September 27, 2013 - Lone Star Outdoor News - Fishing & Hunting

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September 27, 2013

Hauling it in Border game wardens work to stop illegal gill-netting.

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Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper

September 27, 2013

Volume 10, Issue 3

Wet opener

New TV guide

Inside

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South Zone dove hunters met by rain, cooler temperatures ❘❚ FISHING

Bull reds coming inshore Anglers catching oversized fish at many jetties.

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Texas Tenkara

By Conor Harrison

Japanese style of fly-fishing catching on in Texas.

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Lone Star outdoor newS

❘❚ HUNTING

Numbers don’t lie Poaching drops after penalties stiffened.

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Up and running Sportsman Shooting Center opens to rave reviews in Grapevine.

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❘❚ CONTENTS

Classifieds . . . . . . . .

Crossword . . . . . . . .

Freshwater Fishing Report For the Table. . . . . . .

Game Warden Blotter . . .

Heroes. . . . . . . . . .

Outdoor Datebook . . . .

Products . . . . . . . . .

Prime Time . . . . . . .

Saltwater Fishing Report .

Sun, Moon and Tide data .

. . . . . . . . . . .

Page 14 Page 22 Page 10 Page 22 Page 12 Page 24 Page 34 Page 28 Page 15 Page 14 Page 22

WET OPENER: Atascosa County hunter Jim Wheeler sets a decoy on a fence post after a storm near Pleasanton delayed the opening afternoon hunt. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

GPS mapping moves to private waters

Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PLANO, TX PERMIT 210

❘❚ LSONews.com

Making their way down Teal opener tough, second weekend improved Lone Star outdoor newS

Texas teal hunters have had better early seasons than this one.

A combination late

See DOVE, Page 27

What lies beneath

LATE IN COMING: The teal arrived later than normal this season, although by the second weekend hunters were reporting better success.

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

By Conor Harrison

There is an old joke in Texas about the opening of dove season every year.

Hunters almost expect a rainstorm to scatter birds they have been watching for the past few weeks, turning an easy limit into a head-scratcher that leaves hunters asking, “Where’d all the birds go?”

Well, right on cue, a front moved through many parts of South Texas on Friday Sept.

20, just in time for the opener.

Near George West, Mark Katzfey of the Katzfey Ranch said the hunters who braved the drizzle were rewarded with an outstanding opening day hunt.

“Everyone who didn’t bail because of the

hatch up north, lack of food and water in Texas and great habitat conditions in places like Kansas all made See TEAL, Page 16

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star outdoor newS Private fishing pond owners have a new tool to help with their fishing and understanding of their lakes, GPS mapping.

Several pond management companies offer the service, where landowners can receive detailed maps of their ponds, as small as 5 acres, just like the maps of Texas reservoirs.

“It’s a real simple process,” said Jason Chapman of Lochow Ranch, a lake management company in Bryan. “We put a boat in and crisscross the lake in laid-out transects.”

The passes are real close, about five feet from each other.

“Then we take the information back and upload it to the computer,” Chapman said. “Using the GPS mapping software, it returns a

THAT’S WHAT IS DOWN THERE: Anglers can now see what lies beneath the water with mapping technology for private ponds.

Photo by Pond Medics.

map.”

The maps show pond depths in 1-foot increments. Additional information, like the existence of structure, weed masses and vegetation can be added.

“It’s real interesting especially for customers with deep lakes with structure and topography on the lake,” Chapman said.

See MAPS, Page 21

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HUNTING

NOT WORTH IT: Since major poaching violations became a state jail felony, Texas has seen a big decline in cases. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

It used to be worse Change in 1999 to state jail felony put the brakes on deer poaching

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News Poaching of white-tailed deer and other big game is still considered a serious problem in Texas.

But some remember when it was a whole lot worse.

“We had a real problem with poachers spotlighting deer

across the state,” said Lewis Rather, a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lieutenant and current Operation Game Thief coordinator.

Prior to 1999, the poaching of deer without landowner consent was a misdemeanor. Over the years, the crime moved from a Class C to a Class A misdemeanor,

but the changes weren’t much of a deterrent.

In response, the Texas Legislature made it a state jail felony to kill a bighorn, pronghorn, mule deer or white-tailed deer without landowner consent in 1999.

“It has had a great impact,” Rather said. “Overall, the cases

dropped dramatically.”

Dramatically may be an understatement.

Rather provided the actual numbers to Lone Star Outdoor News.

Before 1999, TPWD had nearly 10,000 major poaching crimes involving hunting without landowner consent. In the 13 seasons since then, there have been 104.

Best of the best Helice national championships bring competitors from across U.S.

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

The best Helice shooters in the country gathered at the Dallas Gun Club Sept. 13-15 for the U.S. Helice Association National Championship.

Helice (pronounced ha-lease), means propeller and aptly describes the targets, called ZZ birds, which consist of a central witness cap ringed by winged, plastic propellers on either side.

Inside the Helice ring, 21 meters beyond the launchers is a semicircular fence, 24 inches high, marking the outside border of the shooting area (into which all scor-

ing targets must fall). The Helice competitor does not know which launcher will fire the next ZZ bird.

According to U.S. Helice President Mike Higgins, the U.S. Championship consisted of two 30-bird events shot on Saturday and Sunday. The combined scores over both days determined the U.S. Champion. The top three places were open, i.e., men, women or juniors could win the gold, silver or bronze medals. Each day was looked on as a separate qualifying event for shooters to be considered for the 2014 U.S. Team.

One of the most promising See HELICE, Page 17 THE GIRL CAN SHOOT: Shea Self takes aim at a recent shooting competition. Photo by Shea Self.

“A ticket and a fine wasn’t stopping them,” Rather said.

But jail time and a stiff fine, often in the thousands of dollars, did.

The language, contained in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, Section 61.022, reads: See FELONY, Page 20

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Improve your rifle skills at Sportsman Shooting Center

NOW OPEN: The new Sportsman Shooting Center in Grapevine is the newest, most technologically advanced shooting center in the country. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News

Live Fire Cinema Range brings the hunt to you

The Sportsman Shooting Center in Grapevine opened Sept. 21, and hunters are raving about their experience at America’s first indoor hunting training facility.

And it helps both the experienced and new rifle shooters.

Cindy Swisher tested the range at a preview for some Dallas Safari Club members on Sept. 16. Cindy had never fired a rifle, while her

husband, Bill, is a veteran hunter.

“I had a ball,” she said. “I know I could go out now and shoot a deer or big game — I’m not intimidated by the rifle any more.”

The two-hour long shooting experience begins in the 100-yard sighting tunnel.

Shooters may bring their own gun or shoot one of the guns at the facility, the

Blaser R8 in .223, .270. 308 or 30.06 equipped with an Aimpoint Red Dot Sight. Instructors help you sight the gun, and the electronic scoring provides immediate feedback.

After shooting, the results appear on the computer and shooters can view their grouping after each shot.

And better yet, the target is self-healing, so there’s no need to reel it in and replace.

For bragging rights, a printSee SSC, Page 30

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Blind hunters rarely sighted in field Few taking advantage of Texas’ unique law

By Mark England

ers must take hunter education and buy a huntStanley McGowen, ing license. After who lives outside that, there are Weatherford, and a few restrictions. buddy hunted doves “They have to recently. He went be assisted by a “one for four.” He licensed hunter, Stanley McGowen does better hunting with a hunter quail, averaging taking one education certificate, who is quail for every three shots. at least 13 years of age and not Quail make a racket when legally blind,” Rather said. flushed, he allows.

They’re also required to All in all, not bad for a carry a signed statement blind man. from a physician attesting to McGowen takes full their blindness, he added. advantage of the state law Before the law, hunting empowering the blind to was harder on the blind, said hunt game animals. But, McGowen, a former Army then, it’s part of his legacy. helicopter pilot in Vietnam He and the Texas State Rifle who lost his sight in a 1990 Association worked with plane crash. the late Edmund Kuempel, “I had to hold my head R-Seguin, to get it passed. straight up and the spotIt wasn’t an easy sell. ter looked past my ear into “Some people said let- the scope,” McGowen said. ting someone blind hunt is “He told me ‘Left, right, up, like letting someone drunk down,’ whatever, and then drive a car,” said McGowen, ‘Shoot.’ I still hunt that way a retired history professor. sometimes. In some states, “I had to tamp down a lot of you can’t use a laser.” bogus information.”

Hunting with a laser sight The 2007 law lets the blind lets him get into a natural use laser sights as a hunting hunting position, McGowen aid. said. Plus, there’s less recoil.

“I went hunting that first “If my head is straight up fall and took a nice whitetail behind the rifle, the recoil at 142 yards with a laser in goes straight through my Mason County,” McGowen shoulder,” he said. said.

McGowen has so many Although it’s been six firearms, some are collecyears since Texas enacted the tor items, he can’t list them law, McGowen estimates the off the top of his head. His state has less than 10 blind weapon of choice is a .300 hunters. There’s no way to Winchester Magnum. know for sure. Texas Parks Patience and a good spotand Wildlife Department ter, however, are a blind doesn’t track the num- hunter’s best bets to improve ber of blind hunters, said his shooting, according to Lt. Lewis Rather, of its Law McGowen.

Enforcement Division.

And pick a spotter who “They’re not given a spe- can do more than see a red cial hunting license or any- dot far away. thing,” Rather said.

“He can’t say ‘Shoot’ when Like all hunters, blind hunt- the dot is moving across the

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target, for example, because you’re just going to miss,” McGowen said. “He has to understand the ballistics of shooting long-range with a rifle, know about things like wind drift. It’s not all about putting the dot on the target.”

Roger Nelson said McGowen deserves some credit for his hunting success. Nelson, who spots for his friend, helped sight-in the scope McGowen used in South Africa to land a Cape buffalo. McGowen’s accuracy shooting practice targets up to 100 yards away impressed Nelson.

“He had some really close groupings considering,” said Nelson, who lives in Weatherford. “An inch and a half or so in a three-shot group. I’d be happy with it.”

McGowen is an ambassador for blind hunting.

He’s president of the Patriot Warrior Foundation, which sponsors outdoor activities for disabled veterans, and visits Brooke Army Medical Center to encourage blind veterans and others to take up hunting.

As far as changing public opinion regarding the blind and hunting, McGowen has found a sharp sense of humor is his best weapon.

Once at a pistol range, a target was set at three meters for McGowen. A man in the next shooting station joked to his friends that “Even Ray Charles could shoot at that distance.”

McGowen had a friend move the target seven yards away and hang a tape recorder around the neck.

“The third shot, I blew it to pieces,” McGowen said. “The guys who had been joking asked, ‘How did you do that?’ I said, ‘By the sound — the same way Ray Charles does it.’”

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DSC covers Texas game warden’s life insurance policies With hunting seasons ramping up, it’s the busiest time of year for game wardens across Texas.

In appreciation for their work, the Dallas Safari Club has renewed life insurance policies for every game warden in the state.

Currently there are about 532 game wardens in Texas.

Each policy is worth $10,000 and DSC has covered 100 percent of the premiums since 2005. Over the years, DSC-sponsored policies have paid tens of thousands to the families of Texas game wardens who died in the line of duty.

“We pray that this coverage is never needed again, but we also hope it provides a bit more peace of mind for those who serve on the front lines of conservation in our home state,” said Ben Carter, DSC executive director.

“We could not be more grateful for the concern and support that our partners at DSC have extended to our game wardens and their families,” said Carter Smith, executive director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “DSC members have always recognized the inherent dangers our officers face each and every day working to protect our lands, waters, fish, wildlife, property and lives.

This generous and thoughtful expression of support is yet one more manifestation of our strong partnership in Texas.”

— DSC

October 5 is Cabela’s Ladies Day Out Cabela’s stores in Texas will celebrate the growing number of women enjoying the outdoors with Ladies Day Out, Oct. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This biannual event encourages ladies to try out the latest outdoor apparel, camping gear, personal firearms and other supplies. The first 100 women to register at the store will receive

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a free gift and all women who attend and participate in the event will be invited to enjoy the employee discount on all purchases.

With more than 5 million women participating in shooting sports, an increase of 46.5 percent since 2001, this growing demographic will enjoy classes including an interactive archery shooting experience, introduction to firearms and a Refuse To Be A Victim course.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, new target shooters — those who have taken up the sport in the last five years — are younger, female and urban when compared to established target shooters, or those participating for more than five years.

For women seeking to expand their knowledge and expertise in other areas, such as outdoor cooking, fly-tying, orienteering and wilderness survival, classes will include fishing, camping, cooking with a Dutch oven and more.

Events vary based on location and ladies in attendance will have an opportunity to meet local experts from the guys on Backwoods Bloodline, and classes will be taught by local experts and are free of charge.

— Cabela’s

Perkins honored for quail thesis Becki Perkins, a current Ph.D. student in the Boal Lab of Avian Ecology at Texas Tech University, received the Texas Tech University Outstanding Thesis Award for her 2012 MS thesis “Anti-predatory Behavior of Northern Bobwhite in the Rolling Plains of Texas.”

“This is a substantial accomplishment, as only one award is given every other year in the life sciences at TTU; thus, the thesis was in competition with all life science thesis submitted for consideration from the last two years,” Dr. Clint Boal said.

Perkins performed her studies at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch near Roby.

— Dr. Clint Boal, TTU

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FISHING

Nets across the border Poachers gill-netting the Rio Grande for profit, dinner

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

The old man standing in waist-deep water several yards from shore holding an illegal cast net made from monofilament line knew he was about to lose one of his most important possessions.

Texas Game Wardens had just pulled a gill net stretched across a narrow portion of the Rio Grande River, along with several undersized game fish, including a juvenile snook and several small flounder.

Photographer Erich Schlegel THEY CATCH EVERYTHING: Illegal gill nets, like this one from Mexican poachers who cross the Rio Grande, are hurting fish populations in South Texas.

Photos by Erich Schlegel, for LSON. See NETTING, Page 25

Tough times for tarpon Longtime captain calls it worst season in his 68 years

By Conor Harrison

as the worst year for tarpon I can remember,” he Longtime Galveston Bay tarpon guide said. “The state Capt. Mike Williams has seen some rough record was caught in Galveston on summers fishing for Texas silver kings.

4 (in He can’t remember one that has been October 2006), so this this bad.

“This will go down in the record books should be the time.

Those fish have to come through here on their way to Louisiana. In a normal year, this is when they come.

“We fish just about every day, and a lot of it was the conditions this year.”

