Texas Fish & Game January 2015

January 2015 | VOL. 31 NO. 9 | $3.95

Splash

Huntin

www.FishGame.comTHE Texas Outdoor Authority

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www.FishGame.comPublished by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC.

TEXAS FISH & GAME is the largest independent,family-owned outdoor publication in America.

Owned by Ron & Stephanie Ward and Roy & Ardia Neves.

ROY NEVESPUBLISHER

CHESTER MOOREEDITOR IN CHIEF

C O N T R I B U T O R S

JOE DOGGETT SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DOUG PIKE SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR TED NUGENT EDITOR AT LARGE LOU MARULLO HUNTING EDITOR MATT WILLIAMS FRESHWATER EDITOR CALIXTO GONZALES SALTWATER EDITOR LENNY RUDOW BOATING EDITOR STEVE LAMASCUS FIREARMS EDITOR DUSTIN ELLERMANN SHOOTING EDITOR KENDAL HEMPHILL POLITICAL COMMENTATOR WILL LESCHPER CONSERVATION EDITOR REAVIS WORTHAM HUMOR EDITOR TOM BEHRENS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR GREG BERLOCHER CONTRIBUTING EDITOR PAUL BRADSHAW CONTRIBUTING EDITOR CAPT. MIKE HOLMES CONTRIBUTING EDITOR DUSTIN WARNCKE CONTRIBUTING EDITOR STAN SKINNER COPY EDITOR LISA MOORE CONTRIBUTING PHOTO EDITOR JOHN GISEL STRATEGIC ADVISOR

A D V E R T I S I N G

ARDIA NEVESVICE PRESIDENT/ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

LARRY DALTON ADVERTISING COORDINATOR 1745 GREENS ROAD HOUSTON, TX 77032 PHONE: (281) 227-3001 FAX (281) 227-3002

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S U B S C R I P T I O N S

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TEXAS FISH & GAME (ISSN 0887-4174) is published monthly by Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC., 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., LLC. All rights reserved. Content is not to be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission. The publication assumes no responsibility for unsolicited photographs and manuscripts. Subscription rates: 1 year $19.00: 2 years $34.75; 3 years $48.50. Address all subscription inquiries to Texas Fish & Game, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, Texas 77032. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for response. Give old and new address and enclose latest mail-ing address label when writing about your subscription. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Address all subscription inquiries to TEXAS FISH & GAME, 1745 Greens Road, Houston, TX 77032. Email change of address to: [email protected] Email new orders to: [email protected] Email subscription questions to: [email protected].

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COVER:Small Boats Can Make a Big Splash

Canoes, kayaks and small alumi-num boats may not be able to

run across a lake or bay at 70 mph, but they can get into many places big power cant reach.

Story by John N. FelsherCover Photo: Clay Connor

Canoes, kayaks and small alumi-num boats may not be able to

run across a lake or bay at 70

STORY:

38

FeaturesCOVER:

4 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E

MID COAST SPOTLIGHTA destination profile of the coastal stretch from San Antonio Bay to Aransas Bay.

by TF&G Staff

PINTAILS IN PERILWhy are pintails suffering greater population declines than other duck species common to Texas?

by Chester Moore

TEN TIPS FOR ARROWING FERAL HOGSPursuing hogs with a bow or with a crossbow is super fun, and can be a challenging and effective way of taking out some wild pork.

by Chester Moore

26

32

50

TEXAS 20 POUNDERS?Texas has become a premier destination for double-digit largemouth. But despite Texas Parks & Wildlifes aggressive programs, will the Lone Star State ever produce 20-pounders in the numbers California does?

by Matt Williams

20

Table ofContents

Table ofContents

Table of

ALSO IN JANUARY:

Paving Paradise?The Trans-Texas Corridor, killed in 2009, could still be reincarnated,

threatening half a million acres of wildlife habitat

by Steve Shaffer

Cruising into 2015Its boat show season, and here is the latest bling for boaters.by Lenny Rudow

Paving Paradise?The Trans-Texas Corridor, killed in 2009, could still be reincarnated,

threatening half a million acres of

STORY:

46

Its boat show season, and here is the latest bling for boaters.by Lenny Rudow

STORY:

54

JANUARY 2015 Volume 31 NO. 9


InsideFish&Game

by Roy & Ardia Neves | TF&G Owners

Contents (continued)Columns

Pushing the Envelope Over the Cutting Edge

WHEN YOU SPEND WEEKS OF EXHAUSTIVE search for off-the-shelf resources to help implement a new concept and keep ending up looking at the same basic uninspiredsolutions, its a pretty clear sign that you may be venturing into Pioneer territory.

That has been our experience as we have ramped up the introduction of our all-new set of Digital Editions.

Weve been producting digital versions of Texas Fish & Game magazine for several years now, but like most publishers, we have fought against two limiting factors.

One is the challenge of building truly unique versions that optimize the capabilities of increasingly sophisticatedand mobiledevices. Its not enough to just re-package a replica ip-book and expect anyone to get excited about it. The other limitation is the chilling effect on user interaction mandated by Apple, and to a lesser degree, Android and Amazon and their user-unfriendly and publisher-hostile Newsstand environments.

Because it has been so dif cult for small independent publishers like us to negotiate the chaos inherent in these Newsstand sinkholesand from what we read in the trade papers, it hasnt been a cake-walk for Time, Inc. eitherwe have nally decided to break out and do our own thing.

Beginning with this issue, there is a brand new mobile version available for iPads, iPhones, Android tablets and phones, Kindles and Amazon Fire phones. If you read the magazine on a phone, you will have a completely unique experience from someone reading it on a tablet, or in printed form.

The electronic versions all have enhanced content. This includes expanded coverage in feature articles and columns with videos, slide shows, audio and other bonus content. They have interactive Hotspot reports, where you can actually view the spot on a Google map, and the Sportsmans Daybook lets you select a customized location for your tide forecastrather than only getting the forecast for a xed spot.

Since sportsmen have always been early-adopters of the latest gadgets, especially electronics, a far greater percentage of our readers already use smartphones. For this reason, we have taken special care to build phone versions that are not only compatible with the devices, but in many ways are more convenient to use and navigate than the other versions.

Youll still use an app to download and organize the issues, but once you install it, it will be easy to nd and useit will be right there on your home screenand not buried in the Newsstand.

Find a link to the app in your devices app store at www.FishGame.com

E-mail Roy and Ardia Neves at ContactUs@ shgame.com

6 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E www.FishGame.com

10 Editors Notes by Chester Moore TF&G Editor in Chief

14 Doggett at Large by Joe Doggett TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

16 Pike on the Edge by Doug Pike TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

18 TexasWild by Ted Nugent TF&G Editor At Large

19 Commentary by Kendal Hemphill TF&G Politcal Commentator

24 Texas Freshwater by Matt Williams TF&G Freshwater Editor

30 Texas Saltwater by Calixto Gonzales TF&G Saltwater Editor

35 Bare Bones Hunting by Lou Marullo TF&G Hunting Editor

53 Open Season by Reavis Wortham TF&G Freshwater Editor

60 Texas Boating by Lenny Rudow TF&G Boating Editor

64 Texas Guns by Steve LaMascus TF&G Firearms Editor

92 Texas Tasted by Bryan Slaven The Texas Gourmet

u

Texas Freshwater

Bare Bones

8 LETTERS12 TF&G REPORT36 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

42 TRUE GREEN66 TEXAS TESTED67 INDUSTRY INSIDER

68 FISH AND GAME GEAR

70 HOTSPOT FOCUS

78 TEXAS HOTSPOTS

86 TIDES & PRIME TIMES

94 TF&G PHOTOS

Departments

www.FishGame.com


8 LETTERS12 TF&G REPORT36 TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

42 TRUE GREEN66 TEXAS TESTED67 INDUSTRY INSIDER

68 FISH AND GAME GEAR

70 HOTSPOT FOCUS

78 TEXAS HOTSPOTS

86 TIDES & PRIME TIMES

94 TF&G PHOTOS

Departments


Quail SuccessAFTER READING THE TF&G REPORT on pages 10-11 in the Nov. issue, I could not help but report my experience in late Oct. at Staten Creek. We have been fortu-nate enough to join my son-in-law for three years now in culling does for one of the own-ers, Jim Erben.

I am delighted to report that in the fi ve days we were hunting we fl ushed well over 300 quail in coveys from 25-75 birds, spread over the 80 percent of the 4,700 acres we hunted. Turkeys also, again for the fi rst time.

Dont know if this is a result of the rains or due to stocking, as Jim was not there to answer our questions, but it was very encour-aging to see. Also, more doves than we have seen in three years.

Rocke RoyEditor: Great news! Always good to hear

of pockets of quail in the Lone Star State that are not just holding on but fl ourishing.

CM

Big BobcatTHIS IS ONE OF THE LATEST TRAIL cam pictures of a bobcat on my place. Pretty large one. Friends keep telling me I should try to shoot it, that it will kill fawns and at least spook other deer, but I am not so sure of thatand I like seeing it around. If it does kill a deer now and then, it has just as much right to do so as I do or more. Also, I can buy meat to feed my wife and I, the cat cant, and has to hunt to eat. More power to him!

