Timing is everything

Finding gobblers in the right mood

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

North Zone hunters joined in on the spring turkey hunting action at the first of this month, while South Zone hunt ers have continued their pursuit of ma ture longbeards. Regardless of location, those who have been lucky enough to find themselves within earshot of birds in an aggressive mood enjoyed magical experiences in the turkey woods. Hunt ers who struggled have likely not hit the perfect time window just yet.

Tyler Lee spent some time chasing gobblers with a buddy on his family’s property in Brown County during the opening weekend. This was his first time to make a spring turkey hunt after hearing some of his friends talk about how exciting it can be, and he said the experience did not disappoint.

“We’ve always had turkeys on our property, and I can’t believe I just real ized how fun chasing them during the spring can be,” he said. “I’m definitely addicted now, that’s for sure.”

Lee was able to score a mature tom during a mid-morning sit on the second day of the season.

“My buddy, Miguel Morales, helped me roost some birds at sunset on open ing day, so we had a pretty good idea of where to set up the following morn ing,” Lee explained. “The birds were pretty quiet at daylight, so we made a move to another area on the ranch that had plenty of turkey sign. After playing with a flock of birds with several gob blers that were gobbling, but would not leave their hens, we had a single tom come in silently. He saw the Jake decoy that we had put out, and came in on a rope, giving me an easy shot.”

That afternoon came with no success.

“It got pretty hot and windy during

Yellowstone star honored by Park Cities Quail

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

A Hollywood star and outdoorsman captured the audience’s attention at the Park Cities Quail Coalition 17th Annual Dinner & Auction on March 25 at SMU’s Armstrong Fieldhouse in Dallas.

Kevin Costner was honored with PCQC’s T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman of the Year award at the event, and after greeting and being photographed with many of the attendees, gave an uplifting and emotional response, including memories of hunting with his late father.

The Yellowstone star shared the story of his first rifle, his grandfather’s .30-30 bought for $20.

“I took it to show-and-tell at school,” Costner said. “I remember being sent home with a note pinned to my shirt. I didn’t know how to read then but I came to know that if my parents wanted the gun back they would have to go and get it.”

Costner said the gun was too heavy for him to hold, but it didn’t keep him from practicing without bullets.

“The night before my dad was to leave on a deer hunt he realized the firing pin was broken — I had dry fired it so much.”

Baffin, Mansfield trout, reds

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Gusty winds and everchanging springtime conditions have been dictating which portions of the lower coast bays anglers are able to target. Even though areas where stretches of fishable water are located have been varying from week to week, and sometimes from day to day, quality speckled trout and redfish are still being caught.

Baffin Bay-area guide, Capt. Christian Schneider, has been finding some trout in the 27inch range, with the majority of specks measuring 20 to 23 inches.

“I’ve been bouncing back and forth between the north shoreline and south shoreline of Baffin, depending on the