1015 Texas Sportsman

RECORD RAINS, RECORD HUNTS MONSTER BISON BAGGED

FALCON LAKE MEMORIES

TEXAS SPORTSMAN SUPPORTS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

3000 N. Cage Pharr, TX, 78577 (956) 402-4500 205 W. Nolana Loop, Pharr (956) 259-7829

2706 N. Cage Blvd., Pharr (956) 783-7777

OCT. 16 - JBALVIN & BECKY G

OCT. OCT. 10 31 -- NEW FREAKS, BOXING BEATSEVOLUTION ‘N TREATS

NOV. 14 - PABLO ALBORAN

NOV. 27 - THE SPAZMATICS

NOV. 28 - KEVIN FOWLER

RAIN, RAIN DON’T GO AWAY

of the animals,” Glick said. “We've had a long period of rain, four inches at a time, then an inch, then a dry period then five inches – there's always fresh green growth.

“Excluding last year the five years prior on our ranch never felt acceptable to even shoot one quail. This year you can shoot the limit, any limit you can come up with.”

The quail population had dwindled significantly. One manager from the San Rafael Ranch, however But the rain has done more than just increase the numbers (and sizes) of quail. Anglers benefitted from the runoff into the estuaries, creating a better bay system. This led to bigger and better red fish (among others), off shore fishing improved and shrimp hatches increased.

“The dove hunting we've experienced this year has been very exceptional,” Glick said. “I shot my limit this morning in about 20 minutes.

The fawn crowd is hug and the deer are benefitting from the extra forage in a huge way.”

In fact, deer hunters get to “double dip” after a lengthy period of rain like South Texas has seen. Not only will the bucks be as healthy and big – both in body and horns – but also when the fawn crop will benefit from this year's rain and be ready in 2020-21.

“Fawns right now are hidden better because of the fresh and thicker forage,” Glick said. “Mothers are being better fed and make more milk and therefore the fawns are getting fed better. Obviously, the bucks are getting more forage too, which means a bigger body weight and a lot bigger horns.”

The benefits of the additional rain could last for more than just one year. Glick said that the forecast for next year is a return to the dry weather South Texas is known for. However, with a shortage of cattle in Texas there are not enough cattle to eat all the forage that has grown in the past 13 months. This will provide quail with more forage.

“Quail numbers have been in trouble for a very long time and this rain has been huge for their recovery. And the little ones need the rain, so their eggs don't get brittle and dry for one and so that there are little insects for them to eat. When it's dry, they are hurt tremendously by it.”

13 months of above-average rainfall has led to bigger and more abundant animals all over Texas Ranches

By Henry Miller

M

anagers at the San Rafael Ranch in Jim Hogg County say there's a 350-percent increase in quail this year on their land.

The King Ranch reports that there are more quail on its property since the 1920s.

There's one reason for it – an abundance of rain.

Likewise at Bob Glick's ranch, the change is easily noticeable.

“It's the most quail I've seen on my ranch since (Hurricane) Beulah in the 70s,” said Glick, owner of Glick Twins on U.S. Bus. 83 in Pharr. “Three years ago I knew of three coveys on my property with 4-5 birds in them each. Now I know of hundreds with 20-30 birds in each.”

From Sept. 2014 through Sept. 2015, rainfall has easily eclipsed the norm during the same span. Of those 13 months, McAllen saw less rain than normal for the month just four times while eclipsing normal rainfall nine times.

Brownsville eclipsed the normal rainfall average 11 times in the past 13 months.

While there hasn't been a Hurricane or Tropical storm dropping a deluge of rain over a 48- or 72-hour period, the rain has been consistent – especially this past spring. McAllen collected more than 23 inches of rain from January through June of this year where the norm during that span is just less than 10 inches.

It looks as if September 2014 was the kickoff for the extra wetness. McAllen recorded 9.5 inches of rain (normal 3.57), Brownsville registered 10.36 (normal 5.92), Harlingen collected 8.83 (normal 5.26) and even Falcon Lake – which has recorded 24.45 inches in the past 13 months, almost exact to its norm of 24.5 – was hit with 6.43 inches of precipitation (normal 4.04) in Sept.

2014.

“This is the type of rain that's perfect for ranchers, hunters, farmers and all

MAnAging your whiTeTAil deer

Volume 2, Isssue 5. October 2015. 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

Precipitation totals from Sept. 2014 through Sept. 2015 compared to normal rainfall during that period: Brownsville Harlingen McAllen Falcon Lake

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel Date 1

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

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

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©2015 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW

El Canelo Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-607-7200 www.huntelcanelo.com

Tiki Tillman Photographer tikitillmanphotos.com (956)572-6132

El Sauz Ranch: Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-248-5593 www.elsauzranch.com

AMIGO POWER EQUIPMENT 304 W MONTE CRISTO ROAD EDINBURG, TX

Gravick Ranch: 4985 FM-1017 San Isidro, Tx. 78588 956-481-3273 www.gravickranch.com

Bob Glick Contributing Editor myglicktwins.com (956) 787-4291

Horn, Fin and Feather: 32369 State Highway 186 E Raymondville, Tx. 78580 956-428-7006 www.hornfinandfeather.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

The Bison above has recently been measure by a sertified SCI measurer. The buffalo measured in as the 16th largest in the world and is the largest Bison ever shot in Texas. “I want to thank my guide Jordan Anders and the outfitter Hunting Texas for arranging the hunt,” said Alberto Santo, who shot the monster Buffalo (Santos’ nephew Nico is seen above)

n

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 www.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

Texas Hunt Lodge: 120 Lakehouse Trail Ingram, Tx. 78025 830-367-7611 www.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

LISTINGS Ranch and lodge listings to help you plan.

Massive rain in the past 12 months has led to a massive increase in quail - the King Ranch claiming they haven’t had this many quail since the 1920s - and other animals. Bob Glick says it could lead to many records for South Texas hunting.

can hunt tomorrow.

I call the outfitter and he says he can do the hunt tomorrow. The hunt is on. All I need now is a gun.

I rush off to the ranch to pick up a gun. I choose my trusted 375 H&H Mag. While I am at the ranch, I test fire a few rounds to make sure the scope is sighted in.

After a minor adjustment, the gun is dead on at 100 yards. This gun shoots a very big (300 grain) bullet. It has done a very good job on Greater Kudu and Cape Buffalo. I know it will do its job on a big buffalo.

I get home at dark and Nico is already in his pajamas. I see him saying his night time prayers and I tell him to pray that his grandpa makes a good shot. He smiles and nods.

Tomorrow begins our bison adventure.

This hunt has come together in record time. I guess it is meant to be.

AN EARLY START Nico and I decide to get some of our favorite tacos at the nearby Jalisco Grill.

We are in the restaurant by 6:45 a.m. and it looks like we are the only ones there.

Saturday morning, not being a work day, is slow at this place. We order and the food arrives in a flash. Nico likes to come here for tacos. I always make him order in Spanish. His Spanish is very good. This boy would not go hungry in Mexico.

I have a chorizo con huevo plate. Nico does not want to finish his egg taco. He says he is not that hungry. I encourage him to eat as much as he can because I do not know when we will have lunch. Little did I know how prophetic my words would be.

He eats a little more but does not finish his

49.57 41.3 44.91 24.45

Normal 31.36 32.75 23.02 24.50

Tagging along with our Laguna Madre trout

Keeping tabs on our trout here in the Laguna Madre is very important for all of us. Private companies along with State and federal are researching this important resource.

There is a company here that has stepped up and is monitoring our Speckled Trout populations along with their habits. Tagging these juvenile specs is a way to monitor their movements and basically learning their habits.

J.R. Rodriquez from the valley is doing just that. He has started an organization that tags trout, releases them and hopes they are caught later with results of their movement, migration and growth.

The company name is Big Dawg Status. org,. Several other Captains are donating their time to do this research as well.

The general area they are doing this is from the land cut to Port Isabel. They are tagging as many trout as they can and hoping that if they are caught later, they can get the number from the tag and write down the date time and other important information they can and go to the web site and download this information.

The custom tags are ordered from Florida with the help of the Parks and Wildlife in reference to what kind and the

helpful to the Parks and Wildlife to better maintain a healthy harvest of trout.

There are already Red fish programs but not Trout programs like this.

If you feel you might be able to help these guys, go to the web site and contact them and give them a hand. Once again, the organizations web site is BIGDAWDSTATUS.ORG. As always, it’s not the kill, but the thrill of the chase.

size along with just where to tag them on the fish. They are custom imprinted with the contact information with easy directions.

This is something that everyone can participate in. The Texas Parks and Wildlife is aware of this program and is on line helping them. Any research is

20 PULL! Photos from the fifth annual A.C. Cuellar Skeet Shoot.

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.

