2019 Predator Annual

predator hunting texas ANNUAL 2019

FURY from ABOVE The explosion of helicopter hog hunting in Texas

Advertising Section

ITS YOUR TIME TO SLAY SOME SWINE! HUNT YOUR OWN PROPERTY TODAY OR COME TO US AND WE’LL PUT YOU ON THE PIGS!

I am 79 years old, and have hunted since I was 11, but none of it compares to chasing and shooting wild hogs from a Cedar Ridge helicopter at 100 knots.

This is an adrenaline rush like no other where no one is shooting back at you. I hunted with my 3 boys in 2018, and we all wanted to come back, which we did in January 2019, with plans to return in 2020. Go for it - you will want to come back too!

-DAVID TATE

CALL TODAY FOR BOOKING INFORMATION (325) 201-1127 (940)256-4256

www.cedarridgeaviation.com

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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

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predator hunting texas

Scirocco II from fiocchi, swift

A N N UA L 201 9

Advertisers 5-E RANCH PRODUCTS, LLC……………………………………………………… 14 CEDAR RIDGE AVIATION……………………………………………………………… 2 CONVERGENT HUNTING SOLUTIONS…………………………………………… 11 DARK HORSE……………………………………………………………………… 11 ELUSIVE WILDLIFE TECHNOLOGIES……………………………………………… 6 FIOCCHI………………………………………………………………………………… 3 GREAT OUTDOORS EXPO………………………………………………………… 13 HOFFPAUIR…………………………………………………………………………… 9 JUNCTION’S 2ND ANNUAL PREDATOR CALLING CONTEST………………… 14 LMT DEFENSE………………………………………………………………………… 5 NATIVE OUTDOORS………………………………………………………………… 11 NIKON……………………………………………………………………………… 16 PULSAR……………………………………………………………………………… 15 SIBERIAN COOLERS………………………………………………………………… 6 SIGHTMARK …………………………………………………………………………… 7 SLOW GLOW…………………………………………………………………………… 5 TRUGLO ……………………………………………………………………………… 5

FURY from ABOVE

About the Cover: Cedar Ridge Aviation's R44 takes to the air on a morning hog hunt in northwest Texas. See story page 10.

Erich Schlegel

Bringing

What do you get when you combine two of the best ammunition manufacturers in the world? The best hunting bullet ever made.

Fiocchi has partnered with Swift Rifle bullets to create the Swift Scirocco II Bonded Boat Tail Spitzer bullets loaded to the world-renowned Fiocchi standard for precision and performance.

The Scirocco II, with its Signature Black Tip, is a superbly accurate hunting bullet designed for longrange efficiency. It carries velocity and energy better than any of its competitors, and its sleek design and high ballistic coefficient produces the flattest trajectory in downrange hunting, making it a perfect match for long-range cartridges.

The Scirocco II produces positive expansion at minimal velocities as well as controlled expansion and high weight retention at close range. No other tipped bullet offers the terminal range of Scirocco II. Extrema hunting calibers loaded with Swift Scirocco II projectiles will include the following in 2018: • .270 Win. 130 grain • 6.5 Creedmoor • 7mm Rem. Magnum 150 grain • .308 Win. 150 grain • .30-06 Sprg. 165 grain • .300 Win. Magnum 180 grain

&Credible

THE MOST TIMELY

HUNTING AND FISHING

news

Texans

to

Other features: • Easy to identify Signature Black Tip. The polymer tip initiates expansion and is precisely shaped to reduce frontal air resistance.

• Advanced Secant Ogive nose profile allows for high ballistic coefficient.

• Pure copper jacket is progressively tapered to control expansion development throughout a wide range of velocities.

• Jacket and core are joined together using proven Swift bonding technology.

• Long driving band for rotational stability.

• Boat tail base profile reduces drag and eases seating. Thick base prevents bullet deformation in high-velocity magnum calibers.

SINCE 2004

FIOCCHI OF AMERICA

FIOCCHIUSA.COM

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 2019 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 news@lonestaroutdoornews.com.

