That’s what outfitter Bill Sherrill with of Houston, didn’t initially set out to WS Sherrill Waterfowl in Wharton said accomplish a feat — they just wanted to to Tim Mercer and James Perry (J.P.) after they did just that on Saturday, Dec. 11.

See MILESTONE LIMITS, Page 23

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HUNTING

Hunters still leasing land

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Texas hunters still have dollars to spend on leases, according to many landowners.

A 2006 Texas Parks and Wildlife study on the economic benefits of hunting, stated that more than $300 million is spent annually to

lease land for deer and other game animals.

But although the nation’s economy is now struggling to right itself, many hunting leases this season have not been affected.

Hunters continue to lease land for hunting in Texas, where most land is privately owned.

Internet message boards seem to confirm that, with hunters expressing an eagerness to

find leases this year and beyond.

“I’ve actually had an increase in hunters looking to lease land,” said Louie Esparza of Cross Timbers Ranches, which leases more than 7,000 acres in North Texas. “I’ve never See LEASING, Page 16

Doves might eat more in winter, linger longer in feeding areas

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Summer or winter, mourning and whitewinged doves will cram their craws with seed.

And they’ll eat even more when it’s cold.

Researchers at Texas A&M University say doves have a high metabolic rate and digest all of the food in their craws between 12 and 30 hours, depending on what they eat.

There appears to be no difference between September and December in the number of times the birds will feed, said Corey Mason, dove program leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

But while the feeding times might remain the same, the birds might linger longer in places where they eat. Hunters who understand that subtlety will find doves when the winter season opens on Christmas Day. “When there are cold temperatures, the doves do tend to feed a little more and may stay out in the midday and afternoon a little longer,’’ Mason said.

Hunters also should understand that the birds eat the same food, particularly their favorite small seeds, year-round. Their flight patterns are also consistent.

“All the food is broken down and consumed during the day,” Mason said, “so the birds must find food and water each day.”

Some birds are fatter and larger than others, possibly feeding and eating more than others, just like some hunters eat and drink more than their outdoor companions.

“There are more energy demands on their bodies, but the individual requirements may vary,” Mason said. “Some birds will just eat more than others.”

Sammy Nooner, owner of the Nooner Ranch at Hondo that plays host to thousands of dove hunters each year, said he has observed a slight change in the pattern of birds coming into his fields during the winter.

See DOVE CRAWS Page 16 WHAT’S FOR DINNER: Hunters can learn a great deal about what late-season doves are feeding on by checking the craws of harvested birds. Small seeds are a continuous favorite for many doves. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

After presents are opened, go dove hunting

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Dove season reopens across the state Christmas day. After the presents have been opened and a big meal has been eaten, it’s time to head to the dove fields for some wing shooting that should be good.

After positive reports during the early season, hunters can expect more of the same as the state dries out and birds become more localized and easier to pattern.

Corey Mason, dove specialist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said good spring rains made for good hunting during the first split of the season, even if it did scatter birds.

“In the early season, 80 percent of the birds killed are local birds,” he said. “Hunter success can be spotty because the birds are spread out taking advantage of natural food.”

Mason said he received good reports from hunters in the Brownwood-Coleman area and across South Texas. He also hunted around Midland the first week of the season and said the area received heavy rainfall during his trip, scattering birds.

“The South Zone has a more sustained harvest,” he said. “People down there stick with it longer. Not a majority participates in (the late season hunts), but those that do really enjoy it.

“Birds are more concentrated and they don’t receive near the pressure. It might take more scouting, but you can key in on birds.

If there is small grain available, that is where you will see activity.”

Mason said dove researchers expect good recruitment numbers across the state that will make for good hunting during the late season and next year.

White-winged dove enthusiasts in the special zone in South Texas can expect good shoots on doves during the late season.

Dr. Bret Collier, a hunter and research ecologist at Texas A&M, is in the fourth year of a joint study with TPWD to determine the movement of white-winged doves throughout the state.

“Recruitment was good this year,” he said.

“The rains created a lot of forage in a lot of places, and the white-winged doves were widely scattered (in September) because of the abundance of food.

“Even with that, everyone has had a good season, from people I’ve spoken with.”

Collier said early in the season, doves focus on food sources such as mulberry trees and other mast and fruit-bearing trees for forage, but as the season wears on, the birds focus more on seeds and grains.

“They’re generalists,” he said. “They eat a lot of things and as the season progresses, we see them eating more grains, seeds and that kind of stuff.

“But the birds have to eat every day and See WINTER DOVE, Page 16

Online service offers to score antlers

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Estimating a buck’s Boone and Crockett score is now possible with a few clicks from a “mouse,” and the deer doesn’t have to be dead.

Buckscore™, a new online data collection tool, was launched in October. Its arrival culminates four years of testing and development at Mississippi State University’s Deer Ecology and Management Lab in Starkville.

Scores can be estimated by loading trailcamera photos into Buckscore software, which is available online for $10. It currently operates only on PCs, but a Mac version is planned for 2011.

The technology uses a Geographic Information System, or GIS, commonly used in map making.

It gauges facial features, such as eyes and ears, on a photographed deer. The infor-

mation is compared to stored data taken from thousands of deer measured in various regions of the U.S. “We knew the average eyeball length on deer in Texas is 1 inch,” said Jeremy Flinn, general manager for Buckscore. “Then if you measure the inside spread on a deer, it does it in eyeballs, instead of inches.”

The user receives a printout of the estimate after completing the process. Calculations are accurate to within an inch and a half, said Flinn, a wildlife biologist.

“It gives you an estimate,” he said. “But I don’t see there being a 3-inch error in the program.”

Flinn earned his master’s degree at MSU while helping to develop the new technology.

Dr. Steve Demarais, a professor at the university’s deer ecology lab, said the new technology expands opportunities for people serious about managing deer.

“In the past, our management strategies

were based on harvested animals,” Demarais said. “You had to have the antlers in hand.”

But that method, he explained, involves “hunter bias” which might yield data only from trophy-size deer, or those bucks covered by state-mandated antler restrictions, like those in dozens of Texas counties.

“The problem with that is you can’t evaluate a random sample of a population,” said Demarais, who taught for 13 years at Texas Tech University.

Buckscore, however, lets landowners take samples of any living deer, and from any age group, Demarais said.

The data can be used to gauge the effectiveness of protein-feeding programs or to determine which deer to harvest during the hunting season.

Flinn said he hopes to launch the Mac version in spring 2011.

For now, the software downloads rapidly to PCs using the new Windows 7 operating sys-

tem from Microsoft.

Buckscore can also be used on older Windows Vista and Windows XP systems, but users have to be patient.

A test conducted by Lone Star Outdoor News showed that the software takes much longer — about 30 minutes — to download on a PC with Windows XP. But, once the process was completed and the computer rebooted, the software operated smoothly.

The Lone Star Outdoor News testers used the system to score a white-tailed buck shown on a nighttime photo taken by a trail camera.

According to Buckscore, the deer scored about 136, which was confirmed by deer experts, including David Brimager of the Texas Wildlife Association, who evaluated the deer without the software.

For more information, go to LSONews.com and type Buckscore in search.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Goose hunters waiting for more geese Good shoots reported in some areas

By Conor Harrison

birds that should be in the Etter area are not there. Ducks are The goose hunting slim pickings, but in the Texas Panhandle the goose hunting has been good in cerhas been good. We tain areas so far this need more cold.” season.

Lubbock County Good, but not great.

Game Warden Mother Nature has Chelsea Estrada not cooperated, with said Canada geese warm weather domihave arrived around nating and keeping Lubbock in good geese up north during numbers, and the the early season. hunters she had Outfitters and game NEED MORE GEESE: Panhandle goose hunting has been checked were doing wardens said that average this year, hunters in West Texas said. They said well. hunters who have lack of water and warm temperatures have hampered “There are lots flock movement. On the coast, birds have been arriving access to areas with late. Photo by LSON. of Canadas on sufficient water are seethe lakes around ing good numbers of Lubbock,” Estrada birds and are getting good shooting. said. “We had two days last week that were Adam Clark, the game warden in Dallam cold, but this week it’s back to the mid-60s.” and Huntley counties, said goose numbers Estrada said she hasn’t noticed an influx of were average compared to years past, but more snow geese like other wardens reported. geese were moving into the area, especially But hunters in drier areas are having a bleak snow geese. season.

“The geese were late getting here this year and Derek Nalls, game warden in Armstrong there are a lot more snows this year,” Clark said. and Donley counties, said his areas are “Hunters are killing average numbers of geese. lacking water and the goose hunting has It’s mostly guided hunts in this area. been poor.

“Very few locals set up decoys and sit in “It’s real dry and we’ve had very few goose blinds. They might do some pass shooting, but hunters and very few geese,” Nalls said on Dec. the guides have been doing OK.” 20. “There are a few geese in the Greenbelt, Clark said the majority of geese in the past which is holding a little water. had been Canadas, but that is changing with “I checked a few hunters in that area last the arrival of more snow geese. week, but nobody was out this morning. I saw “Snows are a lot harder to decoy,” Clark said. one little flock of geese this morning.”

“I’ve also seen more greater (Canadas) this year.

Nalls said unusually warm weather — it was “A few guys I checked (during the Dec. 18-19 supposed to reach 70 degrees Monday — has weekend) had been killing a few greaters. I kept many birds farther north, in his opinion. mostly checked local hunters this week.”

On the coast, Matagorda County game Reports from the Talon Point Lodge in warden David Janssen said the goose hunting Channing were more positive. in his area has been tough so far this season.

The lodge caters to bird hunters in the win“We’re seeing a whole lot more ducks ter and said hunters that were hunting with than geese,” Janssen said. “A lot of our birds Straight Line Outfitters had been doing “great.” haven’t made it down here. We’ve seen a few The lodge manager said their hunters had Specklebellies, but mostly blues and snows better shoots earlier in the season, but hunters this year.” still were filling limits through the weekend of Janssen said reports out of Wharton Dec. 18-19.

County also have been slow this year.

According to Straight Line Outfitter’s Web “It’s pretty much like it is here all along the site, “The goose hunting has been good. The coast,” he said.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Ethical transport of game prevents misunderstandings

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS True story: A pickup truck was recently seen going 70 mph down a Central Texas highway with a field-dressed deer dangling from a hitchmounted game hoist.

Another hunter photographed the scene and e-mailed the image to Lone Star Outdoor News. The photo, taken with a cell phone camera, was too dark to print in the newspaper.

But similar incidents can be seen on highways leading from deer camps. It’s those images that rile anti-hunters and make ethical hunters cringe.

In the old days, many hunters threw a deer across the hood of a vehicle and drove through town to show off.

These days, a more likely image is the one of hooves and antlers sticking out of the bed of a pickup.

While showing off a trophy by letting a rack stand above a truck is acceptable in most instances, showing a bloody carcass isn’t.

Instead, hunters can wrap carcasses in tarps in the bed of the truck. Wipe blood from around animals’ noses and mouths, as well as bullet entry and exit wounds.

Scott Estes, partner at Clay’s Processing and Smoke House in Dublin, agreed.

“Personally, I’m an out-ofsight, out-of-mind kind of guy,” he said. “I try to keep my animals down in the bed of the truck where people can’t see them.

“I try to keep it my business when I’m traveling down the road.”

According to the Center for the Study of Ethics, hunters should be sure not to draw unwanted attention by displaying dead animals while traveling.

“There are many thoughtful, well-intentioned people who find the sight of dead game unattractive,” according to the center’s Web site.

“Showing off a bloody animal draped across your vehicle only adds fuel to the flame started by animal-rights activists and anti-hunting groups.”

Proper handling of game animals, especially when the weather is hot, also prevents meat spoilage.

Derek Hardy, manager at Joshua Deer Processing in Joshua, said field dressing the animal immediately goes a long way toward that goal.

“Do all you can to make sure the meat doesn’t get warm,” he said. “If you have to drive a ways, keep the hide on the animal and throw a bag or two of ice into the body cavity to keep it cool.”

Hardy said when temperatures are above 45 degrees, the meat quickly begins to spoil.

“If it’s cold out, you can hang a deer (or other animal) out for a couple of days,” he said. “If it’s warm, get it here quick.”

Estes agreed.

“Really, the main thing is get the animal into a cold storage as quickly as possible,” Estes said. “The quicker you bring that temperature down, the better the meat will taste.”

December 24, 2010

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December 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

New outdoor video games faster, with better graphics

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS The holiday season is here.

Hunters stuck at home this winter because of bad weather, family obligations or a myriad of other reasons can beat cabin fever with a large number of outdoor video games currently on the market.

Danny Hammett, vice president and partner of Mastiff Games, is one of the creators of the hunting and fishing video game genre. He currently makes the Remington line of hunting games for Mastiff.

Hammett said the industry has grown tremendously from the grainy PC games that first came onto the market in the mid-1990s.

The first game, Cabela’s Big Game Hunter, hit the market in 1995, Hammett said.

“We then made Zebco Pro Fishing and sold them with a Zebco rod and reel at Walmart,” he said. “We sold 600,000 and realized there was a market here.”

Hammett spent seven years at Activision, the maker of the Cabela’s line of outdoor video games. “(The industry) evolved really quickly,” he said. “It went from a very profitable, controlled brand to a very cost- and infrastructureheavy product.”

Hammett said the video games released in the past several years have focused on a real-life simulation, meaning gamers would walk or sit in a stand and “hunt” for hours without seeing anything.

“There’s a lot of walking and not much action,” he said.

“Mastiff began developing games that were more arcade-like.

Consumers were getting bored.

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Heater mishap in deer blind reveals safety reminders

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

CHARGE: A screen grab of Mastiff Games’ Remington Super Slam series of hunting games simulates an African safari. The outdoor video game industry generates more than $400 million in annual sales.

The game had become too real.

“If people have four hours to sit and play video games (before they shoot something), they most likely will really go hunting.”

Hammett currently works on the Remington Super Slam series of hunting games and other arcade shooting simulations such as “Reload.”