LIFE IS BETTER IN COLOR let us take care of all your printing needs MAGAZINES | CATALOGS | POSTCARDS CALENDARS & BROCHURES

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Captain Cesar Anguiano

40 TAGGING Keeping tags on our Laguna Madre trout.

26 LUNAR TIMES Keep up with the best times to hunt and fish with the Lunar Transit Times.

30 LOVING SEPTEMBER Leonel Garza shares why the ninth month of the year is his favorite.

Sometimes, being responsible comes down to just the hunter and the deer

I

t was the summer of 2014 when Nico and Carmen joined me for a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. I was teaching a training course, Nico signed up for a kid program and Carmen was taking it easy. It was on this trip that Nico became fascinated with the North American Bison. This was the beginning of a chain of events that led me to the biggest bison in Texas.

In the summer of 2014 Nico sees a herd of bison for the first time. There is a painting of a large bison bull in the cafeteria at Philmont that Nico really likes. He makes it a part of his meal time ritual to go by and see the painting every day.

While in Albuquerque, at a museum gift shop, he asks me to buy him a small wooden sculpture of a bison bull. In early February 2015 Nico makes a poster and makes a presentation to his class on the North American Bison.

We missed his presentation because Carmen and I were in Las Vegas as the Safari Club International Convention.

Interestingly enough, I fell in love with a Bison mount and it reminded me that I have always wanted to shoot a Big Bison.

Upon my return from the Convention (February 7, 2015), I make a few calls to some ranches that have Bison. I tell them I am looking for a very big bison. Most adult bison have horns that measure 15 to 18 inches in length. I am looking for one that is 20+ inches. Nobody has one but I ask them to take my name and to call me when they locate a big bison.

The stars have lined up right To my surprise, I get a call on Friday morning (Feb 13, 2015)from one of the outfitters. The outfitter has just located a 20+ bull on a ranch near Ingram Texas.

This place is just an hour and a half from my home in San Antonio.

They send me a picture and I immediately book the hunt. From looking at the picture I can tell this is an old bison bull.

He definately looks to be 20+.

I have to take Nico on this hunt so I call his mother to check on Nico’s availability.

Elizabeth tell me that Nico has been on very good behavior and is doing well. He

‘14-15

South Texas Ranch: San Isidro,Tx. 956-467-9057 www.southtexasranch.com

ROLL TIDES Keep up with the Tides in October and November.

Mariposa Ranch:

It may not be No. 1 in the United States anymore for bass fishing, but it’s still a world class fishing hole

By Mike Cox

By Dr. Alberto Santos

February 2015

419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577

King Ranch: 2205 Highway 141 West PO Box 1090 Kingsville, Texas 78364 361-592-8055 www.king-ranch.com

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

Edit/Change your dealership information by selecting: Dealer Name

A Journal of Nico and Grandpa’s Bison Hunt

NO WAY BACK A Bowie County game warden responded to a call about a male and a female who had been dropped off at a remote campground two days earlier. When he arrived at the campground, the warden noticed neither person had food or water, and neither would say who dropped them off or when they were going to be picked up. The warden, after checking for active warrants for both people, arrested the male on an active warrant. The warden offered to give the female a ride to town while he transported her boyfriend to jail. As she gathered up her things, the warden asked to search her possessions for anything that might compromise officer safety during transport. She gave her consent, and the warden found a glass methamphetamine pipe with a burned substance in it. The female said she had forgotten the pipe was in her bag. Both the male and female said there was nothing else for the wardens to find because they had smoked it all.

The warden, not finding any other drugs, arrested them both and transported them to the county jail

38

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The Biggest Bison in Texas

ing along the road and carrying several items. The warden pulled up behind her and saw she was staggering and having a difficult time maintaining her balance.

As his headlights lit up the area in front of the woman, she never turned around to see who had pulled up behind her. As the warden parked his vehicle and got out, he asked the woman to stop, and she slowly turned around. The warden asked where she was going, to which the woman replied she was going to her boss’s house.

The warden then asked her to step to the side of the road and questioned her about where she came from. The woman said she had just gotten out of the hospital and was driving to the store to get a pack of cigarettes. The warden asked if she had taken any medications, and she said she had but not since leaving the hospital four hours earlier. As the warden spoke with the woman, he observed signs of intoxication. Her speech was slow, mumbled and at times incoherent. She seemed unaware of her surroundings and unable to balance on level ground. The warden turned the woman over to a DPS trooper who arrived on the scene. The woman was arrested for driving while intoxicated.

28

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Hunts to Remember

ILL JUST LEAVE THE CAR THERE A game warden assisted officers from the Texas Department of Public Safety in responding to a vehicle accident in which a woman drove into the water from a low water crossing bridge. The person who called in the accident said the woman had gotten out of the car after she drove it off the bridge and left the scene, walking south. As the warden headed to the woman’s last known location, he saw a woman fitting the witnesses’ description, walk-

Double Shot Outfitters: Harlingen, Tx. 956-792-6460 956-367-5778 doubleshotoutfitters.com

STOP BY TODAY FOR INCREDIBLE OFFERS AND UNBEATABLE SERVICE. Joey Dowden Advertising Director joey.texassportsman @gmail.com (956) 607-0853

MANAGING Tips to managing your whitetail deer.

Full

JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE A man contacted Comal County game wardens about a small alligator he had photographed in the Guadalupe River near Nichols Landing, a popular swimming area north of Canyon Lake. The man sent his pictures to the wardens but also posted them on social media. After seeing the pictures on social media, several media outlets called the game wardens about the alligator. The wardens said the alligator was in its natural habitat and should not pose any threat to the general public, though they are prepared to take the necessary steps if the alligator needs to be relocated.

RANCH AND LODGE LISTINGS

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

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Ranches all across South Texas are talking about the incredible increase in animals thanks to a very rainy past 12 monhts (tikitillmanphotos.com)

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RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN

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L

et’s say you just bought a ranch, financed by Capital Farm Credit, and you are excited about the ranch and all the projects you have waiting for you around the ranch.

The first thing you should do is a helicopter survey and get a good count on what you have.

Once you have done the flyover and you have done your count then you need to decide and forecast how many bucks and doe you are going to harvest the first year.

Another thing is deciding if you are going to lease the ranch or just allow family and a couple of friends to come out and hunt. In either case you must be management minded.

Fred Rodriguez is the Texas SportsAnother good idea is to buy some game camman and has decades of experience eras so you can have a more complete picture and knowledge regarding hunting and fishing. You can watch his show, of what kind of deer you have at each feeder.

The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Most of the time you will see the same deer Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on at the same feeders. Now, keep in mind that Saturdays. usually the biggest bucks don’t always come to the feeders or down the sendero when you sprinkle corn.

Once deer season is close, what I like to do when I manage a ranch is to have a mini seminar with a few friends and go over some photos and point out some of the features of the deer before deer season starts. Remember what I said about cameras at the feeders?

Well you can get some of the photos and point out to the hunters and say for example ”If you see this nine-point buck that has no G 1’s and has a round nose and a round belly go ahead and take him out. The reason for this is managing your ranch you have to know what kind of deer you want to keep and the genetics you want to stop.

Once you recognize your deer and you have your hunters to help you look at the quality of the deer that you all are trying to achieve, it will help with your long-term goal. But knowing which ones to harvest and the ones to let grow is only one piece of the puzzle.

Let’s talk a little about deer protein. There there are many choices on the market. I use Antler Max. What I usually do is put the protein in the protein feeders from mid-February through mid-October and then we put corn in the deer feeders and and throw feed down the senderos. If you have 1,000 acres, it’s good to have 6 to 8 protein feeders. The protein is what helps the deer grow bigger and helps the growth of the antlers.

Other attributes to a big rack is going to be the food plots which we will discuss in our next issue.

As for now just remember on your high fence - tell your hunters to be management minded and to pick and choose their deer with a close eye. Until next time have a great start in the upcoming hunting season and always remember SAFETY FIRST!!

God Bless!

Fred Rodriguez, Texas Sportsman

INSIDE

taco.

By 7:30 a.m. we are heading west on Interstate 10 with trailer in tow. The trailer is for the bison we hope to hunt. I arranged to take the bison to a meat processor in Divine, Texas. The meat processor said they would be open till 6 p.m. Saturday. After that we drop off the trailer in Pearsall, and we should be home at a decent hour. The plan was good. Now all we need is a big bison.

GETTING READY We arrive at the lodge a little before 9:00 a.m. The lodge is big. It looks like they can sleep 15-20 clients at one time. Hunts are done on 30 different properties depending on the species being hunted. Our guide is Jordan Anders. He is driving a pickup with a trailer that has a crane on the back. This thing looks like it is used for big game.

Hopefully the crane can put the bison on our trailer.

I introduce Nico to Jordan and I tell Jordan that I want Nico to see the hunt but from a safe place. I have to sign some paperwork then we get our hunting equipment in Jordan’s truck.

On the ride to the ranch, I occasionally

Pardon the cliche, but...

