Lone Star Outdoor News 071423

Dunlap dam almost complete

$40 million restoration expected to wrap up this summer

By David Schlake

Lone Star outdoor newS

On May 14, 2019, disaster struck the New Braunfels community. As the hinges of the Lake Dunlap Dam gave out, more than 693 million gallons of water drained out in a matter of hours, turning one of Texas’ most beloved recreational lakes into a muddied, hazardous disaster.

A fluid channel littered with stumps and debris kept most regular boaters at bay, while depleted water levels within the

Fawn crop looking good

By Nate Skinner For Lone Star outdoor newS

It seems the apex of summer heat arrives right when deer hunters start talking about the upcoming fall. Folks start getting serious about preparing for hunting season on their leases or other properties where they plan to hunt. Bucks begin showing antler growth and fawns get on their feet as they learn to survive.

Now halfway through July, the dif-

ference in the whitetail outlook from a year ago is night and day, as range conditions, fawn crops and body composition among whitetails are all trending in positive directions.

According to Alan Cain, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s white-tailed deer program leader, hunters have a lot to be excited about with the season fast approaching.

Cain said range conditions were exceptional during the spring and even

into the beginning of the summer due to ample precipitation across much of the state. Bucks were able to recover from the rut, while does were able to take advantage of premium habitat and pack on fat reserves for fawning and lactation, and fawns were treated with cover and shade to protect them from the summertime heat.

“We are seeing a lot of bucks in really good shape, especially when compared to the same time last year,” Cain said.

Working the tides

Anglers adjust to unfavorable winds

By Nate Skinner Lone Star outdoor newS

Prevailing southwesterly winds have been creating below-average tidal levels and dirty water across Sabine Lake, the Galveston Bay Complex and their surrounding satellite bays, marshes and estuaries. Fishing guides and anglers have been adjusting their game plan accordingly to stay hooked up with redfish, despite the unfavorable conditions.

Sabine Lake fishing guide Capt. Chris Phillips has been targeting redfish with his anglers along the north end of the ship channel. He’s been finding the reds near the edge of the channel in 3-4 feet of water, adjacent to the dropoff. Live shrimp rigged under a popping cork

17

After a year with a low fawn crop, the numbers and health of the young deer are greatly improved. Photo by James Richards.

Despite lower-than-average tides, anglers are adapting to find redfish along the Upper Coast. Left: Stephanie Skillman landed this beautiful redfish on the fly while fishing in a marsh pond near lower West Galveston Bay.

Photo by Capt. James Frausto. Right: Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

FROM WORK TO PLAY

WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

Helping with dove bands

Midland Stewards of the Wild members participate

By Eric Pickhartz

For Lone Star outdoor newS

For a hunter, finding a band on a harvested bird’s leg can be the highlight of a season.

When Cole Harrison, the former president of the Midland

Stewards of the Wild chapter, heard of an opportunity to help, he and other chapter members were all in.

“The chapter assists in a variety of projects, and I’m an avid hunter who has never shot a banded dove but who always looks for them,” Harrison said. “I thought it would be a good project.”

Harrison took his wife and two daughters, ages 3 and 1.

“They saw the dove up close and got to help band one,” he said. “And my daughter held her first dove and touched her first horned toad on the same day.”

Other benefits included his family talking to the biologist about how the birds are trapped and how far they migrate.

“It was good to get the overall picture,” Harrison said.

While many waterfowl hunters know to check the legs of any duck or goose, the tiny legs of dove don’t seem to get the same attention.

Each summer, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists apply about 5,000 tiny, silver leg bands on mourning and whitewinged dove in an effort to learn more about population numbers and trends. Dove

Barking up the right tree

Hunting raccoons with hounds

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

Mike Scallon is a science teacher with a unique pastime. He raises, trains, competes and hunts with raccoon dogs. The biggest

Poults on the landscape

By Nate Skinner

For Lone Star outdoor newS

An early green-up back in the spring prompted some early nesting activity from wild turkeys across the state. Combined with timely rains that fell throughout the spring and early summer, this early nesting activity has resulted in successful recruitment for turkey poults in many areas, as range conditions were ideal for hens to have productive hatches.

According to Jason Hardin, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wild turkey program leader, the timing

at which Rio Grande turkeys begin their nest initiation process can vary by nearly a month from one year to the next, depending on rainfall and pasture conditions.

“Early nesters tend to have the most success when it comes to successfully hatching and raising their poults,” Hardin said. “Conditions became optimal for wild turkey production and nesting early on this year with the muchneeded precipitation.”

Hardin has been receiving frequent reports of spotted broods since late springtime from all over the state.

Another factor playing a role in the successful wild turkey production has been the temperature. Although Texans have recently experienced triple-digit highs across the state, Hardin said the mild temperatures during the transition from late spring to early summer also increased nesting success.

“Most nesting efforts have concluded, and poults are learning to survive as they grow,” he said. “However, we are still seeing some eastern turkey nests just now hatching. It’s great to see these birds putting forth the effort to

working with bloodhounds for police agencies, and then got into coonhounds.”

His dogs, all Walkers (treeing Walker coonhounds), are named the Scallon Hounds, from top breeding lines at his Hunting S Kennel.

“I focus on starting well-bred young dogs from seven weeks of age to the time they are treeing their own coon with consistency and style,” Scallon said. “I only start a few

Finding places to train and hunt has been more difficult.

“It’s becoming a fading pastime,” Scallon said. “It has never been for everyone — the objective isn’t bagging as many coons as you can, it’s to go out and listen to the

Landowners aren’t always receptive to the idea, though.

“Everyone I have come across says the same thing — they all had relatives that had coon dogs,” Scallon said. “But some think the dogs will chase the deer and are surprised when they don’t. Back in the day, people understood better that that doesn’t happen. Some ranchers had negative experiences with hog dogs. Other landowners think raccoons are cute and may not understand how destructive they are.”

When he was a young man, Scallon said there was a market for coon hunters.

“We used to be able to sell the hides. We could get $30 each and landowners paid me $5 on top of that,” he said.

Dove banding is underway. After being trapped by TPWD personnel, the birds are banded and released. Information from band recoveries is used by state and federal agencies.

Photo by Derrick Wolter, TPWD.

Mike Scallon trains and hunts treeing Walker coonhounds near his Dripping Springs home. Access to lands to hunt raccoons has become more difficult, though. Photos from Mike Scallon.

Increased nesting success and good conditions have led to a boom in wild turkey poults this summer. Photo by Joseph Richards.

Wolf to retire, spend time hunting, fishing

Bonds hired to fill COO position at TPWD

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

A familiar face to Texas hunt ers is retiring soon. After 30 years, Clayton Wolf, a wildlife biologist, the former big game director and the current chief operating officer at Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, will retire at the end of August.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Wolf said. “I’m a little nervous, though.”

Wolf said the first order of business is to go dove hunting Sept. 1.

“After that, there are plenty of projects at the house and at the family land in Lee County,” he said. “And I have plans to do more hunting and fishing — es pecially some crappie fishing.”

As excited as Wolf is, however, he doesn’t pretend like walking away from his long, rewarding career will be easy.

When asked what he would miss the most, he didn’t hesitate.

“The people,” he said. “It’s a good team. Every two years, as a state agency, we have to survey employee engagement and attrition. We keep people a long time and everyone pulls in the same direction.”

With countless accomplishments to look back on, Wolf will retire with the privilege of seeing much of his work on display in the field.

Perhaps the most fulfilling for Wolf, however, has been the evolution of deer management.

“Seeing lots of deer in areas

like Lee County has been rewarding,” he said. “The antler restrictions had some resistance at first, but now people send me pictures of the big bucks on their property.”

Conversely, there are a number of things he won’t miss, many of which have plagued

Former DSC president dies

conservation dialogues for years.

“Battles over things like CWD and oysters,” Wolf said. “It sucks a lot of oxygen out of the room.”

Inland Fisheries Division Di rector Craig Bonds will step into the role of COO, and Wolf said he is staying to ensure an orderly handoff.

Bonds’ duties will be to imple ment the agency’s strategic plan ning, oversee agency adminis tration, prioritize key budgetary needs and apprise Executive Di rector David Yoskowitz on the day-to-day operations of the agency.

Bonds began his career with TPWD in 1999 as an assistant district fisheries biologist in Tyler and San Marcos. He later became a district supervisor in San Angelo and regional director in Tyler before accepting his division director role in 2015.

Also, TPWD announced Senior Government Relations Specialist Allison Winney will fill a newly created chief of staff position, which will administer agency policy, manage external partnerships and serve as liaison to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission.

Winney previously served as the liaison to the Sunset Commission and led the compilation of the nearly 500-page report for Sunset review.

died July 8 after an apparent cardiac event. Vernone was president of DSC in 2022-23 and served on the Board of Directors for several years.

Vernone, a Dallas attorney, was a graduate of Texas A&M University and a 1987 graduate of SMU Dedman School of Law. He also served as director and general counsel for Dallas Margarita Society/Dallas Children’s Charities.

“We will all miss Michael a great deal,” said DSC President Tim Fallon. “What a powerful force for what DSC stands for. He was fun to work with, knowledgeable and passionate about accomplishing our many conservation, advocacy and education projects.”

Michael Vernone

Clayton Wolf is planning to spend more time hunting after his retirement as COO of TPWD. Photo from Clayton Wolf.

“Antler growth looks to be significantly better than last year, and the same can be said about the body composition of most deer. Hunters should expect to encounter some really nice deer this fall.”

Cain said the fawn crop seems to be doing fairly well so far. The greatest concern for fawn survival over the next two months or so will be the heat and fawns’ ability to survive it. Land managers and ranchers are encouraged to not remove too much cover, as fawns will need areas to seek refuge from the scorching sun throughout the remainder of the summer.

The overgrazing of cattle herds on the landscape is something else Cain said deserves attention. Bare dirt and ground with little to no vegetation gets extremely hot during this time of year and can add further stress to fawns.

“White-tailed deer numbers should be excellent headed into deer season,” Cain said. “There should be a lot of improvements among deer herds that are notice-

Young birds

Continued from page 4

successfully recruit new gen erations of turkeys into the population under the immense heat that they are now facing.”

