predator hunting texas ANNUAL 2023 The ghost hogs Advertising Section Check out Fusion Thermal’s Avenger 55XR See Page 10
THE EASIEST WAY TO BUY A SUPPRESSOR
Hunters and shooters new to the world of suppressors might think buying one is complicated, scary and time-consuming. With a little bit of research and help from the right dealer, however, you’ll see that the purchase isn’t complicated, it’s far from scary, and it doesn’t have to be time-consuming.
At Silencer Central, it’s in our best interest to make sure you have the smoothest purchasing experience possible, so we’ll bend over backwards to get that silencer to you as easily as possible.
Buying from Silencer Central is the easiest way to buy a silencer, and it’s the closest you can get to “click-and-ship” online buying.
You no longer need to run down to the gun shop to pick up your approved suppressor. With Silencer Central, your suppressor will come right to you! We can do this because we have FFLs set up in every state where suppressors are legal. Once all of the approval forms come back to us, we will mail your suppressor right to your front door.
With more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, Silencer Central is the nation’s largest silencer dealer. We are also the only one licensed in all 42 suppressor-legal states that can sell, process and ship your new suppressor directly to your front door.
Silencer Central carries models for everything from pistols and centerfire rifles to highcaliber rifles and shotguns, helping to protect the hearing of shooters and hunters alike. Suppressors have been shown to provide protection below the threshold for most hearing protection commonly worn in or over the ears. And, if you hunt with dogs, it protects their hearing, too.
HERE’S A PREVIEW OF THE STEPS YOU’LL NEED TO TAKE IN ORDER TO PURCHASE AND RECEIVE YOUR SUPPRESSOR:
• Select the suppressor that’s right for you.
• Buy your silencer and tax stamp.
• Let us handle the paperwork and submit your eForm.
• Let us help you set up a FREE NFA Gun Trust.
• Use our eZ-Pay for it while you wait.
• Get your silencer shipped to your door upon approval.
SILENCER CENTRAL ☎ (866) 477-2309
SILENCERCENTRAL.COM
2 | PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
NO INTEREST | NO FEES | PAY WHILE YOU WAIT WE SHIP IT TO YOUR FRONT DOOR ONCE APPROVED
| 3 PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
SILENCERCENTRAL.COM SILENCE MADE SIMPLE
AVAILABLE ONLINE
*OFFER NOT
DOCUMENTARY filmed ON NIGHT HUNTING WILD HOGS
The wild hog epidemic has been a topic of conversation for more than a decade, but nowhere has been hit harder with this ever-growing problem than South Texas. An interesting documentary was recently filmed on the famous Kenedy Ranch along the Texas Coast. This particular 30,000-acre pasture had not allowed nighthunting in more than 30 years to protect an endangered species of cat, the ocelot. The absence of night-hunting has allowed the hog population to explode into unimaginable numbers. Producers of the documentary interviewed ranch managers and biologist to evaluate the impact of this hog population on the land and the results were overwhelming.
The crew was issued a special permit to conduct a three-night hunt, spot-andstalking these wild pigs with a bow and arrow. The documentary crew brought together five companies that specialized in night-hunting tactics and put together a plan of attack to harvest on-film as many wild hogs as they could.
Slow Glow Hunting Lights were placed around the ranch at eight different hunting sites, providing the crew enough light to spot and stalk these hogs in complete darkness. Raging Boars Bait Attractants were spread at each bait-site to bring them in, and WiseEye cellular trail cameras were placed at each bait-site to notify the crew remotely when hogs were at the bait.
All archery shots were captured in stunning 4k-video-resolution by a professional film crew, and you could see every shot in slow motion as Lumenok’s were on every arrow to trace the shot in complete darkness. The entire series is free to watch on YouTube, and is every bit as entertaining as it is educational. It’s easily the highest quality production of night hunting ever captured, and we encourage you to give it a watch. Just search “Shot In the Dark Hog Hunting” on YouTube and watch the fourpart documentary series for free.
