Cass County Outdoors 2022

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FEATURES

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Ducks UNLIMITED

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The vicious strike of the bass

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Paul Hale

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Lone Star Law

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4D Fishing

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50th Anniversary Hunter Ed

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Hunting Season Dates

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Ducks Unlimited co back to Cass Coun

By Shawn Larson Several years back there was a thriving Ducks Unlimited organization here in Cass County. Rusty Anderson and a group of other DU enthusiasts are bought it back. On November 16, 2021, at least 175 guests showed up to a DU Banquet at the Music City Theater in Linden. The cost of the event also covered the Ducks Unlimited membership, which meant several new members were brought on board “Ducks Unlimited is the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation,” according to their website.

“DU got its start in 1937 during the Dust Bowl when North America’s drought-plagued waterfowl populations had plunged to unprecedented lows. Determined not to sit idly by as the continent’s waterfowl dwindled beyond recovery, a small group of sportsmen joined together to form an organization that became known as Ducks Unlimited.”

“Ducks Unlimited is a grassroots, volunteer-based, organization. Its members are conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts who live primarily throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and now

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Ducks Unlimited is the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation

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the world’s largest and most effective private waterfowl and wetlands conservation organization.” The organization is able to multilaterally deliver its work through a series of partnerships with private individuals, landowners, agencies, scientific communities, and other entities.

DU volunteers host more than 4,000 grassroots fundraising events annually like the one they are doing in Linden on the 29th. They also hold “member and sponsor banquets, shooting and fishing tournaments, and golf outings. Event dollars represent some of DU’s most important sources of revenue.

Since event dollars are typically unrestricted, DU is able to spend these funds in our highest priority areas and use them to leverage additional funds from other sources.”

Several people including Dillon Schroeder, the Area DU Rep met at Linden Public house to gauge interest and start moving the plan in motion. At the event, several things were discussed including selling tickets, the need to get the younger generation involved, and the dynamics of past events. One general theme throughout the whole meeting was to make sure people knew that the November event would be family-friendly. Which was achieved with several youngsters at the event.

Anderson who is the chapter chair approached Schroeder at a Bowie County event about having a new chapter here in Cass County. DU was open to it and they began to work on the November event.

Riverport BBQ in Jefferson catered the event. Games, raffles and live auctions, and youth giveaways were held including live music.

For more information about future events go to their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/casscountyducks.

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By Tim Emmons “The vicious strike of the bass,” answers pro bass fisherman Brad Whatley when asked what appealed to him about bass fishing.

When bass fishing the angler gets just as excited to hook a fish as the fish gets chasing that one-of-a-kind lure, and since a fish hasn’t told me then I’m inclined to believe the angler.

For Whatley it is a true lifestyle.

The avid fisherman from Bivins and 1998 Atlanta High School graduate practically grew up on a water source of some kind.

“I have been fishing since I was four and learned to clean a fish at five,” Whatley recalls. “I grew up on Caddo Lake with my dad where we had a cabin and if I wasn’t at Caddo fishing for crappie or catfish I was at the pond every day.”

Whatley was never coerced into fishing although both his father and grandfather were avid fishermen during his youth.

“Fishing just came natural to me; it wasn’t like anyone forced me into it,” Whatley said. “I was different than most kids because I spent every moment I could on the water with a fishing pole in my hand.”

Success even came early in life for Whatley.

“I remember fishing tournaments hosted at Mr. Kennedy’s pond, owner of Kennedy’s Western Wear in Atlanta back in those days and winning my first tournament at four years of age,” Whatley remarked. “I was excited to win but more excited that I was able to catch a fish period.”

Memories are made on the water when it comes to fishing. From the first fish reeled in to the largest catch of your life; every angler has a favorite or special memory and Whatley is no different.

“I remember my dad was in town selecting All-Stars at the baseball field and I was fishing with my papaw. I was nine at the time and caught a 7 1/2-pound fish that was so heavy it stripped the gears in my rod and reel,” Whatley said. “I was so excited to show my dad that my papaw drove me to the ball park and I walked through crowds of people watching other games so that I could show my dad what I had caught.”

Whatley and his brother Blake began fishing ponds together as they got older, and the competitive edge came out.

“I am very competitive when it comes to sports and fishing is no different,” Whatley said. “If we sat down and played dominoes I’m looking to win not just play. That’s just how I am about competing with someone.”

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The Vicious Strike of

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Although Whatley played high school sports, he knew early on he wouldn’t be playing those sports in college or beyond.

