Dec '14 texas sportsman magazine by Texas Sportsman

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24TH ANNUAL EXPO FOR:

TEXAS HUNTERS & SPORTSMAN’S PAUL GONZALEZ

ALWAYS NATURAL INSIDE: TIDES * IT’S RUT SEASON * LAS NINAS RANCH

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COVER STORY

PAUL GONZALEZ

Read more about Siempre Natural on the following page.

A “Natural” Outdoorsman

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Story by Henry Miller * Photo Opposite Page by Tiki Tillman henry.texassportsman@gmail.com * www.tikitillmanphotos.com Growing up, Paul Gonzalez didn't do a whole bunch of hunting. The sandlots were his second home with his brothers, playing baseball either on organized teams or with friends until it was too dark to even see the ball. “I think that's all we did, play baseball and focus on academics,” Gonzalez said. Baseball continued to be the unequivocally the number-one passion for Gonzalez, owner of five Siempre Natural restaurants in Mission, Edinburg, Pharr and McAllen, with a sixth one to open soon on North 10th St. in McAllen. The family also owns six restaurants in Reynosa. “Then my brother invited us out to a friend's ranch (to hunt),” Gonzalez said. “And that was that.” Gonzalez, like his older brother Osiris, caught the hunting bug right away. Gonzalez started hunting with friends whenever he could. His mom and dad had absolutely no interest in hunting as the three Gonzalez boys grew up. Their time was spent providing for the family, making those daily sacrifices to make sure all was well for their precious sons. “They were working the restaurant when we were very young and lived in Mexico,” said Gonzalez, who is married and has two daughters (Galilea and Alegra) and a son (Tony). “They would sacrifice all the time to be able to make it a successful venture. It stayed with us and I'm proud to say their sacrifice worked. They did it for us.” Finally with a little time on their side, Gonzalez's dad started to show some interest in hunting. Before long he liked it so much that he purchased some low-fence property to hunt on. “Before that it was hunting here and there until we had our own ranch,” Gonzalez said. “That's when the hunting really started.” Gonzalez, the middle of three brothers, recalled his first buck. He had spent the first two days at the ranch without seeing much of anything. After breakfast on the third day he decided to go out and find a spot and just sit – not in a blind, just on the ground – and waited. “At about noon this buck ran across the sendero and into the brush,” Gonzalez said, years later his

voice still excited as he recalled the story.”I decided to sneak up on him and surprise him. It was so dark I could barely see the horns.” Osiris was already on his way in the truck to bring his brother back to the lodge when he heard the gunshot. “It was a perfect kill shot,” Gonzalez said. “It was such a rush.” The word hunt in Old English means to “chase down to seize and capture.” Gonzalez still prefers the “chase” style of hunting than sitting in a blind, but he'll still do that as well. “I really love hog hunting,” he said. “You can travel on your ATV and get close and walk up closer while they are munching on corn. I guess they just don't hear you with all the crunching noise in their head. That's exciting.” As the years passed, Gonzalez began to lease properties to hunt on, in search of more mature deer. He has several bucks and hogs and a nilgai and black buck on his captured resume. He distinctly remember his nilgai harvest. “They're tough animals,” he said. “Osiris and I both shot one the same day. He had to

shoot his three times.” Gonzalez is planning an Elk hunt for sometime in 2015 in New Mexico. He also hinted that he wouldn't mind harvesting a Lion on a safari. “That may be 10-15 years down the road though,” he said. In the meantime he will continue working on growing the family business, which has some distinct differences in regards to clientele from Reynosa to any of the South Texas stores. “I don't know what it is but the people in Mexico are up early and seem to be at the store early buying a lot of fresh juices and frozen yogurts. That's not quite the case here,” he said. “But then at lunch people go out to eat here, probably because many just have an hour or so. In Mexico a lot of people go home during that break – they may have as much as three hours before they have to be at work.” Of course you know the food is good when you see the owner eating it – quite often. Gonzalez admitted that his favorite is the number 10 combo, a pita with smoked turkey. In fact, he had just finished one before interviewing for the story. A very attractive and descriptive website, www.siemprenatural.com explains what the restaurant is all about. It describes the food as: “'American with a Mexican flair,' featuring soups, sandwiches, salads, “aguas frescas” and yogurt. In Spanish, “agua fresca” literally means 'fresh water' and represents traditional natural beverages consumed in México. Because we emphasize freshness and quality, only fresh ingredients are used in the production.” Gonzalez said with the holidays coming and the New Year around the corner, Siempre Natural also offers a menu for catering services. “I've been blessed to have parents who showed me hard work and sacrifice,” said Gonzalez, who already hunts with his boy Tony. “It worked for them. Because of that I can spend wonderful times with my family, especially outdoors in nature. I love being with my family, especially with quality time at the ranch. No distraction, no worries about work. Just me and them.”

26 MERRY CHRISTMAS; HELLO 2015

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Hard to believe that this edition of Texas Sportsman concludes our first year of publications. Our next edition will be our First Anniversary edition. My how time flies. It seems like just the other day I was sitting in Barnes & Noble and talking with Miris Chavez and Marta Reyna of the RGV Reel Hookers. I’m grateful and proud to say that they were my first interview for this magazine. The exemplify what the hunting and fishing community is about. Heck, they are great examples of what 2014 will always be memorable I’m sure espeHenry Miller is Publisher of Texas cially for Miris. The figurehead of the RGV Reel Sportsman Tracking Outdoors. He Hookes, Miris lost her dad this year after a battle has more than 25 years of publishing experience, has written sports for with stomach cancer. more than 150 newspapers, covered Her dad, howeve, would no doubt continue the Olympics, NASCAR, Major League to be more and more proud of her daughter. Baseball and other sports. He has Not only has she organized a spear-headed been syndicated on radio in more than a fast-moving women’s fishing group but has 70 markets. His 10-year-old daughter charged forward with everything she has to do Camilla enjoys volleyball, fashion and well for others, to give back to her community tennis (and is an A student). and to those in need. I don’t get much of a chance to talk with her whenever I see her. It’s usually because she’s running 100 miles an hour off to her next fundraiser (or current “Fill The Booth” Toy Drive). Fishing events for kids? Ask Miris, she’ll organize it. Is there a need for Autism Awareness? There’s Miris putting togetherthe first Fishing 4 Autism Tournament. In my 30 years as a sports writer, many people talk about how they want to give back to their community. Few, however, are doing it so visibly. And when I say visibly, I’m not talking about standing at a podium and letting everyone no. That’s not how Miris works. Rarely have I seen her take a break at these events, always wanting to make sure everything is perfect. Yeah, 2014 was an emotional one I’m sure for Miris. But she had a good group of ladies around her for support. Not only that, but she transferred that sorrow into doing good for others. Check out the RGV Reel Hookers pages on Facebook. I’m sure you’ll find an event or a cause they are working on to better the lives of others. To Miris and all the RGV Reel Hookers - thanks for what you do. I’m proud to say you were my first group to write about in our Magazine. More importantly Miris, I’m sure your dad continues to be more and more proud of you. Keep up the inspiring work you do. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to everyone! May the Lord Bless each of you beyond your imaginations and fill your lives with peace and joy. We are excited about 2015. We hope you are too.

Henry Miller God Bless,

Publisher/Executive Editor Texas Sportsman Magazine Volume 1, Isssue 6.. December 2014. 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

ENTER THE RUT SEASON

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

Plenty to keep in mind as we reach our favorite season 24TH ANNUAL EXPO FOR:

TEXAS HUNTERS & SPORTSMAN’S PAUL GONZALEZ

ALWAYS NATURAL INSIDE: TIDES * IT’S RUT SEASON * LAS NINAS RANCHN

ON THE COVER Paul Gonzalez enjoys nature and loves being Siempre Natural. (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 David DeLeon Henry Miller Designers

8 END OF YEAR We finish our first year of publishing with Merry Christmas!.

ON THE RANCH

A MAN WITH

A PLAN

ntering into the rut as known here in South Texas during Whitetail season excites many a hunters. Looking for scrapes and rubs on trees is a good way of looking for potential trophies. Nowadays with the assistance of game cameras it makes it easier to follow some of the deer in your area. We must also take in consideration the moon phase and the best times to be pursuing your trophy or management buck. There is also the factor of spinning corn down the sendero and waiting for your buck to come out. Then there is another factor when things are normal and as I mean by normal , the Rut has not started. A lot of people ask and always discuss when does the rut begin. I have heard dates as of December 10-24 and others say Dec. 15-24. Even others say December 26 to January 19 and these are all for the South Texas area encompassing Zapata,Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties. Texas Parks and Wildlife conducted three year study regarding the rut season. According to their website, “Biologists who designed the study knew there were distinct rutting periods in different parts of the state. They picked 16 study areas which were typical of the different ecological regions. The areas represent north-south or east-west distinctions. We list the earliest and latest dates for breeding in each ecological region and a "peak" breeding date for each study area. The graphs show the percent does bred during weekly periods throughout the breeding season.” The above mentioned counties were considered in the South Texas Plains region. Here's what they study discovered: “South Texas had the latest rut in the state. Breeding dates ranged from November 9 to February 1 during the three years. In the eastern part of the area the peak breeding date was December 16, while in the west it was December 24. The

pregnancy rate was 95 percent and there were 1.5 fetuses for each sampled doe. The majority (90%) of the fawns are born by July 19 in the eastern area and by July 25 in the western area.” (http://tpwd.texas. gov/huntwild/hunt/ planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/) If you eight blinds in 1,000 acres and it's high fence and you will notice during the rut that the same deer that have been seeing for the past month are going to start showing up at different feeders. The bucks are going to start following the doe. There are quite a few things to remember and do when trying to bag your buck. There are grunt calls and rattling, doe urine scents and then there is the time to rattle up your buck. Word of caution once you have shot your buck wait at least 30 minutes before you go toward it. I have seen a few bucks and doe get up after they have been shot. I would like to take this time now to welcome aboard RGV Pro Lighting 301 E. Cedar Ave Suite and I look forward of rigging up my Hunt Ve with some of their light bars. When hunting always remember THINK SAFETY FIRST !

