Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
December 26, 2014
Volume 11, Issue 9
Oh Christmas tree...
Buck hunt ruined by ranch visitor By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Isaac Garcia and his brother, Elijah, were on their first buck hunt with the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation. Hunting in South Texas, the first two days of hunting were slow for Ike, with plenty of young bucks to look at while the mature bucks either didn’t appear or appeared for an instant and disappeared. Since the hunting was tough, the offer to extend the hunt into Monday was given and his father, Albert Garcia Jr. of Italy, agreed to allow the boys to miss a day of school, and one more morning hunt was planned. At the blind, several does were hounded by young bucks, as the South Texas rut was about to begin. While waiting for an older buck, the group watched a doe and young buck sprint away, the doe’s tail straight-up. “Something is wrong,” guide Craig Nyhus told them. “That isn’t rutting behavior; something spooked them.” Please turn to page 6
WAITING FOR SANTA: ’Tis the season to be hunting, as one ranch owner in South Texas found out recently when he pulled up to the front door of the ranch house and found this buck. Little did the buck know, behind these doors was a large trophy room full of whitetail mounts. Photo by Nicholas Rish.
B&C says no scoring in ads
Texan catches Oklahomarecord striper State regulations differ By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
A TOUGH SITUATION: One young hunter’s lasting memory of his hunt in South Texas will be of trespassers passing under the deer blind. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.
A Dallas angler reeled in a new record-sized Lake Texoma striped bass the first week of December, hauling the massive fish out of the lake near the northern shore in Oklahoma waters. The 27.29-pound, 38 3/4inch striper has been certified as a Oklahoma-Lake Texoma striped bass record — 6 pounds more than the previous lakerecord striper catch. Barbara Pope was fishing with guide Chris Carey of
By Craig Nyhus
LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
INSIDE
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A BIG STRIPER: Barbara Pope holds the new record Oklahoma-side Lake Texoma striper. The fish weighed 27.29 pounds. Photo by Barbara Pope.
Striper Express Guide Service when the big fish hit her deadsticking a soft plastic in 35 feet of water. Pope fought the fish for about 20 minutes before getting it into the boat. While heavier striped bass
HUNTING Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
have been caught in previous years at Lake Texoma, this fish represents the largest striped bass from the Oklahoma side of the lake since the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
The Boone and Crockett Club doesn’t want deer and elk raised “in captivity” to be scored using the B&C Scoring Method. The language in the club’s statement, though, raised questions for deer contests and deer hunters. In a press release dated December 7, the club issued a resolution that included: “The Boone and Crockett Club scoring system exists to document the successful conservation of wild
Making hunting jewelry
Woman channels her passion for hunting into a budding business. Page 4
FISHING
All over the place Crappie bites are fairly productive, but conditions are making them hard to predict. Page 8
HUNTING
FISHING
Warm temperatures plus abundant cover are making hunting tougher and frustrating some South Texas hunters. Page 17
Following Cedar Bayou’s opening on Sept. 25, anglers are seeing evidence of a healthy fishery. Page 8
Deep South Texas rut report
Set for success
CONTENTS Classifieds . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table . . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . Heroes. . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . Sun, Moon and Tide data . Products . . . . . . . . .
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HUNTING Waterfowl habitat will receive funds
A lucrative passion
By Brandon Shuler
FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS On Nov. 14, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced an $8.8 million suite of conservation projects that will benefit Texas wildlife, the environment and Texas natural resources. The $8.8 million announcement is the second round of an estimated $203 million of RESTORE Act funds that will be issued through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund to restore the ecological damage and lost human uses incurred by Texas from the 2010 Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill. One of the largest awards, $1.25 million, is restoration funding for Gulf Coast migratory waterfowl habitat enhancement. “This is an incredible win and opportunity for Texas hunters and landowners,” said Steve Bender, the National Wildlife Foundation’s Vanishing Paradise program director. “Projects that encourage the ecological services that support our coastal wildlife are a great thing for our state’s natural resources.” Within the Texas Chenier Plain and the midcoast region, the Gulf Please turn to page 14
Antlers, bullets used to create unique jewelry By Jilian Mock
FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
MORE HABITAT: Ducks that utilize coastal marshes, like these northern shovelers, could soon have better habitat in Texas. Photo by LSON.
An avid hunter, Texas native Kacee Floerke is channeling her outdoor passion into a budding jewelry business out of her Portland home near the Texas coast. Rather than discard or giveaway the abundance of sheds, mounts, and shotgun shells accumulated over a lifetime of hunting, Floerke uses these and other hunting paraphernalia to craft the unique pieces that form her GlitterNBones jewelry line. The positive response to her online shop on Etsy.com, a website dedicated to selling artisan wares, has her scrambling to complete more pieces. “I am on a wild horse holding on for dear life,” the 28-year-old said with a
ONE WOMAN’S TRASH, ANOTHER WOMAN’S TREASURE: Kacee Floerke has been keeping up with leftover hunting materials to craft jewelry for her business, GlitterNBones. Photos by Kacee Floerke.
good-natured laugh. Floerke is already turning a profit on her small business, after beginning to experiment with jewelry this summer and selling earnestly since October. Her Etsy page garners 150 to 200 viewers each week, and she makes two or three pieces a day to keep up with demand. In addition to fostering her fledgling business, Floerke is also an engineering school student and single mother to her
LSON cover curse continues
Buck featured in Nov. 28 issue falls to hunter By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
ON THE COVER, ON THE GROUND: Ethan Bennett, 15, harvested a buck in South Texas that had graced the cover of the Nov. 28 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News, making the buck one in a long list of big deer to be harvested soon after being featured on the cover. Photo by LSON.
If you are a white-tailed buck living in the state of Texas, you might want to disappear when Lone Star Outdoor News is on the ranch taking photographs — you might just end up on the cover! And that has meant a swift end for many bucks the past several years. Much like Sports Illustrated’s “cover jinx” or the John Madden video game cover curse, LSON has a history of featuring bucks on their cover; only to have those same bucks meet a quick demise shortly thereafter. LSON’s David J. Sams photographed a mature buck in South Texas this past November. The buck had been seen several times, but never with a hunter in the blind. He came out one evening and Sams took
the Nov. 28 cover shot as the buck stood perfectly in front of a feeder with two other small bucks. Everyone in the office knew the end was near for the big buck after putting him on the cover. Sure enough, it happened again on Dec. 13, when young hunter Ethan Bennett was hunting with the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation in South Texas and the mature deer made an appearance at a blind called the Garden Gate. The buck, which sported an impressive 10-point rack, joins a long list of bucks that fell soon after gracing the cover. Luckily for hunters and anglers that have been featured on the cover the past 12 months, the LSON cover curse only extends to white-tailed bucks.
8-year-old daughter, Penelope. Despite the hectic schedule, Floerke sees GlitterNBones as an organic outgrowth of one of her favorite pastimes: hunting. Her father first took her when she was 8 years old and, now that her daughter is that same age, Floerke is beginning to pass the etiquette and traditions of hunting to her. Whether with Please turn to page 14
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A huge hog, a nice deer and a painful bite Husband and wife share an interesting weekend By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Midland hunter Ryan Murphy had one heck of a weekend in early December. Murphy and his wife, Krystal, headed from their home in West Texas to a friend’s ranch near Comstock for a weekend of deer and hog hunting. Krystal Murphy had only been hunting a few times, but she had already been deemed a good luck charm by Ryan after she harvested a big fallow buck her first time afield. “She gives me a hard time because I am gone hunting a lot,” Ryan said. “Our friends have a lease near Comstock, and Krystal just finished residency (she is an obstetrician-gynecologist) so we decided to go to the ranch.” The hunters slept in the first morning until about 8:30, when they took a drive to look for deer and hogs. “We didn’t find any pigs, but we did see an old 10-point that I managed to take,” Ryan said. “He was an older deer and my firstever 10-pointer.” After celebrating the buck, the pair headed back to the ranch
HUNTING PARTNERS FOR LIFE: Husband and wife Ryan and Krystal Murphy just spent an interesting, and productive, weekend afield near Comstock. Photo by Ryan Murphy.
house. Because of a lack of water on the ranch, the owners had installed a water trough near the house, and many raccoons were using the water source and coming very close to the house. “The following night, the raccoons were all over the place,” Ryan said. “They were messing
with the dogs and we threw a rock to chase them away. One of the rocks accidentally hit one of the raccoons and we thought we had killed it. I went to pick it up by the tail and it woke up.” Ryan suffered a nasty bite on the knuckle of his hand. “I’m with three doctors and
they all said I should probably go get a rabies shot,” he said. “So the next day, we went in to Del Rio, but they didn’t have a shot, so I ended up getting a shot in Midland when we got home. The shots hurt.” Please turn to page 6
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Bill fi led to give Texans constitutional right to hunt A bill filed last week in the Texas Legislature proposes constitutional protections for hunting and fishing. Rep. Trent Ashby of Lufkin, authored the measure, HR 61, with support and encouragement from the Dallas Safari Club and other sportsman organizations. “We applaud Rep. Trent Ashby for introducing this important bill,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director. “Our club was proud to help with the development of the language, and we’re anxious to do everything we can to help it move forward. This is a measure to help ensure the future of Texas’ rich sporting traditions, outdoor heritage and effective fish and wildlife conservation.” The text of HJR 61, as introduced, reads as follows: A JOINT RESOLUTION Proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Article I, Texas Constitution, is amended by adding Section 34 to read as follows: Sec. 34. (a) The people have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, subject to laws or regulations to conserve and manage wildlife and preserve the future of hunting and fishing. (b) Hunting and fishing are preferred methods of managing and controlling wildlife. (c) This section does not affect any provision of law relating to trespass, property rights, or eminent domain. SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015. The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the proposition: “The constitutional amendment recognizing the right of the people to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to laws that promote wildlife conservation.” — Dallas Safari Club
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Hunting on the border creates its own issues for young hunter Continued from page 1
A few seconds later, the reason became apparent. “There are some people walking toward the feeder,” Albert Garcia said. Two men walked past the feeder and along the path toward the blind. After the initial shock, a few photos were snapped of one of the men jogging away, but the hunt was ruined. “We have had signs of traffic-like damage to the fence, cut fences and we have found backpacks, but we have never had a hunt affected,” Nyhus told them. The next weekend, Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation intern Cole Farris, a wildlife management student at Southwest Texas Junior College, headed out after dark to fill a feeder that was low on corn. “I opened up the gate to go to the feeder, and when I went to close it there was a light on in the blind,” he said. “I thought it might have been a reflection.” At the feeder, he heard a noise. “One guy came out of the blind and ran away,” said Farris, who went back to his chores. “As I was up the ladder and filling the feeder, four more came out of
the blind and shined a spotlight on me — it freaked me out. Then they walked off.” The photograph of one of the trespassers was posted on the Lone Star Outdoor News Facebook page, and a stream of comments followed. “It was everything from telling us we should have pointed the gun or shot near them to political discussions about how since Americans hire the illegal immigrants, so they come. Some people even accused the image of being Photoshopped,” Nyhus said. “We certainly aren’t going to point a rifle at a human being.” All political views on immigration aside, Nyhus said it is disturbing to have a hunt or other chores on the ranch interrupted. The Texas National Guard is still stationed en masse along the border, although they will begin to be replaced in April by state troopers, according to AP reports. “Hopefully there isn’t another surge of traffic,” Nyhus said. “Not really because of any risk of danger, but Isaac’s memories of his first buck hunt shouldn’t be marred by how the hunt was ruined.”
