Celebrating 5 Years!

Virile young bucks Less-dominant bucks account for more September 11, 2009 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 6, Issue 2 breeding than hunters think. Page 6

Inside Hit or miss results for dove opener By Thomas Phillips for all as cool fronts leading up to the Some take quick, LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS opener pushed birds out of some ar- eas and into others. Some hunters easy limits; Dove hunters’ success on opening saw fewer birds, while others had no weekend depended mostly on where trouble taking limits. others struggle the hunters — and the dove — were. Pleasant temperatures weren’t good See DOVE, Page 27

❘❚ HUNTING Too cold for snows The summer was too cold in one Canadian study area for snow geese to reproduce. Page 6 Man overboard — for tarpon San Antonio men Uncertain timberland A timber company in East Texas has not forego boat in favor said if it will continue public hunting leases. Page 6 of snorkels for tarpon

By Thomas Phillips LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Fly line drifts in the water as Richard Negley Gill strips it from his rod. It takes the form of a nebula beside his body, on the side of his stripping hand. Both are un- derwater, and the scene is framed in blue. Moments later, a small tarpon darts into view on the video. Once, making a nervous jab at the fly. A second time, taking it. ❘❚ From there, the fight is on. Except here, FISHING Gill, 25, doesn’t brace himself against a Abroad on the water casting platform or position his feet like a It’s time to hit the road (or take to the skies) football player on to find new fishing destinations. a boat’s deck. Here, underwater off the Pages 16-17 shore at a lodge in Belize, Gill kicks his ONLINE fins in a dog paddle Finding fat snapper ■ See the video: and lifts his head Anglers catch many red snapper off the Visit LSONews.com above water to share Texas coast, but finding large ones is to see video of the one of his wildest another story. underwater catch. moments fishing. Page 8 “It was really cool,” Gill said earlier this month from San Antonio, where he lives. ❘❚ CONTENTS Gill had the idea to mix things up after a Classifieds ...... Page 30 day on the water catching permit. Guides Crossword ...... Page 22 at the lodge told him tarpon would roll in Fishing Report ...... Page 29 the water off the shore, and Gill and his For the Table ...... Page 22 brother-in-law, Peter French, who shot the Game Warden Blotter ...... Page 10 video, saw them while snorkeling. Heroes ...... Page 26 The curious tarpon would approach Outdoor Datebook...... Page 20 them in the water, and it didn’t take long Outfitters ...... Page 28 for Gill, who spends his summers guiding Products ...... Page 31 salmon anglers in Alaska, to think like a Sun, Moon and Tide Data ...... Page 22 fisherman. Gill couldn’t easily walk across the cor- ❘❚ LSONews.com al on the shore at the lodge, so he had

See TARPON, Page 23

PAID BOATLESS: Richard Negley Gill holds the PLANO, TX PRSRT STD PRSRT PERMIT 210

US POSTAGE US tarpon he caught with a fly rod while snorkeling at a fishing lodge on the Belize coast. For the hookup, Gill popped his head above water to cast and then submerged to strip his fly. Photo by Peter French.

Lost at sea and found again — after 8 days drifting in Gulf Marlin fisherman spots Texas anglers after Coast Guard calls off search By Mark England and in newspapers across the nation. All it took was His mechanic, Hall, and Hawkins, a trucker, LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS the bilge pump to fail on the catamaran Phillips joined him on an Aug. 21 trip 80 miles offshore to had bought to resell. an oil rig called Tequila. They set off with 164 gallons After surviving eight days in the Gulf of Mexico His first outings on the 23-footer were day trips. of gasoline, two 2006 150-hp engines and a Garmin Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP Sensitive Material • Deliver Time atop a swamped boat with two buddies, James Phil- “I got tired of fishing off the bottom, though,” navigation system. Arriving at Tequila, they drifted lips of Blessing is an overnight sensation. said Phillips, whose Born Again Repair buys and and set up their rigs for swordfish. He and Curt Hall of Palacios and Tressell Hawkins sells boats and heavy machinery. “I wanted to do of Markham have appeared on the “Today Show” topwater.” See LOST, Page 30 Page 2 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 3 Page 4 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com CONSERVATION Texas charter boats fined for snapper violations in Gulf In 2003, a federal moratorium was cealing fish from enforcement and Lack of permit is placed on red snapper permits to lim- failure to use venting tools, dehookers it access to the fishery in an effort to and circle hooks to fish for reef fish. main charge maintain sustainability of snapper. Texas-based boat operators charged Since the moratorium went into ef- were based along the Texas coast from Seven Texas charter boats are ac- fect, the only way to obtain a permit Sabine Pass near the Louisiana border cused of operating without federal was to purchase one from an existing to Corpus Christi. They were Capt. charter boat moratorium permits for holder. The moratorium raised the Alan Manica and the Carolyn Jane out snapper fishing and have been fined value of the permits to between $8,000 of Freeport, owners Mark and Cindy more than $100,000 total. and $10,000, according to NOAA au- Kuchera of Sabine Adventures out of The charges culminate a year-long thorities. Sabine, owner and Capt. Mark Yama- investigation by state and federal of- “Business is being taken away from guchi of Saltwater Advantage Charters ficials. After receiving multiple com- legal charter boat companies because out of Galveston, owner and Capt. Mi- plaints about illegal charter boat trips, the illegal companies can charge chael Hillman of the Whitehawk out undercover agents with the National much less for trips,” said Charles of Galveston, Capt. Chad Hartman Oceanographic and Atmospheric Ad- Tyer, a NOAA special agent based in of Extreme Island Adventures out of ministration and investigators with Galveston. Galveston, Capt. Josh Davis and own- Texas Parks and Wildlife’s Special Op- Also documented on the undercov- er Richard Callais of the Cuda Too out erations Unit chartered trips on vessels er operations were several other fed- of Sabine, owners Ronald and Janet across the Texas Gulf coast. The under- eral fisheries violations including un- Melvin and Capt. Keith Stamper of the cover agents and investigators docu- dersized fish, harvesting fish during a Backlash out of Port Aransas. CRACKING DOWN: Federal and state agents chartered trips to catch boats operating with- mented violations on each vessel. closed season, filleting fish at sea, con- — Texas Parks and Wildlife report out federal snapper permits. Fines exceeded $100,000. Photo by David J. Sams, LSON.

Contributors Erich Schlegel Dan Armitage David Sikes 20.809 W. Kyle Carter Brandon Shuler Cowan was an outdoors artist for three decades and was Bob Hood Scott Sommerlatte Outdoor News in Brief Diana Kunde Kyle Tomek an avid saltwater fisherman and quail hunter. Kendal Larson Chuck Uzzle — RFA Texas report Wilbur Lundeen Ralph Winingham Reef deployed off of Freeport Bill Miller Danno Wise Recreational Fishing Alliance recently began deploying Publisher/Editor Craig Nyhus the Jack Cowan Reef near Freeport. Grants given to target ranges Operations Manager Mike Hughs Distribution Advertising Bruce Andreen, Call (214) 361-2276 “Artificial reefing in Texas waters will create additional Sport shooters near Kerrville, Waco and San Antonio will Design Editor Thomas Phillips Metrogate or e-mail editor@lone fish habitat with relatively easy access for Texas recreation- benefit from $240,000 in matching grants from the state Associate Editor Mark England Communications staroutdoornews.com to request a al fishermen and divers,” said Jim Smarr, RFA’s acting- to continue previously funded construction and renovation Budget Distribution Business/Products Editor Mary Helen Aguirre Services media kit. chairman. “This is important because the Texas coast has projects at three target ranges. Accounting Nancy Halphen Victor Cantu, relatively few close-in reefs or structures of any kind to at- Grant recipients include the Hill Country Shoot- Subscription Web site Bruce Soileau South Texas www.LSONews.com tract and hold marine life.” ing Sports Center near Kerrville. The facility will receive Circulation (866) 361-2276 RFA has been promoting the construction of artificial $60,000 for the final phase of a four-year construction Founder & CEO David J. Sams Jeff Bulpin reefs in Texas waters (within 9 miles of the coast) as a project to complete parking and storage at its Air Hall. Paul Fletcher means of creating more habitat and breeding areas for ma- The Central Texas Rifle and Pistol Club near China rine shellfish and finfish and as an aid to sportfishing and Spring, west of Waco, will receive $90,000 for enhance- the economies of Texas’ coastal communities. ments to berms, baffles and other safety features on new Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed Named for the famed Texas outdoor artist, the reef is lo- and existing ranges. subscription is $25 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2009 with all rights reserved. cated about 8 miles offshore in Texas waters on a bearing Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is The Bexar Community Shooting Range will receive prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, of 213 degrees from the Freeport jetties. The latitude/lon- $90,000 for new facilities and to enhance existing facilities. Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to [email protected]. gitude coordinates of the reef are 28 47.656 N. and 95 — Texas Parks and Wildlife report LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 5 Page 6 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com HUNTING Baby snows? Not this year which looks at snow goose habitat degradation and re- Snow geese completely habilitation, goose numbers and nesting success. “We had the coldest summer in history in this part unsuccessful at breeding of the Arctic,” Rockwell said. “And we looked at weath- er data back to the 1700s — there is still ice on parts of because of cold summer Hudson Bay.” The problem wasn’t that the geese didn’t show up By Craig Nyhus on their traditional nesting grounds. They showed up LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS en masse, only farther south than normal. “Normally all the staging geese, for both us and Snow goose hunters might expect a tougher season farther north, stage from the Broad River to Cape this year, based on observations in the birds’ Arctic Churchill, and some gather up along the Churchill breeding grounds. River as well,” he said. “This year 5 to 10 million geese If so, cold weather will be the cause, said Robert F. were stuck south of the Owl River. Rockwell with the American Museum of Natural His- “We took our normal survey flight. We found a stag- tory in New York and professor at City College of New COLDEST SUMMER: Snow geese stopped farther south than their traditional nesting and stag- York. Rockwell is in charge of the Hudson Bay Project, See GEESE, Page 34 ing area this summer because it was covered with snow and ice. Photo by R. F. Rockwell. Forest buyer might end leases Temple-Inland successor mum on plans for timberland

By Thomas Phillips LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

When Temple-Inland sold its 2 mil- lion acres of Southern timberland in 2007, public hunting opportunities on the company’s former East Texas land came into question. Temple-Inland had already been cutting back the amount of land it leased to the state for public hunting, from a high of 89,000 acres in 2004 to 46,000 today. So things were changing before the sale. The question YOUNG BUCKS: A recent study debunks the idea that dominant bucks do nearly all of now is will the the breeding, showing that nearly one-third of white-tailed deer offspring are sired by new owner, The 46,000 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-year-old bucks. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. Campbell Group, Number of acres continue the pub- Texas Parks and lic hunting leases? Wildlife has Representatives leased from The of the Campbell Campbell Group Group told Texas for public hunting Parks and Wild- in East Texas. life officials the Who’s your company might phase out the public hunting leases over a five-year period. “Obviously, that concerns us, and daddy? See FOREST, Page 14

New study bucks assumptions about males’ mating patterns

By Craig Nyhus habits of deer focused on behav- tribution of age and physical ma- with that, other (younger) bucks LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ioral observations, and it appeared turity among fathers of white- are doing the same thing.” that a few dominant, mature tailed deer. The sexual activities of does Deer hunters often watch bucks obtained most of the mat- According to the study, physi- also surprised the researchers and younger bucks chasing does dur- ings and therefore sired most of cally immature males (1 1/2 to could make finding a mate easier ing the rut. But when it comes to the offspring each year. 2 1/2 years of age) were found to for male deer of any age. the actual breeding of the does, But the new study, conducted have fathered 30 to 33 percent of “Does are more promiscu- many believe the more dominant, on free-ranging wild deer popula- offspring in the populations ex- ous than previously thought,” older bucks will step in and do the tions at the King Ranch, Noxubee amined, even where larger, ma- DeYoung said. “It’s a ripe area job. National Wildlife Refuge in Mis- ture males were present. for further study, but most of the Not so, according to a recent sissippi and the Noble Foundation “There are many more bucks in- funding of studies has to do with study published in the Journal of Wildlife Unit in Oklahoma, used volved than previously thought,” bucks.” Mammology. genetic paternity tests rather than DeYoung said. What do these results mean for “People tend to think a few observations. DeYoung felt the time and effort white-tailed deer managers and dominant bucks are siring most A total of 1,219 deer were geno- it takes for a dominant buck to lo- hunters? of the does,” said Randy DeYoung typed from the three populations, cate and breed does was a factor. “Don’t make too many assump- of the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Re- and total DNA was extracted from “A mature buck still has to find tions what individual bucks are search Institute in Kingsville, one either blood or ear-tissue samples. and stay with a doe for 24 to 48 doing,” DeYoung said. “But the of the lead investigators. “That’s Antler material was collected and hours,” he said. “The maximum mature bucks are still more likely TIMBER TROUBLE: Fewer acres of East Texas not the case.” processed as well. number of does a single buck can to breed — and bucks can’t breed timberland are available for hunters after Previously, studies of the mating The research found a wider dis- sire is limited. And while he’s busy after being shot.” Temple-Inland sold its 2 million acres in 2007. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 7

