Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
September 25, 2020
Volume 17, Issue 3
Academy improving private brands The Yildiz Texas Edition over-andunder shotgun is made exclusively for Academy. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Academy Sports and Outdoors hosted its second annual media event in September, showcasing the company’s products, along with products
made exclusively for the company by outside manufacturers. The Katy-based retailer has hired executives who are experts in merchandising — but also who hunt and fish and enjoy the outdoors. Eastin Jordan is the Sr. Vice
President of Private Brands, and said Academy has a long history of private brands. “At one time, we had more than 100,” he said. “Now, we have 17 brands that have centralized product development and 172 suppliers making these
products.” Private brands account for 20 percent of the company’s sales, with Magellan being the flagship brand. Jordan’s focus is on making the private brands better. “We focus on listening to Please turn to page 18
Birds of a different feather Bluewings consistent, whitewings spotty By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News When the blue-winged teal fly early and often, hunters can be done quickly, so an afternoon dove hunt can be the perfect combination. The early teal season began Sept. 12 and coincided with the second set of Special White-winged Dove Days over the weekend, giving hunters the opportunity to double-up on wingshooting opportunities in certain areas. While the bluewings provided excellent decoying action in many locales, the white-winged dove seemed to have changed their flight patterns in some areas, and vacated others, in wake of a passing cold front. Houston resident Aaron Oakley hunted the opening
morning of teal season with his dad, Mike, and his buddy, Aaron Hulsey, along the central portion of the Garwood Prairie. “The action was pretty steady during the first two hours after legal shooting time,” Oakley said. “There was tons of shooting going on all around us from groups of other hunters, and although there were plenty of birds in the air, a lot of the larger wads of teal didn’t work too well over the decoys.” Oakley said their best shot opportunities came from groups of three bluewings or less. “Single birds, doubles, and groups of three seemed to float right into the hole after taking a look at our spread,” he elaborated. Kyle and Gary Poston, of Lake Jackson, hunted teal on the second morning of the season along the southern end of the Garwood Prairie with Red Bluff Prairie Hunting Club guide Tobin Cope-
land. “The birds seemed to be a little skittish after being shot at on day one of the season, especially at shooting time,” Poston said. “Later in the morning after the rising sun began lighting up the decoys, the bluewings started working in for easy shots.” Most of their volleys were directed at pairs up to groups of a half dozen teal. The two hunters harvested their limits by 8:30 a.m. Red Bluff Prairie Hunting Club owner and operator, Mike Lanier, said they ran whitewing hunts over milo fields in El Campo in the afternoon during the opening weekend of teal season for hunters in the area to take advantage of the Special WhiteThe pursuit of blue-winged teal winged Dove Days. coming into the decoys began Sept. “As good as our teal hunts 12, with hunters on the Garwood were, the white-winged dove Prairie and near El Campo reporting success. Photos by Nate Skinner, hunts were just the oppofor Lone Star Outdoor News. site,” Lanier said. “It was like the majority of the whitewings in El Campo either left, or completely changed Please turn to page 15
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Giant speck for 5-year-old By Nate Skinner
When Jacob and Audrey Pekar booked a fishing trip with Capt. James Hagan on the Lower Laguna Madre, they hoped that they would be able to enjoy a memory filled day on the water with their 5-year-old daughter, Ellie, and their 8-year-old son, Cade.
What the Rio Grande Valley residents didn’t know was just how monumental the trip would be. Ellie ended up catching a speckled trout that even the most seasoned anglers dream about, a 31-inch fish that sported a 12.5 inch girth. And although Cade did not catch the largest fish of the day, he did indeed land the most, including several keeper-sized specks and a slot
redfish. “Our kids have grown up fishing along freshwater stock ponds, but they had never gone on a bay fishing trip before,” the proud dad said. “They had an absolute blast, and were able to catch all of their fish on soft plastic lures.” Pekar said his son is wellversed with a spinning rod and reel, and he got the hang Please turn to page 11
Capt. James Hagan helps Ellie Pekar, 5, show the 31-inch speckled trout she caught while fishing with him on the Lower Laguna Madre. Photo by Audrey Pekar. Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 11
A decoy find (P. 4)
Largemouths on top (P. 9)
Maker’s creations discovered.
Strikes are many angler’s favorite.
Top award for 8th grader (P. 4)
Two good catches (P. 8,9)
Raises deer, wins FFA state prize.
Anglers land bull reds, pompano.
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 16 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 21 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 22
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