Anything for the hunt
Snow doesn’t stop the pursuit
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
The forecast for measurable snow in Fannin County brought excitement to the group of hunters — mallards and pintail had been seen in good numbers — and the group hoped for a memorable hunt.
The hunt was memorable for the hunters, their children and the five dogs on the adventure, as the location was at the peak of area snow totals, with 11 inches of wet, white stuff falling on the ground.
The first hunt was in a small pond surrounded by timber where the mallards had been resting and feeding on acorns and duckweed. What the hunters found when they arrived was a glistening from slushy ice on the water’s surface. Three men in waders cleared a hole and put out a few decoys.
At shooting time, a group of seven mallards dove in, and the group bagged six, five being drakes. Shortly thereafter, one more mallard fell, along with two wigeon. Then it went quiet. Ducks were in the air, checking the pond, but the visible ice likely caused them to go elsewhere.
The questions began as the hunters cleared more areas in the pond.
Please turn to page 19
The rocket’s glare
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Anglers in coastal bays saw water temperature plummet over the last few weeks, bringing speckled trout activity to a
screeching halt when the frigid conditions initially arrived and tides fell out. The fish have since become acclimated to the cooler temperatures, though. The trout are still slow, but anglers and guides able to find
Hunter bags buck with unique cape
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Hayden Johnson got an invite from his buddy, Sebastian Lopez, to go hunt a management buck on a ranch in Dimmit County, but he had no idea the buck he was going to pursue would end up being what he would consider to be a once-in-a-lifetime deer. The mainframe 8-point had a cape that was dappled with blonde splotches of white
hair, unlike any white-tailed deer that Johnson had seen before.
“I was told that the deer had always had the white or blonde splotches on its cape,” Johnson said. “Somehow, I ended up being the individual that was lucky enough to get to go after him.”
Johnson really wanted to try to harvest the deer with his bow. On his first evening at the ranch, he sat in a bow blind in a spot that deer had been frequenting, but the buck didn’t show up.
Please turn to page 11
areas with baitfish have been bringing in some solid specks.
In Baffin Bay, Capt. Ryan Aguirre has been wading thighto waist-deep flats with his anglers to target trophy speckled trout. Some fish pushing 30
inches in length and 8 pounds or more have been caught and released recently.
“The fish have been fairly lethargic and holding tight to the bottom,” Aguirre said. “Soft plastics and MirrOdines
Please turn to page 15
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
FISHING
New locations (P 4, 11)
Colorful creations for nails (P 8)
Artist creates fishing lures for fingers.
Drifting for cats (P 9) Colder weather good for bite.
Volume 21, Issue 11
Aaron Cisneros was fishing near the Brownsville Ship Channel with his dad, Ernie, at the perfect time, along with a crew from Z-Man Fishing Products shown in the photo. He said it was cold the previous day and fishing was terrible. On Jan. 16 the sun was out and fishing was good. They caught two fish while waiting for the SpaceX launch and his friend caught the third 1 minute, 17 seconds before the launch. The three fish were released. Photo by Aaron Cisneros.
Hayden Johnson harvested this buck with an unusual cape with his bow while hunting on a ranch in Dimmit County. Photo from Hayden Johnson.
The pintail weren’t cooperating well in the snow and partially ice-covered pond, but this drake did come into the decoys for Jason Douglas to make the shot. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.
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HUNTING
DSC’s first convention away from home
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
Dallas Safari Club’s Convention & Sporting Expo, held in Atlanta, Georgia for the first time, got off to a snowy start.
Sleet and snow dominated what are usually the convention’s two busiest days, Friday and Saturday, nearly shutting down Atlanta’s downtown area and causing the postpone-
ment of the Atlanta Hawks’ basketball game.
More than 2,000 people from Texas who registered to go weren’t able to make the trip, as thousands of flights in and out of the city were canceled.
The snowstorm that impacted Dallas/Fort Worth earlier in the week, although Dallas received less than 2 inches of snow, gained strength as it swept eastward.
Despite the storm, more than 12,000
Wild game cookbook, by the season
By Meghan Olivia Jackson For Lone Star outdoor newS
She can hunt, and cook?
Yup, that is MeatEater team member, Danielle Prewett, who recently authored the “MeatEater’s Wild + Whole” cookbook.
Prewett’s beginnings in this industry are credited to her husband who is an avid outdoorsman. Her love for cooking amplified even more as he would constantly bring wild game home.
“It was a fascinating ingredient to work with that you cannot always find at a grocery store,” Prewett said. “We then got bird dogs, I took the hunters safety course, tagged along on hunts — it all progressed into what is now our lifestyle.”
Her appreciation grew after she shot her first pheasant and was proud to eat her own harvest.
“More than anything, I felt this overwhelming sense of appreciation for the animal,” Prewett said. “Eating something you harvested and witnessing where it comes from, I wanted to feel this every time I eat.”
That hunt kick-started Prewetts’ motivation to pursue her career even more. From the animal’s life to its original landscape, Prewett believes it is important to know the story behind what we are consuming.
“Nature is sacred and this connection to the outdoors is what we want to share with other people and that is what we try to embody at my job with MeatEater as well,” Prewett said.
As the author of “Wild + Whole,” Prewett shares what the subtitle calls “Seasonal recipes for the conscious cook.” This includes her famous winter pot roast game recipe.
Rare hunts in Texas
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star outdoor newS
Like many Texan deer hunters, Wade Goodale and Aaron Welch have dreamed about harvesting and trailing a deer in the snow — a rare feat without leaving the Lone Star State to hunt farther north.
When 7-8 inches of snow fell in Lamar County during the late muzzleloader season, Goodale and Welch set out to accomplish their goal. They ended up harvesting bucks on back-to-back hunts with a muzzleloader. A crimson trail that stuck out like a sore thumb against the white, snow-covered ground led them both to their deer.
“The deer activity after the snowstorm was considerably higher than it had been,” Goodale said. “I was getting a lot of trail camera photos of deer moving at all times of the day, so we felt like we had a good opportunity to harvest a deer or two.”
Goodale and Welch went out for an evening hunt and got set up in an elevated blind overlooking a feeder.
“As we were walking into the stand, we talked about our plan,” Goodale said. “I was so excited to finally get to hunt in the snow that I had made up my mind that I was going to at least try to harvest a doe if a buck didn’t show up.”
