Doves usher in a new season September 12, 2008 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 5, Issue 2 Report on Page 6 www.lonestaroutdoornews.com INSIDE Flyway rivalry prompts HUNTING Texas’ dove research Timing of hunt causes stir among hunters BY CRAIG NYHUS on doves. A team was out two days prior to the hunting season to collect Dove hunters in Texas have long bird specimens for a study compar- feared a federal requirement for the ing the effectiveness of lead and non- use of nonlead shot to pursue their lead shot. But some outfitters and hunters were taken aback by the early Grayson County has become quarry. The state holds the same con- cerns, especially after other states in shooting. famous for its big bucks in the the Central Flyway tried to force Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists state’s lone archery-only Texas to require nonlead shot based are in the first year of a multi-year county. A petition to modify on their waterfowl studies, according study to determine the effectiveness the archery-only rule has many GUNNING FOR RESEARCH: Using volunteer hunters, TPW biologists are to officials. of different load types on wild hunters up in arms. conducting a three-year study of shot effectiveness on dove, but the early That was the genesis of Texas’ own mourning doves using trained Page 7 hunt caused a PR nightmare for officials. Photo by TPW. study on the effect of nonlead shot See DOVE, Page 16 Teal are arriving on schedule along the Texas coast in time for the early season. Hunters are hoping Hurricane Ike doesn’t scatter them. Deep-water bottom dropping Page 6 FISHING
With the southern flounder population still declining, anglers can expect changes in regulations next year. Page 8 Jackie Kennedy has fished Fairfield Lake for years, and this year has two records to show for it. A recent fish kill isn’t expected to affect the fishery. Page 9 CONSERVATION The Nature Conservancy helped HEAVY WEIGHT, HEAVIER FISH: Bill Cannan holds an estimated 55-pound warsaw grouper caught 58 miles off of Port O’Connor. Cannan’s deep-water technique is to train firefighters to conduct use heavy lead weights and live bait to get bites from large bottom fish. Photo by David J. Sams. prescribed burns in the BY DAVID J. SAMS or amberjack might be eyeing your Refugio-Goliad prairie. bait.” Page 5 Some of the best tasting fish come Big fish waiting below Cannan said you’ll know a big fish from the deepest part of the ocean. is lurking because the end of your NATIONAL And finding and catching them isn’t hard. Just dial up the waypoints, dropped some live bait over the side rod will be shaking like crazy as the Arkansas has lifted its three- that difficult. plug them in and push the throttles attached to a heavy lead weight. bait tries to escape. “When it gets year ban on spinning-wing With modern electronics, finding to full. “When the bait hits the bottom, heavy, start reeling fast and let the decoys for this waterfowl a shipwreck 45 miles from port isn’t Bill Cannan of Port O’Connor hold on,” he said. “A huge grouper See OFFSHORE, Page 21 season. Page 28 PRSRT STD Houston hosts TPW Commission Time Sensitive Material US POSTAGE INDEX Deliver ASAP PAID Classifieds Page 20 annual public meeting PLANO, TX PERMIT 210 Crossword Page 12 BY CRAIG NYHUS the Houston Zoo in late August. Game Warden Blotter Page 10 Where last year’s meeting in Austin Fishing Report Page 15 The Texas Parks and Wildlife had only a handful of people request Commission did something it had- the chance to speak to the commis- Heroes Page 13 n’t done in more than 10 years — sion, in Houston about 70 people Hunting Season Dates Page 18 took its annual public meeting on took advantage of the three minutes Outdoor Datebook Page 18 the road, this time to the Houston allotted to each to share their views. Products Page 23 Zoo. Commission members and “It’s a wonderful opportunity to Weather Page 12 Parks and Wildlife officials said it come out where our constituents are,” said Commission Chairman Wild in the Kitchen Page 12 proved to be a popular decision. The annual meeting was held at See MEETING, Page 16 Page 2 September 12, 2008 September 12, 2008 Page 3 Page 4 September 12, 2008
880000..771166..55440022 September 12, 2008 Page 5 CONSERVATION Orvis stores secure grant Prescribed fire training held in Texas The Nature Conservancy led an effort for the Lower Mountain in the heart of Texas’ Refugio-Goliad Prairie to train 20 firefighters from pri- vate organizations and federal agencies Fork River Foundation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of prescribed fires. Cooperation between the Orvis retail stores Held in Victoria and called the in Arlington and Dallas has paid off with a Training Implementation Module, the $10,000 conservation grant being awarded by program was developed by Jeremy Bailey, the Orvis Company to the Lower Mountain the Conservancy’s training and net- Fork River Foundation. works coordinator for the western United The grant money will go toward projects to States. improve stream habitat for the rainbow and “The Conservancy’s cooperative fire brown trout in the Lower Mountain Fork program on ranches here in the Refugio- River, located in southeastern Oklahoma. Goliad Prairie provides a unique oppor- The LMFRF was founded in 2002 to donate tunity to expose fire practitioners from funds directly to the Oklahoma Department of all over the country to leadership in fire Wildlife Conservation for projects to improve management,” Bailey said. the trout habitat of the Lower Mountain Fork Participating students came from nine River. The LMFRF has a large number of sup- states and several different federal agen- porters who live in the DFW area. cies, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife “This is a great opportunity to give back to Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the the river that so many of our customers National Park Service and the Bureau of BURN AND LEARN: The Nature Conservancy conducted demonstration burns to help train enjoy,” said Sean Polk, fishing manager of the Land Management. firefighters in prescribed burn implementation. Photo by The Nature Conservancy. Orvis Dallas store. “It’s good to know that the Despite multiple rainstorms, the pro- river we all enjoy will be cared for and gram managed to conduct demonstra- plains. The Conservancy uses highly improving cattle forage and simultane- improved.” tion burns on more than 600 acres of pri- trained professional firefighters to con- ously improving habitat for wildlife such The Lower Mountain Fork River is the clos- vate lands spanning two participating duct prescribed burning on private as bobwhite quail and Attwater’s prairie est year-round trout fishing destination to the ranches. ranches to conserve and restore the chicken,” said Ray Guse, a prescribed fire DFW area. This past April, the Lower The Conservancy’s Refugio-Goliad region’s ecosystem, which includes some specialist for the Conservancy who is Mountain Fork River was hit by flooding that Prairie Project includes 25 cooperating of largest and highest-quality coastal based in Victoria. damaged or greatly altered much of it’s in ranches encompassing more than prairie habitat remaining in the state. stream habitat. 197,000 acres on South Texas’ coastal “Our work here has the dual benefit of — Nature Conservancy of Texas report. The Orvis grant money will be multiplied by matching grants from other sources and will fund habitat restoration in areas damaged by the flood. National Hunting and Fishing Day set Sept. 27 “The LMFRF is in my opinion the single Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas and depends on hunters, anglers and shooters. In Texas, hunting and fishing contribute biggest contributing factor to the overall suc- across the nation is slated for Sept. 27 and In fact, through licenses and excise taxes, more than $14 billion annually to the cess of the Lower Mountain Fork River,” said every outdoors person is encouraged to these outdoor enthusiasts generate state’s economy, according to data in the Jef Fair, fishing manager of the Orvis extend an invitation to family, friends, $100,000 every 30 minutes for fish, 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, Arlington store. “If the foundation keeps get- neighbors and co-workers to step outside wildlife and habitat programs. and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. ting the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and share the values and the fun of the A wide range of activities will mark Sponsors for 2008 include Wonders of Conservation the funding it needs, there is no outdoors. Hunting and Fishing Day nationwide Wildlife, NSSF, Bass Pro Shops, The question in my mind that this fishery will At the urging of the National Shooting sponsored by sportsman’s clubs, conserva- Sportsman Channel, National Wild Turkey someday rank among the premier tailwater Sports Foundation, Congress designated tion groups and civic agencies. Texas Parks Federation, Realtree, Cabela’s, Woolrich, trout streams in the nation.” National Hunting and Fishing Day on the & Wildlife Expo, while scheduled for Oct. and Smith & Wesson. fourth Saturday of every September as a 4-5, is working toward the same end, intro- — Orvis report. public reminder that good conservation ducing the young and old to the outdoors. — Staff reports. Robert L. ‘Bob’ Cook named Texas Outdoorsman of the Year Robert L. “Bob” Cook, recently retired senting this award for 48 years. Until 2005 executive director of Texas Parks and it was hosted by the San Antonio Angler’s Wildlife, has been named Texas Club and was a San Antonio-based award. Outdoorsman of the Year by past award In 2006, the award’s scope was broadened to recipients. include residents of the entire State of Texas, Cook will be honored with a reception and is presented by the Texas Wildlife and dinner on Sept. 10 at the TDS Exotic Association Foundation. Game Ranch and Pavilion near Creedmoor. The Texas Outdoorsmen have been pre- — Texas Outdoorsmen report.
Publisher/Editor: CRAIG NYHUS Advertising Sales: BOB COLE Design Editor: DUDLEY GREEN LEE GRESHAM Operations Mgr: MIKE HUGHS Accounting: NANCY HALPHEN Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND Web site: BRUCE SOILEAU Business/Products Editor: MARY HELEN AGUIRRE Founder & CEO: DAVID J. SAMS
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ADVERTISING OFFICE Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail Phone: (214) 361-2276 editor Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $25 for @lonestaroutdoornews.com 24 issues. Newsstand copies are free, one per person. Copyright to request a media kit. 2008 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by SUBSCRIPTION the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address Order online at changes to: www.lonestaroutdoornews.com Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, or call toll-free (866) 361-2276 TX 75243 or e-mail them to [email protected]. Page 6 September 12, 2008 HUNTING Dove opener hot in North, West Texas
Hunters shoot quick limits
BY CRAIG NYHUS
In much of North and West Texas, the dove opener brought back memories of seasons past, leaving last year’s spotty opener a distant memory. More “nor- mal” conditions, especially in North Texas, kept birds in the area and left hunters happy with the results. East of Rising Star, eight hunters shot limits opening morning, all finishing by 9 a.m. They recalled last year when a cool front moved the birds out just before the opener in the normally reliable area. “They were coming at me in waves,” said Stephen Anderson, a Grapevine dentist. “Some of the time I didn’t even get off a shot, the birds were crossing and diving.” The evening hunt for the late-arriving friends brought limits, but at a slower pace, and the pressure educated the birds making the next day’s hunt tougher. On the weekend, hunters north of Abilene shot quick limits, and a stiff FOR OPENERS: Hunting in a Comanche County field, Derek Rambo of Arlington fires north wind that blew for three days did- a shot at a dove. Rambo reached his limit within one hour during the opening n’t send the birds south. “We were done afternoon. Black lab “Moose” retrieves a dove on his first hunt. Joe Prather picks in 30 minutes on Friday evening,” said up a dove he shot in a plowed sunflower field on the 5G Ranch near Old Glory. Bob Scott, who hunted as part of the Prather, chairman emeritus of Griffin and Howe, was hunting with the Dallas Safari See DOVE, Page 27 Club. Photos by David J. Sams. Teal hunters ready for fast-paced action
Hopes are high for the Texas teal season from Sept. 13–28, and early prospects along the Texas coast are good. “I saw one 100-acre area holding about 10,000,” said Scott Hickman of League City. “And a larger area nearby held more like 15,000. Fishermen are seeing waves of them flying by the boats head- ing south.” Hunters, though, are carefully watching Hurricane Ike, which could change everything. It’s expected to hit the Gulf coast any- where from Louisiana to Mexico this weekend. For now, near Eagle Lake and Sealy, the teal are there — where there is water. “Two of my DU ponds are dry,” said Steven Cunningham. “But we pump a few others and they are holding lots of birds.” Few dove hunters in North Texas reported seeing many teal and hope the next wave stops some birds, since the Panhandle is holding good numbers. The estimated blue-winged teal breeding population index was 6.6 million birds according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife estimates, and the Texas coast is seeing a big influx of birds. Although breeding numbers are way down in the prairie pothole region due to poor water conditions, the numbers of adult birds held steady, meaning the early teal hunting could be nearly as good as last year’s banner season. (Photo by Todd Steele.) — Staff reports. September 12, 2008 Page 7 Guns of Grayson County Archery-only deer hunters brace for battle
BY BILL MILLER On one side is a solitary man “For other people to decide how I who doesn’t live in Grayson do that just doesn’t seem fair.” A dispute is growing in Grayson County. Haggerton’s petition has inspired County, but the opposing sides Charlie Haggerton, 35, of Fort a movement, but it will be working have one thing in common. Worth, has petitioned the Texas against him. Both love the county’s small but Parks and Wildlife Commission to The Grayson County Bow- mighty herd of white-tailed deer, modify the archery-only rule. He hunters Association formed this which in recent years has produced wants to use a rifle on 1,400 acres summer when the local archery several now-famous 200-B&C-class his wife’s family has owned in community learned that someone bucks. Grayson County since the 1960s. outside the county had petitioned But all of these trophies were “It’s about freedom of choice,” to allow guns. downed by arrows because said Haggerton, a salesman for a Members of the group argue that Grayson, nestled along the Red metal building manufacturer. the challenging nature of their River in North Texas, is the state’s “Nobody hunts that land but me. I sport results in low-deer harvests, sole county designated as archery hunt there because I can’t afford to which lets bucks get older, with big- ARCHERY ONLY: Jim Lillis poses with the 10-pointer he shot last season in Grayson only. hunt elsewhere. See GRAYSON, Page 26 County that netted a 175 2/8 B&C score.
