November 24, 2023
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 20, Issue 7
Checking for shot pellets in bird meat
Larger bass deep, small bass shallow
Metal detectors can help By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Hunters like to cook their ducks, geese, sandhill
cranes and pheasant, and they like to share with others who haven’t tried them. They worry, though, what happens if one of their guests bites into a shotgun pellet? A chipped tooth doesn’t usually make for a
happy guest. Most hunters are careful when cleaning and preparing their birds for the grill or skillet, but nearly all have felt a pellet on their tongue, and hopefully not their tooth, in their Please turn to page 11
When it comes time to eating ducks, hunters try unique precautions to make sure no shotshell pellets are left in the meat. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
The perfect setting John Adami landed this largemouth on Falcon Lake. Photo from John Adami.
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Cooler, fall-like weather has entered much of the state recently, promoting a slow transition for largemouth bass. Good numbers of smaller fish seem to be holding in the shallows, while larger bass have been tougher to pin down, as they have been lurking in deeper water. Guide Brandon Dillard has been targeting largemouth bass on Squaw Creek Reservoir, where he said the majority of the fish are still hanging out in relatively deeper water. Stretches with 10-20 feet of water near main lake points have been holding the best concentrations of bass. “Deep-diving crankbaits, Carolina rigs and shaky heads have been producing the most consistent action,” Dillard said. “We have been catching anywhere from 20 to 40 fish per day. The bite has been pretty good.” Most of the bass have been in
After many days of either sweating or freezing in the blind, often fighting off wasps and other flying critters, wondering about the lack of deer movement, the abundance of acorns on the ground or any other reason deer may not be making an appearance, then it happens. A buck arrives, seemingly unconcerned with the surroundings, and gets ready to present the perfect shot. Photo by James Richards, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 20
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Houston Quail Coalition honors Baker
Former Sec. of State James Baker received the Houston Quail Coalition’s Lifetime Sportsman Award. Photo from Quail Coalition.
The Houston Chapter of the Quail Coalition hosted its Annual Dinner & Auction Oct. 18 at Houston Country Club, where they honored Secretary James A. Baker III with the group’s Lifetime Sportsman Award. The event was announced in mid-June and sold out within a week, and more than 300 sup-
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 25 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 26
porters packed the ballroom to raise money for quail conservation and to pay tribute to the 61st Secretary of State. Baker’s lifetime of achievements and his passion for quail hunting were recognized in a video played before his acceptance of the award. It was announced at the event that the annual Lifetime Sportsman Award would be named after
Baker in perpetuity. Baker was presented with a personalized bronze trophy of a trio of bobwhite quail sculpted by Walter Matia. Gordy & Sons Outfitters served as the Title Sponsor of the event, which was attended by quail hunters from across the state. The event grossed more than $621,000, and the net proceeds Please turn to page 6
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
Lone Star Outdoor News
HUNTING
FISHING
Hog hunting alone (P. 4)
State water snapper closed (P. 8)
Rancher hunts the night, donates meat.
Break until the New Year.
This beats the classroom (P. 24)
Chasing stripers (P. 8)
Students hunt coastal ducks.
Fish still scattered on some lakes.