START THE NEW YEAR WITH A STATE PARK HIKE

TOO MANY REDS BY ALBERTO SANTOS

It was a beautiful early fall day in Port Aransas. It was the kind of day that starts out cold then gradually warms up. My two sons and I were going fishing. My olderst son, Beto III must have been 12, and Miguel was about 7. They, like me, were hooked on fishing at a very early age. This was a great time of the year to fish. GONE FISHING I had not done a lot of advance planning, so we had to settle for whatever fishing guide was available. Our very favorite Port-A fishing guide was booked. It was a really good time to go fishing so we had to find another guide. We called around and found Buddy. Buddy is not his real name and you will soon see why I'mo nit using his name. We met Buddy at the agreed upon dock and I remember he wanted to get an early start. We left just before first light and he took directly to one of his favorite hot spots for big trout. We were fishing somewhere on the back side of the Island (North Padre Island). Every guide has his favorite spots and his own strategy for hooking fish. Buddy was a big believer in the “big-bait equals big-fish” formula for success. He liked fishing for trout with big piggy perch. This is a good concept except when you have two (make that three) fishermen who are not used to fishing with this type of bait and

Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportmans. Watch his show on television at 11:30 a.m. every Saturday morning on FOX in the Rio Grande Valley.

have little experience with casting reels. According to Buddy, when a big trout hits the big-bait, you are supposed to count to five then set the hook. And I don’t mean 1, 2, 3, 4, wham! It is supposed to be one Mississippi, two Mississippi, etc. Well, needless to say, we missed a whole lot of fish. We were trying to set the hook way too soon. My personal theory when I miss a fish is that it was a little one. I always tell myself it was a little one that could not get his mouth around the bait. I find that this helps me maintain a positive self-image and an optimistic outlook. It serves no good to think you missed a big one. I would rather think that when the big one comes, I will hook it. Well Buddy made it a point to say that “only” big-hog trout attack big piggy perch and we had probably missed some the largest fish in the Laguna Madre bay system. I didn’t need to hear this and neither did my boys. This guy may have known a lot about fishing for big trout but he was not real savvy on customer relations.

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Don’t procrastinate on your New Year’s resolution to drop a few pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Head outdoors and hit the trail on Jan. 1 at one of the dozens of Texas state parks hosting First Day Hikes. New Year’s Day events earlier this year attracted more than 1,500 people, who covered almost 6,000 trail miles in 59 Texas state parks. The hiking and paddling events were part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes occurring in state parks throughout the nation to help people get a healthy jump on the New Year. Jan. 1, 2015 will mark the fourth consecutive year that Texas state parks will participate in the nation’s First Day Hikes initiative, which is being coordinated by the National Association of State Park Directors. This past New Year’s Day, for the first time, First Day Hikes took place in all 50 states, drawing nearly 28,000 people who hiked 68,811 miles. First Day Hikes originated more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a Massachusetts state park. “Our third annual First Day Hikes initiative proved a resounding success, drawing even more people who made a physical statement about how they intend to live their lives,” says Brent Leisure, Texas State Parks director. “There’s something symbolic about getting outside and visiting a state park on this day in particular. So, whether you’re motivated by the beauty of nature, want to shed a few pounds or simply desire to spend quality time with family, we invite you to head to a nearby state park on New Year’s Day and join the fun.” So far, 67 Texas state parks have scheduled more than 100 First Day events to kick off the New Year. For the most up-to-date list of First Day Hikes in Texas state parks, visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/firstday-hikes. Perhaps fittingly, Mother Neff State Park near Waco, Texas’ first official state park, continues to draw the most hikers, hosting 204 participants last time around. Lake Brownwood State Park held two hikes, attracting the second highest number of hikers, 191. Pedernales Falls had the third greatest turnout, with 129 hikers. For a new twist on the theme, Martin Creek and Guadalupe River state parks, will host midnight First Day Hikes on New

Below, people enjoy a group hike at Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso. Below, a group of hikers go over some terrain at Pedernales Falls State Park near Johnson City. Nearly 70 state parks will be holding a First Day Hike this year to kick off 2015. (Photos courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) Year’s Eve. At ever-popular Garner State Park, you can start off your New Year by hiking 2.5 miles to the top of Old Baldy. And, at the South Sulphur Unit of Cooper Lake State Park, gung-ho revelers can start off the year by hiking, running or biking the 4.6 mile Coyote Run Trail. Geocachers can join the fun, too. For something different on New Year’s Day, try a First Day Paddle at the Johnson Branch unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. There is no charge to participate in First Day events, but park entry fees do apply. Avid state park visitors may want to share their love of Texas state parks by taking advantage of a special Texas State Parks Pass offer. Through Jan. 5, 2015, the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Foundation is offering the opportunity to buy a State Parks Pass as a gift for $65, a $5 savings off the regular price. Visit the foundation TPW Foundation website (http://www.tpwf. org/ ) to take advantage of this online-only, limited time offer. One hundred percent of the park pass purchase price benefits Texas state parks.

To learn about year-round hiking opportunities available in Texas state parks, visit: www. texasstateparks.org/hiking. To view or download First Day Hikes images, visit: http://tpwd. texas.gov/newsmedia/news_images/?g=2015_first_day_hikes. To watch a YouTube video about First Day Hikes in Texas State Parks, visit: http://youtu.be/ s4yVpqyxzR4 For the most up-to-date list of First Day Hikes in Texas state parks, visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ calendar/first-day-hikes.

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EXCITING The most wonderful time of the year - rut season.

REALLY? A day with too many reds - is it possible?

cently had a two day increase of nearly 200 new likes which, for a business starting out, is a tremendous help. He’s also been getting calls from all over Texas. “More and more people have been hearing about the ranch,” Ojeda said. “That’s just a big achievement Laid out on a high-fenced 200 acres, Ojeda is a humble rancher who believes first in serving his clients. On the day of the interview for this article, Ojeda was picking up some meat at a processing plant that one of his hunters dropped off there and hadn’t found time to pick it up. “I believe in – and like to – show my appreciation to the hunters that use the property,” Ojeda said. “This is a competitive business, there are plenty of ranches people chance choose from. I think it’s important for hunters to know that this is like having a second home. “Right now I just want to get known,” Ojeda said. “People have tried to deride me but God will be on my side and take care of me. He gives the strength and power you need to keep going.” While the ranch’s property has been in the family for years, the business part of it didn’t start until about 18 months ago. At the time it didn’t have any native animals. Ojeda hired and worked with a crew to construct the high fence and started bringing in animals – deer, nilgai, pigs, black buck and ginsbuck, among other varieties. “I’m not just trying to make money, I want to make the hunters comfortable. I enjoy talking to them and I remain humble,” Ojeda said. “I’m not gonna tell them I got this and got all that. I just want them to come out and have a good time with family and enjoy the outdoors and one-on-one

SHADES OF ECCLISIASTES Essays from a Texas Sportsman

Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors Magazine would like to thank Fort Worth area Author (husband, father and avid outdoorsman) Jason Patterson for sharing an excerpt from his book entitled “Shades of Ecclisiastes: Essays from a Texas Sportsman.” Patterson’s book is filled with great stories. What makes it special is how every avid outdoorsman can relate to it. There will be several instances where you will stop because you remember a similar scenario

that happened to you. Patterson is married and is the father of three daughters. Read his story about being a hunter and angler while raising three girls in the December edition of South Texas Golf at http://issuu. com/southtexasgolf/docs/december_south_texas_golf. You can also follow South Texas Golf and Texas Sportsman Magazine on Facebook! Enjoy an excerpt of Shades of Ecclisiastes below:

TAXIDERMY

time with their son, daughter, wife – be a second home away from home.” “I don’t have a 10-star ranch. I have a little cabin that I built myself and make sure it’s as comfortable as possible. It’s all about my clients.“ The Las Niñas Facebook page has upto-date (as of deadline) photos of Russian boars, Axis bucks, Aoudad rams and several other animals available for hunts. As a rancher knows, it’s a job/career where the work is never-ending. Add four daughters and time is the most precious

asset available. Ojeda said his day is usually in full swing by 5:45 a.m., taking the oldest daughter Roxanne (12) to school. Then there’s a almost-regular stop at John Deere for tractor parts and other stops for feed and feeders and other necessities. Then, finally, there’s the ranch work. “My wife tells me that I’m never home but that’s when you want to be the best that’s how it is,” Ojeda said. “I make the sacrifice now so I can take time later.” Ojeda added he is in fact taking three upcoming days off - for a management