In the spring and summer of 2022, Hardin said there was very little nesting success. Some hens didn’t attempt a second nest, while others, particularly younger birds, didn’t even at tempt a first. Limited nesting is precisely why hunters didn’t see many younger birds during the 2023 spring season.

The majority of this year’s nesting flock has consisted of mature turkeys, too, which has only increased nesting success.

able to hunters this season.”

Cullom Simpson, a TPWD wildlife biologist for Williamson and Bell Counties, said both fawn numbers and antler growth among bucks seem to be up across the board.

“We’re seeing fawns on their feet, just about everywhere, and the bucks are looking really good for this time of the year,” he said. “The deer are in a great spot as we enter what is typically the hottest and driest portion of the year.”

Blaise Korzekwa, a South Texas TPWD wildlife biologist, said the southern portion of the state has received considerably more rainfall than it did in 2022.

“Things are getting pretty hot and dry now, but the deer herds were able to take advantage of great habitat, as well as mild temperatures, during the spring and early summer months,” Korzekwa said. “Fawn crops are looking decent, and the overall health of whitetails has significantly improved from this time last year.”

“Mature hens tend to have a much higher nesting success rate than juveniles,” Hardin said. “So, things are looking really good for turkey numbers across the state as we enter the second half of the year.”

In 2022, TPWD data revealed nesting rates were 1.1 nest per bird. This year, Hardin said the rate has increased to 1.5. TPWD hen and poult surveys recently commenced, and so far, there seem to be hens with poults just about everywhere wild turkeys thrive across Texas.

“Once these poults live to see the month of July, they usually have a very good chance of surviving and being recruited into the population,” Hardin said. “It’s an exciting time for wild turkeys in Texas.”

With such a promising number of poults on the ground already, turkey hunters can likely expect to encounter a more diverse age class of birds next season. While there almost definitely will be more jakes to contend with, they also represent a bright future of mature longbeards across the state.

Seeing nursing fawns is a welcome sight this year for hunters and landowners. Photo by James Richards.

With as many poults as there are being reported across state, turkey hunters can expect to encounter more jakes next spring.

Photo by Nate Skinner, for Lone Star Outdoor News.

Up a tree

Continued from page 4

Scallon hunts on several ranches near his Dripping Springs home. Six of the ranches he hunts on feed deer and exotics year-round, and all of them are tired of seeing feed losses.

Despite fewer raccoon hunters with dogs, interest is still there, and Scallon is trying to get both more and younger people involved.

“There are other dog guys getting into coon hunting,” he said.

Texas is unique. You can hunt yearround and find raccoons everywhere. But it’s hard for a new person to get started; I’m able to get in after years of developing relationships.”

Getting started can be a costly venture. Well-trained and bred dogs are expensive, and hunters now use GPS, expensive headlamps and even thermal imaging.

“It’s not a cheap sport anymore,” Scallon said.

Scallon is a member of a coon-hunting club for people with UKC-registered dogs, called the Tink Taylor Family Hill Country Coon Hunters Association.

Here, discussions regarding training techniques and educational events for youth or novice hunters create an inviting, inclusive atmosphere.

“There are ranchers looking for people like us,” he said. “Some people try poison for the raccoons, but it’s often not legal. We don’t charge anyone to hunt, it’s just an open training field for the dogs. It’s free pest control for the landowner — it’s a win-win.”

Scallon’s daughter is a dog lover who used to hunt with her father regularly. Now, she has turned her attention to bird dogs and runs a nearby kennel.

“Her first two words were ‘Dada’ and ‘whoa,’” he said.

Look for bands

Continued from page 4

Program Leader Owen Fitzsimmons said the banding process can help produce some vital information.

“Every year we assess population status and harvest so we can make regulatory decisions that provide the appropriate amount of hunting opportunity while sustainably conserving the resource,” Fitzsimmons said.

A leg band discovery and the subsequent reporting done online or over the phone is one component of an annual “adaptive harvest management” decision-making process. Together with the Harvest Information Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Parts Collection Survey, dove bands give an accurate picture of population status and harvest each year, and ultimately help determine regulations on things like season length and bag limits.

Only a few states consistently participate in white-winged dove banding, and Texas’ program is the most extensive in the country. The birds are typically captured with rudimentary live traps, banded and examined to determine age, sex and overall health status before being released.

Despite having more dove hunters and more harvested doves than any other state, Texas is comparatively poor in band recovery.

“Only about 3-5 percent of the bands are recovered each year,” Fitzsimmons admitted, adding up to a couple of hundred reports.

Improvements in reporting — namely a sharper eye on those tiny dove legs — could result in more meaningful data collection.

“Bird hunters in the U.S. have a long and proud history of being on the front lines of conservation,” Fitzsimmons said. “By simply reporting bands and filling out harvest surveys, which only takes a few minutes, hunters can continue to take an active role and have a direct impact in conserving America’s most popular game bird.”

If a hunter manages to down a dove with a leg band, they can report it by calling 800327-BAND or online at ReportBand.gov. It makes the long nights and early mornings TPWD staff and volunteers spend banding doves well worth it.

“It takes a collective effort by all of us — biologists, hunters, and even nonhunters — to ensure that future generations will experience the thrill of an opening day Texas dove hunt,” Fitzsimmons said. “Also, when you report a band, you get to not only keep the band, but also get a certificate with information on where and when the bird was banded and who banded it, which is pretty neat if you ask me.”

And by helping, hunters like Harrison get confirmation that the bands do exist.

“It’s cool to know they are out there,” he said.

A young pup in training lets his handler know he has treed a raccoon. Photo from Mike Scallon.

Watch for dove bands this season, their tiny size can be easy to miss. Photo by Lang Alford, TPWD.

Shrimp boat season arrives

What’s one of the best offshore spots for tuna, dorado, sharks and the occasional cobia? Behind a shrimp boat.

Each summer, offshore anglers welcome the reopening of the Gulf of Mexico shrimp season, which occurs July 15 this year. Shrimp boat season is like opening day to fishing charters heading out with customers.

Most pull behind the boat

Magnum swimbaits on the Devils

By Nate Skinner tar outdoor newS

Grant Langmore recently spent three days fishing what was nearly a 20-mile stretch of the Devils River above Dolan Falls from a kayak with a group of buddies. The long float in triple-digit weather demanded persistence and determination, but it also rendered some quality bites, all of which Langmore provoked using a magnumsized swimbait.

Langmore is a bass fishing guide in the Austin area, where he regularly targets trophy bass with large swimbaits. His goal while fishing the Devils was to focus on drawing strikes from the heaviest bass he could find. To do this, he stuck by the adage, “big bait catches big fish.”

The strategy worked out well. Over the course of the trip, Langmore landed bass up to about 7 pounds, with a plethora of fish in the range of 4-6 pounds mixed in. Deeper pools containing shaded areas and eddies adjacent to fast-moving water provided the most consistent action.

“Some of the smallest pools I came across actually held the largest bass that I caught,” Langmore said. “Pools with deeper water that were as small as an average-sized living room of a modest home were holding some solid fish — especially the ones that had shaded pockets of water.”

Larger pockets of deeper water rendered several bites, while smaller pools were generally only holding one or two large bass.

“I definitely didn’t get near as many strikes as I would have if I were throwing a smaller-profile lure and using a less intrusive bait presentation,” Langmore admitted. “The large presentation of the swimbait that I stuck with during the entire trip got the attention of the largest bass. I was able to catch about 30 fish over the three-day trip while fishing pretty hard.”

Langmore said the best part about chunking a large swimbait was the visual experience that the presentation offered. He kept the lure just under the surface as he retrieved it and was able to see almost every bass come up and strike the bait in clear water.

Deeper areas, where he recorded the most quantity, didn’t offer the same start-to-finish spectacle, but would still draw aggressive fish up from the depths. From there, he would keep working the bait and watch the bass track it down until enticed enough to strike.

Good numbers, variety for offshore anglers

By Robert Sloan For Lone Star

Offshore trips from Port O’Connor have yielded plenty of fish and a good mix of spe cies. The region is at its peak, in fact, producing a variety of hardfighting fish, including red snap per, ling, king mackerel, dorado, blackfin and yellowfin tuna.

and start chumming for often, fast action. Many continue chumming as they drift up to a half-mile away from the shrimp boat for continued activity.

Experienced anglers say a key is to respect the shrimp boat and crew, as the crew may be asleep. However, anglers can obtain chum and bait from the crew, with an improved reception when offering trades for sodas, Gatorade or, especially, cheap beer.

Capt. Travis Mann, who runs Blue Rush Charters and special izes in an array of offshore fish, uses a boat that covers a lot of wa ter, which is especially useful this time of year. With increased mo bility, he can fish for nearshore species like red snapper, ling and kings, or head out 100-150 miles to hit deep-water rigs like Hoover or Boomvang.

“Our longer, deep-water trips for yellowfin and blackfin tuna require some pretty flat seas,” Mann said. “But if we can get out there, the fishing is some of the best you’ll find. Fishing the deepwater rigs gives us a chance to put

our anglers on tuna, with a shot at dorado and wahoo. You never know what’s going to be caught.”

Mann said a good way to catch the deep-water fish around the rigs is to stop on the way out and

catch hardtails with Sabiki jigs. He’ll free-line them or bump troll them around any available structure. Big baits, big game Live baits like blue runners are

Large swimbaits were working for Grant Langmore to land big largemouths on the Devils River. Photo from Grant Langmore.

Anglers are finding blackfin and yellowfin tuna on longer, deep-water excursions. Photo by Lone Star Outdoor News.

Lone Star outdoor newS

Once the commercial Gulf shrimp season opens July 15, boats will chum behind the shrimp boats to draw in fish attracted by the boat’s bycatch tossed overboard.

Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Making a morning of it

Lake Conroe putting out bass, crappie, cats and hybrids

By Robert Sloan

For Lone Star outdoor newS

Anyone from the Houston area will tell you Lake Conroe can be busy, but a day on the water can produce multiple species of fish, arousing the appetite of many East Texas anglers.