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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

Make night-hunting easy with Slow Glow Slow Glow Hunting Lights are designed to be mounted roughly 20 feet away from your hunting spot, and when triggered by motion, slowly illuminate hundreds of square feet of hunting space. After detecting motion, Slow Glow gradually increases light intensity over a two-minute period to avoid spooking wild hogs, predators or exotic game in front of the light.

Use the light like an alarm; when the light is bright, you know it’s game time.

Slow Glow easily switches between red and green colors, and all lights come with a long-distance remote control that can activate your light from several hundred yards away. All lights feature a day/night sensor so your light will stay off during the day, and automatically turn on at night. The lights utilize a powerful 12-volt battery, the same as most common deer feeders, which outperforms competitors’ lights running on inferior power. These rechargeable batteries can power a Slow Glow for three to five nights, or add a 5-watt solar panel to leave your light out year-round.

Slow Glow utilizes powerful LED's, so there are no bulbs to replace, EVER. Stalk in from downwind and behind your light to get crazy close shots. All of the lights are built by hand, by family, on their ranch in Texas, and all Slow Glow lights come with an unconditional 1-year warranty. See videos of the light in action at the website below.

SLOW GLOW

☎ (512) 828-6862 SLOWGLOW.COM

EMINUS SERIES

QUICK-ZOOM LEVER INCLUDED

AVAILABLE IN 6-24 X 50MM, 4-16 X 44MM AND 3-9 X 42MM SIDE-FOCUS PARALLAX DIAL 6-24 X 50MM

ILLUMINATED MOA TACPLEX RETICLE Provides all the hold-over you need and references easily with the ¼-MOA target turrets

1-PIECE AR MOUNT INCLUDED

Available in the Strelok Pro Ballistic calculator app

30MM TUBE FOR INCREASED ADJUSTMENT RANGE

INCLUDED SUNSHADE 4-16X and 6-24X models include a 3 in. removable aluminum sunshade.

WWW.TRUGLO.COM

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

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Marathon hunting never looked so good The Sightmark Wraith 4-32x50 digital riflescope

SINCE 2003

Red + Green + White Color Selector Separate LEDs For Precise Beam Alignment 1/4 Turn Zoom Focus Adjustable Beam Ultra-Quiet Rheostat Dimmer Glove Friendly Controls Adjustable Mounts

www.ElusiveWildlife.com

1107 West Dallas Street • Conroe, TX 77301 • 800-780-6861 • info@elusivewildlife.com Driving Lights

Feeder/Bait Lights

Attractants

Rifle Lights

Archery Lights

Merriam-Webster suggests marathons aren’t just for runners; in fact, a marathon is “something characterized by great length or concentrated effort.”

Always one to box things up with labels, I had to take up marathon hunting.

Of course, I’m also one to stir pots, so responses to inquiries were immediate, and effectively repetitive, “What’s marathon hunting?”

In the context of long stalks and even longer sits, marathon hunting is practiced by countless hunters, predominately during deer season, and especially during the rut. However, there is another side to marathon hunting most hunters have never considered — hunting daylight into nighttime.

The last time I checked (2017), 17 states permitted this transition during deer hunting season. Hunters could legally transition from hunting deer during daylight shooting hours to hogs, predators and varmints, or some combination thereof, at night. To this end, here in Texas, some of us literally turned hunts into 24-hour pursuits.

While numerous states allow marathon hunting, doing so took some effort, especially in terms of optics. Hunters committed to hunting during the day and continuing into the night often had to change rifles from one topped with a traditional day optic to some type of electro-optic, i.e., traditional or digital night vision, or even thermal. Others actually changed optics, checked accuracy, and then returned to the hunt.

Of course, outside of traditional hunting seasons, hunting regulations from state to state are often more lax when it comes to electro-optics, including using them 24 hours per day and effectively eliminating any need to

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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

switch firearms or optics.

Admittedly, optics suitable for handling a 24-hour task have been few, far between and expensive, until now.

The Sightmark Wraith solves our 24-hour electro-optic problem once and for all, without breaking the bank. At its $599 MSRP, hunters can jump into a digital optic providing true HD, full-color digital imaging by day and with the touch of a button, tried-and-true traditional green or black-white digital night vision for post-sunset pursuits. Even better, the Sightmark Wraith boasts up to 1080 HD photo and video capture with a 1280x720 resolution FLCOS display.

