Lone Star Outdoor News 082523

Feathers and fur

Fly shop focuses on the flies

By Shannon Drawe

For Lone Star outdoor newS

It’s no surprise to see furs and feathers flying out the doors at North Texas’ newest fly shop in Plano, and Dirty Water Fly Co. owner Danny Soltau couldn’t be happier.

A little more than a year old, the shop already relocated to a larger space on 14th Street in Downtown Plano back in March. The new space has provided a little elbow room for Soltau to teach fly-tying lessons as well as carry more fly rods, reels, lines and general flyfishing gear.

“I had the opportunity to go from a hole-in-the-wall to a slightly larger hole-in-the-wall, so we took that,” Soltau said. “And we have the same landlord, so it’s seamless, and now we have awesome street front on one of the busiest streets in Plano.”

Most fly-anglers realize their

Dove opener looking good

mate for mourning doves is 28.3 million birds, which represents a 44-percent increase in population from 2022 and is 3 percent above the long-term average.

The 2023 statewide abundance estimate for white-winged dove is 11.7 million birds, which ties the all-time high for white-wing populations recorded in 2015. This value also represents a 22-percent increase in the white-winged dove population from 2022 and

is 19 percent above the long-term average.

Fitzsimmons said those num bers account for breeding adult males, and that optimal condi tions during the late spring and early summer contributed to a successful hatch, which he be lieves hunters will get to experi ence this season.

“Hunters should really expect to see large numbers of birds when the season commences,”

Earn Your Stripes

Anglers reporting aggressive striper action

Striped bass have been providing plenty of action for anglers casting lures, chunking live bait and trolling on several inland lakes. Anglers have reported plenty of schooling activity, most of which has been taking place along the surface during the early morning hours. Stripers have been keying in on swarms of shad and other baitfish, so anglers who can locate concentrations have been finding more success.

On Lake Texoma, fishing guide Stephen Andre said the top-water bite has been consistent over flats in 5-15 feet of water during the first couple of hours of the day. Heaps of small stripers are

Big kingfish at LKT

By Tony Vindell For Lone Star outdoor newS

Three king mackerel highlighted the 42nd Ladies Kingfish Tournament in stellar fashion.

A 39-pound king, caught by Lindsie Schuster, of McAllen, and another weighing 36 pounds, caught by Dani Fenton, of Port Aransas, took first and second place, respectively.

Jill Kassai’s 24-pound, 13-ounce king took third place.

The event’s day of fishing, held Aug. 12 at South Padre Island, brought a bit

of drama to the weigh-in. Although Fenton thought she would win the kingfish category, a boat hauling a load of fish arrived with just moments to spare, with its bounty including Schus ter’s big king.

The grand champion of the offshore division was Amber Hartung, who brought all four fish species — king mackerel, bonito, dorado and tuna — with a combined weight of 44.75 pounds.

The Laguna Vista resident fished from the Playin’ Hooky, captained by Jeff Hartung.

A wide variety of fly-tying materials, both natural and synthetic, hang from the walls of Dirty Water Fly Co. Photo by Shannon Drawe, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Hunters are eager to get out Sept. 1 to see if predictions of more birds are true.

Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Large surface plugs are drawing strikes from striped bass on Lake Texoma and other lakes. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

A team of ladies show the redfish they landed during the Ladies Kingfish Tournament. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

FROM WORK TO PLAY

WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

Choosing drawn whitetail hunts

Best hunts based on odds, success rates

By Eric Pickhartz

For Lone Star outdoor newS

In a state as big and diverse as Texas, there’s a lot of good deer hunting to go around. The same can be said for the state’s Public Hunt Drawing System, the application-driven collection of multiday experiences distributed via a lottery system.

One glance at everything the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department offers in these drawn hunts will make your head spin. Every hunting method — archery, rifle and muzzleloader — and nearly every corner of the state is included in the available list. But if you could only apply to one in search of a whitetail harvest to remember, which would it be?

A little research, some knowledge of the region and a strategic approach can help those looking for a little insight. Plus, there are a few bonuses, like chances at exotic harvests or hunting deer within sight of the Gulf of Mexico.

First, some criteria and context. This list only considers white-tailed deer hunts offered on public land with deadlines that haven’t expired yet, which took the archery category off the table. It excludes from consideration all the Big Time Texas Hunts, the premium hunt packages on well-known game ranches, as well as a few others available on private land. And finally, it excludes the youth-only options (of which there are plenty), the mule deer opportunities and the antlerless/spike hunts. That still leaves 67 total hunts —

Quail gathering outlines goals, needs

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star

Quail hunters are preparing to enter the season with a level of cautious optimism. At the State wide Quail Symposium, held in Abilene and including a tour of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch, in Roby, brought togeth er landowners, quail enthusiasts, hunters and biologists to discuss efforts to increase and, in some cases, bring the birds back to ar eas across the state.

“During the tour in 105-degree heat, we had a mule train of 44 vehicles,” said Dale Rollins, the former executive director of the Rolling Plains Quail Research Foundation. “Attendance in Abilene topped 275 people, the best attendance we have had.”

Topics of discussion to help reverse the quail decline included research on the use of supplemental feed and medicated feed, land fragmentation, habitat loss and restoration, the use of prescribed fire, native grass restoration and the reduction of the number of quail hunters.

“The biggest storyline this year was the great start,” said John McLaughlin, the Upland Game Bird Program leader at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

“There was plenty of rainfall and

each requiring just a $3 application fee — that made the cut.

Factors taken into consideration included the number of permits issued, the total number of applicants last year and the ratio between the two. The overall success rate of hunters who used their drawn permits in the previous season weighed in, too, as did the region, the total acreage to hunt and the time of year.

The season’s near and each of these draws has a deadline of Sept. 15. Which one will you apply for?

Bend State Park

Brazos

Maybe it isn’t regarded as a hotspot like the Hill Country or huge and expansive like West Texas, but Brazos Bend State Park is known to hold some great, mature deer. What’s more, the two-deer bag limit also includes an antlerless tag and as many feral hogs as you care to take. TPWD sets up the blinds and will randomly assign them to the permit winners, and last year’s stats saw a 72-percent success rate across 60 hunts. The state will only draw 30 hunters this year, which has pushed this experience into coveted territory.

Matagorda Island WMA

With nearly 25,000 acres to work with and a beautiful coastal backdrop, Matagorda Island Wildlife Management Area is a heck of a place to hunt whitetailed deer, especially in mid-November when this drawn hunt is offered. There’s a catch to this one though: you’ll need to provide your own boat to reach the island. That might explain the low number of applicants (1,242), but there are 40 of these permits available. Those are some of the better basic draw odds, and while

Please turn to page 6

Studying fawns

Researchers examine survival, mortality of newborns

Graduate students at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute have been spending their summer days and nights finding fawns and then monitoring them for a year to learn about fawn survival and mor

The teams of graduate students and research tech nicians spend the summer tracking birthing events and the survival of white-tailed deer fawns on East Foundation’s 6,000-acre, low-fenced San Antonio

Now in its fourth year, the team has captured 63 pregnant does and equipped them with GPS and vag inal implant transmitters to locate and capture fawns

“We put GPS collars on adult does and a transmitter into the birth canal once we confirm they are preg nant,” said CKWRI graduate student Miranda Hop per. “When a fawn is born, it pushes the transmitter out and, sends a signal. Then we can go out and find the fawn.”

Hopper said once the fawn is located, it also receives a collar and is monitored daily.

“If we get a signal of mortality, we go find it and try to figure out what caused the death,” said Hopper, who is in her third year of participating in the study. Fawns are monitored to track survival for the first full year of life. Hopper said most studies only monitor fawns for a few months.

“It’s a benefit of the East Foundation ranch and the support we get,” she said. “It’s a unique opportunity.”

“We capture fawns each spring and fall by helicopter,” said Kevin Lovasik, also a graduate student at

Kevin Lovasik, left, and Miranda Hopper, both graduate students at CKWRI, check and collar a newly born fawn as part of a study on fawn survival. Photo by Landon Schofield, East Foundation.

With deer season just around the corner, be sure to apply for drawn hunts before the Sept. 15 deadline. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

At the Statewide Quail Symposium in Abilene, more than 275 hunters, landowners and biologists gathered to discuss causes and remedies for the decline of quail in Texas. Good conditions this year, despite the more recent heat, have landowners seeing more broods this year. Photo by David J. Sames, Lone Star Outdoor News

Duck survey has its ups and downs

Lone Star outdoor newS

On Aug. 17, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its report on 2023 Waterfowl Population Status based on surveys conducted in May and early June by FWS, Canadian Wildlife Service and other partners.