Most fishermen start by fishing lures for largemouth bass at dawn, and later head to the shade of the Highway 1097 bridge, where they catch crappie on jigs and live minnows.

Other options exist, however, as on any given day, you’re likely to encounter someone tossing soured grain and fishing stink baits for channel and blue catfish, or fishing 15-20 feet in search of hybrid striped bass.

“This lake is exceptional because we have lots of fish and a variety,” guide Chris Edwards said. “Aside from catfish and crappie, there is the option of going after hybrid striped bass that range in size of 18-25 inches.”

Edwards tends to guide a lot of families, especially in summer.

“The kids have a lot of fun, and they can catch a lot of fish,” he said. “The cat fish trips are easy and provide some fillets at the end of the day. Or we can fish live minnows over brush piles under the 1097 bridge.”

The hybrid striped bass are unquestion ably a favorite on Conroe, though, and Edwards says they’re easy to catch if you find the right structure. He usually finds the bigger hybrids on humps and points south of the bridge.

The guide cast nets live bait — pri marily gizzard shad — and then uses a 1 1/2-ounce weight on a Carolina rig, lower ing the shad to the bottom and bringing it up a few feet.

Many anglers prefer to troll for hybrids, often using a Hellbender trailing a pet spoon on a 5-foot leader or experimenting with an Alabama rig with white or pearl grubs.

The catfishing is excellent throughout the summer months, according to Ed wards, who frequents his favorite shady spot near the 1097 bridge and any area with baited holes. He claims to catch most of his fish on punch baits.

“The channel cats are usually in the 1to 2-pound class,” he said. “But the blues can get big, like 20-30 pounds.”

Most summer crappie fishing is done with live minnows, but jigs will also produce some fish over brush piles scattered across the lake. Anglers and guides use

side scanners to put the minnow in front of the crappie’s face and draw bites.

“Making a fishing trip to Lake Conroe is a thrill for the whole family,” Edwards said. “I like to get on the water early and get off the lake before noon, before it gets really hot.”

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Hybrid striped bass are a favorite summertime target for Lake Conroe anglers. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

Lake Conroe is always a popular destination for families who want to fish because it has so much variety to offer. Photos by Lone Star Outdoor News.

TEXAS FRESHWATER FISHING REPORT

ALAN HENRY: Water clear; 86 degrees; 2.59’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair at night on minnows.

AMISTAD: Water lightly stained; 89 degrees; 47.50’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Catfish are fair on cut bait and stink bait.

ARLINGTON: Water lightly stained; 86 degrees; 4.80’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

ARROWHEAD: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 6.15’ low. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are good drifting fresh cut shad.

ATHENS: Water clear; 85-90 degrees; 0.05’ high.

Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs, jigs and deepdiving crankbaits. Crappie are good at night under lights and on minnows.

AUSTIN: Water lightly stained; 85-87 degrees; 0.57’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on walking baits, soft plastics, top-water frogs and small shallow crankbaits.

B.A. STEINHAGEN: Water stained; 83 degrees; 0.97’ low. Largemouth bass are fair to good on hollow body frogs and white and chartreuse swim jigs.

BASTROP: Water lightly stained; 90-94 degrees.

Largemouth bass are fair on shad-colored lures and watermelon seed trick worms.

BELTON: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 13.74’ low. White bass are good on top-waters, small underspins and pet spoons. Blue catfish are good drifting cut shad.

Channel catfish are excellent on punch bait.

BENBROOK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.40’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows.

BOB SANDLIN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.04’ low. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on top-waters and small jigs. White bass are good on slabs. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cheese bait.

BRAUNIG: Water lightly stained; 91 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and spinner baits. Red drum are good on live tilapia, small silver spoons and trolling dark soft plastics.

BROWNWOOD: Water clear; 85-87 degrees; 5.14’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow.

Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

BUCHANAN: Water lightly stained; 85-92 degrees; 16.77’ low. White bass are good on top-waters and spoons. Striped bass are good on top-waters and spoons.

CADDO: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.86’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on Texas rigs, top-water frogs and crankbaits.

CALAVERAS: Water lightly stained, 88 degrees. Largemouth bass are slow. Red

drum are good on live bait, crayfish and trolling dark soft plastics. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

CANYON: Water clear; 88 degrees; 13.19’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, Texas rigs and wacky rigs. Striped bass are fair on top-waters.

CEDAR CREEK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.83’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on 10-inch worms. Crappie are excellent on minnows and jigs. White bass and hybrids are good and silver slabs.

CHOKE CANYON: Water stained; 90 degrees; 24.05’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters and Texas rigs. White bass are slow. Crappie are good on black and chartreuse grubs.

CONROE: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.31’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on Carolina rigs, shaky heads and deep-diving crankbaits. Hybrid striped bass are good trolling with a pet spoon. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on prepared baits, liver and minnows.

CORPUS CHRISTI: Water stained; 87 degrees; 4.16’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on shad crankbaits and dark soft plastics. White bass are fair on live minnows and jigs.

Crappie are slow. Catfish are slow.

CYPRESS SPRINGS: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.21’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows or jigs. White bass are good on slabs and trolling crankbaits. Catfish are good on cheese bait.

EAGLE MOUNTAIN: Water stained; 86 degrees; 4.43’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs with teaser flies. Crappie are fair to good on jigs with white/chartreuse color combinations. Channel catfish are good on punch bait.

FALCON: Water stained; 85-89 degrees; 36.52’ low. Largemouth bass are good on deep-diving crankbaits and soft plastics. Catfish are good on fresh cut bait, stink bait and cut bait.

FAYETTE: Water stained; 85 degrees.

Largemouth bass are good on drop shots and Carolinaor Texas-rigged soft plastics. Catfish are good on cut bait.

FORK: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.55 feet below pool. Largemouth bass are slow to fair on top-waters, spinner baits and Carolina rigs and crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.

GRANBURY: Water lightly stained; 86-92 degrees; 0.83’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics.

Striped bass are good on live bait, slabs and downrigging jigs. White bass are good on slabs and small minnows. Crappie are fair on jigs and small minnows. Blue catfish are good on cut bait.

GRANGER: Water lightly stained; 84 degrees; 0.24’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs and minnows. White bass are good on slab spoons. Blue catfish are good on jug lines and rod and reel on shad and cut bait.

GRAPEVINE: Water clear; 85 degrees; 1.14’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. White bass are fair on jigging spoons. Catfish are fair on small pieces of cut shad.

GREENBELT: Water stained; 80 degrees; 43.95’ low. Crappie are good on small jigs and jigs tipped with minnows. White bass are good on minnows. Catfish are good on minnows and juglines.

HOUSTON COUNTY: Water clear; 90 degrees; 0.26’ low. Largemouth bass are good on shaky heads, square-billed crankbaits, Carolina rigs and deep-diving crankbaits. Crappie are good on minnows.

HUBBARD CREEK: Water stained; 85 degrees; 8.91’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. Crappie are fair on minnows or jigs. Blue catfish are fair on trotlines and juglines baited with perch.

JACKSONVILLE: Water clear; 89 degrees; 0.16’ low. Largemouth bass are good in deeper water on long worms.

JOE POOL: Water clear; 85 degrees; 0.47’ high. Largemouth bass are good on finesse jigs with craw trailers, Texas-rigged worms or baby brush hogs, and drop shots.

LAKE O’ THE PINES: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.94’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on cheese bait.

LAVON: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.49’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on lipless crankbaits and big swimbaits. White bass are fair on white or chartreuse slabs with a white jig tied 18 inches above. Crappie are good on minnows and white/ chartreuse jigs.

LBJ: Water stained; 85-90 degrees; 0.24’ low. Crappie are good on live minnows and chartreuse jigs. Catfish are good on punch bait.

LEWISVILLE: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 0.67’ low. White bass and hybrids are fair on top-waters, slabs, jigs and live bait. Catfish are fair to good drifting cut shad. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

LIMESTONE: Water clear;

89-91 degrees; 0.72’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina or Texas rigs and spinner baits. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are good on silver jigging spoons, crankbaits and swimbaits. Catfish are good on cut bait and minnows.

LIVINGSTON: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.14’ high. White bass are excellent jigging slabs. Hybrids are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait.

MARTIN CREEK: Water lightly stained; 91 degrees; 0.62’ low. Largemouth bass are good on swimbaits and red worms. Crappie are good on shad jigs and minnows. Catfish are good drifting nightcrawlers.

MEREDITH: Water stained; 76 degrees; 43.76’ low. Largemouth bass are good on minnows and artificials. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows. White bass are excellent on minnows and curly tailed grub. Walleye are good on crankbaits, minnows and artificials. Catfish are good on nightcrawlers, chicken liver, minnows and frozen shad.

MILLERS CREEK: Water stained; 80 degrees; 6.78’ low. Largemouth bass are good on soft plastics. White bass are good trolling slabs. Blue and channel catfish are good on juglines.

NACOGDOCHES: Water clear; 86-89 degrees; 0.75’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters. Crappie are slow to fair on minnows.

NACONICHE: Water lightly stained; 93 degrees. Largemouth bass are good early morning on top-waters and frogs. Catfish are slow.

NASWORTHY: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 0.95’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on white chatter baits and soft plastics. Crappie are good on chartreuse jigs. Catfish are fair to good on cut bait.

NAVARRO MILLS: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.27’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on drop shots and crankbaits. Crappie are slow. Catfish are good on cut bait and punch bait.

O.H. IVIE: Water stained; 85-89 degrees; 25.32’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on soft plastics. White bass are good on live bait and plastics. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs.

OAK CREEK: Water lightly stained; 87 degrees; 12.82’ low. Crappie are good on minnows. Channel catfish are good on worms and shrimp. White bass are fair on silver spoons and chartreuse spinner baits. Catfish are good on cut shad.

PALESTINE: Water stained; 90 degrees; 0.18’ low.

Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows. White bass are slow. Catfish are excellent on nightcrawlers, punch bait and chicken livers.

POSSUM KINGDOM: Water clear; 82-86 degrees; 0.12’ high. Striped bass are good on live bait. White bass are fair on small white, bone, or silver slabs and small shad. Catfish are good on cut shad.

