December 22, 2023
Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 20, Issue 9
Looking to the sky By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News The second half of duck season is underway across the Lone Star State and, for the most part, waterfowl hunters are encountering good numbers of birds. Those who are able to scout and put themselves in areas where the birds want to be are enjoying the most success. Jacob Bielefeldt hunted ducks at Mad Island WMA with a buddy on two consecutive mornings. He said their first morning hunt was slow, but the decoying action was pretty good the following morning. “We were the 45th group drawn out of a total of 54 groups on our first morning hunt,” Bielefeldt said. “The weather was warm and muggy, and the spot we drew was more like a mud hole than an actual
Speak on speck limits
pond. There were quite a few ducks flying high around us, but we never even fired a shot.” The next morning, the pair was the 5th group drawn out of 56 groups. This time, they had a more prime hunting location. “The birds were moving big time with the cooler, windy conditions produced by a cold front that was passing through, and they liked the spot that we drew,” Bielefeldt said. “We saw a lot of large flocks of big ducks up high in the sky. Most consisted of gadwall, wigeon and pintail. Teal, shovelers and diver ducks were willing to give our decoy spread a close look most of the morning.” Hunting guide for Top-Flight Hunting Preserve Mason Glueck said their ponds near Wallis have been loaded with both teal and larger species of puddle ducks. He recently had a hunt in which his
Comment now if you want to be heard on proposed trout limit changes. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
Lone Star Outdoor News The anticipated proposed rules changes to bag and size limits have been submitted, and public meetings have been set. The proposed rules would reduce the spotted seatrout bag limit to three fish and restrict the allowable size to 15-20 inches, with one fish over 25 inches allowed daily. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department said the proposals respond to public scoping and survey efforts, covered in the Nov. 10 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News, which found that many anglers wanted to see more restrictive measures to improve the fishery. Comments may be made at one of several public hearings hosted on the coast, virtually or over the phone. The proposals will then be considered for final action by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission during the January 2024 Commission Meeting. Coastal Fisheries staff will host several public hearings on the coast to receive input from anglers and constituents concerning the proposed regulation changes.
Please turn to page 11
Hunters with access to water and the time to scout have enjoyed some good duck hunts. Photos by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Mule deer successes
Brock Wilkerson took this Trans-Pecos mule deer buck after spotting him at 1,000 yards and then stalking closer. Photo from Brock Wilkerson.
Mule deer hunters found active bucks this season, and some found them with sizable antlers. The season, which ran Nov. 18Dec. 3 in the Panhandle and Nov. 24-Dec. 10 in the TransPecos, had some hunters pleasantly surprised about the sizes and antler quality of the bucks. Bass fishing pro Kelly Jordon shot a muley buck with 24 1/2inch spread after a mile-long stalk, and he got within 200 yards before taking the shot.
Freshwater Fishing Report . . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 15 Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 17 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 18
“I actually saw the buck mount a doe earlier in the morning,” Jordon said. “Then he was bedded down near her after my long hike when I finally found him again.” Jordon watched the buck stay in one area and figured the doe was bedded down as well and the buck wouldn’t leave. “In my mind that gave me a good chance to get off the high spot I was glassing from and hike a little more than a mile in a very crooked line to close the distance,” he said.
Provide online comments on the TPWD public comment page; phone at (512) 389-8575; email cfish@tpwd.texas.gov; or attend a Zoom webinar on Jan. 8 from 6-8 p.m.
Please turn to page 13
INSIDE
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
Lone Star Outdoor News
• Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. at the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Natural Resources Building. • Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. at the Greater Chamber of Harlingen. • Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. at the Bauer Exhibit Building, Port Lavaca. • Jan. 9, 6-8 p.m. at the Saltwater Pavilion at Rockport Beach Park. • Jan. 10, 6-8 p.m. at the Bob Bowers Civic Center, Port Arthur. • Jan. 11, 6-8 p.m. at the Nessler Civic Center Captain’s Room, Texas City.
HUNTING
FISHING
Proposing from the duck blind (P. 4)
Time for big blues (P. 8)
Hunter pops the question.
Catfish hitting big shad.
First deer at 61 (P. 4)
Water in canals (P. 9)
Foundation hunter’s career starts.
Quality, solutions studied.
Page 2
December 22, 2023
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December 22, 2023
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December 22, 2023
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HUNTING
Feeding, predator control means more quail, study finds Lone Star Outdoor News Researchers at Texas Tech Quail have established scientifically what was expected — that supplemental feeding with sorghum and summer chick feed year-round and reducing predators during the breeding season results in more quail on the landscape, even following a drought. “Treatment yielded a threefold increase in bobwhite density as compared to the Control area, which received no intensive management,” TTQ outlined in a summary of its research. “It is important to note
that this is not a honey hole comparison, but an average population density across a 6,565-acre study area.” The fall abundance population estimates, based on trapping, were 915 bobwhites in the Treatment area, compared with 236 in the Control, the area with no management. Last year, 225 permanent trap sites (one per 25 acres) across both the Treatment and Control areas were installed. “During this trapping effort we capture and leg band or “mark” bobwhites noting their sex and age,” TTQ stated. “Over
the course of the trapping effort we note the number of banded (marked) and unbanded (not marked) birds that are in our capture each day. Birds that are captured wearing a leg band (marked) are called recaptures, and the process is called MarkRecapture. These ratios of new bobwhites and recaptures are used in a statistical calculation to estimate population density.” “This year, we captured 27.3 new bobwhites per 100 trap nights in Treatment (1 bird per 3.4 acres) compared to 2.9 bobwhites/100 trap nights in Control (1 bird per 10 acres),” TTQ stated. Please turn to page 13
Josh Quintero proposed to his fiance’, Mackenzie, at the duck blind after a hunt at Lake Ray Roberts. Photo from Pete Quintero.
A ducky proposal By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Josh Quintero got out of the Marine Corps in June after 5 years of service and had plans for his girlfriend, Mackenzie. Quintero, who began hunting with his father, Pete, and hunted in Africa while on leave while stationed in Senegal, intended to propose to Mackenzie in the outdoors. “We had talked about getting engaged, and I told her she wasn’t going to have any idea when it happened,” he said. “We were planning a camping trip to Caddo Lake, and I was going to do it there. But the trip got canceled.” During the weekend of Dec. 8, Quintero was going duck hunting on public land at Lake Ray Roberts. Mackenzie was scheduled to work, but at the last minute she got off work for the weekend. “I asked her if she wanted to tag along,” Quintero said. “She had been dove hunting and shot a few birds but hadn’t been on a duck hunt. Fortunately, she did and then the idea popped in my head.” With the ring in hand, the next step was to talk to Mackenzie’s parents. “While at their house, I tried to get her dad to go out back with me to see his new grill,” Quintero said. “But she followed me outside. I called her dad later and got his blessing. Her mother asked for my plan, and I told her it would happen at the duck blind.” The morning of the hunt, the pair kayaked to a spot to set up. “I had her setting up the blind for me while I set up and checked the camera angles on my phone on the kayak to video it,” Quintero said. At first light, one duck came in and he made a successful shot. “There were other ducks flying through,” Quintero said. “Some mallards came over and I shot the drake. It was slow after that.” Mackenzie wanted to take a photo with the two ducks, setting up a perfect opportunity. “I told her I was going to set up the kayak for our picture, but I set the camera on video,” Quintero said. It was time. “I asked her,” he said, “You know what would make this day better? And then I asked her to marry me. She freaked out, crying and screaming. After it all happened, I looked and there was a duck swimming toward the decoys. That one got away.” The couple, both of Frisco, plans to get married in about a year. Quintero will begin welding school in January. The drake mallard will head to the taxidermist. “It’s the engagement mallard,” he said. Did Mackenzie like the duck hunt? “She loved it,” Quintero said. “She’s already looking for waders to buy.”
New hobby, hunting By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News A seasoned pharmaceutical sales rep daydreamed of a new hobby — hunting. Kyle Tugwell asked his wife for a specific rifle and scope for Christmas last year, and Santa came through. “I wanted a new hobby and to pursue hunting, he said. Tugwell didn’t grow up with the activity and never had a chance to go, nor did he have any idea how to get involved. But when he overheard a conversation at a pharmaceutical sales meeting, Tugwell took note. The conversation was about another rep’s first deer hunt with the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation. The 61-year-old approached David Sweet and Jerrod Smith to talk about Smith’s hunt (covered in the Jan. 8, 2022 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News) and said he had an interest in hunting. “How do we do that,” he asked. Sweet, a foundation board member, replied, “We can make it happen.” Tugwell’s wife purchased the rifle, a Christensen 6.5PRC with a Leupold scope. He’s still waiting for his Silencer Central suppressor. He went to a shooting school in his Amarillo hometown to learn to shoot. On the first morning of the hunt, they
Kyle Tugwell took his first hunt with the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation at the age of 61, but it won’t be his last. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
saw a lot of young deer and the new hunter watched and learned about deer behavior. Over the few days of hunting, Tugwell spent more than 15 hours in a deer blind. He plans to get involved with the Panhan-
dle Chapter of Dallas Safari Club. While looking at his phone, he asked, “Which DSC membership should I buy?” As Tugwell was perusing the DSC Auction Catalog in the blind, his guide David Please turn to page 13
Children’s book educates youth about waterfowl By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Avid angler and hunter, Taylor Garcia, wrote a children’s book titled, Oh My How Ducks Fly, with the intention of educating today’s youth on a variety of species of waterfowl she is passionate about. She hopes young readers will also gain an appreciation for waterfowl as well. Whether they end up wanting to hunt or not, Garcia’s goal is for the book to at least spark a passion for wildlife conservation and a love for nature and the out of doors. Garcia first had aspirations of writing
a children’s book when she was in college. “I’ve always been sort of a book worm, and have loved reading since I was a kid,” she said. “I also have a bunch of nieces and nephews, and I just adore little kids, so writing a children’s book has always made sense to me.” When she was pursuing her college degree, Garcia voiced her desire to a friend, who encouraged her to pursue that dream. “I had no idea what I wanted to write a children’s book about,” she said. “I just had always felt like the right idea would come to me organically when the time was right.” Please turn to page 16
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December 22, 2023
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Small town archery shop, range By Lane Moczygemba For Lone Star Outdoor News
When most hunters think of small towns, they think of Dairy Queens, Mini-Marts and the last place they can grab drinks before making it to the ranch gate. They aren’t thinking of places they can get their bows repaired or pick up half a dozen new arrows in a pinch. But Orange Grove, population 1,183, has an unexpected attraction suited especially for bow hunters. Darkhorse Archery, Darkhorse Archery is a full-service bow shop and range in Orange Grove. Photo from Darkhorse Archery, Facebook. located on the outskirts of town just off County Road 351, is a full sales and service bow shop with a 20-yard indoor and a 60-yard covered outdoor target range. It serves as one of the last bow shops between Interstate 37 and the whitetail deer country surrounding Freer. Having a shop in Orange Grove means bow hunters from the surrounding areas have a closer option than driving all the way into Corpus Christi, saving anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours of travel time for bow repairs or upgrades on the fly. The shop is owned and operated by Marine Corps veteran Justin Rokohl. He founded the shop in memory of his best friend, Colton Rusk. “Colton was a dog handler for 3/5 Darkhorse (Marine Division), that’s where the name for Darkhorse Archery came from,” Rokohl said. “Our mission is to honor Colton’s memory by giving back to other veterans.” “In addition to the archery range and bow shop, which are both open to the public, Darkhorse has had the pleasure of setting up close to 200 veterans with bows.” If you know a veteran who might be interested in archery but not sure where to start, you can nominate them to be Darkhorse’s Veteran Bow Recipient on the DHA website, darkhorse-archery.com. The shop also offers an after-school archery program for kids. The program is set up in a group class format and is open to kids of all skill levels. Classes last for approximately an hour and a half after school and equipment can be borrowed from the shop for a small fee.