Total populations were estimated at 32.3 million breeding ducks in the traditional survey area, a 7-percent drop from 2022’s estimate of 34.7 million, and 9 percent below the long-term average.

Ducks Unlimited

Chief Scientist Dr. Steve Adair said the overall numbers reflect a complex relationship between waterfowl, weather and habitat availability.

“These results are somewhat disappointing, as we had hoped for better production from the eastern prairies following improved moisture conditions in spring of 2022,” Adair said. “Last year’s nesting season was delayed with April snowstorms and May rains, which likely impacted overall production.”

Although mallards and wigeon numbers declined, populations of most species remain healthy and near their long-term averages.

Pintail numbers were a bright spot after years of decline. Population estimates increased 24 percent over last year’s record low.

Pond counts also dropped by 9 percent compared to last year, showing 4.98 million ponds, 5 percent below the long-term average.

The numbers might seem discouraging on the surface, but Dr. Frank Rohwer, Delta Waterfowl’s president and chief scientist was more optimistic, saying duck production could make up the difference, as timely rains after the survey was completed could boost production in the Prairie Pothole Region.

“We don’t hunt the breeding population,” he said. “We hunt the fall flight, which is made of the breeding population plus this year’s duck production. Duck production is the key to the upcoming hunting season.”

Blue-winged teal, the second-most abundant duck in North America, declined a shocking 19 percent from last year. At 5.25 million, bluewings are still 2 percent above the longterm average. The eastern Dakotas attracted just over 2 million breeding bluewings, which is down 39 percent from the previous year.

“Bluewings are the big surprise for me,” Rohwer said. “I thought they had pretty good production last year in the prairies, especially in the eastern Dakotas, yet the number went down. But I’ve seen teal broods everywhere across the prairie, including in southern Saskatchewan, and young mallards dominate the ducks caught during banding efforts in Manitoba.”

With early teal season only a month away in Texas, hunters will soon know how many birds will return.

Senate unanimously approves electronic duck stamp with bipartisan support

It may not come soon enough for this duck hunting season, but an electronic federal duck stamp, kept on your phone, may soon suffice if you’re checked by a state or federal game warden, eliminating the need to keep the printed version on your person during the hunt.

The United States Senate unanimously passed the Duck Stamp Modernization Act – legislation to make the Federal Duck Stamp more accessible for waterfowl hunters by authorizing the electronic stamp for use throughout the entire waterfowl hunting season.

The bipartisan bill will allow hunters to satisfy the Duck Stamp requirement in the field by accessing their electronic stamp using a smartphone. Physical stamps will remain available for purchase from the post office and other retailers.

“Duck hunters led the charge in making the Federal Duck Stamp one of the most successful conservation funding programs in history,” said Nick Wiley, chief operating officer of Ducks Unlimited. “As we celebrate 80 years and over 8 million acres of habitat conserved through this program, it’s only right that we streamline the process and allow the use of electronic stamps throughout the season. This common-sense legislation is good for duck hunters and will help maintain strong support for the Duck Stamp program. We thank our friends in the Senate, and we look forward to a supportive vote in the House soon.”

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Angus King (I-ME). A companion bill, introduced by Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), has passed the House Natural Resources Committee and awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives.

—Ducks Unlimited

Hopeful dove hunters

Continued from page 1

he said. “Even though it has been hot and dry, there’s still quite a bit of food on the ground available for the birds just about anywhere that seed bearing crops exist, whether they are native or being farmed.”

According to his estimations, water may be the largest determining factor for a successful season, as he expects the birds to key in on areas with good water sources that are available nearby. He suggests hunters do some scouting before the start of the season, and to stay mobile.

Mike Wyatt, owner and operator of First Shot Outfitters, said he is seeing big groups of both mourning dove and whitewings over wheat and sunflower fields near Coleman and the surrounding areas.

“Barring any extreme weather changes, we should have an excellent start to dove season,” Wyatt said.

Jacob Salmon, owner and operator of Full Throttle Outdoors, said dove numbers around Lubbock and the surrounding areas are greater than he’s seen in several years.

“We will be hunting mostly over milo fields, but we’ll also have birds actively feeding in corn and wheat fields as the season begins,” Salmon said. “I’m hoping that temperatures will cool down just a hair before the season opens, but either way, we are expecting to have about as good of an opener as we could imagine.”

Getting selected

Continued from page 4

the 51-percent success rate is no sure thing, it’s still better than 53 of the 66 other hunts. The permit has a two-deer bag limit, so you can get an antler less deer alongside your buck should the chance arise.

San Angelo State Park

The mid-December dates of this drawn hunt will take you to a rugged but beautiful region, with white-tailed deer up for grabs for the 20 lucky hunters this season. Just over 2,600 folks applied last year, but the 90-percent success rate comes in at fourth-best overall for any drawn hunt area last year. When you consider the full bag limit of four deer (two bucks), one javelina, one exotic mam mal, and unlimited feral hogs, you’d better bring a few coolers if you draw this hunt.

Remember, most Texas Drawn Hunts require a Public Hunting Permit, as well as an additional permit fee should you win the lottery.

As hunters fail to draw desired hunts, they still accrue points with every application. The odds of drawing a hunt go up every year as long as the hunter keeps applying.

Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Rescuing boaters with problems

Young Texan operates Sea Tow franchise

By Robert Sloan For Lone Star outdoor newS

Nothing will bring a fishing trip to a halt quicker than a boat mishap. For Capt. Brennen Larson — the youngest person to ever own a Sea Tow franchise — helping fishermen and boaters get back on the water not only provides him a living, but also a

fair number of adventures. Only 22 years old, Larson has been running his business out of Seadrift on the middle Texas coast since 2021.

“It’s been a pretty good run so far,” said Larson, whose father, Jeff, lends a hand when he isn’t guiding hunting and fishing trips. “We started out with two boats, and now we have four.”

The business is open 24 hours per day, with no days off. Using a wide variety of boats — cen-

Bass suspended in summer heat

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Largemouth bass are sticking to a late-summer pattern across Texas lakes. Most larger bass have been suspended above the thermocline layer throughout various portions of the water column in deeper areas, while others — mostly on the smaller side — are hanging shallow. A variety of techniques and bait presentations have been working for anglers.

Rick Caldwell has been focusing his efforts on Sam Rayburn Reservoir during the early morning hours in areas with lily pads and heavy cover in 4-10 feet of water. Right at daybreak, top-water lures have been producing plenty of surface strikes for him. After the sun comes up, Caldwell switches over to a wacky worm presentation.

Caldwell said he’s been catching about 15 bass per trip, mostly between sunrise and 9 a.m.

“There have been some bigger bass hanging out a little deeper, around brush piles, in 20-25 feet of water,” Caldwell said. “I have found some fish pushing 6 pounds or more using a drop-shot rig in

these deeper stretches.”

On Lake Nacogdoches, fishing guide Cal Cameron has been using scanning sonar to pursue bass suspended in any where from 8 to 22 feet of water. Straighttail worms and swimbaits have been pro ducing the most strikes for him and his anglers.

Cameron has been concentrating on teaching his anglers the right approach and retrieve that will provoke an aggres sive reaction from suspended bass. Most of his success has come from areas with plenty of timber, which have been pro ducing bass between 4 and 6 pounds.

“Targeting bass that are suspended in a summertime pattern can be a challenge, but it is extremely rewarding,” Cameron said. “The best bite has been occurring during the mid-morning hours.”

Lake Fork fishing guide James Calde meyer said chasing suspended bass is the best way to catch good numbers of quality fish. Most of the fish he’s target ing are staging over deep points in 40 feet of water or so, where they can be found anywhere from 15 to 25 feet below the surface.

“The hardest part about targeting

Please turn to page 17

ter consoles, airboats, a shallow water skiff and a 27-footer for offshore treks up to 60 miles out — Larson’s outfit rescues fishermen, duck hunters and recreational boaters.

The young businessman has seen just about anything you can imagine happen to a boat. However, his most common call comes from boaters who get caught on oyster reefs and sand bars.

“I pulled up to one boat that

sunk right in front of my boat,” he said. “Most of the time I’ll get a call from fishermen who were following a GPS track line and ran aground. In that situation, the person running the boat was following a trail he had made on a high tide. But when they follow that trail on a low tide, they often get stuck.”

