Hunting and Fishing
Coleman County

Hunting and Fishing News

TPWD Optimistic about Dove Season Prospects
7/29/2010
AUSTIN— Texas hunters can anticipate good numbers of dove as ample rainfall across most of the state has set the stage for the upcoming Sept. 1 season opener, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Timely rainfall usually equates to above average dove production, and by all field accounts from TPWD wildlife biologists, this year is shaping up to produce a boom crop of birds.

“Above-average rainfall across most of the state has created ideal habitat conditions for doves,” said Corey Mason, TPWD dove program leader. “I expect above-average production this year and hunt success should be high provided doves are not dispersed.”

Mason explained that the abundant seed production, predominately sunflower and croton will help recently fledged birds to rapidly put on weight. But, quality range conditions could also cause doves to disperse as native food sources become readily available and make managed fields less attractive early in the season.

“What it means for us is we’re going to have food available throughout the summer and early fall, body conditions will be better and all in all it’s just a good thing,” Mason pointed out. “There may be more surface water available which could distribute birds more in afternoon hunts. Those who focus more on limited water sources in the past may not see as much shooting as during dry years.”

Mason said although birds may not be as concentrated this year, the traditional hotspots should remain active. “Those birds go to the traditional hotspots for a reason, so I wouldn’t discount them,” he said.

Texas dove season in the North and Central Dove Zones will run from Wednesday, Sept. 1 through Sunday, Oct. 24 and reopen Saturday, Dec. 25 through Sunday, Jan. 9, with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

The South Zone dove season will run Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 31, reopening Saturday, Dec. 25 through Tuesday, Jan. 18 with a 15-bird daily bag and not more than two white-tipped doves.

The possession limit is twice the daily bag.

The Special White-winged Dove Area will open to white-winged dove afternoon-only (noon to sunset) hunting the first two full weekends in September running from Sept. 4-5 and 11-12 and reopen when the regular South Zone season begins on Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Oct. 31 and again from Saturday, Dec. 25 through Friday, Jan. 14. The Special White-winged Dove Area season takes four of the allowable 70 days, so when the regular season opens, this area must close four days earlier than the rest of the South Zone. During the early two weekends, the daily bag limit is 15 birds, to include not more than four mourning doves and 2 white-tipped doves. Once the general season opens, the aggregate bag limit will be 15, with not more than two white-tipped dove.

Texas boasts fall dove populations in excess of 40 million birds and its 300,000 dove hunters harvest about 6 million birds annually or roughly 30 percent of all doves taken in the United States. Dove hunting also has a major economic impact, annually contributing more than $300 million to the state economy.

Dove hunting provides an entry into the sport of hunting because it is relatively economical and accessible. Through its Public Hunting Program, TPWD offers affordable access to quality hunting experiences with the purchase of a $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit.

This year, TPWD has leased nearly 50,000 acres of public dove hunting fields in 46 counties; more than 70 percent are located near major urban areas.

“Since the public dove lease program began in 1994, one of our top priorities has been to offer urban Texans affordable access to hunting within close proximity to home,” said Linda Campbell, TPWD public hunting program director. “By setting up dove fields for youth and adult only, we hope families will take advantage of the opportunity to get outdoors and take part in our state’s dove hunting tradition.”

Hunters are reminded that in addition to a valid Texas hunting license, certification in the Harvest Information Program (HIP) is required. HIP certification is offered when you buy your license and involves responding to a few simple questions about your migratory game bird harvest during the previous season. Hunting licenses expire annually on Aug. 31 and licenses for the 2010-2011 year go on sale Aug. 15.

TPWD is also conducting ongoing dove banding research and asks hunters to please report leg bands recovered on harvested birds by calling 1-800-327-BAND or www.reportband.gov. TPWD bands about 20,000 dove a year across the state.

Texas Hunters for the Hungry Wraps Up 20th Season
7/27/2010
This year, the Texas Hunters for the Hungry program provided 167,840 pounds of venison to nearly 100 organizations that serve low income people across Texas. The program, administered by the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, Inc. (TACAA), wrapped up its 20th season in 2009-2010. Over the last two decades, Hunters for the Hungry has distributed approximately two million pounds of venison - that equals nearly eight million servings of meat.

Agencies that receive the meat continue to stress how valuable the donations are:

"We hear from our families that, without your venison, they or their children would not have meat, would not receive the protein or nutrients from meat. Something that many of us take for granted is lacking in the diets of many Hill Country children and adults." - Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries, Boerne

"We have a lady in her mid 80's who is raising 3 boys. She is their great grandmother. These boys eat a lot... The meat that was given to her was put to good use." - Coke County Food Pantry, Robert Lee

"We were told by many senior citizens that they were so glad to get the meat because their income would not stretch that far to include meat with groceries. Especially if their pharmacy bill was for quite a few medicines." - Llano Food Pantry, Llano

"At times we had no other meats. If we had not had the meat from hunters, our clients would have had nothing." - The Shepherd's Storehouse, Pilot Point

Hunters for the Hungry is gearing up for the 2010-2011 season and it's easy to participate. Hunters bring their tagged, legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor and pay a nominal fee for processing costs. The meat processor grinds the venison into burger, packages, and stores it for local food assistance providers to pick up and distribute throughout their community. All meat donated to the program is distributed to families and individuals in need through local food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens.

If you are a hunter, a food assistance provider, or a meat processor interested in helping feed the hungry in your community, call 1-800-992-9767, ext. 506, or visit www.tacaa.org/hunters.htm. Monetary donations to support the program are always welcome. The Texas Association of Community Action Agencies, Inc. (TACAA) provides outreach and coordination efforts for the Texas Hunters for the Hungry program.