Williams said his clients caught a few big fish in June, several in July and then it went to hell in August.

“August was really disappointing,” he said. “It just wasn’t up to par. I’ve been talking with other guides trying to put our finger on it, and we just can’t really figure out what has changed.”

TOUGH SEASON: Large tarpon have been harder to Williams said find this year according to area guides. Photo by David

Lone Star Outdoor News

J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

See TARPON, Page 32

SIMPLIFYING: Angler Russell Husted fishes using his Tenkara rod in Nolan Creek near Belton. Husted said the key to having a natural drift is to keep as much line off of the water as possible. Photo by John Geer, Tenkara USA.

Tenkara and Texas

By Nicholas Conklin For Lone Star Outdoor News

Fly-fishing was at one time a simple and delicate approach to catching fish.

Before the time of $1,200 rods and reels and $100 fly lines, there was simply a long rod, a fixed line and a fly.

Referred to as Tenkara, it is a traditional, barebones approach to flyfishing.

Spawned in the mountains of Japan as an efficient and effective approach for anglers that were after their dinner rather than the sport of

it, Tenkara has made its way across the Pacific.

Now, Tenkara is catching on in Texas and seems to be a favorite of not only trout anglers, but also those in search of bream and other warm water species.

According to Russell Husted, current Texas Council president of the International Federation of Fly Fishers and vicepresident of the Fort Worth Fly Fishers, Tenkara fishing is the best way to take advantage of the often-overlooked waters in and around Dallas and Fort

Worth.

“It’s really ironic that people don’t even pay attention to the opportunities in DFW,” Husted said. “Almost any little creek or canal that goes through the neighborhoods (around major cities) will have good access and opportunities to catch fish.”

Modern Tenkara rods range from 8 1/2 to 14 feet. These telescoping rods have no reel seat and no guides. They are made from general to high-modulus graphite and typically disassemble to about 20 inches.

They weigh only a few ounces and are ideal for backpacking or anglers wanting a versatile rod that can be easily transported.

Actions range from fast, (usually the shorter rods) to medium and slower actions.

John Geer of Tenkara USA said the rod rating system can be somewhat confusing for those used to rod actions of standard western fly rods.

“A lot of times people want a direct correlation between what Tenkara rod is closest to a threeSee TENKARA, Page 21

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The big ones are back

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

IMPROVING: The bass bite across Texas is getting better as the weather cools down.

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

Quick hits — bass reports from around the state Editor’s Note: This is a collection of bass reports from various sources around Texas.

The bass fishing is picking up across Texas as cooler temperatures are getting fish more active.

First, LSON Operations Manager Mike Hughs won a Century Bass Club tournament

on Lake Lewisville Sept. 21.

Hughs said he caught his fish on a fall pattern.

“Lewisville had a recent shad spawn with millions of 1-inch shad, and there were bass setting up in shallow flats looking for shaded cover on sunny days,” he See BASS, Page 18

For Texas redfish anglers, the beginning of October is always circled on the calendar.

That is about the time bull redfish migrate from their offshore haunts, through the jetties and into inshore bays to spawn. And anglers are already taking advantage of this special time.

“Oh yeah, we are slamming them,” said Capt. Jason Woods of Rod Bending Charters in Galveston Bay. “We are fishing the jetties right now and it is just on.”

Woods said his fish have all been over 35 inches, with some bigger fish in the 40- to 45-inch range.

“They are all over 20 pounds,” he said. “We are catching them all on cut bait and we are just slaughtering them.”

That sentiment was spread up and down the coast, especially along the beachfronts, jetties and piers where the big redfish like to come inshore this time of year.

In Galveston, 61st Street Pier anglers have been hooking big redfish with regularity.

According to their fishing report, more than 10 bull redfish more than 20 pounds were caught Monday morning, Sept. 23, before 9 a.m. All of the fish were caught on cut mullet or shrimp.

In the Matagorda Bay area, Capt. “Redfish” Raymond Cox said the fishing has been outstanding the past few weeks, especially when the north wind pushes water into the bays and makes the tides higher than normal.

“The surf has been really up, along with the tides and the bull redfish in the surf have been great,” Cox said. “There are also redfish all over the bays. I got into a school of about 300 to 400 fish yesterday. They all had their backs

BIG ONES: Jenny Nagelmueller landed this bull redfish off the North Jetties in Port O’Connor during a recent family fishing trip. Photo by Jenny Nagelmueller.

and tails out of the water.

It was a tremendous sight.”

Cox said whatever anglers want to throw is catching fish right now.

“I use cut bait with my clients, but scented plastics, other artificials and See BIG, Page 32

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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT All good on Livingston

Moving baits the key

LAKE LIVINGSTON — Livingston continues to fish well, according to guide David Cox of Palmetto Guide Service.

“For largemouth bass, fish medium- and deep-diving crankbaits in shad pattern around the rocks on the south end of the lake,” he said. “The bridge at Kickapoo and the jetties and the dam are producing fish up to 8 pounds.”

For catfish, drift midlake for big blue cats.

Crappie anglers should focus on logjams in the river channel north of Riverside.

Schooling white bass are also being caught all over the lake, using small jigs bounced off the bottom when you find them.

To contact David Cox, call (936) 291-9602.

LAKE FORK — According to guide Andrew Grills, start your morning targeting feeding bass with moving baits fished at all depths.

“Right now, I am targeting groups of feeding fish early in the morning,” he said. “In certain areas there are active fish the first couple hours of daylight. I like to throw moving baits at these fish. Lures like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, lipless baits and top-waters can work well. I know I’m in the right areas when I see feeding fish on my Lowrance, and occasionally you will see them come to the surface. Schooling fish can be found in virtually any depth, because they’re relating more to schools of baitfish than bottom contour.”

As the day progresses, move to areas with more cover.

“Often, slowing down and fishing a small bait like a drop-shot worm may be the only way I can catch them,” Grills added. “However,

AMISTAD: Water clear near Devil’s River, stained past marker 27; 78–82 degrees; 46.73’ low.

Largemouth bass to 4.5 pounds are fair on white or bone-colored frogs and spooks, and on plumcolored weightless worms in newly flooded vegetation in 4–8 feet.

ATHENS: Water clear, 82–86 degrees; 4.69’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and small crankbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad and trotlines.

BASTROP: Water clear; 85–89 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin soft plastic worms and lizards.

BELTON: Water clear; 78–82 degrees; 12.96’ low. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastics on the bottom. White bass are good on minnows at night. Crappie are good on minnows at night.

BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 83–87 degrees; 7.68’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on Texas-rigged creature baits and weightless Flukes.

Crappie are good on white jigs.

BONHAM: Water stained, 82–86 degrees; 2.09’ low. Largemouth bass are fair around cattails — small Texas rigs have been best. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows under the bridges and on brush piles.

Catfish are good drift fishing along the backs of the creeks.

BRAUNIG: Water clear. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse crankbaits and soft plastic worms. Striped bass are good on liver and shad. Channel catfish are good on liver, cut bait and cheesebait. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 82–85 degrees; 20.01’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shad-pattern square bills. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on slabs.

BROWNWOOD: Water stained to clear; 80–84 degrees; 8.96’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon and redbug soft plastic frogs and worms near brush piles, and on top-waters on main lake flats. 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 10–20 feet, and under lighted docks at night.

BUCHANAN: Water stained; 78–82 degrees; 32.47’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on silver flake Whacky Sticks on jigheads, root beer worms on drop-shot rigs, and white/chartreuse back crankbaits in 8–20 feet early. Channel catfish are fair to good on live bait upriver. Yellow and blue catfish are good on live bait upriver.

CALAVERAS: Water clear. Largemouth bass are fair on dark soft plastic worms, spinner baits and crankbaits around reed beds.

Redfish are good on perch and tilapia along the shoreline.

CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 79–83 degrees; 11.85’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red Whacky Sticks on wacky rigs, Smokin’ Green Devil’s Tongues on drop-shot rigs, and white spinner baits along main lake bluffs in 12–20 feet. Striped bass are good jigging blade baits and trolling crankbaits over and around humps in the lower end of the lake.

CEDAR CREEK: Water clear; 83–87 degrees; 6.67’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swim jigs and bladed jigs — deeper fish being caught on deep-diving crankbaits and hollow-belly swimbaits around brush piles. Hybrid striper are good on Sassy Shad. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on trotlines and prepared bait.

CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 22.17’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon soft plastic worms and lizards in 10–20 feet. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and punchbait.

COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 99 degrees at hot water discharge; 3.45’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish to 6 pounds are fair on perch in 8–10 feet.

CONROE: Water lightly stained; 80–84 degrees; 3.64’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on tequila sunrise soft plastics, Senkos, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits.

Crappie are good on minnows.

COOPER: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 12.34’ low. Largemouth bass are good on nail-weighted Flukes and Senkos. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs.

FALCON: Water clear in the lower end, stained in the upper end; 84–88 degrees; 37.32’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on chartreuse and watermelon tube jigs around structure and brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on cut bait, stinkbait and frozen shrimp.

GIBBONS CREEK: Water clear.

Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red Carolina-rigged soft plastics, spinner baits and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse tube jigs.

GRANBURY: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 7.95’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red spinner baits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits. White bass are good on perch-colored spinner baits and minnows. Crappie are good on minnows.

GRANGER: Water clear; 82–86 degrees; 1.81’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/white crankbaits, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on chartreuse/orange jigs tipped with Berkley Crappie Nibbles.

Blue catfish are good on fresh shad and prepared baits.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 9.09’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on shaky heads and deep crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad and trotlines.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 82–86 degrees; 2.46’ low.

Largemouth bass to 6 pounds are very good on bone-colored baby Zara Spooks with glitter, poppers and shad-colored crankbaits early and late. Crappie are good on minnows around brush piles.

Bream are very good on live worms around stumps near the islands. Channel catfish are good on juglines baited with perch.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water offcolor; 78–83 degrees; 20.24’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters early, midday switching to Texas rigs, shaky heads and jigs.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 82–86 degrees; 2.44 low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged soft plastics and small jigs. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared bait.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water lightly stained; 82–87 degrees; 4.01’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Texas-rigged creature baits and black buzzbaits early. Catfish are good on perch and cut shad.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 83–87 degrees; 11.73’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on Texas-rigged soft plastics in green pumpkin. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

LBJ: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 0.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and buzzbaits in 5–10 feet, and on wacky-rigged green pumpkin Whacky Sticks and 4-inch green pumpkin tubes under boat docks.

Striped bass are good on Li’l Fishies at night. White bass are good on Li’l Fishies at night.

Channel catfish are good on minnows and dipbait.

LEWISVILLE: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 8.25’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on medium crankbaits near rocky points. White bass are good on jigs. Hybrid striper are good on Sassy Shad. Catfish are good on cut shad and nightcrawlers.

MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 82–86 degrees; 5.03’ low.

Largemouth bass are fair on flick shakes and wacky worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.

White bass are good on slabs.

Catfish are good on trotlines.

MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 84–88 degrees; 0.17’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on hollow-body frogs and buzzbaits around shallow vegetation.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water lightly stained; 81–85 degrees; 3.27’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on chartreuse/black top-waters and shallow-running crankbaits.

Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on live and frozen shad.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 75–82 degrees; 39.79’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters early, later switching to jigs and Carolina rigs. Catfish are fair to good on nightcrawlers.

OAK CREEK: Water stained; 76–82 degrees; 20.18’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs, jigs and Texas rigs. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait and nightcrawlers.

there are times when aggressively fishing a deep-diving crankbait through the trees can get a reaction bite.”

To contact guide Andrew Grills, call (903) 638-1170.

Good numbers in the swamp CADDO LAKE — Anglers have reported a decent bass bite right now, with some fish in the creeks being caught on flukes, Texas-rigged worms, drop-shot rigs and Senkos.

Bass have also been caught punching jigs through hydrilla and vegetation mats. There has been some schooling activity reported.

White bass and yellow bass have been caught on live minnows and slabs.

The catfish bite has been good on cut bait.

— Conor Harrison

PALESTINE: Water clear; 82–86 degrees; 2.08’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shaky heads and split-shot rigs near docks and timber closest to deep water.

Catfish are good on cut bait and prepared bait.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water fairly clear; 77–83 degrees; 11.06’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on Yellow Magics early, later switching to jigs, drop-shot rigs and Carolina rigs. White bass are fair to good on slabs and tail spinners.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 81–85 degrees; 7.24’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Striped bass are good on shad. White bass are good on pet spoons and slabs.

RAY HUBBARD: Water clear; 82–87 degrees; 6.46’ low.

Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and small swimbaits.

Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on trotlines and nightcrawlers.

RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 81–86 degrees; 6.36’ low. Largemouth bass are slow on football jigs and heavy shaky heads near deeper brush piles. Top-water bite can be good early. Crappie are good on minnows and chartreuse jigs.

White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Catfish are good on prepared bait and nightcrawlers.

RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 9.74’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow on topwaters, midday switching to green pumpkin Texas-rigged worms near brush piles in 8–10 feet. Hybrid striper are good on slabs and Sassy Shad. Crappie are good on jigs.

SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 78–82 degrees; 6.61’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on watermelon red soft plastic worms and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and watermelon tube jigs. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and punchbait.

SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 82–86 degrees; 7.15’ low. Largemouth bass are good on chartreuse/white crankbaits, spinner baits and lipless crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and blue tube jigs.

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

STILLHOUSE: Water stained; 79–83 degrees; 9.70’ low. Large-

SEE MORE

n Saltwater fishing reports: Page 14 mouth bass are slow. White bass are good on minnows and pet spoons. Crappie are good on minnows and pink tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish are good on shrimp and stinkbait.

TAWAKONI: Water stained; 83–87 degrees; 8.53’ low. Largemouth bass are good on black buzzbaits early, later switching to Texasrigged creature and black/blue flipping jigs around shallow cover.

White bass are good on slabs and minnows. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on slabs.

TEXOMA: Water clear; 81–85 degrees; 2.44’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters early and late, midday switching to Carolina rigs around rocky points.

Striped bass are good on slabs and Sassy Shad. Catfish are good on trotlines and perch.

TOLEDO BEND: Water lightly stained; 78–82 degrees; 4.70’ low. Largemouth bass are fair 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 good on live minnows and green tube jigs.

Bream are good on crickets and nightcrawlers. Channel and blue catfish are good on punchbait.

