Surf fishing sizzling
By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star outdoor newS
Galveston area surf fishing “has been fire,” according to recent angler reports. “Anywhere really,” said Joseph Macias.
The red fishing has been especially hot lately. Macias has been finding them cruising the guts. The bite has been best early in the morning at low tide. Other anglers are having success with cut mullet or ladyfish with a spider weight in the second and third guts. Trout have also been caught in good numbers in the surf.
“I am just looking for schools of mullet. If there’s mullet there’s trout,” Macias said. He has been throwing Corky’s topwaters and Down South soft plastics for the best action. Keying on areas between the second and third sandbars has been the best bet for bait placement.
In the Laguna Madre area, the fishing has also been good from the beach.
“It’s been about two months since I’ve boxed a slot red. All the recent catches have been bull reds fishing at night,” said angler Gabriel Ramos. “I have a few captain friends that have been finding slot reds in Port Aransas and the Baffin Bay area.”
Gabriel has had most of his luck from 6 to about 11 p.m. when it is a little bit cooler outside. He has been catching bull reds, trout, drum, and huge ladyfish using a live shrimp underneath a Speckanater Poppin’ Cork.
“This is the time of year there is a lot of perch or croaker that take the shrimp. I have shifted to using live finger mullet, cut mullet, or live croaker,” Gabriel added. “The redfish love them.”
On Padre Island National Seashore, “the fishing has been a little bit weird,” according to Nick Meyer with Breakaway Tackle. Normally, this time of year, the mullet run is in full swing. The rain from the last month is making its way to the Gulf, and “that cold water tends to switch the mullet on and off,” Meyer said.
Please turn to page 9
Hit or miss
West Texas summer bass fishing slow due to heat, rising water levels
By Cory Byrnes For Lone Star outdoor newS
O.H. Ivie Reservoir has risen more than eight feet over the last month.
The rising shoreline has covered new vegetation, and the water temperature is lower than
normal this time of year. This, coupled with fishing pressure, has the bass spread out across the lake.
“The fishing is not as good right now,” said Dalton Smith with Dsmithfishing Guide Service. “There is a lot more vegetation, fresh salt cedar, and undergrowth on the bank. Whenever it fills up, that sours. The fish don’t get in there.”
When the vegetation starts to die down, the fish will return closer to shore.
“There is a bunch of different stuff going on in the lake right now. As far as the oxygenation levels, thermoclines are different in different places on the lake, parts of the lake are turning over. It’s kind of a mess right now,” he said. “It will take a little while for it to settle down.”
Smith and his clients are still finding fish on the lake, however. They are just spread out and not concentrated in one area.
The year to be a deer
Best range conditions
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
“Everywhere on your ranch is a bedding area.”
That is according to biologist Macy Ledbetter, when asked about this year’s range conditions and potential acorn crop.
“North San Saba County has a lot of acorns – they have a lot of everything right now,” he said. “We won’t be getting into helicopters to do surveys for another couple of weeks, but focusing locally, the trees are heavy. Oaks, pecans, a few hickories, mesquite beans in South Texas are above average. The spring was fairly dry, but we’ve had lots of rain in the early summer.”
Smith has had success during the early morning, low-light
Angler John Boehm holds a nice redfish he caught using a live mullet on the beach at Padre Island National Seashore. Photo by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News
Hunters can expect a good acorn crop, potentially limiting action at corn feeders early in the season. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
Bass fishing at O H Ivie Reservoir has cooled a bit this summer. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
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False outfitter websites tricking hunters
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
It’s a traveling hunter’s worst nightmare.
Arrive at the airport gate in a foreign country, and not only is the outfitter not there to meet you, they have no idea you’re even coming to hunt. Sound crazy?
It could be a reality due to a new scam targeting hunters – cloned
Deep Fakes
or outright fake outfitter websites fooling hunters to send deposits for non-existent hunts.
It’s happened to at least two outfitters in British Columbia, according to Scott Ellis, CEO of Guides Outfitters Association of British Columbia. The prospective hunters and outfitters – who did not wish to be named - found out about it by chance before the hunter arrived.
“Basically, a hunter phoned a BC outfitter and said his wire transfer did not go through,” Ellis said. “He asked the outfitter to
please confirm the account number. By fluke, he phoned the number he had previously for the outfitter, not the number listed on the website. The outfitter told him he was fully booked until 2027, didn’t have a spot for him and had no clue what the hunter was talking about.”
The outfitter in this instance did not even have a website, so the entire site was a fake.
“The guide told the hunter my business is all repeat clients, and I don’t have a website and don’t plan on getting one,” Ellis said.
“The impostor had emailed, had a local phone number and looked very legit.”
Despite the apparent fraud, Canadian police did not follow up on the case because they said no money actually changed hands, so a crime wasn’t committed. A cloned Facebook page for the outfitter was removed by Meta, but the website remains up and active. Ellis said the outfitter is working on obtaining an injunction to have the site taken down, but if the server and culprits are in a foreign country, the injunction probably won’t
Rams and a ring
Couple doubles on aoudad before marriage proposal
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Cooper Mcfadin and Courtney Purvis recently made a 4-mile hike up a west Texas mesa in Brewster County, south of Alpine, in pursuit of aoudad. A diamond ring also made the trek uphill in Mcfadin’s pocket. On their 4-mile descent, they both carried rams on their backs, while the diamond ring rode on Purvis’ left hand. Not only did they double up on mature aoudad rams, but they also got engaged.
Mcfadin said he had originally planned to propose to Purvis later in the year on an upcoming elk hunt in September.
“I had just picked up the ring that I had made for her, and we were talking about when she might have some time off from work in the upcoming months,” Mcfadin said. “She told me that due to unforeseen work obligations, she likely couldn’t make an elk hunt in September and wasn’t sure how soon she would know about being able to go on a trip and miss multiple days of work. Hearing about this pretty much canned my original plan, so I decided I needed to come up with Plan B pretty quick.”
Mcfadin knew Purvis had always wanted to harvest a west Texas aoudad, and his mom was able to connect him with one of her good friends in the Alpine area.
“My mom’s friend invited us to come over there for the weekend to her ranch,”
Mcfadin said. “She knew I was trying to do something special to propose and sent me a picture of the mesa on her property. She told me that the aoudad might be hit or miss, but the sunset views would be spectacular. That was good enough for me, so we made plans to head that way.”
Mcfadin said they started glassing the mesa on the property in the morning and were able to locate a herd of aoudad fairly quickly. They took a break for lunch, then loaded up their packs to hike up to the top of the mesa and hopefully get within range of a couple of rams.
“Once we got to the top of the mesa, I realized there was a knob that would give us a good vantage point,” Mcfadin said. “We moved to the top of the knob and sat down to start glassing.”
They had been sitting on the knob and glassing for about an hour and half or so, and the sun was slowly sinking.
“I finally noticed a big herd of aoudad about 900 yards away,” Mcfadin said. “We started making a plan to stalk in closer to them. Then, as I stood up, I spotted a bachelor group of four rams right below us, just down from the knob we were sitting on. I told Courtney to get ready to take a shot.”
The rams fed out away from the knob and had no idea that Mcfadin and Purvis were there. Mcfadin sized up the group of aoudad, and decided the lead ram was the largest of the four.
“He turned broadside at about 40 yards, and she made an excellent shot,” Mcfadin said. “The ram ran 10 yards and fell over. She immediately handed me the gun, and
matter or be effective.
Ellis said outfitters have been purchasing internet domain names matching their business, even if they have no intention of making them active.
“Hunters, please don’t send a wire transfer until you speak to the outfitter directly,” Ellis added. “Call us (GOABC)! We can verify things for visiting hunters. We want folks to be aware this is happening. Once you hit send on a wire transfer, that money is gone. We don’t want anyone showing up at the airport and nobody is there
Texas A&M launches new outdoor industry degree program
By Nate Skinner tar outdoor newS
This coming fall, Texas A&M University is launching a new degree program in Outdoor Enterprise Management. The Bachelor of Science degree track combines course work from the department of Agricultural Economics, the Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management & Tourism, and the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management. The program involves an integrated focus with outdoor recreation, business/fi-
nance, and hospitality management, and will prepare graduates to successfully manage outdoor and naturebased enterprises or businesses. According to the Texas A&M University Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management Department head Dr. Roel Lopez, there are only two other similar degree programs in the country. The Outdoor Enterprise Management degree program will be the first of its kind in the state of Texas.
“Outdoor Recreation is a $48 billion dollar industry in Texas,” said
Lopez. “In terms of nature-based economics, when compared to the rest of the country, Texas is ranked first in the hunting, shooting, and trapping industry sector. It is ranked second in the United States in climbing, hiking, and camping, and it is ranked third in fishing and boating.”
With economic expenditures for hunting, fishing, and nature-based tourism at an all-time high, service sector businesses that specialize in providing outdoor-based adventures and experiences have substantially increased over the last decade.
Two trophies in one with a new ring and a big ram. Photo by Cooper Mcfadin.
A new degree at Texas A&M University will help students prepare for running a hunting or fishing operation. Photo by Texas A&M.
Early summer quail counts positive
Spring call counts have concluded for the year at the Rolling Plains Quail Research Ranch. Surveys began in mid-May and concluded in early July. Heading into spring, there were some concerns due to limited rainfall from December through March. Fortunately, April brought much-needed moisture—though it also came with hail, which likely caused some bird losses. Since then, the rain has continued steadily, and the area has already received over 15 inches this year. For comparison, it hadn’t yet hit the 10-inch mark by this time last year.
Spring surveys included 25 listening stations (mile markers), with 16 surveys conducted at each location—for a total of 400 surveys. The average was 7.3 birds per stop and 92 total calls per station. These results closely resemble those recorded in 2016, a year often remembered as one of the best in recent memory. So far, the numbers are encouraging and suggest that the spring conditions were more favorable than initially expected.
The consistent rainfall has also spurred a flush of vegetation growth, which should provide critical cover for birds, especially as raptor migration peaks later this fall.