BEAUTY AND A BEAST: Krystal Murphy harvested her first hog — this mammoth boar — on a weekend hunt with her husband. Photo by Ryan Murphy.
Couple has a hunt to remember Continued from page 5
But Krystal still wanted to shoot something, so the pair continued hunting after arriving back from Del Rio. “We went to a feeder with an old, rotten stand,” Ryan said. “We brought two chairs and I sat in front of Krystal so she could rest the rifle on my shoulder. About 5 p.m., we heard some pigs coming and saw two or three 100-pounders, a bunch of piglets and then this monster pig bringing up the rear. “He let all the others come first.” Krystal didn’t know which pig to shoot until she got lined up on the big boar. “Basically, he was three times the size of any of the other pigs,” she said. “Luckily, he stood still and I made a perfect shot.” Ryan said he saw the bullet hit, and the pig ran off
with no apparent injuries. “He took it like a hoss,” Ryan said. “He ran back up the hill. We didn’t find any blood but we found him pretty quickly. It took four of us to move him. He had some gnarly teeth and a huge shield that was about 3-inches thick. I went through four knife blades skinning him out.” Like a rookie golfer who sinks a hole-in-one their first time out, Krystal has been successful on every hunt she has been on and wonders why people think hunting is so difficult, Ryan said. “I have been really fortunate to have a bunch of animals come out when I’ve been hunting,” Krystal said. “I think it is very cool just to watch them and then the rush of making a good shot — the feeling is great.”
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FISHING
Inconsistent depths, inconsistent bite
Big year on tap for Bass Champs Next year is shaping up to be another record-setting year for the Skeeter Bass Champs tournament trail and television show. Bass Champs is introducing a multitude of changes in 2015, including more guaranteed money to be awarded to weekend anglers, bigger events and a new format on television. Regular team events will boast a $20,000 guaranteed first-place cash prize and five-fish limits. The TX Shootout on Sam Rayburn in June will feature a guaranteed $50,000 cash prize to the winning team and an additional $10,000 if the winners are fishing out of a qualified Skeeter boat. The largest one-day Big Bass event in the world, the Ford Mega Bass, returns to Lake Fork on March 22, and will award seven Ford Trucks, a Skeeter Boat and cash. The Largest Boat Owners tournament in the world, The Skeeter Owners Tournament, will be June 12-14, and the largest specialty bait tournament, the 10th Annual Berkley Big Bass event, will be held October 17-18. To top off an incredible year, The Bass Champs television show will take on a whole new level of entertainment beginning in April when well-known host and emcee Fish Fishburne will host the new show. The show airs on national networks including the Outdoor Channel, The World Fishing Network, HD-NET and Fox Sports Southwest. — Bass Champs
Bass Pro Group purchases several boat brands
ALL OVER THE PLACE: Crappie in North, Central and East Texas are tough to predict with unseasonably warm weather conditions — anglers are seeing them deep, shallow and everywhere in-between. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Crappie anglers moving to find fish By Steve Schwartz LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Milder temperatures for the month of December will likely affect outdoor activities across the state, but crappie anglers definitely aren’t complaining — at least yet. “Warm spells will generally help us out,” guide Chuck Rollins at Cedar Creek Reservoir said. “It’s not quite as good as it was about a month ago, but occasionally it’s great.” Crappie are staging in different depths depending on the reservoir, and Rollins said the fish are holding in around 15 feet of water,
or deeper, in some areas. As usual, brush piles and any sort of cover at that depth will be the best bets for a bite. “Most of our crappie right now at Cedar Creek are out in deeper water,” Rollins said. “The warm water is making it good for now, but I’m afraid it will slow down when winter settles in.” To the east, guide Seth Vanover said the bites are on-and-off at Lake Fork, and may not be worth an angler’s time. The bite at Lake O’ the Pines, however, is a different story. “Lake Fork is so-so right now,” Vanover said. “But I’m killing ’em
at Lake O’ the Pines. They’re holding really tight to cover right now, so we know just where to find them.” He said he is seeing the water temperatures push some fish into the creek channels, and some anglers are beginning to follow them to shallower water. Bites can be hit-or-miss when the crappie move shallower, but when they stick to deeper brush, it’s time to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather. “The lake is just about perfect right now in every way,” Vanover said. “It’s full, clear — just about Please turn to page 21
Bass Pro Group announced an agreement to acquire Fishing Holdings, LLC, a manufacturer of fishing boats that includes Ranger Boats and the Stratos and Triton boat brands from Platinum Equity. The agreement combines popular fishing boat brands that are recognized internationally. It also creates another connection between two industry leaders, Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris and Ranger Boats founder Forrest Wood. Years ago, the iconic outdoorsmen both began fishing on the White River and White River Chain of Lakes in the Ozarks and even fished together in the first national BASS tournaments. “This partnership brings added long-term stability for both companies and for the dealer networks that provide customers with quality boats at exceptional values,” said Morris, who also is founder/CEO of Tracker Marine Group. “I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Forrest Wood many years, and I deeply respect him and his family that founded and built a solid performing business with excellent products. “It’s also important that our companies share comparable cultures and values and are dedicated to manufacturing quality products in the USA.” Following the closing of the transaction, Fishing Holdings will continue operating independently under its existing management at its headquarters in Flippin, Arkansas, located a two-hour drive from Bass Pro Shops headquarters in Springfield. “We are fortunate to partner with Bass Pro Group, which understands the industry and our brands,” said Fishing Holdings President Randy Hopper. “This new alliance will provide synergies that will strengthen our independent dealer base and ensure our continued focus on fishing.” The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the transaction were not publicly disclosed. — Bass Pro Group
JUST THE BEGINNING: Longtime anglers in the Rockport area have been seeing all sorts of good signs at Cedar Bayou, including good water fl ows and numerous types of bait. They also caution the fi shery still needs time before it will be the hot spot it was almost 35 years ago when it closed. Photo by Ralph Winningham, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Signs of life Cedar Bayou full of bait, some fish
By Steve Schwartz LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Frank Houser was spending his day in the newly reopened Cedar Bayou, free-lining shrimp, when he hooked into something. After a short fight, a large flounder surfaced next to the boat — then popped off of his line, swimming free.
To most anglers, it would be a disappointing lost catch, but to Houser it meant something so much more. “It’s definitely starting; I’m getting reports from all over the place,” he said. “I heard the other day the shrimp were so thick you could almost walk across the bayou on top of them.” When Cedar Bayou opened on Sept. 25, after 35 years of isolation from the
Gulf of Mexico, fish almost immediately started showing up in the newly opened waters. Anglers were catching trout and redfish in good numbers. However, following the opening, Houser, a 34-year veteran guide out of Rockport, said the fishing was not worth the effort, and the fish haven’t been consistently in the bayou since. Please turn to page 23
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Virtual guiding to help anglers New fishing site will give pro tips for a price By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Tournament anglers and serious weekend warriors are always looking for an edge when it comes to catching big largemouth bass. But many don’t have the time or resources to hire a guide on each new lake or water body they fish or the ability to travel to practice days on unfamiliar water. Not having crucial information on a lake could cost them dearly come tournament time, or they could just lose a friendly bet and bragging rights to their fishing buddy. A new interactive cyber guide website, proweblivestream.com/ cyberguides.php/, is set to go live in January, and features video tutorials from professional anglers on their home lakes. The tutorials vary from two- to four-hours long and were the idea of professional angler Dave Lefebre. “The whole idea was an afterthought, actually,” Lefebre said. “I was doing Pro Web Live with different platforms, putting on live lectures at shows and online where people could follow along and ask questions and, in between shows, we had the hardware just sitting there. It was kind of a selfish thing — instead of pros having to travel in their spare time when we’re not home enough as it is, I thought it would be a good way to get different experts on different lakes to do an all-seasons, completely virtual guide trip.” Several Texas lakes will be featured on the new site, with FLW pro Clark Reehm giving tutorials on Sam Rayburn Reservoir and the Red River. Alton Jones will give a tutorial on Falcon International Reservoir. According to Lefebre, several more Texas lakes are also lined up in the near future — Lake Conroe and Lake Ray Hubbard. “Dave called me back in October and said we have all this equipment lying around, so lets use it,” Reehm said. “I’ll be breaking down what an angler needs to know to be successful (on Sam Rayburn). I’ll discuss seasonal patterns, waypoints to run the lake Please turn to page 21
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT Target the grass SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIR — According to guide Lynn Atkinson from Reel um N Guide Service, the largemouth bass grass bite with lipless crankbaits is pulling in nice fish. “The weather has been on the warm side keeping the water temperature a bit warmer and the grass has been doing great. The pads have been disappearing slowly. Each day is different and you can catch 50 one day then two the next, but sometimes I’ll take two big trophy fish. Sometimes those two fish weigh 18 pounds. “The grass bite is the ticket this time of year and everyone knows it is trap time, so get your traps out and start fishing. Don’t forget about a Stanley spinner bait to cover the grass.” The water temperature has been between 64 and 68 degrees. Atkinson also noted the crappie are running up the river and be prepared for a light bite. To contact guide Lynn Atkinson, call (979) 220-0251.