TRAVIS: Water clear; 80–84 degrees; 60.13’ low. Largemouth bass are good on watermelon red soft plastic worms, chrome chuggers and smoke grubs in 5–20 feet. Crappie are good on minnows and blue/white tube jigs in 15–25 feet. Channel and blue catfish are excellent on nightcrawlers and liver.

WHITNEY: Water stained; 78–82 degrees; 11.98’ low. Largemouth bass are good on green pumpkin lipless crankbaits, spinner baits and crankbaits on main lake points and flats. Striped bass are good on chartreuse striper jigs.

Crappie are good on minnows.

— TPWD

LSONews.com

Angler drowns in Lake Ray Roberts A man pre-fishing for an upcoming tournament on Lake Ray Roberts Sept. 21 was found Sunday after his empty boat was seen by another angler.

Gabriel Carter, 29, of Pottsboro, was found by divers in 25 feet of water after he went missing around noon on Saturday.

According to fellow anglers, Carter’s boat was seen without him by other people fishing a tournament.

They saw his life vest and kill switch still in the boat, then backtracked his path by checking with the graph on his boat. His body was recovered close to where the anglers marked his last known position.

Game wardens from Denton and Cooke counties, the Denton County Water Patrol, Lake Ray Roberts State Park officers and the Lewisville Fire Department dive team all participated in the search and recovery effort.

The cause of Carter’s death has not yet been determined by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s office.

— Staff report

What fish eat About 1,500 marine fishes make the Gulf of Mexico their home.

From birds, to fish, and marine mammals to crustaceans, the Gulf of Mexico Species Interaction database, created by a researcher at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, currently has diet data on over 600 of the marine fishes. It is the first and only database of its kind for the Gulf of Mexico that shows

how the cataloged animals interact with each other in the food web.

“Unless you’re a scientist or grad student, you may have never wondered what preys on porcelain crabs,” said Dr. James Simons with the university’s Center for Coastal Studies. “But if you’re a fisherman, you would probably like to know what type of critters your favorite game fish likes to eat.”

Simons started collecting data on how the different species of the Gulf interact in 1987, but it wasn’t until 2002 that he got the idea to put all of the information he had collected into one, easily-accessible place: the World Wide Web. “In any ecosystem, it is important to know the food web, or who eats who,” said Simons. “This food web is the biostructure that shows us the pathways by which energy flows through the ecosystem.”

The scope of data in GoMexSI includes the estuaries and coastal waters of Cuba, Mexico, and the United States and all of the Gulf waters to the deepest realms.

Simons says the database has already proven valuable to various research projects including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment program that is using the data for diet information on fish that will aid in the construction of fishery ecosystem models.

“Fisheries are especially important in the Gulf as a source of employment, income, recreation, and food,” Simons said. “The detailed data provided by this project will hopefully improve the accuracy of the fishery models that are used, in part, to make management decisions.”

— Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Big Bass Challenge headed to Fork The 8th annual Amateur Big Bass Challenge hosted by Bass Champs will take place on Lake Fork on Oct. 19.

The big money event will take place out of Lake Fork Marina and continues to grow in popularity as more than 800 anglers last year vied for over $100,000 in cash and prizes, including two bass boats.

While everyone is vying for the biggest bass over and under the slot limits to win the boats, most checks are for fish in the 2-4 pound range.

Several checks, however, were handed out for fish in the onepound range. The rules do not allow anglers that have paid a $2,500 tournament entry fee to fish the tournament and this opens the field for the weekend tournament warriors and recreational angler to win some money, have fun and also a shot at winning a new boat.

Each hour, an angler can bring one fish to the scales to try and stay in the running for a chance to receive one of the hourly cash awards. The unique aspect of this tournament is that only Berkley and Sebile baits can be used during the challenge.

“This fun format lets anglers be exposed to the full spectrum of our baits,” said Andrew Marks, marketing director for Berkley. “It is challenging to not only adjust to some of the new baits that are being used, but also the added strategy of when to weigh in your fish that lends a unique twist making it fun for everyone.”

— Blue Heron Communications

September 27, 2013

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September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

GAME WARDEN BLOTTER GILL NETS RECOVERED, GAME FISH RETURNED TO WATER Cameron County Game Wardens Billy Lucio, Derrick Lopez, Dan Cantu, and Luis Sosa and Willacy County Game Warden Oscar Castaneda patrolled the Rio Grande River from the mouth of the river, upstream about 10 miles, enforcing recreational and commercial fishing regulations.

During this patrol 1,200 feet of illegal gill net set in Texas waters and three illegally constructed crab traps were seized. Flounder, snook, spotted seatrout and black drum were some of species of fish caught in the gill net.

All gear is pending destruction. (See the story, page 8) SOUTH TEXAS WHITEWING SHOOTERS START EARLY Hidalgo County Game Wardens Harry Rakosky, Ira Zuniga, Oscar Jaimez, and Will Plumas were busy patrolling the county enforcing dove hunting laws on local citizens who believed the Special White-winged Dove Season started in August.

Multiple dove seizures and citations were issued throughout the county.

BAITED LAST YEAR, CAUGHT THIS YEAR Terrell County Game Wardens Arnold Pinales and Jon Griffin made contact with a subject in an area that they had found with numerous shotgun shells and signs of questionable dove hunting last year. A heavily milo-baited area was found adjacent to the windmill where the subject was hunting. Case pending.

CORN AND MILO BY POND TIPPED OFF WARDEN Kent/Dickens counties Game Warden Cane Shumaker entered into a ranch where he found a field with a large pond that was heavily baited with corn and milo. With no one around, he returned later that evening. No hunters were in the area but some were on an adjacent property that overlooked

BAITING DOVE, SHOOTING QUAIL Acting on information gathered last dove season, Terrell County Game Wardens Jonathan Griffin and Arnold Pinales staked out an area that had been baited and watched from a distance. Two individuals were observed hunting dove from a vehicle and later they continued their hunt from the middle of the baited area. Ten minutes after sunset, they called it a day and headed back to the camp house. the baited pond. Then, four suspects arrived at the pond and set up their decoys directly over the bait and began to hunt. Seventeen dove were seized; cases pending.

DOUBLE-DIPPER DINGED Sterling County Game Warden Michael Jaramillo checked a subject hunting dove that morning and found him hunting that same afternoon; the man was over the limit by five doves.

Case pending.

FATHER ASKS WARDEN HOW CLOSE TO BAITED FIELD HE CAN HUNT; LETS SONS HUNT THERE Shelby County Game Wardens Nathan Skeen and Anthony King were patrolling an area that was rumored to be baited for dove hunting. They confirmed by finding piles and lines of milo scattered inside a gas location site, with fields surrounding the site.

That afternoon, Skeen was near the baited area when he heard shots at that location around 6:15 p.m. Upon approach, Skeen noticed two hunters hunting a short distance from the bait. Through questioning, wardens learned the father of the two juvenile hunters knew the bait was there but decided to hunt it anyway. The same father asked San Augustine County Game Warden Lee Hall a few weeks earlier how far away from bait they could hunt and still be okay because he “knew his neighbors were baiting.” He owned all the surrounding

The wardens made contact with the subjects a few minutes later as the hunters were in the process of cleaning 18 dove and 11 quail. When asked about the quail, they claimed them as commercially raised game birds. A couple of questions from the wardens that could not be answered proved their claim was not valid. Citations for hunting over bait and possession of quail in closed season are pending.

property where the bait was placed.

Cases pending.

GROUP CAUGHT RALLYING DOVE, QUAIL Borden/Dawson counties Game Warden Brent Tucker observed a group of five subjects rallying birds while walking down a county road and shooting at doves as they flushed off a power line. They then flushed a covey of quail and shot two. Citations were issued.

ARCHER TRYING TO ARROW DOVES OVER BAIT Borden/Dawson counties Game Warden Tucker observed a man wearing a ghillie suit with a recurve bow hiding next to a barn. After watching the archer for 20 minutes unsuccessfully attempting to harvest doves with the bow and arrows, Tucker made contact with the archer. Tucker talked to the archer for a while and discovered the archer was baiting the doves with corn.

THE NATURAL FOOD WAS BETTER Lubbock County Game Warden Mallory Mitchell was out checking the last of the dove hunters at sunset. As she was calling it a day and on her way back to her truck, she spotted a large amount of commercial birdseed scattered in the field.

Two individuals were cited for hunting over bait. The sad thing was that there was already a freshly harvested sunflower field adjacent to the property, and the doves were flying all day.

WARDENS BUST NUMEROUS BAITERS Smith County Game Wardens Dustin Dockery and Brad Clark, along with Cherokee County Game Wardens Eric Collins and Brian Bearden, found a total of seven baited fields and seized a combined 107 illegally taken mourning dove in Smith County during the first two days of hunting season. Most fields were baited with milo. Numerous citations were issued.

UNLICENSED HUNTERS COULDN’T PUT GUNS AWAY FAST ENOUGH On the second day of dove season, Williamson County game wardens were patrolling for dove hunters.

Game Wardens Arlen Jones and Joel Campos heard some nearby gunshots while checking a dove field. The wardens found four hunters who decided to put their shotguns inside the truck when they saw the wardens approaching. Jones found two hunters without a hunting license and Campos found one hunter who didn’t have a hunting license and had an unplugged shotgun.

Cases and civil restitution pending.

LANDOWNERS’ FIELD LEASED BUT NOT BY HIM McLennan County Game Wardens Michael Serbanic and Matt Kiel made contact with a landowner regarding people hunting without landowner consent.

Apparently an individual with no valid interest in the property had leased the land to an outfitter. No one was more surprised or upset than the landowner

to find more than 50 people hunting on his property opening day. He was more surprised when he learned this activity had been going on for years.

HUNTER CONFESSED TO MISTAKING HAWK FOR COLLARED DOVE Real County Game Warden Clint Graham was checking dove hunters near Barksdale. Graham pulled into a camp and was met by a hunter who had just come in from the field.

When asked how his hunt went, the man said, “Not very well, not very well at all.” Graham said he heard a lot of shooting from the group. The hunter said, “I messed up and I messed up bad.” The hunter showed Graham a hawk that he mistook for a ring-necked dove. The hunter stated it was flying slowly like a ring-necked dove and that the sun impaired his vision. The hunter stated that he kept the hawk because he figured he was going to be checked on opening morning and wanted to do the right thing. The hunter was cited for taking a protected species.

GRAIN SPREAD ON THE GROUND COSTS GROUP 70 BIRDS Johnson County Game Warden Scott Kirkpatrick and Hood County Game Warden Deshanna Creager made contact with four individuals out of the DFW area. During the process of checking licenses, birds and shotguns, the wardens noticed grain on the ground. The individuals possessed more than 70 birds taken from the baited field. Cases pending.

POTS OF TREES WITH MILO SET ALONG FENCE LINE Austin County Game Warden Sonny Alaniz and federal Game Warden Kevin Sieler checked a group of 23 hunters hunting on property adjacent to a tree farm in Austin County. Pots of trees were set up along the fence line. Alaniz found milo placed in the pots. Sieler spoke with the guides and charges are pending.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

September 27, 2013

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LSONews.com

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT Mangroves and solid boxes

Castaway Lodge in Seadrift.

“We finally broke into some consistency primarily targeting redfish over mud and grass,” said Capt. Kris Kelley. “Hurricane Ingrid pushed up some really big tides and as the water has been easing down, the fishing has been improving.”

Kelley said the trout bite is also on the rise.

“We expect the cool fronts to improve trout fishing here in the near term,” he added.

To contact Castaway Lodge, call (888) 618-4868.

Sponsored by

SOUTH BAY — Capt. Dewitt Thomas has been having good success putting his clients on solid boxes of trout, redfish and mangrove snapper in the South Padre Island area.

According to Thomas, the north wind has built up the water in the lower coast bays, making long drifts productive.

“We’ve caught some nice reds and trout,” he said. “Nothing spectacular, but overall it has been very solid fishing.”

Thomas said the mangrove snapper fishing has been really good around pilings in the Brownsville Ship Channel, and his clients have been combining fishing trips with dove hunting in the afternoon.

“The cast and blasts are really good right now,” he said. “Lots of fish and lots of birds.”

To contact Capt. Dewitt Thomas, call (956) 551-1965.

Big tides SEADRIFT — The fishing has been a little spotty but is picking up according to

Mixed bag DICKINSON BAY — Anglers have reported a good bite of redfish, trout and flounder in Dickinson Bay near Texas City.

According to reports, redfish are being caught on scented plastics and curly-tailed grubs in chartreuse colors. Flounder are becoming more frequent and have been biting DOA shrimp and other soft plastics.

Live bait, cut mullet and shrimp are a good choice for redfish and trout.

— Conor Harrison

NORTH SABINE: Redfish are good in the marsh on Stanley Ribbits and weedless soft plastics.

Trout are fair to good under slicks and birds on top-waters and soft plastics.

Whiting and sand trout are good on the edge of the Intracoastal on fresh shrimp. Redfish are good in the marsh on natural baits and scented plastics.

and grass humps on soft plastics and topwaters. Redfish are good on live shrimp and top-waters in Oyster Lake, Crab Lake and Shell Island.

SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under birds and pods of shad. Trout are good at the jetty on live bait and top-waters. Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs and table shrimp.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: Bull redfish are good in the surf and at San Luis Pass on crabs and mullet. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetties on shrimp and crabs.

PORT O’CONNOR: Bull redfish are good in the surf and at the jetty on natural baits. Trout and redfish are fair for drifters working the back lakes with live shrimp and top-waters.

Trout are good on live bait over reefs in San Antonio Bay.

BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the south shoreline on soft plastics, Trout Killers and Sand Eels.

Trout, bull redfish, black drum, sand trout and redfish are good at Rollover Pass. Bull redfish and sharks have been taken on the beach near Rollover.

TEXAS CITY: Bull redfish are good in the channel on crabs and mullet. Sand trout and Gulf trout are good in the channel on shrimp.

Redfish are fair to good in Moses Lake on crabs and shrimp.

FREEPORT: Bull redfish are good on live bait and crabs on the Surfside Beach. Black drum and redfish are good on the reefs in Christmas and Bastrop bays.

TRINITY BAY: Redfish are good on the north shoreline on gold spoons and small top-waters. Redfish are good in the marsh on shrimp. EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for driftTrout are fair to good around the wells on live ers on live shrimp over humps and scattered bait. shell. Redfish are good in Lake Austin on shrimp and scented plastics.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good over WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair on sand reefs while working slicks with soft plastics.

ROCKPORT: Redfish are fair to good on mullet near Traylor Island. Trout are fair around Mud Island and Allyn’s Bight on small top-waters and soft plastics under corks.

