October 23, 2026
Texas’ Hunting and Fishing Newspaper Since 2004
Volume 23, Issue 5
Mixed bag Cooler weather and falling acorns producing varied success for deer hunters as rifle season approaches By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Rachel Saucerman has been catching limits of slot reds from the Horace Caldwell Pier at night on finger mullet and pinfish fished on the bottom. Photo from Rachel Saucerman.
Piers producing
Redfish of all sizes biting from piers and jetties By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Big bucks were up and moving on recent cold fronts, although a large acorn crop has stymied some hunters in areas with lots of oak trees. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Please turn to page 13
Capable of anything Mentored doe hunt continues to empower women hunters By Meghan Jackson
For Lone Star Outdoor News The first weekend of October marked the annual Mentored Doe Hunt at the Sierra Mesa Ranch by Texas Women's Outdoors. Five women traveled to Hico not only to harvest their doe, but to gain confidence and educate themselves on the full hunting experience. Founder Kelley
Godfrey said this is her passion and loves to remind the women they are capable of anything they set their minds to achieving. “After checking in on Friday, we headed to the range for a safety briefing and practiced until everyone could consistently hit the target at 100 yards,” Godfrey said. “We finished the day back at camp with dinner and prepared for the next morning, which was opening day of the MLDP season.” With chilly weather and some rain, hunter Kasey Dudley said that she was fortunate to have Godfrey as her guide and appreciated her expertise. They were
Please turn to page 20
Please turn to page 13
HUNTING
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID DALLAS, TX PERMIT 3814
Still good (P. 4)
INSIDE
South Zone dove hunting productive.
Home turf buck (P. 4) Hunter takes deer on new property.
FISHING
Very catchable (P. 6)
Inland lakes producing with number of species.
Heading to the flats (P. 6) Time Sensitive Material • Deliver ASAP
Texas Women’s Outdoors annual Mentored Doe Hunt was a success for all involved, as many women learned about hunting and processing wild game for the first time. Photo from TWO.
Stripers becoming predictable.
Fishing reports . . . . . . . . .Page 8
CONTENTS
Small and large redfish have been providing consistent action for anglers fishing from piers and jetties up and down the coast. Live mullet, cut bait, and fresh dead shrimp fished on the bottom have produced the most bites. Various species of sharks, mangrove snapper, black drum, sand trout, and speckled trout have also been landed. Rachel Saucerman recently fished from Horace Caldwell Pier in Port Aransas three nights in a row and caught her limit of redfish during each outing. She was using finger mullet she caught in a cast net, and pinfish she caught on pieces of dead shrimp with a small hook. “I fished all night long each trip, and I caught most of the fish in the early morning hours between 4 and 5,” Saucerman said. “The reds ranged from 20 to 27 inches, and there were some smaller, undersized fish mixed in.” Saucerman said one night she hooked into a large bull red she estimated to be about 50 inches in length. “Another angler fishing from the pier tried to help me net it, but the massive red snapped my line,” she said. “My personal best bull red is 40 inches, and this fish was much bigger. I thought it was a shark at first.” All of the fish Saucerman caught came from using a bottom rig with a spider weight. Anglers fishing up and down the Texas City Dike from both the rocks and various fishing piers have also reported consistent action from redfish. Andi Brown posted on the Texas City Dike Fishing Facebook page that she recently doubled up on bull reds while fishing from the rocks at night. Brown commented she was
Archery deer hunters and those hunting on MLDP properties have already been enjoying time in their stands since the beginning of the month, with varied degrees of success reported from across the state. Some impressive deer have been taken, especially in areas where food sources across the landscape are scarcer, and activity around feeders has been high. However, many hunters have reported large acorn crops on places with plenty of oak trees. Falling acorns, combined with freshly sprouted weeds and forbs from recent rains, could continue to make downing a mature buck tough for some. The folks from Heart of Texas Bowhunting posted on their Facebook page that the season has presented some major challenges, so far, in the Melvin area. “The biggest challenge being one of the largest acorn crops we’ve seen in years,” they wrote in a recent post. “Every species of oak tree is loaded with acorns. That being said, the overall quality of the deer herd is outstanding, likely due to the amazing food sources they’ve had leading up to the season.” Hunters preparing for the upcoming rifle season with properties near the San Antonio River in Falls City have reported seeing mostly young bucks and does around their feeders and on their game cameras recently. One hunter said, “There’s definitely a
Grip & Grin . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10 Sun, Moon & Tides . . . . . . Page 14 Historical Outdoor Blotter . . Page 15 Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 16 Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 22 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . .Page 22
Page 2
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
Page 3
Page 4
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
HUNTING
First buck on new, small acreage property By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Ty Gerke holds the mature buck he shot on his family’s new property in Lavaca County. Photo from Ty Gerke.
Ty Gerke recently killed a mature buck with his bow during his first season to hunt on a small 42 acre property that he and his dad had just purchased back in the first quarter of this year in Lavaca County. The deer scored right at 138 inches
and showed back up to his set-up on camera following a hot doe. Gerke was in the stand less than 24 hours later ready to capitalize on the opportunity. “I hadn’t seen him on camera for a few weeks prior to archery season opening,” Gerke said. “This was a buck that had caught my eye from the moment we set up trail
cameras on the property. He was on camera almost daily, before disappearing during the two to three weeks leading up to the season.” Gerke said he assumed the buck had changed his patterns, and was focusing on checking scrapes and running does as the rut started to get cranked up in Lavaca County at the beginning of
the month. “I was actually at a weekend bachelor party when I got a trail camera photo of him at about midnight following a doe,” Gerke said. “I hadn’t had game camera pictures of him in weeks. I was already planning to head home the next day, so I made sure I got on the road and got back in plenty time Please turn to page 18
Still coming down Dove season remains strong as birds continue push into state By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Overall, most South Zone dove hunters have reported plenty of excellent wing-shooting opportunities the past month. Recent rains and strong north winds during passing cold fronts haven’t seemed to negatively affect the birds or hunting. Some hunters even reported having successful shoots in fields with standing water from recent passing heavy showers. There does appear to be plenty of food and water across the landscape in many areas for the birds. Hunters in certain areas have said this has kept the birds scattered, especially after they have been pressured or shot at during the early portions of the season. Mitchell Stephenson spent three days hunting in the Dilley area with South Texas hunting outfit Dilley Dove with his son, dad, brother, and a group of friends. Their crew of 13 hunters ended up shooting full limits over the course of the three-day hunt. He said the wing-shooting action was steady over harvested milo fields. “The birds were definitely flying better in the afternoons than they were during the early morning hours,” Stephenson said. “We
had some rain come through the area with a cool front overnight between day one and day two of our hunt. That seemed to keep the birds on the roost a little later than expected the next morning, but overall, the rain and the north wind did not negatively affect our hunt at all.” Devin Leissner made an afternoon hunt at the edge of a standing milo field on a ranch outside of Batesville recently where he said the mourning dove were thick. “My buddies that own the ranch said the birds had just showed up in large numbers,” Leissner said. “The action was pretty steady and it took me about an hour to get my limit. There were some scattered white-wings flying high over the milo, but the mourning dove were diving in low over my decoys. I was able to be patient and really pick and choose the shots I took.” Steve Kotara said his son-in-law hunted their family farm in Wilson County recently and harvested a limit of mourning dove over a croton field around a cattle tank. “He got about half of his limit over the croton and then moved to the tank later in the evening,” Kotara said. “He said the birds were circling the tank in large groups about 30 minutes before sunset.” Drew Lubianski met Kotara out at his property a few days later in hopes of getting in on the wingshooting action. Unfortunately, Please turn to page 20
Gun dogs are staying busy as more dove pile into the southern portion of the state. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Westican Outdoors opens new location in Kingsville By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Ross and Stephanie West stand in their new Westican Outdoors location in Kingsville. Photo from Stephanie West.
Westican Outdoors held its grand opening event earlier this month at their new location, 1101 US-77 in Kingsville. Their new, 5,000-squarefoot storefront now serves as a onestop-shop for outdoorsmen and women in South Texas. Owned and operated by its founders Ross West and his wife, Stephanie, Westican Outdoors provides customers with a variety of quality firearms, ammunition, hunting gear, fishing tackle and gear, lifestyle apparel, and other es-
sential outdoor accessories. After managing a hunting lease on the King Ranch for nearly two decades, West knew sportsmen and women in the region needed a place where they could find everything they would need to be successful in the outdoors in South Texas. “We have a wild game processing business in Kingsville that we got into in 2014, and I started stocking fishing lures at that location just to fill some of the gaps during our offseason,” West said. “That quickly snowballed, and before we knew it, we were also stocking ammo, hunting gear, and
apparel. In 2018, we founded Westican Outdoors and began operating the storefront there with the wild game processing business.” West said they quickly outgrew the space at the wild game processing business location. Fast forward to today, and they now have a brand new and convenient retail location they hope will become a popular communal hub for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts in South Texas. According to Stephanie West, their team of employees and associates are welcoming, super attentive, and knowledgeable. Please turn to page 23
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Meat market Raymondville processor expanding By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star Outdoor News The white-tailed deer hunting season is cranking up around the state and now is the time to start making plans to process the wild game venison hunters look for year after year. Some people prefer to butcher their own, while some let others do the often time consuming and messy work for them. In the Rio Grande Valley, more than a half dozen businesses are involved in that line of work and choosing the right one can be an important decision, as it can take time, money and your hardearned venison if you make a bad decision. In Raymondville, the county seat for Willacy County, there is Mitchell’s Smokehouse. It took over a previous shop called Chuy’s Meats and has been expanding its business ever since to include all sorts of snacks and sausages, in addition to the usual and fancy cuts of meats clients request from their wild game. The family-owned and operated smokehouse takes native and exotic animals and can ship any order to any client’s destination all over the United States, along with Canada and Mexico. “We have a contract with Southwest Airlines,” John Kyle Mitchell said during a recent stop at the shop. “We have shipped orders as far as New York state.” The airline has cargo services in about 10 locations in Texas and close to 100 throughout the country. Although the hunting season actually starts in September with the fast-flying dove, followed by October’s archery deer season, November marks the beginning of the nearly three-month long rifle white-tailed season. Right now, most wild game processors The Mitchell brothers check boxes of meat inside one of two recently are getting ready for what is coming soon. acquired freezers. Photo by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News. Once hunters head out to their hunting spots, these businesses get busier than bees, so busy that it can take several months to get an animal processed and ready for pick up. “We took a couple of thousands animals last year,” Taylor Mitchell said. “We were busier than the year before.” Their father, Trey, is the person behind the business. Taking a deer or an exotic animal to be processed can cost from $100 for regular processing to close to $1,000 for fancy cuts, sausages and snacks. Mitchell’s Smokehouse does it all. For example, its smoked link, summer and snack sticks come in different heat intensities, and they can add jalapeno, serrano and piquin peppers to any particular order. Kyle Mitchell said they have been in the wild game processing businesses since 2014, having been previously in Combes, Rio Hondo and Harlingen. The family bought and moved into the Raymondville location about three years ago. Although deer and nilgai antelope make the bulk of their business, they have processed exotics like eland, zebra, kudu and even bears. And for those who like to help others, there is another option. “We also take donations,” the Mitchells said. “We grind the meat and send it to several non-charitable organizations.” The wild game processor donates meat to Fish for Life to help feed the needy in South Texas throughout the Rio Grande Valley and in Mexico.
October 23, 2026
Page 5
Park Cities Quail to honor Peyton Manning Park Cities Quail has named Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning as its 2027 T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award recipient. PCQ will hold its 21st Annual Park Cities Quail Coalition Dinner & Auction on March 4, 2027 at SMU’s Armstrong Fieldhouse. Over the past 20 years, PCQC has raised over $22.3 million for their mission to sustain and restore wild quail populations and to introduce the next generation to hunting and the outdoors. Manning is universally known and loved as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, winning the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards in 1997. Manning was selected first overall in the 1998 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts and helped transform the Colts franchise into consistent playoff contenders, leading them to 11 playoff appearances, eight division titles, three AFC Championship Games, two Super Bowl appearances, and one championship title in Super Bowl XLI. Manning was also named Super Bowl MVP in the victory. Serving as the Broncos’ starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015, he helped them clinch their division each season and reach two Super Bowls. Manning’s career ended with a victory in Super Bowl 50, making him the first starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl for more than one franchise. Manning holds many NFL records, including the most MVP awards, most quarterback first-team All-Pro selections, number of 4,000-yard passing seasons, single-season passing yards, and singleseason passing touchdowns. He was inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. —PCQC
Page 6
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
FISHING
Fall feeding frenzy
Anglers are staying hooked up with multiple species across inland lakes as fall patterns take center stage. Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Various species in catchable patterns By Nate Skinner
For Lone Star Outdoor News Cool fronts are becoming more frequent, water temperatures are on the decline, and a variety of species across inland lakes are being caught as fall conditions arrive. Anglers and fishing guides are reporting excellent catches of catfish, hybrids, stripers, white bass, and crappie all over the state. On Lake Tawakoni, Taylor Bingham of Bingham Guide Service said a fall pattern has emerged for multiple species as water temperatures continue to drop.
