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THE CITY OF
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INDEPENDENCE DAY
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Saturday June 30, 2018 6-10 PM 3700 N. RAIDERS DRIVE, PHARR, TX @cityofpharr
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L&L Adventures
Preparing and planning trips to produce the The Texas Sportsman Show takes time and patience. I had talked to the owner LRay Calhoun back in February about coming up to his ranch located about 8 miles from Wimberley, Texas. The ranch has hills and creeks and huge live oak trees, cedar trees and a rocky terrain. So we set the date for June 1st-3rd. Joining me on this hunt was my wife Cindy who just really enjoys all my adventures and she was really excited about this one. Another guest coming along was Vicki Lynn Chrysler , Vicki is also the my Co Host and partner in the new show Texas Outdoor Lifestyles. After arriving late Friday night we went to bed to prepare for the excitement of the hunt tomorrow. I was going to be hunting for a Black Buck and Cindy was after a Ram or a Catalina Goat and Vicki another Ram. The morning came quick and we had Cindy take a couple of shots and she was ready. We started our adventure at the L and L Adventure Ranch. As we are driving around we saw so many different animals, L and L has a variety of different game. Cindy was so excited and telling me I just love it out here. This was a special trip because number one she was hunting and number 2 we are taping a show. I’m looking for my Blackbuck and she is looking for her Ram. We came across a couple but no chance after a couple of stalks and driving around looking we finally came upon a opportunity for Cindy. She got ready and shot standing up using a shooting stick tripod and made the perfect shot. High fives went up flying everywhere. Wow, she harvested a beautiful Catalina Goat white in color. Congratulations Honey!! Next up was Vicki, we took her to the shooting range and she was ready to go. The hunt took off and it was a hot day but she was determined. After driving around and scouting we finally came upon the opportunity. She got ready fired but missed. For a little bit she was a disappointed but quickly got her attitude in the right direction. Lray and Vicki began a stalk and Volume 5, Issue 4. June 2018. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is a production Sportsman Media LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy
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By Fred Rodriguez walked a couple of miles and finally came upon them again. This time she got ready from a standing position with the tripod shooting stick she fired away at nice looking Corsican Ram and scored success. Big Congratulations went up again. Ok, well guess who is next, my turn we had about a hour of daylight and we were now looking for the Blackbuck! The chances were slim as we were losing the sunlight. The opportunity came but the shot was about 400 yards I did not want to chance it so I passed it up. The hunting trip was coming together just great. The next morning I woke up early and I was ready and determined for my adventure at L and l Adventures. It was cooler in the early morning as we ventured out, lots of game everywhere and was so excited after driving around and a couple of stalks I was ready. Stop!! I yelled out to Lray, I spotted 4 Blackbucks, I was looking for the largest one, I was sitting on top of the shooting bench that sits on top of the hunting truck. The biggest buck was behind a tree and we waited for the shot, after about 5 minutes it finally came out and I had the opportunity to take shot, I took it and it jumped high in the air and I thought I had hit it but I was wrong, I missed we went to go look for it and there was no blood at all. I think i just scared it. Well, we went looking for a sign of it but no luck. I was feeling kind of down. Then Lray came back to thetruck and said “I think you missed him, I saw him back in the woods so let’s keep hunting”. At that very instant I was ready to go and try again. We started out again drove around for 5 minutes and then BAM, opportunity came out we saw the Blackbuck and we cut it off and got ready for the shot. Lray stops the truck and says “Now” shoot now and I did and this time my trophy fell right there on the spot! At last I shot my first blackbuck, Big thank Thank you to Lray Calhoun, Owner of L and L Adventures . BOOK YOUR HUNT !! 512 940 5111 ... Ask for the Texas Sportsman Special !!!