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www.badboybuggies.com Page 8 September 12, 2008 FISHING Flounder numbers still declining Tougher regulations likely next year
BY CRAIG NYHUS
Southern flounder anglers should expect changes in future reg- ulations, although it will be next year before any major revisions are made. At the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting, held in Houston in late August, Robin Reichers, a TPW resource manage- ment director, provided the Commission with the southern floun- der update. “Commercial pressure shifted to flounder after the redfish and trout ban on commercial sale in 1981,” he said. For nearly 20 years, efforts have been made to curb the popula- tion decline, beginning with buybacks of commercial licenses in 1999 and reduction of limits in 2006. “We still have a downward trend in gillnet surveys,” Reichers said. “And the trends are up and down the coast.” Reichers said the bag seine catch rates are showing more young fish indicating a slower downward trend. Bycatch of flounder in shrimp trawls is down 90 percent. The recreational and commer- cial harvest is down and gill net length (of the fish) is increasing. “We’re getting some older fish out there,” he said. So why is the southern flounder population still declining? Water temperature seems to be a possible culprit. “Recent higher winter temperatures decrease the egg hatch and increase preda- tion,” Reichers said. “We’ve seen a decrease in bag seines over the same period. An increase in water temperature reduces the carry- ing capacity of the bays.” Reichers recommended the consideration of several options, as the downward trend of the flounder population remains. Bag limits and season closures are two of those options. “The recreational fish- ermen bring in 50 percent of the catch, and 60 percent of that comes from the Galveston Bay system,” Reichers said. The commercial catch comes from farther south, as the San Antonio and Aramsas Bay systems make up more than 60 percent of the commercial harvest. A Southern Flounder Workgroup meeting, including meetings with commercial fishermen, is set for September, and scoping meetings open to the public will be scheduled soon. Options will be presented to the Commission at its next meeting in November, and proposals will be made at the Commission’s January 2009 meeting. Why wait until next year? “It’s serious,” Reichers said. “But changes can be done in the normal regulatory process. We’re not FALLING FLOUNDER: A favorite of youngsters, flounder gigging may be in jeopardy in the coming years. The numbers of southern flounder in an emergency setting.” are down along the Texas coast, and further regulations may be coming next year. Photo by David J. Sams. One-room school teacher makes impact on students Annual fishing event continues after 50 years
BY DIANA KUNDE fish and talked about old times. All had known each other, and their teacher his is a story about a beloved teacher, Stuemke, since they were kids in the a one-room school and friendships 1950s. T that have lasted more than 50 years. “I found out really quickly that they It’s the story of an annual coastal fishing truly, truly care about each other after 50 get-together that par- years,” said Stuemke, ticipants jokingly call 77, who retired after the Norm Stuemke 41 years in elemen- Invitational “What can you say tary education. “It’s Tournament — after amazing to see the their grade school about someone who camaraderie still teacher, who is always today.” the guest of honor. taught kids for all his life, “They are pretty “What can you say decent young men TIES THAT BIND: Students of Norm Stuemke, their former one-room school teacher, gather with their about someone who and still has them want to today, I must say,” he guest of honor each year to fish on the Texas coast. Glenn Pittsford shows the biggest redfish caught taught kids for all his added — like a teacher. on the trip. Photo by Tim Knippa. life, and still has them take him fishing?” In 1955, as a young and principal of the school. Well-known guys ever since I can remember,” Larry said. want to take him fish- teacher fresh out of Texas artist Larry Prellop, Ron’s cousin, was “We’ve all kind of gone our different direc- ing?” said Ron Prellop college, Stuemke land- one of them. tions. This was kind of a neat reunion.” of Austin, who — Ron Prellop ed the job of starting a “I had him for a teacher first through Ron Prellop is president of the Minimax launched what has one-room school for sixth grade,” Larry said. “He likes to say he Crestview IGA grocery store in central now become a yearly Redeemer Lutheran taught me everything I know.” Owner of Austin, a family-owned business since 1953, event. Church in Austin. “They don’t teach you the Prellop Fine Arts Gallery in Salado, and one of the last independents in the city. This August, eight men gathered at the that in college,” said Stuemke, who grew up Larry hadn’t been able to take the time off Other members of the group include Castaway Lodge in Seadrift with Capt. Kris on an Illinois dairy farm. for saltwater fishing until he went on the Glenn Pittsford, who serves planned giving Kelley. They didn’t limit out this year, but That first year, he had 22 students in outing last year. donors at the Texas A&M Foundation; they caught about 30 trout and a few red- grades one through five, as both teacher “I’ll be 59 this year and I’ve known those See STUEMKE, Page 29 September 12, 2008 Page 9 Guide sets state, lake records at Fairfield Lake Recent fish kill takes 3,750 large red drum
BY MARY HELEN AGUIRRE of Fairfield Lake and Cedar Creek of the rods, lost two fish and man- Lake. aged to reel in a 42-inch-long, 31.7- Lifelong fisherman and guide Kennedy said clients he’s guided pound red drum — a state freshwa- Jackie Kennedy of Gun Barrel City either hold and or have held eight ter catch and release record. had a good summer. In August, he water body records and seven state The previous record holder was caught a state record freshwater records. Jason Ensign, who on Jan. 5, 2008 This year, it was Kennedy’s turn to catch-and-release red drum just a caught a 40.5-inch-long red drum. net some records of his own. Kennedy asked two women fish- few months after he hooked a water On Aug. 1, Kennedy went out by ing nearby to take a picture and wit- body record blue catfish in Fairfield himself on Fairfield Lake for some ness the measuring. Lake. evening fishing. But that wasn’t all for Kennedy. A “There is not a spot in it that I He had six rods with live shad set few months earlier, on May 15, he haven’t fished,” he said of the 2,400- out when, at about 6:30 p.m., a was on Fairfield with a friend, acre power plant lake located in school of red drum swam close to Charles Burks of Fairfield, and he Freestone County. “If you’re not the boat, many picking up bait. was experimenting with Berkley fishing where the fish are, you might “I got that one, plus two more,” he Gulp! minnow. as well be fishing in the bath tub.” said of the record fish. At about 10 a.m., a fish started RED RECORD: Jackie Kennedy of Gun Barrel City holds his freshwater catch-and- Kennedy has been a full-time Most of the rods went off. pulling hard. “It was pulling so hard, release record for red drum. Kennedy also holds the water body record for blue guide for several years and works out Kennedy managed to lock down two See RECORD, Page 27 catfish at Fairfield Lake. Minnesota man wins $1M in FLW Fantasy Fishing Michael Thompson, 33, a stay-at-home Outdoors and the creator of FLW Fantasy dad from Minnesota who is studying to Fishing, an international online fantasy become a police officer, made fantasy fishing game launched in February 2008, sports history by becoming America’s first presented Thompson with his $1 million FLW Fantasy Fishing champion, and the check. official winner of its $1 million grand “When we launched FLW Outdoors, I prize. Thompson’s payday is the largest dreamed about the biggest payday in pro payday in fantasy sports, even including bass fishing, when the champion of the fantasy football. Forrest Wood Cup could claim the first $1 At the Colonial Center in Columbia, million prize in pro bass fishing,” said S.C., Thompson ripped open a three-foot Jacobs. “Fifteen years later, we achieved my card to reveal that he had won the season- personal goal of awarding $1 million to our long chase for the FLW Fantasy Fishing $1 Forrest Wood Cup champion two years in a million grand prize. row.” “This is unbelievable, I simply can’t A resident of St. Michael, Minn., a sub- believe it — it’s a dream come true,” said urb of Minneapolis, Thompson has been a Thompson, an avid bass angler. “I simply stay-at-home dad while he works toward started playing FLW Fantasy Fishing finishing law enforcement school, with a because I love fishing and because it was goal of working in the Wright County fun. We have a lot of dreams and this will Sheriff’s office, where he volunteers. In his help us make many of them come true.” spare time, Thompson is an avid bass Irwin Jacobs, chairman of FLW See FANTASY, Page 16 Page 10 September 12, 2008 GAME WARDEN BLOTTER 20 UNDERSIZED FISH AND located in Arkansas. After the TWO DOVE TOO MANY HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER FLEES ON YACHT, HELPS HIMSELF TO BAR phone interview, Stannard •While patrolling Lake Travis, mailed a citation for improperly Burnet County Game Wardens •A man had stolen a vehicle in man bailed out and found a 38- man had found the yacht’s bar tagged whitetail deer and litter- Ronnie Langford and Brent San Antonio and was involved in foot yacht to continue his escape. and was impaired when the boat ing. The man contacted the Whitus observed two men fish- a hit-and-run in Aransas Pass. San The owner of the vessel rented a was boarded. The subject refused court and paid the fine. ing. As the wardens approached, Patricio County Game Warden helicopter and spotted his boat in all field sobriety and intoxilyzer one of the men began throwing Martin Garcia investigated. The the Gulf of Mexico. The fleeing tests. DESIGNATED DRIVER OK, objects in the water. The objects BUT PASSENGERS NOT turned out to be two dove they •Menard County