The Sightmark Wraith features 1-8 digital zoom, 4-32x magnification, CMOS sensor, 50mm objective lens, 1/4-MOA windage and elevation adjustment values and SD card media storage compatible with up to 64gb cards. Photo and video files are self-contained in easy-to-use .jpg and .mp4 formats. The Wraith’s battery life is up to 4.5 hours and can also be powered with a micro-USB cable.

The Wraith also includes up to 10 reticles in nine colors for a customized display, and can detect targets out to 200 yards with the included 850nm LED IR illuminator.

And that’s the good news. Marathon hunting is hard work. It’s good to finally see a true 24-hour optic up to the task.

— By Kevin Reese

SIGHTMARK

☎ (817) 225-0310 SIGHTMARK.COM

sightmark.com/wraith AVAILABLE AT

FROM TEXAS

FOR TEXANS

WRAITH HD DIGITAL DAY/NIGHT RIFLESCOPE

NIGHT

We designed the Sightmark Wraith at our headquarters in Mansfield, Texas to solve Texas problems, like the wild hogs and coyotes but we also added a full-color day mode for that elusive buck. The Wraith features a fully customizable user experience with built-in photo/video recording capabilities* and much more. *requires micro sd card (not included)

DAY

9 RETICLE COLORS 10 RETICLES

• WRAITH HD 4-32X50 • FULL COLOR DAY MODE • GREEN OR GREY NIGHT MODE • UP TO 200 YARD DETECTION • BUILT-IN PHOTO/VIDEO RECORDING*

CONTACT SALES: 817.225.0310 SALES@SIGHTMARK.COM

MODEL# SM18011 INCLUDES DETACHABLE DE IR ILLUMINATOR

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

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PREDATOR TIME

Texas IS HERE in

By Dave Fulson

For Lone Star Outdoor News The whitetail season is behind us, and the ducks in our flyway are now safe as they head north. The end of these seasons, however, signals the beginning of my favorite time of year for hunting the “small big game” of Texas.

Predator hunting!

The cold temperatures of late winter have predators of all kinds in the grip of their hunger season. Gone are the easy pickings of summer and fall. The surviving newborn animals, from fawns to rabbits, have adapted to the threat of predation, and have sharpened their survival skills making the hungry critters job of catching them more difficult.

From a physical standpoint, all animals, especially predators on the hunt, require more “food in the furnace” this time of year. Now is the perfect time to hunt predators — whether you do it for fun, fur, or as a management tool.

I am a nighttime hunter by nature and by personal choice. Bobcat, coyotes, fox, and friends are far more active under the cover of darkness, and active means action. There is nothing like seeing those glowing eyes of an incoming critter in the red beam of a headlamp. It’s a jolt every time.

Of course, you need to be up to date on rules and regulations of night hunting in your county, but for maximum result, nighttime is the right time.

I also enjoy daylight calling, and have done it all over the state and beyond, with excellent results. For coyotes, it’s because I can see the setup, the country, and judge the wind better with my ever-present ash bag. You can fool a cat into approaching from downwind, but not a canine — especially a veteran coyote.

Play the wind right or forget it.

I grew up calling with a variety of wooden and plastic tube hand calls. I still love them because I can instantly make the exact call I want and control the volume with my breath. But I also use an electronic caller when conditions call for it. And used correctly it can be deadly.

There are countless sounds available, and this is a great way for a novice to this sport to get sounds right with no learning curve. I will say this, especially with the many predator-calling contest across the state growing each year, we are schooling a new generation of critters like never before.

I have called at great ranches after these contests were in the area and the results are often times dismal when compared to trips pre-contest. The reason?

Too many hunters with electronic callers on every property throwing out the same calls. Trust me, these animals figure it out in a hurry.

I am not a tournament hunter, but have great friends who are. Brandon Hyles is an expert’s expert at this game, and loves the competitive game of not only outwitting critters, but outwitting other callers. And he makes his passion profitable as a top caller in these events.

There is great satisfaction to fooling a predator into coming into your setup. It never gets old. You will lose more than you win, but each attempt is a learning experience, and the learning never ends in this game.