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Harry S. Truman, who famously kept a sign on his Oval Office desk that read “The Buck Stops Here!” probably was the last Democrat my granddad ever voted for.

But this is a story about hunter responsibility, not politics.

Sitting in a deer blind one cold, drizzly morning with plenty of time for reflection, one of the things that crossed my mind was that I seldom go hunting – or fishing – without thinking about Granddad. He’s been gone for a long time, but in a way, he’s always with me, particularly when I am enjoying the great outdoors. After all, he introduced me to it.

Based on recent “intel” from the digital trail camera that monitors the game feeder where I hunt, I had reluctantly left a warm bed at 4:39 a.m. to go see if the wide-racked eight pointer that had wandered by nine days earlier remained in the neighborhood.

One cup of coffee in my belly and another in my hand, I left my house at 5:22 a.m. An hour later, I was in my blind in the field where the feeder is waiting to see if anyone would be dropping by for breakfast.

At 6:44 a.m., still too dark for me to make out anything other than where a distant tree line ended and the sky began, the flash went off on the trail camera. In that instant, I saw a big-bodied deer in a circle of color surrounded by black. Though surely a buck, it had its head down. I couldn’t tell if it had any horns, or, if it did, whether they extended the required 13 inches apart.

As I strained my eyes trying to figure if the deer was legal, it suddenly dawned on me that I had left my binoculars – Granddad called them “field glasses” – in the back of my SUV. Not only did I not have the light-gathering capability the binoculars afforded, I also hunt this stand with my open-sighted .30-30.

Five minutes after it had literally appeared in a flash, the deer again tripped the camera’s motion sensor and the strobe went off once more. This time, I think I saw a lone antler on one side of its head and a small fork on the other – a legal buck that not only needed to be removed from the gene pool, but would make great summer sausage and chili meat. Still, I could not be a 100 percent positive.

By Brent Johnson

FISHING FALCON LAKE

Continued on Page 18

(956) 787-4291 34

As red tide ravages the coastal waters of our Texas shoreline, I can’t think of a better time to load up the truck and head west to Starr County and the fresh water of Falcon Lake.

Built back in the early 50s with the construction of Falcon Dam, Falcon Lake covers a massive 98,960 acres when at peak levels. The lake is named after Maria Rita de la Garza Falco’n for whom the town of Falcon was named.

You won’t find this town or many of the Spanish colonial structures as they were submerged upon the creation of the reservoir. During years of drought it is possible to get a glimpse of history when the ghost town of Guerro Viejo rises from its watery grave. In fact, I once threw a spinner bait through the chapel doors at the Church of Nuestra Senora del Refugio to see if a divine bass would take my offering. Lucky for me there were no omens beset for trolling this sacred site, and I will say it was very cool to witness.

Long regarded as one of the best fishing lakes in the state and the country, Falcon provides a variety of species including Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Tilapia, Catfish, White Bass, Alligator Gar and Striper to name a few.

It wasn’t until 2008 that the Bass World really took notice of this lake when Paul Elias of the Elite Series won the Lone Star Shootout with a record breaking total of 132.8 lbs. Never before had such a heavy stringer ever been recorded in any bass tournament anywhere.

In 2012 Falcon was ranked No. 1 for bass in the United States. Currently it has plummeted to No. 42. This could be attributed to drought conditions, but also possibly fishing pressure.

I remember not too long ago my dad looked into the live well of this one boat and got to talking to the owner. From a distance I saw the guy pull out two fish that were around 10 lbs.

When my dad got back he said “yea he had 8 more the same size in there!” As impressive as it was, it was also depressing to know those fish were headed for the cleaning table. If it were me I would have thrown all but my personal best back, because I know the value breeder fish of this caliber would be to sustain a No. 1 ranked fishery as Falcon. I’d be awful tempted to kill that one fish, but then again I might call Texas Parks and Wildlife and donate my fish to the Lone Star Share Lunker program and receive a fiberglass replica at no charge in its place!

One of my fondest memories of fishing Falcon was a Cub Scout trip back in 1978. Well, it was supposed to be a Cub Scout trip, but I was the only Cub Scout there along with my father to show up as heavy rains caused cancellations.

Being the die hards us Johnsons are, we learned that bass really don’t care if there is water in the air. While all my buddies were staying dry, we were stocking up for a fish fry!

It seemed like that George Strait song “This Could Be the Best Day of My Life” always applied when my father took me fishing.

We fished Bentsen Park, Sugar Lake, Lake Guerro, but Falcon was always my favorite. The beauty of this place is like fishing in the Old West.

Driving through Roma and Rio Grande City was like being on the set of a Clint Eastwood movie. It is an oasis in a harsh environment where everything wants to stick or sting you. Hi-

STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS has solved the age old problem of a sling’d rifle or shotgun weighing a hunter or solider down in the field. This system was inspired about 3 years ago when I was volunteering for a skeet shoot to benefit our Wounded Warriors and noticed several veterans having some difficulty keeping their weapon secure on their shoulder. I went to work in my garage the next day and STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS was born.

Growing up hunting in the Piney Woods of East Texas and the hardwood bottoms of the Trinity River, I was never content to sit in a blind and wait for a feeder to go off.

I wanted to be more involved. I wanted to scout, read sign and find game. This means walking - a lot of it. It didn’t take long for that old Remington Woodsmaster 30-06 that Uncle Bob had given me as a young teenager to weigh me down and create fatigue.

Like most hunters, I found myself reaching up under the stock butt and picking it up just a bit, just to get some of that weight off.

I thought to myself that every hunter must have this universal problem, but it took our Wounded Warriors to inspire and motivate.

I am always amazed at how these Warriors are able to inspire.

After many prototypes and hours of field testing, STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS has developed this truly innovative system that transfers an adjustable amount of weight off the sling, shoulders, and back area and redirects that weight to the belt unit/hip area where it can be safely and more effectively carried, reducing fatigue.

The STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS two-piece design contains a comfortable lightweight belt receiver that works with belts up to 2” wide and can be comfortably worn all day. A neoprene stock wrap with Velcro adjustments allows the neoprene to stretch to custom fit most common stocks. The STRATUS stock wrap also has a non-slip, non-marring inner liner that grips the stock

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whether it be plastic or wood and a specially designed low profile knuckle is hand sewn into the outside of the wrap.

When the user slings the weapon, simply guide the knuckle into the belt unit and once the knuckle is securely in the belt unit, the weight begins to transfer off the sling, shoulders and back and is transferred to the belt unit on the hip. The looser your sling, the more weight is transferred.

The best placement for the belt unit is near the small of the back where it anchors the bottom half of the weapon so the weapon is protected from brush and limbs while you are making your way. This placement allows the forearm of the weapon to cradle between the spine and the shoulder blade in the sweet spot where the gun wants to be. This keeps the weapon from wanting to “walk” as it would when is is normally sling’d.

Another feature of the STRATUS is when the user unslings the weapon, but is still attached at the belt unit, the weight of the barrel automatically rotates the muzzle to toward the ground in a safe position. Now the user is hands free to glass for game, call for ducks or read a map while the weapon remains securely attached at the hip. If a quick shot is required, the user simply pulls the weapon straight up out of the belt unit and Instant deployment ready to be shouldered.

It will not interfere with your shooting. Never lay your gun up against a tree and risk it falling or laying it on the ground.

I have made several videos of the STRATUS being used in the field showing its versatility while hunting and its durability by being run over by a truck with no damage.

Clips viewable at stratussupportsystems. com New designs for different applications are coming soon. And as always, a portion of all sales will go to support our Wounded Warriors. STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS has literally harnessed safety and comfort for the outdoorsman.

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THE MONSTER

BE RESPONSIBLE

STILL WORLD CLASS

Bagging a big - no, huge - Bison.

Hunting is more than just shooting, it’s being responsible.

Falcon Lake may not be ranked No. 1 in the nation anymore for bass, but it’s still world class.

6

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L A R G E S T

R U R A L

L E N D E R

Managing your whitetail deer

L

et’s say you just bought a ranch, financed by Capital Farm Credit, and you are excited about the ranch and all the projects you have waiting for you around the ranch.

The first thing you should do is a helicopter survey and get a good count on what you have.

Once you have done the flyover and you have done your count you then need to decide and forecast how many bucks and doe you are going to harvest the first year.

Another thing is deciding if you are going to lease the ranch or just allow family and a couple of friends to come out and hunt. In either case you must be management minded.

Fred Rodriguez is the Texas SportsAnother good idea is to buy some game camman and has decades of experience eras so you can have a more complete picture and knowledge regarding hunting and fishing. You can watch his show, of what kind of deer you have at each feeder.

The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in the Most of the time you will see the same deer Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on at the same feeders. Now, keep in mind that Saturdays. usually the biggest bucks don’t always come to the feeders or down the sendero when you sprinkle corn.

Once deer season is close, what I like to do when I manage a ranch is to have a mini seminar with a few friends and go over some photos and point out some of the features of the deer before deer season starts. Remember what I said about cameras at the feeders?

