Hunting Texas Annual 2012 by Lone Star Outdoor News

INSIDE UNDER ARMOUR RUGER GREYSTONE CASTLE

Page 2 Page 4 Page 8

CELLGATE REDNECK HUNTING BLINDS NIKON SPORT OPTICS TROPHY RIDGE WHITETAILS

Page 10 Page 18 Page 24 Page 26

SEASON DATES

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DEER FORECAST

Page 6

SUNRISE-SUNSET

Page 8

TEAL FORECAST

Page 16

DOVE FORECAST

Page 20

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

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Under Armour redefines scent control technology for hunters ou’ve invested your time, sweat and resources in preparation for this moment. Why risk it all with a slight change of the wind? As the leader in performance hunting apparel, every product developed by Under Armour has one thing in common — it’s designed to make you a more lethal hunter! New for 2012, Under Armour has unveiled a new system of performance hunting gear featuring UA Scent Control technology. From baselayer to outerwear and accessories, UA has strategically integrated its new UA Scent Control technology throughout the line, providing you with complete coverage in every layer.

What is Under Armour Scent Control? Under Armour’s innovation team has partnered with industry leaders to create the best scent control product on the market today. Utilizing an exclusive dual technology, Under Armour Scent Control effectively traps human vapor odor and suppresses odor-causing bacterial growth.

How does Under Armour Scent Control work? With game-changing technology, UA Scent Control employs a custom-engineered odor-trapping zeolite carrier, a synthetic lava far superior to carbon, encasing a silver-based antimicrobial to create the ultimate

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“smart” odor-control material. UA Scent Control not only captures more of your odor than traditional odor absorbers, but it also lasts longer — even after 50 washes, UA Scent Control maintains 99-percent effectiveness, while carbon technology is reduced by up to 50 percent after ﬁve washes.

Under Armour Scent Control Spray Under Armour Scent Control apparel has you covered from baselayer to outerwear — but what about your gear? Also new for 2012, Under Armour delivers a total scent control program with the introduction of Under Armour Scent Control Spray. This spray formula contains the same game-changing zeolite technology, designed for use on all the necessary gear associated with the hunt. Use UA Scent Control Spray on items like your bow, tree stand, backpack and footwear. It’s time to stack the odds in your favor with the most effective scent control technology available; Under Armour Scent Control. For more information on Under Armour Scent Control products and their complete selection of performance apparel, footwear and accessories, visit UA.com or alwayslethal.com. Under Armour Scent Control UA.com or alwayslethal.com.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

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The Ruger American Rifle A world-class rifle at an affordable price he Ruger American Rifle is a 100-percent American-made bolt-action rifle that sets a new standard of excellence among value-priced, bolt-action rifles. Offered in short- and long-action calibers, the Ruger American Rifle combines the rugged reliability of Ruger’s past with the award-winning ingenuity featured in so many of Ruger’s new products. The 6 1/4-pound Ruger American Rifle offers no-compromise engineering innovation, proving that a world-class rifle need not come with a high price tag. The new Ruger Marksman Adjustable™ trigger offers a crisp release with a pull weight that is user-adjustable between 3 and 5 pounds. Ruger’s new patent-pending Power Bedding™ system utilizes stainless-steel bedding blocks insert-molded into the stock to positively locate the receiver and free-float the barrel. The barrel’s rifling is cold hammer forged to exacting tolerances, providing sub-MOA accuracy, longterm endurance and a mirror-smooth finish that is easy to clean. The rifle has a 22-inch barrel and is available in four calibers; .30-06 Sprg., .270 Win., .308 Win. and .243 Win. The Ruger American Rifle’s three-lug,

70-degree bolt provides ample scope clearance, and utilizes a full diameter bolt body and dual cocking cams for smooth, easy cycling from the shoulder. The reliable four-round, rotary magazine fits flush with the stock and offers the smooth feed that has become the hallmark of Ruger rotary magazines. The receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting the included scope bases. The Ruger American Rifle carries easily, shoulders quickly and shoots comfortably, thanks to the ergonomic design of its trim, lightweight stock with an ambidextrous palm swell, forend finger relief and soft rubber recoil pad. The easily accessible tang safety, which can be placed “on safe” while the bolt is cycled, is complemented by the passive, trigger-mounted safety that positively locks the trigger for an additional measure of security. For more information on the Ruger American Rifle, or to learn more about the extensive line of award-winning Ruger firearms, visit Ruger.com or Facebook.com/Ruger. To find accessories for the Ruger American Rifle or other Ruger firearms, visit ShopRuger.com. Ruger American Rifle, Ruger firearms Ruger.com

<— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — Clip for your camp ✄ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — >

2012-13 Season Dates DOVE North Zone and Central Zone Sept. 1-Oct. 24 and Dec. 22-Jan. 6 South Zone Sept. 21-Oct. 28 and Dec. 22-Jan. 22 Bag limit: 15 birds and not more than two white-tipped doves. Special White-winged Dove Area Sept. 1-2, 8-9, Sept. 21-Oct. 28 and Dec. 22 -Jan. 18 The daily bag limit in the SWWDA during the ﬁrst two weekends is 15 doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 4 mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15. EARLY TEAL-ONLY

Sept. 15-30

EARLY CANADA GEESE

Sept. 15-30 (Eastern Zone Only)

ALLIGATOR 22 counties & special properties Remainder of the state

Sept. 10-30 (by permit only) Apr. 1-June 30

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE (By permit only)

Sept. 29-Oct. 7

WHITE-TAILED DEER Archery-Only Season Special Youth Season* General Season Late Antlerless and Spike Muzzleloader (57 counties) MULE DEER Archery-Only Season General Season

Sept. 29-Nov. 2 Oct. 27-28, Jan. 7-20 North Texas (212 counties) South Texas (30 counties) North Texas (106 counties) South Texas (30 counties) Jan. 7-20 Sept. 29-Nov. 2 Panhandle (39 counties) SW Panhandle (11 counties) Trans Pecos (19 counties)

JAVELINA Northern (43 counties) Southern (50 counties)

Oct. 1-Feb. 24 No closed season

PHEASANT Panhandle (37 counties)

Dec. 1-30

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Nov. 3-Jan. 6 Nov. 3-Jan. 20 Jan. 7-20 Jan. 21-Feb. 3

SQUIRREL Special Youth Season** East Texas (51 counties) Other Open counties

Sept. 29-30 Oct. 1-Feb. 3, May 1-31 No closed season

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN No open season for lesser prairie chicken. QUAIL Statewide (all counties)

Oct. 27-Feb. 24

RIO GRANDE TURKEY Archery-Only Season Fall Season Special Youth Season* North Zone (123 counties) South Zone (26 counties) Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, & Willacy counties Spring Season North Zone (101 counties) Special Youth Season* South Zone (54 counties) Special Youth Season* 1-Turkey Bag Limit (8 counties)

Sept. 29-Nov. 2 Oct. 27-28, Jan. 19-20 Nov. 3-Jan. 6 Nov. 3-Jan. 20 Nov. 3-Feb. 24 Mar. 30-May 12 Mar. 23-24, May 18-19 Mar. 16-Apr. 28 Mar. 9-10, May 4-5 Apr. 1-30

EASTERN TURKEY+ Spring-Only Season East Texas (28 counties)

Apr. 15-May 14

CHACHALACA Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties

Nov. 3-Feb. 24

RABBITS and HARES No closed season. Nov. 17-Dec. 2 Nov. 17-25 Nov. 23-Dec. 9

In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit also is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant or chachalacas. See County Listings in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual for speciﬁc county regulations and more detailed information. *In all counties that have an open season for those species. ** In all counties that have an October 1-February 4 and May 1-31 Open Squirrel Season. + Rio Grande and Eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

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Yamaha introduces new Tactical Black Special Edition