Considering the solid rainfall, decent carryover from last season, and the abundance of habitat cover, RPQRC is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for a strong 2025–2026 hunting season.
—Mitchell Riggs, RPQRC
Austin County offering hog bounty
Austin County Feral Hog Bounty is still going on.
The bounty program is offered with the support of the Austin County Commissioners Court. The county is paying $5 per feral hog harvested in Austin County, with biological evidence provided of the harvest in the form of a pair of feral hog ears and placed in an individually sealed bag and dropped off at three local feed stores in the county - Steinhauser’s in Sealy, Linseisen’s Feed & Supply in Bellville, and Lindemann Store in Industry.
A limit of 20 pairs per household per month is allowed. Signed paperwork must be completed when dropping off the ears to collect the bounty. All harvested hogs must be taken within Austin County.
—Staff report
Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
New degree
“These types of businesses are in high demand as folks are seeking an adventure that provides an entire experience, rather than just a hunting, camping, or fishing trip,” Lopez said. “Fishing lodges, hunting lodges, and outdoor or nature-based resorts are just a few examples of these types of businesses. These popular destinations require a balance of expertise in wildlife and land management, hospitality services, and business management. That’s exactly what our new Outdoor Enterprise Management degree program is designed to provide.”
Lopez said the Outdoor Enterprise Management degree program takes an interdisciplinary approach out of the necessity to meet the demands of the ever growing hunting, fishing, and nature-based tourism industries. Graduates could expect to pursue careers in management of hunting and fishing lodges or outfits, wineries, cattle operations, outdoor retail and sporting goods stores, and any natured-based or outdoorbased tourism business entity, to name a few.
“The opportunities with this degree are endless, as the nature-based and outdoorbased tourism sector continues to grow and
Proposal
expand,” Lopez said. “We are excited to be able to provide this new degree program to our students.”
Todd Franks is a new Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries Management at Texas A&M University and is the program lead for the new Outdoor Enterprise Management degree program. Franks played an integral role in establishing and growing a similar degree program at Auburn University, and is excited for the opportunity to grow this new program in Texas. Franks said that customer service is a key factor to the success of any business in the outdoor and nature-based tourism industry.
“In my opinion, the one thing that separates good businesses from great businesses in the industry is customer service,” Franks said. “People are choosing where they will spend money to recreate outdoors based on the experience that they will be provided with. And that’s one key aspect, among many others, that I believe this new degree program at Texas A&M puts emphasis on, and that’s where I think it can make the most difference in the industry.”
I was able to make a good shot on one of the other big rams. We watched him go down and were overtaken with excitement. The celebration began.”
They recovered both aoudad and got set up to take photos with their rams. Both aoudad were just shy of 32 inches. After posing for pictures, they caped out the rams.
“By the time we got them caped out and strapped to our packs, the sun was just starting to set,” Mcfadin said. “It was the perfect lighting, and that’s what I was waiting on. The sunlight started turning orange, and everything around us from the top of the mesa just looked gorgeous.”
Mcfadin told Purvis that he wanted to
take a photo with the sun starting to set before they got all hot and sweaty from packing out their rams. He set up his phone, but instead of setting it to take a photo, he started recording a video.
“I told her the real reason for dragging her up to the top of that mesa in the heat of the summer, wasn’t really to harvest an aoudad,” Mcfadin said. “Then I dropped to my knee and proposed.”
Purvis was completely surprised.
“It couldn’t have worked out any better,” Mcfadin said. “I really had no expectations of harvesting a ram. To double up and get engaged made for an unforgettable memory that we will both never forget.”
The newly-engaged couple with their trophy rams. Photo by Cooper Mcfadin.
For the girls
By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star outdoor newS
It seemed like the 50th Annual 2025 Port Mansfield Fishing Tournament turned into an all-female invitational tourney.
Most of the top spots were taken by women in a number of divisions, although male anglers did prevail in the kayak and junior divisions.
Kirsten Kinney was one grand champion, taking first place by catching a yellow and black tuna and releasing a blue marlin while offshore fishing.
Similarly, Erica Garza grabbed the women’s grand champion artificial division, while Michelle Frazier grabbed first place with her four redfish she caught over two days of fishing the tourney held July 25 and 26. Frazier, a former grand champion winner, has been competing for a number of years.
Other winners included Amanda Butts, who took first place in the flounder category.
Garza was with team “Twilight,” while Frazier fished with “Getaway Lodge.”
Butts, who was on a team called “Hookin Ain’t Eazy,” caught a Texas Grand Slam while wading south of Port Mansfield.
“It was fun,” she said after the first day of fishing. ”This is the first time we have participated in this tournament.”
Garza took the women’s Grand Champion spot for the first time.
“I feel good about it,” she said. “It was tough because a lot of ladies caught some good fish.”
One reason was the way the tournament was held this year.
For instance, the Texas Grand
Hot action offshore
By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS
Optimal weather windows producing calm seas have been occurring more frequently in recent weeks, allowing anglers to venture offshore into Gulf waters on a more regular basis. Catches have included red snapper, cobia, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, swordfish, mahi-mahi, and a variety of billfish.
These fish have been caught in various water depths along rip lines, weed lines, rock piles, fish aggregation devices, wrecks and floating debris.
The commercial Gulf shrimp season opened on July 15, and some offshore anglers have had the opportu-
nity to target the waters surrounding shrimp boats while they are culling their nets. Most of the shrimp boats have been focusing on areas that are only about 10 to 15 miles out, so very few pelagic species have been caught around shrimp boats thus far. There have been plenty of sharks caught around these commercial shrimping vessels, however.
Tyler Hass has fished offshore out of Surfside a few times recently, and has been running anywhere from 40 to 65 miles out into the Gulf.
“We’ve been fishing in about 150- to 200-feet of water,” Hass said. “While bottom fishing, we’ve been able to catch limits of red snapper, along with a handful of grouper. On average, our limits of snapper have
Levi’s lures
By Conor Harrison Lone Star outdoor newS
Most 12-year-olds don’t have a clue what they want to do in the next five minutes, let alone have it all mapped out through college. Levi Dickson isn’t your average 12-year-old.
The Honey Grove native has his sights set on earning a bass fishing scholarship to Texas State University, where he wants to major in wildlife biology. That’s if he doesn’t make it as a professional lure maker before then.
Levi has spent the summer at his grandfather’s woodworking table at his home in Ector, just west of Bonham. There, Levi learned the art of whittling and decided to combine it with his passion for bass fishing, turning pieces of wood into lures. And they work. While testing a lure recently at his uncle’s pond nearby, a 5-pound largemouth inhaled the wooden bait, giving Levi a great fight and a great feeling his baits will work.
“I started making lures over the sum-
working with to perfect the action on his lures.
“I’m experimenting with how they wig gle,” he said. “Some float, some are slowsinking. I add weights to some to get the action right. Some need new weights. I change the hook placement and the line tie placement. I change the eyes out. A few have had issues laying on their side in the water.”
He caught the big bass using one of his prototype lures on his favorite baitcasting rod, a 7-foot combo.
“My dad won it,” Levi said. “I was just testing my lure and threw it right in the middle (of the pond). He nailed it. It was crazy.”
Even though a 5-pound bass would be
Levi Dickson, 12, of Honey Grove, with one of his prototype wooden lures, top. Using one of his lures, he caught a 5-pound bass in a family pond. Photos by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News.
Stretches of water out of Port Aransas in the Gulf in depths of 300-500 feet have been affording anglers that are trolling with a variety of billfish. Photo by Capt. Blake Buell.
Erika Carpio with a nice redfish caught during the tournament. Photo from Erika Carpio.
By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star outdoor newS
Marlin days at TIFT
This year, a record number of billfish were released at the Texas International Fishing Tournament on August 1-2. All total, more than 160 billfish were let go during the two days of fishing.
There is no wonder why the TIFT is one of the largest and oldest along the Gulf coast. The annual event, now 85 years old, attracted more than 1,100 anglers in all its divisions, bay and offshore waters, catch and release and fly fishing.
Anglers on the boat Quantified grabbed the ultimate prize — offshore grand champion. But a Dallas businessman, Trey Brown, drew the biggest attention as he caught a 560-pound blue marlin. The behemoth fish was brought into the dock for the weigh-in just before the 7 p.m. deadline on the second day of fishing. The fish, one of two billfish displayed, drew a huge applause from the crowd.
Brown’s boat, The Edge, was captained by Chris Wood from Florida, who could not hide his enthusiasm for catching the marlin. Brown was equally excited.
“I have been fishing all my life, but started going offshore about twenty years ago,” Brown said in a brief interview. “But this is the biggest marlin I have ever caught.” He said he hooked the fish while standing and it took him nearly three hours to bring it closer to the boat. Better yet, he said he caught the fish less than 50 miles from the coastline.
Brown said he used a 35-pound leader and 120 circle hook.
“It was a tough fight,” he said at Sunday’s Aug. 4 award ceremony while showing a video of the fish dashing in and out of the waters. “This boy is still a little tired today.”
Plenty of fish were caught by some of the 73 offshore boats registered in the tournament.
Mahi-mahi, wahoo, tuna, a few kingfish and barracudas were all brought to the scales.
Team Grass Man brought in five dorado, two blackfin tuna and one wahoo.
Surfing
He recommends Fishbites or buying frozen shrimp so you have plenty when you get there.
“A lot of people have been targeting redfish on cut ladyfish,” Meyer said. “The other night, I saw a group of fishermen catch at least 20 in an hour. The birds showed them where they are.”
For trout, the bite has been better in the morning on top-waters.
“We have had a high-pressure system over us for a couple of weeks, and it has calmed the surf down,” Meyer added. In September, the fishing should start to really heat up.
In the bay division, anglers caught scores of redfish, speckled trout, black drum, as well as flounder and jack crevalle.
A youngster, Luke Salinas, from Port Isabel, caught some of the biggest snook while fishing along structures near the Brownsville Ship Channel.
Kristi Collier, the TIFT director for the last 11 years, said the tournament went real well.