4 | PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
SLOW GLOW ☎ (512) 828-6862 SLOWGLOW.COM
FROM WORK TO PLAY
WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
2 1 1 4 U S - 8 4 G O L D T H W A I T E , T X 7 6 8 4 4 ( 8 5 5 ) 6 4 8 - 3 3 4 1
F I N D Y O U R N E W R I D E A T H O F F P A U I R
On a nearly 1,000-acre high fenced West Texas ranch, six boars were viewed on game cameras in the middle of the night, despite consistent efforts to remove hogs from the property.
Several sow hogs were removed by helicopter hunting each year, but each year the ranch was flown, the boars weren’t seen. The best hog dogs in the county, along with their owner, came to the ranch. The dogs couldn’t smell or track the boars.
Finally, one was found dead in the summer of 2022.
Later in the fall, two were shot at feeders when the weather was cold and rainy. Before Thanksgiving, a solid black hog was shot, with the impact and squeal being heard, but the hog wasn’t recovered. The shooter announced a $100 bounty for anyone who could finish the job. Later in the weekend, another big black hog made the mistake of coming to a feeder and was shot. It wasn’t the solid black hog, though, as it had white on its legs.
The boars continued to evade hunters. This winter, several young adults went out at night, making several rounds while using Fusion Thermal scopes. They saw lots of animals, but not
During the New Year’s weekend, a boar passed by, not stopping at a feeder but being noticed by a hunter in the blind. A shot was taken, the hunter thought he hit the hog, but it wasn’t recovered either. He thought it was the big black one and added another
Then, during the February freeze with freezing rain falling, a hunter was checking the fenceline and a boar appeared at 375 yards. The truck was eased to 220 yards as the hog was facing away and the white spot on his rump was a dead giveaway that this was not the solid black boar. The hunter considered a Texas heart shot, but just as he was ready to shoot, the boar turned broadside, and was shot just behind the ear.
Not likely. The solid black hog may be still at large, even though it has supposedly been shot twice. The tracks of a large hog walking along the fence line have definitely been observed. And there is probably at least one more out there, despite all of The boars taken were big, to say the least. One bottomed out a 350-pound (uncertified) scale, while another weighed 280
Now, after being outwitted and outsmarted, removing the last of the big boars has become a mission with a $200 bounty up
6 | PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
Fusion / Shutterstock
| 7 PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
Contests from small to large
By Craig Nyhus
Lone Star outdoor newS
It’s that time of year, with predator contests dotting the landscape. The contests vary from small, community events to the biggest of all with giant payouts. More contests are on the way throughout February and March.
Two recent contests covered the gamut, the Stonewall Predator Contest, operated by Los Cazadores, and the massive West Texas Big Bobcat Contest.
At The Stonewall Predator Contest, the heaviest coyote weighed 32.4 pounds.
Category team winners:
Heavy coyote
32.4 pounds
Dylan Burg, Derek Hohmann, Tanner Blaker, Mark Reeh
Heavy bobcat
18.2 pounds
Clint Vogt, Clayton Schroeder, Tyler Stalling
Most fox
Brad Sivells, Jim Sivells, Tristan Sivells, Riley Barker
Most rabbit
Cody Pape, Keagan Crouch
Most raccoon
Ryan Keith, Tricia Keith, Owen Keith, Whitney Liesmann
Overall winners:
1st Place (124 total points)
$3,808
Brad Sivells, Jim Sivells, Tristan Sivells, Riley Barker
2nd Place (117 total points)
$1,088
Bruce Williams, Nathan Elliot, Kieth Bowles
3rd Place (81 total points)
$544
Korey Kunc, Justin Yonker, Kolby Yonker, Tanner Geidsweidt
At the West Texas Big Bobcat Contest, 630 teams com peted in what is thought to be the world’s largest preda tor contest. Payouts suggest they are correct, with teams winning $144,000 in prize money. A total of 45 qualifying bobcats were brought in, with five topping 30 pounds.
