Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors / November - December 2021

FLOUNDER TIPS AND TACTICS

PG. 10

HOW TO TRAIN A DOG MANNY PEREZ

PG. 16

CINDY’S

CORNER! PG. 22

RED STAG HUNT BRYAN ELLIS

PG. 48

LUNAR TIMES

PG. 35

READER SUBMITTED PHOTOS IS THAT YOU?

PG. 52

TIDE TABLES

PG. 46

NOVEMBER - DECEMBER

2021

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TABLE OF CONTE PG28

Rodriguez 06 / Fred Reflections

10 / Capt Brian Spencer

Flounder Tips & Tactics

Perez 16 / Manny How to Train a Dog

PG10

PG16

Corner 22 / Cindy’s Cindy Rodriguez James Stewart 34 / Capt.

Boats & Resacas Times 35 / Lunar Best Times for Fishing Johnson 40 / Brent Don’t Forget to....

Tables 46 / Tide SPI, TX Ellis 48 / Brian Red Stag Hunt

52/ 4

Is That You? Reader Photos

PG22

november december

PG34

2021

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ENTS

TEXAS SPORTSMAN TRACKING OUTDOORS

Fred Rodriguez

Cindy Rodriguez

Albino Mendoza III

Brent Johnson

Brian Spencer

James Stewart

Manny Perez

bRYAN eLLIS

TEXAS SPORTSMAN TRACKING OUTDOORS

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meet the WRITERS

PG50

staff

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

PG52 Volume 8, Issue 5. November 2021. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is a production Sportsman Media LLC. 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. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors.

To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors Call (956)776-4623 Email: fredrsportsman@yahoo.com

Cindy Rodriguez Mrs. Texas Sportsman Executive Producer cindyrsportsman@yahoo.com Albino Mendoza III Executive Editor albino.txsmagazine@gmail.com (956)873-3457 5

5

Reflections

By Fred Rodriguez

"I saw it getting closer and closer. I then reached out for my binoculars. I see a..."

A

s the years go by, I still get excited about planning for a fishing trip or a hunting trip, with high level expectations. Same goes if it’s fishing with my wife, my family or taping the Texas Sportsman TV Show.

One of my very fondest memories takes me back to my early 20s. It was my first deer hunt, and I was with my good buddy Edward Gonzalez. I was kind of new to deer hunting but I had practiced my shots over and over. As we traveled down the road, I was so excited about where we were going. It was a small deer lease that my buddy had. It was on the other side of Agua Nueva, Texas.

At 2 o'clock that afternoon, we arrived at the ranch. I still remember the cold front had blown in that morning. The temperatures we’re going to be in the low 20s high 30s. I sat at a blind that afternoon and nothing came out at all. We wrapped it up and went back to camp, fired up the barbecue pit and we also had a campfire going on. With nothing but a freezing cold tire rim to sit on. After some good barbecue and a couple of beers, we decided to go into the travel trailer, after braving the cold.

Luckily, my buddy’s cousin had brought it to the camp. We played some cards and eventually fell asleep.

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The next morning, I woke up to the smell of coffee brewing. It was cold outside, I think it was around 26° and the grass was frozen. Oh, and here’s a good part! From camp, I had to walk a little over half a mile to the blind. In the dark, with a little flashlight and it was the first time I had ever been to this ranch.

I eventually made it to the blind; I had carried a thermos filled with hot coffee to keep myself warm. I also had my rifle, binoculars and I was bundled up. I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of daybreak.

Hoping that I would be able to harvest a doe or a buck. I remember seeing a doe with her fawn, followed by a hog. I sat there for a long time, hoping for a buck to appear. Back then, we didn’t have cell phones to keep us entertained. You were simply enjoying nature, watching the birds and taking in all the beautiful scenery.

Finally, lo and behold! I started seeing some activity! I saw it walking down the tree line. I saw it getting closer and closer.

It looked like a buck but it must have been about 300 yards away. I then reached out for my binoculars and I saw a six-point buck!

couldn’t take it anymore, I knew this was going to be my very first buck. I was so excited, and I could feel my heart pounding. I aimed steady, placed my shot and squeezed the trigger on my .270 rifle.

Kaboom! I saw that I had dropped the buck right in his tracks.

I was so excited but it was still freezing cold outside. One hour later, my friend Edward showed up to congratulate me.

After a couple of high fives, he showed me how to properly field dress and skin the buck.

