December 23, 2005 Texas’ Premier Outdoor Newspaper Volume 2, Issue 9 Winter bass See Page 8 www.lonestaroutdoornews.com

INSIDE FISHING Ducky weather for hunters

A middle-schooler broke a six- year-old record for common snook with a 6.5-pound catch. Nick Rizopoulos, 13, already holds six of the nine junior division fly-fishing records listed on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Web site. See Page 9

Low lake levels in Texas are leading to a concentration of fish in a smaller amount of water, which isn’t all bad for anglers. But those in boats need to be aware of hazards created by low LIKING THE WEATHER: Climate has been instrumental in the timely migration of ducks to Texas. More mallards have been seen along the coastal bend this year. water levels. And marina owners are coping by relying on Climate pattern shift brings snow to the North and ducks to the South extensions they have built onto By Mark England was a trophy to kill one,” Ritter said. vation programs for the Texas chap- or four years. As the northern areas their ramps. “This year there are large flocks of ter of Ducks Unlimited. of the country get colder, it ices up. See Page 8 them, 30 or 40 in a flock. The hunt- As to why, Ritter only had to ask There are less wetlands available. Ed Ritter has lived on the Texas ing was outstanding.” his hunting partner. There’s less aquatic vegetation. HUNTING coast since 1995. When Ritter went Others who have been around “Weather patterns have been Ducks are left with the agricultural Dove hunting in Texas this winter duck hunting around Thanksgiv- these parts longer than Ritter instrumental in the timely migra- fields to feed on. That’s where the ing in East Bernard, 15 miles north agreed with him. tion of ducks to Texas,” said Chad snow factors in. Three or 4 inches of will come down to the basics: of Wharton, he declared he’d never “I also heard that comment from Manlove, manager of conservation snow cover causes waterfowl to food, water and shelter. The seen more mallards in the area. people who have lived here all their planning for DU’s southern region. think about migrating.” hunting forecast for the state “The 10 years I’ve been here, it lives,” said Ritter, director of conser- “That’s been lacking the last three See DUCKS, Page 10 may be mixed, but you’ll still find doves wherever you can find the basic ingredients they need to thrive. Corn them … and See Page 6 A new hunting television they will come program featuring two Texas “Divas” is breaking the male- only rule of outdoor television. By Lynn Burkhead Experts say females represent an untapped market in the sport. See Page 7 As many deer hunters know, the use of corn has resulted in the demise of many a Texas whitetail. NATIONAL And while most golden nuggets are slung Conservationists are crediting from a permanent feeder, the practice of hunters for the re-emergence of “corning” a ranch road, a rocky trail, a the ivory-billed woodpecker in sendero or a fence line can also work white- Arkansas. The bird, thought tail wonders. “I think it’s pretty effective,” agreed extinct, was sighted on land RECORD RETURNS: David Hayes caught the world-record smallmouth in 1955. bought with funds from the Duck Clayton Wolf, the big game program leader Stamps purchased by hunters. for Texas Parks and Wildlife. See Page 4 “Deer have a keen sense of smell and 1955 catch makes often have a craving for corn.” Wolf thinks the technique can be partic- GOLDEN NUGGETS: “Corning’ a ularly useful as a management tool to har- ranch road can lead to an DEPARTMENTS See CORN, Page 10 record book again increase in deer activity. Migratory Bird Report Page 7 After an intense investigation his life. He brought it to a nearby PRSRT STD Across the Nation Page 10 of documents, many from 50 marina, which weighed the US POSTAGE PAID Product Picks Page 13 years ago, the International catch at 11 pounds and 15 Game Fish Association, the ounces and measured it at 27 PLANO, TX Outdoor Heroes Page 14 organization that maintains inches long with a 21 2/3-inch PERMIT 210 Crossword Puzzle Page 15 world records for both freshwa- girth. ter and saltwater game fishes, Hayes entered the fish for a Wild in the Kitchen Page 15 has reinstated a record for the record with Field and Stream Weather Page 15 biggest smallmouth bass ever magazine, which at the time was caught. the keeper of freshwater records. Game Warden Blotter Page 16 While fishing Dale Hollow It granted Hayes’ fish a record for Outdoor Datebook Page 17 Lake on the Tennessee-Kentucky the heaviest smallmouth bass state line on July 8, 1955, David ever taken on rod and reel. In Fishing Report Page 18 Hayes, of Litchfield, Ky., caught the biggest smallmouth bass of See RECORD, Page 10

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†Maximum payload capacity includes weight of vehicle, passengers, cargo and equipment. ††Trailer ratings are calculated assuming a properly equipped base vehicle plus driver. See the GMC Trailering Guide for details. †††When properly equipped, includes weight of vehicle, passengers, cargo and equipment. *Call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or visit onstar.com for system limitations and details. **Available in the 48 contiguous states. Basic service fees apply. Visit gm.xmradio.com for details. ©2005 OnStar Corp. All rights reserved. OnStar and the OnStar emblem are registered trademarks of OnStar Corporation. ©2005 XM Satellite Radio Inc. All rights reserved. The XM name and related logos are registered trademarks of XM Satellite Radio Inc. ©2005 Bose Corp. All rights reserved. ©2005 General Motors Corp. All rights reserved. Sierra, GMC and the GMC logo are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. Page 4 December 23, 2005 NATIONAL NRA Women’s Hunters get credit for hunt schedule announced aiding rare woodpecker Hunters are getting a lion’s share of the birds in the Cache River National Wildlife The National Rifle Association’s Women On Target credit for saving the ivory-billed woodpeck- Refuge. He brought two bird experts to the program has just released its 2006 hunt schedule. er, a non-game bird, from extinction. site, and they reported seeing it, too. And NRA’s women-only hunts create ideal opportunities A representative of The Nature when a professor captured the bird in flight for novice or experienced women hunters to pursue a Conservancy even visited the Mallard in fuzzy but authentic video, an analysis of variety of game species in different locales. Pointe Lodge — whose ceiling sports antler all the data pointed to the startling fact that “Making it easier for more women to get involved in chandeliers and its walls stuffed ducks — to the ivory bill was back. hunting and the shooting sports is a priority for the make that point. NRA,” said Mary Sue Faulkner, Director of the NRA’s Since then, though, it’s not been seen. “The people of Arkansas, the hunting and However, a coalition made up of The Nature Community Service Programs Division. “Women On fishing community, conserved these Target is a key part of that effort — and at the rate some Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife woods,” said Scott Simon, director of the Service, the Arkansas Game and Fish of these hunts sell out, it is clear that women are eager group’s Arkansas chapter. for hunting opportunities.” Commission, Audubon Arkansas and the Simon and other environmentalists sin- Cornell Lab of Ornithology has put togeth- Since the program’s launch in late 1999, women of gled out hunters for praise in bringing the er a search team that will look for the bird all experience levels have been invited to take part. rare bird back from presumed extinction in through April 2006. Hunts are chosen after careful screening of outfitters, the Big Woods section of Arkansas. “Finding birds is a critical part of the and a range of destinations and cost levels are offered. Hunters’ purchasing of Duck Stamps For 2006 and early 2007, Women On Target will travel brought in $41 million to reclaim much of recovery process, and we’re hoping for some to new and exciting hunting destinations, as well as the habitat where the endangered wood- exciting news,” said Sam D. Hamilton, the return to the sites of some of its most popular hunts. pecker was spotted. USFWS southeast regional director. New hunts for whitetail deer in South Carolina and “The $41 million went into the land IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER In this, too, hunters are allies, according deer, hog, coyote and bobcat in Alabama will join before the ivory bill showed up,” Simon to Scott Henderson, director of the Arkansas already popular pheasant, wild boar and antelope said. Southeast’s forests after the Civil War. With Game and Fish Commission. hunts in states from California to Tennessee. The big bird, which is jet black and bright a body up to 20 inches long, the ivory-billed “The deer hunter and the duck hunter Sandy Cook of Bronston, Ky., has participated in sev- white with males adorned with a red crest, woodpecker needs large trees in which to out there are some of the best eyes and ears eral Women On Target hunts. was believed extinct for the last 60 years, nest. It’s known to scale the bark off dying we’ve got,” Henderson said. “We have 7,000 “When I first started hunting and went on my first and ornithologists dismissed reports of its and dead trees to get at the cigar-sized grubs hunters in this same area for eight hours at a Women On Target hunt, everyone was so helpful and sighting in Arkansas. that live there. time or more in some cases.” made me feel very comfortable,” she said. “As I gained Their skepticism was based on the In February 2004, however, an amateur experience, these hunts continued to offer me new destruction of many of the American naturalist insisted that he’d seen one of the — Compiled from news reports challenges. Everyone, from beginners to experienced hunters, has such a great time that I have recommend- ed Women On Target hunts to many other women.” All hunts require preregistration. For registration Safari Club International information, call (800) 861-1166, or send an e-mail message to [email protected]. More infor- mation is available at www.nrahq.org/women/ wot.asp. weighs in on New Jersey bear Date Species Outfit/Location Jan. 13-15 Whitetailed deer Texas Trophy Club Safari Club International lauded a rul- to demonstrate that the six-day hunt New Jersey residents.” (sold out) Ranch, Batesville, ing issued Dec. 2 by the New Jersey would threaten the long-term viability of The Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund Texas Superior Court that ensured hunters will the species. The court allowed SCI to also intervened. Jan. 20-23 Goose and duck Kiowa Hunting Service, remain a part of that state’s bruin man- intervene in the case and argue in favor of SCI-First For Hunters protects the free- April 28-30 Holdenville, Okla. agement strategy by affirming that the the hunt at the hearing. dom to hunt and promotes wildlife con- Wild boar Caryonah Hunting New Jersey Black Bear hunt would take Tom Riley, SCI executive director, said: servation worldwide. SCI’s 173 chapters Lodge, Crossville, place. “SCI will continue to support the strate- represent all 50 states as well as 13 other Tenn. The Court rejected a request by animal gies employed by the state’s wildlife offi- countries. Sept. 15-18 Whitetailed deer Buck Ridge rights activists to stop the hunt, ruling cials in maintaining bruin levels that are Plantation, Neeses, that the animal rights groups had failed both healthy and do not pose a danger to — A SCI report S.C. Sept. 23-27 Antelope Wyoming Professional Hunters, Kawasaki Motors recalls ‘Brute Force’ ATVs Glenrock, Wyo. Oct. 20-22, Pheasant and chukar Oak Creek Sporting The Consumer Product rate from the steering control. jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries decline in the rate of deaths Club, Brainard, Neb. Safety Commission has posted Separation of the tie rod can and property damage from and injuries associated with Nov. 3-5/17-19 Pheasant Turk Station, a voluntary recall by Kawasaki cause the rider to lose control consumer product incidents consumer products over the Coalinga, Calif. Motors of the company’s 2005 of the ATV, resulting in serious cost the nation more than past 30 years. Dec. 1-3, Whitetailed deer K3 Ranch, Hunt, Texas model year “Brute Force” injury or death to the rider. $700 billion annually. The To obtain a release on the Dec. 8-11, Whitetailedl/hog/ Master Rack Lodge, ATVs. About 21,800 of the The CPSC is charged with agency’s work to ensure the recall order or for more infor- coyote/bobcat Union Springs, Ala. machines are affected by the protecting the public from safety of consumer products — mation, you can visit the safe- Jan. 12-14 Whitetailed deer Texas Trophy Club ty commission’s Web site at recall. According to the safety unreasonable risks of serious such as toys, cribs, power tools, 2007 Ranch, Batesville http://www.cpsc.gov/. commission, severe impact or injury or death from more cigarette lighters and house- excessive wear may cause the than 15,000 types of consumer hold chemicals — contributed —A Consumer Product Safety Brute Force’s tie rods to sepa- products under the agency’s significantly to the 30-percent Commission report

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU Need THINK! HAVE A SUGGESTION? Insurance? WRITE US! EDITORIAL OFFICES: 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 Phone: (214) 361-2276 Fax: (214) 368-0344 Editor: DARLENE MCCORMICK SANCHEZ Layout Artist: DUDLEY GREEN Get Associate Editor: MARK ENGLAND Associate Editor: DAV I D RENFROW GOEN! Subscription Services: DEBORAH COMER Founder & CEO: DAV I D J. SAMS Boats, Home, Auto, SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES: Ranch, Life and Order online via secure Web site at www.lonestaroutdoornews.com Crop Insurance or call toll-free (866) 361-2276 ADVERTISING SERVICES: GOEN & GOEN INS Call (214) 361-2276 or e-mail [email protected] to request a media kit. Lone Star Outdoor News, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. Lone Star Outdoor News welcomes comments and suggestions on our newspaper 800-288-2865 A subscription is $25 for 24 issues. Copyright 2005 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/or use of and your views on the Texas outdoors. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Send letters to: [email protected], or mail them to: www.goen-goen.com Printed in Dallas, TX, by Midway Press. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243. Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX 75243 or e-mail them to [email protected]. December 23, 2005 Page 5 CONSERVATION FishAmerica Foundation IT TAKES ON establishes Gulf fund KIDS. In response to the extreme dev- is only fitting that the sport fish- vegetation planting, rebuilding astation caused by hurricanes ing industry take an active role in angler access and reestablishing Katrina and Rita to the Gulf helping restore both habitat and fish passage. Coast, the FishAmerica Found- access, which, in turn, will help “One main focus of the ation has established the improve the economy of the IT TAKES ON FishAmerica Foundation is to FishAmerica Gulf Fund to aid area.” restoration efforts. Over the last 23 years, the FAF help preserve this country’s sport The fund was created to help has funded numerous sport fish fish and resources,” said Johanna restore critical sport fish habitat restoration projects and worked Laderman, FAF managing direc- CARGO. and facilities in Alabama, hand-in-hand with state and tor. “By establishing this fund, we Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. local natural resource agencies to have now created a centrally Nearly 4.8 million fresh and successfully enhance sport fish- located, focused, rallying point saltwater anglers fish along the ing along the Gulf Coast and IT EVEN TAKES for the industry as well as others coasts of those states, according across the nation. to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife In the last few years, founda- interested in conservation to con- Service’s most recent survey. It tion- funded projects include the tribute directly to the preserva- also shows that the economic Delehide Cove Restoration tion of sport fishing in the Gulf.” ON THE impact in those four states is Project enhancing coastal fish- The establishment of the fund approximately $2.6 billion. The eries habitat along Galveston comes in the midst of a record- total economic impact reflects Island’s West Bay shoreline; the breaking year for storms with 23 state and federal taxes, sales and Mississippi Oyster Reef Project named storms, including 12 hur- COMPETITION. motor fuel taxes, jobs, salaries creating two new oyster reefs to ricanes. Through the fund, grants and wages, retail sales as well as improve fish habitat and water the total number of anglers. quality in Back Bay Biloxi and St. will be provided to local sport “The sport is Louis Bay; and the New Orleans fishing clubs and conservation GMC Yukon SLT solidly behind the FishAmerica City Park Fishing Improvement organizations to aid in their Gulf Fund,” said Dave Pfeiffer, Project to improve water quality efforts to restore sport fish popu- Amercian Sportfishing and fishing in the 11-acre City lations and their habitats and Association board chairman and Park lagoon system. access to the resource. For addi- executive vice president of the The foundation will work with tional information, visit the Shimano American Corporation. state and federal natural resource “Many elements make up a great agencies and community conser- FishAmerica Gulf Fund, experience, but healthy vation groups to identify and pri- www.fishamerica.org. abundant , as well as oritize projects like wetland cre- access to the resource, are key. It ation and restoration, aquatic — A RedfishNation.com report

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Cargo and load capacity limited by weight and distribution. *Call 1-888-4ONSTAR (1-888-466-7827) or visit onstar.com for system limitations and details. **Available in the 48 contiguous states. Basic service fees apply. Visit gm.xmradio.com for details. ©2005 OnStar Corp. All rights reserved. OnStar and the OnStar emblem are registered trademarks of OnStar Corporation. ©2005 XM Satellite Radio Inc. All rights reserved. The XM name and related logos are registered trademarks of XM Satellite Radio Inc. ©2005 General Motors Corp. All rights reserved. Yukon, GMC and the GMC logo are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. Page 6 December 23, 2005 HUNTING WINTER SKIES Ample food, water ingredients for successful late-season dove hunting