I have seen bobcats on this land that were bright yellow in color, looked more like a leopard or jaguar if you didnt get a look at the whole body.

Mike Holmes

Editor: Mike is a TF&G contributor and a fi ne one at that. We often share emails about cats, and this bobcat is one of the most

beautiful I have seen photographed recently. As he notes, they come in many shapes and sizes and can be easy to misidentify for those not familiar with the species.

CM

More on the Big Rattler (Oct. Issue)THE RATTLESNAKE PICTURED IS an Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The fi rst Freer Jaycee Rattlesnake Roundup was held at my service station in 1967, the next year we moved the Roundup to the Rotary Park just east of Freer.

I was one of twenty Jaycees that founded

the roundup and I worked with the roundup for about twenty years. Also bought and sold all kinds of snakes.

In 1968 a college from Oklahoma sent a team of biologists to dissect all the snakes we killed, and visiting with those people gave me information that really helped me to ID snakes!

David Velau

Editor: We were able to ascertain that information and published it in the November issue. I appreciate your information on the snake research. We may contact you down the line as we do more with animal identi-fi cation.

CM

Quail Success


Letters to the Editor

Send yourComments to:Mail:EditorTexas Fish & Game1745 Greens RdHouston TX 77032

Email:editor@fi shgame.com

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Going Back to Basics

HAVE YOU PRICED A NEW BRAND NAME compound bow lately?

If you get out of the archery shop under $1,000 with arrows and the

various accessories you are lucky. Have you seen ammo prices lately?

Feeders? Corn?Everything down to the very food we eat

has gone sky high in prices, from a variety of causes. Our tech-savvy society has eaten up the myriad gadgets associated with hunting and even though I am not a techie myself, some of them are downright amazing.

With every action, however there is a reaction, and I think in the next decade we will see a move for hunting to go back to the basics. The industry itself is now not promoting the hunting itself, but the gadgets and the lifestyle, and it is leaving many hunt-ers empty.

Over the last couple of years I have met, several young hunters who have no delusions they can afford the current hunting lifestyle promoted by an industry I admittedly make a portion of my living in, but instead are about the experience.

And it is not what people would expect.Back in the late 1970s/early 1980s you

had a rush of bowhunters getting into primi-tive archery, shooting longbows and even making their own gear. I once hunted with a guy who shot a ram with a fl int point he made. That was about the gear, this is about connecting with nature.

For starters, young hunters coming out of college cannot afford a $2,000 lease, $1,000 in feeders, a $5,000 ATV, a $1,000 bow and the gas to get back and forth to the lease.

The same hunter can invest the $1,000

in a bow or gun, get a $48 annual public hunting permit, throw some gas in the tank and hunt hundreds of thousands of acres in Texas.

And instead of waiting for an animal to walk out to a feeder, they can learn about the preferred food items of deer and other game, seasonal patterns and learn to set up a proper hunting ambush.

When I started hunting in New York 10 years ago where baiting is illegal, I came back realizing we miss a lot here in Texas. I am all for baiting, but hunters who cannot use it and score on just as many deer as we do must have a deeper understanding of their animals.

I have no problem saying the average deer hunter I meet up there has a much deeper knowledge of whitetails than the average Texas deer hunter. They have to because they cannot rely on feeders or any other kind of bait for that matter. They must fi nd the deer where they are instead of attracting them to a spot.

The young hunters I have met are taking more time to study their quarry and spend time scouting. I know young, local hunters who take quality bucks on public land every year where baiting is illegal and the use of permanent stands is illegal.

Fishing started experiencing the same thing about a decade ago when kayaks start-ed becoming a mainstay. I believe within 10 years we will see a back to basics contingent of fi shermen as well. It will start for economic reasons but will spread for spiritual ones.

There is something powerful about pur-suing animals this way. Those hunters who hit the woods with purpose, not just passion, will fi nd a new path to outdoor enjoyment.

I am seriously considering joining them.I didnt have a deer lease for the last two

years because we couldnt afford one with the other things we choose to invest in for our family, but I am saving up for one this year. I have an old feeder left, so I will probably put it out, but the bulk of my hunting is going to be done differently. Instead of hunting the feeder, I will hunt trails leading to the feeder.

And since I choose to take my little girl

to and from school daily so we can spend time together, I will hunt from say 10 a.m. until around 2 p.m. instead of making other arrangements for her. Thats called being a good father, but it also makes hunting sense. Numerous studies have shown the biggest bucks move either after dark or between 10 and 2 when they sense most hunters are at home.

My strong suit is knowledge of animal behavior, so that is what I plan to usesimply getting the deer to follow the yellow brick road, so to speak.

We must have gear to use, and it needs to be the best we can afford or we are cheating ourselves. Afford is the key word here. Common sense is good in the woods and in the world of fi nance.

Dont let preconceived notions determine your fate. If keeping the fi shing tradition alive means simply taking the kids out to soak worms for catfi sh from the bank, then fi nd your joy there. If it means hunting pub-lic land instead of a lease, scout hard, hunt harder and use the gear you can afford to get the job done.

Many (not all) of the spokesmen and women for our industry are nothing more than camoufl aged versions of infomercial salesmen. Use good judgment on your pur-chases and create a game plan to make this year your best ever on the woods or water.

Consider going back to basics and con-necting with the outdoors like you did grow-ing up.

You may just fi nd more joy in the out-doors than you have ever experienced.

Catch Chester on the radio Fridays, 6 pmon 560 KLVI Beaumont (www.klvi.com)and Thursdays online on TF&G Radio

(www. shgame.com) Contact him at CMoore@ shgame.com

Editors Notesby Chester Moore | TF&G Editor in Chief

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New Wildlife Management Area Created Near LubbockTHE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Commission has approved acceptance of a land donation to create the new 14,037-Acre Yoakum Dunes Wildlife Management Area in Cochran, Terry and Yoakum Counties near Lubbock. This provides a ref-uge for the threatened lesser prairie chicken and other native grassland birds and wild-life. Its the fi rst new WMA in Texas since the 2006 donation of the McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse Wildlife Management Area in Brown County.

Acquisition of land for the WMA was made possible through a part-nership between The Nature Conservancy of Texas, The

Conservation Fund and Concho Resources, Inc., an oil and gas company operating in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico. The company donated $400,000 to The Conservation Fund towards land acquisitions for the WMA.

The donation leveraged $1.2 million in federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program funds.

Conserving the lesser-prairie chicken all comes down to habitat, and the new Yoakum Dunes Wildlife Management Area will provide vital breeding and nesting habi-tat for the species in a critically important part of its range said Ross Melinchuk, TPWD deputy executive director for natu-ral resources.

It would not have been possible without federal wildlife grant funds and support from private partners.

In 2007, the Nature Conservancy of Texas began purchasing land that would become the Yoakum Dunes Preserve, using federal grant funds. The conservancy has acquired 10,635 acres, which the commis-sion today approved to accept as a donation to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The department has acquired tracts total-ing 3,402 acres contiguous with the TNC holdings. Todays commission vote clears the way for the conservancy to transfer its holdings to TPWD in order to establish the Yoakum Dunes Wildlife Management Area.

The primary impetus for the WMA is conservation of the lesser prairie chicken, whose historic shinnery oak/midgrass prairie

habitat has been fragmented by agriculture, oil and gas develop-ment, and other land uses. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bird as threatened under the federal Endangered Big Bags Catches


The TF G ReportThe TF G Report&

Travis Donnaud with the rst big buck he has ever taken. It was taken on the Grobe Ranch in Gillespie County. The buck scored 151 3/8. It was a main frame 8 point with 4 kickers.

&

Visit FishGame.com to upload your Big Bags & Catches Photos and Vote for our next Winners

Acquisition of land for the WMA was made possible through a part-nership between The Nature Conservancy of Texas, The

from private partners.

Big Bags CatchesBig Bags Catches&Big Bags Catches&Big Bags Catches

Seven-year-old Derrick Crumley of San Antonio caught this 44-inch bonnethead shark whild shing with his family in Port OConnor. It was his biggest shark ever.

It would not have been possible without federal wildlife grant funds and support

habitat has been fragmented by agriculture, oil and gas develop-ment, and other land uses. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the bird as threatened under the federal Endangered Big Bags CatchesBig Bags CatchesBig Bags Catches&Big Bags Catches&Big Bags Catches

WHITETAIL

Gillespie County

BONNETHEAD SHARK

Port OConnor

1501 TFG Report.indd 12 12/8/14 2:32 PM

Species Act in May, 2014. Besides the prairie-chicken, the new

WMA will also provide important habitat for a wide range of indigenous wildlife, including Texas horned lizards, quail and mule deer.

The partners emphasized that although the new WMA is a major achievement, private landowner conservation is essential to recover the lesser prairie chicken. TPWD and four other states within the birds range are cooperating in a range-wide plan led by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which provides funding and incentives for private ranchers and other landowners to conserve habitat.

It will take a few months to complete the land transfer from TNC to TPWD and create the new WMA. In June, Brandon Childers, formerly at Black Gap WMA, started work as the new biologist and WMA manager at Yoakum Dunes.