Well you can get some of the photos and point out to the hunters and say for example ”If you see this nine-point buck that has no G 1’s and has a round nose and a round belly go ahead and take him out. The reason for this is managing your ranch you have to know what kind of deer you want to keep and the genetics you want to stop.

Once you recognize your deer and you have your hunters to help you look at the quality of the deer that you all are trying to achieve, it will help you with your long-term goal. But knowing which ones to harvest and the ones to let grow is only one piece of the puzzle.

Let’s talk a little about deer protein. There there are many choices on the market. I use Antler Max. What I usually do is put the protein in the protein feeders from mid-February through mid-October and then we put corn in the deer feeders and and throw feed down the senderos. If you have 1,000 acres, a good rule of thumb is to have 6 to 8 protein feeders.

The protein is what helps the deer grow bigger and helps the growth of the antlers.

Other attributes to a big rack is going to be the food plots which we will discuss in our next issue.

As for now, just remember on your high fence - tell your hunters to be management minded and to pick and choose their deer with a close eye. Until next time have a great start in the upcoming hunting season and always remember SAFETY FIRST!!

God Bless!

Fred Rodriguez, Texas Sportsman Volume 2, Isssue 5. October 2015. 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.

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

ON THE COVER Ranches all across South Texas are talking about the incredible increase in animals thanks to a very rainy past 12 monhts (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

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

Hunts to Remember The Biggest Bison in Texas A Journal of Nico and Grandpa’s Bison Hunt February 2015

The Bison above has recently been measure by a sertified SCI measurer. The buffalo measured in as the 16th largest in the world and is the largest Bison ever shot in Texas. “I want to thank my guide Jordan Anders and the outfitter Hunting Texas for arranging the hunt,” said Alberto Santos, who shot the monster Buffalo (Santos’ nephew Nico is seen above)

419 W. US Highway 83, Pharr, TX 78577

n

(956) 787-4291

I

t was the summer of 2014 when Nico and Carmen joined me for a trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. I was teaching a training course, Nico signed up for a kid program and Carmen was taking it easy. It was on this trip that Nico became fascinated with the North American Bison. This was the beginning of a chain of events that led me to the biggest bison in Texas.

By Dr. Alberto Santos In the summer of 2014 Nico sees a herd of bison for the first time. There is a painting of a large bison bull in the cafeteria at Philmont that Nico really likes. He makes it a part of his meal time ritual to go by and see the painting every day.

While in Albuquerque, at a museum gift shop, he asks me to buy him a small wooden sculpture of a bison bull. In early February 2015 Nico makes a poster and makes a presentation to his class on the North American Bison.

We missed his presentation because Carmen and I were in Las Vegas as the Safari Club International Convention.

Interestingly enough, I fell in love with a Bison mount and it reminded me that I have always wanted to shoot a Big Bison.

Upon my return from the Convention (February 7, 2015), I make a few calls to some ranches that have Bison. I tell them I am looking for a very big bison. Most adult bison have horns that measure 15 to 18 inches in length. I am looking for one that is 20+ inches. Nobody has one but I ask them to take my name and to call me when they locate a big bison.

The stars have lined up right To my surprise, I get a call on Friday morning (Feb 13, 2015)from one of the outfitters. The outfitter has just located a 20+ bull on a ranch near Ingram Texas.

This place is just an hour and a half from my home in San Antonio.

They send me a picture and I immediately book the hunt. From looking at the picture I can tell this is an old bison bull.

He definately looks to be 20+.

I have to take Nico on this hunt so I call his mother to check on Nico’s availability.

Elizabeth tell me that Nico has been on very good behavior and is doing well. He

can hunt tomorrow.

I call the outfitter and he says he can do the hunt tomorrow. The hunt is on. All I need now is a gun.

I rush off to the ranch to pick up a gun. I choose my trusted 375 H&H Mag. While I am at the ranch, I test fire a few rounds to make sure the scope is sighted in.

After a minor adjustment, the gun is dead on at 100 yards. This gun shoots a very big (300 grain) bullet. It has done a very good job on Greater Kudu and Cape Buffalo. I know it will do its job on a big buffalo.

I get home at dark and Nico is already in his pajamas. I see him saying his night time prayers and I tell him to pray that his grandpa makes a good shot. He smiles and nods.

Tomorrow begins our bison adventure.

This hunt has come together in record time. I guess it is meant to be.

AN EARLY START Nico and I decide to get some of our favorite tacos at the nearby Jalisco Grill.

We are in the restaurant by 6:45 a.m. and it looks like we are the only ones there.

Saturday morning, not being a work day, is slow at this place. We order and the food arrives in a flash. Nico likes to come here for tacos. I always make him order in Spanish. His Spanish is very good. This boy would not go hungry in Mexico.

I have a chorizo con huevo plate. Nico does not want to finish his egg taco. He says he is not that hungry. I encourage him to eat as much as he can because I do not know when we will have lunch. Little did I know how prophetic my words would be.

He eats a little more but does not finish his

taco.

By 7:30 a.m. we are heading west on Interstate 10 with trailer in tow. The trailer is for the bison we hope to hunt. I arranged to take the bison to a meat processor in Divine, Texas. The meat processor said they would be open till 6 p.m. Saturday. After that we drop off the trailer in Pearsall, and we should be home at a decent hour. The plan was good. Now all we need is a big bison.

GETTING READY We arrive at the lodge a little before 9:00 a.m. The lodge is big. It looks like they can sleep 15-20 clients at one time. Hunts are done on 30 different properties depending on the species being hunted. Our guide is Jordan Anders. He is driving a pickup with a trailer that has a crane on the back. This thing looks like it is used for big game.

Hopefully the crane can put the bison on our trailer.

I introduce Nico to Jordan and I tell Jordan that I want Nico to see the hunt but from a safe place. I have to sign some paperwork then we get our hunting equipment in Jordan’s truck.

On the ride to the ranch, I occasionally

look back at Nico. He flashes me a wide smile and I see the sparkle in his big blue eyes. I sure hope I make a good shot and set a good example for this boy.

WHITE CROSS RANCH When we enter the ranch we begin to see all types of wild exotic game. We see rhea, an ostrich-like bird native to South America, axis deer, fallow deer and white tail deer.

We meet Rick Davis, the owner of White Cross Ranch and climb into his Bob Cat hunting vehicle. Nico rides in the back on top where he can see everything.

I tell Rich Davis that Nico is my spotter.

He has good eyes and will make sure I shoot the right bison.

“You won’t have any problems figuring out which one to shoot.” he says. “He is a monster.”

Rick tells us he has three herds of bison on the ranch.

We drive into the ranch and we continue to see a lots of game: blackbuck antelope, watusi bulls, and more.

Nico spots the herd of bison and points.

It is a small herd of about 15 bison.

Bingo!

The big boy we are looking for is in this herd. He really stands out. He is about 2 feet taller than any other bison in the herd.

He is really very big in body. He is like they said: “a Monster.”

To my surprise there are two white buffalo in the same herd. These are quite rare. Rick drives the vehicle to within 300 yards of the herd. We take some pictures and plan the stalk.

Nico and Rick will stay in the hunting vehicle. Jordan and I will walk downwind of the buffalo and see if we can get a clear shot. Nico, who has been riding in the back (shooting seat) is all smiles. Before I leave the vehicle I tell him to stay with Rick. I tell him to listen to what Rick says because I want him to be safe.

I tell Nico, “If he tells you to run, you run. If he tells you to climb a tree, you climb. Ok?” Nico just smiles back.

The herd is in an open stretch of prairie with no cover. Jordan and I start to circle around the herd on the right. When we are about 200 yards away the herd starts to move. We head toward some trees and herd continues to move.

I have no shot because the big bison is leading the herd and he is blocked by all the others including the white buffalo.

I set up the shooting sticks by a tree and wait. The herd stops and slowly begins to scatter. It looks like I may have a shot.

The big bison steps out but there is another bison behind me. I wait.

Then the bison in the back moves away.

“You have a shot now,” says Jordan.

The safety goes off.

I have a steady hold. Crosshairs are on

his lungs like Jordan recommended.

KaBoom! Whoomp!

“You hit him,” says Jordan.

The big bison staggers but does not fall.

I chamber a second round.

This time I put the crosshairs on the heart.

Kaboom! Whoomp!

The bull goes down. I probably did not have to shoot the second time but I do not like to see an animal suffer. I believe in delivering the final outcome quickly.

“Good shooting,” says Jordan. He shakes my hands.

I look over to see Nico and he gives me a thumbs up.

I expected the other bison to run but they did not run away. They stood next to the downed bison and tried to coax him to get up. He was not going to get up but they were trying to get him going.

I guess the old time meat hunters would have taken advantage of this ritual and kept on shooting buffalo. As I walked up to the dead buffalo, I had to swallow hard.