PROCTOR: Water stained; 86-89 degrees; 9.62’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. White bass are fair on slabs. Catfish are good on cut bait and cheese bait.

RAVEN: Water clear; 87 degrees. Largemouth bass are fair on chrome lipless crankbaits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on cut and prepared baits.

RAY HUBBARD: Water lightly stained; 84-86 degrees; 0.80’ low. White bass are good on inline spinners, small top-waters and slabs. Crappie are fair on jigs and minnows.

RAY ROBERTS: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.14’ low. Largemouth bass are good on Carolina rigs and drop shots. White bass are slow.

Crappie are good on minnows.

RICH-

LAND CHAMBERS: Water clear; 85 degrees; 0.27’ low. White bass are fair on slabs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Blue catfish are fair on shad and punch bait.

SAM RAYBURN: Water stained; 85-87 degrees; 0.64’ low. Largemouth bass are good on top-waters, crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good on prepared baits.

SOMERVILLE: Water clear; 87-95 degrees; 0.05’ high. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are excellent trolling pet spoons. Catfish are good on juglines baited with shad or cut bait.

SPENCE: Water stained; 85 degrees; 45.28’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on plastic worms. White bass are fair on spoons and small swimbaits. Catfish are good on juglines baited with shad.

STILLHOUSE HOLLOW: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 14.29’ low. Largemouth bass are good on dark soft plastics. White bass are fair to good on slabs.

TAWAKONI: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 0.25’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters, stick baits and shallow crankbaits. White bass and hybrids are fair to good on slabs, inline spinners and live bait. Crappie are good on minnows. Catfish are excellent on prepared baits.

TEXOMA: Water stained; 85 degrees; 0.08’ low. Large-

n Saltwater reports Page 19

n Guide reports Page 19

mouth and smallmouth bass are slow. Striped bass are good on swimbaits, top-waters and shad. Crappie are fair on jigs. Catfish are good on cut shad and prepared baits.

TOLEDO BEND: Water stained; 80-84 degrees; 0.82’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-water frogs, trick worms and Carolina rigs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. Catfish are good shallow on punch bait, squid and shrimp.

TRAVIS: Water lightly stained; 85-88 degrees; 43.89’ low. Largemouth bass are good skipping jerkbaits and swimbaits under docks and using drop shots.

TWIN BUTTES: Water stained; 84 degrees; 24.52’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on top-waters and soft plastics. White bass are fair on top-waters.Channel catfish are good on punch bait.

TYLER: Water stained; 86 degrees; 0.15’ high. Largemouth bass are fair on trick worms and spinner baits. Crappie are fair on minnows. Catfish are fair on nightcrawlers and stink bait.

WACO: Water stained; 85 degrees; 7.82’ low. Largemouth bass are slow. Crappie are good on jigs tipped with minnows.

WALTER E. LONG: Water stained; 87 degrees; 1.00’ high. Largemouth bass are fair to good on top-waters and small swimbaits. Hybrid striped bass are fair on slabs.

WHITNEY: Water lightly stained; 85 degrees; 4.92’ low. Striped bass are good on live bait, swimbaits and down rigging jigs.

WORTH: Water stained; 86 degrees; 2.62’ low. Largemouth bass are fair on crankbaits. White bass are good on slabs with teaser flies. Crappie are fair on jigs with white color combinations. Channel catfish are good on punch bait.

WRIGHT PATMAN: Water stained; 85 degrees; 2.92’ high. White bass are good on windy points on tail spinners. Catfish are slow.

—TPWD

Dunlap on the rebound

Continued from page 1

lake hindered anglers’ ability to access their favorite spots.

More than four years later, a restoration project, which began May 14, 2021, is finally nearing completion, as local anglers and residents are seeing major progress on a job originally estimated to take 24 months.

“The hope is that we will be able to return to fishing this summer,” said Christina Chavez, human resources and safety director for the Guadalupe-Brazos River Authority. “We’re not 100-percent sure we’ll finish in time, but we’re aiming for this summer for sure.”

It has been more than four years since the Lake Dunlap dam broke free of its hinges. Construction has both anglers and residents excited for the future. Photo from Guadalupe-Blanco

The plan to restore the lake didn’t come easy, either. Following the incident, a part nership was born, comprising the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the Texas Water Development Board, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and a group of locals called the Preserve Lake Dunlap Association.

For the PLDA to help share the cost of building a new dam, it voluntarily worked to create a new taxing district, called the Water Control and Improvement District, which includes more than 500 residences and businesses in the area.

Voters ultimately approved a $40 million plan in 2020, and construction began a year later, set to rebuild all three spill gates and widen the existing structure by 15 feet. The existing 1,500-foot core wall also received new concrete armoring for reinforcement.

While completion is projected for this summer, the return of normal water levels will likely take an additional three to four weeks.

Local fishing guides are excited to see the return of Lake Dunlap, as many have been forced to drum up business elsewhere. Few, however, have found ways to capitalize on the crisis, using river boats to exploit condensed pockets of deep water.

Fishing guide Carson Conklin takes clients all over central Texas, but primarily sticks to the Austin and New Braunfels areas. Every time he offers to take a client to Dunlap, their response is always the same.

“That lake was just forgotten about,” he said. “Everyone always says, ‘You know the dam broke down there, right?’ But if I’m able to convince them to trust me, they always thank me later.”

Like most anglers in the area, Conklin recognizes the importance of restoring the lake to its 2019 self, but can’t help but mourn the loss of what turned out to be an elite fishery over the last few years.

“It was good before the dam broke, but I don’t know what it’s going to be like here in a couple years,” he said. “So I’ve just been beating it for all she’s worth. It’s been some of the best bass fishing I’ve ever seen.”

FishTIFT

River Authority.

SKIFF CAPSIZES, MEN AND DOG RESCUED

After a report of two men and a dog distressed and stranded near the Cheniere LNG plant on the banks of Sabine Pass, the Coast Guard launched a response boat and crew. The boaters’ 16-foot skiff had capsized due to the wake from passing vessels. The boat crew arrived, took aboard the two men and their dog, and transported them to a nearby boat launch. One of the boaters sustained minor injuries but did not require medical assistance. The vessel’s owner arranged for its salvage.

ILLEGAL NETS USED AT DIKE

A tip via the Operation Game Thief hotline reported several individuals using illegal nets to take fish at the Texas City Dike. A Texas game warden responded to the area and located two persons in possession of two illegal nets. The subjects were ultimately charged and convicted for the violations. A reward of $250 was paid to the caller.

WARDEN RECOGNIZED FOR HUNTER ED EFFORTS

Freestone County Game Warden

Shawna Poole received the Texas Parks and Wildlife - Hunter Education Game Warden of the Year

Award. Over the years, Poole has worked with local organizations to expand hunting opportunities for the youth in her community. Through her partnership with the Freestone County Game Management Association, the cost of hunter education and hunting licenses is often covered for youngsters.

BOAT AT BAFFIN TAKES ON WATER

The Coast Guard rescued four people from a vessel taking on water 30 miles off Baffin Bay.

Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi watchstanders received a call via VHF-FM from the operator of a 28-foot craft stating the boat was taking on water with two adults and two children aboard. The vessel’s pumps were not able to keep up with the flooding. Helicopter and boat crews were dispatched. At the scene, the helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer, who used a pump dropped by the Ocean Sentry aircrew to dewater the vessel. The crew then escorted the boaters safely to Packery Channel Park. No injuries were reported.

REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING AND FISHING ACTIVITY FOR A REWARD OF UP TO $1,000. CALL OPERATION GAME THIEF AT (800) 792-4263

BARGE, BOAT COLLISION INJURES FIVE

After a collision between an 18-foot boat and a barge near Galveston, five adults were injured and rescued by the Coast Guard and good Samaritans. The captain of the towing vessel reported the boat collided with the barge and capsized east of the Galveston Causeway. All five boaters were in the water, had sustained injuries and were not wearing flotation devices. A response boat and helicopter crew were dispatched. Meanwhile, the crew of the nearby towing vessel pulled the five boaters from the water. The helicopter crew arrived and hoisted two of the boaters, one who had sustained a head injury and one with a broken leg. The crew transported the patients to the University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston. The boat crew arrived and embarked the remaining three boaters, all of whom had sustained minor injuries. The boat crew brought the three adults to Station Galveston, where emergency services personnel assessed and transported them to UTMB Galveston. All survivors were last reported to be in stable condition. The cause of the collision is under investigation.

AN AMERICAN LEGEND

Shooting Sports

Red hot dot

HK PAIRS POPULAR SIGHT

See page 8

Simulated

FOR THE FIELD OR BACKCOUNTRY

WHATEVER YOUR ADVENTURE IS, WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED.

Shooting Sports

Hunters Extravaganzas back for 47th year

It’s almost the unofficial start of the hunting season, when thousands of hunters head to the Texas Trophy Hunters Association Hunters Extravaganza shows across the state.

Some go to examine and purchase blinds, feeders and accessories. Others look to book a hunt with an outfitter, or to check out the new shotguns, optics, archery equipment and UTVs. Groups gather at the Annual Deer Competition, the rattlesnake exhibit or even in front of numerous seminars.

Nearly all, though, go to celebrate and prepare for the upcoming season, surrounded by fellow hunters, including men, women and children. Old friends and acquaintances reunite in every aisle, as conversations ensue beneath the buzz of sales pitches. Crowds marvel at new, attractive products and TTHA prize winners hear their names announced over the loudspeakers.

This year, the Extravaganza returns to Fort Worth after a year in Dallas due to facility construction. San Antonio and Houston locations remain the same for the show’s 47th year.

Hunters of all shapes and sizes will return once again in anticipation of another great season in the outdoors.

Show dates and locations:

Houston August 4-6 NRG Center

Fort Worth August 11-13 Fort Worth Convention Center

San Antonio August 18-20 Freeman Coliseum Expo Hall

Hours:

Friday 3 p.m.-8 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: $20 for adults, $10 for children

PHOTO BY JAY SCHWISOW

Back-to-back titles

By David Schlake

Lone Star outdoor newS

Rachel Barringer has solidified herself as a force within the Texas shooting sports world. The Victoria native and San Antonio resident claimed her second-straight Ladies Highest Overall (HOA) title in the Texas State Skeet Championship, this time hitting 395 out of 400 clays.

