8 minute read
Game Warden Blotter
ALLEGED MURDERER FOUND ON TEXAS RANCH
A Honduran man who was arrested for alleged criminal trespassing on a private ranch in Texas over the weekend has an active warrant for murder in his home country, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety said. Wilmer Castro-Murillo, 44, was found on a private ranch in Maverick County and taken into custody. DPS performed an Interpol records check and learned of the warrant.
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REWARD OFFERED FOR POACHER OF TWO DEER
A deer poacher is being sought in McLennan County. According to 25News, a person driving a newer silver Ford F-150 shot and killed two white-tailed deer, a buck and a doe, then left the deer at the entrance to the Lake Waco Marina on Oct. 12. After shooting the deer, the same suspect is believed to have burglarized The Minnow restaurant which is also on the lake. Waco Police are investigating the burglary. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Contact Operation Game Thief with information.
RED STAG ON NATIONAL FOREST
At the Sam Houston National Forest and Wildlife Management Area, Kiel Peterson was hunting for white-tailed doe and was walking back to his truck. A doe came dashing through, being pursued. But it wasn’t a white-tailed buck that was chasing, it was a big red stage bull. According to a social media post, “the doe quickly busted me but I knew there might be another one. Knocked an arrow just in case. Well, this monster red stag was following her. I drew back and waited for my shot. Luckily was only 16 yards through some light branches.” Unfortunately for Peterson, the rules of hunting on the land, managed by the state, had a box indicating the wildlife that could be hunted, and red stag wasn’t on it. On private land, the kill would have been legal, as red stag aren’t considered game animals in Texas. The list of animals that could be taken included white-tailed doe and hogs, but didn’t include exotics, and the red stag bull was seized. “I’ll wear the ticket,” Peterson said. “It is my mistake.” Peterson received a Class C citation, although there may be further discussions when he meets with the judge. The incident caused a stir on social media sites, with many hunters thinking they would have done the same thing, while others commented on public land hunts, the rules are very specific and different from hunting on private land.
BOAT HITS ROCKS NEAR BOLIVAR FERRY LANDING
The Coast Guard rescued two men from a vessel taking on water near Galveston. Command center watchstanders received a phone call at approximately 2 p.m. from the operator of a 17-foot craft who said his boat ran aground on rocks north of the Bolivar Ferry Landing and was taking on water. A response boat was launched, and once on scene, the crew took aboard the two boaters and transported them to a public boat ramp on the Bolivar Peninsula. No injuries were reported. The vessel’s owner will arrange for salvage of the pleasure craft, which was aground and anchored on the rocks.
REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263
AN AMERICAN LEGEND
RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE
Quail award
Continued from page 5
Tall Timbers’ model across the Piney Woods region.
Ribelin said he appreciated the award, as he was the “first one who was an outsider” to receive it, and he believed in what Tall Timbers is doing.
“The big thing I’m pushing is the expansion of the methods to 25 states,” he said. “Bill Palmer (Tall Timbers president and CEO) has a common sense, simple philosophy: habitat, feed them, get rid of some of the predators and don’t harvest too many. If you keep the numbers up, it’s easier for them to bounce back.”
Ribelin said in Florida and Georgia, where they previously had one bird per 10 acres, they now have one bird per acre.
“The plantations are running six to eight covers per hour,” he said. “We get that per day if we’re lucky.”
At 91 years old, Ribelin is getting both knees replaced in early November, then plans to get back on the golf course by May.
“I’ve shot my age every year, except one, since I was 66,” he said. “I should be able to do it at 91.”
NATIONAL
NEBRASKA Bowmar’s plead guilty
Josh and Sarah Bowmar, collectively known as Bowmar Hunting, LLC, were charged in 2020 with several hunting-related offenses. The original charges filed by a U.S. attorney sought the forfeiture of three whitetail bucks killed in 2016 and 2017 by the couple, a compound bow, and monetary reparations equal to the value of the property involved.
Other violations included hunting turkeys without a valid permit, illegally transporting game across state lines, and illegal baiting of wildlife, among others. The charges stemmed from the largest poaching sting operation in Nebraska state history.
The Bowmar’s withdrew their not-guilty pleas and pleaded guilty to one count of the charges as part of an agreement dropping other charges.
