October 08, 2010 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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October 8, 2010

Bull reds running

Biggest native deer ever taken in Texas?

Bite starting off good and getting better

By Kyle Carter FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS The weather on the middle and lower Texas coast has been all over the board the last couple months, but the annual bull red run seems to be business as usual.

Management of native deer pays off

BIGGEST BUCK? Mark Barrett of San Antonio presents the extraordinary 300-class buck he shot Oct. 2 in Webb County. Photo by Las Raices Ranch.

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For anyone who has wondered if a 300-class whitetail deer was possible in Texas — or anywhere else — Mark Barrett has provided the answer.

The San Antonio businessman on Oct. 2 used a .300 Winchester Magnum on a Webb County ranch to knock down an enormous deer that’s sure to be making headlines this season and beyond.

Barrett’s buck scored 311 and 4/8ths in velvet, said his son, Marko, who manages the 4,100acre Las Raices Ranch where the deer was killed.

The high-fence property is in the Managed Lands Deer Permit program, which allows hunters to use firearms earlier than the Nov. 6 general season opener.

Marko said the ranch has never imported breeder bucks, and it has used permits only to remove some deer from the land.

“I don’t think there has been a bigger deer killed in Texas that wasn’t a scientific breeder, like a pen-raised deer,” Marko said of his father’s buck.

“I understand the questions and concerns people have when they see a deer this big.

“But let me reaffirm that our deer herd is 100 percent native Texan, and native to our ranch.”

—Bill Miller, for LSON

Volume 7, Issue 4

Taste plus nutrition makes deer want to take a bite. Page 4

“It’s on right now,” said Capt. Leaf Potter, who guides out of Freeport. “You can catch bull reds until you can no longer lift your arms.”

Depending on where you live along the coast, the bull red run typically gets started in See BULL REDS, Page 26

Choosing an October bass bait Strike King pros give top picks

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS For largemouth bass fishermen, especially those who don’t hunt much, October is like another season opener. Cooler air — and especially cooler water — brings the fish back into more shallow haunts.

When trying to figure out what to use on that October weekend, why not ask some of the country’s top pros?

Several of these top pros gathered recently at some private waters in Bosque County for fishing, deer watching and to film Strike King’s Pro Team Journal TV show for future airing on the Outdoor Channel. The names are quickly recognizable to bass anglers: Hackney, Davis, Niggemeyer, Menendez and, of course, Van Dam. See BASS BAIT, Page 26

WORLD’S GREATEST BASS FISHERMAN: Kevin Van Dam holds a largemouth bass caught during a Strike King Lure test in Bosque County. The threetime Bassmaster Classic champion and seven-time Angler of the Year was in Texas fishing private waters, testing new baits and filming videos. Most evenings just before the feeders went off, Van Dam slipped off into a deer blind to watch the action. He loves deer hunting and hunts any time he gets a chance. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Challenges galore for archery opener

By Bill Miller FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Bowhunters like to say they are in it for the challenge, and that’s what they got opening weekend of the 2010 archery deer season.

Dry weather, temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s and brilliant blue skies covered the state on Saturday, Oct. 2.

But the abundant spring and summer rains, which helped restore the ranges from 18 months of drought, also helped grow some very tall brush.

That made deer hard to see on opening day.

And wherever there were oaks, there were acorns — lots of them.

“We had a lot of activity, but it wasn’t a bowhunter’s dream,”

said Jack Jetton of Houston, who hunted near Columbus in Colorado County. “It was raining acorns while we were there.

“So, they weren’t coming to feeders.”

Bobby Kana of Santa Fe hunted near Three Rivers, and reported lots of oaks loaded with acorns along the Nueces River.

But it was the tall grass and weeds

that kept him from seeing deer.

“It’s probably going to be a slow season until we get some frost to knock some of that brush down,” Kana said. “I’m not covering a whole lot of country.

“It’s not like a rifle hunt, with three or four senderos where you can see 300 yards. If it doesn’t come See CHALLENGES GALORE Page 16

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HUNTING

Quail season forecast from those on the ground It might not be the most scientific quail forecast, but it is based on a lot of information from a lot of people. Each August, Dr. Dale Rollins from the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch in Roby asks 50 or so landowners, former students and colleagues to rate the upcoming season on a scale from 1 to 10. Rollins cautioned that the previews might be on the low side given the excellent cover conditions across the state.

North Texas (north of Interstate 10) The traditionally strong Rolling Plains looks to be in for an average year overall. But after several mediocre seasons, standards have slipped and hunters may still be happy with the results.

On the research ranch near Roby, Rollins predicted a “4,” with late hatches still being seen.

At the Matador Wildlife Management Area in Cottle County, Chip Ruthven reported spring whis-

tle counts lower than expected. But range conditions are excellent.

Ruthven predicted a “4” with possible improvement to a “6.”

In northwestern Stonewall County, Rick Snipes’ ranch is comprised of sandy soils, which typically bode better for bobwhites.

Spring call counts were stronger than expected following last season’s disappointment. Snipes gave his season outlook a “7.”

In Shackelford County, Alan

Heirman predicts a “3,” but that is more quail than in the last few years.

“It’s not enough to really hunt but we should have enough to shoot a few over our bird dogs.”

Rory Burroughs from Rotan reported on properties in Haskell, Jones, Shackelford, Stonewall, Fisher, Kent and Scurry Counties.

He is cautiously optimistic for a “3” after hearing birds calling on all of the ranches but seeing few chicks.

West-Central Texas James Dixon from Eastland County rates his area a “1,” and has heard very few calls.

In western Coleman County, retired county extension agent Gary Bomar said call counts were somewhat low, but he had been seeing some young birds. Bomar predicts a “4.”

See QUAIL SEASON, Page 7

Getting deer to eat what’s good for them Block attractants combine nutrition, taste

By Ralph Winingham FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS In many ways, white-tailed deer are a lot like an unsupervised bunch of kids who will pass on a healthy diet to fill their stomachs with candy and sweet treats.

While the kids need parents to put them on the right track, deer should be able to rely on a little nutritional nudging from hunters and landowners who spend big bucks every year for wildlife feeding and attraction efforts.

“When people ask me, I tell them that corn is like Twinkies for deer — they love it, but it doesn’t supply them with much nutrition,” said Larry Varner, deer nutritionalist for Purina Mills and based in New Braunfels.

“All you are doing when you put out corn as an attractant is basically supplying the deer with energy. They can exist and live on it, but they won’t do well.”

As a way of putting deer on the right food track, Purina introduced a special deer block in September that bridges the gap between low-nutrition attractants and high protein pellets that can be as difficult to get deer to eat as finding a youngster who likes brussel sprouts.

The new Purina QuickDraw Deer Block Attractant has proven to be a strong attractant and desirable food source for deer, with the vitamins and minerals in the blocks supplying the deer with good nutrition.

“The blocks attract deer almost as well as corn, they are much more nutritious and a lot more convenient. You can put the blocks out at a lot of different feeding stations at a lot less cost than putting up feeders.

“Some of our best customers are people who put the blocks in their back yards just so they can see the deer,’’ Varner said.

Using corn, protein pellets, mineral blocks, salt blocks and a variety of other products to attract and help provide nutrition to Texas deer is an age-old practice that is a multi-million dollar industry.

The concern has been that other than rushing to snatch up corn, deer have been hesitant to dine on the various products that would actually be good for them.

In addition, with the cost of quality corn feeders ranging from about $400 for a basic device that will hold 300 pounds to $1,500 or more for feeders that will hold up to 1.5 tons, plus the cost of the corn, using blocks can be a wise economical decision.

Varner explained that while deer corn is about 8 percent protein and offers little other nutritional value, the new blocks are 10 percent protein; provide a variety of other nutritional elements such as 2 percent calcium and various vitamins and trace minerals.

“There is even some compressed whole corn in the block. The big plus is that it is palatable — the deer really like it,’’ Varner said.

Admitting that there are a multitude of attractants, mineral and salt blocks and other products on the market, the deer nutritionist said Purina’s new product helps handle the age-old problem — getting deer to chow down on what is good for them.

“If the deer don’t eat it, you haven’t accomplished anything,’’ Varner said.

“We know that if you get west of Interstate 35 in Texas, salt and mineral blocks can be effective. But east of I-35 and in the Hill Country, you have real See GETTING DEER, Page 16

NOT YOUR GRANDPA’S DEER BLOCK: Margo Kahla of Fort Worth fills an All Seasons block feeder with Purina’s new Quick Draw Deer Block. The new blocks are reminiscent of the old days but with added attractants and whole corn.

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

Not too late for food plots Small areas can be planted in October David Draper FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

CUT IT OUT: By simply mowing the grass, wildlife managers can open up habitat with more edges and spur new growth. Photo by Lili Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

With deer (gun) season less than a month away, hunters and landowners often fall into a holding pattern, idling away these last anxious days as they wait for the opener. For the ambitious, October doesn’t have to be down time in terms of preparing property for the upcoming season and implementing an overall habitat management strategy.

The recent wet weather in South Texas and the Hill Country gave a much-needed boost to habitat conditions in those areas. Landowners that haven’t done so can still take advantage of this fall’s abundant rains.

Early October is not too late to plant fall food plots,

focusing on cool-season grasses such as oats, wheat and triticale, as well as Austrian winter peas, alfalfa and other legumes. In North Texas, land managers generally stick to local varieties of wheat, oats and alfalfa.

The number and size of food plots depends on deer density and existing habitat, though in general fall food plots are typically small, anywhere from one to three acres. It’s recommended that food plots make up 1-3 percent of the total land base. Competition for forage in the Hill Country is higher than anywhere else in the state, leading to the need for larger food plots, although soil conditions may not support them. Local wildlife specialists and county extension See NOT TOO LATE, Page 16

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Pending record elk taken in Kerr County Guides Dennis Kneese and Aaron Bulkley at the Texas Hunt Lodge knew there was a big 8x9 bull elk on the Las Catarinas Ranch in Kerr County. But they didn’t know how big.

The elk was named the “Lightning Bull” by the guides, since the only times they had seen it was when the bull busted out of the trees running full steam ahead.

But in September, their client Kyle Bauer of Humble did see the bull, and it turned out to be a record breaker.

Bauer, with his 16-year-old son, Zach, hunted for two days on the ranch. The first evening they saw plenty of big elk, but the guides were hoping to see the 8x9 giant.

On the second day of the hunt, Zach was able to bag a four-horn sheep with a crossbow.

The ram scored 444.9 cm with Trophy Game Records of the World, a new record for TGR, a metric scoring system begun in 1987 and since acquired by the Exotic Wildlife Association.

After lunch, the guides and hunters checked all of the water holes on the ranch in the hope the big bull needed a drink in the heat of the day. When that strategy failed, the guides tried an English-style drive, and walked

through the brush to see if the bull would come out in the open.

The plan worked. Like the other times they had seen the bull, it broke out of the brush in a sprint.

The guides spotted the bull running through the trees about 300 yards away, and the bull came to a stop when he met up with another bull elk grazing in a meadow.

Using shooting sticks for his rest, Kyle Bauer took the shot at 100 yards through a split oak tree, and the shot was true.

It was then the hunting party realized the true size of the “Lightning Bull.” The elk was officially measured by SCI and TGR officials, and scored an impressive 503 5/8 inches SCI. The score meant the bull is the new pending Estate Typical World Record Rocky Mountain elk taken with a rifle. The score of 1177.4 cm with TGR is the largest ever recorded by the group.

The “Lightning Bull” is expected to be honored as a Diamond Trophy (largest ever taken for that species and method of hunting) for both the SCI and TGR Record Books this coming year.

—Texas Hunt Lodge report

Helping fish and fowl, CCA grant to DU shores up WMA Coastal habitat restoration efforts at the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County received a boost in the form of a $50,000 grant from the Coastal Conservation Association.

The funds will support the construction of 2,500 linear feet of rock breakwater, designed to stop shoreline erosion, marsh degradation and

emergent vegetation loss. Ducks Unlimited will perform site surveys and provide design, engineering, and construction management services on the breakwater. Additional funding from other partners will cover the remainder of the estimated $375,000 cost.

—Ducks Unlimited report

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Beretta introduces lodge evaluation program Dallas social reception held

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Beretta introduced its new rating system of high quality shooting or sporting lodges to Texans at its two-day Trident Lodge Expo held at the Beretta Gallery Dallas store on Sept. 24-25.

The anticipation of the coming seasons was apparent in the customers, as the days became more of a social event, with customers talking about hunting and guns, petting gundogs (while the dog wasn’t pointing a bird), watching a dog sculpture being created and eating barbecue.

The company describes The Beretta Trident Program as a unique rating system that will reflect an objective assessment of the complete guest experience at a sporting venue. Branded by Beretta, the program is the first of its kind and requires venues — offering wingshooting and or shotgun sports — to undergo a detailed and specific assessment of every area that can impact the guest experience. Beretta Tridents will be awarded to signify the venue’s excellence in quality — similar to the Michelin Star program for fine dining.

The program is based on an extensive evaluation by independent evaluators from Sporting Heritage Group, and lodges aren’t able to request or buy their way in, although they can request to be evaluated.

“It an expensive vetting process,” Beretta Gallery store manager Ian Harrison said. “We want people to know these places have the goods like we do.”

The program, the first and only system to rate shooting sports venues, rates everything from the hunting and/or shooting to the food on the table and the kennels for the bird dogs.

Originally introduced in February, the Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge in Pierre, S. D., was the first Trident recipient.

Several lodges have been added, including those present at the Dallas store introduction: Joshua Creek Ranch in Boerne, Harvest Hills Ranch in Oregon and Pine Hill Plantation in Georgia.

Evaluations may be reviewed at berettatrident.com.

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Quail season Continued From Page 4

Johnny Dickinson runs the Sansom Cattle Company west of Millersview and provided one of the better reports. “I’d give it an ‘8;’ as good as it’s been in a long time.”

Another good report came from Thomas Thom of Austin on property near Tennyson in Coke County. “We have 750 acres that is covered with quail this year.