PORT ARANSAS: Bull redfish are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. Redfish are good around Pelican Island on top-waters and scented plastics.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Bull redfish are good in the channels on crabs and table shrimp. Redfish are good on the shallow flats on gold spoons and small top-waters. Bull redfish are good

in the Packery Channel on crabs, mullet and shrimp.

BAFFIN BAY: Trout and redfish are good on topwaters and plum plastics around rocks and grass. Redfish are fair to good at Yarborough on gold spoons and top-waters.

PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are good while drifting potholes on top-waters and soft plastics under a popping cork. Trout are good on the flats with higher tides on top-waters.

SOUTH PADRE: Trout, redfish and snook are fair to good on the flats on live shrimp under a popping cork. Bull redfish are good at the jetty on crabs and mullet.

PORT ISABEL: Trout and redfish are fair to good while drifting sand and grass flats on live shrimp, DOA Shrimp and scented plastics under popping corks. Snook are good on topwaters on the edge of the channel.

— TPWD

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Guided and unguided hunts. www.

PoetryShootingClub.com (214) 728-2755 SOUTH PADRE FISHING Reds, Trout, Flounder, Snook. Everything supplied but food and licenses.

Multiple trip discounts. Call Capt. Thomas for details or CDCT12005@aol.com (956) 551-1965 AR 500 STEEL TARGETS (770) 680-8950 LEASE WANTED Looking for a year round hunting lease. Fishing included.

Camp house is needed.

North, Central or West Tx. (214) 361-2276 LEARN TO FLY FISH CASTING LESSONS Lessons by a certified casting instructor in Dallas.

Group lessons available.

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(830) 563-2658 REDLEG OUTFITTERS BOOK NOW Guided duck hunts available in Lamar County. Call: (903) 517-5889 TDHA - JOIN TODAY TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOC. www.texasdovehunters.com (210) 764-1189 TRUCK FOR SALE The nicest hunting truck you can buy in Texas.

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WORLD FISHING NETWORK Collegiate Bass Fishing Kayak Bassin’ TV Bass West USA TV Skeeter Bass Champs Timmy Horton Outdoors Big Bass Battle FLW Tour Fish’n Canada

PURSUIT CHANNEL Avian X Flyway Highway Honey Brake Experience NWTF 365 Hunting with HECS Tachycardia Outdoors Gulf South Outdoors Whitetail Diaries Hunt Wicked Close TV-- Con Fletcha, LLC Show of Support Mississippi Outdoors Inside the Obsession Gun Talk TV

SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Trijicon’s the Hunt Country Boys Outdoors Guns & Ammo Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Ruger Inside and Out World of Beretta Tac TV What if?

Guns & Ammo Davidson’s Gallery of Guns Ruger Inside and Out World of Beretta Tac TV SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Drake’s Migration Nation Antler Insanity Whitetail Properties Major League Bowhunter Realtree’s Monster Bucks Back Country Quest Brad Farris’ Game Plan Savage Outdoors Whitetail Properties Major League Bowhunter Realtree’s Monster Bucks Back Country Quest Brad Farris’ Game Plan SPORTSMAN CHANNEL A-Way Outdoors TV Scent Blocker’s The Chase w/ Leigh & Travis Big Deer TV Destination Whitetail North American Whitetail Winchester World of Whitetail The Zone Adrenaline Junkies Big Deer TV Destination Whitetail North American Whitetail Winchester World of Whitetail The Zone SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Priefert’s Backwoods Bloodline Reel Shot Fresh Tracks with Randy Newberg The Outfitters Built by Ford F-Series Petersen’s HUNTING Adventures Into High Country 3-Gun Nation 3-Gun Nation Fresh Tracks with Randy Newberg The Outfitters Built by Ford F-Series Petersen’s HUNTING Adventures Into High Country 3-Gun Nation SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Innerloc’s Out There Backwoods Life Relentless Pursuit Name the Game Bowhunter TV Midwest Whitetail with Bill Winke Easton Bowhunting Maximum Archery Ambush Tour Relentless Pursuit Name the Game Bowhunter TV Midwest Whitetail with Bill Winke Easton Bowhunting SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Brush Country Monsters Hardcore Pursuit The Western Hunter Hollywood Hunter E-Force E-Force Trijicon’s World of Sports Afield Moment of Impact The Western Hunter Hollywood Hunter E-Force E-Force Trijicon’s World of Sports Afield

PURSUIT CHANNEL Carnivore Deadly Passion North American Hunter The High Road Inside the Obsession Scentblocker & Drury’s Natural Born NWTF 365 Bloodline Avian X Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt Gulf South Outdoors Hunting with HECS Bear Whisperer

SPORTSMAN CHANNEL Buckventures Whitetail SLAM Pigman Meet the McMillans MeatEater Travelin’ Hunter Territories Wild Gun it with Benny Spies Pigman Meet the McMillans MeatEater Travelin’ Hunter Territories Wild

WORLD FISHING NETWORK George Poveromo’s Saltwater Fishing Kayak Bassin’ TV The Kayak Fishing Show w/ Jim Sammons Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing Force on Force Fishing the Flats The New Fly Fisher Angler West TV

PURSUIT CHANNEL Bear Whisperer Hartcraft Hunting Adventures Southern Woods and Water TV The Bucket List Hank Parker 3D Wildlife Pursuit TV Bowhunting Addiction KT Diaries Canadian Whitetail TV American Outdoors Bloodline Spook Nation Mayhem OD PURSUIT CHANNEL Outdoor Insights Game On The RUSH Spiritual Outdoor Adventures Honey Brake Experience Game Keepers Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt Mississippi Outdoors Open Season Outdoor TV Classics Outdoor TV Classics The High Road North Amercian Safari Hank Parker 3D PURSUIT CHANNEL Huntin’ Is Good!

Campfire Stories Struttin Bucks “The Juncture” Wallhanger TV Backland Experiences Hunting Connection TV Big Boy Adventures TNT Outdoors Explosion Trophy State of Mind Bob Redfern’s Outdoor Magazine Backland Experiences Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt American Trigger Sports Network PURSUIT CHANNEL Young Guns Complete Season Trigger Time TV American Airgunner American Trigger Sports Network Gun Talk TV Doug Koenig’s Championship Season Guns & Gear TV 3 Gun Nation 3 Gun Nation Tuff Girls

Page 15

Reel Fishy Jobs with Mark Melnyk Offshore Adventure Quest WORLD FISHING NETWORK Sportfishing on the Fly In the Loop Fly Nation The New Fly Fisher Game Fisher’s Diary Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing Joy of Fishing BC Outdoors Sport Fishing

Reel Fishy Jobs with Mark Melnyk Hookin’ Up with Mariko Izumi WORLD FISHING NETWORK Copout Outdoor Adventures IGFA Saltwater Adventures Big Coast Sportfishing Inside Sport Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show w/ Jim Sammons Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing The New Fly Fisher Canadian Sportfishing

Reel Fishy Jobs with Mark Melnyk Lost Lake WORLD FISHING NETWORK Fishing the Flats Fishing Texas Florida Adventure Quest Flats Class Belize Outdoors Inside Sport Fishing Angler West TV Westcoast Sporting Journal

Backwoods Angler TV Fish TV WORLD FISHING NETWORK Lindner’s Angling Edge The Next Bite TV John Gillespie’s Water & Woods Musky Hunter The Session Season on the Edge Jarrett Edwards Outdoors Fish TV

Copout Outdoor Adventures Canadian Sportfishing WORLD FISHING NETWORK American Fly Guide Mark Berg’s Fishing Addiction IGFA Saltwater Adventures Boat Fishing With Barham FLW Tour FLW Tour Fishing 411 BC Outdoors Sport Fishing

Beyond the Cast Bass West USA TV

Reel Fishy Jobs with Mark Melnyk In the Loop

Prime Time is a new section for our readers.

Here at LSON, we got tired of searching the Internet, TV Guide or menus on our digital cable boxes to find the latest hunting and fishing shows.

So, we decided if we don’t like it, our readers probably don’t either.

Well, here it is. A handy guide to allow you one easy step to find the best outdoors shows in prime time.

If you are looking for Saturday and Sunday morning shows, along with programming during other hours, go to lsonews.com as we are out hunting and fishing during those times.

If you have any suggestions, please send an email to news@ lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Deer & Deer Hunting Public land hunting is the norm for people across the country, but perfecting the approach can mean the difference between a successful trip and a bad trip. On this week’s Deer & Deer Hunting TV, airing Sunday on NBC Sports Outdoors, industry experts offer up their advice on the best way to approach hunting on public land.

Hunting public land can be a frustrating endeavor. In a perfect world, hunters wouldn’t see another hunter while in the woods, allowing them to focus solely on spotting and tagging that mature buck. Every piece of public land is different so learning to read the terrain and adapt to hunting pressure is essential to success. The experts at Deer & Deer Hunting TV will teach you how to read the signs and show you what it takes to have success on public land.

On this week’s episode, Deer & Deer Hunting TV investigates the realities of hunting on public land.

Few are aware of — and even fewer use — the unique set of skills required to be successful on public land. Viewers can tune in to learn the tactics that will allow them to become one of those few.

Get an edge in public land by tuning in to Deer & Deer Hunting TV, airing on NBC Sports Outdoors prime time on Sunday at 8:30 p.m. CT. — Deer & Deer Hunting TV NBC SPORTS Under Wild Skies Whitetail Diaries Eye of the Hunter North to Alaska Territories Wild Deer & Deer Hunting TV Outdoor Secrets North American Hunter

Page 16

September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

Teal Continued From Page 1

for a tough early teal season for many hunters.

“The first weekend was really slow,” said guide Matthew Friedrichs of Double JJ Outfitters near Katy.

“The cold front that came through the second weekend brought rain and a north wind and it got really good.

We killed limits on Saturday (Sept.

21) and then had another good hunt on Sunday.

“We are hunting near Katy and I talked to a friend in El Campo and they were all shooting limits as well.”

LOADING THE STRAP: Limits of teal were more common during the second weekend of Friedrichs said he the early teal season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. has been hunting ing to the decoys. oxbows and river sloughs near rice fields, and said he and his “We saw a few more groups, but they were hunters have killed a lot of birds coming and flying high and not interested in the decoys,” going from the fields to the water.

Foster added.

“We have enough water right now that it One of the reasons for the smaller number has been effective,” he said. “I’ve also talked of birds could be outstanding conditions in to a lot of hunters around Lubbock and they some parts of the prairie pothole region. are hammering the teal.”

According to Ducks Unlimited field bioloFarther north, the hunting has been tough, gists in Kansas, the conditions are great for although some hunters got lucky and shot teal right now. limits in places that held food and water.

“I’ve been here for 26 years, and I think “We managed to scratch out a few limits,” these are the best conditions we’ve had,” said Reed Foster of Cut-em Down Outfitters in Crandall. “We just haven’t seen the big says Karl Grover, area wildlife manager at push of birds that normally are here this Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area in Kansas. time of the year. I went scouting Friday (Sept. “We’ve had great habitat before, but the heavy rains filled every pool. This habitat is 20) and we saw eight birds.”

On the hunt Saturday morning, one big just unbelievable.

“We typically hold 20,000 to 30,000 teal group of bluewings decoyed at first shooting light, and hunters connected on about this time of year, so our numbers are down 10 birds, but the morning got tougher after slightly, but I think bluewings will continue that, with only one more small group com- to arrive this week.”

LSONews.com

Helice Continued From Page 4

American shooters is M c A l l e n native Shea Self. A junior at Texas A&M, Self has been competitively shooting Shea Self sporting clays for the past few years, winning the Collegiate Championship last year.

Although it was only her second time to ever shoot Helice, Self shot a 29 out of 30 in the preliminary round to take High Overall score.

She followed that up by shooting scores of 26 and 28 in the competition to win the High Junior award.

“I actually only started shooting Helice about a month ago,” Self said. “I really like it. I fell in love with shooting pigeons and this is a lot like that. I haven’t won a major championship like that, so it was exciting.”

Self said she likes the unpredictability of shooting a Helice and the constant challenge it provides.

“Helice is really fun because you can go from a perfect score one day to a 25 the next day,” she said.

“A lot depends on how they are thrown. And not a ton of people are doing it. There were about 60 or 70 people competing, so it was like a big social event.”

Higgins said shooters from as far away as California made the trip, and it was their biggest shoot ever.

“The level of play is going up,” he said. “The neat thing, we had two perfect scores shot on Saturday and two on Sunday.”

Higgins also commended Self on her shooting abilities.

“She is the top-ranked collegiate womens shooter and a great representative of the sport,” he said.

“She’s very positive.”

Other winners included three men tied at the top — Kevin Keetch, Justin Huckabay and Robby Price all had 57’s after the two rounds. Larry Romine was the clear winner of the Vet trophy with a 56. Jennifer Paul and Shea Shelf were tied for the Lady award with 54’s. Henry Tanner and Cyril Adams were tied for the Super Vet award with 50’s. Adams conceded the Super Vet award to his friend Henry Tanner.

In the shoot-off for the top three spots, Keetch and Huckabay scored on all three birds in the opening barrage, giving Robby Price, who missed two, the bronze medal. In a miss-and-out from the back fence of the ring, Keetch prevailed to take the gold medal and the championship. Jennifer Paul prevailed over Self to take the Lady trophy, with Self winning the Junior trophy.

LoneOStar Outdoor News

September 27, 2013

Page 17

2013-2014 Texas Duck Season Dates Nov. 2-Dec. 8, 2013 Dec. 21, 2013-Jan. 26, 2014 High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct. 26-27, 2013 Nov. 1, 2013-Jan. 26, 2014 South Zone Nov. 2-Dec. 1, 2013 Dec. 14, 2013-Jan. 26, 2014

Early Teal: Sept. 14-29, 2013 The daily bag limit for teal is six.

Youth-Only: South Zone Oct. 26-27, 2013

High Plains Mallard Management Unit Oct. 19-20, 2013 North Zone Oct. 26-27, 2013 Regular Season: North Zone

“Dusky” Duck: North Zone Nov. 7-Dec. 8, 2013 Dec. 21, 2013-Jan. 26, 2014 South Zone Nov. 7-Dec. 1, 2013 Dec. 14, 2013-Jan. 26, 2014 High Plains Mallard Management Unit Nov. 4, 2013-Jan. 26, 2014 The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may include no more than five mallards (only two of

which may be hens); three wood ducks; three scaup; two redheads; two pintail; two canvasback; and one “dusky” duck (mottled duck, Mexican-like duck, black duck and their hybrids are closed the first five days of the season in each zone). For all other species not listed, the bag limit shall be six. The possession limit for all species listed in this section shall be three times the daily bag limit.