Shallow cats LAKE SOMERVILLE — Multiple anglers and guides have commented on Internet message boards about the solid catfish bite in Lake Somerville. Good numbers of eating-sized fish are being caught with punchbait in crawdad flavor,
ALAN HENRY: Water stained; 48–55 degrees; 9.94’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and flutter spoons. AMISTAD: Water murky; 64–68 degrees; 29.75’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, frogs, crankbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on slabs, spoons and small crankbaits. ATHENS: Water clear; 48–52 degrees; 1.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits in shad patterns. BASTROP: Water stained; 63–67 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. BELTON: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 12.33’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin spinner baits and lipless crankbaits along banks and in coves. BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 49–54 degrees; 2.80’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. BONHAM: Water stained, 50–54 degrees; 3.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair in the backs of creeks and along creek channels on crankbaits, soft plastics and jerkbaits. BRAUNIG: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms. Striped bass are fair on liver and shad. Redfish are good on crawfish, shad, shrimp, tilapia and silver spoons. BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained, 50–53 degrees; 24.04’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on jerkbaits in pro blue and Kohoku Reaction. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 60–64 degrees; 12.34’ low.
Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, craw-colored jigs and craw-colored crankbaits. Hybrid striper are slow. BUCHANAN: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 33.49’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, Bleeding Shad lipless crankbaits and silver flake Whacky Sticks in 8–15 feet. CADDO: Water stained; 50–54 degrees; 0.35 high. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs and flipping jigs. CALAVERAS: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits around reed beds. CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 64–68 degrees; 12.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red Whacky Sticks on jigheads and Texas-rigged grape Scoundrel worms on shaky head jigs along main lake bluffs. CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 51–54 degrees; 6.12’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on lipless crankbaits and bladed jigs. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 66–70 degrees; 27.98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on pumpkinseed soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits in 10–20 feet. COLEMAN: Water clear; 63–67 degrees; 19.02’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon spinner baits and soft plastics. COLETO CREEK: Water murky; 68 degrees in main lake, 83 degrees at hot water discharge; 4.94’ low. Largemouth bass to 4 pounds are fair on chartreuse soft plastics and spinner baits near the hot water discharge in 4–8 feet.
CONROE: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 0.45’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red soft plastics, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits in 20–30 feet. FALCON: Water murky; 60–64 degrees; 28.57’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon spinner baits and Brush Hogs in 5–12 feet. FAYETTE: Water stained. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon and redbug Carolina-rigged Finesse worms, and on shallow-running crankbaits over grass. FORK: Water clear; 49–54 degrees; 7.38’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on bladed jigs with shad trailers. Black and blue flipping jigs along creek channel bends with timber in 6–10’ working as well. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 47–55 degrees; 17.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and Texas rigs. GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on pumpkinseed soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. GRANBURY: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 10.41’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastic worms and lipless crankbaits. GRANGER: Water clear; 63–67 degrees; 1.01’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 48–52 degrees; 12.60’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and drop-shot Reaction Innovations Flirt Worms in California 420 near floating docks. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 60–64 degrees; 0.12’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
along with live bait and chicken livers in 2- to 10-feet of water, often under corks. The bigger fish have been showing in the shallower water off of main lake point and shallow humps. Along with the catfish, the largemouth bass bite has been fair on soft plastics and crankbaits in the 65-degree water. Crappie are also beginning to be caught, although the bite is inconsistent.
River gills GUADALUPE RIVER — The bluegill bite has been hot on the Guadalupe River near Boerne, according to renowned panfish angler Charles Dewey on the Texas Fishing Forum. “Fished the Guadalupe River from 9:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. and the bite was very good,” Dewey said. “Caught a bunch of crappie, bluegill and redbreast (sunfish). Rounding out the catch were two very nice channel cats over 7 pounds, with one possibly going over 8 pounds. The fish were holding on brush piles in 12-to 15-feet of water. Jigs and worms were the baits used. I had one huge crappie spit the hook after a short, good fight. A total of about 40 fish, including the crappie, were caught. Most of the fish were released, with the exception of a few, which will make it to the frying pan.” — Conor Harrison
HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 48–53 degrees; 29.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, Texas rigs and shaky heads. JOE POOL: Water clear; 49–54 degrees; 2.03’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, weightless flukes and soft plastic jerkbaits. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 50–55; degrees; 0.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, bladed jigs and Senkos. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 50–54 degrees; 12.94’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on lipless crankbaits and suspending bladed jigs. LBJ: Water stained; 62–66 degrees; 0.24’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon top-waters, buzzbaits, and wacky-rigged green pumpkin Whacky Sticks in 4–6 feet. LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 48–52 degrees; 7.53’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jerkbaits in Table Rock Shad and football jigs. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 64–68 degrees; 0.12’ high. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon soft plastics with chartreuse tails, and on lipless crankbaits. MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 72–86 degrees; 1.92’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged worms and creature baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. MONTICELLO: Water clear; 51–55 degrees; 0.22’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, flick shake worms and finesse jigs. NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 62–66 degrees; 2.01’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastic
worms and shallow-running crankbaits. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 46–51 degrees; 42.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and shaky heads. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs shallow. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 47–53 degrees; 25.37’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, drop-shot rigs and jigs. PALESTINE: Water clear; 49–53 degrees; 0.65’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads, weightless Senkos and drop shots around docks. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 48–55 degrees; 14.71’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on drop-shot rigs, Texas rigs and jigs. PROCTOR: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 12.59’ low. Largemouth bass are very good on chartreuse soft plastic worms and lipless crankbaits. RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 49–54 degrees; 10.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 48–42 degrees; 8.01’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on umbrella rigs and heavy shaky heads near brush piles. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 49–53 degrees; 10.50’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on green pumpkin shaky heads and finesse worms. STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 63–67 degrees; 13.94’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse crankbaits, lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. SWEETWATER: Water murky; 43–52 degrees; 28.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on
n Saltwater reports: Please turn to
Page 16 flutter spoons, Texas rigs and jigs. TEXOMA: Water clear; 48–51 degrees; 5.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on suspending jerkbaits and shaky head worms in green pumpkin and redbug. TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 63–67 degrees; 3.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red and chartreuse soft plastic worms and crankbaits in 20–30 feet. TRAVIS: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 57.46’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chrome crankbaits, red shad worms and white grubs in 10–28 feet. WALTER E. LONG: Water lightly stained. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. WHITNEY: Water murky; 62–66 degrees; 10.63’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse spinner baits, crankbaits and top-waters. Striped bass are fair on white striper jigs. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water lightly stained; 50–54 degrees; 3.03’ high. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas-rigged craws and flipping jigs near shallow cover. Crappie are slow on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and cut shad. — TPWD
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
December 26, 2014
Page 11
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston 2014 Dec.-Jan.
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
26Fri 27Sat 28Sun 29Mon 30Tue 31Wed 01Wed 02Thu 03Fri 04Sat 05Sun 06Mon 07Tue 08Wed 09Thu 10Fri 11Sat 12Sun 13Mon 14Tue
10:08 3:55 11:06 4:53 ----- 5:48 12:26 6:39 1:14 7:27 2:00 8:13 3:45 9:56 4:24 10:34 5:04 11:14 5:46 11:57 6:31 12:20 7:19 1:08 8:11 1:59 9:05 2:52 10:01 3:48 10:58 4:45 11:55 5:41 12:23 6:37 1:16 7:29 2:06 8:20
10:35 4:22 11:32 5:19 12:01 6:13 12:51 7:04 1:40 7:53 2:26 8:39 4:07 10:17 4:45 10:56 5:25 11:36 6:08 ----6:53 12:42 7:42 1:31 8:35 2:23 9:30 3:18 10:27 4:14 11:25 5:12 ----- 6:09 12:50 7:04 1:43 7:57 2:34 8:47
First
Last
Full
Dec. 28
New
Jan. 13
Jan. 5
Jan. 20
Solunar Sun times Moon times SUN Rises Sets
8:14 8:14 8:14 8:15 8:15 8:15 7:11 7:09 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:05 7:04 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:58 6:57 6:56
6:28 6:28 6:29 6:29 6:30 6:31 7:38 7:39 7:40 7:40 7:41 7:41 7:42 7:42 7:43 7:44 7:44 7:45 7:45 7:46
MOON Rises Sets
11:46a 11:49p 12:28p NoMoon 1:09p 12:52a 1:50p 1:54a 2:32p 2:55a 3:16p 3:55a 5:30p 5:31a 6:22p 6:05a 7:14p 6:39a 8:06p 7:13a 8:59p 7:49a 9:54p 8:27a 10:48p 9:07a 11:43p 9:51a NoMoon 10:39a 12:37a 11:32a 1:30a 12:28p 2:20a 1:29p 3:08a 2:32p 3:54a 3:37p
Dallas 2014 Dec.-Jan.
