Texas Sportsman Feb. 2016

MISSION SKEET & TRAP CLUB COOKING WITH DURIVAGE

ELUSIVE WATUSI

YOUR TROPHY TROUT

INSIDE PHOTO BY TIKI TILLMAN (TIKITILLMANPHOTOS.COM) STORY BY HENRY MILLER Bob Glick, owner of Glick Twins in Pharr, took a trip to West Lake, Colorado with two goals in mind - bring back a trophy deer and bring it back using a Federal Ammunition Vital Shok bullet - a 300 WIN. Magnum, 180 grain trophy copper bullet, to be precise.

He succeeded on both accounts.

In fact, if he wasn’t using the highly penetrating ammunition, his trip could’ve been a lot different.

“If I would’ve used a hyper expansion bullet, he (the mule deer buck) would’ve broke his leg and run off, and on the steep mountain side with all the brush, we would’ve lost him,” Glick said, “I was supposed to come home that day and I wouldn’t have and would’ve spent the next day looking for him and still lost him.”

The point of the story?

“You have to pick your bullet for what you are going to do,” Glick said. “If you’re just killing does almost any bullet will do. If you’re hunting ta trophy you need to realize that all you may see is his butt runing off.”

That’s exactly what Glick saw on during his final day on the trophy hunt. The buck was about 50 feet below him and 140 yards when we he jumped up and started running.

“I threw my gun up and he just needed to make it around one little ridge to be out of sight. I could only shoot at his running butt because he was running away and literally in five steps he’s going to disappear around the corner.

His shot rang true as he fired away at the base of the tail.

“I was about 4 inches off to the right and low and broke his femur and went through his chest cavity,” Glick said. “He must’ve been doing one of his bounces because it went through the hip and in the gut through the chest cavity but then came up through the ribs and I found the bullet in the very top end of the backstrap.

“I was eager to test this bullet. I never dreamed I’d be able to come back with the it. There’s not many bullets that penetrate and penetrate straight. This one definitely does.”

Glick is a firm believer that spending the little extra on a great constructed bullet is actually a value.

“I’ve been guiding people all my life and poor bullet construction causes us to lose game even when the shots are good,” he said. “Great bullet construction results in dead game, sometimes even when the shots aren’t very good because it always exits and that gives you a chance to follow the trail and maybe get a second shot. It raises your chances dramatically.

“I use this bullet all the time. The cost is very insignificant in our hunting. We all get the expensive lease, the

A SHOOTER’S PARADISE 26

FISHING THE 6TH PASS

The

Years ago, and I mean years ago, back in Summer 1995, I met a very nice man from Matamoros named Nicho. He had a fishing lodge south of Mezquital, Mexico.

I had been told stories by my older fishing buddies who would go there to fish for the weekend and return with loads of redfish, trout and snook.

After meeting Nicho and telling him about my TV Show we planned a weekend fishing trip.

I invited about six buddies and he invited four of his compadres. We met in Matamoros on a Thursday morning and we were ready to go fishing for four days and three nights. I was beyond excited, not knowing what to expect.

The first treat was getting to Mezquital, Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsparking our trucks and loading our gear to a man and has decades of experience huge amphibious vehicle. We loaded up and and knowledge regarding hunting were off with light rod and reels and artificial and fishing. You can watch his show, lures. Upon arriving at the beach house, which The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on was capable of sleeping 16, a very nice lunch Saturdays. had already been prepared. After lunch it was time to go fishing to the 6th Pass.

You have no idea how I felt to be fishing there after hearing those fishing stories. I was actually standing on the jetty of the 6th Pass.

Catching my first redfish there, feeling it taking off and burning line through my reel all I could do is smile and give thanks to God on what I was doing. That is when I realized the passion I had for fishing.

After fishing until sunset (with a couple of breaks of course), it was time to head back to camp. I was tired, but still full of energy. Waiting at camp for us was caldo de mariscos and fresh guacamole dip. This was followed by a nice size ribeye and baked potato. It was quite a meal.

The next day we woke up at 5:30 a.m., got ready, drank some coffee and ate a couple of tacos and off we went to fish - all day. We ate lunch on the beach and took breaks in between driving along the surf and testing different areas where we would depart the truck and start fishing.

A good day of fishing would be about 40 redfish and about 50 to 60 trout, sometimes more and sometimes less. This type of fishing was a great experience and a fabulous time.

Imagine doing this for three days, incredible. Fishing the 6th Pass, oh how I miss You! Have a great kick off to your fishing season. Gotta Have It!

ON THE COVER

STAFF Henry Miller Publisher henry.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-9210

Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956) 776-4623

Joey Dowden Advertising Director joey.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-0853

Left, a younger Fred discovers his passion for fishing. Above, Nicho’s lodge near Mezquital, Mexico.

Volume 3, Isssue 1. February 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas

Sportsman Tracking Outdoors shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third-party claims. Advertisements appearing in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors.

Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132 Bob Glick Contributing Editor myglicktwins.com (956) 787-4291

Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is published by H&J Publications. Copyright 2014. To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors call (956) 607-0853 or email joey.texassportsman@gmail.com

A dad, a son and the perfect deer After months of anticipation, the 201516 hunting season finally rolled around for my family at Margo Ranch in Starr County near San Isidro, TX. I have been hunting this ranch with my good friends Fred Rodriguez and his partner Gus Escobar with Texas Sportsman Outfitters since they began to manage this property four years ago.

Preparation for this hunt began months ago with filling protein feeders and placing game cameras around feeding stations. Every chance I get during the antler growth period, I take my son Danelo III to our lease. It is important for him to know that it is not just getting out there to shoot; it takes time and dedication in order to be a successful hunter. We would often take walks around the pastures looking for signs of deer activity and plan which blinds would be the best to hunt.

We also spent lots of time at home sorting through thousands of game cam photos of all types of wildlife. We would look at different bucks and try to figure out which ones he and I would like to go after. We would discuss the importance of the animal’s age in order to decide which would be best to harvest.

I felt that it was imperative that he would get as much trigger time at the range as possible. We would not only practice with scoped rifles but with pistols of different calibers, and AR 15s.

This practice taught him to respect guns, practice gun safety and learn to deal with recoil and noise.

I spent a few mornings sitting in different blinds trying to see which bucks were living on the ranch. On Nov. 17, I sat in a blind we like to call "La Pulga". The morning started off kind of slow with limited movement. Around an hour after daylight,

GOT IT? CHECK Prepare for Spring with an Outdoors Checklist

BY MIKE COX the deer started to filter into my senderos, feeding on the corn I had spread with my hitch feeder. I saw a thick 8 pointer a little more than 200 yards out, feeding with other smaller bucks and does. He was impressive and stood out immediately with his large body size and mass that I do not see often. I knew that the thick 8 would be a great first buck for my son.

On the morning of Nov. 25, my favorite hunting partner and I ventured out together into the thick Starr County brush country. We were both on Thanksgiving break and had been planning this hunt for weeks. When we headed out at 4:30 a.m., I was definitely concerned about the weather. Road conditions from our home in Roma to the lease were horrible due to a thick blanket of fog. In addition, it was not a cold morning, with temperatures hovering around 56 degrees. As we

entered the gates to the ranch, I could see no more than 30 yards through the fog with the headlights of my truck. I pulled up to camp and loaded our gear onto my UTV and headed to the blind.

There were several good bucks that were frequenting our feeders, but we were looking for the thick 8, which was not only the best buck for my son but fit into the management plan on our lease. The thick 8 would come to the feeder like clockwork, so we needed to hurry. As we approached "La Pulga" blind, I fed corn very lightly at 250 yards from the blind. When I was at around 125 yards away, I let the feeder feed heavily up to the blind. I had been doing that for several weeks to make sure that the deer would be accustomed to the corn close to the blind.

After getting up in the blind, we settled in and got our rifles, binoculars,

14

8

8

14

MEMORIES Fred looks back at bagging his “Christmas Buck”.

Hunts to Remember The Elusive Watusi

From bass fishing to turkey hunting, spring is a great time for the Texas outdoors enthusiast. And it's also time to make a list.

List-making became part of my routine based on an experience I had one morning at the beginning of a hunting trip. To get the full impact of what happened, you have to understand something about the man driving the Suburban that morning.

First, he was a hooking bull. The office he headed appeared quite prominently on the organization chart of the agency for which we both worked. His scrawled “approved” or “disapproved” on a piece of paper could make or break a career. He supervised the supervisors of hundreds of men and women working in a high-risk profession.

A big man in size as well as rank, George served in the military before joining our department. In fact, he had only recently retired from the National Guard.

Almost always in motion, in charge and brusquely to-the-point, he would have made a good poster child for the Type A Society, if anyone had ever had enough time to organize it.

George could be chewing you out and then acting like a kindly father faster than a highway patrol trooper turns around to follow a red sports car.

He had said to meet him in our parking

32

THICK EIGHT Story of a dad, his son and the perfect deer.

Alberto Santos is the owner of Santos Ranch LLC and Las Lomas Ranch. Visit the website www.santosranch.com for more information.

...this herd of bulls is very wild. They run at the sight of humans, then hide in heavy brush. This may not be an easy hunt after all.

lot at 8 a.m. that day if I wanted to join him, my boss and several other higher ups in our organization for a weekend deer hunt. Part of the culture of that organization is the belief that “early is on time, on time is late.” So I arrived early, my gear ready for quick transfer into Mr. Type A’s vehicle.

The off-loading accomplished, we’d made it about half-way to my boss’s house when I blurted out, “Oh, shoot.” (Or something to that effect.) Definitely the second word was short and started with an "s".

“What?” George said.

“Nothing,” I replied.

“What’d you forget?” he insisted.

“No big deal,” I said. “Nothing I really need.”

“Dammit, what!” he pressed.

“I forgot my sleeping bag,” I said quietly.

George hit the brakes.

“Let’s go get it,” he said, each word followed by a slight pause, just like an exasperated parent taking his kid to school would sound after learning his kid had forgotten his homework.

“That’s OK,” I said, conscious of the time we were supposed to be at my boss’ house to pick him up. “I can get by without it.”

“No you can’t,” George said. “It’s gonna be cold up there. You’ll need it.”

So we drove back to my house, me apologizing once again every few blocks.

When he pulled into my driveway, I bailed out like the first Marine at Iwo Jima and

Grubbage..

Bacon-wrapped venison, venison carne guisada and dove stroganoff on this edition’s menu

By Alberto Santos The first time I saw a giant Watusi was at the Herman Park zoo, in Houston. I was with Elizabeth, my daughter-in-law and Tito my grandson. Elizabeth had invited me to join them for a morning at the zoo.

From the time I first saw a Watusi, I must say I was impressed with their gigantic horns. It was then that I decided this is one animal that needed to be added to my hunt list. Several years later, a neighbor at a nearby ranch bought some Watusi calves. I have had my eye on them for about 5 years. A few weeks ago I checked on them and when I saw them, Watusi went to the top of my hunt list.

Since the Watusi are nearby, I plan to take my time finding the right one, even if it takes several trips. They are all big but I want the biggest. Wide and heavy is what I am looking for.

I also discovered that this herd of bulls is very wild. They run at the sight of humans then hide in heavy brush. This may not be an easy hunt after all.

This is the common view you get when you are looking for Watusi. They are very easily scared and are experts when it comes to hiding in brush.

419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577

n

(956) 787-4291

THE RIGHT ONE After several scouting trips to my neighbor’s ranch, I decide which bull to shoot.

I have also learned where they like to hide and how best to stalk them. Nico, my 7-year-old grandson, has been wanting to go on a hunt with me so I plan a weekend hunt so he can join me.

I asked the ranch hand at the ranch where the Watusi live to confirm that the one I picked is the biggest. He confirms that the big one is the one with the heavy wide horns that curve up. The big one is also the leader of the herd. When he goes they all follow.

The grandkids are coming to San Antonio next weekend so I schedule the hunt.

NOT SO EASY The weekend arrives and I come to find out that grandson, Nico, is grounded. He cannot go on the hunt. Something about not being in “green” (Green is a state of good classroom conduct. When you lose your green, you are in trouble.) Nico is a very smart boy. He finishes his work early and he goes to talk to his friends. Sometimes it is to help them and sometimes

rushed inside to grab my left-behind sleeping bag.