Goodale said five does came out in front of them, along with a
Winter venison pot roast with
1 medium celery root (about 1 pound)
2 1⁄2 pounds venison roast Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. beef tallow
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 leek, sliced and rinsed well to remove any grit
2 parsnips or carrots, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsps. dry white wine
1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
Several thyme and/or rosemary sprigs
6 cups chicken stock, homemade or store-bought Creamy polenta
1 1⁄2 cups whole milk
1 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄2 tsp. freshly ground white pepper
1 cup quick-cooking polenta
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
1⁄4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese Gremolata
2 tbsps. chopped cutting celery, celery leaves or fresh parsley leaves
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Peel the celery root, then chop it into 1-inch pieces. Set aside. Cut the venison into large (4- to 6-inch) chunks across the grain and season generously with salt and pepper. Heat the tallow in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the meat, working in batches if needed, and cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes total. Transfer the meat to a plate and set aside. If the pan looks dry, add more oil, then add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until it starts to turn golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the leeks and cook, stirring occasionally, for a few additional minutes, until soft. Stir in the parsnips, celery and celery root and cook for a few minutes more. Stir in the garlic and cook until the garlic is fragrant, less than 1 minute. Add the wine and lemon juice. Allow the alcohol to boil off, then stir, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Drop the herb sprigs into the pot. Return the chunks of venison to the pot and pour in enough stock to come about halfway up the sides of the meat. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the oven. Braise for about 4 hours, until the meat is fork-tender. About three-quarters of the way through the cooking time, set the lid slightly ajar so the liquid can reduce and flip the meat if the top looks dried out. (If the liquid reduces too much, you can add a splash of stock to the pot.)
Polenta
Combine 1 1⁄2 cups water, the milk, salt and pepper in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a soft boil over medium-high heat. Stir in the polenta and reduce the heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and Parmesan. Let the polenta rest, uncovered, to thicken; serve hot.
In a small bowl, stir together the cutting celery, lemon zest, Parmesan and garlic. Set aside until ready to serve. Spoon the polenta onto serving plates. Top with the pot roast and vegetables, garnish with the gremolata and serve. —Meateaters
Gremolata
DSC Board Member James left, with a friend at the DSC convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Danielle Prewett has become a hunter, shares her recipes on MeatEater, and has authored a new cookbook. Photos from Danielle Prewett.
Two Lamar County hunters each took bucks during the late muzzleloader season after 7-8 inches of snow had fallen. Photo by Aaron Welch.
Reflections on a life for wildlife
Book chronicles Horace Gore’s 91 years
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
Horace Gore’s new book was received from the printer just a few days before the beginning of Texas Trophy Hunters Association’s Outdoor Extravaganza. Gore was on hand to talk about the book on stage and engage with and sign books for attendees at the show.
The book, entitled “Stringtown to the Kokernot,” chronicles Gore’s life from his Arkansas and East Texas upbringing through his time in the Army, his studies to eventually become a wildlife biologist, and his 33 years with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (still called the Game and Fish Commission in his early years), and his second career as the editor of The Journal of the Texas Trophy Hunters.
gram director and retired in 1993 (there’s an entertaining story about that, too).
After his retirement, he got a call from his friend, Jerry Johnston, TTHA’s founder, saying he needed an editor. Gore has since spent more than 27 years with the organi zation.
Gore’s stories include recounts of acci dents, run-ins with the law, spending time with author James Michener as he pre pared to write his book, “TEXAS,” and his battle with diabetes that even tually took his right leg and the toes from his left.
Those who know Gore won’t be surprised the book is full of entertaining, dangerous and sometimes less-than-wise adventures, and the storyteller describes each with plenty of the flavor they would expect. While Gore describes a number of hunts for white-tailed and mule deer, turkey and exotics, along with his lifelong favorite, squirrels, most of the 284-page book’s 35 chapters focus on his life in wildlife management and later writing about wildlife and hunting.
At TPWD, Gore moved up the ranks from a wildlife biologist to the Big Game Pro-
NEW ZEALAND HUNTING TRIPS & FISHING ADVENTURES
Gore spends consider able time reflecting on his 91 years, what went right and what went wrong, and his love affair with the outdoors, the wildlife and with those who work to conserve it.
The book is dotted with quips and sayings Gore is known for, called “Gore isms” in the book, includ ing:
“In today’s world, tech nical genius is on every street corner, but common sense is as rare as hen’s teeth.”
“Biscuits and gravy has saved more lives than penicillin.”
“One night in jail teaches you more than four years at Texas A&M.”
“My best hunt was my last hunt.”
“A young man looks for a good wife, when he should be looking for a good dog.”
Gore concludes with a heartfelt admission that his last hunt is likely behind him, but those who read his book will realize his legacy is not.
The book is available through TTHA.
New products shown at DSC
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
At the outdoor industry’s first show of 2025, the Dallas Safari Club Convention & Sporting Expo, in Atlanta, Georgia, several manufacturers introduced or displayed their newest products, including these from Blaser, Leica, Ruger and Weatherby.
Sauer 505 Rifle and Blaser R8 Silence Barrel
Blaser has introduced its long-awaited Sauer 505 rifle, which is now finally available in the United States after its 2024 debut in the European market, receiving rave reviews and described as “the most beautiful rifle in the world.”
Additionally, for the first time in America, Blaser will be introducing its R8 Silence barrel with integrated silencer. These extremely compact and quiet suppressed barrels are a modular option for the Blaser R8 rifle.
Leica Fortis Glossy Riflescopes
Leica Sport Optics is launching a brand-new riflescope se ries catering specifically to owners of the finest luxury rifles. The Leica Fortis Glossy riflescopes are
polished by hand in a special process to receive a unique shine, matching the glossy bluing of classic firearms.
The new scopes are manufactured especially for collectors and enthusiasts who value unique, highest-quality optics. The aesthetics are combined with outstanding image quality, a large field of view, high contrast and exceptional brightness. What’s more, the reliable precision mechanical components guarantee maximum precision even under harsh environmental conditions. The riflescopes are rugged, shock-resistant and waterproof.
The series is available in three models to cover every type of hunt: Leica Fortis Glossy 1-6x24i, 1.8-12x42i and 2-12x50i.
Ruger 10/22 Carbon Fiber Rifle
The new 10/22 Carbon Fiber rifle is feature
rich with a custom look and feel, and has earned the distinction of being the lightest 10/22 in the Ruger line. Weighing in at a mere 3.5 pounds, this rifle sports a textured white speckle black Magpul MOE X-22 stock and a 16.1-inch cold hammer-forged tensioned barrel with a carbon fiber sleeve. In addition to the reduction in weight, the stainless steel tensioned barrel is more rigid, reducing vibration, and is threaded 1/2”-28 for the addition of muzzle devices. The detachable 10-round rotary magazine features a unique rotor to separate cartridges and provide reliable feeding.
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Bass staging deeper
Power plant fish more aggressive
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star outdoor newS
Old Man Winter arrived in much of the state, staging largemouth bass in their typical wintertime haunts.
Deep structure has been holding plenty of fish, but there are some bass feeding in mid-range and shallow depths as well. Slow presentations and retrieves have been catching the most fish; however, the bass seem to be in a more aggressive mood on power plant lakes where water temperatures are a bit warmer.
Clendon Taylor has been targeting bass on Fayette County Reservoir, a power plant lake, and he and his anglers have been finding fish in both shallow and deep water.
“The shallow bite has been taking place in water depths that are 3 feet deep or less around flooded vegetation along the bank,” Taylor said. “Moving baits, like shallow-diving crankbaits and swim jigs, have been producing the most strikes.”