Team Blaser’s 26-year-old gunner also walked away as Overall 12 Gauge Champion, Ladies 12 Gauge Champion and Ladies .410 Bore Champion.

Barringer’s love for shooting began when she was only 8 years old when her father and grandfather — both fishing guides out of Port O’Connor, as well as trap shooters — first introduced her to the outdoors. However, her abilities on the gun range have undoubtedly surpassed anything they could have ever expected.

She has claimed a bevy of other titles, including 2018 Junior Worlds Ladies 12, 20, 28, .410, and HOA Champion; 2020 Texas State Skeet 12 Gauge Open & Ladies Champion; 2020 Mini Worlds Skeet Ladies 20, 28, .410, and HOA Champion; 2020 World Skeet Ladies 12 & 28 Gauge Champion; 2021 Texas State Skeet Doubles Open & Ladies Champion; and 2023 U.S. Open Ladies HOA.

However, her most recent success tastes a little sweeter after consecutive victories.

“This was a huge goal of mine, and I am honored to win the Ladies HOA State Skeet Champion title two years in a row,” Barringer said. “It is great to have a gun that is reliable and comfortable to shoot hundreds of targets with during a weekend. My F3 has never let me down.”

Blaser

From family interest to family business

Participating in shooting sports — especially with a son or daughter on a trap, skeet or sporting clays team — involves shooting and purchasing a lot of shotshells.

Patrick Welborne discovered a void in the industry over the past 20 years — finding a steady supply of affordable, competition-grade shotgun shells. In addition to shooting competitively with his wife, his son made the switch from an Xbox to a shotgun, immersing himself in shooting sports at age 13, and now shoots at Texas A&M University.

The husband-wife team started their business, Competitive Ammo, to help fill the void by import ing a product for the sport they love.

“People want to consistently get their favorite ammo,” Welborne said. “We were getting shells out of Houston, but it would be there one day, and then it would be gone. We decided to bring in products we have used ourselves for more than 20 years.”

Competitive Ammo started more than 5 years ago, importing ammo geared toward sporting clays, skeet and trap, including bunker trap.

The company carries two well-known brands in the competitive shooting industry: Armusa, from Spain; and Clever Mirage, from Italy. Most cases of ammo are priced at $99 or less.

“It’s quality ammo which has been shot by a lot of Olympic shooters for years,” Welborne said. “The European loads are known for their cleaner gunpowder.”

The company buys overseas containers of ammunition. Customers include parents of competitive shooters, multiple shooting teams, and gun clubs in Texas.

For customers within reach, Competitive Ammo, based in Dallas, is offering free route delivery on half-pallets that are ordered in the Houston, Dallas and San Antonio areas, a big deal for shooters and teams ordering larger quantities of shells.

stand

LIGHTWEIGHT FEATURES AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE

APACHE RIFLE WORKS COMFORT, TX

BUCKS & DOES SAN ANTONIO, TX

CARTERS COUNTRY SPRING, TX HOUSTON, TX PASADENA, TX

FIELD AND STREAM SAN ANGELO, TX

GLICK TWINS PHARR, TX

RIDGE CARBON WILDERNESS

NEW FOR 2023

The Wilderness Series® Ridge is designed for the serious hunter. Those who brave the elements and need an accurate rifle that can keep up, without the extravagant price tag. Now, we’ve added a carbon fiber barrel. We can tell you the weight savings will gain you a few extra miles on foot. Or that the increased accuracy will add to your confidence. But, there’s also nothing wrong with simply one-upping your buddies.

HOFFPAUIR FARM & RANCH LAMPASAS, TX

LOS CAZADORES STONEWALL, TX PEARSALL, TX

MCBRIDES AUSTIN, TX

NAGELS GUN SHOP SAN ANTONIO, TX

NATIVE OUTDOORS HEATH, TX

PORTERS FLINT, TX

PRACO PAWN WACO, TX

SHARP SHOOTERS LUBBOCK, TX

SUPERIOR PAWN LONGVIEW, TX

TEXAS GUN EXPERIENCE GRAPEVINE, TX

THE OUTDOORSMAN SAN ANGELO, TX

VICTIORIA ALL SPORTS VICTORIA, TX

WILKERSONS GUNS BOERNE, TX

Red hot dot

By Craig Nyhus Lone Star outdoor newS

Shooting competitors often lead the way to innovation. Handgun shooters have been mounting red dot sights on handguns for years, but there was a downside. Most red dot optics are mounted on the slide, presenting issues due to the slide’s rapid acceleration and deceleration with each shot, resulting in failures in all but the best and the most professionally installed optics.

Red dot sights became more popular in shooting sports competitions, as sight pictures are simplified, allowing the shooter to stay “target focused” while moving across each target for faster target acquisition.

Serious shooters say red dot optics are no substitute for good marksmanship skills, though, but rather an added feature that allows a shooter to improve.

As the popularity of the sights on handguns grew, HK took the trend to another level, offering its VP9 full-size and VP9SK compact pistol with a direct-mounted Holosun SCS (Solar Charging Sight) from the factory as complete packages. The cost includes a savings over buying and installing the optics separately.

The Holosun SCS is made specifically to fit on the VP9 without any plates, making the dot sit low on the slide. This co-witnesses with standard-height factory and aftermarket sights.

Other HK models can be found through Langdon Tactical Technologies, whereby LTT buys pistols directly from HK and modifies them to accept a red dot mounting system.

HK VP9 features

• Patented HK charging supports make pulling the VP slide rearward effortless

• Enlarged, heavy-duty extractor for reliability also functions as a loaded chamber indicator

• Ergonomic grip profiles with user replaceable grip panels

Holosun SCS Package

• Maximum accuracy for no additional training, no swapping batteries, and no hassle

• Co-witnesses with standard-height factory and aftermarket sights

• Self-adjusting brightness control with maximum brightness override

• Multiple reticle system including ring, dot, and ring with dot

• Super Green LED

• Direct mounts to any VP9 Optics Ready –specifically matches VP9 slide contours

VP9/VP9SK Holosun

Packages

• VP9 OR, 9mm, two 10-round or 17-round magazines with Super Green Holosun Package - MSRP $1,269

• VP9SK OR, 9mm, one 12-round and one 15-round magazine with Super Green Holosun Package (also available in 10-round) - MSRP $1,269

PERFECTING THE VISION OF HEAT

Fusion Thermal’s new optics make the complex seem simple. The new Avenger 55XR and Avenger 40 utilize the company’s T3 Three Button Control System, along with the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) menu.

“The ease of use is a big deal,” said shooter Cameron Savaggio. “You don’t want to have to look up in the dark to see what button you’re hitting, especially when you’re hog hunting.”

What hunters will find in the new thermal series is high-end features with a “simplicity first” design.

Thermal sensors require a lot of power, and the Avenger Series has ample power with the 18650 battery design, run in parallel, providing an industry-leading, eight-hour run time.

The Avenger series utilizes aircraftgrade aluminum housing, while most other brands use plastic.

“Thermals create a lot of heat, and the aluminum housing allows it to escape,” Salvaggio said. “Plastic holds in the heat and can degrade the sensor and core over time, which negatively affects image quality and overall clarity.”

Recently at a precision rifle expo, shooters shot with all the top brands in the thermal industry. Two steel targets were set up, one at 200 yards and one at 500 yards. Both had a heating pad on the back of the target.

“Right before the night shoot started, the 500-yard target went out, so it was unheated,” Salvaggio said. “There was very little differential in heat between the air, the berm and the target.”

Angel Padilla, of Johnny’s Sport Shop in Eagle Lake, works full-time at the shop and also guides hog hunters at night with Sandy Creek Outfitters, and both sells and uses the Fusion Thermal products.

“The units perform really well in humidity and fog, which a lot of other brands struggle with,” Padilla said. “You can still see the animals in high humidity. And I like the three-button system because you never have to look up to see where your fingers are.”

Each brand had their own bay to shoot, and consumers took turns going to each bay and testing out each thermal. Out of all of the brands, the Fusion Thermal was the only brand that consumers could see and shoot the 500-yard target, Salvaggio said. All of the other brands stuck to the 200-yard target because they couldn’t see the longer, cooler target.

“One consumer, who shot an $18,000 scope, said you would think for 18K, you would be able to see the 500-yard target like you can with the Fusion Thermal,” Salvaggio said.

Hunters like to record their nighttime hog hunts, and the Avenger series includes a full media package, including photo, video and audio capabilities, along with Fusion Thermal’s HeatSync App to make connectivity a snap.

The Avenger series features both quality and affordability in elite fashion within the thermal scope world. The 55XR costs less than $6,000 and the Avenger 40 is around $4,000.

A Place to Shoot

San Antonio, 210-628-1888

Abilene Indoor Gun Range

Abilene, 325-698-4224

Able Ammo

Huntsville, 936-295-5786

AJC Sports

Clute, 979-265-4867

Ally Outdoors

Midland, 972-332-3700

Richardson, 972-332-3700

Alpha Armory

Houston, 888-932-7660

Alpine Shooting Range

Ft Worth, 817-478-6613

Americana Arms, LLC

Beeville, 361-362-3673

Athena Gun Club

Houston, 713-461-5900

BPS Outfitters

Sherman, 903-832-2227

BTO Range

Conroe, 936-588-3333

Buck & Doe’s Mercantile, LLC

San Antonio, 830-980-3637

C.A.C Tactical

Southlake, 888-211-8191

Caroline Colt Company LLC

Abilene, 325-232-7501

Carroll’s Gun Shop

Whaton, 979-532-3175

Carter’s Country

Houston, 713-461-1844

Houston, 281-879-1466

Pasadena, 713-475-2222

Spring, 281-443-8393

DFW Shooting Sports

Bedford, 817-285-0664

Champion Firearms

College Station, 979-693-9948

Collectors Firearms

Houston, 713-781-5812

Danny's, Inc.