Hunter Education courses offered throughout the state
7/12/2010
With the Soccer World Cup decided, it is time to think about other sports. Dove hunting, for instance, opens in September, and Hunter Education courses are being offered throughout the state.

Hunting is an ideal sport for the entire family, “It is common to have parents and children taking the same class,” said María Araujo, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department instructor. She added that over 30,000 Texans take the course annually and learn hunter ethics and firearm safety.

In Texas, hunters born after September 1, 1971 are required to pass Hunter Education. Before age 17, youth are exempt if they are accompanied by a licensed hunter age 17 years of age or older. Minimum age for hunter education certification is nine years old. When a hunter turns 17 years, a one-time deferral is available from license dealers to postpone the Hunter Education requirement for one license period, but it requires hunting under the supervision of a certified adult hunter or a hunter exempt because of age.

For family fun, Texas offers more than 200 public areas for hunting statewide with an annual $48 permit. Family members who do not hunt can have access to the same areas with an annual Limited Public Use permit of $12 and enjoy other recreational activities including fishing, photography, hiking and watching wildlife. Primitive camping is allowed in some areas. Youth under 17 years of age enter free when accompanying a permit holder. The Annual Public Hunting permit can be purchased at any location that sells hunting licenses.

Hunting preparations begin with Hunter Education. The course costs $15 and requires reservations. For more information, call 800-792-1112 ext. 4901 or 512-389-4901 or see: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/hunter_education/espanol/index.phtml

TPWD Urges Boaters to Be Safe this Holiday Weekend
6/30/2010
This July 4 weekend friends and family will haul their boats into the water and celebrate, but someone else might crash the party – Alex.

Hurricane Alex is expected to make landfall on Thursday in northern Mexico or South Texas and bring with it rain that could lead to inland flooding during the weekend. With that in mind, in addition to the usual safety tips outlined below it is important to watch the weather reports and plan holiday get-togethers on the boat accordingly.

Jeff Parrish, TPWD assistant chief boating law administrator, said that while lakes surrounded by urban development are usually unaffected by inclement weather along the coast, anyone who plans to celebrate near the Texas coast this weekend should monitor the forecast and prepare for the weather.

"Just like pilots develop a flight plan, you should develop a float plan," Parrish said. "Let people know where you’re going and how long you plan to be out so if you don’t come back by a certain time, they know to start looking for you."

In addition to monitoring the forecast, boaters are urged to take the usual precautions when spending time on the water this July 4 weekend, including wearing a personal flotation device and not operating a boat while drinking alcohol.

Boat operators must have at least one lifejacket per passenger on board, and children younger than 13 are required to wear lifejackets while on the water. TPWD reports that 90 percent of boating fatality victims who are recovered had not been wearing lifejackets and that wearing a lifejacket increases your chances tenfold of surviving in the water.

In 2009, TPWD reported 211 boating accidents and 35 boating-related fatalities as well as 219 incidents of BWI (boating while intoxicated). So far this year, 72 boating accidents and 15 boating-related fatalities have been reported as well as 75 incidents of BWI.

Parrish said alcohol consumption is a leading contributor to boating accidents and that not only boating operators but also passengers, skiers, tubers and swimmers should drink responsibly. Someone in the group should also be selected as a designated boat operator.

"Falling or jumping overboard while vessels are underway or at anchor is a common occurrence in recreational boating," Parrish said. "Consuming alcohol coupled with not wearing a lifejacket is a recipe for disaster."

Parrish said in the event of an accident on the water, boaters should call 911 for help.

Additionally, anyone younger than 18 who was born after Aug. 31, 1984, is required by law to pass a boater education course before being allowed to operate a boat. Along with photo identification, boaters who are required to take the course must also carry their completion certificate on board their vessel.

People who are exempt from the boater education course include anyone 18 and older, minors who are accompanied by an adult who is exempt from the course and anyone who holds a master’s, mate’s or operator’s license issues by the U.S. Coast Guard. Nonetheless, TPWD research indicates that those who have taken the course are far less likely to be in a boating accident.

The boater education course costs about $13 and is about six hours long. Boaters can take the course in person or through online and at-home formats.

For boating safety tips or more information on the boater education course, visit the TPWD Boating Safety Web Page or call 800-792-1112, option 2

Boaters are also asked to avoid unintentionally transporting invasive species, such as aquatic plants like giant salvinia or organisms like zebra mussels that can "hitch a ride" on boats or trailers moved from lake to lake. See the texasinvasives.org Web site for tips to identify, report and avoid transporting invasive plants and animals.

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On the Net:

Boating Safety: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/safety/index.phtml
Boater Education: http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/boatered

Young man lands 14 lb Catfish at Lake Coleman
6/29/2010
Cole Robison of Spring Branch, landed this 14 lb Channel Catfish at Lake
Coleman while visiting his grandfather this past weekend. Cole was fishing
with garlic shrimp in 2 ft of water.

Youth Catches 12.6 Pounder at Lake Ivie
6/10/2010
STEPHEN QUIROZ….HE IS 10 YRS OLD..CAUGHT MAY 1, 2010….12.6 LBS…WATER BODY RECORD YOUTH PROGRAM, BIG FISH AWARD …PER ..TPWD...., AT LAKE IVIE

Hords Creek Also Sees Fair Share of Large Bass
4/23/2010
The bass featured above weighed 10.30 pounds. The other two gentlement pictured also had good luck catching some large bass. After a bite to eat at Big O's, these guys headed back to Arizona with fond thoughts of Coleman County.