“We created an entire new line by blending the best of both worlds,” he said. “It’s faster paced with great graphics.”

Many of the games have become more affordable — in the $20 range instead of $49.95. Demographics might surprise people.

“Fifty percent of the people buying these games off the shelves are women,” Hammett said. “We recognized pretty quick that the ‘Target mom’ was buying games for males in the

household.”

Outdoor video games account for more than $400 million in annual sales.

“Cabela’s alone has generated more than $1 billion in revenue on their hunting games,” Hammett said. “Two companies really control the market: Activision (which makes Cabela’s line of games) and Mastiff.”

Michael Meyers, owner of a public relations firm that markets the Mastiff games, said after the success of early outdoor games, it was natural for the market to expand quickly.

“The latest game is the third Remington series they’ve done,” Meyers said. “Deer Drive (one of the earlier Remington games) sold a ton, and it convinced Mastiff it was a field they needed to be in.”

A whoosh and a bang are exciting sounds at a 4th of July fireworks display, but sheer terror inside the close confines of a Texas deer blind.

That’s what Gus Wheeler, 14, of San Antonio endured the Saturday after Thanksgiving at his grandfather’s ranch in Val Verde County.

Gus and his older brother, Brad, were out for an afternoon hunt, but it started to get chilly as the sun made its descent. They decided to light a heater attached to a large, white propane bottle.

“I started fiddling with it, but I didn’t know what I was doing,” Gus said. “Brad said, ‘Scoot over.’”

They smelled propane, and then they heard the whoosh.

“And the next thing I knew there was a fireball inside this blind,” Gus said.

The brothers scrambled out the door before the blind collapsed in flames.

“We heard an explosion and ran away,” Gus said. “I stood there shaking in my boots.”

Lost in the blind were binoculars, a book, an iPhone and a custombuilt rifle belonging to Gus’ dad, Jim Wheeler. The heat was so intense that the fiberglass stock unraveled.

“But,” the teen noted, “we saved the $30 flip phone.”

Human error is at the root of most accidents, said Mike Mendiola,

safety officer for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“A true accident, in my opinion, is when lightning strikes and causes something unavoidable,” he said.

“But that’s (an) act of nature.

“Ninety-nine-point-nine percent of accidents are avoidable.”

Gus knows how to prevent another heater fire.

He said his family determined that the heater wasn’t properly screwed onto the fuel bottle.

“Somehow, a spark or some kind of static happened,” Gus said, “and it started shooting flames.

“I would say, in the future, don’t turn the propane on all the way.”

If the brothers had done that, they could’ve stopped and tightened the fitting when they detected the fumes, Gus said.

Mendiola urged hunters to take extra precautions as cold weather coincides with the final days of deer season.

TPWD, he explained, does not recommend heaters in blinds.

The ones that are draft-proof may not be properly ventilated. That can allow deadly carbon monoxide gas to accumulate if the heater isn’t properly combusting the fuel.

People who choose to heat their blinds should at least crack the windows to ensure safe ventilation.

And, in case of fire, bring along some extra water to quickly douse the flames, Mendiola said.

Another option, he added, is to bring a fire extinguisher to the blind.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Crate converted into award-winning deer blind

By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Bobby Minchew wanted a three-person deer blind and necessity being the mother of invention he went ahead and built one.

Several years ago, the bow hunter from Humble needed a blind big enough to hunt with his sons, but he found that bigger ones sold between $1,000 and $2,000 — money he didn’t want to spend on a deer blind.

“I built the blind for financial reasons,” Minchew said. “I saw a Web site with guys making blinds out of shipping crates and thought it looked interesting.”

Judges for the Southern Deer Stands 2010 Best Deer Blind Contest agreed, and named Minchew their grand prize winner for his design.

He started with a plywood shipping crate from a Houston airport. The 7-by7-foot crate was 5.5-feet deep and held together by L-shaped clips.

After work with the Skilsaw to cut shooting windows and a door, and lumber to build a base, the blind was ready for TOP BLIND: Bobby Minchew and his sons cut shooting winthe family’s Schleicher County deer lease. dows and a door into an old wooden shipping crate to make “It was a long process,” Minchew said. their bow blind. Photo by Bobby Minchew.

“I’m not a real handy person, so it probably took me longer than most.” and something we missed in our categories — So far, the blind has helped produce six deer for the family. youth,” Griffin said. “You will notice that the “If someone has the time, I’d recommend grand prize winner had his four sons helping building one,” he said. “We didn’t treat the him build their family blind. wood, which was fine for the western Hill “What really makes our contest unique is Country where we hunt. Someone in East that not only do the contestants enter their Texas might have a problem with the rain, deer blinds that they have worked very hard though.” on, but also the stories that go with them. Just Andy Watts of Richardson was the sec- like setting around deer camp, sometimes the ond place winner and Mitch Krivokucha of best parts of the season are the stories.”

Georgetown took third place.

For winning, Minchew will receive an NRA Rob Griffin, president of Southern Deer leather jacket, 40 bags of Purina AntlerMax Stands, said the judges this year were Texas Deer pellets, custom muzzle break rifle work Rangers former outfielder Rusty Greer and from Mac’s Gunworks, a GameGuard camo Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kelly Jordon. clothing package, a one-year subscription to “The judges were looking for what made Lone Star Outdoor News, along with a cap and a each blind unique, the stories behind them decal from the newspaper.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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FISHING

Tie on crankbaits, jerkbaits, jigs for winter bass bait around the edge of old grass beds and the lipless bait over the vegetation.

A few feet of good water clarity is needed with jerkbaits, too. When water temperatures are below 60 degrees, the jerkbait can be a killer option.

Reed throws the lipless bait in the same areas, and says a "yo-yo" or burning retrieve will trigger strikes depending on the mood of the fish.

“My favorite cold weather retrieve would be the yo-yo type retrieve, but you must experiment to find the optimum presentation,” he said. “Some days you can trigger a reaction bite by burning it even in cold water. Any speed of retrieve around vegetation should be allowed to contact the cover and rip out of it from time to time.”

Reed throws his lipless baits on Bass Pro Shops XPS fluorocarbon, typically in 14-pound test, with a BPS Johnny Morris 6.3:1 reel and 7-foot-6 medium-action rod.

The action gives the bait the ability to work properly while the line’s invisibility and strength keep bigger fish secured.

One plus to winter fishing is bass may gang up on familiar haunts and, once they’re there, they can be picked apart by a patient angler.

Mike Bradshaw did that Dec. 11 on Boerne City Lake while fishing with his friend, Mike Todd. The Boerne anglers were working GrandeBass 4-inch Baby Rattlesnake, 4-inch Senko and Lake Fork Tackle Ring Fry baits on shaky head jigs about 15 feet deep on the edge of a 40-foot drop-off.

Bradshaw hauled in an 8-pound, 8-ounce largemouth from the same area where a year earlier he caught 7-2 and 7-6 largemouths. This year’s big bass came on a day when the water temperature was 56 degrees and a cold front from the northwest was edging into the area.

“The lake is small and has broken bottom and deep drops, like from 10-15 feet falling into 45-50 pretty quickly,” Todd said. “We found some deep points about 18 feet dropping into p CHILLING: Mike Bradshaw of Boerne was wearing shorts Dec. 11 on Boerne City Lake, but the water er was 56 degrees when he caught this 8 1/2-pound bass on a the main channel, located some fish and shad, cha GrandeBass Baby Rattlesnake in olive/watermelon. Photo by Jeff Todd. and started catching fish on our first cast.” c Todd said the slower fall of the baits, Others speed up their retrieves with lipless

By Alan Clemons combined with a slow retrieve, has comb crankbaits, as Reed mentioned, because ecause the FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS been a top autumn tactic for him and body design has a tight shimmy, like ike a flitBradshaw on the lake.

Brads Conventional wisdom says in winter, tering baitfish.

They let the bait hit the bottom and when air and water temperatures get colder, It’s probably best to have all three ree then give it small hops up the point g bass anglers should slow down and be more tied on. What works one day may not from d deep water. This technique is the methodical with presentations of lures. trigger bites the next. Weather condidiopposite of o the conventional method of Longtime pro angler and guide Matt Reed of tions — bright sun, or cloudy skiess — working down the point, but it works for d Madisonville ignores conventional wisdom. also play a role in lure selection and d location, them.

“You’ll get the answers about jigs and drag- even in winter.

ALL THREE WORK: Rapala's silver husky jerkbait is a Todd said sai they boated about 25 bass and ging something slowly, but in lakes that have Veteran anglers say bigger lipless crankbaits crankbaits, good choice for winter bass. bass They can be caught on had another 20 or so that bit but didn’t stay vegetation, the Xcalibur One-Knock rattle- in 1/2-, 3/4- or even 1-ounce sizes, can mimic jigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits depending on vegetation hooked. bait is my No. 1 choice,” Reed said. “It comes forage species and are good for pre-spawn and and the mood of the fish. Photo by LSON. “I think their metabolism starts slowin everything from 1/4- to 1-ounce and can late-winter reaction bites. A few days of suning down some when the water gets into be fished at all speeds and depths depending shine can warm up shallow areas and stimuthe 50s,” he said. “A lot of the takes weren’t on the cover.” late roaming bass. Lipless baits also are great Craft Slender Pointer 127, Smithwick Rogue or SPRO McStick can be deadly. Stick with aggressive. It felt like dragging through weeds Discussions about cold water bassin’ span for covering water quickly. the gamut. Some anglers do slow down and Lakes with vegetation, and even those shad colors, or try variations like chrome with … just dead weight when they bit. But that’s drag football jigs on structure or soak soft plas- without, should get a workout with a sus- a black or blue back, firetiger or chrome with been a good technique for us. I’ve never been tics and work jerkbaits that mimic dying shad. pending jerkbait. Something like a Lucky a black back and orange belly. Throw the jerk- skunked on the lake in five years.”

Big Delta: Texas anglers get their first look at Bassmaster Classic water

By Kyle Carter FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Kelly Jordon spent two days on the Louisiana Delta in early December and didn’t make a single cast at a bass.

He was more concerned with reacquainting himself with the expanse of the Delta’s shallow bayous, ponds, bays, canals and flooded marshes.

Jordon and 49 other pros will be fish- Kelly Jordon ing the Bassmaster Classic on the Delta a couple months from now, but the Classic rules only allowed scouting there through Dec. 12.

“It’s as big as always,” said Jordon, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Mineola.

“I haven’t been there since Katrina. It’s changed a little bit but not as much as I had anticipated.”

The water is now off limits until the official practice days of Feb. 11-13 and Feb. 16. The event will be Feb. 18-20 out of New Orleans with a first-place prize of $500,000.

This will be Jordon’s third Classic on the Todd Faircloth Delta, and he thinks that experience will serve

him well. The Delta contains countless acres of water. With tides and regular river fluctuations, it can be tough to navigate.

“When it comes to locating fish, previous experience doesn’t do much good, but I have a much better idea of where things are than I’ve had in the past,” Jordon said. “It’s an advantage, but it’s also something a guy can get Gary Klein from going down there and spending a couple weeks.”

That guy spending a couple weeks was Keith Combs, a pro out of Del Rio who qualified for his first Classic through this season’s Bassmaster Central Opens. He took a trip to New Orleans in late November and stayed all the way through Dec. 12. It was his first time to fish the Delta, and it took some getting used to.

“For the first two or three days I was just confused,” said Combs, who unlike Jordon spent most of his time there with his bait in the water. “I liked it, but it’s a complicated place.

It’s a lot harder to figure out than your typical Keith Combs reservoir, but it should be a fun tournament.”

Bass fishing professional Todd Faircloth, of

Jasper, said the Delta is more than just confusing, and “can be a whole lot of intimidating.”

Faircloth, who finished fifth on the Delta in 2001 and 15th in 2003, spent three days in the first week of December to reacquaint himself with the area. He didn’t do much fishing, but did identify two or three areas where he’ll start when the official practice begins in February.

“This place is so big, the guy who ends Clark Reehm up fishing the winning area could fish all three days and never see another boat,” Faircloth said.

“It’s all about options and there are a lot of them. But once you commit to something, you’re pretty much stuck with it.”

That’s because getting to a new location might take too long on the massive Delta — time better spent casting for bass.

“There’s no checking out an area for a half hour and running somewhere else,” Faircloth said.

There will be a lot of big decisions to make come February, but for the five Texans that qualified this year (Gary Klein of Weatherford and Clark Reehm of Lufkin are the other two), the next two months are just a waiting game.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

YELLOWFIN ACTION: Gulf coast captains say yellowfin tuna has been phenomenal in recent weeks, and they hope the bite continues through early spring. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Yellowfin tuna is on for anglers willing to commit time, money

By Art Chapman FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Tuna fishing, especially for the highly desired, bulky yellowfin, has been very strong in late fall along the Gulf coast, and captains say they hope the bite will continue through early spring.

“It has been really good the last three months,” said Capt. John Brennan of Deep Sea Headquarters in Port Aransas. “We ran a trip Dec. 2 and went out about 150 miles. We caught our limit in record time; they were just flying out of the water everywhere.”

Brennan, a tournament fisherman who divides his time between the Texas Gulf Coast and Costa Rica, said the 10 fishermen he had aboard the 70-foot Pelican landed their limits of 30 yellowfin in five hours.

“We run trips about every week, and every

time out we’ve been able to catch our limit,” he said.

But if that sounds like an easy outing, be warned: tuna fishing is not for the fainthearted.

The shortest trip most outfitters offer is a 36-hour run; some offer 80-hour trips. The cost can vary anywhere from $650 a person to more than $1,200, depending on the distance traveled and the accommodations.

CHECK IT OUT “Our trips ■ Record Tuna: Huge are usually anyyellowfin tuna caught in where from 135 Mexican waters. to 155 miles out,” Page 21 Brennan said.