During the second week of August, Larson had seven calls before noon, all of which were groundings. However, sunken

Trophy trout on top

By Robert Sloan

For Lone Star outdoor newS

A big fish hitting a top-water lure is the ultimate thrill for many anglers. Laguna Madre guide Reanna DeLaCruz was fishing at the right time and in the right place when she saw a 9-pound speckled trout explode on the surface.

“When it was all said and done, and as I let her go, I was in shock,” DeLaCruz said. “That beautiful fish was right at 32 inches long. I’ve been fishing all my life and live to catch trout on top-water lures. This one was the fish I’ve been after forever.”

The 20-something guide has spent her entire life fishing the South Texas saltwater flats. Since

acquiring her captain’s license, she has been running wadefishing charters on the Laguna Madre for the past year. It’s no coincidence that she fishes and guides the same region where the state record speckled trout — 15.6 pounds — was caught on a fly. Anglers flock to the area, often in the winter, looking to catch a trophy trout.

Recently, however, DeLaCruz has pivoted toward Baffin Bay, where her husband grew up and is familiar with the waters.

She caught the 9-pounder on a black Night Stalker, made by Texas Custom Lures. It’s a locally made top-water lure with two trebles that makes a lot of noise when fished on a walk-the-dog

retrieve. The lure is one of her favorites, along with a MirrOlure She Dog in black or white. She prefers white during overcast conditions.

“When I caught the 9-pounder, there was a northeast breeze and a clear sky with a temperature that was around 86-95 degrees,” DeLaCruz said. “I had two clients out with me. One was up shallow, the other was in waist-deep water. I was in the middle fishing in about 2 feet of water.”

The big bite came around 7:45 a.m.

“It’s a good time to be fishing a top-water for big trout,” she said. “At first light with a gentle breeze is a great time to be fishing. The fish, especially big trout, will be

up shallow feeding on mullet in the low-light conditions.”

She prefers drop-offs and guts, where she’ll attach her top-water plugs with a loop knot to maximize action. She finds that the fish want to get away from direct sunlight and instead feed in darker, off-colored water. So, when she sets up for a wade, she looks for swirls from nervous baitfish, jumping mullet and birds, especially when they’re down low over the water.

“One of the most important things you can do when fishing lures is to tie one on that you have a lot of confidence in,” she said. “That’s a tactic that will deliver more fish on just about any given day.”

Boats with issues while on the bays or offshore can save money with a service, like Sea Tow, to get back to the pier. Photo by Brennan Larson.

Reanna DeLaCruz landed this 9-pound speckled trout on a black Night Stalker top-water lure. Photo from Reanna DeLaCruz.

Jake Inderman caught this nice largemouth on a swimbait in 10 feet of water while fishing on Lake Nacogdoches with guide Cal Cameron. Photo by Cal Cameron.

Making big boats in a small town

By Tony Vindell

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Boats, whether for fishing or recreation, are made all over the United States. The Rio Grande Valley, however, is home to several manufacturers, including one of the biggest names in the state.

The Shallow Sport boat company, a business just west of the small town of Bayview, builds a variety of boats from bottom to top.

Tucked off Shafer Road, a straight shot of pavement from Ted Hunt Boulevard will lead you to the boat factory that put South Texas on the map.

Within the perimeter is a business office and retail shop that sells apparel for anglers, 150,000 square feet of warehouses and a smaller sewing building where a team of people make cushions and seats for boats.

A boat assembly largely creates every piece from scratch — except for the motor, the electronics and other accessories.

There are molds of different sizes, both finished and unfinished boats, people putting in fiberglass materials, painters and others applying the finishing touches.

Some boats have their motors, while others await backed up orders from suppliers — an issue that has certainly plagued more than one industry over the past few years.

Wes Hudson, the company president,

said the goal is to finish four boats each week.

“We have to keep making them,” he said. “It may take a year for one of our boats to go out.”

Hudson said they could make more boats, but finding people to work is another reoccurring issue, as many employees come from 20 or more miles away.

‘We have more than 100 employees here,” he said. “And we could use a lot more.”

Shallow Sport is a company with $20 million in annual sales. Dealership locations include San Benito, Austin, Houston and in Florida.

Hudson said his grandfather, Willis Isaac Hudson, started building and selling boats in 1952. He moved to the Valley to retire, but once here, his father, Willis Rex Hudson, opened Shallow Sport. The three generations have been making boats ever since.

Hudson said some 6,000 boats have gone out over the years, ranging from the 18-footers that can travel in a foot of water to 32-foot yachts.

Shallow Sport hosts an owner’s tournament every spring and has given out thousands of dollars in scholarships to students from the Valley and elsewhere in Texas.

The boat manufacturer is not alone, though, as the Valley is also home to several other boat makers, including Dargell, Cougar and Shallow Stalker.

Scientist, known for red drum work, dies

Dr. Connie Arnold, a scientist with the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, died Aug. 5.

Arnold’s time in Port Aransas began in 1972 as the first Director of the National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory, overseeing the construction of the laboratory.

In 1977, when UTMSI assumed operations of the National Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory, Arnold became a research program manager and research scientist for the institute. He was promoted in 1991 to Professor, Department of Marine Sci ence, and Associate Director for Mariculture.

Arnold’s groundbreaking work included the historic achieve ment of being the first to spawn successfully and rear red drum in captivity by controlling temperature and light conditions in fish tanks. His work extended to nutrition research, where he focused on unlocking the potential of practical diet formulations for cultured marine species like red drum and shrimp. His innovation led to the development of “nutrient dense” or “low pollution” feeds for red drum, shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture practices.

Awards given to Dr. Arnold included the Professional Conservationist of the Year from the Texas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society in 1985, the Outstanding Achievement award from the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society in 1988, and a Lifetime Achievement in Support of Texas Aquaculture award from the Texas Aquaculture Association in 2001.

—UTMSI

Dr. Connie Arnold

Shallow Sport President Wes Hudson stands by two of the boat types the company makes in Bayview. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 85 degrees; 3.90’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows.

AMISTAD: Water stained; 90 degrees; 50.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigs, wacky rigs and weightless senkos. Channel catfish are good on punch bait.

ARLINGTON: Water lightly stained; 95-104 degrees; 6.87’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 85-90 degrees; 7.21’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are good drifting with fresh cut shad.

ATHENS: Water clear; 92-94 degrees; 1.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, Texas rigs, and shaky-head worms. Crappie are slow.

AUSTIN: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.68’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on small walking baits and poppers.

BASTROP: Water lightly stained; 97 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on green watermelon seed drop shots, creature baits and Texasrigged soft plastics.

BELTON: Water lightly stained; 86-89 degrees; 16.17’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair to good on top-waters, slabs and pet spoons. Channel catfish are fair to good on punch bait, live bait and fresh cut bait.

BENBROOK: Water stained; 87 degrees; 5.22’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on punch bait.

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 90-93 degrees; 0.62’ low. Largemouth bass are fair at night on chatter baits, worms and jigs. Crappie are fair on small minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.

BRAUNIG: Water lightly stained, 95 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Redfish are good on live bait and spoons.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 87 degrees; 10.75’ low. Largemouth bass are good early on top-waters. White bass and hybrids are fair on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

BROWNWOOD: Water lightly stained; 87-89 degrees; 6.78’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, crankbaits and soft plastic worms. Crappie are slow. White bass are fair on jigs and small moving baits. Catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 86-90 degrees; 21.58’ low. White bass are good on live bait and trolling jigs.

CADDO: Water stained; 85-90 degrees; 0.37’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on flukes, drop shots and lipless crankbaits.

CALAVERAS: Water lightly

stained, 93 degrees. Redfish are fair to good on live bait, frozen shrimp and trolling soft plastics and spoons. Blue and channel catfish are fair on live bait, cut bait and worms.

CANYON: Water clear; 89 degrees; 15.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on spinner baits, top-waters and Texas rigs.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 85-88 degrees; 2.41’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on green/pumpkin soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass and hybrids are excellent trolling hellbenders and pet spoons.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 88 degrees; 25.56’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and small grubs. Catfish are slow.

CONROE: Water stained; 89 degrees; 1.34’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged worms and crankbaits. Hybrid striped bass are fair trolling pet spoons and on jigs and slabs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair to good on prepared baits and shad.

COOPER: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.5’ high.

Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are good on slabs and spoons. Blue catfish are good on cut shad.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Water stained; 87 degrees; 5.86’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are good on jigs and live minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait.

CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.48’ low. Largemouth bass are fair at night on chatter baits and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are fair on small minnows. Catfish are fair on cheese bait.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 87 degrees; 6.71’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs with teaser flies. Crappie are fair to good on jigs. Channel catfish are good on punch bait.