See TPWD for more information.

Page 18

September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

use a little more speed with spinner baits and crankbaits to cover Continued From Page 9 more water looking for active fish. said. “I found the fish “We had a few fish were roaming around move up on points and when it is cloudy. I was hang on the ledges and using searching baits creek channels as they like lipless crankbaits, move into the pockbuzzbaits, spinner baits ets. The Carolina- and and crankbaits on the Texas-rigged big worms overcast days.” and creature baits have Hughs also said tarbeen working here, but geting shady areas some of the bites are when the sun came out super light.” paid dividends, as he Guide David Vance caught the only limit reported a good bite of the tournament. on Lake Fork.

“When targeting “The bass we are those shady areas, I catching have been susused a black and blue pended in deep water jig or soft plastics that and they have been mimic shad. running shad to the “I keyed on fishing top,” he wrote on the smaller baits, and it Texas Fishing Forum. resulted in several nice Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

“The swimbait that fish, including a 4.5has been working best pound kicker.” above the sinker. We lost for me is a 1/4-ounce Storm Guide Ryan Wags reported count but boated over 20 WildEye swim shad. They a solid bite on Lake Austin easily; too bad the biggest have the jig head in them and on the Texas Fishing Forum. was only about 13.5 inches.” are ready to fish right out of “I have over 100 fish in Lynn Atkinson of Reel um the pack. The top-water bite my last few trips, and eas- N Guide Service reported a has also been good when the ily over 80 percent are tour- good bite on Sam Rayburn bass are running the shad to nament keepers,” he wrote. Reservoir. the top — the best bait has “I have been catching them “There are some fish up been shad-colored Yellow mostly shallow on plastics shallow around the grass so Magic. and crankbaits, and a few here are a few baits that have He said the best places to top-water fish.” been getting some action,” try right now for the above Another angler reported a he said. “The Stanley Ribbit patterns are the mouth of solid bite on Lake Houston. high floater in white or black Dale Creek, Chaney Branch “Finally found the moth- has been the best for us over and main lake points. erload near the mouth of the pads and around the grass “Also, the bridges in big Luce Bayou,” he wrote. edges. I found that at times and little Mustang, the bass “We found a deep hole and you to need to change the are schooling under most of the bass were stacked up retrieval to get them to hit it. the bridges right now and in there. A couple came Off the edge, we’ve been work- if you are there at the right on crankbaits but the rest ing a few creature baits and time when they come up the were on watermelon 7-inch Senkos. Just let them fall to the action can be nonstop and Zoom trick worms fished bottom. Next, on the outer you can load the boat.”

— Staff report on a drop-shot rig 12 inches edges of the grass and pads,

Bass

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

September 27, 2013

Page 19

Page 20

September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Felony Continued From Page 4

TAKING WILDLIFE RESOURCES WITHOUT CONSENT OF LANDOWNER PROHIBITED (a) No person may hunt or catch by any means or method or possess a wildlife resource at any time and at any place covered by this chapter unless the owner of the land, submerged land, or water, or the owner’s agent, consents. (c) A person who violates Subsection (a) the first time by killing a desert bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mule deer, or white-tailed deer commits an offense that is a Parks and Wildlife Code state jail felony and is punishable in addition by the revocation or suspension under Section 12.5015 of hunting and fishing licenses and permits.

LSONews.com

Mickey Hellickson, a wildlife management consultant and the former wildlife manager at the 825,000-acre King Ranch, told attendees at the Texas Deer Association Annual Convention in August that the change in the law was the primary cause for the reduction in poaching on the ranch.

“Our ranch security team would make close to 200 cases per year before the change,” he said. “After it became a state jail felony, that number went down to 10 to 12 per year.”

Other landowners, however, still report significant problems with poaching.

One Stephenville-area rancher said he “still can’t keep the poachers off of my property.”

Rather said those that are still poaching are being more creative.

“They are changing tac-

tics,” he said. “We rarely see spotlighting deer at night from the roads anymore. But some poachers are cutting fences at the back of ranches, especially where there is an absentee landowner, and going onto the ranch at night where they can’t be seen from the roads.

“Some are even using silencers.”

Wardens often rely on other hunters and landowners to report poaching activity, and Rather urged all Texas hunters to report poachers and to program the Operation Game Thief numbe, (800) 792-GAME, into their cellphones and to program and use the TIP 411 option (enter 847411 in the “To:” box and start the message with “TPWD” in the text box) to send a confidential tip by text message.

THAT IS GOING TO COST YOU: Since laws were passed to up the punishment on poaching violations, crooks have thought twice about pulling the trigger. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

LSONews.com

EASY TO CAST: An angler fools another bluegill while fishing Nolan Creek near Belton. A realistic drift is key to landing panfish on a Tenkara rod. Photo by John Geer, Tenkara USA.

Tenkara Continued From Page 8

or four-weight rod,” Geer said. “The split number (ratio) is a description of the percentage of where the rod will bend.”

Maps Continued From Page 1

The maps are laid over a Google Earth image of the property, with the water in a blue tone and lines showing the contour definition.

“Most of the lakes we do are 5 to 10 acres,” Chapman said, “with the biggest being 130 acres.”

Landowners, fishing clubs and even fishermen can take the mapping to another level with surveygrade mapping, according to Trent Lewis with Prosper-based Pond Medics.

“We do everything from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes to private ponds and club lakes, including several hundred to several thousand-acre lakes,” Lewis said. “The survey-grade mapping using multi-frequency sonar is more accurate and can include bottom profiling.”

Both types of mapping can include SD cards to enter the hot spots and other information from the lake into the fishfinder on your boat.

The survey-grade mapping may include the 36x36-inch wall maps, too.

“They are very popular with the fishing club lakes and on the large, private lakes,” Lewis said.

The mapping can be used for more than just knowing the depths and finding structure and fishing hot spots.

“The technology is getting so accurate that people aren’t doing projects like creating structure or managing habitat without first having the detailed map,” Lewis said. “And we can measure the submerged aquatic vegetation on the bottom of the lake, often saving the owners thousands on herbicide controls.”

One project, at Lake Kiowa near Gainesville, is using mapping to get information to improve fishing on the lake.

“They want to see how much sediment is there and work on creating fishing structure and habitat management,” Lewis said.

Another project is helping an angler fish his favorite cove on a public reservoir.

“We have done specific locations in public lakes to give the fishermen the most accurate and detailed information,” Lewis said.

The mapping isn’t cheap, but it’s not overly expensive, either.

“A 5-acre lake with the recreational mapping will run about $700 to $900,” Lewis said. “With the survey-grade mapping, it will run about $1,500 to $1,800.”

Many lake and pond owners think it is worth it, since both companies said they are keeping busy mapping lakes.

“You wouldn’t go elk hunting in Colorado without looking at a map,” Lewis said, “so why go fishing without a map of the lake?”

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Geer said that action is primarily a personal preference.

Rods with a rating of 5:5 or 6:4 will be slower and flex deeper into the butt of the rod, while also being easier to load. The stiffer a rod is, the more precise it is at short-distance casting.

Some anglers prefer to rig a traditional furled line or a level fluorocarbon line. Line sections anywhere from 2 feet to 14 feet comprise the leader/ tippet. Line length boils down to the size of the water and reach needed to get to a pool or run.

Husted said both line setups have advantages, with the furled leaders being better presentation tools, while the level lines can be cast easier. In normal rod and reel fly-casting, the emphasis is on generat-

ing speed and shooting line through the guides. In Tenkara, the minimal amount of casting that can be done almost mirrors the old, “10-o’clock, 2-o’clock” mantra.

The key to Tenkara fishing is how the fly is presented.

Most will even argue that the type of line and even fly used aren’t nearly as important as how you gently place, or “dap,” the fly onto the water.

Because of the fixed line, it is much easier to get a controlled and effective drift.

“The presentation that you get is just truly amazing because you don’t have to manage much line and you keep all of the line off of the water, so your drift is so natural and it catches more fish,” Husted said.

Standard trout flies are

September 27, 2013

equally as effective as some of the more traditional “soft hackle” flies that have become popular with Tenkara anglers. Geer said there is really no right or wrong when it comes to flies and that it really depends on the water and insects that are present.

“It took me a while to start fishing traditional Tenkara flies,” Geer said. “I mostly fished western dry flies like Elk Hair Caddis and Royal Wulffs.”

Husted said because of the lack of line, casting range and size of fly, he has become a more selective and patient angler.

“I have a bad habit of plowing through the water and rushing through the stream to the next hole, but I notice when I fish with a Tenkara rod

Page 21

I really slow down and sneak up on the fish more,” Husted said. “And now I am catching more fish out of holes that I may have normally missed.”

The overall simplicity of tackle has also drawn large interest from both female and younger, less experience anglers.

According to Husted, Tenkara is a great way to bring people into the sport without the frustrations that can come from an overload of terminology and tough fishing conditions.

“I really think that the youth and women will benefit from this style of fishing,” Husted said. “If you can get a bunch of people to the creek or lake and they immediately start catching fish, they will be hooked.”

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September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Sun | Moon | Tides Texas Coast Tides Sabine Pass, north Date Time Sep 27 1:05 AM Sep 28 1:43 AM Sep 29 2:06 AM Sep 30 2:23 AM Oct 01 2:39 AM Oct 02 2:55 AM Oct 03 3:10 AM Oct 04 3:26 AM Oct 05 3:43 AM Oct 06 4:00 AM Oct 07 4:18 AM Oct 08 4:39 AM Oct 09 12:44 AM Oct 10 1:42 AM Oct 11 3:09 AM

Height 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.6L 1.7L 1.7L

Time 4:38 PM 5:39 PM 8:40 AM 8:15 AM 8:20 AM 8:40 AM 9:07 AM 9:39 AM 10:14 AM 10:53 AM 11:37 AM 12:25 PM 5:03 AM 5:33 AM 6:18 AM

Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Date Time Sep 27 1:28 AM Sep 28 1:58 AM Sep 29 2:14 AM Sep 30 2:27 AM Oct 01 2:41 AM Oct 02 2:56 AM Oct 03 3:10 AM Oct 04 3:24 AM Oct 05 3:37 AM Oct 06 3:49 AM Oct 07 4:01 AM Oct 08 4:14 AM Oct 09 12:10 AM Oct 10 1:02 AM Oct 11 2:54 PM

San Luis Pass

Date Time Sep 27 1:58 AM Sep 28 2:28 AM Sep 29 2:44 AM Sep 30 2:57 AM Oct 01 3:11 AM Oct 02 3:26 AM Oct 03 3:40 AM Oct 04 3:54 AM Oct 05 4:07 AM Oct 06 4:19 AM Oct 07 4:31 AM Oct 08 12:24 AM Oct 09 1:06 AM Oct 10 1:58 AM Oct 11 3:50 PM

Freeport Harbor Date Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 01 Oct 02 Oct 03 Oct 04 Oct 05 Oct 06 Oct 07 Oct 08 Oct 09 Oct 10 Oct 11

Time 12:30 AM 1:12 AM 1:42 AM 2:05 AM 2:24 AM 2:42 AM 2:59 AM 3:15 AM 3:30 AM 3:42 AM 12:18 AM 11:46 AM 12:39 PM 1:40 PM 2:52 PM

Height 0.5L 0.5L 1.4L 1.3L 1.2L 1.0L 0.8L 0.6L 0.4L 0.2L 0.1L 0.0L 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H

Height 2.4H 2.4H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.3H 2.4H 2.4H 2.3L 2.4L 0.4L

Time 4:23 PM 5:26 PM 8:16 AM 8:02 AM 8:03 AM 8:16 AM 8:38 AM 9:06 AM 9:39 AM 10:17 AM 10:59 AM 11:47 AM 4:28 AM 4:43 AM

Height 0.8L 0.8L 2.1L 1.9L 1.8L 1.6L 1.3L 1.0L 0.8L 0.6L 0.4L 0.3L 2.5H 2.5H

Height 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.4H 1.3L 1.4L 1.5L 0.3L

Time 5:19 PM 6:22 PM 9:12 AM 8:58 AM 8:59 AM 9:12 AM 9:34 AM 10:02 AM 10:35 AM 11:13 AM 11:55 AM 4:44 AM 4:58 AM 5:13 AM

Height 0.5L 0.5L 1.2L 1.2L 1.1L 0.9L 0.8L 0.6L 0.5L 0.3L 0.2L 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H

Height 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 1.8H 1.7H 1.6H 1.6H 1.6H 1.5L 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L 0.3L

Time 4:15 PM 5:25 PM 8:45 AM 8:44 AM 8:52 AM 9:01 AM 9:12 AM 9:29 AM 9:53 AM 10:23 AM 3:49 AM 8:15 PM 9:28 PM 10:42 PM 11:46 PM

Height 0.6L 0.6L 1.4L 1.3L 1.2L 1.1L 0.9L 0.8L 0.6L 0.4L 1.6H 2.2H 2.2H 2.2H 2.1H

Executive Editor

Time

Height

Time

Height

12:03 PM 1:07 PM 1:59 PM 2:46 PM 3:31 PM 4:17 PM 5:04 PM 5:54 PM 6:51 PM 7:55 PM 1:18 PM 2:18 PM 3:23 PM

1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.7H 1.8H 1.9H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 2.0H 0.0L 0.1L 0.2L

6:33 PM 7:21 PM 8:04 PM 8:44 PM 9:23 PM 10:01 PM 10:39 PM 11:17 PM 11:58 PM

0.6L 0.6L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.3L 1.4L

9:10 PM 10:32 PM 11:43 PM

1.9H 1.9H 1.9H

Time

Height

Time

Height

10:48 AM 12:17 PM 1:28 PM 2:30 PM 3:27 PM 4:24 PM 5:21 PM 6:20 PM 7:24 PM 8:34 PM 12:41 PM 1:43 PM

2.1H 2.1H 2.2H 2.3H 2.4H 2.4H 2.5H 2.6H 2.6H 2.6H 0.3L 0.3L

6:19 PM 7:04 PM 7:43 PM 8:19 PM 8:55 PM 9:32 PM 10:09 PM 10:48 PM 11:28 PM

0.9L 1.0L 1.1L 1.2L 1.4L 1.6L 1.8L 2.0L 2.2L

9:51 PM 11:08 PM

2.6H 2.6H

Time

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Time

Height

11:18 AM 12:47 PM 1:58 PM 3:00 PM 3:57 PM 4:54 PM 5:51 PM 6:50 PM 7:54 PM 12:43 PM 1:37 PM 2:39 PM

1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.4H 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.6H 1.6H 0.2L 0.2L 0.2L

7:15 PM 8:00 PM 8:39 PM 9:15 PM 9:51 PM 10:28 PM 11:05 PM 11:44 PM

0.5L 0.6L 0.6L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.1L 1.2L

9:04 PM 10:21 PM 11:38 PM

1.6H 1.6H 1.6H

Time

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Time

Height

10:48 AM 12:17 PM 1:26 PM 2:26 PM 3:21 PM 4:15 PM 5:09 PM 6:06 PM 11:01 AM

1.4H 1.5H 1.6H 1.7H 1.8H 1.9H 2.0H 2.1H 0.3L

6:26 PM 7:20 PM 8:08 PM 8:54 PM 9:39 PM 10:26 PM 11:17 PM

0.6L 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.0L 1.2L 1.3L

7:07 PM

2.1H

Conor Harrison

Associate Editor

Mark England

Graphics Editor

Amy Moore

Solunar | Sun times | Moon times

Moon Phases Last

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.