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
26Fri 27Sat 28Sun 29Mon 30Tue 31Wed 01Thu 02Fri 03Sat 04Sun 05Mon 06Tue 07Wed 08Thu 09Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed
10:14 4:01 11:12 4:59 ----- 5:53 12:32 6:44 1:20 7:33 2:06 8:19 2:52 9:05 3:38 9:51 4:25 10:38 5:14 11:26 6:03 ----6:53 12:41 7:43 1:31 8:32 2:21 9:21 3:10 10:08 3:58 10:55 4:44 11:40 5:29 12:01 6:14 12:47 6:58
10:41 4:27 11:38 5:25 12:06 6:19 12:57 7:10 1:45 7:58 2:32 8:45 3:18 9:31 4:04 10:17 4:51 11:04 5:39 11:51 6:27 12:15 7:16 1:04 8:05 1:54 8:54 2:43 9:42 3:31 10:29 4:19 11:16 5:05 ----- 5:51 12:25 6:36 1:10 7:22
SUN Rises Sets
8:27 8:27 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29 8:29
6:26 6:27 6:27 6:28 6:29 6:29 6:30 6:31 6:31 6:32 6:33 6:34 6:34 6:35 6:36 6:37 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:40
MOON Rises Sets
11:54a 11:54p 12:34p NoMoon 1:14p 12:59a 1:54p 2:02a 2:35p 3:04a 3:17p 4:05a 4:02p 5:05a 4:50p 6:02a 5:40p 6:56a 6:32p 7:46a 7:25p 8:32a 8:19p 9:13a 9:13p 9:51a 10:06p 10:27a 10:58p 11:00a 11:51p 11:33a NoMoon 12:05p 12:43a 12:38p 1:37a 1:13p 2:33a 1:51p
San Antonio
2014 A.M. Dec.-Jan. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
26Fri 27Sat 28Sun 29Mon 30Tue 31Wed 01Thu 02Fri 03Sat 04Sun 05Mon 06Tue 07Wed 08Thu 09Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed
10:48 4:34 11:45 5:32 12:13 6:26 1:04 7:17 1:52 8:05 2:39 8:52 3:25 9:38 4:11 10:24 4:57 11:10 5:45 11:58 6:34 12:22 7:23 1:11 8:12 2:01 9:01 2:50 9:49 3:38 10:36 4:25 11:23 5:12 ----- 5:58 12:32 6:43 1:17 7:29
8:25 8:26 8:26 8:26 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:27 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28 8:28
10:21 4:07 11:19 5:06 ----- 6:00 12:38 6:51 1:26 7:39 2:13 8:26 2:59 9:12 3:45 9:58 4:32 10:45 5:20 11:33 6:09 ----6:59 12:48 7:49 1:38 8:39 2:28 9:27 3:17 10:15 4:04 11:01 4:51 11:47 5:36 12:08 6:21 12:53 7:05
6:41 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:43 6:44 6:45 6:45 6:46 6:47 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:55
MOON Rises Sets
11:59a NoMoon 12:41p 12:02a 1:22p 1:05a 2:03p 2:07a 2:45p 3:08a 3:29p 4:08a 4:15p 5:07a 5:03p 6:03a 5:53p 6:56a 6:45p 7:46a 7:38p 8:33a 8:31p 9:15a 9:24p 9:54a 10:15p 10:31a 11:07p 11:05a NoMoon 11:39a NoMoon 12:13p 12:49a 12:47p 1:42a 1:23p 2:36a 2:02p
Amarillo
2014 A.M. Dec.-Jan. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
26Fri 27Sat 28Sun 29Mon 30Tue 31Wed 01Thu 02Fri 03Sat 04Sun 05Mon 06Tue 07Wed 08Thu 09Fri 10Sat 11Sun 12Mon 13Tue 14Wed
11:01 4:47 11:58 5:45 12:26 6:39 1:17 7:30 2:06 8:18 2:52 9:05 3:38 9:51 4:24 10:37 5:11 11:24 5:59 ----6:47 12:35 7:36 1:24 8:25 2:14 9:14 3:03 10:02 3:51 10:49 4:39 11:36 5:25 12:00 6:11 12:45 6:57 1:30 7:42
8:53 8:54 8:54 8:54 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:56 8:56 8:56 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55 8:55
10:34 4:21 11:32 5:19 12:02 6:13 12:52 7:04 1:40 7:53 2:26 8:39 3:12 9:25 3:58 10:11 4:45 10:58 5:34 11:46 6:23 12:11 7:13 1:01 8:03 1:51 8:52 2:41 9:41 3:30 10:28 4:18 11:15 5:04 ----- 5:49 12:21 6:34 1:07 7:18
6:40 6:40 6:41 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:44 6:45 6:46 6:47 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:55
MOON Rises Sets
12:16p NoMoon 12:55p 12:14a 1:34p 1:20a 2:12p 2:24a 2:52p 3:28a 3:34p 4:30a 4:18p 5:30a 5:06p 6:28a 5:56p 7:22a 6:48p 8:12a 7:42p 8:57a 8:36p 9:38a 9:31p 10:15a 10:25p 10:50a 11:18p 11:22a NoMoon 11:54a 12:12a 12:25p 1:05a 12:57p 2:00a 1:32p 2:56a 2:09p
Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.
Sabine Pass, north Date
Time
Dec 2612:31 AM Dec 27 1:44 AM Dec 28 2:56 AM Dec 29 4:01 AM Dec 30 4:58 AM Dec 31 5:48 AM Jan 01 6:38 AM Jan 02 12:10 AM Jan 03 12:46 AM Jan 04 1:19 AM Jan 05 1:48 AM Jan 06 2:16 AM Jan 07 2:44 AM Jan 08 3:18 AM Jan 09 12:01 AM
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.6L 0.4L 0.2L -0.1L -0.3L -0.5L -0.6L 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.6L
5:23 AM 7:10 AM 9:15 AM 11:07 AM 12:34 PM 1:41 PM 2:31 PM 7:20 AM 8:00 AM 8:38 AM 9:15 AM 9:52 AM 10:28 AM 11:05 AM 4:02 AM
1.0H 0.9H 0.8H 0.9H 1.1H 1.2H 1.2H -0.7L -0.8L -0.8L -0.7L -0.6L -0.5L -0.4L 0.8H
12:29 PM -0.3L 1:27 PM 0.0L 2:33 PM 0.3L 3:51 PM 0.5L 5:17 PM 0.7L 6:35 PM 0.8L 7:31 PM 0.8L 3:18 PM 1.3H 3:58 PM 1.3H 4:35 PM 1.2H 5:08 PM 1.2H 5:40 PM 1.1H 6:11 PM 1.1H 6:44 PM 1.0H 11:42 AM -0.2L
7:44 PM 8:28 PM 9:13 PM 9:57 PM 10:40 PM 11:23 PM
1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H
8:19 PM 8:56 PM 9:26 PM 9:56 PM 10:30 PM 11:11 PM
0.9L 0.9L 0.9L 0.8L 0.8L 0.7L
7:17 PM 1.0H
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date
Time
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.6L 0.3L 0.1L -0.1L -0.3L -0.5L -0.6L -0.7L 1.1H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H 0.7L 0.6L
San Luis Pass Date
Time
0.6L 0.4L 0.2L 0.0L -0.2L -0.4L -0.4L -0.4L -0.5L -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L
Freeport Harbor Time
Dec 26 1:51 AM Dec 27 2:28 AM Dec 28 3:12 AM Dec 29 3:59 AM Dec 30 4:47 AM Dec 31 5:36 AM Jan 01 6:33 AM Jan 02 7:18 AM Jan 03 7:58 AM Jan 04 8:33 AM Jan 05 9:02 AM Jan 06 9:29 AM Jan 07 9:58 AM Jan 0810:31 AM Jan 09 1:46 AM
Rollover Pass Date
Time
Dec 2612:13 AM Dec 2712:00 AM Dec 2812:04 AM Dec 2912:16 AM Dec 3012:31 AM Dec 3112:49 AM Jan 01 1:20 AM Jan 0211:17 AM Jan 0312:03 PM Jan 0412:47 PM Jan 05 1:27 PM Jan 06 2:00 PM Jan 0712:07 AM Jan 0812:02 AM Jan 09 2:49 PM
0.9H 0.9H 0.9H 1.0H 1.1H 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H -0.7L -0.7L -0.6L -0.5L -0.4L 0.9H 0.8H
12:41 PM 1:33 PM 2:22 PM 3:31 PM 5:31 PM 6:31 PM 7:23 PM 9:28 PM 4:07 PM 4:38 PM 5:13 PM 5:54 PM 6:38 PM 11:24 AM 12:01 PM
-0.2L 0.1L 0.4L 0.7L 0.9L 1.0L 1.0L 1.0L 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.2H -0.3L -0.1L
8:06 PM 8:34 PM 8:55 PM 9:11 PM 9:36 PM 10:16 PM 11:22 PM
1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H
10:13 PM 10:45 PM 11:12 PM 11:41 PM
0.9L 0.9L 0.8L 0.8L
7:18 PM 1.2H 7:50 PM 1.1H
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
Dec 26 1:03 AM Dec 27 2:31 AM Dec 28 3:52 AM Dec 29 4:56 AM Dec 30 5:50 AM Dec 31 6:38 AM Jan 01 7:29 AM Jan 02 8:11 AM Jan 03 8:55 AM Jan 04 9:39 AM Jan 05 10:19 AM Jan 0610:52 AM Jan 0712:58 AM Jan 08 1:35 AM Jan 09 2:16 AM
Date
5:28 AM 8:03 AM 9:33 AM 11:10 AM 12:27 PM 1:52 PM 3:02 PM 3:37 PM 8:11 AM 8:59 AM 9:40 AM 10:15 AM 10:49 AM 3:53 AM 4:28 AM
5:39 AM 7:37 AM 9:46 AM 11:48 AM 1:26 PM 2:37 PM 4:25 PM 5:06 PM 5:42 PM 6:15 PM 6:47 PM 7:15 PM 3:10 AM 4:16 AM 5:09 AM
0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.8H 0.9H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.8H 0.6H 0.6H 0.5H
12:51 PM 1:48 PM 2:58 PM 4:36 PM 6:26 PM 7:49 PM
-0.2L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.6L 0.7L
11:19 AM -0.3L 11:43 AM -0.2L 12:11 PM 0.0L
8:30 PM 9:04 PM 9:37 PM 10:10 PM 10:44 PM 11:18 PM
0.9H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H
7:35 PM 0.8H 7:48 PM 0.7H 8:08 PM 0.7H
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.9L 0.7L 0.4L 0.2L -0.1L -0.3L -0.4L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.4L -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L 0.7L
5:06 AM 6:56 AM 8:53 AM 10:54 AM 12:38 PM 1:54 PM 2:51 PM 3:43 PM 4:27 PM 5:04 PM 5:37 PM 6:05 PM 6:28 PM 6:50 PM 4:01 AM
1.0H 1.0H 1.0H 1.1H 1.3H 1.5 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 1.4H 1.3H 0.8H
12:06 PM 1:10 PM 2:36 PM 4:36 PM 6:35 PM
0.0L 0.3L 0.6L 0.8L 1.0L
11:09 AM 0.0L
7:44 PM 8:14 PM 8:42 PM 9:08 PM 9:32 PM
1.4H 1.3H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H
7:11 PM 1.2H
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L -0.6L -0.5L 0.8H 0.8H -0.2L
4:16 PM 6:53 AM 7:31 AM 8:11 AM 8:55 AM 9:41 AM 10:30 AM 9:03 PM 10:02 PM 10:57 PM 11:42 PM
-0.1L 0.4L 0.2L 0.0L -0.2L -0.4L -0.5L 1.0H 1.0H 0.9H 0.9H
2:22 PM -0.4L 2:33 PM -0.3L 11:15 PM 0.7H
10:03 AM 12:16 PM 3:15 PM 5:35 PM 7:01 PM 8:00 PM
0.5H 0.5H 0.5H 0.7H 0.8H 0.9H
11:38 PM 0.7H
5:06 PM 6:15 PM 8:03 PM 9:31 PM 10:48 PM
0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.6L 0.7L
Date
Time
Dec 2612:23 AM Dec 2712:04 AM Dec 28 5:27 AM Dec 29 6:18 AM Dec 30 7:11 AM Dec 31 8:05 AM Jan 01 9:03 AM Jan 02 9:53 AM Jan 03 10:39 AM Jan 04 11:20 AM Jan 05 11:55 AM Jan 06 12:20 AM Jan 07 12:40 AM Jan 08 12:34 AM Jan 09 1:49 PM
Rockport Date
Time
Dec 26 5:14 AM Dec 2712:52 AM Dec 28 6:43 AM Dec 29 7:31 AM Dec 30 8:18 AM Dec 31 9:04 AM Jan 01 9:54 AM Jan 02 12:20 AM Jan 03 1:00 AM Jan 04 1:45 AM Jan 05 2:31 AM Jan 06 3:17 AM Jan 07 4:03 AM Jan 08 4:47 AM Jan 09 5:32 AM
Port Aransas Date
Time
Dec 2612:07 AM Dec 27 1:52 AM Dec 28 3:01 AM Dec 29 4:01 AM Dec 30 4:54 AM Dec 31 5:44 AM Jan 01 6:35 AM Jan 02 7:18 AM Jan 03 7:58 AM Jan 04 8:34 AM Jan 05 12:17 AM Jan 06 1:04 AM Jan 07 1:52 AM Jan 08 2:41 AM Jan 09 3:35 AM
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.4H 0.3H 0.0L -0.1L -0.3L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L 0.3H 0.3H 0.2H -0.4L
2:32 PM 3:11 PM 9:52 AM 9:38 PM 9:19 PM 9:28 PM 10:06 PM 10:36 PM 11:12 PM 11:49 PM
-0.2L -0.1L 0.1H 0.3H 0.3H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H
12:24 PM 12:51 PM 1:19 PM 11:57 PM
-0.5L -0.5L -0.5L 0.1H
10:45 PM 0.2H 3:37 PM 0.0L
10:16 PM 0.2H
11:54 PM 0.2H
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.1H 0.0H -0.1L -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L 0.1H 0.1H 0.1H 0.0H 0.0H 0.0H 0.0H -0.1H
3:29 PM 3:38 PM 9:12 AM 10:50 PM 11:06 PM 11:35 PM