See YELLOWFIN, Page 10

December 24, 2010

Page 9

Page 10

December 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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Smartphone ‘apps’ enhance sportmen's skills FISH ON (YOUR SMARTPHONE): New “apps” for the iPhone, Android or Blackberry help anglers do a myriad of functions, from finding the right spot to wet a line, to using a GPS to pinpoint a boat’s exact location on the water.

Executive Editor Craig Nyhus Editor Bill Miller Associate Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editor Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Classified/Outfitters Blazing Paths Media Advertising Intern Nicholas Conklin Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2010 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 e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

By Mary Helen Aguirre LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS One of the most helpful hightech tools in a sportsman's or woman's gear box might just be a smartphone. That iPhone, Android or Blackberry is a convenient way to receive a wealth of information that is out there for anglers and hunters.

There are an increasing number of “apps” that can help an angler plan a fishing trip, master a particularly tricky fishing knot, or just have some fun.

Why download that app before hanging out the “gone fishing” sign?

“Because all fish and animals move at predictable times,” said John Lehman, president of DataSport Inc., the company that offers the FishCast and FishMate apps.

“So,” Lehman added, “if you are going to take a vacation, you should take a vacation when you’re more apt to catch fish than taking a dart and throwing it at a calendar.”

There are a wide variety of apps out there: some are free but most will run between $5 and $10.

Anglers can start trolling for apps at the Android (www.androlib.com),

Apple (www.apple.com), iTunes (www.itunes.apple. com) or BlackBerry (www. appworld.blackbery.com) app stores. They should also check their favorite online publications or information sources to see if they offer an app.

Here are just a few of thee apps that anglers might want to try: Invaluable FishCast 2011 by DataSport ($4.99). This provides fishing forecasts and other necessary information that will help anglers plan their next fishing vacations. For Android; iPhone app will soon be available.

FishMate Pro by Sammy Lee Enterprises ($19.99). Another good app for planning fishing outings.

Developed by a former professional bass angler, this app offers information on major and minor feeding times, moon phases and weather forecasts. For iPhone.

Fly Fishing Reporter by Micro Integration Services ($0.99). Want to find the best trout stream in the U.S.? This app provides information on the best fly-fishing destinations in America. It is integrated

with Google Maps to pinpoint locations. For iPhone.

My Anchor Watch

by IT Tack ($19.99).

For those fishing off boats, here is an app that will help anglers make sure a boat stays within designated boundaries. Using GPS, this app monitors a boat’s position and displays movement on the phone. For o BlackBerry.

TideBerry ($9.99).

This offers real-time data on tide information from more than 3,000 tidal stations on the U.S. coast. For BlackBerry.

Informative Ultimate Fly Fishing Guide by Orvis ($24.99). This is from the fly-fishing experts at Orvis. The app offers fly-casting instruction, an animated guide to tying knots, information on top trout flies as well as updated fishing conditions from more than 200 of the best fishing spots for fly fishermen. For the Android and iPhone.

Animated Knots by Grog ($4.99).

This is a comprehensive animated step-by-step guide on how to tie numerous fishing knots. The easyto-navigate app lists knots alphabetically or by category. For the iPhone.

Fish ID from MEDL Mobile ($2.99). This app offers specifics on different fish species: baits, techniques, and tactics that are effective on that species. This app also provides links to state regulations, which can give a visiting angler such info as size limit on the fish he or she just hooked. Also, if some strange

fish is at the end of the line, this app will help identify it. For iPhone.

Just plain Fun FishNotes by Jimmy Houston ($12.99). Anglers can use this app to start bragging about their big catches immediately. It helps them keep a record of every fish caught.

Once a fish is on the line, pull up the app, hit the “fish on” button, and record the time, tide, location, wind direction and temperature. Then, digitally record the catch. The messaging feature allows anglers to spread the word on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube. For iPhone; Android app coming soon.

Flick Fishing by Freeverse Inc. ($1.99). Because virtual fishing is better than not fishing at all, here’s a game that provides different locations, a nice selection of bait and tackle, a dozen tournaments, and many different species of fish to snag. For iPhone.

Bass Fishing Mania by Digital Bridges ($4.99). In this virtual bass tournament, anglers will need all their skills to win the competition.

Buy equipment, pick out lures and then go reel in that monster bass.

For BlackBerry.

There also are apps for shooters.

For example, Nikon’s ballistic matching program, Spot On, is now available as an app for the iPhone.

Spot On allows users to select from the largest database of factory ammo and reloading components to build a plan for sighting in any firearm.

Shooters around the world now have a tool to help them match their preferred load to their style of shooting and to their style of riflescope and reticle.

“Spot On has been a huge hit with shooters and hunters around the world,” said Jon LaCorte, senior product marketing manager Nikon Sport Optics. “Now with the new iPhone app they can access it anytime they have their phone.”

Yellowfin Continued From Page 9

But on the Big E, a 130-footer, powered by three diesel engines, that runs out of Freeport, the distances can be double that.

Capt. Raul Reyes recently made a 300-mile-plus trip east of Freeport that took 60 hours.

“It was an exploratory trip,” he said. “We went to an area called Green Canyon and it’s a place we don’t normally travel to.”

Reyes explained that the fishermen usually get an opportunity to bottom fish on the way out and back; it gives them a chance to pick up some amberjack, grouper, and vermillion snapper. Then, the nighttime is reserved for tuna.

On the latest trip, however, all 40 fishermen aboard the Big E agreed not to stop on the way out or back because of the long travel distance to the tuna grounds. The cost of that 60-hour trip was $700 a person.

Most, if not all, the better tuna fishing spots are 100 miles or more out in the Gulf, well into federal waters. They are around the huge, multi-storied oil rigs that float over the deeper Gulf waters. Those rigs, which look like glittering cities afloat, flood the waters around them with extraordinarily bright lights. Those lights draw small baitfish.

The baitfish, in turn, draws the predators, tuna among them.

Brennan said he’s certain the tuna fishing for 2010 has been better than it was last year.

“I know that in December last year, the bite fell off about the middle of the month,” he said. “This year it has just kept going; it hasn’t let up at all.”

Capt. Russell Sanguinet, who skippers both the Scat Cat, and the Wharf Cat, two catamarans out of Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas, said the fishing this year has been “awesome.”

“Tuna fishing doesn’t get any better,” he said. “On our last two trips we limited out on yellowfin in about five hours and the majority of the fish were 60 to 80 pounds. The largest was 124 pounds.”

Sanguinet said Shibuki and Maguroni jigs are the most popular on his boats, but the fishermen also use chunk bait and top water poppers as well. “On one of our trips we had one guy catching yellowfins with a fly on a fly rod.”

Like the other boats, the Scat Cat and Wharf Cat will pull off the yellowfin when the limit of three per angler is reached, and then they’ll move on to look for amberjack, grouper, and sometimes shark.

“Our boats have enough storage for the whole trip,” he said. “Some boats will fish until their boxes are full, then they’ll have to return to the dock. We can stay out longer.”

Sanguinet said a 56-hour trip is the standard for his boats. The charge is $650 per person.

He said Fisherman's Wharf is already scheduling trips into April and May. BUCKETS FULL: Deck hands unload yellowfin tuna at Fisherman's Wharf in Port Aransas. Charter trips for tuna can be expensive; boats range far to reach prime tuna fishing waters. Photo by Fisherman's Wharf.

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

December 24, 2010

Page 11

TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BRAUNIG: Good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

CANYON LAKE: Good on watermelon Rat–L–Traps and spinnerbaits, and on tequila sunrise soft plastics along lay downs.

FALCON: Water clear; 69 degrees.

Largemouth bass are very good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Brush Hogs.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and black/ blue Power Worms.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

AMISTAD: Striped bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits.

BELTON: Hybrid striper are good on live shad and white Riversides. White bass are good on minnows under lights at night.

BOB SANDLIN: White bass are good on slabs.

SAM RAYBURN: White bass are good on minnows and jigging spoons.

CATFISH

BROWNWOOD: Channel catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait over baited holes.

MEREDITH: Channel catfish are good on minnows and cut baits.

SOMERVILLE: Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and cut bait.

TOLEDO BEND: Channel and blue catfish are good on live minnows.

CRAPPIE CADDO: Excellent on red/white or red/ green jigs in the pads along deeper creeks.

CHOKE CANYON: Good on minnows.

WEATHERFORD: Good in the fishing barge and boat slips on minnows and green/chartreuse with pink head jigs.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 48–52 degrees; 1.77’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and drop-shot rigs.

Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles. Catfish are fair on cut shad.

AMISTAD: Water clear; 66 degrees; 0.33’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, shrimp, and cheesebait.

Yellow catfish are good on trotlines and throwlines baited with live perch.

ATHENS: Water fairly clear, 50–58 degrees; 1.8’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on 4” Yum Dingers, chatterbaits and jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows.

Catfish are fair to good on Redneck’s Catfish Bait.

BASTROP: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, nightcrawlers, and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow.

BELTON: Water clear; 66 degrees; 3.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits in coves, and trolling Rat–L–Traps. Hybrid striper are good on live shad and white Riversides. White bass are good on minnows under lights at night. Crappie are good on minnows under lights at night. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, frozen shad, and snails. Yellow catfish are slow.

BOB SANDLIN: Water off-color; 52–58 degrees; 3.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on wacky rigs, Rat–L–Traps and spinnerbaits. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around the Hwy 21 bridge columns a few cranks off the bottom. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait.

BRAUNIG: Water clear; 68 degrees.

Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are fair on liver and shad. Redfish are good on crawfish, shad, shrimp, tilapia, and silver spoons. Channel catfish are good on shrimp, cut bait, and cheesebait. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 51–57 degrees; 2.8’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chrome/blue back Rat–L–Traps, crankbaits and jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait and cut shad. White bass are fair on jigging spoons and minnows.

Crappie are slow.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 65 degrees; 9.36’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Bass Hogg spinnerbaits, craw-colored jigs, and craw-colored crankbaits.

Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies, minnows, and shad-colored crankbaits off lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and tube jigs over brush piles under lights at night. Channel catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait over baited holes. Yellow catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 67 degrees; 10.63’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinnerbaits, Skip–N– Pop topwaters, and Texas-rigged soft plastics in 10–20 feet. Striped bass are fair on swim baits, crankbaits, and Rat–L–Traps in 20–30 feet near the dam, and on live bait in 20–40 feet.

White bass are fair on Li’l Fishies over brush piles in creeks. Crappie are good on chartreuse crappie jigs and live minnows. Channel catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on live bait.

CADDO: Water murky; 49–57 degrees; 0.1’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, white spinnerbaits and Texasrigged Senkos (with a light weight).

Crappie are excellent on red/white or red/green jigs in the pads along deeper creeks. White and yellow bass are good on small spoons and tail spinners.

CALAVERAS: Water clear; 68 degrees.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass are slow.

Redfish are fair on live bait, crawfish,

are fair to good on cut shad.

and tilapia. Crappie are fair on minnows.

Channel and blue catfish are good on shad, shrimp, and cheesebait.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 63 degrees; 1.05’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon Rat–L–Traps and spinnerbaits, and on tequila sunrise soft plastics along lay downs. Striped bass are fair on Pirk Minnows and deep-running crankbaits on main lake points early.

White bass are fair on small spinnerbaits and Rat–L–Traps. Smallmouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastics over rock piles. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue tube jigs in 10–16 feet. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and liver. Yellow catfish are good on throwlines baited with live perch.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 50–57 degrees; 3.13’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, spoons and Texas rigs. White bass are fair to good on chartreuse/white slabs. Hybrid striper are slow to fair on live shad and Sassy Shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut shad.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 68 degrees; 5.56’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat–L–Traps. White bass are fair on minnows and silver spoons. Crappie are good on minnows. Drum are fair on live worms.

Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch.

COLEMAN: Water fairly clear; 66 degrees; 10.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits and Rat–L–Traps.

Hybrid striper are fair on live minnows and chartreuse Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are good on live minnows. Channel catfish are fair on stinkbait and shrimp.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 68 degrees (84 degrees at discharge); 1.01’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits and Rat–L–Traps. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live perch. Yellow catfish are fair on trotlines baited with perch.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 1.72’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastics and Rat–L–Traps early.

Striped bass are fair on minnows and chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp and liver.

FALCON: Water clear; 69 degrees.

Largemouth bass are very good on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and Brush Hogs. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut bait and stinkbait.

FAYETTE: Water fairly clear; 70 degrees.

Largemouth bass are very good on red bug, plum, and watermelon Carolinarigged Finesse worms, and on Rat–L– Traps and shallow-running crankbaits over grass. Channel and blue catfish are slow.

FORK: Water fairly clear; 49–56 degrees; 3.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on slow-rolled spinnerbaits, spoons and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits and nightcrawlers.

GRANBURY: Water clear; 0.99’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits.

Striped bass are fair on minnows and silver striper jigs. White bass are fair on minnows, hellbenders, and pet spoons.

Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 51–57 degrees; 1.77’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, drop-shot rigs and finesse jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs and Humdingers. Catfish are fair on cut bait and chartreuse (use Worm–Glo) nightcrawlers.

JOE POOL: Water off-color; 52–58 degrees; 0.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on

drop-shot rigs and crankbaits in 6–10 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around bridge columns and brush piles.

White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and prepared baits.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 51–57 degrees; 0.57’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits and black/ blue Power Worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in 20–25 feet (December 1st thru February 28th anglers keep their first 25 crappie regardless of size). Catfish are good on bloodbait. Bream are slow to fair on cut nightcrawlers.

LAVON: Water stained; 52–57 degrees; 5.88’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms fished around riprap. Crappie are good on minnows in 20–30 feet. White bass are fair on white/chartreuse slabs fished vertically on main lake points in 15–25 feet. Catfish are fair to good drifting fresh shad around main lake points.

LBJ: Water stained; 67 degrees; 0.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse topwaters and on watermelon red Whacky Sticks along lay downs in 8–16 feet. Striped bass are fair on tequila sunrise crankbaits and spinnerbaits in the river channel. White bass are fair on minnows and jigging spoons early and late. Crappie are good on Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles.

