Largest Hunting and Fishing Newspaper in Texas
September 27, 2019
An inside look at public hunt draws
Volume 16, Issue 3
Southeast Texas had good start on dove By Robert Sloan
For Lone Star Outdoor News Some of the best dove hunting in the state was
on the right side of Texas. Until Tropical Depression Imelda arrived with its record rainfall totals before the rain. Hunters had a good
mix of both whitewings and mourning dove. The best hunts in Southeast Texas are typically over fresh-cut rice or fields providing a diverse Please turn to page 23
By Nate Skinner
Before Tropical Depression Imelda arrived, hunters in the Beaumont area were enjoying a banner dove season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
For Lone Star Outdoor News Have you ever put in for one of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s drawn public hunts and wondered how hunters are chosen? According to the TPWD Public Hunting Coordinator, Kelly Edmiston, the Public Hunt Drawing System is a computer module program created by Gordon-Darby, Inc. This company also developed the department’s License Sales System, which handles the sales of all hunting and fishing licenses in Texas. “The actual drawing process is initiated by myself, or one of my staff members, with the click of a button on a computer,” Edmiston said. “We typically execute draws on the next business day following the drawn hunt category application deadline.” Edmiston says that the Public Hunt Drawing System uses a randomizing algorithm to select hunters. “Hunters are chosen completely at random,” he said. “We do use a Loyalty Points system, which gives individuals who have accrued points over time, a better chance of being drawn by entering their name or group into a drawing additional times.” Loyalty points reward those who continue to participate in the Drawn Hunt Program. “Points are accrued at the category level when an application is submitted, so a hunter’s Please turn to page 22
Teal flying, arriving late By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star Outdoor News Hunters during the early teal opener found spotty numbers of birds along the coast and in the coastal plains, with areas of North Texas having good numbers as well, according to hunters. On the coastal prairies, outfitters reported some good hunts before the storm, but with the arrival of Tropical Depression Imelda, everything came to a soaking halt, with many of the guides taking their boats to help out with flooding rescue efforts. Sterling Peay of Texas Renegade Outfitters took a group of youngsters from Outdoor Texas Camp during the season’s second weekend. “Our bird numbers are good, but the birds are scattered,” he said. “We hunt west of Houston near Brookshire, and we didn’t get too much rain, but it did thin the birds out.” The group of youngsters got plenty of shooting, though. “They didn’t get as many birds as a group of experienced hunters, but it was a really good weekend,” Peay said. “We’ve had it better than my buddies over by Hunters are waiting for more teal to arrive as the early season winds down. Some groups had good success while others nearby did not. Many hunters said the birds were flying later in the morning. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 11
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210
Blanco, other rivers provide action for fly-anglers By Nate Skinner
Odom Wu landed this smallmouth buffalo while fly-fishing along the Blanco River near New Braunfels. Photo by Mike Hamlett.
Fly-fishermen are using their subtle techniques and presentations to target a variety of species along the Blanco River and other Hill Country streams. Different types of fish like the Rio Grande cichlid and smallmouth buffalo are stretching lines and taking flies among other species. San Antonio resident Odom Wu recently hit the Blanco River near New
Braunfels with some friends to chase carp. “We started seeing plenty of carp from the moment we began wading in the river, but most of them were just cruising and not feeding,” Wu said. Wu and his buddies finally came across a group of fish that looked like they might be willing to take a fly. “The fish were more stationary,” he said. “Some were mudding and others were tailing.” Wu sent a fly in the direction of the Please turn to page 22
Freshwater Fishing Report . Page 10
HUNTING
FISHING
Saltwater Fishing Report . . . Page 11
Pickens remembered (P. 5)
Draining delayed (P. 8)
Business tycoon, conservationist dies at 91.
Guadalupe River lakes get a break.
DIY caribou hunt (P. 4)
Rollover Pass’ last days? (P. 8)
Group heads to Alaska.
Fishing spot set to be fenced, filled.
Game Warden Blotter . . . . Page 12 Heroes . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . Page 18 Products . . . . . . . . . . Page 24 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . Page 25
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