“I have zero athletic ability but my heart is huge. I am passionate about fishing and I found out you don’t have to be the most athletic person to fish which made it all the better for me,” Whatley stated. “If you can pick up knowledge on how to fish, you can fish well into your golden years.”

After high school Whatley purchased a 17-foot Astro bass boat which he kept saturated with water from Caddo Lake.

Not long after graduating from Texas State Technical College, Whatley earned enough from his job to buy a Ranger Boat and he began competing in local tournaments with a favorable liking towards Lake O’ The Pines.

Whatley and his brother Blake have pursed more than $200,000 at Lake O’ The Pines and it was success like that which got him to thinking he could fish professionally.

“I started winning a lot here in local tournaments so I thought why not try and give it a shot,” Whatley said. “There’s a lot of work, time and money wrapped up into pro fishing. It’s not just a fishing trip you would take with a friend or family member, you are fishing to compete and win.”

“I didn’t have technology at my fingertips or YouTube to go by,” Whatley added. “I loved fishing and competition but didn’t know about true, competitive fishing until my late teens. I didn’t think about going pro until my late 20’s.”

Whatley joined the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open Series and has slowly gained momentum as an angler trying to make it to the Elite Series.

The Bassmaster Elite Series is the highest level of professional bass fishing tournaments.

Competitors must qualify for the series through the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens or the B.A.S.S. Nation, and anglers who are already on the Elite Series must re-qualify each year by maintaining enough points throughout the season.

The pro anglers compete all season for the opportunity to win points toward the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.

“My first year doing this I missed the Elites by two spots and actually led the tournament at Fort Gibson, but finished fourth in 2016,” Whatley said. “If I could sum up what it’s like to make the Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic is to say the Elite is like making it into the NFL and the Classic is the Superbowl of fishing.”

The Bassmaster Opens Series includes nine tournaments on prime bass fishing waters, but the series format was changed from three divisions to two with each division fishing four tournaments each.

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This determines qualifiers for the Bassmaster Elite Series and for the GEICO Bassmaster Classic, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

The Opens Championship winner and the Top 5 in performance points from each division — determined by an angler’s finish in all four divisional tournaments and the Championship —is invited to the Elites.

The winner of the Championship and the Top 3 anglers in points from each division following the Championship is invited to the Classic.

Whatley claimed third place in the first tournament on Mississippi’s Ross Barnett Reservoir, which was his best finish in the Central Opens since he began fishing them in 2015.

In his first year on the Central Opens Tour, Whatley nearly accomplished his goal of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series by finishing 11th in the AOY standings.

As of 2022, Whatley has been a part of the Bass Master Elite Series four years and has made it to the Bass Master Classic twice.

Whatley, a former supervisor at Cooper Tire & Rubber Company in Texarkana started his own coaching business where he teaches aspiring anglers how to practice on a lake for a tournament.

“I began a coaching business. Kids can’t learn how to practice for tournaments from a guide,” Whatley remarked. “A guide will stay with them until they catch a fish then they wrap it up and move to another spot. I want them to know the basics of course but I also want them to know there is more to fishing than casting and baiting.”

“I go to whatever lake they want and treat the day just like I’m practicing for a tournament. We are not here to catch fish only but if your kid wants to fish tournaments I will show them how and where,” Whatley continued. “I will show them what to look for on maps and how to read sonar and structure scans on a graph. Coaching is great because you can tell the kids who are forced to go out by parents and the ones who are serious and want to improve their fishing skills. I verbalize everything I’m thinking to the kids. I believe this teaches them how to work to find the fish.”

“The biggest part of this is learning your value,” Whatley remarked. “The sport has grown tremendously and I always say ‘fishing is the same no matter where you fish, especially if you’re fishing for bass’”.

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coaching,” Whatley said. “Professionally I’ll fish 15 events in 2022. The events will be in New York to South Dakota to Florida.”

The Bassmaster Elite Series schedule is full of solid fishing spots.

The top professional bass fishing circuit in the world kicks off its season in Florida, with events on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Feb. 10-13, and the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Feb. 17-20.

From there, the trail will visit six more states in seven months while working its way to a season-ending event on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis., Aug. 26-29.

The other stops include Lake Hartwell in Greenville, S.C., Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C., Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn., Lake Fork, Quitman, Texas, St. Lawrence River/1000 Islands, Clayton, N.Y. and Lake Oahe, Mobridge, S.D. The 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series has nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states as the pathway to some of the most-coveted invitations in all of professional bass fishing.