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December 22, 2023
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Dallas Safari Club announced award winners in several categories, all of which will be presented at the 2024 DSC Convention and Sporting Expo, to be held Jan. 11-14 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award: Tony Caliguiri An Iowa native, Caliguiri has a passion for North American big game hunting in general and wild sheep conservation and sheep hunting in particular. He volunteers several hundred hours a year toward conservation and hunting advocacy projects, serving on the board of the Wild Sheep Foundation and as executive vice president of administration for the Boone and Crockett Club. He is a past chairman of the Congressional Sportsman’s Foundation. The longtime head of Boyt Harness Company and Gokey boots, he used his hunting knowledge to design numerous pieces of outdoor gear over the past 40 years, including the first wheeled sporting luggage. “The list of prestigious Peter H. Capstick Award winners is akin to the hall of fame of the conservation and hunting world, and we are very excited to add Tony to this group,” said DSC CEO Corey Mason. OHAA Award: Bryan Harlan The Dr. Bob Speegle Outstanding Hunting Achievement Award Committee selected Bryan Harlan as the 2024 Award recipient. Harlan grew up hunting small game in Louisiana and started white-tailed deer hunting after college. Never dreaming of hunting wild sheep, he drew a New Mexico raffle sheep tag in 2010, which set him on a path, with a little help from friend Bobby Davidson, to pursue more sheep and reach for the North American Grand Slam. Several years ago, Harlan paid a then-record amount toward conservation in Pakistan when he bought a rare markhor tag. “In my opinion, one of the most successful international community-based conservation programs is the markhors,” he said. “In 1996, markhors totaled around 3,000, but numbered 12,000 in 2017.” Bull Elephant Award: Rep. Jake Ellzey Ellzey is a native of Perryton, where he was raised on his family’s LZ ranch, and now resides in Ellis County. He is serving his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He serves on the House Appropriations Committee and is a member of the Subcommittee on the Interior and Environment, which controls the federal purse strings over hunting, conservation, and agencies like the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Ellzey has been a strong and unapologetic defender of hunting and conservation and has protected our hunting heritage by conducting rigorous oversight of federal government actions based on emotion and the demands of radical special interests rather than biological necessity and the North American Model of Conservation. His actions have reversed or halted several federal rules that would have harmed the conservation of both domestic and international species. Prior to serving in Congress, Ellzey served for 20 years in the Navy as a helicopter pilot and fighter pilot. He graduated from the Naval Academy where he was a member of the Trap and Skeet Team, and he was deployed nine times, with five combat tours including a ground tour in support of SEAL Team 5 in Iraq. Please turn to page 13
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December 22, 2023
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FISHING
Piers producing By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Jonah Byrnes holds a nice stringer after an evening of rainbow trout fishing. Photo by Cory Byrnes, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Neighborhood trouting Fishermen head to local ponds By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News Nick Miura went rainbow trout fishing with his dad at Mark McGrath Municipal Park in Meadows Place after the pond was stocked as part of the Neighborhood Fishin’ program. He and his dad went away with a nice haul. “We have been catching them on the Luhr Jensen Super Duper,” he said. Miura said the trout fishing was a little slow even through the fish had been stocked that day. “They usually fish better a day or two after being stocked,” a nearby angler said. “The trout tend to stack up near where they were stocked during the first couple of days as well.” Once Miura located the fish, a steady retrieve near the bottom helped elicit the strikes. “I was able to use PowerBait and trout eggs on a small Carolina rig to pick up a few fish,” another angler said. “Others around me saw success with a white rooster tail.” The fishermen said the average size of the rainbows was 8 to 10 inches. Mary Jo Peckham Park in Katy is another local pond that is stocked, which can make for a great family trip. “It was a spur of the moment family trip,” Cory Bard said. “The fishing was slow that day. The water level was low which pushed the fish out deeper than they had been in the past.” His wife, Shelby, landed an 11-inch trout on a Carolina rig with PowerBait. Other anglers at the pond reported slow fishing as well. Usually starting in late November and going into the New Year, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stocks public waters with rainbow trout. Many stocking locations can be found in nearby parks. The 2023-2024 trout stocking schedule is available on TPWD’s website. “I made a list from Houston out to College Station of the places to fish, Bard said. According to TPWD, C.J. Kelly Park Pond was not stocked on Dec. 15 due to high golden algae levels. However, Beal Park Pond will be stocked with trout and will get both allotments (1,500 total). So if you’re looking to catch some rainbow trout in Midland, Beal Park pond will be the place to be. “Man, that’s a lot of fish in that small pond,” fisherman Allen Dunlap said. Mike Burke reported on Facebook he had good success the other day with a gold Super Duper fished real slow at Ablon Park pond in Garland, where 5,000 rainbow trout were stocked.
After his shift ended, Houston firefighter Michael Cantu hand-lined this 38.5-inch redfish from a pier on the Texas City Dike with cut finger mullet. His reel handle broke, forcing him to bring the fish in by hand. Photo from Michael Cantu.
Anglers fishing from piers have been tangling with bull reds, oversized black drum, sheepshead, whiting, croaker, sand trout, gafftop and flounder. The most consistent action has been taking place along the upper coast, while the waters surrounding piers farther to the south have been more hit-and-miss. Houston firefighter Michael Cantu was fishing from a pier on the Texas City Dike when he hooked into what seemed to be a fairly large fish. “I had been fishing for a couple of hours with frozen finger mullet and hadn’t caught anything,” Cantu said. “I was down to my last piece of bait and decided to make one more cast. I set the hook when the fish grabbed the bait and took off. When I started to crank on my spinning reel, the handle snapped completely off.” The fish started peeling drag while Cantu tried to figure out what to do. Another angler ended up helping him by holding the rod, while he proceeded to hand-line the fish all the way to the pier. “It took a little while, but we were able to net the fish, which turned out to be a 38.5-inch redfish,” Cantu said. The staff of the 61st Street Fishing pier on Galveston Island reported their anglers have been catching quite a few bull redfish and oversized black drum, along with good numbers of whiting. Some gafftop, sand trout and croaker have been in the mix. Fresh dead shrimp and cut squid fished along the bottom have been producing bites from whiting, croaker, sand trout and gafftop. The large black drum and oversized redfish have been striking frozen shad, Spanish sardines, large chunks of cut bait, mullet and cracked crab. Some of the black drum and redfish have measured 40 inches in length or more. Youngster Bentley Horsley went fishing at the 61st Street Fishing Pier with his dad, Chris Horsley, to celebrate his birthday, and landed a 36-inch black drum. The big ugly was the biggest fish to date for the young angler. Heath Lanzer recently made an outing after sunset on the 61st Street Fishing Pier and caught and released a hefty bull red just five minutes after casting his line out. The red Please turn to page 16
Winter catfish bite on Big blues and smaller channels By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News The trophy blue catfish season is heating up on Lake Tawakoni. Tony Pennebaker has been putting his customers on big blue catfish, and on Dec. 15 the Thunder Cove Lake Tawakoni Guide Service owner said his group brought in 227 pounds of fish, including a 61-, 50-, 44- and 41-pounder, all of which were released after a photo. On Dec. 17, the big fish kept coming in. “I only cleaned one fish,” Pennebaker said. “But they caught a bunch of big ones that we let go.” Pennebaker has been castnetting and using big gizzard
shad for bait. “I used to catch them with big bluegill, but now it seems they want the big shad or a small drum.” Eater-sized catfish also are biting well, the guide said. Cut shad has been the best bait, and the bite is coming from shallow water. “We’re catching a lot of big slot fish,” he said. Guide James Evans, with Whisk’R Fish’N Trophy Guide Service also is on the big cats on the lake. He said the blue cats are focusing on schools of shad that are roaming the flats. He drift-fishes with Carolina rigs baited with big gizzard shad. One customer landed a 61-pounder while another boated 240 pounds of fish in a day. “Finding the big gizzard shad can be more difficult than catching the big blue catfish,”
Big blue catfish are grabbing magnum-sized shad at Lake Tawakoni. Photo from Tony Pennebaker.
he said. Both guides said days with new cold fronts paint a different picture. “They seem to get lockjaw for a day,” Evans said.