“Hybrids and stripers have been active early surfacing up shallow in anywhere from 5 to 20 feet of water,” Bingham said. “These fish have been pushing out deeper as the morning progresses and the sun rises overhead. They have been biting swimbaits, slabs, spinners, and umbrellas rigs. Most have been in the 3- to 8-pound range and trolling and down rigging has still been effective during the late morning hours.” Bingham said white bass on Tawakoni have been locked in on shallow water humps and points across the lake in 7 to 20 feet of water. Slabs and weighted spinners have been the most effective bait presentations for the sandies. “Trolling crankbaits have proven to make
the more finicky white bass strike,” Bingham said. The channel catfish bite on Tawakoni has been on fire lately, according to Bingham. Most of the channel cats have been caught in 10 to 20 feet of water on punch bait or shad. He said larger blue cats have been in the mix while drifting large chunks of cut shad. Fishing guide Bob Maindelle of Holding the Line Guide Service reported white bass action on Lake Belton has significantly improved since water temperatures started dropping with recent cool fronts. Ian Goodman and his three sons fished with Maindelle on a recent trip, and they landed 117 fish in total.
“We made around 10 stops, but one productive area accounted for most of their catches of white bass,” Maindelle said. “The best action came on lures in a silver-andchartreuse color pattern. A vertical, jigging presentation kept the fish fired up and biting.” Maindelle said white bass have been schooling over various humps, points, and drop-offs in 20 to 50 feet of water. “Fall patterns are shaping up nicely on Belton, and the bite is only going to get better as water temperatures continue to decrease,” Maindelle said. Lake Texoma guide Brian Prichard said the top-water bite for stripers is in full swing right now. Please turn to page 20
Heading for the pass Flounder run beginning before season closure
Coming back Striper action picking up after lull
By Cory Byrnes
By Cory Byrnes
Flounder have begun making their way out of coastal bays as the calendar heads to the annual shutdown of the fishery to allow the flatfish to breed. Anglers have been taking advantage before the closure on Nov. 1. “It’s been pretty good,” said flounder gigger Johnny Lai. “The fish have started showing up; like three or four small ones to one big one.” Lai has been primarily gigging at night for flounder. “We are seeing more 10- and 12-inch fish grouped together. A lot more males and females together now,” he added. He and his friends have been gigging around Galveston’s West Bay. They have been focusing on areas with three key features — grass, shell sand, and shell. “They like a shell sand bottom. What I mean by that is you’re looking for an area that has oyster shell; they’re not in mud, they’re in sand. You’re not looking for an oyster reef but an oyster patch,” Lai said. “If you can find a white sand texture bottom with oyster, you’re guaranteed to see them.” He is looking for areas that the flounder can lay in between two oyster patches where bait passes between the two. He has had success in
the early morning and evening on the incoming tide, in particular the tail end of the tide. “While the water is moving the fish are still swimming.” Lai said. “When you’re looking for flounder, you should target right at the end of high tide right before slack tide.” During a low tide, fish the marsh drains, channels or cuts where bait is being flushed out. Donnie Woods with Galveston Saltwater
Striper activity across the state is picking up as water temps begin to drop. “It’s been good. This time of year, we always experience the fall turnover,” said Stephen Andre with Lake Texoma Striper Hunter Guide Service. “Sometimes it can make it tough for a little while, and it did for a little while for about five days (in mid-October). We were still catching fish; they were just scattered.” Since then, Texas has had a couple of cold fronts. This last one brought in the seagulls like it does every year. Striper anglers are finding fish deep and “The seagulls are there to help lead shallow in October. Photo by Ken Milam. the way. We are kind of transitioning from looking out in deep water,” Andre said. He and his clients have turned their attention to the flats on Lake Texoma. “The flats on Texoma have a lot of ditches and ledges and that kind of thing. On the flats, as the water cools off more, they’ll congregate more in those ditches,” Andre said. He and his clients are using slabs on the flats. And of course, anglers should always pay attention to the birds when looking for actively feeding fish. Keeping a rod rigged with top-water lure will mean you can take advantage of those quick flurries of activity. “As the water cools down more, we will start to throw swimbaits into the mix.
Please turn to page 20
Please turn to page 20
For Lone Star Outdoor News
For Lone Star Outdoor News
Anglers are catching and gigging impressive flounder this month as the season heads toward a closure. Photo by Donnie Wood.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Differing tactics Largemouth bass being caught in a variety of ways By Cory Byrnes
For Lone Star Outdoor News Largemouth bass anglers are having success up in the creek arms and back pockets across West Texas lakes this month. On O.H. Ivie Reservoir, Brady Stanford with Brady Stanford Fishing reports there is a consistent shallow water bite near the grass right now. “There’s a lot of fish shallow because we have a lot of grass. And if the lake turns over, that bite will stay pretty consistent,” Stanford said. A unique opportunity for anglers is also happening now on Ivie. Around this time, dragonflies Anglers on Lake J.B. Thomas are finding big bass using forward-facing move through in large sonar. Photo by Brady Stanford. numbers, turning the bass bite on. “As the dragonflies move through, the bite will get pretty good. You will have a lot [more] of fish move up shallow just feeding on dragonflies,” he said. Anglers should target the grass during this time to take advantage of the opportunity. For larger fish, anglers will want to target deeper water after the lake finishes turning over. “They’re kind of finicky. As the lake turns over, they go real deep and it’s hard to find them. When that finishes up, they’ll move up in more of a manageable depth. And then it will start to get pretty good,” Stanford said. Anglers can still catch them on big worms and Carolina rigs with dark-colored soft plastics if they are patient. On Lake J.B. Thomas, the fishing has been excellent, according to Christian Gladfelter with Slaunched Guide Service. Gladfelter focuses on targeting trophy bass and teaching sonar techniques to anglers targeting double-digit bass. “It’s been incredible. I’d say world-class,” he said about J.B. Thomas. “Yesterday, my client caught his personal best with a 10.03 (pound bass) and his best fish limit ever with over 45 pounds.” He and his clients are not targeting structure, but a specific bass they find suspended on sonar. “We are not relating to any kind of structure. Nothing like that. It’s picking out an individual fish. Whether he’s on a rock pile, a stump, a log, a hump, a point, that’s pretty irrelevant,” Gladfelter clarified. Anglers fishing the lake more casually will be successful targeting all those types of structure, but if your goal is a trophy fish, you will have to keep mobile until you find the right one. Once they find the right fish, he and his clients use baitfish imitators. “These fish are baitfish oriented. Their main forage is shad and crappie, and so we’re doing a lot of fish imitators that would imitate either shad, crappie, or bluegill,” Gladfelter said. He will follow this pattern throughout the year. “It’s a year-round deal here. Yes, there are subtleties throughout the year that will switch. Maybe presentations or bait subtly, but it’s all the same thing. It may be downsizing or upsizing or changing color. It’s not really changing the techniques that we are using,” Gladfelter said. Olin Jensen recently competed in the Angler Bass Clubs Lake Amistad Tournament. On Lake Amistad, the fishing has been tough most of the year because of low water levels, but it’s starting to O.H. Ivie is still producing big fish in the fall. Photo by get a bit better. “It’s actually picking up. The last few Brady Stanford. months have been pretty slow,” Jensen said about the fishing lately. “Pretty much all the anglers caught their fish up shallow in back of pockets. We had an uptick in our water. So, as that water gets a little higher, the fish start going into that new area.” Jensen was able to catch a 15-pound, 5-fish limit over the course of the tournament. “Which is pretty good right now,” he said. He caught his fish on frogs, top-water lures, and weightless flukes in natural colors. Not all pockets are equal; anglers should move on if there isn’t grass in the pocket. “You had to have grass,” Jensen said about his tournament experience. “There are a bunch of flooded trees right now. There are a lot of bait fish back in the pockets. I think that’s why the bass are back there.”
October 23, 2026
Page 7
Page 8
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
LONE STAR FISHING REPORTS SALTWATER FISHING
FRESHWATER FISHING
For Lone Star Outdoor News
For Lone Star Outdoor News
• •
LAKE STAMFORD
•
By Chuck Uzzle
SABINE LAKE • • • • •
Cooler weather has kickstarted schooling activity Speckled trout and redfish good under the gulls on soft plastic shrimp Rigged on 1/4-ounce jigs or under rattling corks best presentation Waders catching solid trout on topwaters early Scattered shell and near marsh drains are top areas to target
By Vivian Leopold
• • • • • • • • •
GALVESTON/TRINITY BAYS •
• • •
Lower water levels associated with first big north winds increased feeding activity throughout bay system Saltier conditions, along with plentiful shrimp populations have birds working Bird usually working over small to keeper-sized trout Redfish good along the shorelines
MATAGORDA BAY • •
• • •
Redfish excellent as cooler water temps promote heavy schooling Live shrimp, cut mullet, and soft plastics under corks have all been good for quality redfish Trout steady on oyster reefs in 2 to 4 feet of water Live shrimp under corks working best Waders doing well on soft plastics and small top-waters
• • •
• • • • • • • •
BENBROOK LAKE • • • •
ROCKPORT • • • • •
Redfish outstanding with high tide As tide falls concentrate on drains out of the marsh Black drum plentiful over shell on live shrimp Trout holding on deep shell Live shrimp under popping corks working well
Water level is 4.35 feet below pool at 61.5% full Water temps about 72 degrees, naturally murky water Crappie best bet Submerged brush, old trees, rock dropoffs and underwater humps Start at 8 to 15 feet, then deeper structure, if needed White/chartreuse, black/chartreuse, blue/white best colors Small 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jigs or live minnows, fished vertically around cover Largemouth bass good potential Rocky banks, points, creek channels and remaining submerged cover, especially around lower reservoir Depths 3 to 10 feet early and late; probe deeper structure midday Spinnerbaits, square-billed crankbaits, Texas-rigged soft plastics and jigs White/chartreuse in murky water; black/blue or green pumpkin for soft plastics In low visibility, choose lures with noticeable vibration or movement Blue and channel catfish, good Deeper holes, channel edges and areas near the dam Cut shad, fresh cut bait, worms or prepared catfish bait Start 10 to 20 feet near channel edges, adjust to bottom conditions White bass rated fair Locate schooling fish, cast beyond the school and retrieve through it Small silver spoons, white grubs and 1/4-ounce jigging spoons
• •
Water level is 6.66 feet below pool at 74% full Water temps about 77 degrees, water stained with sparse aquatic vegetation Crappie good potential 8 to 15 feet near brush and submerged trees; deeper if fish aren’t there Lures 1/16- or 1/8-ounce jigs or live minnow Chartreuse/white, black/chartreuse and blue/white best colors
• • •
Redfish good along shorelines After tides dropped during high north winds best conditions Best catches have been on paddle tails and shallow-running jerk baits Speckled trout to 5 pounds good once water clears Top-water bite good for waders in 2 to 3 feet of water
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND • • •
•
Speckled trout and redfish scattered as water conditions and temps fluctuate Fronts have been key for conditions Smaller profile lures matching the shrimp and piggy perch key to catching fish As water warms during the day, look for increased bait and feeding activity
PROCTOR LAKE • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Water level is 5.75 feet below pool at 58% full Water temps about 75 degrees, slightly stained to stained, 3 feet visibility Crappie fishing excellent Start 10 to18 feet around submerged brush, timber and ledges Live minnows or 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jigs are best Chartreuse/white, black/chartreuse and blue/white best colors Upper-lake standing timber, brush piles and creek-channel edges Fish vertically beside cover rather than casting over it Hybrid striped bass good Search 15 to 25 feet along main river channel and deeper points Silver jigging spoons, white swimbaits and striper jigs Best colors silver, white, pearl and shad patterns Fish lower lake and main-channel areas where baitfish gather
• • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • • •
Trolling or drifting live shad productive Largemouth bass fair Try 4 to 10 feet early and late, then 10to 20-foot ledges and channel drops Texas-rigged worms, jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits Green pumpkin, black/blue and white/ chartreuse best colors Rocky points, submerged timber and channel edges With low water, concentrate on first substantial drop beyond shallow flats Catfish good Depths 8 to 10 feet around channel bends and deeper holes Fresh cut shad, worms or prepared catfish bait Creek-channel edges, deeper flats and around the spillway Fish on or near the bottom, dusk and after dark
• • • • • •
•
•
•
Water temps about 78 degrees, usually clear Largemouth bass best 14- to 21-inch slot limit on largemouth bass Vegetation and standing timber provide fish-holding cover Early morning in 2 to 6 feet water, vegetation edges and shallow points Then 6 to 15 feet midday near creekchannel ledges, standing timber and deeper vegetation edges Medium-diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, Texas-rigged worms and soft-plastic swimbaits Natural shad, green pumpkin and watermelon in clear water; white/chartreuse or black/blue if visibility reduced Shad-colored crankbait early, then Texas-rigged worm around vegetation
Crappie good Depth of 8 to 15 feet around submerged brush and timber, deeper if needed Live minnows or 1/16- to 1/8-ounce jigs Chartreuse/white, black/chartreuse and blue/white best colors Deeper brush, standing timber and creek-channel edges Bluegill and sunfish good Try 2 to 8 feet around remaining vegetation and shoreline cover Crickets, small pieces of worm and tiny jigs Best colors small black, chartreuse or natural-colored jigs Protected coves and shallow vegetation edges
INKS LAKE
• • • •
• • • •
PINKSTON RESERVOIR Brush piles and submerged cover along creek channels Largemouth bass fair Start 3 to 8 feet early and late; then 8 to 15 feet around deeper structure Spinnerbaits, square-billed crankbaits, Texas-rigged worms and jigs Best colors white/chartreuse in stained water; black/blue or green pumpkin for plastics Rocky points, creek mouths and submerged timber Hybrid striped bass, excellent Look for schools in open water, 15 to 30 feet; use sonar Silver jigging spoons, white swimbaits and 1/4- to 1/2-ounce jigheads Silver, white and pearl colors Main-lake humps, ridges and baitfish
• •
•
•
•
• •
•
•
BAFFIN BAY • •
•
schools, especially toward deeper water near dam Blue and channel catfish, good Start open water and creek channels; follow baitfish schools Small silver spoons, white grubs and inline spinners Silver, white and chartreuse colors
•
• •
• • • • • • • • • • •
Water level is 0.91 feet below pool at 94.7% full Water temps around 78 degrees Largemouth bass best Offshore rocky points, submerged rock piles and areas where shad are schooling 5 to 15 feet near rock structure, deeper if fish are following bait down Large walking topwater baits, swimbaits, shad-colored crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms Best colors natural shad, silver, pearl and white Start with top-water lure first couple hours after sunrise; if fish are visible on sonar but not surfacing, switch to swimbait or crankbait White bass and striped bass fair Upper reservoir and main river-channel areas for baitfish schools
Small silver spoons, white grubs and small jigheads Silver, white and pearl best colors If fish are surface feeding, use smaller lures that match baitfish Sunfish and bluegill good Rocky banks, fishing piers and around docks Start 2 to 6 feet of water and slightly deeper areas for larger fish Crickets, mealworms or pieces of earthworm under a small float Catfish rated fair Try 8 to 20 feet near deeper structure, rocky bottom and deeper holes Cut bait, worms or prepared catfish bait Fish near the bottom in the evening
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
Page 9
Page 10
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
GRIP & GRIN
Pflugerville angler Cole Sanders was fishing from a pier on Salt Lake in Rockport when he caught this redfish.