Good deer season shaping up

Grizzly 700 and Rhino 700 Vehicles

amaha Motor Motor Corp., U.S.A., is producing the new Tactical Black Grizzly 700 4x4 and Rhino 700 4x4 Special Edition models at its U.S. manufacturing facility, Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. of America (YMMC), in Newnan, Ga. Yamaha’s new SE Grizzly 700 4x4 ATV with Electric Power Steering (MSRP $10,999) and Rhino 700 4x4 Side-by-Side vehicle (SxS) (MSRP $12,999) feature an all-new matte black body and cast aluminum wheels for tactical design and durability. Yamaha’s 2013 Grizzly 700 4x4 and Rhino 700 4x4, including the new Tactical Black SE models, are the most off-road capable and durable in their classes. Both feature Yamaha’s exclusive Ultramatic automatic transmission, the most durable CVT system in the industry, and Yamaha’s On-Command push-button 2WD, 4WD and 4WD diff-lock system. “Yamaha is more involved in the outdoors than any other ATV manufacturer and has developed the new Tactical Black Special Edition Grizzly and Rhino models based on the fast-growing tactical enthusiast trend,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s ATV/SxS group marketing manager. “Yamaha is proud to say the most durable and reliable ATV and SxS vehicles are assembled here in the U.S.A.” Last year, Yamaha moved the production of its top-of-the-line utility ATVs, the Grizzly

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700 and Grizzly 550, to YMMC, and this summer, Yamaha is bringing its ﬁrst sport ATVs to the U.S. factory – the 2013 Raptor 700 models. The production transfer could result in Yamaha adding 200 or more American jobs at Yamaha’s U.S. factory as well as additional jobs at the company’s 125 North American parts supplier companies. The new Tactical Black SE models join Yamaha’s complete line of award-winning and reliable utility ATVs for 2013 including the Grizzly 700 FI (starting at $8,899) and Grizzly 700 FI EPS (starting at $9,499), Grizzly 550 FI (starting at $7,999) and Grizzly 550 FI EPS (starting at $8,699), Grizzly 450 (starting at $6,899) and Grizzly 450 EPS (starting at $7,499), Grizzly 350 Auto 4x4 (starting at $5,599), Grizzly 300 Auto ($4,199) and Grizzly 125 Auto ($3,699). Most of Yamaha’s utility ATVs come in multiple color options including Realtree AP HD camo. Yamaha’s Rhino 700 4x4 SxS continues to be one of the highest quality, most versatile and off-road capable vehicles and for 2013 will be available in red and hunter green ($11,499) and Realtree AP HD camo ($12,049). Yamaha Motor Company, U.S.A. Yamaha-motor.com

lthough rainfall totals have been erratic across many regions of the state this year, biologists and ranch managers feel this season will still be much better than last, when a crippling drought produced some of the worst antler growth in years. “The rain has been kind of spotty,” said Daniel Kunz, a South Texas biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Some areas received good rain, but it has been hit or miss. Overall, I’d say it isn’t going to be too bad of a year. I’d put antler quality at fair to average in this part of Texas. “It will deﬁnitely be better than last year.” Kunz said the management plans of many ranches differ, so the average size of the bucks will vary from one property to the next, but for ranches that do have a good management plan, it could be a solid year thanks in part to last year being so poor.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

“A lot of mature bucks were left to walk,” he said. “Those deer will be better this year. Hopefully, we will have a lot of 5-year-old deer this season.” In the Hill Country, the prospects are also up over last year. “The deer are looking real healthy,” said Kory Perlichek, a TPWD biologist in Mason. “Lots of the does have twin fawns. The bucks look fairly good — most deﬁnitely better than last year.” Perlicheck said early rains helped antler growth, but the rains recently quit and the area could use some more. “There are still some forbs out there but they are starting to dry up,” he said. “Typically in the fall, the deer switch to browse, but we have a ways to go before that happens. We are hoping to get some more rains before the season.” The East Texas Pineywoods surprised many biologists last season when several monster bucks were taken, despite horrible range conditions. Area biologist Gary Calkins said he was wary of making predictions this season after he told everyone how bad the season was going to be last year. “Overall, things are looking pretty good,” he said. “Antler development will be a wild card this year. The bucks used a lot of skeletal reserves to get through the drought last year and that could have an affect on antlers this season. But I think we will have a good season overall. “Antlers and body weight should be good.” Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

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Greystone Castle Texas hunting in an extraordinary setting ince 1995, travelers on I-20 have been wondering what it is they see as they approach the Thurber exit about 70 miles west of Fort Worth. They’ve noticed the big English-style castle that looms atop one of the majestic mesas — but still question what it is. However, avid wingshooters and sportsmen across Texas and the rest of the country know — it’s Greystone Castle Sporting Club. For more than a decade, Greystone Castle has been part of the Orvis family as one of their premier wingshooting destinations. In fact, their name has become synonymous with quality in the hunting industry. With the end of the 2011 season, where they were named 2011 Orvis Wingshooting Lodge of the Year, Greystone completed its 17th year in business. It is this long-term commitment that has them very appreciative of their past successes and looking forward to the seasons to come. “Over the years, we have been very fortunate to have developed such wonderful relationships with so many clients,” said John Fredericks, general manager. “Each year we make new friends as well as renew old friend-

ships. And we get to do this while sharing our commitment to the sport of hunting and the sporting lifestyle.” What’s both unique and compelling about Greystone is that it can be so many things to so many different sportsmen. To the upland gunner, large fields of sorghum, millet and switchgrass bring memories of great gun dogs, flushing pheasants, bobwhite covey rises and days in the field with friends. For the big game hunter, it’s 6,000 acres that offer some of the best whitetail hunting in the country and more than 40 species of exotic game. For the clay shooter, it’s the great sporting clays and pyramid fivestand courses that will test the best of shooters. And for the avid angler, their trophy bass lakes present year-round opportunities for tight lines on largemouth and hybrid stripers. What appeals to all visitors at Greystone are its top-of-the-line accommodations and gourmet meals. There are five elegantly decorated suites capable of hosting more than 30 guests, a dining room complete with a full-time executive chef, spacious conference facilities, a swimming pool with hot tub and, just outside the castle walls, a scenic

lookout affords a breathtaking vista of the entire estate. The ownership and staff have been dedicated to creating one of the ﬁnest sporting experiences found anywhere in the world. Long-term habitat improvement and wildlife management has made Greystone an extraordinary hunting venue. This, coupled with the unique castle facility and outstanding customer service, makes Greystone Castle a destination without equal. Greystone Castle Sporting Club Greystonecastle.com (254) 672-5927

September 2012 to May 2013 September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

Date-Day Rise Set

1 Sat 7:01 2 Sun 7:01 3 Mon 7:02 4 Tue 7:03 5 Wed 7:03 6 Thu 7:04 7 Fri 7:04 8 Sat 7:05 9 Sun 7:06 10 Mon 7:06 11 Tue 7:07 12 Wed 7:08 13 Thu 7:08 14 Fri 7:09 15 Sat 7:09 16 Sun 7:10 17 Mon 7:11 18 Tue 7:11 19 Wed 7:12 20 Thu 7:13 21 Fri 7:13 22 Sat 7:14 23 Sun 7:14 24 Mon 7:15 25 Tue 7:16 26 Wed 7:16 27 Thu 7:17 28 Fri 7:18 29 Sat 7:18 30 Sun 7:19

1 Mon 7:20 2 Tue 7:20 3 Wed 7:21 4 Thu 7:22 5 Fri 7:22 6 Sat 7:23 7 Sun 7:24 8 Mon 7:24 9 Tue 7:25 10 Wed 7:26 11 Thu 7:27 12 Fri 7:27 13 Sat 7:28 14 Sun 7:29 15 Mon 7:30 16 Tue 7:30 17 Wed 7:31 18 Thu 7:32 19 Fri 7:33 20 Sat 7:33 21 Sun 7:34 22 Mon 7:35 23 Tue 7:36 24 Wed 7:37 25 Thu 7:38 26 Fri 7:38 27 Sat 7:39 28 Sun 7:40 29 Mon 7:41 30 Tue 7:42 31 Wed 7:43