Game Warden had shot before the season the boat said he abandoned the unaware that Kelso knew the their patrol boat. opener. They also had a total of boat after he could not put the landowner did not have anyone Clint Graham noticed a vehicle 20 undersized catfish and large- fire out with the onboard fire working on his property. Kelso TDCJ EMPLOYEES KILL DEER occupied by three men traveling mouth bass. Cases pending. extinguisher. The owner said turned the men over to the ON UNIT PROPERTY down a back road. When the gas tank exploded and he Refugio County Sheriff’s depart- •Grimes County Game Warden stopped, the men said they were FIRED RANCH WORKER RETURNS slammed the hatch to the bow ment. The men were suspected Jonny Heaton and Montgomery just riding the back roads drink- TO STEAL ATV, SHOOT GAME shut, snuffing the fire out. of stealing aluminum irrigation County Warden Dean ing a few cold beers and looking •Chris Amthor and Saul Aguilar, Another boater retrieved the pipe, diesel fuel and other items Fitzpatrick investigated informa- at deer. The driver stated he was game wardens from Pecos man and towed the boat to the in the area. tion concerning two deer killed the designated driver, so the two County and Terrell County, ramp. The wardens warned the on the O.L. Luther Unit. The passengers could drink. The responded to a call concerning owner not to move the boat MAN ADMITS TO SHOOTING investigation revealed two TDCJ driver did not show any indica- four men, one of whom was ter- because of exposed, bare wires 8-POINT BUCK IN SUBDIVISION employees had killed two deer tors that he had been drinking, minated from employment on a hooked to the battery terminals •Henderson County Game on the unit property at night. but the two passengers had open Pecos County ranch. The four and gas leaking from the tank. Warden Shawn Smith and Antlers, meat and rifles were beers in their hands. Both pas- went back out to the ranch to Approximately one hour later, Freestone County Game seized. Cases pending. sengers were cited for open con- camp and stole one ATV, burned Sabine County Warden Chad Warden John Thorne investigat- tainer. One of the passengers another and shot a mule deer Gartman discovered the man ed a call about a man who shot a MEN CITED FOR had a felony no-bond warrant buck as well as other game. three miles away from the boat buck in Henderson County. SPEARFISHING CATFISH from Irion County. He was Investigation pending. ramp watching his boat burning After a brief interview, the man •Two men were cited for taking on the side of the road. admitted killing an 8-point arrested and transported to the fish by illegal means by Val Verde MAN NABBED FOR BWI INSISTS buck in a subdivision on Cedar Menard County Jail. HE WASN’T OPERATING BOAT TWO-MILE LONG LINE Creek Lake with a .22 magnum. County Game Wardens Jason •A man was arrested for BWI on REMOVED, DESTROYED The wardens secured the deer Huebner and Roger Nicholas, THIEF AT BOAT MARINA Eagle Mountain Lake by Tarrant •Sgt. James Dunks, game war- head, processed meat and rifle. who used the darkness to CAUGHT ON SECURITY CAMERA County Game Wardens Clint dens Will Plumas and Dan Cases pending. approach and observe the men. •Hunt County Game Warden Borchardt and John Padgett. Waddell, and mechanic David The two men were spearfishing Dale Waters was called to assist catfish and had five flathead cat- The man performed the afloat Kimball located a Mexican long PEOPLE STRANDED IN in thefts from a local marina on fish in their possession. Cases tests, but later refused all SFSTs line north of the Mexico border OVERTURNED BOAT RESCUED Lake Tawakoni. A man entered a and restitution are pending. and to give a breath sample. The in the Gulf of Mexico. The long •Aransas County Game boat slip around 4 a.m. and man was alone on his boat in line was approximately 2 miles Wardens Richard “Marty” docked his boat. He went to one long. The line had fresh bait, TAG ON DUMPED WHITETAIL the middle of the lake but insist- Martin, Scott McLeod and boat, raised the cover, and took ed that he was not operating the but no fish. It was removed and LEADS TO ARKANSAS MAN Brandi Reeder responded to a out the seats, and replaced the boat. destroyed. call about some people who •A local landowner found a cover. He went to other boats overturned their boat in Aransas whitetail buck that had been and took fishing equipment. MAN WITH BURNING BOAT MAN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY Bay. The wardens launched their dumped on the side of the road. JUST WOULDN’T LISTEN CAN’T FOOL GAME WARDEN patrol boat and found the The landowner contacted Terrell The security camera recorded all •Sabine County Game Warden •Refugio County Game Warden stranded boaters on top of the County Game Warden Kenneth the activity. The man was Randy Button and Jasper Danny Kelso responded to a call upside-down boat. All were Stannard. Stannard found the brought into the local PD and County Game Warden Justin about two men on private prop- wearing lifejackets. The wardens deer with last year’s mule deer was shown the video. He said if Eddins responded to a call on erty. The men told Kelso that brought two people in and the tag connected to the antlers. the shot of his face was clear, he Sam Rayburn Lake concerning a they were working for the Rockport Police Department Stannard contacted the man would just admit it. The video boat being on fire. The owner of landowner. The men were brought in three people aboard named on the tag, who was has been sent for enhancement. September 12, 2008 Page 11 Page 12 September 12, 2008 WEATHER
OUTDOOR PUZZLER WILD IN THE KITCHEN For crossword puzzle solution, see Page 20 ACROSS Spicy Dove on Tomato 4–6 appetizer servings 1. This hooknose is a popular Ingredients: food fish 20 Dove breast halves, boneless with 4. Classify this with a pound test skin removed 6. A predator fish 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil 8. Anything to attract fish to the 3 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning hook 1 4-ounce can diced fire roasted 10. Any manufactured lure chilies 12. Provides bait, fuel, dock 7 medium-sized firm tomatoes facilities 1 1/2 Cups shredded jack cheese 13. To firm hook in a catch Instructions: Toss doves in olive oil 14. A sinker material 16. To bait the water to attract and then season liberally with Cajun tomatoes into 20 slices. Place cooked fish seasoning. Heat a heavy-duty pan on dove on tomato, top with diced 18. Raising and lowering a lure high heat until very hot. Add dove chilies and jack cheese. Place under a 22. Tangle or snarl in a reel spool breasts and cook on each side until preheated broiler until cheese is 23. A type of fishing well-browned, but do not cook past melted and slightly browned. 24. Constructing a fly lure rare to medium-rare. Remove doves — Recipe from Scott Leysath, huntfish- 26. Ocean giant of many species from pan and allow to cool. Slice cook.com. 27. Material used in some fishlines 28. Term for small frying fish Shrimp & Black Bean Tacos 29. A wet fly with feather wings 6 servings 1 Cup shredded lettuce 31. A fishline material Ingredients: Instructions: Preheat the oven to 33. Name for a rod guide 12 Taco shells 350°F. Bake the taco shells accord- 37. Inshore member of the shark 1 Tablespoon canola oil ing to package directions. While family 1 Pound fresh or frozen medium the shells are baking, heat the oil in 38. Circular movement of water cooked shrimp, thawed a large nonstick skillet over medi- current 1 Teaspoon ground cumin um-high heat. Add the shrimp, 39. The snake-like fish 1/2 Teaspoon garlic powder 41. Fisherman’s tackle cumin, garlic powder, and chili boat 25. A bass species 1/4 Teaspoon chili powder powder and cook about 1 minute. 42. A grouping of fish in one spot One 15 1/2-ounce Can black beans, 6. This attracts the fish 30. A lake sportfish Add the beans, corn, pineapple, 43. Stream fishermen will do this drained and rinsed 7. This prevents the line twist 31. Underwater growth conceal- and salsa and heat through, about 2 44. A name for the chinook salmon 1 1/2 Cups frozen corn kernels, 9. A type of lure ment thawed minutes. Add the cheese and heat 11. Close to the shore line 32. Pole for fly-fishing DOWN 1 Cup mild salsa until melted. Place about 1/3 cup of 15. The terminal tackle 34. The rugged method of fishing the shrimp filling into each taco 35. To pull a fish in rapidly One 8-ounce Can crushed pineap- 1. A mollusk used for bait 17. A material used in fishlines ple, very well drained shell using a slotted spoon to 2. Of the sardine family 18. Form built out into the water 36. This brings a catch to the boat remove any excess liquid. Top with 40. An outdoor regulation 1 Cup shredded cheddar cheese 3. A top commercial fish 19. Where deck meets stern of a avocado, tomato, lettuce and sour 41. Fishline material Toppings: 4. The connector between line boat 1 Avocado, sliced cream. and lure 20. A casting method Outdoor Puzzler, 1 Tomato, chopped — Recipe from The National Fisheries 5. Brings a catch safely into the 21. Term for tiring a fish to land it Wilbur "Wib" Lundeen 1/2-Cup sour cream Institute, eatshrimp.com. September 12, 2008 Page 13 HEROES
ROGER CRANDALL of Fort Worth and a brace of cottontails taken by his captive bred male Harris hawk, 'Cujo.' JIMMY RICHARDSON caught this crappie with his fish RAMIRO A. GARCIA, 10, with his first bow kill on a hog hunt near Pearsall. pen on Lake Buchanan.
RUDY and JOHN TORRES of Waxahachie, RYAN HESTEANDE of Slidel, ERICA WALLACE of Denton and JOSH OVERSTREET of Dallas caught these red snapper on the last day of snapper season. ZACH OTT caught a 35-pound amberjack when fishing with his family in Destin, Fla.
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Want to share your great hunting or fishing photos with the Lone Star Outdoor News family? E-mail your photo, phone and caption information to editor@ lonestarout- doornews.com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, NICOLE VAUGHN, 8, shows off her 28-inch trout to Capt. ROY LEE EVENS. She reeled TX, 75243. JASON GONSALEZ with a 28-inch snook caught in the Lower Laguna Madre on live in this 7.5-pound trout near Port Mansfield. shrimp.