David Nall shot this buck opening weekend in Williamson County. Young angler Rhett was out fishing with his family on Sabine Lake when he caught this trout.
SHARE AN ADVENTURE
n Want to share hunting and fishing photos with other Lone Star Outdoor News readers?
Cody Eckhardt shows off a bull red he caught on a live mullet from the north jetty in Port Aransas recently.
Nicki Pyfer caught this shark near the North Jetty on a recent trip to Galveston.
Email them with contact and caption information to editor@ lonestaroutdoornews.com. Highresolution original jpegs only. Mail prints to Grip & Grin, Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
A tasty treat Nilgai cook-off draws a crowd By Tony Vindell
For Lone Star Outdoor News A handful of wild game chefs participated in the first nilgai cook-off, but the real winners were the hundreds of people who showed up to partake in the festivities, many of whom said they had never seen a live nilgai or tried its meat. Close to ten different meals were turned in for the judges, as each of the cook-off teams were allowed to fix two different dishes for the contest held Saturday, Oct.17 at the South Texas Ecotourism Center along Texas Highway 100 in Laguna Vista. The meals, each prepared with nilgai venison as the main ingredient, included tacos, Sloppy Joes, chili, steaks, hamburgers, bacon wrapped backstraps, even a pizza. Luis Carlos Pineda with a team called Dos Carnales, said they have been fixing the entry using nilgai sausage. “We have hunted nilgai for many years,” he said. “Our favorite way to cook it is carne guisada, but we try to come out to with different recipes.” Pineda said they brought about half of a medium-sized nilgai bull cut up for the cook-off. Greg Scherwitzer, with a team called Road Kill, said they were glad to participate in the cook-off. And why not? They took first place after submitting two dishes — chili and Sloppy Joes. A volunteer with a Texas Parks & Wildlife youth hunting program, Scherwitzer said he is an avid nilgai hunter. Just recently, he said he harvested a bull with 12-inch horns – something which he
said made the news in the hunting world. By participating in the cook-off, he said people can get exposed to the different ways nilgai can be prepared for the table. The antelope, originally from India, is one of the finest tasting game meats around. “It gives you the chance to display your cooking skill,” Scherwitzer said. “I will come out with something different next time.” The cook-off attracted hundreds of people and included a ‘Market Days’ with more than 30 vendors, along with non-profit organizations. Many of the attendees said they have never seen an antelope, let alone eaten some of the great-tasting venison. Others said they would like to get to hunt them if they get the chance. “I read it can cost several thousand dollars to try to get one,” said South Padre Island resident Tom Baicy. “It’s a hefty price but I am willing to give it a try.” An attendee who lives around Rio Hondo said he has never seen a live nilgai, even though the small town’s surroundings are a well-known habitat for these antelope. “I have taken pictures of their tracks,” he said, showing several pictures on his cell phone. “But that is it.” The cook-off also included a final chance draw to hunt at the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. TPWD wardens and refuge personnel were at the drawing that selected 100 archery and 20 rifle permits to hunt this season at the refuge. The reason being to give more people the opportunity to hunt and to help control the growing nilgai population there.
Team Road Kill, top, took first place at the recent nilgai cook-off, while Luis Carlos Pineda shows a pizza he made using nilgai sausage. Photos by Tony Vindell, for Lone Star Outdoor News.
Page 11
Page 12
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
YOUR EAST TEXAS PREMIER HUNTING & OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE Experience exceptional hunting on a private ranch where great memories are made. Whether you're chasing trophy whitetails or wild hogs, The Lodge at Davis Creek delivers the adventure you've been looking for.
Whitetail Deer • Wild Hogs Managed hunting grounds for all skill levels Stay in our beautiful 2 bedroom/2 bath lodge! Day Hunts available
(936) 209-4598 @daviscreeklodge
www.daviscreeklodge.com
daviscreeklodge@gmail.com• Bon Wier, Texas
LSONews.com
NATIONAL FLORIDA
Angler killed by alligator A 71-year-old angler died October 16 after an alligator attacked him while he was fishing at a popular Winter Garden, Florida park, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Steven Hamilton was fishing at Dr. Bradford Memorial Park along Lake Apopka when witnesses say a large alligator grabbed him and pulled him into the water. “He caught a bass. He held it up for whoever it was to take a picture of him and the gator came up and grabbed him by the leg and pulled him in,” witness Beatrice Soto said. FWC crews responded to the park around 5 p.m. Friday and recovered Hamilton’s body from the water. —FWC
OKLAHOMA
Lotspeich family honored
SINCE 1960
BUYING, SELLING AND TRADING GUNS
Used and new firearms, ammunition, knives, and optics for all of your hunting, shooting and personal protection needs.
123 Carroll Rd, Wharton, TX 77488 Fo l lo w u s
(979) 532-3175
c ar r o l l s _h u nti ng_ f i s h i ng
howdy@carrollsgunshop.com C a r ro l l ' s Gu n S ho p
The Lotspeich family in northwestern Oklahoma has received the 2026 Landowner Conservationist of the Year honor from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The main Lotspeich Ranch is 10,000 acres of native grass, forbs and shrubs in northern Harper County. An additional 3,950 acres of farm ground, of which 750 acres are irrigated, are in Beaver County. Landowner Troy Lotspeich’s great-grandfather came to Oklahoma in the 1890s, bought a quarter-section of land, and then bought the current ranch in 1903. The success of Lotspeich’s program is evident in the rich prairie wildlife community. Species present include northern bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk, dove, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, ring-necked pheasants, and wild turkeys. Ducks, geese and sandhill cranes also use the ponds and the river on the ranch. —ODWC
MONTANA
Antelope harvest consistent near Billings The general antelope hunting season opened Saturday, Oct. 10. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologists operated check stations in Big Timber, Broadview and Billings on both Saturday and Sunday for the opening weekend. Sunday brought cold temperatures to the area, especially in the region’s northern and eastern hunting districts (HDs). Snow depths reached 12 inches in HDs 516 and 546 by Sunday afternoon. Many hunters returned from the field Saturday or early Sunday to avoid the winter storm. The Broadview check station, typically the busiest in the region, saw the fewest number of hunters and harvested antelope, while the Big Timber check station was the busiest. Hunter numbers were consistent with last year at the Billings check station. —MFWP
UTAH
Residents can apply for premium tags Sportsman permits are among Utah's most prized hunting permits, and the time for Utah residents to apply for the 2027 permits is now open. Utahns began submitting applications for the 2027 sportsman permits on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
"If you draw a sportsman permit, you can hunt on almost every unit in Utah that's open to hunting the species you drew a permit for," DWR Administrative Services Assistant Chief Lindy Varney said. "Also, the season dates are much longer, so you'll have more time to scout different places to harvest an animal. It's truly the hunt of a lifetime." Utahns may apply for as many species as they'd like, but only one sportsman permit is offered for each of the following species: bison, black bear, buck deer, buck pronghorn, bull elk, bull moose, desert bighorn sheep, mountain goat, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and wild turkey (a two-bird permit). —UDNR
CALIFORNIA
Quail and chukar hunters welcome Fall has officially arrived and with it more opportunities for upland game bird hunting. California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists expect good hunting seasons for quail and chukar in 2026-27. California has three native species of quail — mountain, California and Gambel’s quail. At least one quail species can be found in every part of the state, offering close-to-home hunting opportunities for Californians no matter where they live. Long seasons that extend into 2027 add to the abundance of opportunities. California is also home to introduced chukar partridge populations that are native to parts of Asia and the Middle East. Chukar were introduced into California beginning in the 1930s and took hold in areas that most closely resembled their native lands — the arid, steep, rocky terrain in the Modoc Plateau south into the Mojave Desert and Death Valley. California is divided into three quail zones. Zone 1 opened for mountain quail September 12. Zone 2 opened for both mountain and California quail on September 26. On Saturday, Oct. 17, all quail species and chukar opened to hunting statewide. The general season runs through Jan. 31. Hunters may take up to 10 quail per day in any species combination. The daily chukar bag limit is six birds. —CDFW
IOWA
Ready for deer season Mother Nature hasn’t been cooperating with bow hunters so far this fall, with a near record rain amount September that wasn’t good for crop harvest and summerlike temperatures extending into the second week of October. But things changed the weekend of Oct. 17. “With the cooler temperatures coming, hunters are getting excited,” said Jace Elliott, state deer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Due to all the rain, natural forage has been really prevalent this year and deer seem to be remaining in the timber where they have ample cover and food,” he said. “Deer are still disbursed, but that can change as the crops come out and temperatures drop.” Iowa averages more than 50,000 bow hunters each year, who spend an average of 20 days per season in their tree stands. In 2025, Iowa bow hunters reported harvesting more than 20,000 deer. Iowa’s bow season is open through Dec. 4, closes for the two regular gun seasons, then reopens Dec. 21 through Jan. 10, 2027. The early muzzleloader season runs from Oct. 17-25. —IDNR
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
Page 13
Deer season
Doe hunts
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1
cautious about wanting to pick the perfect shot, but the does wouldn’t always cooperate. “We didn’t get a clear opportunity that morning and during our evening sit, I began hearing shots ring out from the other first-time hunters,” Dudley said. “By the time I heard the fourth shot, I realized I was the last woman who hadn't had a successful harvest.” Toward the end of the evening, a doe finally presented herself, but she was a bit out of Dudley's comfortable range in fading light. Worried about making a poor shot, she said she passed and worried that evening that Sunday might end the same way. “Kelly and Rob at Sierra Mesa Ranch went out of their way to set me up for success, ensuring my rifle was fully prepped, and the feed was well-placed to naturally spread the doe out,” Dudley said. “We switched to an elevated blind, and though it was my first time hunting from a height, I quickly felt comfortable.” Dudley said she was ready to harvest the first lone doe, but Godfrey calmly told her to wait. Little did she know that trusting her guide would soon pay off. “Sure enough, not long after, my doe finally appeared,” Dudley said. “I am so grateful for Kelly's patience and leadership through those ups and downs.” Hunters Courteney Tower, Sophie Wood, Stacie Stutte, and Svetlana “Lana” Ross all shared similar experiences to Dudley. Stutte expressed she felt an immense amount of pride in herself. “As a first-generation hunter at 54 years old, I had stepped outside my comfort zone and pursued a dream, Stutte said. “With the guidance of my guide, Emily, the encouragement from the other women, and the support of the owner and staff at the Sierra Mesa Ranch, I was reminded that it is never too late to learn something new, challenge yourself, and discover what you’re capable of.” Tower said this experience not only makes her want to hunt more but makes her want to be better for others. She was given knowledge of a lifetime and is something she wants to build on moving into the future. “With the deer meat, I cooked a fresh backstrap to a perfect medium rare the day after we left and it still brings me emotion knowing the meat on the table was mine,” Tower said. “The flavor was even more incredible than the first time I had venison and this was all thanks to this incredible trip.” Wood said going into this experience she was worried she would be too nervous or unsteady to pull the trigger when her opportunity came. “When the doe lined up, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm and thankfulness,” Wood said. “I was grateful to be exactly where I was in that moment and for everything that had led me there.” Ross understands now why hunting can become a lifelong tradition. This was a challenge she enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to learn something new. “I like that hunting requires preparation, patience, and allows you to disconnect from everyday life,” Ross said. “This hunting experience was about much more than the harvest.”