Outdoor News in Brief “People are definitely taking advantage,” Hunting, fishing license Smith said. sales increase for year — Staff report Texas Parks and Wildlife expected to end the license year with a slight boost in license sales, Change considered for the department’s executive director said Aug. 26. violator compact strategy Sales revenues were up 1.3 percent over Texans who violate fish and game regula- 2008 as of Aug. 19, Carter Smith said, though tions in other states might have to pay for their the number of licenses sold was up only about crimes at home too — even if the criminal act 1 percent. is permitted in Texas. The increased revenue is likely because of a In working to enter the Interstate Wildlife Vio- pending increase in the price of lifetime licens- lator Compact, which allows states to punish es. TPW decided this spring to increase the residents who commit fish and wildlife viola- price of lifetime licenses, giving hunters until tions in other states, Texas Parks and Wildlife Sept. 1 to buy a license under current rates. earlier this year considered selective punish- As of Sept. 1, resident lifetime fishing ment when it comes to other states’ regulations. and hunting licenses jumped from $500 to For instance, if a Texan is caught baiting deer in $1,000, and the lifetime combination license California, where it is illegal, the hunter would not increased from $1,000 to $1,800. have been punished as severely in Texas, where it “There has been, suffice to say, a lot of inter- is legal. Instead, TPW now plans not to be selec- est,” Smith said. tive. If a Texan is convicted of something in anoth- TPW sold 1,672 lifetime licenses last year. er state, Texas would enforce the full penalty. This year, it expected to sell 6,000. — Staff report Page 8 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com FISHING Here’s the scoop on a new spoon Cooper guide attaches sinker to aid with casting, action By Craig Nyhus LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Tony Parker, who guides at Coo- per Lake for hybrid striped bass and white bass, stumbled onto a modi- fication of an age-old spoon-fishing technique. And it works. “I was trying to come up with a way to make it easier for the novic- es, and for me, to be able to make a long cast,” Parker said. “Especially when it’s windy, it can be harder to cast a spoon without more weight attached.” WHERE ARE THEY? A new study is examining whether Texas has a population of older, larger red snapper, though surveys show that anglers generally catch younger ones. Parker took the Strike King Sexy Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. Spoons he had been using and at- tached a bell sinker to the split ring connecting the spoon and the treble hook. “With the 5.5-inch spoon I use a 3/16-ounce sinker,” he said. “And The hunt for big red snapper with the 4-inch spoon I’ll use the 1/8-ounce if it’s not too windy.” They just haven’t been found, and a from the population as they reach snapper in hopes to find this moth- Most caught in grant for a new tracking study may recreational size limits. The relative er lode. Stunz’s hopes are the inter- See SPOON, Page 25 help change that. speed of Texas snapper growth and nally planted tracking tags will give Texas are young, Andrew Fischer of the Depart- the abundance of smaller fish cre- valuable insight into the migratory ment of Oceanography and Coast- ates a sensitive management issue. pattern of red snapper and supply but big ones may al Sciences at Louisiana State Uni- But Stunz suggests that a sub-set Texas Parks and Wildlife scientists versity studies fish aging. of unfished, older snapper are breed- and fishery managers a better pic- lurk in open Gulf “Errors in age estimation could ing in the western Gulf of Mexico, ture into the recruitment and stock result in inflated estimates of to- and they are maintaining the high assessments of the western Gulf’s By Brandon D. Shuler tal allowable catch and production larval supply that is responsible for snapper population. FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS resulting in over-exploitation of a the good recruitment numbers. The possibility also exists that the stock,” he said. Stunz calls this hypothesis the Texas and Louisiana red snapper The average age of red snapper Greg Stunz of the Harte Research “mother lode.” population may be a separate popu- caught and located in the western Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies “We have a population of fish lation from that of the eastern Gulf. Gulf of Mexico is believed to be be- in Corpus Christi said a paradox ex- that are hiding in plain sight. We “The Gulf Council is looking tween 2 and 6 years old. Since red ists as it relates to recruitment into simply need to find them,” he said. into the possibility of managing snapper have a life span of 40 to 50 the Texas snapper fishery. Stunz said that in an ongoing the Gulf of Mexico as a western and years, officials and some research- “Recruitment levels are much shark study, longlines are being eastern population,” said Roy Crab- ers suggest such young populations higher than the historical average,” run in the open Gulf away from tree, regional administrator for the reflect that the population may be he said. “But the stock size is esti- structure. National Marine Fisheries Institute. overfished. mated to be at historical lows.” “They are picking up very large “The Mississippi River would be the But others suggest that since the Fischer’s research suggests that sow snapper like crazy,” he said. dividing line between management numbers of red snapper in Tex- Texas red snapper populations are decisions.” SPOONING HYBRIDS: Tony Parker landed as waters are high, there must be reaching smaller maximum sizes Further investigation Debate over the method of regu- this 7-pound hybrid at Cooper Lake with a “mother lode” of older, bigger faster than snapper of the northern Stunz and the Harte Research lating red snapper springs from the a bell sinker attached to his Sexy Spoon. fish somewhere to produce such a Gulf, which would indicate that Institute received a grant this year Photo by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor healthy number of younger fish. younger snapper are being culled to begin acoustically tracking red See SNAPPER, Page 27 News. Reds show themselves during freshwater ‘spawn’ water. take advantage of the shallow-water ac- South Texas lakes A little less than a year ago, veteran tion in the late summer and early fall. guide Manny Martinez tied into one of “It is 100 percent more fun (in the late are site of inland the underwater titans, and after a 25- summer and early fall),’’ he said. “When minute battle, landed the Calaveras the big reds are schooled up, you will see phenomenon Lake record red drum. The big bull, them in the hundreds. caught Oct. 2, weighed 30 pounds and “I have seen a lot bigger fish than my By Ralph Winingham was 41 inches long. record — there must be some 50-pound- FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS “I saw a slick come up just off the dam ers out there.” and chunked my spoon right into it,” Sleek, powerful monsters lurk in the Martinez said. “He hit, I set the hook, Shallow-water spots shallows of Calaveras Lake in the late and the red took off for 50 yards like blue When the spawn is on, the tails of the summer and early fall, just waiting to smoke. redfish can be seen in about any shal- slam a gold or silver spoon placed in the “I was by myself, and my net broke in low-water cove or along the rocks of right spot at the right time. half when I tried to land him, but I still Calaveras Lake dam, Martinez said. He The big bull redfish are well known got him in the boat. That’s when I real- has also found good spawning redfish for their line-stripping battles versus ized how big he really was.” action at Braunig Lake. Sight-casting saltwater anglers, but Calaveras Lake Calaveras and Braunig are two City silver or gold spoons to slicks made by is one of the few places in Texas where Public Service power plant discharge feeding reds is one of his keys to fishing “spawning” reds test the skills of fresh- lakes, both south of downtown San An- success. water anglers. tonio. They are home to thousands of Since Texas Parks and Wildlife be- The big fish, which have been stocked lunker redfish. gan stocking fingerlings and fry redfish FALSE SPAWN: Manny Martinez landed this redfish at Calaveras Lake on a gold in Calaveras and the nearby Braunig Martinez, who has been fishing the in freshwater lakes in the late 1970s, spoon in shallow water. Thousands of redfish go through the motions of spawn- Lake, go through the motions of spawn- lakes for more than 26 years, specializ- ing in late summer and early fall. Photo by Ralph Wininingham, for LSON. ing, but are unable to reproduce in fresh es in hauling in big reds — preferring to See FRESH REDS, Page 14 LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 9 Kayak clubs help with education, outings By Kendal Larson FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS Houston a hub for learning, fishing Groups Houston Canoe Club Paddlers outnumber soccer play- (281) 485-3046 ers in America, according to the www.houstoncanoeclub.org Outdoor Industry Association. The Christy Long, President statistic probably comes as a sur- prise to the many moms and dads Houston Area Sea Kayakers who constantly ferry their children www.hask.org to the weekend soccer games. The Bayou City is home to un- Paddling Anglers in Canoes & Kayaks counted numbers of kayakers who [email protected] consider paddling and fishing a way www.packtx.org a life. Houston, unique among Tex- Paddle Texas Canoe & Kayak Club as cities in part because of its close (800) We Paddle proximity to large bodies of both [email protected] fresh and salt water, claims legions www.paddlesports.com of kayakers and kayak anglers. As a result, the Houston area boasts many canoe and kayak clubs Gear and, unusual for most cities, not just Austin Canoe and Kayak one but a number of kayak special- 5882 Bissonnet St. ty stores. Houston, TX 77081 Multiple fishing opportunities can be enjoyed within a very short Fishing Tackle Unlimited paddle, a fact well-known by the 12800 Gulf Fwy members of Paddling Anglers in Ca- Houston, TX 77034 noes and Kayaks. Founded in 1998 and number- Southwest Paddlesports ing more than 300 paid members, 26322 I-45 PACK is the largest Houston kayak The Woodlands, TX 77386 fishing club. It holds outings twice a month both locally and through- Get out out Texas. Armand Bayou Nature Center “These outings take the form of www.abnc.org either a day trip or an overnight camping trip and are organized by assigned trip leaders, who have had the fish and the fishing. experience organizing paddling KAYAK KINSMEN: Fellow kayak anglers around Houston can instruct new paddlers to the ways of the water and how to catch fish from the Walker Mangum, a long-time outings,” said previous PACK Presi- boats. The city has several outlets for education and opportunities to go fishing with experienced paddlers. Here, Walker Mangum holds a Houston angler and avid saltwater dent Ken Jennings. “While we have redfish caught nearby. Photo by Kendal Larson, for Lone Star Outdoor News. fly-fisherman, has fished the area outings throughout Texas, we find for more than 30 years. our local outings are big hits with the area’s kayak specialty stores offer dy of Texas kayak fishing Web sites, tonians have the strongest presence “Houston holds a dear place in new paddlers, as we volunteer our rentals, and most also hold “Demo www.texaskayakfisherman.com. on the board. my heart due to the diversity of fish- personal boats to allow them to try a Days” to let prospective paddlers try TKF has more than 10,000 mem- Kayakers say it’s the water that ing opportunities it offers,” he said. variety of hulls to learn what might a variety of makes and models. bers. Its members do not hold meet- makes Houston special. Be it salt- “Be it paddling and fishing Armand best suit them.” Novices and experienced paddlers ings, but they are quick to offer as- water marsh, freshwater lakes, me- Bayou or the salt marsh of Bayou Although clubs are a great way learn a great deal about fishing from sistance online to anyone interested andering rivers or the bayous, the Vista, I find peace and happiness in for new paddlers to gain experience, kayaks by visiting the granddad- in wetting a line from a kayak. Hous- unseen bonanza within the water is fishing these waters.” Page 10 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

LIGHTS OUT DRAWS ATTENTION antler mounts. Using game camera TO BASS CAST-NETTERS surveillance, Fitzpatrick identified Webb County Game Warden Colt Man caught selling flathead cats two vehicles involved in the activity. Gaulden saw a boat operating on Bowie County Game Warden The two spotters started a con- had about 40 pounds of flathead After numerous interviews, confes- Lake Casa Blanca after sunset with- Shawn Hervey, Marion County versation with the man, and he frozen in a freezer. The wardens sions to four different criminal epi- out lights. Gaulden stopped the boat Game Warden Rob Furlow, Mor- bragged about all the flatheads he placed a call to the marked unit, sodes were obtained, and the stolen to perform a water safety inspection. ris County Game Warden Michael had caught and showed them pic- which had followed them to the property was recovered and returned During the inspection, multiple black Serbanic and Red River County tures on his phone. When asked residence. to the owners. In all, 30 charges bass were found in the boat with- Game Warden Daniel Roraback what he did with all that fish, he It was decided to have the man were filed. The charges included out hook marks. The three occupants teamed up to work the Wright replied, “Sell them.” deliver the fish to a store park- hunting without landowner consent, of the boat admitted to catching Patman spillway for illegal fishing He also said flatheads were the ing lot in Bowie County. The seller criminal mischief, criminal trespass the bass using a cast net. Citations activity. highest-priced fish in the river. agreed, and a price was set at $1 and theft. were issued for fishing without a li- Roraback and Serbanic worked The spotters told the man they per pound. cense, illegal means and methods, in plain clothes as spotters, and were having a fish fry but were not The seller was very surprised to UNRULY GROUP STILL undersized bass and operational and Hervey and Furlow were in a able to catch anything. He then learn he was delivering the fish to RECEIVE CITATIONS equipment violations. marked unit to stop violators. The offered to sell the fish. He stated game wardens. A caller reported men using a cast spotters saw a male snagging fish. he had over 200 pounds in his The violator received three ci- net to catch fish on the San Jacin- PATROL REVEALS POT The man moved right next to the freezer he would sell. tations and was fined $900. His to River. Upon arrival, Montgomery IN BOATER’S SHORTS spotters and continued to snag The wardens followed the man pole, cell phone and fish were all County Game Warden Dean Fitzpat- While patrolling the shores of fish. to his residence, where he only taken as evidence. rick saw the men taking channel cat- Falcon Lake, Game Warden Jake fish and black bass with a cast net. Cawthon observed three men us- When Fitzpatrick spoke to them, the ing a cast net. None of the men had all available assistance in an ongo- Collin County Game Warden Todd Travis County Game Warden Christy men were uncooperative. The men fishing licenses. While Cawthon was ing hostage situation. While in route Long for a water safety inspection. Vales was fueling her patrol boat at received citations for no fishing li- writing one of the violators a cita- to the call, the wardens learned The inspection revealed that neither the store when she saw the manager cense and taking game fish by illegal tion, he saw that the violator was that one of the local banks had had fishing licenses, IDs or a certifi- and customers arguing in the store means and methods; and warnings acting abnormally and favoring his been robbed. When the Winters of- cate of registration. The boat’s regis- parking lot. Vales interrupted, and for numerous short fish. right hip. Cawthon then asked for the ficer and a Texas Alcoholic Bever- tration numbers were fictitious, the one female confessed. She received violator to empty his pockets, which age Commission officer responding registration decal number returned to a citation for theft under $50 and a OUT-OF-GAS BIKE the violator did but only emptied the to the silent alarm entered the bank, a different vessel, and the hull serial warning for criminal trespass. NOT BORROWED left pocket of his shorts. Cawthon the robber grabbed a clerk, held a numbers were missing or removed. San Augustine County Game War- saw a large object in the right pock- knife to her throat and left the bank In addition, the operator said he had DEER SEASON DOES NOT den Jeff Cox was returning from Sam et of the violator and frisked him. through a back door using the clerk placed a trailer tag from another boat START AT 3:30 A.M. Rayburn Lake when he saw a motor- When Cawthon crushed the object in as a shield. Officers at the scene re- trailer onto his to get to the lake that Hays County Game Warden cyclist on the roadside in a remote the pocket of the violator, he noticed ported that witnesses said the sus- morning. Another game warden as- James Michael located two Drip- area of a national forest. Cox stopped that it sounded like dried leaves. pect flagged down a car and went sisted Long at the boat ramp. The ping Springs men at 3:30 a.m. who to investigate, and the rider said he Cawthon had the subject slowly re- to a nearby apartment complex. As boat operator had a felony drug war- had been hunting from the road for was waiting on a buddy to bring gas. move the object from his pocket. the game warden units entered the rant out of Tarrant County. The driv- deer. The two men were arrested and He claimed the bike belonged to his The object turned out to be a small city, officers called for assistance at er was arrested, and the boat was transported to the Hays County Jail; buddy, and he was trying it out. How- baggie containing a green leafy sub- the apartment complex. Upon arriv- seized. The operator was also cit- cases pending. ever, he was unable to remember his stance believed to be marijuana. The ing at the scene, Pinckney, Barker ed for tampering with identification buddy’s name. An ID check revealed violator was booked into the Zapata and Wilkes assisted the officers in numbers, and both men were cited WARDEN DEPLOYS SPY CAMERA he was wanted for assault in Mont- County Jail. Charges are pending. entering and clearing the apartment. for fishing without a valid license. TO CATCH BURGLARS gomery County. A closer inspection Wilkes and the Winters officer found Cases are pending, and the investi- Six people were suspected of of the bike revealed the ignition had WARDENS HELP DURING the suspect hiding in a closet in the gation is ongoing. breaking into two local hunting no key and had been tampered with HOSTAGE SITUATION back bathroom. He was arrested clubs. Montgomery County Game and the vehicle identification num- A call for assistance came out without incident. ARGUMENT NO WAY TO SOLVE Warden Dean Fitzpatrick investigated ber was filed away. Cox located a from Winters as Capt. Malcom Wil- THEFT DISPUTE for four weeks before making arrests. secondary VIN, and the bike was re- kes and Game Warden Jarret Barker BOAT FLOATING WITHOUT The manager of a store near Wal- Once on the property, the burglars ported stolen in Montgomery County. were in Ballinger to deliver supplies PROPER PAPERWORK ter E. Long Lake in Travis County hunted without consent and stole The man was arrested, and the bike to Game Warden Lane Pinckney. The Two men fishing from a small boat witnessed one of two females walk multiple items, including two deer was seized. The man has a lengthy Winters police on duty requested in rough waters were contacted by out of the store with an unpaid item. feeders, ATV ramps and European history of assault and auto theft. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 11 Page 12 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com Observers trained for lead vs. non-lead study lungs or brain; caused broken bones, etc. The Data must be gathered process takes about an hour for each bird. “We are collecting a huge body of data. When on distance, angle, we are done, we will have objective data that is unchallengeable,’’ he said. choke, contact No one, from Roster and others coordinat- ing the study to the shooters and their observ- By Ralph Winingham ers, has any knowledge if the particular test FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS ammunition used in that day’s hunt s lead or non-lead shot. The simple pleasure of bagging a few birds be- While the test loads have been color-coded came a whole lot more complicated for partici- and numbered by the manufacturer, the codes pants in a dove lethality study conducted here are a secret that will not be revealed until after on the Central Zone opener. the study has been concluded. Other than differ- The Texas Parks and Wildlife study is an un- ent colored brass (used to keep test ammunition precedented effort by any governmental or in- from being mixed in the field) all the test ammu- dependent agency to determine the effective- nition is identical in appearance. ness of lead and non-lead shot on doves. Roster would not even reveal how many differ- “We want total, solid science to be sure that ent loads were being tested. no one will be able to question our results,’’ said “All I can tell you is that there is at least one Tom Roster, a veteran of 30 years of research on lead shot load and at least one non-toxic shot shotgun ammunition effectiveness on game load,’’ he said. and clay targets. Only one-shot kills are used for the study, with “This will be the most reliable data possible. 580 birds collected last year and officials hoping We are training our observers on how to observe about 1,000 birds will be gathered as part of the accurately — then we test them. We will accept study this year. a degree of accuracy of no less than 95 percent,’’ After the birds are collected and examined, re- he said. sults of the study are not expected to be released Explaining the effort during a training session until at least 2012 or 2013, officials said. at the Cedar Creek Ranch, Roster said that en- “We did not feel that we could ask the 300,000 suring that the observers who are watching vol- WATCHFUL EYES: Study leader Tom Roster swings on a dove while observers were being trained to record to 400,000 people in Texas who hunt doves with unteer hunters bag birds can accurately record extensive details about each shot as part of an unprecedented study of dove lethality involving both lead and lead shot to trust us to switch to more expensive all the necessary data is a tedious but important non-lead shot. Photo by Ralph Winingham, for Lone Star Outdoor News. non-toxic shot without good evidence to back process. us,’’ said Vernon Bevill, small game and habitat Thirty observers, most of them TPW biolo- missed; what the hunter saw or thought he saw; “We maintain a master list and go through assessment program director for TPW. gists, were brought in from across the state Aug. and a multitude of other information. the data obtained by every observer every night “The world is waiting on our results, and ev- 27-30 for training. They observed 34 randomly All of this takes place in the split second re- to find any mistakes,’’ he said. “Last year, our ac- eryone is anxious to hear about what we are do- selected volunteer hunters starting Sept. 1 dur- quired for a hunter to knock down — or miss — curacy rate was 96.3 percent.’’ ing,” he said. “We want the people who make ing morning and evening hunts. one of the tiny aerial acrobats that fill the skies Collected birds are tagged by the observers so the big decisions to have the best information This is the second year of the study that may each fall. that the shot data can provide base-line infor- we can provide at multiple levels.” cost as much as $1 million. Although rangefinders play an important mation when necropsies are performed to deter- TPW’s Corey Mason said the research team The extensive training for the hunter watch- part in the data-collection process, the observ- mine the effectiveness of the test ammunition. collected about 750 birds during hunts Sept. 1-3, ers was designed to help raise their observation ers’ skills in determining where and how a bird “Back at my lab, the birds are X-rayed on their which is about half of what they had expected to and investigative skills to a heightened sense of was hit or missed must also be dependable and back and lying on their left side (to determine harvest. Apparently the dry weather had moved awareness that would make Sherlock Holmes accurate, Roster said. if any shot remains in the bird or if there are a lot of the birds out of the hunting areas, Mason nod with acknowledgement. The observers are instructed on how to watch any broken bones), and then a necropsy is per- said. Observers are instructed on how to record data the birds to make sure each shot that connects is formed,’’ Roster said. The study team will review the effort and de- such as the distance a shot was taken; the angle recorded with the utmost precision, and one of As part of the necropsy, every wound is record- cide later this year on whether to conduct anoth- of the shot; the choke used, whether the bird the most often asked question of the hunters is, ed, including the entrance and exit; depth of er hunt next year. The team wants about 1,700 was dead, mobile, visibly hit but not retrieved or “Do you think you hit that bird?” penetration; whether the shot struck the heart, birds for the study. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 13 Page 14 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