DANIEL ERICKSON, 9, of Arlington, hunting with his father, TAYLOR NEAL, 10, of Odessa went on her first saltwater fishing trip out of Dolphin SKY KIFF with a trout caught in the Lower Laguna Madre on Paul, shot this hog, his first big game animal, near Gonzales. Dock and caught this 25-pound redfish. live shrimp. Page 14 September 12, 2008 September 12, 2008 Page 15 FISHING REPORT ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; .21' low. Black bass are chartreuse jigs in 4-10 feet. good on topwater lures, shad-colored spinnerbaits and large blue fleck soft GRAPEVINE: Water off-color; 79-86 degrees; 3.62' low. Black bass are fair plastic worms along timber lines. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. to good on DD22s, jigs, Texas rigs and Carolina rigs. White bass are good HOT BITES AMISTAD: Water clear; 87 degrees; 17.91' low. Catfish are good on on Humdingers and live shad. cheesebait, shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are good on trotlines GREENBELT: Water lightly stained; 78 degrees; 27.68' low. Crappie are SALTWATER LARGEMOUTH baited with live perch. good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on live baits and poppers. ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 82 degrees; 4.71' low. Crappie are Catfish are good on live bait. good on minnows off the derricks. White bass are good schooling while HUBBARD CREEK: Water lightly stained; 79 degrees; 2.33' low. Crappie SCENE BASS chasing shad shallow. Catfish are fair on juglines and drift fishing with shad are good on jigs and minnows. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on or punch bait. live bait. Catfish are good on live baits. ATHENS: Water lightly stained, 83-88 degrees; 0.78' low. Black bass are NORTH SABINE: Tides have risen in the JOE POOL: Water off-color; 79-85 degrees; 1.5' low. Black bass are good wake of Hurricane Gustav. Trout are fair good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs, spinnerbaits and 4" on topwaters early, later switching to jigs, Texas rigs and crankbaits. White plastics. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers. to good in the river on shad. Redfish are bass are good on Humdingers. good in the marsh on small topwaters. BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are good on watermelon red deep-diving LAVON: Water stained; 79-86 degrees; 3.48' low. Black bass are good on Trout have been taken in the middle of crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and Texas-rigged Baby Brush Hogs, spinnerbaits and wacky rigs. Crappie are the lake under birds. AMISTAD: Black bass are very good on blue catfish are very good on shrimp, minnows, and stinkbait. good on minnows and jigs over brush piles. Catfish are good on night- SOUTH SABINE: Trout are fair while shad colored deep-diving jigs, spinner- BELTON: Water clear; 80 degrees; 0.13' high. Hybrid striper are good on crawlers, cut shad and prepared bait. baits, crankbaits, and topwaters. drifting slicks and birds on soft plastics. white Riversides at night under lights. White bass are good on white LBJ: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.42' low. Black bass are good on water- Trout are fair at the jetty on topwaters FORK: Black bass are good on topwa- Riversides at night under lights. Channel and blue catfish are good on hot melon jigs, watermelon red Whacky Sticks, and pumpkin tubes near docks and live bait. ters early, strolling DD22s over flats, dogs and summer sausage. and lay downs along seawalls and in 10 feet at daylight. flutter spoons and Carolina rigs. BOLIVAR: Tides are above normal. BOB SANDLIN: Water fairly clear; 83-89 degrees; 0.37' low. Crappie are LEWISVILLE: Water off-color; 79-85 degrees; 2.51' low. Crappie are fair to Flounder and redfish are fair to good GREENBELT: Black bass are good on good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. good on minnows and jigs over brush piles and around bridge columns. around Rollover Pass on jigs tipped with topwater lures early and late in the day, Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. White bass are good on lead babies and Rooster Tails. Catfish are good on shrimp on the incoming tide. white spinnerbaits and black/green jigs BRAUNIG: Water stained; 87 degrees. Channel catfish are excellent on nightcrawlers and cut shad. around grass and tree lines. TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair to good liver, shrimp, cut bait, and cheesebait near the dam and the discharge. LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 85 degrees; 0.34' high. White bass are fair around the shell pads of the Sun Getty Blue catfish are good on cut bait. trolling slabs. Blue catfish are good on shad. lease. Trout are fair to good while drift- BRIDGEPORT: Water lightly stained; 82-88 degrees; 4.16' low. Black bass MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 77 degrees; 77.32' low. Crappie are ing slicks and deep shell. Redfish are are good on topwaters early, later switching Texas rigged Baby Brush Hogs, good on minnows and jigs. good on the north shoreline on gold WHITE/ Bandit 200 crankbaits and wacky rigs. White bass are good on live shad, spoons. topwaters and slabs. MONTICELLO: Water fairly clear; 85-95 degrees; 0.69' high. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to wacky rigged trick worms, EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to HYBRID/STRIPER BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 86 degrees; 4.30' low. White bass are good on Texas rigs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are good on minnows. good on mid-bay reefs on live shrimp Li'l Fishies off lighted docks at night. Crappie are good on Li'l Fishies and and plastics. Trout are fair around the minnows over brush piles in 10-18 feet, and off lighted docks at night. NAVARRO MILLS: Water murky; 86 degrees; 1.45' low. Black bass are good on watermelon and motor oil soft plastic worms. White bass are excel- wells on live bait. Channel catfish are good on cut bait and nightcrawlers over baited holes in WEST GALVESTON BAY: Whiting, 12-20 feet. Yellow cat- lent on prism Silver Dollar lures between gafftop and sand trout are good on the fish are good on trot- beach on fresh shrimp. Trout are fair on lines baited with perch Wolf Creek Park and Oak Park. live shrimp while drifting reefs and in 12-20 feet. working birds. Redfish are fair to good BUCHANAN: Water HOT SPOT O.H. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 81 degrees; for waders BRAUNIG: Striped bass are excellent clear; 86 degrees; 8.01' working the low. Black bass are 13.44' low. White bass on liver and shad off points, and down are good on live baits. guts and bayous rigging silver and gold spoons near the good on daiquiri topwa- on live shrimp ters, blue shad flukes, Smallmouth bass are jetty and dam. good on live baits. and small top- COOPER: White bass are good on Rat-L-Traps, and wacky waters. rigged watermelon red Channel catfish are Rooster Tails and Little Georges. Hybrid good on live and cut TEXAS CITY: Higher tides have pushed striper are good on Sassy Shad and live Whacky Sticks along trout on the flats. Black drum, redfish docks and over flats baits. shad. POSSUM KINGDOM: and gafftop are fair to good around the early. Striped bass are rocks on shrimp. Trout are good at night RAY HUBBARD: White bass are good on good on plastic swim Water stained 81 topwaters and Humdingers. degrees; 3.13' low. under the lights on live shrimp and DOA baits and drifting or Shrimp. free lining live bait White bass are good around Lighthouse while trolling using sil- FREEPORT: Bull redfish are fair to good CATFISH Point at first light. ver crankbaits and on in the surf on crabs and mullet. Trout, jigging spoons in the redfish and sand trout are good at San CADDO: Water stained; Luis Pass on live shrimp and plastics. 80-86 degrees; 0.45' North Lake area over the main river channel. Trout, sand trout, gafftop and sharks are high. Black bass are good on the beach. good on Ribbits and Catfish are excellent on buzzbaits early, midday cut baits, worms and EAST MATAGORDA: Tides are above switching to wacky rigs, liver along the river normal. Trout and redfish are fair for weightless 5" Yum channel and under waders working the south shoreline. BUCHANAN: Yellow and blue catfish docks in the Rock are very good on rod/reel, juglines and Dingers and Rat-L- MATAGORDA: Trout and redfish are fair Traps. Creek and Costello on the south shoreline grass beds. trotlines baited with goldfish and perch Island areas. upriver. CALAVERAS: Water Redfish and black drum are fair to good PROCTOR: Water in Oyster Lake on live shrimp with the CALAVERAS: Channel and blue catfish stained; 87 degrees. Striped bass are good stained; 85 degrees; rising tide. are excellent on liver, shrimp, cheese- 3.26' low. Striped bass bait, and shad near the railroad trestle, on spoons and striper PORT O'CONNOR: Bull redfish are good jigs near the dam and Houston County are good on silver at the jetty on crabs and mullet. Trout 181 Cove, and the discharge. spoons. White bass are the crappie wall in 15- Water clear; 84 degrees; 0.53' high. Black bass are good on ruby red/silver swirl worms early and redfish are better in the back lakes CHOKE CANYON: Channel and blue 20 feet, and on chicken good on slabs. Channel with the swollen tides. catfish are very good on frozen shrimp and late, on Rooster Tails near the dam, and on chartreuse frog poppers along the banks. and blue catfish are livers and shad along White bass are good along the northeast shore. Crappie are good on live minnows around ROCKPORT: Trout are fair to good in the and punchbait. the shoreline. good on shrimp and stumps near the marina in 10 feet. Bream are good on live worms off piers and near grass stinkbait. back of Allyn's Bight on She Pups and LBJ: Channel catfish are very good on CANYON LAKE: Water beds, and on the south side of the islands. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines small Super Spooks. nightcrawlers, liver, and dip bait. Yellow clear; 85 degrees; 6.79' baited with shad and perch. RAY HUBBARD: Water and blue catfish are very good on trot- off-color; 79-86 PORT ARANSAS: Trout, redfish, whiting low. Yellow and blue and sand trout are fair to good at the lines baited with goldfish and perch. catfish are very good on degrees; 0.68' low. Crappie are good on jetty on shrimp. Redfish are fair on the trotlines and juglines baited with live goldfish and perch from Cranes Mill East Flats on live bait. Offshore is good Park to the mouth of the river. minnows and jigs over brush piles, around the bridges and in the marina RAPPIE slips with brush. for ling, dorado, amberjack, tuna and C CEDAR CREEK: Water lightly stained; 79-86 degrees; 1.46' low. Black kingfish. RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 78-84 degrees; 0.66' low. Black bass are good bass are good on Ribbits early, later switching to Texas rigs, spinnerbaits CORPUS CHRISTI: Trout and redfish and Carolina rigs. White bass are good on slabs and topwaters. Catfish are on topwaters early, later switching to Carolina-rigged lizards in 8-15 feet. White bass are excellent on torpedoes and Pop-Rs. are fair to good on live shrimp and good on prepared bait. Gulps on the grass beds on the incom- RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water off-color; 79-86 degrees; 2.11' low. White ing tide. Redfish are good in the holes CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 3.20' low. Black bass bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers and prepared and around the piers on live bait. are fair on minnows and white spinnerbaits. bait. BAFFIN COLEMAN: Water clear; 86 degrees; 4.03' low. Black bass are good on SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 4.26' low. Black bass BAY: Trout CONROE: Crappie are good on minnows chartreuse and chartreuse blue spinnerbaits, soft plastics, and Rat-L-Traps. are good on dark soft plastic worms and crankbaits. White bass are good on are fair to and white tube jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and green tube jigs. Channel and blue cat- silver spoons off points. Crappie are good on live minnows. fish are good on shrimp and stinkbait. good O.H. IVIE: Crappie are good on min- SOMERVILLE: Water murky; 86 degrees; 1.70' low. Black bass are good nows and jigs. CONROE: Water clear; 0.90' low. Black bass are good on watermelon red around but small on crappie jigs. Perch are excellent on worms. Channel and blue rocks on soft plastics and topwaters. WEATHERFORD: Crappie are good on and tequila sunrise Carolina-rigged soft plastics and Senkos, and on char- catfish are excellent on cut shad. treuse Rat-L-Traps. Redfish are fair to good at Yarborough minnows and jigs over brush piles and TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 79-86 degrees; 1.58' low. Black bass are on Gulps and small topwaters. in the crappie house. COOPER: Water lightly stained; 79-85 degrees; 2.37' low. Black bass are