Back in the Suburban on the way to my big boss’s house, I expected George, given his nature, to be in a considerable snit over the delay I had caused. We had gone from being early to on time, which meant we were running late.

Instead, as gently as a big man can say anything, he said: “You know, I’ve forgotten things before. The way I keep from doing that is to use a checklist.”

And from my house to my boss’s house, George held forth on the fine art of list-making. Not only did the word “bedroll” figure prominently on his hunting-camping list, he also included an emergency dental kit just in case he lost a filling out in the middle of nowhere.

Someone with a list that detailed may still be surprised by what can happen when you’re so far out in the country you have to drive toward town to find a place to shoot, but he’ll be a whole lot better prepared to cope with it than most outdoor enthusiasts.

That hunting trip with George several years ago convinced me of the importance of making a list and checking it twice, compulsive as it sounds. The alternative is to risk spoiling what otherwise might have been a quality outdoor experience by forgetting something important, like the magazine for your .308. (Yes, I’ve done that, and on opening day. Nothing like

CHECK IT OUT Spring is close. Get your outdoor checklist ready.

A Journal Entry From Alberto Santo A NEARBY SAFARI

27

Follow a well-executed strategy and you will go home with your trophy speckled trout

BY CAPT. JOEY FARAH

BY DANELO GONZALEZ JR.

While buds are busting out on the mesquite trees the time is also exploding to be on the water for the Spring trout spawn along the South Texas Coast.

The entire inland bay system is the most famout tropy speckled trout ecosystem, from the Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin to the Arroyo and South Bay. Mature specs are wise to our tricks and trades so this spring jump out and make this "your" year to land the biggest trout of your fishing career. Concentrate on stealth tactics to get bites from the right fish; as well as ensure you have all the tools to bring that trophy of a lifetime to hand.

As a boy on the lagoon I clearly remember snorkeling and spearing flounder all summer, every summer. We were constantly lifting our heads because a large boat more than 300 yards away sounded the same as one 50 yards from us. Sound travels long distances in shallow water, so does water displacement.

To catch big speckled trout you first have to get close to them.

As you bring your boat off a plane, watch as the hull sinks into the water and creates a shockwave of water that rolls out in a circle from your boat. Fish within 100 yards will feel the wall of water move across the flats. High winds and waves can mask some of this, but in the "spawning grounds" this can be felt throughout the entire area, scaring fish before you even cast.

Approach every fishing destination with a calm systematic approach. Move forward at a slow pace, surveying the area for signs of bait. Keying in on some important clues will help you find the right area. Look for small- to medium-sized bait, not just big mullet.

Varied birds species means that there will be varied types of baitfish. Pay attention to the direction the bait is moving and/or jumping. This tells you where the fish are moving. Find a way into the shallows so not to interfere with the fishing area. I idle for a few hundred yards then

A few days later I try it again. And again, we see no Watusi. On the third “hunt” trip we see them about 300 yards away and they are running for thick cover.

We circle around them but we see from the tracks that they are moving fast. Again I call the hunt off. I really need to find them near a road because once I shoot the Watusi, it is going to be a lot of work to get it out.

I cannot believe that the ranch is only 350 acres and we can not find 5 huge bulls with gigantic horns. This Watusi hunt is not going to be as easy as I thought.

ABOUT ME Grilling has been a passion of mine for many years. It started as a teenager when I would watch my Grandmother cook many five-course meals while working on the farm. My grilling adventures have always been on a trial-and-error basis, honing my skills of over the years.

Meat tenderness and the seasoning you use are the keys.

I’ve used many types of seasonings; my favorite is Chupacabra rub. Chupacabra rub can be used on anything, and Im not shy when it comes to its uses. I use it on popcorn, salads, - it seems that I add Chupacabra to almost anything I eat.

and most responsive rod on the planet for inshore fishing is a Waterloo Rod. This Texas Coast-based business thrives on customer satisfaction on the water. The blanks are precision magic and feature every action available.

The strength or backbone is most important for controlling the head of any big fish. The smooth transition in the midlength keeps that line tight and the hook embedded in the mouth. The tip and butt of the rod is where all the magic happens with that first touch of her mouth to your bait.

Custom orders are Waterloo's specialty with custom grips and butt lengths to ensure this rod is fit to you for you for a very long time. All Waterloo Rods come with high-grade stainless eyes and the recoil spring eyes are a top-end feature that is amazing. These wire eyes have nothing in drag on your line and will not crack, no eye inserts to pop out, and can be bent all the way down to the blank and just spring back up. This pays for the rod after a few times slid into the car a bit too fast.

Cork and foam handles give us many combinations to choose from. The 4x4 of fishing poles is the Salinity line, strong backbone runs to a super sensitive tip, 316 stainless eyes, and extra glass and glue around every eye to keep them bedded to the blank for years and years. I like a strong and heavy drag, this compiles with a lot of backbone but a soft tip, I like the Walterloo Ultra Mag. Some anglers like a lighter action with more whip and give. They have them all. Bringing these big trout to hand starts at the strike. Pick up a quality rod and tap a soft plastic along the bottom and you will know exactly what your bait is doing down there along the ocean floor.

I had pored over the group of sand pockets along the beach for more than an hour with only two small male trout.

Instead of walking past, I chose to back off and circle around. I came back around against the shore along a big pile of dead sea grass along a small point in the beach. Clouds of tiny minnows skirted

36 Trophy trout Start planning your strategy for great fishing.

Dredge the cubed meat in flour and Chupacabra, coating well. In a heavy, deep-sided skillet or Dutch oven, add the oil and heat over medium heat. Add the cubed meat and brown thoroughly, stirring often.

While the meat is browning, in a small sauté pan, toast the comino seeds and add them to the molcajete (mortar and pestal). Use the same pan to toast the serrano pepper. In a molcajete, which already has the comino, add the garlic, and black peppercorns. Grind into a paste. Add ½ cup of water and stir, this is to make sure you remove all the paste from the molcajete and set aside.

Venison tenderloin and back strap Bacon Chupacabra seasoning Barbeque sauce Take your Venison tenderloin and back strap and generously season with Chupacabra. I am not shy with my seasoning. Wrap the tenderloin and back strap with your favorite bacon and season some more. Place on the grill at 275 to 300 degrees. I like to throw in a couple handfuls of pecan chips for a good pecan smoke. I like my meats medium rare so I cook the tenderloin for about 30 mins and the back strap for about 15 to 20 mins. Right before I take each off the grill, I glaze each with my favorite Barbeque sauce. Enjoy!

Bob Glick was looking for something different to do that he could enjoy while being in control of how much time he spent doing his new thing. Skeet and trap shooting was the perfect answer.

Once the meat is browned, add the garlic, comino and peppercorn paste and liquid from

22 TIDES Nothing better than knowing what times are the best for fishing.

40 TIDES Preventive maintenance - don’t wait for something bad to happen.

44 TROUT STOCKING Texas Parks & Wildlife getting ready for spring trout season with annual stocking.

A most memorable meeting

2 pounds venison back strap, cut into 1-inch chunks Chupacabra seasoning to taste 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp vegetable oil ½ large white onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves ½ tsp black peppercorns 2 tsp Comino (cumin) 1 medium tomato, chopped ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves 1 serrano pepper, slightly toasted, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 ½ cups beef broth ½ tsp Mexican oregano (regular is fine) ½ tsp paprika 1 tsp chili powder ½ tsp salt ½ cup water

Bacon Wrapped Venison it's just to talk. He gets warning No. 1 then warning No. 2, then wham! He is in red.

Not only is Nico being punished but I feel I am being punished because I cannot hunt with him. I really like Nico because he shows much interest in my ranch and my hunts. He is charming and a good conversationalist even though he is only 7. So now I am going to have to hunt alone.

I go to the ranch early on a Saturday morning. Manuel, the ranch hand is my guide since he says he know where they have been hiding for the last few days. We drive the whole ranch and see no sign of the Watusi.

We get down and walk through the thickets near the water holes and nothing.

We do a lot of walking and do not find the Watusi. I am beginning to think someone told them I was coming today. It's near lunch time and I decide to call the hunt off.

By now they have heard us driving around and they are in thick cover and they are being very still. The hunt will have to continue another day.

use the wind or a trolling motor to close the distance.

Upon reaching your core area, imagine a circle of silence around you that you have just made. Most boats will stay outside of that core area, but nowadays you can't count on that. Use shorelines and islands to make "barriers" to section off places of undisturbed water. I see too many anglers jumping out in a line and walking and talking as they work the flats.

This is not a marching band routine, but a planned stalk on a fish that knows the area as his home.

Now that wade fishing is so popular I even see single waders spooking many fish. When you are catching a pod of trout then they suddenly disappear, move a few steps over. Trout pods feel the disturbed bottom directly down current and will divert right or left. They often return to the original place you caught them daily as it contains some kind of structure they prefer. Even down to the lures we throw, be stealthy. Random casts back and forth are not natural. Big mature fish will be hunting that area and listening for the movements of the bait.

Every time your lure hits the water her eyes roll in that direction. Repeated casts over the same water with loud topwaters will surely send a cautious trophy trout off into the distance. I've often seen big trout stay in a disturbed area but swim bye my feet with no intention of making any strikes at lures or bait, after they have figured me out. Use long search pattern casts and a very slow presentation to bring those explosive topwater strikes to the end of your fishing sword.

When you have been attacked by one of these famous monster trouts from Baffin Bay, bringing them to hand is an art that sends many anglers into a stressful disaster.

Like a case of buck fever for hunters, anglers come unglued when those silver side flash black spots more than 30 inches long. The type of fishing rod in one's hands has the most importance. By far the most reliably tough as nails, sensitive,

Venison Carne Guisada

with Durivage

As this magazine hits the press, hunting season will come to an end.

I was fortunate enough this season to be able to harvest a deer with our very own Fred Rodriguez of The Texas Sportsman.

I figured since I was able to harvest a deer that I would feature a couple of venison recipes. The first is a bacon-wrapped venison tenderloin and back strap, the second; venison back strap carne guisada. There are many ways to cook venison, but these two are at the top of my favorites list. The last recipe I would like to share with y’all will be Dove Stroganoff. Just like the Venison, dove can be prepared many ways as well, but I wanted to share this unique recipe because it is a hit around my house. Hope y’all enjoy, and remember, these recipes wouldn’t be the same without that good ol’ Chupacabra Seasoning!

Bon appetite y’all! - Michael Durivage

26

WHAT’S INSIDE WHAT’S YOUR PLAN?

Thick Eight Looking for something that’s fun, competitive and relaxing? Check out the Mission Skeet and Trap Club. (tikitillmanphotos.com)

nice truck, the blind, the feeders, the corn every week and the cost to have dead animals instead of lost animals is minimal.”

Glick said the Federal Ammunition is what he now recommends at his store. He said a bullet that doesn’t exit is a failure, except for extreme circumstances - like going through all the bone his bullet went through to capture his 300-pound, Class 160 mule deer.

“This is the second season Federal has this bullet,” Glick said. “It’s our match made in heaven. It was the first one of these bullets used I’ve retrieved, they go through everything.”

Bob Glick, owner of Glick Twins in Pharr, took a trip to West Lake, Colorado with two goals in mind - bring back a trophy deer and bring it back using a Federal Ammunition Vital Shok bullet - a 300 WIN. Magnum, 180 grain trophy copper bullet, to be precise.

He succeeded on both accounts.

In fact, if he wasn’t using the highly penetrating ammunition, his trip could’ve been a lot different.

“If I would’ve used a hyper expansion bullet, he (the mule deer buck) would’ve broke his leg and run off, and on the steep mountain side with all the brush, we would’ve lost him,” Glick said, “I was supposed to come home that day and I wouldn’t have and would’ve spent the next day looking for him and still lost him.”

The point of the story?

“You have to pick your bullet for what you are going to do,” Glick said. “If you’re just killing does almost any bullet will do. If you’re hunting ta trophy you need to realize that all you may see is his butt runing off.”