The Bowmar poaching case gained attention due to the couple’s following in the hunting and fitness communities.
—Staff report
ARKANSAS Turkey reproduction rises
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Turkey Program coordinator Jeremy Wood gave some preliminary results of the 2022 Wild Turkey Population Survey, which indicates some of the best reproduction in parts of Arkansas since 2012.
Participants in the survey recorded an average of 1.79 poults per hen throughout spring and summer.
“Historically what biologists want to see is in the ballpark of 1.8 to 2 poults per hen,” Wood said.
The numbers were consistently positive across the state. The ratio ranged from a high of 2.21 poults per hen in the Delta to a low of 1.46 poults per hen in the Ouachita Mountains.
Gobbler-to-hen ratios saw a decrease, but Wood explained this is common during years of high reproduction.
—AGFC
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NEW JERSEY Record hybrid striped bass
John Vayda caught the new state record hybrid striped bass in Monskville Reservoir on Oct. 9. The fish weighed 16 pounds, 10 ounces, and measured 31 inches in length with a girth of 23 inches. It replaces Bill Schmidt’s 1999 record hybrid that weighed 16 pounds, 4 ounces.
The fish was most likely from a small New Jersey Fish and Wildlife stocking back in May of 2017. —NJDNR
WASHINGTON D.C. Effort to stop illegal fishing abroad
The Congressionally established U.S. Interagency Working Group on IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) Fishing released its wide-reaching national five-year strategy for combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
The strategy details U.S. priorities to combat IUU fishing and promote maritime security. Over the next 5 years, the Working Group will engage with five priority flag states and administrations: Ecuador, Panama, Senegal, Taiwan and Vietnam. These flag states and administrations were selected in large part due to their demonstrated willingness and interest to take effective action against IUU fishing activities associated with their vessels. They are also located within priority regions identified as being at a high risk for illegal fishing activity, having no mechanism to prevent the entry of illegally caught seafood into the regional markets, and lacking the capacity to fully address such illegal activity.
The strategy calls for agencies to leverage existing tools and innovate new technologies to improve global governance, conservation and management measures.
—NOAA
HALF-BACK DUALLY
Capacity is split evenly: ½ corn & ½ protein
• 3 gravity-flow protein tubes • Directional corn spinner with eliminator plate • “The Timer” battery & solar panel incuded • 400, 600 & 1000# cap. Half-Back Gravity flow
Half-Back Gravity flow Xt
Half-Back reGulator
Half-Back SerieS
3 models - in 3 sizes: 400#, 600# and 1000# capacities: Half-Back Gravity Flow is the shortest. Half-Back Gravity Flow XT is 6” taller - allowing for more antler clearance. Half-Back Regulator lets you control how much feed is dispensed at your specified times.
CP REGULATOR
The Regulator has “The Timer” inside the gravity flow system allowing control of the feed amount while maintaining dispensed feed inside the feeder housing and tubes. You program to dispense feed up to six times/day at the rate of 2 lbs./ second & 360 lbs./day maximum.
Available in 2000 and 3000 lb. capacities including: CP, BP, CP Magnum, BP Magnum, CP 6-Tube, CP 6-Tube Magnum
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36” height 400 lb. cap.
42” height 600 lb. cap.
“BABY-BACK” SerieS VerY Low ProfiLe feederS
• 360o corn distribution or up to 50 feet in one direction via Outback’s “Pistolero” directional unit • 400, 600 & 1000# capacities
CF CORN FEEDER
with Solar Powered Timer • 600, 1000, 2000 & 3000# cap.
“ShAre-KroPPer”
fiSh feeder
Low ProfiLe direCtionAL feeder spreads heavier feed out to 50’ in 20’ wide pattern Low ProfiLe SPinner feeder spreads up to 360o
• 54” tall & 3’x3’ at base • Works equally well with all types of fish feed, corn or milo • Put on a pier, dock, bank or in truck bed • 24” tank diameter holds 175#
OUTBACK DELIVERS MAXIMUM QUALITY!
floating fish feed or 300# corn
BABY-BACK 300 QUAIL FEEDER
• Compact feeder features a 300 lb. hopper • Large feed tray with rain shield to keep feed dry • Feed area completely caged ensuring quail will have feed when they want it!