This was a hunt that I will never forget!

This is a friend that I will always have.

Thank you, Edward Gonzalez, for taking me deer hunting and I haven’t stopped since then.

Cherish your moments and memories, hunting with friends and family. May the good Lord bless you and your families.

Until next time.

- Fred Rodriguez Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors Gotta have it!!

This was all back in the early 80's, and I remembered that the ranch was a 250-acre low fence ranch. So, I let it get probably 125 yards to 150 yards from my blind. I T E X A S S P O R T S M A N T R AC KI N G O U T D O O RS | N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1

z s !

F l o u n de r t i p s a n d tactics

By Capt Brian “Flounder Professor” Joseph Spencer

STEPS

When these cooler temperatures finally start to show themselves for more than one day at a time, the water temperature starts to plummet causing the flounder to go into migration mode. The magic number we have been waiting for in the water will arrive soon , 65 degrees. The fish are running a bit behind and a month or so is my guess by looking at their egg sacks when cleaning them. There are females around of good size but just not enough, the males are in the beginning stages though. Let’s do this, since there is no flounder gigging or fishing from now until Dec 14th.

1. Make the stuffing by adding hot water and crab meat mixture.

2. Take the crabmeat stuffing with the fish and put a good spoonful of the flavoring mix in the center and roll it into what looks like a sushi roll and stick a toothpick in the middle to keep it from opening.

3. Turn the oven to 325 degrees and bake the fish until golden brown which takes about 25 minutes.

4. While it is cooking, take some butter and add a small piece to melt on top and add your seasonings to the top.

5. Once it is cooked all of the way through you can add a dash of lemon juice, fresh squeezed and serve accordingly.

I would like to share my favorite stuffed flounder recipe with you all. Very easy to make and tastes like a restaurant made dinner.

So for your ingredients: • 8 Flounder Fillets or 2 whole flounder (bone in or out) personally rolled with stuffing in the middle works best.

• Run to the store and grab some quick cook stuffing in cornbread flavoring.

• 2 cans of lump crabmeat.

• Chupacabra Rub

If you choose to make the flounder stuffed whole just fill all of the cavity with your concoction and season the whole flounder and add butter and lemon juice while cooking to keep it moist. Both take about the same amount of time give or take a few minutes. This dish pairs well with asparagus or fresh squash as a side dish and a glass of wine.

Hopefully this will help you to make your loved ones a fresh caught meal and spoil them with this fancy dish. If you have any questions about this recipe or just flounder info please contact me and I will help to the best of my ability. If your looking to book a bay fishing or flounder gigging trip just give www.TrinityOutfittersTx.com a look and book a trip.

- Until next time, tight lines and sharp gigs.

• Lemon Juice Capt Brian “Flounder Professor” Spencer Flounder Professor Outdoors TV @ Youtube & Facebook Flounder Professor @ IG and Twitter www.trinityoutfitterstx.com

Sponsors: Chickenboy lures, steves lures, ForEverlast, power pole, Abu Garcia, Penn Fishing, Redtail Republic, Berkeley, Chupacabra Rub, Power Pole, Dexter, Salt Thugz Apparel Co, Marshrat Rods, Fin Addict, Stinky Pants Fishing, Kelley Wigglers, Eddies Taxidermy, Groomers seafood. Chupacabra rub, Waypoint Marine 10

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How to Train a Dog

By Manny Perez

S

ounds simple enough don’t it? The truth is that there is no quick and easy method to any of it. In this month’s edition of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors, I will discuss the two methods of dog training that have worked for me through the years. The two methods of dog training are Enticement and Compulsion. Enticement is the easiest form and can be administered by even the most novice dog trainer.

Compulsion on the other hand should only be administered by a professional and can quickly work against you, even when done correctly.

Enticement usually includes using treats or even their dog food to get them to perform the desired task. This is followed by verbal and physical praise as a form of reward for a job well done. I like to use the combination of command+verbal praise+food reward all in quick unison. This will sound like “Sit” then “good” and a quick treat into the mouth. Proper timing is key so that the dog understands exactly why he is being given a command, why he is being praised, and why he is being given a treat. Dogs have a very short term memory.

Compulsion on the other hand is exactly what it sounds like, you are compelling the dog by physical force and correction to achieve the desired behavior. The methods that I use are corrective collar, voice tones,

and advancing into a long line and E-collar through collar conditioning.