American Deer & Wildlife Alliance Youth Hunt Goes Hog Wild
4/7/2010
AUSTIN, Texas — Hunting affordability and accessibility are growing concerns in the outdoor industry, but it was not a problem for nearly a dozen children and their parents who enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and the taste of pork at the 2nd Annual Pigapalooza Youth Hog Hunt. Sponsored by the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance (ADWA), the event was recently hosted at the DB Hunting Ranch in Bertram, Texas.

“The Pigapalooza is always a fun event for the kids but, more importantly, it is another means for us to address the growing problem of hunting affordability and accessibility,” says John Meng, president of the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance. “Our children today are the sportsmen and conservationists of tomorrow. We, as a society and an industry, must work now to ensure that wildlife stewardship and outdoor participation exists 10, 20 and 30 years from now. The Pigapalooza is only one event during the year, but I know each and every one these kids will remember this experience for a long, long time.”

The Pigapalooza Youth Hog Hunt provides a fun and affordable hunting opportunity for children, ages 8-17, and serves pork sandwich lunches and educational activities to help inform children about wildlife issues. At this year’s event, Wildlife Analytical Laboratories (www.DeerAge.com) provided an informative talk on wildlife stewardship and aging deer through forensics, while other ADWA volunteers provided sessions on duck calling, archery and led a nature walk. In addition to the hunt, children also received free duck calls, scent-masking sticks from Trophy Blend Scents, ADWA caps and a chance to win a free hunt at the ADWA Youth Safari Camp opening later this spring.

“It was a pleasure to be at this event,” says Henry Chidgey, owner of Wildlife Analytical Laboratories. “I very much enjoyed the opportunity to share some of our passion and knowledge about wildlife stewardship with the young folks and I really want to compliment ADWA and the work they do.”

The American Deer & Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization working to promote the deer and wildlife industry and to preserve our American outdoor traditions. As a part of its public education efforts, ADWA produces Points Journal, a full-color magazine covering industry news, products and services; Spikes Magazine, a quarterly youth publication distributed to summer camps and public libraries across the country; the Outdoor Patriot, a monthly podcast which features commentary and industry guests; and sponsors Keith Warren’s Deer & Wildlife Stories, a nationally broadcast television program on the Pursuit Channel. ADWA also produces the iHuntAmerica.com website (www.iHuntAmerica.com), a comprehensive search engine for hunting ranches, game preserves and outfitters.

For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance and/or to become a member, please call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.


Headquartered in Austin, Texas, the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth of the deer and wildlife industry, and to preserve our American outdoor traditions. For more information on the American Deer & Wildlife Alliance, call 877.331.8607 or visit www.deerwildlifealliance.org.

Toyota ShareLunkers 491, 492 Come from Lake O’ the Pines, O.H. Ivie
ATHENS — James Hollis held the Lake O’ the Pines record for largemouth bass just six days before Carl Clark of Marshall went fishing there.

The ink was still wet on Hollis’s record when Clark bested it by nearly two pounds with a fish weighing 15.13 pounds caught March 26. Clark was fishing with a red Rat-L-Trap in five feet of water. His catch was 22 inches in girth and 25.25 inches long; she is now Toyota ShareLunker 491.

The March flurry of ShareLunker entries continued the next day at O.H. Ivie Reservoir, where Brian Hall of Bronte weighed in a tournament-caught 14.22-pounder that narrowly missed becoming a new lake record there. Hall was using a Zoom Brush Hog in nine feet of water.

"Lake O’ the Pines was way overdue to produce a ShareLunker," said Tim Bister, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Inland Fisheries biologist who manages the fishery on the lake. "One of the reasons we’re seeing these fish is the prey fish present in the reservoir. Largemouth bass have an abundance of threadfin shad, gizzard shad and various sunfish species as forage. The reservoir also has a lot of submersed aquatic vegetation. Largemouth bass grow fast in Lake O’ the Pines."

Lake O’ the Pines has also been stocked with Florida largemouth bass since the 1980s. "Recognizing the potential of Lake O’ the Pines to produce trophy-sized bass, we began stocking Florida largemouth bass again last year," Bister said. The lake will also receive a portion of the spawn from this season’s Toyota ShareLunkers.

"I grew up around Lake O’ the Pines and have been fishing it since I was 15 or 16 years old," Clark said. "I love it. The fish are getting bigger every year."

In the case of the two ShareLunkers caught from the lake so far this season, make that every week.

Brian Hall was fishing in a Bassin’ Bunch tournament on a very windy day in West Texas when Toyota ShareLunker 492 picked up his bait. "I’ve caught a lot of big fish out of Ivie-it’s really coming on for big fish," he said. "I’ve caught a couple of 10s, but this is my biggest fish by far. When I got her in the boat, I could hardly stand up. My nerves were pretty much shot."

Hall’s fish was 21 inches in girth and 26.5 inches long. It missed becoming the new lake record by about a third of a pound.

O.H. Ivie now leads in the number of ShareLunkers this season with four. Hall’s fish is the second of the season from the lake to weigh more than 14 pounds.

Nine fish have now been entered into the ShareLunker program during March 2010. That list includes four 13-pound-class fish, four that weighed more than 14 pounds, two in the 15-pound class, and the current leader for big fish of the season, a 16.17-pound fish from Caddo Lake.

The race to Toyota ShareLunker 500 is now eight fish away from the finish line. In addition to all the usual prizes of a fiberglass replica of the fish and ShareLunker clothing, the angler who catches No. 500 will receive $500 per pound plus a G. Loomis BCR854 GLX jig and worm rod and a Shimano Curado 200E7 casting reel loaded with Power Pro 30-pound braided line. "It’s every angler’s dream and every fish’s nightmare," said Bruce Holt, former G. Loomis president.

Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600 (888) 784-0600 and leaving a phone number including area code. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.

For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, see www.tpwd.state.tx.us/sharelunker. The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available.

Information on current catches, including short videos of interviews with anglers, is posted on www.facebook.com/sharelunkerprogram.

The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.

Outlook Fair for Spring Turkey Season
3/11/2010
Media Contact: Steve Lightfoot 512-389-4701 or steve.lightfoot@tpwd.state.tx.us

Hunters should temper expectations for this spring’s turkey season after back-to-back years of dry conditions negatively impacted nesting success across much of Texas, resulting in fewer gobblers on the ground.

The good news is 2007 produced a bumper crop of birds and that carryover of mature toms in South Texas and the Hill Country, combined with excellent nesting habitat conditions this year, could result in above-normal breeding activity.

TPWD estimates about 72,000 hunters take part in Texas’ spring turkey season and take about 25,000 gobblers. Most of the state’s spring turkey hunting activity occurs in South Texas and in the Hill Country, where Texas Parks and Wildlife Department turkey program leader Jason Hardin noted timely rainfall could give the bird population a boost.

“I expect there will be enough older birds to keep the season interesting,” predicts Hardin. “All of the moisture we have had this winter is setting the stage for an early hatch. If the moisture continues I expect the population to boom in these areas and get us back on track.”

Rio Grande spring turkey hunting season opens in the North Zone April 3 and runs through May 16. Special youth-only weekends are set for March 27-28 and May 22-23. The South Zone opens March 20 and runs through May 2, with youth-only weekends set for March 13-14 and May 8-9.

A special one-gobbler-only Rio Grande spring season is set for April 1-30 in 8 counties, including: Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca, Lee and Milam counties,

The spring gobbler-only eastern turkey season is open in 43 East Texas counties from April 1-30 with a 1 bird bag.

TPWD biologist Ralph Suarez in Ballinger is based along a transitional area between the northern Hill Country, southern Rolling Plains and western cross timbers. He says that they have had near record moisture this winter and that he is seeing a lot of green weeds already. Suarez is predicting an early start to the nesting season, however, he expects the overall number of gobblers to be down this season due to the past two years of drought.

Gene T. Miller, TPWD biologist in Canyon, says that production has been better in his area of the Panhandle than farther south in Texas and he expects to have a decent crop of 2, 3, and 4-year old birds in the eastern Panhandle. Miller advises the later you hunt in the season the more productive the hunting should be.

“From what I have seen in the Rolling Plains I tend to agree with Gene,” says Hardin. “We have seen a fair number of jakes over the last two years. They have not had a boom year since 2007, but they have had more moisture than the rest of the Rio range. This year is shaping up to be a boom year. We just need this moisture to continue. All this moisture should lead to great productions.”

The Trans-Pecos region also looks pretty good, according to Philip Dickerson, TPWD biologist in Alpine, who commented that staff saw quite a few flocks while flying mule deer surveys and that 2008 reproduction was pretty good. "There appeared to have been good numbers of birds in 2009 on many of the ranches I contacted about turkeys," Dickerson says. “Overall the habitat conditions are very good across the region. With decent production in 2009 and the excellent wet conditions we've had, the hens should have no problem getting into nesting condition this spring.”

Hardin notes that those ranches that adapted to the recent droughts by reducing stocking rates and maintaining adequate cover should have the most rapid and positive responses to the recent moisture. However, birds will be well distributed with an early production of forbs. Again, Rio Grande turkeys should be in excellent condition range wide.

East Texas is moving along at a usual pace, according to TPWD district biologist Gary Calkins in Jasper, who predicts a normal year. He is expecting nesting to get somewhat of a late start due to the fact East Texas actually got some winter weather this year. “We did see a fair amount of production in 2009,” Calkins notes. “I think hunters will see a fair number of jakes this season.”

Statewide regulations allow the use of shotgun, rifle, handgun, legal archery equipment or crossbow to take Rio Grande turkey; however, individual landowners and public hunting areas may further restrict the devices to be used. The bag limit for Rio Grande turkey is four turkeys per license year. Regulations and bag limits vary by county, so check the county specific rules where you are hunting. Only gobblers are allowed to be harvested during the spring hunting season. Consult the 2009-10 Outdoor Annual for season dates and bag limits in your area.

Eastern turkey hunting is limited to shotgun, lawful archery equipment or crossbow, with a one-gobbler bag limit. All harvested eastern turkeys must be taken to a check station within 24 hours. To find the check station nearest you, contact a TPWD field office or call (800) 792-1112.

Need a place to hunt? TPWD’s public hunting program offers the opportunity to participate in low cost, family oriented, spontaneous hunts for turkeys. Each year, the department publishes maps of more than 1 million acres of public hunting lands. Access for turkey hunting is provided by the Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit.

The permit costs $48 and may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold, and allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands. Having purchased the appropriate Texas hunting licenses and stamps, holders of an APH Permit may take children under age 17 hunting free of charge on these public hunting lands.

COLEMAN COUNTY FISHING RECORDS * 3/4/2010

AREA LAKE REPORTS FROM TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE
2/25/2010
Lake Coleman
Water murky; 48 degrees; 8.58' low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics and Rat–L–Traps. Hybrid striper are good on minnows and chartreuse striper jigs. Crappie are fair on minnows over brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait and cut bait. Yellow catfish are slow.