Starting the season in Florida has become a tradition for most of the major trails at B.A.S.S., and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes has been a favored destination of late.

After Kissimmee, the Southern Division will visit Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 31-April 2, and Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., Oct. 6-8.

In the Central Division, events will be held on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland, Miss., April 28-30, the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, La., Sept.

22-24, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Oct. 20-22.

The Northern Division slate will include visits to the James River in Richmond, Va., April 14-16, Oneida Lake in Syracuse, N.Y., July 7-9 and the Upper Chesapeake Bay in Cecil County, Md., Sept. 8-10.

As in the past, the full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to 10 anglers on Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in.

In 2022, FOX Sports will continue to broadcast live coverage from Championship Saturday of each of the division final tournaments on FS1 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

Whatley loves what he does To date Whatley’s largest bass weighed in at 11 pounds and was caught on his final cast.

“I have won a lot of money on my last cast,” Whatley said. “Some fishermen wrap it up as time to finish draws near but I’ll cast until the final second. Some of the largest bass are caught on the final cast.”

While growing up pond fishing Whatley’s go-to lures were Mepps spinners, GUIDE OUTDOORS 2022 2020 OUTDOORS 2022 12 || HUNTING

Rooster Tail spinners, soft plastic lizards, Tiny Torpedoes and Smithwick Rogues, but when it is crunch time he has one special go-to lure.

“I like using the Epic Baits Swim Jig,” Whatley said. “It’s helped me catch a lot of big fish so it’s my go-to lure.”

Whatley’s current sponsors are Quality Building, Phoenix Boats, Mercury Marine, Epic Baits, Shipps Marine, Plenum Medical, Castaway Rods, Hummingbird and Minn Kota, Bass Assassin, Vector Hooks, Impulse Lithium and Sublime Wear.

“Bringing up fishing gear reminds me of how my brother Blake was practically in on the ground floor induction of the Stephen F. Austin State University’s bass team. A team that has won three national championships since its inception,” Whatley said. “His roommate was a guy named Casey Sobczak who helped bring in the first championship in 2005. Sobczak airbrushed lures after that win and sold them on eBay. That side job turned into a mulit-million dollar company.”

Whatley is away from home quite a bit doing what he loves and also has to make sponsorship videos and help push their products on media platforms so family support is key.

Whatley says his adventures and ventures would not be possible without family support.

“I am truly blessed to have my wife and kids’ support through this because I’m gone a lot with work, coaching and touring,” Whatley said. “Jennifer, my wife, has been 110 percent behind me and if she wasn’t then I wouldn’t be doing it. My wife is a nurse, is very independent and maintains taking care of our three daughters, Haley, 17; Tristyn, 10; and Lexi, 8.”

“Jennifer knows how much I love to fish, most of our dates were fishing trips,” Whatley added. “When I wasn’t sure how to handle work and touring she told me to go and do it. Without family support it would be impossible to fulfill.”

On a final note, Whatley had advice for aspiring anglers.

“If they have the ambition and hopes of going pro, they need to spend enough time on the water to get the feel for it. Videos and YouTube are okay to show you the basics, but to be a pro is knowing when to stay and when to leave,” Whatley remarked. “You get a certain vibe when you are on the water as to where to set up shop and where to go next. The feel of a tug-of-war with a fish is more than you’ll get from a video. There are no shortcuts. You have to put in work just like any other sport or profession. You get out what you put in.”

With those words of wisdom from a local pro angler, it may not be long before you get to experience the vicious strike of the bass.

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Hale lives his dream, fishes all U.S. states

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By Shawn Larson What is your dream? For some maybe travel the world, for others it might be to visit Israel, see the Egyptian ruins, maybe see a Broadway musical in New York. However, for anyone who is a true fisherman, I think I can safely say that fishing all 50 states would be on their bucket list. Paul Hale fulfilled that dream, documenting his excursions in the Cass County Texas newspaper.

“After retiring my logging operations, the last day of 2016,” recalls Hale, “I got interested in managing my ponds for my personal fishing. While reading and educating myself better to fish management, I also got interested in fishing for different kinds of fish in different places. So, I took a trip to the coast of Texas and stayed in a cabin just a few feet from the gulf. I had a great time fishing with a guide in the mornings and from the pier at night, catching lots of good eating saltwater fish to take home with me. After that, I went to North Dakota and caught Walleye and Northern Pike. It was awesome to catch these species that we don’t have here in East Texas and the Walleye are so delicious.