ton of acorns this year. I think it’s going to be tough for a little while, at least as far as targeting mature bucks is concerned because there’s plenty of food sources out there for them right now.” Ryan Welch has been spending some time in East Texas on his family’s property near Center in Shelby County, where he’s been sitting in a bow stand and getting things ready for the general deer season. “During the few sits I’ve made in a bow blind, I’ve seen pretty much the same group of does, fawns, and young bucks,” Welch said. “I haven’t seen much daylight activity from mature bucks, just yet. I’m hoping that will change as the weather continues to cool off.” Welch did say he’s started to see acorns falling on their property and assumes that has also kept a lot of the bucks from visiting corn feeders. Russell Ernst has been keeping an eye on deer activity using cell cameras on properties
in Wilson and Karnes counties lately. He said the property he’s hunting in Wilson County has plenty of food sources for the deer to eat, in addition to his feeders, including freshly sprouted forbs and weeds from recent rains and acorns. “Nearly all of the mature bucks I’m seeing on camera on the Wilson County property are showing up exclusively at night,” he said. “I think it’s going to take a few weeks for the acorns to thin out and the weather to cool down some more before they start showing up to my set-ups in the daylight.” Ernst said the ranch he’s hunting in Karnes County does have some regular activity from bachelor groups of bucks around feeders during the daylight hours. “I’m still not seeing just a ton of mature bucks around feeders on that place either yet, though,” he said. “I think the situation is similar there, too. There’s still a lot of food out in the pasture for the deer to eat right now.”
DSC names Trackan Lemon Youth Award winner Dallas Safari Club announced the 2027 Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award (CCYHA) recipient is Trackan Lemon, a 13-year-old from Holden, Utah. Trackan, who grew up immersed in the outdoors, represents the spirit of adventure, character, and conservation leadership that the award was created to recognize. For Trackan, hunting has been part of life for as long as he can remember. Some of his earliest memories are of riding in his father's backpack through the hills and mountains of Utah and Sonora, Mexico. Hunting is deeply rooted in the Lemon family, a tradition passed down from his grandfather to his father and now to Trackan. Trackan was with his father on the way to baseball when he learned he had been selected for the award. "I kept asking him, 'Are you joking me?' and he said, 'No, bud,'" Trackan recalled. "I was in shock. I was so excited I had tears." The CCYHA honors young DSC members who demonstrate leadership in their hunting journey, dedication to conservation, and involvement in their communities. Beyond his accomplishments in the field, Trackan participates in year-round travel baseball, tackle football, wrestling, and church activities. He also contributes to community service projects and recently completed a challenging three-day backpacking trip over Kings Peak, Utah's tallest mountain. "Trackan embodies the values that the Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award was established to recognize," said DSC CEO Russell Stacy. "His dedication to hunting, respect for wildlife, and commitment to carrying on his family's traditions reflect the importance of inspiring the next generation of hunters and conservationists. We are proud to recognize his accomplishments and look forward to seeing his continued growth and contributions to the conservation community." —DSC
QUIETLY.COMPACT Adding just 4.6" to barrel length, the Nomad Ti OTB advances over-the-barrel suppressor innovation. Delivering the recoil reduction and sound suppression of a longer system, it maintains optimal balance and keeps the rifle compact for fast handling and confident control in the field.
OV E R -T HE BA R R E L
L I G HT W E I G HT & I M P R OV E D BA L A N C E
XENO C O M PAT I BL E
AC C CO O U ST IC PERFORMANCE
Page 14
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
TEXAS SUN, MOON AND TIDES Moon Phases Houston
Full
Last
New
First
Oct 25
Nov 1
Nov 9
Nov 17
Solunar Sun times Moon times Dallas
2026 Oct/Nov
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
2026 Oct/Nov
A.M. P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 Sat 01 Sun 02 Mon 03 Tue 04 Wed 05 Thu 06 Fri
3:17 9:28 3:57 10:09 4:41 10:54 5:32 11:45 6:30 12:15 7:35 1:19 8:45 2:29 9:55 3:39 11:02 4:47 ----- 5:49 11:56 5:43 12:19 6:31 1:01 7:13 1:40 7:51 2:18 8:29
3:39 9:50 4:20 10:32 5:06 11:19 5:59 ----7:00 12:45 8:06 1:51 9:17 3:01 10:26 4:11 11:32 5:17 12:03 6:17 ----6:09 12:43 6:54 1:24 7:35 2:02 8:13 2:40 8:51
07:27 06:42 07:27 06:42 07:28 06:41 07:29 06:40 07:30 06:39 07:30 06:38 07:31 06:37 07:32 06:36 07:33 06:35 07:33 06:34 06:34 05:34 06:35 05:33 06:36 05:32 06:37 05:31 06:37 05:31
5:05p 4:48a 5:36p 5:48a 6:11p 6:53a 6:51p 8:01a 7:38p 9:12a 8:33p 10:24a 9:36p 11:31a 10:45p 12:32p 11:55p 1:24p NoMoon 2:09p 12:04a 1:46p 1:10a 2:20p 2:11a 2:50p 3:11a 3:19p 4:09a 3:48p
23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 Sat 01 Sun 02 Mon 03 Tue 04 Wed 05 Thu 06 Fri
3:23 9:34 4:03 10:14 4:47 11:00 5:38 11:51 6:36 12:21 7:41 1:25 8:50 2:34 10:01 3:45 11:08 4:53 ----- 5:55 ----- 5:49 12:25 6:37 1:07 7:18 1:46 7:57 2:24 8:35
3:45 9:56 4:26 10:38 5:12 11:25 6:05 ----7:05 12:51 8:12 1:57 9:22 3:06 10:32 4:16 11:38 5:23 12:09 6:23 12:02 6:15 12:48 7:00 1:30 7:41 2:08 8:19 2:46 8:57
07:36 06:45 07:37 06:44 07:37 06:43 07:38 06:42 07:39 06:41 07:40 06:40 07:41 06:39 07:42 06:38 07:42 06:37 07:43 06:36 06:44 05:35 06:45 05:34 06:46 05:33 06:47 05:33 06:48 05:32
5:10p 4:54a 5:39p 5:56a 6:12p 7:02a 6:50p 8:13a 7:36p 9:26a 8:30p 10:39a 9:33p 11:47a 10:42p 12:47p 11:54p 1:38p NoMoon 2:21p 12:05a 1:57p 1:12a 2:28p 2:16a 2:56p 3:17a 3:23p 4:17a 3:51p
San Antonio
Amarillo
2026 Oct/Nov
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. SUN MOON Minor Major Rises Sets Rises Sets
2026 Oct/Nov
A.M. Minor Major
P.M. Minor Major
SUN Rises Sets
MOON Rises Sets
23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 Sat 01 Sun 02 Mon 03 Tue 04 Wed 05 Thu 06 Fri
3:30 9:41 4:09 10:21 4:54 11:06 5:44 11:58 6:42 12:28 7:48 1:32 8:57 2:41 10:07 3:51 11:14 4:59 ----- 6:01 ----- 5:56 12:31 6:43 1:14 7:25 1:53 8:04 2:31 8:42
3:52 10:03 4:33 10:44 5:19 11:31 6:12 ----7:12 12:57 8:19 2:03 9:29 3:13 10:39 4:23 11:44 5:29 12:15 6:29 12:09 6:22 12:55 7:07 1:36 7:47 2:14 8:25 2:52 9:03
23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 Sat 01 Sun 02 Mon 03 Tue 04 Wed 05 Thu 06 Fri
3:43 9:54 4:23 10:35 5:07 11:20 5:58 ----6:56 12:41 8:01 1:45 9:11 2:54 10:21 4:05 11:28 5:13 12:05 6:15 ----- 6:09 12:45 6:57 1:27 7:39 2:06 8:17 2:44 8:55
4:05 10:16 4:46 10:58 5:32 11:45 6:25 12:11 7:26 1:11 8:32 2:17 9:43 3:27 10:52 4:37 11:58 5:43 12:29 6:43 12:22 6:35 1:09 7:20 1:50 8:01 2:28 8:39 3:06 9:17
07:59 07:02 08:00 07:01 08:00 07:00 08:01 06:59 08:02 06:58 08:03 06:57 08:04 06:56 08:05 06:55 08:06 06:54 08:07 06:52 07:08 05:51 07:09 05:51 07:10 05:50 07:11 05:49 07:12 05:48
5:30p 5:15a 5:58p 6:19a 6:29p 7:27a 7:05p 8:39a 7:49p 9:54a 8:43p 11:08a 9:46p 12:16p 10:56p 1:16p NoMoon 2:06p 12:09a 2:47p 12:21a 2:21p 1:30a 2:50p 2:36a 3:17p 3:38a 3:43p 4:40a 4:09p
07:39 06:55 07:39 06:54 07:40 06:54 07:41 06:53 07:42 06:52 07:42 06:51 07:43 06:50 07:44 06:49 07:44 06:48 07:45 06:47 06:46 05:47 06:47 05:46 06:48 05:45 06:48 05:44 06:49 05:44
5:18p 5:01a 5:49p 6:01a 6:24p 7:05a 7:05p 8:13a 7:52p 9:24a 8:48p 10:35a 9:51p 11:43a 10:59p 12:44p NoMoon 1:36p 12:10a 2:21p 12:18a 1:59p 1:23a 2:32p 2:25a 3:02p 3:24a 3:32p 4:21a 4:01p
Legend: Major=2 hours. Minor=1 hour. Times centered on the major-minor window. For other locations, subtract 1 minute per 12 miles east of a location, and add 1 minute per 12 miles west of a location.