Full

Oct. 11

Oct. 4

Oct. 19

Houston

Port O’Connor

Date Time Sep 27 5:54 AM Sep 28 6:13 AM Sep 29 6:21 AM Sep 30 6:24 AM Oct 01 6:34 AM Oct 02 6:35 AM Oct 03 5:00 AM Oct 04 4:03 AM Oct 05 12:30 AM Oct 06 12:52 PM Oct 07 12:11 AM Oct 08 2:24 AM Oct 09 3:21 AM Oct 10 4:13 AM Oct 11 5:00 AM

Rockport

Date Time Sep 27 9:43 AM Sep 28 10:44 AM Sep 29 11:43 AM Sep 30 12:46 PM Oct 01 2:01 PM Oct 02 5:20 AM Oct 03 4:58 AM Oct 04 4:44 AM Oct 05 4:33 AM Oct 06 4:28 AM Oct 07 4:38 AM Oct 08 5:08 AM Oct 09 5:55 AM Oct 10 6:54 AM Oct 11 7:59 AM

Height 1.3H 1.3H 1.3H 1.2H 1.2H 1.1H 1.1H 1.1H 1.2L 0.7L 1.3H 1.4H 1.5H 1.5H 1.5H

Time 6:27 PM 7:24 PM 8:20 PM 9:13 PM 10:03 PM 10:55 AM 11:14 AM 11:41 AM 2:59 AM

Height 0.6L 0.7L 0.7L 0.8L 0.8L 1.1L 1.0L 0.9L 1.2H

1:36 PM 2:26 PM 3:22 PM 4:24 PM 5:30 PM

0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.6L 0.6L

Height 0.7H 0.7H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.6H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.7H 0.8H 0.8H 0.8H

Time 7:35 PM 8:22 PM 9:02 PM 9:35 PM 10:01 PM 10:17 AM 11:41 AM 12:40 PM 1:29 PM 2:17 PM 3:06 PM 3:59 PM 4:54 PM 5:50 PM 6:44 PM

Height 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.5L 0.5L 0.6L 0.5L 0.5L 0.5L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L 0.4L

Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier Date Sep 27 Sep 28 Sep 29 Sep 30 Oct 01 Oct 02 Oct 03 Oct 04 Oct 05 Oct 06 Oct 07 Oct 08 Oct 09 Oct 10 Oct 11

First

New

Sep. 27

Time 12:49 AM 1:33 AM 2:00 AM 2:15 AM 2:24 AM 2:29 AM 2:34 AM 2:38 AM 2:41 AM 2:39 AM 12:18 AM 11:33 AM 12:26 PM 1:26 PM 2:32 PM

Height 2.1H 2.1H 2.0H 1.9H 1.8H 1.8H 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H 2.0H 2.0L 0.5L 0.5L 0.4L 0.5L

South Padre Island Date Time Sep 27 1:05 AM Sep 28 1:43 AM Sep 29 2:04 AM Sep 30 2:15 AM Oct 01 2:20 AM Oct 02 2:23 AM Oct 03 2:25 AM Oct 04 2:25 AM Oct 05 2:23 AM Oct 06 2:15 AM Oct 07 10:38 AM Oct 08 11:25 AM Oct 09 12:18 PM Oct 10 1:18 PM Oct 11 2:25 PM

Height 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.9H 1.8H 1.7H 1.7H 1.6H 1.5H 1.5H 0.2L 0.1L 0.1L 0.2L 0.3L

Time 3:54 PM 5:01 PM 6:01 PM 7:57 AM 7:53 AM 8:07 AM 8:30 AM 8:57 AM 9:29 AM 10:05 AM 2:27 AM 8:38 PM 9:55 PM 11:05 PM 11:59 PM

Height 0.7L 0.7L 0.8L 1.6L 1.5L 1.3L 1.2L 1.1L 0.9L 0.8L 2.1H 2.6H 2.6H 2.6H 2.5H

Time 3:46 PM 4:51 PM 5:50 PM 8:04 AM 7:54 AM 8:06 AM 8:25 AM 8:51 AM 9:21 AM 9:57 AM 7:23 PM 8:42 PM 10:03 PM 11:15 PM

Height 0.7L 0.8L 0.9L 1.6L 1.5L 1.3L 1.1L 0.9L 0.6L 0.4L 2.1H 2.1H 2.1H 2.2H

Time

Height

Time

Height

3:47 PM 6:23 PM 8:52 PM 12:14 PM

1.1H 1.1H 1.2H 0.8L

10:51 PM 11:40 PM

0.9L 1.1L

10:25 PM

1.3H

Time

Height

Time

Height

3:45 PM 6:12 PM

0.6H 0.6H

Time

Height

Time

Height

11:17 AM 12:52 PM 2:04 PM 3:08 PM 4:08 PM 5:09 PM 6:13 PM 10:46 AM

1.7H 1.8H 1.9H 2.1H 2.2H 2.4H 2.5H 0.6L

6:54 PM 7:42 PM 8:29 PM 9:17 PM 10:08 PM 11:06 PM

0.9L 1.0L 1.2L 1.4L 1.6L 1.8L

7:22 PM

2.6H

10:19 PM 10:20 PM

0.5L 0.6L

Time

Height

Time

Height

10:52 AM 12:36 PM 1:52 PM 2:58 PM 4:01 PM 5:04 PM 6:11 PM

1.7H 1.7H 1.8H 1.8H 1.9H 1.9H 2.0H

6:44 PM 7:34 PM 8:24 PM 9:15 PM 10:09 PM 11:12 PM

1.0L 1.1L 1.1L 1.2L 1.3L 1.4L

Wilbur Lundeen Erich Schlegel David Sikes

Mike Hughs

Accounting

Ginger Hoolan

Website

Bruce Soileau

National Advertising Accounts Manager

Mike Nelson

Automotive Advertising

Dave Irvine

Founder & CEO

David J. Sams

Advertising Call (214) 361-2276 or email mhughs@lone staroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.

ACROSS 1. A young goose 4. Food source for squirrels 8. A valuable product from the Atlantic 9. A breed of gundog 11. Pack a day’s catch in this 13. Popular new method of fishing in Texas 14. To lure a fish or game 15. Rifle shoulder strap 21. Arrows, shells 22. A female pheasant 23. Name for the Hawaiian goose 24. A very large deer 25. The camp food 26. Name for a certain lure 29. Main fin on a fish 32. Code for grain measurement in shells 33. The long-armed jungle dweller 34. An animal lost from the herd 35. A wild turkey’s resting spot

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Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $30 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $2, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2013 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 email them to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen

36. To down a game 37. A line grommet on a fly rod 38. The rear end of a gun barrel 42. A game bird 43. The hunter’s prey 44. Color worn by hunters for safety

DOWN 1. A burrow dweller 2. Change in wind direction on an arrow 3. Fish that grow to 1020 feet long 5. A male bird 6. An archery organization

Solution on Page 33 7. Animal head appendages 10. A bloodsucking insect on animals 12. Small game predators 16. A flock of geese 17. Part of a fishline 18. The outdoor home 19. Bird dogs 20. A large group of animals 26. Appendage on wild turkey’s feet 27. Name for a quickto-erect tent 28. Used to fry fish over open fire 30. A playful shore mammal 31. Term for a crack in a bow stave 32. Axis are classed as this 38. The ___ owl 39. Game know how to ___ their wounds 40. A wood used in arrow shafts 41. To treat a hide

A.M. Minor Major 12:04 6:16 12:50 7:02 1:33 7:44 2:14 8:25 2:53 9:04 3:33 9:44 4:14 10:26 4:58 11:10 5:46 11:59 6:40 12:26 7:38 1:24 8:40 2:25 9:44 3:29 10:47 4:33 11:48 5:34 12:21 6:31 1:10 7:23 1:58 8:11 2:44 8:56 3:27 9:40

Dallas 2013 Sep-Oct 27 Fri Q 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 01 Tue 02 Wed 03 Thu > 04 Fri N 05 Sat > 06 Sun > 07 Mon > 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat Q 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed

A.M. Minor Major 12:10 6:22 12:56 7:07 1:38 7:50 2:19 8:30 2:59 9:10 3:38 9:50 4:20 10:31 5:04 11:16 5:52 ----6:45 12:32 7:43 1:29 8:45 2:31 9:49 3:35 10:53 4:38 11:54 5:39 12:26 6:37 1:15 7:29 2:04 8:17 2:49 9:02 3:33 9:45

San Antonio

2013 A.M. Sep-Oct Minor Major 27 Fri Q 12:17 6:29 28 Sat 1:03 7:14 29 Sun 1:45 7:57 30 Mon 2:26 8:37 01 Tue 3:06 9:17 02 Wed 3:45 9:57 03 Thu > 4:27 10:38 04 Fri N 5:11 11:23 05 Sat > 5:59 ----06 Sun > 6:52 12:39 07 Mon > 7:50 1:36 08 Tue 8:52 2:38 09 Wed 9:56 3:42 10 Thu 11:00 4:45 11 Fri ----- 5:46 12 Sat Q 12:33 6:44 13 Sun 1:22 7:36 14 Mon 2:11 8:24 15 Tue 2:56 9:09 16 Wed 3:40 9:52

2013 A.M. Sep-Oct Minor 27 Fri Q 12:30 28 Sat 1:16 29 Sun 1:59 30 Mon 2:40 01 Tue 3:19 02 Wed 3:59 03 Thu > 4:40 04 Fri N 5:24 05 Sat > 6:12 06 Sun > 7:06 07 Mon > 8:04 08 Tue 9:06 09 Wed 10:10 10 Thu 11:13 11 Fri ----12 Sat Q 12:47 13 Sun 1:36 14 Mon 2:24 15 Tue 3:09 16 Wed 3:53

Scott Sommerlatte Chuck Uzzle Ralph Winingham

Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Operations Manager

2013 Sep-Oct 27 Fri Q 28 Sat 29 Sun 30 Mon 01 Tue 02 Wed 03 Thu > 04 Fri N 05 Sat > 06 Sun > 07 Mon > 08 Tue 09 Wed 10 Thu 11 Fri 12 Sat Q 13 Sun 14 Mon 15 Tue 16 Wed

Amarillo

Contributors

Craig Nyhus

Managing Editor

LSONews.com

Major 6:42 7:27 8:10 8:51 9:30 10:10 10:52 11:36 ----12:52 1:50 2:51 3:55 4:59 6:00 6:57 7:49 8:37 9:22 10:06

P.M. Minor 12:28 1:13 1:56 2:36 3:16 3:56 4:37 5:22 6:12 7:06 8:05 9:08 10:13 11:17 ----12:45 1:37 2:24 3:08 3:52

Major 6:40 7:25 8:07 8:47 9:27 10:07 10:49 11:34 12:24 12:53 1:52 2:54 3:58 5:02 6:03 6:59 7:50 8:37 9:21 10:04

SUN Rises 7:11 7:11 7:12 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:14 7:15 7:15 7:16 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:18 7:19 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:21 7:22

Sets 7:12 7:11 7:09 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:05 7:03 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:57 6:56 6:55 6:54 6:53 6:52 6:51 6:50

MOON Rises 12:32a 1:23a 2:15a 3:08a 4:02a 4:57a 5:53a 6:51a 7:50a 8:52a 9:55a 10:57a 11:59a 12:57p 1:50p 2:39p 3:24p 4:05p 4:44p 5:22p

Sets 2:27p 3:08p 3:47p 4:24p 4:59p 5:34p 6:10p 6:47p 7:27p 8:11p 8:59p 9:52p 10:49p 11:49p NoMoon 12:52a 1:56a 2:59a 4:01a 5:01a

P.M. Minor Major 12:34 6:45 1:19 7:30 2:01 8:12 2:42 8:53 3:21 9:32 4:01 10:12 4:43 10:54 5:28 11:40 6:17 12:30 7:12 12:58 8:11 1:57 9:14 3:00 10:19 4:04 11:22 5:07 ----- 6:08 12:50 7:04 1:42 7:56 2:30 8:42 3:14 9:26 3:57 10:10

SUN Rises 7:17 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:24 7:24 7:25 7:26 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:29 7:30

Sets 7:17 7:15 7:14 7:13 7:11 7:10 7:09 7:08 7:06 7:05 7:04 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:57 6:56 6:55 6:54 6:52

MOON Rises 12:32a 1:23a 2:16a 3:10a 4:05a 5:01a 5:59a 6:58a 7:59a 9:02a 10:06a 11:09a 12:11p 1:09p 2:02p 2:50p 3:33p 4:13p 4:50p 5:27p

Sets 2:39p 3:19p 3:57p 4:33p 5:07p 5:40p 6:15p 6:51p 7:30p 8:12p 8:59p 9:51p 10:48p 11:49p NoMoon 12:53a 1:57a 3:02a 4:05a 5:07a

P.M. Minor Major 12:41 6:52 1:26 7:37 2:08 8:19 2:49 9:00 3:28 9:39 4:08 10:19 4:50 11:01 5:35 11:47 6:24 12:37 7:19 1:05 8:18 2:04 9:21 3:07 10:26 4:11 11:29 5:14 12:01 6:15 12:57 7:11 1:49 8:03 2:37 8:49 3:21 9:33 4:04 10:17

SUN Rises 7:23 7:24 7:24 7:25 7:25 7:26 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:28 7:29 7:29 7:30 7:30 7:31 7:32 7:32 7:33 7:34 7:34