1 Thu 7:44 2 Fri 7:45 3 Sat 7:45 4 Sun 6:46 5 Mon 6:47 6 Tue 6:48 7 Wed 6:49 8 Thu 6:50 9 Fri 6:51 10 Sat 6:52 11 Sun 6:53 12 Mon 6:54 13 Tue 6:55 14 Wed 6:56 15 Thu 6:57 16 Fri 6:57 17 Sat 6:58 18 Sun 6:59 19 Mon 7:00 20 Tue 7:01 21 Wed 7:02 22 Thu 7:03 23 Fri 7:04 24 Sat 7:05 25 Sun 7:06 26 Mon 7:07 27 Tue 7:08 28 Wed 7:09 29 Thu 7:09 30 Fri 7:10

1 Sat 7:11 2 Sun 7:12 3 Mon 7:13 4 Tue 7:14 5 Wed 7:14 6 Thu 7:15 7 Fri 7:16 8 Sat 7:17 9 Sun 7:17 10 Mon 7:18 11 Tue 7:19 12 Wed 7:20 13 Thu 7:20 14 Fri 7:21 15 Sat 7:22 16 Sun 7:22 17 Mon 7:23 18 Tue 7:23 19 Wed 7:24 20 Thu 7:24 21 Fri 7:25 22 Sat 7:25 23 Sun 7:26 24 Mon 7:26 25 Tue 7:27 26 Wed 7:27 27 Thu 7:27 28 Fri 7:28 29 Sat 7:28 30 Sun 7:28 31 Mon 7:29

1 Tue 7:29 2 Wed 7:29 3 Thu 7:29 4 Fri 7:29 5 Sat 7:29 6 Sun 7:29 7 Mon 7:29 8 Tue 7:30 9 Wed 7:29 10 Thu 7:29 11 Fri 7:29 12 Sat 7:29 13 Sun 7:29 14 Mon 7:29 15 Tue 7:29 16 Wed 7:29 17 Thu 7:28 18 Fri 7:28 19 Sat 7:28 20 Sun 7:27 21 Mon 7:27 22 Tue 7:27 23 Wed 7:26 24 Thu 7:26 25 Fri 7:25 26 Sat 7:25 27 Sun 7:24 28 Mon 7:24 29 Tue 7:23 30 Wed 7:22 31 Thu 7:22

1 Fri 7:21 5:58 2 Sat 7:20 5:59 3 Sun 7:20 6:00 4 Mon 7:19 6:01 5 Tue 7:18 6:02 6 Wed 7:17 6:03 7 Thu 7:17 6:03 8 Fri 7:16 6:04 9 Sat 7:15 6:05 10 Sun 7:14 6:06 11 Mon 7:13 6:07 12 Tue 7:12 6:08 13 Wed 7:11 6:09 14 Thu 7:10 6:10 15 Fri 7:09 6:11 16 Sat 7:08 6:12 17 Sun 7:07 6:13 18 Mon 7:06 6:14 19 Tue 7:05 6:15 20 Wed 7:04 6:15 21 Thu 7:03 6:16 22 Fri 7:02 6:17 23 Sat 7:01 6:18 24 Sun 7:00 6:19 25 Mon 6:59 6:20 26 Tue 6:58 6:21 27 Wed 6:56 6:21 28 Thu 6:55 6:22

1 Fri 6:54 2 Sat 6:53 3 Sun 6:52 4 Mon 6:50 5 Tue 6:49 6 Wed 6:48 7 Thu 6:47 8 Fri 6:45 9 Sat 6:44 10 Sun 7:43 11 Mon 7:42 12 Tue 7:40 13 Wed 7:39 14 Thu 7:38 15 Fri 7:36 16 Sat 7:35 17 Sun 7:34 18 Mon 7:33 19 Tue 7:31 20 Wed 7:30 21 Thu 7:29 22 Fri 7:27 23 Sat 7:26 24 Sun 7:25 25 Mon 7:23 26 Tue 7:22 27 Wed 7:21 28 Thu 7:19 29 Fri 7:18 30 Sat 7:17 31 Sun 7:15

1 Mon 7:14 2 Tue 7:13 3 Wed 7:12 4 Thu 7:10 5 Fri 7:09 6 Sat 7:08 7 Sun 7:06 8 Mon 7:05 9 Tue 7:04 10 Wed 7:03 11 Thu 7:01 12 Fri 7:00 13 Sat 6:59 14 Sun 6:58 15 Mon 6:57 16 Tue 6:55 17 Wed 6:54 18 Thu 6:53 19 Fri 6:52 20 Sat 6:51 21 Sun 6:50 22 Mon 6:49 23 Tue 6:47 24 Wed 6:46 25 Thu 6:45 26 Fri 6:44 27 Sat 6:43 28 Sun 6:42 29 Mon 6:41 30 Tue 6:40

1 Wed 6:39 2 Thu 6:38 3 Fri 6:37 4 Sat 6:36 5 Sun 6:35 6 Mon 6:35 7 Tue 6:34 8 Wed 6:33 9 Thu 6:32 10 Fri 6:31 11 Sat 6:30 12 Sun 6:30 13 Mon 6:29 14 Tue 6:28 15 Wed 6:28 16 Thu 6:27 17 Fri 6:26 18 Sat 6:26 19 Sun 6:25 20 Mon 6:24 21 Tue 6:24 22 Wed 6:23 23 Thu 6:23 24 Fri 6:22 25 Sat 6:22 26 Sun 6:21 27 Mon 6:21 28 Tue 6:21 29 Wed 6:20 30 Thu 6:20 31 Fri 6:20

7:51 7:50 7:49 7:47 7:46 7:45 7:43 7:42 7:41 7:39 7:38 7:37 7:35 7:34 7:33 7:31 7:30 7:29 7:27 7:26 7:25 7:23 7:22 7:21 7:19 7:18 7:17 7:15 7:14 7:13

7:11 7:10 7:09 7:07 7:06 7:05 7:03 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:58 6:57 6:56 6:55 6:53 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:49 6:48 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:43 6:42 6:41 6:40 6:39 6:38 6:37 6:36

6:35 6:34 6:33 5:33 5:32 5:31 5:30 5:29 5:29 5:28 5:27 5:27 5:26 5:25 5:25 5:24 5:24 5:23 5:23 5:22 5:22 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:19

Times given above are for Dallas. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of Dallas, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of Dallas. The table below gives adjustments for some Texas cities. Information provided is the longitudinal distance from Dallas and the time adjustment for sunrise and sunset.

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5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:20 5:21 5:21 5:21 5:22 5:22 5:23 5:23 5:24 5:24 5:25 5:25 5:26 5:26 5:27 5:28 5:28 5:29

Abilene . . . . . . . . . . Alpine . . . . . . . . . . . Beaumont . . . . . . . . . Corpus Christi. . . . . . Austin . . . . . . . . . . . Del Rio . . . . . . . . . . . El Paso*. . . . . . . . . .