Sabine Pass, north Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 2:22 AM 2:29 AM 2:37 AM 2:46 AM 2:59 AM 3:15 AM 12:03 AM 12:47 AM 1:58 AM 2:29 PM 3:42 PM 6:06 AM 12:18 AM 12:38 AM 12:56 AM
Height 1.71H 1.69H 1.70H 1.73H 1.79H 1.85H 1.74L 1.82L 1.83L 0.04L 0.26L 1.22L 1.71H 1.66H 1.62H
Time 8:22 AM 8:49 AM 9:22 AM 9:59 AM 10:41 AM 11:28 AM 3:36 AM 3:58 AM 4:14 AM 11:20 PM 11:53 PM 10:36 AM 6:27 AM 6:55 AM 7:25 AM
Time 2:52 PM 3:43 PM 4:34 PM 5:26 PM 6:22 PM 7:24 PM 12:19 PM 1:16 PM 2:20 PM 1:12 PM 11:08 AM 4:54 PM 12:15 PM 1:30 PM 2:31 PM
Height 1.78H 1.93H 2.07H 2.15H 2.16H 2.12H -0.42L -0.32L -0.16L 0.67L 1.73H 0.48L 1.54H 1.67H 1.79H
Time 8:35 PM 9:19 PM 10:02 PM 10:43 PM 11:23 PM 8:50 PM 8:38 PM 10:07 PM 11:29 PM 6:44 PM 7:21 PM 7:12 PM 6:02 PM 7:02 PM 7:56 PM
Height 0.91L 1.08L 1.27L 1.45L 1.61L 1.88H 2.04H 1.95H 1.90H 1.22H -0.17L 0.35L 0.70L 0.92L 1.11L
Height 1.78H 1.96H 2.14 2.29H -0.15L
Time 8:41 PM 9:41 PM 10:55 PM
Height 1.13L 1.33L 1.53L
6:55 PM
2.36H
Galveston Bay entrance, north jetty Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 2:30 AM 2:33 AM 2:40 AM 2:52 AM 12:01 AM 11:27 AM 12:15 PM 1:08 PM 2:11 PM 2:24 PM 3:46 PM 12:08 AM 12:31 AM 12:50 AM 1:05 AM
Height 1.77H 1.75H 1.75H 1.78H 1.72L -0.29L -0.32L -0.24L -0.07L 0.16L 0.42L 1.93H 1.80H 1.71H 1.65H
Time 8:37 AM 8:56 AM 9:25 AM 10:01 AM 3:04 AM 8:08 PM 9:25 PM 10:35 PM 11:42 PM 11:35 PM
Height 0.97L 0.68L 0.37L 0.08L 1.84H 2.38H 2.35H 2.29H 2.19H 2.06H
Time 3:00 PM 4:05 PM 5:03 PM 5:57 PM 10:43 AM
6:26 AM 6:42 AM 7:05 AM 7:32 AM
1.44L 1.15L 0.85L 0.56L
9:57 AM 12:07 PM 1:34 PM 2:46 PM
1.60H 1.67H 1.81H 1.95H
5:17 PM 6:30 PM 7:31 PM 8:37 PM
0.66L 0.90L 1.14L 1.35L
Height 1.77H 1.68H 1.63H 1.61H -0.03L -0.17L -0.22L -0.18L -0.05L 0.15L 0.40L 1.36L 1.82H 1.64H 1.52H
Time 8:10 AM 8:20 AM 8:42 AM 9:14 AM 6:37 PM 7:51 PM 9:24 PM 10:37 PM 11:37 PM 11:21 PM 11:50 PM 9:27 AM 6:45 AM 6:59 AM 7:16 AM
Height 1.04L 0.76L 0.46L 0.19L 2.51H 2.53H 2.52H 2.48H 2.39H 2.23H 2.03H 1.47H 1.11L 0.83L 0.56L
Time 2:28 PM 3:37 PM 4:42 PM 5:39 PM
Height 1.84H 2.04H 2.25H 2.41H
Time 8:45 PM 9:59 PM 11:31 PM
Height 1.19L 1.36L 1.53L
Time 1:50 AM 1:55 AM 2:03 AM 2:10 AM 9:54 AM 10:41 AM 11:34 AM 12:32 PM 1:38 PM 1:51 PM 3:02 PM 6:40 AM 12:06 AM 12:12 AM 12:13 AM
Height 0.96H 0.96H 0.44L 0.31L 0.22L 1.34H 1.38H 1.39H 1.38H 1.32H 1.22H 1.08H 0.95H 0.85H 0.86H
Time 10:38 AM 10:52 AM 9:55 PM 11:00 PM
Height 0.77L 0.60L 1.20H 1.29H
1:34 PM 2:32 PM 3:37 PM 4:50 PM 4:59 PM 5:59 PM 6:49 PM 7:36 PM 9:12 AM 9:35 AM
0.17L 0.15L 0.17L 0.20L 0.26L 0.35L 0.49L 0.64L 0.65L 0.47L
4:30 PM 11:32 AM 1:05 PM 2:23 PM
0.69L 1.57H 1.75H 1.93H
Time 6:36 PM 8:41 PM
Height 0.96H 1.09H
6:20 PM 7:40 PM 9:08 PM
0.95L 1.18L 1.36L
Time 10:46 PM
Height 0.92L
Port O’Connor Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 4:04 AM 2:32 AM 11:22 AM 12:00 PM 12:44 PM 12:24 AM 2:33 AM 3:49 AM 4:44 AM 4:26 AM 4:49 AM 4:37 AM 4:09 AM 3:14 AM 12:31 AM
Time 12:28 AM 1:04 AM 1:42 AM 2:15 PM 3:04 AM 3:52 AM 4:44 AM 5:42 AM 6:39 AM 6:29 AM 7:03 AM 7:11 AM 6:32 AM 4:09 AM 2:57 AM
Time 12:04 AM 1:05 AM 2:17 AM 3:24 AM 2:42 PM 3:27 PM 4:09 AM 5:06 AM 5:46 AM 5:17 AM 5:29 AM 4:55 AM 4:28 AM 4:19 AM 4:17 AM
San Luis Pass Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 02:30 AM 02:24 AM 02:25 AM 02:28 AM 10:36 AM 11:22 AM 12:14 PM 01:12 PM 12:26 AM 01:14 AM 12:40 AM 12:50 AM 12:50 AM 12:46 AM 12:39 AM
Height 0.89L 1.09L 1.27L 1.43L 0.03L -0.03L 1.79H 1.84H 1.85H 1.79H 1.68H 1.54H 1.43H 1.36H 1.32H
Time 5:57 AM 5:43 AM 5:40 AM 5:37 AM 11:02 PM
Height 1.44H 1.41H 1.43H 1.47H 1.78H
4:25 PM 5:44 PM 7:01 PM 7:04 PM 8:07 PM 9:18 PM 11:19 AM 11:36 AM 11:57 AM
-0.03L -0.00L 0.03L 0.10L 0.24L 0.45L 0.97L 0.69L 0.43L
Height 1.46H 1.44H 1.44H 1.48H 0.09L -0.01L -0.03L 0.02L 1.92H 1.85H 1.73H 1.58H 1.45H 1.35H 1.31H
Time 8:38 AM 8:54 AM 9:21 AM 9:56 AM 7:45 PM 9:19 PM 11:09 PM
Height 0.97L 0.73L 0.48L 0.26L 1.93H 1.94H 1.95H
2:16 PM 2:28 PM 3:50 PM 6:49 AM 6:58 AM 7:19 AM 7:44 AM
0.14L 0.30L 0.48L 1.25L 1.02L 0.77L 0.54L
Height 0.78H 0.80H 0.84H 0.47L 0.45L 0.98H 1.01H 1.02H 1.01H 0.98H 0.93H 0.86H 0.79H 0.75H 0.74H
Time 9:51 AM 10:30 AM 11:10 AM 11:01 PM
Height 0.64L 0.57L 0.51L 0.95H
1:26 PM 2:22 PM 3:29 PM 4:48 PM 5:05 PM 6:08 PM 7:51 AM 8:03 AM 8:34 AM 9:09 AM
0.45L 0.47L 0.49L 0.50L 0.52L 0.54L 0.82 0.71L 0.60L 0.49L
Height 1.31H 1.31H 1.35H 1.40H 0.21L 0.13L 0.11L 1.75H 1.72H 1.65H 1.52H 1.37H 1.23H 0.81L 0.60L
Time 7:52 AM 8:16 AM 8:47 AM 9:24 AM 9:25 PM 11:01 PM
Height 0.95L 0.74L 0.53L 0.35L 1.66H 1.72H
12:51 PM 1:52 PM 1:56 PM 3:10 PM 6:40 AM 6:32 AM 12:39 PM 2:21 PM
0.14L 0.23L 0.37L 0.54L 1.23L 1.03L 1.30H 1.37H
Height 1.68H 1.64H 1.64H 0.31L 0.08L -0.08L -0.14L -0.10L 2.26H 2.17H 2.03H 1.85H 1.68H 1.03L 0.77L
Time 7:39 AM 7:59 AM 8:29 AM 6:06 PM 7:48 PM 9:39 PM 11:00 PM
Height 1.18L 0.90L 0.60L 2.16H 2.22H 2.26H 2.28H
1:33 PM 1:40 PM 2:51 PM 4:08 PM 6:21 AM 1:01 PM 2:37 PM
0.04L 0.26L 0.54L 0.84L 1.30L 1.72H 1.87H
Time 1:02 PM 1:14 PM 1:36 PM 2:05 PM
Height 0.85L 0.59L 0.35L 0.16L
Time 6:44 PM 8:11 PM 9:13 PM 10:03 PM
Height 1.40H 1.54H 1.68H 1.76H
3:38 PM 5:08 PM 6:48 PM
1.22H 1.29H 1.40H
10:26 PM 11:36 PM
0.70L 0.96L
Time 3:14 PM 4:26 PM 5:30 PM 6:33 PM
Height 1.52H 1.65H 1.78H 1.88H
Time 9:15 PM 10:18 PM 11:35 PM
Height 1.09L 1.25L 1.41L
9:35 AM 11:59 AM 1:44 PM 3:07 PM
1.31H 1.34H 1.44H 1.56H
5:20 PM 6:43 PM 7:56 PM 9:07 PM
0.67L 0.86L 1.04L 1.20L
Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 3:25 AM 3:03 AM 2:48 AM 11:52 AM 12:37 PM 2:44 AM 3:26 AM 4:06 AM 4:39 AM 4:00 AM 4:06 AM 3:59 AM 3:28 AM 1:22 AM 12:53 AM
Time 4:42 PM 6:44 PM 9:45 PM
Height 0.81H 0.84H 0.90H
Time 10:39 PM 11:44 PM
Height 0.73L 0.81L
9:54 AM 12:56 PM 3:19 PM 5:28 PM
0.82H 0.78H 0.77H 0.77H
7:03 PM 7:55 PM 8:52 PM 10:11 PM
0.58L 0.63L 0.69L 0.73L
Time 2:06 PM 3:25 PM 4:31 PM 5:35 PM
Height 1.40H 1.48H 1.57H 1.62H
Time 8:38 PM 9:33 PM 10:45 PM
Height 1.07L 1.21L 1.36L
8:48 AM 10:54 AM 7:18 PM 8:19 PM
1.25H 1.25H 1.01L 1.15L
4:43 PM 6:10 PM 11:31 PM 11:37 PM
0.70L 0.86L 1.21H 1.24H
Time 2:17 PM 3:34 PM 4:48 PM
Height 1.80H 1.94H 2.07H
Time 8:27 PM 9:36 PM
Height 1.35L 1.53L
11:06 AM 6:53 PM 8:21 PM
1.58H 1.38L 1.57L
5:31 PM 11:23 PM 11:06 PM
1.13L 1.58H 1.61H
Port Aransas
4:59 PM 7:18 PM
0.84H 0.96H
8:26 PM
0.81L
Nueces Bay Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
East Matagorda
Freeport Harbor Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
High Island
Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 1:22 AM 1:23 AM 1:28 AM 1:31 AM 10:06 AM 10:56 AM 11:52 AM 12:07 AM 1:11 AM 1:09 AM 1:46 AM 1:52 AM 12:02 AM 6:49 AM 7:13 AM
South Padre Island Height 0.69L 0.82L 0.97L 0.42L 1.21H 1.28H 1.31H 1.31H 1.28H 1.23H 1.14H 1.03H 0.90H 0.83H 0.85H
Time 6:13 AM 5:00 AM 4:01 AM
Height 0.86H 0.89H 0.98H
3:19 PM 4:36 PM 5:55 PM 7:12 PM 8:26 PM 8:34 PM 9:31 PM 10:37 AM 10:21 AM 10:44 AM 11:17 AM
0.40L 0.41L 0.42L 0.43L 0.45L 0.47L 0.52L 1.00L 0.85L 0.68L 0.52L
Time 12:03 PM 12:40 PM 1:23 PM
1:07 PM 3:20 PM 5:33 PM 7:46 PM
Height 0.69L 0.57L 0.48L
1.01H 0.97H 0.96H 0.97H
Time 7:14 PM 9:07 PM 11:30 PM
10:21 PM 11:06 PM 11:50 PM
Height 0.99H 1.04H 1.11H
0.59L 0.69L 0.81L
Date Oct 23 Oct 24 Oct 25 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 29 Oct 30 Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3 Nov 4 Nov 5 Nov 6
Time 1:30 AM 1:23 AM 1:08 AM 9:05 AM 9:47 AM 10:35 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 PM 12:02 AM 12:51 AM 12:24 AM 12:36 AM 12:14 AM 6:25 AM 6:45 AM
Texas Coast Tides
Height 0.73L 0.42L 0.12L -0.14L -0.33L -0.42L 1.91H 1.92H 1.86H 1.84H 1.77H 1.44H 0.91L 0.59L 0.31L
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
Page 15
HISTORICAL OUTDOOR BLOTTER Much like their fishing reports, TPWD has discontinued publishing the Game Warden Field Notes. Despite multiple efforts by LSON to obtain the reports, both through informal channels and by Freedom of Information Act requests, our requests have been denied due to costs and manpower required to produce the reports by TPWD. The good news is we have 20 years of accumulated Game Warden reports, so we are bringing back the Historical Outdoor Blotter as a retroactive feature. The week’s report comes from the January, 2015 issue of Lone Star Outdoor News. Each issue moving forward, we will revisit some of our favorite Outdoors Blotters from past issues.