Big Bobcat
First Place
33 pounds, 3 ounces $44,000
Richard Long, Coy Smithhart
Second Place
31 pounds 14 ounces $25,100
Bryant Taylor, Austin Taylor, Shane Taylor
Third Place
31 pounds, 7 ounces $18,800
Toby Kiker, Brady Watson
Fourth Place
30 pounds, 9 ounces $12,500
Cuatro Wardlaw, Weston Fisher
Fifth Place
30 pounds $6,200
Aidan Acosta, Logan Acosta, Logan Locklar
Dilligent Defense Co. –
20th Place Suppressor Winners
21 pounds, 7 ounces
Martin Childress, Jacob Childress, Brian Scott, Caleb Webb
SilencerCo –Smallest Bobcat
Suppressor Winners
6 pounds, 8 ounces
Terry Ware, Raymond Gregory, Rylee Gregory, Emory Geye
Heaviest Fox
12 pounds, 6 ounces $18,900
Bryant Taylor, Shane Taylor, Austin Taylor
Jackpots (Each Paid $6,300)
Most Cats Taylor Burkett, Bradley Burkett, Justin Gilcrest
Most Grey Fox
Jake Whitten, Chris Miller, Taylor Brands
8 | PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
844-782-COLD (2653)
G I F T R E N E W A L C U T O U T T H I S S U B S C R I P T I O N F O R M A N D M A I L T O L O N E S T A R O U T D O O R N E W S P O B O X 5 5 1 6 9 5 D A L L A S T X 7 5 3 5 5 S U B S C R I P T I O N S A L S O A V A I L A B L E O N L N E O R B Y P H O N E N A M E A D D R E S S C I T Y / S T A T E / Z P E M A L P H O N E N U M B E R C R E D T C A R D N O E X P D A T E C V V B I L L N G Z I P C O D E S G N A T U R E M A K E C H E C K S P A Y A B L E T O L O N E S T A R O U T D O O R N E W S S U B S C R I B E T O R E C E I V E 2 4 I S S U E S P E R Y E A R O F T H E B E S T H U N T I N G A N D F I S H I N G N E W S D E L I V E R E D S T R A I G H T T O Y O U R M A I L B O X
$35 A L L T H E N E W S Y O U N E E D F R O M T H E S O U R C E Y O U T R U S T S U B S C R I B E T O D A Y T O L O N E S T A R O U T D O O R N E W S F O R A Y E A R S U B S C R I P T O N C A L L ( 2 1 4 ) 3 6 1 - 2 2 7 6 L S O N E W S C O M 2 YEARS $35 $65 $95 $500 LIFETIME 1 YEAR 24 issues 48 ssues 3 YEARS 72 ssues James Richards
O n t h e h u n t f o r t h e b e s t o u t d o o r n e w s ?
| 9 PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
MAKING THE COMPLEX SIMPLE
Fusion Thermal’s thermal optics combine power, accuracy and ease of use. The Avenger 55XR and Avenger 40 utilize the company’s T3 Three Button Control System, along with the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) menu.
“The ease of use is a big deal,” said Cameron Savaggio of Owens Outdoor Sales. “You don’t want to have to look up in the dark to see what button you’re hitting, especially when you’re hog hunting.”
What hunters will find in the new thermal series is highend features with a “simplicity first” design.
Thermal sensors require lots of power, and the Avenger Series has ample power with the 18650 battery design, run in parallel, providing an industry- leading, 8-hour run time.
The Avenger series utilizes aircraft-grade aluminum housing, while most other brands use plastic.
“Thermals create a lot of heat, and the aluminum housing allows it to escape,” Salvaggio said. “Plastic holds in the heat and can degrade the sensor and core over time, which negatively affects image quality and overall clarity.”