5:30 5:30 5:31 5:32 5:33 5:33 5:34 5:35 5:36 5:37 5:38 5:39 5:39 5:40 5:41 5:42 5:43 5:44 5:45 5:46 5:47 5:48 5:49 5:50 5:51 5:52 5:53 5:54 5:55 5:56 5:57

165 miles west . . . . 405 miles west . . . . 160 miles east . . . . 35 miles west . . . . . 55 miles west . . . . . 235 miles west . . . . 555 miles west . . . .

add 14 minutes add 24 minutes subtract 13 minutes add 3 minutes add 5 minutes add 20 minutes subtract 23 minutes

6:23 6:24 6:25 6:25 6:26 6:27 6:28 6:28 6:29 7:30 7:31 7:31 7:32 7:33 7:34 7:34 7:35 7:36 7:36 7:37 7:38 7:39 7:39 7:40 7:41 7:41 7:42 7:43 7:43 7:44 7:45

7:46 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:48 7:49 7:50 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:53 7:53 7:54 7:55 7:55 7:56 7:57 7:58 7:58 7:59 8:00 8:00 8:01 8:02 8:03 8:03 8:04 8:05 8:06 8:06

Houston . . . . . . . . . . 170 miles east . . . . Laredo . . . . . . . . . . . 160 miles west . . . . Lubbock . . . . . . . . . . 280 miles west . . . . San Angelo. . . . . . . . 215 miles west . . . . San Antonio . . . . . . . 95 miles west . . . . . Tyler . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 miles east . . . . . *El Paso is in Mountain Time Zone.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

8:07 8:08 8:09 8:09 8:10 8:11 8:12 8:12 8:13 8:14 8:15 8:15 8:16 8:17 8:18 8:18 8:19 8:20 8:21 8:21 8:22 8:23 8:23 8:24 8:25 8:25 8:26 8:26 8:27 8:28 8:28

subtract 5 minutes add 14 minutes add 24 minutes add 18 minutes add 8 minutes subtract 6 minutes

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

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Cellular technology secures property, traps feral hogs

ell phones are a hunter’s newest weapon in the battle to protect ranches and leases against trespass and feral hog damage. “Ranches and hunting leases are big investments,” said Noel Gouldin, president of CellGate and Wireless Traps and co-founder of CelAccess, a Dallas–based technology company. “In Texas, hunting generates $1.5 billion annually, meaning enthusiasts are putting their money where their passion is. It just makes sense to protect that investment by preventing trespass and managing the feral hog population to limit damage.” It is estimated that feral hogs cause $52 million worth of agricultural damages in Texas annually. Today, thanks to two new cellular applications, landowners and hunters have new weapons in their arsenal. Using cutting-edge technology from CellGate and Wireless Traps, landowners and hunters can secure their property and/or remotely trap feral hogs as easily as making a cell phone call. The company ﬁrst developed a sophisticated, but easy-to-use, cellular technology that is now protecting the Port of Houston, airports, manufacturing facilities, and other places where it is imperative that people know who is coming and going. In 2010, a cellular camera was added to the suite, which allowed people to not only control access, but to see who was on their property. “Texas has become an urban state, meaning that many of the people who care for and enjoy rural land, don’t live on the property full-time,” Gouldin said. “Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but it can also make people feel helpless because absentee landowners or leaseholders have no direct control over their treasured asset. We developed a product that delivers peace of mind.”

Securing Access with CellGate “Landowners want two things: to control access to their property and to know who enters when,” Gouldin said. “A ring of padlocks and a handful of keys is not the most effective way to control access or protect your assets, especially in areas where oilﬁeld activity has skyrocketed, increasing trafﬁc on ranches. Once someone knows the combination to a lock, you no longer control who enters.” CellGate’s answer was to create a patent pending access control system based on cellular technology, allowing it to work virtually anywhere without the need for phone or data lines. The result is a three-part system: a “smart” keypad that can be installed to almost any existing gate, a camera to capture pictures and a Web-based application available on the Internet. Additional components can be added to customize and further enhance the system’s capabilities. It is powered by solar panels or AC current, and can work on manual gates or gates equipped with

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motorized gate operators. Once the equipment is installed, the owners, using simple tools on the company’s Web site, create personalized four-digit access codes for everyone who has permission to access the property. Using the Internet allows codes to be created or deleted anywhere with any Web-enabled device. When people arrive at the ranch gate, they enter their access code using the key pad or their cell phones. Every time an access code is entered, a record is made on the Web site including date, time and who entered. The system can even notify the owner by e-mail, text message or phone call. If the camera option is added, it takes a picture of the vehicle. System owners can choose to have the photos delivered to their cell phones or computers immediately. “To maximize security, we recommend that each person be given an individual code,” Gouldin said. “They will use that code to enter and leave the ranch, automatically creating a digital record.” The access codes, which consist of at least four-digits, can be limited for a certain number of uses, for a defined date and time range, for specific days of the week, or, they can be unlimited, remaining valid until they are canceled. If a person who has been issued a time-limited access code attempts to use the code outside the limits or after it has expired, the system records those unsuccessful attempts as well. “Obviously, you want service people to enter the property to do their jobs,” Gouldin said. “But you don’t want them to come back after hours and help themselves to a trophy buck.” The CellGate system can also monitor whether the gate is open or closed, plus it can be configured to send a notification if the gate is left open. “You not only know when your gate is open, but who left it open – the last person to enter an access code,” Gouldin said. Most of CellGate’s clients are ranchers, who are protecting their livestock and wildlife by controlling access to their land, but the application possibilities are limitless. One customer has built a bed-and-breakfast on his ranch and installed a CellGate system on the yard gate to help keep track of the guests. Another South Texas rancher uses a combination of motion detector and camera to monitor oilfield construction on his property. On occasion, landowners have spotted trespassers and contacted local authorities to deal with the intrusion while the trespassers were still on the premises. A Central Texas couple, who raise exotic wildlife and livestock, have positioned a CellGate camera so it photographs incoming and outgoing trailers, ensuring that no one is leaving with hoofstock they haven’t purchased. The combination of immediate notification, digital and photographic records, offers ranch

phone call. The system is powered by solar panels, which some people supplement with deep cycle marine batteries. Cell phone boosters also are available to enhance spotty cell phone coverage. When the hogs enter the trap, it triggers the motion detector and camera, which begins taking pictures. The user is notiﬁed by e-mail or text message that the equipment has been activated. The user can then review the photographs and determine whether or not to close the trap gate. To close the trap, the user just enters the appropriate code into his cell phone or computer to activate the trap wherever he is. George Dixon operates a hunting ranch near Magnolia, Ark., and traps nuisance hogs throughout the region using the system. “In my opinion, it’s the best thing since sliced bread and a pocket on a shirt,” he said. “It makes no difference where I am, I receive a text or e-mail and I can check and see what’s in my trap.” According to Dixon, the equipment is durable and easy to use. Plus, the photos allow him to see exactly what is in the trap, so he avoids trapping non-target species like deer and knows how big of a trailer to bring when it’s time to pick up the hogs. But the system’s biggest beneﬁts are cost savings and the ability to trap entire family groups. “With a traditional trap, you have to drive to the location every day and check to see if there are hogs,” Dixon said. “With wireless traps, you don’t have to return to the trap except to replace bait or pick up the animals. It saves time and gas and, therefore, money.” One reason that feral hogs are hard to control is that they are smart. They travel in family groups called sounders. If a trapper

owners, particularly those who live off their properties, more direct control over access and the power of information. “If a landowner operates day hunts or package hunts, the system will provide a powerful management tool,” Gouldin said. “If a group leases a ranch and allocates use based on time, the system can provide objective records and help enforce the agreed upon time-share.”

Managing feral hogs with wireless traps Last year, the innovators at CelAccess took the technology a step further when the system was modiﬁed to allow people to remotely monitor and trigger trap gates. “With Texas’ feral hog population estimated to be about 3.4 million animals — and growing, we saw an opportunity to give land managers a technological advantage in the battle to keep the hogs’ marauding in check,” Gouldin said. “Many hunters enjoy shooting the occasional hog or trapping them, often in small cagestyle traps,” Gouldin said. “With prices for feral pigs at around 40 cents a pound, some are turning their hobby into a moneymaker.” Unfortunately, hunting and trapping with cage-style traps does little to control the population growth. In order to be more effective, a corral-style trap with a constant feed source like a deer feeder is needed. “Traditional style head gates still leave the hogs in control of how many get caught and when,” Gouldin said “The ﬁrst ones in trip the gate and get caught while the rest of the group gets away, making the remainder of the group trap-shy.” Wireless Traps puts a human in control of how many hogs are caught and when, by combining a camera with infrared illuminators, motion detector and a remote-controlled lock that can be triggered with a cell

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

only catches a portion of a sounder, the rest of the hogs become trap-shy, Dixon said. “With this system, I can be patient,” Dixon said. “I will wait and watch over the course of several days because each night more hogs come in. I don’t close the trap until I’m sure that I’ve gotten every hog in the bunch. “Most of the time when you buy something, it’s not what it’s cracked up to be. I’m not sure that I could add anything to this system to make it better. It delivers.” CellGate Cell-gate.com • (855) 694-2837 Wireless Traps Wirelesstraps.com • (855) 698-7277