For the next year or two, he will lead department efforts to complete baseline sur-veys to assess natural and cultural resources, begin habitat management practices such as brush control and water improvements to benefi t the lesser prairie-chicken and other grassland wildlife, and plan public use opportunities on the WMA.

In coming years the agency plans to offer public recreational use of the WMA, includ-ing hunting, birding and other compatible recreation. However, decisions about what degree and how much of the WMA may be open to the public wont be possible until after on-site resources are fully assessed.

A&M Study Examines State Park EconomicsTHE TEXAS STATE PARK SYSTEMS more than 90 sites have a signifi cant eco-nomic impact on the states economy, gen-erating $774 million in retail sales annu-ally, contributing $351 million in economic benefi ts and creating 5,800 jobs statewide.

Those were just part of the fi ndings of a recent Texas A&M University study shared with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission today.

The commission was briefed on the results of a survey of park visitors and their spending habits conducted between March and June of this year by a team led by Dr. John Crompton, a distinguished A&M pro-fessor in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences Department.

According to Dr. Crompton, Texas state parks not only provide conserva-tion, recreational and health benefi ts, but also greatly contribute to the econo-mies of communities throughout Texas,

far exceeding the states expenditures to operate these sites.

The take-away message from this study, Dr. Crompton says, should be that the state park system is an important con-tributor to the Texas economy, particularly in rural areas and that the states net invest-ment in parks is returned many times over as visitors travel to enjoy the outdoors and leave their dollars behind.

To generate data for the study, almost 14,000 visitors at 30 state parks were polled between March and June of 2014 about their spending on fees, groceries, restaurant meals and equipment during their travel to the park and in close proximity to the park. The results were then extrapolated to apply to 60 additional parks, using strict study methodology.

The results show that the purchases

made by park visitors result in greater wealth and employment in communities located near state parks.

For example, spending by Bastrop State Park visitors added nearly $1.7 million to the Bastrop County economy and led to the creation of 35.6 jobs. Similarly, in the Panhandle, Palo Duro Canyon visitors added more than $3.7 million to the coffers of Armstrong and Randall counties that supported 86 jobs in the local area.

Even remote Big Bend Ranch State Park in far West Texas contributed signifi -cant economic benefi ts to Presidio County by adding $1.9 million in sales and roughly 27 jobs.

Texas State Parks Director Brent Leisure says the A&M fi ndings confi rm the ongoing value of the Texas State Park system.

Weve long known that state parks are places that preserve the best of our states scenic wonders, historic sites and recre-ational venues, Leisure said. This report shows that park visitors not only take home wonderful memories and enriched lives, but that the dollars they leave behind lead to jobs and higher incomes in local communities.

The study further revealed that state park spending increased all Texans income by $202 million and generated 5,871 jobs paying an average annual salary of $34,000.

Local economic impacts varied by park, depending on the number of visitors and their spending habits. Some of the fi ndings:

BALMORHEA $2.3 million in value added; 50.3 jobs.

CEDAR HILL $3.1 million in value added; 41.7 jobs.

GARNER $6.9 million in value added; 16.1 jobs.

MCKINNEY FALLS $883,146 in value added; 16.1 jobs.

PEDERNALES FALLS $1.7 million in value added; 41.1 jobs.

From staff reports

T E X A S F I S H & G A M E | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | 13

ALLIGATORGAR

San BernardRiver

benefi t the lesser prairie-chicken and other grassland wildlife, and plan public use opportunities on the WMA.

and June of this year by a team led by Dr. John Crompton, a distinguished A&M pro-fessor in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Sciences Department.

According to Dr. Crompton, Texas state parks not only provide conserva-tion, recreational and health benefi ts, but also greatly contribute to the econo-mies of communities throughout Texas,

far exceeding the states expenditures to operate these sites.

The take-away message from this study, Dr. Crompton says, should be that the state park system is an important con-tributor to the Texas economy, particularly in rural areas and that the states net invest-ment in parks is returned many times over as visitors travel to enjoy the outdoors and leave their dollars behind.

To generate data for the study, almost 14,000 visitors at 30 state parks were polled between March and June of 2014 about their spending on fees, groceries, restaurant meals and equipment during their travel to the park and in close proximity to the park. The results were then extrapolated to apply to 60 additional parks, using strict study

ALLIGATORGAR

San BernardRiver

Emery Johnson, 13, and Brandon Carriere, 11, worked together to land this 53-inch alligator gar at their family camp on the San Bernard River. Their Pa Carriere is holding the gar.

1501 TFG Report.indd 13 12/8/14 2:32 PM

Catching the Exotic Fever

JANUARY AND FEBRUARY ARE GREAT months to target exotics in Texas. Its still huntin weather and, worth not-ing, no closed seasons are in effect for

non-native big-game animals.At least a half-dozen legitimate exotic

options are available in various regions across the state. By legitimate, I mean these are imports that have adapted well to native habitat. All have fl ourished in the Lone Star State for decades. These hunts can be as sporting and challenging as any for whitetailsmaybe more so.

Here are my Top Three picks:

AOUDAD SHEEP The aoudad is native to the Barbary

Coast of North Africa. It was introduced in Texas during the early 1950s, and the rough, arid mountains of the Panhandle and West Texas proved ideal for this burly sheep.

The tawny ram is an impressive trophy with heavy down-curving horns and fl owing chaps on the forequarters. A mature ram with keg-like body, might weigh 250 pounds and carry horns in excess of 30 inches.

Free-ranging aoudads are, frankly, wary as hell. They cling to the roughest back can-yons and ridges and spook easily. You dont just walk up on them in a barnyard. More likely, you will exhaust yourself crawling over ridges and rimrocks spiked with yucca, pear, and lechuguilla. Any shot inside 200 yards must be regarded as a date with Lady Luck.

Ive killed one big ram, and that was about 20 years ago in the Wylie Mountains near Van Horn. Ranch owner Bill Carter and I came around a blind corner in a back

canyon and faced a windmill waterhole. Two mature rams bolted up the side of

the ridge. I couldnt tell which was larger, but they both looked big and the lower one offered the best chance. I ran to the windmill and braced the 7mm Remington Magnum against the frame and fi red as the sheep angled up the rocks.

The 160-grain bullet smacked the shoul-der at about 150 yards. The ram staggered as his buddy topped the ridge. I fi red again and the sheep fell, rolling and sliding about halfway down the slope. It was a grand trophy, an old brute with heavy 30 and 31-inch horns.

I still have that shoulder mount and it looks very nice, very rugged, and very wild. I am proud of that hunt, and I am proud of that shotseeing as how Ive been known to miss stationary game at similar distances.

AXIS DEER The axis deer, or chital, was imported to

Texas from India during the 1930s. It has been a remarkable success story, especially in the Hill Country. The axis deer is the most abundant exotic ungulate in the state. It thrives free-ranging in approximately 30 counties, no doubt having taken advantage of careless gate handlers and fence-fl attening fl ood waters.

Like whitetails, axis deer are edge animals, and the rocky, broken mix of hard-woods and brush and hill tops and creek bottoms of Central Texas provides excellent habitat. Never mind Indiathe chital now belongs here.

A mature buck is a handsome rascal, with fawn-spotted hide and long, sweeping antlers. The typical confi guration is a six-by-six - but what a six-point! Good main beams tape at least 30 inches and racks in the mid-30s are not unusual. Wide spread and long, curving points add to the aura.

A mature axis buck weighs about 150 pounds, signifi cantly larger than most Hill Country whitetails, and the venison is supe-riorsweeter on most palates than the native deer.

Most axis deer are hunted from box

blinds, although a spot-and-stalk campaign certainly is possibleprobably frustrating, but possible. Ive killed several axis bucks but nothing really exceptional. My largest, about 31 inches, was shot with a .270 Winchester whitetail-style from a blind, but the one I remember most was taken on foot.

I wanted to take a real monster but it never happened. One problem with hunting axis deer in winter is that many of the mature bucks are in velvet. Spring (the rutting peri-od for axis) provides the best odds for hard antlers on the majority of studs in a herd.

Ive passed on several heavyweights in velvet while selecting lesser bucks with pol-ished antlers. Thats just my choice; either way, its a rewarding hunt and extremely exciting to see those high beams slipping through the shadows.

NILGAI ANTELOPE The blue bull is another import from

India, this time by the King Ranch during the 1920s. The attempts to raise them for market failed, as they were too wild, but they took to the lower coastal prairie and thrived in free-ranging populations on the big ranches between Corpus Christi and Port Mansfi eld. The population continues to drift west, but nilgais seem to favor the sandy soil of the coastal belt.

They are large animals. A mature bull might weigh 600 pounds. Well, 500 any-way. The brute is dark, almost blue-black, while the cow is reddish-tan and much smaller. No mistaking the two which is just as well since the bulls horns dont show you much. A world-class nilgai sports piddly 10-inch spikes.

Also, it has a head like a horsea trophy in dire need of a PR agent.

What the nilgai lacks in wall-hanger image, it makes up for in substance as an outstanding game animal. Its also the fi n-est eating of any big game in Texasmaybe anywhere. Lean, mild nilgai burgers are a celebrated lunch on many leases and ranches in the region.