On Richland-Chambers Reservoir, guide Royce Simmons has been targeting eater-sized catfish when he’s not fishing for magnum-sized white bass. “The catfish bite has been Please turn to page 16
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December 22, 2023
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Coastal canals and water quality Study suggests management improvements Lone Star Outdoor News Residential canal systems along the Texas coast, as well as in other Gulf and Atlantic states, are on the increase. Anglers know that fishing can be good, at times, while the canals are seemingly void of fish at others. A Harte Research Institute Center for Sportfishing Studies former master’s student, Jordana Cutajar, recently had a paper published in the academic journal Estarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, looking at water quality in coastal residential canals in the Coastal Bend. Her data showed that these areas had low water quality — experiencing frequent Canals in the Corpus Christi area were the subject of a study on water algal blooms, hypoxia (low quality. Photo by David Sweet. oxygen), and elevated nutrient loads — which illustrates a need for best management For existing canals, mitigation strategies for practices as these spaces are developed. hypoxia/anoxia have been proposed/emThe canals possess unique attributes that ployed, primarily in the form of fountains may facilitate water quality degradation, and other aeration devices that help oxynamely shallow depths, susceptibility to ur- genate the system and reduce the stratificaban runoff, and limited flushing, the study tion observed during rainfall events. concluded. Nutrient management is also paramount, In the study, water quality and phyto- but to be effective it requires knowledge of plankton biomass/composition were quan- nutrient sources. For example, if a canal is tified once per month in the fall and win- impacted by sewage, action should be taken ter, and twice per month in the spring and to address failing septic tanks and/or sewer summer, over a 1-year period at three sites lines. In canals affected by runoff of fertilalong a mouth-interior gradient of a canal izer, a fertilizer ordinance could be applied system on North Padre Island. and has helped to reduce total nitrogen and Results showed that the mouth site ex- phosphorus levels in some South Florida hibited lower inorganic nutrient concen- coastal waterbodies. Vegetative buffers have trations and less pronounced variability been effective in reducing nitrogen inputs in salinity and nutrients than the interior to agricultural canals. canal sites. Chlorophyll a was 2.5-3-fold For new canal systems, the study prohigher in the canal sites than at the mouth posed some alternative designs. A previon average. Episodic to persistent hypoxia ous study that evaluated dead end canals was observed at the canal sites, but not at in Maryland and Delaware recommended the mouth. These findings show that arti- that canal systems be designed with feaficial coastal residential canal systems have tures such as rounded corners and ample distinct and less desirous water quality con- connection with nearby waterbodies to enditions and phytoplankton communities. hance flushing rates. Other studies recomTo improve water quality conditions, mend that canals be situated so that the caseveral options are available to local com- nal axis is parallel to wind patterns to allow munities, Cutajar concluded in the study. for improved flow and water quality.
Longtime DSC volunteer coordinator dies Many of the 400 or so volunteers at the Dallas Safari Club convention will attribute their involvement to one woman, Dixie Yeatts. At this year’s convention, she will be missed. The weekend of Dec. 15, Yeatts passed away at an area hospital. “If there was a DSC Mt. Rushmore, Dixie would most certainly be on the uppermost summit,” DSC said in its announcement. “A longtime DSC member and volunteer/employee, Dixie was a driving force establishing the DSC 100 Volunteer Army. She defined the role of Volunteer Coordinator for DSC.” The DSC Volunteer Award was renamed the Dixie Yeatts Award of Excellence in her honor several years ago. It is given annually to a DSC volunteer who goes above and beyond. Always greeting DSC members and strangers alike with her kind smile, Dixie had a way of motivating people to serve. —DSC
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Elite Series field includes eight Texans Eight Texas anglers will compete in the Bassmaster Elite Series in the 2024 season. The season begins Feb. 22 at the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend on Feb. 22, and continues at Lake Fork beginning Feb. 29. The Texas competitors in the 103-angler field are: Keith Combs, Huntington Ray Hanselman, Del Rio Lee Livesay, Longview Ben Milliken, New Caney Frank Talley, Temple Clark Wendlandt, Leander Brad Whatley, Bivins Chris Zaldain, Fort Worth
CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FALL/WINTER TRIPS
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December 22, 2023
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 55 degrees; 3.50’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. AMISTAD: Water lightly stained; 63 degrees; 55.39’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, Texas-rigged plastics, shaky heads and topwaters. White bass are good on blades, spoons, shallow crankbaits and umbrella rigs. Stripers are fair on Alabama rigs, spoons, swimbaits and bucktail jigs. ARLINGTON: Water lightly stained; 55-65 degrees; 1.06’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on live minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait. ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 8.63’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait. ATHENS: Water stained; 50 degrees; 1.46’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes, jigs, Carolina rigs and shakyhead worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. AUSTIN: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics, jerkbaits and spinner baits. BASTROP: Water stained; 65-69 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, Carolina-rigged flukes, jigs and crankbaits. BELTON: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 15.79’ low. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrids are fair on pet spoons. Catfish are fair on cut bait and punch bait. BENBROOK: Water stained; 59-61 degrees; 6.13’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are fair on shad. Catfish are fair on live bait and punch bait. BOB SANDLIN: Water tained; 58 degrees; 1.22’ low. Largemouth bass are good on flukes, chatter baits, lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait. BRAUNIG: Water stained; 73 degrees. Redfish are fair on Gulf shrimp and live tilapia. Catfish are fair on shrimp. BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 60-63 degrees; 15.35’ low. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrids are good on small artificial baits. Catfish are good on cut bait. BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 55-58 degrees; 8.76’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. White bass are slow. Catfish are slow. BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 55-58 degrees;
25.99’ low. White bass are good on jigging spoons. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and spoons. Stripers are good on live bait and jigs. CADDO: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.25’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spoons, lipless crankbaits, small jigs and chatter baits. CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained; 75 degrees. Redfish are good on cut shad, frozen Gulf shrimp and soft plastics. Catfish are good on cheese bait, chicken liver and frozen shrimp. CANYON: Water clear to lightly stained; 62 degrees; 20.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and trick worms. Stripers are fair on spooks and swimbaits. CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 59-61 degrees; 1.62’ low. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on umbrella rigs, lipless crankbaits, spinners and spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows. CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 61 degrees; 27.65’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and small jigs. Catfish are fair on stink bait or cut shad. CONROE: Water stained; 62 degrees; 0.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics, jigs, lipless crankbaits and spinner baits. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Hybrids are good on live shad. Catfish are good on liver, shad and punch bait. COOPER: Water lightly stained; 60 degrees: 1.00’ low. Catfish are good on cut shad and chicken gizzards. CORPUS CHRISTI: 65 degrees; 7.74’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cheese bait, cut carp and shad. EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 56 degrees; 7.12’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait. FALCON: Water stained; 70 degrees; 39.86’ low. Bass are fair on crankbaits, plastic worms and football head jigs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait. FAYETTE: Water stained; 67 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, crankbaits and swimbaits. FORK: Water stained; 57-60 degrees; 2.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits, Carolina rigs,
crankbaits and jerk baits. Crappie are good on jigs. FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 68 degrees; 6.32’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs, spinner baits, and crankbaits on rocky points. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait. GRANBURY: Water lightly stained; 55 degrees; 0.61’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Catfish are good on cut shad. GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 2.25’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on shad-imitation lures. Catfish are good on cut bait and shad. GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 58 degrees; 1.44’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastic, crankbaits and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad. HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 57-59 degrees; 1.62’ low. Largemouth bass are are good on Ned rigs and wacky worms. Catfish are good on cut bait. HUBBARD CREEK: Water sained; 57-60 degrees; 11.90’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait. JOE POOL: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.11’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, chatter baits and Texas-rigged senkos. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 58 degrees; 1.05’ high. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, flukes, chatter baits, lipless crankbaits, and spinner baits. Crappie are good on jigs or minnows. Catfish are good on jug lines with cut bait. LAVON: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; 3.36’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, jigs and creature baits. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad. LBJ: Water stained; 58 degrees; 0.25’ low. Crappie are fair on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair on punch bait. LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 55-57 degrees; 2.69’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on buzzbaits and spooks. Hybrid stripers are slow. White
bass are fair on slabs, jigs and live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad or chicken breasts. LIMESTONE: Water clear; 57-59 degrees; 4.26’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits, Texas rigs, chatter baits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait. LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 65 degrees; 0.13’ low. White bass are good on spoons and slabs. Striped bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and gizzard shad. MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 68 degrees; 4.64’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. MEREDITH: Water stained; 52 degrees; 45.65’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and artificials. White bass are good on minnows, slabs and any vertical presentations. Walleye are fair on jigs and grubs. Catfish are fair on crawlers, minnows, chicken liver and frozen shad. NACOGDOCHES: Water clear; 57-62 degrees; 3.71’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, Alabama rigs and jigs. Crappie are good on jigs. NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 56 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on Alabama rigs, crankbaits and shad-imitation baits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow. NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 65 degrees. 0.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chatter baits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait. NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 57-60 degrees; 1.81’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait. O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 60 degrees; 30.30’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, soft plastics, swimbaits and crankbaits. White bass are fair on live baits and plastic baits. Crappie are good on live bait and jigs. OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 15.78’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow.
