Decreases in air and water temperatures, however slight they seem, have prompted larger catfish to stage in shallower depths. Traditional holes and structures out in deeper water continue to hold plenty of smaller, eating-sized cats.
On Lake Tawakoni, Tony Pennebaker said the blue catfish bite has been pretty steady with the recent gradual decrease in temperatures.
“I’m targeting eating-sized fish, but we are still catching some fish pushing 30 to 35 pounds on every trip,” Pennebaker said. “A lot of our keeper fish have been in the 8to 15-pound range.”
The blue cats have been staging in fairly shallow water that is 10 feet deep or less. Most of the fish have been hanging around standing timber near
Archery season off and running
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
The archery season for whitetailed deer commenced Sept. 28, and bow hunters took to their stands with hopes of scoring early season success. Some hunters were in the right place at the right time, and most reported the animals’ body condition appeared to be in great shape.
In most areas, morning temper-
atures were mild and comfortable on opening weekend; however, it was a scorcher during the afternoons. Some hunters encountered little to no deer activity with the warm temperatures and lush pasture conditions that provided an abundance of food sources. Others found themselves in the right place at the right time and were able to let an arrow fly.
Colten Walla harvested a mature 10-point buck on his in-law’s
property in Montgomery County on opening morning. Walla said he had been watching the deer for two years on trail cameras, and that the buck came into his setup following a doe.
“He came in pushing a doe around right at legal shooting light,” Walla said. “He was pretty spooky and kept moving in and out of bow range. I actually drew my bow three different times before I was able to get a shot off.”
Fun in schools
Sand trout, Spanish mackerel hitting
By Tony Vindell one Star outdoor newS
Bay fishing out of South Padre Island was as good as it gets.
For head boat operators, the daily 4-hour trips for whiting and sand trout provided plenty of fish, and added new culprits caught off the jetties in this part of the Texas Gulf Coast.
Spanish mackerel readily consumed freshly caught shrimp. During several days as the
Walla said he was finally able to stop the buck at about 27 yards.
“He was slightly quartering away and I knew this was my chance,” Walla said. “I took the shot, and then watched him run and crash into the brush about 70 yards away from where my arrow hit him right behind his shoulder.”
Walla said all of the deer he encountered on opening weekend in Montgomery County seemed
calendar approached October, dozens of the feisty silvery-colored fish were caught, although the number of sand trout surpassed their counterparts by almost 10 to 1.
“We caught some 450 fish in one trip,” said deckhand Cesar Garza, referring to the 20plus anglers on the Hard Bottom head boat. “It was a great day of fishing.”
Days later, another 20-plus men and women caught more than 400 fish, and the trip stopped after just 3 hours of fishing.
There were mackerel, sand trout and some whiting.
Was it a normal fishing day or a special day?
Anglers, such as Roberto Garcia, of
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
FISHING
Pronghorn surprise (P 4) Hartley County numbers down.
Lab Macy makes HOF (P 4) Dog owners’ decades-long journey.
Night bass under lights (P 8)
Lights bring in baitfish, bass closeby. Fly-fishing tripletail (P 8)
Found near crab pot bouys, floating debris.
Volume 21, Issue 4
Brian King caught this 43-pound flathead catfish on Sam Rayburn Reservoir on a live bream. Photo by Blake Oestreich.
Jordan Walker harvested his first whitetail with a bow on a family property in Angelina County. The buck has 152 5/8 inches of antler. Photo from Jordan Walker.
Spanish mackerel, sand trout and whiting are active in South Padre Island jetties and bays. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
FROM WORK TO PLAY
WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
Survey results show fair to good prospects
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
Roadside survey results suggest blue quail hunters should expect a similar season to last year, which was fairly successful for some.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department index uses randomly selected, 20-mile roadside survey lines to determine annual quail population trends by ecological region.
Scaled quail
Coming off a strong showing in 2023, scaled quail populations cooled down this year as the state’s stronghold regions struggled for timely and sufficient rainfall. This led to delayed nesting attempts in most counties
HUNTING
Exciting news for quail hunters Opening day Panhandle pronghorn
and despite a mid-season push, birds were already behind come late summer. On the positive side, biologists reported good carryover from last year and were still observing pairs into early September.
TPWD said while we likely didn’t build off back-to-back strong years, we also didn’t lose significant ground.
The numbers were best in the Trans-Pecos, with numbers hold-
ing steady for a second year. Nest ing reports picked up as summer got underway, with birds still ob served in pairs through August, giving hope for a late season push.
In the Edwards Plateau, num bers were up slightly from last year.
In the southern Panhandle, blue quail numbers were up, although reduced population numbers in past years have
By Miguel Morales tar outdoor newS
Ty Elliott, of Liberty Hill, was invited on a pronghorn hunt by Dwayne Jones for the season opener Sept. 28. Jones had a large Panhandle lease in Hartley County, and the plan was to scout the day before the opener and develop a game plan for the week of the hunt.
At 350,000 acres, the vast lease has rugged terrain, home to aoudad, mule deer, pronghorn, and the occasional elk on the western side of the property.
On Friday, Sept. 27, after driving around for a few hours, Jones and his fellow lease mates made the comment that pronghorn numbers were incredibly low this year. Considering the size of the property, they were only allocated eight tags, and the whole trip throughout the property only roughly 200 pronghorn were seen.
The men located a few good bucks and marked their locations, but at last light Elliott and Jones laid eyes upon a buck with four does, and the buck was bigger than anything they’d seen all day. The location was near some farmland with a pivot, so they marked his location and headed back to the house with a game plan for the morning.
In the morning, the friends loaded the side-by-side before setting out for the day. They drove up to a hill near where they saw the buck, set up the spotting scope and began glassing.
South Zone dove still good Dog reaches pinnacle of hunting tests
Junek’s first lab was Cody.
hunted in the early 1990s
the world-famous Crosstim-
Comanche County. Cody was a sweet black lab, but with one issue, especially at a duck lease.
Cody didn’t like to swim.
The
dog, a
was
The journey, though, lasted for decades.
Hunters waiting for more birds to arrive
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
South Zone dove hunters continue to enjoy wingshooting action over tanks, harvested crop fields and fields with native crops or seed-bearing weeds. But they are waiting for and counting on more birds to arrive.
The birds are still concentrated in some areas, but more scattered in others. There is plenty of feed available, and most hunters are hoping more birds will migrate farther south to provide increased action.
Jarrett and Justin Talley hunted dove over a tank at a family friend’s property in Wilson County recently. They found the mourning dove to be somewhat scattered and spread out compared to a few weeks earlier. Both agreed they hadn’t seen any signs of a significant influx of new birds, though.
Clayton Roth of Dilley Dove based out of the Dilley area, said the birds have remained fairly consistent since the South Zone
opened,”
or
By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS
Sidney Junek’s dog, Macy, passed her Master National Hunter course for the third time, making the dog he owns with his wife, Deb, an inductee into the AKC Master National Hall of Fame.
Cody
at
bers Hunt Club in
next
yellow lab named Brandy,
a better duck hunter, although she became quite excited when ducks landed
opener.
ing mostly local
resident mourning dove since the season
Roth said. “We are lucky to have plenty of ground and fields to hunt. Some fields have played out, while others are still
Blue quail numbers held steady this year, according to survey results. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
After scouting a good buck the afternoon before, Ty Elliott, left, took his first pronghorn in the Panhandle on opening day with guide Dwayne Jones. Photo from Ty Elliott.
Macy passed her third AKC Master National test in Paducah, Kentucky, making her a hall of fame dog. Photo from Sidney Junek.
Jarrett Talley helps his son, Houston, as they wait for another flight of mourning dove during an afternoon hunt. Photo by Nate Skinner.
Jerry Jones to receive Lifetime Sportsman Award
Dallas Cowboys Owner, President and General Manager Jerry Jones will receive the 2025 T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award from Park Cities Quail Coalition on March 6, 2025, at Armstrong Fieldhouse on the SMU Campus.
Jones has owned the Cowboys since 1989. He has built it into an internationally recognized brand and one of history’s most successful, popular and valuable sports franchises. He is one of only 15 owners to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and one of just three current owners to guide their franchises to at least three Super Bowl titles.
Jones’ vision and innovation in sports marketing, promotion, broadcasting, team operations and the development of AT&T Stadium and The Star have set the standard for the NFL and the broader sports landscape.
Jones was born in Los Angeles, California, and moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas. After playing running back at North Little Rock High School, Jones attended the University of Arkansas, co-captaining the 1964 national championship football team. He then joined the family’s insurance business, serving as an executive vice president. Tapping his entrepreneurial spirit, Jones went on to start multiple businesses, most notably an oil and gas exploration business in Arkansas. All of this was prior to fulfilling his true dream of purchasing the Cowboys.
While football is Jones’ passion, he is an equally passionate lifelong duck and bird hunter and outdoorsman, something he has passed down to his children and grandchildren. Jones is known for inviting guests to the King Ranch to hunt quail or to his
Red Hill Lodge in Stuttgart, Arkansas, to hunt ducks. These guests have included family, close friends, including T. Boone Pickens, in addition to other wellknown hunters, business associates and members of the extended Cowboys family.