The bass Taylor and his anglers have been catching in deeper water have been feeding along drains and creeks in about 8-15 feet of water. Standing timber in the middle of coves has also been holding fish.
“In deeper water, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits and Carolina rigs have been the ticket,” Taylor said. “The bass in shallow water depths have been in the 2.5- to 3.5-pound range. Larger bass from 3.5 to 5 pounds or larger have been hanging out in deeper water.”
Kayak angler Sergio Romanos has been chasing bass on Lady Bird Lake, where he said he’s been catching bass along the bank out to about 15 feet deep. Texas-rigged soft plastics and chatter baits have been his go-to bait presentations.
“With the colder weather and cool water temperatures, the bass have been pretty lethargic,” Romanos said. “There have been quite a few fish hanging out underneath the bridges.”
Romanos has been casting lures toward the bank and then slowly working them down ledges and drop-offs.
“I’ve been seeing some other anglers out on Lady Bird chunking large swimbaits but they don’t seem to be getting near as many bites on them,” Romanos said. “Most of the anglers using
FISHING
From fishing lures to nails
By Meghan Olivia Jackson or Lone Star outdoor newS
The beauty of the outdoors can translate into new creations and opportunities, and Cameron Short’s unique talent represents its power perfectly. She designs and crafts acrylic nails with fishing lure designs.
Short’s childhood was often spent fishing with her grandparents at Lake Sylvia in Washington. She said these memories hold a very special place in her heart and really enjoyed being outdoors.
“My older brother would tag along as well and growing up with three brothers, I did not mind getting my hands dirty,” Short said. “I really enjoyed catching salamanders as a little girl.”
These experiences not only allowed Short to appreciate the outdoors, but they have served as a foundation in sparking her creative talents.
“As far as I can remember, I was always drawing,” Short said. “I was 10 years old when I drew family portraits as Christmas gifts. They were horrible, so I have come a long way since then.”
Short said she did her own nails every so often growing up, but in September of 2024, she began to take it more seriously. Within only 4 months, her nail art has gone viral on TikTok — especially her fishing lure design with 2.6 million views.
“That video was filled with comments of people relating nail art to painting actual fishing lures,” she said. “Apparently a lot of the techniques are similar to the creation of fishing lures and nails.”
As unbelievable as it may sound, Short said the comments made a lot of sense. When her friend Hannah showed her the nail inspiration, she instantly knew it would not be difficult to replicate on nails.
“There were many comments of people saying these nails reminded them of their grandfathers and it made me emotional knowing my Papaw was also the reason why I spent time fishing,” Short said.
Short said out of all the comments, there was one in particular that really stood out to her and made her realize that she is doing something right.
“All of her family members received a sign from their grandfather since he passed away and explained she was waiting for hers,” Short said. “After seeing my video, she knew this was her sign and I could not help but feel so honored.”
After reflecting on her upbringing, Short compared her life when she spent time outdoors versus when she did not and noticed its positive impact.
“Going outside, touching grass, and experiencing the different fish and animals — it is all so beautiful,” Short said. “It puts you in a much better mood to experience things that really matter.”
If you want to keep up with Short’s nail journey and witness her phenomenal creations, follow @reallynichenails on Instagram and TikTok.
Garza new owner of Getaway Lodge
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
After working and serving as the general manager of Getaway Lodge at Port Mansfield for the past 12 years, Sandra Garza is now the new owner of the premier fishing and hunting establishment. Garza has been living in Port Mansfield for 15 years, all of which she has spent working and gaining experience in the hospitality and outdoor industries.
“The former owner, Mike Sutton, will still be involved with a variety of things as far as the operations of the lodge are concerned,” Garza said. “He’ll be helping out with many of our longtime, returning groups and customers and will still be a regular face seen around the lodge.”
Garza said all returning and future guests can expect to enjoy the same excellent service, hospitality and food, as well as the luxurious amenities and top-notch guides. Guest favorites from the kitchen, including homemade enchiladas, steaks grilled to
perfection, hot wings, delicious appetizers, and Garza’s famous Tres Leches cake will remain staples on the lodge’s menu.
“It’s the same great place and destination, with the same, hardworking staff,” Garza said. “We are excited to see what the rest of 2025 has in store and are looking forward to hosting our guests. There’s something for everyone here at Getaway Lodge. Whether you’re an avid angler or hunter, or trying the outdoors for the very first time, we’ve got you covered. All you have to do is get here and we will take care of the rest.”
In addition to experiencing world-class
“The
fishing and hunting opportunities along the Lower Laguna Madre and its surrounding areas, Garza said guests can expect to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere.
pool is very popular among guests
Bryan Scarberry landed this largemouth while fishing on Fayette County Reservoir. Photo by Clendon Taylor.
Sandra Garza is the new owner of Getaway Lodge at Port Mansfield, and will be assisted by her husband, Capt. Ruben Garza. Photo by Ruben Garza
Artist Cameron Short creates realistic nails with a twist — they are based on fishing lure designs. Her creations have gone viral on social media sites. Photo from Cameron Short.
Trophy cats deep on the drift
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor
Anglers who seek big cat fish welcome the colder water temperatures, and a slow drift for the blue catfish has been paying off.
On Lake Conroe, guide Col lin Edwards usually fishes for hybrid striped bass, but is fo cusing on big catfish for the time being.
“It took a little longer to get down to the ideal water temperature,” he said. “We had a successful day with a 25-pound fish and another 35-pounder in the same drift.“
Edwards prefers to drift between .6-1 knots, and has been finding the fish at depths of more than 20 feet.
“I am using cut shad 99 percent of the time,” he said. “The bigger the piece the bet ter.”
Guide Raymond Esckilsen has been finding the cats at shallower depths on Calaveras Lake.
“We are seeing more blue catfish than channels,” he said.
Esckilsen and his clients have been fishing shallow in 10 feet or less, also with cut bait.
“Blues are running 5 to 9 pounds with an occasional double-digit fish,” he said. “To have success you will have to keep moving and find the fish that are feeding. If they are not eating, just move on to the next spot.”
Guide Royce Simmons said Richland-Chambers Reservoir is “absolutely full of catfish.”
“We catch 90 percent of our fish on punch bait,” he said. “We fish way up into the creek channels most of the fall and wintertime for catfish.”
Simmons has been having success in the timber following the birds, with most fish holding in 15-20 feet of water.
“This cold front will push the fish out a little deeper and slow them down,” he said. “If you aren’t getting a bite in 20-30 minutes you might consider a move.”
Chad Ferguson also has been moving around to find catfish on Eagle Mountain Lake.
“The blue and channel cats have been good,” he said. “With this crazy weather, there isn’t any rhyme or reason to it from day to day.”
Ferguson has been using punch bait most frequently, but switches to cut bait, either drifting or anchored, for trophy fish.