Dave Fulson

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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

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FURY

from ABOVE

By Craig Nyhus

Lone Star Outdoor News When Texas hunters travel across the country, they might expect to hear questions about the deer or quail hunting.

Instead, the most common statement they hear is, “I want to come to Texas and shoot a hog.”

Often, the out-of-staters include one more thing on their wish list.

“And I want to shoot them from a helicopter.”

For Grant Tate, his father, brother and a friend, a trip from their Spartanburg, South Carolina home for a January hunt with Cedar Ridge Aviation was a dream come true.

“My father found out about Cedar Ridge from another guy who had hunted with them,” Grant said.

“Last year was the first trip for dad and me. We decided to do it again, and brought a few more people with us.”

Grant said Cedar Ridge would trailer the helicopter to an area near where the hunting would take place, and then the action began.

“They look for natural hiding spots for the hogs,” Grant said. “Then stuff starts erupting out of the bushes. We had a 50-pig sounder come out from under one bush.”

The shooters take turns trying to eliminate as many hogs as possible while flying at about the same speed the hogs are running.

The South Carolina hunters brought their own AR15s, but Cedar Ridge also will supply firearms and ammunition, if needed.

“The stuff you see is amazing,” Grant said. “Coming up on a sounder with the helicopter skids about 10 feet off the ground is incredible.”

The group was incredibly successful by any standards.

“We got 40-something hogs the first morning and 90 the next,” Grant said. “It was incredible.”

The accommodations and food were great, Grant said, but it was the hunting that was memorable.

“It’s as much fun as you can have with your clothes on,” he said.

Helicopter hog-hunting stats Legislation passed in 2011, called the “pork chopper bill,” expanded the process of hunting feral hogs from helicopters. Permits issued to helicopter operators began at 122 permits in 2011. In 2018, 171 permits were issued.

50,000

40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Erich Schlegel

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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

Where experience, innovation and passion meet In the hunting world, we are inundated with all kinds of new products that promise to make our lives easier. Many are gimmicky toys that are remade versions of what we already have.

The game call industry is no different, as some companies are continuously repackaging existing products in effort to remain relevant to their consumers.

However, every now and then, a new company is formed that brings a new perspective to the front. Convergent Hunting Solutions is one such company. They started with a simple concept that is reflected in their company motto “Where Experience, Innovation and Passion Meet.” These three things coming together is the source of the name “Convergent.”

Experience comes from the two owners of the company. Byron South has spent more than four decades traveling the world, calling animals in most of the 50 states as well as Mexico, Canada and the African continent.

“This journey has led me all over the globe where I have successfully called in most of the predators of the world including African lions, leopards, and jackals,” South said. “I’ve even called bears and wolves in Canada and Alaska.

Pretty good trek for a poor farm kid from rural Texas.”

South’s partner, Stephen Skaggs is also a very avid hunter who has traveled the world taking many striking trophies — including recently completing the Capra World Slam Super 20.

“Of all the hunting I’ve done, nothing compares to the excitement of seeing an animal responding to a call,” Skaggs said.

The owners’ experience leads to innovation.

As with any new product, companies are trying to tap into ever-changing and advancing technology. Convergent did one better — they started with a clean slate and looked much further ahead.

Convergent assembled an excellent team of forward-thinking engineers who helped develop some truly innovative products that take full advantage of the modern technologies. The results of these efforts are a line of game calls that create superior sound while remaining a good value.

Convergent’s flagship product is the Bullet HP Bluetooth Game Calling System, with a 300-foot range and no cell service required.

The Bullet may be purchased alone or in the “Complete Game Calling System” that includes the Bullet HP, picatinny phone mount and carry bag. Convergent also offers a full range of mouth-blown predator calls. And new for 2019, Convergent is releasing a new call called the “Sidewinder.”

All Convergent Hunting Solutions products are made in the USA.

CONVERGENT HUNTING SOLUTIONS

☎ (903) 636-4222 CONVERGENTHUNTING.COM

The honey hole for your hunting gear

Native Outdoors began as an online retailer 16 years ago. Now, with a 10,000 square-foot retail location, more than 30,000 items in stock, and more than 100,000 items available for special order from the top brands you know, it provides hunters from Texas and beyond everything they need.