During the cooler times of day you can’t go more than one-quarter mile without bumping a covey. Perhaps it is not a ‘10,’ but it has to be close.”

Ben Streetman has property about 20 miles south of Colorado City. He jumped 12 coveys including three coveys of blues, with 12-18 birds per covey. He predicts a “6” or “7” season.

Alan Curry ranches in Tom Green and Sterling counties and is cautiously optimistic. Covey sizes have been good. Curry rates his country as a “5-6.”

Charley Christensen said he was seeing quail southeast of Christoval. “One morning we busted three full coveys and three to five pairs in a 1,100-acre a few weeks ago. We have heard significantly more birds in that area than I have ever heard on that ranch over the last 13 years.”

Upbeat reports also came from some areas not particularly noted for many bobwhites, including the Texas Hill Country and San Saba and Gillespie counties. Ditto for McCulloch, Menard, and Mason counties.

South Texas Irvin Welch manages a ranch near Hebbronville. Reports he received from BIRD NUMBERS: Quail people from around the state estimated the season forecast. Many Hebbronville to Falfurrias are “good to excel- are trying to be optimistic after two lackluster seasons. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News. lent” for birds and range conditions. Welch strong from Jim Wells, Duval, Jim Hogg, Hidalgo and even predicts a “7-8,” a “great rebound year.”

Marc Bartoskewitz of Kingsville rates the area around (northern) Webb counties.

Ronnie Howard, the longtime manager of the San Tomas Kingsville as a “4-5,” with large coveys.

Billy Atwell has land on the Medina-Frio county line, hunting camp in Brooks County, is also optimistic. “I will and the outlook there is average. He gave the season rat- go out on a limb and say it’s gonna be better than we may think. Call it a good ‘6 or 7.’ Will not be a boom year—we ing an “8.”

Mike Petter, a ranch consultant in Pleasanton, is excited just didn’t carry enough [breeding stock] over.”

—Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch report about the quail populations in the area. And reports are also

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FISHING

Bass Techno Geeks

By Alan Clemons FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

NET CHECKING: Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists examine a scheduled gill net survey in Alazan Bay. Photo by TPW.

Rains drops salinity, fish move to saltier haunts Freshwater deluge brings nutrients, doesn’t hurt spawn

By David Sikes FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Salinity levels in Coastal Bend bays dropped dramatically from a doubledigit deluge that lasted for days in midSeptember, leaving anglers searching for fish in the aftermath.

Fishing improved as bay temperatures dropped, sparking redfish, drum and trout to feed with renewed voracity, Coastal Bend guides report.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the deepest sections of bays are most likely to hold the highest concentrations of salt and fish during periods when salinity levels are low everywhere else.

The everywhere else included shorelines and bays fed by swollen rivers and creeks.

Coincidentally, these conditions existed during early stages of the Texas Parks and Wildlife’s fall gill net survey. These twiceannual surveys provide fisheries managers insight into the relative abundance of trout, redfish and black drum, among other species.

Mandated survey methods force state biologists to set their gill nets along shorelines.

And this month, fishery crews assigned to manage the Upper Laguna Madre will

CAUGHT UP: Despite salinity levels changing dramatically during late September, TPW-mandated survey methods force state biologists to set their gill nets along shorelines.

set 10 nets in Alazan Bay, an offshoot of Baffin Bay. Alazan Bay received nearly 15 inches of rain the week of Sept. 19, leaving its skinny waters virtually fresh.

That’s just the way it worked out, said TPW biologist Todd Neahr about setting gill nets where most anglers would not expect to find fish.

Neahr and retired TPW biologist Kyle Spiller, former head of the Upper Laguna Madre Coastal Fisheries team, dismissed the notion that these conditions would significantly skew the overall survey results.

Spiller points to a similar situation in the mid-1990s, when 19 inches of rain fell within a short period near Baffin Bay, dropping the salinity to single digits. The salinity of seawater is about 35 parts per thousand. The salinity of Baffin Bay can reach 50-60 ppt during a dry hot summer.

Low salinity conditions that year resulted in isolated low catch rates during the gill net survey, Spiller said. But the overall results of the survey were barely affected.

“You couldn’t even tell it had happened, looking at the overall numbers for the Upper Laguna Madre,” Spiller said. “It all averaged out.”

See RAIN DROPS SALINITY, Page 30

Veteran professional angler Kelly Jordon of Mineola used to look at maps of lakes and try to visualize them in a 3-D format, putting the water and currents into his brain while looking at contour lines and points on paper.

Now, all he has to do is kick back with his smart phone and look at everything from weather conditions to maps of specific points on a lake.

“From that aspect, technology certainly has made it easier,” Jordon said. “Years ago, if you wanted to look at something you looked at maps and had to go outside to look at your sonar unit in the boat. Now, all the mapping software like Navionics, weather, state or federal announcements with e-mail or alerts and so much more is right there in your phone.

“You can even get Google Earth images on it, which can show you things like how to get into creeks or pockets or little creeks. In some places, like down around New Orleans (in the marshes), that can be a big help.”

Technological advances have been more visible with sonar and other electronics than anything else in fishing. Arguably, neither rod technologies nor boating advancements have made as big of a leap as that with electronics in the last decade.

Barely over a generation ago, the “paper graph” was the newfangled thing that anglers were playing with following years of flashers.

Today, a guy can sit on the deck of his boat and get an image of the lake right under him with his sonar and telephone if he wants to do so.

Or, better yet, alerts can warn of impending danger.

“I was on Kentucky Lake this year when I caught the 10-pounder in the Elite Series event, and there were some terrible storms,” Jordon said.

“I mean, they were some pretty scary cells moving through. I punched up the weather reports, saw the radar and shot the gap safely. Otherwise, I’m sure I’d have been caught in that mess.”

Jordon is among the middle-aged pros who remember triangulating spots on a lake instead of punching in waypoints. Younger anglers who have known nothing other than smart phones and systems like the Humminbird Side Imaging or Lowrance Structure Scan may be a step ahead of the curve than older anglers, but it’s never to late to learn.

“You know, David Fritts and Randy Fite and all those legends didn’t have waypoints — they put in the hours and refined their skill,” Jordon said. “I kind of like that way, too. I go on Lake Fork and never use my GPS because I learned it by marking that, this and over there. I still do that out there.

“I wouldn’t even mind if we did away with GPS for tournaments because it might end some of the off-limits stuff and getting chips or waypoints. But it is nice to have. I was one of the first to get the Side Imaging from Humminbird and it’s an amazing tool, especially on a lake without vegetation. You can graph the little drops, brush, rocks and even see the fish on them, too.”

Plus, the smart phones give the pros a chance to store photos of their deer. That’s always a plus, too.

Guzman, Bouressa win freedom event Bouressa started tournament fishing career a bit late — but in a big way

By John N. Felsher FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Fishing in his first bass tournament, a 73-year-old retired Air Force master sergeant from Horseshoe Bay joined with Bill Guzman of Leander to win the 5th annual Fishing For Freedom tournament, held Sept. 25, on Lake Belton. More than 240 teams competed on the 12,385-acre impound-

ment adjacent to Fort Hood.

“I bass fish, but never fished a tournament before,” T. K. Bouressa said. “When I saw 240 boats in the water with their lights on that morning, it was an awesome sight. A friend suggested I fish it because the entry was free. I thought I could learn something. Bill taught me a lot.”

Guzman, who placed second in 2009, and Bouressa landed three bass weighing 13.32 pounds. They anchored their bag

with a 7.99-pounder that took lunker honors. For the effort, they won a fully equipped Triton TR-17 bass boat powered by a 50-horsepower Mercury outboard and a trailer, a package worth about $21,000. The winners plan to sell the boat and split the money since Bouressa just bought an 18-foot boat three weeks earlier.

See FREEDOM EVENT, Page 29

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Fishing Briefs McAllen man presumed dead after shooting on Falcon Lake

CASTERS: Picking too light of a rod can result in inefficient bait placement or loss of casting distance, along with the inability to effectively fight a fish.

Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Choosing the best rod for speckled trout

By Alan Clemons FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS There may be no such thing as the perfect inshore saltwater rod, but most anglers agree that a medium or mediumheavy action is just about right for dealing with redfish or speckled trout.

Too light of a rod can result in inefficient bait placement or loss of casting distance, along with the inability to effectively fight a fish. Scale up to a heavyweight rod, which may not be a bad idea for big bulls, and chances are you’ll rip the lures out of a trout’s thin mouth as it thrashes.

John Ben Strother of Bryan fishes several times a year on the coast for reds and trout. He has tried different models and brands over the years, but has settled on two lengths and actions for specific techniques.

“If I’m wading, I’ll use a 6 1/2-foot medium-heavy CastAway rod because it has enough backbone and is easy to work with in shallow water,” said the longtime CCA-Texas member. “I’ve had shoulder

surgery and don’t want a longer rod for wading, and I don’t really wade terribly far or fast like some of the younger guys who shoot out and disappear.

“The medium-heavy is just right for reds and trout. A redfish is so tough anyway that if you’ve got him hooked good, he’s pretty much done and you can get him in. If I’m trout fishing, the shorter rod gives me the chance to play the fish and enjoy the fight, but also control it a little more.”

CastAway offers 48 rods in its saltwater lineup, everything from 8-foot light casting and 7-foot short handled rods to heavier “Tarpon Tamer” and titanium models. Other rod companies provide numerous options, and custom rodbuilders can design specific rods to fit just about any request.

Strother uses rods with conventional guides, but he’s seen the new “micro guide” rods and plans to give them a try, too. The smaller guides reduce line slap without giving up any strength on the hookset.

“I think those probably would work fine for saltwater,” he said. “I’m eager to

try them because I know if the bass (fishing) guys are using them, then they probably will be okay for redfish and trout.”

Strother’s other rod selection comes when he’s fishing in a boat. That’s when he throws an 8 1/2-foot rod, especially with live bait under a popping cork if he’s drifting or anchored.

“The length of the rod will give you a little more distance with a good, careful cast,” he said. “When we’re in shallow water, I like to maybe get the bait out just a little farther than everyone else if I can. Sometimes that makes a difference. If the water’s clear, too, a bump on the boat (deck) can spook a fish. I think if all the baits are in the same area, but mine’s a little bit farther away, that could help.”

Strother also switches to a mediumlight action with the longer rod, primarily when he’s targeting trout.

“It still has the backbone I need, but is more flexible,” he said. “I think that can help when you’re playing a big trout to give it some subtle but steady pressure when you’re getting it to the boat.”

A McAllen man is presumed dead after being shot by pirates on the Mexican side of Falcon Lake.

David Michael Hartley, 30, was shot in the back of the head as he and his wife fled from three approaching boats, according to the Zapata County Sheriff’s Department.

Hartley’s wife, Tiffany, 29, swung her personal watercraft around in an attempt to retrieve her husband’s body but had to leave it in order to escape the continuing shooting.

According to the sheriff’s department, Tiffany Hartley told police that the couple rode their Jet Skis for sightseeing and to take pictures of a famous church in Old Guerrero. They were riding back when they saw the armed gunmen on the boats, and immediately began racing back to U.S. waters.

Texas law enforcement officials are advising boaters to stay on the U.S. side of the lake. A similar advisory was issued in May. —Staff report

Texas State Crappie Championship A steady bite but difficulty finding big crappie at Lake Ray Roberts was the challenge for anglers at the Texas State Crappie Championship held by Crappie Anglers of Texas.

The 43 qualifying teams competed in two divisions for the title.

In Division 1, Paul O’Bier and Gary Sims of Gunter won with a two-day total of 16.295 pounds. Brian Carter of Scurry, fishing with Wes Belcher of Denton, finished second with 15.515 pounds, followed by A.J. Matura and his wife, Carolyn, of Chandler, with 15.160 pounds.

In Division 2, Cody Tucker and Matt Anderson of Aubrey won with a two-day total of 14.830 pounds.

Dan Martin of Duncanville and his partner, Buck Housewright of Grand Prairie, finished second with 12.840 pounds, followed by Mackey Whyte and Keith Moore of Allen with 12.715 pounds.

The big fish award went to the Division 1 team of Cliff Spindle of Valley View and Larry Junell of Quinlan for their 1.770-pound white crappie.

—Crappie Anglers of Texas report

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TEXAS FISHING REPORT Sponsored by

HOT BITES LARGEMOUTH BASS

BELTON: Good on spinnerbaits near the bank and trolling Rat–L–Traps.

BROWNWOOD: Very good on inline buzz frogs and shaky heads with 4-inch redbug and watermelon/chartreuse-tailed worms.

CADDO: Good on black/red or watermelon Senkos on the grass and along the edges of lily pads.

COLEMAN: Good on watermelon red spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics.

CONROE: Very good on pumpkinseed and tequila sunrise soft plastics, Senkos, crankbaits and Rat–L–Traps.

SAM RAYBURN: Good on watermelon red and tequila sunrise soft plastic worms.

WHITE, HYBRID, STRIPER

BROWNWOOD: Hybrid striper are good trolling hellbenders. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies off lighted docks at night.

LEWISVILLE: White bass are good on Humdingers and slabs.

MEREDITH: White bass are good on Rooster Tails.

O.H. IVIE: White bass are good on Road Runners.

CATFISH

BUCHANAN: Yellow and blue catfish are good on live bait upriver.

CALAVERAS: Channel and blue catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and shad.

CHOKE CANYON: Channel and blue catfish are excellent on punchbait.

TRAVIS: Channel and blue catfish are excellent on nightcrawlers and fresh cut bait in 25–38 feet.

CRAPPIE WHITNEY: Good on minnows.

ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 76–81degrees; 0.43’ low. Black bass are good on drop-shot rigs, Rat–L–Traps and shaky head jigs with a 7” worm. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

ARROWHEAD: Water clear; 77–80 degrees; 2.16’ low. Black bass are fair on buzzbaits early, midday switching to Rat–L–Traps, crankbaits and Texas rigs in 2–10 feet. Crappie are good on minnows off the derricks. White bass are good Rooster Tails and Road Runners.