That’s exactly what Glick saw on during his final day on the trophy hunt. The buck was about 50 feet below him and 140 yards when we he jumped up and started running.

“I threw my gun up and he just needed to make it

When Texas Sportsman Magazine writer Brent Johnson meets up with two of his idols, it leads to a great time on and off the water

I

t was sometime between one and three in the morning when we finally arrived at our destination. This was not the most ideal scenario for first impressions when meeting a legendary fishing guide, but in this case it couldn’t have been more perfect.

My buddy had been doing freelance fishing videos with the captain and became good friends. I had followed this guide through the years and was a real fan of his writing. I remembered a photo of him stepping onto an airboat in some backwater marsh with the October sun bouncing off a nice haul of reds.

To say I held this guy in high regard would be an understatement. This dude was one of my idols.

The salty-smelling cold February air immediately smacks me as I open the truck door. The wind in the palm trees tells me it's good to be in port. Soon a shadow comes out of the dark, awake from his sleep. The man walks to where I am standing, and with a smile and a handshake - as if he has known me forever - instantly puts me at ease. I have met quite a few celebrities in my time, but this one is special. We chat for 15 minutes and then make our way to the bunkhouse for some much needed sleep.

We sleep in due to a small craft advisory from the strong winds. I walk out to the tiki hut about 9 a.m. and sit for a cup of coffee. I meet the Mrs., who also happens to be one of the best guides - and daughter - to one of the first guides of this area.

That is a lot of fishing know-how right there. For the next few hours we have a good ol' time talking about all things fishing - and how the port is known as a drinking town with a fishing problem.

Tomorrow we fish with both of these guides at the same time. Today we get out for the evening bite. It's still chilly but the wind has eased and it's pleasant.

Throwing a KWiggler 4-inch pumpkin chartreuse paddle tail I get lucky and bring in a 24-inch speckled trout. After slipping her back in the water we catch a few more then head in.

molcajete to the pot. Add the salt, paprika, oregano, chili powder, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and serrano to the pot and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add beef broth, bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 1/2 hours, or until the beef is tender and the mixture has cooked down to a thick sauce.

Stir every 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Dove Stroganoff 18 Dove breasts, skin removed Chupacabra seasoning to taste (you can substitute Salt & Pepper instead) ¼ tsp oregano ¼ tsp rosemary ½ cup white cooking wine 1 medium onion, chopped 1 can cream of celery soup 1 can (8-oz) mushroom pieces 1 can (8-oz) sour cream 3 Tbsp butter or margarine Place Dove breasts in large baking dish.

Sauté onions in butter. Mix remaining ingredients, except sour cream. Pour over doves.

Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Add sour cream and stir. Continue baking uncovered for 20 additional minutes. Serve over rice or noodles. Enjoy!

FINALLY, A LUCKY BREAK On my fifth attempt I get a lucky break.

I see the Watusi and they run for cover.

They get in the brush and they stop to look back. Their big mistake is my lucky break.

They stop in brush that is not too thick. I can clearly see all of them. They are lined up single file, left to right and I can see all of them at the same time. Picking out my bull is an easy task.

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Rum is flowing and the smell of fajitas is in the air back at the tiki hut. Soon a party breaks out as we are joined by some fishermen from Reynosa and a doctor who pulls out a guitar, playing every song off Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

Before the pachanga, the captain shows me a room that looks like a museum of sport fishing. I am captivated like a kid in a candy store as I behold old reels, old rods, magazine covers, photos from days gone by and the biggest antique saltwater lure collection maybe in existence.

Old balsa wood plugs, broken backs, spoons of every sort, and even mechanical baits that flutter when you pull the leader are part of his museum-like collection. There are even Skippin' Ciscos, Plugger Bubbles, Charmers, Bingo Mullets, Seaducers, Bombers, Go Getters, Bayou Boogies, and seemingly every old plastic ever made.

“Which one out of all these do you think is worth a few thousand dollars?” he asks.

I pick up a few but I'm wrong each time.

He points out another and says “this one right here was one of the first saltwater lures ever made.”

He hands over what looks like a simple carved piece of plastic, zigzagged with a treble hook on one end.

“That, my friend, is the Tooth Brush Shrimp.” With this lure in hand I hear monks in a monastery far, far away.

The fishing day arrives and everyone wakes up about 8:30 with the smell of breakfast (made by yours truly) wafting in air. With just a few hours sleep - and a mild hangover - I throw together some ingredients I picked up at El Taquito in Harlingen. Beans, cheese, potatoes, and verde sauce mixed in with eggs and wild hog sausage.

February fishing is not like spring, summer, or fall where the early bird gets the worm. The cold water tends to delay the bites until later in the morning, after warming up. The captain pulls off a stunt in the harbor when he steers through some mooring poles barely wide enough to fit his boat. He does it with enough speed to add to the thrill.

It's a 30-minute trip to our first stop. It is a thigh to waist high wade with a mix of hard and soft bottom.

“Dang it Johnson you are all goobered up!”the captain says as I jump out of the boat. He is referring to the chartreuse Corky Fat Boy that is stuck in my shirt.

Yep, I am that guy…or was. (I'm only going to tell this story once only to pass along a helpful hint to anybody new to wade fishing so listen up and do not repeat this.) He helps me free the hook and shows me the safe way to hook your lure in the second, or third eyelet from the top. This way it doesn't come into contact with you when it is tucked into your wading belt.

I redeem myself, after a goof laugh at my expense, by landing the first fish.

I cast the Corky a country mile with a Shimano Citica 12001 seated atop a 6’6” Waterloo rod. I work it slowly, occasionally letting it sit for a good pause and then

work it again. It is during the pause I feel a subtle bite. I raise the rod tip high and instantly know I have hooked something good. In a high octave voice I yell “It's a pig! It's a pig!”

I slowly fight this fish, making sure it is worn out before bringing to hand. When it rises for a head shake I lower the rod to the side, maintaining the same constant tension, but guiding the fish back down to keep it from spitting the lure. Soon my call is confirmed once I have the fish in reach.

A couple figure eights and she's mine.

The boga reads 8lbs and she measures out at 26 inches. The captain rushes over to capture the moment on camera. He tells me to keep the gills wet, only lifting the fish from the water for brief moments. Suddenly I realize why every fish he photographs has water dripping off it. I always thought it was just a cool concept, but there was a real reason for this. The fish is released to fight another day after it's photo moment of fame.

I catch another the same size, shortly after the first. While everyone else is catching a mixed bag on KWigglers, I keep catching monster trout and I'm fine with that. Amazingly, I end up with a 28-inch red - this Corky is getting beat up!

We fish a couple more hours, then go searching for more dragons in the skinny.

At day's end we end up with our limits and head home.

The captain breaks out the rum at the cleaning table and tells many tall tales for the next two hours. He slices away fillet after fillet – a true sushi samurai - and even harvests the throats. He shows me some part of the belly he likens to tenderloin that most of us toss out. We end up spending so much time male bonding that we totally forget dinner and are scolded on no uncertain terms upon return.

Many people will wonder the identity of the two legendary guides I am writing about. Some will know exactly who I'm describing, others may learn in time.

When we departed, the captain said “well now you know where to find me.”

I run in to them from time to time, and I am glad to say they are good friends of mine. Like any legend it’s good to have a little smoke to the story. Occasionally you may catch a glimpse of their boat on the distant horizon, but sometimes they may be in a far away place like a monastery in Vietnam meditating, or an isolated Costa Rican beach sun bathing.

If you should be so fortunate to cross paths, ask him to play the harmonica and tell him Johnson says hello. See you on the water my friends.

18

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INVISIBLE BEASTS

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FISHING IDOL

They may be huge but the Watusi is one of the most elusive animals you may ever hunt.

Michael Durivage returns with bacon, dove, venison and more amazingly scrumptious recipes.

Brent Johnson not only met two of his fishing idols, he had the opportunity to fish and learn from them as well.

6

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L A R G E S T

R U R A L

L E N D E R

Fishing The 6th PAss Years ago, and I mean years ago, back in Summer 1995, I met a very nice man from Matamoros named Nicho. He had a fishing lodge south of Mezquital, Mexico.

I had been told stories by my older fishing buddies who would go there to fish for the weekend and return with loads of redfish, trout and snook.

After meeting Nicho and telling him about my TV show, we planned a weekend fishing trip.

I invited about six buddies and he invited four of his compadres. We met in Matamoros on a Thursday morning and we were ready to go fishing for four days and three nights. I was beyond excited, not knowing what to expect.

The first treat was getting to Mezquital, Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsparking our trucks and loading our gear to a man and has decades of experience huge amphibious vehicle. We loaded up and and knowledge regarding hunting were off with light rod and reels and artificial and fishing. You can watch his show, lures. Upon arriving at the beach house, which The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on was capable of sleeping 16, a very nice lunch Saturdays. had already been prepared. After lunch it was time to go fishing to the 6th Pass.

You have no idea how I felt to be fishing there after hearing those fishing stories. I was actually standing on the jetty of the 6th Pass.

Catching my first redfish there, feeling it taking off and burning line through my reel all I could do is smile and give thanks to God on what I was doing. That is when I realized the passion I had for fishing.

After fishing until sunset (with a couple of breaks of course), it was time to head back to camp. I was tired, but still full of energy. Waiting at camp for us was caldo de mariscos and fresh guacamole dip. This was followed by a nice size ribeye and baked potato. It was quite a meal.

The next day we woke up at 5:30 a.m., got ready, drank some coffee and ate a couple of tacos and off we went to fish - all day. We ate lunch on the beach and took breaks in between driving along the surf and testing different areas where we would depart the truck and start fishing.

A good day of fishing would be about 40 redfish and about 50 to 60 trout, sometimes more and sometimes less. This type of fishing was a great experience and a fabulous time.

Imagine doing this for three days, incredible. Fishing the 6th Pass, oh how I miss You! Have a great kick off to your fishing season. Gotta Have It!

ON THE COVER Looking for something that’s fun, competitive and relaxing? Check out the Mission Skeet and Trap Club. (tikitillmanphotos.com)

STAFF Henry Miller Publisher henry.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-9210

Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo.com (956) 776-4623

Joey Dowden Advertising Director joey.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-0853

Left, a younger Fred discovers his passion for fishing. Above, Nicho’s lodge near Mezquital, Mexico.

Volume 3, Isssue 1. February 2016. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas

8

Sportsman Tracking Outdoors shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third-party claims. Advertisements appearing in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors.

Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is published by H&J Publications. Copyright 2014. To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors call (956) 607-0853 or email joey.texassportsman@gmail.com

Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132 Bob Glick Contributing Editor myglicktwins.com (956) 787-4291

Hunts to Remember The Elusive Watusi A Journal Entry From Alberto Santo A NEARBY SAFARI

This is the common view you get when you are looking for Watusi. They are very easily scared and are experts when it comes to hiding in brush.

419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577

n

(956) 787-4291

...this herd of bulls is very wild. They run at the sight of humans, then hide in heavy brush. This may not be an easy hunt after all.

Alberto Santos is the owner of Santos Ranch LLC and Las Lomas Ranch. Visit the website www.santosranch.com for more information.

By Alberto Santos The first time I saw a giant Watusi was at the Herman Park zoo, in Houston. I was with Elizabeth, my daughter-in-law and Tito my grandson. Elizabeth had invited me to join them for a morning at the zoo.

From the time I first saw a Watusi, I must say I was impressed with their gigantic horns. It was then that I decided this is one animal that needed to be added to my hunt list. Several years later, a neighbor at a nearby ranch bought some Watusi calves. I have had my eye on them for about 5 years. A few weeks ago I checked on them and when I saw them, Watusi went to the top of my hunt list.

Since the Watusi are nearby, I plan to take my time finding the right one, even if it takes several trips. They are all big but I want the biggest. Wide and heavy is what I am looking for.

I also discovered that this herd of bulls is very wild. They run at the sight of humans then hide in heavy brush. This may not be an easy hunt after all.

THE RIGHT ONE After several scouting trips to my neighbor’s ranch, I decide which bull to shoot.

I have also learned where they like to hide and how best to stalk them. Nico, my 7-year-old grandson, has been wanting to go on a hunt with me so I plan a weekend hunt so he can join me.

