Texas’ Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
September 24, 2021
Volume 18, Issue 3
Banner year for tarpon Texas’ TTT program could be suspended this year if proposals to change the rules are adopted. Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Proposed rule changes suspend TTT Testing from MLD ranches to be considered By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved opening proposals changing regulations on Trap, Transport and Transplant (TTT) and the emergency rules placed on deer breeders earlier this year for public comment and consideration. Managed Lands Deer Program landowners may not be left out, though, as the commission asked Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to offer recommendations on requiring CWD testing on MLD properties for the 2022-2023 hunting season. The proposals were outlined in an Special Work Session on CWD held Sept. 15. Andy Schwartz, the executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission, said the philosophy behind the proposed changes is to reduce the artificial movement of deer, which could spread the disease. “When animals are moved artificially, it could be spread,” he said. “Movement presents some risk.” Schwartz supported a moratorium on TTT and the continued live testing of all breeder deer before release.
Calm summer days provide ideal conditions for anglers pursuing tarpon in the clear waters of far South Texas. Photo by Erich Schlegel, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Success from SPI to Port Mansfield jetties By Robert Sloan
For Lone Star Outdoor News It has been the perfect summer for catching tarpon along the Texas coast, and good fall fishing is expected. Some
of the best catches of silver kings have been over the past three months from South Padre Island up to the Port Mansfield jetties, according to guide Brian Barrera. “It’s been the best fishing I’ve seen in years,” Barrera said. “The tarpon are closer in than usual, and we’ve had a lot of days with calm weather that set up some
ideal conditions for finding big tarpon and catching them. Last year at this time we had 12 to 15 days of fishing. So far this summer, it’s been more like 20 to 30 days of calm weather.” August was a good month, with a few catches topping 200 pounds. “We’re catching tarpon inshore and offshore,” he said. “We have a loop of Please turn to page 14
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Please turn to page 23
Hurricane hunter’s success By Nate Skinner
Run-N-Gun Adventures hunting guide, Capt. Kevin Diehl, plans to hunt all 16 days of teal season this year. Would a hurricane stop this duck fanatic? Absolutely not. Diehl said this was one of the best early teal openers that he can remember in recent years. “The birds were concentrated in
large numbers across our properties in Matagorda, Jackson, and Fort Bend counties, and all of our groups did exceptionally well to kick off the early teal season,” Diehl said. “Even after Hurricane Nicholas passed through, the action remained consistent. The storm really didn’t dump that much rain in the areas we hunt, plus we were already pretty dry, so what rain we did get got soaked up by the soil.”
Diehl said because the hurricane made landfall overnight, he never had to cancel a hunt. “We hunted the morning after the storm made landfall, and all of our groups managed limits to near limits, in spite of the breezy and nasty conditions.” Diehl said one of the highlights of the early teal season as a guide for him, was having veteran waterfowl hunter, William Jennings, and his grandson, Will Jennings, Please turn to page 24
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10 Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 20 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 28 Saltwater Fishing Report . . Page 28 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 29
INSIDE
CONTENTS
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Lone Star Outdoor News
Hurricane Nicholas didn’t affect the success of teal hunters much, despite heavy rains and wind. Photo from Kevin Diehl.
HUNTING
FISHING
Timely teal (P. 4)
Muskie lure for bass (P. 8)
Hunters happy with bird numbers.
Giant swimbaits producing.
Can’t see the deer (P. 6)
Winning at all levels (P. 9)
High grass could hamper bowhunters.
Combs’ team takes TX Shootout.