“At this point, I wanted to travel America and fish all 50 states if possible.

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I was not necessarily interested in trophy fishing, and certainly not the stress of tournament fishing, but out to enjoy it and find the best-tasting fish our American rivers, lakes, and coasts offered. I took my time enjoying all these trips and even fished in Washington DC (Potomac River).

Florida was my last state to fish, winding up my tour of the nation taking 27 different trips fishing some of the U.S. States multiple times.

After researching desired fisheries, fish species, and guides, Hale booked his trips well in advance of going, scheduling hotels and other itineraries, “I didn’t alter that schedule very much at all, at times causing a collision with weather and other variables, I stayed on course with very few cancelations. Those variables made some of the trips a little more exciting, and a few of them absolutely unforgettable. I did catch fish in all 50 states, and Washington DC. When some of the species I targeted didn’t bite I improvised and went after those that would. By the time I fished the whole nation, I got most of those I was after. On account of getting the most out of every trip, and pursuing other species after limiting out on my targeted ones, I was able to share lots of fish with people on the road in my travels and back at home.”

Hale said there were several highlights of his traveling experience. “My wife Billie Jo went on several trips with me. After I got through fishing, we spent time seeing what the current state had to offer. She doesn’t like fishing but loves the beach and so we had a few moonlit walks on the beaches. My sister Debbie flew into Boston and met me on one of my road trips. After I fished the Atlantic in MA, she fished the Atlantic with me in RI and CT. We had the best time together sightseeing and fishing. After I fished the Atlantic for the 4th time on that trip in NJ, I took her to the airport in Philadelphia and I went on to KY. I entered KY in the pouring rain and stayed overnight near Cave Run Lake. I fished for Musky the next day from 7 am to 1 pm in a nonstop hard rain that never stopped and caught myself a trophy. I left and headed home. When I crossed the state line into TN, it was still raining in Kentucky. Awesome trip with lots of excitement.”

When asked about the big ones that didn’t get away, Hale said his “biggest catch overall was in the gulf near Seabreeze FL where I caught a Sandbar Shark that was probably about 200 pounds. Proud to report my biggest freshwater catch was here in Texas. I caught a flathead catfish OUTDOORS 2022 |

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on my only trip ever to go noodling. I estimated that fish to weigh 75 pounds or more.”

“Most of my guided trips were by boat,” says Hale when asked if he fished solely off the boat. “Many of my stops around the country found me fishing from the shore in between guides. I also ice fished in 9 different states using different means of getting to my fishing spots. Some I drove across the frozen lake in my pickup, some I went by snowmobile, and some I just hiked.

The longest hike was about a mile.”

Along the way, when asked to talk about the people he encountered, Hale said that “there were so many interesting people I met around the nation, starting with all the professional fishing guides I hired and chartered. I can remember something significant about all of them. All were unique with different techniques, equipment and riggings, various styles and sizes of boats, and I learned a little something from all of them. I met Chino Ross when I first went fishing with him near his home in Shelbyville, KY. I caught a lot while fishing Taylorsville Lake with him in August 2018 while establishing a friendship that would see us fishing together again. Chino and I had the common thread of wanting to catch various species of fish in different places. On a Northwestern road trip, I picked him up at the airport in Portland, OR and he traveled with me in OR, WA, and ID where we fished the most beautiful rivers in the nation.

“After fishing the Columbia for Walleye and Sturgeon, we went to the Snake River targeting King Salmon. One of the most exciting fishing trips I had was when we fished for Steelhead on the Clearwater River near Orofino, ID. This day had our adrenalin pumping from the first minute to the last, as we used the backward drift and drag technique baiting with Salmon roe on a very lightweight line. In 2021 after a stop at the State Capitol in Austin, I picked up Chino at the San Antonio airport and then we went after Redfish in two freshwater lakes using 3 different guides. We limited out with all these guides and caught a ton of fish and just had a ball. I have been wanting to get back to KY where we have tentative plans to fish the KY River and the OH River with several different species to target,” said Hale.

“My wife and I met a couple on our AK cruise that was from New York.

They gave me a Rochester guide’s number and I would book with him a year later. So, I called my new friend from the cruise, and he went fishing

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with us. On another trip going through NY, I ice-fished with a guy that was not a guide. He had heard about me fishing the country and we texted and talked a few times. So later when I stopped in Saratoga Springs, we went ice fishing on a morning that started out at 5 degrees. Something happened to me on this stop that I am very grateful for, I became acclimated much better to the cold weather. I didn’t know if this new acclimation was going to last only for this stop, but I was still well-acclimated ice fishing the next day in Pennsylvania. I never anticipated this kind of blessing. I am still from Texas and prefer hot weather,

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but the cold weather is not as bad to me as it used to be.