Jones also has donated experiences to avid hunters helping create lasting memories while supporting important causes. These shared experiences and a mutual love of hunting and the outdoors have fostered many long-term personal and business relationships. For Park Cities Quail Coalition, Jones has generously donated quail hunts at their lease on the King Ranch and duck hunts at the Red Hill Lodge to PCQ’s Live Auction for the past 9 years. The sales of these trips at their dinner and auction have raised more than $1 million.
“I have a deep passion for quail and duck hunting and the outdoors, something I have taken great satisfaction in sharing with my family and friends over the years,” Jones said. “I am honored to be receiving this award and look forward to many more Park Cities Quail Coalition dinners and events where I can continue to share my passion and help create it in others. It’s especially gratifying to be the recipient of an award named for my good friend and longtime hunting buddy, Boone Pickens. Few people love hunting and the outdoors, and are as committed to conservation, as Boone was.”
Lone Star outdoor newS
Jerry Jones
Adaptable, accurate and reliable with the Gen II
The Ruger American Rifle Generation II is designed with the modern hunter in mind, offering a combination of accuracy, durability, and versatility in the field. Whether you’re an experienced hunter or a beginner, this rifle is built to perform in a variety of conditions, making it a reliable companion for any hunting expedition.
One of the standout features of the Ruger American Rifle Gen II is its rugged and ergonomic synthetic stock. This lightweight design ensures that you can carry the rifle comfortably through rough terrain without adding unnecessary bulk. The splatter paint stock is not only durable, but offers a secure grip, which is essential when you’re out in unpredictable weather or challenging environments. The rifle’s lightweight construction allows for easy handling and control, even during long days in the field.
Accuracy is a priority for any hunter, and the Gen II delivers on that front. Equipped with Ruger’s Power Bedding system, the rifle provides a solid bedding for the action and barrel, ensuring repeatable accuracy shot after shot. The cold hammer-forged barrel is precision-machined, resulting in tighter groupings and more reliable performance at various ranges.
Whether you’re aiming at long-distance targets or making a quick shot at close range, this rifle is built to meet the demands of seri-
ous hunters.
The Ruger Marksman adjustable trigger is another highlight of the American Rifle Gen II. This feature allows for a customizable trigger pull, ranging from 3-5 pounds, enabling you to fine-tune the trigger for optimal control. A crisp, clean break is crucial when taking that perfect shot, and the Gen II’s adjustable trigger ensures consistent performance. Coupled with the rifle’s smooth bolt-action system, hunters can expect fast follow-up shots and minimal disruption in the field.
Versatility is a core strength of the Ruger American Rifle Gen II. It’s available in a variety of calibers, making it suitable for hunting everything from small game to larger species like deer and elk.
Durability is key in any hunting rifle, and the Gen II is built to last. The rifle features a professionally applied Cerakote coating on the barrel, muzzle brake, receiver and bolt handle for corrosion resistance, ensuring it can withstand harsh weather conditions. Its straightforward takedown design makes cleaning and maintenance easy, so you can keep your rifle in top condition after each hunt.
For hunters seeking a reliable, accurate, and adaptable rifle, the Ruger American Rifle Gen II is an excellent choice, offering performance when it matters most.
New season begins
Continued from page 1
to be in great shape as a result of premium pasture conditions from spring and summer rains.
In Angelina County, Jordan Walker was able to harvest his first whitetail with a bow on opening weekend. He was hunting a low fence, family piece of property and the mature, 8-point buck scored 152 5/8 inches.
“We had been watching this buck all summer and really didn’t think he was going to be a 150-class deer,” Walker said. “We thought he would be in the 130- to 140-inch range, but when I saw him in person, I realized he was much bigger.”
Watching from his treestand while some younger bucks fed below him, the 8-pointer walked out from the tree line in front of him. The deer came in and pushed the other two younger bucks away, and quickly turned broadside.
“It was a perfect, textbook scenario,” Walker said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better shot opportunity, especially for my first deer with a bow. I let an arrow fly and watched him go down about 40 yards away. I called my father-in-law and brother-in-law, and the celebration began.”
Zach Gage took an old 7-point buck with his bow in Knox County on a low fence lease property on opening weekend. The wide buck’s antlers had an inside spread of more than 20 inches, and it scored 130 2/8.
“I had been watching the buck all summer, and he really just caught my eye,” Gage said. “You don’t see 7-point bucks like that very often, and I thought he was unique. He was patterning in the spot where I shot him, and was showing up to the feeder almost every morning in the weeks leading up to the season.”
Gage said the deer seemed to be the bully in that area. The buck showed up right at first light to feed, before giving him a 15-yard shot.
“The deer in Knox County are looking really good this year,” Gage said. “I believe we had record-setting rains, and this is definitely reflected in the number of fawns we are seeing. It’s the best fawn crop that I’ve ever seen in the 7 years that I’ve been hunting this lease property.”
Many bow hunters chose to only hunt during the morning hours and avoided the steamy conditions during the afternoons and evenings. Most who hunted evenings felt the bucks they were after were primarily moving during the overnight hours.
Zach Gage arrowed this wide 7-point buck in Knox County. Photo from Zach Gage. ADVERTISEMENT
The new Ruger American Rifle Gen II combines accuracy with new features that protect the rifle from the elements and make it easier to handle. Photo from Ruger.
OUR MISSION
DSC’s
OUR VISION
The
FISHING
Tripletail on the fly Bass under the lights
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
Anglers who have fished the lights off piers or crappie off lighted docks or crappie houses know that lighted areas hold fish.
The practice is less common with bass anglers, but some target bass staging nearby to ambush prey in and around the lights.
Fall through spring are a prime time to pursue bass under lights. Bass start to hunt for shad and other faster-moving prey, and bait schools up in the lights
“There are a couple of different zones, there’s the couch where they’re not eating and then there’s the kitchen,” said Collin Edwards, of Lake Conroe Fishing Adventures. “The lights are the kitchen.”
Areas to target when you come up to a dock light are the dockside, the deeper lakeside, and the inside and outside edge of the light.
“Fish them as you would structure,” Edwards said, “And keep back as far as you can. Even when you don’t see them, they are there, either deep or just on the edge.”
When the lights shine from the dock to the water, Edwards favorite lures when fishing lights have chartreuse in them, and include Texas rigs, crankbaits and jerkbaits. When the light shines from in the water, he prefers a sexy shad or citrus shad color combination.
“If the bite begins to slow down then the bass have moved out of the light,” Edwards said. “The fishing isn’t done there, though. Give the bass a brief break and they will start to crash baits in small packs. Once the action has cooled off completely then it is time to move to the next light.”
Come springtime when the water warms, he chooses larger, darker-colored baits.
“Slow down,” Edwards said. “Big 10-inch ribbon tail worms, Texas rigs, and lizards or creatures dragged on the edges will still produce bass. This time of year, especially as bass are getting ready for winter, the bass tend to be chunky and healthy.
“I have caught some of the biggest bass of my life off of dock lights,” Edwards said.
By Nate Skinner one Star outdoor newS
Capt. Gibson McGuire of Fly Fish Rockport has been chasing tripletail with his fly angers across the Aransas Bay Complex when ideal conditions have prevailed.
The guide said the best action has occurred on post frontal, high pressure days when the wind has started out light out of the north, before making the switch to a southerly direction late in the day.
“For some reason, we see a lot of tripletail on these dead calm, sunny days,” McGuire said. “Obviously it’s much easier to spot fish along the surface under these conditions in general, but I feel like these fish tend to swim or float along the surface more often when winds are calm and surface chop is at a minimum.”
Most of the tripletail McGuire has been finding have been holding tight to crab pot buoys and other flotsam or floating debris in 5-10 feet of water.
“You really just have to go hunting for these fish,” he said. “I’ve just been cruising at about 25 mph on plane about 15 feet or so off the buoys, covering water and scanning the surface around them. I don’t even stop unless we spot a fish along the surface. You may run miles of water containing buoys before you find one.”
According to McGuire, the most productive sets of buoys are those that seem to have been out in the water for a long time. He’s finding more tripletail near buoys that have moss or barnacles growing on them, or just look like they’ve been out in the water awhile. Brand new looking buoys haven’t had many fish around them.
“Once we spot a fish, I’ve been easing up within casting distance of the fish, and then having my anglers present slow-sinking flies to them,” McGuire said. “Sometimes they are aggressive and strike the
Please turn to page 19
Changes at Brownsville Ship Channel
By Tony Vindell For Lone Star outdoor newS
The 17-mile Brownville Ship Channel that stretches from the tip of the South Padre Island/ Boca Chica jetties to the Turning Basin has been one of South Texas’ best fishing spots.
Snook, sheepshead and jack crevalle are prime targets at certain times of the year. Speckled trout are known to hang behind old Navy ships being or waiting to be disassembled. Mangrove snapper, black and red drum also inhabit the area and can be caught off the sandbanks accessed from Texas Highway 48.
But don’t get too close to the structures, because security guards nearby are known to tell anglers to keep their distance.