the state, TPW is working on a backup plan, Forest Smith said. Fresh reds Continued from Page 6 “Our biologists are out actively looking for Continued from Page 8 we want to find suitable replacement acre- additional (public) hunting land to lease,” Calaveras has received about 7.5 million reds, age if at all possible,” said Carter Smith, ex- he said. with Braunig receiving about 4.5 million. The ecutive director of TPW. Any new land would not necessarily be in other top stocking sites have been Trading- The Campbell Group, which has not East Texas, Smith said. TPW’s search for new house Creek Reservoir with about 6 million and changed the amount of acreage it has under land is not necessarily a response to poten- Fairfield Lake with about 5 million. lease with TPW since the purchase, declined tial changes in East Texas. The department Only the warm waters of Calaveras and to say what it will do with the property. is constantly looking for new land for recre- Braunig, which are loaded with calcium and The 46,000 acres still under lease with The ational uses. other dissolved minerals, appear to provide the Campbell Group is located in San Augustine, TPW does not have records on how many right conditions for redfish to make their fresh- Sabine, Jasper and Newton counties. hunters use The Campbell Group land for water spawning attempts. The Oregon-based investment company hunting, said Linda S. Campbell, TPW’s pro- The Braunig Lake record redfish (30.25 REDFISH GOLD: Spoons cast into slicks are the ticket manages 2.85 million acres of timberland, gram director for private lands and public pounds, 35 inches long) was also brought in for hooking redfish in the freshwater Calaveras Lake. according to its Web site. The Web site of its hunting. during the fall. That record red was landed Oct. Photo by Ralph Winingham, for LSON. lease-management company lists property The sites are open to anyone holding 14, 1989, by Jack Talbert. available for hunting in 21 Texas counties at TPW’s Annual Public Hunting Permit, and “The spawn is definitely the time for hooking a rate of $7 per acre. on-site registration is not required, Camp- into bigger fish,” Martinez said. “It is nothing to Guide connection bell said. If The Campbell Group ends its leases with catch a limit of 15- to 20-pounders.’’ Guide Manny Martinez of L&M Guide Service Bill Tyus, who holds the Fairfield Lake record (210) 386-6695 gonefi[email protected] with a 36.83-pound, 44-inch redfish caught May 22, 2001, is a former fishing guide. He is not aware Calaveras and Braunig is 20 inches, with a Lone Star Outdoor News of any freshwater red drum spawning action at three-fish per day limit. Unlike saltwater redfish, LSONews.com that facility in Northeast Texas, nor at Trading- which can be no longer than 28 inches without Hunting and fishing news for the state you love. house Creek Reservoir near Waco, he said. requiring a special trophy redfish tag, there is The state minimum for keeper reds at no maximum size limit for freshwater reds. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 15 Page 16 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com ADVENTURE

NORTHERN EXTREME: Left, Lake Nueltin holds trophy northern pike and lake trout in its clear, glassy waters. Above, northern pike run shallow in the lake’s coves and will eagerly take flies. Nueltin Fly-in Lodge is one of the best places to catch trophy pike on a fly. Photos by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

UNSPOILED SPLENDOR: Left, fishing guide Ralph Thompson boats and releases fish for anglers, and at midday he prepares lunch, bottom center, on the lake shore. One small fish per day is allowed on this catch and release lake. Above, the remote lodge awaits anglers returning from a day of landing trophy lake trout and pike on Nueltin Lake.

After spending the night in Winnipeg, Nueltin’s charter plane will take anglers directly to the lodge, about a 3-hour flight. The lake is located in far northern Manitoba and straddles the province’s border with Nunavut province. For more information, call Shawn and Amanda Gurke at (800) 361-7177 or visit www.nueltin.com. Nueltin is no joke there Getting fire and prepares us a shore lunch of trout — we pull into a small, shallow recess of the lake Canadian lake is cold, clear and full of trophy fish caught less than an hour before — french fries, shore once more. The water is amazingly clear, corn, beans and onions. the shoreline broken with patches of thin grass By Richard H. Sams “I’m hung on a rock,” I said. “No, it’s moving.” Watching him work at cooking lunch is enter- and erratic granite boulders. He slows the mo- FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS The lake trout writhes its massive body at the taining. He wastes no moves. From the forward tor to a low troll and points to the shallows. We other end of the line. Images of the wall mounts hatch in our boat he produces a large, long-han- cast, and the shallow water explodes. Not once, The lake is so far north that only now is the in Lake Neultin’s lodge begin to dance in my dled frying pan, a bag of spiced corn meal, and but sometimes on repeated casts or even mul- ice cover breaking up, and it’s mid-July. Large head as I struggle to land it. Except for my boat what looks like a whole pound of lard. In short or- tiple times within one retrieve. Large northern oval rafts of it drift imperceptibly southward partner, the excitement is really not contagious. der, the lard is melted. In go the potatoes that he pike are so plentiful that we begin to count our into the glacial melt waters. The glassy white Guide Ralph Thompson has rehearsed the scene has pared on a board in the backseat of our boat catches in groups of 20 per boat at each stop blocks barely rise above the water level, hiding a thousands of times. He knows his role all too while we were casting lures. When they’re done, along the lake’s shoreline. layer beneath. Yet even deeper than the floating well in securing a safe landing for the trophy fish. he follows them with the sliced onion, and final- Lake Nueltin’s Treeline Lodge in northwest ice cruise a school of lake trout, each the size of He makes a quick scoop into the water and there ly strips of freshly filleted trout or pike depending Manitoba, Canada, offers the finest in fishing an all-night campfire log. Freed at last from the it lies almost doubled up in the seemingly huge on what we had just caught. Cans of corn and and accommodations. Roughly 2,000 miles canopy of ice above, they are hungry, too. net. The prize is momentarily won. Measure it, beans are set in the coals of the fire to warm, and north of Texas, its fish are more often than not As the boat trolls slowly past the ice raft, take photos, and then release it back to its lair. in less than 45 minutes, voila! Our lunch. either trophy catches or at least cocktail-par- the flash of the blue and white spoon catch- This is an all-day routine at Nueltin, but at Once again the boat shoves off from a sandy ty bragging size. Unlike some places that tout es more than one searching eye. Impulsively, noon we beach our boat long enough to watch beach and heads for a cove full of northern pike. only their finest catches on their promotional a fish lunges for it and a battle begins. amazingly as Ralph quickly builds a camp- Our guide takes us only a short distance before brochures, Nueltin’s photos are no joke.

Port Isabel Falcon Lake What to catch? What to catch? Redfish, trout, snook Largemouth bass Who to call? Area code 956 When to go? Jaime Alaniz 341-3549 Fall, winter, spring Danno Wise 371-4099 Who to call? Carlos Garcia 433-6094 Roberts Fish N’ Tackle Eric Glass 761-2878 (956) 765-1442 Where to stay? Falcon Lake Tackle White Sands Motel (956) 765-4866 and Marina 943-2414 D&D Marina & Tackle Port Isabel Yacht Club (956) 765-3550 943-1301 Charles Whited (512) 557-6772 QUICK TRIPS QUICK LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 17 ADVENTURE

RIGS GALORE: Hundreds of offshore rigs are only miles away from Venice, provid- Much underwater, on menu in Venice, La. ing anglers with action for several saltwater species, so the cut baits drift just right. The cur- Getting there including yellowfin tuna, Several species within easy reach offshore rent is moving, and the fish are biting. Fish with ... above left, and kingfish, Sometimes on the runs from rig to rig are ■ Capt. Peace Marvel bottom right. Cajun cooking By David J. Sams shore, and water 1,000 feet deep arrives pods of baitfish and sport fish beneath (504) 481-1327 and comfortable lodging LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS 10 miles out. them — dolphin, wahoo or kings. ■ Capt. Hunter Caballero top off the trip. Photos by The captains race to their favorite rig At more than 50 miles offshore sits a (504) 610-1686 David J. Sams, Lone Star Some anglers call it the end of the to be the first to call “fish on” over the massive floating oil production rig an- ■ Devlin Roussell Outdoor News. world, and a sign once stood in town radio. Their competition is fierce but chored in thousands of feet of water. (504) 481-1327 that said so. Most call it paradise. friendly, as are the bets between anglers. Sport boats school downwind, drifting The newly rebuilt community of Ven- On a less-than-calm day, our boat and trolling baits. Some are catching. Sleep at ... ice sits at the tip of the Mississippi River traveled to rig after rig and caught 10 dif- Others are wishing. ■ Lighthouse Lodge waiting to take adventurous anglers out ferent species of fish from the common The fish graph shows the quarry. Tuna (504) 534-2522 to sea. On any given day you can load up sand trout to an 85-pound yellowfin below! The live bait swims for its life. www.lighthouselodgevenice.com in a catamaran with guys named Peace tuna. From bottom bouncing to float- The ride home promotes naps in the ■ Cajun Fishing Adventures Marvel and Devlin Roussell and Hunter ing live bait, it is all fun. Bull reds tug, beanbag chairs and the thoughts of Ryan Lambert Caballero. jack crevalle rip, kingfish smoke and the good Cajun cooking are dancing in the (985) 785-9833 Anglers have time to learn about tuna, well hold on. fishermen’s heads. Once back on land, www.cajunfishingadventures.com these captains on the run out through On one rig anglers will catch bait, and the bragging continues as the social ■ Redfish Lodge of Louisiana the pass before they tell you it’s time to at the next they will troll deep Bomber hours develop. Red drum dip is the top Capt. Mike Frenette hold on. The runs are short: 400-foot baits. At another rig the captain holds appetizer, and a big pot of something (504) 782-0924 water can be found less than 6 miles off- the boat feet from the poles of a platform Cajun is always cooking on the stove. www.venicefishing.net

Tawakoni Brazos River QUICK TRIPS What to catch? What to catch? Catfish Largemouth, smallmouth and Guadalupe bass When to go? Year-round When to go? Fall, spring, winter Who to call? Jim Taylor Where to rent a canoe? (903) 355-4176 Below Possum Kingdom Lake: Rochelle’s Where to stay? (940) 659-3341 Anchor Marine, Cabins/ Below Lake Whitney: Dick’s RVs (903) 447-2256 (254) 622-8364 Lake Tawakoni State Park (903) 560-7123 Who to call? Chris Shafer (254) 836-8864 Page 18 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 19 Page 20 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com DATEBOOK Sept. 11-12 Lake Ray Roberts Ducks Unlimited Round Rock Ducks Unlimited Oct. 1 Legends Dove Hunt and Concert Fundraiser Fundraiser San Antonio Ducks Unlimited Abilene Pilot Point, Redfearn Gym Dell Diamond, United Heritage Center Fundraiser www.legendsdovehunt.com (214) 796-8147 (512) 694-6585 Alzafar Shrine Temple (210) 616-6876 Sept. 12 Sept. 18-20 Beaumont Ducks Unlimited IFA Redfish Series Big Country Celebrity Dove Hunt Fundraiser Northeast Tarrant County Ducks Unlimited Tournament Abilene IBEW Hall Fundraiser Port Aransas (325) 677-6815 (409) 658-2113 Colleyville Community Center (478) 836-4266 [email protected] (817) 283-6082 Sept. 25 Sept. 16 Sept. 19 Second Annual Field Day Oct. 3 Purina Wildlife Series Event Texas Big Game Awards Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch Texas Youth Hunt Katy Sportsman’s Celebration Roby Inaugural fundraiser (979) 885-2967 Abilene, Frontier Texas! (325) 653-4576 Kerrville, Buckhorn Lake Resort www.AntlerMax.com (800) 839-9453 [email protected] (830) 367-7611

Sept. 17 National Fishing Lure Collector Club Coastal Conservation Association Jefferson Delta Waterfowl Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation Show, swap meet Redfish Shoot Out Fundraiser Hall of Fame Conservation banquet Fort Worth, Marriott Hotel and Golf Club Rio Brazos Hunting Preserve Kellyville Community Center Dallas, Union Station (817) 223-0645 (713) 703-7452 (903) 576-0775 (214) 720-1478 www.tpwf.org Sept. 23 Sept. 26 Oct. 6 Wise County Ducks Unlimited Whitesboro Ducks Unlimited Corsicana Ducks Unlimited San Angelo Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Fundraiser Fundraiser Fundraiser Wise County Fairgrounds Don’s Bar-B-Que Star Hall Cain’s Cove (940) 577-2910 (903) 564-6012 (903) 872-0000 (325) 234-2364 Sept. 24-25 Sept. 29 Navasota Ducks Unlimited Dallas Safari Club South Texas Wildlife Conference Bonham Ducks Unlimited Fundraiser Monthly meeting, Jones Auditorium at Texas A&M-Kingsville Fundraiser Grimes County Fairgrounds Patti Roberson on leopard (979) 764-8385 or [email protected] Legacy Ridge Country Club (979) 204-4525 Royal Oaks Country Club (903) 583-9768 (972) 980-9800 Sept. 24 Oct. 8 Pearland/Friendswood Ducks Unlimited East Wharton County Ducks Unlimited Coastal Conservation Association Fayette County Ducks Unlimited Sportsman’s Night Out Fundraiser Barbecue and fundraiser Fundraiser Billy Griffin’s Place Hungerford Hall Houston Farm & Ranch Club La Grange KC Hall (713) 907-4264 (979) 532-3175 (713) 626-4222 (979) 966-3367 East Bernard Delta Waterfowl Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Fort Worth Ducks Unlimited Cameron County Friends of NRA Fundraiser Texas Quail Study Group Fundraiser Fundraiser Riverside Hall Cat Spring, Ag Society Hall Lockheed Martin Recreation Association Rancho Viejo, Case Grande (979) 398-0632 [email protected] (817) 832-8694 (956) 541-3159 Lake Grapevine Ducks Unlimited Sept. 30 Oct. 10 Orange County Coastal Conservation Association Fundraiser El Campo Ducks Unlimited Operation Game Thief Fundraiser Grapevine Concourse Fundraiser Sporting clays shoot in Edinburg Bridge City Community Center (817) 368-7310 El Campo KC Hall (512) 332-9880 (409) 988-3667 (979) 332-0657 www.ogttx.com Purina Wildlife Series Event San Antonio Deer Fest (830) 426-3313 Wichita Falls www.AntlerMax.com (940) 704-2984 LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 21 DSC, other groups opposing federal nominee

carry with him into this position if he is con- lar to some of his past writings, particularly Harvard professor has opposed hunting, firmed by the U.S. Senate.” on the animal rights issue,” said Tina Gray, “I think his agenda is to not have hunt- Cornyn’s press secretary. wanted to give animals right to sue ing as an activity Americans participate in,” Carter said DSC is not likely to change its Carter said. position on Sunstein. By Thomas Phillips rector of the Dallas Safari Club. “So he’s not The nomination runs counter to other “I would rather see someone else lead the LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS a friend of the outdoors, especially not a moves by the Obama administration, Carter office,” Carter said. “What is it, cats don’t friend of the hunter.” said, citing cooperation by the U.S. Fish and change their spots or something?” One of President Barack Obama’s nomi- DSC and 14 other conservation and sports- Wildlife Service and other federal personnel The groups signing the letter are DSC, the nees to lead a federal agency has hunters men organizations, including two others with hunting groups. Houston Safari Club, Texas Wildlife Asso- scratching their heads. based in Texas, sent a letter to each U.S. sena- Sunstein’s controversial views caused two ciation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Obama wants Cass Sunstein, a Harvard tor Aug. 25 asking them to oppose Sunstein’s senators, John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Saxby Whitetails Unlimited Inc., Wild Sheep Foun- law professor, to lead the Office of Informa- nomination. Chambliss, R-Georgia, to temporarily place dation, Pope and Young Club, U.S. Sports- tion and Regulatory Affairs. In the letter, the organizations express res- holds on his nomination. The move pre- men’s Alliance, National Shooting Sports The office advises the White House on fed- ervations about Sunstein’s views on animal vented the nomination from moving for- Foundation, Conservation Force, Fur Tak- eral regulations, including rules pertaining rights and hunting. ward before Congress’ August recess. ers of America, Masters of Foxhounds Asso- to wildlife. Sunstein has been quoted as saying, “We Cornyn and Chambliss removed their ciation of North America, Mule Deer Foun- Sunstein, however, has publicly com- might ban hunting altogether, at least if its holds after Sunstein agreed not to push his dation, National Trappers’ Association and mented against hunting and has advocated sole purpose is human recreation.” He has beliefs through his office. Shikar Safari Club. for animals having the right to sue in cases also had discussions about offering animals “Sen. Cornyn had placed a hold on Cass Congress returned from its August recess of animal cruelty. the rights to sue humans. Sunstein’s nomination because he had not earlier this month. “He’s been on record I think a number of The groups’ letter makes clear that as the had the chance to speak with him and want- With Cornyn and Chambliss removing times opposing hunting and I believe fire- head of the OIRA, such views “raise serious ed to be assured directly by Mr. Sunstein their holds, the Senate could schedule a vote arms as well,” said Ben Carter, executive di- concerns about the agenda Mr. Sunstein will that he would not pursue an agenda simi- on Sunstein anytime.