Mark Ojeda sees growth all around him - from his young daughters to his business. He has a vision - and a plan - for both Story by Henry Miller time, however, he was a project manager for a construction comMark Ojeda can see the day when all four of his daughters are pany in San Antonio. After 10 years there – three of those years out in nature, hunting together. They’ll be sharing stories of how since he took over the ranch – it was time for him to become a they shot a bigger buck than their dad or some other tall tale. full-time ranch owner, with all the responsibilities that come with Well, considering the youngest is just 8 months old that day is it. still quite a ways away. But with a vision comes good planning. “I had dropped out of school at 17, my wife pregnant with first Ojeda also has a vision plans for his ranch – Las Niñas Ranch child, and started building houses, then was a framer,” Ojeda said. – named for his four daughters. The ranch is located 12 miles “I just kept moving up. After 10 years they said they couldn’t pay midway between Freer and George West. anymore. I knew I had to do something. I decided to do the ranch “I want to grow, in size and in the type of clientele we bring in,” thing.” Ojeda said. “I work hard to make the ranch a place where people And the “ranch thing” is picking can come and have quality time up nicely for Ojeda. Working with with one another and to be com“ON THE RANCH” is a new series profiling two guide Jorge Bazan to get his fortable and have a quality hunt.” ranches per edition of Texas Sportsman Magazine. name out and to market his ranch The ranch was originally owned To have your ranch featured in an upcoming edition to folks from all over, the Las by Ojeda’s father. When his father email henry.texassportsman@gmail.com. Niñas Ranch Facebook page redied, Ojeda inherited it. At the

Jason Patterson, author of “Shades of Ecclisiastes”

Every sportsman, no matter the age or experience, daydreams about getting a big one for the wall. For some it’s bragging rights while for others it’s to memorialize a moment that will forever be burned into their memory. Regardless of the reason, when it comes time for deciding to get an animal mounted or where the trophy will be hung, a war at home begins. It is the struggle that has gone on since the beginning of time. I can almost imagine a caveman bringing back the tusk of a woolly mammoth to hang over the entrance to the cave and his mate, raving with hand gestures and grunts about how it clashes with the mud and streaks of quartz in the wall. It should be no surprise, the struggle. After all, it is somewhat unnatural to bring two completely different worlds together in the same place. Most women see the home as their realm and feel like a line has been crossed in trying to bring the outdoors into the indoors. Plus, there’s the whole “dead” thing. I know that there are women out there that don’t mind trophies. Indeed, there are a number who have their own mounts and show them off proudly. I think it’s safe to say though that the vast majority of wives out there do not like dead animals on the wall. Fortunately, when my wife and I started dating, I had a number of mounts already in the new house I had just bought. At the time I never heard any grumbling on how creepy they were or how it didn’t go with the décor of the house. After we were married, the first mount to go was the goose that hung over my bed. I guess she didn’t like waking up to the outstretched wings of the Canada goose, its webbed feet jutting out as if to prepare for landing. That one is now hanging my classroom at school and makes quite the conversation piece at the beginning of the school year. When we moved to a new house, Amber was very gracious in allowing me to hang

my mounts anywhere I pleased for the most part. The house wasn’t all that large, so there were only so many places that they could be hung. A few years later, we added on to the house to accommodate our growing family and I noticed things began to change. My mounts were being relegated to certain isolated corners of our dwelling place. Though the numbers of mounts did not drop, to the casual observer it surely looked that way. I guess it doesn’t matter in the end. The biggest reason I have these things is to relive special moments from long ago and as long as I know where they are then that’s all that really matters. The first duck I ever had mounted was a gadwall. It was from a place I hunted while I was in the Army called Breakneck Lake. It was a long shot and one of the nicest drakes I had taken to that time. I found a great taxidermist in Junction City and would end up using him for most of my duck mounts, even after I came back to Texas. Finding a good taxidermist is like finding a barber you really like. It’s just hard to go somewhere else when you know you have something that works so well. I would sometimes go visit him just to hang out and look at the stuff he was working on in his studio. He was a real interesting guy. The next mount was a greenwing teal I shot in a snowstorm on Halloween, also in Kansas. The place we were hunting was in a river bottom area with a sandy cliff about thirty yards behind us. The teal was flying by and when I shot, he flapped spastically for a moment and then sailed, wings open, directly behind us and crashed into the cliff. When I went to get him there wasn’t a mark on him. I couldn’t find a single pellet hole. It’s possible I never hit him and he broke his neck crashing into the wall. There’s nothing remarkable about his plumage. I had shot nicer teal before, but the way he died and the way the weather was that day made it a memory I wanted to cherish. Veterans Day. I’ll never forget the way

FIRST HIKES Parks across the state starting new year healthily.

the mallards came in so willingly that perfectly clear day, seeming to drop in from every direction, contorting their bodies anyway they could to drop as quickly as possible into the few decoys we had out in front of us. When I look at the mallard drake on the wall next to the laundry room, I think of his green head shining in the sun, his mouth visibly open as he called out to the fake ducks he was dropping in on. He is the only one I had mounted with an open bill. The bufflehead next to the mallard, I shot years later on one of my leases. It was an especially frigid day and I had my seven year old nephew with me. He loved to go duck hunting and still goes with me occasionally when he can find someone to watch his young son. It won’t be long before he too will accompany us to the blind. The bufflehead is a tiny thing. They taste terrible too, but there aren’t many ducks with such contrasting colors, black against white, with pink legs, the black part of the head an iridescent purple in the light. The one duck I had mounted in a standing position is a pintail. I shot him on a hunting trip to Kansas, meeting up with some of my old army buddies. It was a banner day with all four of us limiting out on variety of duck species. We lay them out on a log and took turns taking pictures of our take and three of us kneeling behind them. The taxidermist really did a good job on him. The base has dirt and dead leaves and looks very natural. When I look at him, high on the shelf in the room going into the kitchen, I think of those old friends and when we will get back together to hunt again. In a house full of kids, casualties will occur. One of my favorite mounts was a wigeon hanging in the hallway between the garage and my oldest daughter’s bedroom. One of my overzealous daughters apparently opened a door next to it and swung the door into the wigeon, crushing it. The head was forced down, tearing the skin where the head and neck meet. The neck feathers now stick out behind the base of the skull and now it resembles some kind of odd jungle bird in a mating dance. It’s still hanging there though. The first time I ever got a canvasback mounted I took it to a new taxidermist. I remember I was hunting a pond about two acres in size and it had been a fairly slow day. I had only shot two ducks and was walking toward the water to begin picking up the decoys. My shotgun was

leaning up against a tree I had been hiding behind. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him, silhouetted against the blue sky, wings cupped and coming in fast. I quickly backtracked to my gun and shot as he flew over the decoys. He was gorgeous. He sat next to me on the front seat on the way home. I decided not to ship him all the way to Kansas, but instead use someone local. When I went into the studio I noticed no ducks, but plenty of big game and fish on the walls. They were really well done, so I didn’t hesitate in letting them do the bull canvasback. It was a mistake. When they called back in three months to tell me it was done I was shocked, but also excited. My taxidermist in Kansas always took around nine months or so. I think my expression literally said it all

INSIDE 26 Paul Gonzalez didn’t grow up hunting - he and his brothers were baseball players and students. Now, he can’t get enough hunting, his business or his family - and he thanks his parents’ sacrifices for all that.

WHAT’S INSIDE

12 GAME WARDEN NOTES Check out what the Texas Game Wardens have come up with lately.

26 TIDE CHARTS Be on top of the game with our most recent Tide Charts.

48 LEARN THE LINGO Capt. Stewart provides definitions of several terms for us.

on a beautiful spring day in April out of a sixty acre community lake just north of town. First cast of the evening it seemed my plastic worm had already snagged onto something even though it was Texas-rigged. Two seconds later whatever I was snagged on started to move. The fight was not all that epic, but when I finally got her in, the largemouth weighed eight and a half pounds. I actually took that fish into the same taxidermist that had so badly botched my canvasback. The reason being I had seen the fish he had done and they were superb. My bass turned out great. I eventually did get another canvasback done. There was another taxidermist I had met that had repaired some damage on the goose I have hanging in my classroom. I took the canvasback in and told him I

Photos from the first Big Dog Status and Texas Sportsman Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza at the Pharr Events Center, presented by PAL

Fan and beard mount from Anna’s first turkey. (contributed photo by Jason Patterson) when I saw him on the counter. He looked like a cartoon character. I went ahead and paid, after all, a deal is a deal, but it was a hard pill to swallow. After a few months I couldn’t stand to look at it anymore and gave it to my parents. They eventually sold it in a garage sale for five dollars. I learned an important lesson that day. If an animal is important enough for you to get it mounted, make sure you know without a doubt the quality of the taxidermist is up to your standards, at least for that particular type of animal anyway. I do have one fish mounted. I caught her

wanted him lying on log as a wall mount. He tried to talk me out of it telling me that a diving duck on a log wouldn’t look that natural. I should have listened to him. He did a great job mounting the bird, but it looked about as natural as a camel in a pine tree. I still have that mount though, convincing myself that it really wasn’t THAT bad. Listen to the taxidermist. Most of them know what will and will not look good as a finished product. The only big game mount that I have is a shoulder mounted aoudad. There was

I think it’s safe to say though that the vast majority of wives out there do not like dead animals on the wall.

LAS NINAS RANCH

BOOK EXCERPT

EXTRAVAGANZA

Mark Ojeda has a vision and a plan - for his family and his ranch.

Jason Patterson gives us a sneak peek into the world of a Texas Sportsman.

Photos from the first Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza at the Pharr Events Center.