LOOKING UP: Signs point toward a successful second split of the dove hunting season. By Todd Nafe hunting this winter.” But the birds still have to do their Northeast Texas, says her population counties southwest of San Antonio Wharton County Game Warden part. Uvalde’s Hacienda Ranch surveys indicate above-average num- and a handful more to the west of Justin Hurst says that dove hunting Manager Brad Draughon said the out- bers of doves in the northern latitudes Corpus Christi. hile lacking the predictabili- along the coast is typically good dur- look for dove hunting in Southwest of the state, and that a hard cold snap Dec. 26 kicks off the second split of ty of the standing grain ing the second split, but adds that not Texas is looking up after a lean finish or two would likely send them stream- the dove hunting season, and runs W fields of early autumn, win- many hunters take advantage of it. to the first split. “For a little while ing southward into the hunting zones through Jan. 4 in the Central Zone, tertime dove hunting is still based on “Usually, the little winter dove season there, it seemed that the doves were at just the right time. through Jan. 15 in the South Zone and the simple fact that doves need food, is very productive,” Hurst said. “The pretty much few and far between. Texas is rife with outfitters, but pub- through Jan. 11 in the Special White water and shelter. coastal areas usually have good num- Most of the feed is plowed under and lic hunting land is also available Winged Dove Area around San Robert Harris of Wild Woods bers of mourning doves, but the num- new crops are growing,” Draughon throughout the state. In the Central Antonio. There is no winter season in Taxidermy in Victoria advises winter ber of hunters shooting at them tends said. “But now, I’ve been seeing an Zone, the majority of public hunting the North Zone. dove hunters to look for the right to be low. Most outfitters are focused increase in dove numbers and we land is located along Interstate 35, Hunting prospects for the second ingredients for successful hunts. “You on ducks and geese, but a lot of them should have a pretty decent shoot for beginning in the counties just south of split of dove season are mixed across want to look for a place with an ample will also include an afternoon dove the late-season dove.” Dallas and continuing on to the east the Lone Star State, but plenty of birds supply of food and water with good hunt in their waterfowl packages.” Just because birds aren’t plentiful in and southeast of Waco and Austin. can be had if you hunt the right spots tree cover nearby,” he said. “The dove- Hurst said that while doves aren’t the central and southwestern regions The Central Zone is bordered on the weed is dying off, and birds are eating found in the same concentrations as of the state yet, wingshooters need not north by Interstate 20 and Interstate and the weather cooperates. the seeds, so if you can find a pasture in the early fall, they can be found at write off the winter season as a failure. 30, and on the south by U.S. Highway Todd Nafe is the outdoors writer for the with doveweed, brush and water, the same places — around water, grav- Heidi Bailey, Texas Parks and Wildlife 90 and Interstate 10. South Zone pub- Waco Tribune-Herald and can be you’re going to have some prime dove el roads and mesquite thickets. regulatory wildlife biologist in lic hunting can be found in several reached at www.centexoutdoors.com. Rains mixed blessing for muley hunts

Jeff Davis and Culberson counties Well-fed, cozy — with most from Culberson. Some deer tipped the scales at more bucks make than 200 pounds. Outfitter Randy Shipp entered a hunters work muley in the contest he took in Culberson County that scored a for their trophy 172. “This was a really good year,” Shipp said. “The deer were kind of By Wes Smalling hard for hunters to find because the deer have had lots to eat and drink. arly on, warm weather and But with three or four years of good plentiful forage made things rain now, things are looking good Ea little tough on mule deer out here for the deer herd in West hunters this year, but by the sea- Texas.” son’s end this month, it was anoth- Winners of the Trans-Pecos Big er good year in the Trans-Pecos and Buck Contest will be announced Panhandle regions of Texas. soon, Turner said. The bucks were big and the fawn Forage conditions and hunter sightings many — good signs that Texas’ desert mule deer herds are success were similar in the sand hill going strong, thanks to a few years country of the Panhandle region. in a row of wet weather during Danny Swepston, Panhandle dis- spring. trict leader for the TPW, said “We’ve had lots of rainfall over hunters were bagging a lot of the last three years, which has real- respectable-sized bucks, but fewer ly improved conditions out there monster muleys than usual, from drastically,” said Clay Brewer, mule what he’s seen so far. Two giant, deer program manager for Texas nontypical bucks were taken in Parks and Wildlife. “We have a Oldham and Kent counties. tremendous amount of [fawn] pro- “I’ve only seen a couple really duction.” good ones,” Swepston said. “We Billy Tarrant, Trans-Pecos district BIG BUCKS: Reports show the biggest mule deer bucks coming out of Hudspeth, Jeff Davis and Culberson counties. started off with a pretty good leader for the department, said it spring, then dried off at the end of was an “average to above average” means a hunter may have to wear Tournament scored above 200 time finding the deer this year,” summer. All the animals I saw prior season in terms of deer size and out a pair or two of boots to find Boone and Crockett points. But Turner said. “The first week of the to the season were in good shape. I numbers. the big bucks. there were plenty of big-bodied season was tremendously warm. “The quality of the browse Such was the case this year, with deer taken that had antlers ranging We were getting highs in the 80s, suspect we had a better year than resource has been very good due to the bucks feeling too well-fed and from 183 to 193 Boone and but then we had a cold front come what I’ve heard so far.” the increased rainfall,” he said. cozy to move around much. Crockett points, said Chanley in that shook some of the deer Wes Smalling is the former outdoors While rainy springs are great in For the first time in a few years, Turner, one of the organizers of the out.” editor for the Santa Fe New Mexican the long run for the state’s mule no deer that were entered in Van annual tournament. Of the 52 contest entries, the and has more than a decade of experi- deer, the good forage it produces Horn’s Trans-Pecos Big Buck “The hunters were having a hard biggest bucks came from Hudspeth, ence as a writer and reporter. December 23, 2005 Page 7 Divas of hunting hit the mark with women Female hosts of TV outdoor show forging ‘new road’

By Mary Helen Aguirre The enthusiastic Texas duo is well-positioned to potentially reach those women. As a rancher’s daughter, Rhodes grew up in Greenville where she Women hunters are quietly emerging as real was taught to shoot by her father. She has since players in a sport that has traditionally been a guy hunted all over the world, including 16 trips to thing. Well, maybe not so quietly in the case of Africa. She’s also been involved in the outdoors for Texans Judy Rhodes and Pearl Silvey. many years through a group she founded called Rhodes of Dallas and Silvey of Wolfe City co- Diva — Texas Women’s Shooting Sports. host the weekly TV program “Divas in the Silvey is a novice by comparison. She took up Outdoors” — one of the few outdoor shows host- hunting in 1999. But with her city-girl upbringing, ed by women. she knows how the sport can be attractive to Rhodes and Wolfe focus on hunting, fishing and women of all walks of life. outdoor adventures with a lot of humor and The two started filming the show’s pilot in female bonding thrown in. March after Rhodes successfully pitched her idea The show debuted on The Men’s Channel in to The Men’s Channel. She recruited Tim Hart, September. During each 30-minute episode, the who produced Ted Nugent’s “Spirit of the Wild,” Divas feature an expert who demonstrates tech- to be a producer/director for their Wolfe City- niques before heading out to the field — just like based venture. many of the male hunting shows. So far, the divas have hunted impala in Africa, “Pearl and I are forging a new road,” says shot red-legged partridge in Spain (one of Rhodes’ Rhodes, who sees their role as a calling to educate favorite hunts), been bird hunting in Argentina women about hunting. “We want the next genera- and harvested alligator eggs in the Anahuac tion to be able to hunt. Really, we are the future.” Refuge (one of the scarier adventures). The Divas may be on the right track. In a study On future shows, they’ll stalk Big Foot in for the National Wild Turkey Federation, Oklahoma and visit Balmoral, the Scottish retreat researcher Mark Duda found 1 out of 5 women used by England’s queen, where they plan to hunt polled said they were interested in hunting for roe deer and fly-fish. although few had been in the past five years. Rhodes said the response has been positive from DIVAS: Judy Rhodes, left, and Pearl Silvey — co-hosts of the TV show Divas in the “Reaching these women may take great effort, sponsors, who are calling to equip them for their Outdoors — pose at White Rock Lake where they film on occassion. Photo by David but it will be well worth it,” said Duda, the execu- outings. The show is generating about 100 e-mails J. Sams. tive director of Responsive Management, whose a week from viewers. company specializes in research related to wildlife “Some are from young kids thanking us for the and outdoor recreation. information. But, for the most part, it’s a mixed Divas in the Outdoors: Hosted by Judy Rhodes and Pearl Silvey. Thomas Doyle, vice president of research and bag,” Rhodes said. information for the National Sporting Goods Showtimes: 5:30 p.m. Mondays, and 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Mary Helen Aguirre is a native Texan with almost Fridays on The Men’s Channel on the Dish Network. Beginning Association, says women represent about 12 per- cent of hunters. 15 years of experience editing and writing for in January, it moves from Mondays to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays. That number represents a significant niche mar- newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal- ket for outdoor retailers, he added. Constitution. She is a freelancer in New Mexico.

OPEN SEASON

DUCK SOUTH TEXAS: Nov.5 — Jan. 15 HIGH PLAINS MALLARD MANAGEMENT UNIT: Oct. EDWARDS PLATEAU: 28 — Jan. 29 Late antlerless and spiked Jan. 2-15 NORTH AND SOUTH ZONES: Dec. 10 — Jan. 29 SOUTH TEXAS: Pintail and Canvasback (All Zones) Late antlerless and spiked Jan. 16-29 Dec. 22 — Jan. 29 SPECIAL YOUTH SEASON: Jan. 21-22 GOOSE MUZZLELOADER: WEST ZONE: Light and Dark Geese, Nov. 5 — Feb. 7 Late antlerless and spiked Jan. 7-15 EAST ZONE: Light Geese, Nov. 5 — Jan. 29 RIO GRANDE TURKEY White-fronted Goose, Nov. 5 — Jan. 15 NORTH TEXAS: Nov. 5 — Jan. 1 Canada Goose Nov. 5 — Jan. 29 SOUTH TEXAS: Nov. 5 — Jan. 15 SANDHILL CRANE WILLACY, BROOKS, KENEDY & KLEBERG COUNTIES ZONE A: Nov. 5 — Feb. 5 : Nov. 5 — Feb. 26 ZONE B: Nov .26 — Feb. 5 SPECIAL YOUTH SEASON: Jan. 21-22 ZONE C: Dec. 24 — Jan. 29 PHEASANT DOVE PANHANDLE: Dec. 3 — Jan. 1 CENTRAL ZONE: Dec. 26 — Jan. 4 CHAMBERS, JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY COUNTIES: SOUTH ZONE: Dec. 26 — Jan. 15 Oct. 29 — Feb. 26 SPECIAL SOUTH TEXAS ZONE: Dec. 26 — Jan. 11 JAVELINA QUAIL Oct. 1 — Feb. 26 Oct. 29 — Feb. 26 For more information on bag limits and other open WHITE-TAILED DEER game species, check the TPW Outdoor Annual or NORTH TEXAS: Nov. 5 - Jan. 1 http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/ Migratory Bird Hunting Report

HIGH PLAINS MALLARD MANAGEMENT through the remainder of the season. UNIT/ PANHANDLE: Decoying action for Shovelers, gadwalls, teal and mallards have Canada geese remained solid over corn and made up the bag. Hunters get their first wheat. Snow geese are good near Lake Etter, crack at pintails Dec.22. Prospects are fair though they have been tougher to decoy. The to good. brunt of the goose population is roosting on Lake Etter and on playas near Spearman and SOUTH ZONE WATERFOWL: Goose hunting Dumas. Sandhill cranes are good near picked up over the weekend with stiff winds Pampa and Plainview. Duck numbers are and a low ceiling. Concentrated geese are strong. Mallards are good on just about every beginning to break into smaller pods as rice watering source; still, few duck hunters are supplies dwindle. Many snows are feeding on taking advantage of prime conditions. The green grass, wheat and fallow fields. region still needs precipitation to fill dry Specklebellies are fickle, sometimes turning playas. Hunting in Haskell County continues their nose to well-placed spreads. Canada good for Canada geese and a few snows. geese are beginning to build into huntable Ducks on playas continue to be solid over flocks. Large flocks of pintails are working decoys. Outfitters are saying this is turning soaked rice fields and leveed ponds. Pintails out to be one of the best goose season for and canvasbacks are legal game Dec. 22. decoying geese they can remember. Mid-week rains dumped 2 to 7 inches of rain Prospects are good. on the prairies east and west of Houston. Duck hunting in Eagle Lake, El Campo, NORTH ZONE WATERFOWL: Conditions con- Garwood, Lissie, Wharton and Katy slowed a tinue to remain unseasonably dry in bit this week; still, outfitters are reporting Northeast Texas. Those waterfowlers hunting duck numbers are well above what they were mere puddles of water are taking mallards, this time last year. Mallards continue to show gadwalls and wood ducks in river bottoms up in bags along the coast and coastal and sloughs. Public lakes like Toledo Bend, prairies. Duck hunting in the High Island and Sam Rayburn, Lake Fork, Caddo Lake, East Galveston Bay marsh was good for those Cooper Lake and Lake O’ the Pines have who have access to water. North winds along seen the most ducks. Mallards, wood ducks, with solstice tides sent water rushing out of scaup, ringed-necks, gadwalls and a few the marsh, concentrating ducks on land- wigeons have made it on straps. Canvasbacks locked ponds. Gadwalls, teal, scaup and are strong on Lake O’ the Pines, Caddo Lake shovelers have been making up the bags. and Toledo Bend and are legal to harvest Hunting in the Trinity Bay marsh continues Dec. 22. Many outdoorsmen are reporting solid as wigeons, gadwalls, teal and spoonies water levels at record low levels in the have been harvested. Lots of pintails are region. Prairie ponds along the Interstate 10 working the shoalgrass shorelines of Port corridor saw fair to good action for ducks. O’Connor, Rockport and Seadrift. Hunters Soaking mid-week rains helped recharge there are also taking redheads, scaup, buffle- ponds and scattered ducks a bit; however, heads, wigeons, gadwalls and spoonbills. the welcomed rain should sustain the habitat Prospects are good. Page 8 December 23, 2005 FISHING Anglers see rocky times on horizon By Bill Miller

Note to Santa: If anglers, lake concessionaires and wildlife offi- cials in Texas could offer a common Christmas wish, it would probably be for lots of rain during the first six months of 2006. All agree that some good soakers, shedding about 2 to 3 inches a pop, will reverse drought conditions that have cut lake levels in DRY GULCH: Low lake levels play havoc with anglers at boat ramps at Lake Tawakoni. the state, especially in East Texas. for Texas Parks and Wildlife. “It can be dangerous. We want those “Look, you got as much fish as ever, but now they’re located in Reservoir administrators, weather forecasters and state well below the motors.’’ a concentrated area,’’ he explained. “And since there’s no water officials say it’s premature to say Lone Star lakes are in a crisis. But it will be a different story this summer if spring showers don’t Texas Parks and Wildlife advises boaters to be especially vigi- pulling in, the sediment begins to settle out and the lakes become come to recharge the reservoirs. lant in low-water areas. Everyone on board should help keep an clearer. Take, for example, Lake Tawakoni in East Texas, where some eye out for hazards. “ That’s when the bass become pursuit predators; they’ll chase marina owners are now relying on extensions they built onto O.K. Carter of Arlington likes to fish Tawakoni and waters something to eat, as opposed to being an ambush predator that their ramps to overcome a record drought in 1996. throughout North Texas. But Lake Arlington, convenient to his sets up waiting for something to swim by. “We’re down about 7 1/2 feet,’’ said David Parsons last week. Arlington home, has closed its ramps because of the low levels. “When they start chasing, you can use things like crank baits Parsons is regional manager for the Sabine River Authority in The same is true for other Texas reservoirs like Benbrook Lake, and Rat-L-Traps, jerk baits, even some spinners are pretty good.’’ Quitman, which manages the lake. southeast of Fort Worth, and O.C. Fisher in San Angelo. The concentrated areas can also enhance fish habitat, “We’re still in pretty good shape,’’ he said. “We still have three “Once ramps close, it gets crowded at the ones that are open, so Durocher said. or four public ramps that are usable. it takes longer to launch,’’ Carter said. “That’s when you really “Lower levels can concentrate forage, which gives the bass and “But, the scary part of the deal is that, when you look at our need to watch your ramp etiquette. Have your boat ready to go. crappie a better chance of finding it,’’ he said. “But when it gets so rainfall, we’re at 18.5 inches. About 35 or 36 inches is normal. You should be able to launch and get in and out in four to five low that fish can’t live in it, it’s an issue. Hopefully we won’t see When that gets turned around … well, that’s the question. minutes.’’ that. ‘’ Meanwhile, lower lake levels can be hazardous for anglers. Carter, associate publisher for the Arlington Star-Telegram, Some Texas lakes are low but not because of drought. Durocher “The stumps which are usually 10 to 15 feet down are now clos- who has written fishing columns for the newspaper, also noted said lakes Conroe and Livingston are drawing down their levels to er to the surface,’’ said Phil Durocher, director of inland fisheries that low levels can offer unusual opportunities of anglers. See ROCKY, Page 11 Cool Hand Ken Take it slow and easy this winter when