“We had quite a few anglers,” she said. “We did not break records but we are very happy with this year’s turnout.”
“That’s when the schools of pompano come back closer. That is an amazing fishery,” Meyer said. “September is absolutely the best.”
Continued
Casting in the surf is producing good results.
Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.
A 560-pound blue marlin was brought to the scales during the TIFT. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Offshore action
consisted of much smaller fish than we are used to catching. Most have been in the 19- to 22-inch range, with a handful of fish pushing 10 to 20 pounds or so mixed in.”
According to Hass, whole sardines fished over rock piles have been producing the best results while he’s been targeting red snapper.
Hass said that the mahi-mahi bite has also been pretty consistent lately.
“I’ve found mahi-mahi each time I’ve run offshore,” he said. “There seems to be some good blue water in fairly close, and there’s a lot of bait out there around weed lines, rip lines, and floating debris. Weed lines and floating debris have also been holding scattered numbers of cobia.”
Hass has been finding schools of mahi-mahi with fish pushing over 5 pounds or more and even landed one that weighed over 25 pounds. Trolling squid and pitching bucktail jigs at fish that show up in the spread has been the ticket for the dorado.
Capt. Blake Buell has been running a 55-foot Viking called the Mari Lee, for a private operation out of Port Aransas, and finding limits of red snapper in the 8- to 10-pound range about 30 to 40 miles out in 180 to 240 feet of water. He said snapper fishing in water depths shallower than that has been tough.
After catching limits of snapper, Buell and his anglers have been running out further to areas where there are temperature breaks, scattered weed lines, or concentrations of flying fish in 300 to 500 feet of water, anywhere from 45 to 65 miles out, to catch blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, and billfish.
“Trolling ballyhoo has been producing plenty of bites and a variety of species of fish about 45 to 65 miles out in 300- to 500-feet of water,” Buell said. “We also caught and released a 200-pound blue marlin recently in about 330 feet of water.”
According to Buell, good numbers of kingfish in the 10- to 15-pound range have been thick along the beachfront and the Port A jetties.
“A lot of the inshore charter boats have been
trolling small diving baits and skirts to catch kingfish and Spanish mackerel from about the halfway mark inside the jetties, on out to the ends of the jetties.”
Buell said that most of the shrimp boats out of Port Aransas have only been about 10 to 15 miles out recently. He said most anglers are catching black tips and spinner sharks around them, along with a handful of cobia.
Capt. Blake Rogers has been running a boat for a private operation out of Packery Channel, targeting billfish and swordfish while dredge fishing about 55 to 100 miles offshore.
“The swordfish have been thick over rocks in 1,200 to 1,500 feet of water,” Rogers said. “We’ve been able to catch good numbers of swords trolling at night with down riggers in areas with temperature breaks.”
Rogers also confirmed there haven’t been many shrimp boats out in deep water yet to target pelagics around the areas he’s been fishing.
PUBLIC NOTICE
TPWD Proposed Regulations open to public comment through August 20, 2025. Go to tpwd.texas.gov/feeback/public_comment/ for more information.
TPW Commission Meeting, Aug. 20-21:
• Staff seeks adoption of proposed amendments to rules relating to the take of aoudad sheep by using a helicopter, as required by Senate Bill (S.B.) 1245, adopted during the 89th Texas Legislative Session.
• Staff seeks adoption of a proposed amendment to the rule governing available hunting licenses. The provisions of Senate Bill (S.B.) 1247, adopted during the 89th Texas Legislative Session, eliminated three nonresident hunting licenses and expanded the versatility of the current general nonresident hunting license while also renaming it.
• Staff will brief the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission on a proposed increase in the salary for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Executive Director in an amount to be determined. House Bill 1 from the 88th Texas Legislature (2023) authorizes an annual salary amount up to $299,813.
Acorns
Ledbetter said trees were stressed coming into spring because of a dry winter, but “when the rain came, it came like crazy.” The main types of acorn-producing oaks for Texas deer include shinnery, live, post and white oak varieties.
“All of them will have a crop this year,” Ledbetter said. “The white oak is clearly the deer’s favorite because they have the least amount of bitter tasting tannins. But most of the white oaks are in East Texas.”
Ledbetter said he wouldn’t start this season hunting over a corn feeder, as many deer will still be taking advantage of natural browse.
“Everyone has three- or four-feet tall grass in their pastures. I’ve seen plants I haven’t seen in 20 years this year. The deer will have everything they could want or need – food, water, concealment. Everywhere is a bedding area. One hundred percent of the acreage is usable right now.”
In southeast Texas, TPWD biologist Hunter Scoggins said he just started with the department in Liberty County, so he doesn’t have local past seasons to compare to, but range conditions are very good, in his opinion.
‘We’ve had steady rainfall and a mild summer so far,” he said. “The acorn crop here is tough to tell exactly until you get out and literally walk under the trees due to some of our secondary understory, but I suspect there will be a good crop this year.”
Scoggins said he was beginning the annual deer surveys and has noticed plenty of fawns on the ground where the grass is low enough to see.
Continued from page 1
Photo by Tyler Hass.
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TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT
ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 81 degrees; 1.17’ low. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.
AMISTAD: Water very stained; 82 degrees; 61.36’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
ARLINGTON: Water slightly stained; 82 degrees; 0.50’ low. Largemouth bass are good on topwaters, crankbaits, worms, creature baits, and jigs.
ARROWHEAD: Water stained; 88 degrees; 0.67’ low. Catfish are fair on fresh cut shad.
ATHENS: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.22’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Texas rigged worms, wacky-rigged senkos, and crankbaits. Crappie are slow.
AUSTIN: Water stained; 81 degrees; 0.56’ low. Largemouth bass are good on topwater frogs and soft plastics.
BASTROP: Water stained; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics.
BELTON: Water stained; 84 degrees; 6.77’ high. White bass are good on slabs and jigging spoons. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait and punch bait.
BENBROOK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.89’ high. Crappie are good on live minnows and jigs. Hybrid striped bass are good on live bait and slabs. Catfish are good on live and cut bait.
BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 86 degrees. 0.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.
BOIS D’ARC: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are good on frogs, flukes, buzz baits, crankbaits, and soft plastics.
BRAUNIG: Water stained, 92 degrees. Redfish are good on spoons and soft plastics. Catfish are slow.
BRIDGEPORT: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.37’ high. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. Largemouth bass are fair on jigs, crankbaits, and soft plastics. White bass are good on slabs and live shad. Hybrids are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and live shad.
BROWNWOOD: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.26’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. White bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut shad.
BRYAN: Water stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics.
BUCHANAN: Water slight stain; 80 degrees; 0.03’ low. Stripers and hybrids are fair trolling with downriggers and umbrella rigs. White bass are fair on top-waters and slabs. Catfish are good on live bait.
CADDO: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.64’ high. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, flukes, buzzbaits, and Texas rigs.
CALAVERAS: Water stained,
91 degrees. Redfish are good on spoons and soft plastics. Catfish are good on shrimp and punch bait.
CEDAR CREEK: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.40’ high. White bass and hybrid stripers are good on slabs, spinnerbaits, and spoons. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 84 degrees; 36.29’ low. Catfish are good on stink bait and other prepared baits. Crappie and freshwater drum are fair on jigs and minnows.
CISCO: Water stained; 80 degrees; 13.79’ low. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
COLEMAN: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.83’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. Hybrid bass are good on square-bill crankbaits. Catfish are slow.
COLETO CREEK: Water slightly stained, 87 degrees; 0.01’ low. Largemouth bass are slow.
CONROE: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.02’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, swimbaits, and top-waters. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Bream are good on worms and crickets. Hybrid stripers are fair on slabs, spoons, and live shad. Catfish are good on live, worms, stink bait, cut shad, and shrimp.
COOPER: Water stained; 80 degrees: 0.08’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows.
CORPUS CHRISTI LAKE: 80 degrees; 14.38’ low. Alligator gar are fair on cut bait or live bait.
CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.06’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on cut bait.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 87 degrees; 0.32’ high. Catfish are good on manufactured baits. White bass are good on slabs and crankbaits. Crappie are fair on jigs.
FALCON: Water stained; 89 degrees; 46.28’ low. Alligator gar are good on fresh cut carp and tilapia. Catfish are good on live bait and fresh cut bait.
FAYETTE: Water slightly stained; 92 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits, shaky heads, and Carolina rigs. Perch are fair on nightcrawlers.
slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
GEORGETOWN: Stain; 84 degrees; 4.78’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics.
GRAHAM: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.48’ high. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrids are good on spoons and jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad.
GRANBURY: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.03’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics, spinners, and crankbaits. White bass are good on trolled baits and slabs. Striped bass are fair on jigs, swimbaits, and live shad. Catfish are good on cut shad.
GRAPEVINE: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.09’ high. White bass are good on jigging spoons.
GREENBELT: Water stained; 80 degrees; 47.99’ low. White bass are good on minnows. Crappie are slow.
HAWKINS: Water slightly stained. 80 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters. Bream are fair on night crawlers.
HOUSTON: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.07’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, and Texas-rigged worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on trolled lures and vertical jigs. Catfish are good on fresh cut shad.
HOUSTON COUNTY: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.16’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.
HUBBARD CREEK: Water Stained; 80 degrees; 11.33’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs.
INKS: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.92’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics.
JACKSONVILLE: Water slightly stained; 88 degrees; 0.06’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics and jigs.
JOE POOL: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.23’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on topwaters, crankbaits, and Texas rigged soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows.
FORK: Water Stained; 90 degrees; 0.27’ high. Largemouth bass are good on frogs, buzz baits, poppers, shaky heads, crankbaits, and Carolina rigs. Bream are fair on wooly buggers. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows.
FT PHANTOM HILL: Water stained; 85 degrees; 3.03’ low. Largemouth bass are
LAKE
O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 90 degrees; 1.69’ high. Largemouth bass are good on lipless crankbaits and square bill crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.