ON THE COVER Captain Murphy Owner of Isla Tours and Fishing Trips at Capt. Murphy’s in South Padre Island
STAFF Fred Rodriguez The Texas Sportsman fredrsportsman@yahoo. com (956)776-4623 Jose J. Martinez Sales jmtzx54@gmail.com (956)638-0036 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Fred Rodriguez Brian S pencer Capt. James Stewart Steve Hathcock Manuel Perez Nick Lapre Martha Reyna Brent Johnson Albino Mendoza
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in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third - party claims. Advertisements appearing in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors present only the viewpoint of the advertisers
Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors. To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors call (956)776-4623 or email fredrsportsman@yahoo.com
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Flounder Tips and Tactics By Brian Joseph Spencer
Hopefully everyone is having a wonderful beginning to your summer although it is already getting super hot outside. During these next few months the most important thing to pay attention to is staying hydrated. When I am fishing and outside enjoying the day the last thing I think about is keeping enough liquids in my system until I start to get a heat headache. Some of the symptoms of overheating will be that you stop sweating, dizziness, dry mouth and nausea. All of which can be fixed by drinking enough water during your outing. These are just some important lessons I have learned while on the water and do not want you to find out the hard way. Let us talk about how the flounder gigging and fishing has been. The fish have started being forced in to deep drains and small water outlets from a main water system with the way the tides have been so low the last week or two. They have been laying right on the edges of those pockets and deep drops, very close to oyster beds and grass lines. Size wise they are around 2-3 pounds minus the thousands of three inchers I have been seeing. Water temperatures are about 85 degrees and the flounder have been liking little changes in that temperature range. Instead of being able to make three stops and find our limits I have been hopping from area to area and getting 3 or 4 each stop and adding them up as we continue throughout the night. It may take a few extra hours but a paycheck is a paycheck. For some reason this May and June have been very different from the same times last year, the flounder have been way more scattered. One more thing this last week that has been putting a damper on our gigging is the full moon. Unless you are able to get out before it gets too bright then you will probably have some trouble finding them without losing a few due to their diligence with the bright night skies. Fishing for them rod and reel is almost always the same. If you are able to find the places where the bait is congregating on those shallow flats then you will find the fish. Lure wise I would suggest a Chickenboy bubba clucker in Perfecto Pink Pollo rigged on a Texas Rattler jig and depending on the current you can change the weight sizes. Free lining a live finger mullet or a Carolina rigged shrimp has been doing wonders. Just make sure to work the bait slowly and fan 12- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
cast to all the areas around you because I am sure there is a flounder laying and waiting for an easy meal. When you feel the thump just give them a few seconds and set the hook. If you have any questions send me an email or a message. Check out my You Tube @ Flounder Professor Outdoors Tv to see some helpful videos. Talk to yall soon, tight lines and sharp gigs. Brian Joseph Spencer Flounder Professor Outdoors @ You Tube Flounder Professor Outdoors @ Facebook Flounder Professor @ IG & Twitter Sponsors: Frio Coolers, Legend Popping Corks, Nacho Daddys Spoons, ForEverlast, Chupacabra Rub, Chickenboy Lures, Texas Rattler Jigs, Redtail Republic, Stinkypants, Pure Fishing, Outcast Rods, Fin Addict Angler, Salt Thugz Apparelo, Kelley Wigglers, DeFishing Soap,Unfair Lures, Poer Pole
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Southern Exposure By Nick Lapre
Fishing in Southeast Louisiana has begun to pick up to normal status. The Mississippi river stage has begun to fall and the beaches are on fire! The east bank side of the river known as Black Bay has had some trout show up in the last few weeks. Now that the river stage has fallen it isn’t being flooded with fresh water keeping them out. On the west side the water is salty and full of shrimp and minnows for bait. With the southern east winds pushing saltier water in to help with the fresh water diversion. As the summer days lengthen the water temperatures begin to rise so the guys at Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters have started going early to beat the heat. Big schools of redfish have shown up on some points on the east side while the trout seem to have been pretty much on the west side at the beaches and Empire Jettys. Mother nature has really affected the fishing this spring. Late cold fronts and a unusual high river was putting a major dampening on the fishing. But all that has now changed. We have seemed to skip the spring season and went straight to summer patterns. But don’t let that keep you from coming to fish with us at Southern Exposure Inland fishing charters in Buras, Louisiana. We are catching fish and want to get you on them! It’s been a crazy early part of the year but now we feel it’s time to get after it. Some really nice trout have come off of the west side using live bait along with plastics. Redfish have been plentiful with limits coming in from all over. If your looking to come see the Delta and the best fishing destination in the world give us a call @ 504-250-9887 or look us up on line Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters and let us get you exposed you to the Delta!