“People are surprised how big our store is,” Said Director Marc Holmquist. “We have a really good selection, great prices and most importantly, we know the ins and outs of all the products we sell.”

Whether it’s guns, including suppressors, archery equipment, feeders, blinds game cameras or fishing gear (kayaks too!), when you call or visit Native Outdoors, you’ll speak with one of our shop employees who can really help, not some call center. “We’re just a phone call away, and you will always get a person

who knows the products,” Holmquist said.

A trip to the store is worth the drive to 7105 South FM 548 in Royse City, just east of Dallas, They are a full-service hunting and archery shop and being outside the city, the sales tax is less.

“We ship online orders all over the USA, and we usually deliver to our Texas customers in only one to two days,” Holmquist added. Make the trip to Royse City and you will see a vast selection like the big box retailers, or shop online (24/7), and pick up your order or have it delivered to your door.

NATIVE OUTDOORS

☎ (877) 650-7938 NATIVEOUTDOORS.COM PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

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BIG PRIZES for

Big

PREDATORS

By Lili Sams Lone Star Outdoor News Trucks and camo covered the parking lot at Hoffpauir Ranch and Supply store in Lampasas the morning of Feb. 10. Teams hunted throughout the night before heading to the weigh-in at the second annual Lone Star Predator Calling Classic, sponsored by the Hoffpauir Group and Lone Star Outdoor News.

A total of 92 teams teams vied for more than $25,000 in prize money. Hunters from all over the state came to compete in the 24-hour event which began Sat., February 9, and ended the next day at the Lampasas store.

The smell of energy drinks filled the air as the tired team members weighed their predators.

It was cold and rainy, and teams were asked to dry their animals before weighing as the additional water weight could affect the results of the contest.

One contestant gave up his sweatshirt to help dry the animals. Team BBDJ Crew used a whole roll of paper towels drying the red fox they brought in.

In the team competition, the heaviest stringer (coyote, bobcat, grey fox and raccoon) went to the Dead On team from Waco, with 96.6 pounds, who won a total of $11,362 for their overnight effort.

Kyle Tumlinson and David Stroud of the Dead On team also won the side pot for largest coyote. The massive dog weighed 52.1 pounds.

The team was in disbelief when they approached the coyote they shot.

“Oh, this is way bigger than we thought,” Stroud said. “We weighed him three times.”

Second place went to the Brush Country Boys team, with 91 pounds, winning $4,370.

Chad and Colby Wilganowski finished in fourth place, and because they used Nikon scopes during the competition, the father and son team won a pair of Nikon ProStaff scopes.

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PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

Lili Sams

Results from the Lone Star Predator Calling Classic 2019

Hunter Education Course Happening Saturday.

The Aspirin Buster Frank Addington, Jr.

(Must sign up online, contact us on how.)

Fetch N Fish “High Flying Retriever Dog Show” Jason Reynolds

VENDORS WANTED

REDESIGNED RIFLESCOPE LINES FROM NIKON Last summer, Nikon Sport Optics introduced its PROSTAFF P3 PREDATOR HUNTER, and last month, expanded its PROSTAFF P3 and P5 lines of riflescopes as part of its launch of more than 50 new products for 2019.

Predator hunters are tough on their equipment, and the P3 is the perfect choice for long days and nights in the truck and on the rack.

The P3 PREDATOR brings a bright, fully multicoated optical system with a purposedesigned proprietary BDC reticle and rugged all-aluminum construction. Available in 3-9x40 and 4-12x40 variants, the PROSTAFF P3 PREDATOR HUNTER is ideal for both bolt-action and MSR-platform rifles.

Reticle adjustments are made in crisp, positive 1/4 MOA click-stop moves that you can both feel and hear. The turret caps are now made with aircraft grade, all-aluminum construction for lasting durability. Springloaded windage and elevation knobs can be reset to “zero” after sighting-in, for easy reference when making field adjustments.

Windage and elevation turrets are clearly marked for quick adjustments.

The expanded 2019 launch includes riflescopes in each of the P3, P5 and MONARCH lines in a streamlined and updated offering. The bodies of each of the riflescopes have been completely redesigned and are low-profile with new all-aluminum

turret caps and new MOA reticle options that can be used to estimate target size, elevation holdover and wind-drift at the designated magnification, on each of the hunting scopes.