LAVON: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.02’ high. Largemouth bass are good on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and swim baits. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on slabs. Bluegill are good on earthworms and crickets. Catfish are good
on punch bait.
LEWISVILLE: Water stained; 84 degrees; 0.04’ high. White bass and hybrids are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
LIMESTONE: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.49’ high. Largemouth bass are good on chatterbaits, Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, and spinnerbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good noodling.
LIVINGSTON: Stained; 85 degrees; 0.10’ high. Largemouth bass are good on swim jigs and square bill crank baits. White bass are good on slabs. Catfish are good on shad.
MARTIN CREEK: 93 degrees. 0.24’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs and shaky head worms. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on night crawlers and punch bait.
MEREDITH: Water stained; 81 degrees; 43.89’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics and jigs. White bass are good on soft plastic jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows. Perch and bluegill are good on worms and corn. Walleye are good on minnows, soft plastics, and crankbaits. Trout are fair on night crawlers. Catfish are good on shrimp, frozen shad, and cut bait.
90 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are good on senkos. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on rattletraps and shallow diving crankbaits. Catfish are good on stink bait and cut bait.
PALO PINTO: 0.27’ low. Crappie are slow. Hybrids and sand bass are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait.
PINKSTON: Slightly stained; 85 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigs and dropshots. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on live minnows and cut bait.
POSSUM KINGDOM: The water temp is steady at 85-87; 0.16’ high. Stripers are slow. Sand bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut shad and punch bait.
PROCTOR: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.77’ high. Catfish are good on cut bait. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows.
RAVEN: Water slight stain; 90 degrees. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms. Bluegill are good on hotdogs and worms under a bobber.
MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 83 degrees; 1.39’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are slow. Largemouth bass are good on creature baits and plastic worms.
NACOGDOCHES: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 0.48’ high. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigs and drop shots. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on live shiners and bluegill.
NACONICHE: Water slightly stained; 86 degrees; 0.50’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are slow.
NASWORTHY: Water slightly stained; 79 degrees. 1.03’ low. Largmeouth bass are good on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.
NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.11’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are on shad and perch.
O H IVIE: Water temperatures 81 to 83°; 15.91’ low. Largmeouth bass are good on topwater frogs, ploppers, and swimbaits. Crappie are slow. White bass are good on crankbaits. Catfish are good on cut shad.
PALESTINE: Water stained;
RAY HUBBARD: Stained; 85 degrees. White bass are fair on swimbaits, tail spinners, and rattletraps. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait.
RAY ROBERTS: Water slightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.09’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on 10-inch worms, crankbaits, and football jigs. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on live shad.
RICHLAND CHAMBERS: Water is stained, 86 degrees. 0.10’ high. White Bass are fair on slabs. Hybrid striper are good on live shad. Catfish are good on punch bait.
SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 86 degrees; 3.66’ low. Bluegill are good on night crawlers. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows.
SOMERVILLE: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.47’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.
STAMFORD: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.90’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are slow. Catfish are fair on minnows.
STILLHOUSE: Water stained. 84 degrees. 7.68’ high. White bass are fair on slabs and umbrella rigs.
TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.02’ high. Largemouth bass are good on senkos, square bills, and frogs. Hybrid striper and white bass are good on slabs and live shad. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good prepared baits.
TEXANA: Water stained; 80 degrees; 0.34’ low. feet below pool. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are good on trotlines and jug lines.
TEXOMA: Water stained; 84 degrees; 1.48’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Stripers are slow. Catfish are good on punch bait.
TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.98’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas and Carolina rigs with big worms, crankbaits, and jigs.
TWIN BUTTES: Water stained. 82 degrees; 31.49’ low. Catfish are fair on punch bait. White bass and crappie are fair on minnows and shad.
TYLER: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.05’ high. Largemouth bass are good on plastic worms and top-waters. Bream are fair on red worms. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are fair on stinkbait, liver, and night crawlers.
WACO: Water stained; 89 degrees; 3.21’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass and crappie are slow.
WALTER E LONG: Water slightly stained; 87 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, and chatterbaits.
WEATHERFORD: Water stained; 87 degrees; 3.31’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut bait and shad.
WELSH: Water stained. 88 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits and Carolina rigs.
WHITE RIVER: Water stained; 78 degrees; 16.14’ low. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. Catfish are good on live bait.
WHITNEY: Water slightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.47’ high. Striped bass are fair on live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are fair on cut bait.
WORTH: Water stained; 85 degrees; 1.14’ high. Carp are good on bait balls. Catfish are good on punch bait.
WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 6.35’ high. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are fair on punch bait.
DOVE DAYS A TRAVELER’S TALE | PAGE 10 CAJUN DOWN UNDER | PAGE 22
FROM WORK TO PLAY
WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.
HUNTING texas
Blinds and Feeders are all we know
J&L has been meeting hunters’ needs with highquality feeders, blinds and so much more for more than 30 years as an industry-leading retailer that prides itself on full customer service satisfaction.
With J&L being a dealer for Atascosa Wildlife Supply, All Seasons, Outback, Dillon Blinds, GreenGo Feeders, Longhorn Outdoors, Texas Hunter Products and Texas Wildlife Supply, there is a tremendous selection of blinds, towers, windows, feeders and feeder accessories. J&L also carries top-quality feed, such as locally raised cleaned corn (Grooms Seed), roasted soybean blends, peanuts, Cervid Complete, Purina AntlerMax, Double Down as well as bulk feed, delivered to your location and/or will fill your feeders.
No Time to get blinds and feeders set-up and ready? Let us do it for you.
Call, text, or come see us for easy, no-hassle shopping — or shop online. J&L is a fullservice shop for hunters with convenient curbside pickup and turn-key delivery availability; that way you can spend all your time enjoying the important things like making memories with friends and family while hunting and enjoying the Texas wildlife.
Call and schedule a delivery or just come and see us.
J&L offers the largest inventory of deer blinds and feeders, while growing big and doing bigger things. We are owned and operated by hunters to help hunters.
If you don’t already know us... you’ll feel like you do.
TDHA’s Banded Bird Challenge Promotes Research and Prizes for Hunters
Texas Dove Hunters Association has been a true hunter’s organization since it began in 2012, promoting strong family unity through hunting and outdoors.
TDHA developed the Texas Banded Bird Challenge in 2018 as a field study on the Eurasian Collared dove, an invasive species in Texas. We have since built an extensive database centered on where these birds are trapped, banded, and released, compared to where they are found or harvested. We study the habitat in all three locations, looking at directional travel, age, and distance over time.
This year will mark the eighth year of the study, and some 6,400 birds having been banded and released in Texas. The top prize is a new truck provided by Hoffpauir Auto Group, which is a pre-determined band number. The rest of the prizes are guaranteed to entrants who report a TDHAbanded Eurasian during the contest dates: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31. From a Polaris Ranger, exotic hunts, trout fishing trip, Argentina dove hunt, deer feeders, leather products, gun accessories and targets, and more, your $20 TBBC entry could pay off big.
The TDHA release team travels across the state to release the birds in different regions. The contest continues to gain momentum and generate exciting insights into the habits of these invasive birds. This season’s results and winners will be recapped in the Spring 2026 issue of Texas Dove Hunters Magazine.
Join or renew your TDHA membership today.
Enter the TBBC by August 31.
TEXAS DOVE HUNTERS ASSOCIATION
☎ (210) 764-1189
TEXASDOVEHUNTERS.COM
ELOS 2 ELITE
For over a century, Fabarm has been merging traditional craftsmanship with modern technology to create shotguns that combine attractiveness and functionality. The Fabarm Elos 2 Elite is no exception. The Elos 2 Elite is a purpose-built shotgun, with refinements that you can feel as well as see.
Its Pistol Grip stock provides a comfortable and repeatable hand placement and smooth mount during the sudden flush of wild birds. While its light weight adds to the ease of carrying during long days in the field. The stock and fore end are crafted with a deluxe grade of walnut with a matte oil finish to provide a distinguished look.
Designed for the discerning upland hunter, the receiver is richly color-case hardened with traditional game scene engraving and gold inlays of game birds. Tested on some of the toughest upland birds in the world, this fine Italian shotgun will deliver consistent performance for American hunters all season long.
Fabarm’s proven Tribore HP tapered bore and inner HP chokes ensure
Abilene Gun Works Abilene, TX 79601 325-704-5174
Able Sporting, Inc. Huntsville, TX 77320 936-295-5786
Ally Outdoors Midland, TX 79705 432-203-3661
Alpine Shooting Range Fort Worth, TX 76140 817-478-6613
August M. Crocker Austin, TX 78727 512-567-7855
Baker Outdoors Lubbock, TX 79424 806-516-5700
Berg’s Outdoors Broussard, LA 70518 504-610-4319
BPS Outfitters Sherman, TX 75090 903-892-2227
Briley Manufacturing Houston, TX 77043 800-331-5718
Cajun Gun & Gear Lafayette, LA 70508 337-999-0373
Cole Gunsmithing San Antonio, TX 78253 210-906-0857
Clay Shooters Supply San Antonio, TX 78253 210-610-2999
Defender Outdoors Fort Worth, TX 76107 817-935-8377
Dury’s Gun Shop San Antonio, TX 78223 210-533-5431
Elite Shotguns San Antonio, TX 78253 210-741-9940
Gordy & Sons Outfitters Houston, TX 77007 713-333-3474
Gray’s Shotgun Cache Amarillo, TX 79118 806-622-8142
Jeff’s Gun Shop Wichita Falls, TX 76310 940-631-2314
Joshua Creek Ranch Boerne, TX 78006 830-537-5090
KB House of Guns Boswell, OK 74727 580-566-1400
Lone Star Guns Weatherford, TX 76087 817-599-9275
Mumme’s Inc. Hondo, TX 78861 830-426-3313
Past & Blast Whitesboro, TX 76273 903-564-5444
Rocky Creek Outdoors Texarkana, AR 71854 903-278-8780
Scheels (The Colony) The Colony, TX 75056 469-854-7500
Sharp Shooters Lubbock, TX 79407 806-791-1231
Superior Outfitters Tyler, TX 75703 903-617-6141
Texas Ranch Outfitters Yantis, TX 75497 903-383-2800
Windwalker Farms Stanton, TX 79782 432-458-3324
Wilkerson’s Gun Shop Boerne, TX 78006 830-388-7205
A TRAVELER’S TALE
By Bre Lewis
For Lone Star outdoor newS
Greeted by a smiling African holding “Bre Lewis, Numzaan Safaris” when I stepped out of the airbridge from my plane to South Africa was not only a kind welcome but truly a red carpet treatment, speeding and easing my way through customs with all my hunting gear.