I asked the ranch hand at the ranch where the Watusi live to confirm that the one I picked is the biggest. He confirms that the big one is the one with the heavy wide horns that curve up. The big one is also the leader of the herd. When he goes they all follow.

The grandkids are coming to San Antonio next weekend so I schedule the hunt.

NOT SO EASY The weekend arrives and I come to find out that grandson, Nico, is grounded. He cannot go on the hunt. Something about not being in “green” (Green is a state of good classroom conduct. When you lose your green, you are in trouble.) Nico is a very smart boy. He finishes his work early and he goes to talk to his friends. Sometimes it is to help them and sometimes

it's just to talk. He gets warning No. 1 then warning No. 2, then wham! He is in red.

Not only is Nico being punished but I feel I am being punished because I cannot hunt with him. I really like Nico because he shows much interest in my ranch and my hunts. He is charming and a good conversationalist even though he is only 7. So now I am going to have to hunt alone.

I go to the ranch early on a Saturday morning. Manuel, the ranch hand is my guide since he says he know where they have been hiding for the last few days. We drive the whole ranch and see no sign of the Watusi.

We get down and walk through the thickets near the water holes and nothing.

We do a lot of walking and do not find the Watusi. I am beginning to think someone told them I was coming today. It's near lunch time and I decide to call the hunt off.

By now they have heard us driving around and they are in thick cover and they are being very still. The hunt will have to continue another day.

A few days later I try it again. And again, we see no Watusi. On the third “hunt” trip we see them about 300 yards away and they are running for thick cover.

We circle around them but we see from the tracks that they are moving fast. Again I call the hunt off. I really need to find them near a road because once I shoot the Watusi, it is going to be a lot of work to get it out.

I cannot believe that the ranch is only 350 acres and we can not find 5 huge bulls with gigantic horns. This Watusi hunt is not going to be as easy as I thought.

FINALLY, A LUCKY BREAK On my fifth attempt I get a lucky break.

I see the Watusi and they run for cover.

They get in the brush and they stop to look back. Their big mistake is my lucky break.

They stop in brush that is not too thick. I can clearly see all of them. They are lined up single file, left to right and I can see all of them at the same time. Picking out my bull is an easy task.

11

My bull is second from the right. These bulls must think I can not see them but I sure can. I set up my shooting sticks at about 75 yards and wait for the right shot opportunity. He turns to his right and I get a clear shot at his neck. Boom! He drops right where he is standing. I think he was dead when he hit the ground.

As I walk up to the Watusi. I am amazed at his size. What a beast! I walk up slowly admiring my trophy as I get closer and closer. Wow! This Watusi is going to make good steaks and many pounds of hamburger meat; we are going to need another freezer for storage. I think about Nico and I am sorry he could not be here for the hunt. He too would be amazed at this beast with the great big horns.

I call the ranch owner, and ask him to bring his trailer and tractor so we can load the Watusi. It takes the ranch owner a long time to get there with the tractor but I don’t mind the wait. I use this time to take a close look at this Watusi and continue to be amazed at the size of his horns.

I reflect on where this animal comes from. Watusi cattle in Masailand, Tanzania have to survive in the same bush where the lions and leopards roam. And when they sleep at night, they have to avoid packs of hungry hyenas. No wonder

they are good at hiding. If a fight for life takes place, their gigantic horns are a good defense weapon in a fight with a big predator like a lion. These oversize horns can be intimidating when a bull is swinging them back and forth and coming at you. To me the Watusi horns were hunter

bait. When I first saw these big horns in Herman Park Zoo I was hooked on wanting to hunt a Watusi bull.

I had no idea that there were Watusi here in South Texas and never would I have dreamed that I would be shooting my big bull this close to my ranch.

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The

Thick Eight A dad, a son and the perfect deer

BY DANELO GONZALEZ JR. After months of anticipation, the 201516 hunting season finally rolled around for my family at Margo Ranch in Starr County near San Isidro, TX. I have been hunting this ranch with my good friends Fred Rodriguez and his partner Gus Escobar with Texas Sportsman Outfitters since they began to manage this property four years ago.

Preparation for this hunt began months ago with filling protein feeders and placing game cameras around feeding stations. Every chance I get during the antler growth period, I take my son Danelo III to our lease. It is important for him to know that it is not just getting out there to shoot; it takes time and dedication in order to be a successful hunter. We would often take walks around the pastures looking for signs of deer activity and plan which blinds would be the best to hunt.

We also spent lots of time at home sorting through thousands of game cam photos of all types of wildlife. We would look at different bucks and try to figure out which ones he and I would like to go after. We would discuss the importance of the animal’s age in order to decide which would be best to harvest.

I felt that it was imperative that he would get as much trigger time at the range as possible. We would not only practice with scoped rifles but with pistols of different calibers, and AR 15s.

This practice taught him to respect guns, practice gun safety and learn to deal with recoil and noise.

I spent a few mornings sitting in different blinds trying to see which bucks were living on the ranch. On Nov. 17, I sat in a blind we like to call "La Pulga". The morning started off kind of slow with limited movement. Around an hour after daylight,

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the deer started to filter into my senderos, feeding on the corn I had spread with my hitch feeder. I saw a thick 8 pointer a little more than 200 yards out, feeding with other smaller bucks and does. He was impressive and stood out immediately with his large body size and mass that I do not see often. I knew that the thick 8 would be a great first buck for my son.

On the morning of Nov. 25, my favorite hunting partner and I ventured out together into the thick Starr County brush country. We were both on Thanksgiving break and had been planning this hunt for weeks. When we headed out at 4:30 a.m., I was definitely concerned about the weather. Road conditions from our home in Roma to the lease were horrible due to a thick blanket of fog. In addition, it was not a cold morning, with temperatures hovering around 56 degrees. As we

entered the gates to the ranch, I could see no more than 30 yards through the fog with the headlights of my truck. I pulled up to camp and loaded our gear onto my UTV and headed to the blind.

There were several good bucks that were frequenting our feeders, but we were looking for the thick 8, which was not only the best buck for my son but fit into the management plan on our lease. The thick 8 would come to the feeder like clockwork, so we needed to hurry. As we approached "La Pulga" blind, I fed corn very lightly at 250 yards from the blind. When I was at around 125 yards away, I let the feeder feed heavily up to the blind. I had been doing that for several weeks to make sure that the deer would be accustomed to the corn close to the blind.

After getting up in the blind, we settled in and got our rifles, binoculars,

and shooting sticks into position. To my surprise, the first deer to appear was “The Thick 8”. We had only been sitting in the blind for around ten minutes.

"Ok Danny, there is your buck,” I told him. “Get ready." I told myself the most important thing to do at this point was to remain calm so he would not get nervous.

I was the one, however, who could barely contain my excitement. I sat him on my lap, placed the gun on the window and adjusted the shooting sticks.

"You know what to do, just like we practiced, right on the shoulder," I said.

He waited until the buck turned broadside. I looked on with my binoculars to watch if he connected with the deer. I set the rifle to fire on his .243 and told him to shoot when he was ready.

He did not hesitate and he fired.

I saw the deer buckle and run into the thick brush from where he came. I heard a loud crash where he undoubtedly broke though some thick brush. It sounded like a tree being snapped in half.

"You got him buddy,” I said. “I am so proud of you!"

We said a quick prayer, asking the Lord to please help the deer die quickly and as painlessly as possible. We also asked

Him to allow us to find the deer in a short amount of time. Danelo told me with certainty, “Dad, I hit him right in the shoulder for sure.”

I asked my son to look at the time so that we could give the deer an hour to expire.

The time was 6:51 a.m. and I told Danelo that we would depart the blind at around 7:40 a.m. to make our way toward the site where we last saw the deer after the shot.

I went straight to the first sign of blood and saw that the blood trail was dark and thick. I knew it would not be long until I would find Danelo’s buck. The brush got significantly thicker where the deer’s blood trail led, so I had to go around or go through tangles of mesquite trees. I could

smell the deer; I was close.

I chose to go through the brush alone, concerned that the buck could still be alive as we walked up to him. I took Danelo back to the UTV, so he could wait for me there.

I returned to the last sign of blood that I found and pushed through the brush to get to the site. The buck was lying in a clearing, expired. I have killed large, high scoring whitetails all over Starr and Zapata counties but I assure you that I had never been so relieved to find a deer.

I went back to the UTV to bring my son to the deer. I told him that he needed to come with me. He asked, "Did you find it, Dad?" I did not answer. I told him to follow the blood trail and move around a large tree where we had last seen the blood. As we turned the corner, Danelo caught a glimpse of the deer and looked at me with a huge smile.

After the initial hugs and high fives, we knelt in front of the beautiful whitetail and thanked the Lord for this incredible opportunity. Aside from having a successful hunt, the bond that my son and I created in that moment is something I will treasure forever. That sly smile he gave me when he made that perfect shot will be etched in my mind, and I am sure we will talk about that first buck for years to come.

215 East Monte Cristo Road, Edinburg (956) 383-4949 n M-F, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Closed Major Holidays. n www.facebook.com/MartinFarmRanch n Martinfarmandranch.com n n

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17

Grubbage..

Bacon-wrapped venison, venison carne guisada and dove stroganoff on this edition’s menu

with Durivage

As this magazine hits the press, hunting season will come to an end.

I was fortunate enough this season to be able to harvest a deer with our very own Fred Rodriguez of The Texas Sportsman.

I figured since I was able to harvest a deer that I would feature a couple of venison recipes. The first is a bacon-wrapped venison tenderloin and back strap, the second; venison back strap carne guisada. There are many ways to cook venison, but these two are at the top of my favorites list. The last recipe I would like to share with y’all will be Dove Stroganoff. Just like the Venison, dove can be prepared many ways as well, but I wanted to share this unique recipe because it is a hit around my house. Hope y’all enjoy, and remember, these recipes wouldn’t be the same without that good ol’ Chupacabra Seasoning!

Bon appetite y’all! - Michael Durivage

Bacon Wrapped Venison ABOUT ME Grilling has been a passion of mine for many years. It started as a teenager when I would watch my Grandmother cook many five-course meals while working on the farm. My grilling adventures have always been on a trial-and-error basis, honing my skills of over the years.

Meat tenderness and the seasoning you use are the keys.

I’ve used many types of seasonings; my favorite is Chupacabra rub. Chupacabra rub can be used on anything, and Im not shy when it comes to its uses. I use it on popcorn, salads, - it seems that I add Chupacabra to almost anything I eat.

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Venison tenderloin and back strap Bacon Chupacabra seasoning Barbeque sauce Take your Venison tenderloin and back strap and generously season with Chupacabra. I am not shy with my seasoning. Wrap the tenderloin and back strap with your favorite bacon and season some more. Place on the grill at 275 to 300 degrees. I like to throw in a couple handfuls of pecan chips for a good pecan smoke. I like my meats medium rare so I cook the tenderloin for about 30 mins and the back strap for about 15 to 20 mins. Right before I take each off the grill, I glaze each with my favorite Barbeque sauce. Enjoy!

Venison Carne Guisada 2 pounds venison back strap, cut into 1-inch chunks Chupacabra seasoning to taste 4 Tbsp all-purpose flour 2 Tbsp vegetable oil ½ large white onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves ½ tsp black peppercorns 2 tsp Comino (cumin) 1 medium tomato, chopped ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves 1 serrano pepper, slightly toasted, peeled, seeded, and chopped 1 ½ cups beef broth ½ tsp Mexican oregano (regular is fine) ½ tsp paprika 1 tsp chili powder ½ tsp salt ½ cup water Dredge the cubed meat in flour and Chupacabra, coating well. In a heavy, deep-sided skillet or Dutch oven, add the oil and heat over medium heat. Add the cubed meat and brown thoroughly, stirring often.

While the meat is browning, in a small sauté pan, toast the comino seeds and add them to the molcajete (mortar and pestal). Use the same pan to toast the serrano pepper. In a molcajete, which already has the comino, add the garlic, and black peppercorns. Grind into a paste. Add ½ cup of water and stir, this is to make sure you remove all the paste from the molcajete and set aside.

