Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors by Digital Publisher

MR. VICTOR

Passion For Business & The Outdoors

INSIDE: CHOOSING A DOG BEWARE DEER! FISH & CHIP CLASSIC

2 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 3

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AGUILAR’S WILD GAME PROCESSING

Processing the Valley’ s Wild Game Since 1984 Buck, Does & Spikes,Hog,Nilgai,Exotic Fresh Sausages Smoked Sausages Breakfast Sausages Dry Sausage

Old Fashioned Jerky Hamburger Patties Snack Sticks Food Bank 1306 E. University Drive Edinburg, TX

(956)383-0092 After hours (956)821-5696 Til 9:45pm Oct 15-Feb 15 4 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 5

Mr.

Victor:

The Bear, An Epiphany And Conservation

he bear looked up the tree and saw Victor Daniec, perched high above on Black Bear Island in Saskatchewan, Canada. The bear, not a large one, then glanced at the bait sitting at his feet. He repeated this scenario more than one time – bait, person, bait person - before deciding that the fresh meat above was of greater interest. Then the bear started climbing the tree, his destination – Victor. “I started thinking to myself what the (heck) am I doing up here,” said Victor, owner of Mr. Victor's Auto and Trailer sales located in Edinburg and Harlingen. Victor watched as the animal dug his claws into the tree and closed in. He could hear the loud chomping noises made by the animal. There wasn't much he could do. He wasn't carrying a gun and he couldn't shoot his bow through the mesh to get at the bear. “He's literally right underneath me with his mouth wide open and showing off those teeth,” Victor said. “I got an arrow and just tried to make myself big and started screaming things like 'get out of here bear!' 'go away bear' Then I just

started poking him with the arrow – poking and poking and poking. He couldn't care less.” But then the bear stopped; just as he started climbing the tree he began descending. At the bottom, he stopped. He sat there and waited – maybe hoping dinner would come to him instead of him having to go get it. Then as suddenly as he appeared, he disappeared. “That's because a bigger bear came – and a bigger bear will eat a baby bear. When the story ﬁnished, Victor ended up downing the Cinnamon Black Bear, weighing in at 485 pounds. And it now stands tall, fully mounted, in his ofﬁce. The photo of him with bear kill is also

INSIDE

found on the cover of the tourist brochure for Black Bear Island. Victor Daniec is a passionate person when it comes to both the outdoors and the business world (and his precious 2 ½ year daughter Kaylani – an outdoors woman in the making. It was during a trip to the Amazon with his dad that the picture of life and what it meant hit him. Victor was about 10 years old when they took the fishing trip to the Amazon, in search of peacock bass. They spent 12 days in a houseboat going up and down the river. During the day, the boat would dock and a guide would take the group into one of the Amazon's tributaries. During the night, the houseboat would make its trek to the next stop. “I owe a lot to my father and the experiences we did together,” said Victor, whose dad died in 2010. “I had an epiphany on that trip, I was taking a shower on the back of the houseboat while it was moving along the Amazon. I was about a foot away from the edge of the boat as it was moving. I looked up at the stars – there were no city lights for hundreds of miles – and the stars looked so bright.” “I remember thinking to myself how precious life was and how fragile life can be. Here it was 11 p.m. and everyone is asleep and I'm taking a shower from water coming out of the Amazon. If I fall into the water I'd be done. It really gave me an appreciation for nature and for life. I still remember that realization. Yeah, it's all fun and game but you have to take hunting and fishing serious.” Daniec enjoys life and “pushing the envelope.” He pushes himself at work and at play. His most recent venture at work is manufacturing shades, also known as canopy structures. Many auto dealers, playgrounds, running trails and other businesses use shades to block out the scorching South Texas sun. Daniec specializes, however, in trailers – and he carries just about anything one could need, from hunting trailers, a line of dog kennel trailers (even a six stall dog kennel trailer), horse trailers, ATV trailers...and the list continues. When he gets involved with something, he submerges himself into making sure all angles are covered. He's like that as an outdoorsman too. “I believe wholeheartedly that the sportsmen – the hunters and anglers – are leaders in habitat preservation,” he said. “Who is better to protect and understand than somebody who is active in the environment, counting animals and preserving land,” he said. “Somebody behind a desk and pulpit in Washington? “Take history as an example. Snapper fisheries were over harvested for decades and Texas Parks and Wildlife and some biologists stepped in and put limits on them and they made a difference – and they are all people who hunt and fish.” Victor also likes a challenge, the thrill of long-range shots not being what it used to be. He's gone from shooting really big guns when he started to smaller caliber weapons and hitting his targets from longer distances. Now he's strictly a bow hunter. His next bucket list item – a hunting trip to Africa. “But I don't want to shoot a lion or an elephant or a giraffe,” he said. “I want to shoot game with a bow, sitting by a water hole – maybe a wart hog or a gazelle – those plains animals. I have no interest in hunting some big animal. I find no pleasure in doing that.” And now that he's strictly shooting with a bow, the game has changed. “Now if the animal is not within 30 yards from me, it's very safe,” he said. Unless, of course, you're a bear up under his netting while he's in a tree stand trying to figure out why he doesn't have a gun.”

18 Victor Daniec, owner of Mr. Victor’s in Edinburg and Harlingen, had an epiphany as a young boy - life is fragile. Take care of yours and enjoy it. Ever since he has made it a priority to enjoy life - and he has, through his businesses, his outdoor adventures and his 2 1/2 year old daughter.

WHAT’S INSIDE TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 19

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Remembering good times and making more of them Where did our summer go? Going back this spring and summer we had some awesome fishing trips locally, in Corpus Christi and Buras, Louisiana. Reflecting on these trips, one thing is always in the midst of the preparing and getting there -- the excitement. It was awesome to see how happy my wife and our friends Iris and John Montemayor were when we went fishing in Buras. The anticipation of fishing in Louisiana was way up there and the crew at Southern Exposure was spot on. We are still thanking them. Look them up and plan a trip. Now a regular stop has been with my good buddy Capt. Allen Sifford out of Clem’s Marina out of Flour Bluff, Texas. Fishing with Allen has always been a home run. With his great knowledge of that area we always catch a nice number of fish. Fred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsman and has decades of During one trip, we experience and knowledge regarding hunting and fishing. caught seven over sized You can watch his show, The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in Redfish. The red I caught the Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on Saturdays. was on a hot new Top Water Lure called Unfair Lures. I tied on the top water lure and on my first cast I got a huge blow up. I slowed and then the redfish was on my quantum rod and reel. The fight lasted a good five minutes this fish had plenty ofenergy. After taking photos and doing some high fives we released it for another day. There are always going to be great memories from fishing and hunting trips. Some of my favorite guides down South out of Port Isabel and South Padre Island include Capt. John Ruiz and Walter Bode and my newcomer is Capt. Cowboy Steve Valle. Give these guys a call and they will put you on the fish. In this issue we introduce Gus Escobar, who discusses his knowledge of deer hunting and management. He will become a regular writer with us. There is a lot of knowledge in managing ranches, from using the correct protein to culling out the right bucks and doe. Another writer joining us is Manny Perez. Manny brings a ton of knowledge and in this issue he is going to zero in on puppy training. You all are in for a treat with Manny and the information he is going to share with us. As deer season is upon us make sure you are ready and make sure you sight in your rifles. Check out all of your equipment and be prepared. .Make sure to follow us on Facebook and check out the Texas Sportsman TV Show on Fox in the Rio Grande Valley. Until next issue be safe and God Bless!