Catfish are fair on juglines to good on cut shad.

ATHENS: Water fairly clear, 78–81 degrees; 1.25’ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics in 2–10 feet around heavy brush. Crappie are fair at night on live minnows off docks with brush.

Catfish are good on punchbait and fresh cut bait in 15 feet. Bream are good on nightcrawlers in 4–6 feet.

BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are fair on chartreuse and chartreuse/white Rat–L–Traps over grass. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs.

Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp, nightcrawlers, and punchbait.

BELTON: Water clear; 82 degrees; 1.99’ low. Black bass are good on spinnerbaits near the bank and trolling Rat–L–Traps. Hybrid striper are slow.

White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on hot dogs, stinkbait, and shrimp. Yellow catfish are good on live perch and live shad.

BOB SANDLIN: Water off-color; 79–82 degrees; 2.62’ low. Black bass are good early and late on Pop–Rs and Zara Spooks, midday switching to Texas rigs, weightless 5” Yum Dingers and Rat–L–Traps. White bass are fair on chartreuse slabs. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.

BRAUNIG: Water clear; 86 degrees. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and dark soft plastic worms. Striped bass are fair on liver and shad near the pier and at Dead Tree Point, and on marble spinnerbaits near the jetty and dam. Redfish are fair on perch, shad, and silver spoons, and down-rigging spoons near the jetty and dam. Channel catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cut bait, and cheesebait near the dam and the discharge. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 79–83 degrees; 1.42’ low. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, midday switching to crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Hybrid striper are fair on Sassy Shad and live shad. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers. Bream are fair on crickets and red wigglers.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 86 degrees; 7.88’ low. Black bass are excellent on Bass Hogg inline buzz frogs and 3/16 oz. Pig Sticker Shaky Heads with Grande Bass 4” redbug and watermelon/chartreuse tailed Trickster worms along the docks, rocks, and near brush piles in 2–8 feet early and 8–16 feet later, and on topwater frogs, torpedoes, and Pop–R’s on main lake flats near grass. Hybrid striper are good trolling hellbenders. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies off lighted docks at night.

Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in Little Rocky Cove in 10–20 feet. Channel catfish are good on cut bait and nightcrawlers over baited holes in 12–22 feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines baited with perch and worms in 5–14 feet.

and along the edges of lily pads and on soft plastic frogs over grass and lily pads.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs around cypress trees and in the river bends. Bream are fair around cypress trees on crickets and worms. Catfish are good on limb lines with cut bait.

CALAVERAS: Water clear; 86 degrees.

Black bass are fair on dark soft plastic worms, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits around reed beds, near the dam, and in Granny’s Cove. Striped bass are slow.

Redfish are good down-rigging spoons with green grubs between the crappie wall and the dam in 15–20 feet, and on perch and tilapia along the shoreline.

Channel and blue catfish are excellent on liver, shrimp, cheesebait, and shad near the railroad trestle, 181 Cove, and the discharge.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 83 degrees; 0.24’ high. Black bass are fair on Smokin’ Green” Devil’s Tongues on drop-shot rigs, watermelon red Whacky Sticks on wacky rigs, and Texas-rigged 6” pumpkin Scoundrel worms and white spinnerbaits along main lake bluffs in 12–20 feet and in standing timber in 4–8 feet. Striped bass are fair to good on small jigging blade baits and trolling Gizz 4 crankbaits over and around humps in the lower end of the lake. White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are fair on smoke JDC grubs and 3/16 oz. pumpkin Curb’s jigs with matching JDC drop-shot worms in 12–28 feet early. Crappie are fair on minnows and crappie jigs upriver.

Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair on trotlines baited with live bait.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 79–86 degrees; 1.78’ low. Black bass are fair to good on Carolina rigs, jigs and drop-shot rigs, with early action on topwaters.

White bass are fair early on Humdingers, midday switching to Hellbender with Pet Spoon rigs. Hybrid striper are fair burning large slabs. Crappie are slow on small minnows over brush piles.

Catfish are good drifting cut shad and on nightcrawlers.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 88 degrees; 3.95’ low. Black bass are good on large soft plastic worms and lizards in 12–20 feet. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Drum are good on live worms.

Channel and blue catfish are excellent on punchbait in 3–10 feet. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch and goldfish.

COLEMAN: Water fairly clear; 86 degrees; 9.37’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon red spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Hybrid striper are fair on live minnows. Crappie are fair on minnows and white/red tube jigs. Channel catfish are good on shrimp and minnows.

COLETO CREEK: Water fairly clear; 85 degrees (97 degrees at discharge); 0.04’ high. Black bass to 5 pounds are fair on soft plastics and spinnerbaits in 3–8 feet.

CONROE: Water fairly clear; 1.03’ low.

Black bass are very good on pumpkinseed and tequila sunrise soft plastics, Senkos, crankbaits and Rat–L–Traps.

Striped bass are fair on live minnows and chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, live bait, and nightcrawlers.

FALCON: Water clear; 84 degrees. Black bass are fair on white and chartreuse/ white crankbaits and spinnerbaits.

Channel and blue catfish are very good on cut bait and shad.

BUCHANAN: Water clear; 86 degrees; 9.64’ low. Striped bass are fair casting and jigging Spoiler Shads and drifting or free lining live bait from Striper Island to the dam in 28–42 feet at daylight. White bass are fair on Tiny Traps and 2” plastic swim baits along the river channel and deep creeks in 25 feet. Crappie are fair on pink/white and chartreuse Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows in clear water. Channel catfish are fair to good on live bait upriver. Yellow and blue catfish are good on live bait upriver.

FAYETTE: Water fairly clear; 89 degrees.

Black bass are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on cut shad, liver, and shrimp over baited holes under trees.

CADDO: Water murky; 80–85 degrees; 0.44’ low. Black bass are good on black/ red or watermelon Senkos on the grass

GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 2.43’ high. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, shaky head jigs and

FORK: Water fairly clear; 79–85 degrees; 2.24’ low. Black bass are fair to good on buzzbaits and Yellow Magics early, midday switching to Carolina rigs, jigs, crankbaits and spoons. Crappie are fair on live minnows and jigs around structure. Catfish are good on cut shad and chartreuse (use Worm–Glo) nightcrawlers.

crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over planted brush piles. White bass are good to excellent all over the lake. Catfish are fair on prepared baits and chartreuse (use Worm–Glo) nightcrawlers.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 83 degrees; 0.62’ low. Black bass to 8.5 pounds are very good on purple and brown soft plastic worms in 19 feet.

Crappie are good on live minnows around piers and in 10–12 feet. Bream are good on live worms off piers and over grass beds. Channel and blue catfish to 5 pounds are very good on trotlines baited with perch.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 78–81 degrees; 9.04’ low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern spinnerbaits fished along grass lines and watermelon seed soft plastics worked along reeds. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on live bait. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.

JOE POOL: Water off-color; 81–86 degrees; 0.68’ high. Black bass are fair on topwaters early, later switching to jigs and Carolina rigs. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to good on Rooster Tails over mid–lake humps. Catfish are fair on cut and prepared baits.

LAVON: Water stained; 80–86 degrees; 4.55’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and topwaters in the shallows, and on Carolina rigs off deeper points. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around structure. Catfish are fair on cut shad and prepared baits.

LBJ: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.21’ low. Black bass are fair on JDC Skip–N– Pops and 1/8 oz. Curb’s buzzbaits tight to seawalls in 4–8 feet at daylight and just before dark, and on wacky-rigged green pumpkin Whacky Sticks and 4” green pumpkin tubes under boat docks.

Striped bass are good on Creme Lures 2” Spoiler Shads and Li’l Fishies at night. White bass are fair to good on Li’l Fishies at night. Crappie are fair to good on Curb’s crappie jigs and live minnows over brush piles in clear water. Channel catfish are good on minnows and dipbait. Yellow and blue catfish are fair to good on trotlines.

LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 81–86 degrees; 0.29’ high. Black bass are fair to good on spinnerbaits, Texas rigs and shaky head jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs over brush piles. White bass are good on Humdingers and slabs.

Hybrid striper are fair to good on slabs and Sassy Shad. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 85 degrees; 0.12’ high. Black bass are fair on soft plastics and crankbaits. White bass are good on pet spoons, hellbenders, and slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows.

Blue catfish are good on shad.

MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 77–81 degrees; 87.17’ low. Black bass are good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to drop-shot rigs, shaky head jigs and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are fair to good on jigs and live minnows. White bass are good on Rooster Tails. Smallmouth bass are good on spoons, live bait and jerkbaits along rocky points. Walleye are good on live bait. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 78–82 degrees; 25.19’ low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigs, shaky head jigs, Rat–L–Traps and wacky rigs. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on Road Runners. Channel catfish are good on live and cut bait.

PALESTINE: Water lightly stained; 79–85 degrees; 1.5’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, Rat–L–Traps and soft plastics fished shallow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in the marinas and over brush piles. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are fair to good on Little Georges and Road Runners. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 78–83 degrees; 1.26’ low. Black bass

are fair on Rat–L–Traps, Texas rigs and chatterbaits. Crappie are fair on live minnows. White bass are good on Road Runners and slabs. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait.

RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 81–86 degrees; 2.69’ low. Black bass are fair to good on shallow- to medium-running shad pattern crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Rat–L–Traps and Texas rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on topwaters and slabs. Hybrid striper are fair to good on slabs. Catfish are good on prepared bait.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 81–84 degrees; 0.09’ high. Black bass are good on Zoom watermelon/red flukes and Gene Larew Biffle Bugs around submerged trees in 2–8 feet. Crappie are good on Slab Slayers and minnows on brush piles and standing timber in 15–20 feet. White bass are good on main lake humps in 25–35 feet on chartreuse/white 1 oz. slabs.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 82–86 degrees; 0.69’ low. Black bass are fair to good on topwaters and spinnerbaits early, midday switching to Carolina rigs and drop-shot rigs. White bass are fair on slabs and topwaters.

Hybrid striper are fair on large slabs and Rat–L–Traps. Crappie are slow.

Catfish are good on prepared baits and cut shad.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 88 degrees; 7.26’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon red and tequila sunrise soft plastic worms. White bass are good on minnows and white/gold spoons. Crappie are good on live minnows. Bream are good on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good on live bait, shrimp, and punchbait.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 89 degrees; 0.89’ low. Black bass are slow.

Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs at the marina. Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait, shrimp, and liver.

TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 81–86 degrees; 2.35’ low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits, topwaters and Texas rigs.

Crappie are fair on live minnows in 15 feet. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. White bass are good on Humdingers and topwaters. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair to good on live shad, Sassy Shad and slabs.

TEXOMA: Water off-color; 79–85 degrees; 0.21’ high. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits early, midday switching to crankbaits, Texas rigs and drop-shot rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs around bridges, in the marinas and over brush piles. Striped bass are fair early on topwaters and Sassy Shad, later switching to slabs and continuing with Sassy Shad. Catfish are fair on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 87 degrees; 7.10’ low. Black bass are good on watermelon/blue flake Finesse and redbug soft plastic worms. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and silver spoons. Crappie are fair on live minnows. Bream are good on crickets and nightcrawlers. Channel and blue catfish are good but small on punchbait.

TRAVIS: Water fairly clear; 87 degrees; 9.70’ low. Black bass to 3 pounds are very good on chrome chuggers, watermelon red soft plastic worms, and smoke grubs in 5–25 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and blue and white tube jigs in 15–22 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 6 pounds are excellent on nightcrawlers and fresh cut bait in 25–38 feet.

WHITNEY: Water murky; 1.88’ low.

Black bass are good on pumpkinseed/ white Rat–L–Traps, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits on main lake points and flats.

Striped bass are good on minnows and green striper jigs. White bass are fair on minnows and green spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on shrimp, stinkbait, and live bait.

SALTWATER SCENE NORTH SABINE: Redfish are good in the marsh with high tides. Trout are good around slicks and birds on plastics.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and topwaters. Flounder are fair at the mouths of the bayous on a falling tide on jigs tipped with shrimp.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Trout, black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass.

TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters working pods of shad and mullet on Bass Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Redfish are good on live bait around the reefs and in the marsh.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Redfish are good in the marsh on small topwaters and live bait.

Trout are fair on the shorelines for waders on topwaters, soft plastics and Corkies.

Trout are good under birds on the north shoreline near the refuge.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Redfish are good in the back lakes on natural baits.

TEXAS CITY: Bull redfish are good on crabs and mullet at the end of the dyke. Redfish are fair to good in Moses Lake on crabs and shrimp.

FREEPORT: Bull redfish are fair to good on live bait on the Surfside beach and at the Quintana Jetty. Black drum and redfish are good on the reefs in Bastrop Bay. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are good for waders on the shorelines on small topwaters and roach Bass Assassins, Sand Eels and Trout Killers.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are fair on live shrimp in Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Shell Island. Redfish are good on Gulps along the grass.

PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are good for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp. Redfish are good in the surf and at the jetty on mullet, croakers and piggy perch. Trout are good over reefs on live bait in San Antonio Bay. ROCKPORT: Redfish are fair to good on mullet on the Estes Flats and around Mud Island. Redfish are beginning to work in large schools. High tides have pushed redfish to the shallow flats.

PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty on shrimp and croakers. Bull redfish are good in the surf and at the jetty on crabs, shrimp and shad.

Offshore is good for amberjack, kingfish, tuna and dolphin.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish are good in the surf on mullet, shrimp and shad. Redfish are good in the guts running parallel to the shorelines. Higher tides have pushed redfish on the shallow flats. Trout are good at night under lights in the channel on glow DOA Shrimp.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on topwaters and plum plastics around rocks and grass.

Redfish are fair to good in knee–deep water on small Super Spooks, She Pups and SkitterWalks.

PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good on the edge of the spoils. Redfish are fair to good while drifting pot holes on topwaters and soft plastics under a popping cork. Offshore is good for kingfish, ling and dolphin.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout are fair around Long Bar, Laguna Vista and Mexiquito Flats on TTF Flats Minnows. Bull reds have been showing at the jetty. Lots of freshwater remains in the Laguna Madre due to rains.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good while drifting sand and grass flats on live shrimp, DOA Shrimp and Gulps under popping corks.

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GAME WARDEN BLOTTER ATV ACCIDENT INJURES TWO Notification of an accident on a ranch was communicated to Fisher/Stonewall counties Game Warden George Pasley. The accident scene could not be reached by the Sheriff’s office or medics because of the roughness of the terrain. When Pasley arrived, a local 4-wheel drive jeep had just left with two medics to the back of the ranch where the accident was located. Pasley followed, and found that an ATV with two young females had rolled at a high speed through a barbwire fence. One of the victims was severely injured.

She was stabilized and flown out via Air Life to Abilene. The other victim was also injured and was stabilized on a backboard and loaded into the cab of Pasley’s patrol truck in order to safely negotiate the steep terrain, and driven out to where she could be loaded into an ambulance and taken to a hospital.

SHOOTING FROM MOVING VEHICLE NOT OK A man driving through a pasture and shooting at a dove was observed

by Menard County Game Warden Clint Graham. When approached, the individual said he had been sitting in the same spot for a while.

After a short interview, the man confessed to shooting dove from his Jeep. Case pending.

OUTFITTER HIT WITH BAITING CHARGES Wood County Game Warden Derek Spitzer came upon a group of 20 dove hunters, and most were back at their vehicles with full dove limits.

While checking the hunters, Spitzer noticed some loose milo in the back of the outfitter’s truck. Spitzer visited with the guide about the milo and asked him how much was in the field they were hunting. The guide hesitantly stated he had baited the field but was sure all the milo was

SIX RESCUED, FOUR GO TO JAIL A kayaker in distress call was reported to Ellis County Game Warden Jeff Powell and Navarro County Game Warden Jim Schmidt. A group in six kayaks floated the rain-swollen Chambers Creek. A 911 call from a cell phone from one of the individuals stated that his brother almost drowned after his kayak went under a logjam in the creek. He was able to climb a tree in the middle of the creek. A DPS helicopter was able to respond and locate the individual. Powell and gone. A check of the field revealed several bait piles and places where the milo was poured out of a bag.

Wardens Steve Stapleton and Nathan Wilson were near the area and came to assist. In the end, 198 doves were seized and cases are pending on the outfitter and guide.

SOME FRIEND YOU ARE A fisherman on Big Sandy Creek told Upshur County Game Warden David Pellizzari and Morris County Game Warden Michael Serbanic about his friend who had shot a deer and let the meat go to waste. He also mentioned that the shooter had been caught by the game warden last year for trespassing and thought he wouldn’t get caught again.

Pellizzari remembered the shooter’s name and that he had three active warrants on him. The next day, Pellizzari and Gregg County Game Warden Dewayne Noble went to the subject’s house and obtained a full written confession, as well as the firearm used to shoot the yearling doe. Multiple charges were filed on the subject in addition to the three active warrants.

DESIGNATED DRIVER IDEA APPLIES FOR BOATING, TOO Game Wardens John Thorne and Logan Griffin stopped a pontoon boat with multiple passengers on

an Ellis County sergeant were lowered down near the creek. Schmidt was able to rescue the brother farther down the creek. Four other people were able to reach dry ground, where they were picked up with Schmidt’s 4-wheeler. After the rescue, one of the subjects disappeared and was later located hiding in the back of a family member’s Suburban. After giving a false name, it was discovered that four of the persons had outstanding warrants.

Cedar Creek Reservoir. As Griffin stepped on the boat, he noticed multiple empty and full beer cans strewn around the deck of the boat (72 in total). The driver stated that he had two or three beers. On shore, the driver stated that he had a designated driver (for the car ride home) because he would not want to be pulled over by a trooper if he were on the highway driving. After performing poorly on field sobriety tests, the driver was placed under arrest and a blood warrant was obtained. Case and results are pending.

THIEF IS SLOW LEARNER A man being checked while dove hunting had drug paraphernalia and copper stolen from a building on the property in his possession.

McLennan County Game Warden Jason Campbell recognized the man from an arrest two years earlier on the Brazos River when Campbell caught the man, a convicted felon, with stolen body armor as well as stolen car parts. The subject had just recently been released from prison.

ROADWAY REPTILE COLLECTING A NO-NO In the early morning, Brewster County Game Wardens Matthew Bridgefarmer and Erin Albright made contact with a man suspected to be collecting reptiles from the roadway.

The man confessed to collecting from the roadways for the past five nights. The wardens recovered 19 snakes from the suspect’s vehicle and motel room. Also recovered from the motel room was a Texas horned lizard. All reptiles were successfully released. Cases pending.

POOR PARENTING LESSON Comal County Game Warden Michael McCall observed two men hunting doves and doing a lot of shooting. McCall decided to set up surveillance of the area near the hunters’ vehicle. When approached

by McCall, the father was six doves over the daily bag limit, and his shotgun could hold five shells. Citations for exceeding the daily bag limit of doves and hunting doves with an illegal shotgun are now pending as well as restitution. Twenty-one doves were confiscated.

TOO MANY, AND THE WRONG KIND Starr County Game Warden Drew Spencer and Zapata County Game Warden Roy Martinez checked three men hunting doves. The men were found to be in possession of 51 freshly killed doves. Unfortunately for them, 50 of the 51 doves were mourning doves and they were hunting during the special white-winged season, in which hunters are only allowed to take four mourning doves each. Thirty-

eight mourning doves were seized, multiple charges were filed, and civil restitution is being sought.

PRONGHORN IN TRUNK LEADS TO CHARGES A report was received of trespassers hunting pronghorns.

Moore/Sherman counties Game Warden Ryan Hunter and Dallam/ Hartley counties Game Warden Adam Clark responded. After getting the license plate information from the caller, the wardens went to the area to see if the possible trespassers would return to their residence.

Around 10 p.m., Hunter and Clark made contact with three individuals and located an illegally killed pronghorn antelope in the trunk of the car.

Cases are pending on the three individuals in the vehicle.

MORE THAN STAR GAZING Knox County Game Warden Jim Daniels was out checking dove hunters when he came across some fresh tracks leading to a gate he had never seen open. Daniels followed the tracks back into the property about two miles and found two vehicles parked on the other side of the field. He could see some children, a few dogs, and a few people lying on blankets enjoying the evening. Through the trees Daniels heard some shooting. When Daniels made contact with the group, only two hunters came walking out of the trees. Daniels asked the two hunters if anybody else was hunting. Both hunters said, “No, just us.” After checking the hunters, Daniels asked them to show him where they were hunting. Both seemed reluctant.

Daniels walked through the trees and down the fence line and found a shotgun, four dove, and two people lying in the tall grass. Both of the individuals found hiding admitted to hunting without a hunting license.

Citations were issued.

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DOVE North Zone and Central Zone Sept. 1-Oct. 24 and Dec. 25-Jan. 9 South Zone Sept. 17-Oct. 31 and Dec. 25-Jan. 18 Bag limit: 15 birds and not more than two white-tipped doves.

Special White-winged Dove Area Sept. 17-Oct. 31, Dec. 25-Jan. 14 The daily bag limit in the SWWDA during the first two weekends is 15 doves in the aggregate, to include no more than 4 mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15.

EARLY TEAL-ONLY

Sept. 11-26

ALLIGATOR 22 counties & special properties Remainder of the state

Sept. 10-30 (by permit only) April 1-June 30

PRONGHORN ANTELOPE (By permit only)

Oct. 2-10

WHITE-TAILED DEER Archery-Only Season Special Youth Season* General Season Late Antlerless and Spike Muzzleloader (55 counties)

MULE DEER Archery-Only Season General Season

Oct. 2-Nov. 5 Oct. 30-31, Jan. 3-16 North Texas (208 counties) South Texas (30 counties) North Texas (106 counties) South Texas (30 counties) Jan. 3-16

Oct. 2-Nov. 5 Panhandle (39 counties) SW Panhandle (11 counties) Trans Pecos (19 counties)

JAVELINA Northern (43 counties) Southern (50 counties)

Oct. 1-Feb. 27 Sept. 1-Aug. 31

PHEASANT Panhandle (37 counties) Chambers, Jefferson & Liberty counties

Dec. 4-Jan. 2 Oct. 30-Feb. 27

Nov. 6-Jan. 2 Nov. 6-Jan. 16 Jan. 17-30 Jan. 18-31

Nov. 20-Dec. 5 Nov. 20-28 Nov. 26-Dec. 12

SQUIRREL Special Youth Season** East Texas (51 counties) Other Open counties

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Sept. 25-26 Oct. 1-Feb. 6, May 1-31 Sept. 1-Aug. 31

LESSER PRAIRIE CHICKEN No open season for lesser prairie chicken.

QUAIL Statewide (all counties)

Oct. 30-Feb. 27

RIO GRANDE TURKEY Archery-Only Season Fall Season Special Youth Season* North Zone (122 counties) South Zone (26 counties) Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, & Willacy counties Spring Season North Zone (101 counties) Special Youth Season* South Zone (54 counties) Special Youth Season* 1-Turkey Bag Limit (11 counties)

Oct. 2-Nov. 5 Oct. 30-31, Jan. 15-16 Nov. 6-Jan. 2 Nov. 6-Jan. 16 Nov. 6-Feb. 27 April 2-May 15 March 26-27, May 21-22 March 19-May 1 March 12-13, May 7-8 April 1-30

EASTERN TURKEY+ Spring-Only Season East Texas (43 counties)

April 1-30

CHACHALACA Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy counties

Oct. 30-Feb. 27

RABBITS and HARES No closed season.

In addition to a hunting license, a migratory game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt any migratory game bird, including mourning dove (a Federal Sandhill Crane Permit also is required to hunt sandhill crane). An upland game bird stamp endorsement ($7) is required to hunt turkey, quail, pheasant or chachalacas. See County Listings in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Annual for specific county regulations and more detailed information. *In all counties that have an open season for those species. ** In all counties that have an Oct. 1-Feb. 6 and May 1-31 open squirrel season. + Rio Grande and Eastern Turkey may be hunted in these counties.

DOWNLOAD Charts for season dates, sunrise and sunset may be downloaded at LSONews.com.

<— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —— — — — Clip for your camp ✄ — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — >

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

October 8, 2010

Page 15

HEROES Heroes Sponsored by

The Future of Duck & Duck Hunting

TAYLOR BAKER shot this buck with a .222 Remington at the Shannon Ranch in Crockett County.

TANNER BAKER shot this buck at the Shannon Ranch in Crockett County with a .222 Remington.

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PAYTON ALBRIGHT, 11, of Pearland, caught his first “trophy trout” in San Leon Bay. The fish was 24 inches long.

editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695, Dallas, TX, 75355

SHAUNA SHAW, caught her first speckled trout in Port Mansfield. It was 24 inches long.

Congratulations, Jadon! You can claim your Nikon 10x42 Trailblazer ATB binoculars at the Nikon Sport Optics dealer nearest you: Dury’s Gun Shop, Inc 819 Hot Wells Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78223 (210) 533-5431 unty. in Guadalupe Co nt two for two we e, tim t rs fi e for th hot .410.

8, in the field with a single-s Jadon DeWitt, ves that flew by do o tw t rs fi e He killed th

SHAE SEALE of Austin landed this 11-pound, 1-ounce largemouth at O.H. Ivie Reservoir.

Page 16

October 8, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Challenges galore

Not too late

Continued From Page 1

Continued From Page 4

to the feeder, I don’t see it.”

Jetton, president of Lone Star Bowhunters Association, said he planned to harvest does early in the season, but some bucks seemed unusually frisky, which made him wonder if the rut had begun early.

“I had three different bucks come in and bust up my does,” Jetton said. “Of course with bowhunting, you can’t shoot them on the run, and those bucks wouldn’t stay still.”

But opening day wasn’t a complete bust.

Five nice bucks were downed by archers at First Point Bowhunting Ranch, between Uvalde and Eagle Pass in Maverick County, said outfitter Mike Palmer.

One deer had 10 points on his frame and five extra 1 1/2inch stickers. It was shot by Jason Stewart of Nacogdoches, Palmer said.

Jason Trapp, 18, of Spring got a nine-pointer while his dad, Mark, shot an eight-pointer, Palmer said.

And Ty Howard of Richmond, hunting with father, Charlie Howard from Bryan, shot an eight- and ninepoint buck, respectively, Palmer said.

“Our deer are in excellent shape,” Palmer said.

“Everybody here is seeing a lot of them.”

But bagging one is not easy.

“We don’t have the acorn problem because we don’t have any oaks,” he said. “We’re down in the prickly pears

Getting deer Continued From Page 4

trouble getting the deer to eat them because there is so much calcium in the soil.”

David Fuhr, whitetail scientist and chemist for Hunters Specialties and based in Missouri, said his company has been marketing a Vita-Rack 26 deer block for about three years and pointed out a major industry has developed to address the problem of getting deer to eat anything that is good for them.

“The down side to any block is limited consumption — the deer have to bite off a piece of the block and eat it,’’ he said. “Typically, you have to add molasses, corn, soy beans or something similar to get the deer to munch on a block.

“We have been going about this a little differently. We want to feed them something that does them some good. Our Vita-Rack 26 formula (featuring 26 different vitamins and minerals and giving the line its name) also enhances the deer’s immune system. Eating from the block will help them repel ticks.’’

Lance Cote, wildlife specialist with Mumme’s Feed and Supply in San Antonio, said a variety of companies that produce deer feed and attractants have been conducting research to find the right mix to bring in the deer while providing good nutrition.

“A lot of people in the past have had problems with putting out a deer block at the beginning of the season and it just kind of sits there and melts away by the end of the season without the deer eating it,’’ he said.

“There are lots of liquids, powders, granules and pellets on the market — we sell a wide variety of products and I have tested many of them. I started out thinking it seemed like kind of a gimmick, but in some incidences some of them do work pretty well.”