-0.2L -0.1L -0.1H 0.0H 0.1H 0.1H
10:39 AM 11:25 AM 12:09 PM 12:52 PM 1:32 PM 2:08 PM 2:38 PM 3:02 PM
-0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L
11:22 PM 0.0H 3:12 PM -0.1L
10:53 PM 0.0H
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.5L 0.4L 0.2L 0.0L -0.2L -0.4L -0.4L -0.5L -0.5L -0.5L 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.5H
4:22 AM 6:00 AM 7:54 AM 11:37 AM 2:13 PM 3:19 PM 4:03 PM 4:51 PM 5:33 PM 5:53 PM 9:04 AM 9:30 AM 9:53 AM 10:18 AM 10:46 AM
0.6H 0.5H 0.4H 0.5H 0.6H 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.7H 0.7H -0.4L -0.4L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L
11:38 AM 12:25 PM 1:14 PM 3:43 PM 5:39 PM 7:06 PM 8:02 PM
-0.1L 0.1L 0.3L 0.5L 0.6L 0.7L 0.7L
9:22 PM 9:45 PM 6:01 PM 6:10 PM 6:04 PM 6:02 PM 6:22 PM
0.7L 0.7L 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.5H 0.5H
7:04 PM 7:30 PM 7:57 PM 8:24 PM 8:51 PM 9:18 PM 10:05 PM
0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H
11:29 PM 0.7H 10:04 PM 8:46 PM 9:41 PM 10:54 PM
0.6L 0.6L 0.5L 0.4L
South Padre Island Date
Time
Dec 26 1:30 AM Dec 27 2:13 AM Dec 28 3:00 AM Dec 29 3:49 AM Dec 30 4:38 AM Dec 31 5:27 AM Jan 01 6:18 AM Jan 02 7:03 AM Jan 03 7:46 AM Jan 04 8:27 AM Jan 05 9:04 AM Jan 06 9:40 AM Jan 07 10:12 AM Jan 08 10:43 AM Jan 09 11:14 AM
East Matagorda Date
Time
Dec 26 3:11 AM Dec 2712:13 AM Dec 28 5:31 AM Dec 29 6:04 AM Dec 30 6:31 AM Dec 31 6:59 AM Jan 01 8:31 AM Jan 02 9:22 AM Jan 03 12:12 AM Jan 04 12:41 AM Jan 05 1:13 AM Jan 06 2:16 AM Jan 07 12:19 AM Jan 08 12:17 AM Jan 09 2:14 PM
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
1.0L 0.7L 0.5L 0.3L 0.0L -0.1L -0.2L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.3L -0.2L -0.1L 0.0L 0.2L
3:51 AM 6:12 AM 8:47 AM 11:42 AM 2:00 PM 3:12 PM 4:04 PM 4:54 PM 5:39 PM 6:18 PM 6:46 PM 7:01 PM 7:07 PM 7:14 PM 7:24 PM
1.0H 0.9H 0.8H 1.0H 1.2H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H
12:05 PM 1:00 PM 2:05 PM 3:40 PM 5:36 PM
0.1L 0.4L 0.7L 0.9L 1.1L
7:50 PM 8:02 PM 8:11 PM 8:11 PM 7:51 PM
1.1H 1.1H 1.0H 1.1H 1.1H
Height Time Height Time Height Time Height
0.3L 0.4H 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.0L 0.0L 0.0L 0.5H 0.5H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.4H 0.1L
5:18 AM 4:41 AM 1:00 PM 2:39 PM 3:48 PM 11:03 PM 11:43 PM 6:07 PM 9:50 AM 10:08 AM 10:25 AM 10:51 AM 11:31 AM 2:01 PM
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER WASHING TRUCK DIDN’T GET ALL THE BLOOD A landowner called Red River County Game Warden Daniel Roraback after hearing gunshots near his property. After searching several deer camps, Roraback found evidence of blood at a camp that was no longer occupied. It appeared the subject made an effort to rake up the remaining debris and place it in a nearby burn barrel. The subject also had powerwashed his vehicle in an attempt to remove the blood. The hunter admitted to shooting an 11-point buck with his .30-30 rifle during archery season. Cases pending. TRESPASSER REFUSES TO LEAVE A hunter called Titus County Game Warden Jerry Ash regarding a trespasser on a nearby ranch. The hunter approached the trespasser and attempted to escort him off of the property, but the trespasser refused and continued across the ranch. The hunter took video and photos of the male suspect, who was later identified and arrested for Class B Criminal Trespass and an active felony warrant from the neighboring county. MAN PICKS UP ROADKILL IN TRUCK FULL OF DRUGS Gregg and Upshur counties Game Wardens Todd Long and Mark Frayser observed an individual stop near their location and collect a white-tailed buck from the roadway. As contact was made, the subject became increasingly irritable and uncooperative. Consent to search was given and the wardens located multiple containers of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, suspected meth lab components and an illegal firearm. The subject was arrested.
FATHER AND SON FINALLY FESS UP A complainant sent pictures of a buck that was illegally taken to Wilson County Game Warden David Nieto. The pictures showed the tag on the deer saying it was taken in Kendall County. Nieto went to the residence where the deer was last seen but the father and son had traveled back to Kendall County. Nieto suspected the deer was taken by the son in Wilson County and he had used the father’s license to tag the deer, since the son did not have a current hunting license. Both subjects said the father shot the deer in Kendall County and took it to his son’s MAN SHOOTS AND DRAGS TWO DOES OFF NEIGHBOR’S RANCH Cherokee County Game Warden Brian Bearden caught a trespasser who had shot two does on an adjoining property and dragged them to a property where the man had permission to hunt. The man changed his story after Bearden located the deer and determined where they had been dragged. WARDENS FIND LOST HUNTER The sheriff’s office called San Augustine Game Wardens Mike Ferguson and Jeff Cox to help locate a lost hunter in the national forest. The wardens worked with the local fire department and organized a search group. The lost hunter was located shortly after midnight and safely returned to his family. LOST BOAT RECOVERED Jefferson County Game Warden Robbie Smith with Marine Investigations responded to a call from Jefferson County Game Warden Clint Caywood about a boat and motor recovered from the Neches River. The boat was towed in and contact was made with the
residence in Wilson County so that he could help gut the deer. Nieto spoke with the landowner who verified the father shot the deer in Kendall County and obtained a written statement. When Nieto called the son for a written statement, the father got on the phone and said he wanted to meet to tell him exactly what happened. At the meeting, the son wrote a statement admitting he shot the deer in Wilson County and that his father came to his residence in order to put a valid tag on the buck. The deer scored 144 4/8, and cases are pending.
owner, who said the boat became hung up on a pipe. He left the boat and returned only to find it missing. The value of the recovery was estimated at $15,000. FOUR UNTAGGED DEER IN ONE CAMP Game Wardens Colt Crawford and Trey Sparkman were patrolling around the Matagorda and Brazoria county lines. The wardens entered a deer camp and made contact with five hunters. Sparkman interviewed the hunters while Crawford inspected two coolers near a cleaning rack that contained three untagged deer. A fourth deer was found in a separate cooler in the bed of a truck. Ten violations were found, including hunting without Hunter Education, possession of an untagged deer, possession of a deer without proof of sex and failure to fill out a harvest log. TEENS TAKE TWO DEER ILLEGALLY, ONE WITH TRUCK Information about illegally taken deer was reported to local game wardens by retired Bandera County Game Warden Rod Chalmers. Bandera County Game Wardens Mark
McQueary and Robert Greenwalt, along with Uvalde County Game Warden Henry Lutz, responded to a residence and located meat from a freshly killed white-tailed deer. It was learned that two 17-year-olds had killed one deer with a bow from a public road that night and killed another deer by running it over with a truck a couple of nights earlier. Lutz obtained written confessions from both suspects. Multiple charges have been filed. A BAD TIME TO ASK WARDEN FOR HELP Three hunters approached Somervell County Game Warden Joni Kuykendall and said they shot a small buck and didn’t know what to do. The hunters led Kuykendall to a group of trees where a deer was strung up in the trees. Kuykendall had the men get the deer out of the tree and verified that it was under the 13-inch antler restriction. One of the hunters did not have his hunting license. Cases pending. HOST OF VIOLATIONS FOR GROUP IN DUCK BOAT Hill County Game Warden
Douglas Volcik patrolled the Corps of Engineer Property of Lake Aquilla for illegal hunting activity when he noticed a boat returning without running lights. While performing a water safety inspection and license check, one of the hunters said he had left his license at his residence. When asked why he wasn’t displaying his running lights, the hunter said they broke while traveling to the lake. The vehicle and trailer registrations were also expired. Cases pending. GROUP WAY OVER FLOUNDER LIMIT Galveston County Game Wardens Mack Chambers, Travis Fountain and Jennifer Provaznik confiscated 70 flounder from fishermen that were over the legal limit. Cases pending. VIOLATIONS AT WRONG CAMP Coryell County Game Warden Colt Gaulden was contacted by Hamilton County Game Warden Jim Daniels and advised of a call that had been reported on the Hamilton/ Coryell county line. At the complainant’s camp in Coryell County, it was determined that a deer had been shot on the neighboring property and retrieved without permission. The wardens went to Hamilton County to speak with the neighbor, who had two untagged white-tailed does partially quartered. The wardens determined the neighbor was not the hunter that had illegally retrieved the deer and issued citations. At the next property, the wardens found the hunter who had illegally retrieved the deer. The deer was found to be untagged and in violation of the 13-inch antler restrictions. It was also found that the hunter had discarded the bones and hide of the deer on the county road near his camp.