“It just depends on what people want to do,” he said. “Assuming we do not have a shad kill with this crazy weather, fishing will continue to pick up.”
Campbell, Frankens win on Big Sam
Shane Campbell, of Brookeland, and Wyatt Frankens, of Corrigan, won the first Bass Champs tournament of 2025 and $35,000 with a five-fish total weight of 21.29 pounds. Cold water temperatures and high winds hampered the anglers, and the team headed to the weigh-in hoping for a top five finish.
“Our game plan was shallow cranking with a Sixth Sense PS10,” Frankens said. “We caught most of them early targeting subtle hard spots and depressions. Later in the day, we caught a 4-pounder offshore while dragging a Carolina rig. It’s challenging to get around and catch fish when the wind blows like this on Sam Rayburn.”
The team won $25,000 for first place plus a $10,000 bonus for fishing from a Skeeter boat. Cody Ross, of Jefferson, and River Lee, of Diboll, finished second with 20.12 pounds, winning $11,500; and Wesley Baxley, of Conroe, and Austin Woodell, of Montgomery, came in third with 18.31 pounds, winning $3,000.
The event had 147 teams competing, with 44 teams coming in with five-fish limits.
Busy year ahead at RGV Reef
Friends of RGV Reef posted that the Reef Yard is filled with materials ready to be deployed to the largest industrial scale reef in the Gulf.
More than 15,000 tons of concrete railroad ties have been stacked and are set to begin deployment. Each concrete railroad tie weighs 800 pounds.
The RGV Reef is the result of a vision to build a full marine ecosystem, located just 13 miles northeast of the South Padre Island jetties.
—Friends of RGV Reef
Lone Star outdoor newS
Austen Taylor caught this channel catfish on a Mr. Whiskers Cheese punch bait at Richland Chambers Reservoir. Photo by Royce Simmons.
TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 49 degrees; 0.32’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
AMISTAD: Water stained; 55 degrees; 65.83’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass and striper are good on swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
ARLINGTON: Water stained; 65 degrees; 1.48’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics.
ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 44 degrees; 5.50’ low. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.29’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms, wackyrigged senkos and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow.
AUSTIN: Water stained; 52 degrees; 0.59’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jerkbaits, shaky heads and drop shots.
B A STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.87’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and frogs. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on juglines.
BASTROP: Water stained; 63 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and Carolina-rigged finesse worms.
BELTON: Water stained; 52 degrees; 2.37’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and swimbaits. Catfish are fair on fresh cut shad.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 60 degrees; 5.31’ low. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are fair on chatter baits and Texasrigged worms. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on shad.
BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.21’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, shaky heads and swimbaits.
BOIS D’ARC: Water stained; 55 degrees; 3.82’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 70 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms and jigs. Redfish are fair on fish bites and shrimp. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.
BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.15’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jerkbaits and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. White
bass are fair on crankbaits and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and liver.
BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 17.09’ low. Striped bass and white bass are fair on jigs and spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows.
CADDO: Water stained; 42 degrees; 1.21’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jigging spoons and jerkbaits.
CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained; 75 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Redfish are fair trolling lipless crankbaits and swimbaits. Catfish are slow.
CANYON: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 28.64’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs and underspins. Stripers and white bass are fair on jigging spoons.
CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.61’ low. Hybrids and white bass are good on plastic flukes. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
CONROE: Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, jerkbaits and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Hybrids are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on liver, worms and punch bait.
COOPER: Water stained; 50 degrees: 2.00’ low. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on shad.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 60 degrees; 12.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
CYPRESS SPRINGS:
Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.30’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, shaky heads and swimbaits.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN:
Water stained; 51 degrees; 4.33’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut bait.
FORK: Water stained; 47 degrees; 1.66’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Alabama rigs, jerkbaits and large spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
FT PHANTOM HILL:
Water stained; 55 degrees; 6.80’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 50 degrees; 0.10’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are good on slabs and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad.
GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 1.00’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on shad.
GREENBELT: Water stained; 55 degrees; 49.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Sand bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on minnows and worms.
HOUSTON COUNTY:
Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.87’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 55 degrees; 13.20’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are fair on live bait and cut carp.
JOE POOL: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.55’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs.
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees; 1.51’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, shaky heads and swimbaits.
FALCON: Water stained; 68 degrees; 44.26’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Catfish are good on cut shad.
FAYETTE: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs, shaky heads and crankbaits.
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 1.79’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs, swimbaits and rooster tails. Catfish are fair on shad.
LBJ: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged plastics, crankbaits and spinner baits.
Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are good on jigging spoons.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 49 degrees; 2.15’ low. White bass are fair on jigs, slabs and live bait. Hybrid stripers are fair on jigs and slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad.
LIMESTONE: Water stained; 50 degrees; 2.39’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs, chatter baits and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and minnows.
LIVINGSTON: Water lightly stained; 63 degrees; 0.82’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
MARTIN CREEK: Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.11’ high. Largemouth bass are good on small minnow lures and jerkbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.
MER-
EDITH: Water stained; 50 degrees; 47.44’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on artificial grubs and minnows. White bass are good on shad-colored lures and minnows. Walleye are good on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.
nows. White bass are good on slabs.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 18.11’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Alabama rigs. Crappie are fair on jigs.
PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 0.32’ low. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid stripers are good on slabs and jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
POSSUM KINGDOM:
Water stained; 54 degrees; 0.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs, chatter baits and jigs. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Sand bass are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 55 degrees; 0.15’ high. Hybrid striped bass are good on swimbaits. Catfish are good on cut bait.
RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 47 degrees; 1.20’ low. White bass are fair on slabs, jigs and flukes. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad, buffalo and carp.
RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 65 degrees; 0.93’ low. White bass are good on live bait and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 52 degrees; 2.42’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrids are fair on slabs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on shad.
NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.46’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigs, drop shots and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are slow.
NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees. 0.42’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 0.90’ low. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on shad and cut bait.
O H IVIE: Water lightly stained; 48 degrees; 23.04’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits, jigs, crankbaits and umbrella rigs. Crappie are good on min-
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 52 degrees; 1.64’ low. Catfish are good on punch bait.
SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 1.32’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie and white bass are fair on jigs and spinners. Catfish are good on cut bait and minnows.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 52 degrees; 2.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad and punch bait.
SPENCE: Water stained; 55 degrees. 45.93’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are good on spoons and inline spinners. Catfish are slow.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 2.53’ low. White bass are fair on
Page 21
slabs and jigs.
TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 47 degrees; 1.89’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass and hybrid striper are good on flukes and swimbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait.
TEXANA: Water stained; 60 degrees; 4.77’ low. Catfish are good on cut bait.
TEXOMA: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.35’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Stripers are good on flukes and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are slow.
TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 51 degrees; 2.49’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 43.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, Texasrigged worms and craws. White bass and stripers are fair on jigging spoons and swimbaits.
WACO: Water stained; 60 degrees; 2.28’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs.