FALCON: Water stained; 85-89 degrees; 42.54’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on soft plastics and crankbaits. Catfish are fair on shad, shrimp and liver.

FAYETTE: Water stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on drop shots and Carolina- or Texas-rigged soft plastics. Catfish are good on cut bait.

FORK: Water stained; 87-88 degrees; 1.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on wake baits, spinner baits, Carolina rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.

FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water

stained; 87-89 degrees; 5.27’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on rooster tails. Blue catfish are fair drifting live bait.

GRANBURY: Water lightly stained; 86-92 degrees; 0.80’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. White bass are slow to fair on minnows. Striped bass are fair on live bait and jigs. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good at night on prepared baits and cut bait.

GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 1.73’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on crankbaits. Crappie are good on jigs. Blue catfish are good on juglines baited with shad or cut bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 85-87 degrees; 2.67’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on slabs.

GREENBELT: Water stained; 84 degrees; 45.05’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and worms. Crappie are good on worms and minnows. White bass are slow.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 85-90 degrees; 1.37’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on shaky heads, Carolina rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 85-88 degrees; 10.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to slow on Carolina rigs and crankbaits. White bass are fair on slabs.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 90 degrees; 0.95’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on drop shots and shaky heads.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.65’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-water frogs and chatter baits early. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cheese bait.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 2.17’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are good on chartreuse and white slabs and paddle tails. Catfish are good on cut shad and bluegill.

LBJ: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.26’ low. Largemouth bass are fair early on top-waters and shallow crankbaits.

Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 87-90 degrees; 2.50’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair drifting cut shad or chicken breasts.

LIMESTONE: Water clear; 89-94 degrees; 2.17’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on

crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on silver jigging spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait and minnows.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.87’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair to good on slabs. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on live bait.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 90-100 degrees; 2.12’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and shad-colored jigs. Catfish are fair on juglines with cut bait or live bait.

MEREDITH: Water stained; 80 degrees; 43.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on minnows and artificials. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are excellent on minnows. Walleye are good on minnows, grubs and crankbaits. Catfish are good on crawlers, minnows and frozen shad.

MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 7.74’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair trolling slabs. Blue and channel catfish are fair on juglines with live bait.

NACOGDOCHES: Water clear; 87-91 degrees; 2.02’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and crankbaits. Crappie area fair on minnows.

NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 90 degrees; 1.00’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on small shad imitations and Texas-rigged worms. Catfish are slow.

NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 1.12’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white chatter baits and soft plastics in the reeds. Crappie are good on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on cut bait and stink bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 86 degrees; 1.07’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs tipped with minnows.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 85-89 degrees; 27.19’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on swimbaits. White bass are good on live bait. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 14.08’ low. Largemouth bass are fair at night on spinner baits. White bass are good on silver spoons and imitation shad. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are fair on cut shad and perch.

PALESTINE: Water stained; 90 degrees; 1.35’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on wacky rigs. Hybrid stripers are good on crankbaits and tail spinners. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on chartreuse

and white jigs. Catfish are excellent on live shad, cut bait and nightcrawlers.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 86-93 degrees; 1.20’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are fair on live bait and trolling chartreuse and white slabs. White bass are fair on slabs and live baits. Catfish are good on cut shad.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 86-89 degrees; 11.78’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on cheese bait.

RAVEN: Water clear; 87 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 88-89 degrees; 2.28’ low. White bass are fair drifting tail spinners. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are fair on punch bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 89 degrees; 1.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Carolina rigs, drop shots and top-waters. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows.

RICHLAND

CHAMBERS: Water clear; 8789 degrees; 1.65’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Hybrid striped bass are fair on live gizzard shad. White bass are slow. Blue and channel catfish are fair on shad and punch bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 92 degrees; 3.47’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

SOMERVILLE: Water clear; 90-92 degrees; 1.92’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are slow. Catfish are fair on shad and cut bait.

STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 16.72’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on dark soft plastics and creature baits. White bass are fair on slabs with white tails.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 90 degrees; 0.60’ low. Largemouth bass are good early on white frogs, crankbaits and Carolinarigged black worms. White bass and stripers aer good trolling and throwing slabs. Channel and blue catfish are good on prepared baits.

TEXANA: Water stained; 87 degrees; 3.31’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

TEXOMA: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.46’ high. Large-

n Guide reports Page 19

n Saltwater reports Page 20

mouth and smallmouth bass are fair on top-waters and swimbaits. Striped bass are good on top-waters, slabs and live bait. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut shad.

TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 90-93 degrees; 2.79’ low. Largemouth bass are fair early on shad crankbaits, then slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on prepared baits.

TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 91 degrees; 46.84’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters and small swimbaits.

TWIN BUTTES: Water stained. 87 degrees; 28.73’ low. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are fair on prepared baits.

TYLER: Water stained; 90 degrees; 1.38’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel catfish are good on nightcrawlers and stink bait. Flatheads are fair on cut bait.

WACO: Water stained; 88 degrees; 9.74’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs tipped with minnows.

WALTER E. LONG: Water stained; 87 degrees; 1.00’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on small worms. Crappie are good on 2-inch worms and small beetle spins.

WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 87 degrees; 21.33’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good from the bank on cut shad.

WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 7.00’ low. Striped bass are good on live bait, flutter spoons, swimbaits and umbrella rigs.

WORTH: Water stained; 87 degrees; 3.15’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs with teaser flies. Crappie are fair on jigs with white color combinations. Channel catfish are good on punch bait.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 95 degrees; 0.97’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair to good on minnows. Catfish are slow.

—TPWD

Feisty stripers

Continued from page 1

schooling up along the surface at daylight, but some bigger fish are reportedly mixing in with them, too. Andre said large surface plugs have been the key to grabbing the attention of the heavier stripers.

“Later in the morning, the stripers have been pulling out to deeper water along river channels,” he said. “Most of the fish are in less than 40 feet of water, and oftentimes the bigger stripers will be found hanging out down below a school of smaller fish that are near the surface.”

Andre said covering water and focusing on areas with plenty of baitfish and shad has been his primary ticket to success. Most of the striped bass his anglers have been catching are between 10 and 26 inches.

Ben Austin, owner and operator of Fellowship Fishing Guide Service on Lake Whitney, said the surface action for stripers continues to remain steady despite the heat. Banks along the southern portion of the lake have been his go-to hotspots.

The top-water bite has been dying off about an hour or so after sunrise, however, which prompts Austin to switch to live shad in areas with depths of 25-35 feet near creek channels. Most of the fish have been concentrating about 8-10 feet off the bottom.

“There are a ton of 2- to 4-pound stripers out there right now,” Austin said. “It’s nothing for us to go out and catch 60-80 fish in one trip. They have been extremely aggressive.”

Lake Buchanan fishing guide Fermin Fernandez said he has mostly seen stripers schooling in the upper portion of the water column in open water as of late. Most of the fish within these schools have been on the smaller side — 4-6 pounds — primarily striking when Fernandez and his clients troll jigs with trailers under downriggers.

“I’ve been focusing on trolling underneath the schools of fish that have been concentrating along the surface,” Fernandez said. “There have been good numbers of decent stripers suspended about 10 feet below the surface, just about anywhere you can find fish feeding up on top.”

Fernandez said there has been no rhyme nor reason to where the fish have been staging, as they’re seemingly roaming around in search of bait. To find the largest concentrations of stripers, anglers should search for the largest swarms of baitfish.

Ladies with kings

Continued from page 1

In the Bay Division, Carrie Lee Buchen, of Harlingen, grabbed the grand champion trophy by bringing all three fish species — redfish, speckled trout and flounder — with a total weight of 14.2 pounds, fishing on the Tail Chaser, captained by Charles Buchen.

Anglers in the Offshore Division said the waters of the Mexican Gulf were rough but that did not stop them from enjoying the day.

Alita Bagley, the tournament director, said everything went well.

With the exception of a glitch with a scale, the anglers proudly displayed their catches as fellow participants kept arriving with their fish.

Schuster, who at the award ceremony celebrated her birthday, said the Gulf waters were rough.

“I feel sore,” she said, after checking in her kingfish. “I feel great, too.”

A trio of lady anglers, Kaitlin Flores, Bailey Scaief and Regan Duleba, said they fished from 6:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday.

“It was hot, bumpy and windy,” Scaief said.

Bagley, president of the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce, said 93 boats registered for the tournament that had 245 anglers participating in both divisions.

