DEER HUNTING ANNUAL INSIDE
deer hunting texas
Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
October 26, 2018
At the skinning shed Advice comes from all directions
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Volume 15, Issue 5
Timing right for bull reds
Reservoirs filling Floods will help recharge fish, fishing
Lone Star Outdoor News
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Record flooding caused devastating damage along the Llano and Colorado rivers in midOctober, and area lake levels increased dramatically. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a state disaster declaration for 18 Hill Country counties. Lake Travis hit its fifth highest crest on record on Oct. 19, at 704.2 feet. The Llano River peaked at 18 feet above major flood stage, according to the United States Geological Survey. The river increased from a flow of 2,580 cubic feet per second to 277,000 in 24 hours. Videos of the river and the damage caused flooded the internet, including videos of the FM 2900 bridge in Kingsland breaking away and flowing downstream. The Lower Colorado River Authority closed each of the Hill Country reservoirs it owns. Central Texas rivers and reservoirs also were impacted, with Belton, Stillhouse Hollow, Whitney and Waco all showing major increases in lake levels. Lake Belton was 13,67 feet high, Stillhouse Hollow 10.02 feet, Whitney 10 feet and Waco nearly 20 feet on Oct. 20. North Texas lakes rose significantly from the rains, with Lake Texoma now 12 feet high, and only one high-water boat ramp open at Grapevine Lake. The long-term news for area lakes, though, for fishermen and for those concerned with water supplies, is good.
A N N UA L 2 018
Big red drum are being landed from piers and near jetties along the Texas coast. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Fishermen at Galveston’s 61st Street Fishing Pier have been reaping the rewards of the bull redfish run. On Oct. 22, seven fishermen posed for photographs with their bull red, causing
the Pier to post on social media that the reds were coming in “left and right.” The top redfish leading the pier’s Redfish Rodeo that runs the month of October is 44 3/4 inches. The Galveston Fishing Pier also reported the reds
are running. At the pier’s redfish tournament on Oct. 21, the winning fish measured 42 7/8 inches, and one angler landed the most fish with 26 redfish. Near the Port O’Connor jetties, Capt. Nathan Beabout has been taking many Please turn to page 11
A whole new ballgame
Bucks displaced by floods are forced to fight for territory, as they have moved into areas dominated by other bucks. Photo by Joe Richards.
Healthy range conditions, flooding affect deer, upcoming rut
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Normally, deer hunters are checking game cameras, blinds and scouting for the opening of
the general season Nov. 3. In many parts of Texas, heavy rains changed the game plan, with the focus turning to fixing fencing and water gaps. Also, leaseholders are preparing for
lots of walking to hunting areas, as rutting up ranch roads can be a sure way to spend your last season on a lease. Flooding has displaced a lot of deer, especially in the Hill Country Please turn to page 13
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Conditions could set stage for improvement
A severe summer had quail enthusiasts in the Rolling Plains region of Texas discouraged. A glimmer of hope sur-
group of quail hunters at the State of the Quail meeting, held Oct. 17 in Dallas, that the likelihood of chicks surviving the combination of cold and wet conditions was not very good. “I’m very nervous about that,” Rollins said. “For those birds that are less than 3 or 4 weeks old, it was probably a death knell for them due to Please turn to page 13
CONTENTS
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Lone Star Outdoor News
faced with the September rains, as some late nesting occurred and ranchers were seeing some new chicks on the ground. The October rains, mixed with cold temperatures, though, likely will stifle that hope. Dr. Dale Rollins, executive director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, told a
It was a tough spring and summer for bobwhites in the Rolling Plains. Conditions have improved, as has the outlook for next season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12
Duck call maker (P. 4)
High tides remain (P. 8)
Dream as kid realized.
Conditions offshore to blame.
Wet bow hunt (P. 4)
River guides hampered (P. 8)
Splashing gives nilgai away.
Flooding cuts into business.
Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 20 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 22
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Rolling Plains quail forecast dim