Volume 3, Isssue 5. October 2016. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors is a production Sportsman Media LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors or its publisher. Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility

Gus’ Corner FREE! TAKE ONE!

DOES: TO SHOOT OR NOT TO SHOOT? eer Season has officially started with Bow and MLD Ranches already in full swing as of October 1st. If you are just getting your deer lease or just starting your feeders, I have to tell you you're about a month or so late. This years wet Summer has helped keep vegetation thick in some areas of South Texas thus allowing for less fawn mortality and healthier does and bucks for the upcoming 2016-2017 deer season. I'm truly excited for this season as it looks to be a great year for the hunter. Bucks, Does and Fawns are extremely healthy as we witnessed on our game cameras and during our helicopter flyover with our Biologist. One of the number one questions we get asked is "Do I shoot Does and When"? Ideally you want your buck to doe ratio to be as close to 1 to 1 as possible. You might say well I can't afford a flyover with a Helicopter what do I do. Well you must rely on game cameras and sitting out in the field(blinds) to get an idea of what you have on your ranch. It is not an exact science but, you can tell right away just by spending several mornings and

C@M@E> K?< ;I<8D 8CC K?< K@D< Omar Espericueta’s bucket list similar at work and in life

Q SIGHT Q THETROPHY THE SHACKWITH CASTING IN THE GRAVEYARD JAGUAR RETURNS COOKING DURIVAGE ELUSIVE WATUSI YOUR TROUT INSIDE: FISHING IN LOUISIANA WITH SOUTHERN INLAND EXPOSURE

ON THE COVER Omar Espericueta has big dreams making a difference in the lives of others, both at home and work, top that list. (tikitillmanphotos.com)

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

a year. The time of year we start shooting our does is around November 24th. The reason is that this allows fawns to get all the nourishment from the does plus it allows fawns to be old enough to fend for themselves from predators (hogs, bobcats, coyote). We have followed this process for five years and we have seen the benifits in our deer management. If during the "RUT" which is normally around December 14-25 you see very few bucks chasing does and you hear or don't see enough bucks fighting, that's a good sign your ratios are off. You have does that are still dropping fawns in late August therefore, you must allow for your fawns to grow some before you shoot the does. Aim at shooting your older mature does leaving your younger does with better genetics to continue to breed. I hope this helps your deer management on your ranch and until next time if you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line through The Texas Sportsman TV Show or the Magazine.

afternoons what your doe population is compared to your bucks. Some rancher believe that shooting your does is a bad thing well that's not true. By you shooting your does you insure that the quality of the herd is maintained. Inferior genetics are being removed and the higher quality does will remain on the ranch. To give you an idea on the "Margo Ranch" in La Gloria, TX where Texas Sportsman Outﬁtters manages 1500 acres we shoot an average of 18-20 does

Gus Escobar Jr Texas Sportsman Outﬁtters Deer Management and Guide

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mike Cox Gus Escobar Capt. Joey Farah Brent Johnson Capt. Nick Lapre Manny Perez Capt. Alan Stewart PHOTOGRAPHY Albino Mendoza DESIGN Henry Miller

PUPPY POWER: Choosing the right one for success in the field

s the dog days of summer come to an end and the migratory birds start making their way south for the winter, a special group of passionate outdoorsmen and women realize that wing shooting has sprung upon us again. Whether you’re a water fowler, an upland bird hunter or simply a Labor Day wing shooter, nothing makes the hunt like that of a well driven and disciplined gun dog. There are many breeds to choose from that can do the job, but no doubt some excel better than others in different field environments. Making my personal recommendation as to what particular breed excels in a certain style of hunting would simply open a can of worms; everybody has their favorite. Therefore, what I do recommend, is not falling in love with the looks of a breed, but rather the breeding, temperament, activity level and ability for the chosen breed to meet the field demands and expectations of the dog owner. Once a breed has been decided upon, it’s now time to think about a breeder and a trainer. With these thoughts, you must consider your budget and how much you are willing or simply able to spend. Another important consideration should be where you will be raising the pup and whether the proper facilities are available; for example, a home and/or kennel environment that is favorable to safely raise your investment and family companion. I advocate for a breeder who is actively breeding proven hunting dogs, who guarantees their health, and raises their litters around birds and gunfire exposure. Historically speaking, these methods have proven to repeatedly achieve great results. Moreover, you are guaranteed that their passion for the breed and the breed’s ability will be transferred to the actual product that will ultimately become your hunting companion. Since this article is about bird dogs, we must talk about temperament. Socialize, socialize, and socialize! Start by allowing

the pup to spend ample time with its litter mates (as much as nine weeks) and progress to bringing your new companion around children, family members, and other pets as soon as possible, (given that your pup has had proper vaccines to allow him or her to be exposed to this). This exposure will ensure that any unacceptable behavior will be corrected early on, as well as counteract potential social issues. Remember that a young dog will truly test your patience. Also important to note is that along with a hunting dogs ability, comes the inevitable and corresponding hyperactivity or activity level. You must expect a pup with high hunt drive to be hyperactive and as a result, will require daily attention and exercise. The absence of your involvement in a pup’s daily exercise regimen can lead to nuisance barking and other anxiety issues. On the ﬂipside, with high hunt comes maximum performance in

the ﬁeld, and every hunter loves that! Hunt drive is everything, and with great hunt drive the rest follows suit with proper training. The chances of hunting success are now playing in your favor. Now let’s move on to the stage where your pup becomes your ﬁeld companion. As early as seven weeks of age, I start teaching basic obedience commands, “sit”, “stay”, and “here” for example. Basic obedience can be achieved for life, as early as fourteen weeks of age. A dog that can do all this and has been vetted by careful selection stands a great chance to advance to gun dog training. Regardless of age, once your dog is ready to move on to the gun dog phase, you can be reassured that he is mentally and physically ready. At this point, you can take their natural drive and enhance their training to making a great retriever and/or upland hunting dog. Look for my upcoming articles that will address a variety of training techniques and dog issues. I can be reached at (956) 460-2859, to set up a guided hunt, some one on one training, or schedule your dog to be trained either in house or at your location, when scheduling permits. Looking forward to a great season with plentiful rainfall and bountiful bag limits.