I did not know this would happen. Jordan says it happens a lot.

The closer I get to the down buffalo, the bigger he looks. He was a monster.

Now the work part of the hunt begins.

A LONG DAY AHEAD It was a huge struggle rolling the bison on his brisket for pictures. The crane on

the trailer struggled to get him on the trailer.

There is no way Jordan, Nico and I will be able to transfer him to my trailer when we get back to the lodge. So, we decide to go get my trailer and see if Rick can help us put the bison on my trailer using his fork lift.

It is a struggle even with the a fork lift and the crane to move the bison.

I shot the bison at about 10:30 a.m. and it is 1:45 p.m. before we have the bison gutted and on my trailer.

We go to Jordan’s business office to settle up on the Bison hunt, then I buy five 20 lb. sacks of ice and stuff them in the body cavity of the bison. I am glad this is a cool and cloudy day but I want to protect the meat.

At 2:30 we finish all of our business head for Divine to the meat processor.

Nico and I are very hungry. Nico wants McNuggets from McDonald’s but we cannot find a McDonald’s. We drive on to Bandera, Texas only to find that there is no McDonald’s in Bandera. I know there is a McDonald’s in Hondo, Texas so we push on to Hondo.

I ask Nico what he plans to order at McDonald’s and he says he wants a 20-piece McNugget Meal.

“For you and me?” I ask.

“No. Just for me. You can order one too,” he says.

I guess this boy is really hungry. I tell him I am sorry we have not had a chance to eat and I praise him for holding it together without complaining. I tell him that I am very hungry too and I probably will order a 20-piece meal too.

Finally we reach Hondo at 3:30 p.m.. We see McDonald’s but Nico sees a Whataburger and now wants chicken strips from there instead. We eat and again all is well.

I call the meat processor but he is not answering. If he is not there, this is a problem I had not anticipated. We head to the meat processor and sure enough he closed early. Of all the days to

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close early, why today? I have a dead bison that needs to be skinned and the meat needs to be chilled.

I call my neighbor Pete Ray and ask for help. He laughs and tells me to come over. He will help me skin the beast and says we can use his walk in cooler.

We arrive at Pete’s at 4:30 p.m. and we work with the help of his two ranch hands. Nico hangs around studying all the work we are doing. While skinning the bison we find one of the bullets. It has gone through the animal and was stopped by the hide on the other side. I give Nico the bullet.

When we clean out the chest cavity, Nico wants to see the heart. This boy likes all aspects of the hunt and he is not sqimish about blood and poop.

At about 7:00 p.m., Miss Barbara, Pete’s wife, asks Nico if he is hungry. He goes with her to the lodge and she makes him a ham and cheese sandwich and serves him a big slice of pecan pie.

We finish at 8:00 p.m.. Nico goes to sleep in his booster chair in the back seat of my truck and we drive back to San Antonio.

The hunt may have been easy but the finish was long and hard. I hope Nico learned that there is more to hunting than killing the animal.

All together it was a very good hunt. In a couple of days we will know just how good a trophy I got.

Someday when Nico is showing the Bison trophy to his grandson or granddaughter I know he will remember the whole hunt down to that big slice of pecan pie from Miss Barbara. I think this hunt made an impression on the boy.

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

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Sometimes, being responsible comes down to just the hunter and the deer

By Mike Cox

Pardon the cliche, but...

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Harry S. Truman, who famously kept a sign on his Oval Office desk that read “The Buck Stops Here!” probably was the last Democrat my granddad ever voted for.

But this is a story about hunter responsibility, not politics.

Sitting in a deer blind one cold, drizzly morning with plenty of time for reflection, one of the things that crossed my mind was that I seldom go hunting – or fishing – without thinking about Granddad. He’s been gone for a long time, but in a way, he’s always with me, particularly when I am enjoying the great outdoors. After all, he introduced me to it.

Based on recent “intel” from the digital trail camera that monitors the game feeder where I hunt, I had reluctantly left a warm bed at 4:39 a.m. to go see if the wide-racked eight pointer that had wandered by nine days earlier remained in the neighborhood.

One cup of coffee in my belly and another in my hand, I left my house at 5:22 a.m. An hour later, I was in my blind in the field where the feeder is waiting to see if anyone would be dropping by for breakfast.

At 6:44 a.m., still too dark for me to make out anything other than where a distant tree line ended and the sky began, the flash went off on the trail camera. In that instant, I saw a big-bodied deer in a circle of color surrounded by black. Though surely a buck, it had its head down. I couldn’t tell if it had any horns, or, if it did, whether they extended the required 13 inches apart.

As I strained my eyes trying to figure if the deer was legal, it suddenly dawned on me that I had left my binoculars – Granddad called them “field glasses” – in the back of my SUV. Not only did I not have the light-gathering capability the binoculars afforded, I also hunt this stand with my open-sighted .30-30.

Five minutes after it had literally appeared in a flash, the deer again tripped the camera’s motion sensor and the strobe went off once more. This time, I think I saw a lone antler on one side of its head and a small fork on the other – a legal buck that not only needed to be removed from the gene pool, but would make great summer sausage and chili meat. Still, I could not be a 100 percent positive.

Continued on Page 18

A few minutes later I had enough light for reasonable bullet placement, but the grazing buck kept its head down. He might be, I thought, a little four-pointer and therefore safe from harm in this antler-restricted county.

Even when the deer did periodically stop eating long enough to look around, I still couldn’t get clarity on his head gear.

I hoped he’d keep chowing down until I had enough light to make a positive ID, one way or the other, but at 7:05 a.m., 21 minutes after he’d first shown up, something spooked him and he trotted off stage left.

A minute later, the feeder kicked off, spraying more corn. The last couple of times I had been in the blind, deer showed up from five to 10 minutes after the broadcasting of fresh corn, so I still had optimism that other deer would appear. Maybe the buck would come back, too.

A couple of fat squirrels arrived to share some free corn with a flock of white-wings and a redbird or two, but no more deer evidenced themselves. The light drizzle having turned into a moderate rain that tapped on the metal roof of my stand, at 8 a.m. I decided the deer had laid up for the day and crawled out to head back to my vehicle.

As I walked away from my blind, I found myself wishing I could tell Grand-

dad about my morning’s hunt and the strobe-lit mystery buck, a first for me. A long-time photographer dating back to the days of flash powder, Granddad would be all for the use of digital game cameras as a hunting and wildlife management tool. And I like to think he would have approved of the fact that I had restrained myself from taking an easy shot at a buck that I only thought was legal. Indeed, given that rifles don’t come with an “un-do” button you can resort to after pulling the trigger, when it comes to knowing what you’re shooting at, the “buck” has to stop with the hunter.

“Maybe that’ll break you from forgetting your field glasses when you go hunting,” Granddad would have admonished after hearing my story, likely masking any grandfatherly pride that the eager young boy he’d taken on his first deer hunt had amazingly grown up to have a little judgment after all.

Here’s the kicker: When my more tech-savvy hunting buddy downloaded the feeder camera five days later, I learned the buck I had been watching had indeed been legal.

Sooner or later, Mr. Right will show up at that feeder and I will not have forgotten my binoculars. After I make sure the deer’s legal, that saying popularized by our 33rd President about the buck stopping here will have a different meaning.

Tips from the pros Some sound South Texas deer hunting tips from veteran game wardens, guides and hunters: n Do your homework. Research good places to hunt using the internet or wordof-mouth.Scout before you hunt. n Familiarize yourself with the terrain and look for the buck you want.Hunt with your nose to the wind. Deer see very well but they also have a powerful olfactory sense. n Before the rut, if you want to try for a big buck, check out the roughest, thickest cover on your property. n Hang in there. A lot of hunters think only early morning or late evening are good for hunting. Many a big buck has been hung up during the noon hour or gotten careless at other non-traditional times. n Watch the weather. The optimum hunting time is immediately after a cool, wet norther. Cloudy days are good. n Always keep an eye out for rattlesnakes, even in cool weather.

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RAIN, RAIN DON’T GO AWAY 13 months of above-average rainfall has led to bigger and more abundant animals all over Texas Ranches

By Henry Miller

M

anagers at the San Rafael Ranch in Jim Hogg County say there's a 350-percent increase in quail this year on their land.

The King Ranch reports that there are more quail on its property since the 1920s.

There's one reason for it – an abundance of rain.

Likewise at Bob Glick's ranch, the change is easily noticeable.

“It's the most quail I've seen on my ranch since (Hurricane) Beulah in the 70s,” said Glick, owner of Glick Twins on U.S. Bus. 83 in Pharr. “Three years ago I knew of three coveys on my property with 4-5 birds in them each. Now I know of hundreds with 20-30 birds in each.”

From Sept. 2014 through Sept. 2015, rainfall has easily eclipsed the norm during the same span. Of those 13 months, McAllen saw less rain than normal for the month just four times while eclipsing normal rainfall nine times.

