Classifieds

Continued from page 1

now until spring. Mullet-imitation plugs and soft plastics are the go-to lures.

“Top-water lures have been taking some reds, but the soft plastics have been best,” Garza said. “We’ve been doing really well on most days with a KWigglers ball tail shad rigged on a 1/16 -or 1/8-ounce jig head. The best colors have been electric grape and lagunaflauge. We’ve also been using Heddon One Knockers and Super Spook Juniors. The best color on most days is white.”

If the reds are not feeding aggressively, Garza recommends using various speeds with the topwater plugs. The best catches have been with jigs worked around pods of reds feeding on baitfish like mullet. Garza said the reds have been feeding on smaller mullet. The Heddon Spook top-water plugs are a perfect imitation of the smaller mullet.

Garza has been fishing both the soft plastics and top-water lures with a 6-foot, 6-inch fast action rod. His reels are spooled with 20-pound braided line, and a 20-pound test fluorocarbon leader.

One other thing he does is keep up with the major and minor fishing times.

“It’s important to be in an area that’s been holding fish when a major or minor fishing time starts,” Garza said.

Photo by Robert Sloan, for Lone Star Outdoor News

Cutting deals

Continued from page 4

The court-ordered stay in proceedings will expire on April 8.

In a letter to members, CBD Executive Director Kieran Suckling said, in part,“America’s national wildlife refuges have been turned into trophy hunter playgrounds...We’re not going to stand for increased killing of wildlife on even more national refuges.”

MeatEater founder Steven Rinella chimed in, saying, “Again and again, we see animal rights organizations such as Center for Biological Diversity use disinformation and dishonesty as part of their propaganda campaigns. Their alleged concerns about lead ammunition and increased traffic on wildlife refuges that were opened up to hunting and fishing by the Trump Administration are both insincere and ridiculous. What they’re really after is an end to regulated hunting in all its forms, and they’ll take that battle anywhere they can win.”

Time will tell what the outcomes of negotiations might be. Some fishing groups speculate a ban on lead ammo and fishing tackle could follow.

The negotiations are being led by Haaland and Williams. Haaland has written in favor of wolf protections and co-authored the Tribal Heritage and Grizzly Protection Act.

CALIFORNIA Judge zaps wolf seasons again

A ruling by federal U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White restored federal protections to gray wolf populations in 44 of 48 states. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by anti-hunting groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, the Humane Society of the United States and the Sierra Club.

The science community under both the Obama and Trump administrations previously determined wolves to be a recovered species and removed populations from Endangered Species Act protections in 2011 and 2020. In both occasions, rulings from federal judges in cases brought by these groups stymied the process.

According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, wolf population estimates are well above state management plan levels in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin while topping all-time modern-day levels in Oregon and Washington.

“Scientists, biologists and professional wildlife managers agree that wolf populations are stable and growing,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “As such, they should remain under the umbrella of state management since state wildlife agencies successfully manage all other wildlife in line with the North American Wildlife Conservation Model through regulated hunting and trapping.”

The environmental groups also called for the restoration of ESA protections in the northern Rockies where estimated wolf populations are 900 percent above minimum recovery levels in Idaho, 700 percent above in Montana and more than 200 percent in Wyoming. The ruling, however, does not apply in those states.

—Staff report

MICHIGAN Loss of hunting privileges for life

A Decatur, Michigan, man’s unethical hunting activity has resulted in prison time, financial restitution and lifetime loss of hunting privileges in the state. Justin Ernst, 33, pleaded guilty in Van Buren County’s 36th Circuit Court after illegally taking nine trophy bucks last year.

On Oct. 17, Michigan State Police troopers were investigating Ernst’s involvement in a domestic violence complaint. State police contacted conservation officers when they noticed several deer in a nearby barn.

Conservation officers investigated and seized eight illegal bucks in the barn — five 10-pointers and three with eight points each.

Two days later, an anonymous tip to the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline stated that Ernst had taken another deer. Conservation officers confirmed that Ernst had taken another trophy buck — increasing his total to nine illegally taken deer.

