December 14, 2018 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas

December 14, 2018

Volume 15, Issue 8

Mule deer antler restriction tested Goal of reduced harvest met By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News An experiment to help the mule deer population

in six Panhandle counties appeared to have achieved its first-year goals. The restriction in Briscoe, Childress, Cottle, Floyd, Hall and Motley counties prohibited the

harvest of any mule deer buck with a main beam outside spread of less than 20 inches. “The doe to buck ratio within the counties is highly skewed towards does, indicating a very

high buck harvest in the past,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Natural Resource specialist Sam Harryman. “With a more conservative buck harvest due to the antler restriction, the doe to

buck rations should become more balanced in time.” Matthew Cruse, a Texas game warden in the area, said the harvest reduction was significant. “We had a huge Please turn to page 15

Border to border chasing Most hunters found some pheasants over opening weekend in the Texas Panhandle, but reported overall numbers were down. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Wind, snow greet pheasant hunters By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News A windy weekend welcomed 120 pheasant hunters at the Olton Chamber of Commerce Pheasant Hunt during the opening weekend Dec. 1 and 2. “It was a fair opener,” said Adrienne Synatschk of the Chamber in Lamb County. “A storm blew through on the opening day and it was extremely windy — the wind blew 40 miles per hour with gusts to 60.” Synatschk’s husband, Alton, guided a group of hunters on some of the 15,000 acres made available for the event.

Rutting activity is still going on in North Texas, with bucks seen chasing does in most areas, although the rut is winding down. To the south, it’s just getting started, as several hunters reported young bucks chasing and coming to the rattling antlers. Some mature bucks also are participating. Photo by Dick Davis.

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Big rainbows on the Guad By David Sikes

Guides and anglers are landing big trout in the Guadalupe River, especially where Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited stocked larger fish along 12 miles of the river. Photo by David Sikes.

Thomas Schwab works at Reel Fly in Sattler near Canyon Lake, and said now is the time for fly-anglers to head to the river. “Despite the fairly quick flows, it’s been pretty good fishing,” he said. “Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited has stocked their fish, and they are huge. The river is wadeable.” Many longtime Texans hold fond memories of the Guada-

lupe River’s more indiscreet traditions. Floating Texas’ most celebrated stream is still a supreme rite of passage for teens. The Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake remains one of the more impressive and popular landscapes of Texas. Certainly, one to enjoy when cool waters complement a hot Texas day. And then there’s winter on the Guadalupe, when youthful squeals and robust flows are replaced by the reverence of a solitary fly-angler wading knee-

deep in a current too slight to carry inner tubes. River guides such as Chris Jackson, who owns Action Angler fly shop on River Road, sell this atmosphere, which pairs well with the lightest of tackle. They come wearing chest waders to guard against chilly waters released for the pleasure of anglers from the depths of Canyon Lake. Did you know the Guadalupe is listed as America’s southernmost trout stream? This tradition began in 1966, Please turn to page 11

Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10

HUNTING

FISHING

Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12

Hunting for dad (P. 4)

Big, but in slot (P. 8)

Son shoots buck for ailing father.

Double-digit reds.

Preserving land (P. 4)

Lake-record cat (P. 8)

Conservancy turns 20.

Blue caught from bank near McLane Stadium.

Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 24 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 25 Outdoor Datebook . . . . . Page 26

INSIDE

CONTENTS

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

For Lone Star Outdoor News


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December 14, 2018

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December 14, 2018

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HUNTING

A buck for dad By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News Curtis Luchak was spending time with his 90-year-old father, Steve, on Dec. 5. His father had been on hospice care for two weeks. “My brothers and sisters had been taking turns staying

with him 24 hours per day,” Curtis said. “I spent the night with him, and as I was leaving I told him I was going to hunt the next morning and shoot him a big buck. He couldn’t talk, but I know he knew what I said.” Curtis went to the family property near Weimer where

he learned to hunt and fish. “It was handed down from my mother’s side of the family; it’s where we all learned to do the outdoor stuff and where I shot my first deer with my grandfather and where my kids, now 30 and 27, grew up,” he said. “Dad started the property in the Colorado

County Wildlife Management Area and it really helped the deer. I plan to keep the tradition going for my grandchildren.” On the morning of Dec. 6, Curtis was in the stand. “I had a few deer I could make out before daylight,” he said. “When it started getting

After telling his ailing father he was going hunting, Curtis Luchak took this buck just moments before his father died. Photo from Curtis Luchak.

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Conservancy celebrates 20 years

Landowners have preserved more than 20 square miles of habitat since the establishment of the Cibilo Conservancy. Photo by Dave Richards.

Many acres of property protected By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News The Cibilo Conservancy, established in an effort to protect and preserve properties of its landowners, is 20 years old. After starting as a small land trust, it has

protected 12,961 acres of Texas Hill Country land. Boerne resident Brent Evans was involved in starting the Cibilo Nature Center a decade earlier, and now directs the Conservancy. “There was no land trust in the area, so we started the new nonprofit,” he said. “You need the land trust to monitor the property each year to make sure the ease-

ment is being followed.” Local residents and ranchers saw what was coming — fragmented ranches and development — and wanted to preserve their hunting, ranching and the watershed, and encourage their neighbors to do the same. Conservation easements were used to set the guidelines for what could and could not be done on

the property, no matter if it passed to the next generation or sold. The conservation easement, a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently limits uses of the land in the future to protect its conservation values, keeps the right to own and use the land, sell it and pass it on to their heirs with the landowner. But, it also enables

the landowner to protect the land from being subdivided, overly developed, or destroyed by future owners. “You can paint the picture of what you want in the future,” Evans said. “Almost all that have set up conservation easements want to preserve the hunting out here. The deer tend to grow in numbers and browse everything within Please turn to page 21

Spot-and-stalk buck a valued trophy By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News When it comes to harvesting game, the term trophy is in the eye of the hunter. Atkins resident Ben Barnhart successfully executed an impromptu spot and stalk on a mature whitetail that most seasoned hunters would consider a management buck. But due to the effort in taking the animal, Barnhart cherishes the memory of this buck as much as any other After a lengthy stalk, Ben Barnhart took this buck near Sonora. Photo from Ben Barnhart.

he’s taken over the years. Barnhart was hunting at a friend’s lease near Sonora when the adventure took place. His morning started off fairly routine, as he spent the first few hours of the day in a box blind overlooking a feeder. “I didn’t observe much activity from the blind,” he said. “Other than a few does, the brush was pretty much void of movement.” Barnhart and his counterpart were almost back to

camp after the slow morning sit, when they spotted a mature buck moving through the area on the other side of some cattle pens. “The buck was heading towards a water trough,” Barnhart said. “When he stretched out his body while jumping the fence, I knew he was a big boy.” At first glance, Barnhart thought the deer was a typical 8-pointer, as he glassed the buck’s right side. When the buck turned his head,

he realized his left side was missing some tines. Barnhart and his companion immediately sprung into action. “The next thing I knew, we were sneaking up toward the deer, which had his back to us, all the while keeping the cattle pens between him and us,” Barnhart said. “I tried to get a shot while resting on one of the cattle panels, but the brush surrounding the buck was too high.” The deer ended up moving out of the pair’s sight, and Please turn to page 19


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Warden keeps duck hunters legal

For Lone Star Outdoor News Game Warden Rocky Corona stood before six duck hunters at a Port Mansfield boat ramp and the first license he checked created an issue. “Sir, we’ve got a problem here,” he said. “Where is your federal duck hunting stamp?” The hunter stepped forward and started to explain. “Well, here’s what happened,” he said. “I left my original license at home and got a replacement down here. But the original

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Game warden Rocky Corona checks duck hunters at Port Mansfield. Photo by Robert Sloan, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

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December 14, 2018

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license is the one with the federal duck stamp.” Corona looked at the hunter, folded up the license, stuck it his pocket and told the hunter he’d get back with him later. The rest of the hunters had the proper paperwork. But there was one who didn’t have his license on him. “You checked me the other day and looked at my license,” he said. Corona politely replied that the law requires a hunter to have his license with him on every hunt. He did remember checking the hunter’s license a few days earlier.

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December 14, 2018

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Grant Stepan was announced the recipient of Dallas Safari Club’s Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award for 2019. Stepan, of San Antonio, will receive the award at the DSC Annual Convention on Jan. 19. A freshman at Texas A&M-Kingsville studying range and wildlife management, Stepan has already established himself as an exceptional hunter and conservationist. He began hunting at age 6 with his father, and has been on many hunts with him and the rest of the family in North America, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia. Stepan is especially proud of establishing the Central Catholic Woods and Waters Club as a high school student. Club members work toward the mission of “expanding the appreciation for the blessings of the outdoors through stewardship, conservation, ethical sportsmanship and camaraderie.” Stepan is a member of DSC, NRA, NWTF and CCA, and is an Eagle Scout and JROTC First Sergeant. This award honors young hunters who have met a very strict set of criteria for hunting and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership. The award is named for Colin Caruthers, the son of Tommy and Pat Caruthers, longtime DSC Life Members who have been integral to the development of outdoor education programs for DSC. —DSC

Falfurrias FFA hunting tradition continues

Seven Falfurrias FFA members were drawn to participate in a South Texas hunt, many on their first hunt. Photo from Megan Kolbe.

For Falfurrias FFA members, fall brings the opportunity to drop your name into a hat for an opportunity to spend the weekend chasing white-tailed deer on a pristine piece of South Texas ranch country. This year, seven lucky FFA members had the opportunity to hunt on the King Ranch. The hunts were organized by FFA Advisor and Texas Youth Hunter Program Huntmaster Megan Kolbe, and hosted by Superior Energy for the past two seasons, allowing youth to experience the hunt of a lifetime harvesting native game while being mentored by top-notch hunting guides and wildlife professionals. Over the course of the weekend, youth hunters had the opportunity to see numerous species of native and exotic game,

learn proper and positive firearm safety methods, identify ethical and safe outdoor situations, and connect with a way of life that goes back generations. Youth hunters also spent time with Texas game wardens learning about how they can protect our natural resources, helping develop a personal ethic for our wildlife and its habitat. Each of the youth hunters were successful in the pursuit of their chosen game on this year’s hunt and, for most, it was their first harvest. “To see the pure excitement on a child’s face after they harvest their first animal is something every person should experience,” Kolbe said. —Megan Kolbe, Falfurrias FFA


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December 14, 2018

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Big buck steps out Hunt for tamale meat takes a turn By Tony Vindell

For Lone Star Outdoor News After what started as a meat hunt to make tamales, an Elsa man went home with the buck of a lifetime. Alonzo Elizondo said he went hunting on Nov. 24 hoping to get a nilgaI so his mom could have some of the corn husked-wrapped food that is more popular during the holidays. Armed with his bow and arrow, he said he stood behind a cluster of tall grass on at foggy morning in Alonzo Elizondo took this big buck with his bow while hunting in the brush at a place in northwest Willacy County in late November. Photo from Alonzo Elizondo. Willacy County. Elizondo said he saw a small nilsaid. “It’s half-Godzilla, half-King Kong.” gai cow emerging out of the grass Elizondo said he has never seen such a and waited a few seconds until a larger anbuck before. telope came out. “I hunt in a lot of places,” he said, “and “But all of a sudden, I saw a set of antlers behind the cow,” he said. “It was a white- never seen anything like it.” After the deer was loaded onto the truck, tailed buck but I could not tell how big it Elizondo said he stopped at an Elsa meat was until I saw the whole head.” Elizondo said he let an arrow go toward market to show it off and to buy Mexican the lung area and saw the deer disappear barbecue for his mom. He said scores of people gathered around into the fog. A few minutes later, he said he walked to- to look at the trophy buck and many of ward the area and found the deer about 30 them started taking pictures with their cell phones. yards away. Elizondo said game wardens with the Tex“I couldn’t believe my eyes,” he said. as Parks and Wildlife Department checked “What I saw was a mega monster.” Elizondo said he counted more than 40 the deer out and told him everything was points on the deer antlers and had to call all right. “This is a true giant,” he said of the buck. someone to help him load the animal on “I don’t usually have buck fever, but when I the bed of a pickup truck. “I am calling this deer The Texan,” he saw this deer I started shaking all over.”