Fishing off the ship channel used to be a popular destination for hundreds of people through the years, but that came to a stop after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Access to the ship channel via the main entrance at Highway 48 and Farm to Market 511 became off-limits to the public and only people and vehicles doing business at the port are now allowed.
Gone are the stories of anglers catching the big one from some of the banks, but fishing continues from boats, as drifting is the norm.
The ship channel current depth stands at 42 feet, but it’s going through a multi-million dollar dredging project to deepen the channel to 52 feet.
Will that impact fishing in the years ahead?
Probably so, assert some anglers and fishing guides.
In addition, a multi-billion dollar terminal will be built which will change the topography in the area. Some 10 years
from now, more than mammoth-sized tankers will transport liquefied natural gas from the ship channel to Europe.
For the handful of bait boat owners, that is also another concern as the tankers will disrupt their livelihood.
Carlos Salinas, who owns Brownsville Bait & Tackle, has said they catch bait shrimp during daytime hours as per Texas Parks and Wildlife Department regulations. But once the tankers begin leaving from the channel, catching bait shrimp is going to be impacted in a big way.
He and others in the business, such as Quickstop, in Port Isabel, and Gordon Bait & Tackle, in Brownsville, have been
A client landed this nice largemouth off the lights on a dock, and below, an angler and his son landed this 7 1/4 pound bass. Photos by Colin Edwards.
When ideal conditions exist, fly anglers have been chasing tripletail with Capt. Gibson McGuire across the Aransas Bay Complex. Photo by Gibson McGuire.
A fishing boat cruises by a dredger deepening the ship channel on Oct.7. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Marine conservationist Gary Glick dies
Gary Glick, co-founder of Friends of RGV Reef and Glick Twins, a hunting and sporting goods store in Pharr, died Sept. 9. According to RGV Reef, Glick dedicated his life to building one of the largest artificial nursery reefs in the world, transforming the waters around South Padre Island into a thriving marine ecosystem. His passion and commitment not only enhanced ocean health but also inspired many to follow in his footsteps.
Glick’s vision was more than just constructing reefs; it was about fostering a vibrant and sustainable marine environment for generations to come. His work has set a benchmark for marine conservation.
RGV Reef encompasses 1,650 acres and is the largest artificial reef off the Texas Coast. The reef’s large size is to accommodate the first industrial scale reef fish nursery in the Gulf, creating cradle-to-adult habitat for reef fish, primarily red snapper.
A boat procession is planned for Oct. 12 at Breakaway Cruises, in South Padre Island, followed by lunch at Margaritaville Beach Resort’s back patio.
Celebrating the red drum recovery
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
Sea Center Texas is the largest red drum hatchery in the world, and the three hatcheries along the Texas Gulf Coast have stocked more than 1 billion red drum into Texas bays.
On Sept. 29, Sea Center Texas held its 3rd annual Bull Red Run-a-Palooza, attended by 202 people.
Unfortunately, this year’s run portion of the event was canceled due to an expansion project, as Sea Center is adding a new storage building and additional stock ponds.
The event celebrates the story of Texas red drum. In the 1970s the population was in trouble due to unregulated commercial fishing. In 1981, the redfish bill classified the red drum as a game fish. From 19821996, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and its partners built three hatcheries on the Texas coast, including the Sea Center.
Texas Fish Art Contest open for entries
The Texas division of Wildlife Forever’s 2025 Fish Art Contest is open for entries.
The contest, accepting entries until Feb. 28, is part of an international conservation education program designed to foster youth interest in fish, fisheries and fishing.
“The Fish Art Contest does a tremendous job of exposing students across Texas to the wonders of fish and fisheries resources through the nexus of art,” said Tom Lang, Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center director. “We always look forward to this time of year when we are once again amazed by the outstanding work and artistic interpretations of these young Texans.”
Participants must submit a completed entry form and an original illustration of a wild fish found in Texas. Applicants in grades 4-12 also are required to submit a one-page creative writing piece. The physical artwork must have a landscape orientation between 8x10 and 9x12 inches and be postmarked no later than Feb. 28.
The Texas Fish Art Contest’s new category this year is the Special Species Award, which will showcase a focused species or set of species each year. One winner will be chosen from all entries and spotlighted at the TFFC. Students must correctly label their artwork and be identifiable as the correct focus species, but do not need to submit additional paperwork for consideration.
For the 2024-2025 contest year, the focus species is the Guadalupe bass, the state fish of Texas.
This year’s award honors Shirley Watson and her third-grade class at Decatur Elementary School, which, in 1989, realized Texas had no official state fish. They traveled to Austin and testified in front of lawmakers about why a fish found “only in Texas” was the right fish for the job.
Texas winners are recognized in the Texas Fish Art calendar. Additionally, winners will earn automatic entry to Wildlife Forever’s national contest.
Head boats on the bay
from page 1
Progreso, said it was a day to remember. Between himself and his two buddies, they caught more than 30 fish.
“You know how fishing is,” he said. “Sometimes you catch zero.”
Not this time. A look around the boat showed strings of fish on board as people kept talking about such a great day.
Fishing, however, slowed down Oct. 3-4 because the surf was higher. But fishing picked right back up over the weekend.
The Danny B, an island-based head boat, went bay fishing on Sat., Oct. 5, and anglers brought in a variety of fish, including more than a dozen black drum, plus whiting and plenty of sand trout.
And on Sunday, Oct. 6, the Hard Bottom went back out again, but fishing was mixed. Some anglers said they got skunked, while others had no complaints.
Ruben Ibarra, his son Josiah and others from Pharr caught nearly 30 fish.
“It was fun,” Ibarra said. “We didn’t think we were going to catch that many fish, but we did.”
“Next year we plan to move the run to outside the facility,” Sea Center’s Facility Director Paul Cason said. “Then it won’t be affected by construction or site conditions.”
The Red Drum Run-a-Palooza was started to tell the story of red drum conservation in the state of Texas.
“We realized that it was appropriate to have a red drum event since that’s what started the hatchery,” Cason said.
The Sea Center team and volunteers set up learning stations where kids learned the history of red drum fishing, how to set regulations based on fish populations, and what the red drum larval stage looks like. It ended with fishing the Sea Center stock ponds. Volunteers helped keep all the stockfish and kids safe.
Sea Center Texas is free to the public to tour and is open six days per week. Tours of the hatchery should be scheduled in advance.
“There are events all year long, one of the most popular is the shark celebration,” Cason said. Others include the Oct. 20 Sea Center Spooktacular, Nov. 2 Intro to Fishing Basics and Nov. 9 Special Olympics and Sea Center Texas Fishing Competition.
Lone Star outdoor newS
Continued
Gary Glick
Ronnie Rocha and son, Grayson, landed a bull red drum at the Sea Center Texas during the Bull Red Drum Run-a-Palooza. Photo by Cory Byrnes, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 76 degrees; 0.06’ low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
AMISTAD: Water stained; 86 degrees; 65.58’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on stick baits, flukes, swimbaits and top-water poppers. White bass are good on curly tail grubs, small underspins and hammered nickel spoons.
ARLINGTON: Water stained; 85 degrees; 5.57’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and creature baits.
ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 77 degrees; 6.12’ low. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; 0.59’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs.
AUSTIN: Water stained; 72 degrees; 0.50’ low. Largemouth bass are good on creature baits and craws.
B A STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.36’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and frogs. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on juglines.
BASTROP: Water stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits, shaky heads, jigs and crankbaits.
BELTON: Water stained; 79 degrees; 1.43’ low. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad and punch bait.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 80 degrees; 2.68’ low. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are fair on chatter baits and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad.
BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.68’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and Alabama rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on spinner baits. Catfish are fair on stink bait.
BOIS D’ARC: Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, top-waters, Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
BRAUNIG: Water stained; 89 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Redfish are fair on live bait, shrimp and spoons. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.
BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.83’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on crankbaits. Catfish are fair on shad and liver.
BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 12.61’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are good on jigs. Stripers are fair on top-waters and ducktail jigs. White bass are good on slab spoons and topwaters. Catfish are slow.
CADDO: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes, top-waters and frogs.
CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained; 92 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Redfish are fair on live bait, shrimp, crawfish, spoons and plastics. Catfish are good on cheese bait and cut bait.
CANYON: Water stained; 78 degrees; 25.06’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, buzzbaits and neko-rigged worms.
CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 79 degrees; 2.23’ low. Hybrids and white bass are good on spinners and slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 86 degrees; 31.39’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and flukes. Crappie are good on minnows and grubs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and punch bait.
CONROE: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.79’ low. Largemouth bass are good on wacky-rigged worms. Crappie are slow. Hybrids are fair on jigs and slabs. Catfish are good on liver, worms and punch bait.
COOPER: Water stained; 83 degrees: 2.00’ low. Hybrids are good on live shad and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on shad.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 76 degrees; 5.24’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.
FALCON: Water stained; 90 degrees; 45.27’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut tilapia, cut carp and fresh shad.
top-waters, flukes, Carolina rigs and Texas rigs. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
FT PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 85 degrees; 7.52’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and live shad. White bass are fair on crankbaits and live shad.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.51’ low. Striped bass are fair on live bait. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut shad.
GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.11’ low. Largemouth bass are good on worms and crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on shad.
GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 82 degrees; 1.06’ low. White bass are good on jigging spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait.
HOUSTON: Water normal stain; 88 degrees; 0.19’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on crankbaits. Catfish are good on live perch and fresh caught shad.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.07’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are slow.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 14.20’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on live bait and cut carp.
JACKSONVILLE: Water stained; 79 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, spoons and lipless crankbaits.
JOE POOL: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.13’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on square-billed crankbaits, swimbaits and top-waters. Crappie are fair on minnows.
FAYETTE: Water stained; 92 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, Carolina rigs and shaky heads.
FORK: Water stained; 81 degrees; 1.74’ low. Largemouth bass are good on
LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 90 degrees; 0.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged creature baits, senkos and compact jigs.
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 2.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, crankbaits and worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White
bass are good on swimbaits and jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait, and cut bait.
LBJ: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.22’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.47’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on slabs, jigs and live bait. Hybrid stripers are fair on jigs and slabs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
LIMESTONE: Water lightly stained; 79 degrees; 1.90’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on jigs.
LIVINGSTON: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 0.73’ low. White bass are good on slabs.
MEREDITH: Water stained; 73 degrees; 48.21’ low. Largemouth bass are good on minnows and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on jigs.
Walleye are good on minnows, grubs and artificials. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers, minnows and frozen shad.
OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 17.22’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.95’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Catfish are good on live minnows, shrimp and cut bait.
POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.67 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, Carolina rigs, and drop shots. Stripers are fair on live bait. White bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad and stink bait.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.41’ high. Catfish are good on juglines.
RAVEN: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and artificial grubs. Catfish are fair on worms.
NACOGDOCHES: Water stained; 82 degrees; 1.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and topwaters. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on live minnows and cut bait.
NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 78 degrees; full pool. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees. 0.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, spinner baits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARROW MILLS: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.39’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crawfish jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait and shad.
O H IVIE: Water lightly stained; 77 degrees; 25.92’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on Alabama rigs, lipless crankbaits and jigs. Catfish are fair on stink bait and cut shad.
RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 78 degrees; 2.02’ low. White bass are good on tail spinners and top-waters. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
RAY ROBERTS: Water lightly stained; 83 degrees; 0.65’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.11’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid stripers are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait.
SAM RAYURN: Water lightly stained; 80 degrees; 0.82’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait and minnows.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 88 degrees; 0.85’ low. Hybrids are slow. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on spoons. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
SPENCE: Water stained; 85 degrees. 45.20’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are good on topwater, and spoons. Catfish are fair on cut carp and shad.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.29’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are slow.
TAWAKONI: Water lightly
stained; 82 degrees; 1.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good at daylight on frogs and top-waters. Hybrids and white bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad.
TEXANA: Water stained; 80 degrees; 1.74’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Catfish are good on cut bait.
TEXOMA: Water stained; 75 degrees; 1.51’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Alabama rigs and soft plastics. Striped bass are good on live bait. Catfish are good on shad and prepared baits.
TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 85 degrees; 4.13’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and chatter baits. Crappie are slow.
TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 40.48’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes, swimbaits and creature baits.
TWIN BUTTES: Water stained. 82 degrees; 38.00’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cheese bait and fresh bait.
WACO: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.81’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on live minnows and jigs. Hybrids are fair on swimbaits and spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait and live shad.
WALTER E LONG: Water stained; 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits, flukes and shallow crankbaits.
WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.18’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut shad and stink bait.
WORTH: Water stained; 76 degrees; 2.85’ low. White bass are good on slabs with teaser flies. Crappie are good on brush on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.29’ high. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on stink bait.
TWO WEST TEXAS WARDENS
MAKE CAPTAIN
Texas Game Warden Bo Hancock was promoted to Captain of Region 1, District 4, which covers Brewster, Jeff Davis, Pecos and Presidio counties. Since 2016, Hancock has served Brewster and Presidio counties strengthening landowner relationships, supporting local law enforcement and overseeing field training for recent graduates of the Texas Game Warden Training Center. Originally from Pasadena, Hancock previously served in the United States Air Force for 10 years as a military working dog handler. During his time with the Air Force, he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree. Hancock was stationed overseas, across the U.S. and deployed to Iraq. Also, Game Warden Ryan Hunter was promoted to Captain of Region 6, District 2, the central and western portion of the Texas Panhandle around the Lubbockarea. When Hunter was 23 years of age he arrived at his first duty station in Dumas. Originally from Fort Worth and raised in Gatesville, Hunter applied to the Game Warden Training Academy while
GAME WARDEN BLOTTER
500 POUNDS OF SNAPPER
A Coast Guard Station South Padre Island boat crew located and stopped five Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line, with assistance from a Coast Guard air crew. Personnel seized 500 pounds of red snapper, along with fishing gear. The men were detained, brought ashore and transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.
still attending Hardin-Simmons University. Since 2010, he has served the areas around Dumas, Canadian and Amarillo. He focuses on community policing by proactively fostering relationships with residents, building partnerships with local law enforcement and adapting to changing conservation needs.
SHARKS, SNAPPER
SEIZED
The Coast Guard interdicted five lanchas and seized 900 pounds of illegally caught fish in federal waters off southern Texas.
Boat crews, in coordination with aircrews, located and stopped
a total of 23 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing north of the Maritime Boundary Line. After interdicting the lanchas, personnel seized 900 pounds of red snapper and shark, along with fishing gear and high-flyers on the vessels. Crews detained the Mexican fishermen, brought them ashore, and transferred the detainees to U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel for further processing.
GUPPY CUP WINNER NABS 20-POUNDER
Texas game wardens recently held the Annual CastAway Rods Guppy Cup Kidfish in Galveston. This
year’s event welcomed 151 kids from ages 3-16. Participants and first-time anglers caught, landed and weighed numerous fish topping 10 pounds. Wardens were on hand to assist the young anglers, provide loaner fishing rods and tackle and distribute free lunch and snow cones. The winner of this year’s event had never fished before. She borrowed a rod on hand and reeled in a 20-pound fish.
FIRST TIME ALL-FEMALE DOVE HUNT
Texas Game Warden Mallory Lindsey and wildlife biologist Heather Johnson hosted a special three-
day dove hunt, bringing together first-time hunters from Texas Tech University. The new hunters started off by learning essential skills like firearm safety, gun handling and bird identification. After practicing with clay pigeons, they headed out to the field for their first hunt. The group successfully harvested several dove, and then were taught how to clean and prepare their harvest.
FALCON FOUND SHOT
On October 5, a landowner in Buffalo Heights, near Buck Run in San Angelo, reported a peregrine falcon that was injured and unable to fly. Upon investigation and x-ray examination, it was determined that the falcon had been shot with shotgun pellets and also had a broken ulna. Operation Game Thief is offering a reward for information leading to the conviction of the person(s) involved.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
Walden Shelton harvested this free-range CIC Gold Medal red stag in Croatia. Nic Drayovitch was looking for an unusual kudu bull when he came across this one with a broken tip on his Namibian hunt in September. He said this bull was the “icing on the cake.”
Tripp Schneider just turned 4 years old and went hunting with his parents on the opening day of dove season.
Misty Capko, of Azle, caught this 40-pound, 2-ounce blue catfish on Eagle Mountain Lake.
Deer HUNTING texas
FROM WORK TO PLAY
WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
Deer HUNTING texas
CARBON ON CARBON FOR WHEN EVERY OUNCE COUNTS
A PLACE TO SHOOT SAN ANTONIO, TX
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DEFENDER OUTDOORS FORT WORTH, TX
FIELD AND STREAM SAN ANGELO, TX
THE COMFORT OF CARRYING IT IS ONLY MATCHED BY THE COMFORT OF SHOOTING IT.
At only 6.2 pounds you’ll be amazed a rifle this light can pack in so many features. Starting with the strength and rigidity of the monocoque carbon fiber stock, it has a built in cheek rest and QD sling swivel mounts. Topped off with our Cure™ Carbon Barrel you’ll get the weight savings and accuracy needed for the most demanding of hunts. With the Crest Carbon your backcountry hunts will never be the same.
AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL RETAILER:
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GLICK TWINS PHARR, TX
HOFFPAUIR FARM & RANCH LAMPASAS, TX BURNETT, TX
LOS CAZADORES STONEWALL, TX PEARSALL, TX BUCHANAN DAM, TX
MCBRIDES AUSTIN, TX
MODERN PAWN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX
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B-142 Crest Carbon
NOT YOUR TYPICAL HUNTING RETAIL STORE
There’s always something going on at the Huntin’ Store! You have to at least stop by when driving through or near Cisco and show pics of the trophy your granddaughter just got last weekend. A store owned and operated by hunters — offering the largest inventory of deer blinds and feeders.
J&L has been meeting hunters’ needs with high-quality feeders, blinds and so much more for over 30 years. The industry-leading retailer prides itself in full customer service satisfaction at its Cisco store or its stores in Cross Plains, Abilene, Lindale and Brownwood.