good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs, short Carolina rigs, good on topwaters early, later switching to Texas rigs and Senkos. PORT MANSFIELD: Redfish are scat- spinnerbaits, and jigs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass tered on the flats with the rising tide. BREAM FALCON: Water stained; 83 degrees. Black bass are good on small are good on slabs and minnows. Trout are fair to good while wading sand crankbaits and spinnerbaits in 5-7 feet. Channel and blue catfish are excel- TEXOMA: Water off-color; 78-84 degrees; 1.61' low. Striped bass are good and grass on small Super Spooks, She lent on frozen shrimp. on live shad, topwaters and Storm WildEyes. Catfish are good on cut and Pups and SkitterWalks. FAYETTE: Water clear; 91 degrees. Channel and blue catfish are very good live shad. SOUTH PADRE: Tarpon are good at the on cut shad, liver, and shrimp over baited holes under trees. TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 86 degrees; 3.65' low. Black bass are good on jetties on natural baits. Redfish are FORK: Water lightly stained; 79-85 degrees; 0.08' low. Crappie are good on 6" black/blue craw worms and deep diving DD22 crankbaits. White bass good on the flats with the rising tide. jigs and minnows around the bridges and over brush piles. Catfish are good are good on spoons. Channel and blue catfish are good on trotlines baited PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair to good in on nightcrawlers and prepared bait. with shrimp and nightcrawlers. three feet of water on soft plastics SAM RAYBURN: Bream are good on GRANBURY: Water clear; 1.79' low. Black bass are good on chartreuse/blue TRAVIS: Water clear; 86 degrees; 16.62' low. White bass are good on under popping corks. Snook are fair in nightcrawlers. and chartreuse/white spinnerbaits and soft plastics. Catfish are good on smoke grubs and jigging spoons in 28-40 feet. Channel and blue catfish South Bay and the Ship Channel on live stinkbait, shrimp, and liver. TOLEDO BEND: Bream are good on are good on nightcrawlers and cut perch in 32-45 feet. shrimp and glow DOA Shrimp. crickets and nightcrawlers in 5-10 feet. GRANGER: Water clear; 82 degrees; 1.80' low. Black bass are good on WHITNEY: Water clear; 6.65' low. White bass are fair on minnows. Catfish Carolina-rigged soft plastic worms and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good on are good on frozen shrimp and punchbait. Page 16 September 12, 2008
1,000 birds “shouldn’t impact the was unaware of the early hunt, said. “There were reasons for it to be the next 2-3 years. total population of doves.” called off the shooting sessions on done as early as the first day or two of Tom Roster, an international con- Dove However, the FWS was looking at Aug. 31 and the group finished their the season. All of the adjacent sultant on migratory game bird the impact statewide and not on shoots on opening day, Sept. 1. landowners were informed, but we wounding mortality, trained and Continued from Page 1 neighboring properties, he said. Davis said his opening day should have done a better job of get- certified 22 observers. His program observers and volunteer shooters. But a local outfitter with a dove hunters struggled in the nearby ting the word out. We certainly did- will handle X-ray and necropsies on This study is the first of its kind for field across the county road was field. “My hunters didn’t do well on n’t mean to disrupt any hunting.” the dove specimens collecting dur- doves and is based on a similar proj- not thrilled to find out about the that field,” he said. “On a scale of 1 Officials defended the study, ing the study. ect in Missouri and Louisiana on study two days before his hunters to 10, it was a 3. My other fields not though. “The department has no “Texas has the largest contingent waterfowl in the 1980s. were to take to neighboring fields. in the area were close to a 10.” formal position for or against the use of dove hunters in the nation and The Brown County hunt began “My landowner called me that Tom Stephenson, a Dallas-based of nonlead shot for dove hunting,” this scientific information will be on Sat., Aug. 30 through a Federal morning, that’s how I found out — outfitter, was awarded the contract Boruff said. “We’re trying to gather invaluable in the future when our Fish and Wildlife permit from the I was scouting in another area,” for the early hunt with a winning the science that would inform those leadership is faced with making U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. David Davis said. “I drove over bid of $32,390. Stephenson was in the debate.” decisions about dove manage- A spokesman for the U.S. Fish and there to find out what was going required to provide fields, facilities The study organizer, TPW Dove ment,” Boruff said. And Roberson Wildlife Service said Texas Parks on. There were about 40 people in associated services and at least five Program Leader Jay Roberson, said said future proposals for rulemaking and Wildlife was issued a scientific the field.” fields totaling 400 acres during Aug. the main premise of this research is will be based upon good science collection permit to lethally take up Delbert Connaway’s Connaway 24-29 for training observers. He also to clarify if there is a difference with ample opportunity and time to 1,000 mourning and white- Ranch neighbors the area of the was required to provide a minimum between perception and reality in for public review and comment. winged doves. hunt. He was notified of the event, of 150 acres well-populated with wounding rates and killing efficien- As for the study, no one has com- “As part of the permit, the agency but wasn’t thrilled about the tim- mourning doves providing a high cy of lead shot and nonlead shot on plained about that, Boruff said. “No indicated it needed a special excep- ing. “As I see, it, we’re all born probability that 24 volunteer shoot- mourning dove. “We recognize the one has a problem with the study,” tion to take some doves outside of equal,” he said. “I don’t think they ers would accumulate at least 300, importance of this issue,” he said. Davis agreed. “They will have the the regular hunting season,” said should get an extra day or two of one-shot-killed specimens over six “Our objective is to replace percep- information when the feds want to Greg Esslinger, a migratory bird hunting.” shooting sessions. tions with facts.” push steel shot. But the timing – management operations specialist. Connaway didn’t have hunters “I’m proud Texas stood up to the The study design calls for the that was a problem.” The permit was effective Aug. on opening day, and said hunting northern states and decided to do its same shooters paired with the same The study will continue for the 30th and expired Sept. 8th. It was has been good since for mainly own study,” Stephenson said. “I observers to ensure consistency next two years. “We’ll be doing it restricted to Brown, Coleman and whitewings on his property. “They called and wrote each of the neigh- across three types of shotshell loads. again next year,” Boruff said. “And McCulloch counties. might have improved my hunting,” boring landowners, and I have 7,650 The research objective is to obtain we’ll do a better job.” Esslinger said the FWS evaluated he said. of the 9,100 surrounding acres under a controlled study environ- TPW’s request for a permit and After Davis complained, TPW leased.” ment 500 mourning dove speci- — Mark England contributed to determined that the sample size of Deputy Director Scott Boruff, who “The timing was critical,” Boruff mens killed with one shot in each of this report. Meeting Continued from Page 1 Peter M. Holt. State Park funding took center stage for many of the more than 200 people present at the meeting, espe- cially with the legislative session and funding issues approaching. Several speakers, who were approved for additional park funding, thanked the commission, and even one requester who missed out thanked the group for the opportunity and promised to meet the criteria next year. Other presenters shared their views on federal offshore red snap- per regulations, croaker used as live bait, Lake Conroe vegetation and grass carp, youth hunting and edu- cation programs and the inability to hunt reptiles from Texas roads. "Holding the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting in Houston was very positive, a real opportunity to reach out to con- stituents who might not travel to Austin," said Carter Smith, TPW executive director. "Our commis- sioners were pleased with the fact we had about 70 people testify about a whole range of issues." The response may result in more meetings away from Austin in future years. “We’ll definitely look at doing this again,” Holt said. Fantasy
Continued from Page 9
angler and bow hunter. And what will he do with $1 million? Thompson and his wife, Penny, say they’ll pay off Thompson’s Ranger Z20 bass boat, buy Penny a new car, and start thinking about building a new home on a piece of land that they’ve dreamed about buying for many years. Thompson entered all seven FLW Fantasy Fishing tourna- ments, which began in February 2008 with the kickoff of the FLW Tour. Before each tournament, Thompson would log on to www.fantasyfishing.com and select 10 bass pros who fished in the FLW Tour tournaments. Thompson solidified his first place spot by selecting Michael Bennett to come in first place in last weekend’s Forrest Wood Cup. Bennett won the Cup and its grand prize, $1 million. Carl Trussell of Orange was the only Texan in the top 15, finish- ing fourth. Trussell won a Ranger Reata boat and motor valued at $36,000.
—FLW Outdoors report. September 12, 2008 Page 17 Page 18 September 12, 2008 OUTDOOR DATEBOOK
Sept. 17: The Doorkeepers Wild Game with giveaways, refreshments and Sept. 27-28: Austin Canoe & Kayak Oct. 3: The Texas Parks 8078 or [email protected] dinner will be held at The Private seminars. Call (713) 783-2111 for will host its San Marcos demo days. and Wildlife Foundation for information. Museum of Wild Game in Houston. information. For information, call (512) 396-2386 EXPO Conservation Hall Oct. 16: The Dallas Safari Club Call (713) 921-7520 or visit or visit austinkayak.com. Sept. 19-21: The Hill Country River of Fame Banquet will be monthly meeting will be held, featuring opendoorhouston.org for information. held at the Hyatt Lost Region Fall Nature Quest will be held Sept. 27: Cabela’s in Eric Fletcher speaking on a Namibia Pines Resort & Spa near Sept. 18: The Lake Grapevine DU near Uvalde. For information, call Buda and Fort Worth Safari. Call Debi at (469) 484-6776 Austin. Call Sara at dinner will be held at the Grapevine Angela at (830) 591-1074 or visit will celebrate National for information. (214) 720-1478 or [email protected] Convention Center. Contact Fred at thcrr.com. Hunting and Fishing for information. Oct. 16: The Weatherford DU dinner (817) 368-7310 or [email protected] Day with savings and Sept. 20-21: Austin will be held at the Skating Rink. for information. prizes. Call (512) 295-1100 (Buda) or Oct. 7: The Uvalde DU dinner will be Canoe & Kayak will Contact Troy at (817) 597-6959 or (817) 337-2400 (Fort Worth) for held at the Uvalde Country Club. Call Sept. 18: The Rio Grande Valley DU host its Austin [email protected] for information. Lott at (830) 278-8911 for dinner will be held at the Pharr information. demo days. For information. Convention Center. Call Brian at (956) information, call Sept. 27: The Top of Texas Big Game Oct. 17: The Trinity Basin 369-1812 for information. (512) 719-4386 or visit RMEF banquet will be held in Oct. 8: The Hill Country DU dinner Conservation Foundation will hold its austinkayak.com. Amarillo. Call Carson at (806) 355- will be held at Johnny Fins at Lake Sept. 18: The Beeville CCA Fish Fry Annual Membership Meeting at the 7J 1375 for information. Travis. Contact Chris at (512) 653- will be held at the High 5 Ranch in Sept. 20-21: A hunter’s education 3718 or [email protected] for Ranch in Crockett. Contact Jenny at Beeville. Call (713) 626-4222 for course will be held at Bass Pro Shops Sept. 27: The East Texas Delta information. (361) 279-7287 or jsanders@twa- information. in Grapevine. Call (817) 929-9285 for Waterfowl dinner will be held at the mail.org for information. Kellyville Community Center in Oct. 9: The Austin Sept. 18: The Dallas information. Jefferson. Call Darryl at (903) 576- Delta Waterfowl dinner Oct. 17: The Dallas Safari Club Young Safari Club monthly Sept. 20: The Post Oak Savannah Big 0775 for information. will be held at the Professionals Group Poker Night will meeting will be held at Game Awards will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. be held at the Dallas Petroleum Club. Royal Oaks Country Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. Oct. 2-5: The Southwest International Call Larry at (512) Contact Jaimey at (469) 484-6777 or Club featuring Larry For information, call (210) 826-2904 Boat Show will be held at