Sailboats - which ones are what and which ones do what some up to seven. Most schooners used multiple head sail Only the world of sailboat aficionados know which kind of combinations including-from top down-the flying jib, the boat has what and what they do. You can ask any of these jib and the forestaysail. These were guys and they will tell you about what originally work boats, mainly fishing each do and where you can use them. vessels. Equipped with tall, powerful Here are some of the most popular rigs, they raced back home from the kinds of sail boats that you may enGrand Banks to get top dollar for their counter while on the water. catches. A SLOOP is very possibly the most The schooners are most comfortable popular one. It has one mast amidship in steady trade winds on long ocean with two sails on it. The back one is the passages. Although they do not go to main and the front one is the jib. You winward as well as other rigs, they can sail these without the jib sail or make up for it when the wind is on or even reef the mainsail which means not aft of the beam. putting it up all the way. The CATBOAT or day sailor carries The CUTTER is a single masted sailonly one mast with only a main sail. boat similar to the sloop but has a mast Traditionally, these were small inshore more midship and may have three sails boats. They were used in earlier years combined to the one mast. Master Captain Alan Stewart owns and by coastal fishermen because there A KETCH has a mainsail and a short- operates Stewart Training Center and holds was less rigging to get in the way when er one mizzenmast in the rear which a Master license with the U.S.C.G. Stewart flies a smaller sail. Individual sails are Training Center is located at 39572 Loop Road, handling nets in the water or unloadBayview, Tx., 78566. ing the catch ashore. Have you heard of more manageable in size and more a catamaran? It is based on that Idea. easily handled by a small crew. Both They may be unmasted which means they are made fast by may fly a large jib-like sail between the masts called a mizwiring and not permanently connected to the boat. zen stay sail. These are are popular among cruising sailors I hope this helps some of you who were in the market for a for long distance voyages. sailboat. The SCHOONER is a vessel with at least two masts with

-CEO of Coastal Concepts, LLC Follow me on Facebook at Coastal Concepts, LLC and on Instagram @coastalconceptsllc

MATT PRICE ON BOARD Our friends at Southern Exposure hosted the world-record holder.

To advertise in Texas Sportsman Tracking Outdoors call (956) 776-4623 or email fredrsportsman@yahoo.com

8 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

MEMORIES Always time to make some new ones.

QUESTION Shoot the doe? Or don’t shoot the doe?

PUPPIES! How to choose the right one for your needs.

SAILING AWAY A loot at which sailboat is which and does what.

THE TEXAS SPORTSMAN PRESENTS THE SECOND ANNUAL FISH & CHIP CLASSIC FISHING TOURNAMENT AT WHITE SANDS MARINA, PORT ISABEL

TIDES Nothing better than knowing what times are the best for ﬁshing.

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 more than 20 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.

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.

50 FROM OUR FANS Check out these avid hunters and anglers and send your photos in for the next edition! collisions. The other interesting thing about the news release was the company's calculation that one in 288 Texas drivers will have an insurance claim after hitting a deer. That's a lot of money, considering that Texas has 13.5 million licensed drivers. "An average claim of just hitting the deer is $4,000," the insurance company said in its release. "It can be very severe. Most typically it is just property damage with cars until you either swerve and hit a ditch or swerve and hit another vehicle, and then it becomes bodily injury." The toll can be far worse. In 2015, 24 people died in Texas in vehicle-animal collisions. Most of those collisions were with a deer. If you'd like a little assurance to go with your insurance, when you're in deer country, especially at night, pay extra attention to the sides of the road. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to slow down a little, even if you are trying to get back from the lease in time to see the Cowboy game. Also, when no vehicles are approaching you in the other lane, drive with your bright lights on. But don't waste your money on any of the vehicle devices sold to scare deer off the roadway. So far as I've been able to learn, they just don't work. When I was the spokesman for the Texas Department of Safety, I did a lot of newspaper, radio and TV interviews about deer-vehicle accidents. Here's the message the agency stressed: In most cases, it's better to take the hit than trying to dodge the deer. Swerving too fast leads to overcorrecting, which can send you smashing into a tree, an oncoming vehicle or rolling off the road. Hitting a deer will hurt your vehicle and maybe you, but your odds of surviving or being uninjured are much better. Legal disclaimer: That's what I recollect as being the con-

THE TEXAS SPORTSMAN PRESENTS THE SECOND ANNUAL FISH & CHIP CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT AT TIERRA DEL SOL GOLF COURSE, PHARR

Sometimes the best of plans don’t always go accordingly.

ALWAYS HAVE

“PLAN B” By BRENT JOHNSON Happy New Year! For some people the new year does not occur in January, but rather it started in September. This month marks the beginning of hunting season and the time to renew hunting and fishing licenses. Originally I had intended on ringing in the new year with a cast and blast celebration targeting Tarpon in the morning and Whitewing in the evening, but things don’t always go exactly as planned and plan A becomes plan B. After rigging baits all night I was able to manage a couple hours of sleep before waking up at 5:30 the next morning. It wasn’t easy getting up, but the prospect of catching a “silver king” was all the fuel I needed and soon I was backing the new Shallowsport X3 into the water. As we rounded the ship channel, the waves increased from shallow inshore waves to deep 2-3 foot rollers. This may have been intimidating in smaller bay boats, but not for the X3 as I will elaborate in a moment. So we deployed baits and immediately started trolling a course for a flock of birds working the 3rd sandbar. The rig we are fishing consists of 65# Kast King Braid with a 9 wrap spider hitch. The benefit of tying a spider hitch is that there are two lines for the leader to attach to instead of one, which means more strength in the

line. Also the knot will pass through the guides when landing a fish. The leader consists of 80# fluorocarbon and is tied onto the braid with a worm knot. Again this knot will pass easily through the guides. Typically, we use 15 feet for the leader. IGFA regulations state for lines up to and under 20 pounds the leader is not to exceed 15’, and lines in excess of 20 pounds leader is not to exceed 30’. This is only relevant if you happen to be lucky enough to catch a world record fish and want to be eligible to claim the record without being disqualified. On the end of the leader is a custom made “Coon Pop” lure. We take a 3oz. jig head and cut the hook off at the bend eliminating the barb, but leaving enough shank to hold an 8” swim bait. The jig is then zip tied to a 12ott Mustad inline thin wire circle hook which is attached to the leader with a snell knot. The snell knot helps maintain the inline hook set increasing the piercing power needed against the tarpon’s tough armor. The jig head is the teaser that entices the fish to bite, but falls off the circle hook once the fish shakes its head. This will increase the hookup ratio as a weighted hook can dislodge easier than a weightless hook. By using small zip ties, the plastic is only strong enough to hold up trolling, but weak enough to break away during a fight. A “Goldilocks” drag of not too heavy, but not too light is key. You want the drag to be heavy enough to drive in the hook, but light enough for the fish to be able to run