McAllen, 956-687-4692

Defender Outdoors

Fort Worth, 817-935-8377

DFW Gun Club

Dallas, 214-630-4866

Dury's Gun Shop

San Antonio, 210-533-5431

Field & Streams Sporting Goods

San Angelo, 325-944-7094

Fun Guns Waco, 254-755-0080

Gibson’s

Weatherford, 817-594-8711

Glick Twins

Pharr, 956-787-429

GRITR Sports

N. Richland Hills, 817-200-7470

Grabagun.com

Coppell, 972-552-7246

Guard & Defend Firearms

Silsbee, 409-201-9468

Guns Warehouse LLC

Cedar Park, 512-986-7330

Hoss Arms, LLC

New Braunfels, 830-609-8891

John Doe Investigations, LLC

Lewisville, 214-773-0129

Kirkpatrick Gun & Ammo

Laredo, 956-723-6338

Marksmen Firearms

Mansfield, 817-453-8680

McBride's Guns

Austin, 512-472-3532

Misson Ridge Range & Academy

San Antonio, 210-504-9000

Mister Guns LLC

Plano, 214-901-7429

Modern Pawn & Guns

Corpus Christi, 361-993-9390

Nagel's Gun Shop, Inc.

San Antonio, 210-342-5420

Nardis Gun Club

San Antonio, 210-369-9199

Omaha Outdoors

Rosenberg, 713-703-4648

Past & Blast Antiques & Firearms

Whitesboro, 903-564-5444

Point Blank Sporting Goods

Pharr, 956-992-8799

Primary Arms

Houston, 713-344-9600

Ranger Firearms of Texas Inc.

San Antonio, 210-822-4867

THERMAL HUNTING

AVENGER 40

WAVE12 384 Sensor

9+ Hour Runtime

MSRP: $4099

AVENGER 55XR

WAVE12 640 Sensor

7+ Hour Runtime

MSRP: $5989

Fusion Thermal Exclusive Features

Micro Click Focus

Leave the Collars to the Dogs

Getting your target into focus quickly and easily is a must, and you won’t find a better system than our Micro Click Focus. Our tactile focus knob is conveniently located on top of the front lens, and unlike the dog collar design used by our competitors you won’t need to perform a circus act just to focus your scope. Plus, you’ll always get your best shot as the micro click adjustments put you on the perfect focus point every time.

ARCLIGHT Ultra HD Germanium Lens

High Purity for Maximum Energy

The single most expensive component of a well-crafted thermal is its germanium lens. If you skimp here, you’re not even in the game. Our high purity ArcLight Ultra HD Germanium Lens is the crowning jewel of our technology package. It perfects the task of collecting and funneling infrared energy into the thermal sensor unhindered by distortion. This clean transition results in an infrared energy dump that unleashes the full potential of our WAVE thermal sensor delivering a user experience well beyond expectations.

KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) Menu Industry’s Easiest Menu System

We think you’re really going to like our menu; it uses words, English words. Written for Americans by Americans. That’s why we called it KISS. You’ve heard the phrase, and at Fusion Thermal it’s the reason we can make the industry’s boldest statement: Our operating system is so easy to use you’ll likely never read the instructions.

T3 Control System

Don’t Let Your Fingers Get Lost in the Dark

Our highly intuitive three button control system with center tower makes using your scope simple and easy. Every command is at your fingertips, and the Center Tower evenly splits the control panel, so you’ll never be confused about what button you’re going to press. We thought this a particularly good idea since you’ll be using it in the dark most of the time.

WAVE Thermal Sensor Same Money, Better Performance

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POLEAXE EXECUTIONER PALE HORSE

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LINER

FLAT LINER

SLEEPING PILL

MEAT ON THE DIRT NAP

VITAMIN N DRT UNDERTAKER WIDOW MAKER

OUT CANCELED HAMMER OF THOR

NUMBER’S UP

LIGHTNING BOLT

FREIGHT TRAIN

PILEDRIVER LIGHTS

DEEP SIX COFFIN NAIL SEASON ENDER SMOKE

DEATH ON A CRACKER

REAPER ERADICATOR

FLYING HEARSE

NUMBER’S SIX HANDLED SEDAN

Maria Sober, 4, caught a Guadalupe bass — her first fish ever — on the Guadalupe River in Spring Branch. She caught

on a

worm and bobber setup, which she insisted on baiting herself.

Mike Nelson poses with his first African animal, a bull nyala, shot while on safari in South Africa. Nelson is the longtime national sales representative for Lone Star Outdoor News.

David Sweet with a nice 32-inch redfish he caught while fishing in Corpus Christi during a tough day.

Cayce Causey landed a 30.5-inch speckled trout near Upper Laguna Madre by wading with an old, gold spoon and safely released the fish back into the water.

Shawn George shot this mule deer in Culberson County with a crossbow last season.

LONE STAR OUTDOOR PUZZLER

Solution on Page 22

Director position at P&Y

Pope and Young is seeking a leader for its executive director position.

Brothers joins NEXTORCH

NEXTORCH Industries hired Jordan Brothers as vice president of sales and marketing for the North American market.

Manager at Iron Valley

Iron Valley Supply hired Grant Gallagher as account manager.

Athmer to lead pontoon company

Harris Boats named Brian Athmer as its new president for its premium pontoon models, including Grand Mariner and Solstice.

Exec at SIG

Laurence Grayer joined SIG SAUER as executive vice president, general counsel and chief compliance officer.

Bauman honored

Boating Industry selected Betty Bauman, Founder of Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing from 120 nominees to receive the 2023 Women Making Waves honor.

Sales rep for St. Croix

Dry Fly Sales has been retained by St. Croix Rod to represent the company’s flyfishing brand and products in 13 Midwestern states.

Tungsten groups team up

RC Tech announced the formation of The Tungsten Outdoor Group, a partnership between RC New Material USA, Tungsten Southern, LLC and Outtech, LLC. In addition, The Sports Products Group was named as the North American importer.

Another GSM acquisition

GSM Outdoors acquired D&J Plastics and Big Bite Baits.

New execs at Big Rock

Big Rock Sports promoted Brian Phillips to president and Mark Charnot to chief operating officer.

Position at Gulf council

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is seeking to fill a social scientist position to be responsible for the social aspects of fishery management plans.

ACROSS

1) Shotshell brand

2) Botswana’s capital

7) Pheasant-hunting states, North and South

8) Texas’ walleye lake

12) A coastal bay

15) An offshore target

17) African game species

18) Mouth-operated turkey call

19) An exotic in Texas

21) River flowing through Fort Worth

23) Fishing lure brand

24) Odessa’s county

28) The female deer

30) West Texas lake

31) Rangefinder brand

32) A Great Lake

35) Houston-area lake

37) The top fin

38) One of Leopold’s five tools

39) Great blue or green shorebird

40) Fishing TV host 41) Kendall County’s seat

Puzzle by Craig Nyhus, Lone Star Outdoor News

DOWN

1) Hunting boot brand

3) Safari destination

4) One of the crappie

5) DFW-area lake

6) Texas mountain range

9) A setter

10) Fishing line brand

11) Good bass lure

13) Central Texas lake

14) San Antonio’s county

16) Crankbait brand

20) Raccoon-hunting dog breed

22) One of the sunfish

25) Shooting sport, sporting ____

26) Crockett County’s seat

27) Group of feral hogs

29) Rifle brand

30) The other coastal trout

32) Red-dot sight brand

33) What many labs can’t stop doing

34) East Texas lake

36) Good redfish lure

Yellowfin tuna poke

2 lbs. fresh yellowfin tuna, cubed

1 tbsp. sea salt

1 tbsp. fresh ginger, minced

2 tbsps. soy sauce

1/2 tbsp. oyster sauce

1 tbsp. sesame oil

1 tsp. sambal or chili sauce

1/2 cup onions, diced

5 stalks scallions, chopped

1 tsp. sesame seeds

*email LSON your favorite recipe to editor@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

Wild turkey tetrazzini

Cut ahi into cubes and move them into a bowl. Season tuna with sea salt, mix thoroughly and let cure for 5-10 minutes. Add minced ginger and mix.

Season the fish with soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and sambal. Add onions, scallions, and sesame seeds. Refrigerate the poke for 30 minutes. Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds and serve on warm rice.

—NOAA.gov

1/2 lb. sliced morel mushrooms (approx.

3 cups)

1 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. coarse black pepper

1 green or sweet red pepper, diced

2 cups skim milk

2 chicken bouillon cubes

2 cups cooked turkey, cubed (½ lb.)

4 tbsps. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 lb. spaghetti, cooked al dente

1/3 cup sliced scallions

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

In a heavy skillet over medium heat, saute mushrooms in butter until tender. Stir in salt/pepper. Use portion of milk to dissolve cornstarch, then add remaining milk and cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly. Add Worcestershire sauce and bouillon and simmer until somewhat thickened. Add cheese, pepper and scallions to sauce. Toss turkey and spaghetti in large saucepan, then add sauce, stirring well. Pour into greased 2-quart shallow casserole or baking dish. Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until heated through.

—Missouri DOC

Adjusting to conditions

Continued from page 1

has produced the most bites.

A lot of the redfish in the Sabine ship channel have been just under the legal slot size limit, anywhere from 19 to 19.75 inches. However, there have been some mid-slot-sized fish mixed in, too, stretching from 22 to 26 inches in length.

“Points and areas where there are rocks, shell or rip rap protruding out off the bank have been holding the most fish,” Phillips said. “Moving around and covering water has been key. The reds have not been in schools, so it has been more productive to bounce around to different points with structure, rather than just sitting in one spot waiting for them to come through.”

Southwest winds have kept the main lake waters of Sabine off-colored, preventing anglers from finding and chasing open-water schools of redfish that would typically roam throughout the middle of the estuary this time of year.

Some Sabine anglers have reported decent numbers of redfish staging over clam shell beds near the mouths of bayous along the Louisiana shoreline. Fishable stretches of water along this bank have been limited, however, because a southwest wind blows straight into a large portion of it.

Capt. Wyatt Foster, a Galveston Bay fishing guide, has been chasing redfish in East Galveston Bay, bouncing back and forth between the back lakes and main bay waters along the south shoreline near Bolivar. Low tides have made it difficult to target the shallowest areas of the back lakes. He has been able to find decent numbers of reds in guts, depressions and deeper stretches leading into the mouths of these shallow areas.