Channel catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 52–58 degrees; 0.96’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chrome Rat–L–Traps, crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs.

Catfish are fair to good drift fishing cut and live shad.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 66 degrees; 0.01’ low. Largemouth bass to 4 pounds are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad. Yellow catfish are slow.

MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 49–54 degrees; 78.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, jigs and shad pattern crankbaits. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Smallmouth bass are fair on suspending Rogues. Walleye are fair on minnows and jigs with a nightcrawler.

Catfish are fair on stink bait.

MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 50–55 degrees; 89.2’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Rat–L–Traps, jigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair on slabs.

Smallmouth bass are fair jigs and clown pattern suspending Rogues. Walleye are fair on live baits and shallow-running crankbaits. Channel catfish are good on minnows and cut baits.

O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 49–57 degrees; 27.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Rat–L–Traps burned over flats, Texas rigs and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows. White bass are fair on Road Runners. Channel catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 51–57 degrees; 2.73’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Carolina-rigged watermelon lizards, chatterbaits and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 20–25 feet around brush piles and creek channels. Catfish are fair on trotlines with live perch. Bream are slow.

Hybrid striper and white bass are fair on shad and slabs.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 52–58 degrees; 1.51’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, Texas rigs and dropshot rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs and live minnows over brush piles. White bass are fair to good on slabs and minnows.

Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 52–58 degrees; 3.35’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits, Carolina rigs and Rat–L– Traps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are slow to fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on chartreuse (use Worm–Glo) nightcrawlers.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 51–58 degrees; 1.31’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on XCaliber jerkbaits and 3” Yum grubs. No report on crappie. White bass are excellent on 3/8 and ½ oz. CC Jigging Spoons — drop to the bottom, crank once and keep them still. Catfish are good on prepared bait under the cormorant roosts.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 50–58 degrees; 2.34’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on crankbaits, Texas-rigged purple worms and jigs. White bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on live shad and white/chartreuse slabs on main lake humps. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around deep–water trees. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, prepared bait and liver.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 68 degrees; 8.50’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon/green soft plastic worms and Rat–L–Traps. White bass are good on minnows and jigging spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows.

Bream are fair on worms. Catfish are good on live perch.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 67 degrees; 1.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits and shallow-running crankbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and cut bait. Yellow catfish are fair on live bait.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 52–57 degrees; 3.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white/chartreuse spinnerbaits, flukes and black/blue jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs and live minnows.

Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on live shad and topwaters. Catfish are fair on prepared baits.

TEXOMA: Water off-color; 49–57 degrees; 1.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, chrome crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. Striped bass are good on slabs, Sassy Shad and live shad TOLEDO BEND: Water fairly clear; 67 degrees; 8.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white/gold fleck soft plastics and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are fair on minnows and silver striper jigs. White bass are good on minnows and buzzbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles.

Bream are fair on worms. Channel and blue catfish are good on live minnows.

Yellow catfish are slow.

TRAVIS: Water fairly clear; 67 degrees; 13.63’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon crankbaits and chartreuse soft plastics in 10–20 feet. Striped bass are fair on live bait. White bass are fair on minnows and Li’l Fishies at night. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and cut bait.

WEATHERFORD: Water lightly stained; 51–57 degrees; 2.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on finesse worms, jerkbaits and spinnerbaits around docks and on rocky points. Crappie are good in the fishing barge and boat slips on minnows and green/chartreuse with pink head jigs.

Channel catfish are good on minnows. dough bait. Yellow catfish are good on live sunfish. White bass are good on minnows and slabs. Bream are good on worms.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 9.37’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and some topwaters. Striped bass are fair on minnows and silver striper jigs. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Waders have taken better trout on the Louisiana shoreline on slow–sinking plugs in the afternoon.

Tides are below normal.

SOUTH SABINE: Redfish are fair on the edge of the channel on mullet. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on slow–sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels.

Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. Tides are below normal.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Trout are good over the deep reefs on plastics when the wind allows.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good for waders working the mud and shell in the afternoon on MirrOlures and Corkies.

Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs.

TEXAS CITY: Redfish and sand trout are fair to good in the holes in Moses Lake on fresh shrimp. The channel edges have held trout, black drum and a few flounder on Gulps and shrimp.

FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are fair to good on live shrimp on the reefs.

Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp over humps and dfish scattered shell. Redfi are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good in the Colorado River on glow plastics. Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous. Trout are fair on shell on soft plastics.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on Corkies over soft mud in waist–deep water in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working reefs on live shrimp. Redfish are good at the mouths of drains.

ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow DOA Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in the holes on the Estes Flats on mullet and shrimp.

PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good on the East Flats on Gulps and mullet. Sand trout are good on shrimp in the channel.

Tuna are good offshore.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table g shrimp. Trout are fair to ggood on the edge of the flats on live shrimp and Gulps.

BAFFIN BAY: ood in mud and grass on Trout are fair to good Corkies, MirrOlures and Catch 2000s. Trout are fair to good in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on Corkies.

PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good on DOA Shrimp and Gulps under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair to good on mud along the edge of the ICW and around the spoils on Corkies and MirrOlures.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and Gulps. Redfish, black napper are fair to good drum and mangrove snapper in the channel on shrimp.

PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics and Gulps under popping corks. Redfish are fair to good in South Bay on the edge of the channel on shrimp.

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO MULTIPLE CHARGES A Department of Public Safety highway patrol trooper in Wise County made a traffic stop on a truck and noticed blood and deer parts in the bed. The trooper contacted Wise County Game Warden Chris Dowdy.

The driver stated he brought three bucks back from Kansas and was going to process them in Texas and return the meat to Kansas. However, there were only two tags. It was also discovered that the driver had shot a buck two weeks ago in Montague County and never tagged it. The wardens went to the individual’s house and located a six-point buck from Montague County along with the Kansas tags. Unfortunately, the two tags were for one buck and one doe.

Cases pending.

GOOD DEED GOES PUNISHED A deer with its head cut off was found by a roadway and reported to Wilson County Game Warden Jesse Garcia. The caller agreed to meet with Garcia at the site of the dead deer and arrived appearing very unsteady. The man said he loved drinking beer in the afternoon. He said that he hoped Garcia wouldn’t arrest him for DWI, but that’s what happened. It was the man’s second arrest for driving while intoxicated.

FEEDER, FENCE DON’T MIX A live doe was impaled on a bar of a decorative iron fence in a new housing subdivision. Grayson County Game Warden Dale Moses responded. The doe had to be put down. The owner of the fence advised he would either remove the deer feeder or alter the fence.

DEER IN COOLER THWARTS DENIALS When Polk County Game Warden David Johnson checked a local hunting camp, a man said he had just

TRESPASSERS SHOOT POPULAR NEIGHBORHOOD BUCK A white-tailed buck in Brown County had been living on a landowner’s property for seven years and would not jump a fence. Trespassers shot the deer, breaking its back.

A neighbor called the landowner and stated that something was wrong with the buck. Around dark the landowner found the deer down and did not know what had happened arrived at camp and was unaware of any deer being killed that weekend.

A check of the skinning rack proved otherwise. An inspection of the man’s ice chest resulted in the discovery of a freshly cleaned deer, in a trash bag, with no proof of sex or tag. The man then admitted to killing a buck that did not meet the Polk County antler restrictions. The head was retrieved from the woods and several citations were issued.

to the deer. The next morning the deer was gone and there were drag marks and blood throughout the property.

Brown County Game Wardens Travis Allen and Matt Marek located and cited the two trespassers for taking a whitetailed deer without landowner consent. The buck scored approximately 155. Cases pending.

DOGS CAN FIND GUNS, TOO Constables from Spring notified Game Warden Kevin Malonson that they had encountered an individual hunting near a neighborhood with two firearms, and upon making contact, the subject ran back into the woods.

Later the subject emerged from the woods without the firearms. A Precinct 4 Constable's K-9 Unit was brought out and they immediately found a rifle and shotgun. Case pending.

in an attempt to scare the deer away from the road. The man, concerned about the welfare of the deer, was found to have an arrest warrant for aggravated assault. In Rusk County, Game Wardens Chad Gartman and Kirk Permenter watched a truck pass by and then turn around. After the truck’s occupant located the decoy in his headlights, the driver accelerated and ran over the decoy, breaking it all to pieces. In Milam County, Game Wardens Charlie Mayer, Justin Valchar and Braxton Harris had a car roll by the decoy slowly, go a couple of miles down the road, and then turn around.

The car came back and stopped and the occupants shone their lights on the decoy. An individual got out of the car and tackled the deer decoy.

Before the wardens could get to their trucks and get to the county road, the individual had jumped back into the car and taken off. The wardens were unable to catch up with the car.

DECOY DEER BRINGS SURPRISING ACTIONS Van Zandt County Game Warden Steve Stapleton and Rains County Game Warden Nathan Wilson teamed up to run the decoy deer in a problematic road hunting area. After several hours, a vehicle slowly approached, stopped and headlighted the decoy.

After several minutes, a passenger in the vehicle began screaming at the deer. Soon the passenger exited the vehicle and approached the decoy

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION ERRORS BRING CITATIONS Floyd County Game Warden Mark Collins and Hockley County Game Warden Jay Oyler encountered a group of waterfowl hunters with many ducks, geese and sandhill cranes.

The hunters were filleting the meat from the breasts and discarding the carcass, and failing to leave a wing attached for species identification.

The group also had hunted the previous day and had many more birds

in an ice chest back at their hotel.

The ice chest was located, and as suspected, contained a multitude of filleted waterfowl breasts.

EXCITEMENT TURNS TO IMPROPER TAGGING Harris County Game Warden Kevin Malonson encountered a deer hunter in possession of two white-tailed bucks. The man was proud to display the first two deer that he had ever taken. While inspecting the tags, Malonson discovered that both bucks had been tagged as turkeys.

PROCESSOR DUMPS DEER CARCASSES IN CREEK Anderson County Game Warden Karen Gray received a call from a landowner that someone was throwing deer carcasses in a creek on his property. The investigation revealed it was a processer who dumped the deer. He had 15 doe deer come in, matching the number of deer in the creek. Case filed and the judge instructed the subject to pick up the carcasses.

MAN IN ILLEGAL AREA NEEDS SHOOTING LESSONS A man hunting illegally on City of Fort Worth park property was apprehended by Tarrant County Game Wardens Clint Borchardt and John Padgett. After checking the area multiple times, the wardens pulled into the area believing no one was there and ended up pulling up right next to

the man, who was sitting on a crate with a .22 rifle equipped with a laser sight. The man admitted to shooting at a deer only 10 minutes before the wardens’ arrival. The man also admitted to shooting at two other deer with a bow and also missing. The rifle was purchased the day before in hopes of improving his accuracy. No deer was found. Cases pending.

WOMAN DROWNS AFTER FALL IN CRAPPIE HOUSE Young County Game Warden Brent Isom responded to Lake Graham for a possible drowning. Upon arriving at the local crappie house, Isom discovered an older woman's body floating in the middle of the fishing area. It is suspected that the lone female was attempting to take a fish off the line and fell into the water during the night.

Apparently the victim was unable to get out of the water. During the body retrieval, a fishing line was found that still had a crappie attached.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND TURNS HIM IN Burleson County Game Warden Sophia Hiatt was driving down a county road and saw a dog walking with a deer head in its mouth.

After chasing the dog away from the head, Hiatt removed the tag from the antlers and found the deer to be in violation of the antler restriction. She found the responsible hunter and a citation was issued.

DEER DECOY DOWNED Burnet County Game Wardens Ronnie Langford and Brent Whitus set up their decoy deer on a county road. At 11 p.m., two individuals drove down the road shining a flashlight from one side of the road to the other. When they got to the decoy, they shot at it two times. The men were stopped and cited for multiple charges. Cases pending.

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No choice

December 24, 2010

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that they were coming, and on Dec. 3 a game warContinued From Page 1 den called and asked her not to feed the deer for two deer diseases from that facility. days prior to their arrival.

“But that’s not something Lockwood explained you ever envision when you that was because biolodream about being a wildlife gists anticipated that bait biologist. You go to school to might be needed to lure learn how to manage and prothe deer from pen to pen. duce whitetail populations, to Lockwood noted, help them flourish and survive, however, that the direcnot to euthanize them in a pen.” tive was to suspend only James Anderton and his son, supplemental feeding.

Jimmie, went to prison earlier “Please don’t assume this year after pleading guilty the only food available is to transporting stolen property artificial feed, “ Lockwood and the illegal trafficking of said. “Food was available wildlife — in this case, white- GRIM TASK: Biologists and other personnel from TPWD process parts from deer that in the natural form.” tailed deer from Arkansas. were killed Dec. 6 at the Anderton breeding farm near Quinlan in Hunt County. A TPWD Prior deer sales Lockwood confirmed Officials had tried to get official said he hoped tests on the deer will be negative for Chronic Wasting Disease. that the Andertons were documents on the deer since Photo by TPWD. allowed to sell some deer 2006 when game wardens before they went to prison.

TDA didn’t object to it then, even longer before taking action. started investigating the Jones questioned why “The only thing we learned though some of its members were Andertons.

Arkansas hasn’t had any reports as breeders,” Jones said, “is that on an advisory committee for the those deer could be transported last spring, but the of CWD, but TPWD officials said Texas Parks and Wildlife can come program.

“They make it sound like this other deer were extermithe Andertons couldn’t prove the onto someone’s ranch, do what deer came from the state if they they want to, when they want to.” was some sort of punitive action, nated on Dec. 6.

Lockwood said the deer Jones is a member of the but that comes with citations didn’t have the right documents.

Lockwood said he autho- Texas Deer Association, which and, in this case, prison time,” sold in the spring had rized the extermination when it promotes healthy deer herds Lockwood said. “You don’t pun- proper documents.

But, he said, investigain Texas, including high-fence ish the deer to punish a violator.” appeared the records didn’t exist.