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A unique take on jewelry
Some oil funds going to waterfowl land Continued from page 4
Coast Joint Venture estimates there is a 107,000-acre deficit of freshwater wetlands habitat to service the 15.5 million migratory waterfowl that winter in the region. Working with the Texas Prairie Wetlands Program and the Migratory Bird Initiative, the Gulf Coast Coastal Migratory Waterfowl Habitat Enhancement Project will create a minimum 3,000-acre permanent wetland corridor, while enrolling an additional 20,000 acres of agricultural land to be flooded seasonally. The project will leverage its $1.25 million award with grants from the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Projects like the Gulf Migratory Waterfowl Enhancement Project,” Bender said, “are excellent examples of what can
be done to create great, largescale waterfowl habitats for a reasonable monetary investment in our natural resources.” With Texas suffering from one of its worst droughts in history, the Gulf Coast Migratory Waterfowl Habitat Enhancement Project will help alleviate some of the stress placed upon rice farmers that have had to restrict flooding the critical acreage needed to support overwintering waterfowl. Inactive rice fields contribute to the spread of nonnative vegetation and challenges the ecological services that support many of the waterfowl that overwinter in the region, according to Bender. The enhancement project funds farmers to actively manage roughly 20 percent of their inactive fields, limiting the spread of invasive, nonnative plant species and restoring lost or vanishing waterfowl habitat.
Dove season open again
Continued from page 4
FUNDS COMING: Thanks to the settlement with BP, waterfowl along the coast should see improved habitat and more protected wetlands. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund is funded by plea agreements from British Petroleum and TransOcean with the U.S. Department of Justice as a
result of the 2010 Deep Water Horizon tragedy. Resulting criminal penalties will direct $2.54 billion to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation over five years to remedy the spill’s harm to the Gulf.
North Zone
South Zone
Dec. 19, 2014 - Jan. 7, 2015
Dec. 19, 2014 - Jan. 25, 2015
Central Zone
Special White-winged Dove Area
Dec. 19, 2014 - Jan. 7, 2015
Dec. 19, 2014 - Jan. 21, 2015 For more information, go to TPWD.texas.gov.
her daughter, father, or friends, Floerke makes time to go shooting several times a week. Each bullet or shell used in her jewelry was first used to kill a deer, bird or hog; each animal piece a trophy from one of her excursions. “This is nostalgia for me,” Floerke said, as each piece represents its own memory. It is more than reflecting on past experiences, however. The jewelry’s aesthetic mix of rustic and modern — a glittering gem embedded in a shotgun shell ring, for example — represent the contradictions Floerke sees in her own life. She is proud to be in touch with her smalltown Texas roots, yet is also determined to forge her own modern path, as evidenced by the tattoos that cover her arms — symbols of earlier years in Austin. Creating this jewelry line has become a form of therapy, a way to bring the disparate parts of Floerke’s life together. Based on the online response, it seems her aesthetic of contradiction is one with which girls all over the country can relate. Beyond its personal importance, GlitterNBones is Floerke’s way of giving back to the hunting community and the Texas western tradition she loves so dearly. She plans to continue selling her jewelry online but hopes to one day expand to boutiques in small Texas towns and perhaps one day open a boutique of her own in Gruene. She insists, though, that no matter what the future holds for GlitterNBones, it will always remain a Texas-born and bred brand.
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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Big trout
To contact Capt. Kevin Cochran, call (361) 688-3714.
TRINITY BAY — The recent cold snap has awakened some big trout in the Trinity Bay complex, according to wading guide Derek Lechler. “The past few trips have been spotty at best, but with this little cold snap (Dec. 19) the fish went nuts,” he said. “Water temperatures dropped back down to the mid-50s, the bite started around 7:30 a.m. and we caught our last fish around 2:30 p.m. Once again the Waterloo, Corky combo was deadly.” The next day, the bite was a little tougher, although good trout are still being caught on some top-waters and slow-sinking plugs. To contact Capt. Derek Lechler, call (832) 724-2288.
Bit of everything
BAFFIN BAY — The Baffin Bay trout bite has been pretty good through mid-December, according to many anglers and Capt. Kevin Cochran. “(The) top-water bite continues decent on the warmer, calm days for me,” he said. “(We are) getting lots of bites on some of the breezier days, but not quite as many big fish as I’d like. Various areas are holding lots of bait and the fish don’t seem to prefer any depth as specifically as they sometimes do when it’s colder in December.” Cochran has been throwing red and white top-waters to target some of his bigger fish.
SABINE LAKE — The bite in Sabine Lake has been outstanding, according to Capt. Lindy Hebert. “It is still warm and windy, with 20-plus miles per hour, birds working, fast and furious action,” he said. “Started off fishing the marshes and shoreline and caught a bunch of trout and a lot of small ones, for some reason. From the first cast until about 10 a.m., it was pretty much nonstop action. Finally when it did slow down, we went flounder fishing. Sabine Pass is still fairly crowded in the best spots, so after catching a couple of flounder and dealing with people trying to fish on top of you, we moved out in the open Sabine Lake away from the crowd. Once we got past the smoke from a marsh fire there were flocks of birds everywhere. We just went from one flock to the other catching mostly 28-inch redfish, with some over 28 and some under 28, but that was the average. Every once in a while, we would catch a nice stray speckled trout.” To contact Capt. Lindy Hebert, call (409) 720-8148. — Conor Harrison
NORTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under the birds when the wind allows. Redfish are fair to good around marsh drains on the outgoing tide. SOUTH SABINE: Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. Trout are fair around the reef on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on soft plastics and plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on top-waters and soft plastics. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good in the mud and shell on twitchbaits and Corkies. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. TEXAS CITY: Sand trout and whiting are fair to
in San Antonio Bay. Redfish are good at the mouths of drains on scented plastics. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow DOA Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on the Estes Flats and in the holes on mullet and shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Sheepshead are good at the jetty on shrimp. Redfish are fair to good on the East Flats on scented plastics and mullet. Sand trout are good on shrimp in the channel. CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. Trout are fair to good on the edge of the channel on live shrimp and DOA Shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and Catch 2000s Redfish are good in the Land Cut on natural baits. Trout are fair on the spoil banks on Corkies and soft plastics.
Top-water bite
good in the channels on shrimp. Trout are fair to good at night from the piers on glow plastics and live shrimp. Flounder are fair on the flats. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Bull redfish are good in Cold Pass and San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Trout are fair to good on the reefs in Bastrop Bay on live shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on live shrimp and soft plastics over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on crabs and mullet. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous. Trout are fair on shell on soft plastics and live shrimp. Sheepshead are good on shrimp at the jetty. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on Corkies over soft mud in waist–deep water
PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good while drifting potholes and while wading spoil islands. Trout are fair to good on muddy shorelines and on the edge of the ICW on Corkies, MirrOlures and soft plastics. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on DOA Shrimp and scented plastics. Redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper are fair to good in the channel on shrimp. Sheepshead are good at the jetty on shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Redfish are fair to good on drops and in Cullen on shrimp and scented plastics. Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics under popping corks. — TPWD
Fisheries council members send letter objecting to curtailing recreational red snapper quota Eight representatives to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council have submitted a minority report to the National Marine Fisheries Service that lays out an extensive series of objections to a management plan for Gulf red snapper. The report focuses on the development and presentation of Amendment 40, a measure that will reserve a significant percentage of the recreational red snapper quota solely for use by the charter/for-hire industry. Amendment 40 was narrowly approved at the October meeting of the Gulf Council and is now pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. “The action adopted by the majority lacks support, especially from the Gulf states, and hinders future management of the fishery,” the report said. “This amendment and this vote signify that federal management of the red snapper fishery is broken. The way Amendment 40 was pushed through the Council process does not foster cooperative and collaborative work between the Council and the Gulf states to manage this fishery. Most importantly, it violates several national standards. As such it is both bad policy, and in violation of the Act. For these reasons, the Secretary should reject the amendment.” — GMFMC
Laws differ on lake records Continued from page 1
Conservation started keeping records in 2008. The record striped bass for the Texas side of the lake was caught in 1984 by angler Terry Harber and weighed 35.12 pounds. But when is a lake record really a record when a lake is shared with another state? Texas has multiple water bodies that share a border, and those border states have different ways of calculating their own state’s lake record. “Well, we’ve tried to keep a lake record no matter which part of the lake it is caught,” said Ken Kurzawski, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s director of information and regulations. “Oklahoma, obviously, keeps their own records.” What about a lake that shares an international border such as Amistad or Falcon? “In Mexico, we don’t have that close a relationship with their fisheries people, so if you caught a lake record technically fishing on the Mexican side of the lake, we still consider that a (Texas) state record.”
In Louisiana, which shares a border with Texas on Caddo Lake and Toledo Bend Reservoir, an angler must launch from the Louisiana side of the lake and return to the Louisiana side of the lake for a fish to be considered a lake record. “If you put in on the Louisiana side and catch a fish, it doesn’t matter where in the lake you caught the fish, it can be registered as a Louisiana record,” said Lyle Johnson, president of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association, who keeps track of Louisiana’s state fish records. “If you put in on the Texas side, it doesn’t matter where you catch the fish, we would not accept it.” And the records back that up. The Louisiana lake record striped bass from Toledo Bend Reservoir was a 47.5-pound giant caught by angler James Taylor in 1991. The Texas lake record striped bass from Toledo Bend is a 33.22-pound fish caught by James Kent Jr. in 1980.
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B&C creates confusion for deer contests Continued from page 1
STAYING HIDDEN: Many mature rutting bucks in South Texas have been tough to spot this month due to heavy cover and warm temperatures. Photo by LSON.