WALTER E LONG: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, chatter baits and lipless crankbaits.
WHITNEY: Water stained; 53 degrees; 0.29’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Striped bass are fair on flukes and live bait. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair on flukes and slabs. Catfish are good on punch bait. WORTH: Water stained; 51 degrees; 2.37’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait and cut bait.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 65 degrees; 8.39’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
Outdoors Extravaganza kicks off
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
When the doors opened Jan. 10 for the first Texas Trophy Hunters Association Outdoors Extravagan za in Dallas, the city and area were under a winter storm warning. A few inches of snow had fallen, but more in the northern suburbs.
The storm impacted the crowd for the Friday opener. Overnight, though, the roads cleared and the sun returned, setting the stage for an impressive crowd on Saturday.
The show had about 450 vendors at the Kay Bai ley Hutchison Convention Center, with plenty of outfitters, including African outfitters, blinds, feeders, clothing, gear and more. Speakers and demonstrations highlighted the TTHA Main Stage at the back of the hall, and two nightly dinners with live music, speakers and brief auctions complimented the event.
“It was kind of dead yesterday, but today’s crowd is great and everyone seems in a good mood,” said one vendor at the front of the hall on Saturday.
At the Friday night Boot Scootin’ BBQ event, Laird Hamberlin, the chief executive officer of TTHA’s owner, Safari Club International, told the crowd the Outdoors Extravaganza would be back in Dallas for at least the next 5 years. And, on Saturday night, TTHA celebrated its 50th anniversary by honoring founder Jerry Johnston and introducing its TTHA Foundation, established to support outdoor research and provide college scholarships.
The spotted cape
Continued from page 1
The next morning, he and his buddy sat in the same bow blind again, and the buck showed up, right on cue.
“He was perfectly broadside at about 18 yards, and I came to full draw,” Johnson said. “Then all of a sudden, the feeder went off and he spooked. I had to come out of draw and hope he would come back.”
Johnson said the deer ended up returning and got to about 18 yards from the blind once again.
“This time when I drew my bow, he end-
ed up moving and was facing me for what seemed liked forever,” Johnson said. “I had to hold my bow at full draw until he finally turned. I let the arrow fly, and the rest is history.”
The deer took off running into the brush until he crashed and expired. Johnson and Lopez followed the trail to the buck, about 80 yards away.
“Walking up to the deer, I couldn’t believe how beautiful he was,” Johnson said.
Jerry Johnston, right, the founder of TTHA, shown with CEO Christina Pittman, was honored at the Outdoors Extravaganza. Photo from TTHA.
OUTDOOR BLOTTER
FIRE IN YETI COOLER HELPS LOCATE STRANDED DUCK HUNTERS
After hunting at Bois D’Arc Lake for several days, two experienced duck hunters from Louisiana found themselves in a dire situation. Their mud boat struck a tree around noon and sank, leaving them clinging to trees in 15 feet of cold water. Concerned they hadn’t heard from their husbands that day, the hunters’ wives contacted game wardens in northeast Texas. With darkness falling and temperatures already low, wardens called in Texas Department of Public Safety Aviation, the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and North Texas Municipal Water District staff to help with the search. Fortunately, the hunters remained resourceful, using wood from the tree they clung to, duck decoys and most of their gear to create a fire in their Yeti cooler for warmth. DPS Aviation was able to spot the flames in the darkness and direct crews to their location. The hunters, who had endured the elements for 13 hours, were rushed to a local hospital for treatment for severe hypothermia.
VEHICLE FOUND IN ARANSAS RIVER BY WARDENS, TWO DEAD
Texas game wardens and the Refugio County Sheriff’s Department responded to a single-vehicle accident on the Aransas River near the Hwy 77 crossing northeast of Sinton. Deputies found the vehicle upside down in the water. As crews recovered the vehicle, a local elderly couple was found inside, deceased.
ANGLER’S SIDE-SCAN SONAR FINDS TRUCK THAT WENT INTO LAKE
After a truck drove off the Highway 147 bridge into Sam Rayburn Reservoir, competitive angler Clark Reehm, who was fishing the lake at the time, received a call from a buddy who had witnessed a vehicle go over the guard rails and fall into the lake. Reehm boated to the area and noticed a helicopter working the scene. Good Samaritans had already intervened, with an angler launching their boat and racing over to assist the female occupant out of the frigid lake. Another individual had jumped off the bridge to try to save the woman as well. Authorities responded quickly and rendered necessary aid. After the scene was clear, Reehm used his side-scan sonar unit to locate the vehicle. It was tough going due the strong winds and the bridge pilings, but the sonar images showed the truck stuck nose-down into the bottom of the lake. Reehm shared the imagery with state troopers and marked the site with a buoy to aid in recovery. The Texas game warden dive team later removed the vehicle.
Snow bucks
Continued from page 4
young buck.
“It was starting to get late, so I thought about taking one of the does,” Goodale said. “Then all of a sudden, I saw an 8-point buck coming from the left of the blind.”
The buck walked out in front of them, started acting real spooky and started to head back toward the woods. He stopped at about 45 yards away, and Goodale took aim right behind his shoulder, and pulled the trigger.
“We waited until the sun went down to get out of the blind and walked over to where the buck was standing when I shot him,” Goodale explained. “We found the first drops of blood almost immediately. From there we followed a steady trail right to the deer, which had expired about 60 yards away. It was amazing how easy it was to trail the deer in the white snow, compared with how difficult it can normally be to trail them in the East Texas hardwoods.”
More snow fell overnight and Welch went out the following afternoon to try to put a tag on a deer in the snow as well.
“I was making my way to my stand and ended up walking up on a group of deer,” Welch said. “The wind was right, and they had no idea I was there. I spotted a spike at about 45 yards away and shot him free-handed with my muzzleloader.”
Welch said he heard the spike crash, and ended up trailing him in the snow about 40 yards.
Both Goodale and Welch admitted this was the first season where a significant snowfall had occurred early enough for them to be able to hunt in the snow.
“It’s not uncommon for us to get a good snowfall in late winter up here in northeast Texas, but this is the first time it actually happened for us during deer season,” Welch said. “Usually, we don’t get snow until after the season is over.”
Garza in charge
Continued from page 8
during the warmer months,” she said. “It’s not uncommon to find our anglers cooling off in the pool and enjoying some beverages after an exciting day of fishing. Our rooms and common areas boast luxurious amenities and are always clean, and our staff makes it their priority to ensure that our guests’ stay is nothing less than exceptional.”
Garza’s husband and veteran guide Capt. Ruben Garza Jr. also will be involved with the operations of the lodge, including helping out with booking guides and managing the lodge’s pro shop.
Remember when a hunter was measured by how well he shot, and not how much he spent? When memories were measured in curly tails, not dollar bills? We do. And that is why we created the Spandau S2. A reliable, extremely well balanced waterfowl gun built around the Inertia operating system for unmatched performance at a price that shows that you still know the true measure of a hunter.