By Ken Cook ing lure by itself, I like to dress mine up with the newest technological advancement in . On a 3/8-ounce jig, I trim the skirt just past the hook to f it’s not freezing rain, it’s frigid air and an icy wind keep it from having too large a profile since I want to put a that make a day on the water nearly insufferable. But large trailer on it. I rig a Berkley Gulp! Bat Wing Frog as the Ijust because you’re uncomfortable, doesn’t mean that trailer. These two baits are meant to be fished slowly — the the bass are. Sure, it’s December and it’s cold outside, but perfect presentation for a cold-blooded bass in wintertime. bass are still in the lake — and if they want to make it I cut the front of the bait off just behind the eye and thread through the winter they will have to eat. it onto the jig hook. The legs on the Bat Wing Frog flutter As the water temperature drops, bass follow the migrat- like crazy on the fall and with the slightest movement. ing shad out to deeper water (deep being anywhere from The Gulp! trailer isn’t made of plastic so it actually 30 to 40 feet in clear, deep lakes or 6 to 8 feet in murky, breathes underwater and disperses scent like no other bait shallow ones). Use your electronics and find the balls of ever made. And the slower you fish it, the more scent builds shad. There’s sure to be some bass nearby, holding up in up in an area, expanding the strike zone by drawing in slug- vertical, deep cover. Typically, bass will be easier to find gish fish in search of an easy meal that might have not been down lake on outside channel swings, bluff faces and interested otherwise. points with vertical drops. There’s no secret to catching bass in the middle of win- Since bass are cold-blooded, the colder water has slowed ter. Just like any other time of year, you have to figure out them down — so you should slow down, too. This ties in the right pattern. And once you figure out where they are, directly to your bait selection, the most important aspect slow down your presentation. The fishing can be good to catching bass in the cold. Just because the bass are fol- enough to make you forget all about the plummeting tem- lowing migrating shad doesn’t mean that’s all they will peratures. eat. Fish biologists have discovered that a bass prefers a bait about 3 inches long and about an inch in diameter. That Ken Cook is the 1991 champion and a 14- WINTRY WAYS: Bass slow down as temperatures drop and anglers are advised to jig you spent all summer pitching into the bushes will do time Classic qualifier. A former fisheries biologist, Cook lives on slow down their presentation. just fine. But instead of relying on the oldest-known fish- a ranch in Meers, Okla. Port Aransas fisheries lab receives $600,000 grant

By Wes Smalling The institute’s hatchery tanks, which are currently housed in garage-like buildings dating back to 1972, are vulnerable to the Gulf Coast’s extreme temperature fluctuations. The buildings are The recovery of red drum and speckled trout on the Gulf Coast also suffering from some wear-and-tear, said Jeff Kaiser, an institute is a well-known success story. But the story doesn’t end there. research scientist and associate. Fisheries on the Gulf Coast will face many more challenges in “We’re at a point now where our facility is adequate to do what the coming decades, including the recovery of flounder and the we need to do now, but we can’t expand on that,” Kaiser said. “This need for more research in the hatchery production of tarpon, new facility will really greatly expand the capability here.” snook and ling. Better research leads to better hatchery production, and This month the marine conservation group Coastal that means “more fish in the waters” for anglers, Kaiser said. Conservation Association Texas stepped up to help marine scien- Inside the new and bigger facility, six large tanks will house eight tists take on these challenges by awarding a $600,000 grant to the smaller tanks submerged inside them, so there will be a water-to- University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, which water system of heating or cooling. This will give scientists more will build a new 3,000-square-foot laboratory for hatchery control over water temperature, salinity and other factors during HATCHERY RESEARCH: The University of Texas Marine Science their experiments. research. Institute in Port Aransas will build a new 3,000-square-foot “Along with that, it gives you the ability to replicate the data, to The knowledge gained at the new facility could have a major laboratory for hatchery research of fish such as flounder. impact on Gulf Coast sport fishing over the coming decades — and do it over and over, to show statistical significance in your find- not only in terms of fish numbers, said CCA Texas Executive with Texas Parks and Wildlife for flounder, a species on the decline. ings,” Kaiser said. “You can also do replicates across treatments Director Pat Murray. “Fish hatcheries are literally pumping tens of millions of redfish (tank to tank). The ability to have six systems that are identical is “It’ll make us better species managers and better conservation- and trout into Texas bays,” Murray said. “If we can do what we can really good to have the most significance in your data.” ists,” Murray said. to advance the science into raising species like flounder, to get a In addition to $600,000 for the new lab, CCA Texas also donat- The Marine Science Institute and other labs have conducted higher yield of putting these fish in the bays, this lab will do a lot ed more than $40,000 to the institute for equipment earlier this valuable research over the past 30 years for state and private hatch- for that.” year. The funds were raised by banquets held by its local chapters. eries. Among the institute’s many projects, it’s currently pursuing Much of the institute’s hatchery research focuses on marine lar- Wes Smalling is the former outdoors editor for the Santa Fe spawning and rearing research on a number of critically important val fish, species that are at the youngest and most delicate stages of New Mexican and has more than a decade of experience as a recreational species — including developing a stocking program life. writer and reporter. December 23, 2005 Page 9

Come experience the finest coastal Splash takes her last gulp hospitality in our well-appointed lodge — perfect for family reunions, meetings, corporate retreats or simply a gathering Splash, a former world-record blue with good friends, with plans to fit every catfish, died Dec. 13 at the Texas taste, from full-service to self-service. Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens at an unknown age. INSHORE AND OFFSHORE FISHING • HUNTING Splash came to live at the center on YourEscape from the Ordinary! K AYAKING•BIRDING•SURFING•MORE Jan. 14, 2004, after being caught at Lake Texoma by Cody Mullennix of L O C ATED ON THE COLORADO RIVER IN MATAG O R DA Howe, Texas. At 121.5 pounds, she ( 9 7 9 ) 8 6 3 - 114 3 • (9 7 9 ) 4 7 9 - 5 4 5 5 was the largest blue catfish ever f u l l s t r i n g e r l o d g e . c o m • c a s s a d y @ a i r m a i l . n e t caught and held that record until a 124-pound fish was caught from the Mississippi River in 2005. Splash is still the Texas state-record blue catfish. During her time at Athens, Splash was responsible for a large increase in visitation at the fishery. She was the star of the daily dive show during which she ate chicken, herring or mackerel from the diver’s hand. Splash was especially popular with children. On the first anniversary of BIG CAT: Children view Splash, the former world-record blue catfish. her arrival at the fishery, nearly 800 members of the Texas Freshwater A life-size replica of Splash is being Offshore – 8 to 12 hours for up to 6 people. people came out to see her, with 133 Fisheries Center and by untold num- prepared for display in the record fish Prices start at $900.00 children bringing hand-made birth- bers of people who regarded her as a area of the TFFC, and her skeleton will day cards. “You are my idol,” one said. very special fish. She is survived by be preserved for display as well. Bay – Half-day trips starting at $350.00 Others simply said, “I love you.” thousands of descendants in Lake Full-day trips starting at $450.00 Splash will be missed by the staff Texoma. — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report All-inclusive trips available; please call for details Other packages available: Middle-schooler snags state-record snook Whitetail, Mule Deer and Spring Turkey. Hunting packages include all meals, lodging, guides, care of game and airport pickup Nick Rizopoulos broke a six-year- I’ve caught in my life.” Rizopoulos, who caught the fish on a (if applicable; please call for details) old state record with a 25-yard cast Rizopoulos measured the fish and gray-and-white mullet imitation tied on a rod he built himself. And he’s then weighed it on a hand-held scale by Glass. For more information, please contact Bucky and Leesa Bonner at just 13. before releasing it. The scale has Rizopoulos also holds six of the P.O. Box 460 Port Aransas, TX 78373 The Sugarland eighth-grader since been certified by the nine junior division fly-fishing topped the existing Texas fly-fishing International Game Fish Assoc- records currently listed on the Texas B&B OUTFITTERS - 800.460.1843 record for common snook with a 29- iation, making the catch eligible for Parks and Wildlife Web site. The day WWW.BBOUTFITTERS.COM inch, 6.5-pound fish he caught in both a junior division and all-ages before catching his record snook, he the Brownsville Ship Channel Nov. state fly-fishing record. broke the existing spotted seatrout 25 while fishing with South Padre “We had a big discussion before we record with a respectable 22.5-inch, Island fishing guide Capt. Eric Glass. went and said: ‘If we catch a fish 3-pound, 6-ounce fish. “On that cast, I got a big old hit that’s in the slot, what do we do?’” Rizopoulos ties many of the flies and the snook just took off,” said John Rizopoulos, Nick’s father. he uses — “Nick’s purple crab” has Rizopoulos said. “I hadn’t really His son’s answer? Let it go, proved surprisingly effective on red grasped the size of the fish until we whether it’s in the slot or not. drum – and he built his 9-weight rod got it back to the boat. I was just real- “I would have hated to kill that from a Sage blank. ly happy … it’s one of the best fish fish; it was so beautiful,” said — A Texas Parks and Wildlife report Page 10 December 23, 2005 Ducks Record Continued from Page 1 Continued from Page 1 The last few years that hasn’t 1978, when the IGFA took over fresh- occurred until January, Manlove water record-keeping from Field and said. Stream, the fish was granted a world all- “It’s been abnormally warm,” he tackle record. said. “As a result, ducks had every On Aug. 17, 1955, unbeknownst to option in the world. They didn’t Field and Stream or the IGFA, Raymond need to migrate. There was open 2000 2001 2002 Barlow submitted an affidavit to the water and plenty of food.” U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Barlow, Texans are reporting seeing now deceased, was apparently a dis- ducks in numbers comparable to gruntled former worker at the marina, the 2000 season, Manlove said. according Jason Schratwieser, IGFA “A lot of hunters have been con- Conservation Director. The corps had cerned they’d never see such num- permitting authority over the marina, bers again,” he said. “They were he added. afraid it wouldn’t get cold enough Barlow’s affidavit said Hayes’ fish anymore.” had actually weighed 8 pounds and 15 It all started, though, with a ounces and claimed the fish’s mouth good hatch in Canada — thanks to and stomach had been stuffed with timely rains in May and June. three pounds of metal to make it a “The agricultural portion, where record. It wasn’t until 40 years later there were a lot of ducks, flooded,” 2003 2004 when the affidavit was uncovered that Manlove said. “The birds took 2005 the IGFA was contacted and informed advantage, especially those that about the sworn statement. “The IGFA’s policy has always been are late hatching, like the gadwalls 2000-20005 SNOW CHART — A return to colder weather reminiscent of 2000 is good news for Texas duck hunters. and teals. The mallards like to ren- to investigate standing records when est. If they were unsuccessful Rita, Manlove said. killed a lot of aquatic vegetation. to say that the dry spell for ducks in proof is brought forward challenging because of the dryness, the wet In Louisiana, many migrating There’s just not enough food to Texas is officially over. its legitimacy,” said Schratwieser. weather gave them a chance to ren- ducks found devastated marshes hold a large number of ducks.” “Who knows, but it is encourag- “After reviewing the affidavit, the IGFA est. We saw what we hadn’t seen and wetlands. Ritter said the large number of ing,” Ritter said. “I can say that. It’s in 1996 rescinded Hayes’ record and a the last few years — a good hatch.” “There were no food resources,” ducks in Texas “should open every- nice to go and put out your decoys 10-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth Cold weather turned the ducks Manlove said. “The ducks had to one’s eyes to how big a role weath- and be shooting — instead of sit- caught by John Gorman in 1969, also into migrating snowbirds. They make a decision: go north or er plays in migration.” ting there swatting mosquitoes on Dale Hollow Lake, was recognized came to Texas in large numbers. migrate west to Texas. I definitely Although weather conditions — and sweating.” as the new IGFA All-Tackle record. But those numbers have been think that’s had an impact. The at least as far as winter — are now Mark England is associate editor of However, Schratwieser said, recent inflated by hurricanes Katrina and saltwater intrusion in Louisiana more like normal, Ritter isn’t ready Lone Star Outdoor News. documentation, including polygraph results, was supplied to the IGFA indi- tastes and smells like a strawberry — snow cone cating that Hayes’ fish was never tam- syrup or a box or two of Jello mix are a couple of pered with. Corn examples — the deer are really attracted to it,” said “Further investigation also found deer guide Randy Walker of Ranger Creek in that the dimensions of Hayes’ fish Continued from Page 1 Seymour. would make it very unlikely to weigh 8 A final tip to increase your corning success is to pounds, 15 ounces when you compare vest surplus does and inferior bucks. it to the previous (Gorman’s) All- try and trick a big buck’s eyes as well as his nose and “There is some indication that bucks tend to dom- Tackle fish’s dimensions of 26 1/4 inch- taste buds. inate permanent feed stations, so corning a (ranch) es in length and 21 1/2 inches in girth. “In my area, we like to hunt big mature bucks road can spread things out,” Wolf said. “It can get Based on this information, the IGFA the animals out in the open more and there’s a bet- away from the feeders,” said Jerry Gonzalez of decided to reinstate David Hayes’ catch ter likelihood that you’ll see more does in that sce- Pedernal Bowhunts in Laredo. “We’ll corn long as the All-Tackle smallmouth bass nario.” stretches of roads, use a decoy and doe-in-heat record.” The first key to effective corning is to start off scent, and if one comes out, we’ll rattle and grunt to Schratwieser said the IGFA wishes to with good, clean corn. try to get the buck close to a ground blind.” congratulate Hayes, now in his 80s, on Use these five corning techniques and you just “Make sure that you use good corn that has been A third key is to dispense the right amount of a true catch of a lifetime and welcome might find out that if you “corn them,” they’ll tested for aflatoxin,” Wolf said. “Get your corn from corn. him back to his rightful place in the a reputable source because aflatoxin can (certainly) come! “If you’re going to use it as a tool to get animals IGFA World Records. The decision will hurt quail, turkeys and songbird populations.” San Miguel Outdoors Inc. can be reached at be recognized in the IGFA’s forthcom- out there (in the open), if you spread it too sparsely, A second key is to spread the corn out in areas of www.huntinfo.com/sanmiguel; Ranger Creek ing 2006 World Record Game Fishes good visibility. it’s going to be gone too quickly,” Wolf said. “At the Ranch can be reached at www.rangercreekranch. annual released worldwide. “If you’re hunting a blind that is on the edge of a same time, you probably don’t want a golden road com/huntingmain.php; and Pedernal Bowhunts “It’s unfortunate it ever got stricken (ranch) road or overlooking one, you want to be either.” can be reached at (www.pedernalbowhunts.com. from the record books in the first able to look to the left and right several hundred Another corning trick is to sweeten the pot. Lynn Burkhead is a frequent contributor to Lone Star place,” Schratwieser said. yards to see visual deer activity,” said Tim Monnich “Sometimes, this will draw more hogs in than Outdoor News and an associate editor for —An International Game Fish with the Austin-based San Miguel Outdoors, Inc. deer, but I’ve found that by adding anything that ESPNOutdoors.com. Association report ACROSS THE NATION