“There has been some schooling activity along stretches of shorelines that have rocks along the bank that are near the

mouths of back lakes and marshes,” Foster said. “A lot of the fish in these schools have been oversized reds in the range of 29-35 inches.”

Foster has been chunking heavy buck tail and soft plastic jigs at schools of reds. In shallow back lakes, he’s been using spinner baits and swimbaits rigged on a light jig head.

Capt. Sammy Guerrero has been fishing upper West Galveston Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway in East Galveston Bay to keep his anglers hooked up with redfish. Heavy oyster shell reefs have provided the most consistency in the upper west bay, while stretches of rocks and points along the Intracoastal Waterway have held the most action for him in the east bay.

“With the water as dirty as it has been lately, it’s been difficult at times to catch reds on lures,” Guerrero said. “Live shrimp fished under a popping cork has been working the best for my anglers.”

The marshes and back lakes of lower West Galveston Bay, Bastrop Bay, Freeport and Chocolate Bay are where fishing guide Capt. James Frausto has been consistently catching redfish. He has been playing the tides, often fishing in the afternoon when the tide has been higher. Soft plastics and carefully placed flies have been drawing plenty of strikes for him and his anglers.

“Marsh ponds with widgeon grass that are loaded with baitfish have been chockfull of redfish lately,” Frausto said. “Most of the fish have been in the middle to upper slot size class.”

Frausto has been focusing on schools of reds rather than blind-casting areas in hopes of coming across a single fish or two. Periods when the tide is falling have produced a much better bite than when the tide has been coming in.

Anahuac NWR reservations going online this year

Lone Star outdoor newS

Teal and duck hunters will face changes made at the popular Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, west of High Island. Hunting reservations for portions of the refuge open to hunting are moving online for the 2023-2024 season.

According to a posting by the refuge, there will be a link on its website and Facebook page directing hunters to the reservation page, but the system is still in development and exact parameters haven’t been finalized.

The refuge indicated reservations would be available one week before the date requested, at a given time. When the reservations are live, hunters then select a pond and select the date.

At that point, there would be a set amount of time to fill out necessary information before the reservation is released, similar to reserving seats to a concert.

Social media posts and responses indicate the prior call-in system was difficult, although several hunters said they liked the old, first-come, first-served system. Beau Stefka replied on Facebook, wondering what would happen when someone shows up to a “reserved pond” and someone is already sitting in it, potentially ruining both hunts.

Blayne Sauceda caught a solid redfish in the shallows near Chocolate Bay.

Photo by Capt. James Frausto.

TEXAS SALTWATER FISHING REPORT

SABINE LAKE: 87 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish and black drum are fair to good at the jetties on live shrimp under a popping cork. Redfish are good in the river and along the ICW on live mullet and shrimp under a popping cork.

BOLIVAR: 80 degrees. Black drum and redfish are good in the surf on shimp. Speckled trout are fair on free-lined shimp and croaker.

PORT O’CONNOR: 80 degrees. Speckled trout are good outside of the jetties on croaker. Oversized redfish are good at the ends of the jetties on Spanish sardines. Black drum are fair on dead and live shrimp.

ROCKPORT: 85 degrees. Redfish are good on grass flats and wind-blown shorelines on cut bait and soft plastics. Speckled trout are good on natural-colored soft plastics and live shrimp under a popping cork. Black drum are good on dead shrimp and scented plastics.

PORT ARANSAS: 85 degrees. Bull redfish are good at the ends of the jetties on cut mullet. Speckled trout are slow.

WATERFOWL MAGNET

FRESHWATER

PONDS AVAILABLE

TRINITY BAY: 88 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on soft plastics, shrimp and croaker. Black drum are fair on shrimp.

EAST GALVESTON BAY: 88 degrees.

Speckled trout are fair on shrimp imitation lures under popping corks, live shrimp, croaker and soft plastics.

WEST GALVESTON BAY: 89 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on croaker and live shrimp.

TEXAS CITY: 86 degrees. Speckled trout, redfish and black drum are fair on live shrimp.

FREEPORT: 85 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on shrimp under a popping cork, soft plastics and top-waters.

EAST MATAGORDA BAY: 80 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair on croaker and artificials under popping corks.

WEST MATAGORDA BAY: 80 degrees.

Speckled trout and redfish are fair, better when winds turn to the southeast, wading with artficials under a popping cork and croaker.

CORPUS CHRISTI: 85 degrees. Speckled trout are fair to good on free-lined shrimp and live croaker. Redfish are fair in the surf on shrimp.

310 (+/-) ACRES

CALHOUN COUNTY NEAR PORT O’CONNOR

196 ACRES MOIST SOIL IMPOUNDMENTS DIVIDED IN FOUR PONDS

FLOOD WITH CANAL WATER FROM GBRA

BAFFIN BAY: 90 degrees. Speckled trout are fair on reflective lures in grass beds and sand pockets on croaker and soft plastics.

PORT MANSFIELD: 91 degrees. Speckled trout and redfish are fair drifting ball tail plastics in deeper water.

SOUTH PADRE: 86 degrees. Speckled trout are fair to good on shrimp and soft plastics. Redfish are fair on shrimp.

—TPWD

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Out to the deep

Continued from page 8

popular for trolling, which is how Curtis Thorpe catches the bigger yellowfin.

However, another option for fish ing live baits is to bridle a blackfin tuna and bump troll it around the rigs and pods of bait.

“We’ll usually head out in the afternoon and get to the deep wa ter rig right about sunset,” Thorpe said. “At night, the big yellowfins will be busting baitfish on the sur face. They can be caught on big poppers, chuggers or free-lined live baits. The blackfin tuna in the 5- to 15-pound class can be caught all night long. The best way to catch them is with free-lined chunks of fresh-caught bait.”

Thorpe’s crew will fish the rig un til dawn and then rig up the troll ing tackle for dorado, wahoo, sail fish and even a chance to hook up with a blue marlin.

“I like to fish two lines off the stern,” he said. “One will have a skirted plunger-type lure, the other will have something like a Halco giant Trembler. That is an excellent lure for catching wahoo and dorado.”

Targeting shrimp boats

When the offshore shrimping season is open, anglers have a chance at ling, king mackerel and the occasional wahoo.

Among those who regularly fish offshore shrimp boats is Bill Panto. After years of success, he continues fishing what he knows will work.

“The boats dragging nets in deep

water can hold anything from sailfish to blackfin tuna,” he said. “We have even caught yellowfin tuna around the shrimpers. One day we idled up to an anchored shrimp boat, tossed out some chum and an entire school of blackfins showed up from the depths. We loaded the boat that day.”

Robert Anderson makes runs out of Port O’Connor throughout the summer months. His target fish are big red snapper that favor rocks and wrecks, and ling hanging out around shrimp boats.

FISHING REPORTS FROM THE GUIDES

Get in the grass on Amistad: Tim Flowers at Tim Flowers Fishing said a lot of hydrilla growth on the lake is benefiting the bass fishing, and that pattern should get even better heading into the fall. He said there’s a fair bite fishing shallow in the mornings with lures like frogs and square-bill crankbaits, but the better fish are being caught over grass in 18-20 feet of water, where he said the grass may come up to 14 feet. “Deep grass fishing is a big deal here, and we haven’t had that lately,” he said. “But things are looking really good for the fall.”

“For the best action around a shrimper, get there early when they are culling last night’s catch,” Anderson said. “A lot of people just use dead baits like sardines and squid. We do our best to catch several dozen pinfish the night before going offshore. The bigger snapper love those. Plus, just about anything in the Gulf of Mexico will eat a pinfish. We use traps baited with chicken parts to catch the perch around boat docks. We will also catch them on very small hooks with a rod.”

Low-light conditions best on Belton: Bob Mandelle of holdingthelineguideservice.com reports that morning and evening present the best opportunities for catching white bass on Belton. He said the surface bite can be most reliable from about 6:40 a.m. to 9 a.m. Fish can be caught using small, shad-imitation lures, long spinning rods and light braid. Later in the day people can find fish with their sonar and fish horizontally or vertically to them. “One thing to know is that the lake is near the record low, and there aren’t courtesy docks available, so people should consider that beforehand. A keel shield is a good idea, especially if the wind factors in,” he said.

Attracting Conroe’s catfish: Tex Bonin of Texas Guide Service asserts plenty of catfish are being caught on Lake Conroe, with some up to 6 pounds, but most of the fish are smaller, and stormy weather has been a factor in safely fishing the lake. Bonin’s clients are using a tightline setup over locations baited with range cubes and chicken scratch in 18-22 feet of water. Chicken liver and shrimp are the best producing baits right now. “Chances are better if it’s an overcast day and you can find a dropoff in that 18-25 foot range,” he said.

King mackerel are being landed on shorter offshore trips. Photo by David J. Sams, Lone Star Outdoor News.

ALABAMA SCI, GSCO to hold concurrent conventions

Grand Slam Club/Ovis and Safari Club International entered into an agreement joining conventions. Beginning in 2024, SCI and GSCO will both hold conventions at the Music City Centre, in Nashville, Tennessee.

At the location, after SCI’s Annual Hunter’s Convention, held from Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2024, GSCO will hold a life member breakfast, awards luncheon and evening banquet on Feb. 4. GSCO’s Pantheon Award will be presented during SCI’s Feb. 3 banquet.

—GSCO

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Boating’s economic impact

The 2023 National Marine Manufacturers Association study reveals recreational boating saw a 36-percent increase in annual economic activity from 2018’s $170 billion to $230 billion in 2023 and a 14-percent jump in recreational marine industry-related jobs from 691,000 in 2018 to 812,000 in 2023.

States leading the nation with the highest economic activity and job growth from recreational boating include:

• Florida: $31.3B and 109,000 jobs

• California: $17.3B and 48,000 jobs

• Texas: $11.8B and 38,000 jobs

• Michigan: $11.7B and 45,000 jobs

• New York: $10B and 34,000 jobs

The U.S. recreational boating industry sold more than 260,000 new boats and more than 1 million pre-owned boats in 2022, ranging from small aluminum and fiberglass fishing boats to pontoons and family cruising and watersports boats.