“We had an increase of 20 anglers compared to last year,” she said. “That is pretty good. This is a fundraising event and all its proceeds go to the chamber.”

Other first place winners:

Lindsie Schuster, far right, and her team pose with the winning king mackerel at the Ladies Kingfish Tournament.

Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Jack Austin landed this solid striped bass while fishing with guide Ben Austin on Lake Whitney. Photo from Ben Austin.

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

GATOR KILLED ON REFUGE

An Operation Game Thief hotline tipster reported a subject shooting and killing an American alligator on National Wildlife Refuge property in Cameron County. A Texas game warden responded and located the subject and the illegally taken alligator. The subject was subsequently charged and convicted for the illegal activities, and the caller received a $250 reward.

GILL NETS WITH BASS, CATFISH, MORE

Texas game wardens patrolled Falcon Lake looking for illegal gill netting activity. They observed numerous Mexican fishing vessels working nets on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake. A search of the Texas side shorelines and backwater coves yielded 16 sections, approximately 5,280 feet, of monofilament gill net, filled with numerous fish species. Several live gamefish, including largemouth bass and catfish, were released during the confiscation. Wardens donated several hundred pounds of tilapia and carp to Zapata County residents.

GROUP SHOOTING ALONG HIKING TRAILS

Information was reported of four adult males off-roading and shooting

OGT TIP FOR KILLING DEER IN CLOSED SEASON

of Corpus Christi. A call was received via satellite phone, an emergency beacon and Garmin inRach device reporting a 37-year-old man suffered lacerations from the propellor of a 43-foot center console craft while recreationally fishing with five other adults. A helicopter crew arrived on scene, hoisted the injured man and his father, refueled at a nearby oil platform and transported the patient to Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi - Shoreline. The man was reported to be in stable condition.

rifles illegally near multiple hiking trails in the Lake Meredith National Recreation Rosita Flats area. Walking through the flats, the wardens located the men. One of the individuals carried two rifles, an AK-47 and a .308, along with paper targets. Two of the individuals displayed multiple anti-police tattoos and clothing. With three of the four from out of state, the wardens additionally observed that their SUV did not display a Texas OHV decal. Upon checking the individuals with the Potter County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher,

the wardens learned that one of the men was a convicted felon with four outstanding warrants out of Randall and Hale counties. The man was arrested, and the owner of the SUV received a citation for not having a Texas OHV decal.

TIP NABS FELON WITH GUNS, NETS REWARD

In October 2022, a tip through the Operation Game Thief hotline reported an individual who was illegally hunting in Bastrop County. A game warden responded and

located the subject, who was later determined to be a convicted felon.

During the investigation, the subject was found to be in possession of a stolen shotgun, six firearms, a fish shocker (within half a mile of public waters), and two freshly killed mourning dove. The subject was arrested and later convicted. A reward of $700 was paid to the caller.

FISHERMAN INJURED BY PROP OFFSHORE

The Coast Guard evacuated one man who was injured while fishing approximately 130 miles southeast

A tip via the Operation Game Thief reported a male subject who had placed a gutted whitetailed deer carcass into the bed of his pickup truck in Fischer. A game warden responded to the area and located the subject, who had illegally taken the white-tailed deer during closed season. The subject was ultimately charged and convicted for taking the deer in closed season. Due to the caller’s involvement and the subject being convicted, a reward of $600 was paid to the caller. RUGER.COM/AMERICANRIFLE

WARDENS ASSIST AFTER STORM

Texas game wardens responded to a strong June thunderstorm that developed into an EF3 tornado, striking the town of Perryton. In addition to causing widespread property damage, the storm claimed three lives and injured hundreds of others. Through the aftermath, wardens remained on scene assisting local and state first responders with search and rescue efforts as well as traffic enforcement and community support.

REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263

AN AMERICAN LEGEND

Greg Craycroft holds three bobwhite quail alongside his German shorthaired pointer, Annie, after a successful day on public land.

Cooper Kiffe, 9, caught a limit of redfish with his father, Ron, on South Padre Island using live finger mullet.

Landon French caught a 40-inch black drum in Port Lavaca using a crab. His uncle, Gary, helped bring it back to the pier.

Charlie Ash, 11, caught this largemouth while kayak fishing a private pond in McKinney with his father, Darren

Robby Williams made a 340-yard shot on this pronghorn near Perico last season.

Survival and predation

Continued from page 4

CKWRI. “We collar them to monitor for the first full year.”

The study, led by Dr. Michael Cherry at CKWRI, was designed to allow scientists and wildlife managers to better understand how factors such as environmental conditions and predation affect the survival of white-tailed deer in South Texas.

What are the researchers learning so far?

“We’re finding that the most crucial time period is the first few days to the first few weeks of life,” Lovasik said. “Most of the deaths are during the time when the fawns aren’t mobile to the first few days or weeks of life.”

Most of the deaths were the result of coyote predation, Lovasik said.

“A few were from bobcats and pigs,” he said. “And a few others were from natural causes like abandonment and malnutrition. But after 8-12 weeks, the chance of survival is much greater.”

Both graduate students said they have loved being on the ranch day and night.

“I’ve seen some really cool things being out there 24 hours a day during fawning season,” Lovasik said. “I saw two of the biggest rattlesnakes I’ve ever seen, both over 6 feet. And I saw a doe beat the crap out of a coyote. She was probably protecting a fawn. It worked; she made the coyote run away.”

Hopper said the middle-of-the-night explosion from coveys of quail beneath her feet brought the biggest scares.

“There are quail everywhere here,” she said. “They don’t move until the last second. It gives me a heart attack every time. But out there in the night, that’s when the does give birth. All the wildlife come alive at night.”

Hopper said she plans to continue with fall captures, but will be spending time finishing her master’s thesis over the next year.

“I enjoy that a lot,” she said. “I get to work with the students that come out — many of them haven’t touched a deer before.”

Coming together to save quail

Continued from page 4

a general feel of optimism.”

The summer heat dampered the optimism somewhat.

“Things have turned a little bit,” McLaughlin said. “But there are broods still coming in — we continue to see good things happening.”

Based on annual quail roadside counts, McLaughlin said what quail hunters know: The trend for quail has been downward.

“Bobwhites have been in a general steady decline, especially in the Cross Timbers,” he said. In the Gulf Coast prairies, there is a slower decline. In the Rolling Plains and South Texas plains, it’s better but there is a general trend downward.”

Scaled quail numbers bottomed out in the late 1980s. In far West Texas, there has been only a slight decline since then, and numbers have remained pretty steady.

“Quail aren’t declining in a vacuum,” McLaughlin said. “Since 1970, grassland birds have declined throughout North America, and it’s not just about the birds. The grasslands, desert, wildflowers all have declined. It has resulted in a change of fortune for birds, land, ranchers and farmers.”

In 1987, there were 200,000 quail hunters and 8 million birds. More recently, the number declined to 91,000 hunters and 2 million birds.

“That’s a big economic impact,” McLaughlin said. “Conservation is an eco-

nomic powerhouse.”

Stressors to quail populations have included land use conversion, growing urban areas, woody vegetation and invasive exotic grass encroachment, energy infrastructure and annual weather patterns.

Speakers, including McLaughlin and Rollins, said a tiered approach is needed in quail conservation, including research, active management and collaboration from the landowner level all the way to Washington, D.C.

Joe Crafton, the founder of Park Cities Quail, which has gone on to net $18.2 million for quail conservation in 18 years, and president of RPQRF, said Texans come together in the name of quail conservation.

“Quail hunters need quail, but quail need quail hunters,” he said. “In some years there are only 30,000 quail hunters in Texas.”

While the biggest factors for quail are habitat and favorable weather, other factors in management include disease, habitat restoration and feed.

“Quail decline isn’t a single-shot; it’s a revolver,” Rollins said.

Crafton said researchers, landowners and hunters need to continue to examine new ideas and a diversity of thought.

Crafton quoted Walmart founder Sam Walton in his luncheon keynote address.

“It’s not what you don’t know. It’s what you know that ain’t so.”

Newborn fawns were measured and equipped with transmitters to be followed during their first year of life. Photo by Landon Schofield, East Foundation.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER

Solution on Page 20

New leaders at Mustad

Andy Baumbach was named the director of marketing, Vince Minnick the national sales manager and Isaac Payne the director of innovation and product development for Mustad North America.

Kirchner joins Johnson Outdoors

Johnson Outdoors Inc. hired Bill Kirchner as its new group vice president, fishing.

Mud Hole acquired

Foundation Outdoor Group has acquired Mud Hole Custom Tackle, Inc. and American Tackle Company International, Inc.