National News in Brief Hunters to help control Fla. pythons Florida recently asked hunters to help stop the spread of Burmese py- thons in the state. The pythons have spread in South Florida in large part because of people releasing them into the wild. Permits were issued to 13 python experts to capture and euthanize the non-native species in specific state- managed lands in South Florida. So far, the permit holders have caught 17 of the reptiles. The program is being expanded to include hunters. “Beginning with the first hunt of the 2009-10 season, hunters on specific wildlife management areas in South Florida may take any reptile of concern they encounter during the course of their hunting excursion,” wrote Rodney Barreto, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “If it’s archery season, they may take a python with a bow and arrow and any other instrument that’s legal to pos- ses on the area during that season. If it’s muzzleloader season, they may use that type of gun to take the species.” The commission is asking the hunt- ers to provide information about any reptiles of concern they kill to compile more complete information about the species. — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report Bighorn-eating lion killed in Arizona A mountain lion known to be prey- ing heavily on bighorn sheep was le- thally removed in the Kofa Mountains Complex Predation Management Area in southwestern Arizona. The lion was taken in the Eagletail Mountains, located about 90 miles northeast of Yuma. The action was taken in an effort to help restore the struggling Kofa big- horn sheep population, whose num- bers declined more than 50 percent from an estimated 815 in 2000 to a low of 391 in 2006. The most recent survey, taken in 2008, indicated an estimated population of 436. The lion, a male fitted with a telem- etry collar, was known to have killed 15 bighorn sheep, 11 within the pre- dation management area, since being collared in late February. “This one lion was averaging a big- horn sheep kill every 10 days,” said Pat Barber, supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish office in Yuma. “At that rate, an estimated 37 bighorn sheep would have been lost to this lion in a year.” Barber said the goal is not to re- move all mountain lions from the area. — Arizona Game and Fish report Page 22 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

Moon Phases Solunar | Sun times | Moon times New Full Houston Sun | Moon | Tides Sept. 12 First Sept. 26 Last 2009 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Sept. 18 Oct. 4 Sep-Oct Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets 11 Fri Q 11:30 5:16 ----- 5:45 7:03 7:32 NoMoon 1:55p Texas Coast Tides 12 Sat 12:07 6:16 12:31 6:46 7:03 7:30 12:11a 2:55p 13 Sun 12:59 7:14 1:29 7:44 7:04 7:29 1:15a 3:50p Sabine Pass, jetty Port O’Connor 14 Mon 1:55 8:09 2:24 8:39 7:04 7:28 2:23a 4:39p Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height 15 Tue 2:47 9:01 3:15 9:29 7:05 7:27 3:33a 5:22p Sep 11 3:49 a.m. 3.0H 2:18 p.m. 0.0L Sep 11 6:09 a.m. 1.2H 5:30 p.m. 0.1L 16 Wed 3:37 9:50 4:03 10:16 7:05 7:25 4:43a 6:00p Sep 12 4:00 a.m. 3.2H 3:31 p.m. 0.0L Sep 12 7:02 a.m. 1.3H 6:54 p.m. 0.1L 17 Thu > 4:24 10:37 4:49 11:02 7:06 7:24 5:50a 6:36p Sep 13 3:34 a.m. 3.2H 4:45 p.m. 0.0L Sep 13 7:58 a.m. 1.3H 8:18 p.m. 0.1L 18 Fri > 5:12 11:24 5:37 11:49 7:06 7:23 6:56a 7:09p Sep 14 2:25 a.m. 3.2H 5:55 p.m. 0.0L Sep 14 8:56 a.m. 1.3H 9:33 p.m. 0.1L 19 Sat N 6:02 ----- 6:26 12:38 7:07 7:22 8:00a 7:44p Sep 15 2:34 a.m. 3.0H 6:55 a.m. 2.9L 10:47 a.m. 3.0H 6:57 p.m. 0.2L Sep 15 10:03 a.m. 1.2H 10:37 p.m. 0.2L 20 Sun > 6:54 12:42 7:19 1:07 7:07 7:21 9:05a 8:20p Sep 16 2:47 a.m. 2.9H 7:27 a.m. 2.5L 12:32 p.m. 3.0H 7:53 p.m. 0.5L Sep 16 12:44 p.m. 1.1H 11:33 p.m. 0.3L 21 Mon > 7:50 1:37 8:15 2:02 7:08 7:19 10:09a 8:58p Sep 17 3:02 a.m. 2.9H 8:08 a.m. 2.0L 1:58 p.m. 3.0H 8:45 p.m. 0.9L Sep 17 4:14 p.m. 1.0H 22 Tue 8:47 2:34 9:13 3:00 7:08 7:18 11:12a 9:41p Sep 18 3:17 a.m. 2.7H 8:52 a.m. 1.4L 3:17 p.m. 3.0H 9:35 p.m. 1.4L Sep 18 12:24 a.m. 0.5L 6:50 a.m. 0.8H 11:21 a.m. 0.7L 6:22 p.m. 1.0H 23 Wed 9:45 3:32 10:11 3:58 7:09 7:17 12:13p 10:28p Sep 19 3:32 a.m. 2.7H 9:36 a.m. 1.1L 4:32 p.m. 3.2H 10:24 p.m. 1.8L Sep 19 1:11 a.m. 0.7L 5:50 a.m. 0.8H 12:18 p.m. 0.5L 8:10 p.m. 1.1H 24 Thu 10:42 4:29 11:08 4:55 7:09 7:16 1:09p 11:18p Sep 20 3:46 a.m. 2.7H 10:19 a.m. 0.7L 5:47 p.m. 3.2H 11:16 p.m. 2.3L Sep 20 1:56 a.m. 0.8L 5:06 a.m. 0.9H 1:08 p.m. 0.4L 10:00 p.m. 1.1H 25 Fri 11:36 5:24 ----- 5:49 7:10 7:14 2:00p NoMoon Sep 21 3:57 a.m. 2.9H 11:04 a.m. 0.4L 7:03 p.m. 3.2H Sep 21 1:56 p.m. 0.3L 26 Sat Q 12:03 6:15 12:27 6:40 7:10 7:13 2:46p 12:11a Sep 22 12:14 a.m. 2.7L 3:58 a.m. 2.9H 11:50 a.m. 0.4L 8:25 p.m. 3.2H Sep 22 3:35 a.m. 1.2H 2:45 p.m. 0.2L 27 Sun 12:51 7:03 1:14 7:26 7:11 7:12 3:27p 1:06a Sep 23 12:40 p.m. 0.4L 10:03 p.m. 3.2H Sep 23 4:13 a.m. 1.2H 3:37 p.m. 0.3L 28 Mon 1:35 7:46 1:58 8:09 7:11 7:11 4:03p 2:02a Sep 24 1:37 p.m. 0.5L Sep 24 4:58 a.m. 1.3H 4:37 p.m. 0.3L 29 Tue 2:16 8:27 2:38 8:49 7:12 7:09 4:36p 2:58a Sep 25 12:30 a.m. 3.2H 2:43 p.m. 0.5L Sep 25 5:44 a.m. 1.3H 5:50 p.m. 0.3L 30 Wed 2:55 9:05 3:16 9:26 7:12 7:08 5:06p 3:53a Galveston Bay entrance, south jetty Rockport 01 Thu 3:32 9:42 3:53 10:03 7:13 7:07 5:35p 4:48a Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Sep 11 4:36 a.m. 2.4H 2:44 p.m. 0.0L Sep 11 7:37 a.m. 0.56H 6:54 p.m. 0.16L Dallas Sep 12 4:47 a.m. 2.6H 3:57 p.m. 0.0L Sep 12 8:50 a.m. 0.59H 8:00 p.m. 0.17L 2009 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Sep 13 4:21 a.m. 2.6H 5:11 p.m. 0.0L Sep 13 10:05 a.m. 0.61H 9:04 p.m. 0.18L Sep-Oct Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets Sep 14 3:12 a.m. 2.6H 6:21 p.m. 0.0L Sep 14 11:15 a.m. 0.61H 10:03 p.m. 0.21L 11 Fri Q 11:36 5:21 ----- 5:51 7:07 7:39 NoMoon 2:10p Sep 15 3:21 a.m. 2.4H 7:21 a.m. 2.3L 11:34 a.m. 2.4H 7:23 p.m. 0.1L Sep 15 12:25 p.m. 0.60H 10:52 p.m. 0.25L 12 Sat 12:12 6:21 12:36 6:52 7:07 7:37 12:07a 3:10p Sep 16 3:34 a.m. 2.3H 7:53 a.m. 2.0L 1:19 p.m. 2.4H 8:19 p.m. 0.4L Sep 16 1:41 p.m. 0.56H 11:29 p.m. 0.32L 13 Sun 1:04 7:20 1:35 7:50 7:08 7:36 1:11a 4:04p Sep 17 3:49 a.m. 2.3H 8:34 a.m. 1.6L 2:45 p.m. 2.4H 9:11 p.m. 0.7L Sep 17 3:25 p.m. 0.52H 11:44 p.m. 0.39L 14 Mon 2:00 8:15 2:30 8:44 7:09 7:34 2:21a 4:51p Sep 18 4:04 a.m. 2.1H 9:18 a.m. 1.1L 4:04 p.m. 2.4H 10:01 p.m. 1.1L Sep 18 6:07 a.m. 0.45H 11:18 a.m. 0.42L 6:27 p.m. 0.48H 11:08 p.m. 0.46L 15 Tue 2:53 9:07 3:21 9:35 7:09 7:33 3:33a 5:32p Sep 19 4:19 a.m. 2.1H 10:02 a.m. 0.9L 5:19 p.m. 2.6H 10:50 p.m. 1.4L Sep 19 4:50 a.m. 0.50H 1:07 p.m. 0.37L 16 Wed 3:42 9:55 4:09 10:22 7:10 7:32 4:45a 6:09p Sep 20 4:33 a.m. 2.1H 10:45 a.m. 0.6L 6:34 p.m. 2.6H 11:42 p.m. 1.9L Sep 20 4:27 a.m. 0.56H 2:12 p.m. 0.32L 17 Thu > 4:30 10:42 4:55 11:08 7:11 7:30 5:54a 6:42p Sep 21 4:44 a.m. 2.3H 11:30 a.m. 0.3L 7:50 p.m. 2.6H Sep 21 4:38 a.m. 0.61H 3:05 p.m. 0.29L 18 Fri > 5:17 11:30 5:42 11:54 7:11 7:29 7:02a 7:14p Sep 22 12:40 a.m. 2.1L 4:45 a.m. 2.3H 12:16 p.m. 0.3L 9:12 p.m. 2.6H Sep 22 5:08 a.m. 0.65H 3:55 p.m. 0.28L 19 Sat N 6:07 ----- 6:32 12:44 7:12 7:28 8:08a 7:46p Sep 23 1:06 p.m. 0.3L 10:50 p.m. 2.6H Sep 23 5:54 a.m. 0.67H 4:47 p.m. 0.28L 20 Sun > 7:00 12:47 7:25 1:12 7:12 7:26 9:15a 8:20p Sep 24 2:03 p.m. 0.4L Sep 24 6:55 a.m. 0.67H 5:44 p.m. 0.30L 21 Mon > 7:55 1:42 8:21 2:08 7:13 7:25 10:21a 8:57p Sep 25 1:17 a.m. 2.6H 3:09 p.m. 0.4L Sep 25 8:09 a.m. 0.67H 6:47 p.m. 0.33L 22 Tue 8:53 2:40 9:19 3:06 7:14 7:24 11:26a 9:39p 23 Wed 9:51 3:37 10:17 4:04 7:14 7:22 12:27p 10:24p San Luis Pass Port Aransas, H. Caldwell Pier 24 Thu 10:47 4:34 11:14 5:01 7:15 7:21 1:24p 11:14p Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height 25 Fri 11:42 5:29 ----- 5:55 7:16 7:20 2:15p NoMoon Sep 11 5:06 a.m. 1.5H 3:40 p.m. 0.0L Sep 11 4:29 a.m. 2.0H 2:23 p.m. 0.0L 26 Sat Q 12:09 6:20 12:33 6:45 7:16 7:18 3:00p 12:08a Sep 12 5:17 a.m. 1.5H 4:53 p.m. 0.0L Sep 12 4:40 a.m. 2.1H 3:36 p.m. 0.0L 27 Sun 12:56 7:08 1:20 7:32 7:17 7:17 3:40p 1:04a Sep 13 4:51 a.m. 1.5H 6:07 p.m. 0.0L Sep 13 4:14 a.m. 2.1H 4:50 p.m. 0.0L 28 Mon 1:40 7:52 2:03 8:15 7:17 7:16 4:15p 2:01a Sep 14 3:42 a.m. 1.5H 7:17 p.m. 0.0L Sep 14 3:05 a.m. 2.1H 6:00 p.m. 0.0L 29 Tue 2:22 8:32 2:43 8:54 7:18 7:14 4:46p 2:58a Sep 15 3:51 a.m. 1.5H 8:17 a.m. 1.4L 12:04 p.m. 1.5H 8:19 p.m. 0.1L Sep 15 3:14 a.m. 2.0H 7:00 a.m. 1.2L 11:27 a.m. 2.0H 7:02 p.m. 0.1L 30 Wed 3:00 9:11 3:21 9:32 7:19 7:13 5:15p 3:55a Sep 16 4:04 a.m. 1.4H 8:49 a.m. 1.2L 1:49 p.m. 1.5H 9:15 p.m. 0.3L Sep 16 3:27 a.m. 1.8H 7:32 a.m. 1.1L 1:12 p.m. 2.0H 7:58 p.m. 0.2L 01 Thu 3:37 9:48 3:58 10:08 7:19 7:12 5:42p 4:51a Sep 17 4:19 a.m. 1.4H 9:30 a.m. 0.9L 3:15 p.m. 1.5H 10:07 p.m. 0.4L Sep 17 3:42 a.m. 1.8H 8:13 a.m. 0.8L 2:38 p.m. 2.0H 8:50 p.m. 0.4L Sep 18 4:34 a.m. 1.3H 10:14 a.m. 0.7L 4:34 p.m. 1.5H 10:57 p.m. 0.7L Sep 18 3:57 a.m. 1.7H 8:57 a.m. 0.6L 3:57 p.m. 2.0H 9:40 p.m. 0.6L San Antonio Sep 19 4:49 a.m. 1.3H 10:58 a.m. 0.5L 5:49 p.m. 1.5H 11:46 p.m. 0.9L Sep 19 4:12 a.m. 1.7H 9:41 a.m. 0.5L 5:12 p.m. 2.1H 10:29 p.m. 0.8L 2009 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Sep 20 5:03 a.m. 1.3H 11:41 a.m. 0.3L 7:04 p.m. 1.5H Sep 20 4:26 a.m. 1.7H 10:24 a.m. 0.3L 6:27 p.m. 2.1H 11:21 p.m. 1.0L Sep-Oct Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets Sep 21 12:38 a.m. 1.1L 5:14 a.m. 1.4H 12:26 p.m. 0.2L 8:20 p.m. 1.5H Sep 21 4:37 a.m. 1.8H 11:09 a.m. 0.2L 7:43 p.m. 2.1H 11 Fri Q 11:43 5:28 ----- 5:58 7:15 7:44 NoMoon 2:08p Sep 22 1:36 a.m. 1.3L 5:15 a.m. 1.4H 1:12 p.m. 0.2L 9:42 p.m. 1.5H Sep 22 12:19 a.m. 1.2L 4:38 a.m. 1.8H 11:55 a.m. 0.2L 9:05 p.m. 2.1H 12 Sat 12:19 6:28 12:43 6:59 7:16 7:43 12:25a 3:07p Sep 23 2:02 p.m. 0.2L 11:20 p.m. 1.5H Sep 23 12:45 p.m. 0.2L 10:43 p.m. 2.1H 13 Sun 1:11 7:27 1:42 7:57 7:16 7:42 1:29a 4:02p Sep 24 2:59 p.m. 0.3L Sep 24 1:42 p.m. 0.2L 14 Mon 2:07 8:22 2:37 8:51 7:17 7:40 2:37a 4:51p Sep 25 1:47 a.m. 1.5H 4:05 p.m. 0.3L Sep 25 1:10 a.m. 2.1H 2:48 p.m. 0.2L 15 Tue 3:00 9:14 3:28 9:42 7:17 7:39 3:47a 5:34p 16 Wed 3:49 10:02 4:16 10:29 7:18 7:38 4:56a 6:13p Freeport Harbor South Padre Island 17 Thu > 4:37 10:49 5:02 11:15 7:18 7:37 6:04a 6:48p Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height Date Time Height Time Height Time Height Time Height 18 Fri > 5:24 11:37 5:49 12:01 7:19 7:35 7:09a 7:22p Sep 11 3:58 a.m. 2.1H 2:41 p.m. 0.0L Sep 11 12:00 a.m. 1.9H 2:17 p.m. -0.1L 19 Sat N 6:14 ----- 6:39 12:51 7:19 7:34 8:13a 7:57p Sep 12 4:09 a.m. 2.2H 3:54 p.m. 0.0L Sep 12 1:29 a.m. 2.0H 3:31 p.m. -0.1L 20 Sun > 7:07 12:54 7:32 1:19 7:20 7:33 9:17a 8:33p Sep 13 3:43 a.m. 2.2H 5:08 p.m. 0.0L Sep 13 2:27 a.m. 2.1H 4:46 p.m. -0.1L 21 Mon > 8:02 1:49 8:28 2:15 7:20 7:32 10:21a 9:12p Sep 14 2:34 a.m. 2.2H 6:18 p.m. 0.0L Sep 14 3:08 a.m. 2.1H 5:58 p.m. 0.0L 22 Tue 9:00 2:47 9:26 3:13 7:21 7:31 11:24a 9:55p Sep 15 2:43 a.m. 2.1H 7:18 a.m. 1.4L 10:56 a.m. 2.1H 7:20 p.m. 0.1L Sep 15 3:32 a.m. 2.0H 7:05 p.m. 0.2L 23 Wed 9:58 3:44 10:24 4:11 7:21 7:29 12:25p 10:42p Sep 16 2:56 a.m. 2.0H 7:50 a.m. 1.3L 12:41 p.m. 2.1H 8:16 p.m. 0.3L Sep 16 3:39 a.m. 1.9H 8:10 a.m. 1.6L 12:00 p.m. 1.8H 8:08 p.m. 0.4L 24 Thu 10:54 4:41 11:21 5:08 7:22 7:28 1:21p 11:32p Sep 17 3:11 a.m. 2.0H 8:31 a.m. 1.0L 2:07 p.m. 2.1H 9:08 p.m. 0.5L Sep 17 3:36 a.m. 1.7H 8:22 a.m. 1.3L 1:54 p.m. 1.8H 9:09 p.m. 0.7L 25 Fri 11:49 5:36 ----- 6:02 7:22 7:27 2:12p NoMoon Sep 18 3:26 a.m. 1.8H 9:15 a.m. 0.7L 3:26 p.m. 2.1H 9:58 p.m. 0.7L Sep 18 3:28 a.m. 1.5H 8:52 a.m. 1.0L 3:28 p.m. 1.9H 10:09 p.m. 1.0L 26 Sat Q 12:16 6:27 12:40 6:52 7:23 7:26 2:58p 12:25a Sep 19 3:41 a.m. 1.8H 9:59 a.m. 0.5L 4:41 p.m. 2.2H 10:47 p.m. 0.9L Sep 19 3:15 a.m. 1.4H 9:29 a.m. 0.6L 4:53 p.m. 1.9H 11:13 p.m. 1.2L 27 Sun 1:03 7:15 1:27 7:39 7:23 7:24 3:39p 1:20a Sep 20 3:55 a.m. 1.8H 10:42 a.m. 0.4L 5:56 p.m. 2.2H 11:39 p.m. 1.2L Sep 20 2:58 a.m. 1.4H 10:10 a.m. 0.3L 6:15 p.m. 1.9H 28 Mon 1:47 7:59 2:10 8:22 7:24 7:23 4:15p 2:16a Sep 21 4:06 a.m. 2.0H 11:27 a.m. 0.2L 7:12 p.m. 2.2H Sep 21 10:54 a.m. 0.1L 7:39 p.m. 1.9H 29 Tue 2:29 8:40 2:50 9:01 7:24 7:22 4:48p 3:11a Sep 22 12:37 a.m. 1.4L 4:07 a.m. 2.0H 12:13 p.m. 0.2L 8:34 p.m. 2.2H Sep 22 11:40 a.m. 0.0L 9:11 p.m. 1.9H 30 Wed 3:07 9:18 3:28 9:39 7:25 7:21 5:19p 4:07a Sep 23 1:03 p.m. 0.2L 10:12 p.m. 2.2H Sep 23 12:31 p.m. 0.0L 10:55 p.m. 1.9H 01 Thu 3:44 9:55 4:05 10:15 7:25 7:20 5:48p 5:01a Sep 24 2:00 p.m. 0.3L Sep 24 1:29 p.m. 0.2L Sep 25 12:39 a.m. 2.2H 3:06 p.m. 0.3L Sep 25 12:33 a.m. 2.0H 2:34 p.m. 0.3L Amarillo 2009 A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Sep Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets 11 Fri Q 11:56 5:42 ----- 6:11 7:26 8:00 NoMoon 2:39p 12 Sat 12:33 6:42 12:57 7:12 7:27 7:58 12:21a 3:38p JOIN US TODAY Name ______13 Sun 1:25 7:40 1:55 8:10 7:27 7:57 1:26a 4:32p 14 Mon 2:21 8:35 2:50 9:05 7:28 7:56 2:36a 5:18p Address______15 Tue 3:13 9:27 3:41 9:55 7:29 7:54 3:50a 5:57p 16 Wed 4:03 10:16 4:29 10:42 7:30 7:53 5:03a 6:32p City/State/Zip______17 Thu > 4:50 11:03 5:15 11:28 7:30 7:51 6:14a 7:04p 18 Fri > 5:38 11:50 6:02 12:15 7:31 7:50 7:23a 7:34p E-mail______19 Sat N 6:27 ----- 6:52 13:04 7:32 7:48 8:31a 8:05p Texas’ Premier 20 Sun > 7:20 1:07 7:45 1:32 7:32 7:47 9:39a 8:37p 21 Mon > 8:15 2:03 8:41 2:28 7:33 7:46 10:47a 9:13p Phone______22 Tue 9:13 3:00 9:39 3:26 7:34 7:44 11:53a 9:53p Outdoor Newspaper ❑ Master Card ❑ VISA ❑ American Express 23 Wed 10:11 3:58 10:37 4:24 7:35 7:43 12:55p 10:38p 24 Thu 11:08 4:55 11:34 5:21 7:35 7:41 1:52p 11:28p Credit Card No.______25 Fri ----- 5:49 12:02 6:15 7:36 7:40 2:43p NoMoon 26 Sat Q 12:29 6:41 12:53 7:06 7:37 7:38 3:28p 12:22a Expiration Date______27 Sun 1:16 7:28 1:40 7:52 7:38 7:37 4:06p 1:19a 24 issues for $30 28 Mon 2:01 8:12 2:24 8:35 7:38 7:35 4:40p 2:17a Signature______Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. F=Full Moon N=New Moon Q=Quarter > = Peak Activity Mail to Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, Texas 75243. For fastest service, call (214) 361-2276 or visit LSONews.com. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.