ARKANSAS permission and three counts of failure to tag study and dropped to 299 bucks during the tions. Complaint leads to flurry game. The other two suspects were charged experiment. “This was really a fantastic experience,” said of poaching charges with aiding and abetting a wildlife violation. • The 3 1/2-year-old buck harvest averaged Beach, who was accompanied on the hunt by Responding to a trespassing complaint, Sgt. Upon returning to the scene for additional 389 bucks during the three years before the his father, Myron, and representatives from Robert Barger of the Arkansas Game and Fish evidence the next day, Barger discovered yet study and stayed almost even with 385 bucks the New Mexico Department of Game and Commission met with a hunter who had another deer in the same area, this one a six- during the experiment. Fish and White Sands Missile Range. “People caught three men with deer he believed taken point buck. The hunter primarily cited will • The harvest of 4 1/2-year-old bucks aver- where I come from have never heard of an on his lease in Clark County, which borders face charges for this deer as well, bringing his aged 96 in the three years before the study and oryx. This will be the biggest thing they’ve the Big Timber Leased Lands Wildlife possible fines to more than $6,000 when he increased to 174 bucks during the experiment. ever seen.” Management Area — where the other hunters goes to court in mid-December. • The physical characteristics of the harvest- OKLAHOMA LOUISIANA ed deer before and during the experiment claimed they were hunting. Funding available for field buffers Barger immediately noticed the three Antler-restriction results released showed little to no change. Body weights and antler development remained constant in all Oklahoma farmers may now sign up for the hunters had four deer in their possession — a The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and three parishes. Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds (CP-33) pro- nine-point, two eight-points and a spike — Fisheries Wildlife Division released the results Applying antler restrictions across the state gram that will pay farmers to establish buffers none of which had been tagged. of a three-year six-point experimental antler as a whole would produce similar results, the around croplands to provide the grassy habitat When the hunters refused to cooperate, program mandated by the LDWF Commis- study determined, concluding that a reduction that bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasants Barger called for assistance from Cpl. Todd sion. in the buck limit would be a better approach and other upland birds require for food, cover Johnson and his K-9 officer Carly, an enforce- Conducted over the last three deer hunting for deer management in Louisiana than imple- and nesting. ment dog specially trained for tracking the seasons in the Iberville, Pointe Coupee and menting statewide antler restrictions. Enrollment in the program is voluntary and location of game. While waiting for the K-9 West Baton Rouge parishes, the experiment’s simply requires the establishment of 35- to unit to arrive, Barger found two more illegally plan was to restrict the antlered buck harvest. NEW MEXICO harvested deer: a five-point and another spike. Only small bucks with antler spikes less than 3 Youth successful in oryx hunt of a lifetime 120-foot buffers of planted or native vegeta- Once Johnson and Carly arrived, they con- inches and bucks with six or more antler A 17-year-old Kentucky hunter soon will tion around the perimeter of crop fields. In ducted a search to find where the animals had points could legally be harvested. have an oryx trophy on his wall along with turn, the landowner or farmer receives annual been shot and the stand locations of all three This plan was meant to protect a portion of fond memories of New Mexico, thanks to a rental payments for the life of the 10-year con- suspects. During this search, they found a the yearling age class of bucks that are about a new law, a generous hunter and the Hunt of a tract as well as the satisfaction of knowing that dead doe that had been hidden and left to year and a half in age — theoretically giving Lifetime Foundation, which helps provide they are helping to restore vital wildlife habi- spoil, bringing the total for the morning to them a better chance of becoming older bucks. hunting experiences for children and young tat. Payments are based on the type of soils on seven deer. The hunter’s stand locations were While the harvest of 1 1/2-year-old bucks adults with life-threatening diseases. the property and differ in various parts of the also revealed, with one stand placed on the would decrease, the harvest of 2 1/2- and 3 1/2- Wesley Beach, who has leukemia, was able state. In Oklahoma, the average annual rental WMA boundary line. year-old bucks would increase. to go on the Nov. 19 oryx hunt thanks to a payment is $32 an acre. Additionally, Nine bullet casings were also found under- The results are as follows: donation by Richard Wakefield of Los Alamos, landowners also receive a sign-up bonus of up neath one stand that authorities said matched • The yearling buck harvest went from an a successful applicant in the drawing for a to $100 an acre and 90 percent of the cost of up with one of the hunter’s rifle. average of 452 bucks in the three years before once-in-a-lifetime hunt at White Sands Missile installing the buffers. That hunter was charged with four counts of the study down to an average of 215 bucks dur- Range. The license transfer was made possible Oklahoma has been approved to install up being over the limit, two counts of antler- ing the study. by legislation signed by Gov. Bill Richardson, to 9,500 acres of buffers across the state under restriction violations, one count of wasting • The 2 1/2-year-old buck harvest averaged which allows the transfer of licenses to Hunt of the CP 33 provisions. However, only 448 acres game, one count of hunting on lands without 422 bucks during the three years before the a Lifetime and similar wish-granting organiza- have been enrolled so far. December 23, 2005 Page 11

lakes. “If you have a ramp, it doesn’t TPW establishes record Rocky affect you at all,’’ said Nancy Beginning Jan. 1, Texas anglers will The official state record for tarpon 2002. Dodson, owner of Anchor Inn no longer have to kill a fish to have it was set more than three decades ago While any fish may be released after Continued from Page 8 Marina on Lake Tawakoni. She considered for a state record. with a fish that measured 86.25 inches weighing, only fish currently eligible said her operation extended its Texas Parks and Wildlife has estab- and weighed-in at 210 pounds. for a Big Fish award will be accepted in repair dams that were damaged in ramp during the dry spell of 1996. lished an additional awards category in “All I could do was give these guys an the new Catch and Release State Record September by Hurricane Rita. Dodson added that although its angler recognition program — a outstanding angler or big fish award.” category. The non-record Catch and Officials for the San Jacinto River longer ramps help catch more catch and release category that requires Gray said. “I had to do something. I Release certificate will be discontinued. Authority have said they hope to business, she would like to see all only a total length for certain fish. think this will increase participation.” Also new in 2006, TPW has dropped have Conroe fixed by April. the lake’s operators do well. TPW Angler Recognition Awards Gray said that, in the case of a tie, the the requirement that freshwater John Jadrosich, a spokesman “When all of us are doing good, Program Coordinator Joedy Gray said first fish reported will hold the record. species be weighed in order to be eligi- for the Trinity River Authority, it’s good for the reputation of the the new category is in addition to the Other requirements for the category ble for a Big Fish award. said officials expect it will take six lake,’’ she said. “If people hear the existing weight-based records, which include a photo of the fish next to a “The catch and release ethic has months to repair Livingston, but lake is too low and they can’t get will be continued. clearly marked tape measure or measur- made a significant contribution to fish- that clock won’t start ticking until out on it, they might not bother The new category was inspired by ing stick and a photo of the angler with eries conservation, and this approach is funding has been secured from to come at all. real-life events, beginning with Scott the fish. Another person must witness one way of recognizing that,” said the federal government and the “We are, after all, the catfish Graham’s 83-inch Tarpon in 2003. the live release. Larry McKinney, TPW coastal fisheries city of Houston, which draws capital of the world, and we like to Then, in July of the same year, Fabian Another way to catch and release a director. drinking water from the lake. He maintain our image.’’ Morales caught an 89-inch tarpon on a state record fish is to weigh it boat- or “It makes a lot of sense for us to have said last week that officials hope Bill Miller is a Fort Worth-based fly rod followed by Allan Reiter’s 90- dock-side on hand-held scales certified found a way to recognize anglers’ to get word on the funding “at freelancer who has worked 20 years inch tarpon in June 2005. None of the by a commercial scale calibration com- achievement in a way that promotes any moment.’’ as a reporter and editor for newspa- men had purchased the $120 tarpon pany or the International Game Fish conservation.” But even in dry East Texas pers in Montana, New Mexico and tag currently required to legally possess Association. The state began accepting —A Texas Parks and Wildlife report anglers are willing to take to the Texas. a silver king. such record applications in September Page 12 December 23, 2005 ADVENTURE

FIELD OF PHEASANTS

wo hunters step out of their truck and walk briskly though a dry playa lake bot- T tom. “Do you see him?” “He is right there. See his white neck? Get ready.” The ringneck pheasant busts though the dead smartweed 2 feet in front of the hunters. The bird doesn’t get far before a single shot pulls him out of the sky with a load of number sixes. The bird’s body hits the ground in a pile of dust as his golden feathers float through the West Texas wind, hitting the hunters in the face. With the Panhandle pheasant season in full swing, these hunters make a good afternoon of it. They have not hunted together in 20 years. The wind blows and it’s cold. The dust, well, you are in West Texas. There’s grit in your teeth, on your clothes and in your ears, nose and everywhere else on your body. When you walk into a restaurant that night you feel like Pigpen from Charlie Brown. But that is hunt- ing in the Panhandle: walking, running, walk- ing, shooting and, of course, walking. But there’s also watching the dog retrieve downed birds. Driving the dirt roads telling stories of past hunts. Seeing a group of six roosters under a tree and yelling for everyone to get out and get them, but no one believes you because you’ve been joking so much all day that every- one’s sure you’re crying wolf. Waiting for a flock of Canada geese to pass over to see if there is a chance to take one. Watching the sunset and seeing the moon rise at the same time. It is about friendship and fun. It is hunt- ing pheasant in West Texas.

PHOTOGRAPHY AND STORY BY DAV I D J. SAMS December 23, 2005 Page 13 PRODUCT PICKS

PROCTECTS BEAUTIFULLY: GunSafe cabinets are a stylish and safe way to display firearms. A division of Wedge Woodworking, Illinois-based GunSafe specializes in woodwork handcrafted by Amish artisans. The lighted display cabi- nets feature such touches as leather-lined gunstock protectors. Two steel bars encased in hard- LYING LOW: The wood fittings secure the Youth Model firearms. The removable Power Hunter top bar is opened with a by Avery is a dimple key, which the ground blind for water- company describes as vir- fowlers. A scaled-down version tually unpickable. That of the Power Hunter, this model can same key also unlocks a small steel accommodate youths up to 62-inches safe — handy for storing ammuni- tall. The blind’s mesh top offers a 360- tion or pistols —in the cabinet degree view of the hunting field and also has base. Additional security options a padded seat. It is available in khaki (about are available. The cabinets start at $100) and two camouflage patterns (about about $4,000 (plus $475 ship- $120). For a list of retailers, visit www.averyoutdoors.com ping) for a 34-inch wide by 77- or call (800) 333-5119. inch tall by 21-inch deep six-gun model crafted from red oak or northern cherry. Other wood options include mahogany, walnut, birch and maple. Pictured is a 12- DUCKING OUT OF SIGHT: gun cherry cabinet (about There’s room enough for four $5,300). For a catalog, call in the new SCENTite Duck (877) 448-6723. Condo Blind by Fargason Outdoor Technologies, Inc. The transportable duck blind can be assembled on loca- tion and used as a ground WRIST-TOP COMPUTER: blind. It also can be elevated Equipped with GPS, a com- with the Steel Quadpod Kit pass, altimeter and barometer, Floor System (sold the Suunto X9i is compatible separately for $350) with several digital map- for use on a ping services. It features lakeshore or lake. a USB charger and PC Constructed from high-densi- connector so that outdoor ty polyethylene, the 45- enthusiasts can charge their square-foot blind has a ply- device through a PC. And, wood floor and a hinged oh yeah, it tells time, too. roof. It comes with a black Available in black and interior and olive drab exteri- tan, it sells for about or. The duck condo costs $500. For additional fea- about $1,400. Real Grass tures or for a list of retail- camo panels are available at ers, visit www.suunto.com $22 each. For a list of or call (800) 543-9124. retailers, visit www.scentite.com or call (800) 828-1554 to order.

HIGH-DEF HEARING: Walker’s Digital HD-2 amplifies low-level sounds, such as UNSINKABLE: leaves rustling from approaching game, XTOOLS’ without enhancing loud and potentially Floating Metal harmful noises such as muzzle Pliers will be blasts. Made by Walker’s Game available in Ear Inc., the behind-the-ear January. The green- device features a built-in safety and-blue ergonomically circuit that compresses sounds designed pliers will help saltwa- above 110 decibels. The HD-2 ter or freshwater fishermen has two programmable micro- remove their hooks from fish. phones, adjustable volume The pliers feature replaceable, control and a zinc-air bat- corrosion-resistant stainless tery that offers 280 hours steel jaws that will cut monofilament line up of use. It costs about to 400 pounds, braided line up to 250 pounds $675. For a list of retail- and steel leader up to 105 pounds. They cost about ers, visit www.walkers- $110. For more information about these pliers, which gameear.com or call (800) won ICAST’s best-of-show award in the fishing accessory 424-1069 to order. category, visit www.xtools.us or call (877) 498-6657.

DO-IT-YOURSELF RIFLE REPAIR: The Professional Gunsmithing Screwdriver Set from Wheeler Engineering is for those who like to tin- ker with their guns. The set contains 54 flat hol- low-ground bits, eight Allen bits, four Phillips bits, three Torx bits plus 17 specialty bits and tools for specific gunsmithing purposes. The handles THE TOP DOG: come in two different sizes and have Designed with the topwa- ergonomic grips. The set, which comes in a ter angler in mind, durable injection-molded case, sells for about MirrOlure’s new Series III Top Dog $100. For a list of retailers or to order, visit Jr. is ideal for finding fish in open flats. Its low-frequency sonic “fish-calling” rattle www.battenfeldtechnologies.com or call can be detected from great distances, according to the company. The bait features (877) 509-9160. life-like action, highly reflective holographic foil, 3-D eyes and double hooks. The 4- inch bait comes in 14 colors and sells for about $6. For a list of dealers, visit www.mirrolure.com or call (727) 584-7691. Page 14 December 23, 2005 HEROES

Share an adventure Want to share your great hunting or fishing adventure with the Lone Star Outdoor News family? E-mail your photo, phone and caption information to edi- tor@lonestaroutdoornews. com, or mail to: Heroes, Lone Star Outdoor News, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX, 75243.

TIM SHARP of Dallas took down two 150-class whitetails in Illinois — one with a muzzleloader and the other with a bow.