Lockwood also addressed tors informed him in July He said biologists originally tar- breeding operations like the other criticisms from the Dec. 6 that those deer may have geted 71 deer, but one was already Anderton ranch. been connected to the ones TDA issued a statement criti- incident. dead when they came to the brought in from Arkansas. cizing the Dec. 6 event, calling Small calibers ranch on Dec. 6.

Had he known sooner, perSome complained about the Lockwood said the brain it a “wholesale destruction of a mits for the sale probably stems of the deer killed Dec. 6 deer herd” and “an unnecessary use of small-caliber rifles to kill the would have been declined. deer — .17 HMR and .22 Magnum were removed to test for CWD. slaughter.”

Jones said he didn’t buy TDA officials also noted in the — guns that the state itself has any of the Anderton deer He said that couldn’t be done without first killing the deer and statement that State Sen. Mike outlawed for deer hunting. last spring, but people who Lockwood said the smaller cal- did are probably worried that new “live” tests for the dis- Jackson, R-Shoreacres, has filed a bill that would create “a stronger ibers were used out of safety con- that TPWD will visit their ease are yet unproven.

Other tests, meanwhile, appeal and review process” for cerns for neighboring ranches. ranches soon. would check for tuberculosis, breeder permit-holders accused But, he said, because of the pubLockwood said that licity, he’ll convene an advisory wouldn’t happen if tests on which Lockwood said, “is at least of violations.

Lockwood said TDA’s state- committee of wildlife veterinar- the deer killed Dec. 6 come as big, if not a bigger concern for ians to discuss the calibers. ment was a disappointment. deer and livestock in this state.” back negative.

“It’s certainly not a static pro“It is a little discouraging,” he But critics accused TPWD of “Let’s look at best-case scesaid, “to see some of the termi- tocol,” Lockwood said. “It is nario,” he said. “I hope all government overreach.

Jeff Jones, a deer breeder from nology they used — like ‘whole- dynamic. If we need to make the results come back negative for tuberculosis and Ennis, said people in his indus- sale destruction’ and ‘unneces- changes, we’ll make changes.”

CWD. Then I will have conNo feed try don’t condone what the sary slaughter.’”

James Anderton’s wife, Sharon, fidence that no deer with He said the protocol used on Andertons did, but they also believe TPWD could have waited Dec. 6 was developed in 2005, but said TPWD officials informed her disease left that facility.”

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How to Continued From Page 1

headquarters in Missoula, Mont.

The terms originate from the section of the Boone and Crockett Club’s scoring sheet that measures tine length and circumference. The ‘G’ section Illustration by Boone and Crockett Club measures the lengths of the measures the inside tines and the ‘H’ sec- spread of the main tion measures mass. beams, section ‘E’ Boone and Crockett is total length of all has one of the oldest abnormal points and trophy scoring methsection ‘F’ main beam ods, and the current length. scoring system dates When computing a to the early 1950s, final score for a typical said Justin Spring, deer, section ‘E’ is subthe club’s assistant tracted. For a non-typidirector of big game cal deer, those points are records.

“We get this ques- added to the final score.

Spring said as far as tion once or twice a he knows, the terms month,” Spring said.

“People are often a became accepted huntlittle disappointed ing lingo soon after when I tell them it’s the scoring system was nothing more than updated around 1950. how the scoring sheet From then on, hunters across the country was written.

“If you go right have used the terms, down the scoring often without knowing sheet, section ‘A’ is where they came from.

So the next time you number of points, ‘B’ is tip-to-tip spread are in camp and someand so on until you one describes a buck get to section ‘G,’ by the size of its G2s, which is tine length.” you can now sound the smartest On the scoring like sheet, section ‘C’ hunter in the group measures greatest by telling them where spread. Section ‘D’ the term originated.

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December 24, 2010

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LATE SEASON: Hunters who get out and take advantage of the late dove season can expect unpressured birds and good shooting. They might have to do a little legwork to figure out what the doves are eating.

Find small grains and hunters will find birds. Photo

by David J. Sams, LSON.

Winter dove Continued From Page 4

that can make them predictable for hunters.”

Collier hunted throughout the first part of the season and had some “good days.”

He said in the past four years, his research team has banded more than 50,000 birds. Hunters usually turn in

between 800 and 1,500 banded birds each year that have been harvested during the season.

“We’ve seen some interesting things,” he said. “We’ve seen birds banded in McAllen that were shot in El Paso. Some birds we banded in the DFW area only go to Austin. Some populations seem to sit tight and others have birds that move along.”

He said banded birds have been shot

as far north as Kansas and as far south as the Yucatan.

Correspondent Ralph Winningham contributed to this article.

■ Dove late season dates: North and Central Zones: Dec. 25 – Jan. 9 South Zone: Dec. 25 – Jan. 18 Special White-winged dove area: Dec. 25 – Jan. 14

Dove craws Continued From Page 4

“In September, the birds will come in and feed in the morning, then leave and come back to feed in the afternoon,’’ Nooner said. “In the winter, they seem to stay all day and then will head back into the city to roost about 4 p.m.”

Rather than the huge flights of white-winged doves flocking to his fields in September, Nooner said the winter birds are more of a mix of mourning doves and whitewings, probably because

of the availability of seeds.

“The doves also seem to be sitting on the ground a lot more because that is where the seeds are after dropping off of the sunflowers.

“I also believe the birds stay together in groups — maybe 20 to 60 birds in a bunch — to feed more in the winter than they do in September,’’ he said.

Leasing Continued From Page 4

seen as much enthusiasm to get out in the outdoors as this season.”

Esparza said because of poor hunting conditions last year, many people contacted him who were not happy with their current leases and were searching for better properties.

“We’re pretty picky about who we let hunt on our leases,” he said. “Our annual turnover, at best, is 20 percent.”

Esparza said location is a key concern for hunters.

“Our properties’ close proximity to the DFW Metroplex is a big advantage,” he said. “But even in tough economic times, people still spend entertainment dollars. They just might be a little more picky in this economy.”

In Comanche County, Barbara Bryant, who leases three properties, said this was the first year she didn’t fill all of their spots, but that might have been due to an illness in the family during the summer and not being able to post the leases in time.

“Normally, we have all of our spots filled,” Bryant said. “This year we were late getting it filled and one of the properties didn’t get filled. That’s never happened to us before.

“But I’m not really anticipating any problems (for next year). I’ve had a lot of calls from people who are looking to move for next year.”

Bryant said the main issue with people looking for new leases wasn’t money — it was lack of deer.

“The main thing we’ve heard is they aren’t happy with where they are at because of the hunting,” she said. “We have had a few people we spoke to that have been affected by the economy and just couldn’t afford to be on a lease, but we’ve leased all of (our leases) in the past, no problem.”

Lease prices have not fallen across the state according to lease owners and hunters. The good news is if a hunter wants to search, leases can be found in most regions of the state for all price ranges.

Depending on location, leases, on average, can range between $5 and $20 per acre. Expect to pay more for well-managed properties with year-round feeding programs and better trophy prospects.

“It hasn’t slowed down,” Esparza said. “People already are starting to look for next year. I really haven’t seen a decrease in the past 10 years.”

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December 24, 2010

Page 17

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SANDRA QUIROGA caught her first black drum while night fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre. It measured 28 inches long.

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CONSERVATION Applications available for Texas Big Game Awards Scholarship Program Applications are now available for the 11th Annual Texas Big Game Awards Wildlife Conservation College Scholarship Program, sponsored by Carter’s Country Outdoor Stores and the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of Texas.

Applicants must be majoring in agriculture or natural resource management.

The overall top applicant will receive a $3,000 scholarship.

Eight other scholarships — one per TBGA region — will be awarded at $1,500 each.

To be eligible, applicants must be entering their freshman, sophomore or junior years in college.

A short essay is required with the application. Participation in the Texas Big Game Awards program is not required, but students in the TBGA program will receive preference in the application process.

— Staff report

Desert Bighorns moved to Big Bend Ranch State Park Fourteen Desert Bighorn sheep were captured Dec. 21 at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area near Alpine, and will be transported later in the day to begin a new herd at Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Starting at dawn, three rams and 11 ewes were captured by Quicksilver Air, the private contract helicopter service hired by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the capture.

The bighorn sheep were placed in bags slung from cables below the helicopter and delivered to ground crews, who carried the sheep to work stations where they were fitted with radio transmitting collars and loaded into vehicle trailers for transport.

By mid-afternoon, trailers carrying sheep departed for the release site.

It’s the latest phase of a multi-partner wildlife restoration project begun in RELOCATION: A desert bighorn ram is offloaded from a helicopter to be made ready for transport to Big Bend Ranch State Park. This will be the first herd reintroduced into a state park. Photo by Chase Fountian, TPWD.

1954, and the first bighorn reintroduction at a Texas state park.

At Big Bend Ranch State Park, the department and its partners are taking various steps to prepare for the reintroduction of bighorn sheep, including control of exotic species and construction of “water guzzlers” to catch rainwater for sheep to drink.

Water guzzler construction, captive rearing facilities and other Texas efforts have been paid for or built with volunteer labor donated by the Texas Bighorn Society.

Since its founding in the early 1980s, the group has provided materials, volunteer labor and funds for bighorn restoration worth several million dollars.

“Our mission is to restore bighorn sheep to all of their native range in Texas,” said Robert Joseph of Lubbock, Texas Bighorn Society president. “Why do we care? They’re a magnificent species. If they’re viable in a habitat, it seems for the most part every other animal there is doing well too.

“Some biologists call them a keystone species. If you’ve got the proper habitat for sheep, you’ve got the snakes and the horny toads and javelinas and everything all the way to the top of the mountain in good shape.”

Dollars raised by hunters contribute to the long-term success of Bighorn sheep in Texas.

Every year the Wild Sheep Foundation and Dallas Safari Club auction permits to hunt wild bighorn sheep in Texas, which sell for $70,000 to $115,000 per permit. Money raised goes to support research and habitat management for Texas bighorn restoration.

The last two years Texas has issued 16 sheep hunting permits annually.

Permits depend on annual population surveys and are issued for state and private lands where harvestable rams are observed.

A harvestable ram is an older, 7-to-12year-old male that has passed prime breeding age and is deemed a surplus to the population.

— Staff report

TPWD considers closing eastern turkey hunting in 15 counties Since 1995, when Texas’ first spring eastern turkey hunting season was opened in Red River County, the state’s wildlife officials maintained a conservative approach.

They created a 30-day season, mandatory check stations, and a one-gobbler bag limit to help the birds establish themselves in new haunts.

After turkey flocks expanded into new areas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opened a spring season in 43 East Texas counties.

But in some counties, the telltale “gobble, gobble, gobble” of a big tom courting hens has gone silent and that has wildlife biologists concerned.

In 15 East Texas counties, birds were not being harvested and they weren’t being seen, either. Consequently, TPWD officials are considering closing those counties to hunting.

Those counties include: Cherokee, Delta, Gregg, Hardin, Houston, Hunt, Liberty, Montgomery, Rains, Rusk, San Jacinto, Shelby, Smith, Tyler and Walker.

“When populations in those counties can sustain hunting, we will reopen,” said Jason Hardin, TPWD’s turkey program leader. “But, we were seeing more harvest 10 years ago in these counties and most have not had one turkey harvested in the last five seasons or longer.”

By closing hunting seasons, TPWD officials hope they will create an opportunity to stock birds, where habitat is available, and reduce the potential for loss of brood stock before the population is capable of sustaining harvest.

“We use the data collected from mandatory check stations as a trigger point in identifying areas of concern,” Hardin said. “And in some of these counties, like Smith County, we haven’t had any harvest in 12 years.

“That tells us there are very few birds out there and we need to protect them, and where possible, go back into those counties and use our new superstocking program.”

TPWD also is considering a regulation change that would delay the spring eastern turkey season in the remaining counties by two weeks. The delay, said Hardin, would give hens time to begin nesting before the season opening.

“Once hens begin nesting, they typically spend up to 23 hours a day on their nest,” Hardin said. “This makes them less available for accidental harvest.

“It also makes the gobblers go into a second peak in gobbling activity, which should provide excellent hunting.”

TPWD will hold scoping meetings during the first week in January to give the public an opportunity to weigh in on these considerations prior to any official proposed regulation change in 2012.

— TPWD

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

December 24, 2010

Page 21

NATIONAL

Battle royal: Three Ohio bucks lock up for fight to the death

By Bill Miller LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Evidence at the scene indicated there had been a violent struggle.

Everything around the pool was demolished, and three dead bodies were in the water.

But this wasn’t a home invasion or a triple homicide. The location was a hilly, wooded area of Meigs County in southeast Ohio.

And the victims were mature whitetailed bucks, their antlers locked in a three-way death grip. The water was a pool off of Leading Creek.

The deer were discovered in midNovember by a forester checking trees on the Burke family farm. The family notified the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Photos were taken and now the demise of the bucks has become an Internet sensation.

“I get a half dozen calls a day on this,” said State Wildlife Officer Josh Shields, who responded to the scene.

“And I’ve been getting calls from all over the country.

“One man in Michigan who collects

antlers said he knows of only five incidents like this, and two were out of Ohio.

“But at least one came out of Texas.”

A month later, Internet chat room commentators still speculated on how the Ohio bucks got into the water, but Shields has a pretty good idea.

“This was mid-November, the peak of the rut,” he said. “For a battle like that to take place, there had to have been a doe in estrus in the area.”

Trees were gouged, bushes were knocked over and the ground near the pool was tore up, probably by the hooves of the battling bucks.

“I don’t think anyone will ever know exactly what happened,” Shields said.

“But, I would make the assumption that at least two of the deer were fighting and the third one came in and joined the battle.

“I’ve never seen that in the woods, but I have seen a video that had two deer fighting and another one came in and nudged the others.”

The duration of the battle is also up for speculation, but it continued long enough to make the mess around the pool.

“Whether they were exhausted or there was a lack of coordination … I

don’t know, but they fell into a pool.”

And then they drowned.

Shields, however, said the Burke family did the right thing by not touching the animals before he arrived.