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Since 1961 Captain Murphy’s Isla Tours has been providing memorable South Padre Island activities such as dolphin watch, sunset cruise and fishing trips. There fleet of Coast Guard inspected vessels are ready to take you on a fun-filled adventure. Captain Murphy’s offers three bay fishing trips daily aboard the 49 foot Hard Bottom Too. Experience a full or half day of deep sea fishing with Captain Murphy’s Fishing Charters. You can also get up close and personal with your favorite sea creatures with Isla Tours’ Eco Tour. They have trips that depart daily. Captain Murphy’s also provides a Fireworks cruise on the bay side of South Padre Island.
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Red snapper fishing begins June 1st and it’s the best time to go because of the beautiful weather and calm seas. They go anywhere from 15 miles to 44 miles off shore. They provide all the tackle and the bait just bring your own food and drinks. Make sure you call them in advance because they only have a limited amount of spots and they go fast! If you want you can get your very own private trips.
There may be a lot of fish in the sea, but there is only ONE Captain Murphy’s. Although they are known far and wide for fishing, Captain Murphy’s is most famous for having FUN! Whether you are watching dolphins, catching monster red snappers or enjoying a beautiful sunset, there helpful and knowledgeable crew will ensure you leave there boats with a smile. Call to reserve a trip with any of there activities on South Padre Island. Isla tours 956-761-4752 Fishing trips 956-761-2764 www.islatours.com Find us on facebook!
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Sailfish On My summer bucket list of billfish certainly started a bit early this year. As an avid angler and reader, I prepared by watching fish ing videos and reading articles about the billfish that have been caught and safely released in our Gulf of Mexico thus, becoming more knowledgeable. Preparation is key, however you cannot possibly plan ahead of time due to our unpredictable weather in which the forecast can change from one day to the next. And this is why, I received an invite a day ahead that we would be going offshore fishing, targeting billfish. Of course I was excited! Even if I have fished my whole life, it is always a fresh genuine feeling.
By Martha Reyna sunrise. It was the perfect place to be as the sun rose over the ocean, filling the sky with radiant colors. About two hours into the deep blue sea, the crew prepared the rods and teasers and we started trolling. Here the waiting game began. As I sat patiently, I turned left then right, observing the five lines that were trolling and working in harmony, guessing in my head which rod would go off first. Shortly after, a reel went off screaming and smoking. I shouted in excitement, “Fish ON!” The crew immediately worked on reeling other lines in to keep from tangling. I had the privilege to jump on the best seat in the boat, the fighting chair! We did not know immediately what was at the other end of the line, but we did know it was strong and fast. The experienced crew on board guided me and encouraged me with excitement to, “Let the fish run while it is taking line. Reel! You are doing a great job! BREATHE!” Approximately 250 yards we see a fish launch out of the surface identifying itself as a Sailfish! I reeled in disbelief. At the other end of the line was the fastest fish in the ocean! What I had read and learned about these fish previously, had all been forgotten at the moment. I was overcome by a singing reel and experiencing raw power of this fish fighting for freedom. After about thirty minutes of being buckled into the fighting chair, the fish was successfully pulled out of the water. The sailfish would be unhooked and released into the water as quickly as possible. As Bryan and Will worked on this, it was time for a quick photo. I squeezed in as they helped hold the fish, to take a quick photo.