O.H. Ivie
Water lightly stained; 51 degrees; 21.76' low. Black bass are fair on slow–rolled white spinnerbaits, Carolina–rigged black/blue soft plastics, and live bait worked along channels. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Channel catfish are good on shad and cut bait.

Lake Brownwood
Water stained; 50 degrees; 6.72' low. Black bass to 4 pounds are good on craw and black/blue Bass Hogg jigs, Persuader crankbaits, and GrandeBass 4" Trickster worms along docks, between rocks, and over brush piles in 1 – 5 feet. Hybrid striper are slow. White bass to 1.5 pounds are fair on Li'l Fishies, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits off lighted docks. Crappie are fair on Li'l Fishies and minnows over brush piles in 10 – 18 feet, and near the Hwy. 279 Bridge. Channel catfish are fair on cut bait and nightcrawlers over baited holes in 8 – 10 feet. Yellow catfish are slow.

Three Men Charged With Poaching on King Ranch
2/25/2010
RAYMONDVILLE — A Willacy County grand jury has returned indictments against three Valley men charged with illegally killing a deer on the King Ranch.

Named in the indictments, which were based on an investigation made by South Texas Game Wardens William Plumas and Ira Zuniga, were Rene Efrain Flores, 67, a retired Willacy County resident; Carlos Carmen Garza, 71, a retired engineer and Willacy County landowner and Jesus Raymundo Valdez, 29, a McAllen attorney. All were charged with taking a wildlife resource (white-tailed deer) without consent of the landowner, a state jail felony. In addition, Flores was indicted on a Class C misdemeanor charge of not tagging a deer; Garza with unlawful possession of a firearm, a third-degree felony and Valdez with criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor.

Games Wardens became involved in the case on Dec. 12 when Plumas received a telephone call from an area rancher who reported seeing two men on the Norias Division of the King Ranch in the process of lifting a dead eight-point buck across a fence to two other men. The landowner and one of his hunting guides stopped and talked to the men with the deer, but left after they refused to say where they had shot the buck.

Working with a King Ranch security officer and a deputy constable, the two wardens found blood on the roadway where the witnesses had seen the deer being loaded into the back of a pickup. The wardens were able to follow drag marks and blood to the fence, where they also found blood and hair. Checking inside the fence, they officers found more blood as well as the point where the deer had been standing when shot.

The citizen who initially contacted Plumas identified one of the men he had seen and described the vehicle the deer had been placed in. A short time later, the wardens and other officers located the vehicle and interviewed its occupants — three men and a juvenile.

An untagged buck was found in the bed of the pickup truck, along with two bolt-action rifles and a semi-automatic pistol. The deer and weapons were confiscated while the three adults were released pending further investigation.

All three defendants are free on personal recognizance pending an arraignment hearing. The case will be handled by Willacy County District Attorney Bernard W. Ammerman.

While the tip in this case came directly to a game warden, anyone with information concerning a game law violation is urged to contact Operation Game Thief, the state’s wildlife "crime-stoppers" program. The OGT program operates a 24-hour, toll-free hotline to report crimes, 800-792-GAME 800-792-GAME. Rewards of up to $1,000 may be paid to callers, who may remain anonymous. Rewards and hotline operations are entirely funded with private donations. For more information, visit http://www.ogttx.com/.

COUNTY LAKE FISHING REPORTS
2/11/2010
O.H. Ivie Report
Water lightly stained; 50 degrees; 21.79' low. Black bass are fair on slow–rolled chartreuse/white spinnerbaits, Carolina–rigged soft plastics, and live bait worked along channels. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs. White bass are fair on live bait. Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Channel catfish are good on live bait.

Lake Coleman
Water murky; 51 degrees; 8.66' low. Black bass are good on watermelon red soft plastics, spinnerbaits, and crankbaits, and on chartreuse Rat–L–Traps. Hybrid striper are good on minnows. Crappie are good on minnows over brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are good on stinkbait, liver, and frozen shrimp. Yellow catfish are slow.

CHS Sophomore
1/7/2010
This nice Coleman County buck was taken by Cheyenne Casey, a sophomore at Coleman High School.

5 Year Old Lands 9 Point Buck!
1/7/2010
Carson Bekker, age 5 1/2...killed his first deer...a great 9 point.
South Coleman County open range
Parents - Shay and Brian Bekker of Leander
Grandparents - Dan and Shirley Sealy of Gouldbusk

Ranch Owner Bags Big Bobcat
1/5/2010
Danny Raney of Pflugerville, Texas shot this large Bobcat Friday evening Jan 1st, 2010 at his ranch in between Voss and Fisk. 

Part-time resident bags nice 9 point
12/29/2009
What a nice rack on this buck shot by Lucy Page, a “sometime” Coleman resident, on December 11, 2009 at 4:35 p.m. The buck was a 9 pt. with a 19” width.