“While spending a week in Montana fishing Ft. Peck Reservoir in 2020, I took a trip down the Missouri one day and caught Sauger where the Milk River flows into the Missouri River. It was amazing how the muddy water of the Milk River just disappeared into the mighty Missouri in just a few hundred feet. I can still picture in my mind how that clean beautiful Missouri river cleaned up the constant infeed of muddy water. The Sauger liked hanging out right where the two rivers met. I caught lots of Lake Trout, Walleye, and more on Ft. Peck in 2018 and 2020. Beautiful Lake and awesome dam.”

Hale said.

When asked about fishing tips, Hale says “don’t rule out fish to eat just because you haven’t heard of them. Many local people think the only freshwater fish that can be eaten are crappie and catfish. I caught 95 species of fish and most of them were edible.

“There were many little tricks to catching fish that are hard to describe without being there, but some of the best things I learned came from having an open mind and a bent ear while cleaning and preparing fish. Fish with small bones like Buffalo, and Chain Pickerel, can be cut into strips to fit a meat grinder, then frozen and run through it, shattering the bones preparing the ground meat into patties for frying. Big fish like Redfish and Stripers that people traditionally filet while discarding the remaining carcass that sometimes has as much remaining meat as the filet can be better utilized by cutting what’s left into steaks on the bone. The best part of that fish served right along with the filets. As we enter an age of hyperinflation, we should be teaching our next generations to not waste things. Fish is probably the most plentiful food source on this earth, and it is efficient if you make the most of it.”

“This was certainly one of the highlights of my life meeting people who were holocaust survivors, war veterans, boat captains with decades of experience, part-time deckhands, and more, and getting to catch all those exotic delicious fish. I thank God for keeping me and my traveling companions safe while traveling so many thousands of miles taking in the beauty of a nation with so many sights to see. I love my country and the people I met, but after all, there is no place like home in the state of Texas. I love my home in Cass County and if I don’t ever get to leave it again that will be okay. I am glad to be here.”

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Jason Jones

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By Kate Stow For Jason Jones, his career with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is, literally, a walk in the park. The 1996 graduate of Linden-Kildare High School is the Regional Lieutenant Game Warden for Region 2, which consists of 24 counties from Fort Worth to Texarkana, with 52 commissioned wardens serving the State of Texas.

“I was born and raised in Cass County,” said Jones. “I loved growing up participating in the outdoors. It didn’t matter what activity; hunting, fishing, camping boating; or just wandering around in the woods. I was able to do all these activities with my dad and granddad.”

After receiving his BS in Forest Management from Stephen F. Austin State University, he returned to Cass County to work at Ward Timber until his true passion came calling, in the form of a career in Law Enforcement. Jones went to work for the Atlanta Police Department in 2006.

In 2008 he was accepted into the TPWD 54th Game Warden Academy, a seven-month training school. Jones reported to duty in June 2009 as the only field game warden in the 938 square mile area of Montague County. In July 2011, Jones had

I want to ensure that the resourses are still there...

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the opportunity to return to Cass County as one of two wardens.

“I was back home once again,” said Jones. “For the next six years I was able to be back in my element of the people of Cass County. But, once again, a wild side came over me and I decided to pursue promotional opportunities.”

After being promoted to Lieutenant, Jones spent the next four years at TPWD Headquarters in Austin, working with other divisions in the development of better ways to enforce the TPWD laws.

“I was also the Operation Game Thief program administrator,” he said. “I would review and approve the rewards for tips on wildlife crimes.”

During his time at headquarters, he appeared on Animal Planet’s hit reality show, Lone Star Law. He said that working with the filming crew was challenging, given that he had to be concerned for their safety, as well as his own, he does admit that it had its’ perks.

“Many times, people I encountered were more concerned with being on television and didn’t pay attention to what we were investigating,” he said. “They would sometimes admit things and not realize what they said, just due to talking in front of the camera.”

When asked to name the most challenging part of being a warden would be, he replied: “like any other law enforcement officer, it’s safety. We often work alone, and at hunting camps, where constituents have weapons. The most important part of my job is to keep the public safe and go home safe.”