Our crew, which live in different parts of the Rio Grande Valley, agreed to meet at the Sea Ranch Marina at approximately 5:30 a.m. All on board, and we set a sea on Crazy Fish headed east in the Gulf of Mexico. Our direction was taking us straight into the 28- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
Even though I was exhausted and fell asleep on our way back home, it was an epic journey and the closest adventure to my favorite book ‘Old Man in the Sea’ experience. Thank you to our Captain Austin Payne and to Bryan and Will for making this possible. I could not
have done this without everyones help as everyone had a part in this successful catch. The tradition continued on the Crazy Fish. When you catch your first sailfish, you are to walk to the bow and jump in the water, and so I jumped! “It is better to be lucky. But I would rather be exact. Then when lucky comes you are ready.” Ernest Hemingway
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96 Hours By Brent Johnson
I received a call Tuesday afternoon from my old born in the backwoods buddy Colin Copeland saying he was entertaining clients down in Corpus Christi with a fishing charter captained by David Rowsey. For those who don’t know, Captain Rowsey is recognized as one of the best big trout guides on the Texas coast. He has won, or placed in over 25 major tournaments including Baffin Bash, Poco Bueno, SCB Cup and Trout Masters to name a few. When Colin told me that a couple of his millionaire clients had pulled out last minute and if I wanted to take their spot, I started feeling a fever coming on. Now let me just say I am a guy who takes pride in the fact that, like Too Tall Jones from the Dallas Cowboys, I never call in sick. So I had to ask myself “what would Too Tall do?” I can’t say for sure, but I think if he knew Captain Rowsey was driving the boat he would have called Randy White and said I got the Miller Light! Now asking off with such short notice was not popular with the boss, so I decided I’d put out some fires on Wednesday and once that was done I would call in sick on Thursday. Tuesday night I barbecued some oysters for the wife and then spent the rest of the night putting my gear together. With a little motivation from so 80’s rock I completely prepared my truck for the trip. I was sure to recline the shotgun seat so as to keep my rods low and out of sight from my boss, or any loose lipped coworker that might walk by. I packed the Yetti behind that seat, and a full cargo box behind the driver seat. On top of the cargo box was a backpack and some hanging shirts folded not hung. Like the car in Pulp Fiction, I was feeling my effort as Wolf approved. After work I drove 3 hours till I got to Bluff’s Landing. Once there I cracked a cold one and a best 3 outta 5 pool game commenced. I started slow as I hadn’t picked up a stick in some time. After a few beers I could feel the mojo coming back. Down 2-1 I called a bank shot 8 ball corner pocket and took it to a 5th. With a little Brooklyn here and a little English there I cleaned the table on my last turn and declared my team champions! After the game everyone goes to bed and I stay up getting my stuff ready for the next morning. While rigging up I start to think about how I’m going to call in sick tomorrow. Would I call, or would I text is the question weighing on my mind. Finally I lay my head down on a stiff pillow and fall asleep to the noise of a window unit ac humming away in the dark room. Then next morning I wake up and make the call leaving a voice mail that I will not be in. When I look down at the phone to hang up I begin to panic as the phone I had just called from is not mine, it is the house phone from the condo we are staying in! Now my boss was sure to see the number I called 30- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
from was not mine and I would have some major explaining to do. Just then I heard Colin say “Alright Boys it’s time to get up, hard wood and all!” I opened my eyes and realized it was just a dream. I take this nightmare as a sign not to call, but send a text. At 5:45 I get an immediate response saying “Ok see you tomorrow”, and it is then I turn my phone off for the rest of the day. Black coffee tastes great when you have to speed wake and it takes the mind off of the headache from sleeping on a rock for a pillow. Before I can finish Colin says time to go and with that we all hop in the truck and drive a 100 yards to the marina where Captain Rowsey is there waiting for us. This morning is weird as a unseasonal late spring cold front has pushed through and the winds are gusting 25-30 miles an hour. Two weeks ago I was already wet wading in Arroyo City, but now I am feeling glad I packed my waders because it’s darn cold out here. Rowsey takes us to a spot that provides a little protection from the north wind. He turns off the engine and uses the trolling motor to