Brownsville eclipsed the normal rainfall average 11 times in the past 13 months.

While there hasn't been a Hurricane or Tropical storm dropping a deluge of rain over a 48- or 72-hour period, the rain has been consistent – especially this past spring. McAllen collected more than 23 inches of rain from January through June of this year where the norm during that span is just less than 10 inches.

It looks as if September 2014 was the kickoff for the extra wetness. McAllen recorded 9.5 inches of rain (normal 3.57), Brownsville registered 10.36 (normal 5.92), Harlingen collected 8.83 (normal 5.26) and even Falcon Lake – which has recorded 24.45 inches in the past 13 months, almost exact to its norm of 24.5 – was hit with 6.43 inches of precipitation (normal 4.04) in Sept.

2014.

“This is the type of rain that's perfect for ranchers, hunters, farmers and all

of the animals,” Glick said. “We've had a long period of rain, four inches at a time, then an inch, then a dry period then five inches – there's always fresh green growth.

“Excluding last year the five years prior on our ranch never felt acceptable to even shoot one quail. This year you can shoot the limit, any limit you can come up with.”

The quail population had dwindled significantly. One manager from the San Rafael Ranch, however, not only has a full population of adults but sees baby quail on a regular basis.

But the rain has done more than just increase the numbers (and sizes) of quail. Anglers benefitted from the runoff into the estuaries, creating a better bay system. This led to bigger and better red fish (among others), off shore fishing improved and shrimp hatches increased.

“The dove hunting we've experienced this year has been very exceptional,” Glick said. “I shot my limit this morning in about 20 minutes.

The fawn crowd is huge and the deer are benefitting from the extra forage in a huge way.”

In fact, deer hunters get to “double dip” after a lengthy period of rain like South Texas has seen. Not only will the bucks be as healthy and big – both in body and horns – but also when the fawn crop will benefit from this year's rain and be ready in 2020-21.

“Fawns right now are hidden better because of the fresh and thicker forage,” Glick said. “Mothers are being better fed and make more milk and therefore the fawns are getting fed better. Obviously, the bucks are getting more forage too, which means a bigger body weight and a lot bigger horns.”

The benefits of the additional rain could last for more than just one year. Glick said that the forecast for next year is a return to the dry weather South Texas is known for. However, with a shortage of cattle in Texas there are not enough cattle to eat all the forage that has grown in the past 13 months. This will provide quail with more forage.

“Quail numbers have been in trouble for a very long time and this rain has been huge for their recovery. Also, the little ones need the rain too, so their eggs don't get brittle and dry and so that there are little insects for them to eat. When it's dry, they are hurt tremendously by it.”

RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN Precipitation totals from Sept. 2014 through Sept. 2015 compared to normal rainfall during that period:

‘14-15 Brownsville Harlingen McAllen Falcon Lake

49.57 41.3 44.91 24.45

Normal 31.36 32.75 23.02 24.50

Send your hunting/ fishing photos to

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NOV. 2015 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES

OCT. 2015 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES DAY

MOON

COMMENTS

A.M.

BEST

P.M.

BEST

DAY

MOON

COMMENTS

A.M.

BEST

P.M.

1

T

4:23

4:48

1

2

F

5:20

5:45

2

3

S

6:15

6:40

3

T

4

S

7:09

7:34

4

W

7:18

7:43

5

M

8:00

8:25

5

T

8:02

8:27

LAST QUARTER

S M

CLOCK FALLS BACK LAST QUARTER

4:52

5:17

5:43

6:08

6:32

6:57

6

T

8:49

9:14

6

F

7

W

9:36

10:01

7

S

8

T

10:21

10:46

8

9

F

11:04

11:29

9

10

S

11:47

10

T

11:37

11 S 12 M 13 T

APOGEE NEW MOON

14 W 15 T

12:22 1:10

1:55

13

F

1:35

2:00

14

S

2:25

2:51

15

S

3:16

3:43

16 M 17 T

4:08

4:35

5:00

5:28

5:53

6:20

2:20

2:39

3:04

3:25

S 19 M 20 T

5:27

5:54

6:19

6:46

7:11

7:39

8:04

8:32

21 W 22 T

8:57

9:26

23

F

9:51

10:20

S

10:45

11:15

11:40 12:10

12:35

1:07

1:32

28 W 29 T

2:05

2:30

3:03

3:28

30

F

4:01

4:26

31

S

4:57

5:22

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS Visit us online: www.osoteloskincancer.com WHAT ARE LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES?

18 W 19 T 20

FIRST QUARTER

F

6:45

7:12

7:37

8:04

21

S

8:29

8:57

22

S

9:22

9:51

10:16

10:47

23 M 24 T

PERIGEE

25 W 26 T

FULL MOON

27

11:12 THANKSGIVING

F

11:44 12:09

12:42

1:07

1:40

2:05

28

S

2:37

3:02

29

S

3:32

3:57

30 M

4:23

4:48

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.

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

26

12:02

1:37

5:02

FULL MOON

NEW MOON/VETERAN’S DAY

12:47

4:13

PERIGEE

11 W T

4:38

S 26 M 27 T

11:18

12

3:50

25

10:35

10:53

1:12

S

24

10:10

12:29

F

FIRST QUARTER

S M

12:54

17 18

9:10 9:52

12:12

16

BOSS’S DAY

8:45 9:27

APOGEE

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Landers Marine & Outdoors 424 U.S. 83 Business Weslaco, TX 78596 P: 956-867-1337

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

October 2015

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

1

Th

326am

High Tide 1.4

High Tide

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

721am

715pm

1027pm

1104am

2

Fr

1002pm

3

Sa

1124pm

0.1

721am

714pm

1120pm

1205pm

0.2

722am

713pm

4

Su

306pm

0.3

722am

712pm

1213am

5

Mo

1227am

1.8

154pm

416pm

0.5

723am

711pm

107am

242pm

6

Tu

112am

1.8

7

We

145am

1.8

1023am

1.5

527pm

0.7

723am

710pm

200am

326pm

810am

1.5

637pm

0.9

724am

709pm

253am

8

Th

210am

1.8

1225pm

407pm

1.6

809am

1.5

741pm

1.0

724am

708pm

345am

9

Fr

227am

1.7

445pm

147pm

1.7

826am

1.4

838pm

1.2

725am

707pm

435am

10

Sa

238am

521pm

1.6

252pm

1.7

847am

1.3

929pm

1.3

725am

706pm

526am

11

Su

556pm

244am

1.6

348pm

1.8

910am

1.1

1015pm

1.4

725am

705pm

616am

12

630pm

Mo

243am

1.5

439pm

1.8

934am

1.0

1100pm

1.5

726am

704pm

706am

705pm

13

Tu

236am

1.5

528pm

1.8

958am

0.8

1146pm

1.5

726am

703pm

756am

742pm

14

We

224am

1.5

619pm

1.8

1025am

0.7

727am

702pm

847am

820pm

15

Th

714pm

1.8

1054am

0.6

727am

701pm

939am

901pm

16

Fr

815pm

1.8

1127am

0.5

728am

700pm

1031am

945pm

17

Sa

920pm

1.8

1206pm

0.5

729am

659pm

1123am

1032pm

18

Su

1024pm

1.9

1252pm

0.5

729am

658pm

1215pm

1123pm

19

Mo

1118pm

1.9

146pm

0.5

730am

657pm

106pm

249pm

0.6

730am

656pm

156pm

1218am

402pm

0.7

731am

655pm

244pm

115am

835pm

1.8

Low Tide 122am

1.4

1.8

102pm

1.8

201pm

Low Tide 1207pm

0.1

102pm

20

Tu

21

We

1201am

1.9

22

Th

1234am

1.9

521pm

0.8

731am

655pm

330pm

215am

23

Fr

1257am

1.8

1139am

1.5

725am

1.4

640pm

1.0

732am

654pm

415pm

317am

24

Sa

114am

1.7

126pm

1.7

738am

1.2

756pm

1.1

732am

653pm

501pm

420am

25

Su

124am

1.6

251pm

1.8

807am

0.9

909pm

1.3

733am

652pm

546pm

525am

26

Mo

129am

1.5

407pm

1.8

843am

0.5

1022pm

1.4

734am

651pm

633pm

631am

27

Tu

130am

1.5

518pm

1.9

924am

0.2

734am

651pm

722pm

737am

28

We

627pm

2.0

1008am

0.0

735am

650pm

813pm

843am

29

Th

736pm

2.0

1055am

-0.1

735am

649pm

906pm

947am

30

Fr

843pm

2.0

1143am

-0.1

736am

648pm

1001pm

1048am

31

Sa

945pm

1.9

1234pm

0.0

737am

648pm

1057pm

1144am

©2015 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW

STOP BY TODAY FOR INCREDIBLE OFFERS AND UNBEATABLE SERVICE.