In an effort to promote proper nutritional practices, Varner will be among the featured speakers at a Wildlife Management Expo set for Oct. 22 at the Kerrville Ranch & Pet Center.

The expo is part of a 30-event series of seminars being conducted mainly in Texas and the Southeast that is called the Purina “Wildlife: Innovation Through Education Series.” Game biologists and other specialists will be discussing aspects of white-tailed management from providing proper nutrition to the economics of nutritional programs.

Information on the Kerrville event is available by calling (830) 895-5800.

and mesquite.

“But these deer are pretty wise to bowhunters; they have doctors’ degrees in bowhunters.”

To beat them, Palmer said, a hunter has to build a “decent brush blind.”

“Since we don’t have any trees you have to get down in the brush and hunt them off the ground,” he said. “You have to get eyeball-to-eyeball with them.”

Also, hunters on ranches in the Managed Lands Deer Permit program were allowed to break out their rifles early, in accordance with the permits. Mark Barrett of San Antonio dropped a phenomenal 311 4/8th buck in Webb County — possibly a record breaker. (See related report, Page 1.)

But with tags unpunched, bowhunters have more reasons to keep going back to their leases.

The archery season runs through Friday, Nov. 5. It’s followed by the general “gun” season, which starts the following day.

But Kana, for one, had no regrets about being skunked opening weekend.

“That’s just part of it,” he said. “It’s a tradition to be out opening weekend. And this time, I had my little 10-yearold girl with me.

“That’s all that mattered, right there.”

agents can make the best recommendations when it comes to food plot size and type.

While fall plantings can concentrate deer and increase hunter opportunity, food plots are not a substitute for natural forage or a way to support wildlife populations above the land’s natural carrying capacity. According to Billy Higginbotham, wildlife extension specialist for Texas A&M, creating food plots, particularly fall plantings primarily established to attract deer during hunting season, should be distinct from the landowner’s primary habitat management strategy.

October is a great time to start thinking about these

strategies for managing deer and wildlife habitat in the coming year. By utilizing the most up-to-date information and implementing a target harvest for deer, landowners have a jump on their 2011 management plan. The next step is enlisting the help of wildlife biologists, local extension agents and other state and federal agencies to determine what, if any, habitat enhancements to tackle early next year. In addition to hunting, factors to take into account include grazing, prescribed burns and cultivation.

“The habitat management principles that (Aldo) Leopold extolled over 50 years ago — cow, plow, axe, fire and gun — remain relevant today,” Higginbotham said.

LSONews.com

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

October 8, 2010

Page 17

Page 18

October 8, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Time Height 9:23 a.m. 0.4 L 10:09 a.m. 0.2 L 10:58 a.m. 0.0 L 3:08 a.m. 3.2 H 10:18 p.m. 3.4 H 11:59 p.m. 3.2 H 4:23 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

7:35 a.m.

7:39 a.m.

7:48 a.m.

8:02 a.m.

8:21 a.m.

8:45 a.m.

0.9 L 1.1 L 2.3 L 2.1 L 1.8 L 1.4 L 1.1 L 0.7 L

Time Height 5:04 p.m. 3.6 H 6:13 p.m. 3.6 H 7:25 p.m. 3.6 H 11:51 a.m. 0.0 L

11:10 a.m.

12:36 p.m.

1:45 p.m.

2:43 p.m.

3:36 p.m.

4:24 p.m.

2.5 H 2.7 H 2.7 H 2.9 H 3.0 H 3.0 H

8:44 p.m. 3.6 H

6:25 p.m.

7:09 p.m.

7:46 p.m.

8:19 p.m.

8:51 p.m.

9:22 p.m.

1.4 L 1.6 L 1.8 L 2.1 L 2.3 L 2.5 L

3:33 p.m.

4:49 p.m.

5:56 p.m.

8:01 a.m.

8:05 a.m.

8:14 a.m.

8:28 a.m.

8:47 a.m.

9:11 a.m.

0.6 L 0.7 L 0.9 L 1.9 L 1.7 L 1.4 L 1.1 L 0.9 L 0.6 L

Time Height 5:51 p.m. 2.9 H 7:00 p.m. 2.9 H 8:12 p.m. 2.9 H 12:17 p.m. 0.0 L

11:57 a.m.

1:23 p.m.

2:32 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

4:23 p.m.

5:11 p.m.

2.0 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.3 H 2.4 H 2.4 H

Time Height 11:01 p.m. 2.0 L 11:59 p.m. 2.3 L

October 29

October 22

Houston

Time Height 12:20 p.m. 0.4 L 1:10 p.m. 0.3 L 2:34 a.m. 1.4 H 3:41 a.m. 1.5 H 4:34 a.m. 1.5 H 5:20 a.m. 1.5 H 5:58 a.m. 1.5 H 6:26 a.m. 1.4 H 6:42 a.m. 1.3 H 6:42 a.m. 1.2 H 6:25 a.m. 1.1 H 5:54 a.m. 1.1 H 12:27 a.m. 0.9 L 11:31 a.m. 0.7 L 11:55 a.m. 0.6 L

9:31 p.m. 2.9 H

6:51 p.m.

7:35 p.m.

8:12 p.m.

8:45 p.m.

9:17 p.m.

9:48 p.m.

1.1 L 1.3 L 1.4 L 1.7 L 1.9 L 2.0 L

Date Time Height Oct 8 3:05 a.m. 0.71 H Oct 9 3:26 a.m. 0.76 H Oct 10 4:07 a.m. 0.79 H Oct 11 5:01 a.m. 0.80 H Oct 12 6:07 a.m. 0.79 H Oct 13 7:19 a.m. 0.78 H Oct 14 8:32 a.m. 0.77 H Oct 15 9:42 a.m. 0.75 H Oct 16 10:46 a.m. 0.72 H Oct 17 11:54 a.m. 0.69 H Oct 18 5:19 a.m. 0.61 H Oct 19 3:39 a.m. 0.63 H Oct 20 3:11 a.m. 0.65 H Oct 21 3:00 a.m. 0.68 H Oct 22 2:58 a.m. 0.71 H

Time Height 10:27 p.m. 1.4 H 2:01 p.m.

2:54 p.m.

3:51 p.m.

4:55 p.m.

6:08 p.m.

7:27 p.m.

8:47 p.m.

10:01 p.m.

11:31 a.m.

11:06 a.m.

5:04 a.m.

8:18 p.m.

9:32 p.m.

0.2 L 0.2 L 0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 0.6 L 0.6 L 0.7 L 1.0 L 0.9 L 1.0 H 1.3 H 1.3 H

Time

Height

3:36 p.m.

5:38 p.m.

11:13 a.m.

1.1 H 1.1 H 0.8 L

Time

Height

Time

Height

11:12 p.m. 0.8 L 7:04 p.m. 1.2 H

Time Height 1:28 p.m. 0.39 L 2:20 p.m. 0.36 L 3:13 p.m. 0.35 L 4:08 p.m. 0.35 L 5:06 p.m. 0.37 L 6:06 p.m. 0.40 L 7:02 p.m. 0.42 L 7:51 p.m. 0.45 L 8:28 p.m. 0.48 L 8:51 p.m. 0.52 L 6:41 a.m. 0.61 L 9:47 a.m. 0.58 L 11:10 a.m. 0.53 L 12:02 p.m. 0.49 L 12:45 p.m. 0.46 L

Time

Height

4:29 p.m.

5:45 p.m.

6:52 p.m.

8:57 a.m.

9:01 a.m.

9:10 a.m.

9:24 a.m.

9:43 a.m.

10:07 a.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 1.1 L 1.0 L 0.9 L 0.7 L 0.5 L 0.3 L

Time Height 6:21 p.m. 1.7 H 7:30 p.m. 1.7 H 12:20 p.m. 0.0 L 1:13 p.m. 0.0 L

12:27 p.m.

1:53 p.m.

3:02 p.m.

4:00 p.m.

4:53 p.m.

5:41 p.m.

1.2 H 1.3 H 1.3 H 1.4 H 1.5 H 1.5 H

Time Height 11:57 p.m. 1.2 L 8:42 p.m. 1.7 H 10:01 p.m. 1.7 H

7:47 p.m.

8:31 p.m.

9:08 p.m.

9:41 p.m.

10:13 p.m.

10:44 p.m.

0.7 L 0.8 L 0.9 L 1.0 L 1.1 L 1.2 L

Date Time Height Oct 8 3:16 a.m. 1.8 H Oct 9 3:33 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 10 3:47 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 11 12:49 a.m. 1.3 L Oct 12 12:53 p.m. 0.1 L Oct 13 1:59 p.m. 0.2 L Oct 14 12:39 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 15 1:36 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 16 1:57 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 17 2:03 a.m. 1.8 H Oct 18 2:05 a.m. 1.8 H Oct 19 2:09 a.m. 1.7 H Oct 20 2:15 a.m. 1.7 H Oct 21 2:22 a.m. 1.7 H Oct 22 2:29 a.m. 1.8 H

Time Height 9:28 a.m. 0.2 L 10:14 a.m. 0.1 L 11:03 a.m. 0.0 L 3:48 a.m. 2.1 H 10:58 p.m. 2.2 H 3:12 p.m.

4:28 p.m.

5:35 p.m.

7:40 a.m.

7:44 a.m.

7:53 a.m.

8:07 a.m.

8:26 a.m.

8:50 a.m.

0.3 L 0.4 L 0.5 L 1.0 L 0.9 L 0.8 L 0.6 L 0.5 L 0.3 L

1:21 p.m.

3:42 p.m.

0.65 H 0.62 H

8:57 p.m. 0.56 L 8:38 p.m. 0.59 L

Time Height 5:44 p.m. 2.3 H 6:53 p.m. 2.3 H 8:05 p.m. 2.3 H 11:56 a.m. 0.0 L

11:50 a.m.

1:16 p.m.

2:25 p.m.

3:23 p.m.

4:16 p.m.

5:04 p.m.

1.6 H 1.7 H 1.7 H 1.8 H 2.0 H 2.0 H

Time Height 10:40 p.m. 1.1 L 11:38 p.m. 1.2 L 9:24 p.m. 2.3 H

6:30 p.m.

7:14 p.m.

7:51 p.m.

8:24 p.m.

8:56 p.m.

9:27 p.m.

0.6 L 0.7 L 0.8 L 0.9 L 1.0 L 1.1 L

South Padre Island Time Height 9:46 a.m. 0.2 L 10:32 a.m. 0.1 L 11:21 a.m. 0.0 L 3:17 a.m. 2.2 H 10:27 p.m. 2.3 H 3:30 p.m.

4:46 p.m.

5:53 p.m.

7:58 a.m.

8:02 a.m.

8:11 a.m.

8:25 a.m.

8:44 a.m.

9:08 a.m.

0.4 L 0.5 L 0.5 L 1.2 L 1.1 L 0.9 L 0.7 L 0.5 L 0.4 L

Time Height 5:13 p.m. 2.5 H 6:22 p.m. 2.5 H 7:34 p.m. 2.5 H 12:14 p.m. 0.0 L

11:19 a.m.

12:45 p.m.

1:54 p.m.

2:52 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

4:33 p.m.

1.7 H 1.8 H 1.8 H 2.0 H 2.1 H 2.1 H

Time Height 10:58 p.m. 1.3 L 11:56 p.m. 1.4 L 8:53 p.m. 2.5 H

6:48 p.m.

7:32 p.m.

8:09 p.m.

8:42 p.m.

9:14 p.m.

9:45 p.m.

0.7 L 0.8 L 0.9 L 1.1 L 1.2 L 1.3 L

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Date Oct 8 Oct 9 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 12 Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 15 Oct 16 Oct 17 Oct 18 Oct 19 Oct 20 Oct 21 Oct 22

Time 1:23 a.m.

10:05 a.m.

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12:54 a.m.

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Height 1.5 H -0.1 L -0.2 L -0.1 L 0.0 L 0.2 L 2.2 H 2.1 H 2.1 H 2.0 H 1.9 H 1.8 H 1.7 H 1.6 H 0.6 L

Time Height 9:20 a.m. 0.2 L 7:04 p.m. 2.2 H 08:25 p.m. 2.2 H 09:49 p.m. 2.2 H 11:11 p.m. 2.2 H 2:51 p.m.

4:01 p.m.

5:10 p.m.

7:32 a.m.

7:27 a.m.

7:40 a.m.

7:58 a.m.

8:19 a.m.

5:09 p.m.

0.5 L 0.7 L 1.0 L 1.6 L 1.5 L 1.3 L 1.1 L 0.8 L 2.0 H

Time Height 5:47 p.m. 2.2 H

10:48 a.m.

12:50 p.m.

2:15 p.m.

3:21 p.m.

4:17 p.m.

1.7 H 1.8 H 1.9 H 1.9 H 2.0 H

Time

6:15 p.m.

7:17 p.m.

8:17 p.m.

9:21 p.m.