TRESPASSER CLAIMS HUNTING HOGS, BUT GUTTED BUCK FOUND A ranch caretaker found a truck on the property and witnessed a man with a gun run off into the brush. A Karnes County Game Warden was called and made contact with the suspected poacher. The subject said he knew the ranch owners but admitted he did not have permission to be hunting there. The man said he was hunting hogs and when he saw the truck he got scared and ran. The man did not have a valid Texas hunting license and a citation was issued. The following day, the warden received a call from the landowner’s daughter, who had found a gutted buck on the ranch. The poacher then confessed he shot the deer but left it because he was afraid of being caught. POACHER POINTS GUN AT WARDEN, FLEES While scanning the woods with night vision, a Harris County Game Warden noticed a dim light and moved toward the source. The warden then noticed a man aiming a rifle at him and announced his presence as he positioned himself out of the line of fire. The poacher fled on foot into the woods. Game Wardens responded, along with Harris County Sheriff deputies. While conducting a search of the area, the sheriff’s K-9 located the poacher’s rifle and hunting gear hidden in the woods. DOE HANGING FROM TREE LEADS TO MULTIPLE CHARGES Longview Animal Control called a Gregg County Game Warden regarding a decaying doe hanging in a resident’s tree. The warden located two untagged does behind the proper-
ty, along with an untagged 9-point buck. Two of the four individuals interviewed claimed they harvested the deer in Arkansas; one of the subjects confessed to taking a fourth deer in Texas that was dumped in Arkansas. When questioned about the discrepancies between their harvest dates versus the dates printed on their Arkansas hunting licenses, two subjects acknowledged hunting without a license. The warden contacted Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers, and they are pursuing more than $2,500 in charges against the subjects. Two of the men face one-year suspensions while the other would receive a lifetime hunting license suspension in Arkansas. of a freshly killed doe and a small 4-point buck. Cases were filed for hunting deer at night and hunting deer with the aid of artificial light. The subjects were transported to the county jail. TWO SHOOTING BIRDS ON CLOSED PUBLIC LAND A Frio County Game Warden received a call from a concerned landowner advising he heard several shots from a nearby TPWD public hunting area. The warden made contact with two individuals who were hunting in a closed area and in were in possession of mourning dove, quail and protected nongame birds. Citations were issued. BUCK IN TRUCK BED, DOE IN DITCH WERE HARD TO DENY A Gillespie County Game Warden received a call from the county sheriff’s office regarding possible road hunters. The caller saw a truck parked in the ditch with a buck in the bed and a doe on the ground. The warden interviewed
two suspects who denied involvement, but one eventually showed him where the buck was killed and the drag marks. PROCESSOR’S INVOICE DRAWS FURTHER INQUIRY A deer processor’s invoice caught the attention of a Smith County Game Warden. One man checked in three deer but didn’t notch or fill his tags out. When the warden asked about his deer, the man said that he only shot one and that his friends killed two doe (in closed season) but didn’t tag them because they didn’t have licenses. Multiple citations were issued. EXCUSES, EXCUSES Nacogdoches County Game Wardens observed an individual cleaning a deer in his garage. The deer was not tagged and the man claimed he had taken the tag off and placed it in his wallet to prevent him from losing it. The man said his wife had taken his wallet with her to purchase ice. When his wife returned, it was determined that she had shot the deer without a hunting license. The subject’s uncle showed up during the interview and said he shot a doe earlier and claimed his hunting license was at his house with the deer, but he in fact did not have a hunting license. The deer meat was donated, and citations were issued for antler restriction violations and criminal trespassing. SHOOTING FOOT WAS JUST THE START OF HIS PROBLEMS A hunter accidentally shot himself in the foot while loading a deer and a Montgomery County Game Warden was contacted. It was found that the hunter was hunting without a valid license, tagged the deer with another
hunter’s tag, killed a buck that was not legal (12 inches) and was hunting without his Hunter’s Education certification. LOST BUCK FOUND, ADDS TO PROBLEMS FOR POACHERS A Bell County Game Warden assisted the police department after reports of shots being fired. Before the warden arrived, the local police found a group of men looking for a deer that had been shot and wounded. The warden discovered two of the men had harvested a doe and a buck and failed to tag the deer. Both men were cited for failing to tag their deer, the antlers were seized and civil restitution is pending. DPS TROOPER, WARDEN FIND NIGHT HUNTERS Illegal hunting activity was reported to a Madison County Game Warden by a DPS Trooper. The pair arrived at the scene to find two subjects cleaning a white-tailed doe. One of the suspects admitted to shooting the deer with a rifle using a spotlight. The suspect was arrested for hunting deer at night with a light. SMILE, YOU’RE ON CAMERA Montgomery County Game Wardens apprehended three suspects trespassing on a deer lease. The wardens were tipped off by a state-issued camera set near the entrance of the property. The camera took and sent pictures of the suspects breaking a lock to gain access. In addition to being arrested for criminal trespassing, the three were cited for criminal mischief.
Page 16
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER Solution on Page 22
LSONews.com
INDUSTRY Seyfert joins Sierra
RMEF hiring
Sierra Bullets and Barnes Bullets announced Cole Seyfert joined their sales team managing Key Accounts and International Commercial sales. Seyfert brings sales management experience from American Outdoor Brands and founded ROCT Outdoor, a premium dog gear company serving sporting and farm markets across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is hiring an Eastern Regional Development Director to support strategic fundraising efforts, manage major donor portfolios, and identify planned gift opportunities. The remote position requires a bachelor's degree, five years of development experience, and frequent travel throughout the Eastern United States.
Importer of the year Century Arms received the Importer of the Year award from the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers at the 2026 Caliber Awards dinner in Phoenix. The recognition, voted by NASGW wholesaler members, honors the company's exceptional service, partnership, and support within the shooting sports industry's distribution channel.
Crane recognized Jeff Crane, president and CEO of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, received the 2026 Chairman's Award from the National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers for his decades of advocacy for sportsmen, conservation, and the outdoor community. The award recognizes his leadership in growing the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and securing landmark conservation victories.
ACROSS 1. Used to see what game is around 6. Offshore technique of dropping baits 8. Hunters often look at this lunar predicter 11. Special season for children 12. Used to look at game over long distances 13. Water movement 16. Fish-eating birds 17. Common fishing pole 21. Often can be winter wheat, oats, or corn 23. Area where fish congregate 24. The sharp point of an arrow used for hunting 26. Prized duck species 27. Type of fishing lure 29. Strong fishing line 30. Used by deer and a good place to hunt 32. Post-season activity 33. Needed to go afield with a weapon 34. Used in ambush hunting situations 35. Saltwater pest 36. Elk hunters love to locate these
Young archer joins Carbon Express Carbon Express announced that 16-year-old Chloe Nelsen, the first woman to win the Vegas Shoot Championship Compound Young Adult title, has joined its professional shooting team. The Wisconsin archer previously won the Lancaster Archery Classic Youth Female Open and set a world record at JOAD Nationals with the Nano Pro RZ.
Schneider VP for Primary Arms Optics Primary Arms Optics announced the promotion of Jeff Scheider to vice president of sales. Scheider, who previously served as national sales manager, will lead sales strategy and strengthen dealer partnerships for the Houston-based optics company.
DOWN 2. Can make early season hunts tough 3. Bucks are starting to do this 4. A place to hunt between two barriers 5. East Texas bass fishery 7. Nearshore ocean predator is fun to catch 9. Works in rivers or saltwater with a skilled caster 10. Why bucks fight 14. Hard fighter of Texas rivers 15. Handy for a hunter to have during the rut 16. Song dog 18. Hook for bringing big fish over the rail 19. Suitable when no trees are around 20. Final resting place for a trophy 22. Caught over brush piles 23. Texas turkey speceis 25. Bucks are making these in late October 27. Great for catfish 28. Colorful offshore fighter 31. Can refer to wind or underwear
Puzzle by Conor Harrison, Lone Star Outdoor News
FOR THE TABLE *email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Venison scallopine 1 pound loin of venison, cut into thin scallopine and pounded 1/2 cup Madeira 1/4 cup raisins 4 Tbsps. butter 2 Tbsps. minced shallots Salt and freshly ground black pepper Marinate the venison in three tablespoons of the Madeira for at least one hour. During this time, soak the raisins in the remaining Madeira. A few minutes before serving, drain the venison and dry the slices on a paper towel. Drain the raisins, reserving the Madeira in which they had
been soaking. Heat two tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet. Quickly sauté the venison over high heat until lightly browned and remove to a warm platter. Lower heat, add the shallots and sauté until they turn translucent. Stir in the raisins. Add the reserved Madeira and return the venison to the pan. Baste with the sauce. Remove the venison to individual plates. Whisk the remaining butter into the pan juices bit by bit to thicken the sauce. Do not allow the sauce to come to a boil. Pour the sauce over the venison, season it lightly with salt and pepper and serve. —NY Times
Redfish with garlic sauce 2 medium to large redfish filets (with skin and scales) 4 tsps. margarine or butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 cup favorite Creole seasoning mix 10 ounces evaporated milk or half & half 2 Tbsps. olive oil
Heat olive oil and butter in small saucepan on medium heat. Add Guidry’s mix. Sauté, stirring often. Add evaporated milk and minced garlic. Heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring often. Change to low heat. Season to taste. Continue simmering on low until thickened. Set aside. Preheat grill to medium heat. Season fillets with Creole seasoning. Put scale-side down on grill. Cook approximately 15 minutes. Baste liberally with cream sauce. Cook an additional 5-10 minutes. —Staff report
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Quail counts good this season Quail season kicks off Nov. 1, and the annual Texas Parks and Wildlife Department roadside survey signaled good population numbers going into opening day. Good habitat conditions, along with timely rainfall, helped bobwhite and scaled quail production. “Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists covered over 3,300 road miles in early August during our annual roadside quail surveys,” said Patrick Schutz, TPWD Upland Game Bird Program leader. “Overall, the numbers were once again in good shape in this year’s surveys, and we anticipate a good season for hunters especially in the South Texas and Trans Pecos regions where populations have traditionally been the strongest.” Bobwhite quail faced a mixture of habitat conditions and weather patterns throughout the state which resulted in a fluctuating population by ecoregions. Despite some challenges, most ecoregions had an above average number of bobwhites observed per route when compared to the 15-year average. In North Texas, public hunting opportunities for bobwhite quail hunting are available at Matador Wildlife Management Area, Gene Howe WMA, and Teacup Mountain WMA. Even though the 2026 survey revealed slightly lower numbers compared to last year, the Rolling Plains will continue to provide solid chances for hunters looking to harvest birds. In South Texas, the average number of bobwhites seen per route by biologists was 10.17, which is still above the 15-year mean of 9.92. Timely rains and quality habitat conditions resulted in multiple successful hatches being reported in this ecoregion. Public hunting opportunities can be found at the Chaparral and James E. Daughtrey WMAs. —TPWD
October 23, 2026
Page 17
NEXT CALLER GETS A FREE ESTIMATE!