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
12/23/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: An abundance of playa lakes have given birds plenty of wintering habitat on the High Plains and many duck hunters are taking advantage by bouncing from playa to playa. Good numbers of mallards, gadwalls and teal have been harvested, along with wigeons. Goose hunters have enjoyed steady shoots for Canadas. Best goose hunts have come over wheat and corn in the Panhandle. Lots of Canada geese on Lake Etter. Snow geese have been tough to decoy with light winds and blue skies. Outfitters are reported larger Canada geese (westerns and greaters) with the freeze-ups in the northern states. Peanuts have been best for geese around Lubbock and Abilene. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Pineywood and Northeast Texas hunters have enjoyed good shoots for mallards in backwaters along sloughs and swollen river bottoms. Wood ducks have been a given at first light, but many hunters have opted to pass on woodies to take greenheads later in the morning. Caddo Lake and Lake O’Pines are solid for divers, gadwalls and a few mallards. Lake Fork and Toledo Bend saw good shoots in shallow creeks and coves for mallards, canvasbacks, gadwalls and green-winged teal. Diver ducks have been better on the big waters of reservoirs. Hunting remains steady around the zone boundaries of IH-10 around Sealy, Brookshire, China, Winnie and Columbus. Lots of green-winged teal have filled the bag, along with gadwalls and shovelers. Hunting should along get better if the weather dries a bit and allows water to recede even more. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck: Gadwalls, wigeons, teal and pintails continue to be the mainstay on prairie ponds near Wharton, El Campo, Eagle Lake, Garwood, Lissie and East Bernard. Many hunters have noticed a significant influx of gadwalls this season compared to previous campaigns. Another surprise has been the number of wigeons on the prairie. Some hunters have reported steady shoots where half the bag was comprised of baldpates. Bay hunters enjoyed limits to half-limits near Port O’Connor and Rockport. Redheads have been steady, but those willing to scout have rounded out limits of wigeons, pintails and gadwalls. Marsh hunters near Collegeport have struggled at times, probably due to too much water. Goose hunters suffered this week with light winds and a high ceiling. Many outfitters are saying the juvenile population of snow geese is less than five percent. Specklebellies have cooperated at times, but have shied away from calling; however, specks hitting rice fields have cooperated better. Sandhill crane hunters have not had sufficient weather to push birds within shotgun range, but many hunters have hid along canals and embankments and taken their two birds by patterning the large gray birds from the roost to feeding fields. Prospects are good.
 

Fishing Reports for Panhandle Plains Region
12/17/2009

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
12/16/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Duck hunting remains solid in the Panhandle. An abundance of playa lakes have given birds plenty of wintering habitat. Good numbers of mallards, gadwalls and teal have been harvested. Wigeons, mallards and gadwalls have been steady around Knox and Haskell counties. Goose hunters have enjoyed steady shoots for Canadas. Snow geese, as always, have been tougher to decoys. Best hunts have come over wheat and corn in the Panhandle, and peanuts between Lubbock and Abilene. Dumas hunters have noticed larger species of Canada geese showing this week. Pheasant shoots have been excellent as well. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: The second-split opener was much better than the initial opening of duck season. Many hunters reported good shoots on mallards and wood ducks in Pineywood sloughs and rivers. Caddo Lake and Lake O’Pines were good for divers, gadwalls and a few mallards. Lake Fork and Toledo Bend saw good shoots in coves for mallards, canvasbacks, gadwalls and green-winged teal. Hunting remained steady around the zone boundaries of IH-10. Freshwater impoundments held pintails, wigeons, shovelers and teal. Ponds around Sealy, Brookshire, China and Hamshire enjoyed combo shoots for ducks and geese in the thick fog. Another push of cold air should prompt more mallards to cross the Red River. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck: Fog put a kink in the duck flight along the coast during the second-split opener. However, hunters along the coastal prairie did not mind because the fog encouraged geese to fly lower and some impressive straps of both ducks and geese were taken from duck blinds. Gadwalls, wigeons, teal and pintails were taken on most ponds. Many hunters have noticed a significant influx of gadwalls this season compared to previous campaigns. Large wads of green-winged teal are present, but the fog reduced the flight. Bay hunters enjoyed limits to half-limits near Port O’Connor and Rockport; again, the fog played a major role in limiting the flight. Goose hunters enjoyed four days of thick fog and harvest improved because of it. Many outfitters are saying the juvenile population of snow geese is less than five percent. Specklebellies have cooperated at times, but have shied away from calling. Sandhill crane numbers are steady, and hunters will get their first crack at the large gray birds this week (Dec. 19). Reminder: hunters must possess the free crane permit to hunt sandhill cranes and the bag limit is two. Prospects are good.

Holiday Gifts Galore for the Conservationist on Your List
12/11/2009
This is Kelly Loyd. This is his first deer. Kelly is a student at Panther Creek.

Holiday Gifts Galore for the Conservationist on Your List
12/11/2009
AUSTIN, Texas — If you’re fresh out of holiday gift ideas for your eco-minded cousin or that relative who would rather spend his or her spare time in the woods, on the lake or at a state park, or even for yourself, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department invites you to shop the outdoors.

How about customizing your "sled" with one of TPWD’s four conservation license plates to show your affinity for wildflowers, horned lizards, largemouth bass or white-tailed deer? A portion of every $30 license plate goes to support state parks, wildlife diversity, state fishing programs and research, and wildlife management and research. Since their inception, the conservation license plates have generated more than $4 million in sales for Texas land and water conservation initiatives.

Help support TPWD conservation efforts while adding to your art collection by purchasing the 2008 collector’s edition of hunting and fishing stamps. The collection sells for $21.65 and includes six different stamps designed by noted wildlife artists.

And what self-respecting conservationist would want to be without a subscription to the state’s premier outdoors publication for more than 50 years, Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. Go online to see special offers, including two gift subscriptions for $20 that includes choice of either a "Go Fish Texas" map or "Texas Saltwater & Freshwater Fish Pocket I.D. Guide." Teachers receive a special $9.95 annual subscription rate to foster outreach to the state’s increasingly urbanized school populations.

Other featured products this year on TPWD’s "Shop the Outdoors" Web page include "Life’s Better Outside" bumper stickers, maps of the Texas Wildlife and Great Texas Coastal Birding trails, a colorful Hummingbird Wheel featuring the 16 species documented in Texas and nine different videos of programs produced for the Texas Parks & Wildlife television show on PBS.

