Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
October 9, 2020
Researchers say 3X more red snapper
Volume 17, Issue 4
A moonlit archery opener
Congress funded a two-year study to determine the number of red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Preliminary study provides surprising estimates Lone Star Outdoor News On Oct. 1, the preliminary results of what has been called “The Great Red Snapper Count” were presented to congress, and as expected by many, revealed that there are far more red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico than the current system of federal stock assessments estimates. Led by the Harte Research Institute, the “Great Red Snapper Count” was funded by a $10 million congressional appropriation championed by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus member Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) that enlisted multiple scientists across more than a dozen research institutions to take a closer look at red snapper abundance in the Gulf of Mexico. Over the course of two years, using new technologies and by sampling previously unsampled areas, the preliminary results indicate the population is likely up to three-times larger than currently estimated.
Dustin Masters arrowed this buck during the first few seconds of legal shooting light on opening day in Blanco County. Photo from Dustin Masters.
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News On the opening morning of the deer archery season, bowhunters were able to slip into their stands during the predawn hours without using a flashlight or head lamp. That’s because it was almost like daylight as a bright, full moon lit up the darkness.
The moon phase kept deer bedded down during the daylight hours in certain locations, while it didn’t seem to affect them too much in other places. Some archers managed to find themselves in the right place at the right time, while others were left frustrated as they encountered little to no activity. Dustin Masters started his
season on a lease in Blanco County, where luck was definitely on his side. He arrowed a 14-inch, 8-point buck during the first few seconds of legal shooting time. “I had been watching this deer since last season, and over the summertime, he had become the bully of the area in which he regularly fed,” Mas-
ters explained. “He ruled the feed pen, and would constantly run off other bucks that tried to visit the feeders.” Masters said the deer had been patterning around his bow blind on a daily basis and, on the days leading up to the opener, he had been showing up well before daylight. “I decided to slip into the
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By Nate Skinner
Dove continue to move across Texas as cooler fall weather is beginning to set in. Areas along the southern portion of Texas are heating up, while Central and North Zone hunters are seeing local birds leave and new ones arrive. The best shoots are taking place over crops. Hunting and fishing guide Capt.
Aaron Cisneros said sunflower fields in the Brownsville area are swarming with whitewings. “We are absolutely loaded up with white-winged dove, and afternoon hunts have been pretty epic,” he said. “The birds are flying in large groups, low over the sunflower stalks.” Houston resident Brandon Skinner traveled south to the Dilley area to hunt with Dilley Dove. Skinner said the sesame, milo, Please turn to page 6
CONTENTS
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For Lone Star Outdoor News
Hunters pursuing dove after opening weekend are enjoying good shoots in many areas, although mourning dove have moved out of some areas and into others. Photo by Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12
Rejected trophies (P. 4)
Targeting silver kings (P. 8)
Options for selling, converting mounts.
Tarpon popular at South Padre.
Cost of dove ammo (P. 5)
Texoma smallmouth (P. 8)
Increase is less than other gear.
Anglers finding the fish with lures.
Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 19 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 22
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Cold fronts move dove out, in