Traveling overseas with hunting equipment, especially if bringing a firearm, is stressful, even when you’ve made the effort to dot the “i”s.
The “VIP” treatment Numzaan Safaris provides for all their clients takes away the worry and
saves time waiting in lengthy lines after a long flight. Of all the countries I’ve traveled, never had the arrival and customs clearance been quicker or easier. My appreciation of the airport security staff who escorted me was not limited to breezing through customs, however. When we stepped out of the security area, the formidable throng crowding the receiving terminal of the airport was overwhelming. Passengers were badgered by people looking to “help” or give them a ride. I was no novice to traveling to new and, often, third-world countries. Still the scene could have been intense, a struggle to navigate through the persistent
Dove Days of Summer
By Conor Harrison
Lone Star outdoor newS
and unrelenting swarm in an attempt to find and reach the blue shirts of the professional hunters collecting me. However, my VIP airport security assistant had the professional hunters on the phone, parted the crowd, and didn’t leave my side until we met up with them.
This special collection was especially appreciated because of the slight unease I felt about my travels after a phone call from my parents a few weeks before I left for South Africa. They were concerned for my safety traveling here after the US news highlighted acts of violence and issued a travel advisory. I took their concerns into consider-
ation but still was game to come to South Africa.
What I wish I knew to tell my parents (and myself) is that the safari company was not going to leave me alone here to fend for myself at all. Having someone to trust and to facilitate the process immediately when I landed, and then hand the reins over to the knowledgeable and capable PHs proved immensely reassuring.
The beautiful, remote, and secure lodge and hunting areas quickly and completely restored my sense of ease. True, the hairs on the back of my neck may have tingled while stalking a huge Cape buffalo, especially when the cows ran down a draw, un-
It doesn’t feel like it based on the current 100+ degree Texas days, but the annual Sept. 1 unofficial opening of all things Texas hunting – the dove opener – is less than one month away.
It seems like 90 percent of dove hunters only hunt opening morning. Does more effort go into any other game animal for one morning of camaraderie and time afield than the dove? What draws us to this flying acrobat to the point farmers will devote months to cultivate a field so hunters can spend a few hours doing that we love? Maybe it’s just because it’s so much fun.
Maybe we should spend more days, cooler days, chasing these tasty morsels of the air. Might just do that this season.
knowingly toward us, after the shot. However, that “on edge” feeling is exactly what keeps me coming back to Africa!
While I’m sure the travel advisory is helpful for many tourists exploring South Africa alone, Numzaan shelters clients from any human-caused risk by only going to safe and appropriate areas. On top of the exclusive lodges and hunting areas, you can travel to national parks to photograph more wildlife or play golf and enjoy a meal out at the luxury golf resort close by. They save your thrills for game animals only!
Bre Lewis
GUNSTIX SHOOTING STICKS
Experience the next evolution in shooting support with GunStix—quad-legged shooting sticks engineered for superior stability and precision.
Designed to outperform traditional bipods and tripods, GunStix enables bench rest accuracy with ease. Confidently shoot at long ranges. Dual contact points at the forearm and stock ensure your rifle remains fully supported at all times — especially beneficial for youth shooters and women seeking added control and confidence.
Fully adjustable, GunStix adapts seamlessly to various shooting positions, whether seated, standing, kneeling, or navigating uphill and downhill terrain.
Weighing 2.4 pounds and folding down to a compact 32.5 inches, these sticks are perfect to practice with and take on your next hunt. Trusted and tested by shooters worldwide for consistent, impressive results. Discover more, view demonstration videos, or order your set today. Try them risk-free— if you’re not completely satisfied, simply return them for a full refund.
2025-2026 hunting season dates
Dove Gear’s Ultimate Bird Vest Gets An Upgrade
With dove season just around the corner, it’s time to gear up. And if you’re still using the same old vest or bird belt, you’re missing out on one of the best pieces of upland gear on the market.
For 2025, Rockport-based Dove Gear is raising the bar once again with an all-new camouflage color pattern and a brand-new “Bird Gear” edition in sage and safety orange for upland bird hunters.
These new additions expand the well-earned name — The Ultimate Bird Vest. After five years of rave reviews, the company still has never received even one return under its 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Crafted with premium materials, the Ultimate Bird Vest features a breathable mesh back and minimal strap design to keep you cool on even the hottest September hunts. It’s made to last, yet light (under 18 ounces) and comfortable enough to wear all day.
From top to bottom, this vest is loaded with smart features:
• Six-way adjustability fits nearly any hunter from youth to 4XL.
• Velcro-secured shell pouches with dual positioning — outside for security, inside when the action is hot and heavy.
• Zippered security pockets behind each shell pouch to protect valuables like your phone or glasses.
• Washable bird bag for easy cleanup.
• Zippered rear hull pouch to keep your empties in check.
• 32-ounce water bottle holder for staying hydrated—you or your dog.
And for outfitters, lodges, or corporate events, Dove Gear offers custom embroidery to make your vests as professional as your hunts.
Now available in new 2025 styles:
• Brown/Camo (newly updated camo pattern!)
• Sage/Safety Orange “Bird Gear” Edition
The Ultimate Bird Vest is the go-to product for serious bird hunters. Order yours now and get ready for the season opener.
“I visited Joshua Creek for a corporate event. We hunted behind dogs the first afternoon and had a great experience. The guide was knowledgeable, knew his dogs well and was enjoyable to be around. The second day we did a driven hunt and had a great time as well. Overall, this place was beautiful, the staff were professional, and the hunts were exceptional. Lodge, food, and bar were also wonderful.”
Will C. | Orvis.com Review
YOUR TEXAS HUNTING, SPORTING DESTINATION
Perched atop a mesa just west of Fort Worth, Greystone Castle is a sight to behold. With four turrets peeking above the tree line, this majestic sight is one to be remembered. From its award-winning wingshooting program to trophy whitetail and exotics, world-class bass fishing and our national champion sporting clays instructor, there is something for everyone at Greystone Castle.
The Gold Medal whitetail deer program offers an all-inclusive package based on the opportunity to hunt the opening weekend of the season. Not restricted by score, it is an exclusive chance to hunt for the whitetail of your dreams.
As evidenced by being named the Orvis 2015 Wingshooting Lodge of the Year, Greystone has mastered the art of bird hunting. The ever-popular mixed bag hunt includes quail, pheasant, chukar and Hungarian partridge. This upland walking hunt allows guests to experience great pointing dogs working over rolling terrain specially farmed for optimal bird habitat. The European pheasant hunt is a great way to get lots of shooting action and watch Labradors do what they do best — retrieve birds. The mallard hunts offer a great chance to improve your skills over water while the fast-flying dove hunts offer an adrenaline rush every hunter craves.
If you are looking for something different, you will find it in the exotic pasture full of animals from around the world. Species from Africa, Asia, South America and Europe roam the North Texas plains and thrive in the southern climate. Breeding herds of axis deer, aoudad, blackbuck antelope, sika and fallow deer mean there are plenty of trophies to be taken.
For those looking to relax and enjoy the water, Greystone offers more than 120 acres of stocked bass lakes. From small private lakes to the 80-acre Thurber Lake, every type of fishing opportunity exists.
From fly-fishing to spincasters or a simple hook and bobber, there is a method for everyone. Kayaks and paddleboards let you go off on your own adventure or you can jump on a pontoon boat to sneak to the honey holes.
Two championship sporting clays courses, two 5-stands, a training course and a wobble deck challenge every level of shooter. Our new 400-yard rifle and pistol range offers steel targets at a variety of distances. Hone your skills on the new archery course featuring a tri-level static range and a three dimensional walking course. Or just enjoy the scenic hiking and biking trails.
What appeals to Greystone visitors is its top-of-the-line accommodations and gourmet meals. Guests enjoy 26 private rooms, gourmet dining from an executive chef, conference facilities and a swimming pool with a hot tub and a steam room. Along with this is the 2,600 square-foot pavilion facility with a custom bar, large seating areas, 65-inch TVs, carved limestone fireplace, Laser Shot, billiards and an overlook terrace with a custom outdoor fire pit.
The ownership and staff are dedicated to creating one of the finest sporting experiences found anywhere in the world. Long-term habitat improvements and wildlife management have made Greystone an extraordinary hunting venue.
CAJUN GIRL BECOMES HUNTER IN NEW ZEALAND
By Chaise Sutherland For Lone Star outdoor newS
Being from Southwest Louisiana near the Texas border, I grew up in what we call Sportsman’s Paradise. Hunting and fishing have always been crucial to the Cajun way of life. Hunting was my father’s favorite pastime and fishing my grandfather’s.
But it wasn’t until I found myself surrounded by rugged mountains, mirror-like lakes, beaucoup sheep, and fascinating species in New Zealand that I decided I wanted to make hunting and fishing my own. As a junior in college studying travel, tourism, and languages, I took an internship with Glen Dene Hunting and Fishing, an outfitter on the South Island.
For half the week I served hunters their dinner in the lodge after they came in from their hunts. The other half of the week I worked skinning and salting hides, and power-washing skulls to prepare the harvested animals for taxidermy.
I like to say I had the best of both worlds, being bloody and covered in brains for half the week and dolled up with my pearls for the other half. Little did I know that I’d fall in love with learning about the anatomy of the animals - red stag, fallow, tahr, chamois, pacific goats, and arapawa rams. I’d also fall in love with the wholesomeness of the sport, the stories I’d hear from hunters in the lodge and from the guides, the experiences of the team I worked with, and the testimonies of sincere pursuit towards wildlife conservation taking place across the world.