TPWD’s online gift shop also offers colorful posters from the past 17 Texas Wildlife Expos held each fall in Austin for only $10 each. Or for that special saltwater angler on your shopping list, pick up the "Saltwater Fishes of Texas" poster, or one of Sea Center Texas’ posters featuring a spotted sea trout or redfish. Freshwater fishing aficionados may prefer the "Freshwater Fishes of Texas" or the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center’s largemouth bass poster. All posters sell for under $20.

After shopping for everyone else on your holiday list, why not buy something special for yourself. You can purchase a Lifetime Super Combo License for $1,800 that will allow you to hunt and fish in Texas without ever having to buy another license or stamp. Lifetime licenses solely for hunting or fishing also are available for purchase. Call 1-800-792-1112, option 9, for requirements and processing time for licenses.

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
12/9/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: The cold front pushed lots of new ducks and geese to the Panhandle. Decoying action has been steady for geese, with some 40-bird hunts reported. Both Canada geese and snow geese have been making up the bag around Dumas and Etter. Duck hunting has been excellent as well, except for shallow ponds that iced over during the weekend. Lots of mallards and gadwalls have worked feed lot ponds and playas. Sandhill cranes are still around and have been steady over decoys. Pheasant hunting has been outstanding as well. Prospects are very good.

North Zone Duck: There is no shortage of water in the North Zone; and, since the recent front, no shortage of ducks. More mallards have shown on lakes, sloughs, rivers and reservoirs. A freeze-up in the northern states sent greenheads south in search of open water. Wood duck numbers are good in backwater timber. Big water areas are holding lots of diver ducks like ringed-necks, scaup and canvasbacks. The prairies around IH-10 have plenty of water and lots of green-winged teal, shovelers, pintails, gadwalls and wigeons. Prospects for the entire North Zone look solid for the second opener Dec. 12.

South Zone Duck: Snow blanketed the coastal prairie over the weekend, but goose hunting did not improve much. Blowing snow filled decoys with ice and made them droopy and stationary in the wind. A small crop of young snow geese have made decoying action very tough; and, specklebellies have wised up as well. Success has been hit-or-miss and mud and water-filled fields have made the effort unjustifiable for many seasoned goose hunters. The good news is duck numbers are incredible across the coastal prairies, and the second opener on Dec. 12 should be a banger. More mallards have shown this week along the coast. Green-winged teal concentrations have improved as well. Many goose hunters have reported tons of decoying pintails over white spreads. Bay hunters saw another influx of divers on saline shorelines. Prospects are excellent for ducks, fair at best for geese.

Hunt and Fish for Free...Forever!
11/25/2009
There’s still time for you to enter to win a Lifetime Super Combo License, giving you the right to hunt and fish in Texas without ever having to buy another state license or stamp.* But don’t delay. The first Lifetime License Drawing is coming soon – Dec 30!

Enter no later than December 27, 2009, and you will be eligible for two drawings to be held December 30, 2009 and June 30, 2010. Entries are just $5 and you can enter as many times as you like!

Purchase your entries wherever Texas hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Find a retailer near you or purchase online now!

All proceeds from the Lifetime License Drawing fees go directly to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for on-the-ground conservation efforts that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. For complete rules and information, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/lifetime

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
11/25/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Goose hunters saw better decoying action near Dumas and Amarillo over the weekend. The slight cool-down and wind put birds in a better mood to work spreads. Specklebellies and Canadas were solid in Knox and Haskell counties over peanuts. Duck numbers continue to build in the Panhandle, with more mallards showing with the cool front. Playas are full of water, but the Knox City area could use the rain. Sandhill crane hunters enjoyed great decoying action over the weekend with the winds. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Duck hunting remains fair at best in Northeast Texas and the Pineywoods. More mallards have shown, but the brunt of the greenhead population has not arrived. Biologists report most of the mast crop was washed away with the flooding. Sloughs and river bottoms are full of water and attracting good numbers of wood ducks. Gadwalls and wigeons have been taken in shallow coves of lakes and reservoirs. The diver population on lakes and reservoirs spiked during the past week with the cooler temperatures. Hunting remains best around the zone boundaries of IH-10. Freshwater impoundments have held pintails, wigeons, shovelers and wigeons. Most of the blue-winged teal have moved on, and hunters are waiting for waves of greenwings to arrive. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: The coast continues to produce steady duck shoots on the prairies, marshes and bays. Gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails have been the norm on the prairie. Absent has been large wads of teal, since bluewings have moved on and greenwings have not arrived en masse. Bay hunters have seen an influx of redheads along the middle coast, and most hunts have been half-limits this past week with calm winds and mild temperatures. Good numbers of birds were reported in Rockport. Goose numbers are building, but snow geese have been absent across the prairies. There are some huntable concentrations, however, for the most part, many traditional goose spots are devoid of birds. That could change any day with the full moon approaching. Sandhill crane numbers are steady. Prospects are good.

Game Warden Field Notes
11/24/2009
The following are excerpts from recent Texas Parks and Wildlife Department law enforcement reports.

Throwing the book at them: On Oct. 10, a Jack County game warden and a Wise County game warden apprehended three subjects at a deer camp for possession of marijuana, hunting deer by illegal means and methods (rifle during archery-only season), failure to tag, two counts of failing to maintain in edible condition, no archery stamp, no hunter education, hunting in closed season and possession of a stolen ATV. The ATV had been stolen in Wise County in 2001. The ATV was returned to Wise County sheriff’s office. Cases pending.