OUTDOOR PUZZLER | By Wilbur “Wib” Lundeen Solution on Page 30 FOR THE TABLE ACROSS Grilled Tuna with Fruit Salsa 1. A method of fi shing 1/3 cup pineapple juice over steaks. Cover and refrigerate 5. Tusker, boar, sow 7. Term for bass attacking bait on 1 tablespoon vegetable oil for at least one hour. Meanwhile, surface 1 tablespoon soy sauce combine remaining ingredients in a 9. To lose an antler Juice of one lime medium bowl; stir gently. Cover and 11. Brings a catch into the boat 4 (6-8 oz.) tuna steaks refrigerate until needed. Coat grill 12. A hunter’s mountain quarry 1 cup chopped fresh plums rack with vegetable cooking spray. 13. Name for the rarest of trout 1 cup chopped fresh peaches Remove tuna from marinade and 14. The sight nearest the eye 15. Term for total weight of angler’s 1/2 cup chopped fresh pineapple place on grill 4 to 5 inches above catch 1/4 cup fi nely chopped bell pepper medium-hot coals. Grill until fi sh 16. Part of a stag’s rack 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar begins to fl ake easily when tested 19. The body of an arrow 2 tablespoons minced fresh mint with a fork, allowing about 10 min- 21. A species of goose Combine fi rst four ingredients. utes per inch of thickness, turning 22. Hunting or fi shing equipment Arrange tuna steaks in shallow glass once. Serve at once with fruit salsa. 23. A rabbit species, ____shoe hare 25. A hunting weapon dish; pour pineapple juice mixture — National Fisheries Institute 26. The ______Walton League 27. A very large bass, ____ bass 28. Slang for rooster pheasant Duck Parmesan 29. A species of duck 32. The trapper’s interest 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese and sear the duck until golden 34. A squirrel and deer food source 1/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs brown on both sides. Place the 36. The hunting area 1 tablespoon fl our breasts in a glass baking dish and 37. Act of game having young Duck breasts top each with a slice of Mozzarella. 39. The grommet on a fi sh rod Olive oil In a skillet, add a small amount of 40. A game bird Mozzarella cheese, sliced olive oil and sauté the onion until 41. To trap a game 8. The slightest will spook a deer 24. Name for the whitetail of the North 10. The whitetail is one 27. To dress out a game 1/2 cup chopped onions soft. Add pasta sauce and wine DOWN 12. Term for scouting for deer 30. To urge a game toward the hunters Pasta sauce and stir until heated. Pour mixture 1. The wild boar 13. An antelope 31. The hunting and fi shing laws In a shallow dish or pie plate, over the duck breasts and bake at 2. A type of sight 16. Female bear 33. A species of deer combine Parmesan, breadcrumbs 350 degrees, uncovered, until the 3. A rugged method of fi shing 17. Anything that attracts game, fi sh, 35. A part of an antler and fl our. Dip the duck breasts in mixture is bubbly and the cheese 4. Wood used in making arrow shafts fowl 36. Hunters try to read this of game an egg wash, then into the cheese- is melted. Serve with spaghetti and 5. Letters for pistol grip 18. A trout’s home tracks 6. The hunter’s quarry 19. Act of fi sh hitting a bait 37. A gun organization crumb mixture. In a heavy skillet, top with more grated Parmesan. 7. Brand of ice shelter, Sno-____ 20. Act of game hunting food 38. Hunters give this TLC heat a small amount of olive oil, —Delta Waterfowl LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 23

SUSPENDED DISBELIEF: Richard Negley Gill strips line to retrieve his fly while trying to hook a tarpon on the Belize coast. Photo by Peter French. Tarpon Continued from Page 1 someone string up an 11-weight rod for him and tie on a chartreuse and black tarpon toad fly. When he reentered the water, he swam to a ledge where the wa- ter drops from about 25 feet deep to 150. He and French, 33, had seen about 20 tarpon before retrieving the fly rod. But when they returned, the fish had left. Remembering the fish’s curiosity, the men began splashing and kick- ing their fins. Soon enough, the fish returned. Gill cast once, but nothing hit. The fly was tied on a loop knot so it would undulate. Gill could see it moving through the water, and he gained a new insight into fishing. “It was amazing how much mo- tion there is vertically,” he said. “You know, you can’t really get a sense of it when you’re above water.” With the second cast, Gill let the fly sink a little before beginning his retrieve. Then, a strike, and fish on. “I told him, ‘You better keep that drag at zero ’cause if you don’t, you’re going to get dragged to Ecuador,” said French, who also lives in San Antonio. The fish pulled, Gill said, but this one was small, maybe 20 or 30 pounds. It takes only seconds for Gill to “land” the fish, and the experience was different — for the fish — from landing a fish from a boat, he said. “He was really calm when he got up close to us,” Gill said. After that, Gill and French re- turned to the lodge. The sun was set- ting, and they feared sharks would take an interest in their fishing. (Sharks are known for snatching tar- pon from anglers’ lines.) Thus ended the “most aggressive fishing experience” of French’s life, he said. “That was the only snorkeling fish we caught,” he said. JOIN US TODAY on Twitter

twitter.com/HuntFishTX LSONews.com Page 24 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com 64 dove seasons for Bryan hunter; 55 for his gun He recalled one limit harvested from a farmer’s At 88 years old, Stasny field near Hearne. The field had a large patch of native sunflowers in it, and Stasny started walking from the has seen a few changes in north end, headed south. By the time he reached the south end of the field — without wearing a stitch of how people hunt camo — he had his limit. He told a neighbor his story, and the neighbor invit- By Thomas Phillips ed himself for a return trip. They went back two days LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS later, but a cold front had blown through. They shot no birds. Charles Stasny bucks the stereotype of today’s dove Those days of extra-quick limits might be gone in hunter. He took awhile to warm up to camouflage. the Brazos Valley, Stasny said. He hasn’t seen many Only wore it when someone insisted. He shoots a 16- birds the last several years. gauge because it’s a good gun, though finding low- He attributes part of the decline to modern agri- cost shells for it anymore is tricky. culture. Ranchers, wanting to improve their pastures, Stasny is not a high-tech guy who drains his wallet have cut back on dove weed, a favorite for the birds. for gear and uses GPS to track downed game. They have also filled in bare spots in the ground, He will be 88 this dove season, but it will still be a where dove like to feed. season for hunting. “When I started hunting, people didn’t mow pas- “I’m just an average person that likes to go out occa- tures; they didn’t fertilize,” said Stasny, who is retired sionally,” Stasny said from his Bryan home. from working for the U.S. Postal Service. “They didn’t Stasny started hunting when he was 14, shooting do this.” doves, squirrels and other small game with his father. The decline of recent years means his son Greg did He used a single-shot 20-gauge that first season. not have an opening-day hunt planned. “We didn’t get to hunt real often,” he said. “(My Charles and Greg Stasny hunted with four others dad) was a city fireman here in Bryan, and he didn’t the first Saturday of the season in a field west of Bryan. get that much time off.” Though his trusty 16-gauge was ready to go, Charles Together they would sometimes walk the Navasota Stasny took no birds, and the group only shot two. River and try to jump a duck. The elder Stasny has become a tagalong, not the When Stasny’s sons came along — he has three — main driving force, for family hunts, Greg Stasny said. he taught them to shoot using a single-shot, bolt-ac- Like his weathered 16-gauge, which has lost all its tion 20-gauge, too. The bolt action took longer to re- bluing over the years, Charles Stasny is showing his load than pump shotguns and automatics. years. He still drives — and catches catfish in the Bra- “That taught them to make that first shot count,” zos River — but he doesn’t walk “as erect and robust as he said. he used to,” Greg Stasny said. When Stasny came of age, he graduated to a pump, “He’s fine with that,” he said. “But I’m not going to the same 16-gauge, Remington 870 he carries today. portray him as Superman.” He bought it new in 1954. The price: $80. He is showing signs he is about to be 88. “And I still shoot it,” he said. “We’re certainly proud of him, and we encourage Over all these years, he never wanted to buy a new him,” Greg Stasny said. “But he’s not so prideful. Last one, he said. year he was having trouble getting down the river- “No, that shoots too well,” he said. “And it fits me.” bank and said, ‘You know, I’m not going to be able to Stasny has not changed his gun, but he did change do this anymore. One of you guys is going to have to his attire. And that, reluctantly. go with me.” His sons insisted he begin wearing camouflage — when he was in his 70s. “I think that under certain conditions I could see STILL PUMPING: Charles Stasny, 88, poses with his 55- where it would be beneficial,” he said. “But before year-old shotgun, which he bought new in 1954. He still they ever thought about camouflage, I shot my limit uses the 16-gauge Remington 870 for hunting today. Photo plenty of times.” by Patrick Clayton, for Lone Star Outdoor News. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 25