Visible South Texas rut retarded by warm weather, lots of cover By Conor Harrison LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS
Hunters in deep South Texas have had the odds stacked against them this season when it comes to seeing daytime rutting activity. Higher-than-normal temperatures, lots of rain and an abundance of natural cover that hasn’t been beaten back by a hard freeze has made hunting tough in many areas in what should be the traditional start of the rut in the Golden Triangle. “It’s been really hot down here,” said Ashton Hutchins, a biologist and owner of Frio Palms Wildlife Consulting. “I’m getting some reports of bucks hitting horns together, so they are starting to get stirred up a little. On some ranches I work on, we haven’t seen any signs of the rut — it’s just been so unseasonably warm and wet.” Last season, South Texas saw a hard freeze in early December, setting the stage for a solid rut later in the month. This season, most of South Texas is still green and lush heading into late December. “There is still lots of food out there,” Hutchins said. “A lot of people are going to save a bunch of money on their feed bill this season.” In Zapata County, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Game Warden Carson Wardlow said deep South Texas Please turn to page 19
game animals in North America. The Boone and Crockett Club of things in the Extravaganza and contests, and we use the B&C objects to and rejects any use of or reference to the Boone and measuring system. The reason people use the scoring system is Crockett Club or its scoring system in connection with antlers/ because it’s known worldwide.” horns grown by animals in captivity.” Gore was informed the resolution was not directed toward Club president William Demmer said in the release, “With contests, including deer behind a high fence, and no changes the growth of the deer breeding and shooting industry, and to the contest are planned. modern marketing and selling of ‘shooter bucks’ raised in cap“It bothers me that the club would send out a resolution like tivity and graded and sold using B&C scores, it was time to that without explaining what they mean by captivity,” Gore make this unauthorized use of our scoring system more widely said. known.” Boone and Crockett believes any deer behind a high fence is Most deer contests in Texas include a high-fence category, “in captivity,” though. while some include categories that include captive-born deer “In captivity, though, still means anything in an escapeand others don’t. Wildlife managers use the scoring system to proof enclosure,” Balfourd said. “But the main purpose (of the keep data on the deer herds on their respective ranches, as does the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Managed Lands resolution) is to distance our scoring system from the breeding industry. We don’t like the ads advertising a particular live deer Deer Permit system. Keith Balfourd, director of marketing for the Boone & and including a B&C score.” The Texas Big Game Awards also score deer from both lowCrockett Club, said despite the language, deer contests and deer and high-fenced ranches. managers aren’t the targets of the resolution. “We aren’t necessarily “We’re not bent out doing anything different,” of shape about that,” he said TBGA Director Justin said. “They may conDreibelbis. “We worked tinue to do what they with B&C when we put this are doing. The contests are important for the together. We do allow highcommunity, landownfence deer, but we have perers and sportsmen.” mission to use their scoring Deer managers need system. It doesn’t change not worry, Balfourd anything for us.” said, since the scoring While many B&C supportsystem was developed, ers praised the resolution, in part, to help in deer others weren’t so sure. management. “The club irks me some“The original scoring times with their holier-thansystem had little to do thou stance on many topics with hunters,” he said. within the hunting commu“It was meant to gather nity, which I think are more a reservoir of data divisive than helpful for our back when deer were FIND ANOTHER SCORING SYSTEM: Boone and Crockett has released a statement way of life,” said a hunter condemning the use of their scoring system in connection with captive-raised thought to be vanishwho goes by kry226 on the ing. If it’s used as a man- bucks. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. Texas Hunting Forum. “On agement tool, we’re all topic, they can do whatever for it.” Horace Gore, an official B&C scorer, has likely scored more they want with their scoring system.” Boone and Crockett said there is no intention to take any white-tailed deer than any other Texan. As the editor of Texas Trophy Hunters Magazine and in connection with deer contests, legal actions against anyone they feel is violating the resolution. “It’s just a resolution,” Balfourd said. “We’re not writing he said the wording of the resolution was very concerning. “I was concerned about ‘in captivity,’” he said. “We do a lot cease-and-desist letters or taking anyone to court.”
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FOR THE TABLE
*email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com
Wild boar tacos 2 tbsps. vegetable oil 1 cup yellow onion, finely diced 1 cup bell pepper, finely diced 1 jalapeno pepper, minced 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 cups “pulled” wild pork 1/8 tsp. ground cumin 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1, 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained Corn or flour tortillas Shredded lettuce Shredded cheese Sliced tomato Once you’ve slow-smoked the pork shoulders, the pulled meat makes excellent stuffing for tacos, enchiladas and any other Southwestern or Mexican dish
that calls for tender shredded meat. You can also do the same process in an oven or covered grill and with any part of the pig. Season it, slow-roast it, wrap in foil with sauce and keep cooking until it falls apart. Once cooled, you’re ready to shred the meat. The same recipe works great with venison shoulders. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, peppers and garlic and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes. Add venison, cumin, oregano leaves, chili powder and diced tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes more, stirring often to blend flavors. Distribute stuffing evenly in the middle of the tortillas. Add lettuce, cheese and a tomato. — Sportsman Channel
New Orleans pan-fried black drum 4 (8-oz.) fillets black drum 1/4 cup Creole seasoning 9 tbsps. unsalted butter 1 cup sliced cremini mushrooms 3 scallions, thinly sliced 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Kosher salt, to taste 3 oz. medium raw shrimp, peeled 1/4 cup fish stock 1 tbsp. finely chopped parsley Tabasco, for serving Season fish with half the Creole seasoning; set aside. Melt 3 tbsps. butter in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add fish; cook, flipping once, until
cooked through, about 8 minutes; transfer to a serving platter and keep warm. Add 2 tbsps. butter to the skillet; return to medium-high heat. Add mushrooms; cook until browned, 2-4 minutes. Add remaining Creole seasoning, plus scallions, garlic, and salt; cook until soft, 3 minutes. Add shrimp and stock; cook until shrimp are just pink, 3 minutes. Whisk in remaining butter, plus parsley, until sauce is smooth. Pour sauce over fish; garnish with more parsley, and serve with hot sauce on the side. — Saveur.com
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December 26, 2014
OUTDOOR PUZZLER ACROSS 1. A favorite bird for wingshooters 5. A male pheasant 7. 4 down is one 8. A part of a gun frame 9. To analyze freshness of tracks 10. To down a game 12. Pheasant food source 15. Hunter’s name for a predator 17. A game pathway 18. To prepare a fish for eating 20. A finger protector, shooting _____ 21. Arrows and shells 22. A game bird 24. Valuable commercial fish 25. Game having youth 27. BB gun or ____ rifle 30. Good bear trap bait 32. Quail young
Rut action hard to see Continued from page 17
hasn’t seen its normal rutting activity for this time of year. That doesn’t mean the deer aren’t rutting, it just hasn’t been as visible to hunters yet. “It’s real spotty right now,” he said. “A lot of younger bucks are starting, but it’s been wet the last couple days. I’d say (the rut) is coming quick.” Wardlow said he has checked hunters on ranches that have killed some big deer, but many hunters are bemoaning the fact the bucks have not been very visible because of the abundance of cover. “I’ve seen a few nice deer, but it is just real green down here, so deer don’t have to move much and they are not hitting feeders,” he added. Even though visible rutting activity has been spotty, ranches with open pastures next to thick cover have put mature bucks in front of hunters. Harassed does will often head to open areas to avoid being pressured by bucks, and hunters have reported seeing mature bucks chasing does in open areas.
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By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen Solution on Page 21
34. Dall are wild ones 35. Clay pigeon ejector station 37. Game or wildfowl daily routines 38. The tip of a bullet 40. A name for the strawberry bass 42. The croc’s cousin 45. Strings a bow 46. A very large memeber of deer family 47. Type of camp fireplace DOWN 1. Common name for the brook trout 2. The cause of arrows drift 3. There is a wet and dry _____ 4. Found in fresh and saltwater 6. A seahorse commercial catch 7. The largest bass
10. A part of a rifle 11. A good bear trap bait 12. A goose species 13. Perch is said to be a _____ 14. A fish appendage 16. The _____ forest 19. A wildfowl bedding act 23. A very good walleye bait 26. A breed of setter 28. Needed for packing a day’s catch 29. A gun part 30. A type of gunsight 31. A grouse 33. The silver trout 34. The ray is one 36. Large on the muley 39. A black-tailed deer 40. Deer domain markings 41. To pull back the bowstring 43. The point on the arrow 44. A good lure color to attract fish
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Crappie bite good, but tough to predict Continued from page 8
everything you want for good crappie fishing. I caught 375 fish over the past eight days, and I’d say just about 10 of those fish were under 10 inches — they’re a nice size.” Lynn Atkinson, a Sam Rayburn guide, said the crappie bite on the reservoir just depends on which day you’re on the water. Why the bite is so fickle is beyond him, too. “They’re moving up the rivers right now,” Atkinson said. “The bite has been on and off, and I’m really not too sure why. Some days it will be great, and another day you’ll get nothing.” Atkinson said sunnier days have helped out anglers on the reservoir, and have pushed small schools of crappie into cover, making them an easier target. Brush piles in 12-14 feet of water are key when the fish stick together. “They are starting to group up a little bit,” he said. “As soon as the water starts to cool down to about 61 or 62 degrees, they’ll start to spawn and you’ll see them in the river and creek channels.” Atkinson said the crappie bite will shut down in slow-moving water when the temperatures drop significantly, but the swift-moving water will produce a bite in any winter month. All three guides reported similar jigs to entice crappie during December: a chartreuse, minnowtail jig during sunny days when fishing deep, and a blue or white minnow jig when the cloudy winter days settle in. For most crappie anglers across Texas, more predictable weather patterns will mean predictable crappie.
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Guides pioneering brand-new virtual system Continued from page 9
on hidden boat lanes, key areas to target and other really good, insightful stuff I’ve learned.” Reehm said he’ll give some exact places to go and catch fish, but also information that will help anglers unfamiliar with the lake go out and find areas on their own. “What I’m finding is people don’t want to be told to go out and cast right here,” he said. “They want a sense of accomplishment by doing it themselves, and this is what this is — how to go find your own fish. “I’m not just saying, ‘Go find grass and throw a Rat-L-Trap.’ I tell them what to look for.” The prices for each tutorial are up to each individual pro, but most will be between $100 and $400 — still cheaper than spending the day with a guide in one area of the lake.
Puzzle solution from Page 19
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HEROES
Ella Hawk harvested this big 7-pointer with a crossbow. The buck measured 138 inches. David Sweet hoists a 31-inch black drum he caught while fishing in Port Mansfield.