PALESTINE: Water stained; 56-62 degrees; 2.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrids are good on crankbaits, flukes and shad. Catfish are good on stink bait and cut bait. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 54-58 degrees; 1.65’ low. Striped bass are good on live bait. White bass are fair on small live shad and slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad. PROCTOR: Water stained; 60 degrees; 12.86’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. Hybrids and white bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on stink bait and cut bait. RAVEN: Water slightly stained; 66 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and crankbaits. RAY HUBBARD: Water stainrf; 54-56 degrees; 1.93’ low. White bass are good on slabs and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and punch bait. RAY ROBERTS: Water stainrf; 55 degrees; 1.82’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are slow. White bass are good on slabs with a hair jig as a trailer. Catfish are good on cut chicken and cut shad. RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 59 degrees; 2.61’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and jigs. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs and jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait and cut bait. SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 6.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and top-waters. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and roadrunners. Catfish are good on cut bait and live minnows. SOMERVILLE: Water clear; 60 degrees; 6.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and craw jigs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on liver, cut bait, and punch bait. SPENCE: Water stained; 54 degrees. 46.41’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait and shrimp. STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water stained; 62 degrees; 17.93’ low. Largemouth bass are good on slabs and jigs.
n Saltwater reports Page 17
White bass are good on slabs. TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 59 degrees; 0.66’ low. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and flukes. Crappie are good on jigs. Stripers and white bass are good on shad and slabs. Catfish are good on fresh cut gizzard shad. TEXOMA: Water stained; 65 degrees; 2.57’ low. Largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are fair on live shad. Crappie are slow. Striped bass are good on live shad, flukes and swimbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad. TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 57-60 degrees; 4.35’ low. Largemouth bass are good on spinner baits, chatter baits, soft plastics, spoons and lipless crankbaits. Catfish are slow. TRAVIS: Water stained; 60 degrees; 49.89’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and top-waters. TWIN BUTTES: Water stained. 57 degrees; 32.08’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on live minnows. Catfish are good on cheese bait and cut bait. TYLER: Water stained; 62 degrees; 2.90’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on trick worms and spinner baits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. WACO: Water stained; 60 degrees; 0.82’ high. Crappie are good on jigs. WHITNEY: Water stained; 57 degrees; 1.40’ low. Crappie are good on jigs. Striped bass are slow. White bass are good on jigs and slabs. WORTH: Water stained; 56 degrees; 2.92’ low. White bass are fair on slabs and minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait. WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 65 degrees; 3.90’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and swimbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait, nightcrawlers and minnows. —TPWD
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December 22, 2023
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Where there’s water Continued from page 1
hunters harvested seven different species of ducks. “We saw everything from wigeon, mallards, mottled ducks, and wood ducks, to pintail, green-winged teal, blue-winged teal, and gadwall,” Glueck said. “I had seen quite a few teal while scouting and was expecting my hunters to harvest their limits pretty early. The teal, however, had different plans. We did shoot a few teal, but hunted later into the morning when the larger species of puddle ducks really started flying well.” His hunters ended up harvesting two mottled ducks sporting bands. “We don’t see a ton of banded birds in this part of the world, and to harvest two in the same morning was a neat surprise,” Glueck said. Guide Rowdy Kunz said the Garwood Prairie has been holding plenty of ducks, including wigeon, pintail, shovelers, gadwall and teal. “We’ve really got a bunch of greenwinged teal and large groups of pintail,” Photo by Nate Skinner Kunz said. “There’s still a few bluewings around as well, and I’ve even seen a handful of canvasbacks harvested.” Kunz said there have been good numbers of wigeon loafing on ponds in the afternoons, but he hasn’t been seeing many come take a look at the decoys during morning hunts. The birds that have been willing to work the spread have been cupping in groups of six to eight. “We’ve had really good shooting opportunities for our hunters,” Kunz said. TJ Whitworth has been guiding hunters on private ponds in the San Antonio area, where he said limits of puddle ducks have been consistent. “My hunters have been filling their straps with green-winged teal, gadwall, wigeon, pintail and shovelers, along with the occasional diver duck or two,” Whitworth said. “The amount of ducks that we’ve been seeing right at legal shooting light has been pretty incredible. We’ve got a ton of ducks in the area, and the numbers just seem to be building as the the season wears on.” Hunters with access to stock ponds and cattle tanks in south central Texas have reported some excellent shoots consisting of a variety of teal and other puddle ducks. Duck hunters along the Lower Laguna Madre have reported no shortage of divers. At Port Mansfield, redheads and scaup have been providing hunters with plenty of decoying action. Pintail and wigeon have also been in the mix.
Whose Dog are You? celebrates Ron Gard’s love of dogs through his extensive collection of dog collars from ancient to modern times, as well as dog handle walking canes and other collectibles. Featuring the beautiful photography of Jeff Moore, collectors and dog lovers alike will love this 259-page coffee table book.
PURCHASE TODAY AT WWW.WHOSEDOGAREYOU.COM
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December 22, 2023
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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER DISABLED BOAT OFFSHORE, FOUR TOWED TO SAFETY Four offshore anglers were rescued after their boat became disabled offshore of Matagorda. The daughter of one of the men contacted the Coast Guard notifying that her father had not returned since departing early in the morning. He had planned to go to the Liberty Ship Reef and return before sunset. A response boat, airplane crew and helicopter crew were launched, along with an unmanned aerial vehicle. Several hours later, the drone personnel located the vessel with the four men aboard. The response boat arrived and towed the vessel to Matagorda. No injuries were reported. SHERIFF’S DEPUTY HONORED FOR RESCUE On Nov. 13, Texas game wardens presented Deputy Alec Eichler, of the Sabine County Sheriff’s Office, with a TPWD Law Enforcement Director’s Citation for his assistance with a search and rescue response of two boaters that had capsized during rough waters and cold conditions. The efforts of the deputy led to the discovery of the boat and its two passengers, one who was barely able to cry for help while clinging to a stump, and the other who was not breathing.
FOUR DEER POACHED, LEFT TO WASTE On Dec. 3, Texas game wardens in both Haskell and Jones counties were contacted regarding four deer that had been illegally harvested and left to waste. Wardens located one white-tailed buck and two does on County Road 202 in Jones County. Wardens found the fourth deceased white-tailed deer, a buck, on Paint Creek Road in Haskell County. The
FLOUNDER VIOLATORS CITED, MORE THAN 160 FISH SEIZED Violators of the flounder closure regulations have been cited numerous times by Texas game wardens. On Nov. 6, Matagorda County wardens cited a commercial Gulf shrimp boat for possession of flounder in closed season, possession of lightning whelks and possession of fillets on board. A total of 38 flounder were seized. Also in Matagorda County, wardens cited two commercial Gulf shrimp boats for possession of flounder in closed season, possession of
two bucks had their heads removed and their meat was wasted. The two does were shot in a wheat field and were also left to waste. It is believed that this illegal act occurred sometime between the evening hours of Dec. 1 and the early morning hours of Dec. 2. A reward is offered for information leading to a conviction. Call Operation Game Thief with information.
fillets and possession of game fish. A total of 35 flounder were seized between the two boats. On Nov. 10, Jefferson County wardens cited a commercial shrimp boat for possession of flounder in closed season. Eight flounder were seized. On Nov. 12, Matagorda County wardens cited two commercial shrimp boats for possession of flounder in closed season. A total of 52 flounder were seized. On Nov. 19, Matagorda County wardens cited a commercial shrimp boat for possession of flounder in closed season. A total of
33 flounder were seized. Flounder fishing is closed through Dec. 14. The limit abroad a commercial Gulf shrimp boat, when flounder fishing is open, is equal to the recreational limit (5 fish) per person with a current shrimp boat captains license. MORE THAN 3,000 POUNDS OF ILLEGAL RED SNAPPER The Coast Guard and Texas Parks & Wildlife Department interdicted five lancha crews and seized approximately 2,640 pounds of illegally caught red snapper in waters
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subject to U.S. law enforcement off southern Texas. Boat crews from Coast Guard Station South Padre Island and an aircrew located and stopped 16 Mexican fishermen engaged in illegal fishing aboard four lanchas. After interdicting the lanchas, personnel seized 2,090 pounds of red snapper in addition to fishing gear and high flyers on board the vessels. The fishermen were detained, brought ashore, and transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for further processing. Additionally, an Air Station Corpus Christi crew alerted a TPWD boat crew to the presence of another lancha crew engaged in illegal fishing. The TPWD crew interdicted the lancha with four Mexican fishermen aboard and seized 550 pounds of illegally caught red snapper.
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Duck Stamp going digital Lone Star Outdoor News The U.S. House of Representatives passed The Duck Stamp Modernization Act, a bill that makes the federal duck stamp electronically accessible to waterfowl hunters for the entire waterfowl season, on Dec. 12. The legislation, which passed the Senate in July, allows waterfowl hunters to purchase the $25 duck stamp online and removes the requirement to possess a physical copy of the stamp while hunting. The bill awaits the president’s expected signature. Hunters and collectors will still be able to purchase physical stamps from a U.S. Post Office and other qualified retailers. After duck season ends, physical copies will be mailed to anyone that purchased a digital stamp. The Duck Stamp Modernization Act
builds upon the 28-state pilot program that validated E-stamps for 45 days before needing a physical stamp to legally hunt. U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA) led the way for the Act. “This legislation is a common sense, bipartisan effort that helps simplify antiquated processes for sportsmen and women,” said Congressional Sportsmen Foundation President Jeff Crane. Some purchasers of the physical stamp may wonder if they can save a few dollars by using the $25 stamp to mail a Christmas package. However, that’s where a stamp isn’t really a stamp, even though it is sold at Post Offices. The U.S. Postal Service describes the Duck Stamp as a conservation revenue stamp, and clearly states, “The stamp may not be used for postage.”
Study confirms theory Continued from page 4
TTQ said a goal in the Rolling Plains is 1 bird per acre. “Our Treatment area is not far from that goal, despite being only a year removed from a severe drought, while our Control area is still far from that goal,” TTQ stated. “Despite being only one year past a 4-inch rain breeding season and severe drought conditions, our Treatment area has a bobwhite per 3 acres and contains 3 times more bobwhites than our Control; with all this occurring on an actively grazed cattle
ranch. This is a remarkable population hold and subsequent increase and testament to the intensive management occurring on the Treatment site.” The TTQ summary said the treated area is well-suited for future seasons after timely rains this year. This research received funding support from Chuck Ribelin, Jim Cone and the Cross Timbers and Permian Basin chapters of the Quail Coalition.