To repeat, nilgai are plenty game. They rely heavily on keen eyesight in the fl at


Doggett at Large

by Joe Doggett | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

1501 Doggett.indd 14 12/8/14 1:45 PM

country, and gallop away at the sight of a distant high rack vehicle. And they can run a long way.

Ive killed one big bull. This was on a 50,000-acre lease near Mansfi eld. Nilgai are built low in the hindquarters and cannot jump for squat. A spooked herd was running parallel to a three-strand fence that a yearling whitetail could have sailed over with ease and elegance.

I swung a .300 Weatherby Magnum and hit the trailing bull broadside at about 100 yards. The 180-grain bullet struck high, a bit far back, and the bull did a fl ip, crashing in a spectacular cloud of dust.

It sprang up and, naturally, I panicked and missed clean with the second shot. The magnum caliber only holds three rounds; I settled down and whacked the staggered bull with the fi nal shot.

(To validate this story, I just took a break to measure the horn plaque9 2/8 inches and 9 1/8 inches. Scoff if you will, but thats a solid nilgai. If the blue bull had great spiral-ing horns like the kudu of southern Africa,

you would never be able to book a hunt.)

But this is more about the measuring tape. Under proper circumstances, many exotics can offer excellent hunting experiences. The three Ive highlighted are my top choices. Well, maybe.

The aoudad is going to stay there but I might swap the nilgai or the axis for the blackbuck antelopeanother huge success story in Texas.

The best advice I can offer about shooting at a world-class blackbuck standing broadside at 200 yards is: dont over-estimate the range. The blackbuck is much

smaller than it looks. Trust me on this.

Email Joe Doggett at ContactUs@ shgame.com

Doggett took this free-rang-ing Aoudad ram years ago in west Texas.

1501 Doggett.indd 15 12/10/14 2:16 PM

Its Not Easy Being Green

NONE OF US WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE for killing the last of any species on the planetat least nobody I know. But the price of protecting everything forev-

ermore under current guidelines is ridiculous.I consider myself a conservationist, which I

defi ne as being conscious of my impact on the environment and careful to cause as little impact as possible. I want lush woods full of wildlife, blue sky black with birds and clear water fi lthy with fi sh.

What I dont want is to carryor have anyone else attempt to carrythe impossible burden of

saving every species into eternity.Earth has swallowed species since time

began and will continue to do so no matter how we vigorously we try to sweep the sand off the beach. We (not I), but some people, want to blame our own recent ancestors somehow for the disappearance of any number of plants and animals as if, had we zigged instead of zagged, those species might still be here.

They may have hung on for a few more years, a decade, maybe even a century; but the weak never survive and never will. No amount of technology or sympathy or money is going to change that.

During the past year or so, three stories have emerged that illustrate the silliness of fancying ourselves the at-any-cost saviors of all creatures great and small.

In San Antonio a few years ago, roughly

$1 million went into an underpass project that would have loosened snarled traffi c in a busy part of the city, somebody found a Bracken Bat Cave spider in an exposed cave at the construc-tion site. Turns out, that little spider is federally protected, and its federal protectors shut down the work.

That entire project, estimated at roughly $11 million dollars, ground to a halt over one spider the size of a dimeor maybe a nickel. I cant recall and dont care.

Want to guess, in a release issued this year, what was decided as the best course of action? Build the underpass with an eye out for more spiders? Move the underpass left or right so as not to disturb the spiders known habitat?

No, and no. Instead, the plan now is to erect an overpass instead. Current-day bid on that overpass? around $40 million. Thats tax

Pike on the Edge

by Doug Pike | TF&G Senior Contributing Editor

1501 Pike.indd 16 12/10/14 2:23 PM

dollars, by the way. Maybe the people who care so much about that spider should pick up the difference.

It gets better. Same city. In 2013, $11 mil-lion worth of water pipeline construction there also was shut down for the same kind of spider. Theyve found two. No word on whether one is male and the other female, which might just solve the whole situationor not.

Were not the only ones blowing that loony whistle, either. In November, demolition plans for parts of the old San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge were still being held up by 800 or so cor-morants that live beneath the unused structure, which was replaced recently by a $6.5 billion beauty of a bridge.

There have been efforts to relocate or remove the birds, but none has worked. Why would they move? The birds have lived there for decades. But the span must come down and the birds, ultimately, must relocate.

If theyre not gone by nesting season this spring, when eggs probably will appear in those nests, their presence would cause further delay at higher expense. Already, the estimated cost of this cormorant eviction is at least $30 million

and maybe as much as 10 percent more. Thats close to $40,000 apiece for birds that remain protected despite being no longer threatened or endangered.

Bay-area engineers are scared to take on local environmental fanatics over the cormo-rants, too, noting that many people in the area see humans as the invaders and animals as having rights that supersede ours. I dont see it quite that way.

Until there are no more starving children, no more sick children, no more unemployed among people who really want to work, until politicians abide by the same laws they impose upon usthats our fault for electing themand until ignorant people quit blaming guns for the illegal behavior of bad people

I could ride this train for days. Until all that, at least, lets not spend $40 million to save a spider or $30 million to save a bunch of nasty, fi shery-depleting cormorants.

I acknowledge our tremendous responsibility to the planet and what lives on it, but heres an undisputable fact. As its overwhelmingly domi-nant species at least for the next few thousand years, the needs of our growing population are

going to leave what some will call damage and others progress in their wake.

Attempting to save species reduced already to the verge of extinction, were trying to change the fundamental working of a planet thats been here a long, long, long, long time. Of course, that wont happen.

In Hawaii now, as a timely example, a stream of molten lava is creeping down a moun-tainside every hour of every day. Homes have been destroyed. Trees, plants, and even some animals have been incinerated by the fi ery ooze as it slips seaward.

But nobodys trying to stop it, because it cant be stopped. The lava will cover what it covers. Nature wins. Always will.

We should do what we can to extend the stay of weaker species, but not at the expense of people or human health. We must appreciate what we have today, in the moment. No matter how many bridges or overpasses we build, they could be gone tomorrow. Ask those Hawaiians.

Email Doug Pike at ContactUs@ shgame.com

1501 Pike.indd 17 12/10/14 2:23 PM

Variety is the Spice of My Life

WHEN I STARTED BOWHUNTING with my dad, way, way back in the 1950s, we were fum-bling around pretty good in this

fascinating rebirth of close-range stick and string predatorship. Why, with the ballistic advancements of Roy Weatherby and the gung-ho wildcatters developing amazingly effi cient ammo and rifl es to reach way out there to kill big game, why on earth would anyone want to so severely handicap ourselves and attempt the near impossible to penetrate the nearly impenetrable red alert danger zone of game we could easily kill from afar?

Why indeed.

What Fred Bear had so profoundly pro-moted and marketed was the human instinct to seek extreme challenge. Of course putting a bullet in the vitals of a deer or elk beyond 200, 300, 500 plus yards is certainly a serious sporting marksmanship challenge by anyones measurement, but there is something primal and freaky about out-maneuvering prey ani-mals ears, eyes, noses and 6th sense of escape in order to get within 20, even 10 yards with the bow and arrow.

Such complete dedication to stealth will either drive you completely bonkers or make you the happiest backstrapper in the land. I spent many, many years as a fulltime resident of Bonkersville, I assure you.

Back then, as I believe to a great degree even to this day, all young boys got a Daisy Red Ryder BB rifl e, a Whammo slingshot and a bow and arrow. These days, more and more young girls are now part of this wonder-ful ritual.

My entire youth from my earliest and fondest recollections, centered around rotating

these three magical projectile implements for the ultimate fun a kid could imagine.

Back in Detroit, I was put in charge of English sparrow and starling control in our cinderblock garage, and I had to be forced away from my poop patrol duties to function as a student and family member. I simply could not get enough shooting in to soothe the little savage Nuge.

The mighty Rouge River snaked through the riverine habitat across the street, and to my young imagination, it may have well of been the jungles of Africa. I played very little base-ball, basketball, hockey, football or any other athletic sports, for I literally lived in the woods.

My fascination with wildlife and the stalk-ing adventure owned me. I killed lots of critters with well-placed pebbles from my slingshot, plenty of birds and squirrels with the BB gun, but it was the mystical fl ight of the arrow that mesmerized me from day one. I believe I still hold the world record for most river rats.

Sixty-fi ve years later now, I am oh so very happy to report that little has changed in my never ending pursuit of happiness. Much of the game I hunt has gotten bigger and better, but the sheer joy of the pursuit is much like that of my pure, uninhibited youth. And of course I dont shoot robins anymore.

I know that 95+% of my hunting on Ted Nugent Spirit of the Wild TV on Outdoor Channel is with the bow and arrow, and God knows I absolutely love every minute of it.

But my wonderful Labrador retrievers and I still thrill at wingshooting and waterfowling and small game as often as possible, and I shoot rifl es, machineguns, shotguns and hand-guns constantly.

One of our most popular segments on Spirit of the Wild is Uncle Teds Favorite Guns, as I try out many of my various fi rearms.