GRIP & GRIN
Megan Stremmel, on her first wade-fishing trip in January, sprung a leak in her waders, but it was before the cold arrived. She caught this 28-inch redfish on a Corky.
Benjamin Abraham, of Alexandria, Louisiana, caught this 10.21-pound bass on December 30, 2024, and weighed it in at Buckeye Marina on Toledo Bend Lake before releasing the fish. He will receive a fiberglass replica from The Toledo Bend Lake Association.
Julian Trevino shot this 10-point buck, his first, on Nov. 23, 2024, which was his birthday.
Savannah Gonzales caught this 37inch black drum at Port O’ Connor on a perch hook and a small piece of shrimp.
Vance Baker, 11, shot his first deer at 105 yards while hunting with his dad, Trevor, and grandfather, David Baker at the family lease in Eastland County.
Winter speckled trout
have been producing the most consistent action.”
Aguirre said the key has been finding stretches of water with concentrations of baitfish. He’s been scouring the flats to find areas where birds like pelicans and cormorants are diving or feeding to hone in on the baitfish.
“There’s not much baitfish activity on the surface, so you really have to cover water and look for birds to find where the baitfish are holding,” he said. “Once you find the bait, there’s going to be some hungry trout nearby.”
Deep grass beds with scattered, muddy potholes have been the best areas.
“Sometimes you can catch several solid fish out of the same muddy pothole,” he admitted. “You just have to keep your lure close to the bottom and in the strike zone.”
In Port Mansfield, anglers willing to brave the cold and wade-fish have experienced the best action for speckled trout during slight warming trends. Even if the air and water temperature only warms up a few degrees, that seems to be when the best action is occurring. Areas adjacent to drop-offs have been holding the most fish.
Matagorda Bay anglers have reported spotty action for speckled trout, with some days bringing only a few bites, while others have produced solid fish up to 4-5 pounds. Soft plastics and suspending twitch baits have been producing the most strikes.
In East Galveston Bay, Capt. Jeff Brandon said using super-slow bait presentations has been the only way to consistently catch speckled trout recently.
“Soft plastics rigged on 1/8-ounce jig heads have worked well,” Brandon said. “The lighter the jig head that you can get away with and still work effectively, the better. The fish have only been striking baits that fall slowly through the water column.”
Deeper pockets of water near channel bends and ledges with shell have been holding the best concentrations of trout.
South Padre-area guide Capt. Lou Austin said the trout are concentrating along channels and guts. Keeper-sized specks are being caught on live shrimp, while larger fish have been striking soft plastics and slow-sinking mullet imitations.
Wild game cooking
“We all grew up with pot roast, but to me, it still tasted dry,” Prewett said. “My favorite thing to do is to develop recipes and I wanted to find a way to make it more enjoyable — and I dis covered the impact of white wine and chicken stock.”
While these are not the most common sources people rely on, she felt the white wine allowed venison to not feel so heavy after con sumption.
“I love this recipe and still include all of the veggies we all know and love, but the white wine definitely perks it up,” Prewett said.
Prewett organized this cookbook by the sea sons so people can feel connected to the out doors through each time of the year. Her pas sion for finding sources to complete meals is evident in her writings.
“Have you ever felt something was missing in your recipe so you kept adding salt,” Prewett asked. “Usually salt is not the answer, you are just making it saltier. Most of the time you just need something acidic.”
During her 3-year journey preparing the cookbook, Prewett said she had a few different publishers reach out to her and they were all based in New York.
“Not a single one of them had a background in the hunting world, but the fact that they saw my work and understood what I was trying to achieve meant so much to me,” Prewett said. “This is by far my proudest accomplishment in my career.”
“MeatEater’s Wild + Whole” contains more than 80 wild game recipes in its 272 pages, and is available at bookstores, Amazon and MeatEater’s website. As a mother, Prewett said she spends time thinking about the future generations and how she wants to make an impact.
“I think if we want to have healthy habits and a healthy ecosystem, the best way to ensure that is to create a good steward of the land,” she said. “Teach them how to love it because the more you love something the more you respect it and want to take care of it.”
The most aggressive speckled trout action has been taking place during periods with slight warming trends in between cold fronts. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Photo from Danielle Prewett.
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES
Feb 5 2:58 AM -0.58L 11:57 AM 1.15H
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
Solution on Page 22
ACROSS
3) DFW-area lake
5) Safari destination
7) Amarillo’s county
9) A bass ambush spot
10) Salmon species
12) Shotshell brand
13) The covering on deer antlers
14) A deer favorite
16) Laredo’s county
20) Worn by duck hunters
22) One of the quail
24) Young County’s seat
25) A duck favorite
27) Duck call brand
28) Group of young turkeys
29) Border river
31) Coastal bay
32) East Texas lake
33) Creature bait
34) A favorite minnow for fishing
36) One of the falcons
39) Rockport’s county
40) Winter favorite of deer
43) One of the whistling ducks
44) Call used for wigeon
45) An African antelope DOWN
1) One of the hawks 2) A Great Lake 4) South Texas lake 6) Corpus Christi’s county 8) Fishing knot type 9) Organ eaten by deer hunters
11) Group of leopards
15) Sinker type
17) Jim Wells County’s seat
18) Border lake
19) Saltwater prize for fly-anglers
21) Trout species
22) Group of raccoons
23) A spaniel
26) Ector County’s seat
30) The dogfish
32) Goose, lesser or greater
35) Elk hunters’ org.
37) Used as snow goose decoys
38) Lee & Tiffany
41) A goose favorite
42) Rifle brand
Marketing VP for Banshee
Michael Narus was named vice president of marketing for Banshee Brands, the parent company of RETAY USA.
New Rapala CEO
Cyrille Viellard was named the chief executive officer of Rapala VMC, beginning March 6.
Steier promoted
Primary Arms Optics promoted Alex Steier to senior manager of international sales.
Long named sales director
SIGHTRON promoted John Long to director of sales.
Sales agency for Barnes Bullets
Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets retained H&G Outdoors as the companies’ sales representative agencies.
Hawkins joins Winchester Safes
Winchester Safes hired Eric Hawkins as national sales representative.
Sales group for firearms company
Traditions Performance Firearms retained Morton & Associates as its sales agency.
Position at MDF
The Mule Deer Foundation is seeking a director of business development.
Fiocchi hires Murski group
Fiocchi Ammunition partnered with MurskiBreeding Sales as a representative group for Fiocchi and Baschieri & Pellagri products.
New
head at Ruger
Sturm, Ruger & Company named Todd W. Seyfert as its new president and chief executive officer.