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Hard to believe this edition of Texas Sportsman concludes our first year of publications. Our next edition is our 1st Anniversary edition. It seems like just the other day I was sitting in Barnes & Noble and talking with Miris Chavez and Marta Reyna of the RGV Reel Hookers. I’m grateful and proud to say they were my first interview for this magazine. They exemplify what the hunting and fishing community is about. Heck, they are great examples for the rest of humanity. 2014 will always be memorable I’m sure, especially for Miris. The figurehead of the RGV Reel Hookers, Miris lost her dad this year after a battle with stomach cancer. Henry Miller is Publisher of Texas Her dad, however, would no doubt continue Sportsman Tracking Outdoors. He to be more and more proud of his daughter. has more than 25 years of publishing Not only has she organized and spear-headed experience, has written sports for a fast-moving women’s fishing group, but has more than 150 newspapers, covered charged forward with diligently and with all her the Olympics, NASCAR, Major League strength to do well for others, to give back to Baseball and other sports. He has her community and to those in need. been syndicated on radio in more than I don’t get much of a chance to talk with 70 markets. His 10-year-old daughter her whenever I see her. It’s usually because Camilla enjoys volleyball, fashion and she’s running 100 miles an hour off to her tennis (and is an A student). next fundraiser (or current “Fill The Boat” Toy Drive). Fishing events for kids? Ask Miris, she’ll organize it. Is there a need for Autism Awareness? There’s Miris putting togetherthe first Fish 4 Autism Tournament. In my 30 years as a sports writer, many people talk about how they want to give back to their community. Few, however, are doing it so visibly. When I say visibly, I’m not talking about standing at a podium and letting everyone know. That’s not how Miris works. Rarely have I seen her take a break at these events, always wanting to make sure everything is perfect. Yeah, 2014 was an emotional one I’m sure for Miris. But she had a good group of ladies around her for support. Not only that, but she transferred that sorrow into doing good for others. Check out the RGV Reel Hookers pages on Facebook. I’m sure you’ll find an event or a cause they are working on to better the lives of others. To Miris and all the RGV Reel Hookers - thanks for what you do. More importantly Miris, your dad, though not with us, continues to be more and more proud of you. Keep up the inspiring work you do. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to everyone! May the Lord Bless each of you beyond your imaginations and fill your lives with peace and joy. We are excited about 2015. Hope you are too. (Below Miris in front in red with her dad).

Henry Miller

God Bless,

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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

Publisher/Executive Editor Texas Sportsman Magazine

Volume 1, Isssue 6.. December 2014. 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

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L A R G E S T

R U R A L

L E N D E R

ENTER RUT SEASON

Plenty to keep in mind as we reach our favorite season

ntering into the rut as known here in South Texas during Whitetail season excites many a hunters. Looking for scrapes and rubs on trees is a good way of looking for potential trophies. Nowadays with the assistance of game cameras it makes it easier to follow some of the deer in your area. We must also take in consideration the moon phase and the best times to be pursuing your trophy or management buck. There is also the factor of spinning corn down the sendero and waiting for your buck to come out. Then there is another factor when things are normal and as I mean by normal , the Rut has not started. A lot of people ask and always discuss when does the rut begin. I have heard dates as of December 10-24 and others say Dec. 15-24. Even others say December 26 to January 19 and these are all for the South Texas area encompassing Zapata,Starr, Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties. Texas Parks and Wildlife conducted three year study regarding the rut season. According to their website, “Biologists who designed the study knew there were distinct rutting periods in different parts of the state. They picked 16 study areas which were typical of the different ecological regions. The areas represent north-south or east-west distinctions. We list the earliest and latest dates for breeding in each ecological region and a "peak" breeding date for each study area. The graphs show the percentage of does bred during weekly periods throughout the breeding season.” The above mentioned counties were considered in the South Texas Plains region. Here's what they study discovered: “South Texas had the latest rut in the state. Breeding dates ranged from November 9 to February 1 during the three years. In the eastern part of the area the peak breeding date was December 16, while in the west it was December 24. The

pregnancy rate was 95 percent and there were 1.5 fetuses for each sampled doe. The majority (90%) of the fawns are born by July 19 in the eastern area and by July 25 in the western area.” (http://tpwd.texas. gov/huntwild/hunt/planning/rut_whitetailed_deer/) If you have eight blinds on 1,000 acres and it's high fence, and you will notice during the rut that the same deer that you have been seeing for the past month are going to start showing up at different feeders. The bucks are going to start following the doe. There are quite a few things to remember and do when trying to bag your buck. There are grunt calls and rattling, doe urine scents and then there is the time to rattle up your buck. Word of caution once you have shot your buck wait at least 30 minutes before you go toward it. I have seen a few bucks and doe get up after they have been shot. I would like to take this time now to welcome aboard RGV Pro Lighting 301 E. Cedar Ave Suite and I look forward of rigging up my Hunt Ve from RGV Carts with some of their light bars. When hunting always remember THINK SAFETY FIRST !

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Game Warden Notes

Illegal gillnet seized near Boca Chica The following items are compiled from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports. Texas game wardens conducting an enhanced marine patrol of the lower Rio Grande near Boca Chica along the Texas–Mexico border recently seized roughly 8,000 feet of illegal gillnet. Though no arrests were made, the gillnet is believed to have belonged to commercial fishermen from Mexico. Fishing with a gillnet in Texas waters is a violation of state law. Game wardens found hundreds of fish trapped in the netting, including red drum, snook, black drum, sheepshead, tarpon, mullet, jack crevalle, and gizzard shad. In addition to fish, the gillnet contained blue crabs, as well as cormorants and brown pelicans. Game wardens were able to save two of the brown pelicans, but the other birds had died. Using a gillnet in state waters is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000, confinement in jail not to exceed 180 days or both. Taking the fish, crabs, and protected birds would bring additional charges. “Illegal commercial fishing activity from Mexico poses a significant threat toward the natural resources of Texas and we take the threat extremely seriously,” said Maj. Malcom Wilkes. Anyone witnessing alleged illegal commercial fishing or any poaching activity is encouraged to call their local game warden or Operation Game Thief at 800-792-GAME (4263). “Game Wardens working the Rio Grande, the Gulf of Mexico, and border lakes are working in a very complex, demanding, and dangerous environment,” said Grahame Jones, TPWD Chief of Special Operations. “In addition to routine interdiction of commercial fishermen from Mexico who are fishing Texas waters illegally, our game wardens encounter human smugglers and drug smugglers very frequently.” “It is important to realize that the same groups from Mexico that utilize long-lines and gillnets in Texas waters to indiscriminately remove thousands of sharks, reef fish, turtles, dolphins, and other species of marine life also take part in other illegal smuggling activities,” said Capt. James Dunks, who is based in Brownsville. “Our presence along the Texas Border helps to protect our natural resources

UNDER THE BRIDGE A Newton County game warden and a Jasper County game warden were patrolling when they noticed a vehicle parked under an overpass. The wardens walked over to check on the car and found two people sitting inside the vehicle, which was still running. One warden approached the car and tapped on the window to get the attention of the female passenger, just as she was about to light a glass pipe filled with meth. Both individuals in the car were arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance.

Texas Parks and Wildlife officials seize an illegal gillnet found in the Rio Grande near Boca Chica. (photo courtesy TPWD) significantly while also helping to protect Texas against other criminal activity.” BUCK WILD Two Shelby County game wardens received a tip of a buck possibly being shot off a roadway. When they went to investigate, they found a truck with fresh blood all over the tailgate. They then found a 10-inch spread 8-point buck. After further investigation, the game wardens issued an arrest warrant and the owner of the truck was placed in jail. RED “HAIRRING” While investigating a hunting camp, a Houston County game warden discovered deer hair on a skinning gambrel and a couple of old blood spots on a four-wheeler. When the game warden asked one of the hunters at the camp if they had taken any deer this season, one hunter replied, “No, only hogs,” while another hunter said they “haven’t been seeing any.” The game warden then showed the hunters the deer hairs he had found on the skinning gambrel. One of the hunters began to shake and admitted his dad had taken a young doe last Saturday. After further investigation, the father said he had not taken any deer this season before finally admitting he had taken a young doe.

POACHING, METH AND STOLEN TOOLS A Harris County game warden was investigating a call regarding possible poaching. The caller had reported seeing a man with feed and a rifle clearing out an area of the woods with construction equipment. When the game warden arrived, he saw two men using an old 4x4 truck and a trencher to dig up and pull out tons of bundled copper wire. The truck bed was already full of copper wire when the warden made contact with the men and placed them in handcuffs. The warden found a loaded .22 rifle and a meth pipe. When backup arrived and the vehicle had been searched, law enforcement found a total of 14 grams of methamphetamine and numerous possibly stolen tools. One of the men was a convicted felon. Both men were arrested and face several felony charges, including theft and possession of a controlled substance. FIFTH TIME’S THE CHARM In 2013, a Montgomery County game warden and a Madison County game warden arrested a man on Lake Conroe when they noticed his erratic operation of a boat. On Oct. 31, 2014, the man pled guilty to felony boating while intoxicated. It was his fifth arrest for an alcohol-related offense. FULL THROTTLE RECALL On Lake McQueeny, a boat operator lost control of his vessel and ran aground, striking a boat dock. While the accident resulted in a total loss of the vessel, there were no injuries. The investigating Guadalupe County game warden found that a throttle recall issue, which had not been addressed by the owner, caused the accident.