In May of 2021, Jones was once again given the opportunity to return to the field as the Regional Lieutenant for Region 2.

Although Jones finds it hard to narrow down the best parts of being a Texas Game Warden, he said “if I were to choose, though, it would be being able to share what I have learned in hunting and fishing, and the importance of conservation to young hunters and anglers. I want to ensure that the resources are still there so my kids, and later grandkids, can enjoy the same outdoor activities as I did growing up.”

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By Tim Emmons Vision and passion are key when you start your own business.

Add faith in Jesus and helping others, and you have one of the most successful molds in business representation.

Mike Dillinger adheres to this mold as he displays his passion for Jesus, his family, fishing, his fishing business, helping kids in the classroom and helping kids in general on a daily basis.

Dillinger has lived in Cass County for most of his life. He graduated from Atlanta High School in 1994 and graduated from Tarleton State University in 1999.

He is involved in volunteer work with youth of all ages, and is currently the Director of the Alternative Education Center at Queen City ISD. “I love working with the students in my building and helping them make better decisions,” Dillinger said. “I have been at Queen City for 7 years now.”

His children have picked up on his passions especially for fishing.

“As my oldest son was entering into Middle School he wanted to fish in tournaments. This led me to help start the fishing team at his school,” Dillinger remarked. “At that point I looked into purchasing a boat so I could spend more time with my boys and help them pursue their dreams. I have upgraded to a new Skeeter ZXR21 and we enjoy spending time on the water.”

“I’ve been fishing most of my life. I started off fishing in ponds on family land,” Dillinger added. “As my children continued to grow they would go fishing with me. Fishing is peaceful and allows me to relax.”

Dillinger and friend, Michael Benson, started the Queen City Bass Fishing Association in January of 2017.

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Since then it has taken off and grown in popularity both locally and nationally.

“High School Fishing is one of the fastest growing sports in the nation.

What the youth choose to do today will shape what they become tomorrow,” Dillinger said. “Fishing is a lifelong sport that can give people an opportunity to participate at the high school level, collegiate level and professionally. Those of us who are not able to fish professionally can still enjoy local tournaments and opportunities to get out and experience our local fishing hole.”

At some point Dillinger decided to take his passion for fishing beyond the water, and launch his own fishing lure production company.

“4D Fishing is a fishing lure production company named after the four Dillinger’s in my immediate family; my two sons Carson and Jackson, my late wife Karen and myself,” Dillinger stated. “4D Fishing started selling product on September 1, 2019.”

“4D Fishing offers a full line of hand tied custom jigs, spinnerbaits, buzz baits and custom poured soft plastics,” Dillinger remarked. “In addition

www.4dfishing.org Shop our collection of hand-crafted jigs, fishing accessories & fishing apparel

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to fishing lures we also have a line of fishing apparel. All of my products are made from the best materials with the greatest care.”

As is stated on its website “4D Fishing is dedicated to providing a high quality fishing product, which is highlighted by quality Gamakatsu Jig Hooks, Heat Cured/Chip Resistant Powder Coated Paint Jobs and Hand Tied Jig Skirts.”

Aside from business, Dillinger started a youth fishing camp to help teach young anglers how to use up-to-date technology on the water, fishing techniques and much more.

“In July of 2021 I started “Fishin’ with Faith”. This is a youth fishing camp for students in grades 7-12,” Dillinger said. “This 3-day camp is designed to provide instruction on the latest and greatest fishing techniques and technology, along with talking to the student anglers about Jesus Christ.”

“I decided to start this camp after much soul searching and reflection.

Life throws each of us curve balls from time to time. In October of 2020 my wife Karen passed away from COVID-19,” Dillinger said. “Each of us has a choice when faced with adversity in life. I decided to help others using my passion for fishing and Jesus. This is my focus in the ventures that I enter or the paths that I walk down.”

In that first camp Dillinger lined out some motivational speakers and professionals to speak to the campers.

“There were great motivational speakers and professionals from the fishing world there to talk to the kids,” Dillinger added. “Guests of the camp included: Clay Dyer, Bobby Barrack, Brian Thomas, Chris Brasher, Jeff Gage, Cannon Bird, John Locke and Ron Riemar.”

In thought of his passions for both fishing and making lures Dillinger alludes to why he is hooked on both.

“I love throwing a Flippin Jig with an X-Craw trailer on a brush pile or a lay down. It is amazing to catch a fish on a lure that you created or designed,” he said. “I enjoy making fishing lures. It has become my passion and I enjoy sharing this passion with others.”