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Silence is golden here has been a lot of noise about the use of suppressors in Texas. But it’s the silence that stirs the hearts of hunters and shooters alike. And the internal suppressors made by Dark Horse Arms in rural Coleman County top the list. “When we bought the company in 2005, it already made some suppressors,” said owner Brent Hemphill. “I developed the .308 suppressor and the subsonic ammo to go with it.” The suppressors were used mostly for hunting hogs initially, but there have been new areas of interest. “Texas passed the law allowing the use of them to hunt game animals in Texas last year,” he said. “The deer hunters have been interested in them for years, especially on the large ranches with permits that have to do some culling.” The lack of sound makes the hunting easier and keeps the other animals more calm. “When you use the subsonic ammo, it’s less sound than from a Gamo pellet gun,” Hemphill said. “With the Ruger 10/22, all you hear is the action. And with regular ammo in the .308, it sounds more like a .22.” The renewed interest has intrigued others, as well. “There are a lot of people buying them, especially the SR22 that Ruger has, for their kids,” Hemphill said. “And the recreational shooters love them for the hearing protection. They aren’t designed for the long-range shooting, though.” To use the suppressors, a special permit under the National Firearms Act is required, even though their use for both game and nongame animals has been approved by the state. The permitting process takes time, “about six to eight months,” Hemphill said. But customers need not fear the process. “My wife, Candys, takes care of it for the customers,” Hemphill said. “When we bought the company and I ran it by myself, I struggled to keep up with all the paperwork for the ATF. She resigned from her job and things took off. She has it down — she runs the office and I run the shop.” Candys takes care of all of the permitting paperwork. “When they place the order, she gets them the information and does the paperwork for them,” her husband said. Rumors run rampant on how the ATF handles it, but Hemphill said customers shouldn’t be concerned. “The ATF does come to our office and checks our paperwork,” he said. “But they can’t come to check out your gun without probable cause.” Dark Horse Arms manufactures both removable and internally suppressed suppressors for rifles and pistols. Fully suppressed or internally suppressed models are complete firearms with the suppression system built into the fully suppressed rifle or internally suppressed pistol. Subsonic ammunition will achieve maximum noise suppression.

Dark Horse Arms Fullysuppressed.com • (325) 382-4885

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

Dark Horse Arms makes fully suppressed riﬂes, pistols

Year-round hunting opportunities with style at Texas Hunt Lodge exas Hunt Lodge, located locat ed near Kerrville, has won “Outﬁtter of the Year” for the 2011-2012 scoring season of Trophy Game Records of the World, its third consecutive year to win the award. Manager Justin Taylor won Guide of the Year, for the second year in a row. The lodge’s main concession, Broken Spur Ranch, also swept 11 other major awards including Hunter of the Year, Ranch of the Year, Exotic Hunter of the Year and Archery Hunter of the Year. Texas Hunt Lodge hosted more than 600 hunting clients last year, who hunted in the Texas Hill Country for

more than 60 species on 24 exclusive concessions. With more than 160 trophies scoring in the Top 5 in the World, and 30 new World Records in TGR and SCI last year alone, Texas Hunt Lodge is one of America’s premier hunting destinations. “We host clients from all over the world and hunt literally every day of the year,” said owner Aaron Bulkley. “Our staff works hard for our clients whether we’re bow hunting premier African trophies like eland, sable and kudu, or putting them on world-record class whitetail and axis bucks.” Texas Hunt Lodge provides African-style hunting opportunities where clients may hunt

from high-rack trucks, bow hunt over an active waterhole, or spot and stalk with shooting sticks. Clients stay at the Texas Hunt Lodge situated on the Guadalupe River between Ingram and Hunt, and the lodge consists of nine suites with a private bath and open bar. Guests are served wild game entrees from bongo to scimitar-horned oryx. To book a hunting adventure with Texas Hunt Lodge, visit www.TexasHuntLodge. com or call the booking ofﬁce at (830) (830) 367-7611. Texas Hunt Lodge TexasHuntLodge.com (830) 367-7611

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Field of dreams

Highpoint Ranch offers quality whitetails, luxury at affordable prices A

brand new, 4,000 squarefoot luxury lodge sits on the 2,100-acre Highpoint Ranch near London in Menard County. Brand new blinds await the hunters in the ranch’s inaugural season of offering hunts. Active deer and habitat management has been taking place for years, and the high fence was in place when the ranch was purchased by Michael and Sharon Kunz in 2008. Quality native Texas deer roamed the ranch then, but

with active management they are even better now. “The deer have native Hill Country genetics, and we implemented protein from February to October to achieve their maximum growth,” said ranch manager Sawyer Wright. “The place hasn’t been hunted for trophies in four years.” Through supplemental feeding and an oxygen-based plant life, the deer have been able to reach their top potential, Wright said. “The property has been surveyed each year, and the herd has been managed so the plant life hasn’t been compromised,” he said. “And this year, we’ve seen some bruisers.” This season, Highpoint Ranch is offering a special sure to get the attention of hunters. For one price, clients can have a three-day hunt for “any native deer on the ranch.” The prices, set at $3,000 for a native whitetail scoring 130-170 or $1,500 for one up to 129, are hard to beat. Stays at the lodge are $300 per day, or for those who prefer less luxury and like to cook their own food, brand new trailers have been placed at the ranch and are available for $75 per day. David J. Sams and Craig Nyhus of Lone Star Outdoor News visited the ranch in January, and Nyhus was back in July to view the progress and the deer. “The deer are healthy, the grass is back and the lodge is as good as it gets,” Nyhus said. “It’s easy to recommend a trip to Highpoint Ranch.” High Point Ranch (830) 997-7686

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Snow goose stalk no easy task

ubbing my tongue against my front teeth, I could feel the grit and slime of the rice ﬁeld mud that had worked its way into my mouth. I blinked and felt more of the dirt in my eyes, but after a short search for a clean piece of clothing failed, I sighed and looked toward the front of the group. From my position on my stomach, I could see the leader of the snow goose stalk, Jimmy Williams of Paragould, Ark., cautiously sitting up on his knees to peer over the levee we were crawling to. He leaned back down onto his hands and knees, turned behind him, and gave the rest of us a thumbs-up, and then waved us forward. The only sounds that could be heard as we struggled across the ﬁeld were grunts from our effort, the small splashes from hands meeting water, and the roar of the thousands of feeding snow geese 100 yards away that rings in your ears long after they leave.

It was imperative to stay as low to the ground as possible so the birds did not see us heading toward them, which made belly crawling a necessity. The difficulty was compounded by having to do it across a wet rice field in 30-degree weather with frozen rice stalks poking every inch of exposed skin, and carrying a shotgun — an awkward task. I started to tire and my breathing was becoming labored, leading me to barrel roll the last 20 yards to the edge of the levee, coating me from head to toe with mud, much like a breaded duck breast ready to go into the frying pan. My shotgun was as coated as I was, so I examined the barrel to make sure no mud was clogged in it. Everyone made it to the edge of the levee, where much to our dismay, the geese had fed away from us, and the majority were out of shotgun range. There was a small corner of the flock that was still close enough, consisting of about 20 birds. We got ready and I picked out a bird on the far right that I wanted to target. Jimmy called the shot and both men and geese jumped in unison. The sound of my shot was in harmony with the push of the gun against my