WEIGHTY SPOON: Tony Parker attached Spoon a sinker to his spoon so clients could Continued from Page 8 cast it farther. The weight also changes STAR tournament leaderboard Parker said the technique of fish- the lure’s action and attracts more fish, The Coastal Conservation As- ■ Gafftop: 7 pounds, 8 ounces Ford / Tilson Home Corp. Leader Board Parker said. ing the spoon is important over the sociation’s State of Texas Anglers Jeremy Chessher, 10, of Warren ■ Speckled trout Upper Coast: 9 pounds, 2 ounces humps in the middle of the Rodeo tournament ended on La- lake and closer to Academy Sports & Outdoors Starteens Harold Riley of Webster bor Day. Leaders of each category Scholarship Trout Division (Ages 11-17) ■ the dam. will now wait to be awarded their 6-pound min., $20,000 scholarship Speckled trout Mid-Coast: “You cast 9 pounds, 2 ounces and let it go big prizes and scholarships at the ■ Speckled trout Upper Coast: Robert Hibbert of Houston awards ceremony on Oct. 8 at the 8 pounds, 11 ounces to the bot- ■ Speckled Trout Lower Coast: Cory Cobler, 16, of Lake Jackson tom,” he said. “As soon as it hits, 27th Annual CCA Texas BBQ. 10 pounds, 7 ounces you burn it seven to 10 rotations. Nine tagged redfish qualified for ■ Speckled trout Mid-Coast: Robb Sherron of Corpus Christi Then you immediately push the but- On Cooper truck-boat and boat packages. 7 pounds, 14 ounces ■ Kingfish: 52 pounds, 12 ounces ton on the reel and let it go back to Tony Parker’s Guide Service Ten more were caught but did Jeremy Patrick, 13, of Corpus Christi Jeffery Wagen of Seabrook the bottom. As soon as it hits the bot- (903) 348-1619 not qualify. ■ Speckled trout Lower Coast: ■ Dorado: 46 pounds, 2 ounces tom, do it again.” tawakonifi[email protected] 8 pounds, 2 ounces Texas Ford Dealers Redfish Division W. R. Trey Buford III of Harlingen Parker believes the technique Jacob Adams, 14, of Willow Park Truck-boat package Boat package ■ Ling (cobia): works so well because of the spoon’s Steve Pebley, ■ John Sendejas ■ Ty Howard Cooper Lake Guide Service Time Warner Cable Starteens 79 pounds, 3 ounces behavior on the fall. ■ Sam Campos ■ Charles Maresh Scholarship Inshore Division (11-17) Steven A. Richards of Porter “The spoon goes back at the fish (214) 240-0801 ■ David Raska ■ Benjamin Bo $20,000 Scholarship when you let it sink,” he said. “The [email protected] ■ Ronald Scheck Patrick II ■ Flounder: 6 pounds, 14 ounces fish hit it on the fall or when you ■ Keith McLaren ■ Nico Espinosa ■ Flounder: 6 pounds, 1 ounce Joseph Jackson of Corpus Christi Cody Meineke, 15, of Spring start to reel after it stopped on the Cooper Lake State Park has boat Starkids Scholarship Division ■ Sheepshead: 10 pounds, 3 ounces bottom. It works. It works big-time.” ramps and cleaning stations at Ages 6-10 $50,000 Scholarship ■ Sheepshead: 9 pounds, 4 ounces David Martin of Baytown two locations: The only other guide regularly on Nicholas Pantoja, 16, of Highlands ■ Gafftop: 7 pounds, 11 ounces ■ Doctor’s Creek Unit ■ Flounder: 6 pounds, 6 ounces the lake, Steve Pebley, caught on to Anthony Skrobarcyzk, 9, of Corpus Christi Amanda Darder-Hebert of Nederland (903) 395-3100 ■ Gafftop: 7 pounds, 10 ounces the technique, too. Bryce Darder, 16, of Nederland “I got it from him,” Pebley said. ■ South Sulphur Unit ■ Sheepshead: 9 pounds Results are as of Sept. 7. For more (903) 945-5256 Rodolpho Ibarra III, age 9, of Dayton information, visit www.ccatexas.org. “It works. Some spoons are real flut- Proceeds from STAR go to CCA Texas. tery, and it takes them forever to get to the bottom. The Moe’s Kahuna Spoon I use is real heavy, so I use a lighter weight. “They hit it real hard. It’s like when they are hitting the shad on top. They try to knock the shad out before they swallow it.” Maybe the best thing about the technique? “If you are fishing with your bud- dies, you can rig it up and not tell them,” Parker said. “Chances are you’ll catch the most fish, and they won’t even see what you’re doing.” Pebley said the spoons work best when the water is about 85 degrees at the lake. “Spoons and slabs work best in the summer,” he said. “When the water gets in the 70s, swimbaits work the best for the hybrids.” One thing anglers don’t have to worry about at Cooper? Crowds. There aren’t any. “You’ll see five or six other boats, and that’s on the weekends,” Parker said. While anglers have a tendency to try to protect their spots, these guides worry that the lack of crowds will cause the numbers of fish stocked in the lake to drop or disappear. “We need more people out here,” Parker said. “If I could design the per- fect hybrid fishing lake, this would be it.”

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facebook.com Click “All Results” when searching. Page 26 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com HEROES

MAKAYLAH ANDERSEN shot this doe near Sonora the first time she used a rifle for hunt- ing. She was 13 at the time of the hunt. NICHOLAS CARRISAL IV caught this 31 1/2-inch redfish at Calaveras Lake in San Antonio.

ALEJANDRO CARRALES, 5, caught redfish SETH WILLIAMS, 8, while fishing with his father, Frank, in the of Lavernia caught Laguna Madre. his first red fish this summer wade fishing in Corpus Christi Bay. Seth’s fish measured 33 inches and was Share an adventure caught using live Want to share hunting and fishing piggy perch. photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers? Send them to us with contact and caption information. [email protected] Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, 75243 BRANDON SANCHEZ, 12, of Odem shot this buck — his first — with a .243 while hunt- ing with his grandfather, Robert, in Jim Wells County.

Congratulations, Emily! You can claim your Nikon 10x42 Monarch ATB binoculars at one of these Nikon Sport Optics dealer near you:

Dury’s Gun Shop 819 Hot Wells Blvd San Antonio, TX 78223-2201 (210) 533-5468 EMILY BALLER, 13, of San Antonio harvested a 10-point buck that scored 140 on a family hunting lease in McMullen County. See the rest of Emily’s hunting story and Barkley’s Home & Ranch other SnapShot winners online at LSONews.com. 32450 IH 10 West Boerne, Texas 78006 888-249-2656 LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 27

Dove Continued from Page 1 “We had a lot of birds,” said Brad Dickey, who hunted Sept. 1 south of Putnam, near Abilene. About half of the hunters in his group shot limits, with the limit- ing factor being shooting ability, he said. The birds were young, too, with no white-winged dove or Eurasian collared dove taken, he said. “I’ve never seen so many small birds,” said Dickey, of Lubbock. The hunters positioned them- selves in three large fields and at a tank, though the hunters at the tank didn’t do as well, Dickey said. The fields had shredded sunflowers. Tom Haddock of Dallas had his limit by 8:30 a.m. near Throckmor- ton. But to make that happen took a SNAPPER SURGERY: Researchers surgically implant a tracking device into a red last-minute change of venue. snapper in the Gulf of Mexico. His original, intended location wasn’t producing when scouted be- the Pew Trusts said, “The Pew Trusts’ fore the season. Snapper stance is to follow the reauthoriza- “We didn’t have birds,” Haddock Continued from Page 8 tion of the MSA and end overfish- said. reauthorization of the Magnuson- ing. We hope to see TPW join the He and his five hunting partners Stevens Act in 2006, which stat- rest of the Gulf states and mirror fed- called a guide, who put them on 10 ed that all federal regulated fishes eral fisheries management plans for to 15 acres of milo and millet. that were in overfished status end the health of the fishery and to alle- “By far, the fields that had sun- by 2011. Currently, all Gulf states viate any confusion on the parts of flowers were the fields holding the have mirrored the federal red snap- recreational fisherman.” birds. per regulations with the exception Gibson’s concern over angler That first morning near Throck- of Texas. Florida recently complied confusion and the natural instinct morton, lows were in the 60s, with with the act. Texas’s reluctance, of some that they won’t get caught a north wind blowing. The cool however, to comply with regula- catching fish in federal waters and conditions had the birds moving tions is based on the relative abun- returning to state waters with more slowly, Haddock said. dance of red snapper in Texas wa- generous limits may have gained When afternoon came, Haddock ters — from the beach to 9 nautical traction with the announcement had to watch as a warm wind came miles offshore. by federal fisheries regulators of a out of the south. On one side of the issue wheth- one-year sting that resulted in nu- “And the shooting was a little er to mirror the federal regulations, merous violations of charter boat FETCHING FRIEND: David Deveny’s chocolate Lab, Quinn, retrieves a dove on opening more fast and furious,” he said. Jim Smarr of the Recreational Fish- captains fishing out of season and Birds were following lanes cut in day. An abundance of grass burrs resulted in the Lab wearing boots to protect his paws. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. ing Alliance said, “Texas territorial out of territorial waters. fields, and were going to water as waters are simply not to be compro- The Coastal Conservation As- the morning or evening became lack of opportunity, he said. one of them said. mised to appease the federal gov- sociation also supports “federal later. South Texas’ drought has kept Outside the loop in southern ernment. The existing 12-month compliance with all fishery related Dario Abrego with All Around birds concentrated around food, Waco, the Friday-evening hunt red snapper fishery is vital to main- issues,” said Communications Di- Outfitters saw no change in dove water and shelter, Abrego said. was less good, apparently because tain coastal fishing villages infra- rector Ted Venker. numbers — or the temperature — For opening weekend, hunters of 2 inches of rain that morning. structure all along the Texas coast.” Another round of scoping meet- around San Antonio for the opener. took many birds near the Hearne A group of four hunters took eight Conversely, Terry Gibson, fishing ings on whether to mirror the Gulf Half to 75 percent of his clients airport Saturday morning because birds in one field, and two hunters editor for Outdoor Life and recreation- Council’s Fishery Management are shooting limits, but it’s not for of little recent rainfall in the area, split a limit at a nearby gravel pit. al fishing outreach coordinator for Plan will begin in November. Page 28 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com Long-run, quick-hit tuna fishing out of Freeport spoons to sweep from far left to far Summer bite Right rigs for tuna right. The other option is to reel it like crazy with occasional jerks Locations begins a few of the rod tip. The second tactic is ■ Diana rig usually most productive.” 123 miles from Freeport hours from coast Thorpe and Harmon prefer to 4,657 feet of water fish at night. They’ll run hard dur- ing daylight hours, reach the rigs at By Robert Sloan ■ Boomvang sundown and begin fishing. FOR LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS 150 miles from Houston “It’s rare when you don’t find 3,453 feet of water Long-range, fast-run tuna fish- blackfins at either Diane or Boom- ing trips are the in thing out of vang,” Thorpe said. “The yellow- Tackle Freeport. The action seems to be fins are a totally different story. And ■ For blackfins great year round, according to Cur- they can be very finicky.” 8 1/2 to 10 1/2-ounce spoons, tis Thorpe, a tuna-fishing fanatic Harmon said the best way to fool blue- or pink-silver from Beaumont. Thorpe runs a 36- finicky yellowfins is to chunk with J hooks in size 5/0 to 7/0, rigged foot Contender powered by three fresh blackfins. at top of the spoon 250 horsepower Yamahas. “What I’ll do is fillet a blackfin in “On a good day, with decent seas, the 5- to 8-pound class and cut up ■ For yellowfins I can run at 32 knots and be fishing skinless chunks about the size of Skinless, poker-chip-size chunks within 4 to 5 hours, well past the a poker chip,” he said. “Next you of a small blackfin’s fillets, 100-mile mark,” Thorpe said. “I make a slice in the chunk and push rigged on a 6/0 black circle hook keep my Contender, the Muy Loco, the 6/0 black circle hook in. Set the at the new Surfside Marina. I can reel so that line can be hand-re- call the marina, and by the time I terfish,” Harmon said. “It’s tough leased with the clicker. It’s very im- get there it’s in the water, iced up, to beat live baits.” portant to allow the chunk baits to loaded with fuel and ready to make Thorpe said his crew will usually float freely with the current. Once a tuna run.” begin by fishing Shimano Butterfly a yellowfin takes the bait, click the Thorpe and his tuna-fishing jigs anywhere from 100 to 300 feet reel into gear and hang on.” friend Kevin Harmon made a recent deep. Harmon’s favorite rig for live bait run to the Diana rig, located about “I’ll slowly circle a rig until I see and chunking is a 6 1/2-foot rod 123 miles out. They basically fish a wad of baitfish on the bottom with 750 yards of 80-pound-test two rigs — Diana and Boomvang. finder,” Thorpe said. “Once I deter- braided line that is spliced to 200 Diana sits in 4,657 feet of water. mine what depth is best, we lower yards of 80-pound mono and a 16- Boomvang is 150 miles from Hous- the spoons and begin jigging. I like foot, 60-pound-test fluorocarbon ton and sits in 3,453 feet of water. the 8 1/2- to 10 1/2-ounce spoons in leader. Both are long runs, but the action blue-silver or pink-silver.” “It’s all stand-up tackle, so don’t is worth the effort. Shimano Butterfly spoons come forget the fighting belts,” he said. Harmon, a tuna-fishing pro, said unrigged. “If you really want to have the night bite is usually best for “I’ll rig them up with a pair of some fun, try fishing big chuggers blackfins. But at times the yellow- J-hooks at the top of the spoon,” around the rigs at night,” Harmon fins will show up and hit spoons, Thorpe said. “You want to rig them said. “Two of the best chuggers are live baits, topwater chuggers and with 5/0 to 7/0 Owner Dancing the blue-chrome, 4 3/4-inch Yo- chunk baits. Stinger hooks. There are two ways Zuri Hydro Popper and the 8-inch “What I like to do is stop at the to fish this type of spoon. One is to Yo-Zuri Surface Bull Plug. Work rigs about 15 to 25 miles out and work it up with a slow but steady them on a fast retrieve with spin- TUNA TIME: Curtis Thorpe, left, and Kevin Harmon show a pair of yellowfin tuna that hit catch live baits like hardtails or but- yo-yoing motion. That allows the ning tackle.” chunk baits at the Diana rig 123 miles from Freeport. Photo by Robert Sloan, for LSON.

