Letters to the Editor

MOTTLED DUCK

I READ THE “DON’T SHOOT THE Mottled Duck” article at fishgame.com and appreciate someone getting the word out on a sort of at-risk species. Thanks.

Taylor Benchley

"Mallard Matters" from the October Issue

I JUST READ THE ARTICLE ON MOTtled ducks in Texas and was wondering if you ever hear of anyone shooting a legitimate black duck in Texas.

Andy Jay

Editor: I have not heard of that before but there could have been some killed, and they got lumped in with mottled ducks or Mexican mallards. That is why we have the “dusky duck” category mentioned in the article. I do however know there have been Pacific brants killed near Winnie, TX. I saw the mounts of the birds and interviewed the taxidermist who did the work myself.

DEEP QUESTION

DEAR CHESTER, I ALWAYS TRY TO catch your radio program Fridays from 6-7 on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI. Love the show.

I caught part of a monologue where you were talking about the real reason you have stayed with Texas Fish & Game for so long. I sure would have loved to have heard all of it.

Is there any way you can give me the long and short of it?

Ross Snyder

Editor: When I get on a rant on the radio anything can happen so it’s hard to duplicate in print, but here we go.

I am a wildlife journalist and have been doing this since I was 19. At this point that is 26 years. I have written for hundreds of publications and did work in newspaper, magazine, on the web, television, radio and on the stage.

Besides being the means by which I provide for my family, Texas Fish & Game represents the heart and soul of the great outdoors in Texas. It is modern in thinking, but has the old school true love of the resource that is embedded deep within me.

Just the fact they give so many copies of the magazine to high school wildlife classes and have been doing it for 25 years is enough to show the owners care, but there is much more.

Other than conservation-specific publications, at least since I have been involved, there is no other publication that has printed more in-depth, investigation and pro-conservation pieces than this one.

Everyone from the owners to the editor care about all outdoor lovers, not just rich guys who can gallivant around the world. We love them too, but we show just as much love to the little old lady sitting on a white bucket on the side of the road catching catfish. It is about a true celebration of the great outdoors, and that to me is a beautiful thing.

Make no mistake, we are in the outdoor business, and this has a lot to do with making a living, but in this industry, I don’t think there is any other place I would be as happy, for the reasons listed above.

MARULLO FAN

JUST WANTED TO SAY I AM A BIG fan of Lou Marullo’s fun-loving and informative writing style. He’s a fun read every month and I have learned a lot about deer behavior by reading his column.

Holly Jenkins

Editor: We love Lou too and he is as good a guy as he is a writer. Be on the lookout for lots from Marullo this year.

SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:

Texas Fish & Game 247 Airtex Drive Houston, TX 77090 editor@fishgame.com