The grand family tradition of Opening Day fi rearms deerseason in Michigan with my sniper 12 gauge is more exciting for me than Christmas, New Years and my birthday combined. I kill a lot of game with my 10mm and other handguns, varmint hunt year round with various fi rearms and calibers, and literally celebrate hunt, fi sh, trap, shoot all year long.

My favorite hunting of all is the strategic

ambush where I scout like a madman to deter-mine the best place to kill a deer undetected. Stand placement is a predator science that intrigues me no end.

But I also still hunt, stalk, wander and even do some longrange sniper work on game and varmints.

I love scoped rifl es and handguns, but pre-fer open sights when I gun hunt. I have done my share of black powder hunting but fi nd the cleanup procedure to be less than enjoyable.

I love my Excalibur crossbow and am working diligently to regain my Robin Hood accuracy with some of my beloved longbows and recurves.

I also run a year round trapline, and no doubt trapping is also one of my favorite forms of hunting. Not only does it teach you the ultimate knowledge of wildlife, but the furs are stunning and the lessons learned on a trapline will certainly make you a better hunter real quick.

And of course trapping fawn and small game killing vermin is the ultimate conservation balancing act known to man.

The Nugent family eats lots of fresh fi sh, and we get after the bream pretty hard in spring and summer and occasionally fall and winter when we can.

Then there is the most intense shooting fun known to mankind when we saddle up heli-copters with my full auto M4 and work on the overpopulated hog epidemic in Texas. There is a very real distinct possibility that I actually have too much fun in the helicopter.

A little this and a little that is what keeps me bright eyed and bushytailed when it comes to my love of the great outdoors. Give it a shot and go beyond your sporting paradigm and see how much some different methodologies will do for your fun factor this season.

Some things come relatively easy, and some are very diffi cult to master. But if an old guitar player from Detroit can do, certainly anyone can. And should!

Contact Ted Nugent at TNugent@ shgame.com


Teds TexasWild

by Ted Nugent | TF&G Editor-at-Large

1501 Nugent.indd 18 12/8/14 1:46 PM


Junior Writing Contest

WE STOOD AND LOOKED AT THE DEER, Paden and I, and blew white, smoky breaths into the frosty morning air. It was a nice doe,

and Paden had made a good shot. It fell where it stood. Although I had tried to encourage my boys to shoot for the heart, they had all decided the neck was a better target, as long as the deer wasnt too far away. It cut down on trailing time.

Paden glanced at me from the corner of his eye, looked around like he might have heard something, and looked back at the deer. He said, Well. I didnt say anything.

This was not Padens fi rst deer. He had killed one before, and I had fi eld dressed it. As with all the boys, I told them I would do their fi rst one, and it was their responsibility after that. A boy has to learn these things sometime. Now was Padens sometime, and he knew it. He wasnt exactly looking forward to it.

Leret walked up then, rifl e over his shoul-der, and looked down at the deer. The younger brother, who hadnt shot that morn-ing, and therefore was now a spectator. Leret has a way of cutting to the chase. He looked at the deer, and looked at Paden, and said, Shes not gonna gut herself.

I said, Paden, Ill do it if you want me to. Field dressing a deer is one of those things that is about as diffi cult as tying your shoes, if youve done it a lot. And Ive done it a lot. Deer hunting has been one of my favorite activities most of my life. And they never gut themselves.

If youve never done it, fi eld dressing a deer is a somewhat daunting task. Paden had watched me do it several times, and he knew

what to dosort ofin theory. But theory is always different from practice.

No, Ill do it, Paden said. He got out his knife and walked around the deer, end-ing up at the stern and said, You start back here, right?

Leret, ever helpful, made a snide remark or two I cant recall, which is probably for the best. Brothers can always, without fail, count on one another. When one of them is down, the others will pile on top if at all possible. With two older brothers, Leret had been on the bottom of the pile plenty of times. He

wasnt about to pass up a chance to be on top.Paden fi nally began the onerous task, with

Leret and me helping. Leret mainly offered free, unsolicited advice of questionable valid-ity and dubious accuracy, while holding one hind leg out of the way. I tried to make the job sound as easy and casual as I could, but no normal person enjoys cutting open a large animal and messing around in there. At least, no normal person should enjoy it.

It took Paden a lot longer to fi eld dress his doe than it would have taken me, but then, I usually dont have a little brother taking full advantage of every perceived mistake, and telling me to hurry up.

Paden did fi ne. And he will never again have to fi eld dress his fi rst deer. Thats the thing about stuff like thatthe fi rst time never happens again.

If you have a child who enjoys outdoor pursuits, please encourage him or her to enter this years Junior Outdoor Journalist Adventure Story Writing Competition. The contest is a collaboration between the Texas Outdoor Writers Association and Dallas Safari Club.

The competition is open to any junior high and high school student in Texas who wants to participate. The fi rst place winner in each division receives a laptop computer, second prize is $100, and third prize is $25. Categories are divided between high school (grades 9-12) and middle school (grades 6-8).

Students are encouraged to write an essay, up to 500 words, about an outdoor experi-ence theyve had. It can be a story about hunting, fi shing, camping, rock climbing, bird watching, canoeing, or anything else related to the outdoors.

The focus should be on why such adven-tures are important to the student in particular or young people in general, and a conser-vation message is encouraged. The essay doesnt have to be about fi eld dressing a deer for the fi rst time, although Im sure there are some kids whose memory of that event is fresh enough to make a great story.

The deadline (no pun intended) for entry is January 31, 2015. Texas teachers are encouraged to have students write their essays in school if they like, and can then send them in as a group, but all entries will be judged individually.

The greatest responsibilities we have, as Texas outdoor people, is to leave our state in a better condition than we found it, and to pass on our outdoor heritage to the next gen-eration. Getting kids involved in the outdoors may seem to be a daunting task at fi rst, but its one of the most rewarding experiences in life.

As long as you can keep brothers sepa-rated.

Email Kendal Hemphill at ContactUs@ shgame.com

Commentary

by Kendal Hemphill | TF&G Political Commentator

The focus should be on why such adventures are

important to the student...

1501 Commentary.indd 19 12/8/14 1:42 PM

20 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E COMPOSITE GRAPHIC: TF&G

Can Texas Catch California in theBass Race? Story by Ma Williams

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IT IS NO SECRET THAT TEXAS IS HOME TO some of the nations premier destinations for tangling with double digit largemouths.

Sort of like it is no secret that the lakes in this part of the world have kicked out a small army of giants, some with bellies so fat that Santa might not be able to stuff them in his

fluffy red bag of goodies.The proof is right there in the pud-

din. To wit:The Texas Top 50 list begins

with a state record of 18.18 pounds and ends with a 15.38 pounder. Sandwiched in between are more than two dozen 15 pounders, 20

fish upward of 16 pounds and five others in excess of 17

pounds.Even more convincing

evidence can be found in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments ShareLunker archives.

Currently sponsored by Toyota, the 28-year-old program seeks donations of Texas-caught bass weighing 13 pounds or more for spawning and

genetics research aimed at producing bigger and bet-

ter bass to catch. All total, the program has taken in 557 entries from 65 different public lakes and

more than a dozen private lakes since its inception in 1987.As impressive as all those numbers

are, they tell a different story when you dig a little deeper, put a timeline on things and bring California into the equation.

Early on, there was some speculation that Texas might one day challenge The Golden State for the king of hill as the nations top producer of mega-size bass, but thus far it hasnt happened. In fact, it hasnt even come close.

Lakes in southern California have produced 20 of the 25 heaviest bass ever caught in the world, including nine fish in excess of 20 pounds, according to the Bassmaster Top 25 list.

For various reasons, the list doesnt rec-ognize several other California bass verified to weigh upwards of 20 pounds, including a 25.1 pound giant caught off a spawn-ing bed at Dixon Lake in 2006 by Mac Weakley. The Weakley bass would have easily claimed the world record title had the angler not inadvertently foul hooked it, thus making it ineligible for the record books.

Here in Texas, the mega-bass train isnt running near as well as it used to. In fact, it appears to have run out of gas.

The state record caught from Lake Fork in January of 1992 has been stuck in place for 22 years with no serious challengers. In fact, the last time anyone cracked the Texas Top 10 fish was in 1997, when a 16.9 pounder was caught at Sam Rayburn.

As much as Id like to say Texas might one day surpass California as the place to go gunning for a 20 pounder, I just cant reach that far. Thats not to say there isnt a 20-pounder finning around out in Toledo Bend, Fork or Falcon right now. Or that somebody might not catch one out of a private lake tomorrow. But as far Texas producing fish that size in large numbers, its probably not going to happen.

Even with another perfect storm.Weve already seen three perfect storms

come and go in Texasone at Lake Fork, one at Lake Falcon and another at Lake Amistad. Even so, nothing bigger than an 18.18 pounder caught by crappie fisherman Barry St. Clair has been reported, despite all the technological advancements weve seen in electronics and other fishing related equipment during the last decade.


Fea 1-Bass.indd 21 12/8/14 3:13 PM

So, what is it that seems to have given California the leg up on Texas when it comes to producing largemouths in the super heavy-weight class?

If you guessed that it probably has some-thing to do with biology, you probably guessed right. To get some scientifi c answers, I looked to Craig Bonds, Inland Fisheries Region 3 Director with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. In his opinion, there are three key factors to look at: Climate, trophic state (based on water fertility) and prey bases.