Residential and Commercial
FREE S ATE ESTIM
Forestry Mulching Brush Clearing Herbicide Application Demolition Pond Installation
830-328-0469
SouthernSolutions5B.com
TPWD duck forecast mixed Lower waterfowl numbers and fluctuating habitat conditions will require Texas hunters to be flexible and ready to take advantage when habitats evolve throughout the year. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists say duck populations continue to show a long-term decline across nearly all prairie-nesting species as the result of more than a decade of challenging drought conditions in the Prairie Pothole Region. The good news is that improved habitat in multiple breeding areas this year should result in strong juvenile production, and hunters could see more young birds despite lower overall population numbers. “While production gains help, hunters should approach the season with measured expectations, as the possibility of a reduced migration push and long-term population trends remain a concern,” said Kevin Kraai, TPWD Waterfowl Program leader. “That said, improved breeding habitat and strong juvenile production offer positive signs, especially where fall rainfall continues to enhance local wetland conditions. The overarching message is cautious optimism.” On the weather front, Texas had an up and down summer. Very wet and cool weather early on followed by extreme heat and dry conditions stressed wetland systems across the state. The emergence of El Niño and recent wet weather has rapidly improved habitat conditions in many regions, and since Texas lacks substantial agricultural waste grain, rainfall is a large determining factor in the numbers of ducks that come to Texas. Ducks must meet their foraging needs in flooded natural habitats rich in seeds, invertebrates and aquatic vegetation. More rainfall means more flooded habitat, more food resources and typically more ducks, even in years when northern states stay ice-free due to warm winters. Long-range forecasts call for cooler and wetter winter conditions in Texas, which results in good numbers. However, expected warmer-than-normal conditions to the north could delay migration or limit the number of birds moving south if wetlands remain open. —TPWD
THE ORIGINAL DEER BLIND WINDOW CO.
(flip open)
2027 Auction Highlights
Come to the Biggest Sportsmen’s Banquet in Fort Worth
WILD GAME DINNER Raffles, Live & Silent Auctions Thursday, February 25th, 2027 Dickies Arena, Fort Worth, TX Presented by:
Insurance and Financial Services
Platinum Table $10,000
• Gourmet Food • Open Bar • Live Auction • Silent Auction • Raffles • Guns • Hunting & Fishing Trips • Vacation Homes • Sports Memorabilia • Hunting & Fishing Gear
Gold Table $6,000 Silver Table $4,500 Bronze Table $3,500 (All tables are for 10 guests)
The Sportsmen’s Club of Fort Worth is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization which devotes its resources to outdoor and wildlife charitable and educational activities with an emphasis on serving area youth and youth organizations.
Scan to purchase tables/tickets for the 2027 Wild Game Dinner sportsmensclub.org
Page 18
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
First buck Continued from page 4
to slip into the property and make a hunt.” Gerke made it home and was able to sneak into his stand the next evening, but the buck didn’t make an appearance. “I saw a bunch of does and a little buck, but he didn’t show up,” Gerke said. “I checked the camera at another stand on the property, and sure enough he was there. That set-up is less than 200 yards away on the other side of a creek from where I was sitting. Of course he would show up to my other spot. All I could do was laugh about it.” The next morning he snuck into the spot where the deer had been on camera the night before. “That morning sit started off super slow,” Gerke said. “At about 8:25, I had only seen one other yearling buck, when the deer I was after showed up.” Gerke said the buck was following a brush line about 90 yards away from his ladder stand, and he wasn’t sure if the deer would actually come into range for a shot. “Sure enough, he finally made his way toward me and hopped in the feed pen I was overlooking,” Gerke said. “Of course, he was standing in the only spot in the feed pen where I didn’t have a great shot window.” Gerke said there was a tree blocking his shot. “I had trimmed what I thought was a big enough hole in the branches of the tree before the season, but when I drew my bow back and started looking at it, it seemed awfully tight,” he said. He had to come out of full draw and see if the deer would move. “About ten minutes went by, and the buck was starting to act spooky like he might take off at any minute,” Gerke said. “I stood up in my ladder stand, drew my bow, found a small hole in the branches of the tree, and let an arrow fly. The buck was quartering away and the impact of the arrow looked good.” Gerke called his dad soon after the shot. They gave the deer some time before picking up the trail and recovering him. “It was a special moment,” Gerke said. “We had just bought the place earlier this year, he was one of the first bucks we saw on camera, and he was the first deer we harvested on the property. It just doesn’t get any better than that on small acreage.”
READY WHEN THE FIELD GOES DARK RattlerV3 LRF 35-384 Advanced thermal built for hunters after sundown, with 1,000m ranging and sub-15mK performance in one compact platform.
AGMGlobalVision.com © 2026 AGM Global Vision. All Rights Reserved.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
Page 19
RECRUITING HUNTERS AND ANGLERS FOR A LIFETIME
GIVE SOMEONE THE
OPPORTUNITY
THE LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS FOUNDATION CREATES HUNTING AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE EAGER TO PLUNGE HEADFIRST INTO THE OUTDOORS BUT LACKING THE OPPORTUNITY. CORPORATE SPONSORS
TEXAKAUSHI RANCH
LK CULINARY
TO DONATE OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (214) 361-2276 OR GO ONLINE TO WWW.LSONFOUNDATION.ORG THE LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS FOUNDATION IS A 501 (C) 3 CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION
Page 20
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
Pier fishing
LSONews.com
Lake reports
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 6
using mullet for bait and one of the oversized reds measured 37 inches, while the other measured 39 inches. Darrell Flowers reported he caught a 40-inch bull red while fishing from a pier on the Texas City Dike, and posted a video of him landing the fish on the Texas City Dike Fishing Facebook page. In the comments on the post, Flowers said he caught the hefty redfish on cut mullet. Trent Summerlin reported he’s been enjoying a consistent redfish bite from Bob Hall Pier in Corpus Christi. He said live mullet rigged on a jig head and free-lined under the pier has produced many slot-sized and oversized reds for him recently. Cody Eckhardt recently spent the day fishing from the north jetty in Port Aransas with his wife and a friend. They landed a total of seven bull reds, a 5-foot bull shark, two slot redfish, about seven mangrove snapper, and a small jackfish. “The morning started off kind of slow,” Eckhardt said. “We caught the mangrove snapper first on dead shrimp using a knocker-style Carolina rig by the rocks on the beach side of the jetty.” Eckhardt said the mullet finally showed up around mid-morning and they were able to catch plenty of them using a cast net. They put the finger mullet on a bottom rig with a spider weight and chunked them out on the channel side of the jetty. “We had pretty consistent action the rest of the day on live mullet fished on the channel side of the rocks,” Eckhardt said. “The reds were hitting the mullet pretty hard and the biggest one measured 46 inches in length.” Eckhardt said the two slot reds they caught hit dead shrimp fished on the bottom on the beach side of the jetty.
Dove season Continued from page 4
the birds did not get the memo. “There were a bunch of birds that got up out of the croton when we got there in the afternoon to set up, but none of them came back to the field,” Lubianski said. “We were able to shoot a handful of mourning dove around the tank before sunset, but there just weren’t a lot of birds flying in general.” Lubianski said he noticed all the surrounding properties seemed to have plenty of dove weed in their neighboring pastures. His thought was the birds had plenty of other places to find food and water once they were bumped out of the pasture they were hunting, and just didn’t have a huge reason to come back. Tyler Sekula said more mourning dove have been showing up to a ranch he’s been hunting on with some buddies in Karnes County. He said the birds have been feeding in fields with dove weed and native sunflowers during the mid-afternoon hours. Reports from Kingsville to the Rio Grande Valley continue to boast of excellent numbers of both mourning dove and white-wings. Sunflower, milo, and sesame fields have all produced great shoots for dove hunters down south.
SPORTING CLAY
EXPERIENCE
at Wildpoint Ranch
Come experience our unique sporting clay course, set in a natural Wooded area on our ranch Catch a glimpse of our many Whitetail & Exotics Relax & Enjoy! we run one group at a time.
Cabin Rental now available
located along the scenic ridges of the old red river breaks in Saint Jo, Texas. Relax on the front porch, watch the many whitetail & Exotics we have on the ranch, and build a fire in our large fire pit area. Leave the city behind. you will be the only renters on ranch. Visit many local wineries & restaurants. Winstar Casino is only 40 minutes away, transportation to & from casino available. Contact us for more info on ranch activities.
Book Your Time WildpointRanch.com Family Owned & Operated
WILDPOINT RANCH, SAINT JO, TEXAS CHRIS SCHEEL 972-922-4225 WILDPOINTRANCH@GMAIL.COM
“Our mornings have been starting by casting top-waters and swim baits in the shallows at schools of stripers busting on the surface,” Prichard said. “This has been lasting for about an hour or so. Once the sun starts rising overhead the fish have been pulling out to deeper water.” Prichard said slabs have been the ticket to catching stripers once they move out to deeper water later in the morning. A vertical jigging technique has been producing the most bites. On Sam Rayburn Reservoir, the folks at Bent Rods Guide Service reported on their Facebook page that crappie have been piled up on brush piles in 10 to 30 feet of water. They said the fish have been more willing to strike various jigs lately as water temperatures have started to cool down. Shiners are still working, but jigs are becoming more effective with each passing day. This young angler landed a hybrid-striper on Lake Lake Livingston Adventures wrote Tawakoni while fishing with guide Taylor Bingham. in recent posts on their Facebook Photo by Taylor Bingham. page that their anglers are catching limits of hefty white bass right now on slabs. “Fall fishing is in full swing, and the bite is consistent,” they said.
Stripers Continued from page 6
As the water cools off, the fish will move in shallower. We will really keep in on those ditches and creeks, and that’s where those swimbaits really shine,” Andre said. “It’s also about the time where the top-water bite will really run on.” On Lake Buchanan, the fishing has been pretty good for Ken Milam with Ken Milam Guide Service. “Stripers have been doing a little bit of top-water with this cooler weather,” Milam said. He and his clients have been enjoying the quick flurries of activity in the early morning with pencil poppers and other top-waters. As the day goes on, he has had to transition to slabs and jigs, vertical jigging or trolling with umbrella rigs, and drifting with live bait in order to stay on the bite. “When the sun gets brighter, they go about 20 to 25 feet deep right over the top of the trees,” Milam said. Anglers need to move with the fish in order to be successful all day. With more cold fronts coming, anglers should key in on the days just before they move in. “It usually takes about three days for it to get all back together again,” Milam said. This pattern will hold until the lake cools down more, and then the top-water bite will be more consistent in the shallows before they move into a winter pattern. “Watch the weather and the northers right in front of one. It is always good; after one, it turns them off,” Milam advised.
Flounder Continued from page 6
Charters also reports the flounder run is underway. He and his clients have noticed flounder actively chasing baits. “They’re feeding up right now, getting ready for that run,” Woods said. “They’re eating everything in sight.” Most of Woods success has come on a curly tail grub, live shrimp, and live finger mullet. “A little 3-inch curly tail grub in pink, white, and chartreuse,” Woods said. “On the bottom, of course, just kind of working it real slow.” Most of his success has been on the outgoing tide. “We are concentrating on the passes and the guts with a lot of tidal movement where it kind of restricts their flow. They have to come through there to get out, so we are targeting those areas especially on a good outgoing tide,” Woods said. “In the morning or the evening, it doesn’t seem to matter so long as you are keying in on these locations where the flounder move in and out. Just getting out there, being there at the right time, putting the right bait in front of their face. It’s just getting them to bite. Like I said right now they’re more aggressive.” Gigging at nighttime during a moving tide has produced good numbers of flounder this month. Photo by Johnny Lai.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
October 23, 2026
Page 21
Page 22
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
CLASSIFIEDS HUNTING BIOLOGIST 4 HIRE, LLC. Fish & Wildlife Habitat Consulting, 1-D-1 Wildlife Agriculture Valuation, Conservation Land Assessment & Management Plans, Drone Mapping Services. Chad E. Simmons USDA NRCS TSP B-19-22936 chad@biologist4hire.com (972) 837-0392 TEXAS TROPHY WHITETAILS Axis, Blackbuck, Hogs Free range whitetail and exotic hunts in Sonora, TX HuntTexasWhitetails.com (717) 512-3582 DOVE DAY HUNTS $100 per Gun, $25 Non-Hunting Guests Fee 500 Acres with Fields, Lakes and Tanks One Hour South of Dallas I-35 Corridor RV Hookups Available Free Fishing CALL or TEXT (214) 808-7361 (972) 814-1051 TEXAS RANCH SALES Bootlegger Hill Ranch For Sale Turnkey, Irrigated Crops, Mallards, Florida Bass Thomas A.C. Davis TDAVIS@TEXASRANCHSALES.COM
FISHING
Observing & Evaluating Whitetails New Updated Edition By Dave Richards & Al Brothers
361 FISHING Get the Texas saltwater fishing app (iOS) that has it all. Bite times, top 5 spots right now, real-time weather and local intel from guides. Focused on artificial and fly, use the app to determine where to go, when to go and what to throw to increase your fishing success. Free trial to get started.