Recently at a precision rifle expo, Salvaggio shot with all of the main brands in the thermal industry. Two steel targets were set up, one at 200 yards and one at 500 yards. Both had a heating pad on the back of the target.
“Right before the night shoot started, the 500-yard target went out, so it was unheated,” he said. “There was very little differential in heat between the air, the berm and the target.”
Each brand had their own bay to shoot, and consumers took turns going to each bay and testing out each thermal. Out of all of the brands, the Fusion Thermal was the only
brand that consumers could see and shoot the 500-yard target, Salvaggio said. All of the other brands stuck to the 200-yard target because they couldn’t see the longer, cooler target.
“One consumer, who shot an $18,000 scope, said you would think for 18K, you would be able to see the 500 yard target like you can with the Fusion Thermal,” Salvaggio said.
Angel Padilla, of Johnny’s Sport Shop in Eagle Lake, works full-time at the shop and also guides hog hunters at night with Sandy Creek Outfitters, and both sells and uses the Fusion Thermal products.
“The units perform really well in humidity and fog, which a lot of other brands struggle with,” Padilla said. “You can still see the animals in high humidity. And I like the three button system because you never have to look up to see where your fingers are.”
Hunters like to record their nighttime hog hunts, and the Avenger series includes a full medial package, including photo, video and audio capabilities, along with Fusion Thermal’s HeatSync App to make connectivity a snap.
The Avenger series is both top quality and affordable
in the thermal scope world. The 55XR costs less than $6,000 and the Avenger 40 is around $4,000. And they come with an industry-leading 5-year transferable warranty.
Able's Sporting Goods
Huntsville |936-295-5786
Ally Outdoors
Midland |432-203-3661
Alpine Range Fort Worth |817-478-6613
Apache Rifle Works Comfort |830-995-3894
Ark-La-Tex Guns & More
Gilmer |903-680-4867
Athena Gun Club Houston |713-461-5900
BPS Outfitters Sherman|903-892-2227
BTO Range & Training Center
Conroe|936-588-3333
Burdett and Son Outdoor College Station |979-695-2807
Carroll's Gun Shop Wharton |979-532-3175
Clay Shooters Supply Dallas |214-347-4913
Collectors Firearms Houston |713-781-1960
Defender Outdoors Fort Worth|817-935-8377
Dury's Guns San Antonio |210-533-5431
East Texas Pawn
Lufkin |936-639-3322
Fehner & Son Gonzales |830-672-3710
Field & Streams Sporting Goods San Angelo |325-944-7094
Fun Guns Waco |254-755-0080
Gordy & Sons Outfitters Houston |713-951-0100
Guard & Defend Firearms Silsbee |409-201-9468
Hootens Emory |903-473-8788
Johnny's Sport Shop Eagle Lake |979-234-3516
Magnolia Hunting Supply Magnolia |281-766-1045
McBride's Gun Austin |512-472-3532
McQueeney Gun Club New Braunfels |830-609-8891
Modern Pawn & Gun Corpus Christi |361-993-9390
Mumme's Hondo |830-426-3313
North Texas Piggin Products McKinney |214-837-1994
Oakwood Outfitters
Oakwood |903- 545-2825
Oasis Outback Uvalde |830-278-4000
Outdoorsman San Angelo |325-947-8859
Parker County Gibson Products
Weatherford |817-594-8711
Ray's Hardware & Sporting Goods
Dallas |214-747-7916
Riflegear The Colony |972-292-7678
SK ARMS
Flowermound |972-628-6200
Midland|432- 704-5127
Sportsman's Finest
Austin |512-263-1888
Spring Guns & Ammo
Spring |281-288-7000
Superior Outfitters Longview |903-212-2200
Tyler |903-617-6141
Texan Guns and Gear Stephenville |254-965-9099
Texas Gun Experience
Grapevine|817-285-0664
Texian Firearms
Houston|346-775-8363
Trinity Armory
Cleveland|281-659-2800
Wings & Whitetails
Carthage|903-693-6129
Xtreme Guns & Ammo Richmond|832-363-3783
10 | PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
FUSION THERMAL ☎ (985) 375-1185 FUSIONTHERMAL.COM FIND A PREMIER FUSION THERMAL DEALER NEAR YOU FUSIONTHERMAL.COM
The best-selling HK pistol just got even better. All HK VP9 pistols now include the following upgrades.