With J&L being a dealer for All Seasons, Atascosa Wildlife Supply, Bitter Creek, Dillon Blinds, GreenGo Feeders, Longhorn Outdoors, Outback, Texas Hunter Products and Texas Wildlife Supply, the stores offer a tremendous selection of blinds, towers, windows, feeders and feeder accessories, hog traps, targets and target stands, as well
as top-quality feed from Purina, Double Down and others, as well as locally raised cleaned corn, roasted soybean blends and peanuts.
J&L is a full-service retailer for hunters.
Convenient curbside pickup and turnkey delivery is available, so that you can spend all your time enjoying important stuff: Making memories being outdoors, with friends and family, hunting and enjoying the Texas wildlife. Call to schedule or come and see us. If you don’t already know us, you’ll feel like you do. For more information and special deals, check out J&L’s website or follow on Facebook to keep up with all the goings-on.
• Wood Floor Cleaning
• Stone Refinishing
• Tile Floor Cleaning
• Antique Rugs
• Animal Hide Rugs
• Air Duct Cleaning
• Upholstery
• Emergency Water Services
Joshua Creek Ranch
THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE HUNTING RIFLE
The Ruger American ® Rifle Generation II is an update to the American-made rifle that has been the benchmark for accuracy, durability, and performance in bolt-action rifles for over a decade. Designed with customer feedback in mind, the Ruger American Rifle Generation II is available in a variety of calibers and is sure to become the first choice for hunters and firearms enthusiasts.
AN OLD HUNTER LEARNING NEW TRICKS THE GAME-CHANGING AGM SPECTRUM LRF 4K
As someone who’s spent decades relying on traditional glass optics, an independent optics reviewer said he always appreciated the simplicity and dependability of a well-made traditional glass optic.
“But in recent years, it’s been hard to ignore the rapid advancements in digital optics — and while I’ve seen my fair share of overpriced, overcomplicated gadgets come and go, the new AGM Spectrum LRF 4K Scope has a list of capabilities that become hard to ignore,” he wrote.
What grabbed the attention first was the built-in 1,000-meter laser rangefinder. If you’ve ever fumbled with a separate rangefinder while trying to keep your eye on the prize, you’ll know how much of a game-changer this feature is. Integrating this capability directly into the scope solves a major problem that digital optics have had for years — depth perception. Being able to gauge distance accurately without lowering the rifle is a timesaver and, more importantly, a confidence booster when you’re lining up a shot.
The optics themselves are nothing short of impressive. A 3840×2160 high-resolution sensor feeds into a 1920x1080 OLED display, offering sharp, clear images in both daylight and nighttime conditions. Digital scopes have come a long way, and the Spectrum LRF 4K is proof of just how far. AGM has also incorporated an adjustable aperture, which means better performance in those critical low-light moments — right at dawn and dusk — when the best opportunities often present themselves. Deer hunters are going to want to see this.
As someone who’s probably used to carrying extra batteries in the field, you’ll be pleased to see that AGM thought ahead here, too. With a runtime of up to 11 hours on its rechargeable battery setup, it’s built to last through those long days in the stand. And for the tech-savvy hunter, the scope’s 64GB internal storage is a nice touch, letting you record your hunt in high resolution without needing external devices.
“I’ve always believed that nothing beats a good, old-fashioned traditional scope,” the reviewer wrote. “But after spending time with the AGM Spectrum LRF 4K, I’m convinced there’s a place for this kind of technology in every hunter’s kit. It’s not just about the bells and whistles — it’s about giving you the tools to hunt smarter, with more tools at your disposal, and at a price point that won’t break the bank.”
Technology in the field is here to stay, and with optics like the Spectrum LRF 4K, it’s becoming hard to resist. It’s a digital scope that’s built for hunters, by people who really do love the hunt as much as we do.
SPECTRUM LRF 4K
Daytime, Low-Light, and Nighttime Capabilites
Shot-Activated Video Recording
High Resolution 4K Full-Color Sensor
Built-in 1000yd Laser Rangefinder
On-board Ballistic Calculator
3.5-28X Magnification
We invited arguably the most dedicated whitetail hunters in the country to share their ideas and provide detailed product feedback. Taking that potent knowledge, we developed a line that breaks the mold of the common seasonal system. We then turned the gear over to our pro team to give it their worst. After extensive testing and tuning, we now offer you an all-new whitetail system that truly makes a difference.
Warren Ranch
5,770.6± acres | $35,000,000 | Coleman and Brown Counties, Texas
The Warren Ranch is an example of exemplary stewardship, pride of ownership and functional structural improvements, all complimenting the tremendous recreation aspects of this wonderful property. The ranch offers an exceptional combination of open and rolling meadows, dense canopies and thickets for wildlife, and fertile creek bottoms. There are several improved grass fields located on the property, while the native grasses throughout the ranch are in excellent conditions.
The Warren Ranch has been blessed with an abundance of live water. A number of creeks flow through the ranch, all ultimately draining into Jim Ned Creek, which flows in total approximately five miles through the center of the property. Other impressive water features include three lakes that are all over eight surface acres at capacity. Several of the larger ponds are over two acres in size, and there are countless smaller ponds. The ranch is a hunting paradise. Trophy whitetail are in abundance, managed through selective harvest. Approximately 40% of the ranch is under high fence, being four separate pastures, each with its own individual MLDP program in place.
The improvements on the ranch are exceptional and are highlighted by a two-story lodge and annex, a beautiful two-story main house, horse barns, pens, and various ranch houses. Everything is in place and ready to enjoy on day one.
Flying H Ranch
6,877.29± acres | $9,972,070.50 | Kent
The Flying H is an impressive property with an excellent location that is set up and ready to operate and enjoy. The terrain of the ranch is scenic, with rocky red bluffs, rolling hills, expansive tree-covered drainages, and productive river bottoms. Several deep draws traverse the ranch, generally draining south towards the Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos River, which makes up much of the southern boundary of the ranch. The Flying H is completely fenced and cross-fenced, with almost 800 acres game-fenced, the remainder all being low-fenced. Including the game-fenced portion, the ranch contains approximately 10 pastures, with livestock corrals and pens with traps scattered strategically across the property. The ranch headquarters consists of a ranch house that contains two bedrooms, a loft, and two and one-half baths. An employee’s home is nearby, as well as multiple barns, sheds, and other structures. A hunting camp is located inside of the high-game fenced pasture and just south of the hunting camp there is a cabin used for hunting guides and ranch employees. The ranch offers exceptional four-season hunting and recreation opportunities. Two stocked lakes are reported to have exceptional fishing and there is a shooting range near the ranch headquarters. This region offers outstanding hunting opportunities, with trophy whitetail deer and some mule deer, good populations of turkey, dove, and other migratory birds, and good habitat for quail. This is a turn-key offering, which includes all livestock and equipment. $1,450 per acre.
Block Ranch
49,194± Total Acres | $37,500,000 | Lincoln County, New Mexico
Spanning over 76 square miles of prime ranch country, the Block Ranch is well positioned north of the scenic Capitan Mountain Range, northeast of Capitan, New Mexico. This area is widely recognized for its productive livestock grazing country, with the added benefit of wooded areas which provide excellent wildlife habitat. The Block Ranch has a desirable elevation ranging from 5,200’ to 6,200’. The terrain of the Block Ranch is a combination of rolling piñon/juniper country with scattered ponderosa pine and live oak. These areas transition to open rolling grama grass prairies.
A tremendous and somewhat unique feature on the Block Ranch is the amazing Macho Spring. This clear water, cool flowing spring has long been the lifeblood of the property and this one singular spring provides 75% - 80% of the ranch livestock water through an extensive network of waterlines, reservoirs and approximately 80 drinking troughs. In addition to Macho Spring, there are several other smaller springs, wells, and dirt tanks. The Block Ranch has been conservatively hunted over the years and hunting can offer an additional source of income to the ranch. Wildlife includes mule deer, elk, and antelope. We are excited to announce that the price of the Block Ranch has been reduced from $41,560,000 to $37,500,000, or approximately $767 per deeded acre.
run through the ranch with the highlight being the Washita River which meanders in a southeasterly direction for approximately 9 miles throughout a major portion of the property.
Deeded
An outstanding hunting ranch with a variety of native wildlife and a brand-new lodge. The 4-bedroom, 3-bath lodge offers an open floor plan with a one-of-a-kind kitchen, a huge fireplace, covered porches, and an attached garage with 3 overhead doors. Very well watered with 8 earthen tanks, 5 concrete troughs, and a water well. The ranch is considered one of the best whitetail deer hunting ranches in the area. The ranch offers excellent opportunities for hunting dove, quail, and turkey as well as an abundance of ducks, geese, and sandhill cranes. $4,306 per acre.
the west. Well watered with improvements that include houses, a barn, shop, working and range corrals, hay barn, and a hangar.
An exceptional ranch that boasts a beautiful home, guest quarters, bunkhouse, several livestock barns, sheds, and two large shop buildings. Fenced and cross-fenced into seven or eight pastures and traps. Topography is diverse, with scenic and rugged breaks giving way to level and productive flats with good grass cover. A large pond located in the central portion of the ranch is maintained by a solar water well with an additional 8-10 ponds scattered across the ranch, many stocked with fish. $3,041 per acre.