Parker joins Rather Outdoors

Rather Outdoors hired Marcus Parker as senior vice president of sales for North America.

Garmin buys JL Audio

Garmin entered into an agreement to acquire JL Audio, a privately held audio equipment manufacturer.

New hires at MDF

The Mule Deer Foundation named Angelique Curtis the director of conservation, Brandon Houck the U.S. Forest Service national partnership coordinator and Matt Fenoff the chief development officer.

Walther hires Osborn

Cody Osborn returned to his previous employer, Walther Arms, as the director of communications.

Wiegard joins PF/QF

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever hired Ariel Wiegard as the organization’s vice president of government affairs.

Gyles joins Columbia

Columbia Sportswear Company hired Tom Gyles as senior vice president, global distribution network, overseeing North America and Europe wholesale, retail and e-commerce.

ACROSS

2) A dove food

6) The tom’s call

7) Riflescope brand

9) The young deer

10) Fishing reel brand

13) Good cut bait for reds

16) Green, blue or cinnamon

17) Border lake

20) Lamar County’s seat

22) Sinker type

23) Fastest North American mammal

24) Elk hunting state

26) Ward County’s seat

28) Moore County’s seat

29) A Great Lake

30) Ammo brand

33) Austin area lake (two words)

35) Fishing rod brand

37) Hunting boot brand (two words)

38) Hunting TV host

39) A nearshore target

40) Shotshell brand

41) Shot size used by teal hunters

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

DOWN

1) One of Leopold’s five tools

2) A retriever

3) An exotic species

4) Some hunters eat this deer organ

5) West Texas river

8) Cisco’s county

11) Hill Country lake

12) A sunfish

14) Angelina County’s seat

15) One of the shooting sports

18) Safari destination

19) The spoon

20) Group of lions

21) A top-water lure

25) Taylor County’s seat

27) Whitewings head to these fields

30) Namibia’s capital

31) Houston-area lake

32) Fishing lure brand

34) Stephenville’s county

36) Bobwhite or blue

*email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Baked red snapper with crabmeat stuffing

5-7 lbs. red snapper

1 lb. shrimp

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tbsps. oil

6 slices white bread

1 green pepper, finely chopped

1 tbsp. parsley, minced

1/2 lb. crab meat

1 tbsp. celery, chopped

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 cup wine

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Shell and clean shrimp and cut into small pieces. Saute the onion and garlic in oil until clear. Add the shrimp and saute for about 10 minutes. Dampen the bread, mash it and add to onion and shrimp mixture. Add the green pepper, parsley, crab meat,

celery and seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Place the stuffing inside the fish and sew up the opening or fasten with skewers. Place the fish in a greased baking pan. Pour wine over it and bake in preheated oven, with a piece of foil over it for 15-20 minutes. Remove foil. Dust lightly with flour. Baste from pan occasionally and bake until the flesh flakes to a fork and is crusty brown.

Sauce

1 stick butter

2 shallots, finely chopped

2 tsps. parsley, minced

1.2 lb. crab meat

Saute shallots and parsley for a few minutes in melted butter. Add crab meat and gently stir.

Pour over fish and serve.

Black and blue venison sliders

2 tbsps. olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 lb. ground venison and 2 ozs. ground pork

1 tbsp. blackening seasoning

12 sweet Hawaiian rolls

Favorite burger toppings

Sauce

1.2 tsp. olive oil

1 garlic clove, minced

4 ounces crumbled blue cheese

4 ounces crème fraiche

1 tsp. blackening seasoning

2 dashes Worcestershire sauce

Form 12 evenly sized patties. Add the other tbsp. olive oil to a griddle or skillet and heat to medium-high. Add venison patties. Allow one side to blacken before flipping, about 2 minutes per side.

—Louisiana DFW

In a skillet, cook one tbsp. olive oil and onions over low heat. Once caramelized, set aside and let cool. Mix ground venison, onions and blackening seasoning together in a bowl.

For sauce, in a small saucepan, cook olive oil and minced garlic over medium heat. Sweat the garlic for a minute. Add remaining ingredients for the crème fraiche blue cheese sauce. Occasionally stir and break up the blue cheese crumbles. Once bubbling, remove from heat to allow sauce to thicken. Place a venison burger on each roll. Spoon the crème fraiche blue cheese sauce onto the venison burger and add your favorite burger toppings.

—Ohio DNR

LOUISIANA Speckled trout changes proposed

In addition to proposing changes to redfish size and bag limits, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has proposed a minimum seatrout size of 13 inches and a maximum of 20 inches with two over the maximum, maintaining a 15 fish bag limit. The proposal also would eliminate the ability for charter guides and their deckhands to keep a bag limit while conducting a for-hire trip.

—LDFW

DELAWARE

Record king mackerel

Jeff McCoy, of Millsboro, caught a staterecord king mackerel in Delaware’s Atlantic waters from his 25-foot boat, The Reel McCoy The fish weighed 52 pounds, 11 ounces along Fenwick Shoal.

McCoy’s fish topped the previous record by more than 4 pounds, a record that had stood from 31 years.

During the battle, McCoy said his fishing line wrapped around the boat’s anchor rope. Quick action by his brother-in-law disentangled McCoy’s fishing line, and the fight was on again with the kingfish making several more runs.

—DNREC

MINNESOTA New name for Vista Outdoor

Vista Outdoor Inc., the parent company of 41 outdoor brands, announced its new name following the planned spinoff of Vista Outdoor’s Outdoor Products business.

Post-spin, Vista Outdoor will be rebranded as The Kinetic Group, announced Aug. 10 at the CCI-Speer ammunition factory in Lewiston, Idaho.

—Vista Outdoor

TENNESSEE

Auburn team wins Bassmaster College Championship

Auburn University’s Tucker Smith and Hayden Marbut caught 18 pounds on Saturday to win the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces.

Together, it is the duo’s second victory in a Bassmaster Championship event. Their first win came at the 2020 Bassmaster High School National Championship at Kentucky Lake. Smith, along with his three high school

Suspended largemouth

Continued from page 8

championship titles, won the 2021 Bassmaster College Team of the Year title with partner Logan Parks as well as the Bass Pro Shops U.S. Open on Table Rock Lake.

With a three-day total of 50 pounds, 13 ounces, Levi Mullins and Matthew Cummings from Bethel University finished second. Brody Robison and Jack Alexander from the University of Montevallo finished third with a total of 49 pounds, 3 ounces.

Each of the anglers from the top three teams, along with the College Team of the Year, Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke from the University of Montevallo, will compete in the College Classic Bracket Sept. 29-Oct. 2, with the winner participating in the Bassmaster Classic. —B.A.S.S.

FLORIDA Boat inventories up, sales dip

The total volume of boats sold was down 9.8 percent in 2022 compared to 2019, according to boating marketplace Boats Group. On the other hand, recovery is underway as Boat Trader, YachtWorld and boats.com have collectively seen a growth of 56 percent in listings compared to the first half of 2022.

While boats are selling more quickly in 2023 than in 2019, the average days on the market have increased slightly, further indicating a recovery in inventory. The global average number of days on the market during the first half of 2023 was 187 compared to 261 days in 2019.

Boat prices rose nearly 20 percent in comparison to the values observed in 2019, indicating a continued solid consumer demand.

—Boats

Group

INTERNATIONAL FRANCE Kaufhold wins recurve World Cup event

At the site of next year’s Olympic Games, the USA’s Casey Kaufhold toppled home favorite Lisa Barbelin to take gold in the recurve women’s event at the World Cup Stage #4, held in Paris.

The 6-4 win for the 19-year-old Kaufhold also secured her qualification for next month’s World Cup Final in Mexico.

With the crowd supporting Barbelin, the local favorite, Kaufhold and Barbelin were tied through four sets. Kaufhold finished the fifth set with a 10 to claim the gold.

—USA Archery

suspended bass is getting them to bite,” Caldemeyer said. “They will eat if you can put the right bait presentation in front of them. Slow-sinking swimbaits, spoons and soft plastics have all been working well when they are retrieved properly.”

Caldemeyer said anglers can also find smaller fish up shallow right now around Fork, but to stick to deeper water when holding out for bigger bass. Most of what he and his anglers are hooking up with are between 4 and 9 pounds.

“Because these bass are pretty lethargic and are just sort of resting while they are suspended, they tend to put up a pretty good fight,” Caldemeyer said. “As soon as you hook one, you can tell it has been well rested.”