A new beginning Continued from page 4
Sams apologized to the new hunter. “You’re about to spend a lot of money,” he said. The next three hunts were similar. Young deer came in, but the older, bigger bucks stayed away. Finally, the fifth hunt was different. Tugwell and Sams got in the blind early, around 2:30 p.m., but even though the moon had just set, it was a quiet start. “We didn’t see anything until 4:30,” Tugwell said. “Then a doe, a buck fawn and a broken-up buck showed up. We were surprised there weren’t a lot of deer coming in. But when one did come in, there weren’t any distractions.” While watching a button buck, Sams told him there was another buck coming in. Tugwell asked Sams about the buck as it walked off. “He’s a mature buck,” Sams said. “Go ahead and put the rifle out the window and we’ll see if he comes back.” The buck returned quickly and presented nearly a broadside shot. Wearing earmuffs and not hearing the go-ahead from Sams, he glanced toward his guide. “He gave me a thumb’s up,” Tugwell said. “While I was getting ready to shoot, the deer started to bolt but only went 10 feet and stopped again. Then, I was ready and didn’t hesitate.” The buck was angled with his front legs
separated. “His left leg was out in front, so I followed instructions and aimed for the opposite front leg,” Tugwell said. The shot was a solid hit and the buck jumped four feet at impact and ran. “I wanted to see him drop right there,” Tugwell said. “We walked out there and didn’t find any blood. When we crested a little hill, we couldn’t see him.” Sams stopped at a cedar tree and knew the buck was close. “I could smell him,” he said. “He was on the other side of the tree.” The 6-year-old 8-pointer was a heavy deer, weighing 170 pounds field-dressed. “When I saw him, I was proud,” Tugwell said. “I was getting a little nervous — I’ve been wanting to do this. It took a little while for it to soak in.” Sams had walked off to get the truck and give the new hunter some time with his first animal. “When I came back with the truck, he was standing with his hands in the air, pumping his fist,” Sams said. Tugwell said he was eventually interested in international hunting but wanted more experience first. “I look forward to whatever hunts I can have,” he said. “This foundation hunt has been a blessing.”
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Honors from DSC Continued from page 6
The Bull Elephant Award is given to legislators at the national level who have continually supported legislation and efforts that coincide with DSC’s mission. Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award: Caroline Sample Sample grew up deer hunting with her family on their farm in Louisiana. “Ever since I was born, my dad has taken me hunting,” she said. “My family taught me to shoot when I was 6, and I just grew up around it.” Caroline started by deer hunting on the family farm with a few exotics in Texas. Trips to New Mexico, South Africa, New Zealand and Spain followed. When Sample got the call from DSC CEO Corey Mason letting her know she had won this year’s award, she was thrilled. “I was really excited, “she said. “I have applied the last couple of years, so it was really great to win this year.” Conservation Trailblazer Award: Dr. Roel Lopez Dr. Lopez currently pulls double duty at Texas A&M University, serving as Director of the Natural Resources Institute, as well as Department Head of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Department. A few accomplishments include securing more than 200 research grants that total over $59 million, chairing/co-chairing 122 graduate students, publishing 153 peer-reviewed journal articles, 22 book chapters and one comprehensive book. “For decades, Dr. Lopez has been a nationally recognized leader in wildlife conservation,” Mason said. “His investment in student development goes far beyond the curriculum and impacts students over their entire career.” Lopez grew up hunting and fishing, which cultivated an early appreciation for the role hunting plays in conservation.
That appreciation and passion was honed as an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for more than 15 years. Taking that passion into teaching, Lopez is currently developing a curriculum at Texas A&M University focusing on developing a hunter/conservation program within the department. “Dr. James Cathey teaches the course to promote the hunting/conservation ethic within our ranks,” he said. “Most of the students haven’t hunted before, but they get to go on a duck hunt, prepare the game, and see the important role hunters play. Some won’t become hunters themselves, but they understand the role hunters play in conservation. DSC Foundation Education Award: Texas Brigades Texas Brigades is a nonprofit organization with a mission to educate and empower adolescents with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship to become conservation ambassadors for a sustained natural resource legacy. The group provides a combination of educational programs, including its popular 5-day summer camps, its advanced Wildlife Intensive Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.) program and single-day programs, Texas Brigades Experiences. “Our camps are a model for us to develop leadership skills across the state,” said Executive Director Natalie Wolff. “Some of these kids could have a multi-year history with hunting, so they might excel at that, but we give them the chance to hone skills and develop new ones. At the camps, students experience habitat management, understand wildlife and fisheries policy matters, learn how to shoot, learn plant and animal species, spend time with conservation professionals and build public speaking skills.
OUTFITTERS BLINDS & FEEDERS, DEER CORN, PROTEIN, ACCESSORIES, DELIVERY & SETUP AVAILABLE
Nice muleys Continued from page 1
Jordon was hunting near the Oklahoma border in Hutchinson County. All three hunters on the trip shot a mule deer right after Thanksgiving, and reported many of the bucks were chasing doe. Brock Wilkerson, owner of A Place to Shoot, in San Antonio, was hunting at the Delaware Mountain Ranch north of Van Horn. “We spotted a buck at 1,000 yards,” Wilkerson said. “He was with some does but had wind on us. We had to drive and re-approach from a different angle. We came over a ridge to find some does bedded down.” Wilkerson still couldn’t see the buck.
“I proceeded to crawl to get a different vantage point,” he said. “When I got behind a cedar, I could see him. I extended my bipod and shot him at 250 yards with a .257 Weatherby. In the Trans-Pecos Big Buck contest, C. P. Meadows won the youth division with a buck with 144 6/8 inches of antlers. James Silva shot a 156 5/8-inch buck to win the South of I-10 category and Joshua Legg won the North of I-10 category with a 176 1/8inch buck. Mule deer season continues for those enrolled in the Managed Lands Deer Permit program.
(361) 774-2442 VISIT C4 RANCH OUTFITTERS IN CORPUS CHRISTI
5001 Allen Place Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Page 14
December 22, 2023
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
HEROES
Aiden Garza, 7, took this whitetail in Lee County. He shot the buck with a third-generation Remington .243.
Melissa Pavlu, of Rockport, passed on a bigger buck, saying she wanted good meat, and took this deer using a Model 660 .243 that her grandmother bought in the 1960s.
Neil Preston, of San Antonio, took this feral hog on an ARnight vision hunt near Matagorda.
After a 20-minute battle, Alejandro Velasco Lopez, of Weslaco, caught this big bull redfish at Port Mansfield’s East Cut.
Eli Moreno, 13, took this buck at the Escamilla Ranch.
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.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
December 22, 2023
Page 15
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston
Full
Last
New
First
Dec 26
Jan 3
Jan 11
Jan 17
Solunar Sun times Moon times Dallas
2023-24 Dec/Jan
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
2023-24 Dec/Jan
A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31 Sun 01 Mon 02 Tue 03 Wed 04 Thu 05 Fri
12:58 7:10 1:42 7:55 2:28 8:42 3:18 9:32 4:11 10:25 5:06 11:20 6:02 ----6:57 12:45 7:50 1:38 8:39 2:29 9:26 3:16 10:09 4:00 10:50 4:41 11:30 5:20 ----- 6:00