This progression is key and must be performed in that order. I start by teaching the dog proper collar and leash etiquette. In this phase I use one of the many forms of “pinch” collar rolled leather, chain link, leather with studs, or pronged) although these methods may sound crude, be rest assured that the dog teaches themselves quickly what is wanted, and what behavior to avoid.

And it is also important to mention that if a correction is given too harshly, you may shut the dog down or even run the risk of the dog reacting aggressively towards the handler. This is the reason mentioned earlier that this method of training is best suited for a trained professional. Once basic commands are achieved, we are able to dangle a long

line and ensure that the dog responds properly to voice commands. The long line allows you to still recall the dog and enforce the verbal command physically by retracting the long line and letting the dog know that you are still in control. And finally, through proper conditioning, the e collar is used and the verbal commands are enforced with any necessary correction through the e-collar. I use a tone through the e-collar that advances to a vibration, then advances to stim only when necessary. The dog quickly learns and obeys commands due to learning the anticipation of the correction. Basically, they believe that by listening to the handlers command the first time, they can turn the collar off and avoid all correction themselves.

Hunting season is upon us and the weather is just right for dog work.

Get out in the field and spend a few minutes a day showing your dogs some love. Keep them on their toes and always mix up your training so that they can’t anticipate what’s next.

Manuel Noel Perez Jr. “Manny” has been an outdoor enthusiast for most of his life. He began training his own hunting dogs at the early age of nine. He has been guiding deer and quail hunts for over twenty years and has a wealth of dog knowledge in the field. When not on a hunt of his own, Manny would rather be found working behind a blood trailing dog, a water dog, or a well-trained pointer.

Coastal Concepts, LLC Follow me on Facebook at Coastal Concepts, LLC and on Instagram @coastalconceptsllc 16

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Greetings and welcome back to Cindy’s Corner!

F

or those of you who plan to retire soon, there is life after retirement, especially when you spend time fishing and hunting. As Fred and I transition from fishing to hunting, I must say that it has been a great 4 months. I’ve been enjoying my retirement and have had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with my loved ones, especially my grandbabies. Spending time with Fred and joining him in what he loves to do, has been amazing. I am extremely proud of him for what he has accomplished.

I have

witnessed him help so many men and women, as well as their sons and daughters, in enjoying the great outdoors. I’ve been able to connect with a lot of other women who appreciate the outdoors as much as I do. From fishing in our beloved Lower Laguna Madre to deep sea fishing, skeet shooting, harvesting animals and donating the meat to various hunger relief organizations.

Fred and I just donated to the 1st Annual Skeet Shoot Red Cape Capable Kids Foundation, an organization that is near and dear to my heart. It was an honor to be able to contribute in this event alongside Victoria

Hinojosa (Miss Texas USA 2021), Robert and Olicia Glick, owners of Glick Twins. A very special thanks to Leroy Cadena, board member of Capable Kids Foundation, for his time and effort for this event.

I want to send a HUGE thank you to my financial advisor, David Bregger, for his guidance and excellent work.

Dave, I couldn’t have asked for a more knowledgeable financial advisor!

Nelda and David Bregger, thank you so much! If you want to go fishing or hunting, or if you want to volunteer your time to other organizations, call me at (956)648-8938 or email me at cindyrsportsman@yahoo.com. I hope to continue to inspire many people to help out in whatever capacity they can in the future.

- Stay safe and until next time

Cindy Rodriguez

Mrs. Texas Sportsman (956)648-8938 cindyrsportsman@yahoo.com 22

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The San Jose Ranch is home to some of the largest Whitetail Bucks in South Texas. Not only does this 3000 acre ranch have monster bucks but you will also find exotics, such as Fallow, Black Buck,Axis and Transcaspian Urial. With lodging, accommodations and hunting guides that have years of experience, makes The San Jose Ranch a hunt of a lifetime.

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Family owned and operated since 1990.

Located in Freer, Texas - owners Rufino Garza Sr. and Rufino Garza Jr. strive to provide the best South Texas Hunting experience. Lodging and accommodations include a palapa with a chimney, indoor and outdoor kitchens, as well as a game room with pool tables. The San Jose Ranch can accommodate up to 8 hunters. This will be the second year the 3000 acre ranch will be open for the hunting season. This beautiful ranch truly has everything and anything a hunter would need for an unforgettable experience. The Garza family provides the best quality service and attention to detail.