Height

1.2 L 1.3 L 1.5 L 1.5 L

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Solution on Page 25

P.M. Minor 6:23 7:24 8:27 9:31 10:33 11:31 ----12:46 1:29 2:08 2:44 3:19 3:55 4:32 5:14 6:01 6:52 7:48 8:48 9:50

Major 12:37 1:09 2:13 3:17 4:19 5:17 6:10 6:58 7:40 8:18 8:54 9:29 10:05 10:43 11:25 ----12:40 1:35 2:34 3:36

SUN Rises Sets 07:17 06:59 07:17 06:58 07:18 06:57 07:19 06:55 07:19 06:54 07:20 06:53 07:20 06:52 07:21 06:51 07:22 06:50 07:22 06:49 07:23 06:48 07:24 06:47 07:24 06:46 07:25 06:45 07:26 06:44 07:27 06:43 07:27 06:42 07:28 06:41 07:29 06:40 07:29 06:39

MOON Rises Sets 8:14a 7:25p 9:24a 8:11p 10:31a 9:02p 11:34a 9:56p 12:31p 10:53p 1:22p 11:51p 2:06p NoMoon 2:44p 12:49a 3:18p 1:44a 3:49p 2:39a 4:18p 3:31a 4:46p 4:23a 5:15p 5:15a 5:45p 6:09a 6:19p 7:04a 6:56p 8:01a 7:38p 8:59a 8:25p 9:58a 9:19p 10:55a 10:17p 11:50a

2010 Sep 08 Fri N 09 Sat > 10 Sun > 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri Q 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Mon 19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu > 22 Fri > 23 Sat F 24 Sun > 25 Mon > 26 Tue 27 Wed

P.M. Minor Major 6:29 12:43 7:29 1:15 8:33 2:18 9:37 3:22 10:39 4:25 11:36 5:23 12:03 6:16 12:52 7:03 1:35 7:46 2:13 8:24 2:50 9:00 3:24 9:34 4:00 10:10 4:38 10:49 5:20 11:31 6:06 ----6:58 12:45 7:54 1:41 8:54 2:40 9:55 3:41

SUN Rises Sets 07:24 07:03 07:25 07:01 07:25 07:00 07:26 06:59 07:27 06:58 07:28 06:56 07:28 06:55 07:29 06:54 07:30 06:53 07:31 06:52 07:31 06:50 07:32 06:49 07:33 06:48 07:34 06:47 07:35 06:46 07:35 06:45 07:36 06:44 07:37 06:43 07:38 06:42 07:39 06:41

MOON Rises Sets 8:25a 7:25p 9:36a 8:10p 10:45a 9:00p 11:48a 9:54p 12:46p 10:51p 1:36p 11:49p 2:19p NoMoon 2:56p 12:48a 3:28p 1:45a 3:57p 2:41a 4:25p 3:35a 4:52p 4:28a 5:19p 5:22a 5:48p 6:17a 6:19p 7:14a 6:55p 8:12a 7:36p 9:12a 8:23p 10:11a 9:16p 11:09a 10:15p 12:04p

P.M. Minor Major 6:36 12:50 7:36 1:22 8:40 2:25 9:44 3:29 10:46 4:32 11:43 5:30 12:10 6:23 12:59 7:10 1:42 7:53 2:20 8:31 2:57 9:07 3:31 9:41 4:07 10:17 4:45 10:56 5:27 11:38 6:13 12:01 7:05 12:52 8:01 1:48 9:01 2:47 10:02 3:48

SUN Rises Sets 07:29 07:12 07:30 07:10 07:30 07:09 07:31 07:08 07:31 07:07 07:32 07:06 07:33 07:05 07:33 07:04 07:34 07:03 07:35 07:02 07:35 07:01 07:36 07:00 07:37 06:59 07:37 06:58 07:38 06:57 07:39 06:56 07:39 06:55 07:40 06:54 07:41 06:53 07:42 06:52

MOON Rises 8:27a 9:36a 10:43a 11:46a 12:44p 1:34p 2:18p 2:57p 3:31p 4:02p 4:31p 4:59p 5:28p 5:59p 6:32p 7:09p 7:51p 8:39p 9:33p 10:31p

Sets 7:39p 8:25p 9:16p 10:10p 11:07p NoMoon 12:05a 1:02a 1:58a 2:52a 3:45a 4:36a 5:28a 6:21a 7:16a 8:13a 9:11a 10:10a 11:07a 12:02p

P.M. Minor 6:49 7:50 8:53 9:57 10:59 11:57 12:24 1:12 1:55 2:34 3:10 3:45 4:20 4:58 5:40 6:27 7:18 8:14 9:14 10:15

SUN Rises 07:46 07:47 07:47 07:48 07:49 07:50 07:51 07:51 07:52 07:53 07:54 07:55 07:56 07:57 07:58 07:58 07:59 08:00 08:01 08:02

MOON Rises 8:50a 10:02a 11:12a 12:16p 1:13p 2:03p 2:45p 3:21p 3:52p 4:20p 4:47p 5:12p 5:38p 6:06p 6:36p 7:11p 7:51p 8:38p 9:31p 10:30p

Sets 7:42p 8:26p 9:14p 10:08p 11:05p NoMoon 12:05a 1:04a 2:02a 2:59a 3:55a 4:49a 5:44a 6:40a 7:38a 8:38a 9:38a 10:39a 11:37a 12:31p

A.M. Minor Major 6:01 ----7:01 12:46 8:04 1:49 9:08 2:53 10:11 3:57 11:10 4:56 ----- 5:51 12:28 6:40 1:13 7:24 1:53 8:03 2:29 8:39 3:04 9:14 3:40 9:50 4:17 10:27 4:57 11:09 5:43 11:54 6:33 12:20 7:28 1:14 8:26 2:13 9:27 3:13

San Antonio 2010 A.M. Sep Minor Major 08 Fri N 6:08 ----09 Sat > 7:08 12:53 10 Sun > 8:11 1:56 11 Mon 9:15 3:00 12 Tue 10:18 4:04 13 Wed 11:17 5:03 14 Thu ----- 5:58 15 Fri Q 12:35 6:47 16 Sat 1:20 7:31 17 Sun 2:00 8:10 18 Mon 2:36 8:46 19 Tue 3:11 9:21 20 Wed 3:47 9:57 21 Thu > 4:24 10:34 22 Fri > 5:04 11:16 23 Sat F 5:50 ----24 Sun > 6:40 12:27 25 Mon > 7:35 1:21 26 Tue 8:33 2:20 27 Wed 9:34 3:20

2010 A.M. Sep Minor 08 Fri N 6:22 09 Sat > 7:21 10 Sun > 8:24 11 Mon 9:28 12 Tue 10:31 13 Wed 11:30 14 Thu 12:00 15 Fri Q 12:49 16 Sat 1:33 17 Sun 2:13 18 Mon 2:50 19 Tue 3:25 20 Wed 4:00 21 Thu > 4:37 22 Fri > 5:18 23 Sat F 6:03 24 Sun > 6:53 25 Mon > 7:48 26 Tue 8:47 27 Wed 9:48

Major ----1:07 2:09 3:14 4:17 5:17 6:11 7:00 7:44 8:23 9:00 9:35 10:10 10:48 11:29 ----12:40 1:35 2:33 3:34

Major 13:03 1:35 2:39 3:43 4:45 5:43 6:36 7:24 8:06 8:44 9:20 9:55 10:31 11:09 11:51 12:15 1:06 2:01 3:00 4:01

Sets 07:22 07:20 07:19 07:18 07:16 07:15 07:14 07:12 07:11 07:10 07:09 07:07 07:06 07:05 07:04 07:02 07:01 07:00 06:59 06:58

FOR THE TABLE Delta-style Goose Fingers

ACROSS 1. Trapped for the pelt 3. Shredded antlers 7. Female turkey, pheasant 9. A very good walleye bait 10. Could contain a map 11. A major deer food 12. Packet for medical supplies 13. An icefishing lure 15. Seeks game for the fur 16. Best icefishing shelter, Fish-___ 18. A young quail 20. Fish breathing devices 21. Steelhead or rainbow 26. A diving duck 28. A swirling motion in the water 29. A hunted wildfowl 30. A very good firewood 32. Boat equipment 34. A turkey predator 35. A shorebird 38. Drills holes in ice 40. Code for a type bullet 43. A type of gunsight 46. Color worn by hunters for safety 47. A type of ice angler 48. A type of gunsight DOWN 1. A small game predator 2. Hunter’s cold-weather outfit 3. Term for in-hole fireplace 4. A bear food 5. Deer will hide in this habitat 6. A bass species 7. The V-formation flyer 8. Wildfowl home 13. The clay pigeon

A.M. Minor Major 5:56 ----6:55 12:41 7:58 1:44 9:02 2:48 10:05 3:51 11:04 4:51 11:58 5:45 12:23 6:34 1:07 7:18 1:47 7:58 2:24 8:34 2:59 9:09 3:34 9:44 4:11 10:22 4:52 11:03 5:37 11:49 6:27 12:15 7:22 1:09 8:21 2:07 9:22 3:08

Amarillo

Mail to Lone Star Outdoor News, PO Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355. For fastest service, call (214) 361-2276 or visit LSONews.com.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

2010 Sep 08 Fri N 09 Sat > 10 Sun > 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu 15 Fri Q 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Mon 19 Tue 20 Wed 21 Thu > 22 Fri > 23 Sat F 24 Sun > 25 Mon > 26 Tue 27 Wed

Dallas

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Time Height 10:45 a.m. 0.2 L 11:31 a.m. 0.1 L 4:24 a.m. 1.5 H 4:25 a.m. 1.5 H 11:35 p.m. 1.6 H

Freeport Harbor Date Time Height Oct 8 2:45 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 9 3:02 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 10 3:16 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 11 1:07 a.m. 1.5 L Oct 12 1:11 p.m. 0.1 L Oct 13 2:17 p.m. 0.3 L Oct 14 12:08 a.m. 2.2 H Oct 15 1:05 a.m. 2.2 H Oct 16 1:26 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 17 1:32 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 18 1:34 a.m. 2.0 H Oct 19 1:38 a.m. 1.8 H Oct 20 1:44 a.m. 1.8 H Oct 21 1:51 a.m. 1.8 H Oct 22 1:58 a.m. 2.0 H

October 8

Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon, N=New Moon, Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

Last

Full

October 15

Rockport

Time Height 9:49 a.m. 0.3 L 10:35 a.m. 0.1 L 11:24 a.m. 0.0 L 3:55 a.m. 2.6 H 11:05 p.m. 2.7 H

San Luis Pass Date Time Height Oct 8 3:53 a.m. 1.4 H Oct 9 4:10 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 10 12:55 a.m. 1.4 L Oct 11 2:06 a.m. 1.5 L Oct 12 2:10 p.m. 0.1 L Oct 13 3:16 p.m. 0.3 L Oct 14 1:16 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 15 2:13 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 16 2:34 a.m. 1.5 H Oct 17 2:40 a.m. 1.4 H Oct 18 2:42 a.m. 1.4 H Oct 19 2:46 a.m. 1.3 H Oct 20 2:52 a.m. 1.3 H Oct 21 2:59 a.m. 1.3 H Oct 22 3:06 a.m. 1.4 H

First

New

Date Oct 8 Oct 9 Oct 10 Oct 11 Oct 12 Oct 13 Oct 14 Oct 15 Oct 16 Oct 17 Oct 18 Oct 19 Oct 20 Oct 21 Oct 22

Time Height 10:35 p.m. 2.5 L 11:33 p.m. 2.9 L

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Height Oct 8 3:23 a.m. 2.3 H Oct 9 3:40 a.m. 2.4 H Oct 10 3:54 a.m. 2.4 H Oct 11 1:10 a.m. 2.4 L Oct 12 1:14 p.m. 0.1 L Oct 13 2:20 p.m. 0.4 L Oct 14 12:46 a.m. 2.6 H Oct 15 1:43 a.m. 2.6 H Oct 16 2:04 a.m. 2.4 H Oct 17 2:10 a.m. 2.3 H Oct 18 2:12 a.m. 2.3 H Oct 19 2:16 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 20 2:22 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 21 2:29 a.m. 2.1 H Oct 22 2:36 a.m. 2.3 H

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases

Port O’Connor

Sabine Pass, jetty Date Time Height Oct 8 2:36 a.m. 2.9 H Oct 9 2:53 a.m. 3.0 H Oct 10 3:07 a.m. 3.0 H Oct 11 12:44 a.m. 3.0 L Oct 12 12:48 p.m. 0.2 L Oct 13 1:54 p.m. 0.5 L Oct 14 3:07 p.m. 0.7 L Oct 15 12:56 a.m. 3.2 H Oct 16 1:17 a.m. 3.0 H Oct 17 1:23 a.m. 2.9 H Oct 18 1:25 a.m. 2.9 H Oct 19 1:29 a.m. 2.7 H Oct 20 1:35 a.m. 2.7 H Oct 21 1:42 a.m. 2.7 H Oct 22 1:49 a.m. 2.9 H

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Ingredients: 1 can beer 2 cups self-rising flour 1⁄4 teaspoon basil 1 cup cornmeal 2 tablespoons prepared mustard 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 11⁄2 cups milk Peanut oil Soak goose meat in beer for one hour. In a separate bowl, mix flour, basil, cornmeal,

mustard, salt and pepper.

Combine with milk and blend to a smooth batter. Preheat frying pan with enough peanut oil to cover meat at least one inch. Drain beer from fingers and discard. Dip meat into batter. Let excess batter drop back into bowl. Put meat in medium-hot peanut oil. It’s done when it is a light golden brown color.

—Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Poor Man’s Shrimp (bluegill)

14. The ring____ pheasant 16. A type of saltwater weight 17. To point at a target 19. To ready a gun for firing 22. Shotgun model, over and _____ 23. A type of duck 24. Describes a wild turkey’s vision 25. A name for a bass 27. Another cover area for deer 31. Icefishing gear

33. Distribution of shot pellets 36. Need an auger for this 37. Very large on the muley 39. The bull’s-eye on a shoot target 41. A female bear 42. Bowman’s shooting protector, finger ____ 43. A squirrel species 44. A good wood for arrow shafts 45. Code for a shotgun model

Ingredients: Bluegill fillets, cut into finger-width strips Old Bay Seasoning Lawry’s Seasoning Salt Vegetable steamer basket Cocktail sauce Saltine crackers Heat an inch or two of water in a steamer basket in a medium to large pot. Lay the fish strips in the basket without overcrowding. Season with Old Bay and Lawry’s. Cover and steam for 3-4 minutes or until fish is firm. Remove basket from pot and allow fish to cool. Place “shrimp” on cracker and top with cocktail sauce.

—Scott Leysath, the Sporting Chef, huntfishcook.com

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Snowden wins Toyota Texas Bass Classic After three days of fishing, a little more than one pound separated the top two anglers on the leaderboard. Brian Snowden held on to his lead after the second day of the 2010 Toyota Texas Bass Classic championship, beating Michael Iaconelli by only 1 pound, 4 ounces.