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

shoulder, and the goose fell in response to the bark of the Benelli. As the last shot faded away, I jumped up and ran into the field to collect the geese, and catch up to any that were not cleanly brought down. “Ran” may not be the right word, since it was more of a staggered stride as I fought to cross the shin-deep mud. I looked back and saw my friend Kenney leaned back on his knees, throwing up from exhaustion. I couldn’t help but laugh, thinking back to our conversation from the previous day regarding what would be his first snow goose stalk. “It might be the hardest, most tiring thing you’ve ever done,” I told him. “Yeah right, I think you’re just soft,” he replied. I came up to the goose I saw fall and was shocked to see a silver band on one of its legs. I couldn’t believe that out of all the snow goose stalks I had been part of, the stalk where we shot the smallest number of birds would produce my first goose band. I would later learn that the bird had traveled more than 1,500 miles from its banding location to the Arkansas field. I turned and headed back to the truck, spitting as I tried to get the rest of the mud out of my mouth. John Keith Lone Star Outdoor News

DBC convention sets records Family-style event doubles previous fundraisers ore than 250 deer breeders left their “babies” to attend the Deer Breeders Corporation Annual Convention in San Antonio. Between deer auctions, entertainment and meals, attendees were calling home to check on their babies — their deer. “My mom is checking the deer for us,” said Lori Ford of Rio Rojo Rancho in Red River County. “But I still call to check — especially with this heat.” Attendance and funds raised were way up from past years. “It was the biggest fundraiser we’ve ever had,” said DBC Director of Operations Debbie Erwin. “We raised more than $350,000 for the DBC.” All-day daycare was supplied for the kids, and the youngsters participated in selecting the prize-winning vendor booth and deer. Gist Kinsman Ranch was selected by the kids as the winning booth, with Brown Whitetails second. And name recognition may have been a factor in the Golden Buck Award, as Kid Rock won the top prize. Lone Star Outdoor News attended the events, but that’s not all. The rafﬂe at the event, with prizes consisting of a Nature Blind deer blind and a

Dark Horse Arms fully suppressed .22 rifle, took place after the final luncheon. The drawing for the blind was held first, and LSON’s David J. Sams’ name was called. But it doesn’t end there. As he was approaching the stage, the winning ticket for the gun was drawn, and DBC president Robert Williams Sr. threw his head back and again read Sams’ name. Cheers but more jeers followed from friends in the crowd. The Deer Breeders Corporation is a nonprofit organization created to provide a fair, honest and ethical organization for its members and to support one of our greatest natural resources, the white-tailed deer. By working with other organizations across the nation and state wildlife agencies, DBC hopes to foster better habitat, provide youth with outdoor education, and support deer industry awareness programs that lead to a vibrant and thriving deer industry. Proceeds will help support scholarship programs, youth hunting and wounded veterans. Craig Nyhus Lone Star Outdoor News

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Teal appeal Record number of birds headed to Texas

Not all carbon arrows are created equal old Tip’s Smart Carbon Technology not only yields an arrow shaft that is unmatched in durability and consistency, but also guarantees straightness retention. For years, the industry has used the mantra “straight or broken” to describe a carbon arrow’s ability to remain straight. That’s not true of every carbon arrow. With Gold Tip Smart Carbon, the arrow’s out-of-the-box straightness is maintained over the course of its lifetime, shot after shot, no questions asked. Gold Tip, a premier manufacturer of hunting and target arrows headquartered in Orem, Utah, sports an extensive lineup of 100-percent carbon arrow shafts that are the choice of the world’s top archers and bowhunters. Utilizing Smart Carbon Technology, Gold Tip arrows are at home on the professional 3-D circuit or in the mountains and woodlands that hold the world’s largest big game animals. The arrows’ form held true for Gold Tip’s Levi Morgan, who claimed another victory at the third leg of the IBO Triple Crown in Marengo, Ohio in July. Morgan’s win also clinched the 2012 IBO National Triple Crown Championship: the highest combined score from three designated National IBO

shoots. Morgan has now won the prestigious IBO Triple Crown three years in a row. At the IBO outdoor 3-D event, Pro Division contestants shot one round of 30 targets on the ﬁrst day and one round of 10 targets the following day from unknown distances that range from 6 yards to more than 50 yards. Another Gold Tip shooter, Gary Studt, led the pack after day one with a solid performance, and ended up in second place. Morgan, down by two points after day one, climbed back into the lead on day two of the IBO event, ultimately winning by four points. For the 3-D event, Morgan shot Gold Tip Ultralight Pro X-cutters, while Studt shot Gold Tip Ultralight Pro Series 22. “We at Gold Tip are very proud to be a part of Levi’s ongoing success, whether he is shooting game or competing in tournaments,” said Tom Zelenovic, CEO of Gold Tip. “I am looking forward to watching the world-class archer take his tournament-tested mental toughness to the ﬁeld this season on Gold Tip’s ‘Name the Game’ TV show on the Sportsman Channel.” Gold Tip. The toughest arrow you’ll ever shoot. Gold Tip Goldtip.com • (800) 551-0541

ith record numbers of teal headed south this year, hunters should enjoy a great year hunting the little ducks that kick off the 2012 Texas waterfowl season. The September early teal season begins Sept. 15 and runs through Sept. 30. The daily bag limit is four birds in the aggregate made up of blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal. According to Kevin Kraii, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s program leader for waterfowl, bluewinged teal numbers are very high, with 9.24 million blue-winged teal and 3.47

million green-winged teal making the journey south this season. “I would venture to say (teal numbers) are the highest we’ve seen,” Kraii said. “Conditions this year weren’t quite as good as last year but last year was the best conditions we’ve ever seen. I expect the count will be around 9 million total.” The numbers showed an increase of 20 percent for green-winged teal and three percent for blue-winged teal over last year. Both species continue to remain well above their long-term averages by 74 percent and 94 percent, respectively, according to the Waterfowl

Breeding Population and Habitat survey. Habitat across much of Texas is better than it was last season, due to abundant vegetation that was exposed during low-water levels that will now provide forage for many ducks thanks to rising water levels this spring. Popular teal hunting places include coastal marshes with fresh water and most of Texas’ lakes and ponds. Anywhere with a solid supply of water and food should hold good numbers of teal this season. Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Steady views, images with the new Stedi Stock II ordonville-based Agonic Enterprises, makers of the original Stedi Stock and other accessories designed for demanding manding professional photographers, videographers, ographers, hunters and birders, announces the new and improved Stedi Stock ock II, available in stores this fall. all. Stedi Stock II, a unique, handheld support system for or all optical equipment that provides incredible balancee and stability, was developed after two years ars of extensive research, customer feedback ck and professional input. The most signifi ificant improvement made was that the new ew Stedi Stock II fits more optical devices. From rom range finders to spotting scopes, binoculars oculars to digital cameras, there really isn’t a device that the Stedi Stock II isn’t compatible with. “We are very pleased with the new Stedi Stock II,” said Harold Hurst, president of Agonic Enterprises. “This new device is much more functional, and I firmly believe that this model will satisfy all the needs and suggestions of our loyal customers.” Matching the traditional Stedi Stock concept, the Stedi Stock II goes far beyond in terms of operational scope and durability. With a more ridged design, the new model provides much more stability. The Stedi Stock II is also more versatile with not only DSLR cameras but also large

video cameras and can handle professional grade cameras with ease. One of the more popular features noticed by consumers is the adjustable mounting system that will for eye relief and provide users more freedom when operating their optical devices.

Lone Star Outdoor News staff had a chance to try the Stedi Stock II for themselves. Setup was found to be easy and quick. The streamlined design of the monopod made adjusting the height of the camera to eye level effortless, without the bulky and space-consuming style of a tripod. The design seemed to really stand out with the use of a spotting scope or video camera, which could be easily turned or moved to the best possible position. For more information, call (214) 533-7021 or visit Stedistock.com.