CLIMATE: According to Bonds, the mild coastal climate that has lured millions of people to southern California is also condu-cive for the genetically superior Florida bass stocked in those waters to reach maximum size.

Although Texass climate swings between extremes, Southern California offers more days within that perfect growing temperature for Florida bass, he said. Youd think the long growing season in Texas would be per-fect, and to some extent it does favor Florida bass. However, the Texas summers can get so hot that fi sh metabolism increases to a point that, bio-energetically, they have to consume an enormous caloric intake to continue gain-ing weight when water temperatures exceed the upper 80s.

Remember, consuming calories requires expending energy, too. Also, the higher the water temperature, the more energy is expended by fi sh even at rest. Southern Californias year-round climate keeps water temperatures in that ideal range for growth.

TROPHIC STATE: One thing Texass best bass lakes have in common is good water quality, rich in nutrients necessary to maintain good game fi sh and forage populations. The downside to this is it causes oxygen levels in cooler, deeper water to deplete during sum-mer as our reservoirs stratify.

This keeps fi sh in the warm upper layer, Bonds explained. In Southern California, the lakes are less fertile and have clearer water. This allows the deeper, cooler water to maintain oxygen. As predator fi sh age, their preferred temperature range can shift slightly toward cooler water. Deeper, cooler water is habitable by fi sh in Southern California.

PREY BASES: As a rule, Bonds says, less fertile water results in less prey to sup-port bass. However, several of those south-ern California lakes support what biologists

call two-story fi sheriesa warm-water fi shery (bass) up top and a cool-water fi shery (trout) down below, Bonds said. A bass is limited by its mouth gape to the size of prey it can swallow. A trout is a long, cylindrical-shaped fi sh with no spines. It is the perfect protein pill for a trophy bass.

Newly stocked hatchery trout are gener-ally nave about predators. Bass can capture them easily, digest them easily and occupy ideal water temperatures from a bioenergetics standpoint, meaning high energy intake with little energy expenditure while active and at rest.

Bonds said he feels certain that routine trout stockings in select impoundments in southern California have played a key role in trophy bass production.

I dont think this is the sole reason, but it is part of the formula, he said. We have several small impoundments in Texas that receive winter trout stockings. In my opinion, it is more than coincidence that many of these tiny waters also produce large bass.

Think about why striped bass grow much larger in the Canyon Lake tailrace than in the upstream reservoir, he added. The ideal summer habitat combination of cool water and dissolved oxygen is largely absent in the depths of the reservoir in summer.

There, adult striped bass have to choose between occupying warmer water than pre-ferred where oxygen and prey reside (and pay huge energetic costs) or choose their desired cool water, but suffer from low dissolved oxy-gen and lack of prey.

In the tailrace, cooler water exists. Plus, it is oxygenated, and it supports trout year-round. This equals optimum striped bass growth conditions. The southern California lakes compared to Texas reservoirs is not a perfect analogy, but it is close enough to help picture how fi sh bio-energetics works.

All things considered, Bonds says he thinks is possible for Texas to crack the 20-pound barrier, but things are going to have to set up just right for it to happen. In other words, its going to take another perfect storm.

Lake Fork nearly did during its new-lake-boom period in the late 80s to mid-90s, Bonds said. That was the perfect storm of fertile water, great habitat, good fi sh genetics, and prey.

Those fi sh stocked in pre-impoundments and the initial year classes had little competi-tion for unlimited prey at fi rst. It may take a new-lake effect to put together the right combination of habitat, genetics, and prey, again. This can happen in one of our existing lakes like Falcon, Choke Canyon, O.H. Ivie, etc, or in a new reservoir like Lake Naconiche within the next fi ve years.

Lake Fork has been at least three feet below conservation pool since 2010, Bonds added. Although this isnt as drastic as what we see in South and West Texas, terrestrial and semi-aquatic plants have grown up in the exposed shore areas. Weve been working with the Lake Fork Sportsmans Association to plant button bushes in this zone. When Lake Fork eventually fi lls back up, get ready

for a phenomenal stretch of fi shing to ensue for several years.

Bonds also pointed to the selec-tive breeding techniques utilized in the ShareLunker program as tools that might help Texas bust the 20 pound threshold.

This will pay dividends down the road, he added. It just takes time for these generations to con-centrate the right combinations of growth genes to become evident in successive generations. Remember, were not experimenting with fruit fl ies in a one-semester genetics class. Were dealing with an ani-mal that requires a good 10-plus years to reach 13 pounds. It may take another half-decade to reach 20 pounds.

RANK WEIGHT ANGLER LOCATION DATE

1a* 22.3106 Kurita, Manabu Biwa Lake, Japan Jul 2, 20091b* 22.25 Perry, George W. Montgomery Lake, Georgia Jun 2, 19323 22.01 Crupi, Robert J. Castaic Lake, California Mar 12, 19914 21.75 Arujo, Michael Castaic Lake, California Mar 5, 19915 21.6875 Dickerson, Jed Dixon Lake, California May 31, 20036 21.2 Easley, Raymond D. Casitas Lake, California Mar 4, 19807 21.01 Crupi, Robert J. Castaic Lake, California Mar 9, 19908 20.9375 Zimmerlee, Dave Miramar Lake, California Jun 23, 19739 20.86 Torres, Leo Castaic Lake, California Feb 4, 199010 20.75 Long, Mike Dixon Lake, California Apr 27, 200111 20.25 Dupras, Gene Hodges Lake, California May 30, 198512 20.125 Friebel, Fritz Big Fish Lake, Florida May 19, 192313 19.70 Coniglio, George Mission Viejo Lake, California Mar 21, 200614 19.50 Balloid, Mark Castaic Lake, California May 28, 199014 19.50 Crabtree, Randy Casitas Lake, California Apr 9, 200214 19.50 Gunsauls, Keith Miramar Lake, California Feb 29, 198817 19.4375 Weakley, Mac Dixon Lake, California May 20, 200318 19.25 Brant, Chris Miramar Lake, California Mar 22, 199819 19.1875 Beasley, Steve Wohlford Lake, California Feb 3, 198619 19.1875 Hanline, Arden Charles Morena Lake, California Feb 17, 198721 19.15 Shimada, Kazuya Ikehara Lake, Japan Apr 22, 200322 19.0625 DeFresco, Sandra W. Miramar Lake, California Mar 14, 198823 19.04 Kadota, Dan T. Castaic Lake, California Jan 8, 198924 19.0313 Kerns, Larry Success Lake, California Jan 27, 200125 19.OO Witt, Riley Tarpon Lake, Florida Jun 26, 1961*A tie, due to International Game Fish Assoc. (IGFA) 2-ounce rule for sh under 25 pounds.

BASSMASTER: TOP 25 BASS CAUGHT


Fea 1-Bass.indd 22 12/8/14 3:13 PM

Also Available at Amazon.com

Fea 2-Deer-Digital.indd 28 9/24/14 5:41 PM

Great ExpectationsI

VE HEARD SOME FUNNY STORIES FROM fi shing guides over the years, many of them linked to inexperienced customers who show up at the boat ramp bright and

early with huge aspirations of catching the biggest bass in the lake carrying fi shing gear better suited for bluegills and rainbows than a thick-shouldered largemouth.

One of the most meaningful goes back to the early 1990s, the height of big bass mania at Lake Fork. The 27,000-acre impound-ment near Quitman was spitting out gobs of 8-10 pound bass at the time, and anglers from all over the world were fl ocking there in droves with high hopes of reeling in a fat fi sh worth bragging about.

Veteran fi shing guide Hollice Joiner was readying his rig for the day when his client approached from his blind side and began introducing himself. When Joiner turned to greet him, he immediately knew it was going to be one of those days.

To hear Joiner tell it, the guy talked a good line, but he certainly didnt have the equip-ment to back it up. He had a tackle bag in one hand and a fl y rod in the other.

Never one to talk down to folks, Joiner politely asked the man what he intended to do with the fl y rod.

I wanna catch a 10 pounder, he said.A quiet man with dry sense of humor,

Joiner pointed to the thick jungle of timber-fi lled water that was Lake Fork at the time. He looked at his client with an impish grin and offered a response that was straight to the point.

If you want to catch a 10 pounder in this lake you had better leave that fl yswatter in the truck, he chuckled. You can play with these

fi sh when you get them in the boat.Im not sure whether the ambitious angler

was successful in his quest to catch a career bass or not. But thats beside the point.

A bass that grows beyond seven pounds is an entirely different animal than a three-pounder. Not only is a fi sh in this class bigger, meaner and much stronger, but it also plays by an entirely different set of rules when you poke a sharp hook in their mouth. Think bull-in-the-china-cabinet, and youll get the idea.

While January isnt the premier month for catching big bass in Texas, there is no time like present for a crash course in preparation for the months ahead. Here are few big bass tips gleaned from more than 25 years of bass fi shing with some of the nations top pro anglers and fi shing guides:

FISH DURING FOUL WEATHER: There is something about nasty weather that puts big bass in the mood to play. Days with a high wind and cloud cover are especially good. Days with snow or sleet can be even better. The days that are most conducive for comfortable fi shing are not necessarily the days when big fi sh bite the best.