MATTHEW FAVRE, 7, bagged this deer at Riverview Farm in Delta County, Texas. He was accompanied by Ronnie Favre. The 11-point deer weighed TAYLOR ABSHIER, 12, shows off his first buck. The 8-pointer was bagged MEL PHILLIPS’ dog “Lucy” retrieves her first pheasant. in at 243 pounds. in Blanco County at the Fish Hood Ranch. MADE IN TEXAS JMc always working at sharpening his skills

By Mary Helen Aguirre “Most everyone who buys my knives displays them,” he said. So far, he’s sold his knives mostly to friends and family More than two million years ago, the first knife makers members for about $150. — ancestors of modern humans — fashioned cutting Normally, it takes about 40 hours to complete a knife. implements from stone. As man evolved, so did his most “It’s hard, tedious work,” he said. Yet, he finds it calm- useful of tools, which were used for erecting shelters, for ing and therapeutic. fighting and, certainly, for hunting. He uses an electric grinding belt to shape billets of steel Over the ages, the material used — he favors Swedish high-carbon for making knife blades has steel — into blades using the stock- changed from copper to bronze to removal method. Although some iron and, finally, to steel. But, the knife makers forge their blades, process of knife-making itself McCarter says he hasn’t ventured remains remarkably unchanged. into that territory. Using his For the modern hobbyist, it’s still grinder, a hand file and patience, he about the skill of the knife maker, crafts the handles from a variety of who with the aid of a few tools woods. fashions a sharp blade on one end When asked what his favorite and fastens a handle — usually wood to work with is, he hesitates, made from wood or bone — finding it difficult to choose, but around the tang to give it a more finally settles on amboyna burl, a comfortable grip. hardwood found in the East Indies; It’s a hobby that Joe McCarter of Sherman recently fiddleback maple, which features the distinctive pattern embraced. favored by violin makers; and curly maple, which gives his His interest was sparked a few years ago when his uncle, handles a three-dimensional look. Jon Bowling, made knives for all of his nephews. Stamped For the mosaic pins — which, along with epoxy, are into the metal of McCarter’s knife was ’63, the year he was used to attach the tang to the handle — he’s used mother born. It was Bowling who guided McCarter as he made his of pearl and abalone. first knife in July of 2003: a hidden-tang knife with a “It’s a very creative process,” he said, adding that with maple handle. all different metals, stones and woods available, the possi- McCarter says he started researching the Internet for bilities are limitless. “I couldn’t make two knives the same information on knife making and studied extensively if I tried.” before he got serious about his hobby. Each of his knives is stamped with his logo: JMc. He figures he’s made about 23 knives altogether. Don Martin of Sherman says McCarter made a paring “I’m lucky if I can make 12 a year,” said McCarter. “I’m knife with a pink ivory handle for his wife. He also out to make a good knife. I’m not out for quantity.” ordered a Bowie knife with a Kingwood handle as a birth- McCarter specializes in Tanto knives. Traditionally, a day gift for his son, who placed the knife in a display case. Tanto is a Japanese blade or small sword. Its blade is usual- “The steel and the handle just look fantastic,” Martin HONING HIS SKILLS: Sherman resident Joe McCarter says it takes ly 6- to 12-inches long with a strong point. said. him about 40 hours to complete a knife. Photos by Lynn Burkhead. December 23, 2005 Page 15 WEATHER

MOON PHASES SOLUNAR TABLE Major/Minor periods: For up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, please visit www.accuweather.com Last New First Full Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo Dec 23 Dec 30 Jan 6 Jan 14 12/21 3:40a/9:50a ——/5:44p 3:46a/9:56a ——/5:50p Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2005 12/22 4:00p/10:10p 12:00a/6:18a 4:06p/10:16p 12:06a/6:24a 12/23 4:24a/10:33a 12:33p/6:49p 4:30a/10:39a 12:39p/6:55p TIDES 12/24 4:43p/10:53p 1:09a/7:23a 4:49p/10:59p 1:15a/7:29a High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low High Low 12/25 5:05a/11:14a 1:38p/7:52p 5:11a/11:20a 1:44p/7:58p Sabine Pass Freeport Corpus Christi 12/26 5:24p/11:34p 2:13a/8:26a 5:30p/11:40p 2:19a/8:32a 12/21 8:42 p.m. 12:53 p.m. —- —- 12/21 8:43 p.m. 12:23 p.m. —- —- 12/21 8:51 p.m. 12:01 p.m. —- —- 12/27 5:44a/11:54a 2:40p/8:53p 5:50a/12:00p 2:46p/8:59p 12/22 8:54 p.m. 1:27 p.m. —- —- 12/22 8:55 p.m. 12:57 p.m. —- —- 12/22 9:03 p.m. 12:35 p.m. —- —- 12/28 6:04p/—— 3:12a/9:25a 6:10p/—— 3:18a/9:31a 12/23 8:07 a.m. 5:01 a.m. 9:03 p.m. 2:04 p.m. 12/23 8:08 a.m. 4:31 a.m. 9:04 p.m. 1:34 p.m. 12/23 8:16 a.m. 4:09 a.m. 9:12 p.m. 1:12 p.m. 12/29 6:22a/12:33p 3:37p/9:50p 6:28a/12:39p 3:43p/9:56p 12/24 10:20 a.m. 4:54 a.m. 9:06 p.m. 2:47 p.m. 12/24 10:21 a.m. 4:24 a.m. 9:07 p.m. 2:17 p.m. 12/24 10:29 a.m. 4:02 a.m. 9:15 p.m. 1:55 p.m. 12/30 6:44p/—— 4:07a/10:19a 6:50p/—— 1:55 12/25 12:05 p.m. 5:10 a.m. 8:59 p.m. 3:49 p.m. 12/25 12:06 p.m. 4:40 a.m. 9:00 p.m. 3:19 p.m. 12/25 12:14 p.m. 4:18 a.m. 9:08 p.m. 2:57 p.m. p.m./10:25a 12/26 1:21 p.m. 5:37 a.m. 8:35 p.m. 5:21 p.m. 12/26 1:22 p.m. 5:07 a.m. 8:36 p.m. 4:51 p.m. 12/26 1:30 p.m. 4:45 a.m. 8:44 p.m. 4:29 p.m. 12/31 7:02a/12:50a 4:30p/10:42p 7:08a/12:56a 7:02a/10:48p 12/27 2:19 p.m. 6:12 a.m. —- —- 12/27 2:20 p.m. 5:42 a.m. —- —- 12/27 2:28 p.m. 5:20 a.m. —- —- 1/1 7:25p/1:14p 4:57a/11:08a 7:31p/1:20p 7:25p/11:14a 12/28 3:09 p.m. 6:53 a.m. —- —- 12/28 3:10 p.m. 6:23 a.m. —- —- 12/28 3:18 p.m. 6:01 a.m. —- —- 1/2 7:45a/1:32a 5:20p/11:32p 7:51a/1:38a 7:45a/11:38p 12/29 3:59 p.m. 7:38 a.m. —- —- 12/29 4:00 p.m. 7:08 a.m. —- —- 12/29 4:08 p.m. 6:46 a.m. —- —- 1/3 8:11p/1:58p 5:43a/11:55a 8:17p/2:04p 8:11p/12:01p 12/30 4:47 p.m. 8:25 a.m. —- —- 12/30 4:48 p.m. 7:55 a.m. —- —- 12/30 4:56 p.m. 7:33 a.m. —- —- 1/4 8:33a/2:18a 6:07p/—— 8:39a/2:24a 8:33a/—— 12/31 5:33 p.m. 9:15 a.m. —- 10:10 p.m. 12/31 5:34 p.m. 8:45 a.m. —- 9:40 p.m. 12/31 5:42 p.m. 8:44 a.m. 11:54 p.m. 9:18 p.m. 1/5 9:01p/2:47p 6:28a/12:41p 9:07p/2:53p 9:01p/12:47p 1/1 12:06 a.m. 10:01 a.m. 6:12 p.m. 9:56 p.m. 1/1 12:07 a.m. 9:31 a.m. 6:13 p.m. 9:26 p.m. 1/1 12:15 a.m. 9:09 a.m. 6:21 p.m. 9:04 p.m. 1/6 9:26a/3:11a 6:53p/—— 9:32a/3:17a 9:26a/—— 1/2 1:11 a.m. 10:52 a.m. 6:49 p.m. 10:59 p.m. 1/2 1:12 a.m. 10:22 a.m. 6:50 p.m. 10:29 p.m. 1/2 1:20 a.m. 10:00 a.m. 6:58 p.m. 10:07 p.m. 1/7 9:56p/3:41p 7:13a/1:01a 10:02p/3:47p 9:56p/1:07a 1/3 2:24 a.m. 11:44 a.m. 7:17 p.m. —- 1/3 2:25 a.m. 11:14 a.m. 7:18 p.m. —- 1/3 2:33 a.m. 10:52 a.m. 7:26 p.m. 11:39 p.m. 1/8 10:25a/4:09a 7:39p/1:26p 10:31a/4:15a 10:25a/1:32p 1/4 4:07 a.m. 12:31 a.m. 7:39 p.m. 12:37 p.m. 1/4 4:08 a.m. 12:01 a.m. 7:40 p.m. 12:07 p.m. 1/4 4:16 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 7:48 p.m. —- 1/9 10:57p/4:41p 8:00a/1:46a 11:03p/4:47p 10:57p/1:52a 1/5 6:30 a.m. 2:11 a.m. 7:57 p.m. 1:34 p.m. 1/5 6:31 a.m. 1:41 a.m. 7:58 p.m. 1:04 p.m. 1/5 6:39 a.m. 1:19 a.m. 8:06 p.m. 12:42 p.m. 1/6 9:03 a.m. 3:26 a.m. 8:12 p.m. 2:48 p.m. 1/6 9:04 a.m. 2:56 a.m. 8:13 p.m. 2:18 p.m. 1/6 9:12 a.m. 2:34 a.m. 8:21 p.m. 1:56 p.m. SUN AND MOON 1/7 11:27 a.m. 4:23 a.m. 8:22 p.m. 4:57 p.m. 1/7 11:28 a.m. 3:53 a.m. 8:23 p.m. 4:27 p.m. 1/7 11:36 a.m. 3:31 a.m. 8:31 p.m. 4:05 p.m. 1/8 1:10 p.m. 5:12 a.m. —- —- 1/8 1:11 p.m. 4:42 a.m. —- —- 1/8 1:19 p.m. 4:20 a.m. —- —- Sunrise/set 1/9 2:15 p.m. 5:58 a.m. —- —- 1/9 2:16 p.m. 5:28 a.m. —- —- 1/9 2:24 p.m. 5:06 a.m. —- —- Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 1/10 3:04 p.m. 6:42 a.m. —- —- 1/10 3:05 p.m. 6:12 a.m. —- —- 1/10 3:13 p.m. 5:50 a.m. —- —- 12/21 7:13a/5:26p 7:27a/5:26p 7:24a/5:40p 7:51a/5:38p Port Bolivar Pass Cavallo South Padre Island 12/22 7:14a/5:27p 7:27a/5:26p 7:25a/5:40p 7:52a/5:39p 12/21 10:57 p.m. 1:40 p.m. —- —- 12/21 10:00 p.m. 12:11 p.m. —- —- 12/21 9:14 p.m. 11:58 a.m. —- —- 12/23 7:14a/5:27p 7:28a/5:27p 7:25a/5:41p 7:52a/5:39p 12/22 11:09 p.m. 2:14 p.m. —- —- 12/22 10:12 p.m. 12:45 p.m. —- —- 12/22 9:00 p.m. 12:29 p.m. —- —- 12/24 7:14a/5:28p 7:28a/5:27p 7:26a/5:41p 7:53a/5:40p 12/23 10:22 a.m. 5:48 a.m. 11:18 p.m. 2:51 p.m. 12/23 9:25 a.m. 4:19 a.m. 10:21 p.m. 1:22 p.m. 12/23 8:40 p.m. 1:00 p.m. —- —- 12/25 7:15a/5:28p 7:29a/5:28p 7:26a/5:42p 7:53a/5:41p 12/24 12:35 p.m. 5:41 a.m. 11:21 p.m. 3:34 p.m. 12/24 11:38 a.m. 4:12 a.m. 10:24 p.m. 2:05 p.m. 12/24 11:17 a.m. 4:24 a.m. 8:13 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 12/26 7:15a/5:29p 7:29a/5:29p 7:27a/5:42p 7:54a/5:41p 12/25 2:20 p.m. 5:57 a.m. 11:14 p.m. 4:36 p.m. 12/25 1:23 p.m. 4:28 a.m. 10:17 p.m. 3:07 p.m. 12/25 1:41 p.m. 4:30 a.m. 7:24 p.m. 3:53 p.m. 12/27 7:16a/5:29p 7:29a/5:29p 7:27a/5:43p 7:54a/5:42p 12/26 3:36 p.m. 6:24 a.m. 10:50 p.m. 6:08 p.m. 12/26 2:39 p.m. 4:55 a.m. 9:53 p.m. 4:39 p.m. 12/26 2:29 p.m. 4:53 a.m. —- —- 12/28 7:16a/5:30p 7:30a/5:30p 7:28a/5:44p 7:54a/5:43p 12/27 4:34 p.m. 6:59 a.m. —- —- 12/27 3:37 p.m. 5:30 a.m. —- —- 12/27 3:15 p.m. 5:25 a.m. —- —- 12/29 7:16a/5:31p 7:30a/5:30p 7:28a/5:44p 7:55a/5:43p 12/28 5:24 p.m. 7:40 a.m. —- —- 12/28 4:27 p.m. 6:11 a.m. —- —- 12/28 4:03 p.m. 6:04 a.m. —- —- 12/30 7:17a/5:31p 7:30a/5:31p 7:28a/5:45p 7:55a/5:44p 12/29 6:14 p.m. 8:25 a.m. —- —- 12/29 5:17 p.m. 6:56 a.m. —- —- 12/29 4:56 p.m. 6:49 a.m. —- —- 12/31 7:17a/5:32p 7:31a/5:32p 7:28a/5:46p 7:55a/5:45p 12/30 7:02 p.m. 9:12 a.m. —- —- 12/30 6:05 p.m. 7:43 a.m. —- —- 12/30 5:51 p.m. 7:37 a.m. —- —- 1/1 7:17a/5:33p 7:31a/5:33p 7:29a/5:46p 7:55a/5:45p 12/31 7:48 p.m. 10:02 a.m. —- 10:57 p.m. 12/31 6:51 p.m. 8:33 a.m. —- 9:28 p.m. 12/31 6:44 p.m. 8:28 a.m. —- —- 1/2 7:17a/5:33p 7:31a/5:33p 7:29a/5:47p 7:56a/5:46p 1/1 2:21 a.m. 10:48 a.m. 8:27 p.m. 10:43 p.m. 1/1 1:24 a.m. 9:19 a.m. 7:30 p.m. 9:14 p.m. 1/1 7:24 p.m. 9:18 a.m. —- —- 1/3 7:18a/5:34p 7:31a/5:34p 7:29a/5:48p 7:56a/5:47p 1/2 3:26 a.m. 11:39 a.m. 9:04 p.m. 11:46 p.m. 1/2 2:29 a.m. 10:10 a.m. 8:07 p.m. 10:17 p.m. 1/2 7:50 p.m. 10:08 a.m. —- —- 1/4 7:18a/5:35p 7:31a/5:35p 7:29a/5:48p 7:56a/5:48p 1/3 4:39 a.m. 12:31 p.m. 9:32 p.m. —- 1/3 3:42 a.m. 11:02 a.m. 8:35 p.m. 11:49 p.m. 1/3 7:58 p.m. 10:58 a.m. —- —- 1/5 7:18a/5:36p 7:32a/5:36p 7:30a/5:49p 7:56a/5:49p 1/4 6:22 a.m. 1:18 a.m. 9:54 p.m. 1:24 p.m. 1/4 5:25 a.m. 11:55 a.m. 8:57 p.m. —- 1/4 7:52 p.m. 11:48 a.m. —- —- 1/6 7:18a/5:36p 7:32a/5:36p 7:30a/5:50p 7:56a/5:49p 1/5 8:45 a.m. 2:58 a.m. 10:12 p.m. 2:21 p.m. 1/5 7:48 a.m. 1:29 a.m. 9:15 p.m. 12:52 p.m. 1/5 5:42 a.m. 1:58 a.m. 7:38 p.m. 12:38 p.m. 1/7 7:18a/5:37p 7:32a/5:37p 7:30a/5:51p 7:56a/5:50p 1/6 11:18 a.m. 4:13 a.m. 10:27 p.m. 3:35 p.m. 1/6 10:21 a.m. 2:44 a.m. 9:30 p.m. 2:06 p.m. 1/6 8:58 a.m. 2:28 a.m. 7:13 p.m. 1:32 p.m. 1/8 7:18a/5:38p 7:32a/5:38p 7:30a/5:51p 7:56a/5:51p 1/7 1:42 p.m. 5:10 a.m. 10:37 p.m. 5:44 p.m. 1/7 12:45 p.m. 3:41 a.m. 9:40 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 1/7 12:17 p.m. 3:10 a.m. 6:23 p.m. 2:58 p.m. 1/9 7:18a/5:39p 7:32a/5:39p 7:30a/5:52p 7:56a/5:52p 1/8 3:25 p.m. 5:59 a.m. —- —- 1/8 2:28 p.m. 4:30 a.m. —- —- 1/8 2:15 p.m. 3:57 a.m. —- —- 1/10 7:18a/5:40p 7:32a/5:40p 7:30a/5:53p 7:56a/5:53p 1/9 4:30 p.m. 6:45 a.m. —- —- 1/9 3:33 p.m. 5:16 a.m. —- —- 1/9 3:13 p.m. 4:47 a.m. —- —- 1/10 5:19 p.m. 7:29 a.m. —- —- 1/10 4:22 p.m. 6:00 a.m. —- —- 1/10 4:04 p.m. 5:38 a.m. —- —- Moonrise/set San Luis Pass Port O’Connor Port Isabel Houston Dallas San Antonio Amarillo 12/21 9:51 p.m. 1:22 p.m. —- —- 12/21 3:16 a.m. 3:31 p.m. —- —- 12/21 9:50 p.m. 12:32 p.m. —- —- 12/2110:58p/11:26a 11:03p/11:36a 11:12p/11:38a 11:20p/11:58a 12/22 10:03 p.m. 1:56 p.m. —- —- 12/22 3:31 a.m. 3:52 p.m. —- —- 12/22 10:02 p.m. 1:06 p.m. —- —- 12/2211:52p/11:52a 11:58p/12:01p none/12:05p none/12:21p 12/23 9:16 a.m. 5:30 a.m. 10:12 p.m. 2:33 p.m. 12/23 2:56 a.m. 3:35 p.m. —- —- 12/23 9:15 a.m. 4:40 a.m. 10:11 p.m. 1:43 p.m. 12/23 none/12:18p none/12:25p 12:05a/12:31p 12:16a/12:44p 12/24 11:29 a.m. 5:23 a.m. 10:15 p.m. 3:16 p.m. 12/24 12:42 a.m. 9:29 a.m. 9:17 p.m. —- 12/24 11:28 a.m. 4:33 a.m. 10:14 p.m. 2:26 p.m. 12/2412:45a/12:44p 12:53a/12:49p 12:58a/12:57p 1:13a/1:07p 12/25 1:14 p.m. 5:39 a.m. 10:08 p.m. 4:18 p.m. 12/25 7:43 p.m. 8:12 a.m. —- —- 12/25 1:13 p.m. 4:49 a.m. 10:07 p.m. 3:28 p.m. 12/25 1:40a/1:12p 1:50a/1:15p 1:53a/1:25p 2:12a/1:32p 12/26 2:30 p.m. 6:06 a.m. 9:44 p.m. 5:50 p.m. 12/26 7:56 p.m. 8:23 a.m. —- —- 12/26 2:29 p.m. 5:16 a.m. 9:43 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 12/26 2:39a/1:43p 2:50a/1:45p 2:51a/1:57p 3:13a/2:00p 12/27 3:28 p.m. 6:41 a.m. —- —- 12/27 8:33 p.m. 8:54 a.m. —- —- 12/27 3:27 p.m. 5:51 a.m. —- —- 12/27 3:41a/2:20p 3:54a/2:20p 3:53a/2:34p 4:19a/2:33p 12/28 4:18 p.m. 7:22 a.m. —- —- 12/28 9:24 p.m. 9:34 a.m. —- —- 12/28 4:17 p.m. 6:32 a.m. —- —- 12/28 4:47a/3:04p 5:02a/3:03p 4:59a/3:19p 5:28a/3:15p 12/29 5:08 p.m. 8:07 a.m. —- —- 12/29 10:25 p.m. 10:19 a.m. —- —- 12/29 5:07 p.m. 7:17 a.m. —- —- 12/29 5:55a/3:58p 6:11a/3:56p 6:07a/4:13p 6:39a/4:07p 12/30 5:56 p.m. 8:54 a.m. —- —- 12/30 11:34 p.m. 11:08 a.m. —- —- 12/30 5:55 p.m. 8:04 a.m. —- —- 12/30 7:02a/5:02p 7:19a/4:59p 7:14a/5:16p 7:47a/5:11p 12/31 6:42 p.m. 9:44 a.m. —- 10:39 p.m. 12/31 —- 11:57 a.m. —- —- 12/31 6:41 p.m. 8:54 a.m. —- 9:49 p.m. 12/31 8:04a/6:13p 8:20a/6:11p 8:16a/6:27p 8:48a/6:23p 1/1 1:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 7:21 p.m. 10:25 p.m. 1/1 12:43 a.m. 12:44 p.m. —- —- 1/1 1:14 a.m. 9:40 a.m. 7:20 p.m. 9:35 p.m. 1/1 8:58a/7:27p 9:13a/7:26p 9:10a/7:41p 9:39a/7:40p 1/2 2:20 a.m. 11:21 a.m. 7:58 p.m. 11:28 p.m. 1/2 1:53 a.m. 1:29 p.m. —- —- 1/2 2:19 a.m. 10:31 a.m. 7:57 p.m. 10:38 p.m. 1/2 9:44a/8:39p 9:57a/8:41p 9:56a/8:53p 10:21a/8:56p 1/3 3:33 a.m. 12:13 p.m. 8:26 p.m. —- 1/3 3:01 a.m. 2:08 p.m. —- —- 1/3 3:32 a.m. 11:23 a.m. 8:25 p.m. —- 1/3 10:22a/9:49p 10:33a/9:53p 10:35a/10:02p 10:56a/10:10p 1/4 5:16 a.m. 1:00 a.m. 8:48 p.m. 1:06 p.m. 1/4 4:10 a.m. 2:39 p.m. —- —- 1/4 5:15 a.m. 12:10 a.m. 8:47 p.m. 12:16 p.m. 1/4 10:56a/10:55p 11:05a/11:01p 11:09a/11:08p 11:26a/11:20p 1/5 7:39 a.m. 2:40 a.m. 9:06 p.m. 2:03 p.m. 1/5 12:19 a.m. 3:04 a.m. 5:52 a.m. 2:51 p.m. 1/5 7:38 a.m. 1:50 a.m. 9:05 p.m. 1:13 p.m. 1/5 11:28a/11:59p 11:35a/none 11:41a/none 11:54a/none 1/6 10:12 a.m. 3:55 a.m. 9:21 p.m. 3:17 p.m. 1/6 10:45 a.m. 5:19 a.m. 9:22 p.m. 1:35 p.m. 1/6 10:11 a.m. 3:05 a.m. 9:20 p.m. 2:27 p.m. 1/6 11:59a/none 12:03p/12:07a 12:12p/12:12a 12:21p/12:27a 1/7 12:36 p.m. 4:52 a.m. 9:31 p.m. 5:26 p.m. 1/7 8:45 p.m. 6:23 a.m. —- —- 1/7 12:35 p.m. 4:02 a.m. 9:30 p.m. 4:36 p.m. 1/7 12:30p/1:02a 12:33p/1:12a 12:43p/1:14a 12:49p/1:34a 1/8 2:19 p.m. 5:41 a.m. —- —- 1/8 8:30 p.m. 7:19 a.m. —- —- 1/8 2:18 p.m. 4:51 a.m. —- —- 1/8 1:04p/2:05a 1:05p/2:17a 1:18p/2:17a 1:20p/2:40a 1/9 3:24 p.m. 6:27 a.m. —- —- 1/9 8:38 p.m. 8:13 a.m. —- —- 1/9 3:23 p.m. 5:37 a.m. —- —- 1/9 7:02a/5:02p 7:19a/4:59p 7:14a/5:16p 7:47a/5:11p 1/10 4:13 p.m. 7:11 a.m. —- —- 1/10 9:03 p.m. 9:06 a.m. —- —- 1/10 4:12 p.m. 6:21 a.m. —- —- 1/10 2:25p/4:11a 2:23p/4:26a 2:39p/4:23a 2:35p/4:53a TEXAS TIDBITS TEXAS WORD TREASURES WILD IN THE KITCHEN