O.H. Ivie fishing guide Brandon Burks said that a lot of bass have been staging out deep in 10-20 feet of water near trees and brush, as summertime heat continues to plague the state. Glide baits, Texas-rigs, large worms and top-water baits have all been producing strikes from quality fish.

“Areas that are holding concentrations of small fry and baitfish have been the key,” Burks said. “The fish still seem to want to chase the small fry that is available in certain stretches of Ivie right now.”

Burks and his anglers have been catching bass in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 to 10 pounds. There have definitely been more fish caught in the lower end of that range, but the opportunity to land a double-digit largemouth certainly exists. Larger bait presentations have been rendering less strikes, but increasing an angler’s odds of catching a bass weighing over 5 pounds. Some of the biggest fish Burks has seen recently have been staging in shallow areas adjacent to deeper water.

Ryan Person landed this hefty bass that was suspended on Lake Fork while chunking a spoon over a deep point with fishing guide James Caldemeyer. Photo by James Caldemeyer.

TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES

FISHING REPORTS FROM THE GUIDES

Possum Kingdom stripers make you think twice: T.J. Ranft of Ranft Guide Service reports the striper fishing to be fair, with live bait, preferably fresh caught shad, producing the best results. He has his clients trolling baits either with downriggers or flat-lining them in water 25-35 feet deep, but he said the most successful fishermen will be the ones that keep an evolving game plan. “The fish are all over the place, so trust your electronics if they don’t bite,” he said. “You may have to move someplace else, or you may have to come back to a place you marked fish but left because they weren’t biting.”

Warm water slows bite for Somerville white bass: Harvey Abke of Hookedup Guide Service said the white bass fishing has slowed down because of water surface temperatures around 90 degrees. When he marks schooling fish, he will have his clients casting into them with 4- to 5-ounce lead spoons. But most of his fish right now are being caught while trolling early in the morning over humps in 10-11 feet of water. “I’m using a pet spoon rigged to a Jet Diver set to its deepest point. That’s what gets the lure in the right depth.”

Cover preference for Hubbard Creek crappie: Kolby Kuhn of Final Cast Guide Service said the crappie fishing is good, particularly on live bait fished around the lake’s bridge structure. To put his clients on better fish, though, he prefers to fish cover that is 15-30 feet deep using a rod and reel rigged with a 1/16th-ounce jig and a 1/4-ounce split shot above that. “The water is quite clear, so you can find fish that deep in summer. A big key to it is you can find more fish relating to cover here on a soft bottom.”

OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY

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.

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT

SABINE LAKE: 90 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair in the ship channel on live shrimp under a popping cork.

BOLIVAR: 87 degrees. Black drum and redfish are fair to good on cut bait in the surf. Speckled trout are fair on free-lined shrimp, croaker and shrimp under popping corks.

TRINITY BAY: 89 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: 89 degrees. Speckled trout are slow to fair on soft plastics, croaker and shrimp imitations. Redfish are fair on shrimp under a popping cork.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: 89 degrees. Speckled trout, black drum and redfish are fair on croaker and shrimp.

PORT O’CONNOR: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on croaker in the surf. Bull redfish are fair on sardines and blue crab. Oversized black drum are are fair on dead shrimp.

Executive Editor Craig Nyhus

Managing Editor David Schlake

Design Editor C2-Studios, Inc.

Copy Editor Carl Ellis

Operations Manager Mike Hughs

Billing & Accounts Payable Lea Marsh

Website Bruce Solieu

National Advertising Mike Nelson Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Advertising: Call (214) 361-2276 or email editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com

TEXAS CITY: 89 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on free-lined croaker and shrimp under a popping cork.

FREEPORT: 86 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on live shrimp under popping corks and croaker.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 89 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair wading with croaker and drifting with shrimp or artificials.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 89 degrees. Redfish are slow to fair on shrimp and artificials. Speckled trout are slow.

ROCKPORT: 88 degrees. Redfish are good on paddle tails, top-waters and live or cut bait. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and live bait. Black drum are fair on dead shrimp.

PORT ARANSAS: 89 degrees. Redfish are good at the jetties on cut finger mullet. Speckled trout are fair on croaker.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 89 degrees. Speckled trout are fair to good on croaker, free-lined shrimp and shrimp under a popping cork.

BAFFIN BAY: 86-95 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on top-waters and light-colored lures. Redfish are fair on live shrimp under a popping cork.

PORT MANSFIELD: 88-91 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on top-waters and soft plastics.

SOUTH PADRE: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are fair to good on free-lined shrimp. Redfish and black drum are fair on shrimp.

Making, selling flies, more Saving boaters, and money

Continued from page 8

success starts with the fly, and that is also where Soltau’s shop starts. Not only does Soltau sell flies to fishermen traveling to exotic destinations, his flies also travel down Texas roads to ponds, rivers and lakes.

“That’s the core of the shop — from what you actually need to go fishing — from the first thread wraps you make on a hook, to getting your flies in the water,” he said.

Fly-tying is at the root of Soltau’s fishing experience. Now into his third decade of flyfishing, the Texas-born Soltau started tying flies at the Creekside Angling Company, in the Seattle area where he grew up, and then moved on to work at the River’s Edge in Bozeman, Montana, in 2012.

“I learned from the best, and I absorbed everything,” he said.

While still in Bozeman, Soltau founded the fly-tying company, Dirty Water Fly Co.

“We still do commercial tying for shops here and out west,” he said. “We have phased into more local tying and less wholesale tying.”

Now, Soltau focuses on tying flies for the racks in the shop.

“We also do custom stuff from trout to ti gerfish to tarpon and shipping them all over the place,” he said. “But we’re still learning new concepts, techniques and applying them to flies I’ve been working on for over 20 years. I don’t ever see a fly I tie as being finished.”

The extensive selection of flies and mate rials attracts fly-fishers to buy and tie flies at occasional after-hours events or take individualized instruction on tying specific fly patterns that fit their fishing needs.

“It has been pleasant getting to know the DFW community of fly-tiers and flyanglers,” Soltau said. “It is as diverse as you can imagine. In Texas, we have clubs that reach across the state and are prevalent and involved, and it adds up to a tight-knit community that spans a massive state. And the number of world-class fly-tiers we have that might end up walking in and tying a fly at the bench for an hour is awesome.”

Along with flies, Soltau carries major brands like Grundens, Echo rods, Galvan reels, Winston Rods, Rio fly lines and accessories.

boats at docks are a common occurrence, as are plug malfunctions and collisions.

“I’ve used life jackets and even a cork to patch a hole in a boat,” he said. “That’s when I have to place air bags under the hull, fill them up and float the boat. I have also pulled up to a sinking boat and pulled people out of the water.”

Sea Tow is a membership-based operation available to all coastal boaters. One year costs $199, which provides boaters with free rescue, ungrounding, fuel, parts, towing and a battery jump. Without a membership, a rescue will be around $1,500.

Larson said while he enjoys the work,

it’s unquestionably tough.

“Getting a call from a grounded flounder gigging boat at 3 a.m. is not a whole lot of fun,” he said.

Larson went through a year and a half of training to qualify for the Sea Tow franchise. His father came up with the idea and started the business. Larson took over, and after the first year, their business grew by about 300 percent.

“We never expected that much growth in the business in such a short time,” Larson said. “I do just about all of the work now. That includes paperwork in the office and making runs to rescue boats. It’s a lot of work, but it’s something I really enjoy.”

QUAIL HUNTING

DOVE HUNTINGJIM WELLS COUNTY

700+ acres with multiple water holes & milo fields

Special White-Winged Season

South Zone:

Sept. 2-4 & Sept. 9-11

And Regular Season:

Sept. 14 - Oct. 30 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 22 (361) 701-4711

RED RIVER TRACT IN COOKE COUNTY

Corps. land and rare boat ramp access. $495K, will finance. (214) 463-2217

TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX www.HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582

TROPHY DEER LEASE

Comal County high fence, 65 acres $15,000

5 deer, no more than 2 bucks.

Dennis (210) 602-6360

WHITETAIL + HOGS

Brush country whitetail bucks!

Doe, management bucks and hog hunts

All-inclusive guided hunts zacatehunts.com (325) 446- 6716

DEER HUNTERS

C4 RANCH - WHITETAIL & EXOTIC HUNTS Cull, Management & Trophies up to 300” Duval County, TX

ANTLERS WANTED

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

Used Deer Blinds for sale

4x6 fiberglass with 10-foot towers

Three available, $1850 each

Used feeders also available Text for photos

Located 1 hour north of Abilene (214) 695-2950

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

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

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

COLORADO ARCHERY

ELK AND BEAR HUNT

Sept. 16-21 on a private ranch with hunting lodge in unit #25. $6,000 for a group up to 7.

