Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
March 13, 2020
Groom’s cake surprises husband
Volume 16, Issue 14
Walking the banks for white bass Although cooler water temperatures slowed the white bass run in some parts of the state, anglers are finding fish by walking the creek banks and casting slow-moving lures. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News
Dom Sanchez poses with his bow after being surprised by his new wife, Droxine, with a replica cake of a deer he hunted last year during their wedding. Photo by Michael Cory, Western Meadow Productions.
Full-size replica of his big buck By Lili Sams
Lone Star Outdoor News Typically after a hunt, you take photos, butcher the meat and then take the deer to the taxidermist. For a buck of a lifetime, Droxine San-
chez took it one step further for her future husband, Dom. She commissioned an almost life-sized replica groom’s cake of the buck and surprised her husband with it at their leap day wedding. The couple met eight years ago through friends. Dom introduced Droxine to hunting for the first time after they
started dating and she was hooked. Ever since her African safari a few years back, the couple have been hunting together. “Couples that hunt together, stay together,” Dom joked. A seasoned hunter, Dom rarely gets buck fever, but during a hunt on the Buck Horn Ranch last year, he got
goosebumps when he saw a deer the ranch employees had named “Thor.” He booked another trip to the ranch the following weekend to pursue the buck. “It was the first time he had that feeling of a kid,” Droxine said. During the wedding planning process, Droxine Please turn to page 6
At Denton Creek above Lake Grapevine, anglers are finding male white bass staging in the downstream areas closer to the lake. Bank walkers are finding fish, fishing slowly in deep-water pools with a 1/16-ounce jig and small shad-colored plastic. While the cool fronts might have delayed the run, the snakes are out, according to Fishin’aholic on the Texas Fishing Forum, who also posted a YouTube video while landing several keepersized males. Other creek walkers advised to wear pants and long sleeves, as the briars and the poison ivy also had a good winter. Guide Carey Thorn and his customers have been having good luck from the bank along Rowlett Creek, and he said wearing soccer cleats is key to keep from sliding into the creek. They’re using a smaller, 1/32-ounce jig head, inline spinners and rooster tails. On the Navasota River above Lake Limestone, logjams and stumps have made access difficult for boats, while private property keeps the creek walkers at bay. Fishermen with mud boats reported finding some fish. though. A popular spot during the run each year, the Neches River at Chandler has high water, and anglers reported catching a few sandies near the Highway 31 bridge, but not the run that sees parking problems near the bridge. Please turn to page 12
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Taxidermist an avid predator hunter By Nate Skinner
Devine taxidermist Kailum Rooks’ favorite pastime is hunting predators. Photo from Kailum Rooks.
By day, Devine resident Kailum Rooks is a taxidermist. By night, Rooks is an expert predator hunter. He does most of his hunting at nighttime, in pursuit of coyotes, bobcats and other predators and pests. Growing up in the South Texas town of Moore, it’s no secret why the owner and operator of Lone Dove Taxidermy is passionate about hunting and the outdoors.
“I grew up on a piece of family land that had a portion of the San Miguel Creek running through it, and a variety of wildlife and predators alike traveled the creek on a regular basis,” he said. At a young age, Rooks regularly went trapping with his dad along the creek bottom. “This was at the time when furs were selling for decent money, and trapping coons and other critters was a good way to make some cash,” Rooks said. “My dad would call and trap a variety of animals and predators to Please turn to page 17
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 11
Big East Texas bucks (P. 4)
Warding off stingrays (P. 8)
Father, son bag beauties on small tract.
Product keeps them away.
Snares become jewelry (P. 5)
Big bass bonanza (P. 8)
Bracelets raise money for Zambian people.
Several lunkers landed across state.
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 15 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 19
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