—MDNR

HUNTING

QUAIL HUNTING

Guided-Self Guided-Training 700 yard RANGE PoetryShootingClub.com (214) 728-2755

ARGENTINA DOVE SHOOTING 5 Star Lodge – Hosted by Owner 4 Days/3 Nts/6 Shoots - $1320/person (972) 769-8866

ANTLERS WANTED Buying all species, all conditions. Looking for large quantities Call Del (830) 997-2263

WHITETAIL DEER FOR YOUR HIGH FENCED RANCH Buy with confidence from a Certified Herd. Whitetail deer to stock your high fenced ranch with superior and enhanced genetics. Stocker bucks and doe with exceptional pedigrees bred to produce 200” Whitetail deer. Contact THE 3 AMIGOS RANCH. Frank Marino at (214) 212-7035 and Anthony Campagna at (214) 212-9292

TRADE HUNT Big Alligator Gar or Trophy Hog Hunt for Trophy Mule Deer (830) 857-4591

SEEKING SMALL GAME/ HOG HUNTING Looking for place to hunt varmints and/or hogs within 1.5 hours from New Braunfels. Just me, respectful of land and happy to pay. (432) 553-1886

DUVAL COUNTY South Texas Dove Hunting 65 acres, Lodging RV Power Available Huntershilton.com for more info (361) 244-0544 or (361) 443-9330

AXIS DOE HUNT Guaranteed kill $450.00 each Fredericksburg, TX (713) 899-3563

ARGENTINA DUCK HUNTING Lots of Birds!!! Hosted by Owner Partridge & Dove Shoots Included 5 Days/4 Nts/8 Shoots - $4250 Includes everything but shells and tips dagaradventures.com (972) 769-8866

CLASSIFIEDS

AXIS HIDES Tanned axis hides Axis pillows gbroach@ktc.com (830) 896-6996

NEED ARCHERY RANGE? www.TexasArchery.info

LOOKING FOR MULE DEER I’m Looking for a mule deer hunt or a stable lease. David Cline (972) 489-3404

USED DEER BLIND One homemade wooden 4x8 ground blind $1250 Text me and I will send photos. Located one hour north of Abilene. (214) 695-2950

TDHA - JOIN TODAY Texas Dove Hunters Association TexasDoveHunters.com (210) 764-1189

TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS

Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX www.HuntTexasWhitetails.com

(717) 512-3582 EXOTICS + WHITETAIL

Several species Trophy and meat hunts Owner guided Very reasonable Let’s have fun!

(325) 475-2100

DUCK LEASE WANTED Looking For Good Duck Ponds Near San Antonio (210) 827-9612

FISHING

BAFFIN BAY ADVENTURE Offshore, Nearshore Fishing and Bay fishing at its best! Come enjoy the beauty of Baffin Bay and surrounding areas. Reasonable prices and family oriented! (361) 371-1857

BAY FISHING 6 Hour Trip from $275 Port Isabel, TX (956) 551-1965

JOBS

DEER AND WILDLIFE RANCH CARETAKER Available for immediate employment San Antonio, TX References available Contact Manuel Garza (830) 499-3832

PART-TIME DELIVERING LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Two days a month (214) 361-2276

REAL ESTATE/ LEASE

HIDEAWAY IN HINDES, TX Lodge in Atascosa County, about 30 miles from Pleasanton & 1 hour from San Antonio. Perfect for hunters, Choke Canyon fishermen, or weekend getaway. www.hideawayinhindes.com (830) 570-1919

40 ACRES 3 FENCED FOR HORSES Seasonal creek with 660 sq.-ft. cabin Borders BLM adjacent to Rio Grande National Forest. Perfect hunting camp. Great access. micmfw@gmail.com (719) 298-0119

VACATION CONCAN RENTALS FRIO RIVER LUXURY LODGES Each with: Pool, BBQ, Cabana Kitchen, FREE Frio River Access! Perfect for: Family Reunions, Friends-cations, Corporate Retreats, Wedding Parties & More! www.vacationconcan.com (830) 570-1919

RANCH South Texas 79 acres $5,000 each Financing available (956) 367-5260