Over 440 Color Images of Wild Whitetails Aging Whitetails on the Hoof Aging by Behavior Aging Deer After Harvest Estimating Boone & Crockett Score 21 Buck’s Lives Chronicled in the Wild 34 Bucks Estimated B&C Score on the Hoof
$29.99 plus tax
Phone: 210-690-8338 Order Today at richardsoutdoorphotography.com
361FISHING.COM
MISC JMB SERVICES Commercial Fencing, Residential Fencing Ranch Fencing, High Fencing Privacy Fencing, Gate Entrances Land Clearing, Root Plowing Metal Buildings, Post Driving Retaining Walls, Concrete Work Water Lines, Trenching John Batot (830) 560-6877
MOBILE SPORTING CLAYS FOR HIRE!
Fundraisers, Corporate, Parties! Sales/Service all Traps! 40+ Years Experience! (817) 999-1395
LSONews.com
CATTLE MARKET IS HOT Cash out every Tuesday @10 am Atascosa Livestock Exchange Pleasanton Hauling Available Call (210) 289-7698
ADD A PHOTO/LOGO $25 • 2 ISSUE MINIMUM
$1
CLASSIFIEDS (PER WORD)
2 EASY OPTIONS: CALL THE OFFICE (214) 361-2276, OR EMAIL EDITOR@LONESTAROUTDOORNEWS.COM
DATEBOOK OCTOBER 23
OCTOBER 30
OCTOBER 24
NOVEMBER 14-15
DELTA WATERFOWL Brazos River Chapter Dinner Johnson County Sherriff’s Posse, Cleburne (817) 307-4468 deltawaterfowl.org
COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCATION Galveston Banquet The Artisan Event Venue (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org
OCTOBER 24-25
TEXAS GUN & KNIFE ASSOCIATION SHOW Fredericksburg Fair Grounds (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
DELTA WATERFOWL Texas Saltmarsh Chapter Dinner Lake Jackson Civic Center (979) 481-4148 deltawaterfowl.org
TEXAS GUN & KNIFE ASSOCIATION SHOW Kerrville Expo Hall (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com
Puzzle solution from Page 16
NOVEMBER 19
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB Speaker Series featuring Dr. Mike Arnold Royal Oaks Country Club (972) 980-9800 biggame.org
OCTOBER 29
CROSS TIMBERS QUAIL COALITION Dinner and Auction River Ranch Stockyards, Ft. Worth (817) 582-0129 crosstimbersquail.com CHRISTIAN OUTDOOR MINISTRY 10th Annual Wild Game Dinner Astoria Event Center, Irving (682) 226-2773 christianoutdoorministry.org DUCKS UNLIMITED Colorado County Banquet Knights of Columbus Hall, Columbus (713) 205-2386 ducks.org/events DUCKS UNLIMITED 2026 Denton DU Dinner Robert’s Banquet Hall, Krum (972) 822-6422 ducks.org/events
Subscribe to
CALL (214) 361-2276 OR VISIT LSONEWS.COM
For home or office delivery, go to LSONews.com, or call (214) 361-2276, or send a check or money order to the address below. Lone Star Outdoor News, ISSN 2162-8300, a publication of Lone Star Outdoor News, LLC, publishes twice a month. A mailed subscription is $35 for 24 issues. Newsstand copies are $3, in certain markets copies are free, one per person. Copyright 2026 with all rights reserved. Reproduction and/ or use of any photographic or written material without written permission by the publisher is prohibited. Subscribers may send address changes to: Lone Star Outdoor News, P.O. Box 551695, Dallas, TX 75355 or email them to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.
Executive Editor
Conor Harrison
Design Editor Reporters
C2-Studios, Inc. Cory Byrnes Meghan Jackson Vivian Leopold Nate Skinner Chuck Uzzle Tony Vindell
Operations Manager Mike Hughs Accounting
Lea Marsh
Website
Bruce Solieu
National Advertising Mike Nelson Founder & CEO
David J. Sams
Editor Emeritus
Craig Nyhus
For home delivery subscriptions www.LSONews.com(214) 361-2276 Advertising: Call (214) 361-2276 or email editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com to request a media kit.
LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
New store
October 23, 2026
Page 23
Caldwell County hog help
Continued from page 4
“When you walk in the door, one of our team members will greet you and make you feel right at home,” she said. “Every single one of our team members is a blessing and serves a valuable role. Customers can rest assured that our team is there to help them better accomplish their goals in the outdoors during their time in South Texas.” In addition to 5,000 square feet of sales floor, Westican Outdoors also provides customers and visitors with a complementary coffee bar and sofa where they can hang out and swap stories, along with nice, clean restrooms. “We want people traveling down to the area to hunt or fish to feel welcome to stop in, whether they need to purchase some ammo, fishing tackle, gear, or just need to take a break from driving and use the restroom,” West said. “We are here for our community including both locals and those coming down to visit and enjoy all that the area has to offer.” “We want to carry the products and gear that will help make hunters and anglers more successful here in South Texas,” he said. “Our hope is that if someone is headed down to hunt or fish, we can outfit them with anything and everything they would possibly The West family celebrates the ribbon cutting at the new store. need to enjoy an unforgettable experi- Photo from Stephanie West. ence.” West said they also have goals for the future to partner with different entities and organizations to offer monthly educational courses and events, involving a variety of outdoor facets, including shooting, hunting, and fishing, that would be beneficial to the community. The name, Westican Outdoors, originated from West’s time spent managing a hunting lease on the King Ranch. “When I was managing the ranch, one of my good friends who is now the ranch manager for that lease, would say, the Westicans are here, every time my kids would come out to the lodge,” West said. “He always called our kids the Westicans, and the outdoors have always been a family pursuit and passion. The name just made sense.”
Feral hogs are a major problem in Caldwell County due to their destructive rooting behavior, leading to soil erosion and damage to native vegetation. To support landowners in control of feral hogs, the Caldwell-Travis SWCD, in conjunction with the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, is pleased to offer a Feral Hog Trap Loan Program available on a first-come, first-served basis. Caldwell County landowners who wish to place a loaner trap system on their Caldwell County property. The loaned trap includes a Pig Brig Trap System, all necessary hardware, game camera, and educational materials for the set-up of an effective trapping system. The loan of the trap system is for three (3) months and is available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Interested Caldwell County landowners must join the trap waitlist by: • Completing an interest form • Submitting the interest form in person at the Lockhart USDA Service Center, 111 E. MLK Jr. Industrial Blvd., Lockhart, TX 78644 (behind Dollar Tree on Highway 183/S. Colorado St.) OR by email to Sierra Murray, smurray@gbra. org —Staff report
SCI meets Trump in AK Safari Club International leaders recently joined President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in Alaska. The SCI delegation included SCI President Jeff Meyerl, incoming SCI President Mike Crawford, Alaska Chapter President John Sturgeon, and Keegan McCarthy, owner and operator of Coastal Alaska Adventures. The Alaska visit follows SCI-PAC's endorsement of Sullivan for reelection and underscores the importance of elected leaders who understand the connection between hunting, conservation and responsible wildlife management. "Throughout his time in the Senate, Sullivan has consistently defended Alaska's authority to manage its wildlife, challenged federal restrictions affecting hunting and predator management, supported public access for hunters and recreational shooters, and voted to protect funding for school hunting, archery and shooting sports programs," Meyerl said. SCI-PAC's endorsement of Sullivan reflects his record on issues directly affecting hunters and wildlife conservation. —SCI
OUTDOOR BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS CARD SECTION $25 PER ISSUE/MINIMUM OF 12 ISSUES
2 EASY OPTIONS: CALL THE OFFICE (214) 361-2276, OR EMAIL EDITOR@LONESTAROUTDOORNEWS.COM
Page 24
October 23, 2026
LoneOStar Outdoor News
LSONews.com
BUILT RIGHT the First Time to Last a Lifetime!
R
U.S. PATENTS 8201520, 7370605, 6920841, D575908, D599503, D602649, D603104, D603105, D604017, D603566, D624706, D624708, D622453, D624707, D636942, D629572, D629976, D629975, D624709, D630802, D630653, D647253, D642750, D681883, 9278813, 9554555 • OTHER PATENTS PENDING • U.S. TRADEMARKS 3629190 & 3625066
CP GRAVITY FLOW PROTEIN FEEDER
DUALLY PROTEIN & CORN FEEDER
• 1000, 2000 & 3000# capacities
CP REGULATOR
The Regulator utilizes “The Timer” allowing control of the feed amount while maintaining dispensed feed inside the feeder housing and tubes. You program to dispense feed up to six times/day at the rate of 2 lbs./ second & 360 lbs./day maximum. Available in 2000 and 3000 lb. capacities including: CP, BP, CP Magnum, BP Magnum, CP 6-Tube, CP 6-Tube Magnum
HALF-BACK DUALLY
TOP GUN Heavy Duty Corn FeeDer
Split hopper allows gravity-flow protein simultaneously with directional corn distribution controlled by “The Timer”. • 3 protein tubes standard • 1000, 2000 & 3000 lb. total capacities
CF CORN FEEDER
with Solar Powered Timer • 600, 1000, 2000 & 3000 lb. capacities
• High Output Solar Power Panel mounted on top with Timer Box inside a REINFORCED VARMINT CAGE • 600 & 1000 lb. capacities
“
SHare-Kropper” FiSH FeeDer Low proFiLe DireCtionaL FeeDer
“BABY-BACK” SerieS very Low proFiLe FeeDerS Shown with Eliminator 36” height 400# cap.
Shown with Pistolero 42” height 600# cap.
Built uilt With With PriDe riDe in a merica With in merica With onlY onlY toP oP qualitY ualitY american merican materials aterials & craftsmanshiP raftsmanshiP
spreads heavier feed out to 50’ in a 20’ wide pattern
• 360o corn distribution or up to 50ft in one direction via Outback’s “Pistolero” directional unit • 400, 600 & 1000 lb. capacities
choose from Pistolero Directional or 360º sPinner
for Your Well equiPPeD hunting camP
PLACE ON PIER, DOCK, BANK OR IN TRUCK BED 24” tank diameter holds 175# floating fish feed or 300# corn Works well with all types of fish feed, corn or milo
Longhorn SerieS
• 3 gravity-flow protein tubes • Directional corn spinner with eliminator plate • “The Timer” battery & solar panel incuded • 400, 600 & 1000 lb. capacities
FLIPPER WATER TROUGH
AutomAted CAttLe Feeder
• SAVE TIME emptying & cleaning • Easily dumps in seconds • 25 gallon capacity
This design was specifically developed from recommendations of Longhorn Breeders and is used and endorsed by Buxton Longhorns
36”-40” TEXAS FIRE PIT
• Features swivel grill, Dutch oven support, fire poker & ash pan
E-Z LIFT LOADER
• Locking swivel design allows easy loading of animal from ground or vehicle • Heavy duty brake
The Longhorn feeder is designed and built for maximum durability and dependability. Constructed of heavy gauge steel, the rugged design provides the best service and safety for your special animals.
or kickinbackkreations.com 903.734.4210 • e-mail: rickmeritt@yahoo.com
C Leaning a deer doesn ’ t have to Be a BaCk Breaking joB ! E-Z CLEAN CART
Photo Courtesy of Buxton Longhorns
See more of our ranch and hunting products in our catalog or browse online at outbackfeeders.com
GAME RACK
Portable with 20-watt LED lighting & 4 winches (800 lb. capacity each)
GREAT BALL OF FIRE PATRIOTIC ART EMBELLISHED FIRE PIT
No two alike, each one a custom Work of Art! • 1400 degree high-temperature powder-coat finish • Fire poker & ash pan included • 37” diameter
SHOOTING BENCH PRO
Portable with fully adjustable swivel seat