ON THE RANCH

A MAN WITH

A PLAN

Mark Ojeda sees growth all around him - from his young daughters to his business. He has a vision - and a plan - for both Story by Henry Miller time, however, he was a project manager for a construction comMark Ojeda can see the day when all four of his daughters are pany in San Antonio. After 10 years there – three of those years out in nature, hunting with him. They’ll be sharing stories of how after he took over the ranch – it was time for him to become a fullthey shot a bigger buck than their dad or some other tall tale. time ranch owner, with all the responsibilities that come with it. Well, considering the youngest is just 8 months old, that day is “I had dropped out of school at 17, my wife was pregnant with still quite a ways away. But, with a vision comes good planning. our first child, and started building houses, then was a framer,” Ojeda also has a vision plans for his ranch – Las Niñas Ranch Ojeda said. “I just kept moving up. After 10 years they said they – named for his four daughters. The ranch is located 12 miles couldn’t pay anymore. I knew I had to do something. I decided to midway between Freer and George West. do the ‘ranch thing.’” “I want to grow, in size and in the type of clientele we bring in,” And the “ranch thing” is picking up nicely for Ojeda. Working Ojeda said. “I work hard to make the ranch a place where people with guide Jorge Bazan to get can come and have quality time “ON THE RANCH” is a new series profiling Texas his name out and to market his with one another and to be comRanches in each edition of Texas Sportsman Magranch to folks from all over, the fortable and have a quality hunt.” azine. To have your ranch featured in an upcoming Las Niñas Ranch Facebook page The ranch was originally owned recently had a two day increase by Ojeda’s father. When his father edition email henry.texassportsman@gmail.com. of nearly 200 new likes which, for died, Ojeda inherited it. At the

a business starting out, is a tremendous help. He’s also been getting calls from all over Texas. “More and more people have been hearing about the ranch,” Ojeda said. “That’s just a big achievement Laid out on a high-fenced 200 acres, Ojeda is a humble rancher who believes first in serving his clients. On the day of the interview for this article, Ojeda was picking up some meat at a processing plant that one of his hunters dropped off there and hadn’t found time to pick it up. “I believe in – and like to – show my appreciation to the hunters that use the property,” Ojeda said. “This is a competitive business, there are plenty of ranches people can choose from. I think it’s important for hunters to know that this is like having a second home. “Right now I just want to get known,” Ojeda said. “People have tried to deride me but God will be on my side and take care of me. He gives the strength and power you need to keep going.” While the ranch’s property has been in the family for years, the business part of it didn’t start until about 18 months ago. At the time it didn’t have any native animals. Ojeda hired and worked with a crew to construct the high fence and started bringing in animals – deer, nilgai, pigs, black buck and ginsbuck, among other varieties. “I’m not just trying to make money, I want to make the hunters comfortable. I enjoy talking to them and I remain humble,” Ojeda said. “I’m not gonna tell them I got this and got all that. I just want them to come out and have a good time with family and enjoy the outdoors and one-on-one time with their son, daughter, wife – be a

second home away from home.” “I don’t have a 10-star ranch. I have a little cabin that I built myself and make sure it’s as comfortable as possible. It’s all about my clients.“ The Las Niñas Facebook page has upto-date (as of deadline) photos of Russian boars, Axis bucks, Aoudad rams, nilgai and several other animals available for hunts. As a rancher knows, it’s a job/career where the work is never-ending. Add four daughters and time is the most precious asset available. Ojeda said his day is

usually in full swing by 5:45 a.m., taking the youngest daughter Rheanna (8) to school. Then there’s an almost-regular stop at John Deere for tractor parts and other stops for feed and feeders and other necessities. Then, finally, there’s the ranch work. “My wife tells me that I’m never home but that’s when you want to be the best, that’s how it is,” Ojeda said. “I make the sacrifice now so I can take time later.” Ojeda added he is in fact taking three upcoming days off - for a management

hunt in Laredo. “My wife told me ‘I thought you were taking some days off,’” he said. But he’s also quick to admit that his wife Rose is his biggest supporter. He says she actually encouraged him to do the “ranch thing” when he was not sure whether that would be the right step. So far it looks like that encouragement and advice was on the right track. When Ojeda is not working he says he enjoys going to the movies, often taking in back-to-back flicks. He also finds himself at Peter Piper Pizza quite often with his daughters, Roxanne (12), Raquel (10), Rheanna (8) and Isabella (8 months). “I love watching them play there,” he said. “It’s a good place to take a quick nap too.” Ojeda said his oldest daughter is already a nature lover. She enjoys shooting cottontails and hogs. “They want to be with me and since I’m always at the ranch it works great,” Ojeda said. “She (Roxanne) has always been in the outdoors. She will be like ‘look dad there’s a buck, there’s a nilgai. It’s the greatest thing going. “The youngest are still at the point where they go in the blind and they are bored in 10 minutes. So, that’s gonna take time.” But, just like with the ranch, there’s a vision – and a plan. And as far as the tales of bigger bucks shot than dad? That just may not happen. “ “They know what they can whip me on. When it comes to the outdoors, I’m always going to be the winner. But it’s all right.”

For more information on Las Ninas Ranch, search “Las Ninas Ranch” on Facebook. You can also call Mark Ojeda at (210) 389-8750, his wife Rose at (210) 900-9290 or Guide Jorge Bazan at (956) 437-0310.

Four guys take the new HuntVe Switchback for a major test. By the excitement you would think it was four kids in a candy store. 17

The red-legged honeycreeper made an appearance for the first time in Texas - at Estero Llano Grande Park in Weslaco on Thanksgiving Day this year. It was one of three new species reported in Texas in 2014 and brought a flock of bird-watchers with it. (Photo Courtesy Tiffany Kersten)

JEEPERS CREEPERS HONEYCREEPER THAT IS Birders Flock To See New Species in Texas in 2014, Highlighted by Special Appearance in the RGV By Tom Harvey Texas Parks & Wildlife AUSTIN – The phenomenon of new birds seen in Texas jumped in 2014, underscoring the Lone Star State’s rep as one of the top birding destinations in the country. It also illustrates how technology and social media are changing human culture. There were three new species reported Texas in 2014, all new to the state’s bird list, pending approval by the Texas Ornithological Society. These include a red-legged honeycreeper that drew flocks of people Thanksgiving Day to Estero Llano Grande State Park in the Valley, a gray-crowned rosy-finch seen north of Dalhart in the Panhandle around Nov. 20, and a pair of common cranes still present as of Dec. 6 at Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge in the Panhandle. This represents almost as many rare birds in Texas this year as

in the previous five years combined. Bird experts call these uncommon sightings “vagrants,” oddities that stray from their typical ranges. “This kind of stuff awaits any observer who’s out there looking,” said Cliff Shackelford, a bird biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “There will always be vagrants because birds are so mobile they can show up anywhere. We’re probably only seeing the tip of the iceberg.” What’s fueling the increase? Some birders speculate cheaper gas prices prompted more birders to get out in November, and a continental cold snap last month may have encouraged lots of birds to move in search of food and cover. But the iceberg’s tip may be more visible these days in large part because of better binoculars, cameras, and audio recorders to capture bird calls, plus social media and mobile apps to tie it all together.

“As soon as people hear about a rarity they get in the car or plane and go, because they can get there in time now,” said Shelly Plante of TPWD, who runs the Great Texas Birding Classic. “People traveling coordinate in real time with people who are already at the sighting location, using social media and texts to make sure the bird is still there. The honeycreeper sighting happened on a Thanksgiving weekend when many people were already off and could pick up and go, and they did. The common cranes at Muleshoe have been there a couple of weeks, and there are still people making plans on Texbirds and Facebook to go see them.” Although avid birders often spread news of vagrants, they are not always the first to see them. These days, that honor can fall to anyone who happens to be in the right place at the right time. “These vagrant birds can show up

anywhere, including people’s back yards,” Shackelford said, noting it was a backyard birder who in 2012 reported the state’s first Pineywoods record of a common redpoll, a small finch of the arctic tundra and boreal forest. “The takeaway is: if you see a bird you don’t recognize, take a photo. Also, record the call if it’s vocalizing. If a photo is not conclusive, an audio recording can be important.” Who sifts all those photos and calls? The Texas Bird Records Committee of the Texas Ornithological Society is the authority that confirms or denies a rare bird sighting. A great resource in Texas is the TEXBIRDS listserv, which anyone can join, where people report and discuss bird sightings online. Another big online tool is Texas eBird, where backyard birders as well as those who travel for birding can report what they see year-round, contributing to an international database of bird sightings. Texas is a particular “birdy” state, with 639 bird species recorded (a number that may increase once review of recent new bird sightings is complete). That’s the second highest of any state, after California. This birdiness is the reason Texas is home to the Great Texas Wildlife Trails, the first birding and wildlife trails created in the USA, and hosts the annual Great Texas Birding Classic, a popular birdwatching event that raises money for bird conserva-

Photo Courtesy John Yochum, Texas Parks and Wildlife tion in Texas. For more about birding in Texas, or to sign up for the Great Texas Birding Classic running April 15–May 15, 2015, see TPWD’s

Birding in Texas web pages. Or, for a focus on Texas State Parks by region, see the Birding in Texas State Parks pages.