A unique property that features an 11,000 sq. ft. insulated shop/barn with concrete floors, electricity, water, and horse stalls. A 1-bedroom, 1-bath hunter’s cabin is located nearby. Water features include two ponds and an excellent water well. Excellent fencing with a high fence along threes sides. An ideal hunting property for white-tail deer, turkey, dove, quail, and wild hogs. $26,000 per acre.
$4 Billion+ Total Sales since 2016 • Largest Contiguous Sale in the U.S. in 2016 (535,000 acres)
Bar V Ranch
Ritter Creek Ranch
2,160± acres
Solo Uno Mas Ranch
He’s
getting ready, are you?
By Craig Nyhus
Star outdoor newS
The buck has been preparing all year. Range conditions have been good, even despite a brutal late summer, and he is strong, his antlers grew well and he has an extra layer of fat for the upcoming rut. He’ll soon be on the prowl with his nose in the air, looking for does. If there is a buck in the way, he’ll be looking for a fight.
Will he come in this year?
The general season is coming soon. Your rifle is cleaned, your scope is dialed in and you’ve checked, cleaned and tested the blinds and feeders. The trail cameras are in place and you’re checking your phone several times each day, looking for him. You’ve seen the images of your dream buck.
Do I have everything covered?
You think about it every day and especially lying in bed each night. You have a blind in position for every wind direction. The blind windows don’t squeak, and there’s new padding on the blinds’ shelves so you won’t make a thump when moving around or getting ready to shoot. Your sight lines out of the blinds are all clear. Your vacation days are submitted and approved.
Meanwhile, the buck is still around, but you aren’t seeing him as often. The acorns are plentiful and everywhere. You’re ready, though, hopeful he’ll make a mistake and be in your favorite secret spot, a good distance away from your leasemates.
I’m not sure he’ll come, but I think I’m ready.
Lone
Dave Richards
YOUR TEXAS HUNTING, SPORTING DESTINATION
Perched atop a mesa just west of Fort Worth, Greystone Castle is a sight to behold. With four turrets peeking above the tree line, this majestic sight is one to be remembered. From its award-winning wingshooting program to trophy whitetail and exotics, world-class bass fishing and our National Champion Sporting Clays instructor, there is something for everyone at Greystone Castle.
The Gold Medal whitetail deer program offers an all-inclusive package based on the opportunity to hunt the opening weekend of the season. Not restricted by score, it is an exclusive chance to hunt for the whitetail of your dreams.
As evidenced by being named the Orvis 2015 Wingshooting Lodge of the Year, Greystone has mastered the art of bird hunting. The ever-popular mixed bag hunt includes quail, pheasant, chukar and Hungarian partridge. This upland walking hunt allows guests to experience great pointing dogs working over rolling terrain specially farmed for optimal bird habitat. The European pheasant hunt is a great way to get lots of shooting action and watch Labradors do what they do best — retrieve birds! The mallard hunts offer a great chance to improve your skills over water while the fast-flying dove hunts offer an adrenaline rush every hunter craves.
If you are looking for something different, you will find it in the exotic pasture full of animals from around the world. Species from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe roam the Texas plains and thrive in the southern climate. Breeding herds of axis deer, aoudad, blackbuck antelope, sika and fallow deer
mean there are plenty of trophies to be taken.
For those looking to relax and enjoy the water, Greystone offers more than 120 acres of stocked bass lakes. From small private lakes to the 80-acre Thurber Lake, every type of fishing opportunity exists. From fly-fishing to spincasters or simple hook and bobbers, there is a method for everyone. Kayaks and paddleboards let you go off on your own adventure or you can jump on a pontoon boat to sneak to the honey holes.
Two championship sporting clays courses, two 5-stands, a training course and a wobble deck challenge every level of shooter. Our new 400-yard rifle and pistol range offers steel targets at a variety of distances. Hone your skills on the new archery course featuring a tri-level static range and a 3-D walking course. Or just enjoy the scenic hiking and biking trails.
What appeals to Greystone visitors is its top-of-theline accommodations and gourmet meals. Guests enjoy 26 private rooms, gourmet dining from an executive chef, conference facilities and a swimming pool with a hot tub and a steam room. Along with this is the 2,600 square-foot pavilion facility with a custom bar, large seating areas, 65-inch TVs, carved limestone fireplace, Laser Shot, billiards and an overlook terrace with a custom outdoor fire pit. The ownership and staff are dedicated to creating one of the finest sporting experiences found anywhere in the world. Long-term habitat improvements and wildlife management have made Greystone an extraordinary hunting venue.
THE BEST SOCKS, GLOVES FROM THE AMERICAN BISON
The American plains bison survives in some tough conditions, from blazing heat to -60-degree cold.
How do they do it? It’s all about the undercoat in the animals’ fur.
“Mother Nature has given them the perfect clothing to keep them comfortable year-round in all kinds of conditions,” said The Buffalo Wool Company owner Ron Miskin. “It’s because of the “down” or fine soft undercoat they grow out in winter and shed out in spring.”
Each huge bison only has 6-8 ounces of the undercoat.
“That’s all it takes to keep the bison completely comfortable,” Miskin said. “The downy fiber has a natural crimp to it that helps it trap more dead air than any other fiber. Dead air is a fantastic insulator and provides a great buffer against the cold.”
Most people have seen photos of bison completely crusted over with ice and snow, and their body heat doesn’t escape through the amazing insulation.
But what about the Texas heat, especially for those with sweaty feet?
Bison undercoat also is an ideal material when it comes to keeping your feet cool, as the fine, itch-free fibers act better than wool, keeping your feet dry.
Ron Miskin and his wife, Theresa, developed socks, gloves and much more from the bison undercoat, along with the difficult task of locating enough to produce in larger quantities, a decadelong process.
“Our supply chain brings together bison ranchers, small independent mills and local manufacturers, Miskin said. “We work with ranchers all over the U.S. to get their hair. You only get a few pair of socks off of one bison.”
It only takes a few wears to realize these are best socks and gloves made.
“Bison wool is soft enough to wrap a baby in, and tough enough to keep a mountain man warm in a blizzard,” Miskin said. “The fiber has a micron count of about 15, comparable to a good cashmere.”
Each pair is warm, lightweight and super-tough. Iditarod mushers who used to pack up to 25 pairs for the long journey, pack just five pair of Buffalo Wool socks.
“The socks wick stronger,” Miskin said. “They keep you comfortable at real cold temps, and when it’s hot, they are better than cotton socks.”
The Miskin family has been raising bison for decades, and the many styles of products, including by-products of many ranchers raising bison for meat, all come with a 100-percent guarantee, and have a greater purpose.
“We believe that by working together, we can preserve America’s national mammal,” Miskin said.
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14
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES
Freeport Harbor
Port O’Connor
Nueces Bay
Competing on land and water
in the decoys.
“Her trainer, the late Steve Stidham (out of Greenville) suggested running her in some trials,” Junek said. “But I didn’t know anything about it.”
A former hunter at the club, Russ Weiss, ran trials all over the country with his dog, and told Junek about the experience, piquing his interest.
Then came Junek’s next dog, a black lab male named Ford, and Junek decided to participate in field trials.
“I just wanted to get him to do all the things a dog could do,” Junek said. “Then I looked into where I could go to keep the dog progressing.”
Junek trained Ford himself, and Ford achieved his Master Hunter title, but didn’t pass enough tests to become Master National qualified.
“I battled with some of the basics,” Junek said. “That’s where the pros can quickly identify the issues and get them corrected. But I realized I kind of liked the whole process.”
Unfortunately, Ford developed an infection, blinding him as a result. He remained a family dog, but his hunting and competing days came to an end.
Then came Macy, a female black lab.
“I decided to give her the best shot to go as far as she could,” Junek said.
Macy trained with Rody Best of Best Retrievers in Page, and quickly progressed.
“First, she had to qualify for her Master Hunter title,” Junek said. “Then came Master Nationals — they have to run and pass three of them. With a female, you always have to worry about them coming into heat — they can’t compete then.”
At the Master Nationals, dogs run multiple series of test setups, including long retrieves, blind retrieves, live shot bird retrieves, working in ponds, on land and more.
“Some dogs take years to make it to Master Nationals,” Junek said. “And some don’t quite make it.”
More than 1,100 dogs competed at the Master National this year, held in Paducah, Kentucky.
“There was a 30-something percent pass rate,” Junek said.
Macy, at age 5, passed for the third time, making her a Hall of Famer.
The Master Nationals are an American Kennel Club competition, but there are other options for dog owners, like HRC (Hunting Retriever Club), SRS (Super Retriever Series) and other field trials.
“There are so many different games, it’s almost like extending the hunting season,” Junek said.
Now, Junek has yet another young pup, Annie, in training.
And Macy’s next job might just be as a mom.
“We’re looking for the right dog to breed her to,” Junek said.
The dog owner said Macy’s title is all about the process.
“First, you’re getting involved in bird hunting,” Junek said. “And then you find out about working with dogs and successfully recovering your game. From there, it was the competitions.”