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ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 83 early. Crappie are slow. Channel catfish white buzzbaits and shad-colored nows and yellow jigs in Rock Creek area. degrees; 1.70’ low. Crappie are good are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are spinnerbaits, pumpkin or watermelon White bass are good on silver jigging on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good good on live bait. soft plastic worms and live bait worked spoons suspended on humps. Stripers HOT BITES on live bait. CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; along grass and tree lines. Crappie are good on silver spoons suspended SALTWATER AMISTAD: Water clear; 86 degrees; 79-83 degrees; 1.28’ low. Hybrid striper are good on jigs and minnows. White in Broadway area. Catfish are fair on 1.83’ low. Black bass are good on are fair to good on live shad. Crappie are bass are good on live bait and shallow live shad. topwaters, soft plastics, jigs, crankbaits fair to good on minnows and jigs around crankbaits. Smallmouth bass are PROCTOR: Water stained; 87 degrees; CENE LARGEMOUTH and spinnerbaits. Striped bass are slow. bridge columns and over brush piles. good on live bait and white crankbaits. 7.38’ low. Black bass are slow. Crappie S White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair to good on prepared bait Walleye are good on live bait. Catfish are are slow. Channel and blue catfish are good on live and prepared bait. NORTH SABINE: Trout are good under slicks BASS Catfish are fair on cheesebait, shrimp, and fresh shad. good on shrimp and stinkbait. Yellow and birds on soft plastics. Redfish are good chicken livers and nightcrawlers over CHOKE CANYON: Water clear; 89 HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 86 catfish are fair on live bait. under rafts of shad on topwaters. Redfish are baited holes in 15-45 feet. Yellow catfish degrees; 9.35’ low. Black bass are fair degrees; 1.28’ low. Black bass are RAY HUBBARD: Water fairly clear; 78-84 good in the marsh on small topwaters. are good on trotlines, juglines and drop good on watermelon soft plastic worms on spinnerbaits and large soft plastics degrees; 1.06’ low. Black bass are good SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair to good under lines baited with live perch. early and late and on crankbaits and near brush piles and drop-offs. White on Yellow Magics and frogs early, later bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live birds and pods of shad. Trout are good at the ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 83 Carolina-rigged soft plastics in the grass. switching to Carolina rigs, shad pattern jetty on live bait and degrees; 6.38’ low. Black bass are good White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. minnows in small coves in 10-12 feet. spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged Grande Bream are good on live worms off piers topwaters. on hollow-body swim baits suspended Drum are fair on nightcrawlers. Channel Bass Rattlesnakes. Crappie are good on Offshore LAKE O’ THE PINES: Excellent on 5-10 feet off rocky points and on and blue catfish are good on punchbait. and grass beds. Channel and blue minnows and jigs over brush piles and topwaters early, later switching to shal- catfish are good on perch. is good for topwater baits early in day. Crappie are Yellow catfish are good on live perch. around bridge columns. White bass are kingfish and ling. low running crankbaits, Texas rigs and fair on jigs suspended 12-15 feet. White HUBBARD CREEK: Water lightly stained; good on topwaters early around Rob- COLEMAN: Water clear; 88 degrees; BOLIVAR: Trout are good on the outgoing tide spinnerbaits. bass are good trolling with some surface 79 degrees; 7.11’ low. Black bass are ertson Park, later switching to 1-ounce 9.20’ low. Black bass are fair on at Rollover Pass on soft plastics and mullet. action early and late in day. Blue catfish good on white buzzbaits, white/char- slabs fished off wind blown points, BRIDGEPORT: Good on topwaters watermelon red and watermelon Redfish have been taken in the marsh with are good drift fishing with cut shad or treuse spinnerbaits and black/blue soft bends and over humps. Hybrid striper early, later switching to medium dicing gold spinnerbaits, crankbaits and higher tides. Trout are good on the shorelines cheese bait on flats at 12-15 feet deep plastic lures worked along grass lines. are poor on slabs. Catfish are good on crankbaits, Carolina rigs and shaky soft plastics. Hybrid striper are slow. on Super Spooks and She Dogs. and on juglines baited with shad. Crappie are fair on minnows. Channel Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. nightcrawlers and prepared bait. head rigs. TRINITY BAY: Trout are good for drifters BOB SANDLIN: Water fairly clear; 77-84 and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, White bass and hybrid stripers are good RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 80-84 CEDAR CREEK: Good on topwaters early, working pods of shad and mullet on Bass degrees; 0.08’ high. Black bass are degrees; 0.93’ low. Black bass are fair later switching to jigs, Carolina rigs and Assassins, Trout Killers and Sand Eels. Trout good on Yellow Magics early, later on Bomber 2A crankbaits and Texas- and redfish have been caught under birds on DD 22s. switching to weightless 5” Yum Dingers, rigged worms (slot removed Sept. 1; the upper end of the bay. GRANGER: Good on black Power Worms Rat-L-Traps and drop-shot rigs. Crappie HOT SPOT now a 14” minimum). White bass are in 3-6 feet. are fair to good on minnows and jigs un- good on topwaters early, later switching EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are good on der the 21 and railroad bridges and over the south shoreline on topwaters and soft LIVINGSTON: Good on spinnerbaits and to jigging spoons. Catfish are excellent brush piles. White bass are fair to good over baited holes. plastics. Trout are fair to good on the shell crankbaits. on slabs. Catfish are good on bait. adjacent to the channel on live bait. Drifters RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; have caught fish on live bait over shell. BRAUNIG: Water stained; 87 degrees. 79-84 degrees; 4.09’ low. Black bass Black bass are slow. Redfish are fair on are good early on buzzbaits, weightless TEXAS CITY: Trout are fair to good on the reefs perch, shad and silver spoons and down flukes, Carolina rigs and shaky head jigs. and in the channel on live shrimp and croak- WHITE, rigging spoons near the jetty and dam. White bass are good on Little Georges, ers. Redfish and sand trout are fair to good in Channel catfish are excellent on liver, slabs and topwaters. Hybrid striper are Moses Lake and Dickinson Bayou on shrimp. shrimp, cut bait and cheesebait near the fair on large slabs and live shad. Crappie FREEPORT: Trout are good at San Luis Pass HYBRID, dam. Blue catfish are fair on cut bait. are fair on minnows and jigs over brush on shrimp, topwaters and soft plastics. Trout, BRIDGEPORT: Water fairly clear; 78-83 piles. Catfish are good on prepared bait redfish, sand trout and STRIPER degrees; 10.33’ low. Crappie are fair on and fresh shad. sheepshead are good jigs and minnows over brush piles and SAM RAYBURN: Water murky; 89 on live shrimp on the around bridge columns. White bass and degrees; 3.94’ low. Black bass are reefs in Christmas hybrids are good on Storm WildEyes, good on topwaters and watermelon soft Bay. Offshore is Humdingers and topwaters. No reports plastic worms. White bass are fair on good for kingfish on hybrid striper. spoons over humps. Crappie are fair on and ling. BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 87 degrees; minnows over baited holes. Bream are EAST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair for 6.87’ low. Black bass are fair on Bass fair on nightcrawlers. Catfish are good drifters on live shrimp over mid-bay reefs. Hogg spinnerbaits and Pig Sticker Shaky on trotlines. Waders have taken good catches on reefs on BRAUNIG: Striped bass are excellent on liver topwaters and plastics. Trout and redfish are Heads with redbug or green pumpkin TAWAKONI: Water fairly clear; 79-85 and shad off points near the pier and down worms near the docks and over brush good over mud on live mullet. rigging silver and gold spoons near the jetty West Galveston Bay degrees; 2’ low. Black bass are fair to piles in 12-15 feet and good on frogs WEST MATAGORDA BAY: Trout are fair over and dam. Sheepshead, redfish and black drum are good at the jetty on shrimp and crabs. good on topwaters early, later switching and topwaters. Hybrid striper are slow. Trout are good in the surf on live bait and topwaters. Trout are good for waders on to Carolina rigs, shaky head jigs and sand and grass humps on soft plastics and CEDAR CREEK: White bass are excellent on Crappie are good on Li’l Fishies and the shorelines on topwaters. Offshore is good for kingfish, ling and dolphin. Tarpon shallow running crankbaits. Crappie topwaters. Redfish and black drum are fair to topwaters, Humdingers and slabs. minnows over brush piles in 10-18 feet have been cruising the beachfront. are fair to good on minnows and jigs. good at Shell Island on live shrimp. Offshore and off lighted docks at night. Chan- BROWNWOOD: White bass are good on Li’l White bass are good on Humdingers is good for ling and tuna. nel catfish are good on cut bait and and topwaters (while surface schooling). PORT O’CONNOR: Trout and redfish are fair to Fishies off lighted docks at night. nightcrawlers over baited holes in 12-20 nightcrawlers and liver. on live bait. Catfish are good on live. Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair good on topwaters and live bait over sand, COOPER: White bass are good on rooster feet. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines CONROE: Water murky; 1.30’ low. LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 79- on live shad and Sassy Shad. Catfish are grass and shell in San Antonio Bay. Trout and baited with perch in 12-20 feet. tails. Hybrid striper are good on Sassy Shad Black bass are good on chartreuse 84 degrees; 2.11’ high. Crappie are fair good on prepared and cut bait. redfish are fair for drifters working the back and live shad. BUCHANAN: Water clear; 88 degrees; and watermelon red Carolina-rigged on minnows and jigs over brush piles. TEXOMA: Water off-color; 78-83 degrees; lakes with live shrimp and small topwaters. 28.41’ low. Black bass are fair on Pop- PROCTOR: Striped bass are good on silver soft plastics, Senkos and Rat-L-Traps. Catfish are good on bait. 0.28’ high. Black bass are fair to good ROCKPORT: Trout are fair over grass while R’s, shad flukes and watermelon red soft spoons. White bass are good on slabs. Striped bass are fair on live minnows LBJ: Water stained; 88 degrees; 0.40’ early on buzzbaits and Zara Spooks, drifting with live shrimp and Gulps. Redfish plastics rigged on jigheads along deeper and green striper jigs. Crappie are good low. Black bass are fair to good on later switching to Carolina rigs and DD are good on piggy perch and shrimp around creek points and ledges in 6-15 feet at on minnows and pink tube jigs. Catfish black/blue Erratic jigs, blue flake soft 22s. Smallmouth bass are fair to good on Mud Island and Estes Flats. daylight. Striped bass are fair on Spoiler are good on stinkbait and shrimp. plastics and Texas-rigged Big Pigs slabs and live shad around points with Shads plastic swim baits on the surface PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish and COOPER: Water lightly stained; 78-83 around docks and laydowns in 5-12 steep rocky drop-offs. Striped bass are at first light and drifting or free lining live sheepshead are fair to good at the jetty degrees; 1.47’ low. Black bass are good feet early. Striped bass to 2 pounds are good early on lures, later switching to live CATFISH bait. White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on shrimp and croakers. Trout are fair at on topwaters early, later switching to good on spoiler shads and Li’l Fishies at shad. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, on pink/white and chartreuse crappie Super Flats on small drop-shot rigs, Carolina and Texas rigs night. White bass are fair to good on Li’l prepared bait and live shad. jigs and live minnows. Channel catfish topwaters. Off- and Senkos. Crappie are good on jigs and Fishies at night. Crappie are fair to good are good on liver, minnows and dipbait. TOLEDO BEND: Water murky; 88 degrees; shore is good minnows over brush piles. Catfish are fair on crappie jigs and live minnows over 3.53’ low. Black bass are good on for dolphin, CADDO: Water off-color; 78-84 degrees; on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. brush piles in clear water. topwaters and redbug soft plastic worms ling, kingfish 1.34’ high. Black bass are good on FALCON: Water stained; 84 degrees. LEWISVILLE: Water off-color; 79-83 early and late. Striped bass are slow. and tuna. Senkos and flukes early, later switching Black bass are good flipping soft plastic degrees; 1.93’ low. Black bass are fair on White bass are good on spoons on CALAVERAS: Channel and blue catfish are to Carolina rigs. Crappie are good on CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout are fair to good on the worms and crankbaits in 2-8 feet. watermelon seed tubes, drop-shot-rigged ridges. Crappie are slow. Bream are good shiners and jigs in the river channel. edge of the spoils on piggy perch, Gulps and excellent on liver, cheesebait and shad Striped bass are slow. worms and chrome Rat-L-Traps. Crappie on crickets and nightcrawlers. Channel Bream are excellent on red wigglers and live shrimp. Redfish are good in the potholes near the railroad trestle and 181 Cove. are fair to good on minnows and jigs and blue catfish are good on trotlines. crickets — also on poppers with a fly FORK: Water lightly stained; 78-84 de- on shrimp and piggies. Channel and blue catfish are around bridge columns and over brush FALCON: rod. The white bass bite has slowed. grees; 0.15’ high. Black bass are good TRAVIS: Water stained; 88 degrees; BAFFIN BAY: Trout are good on topwaters and excellent on stinkbait. on Pop Rs and Stanley Ribbits early and piles. White bass are good on topwaters, 49.37’ low. Black bass to 3 pounds are CALAVERAS: Water stained; 87 degrees. soft plastics around deep rocks and grass. late, midmorning switching to spoons, Humdingers and slabs. Catfish are good fair on bone chuggers and watermelon BUCHANAN: Yellow and blue catfish Black bass are slow. Striped bass are Redfish are fair to good for sight-casters on DD22s, drop-shot rigs and Carolina rigs. on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. worms in 15-28 feet. Striped bass are are very good on rod/reel, juglines and good on spoons and striper jigs near the the flats on small topwaters. Trout are fair to Crappie are good on jigs and minnows slow. White bass are good on smoke trotlines baited with goldfish and perch dam and the crappie wall in 15-20 feet LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 88 good on soft plastics under a popping cork. around the bridges and over brush piles. grubs and jigging spoons in 28-40 upriver. and on chicken livers and shad along degrees; 0.10’ low. Striped bass are fair PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are good on Catfish are good on bait. feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and the shoreline. Redfish are excellent down on bone colored and spooks. White bass topwaters on the edge of the channel and LBJ: Channel catfish are very good on blue catfish to 8 pounds are good on rigging silver and gold spoons and live GRANBURY: Water clear; 3.66’ low. are good on troll tubes and pet spoons. around sand and grass along spoils. Redfish nightcrawlers, liver and dipbait. Yellow Black bass are fair on watermelon and Crappie are good on minnows. Blue nightcrawlers and cut perch. and blue catfish are very good on trotlines bait along the crappie wall and the dam are good in skinny water on the sand on small in 10-20 feet and on crawfish and tilapia chartreuse Rat-L-Traps and spinnerbaits catfish are good on shad. WHITE RIVER: Water lightly stained; 79 topwaters and baited with goldfish and perch. along the shoreline. Crappie are slow. and on watermelon/white soft plastics. O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 81 de- degrees; 24.44’ low. Black bass are fair plum plastics. Striped bass are fair on silver spoons grees; 19.89’ low. Black bass are good on white buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, Offshore CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 88 degrees; and silver/white striper jigs. White bass 16.00’ low. Black bass are fair to good on white buzzbaits and spinnerbaits, live live bait and brown crawfish crankbaits. is good for are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. bait and black/blue jigs worked around Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. kingfish, on topwaters and watermelon red soft Catfish are good on bait. CRAPPIE plastics along grassy banks early and late timber. Crappie are good on minnows Walleye are good on live bait. Channel dolphin, ling and tuna. and on Texas-rigged blue flake worms GRANGER: Water murky; 85 degrees; and jigs. White bass are good on live catfish are fair on live and cut bait. SOUTH PADRE: Redfish are good on the Mex- and drop-shot Devil’s Tongues along 4.36’ low. White bass are fair on Gay bait. Smallmouth bass are good on live WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 78-83 iquita Flats and in South Bay on live bait and break lines and ledges. Striped bass are Blades and Rat-L-Traps along shallow bait and shad-colored crankbaits. Chan- degrees; 5.58’ high. Black bass are plastics. Snook are good in the Ship Channel slow to fair trolling crankbaits over and roadbeds early and late. Crappie are nel catfish are good on live bait. good on topwaters, later switching to on DOA Lures and live shrimp. good on chartreuse jigs tipped with around humps and jigging 1-oz. artificial POSSUM KINGDOM: Water stained; 80 Rat-L-Traps and weightless 5” water- PORT ISABEL: Trout are good at Three minnows at daylight. White bass are Berkley Crappie Nibbles in 4-12 feet. degrees; 4.42’ low. Black bass are good melon/red Yum Dingers. Crappie are fair Blue catfish are good on baits and shad. Islands on DOA Shrimp and topwaters. RAY ROBERTS: Excellent on minnows and slow. Smallmouth bass are fair on smoke on chartreuse soft plastics and chrome/ to good on minnows and jigs over brush Redfish are good on the Gas Well Flats on jigs over brush piles. grubs and 3/16-ounce pumpkin jigs GREENBELT: Water stained; 78 degrees; black Rat-L-Traps on mid-lake points piles in 15-25 feet. Catfish are fair to shrimp and mullet. with matching craw trailers in 12-28 feet 30.67’ low. Black bass are good on and grass beds. Crappie are fair on min- good on nightcrawlers and dead shad. Page 30 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