Across 1 Turkey Enchiladas 2. Dried meat that out- doorsmen like to snack 2 This recipe, taken directly from the Wild About Turkey cookbook, is on the perfect way to spice up your supper and get rid of some of that left- 3. To load an arrow 34 5 over holiday turkey just sitting there in your refrigerator. There are many 6. Offshore vessel that variations to this traditional South of the Border meal. Any way you like holds scores of fishermen it, it’s sure to be a hit. 8. Deer breeding season 6 9. A 's favorite 2 (10 3/4-ounce) cans type of pliers 7 cream of mushroom soup 11. Ground-loving bird that is 1/2 cup sour cream flourishing this year 8 1/2 cup diced chilies 12. Howling northers accen- 9 12 tortillas, flour or tuate these at the coast corn 14. Where cold and warm 1 cup grated Monterey lake water stratify Jack cheese 16. Type of trout that TPW 10 1 cup cheddar cheese stocks during the winter 1/2 cup chopped 17. Only marsupial that lives onion in Texas 11 12 2 cups cooked cubed Down wild turkey 1. Hunting platform that is 13 Nonstick cooking popular with bow hunters spray 2. Many black bass fall vic- 14 15 1/2 cup sliced, ripe black olives (optional) tim to this simple lure during cold months Combine soup, sour cream and chilies. Heat thoroughly. Warm tor- 4. Common rabbit 16 17 tillas in damp towel in microwave or in a non-stick skillet over the stove. 5. The warmest waders are Coat a 13-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Mix made of this cheeses, onion, turkey and 1 cup of the soup mixture. Put 2 tablespoons 6. Endangered fish which of cheese-turkey mixture in the center of each tortilla. Roll tortillas and features a large rostrum Copyright 2004 Texas Word Treasures, Greg Berlocher. All Rights Reserved. place in baking dish. Pour remaining soup mixture over top. Cover, and 7. Some catfish hooks are bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover, and top with sliced, ripe equipped with these 13. This type of drag was ______. black olives and additional cheese, if desired. Yield: 4 to 5 servings 10. Birds of prey feed heavily invented shortly after the 15. Initials of Santa's favorite on these throughout the Civil War publication Recipe provided by the National Wild Turkey Federation. For more recipes or to winter 14. Fly rods are stored in a See SOLUTION, Page 17 order the cookbook, visit their Web site at www.nwtf.org. Page 16 December 23, 2005 GAME WARDEN BLOTTER

I’LL HAVE A BURGER for Travis County orange. The cases AND A CITATION TO GO against him are pending. • At 3 a.m., Wharton County Game THE TALE OF THE NINJA-LIKE POACHERS Warden Justin Hurst received a call THE EARLY BIRD SHOT HIS BROTHER that a man going through the A landowner called Van Zandt County Game deer on his property, all at the same time. All of the • Jasper County Wardens Justin drive-thru at Whataburger had a Wardens Adam Clark and Steve Stapleton to report poachers used silencers and apparently had ninja- Eddins and Phillip Wood respond- deer in the bed of his truck. The a poacher. The landowner reported watching a like swiftness. The landowner went on to state that ed to a hunting accident in the man was delayed until Hurst heavily camouflaged poacher shoot a large deer in at least one of the poachers broke into his home and Kirbyville area. Two brothers, ages arrived. A freshly killed doe (shot his field and drag it back into the woods. Clark adjusted the scope on the landowner’s rifle, so he 52 and 48, had decided to hunt through the neck) was found in the worked the initial investigation but was flabbergast- wouldn’t be able to kill a deer this season. After an that afternoon. Unfortunately, truck bed. Hurst reported the man ed when the landowner elaborated on his story — investigation, Clark determined the reporting party they did not let one another know also had a spotlight and .30-06 the other’s plan. Apparently, they reporting that he saw at least 20 people shooting was under the influence of methamphetamines. shells on the front seat, but claimed both decided to hunt the same deer he did not hunt. In addition to stand. The younger brother arrived numerous hunting violations, the hide and gut pile on his property being treated for possible hypother- stand. Scared, cold, and hungry, first. He fired twice after seeing man was also charged with posses- while feeding his cows called Harris mia by the local fire department. the boys were OK and happy to see movement, reportedly striking his sion of marijuana. County Game Warden Derek Anderson and Thompson secured their rescuers. older brother with both rounds. Spitzer. The landowner doesn’t the capsized boat and dragged it The older brother was flown by hel- OLD RELIABLE allow hunting on his property. over to the boat launch. The boat’s PATIENCE PAYS OFF WITH ARREST icopter to Beaumont and was in • Bucky, the Texas Parks and Spitzer contacted Waller County driver reported that he brought his OF LAID-BACK HUNTER guarded condition. Wildlife’s fake deer that tests Game Warden Kevin Glass to assist two small girls out for a ride despite • Two years ago, Travis County hunters’ aim and honesty, was set in the investigation. Upon arriving winds gusting 35 to 45 mph. On Game Warden Turk Jones met a IN HINDSIGHT, A PAIR OF HUNTING up at night near a road by Tom at the ranch, the wardens were met top of that, the man had not put landowner who had discovered a LICENSES IS A BARGAIN Green County Game Wardens Zach by the ranch foreman’s brother-in- the boat plug in as he launched the deer stand on his two-acre property • A man who said he was “fed up” Havens and Cynde Aguilar, along law. He spoke little English, but the boat. Luckily, the man remembered behind the Arboretum in Austin. with a landowner’s out-of-state rel- with Lt. Doug Seamands and Capt. wardens noticed blood splattered to put life jackets on his daughters, Jones had watched the area for the atives hunting illegally called Bell Doug Norman. At approximately on his pants. Further investigation which probably saved their lives. last two hunting seasons. A few County Game Wardens Shawn 6:45 p.m., a vehicle stopped and a revealed a quartered deer in a freez- The wardens gave the man a weeks ago, Jones saw the landown- Moore and Ronnie Langford. The shot rang out. Aguilar and er on the man’s front porch along refresher course on boater safety er at a Kidfish event on Lake Austin. informant told Moore that the two Seamands, who were less than 50 with the deer’s heart, liver and before releasing him. He promised Jones that he would Arkansas men didn’t buy hunting yards away, stopped the hunters. tongue. The ranch foreman was keep a lookout for illegal hunting licenses and killed too many deer. The hunters were asked if they had brought back to the ranch to inter- YOUNG HUNTERS AND on his property. On Thanksgiving He tipped the wardens that the seen any deer. They replied that pret for the wardens. The brother- THEIR DOGS RESCUED Day, the landowner called Jones men planned to leave early the they had not seen anything until in-law gave the wardens a state- • Smith County Game Warden and said he had found fresh corn next morning. Moore and spying the nice one they had just ment. A .30-30 rifle along with the Chris Green led a search effort for thrown out around the stand. Langford set up outside the gate. At shot at. The cases are pending. head of the 3-point buck was two boys who disappeared while Jones checked the stand that day, 4:15 a.m., the described vehicle brought out of hiding and turned hog hunting in some woods near but no one showed. The following arrived. In cooler boxes and plastic COLLISON KILLS DEER, over to the wardens. The case is their homes. Green was notified afternoon, however, Jones found a bags, the wardens reported finding INJURES HUNTER pending. just after dark that the boys were bowhunter in the stand. The war- four quartered deer and the heads • A hunter headed to his deer stand missing. He found one boy’s bicy- den also reported finding marijua- of four bucks. The father and son east of Burkeville on a four-wheeler AT LEAST HE DID ONE THING RIGHT cle near a bridge in a low area. na on the hunter. When ques- hunters complained to the wardens struck a 7-point buck. The collision • A call from the Army Corps of Following footprints, Green deter- tioned, the hunter said he had seen “the out-of-state licenses were just flipped the four-wheeler with the Engineers led Collin County Game mined the direction of their travel. several good bucks. Asked why he too expensive.” The wardens took hunter sustaining head injuries. Wardens Doyce Anderson and With the help of the sheriff’s office, hadn’t shot one, the hunter the men to the local JP, where they The buck did not survive. LifeFlight Leroy Thompson to investigate a bloodhounds, four-wheelers, hors- allegedly replied, “I wasn’t finished pleaded guilty and were fined flew the hunter from the scene. report of a capsized boat on Lake es, as well as the landowner’s assis- with my joint yet.” The landowner $1,500 each for the charges. After Lavon near the East Fork Marina. tance, authorities found the boys signed a complaint, and Jones the wardens scored the bucks, their BLOOD SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS The wardens found the passengers about 1:30 a.m. with their dogs transported the hunter to jail restitution should cost them • A landowner who found a deer had made it to shore and were huddled in an old wooden deer where he traded in his camo outfit $3,800. Bring in the New Year WITH THE LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS 2006 24 ISSUES FOR $25! DELIVERED TO YOUR MAILBOX FOR ONE YEAR