sneak in a little closer to a 300 yard sand bar. Right away slick start popping up We quietly get in the water and spread out. Rowsey and Colin take the sand bar with Cody and Justin in the middle and me on the far end. Rowsey is the first to hook up reeling in a flounder. Then Colin gets hit on top with a feisty speck. Then Cody gets on board, and then Justin gets slammed by a big trout of about 24” range. Meanwhile I’m over here in No Man’s Land while Justin reels in another fish, this time a good flounder. Maybe I’m not holdin my mouth right? After wading another 100 yards I catch 2 keeper trout. Captain then makes the call to head to the next spot. Again I take the outside swapping my plug for a tail. I notice I am catching a lot of grass so I modify my retrieve with less focus on twitch of the rod and more on the crank of the reel. Since most of the grass is on top of the water I let the bait sink below and then resume a start/stop, start start/ stop retrieve. Only when I feel grass on the hook do I twitch the rod tip to see if I can shake loose. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t the main thing is to not let a little grass discourage you as lots of times you can catch that fish in the first ten yards before the salad stacks up. Another solution when there is lots of grass is to throw a weedless hook. One of the baits Captain Rowsey is throwing on this day is the Saltwater Assasin “Salty Snack.” It is a 5” ball tail shad with a ribbed body that vibrates when it swims through the water. This bait comes with a 4/0 weedless hook and is perfect for the conditions we are experiencing. I toss one of these Assasins and before I know it I am hooked up with a beautiful speck. The trout takes the bait hard and immediately breaches doing a violent head shake. I can tell by looking at the head it is a fish in the
20”+ range. Any time you catch a trout that is 20” or better they become a different specimen than the usual school trout and this fish is no exception as it opens up a bag of tricks trying to escape the hook. Bringing the fish in closer I can see the hook is barely holding a tiny thread of skin. The last thing I want to do is change hook position by doing a figure 8 so I keep circling the fish until I am able to grab it with the boga grip. It is then I can breathe a sigh of relief. Holding the fish up to my rod it looks to be about 2” shy of 25. We snap a photo and then I watch her swim away. The reel I am using today is a Shimano Curado 200 HG 7:2:1 gear ratio. What I like about this reel is the sleek one piece aluminum body construction with the slightly larger power handle grips. The 7:1 gear ratio gives me a slightly faster retrieve than my normal 6:3 which is nice for catching up to a big trout making a run at you. One mistake novices make when they have a big fish on is they stop reeling when they don’t feel anymore tension and they think the fish has gotten off, but that is exactly what a big trout wants you to think as this is all part of her plan to escape the hook. With this reel you can make sure you beat the fish to the finish line. When I bought this reel it was retailing for about $195.00 after tax. Academy recently dropped the price on this to $149.00. Shimano Curados have always been know for high performance and the 200 HG has never let me down. Despite the less than desirable weather conditions
Captain Rowsey put us on some respectable fish and I was really glad to meet him as he was a very friendly and hospitable ambassador for his region of the coast. If you are ever in the upper Laguna/Baffin area and would like to book a trip you can do so by calling him at 361-960-0340, or try emailing him at david.rowsey@ yahoo.com. So the whole time I’m am fishing I am consciously aware of covering up my face with a buff so as not to get any incriminating tan lines for when I go back to work on Friday. Each guy I am fishing with is a manager for United Rentals and they all tell me if I really want to be convincing I should call in sick a second day, but opt not to as I know my customers and employer need me to perform. So I go in Friday morning for an 8:00 staff meeting. Splashing some water on my face in the men’s room I notice that despite my efforts to cover up my face I still have managed to get a very subtle tan. Not a sun burn, but not the look of some guy who supposedly spent the last 48 hours being sick. As the meeting starts the owner of the company announces that we will be closing a major division of our company meaning most of the employees will be getting laid off. The news is devastating even though my position is secure, my morale and motivation to continue working for the company is nonexistent, so it is then I decide to start my own company. Hey when life gives you lemons it’s time to make lemonade. At least I didn’t have to feel guilty for the nice tan I got. See you on the water my friends.