1:23 7:35 2:08 8:21 2:55 9:09 3:46 9:59 4:39 10:53 5:33 11:50 6:28 12:15 7:21 1:09 8:13 2:01 9:01 2:50 9:46 3:36 10:29 4:19 11:10 5:00 11:51 5:40 12:10 6:21
07:12 05:25 07:13 05:26 07:13 05:26 07:13 05:27 07:14 05:27 07:14 05:28 07:15 05:28 07:15 05:29 07:15 05:30 07:16 05:30 07:16 05:31 07:16 05:32 07:16 05:32 07:16 05:33 07:17 05:34
2:07p 2:54a 2:44p 3:59a 3:26p 5:05a 4:14p 6:09a 5:08p 7:09a 6:05p 8:03a 7:04p 8:51a 8:04p 9:32a 9:01p 10:07a 9:57p 10:37a 10:50p 11:05a 11:43p 11:31a NoMoon 11:56a 12:36a 12:23p 1:31a 12:51p
22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31 Sun 01 Mon 02 Tue 03 Wed 04 Thu 05 Fri
1:04 7:16 1:47 8:00 2:34 8:47 3:24 9:38 4:17 10:31 5:12 11:26 6:08 ----7:03 12:51 7:56 1:44 8:45 2:35 9:32 3:22 10:15 4:05 10:56 4:46 11:36 5:26 ----- 6:05
1:28 7:41 2:13 8:26 3:01 9:14 3:51 10:05 4:45 10:58 5:39 11:56 6:34 12:21 7:27 1:15 8:18 2:07 9:07 2:56 9:52 3:42 10:35 4:25 11:16 5:06 11:56 5:46 12:16 6:27
07:25 05:24 07:26 05:24 07:26 05:25 07:26 05:25 07:27 05:26 07:27 05:26 07:28 05:27 07:28 05:28 07:28 05:28 07:28 05:29 07:29 05:30 07:29 05:30 07:29 05:31 07:29 05:32 07:29 05:33
2:08p 3:04a 2:43p 4:11a 3:24p 5:19a 4:11p 6:24a 5:04p 7:25a 6:02p 8:19a 7:02p 9:05a 8:03p 9:45a 9:02p 10:19a 10:00p 10:48a 10:55p 11:14a 11:49p 11:38a NoMoon 12:02p 12:43a 12:26p 1:40a 12:53p
San Antonio
Amarillo
2023-24 A.M. Dec/Jan Minor Major
P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
2023-24 Dec/Jan
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31 Sun 01 Mon 02 Tue 03 Wed 04 Thu 05 Fri
1:35 7:48 2:20 8:33 3:08 9:21 3:58 10:12 4:51 11:05 5:46 ----6:41 12:27 7:34 1:22 8:25 2:14 9:13 3:03 9:59 3:48 10:41 4:32 11:22 5:13 ----- 5:53 12:23 6:34
22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tue 27 Wed 28 Thu 29 Fri 30 Sat 31 Sun 01 Mon 02 Tue 03 Wed 04 Thu 05 Fri
1:24 7:36 2:08 8:21 2:54 9:08 3:44 9:58 4:37 10:51 5:32 11:46 6:28 12:15 7:23 1:11 8:16 2:04 9:05 2:55 9:52 3:42 10:35 4:26 11:16 5:07 11:56 5:46 12:15 6:26
1:49 8:01 2:34 8:46 3:21 9:35 4:12 10:25 5:05 11:19 5:59 ----6:54 12:41 7:47 1:35 8:39 2:27 9:27 3:16 10:12 4:02 10:55 4:45 11:36 5:26 ----- 6:06 12:36 6:47
07:52 05:37 07:52 05:38 07:52 05:38 07:53 05:39 07:53 05:40 07:54 05:40 07:54 05:41 07:54 05:41 07:55 05:42 07:55 05:43 07:55 05:44 07:55 05:44 07:55 05:45 07:55 05:46 07:56 05:47
2:24p 3:29a 2:58p 4:38a 3:38p 5:47a 4:24p 6:53a 5:17p 7:54a 6:14p 8:48a 7:16p 9:34a 8:18p 10:12a 9:19p 10:44a 10:17p 11:12a 11:14p 11:36a NoMoon 11:59a 12:10a 12:22p 1:06a 12:45p 2:04a 1:10p
1:10 7:23 1:54 8:07 2:41 8:54 3:30 9:44 4:23 10:37 5:19 11:32 6:14 12:01 7:09 12:57 8:02 1:51 8:52 2:41 9:38 3:28 10:22 4:12 11:03 4:53 11:43 5:33 12:01 6:12
07:23 05:39 07:24 05:39 07:24 05:40 07:25 05:40 07:25 05:41 07:26 05:41 07:26 05:42 07:26 05:43 07:27 05:43 07:27 05:44 07:27 05:44 07:27 05:45 07:28 05:46 07:28 05:47 07:28 05:47
2:20p 3:06a 2:58p 4:11a 3:41p 5:17a 4:29p 6:21a 5:22p 7:21a 6:19p 8:15a 7:18p 9:03a 8:18p 9:43a 9:15p 10:19a 10:11p 10:50a 11:04p 11:17a 11:56p 11:44a NoMoon 12:09p 12:48a 12:36p 1:43a 1:05p
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 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 5:53 AM 6:35 AM 7:15 AM 7:56 AM 12:12 AM 12:30 AM 12:51 AM 1:15 AM 1:40 AM 11:59 AM 12:39 PM 03:13 AM 03:46 AM 04:18 AM 04:52 AM
Height -0.42L -0.68L -0.86L -0.95L 1.19H 1.20H 1.19H 1.17H 1.10H -0.35L -0.10L 0.61L 0.37L 0.11L -0.15L
Time 1:40 PM 2:40 PM 3:32 PM 4:19 PM 8:36 AM 9:16 AM 9:57 AM 10:37 AM 11:18 AM 8:29 PM 8:55 PM 5:30 AM 9:42 AM 11:42 AM 12:56 PM
Height 1.31H 1.45H 1.52H 1.51H -0.96L -0.91L -0.82L -0.69L -0.54L 1.05H 1.00H 0.62H 0.59H 0.74H 0.93H
Time 6:40 PM 7:53 PM 8:51 PM 9:34 PM 5:04 PM 5:49 PM 6:34 PM 7:20 PM 8:02 PM
Height 0.89L 1.02L 1.10L 1.15L 1.46H 1.37H 1.29H 1.21H 1.14H
Time 11:13 PM 11:35 PM 11:55 PM
Height 1.14H 1.15H 1.17H
10:00 PM 10:18 PM 10:41 PM 11:22 PM
1.17L 1.16L 1.13L 1.08L
1:25 PM 2:20 PM 3:34 PM 5:07 PM
0.14L 0.39L 0.61L 0.78L
9:15 PM 9:29 PM 9:35 PM 9:29 PM
0.94H 0.90H 0.87H 0.88H
Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 6:09 AM 6:44 AM 7:21 AM 8:00 AM 8:41 AM 9:23 AM 10:04 AM 10:43 AM 11:20 AM 11:57 AM 12:33 PM 3:44 AM 4:17 AM 4:47 AM 5:14 AM
Height -0.19L -0.48L -0.68L -0.79L -0.81L -0.78L -0.71L -0.60L -0.45L -0.26L 0.01L 0.71L 0.47L 0.21L -0.05L
Time 1:58 PM 3:06 PM 3:59 PM 4:42 PM 5:22 PM 6:02 PM 6:48 PM 7:37 PM 8:19 PM 8:45 PM 9:05 PM 6:06 AM 9:22 AM 12:11 PM 1:47 PM
Height 1.48H 1.66H 1.76H 1.78H 1.73H 1.64H 1.53H 1.42H 1.32H 1.20H 1.11H 0.74H 0.69H 0.81H 1.02H
Time 7:35 PM
Height 1.09L
Time 10:38 PM
Height 1.18H
1:14 PM 1:57 PM 2:51 PM 6:29 PM
0.26L 0.52L 0.77L 0.95L
9:13 PM 9:08 PM 9:02 PM 9:02 PM
1.04H 0.99H 0.99H 1.01H
Height -0.34L -0.62L -0.81L -0.91L -0.94L -0.91L -0.84L -0.74L -0.62L -0.45L -0.20L 0.47L 0.28L 0.07L -0.16L
Time 1:50 PM 3:03 PM 3:59 PM 4:43 PM 5:22 PM 6:01 PM 6:44 PM 7:30 PM 8:10 PM 8:32 PM 8:44 PM 5:52 AM 8:59 AM 11:21 AM 12:47 PM
Height 1.35H 1.57H 1.69H 1.72H 1.67H 1.57H 1.46H 1.34H 1.23H 1.07H 0.94H 0.50H 0.49H 0.66H 0.89H
Time
Height
Time
Height
Time 5:37 AM 6:12 AM 6:48 AM 7:25 AM 8:03 AM 8:44 AM 9:25 AM 10:05 AM 10:44 AM 11:22 AM 12:02 PM 3:41 AM 3:43 AM 3:53 AM 4:15 AM
Height -0.33L -0.48L -0.58L -0.64L -0.66L -0.67L -0.66L 0.45H 0.40H 0.34H 0.22H 0.12H -0.16L -0.26L -0.40L
Time 9:00 PM 8:35 PM 9:07 PM 9:52 PM 10:48 PM 11:59 PM
Height 0.39H 0.48H 0.53H 0.54H 0.52H 0.49H
1:20 PM 1:54 PM 2:20 PM 2:30 PM 2:21 PM 9:43 PM 8:45 PM 8:13 PM
-0.63L -0.58L -0.51L -0.38L -0.27L 0.06H 0.11H 0.20H
Height 0.18H 0.27H -0.50L 0.39H 0.39H 0.37H 0.34H 0.30H 0.25H 0.19H 0.05H 0.01H -0.03H -0.05H -0.48L
Time 11:05 AM 11:38 AM
Height -0.34L -0.44L
1:02 PM 2:01 PM 3:09 PM 4:15 PM 5:11 PM 5:56 PM
-0.53L -0.53L -0.53L -0.53L -0.53L -0.50L
5:29 PM 5:18 PM 10:19 AM 9:48 AM 11:21 PM
-0.38L -0.31L -0.29L -0.38L 0.06H
12:50 PM 1:48 PM 2:56 PM
0.04L 0.30L 0.55L
8:43 PM 8:34 PM 8:20 PM
0.82H 0.72H 0.67H
Time
Height
Time
Height
10:58 PM
0.06H
Time
Height
11:30 PM
0.35H
11:43 PM
-0.01H
Port O’Connor Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 07:55 AM 08:36 AM 09:24 AM 10:15 AM 11:06 AM 11:55 AM 12:40 PM 01:10 AM 01:51 AM 02:07 AM 1:44 AM 12:35 AM 1:05 PM 6:55 AM 7:00 AM
Time 1:12 AM 12:18 AM 12:16 PM 12:11 AM 1:03 AM 2:02 AM 3:02 AM 3:58 AM 4:35 AM 4:42 AM 2:44 AM 2:21 AM 1:53 AM 12:54 AM 9:52 AM
San Luis Pass Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 6:11 AM 6:46 AM 7:23 AM 8:02 AM 8:41 AM 9:21 AM 10:01 AM 10:41 AM 11:20 AM 11:58 AM 12:34 PM 1:10 PM 4:52 AM 4:56 AM 5:11 AM
Height 0.68H -0.67L -0.80L -0.84L -0.84L 1.03H 0.98H 0.93H 0.86H 0.77H 0.68H 0.62H 0.55H 0.50H -0.43L
Time 10:09 AM 9:16 PM 10:13 PM 11:20 PM
Height -0.46L 0.98H 1.06H 1.07H
Time 8:25 PM
Height 0.80H
Time
Height
1:37 PM 2:19 PM 2:59 PM 3:38 PM 4:19 PM 4:56 PM 5:34 PM 8:19 AM 8:27 AM 9:20 PM
-0.81L -0.75L -0.69L -0.60L -0.48L -0.29L -0.10L -0.02L -0.23L 0.56H
2:41 PM 4:18 PM
0.21H 0.39H
6:09 PM 6:41 PM
0.12L 0.35L
Height -0.45L -0.68L -0.84L -0.92L -0.94L -0.90L -0.83L -0.74L -0.64L -0.51L -0.33L -0.15L -0.01L -0.20L -0.41L
Time 2:54 PM 4:00 PM 4:54 PM 5:43 PM 6:32 PM 7:24 PM 8:21 PM 9:11 PM 9:38 PM 9:41 PM 9:43 PM 9:36 PM 9:59 AM 8:55 PM 2:46 PM
Height 0.83H 0.98H 1.05H 1.05H 1.00H 0.91H 0.82H 0.73H 0.64H 0.53H 0.45H 0.38H 0.10H 0.33H 0.41H
Time 8:11 PM
Height 0.60L
Time 10:12 PM
Height 0.63H
1:45 PM
0.03L
9:16 PM
0.34H
Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 7:30 AM 8:09 AM 8:55 AM 9:46 AM 10:39 AM 11:32 AM 12:19 PM 1:43 AM 2:21 AM 2:38 AM 2:22 AM 2:34 PM 6:26 AM 6:20 AM 6:39 AM
Height -0.27L -0.36L -0.42L -0.46L -0.48L -0.48L -0.49L -0.02H -0.07H -0.12H -0.19H -0.40L -0.38L -0.46L -0.53L
Time 5:28 PM 7:00 PM 8:17 PM 9:21 PM 10:26 PM 11:51 PM
Height 0.12H 0.14H 0.14H 0.11H 0.07H 0.02H
Time
Height
Time
Height
1:02 PM 1:38 PM 2:09 PM 2:24 PM 10:18 PM 11:09 AM 9:08 PM 8:35 PM
-0.49L -0.49L -0.47L -0.44L -0.26H -0.34H -0.24H -0.21H
11:23 PM
-0.24H
2:07 PM
-0.34L
9:45 PM
-0.26H
Height -0.25L -0.46L -0.61L -0.69L -0.70L -0.67L -0.60L -0.52L -0.43L -0.32L -0.16L -0.02L 0.15L -0.03L -0.22L
Time 3:25 PM 4:21 PM 5:15 PM 6:18 PM 7:40 PM 8:58 PM 9:57 PM 10:41 PM 11:09 PM 11:05 PM 9:50 PM 8:49 PM 9:06 AM 7:42 PM 4:23 PM
Height 0.75H 0.87H 0.92H 0.92H 0.88H 0.83H 0.78H 0.71H 0.62H 0.49H 0.40H 0.36H 0.21H 0.37H 0.46H