AMIGO POWER EQUIPMENT 304 W MONTE CRISTO ROAD EDINBURG, TX

Phase

3rd

New

1st

Full

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

November 2015

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

1

Su

939pm

High Tide 1.9

High Tide

1227pm

Low Tide 0.2

Low Tide

637am

547pm

1052pm

1136am

2

Mo

1022pm

1.8

124pm

0.5

638am

546pm

1146pm

1223pm

3

Tu

1054pm

1.8

226pm

0.7

639am

546pm

4

We

1118pm

1.8

336pm

1.0

639am

545pm

1239am

144pm

5

Th

1023am

1.4

1135pm

1.7

616am

1.4

449pm

1.2

640am

544pm

130am

221pm

6

Fr

1213pm

1.5

1144pm

1.6

629am

1.3

602pm

1.3

641am

544pm

221am

256pm

7

Sa

131pm

1.6

1147pm

1.6

651am

1.1

711pm

1.5

641am

543pm

311am

331pm

8

Su

232pm

1.7

1142pm

1.5

714am

0.9

816pm

1.5

642am

543pm

401am

406pm

9

Mo

325pm

1.8

1126pm

1.5

739am

0.7

922pm

1.5

643am

542pm

451am

442pm

10

Tu

413pm

1.8

805am

0.6

643am

542pm

542am

519pm

11

We

458pm

1.8

831am

0.4

644am

541pm

634am

559pm

12

Th

544pm

1.8

859am

0.3

645am

541pm

727am

643pm

13

Fr

630pm

1.8

929am

0.2

645am

540pm

820am

729pm

14

Sa

717pm

1.8

1004am

0.2

646am

540pm

912am

820pm

15

Su

803pm

1.9

1043am

0.2

647am

539pm

1004am

913pm

16

Mo

846pm

1.9

1128am

0.2

648am

539pm

1054am

1009pm

17

Tu

923pm

1.8

1219pm

0.3

648am

539pm

1141am

1107pm

18

We

952pm

1.8

118pm

0.5

649am

538pm

1227pm

19

Th

1013pm

1.7

227pm

0.7

650am

538pm

111pm

1207am

20

Fr

932am

1.2

1026pm

1.6

526am

1.2

347pm

0.9

650am

538pm

155pm

107am

21

Sa

1149am

1.4

1033pm

1.5

538am

0.9

516pm

1.2

651am

538pm

238pm

209am

22

Su

126pm

1.5

1035pm

1.4

607am

0.5

649pm

1.3

652am

537pm

322pm

312am

23

Mo

243pm

1.7

1026pm

1.4

644am

0.2

827pm

1.4

653am

537pm

408pm

416am

24

Tu

351pm

1.8

725am

-0.1

653am

537pm

457pm

521am

25

We

453pm

1.8

809am

-0.3

654am

537pm

549pm

625am

26

Th

550pm

1.8

854am

-0.5

655am

537pm

644pm

728am

27

Fr

643pm

1.8

939am

-0.5

656am

537pm

741pm

828am

28

Sa

731pm

1.8

1025am

-0.3

656am

537pm

838pm

924am

29

Su

813pm

1.8

1111am

-0.1

657am

536pm

934pm

1014am

30

Mo

848pm

1.7

1157am

0.1

658am

536pm

1029pm

1100am

Phase

105pm

3rd

New

1st

Full

©2015 FreeTideTables.com - For comparison only - Times are local - Tides in feet from MLLW

AVAILABLE AT: JOE’S TACKLE SHOP, PHARR (956) 630-0180 HOOK LINE & SINKER, HARLINGEN (956) 970-1349

WHEN IT’S LESS ABOUT FISHING AND MORE ABOUT CATCHING...

WWW.DUCERODS.COM

There’s Something About

September Leonel Garza III looks back at September - both this past September and Septembers growing up and explains why that month is so special to him.

T

here is a time of year that every sportsman, athlete, photographer and fisherman looks forward to.

For some, it's the start of basketball season, football season, hunting season or just the upcoming holidays with family.

For this sportsman, there is just something about September that gets my mind and heart racing. This 9th month of the year begins a time when the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre explode with life. Tides begin to change, water temperatures start cooling, sunrises begin to fill with storm clouds on the horizon, and the sunsets end with a majestic color that can only be seen in the lower Rio Grande Valley. We are fortunate to live in a region of God’s country that has so much to offer.

From the start of the engine of your bay or deep sea fishing boat, you begin to visualize what the catch of the day will be.

If you’re one of the thousands of fishermen who have studied the Laguna Madre since you were a kid, you will know that September is the time year that the black drum run is in full swing and Jack Krevals begin entering the bay. Avid fisherman and guides alike continue to search for those large schools of red drum that are still in abundance north of the spoil banks and stretch as far north as Port Mansfield.

When you run across one of these schools of fish, the most experienced fisherman and true sportsman will still get that sense of excitement that can only rival “Buck Fever.”

Presently, deep sea fishermen are in those final days in which seas will be 1 to 2 feet. That boat captain knows that once the seas are flat, it’s time to run out to their favorite spot before Fall kicks in and winter nears. Even with all the latest apps we use to gauge the tides and weather

30

patterns (Weather Channel, Wind Alert, Wind Finder Pro and KRGV Weather App), the seas are still unpredictable.

During the past year South Texas has experienced unprecedented rain levels caused by short fast-moving storms that make reaching the offshore fishing spot risky business at times. I hear stories of fishermen, telling their office staff, that they're in a long afternoon meeting, call in sick to work, or just say, I’m going fishing today. Whatever the excuse is, it is the thrill of launching their boat that keeps these fishermen coming back to the Gulf

of Mexico. The first time I went deep sea fishing on an off shore boat in September, I was amazed at how much activity I saw as soon as we left the jetties. From tarpon rolling above the surface of the water, to schools of king fish surrounding large bait balls with bonita and black tip sharks below, the Gulf of Mexico comes alive. I don’t think I’ve ever caught more of a variety of fish offshore than I have in September.

This is a special thanks to the captain of “My Time”.

September is not only a fishing month but a sportsman's hunting month for the special White-wing Dove Season. The first two weekends of the month have become a ritual and a family tradition for many hunters. With the amount of rainfall South Texas received in the past 12 months, the Rio Grande Valley became an incredible White-wing Dove hunting ground, the likes I have never experienced before. It was a September and a year to remember with my son hunting a new area in Brownsville along the Rio Grande River. What was most exciting about this hunt was not just the barrage of doves flying overhead with in military-like formations, it was watching my son with his is 20-gauge youth shotgun, point, aim and shoot, and landing his first Whitewing of the year. It was the first time I was able to step away from his side and watch him from afar handling his own shotgun safely and with confidence.

I was so proud of him and glad I could enjoy that experience with other family and friends. I truly appreciate the Hockaday Family for their hospitality. We will be back next year.

Fall began Sept. 21 – a time where every person in South Texas begins talking

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31

about the upcoming Whitetail hunting season. Talk of preparing the lease in time for that first cold front expected to come in the near future. That time of year that you start heading to the range and/or lease to start making sure that your Leopold’s scope hasn’t moved even a millimeter while in storage. That time of year that you start setting dates on your calendar for the hunt and plan to go to the ranch and clean out your deer blinds that have been the shelter to a variety of animals over the year. This is the time that you find out that your favorite deer blind is already occupied and now has been appropriately named the “Owl Blind.” This is when you wish you had sprung for the new air tight fiberglass deer blind, that has space

for four, a heater and decent carpet that doesn’t smell like the excrement of a variety rodents passing through this ranch motel.

Nevertheless, the experience is something I look forward to each year. I want to make sure that I get everything prepared to take my son and daughter with me this year, and want everything to be just right.

I want to make their experiences as enjoyable as possible.

This is not just for the thrill of the hunt, but for being able to spend that time together. A time passed by I remember spending with my father and brother growing up.

If one were to define what a true sportsman is, I’d say “a person who enjoys the

outdoors with family.” It’s the stories that you take with you forever, those experiences, the sites and sounds, and the love of the great outdoors that helps family relationships grow closer.

When I was asked to talk about this time of year and describe what I truly love about being a sportsman, it’s about the family bond, created when we are out on the water, driving arounds the ranch, or barbecuing with friends while watching flocks of dove fly overhead. As the month of September ended and I reflected – and still reflect - back on the experiences, the friendships and the time that I had with family.

It's no wonder I have to say there’s “something about September.”

It may not be No. 1 in the United States anymore for bass fishing, but it’s still a world class fishing hole

By Brent Johnson

FISHING FALCON LAKE

34

As red tide ravages the coastal waters of our Texas shoreline, I can’t think of a better time to load up the truck and head west to Starr County and the fresh water of Falcon Lake.

Built back in the early 50s with the construction of Falcon Dam, Falcon Lake covers a massive 98,960 acres when at peak levels. The lake is named after Maria Rita de la Garza Falco’n for whom the town of Falcon was named.