The pewter plates signifying the Master National AKC titles are nice, but the process isn’t for the faint of heart.
“I don’t even want to think about how much money we’ve spent over the years,” Junek said.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
ACROSS
5) Skiff brand
of hyenas
32) Safari destination
33) An African antelope
Riflescope brand
21) Texarkana’s county
22) Deer alarm sound
23) Brazos County’s seat
25) Texas walleye lake
28) Livingston’s county
29) Sheep hunters’ org.
30) Goose species
31) East Texas border river
34) Trout species
35) Good white bass lure
37) Jim Wells County’s seat
38) Fishing line brand
39) Worm rigging style
40) Duck hunters like wind at their ____
43) Hill Country lake
Leadership change at AMMO, Inc.
Paul Kasowski, who has served as AMMO, Inc.’s chief compliance and transformation officer, has been appointed as the company’s new chief financial officer, effective immediately.
Positions at Rambo Bikes
Rambo Bikes is seeking a sales manager and a product manager.
International marketing job at Mustad
Hook manufacturer O. Mustad & Son is seeking a marketing manager in the European, Middle Eastern and African markets.
Agency for Scent Thief
Scent Thief retained the Outdoor Business Solutions Group as its official sales representative agency.
Texas Archery Academy seeking space
Texans Archery Club is searching for bulk warehouse space (20,000 square feet) for a new home for its Texas Archery Academy in the Plano-Richardson market.
More GSM acquisitions
GSM Outdoors has acquired K&E Tackle, whose brands include Stopper Lures, Carlisle Floats, Bear Creek, Best Tackle, and Arnold Tackle. GSM also acquired California-based soft plastic lure maker Roboworm.
Harris to represent Charter Arms
Charter Arms retained Harris Global Marketing & Communications as its agency of record.
Watson joins Gill Fishing
Travis Watson, of Granbury, became the fishing sales manager for Gill North America.
4 (5 oz) flounder fillets
6 large (4-inch) portobello mushrooms
1/2-lb. ground venison
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup finely chopped red pepper
1 tbsp. fresh parsley
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tbsps. olive oil
Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Posi-
tion oven rack in top third of oven.
Cut stems off mushrooms flush with cap. Finely chop stems and set side.
Arrange caps on baking sheet, top side down. Set aside. In 10-inch skillet, brown venison over medium heat about 5 minutes or until meat is no longer pink. Drain. Stir in garlic, red pepper and chopped mushroom stems. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until stems begin to release liquid, stirring occasionally. Stir in remaining ingredients, except oil. Spoon mixture evenly into mushroom caps. Drizzle filling evenly with oil. Bake 10-12 minutes or until mushrooms are soft, and sprinkle fresh Parmesan cheese over mushrooms during the last few minutes of baking. —PA Game Commission
Paprika
Stuffing
1 slice bacon, diced
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2-lb. cooked shrimp (small), peeled and deveined
1 (10 oz) package frozen spinach, thawed, drained well and patted dry Pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
1/3 cup nonfat sour cream
1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside. Cook bacon over medium heat. Remove the bacon from the pan and set aside to cool. Add onion and garlic to the drippings in the pan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 minutes. Add spinach, nutmeg, salt, pepper and heat through for 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Put the shrimp-spinach mixture in a large bowl. Add sour cream, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and bacon crumbles. Add 1/4 of the stuffing to one end of a flounder
fillet. Roll the flounder over the stuffing and secure with a toothpick. Repeat with the remaining fillets. Place the flounder roll in the prepared pan. Drizzle the top of each roll with olive oil. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake the flounder rolls for about 20-25 minutes or until done.
—Mississippi Dept. of Marine Resources
Ready for quail season
Continued from page 4
resulted in fewer hens being available for nesting. TPWD said there appears to be a slow yet steady recovery in the area, with bird numbers increasing for a third straight year.
In the Rolling Plains and South Texas Plains, numbers remained at relatively low densities.
Bobwhite quail
TPWD said despite summer heat waves, bobwhite populations appear to be climbing out of the hole they’ve been mired in since 2020. It began with improvements in habitat following good early season rainfall in 2023, which kickstarted the grass and forb growth which led to population increases in almost every ecoregion in the state last year.
Birds further benefited from a mild winter, improving carryover and breeding season prospects this spring, and early season rainfall once again buoyed populations, increasing hunting prospects when the season begins Oct. 26.
In the Cross Timbers region, bobwhites saw a modest increase from low numbers, but hunting is expected to be limited this season.
The Edwards Plateau saw a welcome bump of bobwhite numbers, up three times from last year. Northern counties appeared to fair better than those to the south, indicating improvements were not uniform.
Bobwhites were down in the Gulf Coast Prairies, but despite a reported decline in the survey trend, biologists are predicting an above average year for those with access to land and birds to hunt.
In the High Plains, bobwhites saw a slight increase from 2023. Biologists are optimistic and anticipate good hunting opportunities this season.
The Rolling Plains were a high note, where the average number of bobwhites seen per route was 16.50 compared to 3.43 last year. Locations north of I-40 and west of I-27 received good summer rainfall, but spotty. Habitat conditions and bird numbers improved southeast to northwest through the region. Biologists expect widespread and good hunting opportunities this season.
In South Texas, bobwhites continued their strong trend. Tropical storms provided good moisture in the eastern half and brood and covey sightings were steady throughout the year. Biologists in the eastern half to the coast are optimistic for a good season, with our western region expressing more caution.
TPWD biologists remind hunters that the surveys are only designed to provide a representation of bobwhite populations at the regional level, and local conditions will vary considerably.
Quick pronghorn hunt
Continued from page 4
About 15 minutes after shooting light, they laid eyes upon their buck, but at 1,200 yards they would have to close the distance.
Elliott and Jones navigated the rugged terrain using hills and the tall grass along the way for cover. After closing the distance down to 341 yards, Jones stopped.
“That’s close enough, he’s within range,” Jones said.
Elliott loaded his Bergara .308 and eased onto the scope.
“Take the shot when you’re comfortable,” Jones said.
Elliot steadied his gun, took a deep breath, and his shot rang out.
“Good shot, reload and hit him again,” Jones said.
Just as Elliott fixed his scope on the buck again, it wobbled over and fell. After some congratulations, the young men made their way back to the buggy and headed for the buck.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” El-
liott said. “I’ve never hunted pronghorn before or even judged one on the hoof for any reason. But when I saw Jones’ reaction, I knew it was a good buck.”
When the pair walked up on the buck at 7:54 a.m. on opening morning, Elliott’s concerns were eased.
“That’s bigger than anything I’ve ever shot out here, and the fastest hunt on a pronghorn out here, too,” Jones said.
The buck was rough scored at 73 1/8. The rest of the week, Elliott and Jones pursued aoudad.
“Some of the roads were pretty good, but you can’t get too comfortable,” Elliott said. On Oct. 1, we flipped the buggy and spent a few hours trying to get it back upright. Luckily we had found a few old T-posts at a nearby old windmill. We used them to pry along with the two winches the buggy had.”
On the last day, the friends found and connected with a mature ram.
Hiding in buoys
Continued from page 8
fly immediately, and other times they can be more finicky. I’ve found when they are less aggressive that downsizing to a smaller fly can oftentimes, get them to eat. A variety of shrimp, crab and baitfish patterns have been working.”
One of the tripletail an angler fishing with McGuire caught recently had been previously tagged by the Harte Research Institute’s Sportfish Tagging Initiative. According to HRI Assistant Director and Senior Research Scientist Dr. Matt Streich, the initiative provides anglers with a tagging kit to tag a number of species of interest, including tripletail.
“The objective of the initiative is to gather data on seasonal movements and habitat use by specific species,” Streich said. “We can also gain information about growth rates, and even survival estimates, from tag recapture data.”
Streich said there currently aren’t any published studies focused on tripletail seasonality in Texas.
“We are trying to figure when and how long tripletail occur in our bay systems throughout the year, as well as what sizes of fish occur in these specific areas and time periods,” Streich said.
Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News
MONTANA Rancher convicted of Marco Polo sheep trafficking
A Montana man was sentenced to six months in prison for committing two felony wildlife crimes — a conspiracy to violate the Lacey Act and substantively violating the Lacey Act — as part of an almost decade-long effort to create giant sheep hybrids in the United States with an aim to sell the species to captive hunting facilities.
Arthur “Jack” Schubarth, 81, of Vaughn, is the owner and operator of Schubarth Ranch. The ranch is engaged in the purchase, sale and breeding of “alternative livestock” such as mountain sheep, mountain goats and various ungulates. The primary market for Schubarth’s livestock is captive hunting operations.
According to court documents, Schubarth conspired with at least five other individuals between 2013 and 2021 to create a larger hybrid species of sheep that would garner higher prices. Schubarth brought parts of the largest sheep in the world, the protected Marco Polo argali sheep, from Kyrgyzstan into the United States without declaring the importation.
Schubarth sent genetic material from the argali parts to a lab to create cloned embryos. Schubarth then implanted the embryos in ewes on his ranch, resulting in a single, pure genetic male Marco Polo argali that he named “Montana Mountain King” or MMK.