Thanks to Richard and Sarah Burdon,
owners of Glen Dene, who graciously hosted me, and to the lifelong friends I made there, I was able to harvest my first deer - a beautiful red deer hind and later a fallow doe. As I skinned, butchered, and processed my first deer I’d just taken I couldn’t help but think, “this is the way it’s supposed to be.”
After processing the deer, I took a tenderloin and cooked it for lunch, and from that moment I was hooked…I wanted to hunt for the rest of my life. The process is pure and incredibly rewarding.
During my free time, I was also introduced to fishing. I got to learn about different types of trout from locals and even take a fly-fishing lesson, which I found truly enjoyable.
From what I learned about hunting and fishing in New Zealand, I became eager to go home and share the experiences with my friends and family. I also couldn’t wait to go home and hunt and fish species available in my own stomping grounds.
From this excitement, I made plans to continue learning about conservation, as I had learned so much from hunters all over the world and the different projects and species they were passionate about.
I recently took an opportunity to continue learning by interning with the Dallas Safari Club for the Summer Expo and Foundation Gala. This was an incredible opportunity as I got to catch up with old friends made in New Zealand, connect with outfitters from all over the world, guides/professional hunters, and work alongside a team of interns my age who also care about this industry and want to make a difference.
For young women like myself looking to get involved with hunting or fishing, my advice is to join local sportsman’s clubs or chapters that are active in the community. Find experienced hunters and anglers, ask lots of questions, and ask to hear their stories. Volunteer to tag along on hunts or fishing trips, attend shows like the DSC Convention, and stop and visit with the people working the booths. Look for internships with outfitters to continue learning and gaining hands-on experience.
Before I left for New Zealand, I couldn’t have understood the impact the internship would have on me. I couldn’t have expected it would mean being across the world for a Cajun girl to become passionate about the hunting lifestyle, but I suppose that’s what it took.
As a now senior in college, I look forward to my future in this field. From the Internship, I realized I wanted to be a part of conservation projects, hunt and fish sustainably, and share the knowledge I gained with those around me.
www
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
ZAMBIA
Chaise Sutherland
Buffalo Wool Company stands out
When it comes to fall and winter hunting gear, The Buffalo Wool Company stands out with its exceptional use of American bison fiber and merino wool.
This unique combination creates apparel that excels in the harshest conditions, making it a top choice for hunters. The company’s gear, including gaiters, gloves, socks, hats, and more, offers unparalleled warmth and comfort, thanks to bison fiber’s natural insulating properties. Sourced from American bison, this fiber features a crimpy down undercoat that traps thousands of tiny air pockets, providing superior warmth even in subzero temperatures—ideal for early morning stands or late-season hunts. Its fineness, ranging from 17 to 22 microns, ensures a soft, itch-free feel, while its moisture-wicking ability keeps hunters dry during long treks.
Blended with merino wool, renowned for its breathability and durability, The Buffalo Wool Company enhances its gear’s performance. This blend maintains warmth when wet and offers natural odor resistance for extended wear. The company’s unwavering commitment to American-made products, sourcing all materials and crafting every item in the USA, ensures exceptional quality and supports local economies. The gear excels at protecting extremities from extreme cold: hats shield the head with a thick, insulating layer; fingerless or full fingered gloves safeguard hands while allowing dexterity; and boot socks provide robust warmth and cushioning for feet, preventing frostbite in frigid conditions.
Hunters praise the lightweight yet sturdy design, with reviews highlighting its reliability across diverse climates. In essence, The Buffalo Wool Company delivers the best hunting gear for fall and winter.
sunrise/sunset 2025-2026
SPORTING CLAY EXPERIENCE at Wildpoint Ranch
We have a truly unique Sporting Clay course here at Wildpoint Ranch.
Nestled in a natural wooded area on the ranch, which lies in the old Red River breaks just outside of Saint Jo, Texas, the course is set up so there are not only outgoing targets, but incoming, as well. Challenge yourself on the Springing Teal station, where you shoot out of a stationary boat as if the teal were taking off from the water. The Sporting Clays course features 10 stations and 100 targets, including a Rolling Rabbit station where the target rolls & hops along the ground. Most of our stations are in the shade.
Come catch a glimpse of the whitetail, blackbuck antelope, fallow deer and aoudad that roam the ranch. Standard Trap is also available. Families are always welcome at Wildpoint Ranch and safety is our number one priority. Come have fun and see if you can get your name on the leaderboard of top 5 shooters each month.
Family owned and operated since 2001, Wildpoint Ranch has been running a successful hunting operation since 2005. Ask about our hunts while you are here.
Wildpoint also has a 500-yard rifle range and a pistol range available to rent, so you can shoot all day.
Coming soon will be bunkhouse rentals. Come shoot the course, zero in your rifle, try out your new pistol at the range, watch the animals and relax. Make it a weekend for friends and family.
WILDPOINT RANCH
☎ (972) 922-4225
WILDPOINTRANCH.COM
Texas Hold’em Started Here, Never Left
Poker has never been just about the cards. It’s about reading a man like a map and knowing when to make your move. Poker has been played across the world for centuries. Variations of card games started in 16th century Persia and then spread across Europe. All early versions of poker varied due to word-of-mouth rules. When poker reached America, its popularity spread alongside the expansion of railroads in the 19th century.
But Texas Hold‘em started in saloons and backrooms with cigars and whiskey. The true origins and creation of Texas Hold’em were written in chips, not ink. This led to lots of speculation about the exact details of its invention. The Poker Hall of Famer Blondie Forbes is credited with establishing the modern rules of Texas Hold’em. In 2007, Robstown, Texas became the official birthplace of Texas Hold’em through the Texas state legislature.
Its popularity began soaring in Las Vegas in the 1960s when it was introduced to the casinos and played in small backroom games, eventually attracting a larger following. It was then included in the very first World Series of Poker. After the first year, no-limit Texas Hold’em became the featured main event and has been ever since. After being established as the more popular version, the reach of Texas Hold’em became global.
The “Poker Boom” happened in the early 2000s. This was due to movies, media, and literature about the game. It is also due to Chris “Moneymaker” who was an amateur player from Tennessee who made the final table of the WSOP main event with a $39 buy-in from an online satellite tournament, who then went on to win the $2.5 million cash prize. Due to the poker boom, Texas
now the most popular variant of poker worldwide.
The spirit of the game still lives on, right here in Texas. The best place found to be keeping that spirit alive is Texas Card House. It recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and first season of its proprietary tournament, Trailblazer Poker Tour. With six locations open 24/7 across the state, it offers a welcoming and competitive space for all kinds of players. Texas Card House also offers a new way to play with its Hijack Poker app — allowing players to compete for real money online and conveniently cash out at any TCH location across Texas. You can go online for more information.
Hold’em is
THE NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICA’S FAVORITE HUNTING RIFLE
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SHARE AN ADVENTURE
Carson Crouch caught and released this billfish in Cabo San Lucas this month.
Charles Larkam and his friends with a great nilgai bull from the Kenedy Ranch.
Father and son, Harrison and Connor Ewing with a 11.06 OH Ivie monster bass caught with Dalton Smith
Henry Bryarly with a Jack from Costa Rica he caught on a family vacation.
Dallas native Pranav Danda was fishing with friend John Rubi when he caught this nice slot redfish with live bait in Panama City, Florida.
Fake websites
to pick them up because nobody knew they were coming.”
Several hunting organizations have posted warnings in the past few weeks. Safari Club International’s Chief Information Officer Paul Guagliardo said: “Unfortunately, with advancements in AI and website cloning, it’s getting harder to tell the difference between legitimate outfitters and spoofed sites. While there is no foolproof way to spot these bad actors, both hunters and outfitters can take certain steps when conducting business online to protect themselves. The most important thing is to practice vigilance, which requires close attention to details.”
Other steps hunters can take, according to SCI:
• Beware of suspicious website URLs with slight misspellings, extra characters, unusual endings (e.g., .net, .xyz, .info instead of .com)
• Google search the outfitter instead of clicking on links or advertising on social media and other digital platforms
• Look for the HTTPS (Secure Connection) If the website address doesn’t start with https:// or is missing the padlock icon, it’s a red flag
• Verify contact information. If there’s no phone number, no business address, or a generic email (like Gmail or Yahoo), that’s a warning sign
• Beware of stock photos or stolen images. Use Google image search to check if the photos on their website are used elsewhere
• Scrutinize the site. Look for poor design, copy-paste content, sloppy layout, lowquality images, generic text, inconsistent branding, conflicting or incompatible content
• Conduct due diligence
• Call and speak with the outfitter. Don’t rely on just email or text
• Look for an online presence or reviews. A reputable outfitter should have Google reviews, social media activity, or be listed with hunting associations or directories
• Look for license or accreditation Info. Look for a guiding license number and professional affiliations, then verify them
MidwayUSA owners honored by DSCF
Larry and Brenda Potterfield, owners of MidwayUSA and founders of the MidwayUSA Foundation, were awarded the 2025 Dallas Safari Club Foundation Legacy Award on July 19 at the DSC Foundation Gala in Grapevine, Texas. The award was presented by Dallas Safari Club CEO, Rob McCanna.
The DSC Foundation Legacy Award was established to honor hunter-conservationists whose passion and dedication have shaped the future of conservation. More than a recognition of past achievements, this award celebrates those who have contributed meaningfully to the enduring legacy of conservation through hunting. Since its inception in 2021, past honorees have included Mary Cabela, Fiona Capstick, John & Chrissie Jackson, and Jeff Crane.
—DSC
Summer bass
Continued from page 1
bite windows using top-waters. “When the sun is up, you can’t go wrong with a big worm this time of year either,” he said. It just might be a little bit of a grind until you find them. Even with all this going on, “what is cool about Ivie is that any cast you can catch a big one,” he said. “We have a lot of 2-pound bass in the lake right now and a healthy population of shad fry, gizzard fry.”