Sets 7:24 7:23 7:22 7:21 7:20 7:18 7:17 7:16 7:15 7:14 7:12 7:11 7:10 7:09 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:05 7:03 7:02

MOON Rises 12:46a 1:37a 2:29a 3:22a 4:15a 5:10a 6:06a 7:04a 8:03a 9:04a 10:07a 11:10a 12:11p 1:09p 2:03p 2:52p 3:36p 4:17p 4:56p 5:35p

Sets 2:39p 3:21p 3:59p 4:36p 5:12p 5:47p 6:23p 7:00p 7:41p 8:25p 9:13p 10:06p 11:03p NoMoon 12:03a 1:06a 2:09a 3:12a 4:14a 5:14a

Sets 7:37 7:35 7:34 7:33 7:31 7:30 7:28 7:27 7:25 7:24 7:23 7:21 7:20 7:19 7:17 7:16 7:15 7:13 7:12 7:11

MOON Rises 12:48a 1:40a 2:33a 3:28a 4:24a 5:22a 6:20a 7:20a 8:22a 9:26a 10:31a 11:35a 12:37p 1:35p 2:28p 3:14p 3:57p 4:35p 5:12p 5:47p

Sets 3:05p 3:44p 4:21p 4:56p 5:29p 6:02p 6:35p 7:10p 7:48p 8:30p 9:16p 10:08p 11:04p NoMoon 12:05a 1:10a 2:15a 3:21a 4:25a 5:28a

P.M. Minor 12:54 1:39 2:21 3:02 3:42 4:21 5:03 5:48 6:37 7:32 8:31 9:34 10:39 11:43 12:14 1:11 2:03 2:50 3:34 4:18

Major 7:06 7:51 8:33 9:13 9:53 10:33 11:15 12:00 12:50 1:19 2:18 3:20 4:24 5:28 6:29 7:25 8:16 9:03 9:47 10:30

SUN Rises 7:38 7:38 7:39 7:40 7:41 7:41 7:42 7:43 7:44 7:44 7:45 7:46 7:47 7:48 7:48 7:49 7:50 7:51 7:52 7:53

FOR THE TABLE Cajun redfish 1/4 cup butter, melted 1 tsp. cayenne pepper 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 1 tsp. lemon pepper 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. salt 1 1/4 cups Italian-style salad dressing 4 (4-ounce) fillets redfish Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter on low heat; cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine the cayenne pepper, black

pepper, lemon pepper, garlic powder and salt. Set aside. Dip the filets into the melted butter, then coat with the seasoning mixture. In a large skillet over high heat, sear fish on each side for 2 minutes or until slightly charred. Place in a 11x7 inch baking dish and pour the Italian dressing onto each filet. Cover baking dish and bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes or until flaky and tender.

— allrecipes.com

Dove d’Elegence 12 Doves 1 onion, chopped 1 stalk celery, chopped 1/3 cup chives, chopped 1 tbsp. salt 1 tbsp. pepper 1/2 cup evaporated milk 3/4 cup water 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup *email LSON your

3/4 cup brandy 1 can (17 oz.) English peas 3 beef bouillon cubes 3 tsps. margarine or butter

milk, water, mushroom soup, brandy, peas, margarine and bouillon cubes. Bake at 375 degrees for 2 hours. Remove doves and place on platter.

Place doves in casThicken gravy. Pour serole dish. Arrange over doves. Serve with onions, celery and wild rice. Serves 4. chives around. Salt — Missouri Dept. of and pepper. Add Conservation favorite recipe to news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

LSONews.com

LoneOStar Outdoor News

Better late than never Not every hunter begins at an early age

VIRGIN ADVENTURE: Graham Pearce waits for the perfect shot on his first dove hunt. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.

By Conor Harrison Lone Star Outdoor News

Dallas native Graham Pearce had friends who hunted when he was growing up, but shooting skeet was the closest he ever got to the great outdoors.

That changed this season when friends convinced him to go on his first outfitted hunt — a dove hunt opening weekend near Abilene.

“I didn’t grow up in a hunting family,” Pearce said. “I had friends that did, and the first

time I shot a round of skeet I hit 9 out of 10 shots with a .410. Nobody could believe it.”

Pearce had a great time on the dove hunt, even though he had a case of nerves on his first planned hunt.

“I had no idea what to expect,” he said. “It was a little intimidating being with people who have hunted a lot, but when we got there we immediately met a couple who had never been on a dove hunt, either. The camaraderie was very cool. It was

frustrating (not to shoot very well) because, like anything, I want to be good at it immediately. I really enjoyed the afternoon and morning hunt the next day.

“I don’t know how other hunts are set up, but it was a perfect balance and we got a nice mix of hunting by ourselves but also being able to hunt with friends.”

Pearce followed up the dove hunt by purchasing a Benelli See HUNTER, Page 27

September 27, 2013

Page 23

Page 24

September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

HEROES J.R. Rodriguez, San Perlita, with a monster 34-inch redfish caught while fishing in Port Mansfield with Tail Chaser Charters and Capt. Charles Buchan.

Davis Brooks was trolling offshore aboard the Fish + Fun II when he caught this dorado on Sept. 2.

Suzanne Hutchison with a 6 1/2-pound bass she caught in July with a fly rod in Comanche County. She was fishing with a floating brown grasshopper.

Dalton Findley harvested this 33-inch axis on a family lease in Concho County with a 7mm-08 Remington.

SHARE AN ADVENTURE n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?

Email them with contact and caption information to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com. High-resolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.

Dallas hunter Bobby Pross holds a dove he killed opening weekend near Abliene.

Eighteen-year-old Jordan Hayes (right), sister Katelyn Hayes (left), and friend and unofficial guide David Marrs with a 43-inch redfish caught on live perch that took nearly 25 minutes to boat.

Temple resident Sarah Eickenhorst with a nice king salmon caught offshore near Sitka, Alaska.

Her guide is Cole Younger with Talon Lodge.

Jennifer York reeled in this big jack crevalle weighing 58 pounds and measuring 52 inches in West Matagorda Bay using small live croaker.

LSONews.com

Netting Continued From Page 8

spoke with the man caught poaching with the illegal gill net and said he told authorities he was fishing for food.

“He was a Mexican native who had swam to our side,” Schlegel said.

“He was fishing for sustenance. The wardens gave him a citation and confiscated his nets.”

It is a common sight along the river these days, as poachers often run nets that stretch from one shore to the other. It is legal for many of these fishermen to run nets from the Mexican bank to the middle of the river, making enforcement difficult for wardens.

“We went on a patrol a couple of weeks ago and pulled up 12 different gill nets in one morning,” said Cameron County Game

Warden Derrick Lopez.

“All we can do is go to the middle of the river, cut it, and take the nets that are on our side. We have to leave the nets on the Mexican side. We also found several illegal crab traps.”

The fish in the nets include many hardhead catfish, along with game fish.

“There wasn’t a lot of fish that we would eat,” Lopez said. “The fishermen live in shanties along the river and I think they are using what they catch to live off of. But, some lines near the mouth of the river, they haul those out with trucks. Those people might be using them for commercial purposes.”

Game Warden Luis Sosa believes many of the gill-netters are using their catch as bait for illegal long lines set in the Gulf.

“They sell some commercially in Mexico and

LoneOStar Outdoor News

September 27, 2013

Page 25

JUST TRYING TO GET BY: Many of the poachers from Mexico are trying to feed their families with fish netted from across the river. Photos by Erich Schlegel, for LSON.

I know some wind up back in the U.S.,” Sosa said. “In my opinion, the baitfish caught in the river are being used to bait the long lines.”

Many Mexican gill-netters have little to fear in the way of prosecution, as the penalty is only a Class C misdemeanor. Still, wardens say the biggest deterrent is losing equipment.

“Either way, they are going to set up their nets on the Mexican side,” Lopez said. “We just try and patrol our side the best

we can and confiscate their equipment when we find it and hopefully deter them.

“We’ve found it is much more of a deterrent to take the equipment than it is to write a citation, although we do that when we catch them in the act so we have a paper trail if we encounter the individual again.”

Mexican officials are aware of the problem, but a netting license is easily obtainable in Mexico, so enforcement is nonexistent on their side of the border.

Page 26

September 27, 2013

LoneOStar Outdoor News

LSONews.com

NATIONAL Huge NM bull found poached New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officer KC Gehrt recovered a dead, world-class, bull elk outside of Reserve on Sept. 4.

Poaching is suspected.

Hunters discovered the rotting, but completely intact, elk carcass in a canyon, a mile and a half east of Little Round Mountain. Hunters in the area last saw the massive elk alive Sept. 1.

“It’s stealing,” hunter Jeff Lewis said. “The state lost a huge amount.

That’s a once in a lifetime bull.”

Lewis and his hunting partner Don Roach had been tracking and shooting video of the enormous elk for three years.

“Up until this year, every time we would have an encounter with him he would disappear,” Lewis said. “But this year he was visible every morning and every night. We thought we would have a chance to have a stalk on him and have a chance to harvest.

But the poacher must have seen him too. It’s really horrendous.”

After examining the elk, Gehrt was able to find what appeared to be trauma to internal organs, in particular to the tops of the lungs, which would be consistent with injuries caused by a small caliber bullet. Due to extent that the elk had decomposed, Gehrt was not able to find the bullet.

“In the past, poachers have waited to return to an animal because they couldn’t find it or they were waiting to claim the animal when they had a hunting license,” Gehrt said. “That is what I suspect happened here. The wanton waste in this situation is sickening. It’s one of the reasons that trophy poaching should be a treated as a felony.”

Gehrt measured the elk’s antler

length to be 422.375 inches, just shy of the Safari Club International New Mexico Big Game Record of 437.625 inches (typical).

— NMDGF

Civil lawsuit filed in Calif. over gun use The Calguns Foundation filed a new federal civil rights lawsuit this morning on behalf of three California residents, naming Attorney General Kamala Harris and DOJ Bureau of Firearms Chief Stephen Lindley as defendants. The case challenges the California Department of Justice’s practice of denying individuals’ fundamental rights protected under the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.

The department, through defendants Harris and Lindley, are enforcing a policy of forbidding many gun purchasers from taking possession of their lawfully obtained firearms through what are commonly referred to as “DROS delays,” sometimes for more than a year or indefinitely.

One plaintiff in the case, Darren Owen of Taft, Calif., has been denied his firearm for over 18 months.

“It’s the government’s responsibility to timely prove that someone has already been adjudicated and their constitutional right to purchase and possess guns taken away through due process,” explained Gene Hoffman, the foundation’s chairman. “It’s not the individual’s job to prove that they have fundamental rights.

“By shifting the burden to the individual, the DOJ is blatantly violating the Constitution and thumbing its nose at the U.S. Supreme Court’s D.C. v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago decisions.”

— Calguns Foundation

NOAA announces red snapper opening NOAA Fisheries announces a rule increasing the allowable catch for red snapper from 8.46 million pounds (mp) to 11 mp. The recreational quota will increase from 4.145 mp to 5.39 mp and the commercial quota will increase from 4.315 mp to 5.61 mp.

Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico will open for red snapper recreational fishing beginning on Oct.1, at 12:01 a.m. (one minute after midnight), local time. The season will close on Oct. 15, at 12:01 a.m., local time.

The increase in commercial quota will be distributed to individual fishing quota shareholders on or shortly after October 1.

— NOAA

RMEF’s 40-acre gift opens door to 18,000 acres A 40-acre acquisition by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will improve access to nearly 18,000 acres of national forest public lands in central Montana for hunting other recreational enjoyment.

The property contains a 30-foot common boundary with a corner piece of the Lewis and Clark National Forest best known as home of the Big and Little Snowy Mountains, an area of elk country previously almost impossible to reach. The transaction is a cooperative effort between the RMEF, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the LCNF, and landowners Marshall and Leslie Long.

RMEF and its partners signed an

agreement that sets the stage for the FWP to provide an entrance, parking area, signage and a defined access trail into the forest. The goal is to have the improvements in place

by October 26, opening day of the 2013 general big game rifle season.

Aerial surveys conducted by FWP this past February revealed a population count of approximately 4,000 elk in the Big and Little Snowy Mountains.

— RMEF

New rule in Arizona A new rule went into effect this summer regulating the importation of hunter-harvested deer and elk to Arizona from out of state. It was adopted to prevent the inadvertent introduction of chronic wasting disease and other diseases to Arizona wildlife through the actions of hunters bringing their harvested deer or elk into the state. The rule is part of the department’s amended Article 3 rules which recently went into effect.

Under the new rule, only the following animal parts of deer and elk taken out of state may now be brought into Arizona: boneless meat, packaged meat, antlers, cleaned hides and capes, cleaned skulls or skull plates free of tissue, finished taxidermy mounts or products and upper canine teeth free of tissue.

Because this is the first year the rule is in effect, some hunters, meat processors and taxidermists may encounter challenges. Initially, Arizona Game and Fish officers will focus primarily on education efforts.

Hunters entering Arizona with lawfully harvested deer or elk from another state will be allowed to take or ship them directly to a licensed taxidermist or game meat processor.

— AGFD

Expect roadblocks in NM The Department of Game and Fish will conduct roadblocks throughout the state during fall hunting and fishing seasons to collect harvest data and to detect wildlife law violations.

New Mexico’s hunting seasons for deer, elk and small game are under way. Seasons for waterfowl and upland birds will open soon.

Fishing is allowed year-round in New Mexico.

At roadblocks, conservation officers also will check for compliance with provisions of the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Act and the Aquatic Invasive Species Control Act. Drivers of vehicles hauling wood products will be asked to produce documentation as required by the Forest Conservation Act. — NMDGF

Big trout stocked in SD The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department recently stocked approximately 3,000 15-20 inch rainbow and brown trout in the Oahe Tailrace.

GFP Fisheries Biologist Robert Hanten said the purpose of the stocking is to evaluate if a fall stock of larger trout will remain in the tailrace area and be available for anglers to catch throughout the year.

“We hope stockings like this will create an opportunity for large trout to be stocked, grown and caught as trophy trout in the future,” Hanten said.

Oahe tailrace is located approximately five miles northwest of Pierre, below the Oahe Dam powerhouse.

— SDGFPD

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Hunter

Dove

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shotgun and preparing for an early teal hunt, which he took on Sept. 21.

“The duck hunt had my heart pumping,” he said.