with it. If the drag is too heavy the fish will snap the line on the first jump. Too light and the fish will spit the hook on the first jump. After bump trolling four hours with no luck we decide to head in for a siesta. As it turns out the word on the dock is the tarpon migration is about a month late this year so should be picking up now. The best bet for now is tarpon fishing at night from sun down to midnight, but for us college football and Gabriella’s take out has become part of the “plan B.” When Sunday morning rolls around we implement a new strategy. For an hour we troll from the jetties to outside the third sandbar again, but nothing happens so we make a run a couple miles offshore to a sunken shrimp boat. With the 36 volt self deploying Minnkota trolling motor, we are able to hold our position over the spot with the anchor mode. This feature uses gps technology and proves to be quite the luxury by eliminating the need to mess with long anchor lines. We

drop some tandem hooks with frozen mullet about 60 feet down until the line stops releasing. A couple cranks to reel in the slack and right away there is already a bite. For the next hour we work on a limit of red snapper, some of which are putting on a decent fight. After filling the box with our limits we say goodbye to the shrimper below and point the bow east 10 miles from shore to the short rigs. We take off the coon pop lures and exchange them for Mirrolure 25s. The short rigs are a series of oil platforms that provide plenty opportunity for trolling. King Mackerel, Mahi Mahi, Sailfish, Grouper, Ling, and Amber Jacks are all possible here. We troll from one rig to the next and on the second rig one of the rods starts bending over and the drag is screaming. I pick up the rod and feel a tremendous fight on the other end of the line. The fish puts on such a fight that my left arm is feeling the burn. The excitement of not knowing

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A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS - LITERALLY Seeing one run in front of your vehicle can be deadly

BY MIKE COX There are three basic ways to bring down a deer in South Texas. One, you pull the trigger and the bullet goes where you intended it to. Two, you let ﬂy with an arrow with the same result. Three, you're driving to or from the lease, or anywhere else for that matter, and a deer doesn't run across the highway fast enough. With the ﬁrst two scenarios, chances are pretty good that you won't be hurt in the process. (Well, you could fall from a tree stand. But there aren't too many tall trees in South Texas if you don't count palms.) In the third instance, you could be badly injured or killed. At minimum, your vehicle is likely to sustain damage ranging from an annoying dent or cracked windshield to getting totaled. OK, so anyone who lives in South Texas knows deer in the roadway pose a danger. But what a lot of people don't know is what you should do if it looks like you're going to hit a deer with your vehicle. It happens fast.

The Texas Sportsman Thanks the Following Sponsors For Their Contributions to the Second Annual Fish & Chip Classic TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 13

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 27

All I remember is suddenly seeing a big, fat doe in front of the rental car I was driving that night and thinking, "Where'd she come from?" The next thing I can recall is shaking my head and wondering, "What just hit me in the face?" If you've never been in a vehicle when the driver's airbag blows, that's what it will feel like. You'll wonder who slapped you, because by the time your conscious brain kicks in, the airbag will have deﬂated and gone away. Once I ﬁgured that out, I pulled off the highway. The front of the mid-size foreign-made car looked pretty well trashed,

34 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

but still drivable. The doe lying still on the right of way, however, wouldn't be going anywhere. What surprised me more than anything about the whole experience was that having dodged and mostly missed Texas deer all my life, I had ﬁnally been seriously nailed on a well-traveled highway between Athens and Columbus, OH. Fortunately, no one in the vehicle got hurt. In fact, my daughter, still in a car seat, mostly slept through the whole thing. With only one headlight, I slowly drove back to Columbus, thankful I had good car insurance. That was only the second time I have ever hit a deer. The ﬁrst was in Llano County and it caused no damage to the state vehicle I had been driving. Earlier this fall, State Farm Insurance put out a news release noting that Texas ranks 38th among states in likelihood that you'll be involved in a collision with a deer. What? Texas has four million whitetail deer, give or take. It's hard to believe that 12 other states had more vehicle-deer

ventional wisdom of state police ofﬁcers who have investigated hundreds of trafﬁc accidents. It's just my personal recommendation based on years of experience. If you get hurt by taking the hit rather than wildly swerving, don't sue me. After your condition has stabilized, call your insurance company, not a lawyer.

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CHANGE IN PLANS

IS THAT YOU?

BEWARE THE DEER!

Brent Johnson explains the value of always having “Plan B.”

Photos from the Texas Sportsman’s second annual Fish & Chip Classic.

A guide on what to do if a deer suddenly sprints in front of you while on the road a scary thing.

6 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

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L E N D E R TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 7

Remembering good times and making more of them Where did our summer go? Going back this spring and summer we had some awesome fishing trips locally, in Corpus Christi and Buras, Louisiana. Reflecting on these trips, one thing is always in the midst of the preparing and getting there -- the excitement. It was awesome to see how happy my wife and our friends Iris and John Montemayor were when we went fishing in Buras. The anticipation of fishing in Louisiana was way up there and the crew at Southern Exposure was spot on. We are still thanking them. Look them up and plan a trip. Now a regular stop has been with my good buddy Capt. Allen Sifford out of Clem’s Marina out of Flour Bluff, Texas. Fishing with Allen has always been a home run. With his great knowledge of that area we always catch a nice numFred Rodriguez is the Texas Sportsman and has decades of ber of fish. experience and knowledge regarding hunting and fishing. During one trip, we You can watch his show, The Texas Sportsman, on FOX in caught seven over sized the Rio Grande Valley at 11:30 a.m on Saturdays. Redfish. The red I caught was on a hot new Top Water Lure called Unfair Lures. I tied on the top water lure and on my first cast I got a huge blow up. I slowed and then the redfish was on my quantum rod and reel. The fight lasted a good five minutes - this fish had plenty ofenergy. After taking photos and doing some high fives we released it for another day. There are always going to be great memories from fishing and hunting trips. Some of my favorite guides down South out of Port Isabel and South Padre Island include Capt. John Ruiz and Walter Bode and my newcomer is Capt. Cowboy Steve Valle. Give these guys a call and they will put you on the fish. In this issue we introduce Gus Escobar, who discusses his knowledge of deer hunting and management. He will become a regular writer with us. There is a lot of knowledge in managing ranches, from using the correct protein to culling out the right bucks and doe. Another writer joining us is Manny Perez. Manny brings a ton of knowledge and in this issue he is going to zero in on puppy training. You all are in for a treat with Manny and the information he is going to share with us. As deer season is upon us make sure you are ready and make sure you sight in your rifles. Check out all of your equipment and be prepared. .Make sure to follow us on Facebook and check out the Texas Sportsman TV Show on Fox in the Rio Grande Valley. Until next issue be safe and God Bless!