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2 p.m. Dec. 30. For more informa- Dec. 31–Jan. 9: Quail hunting, apply. For more information, call on the WMA. For more informa- HAVE AN EVENT TO tion, call (325) 628-3240. Black Gap WMA. All hunters 17 (903) 676-BASS. tion, call (432) 376-2216 or years of age and older are required (432) 837-3251 during normal PUBLICIZE? Dec. 27–29: Youth only gun deer to possess the Annual Hunting Jan. 2-6, 9-13: Gun deer (either business hours. (either sex), Chaparral WMA. Adult Permit in addition to the state sex) hunts, Chaparral WMA. Hunts E-mail it to must accompany youth, but only hunting license. Hunter orange by special drawn permit only. Jan. 14–Feb. 28: Fishing on the [email protected] youth may hunt; no fee is charged. clothing and hat are required while Standby applicants must be pres- Rio Grande, Black Gap WMA. Valid Events must be open to the public Permits issued by drawing. For on the WMA. There are 45 primi- ent by 11 a.m. on the first day of Texas fishing license and an more information, call (830) 676- tive camps scattered throughout the hunt. For more information, Annual Hunting or Limited Public 3413. the management area and along call (830) 676-3413. Use Permit required for visitors Dec. 26–29: Scheduled hunts — the Rio Grande available. For more ages 17 and older. For more infor- access restricted — Possum Dec. 28 –April 19: Fly-tying class, information, call (432) 376-2216 Jan. 7: Women in the Outdoors, mation, call (432) 376-2216 or Kingdom SP. Runs from 10 p.m. every Wednesday, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., or (432) 837-3251 during normal Cross Timbers Chapter, Jacksboro, (432) 837-3251 during normal Dec. 26 to 8 a.m. Dec 29. For Bass Pro Shops, Grapevine. Come business hours. Richard’s Ranch. WITO is dedicat- business hours. more information, call (940) 549- to the White River Fly Shop and ed to providing opportunities to 1803. learn the different techniques of Dec. 31–Jan. 9: Fishing on the women interested in a variety of Jan. 14: Family Fishing Day, Fort tying flies. Everything from fresh- Rio Grande, Black Gap WMA. A outdoor activities. Make new Richardson SP&HS and Lost Creek Dec. 26–29: Scheduled hunts — water to saltwater. This is a free valid Texas fishing license and an friends or have a great time with Reservoir State Trailway. Bring the access restricted — Tyler SP. Runs class and a great way to get start- Annual Hunting or Limited Public old ones as you learn to fish, hunt, family and enjoy a morning of fish- from 10 p.m. Dec. 26 to 2 p.m. ed creating your own flies. Use Permit required for visitors camp, hike, mountain bike, shoot ing for rainbow trout at Quarry Dec. 29. For more information, ages 17 and older. Twenty-three and take part in many exciting Lake from 9 a.m.-noon. For more call (903) 597-5338. Dec. 31: Concealed handgun sem- campsites are available along the activities. For more information, information, call (940) 567-3506. inar, Cabela’s, Fort Worth, 8 a.m. river. For more information, call call Jennifer Barrow at (940) 627- Dec. 27–29: Scheduled hunts — to 6:30 p.m. Contact the store to (432) 376-2216 or (432) 837- 5475 or e-mail her at jennifer. Jan. 14–15: Hunter safety course, access restricted — Huntsville SP. register. For more information, call 3251 during normal business [email protected]. Copper Breaks SP. State-approved Runs from 6 a.m. Dec. 27 to noon (817) 337-2400. hours. and required course taught by Dec. 29. For more information, Jan. 9: Recruitment meeting for Wendell Barberee, certified hunter call (936) 295-5644. Dec. 31–Jan. 4: Late season dove January: Trout harvest, Texas the Pampa chapter of Texas Ducks safety instructor and park ranger. hunting, Black Gap WMA. All Freshwater Fisheries Center in Unlimited, Dixie Restaurant. For Park entry fees waived for partici- Dec. 27–30: Scheduled hunts — hunters 17 years of age and older Athens, every Tuesday through more information, call Ted Hutto pants, but all other camping and access restricted — Caprock are required to possess the Annual Sunday, except for the holidays. at (806) 669-0433. facility fees apply. Bring a sack Canyons SP & Trailway. Runs from Hunting Permit in addition to the Catch and keep trout from our lunch on Saturday. Two-day course 10 p.m. Dec. 27 to 2 p.m. Dec. state hunting license and dove fishing pond. Equipment and bait Jan.14-Feb. 26: Quail hunting, goes from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday 30. For more information, call stamps. Hunter orange clothing provided, no fishing license Black Gap WMA. All hunters 17 and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. (806) 455-1492. and hat are required while on the required and no size limit. Harvest years of age and older are required Participants must take the entire WMA. For more information, call times and days are from 9 a.m.-4 to possess the Annual Hunting course to be certified. Fee is $10 Dec. 27–30: Scheduled hunts — (432) 376-2216 or (432) 837- p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-4 Permit in addition to the state per person and is non-refundable; access restricted — Colorado Bend 3251 during normal business p.m. Sunday; $5 for up to five fish hunting license. Hunter orange reservations required. For more SP. Runs from 10 p.m. Dec. 27 to hours. per person; regular entrance fees clothing and hat are required while information, call (940) 839-4331.

CROSSWORD ‘My sons and I enjoy your publication and look forward to each issue. Thanks!’ — Craig Pfeiffer, San Antonio SOLUTION Crossword puzzle solution from Page 15 NAME FREE HAT WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TODAY! T JERKY Stone Camo ADDRESS I E NOCK N G E O E S PARTYBOAT CITY RECEIVE 24 issues for only $25 delivered to your home or office. My check, T A T P S money order or credit card information is enclosed. CLIP AND MAIL THIS COUPON TO: A D O RUT P STATE ZIP LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS, 9304 Forest Lane, Suite 114 South, Dallas, TX NEEDLENOSE O 75243, or simply visit www.lonestaroutdoornews.com. D L T N N TELEPHONE E A E R G One year: 24 issues for $25 (You’ll save 42% off the newsstand price!) F I O E QU A I L LOWT I D ES E-MAIL Two years: 48 issues for $42 (Save 50% off the newsstand price!) S S E Please renew my subscription T THERMOCLINE CREDIT CARD # EXP. DATE A U S T RA I NBOW OPOSSUM Call toll free at (866) 361-2276 SIGNATURE 122305 E N OUTFITTERS