SHADES OF ECCLISIASTES Essays from a Texas Sportsman Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors Magazine would like to thank Fort Worth area Author (husband, father and avid outdoorsman) Jason Patterson for sharing an excerpt from his book entitled “Shades of Ecclisiastes: Essays from a Texas Sportsman.” Patterson’s book is filled with great stories. What makes it special is how every avid outdoorsman can relate to it. There will be several instances where you will stop because you remember a similar scenario

TAXIDERMY

Jason Patterson, author of “Shades of Ecclisiastes”

I think it’s safe to say though that the vast majority of wives out there do not like dead animals on the wall.

much wailing and gnashing of teeth over this one. It seems as though I have crossed over the demilitarized zone back into the “safe zone” my wife had created in our house. When visitors come into our house through the front door, all they have to do is look over to their right and see him in all of his glory. I had to wait a long time for that one, a year and a half. It was worth it though because it really is a well done mount. My youngest daughter was with me the day I shot him, so we will both be able to look at him and remember that day. When Anna, my middle daughter shot her first turkey, I did a fan and beard mount from the turkey and hung it on the wall. It turned out well I think. I also hung a photograph of her with her turkey. I know she enjoys looking at it and hopefully when she’s lying in bed she thinks about that moment often. I have an assortment of other trophies I did myself in the garage. Even by my standards, they’re not quite worthy for the inside of the house. There are aoudad skulls, numerous turkey fans and beards, deer antlers, and a beaver hide out there now. Even though these trophies aren’t quality mounts, they still represent good memories. The problem with the battle that goes on between husbands and wives over animal mounts is that both sides can’t see or understand the viewpoint of the other. Men are trying to relive a memory that had great meaning to them, but women are just trying to create an environment that, to them anyway, is both welcoming and inviting. My wife has been very gracious in allowing me to spend as much time as I do hunting. The least I could do would be to respect her wishes when it comes to the interior of the house. After carefully examining both arguments and putting my selfish desires aside, I have come to one great conclusion: Men should be able to hang their mounts wherever they dang well please.

WANT MORE? Interested in Jason Patterson’s book, check out his Facebook page at: facebook.com/jpattersonduckhuntingpursuits. You can also find his book (available from amazon and Barnes & Noble at his author’s page: http://outskirtspress.com/shadesofecclesiastes/

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“Fast Turnaround Time”

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7:20

7:45

15 M

7:12

7:37

14 W

7:55

8:20

15 T

8:09

8:34

17 W

8:41

9:06

9:01

9:26

9:56

10:21

10:54

11.19

19 M

11:54

FULL MOON

APOGEE LAST QUARTER

9:30

9:55

10:22

10:47

SOLSTICE

11:17

11:42

NEW MOON/WINTER BEGINS

12:14

22 M

12:39

1:13

1:38

2:12

PERIGEE

2:37

3:09

CHRISTMAS

3:34

4:05

24 W 25

4:30

4:58

5:23

5:50

6:15

6:41

29 M

7:06

7:32

7:57

8:23

31 W

8:48

9:14

FIRST QUARTER

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

WHAT ARE LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES? 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. From Dr. Oscar Sotelo’s Lunar Transit Times, 20th edition

APOGEE

LAST QUARTER

20 T

NEW MOON

21 W

PERIGEE

12:19

12:53

1:18

1:52

22 T

2:17

2:48

3:13

3:43

4:08

4:36

4:51

5:28

26 M 27 T

FIRST QUARTER

BEST

5:53

6:20

6:45

7:12

28 W

7:37

8:03

29 T

8:28

8:54

9:19

9:45

10:10

10:35

BEST MORNINGS OR AFTERNOONS

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.

Visit us online: www.osoteloskincancer.com

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 Dr. Sotelo now - don’t wait! 6900 N. 10th St. Ste 3, Mcallen, TX 78504 OSCAR SOTELO, M.D. (956) 682-1591 Board Certified Dermatologist osoteloskincaner.com

COVER STORY

PAUL GONZALEZ

Read more about Siempre Natural on the following page.

A “Natural” Outdoorsman



Story by Henry Miller * Photo Opposite Page by Tiki Tillman henry.texassportsman@gmail.com * www.tikitillmanphotos.com Growing up, Paul Gonzalez didn't do a whole bunch of hunting. The sandlots were his second home with his brothers, playing baseball either on organized teams or with friends until it was too dark to even see the ball. “I think that's all we did, play baseball and focus on academics,” Gonzalez said. Baseball continued to be unequivocally the number-one passion for Gonzalez, who manages five Siempre Natural restaurants in Mission, Edinburg, Pharr and McAllen, with a sixth one to open soon on North 10th St. in McAllen. The family also owns six restaurants in Reynosa. “Then my brother invited us out to a friend's ranch (to hunt),” Gonzalez said. “And that was that.” Gonzalez, like his older brother Osiris, caught the hunting bug right away. Gonzalez started hunting with friends whenever he could. His mom and dad had absolutely no interest in hunting as the three Gonzalez boys grew up. Their time was spent providing for the family, making those daily sacrifices to make sure all was well for their precious sons. “They were working the restaurant when we were very young and lived in Mexico,” said Gonzalez, who is married and has two daughters (Galilea and Alegra) and a son (Tony). “They would sacrifice all the time to be able to make it a successful venture. It stayed with us and I'm proud to say their sacrifice worked. They did it for us.” Finally with a little time on their side, Gonzalez's dad started to show some interest in hunting. Before long he liked it so much that he purchased some low-fence property to hunt on. “Before that it was hunting here and there until we had our own ranch,” Gonzalez said. “That's when the hunting really started.” Gonzalez, the middle of three brothers, recalled his first buck. He had spent the first two days at the ranch without seeing much of anything. After breakfast on the third day he decided to go out and find a spot and just sit – not in a blind, just on the ground – and waited. “At about noon this buck ran across the sendero and into the brush,” Gonzalez said, years later his

ABOUT SIEMPRE NATURAL Siempre Natural® was born in 1989 in the City of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. Before the first restaurant opened, the founders operated a successful convenience store; however, they wanted a business that would make a better contribution to society, and they searched for a different type of business opportunity. As yogurt aficionados, they frequented a local yogurt shop where food  prepared behind a was wall, where customers were left to wonder under what sanitary conditions food items were prepared. After months of research, a new and Original Yogurt recipe was born, giving way to a concept and a restaurant design plan where most of the food was prepared over the counter and customers could enjoy seeing their food being prepared. The new concept became a healthier alternative to the abundant “taquerias” and Mexican restaurants already in the area. At its inception, the original menu offered only yogurt, juices, shakes, and fruit cocktails but it quickly expanded into sandwiches and chicken salads. Today, Siempre Natural® services both sides of the South Texas border with locations in the cities of Reynosa, Mission, Pharr, Edinburg, South McAllen and soon to open on North 10th St. in McAllen. Visit their website to see their menu. Also, check out their catering for your next meeting, party and/or event.

A SEASON FOR GIVING The RGV Reel Hookers are holding their second annual “Fill The Boat” Toy Drive from Dec. 1-20 at 1425 W. Expressway 83 in Weslaco (one block

east of the new Chick-Fil-A. On the final day of toy collecting Olaf and Elsa from “Frozen”, and Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be available for photos from noon to 5p.m. For more information check out the ad on the following page.

Photos from the first Big Dog Status and Texas Sportsman Hunting & Fishing Extravaganza at the Pharr Events Center, presented by PAL

