Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
April 8, 2022
Volume 18, Issue 16
Pending record desert bighorn RW Trophy Ranch manager Maree Lou Williams gives a treat to a buck transitioning to its summer coat at the breeding facility. Photo by Tim Sharp, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Fighting to save the herd Breeders get second stay stopping planned killing of 500 deer
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News On April 5 one minute after midnight, the bullets were scheduled to start flying. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department shooters planned to take out all the deer at RW Trophy Ranch, owned by Robert Williams, a deer breeder in Kaufman and Hunt counties. However, Kaufman County Court at Law #2 Judge Bobby Rich intervened on April 4, granting a temporary restraining order and halting the plan. This was the second stay the 83-yearold Williams received, the first of which stopped TPWD from killing the deer in late February. The action stemmed from three deer that tested positive for chronic wasting disease last year at the facility. “In February of 2021, we had three deer die in the cold spell,” Williams who has
Bobby Theis harvested this desert bighorn sheep on the Elephant Mountain WMA, which scored 185 5/8. The ram is the pending new state record; the current record stands at 184. Photo by Jim Breck Bean.
By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Bobby Theis recently harvested what will likely become the new Texas state record desert bighorn sheep while hunting south of Alpine on the
Please turn to page 6
Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The ram scored 185 5/8 inches and is undergoing a 60 day drying period before officially earning the title. Theis bought his desert bighorn tag through a Wild Sheep
Foundation auction in 2021 as a conservation permit, and 100 percent of the proceeds were put toward wild sheep restoration in Texas. He elected to have his longtime friend, owner and founder of High West Outfitters, Jim Breck Bean,
guide him, alongside guide Jasper Klein and the Elephant Mountain WMA manager and biologist Cody McEntire. “We chose to make the hunt during the spring for several reasons,” Theis said. “For one, the rams are typically known Please turn to page 17
By Nate Skinner
The crappie spawning season is in varying stages across the state. The backs of creeks and coves have been concentrating impressive amounts of fish on many lakes, yet there are still some deeper areas holding plenty of crappie. Jigs have been doing the trick in deeper water, while minnows
rigged under a cork have been hard to beat in the shallows. Lake Palestine guide Sam Parker said the crappie spawn is in full swing. Areas with hard structures like rocks, brush, sticks and timber in 4 to 6 feet of water have been producing plenty of hook-ups for his crews of anglers. “The bigger females are staged up and roaming around flooded timber in 17 to 20 feet
of water,” he said. “They are suspended anywhere from 2 to 12 feet down along the timber. There aren’t as many fish concentrated in these deeper areas, but the ones that are there are solid.” Colan Gonzales has been spending a lot of time on Lake Limestone lately, where he said the crappie are loaded in the back creeks, up shallow in about 1.5 feet of water. Please turn to page 19
CONTENTS
Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 19 Datebook . . . . . . . . . Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 22
INSIDE
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Crappie spawning, some fish still deep
Crystal Lewis landed this nice crappie while fishing on Lake Ray Roberts with guide Daniel Koberna. She caught the fish over timber in about 14 feet of water. Photo by Daniel Koberna.
HUNTING
FISHING
Toms in the north (P. 4)
Battle for oysters (P. 8)
Opener quiet for some, good for others.
Closing bays a hot topic.
Nilgai at night (P. 5)
Young bass winner (P. 8)
Young girl bags bull.
Lands biggest bass in tournament.