“When you Graham Pearce are sitting in a layout blind and the teal are circling and you are waiting for the guide to yell, ‘Shoot.’ I liked the layout blinds and I am also looking forward to big duck season and being able to get in a big blind.”

Pearce shot well on the duck hunt and capitalized on his opportunities. Now he has his sights set on bigger game.

“I am looking forward to going deer hunting this season,” he said.

“I think I would like to do more of a spot and stalk hunt rather than sit in a stand looking at a feeder.

That would be really interesting and rewarding.”

But for now, he is just happy to be getting out in the woods, hanging out with good friends and shooting a couple of birds.

“I really like learning the different techniques of shooting, such as swinging with the birds,” he said. “I wish I had started earlier.”

rain had a great hunt,” he said. “If they withstood the drizzle, they were rewarded heavily. The dove weed fields and the concho grass fields had a lot of birds.

“We had great hunting Saturday morning as well.”

Katzfey said his hunters killed some whitewings near treelines, but many of the doves killed were of the mourning variety.

“Most of the birds shot were mourning doves,” he said. “We still have some birds and the grain fields got so much rain this weekend that they might not be the best food source moving forward. But when one food source goes away, another pops up.

“I think the dove weed fields will pop again in a week or two.”

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Some hunters weren’t so fortunate.

“We got 1 and 7/8 of an inch of rain this afternoon,” said LSON Founder David Sams on an opening afternoon hunt near Pleasanton.

“I finally killed one bird.

I had two hunts that were canceled, so we just hunted next to our camp house. We watched a mess of doves sit on the powerline while it rained like crazy.

“Hello, South Zone opener.”

Good hunts were also reported in the Carrizo Springs area, around Hondo and along the border near McAllen.

Farther north, it seems birds are still around and hitting sunflower fields that matured later than normal.

Several hunters reported a good hunt near Gorman over ripe sunflower fields during the TAKING AIM: Hunters in the North Zone continue to have success on sunflower fields that are just maturing. Photo by Bobby Pross, for Lone Star Outdoor News. third weekend of September.

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PRODUCTS

>>

ENVY BLACK CASTING ROD: This is a go-to rod series that offers 16 models for various fishing applications. 13 Fishing’s freshwater rods are crafted from 40-ton Japanese Toray carbon and offer cork handles and titanium guides. They range in length from 6 feet 7 inches long to almost 8 feet long. These rods, available in medium to heavy power options, depending on the model, start at $170.

(800) 508-6013 www.13Fishing.com

>>

PLOTWATCHER PRO: This game scouting camera by Day 6 Outdoors promises the longest battery life on the market and the fastest time-lapse technology available. Users can capture up to 1 million images with one set of batteries. The difference, says the company, is the speed in which this camera captures images and how it saves those images. The PlotWatcher Pro captures images as fast as one per second and then automatically saves them directly into video format so that the hunter doesn’t have to save individual images. The camera also includes GameFinder software with a search feature that allows viewers to fast forward or reverse, at any speed desired, or jump from one image to the next when watching images retrieved from the memory card. The PlotWatcher Pro costs about $250.

EC SERIES CASES: Americase Inc. has launched its new line of cases. It includes five cases for a single rifle, double rifle, an M4, carbine case and a bow. These are welded aluminum cases with keyed flip latches and two eyelets that can be padlocked.

They offer a water-resistant seal and a spring-loaded handle.

The EC line is a basic nofrills case designed for air travel. The 41-inch by 17-inch by 6-inch bow case, shown, has a foam interior to protect a hunter’s gear. It will hold a compound bow and up to 10 arrows. It sells for about $180.

(706) 256-2578 www.day6outdoors.com FISHING ROD GRILL ACCESSORY: This fishing rod will come in handy during the next campout or cookout. Use it to roast a hot dog or marshmallow over the camp fire. Add a little jig action to flip the hot dog or marshmallow to get it perfectly charred. The grill accessories have a powder coat finish, a stainless steel hook, and a birch/maple handle. They come in four different colors and cost about $25.

>>

THE GHOST 410: Barnett Crossbows’ newest model is (dare we say it) eerily quiet and quick. With a speed of 410 fps and weighing in at 7.3 pounds — almost a pound lighter than its predecessor — this 19-inch-wide crossbow is light, fast and precise. The crossbow features the company’s proprietary carbonlite riser technology, which shifts the balance point away from the riser and back to the shoulder of the shooter allowing for improved maneuverability and faster target acquisition. Its aluminum flight track produces the smoothest of shots while its string and cable system ensures stability and reliability for more precise shots. Additional features include an anti-dry trigger safety system, composite laminated limbs, and a 7/8-inch Picatinny rail. The Ghost 410 comes with three 22-inch arrows, a crossbow sling, a three-arrow quiver, a rope-cocking device, and a paper-sighted illuminated scope.

We shot this crossbow in the office and it is easy to cock, quiet and very powerful. The MSRP is $1,199.

(727) 234-4999 www.barnettcrossbows.com

>>

(763) 263-0115 www.firebuggz.com

(800) 972-2737 www.americase.com

>>

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September 27, 2013

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LIKE THE REAL THING: After sighting in and honing their skills on the Laser Training Simulator, shooters at Sportsman Shooting Center fire live ammo at moving animals on a large video screen, including hogs, African game, bear and moose. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

SSC Continued From Page 5

out of your grouping is just a click away.

The next stop is the Interactive Laser Training Simulator, where instructors like Assistant Manager Adam McLaughlin teach you a kind of shooting not often done in Texas — shooting a rifle at moving targets. First, McLaughlin teaches a seven-step theory of shooting a moving animal. Then, when shooting the laser gun at the screen with moving or running hogs, bears, moose or other animals, the computer tracks your barrel speed, shows hits or kills, as well as your barrel’s path to let you know whether you are following through after the shot.

The instructor can then help identify and eliminate errors in shooting technique, making you a better shooter.

“That was my favorite part,” Swisher said. “If you’re doing something wrong, it tells you and you can fix it.”

Then, you’ll head to the finale that will have your heart racing. At the Live Fire Cinema Range, up to four shooters shoot live ammo, with SSC’s or their own guns, at moving hogs, bears, all types of African game and deer — replicating nearly any hunting scenario worldwide.

“At the live fire range, I felt, heard and smelled shooting a rifle,” Swisher said. “And my shooting was good — I surprised myself and I definitely surprised my husband.”

“It makes people better shooters,” McLaughlin said. “We need to get away from only knowing how to point the gun out of a stand.”

McLaughlin, who likes to hunt hogs, said the skills also help in the field.

“Everyone knows when that first shot is fired, the hogs scatter,” he said. “You need to be able to have people who can keep firing and hit them on the run.”

Shooters at a sneak preview on Sept.

19 said the experience quickly put them in the hunting mode. Lone Star Outdoor News’ CEO David J. Sams was among those trying out the range.

“I found myself applying hunting ethics when shooting at a video,” Sams said. “Several kudu came across and I was quickly analyzing the horn

length and size of the animal. Other animals were quartering away and I passed on the shots.”

Swisher encouraged women and new shooters to give SSC a try.

“If they do this several times, they’ll shoot better than their husbands,” she said.

SSC was the brainchild of Brian Lisankie, president of Aimpoint, Holding, Inc., after a hunting trip to Sweden in 2010.

“In Europe, there are several shooting ranges using this technology,” Lisankie said. “It is common for hunters there to practice at the ranges before going afield. I thought, ‘why aren’t there any of these in the U.S.?’”

America’s first one is here now.

MORE INFO

n Sportsman Shooting Center is located across Hwy 121 from Bass Pro Shops at 1960 Enchanted Way in Grapevine.

The cost of the full tour and shooting is $100 Mon-Thurs and $125 Fri-Sun. Reservations are needed and may be made online or over the phone. Groups of up to four shooters at a time may rotate through each of the three stations of the experience. n www.sportsmanshootingcenter.com (817) 310-8382

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September 27, 2013

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September 27, 2013

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FEW AND FAR BETWEEN: Big tarpon in Texas waters have been tough to catch this year.

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

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Tarpon

Big

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he has a theory that the BP oil spill several years ago might have changed the tarpon’s patterns, but it hasn’t affected other fish, so he wonders what it could be.

“They are not where they are supposed to be,” he said.

“We had perfect conditions for about 10 days in June, and we had our best 10 days of fishing. I think maybe the conditions just haven’t been favorable this year.”

Williams said this is the time of year when you can go out and see thousands of tarpon.

“But this year, the weather just hasn’t cooperated,” he

said. “If we can get some favorable conditions (green water, low wind) we should have one more run on big tarpon. But most people don’t realize you can catch tarpon in Texas year-round.”

Even though the fishing hasn’t been up to snuff this year, LSON has received reports of successful anglers, especially from the beach and jetties.

One angler said he caught a big fish around the first of September. He said the fish measured 77 inches long, so there are some big fish still out there when conditions allow anglers to give chase.

LONE STAR MARKET

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

top-waters can all catch fish right now,” he said. “Tell people to bring their oversized tags down.

“We are having to put tags on a lot of big fish right now.”

In South Padre, Capt. Dewitt Thomas said he hasn’t focused much on redfish, but they are around. He said he is catching them drifting shrimp and cut bait on the flats.

Also, good reports came from the Packery Channel in Corpus Christi on finger mullet and from Seadrift, where guides were focusing on feeding reds in very shallow mud and grass.

Capt. Jason Woods, (713) 203-5386 Capt. Raymond Cox, (979) 240-8285

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LoneOStar Outdoor News

Pronghorn season begins Sept. 28 A new experimental hunting season in parts of the Texas Panhandle Sept.

28-Oct. 6 will allow landowners to control the harvest of buck pronghorn on their properties. The experimental season will be in herd units 8, 17, and 25, which include portions of Dallam, Hartley, Sherman, Moore, Roberts, and Gray counties.

Under prior statewide regulations, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department determined the pronghorn harvest

quota and issued permits directly to landowners. With the new pronghorn rules, landowners or their agents within selected pronghorn management units in the northeast and northwest Panhandle will determine the harvest quota and control buck pronghorn harvest on their property during the three-year pilot project. Hunters are reminded they must receive landowner permission to access their property.

The goal of the project is to simplify pronghorn hunting regulations and increase hunting opportunities in areas with stable populations.

Wildlife officials will closely

monitor pronghorn herds during the pilot project to ensure populations remain healthy.

Hunters are required to present the intact, unfrozen head of harvested pronghorn at a mandatory check station within 24 hours of harvest.

A check station receipt will be given to each hunter to provide proof of compliance with the mandatory check station regulation. Hunters who harvest pronghorn outside the experimental area are also encouraged to bring their harvest in at the check stations to contribute biological data. Wildlife staff will age their harvest for free. —TPWD

Puzzle solution from Page 22

Nikon will send your 10x42 ProStaff 7 binoculars.

You can check out the entire line at the nearest dealer: See a full selection of Nikon products at:

Sportsman’s Finest 12434 Bee Cave Rd. Bee Cave, TX 78738 (512) 263-1888 SportsmansFinest.com

his home property at the t this nice mature axis on sho te to 15, on, erts Rob ett Jarr exotics and was fortuna County. He enjoys hunting for a clean ds yar 80 end of June in Gillespie at t sho ide 3. He took a broads take this one with his .24 time in four years he has ited. This is the second exc ely rem ext was kill. He mer axis. managed to take a sum

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September 27, 2013

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DATEBOOK September 28

October 9

October 11-12

October 24

Ducks Unlimited Marshall Dinner Marshall Civic Center (940) 372-8609 ducks.org/texas

Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation Wild Game Dinner Beretta Gallery, Dallas (214) 361-2276 lsonews.com

Babes on Baffin Ladies Fishing Tournament Bluff’s Landing Marina, Corpus Christi babesonbaffin.com

Quail Coalition Cross Timbers Chapter Dinner and Banquet Heart of the Ranch at Clearfork, Fort Worth crosstimbersquail.com

September 28-29 Premier Gun Shows Houston Show, George R. Brown Convention Center (817) 732-1194 premiergunshows.com

October 2 Ducks Unlimited Lone Star Chapter Banquet American Legion Hall, Llano (512) 755-9770 ducks.org/texas

October 3 Coastal Conservation Association 2013 State of Texas BBQ Bayou City Event Center, Houston (800) 210-3474 ccatexas.org

October 5 Blanco County Wild Game Dinner Blanco County Show Barn, Johnson City (830) 833-5335 lbjcountry.com Sargent Area Chamber of Commerce OctoberFish Beach and Bay Fishing Tournament Caney Creek Marina (979) 429-3002 sargentchamber.com

October 10 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly Meeting and Dinner Sheraton Dallas North (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org Ducks Unlimited Fort Worth Chapter Dinner and Banquet Stockyard Station (817) 291-6696 ducks.org/texas Delta Waterfowl Abilene Chapter Banquet Taylor County Expo Center deltawaterfowl.org

October 11

October 12 Texas Rifle Association Sporting Clay Tournament Elm Fork Shotgun Sports, Dallas (972) 270-8688

October 12-13 Premier Gun Shows San Antonio Gun Show, Exposition Hall (817) 732-1194 premiergunshows.com

October 19 Taxidermy King World Class Big Game Trophy Mount and Western Auction Will Rogers Center, Fort Worth (512) 451-7633 taxidermyking.com Premier Gun Shows Big Town Event Center, Mesquite (817) 732-1194 premiergunshows.com

Operation Game Thief San Antonio Claystoppers Shootout National Shooting Complex (512) 389-4381 ogttx.com

October 19-20

Delta Waterfowl Brazos River Chapter Banquet Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Grounds (817) 307-4468 deltawaterfowl.org

Delta Waterfowl Trinity Valley Chapter Banquet Dayton Community Center, Dayton (936) 293-6596 deltawaterfowl.org

Texas Gun and Knife Shows Abilene Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

October 22

LONE STAR MARKET

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

November 1 51st Annual Bandera Hunter’s BBQ (830) 796-3280 banderahuntersbbq.com Cotulla-La Salle County Chamber of Commerce Hunter’s Appreciation A.B. Alexander Convention Center (800) 256-2326 cotulla-chamber.org

November 7 Ducks Unlimited Dallas Chapter Banquet (214) 673-9636 ducks.org/texas

November 14 Dallas Woods and Waters Club Monthly Meeting and Dinner Sheraton Dallas North (214) 570-8700 dwwcc.org

November 16 Sky High for St. Jude and Eric Trump Foundation Charity Sporting Clays Tournament San Antonio National Sporting Complex (832) 544-3651 skyhighshoot.org

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