Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
February 12, 2016
Volume 12, Issue 12
The model taxidermist From fashion shows to deer heads By Jillian Mock
For Lone Star Outdoor News If you thought the world of fashion models and taxidermists do not mix, think again. Meet Kristen Ottea, a 24-year-old taxidermist who works full-time in her father’s shop, Ottea Taxidermy, in San Antonio. She also spent nine years modeling in fashion shows from New York to Los Angeles to Singapore. While she still models parttime around Texas, taxidermy is Kristen’s true passion. “I love it, it’s a very interesting art,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know what goes into it.” Kristen comes by the taxidermy gene very naturally. Her father, Mike Ottea, opened the shop 40 years ago and has been attracting loyal customers ever since. “This was my daycare,” Kristen said. “I Please turn to page 15
RUNWAYS AND SHOP FLOOR: After modeling across the world, Kristen Ottea takes her art to another level, following in her father’s footsteps as a taxidermist in San Antonio. An avid hunter and angler, she didn’t like missing the Texas hunting seasons while traveling. Photos by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
CONTENTS
Fairfield Lake bass make a comeback
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 16 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 19 Crossword . . . . . . . . . Page 24 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 25
Proposed changes to fishing regs
By Craig Nyhus
Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 26
Lone Star Outdoor News
Fisheries staff with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are considering proposals to adjust bass and catfish fishing regulations in specific waters and areas, move saugeye under walleye harvest regulations and clarify length limits on black drum and amberjack and rules prohibiting snagging of fish with pole-and-line. The proposed changes to the 2016-17 Statewide Recreational and Commercial Fishing regulations include: Modify harvest regulations for largemouth bass on Lake Naconiche (Nacogdoches County) from an 18inch minimum length limit to a 16-inch maximum. Modify harvest regulations for smallmouth bass on Lake Meredith (Hutchinson, Moore, and Potter counties) from a 12- to 15-inch slot and 3 per day bag to a 14-inch minimum length limit and 5 per day bag. Modify harvest regulations for channel and blue catfish bass on Lake Tawakoni (Hunt, Raines, and
A massive fish kill at Fairfield Lake in 2010 caused many anglers to think fishing on the lake was a thing of the past. No one told the bass, though. For Collyn Eastham of Red Oak, it may be his favorite lake this winter. “I fish a lot NOT GONE OR FORGOTof lakes and TEN: Fairfield Lake try to fish four in Freestone County or five days suffered a massive per week,” fish kill in 2010, and Eastham said. most of the redfish for “At Fairfield, which the lake gained fame are gone. The it’s the most bass, though, are fun I’ve had plump and healthy in a long time. this year. Photo by I’m catching Collyn Eastham. 15 to 25 fish Please turn to page 20
INSIDE
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HUNTING
Please turn to page 11
Eating aoudads
Pilot killed
Barbary sheep make a great trophy, but iffy table fare. Page 4
Helicopter pilot shot by poachers in Tanzania. Page 7
FISHING
White bass run
Don’t forget the reds
Sandies running on Nueces, Angelina rivers; other anglers waiting. Page 8
Midcoast redfish bite picking up. Page 8