He gave them permits to legally possess the deer. Together they helped remove “600 pounds of waterlogged deer” from the frigid pool.

The bucks’ antlers gross scored at 122, 140 and 169 — a total of 431 inches.

Shields explained that two of the heads had to be removed in the cold water before the tangled trio could be recovered.

The officer said he couldn’t speak for the family, but he noted that the heads were “zip tied together to preserve the integrity of the position they were found in.”

A good taxidermist, he said, could attach the capes from other deer onto full-body forms to make a display that recreates the fight.

AFTERMATH: State Wildlife Officer Josh Shields displays the heads of three white-tailed bucks that drowned last month in Meigs County, Ohio. He said the heads were “zip tied together to preserve the integrity of the position they were found in.” Photo by Brien Burke.

replace the existing record, a 388-pound, 12-ounce yellowfin caught April 1, 1977 by Curt Wiesenhutter, according to the IGFA records.

Livingston caught his fish with a PENN International 30SW. He described the 5 1/2-foot rod as a $20 “no-name” that he custom wrapped himself.

“After all those years, since 1974, I’ve been out fishing on many boats, and I get this one on a no-name rod! My best yellowfin before was about a 100-pounder,” he said.

The potential record-breaker was caught with sardine on a 9/0 Owner Super Mutu hook.

“When he struck, I had 26 pounds of drag pressure on the reel,” Livingston said. “I’ve never had a big one hooked before, so I listened when (crewman) Timmy DePhilippis said to put the lever all the way up to full drag.

“Boy, that took me to my toes! I used all that the reel had and my fingers.”

— Staff report

BIG FIN: A picture on the dock in San Diego shows the potential new IGFA all-tackle world-record yellowfin tuna caught by California angler Mike Livingston. The fish, caught west of Southern Baja, weighed 405.2 pounds. Photo by Paul Sweeney.

World-record yellowfin tuna caught The world record for yellowfin tuna on rod and reel has been unbroken since 1977, but a recently retired school administrator from California may have busted it last month in Mexican waters.

A giant yellowfin weighing 405.2 pounds was caught Nov. 30 by Mike Livingston, 63, of Sunland, Calif., according to reports.

Livingston was fishing aboard the Vagabond, an 80-foot deluxe sportsfisher anchored west of Magdalena Bay on the southern Baja California peninsula.

The International Game Fish Association has approved the application for the record.

Because it was caught in Mexico, the IGFA's records coordinator said it will take at least 90 days to proclaim it as a record.

If that happens, Livingston's fish would

Hunter shoots unusually large coyote in NW Missouri A Missouri man who feared he had shot a wolf on the opening day of Missouri’s November firearms deer season got good news before

Christmas.

DNA tests show that the 104-pound canine shot in Carroll County, Mo., was an unusually large coyote.

Coyotes are legal game during deer season in Missouri. However, when the hunter saw the animal’s size, he wondered if he had mistakenly shot a wolf.

He reported the kill to Conservation Agent Marc Bagley.

Bagley took possession of the animal and turned it over to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Resource Science Division for identification.

Resource Scientist Jeff Beringer said the MDC staff took measurements and collected tissue and hair samples for DNA analysis.

The test showed the animal was a coyote.

According to Beringer, the coyote was a male approximately 3 years old. It had no tat-

toos, microchip or evidence of ear tags that would indicate it might have escaped or been released from captivity.

The coyote’s size and the size and shape of its feet were similar to those of a wolf, leading to speculation it could be a coyote-wolf hybrid. Gray wolves once inhabited northern Missouri but were gone from the state by the late 1800s, due to hunting and habitat loss.

Wolves persisted in Minnesota. From there, they dispersed into Wisconsin and Michigan,

which now have wolf populations of their own.

The last record of a gray wolf in Missouri was of a young male mistaken for a coyote and killed by a bow hunter in Grundy County in October 2001. A radio collar and ear tag linked that 80-pound wolf to Michigan.

Coyotes in the state of Missouri usually weigh between 18 and 30 pounds. However, much larger specimens have been documented in other states.

— Staff report

Page 22

December 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR MARKET

To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

LSONews.com

LSONews.com

Milestone limits Continued From Page 1

hunt together.

“We started hunting together 20 years ago,” Mercer said. “We hunted here before Bill had the place.

“We wanted to have our hunts with just us, so we made Bill a proposal about 12 years ago.”

The proposal was not that complicated, and, for Sherrill, not that hard to accept.

“We hunt four in a group but they wanted to just hunt with the two of them and a guide,” Sherrill said.

“But they agreed to pay the price for four hunters — and they paid up front. I’m not stupid.”

The proposal was all on a pre-set schedule. The two friends would hunt each day of early teal season. Then they would hunt the opening weekends, including the weekend after the split, and the closing weekend.

There’s more. They would hunt each Tuesday and Thursday throughout the season.

“We set that up because J.P. was still working and he could get away those mornings,” Mercer said.

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

They could change a date only if Thanksgiving or Christmas interfered.

They shot their limits the first day. And the second. Then it became a habit.

“We didn’t set it up for a streak,” Mercer said. “But then it was 36 times in a row. Then 84. Then we started to talk about it.”

Once talk of the streak began, Sherrill got worried.

“I told them it’s impossible,” Sherrill said. “Mother Nature. No rain. No ducks. Something would go wrong.”

Then the streak hit 100 limits.

Then 200.

“We had every kind of weather you could imagine,” Perry said.

“And lots of other things went wrong.”

“J.P. hit a hog,” Mercer said.

“You hit a deer,” Perry responded.

“You lost your gun.”

“You overslept.”

“You locked your keys in the car.”

“They closed the freeway.”

“You couldn’t shoot straight.”

“You showed up with a .410.”

“You showed up with three friends.”

At the end of each season, the

Rainbows Continued From Page 1

and he reported catching trout over 20 inches on recent trips.

And the quality of December trout compensates for smaller catch totals, Bowka said.

“That’s kind of the deal with the Guadalupe — it’s always quality over quantity,” Bowka said. “In the Guadalupe, there are only a couple of hundred of trout per mile, so you’re not going to go out and catch 50-60 fish in a day.”

To catch those larger trout, Bowka approaches the winter season in two different ways.

Shortly after new trout are stocked in the river, he likes to throw flies that will attract newly planted fish. His philosophy is to “turn heads,” and he will fish with attractor pat-

hunters would order caps with the number of limits embroidered on the canvas.

Their guide on most of the trips was Robert Korenek, and he described what might have been the toughest hunt.

“A cold front hit with 45 mph winds,” Korenek said. “The ducks were stopping short in the pond — they couldn’t get to our spread. I said ‘Grab your guns; we’re going to the corner of the lake.’ They pass shot their limits.”

Korenek praised the hunters’ abilities.

“They are good hunters — and good shooters,” he said. “That makes a big difference.”

But even the best shooters have an off day.

“We’ve had to share shells a few times,” Perry said.

The streak almost ended around limit 130.

“We left the lake one bird short, but there was one cripple we couldn’t find,” Mercer said. “We thought it was over. Then we found the duck on the way out.”

And the choice of duck species suffered some. Most hunts lasted

terns and flies with large rubber legs.

After the fish acclimate to the river, Bowka switches to more realistic and smaller patterns such as midges and tricos.

“As we get a little bit further into the season, and these fish start acclimating better to their surroundings, then they are going to start keying on the natural forage,” Bowka said.

Although the early pattern generally lasts between two and three weeks, guide Kevin Hutchison said the patterns have progressed much faster than usual this season.

“They have moved almost directly into the eating-smaller-stuff mode, so that has made it a little tougher,” Hutchison said.

Presentation is important, according to Hutchison, especially when fish are stacked in some the deeper pools that are common throughout the river.

Because of the somewhat lower water lev-

December 24, 2010

less than 30 minutes, but some were more difficult.

“We’ve shot plenty of spoonies,” Perry said. “And ruddy ducks.”

But they shot some interesting species as well.

“We shot a ringed teal that must have gotten lost in Argentina,” Perry said.

“And a surf scoter last year,” Mercer added.

The most banded ducks came in one year.

“One year, we got 10 bands,” Mercer said. “I got all three types of teal with bands.”

It’s been a few years since the pair has brought down a banded duck, but they don’t seem to mind.

Nor do they seem to mind the cost of the adventure. Mostly they just praised the area they hunt — and the 75-plus separate ponds over the thousands of acres of prime duck and goose habitat.

“There’s no other place in the U.S. where you could do this,” Perry said.

Mercer agreed, and he should know.

He’s hunted birds all over the world.

“This is the most consistent area for wild birds,” he said.

The hunters bagged their lim-

els, Hutchison said that it is not uncommon to make 20 to 30 casts to one area before getting a strike.

Hutchison said some anglers have reverted to egg patterns as part of a two-fly attack to entice trout.

“A lot of guys,” he explained, “will fish egg patterns and use them as an attractor. Then they’ll drop something off the back of them like a copper john.

“More times than not you’ll get a hit on the egg pattern; it’s kind of doubling down on it.”

The ability to change flies and the willingness to experiment throughout the Guadalupe’s “trophy zone” has become even more relevant because of lower water levels.

Guide Alvin Dedeaux said clear water will force an angler to try several different patterns.

“I think the biggest change is that we’re changing flies a lot more, catching fish on

Page 23

its early on the morning of Dec. 11.

Korenek, again the guide, showed obvious relief.

Were the hunters relieved enough, having reached the milestone, to take a day off or let the streak end?

“No, we’ll keep going,” Perry said.

“I’m going until I drop — you’ll know I’m done when I’m under the ground.

“And I’m making a special cap this year. With the number 500.”

Sherrill, never at a loss for words, shook his head.

“I told them it was impossible,” he said. “I was wrong.”

And the friends were back the next day. It was on the schedule.

And, of course, they shot their limits.

THE 12-YEAR JOURNEY Limit:

Date:

100

Thurs., Sept. 27, 2001

200

Tues., Dec. 9, 2003

300

Wed., Sept. 13, 2006

400

Sun., Nov. 2, 2008

500

Sat., Dec. 11, 2010

something that might work for a day or two,” he said. “(But) it might now only work for 15 to 20 minutes.”

Most anglers have been successful with 4x and 5x tippets, but some have been forced to go smaller due to water clarity.

In the early winter, guide Dan Cone suggests focusing on the deep pools and swift currents.

Cone said that, on average, the fish he has seen have been about 17 inches, although some over 20 inches have been holding in the deeper pools.

“It’s rare for us to see trout in the ripples and shallow water,” Cone said. “Anywhere you see that deeper shade of green and a little bit of current, that’s where you’re likely to find good fish.”

Go to LSONews.com for a schedule of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department trout stockings.

Page 24

December 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides

Last

Height -0.9 L -0.5 L 1.4 H 1.3 H 1.4 H 1.8 H 2.0 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.0 H -1.4 L -1.1 L -0.9 L -0.7 L

Time Height 6:39 p.m. 2.0 H 7:04 p.m. 1.8 H 11:56 a.m. 0.0 L 12:55 p.m. 0.5 L 2:20 p.m. 1.1 L 4:46 p.m. 1.4 L 1.6 L 1.6 L 1.6 L 1.8 H 1.8 H 1.6 H 1.4 H

10:21 p.m. 1.8 H 11:12 p.m. 1.8 H

Time 10:44 a.m.

11:32 a.m.

6:03 a.m.

8:33 a.m.

10:54 a.m.

12:49 p.m.

2:07 p.m.

3:02 p.m.

3:44 p.m.

4:25 p.m.

5:03 p.m.

8:50 a.m.

9:27 a.m.

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Height -0.7 L -0.4 L 1.1 H 1.0 H 1.1 H 1.4 H 1.6 H 1.7 H 1.7 H 1.7 H 1.6 H -1.1 L -0.9 L -0.7 L -0.6 L

Time Height 7:26 p.m. 1.6 H 7:51 p.m. 1.4 H 12:22 p.m. 0.0 L 1:21 p.m. 0.4 L 2:46 p.m. 0.9 L 5:12 p.m. 1.1 L

Time Height 11:22 p.m. 1.1 L

Time 11:40 a.m.

4:25 a.m.

6:33 a.m.

9:03 a.m.

11:24 a.m.

1:19 p.m.

2:37 p.m.

3:32 p.m.

4:14 p.m.

4:55 p.m.

9:06 a.m.

9:46 a.m.

10:23 a.m.

10:57 a.m.

11:29 a.m.

Height -0.4 L 0.9 H 0.7 H 0.6 H 0.7 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H -0.7 L -0.7 L -0.5 L -0.4 L -0.3 L

Time Height 7:56 p.m. 0.9 H 12:28 p.m. -0.3 L 1:18 p.m. 0.0 L 2:17 p.m. 0.3 L 3:42 p.m. 0.5 L 6:08 p.m. 0.7 L 0.8 L 0.8 L 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.9 H 0.8 H 0.7 H

11:38 p.m. 0.9 H

Time 10:41 a.m.

11:29 a.m.

5:25 a.m.

7:55 a.m.

10:16 a.m.

12:11 p.m.

1:29 p.m.

2:24 p.m.

3:06 p.m.

3:47 p.m.

4:25 p.m.

8:47 a.m.

9:24 a.m.

9:58 a.m.

10:30 a.m.

Height -0.5 L -0.3 L 1.0 H 0.9 H 1.0 H 1.2 H 1.4 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.5 H 1.4 H -0.7 L -0.5 L -0.5 L -0.4 L

Time Height 6:48 p.m. 1.4 H 7:13 p.m. 1.2 H 12:19 p.m. 0.0 L 1:18 p.m. 0.3 L 2:43 p.m. 0.5 L 5:09 p.m. 0.7 L

Time Height 11:19 p.m. 0.7 L

8:15 p.m.

8:36 p.m.

8:49 p.m.

4:49 p.m.

5:19 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

6:08 p.m.

Time Height 10:56 p.m. 1.4 L 7:26 p.m.

7:46 p.m.

8:04 p.m.

8:21 p.m.