Josh Derrick, assisted by Liam Baker, caught this 39-inch black drum Nov. 14 in Matagorda on a blue crab.
Abigail Swan, 10, with her first trophy buck harvested during an unforgettable father/daughter moment at Brady Champion Ranch.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
Deana Tinkle took her first axis buck while hunting with her husband, Kenneth, in Brackettville on Oct 31.
Tracer Winans with a nice 7-year-old ram taken Nov. 9 in Llano County on the Twisters Ranch.
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Bayou bouncing back Continued from page 8
“We have plenty of fish in the surf, but we always have them in the surf this time of year,” Houser said. “There’s just not a whole lot in there, yet. Everybody thinks it’s going to be a miracle overnight. It’s been closed so long, I don’t even think the fish know to go in there yet.” Kevin Sims, a photographer and angler who has spent many hours in the bayou, said the fishing may not be up to snuff quite yet, but he’s already seeing the effects of having it open. “The anglers are killing the redfish in the surf, and I think it has a lot to do with the bayou being open — it has to,” Sims said. “With all of that water exchanging back and forth, it’s going to drive a lot of fish there.” Sims has spent much of his time photographing the waters surrounding Rockport, and said as soon as the pass was opened to Cedar Bayou, the birds began to move. Whooping cranes were wading the shallows, catching all sorts of bait — including blue crabs and plenty of mullet. “That pass has always been a tremendous place to fish whenever it was open,” Sims said. Skeptics are always going to have their concerns, however, and Sims said there are some who think the open cut will only be temporary. Generally, he said the concerns seem unwarranted. “I’ve been to Vincent Slough when there’s barely 6 inches of water across the whole thing,” Sims said. “But the next day I’ll go by and it will be 3 feet deep. Some people think it’s going to fill in right away, but you can never tell the way it’s always changing.” Rockport guide Ron Coulston said he has had some luck, but not the best in Cedar Bayou — he thinks it’s just a matter of relearning how to guide in the area. “I think it’s been more bad luck than anything,” he said. “I keep hitting it at the wrong time. But I’ve been seeing all kinds of small trout
and flounder. The first two or three trips I took in there, I was amazed at the amount of bait swimming around.” Coulston said having Cedar Bayou open will be a distinct advantage for guides in the Rockport area. It’s just another thriving inland system that will drive clients into their boats. “It really affects at least five different bays in the area — Mesquite Bay is already looking a lot better,” Coulston said. “It’ll be good for me as a guide since I live in Rockport. It was a downer for Copano (Bay) when it (Cedar Bayou) was closed.” Houser cautioned that the bayou isn’t a hot spot in the area yet, and the fishery needs time to build, grow and return to what it once was. “I remember the bayou when it used to be one of our best spots,” Houser said. “We used to have some of the most beautiful oysters in there. I want to see what happens. “It’ll be great someday, just not yet.”
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CORTEZ SUNGLASSES: Costa’s newest shades pay homage to the Sea of Cortez. The sunglasses offer a large fit with a bold wrap shape, meant to block glare from entering from the sides. Its linear venting system keeps lenses from fogging, and the temple tips feature open slots for a retainer cord. The frames are built of rugged coinjected molded nylon. The color-enhancing polarized 580 lenses filter out harsh yellow and harmful ultraviolet blue light, producing better contrast and definition while reducing glare and eye fatigue. Available in numerous colors. The sunglasses start at about $169.
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NATIONAL Elk calling champs crowned
PIERCE HOHENSEE, 6, HARVESTED THE BIG HOG WHILE HUNTING WITH HIS DAD, SCOTT, IN NOVEMBER IN GUADALUPE COUNTY. HE USED A .300 BLACKOUT AND MADE A PERFECT 100YARD SHOT.
Amateur and professional elk callers from California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon are the new world champions for 2014. Competitors from four other states and two Canadian provinces also received honors. The 2014 World Elk Calling Championships, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Leupold, were held during the annual RMEF convention and expo, which concluded Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. In the competition, callers had 30-45 seconds to mimic cow elk sounds, followed by bull sounds. Most callers blew across a latex reed placed inside the mouth. In the natural-voice division, however, no calling devices were allowed. A panel of judges scored each competitor anonymously. Results: Professional Division — Corey Jacobsen, Boise, Ida. Men’s Division — Dirk Durham, Moscow, Ida. Women’s Division — Misty Jacobsen, Del Ray Oaks, Calif. Natural Voice Division — William Card, Fallon, Nev. Youth Division — Brayden Langley, McMinnville, Ore. Pee Wee Division — Sutton Callaway, Maricopa, Calif. — RMEF
Hunter charged, convicted of killing grizzly
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For the first time since grizzly bears were listed as a Threatened Species under the Endangered Species Act in 1975, the State of Idaho has successfully prosecuted a grizzly bear case. On May 7, 2014, Kenneth Tyler Sommer, 23, was with his wife hunting for black bears. According to a statement Sommer made to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service agent initially investigating the matter, a bear charged he and his wife and he shot it. Only after killing the bear did Sommer identify it as a grizzly. He contacted conservation officers with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game to report the incident. Sommer was cited for unlawful taking of a grizzly bear, plead not guilty, and requested a jury trial. On Dec. 8, Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney, Karl H. Lewies, tried the case to a jury. He argued the bear had not been charging when Sommer shot it, but that Sommer “wanted to kill a black bear that day, shot first and identified second.” Magistrate Judge Gilman Gardner sentenced Sommers to the maximum fine of $1,000, maximum $400 civil penalties, 30 days in jail, one-year hunting license revocation and two years unsupervised probation. The judge suspended the jail time and $500, on condition that Sommer successfully completes his probation. — IDFG
weighted and/or anchored gill nets, left the nets in the water overnight, and set the nets during times when the commercial striped bass gill-netting season was closed. — MDNR
Red snapper season closes Dec. 31 in Louisiana The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the state recreational red snapper season will remain open through the rest of December and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2014. Using real-time data from LA Creel, Louisiana’s recreational landings monitoring program, they have determined that Louisiana anglers have not yet landed their state’s historic and projected share of the total Gulf of Mexico recreational red snapper harvest (14 percent, or 754,000 pounds). The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission previously opened a state waters season for red snapper to extend Louisiana’s season from the 9-day federal waters season originally proposed by NOAA. NOAA based this short season on imprecise estimates of recreational red snapper landings from their Marine Recreational Information Program, according to the LDWF. With LA Creel’s more precise estimates, Louisiana officials determined that nine days would not allow anglers sufficient opportunity to catch their share. — LDWF
Hornady rifl e is 2015 SHOT Show auction gun The first and only firearm ever manufactured by the Hornady Manufacturing Company will be featured as the 2015 SHOT Show rifle and made available to Hornady fans around the world on gunbroker.com. Recognized for decades as one of the most respected and innovative names in ammunition and reloading equipment manufacturing, Hornady has placed its name on a firearm for the first and perhaps only time in the company’s history. “We don’t mean to alarm our friends at Remington, Winchester or Ruger. Hornady has no plans of going into the gun business,” commented Hornady President Steve Hornady, in announcing the gun. “The concept of creating a one-of-a-kind Hornady rifle has been percolating for several years and we are excited to make ‘The Hornady Number One’ a reality for 2015 — especially since the gun has been selected as the 2015 SHOT Show Rifle.” Hornady has teamed with the Hunting Heritage Trust and some of the most innovative and respected names in the shooting sports industry to create “The Hornady Number One.” The rifle is a hunting-style bolt action in .300 RCM-caliber with serial number H-001. — NSSF
Maryland anglers poach 185,925 pounds INTERNATIONAL of striped bass Michael D. Hayden and William J. Three rhino poachers Lednum, both of Tilghman Island, pleaded shot, killed guilty in August in a Baltimore federal court to conspiring to violate the Lacey Act and to defraud the United States through their illegal harvesting and sale of 185,925 pounds of striped bass. Hayden and Lednum will both receive jail time of one year and a day in prison, pay $498,293.40 in restitution to the State of Maryland for the damage caused to the fishery and pay a fine of $40,000. According to their plea agreements, Hayden, 41, and Lednum, 42, were captains on fishing vessels owned by them and their companies. The defendants also employed numerous helpers as part of this scheme, including codefendant Kent Sadler, 31, also of Tilghman Island. From at least 2007 to 2011, Hayden and Lednum illegally harvested, possessed, falsely labeled and/or sold at least 185,925 pounds of striped bass. They used illegally
Game rangers have killed three poachers in the past week during an escalation of armed incursions into South Africa’s flagship wildlife reserve, where hundreds of rhinos have been killed for their horns this year. Paul Daphne, a spokesman for South Africa’s national parks service, said poaching activity in Kruger National Park has traditionally increased in November and December before tapering off around the year-end period. Some rangers refer to this phenomenon as “Christmas shopping” by poachers. The parks service says a total of three poachers were killed in a shootout on Dec. 8. Three poachers were wounded and arrested in another confrontation on Dec. 17. — Press Association
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DATEBOOK DECEMBER 28
JANUARY 9-11
JANUARY 2-11
JANUARY 10-11
Texas Indoor Archery League Texas Archery Academy, Plano Indoor Range (214) 960-4088 texasarchery.info
Houston Boat Show NRG Center (713) 526-6361 houstonboatshows.com
JANUARY 8-11
Austin Boat and Travel Trailer Show Austin Convention Center (512) 494-1128 austinboatshow.com
Dallas Woods and Waters Club Youth Doe Hunt, Albany (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org
Texas Gun and Knife Show Abilene Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
JANUARY 14
Weatherby Foundation Awards Dinner, Dallas (480) 209-1561 weatherbyfoundation.com
JANUARY 15-18
Dallas Safari Club DSC 2015 Convention Dallas Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
JANUARY 16-17
Deer Breeders Corp. 7th Annual New Year’s Auction Horseshoe Bay Resort (972) 289-3100 bdbcdeer.com
JANUARY 22
Safari Club International Brush Country Chapter 2nd Annual Banquet American Bank Center, Corpus Christi brushcountrysci.com
LONE STAR MARKET
To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or email him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
JANUARY 23-25
Texas Tackle, Hunting and Boat Show Big Town Event Center, Mesquite montgomeryporoductions.com
JANUARY 23-28
Houston Safari Club Hunting Expo and Convention The Woodlands (713) 623-8844 houstonsafariclub.org
JANUARY 28
Ducks Unlimited Night with the San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, San Antonio (830) 221-8046 ducks.org/texas
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Visit us at DSC Booth #1035
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