July 13, 2012 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

July 13, 2012

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Trout, redfish reports July 13, 2012

Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

Volume 8, Issue 22

Hunting the deep

CWD detected Two of 31 mule deer tested in far West Texas have confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease. They are the first two confirmed cases in the state of Texas. Both infected deer were taken from the Hueco Mountains of northern El Paso and Hudspeth counties. “This is definitely not a crisis,” said Clayton Wolf, Wildlife Division Director with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “There is no need to overreact like other states have done in the past.” The mule deer tested were part of a strategic sampling after the disease was discovered just across the New Mexico border. The upcoming mule deer hunting season will not be affected, Wolf said. “We plan to pick of road kills if they are fresh,” he said. “And we’ll notify landowners if they see animals with clinical symptoms so we can hopefully collect those animals.” Mandatory check stations will be set up in the immediate area of the discovery. “We’ll have two check stations, one in Cornudas and

By Conor Harrison

you don’t have to be able to dive really deep. I’ve shot multiple 40-pound ling while still breathRichard Justice had hunted, ing through my snorkel.” fished and scuba dived all of When Justice was first getting his life. into the sport, he hooked up When the 32-year-old League with one of the best spearfishCity resident began thinking ing guides in Texas — Keith about combining his passions, Love of Texas Bluewater Safaris. he looked offshore. “It’s definitely a growing “I combined all of them sport,” Love said. “On a calm together and went spearfish- day, you will now see guys at ing,” he said. “It’s like spot the marina with rigs.” and stalk bow hunting in the The 27-year-old from water.” Angleton said the maximum His first trip into the blue range he shoots fish is 15 feet. water was last July 4, and he has “If you have to aim, you are been going monthly ever since. too far,” he said. “We hunt the “The first two trips I went rigs but a lot of the bluewater scuba diving,” Justice said. “I fish won’t come right into the decided that was too much rigs. They hang 50-100 yards stuff to take, so I tried free div- off the rigs, but there is still ing and I haven’t touched a plenty to shoot on the rigs — tank since.” sheepshead and redfish. Justice said he consis“Cobia will swim right up to tently dives down 50 feet to you.” search for the fish near rigs Love’s biggest fish is a 245that spearfishermen covet — pound yellowfin tuna. Once a wahoo, amberjack, snapper, fish is shot, the spear is connected jacks, mahi-mahi and ling. to a buoy on top of the water that “When you are free diving, detaches from the gun. the fish are a little more curious “Once you let the shot go, it then with a tank,” he said. “But detaches from you,” Love said. The prime time to go depends on the spearfisherSPEARING A TROPHY: Wahoo are one of the many game fish spearfishermen enjoy man’s goal. chasing off the Texas coast. The bigger “The calmest, clearest days fish are usually found during the winter are in June and July,” Love

Lone Star Outdoor News

See DETECTED, Page 7

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Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Crossword . . . . . . . . . Freshwater Fishing Report . For the Table . . . . . . . . Game Warden Blotter . . . . Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Outdoor Business . . . . . Products . . . . . . . . . . Saltwater Fishing Report . . Sun, Moon and Tide data . .

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months, but the summer months can offer easier hunting. Photo by Keith Love.

Wardens staying stealthy Lone Star Outdoor News Fish or hunt for long enough, and chances are you’ve been checked by a game warden — maybe

they pulled up in their powerboat on the lake, or stopped their truck beside yours at the boat ramp. What you may not have experienced is

being approached by a kayaker — and having him identify himself as a game warden. “Folks aren’t expecting See WARDENS, Page 16

See DEEP, Page 16

Quail counts up from last year

Officers utilizing kayaks on patrol By John Keith

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

Coastal action spotty. Pages 8, 11

SIDE BY SIDE: Some Texas game wardens are using kayaks, such as this one, as an alternate method to patrol lakes and rivers. Photo by Scott Krueger.

A familiar sound is slowly returning to the Texas landscape this summer, albeit in limited numbers. Hunters and quail enthusiasts have reported hearing the call of the bobwhite quail more frequently this summer than the past few years, and some are beginning to see chicks trailing hens — a sight almost nonexistent last year. “Folks all over are seeing birds paired up and hearing lots of birds,” said Robert Perez, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s quail leader. “In a bad year (like last year) you won’t hear or see that. By July 1, a lot of the nests will be hatched.” Perez said an abundance of bugs and cover will help the birds this year. “Things are looking good,” he said, “but you can’t See QUAIL, Page 30


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