9:03 p.m.

9:28 p.m.

10:10 p.m.

11:09 p.m.

1.6 H 1.6 H 1.6 H 1.6 H

1.6 L 1.4 L 1.3 L 1.1 L

Date Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 01 Jan 02 Jan 03 Jan 04 Jan 05 Jan 06 Jan 07

Jan. 14

Jan. 7

Time 2:19 a.m.

3:20 a.m.

4:24 a.m.

4:59 a.m.

5:59 a.m.

6:55 a.m.

7:50 a.m.

8:44 a.m.

9:41 a.m.

10:32 a.m.

11:20 a.m.

12:04 p.m.

12:11 a.m.

12:57 a.m.

1:36 a.m.

Houston Height 0.8 H 0.6 H 0.4 H 0.1 L 0.0 L -0.2 L -0.4 L -0.6 L -0.6 L -0.6 L -0.6 L -0.6 L 0.6 H 0.5 H 0.4 H

Time Height 1:46 p.m. -0.4 L 2:16 p.m. -0.2 L 2:31 p.m. 0.0 L 7:44 a.m. 0.2 H 8:41 p.m. 0.5 H 8:30 p.m. 0.6 H 8:43 p.m. 0.7 H 9:11 p.m. 0.8 H 9:58 p.m. 0.7 H 10:40 p.m. 0.7 H 11:25 p.m. 0.7 H

Time

Height

10:31 p.m.

1:58 p.m.

0.3 H 0.1 L

Time

Height

Time

Height

9:20 p.m. 0.4 H

12:46 p.m. -0.6 L 1:23 p.m. -0.5 L 1:57 p.m. -0.4 L

Rockport

8:41 p.m.

9:02 p.m.

9:15 p.m.

5:36 p.m.

6:06 p.m.

6:32 p.m.

6:55 p.m.

1.3 L 1.3 L 1.3 L 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.3 H 1.1 H

8:13 p.m.

8:33 p.m.

8:51 p.m.

9:08 p.m.

1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.3 H

11:08 p.m. 1.4 H 11:59 p.m. 1.4 H 9:29 p.m.

9:54 p.m.

10:36 p.m.

11:35 p.m.

1.3 L 1.1 L 1.0 L 0.9 L

Time

Height

08:21 p.m.

8:43 p.m.

9:03 p.m.

9:21 p.m.

9:38 p.m.

0.9 H 0.8 H 0.8 H 0.8 H 0.8 H

Date Time Height Dec 24 4:02 a.m. 0.16 H Dec 25 4:38 a.m. 0.10 H Dec 26 4:26 a.m. 0.03 H Dec 27 2:43 p.m. -0.10 L Dec 28 7:17 a.m. -0.15 L Dec 29 7:55 a.m. -0.23 L Dec 30 8:39 a.m. -0.30 L Dec 31 9:27 a.m. -0.34 L Jan 01 10:23 a.m. -0.33 L Jan 02 12:29 a.m. 0.11 H Jan 03 1:23 a.m. 0.1 H Jan 04 2:16 a.m. 0.08 H Jan 05 3:07 a.m. 0.05 H Jan 06 3:55 a.m. 0.02 H Jan 07 4:41 a.m. -0.02 H

Time 3:00 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

10:27 p.m.

10:04 p.m.

10:11 p.m.

10:40 p.m.

11:33 p.m.

Height -0.23 L -0.19 L -0.14 L 0.01 H 0.05 H 0.08 H 0.11 H 0.10 H

11:16 p.m.

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01:36 p.m.

02:10 p.m.

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-0.35 L -0.35 L -0.35 L -0.34 L -0.33 L -0.31 L

Time

Height

11:30 p.m. -0.01 H

9:37 p.m.

9:58 p.m.

5:33 p.m.

6:06 p.m.

6:36 p.m.

7:02 p.m.

7:25 p.m.

10:11 p.m.

10:25 p.m.

10:50 p.m.

11:32 p.m.

Date Time Height Dec 24 2:26 a.m. 1.3 H Dec 25 3:48 a.m. 1.1 H Dec 26 12:29 a.m. 0.5 L Dec 27 1:52 a.m. 0.2 L Dec 28 2:58 a.m. 0.0 L Dec 29 3:53 a.m. -0.2 L Dec 30 4:44 a.m. -0.5 L Dec 31 5:32 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 01 6:22 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 02 7:07 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 03 7:49 a.m. -0.6 L Jan 04 12:40 a.m. 1.1 H Jan 05 1:25 a.m. 1.1 H Jan 06 2:10 a.m. 1.0 H Jan 07 2:58 a.m. 0.9 H

0.8 L 0.8 L 0.7 L 0.6 L

Time 10:23 a.m.

11:11 a.m.

5:56 a.m.

8:26 a.m.

10:47 a.m.

12:42 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

2:55 p.m.

3:37 p.m.

4:18 p.m.

4:56 p.m.

8:29 a.m.

9:06 a.m.

9:40 a.m.

10:12a.m.

Height -0.4 L -0.2 L 0.9 H 0.8 H 0.9 H 1.1 H 1.3 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.4 H 1.3 H -0.6 L -0.5 L -0.4 L -0.3 L

Time Height 7:19 p.m. 1.3 H 7:44 p.m. 1.1 H 12:01 p.m. 0.0 L 1:00 p.m. 0.2 L 2:25 p.m. 0.5 L 4:51 p.m. 0.6 L 8:20 p.m.

8:41 p.m.

8:54 p.m.

5:29 p.m.

5:59 p.m.

6:25 p.m.

6:48 p.m.

0.7 L 0.7 L 0.7 L 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.0 H 0.9 H

Time Height 11:01 p.m. 0.6 L 8:06 p.m.

8:26 p.m.

8:44 p.m.

9:01 p.m.

1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H 1.0 H

11:01 p.m. 1.1 H 11:52 p.m. 1.1 H 9:08 p.m.

9:33 p.m.

10:15 p.m.

11:14 p.m.

0.7 L 0.6 L 0.5 L 0.5 L

Time

Height

South Padre Island

Freeport Harbor

8:38 p.m.

8:59 p.m.

9:12 p.m.

4:58 p.m.

5:28 p.m.

5:54 p.m.

6:17 p.m.

0.8 L 0.8 L 0.8 L 1.2 H 1.2 H 1.1 H 1.0 H

7:35 p.m.

7:55 p.m.

8:13 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

1.1 H 1.1 H 1.1 H 1.1 H

10:30 p.m. 1.2 H 11:21 p.m. 1.2 H 9:26 p.m.

9:51 p.m.

10:33 p.m.

11:32 p.m.

0.8 L 0.7 L 0.6 L 0.5 L

Date Time Height Dec 24 10:31 a.m. -0.4 L Dec 25 11:19 a.m. -0.1 L Dec 26 1:54 a.m. 0.9 L Dec 27 2:13 a.m. 0.6 L Dec 28 2:51 a.m. 0.2 L Dec 29 3:36 a.m. -0.2 L Dec 30 4:26 a.m. -0.5 L Dec 31 5:17 a.m. -0.8 L Jan 01 6:13 a.m. -0.9 L Jan 02 7:03 a.m. -0.9 L Jan 03 7:51 a.m. -0.8 L Jan 04 8:37 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 05 9:18 a.m. -0.5 L Jan 06 9:57 a.m. -0.3 L Jan 07 10:31 a.m. -0.1 L

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Time Height 7:32 p.m. 1.6 H 7:36 p.m. 1.4 H 4:34 a.m. 1.0 H 7:42 a.m. 0.9 H 10:55 a.m. 1.0 H 1:29 p.m. 1.3 H 2:43 p.m. 1.5 H 3:37 p.m. 1.6 H 4:22 p.m. 1.6 H 5:05 p.m. 1.6 H 5:44 p.m. 1.6 H 6:17 p.m. 1.5 H 6:41 p.m. 1.4 H 6:55 p.m. 1.3 H 7:01 p.m. 1.2 H

Time

Height

12:07 p.m.

12:59 p.m.

2:04 p.m.

0.3 L 0.6 L 0.9 L

7:32 p.m. 1.3 H 7:19 p.m. 1.2 H 6:53 p.m. 1.2 H

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Solution on Page 26

ACROSS 1. A trout food source 5. A bass habitat 9. A deer food source 10. A lake bird 11. Used to make simple tents 12. Used in making fly rods 13. A female bear 14. To firm a hook 16. Trapped for the fur 17. Most populated state for elk 20. Game searching for food 22. A good bear scent 24. Act of carrying canoe overland 27. A shotgun model, ____ and under 29. Trapped for the fur 31. A type of fly lure 33. A type of gunsight 34. Name for the chinook salmon 35. Term for shooting at random targets 37. A grouping of pheasants 38. The home of a trout species 40. Mammals trapped for fur 46. From the sunfish family 47. A trophy 48. A species of deer 49. A very good breed of gundog DOWN 1. A quick-to-erect type tent 2. A typer of fishing lure 3. The chinook or king 4. To scare deer from area 5. Stream anglers wear ____ suits at times 6. Large appendage on the mule deer 7. A top predator fish 8. To pull back a bowstring

A.M. Minor Major 7:45 1:32 8:44 2:31 9:40 3:27 10:33 4:20 11:23 5:11 ----- 6:00 12:34 6:48 1:23 7:37 2:13 8:27 3:04 9:18 3:57 10:10 4:50 11:02 5:42 11:26 6:33 12:22 7:23 1:12 8:10 2:00 8:56 2:46 9:40 3:30 10:24 4:13 11:07 4:56

P.M. Minor 8:12 9:09 10:04 10:57 11:49 12:13 1:02 1:51 2:41 3:32 4:24 5:15 6:06 6:56 7:44 8:31 9:16 10:00 10:44 11:29

Major 1:58 2:56 3:52 4:45 5:36 6:26 7:15 8:05 8:55 9:46 10:37 11:28 ----12:45 1:33 2:20 3:06 3:50 4:34 5:18

SUN Rises Sets 07:13 05:27 07:13 05:27 07:14 05:28 07:14 05:28 07:14 05:29 07:15 05:29 07:15 05:30 07:15 05:31 07:16 05:31 07:16 05:32 07:16 05:33 07:16 05:33 07:16 05:34 07:17 05:35 07:17 05:36 07:17 05:36 07:17 05:37 07:17 05:38 07:17 05:39 07:17 05:40

MOON Rises Sets 9:19p 9:48a 10:24p 10:26a 11:28p 11:02a NoMoon 11:37a 12:32a 12:13p 1:36a 12:52p 2:42a 1:35p 3:46a 2:22p 4:48a 3:14p 5:47a 4:10p 6:40a 5:09p 7:27a 6:08p 8:09a 7:06p 8:45a 8:02p 9:18a 8:57p 9:48a 9:49p 10:17a 10:41p 10:45a 11:33p 11:15a NoMoon 11:47a 12:26a

2010-11 A.M. Dec-Jan Minor Major 24 Fri 7:51 1:37 25 Sat 8:49 2:36 26 Sun 9:45 3:33 27 Mon 10:38 4:26 28 Tue Q 11:29 5:16 29 Wed ----- 6:05 30 Thu 12:40 6:54 31 Fri 1:29 7:42 01 Sat 2:18 8:33 02 Sun 3:10 9:24 03 Mon > 4:02 10:16 04 Tue N 4:55 11:08 05 Wed > 5:47 11:31 06 Thu > 6:39 12:27 07 Fri > 7:28 1:17 08 Sat 8:16 2:05 09 Sun 9:01 2:51 10 Mon 9:46 3:36 11 Tue 10:29 4:19 12 Wed Q 11:13 5:02

P.M. Minor Major 8:17 2:04 9:15 3:02 10:10 3:58 11:03 4:51 11:54 5:42 12:18 6:31 1:07 7:21 1:56 8:10 2:47 9:01 3:38 9:52 4:29 10:43 5:21 11:34 6:12 12:00 7:01 12:50 7:50 1:39 8:36 2:26 9:22 3:11 10:06 3:56 10:50 4:40 11:34 5:23

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:26 05:24 9:22p 9:57a 07:27 05:25 10:28p 10:34a 07:27 05:25 11:34p 11:08a 07:27 05:26 NoMoon 11:41a 07:28 05:27 12:40a 12:16p 07:28 05:27 1:46a 12:53p 07:28 05:28 2:53a 1:34p 07:28 05:29 3:59a 2:20p 07:29 05:29 5:02a 3:12p 07:29 05:30 6:01a 4:08p 07:29 05:31 6:54a 5:06p 07:29 05:31 7:40a 6:07p 07:29 05:32 8:20a 7:06p 07:29 05:33 8:55a 8:04p 07:29 05:34 9:27a 9:00p 07:30 05:35 9:55a 9:54p 07:30 05:35 10:22a 10:48p 07:29 05:36 10:50a 11:41p 07:29 05:37 11:18a NoMoon 07:29 05:38 11:48a 12:36a

P.M. Minor Major 8:24 2:11 9:22 3:09 10:17 4:05 11:10 4:58 ----- 5:49 12:25 6:38 1:14 7:28 2:03 8:17 2:54 9:08 3:45 9:59 4:36 10:50 5:28 11:41 6:19 12:07 7:08 12:57 7:57 1:46 8:43 2:33 9:29 3:18 10:13 4:03 10:57 4:47 11:41 5:30

SUN MOON Rises Sets Rises Sets 07:25 05:40 9:32p 10:00a 07:25 05:40 10:37p 10:38a 07:25 05:41 11:41p 11:14a 07:26 05:41 NoMoon 11:50a 07:26 05:42 12:45a 12:26p 07:26 05:43 1:49a 1:06p 07:27 05:43 2:54a 1:48p 07:27 05:44 3:58a 2:36p 07:27 05:45 5:01a 3:28p 07:28 05:45 5:59a 4:24p 07:28 05:46 6:52a 5:22p 07:28 05:47 7:39a 6:21p 07:28 05:47 8:21a 7:19p 07:28 05:48 8:58a 8:16p 07:28 05:49 9:30a 9:10p 07:28 05:50 10:01a 10:02p 07:28 05:50 10:30a 10:54p 07:29 05:51 10:58a 11:46p 07:29 05:52 11:28a NoMoon 07:29 05:53 12:00p 12:39a