Executive Editor Craig Nyhus

Managing Editor Conor Harrison Associate Editors Mark England Graphics Editor Amy Moore Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Intern John Keith Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Ginger Hoolan Web site Bruce Soileau National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Founder & CEO David J. Sams

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Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2012 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or e-mail them to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Redneck Blinds built for a lifetime rom his office, Danny Little can gaze down the road and see a reminder of Lamar’s manufacturing past. There, standing empty and forlorn, is the former home of O’Sullivan Industries. When the furniture company went out of business in 2007, more than 1,500 lost their jobs, striking an economic blow to this town of 4,500. But Danny and his business partners Russ Worsley, Tim Reigel and Russ Hurt aren’t looking back at the past. Instead, the small business owners are writing Lamar’s manufacturing future. They are successfully returning jobs to this southwest Missouri town by building what they consider is the best fiberglass hunting blind on the planet — Redneck Blinds. “Our slogan is ‘There ain’t nothing redneck about our blinds,’” said the 57-yearold Little. “You’re not going to find a better blind out there. They are maintenance-free and built for a lifetime.” Only in its second full year of manufacturing, Redneck Blinds has quickly developed a following among hunters throughout the Midwest. Last year — in the company’s first full year of production — Redneck Blinds sold more than 1,800 units. This year, they expect more than 2,500 blinds to find their way into the field. The company owes its start to the intersection of three unlikely industries: classic car reproductions, ready-toassemble furniture and outdoor recreation. With the exception of Little, all of the partners had worked for O’Sullivan. In 2007, Tim Reigel bought Redneck Street Rods and began manufacturing high-end fiberglass

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reproductions of classic 1930s coupes and sedans. Little had a company that produced archery targets from recycled cloth and foam. While at a sports show promoting Little’s target business, Danny and Russ Worsley took note of what was available in fiberglass deer blinds. “We saw what was out there and felt we could produce a better product,” recalled Little. “We’re all hunters, so we put our heads together and came up with what we’d want in a blind. The result is the Redneck Blind design.” Redneck Blinds offer a number of advantages over traditional blinds. The first is safety. When mounted atop one of the company’s 5-, 10- or 15-foot-tall deluxe stands, each blind is attached to the ground with a 24-inch anchor stake on each leg and a 30-inch ground auger anchor in the center, providing maximum stability. The stands also come with a ladder with nonslip treads and a handrail, so climbing into and out of the blind doesn’t require acrobatic feats. For hunters concerned with masking their presence in the woods, Redneck Blinds deliver superior scent control. Automotive gaskets and weatherstripping around the door and windows ensure an airtight seal. The blind’s interior is painted black to help obscure the occupants, and marine-grade carpet on the walls and floor dampen sound. And no deer is able to see through the tinted and tempered automotive glass windows that don’t get scratched or cloudy and are easy to clean. All Redneck Blinds feature a marine-grade gel coat on the exterior that won’t fade or

peel over time, and the 100-percent fiberglass shell keeps out mice, squirrels, wasps and other critters. The great advantage, however, is comfort. “It allows you to spend more time in the field, and the more time you spend, the more deer you’ll see,” said Russ Worsley. “I spent the entire first two days of rifle season in mine. I never left the stand. You can stand up, stretch a little bit and not worry about spooking the deer.” Danny says that comfort also makes Redneck Blinds ideal for introducing youth to hunting, as they afford a platform that is safe, warm and roomy enough that a young hunter has room for a nap. Redneck Blinds currently offers five different models. The most popular are the “combination” models. These have an octagonal design with horizontal windows on the sides and vertical windows on the corners, allowing hunters to use either a rifle or a bow. “Right now, our Predator 360 Combo blind is our No. 1 unit,” Little said. “The combo blinds account for 70 percent of our sales.” Grant Woods, a wildlife biologist from

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

Reeds Spring and host of the online show, “Growing Deer TV,” has been hunting out of Redneck Blinds since 2010. He says the blinds have made it easy to safely hunt with both his children and his 81-year-old father. “If you were to sit down and try to design a blind for your family that was safe and comfortable and functional, you’d end up with a Redneck Blind,” Woods said, adding that the blinds easily accommodate three people plus camera equipment when he’s ﬁlming his TV program. “I’ve been in and out of almost every brand of manufactured blinds. Nothing is as well-thought-out as the Redneck.” Blinds vary in cost from $1,299 to $3,499, depending on the model and the stand combination you select. Each comes with a ﬁve-year manufacturer’s warranty. In addition to buying directly from the factory, the blinds are sold at Bass Pro Shops and independent sporting goods retailers. Redneck Blinds Redneckblinds.com • (877) 523-9986

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High hopes for dove season ith positive reports coming in from across the state, dove hunters can head to the ﬁeld with high hopes beginning Sept. 1 in the North and Central Zones. “It’s deﬁnitely looking better than this time last year,” said David Norman of D.J. Farms, which spans Grayson, Fannin, and Hunt counties. “The feed supply is very good, and we have good crops this year.

“It’s dry right now, but everything is still relatively green.” Norman said most of the birds he has seen in the area are mourning dove. “We’re seeing a lot of birds on the eastern part of our lease between Bailey and Wolfe City,” he said. “The last tour I gave, there were a lot of birds on the electrical lines on the open ﬁelds.” Farther south, Daniel Hernandez of San

Antonio-based Double H Outﬁtters, who hunts in both the Central and the South Zones, is also enthusiastic about the upcoming season. “It’s going to be way better than last year, we’re seeing a lot more birds,” he said. “There are plenty of birds, and there won’t be a shortage of them.” Hernandez also believes the increased rain compared with last year is helping make the

difference in dove numbers, but said there can be a drawback. “A little rain makes a big difference — the only bad thing is there’s so much rain this year the dove are going to be spread out; there’s just too many grain fields this year,” he said. “But it looks promising, and here in San Antonio we’re covered up with them.” One thing Hernandez has noticed this year is a high number of Eurasian collared dove. “We’re seeing a lot of Eurasian dove; those things are all over,” he said. “They chase and run the mourning dove away, but there’s bunches of all of them.” West Texas guide Mike Wyatt of First Shot Outfitters said he is seeing good numbers of dove, agreeing that conditions are almost too good. “We saw a lot of rain throughout our areas, and we’re seeing a lot of birds,” he said. “In San Angelo there is so much feed, you’re going to have to do a lot of scouting and moving. “The milo just made a hell of a crop. Those fields are almost a dime a dozen.” One crop that didn’t come up as well as the corn or milo was the sunflowers. “In Coleman, there isn’t as much sunflower as we usually get, “ he said. Wyatt said both whitewings and mourning dove are being spotted in the area. “We’re seeing more mourning dove this year than years past,” he said. “There’s definitely going to be more of a population, but you’re going to have to work at it. “I think scouting the fields out and moving to where the birds are wanting to be is going to be the key.” John Keith Lone Star Outdoor News

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The nose knows Lethal products achieve total scent elimination tilizing more than 30 years of research and development, Lethal Scent Elimination Products and its parent company Clean Control Corporation (makers of OdoBan) have perfected total scent elimination. The company has gained enormous popularity and is quickly becoming the leading scent elimination manufacturer on the market. Outfitters and hunters are currently using Lethal Professional Series of scent elimination products effectively across the nation with extraordinary results. Lethal’s core product, Lethal Field Spray and Activator, is the only field spray on the market that allows you to have the freshest spray available, because you activate it, and it stays fresh for 90 days after activation. Shelf life before activation is 2-plus years. Lethal Field Spray has been tested on many odors with an overwhelming outcome. It destroyed every odor that it was tested against. From onions on hands to diesel fuel on clothes, vinegar and even skunk spray, there was no odor that Lethal could not destroy. Another step in the success of Lethal was aligning with partners like Mossy Oak. “Although our relationship with Lethal is just beginning, their experience in the scent elimination business is anything but new,” said Ronnie “Cuz” Strickland, sr. VP of Media and Productions for Mossy Oak. “This company is over 30 years old and has a track record in commercial odor elimination that is solid and successful. Taking that commercial technology into the hunting world was not a stretch, and Lethal hit the shelf with a proven and successful human scent elimination product. With hunters running this company, it was only a matter of time before their Lethal formula made its way to hunters nationwide.” Hunters can be confident that this product line is the real deal. Their tagline says it all: “Be Certain. Be Lethal.” When going into the field or in your treestand, you will be certain that deer and other game will not catch your scent upwind or down.