the Kemah 653-6267 for information. [email protected] for information. Weishuhn. Contact or visit Texasbiggameawards.com. Boardwalk Marina. For information, Debi at (972) 980-9800 or call (561) 951-9695. Oct. 9: The Granbury DU dinner will Oct. 17: The [email protected] for information. Sept. 20: The Texas Cache Arrowhead be held at the Hilton Garden Inn. Southeast Extravaganza will be held at the Oct. 2: The Fort Worth DU dinner will Contact Kyle at (817) 573-9836 or Texas RMEF Sept. 18: The Paris DU dinner will be be held at the Lockheed Martin Helotes VFW in San Antonio. Call [email protected] for information. Big Game held at the Paris Elks Lodge. Call Mike Recreation Association. Contact Aric at (210) 523-2301 for information. Banquet will at (903) 784-2333 for information. (817) 832-8694 or Oct. 9: The Ellis County NWTF dinner be held in [email protected] for information. will be held at the Ennis Country Club. Sept. 19-20: A Mentored Dove Sept. 23: The Beaumont. Call Wharton County DU Contact Malcomb at (469) 245-9015 Mark at (409) 673-2771 for Hunting Workshop will be held at the Oct. 2: The CCA STAR or [email protected] for dinner will be held at information. Justin Hurst WMA in Freeport. awards banquet will be information. Hungerford Hall. Call Includes a target practice session and held at the Hornberger Oct. 18: The Equine Angels Sporting Ronnie at (979) 532- Oct. 9: The Denton DU dinner will be guided dove hunt. Visit Center in Houston. Call Clays Shoot will be held at Alpine 3175 for held at the KC Hall. Contact Dick at tpwd.state.tx.us/ (713) 626-4222 for Shooting Range in Fort Worth. Call information. (940) 566-6717 or [email protected] learning/hunter_education for information. Brian at (214) 543-5706 or visit information. for information. Sept. 24: The Rice Belt DU dinner will Oct. 2: The Dallas Safari Club 100 equineangels.org for information. Oct. 9: The Northeast Tarrant County Sept. 19-20: The 16th Annual be held at the Knights of Columbus Meeting will be held at Eldorado Oct. 18: The Rockport/Fulton DU Lonesome Dove Fest will be held at Hall in El Campo. Call Curtis at (979) Motors/Graff Chevrolet in McKinney. DU dinner will be held at the Colleyville Community Center. Contact dinner will be held at the Fulton the Youth Show Barn in Karnes City, 543-1688 for information. Call Jaimey at (469) 484-6777 for Convention Center. Call Vernon at with a team sporting clays shoot and a information. David at (817) 283-6082 or Sept. 25: The Missouri City DU dinner (361) 729-1822 for information. free afternoon dove hunt. For [email protected] for information. information, call Benny Lyssy at (830) will be held at Sweetwater Country Oct. 2: The San Antonio DU dinner Oct. 18: The Johnson County Farm Club. Call Parker at (832) 541-8550 will be held at the Alzafar Shrine Oct. 14: The Sherman/Denison DU 780-2670. dinner will be held at the Air-1 Bureau will hold an Open Team Bass for information. Temple. Call Kevin at (210) 616-6876 Hanger. Contact Jim at (903) 463- Tournament at Lake Whitney. Contact Sept. 19-21: The West Texas Celebrity for information. Don at (817) 239-4044 or Sept. 25: The Heart of Texas DU 1151 or [email protected] for Dove Classic benefiting Disability [email protected] for dinner will be held at the Pflugerville Oct. 3-5: The NWTF information. Resources will be held at Dr. Norman information. Dozier’s lodge. For information, Firehall. Call Keith at (512) 856-2160 Women in the Outdoors deer hunt will be held Oct. 14: The Sabine DU dinner will be contact Kris at (325) 677-6815 or for information. held at the Longhorn Dance Hall. [email protected]. at the Richards Ranch Sept. 25: The Baytown DU dinner will in Jacksboro. Contact Contact John at (409) 882-1217 for information. HAVE AN EVENT? Sept. 19-21: The be held at the Baytown Fairgrounds. Dorothy at (903) 572- E-mail it to new Houston Orvis Contact Paige at (832) 444-3648 or 7179 or Oct. 16: The Arlington DU banquet [email protected] store at 5727 [email protected] for [email protected] for will be held at Coble’s “Almosta” Westheimer will hold its Grand Opening information. information. Ranch. Contact Steve at (817) 832- September 12, 2008 Page 19 Page 20 September 12, 2008 CLASSIFIEDS Dove, Duck, Hogs South Texas Hunting Ranch BASS and Fishing LaSalle County FishingTexasOnline.com Nice Cabin 147 acres 1-4 — $750 EA. & Deer, Hogs, Quail, Dove 5 & Up — $650 EA. 30 min from Dallas Cabin, Elect, Tank, Senderos BARBEQUE RUBS & SEASONINGS 9 Ponds • Room & Board HuntingTexasOnline.com To order: Paved FM Road Frontage Boats & Motors www.BigAlsTexasRubs.com $338,951 Catch 50-100 Fish/Day “The friendliest ALAN (BIG AL) VOGEL Friday Noon - Sunday Noon Call Frank Carter 214-418-0792 BILL WHITFIELD forums 956 740 4849 [email protected] 214-728-6738 210-494-6421 www.thorntonranchsales.com Plano, Texas WWW.BILLWHITFIELD.COM in Texas!”
Flounder Gigging 2-acre waterfront on Guide Service Richland Chambers Lake UNIQUE WOOD PRODUCTS The Wilderness, the premier KITCHEN WORK CENTERS Port Aransas development on Richland Chambers. CLASSIC ROCKING CHAIR Spacious wooded lot already Aransas Pass Visit Web site VARIOUS CUTTING BOARDS The NEW and PATENTED split ring pliers LAZY SUSANS bulkheaded. Lot 74 in Phase 1. Rockport that thousands of users say “the best For more information, go to EVER in split ring history.” PATIO BAR-B-QUE CARTS U.S.C.G. Available at your tackle dealer, Cabela’s, www.the-wilderness.com. Captain Kent Warren Amazon.com, TackleWarehouse.com. www.lswoodworks.com Call Brian at (214) 543-5706 P.O. Box 1051 Ingleside, TX 78362 SAWMILL SERVICES or e-mail: [email protected] (361) 776-4913 210-508-9844 830-426-2219 Ready to sell!!!
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Gun Bluing Specialty Shop CUATRO We specialize in Hot Caustic, ESQUINAS Rust and Nitre Bluing as well as RANCH Parkerizing, Stainless Steel Bluing 3 day 2 night guided hunts with and Stock Restoration premier lodging, drinks and Mention this ad for 10% discount meals included. Part of South Texas golden triangle 244 Cedar Crest Dr trophy whitetail hunting. Justin, TX 76247 Phone: 214-316-3503 www.cuatroesquinasranch.com [email protected] Jacob (830)876-6501
Dove Hunting Paradise Ranch, Recreational & FOR SALE Investment Properties 320 Acres in Jones County, TX Properties available from Redhill Ranch has 3 wheat/ 10 – 25,000 acres sunflower fields, 5 ponds, 16 offices serving the entire state mesquite trees. Near Lueders only 2 hours west of Ft. Worth Ranch Investments 214-616-1305 HRC Broker 800.447.8604 www.hrcranch.com www.ranchinvestments.com [email protected]
Trophy Whitetail Place your classified advertising in the Lone Star Outdoor News and hunting experience the results of a new look. The 2”x 2” Now booking 3/day party classified will get the attention necessary to say SOLD! hunts. San Angelo area. $50 per month (two issues). Starting at $750 gun. Call (214) 361-2276 For more info Ask for Mike Hughs or CROSSWORD PUZZLE SOLUTION FROM call (325) 653-7045 e-mail ad to [email protected] [email protected]. PAGE 12 September 12, 2008 Page 21
tips shook as the blue runner tried to escape the mouths of some amberjack Offshore below. “Fish on,” both anglers yelled as they began cranking back the line with a Continued from Page 1 double. Cannan kept making drifts over the circle hook do its job,” he said. wreck and nearly each time a fish was Cannan, who sells real estate for the hooked. Some broke off and didn’t make Sanctuary at Costa Grande, was fishing it to the surface. Others were bitten off recently with bass pro Kelly Jordon. by sharks. Fifty-mile runs offshore are like a trip to “We have some bigger blue runners — the supermarket for Cannan. He steers let’s run out to the deep rigs and catch a his 36-foot Yellowfin named “Bidnez” grouper,” Cannan said. Jordon agrees east in search of amberjack, grouper and without question. Cannan wasted no snapper as many days as he can. time and put the Yellowfin on pad, skip- When you go bottom fishing, much ping from wave to wave at 5400 rpm. of the fun is in catching the bait. Jordon rigged up larger tackle for the Cannan likes a variety. Jordon, who dur- deeper drop — 4 pounds of lead with a ing the off-season spends his time at the 20/0 circle hooks on a 400-pound coast as much as possible, caught piggy monofilament leader. perch near the bait stands in town with The deep rig sits in more than 380 feet a cast net, then bluerunners off the first of water. There was a strong current — production platform they passed using Cannan thought it was moving about 8 Sabiki rigs. They pushed farther offshore knots on the northeast side. and caught even larger ones, about 14- Jordon hooks a bluerunner near the 18 inches on another platform. With top of his head and sends him down the bait wells getting full, they picked up fast. Cannan took the slack out of the the pace. line by maneuvering the boat and then As the pair pulled up on the waypoint hopped the bait right up next the rig leg. of the sunken shrimp boat, the unthink- It only took a few minutes and Cannan able happened. With all of the water in slammed the boat in gear. The circle the ocean, they watched a giant barge hook grabbed the fish and the fight was pass directly over the same point. on. Jordon strapped into the fighting “Whoa, that is weird, Cannan said. gear and hauled in an estimated 55- “That barge went right over the wreck pound warsaw grouper to the surface. we are going to fish — what kind of odds “These fish are awesome,” Jordon said. are that?” He has caught quite a few of these big A few moments later, Cannan’s anxi- grouper over the years. “They aren’t any- A LONG HAUL: Kelly Jordon, left, ety was replaced with excitement. thing like bass, and I love that.” and Bill Cannan hold an “Never mind. Look at the graph,” he Off this deep rig, Cannan had caught amberjack caught near a sunken said. “They’re there, look.” many species of grouper — scamp, gag shrimp boat. A large blue runner The fish finder was showing big balls and rockhind, along with big amberjack and a circle hook are sent down of red color. and more. 380 feet to catch warsaw grouper “Look at them, KJ (Jordon’s nick- “You really never know what you are near a production platform in the name),” Cannan said. The two fisher- going to drag up out here. That’s what I Gulf. Photos by David J. Sams. men punched circle hooks though two love about this,” Cannan said as he hand-size blue runners, a favorite food pushed the throttles back to full for the for amberjack and sent them over the trip home. The quiet roar of triple side. Yamaha 250’s were drowned out by The heavy lead weights hit the bot- Jimmy Buffet as the sun set. Everyone on tom after falling about 225 feet. The rod board was smiling. OUTFITTERS
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Colorado Big Game Hunts Mule deer, Elk, and Black Bear Hunt 15,000 privatly owed acres, meals, lodging, and guides included. We have tags available for 2008 season tnt-outfitters.com www.icctrophywhitetailranch.com Taylor Horton (830)640-3275 10100 CR 4028 Kemp, TX 75143 PROFILE YOUR BUSINESS It’s easy to advertise on this page — just send us your business card, and let us know how many weeks you want your ad to run. Purchase 6 months of advertising and your business will be profiled with a photo in this section. Outfitter Listings: $80 per month. Please include either a check or credit card billing information with your order. Mail to Mike Hughs, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or call (214) 361-2276. E-mail: [email protected]. Page 22 September 12, 2008 September 12, 2008 Page 23 PRODUCTS
A BEAUTY OF A BOW: The Venom by Martin Archery is a 66- inch longbow. Its reflex/deflex design makes for a smooth draw and impressive performance on the field. The Venom has a bamboo core, carbon fiber backing, clear glass and black MORE RAGE: The Rage Anaconda is Strike King’s fiberglass overlays. Its answer to the big worm. The soft plastic bait is riser is crafted from QUICK-DRYING SHOES: The Belize III shoes by Columbia designed to displace water and entice the biggest multicolored dyed Sportswear offers anglers and boaters comfort and functionality. strikes from down deep with a tail that is big and birch for beauty and The PFG shoes — think performance fishing gear — feature bulky yet will slither through water. Available in 7- strength. It sells for breathable, quick-drying suede or leather (with mesh) uppers; inch and 10-inch models and 12 colors, it sells for about $620 at rust-proof hardware; a removable, molded EVA footbed with about $6 per pack. For retailers, visit www.martinarchery. anti-bacterial and anti-odor treatment; and a non-slip “Omni www.strikeking.com. com. For information, Grip” sole for sure footing. The shoes have drainage holes call (509) 529-2554 throughout for quick drying. They are available in sizes 7 to 15 in two colors: tan and gray. They sell for about $70. For retailers, visit www.columbia.com or call (503) 985-4000.