P.M. Minor 8:38 9:35 10:30 11:23 ----12:39 1:27 2:17 3:07 3:58 4:50 5:41 6:32 7:22 8:10 8:57 9:42 10:26 11:10 11:55

SUN Rises 07:52 07:53 07:53 07:54 07:54 07:54 07:55 07:55 07:55 07:55 07:55 07:55 07:55 07:56 07:56 07:56 07:55 07:55 07:55 07:55

San Antonio 2010-11 A.M. Dec-Jan Minor Major 24 Fri 7:58 1:44 25 Sat 8:56 2:43 26 Sun 9:52 3:40 27 Mon 10:45 4:33 28 Tue Q 11:36 5:23 29 Wed 12:01 6:12 30 Thu 12:47 7:01 31 Fri 1:36 7:49 01 Sat 2:25 8:40 02 Sun 3:17 9:31 03 Mon > 4:09 10:23 04 Tue N 5:02 11:15 05 Wed > 5:54 11:38 06 Thu > 6:46 12:34 07 Fri > 7:35 1:24 08 Sat 8:23 2:12 09 Sun 9:08 2:58 10 Mon 9:53 3:43 11 Tue 10:36 4:26 12 Wed Q 11:20 5:09

Amarillo

Mail to Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355. For fastest service, call (214) 361-2276 or visit LSONews.com.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

2010-11 Dec-Jan 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue Q 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 01 Sat 02 Sun 03 Mon > 04 Tue N 05 Wed > 06 Thu > 07 Fri > 08 Sat 09 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed Q

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier

San Luis Pass

Date Time Height Dec 24 1:55 a.m. 1.4 H Dec 25 3:17 a.m. 1.2 H Dec 26 12:47 a.m. 0.5 L Dec 27 2:10 a.m. 0.3 L Dec 28 3:16 a.m. 0.0 L Dec 29 4:11 a.m. -0.3 L Dec 30 5:02 a.m. -0.5 L Dec 31 5:50 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 01 6:40 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 02 7:25 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 03 8:07 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 04 12:09 a.m. 1.2 H Jan 05 12:54 a.m. 1.2 H Jan 06 1:39 a.m. 1.1 H Jan 07 2:27 a.m. 1.0 H

First

Dec. 31

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. 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

Port O’Connor Time 10:18 a.m.

11:06 a.m.

5:16 a.m.

7:46 a.m.

10:07 a.m.

12:02 p.m.

1:20 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

2:57 p.m.

3:38 p.m.

4:16 p.m.

8:24 a.m.

9:01 a.m 9:35 a.m.

10:07 a.m.

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty

Date Time Height Dec 24 3:03 a.m. 0.9 H Dec 25 12:18 a.m. 0.7 L Dec 26 1:46 a.m. 0.5 L Dec 27 3:09 a.m. 0.3 L Dec 28 4:15 a.m. 0.0 L Dec 29 5:10 a.m. -0.3 L Dec 30 6:01 a.m. -0.5 L Dec 31 6:49 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 01 7:39 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 02 8:24 a.m. -0.7 L Jan 03 12:29 a.m. 0.9 H Jan 04 1:17 a.m. 0.9 H Jan 05 2:02 a.m. 0.9 H Jan 06 2:47 a.m. 0.8 H Jan 07 3:35 a.m. 0.7 H

New

Dec. 24

Sabine Pass, jetty

Date Time Height Dec 24 2:33 a.m. 1.6 H Dec 25 3:55 a.m. 1.4 H Dec 26 12:50 a.m. 0.9 L Dec 27 2:13 a.m. 0.4 L Dec 28 3:19 a.m. 0.0 L Dec 29 4:14 a.m. -0.4 L Dec 30 5:05 a.m. -0.9 L Dec 31 5:53 a.m. -1.1 L Jan 01 6:43 a.m. -1.1 L Jan 02 7:28 a.m. -1.1 L Jan 03 8:10 a.m. -1.1 L Jan 04 12:47 a.m. 1.4 H Jan 05 1:32 a.m. 1.4 H Jan 06 2:17 a.m. 1.3 H Jan 07 3:05 a.m. 1.1 H

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Texas Coast Tides Date Time Height Dec 24 1:46 a.m. 2.0 H Dec 25 3:08 a.m. 1.8 H Dec 26 12:24 a.m. 1.1 L Dec 27 1:47 a.m. 0.5 L Dec 28 2:53 a.m. 0.0 L Dec 29 3:48 a.m. -0.5 L Dec 30 4:39 a.m. -1.1 L Dec 31 5:27 a.m. -1.4 L Jan 01 6:17 a.m. -1.4 L Jan 02 7:02 a.m. -1.4 L Jan 03 7:44 a.m. -1.4 L Jan 04 12:00 a.m. 1.8 H Jan 05 12:45 a.m. 1.8 H Jan 06 1:30 a.m. 1.6 H Jan 07 2:18 a.m. 1.4 H

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2010-11 A.M. Dec-Jan Minor 24 Fri 8:11 25 Sat 9:10 26 Sun 10:06 27 Mon 10:59 28 Tue Q 11:49 29 Wed 12:12 30 Thu 1:00 31 Fri 1:49 01 Sat 2:39 02 Sun 3:30 03 Mon > 4:23 04 Tue N 5:15 05 Wed > 6:08 06 Thu > 6:59 07 Fri > 7:48 08 Sat 8:36 09 Sun 9:22 10 Mon 10:06 11 Tue 10:50 12 Wed Q 11:33

Major 1:58 2:57 3:53 4:46 5:37 6:26 7:14 8:03 8:53 9:44 10:36 11:28 11:52 12:48 1:38 2:26 3:12 3:56 4:39 5:22

Major 2:24 3:22 4:18 5:11 6:02 6:52 7:41 8:31 9:21 10:12 11:03 11:54 12:20 1:10 1:59 2:46 3:32 4:16 5:00 5:44

Sets 05:39 05:39 05:40 05:40 05:41 05:42 05:42 05:43 05:44 05:44 05:45 05:46 05:47 05:48 05:48 05:49 05:50 05:51 05:52 05:53

MOON Rises 9:40p 10:49p 11:56p NoMoon 1:03a 2:11a 3:19a 4:26a 5:30a 6:29a 7:21a 8:07a 8:46a 9:20a 9:50a 10:17a 10:43a 11:09a 11:36a 12:06p

Sets 10:21a 10:56a 11:29a 12:01p 12:34p 1:10p 1:50p 2:35p 3:26p 4:22p 5:22p 6:23p 7:23p 8:22p 9:19p 10:15p 11:09p NoMoon 12:04a 1:00a

FOR THE TABLE Italian trout 8 trout filets 2 tbsps. Italian dressing Salt and pepper to taste 12-ounce beer 1 tbsp. basil 2 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning

Tostaditas (from ducks or geese)

12. A trout species 14. A very large bass 15. To construct a fly lure 18. A small game 19. A game bird 20. The trapper's interest 21. To analyze freshness of a track 22. Large game of the plains 23. This lunchmeat will catch crappies 25. A name for a largemouth 26. The rules of hunting and fishing

28. A wildfowl on the move 30. Canoe that can be folded up 32. A line with many hooks 36. Code for ammo grain measurement 38. The inside of a gun barrel 39. A class in a shoot meet 41. A duck species 42. Brings in the catch 43. A protective device, ____pad 44. Finger protector, shooting ___ 45. A male Dall

2 tbsps. oil 4 oz. ground duck/goose 1⁄4 minced onion 1 tbsp. chopped green pepper 1 minced clove garlic 3/8 tsp. chili powder 1⁄4 tsp. salt 1⁄4 tsp. ground black pepper 2 tbsps. sour cream 6 corn tortillas (5-6 inches diameter) 2 oz. grated cheddar cheese For salsa 1 cup chopped ripe tomatoes 1⁄2 cup chopped yellow onion 1⁄2 tsp. (canned) chopped jalapeño pepper 2 tsp. chopped fresh cilantro In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat and brown the ground meats. Add the onion, green pepper

Pour beer over fish. Add basil, salt, pepper, Old Bay Seasoning and garlic powder. Stir in the Italian dressing. Chill for 20 minutes.

Cook on hot grill until trout flakes.

— West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

and garlic, and sauté until softened. Add the chili powder, salt and pepper. Turn the heat off and add the sour cream. Cover and set this aside. Prepare the salsa, chop the tomatoes coarsely and add to the onion, jalapeño pepper and cilantro.

Mix well. Preheat the oil in a deep fryer. Cut the tortillas into eight pie segments, first in half, then in half twice again. When the oil is hot, dip each segment into the hot oil and fry until crisp, about 3-4 minutes each. Drain on paper towels. To assemble, spread some of the meat mixture on the tortilla chips, then a bit of the shredded cheese and top with the salsa. Makes about 40 bite-sized snacks.

— Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

December 24, 2010

PRODUCTS

>> BACKTRACK 5: This is GPS technology at its simmplest. Bushnell’s BackTrack allows ws outdoorsmen to set the location and then get back to that location on with a press of a button. They just ust follow the arrow for the distance e displayed and they should find thememselves back where they started. The BackTrack 5 allows users to store re up to five separate locations. The 2-ounce unce device features improved screen graphics, hics, an integrated digital compass, and latitude tude and longitude coordinates when in compass pass mode. The BackTrack 5 displays time, temperature perature and altitude. It sells for about $90.

(800) 423-3537 www.bushnell.com

(800) 226-9868 www.planomolding.com RANGER BA BACKPACK: This 2010 ICAST award winner features storage galore for anglers. There is top storage plus a drop-open drop-ope main compartment that holds several divided divide trays (three trays are included). Plus, there are ar multiple pockets throughout. The 10-inch-by-17-inch by 25.5-inch tackle back10-inch pack is made from a high-grade 900-denier ripstop fabric.

It has molded corrosion-resistant fab zippers and a zip-out storm fly. It also features a waist belt and padded shoulder straps for comfort while carrying. We spotted it at several online retailers for about for about $150. r For retailers, visit re www.cart32hostingred.com/cgi-bin/ www. cart32.exe/HYI-store?epid=29 cart3

>>

BOW W CASE: Plano o Molding Co. and Bone Collector have collaborated to create the new Plano o Bone Collector Edition bow case. case This lockable case has extra-thick wall construction with high-density foam padding on one side so that the bow is safely nestled inside. On the opposite side of the case, an elastomeric arrow storage rack accommodates up to 12 standard or carbon fiber arrows. An optional mounting bracket is available for the storage of a fully loaded quiver. Accessory tie-downs are included for securing other items inside the case. The bow case sells for about $115.

SONIC-PRO ZIP FRONT RONT WADERS: Redington’s waders ers are comfortable and durable. Utilizing an ultrasonic “sew-free” welding ng technology, the waders affix waterproof and breathable athable fabrics without holes oles that water can penetrate. rate. Because no thread is used, the waders are less ess bulky and lighter. The SonicPro Zip Front Waders aders feature five layerss of fabric on the lower legs egs and seat for added durabilurability; ergonomic handandwarmer pockets lined with brushed micro cro fleece; and laser-cut -cut exterior pockets with water-resistant zipppers. They cost about $350.

(800) 253-2538 www.redington.com om

>>

>> PACKER KNIFE: Browning’s ’s new series of fixed-blade knives are designed with th ergonomic i handles h dl that th t will ill maximize i i the th blade bl d cutt while hille reducing wrist fatigue. This model features a stag handle and big belly elly semi-skinner blade. The knife comes with a leather sheath and sellss for about $70.

(800) 333-3288 www.browning.com

Page 25

>>

Page 26

December 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

DATEBOOK January 6-9

January 26-29

Dallas Safari Club Convention Dallas Convention Center www.biggame.org

Safari Club International Annual Convention Reno, Nevada www.showsci.com

January 7-16

January 27-30

Houston Boat Show Reliant Center (713) 526-6361

San Antonio Boat and RV Show The Alamodome (512) 481-1777 www.sanantonioboatshow.com

January 11

January 28-30

Gilmer Ducks Unlimited Gilmer Dinner Gilmer Civic Center (903) 576-6680

Coastal Bend Marine Dealers Boat Show The American Bank Convention Center, Corpus Christi (361) 991-0369 www.ccboatshow.com

Alamo Chapter Safari Club International Awards Banquet Holiday Inn San Antonio (210) 317-7601

January 12 Austin SCI, Hunters Heritage Banquet Renaissance Austin Hotel www.sciaustin.org

January 13 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly Meeting Sheraton North Dallas Hotel (214) 570-8700 www.dwwcc.org

January 14-16 Houston Safari Club Convention The Woodlands www.houstonsafariclub.org

January 15-16

February 3 Tomball Ducks Unlimited Dinner Tomball VFW Hall (832) 303-9464 www.ducks.org/texas/events/23477/tomballducks-unlimited-dinner

February 4-5 Texas Hill Country Chapter SCI Campfire Memories Banquet IInn of the Hills Resort, Kerrville (830) 928-4344 (8 www.texashillcountrysci.org w

FFebruary 4-6, 9-13 D Dallas International Boat Show Dallas Market Hall (469) 549-0673 www.dallasboatshow.net

February 10-12

Texas Gun and Knife Association Show h Abilene Civic Center Abilene (830) 285-0575

Big Country Celebrity Quail Hunt Abilene (325) 677-6815 www.driabilene.org

January 20-23

February 18

Austin Boat, Sport, and Outdoor Show Austin Convention Center (512) 494-1128 www.austinboatshow.com

Ducks Unlimited, Pearland Dinner Epiphany Lutheran Church (713) 907-4264 www.ducks.org/texas/events/23144/pearland-dinner

Puzzle solution from Page 24

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

December 24, 2010

Page 27

Page 28

December 24, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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