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The Devil’s Elbow By Steve Hathcock
The Loop Current flows through the straits of the Yucatan into the Gulf of Mexico and then splits. The main current loops southeastward flowing through the Florida Keys (where it is called the Florida Current), and then into the Atlantic. Another, lesser current, called a “Loop Current Eddy,” which is a clockwise rotating ring of warm water, bulges out into the northern Gulf of Mexico and drifts west towards Texas or Mexico. As early as 1519, Spanish navigators recognized the value of this flow as an aid to navigation. The combination of prevailing winds and current, determined the course of the Spanish treasure fleets on their entire round-trip voyage to Europe. Ships entering the Gulf through the Yucatan Channel, rode the prevailing wind and current westward to the port at Vera Cruz. These currents changed directions along the Mexican coast, carrying homebound ships north and east into the Straits of Florida and the Bahama Channel. The same current used by ships entering the Gulf from the east, also brings trash from afar. Sea-beans and flotsam, from near the equator, washes up on Padre Island. These shore currents act like a giant vacuum cleaner, scouring the floor of the Gulf, depositing debris, and sometimes shipwrecks along the Texas Coast. The prevailing southeasterly wind produces wave-trains that strike the beach at an angle. Fifty miles to the north of the City of South Padre Island, lies the infamous Devil’s Elbow. Here, shore currents meet a north-flowing current driven by opposing winds; in the ensuing maelstrom, the impeded flow deposits its flotsam upon the shore. This effect is perhaps most noticeable on North Padre’s Big Shell Beach where the confluence of currents and wind have created a natural flea-market for the discerning beachcomber. One can find a constantly changing array of sea-borne driftwoods and a multitude of brightly colored shells. The only way to reach Devil’s Elbow by land is to cross from Corpus Christi to North Padre Island then 34- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
drive south along the beach about 40 miles. You will need a four-wheel drive vehicle and a full tank of gas. This is a desolate area so bring along spare water and a shovel just in case you get stuck in the heavy shell deposits of Little Shell Beach. From there, it is only a short distance further. You will know when you arrive. The beach will be littered with driftwood, oil workers hard hats, bottles, possibly an occasional glass float and trash of every description, much of which has been carried great distances by sea currents. But driftwood and flotsam are not the only treasures to be found. If you continue your drive south, another 10 miles or so, you will come upon the remains of a 600 ton steamer, the Nicaragua, which ran aground during the Hurricane of 1912. Controversy surrounds the details of the ship and the cargo she was carrying on that fateful night. Some even argue she was carrying contraband to the Revolutionaries in Mexico. Farther on, about 5 miles, are the remains of the San Estaban, one of three Spanish galleons wrecked on Padre Island in 1554. The remains of the second ship, the Espiritu Santos, lies two and a half miles further south, while the third ship, the Santa Maria de Yicar, lies directly in the Mansfield Cut itself. It was discovered in 1957 by workers of the Willacy County Navigation District who were dredging the channel. Reportedly, the hoses from the dredge spewed silver coins and treasure along both sides of the manmade channel before anyone realized what was happening. Coins from this wreck are still being found by lucky beachcombers to this day. But, a word of caution; do not metal detect along this area. It is illegal in Texas to hunt known wreck sites and you run a good chance of being fined and having your metal detector confiscated. (Metal detectors are forbidden in the National Seashore, which encompasses all of North Padre Island). Happy Beachcombing!