Send your hunting and fishing photos to: henry.texassportsman@gmail.com

Texas, Padre Island

December 2014

N 26° 04.1' / W 97° 09.4' Date

Day

1210pm

High Tide 1.4

929pm

High Tide 1.4

447am

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

0.6

437pm

1.2

659am

537pm

217pm

206am

145pm

1.6

922pm

1.4

257pm

1.7

525am

0.2

622pm

1.3

659am

537pm

259pm

306am

607am

-0.1

700am

537pm

343pm

357pm

406am

1.8

649am

-0.3

701am

537pm

430pm

505am

450pm

1.8

732am

-0.4

702am

537pm

518pm

603am

539pm

1.8

814am

-0.4

702am

537pm

609pm

700am

623pm

1.8

854am

-0.4

703am

537pm

701pm

753am

702pm

1.8

934am

-0.3

704am

537pm

754pm

842am

736pm

1.7

1012am

-0.1

704am

538pm

847pm

928am

803pm

1.7

1048am

0.1

705am

538pm

938pm

1010am

823pm

1.6

1123am

0.3

706am

538pm

1029pm

1049am

834pm

1.5

1158am

0.5

706am

538pm

1120pm

1125am

840pm

1.5

1231pm

0.7

707am

539pm

829am

1.0

431am

0.9

708am

539pm

1210am

1235pm

841pm

1.3

435am

0.7

708am

539pm

100am

110pm

837pm

1.3

455am

0.5

709am

540pm

152am

146pm

231pm

1.3

522am

0.2

709am

540pm

245am

225pm

310pm

1.4

553am

0.0

710am

541pm

340am

308pm

349pm

1.6

627am

-0.3

710am

541pm

437am

355pm

430pm

1.6

705am

-0.5

711am

542pm

536am

447pm

510pm

1.7

746am

-0.6

711am

542pm

635am

544pm

550pm

1.7

829am

-0.7

712am

543pm

733am

645pm

625pm

1.7

914am

-0.6

712am

543pm

828am

748pm

655pm

1.6

1001am

-0.5

713am

544pm

920am

853pm

718pm

1.5

1049am

-0.3

713am

544pm

1008am

956pm

734pm

1.3

1139am

0.0

714am

545pm

1053am

1059pm

547am

0.9

745pm

1.2

156am

0.8

1231pm

0.3

714am

545pm

1136am

826am

0.9

750pm

1.2

236am

0.5

127pm

0.6

715am

546pm

1218pm

1200am

1110am

1.0

751pm

1.1

323am

0.2

235pm

0.9

715am

547pm

100pm

100am

120pm

1.2

742pm

1.2

413am

-0.1

421pm

1.1

715am

547pm

142pm

200am

238pm

1.3

502am

-0.4

716am

548pm

227pm

258am

842pm

823pm

1.4

1.3

Low Tide

105pm

541pm

0.9

1.2

Phase

Full

1200pm 3rd

New

1st

Texas, Padre Island

January 2015

N 26° 04.1' / W 97° 09.4' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

325pm

High Tide 1.4

High Tide

555am

Low Tide -0.5

Low Tide

716am

549pm

314pm

356am

412pm

1.4

641am

-0.6

716am

549pm

402pm

452am

453pm

1.5

725am

-0.7

716am

550pm

453pm

545am

530pm

1.4

806am

-0.6

717am

551pm

545pm

636am

602pm

1.4

845am

-0.5

717am

551pm

638pm

723am

630pm

1.4

922am

-0.4

717am

552pm

730pm

806am

652pm

1.3

956am

-0.2

717am

553pm

821pm

846am

707pm

1.2

1028am

-0.1

717am

553pm

912pm

924am

715pm

1.2

1057am

0.1

717am

554pm

1002pm

1000am

719pm

1.1

1125am

0.3

717am

555pm

1052pm

1034am

529am

0.8

719pm

1.1

215am

0.7

1152am

0.5

717am

556pm

1143pm

1109am

811am

0.7

719pm

1.0

243am

0.5

1215pm

0.6

717am

556pm

717pm

1.0

316am

0.3

717am

557pm

1234am

1221pm

709pm

1.0

354am

0.1

717am

558pm

127am

100pm

230pm

1.1

433am

-0.2

717am

559pm

222am

144pm

258pm

1.2

515am

-0.4

717am

600pm

318am

232pm

333pm

1.4

559am

-0.6

717am

600pm

416am

326pm

409pm

1.4

644am

-0.8

717am

601pm

515am

425pm

443pm

1.4

731am

-0.9

717am

602pm

612am

528pm

515pm

1.4

819am

-0.9

717am

603pm

707am

633pm

541pm

1.3

907am

-0.7

1050pm

0.9

717am

603pm

758am

740pm

125am

1.0

601pm

1.1

956am

-0.6

1117pm

0.8

716am

604pm

847am

845pm

305am

0.9

616pm

1.0

1045am

-0.3

1157pm

0.5

716am

605pm

932am

949pm

447am

0.8

627pm

0.9

1134am

0.0

716am

606pm

1016am

1052pm

643am

0.8

635pm

0.9

1247am

0.3

1223pm

0.3

716am

606pm

1059am

1153pm

901am

0.8

640pm

0.9

144am

0.0

115pm

0.6

715am

607pm

1143am

1138am

0.9

641pm

1.0

244am

-0.2

220pm

0.8

715am

608pm

1227pm

1253am

138pm

1.1

344am

-0.4

715am

609pm

113pm

151am

237pm

1.2

442am

-0.6

714am

610pm

200pm

247am

320pm

1.2

537am

-0.6

714am

610pm

250pm

341am

355pm

1.3

627am

-0.6

713am

611pm

341pm

432am

Phase

Full

1144am 3rd

New

1st

Every Angler’s Best Friend, His

FISHING SWORD By Capt. Joey Farah In ancient times man carried his sword everywhere, thus the blade became an extension of his body. Many times these tools passed down through generations and were specialized; finely crafted precision works. There were mass produced swords by plenty, but what proved to be a great advantage on the battlefield was the strength and fluid ease of operation that a custom sword gave the person who grasped its handle. Today, anglers charge the battlefields of the ocean with modern custom-crafted fishing rods. With innovations in materials and design, the advantages of “feeling” what we can’t see unfold under the surface is in the hands of the angler. For many, picking out a new fishing pole is a seasonal chore that is little more than grabbing the one that feels best at the local department store. To really raise the bar in your fishing and get years of use out of a quality rod look to some of Texas’ home-grown custom rod builders to both guide you to the perfect custom fishing “sword” this season. Matching the tool to the task is the absolute secret to catching the most with your fishing rod. For most practical bay fishing, rods set up for line in the 10-20 pound range are best. Differences that will help you the most is light well-designed rods under seven-feet for lures, and rods of longer length for live bait. Lots of casting and working the bait while using artificial demands a comfortable and lightweight rod that will not give up strength. Sensitivity is the only way can tell what is going on under the surface. When I pick up my custom WATERLOO RODS I can feel the pulse of the paddle tail, the jig head touching the surface, and the slightest touch of any game fish attacking my bait. With the new choices in lines today choices should be made to match the kind of line one prefers. Monofilament line has some stretch to it and will deliver a softer,

more realistic presentation in some situations. Braided line has no stretch and often the fish feel the rod as well as the fishermen feels the fish. With this all in mind one should select an action that is stiffer with the monofilament to make up for any stretch of the line, giving the angler control over the fish with a heavy drag. Since braided line can’t give drag, settings must be more relaxed as well as the action of the rod in hand. A very soft action rod will allow a more realistic and softer presentation and keep fish on by not tearing the hook out of their mouth. After hundreds of casts, one will appreciate a smaller pole in the 6 1/2-foot range as well as be rewarded with a much faster hook set speed. Many times when lures are worked with longer rods the bait will be moved with too much rod swing, propelling the bait at a speed that is too fast, or cov-

ers too much water not allowing you to stay in the strike zone. Live bait fishing is a game of long-distance casting, thus a longer rod length can help anglers get baits away from the piers, bank and boat. Venturing into the custom rod market can allow us to use fishing rods between 7 ½ feet to 8 feet yet retain absolute sensibility and reasonable weight. The other major component of a fishing pole that determines length of cast is the amount and quality of eyes along its length. The more eyes you have, the less space it gives the line to start to wobble. The quality of the eyes determines how easily the line passes through. Light line will cast farther but can kink up and be easily broken. I like to use 12-pound mono or 8-pound diameter braided line on my spinning rods. This allows for great casting, and a #30-pound leader is plenty strong enough for drum and reds up past 40 pounds. I use #15-pound mono because it will allow the angler to put a bit more power in the cast without backlashing and will not kink up when you have an overrun. My experience with baitcasters and braided line has not been good, but many of my peers have great success with a 12-pound diameter braided line and a long monofilament shock leader on a light action rod. The final choice is absolutely preference but this is a solid start and some good basics to stick to in selecting a fishing rod to your fishing. There is an ocean of rod companies out there, but some local Texas born custom rod companies are building some of the best rods in the country. Waterloo Rods in Victoria has been custom handmaking the ultimate fishing rods for anglers for more than a decade. The attention to detail, customer service, and the absolute best sensitivity and comfort in hand puts them in the front of the pack. Some of the new features that are on the water for 2014 are a new resin that is light-

er and creates more strength and transmits more vibration through the blank. Comfort is one of the most important things when finding your custom fishing rod, fitting the cork to your hand and choosing the length of the handle and the design of the seat and palm cork is crucial in having a truly custom fishing rod. This year, Waterloo has introduced the most comfortable reel seat-and-hand conformed handle I’ve ever used. The long hours of holding the rod and constant contact with the reel seat on many rods will tear up the angler’s fingers and hands, the new Waterloo reel seat fits like a glove in all the most stressed out places. I enjoy a longer butt section for balance and strength of hook set, many anglers like a shorter end cork. A good look on the website (waterloorods.com) will show all the options and all you have to do is call the shop and talk to Carson for years’ worth of knowledge in rod building. The one detail that makes a fishing rod cast farther is the eyes, the line runs through them and the less resistance the better. The first thing that goes wrong with a fishing pole is the eyes, Waterloo’s titanium, 316stainless steel, or the ultimate recoil eyes make all the difference in the world on durability and long lasting quality.

Custom means more attention to detail in the way the eyes are glassed into the blank so that they don’t get loose and fall out, and these never rust. Custom means that the angler can select the color, inlays, personalize with names and more. Custom means that the rod is made for your or that special someone, made with pride. Now, that custom style rod is available in some selective tackle shops and the Salinity line of Waterloo Rods can be found at Academy, the Salinities are tough enough to last over two full years on my boat and subjected to much abuse. Where ever your passion for fishing leads you this company can custom make that perfect fishing rod to improve your interpretation of what is actually happening under the surface. Our rods will be bending this spring and the casts will fall into the strike zone,

Capt. Joey Farah guides guaranteed fishing and duck hunting adventures in the Laguna Madre’ and Baffin Bay. He has been a full time guide for more than 19 years, and has been an outdoor writer for many Texas publications. Call him (361) 442-8145 for a custom bay fishing adventure or follow us on Facebook at joey Farah’s Fishing.