8 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

MR. VICTOR

Passion For Business & The Outdoors

INSIDE: CHOOSING A DOG BEWARE DEER! FISH & CHIP CLASSIC

ON THE COVER Victor Daniec loves growing his businesses and he’s just as passionate about hunting and fishing. (Photo by Albino Mendoza)

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mike Cox Gus Escobar Capt. Joey Farah Brent Johnson Capt. Nick Lapre Manny Perez Capt. Alan Stewart PHOTOGRAPHY Albino Mendoza DESIGN Henry Miller

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 9

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 -11

Sometimes the best of plans don’t always go accordingly.

ALWAYS HAVE

12 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 13

what species is hooked is part of the fun. Soon we have color and the fish looks to be fairly big. My buddy yells out King, but as we get it closer to the boat we realize it is a barracuda. The fish comes back to life when we first try to gaff and pulls out more line. We get him back up to the side of the boat and are able to gaff him on the second attempt. The barracuda measures out 48” and weighs about 14 pounds on the boga. We take a few photos and put him back in the water. Looking down at the clock I realize it is time to go as I have somewhere to be, (ok my wife does not like it when I am late). “Crack the whip!” I tell the captain. Luckily he is ready to go as well and we are under way. With a 300 Evinrude

14 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

E-Tech we are flying across three-footers and staying dry. At one point we hit a wave so big we go airborne and I could hear the prop leave the water. This is the fastest we have gone all weekend and we are doing it with confidence. The 25’ catamaran hull design displaces heavy chop giving us a smooth ride in rough conditions. From 6 inches to 60 fathoms, do anything and go anywhere is what this boat is all about. The ride back was part of the fun. Sometimes the best of plans don’t always go accordingly. Whether it is fish not cooperating or a guy named Murphy showing up, it is how we adapt, overcome and improvise that determines our success and failure in all aspects of life. See you on the water my friends.

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 15

Gus’ Corner

16 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 17

Mr.

Victor:

The Bear, An Epiphany And Conservation

18 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 19

NOV. 2016 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES

OCT. 2016 LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES DAY

MOON

COMMENTS

A.M.

BEST

P.M.

1:41

1:59

2:24

2:42

4:35

4:56

5:21

5:43

6:08

6:31

6:56

7:20

7:45

8:10

10 M

8:35

9:01

APOGEE

FIRST QUARTER

3:07

3:26

3:51

4:10

11 T

9:26

9:53

12 W

10:18

10:45

13 T

11:10

11:38

14 F 15

12:03 FULL MOON

12:33

12:58

1:28

1:53

BEST

DAY

MOON

COMMENTS

A.M.

2:33

BEST

P.M.

2:53

3:18

3:39

4:04

4:27

4:52

5:15

5:40

6:04

CLOCK FALLS BACK

6:29

5:54

FIRST QUARTER

6:19

6:44

7:09

7:34

7:59

8:24

10 T 11

14 M

VETERANS DAY

8:49

9:16

9:41

10:10

10:35

11:06

PERIGEE

11:31

FULL MOON

12:04

12:29

15 T

1:04

1:29

16 W

2:05

2:30

17 T

3:07

3:32

17 M

BOSSâ€™S DAY

2:25

2:50

18 T

PERIGEE

3:24

3:49

19 W

4:24

4:49

20 T

5:23

5:48

21 F

6:21

6:46

21 M

7:16

7:41

22 T

7:29

7:54

8:09

8:34

23 W

8:13

8:39

24 T

LAST QUARTER

4:06

4:31

5:02

5:27

24 M

8:59

9:24

25 T

9:46

10:11

26 W

10:31

10:56

27 T

11:14

11:39

28 F

11:57

12:22

12:40

29 T

NEW MOON

1:05

1:24

30 W

APOGEE

1:49

2:08

31 M

20 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

LAST QUARTER

THANKSGIVING

5:54

6:19

6:43

7:08

8:56

9:21

9:39

10:04

10:22

10:47

APOGEE

11:06

11:31

NEW MOON

12:16

12:37

1:02

1:24

28 M

11:51

BEST

WHAT ARE LUNAR TRANSIT TIMES? Hunters, fishermen and farmers since ancient times have known of a certain relationship between the moon and nature. They knew that at certain times of the day the world of the animal kingdom came alive with activity. This knowledge had been passed on from generation to generation and used for their basic needs: planting, hunting and fishing. Today we have come to understand the scientific basis for the moon’s biological effect on all wildlife and marine life. Very simply, it is peak gravitation of the moon that stimulates animal activity. That’s why deer, cattle and marine life feed at the same time of the day or night. This gravitational stimulus is at its greatest when the moon is directly overhead or on the opposite side of the Earth. A law of physics states that for every pull there is an equal and opposite push. In other words, as the Earth rotates on its axis, any location on Earth will each day pass under two peak gravitational forces occurring 12 ½ hours apart. These peak forces coincide with lunar transit times. The following lunar transit times coincide with high tide and increased game and fish activity. Just like at high tide, animal activity increases, peaks, then decreases around transit times. This “window” of activity usually lasts 2-4 hours. What this all means is that the best hunting and fishing occurs when gravitation is greatest at transit times of the moon. From Dr. Oscar Sotelo’s Lunar Transit Times, 23rd edition