Being able to share his passions with others and with his passion set firmly in Jesus you can guarantee at some point Dillinger will hook more than fish as a fisher of men.

You can check out 4D Fishing on its website (https://www.4dfishing.org), on its Facebook page or on Istagram (@4dfishing).

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TPWD Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Texas Hunter Education

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This week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hunter Education. The first course in Texas was held on Feb. 28, 1972. Since then, over 1.5 million students have completed Texas Hunter Education throughout the state.

Since the mid-1960s, Texas Game Wardens have investigated and monitored hunting injuries and fatalities. In the early 1970’s, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission became aware of the large number of hunting accidents occurring statewide when a former TPWD employee, Theron D. Carroll, presented the commission with 12 years’ worth of hunter casualty report data. In June of 1971, the commission accepted a proposal to counteract the problem. Carroll was selected to design and coordinate a voluntary Texas Hunter Education program.

“We are losing too many fine young people, mostly from lack of proper training, and with the enthusiastic response we are having from the public, we should be able to build a safer, more rewarding outdoor environment for all Texans,” Carroll was quoted as saying.

As a result of the Dingell-Hart Amendments in 1970 and 1972 to the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937, funds from federal excise taxes on handguns and archery equipment were made available to states to pay for hunter education, along with the other wildlife conservation efforts.

Starting in December 1971, volunteer Hunter Education instructor training began. Through April 1972, 897 instructors were trained. One of the first Texas Hunter Education students was Mike Davis Fain who later went on to become a Texas Game Warden.

On June 11, 1987, with the signing of SB 504 by Governor Clements, a statute on Hunter Education in Texas was set, and the TPW Commission subsequently passed rules for a mandatory Hunter Education program OUTDOORS 2022 |

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on June 1, 1988. They set a grandfather date of Sept. 2, 1971, meaning anyone born on or after that date, would be required to pass Hunter Education to legally hunt in Texas.

“A grandfather date was selected so we could reach over a million hunters over time,” said Steve Hall, TPWD’s Hunter Education Coordinator.

“The program also met national standards whereby students traveling to other states could also comply with their regulations, such as Colorado’s law with a grandfather date of January 1, 1949.”

Since becoming mandatory, the state has seen a significant decrease in hunting-related accidents. In 2021, more than 49,000 people received Hunter Education certification in Texas and only one fatality and 11 accidents were reported statewide. This compared to 1988 when 18,000 Texans received their certification but still reported 12 fatalities and 70 accidents.

In the 1990s, TPWD’s outreach and education programs grew considerably, expanding learning, hunting, target shooting, and other outdoor opportunities. Hunter education assisted greatly in the development of other department and volunteer programs including angler education, boater education, Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, and the Texas Youth Hunting Program, among others.

In the 2000s, the Texas Hunter Education Program continued to strengthen its influence both nationally and within the state alongside partners including the National Archery in Schools Program and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (Step Outside Program).

By its fifth decade in the 2010s, the Texas Hunter Education Program, entered an era of the internet and in 2013, the TPW Commission decided to allow online-only coursework for certification. After considerable discussion and testimony from hands-on proponents, the commission settled on 17 years of age as the minimum age a person could get certified through online-only course.

“As a result of the multi-prong approach, the program began certify-

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ing over twice as many hunters each year, increasing convenience and awareness in the process,” Hall said.

As more Texans continue to take to the field and begin their own hunting traditions, TPWD Hunter Education will continue to be the first stop for the next generation of safe, legal, and ethical hunters. Today, along with basic Hunter Education courses, the program provides advanced learning opportunities like Hunting 101s and Bowhunter Education to bolster hunter’s skills. To learn more about Texas Hunter Education, and how to find a course, along with other resources, visit the Hunter Education page on the TPWD website.

Hunters must have proof of Hunter Education certification on their person while in the field. Hunters have access to their Texas proof of Hunter Education in the free Outdoor Annual mobile app for iOS and Android.