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December 14, 2018

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FISHING

Find your favorite bassfishing pro

Brazos Lake blue catfish record By Lili Sams

Lone Star Outdoor News Tony Montoya caught not only one, but two huge catfish on the same day. After an adventure getting his largest fish weighed, he now holds the new lake record for blue catfish on Brazos Lake. The Waco resident was fishing with his buddy, Cody Cox, on the morning of Dec 2 when he brought in a 40.8-pound blue catfish, a fish that may have been a lake record.

The pair frequent the banks of the Brazos River and are avid night fishermen. “I’m out there fishing any chance I get,” Montoya said. Around 6 p.m. the same night, the pair went back to the same spot along the bank where they had success earlier that morning. Using 7-inch shad chunks for bait, not 30 minutes later, Montoya hooked another monster. “I knew he was good, but didn’t know he was that good,” Montoya recalled. A 52.6-pound blue catfish was on the Please turn to page 13

Lone Star Outdoor News With the shake-up as a result of the new Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, bass tournament fans may be wondering where their favorite Texas angler may be fishing in 2019. The final rosters are out, and of the 80 anglers in the Pro Bass Tour, 68 came from the Elite Series and 12 came from the FLW Tour. The Texas pros fishing the three series:

Fishing from the bank near Baylor University’s McLane Stadium, Tony Montoya landed a 52.6-pound blue catfish, a Brazos Lake record. Photo by John Tibbs, TPWD.

Double-digit slot reds a rare trophy

Elite Series Keith Combs, Huntington Ray Hanselman, Del Rio Carl Jocumsen, Frisco Lee Livesay, Longview Yusuke Miyazaki Forney Randy Sullivan, Breckenridge Frank Talley, Temple Clark Wendlandt, Leander Brad Whatley, Bivins FLW Christopher Brasher, Longview Jimmy Brewer, Marshall Robert Case Jr., Point Todd Castledine, Nacogdoches Russell Cecil, Willis Tommy Dickerson, Orange Kurt Dove, Del Rio Dakota Ebare, Stephenville Lendell Martin Jr., Nacogdoches Chris McCall, Palmer Dicky Newberry, Houston James Niggemeyer, Van Jordan Osborne, Longview Tom Redington, Royse City Matt Reed, Madisonville Jason Reyes, Huffman Troy Roder, Brookeland Zell Rowland, Montgomery Jim Tutt, Longview Matt Wittekiend, Angleton Gary Yamamoto, Palestine Bass Pro Tour Alton Jones, Lorena Alton Jones Jr., Lorena Gary Klein, Weatherford Kelly Jordon, Palestine Takahiro Omori, Emory Todd Faircloth, Jasper The Elite Series will make one stop in Texas, at Lake Fork on May 2-6. The FLW Tour will come to Sam Rayburn Reservoir Jan. 1013. The MLF Pro Bass Tour’s eight event locations had not been released as of press time.

Devin Lessner landed a redfish that fell within the 28-inch slot, but weighed 10.25 pounds, while fishing in the Lower Laguna Madre. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News Landing redfish that tip the scales to 10 pounds or more during the fall months is fairly common. Catching a double-digit red drum in the legal slot size range of 20-28 inches is not.

Devin Leissner was fortunate enough to tangle with one of these giant slot reds recently near Port Mansfield. The San Antonio resident was wade-fishing along the Lower Laguna Madre under the guidance of Capt. Aaron Cisneros with a college buddy when he landed his personal best legal-sized redfish that measured 27 7/8 inches and

weighed in at 10.25 pounds. “We had just arrived at our second spot for the afternoon and I was lingering behind at the boat tying on a new leader just minutes before the excitement took place,” Leissner said. “The guide and my counterpart were about 75 yards out in front of me when I stepped out of the boat into the shin-deep Please turn to page 13

The double hook-up By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News Noel Skinner made a memory he’ll never forget while fishing upper Galveston Bay with his son, Brandon. The two anglers were drifting in about 6 feet of water, chunking MirroLures when they both cast toward a swirl along the surface. After just a few cranks of the reel handle, they both set the hook on a strike that bent their rods. They later realized they were hooked up with the same speckled trout. Upon landing the fish, Skinner found both lures stuck in the speck’s face. Photo by Nate Skinner.


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Winter striper season is here

December 14, 2018

Page 9

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Anglers on Lake Texoma and Possum Kingdom are bringing in striped bass by dead-sticking plastics and casting swimbaits. Photo from Capt. Steve Barnes.

Lone Star Outdoor News Capt. Steve Barnes has put away his cast nets and is spending the winter months chasing striped bass with artificial lures. “The colder temperatures with chances of rain — or even snow — turn the fish on,” he said. “In winter, I have more confidence with artificial lures over live bait.” Barnes dead-sticks a soft plastic fluke-type lure on a 1-ounce jig head, holding it still and allowing the slow drift of the boat to move the lure. “Lures in white, silver and chartreuse work best for me,” he said. “I think the fish see contrast in color better than baits that are one color, so if I have a chartreuse jig head I use a white or light-colored fluke and if I have a white jig head, I use a chartreuse fluke.” Barnes occasionally finds birds working, and otherwise drifts areas where fish have been feeding — getting their attention by splashing the water or beating on the side of the boat. “When that doesn’t work, we’ll cast swimbaits on the rocky shorelines until we find active fish,” he said. “We’re bringing in a lot of good box fish and some over 20 inches. The big fish are on the move. I’m breaking out the winter gear and going fishing even on days with no customers.” At Possum Kingdom Lake, Guide Randy Wood said dead-sticking is working for stripers, with some good blue catfish mixed in. “The birds are working, and there are plenty of fish but they are moving fast,” he said. “The fish chased the bait up shallow several times; we switch to swimbaits when that happens.”

Angler lands staterecord meanmouth Cody Morrison, from Pilot Point, was fishing Lake Ray Roberts on October 13 when he caught what he thought was a giant smallmouth. It turned out he caught a state-record meanmouth, a cross between a smallmouth and spotted bass. On his way back to the ramp in the rain, Morrison stopped at a favorite spot near the mouth of Wolf Creek. He threw a chartreuse and white spinner bait and got a bite on the first cast. “I knew I had something good as I couldn’t get it under control,” he said in his account to lakerecord.net. Once Morrison reeled in the fish, he took a photo and sent it to his friends. They replied and mentioned that it might be a meanmouth, which prompted him to get it checked out by the state park. Morrison’s friends were correct. The catch weighed 5.96 pounds, according to TPWD, making it a Texas state record. On Dec 2, Morrison received official papers of his new state record. —Staff report

Photo from Cody Morrison

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December 14, 2018

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: Water clear main lake, stained up the river; 57-64 degrees; 4.45’ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on cut and live bait. AMISTAD: Water murky; 70-74 degrees; 25.88’ low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. ARROWHEAD: Water stained; 55-63 degrees; 0.17’ low. Black bass are fair dead-sticking weighted soft plastics. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait and nightcrawlers. ATHENS: Water clear; 49-52 degrees; 0.25’ high. Black bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are slow. AUSTIN: Water stained; 48-54 degrees; 0.66’ low. Black bass are slow to fair on Texas rigs, spoons and jigs. Sunfish are fair on cut nightcrawlers and corn. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait. BASTROP: Water stained; 70-74 degrees. Black bass are good on watermelon worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on hot dogs and stink bait. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch. BELTON: Water murky; 69-73 degrees; 2.27’ high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. BENBROOK: Water stained; 4953 degrees; 1.34’ high. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are slow. Catfish are fair on trotlines. BOB SANDLIN: Water lightly stained; 51-54 degrees; 0.24’ high. Black bass are good on bladed jigs, Texas-rigged worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on minnows and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on trotlines and cut shad. BONHAM: Water stained; 4953 degrees; 0.13’ high. Black bass are slow. Crappie are good on brush piles on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. BRAUNIG: Water murky. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. Redfish are slow. Channel catfish are slow. Blue catfish are slow. BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained to stained; 49-51 degrees: 0.17’ low. Black bass are fair on jerkbaits in mat shad and underspins with plastics. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow. BROWNWOOD: Water murky; 70-74 degrees; 0.04’ low. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits, crankbaits and pumpkinseed soft plastic worms over brush piles in 10-20 feet. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair on jigs and pet spoons off lighted docks at night. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait over baited holes in 12-20 feet. BUCHANAN: Water murky; 69-73 degrees; 1.94’ low. Black bass are fair on white spinner baits, lipless crankbaits and white/chartreuse crankbaits in 8-20 feet. Striped bass are good on top-waters and drifting or free-lining live bait in 25-40 feet. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on watermelon tube jigs and live minnows. Channel catfish are good on liver, min-

nows and cheese bait. Yellow and blue catfish are good on live shad. CADDO: Water lightly stained; 52-55 degrees; 1.15’ high. Black bass are good on Texasrigged creature baits, lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. CALAVERAS: Water murky. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. Redfish are slow. Catfish are slow. CANYON LAKE: Water murky; 71-75 degrees; 0.41’ high. Black bass are fair on watermelon/red stick worms, drop-shot rigs and Texas- worms. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on jigs at night. Crappie are fair on minnows upriver. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are good on trotlines and juglines baited with live goldfish and perch. CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 49-53 degrees, 0.02’ high. Black bass are fair on spinner baits, Texas-rigged creature baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. CHOKE CANYON: Water murky; 71-75 degrees; 13.91’ low. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Drum are slow. Catfish are slow. COLEMAN: Water murky; 7074 degrees; 0.20’ low. Black bass are fair on white spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. Hybrid striper are good on green striper jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are fair on shrimp and minnows. COLETO CREEK: Water stained; 97 degrees at the hot water discharge, 70-74 degrees in main lake; 0.18’ high. All species are slow. COLORADO CITY: Water fairly clear; 56-64 degrees; 12.13’ low. Black bass are slow to fair on weighted soft plastics fished slowly or dead-sticked. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait. CONROE: Water murky; 71-75 degrees; 0.07’ high. Black bass are good on green/ pumpkin soft plastics, lipless crankbaits and crankbaits in 10-25 feet. Striped bass are good on chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on stink bait and shrimp. COOPER: Water stained to muddy; 81-84 degrees; 0.04’ low. Black bass are good on weightless stick worms, swim jigs and Texas-rigged craws. Crappie are fair on minnows. Hybrid striper and white bass are fair on slabs. CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: Water murky; 58-63 degrees; 0.34’ high. Black bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs, spoons and jigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut shad. EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water lightly stained; 49-51 degrees; 0.05’ high. Black bass are good on shaky-head worms, square-

billed crankbaits and bladed jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines. FAIRFIELD: Water lightly stained. Black bass are fair on Texas-rigged craws, bladed jigs and spinner baits. No report on other species. FALCON: Water murky; 70-74 degrees; 22.60’ low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. FAYETTE: Water murky. Black bass are fair on chartreuse Carolina-rigged soft plastics over grass in 6-10 feet. Redear are good on worms in 4-10 feet. Channel and blue catfish are slow. FORK: Water lightly stained; 50-53 degrees; 0.40’ low. Black bass are slow to fair on bladed jigs, Carolina-rigged creature baits and flutter spoons. White and yellow bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 43-51 degrees; 0.58’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, shaky heads and jigs. Crappie are fair to good on live minnows around deeper structure. Catfish are good on live and cut bait. GIBBONS CREEK: Water murky. Black bass are fair on perch-colored spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on hot dogs, shrimp, and liver. GRANBURY: Water murky; 70-74 degrees; 0.12’ low. Black bass are good on green/pumpkin soft plastic worms and lizards. Striped bass are good on green striper jigs. White bass are fair on minnows, hellbenders and pet spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on stink bait, shrimp and live minnows. GRANGER: Water murky; 6973 degrees; 0.51’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Yellow catfish are slow. GRAPEVINE: Water stained to muddy; 49-52 degrees; 5.51’ high. Black bass are fair on medium crankbaits, bladed jigs and shakyhead worms. White bass and hybrid bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. GREENBELT: Water off-color; 54-62 degrees; 36.45’ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow to fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and cut bait. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water murky; 66-70 degrees; 0.14’ high. Black bass are fair on spinner baits, soft plastics and lipless crankbaits. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows around brush in 20 feet. Bream are good on live worms. Channel and blue catfish are fair on juglines baited with live bait. HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 43-48 degrees; 0.12’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on