CLASSIFIEDS Fishing News in Brief pattern during the second day after Local guide takes clouds moved in and was excited when he awoke for the last day. Rayburn BASS win “When I woke up there was moon Sam Rayburn fishing guide Stephen and stars shining, and I was smiling,” Johnston of Hemphill led each day of Johnston said. the Central Open at his home lake, and Johnston said he needed the bright he depended on the sunshine to do it. sunlight to drive fish back to a few bare Johnston captured his first Bassmas- ridges from which he snatched a first- ter victory with a three-day total of 57 day weight of 22 pounds. pounds, 5 ounces. “What was happening was early in Todd Faircloth of Jasper claimed the morning the shad would come up second place with 47 pounds, and Kris and feed on the tops of those bare ridg- Wilson of Montgomery finished third es, and the bass would follow them,” with 46 pounds, 14 ounces. Landon Johnston said. “I was sitting in the Ware of Jewett and Todd Castledine of deep water and casting on top of the Nacogdoches ended fourth and fifth, ridge, and I was just hopping the baits making the event a Texas sweep. over the edge of those ridges.” Johnston abandoned his preferred — BASS report

other living thing. It became so bad Lost that “seeing a bird fly by made our Continued from Page 1 day,” he said. Phillips called it a night about Thanks to a starvation diet, the 11 p.m. brutal sun and the inability to sleep He awoke to cries the catamaran well because of the waves running was taking on water. Hall tried calling through the boat, the anglers began the Coast Guard while Phillips threw hallucinating. Hall, for example, saw his weight around hoping to balance Phillips take a big bite of air. the flailing craft. “He asked me what I was doing, and “We didn’t even have time to give I said, ‘Man, I’m eating my biscuit.’ I our location,” Phillips said. “Curt, on thought a man had swam up with a the radio, said, ‘The boat’s cup of coffee and a buttered rolling over,’ and the boat biscuit and offered them to rolled over. It was that fast.” me. It was quite an ordeal.” After the catamaran The men held on, some- flipped, the three anglers times linking hands and pray- found themselves sitting on a ing. Noting his company’s deck between two pontoons name, Phillips said, “Prayer is in 2 inches of water. After nu- nothing new to me.” merous dives to retrieve a bag Hawkins On their eighth day at sea, of flares, Lay’s barbecue chips, the men saw an oil rig in the peanut butter crackers and distance. They saw people a pack of gum, the men sig- on top of it, but again no one naled for help. saw them. They made a pact “We shot one or two flares to swim to it as a group when off,” Phillips said. “When the seas calmed that evening. no one saw them, we pretty Then Corpus Christi car much knew we were gonna dealer Eddie Yaklin arrived. be there a few days.” After fishing for marlin The Coast Guard began Phillips while aboard his 58-foot Riv- searching for the missing iera sportfisher, A Ford Able anglers after the Matagorda Fantasy, Yaklin noticed flags — County Sheriff’s Department made from the men’s T-shirts contacted the agency, said — being waved at him. The spokesman Lionel Bryant. lost anglers were found near The men’s families report- the Gunnison rig 180 miles ed them missing when they southeast of Matagorda. didn’t return Aug. 22. Back home, “people were The Coast Guard couldn’t throwing parties they were so spot the men, though the Hall excited,” said Rebecca Wright, men saw Coast Guard planes and a who works at the Blessing Hotel Cof- helicopter fly over them. fee Shop. “They were the talk of the “Once the boat overturned, it had town.” a dark hull, which made it more dif- And the nation. ficult to find them,” Bryant said. “All Phillips and his wife, Shane, even- you can see really is their heads, which tually checked into an undisclosed means you’re looking for something hotel to avoid being hunted down by about the size of a basketball. It’s very the media. difficult.” He surfaced long enough to tell The men rationed the little food everyone he’ll be back on the water they had and drank water from a 30- soon. gallon washdown tank. A few sal- “We might not stay overnight for a vaged beers also provided libation. while, unless we’re with Eddie on his “It helped us survive, so I’m not yacht, but you can bet your butt we’re gonna lie about it,” Phillips said. going fishing again,” Phillips said. Some days the men didn’t see an- “It’s who we are.”

Puzzle solution from Page 22

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$50 per month (two issues). Call Mike at (214) 361-2276 or e-mail ad to [email protected]. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 31 PRODUCTS >> GAMETRACKER Gerber’s handheld blood-tracking light uses Trax Technology to make blood stand out against the different backgrounds hunters encoun- ter. It uses a mix of red, blue and amber LEDs to enable hunters to discern between material that is red, such as blood, from things that have red in them, such as leaves and certain woods. Slightly under 7 inches in length, the GameTracker sells for $60. (800) 443-4871 www.gerbergear.com

WHISPER PEEP >> Archers will appreciate Loc-A-Peep’s sight, which is designed to dampen vibration and sound. Made from an “Elastomeric” material, the sight reduces the string oscil- lation, vibration and noise that is present when a bow is shot. It has a red elliptical glass-filled nylon aperture core that en- sures a large, round opening for increased light gathering and faster, easier targeting. The peep will fit any bow, and once it’s in- stalled will stay put. It is available in 1⁄4-, 7/32- and 3/16-inch sizes and in a self- aligning model. The Whisper Peep sells for about $19. DELUXE BLIND >> SCENTite’s blind offers comfort and concealment. The airtight (908) 735-6111 blind pulls in fresh air through intake ports located near the www.locapeep.com base of the blind and drafts air up and out of an exhaust pipe located more than 30 feet above the ground. The blind comes available with a locking full-size walk-in door for use on the ground or a trap door through the floor when used elevated. Tinted polycarbonate windows allow a 360-degree view while providing concealment for the hunter. The windows seal against a gasket to keep them scent-tight and weatherproof. The De- luxe Blind is olive drab on the outside and black on the inside. It sells for about $970.

www.advantagehunting.com THE MULE SKINNER >>

Texas Hunt Co.’s modular weapon cases are designed to mount securely on (800) 772-7679 any ATV. The case has thick, closed-cell foam padding and a tough Cordura >> outer skin to protect guns against dust and moisture. A full-length zippered opening on the top allows for easy access and quick shots. The complete BIRDMARKER Mule Skinner set, which sells for about $400, comes with a double rifle case Game Plan’s Birdmarkers, made from high-durability, blaze-orange cloth plus holsters and pouches for the control panel for storing a GPS unit, flash- ribbon and a heavy washer, help hunters find downed birds among light, knife, utility tool, cellphone, beverage and more. weeds and brush. Hunters can use them to mark the area where a bird (888) 894-8682 went down or to mark a line pointing from the hunter to where the bird www.texashuntco.com fell. The markers sell for $3 per pack of two. (214) 457-7711 www.birdmarker.com Page 32 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

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To advertise in this section, please contact Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or [email protected]. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 33 Page 34 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com

Geese Continued from Page 6 i n g a r e a i n l a n d f r o m t h e B r o a d R i v- e r . B u t o n J u n e 2 , i t h a d 1 0 0 p e r c e n t s n o w c o v e r . ” T h e s ta g i n g a r e a f a rth e r s o u th h e l d i n c r e d i b l e n u m b e rs o f g e e s e . “ T h e gr o u n d w a s j u s t a l i v e w i th g e e s e , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . “ T h e r e w a s a s t r e t ch f o r 4 0 t o 5 0 m i l e s th a t w a s t w o m i l e s w i d e . I t w a s c o v e r e d w i th m o s t l y s n o w s , b u t a l s o C a n a d a s , s p e ck l e b e l l i e s a n d e v e n B r a n d t . T h e p i l o t s a i d i t l o o k e d l i k e a g i a n t p i e c e o f m e a t w i th m a g g o t s o n i t . ” B u t th e s n o w a n d i c e c o v e r r e - m a i n e d . “ I t d i d n ’ t o p e n u p t o th e n o rth , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . “ T h e p r o j e c t e d h a t ch d a t e th e r e i s J u l y 1 0 th i s y e a r . T h a t’ s TOUGH TIMES: Few juvenile snow geese this season may mean more difficult hunting th r e e d a y s l a t e r th a n e v e r . ” for the wary adult birds. In the far northern Manitoba regions near Hudson Bay, the T h e i c e a n d s n o w r e s u l t e d i n a l - geese were forced to stage farther south than usual, near the Owl River. The normal m o s t n o n e s t i n g s u c c e s s f o r th e f a r - staging areas between the Broad and Churchill rivers were covered with snow and ice t r a v e l i n g b i r d s . in the region’ s coldest-ever summer . Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News. “ W e l o o k e d a t n e s t d e n s i t i e s o n J u n e 3 0 . I n th e s t u d y a r e a , th e r e “ T e n p e r c e n t o f m y ( b a n d ) r e - t i o n . B u t th e y d i d n ’ t g o s o u th , a n d w a s 1 00 p e r c e n t f a i l u r e , ” h e s a i d . c o v e ri e s e a ch y e a r c o m e f r o m w e k n o w th e y d i d n ’ t g o t o S a s k a t ch- “A b o u t 2 0 t o 3 0 p e r c e n t t ri e d t o th a t a r e a . T h e r e a r e n o g e e s e th e r e e w a n a c c o r d i n g t o th e f a rm e rs a n d n e s t ( l a i d e g g s ) , b u t th o s e th a t d i d n o w , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . “ S t e w a rt W e - c r o p d u s t e rs . W e d o n ’ t k n o w w h e r e — th e r e w e r e s o m a n y p r e d a t o rs b e r a t th e c a m p s a i d i t i s th e w o rs t th e y w e n t . ” a r o u n d , th e y w i p e d th e m o u t . ” s e a s o n f o r s n o w g o o s e h u n t i n g h e D o e s th e n e a r - c o m p l e t e n e s t - P r e d a t o rs t o th e e g g s a n d n e s t s h a s s e e n , w i th f e w e r th a n 5 0 s n o w s i n g f a i l u r e m e a n th e p o p u l a t i o n i n c l u d e h e rri n g g u l l s a n d j a e g e rs , ta k e n . ” w i l l d e c r e a s e , a g o a l o f s n o w g o o s e f o x e s , w o l v e s a n d e v e n p o l a r a n d R o ck w e l l i s e v e n w o rri e d a b o u t m a n a g e rs f o r y e a rs ? gri z z l y b e a rs . s o m e o f th e a d u l t b i r d s ’ a b i l i t y t o “ N o , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . “ T h e m o s t “ T h e p o l a r b e a rs w i l l p i g o u t o n h e a d s o u th . e f fi c i e n t w a y t o c o n t r o l th e p o p u l a- th e e g g s , ” h e s a i d . “ S n o w g e e s e u s u a l l y m o l t b y J u l y t i o n i s t o k i l l a d u l t b i r d s . ” W h y s h o u l d T e x a s h u n t e rs b e 1 a n d fl y b y A u g . 1 , ” h e s a i d . “ O n R o ck w e l l m e n t i o n e d a n i n a rt f u l c o n c e rn e d ? A u g . 1 2 , th e y w e r e j u s t d r o p p i n g q u o t e b y a c o l l e a g u e y e a rs a g o . l i v e s a b o u t s e v e n y e a rs , R o ck w e l l c o m e b a ck , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . “ W e B e c a u s e m o s t o f th e b i r d s th e th e i r f e a th e rs . T h e y w i l l j u s t b e “ H e s a i d y o u c a n k i l l m o m o r s a i d i t o n l y ta k e s o n e g o o d y e a r l e a rn e d th a t 1 3 o u t o f 1 8 a r e a s w e r e r e s e a r ch e rs a r e w a t ch i n g m i gr a t e fl y i n g o n S e p t . 1 — s o th e y n e e d a s t o m p o n h e r e g g s e v e ry y e a r f o r o u t o f s e v e n f o r th e b i r d s t o r e p l a c e s h o w i n g s i g n s o f r e c o v e ry . T h e a r - d o w n th r o u g h M a n i t o b a a n d w o r k w a rm e r - th a n - a v e r a g e f a l l . s e v e n y e a rs , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . th e m s e l v e s . e a s w i l l r e c o v e r a s l o n g a s y o u k e e p th e i r w a y d o w n th r o u g h E a s t T e x a s , “ I f th e r e i s a c o l d s n a p , th e y m a y R o ck w e l l m e n t i o n e d a n o th e r “A n d l a s t y e a r w a s g o o d , ” h e s a i d . th e g e e s e o u t . ” L o u i s i a n a o r A r k a n s a s . n o t b e a b l e t o f e e d a n d w o n ’ t h a v e p r o b l e m c r e a t e d b y th e l a ck o f j u - “ T a k i n g a v e r a g e s o v e r s e v e r a l y e a rs N o rth o f th e B r o a d R i v e r , th e “ T h a t i s w h e r e th e y a r e g e t t i n g th e s t r e n g th t o fl y b a ck . B u t th e v e n i l e b i r d s . j u s t d o e s n ’ t w o r k ( i n e s t i m a t i n g h a b i ta t g o t a r e s t th i s s u m m e r . s h o t , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . g o o d n e w s i s i t d o e s a p p e a r t o b e a “ I f th e r e a r e n o j u v e n i l e s , th e y a r e p o p u l a t i o n s ) . S o m e o f u s h a v e b e e n “ T h e r e s h o u l d h a v e b e e n 1 00 , 000 T o th e s o u th o f th e l a r g e s ta g i n g w a rm f a l l : T e m p e r a t u r e s a l o n g th e a l o t m o r e d i f fi c u l t t o h u n t , ” h e s a i d . s a y i n g th a t f o r 1 0 y e a rs . ” g e e s e , b u t th e y a l l w e n t s o m e - a r e a , th e n e w s w a s n ’ t m u ch b e t t e r . H u d s o n B a y c o a s t a r e i n th e 6 0 s . ” “ S o th e h a rv e s t o f a d u l t s c o u l d b e H a b i ta t - w i s e , th e c l o u d o f th e w h e r e . ” “ T h e y h a d a b o u t a 2 0 p e r c e n t T h e r e a l s o w a s a m y s t e ry i n d i s p r o p o rt i o n a t e l y d o w n — b ri n g - c o l d s u m m e r m a y h a v e a s i l v e r l i n- R o ck w e l l w a s p e rp l e x e d b y th e s u c c e s s r a t e , ” R o ck w e l l s a i d . th e p o p u l a t i o n o f g e e s e th a t t r a v - i n g th e o v e r a l l s u rv i v a l r a t e u p . i n g , b a s e d o n s t u d i e s o f r e c o v e ry e x t r e m e c o n d i t i o n s . A n d h e h a s A l a r g e h u n t i n g c a m p i n th e a r e a , e l e d u p t o th e B r o a d R i v e r , a b o u t “ T h e l o s s o f o n e y e a r - c l a s s o f e x c l o s u r e s , f e n c e d a r e a s w i th i n s t u d i e d s n o w g e e s e f o r 4 1 y e a rs . C a m p N a n u k , h a d n o s n o w g e e s e , 1 00 , 000 i n n u m b e r . b i r d s w o n ’ t m e a n s q u a t . O v e r a l l , i t f r e s h w a t e r m a rs h a r e a s p r e v i o u s l y “ T h i s i s a n u n p r e c e d e n t e d s i t u a- u n u s u a l s i n c e th e a r e a ’ s s e a s o n “ T h e y g o t u p a n d l e ft , ” h e s a i d . m i g h t b e w o rs e . ” d e v a s ta t e d b y s n o w g e e s e . t i o n w i th th e c o l d s u m m e r a n d th e o p e n e d A u g . 1 5 . “ W e th o u g h t i t w a s a m o l t m i gr a - S i n c e a s n o w g o o s e g e n e r a l l y “ W e ’ r e l o o k i n g t o s e e w h a t w i l l l a t e m o l t , ” h e s a i d . OUTDOOR BUSINESS

Texins Archery Club EXPERIENCE ARCHERY! Northeast corner of Hwys. 75 & 635 Convenient, Interesting, Safe & Economical Place to Shoot. Accessories that Work Youth and Adult Programs. Clint Montgomery www.DallasArchery.com as Hard as you Play Club President 214-827-7000

Sell it here The outdoors industry is more than hunting and fishing. Part of it is providing quality goods and services to people who love a wide range of outdoor pursuits. To advertise here, send a check or credit card information to Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243, call (214) 361-2276, or e-mail [email protected]. LSONews.com Lone✯Star Outdoor News September 11, 2009 Page 35 Page 36 September 11, 2009 Lone✯Star Outdoor News LSONews.com