Schubarth worked with other unnamed coconspirators to use MMK’s semen to artificially impregnate various other species of ewes — all of which were prohibited in Montana — and create hybrid animals.
To move the prohibited sheep into and out of Montana, Schubarth and others forged veterinary inspection certificates, falsely claiming that the sheep were legally permitted species. On occasion, Schubarth sold MMK semen directly to sheep breeders in other states.
In addition to his prison sentence, Schubarth was ordered to pay a $20,000 fine to
the Lacey Act Reward Fund and a $4,000 payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
TENNESSEE Waldrop receives Lifetime Achievement Award
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies awarded Ducks Unlimited Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Karen Waldrop its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her expertise and passion for natural resources conservation. Waldrop joined Ducks Unlimited in 2019, As Chief Conservation Officer, Waldrop leads a team of 400 staff who deliver wetlands and waterfowl conservation efforts across all 50 states.
“Since 2019, Karen has overseen 3.4 million acres of wetlands conservation across the United States. Her passion for natural resources not only aligns perfectly with the goals of AFWA but have also set a benchmark for excellence in our industry,” said Ducks Unlimited CEO Adam Putnam.
CALIFORNIA
Newsom vetoes
Wetlands Conservation Bill
Without explanation, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have helped waterfowl and other migratory birds, while also ensuring no net loss of wetlands in the state. AB 828, a bill to support sustainable groundwater management and managed wetlands in California, was sent to the governor with strong bipartisan backing. The bill passed the California Senate on a 29-10 vote, and the Assembly on a 53-17 tally in late August.
“Everybody is shocked that Gov. Newsom didn’t sign the bill. It’s a positive bill for the environment, and we are disappointed he didn’t support it,” said Christopher Hoon, manager of government affairs in the Pacific Flyway for Delta Waterfowl.
—Delta Waterfowl
PERFORMANCE BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED
SABINE LAKE: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and live shrimp.
REDFISH BAY: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on live mullet and chunks of crab. Black drum are slow.
SAN ANTONIO BAY: 86 degrees. Redfish are good on topwaters. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, live croaker, and soft plastics.
FREEPORT: 88 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on shrimp under a popping cork. Sheepshead and mangrove snapper are good on free-lined live shrimp or mullet.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 90 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are slow.
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 90 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet and shrimp. Black drum are fair on live shrimp.
PORT O’CONNOR: 85 degrees. Redfish are fair on on blue crab and Spanish sardines. Black drum are good on shrimp.
ROCKPORT: 84 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on croaker and live shrimp. Redfish are good on shrimp, piggy perch, and cut skipjack or mullet. Black drum are fair on live or dead shrimp.
BOLIVAR: 83 degrees. Speckled trout and bull redfish are good on live shrimp at the jetty. Flounder are fair on soft plastics and live mullet. Black drum are good on natural baits in the surf.
TRINITY BAY: 86 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish and black drum are good on live shrimp. Sheepshead are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: 86 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics under the birds. Flounder are fair on live mullet and soft plastics at the mouths of drains and bayous. Redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork.
GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish, black drum, and sheepshead are fair on live shrimp.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on live shrimp and live croaker. Flounder are good for those gigging at night. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live shrimp.
PORT ARANSAS: 84 degrees. Redfish are good on shrimp and cut mullet or ladyfish. Speckled trout are good on croaker or shrimp.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on live mullet and chunks of crab. Black drum are slow.
BAFFIN BAY: 86 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics. Redfish are fair on suspending twitch baits, topwaters, and soft plastics.
PORT MANSFIELD: 90 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good on topwaters and soft plastics.
SOUTH PADRE: 84 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and live shrimp. Redfish are good on scented, imitation shrimp and live shrimp. Mangrove Snapper are good on live shrimp.
TEXAS CITY: 86 degrees. Bull reds are fair on cut bait. Speckled trout and slot redfish are good on live shrimp. Flounder are fair on live mullet. Black drum, sheepshead, sand trout, and gafftop are fair on fresh dead shrimp.
PORT ISABEL: 84 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and live shrimp. Redfish are good on scented, imitation shrimp and live shrimp. Mangrove Snapper are good on live shrimp. —TPWD
Waiting for more
Continued from page 4
producing excellent shoots. Overall, we are looking forward to a big push of new birds.”
Roth said he was starting to see some decent concentrations of birds in areas where there hadn’t been very many at the start of the season, indicating these may be new birds that had recently migrated down and just arrived to South Texas. His hopes are that more birds are on the way, so that their hunters will continue to have an exciting fall season.
Pearsall and Natalia areas. Most of the birds are hitting fields with sunflowers, croton, and corn.
“Along with plenty of mourning dove, we are still seeing decent numbers of whitewings,” he said. “The whitewings are hitting sunflower fields that are just outside of town.”
In McMullen County, the owner of Rhode Ranch, Bill Meuth, said his hunters are still seeing nonstop flights over millet and sorghum fields.
“I’ve never seen as many dove as I have this season,” Meuth said. “We are primarily covered up with mourning dove, but there are some whitewings mixed in.”
“Most of our harvested milo fields have played out,” Roth said. “The majority of the birds are hitting sesame fields and fields with native dove weed. There’s plenty of feed in the area for the birds, and as long as more birds continue to show up, I expect the hunting to be excellent throughout the rest of the season.”
At San Antonio-based Double H Outfitters, Daniel Hernandez, said their properties are still holding good numbers of doves.
“Not all of our fields are full of birds, and we could definitely use some new flights,” he said. “With that being said, our hunters are still enjoying great hunts over many of our properties.”
Hernandez said their best concentrations of dove are in the Lytle, Devine,
Meuth said he is hearing that some other surrounding ranches don’t have many birds.
“They aren’t just everywhere in South Texas right now,” he said. “A lot of folks are hoping that we have some birds migrating down to finish out the fall season.”
The staff at Getaway Lodge at Port Mansfield said the fields their hunters are hunting outside of Harlingen are still producing consistent shoots. They are starting to see whitewings move on, and more and more mourning dove are showing up.
Fishing, bait in the channel
Continued from page 8
contemplating to reach out to officials to allow catching bait at nighttime.
In the meantime, fishing along the ship channel will continue, but perhaps on a different scale.
Cats of all sizes
old creek beds.
“Using fresh cut shad has been the key to success lately,” Pennebaker said. “The fresher the bait is, the better. Some days these blue cats can get pretty picky, and if you don’t have fresh bait, you’re not going to catch them.”
On Lake Texoma, guide Rodney St. John has been chasing both blues and channel catfish. Points in 28-32 feet of water have been holding the most fish.
“The fish were suspended in these areas, but here recently they have been holding tight to the bottom, or just off of the bottom,” St. John said. “Punch bait has been drawing the most strikes and cut shad has been producing some fish as well.”
St. John said there really hasn’t been any rhyme or reason to the mix between channel cats and blues. One day the channel catfish can seem to take over an area, and the next day, the same spot might be dominated mostly by blues.
“You just never know, the blues and channels have been moving around,” he said. “The action has been great, there just hasn’t been much consistency as to whether the blue catfish or the channel catfish are going to bite. The same spot can be completely different from day to day.”
Many of the catfish have been from 2-6 pounds with some 12-15 pound fish mixed in. Most of the channel cats have been ranging from 2-5 pounds, with the larger fish being blues.
On Sam Rayburn Reservoir, guide Blake Oestreich has been using forward-facing sonar to target large flathead catfish. Most of the yellow cats he’s been catching have been in the 20-35 pound range.
“Most of the bigger catfish have started to push into shallower water as things have started to cool off,” Oestreich said. “A lot of them are in depths of 15 feet or less, with some out as deep as 20 feet. The’ve been as shallow as 10-12 feet of water on cool mornings.”
Oestreich said the key to locating and catching big flatheads has been finding the bait fish.
“The flatheads are feeding on bream around timber, heavy cover and big lay downs,” he said. “We’ve been chunking live bream at them.”
The blue catfish on the lake have been holding in areas where there are significant concentrations of shad along main lake points.
Blake Oestreich landed this 55-pound flathead catfish on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Photo from Blake Oestreich.
A grand time at Wild Game Night
On the evening of Oct. 2, about 200 outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists gathered at the Dallas Beretta Gallery for Lone Star Outdoor News’ Wild Game Night, now in its 11th year.
The free wild game from Cinnamon Creek Wild Game Processing was again a big hit, and free beer, wine and tastings from Tahwahkaro Distilling allowed old and new friends to discuss their hunting plans.
With plenty of auctions and raffles, from deer and duck hunts to adventures across the globe, including for a Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus, resulted in the event raising more than $23,000 for the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation, which will be used to provide hunting and fishing adventures for people who have the desire but lack the opportunity.
Sponsors included Beretta Gallery Dallas, Cinnamon Creek Ranch Processing, Concierge Auctions, Graff Dealerships, Charity Safaris, Tahwahkaro Distilling Company, SimplePets, Sitka Dallas, Cordia, Total Wine, Texakaushi Ranch and Versacarry.
Lone Star outdoor newS
Photos by Tim Sharp
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