• 17-round magazines replace previous 15-round versions
• Improved iron sights, with high-visibility front sight and clean black rear
• Optional optics-ready mounting system
If you’ve been thinking about upgrading to an HK, now is the time.
A Place to Shoot
San Antonio, 210-628-1888
Abilene Indoor Gun Range
Abilene, 325-698-4224
Able Ammo
Huntsville, 936-295-5786
AJC Sports
Clute, 979-265-4867
Ally Outdoors
Midland, 972-332-3700
Alpine Shooting Range
Ft Worth, 817-478-6613
Americana Arms, LLC
Beeville, 361-362-3673
Apache Rifle Works
Comfort, 830-995-3894
Athena Gun Club
Houston, 713-461-5900
Boyert Shooting Center
Katy, 281-693-4867
Buck & Doe’s Mercantile, LLC
San Antonio, 830-980-3637
Burdett & Son Outdoor Advntr College Station, 979-695-2807
C.A.C Tactical
South Lake, 888-211-8191
Caroline Colt Company LLC
Abilene, 325-232-7501
Caroline Colt Company LLC
Abilene, 325-232-7501
Carroll’s Gun Shop
Whaton, 979-532-3175
Carter’s Country #2
Houston, 713-461-1844
Carter’s Country #3
Pasadena, 713-475-2222
Carter’s Country #4
Houston, 281-879-1466
CDNN Sports
Abilene, 800-588-9500
Champion Firearms College Station, 979-693-9948
Collectors Firearms
Houston, 713-781-5812
Danny's, Inc.
McAllen, 956-687-4692
Defender Outdoors, LLC
Aubrey, 817-935-8377
DFW Gun Range
Dallas, 214-630-4866
Dury's Gun Shop
San Antonio, 210-533-5431
Fun Guns
Waco, 254-755-0080
Glick Twins
Pharr, 956-787-429
Grabagun.com
Coppell, 972-552-7246
Guard/Defend Firearms
Beaumont, 409-201-9468
Guns Warehouse LLC
Cedar Park, 512-986-7330
Hoss Arms
New Braunfels, 830-609-8891
Jess Briley Manufacturing
Houston, 713-932-6995
$849
John Doe Investigations, LLC
Lewisville, 214-773-0129
Kirkpatrick Gun & Ammo
Laredo, 956-723-6338
Marksmen Firearms One, LLC
Mansfield, 817-453-8680
McBride's Guns
Austin, 512-472-3532
Misson Ridge Range & Academy
San Antonio, 210-504-9000
Mister Guns LLC
Plano, 214-901-7429
Modern Pawn & Guns
Corpus Christi, 361-993-9390
Nagel's Gun Shop, Inc.
San Antonio, 210-342-5420
Nardis Gun Club
San Antonio, 210-369-9199
Omaha Outdoors
Rosenberg, 713-703-4648
Past & Blast Antiques & Firearms
Whitesboro, 903-564-5444
Primary Arms
Houston, 713-344-9600
Ranger Firearms of Texas Inc.
San Antonio, 210-822-4867
Ray's Hardware & Sporting Goods
Dallas, 214-747-7916
Red’s Indoor Range - North
Pflugerville, 512-251-1022
RifleGear.com
Plano, 949-292-7678
SK Arms
Midland, 432-704-5127
Sharp Shooters Knife & Gun Inc
Lubbock, 806-791-1231
Southwestern Firearms, Inc.