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 21

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

October 2016

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

3:42a

High Tide 1.4

4:57p

High Tide 1.8

10:07a

Low Tide 1.0

Low Tide

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

Phase

7:21a

7:14p

7:51a

7:55p

3:40a

1.4

5:53p

1.8

10:36a

0.9

New

7:22a

7:13p

8:42a

8:31p

3:30a

1.4

6:51p

1.7

12:18a

1.4

11:05a

3:04a

1.4

7:54p

1.7

1:14a

1.4

11:36a

0.8

7:22a

7:12p

9:32a

9:08p

0.7

7:23a

7:11p

10:23a

9:06p

1.8

12:11p

9:46p

0.7

7:23a

7:10p

11:13a

10:28p

10:23p

1.8

11:29p

1.8

12:50p

0.7

7:23a

7:09p

12:04p

11:12p

1:36p

0.7

7:24a

7:08p

12:54p

11:59p

2:31p

0.7

7:24a

7:07p

1:43p

11:30p

1.3

12:18a

1.8

3:35p

0.7

7:25a

7:06p

2:30p

12:50a

12:54a

1.9

4:46p

0.8

7:25a

7:05p

3:17p

1:43a

1:23a

1.8

5:58p

0.9

7:26a

7:04p

4:02p

2:39a

1:47a

1.8

11:40a

1.6

8:08a

1.6

7:08p

0.9

7:26a

7:03p

4:47p

3:38a

2:05a

1.8

1:20p

1.7

8:12a

1.4

8:15p

1.0

7:27a

7:02p

5:31p

4:39a

2:19a

1.6

2:42p

1.8

8:33a

1.1

9:20p

1.1

7:27a

7:01p

6:15p

5:42a

2:28a

1.5

3:56p

1.8

9:04a

0.8

10:25p

1.3

7:28a

7:00p

6:46a

2:32a

1.4

5:09p

1.9

9:42a

0.5

11:34p

1.4

7:28a

6:59p

7:48p

7:52a

2:29a

1.4

6:23p

1.9

10:25a

0.2

7:29a

6:58p

8:37p

8:59a

7:39p

2.0

11:11a

0.1

7:29a

6:57p

9:30p

10:06a

8:57p

2.0

12:02p

0.0

7:30a

6:57p

10:26p

11:10a

10:12p

2.0

12:56p

0.0

7:31a

6:56p

11:23p

12:12p

11:15p

2.0

1:55p

0.1

7:31a

6:55p

2:59p

0.4

7:32a

6:54p

12:21a

2:00p

12:04a

1.9

4:09p

0.6

7:32a

6:53p

1:19a

2:47p

12:39a

1.8

5:23p

0.8

7:33a

6:52p

2:15a

3:29p

1:05a

1.8

11:39a

1.5

7:35a

1.5

6:37p

1.1

7:33a

6:51p

3:10a

4:08p

1:24a

1.8

1:23p

1.6

7:51a

1.3

7:48p

1.2

7:34a

6:51p

4:03a

4:45p

1:38a

1.7

2:41p

1.7

8:16a

1.1

8:53p

1.4

7:35a

6:50p

4:55a

5:20p

1:46a

1.6

3:45p

1.8

8:44a

1.0

9:55p

1.5

7:35a

6:49p

5:46a

5:55p

1:46a

1.5

4:42p

1.8

9:12a

0.8

10:59p

1.5

7:36a

6:48p

6:37a

6:31p

1:36a

1.5

5:35p

1.8

9:39a

0.7

7:36a

6:48p

7:28a

7:07p

6:26p

1.8

10:07a

0.6

7:37a

6:47p

8:18a

7:45p

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= 6%15$ ,(4(. 0*,0( < = 6**(' !$3,$%.( :'31 3$04/,44,10 ! # = 3(/,6/ (/2(3$563( 10531..(' 3$0' $% 8,5+ ($5 ()1**,0*

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 23

Texas, Padre Island, Port Isabel

November 2016

N 26° 03.6' / W 97° 12.9' Date

Day

Sunrise

Sunset

Moonrise

Moonset

7:17p

High Tide 1.8

High Tide

10:34a

Low Tide 0.5

Low Tide

7:38a

6:46p

9:09a

8:26p

8:08p

1.8

11:02a

0.4

7:38a

6:46p

10:00a

9:09p

8:58p

1.8

11:34a

0.4

7:39a

6:45p

10:50a

9:55p

9:46p

1.9

12:09p

0.5

7:40a

6:44p

11:39a

10:43p

10:28p

1.9

12:51p

0.5

7:40a

6:44p

12:26p

11:35p

10:05p

1.9

12:41p

0.6

6:41a

5:43p

12:12p

11:29p

10:35p

1.8

1:41p

0.7

6:42a

5:43p

12:57p

10:59p

1.8

2:53p

0.8

6:42a

5:42p

1:40p

12:25a

Phase

1st

9:18a

1.3

11:17p

1.7

6:23a

1.3

4:14p

1.0

6:43a

5:42p

2:22p

1:23a

11:36a

1.4

11:28p

1.6

6:13a

1.2

5:38p

1.1

6:44a

5:41p

3:04p

2:22a

1:09p

1.6

11:35p

1.5

6:32a

0.8

7:01p

1.3

6:45a

5:41p

3:48p

3:24a

2:27p

1.8

11:34p

1.4

7:02a

0.5

8:24p

1.4

6:45a

5:40p

4:33p

4:28a

3:38p

1.8

7:40a

0.2

6:46a

5:40p

5:22p

5:34a

4:46p

1.9

8:22a

-0.1

6:47a

5:39p

6:13p

6:42a

5:52p

1.9

9:07a

-0.3

6:47a

5:39p

7:09p

7:49a

6:55p

1.9

9:55a

-0.4

6:48a

5:39p

8:08p

8:55a

7:54p

1.9

10:44a

-0.3

6:49a

5:38p

9:08p

9:56a

8:45p

1.8

11:36a

-0.2

6:50a

5:38p

10:09p

10:52a

9:26p

1.8

12:30p

0.1

6:50a

5:38p

11:07p

11:43a

9:58p

1.8

1:27p

0.4

6:51a

5:38p

10:22p

1.7

2:30p

0.7

6:52a

5:37p

12:04a

1:09p

9:11a

1.2

10:40p

1.6

5:33a

1.2

3:40p

0.9

6:53a

5:37p

12:59a

1:47p

11:34a

1.3

10:52p

1.5

5:50a

1.0

4:59p

1.2

6:53a

5:37p

1:51a

2:22p

1:13p

1.4

10:57p

1.4

6:18a

0.8

6:21p

1.3

6:54a

5:37p

2:43a

2:57p

2:26p

1.5

10:53p

1.4

6:48a

0.6

7:45p

1.4

6:55a

5:37p

3:33a

3:32p

3:26p

1.6

7:19a

0.4

6:55a

5:37p

4:24a

4:08p

4:18p

1.7

7:48a

0.3

6:56a

5:37p

5:14a

4:45p

5:04p

1.7

8:17a

0.2

6:57a

5:36p

6:05a

5:25p

5:47p

1.7

8:44a

0.1

6:58a

5:36p

6:56a

6:07p

6:26p

1.7

9:11a

0.0

6:58a

5:36p

7:46a

6:52p

Full

12:28p 3rd

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ƌ͘ KƌůĂŶĚŽ sŝůůĂƌƌĞĂů K ů Ě sŝůů ŚŝƌŽƉƌĂĐƚŽƌ

Slam It

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 25

THE TEXAS SPORTSMAN PRESENTS THE SECOND ANNUAL FISH & CHIP CLASSIC FISHING TOURNAMENT AT WHITE SANDS MARINA, PORT ISABEL

The Texas Sportsman Thanks the Following Sponsors For Their Contributions to the Second Annual Fish & Chip Classic 26 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

THE TEXAS SPORTSMAN PRESENTS THE SECOND ANNUAL FISH & CHIP CLASSIC GOLF TOURNAMENT AT TIERRA DEL SOL GOLF COURSE, PHARR

TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 27

BURAS, LA.