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Selection Testing
By: Manuel Noel Perez Jr. If you have been following me on previous articles, in Texas Sportsman, my article “Puppy Power” touches on selecting the best puppy for optimum performance in the field. Today’s article is a continuation of the importance of selection testing a dog before purchasing or choosing to get them trained for a job. It is important to understand that there are many factors that should be considered during this process and this article will be a condensed version of my selection testing for field performance. For the purpose of this article, we are going to talk about hunting dogs. I would like to look at this as a multiple step process that includes various “tests”. These tests should be designed to test the dog’s drive and character traits. In a nutshell, we want to expose the dog’s genetic gifts and abilities. Equally important, is to expose the dog’s drive. Here is a list of what I like to test for in selecting a working dog: 1. Hunt drive- I like to use an open area, with tall grass, where you can throw a bumper or frozen bird and seethe dog’s desire for the reward object. I like to see if they give up quickly and come back to me, or hunt hard to seek out the object by using their nose to scent. Independence from the handler- I also take this opportunity to test the dog’s ability to hunt away from the handler, without any direction from the handler. This can always be controlled later, but is very difficult to build up through training. 2. Scenting ability- My test involves using scent and wind direction. I use scented objects and evaluate the dog’s ability to seek out what they cannot see by using their nose to either track, or air scent the scented object. I throw the objects both upwind and downwind and watch to see if the dog is a visual hunter, or relies on its nose and scenting ability to locate the scented object. 3. Retrieve- This is an obvious one. I throw an object that interests the dog and evaluate its ability to locate it and return it to me, or at least in my general area. This tells me if I am going to need to force fetch the dog, or just enhance its retrieve drive by adding obedience for a clean delivery. 4. Grab- This is an underrated ability that many dogs 36- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
do not possess. I like to see a dog that confidently holds an item in his mouth and is willing to give it up in exchange for a reward. This helps avoid the high stress of force fetch and allows force fetch to be performed with minimal correction. 5. Confidence- A confident dog will hold itself very proud and express confidence by its mere appearance. I like to see a dog with a high tail or at least a wagging tail. The more excitement, the better, all that energy can be used later for a trained behavior. 6. Exposure to loud sounds- There is a right and wrong way to introduce gunfire. I use the dog’s drives while introducing gunfire and have had great success. Dummy launchers are my choice tool for this exercise, as it introduces gunfire as well as a retrieve (drive) simultaneously. 7. Desire to please- A great companion, typically is a great hunting dog. A dog with a strong desire to please is a great advantage. These are the dogs that seem to understand the human language. As soon as a dog with this ability understands your command and what you are asking of him, his eagerness to please takes over. 8. Desire for food- Some tests use food to see what the dog’s response to food will be while working. It is basically distraction training to test the dog’s desire for work vs. food. I, on the other hand, also see this as an opportunity to use food as a reward to attain any training goals. This adds to my repertoire when keeping the dog guessing what their reward for proper behavior is going to be. I can conflict food reward, praise reward, play reward and various other forms of reward for the task performed. 9. Desire for human contact- A dog that loves people always comes back. This makes teaching recall and retrieve to hand very easy. Basically, most of the work is taken out of the equation when the dog’s desire for emotional contact with humans takes over. This means the dog always comes back to the human handler looking for praise and approval. These dogs don’t need much more than a thank you and a tap on the head in approval by the handler to keep them working. There are many variations of these types of tests, and I give them all equal importance. I would like to add that I personally do this every time I am given the opportunity to select a dog. This gives me the advantage at the chance of success and sometimes success with minimal effort while training. I write this article in hopes that it helps you, the reader, when choosing your next companion for success in the field.
Manuel Noel Perez Jr. “Manny� has been an outdoor enthusiast for most of his life. He began training his own hunting dogs at the early age of nine. He has been guiding deer and quail hunts for over twenty years and has a wealth of dog knowledge in the field. When not on a hunt of his own, Manny would rather be found working behind a blood trailing dog, a water dog, or a well-trained pointer. -CEO of Coastal Concepts,
LLC Follow me on Facebook at Coastal Concepts, LLC and on Instagram @coastalconceptsllc
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28TH ANNUAL TEXAS HUNTERS & SPORTSMAN’S EXPO The Original, The Only, The Best... We are the original, the only, the best Hunting & Fishing Show in McAllen, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley. A proven show for over 28 years with proven results…. Bar None! The 28th Annual Texas Hunters/Sportsman’s Expo is coming back to the NEW McAllen Convention Center (CORNER OF EXPRESSWAY 83 AND WARE RD.), July 20, 21, 22 2018. Hunting and Fishing is a family tradition in the RGV and so is attending our expo. Start getting ready for the season. According to show director(s), Chris & Justin Curl, “We have had solid crowds over the past 26 years, and the show’s attendance continues to grow each year. It Really Gets Better each year!!! This 3 day weekend event is expected to draw several thousand hunting & fishing enthusiasts and visitors from both sides of the Texas/Mexico border.” The Texas Hunters/Sportsman’s Expo is recognized as the Highest Quality Hunting/ Fishing Trade Show in South Texas, designed for the WHOLE family. “This is a show the entire family can enjoy,” The Curl Brothers said. “There is something here for everyone. Wildlife Art, Hand-crafted Rustic Furniture, Bar-B-Q Pits, Smoked Meats,Gourmet Foods and Exotic and Silver Jewelry, are just a few of the exhibits and attractions. Another crowd pleasing favorite is the free samples of the latest homemade jellies, jams, beef jerky and wild game jerky, roasted almonds and much more! We will have several ladies exhibits too! WE KEEP THE LADIES SHOPPING, SO THE MEN CAN SHOP TOO! 38- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
Frank Addington Jr.