Time 7:37 PM
Height 0.62L
Time 9:42 PM
Height 0.65H
1:12 PM
0.14L
8:19 PM
0.35H
Height -0.03L -0.32L -0.53L -0.66L -0.71L -0.69L -0.63L -0.52L -0.38L -0.19L -0.03L 0.18L 0.41L 0.19L -0.04L
Time 2:45 PM 3:51 PM 4:48 PM 5:41 PM 6:35 PM 7:29 PM 8:19 PM 8:58 PM 9:25 PM 9:27 PM 9:20 PM 8:50 PM 9:04 AM 11:54 AM 3:26 PM
Height 1.39H 1.54H 1.60H 1.59H 1.54H 1.46H 1.39H 1.32H 1.24H 1.12H 0.86H 0.78H 0.52H 0.64H 0.84H
Time
Height
Time
Height
1:31 PM 2:01 PM
0.40L 0.63L
8:20 PM 7:37 PM
0.73H 0.74H
Port Aransas
Nueces Bay Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 1:58 AM 10:42 AM 11:20 AM 12:03 PM 12:50 PM 12:24 AM 1:28 AM 2:33 AM 3:13 AM 3:07 AM 1:21 AM 1:14 AM 12:59 AM 12:28 AM 8:50 AM
East Matagorda
Freeport Harbor Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 5:41 AM 6:18 AM 6:55 AM 7:32 AM 8:10 AM 8:49 AM 9:31 AM 10:14 AM 10:57 AM 11:38 AM 12:16 PM 12:48 PM 3:53 AM 4:07 AM 4:36 AM
South Padre Island Time
Height
Date Dec 22 Dec 23 Dec 24 Dec 25 Dec 26 Dec 27 Dec 28 Dec 29 Dec 30 Dec 31 Jan 1 Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4 Jan 5
Time 5:05 AM 5:45 AM 6:26 AM 7:07 AM 7:49 AM 8:31 AM 9:14 AM 9:57 AM 10:40 AM 11:22 AM 12:18 PM 12:55 PM 3:52 AM 3:48 AM 4:09 AM
Texas Coast Tides
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty
High Island
Page 16
December 22, 2023
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER Solution on Page 18
LSONews.com
INDUSTRY Perazzi sold
Savage CEO retires
Czech CSG Group announced the purchase of the majority stake in the Italian, familyowned Armi Perazzi S.p.A., manufacturer of high-quality shotguns for sport shooters and elite hunters.
Al Kasper, Savage Arms’ chief executive officer for more than a decade, will retire Dec. 31. Chriss Bezzina was named to take over as president and CEO.
Academy expanding Academy Sports + Outdoors opened seven new stores across five different states in November 2023, and a total of 14 new stores in fiscal 2023. New stores include one in Austin and one in Harlingen. The company’s planned expansion would open 120 to 140 new stores by the end of 2027.
Bennion joins Alpha Alpha Silencer hired Cody Bennion as vice president of sales.
New director at FFLGuard FFLGuard named Alexis Tunell as its director of operations to assist firearms businesses with the regulatory landscape.
Rapala executive changes Jean-Philippe Nicolle, currently the Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Miikka Tarna was named chief financial officer. Tuomas Akkanen was named executive vice president, head of group supply chain and winter sports. Joni Tuominen was named executive vice president, global business development.
Learning about ducks Continued from page 4
ACROSS 3) Taylor County’s seat 8) Outdoor retailer 10) A goose favorite 11) Panola County’s seat 13) Group of dolphins 14) Texas mountain range 15) Fishing reel brand 16) The flat fish 19) African grouse 20) The baby feral hog 21) Shotshell brand 22) Texas lake with stripers 24) Livingston’s county 25) Popular bass lure 28) African game species 29) The young bear 31) Arrow maker 37) Ammo brand 38) Central Texas lake 39) A Great Lake 40) Rifle brand 41) Hill Country lake
DOWN 1) Sinker type 2) Where the hook meets the line 4) One of the teal 5) DSC’s CEO 6) East Texas lake 7) One of the cats 8) Texas peak, El ____ 9) Trout species 11) Shelby County’s seat 12) Thermal optics brand 15) One of the bighorns 17) Raymondville’s county 18) Fishing hook type 23) Safari destination 26) Leakey’s county 27) Coastal bay 30) Winters’ team name 32) Panhandle lake 33) Capital of the C.A.R. 34) Creek that runs into Lake Grapevine 35) Popular bass lake 36) Fishing line brand
Garcia’s hunting dog, a 4-year-old black lab named Roux, became the inspiration for her book. “I started hunting at a young age, and have had hunting dogs my whole life,” she explained. “One thing I noticed about Roux from an early age was that he was very good at distinguishing the difference between shorebirds, coots and all of the other birds you encounter while you are waterfowl hunting, in addition to ducks. He instinctively figured out which types of birds we were pursuing, and which ones we weren’t, when other young dogs might typically have their attention captivated by just about any bird out there with feathers and wings.” Roux’s ability gave her the idea she could build a children’s book around. “The key to identifying waterfowl, as well as other species of birds, encompasses observing the way they fly and their distinctive silhouette,” Garcia said. “If that was something my dog could learn at a young age, I felt that it was something that kids could learn, too.” Garcia’s idea to create a book that could educate children about waterfowl stuck when she was looking for a baby shower gift for a friend of hers.
“Her husband is a waterfowl guide, and at the time she was pregnant with a baby boy,” Garcia explained. “I wanted to get her son a book about ducks, and I couldn’t find a children’s book that I liked that had anything to do with waterfowl. So I decided right then that I was going to write one.” Unlike many children’s books, Garcia’s Oh My How Ducks Fly does not have a fictional story line. Instead it teaches some meaningful characteristics about how a variety of duck species that are common in Texas, look and fly. She even sprinkles in some of her bird dog’s personality throughout the book, as he is used as a character that provides readers with educational facts about ducks across pages, from cover to cover. The book was illustrated by 7th Hat Media Group, and Garcia worked closely with them to create accurate representations of the ducks described. “I really wanted to make sure the illustrations of the ducks included in the book looked as realistic as possible,” she said. “The illustrations are just as educational as the words written in the book.” Oh My How Ducks Fly can be purchased just about anywhere that books are currently sold, or online at ohmyhowducksfly.com.
Reds, black drum Continued from page 8
Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
FOR THE TABLE *email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Duck sausage dressing Sausage 1 1/2 cups ground duck breast fillets 1/2 cup ground pork 1/4 cup minced red onion 1 medium jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced 1/4 tsp. kosher salt Pinch black pepper 1/4 tsp. dried thyme 1/4 tsp. allspice 1/4 tsp. dried oregano leaves 1 large egg 2 tbsps. vegetable oil
Dressing 1 lb. duck sausage, lightly browned 1 1/2 cups chopped fennel bulb 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion 1 cup chopped celery 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped 6 cups cornbread croutons or dressing mix 2 1/2 cups chicken broth 3 eggs 2 tsps. brown sugar 3/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. black pepper
Mix together all ingredients except oil. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until evenly browned.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and then transfer to a lightly greased casserole dish and place in the preheated oven for 30 minutes or until dressing is lightly browned and crispy on top. —Scott Leysath, sportingchef.com
drum couldn’t resist a fresh piece of cut bait. The folks at Seawolf Park in Galveston reported anglers fishing from the park’s pier have also been catching oversized red drum and large black drum consistently. Large shad, mullet, cut bait and crab have been the best bait offerings. Ramiro Motta went fishing one afternoon recently from a pier on a canal in Freeport where he caught a solid slot redfish. “I was working in the area and thought I’d wet a line after work,” Motta said. “I picked up some frozen shrimp from a nearby store, and within 30 minutes I caught a really nice redfish.” At the Red Dot Pier in Corpus Christi, staff said the action from the pier has been pretty slow lately. They reported having very few anglers, likely due to the constantly changing weather and tough fishing conditions. Anglers fishing from multiple piers in the Rockport area also reported little activity. A few black drum have been caught here and there, but for the most part, varying winds and tidal levels have made for a tough bite.