You won’t find this town or many of the Spanish colonial structures as they were submerged upon the creation of the reservoir. During years of drought it is possible to get a glimpse of history when the ghost town of Guerro Viejo rises from its watery grave. In fact, I once threw a spinner bait through the chapel doors at the Church of Nuestra Senora del Refugio to see if a divine bass would take my offering. Lucky for me there were no omens beset for trolling this sacred site, and I will say it was very cool to witness.

Long regarded as one of the best fishing lakes in the state and the country, Falcon provides a variety of species including Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Tilapia, Catfish, White Bass, Alligator Gar and Striper to name a few.

It wasn’t until 2008 that the Bass World really took notice of this lake when Paul Elias of the Elite Series won the Lone Star Shootout with a record breaking total of 132.8 lbs. Never before had such a heavy stringer ever been recorded in any bass tournament anywhere.

In 2012 Falcon was ranked No. 1 for bass in the United States. Currently it has plummeted to No. 42. This could be attributed to drought conditions, but also possibly fishing pressure.

I remember not too long ago my dad looked into the live well of this one boat and got to talking to the owner. From a distance I saw the guy pull out two fish that were around 10 lbs.

When my dad got back he said “yea he had 8 more the same size in there!” As impressive as it was, it was also depressing to know those fish were headed for the cleaning table. If it were me I would have thrown all but my personal best back, because I know the value breeder fish of this caliber would be to sustain a No. 1 ranked fishery as Falcon. I’d be awful tempted to kill that one fish, but then again I might call Texas Parks and Wildlife and donate my fish to the Lone Star Share Lunker program and receive a fiberglass replica at no charge in its place!

One of my fondest memories of fishing Falcon was a Cub Scout trip back in 1978. Well, it was supposed to be a Cub Scout trip, but I was the only Cub Scout there along with my father to show up as heavy rains caused cancellations.

Being the die hards us Johnsons are, we learned that bass really don’t care if there is water in the air. While all my buddies were staying dry, we were stocking up for a fish fry!

It seemed like that George Strait song “This Could Be the Best Day of My Life” always applied when my father took me fishing.

We fished Bentsen Park, Sugar Lake, Lake Guerro, but Falcon was always my favorite. The beauty of this place is like fishing in the Old West.

Driving through Roma and Rio Grande City was like being on the set of a Clint Eastwood movie. It is an oasis in a harsh environment where everything wants to stick or sting you. Hi-

Mitchell Ray Owner/Designer

Stratus Support Systems 232 Hickory Dr Huntsville, Texas (832) 594-7925 stratussupportsystems.com

STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS has solved the age old problem of a sling’d rifle or shotgun weighing a hunter down in the field. This system was inspired about 3 years ago when I was volunteering for a skeet shoot to benefit our Wounded Warriors and noticed several veterans having some difficulty keeping their weapon secure on their shoulder. I went to work in my garage the next day and STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS was born.

Growing up hunting in the Piney Woods of East Texas and the hardwood bottoms of the Trinity River, I was never content to sit in a blind and wait for a feeder to go off. I wanted to be more involved. I wanted to scout, read sign and find game. This means walking - a lot of it. Like most hunters, I found myself reaching up under the stock butt and picking it up just a bit, just to get some of that weight off. I thought to myself that every hunter must have this universal problem, but it took our Wounded Warriors to inspire and motivate. I am always amazed at how these Warriors are able to inspire.

After many prototypes and hours of field testing, STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS has developed this truly innovative system that transfers an adjustable amount of weight off the sling, shoulders, and back area and redirects that weight to the belt unit/hip area where it can be safely and more effectively carried, reducing fatigue.

The STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS two-piece design contains a comfortable lightweight belt receiver that works with belts up to 2” wide and can be comfortably worn all day. A neoprene stock wrap with Velcro adjustments allows the neoprene to stretch to custom fit most common stocks. The STRATUS stock wrap also has a non-slip, non-marring inner liner that grips the stock whether it be plastic or wood and a specially designed low profile knuckle is hand sewn into the outside of the wrap.

When the user slings the weapon, simply

guide the knuckle into the belt unit and once the knuckle is securely in the belt unit, the weight begins to transfer off the sling, shoulders and back to the belt unit on the hip. The looser your sling, the more weight is transferred.

The best placement for the belt unit is near the small of the back where it anchors the bottom half of the weapon so the weapon is protected from brush and limbs while you are making your way. This placement allows the forearm of the weapon to cradle between the spine and the shoulder blade in the sweet spot where the gun wants to be. This keeps the weapon from wanting to “walk” as it would when is is normally sling’d.

Another feature of the STRATUS is when the user unslings the weapon, but is still attached at the belt unit, the weight of the barrel automatically rotates the muzzle to toward the ground in a safe position. Now the user is hands free to glass for game, call for ducks or read a map while the weapon remains securely attached at the hip. If a quick shot is required, the user simply pulls the weapon straight up out of the belt unit and instant deployment occurs, ready to be shouldered. It will not interfere with your shooting. Never lay your gun up against a tree and risk it falling or laying it on the ground.

I have made several videos of the STRATUS being used in the field showing its versatility while hunting and its durability by being run over by a truck with no damage.

Videos can be viewed at www.stratussupportsystems.com New designs for different applications are coming soon. And as always, a portion of all sales will go to support our Wounded Warriors. STRATUS SUPPORT SYSTEMS has literally harnessed safety and comfort for the outdoorsman.

*Simple effective design *Reduces fatigue-hunt harder. *Hands Free design *Great for women *Introductory prices-free shipping available *Great gift for the Sportsman *Used by the Texas Sportsman Fred Rodriquez ADVERTISEMENT

*Excellent for the back country *Designed by law enforcement *Field tested by hunting guides for more than three years *Fits most rifle/shotgun stocks *Ready to use

biscus, Purple Sage, Ebony, Huisache, Mesquite and Prickly Pear are the surrounding landscape and on a clear day you can look southwest and see the silhouette of the Siera Madre mountain range in Mexico.

The best time of year to visit is anytime, but spring is extra nice especially when the lake is flooding the brush.

I remember one year when the Huisache was in bloom. The smell was phenomenal and the water was tea stained yellow from all the blossoms that were falling in the water. You couldn’t tell where sky began and water ended. It was this trip I caught my personal lake record on a motor oil-colored crawdad. As Murphy’s Law would have it the trolling motor went out. To adapt we found some grass flats in Government Cove we drifted.

Lots of fish were caught despite our mechanical malfunctions.

Looking down at the grass waving in the current I felt a thump.

The fight that ensued told me I had a good one. It was not until the fish surfaced that I realized it was the biggest fish I had ever had on the line! My heart was doing double duty until we finally got her in the net. Eight pounds is what she weighed and 25” is what she measured. I believe this fish was a true Texas native Black Bass. That being said it was a true trophy and on the wall it went.

To fish Falcon a medium heavy 7’ rod with a Quantum AC100SPT 6:1 ratio is my go to at the moment. The Accurast reel has a flipping option which comes in handy when fishing the hard woods where close quarter casting comes into play.

On the reel is 15lb. Trilene flouro carbon backer, with 20lb.

Suffix braid for top shot. Senkos, Brush Hawgs, Rage Craw, and 12” plastic worms are a sure bet.

If you want to catch quantity throw spinner baits and rattle traps, but if size matters throw deep diving crack baits on the points and see what happens. In my experience going deep is how she likes it…the big female bass that is!

See you on the water my friends!

The author (a few years back) with a prized catch from Falcon Lake.

Eddie Ruiz 956-648-8467 Owner / Taxidermist

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Tagging along with our Laguna Madre trout

Keeping tabs on our trout here in the Laguna Madre is very important for all of us. Private companies along with State and federal are researching this important resource.

There is a company here that has stepped up and is monitoring our Speckled Trout populations along with their habits. Tagging these juvenile specs is a way to monitor their movements and basically learning their habits.

J.R. Rodriquez from the valley is doing just that. He has started an organization that tags trout, releases them and hopes they are caught later with results of their movement, migration and growth.

The company name is Big Dawg Status. org,. Several other Captains are donating their time to do this research as well.

The general area they are doing this is from the land cut to Port Isabel. They are tagging as many trout as they can and hoping that if they are caught later, they can get the number from the tag and write down the date time and other important information they can and go to the web site and download this information.

The custom tags are ordered from Florida with the help of the Parks and Wildlife in reference to what kind and the

helpful to the Parks and Wildlife to better maintain a healthy harvest of trout.

There are already Red fish programs but not Trout programs like this.

If you feel you might be able to help these guys, go to the web site and contact them and give them a hand. Once again, the organizations web site is BIGDAWDSTATUS.ORG. As always, it’s not the kill, but the thrill of the chase.

size along with just where to tag them on the fish. They are custom imprinted with the contact information with easy directions.

This is something that everyone can participate in. The Texas Parks and Wildlife is aware of this program and is on line helping them. Any research is

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.

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