Smith predicted now that the lake is up, the 2-pounders will have room to grow and will put on weight quickly. Dalton is excited about September and October when fishing normally becomes more consistent.
On Possum Kingdom, Chris Sisk and his clients have been enjoying the early morning bite until about 10 a.m.
“After that, it slows down,” Sisk said. “You can’t beat a blue fleck Power worm.”
He and his clients have been targeting fish in 15 feet of water or less.
“It’s very, very slow right now on the top-water stuff,” he said. “They get spooked real easy too, so you have to creep up on them with your trolling motor.” He has been keying in on points and humps right on the edges of the lake. As the dog days of summer close and fall comes in with some cooler weather, fishing will pick up.
“The fishing’s been real good this year out at Lake Alan Henry,” said Mike Burk, owner of Lake Alan Henry Lodges.
Anglers have had a lot of success with lizards.
“Striped bass and spotted bass have been hitting hard along the banks.” Burk added, while also saying the crappie fishing has been good. “It’s been so good, the bait shops can’t hardly keep minnows in stock. Folks have been cleaning ‘em out just about every week since March.”
Summer traffic on the lake is in full swing on the weekends, so if you’re looking for a steady bite and a little peace, he recommends coming out during the week.
Netting monster bass in West Texas has been hit or miss this month with temperatures soaring. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES
Freeport Harbor
Port O’Connor
Nueces Bay
TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT
REDFISH BAY: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet and piggies. Black drum and speckled trout are slow.
SAN ANTONIO BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on live shrimp.
SABINE LAKE: 86 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, live shrimp, and live croaker. Tripletail are fair on live shrimp outside the jetties. Redfish, sheepshead, and black drum are good on dead shrimp under a popping cork.
BOLIVAR: 79 degrees. Redfish, gafftop,
and black drum are good on live shrimp. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, soft plastics, and live croaker.
TRINITY BAY: 85 degrees. Redfish and speckled trout are good on soft plastics, live croaker, and live shrimp. Black drum and sheepshead are fair on live shrimp. Flounder are fair on live shrimp and soft plastics.
EAST GALVESTON BAY: 86 degrees. Red snapper, kingfish, mahi, and ling are good on natural baits, 60-70 miles offshore. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, soft plastics, top-waters, and live croaker. Sheepshead and black drum are good on live shrimp. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics.
GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Red snapper, kingfish, mahi, and ling are good on natural baits, 60-70 miles offshore. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, soft plastics, top-waters, and live croaker. Sheepshead and black drum are good on live shrimp. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics.
WEST GALVESTON BAY: 87 degrees. Red snapper, kingfish, mahi, and ling are good on natural baits, 60-70 miles offshore. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, soft plastics, top-waters, and live croaker. Sheepshead and black drum are good on live shrimp. Redfish are good on live shrimp and soft plastics.
TEXAS CITY: 86 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on live shrimp and finger mullet. Black drum and sheepshead are good on live and dead shrimp.
FREEPORT: 88 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are good on live shrimp and croaker. Flounder are fair on live shrimp and mullet. Mangrove snapper are fair on live shrimp.
EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and live croaker. Redfish are fair
Fishing lures
Continued from page 8
most 12-year-old’s biggest fish, Levi said this wasn’t his personal best — that would be a 7.5-pounder he caught.
Levi’s grandad, Tommy Bellows, said he learned the art of woodworking from his father, and is happy to pass along a family tradition to his grandchildren. Levi’s sister also makes Christmas ornaments out of wood. Tommy does practice safety first, even though mistakes have been made.
“I have one rule,” he said, “don’t get Grandpa in trouble. I think Levi has cut his hand about five times. I start them out sanding, then they get to use the sharper tools.”
Tommy said Levi has surprised him with some of the lures he has come up with.
“When he was little, he’d throw stuff and I’d say, ‘that won’t work,’” Tommy said. “He has proved me wrong time and again. Now, I look forward to what he will come up with.”
Is there a business in the young angler’s future? Maybe, according to his mom, Lauren.
“Levi had to make a passion project for his gifted and talented class,” Lauren said. “So of course, he made lures. When his friends found out, they wanted them. He made $40 selling lures for Father’s Day. He
on soft plastics, top-waters, live shrimp, and mullet.
WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 87 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and live croaker. Redfish are fair on soft plastics, top-waters, live shrimp, and mullet.
PORT O’CONNOR: 82 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live croaker. Slot redfish are good on Spanish sardines. Black drum are good on dead and live shrimp. Jack crevalle and bull redfish are good on jigs and Spanish Sardines. Sharks are fair on cut jack crevalle and skipjack. Tarpon are fair on live croaker.
ROCKPORT: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp, piggy perch, and croaker. Redfish are good on shrimp, mullet, and piggy perch. Black drum are good on shrimp and Fishbites.
PORT ARANSAS: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on live shrimp, finger mullet, and shad. Bull reds are good on cut crab and mullet. Speckled trout are good on croaker and live shrimp. Sharks are fair on mullet, jacks, and stingray.
CORPUS CHRISTI: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on cut mullet and piggies. Black drum and speckled trout are slow.
BAFFIN BAY: 83 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics, top-waters, and live croaker. Redfish are fair on live croaker, live shrimp, and soft plastics. Flounder are fair on soft plastics.
PORT MANSFIELD: 78 degrees. Speckled trout are good on soft plastics and top-waters. Redfish are good on soft plastics and spoons. Flounder are fair on soft plastics.
SOUTH PADRE: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp. Redfish are fair on live shrimp and cut mullet. Mangrove snapper are good on live shrimp. King and Spanish mackerel are good trolling at the end of the jetties. Sheepshead and black drum are good on shrimp.
PORT ISABEL: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are good on live shrimp. Redfish are fair on live shrimp and cut mullet. Mangrove snapper are good on live shrimp. King and Spanish mackerel are good trolling at the end of the jetties. Sheepshead and black drum are good on shrimp.
—TPWD
got caught delivering lures in church.”
Lauren said she’s extremely proud of Levi and all of her children. She loves that they get to grow up enjoying the outdoors.
“We have 13 acres in the woods and our nearest neighbor is over a mile away,” she said. “He takes his phone and his side-byside and just goes. He brings things home all of the time. Snakes are big ones. About six years ago, he brought me a copperhead. Thankfully, it was dead, but they skinned it and framed the skin.”
Levi’s goal is to catch a fish in every state – he’s on his way with Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Ohio already knocked off the list. And his dream trip?
“I want to fish the Amazon river and catch an arapaima and a peacock bass,” he said. “They have big, exotic fish down there.”
For now, backyard ponds and the Bonham City Lake will have to suffice.
“That city lake is tough,” Levi said. “I need a boat.”
For now, Levi has his sights set on the high school bass fishing team.
“We’ve talked to the coach,” Levi said. “They’ve got a good team.” If they need lures, they know where to turn.
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER
Solution on Page 22
ACROSS
4) Abilene’s county
6) Minnow species
7) Jones County’s seat
9) A deer favorite
11) Decatur’s county
12) Hunting TV couple
13) Granbury’s county
14) Young County lake
15) Guadalupe River town
18) One of the labs
21) Hungarian bird-hunting dog
23) Wildlife feed brand, Record ____
25) Falls County’s seat
26) A duck favorite
28) Hill Country lake
31) Jighead type
35) An African antelope
36) A spaniel
37) The female elk
38) The dove hunters’ month
40) Good Guadalupe bass river
41) Italian shotgun brand
43) Van Zandt County’s seat
44) Fishing TV host
45) Shot size used by dove hunters
DOWN
1) Lake near Sequin
2) Duck hunting apparel brand
3) Lamar County lake, Pat ____
5) Coastal bay
6) Randall County’s seat
8) Dove hunters’ org.
10) Safari destination
11) Tarrant County lake
16) A dabbler
17) Trout species
18) A creature bait
19) Salmon species
20) Turkish shotgun brand
22) Watch for these on the dove hunt
24) Fishing knot
27) A nontoxic shot
29) Bass ambush spots
30) Duck call brand
32) Stephens County lake
33) Sinker type
34) Take plenty on the dove hunt
38) Rifle brand
39) Left side of the boat
42) Exotic in Texas
NRA Foundation appoints Peter Churchbourne as ED
NRA Foundation announced the appointment of Peter Churchbourne as its new executive director. He brings 30 years of nonprofit organizational leadership experience in the outdoor recreation, hunting, conservation and shooting sports industries.
Christensen Arms promotes Shane Meisel to VP of sales and marketing
Christensen Arms announced the promotion of Shane Meisel to Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective immediately. Meisel previously served as the company’s vice president of marketing.
Dead Air Silencers names Jared Rehm as director of marketing
Dead Air Silencers, a leader in innovative and high-quality firearm suppressors, has announced the appointment of Jared Rehm as the new director of marketing.
Silencer Central covering tax stamp fee
For more than 100 different suppressor models, Silencer Central is covering the $200 tax stamp fee, beginning on Aug. 1, 2025.
Faxon Firearms launces HARMONIX line
Faxon Firearms launched its new HARMONIX Suppressor line. The HARMONIX line includes two flagship models – the Sentry and the ION. Both models are available in three configurations: .36 caliber, .30 caliber, and dedicated 5.56.
Federal’s new 20-gauge gold medal shells shipping
Federal Ammunition recently added two 20-gauge options (7.5 and 8 shot) to its Premium Gold Medal Paper shotshell product line. These new products are currently being delivered to retailers nationwide.