NEW MODELS: Mossberg’s 4x4 Bolt-Action Rifle is now available in a new synthetic laminate (shown) as well as high-tech polymer, contoured walnut and laminated stock models. The bolt-action center fire rifles feature Monte Carlo-style cheek pieces, slim-line grips, soft recoil absorbing buttpads, detachable box magazines, factory-installed scope bases, and 22-inch button-rifled barrels. They are offered in six popular standard long-action and magnum calibers. Depending on the model, they will cost about $450 to $640. For dealers, visit www.mossberg.com or call (203) 230-5300.
GOOD AS GOLD: The MirrOmullet Surface Walker by MirrOlure BOWHUNTERS’ now features a gold luminescent insert OPTICS: The for increased flash. The lure Archer’s Choice resembles a juvenile finger Laser Rangefinder by mullet, a favorite forage for Nikon was designed (with coastal predators. The the help of TV’s Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo) wounded mullet action specifically for real-world bow-hunting situations. The company’s and subtle ID Technology compensates for various incline or decline shooting presentation of the angles, which allows bowhunters to range targets from a treestand lure is ideal for or in steep terrain with the same ease as ranging over flat ground. fishing the calm The rangefinder features 6x multicoated optics, waterproof/fogproof shallows. Available ruggedness and pocket-sized portability. It sells for about $250. For in three colors, the dealers, call (800) 248-6846 or visit www.nikonsportoptics.com. 3/8-oz. 16 MR MirrOmullet is 3 inches long and has two hooks. It sells for about $7. For information, call (727) 584-7691.
ICAST'S BEST NEW FISHING ACCESSORY: Zip-Vac Vacuum Storage Bags by CTI Industries Corp. are made from puncture-resistant, triple-layer protection film to lock in the fresh flavor of your food. The bags feature a patented zip closure for quick and secure sealing. Use the portable re- chargeable or manual pump to vacuum out the air to keep your catch or harvest from the field even fresher. Outdoorsmen can also use the bags, which are available in quart, gallon, fillet and jumbo sizes, to protect gear from dust or water. A sampling of bags plus a manual pump sells for about $40. For retailers, call (863) 382-1707
GET ORGANIZED: When you depart on your next adventure, take along the Boulder Briefcase by Fishpond. Whether you carry it as a briefcase or wear it as a backpack, it will keep you (and your high-tech gear) organized. With 15 ICAST’S BEST KID’S TACKLE: Shakespeare Fishing Tackle’s Ugly Stik interior and exterior pockets, it has a spot for your Jr. Combo is a one-piece, light-action casting cellphone, plane tickets and much more. A fully padded rod designed for young anglers. It comes interior compartment will also protect your laptop. It is with an “E-Z Cast” spin-casting reel, offered in several hues, including a new soft khaki cotton spooled with 6-pound line, so that canvas (shown) and ballistic nylon in Steel Blue and Moss children can easily cast with Green. It sells for about $130. For retailers visit lures or live bait. Like the www.fishpondusa.com. company’s bigger Ugly Stik, the downsized model offers strength and sensitivity. Available in yellow, red and pink, it sells for about $25. For retailers, visit www.shakespeare- fishing.com or call (800) 466-5643. Page 24 September 12, 2008 Grants awarded for Texas target ranges Professional and recreational during the 1980s and 1990s. ranges allows the operators to gun range. The center was initially sport shooters alike will benefit Another grant recipient is Pines improve and promote their facili- approved for construction in 2006. from $278,000 in matching grants Sporting Club in Angelina County “Shotgun clays is ties and assist them in being open Cochran County 4-H Shooting for the construction and renova- near Lufkin. The club sponsors sev- to public for a long time. Sports Range — The Texas Parks tion of target ranges across Texas in eral youth shoots and will serve as a an extracurricular “The encroachment of cities is and Wildlife Commission Kerr, McLennan, Harris, Cochran, model club for the Scholastic Clays causing us to lose ranges faster than approved $38,000 to this West Angelina, Caldwell, Williamson Target Program that introduces activity and will we can build them,” Hall said. Texas range for the development of and Smith counties. school-aged children to sport “More people want to shoot, but its existing rifle, pistol and shotgun The Texas Parks and Wildlife shooting and allows them to com- hopefully, one there are fewer places for them to ranges, and for possible construc- Commission approved the target- pete as well as learn the safe han- shoot safely.” tion of archery and shotgun ranges range grants during its Aug. 21 pub- dling of firearms. Pines Sporting day, be a Other target range projects fund- at another location. lic meeting in Houston. Recipients Club was approved to receive ed through the grants include: Legacy Gun Club — This club, of the 2009 funding include $60,000 for enhancements to its Hill Country Shooting Sports just north of Austin, will receive American Shooting Center, a shotgun ranges. school-sponsored Center — This shooting center near $30,000 to begin the process of shooting facility that is one of the “Their range is currently active in Kerrville received $60,000 for the building an indoor rifle, pistol and most widely used by hunter-educa- providing a place for 4-H Shooting activity in Texas.” final construction phase of its air- archery facility as well as an indoor tion instructors in the Houston Sports,” said Steve Hall, Texas Parks gun range at its USA Shooting and hunter-education classroom. area. and Wildlife education director. — Steve Hall training facility. Rose City Flying Clays — The This center in Harris County has “The number of youths served Central Texas Rifle and Pistol commission approved a grant of been approved to receive $30,000 through this facility-enhancement Club — This McLennan County $30,000 for this range to further in 2009 for the continued develop- should more than triple, increasing ular activity and will hopefully, one facility west of Waco will receive develop its shotgun facilities. This ment of sporting clays and infra- from 100 4-H members to 350 4-H day, be a school-sponsored activity $30,000 toward the continued range also sponsors youth sport- structure such as parking lots and members and 50 new Scholastic in Texas,” Hall said. development of its pistol and rifle shooting activities in East Texas. roads. The site has received prior Clay Target participants.” Hall said that providing grant ranges and classroom facilities and funding of more than $500,000 “Shotgun clays is an extracurric- money to legitimate shooting the possible construction of a shot- — Texas Parks and Wildlife report. Texas Wildlife Association names Joiner as CEO The Texas Wildlife Association has named Gary Joiner to the organization’s newly created posi- tion of Chief Executive Officer. Joiner, 44, comes to TWA from his position as director of organi- zation for the Washington Farm Bureau in Lacey, Washington. Previously, he worked in his native Texas as a public relations and leg- islative representative of the Texas Farm Bureau. “Gary Joiner has represented and advocated the interests of landowners for more than 20 years,” said TWA President Randy Rehmann. “He understands our issues and is a strong proponent of the conservation, management, and enhancement of wildlife and habitat on private lands.” Rehmann said the position will enable the volunteer leadership to focus on the group’s mission in advocacy, conservation and hunt- ing education. Joiner is a native of Farmers Branch and a graduate of Texas Tech University. “I am deeply hon- ored to accept this new chal- lenge,” said Joiner. “It is great to return to Texas and to join the out- standing volunteers and staff in working to defend the things we cherish about our state’s wildlife, habitat and heritage.” — Texas Wildlife Association report. Texan claims world title in predator calling
Predator callers from around the country traveled to Kansas to com- pete in the world championship predator calling competition at the World Predator Hunting Expo at the Overland Park Convention Center. The new world distress calling champion was Seth Skinner, who named his hometown as “Central Texas.” Second place went to Jon Paul Moody of Tennessee. The new world coyote vocalization champion is J.D. Piatt of Ohio. Jeremy Gugulmeyer of Dalhart fin- ished second. The world’s new all-around preda- tor calling champion was Tennessee’s Jon Paul Moody. The World Predator Calling Competition was sponsored by Johnny Stewart Game Calls, Predator Xtreme Magazine and Cabela’s. The event is expected to be held in Texas next year, Expo officials said.