Midlothian, 972-617-7056
Sportsman's Finest
Austin, 512-263-1888
Sportsman Outfitters
Longview, 903-759-0638
Spring Guns & Ammo
Spring, 832-299-1950
Superior Outfitters
Tyler, 903-592-4006
Superior Outfitters
Longview, 903-212-2200
Texas Gun Club
Stafford, 832-539-7000
Texas Gun Expierence
Grapevine, 817-285-5664
Texas Gun Shop
San Angelo, 325-949-0020
The Arms Room
Dickinson, 832-226-3248
Weby Corp
Arlington, 800-851-9329
Xtreme Guns & Ammo
Richmond, 832-363-3783
VISIT WWW.HK-USA.COM
| 11 PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE
Your Local Texas HK Premium Dealer to Learn More! www.hk-usa.com • 706-568-1906
Visit
VP pistols have easy to change backstraps and side panels for a personalized fit. 27 custom-fitted grip combinations are possible.
Game-changing
THERMAL HUNTING
AVENGER 40
WAVE12 384 Sensor
9+ Hour Runtime
MSRP: $4099
AVENGER 55XR
WAVE12 640 Sensor
7+ Hour Runtime
MSRP: $5989
Available at fine retailers all across the Great State of Texas
Fusion Thermal Exclusive Features
Micro Click Focus Leave the Collars to the Dogs
Getting your target into focus quickly and easily is a must, and you won’t find a better system than our Micro Click Focus. Our tactile focus knob is conveniently located on top of the front lens, and unlike the dog collar design used by our competitors you won’t need to perform a circus act just to focus your scope. Plus, you’ll always get your best shot as the micro click adjustments put you on the perfect focus point every time.
ARCLIGHT Ultra HD Germanium Lens High Purity for Maximum Energy
The single most expensive component of a well-crafted thermal is its germanium lens. If you skimp here, you’re not even in the game. Our high purity ArcLight Ultra HD Germanium Lens is the crowning jewel of our technology package. It perfects the task of collecting and funneling infrared energy into the thermal sensor unhindered by distortion. This clean transition results in an infrared energy dump that unleashes the full potential of our WAVE thermal sensor delivering a user experience well beyond expectations.
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Menu Industry’s Easiest Menu System
We think you’re really going to like our menu; it uses words, English words. Written for Americans by Americans. That’s why we called it KISS. You’ve heard the phrase, and at Fusion Thermal it’s the reason we can make the industry’s boldest statement: Our operating system is so easy to use you’ll likely never read the instructions.
T3 Control System
Don’t Let Your Fingers Get Lost in the Dark
Our highly intuitive three button control system with center tower makes using your scope simple and easy. Every command is at your fingertips, and the Center Tower evenly splits the control panel, so you’ll never be confused about what button you’re going to press. We thought this a particularly good idea since you’ll be using it in the dark most of the time.
WAVE Thermal Sensor Same Money, Better Performance
Is it possible for one thermal scope to dramatically outperform everything else in its class? Yes, so don’t make the mistake of shopping by specifications alone or you just might get burned. Our WAVE thermal sensors push the limit of what is technically possible and set the standard for image quality, ruggedness, and long life. So, before you plop down your hard-earned cash make sure you do a side-by-side to any similarly priced competitive alternative. We think you’ll find the difference to be clearly obvious.
XGEN Alloy Housing
Plastic is for toys. Metal is for tools. It’s a fact, thermals produce heat, and heat is the enemy of all thermal devices. If you don’t get the heat out operational performance will degrade, and long-term internal damage is a certainty. Our XGEN (Next Generation Alloy Body) shields your expensive investment in a metal clad of armor, and our high-end AL6082 Conductive Structural Alloy displaces heat at an astounding 71,900% better than plastic. You don’t think of your thermal as some cheap plastic toy. Why should it be built like one?
12 | PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2023 Lone Star Outdoor News
simplicity. Industry leading runtime. Onboard video, photo and HD audio recording. Meet the new AVENGER from Fusion Thermal.