Property borders White River National Forest.

Over the counter licenses. (970) 243-5362

PATAGONIA

MID-TEX LAND SERVICES LLC Land Clearing, Mulching, Rock Milling, Roads, Excavation Professional and insured WWW.MIDTEXLAND.COM (254) 595-1696

EXOTICS + WHITETAIL Several species Trophy and meat hunts Owner guided Very reasonable Let’s have fun! (325) 475-2100

SKID STEER BRUSH

CUTTING / HYDRO AX

All your clearing needs, right-of-ways, senderos, creek & river bottoms, fence lines etc. South Texas Call Frank (512) 699-5381

DOS HERMANOS RANCH Trophy Whitetails & Exotics

On 4000 acres near San Angelo, TX doshermanosranch.com Jake at (208) 477-9065

9,600-ACRE RANCH FOR RENT IN MEXICO

Mostly surrounded by Amistad Lake. Incredible views, great for fishing, White-tailed deer and Sonora mule deer hunting.

748-9392

Dove and Duck potential hunting, just 45 minutes across from Del Rio, TX border.

For more information,send an email to bernardo@mhgroup.com.mx

NEED ARCHERY RANGE? www.TexasArchery.info

CRAPPIE. CATFISH. SANDBASS. STRIPER. Guided Hunts and Offshore Adventures. www.DFWOutdoors.com Call Capt. Lane Palmer at (817) 266-9811

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

JOBS

PART-TIME DELIVERING LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Rio Grande Valley and Victoria/Sugar Land Areas (214) 361-2276

Danny Soltau, owner of Dirty Water Fly Co., teaches fly tying to individuals and in classes. Photo by Shannon Drawe, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Boats running aground is a common reason for a need to be pulled out by a rescue boat. Photo by Brennan Larson.

AUGUST 26

DSC FOUNDATION

Friends of Conservation Gathering

Conroe Taxidermy (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

QUAIL COALITION

South Texas Chapter Banquet

Richard M. Bouchard Fairgrounds

Robstown (361) 219-0427 quailcoalition.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Celina Dinner

3R’s Ranch, Prosper (972) 822-8549 ducks.org

AUGUST 31

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Allen Dinner Cross Creek Ranch, Parker ducks.org

SEPTEMBER 2

JOSHUA CREEK RANCH

Summer Fun Shoot (830) 537-5090 joshuacreekranch.com

SEPTEMBER 7

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

Awards and Member Stories

DSC Headquarters (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

SEPTEMBER 9-10

TEXAS GUN & KNIFE SHOWS

Kerrville Expo Hall (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

DATEBOOK

SEPTEMBER 9

OPERATION GAME THIEF

San Antonio Clay Stopper Shootout National Shooting Complex (512) 389-4628 ogttx.org

SEPTEMBER 12

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Lake Ray Hubbard Dinner Southern Junction, Royse City (214) 504-4544 ducks.org

SEPTEMBER 14

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Midland Dinner Bush Convention Center (432) 664-9559 ducks.org

SEPTEMBER 15

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

Women in the Outdoors Dove Hunt Concepcion (281) 256-5152 nwtf.org

SEPTEMBER 16

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Galveston Banquet Galveston Railroad Museum (832) 671-8980 ccatexas.org

SEPTEMBER 20

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB Awards and Member Stories

El Fenix Dallas (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

SEPTEMBER 23

LAREDO COC

Cola Blanca Awards Pachanga (956) 722-9895 colablanca.com

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

Small Bore Shoot Elm Fork Shooting Sports (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

FREEDOM BOATS USA

Annual Owners Tournament Port O’Connor (361) 552-4975 freedomboatsusa.com

SEPTEMBER 27

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Houston Legacy Gala Lakeside Country Club (713) 471-8854 ducks.org

SEPTEMBER 28

WHITETAILS UNLIMITED Lake Fork Deer Camp Mineola Civic Center whitetailsunlimited.com

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION Dallas Banquet On the Levee (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org

SEPTEMBER 29-OCTOBER 1

LLANO MUSIC FEST Hill Country Outdoor Expo (806) 241-4495 llanomusicfest.com

SEPTEMBER 29

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Texas Mainland Banquet Texas City Police Association Bldg. (281) 229-8715 rmef.org

OCTOBER 4

LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS FOUNDATION Wild Game Night (214) 361-2276 lsonews.com

OCTOBER 5

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

DSC 100 Party King’s X Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

HOUSTON SAFARI CLUB

HSCF Sporting Clays Tournament Greater Houston Sports Club (713) 623-8844 hscfdn.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED Fort Worth Banquet River Ranch (817) 319-4600 ducks.org

WHITETAILS UNLIMITED

South Texas Deer Camp Spring Creek Place, Victoria (512) 657-9943 whitetailsunlimited.com

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Lonestar Chapter Banquet JLK Event Center, Llano (512) 756-3655 ducks.org

Texas Hunt Co has just what you need...a good ol’ Texas Prairie Dog Hunt! These are probably the most fun hunts we have on offer! We’ve got enough prairie dogs to keep you shootin’ til you—or your barrel—need a break! Ask about our large group rates and bring your friends and family for a day of sun, guns, and fun! Contact us now to book your Texas Prairie Dog Safari Adventure!

Even after you upgrade to a new HK VP9, with its best-in-class trigger pull and ergonomic, customizable grip, you’re not quite done yet. You still need a couple of important accessories. And we’re not talking about holsters, lights and optics either. Training and Practice – They are two different things and we all need more of both. Look into it … and go do the work!

A Place to Shoot San Antonio, 210-628-1888

Abilene Indoor Gun Range

Abilene, 325-698-4224

Able Ammo

Huntsville, 936-295-5786

AJC Sports

Clute, 979-265-4867

Ally Outdoors

Midland, 972-332-3700

Richardson, 972-332-3700

Alpha Armory

Houston, 888-932-7660

Alpine Shooting Range

Ft Worth, 817-478-6613

Americana Arms, LLC

Beeville, 361-362-3673

Athena Gun Club

Houston, 713-461-5900

BPS Outfitters

Sherman, 903-832-2227

BTO Range

Conroe, 936-588-3333

Buck & Doe’s Mercantile, LLC

San Antonio, 830-980-3637

C.A.C Tactical

Southlake, 888-211-8191

Caroline Colt Company LLC

Abilene, 325-232-7501

Carroll’s Gun Shop

Whaton, 979-532-3175

Carter’s Country

Houston, 713-461-1844

Houston, 281-879-1466

Pasadena, 713-475-2222

Spring, 281-443-8393

DFW Shooting Sports Bedford, 817-285-0664

Champion Firearms College Station, 979-693-9948

Collectors Firearms

Houston, 713-781-5812

Danny's, Inc.

McAllen, 956-687-4692

Defender Outdoors

Fort Worth, 817-935-8377

DFW Gun Club

Dallas, 214-630-4866

Dury's Gun Shop

San Antonio, 210-533-5431

Field & Streams Sporting Goods

San Angelo, 325-944-7094

Fun Guns

Waco, 254-755-0080

Gibson’s

Weatherford, 817-594-8711

Glick Twins

Pharr, 956-787-429

GRITR Sports

N. Richland Hills, 817-200-7470

Grabagun.com

Coppell, 972-552-7246

Guard & Defend Firearms

Silsbee, 409-201-9468

Guns Warehouse LLC

Cedar Park, 512-986-7330

Hoss Arms, LLC

New Braunfels, 830-609-8891

John Doe Investigations, LLC

Lewisville, 214-773-0129

Kirkpatrick Gun & Ammo

Laredo, 956-723-6338

Marksmen Firearms

Mansfield, 817-453-8680

McBride's Guns

Austin, 512-472-3532

Misson Ridge Range & Academy

San Antonio, 210-504-9000

Mister Guns LLC

Plano, 214-901-7429

Modern Pawn & Guns

Corpus Christi, 361-993-9390

Nagel's Gun Shop, Inc.

San Antonio, 210-342-5420

Nardis Gun Club

San Antonio, 210-369-9199

Omaha Outdoors

Rosenberg, 713-703-4648

Past & Blast Antiques & Firearms

Whitesboro, 903-564-5444

Point Blank Sporting Goods

Pharr, 956-992-8799

Primary Arms

Houston, 713-344-9600

Ranger Firearms of Texas Inc.

San Antonio, 210-822-4867