live and cut bait. JOE POOL: Water stained to muddy; 50-53 degrees; 0.04’ high. Black bass are fair on bladed jigs, Texas-rigged creature baits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 51-53 degrees: 1.66’ high. Black bass are good on bladed jigs, lipless crankbaits and Texas-rigged craws. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait. LAVON: Water stained to muddy; 50-53 degrees: 0.85’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. LBJ: Water murky; 68-72 degrees; 0.97’ low. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits, clear swimbaits and chartreuse stick worms at daylight. Striped and white bass are good on jigs at night. Crappie are fair on white tube jigs and live minnows over brush piles. Channel catfish are good on minnows and liver. Yellow and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited with live bait. LEWISVILLE: Water stained to muddy; 49-52 degrees; 1.38’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 71-75 degrees; 0.13’ high. Black bass are good on spinner baits, buzzbaits and soft plastics. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Blue catfish are good on shad. MACKENZIE: Water stained; 56-63 degrees; 78.07’ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow to fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers. MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 81-85 degrees; 0.01’ high. Black bass are good on Texas-rigged craws, swim jigs and split shot flukes. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines. MEREDITH: Water fairly clear; 51-63 degrees; 49.25’ low. No reports on black bass. No reports of smallmouth. There are a few reports of walleye being caught on live bait and artificials. Bream and channel catfish are being caught in limited numbers. MONTICELLO: Water stained; 49-52 degrees; 2.42’ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow. NASWORTHY: Water stained; 42-49 degrees; 0.6’ low. Black bass are slow. No reports on crappie. Catfish are fair to good on live bait and nightcrawlers. NAVARRO MILLS: Water murky; 67-71 degrees; 5.05’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 44-52 degrees; 20.01’ low.

Black bass are fair dead-sticking stick worms, Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on cut and live bait. OAK CREEK: Water stained; 43-50 degrees; 0.47’ high. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait. PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 49-51 degrees; 0.27’ high. Black bass are good on shaky-head worms, black and blue jigs and bladed jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and white jigs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Catfish are good on trotlines. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 47-53 degrees; 0.07’ high. Black bass are slow to fair on drop-shot rigs, jigs, Texas rigs and shaky heads. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs around structure. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live shad. Catfish are fair on live and cut bait. PROCTOR: Water murky; 67-71 degrees; 0.11’ high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 49-52 degrees; 0.08’ low. Black bass are good on shaky-head worms, Texasrigged creature baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow. RAY ROBERTS: Water stained to muddy: 48-51 degrees; 3.72’ high. Black bass are fair on green/pumpkin jigs, bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits. White bass are fair on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water lightly stained; 48-51 degrees; 0.13’ high. Black bass are fair on weightless flukes, lipless crankbaits and Texas-rigged craws. White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Hybrid striper are good on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines and prepared bait. SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 70-74 degrees; 0.45’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Bream are slow. Catfish are slow. SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 71-75 degrees; 0.22’ high. Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are good on spoons and slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and green/black jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on stink bait, liver and cheese bait. STAMFORD: Water stained to muddy; 52-63 degrees; 0.92’ high. Black bass are fair on shaky heads, Texas rigs and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows around structure. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Blue catfish are fair to good on cut and live bait. STILLHOUSE: Water murky; 6872 degrees; 8.55’ high. Black bass are slow. White bass are

n Saltwater reports Page 25 slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. TAWAKONI: Water stained to muddy; 50-53 degrees; 0.46’ high. Black bass are fair on white bladed jigs, black and blue jigs and Texas-rigged creature baits on docks. White bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid bass are good on slabs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on trotlines. TEXANA: Water stained; 57-64 degrees; 0.25’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, jigs and stick worms. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers and cut bait. TEXOMA: Water stained to muddy; 48-50 degrees; 1.19’ high. Black bass are good on Texas-rigged craws, lipless crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Striped bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on trotlines. TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 71-75 degrees; 1.81’ low. Black bass are good on green/pumpkin, watermelon and redbug soft plastic worms in 20 feet. Striped bass are good on spoons. White bass are good on spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows. Bream are good on nightcrawlers. Channel and blue catfish are good on nightcrawlers and stink bait. TRAVIS: Water murky; 69-73 degrees; 0.02’ high. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. WALTER E. LONG: Water murky. Black bass are good on dark soft plastic worms near the dam at night. Hybrid striper are good on silver striper jigs. White bass are good on cut shad and minnows near the power plant. Crappie are good on red wigglers. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shad and cut bait at the gravel pit. Yellow catfish are fair on goldfish. WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 49-52 degrees; 0.22’ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on trotlines. WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 43-49 degrees; 23.12’ low. Black bass are slow to fair on Texas rigs and jigs. Crappie are. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers. WHITNEY: Water murky; 68-72 degrees; 0.37’ low. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 50-53 degrees; 4.24’ high. Black bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits, lipless crankbaits and weightless stick worms. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on trotlines.

—TPWD


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LoneOStar Outdoor News

December 14, 2018

Page 11

Guadalupe trout Continued from page 1

after the completion of Canyon Lake dam, when Harry Jersig, president of Lone Star Brewing Co., and a Texas Parks and Wildlife commissioner, donated 10,000 trout for release into the tailrace waters below the lake. Since then, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has stocked hundreds of thousands of mostly rainbow trout into the river. The annual effort was intended to be a put and take fishery. But a while back, biologists discovered survivors in the deep chilly waters near the dam. Some even reproduce, creating wild offspring. Rainbows live year-round within about 800 yards of the dam. River temperatures just below the dam generally remain below 74 degrees, which is required for trout survival. While much of the riverbank below the dam is privately owned, there are stretches available to the general public. Other coveted spots are leased by the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited club for its members. This organization is not just a fishing club. It’s a premier conservation group dedicated to maintaining a clean, sustainable ecosystem for wildlife and recreational use. Before the nonprofit group negotiated with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the river would sometimes trickle at 25 cfs or less. A recreational flow is the lifeblood of economies along this section of river. According to a TPWD study, visiting anglers spend $3.93 for every dollar spent by the state on the river. The winter fishery’s annual economic value to the region has gone from $164,537 in 2005 to $2.1 million, while the combined annual investment has gone from $126,664 to $1.9 million. These economic impact figures represent a conservative estimate based on a survey involving TU members. Trout Unlimited caters to a more serious angler, and they’re willing to pay for bigger fish. The club will release 12,000 pounds of rainbow trout this season, in three separate stockings along 12 miles of river. They will release another 2,000 pounds of brown trout, according to Jimbo Roberts, GRTU’s vice president for fisheries. Membership in the club provides certain privileges, such as access to several private stretches of the river. TU leases these riverfront properties, and members pay a fee for parking and foot access. Certain stretches of the river carry restrictions that might prohibit natural bait or require releasing all fish or keeping only fish of a certain size. These rules are meant to prolong the fishery. TPWD also has negotiated public fishing access to include riverbank access at Camp Huaco Springs from Dec. 4-March 12. Schwab said his best luck has come while using a nymphing rig, a three-fly rig with a strike indicator on the leader. “It seems to be doing the trick,” he said. “We use a stone fly trailed by an egg pattern or smaller midge.”

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Page 12

December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER FOILED BY FACEBOOK A Trinity County man posted information about a white-tailed buck he claimed to have taken on Nov. 4. Game wardens determined the man purchased his hunting license the next day. After monitoring the subject’s Facebook page for a couple of days, and noting he had already obtained the finished taxidermy mount of the antlers, wardens arrived at the residence and asked to see the hunter’s license. The hunting license was missing a mule deer tag, and the harvest log revealed the hunter killed a doe on the same day it was purchased. Wardens already knew a buck was killed and asked to see the head. The hunter led the wardens to the living room of the residence where the skull was European mounted and displayed on the wall. According to the subject, he had killed the buck on Nov. 4, and received the mount back the next day. After an interview, it was determined the buck was taken on Oct. 23 with a rifle during the archery-only hunting season. RESCUE ON THE PECOS A Val Verde County game warden responded to a kayaker in distress call. The paddler was part of a group that put in on the Pecos River at Pandale Crossing for a six-day, 55-mile kayak trip to the Rio Grande River. On the second day, a kayaker in the group took a hard fall on a white water rapids and injured his ribs causing breathing difficulty and was

have a hunting license. Multiple charges are pending.

COULDN’T RESIST BUCK WHEN SIGHTING IN RIFLE was possibly sick or diseased. Wardens examined the carcass and discovered the buck had died from a gunshot wound. The female finally confessed to intentionally shooting the buck in the field. Claiming never to have had the opportunity growing up to hunt nor harvest a wild animal, she decided to take a shot at the live target.

During the late-night hours, an Upshur County game warden received a call from a distraught couple claiming they had discovered a deceased 10-point buck on their property. The couple explained they noticed the dead buck lying in the field just beyond their target after recently sighting in hunting rifles. The callers requested the warden’s response due to concern that the deer

unable to continue. With over 40 miles of river left to navigate, they made an emergency call using a satellite phone and were able to give a rough location. The warden used his knowledge of the river and his relationship with area landowners to drive through some rough country to their location and extract the injured man. BIG BUCKS, WRONG LICENSE While inspecting a local game processor and taxidermist, a Waller County game warden came across three suspiciously tagged deer, including one with an entire hunting license tied to the antlers. The license was a non-resident 5-day special hunt permit, which is not valid for hunting deer in Texas. Two men had purchased the same type of permit, even though both had purchased the correct non-resident hunting license in the past. One man claimed a Walmart clerk had told them to

buy the 5-day permit if they were only planning on hunting a few days. However, he had bought his permit online. The other hunter did purchase his at Walmart, but it was a few days after the other hunter bought his license and harvested two of the bucks. All three deer, each exceeding 170 inches, were seized. The cases and restitution are pending. WHAT’S THAT STUFFED IN THE FLOORBOARD? A Harris County game warden was patrolling at night for hunting violations when he observed a vehicle exiting a distant wood line on a known hunting lease. A truck pulling a trailered UTV covered in heavy mud eventually emerged, and a field check was initiated. The two hunters in the truck admitted they had been bowhunting on the lease but hadn’t seen or killed any deer. The bed of the truck and trailer appeared empty

of any game, but upon opening the cab of the loaded UTV, an untagged and undersized 5-point buck was found stuffed into the floorboard. The occupants confessed to killing the deer and lying about what had transpired. NEIGHBOR SHOOTS DOE WITH .22 In Nacogdoches County, a landowner heard a .22 caliber shot on an adjacent property and reported it to game wardens. The warden found the carcass of a doe that had been shot in the head with a .22. After contacting the closest residence to the carcass, the warden found the individual who had shot the doe and had harvested the meat. WRONG WEAPON, NO LICENSE A Newton County resident took a white-tailed buck with a shotgun during archery-only season. The buck did not meet the antler restrictions and the subject did not

POACHER FOLLOWED, FINALLY CAUGHT An individual witnessed a deer being shot from the road and reported it to a Leon County game warden. The caller was following the shooter’s vehicle. The warden told the individual to call the Leon County Sheriff’s Department and give them the direction of travel and the sheriff’s office would relay the information to the wardens over the radio. As the wardens attempted to get in a position to intercept the vehicle, it became apparent the vehicle was crossing into Limestone County. A Limestone County game warden was contacted and joined in the search. After attempts by various law enforcement officers to intercept the violators, the wardens finally stopped the vehicle in Limestone County. A confession was obtained and cases are pending.

REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

December 14, 2018

Page 13

Fat slot redfish Continued from page 8

water. I was throwing a pink Skitterwalk and walking pretty fast, trying to catch up to them.” On his first cast with the top-water plug, Leissner was met with a pleasant surprise. “Seconds after my lure hit the water, it was slurped below the surface by what felt like a pretty heavy fish,” he said. “I was caught completely off guard. I wasn’t expecting to get a bite casting into the shallow stretch of water that the other two had just walked through.” Upon landing the hefty redfish, Leissner’s eyes were immediately drawn to the fish’s gut. “It was huge,” he said. “I’d never seen a belly like that on a fish before. I was almost positive that the red was going to measure out to be too long to keep, but it was just under 28 inches.” All the reds the group filleted at the end of the day had small blue crabs in their stomachs. “Perhaps this helped contribute to the fish’s hefty weight,” Leissner guessed. Dr. Chris Mace, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries biologist and the Aransas Bay Ecosystem leader said that at this time of year, female red drum are packing on extra weight

Record blue cat Continued from page 8

other end of the rod. The fish gave a good fight, but eventually Cox was able to lip it and get it on the bank. The friends knew time was against them, but wanted to get the fish weighed before releasing it. Their first stop was Cabela’s, but they arrived 15 minutes after the store closed. They drove to Academy, where they learned the store had stopped weighing fish. Finally, they were able to get in touch with a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department official. The fish measured 46 inches long and weighed 52.6 pounds, breaking the record for Lake Brazos. The previous blue catfish was 39.5 pounds, set in April of 2010. Montoya was cognizant of the time and how long the fish would live out of the water. He wrapped the fish in his sweatshirt that he soaked in water to keep the fish hydrated. “You learn to respect the animals, especially of that size,” he said. “I’m just super thankful for my buddy, he was right there with me giving it his all and I couldn’t have done it without him.” Montoya feels fortunate regarding his catches. “Breaking not one, but possibly two records in one day, now that’s pretty lucky,” Montoya said. “Maybe I should have bought a lottery ticket.”

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with the development of their ovaries as the species is in the peak of its spawning period. “They are supposed to be offshore spawning right now, but we know not all adult redfish escape our estuaries during the fall and winter,” Mace said. Mace said the red drum’s diet can also add to their weight, which would allow a legal, slot-sized fish to reach double digits. “Blue crab is a very nutritious diet that can add to the total weight of a redfish, and populations of blue crabs have been good to very good throughout our Texas estuaries over the last three years or so,” he said. “Redfish will eat just about anything that will fit in their mouths. A large mullet will also tip the scale up a pound or so if it was recently eaten and not yet digested.” Catching slot reds weighing 10 pounds or more is a feat that tournament pros dream about. Capt. Nathan Beabout regularly competes in redfish tournaments and said he’s seen very few reds under 28 inches reach 10 pounds. “An 8 1/2- to 9 1/2-pound slot red is a stud in most Texas estuaries,” he said. “A redfish weighing over 10 pounds is a true trophy.”

Wade-fishermen are bringing in hefty redfish along the Lower Laguna Madre. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.


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December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

BONUSES, CONTINGENCIES, SIDE POTS, & BOUNTIES 2nd annual lone star predator calling classic sponsored by

Hoffpauir group & lone star outdoor news THIS IS A 24 HOUR CONTEST. THE CONTEST DOES NOT PROVIDE THE LAND TO HUNT. ALL HUNTING MUST BE DONE WITHIN TEXAS.

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FEBRUARY 9-10, 2019

HOFFPAUIR RANCH & SUPPLY LAMPASAS, TEXAS • UP TO 4 MAN TEAMS • SIDE POTS • BOUNTY, BONUSES & CONTINGENCIES • WIN CALL SYSTEMS & OTHER GEAR general rules 1. Must follow all County, State and Federal hunting laws. If you break the law, your team will be disqualified. This includes having proper Texas hunting license. A Trappers license is NOT required to hunt. It is only required to sell your hides to a fur buyer. 2. 4 members maximum per team. 3. All team members must be present at weigh-in on Sunday to claim prize money. No Exceptions! 4. All team members must hunt together at all times. No splitting up. 5. All animals must be killed within this 24 hour hunting contest. 6. No trapped, snared, caged-raised, or frozen animals will be allowed. 7. No pooling of animals between teams. 8. No hunting in intentionally baited areas. 9. No modifying the weight of animals in any way. We will not weigh a wet animal. 10. No trolling. 11. All teams are responsible for removal and disposing of their animals in a legal manner. 12. No use of Aircraft or dogs. 13. The use of night vision of any kind and for any reason is prohibited. This includes thermal and infrared imaging. You cannot use it for spotting or finding wounded or dead animals. 14. Decisions of judges is FINAL! (Judges will be hunting in contest) 15. All cash winning teams are subject to polygraph.

• Hunting begins at 12:00 PM on Saturday February 9, 2019. Weigh-in is the following Sunday 12:00 PM at 10296 W FM 580, in Lampasas, TX. • Entry fee is $250 per team. • In the event of a tie. Winner will be determined by the team with most animals. Grand Prize and Jackpots will be split evenly. The $250 entry fee will be divided as follows $190 goes toward the Main contest. $60 will be divided evenly by each jackpot. • All teams will be entered in Jackpots. • Failure to check in with judges on Sunday by 12:00 PM sharp at the Burnet store with your entire team will result in disqualification of your team - No Visit us online Exceptions! www.hoffpauirexpo.com/predator-contest.html • Mail in entries are welcome, but must be received by the Thursday prior to contest. Mail-in entry fee must be made by Money Order or Cashiers Check. Please waive the signature requirement on any expedited shipping services. No personal checks, please!

See us on

stringer rules 1. Main pot will be determined by heavy stringer. 2. Stringer consists of one of each of the following; bobcat, coyote, gray fox and raccoon. (You don't have to have one of all four to weigh in). 3. Teams are responsible for picking their heaviest of each, we will not weigh more than one of each species!! 4. Side pots will be; heavy coyote, bobcat, fox and raccoon.

for more information contact Jason maroney or email info@Hoffpauirexpo.com

5. All cash winning teams are subject to polygraph.

LONE STAR PREDATOR CALLING CLASSIC - SPOSNSORED BY HOFFPAUIR GROUP & LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

TEAM NAME:

______________________________________________

TEAM MEMBERS

Address:____________________________________________________

____________________________

City:

__________________________ State: ______ Zip: ____________

____________________________

Phone: ____________________ Email: __________________________

____________________________

Team Leader Signature: ________________________________________

____________________________

Entry fee is $250 per team. All Teams must abide by the rules or be disqualified. All Cash Winning Teams are subject to polygraph test. Failure to check in with judges on Sunday by 12:00 PM sharp at the Hoffpauir Expo Grounds in Lampasas with your entire team will result in disqualification of your team - No Exceptions! Failure of polygraph constitutes immediate disqualification. I have read and understand all stated rules.


LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

December 14, 2018

Mule deer restrictions

Son’s deer for father

Continued from page 1

Continued from page 4

reduction in harvest, maybe 20-25 percent of what we normally see,” he said. “As far as compliance, we had around 75 percent compliance to the exact specifications.” Cruse said a few bucks were checked that measured just over 19 inches, and a few more around 18 inches. “And we had two or three small ones that were way under the restriction,” he said. Overall, Cruse said antler quality in the area was down. “It was hard for most of the hunters to find a legal buck,” he said. “Most of the legal bucks checked were 4 and 5 years old — we are hoping to get where the bucks taken are at least 5 years old.”

Cruse felt most hunters took their bucks to the voluntary check station to be aged and measured. “I think about 90 percent of them came in,” he said. “A few said they were headed in the other direction and couldn’t make it.” Most hunters were happy to have the restrictions, Cruse said. “I think in the next three to four years the number of successful harvest numbers will go up,” he said. “It pretty well fit what we thought it would.” The general firearm season in the six counties began Nov. 17 and ran through Dec. 2. The experimental antler restriction will be conducted for four hunting seasons.

light I could see a buck chasing a doe by a pond near the house. I started videotaping the chase, but then I noticed another buck behind the first buck.” Curtis noticed it was a bigger buck and put his phone down and grabbed his 6.5 Creedmore. “The doe ran into the woods and onto my cousin’s place,” he said. “The sun was up but the deer was gone.” Then he turned his attention back to the pasture. “The big buck was standing there, looking at me,” Curtis said. He made the shot, and later sent a photo of the deer to his friends and family, and wrote: “This buck is a tribute to my dad. He’s not doing good and don’t know if he will make it to the weekend.”

Page 15

Moments later, he heard from his brother. “He had shown the picture to my dad,” Curtis said. “My brother said my dad opened his eyes, then passed away five minutes later.” Curtis quickly gutted his deer, later realizing he probably ruined the cape for the taxidermist, and headed for the nursing home. “A friend called and asked, like people often do, ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ “I said, ‘Can you clean a deer for me?’” The friend did. When viewing cards to use at the funeral, the chosen card stood out. It had a buck and a doe near a pond,” he said. For Curtis, this hunt topped all others. “It was the most memorable hunt I’ve ever done,” he said. “It was like it was meant to be.”

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For home or office delivery, go to LSONews.com, or call (214) 361-2276, or send a check or money order to the address below. Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 21628300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $35 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $3, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2018 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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8/27/18 2:55 PM


Page 16

December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

HEROES

Landon Jeter, 8, shot his first deer with a .223 in Houston County.

Hunter Childress, of Dallas, shot this 8-point buck the day before Thanksgiving on the Dennis Ranch near Saint Jo.

Frank Bertolino was fishing with Port Mansfield guide Ruben Garza when he caught this 27-inch, 6.5-pound trout.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE

n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Email them with contact and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Kate Young, of Flower Mound, killed her first deer on opening weekend at Grape Creek near Fredericksburg.

Morgan Singletary, 6, shot this javelina while hunting with her dad, Steve, of Katy. They were hunting near Laredo and Morgan made the shot while lying prone with her .243.

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LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

December 14, 2018

Page 17

New guide makes home in Port Mansfield By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star Outdoor News Capt. Todd Grubert runs duck hunts out of Port Mansfield with his favorite hunting partner by his side at all times, his chocolate lab Mila. “Duck hunting provides a good break from the norm, plus it can be outstanding down here on the Lower Laguna most of the time,” he said. “We usually have a good variety of birds, and on days when the fishing can be tough, the duck hunting is usually pretty decent.” Grubert didn’t grow up on the coast, but as Capt. Todd Grubert guides both anglers and hunters out of Port Mansfield. he became well-versed Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News. in waterfowl hunting and inshore saltwater fishing, he quickly changed that. Original“In 2014 I decided to take a leap of faith ly from Yoakum, Grubert spent his child- and just go for it,” he said. “I moved down hood traveling to Port O’Connor with his to Port Mansfield and haven’t looked back uncle to fish. since.” “My uncle always had a boat while I was Grubert has been a full-time guide on growing up and he would take me and my the Lower Laguna Madre for four years. His brother fishing just about every chance he operation, called Fairwater Charters, caters got,” Grubert said. “We also spent many to the needs and desires of the hunters and family vacations in the Rockport area. anglers he is guiding. Fishing Texas estuaries quickly became a Grubert’s preferred fishing method is tarpart of who I was at a young age.” geting redfish and speckled trout along the As an adult, Grubert’s first career was in flats by wade-fishing with artificial lures. the oil field industry where he worked off“I like to throw top-waters and soft plasshore. tics,” he said. “It doesn’t matter to me “My work schedule was pretty static,” what they’re biting. I just like to catch fish he said. “I would have one month on and and watch others do the same.” one month off. This gave me six months Grubert gladly stays in the boat and drift off out of the year and allowed me to fish fishes if that’s what his clients would rathmany different bay systems while learning er do. He will also throw live and natural to perfect my skills.” baits when the situation deems it necesGrubert said one key event about a de- sary. cade ago convinced him to call Port Man“I don’t hold myself to any particular sfield home. elite or purist status,” he said. “I’ll take “My cousin was dating a girl from Port whatever action necessary to help the folks Mansfield that he later married, and we I’m guiding to catch fish and make memowent down to visit her and fish,” Grubert ries.” said. “I immediately fell in love with the Grubert lives in Port Mansfield with his area. It was extremely remote, unlike many fiancé, Taryn Hadden, and their 3-year-old other coastal communities, and the fishing son. Hadden is originally from Nebraska, opportunities were phenomenal. I liked but has embraced the Texas coastal lifethe vibe, and from then on, I knew I would style well. According to Grubert, she loves one day make Port Mansfield my home.” to fish. The more time Grubert spent fishing “On one of our first dates, I took her fishduring his weeks off from his oil field job, ing,” he said. “Her first fish was a 25-inch the more he was motivated to become a trout and she bragged about it the rest of guide. the trip.”