VANGUARD

VANGUARD FORD HUGHES SPRINGS 143 TX-49 • Hughes Springs, TX 75656 903.639.2516

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2021 – 2022 Hunting Season Dates GAME ANIMALS Javelina SEASON ZONE General North South Mule Deer SEASON General

DATES Oct. 1 - Feb. 27 Sep. 1 - Aug. 31

Archery

ZONE Panhandle SW Panhandle Trans-Pecos 59 of 254 counties

DATES Nov. 20 - Dec. 5 Nov. 20 - Nov. 28 Nov. 26 - Dec. 12 Oct. 2 - Nov. 5

Pronghorn SEASON General

ZONE 41 of 254 counties

DATES Oct. 2-17

ZONE East Texas Other open counties East Texas

DATES Oct. 1 - Feb. 27 & May 1-31 Sep. 1 - Aug. 31 Sep. 25-26

Squirrel SEASON General Youth-only

White-tailed Deer SEASON ZONE General North South Youth-only North South Special Late North South Jan. 17-30 Archery 252 of 254 counties Muzzleloader 90 of 254 counties

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DATES Nov. 6 - Jan. 2 Nov. 6 - Jan. 16 Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 3-16 Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 3-16 Jan. 3-16 Oct. 2 - Nov. 5 Jan. 3-16

UPLAND GAME BIRDS Chachalaca SEASON ZONE Regular Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr & Willacy Counties

DATES Oct. 30 - Feb. 27

Pheasant SEASON Regular

ZONE Panhandle

DATES Dec. 4 - Jan. 2

Quail SEASON Regular

ZONE Statewide

DATES Oct. 30 - Feb. 27

TURKEY Rio Grande Turkey SEASON ZONE Fall North South Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg & Willacy counties Archery-only Fall Youth-only North South Spring North South One-turkey counties Spring Youth-only North South

Nov. 6 - Feb. 27 Oct. 2 - Nov. 5 Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 3-16 Oct. 30-31 & Jan. 17-30 April 2 - May 15 Mar. 19 - May 1 Apr. 1-30 Mar. 26-27 & May 21-22 Mar. 12-13 & May 7-8

Eastern Turkey SEASON Spring

DATES Apr. 22 - May 14

ZONE East Texas

DATES Nov. 6 - Jan. 2 Nov. 6 - Jan. 16

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MIGRATORY GAME BIRD Dove SEASON ZONE Regular North Central South Special Whitewinged Dove Days South Duck SEASON Regular

ZONE High Plains Mallard Management Unit North South

DATES Sep. 1 - Nov. 12 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 2 Sep. 1 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 14 Sep. 14 - Oct. 31 & Dec. 17 - Jan. 21 Sep. 3-5 & Sept. 10-12 DATES Oct. 30-31 & Nov. 5 - Jan. 30 Nov. 13-28 & Dec. 4 - Jan. 30 Nov. 6-28 & Dec. 11 - Jan. 30

Caring Like Family Focused Care at Linden 1201 W Houston St Linden, Tx 75563 903-756-5537 Office | 903-292-0602 Efax Christine.donald@fpacp.com www.fpacp.com

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Youth-Only

Goose SEASON Early Canada Goose Light & Dark Geese Light Goose Conservation Order East

High Plains Mallard Management Unit North South

Oct. 23-24 Nov. 6-7 Oct. 30-31

ZONE

DATES

East

Sep. 11- 26

West East

Nov. 13 - Feb. 13 Nov. 6- Jan. 30

West Jan. 31 - Mar. 13

Feb. 14 - Mar. 13

enjoy your hunt

BE SAFE

HUGHES SPRINGS 2016 Hwy 11 W • 903-639-2691 LINDEN 706 E. Houston • 903-756-7581 JEFFERSON 1740 Hwy 59 S • 903-665-8860

413 Hwy 59 S. • Atlanta, TX 75551

903-796-4191

M-F: 7:30AM - 5:30PM SAT: 7:30AM - 4PM  SUN: Closed T

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Rails, Gallinules & Moorhens SEASON ZONE Regular Statewide

DATES Sep. 11-26 & Nov. 6 - Dec. 29

Sandhill Cranes SEASON ZONE Regular A B C

DATES Oct. 30 - Jan. 30 Nov. 26 - Jan. 30 Dec. 18 - Jan. 23

Snipe SEASON Regular

DATES Nov. 6 - Feb. 20

ZONE Statewide

Teal SEASON ZONE September Teal Only

DATES Statewide Sep. 11-26

Woodcock SEASON Regular

DATES Dec. 18 - Jan. 31

ZONE Statewide

OTHER ANIMALS Alligator SEASON ZONE General Core Non-core

DATES Sep. 10-30 Apr. 1-June 30

Rabbits and Hares SEASON ZONE Regular Statewide

DATES No closed season

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605 Highway 59 • Queen City, Texas 75572

903-799-7296 Hours: M-F 8:30-5:30 • Sat 9-1 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

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