Hosting world record holder Matt Price By Captain Nick Lapre Southern Inland Exposure

When you get a call to host a world record holder like Matt Price from Australia, you do what you can as a professional guide with Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters to make his experience one of the best it can be for him. We can’t control the weather or ﬁshing conditions, but we have one of the best estuaries in the world! We take advantage of living in Louisiana and the amazing surrounding area we are able to ﬁsh in. Down in Buras, Louisiana we have hosted many groups and families 28 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

Southern Exposure Fishing Q 142 Hue Lane, Buras, LA 70041 Telephone: (504) 250-9887 or (504) 834-6209 Q FAX: (504) 835-3976 E-mail: ďŹ sh@southernexposureďŹ shing.com

f you are looking for the finest coastal fishing and the BEST in southern hospitality, then BOOK NOW with Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters! Centrally located in the heart of the best fishing destinations in SE Louisiana, (Buras, Venice, and Empire), Southern Exposure will provide you with Top Rated guides that will expose you to the best coastal fishing this country has to offer. The fertile waters of the Mississippi River's Delta have created an absolute paradise for the coastal angler and outdoor enthusiast. Speckled Trout, Redfish, Flounder, and Largemouth Bass thrive in the coastal waters that overflow in the Gulf of Mexico. This area is the destination of choice for outdoor media and numerous professional Redfish, Bass, and Big Game Offshore Fishing tournaments. No other estuary in the country offers as diverse and productive of a resource as the Mississippi River Delta.

One trip to the Delta and you will be "hooked"! TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 29

JRS FAST & FAIR through Southern Exposure and we give everyone an all-inclusive experience of the Delta. Mr. Matt Price spent three weeks in the states basically driving, sleeping and fishing! Just a little background on who Matt is and what he has accomplished, you can visit his website www.mattpricefishing.com, or check his Facebook or Twitter. You can also read his first book on Amazon, Chasing Royal Slams (Living the Dream) by Matt Price. Matt’s book is one of determination, courage and pursuing your dreams by overcoming all obstacles. Matt successfully completed six different Royal Slams with International Game Fish Association. He is now filming a documentary and traveling the world to share his experiences with others. We were fortunate to host him through Wanda Stewart, who is a mutual friend. Matt, along with Ms. Cyn Stevens, drove in from one of the stops in Florida. Boy, he was in for a treat when he arrived to the lodge and was greeted by one of the owners, Creighton Ward. He had arranged a five-course meal cooked by Chef David, which included stuffed flounder, blackened redfish, crawfish etouffee’, seafood gumbo, stuffed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, a garden salad and a banana fosters bread pudding! We aren’t sure how he managed to get up the next morning before daylight to eat a full breakfast buffet before getting on the water with Capt. Nick Lapre. We started early with clear skies, a slight breeze from the East and crystal clean water by the Islands of Bell Pass. Matt brought his fly rod to try his luck at catching redfish on a fly. It was a different experience than Capt. Nick was accustomed to. Matt pressed on all morning trying to get a bite. Finally, Capt. Nick was able to find a school of redfish by working the shoreline. He finally was able to hook up on a red, but it spit the hook. It was almost like he was being teased watching the school circling and swimming the same shoreline. Capt. Nick positioned the boat facing the shoreline and Matt cast to the left of the point. At that point, the elusive redfish was netted after a 10-minute fight and landed in the boat. It was his first redfish on a fly that weighed 10lbs 4 oz. In the meantime, Cyn was having her own fun constantly hooking up and landing trout and flounder. She sure did give Matt a run for his money that day and had her own prized catch. It was a new experience for both of them and Southern Exposure Inland Fishing Charters was proud to be the ones to host them on their adventure!

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We provide motorists in the Port Isabel area with comprehensive auto repair services. Our goal is to offer the best services available at competetive prices to get you back on the road in no time. You’ll be hard-pressed WR ÀQG WKH VDPH OHYHO RI H[SHUtise that our auto mechanic specialists provide! We have years RI H[SHULHQFH ZRUNLQJ RQ ERWK GRPHVWLF DQG import Vehicles of all makes and models. Trust Jrs Fast And Fair with your car, truck or van.

Our Services - New and Used Tire Sales - Flat Tire Repair - Roadside Service - Oil Change & Lube - Tune Ups - Engine Repair & Replacement - Auto Body Repair & Paint - RV Wash & Detail - Computer Diagnostics - Undercoating - Car Wash & Detailing - Full Brake Service & Repair 0XIÁHU 6HUYLFH 5HSDLU - Steering & Suspension Repair - Shocks & Struts - Cooling System Service & Repair - Belt & Hose Replacement - Diesel Service & Repair - Transmission Service & Repair - RV Fiberglass Body Repair & Paint - Power Steering - Cooling System Flush - Air Conditioning Service & Repair - Pre-Purchasing Inspections

(956) 543-2119 203 E. Maxan, Port Isabel www.jrsfastandfair.com

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WANTED: CAPTAINS Tired of waiting to earn your Captain’s License? Don’t wait any longer! Make Big Bucks! Done Locally!

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BE YOUR OWN CAPTAIN! FIRST AID / CPR CLASSES FORMING EVERY WEEK

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TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 33

A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS - LITERALLY Seeing one run in front of your vehicle can be deadly

collisions. The other interesting thing about the news release was the company's calculation that one in 288 Texas drivers will have an insurance claim after hitting a deer. That's a lot of money, considering that Texas has 13.5 million licensed drivers. "An average claim of just hitting the deer is $4,000," the insurance company said in its release. "It can be very severe. Most typically it is just property damage with cars until you either swerve and hit a ditch or swerve and hit another vehicle, and then it becomes bodily injury." The toll can be far worse. In 2015, 24 people died in Texas in vehicle-animal collisions. Most of those collisions were with a deer. If you'd like a little assurance to go with your insurance, when you're in deer country, especially at night, pay extra attention to the sides of the road. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt to slow down a little, even if you are trying to get back from the lease in time to see the Cowboy game. Also, when no vehicles are approaching you in the other lane, drive with your bright lights on. But don't waste your money on any of the vehicle devices sold to scare deer off the roadway. So far as I've been able to learn, they just don't work. When I was the spokesman for the Texas Department of Safety, I did a lot of newspaper, radio and TV interviews about deer-vehicle accidents. Here's the message the agency stressed: In most cases, it's better to take the hit than trying to dodge the deer. Swerving too fast leads to overcorrecting, which can send you smashing into a tree, an oncoming vehicle or rolling off the road. Hitting a deer will hurt your vehicle and maybe you, but your odds of surviving or being uninjured are much better. Legal disclaimer: That's what I recollect as being the con-

ventional wisdom of state police ofďŹ cers who have investigated hundreds of trafďŹ c accidents. It's just my personal recommendation based on years of experience. If you get hurt by taking the hit rather than wildly swerving, don't sue me. After your condition has stabilized, call your insurance company, not a lawyer.