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CENTRAL worms. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair Crappie are fair on live minnows and white crappie part of reservoir. Trout are good below the dam near TRAVIS: Water clear; 64 degrees; 16.60' low. Black on stinkbait. Bream are slow. jigs tipped with live minnows around brushpiles and Highway 16 Bridge with 2,250 stocked on standing timber at night under lights in 10 - 25 December 9. BASTROP: Water clear. Black bass are fair on pump- bass to 4 pounds are good on black Ringworms and feet. Channel and blue catfish to 10 pounds are fair kinseed and chartreuse soft plastic worms, spinner- Tennessee shad crankbaits in 8 - 35 feet. Striped PALESTINE: Water clear; 49-54 degrees; 2.96' low. bass are slow. White bass to 1 pound are fair on on Lewis King punchbait, shrimp dipped in chicken baits, and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Black bass are fair on dark colored soft plastic, jigs SPENCE: Water lightly stained; 52 degrees; 45.75' chrome crippled herring spoons and minnows in 20 blood, and Black Salty baitfish. Yellow catfish to 15 Channel and blue catfish are fair on cutbait and and crankbaits in 6-14 feet. Crappie are fair on min- low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow on min- - 35 feet. Crappie to 12” are fair on minnows and pounds are fair on juglines baited with perch and stinkbait. Yellow catfish are slow. nows and jigs around deeper boathouses with brush. nows and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait. pink and white tube jigs 20 - 32 feet. Channel and goldfish. White bass are fair on Rat-L-Traps and slabs in 12- Striped bass and hybrid striper are fair on minnows. blue catfish to 5 pounds are fair on fresh cutbait 20 feet. Hybrid striper are slow. Catfish are good on BELTON: Water murky; 68 degrees; 2.15' low. Black Catfish are fair on cut shad. and nightcrawlers in 22 - 42 feet. Yellow catfish are cut shad. SOUTHEAST bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are slow. slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish are STAMFORD: Water lightly stained; 49 degrees; good on minnows. Yellow catfish are slow. RAY HUBBARD: Water stained; 48-53 degrees; CONROE: Water slightly stained; 4.23' low. Black Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow on jigs and WALTER E. LONG: Water clear; 67 degrees. Black 3.76' low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern bass are fair on chrome/white Rat-L-Traps and minnows. White and striped bass are fair. Catfish are bass are good on minnows and Black Salty baitfish. crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and green pumpkin flukes. crankbaits. Striped bass are fair on silver striper jigs. BROWNWOOD: Water stained; 45 degrees; 2.08' fair. Hybrid striper are good on striper jigs, soft plastics, Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs in 12-20 feet. Crappie are fair on minnows and white tube jigs. low. Black bass to 5 pounds are good on crawdad minnows, and Black Salty baitfish. White bass are White bass are fair on slabs and Humdingers. Hybrid Catfish are fair on shrimp, stinkbait, and minnows. Persuader Stealth shad crankbaits and gold Rat-L- fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are good striper are slow on slabs. Catfish are fair to good on Traps on main lake flats, and on white spinnerbaits SWEETWATER: Water lightly stained; 47 degrees; on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are good on fresh shad drifted over submerged humps and points and Ghost Baits Slam Worms around docks. Hybrid GIBBONS CREEK: Water slightly stained. Black bass 31.5' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on shrimp and minnows. Yellow catfish are slow. in 12-20 feet. striper are slow. White bass are fair on small tube are fair on chrome/red/white crankbaits and spinner- minnows and jigs. White bass are fair. Catfish are jigs and Li'l Fishies at night under lights. Crappie baits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good fair. are fair on small tube jigs and minnows in 12 - 18 WHITNEY: Water clear; 4.70' low. Black bass are RAY ROBERTS: Water clear; 49-52 degrees; 3.21' on minnows, shrimp, and stinkbait. good on chartreuse/white and chartreuse/chrome feet. Catfish are slow. low. Black bass are fair on Carolina rigged soft plas- WHITE RIVER: Water lightly stained; 44 degrees; Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits, and soft plastics. Striped tics and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows and HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 55 degrees; 22.65' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on bass are fair on silver striper jigs and some spoons. jigs. White bass are fair on chartreuse slabs and BUCHANAN: Water stained to clear; 57 degrees; 0.57' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. are fair. Channel catfish White bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live min- white Road Runners. Catfish are fair on cut bait and 7.10' low. Black bass are fair to good pitching live minnows off piers. Bream are fair on live worms are fair on live bait. nows. Catfish are fair on bloodbait, minnows, and nightcrawlers. black/blue Terminator jigs with pork trailers, pump- shrimp. near grass. Catfish are fair on live minnows off piers. kin JDC Gibroni on jigheads, and pitching black/blue WICHITA: Water muddy; 43 degrees. Crappie are Super Tube Heavies over stumps and laydowns in 5 RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water stained; 49-52 LIVINGSTON: Water fairly clear; 63 degrees; 4.36' slow. White bass and hybrid striped bass are fair on - 10 feet. Striped bass are fair to good drifting live NORTHEAST degrees; 4.6' low. Black bass are fair on shad pat- low. Black bass are good on crankbaits and spinner- bait, casting Spoiler Shads, and jigging Perk tern crankbaits and wood jigs. White bass are fair to large minnows and white twister-tails along dam, baits. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on near spillway and . Channel catfish are fair on Minnows around Flag Island in 28 feet. White bass ATHENS: Water clear, 48-52 degrees; 2.5' low. good on white or chartreuse slabs. Crappie are fair chrome/blue Rat-L-Traps off sandy points. Crappie bait shrimp, punch bait or trotlines. are slow. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows. Black bass are fair on chrome Rat-L-Traps, soft plas- on minnows and brown/blue jigs in 12-20 feet are good on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are Channel catfish are slow. tics and jigs in 12-20 feet around submerged brush around heavy brush and timber. Catfish are fair good very good on shad. Yellow catfish are slow. Yellow and blue catfish are fair drifting large shad in and standing timber. Crappie are fair on minnows drift fishing fresh shad off points and over humps. COASTAL 30 feet. and jigs in 15-24 feet around main lake brush piles. Catfish are fair on prepared and cut bait. SAM RAYBURN: Water lightly stained; 64 degrees; TAWAKONI: Water stained; 48-53 degrees; 7.47' 5.05' low. Black bass are fair on black/gold Rat-L- NORTH SABINE: Flounder are good on the shore- CANYON LAKE: Water clear; 60 degrees; 2.09' low. low. Black bass are slow to fair on crankbaits and Traps and topwaters in hydrilla in 3 - 6 feet, char- lines on jigs and chartreuse plastics. Trout are fair to Texas rigged worms. Crappie are good on minnows Black bass are good pitching Texas rigged watermel- BOB SANDLIN: Water clear; 49-53 degrees; 5.44' treuse spinnerbaits, and red Rat-L-Traps over scat- good on the flats adjacent to the Intracoastal as the and jigs. White bass are fair to good on white or on/chartreuse creature baits, white wacky rigged low. Black bass are fair on black/blue jigs pitched tered hydrilla in 3 - 5 feet. Crappie are fair on live water warms. Sand trout are good in the river on chartreuse slabs fished close to the bottom in 16-22 Whacky Sticks, and 6” green pumpkin Scoundrel close to standing timber. White bass are fair on jig- shiners over planted brushtops in 15 - 25 feet. dead shrimp. worms between cold fronts tight to timber in 8 - 12 ging spoons and TailHummers around humps and feet. Striped bass and hybrid striper are slow on feet. Striped bass are fair on 3” Spoiler Shads and points. Catfish are good on prepared baits in 10-15 slabs, shad and Sassy Shad. Catfish are good on cut Perk Minnows in open water in 30 - 50 feet during feet along submerged creek channels. shad and prepared baits. TOLEDO BEND: Water clear; 64 degrees; 9.19' low. SOUTH SABINE: Trout are good at night from the short-lived surface activity. White bass are fair along Black bass are fair on topwaters and small pier on live shrimp. Flounder, redfish, and black crankbaits near shallow grass early and late, water- main lake points on Perk Minnows and Roadrunners. BRIDGEPORT: Water clear; 49-52 degrees; 10.09' TEXOMA: Water clear; 49-54 degrees; 3.09' low. drum are good from the pier on mud minnows and Smallmouth bass are good on root beer 4” JDC Drop melon/red Super Flukes and Senkos along creek fresh dead. low. Black bass are fair on shad pattern medium Black bass are fair on jigs and crankbaits. channel edges in 5 - 10 feet, and chartreuse/blue Shot worms, pumpkin Devil's Tongues on split shot running crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps and jigs. Hybrid Smallmouth bass are fair to good on slabs and by rigs, and smoke 3” JDC JR. Craws on jigheads over back and pumpkinseed medium running crankbaits striper are fair on slabs and live shad. Catfish are free-lining shad around vertical rock structure. around timber in 6 - 8 feet. Crappie are fair on shin- BOLIVAR: Bull redfish are fair to good in the surf on rock piles and on ledges in 4 - 15 feet. Crappie are fair on cheese bait and cut bait. Crappie are fair on minnows around boathouses. slow. Channel catfish are slow. Yellow and blue cat- ers around laydowns and brushtops along creek cut-bait. Black drum, whiting and sand trout are Striped bass are fair to good on live shad fished on channels in 6 - 8 feet. Catfish are fair on bloodbait good on cut bait. fish are slow. flats at the mouth of major creeks and rivers - for CADDO: Water clear; 45-51 degrees; 1.37' low. and chicken livers in major creek channels. the deeper bite use 1 oz. Hum-Bugs, Sassy Shad or Black bass are good along creek edge drop-offs in slabs. Blue catfish are good on cut shad. TRINITY BAY: Trout are fair at the Spillway on plum COLEMAN: Water clear; 69 degrees; 1.74' low. pad stems on chrome Rat-L-Traps and flukes. PANHANDLE Bass Assassins, Sand Eels and Trout Killers. Redfish Black bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. Crappie Crappie are excellent along the edges of the Big are fair to good in Red's and Cove Bayou on shrimp. are fair on minnows. Channel and blue catfish are Cypress channel on shiners and red/green jigs in 4-6 WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 48 degrees; 6.2' slow. Yellow catfish are slow. feet. White and yellow bass are fair on small spoons low. Black bass are good on dark-colored plastics, BAYLOR: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees. Black and Road Runners fished off the bottom in the main shad-colored crankbaits and chartreuse spinnerbaits. bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow. EAST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair to good over COLORADO RIVER: (At Colorado Bend State Park) channel. No reports on catfish. Crappie to 1.5 pounds are good on minnows and oyster reefs on glow/chartreuse plastics. Trout are Water clear. Black bass are slow. Striped bass are jigs in the fishing barge and marina boat slips. GREENBELT: Water lightly stained; 43 degrees; fair to good on Corkies and Catch 5's near the Catfish are slow. White bass are poor. Bream are fair slow. White bass are good on blue/silver spinnerbaits CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 48-54 degrees; 21.8' low. Black bass are slow on live bait. Crappie Refuge and along the north shoreline. on worms. The new boat ramp is open, but with the and crankbaits 3 - 4 miles downriver from the park. 3.97' low. Black bass are fair on spinnerbaits in are slow on jigs and minnows. White bass are fair on Crappie are good on minnows 3 - 4 miles downriver low water level, boaters are advised to exercise cau- live bait and Chrome Rat-L-Traps. Smallmouth bass creeks. White bass are good on slabs in 20-25 feet WEST GALVESTON BAY: Trout are fair at Green's from the park. Catfish are slow. tion. are fair. Walleye are fair. Catfish are fair on min- over main lake humps and points. Hybrid striper are Cut and North and South Deer Islands on live bait fair on Sassy Shads under birds. Crappie are fair on nows. and red/white and glow/chartreuse plastics. Black small jigs and minnows over brushpiles. Catfish are SOUTH DUNLAP/MCQUEENY: Water lightly stained; 59 drum and whiting are good at the jetty on fresh dead fair on cut bait drifted slowly under cormorant degrees. Black bass to 3 pounds are good on MACKENZIE: Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; 67' shrimp. roosts. crankbaits in 2 - 5 feet, and on Texas rigged 7.5” AMISTAD: Water clear; 70 degrees. Black bass are low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on min- red shad Berkley Power Worms and 3” red shad good on watermelon seed and red/red heavy jigs and nows and jigs. White bass and striped bass are fair Power Craws under docks near the channel in 10 - COOPER: Water stained; 49-53 degrees; 10.54' low. drop shot rigs in 20 - 25 feet, and fair on spinner- on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair. Walleye are TEXAS CITY: Flounder are fair to good from the dike 15 feet. White bass are good on live minnows and Due to the low level of the lake, boaters are advised baits and topwaters in the same colors. Striped bass fair on minnows. Catfish are fair. on mud minnows and red/white artificials. Sand white Curb's crappie jigs at night under lights in 8 - to use extreme caution. are good on slabs and striper jigs in the Castle trout, sheepshead and black drum are fair to good 20 feet. Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish on fresh dead shrimp. Canyon area. White bass are good on slabs and MEREDITH: Water lightly stained; 43 degrees; 24' to 4 pounds are fair on cut shad, dead shad, chick- striper jigs in the Castle Canyon area. Crappie are FAIRFIELD: Water clear; 72-80 degrees. Black bass low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are slow. White en livers, shrimp, and nightcrawlers in swift water slow. Channel and blue catfish are slow to fair on are fair on watermelon candy trick worms with a nail bass are fair on live bait near rocky points. FREEPORT: Trout are fair at San Luis Pass on live upriver near the powerhouse and near the Ski Lodge cheesebait over baited holes in 40 - 50 feet. Yellow weight and Rat-L-Traps. Hybrid striper are slow on Smallmouth bass are slow. Walleye are fair on bot- shrimp. Redfish are fair to good at East Union and in 10 - 15 feet. Yellow catfish are slow. catfish are slow. slabs and live shad. Redfish are slow on live shad in tom bouncers. Channel catfish are fair on minnows. Cold Pass on shrimp. Black drum, whiting and the inlet cove and around the dam. Catfish are fair sheepshead are fair at the jetties on shrimp. FAYETTE: Water clear; 66 degrees. Black bass are on prepared baits and live shad. BRAUNIG: Water stained; 88 degrees. Black bass PALO DURO: Water lightly stained; 42 degrees; good but small on topwaters late, Texas rigged soft are slow. Striped bass are slow. Redfish to 17 42.5' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on EAST MATAGORDA: Trout are fair while drifting plastics, Carolina rigged fries, and watermelon seed pounds are fair on perch and tilapia, and down rig- FORK: Water clear; 54-58 degrees; 3.99' low. Black jigs and minnows. Smallmouth bass are fair on live deep shell on plum and black plastics. Redfish are Bass Assassins in 8 - 16 feet. Channel and blue cat- ging with spoons in 15 - 25 feet. Channel and blue bass are fair along main lake grass lines where bait- bait. Walleye are slow. Catfish are fair. fish are excellent on peeled shrimp dipped in attrac- catfish are good on liver, shrimp, and shad. Yellow fair on the shorelines and the shell on shrimp and fish are present (especially along creek channels) on tant over baited holes in 15 - 18 feet. catfish are slow. gold spoons. _ oz. red/ chartreuse belly Rat-L-Traps, watermelon WEST seed weightless super flukes and Carolina rigged GRANBURY: Water lightly stained; 0.31' low. Black watermelon seed fries. Also target long, extended CALAVERAS: Water stained; 84 degrees. Black bass MATAGORDA: Trout and redfish are fair to good from bass are fair on pumpkinseed and chartreuse soft points with a chrome spoon vertically jigged around are slow. Striped bass are slow to fair on chicken liv- ALAN HENRY: Water lightly stained; 45 degrees. the Middle Grounds to Tom & Jerry's on red shad plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits. Striped bass baitfish. Crappie are fair on minnows in 24-26 feet ers on the bottom in 10 - 20 feet. Redfish are slow. Black bass are slow on live bait. Crappie are fair on and red/white Trout Killers, Sand Eels and Bass are slow. White bass are fair on minnows and silver (moving to deeper water). Catfish are fair on pre- Crappie are slow. Channel catfish are good on liver, minnows and jigs. Assassins. Flounder are fair to good on mud min- spoons. Crappie are fair on minnows and chartreuse pared baits in 22-24 feet. shrimp, and nightcrawlers. Blue catfish are fair to nows and shrimp at the locks. Trout are good at tube jigs. Catfish are good on frozen shrimp, live good on liver and worms. Yellow catfish are slow. night in the Colorado River. bait, and cutbait. ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 45 degrees; GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 49-54 degrees; 6.16' 1.8' low. Black bass are slow on spinnerbaits in low. Black bass to 5 pounds are fair on shad or char- CHOKE CANYON: Water lightly stained; 62 degrees; back of coves and creeks. Crappie are good on min- PORT O'CONNOR: Trout are fair at Bill Day's Reef GRANGER: Water murky; 50 degrees; 0.27' low. treuse crankbaits, white double willow spinnerbaits 2.90' low. Black bass to 7 pounds are fair on albino nows near the derricks about 17' and at Henrietta and Grass Island on live shrimp and gold spoons. Black bass are slow. White bass are fair on and Rayburn Red Super Spots (with an erratic Berkley Kicker Frogs and chartreuse/white spinner- Bridge; and fair near State Park. White bass are Sheepshead, black drum and redfish are fair at the Roadrunners in the river near deep holes. Crappie retrieve) in the back halves of the creeks, with a few baits along rocky ledges and in backs of coves in 2 - good on shad-imitation baits east of State Park and jetty on cut-mullet. are slow. Blue catfish are fair on juglines baited with fish starting to show up on points in the creek 6 feet early, and later on 1oz. Tungsten Texas rigged Sailboat Cove. Blue catfish are good on cut shad, shad. Yellow catfish are slow. mouths. Spotted bass are fair on jerkbaits along the with black neon YUM Sooies and watermelon char- prepared baits and juglines on upper end of lake dam. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs in deep treuse Fork Creatures in the grass in 10 - 20 feet. near cormorant roost sites. ROCKPORT: Trout are fair to good on shrimp and DOA Shrimp in the channels and at California Hole. LBJ: Water stained to clear; 58 degrees; 0.10' low. water. White bass are good on yellow or white slabs White bass are fair on live minnows and vertically and tail-kickers fished under the birds and around Redfish are good at the Estes Flats on mud minnows Black bass are fair to good on green/pumpkin jigging chartreuse Berkley Blade Dancers around COLORADO CITY: Water clear; 70 degrees. Black the aerator. Catfish are fair on cut bait and punch and shrimp. Sand trout are good around the wells on Scoundrel worms, Texas rigged watermelon/red Snap main lake points in 5 - 10 feet. Crappie are fair on bass are slow. Crappie are slow. White bass are slow. bait. Back creature baits, and 4” JDC Strike Grubs in lay- live minnows and white Roadrunners tipped with live Redfish are slow. Catfish are slow. dead shrimp. downs and brushpiles on break lines in 4 - 10 feet. minnows over brushpiles and standing timber in 6 - Striped bass are fair on pearl Spoiler Shads and free JOE POOL: Water stained; 48-53 degrees; 3.43' low. 15 feet. Channel and blue catfish to 6 pounds are FT. PHANTOM HILL: Water clear; 58 degrees; 4.5' PORT ARANSAS: Trout are fair at the north jetty on lining live bait in the shoals below Inks Dam. White Black bass are fair on crankbaits and spinnerbaits in fair on Lewis King punchbait and Black Salty bait- low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on min- live shrimp. Redfish are fair at the Lighthouse and bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows over 6-14 feet. Crappie are fair to good on minnows and fish in 10 - 20 feet. Yellow catfish to 20 pounds are nows and jigs. White bass are fair. Catfish are fair on in the channel on shrimp. Sheepshead are fair off brushpiles along docks. Channel catfish are slow. jigs around brush piles. White bass are fair on slabs. fair on trotlines and juglines baited with hybrid live bait. the piers on dead shrimp. Yellow and blue catfish are slow. Catfish are fair to good on shad and prepared baits bluegills. around points and humps in 8-16 feet. HUBBARD CREEK: Water lightly stained; 60 CORPUS CHRISTI: Redfish and black drum are fair NAVARRO MILLS: Water fairly clear; 3.61' low. COLETO CREEK: Water clear; 69 degrees (79 degrees; 9.55' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are to good on the drop-offs of the reefs in Nueces Bay Black bass are fair on blue/white and red/white Rat- LAKE O' THE PINES: Water stained; 58-62 degrees; degrees at hot water discharge); 2.42' low. Black fair on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrid on dead shrimp. Flounder are fair to good around L-Traps, crankbaits, and soft plastics. White bass are 3.96' low. Black bass are fair on Texas rigged worms bass to 5 pounds are fair on spinnerbaits and soft striper are fair on live bait. Catfish are fair. the causeway on shrimp. slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel and and brown/chartreuse jigs. Crappie are fair on min- plastics over weed beds in 8 feet. Striped bass are blue catfish are good on minnows, stinkbait, and nows around heavy brush. White bass are slow on slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel nightcrawlers. Yellow catfish are slow. slabs and jigging spoons. Channel catfish are good and blue catfish to 3 pounds are fair on juglines NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 56 degrees. BAFFIN BAY: Trout and redfish are fair to good on baited with perch. Yellow catfish to 4 pounds are on cut bait. Yellow catfish are fair on live perch and Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on live bait. the King Ranch shoreline on live shrimp, Trout Black Salty baitfish. fair on trotlines and juglines baited with perch and Redfish are fair. White bass and striped bass are fair PROCTOR: Water clear; 63 degrees; 4.64' low. Killers, Bass Assassins and Sand Eels. Trout and liver. on minnows. Catfish are fair on minnows. Black bass are fair on white spinnerbaits. Striped redfish are fair to good on live bait in the Humble FALCON: Water fairly clear; 64 degrees. Black bass bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are good LAVON: Water stained; 49-53 degrees; 9.33' low. Channel. are very good on watermelon spinnerbaits in 3 feet. on minnows and tube jigs. Channel and blue catfish Black bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 54 degrees; Striped bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Channel and are fair on cutbait, shrimp, and shad. Yellow catfish Crappie are fair to good on minnows and jigs. White 18.65' low. Black bass are slow. Crappie are fair on blue catfish are excellent on cutbait and frozen PORT MANSFIELD: Trout are fair to good in West are fair on cutbait and shad. bass are fair on white/chartreuse slabs fished verti- minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow. No boat ramps shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow. Mexican fishing Bay on DOA Shrimp under a popping cork. Flounder cally on main lake points in 16 -20 feet. Catfish are open. 4x4 vehicles can unload on the dirt road near licenses and boat permits are required to fish in are fair to good around the Land Cut on plastics fair to good drifting fresh shad off points. the dam. SOMERVILLE: Water fairly clear; 3.28' low. Black Mexican waters. Everyone in the boat must have a tipped with shrimp. Sand trout and whiting are good bass are slow. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass are Mexico Fishing License whether fishing or not. in harbor on dead shrimp. fair on live bait. Crappie are very good on LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 49-54 degrees; 6.85' MEDINA: Water stained; 61 degrees; 9.29' low. OH. IVIE: Water lightly stained; 58 degrees; 16.5' brown/burnt orange and black/chartreuse jigs. low. Black bass are fair on crankbaits and Carolina low. Black bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair Black bass to 4 pounds are fair on white/silver spin- SOUTH PADRE: Trout are fair to good on soft plas- Channel and blue catfish are slow. Yellow catfish are rigged watermelon candy worms. Crappie are fair to nerbaits and shad jerk baits in backs of creeks and on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on live tics in the deep holes. Trout and redfish are fair to slow. good on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair to along ledges in 2 - 8 feet early, and later on water- bait. Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Channel good on the ledges of the Intracoastal on shrimp and good on slabs and minnows. Catfish are good drift- melon/gold flake Baby Ring-Fries and watermelon catfish are slow. ing fresh shad around humps and points in 20-34 DOA Shrimp. STILLHOUSE: Water clear; 61 degrees; 0.68' low. red Lake Fork Flippers along main lake points in 10 feet. Black bass are good on minnows and soft plastics. - 20 feet. POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 47 degrees; 3.5' White bass are slow. Smallmouth bass are slow. Striped bass are slow. White bass are fair on live low. Black bass are fair in Rock Creek area. White PORT ISABEL: Trout are fair to good in South Bay Crappie are slow. Channel and blue catfish to 10.5 MARTIN CREEK: Water clear; 58 degrees mid lake - minnows and vertically jigging chartreuse/glow bass are good in Bluff Creek and Neely's Slough. on live shrimp. Redfish and black drum are fair to pounds are excellent on hot dogs. Yellow catfish are 82 degrees hot water discharge; 5.38' low. Black Berkley Blade Dancers around main lake points in 6 Striped bass are fair near piers in Willow Beach good on humps and drops in the Intracoastal on slow. bass are fair on Carolina rigged watermelon seed - 12 feet. area. Blue and channel catfish are fair in the upper shrimp. Largest International SPORTING EXPO in the South!

Dallas Safari Club conveNtionconveNtion && sportingsporting expoexpo January 27-29, 2006 • Dallas Market Hall MOREMORE THANTHAN 700700 EXHIBITS!EXHIBITS!

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