IMPROVING THE GAME. Presenting the new

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Continued from page 1

“The numbers of birds were a little bit they were harvesting,” he said. “There are down, and there weren’t many young still birds out there, but they are hard to birds,” Alton said. “It took more work than find.” normal, but we averaged about two birds Dane Swinborn of Tule Creek Outfitters per hunter. When hunts near Tulia, the wind blows like and agreed the numthat, those birds get bers of birds were up and move.” lower this season. To the north, Terry “The trend is Cook with Straight down, there aren’t Line Outfitters said many wild birds the wild birds numaround,” he said. bers were down. “And very few “Our pheasyoung birds.” ants didn’t do that In Floyd and Croswell,” he said. “We by counties, one went into the sumgroup of hunters mer still dry, then reported seeing four it started raining in roosters and about a July and August.” dozen hens during Cook said the their hunts opening Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News weekend. corn harvest is usually a good indicator of how the pheasant Weather played a role in the season’s season will be. second weekend, as areas near Lubbock re“The farmers didn’t see many birds when ceived 10 inches of snow.

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Page 18

December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases

First

Full

Last

New

Dec 15

Dec 22

Dec 29

Jan 5

Solunar Sun times Moon times

Houston

Dallas

2018 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Dec Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

2018 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Dec Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu

10:49 11:33 ----12:33 1:13 1:55 2:40

21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

10:43 4:32 11:27 5:16 #VALUE! 12:28 6:39 1:07 7:19 1:49 8:01 2:34 8:47 3:24 9:38 4:20 10:35 5:21 11:37 6:27 12:12 7:35 1:19 8:40 2:26 9:42 3:28 10:38 4:26

11:05 4:54 11:48 5:38 12:09 6:20 12:50 7:01 1:31 7:43 2:14 8:27 3:01 9:14 3:53 10:07 4:50 11:05 5:53 ----6:58 12:43 8:05 1:50 9:09 2:55 10:09 3:55 11:04 4:51

07:08 07:08 07:09 07:10 07:10 07:11 07:11 07:12 07:12 07:13 07:13 07:14 07:14 07:14 07:15

05:22 05:22 05:23 05:23 05:24 05:24 05:24 05:25 05:25 05:26 05:26 05:27 05:27 05:28 05:29

12:20p NoMoon 12:53p NoMoon 1:25p 12:54a 1:58p 1:48a 2:33p 2:45a 3:12p 3:44a 3:56p 4:47a 4:46p 5:51a 5:42p 6:57a 6:45p 8:00a 7:52p 9:00a 9:00p 9:54a 10:07p 10:43a 11:13p 11:26a NoMoon 12:05p

4:38 5:22 6:04 6:44 7:25 8:07 8:53

11:10 11:54 12:15 12:56 1:37 2:20 3:07

5:00 5:44 6:26 7:07 7:48 8:32 9:20

3:30 9:44

3:58

10:13

4:26 10:41 5:27 11:43 6:33 12:18 7:40 1:25 8:46 2:32 9:48 3:34 10:44 4:31

4:56 11:11 5:58 ----7:04 12:49 8:10 1:55 9:15 3:00 10:15 4:01 11:09 4:57

07:21 07:21 07:22 07:23 07:23 07:24 07:24

05:21 05:21 05:21 05:22 05:22 05:23 05:23

12:29p NoMoon 1:00p 12:04a 1:31p 12:59a 2:03p 1:55a 2:37p 2:53a 3:14p 3:54a 3:57p 4:57a

07:25 05:23 4:45p 07:25 07:26 07:26 07:27 07:27 07:27 07:28

05:24 05:24 05:25 05:25 05:26 05:27 05:27

6:03a

5:42p 7:09a 6:44p 8:13a 7:52p 9:12a 9:01p 10:06a 10:10p 10:53a 11:17p 11:35a NoMoon 12:13p

San Antonio 2018 Dec

A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

10:55 4:45 11:40 5:29 12:00 6:11 12:40 6:51 1:20 7:32 2:01 8:14 2:46 9:00 3:36 9:51 4:32 10:47 5:34 11:50 6:40 12:24 7:47 1:32 8:53 2:38 9:54 3:41 10:51 4:38

11:17 ----12:21 1:02 1:43 2:26 3:13 4:05 5:03 6:05 7:11 8:17 9:21 10:21 11:16

5:06 5:50 6:32 7:13 7:55 8:39 9:27 10:20 11:18 ----12:55 2:02 3:07 4:08 5:03

07:19 07:20 07:20 07:21 07:21 07:22 07:23 07:23 07:24 07:24 07:24 07:25 07:25 07:26 07:26

05:36 05:36 05:36 05:37 05:37 05:37 05:38 05:38 05:39 05:39 05:40 05:40 05:41 05:41 05:42

12:33p NoMoon 1:06p 12:14a 1:38p 1:07a 2:11p 2:01a 2:47p 2:58a 3:25p 3:57a 4:09p 4:59a 4:59p 6:03a 5:56p 7:09a 6:59p 8:12a 8:06p 9:12a 9:14p 10:06a 10:21p 10:55a 11:26p 11:38a NoMoon 12:18p

Amarillo

2018 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Dec Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets

14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri

11:09 4:58 11:53 5:42 12:13 6:24 12:54 7:05 1:33 7:45 2:15 8:27 3:00 9:13 3:50 10:04 4:46 11:01 5:47 ----6:53 12:38 8:00 1:45 9:06 2:52 10:08 3:54 11:04 4:52

11:31 ----12:35 1:16 1:57 2:40 3:27 4:19 5:16 6:19 7:24 8:31 9:35 10:35 11:30

5:20 6:04 6:46 7:27 8:09 8:52 9:40 10:33 11:31 12:03 1:09 2:16 3:20 4:21 5:17

07:47 07:48 07:48 07:49 07:50 07:50 07:51 07:51 07:52 07:52 07:53 07:53 07:53 07:54 07:54

05:35 05:35 05:35 05:35 05:36 05:36 05:37 05:37 05:38 05:38 05:39 05:39 05:40 05:40 05:41

12:52p NoMoon 1:22p 12:23a 1:52p 1:19a 2:23p 2:16a 2:55p 3:16a 3:31p 4:18a 4:13p 5:23a 5:01p 6:29a 5:57p 7:36a 6:59p 8:40a 8:07p 9:39a 9:18p 10:31a 10:28p 11:17a 11:36p 11:58a NoMoon 12:34p

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Sabine Pass, north Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 2:06 PM 5:37 AM 5:24 AM 5:45 AM 6:13 AM 6:45 AM 12:04 AM 12:28 AM 12:58 AM 1:34 AM 2:17 AM 3:05 AM 4:04 AM 1:11 AM 2:34 AM

Rollover Pass Height 0.18L 0.63L 0.42L 0.18L -0.09L -0.36L 1.17H 1.22H 1.28H 1.32H 1.32H 1.27H 1.15H 0.77L 0.56L

Time 10:22 PM 9:39 AM 11:28 AM 12:35 PM 1:27 PM 2:12 PM 7:22 AM 8:01 AM 8:44 AM 9:29 AM 10:17 AM 11:08 AM 12:01 PM 5:25 AM 7:30 AM

Height 1.21H 0.69H 0.80H 0.96H 1.13H 1.29H -0.62L -0.83L -0.98L -1.04L -1.01L -0.88L -0.67L 0.98H 0.83H

Time 3:09 PM 4:15 PM 5:20 PM 6:18 PM 7:09 PM 2:55 PM 3:39 PM 4:25 PM 5:14 PM 6:04 PM 6:57 PM 7:49 PM 12:58 PM 2:01 PM

Height 0.33L 0.47L 0.60L 0.70L 0.80L 1.42H 1.50H 1.54H 1.52H 1.47H 1.39H 1.31H -0.39L -0.09L

Time 10:49 11:11 11:29 11:45

Height

PM PM PM PM

1.18H 1.15H 1.14H 1.14H

7:55 PM 8:36 PM 9:18 PM 10:03 PM 10:54 PM 11:55 PM

0.89L 0.95L 1.00L 1.01L 0.99L 0.91L

8:40 PM 9:26 PM

1.23H 1.17H

Time

Height

Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Time 1:47 PM 5:54 AM 6:01 AM 6:16 AM 6:33 AM 6:56 AM 7:25 AM 12:24 AM 12:59 AM 1:38 AM 2:22 AM 12:21 AM 1:24 AM 2:30 AM 3:29 AM

Height 0.33L 0.79L 0.60L 0.37L 0.13L -0.14L -0.39L 1.30H 1.34H 1.37H 1.38H 1.27L 1.17L 1.00L 0.77L

Time 10:18 PM 8:40 AM 11:15 AM 12:54 PM 1:56 PM 2:48 PM 3:34 PM 8:01 AM 8:43 AM 9:29 AM 10:17 AM 3:12 AM 4:09 AM 5:19 AM 7:26 AM

Height 1.39H 0.85H 0.89H 1.04H 1.22H 1.41H 1.58H -0.62L -0.79L -0.88L -0.88L 1.34H 1.25H 1.09H 0.94H

Height 0.36L 0.71L 0.56L 0.37L 0.14L -0.10L -0.34L -0.56L -0.71L -0.80L -0.79L -0.70L -0.51L -0.23L 0.68L

Time 9:42 PM 8:45 AM 11:13 AM 12:53 PM 1:44 PM 2:30 PM 3:16 PM 4:03 PM 4:49 PM 5:34 PM 6:21 PM 7:11 PM 8:01 PM 8:40 PM 6:53 AM

Height 1.39H 0.76H 0.86H 1.06H 1.27H 1.48H 1.65H 1.79H 1.87H 1.88H 1.83H 1.71H 1.57H 1.40H 0.82H

Height 0.69H 0.65H 0.61H 0.58H 0.16L 0.05L -0.07L -0.17L -0.24L -0.28L 0.94H 0.92H 0.87H 0.77H 0.66H

Time 02:54 PM 2:33 PM 12:57 PM 9:05 AM 10:41 PM 10:08 PM 9:48 PM 10:23 PM 11:41 PM

Height 0.13L 0.21L 0.28L 0.26L 0.63H 0.71H 0.79H 0.87H 0.91H

12:48 PM 1:37 PM 2:25 PM 3:11 PM 3:55 PM

-0.28L -0.23L -0.14L -0.01L 0.14L

Height 0.23H 0.20H 0.17H 0.14H 0.17H 0.22H 0.27H 0.32H 0.35H 0.36H 0.35H 0.32H 0.26H 0.18H 0.10H

Time 7:55 PM 7:29 PM 10:34 AM 10:46 AM 11:07 AM 11:36 AM 12:14 PM 1:02 PM 2:02 PM 3:10 PM 4:18 PM 5:19 PM 6:14 PM 7:02 PM 7:45 PM

Height -0.15L -0.09L -0.06L -0.15L -0.26L -0.36L -0.45L -0.52L -0.56L -0.57L -0.56L -0.52L -0.47L -0.38L -0.28L