Snowden maintained his lead from the event’s second day over challengers Iaconelli and Takahiro Omori. Snowden finished with a total of 48 pounds, 4 ounces while Iaconelli ended with 47 pounds.

“It is the biggest one of my life, I am proud to pull it off,” said Snowden of his victory at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

Snowden’s three-day effort earned him $100,000 and a 2011 Legend Boats Alpha 211 powered by Evinrude.

Snowden was prepared for the worst at the final weigh-in after bringing in his smallest bag of the tournament.

“I was getting ready to give my ‘Mr. Second’ speech,” he said.

Iaconelli jumped out to an early lead on Sunday while Snowden struggled to get a bite.

Snowden went the first two and a half hours without a catch before grabbing the lead for good in the early afternoon.

Iaconelli grabbed big bass honors for the tournament with a 9-pound, 8-ounce bass on day two.

THE TOP TEN Brian Snowden Michael Iaconelli Takahiro Omori Keith Combs Dave Lefebre Edwin Evers Rusty Salewske Todd Auten Kelly Jordon Russ Lane

48 lbs. 4 oz.

47 lbs.

46 lbs. 4 oz.

43 lbs. 12 oz.

42 lbs. 8 oz.

41 lbs. 8 oz.

40 lbs. 8 oz.

37 lbs.

36 lbs. 12 oz.

34 lbs. 8 oz

CHAMPION: Brian Snowden holds his trophy for winning the 2010 Toyota Texas Bass Classic. Photo by Chase A. Fountain, TPW.

The TTBC featured an elite field of 50 anglers from around the world, including the best from the FLW Tour, Bassmaster Elite Series and PAA Bass Pro Shops Tournament Series. All anglers are qualified members of the PAA. The tournament is a no-entry fee event with a purse of $420,000.

The unique professional angling tournament featured a catch and release program that highlights the efforts of Texas Parks and Wildlife. A donation of $250,000 was given to the department on behalf of the Toyota Texas Bass Classic.

The donation will go towards youth fishing and outreach programs across Texas.

—Toyota Texas Bass Classic report

October 8, 2010

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October 8, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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NATIONAL Arkansas elk hunters successful After days of careful preparation, Danny Tilley’s elk hunt lasted 30 minutes.

Tilley, who lives at Bigelow in Perry County, was one of four hunters with bull elk permits for the September 2010 season, the 13th for Arkansas since hunting started in 1998.

Elk were re-introduced to the state in 1981 by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and are found along the Buffalo River in BIGGEST BULL: Eddie Estes of Harrison, Ark., shot the biggest elk, a 7x7, of northern Arkansas. the three successful hunters in Arkansas’ elk season. Photo by Arkansas Tilley’s assigned hunting Game and Fish Commission. area was Elk Compartment 4, which is public land in western Searcy County.

“We saw three cow elk then a 4x4 bull,” Tilley said. “We waited some more, and I Louisiana’s Coastwide Nutria Control heard a scraping noise. Finally I found this Program that puts a $5 bounty on each nutria 5x5 bull, a pretty nice one, rubbing its antlers tail had a record number of tails turned in last on a tree on the edge of a field.” year and a 90 percent drop in land loss since —Arkansas Game and Fish Commission report the program began.

Hunters and trappers turned in 445,963 tails during the 2009-10 season that ran from Nov. 20 to March 31, nearly 12,000 more A heist at a Billings, Mont., shipping comthan collected the year before, and beating pany resulted in the theft of more than 130 the yearly average of about 304,000, accordfirearms, mostly handguns. The Bureau of ing to a state Wildlife and Fisheries report.

Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives The program began in 2002 as a way to released details of the August heist in hopes alleviate the damage to the state’s wetlands that making the case public will help solve the caused by an overpopulation of nutria, which crime. A $10,000 reward has been offered. eat the root system of grasses that grow in The firearms were taken from Con-way Louisiana’s marshes.

Freight Company, which was shipping the In 2002-03, the first year of the program, firearms for owner MT Sports. The suspects about 82,080 acres of marsh were damapparently got past a security fence around aged by nutria. Last season, that number was the shipping company’s perimeter, then cut reduced to 8,475 acres, according to the state the locks on several tractor trailers before coming to the one with the firearms.

Wildlife and Fisheries report.

The stolen firearms were valued at about Officials expect another high count of nutria this $40,000. season based on applications for permits received.

—Staff report —Staff report

Nutria program paying off

Firearm heist still unsolved

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

Waterfowl season dates Ducks High Plains Mallard Management Unit ■ Oct. 23-24; Oct. 29-Jan. 23 ■ Youth-only season Oct. 16-17 North and South Zones ■ Oct. 30-Nov. 28 ■ Dec. 11-Jan. 23 ■ Youth-only season Oct. 23-24 Hunters will have a six-duck limit per day in the aggregate, with the following species and sex restrictions: five mallards (of which only two may be hens), three wood ducks, two scaup, two redheads, two pintails, one canvasback, and one “dusky duck” (mottled duck, Mexicanlike duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone).

Mottled ducks may not be harvested before Nov. 5 in the North and South Zones and Nov. 2 in the High Plains Mallard Management Unit.

The bag limit on mergansers is five daily, of which only two may be hooded mergansers, and the daily bag on coots is 15.

Goose Western Goose Zone ■ Nov. 6-Feb. 6 The daily bag limit is 20 light geese in the aggregate and four Canada geese and one white-fronted goose. Possession limit is twice the daily bag for dark geese and none on light geese.

Eastern Goose Zone ■ Oct. 30-Jan. 23 for light and Canada geese ■ Oct. 30-Jan. 9 for white-fronted geese.

The daily bag limit is 20 light geese in the aggregate and three Canada geese and two white-fronted geese.

Light Goose Conservation Order ■ Feb. 7-March 27 in the Western Goose Zone ■ Jan. 24-March 27 in the Eastern Goose Zone No bag or possession limits.

Sandhill Crane ■ Zone A: Nov. 6-Feb. 6. Daily bag limit: three.

■ Zone B: Nov. 26-Feb. 6. Daily bag: three.

■ Zone C: Dec. 18-Jan. 23. Daily bag: two.

Possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

For these and additional season dates on migratory birds or other game, consult the Texas Parks and Wildlife Hunting Annual and/or Waterfowl Digest.

October 8, 2010

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October 8, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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CONSERVATION Publisher/Editor Craig Nyhus

Delta Waterfowl researches for ducks, hunters

Graphics Editor Amy Moore

Predator control and mottled ducks at forefront

Associate Editor Mark England Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting Nancy Halphen Web site Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Mike Nelson Accounts Manager Classified/Outfitters Blazing Paths Media Advertising Intern Nicholas Conklin Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Contributors Kyle Carter Alan Clemons David Draper Wilbur Lundeen Bill Miller

Erich Schlegel David Sikes Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

Distribution Bruce Andreen, Metrogate Communications Budget Distribution Services Victor Cantu, South Texas Circulation Jeff Bulpin Paul Fletcher Klaus Rindfleisch

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail editor@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com (214) 361-2276

Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2010 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 e-mail them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Tory McCormick, communications director at Delta Waterfowl, is concerned about the poor nesting success in the Dakota prairies and especially in Canada’s breeding ground. And he said the future impact on Texas hunters could be significant.

“It’s real wet up there now, but we’re living in a habitat bubble,” McCormick said. “When it gets dry we have a problem.”

Delta Waterfowl focuses more on research to learn the best ways to increase nesting success of waterfowl and increase the hunting opportunities of the duck hunter.

“We’re looking for avid waterfowl hunters,” he said. “We are more independent because we don’t take government money — so we can speak out more on regulatory issues. But we’re funded solely by the generosity of the hunters that support us.”

Predator management Delta Waterfowl has studied the effects of predator management on the nesting success of ducks for 17 years. New research results shows that managing predators can be an effective tool in significantly increasing nest success in areas with limited grass nesting cover and areas suffering from chronically low duck production.

In work on eight low-grass sites located in North Dakota and Manitoba, nest success on two predator-controlled blocks near Minnedosa, Manitoba averaged 43.3 percent, while nest success on similar sites that weren’t trapped was three percent.

“Nest success of three percent is well below what’s needed just to maintain populations, said Delta Scientific Director Dr. Frank Rohwer.

In areas with an abundance of grass, like CRP, ducks often produce much better and at population-expanding levels.

“Those are areas where predator management

is not cost-effective,” Delta Senior Vice President John Denvey said.

Canada has no CRP-type program, and many acres are being broken on the U.S. side of the breeding grounds, making finding ways to increase nest success on low-grass areas a priority.

Predator management, especially from the red fox, Delta believes, is a necessary tool in certain areas to bring successful nesting success.

“

After 17 years of research, we’re learning where and when and how it’s best to trap to increase duck production.

”

— Delta President Rob Olson

“This is a system out of balance,” Rohwer said. “We created it and it is likely going to take human intervention to bring the balance back between predator and prey species.”

Also in the North Dakota areas studied, the results were promising. The two-year average for nest success on North Dakota trapped blocks was 28.1 percent, compared to a success rate of 6.4 percent on the non-trapped, control sites.

“After 17 years of research, we’re learning where and when and how it’s best to trap to increase duck production,” said Delta President Rob Olson.

Critics of predator management have said its problem is that it generally would have to be repeated each year to be effective on the same tracts of land.

But Delta officials say that the cost of managing predators, when compared with the overall annual management costs, is small.

“The annual per acre cost is significant,” Denvey said. “You have to pay taxes, manage the grasses and pay expenses involving staff.

Predator control is a fractional part of that.

“And when you get farther south, such as in Texas, the cost to generate moist soil is astronomical.”

Denvey said the goal is to provide a cost/benefit analysis for the different types of lands.

“The assessment that has to be made is whether a cost of about $1.50 per acre is acceptable for the outcome received in increased production,” he said.

More difficulties arise in lands with higher agricultural value.

“What we’ve seen is that duck density increases in areas with high agricultural value,” Denvey said. “The land is too expensive to buy and there’s nowhere for the ducks to nest except in road ditches. These are the types of areas that respond well to predator management as a tool, along with hen houses and nesting structures.

Mottled duck study Delta also is participating, along with several other state agencies and conservation groups, in a large omnibus research project on mottled ducks, a species in significant decline.

We don’t have a good understanding of mottled ducks and we know how important they are to coastal hunters, including Texans,” Denvey said. “The mottled ducks haven’t received a whole lot of attention in the past; we have to figure out what caused their decline.”

Delta is supporting radio telemetry research being done as part of the study.

“We’re trying to determine the mottled ducks’ habitat usage and survival to at least give us a baseline study,” Denvey said.

CONTACT INFO ■ Delta Waterfowl: (888) 987-3695 DeltaWaterfowl.org (click to Texas chapters)

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

October 8, 2010

Page 23

PRODUCTS SELF-RECOVERY FALL ARREST SYSTEM Hunter Rescue is helping hunters who utilize treestands or elevated blinds to control their falls – and the potentially seriously injuries that result from those falls. The company’s full-body safety harness system was designed to help hunters get to the ground in a controlled and safe manner. This system allows the hunter to follow the lanyard to the release arm, pull down, and then travel down the rope to the ground. The system includes the self-recovery device, a full-body harness, a suspension relief device, a 30foot safety rope and a tree strap. It sells for $599. www.hunterrescue.com

M77 HAWKEYE ULTRALIGHT RIFLE Ruger’s lightweight, easy-tomaneuver version of the M77 Hawkeye Standard Rifle features a matte-blued receiver, a Walnut stock, and the lightest 20-inch barrel available on any Ruger bolt-action rifle. It is available in six models, including .30-06 Springfield and 308 Winchester caliber-models that are especially suited for deer hunting. The rifle sells for $888. And, as if purchasing a fine firearm wasn’t its own reward, Ruger has paired up with Carhartt to offer bolt-action rifle purchasers a bonus. From now until Dec. 31, through a promotional offer, they can receive a 100 percent ring-spun cotton duck jacket with thermal lining, hood, two large hand-warmer pockets and two inside pockets. www.Ruger.com

>> >>

>>

>>

CARA MICRO RODS Falcon Rods has introduced a new series of split-grip, high-modulus tournament casting rods. Each model features at least 12 Fuji Alconite Micro Guides for longer casts and heightened line-to-hand hookset sensitivity.

The smooth guides are made from corrosion-resistant S-4 stainless steel featuring Alconite hard ceramic, diamond-polished ring inserts that help prevent ring grooving while fighting fish with braided lines. The Cara Micro rods range from a 6-foot, 7-inch to a 7-foot, 3-inch-long model and sell for about $200.

(918) 251-0020 falconrods.com

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Advertisement

All Seasons Feeders All Seasons Feeders began with the design of a feeder that boasted an 800-pound feed capacity – the largest at the time. The goal? A durable feeder that could weather the elements though all seasons. Currently, the company continues to offer that original feeder but now it also makes many others, including a trough feeder that hunters and land managers will appreciate and a wild-bird feeder that any nature lover will covet.

Wild-bird Feeder: This heavy-duty steel feeder holds about 20 pounds of feed. It is built to attract wild birds to the back yard while preventing nesting. The feeder comes with a chain so that it can be hung from a tree or other suitable spot. It sells for about $90.

Trough Feeder: This protein feeder is easy-to-fill from the ground and can be used for everything from corn to cubes to textured feed. This feeder reduces the waste of food to varmints and weather so there is more for the deer. It weighs 115 pounds and has a capacity of about 500 pounds of feed, depending on the type used. The trough feeder sells for $429.

(210) 648-0979 www.allseasonsfeeders.com

STEALTH APACHE 4X4 Stealth describes its electric utility vehicles as tough and powerful, quiet and efficient.

The Apache 4X4 is powered by a 64-volt system that allows hunters to power through muddy, rocky and hilly terrain. The vehicle can run about 40-miles on a single charge. Its key features include an 800-pound cargo capacity, a 1,000-pound towing capacity, a fording depth of 24 inches, and a top speed of 24 mph. The base model starts at $12,700.