THE RIGHT MINDSET: Anybody can get lucky and catch a big bass once. But to do it with consistency you have to fi nd the right mindset and stay there. Perhaps Lake Fork guide and former state record holder Mark Stevenson summarized it best. Realize that if you are fi shing big fi sh water, you arent going to get as many bites. Dont get discouraged. Fishing for big fi sh is a lonely game, but it can be really rewarding if you dont mind putting in the time.

FISH BIG FISH BAITS: Big bass

are fat and lazy opportunistic feeders. They had rather gobble up a few big meals over the course of a day rather than chase down a bunch of little ones. Although little baits will catch big bass from time to time, larger baits such as jigs, swim baits, spinnerbaits, big bill crank baits, worms, lizards and buzz baits will do it more often.

GEAR FOR THE OCCASION: If you are fi shing a lake known for producing big fi sh, use tackle that is suited for the chore. Rods and reels should be of decent quality. Line, hooks and other terminal tackle should be the best you can afford.

FISH WHERE THEY LIVE: Big bass like to hang tight to some type of cover; often times, the thicker the better. Areas with heavy brush or grass are a plus, especially if the cover is located where shallow water meets with deep.

BE A LINE CHECKER: Monofi lament and fl uorocarbon fi shing lines undergo a tre-mendous amount of abuse out there. Line that rubs on rocks, limbs and other debris can nick or fray, thus creating weak spots that can result in premature breakage. Always check your line three to four feet above your hook for rough spots. It is also a good idea to retie knots periodically. One of the best all-around knots you can tie is the palomar.

STAY QUIET: Big bass dont get big by being stupid. When fi shing an area known to produce big fi sh, try to avoid bumping and banging around in the boat, slamming into stumps with the trolling motor and making other excessive noise. Some big bass gurus will go so far as to turn off their electronics to eliminate the pinging, pulsing noises created by the transducer.

Following these tips wont guarantee the bite next time you go fi shing, but it is sure to improve the odds.

Email Matt Williams at ContactUs@ shgame.com

by Matt Williams | TF&G Freshwater Editor

Texas Freshwater


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26 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E PHOTO: CANSTOCK

ANGLERS WANTING TO SCORE ON REDFISH AND SPECKLED TROUT have many options on the Middle Coast of Texas. With habitats varying from oyster beds to sea grass, the region offers diversity in habitat and bountiful shing options in a variety of large and small bays.

Here are some of the most popular and productive waters, from near Port OConnor to just north of Corpus Christi.

San Antonio BaySan Antonio Bay is situated between

Matagorda and Aransas Bay. It consists

mainly of the combined waters of the San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers, and is locat-ed at the mouth of the Guadalupe River, about 55 miles northeast of Corpus Christi and 130 miles southeast of San Antonio. It is protected from the Gulf of Mexico by Matagorda Island, leaving only rela-tively small and distant outlets to the Gulf

for little mixing of bay and Gulf waters. The remoteness of the bay has kept it relatively undeveloped.

The Aransas National Wildlife Refuge is on the southwest portion of the bay. The diverse wildlife on these shores makes up for the lack of a sizable human settlement.

to A ra n s a s Bay

Destination Pro le by TF&G Staff

Fea 2-MidCoast.indd 26 12/8/14 2:48 PM


Sa

n Antonio Bay

to A ra n s a s Bay


On average, the San Antonio Bay system is 6.6 feet deep, and covers approximately 205 square miles. The system is made up of the bay itself and its extensions. The main extensions include Espiritu Santo Bay, to the bays east; Hynes Bay, to the northwest; and Guadalupe Bay, due north.

Every second, approximately 31,000 gallons of water fl ows into the bay. The exchange with the Gulf of Mexico occurs at Cedar Bayou and Pass Cavallo.

There is very little seawater exchange, with most of the bays waters coming from the freshwater fl ows of the converged San Antonio and Guadalupe rivers. But dont let that fool you.

The fi shing action for redfi sh and speck-led trout can be quite dynamic here.

Mesquite BayMesquite Bay is west of St. Joseph

Island, between Ayers Bay and Carlos Bay, principally in Aransas County. It may be entered from the Gulf of Mexico through Cedar Bayou, a cut between St. Joseph and Matagorda islands. The northeastern extremity of Mesquite Bay extends into Calhoun County.

Copano BayCopano Bay is a northwestern extension

of Aransas Bay, west of Rockport, Texas in

Refugio and Aransas counties. It is supplied with seawater from the Gulf of Mexico via Aransas Bay, and fed fresh water from the Aransas River, Mission River and Copano Creek. As an estuary, the bay is home to a diverse ecosystem consisting of various birds, including the endangered whooping crane, and is a haven for speckled trout, fl ounder, black drum and redfi sh.

Copano Bay is approximately 12 by 6 miles, oriented from the southwest to the northeast. It is found mainly on undeveloped land, though ranches are located on parts of the west, south and north shores. The main extensions include Mission Bay, which stretches north to the mouth of the Mission


SAN ANTONIO BAY

MESQUITE BAY

CEDAR BAYOU

ARANSAS BAY

PORT ARANSAS

ROCKPORT-FULTON

COPANO BAY

Gulf ofMexico

MAP: BING


River and Port Bay to the west, which forms the southern boundary of the Live Oak peninsula.

The peninsula is located on the eastern shore of Copano Bay and is lined with beach homes and residences, which begin just west of the inlet Salt Lake to the head of Live Oak peninsula at the confl uence of Copano and Aransas Bay. The Copano Bay Causeway and the Copano Bay Fishing Pier, which once served as the main crossing to the Lamar peninsula, span this opening.

The bays maximum depth is 9.8 feet, and in contrast to nearby Laguna Madre, is not hyper-saline. The Mission and Aransas rivers are the main freshwater sources. They are small rivers with deep banks that carve through a landscape lined with hardwood trees. At both mouths, marshes covering several square miles stretch from the confl u-ences with Copano Bay and form several saline lakes.

Rockport-FultonRockport-Fulton is a thriving sport-fi sh-

ing hub located on the central western shore of Aransas Bay, which connects Corpus Christi Bay on the south, Mesquite Bay on the north, and Copano Bay on the west.

From this shoreline perch, Rockport-Fulton offers access to prime fi shing for inshore species such as redfi sh, speckled trout, fl ounder, black drum and sheepshead.

As a major area commercial center, Rockport-Fulton also provides a great vari-

ety of options for lodging, dining, shopping and entertainment while fi shing in the area. Nearby is the 314-acre Goose Island State Park, bounded by the waters of the St. Charles, Copano, and Aransas bays.

Fishing opportunities include speckled trout, redfi sh, drum and fl ounder. Crabs and oysters are abundant as well. Developed campsites overlooking the bay or in a seclud-ed, wooded area are available. Tent camp-sites are limited to the wooded area.

Additional facilities include a recreation hall, group camp, boat ramp, two play-grounds, and a lighted 1,620-foot-long fi sh-ing pier. One of the parks notable features is the Big Tree, a magnifi cent 1,000-year-old coastal live oak whose trunk measures more than thirty-fi ve feet in circumference.

Port Aransas/Aransas Bay

Port Aransas is located on the northeast end of Mustang Island, 24 miles from Corpus Christi. It fronts Aransas Pass, the main outlet of Aransas Bay into the Gulf of Mexico.

Aransas Bay is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by San Jos Island (also referred to as St. Joseph Island). Aransas Pass is the most direct navigable outlet into the Gulf of Mexico from the Bay.

The bay is oriented laterally northeast-southwest, and is extended by Redfi sh Bay to the southwest, Copano Bay to the west, Saint Charles Bay to the north, and

Mesquite Bay to the northeast.On average, the Aransas Bay system is

nine feet deep, and covers approximately 208 square miles. The system is made up of the bay itself and its extensions. The main extensions include: Saint Charles Bay, to the east of the Lamar peninsula; Copano Bay, to the west of both the Live Oak and Lamar peninsulas, Mesquite Bay to the bays northeast, and Redfi sh Bay to the southwest. Redfi sh Bay is sometimes con-sidered an extension of Corpus Christi Bay.

This area has seen protective measures put in place for its valuable sea grass beds, which are the key to its high level of produc-tivity for game fi sh. In certain areas desig-nated by signs, anglers are not allowed to run their propellers. This measure has seen a comeback in sea grass in certain pressured areas as well as an increase in kayak fi shing.

Port Aransas offers some of the fi nest offshore fi shing in the state with deep water only a few miles from the jetties. Besides red snapper, tarpon and grouper anglers in this area frequently catch blue marlin, sailfi sh and wahoo.

If you would like detailed maps with GPS fi shing hot spots on all of these systems make sure to pick up the latest copy of Texas Lakes & Bays available at Academy Sports + Outdoors and from the offi cial TF&Gonline store, www.FishandGameGear.com.


The recently re-opened Cedar Bayou provides access between Mesquite Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and is con-sidered a major improvement to the ecological health of the mid coast bay system and its shing.

PHOTO: CCA-TEXAS


Do It Yourself, Part 2

SO, NOW THAT YOUVE READ MY December column, you want to have a hand at making your own lures.