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Not only does The San Jose Ranch provide guided hunts but they also sell breeder bucks. They started breeding 4 years ago to improve the genetics in the ranch.

They breed, release and sell Doe, Stockers and Breeder Bucks. On the cover of the magazine you will see a monster buck by the name “Inception” which has a great pedigree behind him. The San Jose Ranch is in partnership on “Inception” along with Limitless Genetics, Double Dime, Mossy Rock WTS & Exotics, and Gonzalez Whitetails.

If you want the hunt of a lifetime or if you’re interested in breeder bucks like "Inception" give The San Jose Ranch a call and tell them The Texas Sportsman sent you! This beautiful 3000 acre ranch is ready for hunters, with some of the largest Whitetail Bucks, Fallow Deer, Black Buck, Axis Deer and Transcaspian Urial hunts. Give the Garza family a call and don’t forget to look them up on Facebook for some more amazing photos and hunting adventures.

For more information on “Inception” Or if you want to book a hunt!

Rufino Garza Jr. 956-330-1482 Robert Carlos Jr. 956-342-9237

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Boats and Resacas

By Brent Johnson

Well as they always say…..

The best two days of their boating career is the day that you buy your boat and the day that you sell it.

Myself, I have owned about dozen boats. It became apparent that this was true in some of them but several of them were impressive.

The best way to choose a boat for you is to create a “BOATING PROFILE”. Where will you be doing most of your boating activity. Are you an angler or a cruiser? Will it be on fresh water or salt. Lakes or Rivers. All of these are within a stone throw from my house here in Bayview. Will it be calm water or open waters? A good offshore trip is always fun.

What activities are you going to be doing? Down here, most people fish, but people like my wife love to do dolphin watches along with birding trips which are the best in the nation. A v-hull is not a favored design down here in our bays and lagunas, however they are wonderful offshore to make for a more pleasant trip to your favorite m.o.b. spots.

Size and capacity are particularly important

when making your decision. Do you like to go fast? Are you happy just cruising at 25 as your maximum speed? These are all decisions you must ponder when choosing that boat.

O.K. How much you want to spend? Back to my personal experience, I have had average experience with used boats, but of you do not want other people’s headaches, purchase a brand-new boat and motor with a warranty so you have NO headaches at all. If you have deep pockets, that is the way to go.

There are some great dealerships here in the valley along with two of the best boat builders I know in Texas personally. These guys might be the people you might want to speak to first if you are going with a new one. That is my recommendation. I purchased a brandnew pontoon boat from a reputable dealer in Harlingen and am pleased with them.

Well, here is another option without a boat.

I live on the north side of Bayview and when I want to just dip my line, there are some Resacas that are full of bass. Some of these bass are small but some are Biggins’. With just a weedless top water frog, hop them on the floating grass where no one else wants to fish. Bingo. There ya go. I can see why those freshwater guides LOVE to fish lakes and ponds. Loads of fun and do not cost a dime.

So, back to boats, take your time and pick a good one. Do not rush it. Have a mechanic look at your used boat choice if possible if you are going that direction and as always, be safe

and see you on the water.

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Bayside Marine, Home of Shallow Stalker Boats www.shallowstalker.com - 47838 State Hwy 100, Port Isabel, Tx

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Don’t Forget to Turn Off The Coffee Pot

By Brent Johnson

W

hether it be in brine or slime, there are many options for leaving the dock and getting to the fishing hole. From canoes and kayaks to offshore / inshore and everything in between I have experienced just about every fishing vessel out there. I have fished out of pangas in Costa Rica, center consoles in Boca Chica, ultimate bay boats in the Laguna, and a variety of kayaks and canoes from the Devils to the Guadalupe. This story is about one ride in particular that I will always have fond memory of.

When it comes to fishing you should always have a plan B because let’s face it, how often do you really get time away from work to be out doing what you love most? Unless you are a fishing guide the answer may be less and less. Murphy’s Law could come in any form such as a sun kissed crack in a kayak, or in my situation a faulty alternator in a brand new fresh off the floor outboard. Desperate times call for desperate measures and if I wanted to fish I was going to have to get creative.

The key to my jail cell came in the form of a two-man zodiac raft I affectionately knew as “The Filthy Oar”.

Normally this raft was used to deploy shark baits from the beach, but this weekend it would serve as my only means for getting OTW (on the water). At least that was before I found out Captain Kyle Partridge of Get Bent 40

Charters was staying at my cunado’s Arroyo fish camp.