(678) 293-1050 www.stealth4X4.com

Page 24

October 8, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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DATEBOOK October 9

October 14-16

Texas Fly Fishers Redfish Rodeo, Rockport www.texasflyfishers.org

Texas Deer Association 2nd Annual San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

October 10 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly meeting Ty Bartoskewitz speaks about white-tailed deer Sheraton North Dallas Hotel (214) 570-8700

October 12 Baytown Delta Waterfowl Fundraiser Eagle Point Golf Club (281) 839-5680 Austin Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Zilker Park (512) 762-2644 Terrell/Kaufman Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser El Patron Event Center (972) 762-5701

October 13 Beaumont Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Elegante Hotel (409) 466-6479

October 14 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly meeting Sheraton North Dallas Hotel (214) 570-8700 Bastrop National Wild Turkey Federation Fundraiser Watterson Dance Hall San Marcos Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser San Marcos Activity Center (512) 738-7049 Llano Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser American Legion Hall (512) 755-9770 The Woodlands Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Belle Rose Maison (281) 636-4883

Victoria Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Club Westerner (361) 894-5178

Texoma Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Loy Lake Park, Mayor Arena (903) 271-3299

Cleburne Delta Waterfowl Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds (817) 307-4468

October 15-17

October 17

Fredericksburg Fly Fishers Oktoberfisch Fly Fishing Festival South Llano River Junction www.fredericksburgflyfishers.org

Northeast Texas Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Women in the Outdoors Mount Pleasant Clays-N-More Gun Club (903) 572-7179 dorothy.mccarver@sbcglobal.net

McAllen Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Palmer Pavillion (956) 369-1812

October 16 Slowride Guide Service Texas Paddle-In Lighthouse Lakes Park Aransas Pass (361) 758-0463 Marshall Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Marshall Civic Center (903) 472-1728 Brownwood Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Brownwood Coliseum (325) 200-1500 Rockport / Fulton Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Fulton Convention Center (361) 790-5917

October 19 CCA Fishsticks Golf Tournament Longwood Golf Club (713) 626-4222

October 21 Dallas Safari Club Monthly meeting Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 980-9800 Texas Watershed Steward Workshop Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center Athens (979) 862-8072 Arlington Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Coble’s Almosta Ranch (817) 773-6542

October 22 Operation Game Thief Sporting clays shoot San Antonio Gun Club (512) 389-4381

October 23 Upper Coast - Fort Bend Coastal Conservation Association Executive board tournament, Rockport (800) 626-4222 Texas Deer Association TDA Board of Director Meeting Westin La Cantera Resort San Antonio (210) 767-8300 info@texasdeerassociation.com

October 29-30 World Class Trophy Mount Auction (512) 451-7633 taxidermyking.com

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

October 8, 2010

Page 25

Puzzle solution from Page 18

Page 26

October 8, 2010

Lone✯Star Outdoor News

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Bass bait Continued From Page 1

The fish cooperated for the most part, although heavy rains before the event caused the medium-sized lakes to rise.

One group landed 20-plus fish fishing with shaky head worms near the weeds next to shore.

James Niggemeyer doesn’t hunt, so he continued to fish while some others took their cameras to the deer blinds, landing several evening fish including a 3-pounder on a swimbait. Mark Davis went to the lodge and pulled out his guitar to play and sing some country songs.

A few of the pros were posed a simple question. You are heading to an unknown Texas lake in mid-October, but there’s a catch. You can only throw one lure. What would it be?

Here were their answers:

Bull reds Continued From Page 1

late September and runs through November. It’s a spawning ritual where mature female redfish make their way along the coast to lay their eggs.

The females attract the males, and large schools of oversized redfish attract the fishermen for a two-month party of tight lines.

Potter said a couple cold fronts that moved in the week after Labor Day had the bull reds in a little early in Freeport, but it’s nothing too far from the ordinary.

“It typically doesn’t start until later in September but it’s been on for a couple weeks now,” Potter said. “It should still run strong all the way through mid-November.”

Capt. Jay Baker, who guides out of Port O’Conner, said everything seems to be right on time in his area. Baker said he actually prefers to leave them alone this time of year as to not disrupt the spawn, but he’s seen them schooling and they are on the move.

“They just recently started showing up and should start coming in large numbers soon,” Baker said.

A little farther down the coast in Corpus Christi, Capt. Michael Caserta said things seem to be happening a little late. The Corpus Christi area has been hit with massive amounts of rain over the last month, and Caserta said he thinks it has slightly influenced their movement.

“We’re not seeing as many schools as we usually do this time of year,” Caserta said. “It could have as much to do with the fact that with so much water, it’s hard for us guides to see everything, but there doesn’t seem to be as much activity.”

Caserta said the rain makes for stronger tides, which could make it tougher for some of the females on the way in, but, on the whole, it won’t affect the run.

“It’s not going to disrupt anything in the big picture of the spawn,” he said.

James Niggemeyer from Van: “I would have to choose between a topwater and a shallow-running crankbait like the KVD 1.5 or the Series 43. Because the crankbaits are more versatile, I would throw the KVD 1.5. The baitfish will be moving into the shallows, but in case the fish aren’t biting on top I’ll go with the crankbait.”

Mark Menendez from Paducah, Kentucky: “I would choose a 10-inch Strike King Anaconda worm. Number one, everything is bigger in Texas. And I can modify it, cut it or shape it into any size I want, plus I can change the rate of fall of the worm. It just gives me the most options.”

Kevin Van Dam from Kalamazoo, Michigan: The KVD 1.5 crankbait in Sexy Shad. “Bass are starting to follow the shad back into the creeks, and most lakes in Texas have that pattern going in October.

The KVD 1.5 is better for throwing around shallow woody cover, which many of the lakes have, and it just works a lot better in so many situations because is closely matches the shad.

Coming in a very, very close second would be a Redeye Shad in the same color, but the shallow crankbait probably would work better around the cover.”

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Lone✯Star Outdoor News

LONE STAR MARKET

To advertise in this section, call Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail him at mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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Place your classified Place a classified ad in Lone Star Outdoor News and experience the results of a new look.

The 2”x 2” ad will get the attention necessary to say SOLD! $50 per month (two issues) Call (214) 361-2276. Ask for Mike Hughs or e-mail ad to mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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WANTED Lone Star Outdoor News is looking for a hunting and fishing lease with all fishing and hunting rights. Interested landowners please call (214) 361-2276.

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Freedom event Continued From Page 8

FIRST TIMER’S LUCK: T.K. Bouressa, left, a retired Air Force master sergeant from Horseshoe Bay, entered and won his first bass tournament. He and partner Bill Guzman of Leander combined to win the 5th annual Fishing for Freedom tournament on Lake Belton.

The team started at the lower end of the lake and fished Carolina rigs in depths of 15 to 30 feet.

The tournament paired volunteer boaters with service members. Professional anglers Gary Klein, Zell Rowland and others participated. During the pre-tournament banquet, Earl Bentz, founder of Triton Boats, and Maj. Gen. William Grimsley, deputy commander at Fort Hood, spoke.

“Our main purpose was to provide military members a free fishing trip and for our community to say thanks for all that they do,” said Cliff Brown of Texas Boat World in Harker Heights and the event co-organizer. We gave away more than $40,000 in cash and prizes. We also gave away a 17-foot Triton camouflaged duck boat with a 50-horsepower Mercury outboard in a drawing. James Gossett, a specialist at Fort Hood, won the draw boat, a package worth about $15,000.

Brown shared a note from one of the soldiers with the crowd.

“This was my third and probably my last Fishing for Freedom tournament as I was just

diagnosed with a rare disease that was likely triggered by my injuries in Iraq,” said Spec.

Aaron Hawthorne in an e-mail to Brown. “I just wanted to thank you and all the sponsors for what they do to put this special day together for soldiers. You all are why I never thought twice about putting my life on the line for this country and I know that is how many soldiers feel.

For one day, my pain seemed a little less and all my problems were left at the dock.”

Eric Wendeborn and Justin Baker took second with five bass weighing 12.57 pounds to win $2,000. They collected a $300 bonus for catching a 5.48-pounder, the third largest bass of the tournament. Chip Holt and Caleb Torres finished third with five bass going 12.19 pounds with one 4.66-pounder. The team of Ricky Campbell and Luis Santiago landed a 5.83-pounder, the second largest bass of the event, to win $1,100.

“I definitely want to do it again,” said Bouressa, who flew in forward air control aircraft over Southeast Asia. “I really want to praise the organizers and sponsors for what they do for the servicemen. It’s a lot different than when I came back from Vietnam.”

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Rain drops salinity Continued From Page 8

Spiller suggested that when fish are TPW fisheries biologist Britt run out of a certain area by freshwaBumguardner at the Perry R. Bass ter, leaving gill nets empty there, the Marine Fisheries Research Station fish naturally concentrate in saltier near Palacios said salinity tolerances waters elsewhere. And by random for most Texas game fish range from chance, state gill nets would likely near zero parts per thousand to greater catch some of those fish, perhaps at a than 60 ppt. Redfish and flounder can higher rate than if the migration had live in freshwater. not occurred.

But trout eggs and larvae are So the average catch rate for the less tolerant, Bumguardner said. two gill net sets in this hypothetiResearch shows that trout hatching cal scenario could average out to be success is best in salinities ranging about the same. from 15-25 ppt.

However, in August, massive However, Bumguardner believes flooding of the Rio Grande may that no amount of freshwater inundahave had considerable affect on fish tion in Texas could significantly affect movement in the Lower Laguna the overall trout hatch, since research Madre. So much water was flowing shows that a substantial percentage of in the Rio Grande that floodwaters trout eggs still hatch in water with a were diverted through the Arroyo salt content of 5 ppt.

Colorado and other canals into the Flooding has caused unusual fish Lower Laguna Madre. behavior in the past. Spiller recalled This slug of freshwater pulsed a coastal flood some years back northward through the Land Cut, that prompted black drum to imia 20-mile stretch of the Intracoastal tate salmon. It happened in the Waterway that separates the Upper swollen creeks of the King Ranch, Laguna Madre from the Lower Laguna where Baffin Bay drum swam miles Madre. When it reached Baffin Bay, upstream in what appeared to be salinity levels were measure at 7 spawning behavior. ppt at the surface. Freshwater is less Most of the fish were about 20 dense than saltwater, so this created inches long. And they settled in wide a freshwater blanket at the surface. spots in the creeks, among the flooded The result was a fish kill. Freshwater HANDLING FRESH WATER: Gill net surveys at the mouth of Baffin Bay revealed a surprising number of redfish and black drum. mesquite trees and prickly pears. and ripe conditions in other sections Photo by TPW. When waters receded, these temwebbing was heavy with fish. In three nets, they counted of Baffin Bay caused nighttime algae porary shallow tanks began to dry up, blooms to deplete oxygen, which also killed fish in an off- about 850 mostly redfish and drum. Normally, they might killing the wayward drum. capture 200-300 fish in three nets, Spiller said. shoot bay called Cayo del Grullo.

Despite displaced fishes and isolated fish kills, the added So how might all this freshwater affect the trout spawn, fresh water is a welcome sight, bringing nutrients that proBut the unexpected also happened. When TPW crews lifted gill nets along Penescal Point at the mouth of Baffin Bay, the which generally runs from May though September? vide a life-giving jump-start to the entire estuarine system.

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BOOK MORE TRIPS Send a business card or information about your service, and see it as an ad in Lone Star Outdoor News. $100 per month (both issues). Send check or credit card information to Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355, call (214) 361-2276, or e-mail mhughs@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

The Rio Rojo Rancho in Red River county Texas is a bow hunter’s dream, sporting whitetail bucks in the 120 to 180 B&C range.

Founded in 2004, this family owned whitetail ranch is one of the best in northeast Texas. The multi-use ranch offers day, season and packaged hunts with prices beginning at $1,000.

The ranch offers sandy rolling hills of solid timber, consisting of white, red, and post oaks that make a towering forest of beautiful hardwoods along with scattered pine, all located on the northern boundary of the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas near the Red River.

Mike and Lori Ford own and operate the ranch.

“Part of our ranch has been in Mike’s family for more than 100 years,” Lori Ford said. “It’s special to live on the ranch and carry out the family tradition.”

Along with their hunting operation, Rio Rojo has a license with Texas Parks and Wildlife to breed white-tailed deer. They have selected a foundation herd from some of the top breeders in Texas, rendering them able to offer a second to none “deer working facility.”

Rio Rojo is confident that they can be of service to any ranch or breeding operation.

From stocker, to breeder, to hunter, to owner Mike Ford, Rio Rojo gives all its clients a personal guarantee to try and fulfill all requests.

Buck hunts can range from two to four days, depending on the package.

Beginning level packages include bucks in the 120 to 140 B&C range.

It’s the care you receive while at the ranch that will stand out.

“Hunting with Mike and Lori is like hunting with your best friend,” said David Sams, founder of Lone Star Outdoor News. “They are so personable and friendly right from the moment you meet them — you will think you’ve known them all of your life.”

All hunting packages include lodging, breakfast and a camp fire supper.

Transportation on the ranch and the use of tree stands and ground blinds are included.

For those in search of high quality turkey hunting, look no farther than springtime on the Red River. Red River County was the first in Texas to re-introduce the eastern turkey to its native terrain, and they are good numbers within the ranch.

Eastern turkey hunts start at $1,000 and generally last 2- to 2-1⁄2 days. Turkeys can be harvested by bow or rifle.

The ranch also offers exotic packages, starting at around $1,500, with black buck antelope, elk and axis all available.

Also available are camping, fishing, trail rides, hay rides, walking trails and just plain fun. The ranch has hosted weddings as well as corporate outings. Rio Rojo will cater to those interested in a weekend or week-long trip. With the hunters’ bunkhouse and lodging facilities, the ranch can facilitate up to 8 or 10 people with comfortable sleeping arrangements for any size crowd.

Rio Rojo Rancho ■ Mike and Lori Ford: (903) 674-3750 www.riorojorancho.com

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