*email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Creole BBQ Shrimp Mexican Skillet Dove
1 1/2 pounds extra jumbo shrimp
(16-20 count), peeled and deveined, tail on
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper
1 Tbsp. Creole seasoning
1 tsp. powdered garlic
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 Tbsp. white wine
2 tsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. original Tabasco pepper sauce
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
2 Tbsp. fresh chives, chopped
Combine salt, black pepper, Creole seasoning, and powdered garlic in large bowl. Add shrimp to the bowl and toss to coat with seasoning. Heat large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and shrimp. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes. Add white wine, lemon juice, Tabasco sauce, and Worcestershire sauce and cook additional minute. Add butter to sauté pan and swirl until melted. Add chives and remove from heat. Divide shrimp and sauce evenly into four bowls and serve with sliced, toasted baguette. —LDWF
6 to 8 dove, plucked and drawn
1 c. tomato-based salsa
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
Flour
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking oil Water
Salt and pepper birds and coat with flour inside and out. Heat an inch of cooking oil in the skillet. Brown the birds and set aside to drain. Pour off most of the oil and deglaze the skillet with a little water. Add the salsa and brown sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes. Put the birds in the skillet and spoon salsa over the top. Add water until the birds are almost covered. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce to simmer for 90 minutes, periodically stirring and turning the birds. Serve with white rice and corn tortillas.
—AGFC
Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News
ARIZONA WSF raises $357,900 for bighorn raffle
The Wild Sheep Foundation, in partnership with the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, just concluded a raffle for the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The result was a new record set for an Arizona sheep tag raffle.
Through the raffle $357,900 was raised for the chance to be drawn for an Arizona Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep tag.
“Whether it’s a state draw, auction tag, raffle, or lottery, taking the special opportunity to hunt a limited resource and turning it into a funding program to grow this resource is a unique model that has proven its worth,” commented WSF President and CEO, Gray N. Thornton. “Arizona is just one example where, based on population growth, there were 156 sheep tags issued in 2024 compared to only 44 back in 1984.”
Every dollar raised from this tag was directed to the Arizona Game & Fish Department’s Habitat Partnership Committee for their continued stewardship of the state’s wild sheep resources.
—WSF
MONTANA
Six charged with poaching
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks game wardens recently charged six individuals from Montana and Washington state for unlawfully killing several bull elk and mule deer bucks in the Bull Mountains near Roundup between 2020 and 2024.
The investigation began with information provided to FWP wardens by a confidential informant. During the investigation, Montana wardens traveled to Washington state to execute search warrants and seized several mounts of unlawfully killed elk and deer. Wardens also seized multiple elk and deer mounts in Montana. In total, 11 mounts were seized as evidence in the investigation.
The individuals involved in this case have been issued 34 total charges and 13 warnings by FWP wardens. These charges total close to $23,000 in bond and restitution.
—MTFWP
NEBRASKA
Nebraska fall turkey permits on sale Aug. 11
Hunters may begin purchasing 2025 Nebraska fall turkey permits at 1 p.m. Central time Aug. 11.
A fall turkey permit is valid statewide, and each hunter may have no more than one fall permit per calendar year. Also:
• The fall bag limit allows the take of one turkey of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment
• The fall turkey season is Oct. 1-Nov. 30
• Permit prices are $30 for residents,
Slam, which normally consists of a flounder, a redfish and a trout, was changed for this tournament to two redfish and a flounder.
Also, the maximum size of a redfish was 25 inches long, instead of the legal 28-inch length.
The three fish taken to the weigh-in were determined by the combined length, not by the weight, as is the norm.
“It was a different tournament as they did away with the weight,” Garza said, “so it was more challenging.”
Several anglers said they did not mind the new challenges.
Mile Vazquez Garza, whose “Loo Crew” team took first place in redfish artificial division and for catching a redfish with seven spots, said the 25-inch max rule for redfish made the tournament more interesting.
“I will bet we caught hundreds of fish,” he said, referring to his group of five men and five women who fished in the artificial divi-
$143 for nonresidents, $8 for youth, $16.50 for resident landowners, and $73 for nonresident landowners
—NGP
WYOMING
Wyoming preference points still available
Resident and nonresident hunters still have time to apply for preference points. The application process is open July 1 - Oct 31.
Resident and nonresident hunters can build points for moose and bighorn sheep, and nonresidents can acquire elk, deer and antelope points. All applications must be submitted online through the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s website.
OKLAHOMA
Delta Waterfowl raises $284 million
Delta Waterfowl’s Million Duck Campaign, an effort with a $250 million fundraising goal to add 1 million ducks to every fall flight, forever, has exceeded its goal.
The three-year campaign, launched in July 2022, has garnered $284 million in contributions and pledges, CEO Jason Tharpe announced July 25 at the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo in Oklahoma City.
The MDC establishes an endowment fund to dramatically scale up Delta’s scientifically duck production programs: Predator Management and Hen Houses.
AFRICA Angola to reopen hunting
Due to a presidential decree, the African nation of Angola will open to sport hunting on Aug. 1. Once a premier African hunting destination, Angola’s wildlife sector was devastated by decades of war, leaving wildlife populations unmanaged and vulnerable. Dallas Safari Club CEO Rob McCanna said: “Angola is not following a script written by activists or donor-driven agendas. This is Angola’s decision. The Angolan people are standing up for science and recognizing that hunting is the surest way to conserve wildlife.”
The news was announced by DSC and Conservation Force at the Inaugural Summer Expo. The two hunter-led conservation organizations also signed a memorandum of understanding with an Angolan delegation also in attendance, forming the basis of cooperation to build the African country’s hunting industry.
The first Angolan hunt was auctioned for $19,000 at the event.
sion. “That was between the keepers, over and undersized fish.
Another surprising aspect of the tourney was the number of speckled trout the anglers caught, to the point some of them said it’s a matter of time before trout are put back on the many tournaments held along the coast.
Yolanda Arizola, a member of the Port Mansfield Chamber of Commerce, said the 25-inch maximum for a redfish was to honor the 50th anniversary of the tourney.
“Twenty five plus twenty five equals fifty, “she said. “We do different things every year.”
The tournament also attracted the highest number of anglers in recent history, with 232 registered to fish. In addition, 18 offshore boats participated in the annual event, according to tournament director Mike Frazier.
“This is the most we have had in a while,” he said. “We feel good about it.”
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Perfect for your dream hunting cabin. Over 1,240 ft. shoreline, private access to rich hunting grounds. Coop water, electric available, no restrictions.
Secluded location on dead-end county road. 1 hour NE of Melissa, McKinney, 1.5 hr NE of DFW. Invest in your hunting future today! (903) 517-5889
AUSTRALIAN WATER BUFFALO HUNTS Two hunts still available at end of September 2025 Email to book today. Graham Williams BUFFALO577.COM BUFFALO577@HOTMAIL.COM
AFRICA
Hunting: All Inclusive - No surprises Includes: Animals, daily rates, taxidermy, shipping home. To find out more: LONESTARAFRICA.COM
DATEBOOK
AUGUST 15-17
TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION Fort Worth Extravaganza Fort Worth Convention Center (210) 523-8500 ttha.com
TEXAS GUN SHOWS
Legends Event Center Bryan (210) 844-9599 gunshowstx.com
AUGUST 9
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Angelina County DU Banquet Diboll Civic Center (903) 733-7838 ducks.org
AUGUST 14
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB
Speaker Series Event: Film Review with Robbie Kroger DSC Pavilion, Dallas (214) 980-9800 biggame.org
TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION San Antonio Extravaganza Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall (210) 523-8500 ttha.com
TEXAS GUN SHOWS
Embassy Suites Round Rock (210) 844-9599 gunshowstx.com
AUGUST 16
SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL Ft. Worth Chapter Banquet River Ranch Stockyards fortworthsafariclub.org
AUGUST 23
CESAR KLEBERG WILDLIFE RESEARCH INSTITUTE South Texas Quail Short Course Cesar Kleberg Wildlife Center, Kingsville (361) 593-3922
ckwri.tamuk.edu/news-events
AUGUST 15
DUCKS UNLIMITED
Lonestar DU Banquet
John L. Kuykendall Arena Llano (512) 756-3655 ducks.org
DUCKS UNLIMITED Cass County DU Banquet Fairview Community Center Linden (903) 799-0980 ducks.org
AUGUST 29-31
TEXAS GUN SHOWS Central Texas Fieldhouse Buda (210) 844-9599 gunshowstx.com
SEPTEMBER 17-19
ROLLING PLAINS QUAIL RESEARCH FOUNDATION Statewide Quail Symposium Abilene Convention Center quailresearch.org
LAND & RANCH FOR SALE
Thomas A.C. Davis Tyler, TX TDAVIS@TEXASRANCHSALES. COM
TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582
ADVERTISE YOUR HUNTING LEASE HERE Only $1 per word. Email editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com or call (214) 361-2276
VAL VERDE COUNTY, TEXAS HUNTING LEASE
5,500 acres with water, electric and house. Abundant whitetail, mule deer and aoudad, lots of blue quail, dove and varmints. One hour from Del Rio on Highway 90. $7 per Acre. Also have 1,690 acres. $8 Per Acre. Call Robert: (830) 854-0810
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FRIDAY 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.
10 A.M. – 6 P.M. SUNDAY 10 A.M. – 5 P.M.
JOIN US FOR THE 2026 DALLAS SAFARI CLUB CONVENTION & SPORTING EXPO IN ATLANTA!
Experience one of the largest conservation fundraising events in the U.S. at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia! Explore a massive expo featuring top outfitters, gear manufacturers, and conservation partners, plus thrilling banquets and auctions.
REGISTER NOW and be part of this extraordinary event that celebrates the future of hunting and conservation!
DAY PASSES:
BANQUET & SPECIAL EVENTS PRICING:
Thursday Evening Banquet & Auction – $250 | Table of 10: $2,250
Friday Evening Banquet & Auction – $250 | Table of 10: $2,250
Saturday Evening Banquet & Auction – $250 | Table of 10: $2,250
Combo Banquet Ticket (Thu, Fri, & Sat) – $625 | Table of 10: $5,750
Conservation Champions Breakfast & Auction – $125
Ladies Luncheon & Auction – $150 | Table of 10: $1,500
First Responders & Military: FREE (with valid ID) | Minors (16 & under): FREE Scan for Ticket Registration 1-DAY: $25 2-DAY: $45 3-DAY: $60