When I got to camp late Thursday night Captain Partridge told me he was going to test out his new boat before his charter the next evening. I jumped in on that offer faster than a fireman responding to a call at the Playboy Mansion. When Kyle wasn’t guiding, he was the man to see in the fishing department at Johnny’s True Value in Harlingen. Naturally Kyle would have the latest and greatest fishing lures and when we get to the spot he throws me a red and white plastic shrimp tail that was a mold I had never used before.

I attached it to an 18” leader under a Fred Petty FP3 Power Popper. Drifting in two to three feet over potholes we start catching some good trout. The luck continues until

we decide we aren’t mad at the trout anymore and we head back to the dock. After a beer and a burger at Chili Willie’s, I shake hands with Kyle as he heads out to meet his clients for an overnight shack trip somewhere on the bay.

The next morning, I get up and make a pot of coffee before I commence pumping up the Zodiac. Old Meme my neighbor is looking out his window wondering “what the hell is that boy up to now” as I walk to and fro carrying the 9.9hp Suzuki outboard and other gear. After a good workout of pumping chores I am finally ready to deploy. As I motor on down the Arroyo I think I hear some kids from next door laughing and yelling “check out the man and his little dinghy”, and I wave back and yell “yeah

wait till I get back punk we’ll see who’s stringer’s bigger”!

As I pass Adolph Thomae Jr. County Park I come up on some fisherman in a panga putting out a pretty good sized wake. My 9.9 horsepower engine has got me gaining on them quickly so I figure I may as well go ahead and pass.

Right as I clear the wake the hand held engine jolts back and forth almost causing me to fall out. All of a sudden, I find myself holding onto the side trying to pull myself back in as the raft shoots left. I can’t see the dudes in the boat, but I imagine they were like “Hey mira! Check out the malacha guey, jajajaja jajajaja! As soon as I am back in and getting control of the steering I hit the wake again with the same exact reaction, but this time going the opposite direction.

“Hey mira, this dude is the aqua Evel Knieval guey!” The only thing holding me in the boat is the engine I’m holding onto that feels like it’s coming right at me. Once again I regain composure and wave to the guys still wondering what they just witnessed.

“I feel my gut tighten as I do battle with the brute that is now pulling me and the raft around.”

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Out on the bay with the wind on my face I feel a sense of freedom and I’m just blown away with the beauty mother nature has to offer. For me this scene never gets old. I pull up to a drainage area where I know the current will be ripping though with the outgoing tide. It is a small little space with mangroves on either side so accurate casts are super important. The water leading into this area is really shallow but deepens inside this small channel and this is where the trifecta species hangout at the right times in wait to ambush bait funneling through with the current. It is easy pickin’s and that is why the fish are usually there. Many times, I have caught trout, flounder, and redfish all in one wade. I typically start off with a One Knocker Spook topwater if the water is somewhat calm, and a MirrOlure She Dog if waves are bigger. If a big trout is hanging out in the hole these lures will work every time.

After 5 or 6 casts depending on the outcome, I will switch over to a Kelly Wiggler Willow Tail, or KWiggler Ball Tail Shad on a 1/8-ounce jig head. With the Kelly Wiggler plastics, I am liable to catch whatever fish didn’t hit on top and this is likely trout, red or flounder.

On this day I was able to pull a couple of keeper trout on top and one flounder on the tail. As I put the flattie on the stringer, I notice a large plume of smoke rising up from somewhere around Arroyo City. My gut tells me it’s just some sugar cane field burning in San Benito, but in the back of my head I’m asking myself did I remember to turn the coffee pot off?

Well, I figure if it is the fish camp it will be gone by the time I get there so I decide it is a damn sugar cane field and keep fishing.

I hit the flats and pick up a nice speck before I feel a rumbling in my stomach.

You sometimes have to answer when nature calls so I saw a pass, where my uncle and I used to fish, and I figured I would just drift until I reached land and then hop out and take care of business.

Well about the time I was getting close to the shore my Willow Tail gets slammed by a 28” red. I feel my gut tighten as I do battle with the brute that is now pulling me and the raft around.

After landing the first red I realize I am in a school of reds and I decide to go ahead and take a limit, forgetting all about the previous days Chili Willie burger that brought me into this cove in the first place and it was a good thing too because their ain’t no Bob’s Butt Wipes in the Laguna Atascosa.