Big blue time Continued from page 8
from good to awesome depending on the conditions,” he said. “A little wind and cloud cover is best.” Simmons has been using punch bait on a treble hook, fished near the bottom. “We are catching a few more channels than blues,” he said. Skeemast reported on the Texas Fishing Forum about a trip to Lake Texoma in search of big cats in a friendly competition with a friend, each in their own boat. The day started off so foggy that we had to creep to our first spot,” he said. “We started off fishing with frozen drum and skipjack herring. Around noon, I located shad in 2 feet of water in the back of a shallow cove, although, it didn’t do any good. All the fish came on the drum and skipjack. My first fish was somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 pounds. I couldn’t locate my scale so, I’m not really sure.” His buddy fared better, ending up with seven fish, only two under 25 pounds. “He definitely kicked my rear end,” Skeemast said.
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NATIONAL CALIFORNIA
Archery pioneer dies James (Jim) Easton, the former head of the Easton company, president of the World Archery Federation and a member of the International Olympic Committee, passed away at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88. Easton is credited for developing arrow shafts used at the Olympic Games and worldwide. He also innovated new competition formats making archery a television-friendly sport, one of the most-watched during the London 2012 Olympic Games. —Staff report
ARKANSAS
Tagged fish late for prize, but event extended Eric Morris hooked a 15-inch bass on Lake Conway that was sporting a tag identifying it as one of the $1,000 reward fish in the Cash in on Lake Conway promotion. However, the time had expired on the promotion. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission extended the program through winter, as only three of 55 tagged fish had been caught at the time. Morris caught the fish on a white vibrating jig while fishing from his kayak. —AGFC
MINNESOTA
Deep-water crappie survival studied A pilot study launched last winter by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is beginning to shed light on mortality rates for crappie pulled out of deep water. It is well documented that many fish species suffer a condition known as barotrauma when reeled up from the depths. The DNR partnered with Baxter-based Lindner Media Productions and the company’s “Angling Buzz” crew to catch 50 crappie from each of three different lakes of varying depths. The deepest lake targeted crappie suspended in 28 to 32 feet of water over a 44-foot basin, a second lake targeted crappie suspended in 16 to 24 feet over 28 feet of water and the third lake targeted crappie suspended in 22 to 26 feet of water over a 29-foot basin. A large hole was cut in the ice of each lake, and the crappie were left overnight in a hoop-style net extending from the surface to the bottom of the lake, allowing the fish to swim freely within the water column and perhaps recover from being caught. A hub-style portable fish house was placed over the hole,
along with a propane heater to prevent the hole from freezing. Upon capture, 45 of the 50 crappie caught in 32 feet of water showed mild signs of barotrauma and five showed severe trauma. After 24 hours, 22 crappie swam away, 12 others were alive but couldn’t swim away and 16 died, a mortality rate of 32 percent. Survival rates were progressively better in the shallower lakes. Of the crappie caught in 24 feet of water, 34 showed mild trauma, none showed severe trauma and only four died, a mortality rate of 8 percent. In 21 feet, only 18 crappie showed mild trauma, none showed severe trauma, and there was no mortality. “It seems like among all species, you get around that 20- to 30-foot range and deeper, and fish certainly start to have some issues, said Chris Smith, DNR fisheries research scientist in Glenwood.” —Staff report
OREGON
Rewards for bighorn, elk poaching cases Poachers killed a bighorn sheep, two black bear cubs, seven elk, and two black-tailed buck deer in separate incidents across Oregon. On Nov. 30, Fish and Wildlife troopers discovered a bighorn sheep ram that had been shot and left to waste on BLM land. The poacher or poachers took only the ram’s head and horns, leaving all the meat to waste. On Nov. 27, a hunter reported finding a dead bear cub in the Keating Wildlife Management Unit. Troopers responded and located two bear cubs that were shot and left to waste. On Nov. 20, two spike bull elk were shot and killed in Lincoln County, and on Oct. 4, troopers responded to a call of a Rocky Mountain bull elk that had been shot and left to waste. The investigation determined the bull was killed approximately 100 yards from the highway with a single gunshot wound to the head, then left to waste. Rewards are offered for information on the poaching events. —OFCFW
OKLAHOMA
Duck hunter drowns On Sooner Lake, a 24-year-old duck hunter, an Oklahoma State University graduate student, went out to retrieve a duck and hit a drop off. Water overcame his waders and he did not return to the surface. Game wardens located the hunter on the lake floor with side imaging and assisted Lake Patrol with his recovery. —Staff report
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Page 17
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT SABINE LAKE: 74 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are good on gold and silver spoons, soft plastics and live shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are fair on shrimp fished on the bottom. BOLIVAR: 60-65 degrees. Redfish, sheepshead, big croaker and whiting are good on live or dead shrimp and finger mullet along the north jetty. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and live shrimp under a cork. Flounder are fair on live mullet and soft plastics. TRINITY BAY: 60 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp under a popping cork and soft plastics. Black drum are fair on live shrimp. Redfish are good on soft plastics and live shrimp. EAST GALVESTON BAY: 61-65 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp under a cork and spoons. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastic jigs. WEST GALVESTON BAY: 61 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, slow-sinking twitch baits and live shrimp under a cork. Redfish are fair on soft plastics and spoons. Black drum are fair on live or fresh dead shrimp. TEXAS CITY: 59 degrees. Bull redfish and oversized black drum are good on cut bait and fresh crab. Black drum are fair on live or fresh dead shrimp.
FREEPORT: 64 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish are good on scented plastics and shrimp under a cork. Black drum are fair on live or fresh dead shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 60 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and slow sinking twitch baits. Redfish are fair on
soft plastics and shrimp under a cork. Black drum are fair on shrimp and mullet. WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 60 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and live shrimp under a cork. Redfish are fair on soft plastics, spoons and live shrimp under a cork. PORT O’CONNOR: 60 degrees. Redfish are good on Spanish sardines and dead shrimp. Speckled trout are good on freelined live shrimp. Black drum are fair on dead shrimp.
ROCKPORT: 59 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics. Redfish are good on gold spoons, soft plastics and top-waters. Black drum are good on dead shrimp. PORT ARANSAS: 59 degrees. Trout, redfish and pompano are good on live shrimp at jetties. Redfish and black drum are good on live shrimp and mullet in the bay. CORPUS CHRISTI: 63 degrees. Black drum and redfish are fair on dead shrimp and mullet. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics and live shrimp under a cork. BAFFIN BAY: 63 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics, top-waters and slow-sinking twitch baits. Redfish are fair on soft plastics and twitch baits. Black drum are good on live and fresh dead shrimp. PORT MANSFIELD: 57 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on soft plastics. Some larger redfish and trout are fair on top-waters. SOUTH PADRE: 65 degrees. Redfish are fair on spoons, shrimp under a cork and scented soft plastics. Black drum are good on shrimp under a cork. Mangrove snapper are fair on shrimp in deep channels.
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 2162-8300, 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 2023 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 editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
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howdy@carrollsgunshop.com C a r ro l l ' s Gu n S ho p
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December 22, 2023
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DATEBOOK JANUARY 2
JANUARY 19-21
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB Corporate Sponsor Bag Stuffing DSC Headquarters (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB FOUNDATION Hunting Expo and Convention The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center (713) 623-8844 hscfdn.org
JANUARY 11-14
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB Convention and Sporting Expo Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
JANUARY 13-14
FEBRUARY 2
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION Victoria Banquet Victoria Community Center (832) 655-3180 rmef.org NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION Smith County Banquet The Boulders at Lake Tyler Whitehouse (903) 724-1853 nwtf.org
DEER BREEDERS CORP Annual New Year’s Auction Horseshoe Bay Resort (972) 289-3100 dbcdeer.com
JANUARY 18-20
WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION Sheep Show Reno-Sparks Convention Center (406) 404-8750 wildsheepfoundation.org
FEBRUARY 3
JANUARY 20-21
FEBRUARY 8
DUCKS UNLIMITED Mexia Dinner The Cowboy Club ducks.org
TEXAS GUN & KNIFE SHOWS Abilene Convention Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
DUCKS UNLIMITED Houston Area Gun Bash Stafford Centre, Stafford (713) 471-8854 setxducks.org
CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING RED RIVER TRACT IN COOKE COUNTY Corps. land and rare boat ramp access. $495K, will finance. (214) 463-2217
C4 RANCH - WHITETAIL & EXOTIC HUNTS Cull, Management & Trophies up to 300” Duval County, TX High Fenced & MLD Managed 10+ Years Vernon Carr (361) 774-2442 DOS HERMANOS RANCH Trophy Whitetails & Exotics On 4000 acres near San Angelo, TX doshermanosranch.com Jake at (208) 477-9065 HOG HUNTING 45 MILES SOUTHEAST OF DALLAS (972) 743-2256
>> DUBOSE RANCH Trophy hunts in South Texas for 30+ years Duboseranch.com (830) 391-7905
Puzzle solution from Page 16
TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582
DUVAL COUNTY South Texas Dove Hunting 65 acres, Lodging RV Power Available Huntershilton.com for more info (361) 244-0544 OR (361) 443-9330
NEED ARCHERY RANGE? TexasArchery.info DEER HUNTERS Used Deer Blinds for sale
D L O S
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December 22, 2023
Every year, DSC hosts its annual Convention that raises funds for grants in conservation, education, and advocacy. The four-day 2024 DSC Convention is open to the public and will fill over 800,000 square feet with 1,000 exhibitors featuring outfitted hunts, firearms, gear, wildlife art and much more.
Mark your calendars! DSC 2024 Convention – January 11-14
Page 19
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December 22, 2023
LoneOStar Outdoor News
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