3 lbs. catfish fillets
2 cups fine cornmeal
1 cup flour
2 tbsps. Cajun seasoning
2 cups buttermilk
2 cups Buffalo wing sauce
Prepared creamy cole slaw
4 ounces blue cheese crumbles
Buns
1 qt. peanut oil for frying
Heat the oil to 350 degrees. While the oil heats, blend the cornmeal, flour, and Cajun seasoning in a shallow dish. Dip the fillets in buttermilk, then dredge in the cornmeal blend. Move the dredged fillets from the cornmeal to a wire
rack to rest while you dredge the remaining fillets. Deep fry the catfish in batches, taking care not to overcrowd the pan. Fry the fish for 5-7 minutes, or until the cornmeal coating is golden brown and the fish is cooked through and flaky. Transfer each batch to a wire rack while the remaining catfish cooks. Pour 2 cups of Buffalo wing sauce into a shallow dish. Dip the fried catfish into the sauce, letting the excess drip back into the dish before transferring the fillets to a bun.
Top the dipped catfish with a scoop of creamy coleslaw and a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles.
—Tennessee WRA
Cut 2–3 pounds of duck or goose into 1-inch pieces, rinse as described and marinate in two changes of red wine in the refrigerator for two days.
6 slices bacon, chopped
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 beef bouillon cubes
3 cups water
2 cups red wine
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
2 tsps. lemon juice
3 tsps. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. thyme
2 bay leaves
1 large onion, chopped
6 carrots
1 15-oz. can sweet corn, drained
2 15-oz. cans green beans, drained
6 medium potatoes cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup chopped celery
Remove goose or duck pieces from wine and let drain in a colander. Place meat and flour, seasoned with salt and pepper to taste, in a covered container. Shake container to coat meat. Cook bacon in large, heavy pot over medium-high until brown. Add flour-coated meat to pot and brown. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add bouillon cubes, 3 cups of water, wine, tomato sauce, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, thyme and bay leaves. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Chop onion and celery and cut carrots and potatoes into bite-sized pieces. Add to stew along with corn and green beans. Simmer for 1 hour. Mix 2 tablespoons flour with 1/2 cup water. Stir into stew. Cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove bay leaves.
—Missouri Dept. of Conservation
Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
A hunter’s dream
Continued from page 1
“Are they seeing us,” Jason Douglas asked.
“Did we use too many de coys,” Eric Courtney chimed in.
“Should we have used no de coys,” asked Camden Bowles.
No one knows whether any changes would have mattered.
That afternoon, as the snow continued to fall, more work began. Using a Sherp, a massive all-terrain vehicle with giant tires designed to work in Sibe ria under extreme conditions, ice was cleared in the two bod ies of water where the hunt ers planned to sit the next day. Then, Ice Eaters, operated by an element and an underwater fan to move the water, were placed and generators fired to help keep the water open overnight. With temperatures not far below freezing, they thought the plan would work.
One group sat in layout blinds, actually chair blinds, against the pond bank and let them get covered with snow overnight. At first light, they placed decoys, including “swimmers,” and carefully crawled in to avoid displacing too much snow.
Again, the mallards and pintail, along with green-winged teal, flew in impressive numbers. Getting them to commit to the spread and open water, though, was again a challenge.
More questions dominated the conversation.
“I think they are seeing us, should we cover ourselves in snow,” one hunter asked.
Another dashed back to the lodge and returned with white bed sheets, and the hunters covered up. A few more birds committed, but most avoided the perfect spot.
“They were piled in here by the hundreds,” Courtney said.
“There was no ice yesterday,” Douglas replied.
The hunt was good, but not as great as hoped. The five hunters returned with 16 ducks, about half being greenheads and one pintail, and the rest teal.
Another group couldn’t use the lack of cover as an excuse. They were in a pit blind and totally hidden. Still, the results were similar with near identical totals.
“The pintail did what pintail do,” Courtney said. “They circled and circled some more. Then they left.”
The group was thrilled about the snow, though, and especially by the kids, who enjoyed throwing and eating snowballs, sledding and coming in with soaking wet feet, hands and clothing.
“It was beautiful,” Brent Courtney said. “We have never seen snow like this up here.”
A group of hunters used old, white bed sheets to help conceal them from ducks. Photo from Jason Douglas.
NEVADA
Record $1.3 million bid for sheep permit
At the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Sheep Show, held in Reno, a New Mexico Conservation Permit for a Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep set the record for the highest amount ever paid for a Conservation Permit.
The bighorn permit sold for a record $1.3 million.
Of the total, 90 percent is directed to New Mexico Game & Fish Department for support of their bighorn sheep restoration programs. They can then match that total up to 3:1 with Pittman-Robertson Act funds. Ten percent is retained by WSF to be used to fund grants in aid to wild sheep programs in New Mexico and throughout the West.
deer harvest for the season of 276,262. Of the deer harvested, 129,252 were antlered bucks, 23,842 were button bucks, and 123,168 were does.
This year’s harvest total was down 15 percent from last year’s record total of 326,448 and was 8 percent below the five-year average.
A bumper acorn crop was a reason for the reduced harvest, according to MDC.
FLORIDA
Banning winter fishing
An amendment to the Fishery Management Plan by NOAA Fisheries would prohibit bottomfishing for 55 species, including red snapper, off much of the Florida Atlantic coast.
The American Sportfishing Association claimed the closure is unnecessary given the progress in rebuilding red snapper.
“These philanthropic individuals fund cancer research, research to find cures to diseases, feed the less fortunate and many other worthy causes,” said WSF CEO Gray N. Thornton. “Fortunately for wildlife, some individuals are equally philanthropic to wild sheep restoration and conservation.”
—Staff report
ALABAMA
No more co-anglers in Bassmaster Opens
B.A.S.S. announced that at Bassmaster Opens, the events would no longer have co-anglers, or nonboaters, on the back of the boats.
The popular use of forward facing sonar and the propensity of anglers to engage in offshore fishing, targeting specific fish, is thought to be one of the reasons.
Co-anglers will still be able to participate in B.A.S.S. Nation qualifiers.
MISSOURI
Deer harvest down
—Staff report
During the proposed closures, all recreational hook-and-line fishing (including trolling) would be prohibited from December–February each year in federal waters from Cape Canaveral to the Florida/Georgia border. The 55 species to be closed include snappers, groupers, jacks, sea basses, porgies, triggerfish, as well as hogfish, tilefishes and grunts.
NOAA Fisheries said the proposed bottomfishing closure is projected to yield a recreational harvest season for Atlantic red snapper of 5-9 days per year, up from a single day in 2024 and two days in 2023.
NEW JERSEY
State-record bowfin
Frank Hubert caught the new state record bowfin in Mantua Creek on Dec. 17, 2024. The fish weighed 12 pounds, 10 ounces, replacing Pierce Dopkin’s 11-pound, 8.5-ounce record from 2017, which was caught in the same creek.
Hubert was casting from a kayak, using a Dragon Destroyer when the fish hit.
Missouri’s 2024-2025 deer-hunting season ended Jan. 15 with the Missouri Department of Conservation reporting a preliminary total
New introductions
Weatherby introduced a new version of its Element shogun, the Element II SemiAuto Shotgun. The Element II promises to provide the same reliability as the original top-selling Element shotgun while elevating the shooting experience with new and upgraded features, all while maintaining affordability.