Once the meat is browned, add the garlic, comino and peppercorn paste and liquid from

molcajete to the pot. Add the salt, paprika, oregano, chili powder, onion, tomatoes, cilantro, and serrano to the pot and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes. Add beef broth, bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 1 1/2 hours, or until the beef is tender and the mixture has cooked down to a thick sauce.

Stir every 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Dove Stroganoff 18 Dove breasts, skin removed Chupacabra seasoning to taste (you can substitute Salt & Pepper instead) ¼ tsp oregano ¼ tsp rosemary ½ cup white cooking wine 1 medium onion, chopped 1 can cream of celery soup 1 can (8-oz) mushroom pieces 1 can (8-oz) sour cream 3 Tbsp butter or margarine Place Dove breasts in large baking dish.

Sauté onions in butter. Mix remaining ingredients, except sour cream. Pour over doves.

Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Add sour cream and stir. Continue baking uncovered for 20 additional minutes. Serve over rice or noodles. Enjoy!

MAR. 2016 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES

FEB. 2016 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES DAY

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11:10

21

S

12:00

22 M 23 T

FULL MOON

24 W 25 T

1:51

2:16

2:34

2:59

26

F

3:17

3:42

27

S

4:00

4:25

28

S

4:43

5:08

29 M

5:28

5:53

APOGEE

Visit us online: www.osoteloskincancer.com WHAT ARE LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES?

CLOCK SPRINGS FORWARD FIRST QUARTER ST. PATRICK’S DAY EQUINOX

T

23 W 24

T

25

F

26

S

27

S

31

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS

T

T

FULL MOON APOGEE/GOOD FRIDAY EASTER SUNDAY

LAST QUARTER

9:16

9:42

10:07

10:32

10:57

11:19 12:30

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS Visit us online: www.osoteloskincancer.com

Did you know that skin cancer is the most common of all types of cancers?

Nearly two million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. every year.

Hunters, fishermen and farmers since ancient times have known of a certain relationship between the moon and nature. They knew that at certain times of the day the world of the animal kingdom came alive with activity. This knowledge had been passed on from generation to generation and used for their basic needs: planting, hunting and fishing.

Today we have come to understand the scientific basis for the moon’s biological effect on all wildlife and marine life. Very simply, it is peak gravitation of the moon that stimulates animal activity. That’s why deer, cattle and marine life feed at the same time of the day or night.

This gravitational stimulus is at its greatest when the moon is directly overhead or on the opposite side of the Earth. A law of physics states that for every pull there is an equal and opposite push. In other words, as the Earth rotates on its axis, any location on Earth will each day pass under two peak gravitational forces occurring 12 ½ hours apart. These peak forces coincide with lunar transit times.

The following lunar transit times coincide with high tide and increased game and fish activity. Just like at high tide, animal activity increases, peaks, then decreases around transit times. This “window” of activity usually lasts 2-4 hours. What this all means is that the best hunting and fishing occurs when gravitation is greatest at transit times of the moon.

Dr. Sotelo has more than 30 years of experience and has treated more than 50,000 skin cancers.

If you have questions or concerns about your skin, call R. Sotelo now - don’t wait!

From Dr. Oscar Sotelo’s Lunar Transit Times, 23rd edition

20

BEST

OSCAR SOTELO, M.D. Board Certified Dermatologist

6900 N. 10th St. Ste 3 McAllen, TX 78504 (956) 682-1591 osoteloskincancer.com

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

February 2016

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

Phase

1

Mo

6:24p

High Tide 0.9

High Tide

3:41a

0.1

7:13a

6:12p

12:58a

12:28p

3rd

2

Tu

3:11p

0.9

4:27a

-0.1

7:12a

6:12p

1:50a

1:09p

3

We

3:03p

1.0

5:11a

-0.2

7:12a

6:13p

2:42a

1:54p

4

Th

3:23p

1.1

5:54a

-0.4

7:11a

6:14p

3:36a

2:44p

5

Fr

3:48p

1.2

6:38a

-0.5

7:11a

6:15p

4:29a

3:38p

6

Sa

4:15p

1.2

7:22a

-0.6

7:10a

6:15p

5:21a

4:36p

7

Su

4:41p

1.2

8:07a

-0.6

7:10a

6:16p

6:12a

5:36p

8

Mo

5:05p

1.1

8:53a

-0.6

10:18p

0.9

7:09a

6:17p

7:01a

6:39p

9

Tu

1:02a

0.9

5:24p

1.0

9:40a

-0.5

10:39p

0.8

7:09a

6:17p

7:48a

7:42p

10

We

2:31a

0.9

5:39p

0.9

10:28a

-0.3

11:13p

0.6

7:08a

6:18p

8:34a

8:46p

11

Th

3:59a

0.8

5:49p

0.8

11:17a

0.0

11:56p

0.3

7:07a

6:19p

9:18a

9:49p

12

Fr

5:36a

0.8

5:55p

0.7

12:08p

0.2

7:07a

6:19p

10:02a

10:52p

13

Sa

7:29a

0.7

5:57p

0.7

12:48a

0.1

1:02p

0.5

7:06a

6:20p

10:47a

11:54p

14

Su

9:43a

0.8

5:54p

0.8

1:46a

-0.2

2:07p

0.8

7:05a

6:21p

11:33a

15

Mo

12:01p

0.9

5:26p

0.9

2:49a

-0.4

4:07p

0.9

7:04a

6:21p

12:21p

12:56a

16

Tu

1:32p

1.1

3:53a

-0.5

7:04a

6:22p

1:12p

1:56a

17

We

2:27p

1.2

4:56a

-0.6

7:03a

6:23p

2:05p

2:53a

18

Th

3:07p

1.2

5:56a

-0.6

7:02a

6:23p

2:59p

3:47a

19

Fr

3:40p

1.2

6:51a

-0.6

7:01a

6:24p

3:54p

4:38a

20

Sa

4:07p

1.1

7:43a

-0.5

9:07p

1.0

7:00a

6:25p

4:49p

5:25a

21

Su

4:29p

1.0

8:31a

-0.3

9:22p

0.9

7:00a

6:25p

5:43p

6:08a

22

Mo

1:00a

1.0

4:46p

1.0

9:15a

-0.2

9:45p

0.8

6:59a

6:26p

6:36p

6:48a

23

Tu

2:07a

0.9

4:59p

0.9

9:55a

0.0

10:11p

0.7

6:58a

6:26p

7:28p

7:25a

24

We

3:08a

0.9

5:07p

0.8

10:33a

0.2

10:40p

0.6

6:57a

6:27p

8:19p

8:01a

25

Th

4:08a

0.9

5:09p

0.8

11:07a

0.4

11:13p

0.5

6:56a

6:28p

9:10p

8:36a

26

Fr

5:12a

0.8

5:05p

0.8

11:39a

0.5

11:49p

0.4

6:55a

6:28p

10:00p

9:12a

27

Sa

6:27a

0.8

4:58p

0.8

12:08p

0.7

6:54a

6:29p

10:50p

9:47a

28

Su

8:05a

0.8

4:46p

0.8

12:31a

0.3

12:38p

0.8

6:53a

6:29p

11:41p

10:25a

29

Mo

10:27a

0.9

4:22p

0.9

1:19a

0.2

1:18p

0.9

6:52a

6:30p

11:40p

1.0

Low Tide

Low Tide

©2016 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW

DISCOVER HUGE REBATES ON SELECT MODELS AT AMIGO POWER EQUIPMENT.

STOP BY TODAY FOR INCREDIBLE OFFERS AND UNBEATABLE SERVICE.

AMIGO POWER EQUIPMENT 304 W MONTE CRISTO ROAD EDINBURG, TX

11:04a

New

1st

Full

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

March 2016

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

Phase

1

Tu

12:37p

High Tide 1.0

High Tide

2:13a

0.1

6:51a

6:30p

12:32a

11:47a

3rd

2

We

1:18p

1.1

3:11a

0.0

6:51a

6:31p

1:24a

12:34p

3

Th

1:48p

1.2

4:10a

-0.1

6:50a

6:32p

2:16a

1:24p

4

Fr

2:17p

1.3

5:08a

-0.2

6:49a

6:32p

3:08a

2:19p

5

Sa

2:44p

1.3

6:04a

-0.2

6:48a

6:33p

3:58a

3:17p

6

Su

3:08p

1.2

6:59a

-0.3

8:29p

1.0

6:47a

6:33p

4:48a

4:18p

7

Mo

3:28p

1.1

7:53a

-0.2

8:40p

0.9

6:46a

6:34p

5:36a

5:21p

8

Tu

12:56a

1.1

3:44p

1.0

8:47a

-0.1

9:05p

0.7

6:45a

6:34p

6:22a

6:26p

9

We

2:18a

1.1

3:55p

0.9

9:40a

0.0

9:39p

0.4

6:44a

6:35p

7:08a

7:31p

10

Th

3:37a

1.1

4:03p

0.8

10:34a

0.3

10:20p

0.2

6:43a

6:35p

7:54a

8:37p

11

Fr

4:59a

1.1

4:07p

0.8

11:29a

0.5

11:09p

-0.1

6:41a

6:36p

8:40a

9:42p

12

Sa

6:29a

1.1

4:06p

0.8

12:29p

0.7

6:40a

6:36p

9:27a

10:46p

4:54p

0.9

11:25p

1.0

Low Tide

Low Tide

13

Su

9:09a

1.1

12:03a

-0.2

7:39a

7:37p

11:17a

14

Mo

10:59a

1.2

2:02a

-0.4

7:38a

7:37p

12:08p

12:48a

15

Tu

12:37p

1.2

3:07a

-0.4

7:37a

7:38p

1:01p

1:48a

16

We

1:44p

1.3

4:16a

-0.3

7:36a

7:38p

1:55p

2:44a

17

Th

2:30p

1.3

5:26a

-0.3

7:35a

7:39p

2:50p

3:35a

18

Fr

3:03p

1.3

6:34a

-0.1

8:55p

1.0

7:34a

7:39p

3:45p

4:23a

19

Sa

3:29p

1.2

7:36a

0.0

8:53p

1.0

7:33a

7:40p

4:38p

5:07a

20

Su

12:35a

1.1

3:49p

1.1

8:32a

0.1

9:10p

0.9

7:32a

7:40p

5:31p

5:47a

21

Mo

1:55a

1.1

4:03p

1.0

9:23a

0.3

9:33p

0.8

7:31a

7:41p

6:23p

6:25a

22

Tu

3:01a

1.1

4:13p

1.0

10:10a

0.4

9:57p

0.7

7:30a

7:41p

7:14p

7:01a

23

We

3:59a

1.2

4:17p

0.9

10:53a

0.6

10:23p

0.5

7:29a

7:42p

8:04p

7:36a

24

Th

4:54a

1.2

4:14p

0.9

11:33a

0.7

10:49p

0.4

7:28a

7:42p

8:54p

8:11a

25

Fr

5:48a

1.1

4:05p

0.9

12:11p

0.8

11:18p

0.3

7:27a

7:42p

9:45p

8:47a

26

Sa

6:46a

1.1

3:50p

0.9

12:53p

0.9

11:50p

0.2

7:26a

7:43p

10:35p

9:24a

27

Su

7:52a

1.1

7:24a

7:43p

11:26p

10:02a

28

Mo

9:11a

1.2

12:27a

0.2

7:23a

7:44p

29

Tu

10:39a

1.2

1:10a

0.1

7:22a

7:44p

12:17a

11:28a

30

We

11:54a

1.3

2:01a

0.1

7:21a

7:45p

1:08a

12:16p

31

Th

12:47p

1.4

3:02a

0.1

7:20a

7:45p

1:59a

1:07p

10:40p

1.0

2:47p

0.9

©2016 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW

502 E. Exp. 83 Suite D Weslaco, TX 78596 (956) 332-6517

New

1st

Full

10:44a

3rd

RANCH AND LODGE LISTINGS Double Shot Outfitters: Harlingen, Tx. 956-792-6460 956-367-5778 doubleshotoutfitters.com El Canelo Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-607-7200 www.huntelcanelo.com El Sauz Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-248-5593 www.elsauzranch.com Gravick Ranch: 4985 FM-1017 San Isidro, Tx. 78588 956-481-3273 www.gravickranch.com Horn, Fin and Feather: 32369 State Highway 186 E Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-428-7006 hornfinandfeather.com