Time 2:41 PM 3:49 PM 5:38 PM 6:47 PM 7:48 PM 9:08 PM 4:16 PM 4:58 PM 5:43 PM 6:34 PM 11:05 AM 11:55 AM 12:51 PM 1:58 PM

Height 0.51L 0.69L 0.85L 0.97L 1.09L 1.18L 1.71H 1.78H 1.77H 1.71H -0.77L -0.55L -0.26L 0.07L

10:36 10:46 11:00 11:22 11:51

PM PM PM PM PM

1.32H 1.28H 1.26H 1.26H 1.27H

10:16 PM 11:01 PM 11:38 PM

1.24L 1.28L 1.30L

7:29 8:18 9:00 9:36

PM PM PM PM

1.60H 1.49H 1.37H 1.26H

Time

Height

Time 1:19 PM 5:51 AM 5:42 AM 5:46 AM 5:59 AM 6:21 AM 6:51 AM 7:26 AM 8:06 AM 8:52 AM 9:44 AM 10:37 AM 11:31 AM 12:26 PM 3:40 AM

Time

Height

2:26 PM 3:41 PM 5:47 PM 7:24 PM 8:45 PM

0.54L 0.73L 0.88L 0.97L 1.05L

9:57 PM 10:11 PM 10:26 PM 10:45 PM 11:06 PM

1.30H 1.21H 1.15H 1.11H 1.09H

1:34 PM

0.10L

9:11 PM

1.24H

Time

Height

Time

Height

Port O’Connor Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 1:50 AM 1:29 AM 12:59 AM 12:10 AM 8:46 AM 9:05 AM 9:39 AM 10:22 AM 11:10 AM 11:59 AM 1:10 AM 2:10 AM 2:52 AM 3:01 AM 2:03 AM

Time 3:26 AM 3:33 AM 3:32 AM 2:39 AM 2:00 AM 1:57 AM 2:00 AM 1:59 AM 2:15 AM 2:49 AM 3:27 AM 4:00 AM 4:25 AM 4:40 AM 4:32 AM

Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 1:51 PM 2:45 PM 6:33 AM 6:34 AM 6:48 AM 7:11 AM 7:41 AM 12:09 AM 8:57 AM 9:41 AM 10:28 AM 11:20 AM 12:16 PM 3:13 AM 3:59 AM

Time 5:06 PM 9:30 AM 9:39 AM 9:58 AM 10:21 AM 10:49 AM 11:21 AM 9:58 PM 11:21 PM

Height 0.13L 0.53L 0.37L 0.19L 0.00L -0.17L -0.33L 1.14H 1.18H

2:14 3:04 3:57 4:54 7:49

-0.54L -0.47L -0.35L -0.18L 0.55L

Height 0.13L 0.25L 0.33L 0.17L -0.01L -0.20L -0.39L 0.77H -0.65L -0.70L -0.68L -0.60L -0.47L 0.59L 0.42L

Time 10:51 PM 11:03 PM 11:50 AM 1:33 PM 2:47 PM 3:43 PM 4:29 PM 8:17 AM 5:57 PM 6:45 PM 7:37 PM 8:27 PM 9:06 PM 5:17 AM 7:00 AM

Height 0.85H 0.80H 0.47H 0.59H 0.73H 0.86H 0.97H -0.54L 1.06H 1.04H 0.99H 0.92H 0.83H 0.62H 0.51H

Height 1.12H 0.46L 0.61L 0.46L 0.25L 0.03L -0.16L -0.31L -0.40L -0.43L -0.39L -0.28L -0.13L 1.25H 0.28L

Time 12:56 PM 10:46 PM 10:46 PM 10:19 PM 10:18 PM 5:44 PM 6:39 PM 7:47 PM 8:58 PM 10:01 PM 10:55 PM 11:38 PM

PM PM PM PM AM

Time

Height

Time

Height

11:37 AM 1:51 PM 3:55 PM 5:37 PM 7:04 PM 8:28 PM

0.56H 0.57H 0.67H 0.81H 0.94H 1.06H

5:58 PM 7:01 PM 8:26 PM 10:08 PM 11:42 PM

0.26L 0.41L 0.57L 0.73L 0.87L

9:59 AM

0.58H

5:56 PM

0.02L

Time

Height

Time

Height

4:00 PM 6:11 PM 7:44 PM 8:58 PM 10:07 PM 5:12 PM

0.38L 0.50L 0.60L 0.67L 0.74L 1.04H

11:08 11:14 11:26 11:45

PM PM PM PM

1:15 PM 2:21 PM

-0.29L -0.08L

9:32 PM 9:52 PM

Height 0.34L 1.02H 1.03H 1.05H 1.11H 1.11H 1.25H 1.37H 1.45H 1.48H 1.47H 1.39H

Time 11:24 PM

Height 1.03H

8:03 PM

1.09L

12:33 PM 9:45 PM

0.06L 0.95H

11:51 PM

1.07H

Height 0.29L 0.42L 0.56L 0.40L 0.23L 0.07L -0.07L -0.19L -0.26L -0.29L -0.27L 1.11H 1.06H 0.93L 0.78L

Time 10:09 PM 9:55 PM 9:59 AM 12:45 PM 2:10 PM 3:16 PM 4:18 PM 7:27 PM 8:37 PM 9:33 PM

Height 0.89H 0.87H 0.66H 0.74H 0.85H 0.96H 1.03H 1.09H 1.14H 1.16H

10:54 AM 11:47 AM 3:51 AM 5:59 AM

-0.20L -0.09L 0.95H 0.82H

Height 0.25L 0.40L 0.55L 0.36L 0.14L -0.09L -0.30L -0.48L -0.61L -0.68L -0.67L -0.59L -0.43L -0.21L 0.06L

Time 10:10 PM 10:12 PM 10:42 AM 1:12 PM 2:48 PM 3:47 PM 4:41 PM 5:40 PM 6:46 PM 7:53 PM 8:48 PM 9:26 PM 9:42 PM 9:36 PM 9:23 PM

Height 1.10H 1.03H 0.64H 0.78H 0.95H 1.11H 1.25H 1.35H 1.41H 1.41H 1.37H 1.27H 1.13H 0.98H 0.88H

0.76H 0.74H 0.73H 0.74H

0.75H 0.68H

Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 12:32 AM 1:33 PM 1:34 PM 5:46 AM 5:53 AM 6:20 AM 6:55 AM 7:34 AM 8:17 AM 9:03 AM 9:52 AM 10:45 AM 11:39 AM 12:02 AM 1:26 PM

Time

10:38 PM

Height

1.17H

Port Aransas

11:18 PM

0.58H

Nueces Bay Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

San Luis Pass

Height 1.11H 1.08H 1.05H 1.02H 0.98H 0.96H 0.97H -0.45L -0.53L -0.56L 1.19H 1.16H 1.09H 1.00H 0.90H

East Matagorda

Freeport Harbor Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 1:43 AM 1:43 AM 1:52 AM 2:05 AM 2:22 AM 2:38 AM 2:54 AM 11:58 AM 12:40 PM 1:25 PM 12:24 AM 1:07 AM 1:25 AM 1:19 AM 1:14 AM

Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 1:11 PM 1:52 PM 5:43 AM 5:47 AM 6:12 AM 6:40 AM 7:11 AM 7:45 AM 8:23 AM 9:09 AM 10:00 AM 1:43 AM 2:45 AM 1:30 AM 2:31 AM

Time 2:45 5:52 6:59 7:57 8:57

PM PM PM PM PM

Height

Time

0.56L 0.67L 0.77L 0.87L 0.97L

10:05 10:26 10:48 11:07 11:19

0.94H 0.07L 0.26L

9:12 PM 8:50 PM

0.88H 0.85H

Time

Height

Time

Height

2:52 PM 4:35 PM 6:40 PM

0.57L 0.75L 0.89L

11:29 PM 12:38 PM 1:32 PM

PM PM PM PM PM

Height 0.87H 0.88H 0.91H 0.95H 1.00H

South Padre Island Time

Height

Time

3:54 PM

0.00H

7:05 PM

Height -0.03L

Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Time 1:12 PM 1:56 PM 5:51 AM 5:29 AM 5:45 AM 6:14 AM 6:49 AM 7:30 AM 8:15 AM 9:04 AM 9:57 AM 10:53 AM 11:48 AM 12:44 PM 1:40 PM

10:13 PM 10:14 PM 10:11 PM

0.98H 0.96H 0.96H

Texas Coast Tides

Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28

Date Dec 14 Dec 15 Dec 16 Dec 17 Dec 18 Dec 19 Dec 20 Dec 21 Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28


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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Stalking a buck

A nice snowy surprise

Continued from page 4

once again they were on the move. “As soon as the buck moved into the brush, we took off,” Barnhart elaborated. Running through the cattle pens, Barnhart and his friend had to jump three panels to keep going. “Then we followed a fence line about 600 yards in the direction we thought he was headed, before we spotted him,” he said. “I finally saw him under an oak tree rubbing his antlers on a branch.” Barnhart attempted to rest his Remington .25-06 on a T-post in order get a shot, but that quickly changed. “I just wasn’t steady enough, and I knew I only had a matter of seconds before the deer would move on,” he said.

December 14, 2018

Barnhart motioned for his compadre to come help him. “He crouched down and allowed me to rest my left elbow on his shoulder, which provided some much-needed stability,” Barnhart said. “The buck was at 200 yards and quartering to me when I squeezed one off.” The whitetail immediately dropped, as the bullet entered the deer just in front of the left shoulder. “I was instantly overtaken with joy,” Barnhart said. “We actually hunted that deer instead of waiting for him to just show up somewhere. It’s an adventure and a harvest I’ll never forget.”

Auctioneer Ed Phillips dies Popular auctioneer and former agriculture teacher Ed Phillips died Dec. 9 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 71. Phillips grew up in Aldine and later lived in Buffalo. He became a familiar sight at fundraising auctions for outdoor and agriculture and livestock-related events. An avid hunter, Phillips conducted all of the auctions at the Dallas Safari Club annual convention for more than 15 years. “Ed’s distinctive voice on auction night was the clarion call for excited bidding and generous fundraising,” said DSC Executive Director Corey Mason. “Ed was instrumental in raising millions for conservation and DSC’s mission.” —Staff report

Photo by Bill Honza

Chance to be heard on red snapper The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council will hold 10 public hearings and a webinar to solicit public comments on Draft Amendment 50 — State Management of Recreational Red Snapper. The Council is currently considering state management that would provide flexibility to the states to set the recreational red snapper fishing season and potentially other management measures. The public hearings and webinar will begin at 6 p.m. local time. Texas meetings will be in Brownsville on Jan. 14, Corpus Christi on Jan. 14 and League City on Jan. 16. The deadline for written public comments is Jan. 22. —Gulf council

Several inches of snow welcomed deer hunters in parts of West Texas on Dec. 8. Areas near Lubbock received more than 10 inches. In Stonewall County, about 6 inches of snow fell, making the hunter stand out in his normal hunting attire. Bucks were active early, chasing does, but as the snow deepend the deer locked down. Photo by David Sweet, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Page 19


Page 20

December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

OUTDOOR PUZZLER Solution on Page 24

LSONews.com

INDUSTRY Promotion at BPI BPI Outdoors named Jason Sebo its vice president of sales and marketing for its CVA Division.

Gentry named VP Firearms company Kalashnikov USA named Bill Gentry its vice president of sales and marketing.

Opening at ASA The American Sportfishing Association is seeking a member services manager at its Alexandria, Virginia offices.

Product manager position Springfield Armory is seeking an experienced product manager to be responsible for managing product development and conducting market research.