Key features include the Inertia Reloading System with a tool-less disassembly of the inertia recoil spring; an oversized slammer button and charging handle; a Competition Cut Receiver for faster and easier reloading; adjustable shot shims; and the Crio Plus Choke System with three included chokes, a choke wrench and carrying case. The shotgun line comes in a variety of finishes.
The Element II line is available in 12- and 20-gauge, in four models, Synthetic, Tungsten, Upland and Waterfowl.
—NJDEP
Weatherby Element II Semi-Auto Shotgun
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT
SABINE LAKE: 55 degrees. Black drum and redfish are good on live shrimp on a Carolina rig. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics.
BOLIVAR: 60 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Sand trout, black drum, redfish, and sheepshead are fair on live and dead shrimp. Flounder are fair on scented soft plastics and live mullet.
TRINITY BAY: 52 degrees. Redfish are good on scented soft plastics. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Black drum are good on live and dead shrimp.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: 51 degrees. Oversized black drum are fair on halved crab. Bull redfish are fair on halved crab and cut mullet. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits.
GALVESTON BAY: 52 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics. Redfish are fair on live shrimp.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 52 degrees. Black drum and redfish are fair on live shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics.
TEXAS CITY: 52 degrees. Black drum, sheepshead and redfish are fair on live shrimp. Bull redfish are fair on halved crab and cut mullet. Speckled trout are slow.
FREEPORT: 50 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics. Black drum are fair on shrimp.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 44 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits. Floun-
der are fair on soft plastics.
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 44 degrees. Redfish are fair on soft plastics and shrimp. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and suspending twitch baits.
PORT O’CONNOR: 55 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp. Redfish are fair on blue crab and Spanish sardines. Black drum are fair on dead shrimp.
SAN ANTONIO BAY: 52 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on live shrimp. Sheepshead are good on dead shrimp.
ROCKPORT: 55 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish are good on shrimp and cut mullet. Black drum are good on live and dead shrimp.
REDFISH BAY: 55 degrees. Redfish and black drum are good on dead shrimp.
PORT ARANSAS: 55 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp and cut mullet. Speckled trout are good on shrimp. Black drum are fair on shrimp.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 55 degrees. Redfish and black drum are good on dead shrimp.
BAFFIN BAY: 55 degrees. Speckled trout are good on suspending twitch baits and soft plastics. Redfish are fair on soft plastics.
PORT MANSFIELD: 55 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics. Redfish are fair on soft plastics and spoons.
SOUTH PADRE: 53 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp. Redfish are fair on cut mullet. Mangrove snapper are fair on live shrimp.
—TPWD
Bass deeper
Continued from page 8
magnum sized swimbaits are out there looking for one bite from a trophy fish.”
Guide Ander Meine said slow presentations have been the ticket for staying hooked up consistently on Lake Buchanan.
“Winter patterns have set in and the fish are staging in relatively deep water,” Meine said. “I’ve been catching most of my fish in about 25 to 30 feet of water, but there are definitely some fish out deeper, too.”
Soft plastics on Carolina rigs and drop shots have been working well. Meine and his anglers have been catching bass from 2 to 4 pounds, with a handful pushing 8 pounds.
“Points and ledges have been holding the best concentrations of bass,” Meine said. “You have to cover some water to find them, but once you get bit, you can usually catch several in the same area.”
DSC in Atlanta
people, including exhibitors, were there.
“Inside the hall, you had no idea you were in Atlanta — it felt like you were at any other DSC convention,” said Lone Star Outdoor News founder David J. Sams, who had a booth at the show. “It was amazing how friendly the security guards and convention hall staff were.”
For 19 years, LSON staff and some volunteers stuffed bags with the DSC Show Program produced by LSON for all attendees at the convention.
“For the first time in 19 years, we didn’t have to stuff bags ourselves,” Sams said. “A team of hall staff handled it all.”
Despite reduced crowds, exhibitors expressed their willingness to continue to support the convention, and some said the show went well for them.
“There still were plenty of new people to talk to, as long as you stood up and engaged with them,” said Johnny Vivier of Wintershoek Safaris. “We got plenty of new leads and booked trips.”
DSC’s new CEO, Rob McKenna, hadn’t officially started yet, but was extra visible on the floor and on stage at the auctions, providing an excellent stage presence.
“His leadership qualities were apparent, and I look forward to seeing him lead DSC into the future,” Sams said.
The nightly dinners and auctions went off without a hitch, with good attendance and near-expected amounts raised for conservation from the world-class trips, hunts, art and firearms offered at auction.
Exhibitors, including Hans de Klerk, of De Klerk Safaris, also appreciated the Big Bull Lounge, begun by Sams and ex-DSC president Craig Nyhus, in 2016 when the two were convention chairs, as a place where outfitters can meet after the show, enjoy drinks and catch up with one another.
DATEBOOK
JANUARY 25
MULE DEER FOUNDATION
Kerrville Banquet
Hill Country Youth Event Center (432) 290-4563
muledeer.org
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Big Thicket Dinner
Cleveland Civic Center (713) 826-7127
ducks.org
JANUARY 31
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION
Victoria Banquet
Victoria Community Center (361) 920-2440 rmef.org
FEBRUARY 1
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
Houston Banquet
Houston Distributing Company (713) 515-7796 nwtf.org
DELTA WATERFOWL
Texas Hunting Retriever Banquet
Hilton Garden Inn, Lewisville (214) 213-0124 deltawaterfowl.org
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Mexia Dinner
The Cowboy Club (254) 625-1111 ducks.org
FEBRUARY 7
NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
Smith County Banquet
The Boulders at Lake Tyler (903) 724-1853 nwtf.org
FEBRUARY 8-9
TEXAS GUN & KNIFE SHOWS
Fredericksburg Fairgrounds (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
FEBRUARY 13-16
EXOTIC WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION
Annual Membership Meeting
Hyatt Regency Hill Country San Antonio (830) 315-7761 myewa.org
FEBRUARY 13
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Huntsville Banquet
Walker County Fairgrounds (936) 661-4842 ducks.org
FEBRUARY 15
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION
Hill Country Banquet
Georgetown Community Center (512) 914-4007 rmef.org
FEBRUARY 20
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Hurricane Creek Banquet River Road Venue, Anna (214) 600-3103 ducks.org
FEBRUARY 21
DELTA WATERFOWL Coastal Prairie Banquet Beneath the Oak, Midfield (972) 921-1855 deltawaterfowl.org
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4,900-ACRE STONEWALL COUNTY HUNTING LEASE: Trophy whitetail deer, dove, hogs. On historic JD Patterson Ranch in northwest TX with 20+ years in TPWD management program. Also MLD participant. $12 per acre. Low fence. One-year provisional lease. Option to extend based on responsible stewardship of native wildlife/habitats. ButchN@Caprock-Spur.com (806) 543-4215
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