My buddies back at the dock who said I had a little dinghy were amazed to see me whip out my 3 trout, 3 reds, and one gigungus flounder. I proudly told em “it ain’t always about the size of your boat it’s knowing how to use it by God!” If I learned anything that day it was this: if you’re going to pass a panga in a zodiac don’t do it like a slalom skier, you can’t take a S#*% when your lure is getting bit, and don’t forget to turn off the coffee pot. Lucky for me fish camp was still there when I got back.

-See you on the water my friends 41

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Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

TIDE TABLES 2021

DECEMBER NOVEMBER

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9'

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One More Off the Bucket List...

A Red Stag Hunt of a Lifetime

By Bryan Ellis

I, like many Texans, grew up hunting and fishing. I learned that our greatest conservations are those that venture into the field and understand the essence of hunting and fishing is not the “biggest or the most”, but simply the opportunity to spend time with nature and make memories with friends and family.

After completing my education at Texas A&I, now Texas A&M University – Kingsville, I began a 28 year adventure in the Army, affording me the opportunity to hunt and fish around the world. Upon retiring from the Army in 2008, I settled back in Kingsland, Texas with my family, where I continue to pursue Texas native and nonnative species. I also pursue hunting opportunities throughout the United States, but have also continued to hunt internationally.

I guess like many hunters, my hunting bucket list is selective; there are some species that I’ve always had an interest in and others that may be attractive to some, but hold no interest for me. For example, one of my closest friends and hunting partners, Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Cecil Hammonds, also an Army veteran and Texas native, loves to hunt in Africa. He’s been multiple times, has taken many, if not most of the Plains animals, and recently returned from a successful Cape Buffalo hunt. While I enjoy his stories and exploits, Cecil has yet to convince me it’s something I need or want to do. To each his own.

During my time in Germany from 20012003, I hunted Roe Deer and European Boar, but the hunt that eluded me, and one that always held my interest was the Red Stag, or in German, Rot Hirsch.

When I returned to the United States from Germany, I continued to read about Red Stag hunts and began looking into affordable hunting opportunities. The multiyear search included exchanging emails and personally talking with a host

of outfitters and guides, reading hunting blogs specific to Red Stag and gaining a better understanding of what was in the realm of possible…. and affordable.

Native to central Europe, the Red Deer is similar to our Western Elk. They have been exported throughout the world and huntable, free range populations can be found in Argentina and New Zealand.

Additionally, high fence opportunities can be found around the world, to include throughout the United States. My interest was in pursuing a free range, spot and stalk opportunity. While the stakes were higher, than say in a high fenced scenario, I was willing to accept the risk for reward.

As Cecil and I began to zero in on opportunities, we decided to pursue hunts in the Stag’s native central European home. We were about to pull the trigger on a hunt in Romania, when we noticed an advertisement for a unique opportunity in Poland. The thing that made it unique was that the number of hunters was very limited and we would be afforded an opportunity to shoot a Stag of our choosing, regardless of size. In most cases, and in particular in Europe, the cost goes up as the trophy increases in size.

We booked our hunt through Worldwide Trophy Adventures (Tim Herald, Senior Hunting Consultant, PO Box 335, Sidney, Nebraska 69162) for September this year, and as you’ll see, could not have been happier with the experience. Tim worked through a Polish outfitter who had exclusive hinting rights throughout the country. The outfitter then had arrangements with select hunt clubs, whose members served as our guides.

These gentlemen were very experienced and knew the terrain and animals. As with any hunt, the choice is to arrange it through an outfitter or take your chances trying to book it on your own. Given the choice, I’d highly recommend using an outfitter, especially hunting for the first

time in a country you’re unfamiliar with.

The hunt began with our arrival in Warsaw, the capitol city of Poland, followed by a four-hour bus ride south to the small, rural community of Krzemieniewo (don’t ask me to pronounce it). The first evening we met our guides and “discussed” (through broken English, limited German and voice to text translation) the plans for the next five days of hunting. Most days began with a 4AM pickup, hunting until 10AM, then an evening hunt beginning about 5PM, until dark. There were eight hunters in our group, but no one ever saw another hunter as we were hunting on 10,000 hectares (roughly 25,000 acres) of forested state land.

The first morning hunt, my guide, Martin, and I ventured into the forest well before daylight, headed for a stand. As we were walking, you could hear Stag bugling in every direction. I say bugling, but unlike our western elk, the Stag make more of a grunting sound.