Get your Captain’s License New Class starting soon! Make the Big Bucks! Done Locally

FIRST AID/CPR CLASSES FORMING EVERY WEEK

ALAN STEWART CALL 956-639-8697

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

TOO MANY REDS BY ALBERTO SANTOS

It was a beautiful early fall day in Port Aransas. It was the kind of day that starts out cold then gradually warms up. My two sons and I were going fishing. My olderst son, Beto III must have been 12, and Miguel was about 7. They, like me, were hooked on fishing at a very early age. This was a great time of the year to fish. GONE FISHING I had not done a lot of advance planning, so we had to settle for whatever fishing guide was available. Our very favorite Port-A fishing guide was booked. It was a really good time to go fishing, so we had to find another guide. We called around and found Buddy. Buddy is not his real name and you will soon see why I'm not using his name. We met Buddy at the agreed upon dock and I remember he wanted to get an early start. We left just before first light and he took directly to one of his favorite hot spots for big trout. We were fishing somewhere on the back side of the Island (North Padre Island). Every guide has his favorite spots and his own strategy for hooking fish. Buddy was a big believer in the “big-bait equals big-fish” formula for success. He liked fishing for trout with big piggy perch. This is a good concept except when you have two (make that three) fishermen who are not used to fishing with this type of bait and

have little experience with casting reels. According to Buddy, when a big trout hits the big-bait, you are supposed to count to five then set the hook. And I don’t mean 1, 2, 3, 4, wham! It is supposed to be one Mississippi, two Mississippi, etc. Well, needless to say, we missed a whole lot of fish. We were trying to set the hook way too soon. My personal theory when I miss a fish is that it was a little one. I always tell myself it was a little one that could not get his mouth around the bait. I find that this helps me maintain a positive self-image and an optimistic outlook. It serves no good to think you missed a big one. I would rather think that when the big one comes, I will hook it. Well Buddy made it a point to say that “only” big-hog trout attack big piggy perch and we had probably missed some the largest fish in the Laguna Madre Bay system. I didn’t need to hear this and neither did my boys. This guy may have known a lot about fishing for big trout but he was not real savvy on customer relations.

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The boys and I were also given the full lecture on how to cast bait with a casting rod. At the sight of even a little backlash, we were forced to hear the whole lecture over again. Each time we got the lecture a little louder as if that would help us. As the morning gave way to midday we found ourselves with only one trout in the box. I could see it in the boy’s face that they were a little disappointed. I gave the boys the old line about why the sport is called fishing and not catching but that did not change their attitude. Little did we know that our level of enjoyment was about to change very quickly and that this day would go down as a top story in our top personal fishing memories.

THE RED TIDE

As we cruised down one of the many channels behind the Island, Buddy and I

noticed what looked like the wake of a big boat. It was a big wall of water that raised up about a foot high. But where was the boat that makes such a big wake? As we got closer it became very clear that the tide was actually a herd of very large redfish cruising down the channel. The volume of so many large fish swimming side by side and one behind another, pushed a wall of water. It was a sight to behold. It looked as if one hundred torpedoes had been launched simultaneously and they were now cruising on the surface. I had never seen so many redfish cruising. It was simply too many reds. As soon as we realized the situation, Buddy positioned the boat ahead of the incoming fish to make a cast. Everyone was very excited. I am sure we all thought this was going to be like shooting red fish

in a barrel. We all were wide-eyed and ready to hook a red fish. Buddy was barking orders for me to get ready to make the first cast. The boat was still moving and he yelled at me to cast out in front. In the excitement of the moment, I guess I made a bad cast and got a little backlash. Ok, so it was a big backlash. Buddy was furious. He went ballistic. He was yelling obscenities that I can not repeat here in case my mother reads this story. Suffice it to say that his words were various exclamatory phrases of desperation and unkind references to the level of my casting skills. He was so worked up that he came over to untangle my backlash. By golly, he was determined to show us how it was done. He grabbed a rod from one of the boys with his left hand and with his right hand

THIS WAS OUR DAY OF TOO MANY REDS.

steered the boat back into position. The fish were still cruising down the channel and he was trying to intercept them. He steered the boat with his left hand and he got ready to cast. The boys and I stood back and we saw him make a mighty cast. Just then we noticed that the bait flew strait out but the hook came to a sudden stop in mid-flight. There was a brief moment of awkward silence. It was a very brief moment. When Buddy’s cursing started up we all saw a world class backlash at the base of his rod. It was definitely the biggest backlash of the day. If mine was a hummingbird nest his

was a duplex for brown pelicans. It goes to show that God has a sense of humor. The boys and I all look at each other and we could not hold back the smiles. The smiles then explode into laughter. I had taught the boys the rules for good manners including that one should not laugh at someone else’s misfortune but this seems like a good time for an exception to the rule. While Buddy continued his tirade and worked to undo his backlash, I cast out and land an oversize red. Beto III and Miguel also hook into the fleet of giants. Some were so big that they

broke our line. Others we managed to land but all except one were over the legal limit. We had a great time. It was a great day for fishing after all. The boys and I will never forget that day. What makes a great fishing day? It is not how many fish you get in the box. Is it the size of the fish you land? I do not think so. I think we had a great fishing day because we made a personal memory. We will never forget the wall of reds, Buddy’s backlash, and laughing with my sons on the back of Buddy’s boat. This was our day of too many reds.

START THE NEW YEAR WITH A STATE PARK HIKE Don’t procrastinate on your New Year’s resolution to drop a few pounds and adopt a healthier lifestyle. Head outdoors and hit the trail on Jan. 1 at one of the dozens of Texas state parks hosting First Day Hikes. New Year’s Day events earlier this year attracted more than 1,500 people, who covered almost 6,000 trail miles in 59 Texas state parks. The hiking and paddling events were part of America’s State Parks First Day Hikes occurring in state parks throughout the nation to help people get a healthy jump on the New Year. Jan. 1, 2015 will mark the fourth consecutive year that Texas state parks will participate in the nation’s First Day Hikes initiative, which is being coordinated by the National Association of State Park Directors. This past New Year’s Day, for the first time, First Day Hikes took place in all 50 states, drawing nearly 28,000 people who hiked 68,811 miles. First Day Hikes originated more than 20 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a Massachusetts state park. “Our third annual First Day Hikes initiative proved a resounding success, drawing even more people who made a physical statement about how they intend to live their lives,” says Brent Leisure, Texas State Parks director. “There’s something symbolic about getting outside and visiting a state park on this day in particular. So, whether you’re motivated by the beauty of nature, want to shed a few pounds or simply desire to spend quality time with family, we invite you to head to a nearby state park on New Year’s Day and join the fun.” So far, 67 Texas state parks have scheduled more than 100 First Day events to kick off the New Year. For the most up-to-date list of First Day Hikes in Texas state parks, visit: www.tpwd.state.tx.us/calendar/firstday-hikes. Perhaps fittingly, Mother Neff State Park near Waco, Texas’ first official state park, continues to draw the most hikers, hosting 204 participants last time around. Lake Brownwood State Park held two hikes, attracting the second highest number of hikers, 191. Pedernales Falls had the third greatest turnout, with 129 hikers. For a new twist on the theme, Martin Creek and Guadalupe River state parks, will host midnight First Day Hikes on New

Above, people enjoy a group hike at Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso. Below, a group of hikers go over some terrain at Pedernales Falls State Park near Johnson City. Nearly 70 state parks will be holding a First Day Hike this year to kick off 2015. (Photos courtesy of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department) Year’s Eve. At ever-popular Garner State Park, you can start off your New Year by hiking 2.5 miles to the top of Old Baldy. And, at the South Sulphur Unit of Cooper Lake State Park, gung-ho revelers can start off the year by hiking, running or biking the 4.6 mile Coyote Run Trail. Geocachers can join the fun, too. For something different on New Year’s Day, try a First Day Paddle at the Johnson Branch unit of Ray Roberts Lake State Park. There is no charge to participate in First Day events, but park entry fees do apply. Avid state park visitors may want to share their love of Texas state parks by taking advantage of a special Texas State Parks Pass offer. Through Jan. 5, 2015, the Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) Foundation is offering the opportunity to buy a State Parks Pass as a gift for $65, a $5 savings off the regular price. Visit the foundation TPW Foundation website (http://www.tpwf. org/ ) to take advantage of this online-only, limited time offer. One hundred percent of the park pass purchase price benefits Texas state parks.

INVERT THIS (talking about inverters) BY CAPT. ALAN STEWART Since we have been on the subject of electrical equipment, or at least equipment that requires some kind of electricity on board whether it be AC (alternating current) or DC (direct current), I would like to talk about inverters. Nowadays, most things can run on batteries on board a boat or at least on 12 volts. A friend of mine recently purchased a pontoon boat for family outings and wanted more lights around simply for ambience. I recommended to her an inverter. I figured everyone knew what an inverter was and how it worked. My friend didn’t have a clue. Simply put, it changes 12 volts to 120 volts. Well, technically it isn’t that simple. Years ago on larger yachts, they used to have DC-driven motors to convert the 12v, 24v or the 32v into 120v. Today, most inverters are solid-state devices that electronically steps up and charges 12v to 120v. Why don’t we have this at our house or

KNOW THE

RULES

use this on other things? Well, the amount of drain you have on your battery isn’t worth inverting everything all the time. Your battery will drain very quickly. Inverters on large boats or yachts are used for small appliances like a blender or a small television or small refrigerator.

So back to her question about the lights. An inverter would work great on a couple of rope lights on her pontoon boat. My only recommendation to her is if you shut off the engine, don’t let the lights run very long or they may be calling me for a tow. I could get into U.S. Coast Guard wiring recommendations about inverters, but this is not the place for that. For simply running a small device on a small boat, hook one up either to the cigarette lighter or connect directly to the battery. If you have the two-battery system with gated polarity, then you don’t have to worry about getting your boat started later. As always, be safe and see you on the water. See you next time and Know the Rules.

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 Rd. Bayview, Tx. 78566.

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