When the wife becomes the hunter

Lethal Products Lethalproducts.com

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y wife, Katie, grew up in a hunting family. She took her ﬁrst buck at the age of 13 and continued to enjoy the outdoors with her father and brother. So it wasn’t a big surprise that she agreed to start bow hunting when I made the suggestion several years ago. After a trip to the archery shop, we settled on a Matthews youth bow with a draw weight of 45 pounds. Hours of shooting together in the backyard quickly showed me two things — the girl could shoot a bow and she was better than I was. As the Texas bow season drew nearer, we began

shooting 3-D targets at the house. She proved to be just as deadly on those as she was on the block targets. We were ready to go hunting. On opening day, we headed to a ground blind on the low-fenced Hill Country ranch owned by her parents. I had been watching several bucks on the property, including a nice 10-point and an 8-point with big brow tines. But this day we settled into the ground blind with the intention of taking a doe for her ﬁrst deer with a bow. After about an hour wait, several does began to cautiously make their way toward the feeder 20 yards to our front. One of the big

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

does presented a broadside shot, and as Katie began to draw her bow, the doe’s head snapped to attention. Coming out of the cedars was the big 8-point with the nice brow tines. Plans quickly changed, as they often do, and the doe was quickly forgotten. The buck came right into the feeder and began munching corn, completely unaware that we were there. Katie drew back her bow. When the big buck turned broadside, she took a deep breath, let it halfway out and touched the release. The arrow ﬂew and took the buck a little far back. The deer donkey-kicked and ran out of sight. My biggest fear was Katie wounding a deer and putting the bow down for good because of it. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded. As we stepped out of the blind, I saw the buck lying dead just 30 yards from the blind. We approached the buck in the fading afternoon light, and I’ll always remember the amazed look on my wife’s face as she held the antlers of her ﬁrst bow kill. It was a special day in the woods. Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Quail hunting at its finest at Wildcat Creek or quail hunters, it’s never too early to start preparing for the season. And Wildcat Creek Quail Hunting Resort has birds at the ready — where a memorable quail hunting adventure awaits. WCR, a family affair and the vision of Ron and Evonne Parker and their sons, Nick, David and Nathan, sports a new lodge and an atmosphere that is truly family oriented. “We want the experience to be first-class, but yet not stuffy,” said owner Ron Parker. Located in Red River County near Detroit, the property consists of 1,200-plus acres of well-managed land that will take hunters back in time. The habitat, birds and dogs are first-rate, with fields cleared out of the thick woods by the Parkers, who also own a construction

business. “And we have cleared saplings in two areas to offer hunters a true Georgia-style quail hunt with tough shots through the trees,” Ron said. “The grass looks great, it’s 2 to 3 feet high,” Nick said. “And we’ll hunt a lot more in the woods this year. Our customers love it.” Several flight pens allow flight training for the pen-raised birds, and the birds are released before the beginning of the season. “We want the birds to be as wild as possible and explode out of the grass,” Ron said. And it’s working. “All of our raised birds are banded,” Nick said. “We are shooting more and more unbanded birds, so some are making it and nesting. And the neighbors called the other day to say they saw some banded birds, so some have made it since last season.” After the hunt, the food served at WCR may be even more memorable, prepared by son David, a trained chef who has worked at top restaurants. WCR also offers pheasant hunts, duck hunts and has added a five-stand sporting clay station for parties and corporate events. Wildcat Creek Quail Hunting Resort Wcrquailhunting.com • (903) 674-2000

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Monarch 7 offers peak performance in an affordable binocular ikon Sport Optics has pulled out all of the stops with its new Monarch 7 binoculars. The all-terrain binoculars have been added to Nikon’s flagship Monarch line. “We’ve taken the Monarch line that’s already famous for its price ratio — it’s second to none in the industry — and pushed it to the limit,” said Jason Phillips, a Nikon rep with Owens Outdoor Sales. “The ED glass raises the bar and gets the best performance you can get without spending two grand.” The Monarch 7, which provides users with flat, crisp views, comes in two variations: 8x42 and 10x42. The 5.6-inch tall and 5.1-inch wide binoculars are strategically built with exceptional balance and fast-handling proportions. Hovering at about 23 ounces, the binoculars offer an advanced — and efficient — optical system that ensures

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uniform light transmittance for brighter images and more natural colors plus reduced ced light loss. The resulting high light transmission on creates a wide ﬁeld of view that surpasses any Monarch h to date. These comfortable-to-view-through binoculars noculars have turnand-slide rubber adjustable eyecups that at can be locked in at the correct eye-point, an especially useful ful feature for hunters who wear eyeglasses. Phillips was able to test the new binoculars at a recent shoot in Utah. “The Monarch 7 was noticeably brighter — something difﬁcult to observe when you’re comparing quality binoculars with other quality binoculars,” he said. “What’s really great is that Nikon has maxed out the performance available in an affordable bino line. The performance of the Monarch line for the money was already great. Now we’re adding the

granddaddy of all Monarchs by adding the ED glass. “We’ve maxed it out and taken affordable binoculars to their highest level.” The Monarch 7 costs about $499 in the 10x42 version and $469 in the 8x42 version. Nikon Sport Optics Nikonhunting.com

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Prime genetics in deer you can afford to hunt

t Trophy Ridge Whitetails, it’s all about the deer, along with a little education. Dick Cain, a former professor at Texas A&M, has taught many of the state’s wildlife biologists. He’s taken that knowledge to the ﬁeld. His ranch, near Saint Jo in Montague County and about 20 miles west of Gainesville, consists of 1,100 acres, 800 behind a high fence. “We have plateaus, canyons and creek bottoms — it’s Post Oak Savannah country,” Cain said. “The place is more than 50 percent wooded.” The property has been dedicated to the management of white-tailed deer. “We manage for maximum edge and have several food plots,” he said. “We want the deer to have the best access to nutrition.”

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The ranch also provides supplemental feeds for the animals. “It’s management for whitetails,” Cain said. “We manage for maximum antler growth in white-tailed deer.” The genetics have been improved over the years through the deer breeding operation, located in an area of the ranch separated from the hunting areas. “We turn out bred does, about 10 per year,” Cain said. “We have about 150 total deer on the property and maintain close to a 1:1 doe to buck ratio. We also turn out 20 to 25 3-year-old bucks each year.” Most of these bucks score between 160 and 200 at that age. “This way the deer have three years where we can harvest them as trophy bucks,” Cain said. “We release them well in advance. They are acclimated by the time the hunting season arrives. “It’s amazing how fast they “wild up” — when they see a vehicle, they’re gone.” The hunts at Trophy Ridge Whitetails are about the hunting, not the style or other entertainment. “We operate out of our three-bedroom ranch house,” he said. “Hunters become part of the family. We focus on small groups, there are usually three or four people in camp. My wife and I cook for the customers and take care of them. No one has ever left hungry.” Many of the hunting guides have worked at the ranch for seven or eight years, and they are experts at scoring deer on the hoof. Most of the hunting is from

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual

elevated blinds, and about one-fourth of the customers are archery hunters. Cain’s favorite customers, though, are the new hunters that come to the ranch. “I enjoy it as much as anything when someone brings out a youngster or a woman on their ﬁrst hunt,” he said. “I can teach them about why we hunt the deer, and we talk about what nature is about and the balance of nature. “About one-third of our hunters bring a child, wife or buddy that’s on their ﬁrst hunt, and we have a lot of father-son customers.” And Trophy Ridge Whitetails is the ideal place for a new hunter. “So many families have so many interests pulling them,” he said. “So if a kid comes out here, they’re going to see good deer, learn about aging them on the hoof, and hopefully they’ll learn that hunting is a fun thing to do as a family outing.” The hunts at Trophy Ridge Ranch generally begin on Thursday afternoon and end Sunday after lunch. A three-day hunt for a whitetail scoring 150 costs $3,000, while management deer cost $1,500. A complete price schedule may be viewed at the ranch’s Web site. Trophy Ridge Whitetails Trophyridgewhitetails.com (940) 995-2121

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LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ✯ Hunting Texas 2012 Annual