Also by popular demand come see… Frank Addington Jr. , A.K.A. “the aspirin buster!” Frank will perform all 3 days at the expo. Frank is an instinctive archer that has been shooting a bow and arrow since the age of 4 and on stage at the age of 18 where he has been performing shows the media has dubbed “an amazing array of bow and arrow razzle dazzle.” Come see Frank shoot a baby aspirin out of the sky! As mentioned earlier, “There is something here for the entire family. Our goal is to preserve our hunting and fishing heritage and ensure that the sport of hunting & fishing has a future in Texas for our children, grandchildren, and their future generations to enjoy. Children under 12 , get free admission to the Expo (Compliments of L&F Distributing & ACADEMY SPORTS) , so bring all the kids out for a good time. It’s all happening at the McAllen Convention Center: July 20, 21, 22 2018 . For more info visit : www.texashunterassociation.com Don’t miss the big expo RGV! It’s all under one roof, over 250 exhibits. A special thank you RGV and Mcallen, Texas for 28 years of support from the Curl Family ..... see you all at the Real Expo.
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Use Your Sea Anchor By: Captain James Stewart
Engine breakdowns at sea in small boats are a major cause of foundering and another good reason to have a sea anchor on board. In a pinch, throw out your regular anchor. If you’re one of those people who doesn’t perform preventative maintenance, you’re heading for trouble. When was the last time you checked over all the hoses, clamps and fuel lines? And, of course, you’re going to check over that bilge pump wiring and float switches frequently and make sure everything is in operating condition before each and every time you head out. Don’t fool around with old batteries, replace at the first sign of weakness. Many people make the mistake of replacing paired batteries one at a time. You already know that you can’t do that with dry cells because an old battery will drag down a new one. Whether you like it or not, batteries have to be replaced in pairs. Besides, you’re not saving anything by doing it one at a time; it’s actually costing you more because you’re damaging the new battery. Check systems over carefully. Little things like loose wires and corroded wire connections can lead to major problems. Keep in mind that a boat rocking and rolling at sea is what tends to cause things to break down. The violent motion puts a strain on everything. Treat the systems like your life depends upon them; whether you realize it or not, it does. As for lifesaving devices, these should be kept immediately available. When a boat starts to go down suddenly, there’s no time to go rooting around in the cabin trying to get them out from under the seats where they’re stuffed away. I’m not saying that you have to wear them, just keep them out where you can grab them quickly whenever you’re offshore. People are drowning out there not because they don’t have them, but because they can’t get to them 42- TEXAS SPORTSMAN - JUNE 2018
in time. And when you are trailering your boat to you favorite spot, put your engine on the boat in gear. This will keep your prop from turning the whole trip. This can put wear and tear on the bearings and other thing in the lower case. As always, be safe and see you on the water.
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2680 acres of unique South Texas rolling oak country and mesquite flats. Ranch location 15 Miles South of Falfurrias, Texas 50 Miles North of McAllen on Highway 281 For Information contact: Paul E. Johnson Cell: 956-207-9154 Email: pjmcallen@aol.com www.losencinosranch.com Los Encinos Ranch
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