King Ranch: 2205 Highway 141 West PO Box 1090 Kingsville, Texas 78364 361-592-8055 www.king-ranch.com Lomas Chicas Outfitters: Sarita, Tx. 956-232-0107 lomaschicasoutfitters.com Lonesome Bull Ranch: 203 Lang Road Portland, Texas 78374 361-683-9744 361-547-3840 lonesomebullranch.com Los Encinos Ranch: Kingsville, Tx. 78364 956-207-9154 www.losencinosranch.com Mariposa Ranch: 906 CR Road 225

Falfurrias, Tx. 78355 361-325-5827 www.mariposaranch.net McAllen Ranch: 33820 FM 1017 Linn, Tx. 78563 956-383-1960 www.mcallenranch.com Pair-O-Dice Ranch: Rio Hondo, Tx. 956-605-8097 www.pairodiceranch.com White Wing Ranch: 827 South Oklahoma Brownsville, Tx. 78521 956-838-5222 whitewingranch.com Santos Ranch /Las Lomas: Frio County, Tx. 210-844-3637 www.santosranch.com

777 Ranch: 5420 County Road 531 Hondo, TX 78861 830-426-3476 www.777ranch.com South Texas Ranch: San Isidro,Tx. 956-467-9057 southtexasranch.com Texas Hunt Lodge: 120 Lakehouse Trail Ingram, Tx. 78025 830-367-7611 texashuntlodge.com Y.O. Ranch: 1736 Y.O. Ranch Road Mountain Home, Texas 78058 800-967-2624 – Main No. 830-640-3222 www.yoranch.com

To have your ranch/lodge listed in Texas Sportsman Magazine, email joey.texassportsman@gmail.com

38

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“Fast Turnaround Time”

A SHOOTER’S PARADISE

26

Need a shotgun? Bob Glick has plenty to choose from..

B

ob Glick has about done it all when it comes to hunting, both locally and around the world.

When he turned 46, however, he decided it was time to try something different.

He played golf, but not too much. It took up a lot of time.

Then he discovered target shooting. He’s been hooked ever since.

“I discovered target shooting that lafe in my life, this is me we’re talking about - not just some other guy,” saud Glick, owner of Glick Twins in Pharr and a board member at the Mission Skeet and Trap Club in Mission. “Now I shoot there at least once a week. I can shoot for 30 minutes or three hours and have a great time.

The Mission Skeet & Trap Club, Inc., is a public and nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Texas on January 2, 1964. The purpose of the club is to provide safe facilities for recreational and competitive shooting, hunter education and good fellowship. Membership is open to citizens willing to take the club’s membership pledge.

The club, located one-half mile south of Expressway 83 on Conway, offers skeet, trap and five stand shooting and also has an archery and pistol range. It is open to the public Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Glick said the range offers individuals and families a fun time at a moderate price. People can shoot for and hour - or for an entire day.

“It has prepared me to shoot competitively around the country in shotgun sports,” Glick said.

“I don’t even hunt that much anymore because I enjoy target shooting so much.”

The club has been home to several junior All-American competitors as well as Sharyland High School graduate and 2008 Olympian Sean McLelland.

McLelland finished 11th in the 2008 Olympics, was a silver medalist at the 2010 Wolrd Cup and most recently captured the bronze medal in the 2011 National Championships.

Sean first began shooting in 4-H, where he later became the 2004 High Overall Individual National 4-H Shooting Champion, and the President of the

Sharyland 4-H Group. The 4-H continues to practice at the club, said General Manager Jeff Simpson.

Simpson added that the club has a wide range of ages that take advatage of the different setups. He said competitors range from 7 years old up to a couple members still firing away in their mid-80s.

“We have two gentlemen here who are 80 and 81 - and they can shoot the lights out,” Simpson said.

Simpson handles the safety end of the club, among other duties. He said everyone goes through a safety program the first time out.

“Anybody that shoots where it’s their first time they go through an orientation,” Simpson said. “Once you see them do certain things and have confidence then they can shoot on their own - but nobody’s ever alone. We make safety our top priority.”

Glick and Simpson both agreed that sometimes hunters may not feel comfortable right away because shooting clays is a lot different than hunting. That feeling, however, goes away quickly - and the addiction sets in.

“Once you find out how much fun it is and learn the rules of the game and how to be better and break more targets, you’re going to have a lot of fun. You can compete against others or against yourself.” Glick said, adding that it’s a great place to bring the family to have a nice getaway.

“Trust me, once they start hitting targets they are going to get hooked and they are going to want to hit more and more targets”

missionskeetandtrap.com (956) 583-5996 Find them on Facebook too!

27

Several above photos are from career day at Truman Price Elementary School in Donna where Texas Sportsman Publisher Henry Miller was invited as a guest. “It was an awesome day to spend with a terrific group of boys and girls. I was truly blessed,� Miller said.

A most memorable meeting When Texas Sportsman Magazine writer Brent Johnson meets up with two of his idols, it leads to a great time on and off the water

I

t was sometime between one and three in the morning when we finally arrived at our destination. This was not the most ideal scenario for first impressions when meeting a legendary fishing guide, but in this case it couldn’t have been more perfect.

30

My buddy had been doing freelance fishing videos with the captain and became good friends. I had followed this guide through the years and was a real fan of his writing. I remembered a photo of him stepping onto an airboat in some backwater marsh with the October sun bouncing off a nice haul of reds.

To say I held this guy in high regard would be an understatement. This dude was one of my idols.

The salty-smelling cold February air immediately smacks me as I open the truck door. The wind in the palm trees tells me it's good to be in port. Soon a shadow comes out of the dark, awake from his sleep. The man walks to where I am standing, and with a smile and a handshake - as if he has known me forever - instantly puts me at ease. I have met quite a few celebrities in my time, but this one is special. We chat for 15 minutes and then make our way to the bunkhouse for some much needed sleep.

We sleep in due to a small craft advisory from the strong winds. I walk out to the tiki hut about 9 a.m. and sit for a cup of coffee. I meet the Mrs., who also happens to be one of the best guides - and daughter - to one of the first guides of this area.

That is a lot of fishing know-how right there. For the next few hours we have a good ol' time talking about all things fishing - and how the port is known as a drinking town with a fishing problem.

Tomorrow we fish with both of these guides at the same time. Today we get out for the evening bite. It's still chilly but the wind has eased and it's pleasant.

Throwing a KWiggler 4-inch pumpkin chartreuse paddle tail I get lucky and bring in a 24-inch speckled trout. After slipping her back in the water we catch a few more then head in.

Rum is flowing and the smell of fajitas is in the air back at the tiki hut. Soon a party breaks out as we are joined by some fishermen from Reynosa and a doctor who pulls out a guitar, playing every song off Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon.

Before the pachanga, the captain shows me a room that looks like a museum of sport fishing. I am captivated like a kid in a candy store as I behold old reels, old rods, magazine covers, photos from days gone by and the biggest antique saltwater lure collection maybe in existence.

Old balsa wood plugs, broken backs, spoons of every sort, and even mechanical baits that flutter when you pull the leader are part of his museum-like collection. There are even Skippin' Ciscos, Plugger Bubbles, Charmers, Bingo Mullets, Seaducers, Bombers, Go Getters, Bayou Boogies, and seemingly every old plastic ever made.

“Which one out of all these do you think is worth a few thousand dollars?” he asks.

I pick up a few but I'm wrong each time.

He points out another and says “this one right here was one of the first saltwater lures ever made.”

He hands over what looks like a simple carved piece of plastic, zigzagged with a treble hook on one end.

“That, my friend, is the Tooth Brush Shrimp.” With this lure in hand I hear monks in a monastery far, far away.

The fishing day arrives and everyone wakes up about 8:30 with the smell of breakfast (made by yours truly) wafting in air. With just a few hours sleep - and a mild hangover - I throw together some ingredients I picked up at El Taquito in Harlingen. Beans, cheese, potatoes, and verde sauce mixed in with eggs and wild hog sausage.

February fishing is not like spring, summer, or fall where the early bird gets the worm. The cold water tends to delay the bites until later in the morning, after warming up. The captain pulls off a stunt in the harbor when he steers through some mooring poles barely wide enough to fit his boat. He does it with enough speed to add to the thrill.

It's a 30-minute trip to our first stop. It is a thigh to waist high wade with a mix of hard and soft bottom.

“Dang it Johnson you are all goobered up!”the captain says as I jump out of the boat. He is referring to the chartreuse Corky Fat Boy that is stuck in my shirt.

Yep, I am that guy…or was. (I'm only going to tell this story once only to pass along a helpful hint to anybody new to wade fishing so listen up and do not repeat this.) He helps me free the hook and shows me the safe way to hook your lure in the second, or third eyelet from the top. This way it doesn't come into contact with you when it is tucked into your wading belt.

I redeem myself, after a goof laugh at my expense, by landing the first fish.

I cast the Corky a country mile with a Shimano Citica 12001 seated atop a 6’6” Waterloo rod. I work it slowly, occasionally letting it sit for a good pause and then

work it again. It is during the pause I feel a subtle bite. I raise the rod tip high and instantly know I have hooked something good. In a high octave voice I yell “It's a pig! It's a pig!”

I slowly fight this fish, making sure it is worn out before bringing to hand. When it rises for a head shake I lower the rod to the side, maintaining the same constant tension, but guiding the fish back down to keep it from spitting the lure. Soon my call is confirmed once I have the fish in reach.

A couple figure eights and she's mine.

The boga reads 8lbs and she measures out at 26 inches. The captain rushes over to capture the moment on camera. He tells me to keep the gills wet, only lifting the fish from the water for brief moments. Suddenly I realize why every fish he photographs has water dripping off it. I always thought it was just a cool concept, but there was a real reason for this. The fish is released to fight another day after it's photo moment of fame.

I catch another the same size, shortly after the first. While everyone else is catching a mixed bag on KWigglers, I keep catching monster trout and I'm fine with that. Amazingly, I end up with a 28-inch red - this Corky is getting beat up!

We fish a couple more hours, then go searching for more dragons in the skinny.

At day's end we end up with our limits and head home.

The captain breaks out the rum at the cleaning table and tells many tall tales for the next two hours. He slices away fillet after fillet – a true sushi samurai - and even harvests the throats. He shows me some part of the belly he likens to tenderloin that most of us toss out. We end up spending so much time male bonding that we totally forget dinner and are scolded on no uncertain terms upon return.

Many people will wonder the identity of the two legendary guides I am writing about. Some will know exactly who I'm describing, others may learn in time.

When we departed, the captain said “well now you know where to find me.”

I run in to them from time to time, and I am glad to say they are good friends of mine. Like any legend it’s good to have a little smoke to the story. Occasionally you may catch a glimpse of their boat on the distant horizon, but sometimes they may be in a far away place like a monastery in Vietnam meditating, or an isolated Costa Rican beach sun bathing.

If you should be so fortunate to cross paths, ask him to play the harmonica and tell him Johnson says hello. See you on the water my friends.

GOT IT? CHECK Prepare for Spring with an Outdoors Checklist

BY MIKE COX From bass fishing to turkey hunting, spring is a great time for the Texas outdoors enthusiast. And it's also time to make a list.

List-making became part of my routine based on an experience I had one morning at the beginning of a hunting trip. To get the full impact of what happened, you have to understand something about the man driving the Suburban that morning.

First, he was a hooking bull. The office he headed appeared quite prominently on the organization chart of the agency for which we both worked. His scrawled “approved” or “disapproved” on a piece of paper could make or break a career. He supervised the supervisors of hundreds of men and women working in a high-risk profession.

A big man in size as well as rank, George served in the military before joining our department. In fact, he had only recently retired from the National Guard.

Almost always in motion, in charge and brusquely to-the-point, he would have made a good poster child for the Type A Society, if anyone had ever had enough time to organize it.

George could be chewing you out and then acting like a kindly father faster than a highway patrol trooper turns around to follow a red sports car.