The rubber magnification rings are gone, replaced by aluminum.

All of the PROSTAFF riflescopes have 1-inch tubing, while the MONARCH lines offer 30 mm tubing.

The P3 scopes come at the opening price points, built for all hunting applications and coming at 3x zoom ranges (3-9x40 and 4-12x40). The line includes Nikon’s specialty scopes, including the predator, muzzleloader, target and shotgun scopes.

The P5 riflescopes offer the same features in 4x zoom (2.5-10x42, 3-12x42, 4-16x42 and 6-24x50).

The MONARCH M5 riflescopes are the all-new patriarch of the Nikon family, with a highly efficient 4x zoom optical system that provides a brighter, sharper, higher contrast sight picture for the times you need it, when the first vestiges of light appear, and disappear into the darkness with your prey.

As in the past, Nikon’s riflescopes are compatible with its Spot-On Ballistic Match Technology, allowing you to discover all of the exact aiming points on the BDC reticle at various yardages for your specific caliber, ammunition and load.

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

NIKON SPORTOPTICS.COM/NIKON-SALESAND-PROMOTIONS.ASPX

Lone Star Outdoor News

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Post-sunset predator control Turning up the heat with Pulsar Trail thermal riflescopes

Late spring/early summer welcomes the fawn crop and a host of new outdoor opportunities sure to strengthen bonds, contribute to conservation and further hone our hunting skills, especially when it comes to predators.

The spring off-season is a great time to not only watch and appreciate wild creatures in their wild spaces, but to also gain real perspective on the problem with predation.

When it comes to wildlife and livestock alike, young are prone to predation at truly alarming numbers.

As an example, while hunting hogs on a working ranch in Texas late last spring, I noted a surprisingly large population of predators — coyotes and bobcats alike. The rancher wasn’t nearly as surprised. It was calving season and with a number of new calves on the ground, the place was ripe for the picking and every song dog seemed to know it.

On the last morning of my visit, the hunting over, I watched for more than 30 minutes as seven coyotes circled and approached calves as cows worked to keep them in check. While the cows never really did stop eating for more than a minute or so at a time, the tension in the field was thick — so thick in fact, we could feel it hundreds of yards away on the hilltop where we savored the coffee and marveled at the pack of unrelenting, seemingly scheming coyotes.

Wildlife and livestock mortality rates in Texas can be quite high as a result of predators.

Studies have shown fawn mortality alone as

high as 90 percent in some areas while 5070 percent is pretty common. With a predator problem like that, what are hunters to do?

More than simply hunt, we should be hunting them at night when predators are most active.

Fortunately, we have a little help. Thermal imaging continues to become more and more affordable and hunting with such technology, more and more popular. Among the most favored thermal riflescopes are Pulsar Trail models.

Trails come in XP models with 640x480 microbolometer resolution sensors and XQ models feature 384x288 resolution sensors.

All Trails include 640x480 AMOLED displays, optical magnification and digital zoom, picturein-picture, numerous reticles, multiple zeroing profiles, white-hot and black-hot imaging, onboard photo and video with audio, Wi-Fi with the Stream Vision app, 8-hour rechargeable batteries and IP67 waterproof construction. All trails are compatible with Weaver and Picatinny rails, and are recoil rated up to .375 H&H. Pulsar Trail riflescopes are available in eight models: XQ38, XQ50, XP38, XP50, XQ38 LRF, XQ50 LRF, XP38 LRF and XP50 LRF. LRF models include an integrated laser rangefinder, capable of ranging heat signatures up to 1,100 yards away in complete darkness. Detection ranges vary between 1,475 yards with 38-series models and 2,000 yards with 50-series models.

Trail MSRPs begin at $3,629.99.

— By Kevin Reese

PATENTED COTTONSEED FEEDER FROM 5-E RANCH PRODUCTS Why cottonseed?

Whole cottonseed as a supplemental food for deer is a great choice for maintaining the physical health of a deer herd. It is especially effective for improving the body condition of bucks following the rut. Because cottonseed is high in protein and fat, it allows post-rut bucks to put weight back on rapidly, meaning more energy is reserved for antler growth.