Good. Youre gonna have a blast.Before we continue, let me warn you.

You arent going to be churning out tackle shop-quality product right off the bat. There is a learning process involved at each step. Even though the typical reader is not going to be anywhere near as ham-fi sted as I am, but it will take a little practice to become as adept as you hope. (Somewhere in Heaven, my uncle the engineer who helped build dams in South America is shaking his head in embarrassment.) Even so, there is a sense of gratifi cation and accomplishment when the lure you envisioned pops out of the mold. The feeling should last a while, or at least until your wife or mother walks in and fi nds the mess you made.

In order to get started, you will need:

Sculpting clay or sculpters wax

Cookie sheet

1 poster board

1 corrugated cardboard or balsa panels

Fast-curing molding putty

Universal Mold Release

Liquid Plastisol

X-Acto knife or utility knife

Lure coloring

Glue gun with sticks

Krazy Glue

You can fi nd most, if not all, of the materials at your local hobby store, although you may have to order the Plastisol online. Alumilite sells the materials at their website, including kits for either making soft plastics or even hard baits.

Check them out at www.makelure.come.You can design other molds with materi-

als such as silicone mold-making rubber such as Alumisols High Strength 2 or 3, but the easiest material for beginners to work with is the molding putty. It cures very quickly, usu-ally in 10 to 15 minutes, is clean to work with, and easy to measure out in a one to one ratio.

First, pick a lure design you want to fabri-cate. Perhaps you have a favorite lure youve often thought would be more effective in a larger or smaller size, or a different tail, or theres a specifi c design that is discontinued. Use your imagination. It may help to draw

your idea on paper so you can fl esh it out, modify it and have a diagram to work from.

From there, begin shaping your master out of the clay or wax. Follow the directions pro-vided by the package to soften the product. Be persistent. Keep working with the master until it looks exactly as you want it. Shape it, cut it, sand it (if you are using clay, which must also be baked to set) and create the shape you want. If you are using clay, use the cookie sheet to bake it at the temperature and duration specifi ed on the directions.

Use the hot glue and panels to build your mold box. Cut the panels to the size of the mold you want to build. After the box cools, secure it to the poster board with the Krazy Glue. Now, move on to the mold putty.

Mix and knead the mold putty according to the directions. You will only need HALF of the desired amount of putty to begin with because you are going to make two different

parts to the mold. Shape the putty inside the mold box to fi t snugly, but take care not to damage the box.

While the putty is still fresh, squish the master into the center of the putty. Make sure that every part of the master is pushed into the putty evenly all the way to the center line of the master. Use a drill bit or the X-Acto knife cut guide holes on the four corners of the mold and allow the putty to set (about 15 minutes).

Once the putty has set, spray a decent amount of the UMR onto the mold. Mix the other half of the desired amount of the putty and press it on top of the master. Make sure it covers every part and that it also presses into the guide holes. Shape a pour hole on the nose of the mold and allow it to set.

Once the mold has cured, pop it out of the box (dont feel bad if you break the box) and pull the two halves apart. Set the master aside and start heating your Plastisol either in a microwave exclusive for this purpose or a hot plate. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area. When Plastisol heats up to activation (about 360 degrees) it will smoke a lot. You will know that the Plastisol is ready because it will change from milky to clear and have the viscosity of water. Add color to the desired shade.

Put the two mold halves back together and secure them either with quick clamps or with heavy rubber bands. Carefully pour the hot plastic into the mold. If you want to wear work gloves to prevent the plastic dripping onto your hands, go ahead. Allow the plastic to set. As it cools, the plastic will contract, so pour a little more to top off the mold. Allow the plastic to cool. Once it has, open the mold and pop out the tail. Trim the excess plastic (the fl ash) and examine your handiwork.

The great thing about the process is that you can take the master and modify, change the tail, add to it, or trick it out any way you want and create other molds. Your only limi-tation is your imagination.

And perhaps how much of a mess your wife will put up with.

Contact Calixto Gonzales at CGonzalez@ shgame.com


Texas Saltwater

by Calixto Gonzales | TF&G Saltwater Editor

Your only limitation is your imagination.

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32 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 | T E X A S F I S H & G A M E PHOTO MIKE LANE, CANSTOCK

Why are Pintails Suffering GreaterPopulation Declines than Other Duck SpeciesCommon to Texas? Story by CHESTER MOORE

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INTAILS ARE THE MOST PRIZED duck on the Texas coast.

Absolutely graceful in flight and beautiful in every imag-inable way, they are truly an artistic representation of nature.

This year hunters are allowed to take two pintails with the population

sitting at 3.22 million breeding bucks, only slightly (three percent) down

from last year. The birds are currently at 20 percent below their long-term

average but nearly 70 percent south of their high of more than 10 million in

1955 when surveys started.



The majority of these birds winter along the Texas Coast and just happen to be omni-present this year on a local basis.

Severe decline in habitat and other problems in core pintail areas have trans-lated to a poor fall fl ight in this species of special concern, said John Devney, senior vice president of Delta Waterfowl (Delta).

Pintails are unique ducks, not only in their long-necked, streamlined appearance but also in regard to their behavior. They are the fi rst ducks to leave wintering grounds and to nest in the spring and this exposes them to deadly late season freezes. Although gadwalls and teal, which both have seen major population increases, prefer tall-grass prairie for nesting, pintails use short-grass plains, farm fi elds and shallow wetlands that expose them to numerous risks.

A prime example is in the Canadian prai-rie, the pintails preferred nesting grounds. Since the early 1980s, agricultural prac-tices on millions of acres of this region have changed from fall seeding to spring seeding. This has been severely detrimental to pin-tails as studies by Ducks Unlimited (DU) in Canada have shown that fall-seeded areas produce one successful pintail nest per 80 acres while spring-seeded areas only produce one per 1,000 acres.

Another change in Canadian agriculture has also hurt pintails. Farmers used to practice summer fallowing, where they give cropland a rest every second summer. According to DU Canada, since the 1970s, farmers have converted 13 million acres of summer fallow to annual cropping in prime pintail breeding grounds.

Predators are another problem for pin-tails. The decline of the gray wolf and changes in agriculture along with a decline in trapping allowed small predators such as raccoons to fl ourish. The natural prairie habitat is not suited to raccoons, but with man-made changes to the region, raccoons fl ourished. By the 1970s, raccoons took a strong hold on the region and are now common, to the point of being a major problem.

Just how bad of a problem are raccoons and other preda-tors in this region? Nesting success in some areas is as low as zero to seven percent and raccoons do much of this damage. The frag-mentation of grasslands makes it easier for predators to fi nd duck, nests and this puts

pintails, in particular, in harms way.Delta offi cials conducted a trapping

study in the spring of 2000 in what they call the moonscape of southern Saskatchewan. This area has very little cover now and is perhaps the pintails greatest area of vulner-ability.

In this study, Vance Lester of the University of Saskatchewan and Aaron Pearse of Idaho State kicked off a predator removal project on 16 square mile blocks near the town of Ceylon. Lester covered nest success while Pearse measured duckling survival.

The control block (untrapped) had an 11 percent nest success while the trapped area had 28 percent. Duckling survival in the control area was 28 percent and 50 percent in the trapped area. That was after only one year and predator control tends to become more effective after people have trapped it for a few seasons, showing that

nest and duckling predation is a major prob-lem for pintails.

Currently, waterfowl managers are keep-ing an eye on pintail numbers and are work-ing on ways to get them back at least to a semblance of what they used to be.

It is worth mentioning that hunters should not feel guilty for taking any of these three species. Wildlife offi cials monitor the taking of these species closely and believe it has minimal impact on their populations under the very conservative current provisions, if it has an impact at all.

Enjoy the gift of being able to hunt pin-tails and remind government offi cials along with groups like Ducks Unlimited and Delta that you want to see their populations get back to their long-term average no matter what it takes.

These ducks need our support so that our childrens children will be able to hunt them 50 years from now.

There are problems in pintail paradise but we should not let

them get in the way of enjoying

our duck season. We

should use it to inspire us to do more to

conserve habitat and treasure every encounter with this

majestic waterfowl.

PHOTOS: MIKE LANE, CANSTOCK

Pintails leave winteringgrounds earlier andtend to nest in moreexposed locations,behavior that makesthem more vulnerable tolate-season freezes andother environmental andpredatory threats.

habitat is not suited to raccoons, but with man-made changes to the region, raccoons fl ourished. By the 1970s, raccoons took a strong hold on the region and are now common, to the point of being a major

Just how bad of a problem are raccoons and other preda-tors in this region? Nesting success in some areas is as low as zero to seven percent and raccoons do much of this damage. The frag-mentation of grasslands makes it easier for predators to fi nd duck, nests and this puts

There are problems in pintail paradise but we should not let

them get in the way of enjoying

our duck season. We

should use it to inspire us to do more to

conserve habitat and treasure every encounter with this

majestic waterfowl.

PHOTOS: MIKE LANE, CANSTOCK

The pintailsappeal beginswith itslong-necked,streamlined beautyand grace in ight.



Documents

Texas Fish & Game January 2015