Once we arrived and got set in the stand, we waited for daylight, surveying a large pasture with a thermal imaging monocular. In the distance, we could make out several Stags and their group of cows. As the sun began to rise, the Stags and their cows began to move into the forest. At this point, we left the stand and began to spot and stalk through the forest. This format continued throughout 5 days of hunting, with the evening hunts beginning with spot and stalk, followed by moving to a stand as the sun went down.

On every hunt, I saw multiple Stag that either I passed on or my guide suggested I pass on. On the morning of the third day, we were sitting in a stand and saw a Stag some 600 meters away, moving through a large pasture. As he approached to within 200 meters of the stand, I decided to shoot, knowing that he was a Select Stag, similar to our cull deer or elk. In Europe, a cull or lesser animal is considered as much a trophy as a larger, mature animal. The rationale is that by taking a lesser animal out of the herd, you reduce the lesser genetics and ultimately improve the herd.

Colonel (Retired) Bryan Ellis spent 28 years in the Army prior to retiring and moving to Kingsland, TX. A nativeTexan, Bryan can be found in the field or on the water during his spare time.

If you have further questions related to the article, feel free to reach out to him at ellisbl@aol.com.

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The Stag was 5 ½ years old and was most likely at the peak of his antler growth. From the photo, you can see he’s still a great animal, and by European standards a great trophy.

Cont. Pg. 50

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One More Off the Bucket List...A Red Stage Hunt of a Lifetime: By Bryan Ellis - Cont.

Additionally, on the right side, the main beam didn’t fork, but continued up to a single point. My guide, Martin, was elated as he said the stag would have potentially killed or seriously injured other stag as they sparred during the rut. While happy with the clean kill, by our standards, he wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

As I contemplated the two and a half days of remaining hunting, I decided to continue to pursue the stag I envisioned on my bucket list. Yes, there was an additional trophy fee for a second stag, but when was I going to get back to Poland?

Martin and I continued to hunt hard the remaining two and a half days. He was just as anxious to see me get the stag I wanted as much as I was. On the last evening, we were sitting in a stand in a cabbage patch, adjacent to a thick forest, as I began to realize the hunt was coming to an end and it didn’t look like the stag I had envisioned was going to appear.

While I was ultimately happy for the opportunity, it didn’t look like things were going to end like I had hoped.

As the last light was waning, cows began moving into the cabbage patch and we could hear a mature stag roar

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and were able to pick him up on the thermal monocular about 20 meters into the wood line. With about 2 minutes of legal shooting time remaining, the stag moved into the cabbage patch. At about 200 meters and the very last light I could pick up in the scope, I shot at the largest stag I had seen on the trip. The muzzle flash blinded me, but Martin was able to confirm a good shot. After a few minutes, we left the stand and began searching for the stag. We were both certain that he couldn’t have wandered far as the shot was solid. After an hour and a half of searching, still no stag. My heart began to sink and my greatest concern was that he may be suffering due to less than optimal shot placement. On the other hand, Martin was positive and assured me that the following morning they would bring out tracking dogs and find him in short order.

As hard as I tried, I couldn’t sleep and knew that we were departing early the next morning, headed to Krakow. A few hours into the car ride, I received a text from Martin with the following picture.

Martin found the stag within 10 meters of where we had looked the previous evening.

No tracking dogs needed,

no suffering animal. Elated would be an understatement!

So, how did he stack up to or score compared to others? Great question, but not an easy answer.

There is no universal, agreed upon standard for scoring Red Stag. Safari Club International (SCI), Douglas and the International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) each have a different scoring method, adding to the confusion. CIC is used most often in Europe, so it’s the method we used for measurement.

A combination of the weight of the skull and antlers, combined with a numerical computation, produce either a Bronze (170-189), Silver (190209) or Gold (210 or greater) Medallion. Based upon initial results, the Stag was 10 years old and the combined skull and antler weight was 10 Kg. I’m still waiting on the final numerical computation, but Martin believes it will score either high Silver or Gold Medallion.

In the end, Silver or Gold, I couldn’t be happier.

Poland is a great country and the people are hard working and down to earth; reminds me a lot of Texans! In the end,I was able to check off another bucket list, once in a lifetime hunt. Until next September when Cecil and I head north of the Artic Circle on another bucket list hunt in pursuit of barren ground Caribou!

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