He had said to meet him in our parking

32

lot at 8 a.m. that day if I wanted to join him, my boss and several other higher ups in our organization for a weekend deer hunt. Part of the culture of that organization is the belief that “early is on time, on time is late.” So I arrived early, my gear ready for quick transfer into Mr. Type A’s vehicle.

The off-loading accomplished, we’d made it about half-way to my boss’s house when I blurted out, “Oh, shoot.” (Or something to that effect.) Definitely the second word was short and started with an "s".

“What?” George said.

“Nothing,” I replied.

“What’d you forget?” he insisted.

“No big deal,” I said. “Nothing I really need.”

“Dammit, what!” he pressed.

“I forgot my sleeping bag,” I said quietly.

George hit the brakes.

“Let’s go get it,” he said, each word followed by a slight pause, just like an exasperated parent taking his kid to school would sound after learning his kid had forgotten his homework.

“That’s OK,” I said, conscious of the time we were supposed to be at my boss’ house to pick him up. “I can get by without it.”

“No you can’t,” George said. “It’s gonna be cold up there. You’ll need it.”

So we drove back to my house, me apologizing once again every few blocks.

When he pulled into my driveway, I bailed out like the first Marine at Iwo Jima and

rushed inside to grab my left-behind sleeping bag.

Back in the Suburban on the way to my big boss’s house, I expected George, given his nature, to be in a considerable snit over the delay I had caused. We had gone from being early to on time, which meant we were running late.

Instead, as gently as a big man can say anything, he said: “You know, I’ve forgotten things before. The way I keep from doing that is to use a checklist.”

And from my house to my boss’s house, George held forth on the fine art of list-making. Not only did the word “bedroll” figure prominently on his hunting-camping list, he also included an emergency dental kit just in case he lost a filling out in the middle of nowhere.

Someone with a list that detailed may still be surprised by what can happen when you’re so far out in the country you have to drive toward town to find a place to shoot, but he’ll be a whole lot better prepared to cope with it than most outdoor enthusiasts.

That hunting trip with George several years ago convinced me of the importance of making a list and checking it twice, compulsive as it sounds. The alternative is to risk spoiling what otherwise might have been a quality outdoor experience by forgetting something important, like the magazine for your .308. (Yes, I’ve done that, and on opening day. Nothing like

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checklist for both activities.

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walking toward your blind in the pre-dawn of a cold morning and suddenly realizing the weapon you are carrying is useful only for clubbing yourself to death for being so stupid as to forget your magazine. On another occasion, I remembered my magazine but forgot my ammunition. I also have left my hunting license on top of my chest of drawers.)

Reviewing my checklist before an outdoors trip now stands as the first item on my list, so to speak. And if you have more than one passionate outdoors pursuit, as in both hunting and fishing, you need a

* Hunting Big game Birds * Fishing Freshwater Saltwater * Camping Tent camping Car camping Beach camping * Boating Bass boat Sail boat Kayak Making multiple lists may seem like a lot of work, but thanks to “Professor” Google, all you have to do is type the words “camping checklists” (or whatever activity you’re planning) into www.google. com The Internet offers plenty of free, ready-to-use checklists for just about any pursuit you can think of.

Once you have printed one of these lists, you’ll quickly realize that no one is capable of tailor-making a list for you. You will see things on the on-line lists (usually produced by some marketer, but not always) that you would never need, like a like snow shoes in Texas.

What I did in preparing my standing

checklists was take what I wanted and leave the rest. I re-keyed the list of items I needed into my laptop and then added the things not included on the ready-made list that I like or would need for a particular activity.

My lists are broken down into major categories, like “Shelter,” “Bedding,” “Cooking,” “Clothing,” and so on for camping.

Under each, I list the specifics, as in tent, tarp, extra stakes, repair material and so forth.

Now, when I get ready to start packing for an outdoors experience, I print out my basic list for whatever I’m about to embark on. Just like a pilot before takeoff, I mark what I am going to bring along after I have located and loaded it. I keep the list with me in the field, adding things that I discover I should have brought along – or scratching through things I didn’t use and came to realize I never would need.

Back home, I add or subtract from my computer file accordingly.

Since becoming a list maker, I can honestly report that my incidence of pre-trip forgetfulness has decreased no matter the growing forest of candles on my birthday cakes each year. Taking the right gear is the first step toward having a great time in the outdoors. Just don’t forget to check your list before you go.

35

WHAT’S YOUR PLAN?

Follow a well-executed strategy and you will go home with your trophy speckled trout

BY CAPT. JOEY FARAH While buds are busting out on the mesquite trees the time is also exploding to be on the water for the Spring trout spawn along the South Texas Coast. The entire inland bay system is the most famout tropy speckled trout ecosystem, from the Upper Laguna Madre and Baffin to the Arroyo and South Bay. Mature specs are wise to our tricks and trades so this spring jump out and make this "your" year to land the biggest trout of your fishing career. Concentrate on stealth tactics to get bites from the right fish; as well as ensure you have all the tools to bring that trophy of a lifetime to hand.

As a boy on the lagoon I clearly remember snorkeling and spearing flounder all summer, every summer. We were constantly lifting our heads because a large boat more than 300 yards away sounded the same as one 50 yards from us. Sound travels long distances in shallow water, so does water displacement.

To catch big speckled trout you first have to get close to them.

As you bring your boat off a plane, watch as the hull sinks into the water and creates a shockwave of water that rolls out in a circle from your boat. Fish within 100 yards will feel the wall of water move across the flats. High winds and waves can mask some of this, but in the "spawning grounds" this can be felt throughout the entire area, scaring fish before you even cast.

Approach every fishing destination with a calm systematic approach. Move forward at a slow pace, surveying the area for signs of bait. Keying in on some important clues will help you find the right area. Look for small- to medium-sized bait, not just big mullet.

Varied birds species means that there will be varied types of baitfish. Pay attention to the direction the bait is moving and/or jumping. This tells you where the fish are moving. Find a way into the shallows so not to interfere with the fishing area. I idle for a few hundred yards then

36

use the wind or a trolling motor to close the distance.

Upon reaching your core area, imagine a circle of silence around you that you have just made. Most boats will stay outside of that core area, but nowadays you can't count on that. Use shorelines and islands to make "barriers" to section off places of undisturbed water. I see too many anglers jumping out in a line and walking and talking as they work the flats.

This is not a marching band routine, but a planned stalk on a fish that knows the area as his home.

Now that wade fishing is so popular I even see single waders spooking many fish. When you are catching a pod of trout then they suddenly disappear, move a few steps over. Trout pods feel the disturbed bottom directly down current and will divert right or left. They often return to the original place you caught them daily as it contains some kind of structure they prefer. Even down to the lures we throw, be stealthy. Random casts back and forth are not natural. Big mature fish will be hunting that area and listening for the movements of the bait.

Every time your lure hits the water her eyes roll in that direction. Repeated casts over the same water with loud topwaters will surely send a cautious trophy trout off into the distance. I've often seen big trout stay in a disturbed area but swim bye my feet with no intention of making any strikes at lures or bait, after they have figured me out. Use long search pattern casts and a very slow presentation to bring those explosive topwater strikes to the end of your fishing sword.

When you have been attacked by one of these famous monster trouts from Baffin Bay, bringing them to hand is an art that sends many anglers into a stressful disaster.

Like a case of buck fever for hunters, anglers come unglued when those silver side flash black spots more than 30 inches long. The type of fishing rod in one's hands has the most importance. By far the most reliably tough as nails, sensitive,

and most responsive rod on the planet for inshore fishing is a Waterloo Rod. This Texas Coast-based business thrives on customer satisfaction on the water. The blanks are precision magic and feature every action available.

The strength or backbone is most important for controlling the head of any big fish. The smooth transition in the midlength keeps that line tight and the hook embedded in the mouth. The tip and butt of the rod is where all the magic happens with that first touch of her mouth to your bait.

Custom orders are Waterloo's specialty with custom grips and butt lengths to ensure this rod is fit to you for you for a very long time. All Waterloo Rods come with high-grade stainless eyes and the recoil spring eyes are a top-end feature that is amazing. These wire eyes have nothing in drag on your line and will not crack, no eye inserts to pop out, and can be bent all the way down to the blank and just spring back up. This pays for the rod after a few times slid into the car a bit too fast.

Cork and foam handles give us many combinations to choose from. The 4x4 of fishing poles is the Salinity line, strong backbone runs to a super sensitive tip, 316 stainless eyes, and extra glass and glue around every eye to keep them bedded to the blank for years and years. I like a strong and heavy drag, this compiles with a lot of backbone but a soft tip, I like the Walterloo Ultra Mag. Some anglers like a lighter action with more whip and give. They have them all. Bringing these big trout to hand starts at the strike. Pick up a quality rod and tap a soft plastic along the bottom and you will know exactly what your bait is doing down there along the ocean floor.

I had pored over the group of sand pockets along the beach for more than an hour with only two small male trout.

Instead of walking past, I chose to back off and circle around. I came back around against the shore along a big pile of dead sea grass along a small point in the beach. Clouds of tiny minnows skirted

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the grass bed and clutched tight for safety. I stood and watched a heron stare sideways into the water as finger sized mullet popped the surface.

I untied my lure and married a DOA Airhead to my Waterloo. The first cast was far and I swam the bait slow with its tail flapping behind it. The bait fell down to the sand and lifted a few times toward the surface and dove back down into the shallow mix of sand and grass. Another few jumps and as the bait touched the surface I could see a large silver face coming up behind the rainbow trout colored DOA Airhead.

As I dropped the rod for a second the bait shivered and fell into a toothed yellow mouth that seemed to empty a hole in the surface. I could feel her suck the bait in before I saw her bolt away.

The rod bent double and I could see her tail pound the water in defiance. She turned and ran right at me as I double timed my retrieve to keep up with her. When she saw my legs she turned and cleared the water, sending frothy white foam out of her gills.

As she rose I pulled her head down and when she dove I broke her will by keeping that line tight against her figure eights. The rod let me play that fish into my hands.

On her first approach I reached down and gently touched her side. She flew away in a mad rush, but circled back, to another soft stroke of the hand. By the fourth contact trout will lay over to allow you to easily take them to heart. The big fish stared directly into my eyes and looked at herself in the reflection of my glasses.

In her, I too could see myself, always just one false move away from uncertainty. I took a few pictures, pulled the Airhead from her jaw and slid her back into the salty waters of Baffin. These tails are what fuel us to chase the creatures living so close to us yet they live in another world below the sea. We struggle to unlock the secrets of the Ocean and somehow lose ourselves in its majesty.

34

This spring, prepare and execute your game plan for trophy speckled trout, and make this the year of your fish of a lifetime.

Follow all my hookups on Facebook at Joey Farah's Fishing Adventures, (361) 442-8145.

Now, Go Get Wet!

OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTO: This fish was sight casted under a small school of bait in Baffin Bay by Captain Joey Farah, Team Waterloo.

ABOVE PHOTO: Still hunting the shallows this spring can bring monster trout like the 30� Baffin Trout in the hands of Mike Urban of Team Waterloo.

Preventive Maintenance - stop a problem before it starts Engine breakdowns at sea in small boats are a major cause of foundering, and another good reason to have a sea anchor on board. In a pinch, throw out your regular anchor. If you’re one of those people who don’t perform preventive maintenance, you’re heading for trouble.

When was the last time you checked over all the hoses, clamps and fuel lines?

And, of course, you’re going to check over that bilge pump wiring and float switches frequently and make sure everything is in operating condition before each and every time you head out. Don’t fool around with old batteries, replace at the first sign of weakness. Many people make the mistake of replacing paired batteries one at a time. You can’t do that with dry cells because an old battery will drag down a new one. Batteries have to be replaced in pairs. Besides, you’re not saving anything by doing it one at a time; it’s actually costing you more because you’re damaging the new battery.

Check systems carefully. Little things like loose wires and corroded wire connections can lead to major problems.

Keep in mind that a boat rocking and rolling at sea is what tends to cause things to break down. The violent motion puts a strain on everything. Treat the systems

When a boat starts to go down suddenly, there’s no time to go rooting around in the cabin trying to get (life vests) out from under the seats where they’re stuffed away. like your life depends upon them; whether you realize it or not, it does.