— World Predator and Hunting Expo report. September 12, 2008 Page 25 Page 26 September 12, 2008
it will be a very unpopular proposal. “(But) there is no biological reason for Grayson “We’re up for a battle. We don’t want to get nasty, but Grayson County to be different than coun- Continued from Page 7 ties just like it.” Antler restrictions, Wolf added, might ease ger antlers. we have a lot of support in this county.” the archers’ concerns because hunters would But gun hunting, they assert, could soon be allowed to shoot only the older-class wipe out the small, but properly aged deer — Jim Lillis bucks that are wiser and harder to find. herd. “We’re up for a battle,” said Jim Lillis, And, he noted, even if gun hunting is bowhunter and Grayson County native. “We on the Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. cian Mike Benson and his son, Brock, a approved, landowners still have the right to don’t want to get nasty, but we have a lot of And a decade later, Lillis said, state officials Sherman lawyer who is president of the new declare their property as archery-only. support in this county. approved countywide deer hunting, but only bowhunters association. The commission will examine the issue at “We’re going to have numbers.” with bows and arrows. Brock’s deer, 210 4/8, was the biggest its November meeting. A final decision by By the first week of September, there had Many of the Grayson bucks are taken on archery buck taken last season in Texas, the panel would likely be made next spring, been no discussions between Haggerton and small, isolated pockets of farmland — some according to various contests. Wolf said. the archers; both were still trying to figure no bigger than 50 to 300 acres — which may But while Haggerton may be the lone man If approved, gun hunting could begin in out who was on the other side of the issue. not seem conducive to developing trophies. in his corner, one official with Texas Parks the 2009-2010 season. Both sides, however, were well-versed in But the Hagerman is a well-known big- and Wildlife said his staff initially doesn’t see Meanwhile, Wolf said, both sides will be the history of Grayson County white-tailed buck incubator and, Lillis explained, there why gun hunting couldn’t work in Grayson given fair hearings before the commission. deer. are some “arteries” extending from the County. But the Grayson County archers have Haggerton said his father-in-law told him refuge onto private property. Clayton Wolf, big game program director, vowed to fight, said Mike Benson. that in the 1960s, deer hunting was banned Lillis, a regional director for Ducks said the nearby counties of Cooke and “Our herd is so protected by the archery in Grayson County because Dallas-area peo- Unlimited, arrowed a Hagerman 10-pointer Denton have deer habitat similar to season,” he said. “It’s unbelievable what ple were buying weekend getaways there and last season that netted 175 2/8. Grayson’s, but they allow gun hunting. we’ve been able to accomplish. And we’re they didn’t want the sound of gunfire dis- Some 200-class private-property bucks “The proposal our staff is looking at,” Wolf going to try to prove that with our own biol- rupting the solitude. were also taken. said, “is a gun season with antler restrictions. ogists. But in the 1980s, bowhunting was allowed Included were two shot by Sherman physi- “We will be advising the commission that “It’s going to be fiery, I promise you.” September 12, 2008 Page 27
ing many high-flying whitewings and the afternoon hunters having better Dove luck. Tim Soderquist, hunting with Continued from Page 6 friends on Type II public land near Belton Lake, said bird numbers were Dallas Safari Club Dove Hunt at the good and limits were taken. Hailey Ranch. Hunters in some areas struggled, Saturday morning brought good num- believing a northerly breeze may have bers of birds, but limits were tougher to moved the birds. Hunters in public hunt- reach. “There didn’t seem to be a pattern, ing areas near Rockwall fired few shots, you couldn’t figure out where they were and Ellis County hunters said the birds going to come from,” said one member were spotty. of the group. About half of the 90 or so In the Central Zone area north of I-10 hunters managed their limits. near Houston, heavy rains before the Hunters near Breckenridge shot quick opener dampened the success. “I would limits on opening day over sunflowers, say it was mediocre,” said Scott Hickman and hunters near Lubbock and areas far- of Circle H Outfitters, who hunted near ther west said afternoon limits were the Winnie. “We had 11 inches of rain and norm especially near water. the birds couldn’t get to the food so they Farther south, Dean Stewart hunted moved south where it’s dry.” mourning doves in Medina County. “We Some of the hunters scratched out hunted near a tank and had good birds,” limits, but most managed five or six he said. “It wasn’t hot and heavy — we birds, he said. They were impressed with had some good rains the week before the the numbers of blue-winged teal, opener which is typical, so it took a few though. “The hunters said they wished hours to get our limit.” there were as many dove as there were Stewart said the hunters closer to San teal,” Hickman said. Antonio, Uvalde and Hondo (north of I- Hickman expects the South Zone 10) did well on whitewings. Reports from opener to be excellent. “There are public hunting areas near San Antonio whitewings everywhere south of I-10,” TAKING DOWN BIRDS: Joe Prather takes aim at a fast-flying mourning dove with his Griffin & Howe .28-gauge side-by- indicated lots of doves and lots of he said. “If we don’t get messed up by a side. Prather flew down from New Jersey to participate in the Dallas Safari Club annual dove hunt. Photo by David J. hunters, with the morning hunters see- hurricane, it will be on.” Sams. Record
Continued from Page 9
I thought it was a red,” Kennedy said. He said to his fellow fisher- man, “Get the net, this is a big fish.” It was more than big: It was a water body record blue catfish weighing 47.05 pounds and meas- uring 43.13 inches. The previous record holder in that category was Dallas Taylor, who on Aug. 16, 2003, at the age of 13, caught a 26.37-pound, 38.5- inch-long blue cat. The news isn’t all good at Fairfield, though. On Sept. 4, dead fish were found along Fairfield Lake’s upper shoreline from a cove “It was pulling so hard, I thought it was a red.” —Jackie Kennedy
immediately northwest of the dam to the spillway. The majority (51 percent) were large red drum. A smaller kill (involving primarily giz- zard and threadfin shad) was found in a cove about a half-mile south of the main kill. The TPW’s Inland Fisheries man- agement and Kills and Spills Team biologists conducted water quality and other field observations, but weren’t able to conclusively identi- fy the cause of the kill, which took place no earlier than Sept. 3. Initial estimates show about 7,345 fish died in the two locations. Species involved included red drum, bluegill, largemouth bass, gizzard and threadfin shad, chan- nel and flathead catfish, tilapia and gar. TPW officials said water quality field data collected indicated a localized area of high oxygen and abundant phytoplankton in the larger of the two areas where the fish kill occurred, indicating extreme fluctuations in the oxygen level. During the day, photosynthe- sis by the abundant phytoplankton increases oxygen concentration. But during darkness, respiration by the phytoplankton reduces oxygen concentration. TPW has stocked over 5.3 million red drum in Fairfield Lake since 1984, and the estimated 3,750 red drum lost in the present kill is unlikely to permanently impact the popular fishery. Page 28 September 12, 2008 NATIONAL State-record fish caught on Barbie Doll rod and reel
David Hayes of Wilkes County, N.C., used his granddaughter’s Barbie Doll rod-and-reel combo to reel in a new state record channel catfish that meas- ured 2 inches longer than the fishing pole. Hayes landed the record-breaking fish, which weighed 21 pounds, 1 ounce, on Aug. 5 from a pri- vate pond while fishing with his granddaughter Alyssa, 3. After collecting several black crickets, Hayes and Alyssa went down to the pond behind the house to fish for bluegill. Like previous fishing trips, Hayes baits the hook and Alyssa catches the fish, using her hot pink Barbie Doll rod and reel combo. MOJO MANIA: After a three-year ban, Arkansas will allow the use of spinning-wing “After catching two or three bluegill, Alyssa turns decoys this season. Photo by David J. Sams. to me and says ‘Papa, I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Hold my fishing rod,’” Hayes said. “A few minutes later, the float went under and I saw the water start boiling up — I knew right then that I had my hands Arkansas removes ban full with that fishing rod.” It took Hayes about 25 minutes to land the fish, which measured 32 inches in length and 22 1/2 inch- PRETTY IN PINK: David Hayes holds his state record- on spinning-wing decoys es in girth. breaking channel catfish while his granddaughter Alyssa, 3, holds the Barbie combo that he used to reel in the After a three-year experiment, In support of his position to — N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission report. the Arkansas Game and Fish remove the ban, Dunklin read from fish. Photo by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Commission lifted the ban on spin- a letter from the U.S. Fish and ning-wing decoys during waterfowl Wildlife Service that stated there hunting season. The Commission was “no demonstrable impacts on also increased the daily bag limit for either overall harvest rates or popu- EPA vetoes Yazoo River Basin pumps hen mallards from one to two. lation levels.” Commissioner George Dunklin, Commissioner Brett Morgan cast The Environmental Protection thousands of acres of natural wet- “More than half of our nation’s chairman of the Commission’s the lone vote to continue the spin- Agency announced it will veto a lands will continue to provide the and nearly three-fifths of waterfowl committee, said the deci- ning-wing decoy ban. “I can’t sup- proposed project in Mississippi most efficient and natural method Mississippi’s original wetlands sion to rescind the ban was diffi- port something that we know helps that would include a massive of flood control there is,” said have been converted to non-wet- cult. kill juvenile ducks,” Morgan said. pumping station in the Yazoo Theodore Roosevelt Conservation lands,” said TRCP Director of “I know there’s some dissension “This is an issue that we (commis- River Basin. The construction and Partnership Initiative Manager Communications Tim Zink. about removing the ban, but a sur- sioners) raised — not the public. operation of the proposed pumps Geoff Mullins. “The EPA estimates “Along a flood-prone Gulf Coast vey showed the majority of people The majority of e-mails and phone would alter and degrade the criti- that one acre of wetlands can store and in a vitally important state for wanted spinning-wing decoys calls that I’ve received support cal functions of roughly 67,000 up to one-and-a-half million gal- waterfowl and fisheries, the Yazoo brought back,” Dunklin said. “We keeping the ban in place.” acres of wetland resources in the lons of floodwater. We don’t have Pumps project could have done asked all of the surrounding states surrounding area. to look far beyond the nightly exceptional damage to both.” to come aboard with us on this, but — Arkansas Game and Fish “This veto of the Yazoo Pumps weather report to see why this is so to no avail.” Commission report. project will ensure that tens of important.” — TRCP report. JOIN US TODAY! www.lonestaroutdoornews.com
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(866) 361-2276 or visit CC# EXP. www.lonestaroutdoornews.com You won’t want to miss SIGNATURE 091208 a single issue September 12, 2008 Page 29 New East Texas Fish Hatchery construction under way Construction of the new $27 tion. million East Texas Fish Hatchery, “Texas freshwater anglers are the expected to be completed in early “This hatchery will largest single constituency Texas 2010, is now underway. Parks and Wildlife Department The state-of-the-art facility on be used primarily for has,” noted TPW Commission 200 acres just below Sam Rayburn production of Chairman Peter M. Holt. “More Reservoir will replace the 70-year- fish in more places equals better old Jasper Fish Hatchery and pro- largemouth bass, fishing, and that benefits the qual- vide at least 45 acres of fish produc- ity of life in this state.” tion ponds capable of delivering up channel and blue In addition to the production to 4.5 million fish annually for ponds, the hatchery complex will stocking in Texas public waters. catfish and bluegill feature a 34,000-square-foot pro- A groundbreaking ceremony duction building and an 8,200- near the site of the fish hatchery sunfish.” square-foot administrative build- water intake structure was held on ing, which will office 24 employ- Aug. 27. — Todd Engeling ees, including hatchery, aquatic “Once operational, this new habitat enhancement and fisheries hatchery will have the capacity to management staffs, and game war- more than double what’s currently Jasper County in 2004 donated dens. produced at the outdated Jasper 200 acres of land for the hatchery “This hatchery will add a greater Fish Hatchery. This will help meet and the Lower Neches Valley degree of operational flexibility the growing needs of our recre- Authority has agreed to provide and increased production by about ational angling community,” said 10,000-acre feet of water from Sam two million fingerlings a year,” said Phil Durocher, Texas Parks and Rayburn Reservoir for hatchery Todd Engeling, TPWD hatcheries Wildlife Department inland fish- operation. director. “This hatchery will be eries director. “We applaud the Also, Temple Inland provided used primarily for production of generous support of Texas anglers, easements to accommodate the largemouth bass, channel and blue who stepped up to the plate to help county road as well as all site utili- catfish and bluegill sunfish. It will fund this critical project through ties and water conveyance lines. also have the capability of produc- the purchase of the Freshwater The U.S. Corps of Engineers will ing striped bass should we need it.” Fishing Stamp, and our partners.” provide easements to accommo- In addition to stamp revenues, date the facility water intake sta- —Texas Parks and Wildlife report.
Guard; and Tim Knippa, who has band as teens, Ron said. worked in the environmental field Stuemke is “a visionary,” Ron Stuemke for 20 years. Ron began fishing said. “He started that school from with his former teacher and Capt. scratch. He’s an excellent teacher. Continued from Page 8 Kelley about eight years ago. He’s a loving Christian guy who Gradually, as more friends joined formed close relationships with his Donny McDonald, who has trav- them, the Norm Stuemke students.” eled the world as a Blackhawk heli- Invitational was born. Redeemer Lutheran School now copter pilot and maintenance chief The group that fishes not only boasts more than 500 students. for the National Guard; Neil Weise, went to school together, but to As Capt. Kelley put it, “This just a retired information systems man- youth groups and Boy Scouts. Five goes to show that a teacher can ager; Larry Becker, retired National of them formed a country-western make a difference.”
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To advertise in this section, please contact Mike Hughs at (214) 361-2276 or [email protected]. September 12, 2008 Page 31 Page 32 September 12, 2008