The cottonseed dilemma Since Texas hunters have realized the value of feeding cottonseed, they've done as true Texans do and improvised. Some chicken wire, twine and stakes did the job well enough for some.

That’s where 5-E Ranch Products, LLC said enough was enough. They got to work finding a better way to serve up cottonseed. Water can ruin cottonseed — sprouting, mildewing, molding and spoiling. You can end up with a black mess that no whitetail, let alone a trophy buck, wants to eat. The key is keeping the cottonseed off the ground, away from moisture, and still making it easy for feeding and filling.

The revolutionary solution 5-E Ranch Products, LLC is proud to offer the first-of-its-kind, patented cottonseed feeder. Easily holding 800 pounds of cottonseed, the feeder has an easy-to-open lid that locks open for hands-free filling.

Each 5-E Ranch Products, LLC feeder is built in Texas to last, which will give you the assurance your deer are well taken care of.

5-E RANCH PRODUCTS, LLC

☎ (972) 533-6292 5ERANCHPRODUCTS.COM 14 |

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

PULSAR

☎ (817) 225-0310 PULSARNV.COM

NUAL

JUNCTION, TEXAS

SECOND AN

Hill Country Sporting Goods

SPONSORED BY: Kimble County Chamber of Commerce & Junction Visitor Information

A2Z Taxidermy

March 9-10, 2019 ➽ LOCATION: Coke Stevenson Center, 440 North US Hwy 83, Junction, Texas 76849 ➽ Mail-Ins and Early Entries Welcome (Mail to: Kimble County Chamber of Commerce, Attn: Connie Booth, 402 Main, Junction, TX 76849. See Mail-In Instructions Below) ➽ REGISTRATION: 10:00 am – 11:30 am on Saturday, March 9, 2019 ***Failure to Check In with Judges by 11:30 am will result in Team Disqualification ➽ HUNTING BEGINS: Noon on Saturday, March 9th ➽ WEIGH-IN: 1 pm on Sunday, March 10th (Due to Daylight Savings Time) ➽ Entry Fee: $200 Main Entry Per Team (Teams are Four (4) Members Maximum) Pays 1st thru 3rd Places (1st 50%, 2nd 30%, 3rd 20% of Entry Fees) $ 20 Each Side Pots: Heaviest Bobcat, Coyote, Fox, Raccoon, and Most Fox (No Cap on Side Pots) (Winner Take All on Side Pots) Fort Worth Dallas ➽ POINT SYSTEM: 100 Pts. Mountain Lion 10 Pts. Red Fox Junction 35 El Paso 10 15 Pts. Bobcat Houston San 10 Pts. Coyote Antonio 37 5 Pts. Grey Fox (Max. number is 10/not counted for side pot) Corpus Christi 1 Pt. Raccoon Laredo ➽ CONTEST RULES: 1. Must Enter Main Entry to Enter Side Pots 2. No Refunds of Entry Fees After Noon, Saturday March 9th www.junctiontexas.net Participants in Predator Calling Contest will each receive one Complimentary Raffle Ticket to win a Ruger All American 223 w/Scope – $650 Value. Additional Tickets May Be Purchased At Contest.

MAIL-IN INSTRUCTIONS: Mail-In Entries Must Be Received NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2019, and MUST CONTAIN ENTIRE FEES Payable by Personal Checks, Money Orders, or Cashier Checks.

Debit/Credit Cards Accepted at Contest on Saturday morning – but NOT for MAIL IN ENTRIES.

Lone Star Outdoor News

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019

Lone Star Outdoor News

| 15

SERIOUS ABOUT PREDATORS (800) 486-7497

16 |

419 W U.S. HWY 83 PHARR, TX 78577 (956) 787-4291

PREDATOR HUNTING TEXAS ANNUAL 2019 14975WLSON_PROSTAFF_P3_PREDATOR_HUNTER_Sellsheet_CONSUMER.indd 1

13250 PLEASANTON ROAD SAN ANTONIO, TX 78221 (210) 628-1888

411 S MAIN ST WEATHERFORD, TX 76086 (817) 594-8711

907 S WHARTON ST EL CAMPO, TX 77437 (979) 543-7756

Lone Star Outdoor News 2/11/19 9:00 AM