As for life-saving devices, these should be kept immediately available. When a boat starts to go down suddenly, there’s no time to go rooting around in the cabin trying to get them out from under the seats where they’re stuffed away. If they are still in the plastic bag from which you got them that would be a ticket. Remove the plastic protective bag and fix strap the right size. I’m not saying that you have to wear them, just keep them out where you can grab them quickly whenever you’re offshore. People are drowning, not because they don’t have them, but because they can’t get to them in time. Don’t forget that children 13 years and younger need to wear them at all times. If the boat is more than 28 feet long, they are not required to have them on.

Back to the sea anchors from the beginning of this story. If your steering goes out, you can use your sea anchor to steer.

If you want to go to the right, throw it over the stern starboard side. It’s just the opposite if you want to turn left.

This should get you started in the right direction. I have fully certified training classes on getting started in proper safety and handling of a boat for you first timers.

It’s just a day-long class – but it’s a packed day of information.

As always, be safe and see you on the water.

Master Captain Alan Stewart owns and operates Stewart Training Center and holds a Master license with the U.S.C.G. Stewart Training Center is located at 39572 Loop Road, Bayview, Tx., 78566.

Game Warden Field Notes

Don’t Do The Crime If You Can’t Pay The Fine TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE Two Cherokee County game wardens responded to a call about a deer someone found shot in the roadway. The witness gave a description of a vehicle he saw near the area. Investigating late into the night and into the next day, the wardens found two suspects who confessed to killing the deer with a 12-gauge shotgun from the roadway at night. One of the suspects had a suspended hunting license because he failed to pay civil restitution on a previous deer charge from a few years ago. The case is still pending.

LEFT FOR DEAD

Two Val Verde County game wardens responded to an illegal hunting call in a Lake Amistad neighborhood. Residents reported seeing a large buck roaming around the neighborhood with an arrow in its chest. The wardens found the buck, though it had to be euthanized because its injury was severe. The wardens determined the arrow was a crossbow bolt and are conducting an investigation, since no hunting is allowed in the neighborhood.

“SOME” IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

While a Grayson County game warden was talking to the two occupants of the vehicle he had just stopped, he learned they were returning to Louisiana from a duck hunting trip in northwestern Texas.

The warden asked if they had any game in the vehicle, and they said they had “some” ducks. Before opening the hunters’ two ice chests, the warden asked if they had too many ducks, and the driver said they probably did have too many ducks for just two people. The warden counted 107 ducks in the hunters’ possession. The men claimed some of the ducks belonged to other hunters, though they couldn’t provide any documentation to support their claim. While neither hunter could remember exactly how many ducks he’d taken, they both admitted to exceeding their daily bag limits during the hunting trip. The warden then discovered one of the hunters did not have a hunting license, and neither hunter had a migratory bird endorsement. The warden filed multiple cases for being over the daily bag limit, hunting without a license and hunting without a migratory bird endorsement.

The hunter who did have a valid Texas hunting license was allowed to keep his possession limit of 18 ducks, but the other 89 ducks, with a civil restitution value of

42

over $9,000, were seized and donated.

FLIPPING OUT

After receiving a call from dispatch about an overturned boat, two game wardens responded to the scene. Two adult hunters and an 11-year-old hunter had parked their duck boat alongside a levee, and, as the first hunter stepped on the levee, it gave way. The current flipped the boat over, tossing the other hunter and the child into the water. The other hunter managed to pull the child from the current and both swam to higher ground.

The two wardens located the hunters and took them to a more accessible area where Trinity City Fire and Rescue could pick them up.

PARAPHERNALIA AND PERSONAL

As two Atascosa County game wardens followed up on a pending investigation at a suspect’s property, one of the wardens saw marijuana plants growing through an outbuilding’s screen door. The homeowners, who said they were growing the marijuana for personal use, gave the wardens consent to search their home.

The warden noticed drug paraphernalia in the bedroom, for which the warden cited both suspects. The wardens seized the marijuana plants for evidence, and the investigation is ongoing.

INSPECT CAREFULLY

A Kimble County game warden investigated an accidental shooting at a hunting camp. As two teenagers were getting ready at their camp house for the evening’s hunt, one teenager was sitting on his bed inspecting his firearm while the other one got dressed. The teenager looking at his firearm accidentally discharged it and shot his friend in the right thigh.

The bullet exited the victim’s left leg. The victim was taken to the hospital where he underwent several surgeries. He is expected to make a full recovery.

A TRAIL OF EVIDENCE

After finishing a youth hunt in Howard County, a game warden received a call about an abandoned vehicle with New Mexico tags near a gut pile in Borden County. When the warden arrived on scene, he found a fresh gut pile about 10 feet behind the abandoned truck. He also saw fresh blood and deer hair in the bed of the truck. After some observation, the warden found a name on an old package in the bed of the truck that did not match

the name of the truck’s registered owner.

The warden then contacted the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico, where the truck was registered, and requested they contact the truck’s owner.

The Sheriff’s Office reported back that the owner’s son-in-law, whose name matched the name on the package, was driving the truck. The truck’s owners advised their son-in-law was most likely in a hunting camp somewhere in Texas. A Borden County game warden provided the warden with locations of several nearby hunting camps known to be used by New Mexico residents. In the second camp the warden searched, he found the very tired and very drunk son-in-law. After a brief interview, the warden discovered the son-in-law and a friend had illegally taken four deer, including two bucks, from a public road.

Cases and restitution are pending.

RECKLESS RUN-IN

A game warden assisted the Moore County Sheriff’s Office in responding to a call about a reckless driver on a nearby highway. The warden was the second officer on the scene, where he saw a pickup truck crashed into the highway’s center median and the driver passed out behind the wheel. After speaking with the driver when she regained consciousness, the warden observed she was heavily intoxicated. After failing the sobriety tests, the sheriff’s deputy arrested the driver for driving while intoxicated. A probable cause search of the car revealed drug paraphernalia and several open containers of vodka. The driver later consented to providing a breath sample, which showed she had a 0.153 blood alcohol content. The driver was then booked into the Moore County jail.

SORT OF THE RIGHT THING?

A game warden was home celebrating his wife’s birthday when two very nervous men knocked on his front door. They said they were pig hunting from a nearby road, and they were worried they had shot a deer by accident. One of the men saw a group of four road hunters being jailed a couple weeks prior, and he didn’t want that to happen to him and his friend. The warden contacted a Baylor County game warden for assistance since the road was located in Baylor County. The wardens didn’t find any deer, but they filed charges for hunting from a public road on the two hunters.

Annual Winter Trout Stocking Time Texas Parks and Wildlife ATHENS—It’s time once again for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s annual winter rainbow trout stocking.

Beginning in late November and continuing through March, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will stock nearly 300,000 hatchery-reared rainbow trout at more than 140 sites across the state. Many of the fish stockings will be conducted at small community fishing lakes, state park lakes and popular river tailraces offering easy angling access.

TPWD has been stocking rainbows each winter since the 1970s, providing Texans a simple and economical opportunity to go fishing.

The program occurs in the winter due to the cooler water temperatures in Texas water bodies the fish require to survive.

Catching these hungry fish can be easy, making the experience ideal for both novice anglers and kids. The fish will bite almost immediately after stocking and typically will take a variety of baits, from whole kernel canned corn or commercial soft bait to artificial flies and even small spinnerbaits.

Fishing gear can be as basic as an inexpensive spincast rod and reel combo, a small plastic bobber, a fishing weight and a hook. It’s also a good idea to carry along a pair of needle-nosed pliers to help remove hooks, and a five gallon bucket, small ice chest orfish stringer to keep your catch. Be sure to keep fresh trout cold on ice or refrigerated.

All anglers 17 years of age and older must have a valid freshwater fishing license as well as a freshwater stamp. The daily bag limit is five fish.

“It is important for anglers to understand that the posted schedule is tentative and is subject to change due to weather conditions or other unforeseen circumstances,” said Todd Engeling, TPWD hatchery program

director. “It is always best to check the web site before heading out to one of the stocking sites.�

Anglers who frequent the popular Guadalupe River trout fishery near New Braunfels are reminded of the special trout zone 800 yards downstream from the Canyon Dam release to the east bridge on Hwy 306. For rainbow and brown trout, the length limit in this zone is a 12-18 inch slot. Trout 12 inches and less or 18 inches or greater in length may be retained. The daily bag remains five trout and only one

trout 18 inches or longer may be retained.

From the easternmost bridge on FM 306 downstream to the second bridge crossing on River Road, there is an 18-inch minimum size limit, and a one trout daily bag.

Harvest of trout in these special zones is by artificial lures only.

For more information about the winter trout fishing program, including tips and the current trout stocking schedule listed by city or county, visit www.tpwd.texas. gov/troutstocking.

A video of rainbow trout stocking and fishing may be viewed at http://youtu.be/x_UEX_R_BRQ.

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DREAMS TOURNAMENT BENEFITING KASSANDRA RIVERA’S ROAD TO THE LPGA AND THE FOOD BANK OF THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY

WHEN: SATURDAY, MARCH 26 WHERE: HARLINGEN CC REGISTRATION BEGINS at 7 A.M, SHOTGUN START at 8 A.M. -- THREE-PERSON SCRAMBLE (EACH TEAM WILL PLAY A HOLE WITH KASSI) -- DOOR PRIZES, GIFTS, AWARDS FOR 1ST, 2ND & 3RD PLACE -- JUNIOR GOLFERS WELCOME -- BREAKFAST AND LUNCH INCLUDED -- $50,000 SHOOTOUT! -- CHANCE TO WIN A HAWAII VACATION

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS DREAM SPONSORSHIP ($1,500): 3 TEAMS, MEALS, SIGNS, PROMO ITEMS IN GOODIE BAGS, LOGO ON BANNER/WEBSITE/THANK YOU ADS, FREE AD IN SOUTH TEXAS GOLF MAGAZINE, TEAM PHOTO WITH KASSI EAGLE SPONSORSHIP ($1,000): 2 TEAMS, MEALS, SIGNS, PROMOTIONAL ITEMS IN GOODIE BAGS, LOGO ON BANNER/WEBSITE/THANK YOU AD, TEAM PHOTO WITH KASSI BIRDIE SPONSORSHIP ($750): 1 TEAM, MEALS, SIGN, PROMOTIONAL ITEMS IN GOODIE BAGS, LOGO ON BANNER/WEBSITE/THANK YOU AD, TEAM PHOTO WITH KASSI PAR SPONSORSHIP ($500): 1 TEAM, MEALS, SIGN, LOGO ON BANNER; TEAM PHOTO WITH KASSI DONATIONS WELCOME GOLFERS: $125/GOLFER or $300/TEAM

SIGN SPONSORSHIP: $150

Send your name, email address and phone number, along with sponsorship level and payment to: 7935 N. FM 493, Donna TX, 78537 Call (956) 472-2058 or (956) 607-9210 with questions Make Checks Payable to: Rivera Golf

Kassandra Rivera is a graduate of Texas Southern University and Weslaco High School

OR VISIT: WWW.DREAMSTOURNAMENT.COM AND REGISTER ONLINE!

The Texas Sportsman & South Texas Golf Present The Second Annual

South Texas Fish & Chip Classic FISHING

SATURDAY, July 10, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHITE SANDS MARINA, PORT ISABEL -- 3 persons per boat -- MUST be in line AT 3 p.m. for weigh-in -- Payouts 1st, 2nd, 3rd for Redfish, Flounder and Trout -- Receive 1 point per pound of fish for grand fish & chip title.

GOLF

$500 PER TEAM (covers fishing & golf)

SATURDAY, July 17 8:30 a.m. SHOTGUN START TIERRA DEL SOL, PHARR -- 3 person team (can be same as fish team or exchange players!

-- Prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd -- 1 point per stroke under par for grand fish & chip title

FOLLOW US AT Texas Sportsman Magazine & South Texas Golf on Facebook for more information.

CALL (956) 776-4623 or (956) 607-0853 TO SPONSOR OR REGISTER A TEAM TODAY!!!

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT SANDBOX ANGLER’S “RIFLES TO REELS”