—NMMA

WYOMING

State-record tiger trout

Owen Schaad, of Cheyenne, was visiting family and fishing on Viva Naughton Reservoir near Kemmerer as he normally does every summer. He was surprised when he caught more than 20 fish, including a few tiger trout. Then, he landed a record tiger trout.

After a lengthy fight, Schaad brought the fish home and called the local game warden before taking it to a grocery store — one of two places nearby with a certified scale. The official scale weight was 11.93 pounds. The length was 31 inches with a girth of 16.5 inches.

Schaad broke the state record that had been in place for 11 years, previously set in May 2012.

—WGFD

SOUTH CAROLINA Initiative for turkey habitat

At its National Leadership Conference in Ridgedale, Missouri, the National Wild Turkey Federation revealed its new Habitat for the Hatch initiative, a southeastern landscapescale effort that will directly combat the decline in wild turkey populations and improve overall ecosystem health.

Habitat for the Hatch will focus on creating essential nesting habitat in close proximity to quality brood range. This new initiative seeks to create 1 million acres that fit these specific criteria in the next 10 years.

—NWTF

TEXAS Boating fatality stats

A new report examined boating accidents and fatalities in the U.S., as tracked by the U.S. Coast Guard. From 2019 to 2020, the total number of reported boating accidents

spiked by 26 percent, while boating-related injuries and deaths both increased by 25 percent. The number of boating accidents has fallen since 2020. Researchers calculated the average annual boating fatality rate per 100,000 registered recreational vessels, then ranked states accordingly.

Between 2018 and 2022, Texas experienced an average of 38.8 boating-related accidents and 8.1 boating-related fatalities per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Among the 47 states with complete data available, Texas has the 13th highest boating fatality rate. Alaska was the highest, followed by Hawaii.

An estimated 100 million Americans—nearly one-third of the total U.S. population—go boating each year.

After adjusting for the number of vessels, Utah leads the nation with an accident rate of 105.9 per 100,000 vessels, while Alaska leads all states with a boating fatality rate of 33.6 per 100,000 vessels.

The data used in this study is from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Statistics, covering the five-year period from 2018–2022.

Texas data:

• Average annual boating fatality rate: 8.1

• Average annual boating accident rate: 38.8

• Total number of deaths (2018–2022): 232

• Total number of accidents (2018–2022): 1,108

• Total property damages (2018–2022): $11,737,716

U.S. data:

• Average annual boating fatality rate: 5.6

• Average annual boating accident rate: 37.2

• Total number of deaths (2018–2022): 3,307

• Total number of accidents (2018–2022): 22,057

• Total property damages (2018–2022): $323,128,431 —Captain Experiences

NEBRASKA

Louisiana team wins 4-H nationals

The team from Louisiana topped the Texas team at the 2023 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship, held in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Of 42 states represented, Louisiana finished first in Air Rifle, Hunting Skills, Smallbore Pistol and Smallbore Rifle. Texas topped the field in Compound Archery, Recurve Archery and Shotgun.

—4-H

MINNESOTA

Ruffed grouse numbers up again

Minnesota’s ruffed grouse spring population counts are up again from last year and are similar to other recent peaks in the 10year population cycle of grouse — a pattern recorded for 72 years, according to a study from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

The DNR and its partners use spring drumming counts to help monitor the ruffed grouse breeding population through time. The recent grouse population trend includes a low point in the cycle in 2021 that was not as low as previous lows, followed by unexpectedly higher counts in 2022 and again this year. Warm temperatures and dry conditions that favor high nest success and chick survival the past two years may explain the quicker than expected rise to levels like recent peaks in the 10-year cycle.

—MDNR

“The most aggressive action seemed to occur during the morning hours, but we were able to catch fish throughout the day, from sunup to sundown,” Langmore said. “It was clear that those fish were opportunistic feeders. Not many folks would choose to only throw a 9-inch swimbait for an entire multi-day trip, but I stuck with it, and it paid off.” Langmore said chunking a lure of that size all day is definitely a laborious task that demands a heavy-action rod and lot of mental focus. It’s not about catching a bunch of fish, but rather the biggest ones around.

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 2023 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 Craig Nyhus

Managing Editor David Schlake

Design Editor C2-Studios, Inc.

Copy Editor Carl Ellis

Operations Manager Mike Hughs

Billing & Accounts

Payable Lea Marsh

Website Bruce Solieu

National Advertising Mike Nelson

Founder & CEO David J. Sams

Grant Langmore landed this Devils River bass on a magnum-sized swimbait. Photo from Grant Langmore.

JULY 13-15

TEXAS WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

WildLife Convention

JW Marriott, San Antonio texas-wildlife.org

JULY 14-15

TEXAS GUN & KNIFE SHOWS

Amarillo Civic Center (830) 285-0575 texasgunandknifeshows.com

JULY 15

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION

40th Anniversary Casino Night Houston Distributing (832) 467-0926 nwtf.org

JULY 20-23

DALLAS BOAT SHOW

Dallas Market Hall (972) 978-8217 dallasboatexpo.com

JULY 21-23

TEXAS HUNTERS & SPORTMAN’S EXPO McAllen Convention Center (956) 664-2884 texashunterassociation.com

JULY 28-29

GATGO EXPO

Rock Hill Baptist Church

Brownsboro (903) 852-6711 gatexpo.com

JULY 29

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION

Gulf Coast Banquet

Knights of Columbus Hall Pearland (281) 245-9723 rmef.org

AUGUST 3-6

TEXAS INTERNATIONAL FISHING TOURNAMENT

South Padre Island (956) 943-8438 tift.org

AUGUST 3

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

DSC 100 Kickoff Party

DSC Headquarters (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Cibilo Creek Banquet Schertz Civic Center (210) 332-7133 ducks.org

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION Northwest Houston Banquet Shirley Acres (713) 626-4222 ccatexas.org

AUGUST 4

NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION Highland Lakes Banquet Inmans Kitchen and BBQ, Llano (830) 385-6059 nwtf.org

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION Cowtown Chapter Full Draw Film Tour Rahr & Son Brewery Fort Worth fulldrawfilmtour.com

AUGUST 4-6

TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION Houston Extravaganza NRG Center (210) 523-8500 ttha.com

AUGUST 5

JOSHUA CREEK RANCH

Summer Saturday Fun Shoot

Boerne (830) 537-5090 joshuacreek.com

AUGUST 10-13

EXOTIC WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION

Congressional Fundraiser Embassy Suites, San Marcos (830) 315-7761 myewa.org

AUGUST 11-13

TEXAS TROPHY HUNTERS ASSOCIATION

Fort Worth Extravaganza (210) 523-8500 Fort Worth Convention Center ttha.com

AUGUST 12

ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK FOUNDATION North Texas Banquet

Embassy Suites, Grapevine (214) 693-8523 rmef.org

AUGUST 17

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB

Bucket List Hunts with Craig Boddington The Adolphus Hotel (972) 980-9800 biggame.org

COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION Hill Country Banquet New Braunfels Civic Center (210) 260-8968 ccatexas.org

Puzzle solution from Page 16

TEXAS TROPHY

WHITETAILS

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WHITETAIL + HOGS

Brush country whitetail bucks!

C4 RANCH - WHITETAIL & EXOTIC HUNTS

Cull, Management & Trophies up to 300” Duval County, TX

High Fenced & MLD Managed 10+ Years Vernon Carr (361) 774-2442

TDHA - JOIN TODAY

Texas Dove Hunters Association

TexasDoveHunters.com (210) 764-1189

AXIS HIDES

Tanned axis hides

Axis pillows / gbroach@ktc.com (830) 896-6996

Doe, management bucks and hog hunts

All-inclusive guided hunts zacatehunts.com (325) 446- 6716

DEER HUNTERS

Used Deer Blinds for sale

4x6 fiberglass with 10-foot towers Three available, $1850 each

Used feeders also available Text for photos Located 1 hour north of Abilene (214) 695-2950

QUAIL HUNTING

Guided-Self Guided-Training 700 yard RANGE PoetryShootingClub.com (214) 728-2755

DUVAL COUNTY South Texas Dove Hunting 65 acres, Lodging RV Power Available Huntershilton.com for more info (361) 244-0544 or (361) 443-9330

ANTLERS WANTED

Buying all species, all conditions. Looking for large quantities Call Del (830) 997-2263

EXOTICS + WHITETAIL Several species Trophy and meat hunts Owner guided Very reasonable Let’s have fun! (325) 475-2100

MID-TEX LAND SERVICES LLC

Land Clearing, Mulching, Rock Milling, Roads, Excavation Professional and insured WWW.MIDTEXLAND.COM (254) 595-1696

SKID STEER BRUSH

CUTTING / HYDRO AX

All your clearing needs, right-of-ways, senderos, creek & river bottoms, fence lines etc. South Texas Call Frank (512) 699-5381

DOS HERMANOS RANCH

Trophy Whitetails & Exotics

On 4000 acres near San Angelo, TX doshermanosranch.com Jake at (208) 477-9065

PATAGONIA ARGENTINA RED STAG HUNTS

100% free range 5 day guided hunts, luxury lodging and meals. Trophy and management packages available. (210) 748-9392

NEED

RANGE? www.TexasArchery.info

CRAPPIE. CATFISH. SANDBASS. STRIPER. Guided Hunts and Offshore Adventures. www.DFWOutdoors.com Call Capt. Lane Palmer at (817) 266-9811

BAY FISHING 6 Hour Trip from $275 Port Isabel, TX (956) 551-1965

JOBS

PART-TIME DELIVERING LONE STAR OUTDOOR NEWS

Rio Grande Valley and Victoria/Sugar Land Areas (214) 361-2276

Every year, DSC hosts its annual Convention that raises funds for grants in conservation, education, and advocacy. The four-day 2024 DSC Convention is open to the public and will fill over 800,000 square feet with 1,000 exhibitors featuring outfitted hunts, firearms, gear, wildlife art and much more.

Mark your calendars! DSC 2024 Convention – January 11-14