AB POWDER COATING & SAND BLASTING ARTURO LEON

Manager (956) 884-6915 402 W. Hi Line Road Pharr, TX 78577

www.abpowdercoating.com

AB PowderCoating & Sandblasting TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 35

PUPPY POWER: Choosing the right one for success in the field

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FEATHER FEVER Birds beginning their annual trek en route to South Texas By Capt. Joey Farah

The first sign of fall is always the arrival of the leaders in the water migration. The majority of waterfowl in the central North America will find themselves here in South Texas. As all the rivers run south so do the birds. Here in the Laguna Madre our wealth of bottom grass, and lack of the presence of man build the perfect winter retreat from the harsh winters up north. Understanding the daily life and the needs of waterfowl will make you a smarter and more successful duck hunter. The beginning of our season here may start off slow, we need the push of the first 38 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

few cold fronts to move birds south out of Canada. As those birds come into the Mid West there arrival sends the birds that are settled there south. The kind of try to get a bit of ahead of each other in an attempt to get the best food sources ﬁrst. Hunting pressure on small water lots, ponds, and public rivers and lakes will also push birds to start their way south. With this the better hunting here starts to heat up around the second or third week of November. We will have enough birds to get a good hunt in if outdoorsmen use large spreads of decoys and pay attention to where the birds want to be. Remember there is not much competition in the begging of the season and a lot of available food sources. The ﬁshing here is still in high gear so most of

our days afield are mixed with world class coastal fishing to offset the slow periods of the hunting. This is when knowing the favorite grasses likes by the ducks comes in. They prefer the new growth grass, not old long and mature sea grasses. They will pull the grass up and eat the roots. The first few weeks can be a great hunt if you spend some time observing where new flocks of birds are moving in from. Year to year it seems they will favor certain shorelines and pockets. This may depend on new building or development or perhaps the way the bay looks from above. Always stay where the birds want to be. After the second weekend of November the fingers of winter have pushed birds into South Texas as well as the heat eating of crops

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in the mid west, and hunting pressure up north. We are ready for the best duck hunting in North America! The diverse number of species we have here makes this a waterfowl hunters dream. In one day we may target and shoot up to ten different species. This is the reason we shoot full limits compared to shooting out only certain species of ducks. A decoy spread that includes many different types of ducks will draw in small scattered groups of birds flying with ducks of different species. Singles often fly lost with large flicks of divers. We shoot canvas backs, golden eye, even some east coast ducks mixed in with the red heads and blue bills. Grouping the decoys bye species and placing them in realistic patterns and places will fool shy birds. Many duck hunters just toss the blocks out in a scattered way, this works when it's good but for quality older birds study books for classic formations of decoy spreads. As the season progresses ducks will not only have food on their mind but they will be breeding and drakes will be looking for hens. This is a good time to use your decoy spread look like it has a lot of available ladies. Place your best hen decoys around the openings and landing areas of the spread. Those older trophy ducks will come in right to the prettiest girl on the block. The action here is fast and furious. My cast and blast trips start off with a Baffin Bay fishing trip until we jump into the duck boat and head out to the blinds. Having a safe hunt starts with a safe place to hunt. All of our blinds are large enough to hunt five to six persons and a few up to 15. They have enough room to swing your gun and move safely, as well as good communication keeps us all safe. Short rubber boots is all you may need with my adventures unless you want to dawn waders and hunt gorilla warfare and trophy hunt small pockets of water with specialized decoys. This is when we really hunt specific species. Follow ducks from their entrance to your area to food sources. Back and forth from the roost to water

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and back to food. Sounds simple but many of these places are spread miles apart and may be on privet land. A good knowledge of the entire area is a must. To get your feet wet in waterfowl hunting come enjoy a ﬁrst class hunt with me here in south Texas. And learn some of the art of waterfowl hunting. It is much cheaper than big game hunting, has lots of action and is the best way to introduce new hunters to the sport! Give me a call for your most exciting hunt if the season! Joey Farah 361-442-8145.

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A&B PIPE and SUPPLY, LLC Pat Ashley Q (956) 605-2111 Q patashley38@yahoo.com East of Sugar Road, 1 block south of Bus. 83, Pharr, TX 78577

BUILD IT RIGHT, DO IT WITH PIPE!

SALES & DELIVERY AVAILABLE! 2 3/8” TO 30” AVAILABLE TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 43

STORY/PHOTOS BY JESUS CANTU This was a day at the lake with my boys and my 84-year-old dad. On this day my dad caught a largemouth bass weighing in at about 3 to 4 lbs. My dad then told me that it had been over 15 years since he had caught a ﬁsh this big. This got me thinking about time and how fast it goes by, how this is a lesson to all of us. We have to cherish the precious moments we have with

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our sons, daughters, fathers and mothers. Even if they may be a burden at times, they are our family - the one that God gave us. To all those small insigniﬁcant moments that create wonderful memories, memories are what we can pass down to our children and generations to come. Being able to see my dad enjoying himself while watching my boys ﬁshing is a true blessing. God works in mysterious ways,

I believe this is a sign from God that whatever we do in life, whatever we enjoy such as ﬁshing, camping, hunting, or just a walk on the beach we can't forget who brought us into this world, our elderly. At any age it’s important to share your moments with them today, because tomorrow may be gone. Remember that good memories and pictures will last a lifetime.

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KILLINGERâ€™S Water Well Drilling (956) 279-8543 (956) 279-1045 NORIAS DE AGUA

FREE ESTIMATES Residential Q Commercial Q Farm/Ranch Now accepting credit cards 46 -TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016

LOMA ROJA RANCH Starr County, Texas

WHITETAIL TROPHY FEES “GUIDED DAY HUNT” Deer Season 2016-2017 Nov. 5 - Jan. 15 Whitetail Buck 135-159 Gross B&C - $4,950 Whitetail Buck 160-179 Gross B&C - $6,900 Whitetail Buck 180-189 Gross B&C - $7,900 Whitetail Buck 190-210 Gross B&C - $9,500 Whitetail Buck 211-239 Gross B&C - $11,000 Whitetail Buck 240-275 Gross B&C - $13,500 Whitetail Buck 276-299 Gross B&C - $16,000 Whitetail Buck 300-350 Gross B&C - $19,500

Hog $150 (medium); $250 large

HUNTING PACKAGE INCLUDES: - Bed and breakfast, lunch, dinner (lodging limited availability - first come, first serve) - $150 a night for every four hunters minimum twoday stay - Cleaning and freezing of your animal - Transportation from camp to blinds - Corn feeding - Stocked bass and catfish pond available - Authentic Mexican Cuisine (homemade from scratch)

CONTACT: OMAR ESPERICUETA (956) 638-1769 TEXAS SPORTSMAN - OCT. 2016 - 47

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BENEFITING

CHIEF SPONSOR

RETIRED SHERIFF

B I L LY B . H O P P E R LOVING COUNTY, TEXAS

LIEUTENANT SPONSORS

SERGEANT SPONSORS ioc george cardenas / inter national bank VIP RECEPTION SPONSORED BY

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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS & DONORS!!

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Send your fishing and hunting photos to fredrsportsman@yahoo.com and it may get published in an upcoming edition.

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2016-2017 Season