Guntec names agency ACROSS 2. An African dog 4. Cold-blooded 6. Line that detects vibrations 7. A shooting sport, ____ clays 10. A dog-training device 11. Bay at SPI 12. A flashlight manufacturer 14. A soft leather slipper or shoe 17. A West Texas river 18. A Panhandle county 19. Sharks can’t swim in this direction 20. A minnow species 21. Good dish to prepare with deer shoulder meat 27. A rail species 30. Number of chambers in a fish’s heart 31. A good bluegill bait 34. A riflescope manufacturer 36. An East Texas lake 37. A bay to hunt scoters 38. Site of bridge collapse in Hill Country flood

DOWN 1. A coastal county 2. Slang for a saltwater catfish 3. A gar species 5. West Texas mountain range 8. They help the hunter find game 9. A shorebird species 13. A grouse species 14. A game camera manufacturer 15. A Texas/Mexico border lake 16. NRA’s president 20. Term for freezing rain 22. A game bird in Africa 23. Legal for deer hunting, not for dove or duck hunting 24. Type of bow 25. At the end of the arrow 26. A golden triangle county for deer 28. The left side of the boat 29. A fishing knot 32. Assume the gun is always ____ 33. Attaches the feathers to the duck 35. A food plot grain

Guntec USA appointed JKS Unlimited as the sales agency of record for the upper Midwest and Northeast regions.

New CEO at West Marine Ken Seipel was named chief executive officer at West Marine.

Marketing agency named Tactical Solutions appointed Outdoor Marketing Group as it marketing agency in the southeastern United States.

Job opening at CSF in D.C. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is seeking a development manager to assist with all aspects of nonprofit fundraising.

Position at Davidson’s Davidson’s is seeking a shooting and hunting enthusiast with outside sales and/or merchandising experience to serve as regional customer relationship manager in the midatlantic region.

FOR THE TABLE *email LSON your favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Crappie Po’ Boys 4-6 crappie or other white fillets 22-oz. jar of Cabela’s Spicy Coating Mix Peanut or vegetable oil Hoagie rolls Lettuce Tomato Onion Lemon slices Remoulade Sauce 1 part Miracle Whip, 1 part ketchup, 1 part Louisiana Hot Sauce

oil to 350 degrees. Add coating mix into a large bowl. Lay the fillets into the coating mix and shake until they are well coated. Fry the fillets in batches. When the fillets are browned, remove and place on a paper towel-lined plate. When the fillets are cool enough to handle, assemble your sandwiches. Start with a thick layer of remoulade, topped with lettuce, tomato slices and the fillets. Squeeze fresh lemon slices over the top.

Pour oil into a fryer at a depth of several inches, enough for the fillets to float as they fry. Heat

—Cabela’s

Seared duck with citrus cranberry sauce 2 boneless, skinless duck breasts 2 tbsps. butter Salt Pepper Place duck breasts between two pieces of cling wrap. Pound duck breast with a meat mallet to achieve even thickness, starting in the middle and working outward. Melt 1 tbsps. butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add duck to skillet and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, turn over breast and cook an additional 4 minutes. Duck will be medium rare.

Sauce 1 bag fresh cranberries 2 fresh oranges, squeezed and zested 2 medium pears, diced 1/2 cup sugar 1 tsp. ginger 1 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup water Add water to medium saucepan. Stir in cranberries, pears, sugar, orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon and ginger. Stir and bring to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer. Continue to stir until pears and cranberries are soft (around 25 minutes). Place in container to cool in the refrigerator. —Indiana DNR


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December 14, 2018

Page 21

Checking duck hunters Continued from page 5

www.mummesinc.com

830.426.3313 1.800.221.6398

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Mon-Fri: 8-5:30 Sat: 8-5:00 Closed Sunday

Duck hunters get their birds checked after a coastal hunt. Photo by Robert Sloan.

Preserving property Continued from page 4

sight.” Evans said new people are looking to add their properties all the time, but noted the conservation easement is not for everyone. “It’s a significant expense to set it up,” he said. “However there are significant tax breaks as well.” Conservancy board member Ken Nickel said his ranch was originally homesteaded by his grandfather in 1870. “The following generations sacrificed to keep it together all these years,” he said. “Plus, we’re running out of green space, water and the country way of life.”

After 20 years, Evans hopes more landowners will do like Nickel and seek to preserve the future use of their land. “Our little land trust has come a long way in the last 20 years,” he said. “We hope to continue to do the work of enabling landowners to do their private conservation projects, so that future generations can inherit what we have cared for. “We are a group of landowners interested in preserving our own legacies, and helping our neighbors with theirs.”

Performance Worth the Price

BE

A

®

bined civil restitution value of $34,954.80. Most tickets that duck hunters get range from $25 to $500. Trespassing and illegally hunting is something all game wardens eventually have to deal with. “In one situation, I had a couple of outof-state duck hunters on private property,” Corona said. “They were trespassing with a firearm. That is an arrestable offense. In that situation the landowner has the final decision.” Trespassing can be a tricky situation, especially with airboats that are run up on shallow flats on private property. As long as the boat is floating, that’s usually fine. But if the hunters get out, that can be trespassing. The top ticket Corona writes is for no hunter education certificate. Every hunter (including out-of-state hunters) born on or after Sept. 2, 1971, must successfully complete a hunter education course. Proof of certification or deferral is required to be on your person while hunting. Other situations game wardens deal with while checking duck hunters is drinking while boating, not having plugged shotguns and double-dipping (making two hunts and doubling down on two daily limits). “We don’t have much of a problem with duck hunters drinking and boating,” Corona said. “That’s mainly a summer situation. Based on what I’ve seen while working in this county for three years, hunters know the laws and abide by them. Most have plugged guns and don’t try to get away with taking double limits.”

P.

Because of that no ticket was issued, just a verbal warning. The guy without a federal duck stamp didn’t get a ticket right then. “That’s a federal violation,” explained Corona. “In that case, I can call the federal game warden and they will deal with it.” “OK,” he said to the hunters. “Everything seems to be good. Let’s have a look at your ducks.” The birds were separated for each hunter, the way it’s supposed to be done. “That can often be a problem,” said Corona, who has been a game warden in Willacy County for three years. “If the birds are stacked up in one pile, I don’t know who shot what. According to the law they must be separated. It’s good to follow that rule while hunting, too.” Not having the birds separated happens a lot, and can result in tickets, especially if the warden checks you while at the hunting location. Corona said most hunters are aware of the hunting regulations. But there are times when they might be one bird over the limit for a particular species. For example, hunters were allowed one pintail last season. This season, it’s two. Corona said if a hunter is over the limit, he could get a ticket for each illegal bird, plus there is civil restitution to deal with. That’s the replacement cost of the bird to the state, and can add up in a hurry. For example, during the 2016-2017 deer hunting season three white-tailed bucks were seized by Grayson County game wardens. The cases filed against the individuals responsible for illegally taking the three seized deer, which have a combined gross score of over 535 inches, totaled a com-

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TO H ILITY ELL AND BACK RELIAB

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Page 22

December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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NATIONAL CALIFORNIA

Teen wins fly-casting world championship Amid gales to 50 mph, Maxine McCormick, 14, won the women’s world championship for casting accuracy. From a platform atop a 6-foot-high bluff at the Cumbrian Lakes on the British coast, Maxine sailed cast after cast into 30-inch floating rings spaced from 20 to 70 feet, reported Chris Korich, coach of the San Francisco-Oakland Casting Club. Her scores also earned her third place in Men’s (or overall) Division. For this year’s championships, 123 casters from 20 countries took part. Maxine also won the event two years ago at the world championships in Estonia. —Staff report

TENNESSEE

Bentz back in boating biz KRISTIN PARMA, OF SAN ANTONIO, MADE A 140-YARD SHOT ON THIS BUCK IN MILLS COUNTY. SHE WAS HUNTING WITH WARREN BLESH AT THE RRR RANCH. SHE USED A .308 WITH A HYBRID SUPPRESSOR TO TAKE HER SECOND BUCK EVER.

Nikon will send your 10x42 ProStaff 7 binoculars. You can check out the entire line at the nearest dealer:

See a full selection of Nikon products at:

Ranger Firearms

1308 Austin Hwy #500 San Antonio, TX 78209 (210) 822-4867 rangerfirearmsoftexas.com

Caymas Boats, a new company founded by Nashville-based marine executive Earl Bentz, will manufacture a new line of premium fiberglass saltwater and freshwater fishing boats in Ashland City. The new Caymas Boats plant will initially manufacture saltwater bay boats up to 27 feet in length, and fiberglass bass boats up to 21 feet long. The company will add additional models in the future. —Caymas Boats

IOWA

Deputy keeps road-killed buck A Department of Natural Resources conservation officer received a call from a man who came upon a scene of a woman who had hit a deer. The man waited for a sheriff’s deputy to arrive. Once the deputy arrived, the man asked the deputy about a salvage tag. The deputy declined to issue him a salvage tag. According to state code, a salvage tag should be first issued to the individuals involved in the accident, and, if not interested, then to any bystanders at the scene. Later in the day, the same man drove past the scene and observed the deputy in uniform near the deer cutting the antlers off of the deer with a saw. Conservation officers seized the antlers from the deputy and cited him for unlawful possession of a white-tailed deer antlers. —IDNR

KENTUCKY

Record deer harvest A record 106,797 deer were taken over Kentucky’s 16-day modern gun season that concluded Nov. 25, topping the previous record from 2015 by almost 1,400 deer. “We anticipated an increase in harvest for the season due to several changes in deer regulations implemented earlier this year,” said Gabe Jenkins, Deer and Elk Program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed the regulation changes after several meetings with deer hunters, officials and other stakeholders. The changes included expanding the modern gun deer season to 16 days statewide. Other changes adjusted statewide and youth deer permits to allow for the harvest of up to four deer and reclassified 32 counties to a less restrictive zone. —KDFWR

MINNESOTA

Ice breaks away, 36 fishermen rescued According to the Duluth Fire Department, 36 fishermen and their equipment were stranded on Superior Bay ice when strong northeast winds caused the ice to break away. Strong winds pushed water to one end of a large body of water, causing levels to rise. Since the ice on Superior Bay wasn’t locked in to the shore, it came loose and floated out into the bay. Rescuers paddled two DFD and

one U.S. Coast Guard rapid deployment craft to the ice. With ropes fixed to each end of the inflatable boats, rescuers pulled fishermen on crafts from the ice to shore. —U.S. Coast Guard

PENNSYLVANIA

Hunting gear pulled at Dick’s Dick’s Sporting Goods is considering removing all hunting gear. After the company refused to sell AR-style firearms earlier this year, CEO Edward Stack said in a conference call that all hunting gear was removed from 10 stores as a test run, and the gear was replaced with other products. In the last quarter, Dick’s sales declined 4.5 percent. —Staff report

ALABAMA

Bassmasters on Pursuit Channel B.A.S.S. and the Pursuit Channel entered into a multi-year agreement to air The Bassmasters TV show. Pursuit Channel will air 26 episodes on Saturdays during the first and second quarters of 2019, with each show repeating on the following Sunday morning and other times to be announced. —B.A.S.S.

FLORIDA

Kentucky angler makes Classic After 20 years of competitive fishing, Matthew Robertson, of Kuttawa, Kentucky, secured the last spot in the Bassmaster Classic after his win at the Classic Fish-Off following the Bassmaster Team Championship in Florida. Robertson fished offshore to land more than 57 pounds in two days, beating his nearest competitor by nearly 24 pounds. —B.A.S.S.

INTERNATIONAL ONTARIO, CANADA

Firefighter saves deer in icy river An Ontario firefighter saved a deer from a frozen river after it fell through the ice. Video posted by Ontario Provincial Police showed the rescue, which involved two firefighters on the Vermillion River in the Sudbury area. The two firefighters made their way toward the deer which was swimming back and forth while trying to get back onto solid ground. The pair initially tried to reach out to the deer using a hook while on a yellow dinghy before one of the firefighters jumped in to grab the animal. The deer was dragged closer to land and eventually got up and ran into the woods. —Global News

Cormorant hunting proposed

An Environmental Bill of Rights Registry Proposal Notice is asking for input regarding a proposed hunting season for double-crested cormorants starting in 2019. The proposal, if approved, would list the cormorant as a game bird, like ruffed grouse, and allow anyone with an Outdoors Card and small game license to hunt them during a Mar. 15 to Dec. 31 season. During that season, hunters would be permitted a bag limit of 50 with no possession limit. This would be accompanied by an exemption that would make small game licenses in northern and central Ontario valid from Jun. 16 to Aug. 31 for cormorant hunting. An amendment would add provisions permitting hunters to allow cormorants to spoil, though they would be required to retrieve and dispose of the carcass. —Ministry of Natural Resources


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LoneOStar Outdoor News

December 14, 2018

Albert

Dec. 28, 2006 – Sept. 18, 2018 By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News It started with a field-trial washout named Thumpy. Then, for Ranger Creek Goose outfitter Justin Hill, came Thumpy’s brother Al. “They were brothers out of the same parents,” Hill said. “I had lost a dog that got hit by a car and was looking around for another. I found out about a field trial group in Dallas. There, in 2004, Hill met Thumpy, training with member Doug Grimes. “I fell in love, but he was out of my price range,” Hill said. “I reached out to the guy and told him I guided. He adjusted the price a little — his wife didn’t like the dog sleeping on the bed —and I took him home.” Hill got in trouble at home, and not just for what he paid. “Thumpy came into the house, met our chocolate lab and peed on the couch,” he said. “He got kicked out of the house for a while.” A few years later, Al came into the picture. Hill described Al as Thumpy with more personality. “Doug gave him to me, as long as I hunted him,” Hill said. “Doug got to hunt for free after that.” The adventures of the brothers began. “Thumpy was my dog of a lifetime,” Hill said. “He got his name from his tail thumping everything. He died at age 12 in 2017.” Hill estimated Thumpy had more than 25,000 retrieves in 7 years. “One group shot at a flock of Cana-

das and Thumpy marked every single bird,” he said. “He picked up eight birds without me ever lining him up.” Hill described Al as a “goofball” who liked to hang out with the kids, but every bit as good a retriever as his brother. “He hated when people missed,” he said. “He would howl and cry.” During one hunt when the shooters weren’t missing, Al showed his comedic style. “We were hunting out of layout blinds and Al was in a dog blind,” Hill said. “I dropped the birds behind Al to keep count. He would sneak out of his blind and put the birds with him in his dog blind. We completely lost count of our birds.” Al would hunt with anyone, Hill said. “He ran for all of my guides,” he said. “Thumpy wouldn’t hunt for anyone but me.” But Al knew if someone wasn’t his biggest fan. “Some customers aren’t the nicest,” Hill said. “Al was a slow-moving, methodical dog and a hunter was complaining about him. Al brought the bird back, walked to where the guy was lying and peed on him. He knew the guy was giving him a hard time.” On Al’s last hunt before old age took its toll, he picked up one sandhill crane. “Then we sat in the blind and watched,” Hill said. “Those two dogs did some incredible things.”

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Page 23


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December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

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ANTLERS WANTED Buying all species, all conditions. Looking for large quantities. Call Del: (830) 997-2263 ARGENTINA DUCK HUNTING dagaradventures.com 8 hunts – $3990 Damian – 011 54 9 2923 69 2907 Tim – (972) 769-8866

TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX www.HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582

WHITE LAB MALE Ready for field, 10 months old Excellent pedigree from field trail, hunt test lines Obedience and gun dog trained Hard drive, loves to retrieve Has been on dove, pheasant hunts Call Jeff (214) 384-5641

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LEOPARD HUNT IN SOUTH AFRICA Have available one permit issued to hunt throphy leopard this year. Hunt is 10 days and must be by December 31, 2018. Contact George for details george@cvtsafaris.com or (409) 739-5172

STOCKERBUCK.COM Call now to order Texas Trophy Bred does and stockerbucks or check us out online at stockerbuck.com JAY (505) 681-5210

QUAIL HUNTING

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EXOTICS + WHITETAIL Several species Trophy and meat hunts Owner guided, Very reasonable Let’s have fun! (325) 475-2100

DUCK LEASE Grayson County Between Whiteboro and Southmayd Highway 56 Looking for 4-6 guns (214) 577-3111

2005 GMC Yukon XL 4-Wheel drive. Leather seats, loaded 70K miles on engine, 230K miles on truck. $5,500. Ask for David (214) 361-2276

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COMPLETE TEXAS DUCK STAMP PRINT COLLECTION Call Steve: (817) 832-8078 REPORTER/ JOURNALIST JOB Lone Star Outdoor News is seeking a reporter at its Dallas office. Journalism degree preferred. (214) 361-2276

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PRODUCTS

>>

CROSSFIRE X HUNTING PACK: ALPS’ day pack owes its versatility to its modular accessory pocket. This removable pocket can be placed in three different positions or worn independently if a hunter just needs to pack essential gear. It is a pack built for comfort and hunting performance. The 2,325-cubic-inch pack has a punched molded foam waistbelt, vented back panel and Lycra shoulder straps for easy carrying. The pack also contains a hydration pocket and port. Available in Realtree Edge or Veil Wideland camo, the pack costs about $180.

>> BLACK LABEL ARROW: This carbon arrow by Black Tip is laser-sorted at multiple points along the shaft to ensure straightness along the full length, not just the ends. For bow hunters, this translates into accuracy and a greater chance of landing that trophy. The arrow is available in a variety of options in terms of spine, fletching, diameter and weight. The MSRP for a package of 12 is $144.99.

DROPTINE BINOCULARS: Burris has designed its newest line of optics to provide the ruggedness — and affordability — that hunters will appreciate. Available in two models (10x42 and 8x42), these binoculars are comfortable and lightweight enough for extended glassing, with an easy-grip exterior cladding that makes them easy to hold, even when wearing gloves. Features include Bak-4 glass and multi-coating for optimum resolution, light transmission and glare omission. Also, its eye cups are made from aluminum — rather than plastic — to stand up to drops and abuse. “I compared them with my binoculars and the Droptine performed well in low light,” said Lone Star Outdoor News’ Executive Editor Craig Nyhus. “The new style of grips are more comfortable, especially when looking through the binoculars for a long time.” The fogproof, waterproof and shockproof binoculars cost about $300.

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RIGGED JIGHEAD: Cabela’s minnowshaped jighead boasts curly tail action and colors (white, orange/yellow and chartreuse glitter) that will entice strikes. The pre-rigged baits are available in 1/6-ounce and 1/8-ounce sizes. They cost about $3.

MAGNIPLIER: Gerber offers anglers durability and power with its hot-forged fishing pliers. The tool utilizes an ergonomic control system resulting in a trigger grip that is offset to keep line of sight in tight places when removing a hook from a fish’s hook while the finger choil allows for maximum control. The 7.5-inch-long pliers cost about $75.

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TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE PRODUCTS, CONTACT LSON AT (214) 361-2276

December 14, 2018

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TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Sponsored by NORTH SABINE: Trout and redfish are fair while drifting mud and shell. Trout are good for waders on the Louisiana shoreline on slow-sinking plugs. SOUTH SABINE: Redfish are fair on the edge of the channel on mullet. Sheepshead and black drum are good at the jetty on live shrimp. BOLIVAR: Trout are fair to good on the south shoreline on slow-sinking plugs. Black drum and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. TRINITY BAY: Water is beginning to clear in some areas. Redfish are good at the spillway on crabs and mullet. Trout are good while drifting deep bayous in the marsh. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good on the north shoreline on Corkies and MirrOlures. Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good for waders on the mud and shell on MirrOlures and Corkies. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. TEXAS CITY: Redfish are good in Moses Lake on fresh shrimp. Black drum, sheepshead and redfish are fair on the edge of the channel and on shell in shrimp. FREEPORT: Sand trout and sheepshead are good on live shrimp on the reefs. Redfish are fair to good at San Luis pass on cracked blue crabs. Redfish are fair to good at the mouths of drains on scented plastics and shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for drifters on plastics over humps and scattered shell. Redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal and at the mouths of drains on scented plastics and jigs tipped with shrimp. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Redfish are fair

to good on the south shoreline in the guts and bayous. Trout are fair on shell on soft plastics and finger mullet. PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair on Corkies over soft mud in waist-deep water in San Antonio Bay. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp and top-waters. Redfish are good at the mouths of drains. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair on the edge of the ICW on glow D.O.A. Shrimp. Redfish are fair to good in California Hole and the Lydia Ann Channel on mullet and shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: Redfish are fair to good on the ledges of the channel on mullet. Sand trout are good on shrimp in the channel. CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good in Oso Bay for waders tossing scented baits and Corkies. Redfish are good in the Humble Channel on crabs and table shrimp. Trout are fair to good on the edge of the flats on live shrimp, scented plastics and D.O.A. Shrimp. BAFFIN BAY: Trout are fair to good in mud and grass on Corkies and Soft-Dines. Trout are fair to good in the guts along the King Ranch shoreline on Corkies. PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are fair to good on D.O.A. Shrimp and scented plastics under a popping cork around grass holes. Trout are fair to good on mud along the edge of the channel on Corkies and MirrOlures. SOUTH PADRE: Trout and redfish are fair to good on the edge of the Intracoastal on D.O.A. Shrimp and scented plastics. Redfish, black drum and mangrove snapper are fair to good in the channel on shrimp. PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair on the edge of the flats on soft plastics under popping corks. Redfish are good in the holes and guts on scented plastics. —TPWD


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December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

DATEBOOK DECEMBER 17

JANUARY 18-19

DECEMBER 22-23

JANUARY 19

Texas Wildlife Association Sporting Clays Shoot Greater Houston Gun Club (210) 826-2904 texas-wildlife.org Texas Gun & Knife Shows Kerrville Event Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

JANUARY 4-5

Austin Boat & Travel Trailer Show Austin Convention Center (512) 494-1128 austinboatshow.com

JANUARY 4-13

Houston International Boat Show NRG Center (713) 526-6361 houstonboatshows.com

JANUARY 15

Delta Waterfowl Leon County Banquet Leon County Expo Center, Buffalo (903) 388-4705 deltawaterfowl.org

JANUARY 17

Weatherby Foundation International 2019 Weatherby Award Gala Omni Dallas Hotel (866) 934-3976 weatherbyfoundation.com

JANUARY 17-20

Dallas Safari Club Annual Convention Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

Deer Breeders Corp New Year’s Deer Auction Horseshoe Bay Resort (972) 289-3100 dbcdeer.com Bass Champs South Region Tournament Lake Amistad (817) 439-3274 basschamps.com

JANUARY 25-27

Houston Safari Club Annual Convention George R. Brown Convention Center (832) 804-8959 hscfdn.org

JANUARY 31

DSC South Texas Third Annual Wildlife Gala Mays Family Center, San Antonio dscsouthtexas.org

FEBRUARY 2

Texas Team Trail Sam Rayburn Tournament (210) 281-1752 texasteamtrail.com

FEBRUARY 7-9

Wild Sheep Foundation The Sheep Show Reno-Sparks Convention Center (406) 404-8750 wildsheepfoundation.org

FEBRUARY 9-10

Lone Star Predator Calling Classic Hoffpauir Ranch & Supply, Lampasas (512) 748-2810 hoffpauirexpo.com/predator-contest

CREDITORS BEWARE Monarch Hunting Products Their account with Lone Star Outdoor News is $6,900 past due and attempts to collect have failed.


LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

December 14, 2018

Page 27

2019 YOU ARE INVITED to the Greatest Hunters' Convention on the Planet

â„¢

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB with SPORTS AFIELD presents MOGAMBO Jan 17-20, 2019 Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas

For more info call Toll Free 1-800-9GO-HUNT (800-946-4868) Email: info @ biggame.org

2019_Mogambo_LSON_Sept_6_18.indd 1

9/11/18 11:04 AM


Page 28

December 14, 2018

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

NOw AVaIlAbLe — THe eThOS SPoRt.

OfFeReD In 12-, 20- aNd 28-GaUgEs. BEnElLiUsa.CoM

Benelli-ETHOS-MyStory-Silos-SPORT_10.5 X 15.5 Lone Star Outdoor News.indd 1

9/4/18 12:06 PM


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