Caught in the act: During the week of Oct. 19-22, a Grayson County game warden spent several days investigating what began as an individual leaving one of the local marinas without paying. The investigation soon became a collaboration with the Rockwall County sheriff’s office, a TPWD investigator and the Grayson County sheriff’s office. The investigation caught the same individual stealing a $200,000 36 foot Carver boat. Charges pending for theft of more than $100,000, unauthorized use of a motor boat and theft of services.

Should have let him pass: On the night of Oct. 18, a Jasper County game warden stopped a subject who failed to yield right of way to a DPS trooper as he attempted to stop another vehicle. Upon making contact with the driver, the warden noticed several beer cans in the back seat and a .22-caliber magnum rifle in the front. A search of the vehicle’s trunk produced a doe head, guts, and a cooler containing numerous quarters. The case may be linked to other cases involving the illegal sale of deer meat. Case pending.

Game warden finds lost child: On Oct. 19, a Shackelford County game warden responded to a call about a missing two-year-old girl. The child had wandered away from her house accompanied by her two Doberman pinchers. While searching, the warden heard a dog barking in the distance and directed a volunteer fireman in a four-wheel-drive ATV to the area. The child was found about a half mile from her house beside a stock tank, with one of the dogs by her side. She had removed her wet and muddy clothing but was unharmed.

Game wardens confront serial trespasser: A Runnels County game warden received a call from a landowner who said her hunters had come in and checked their game cams to discover a picture of a man walking through the deer feeder area with a pistol strapped on. The warden met with the hunters and recognized the man as a neighbor. The landowner was contacted and signed an affidavit. She had caught him trespassing in the mid-‘80s and warned him about it then. The rancher had also caught him about five years ago. One felony and one misdemeanor warrant are pending.

Caught in the act, part 2: On Oct. 15 at 1:00 a.m., two Montgomery County game wardens were running a deer decoy operation near Montgomery when they apprehended three subjects night/road hunting deer. A vehicle passed the decoy, turned around and, on its way back, started shining a flashlight. As the vehicle approached the decoy, the passenger shot at it one time, hitting it just below the head with a .17-caliber rifle. The wardens stopped the vehicle, and after identifying the occupants realized they had caught the shooter night/road hunting three years before. The subjects confessed to having done this many times before. The driver and the shooter were arrested.

Thought he didn’t need it: On Oct. 18, while checking fishing licenses on the San Gabriel River, a Williamson County game warden came across a fisherman who thought he did not need a license unless he was fishing on the lake. While issuing a citation for no fishing license, it was found he had a warrant for his arrest for an unpaid ticket. He said he thought he did not have to pay for the ticket since he had moved and did not receive a notice. Williamson County was glad to clear a case off their books.

Well, that didn’t work: On Oct. 25, a Trinity County game warden received a call that a local subject had killed a deer off of a county road. When the warden arrived, he found two subjects with one skinned buck deer head arguing over the proper way to measure the spread, along with a cooler full of meat on top of twp hoop nets behind the barn. The suspect said that he was dropped off by his friend in the national forest to squirrel hunt but could not pass up the large buck. When the subject was asked why he had his friend drop him off to hunt, he stated, "So the game warden would not catch me."

Water chase: On Oct. 27, a Starr County game warden and a Zapata County game warden patrolled the north end of Falcon Lake and the Rio Grande River in search of illegal commercial fishing activity. The wardens found and seized 11 sections of gill net (approximately 3,630 feet). With the net weighing down the bow of the boat, the wardens were about to call it a day and head back toward the lake when they saw a Mexican commercial fishing vessel traveling northbound, hugging the U.S. shoreline. The wardens went out to the halfway point of the river and were able to stop and board the boat. They arrested both subjects on board and seized another two sections of gill net (approximately 660 feet).

Uncertified hunter accidentally shoots self: On Oct. 24, an Upshur County game warden was notified of a subject who had been shot while hog hunting. While walking through the woods, the group of four had decided to shoot at some cans. The victim had a piece of hot brass go down his shirt and, when he tried to remove it, he accidentally shot himself with a .45-caliber handgun. Nobody in the hunting party had hunter education or a hunting license. Charges pending for fail to show hunter education.

Water rescue: On Oct. 25, a Morris County game warden and a Bowie County game warden responded to a call regarding multiple shots coming from White Oak Creek Wildlife Management Area. A night hunting case quickly turned into a water rescue when the wardens were informed that four men in a flat-bottom boat were stranded and lost on White Oak Creek. The wardens used several techniques to locate the stranded vessel until finally hearing a shot that gave them a good location of the vessel. The stranded boaters’ friends then braved the rain and wind and used their boat to tow in the stranded vessel.

Massive deer caught in fence: On Oct. 20 a Camp County game warden received a call from a landowner in Franklin County about two bucks that he found on his property that had gotten their antlers locked together and were stuck together, each on opposite sides of a fence. One buck was a 9-point that had already died, but the other was a huge 14-point that was still alive, but exhausted. The warden notified a Franklin County game warden and both wardens met with the landowner. When they arrived, Warden Taylor and the landowner were able to pry the bucks apart and untangle the huge buck from the fence. After laying on the ground for a couple of minutes, the big buck stood up and walked into the brush, escaping what would have been certain death. Both the wardens and the landowner said it was one of the biggest bucks they had seen in this area.

Public Hunting and Access to Texas Parks and Wildlife Lands
11/18/2009
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) offers a variety of hunting opportunities through two public hunting systems. The $48 Annual Public Hunting Permit provides nearly year-round hunting on approximately 1.2 million acres of land. The increasingly popular dove hunting areas are offered through this system. The Public Hunt Drawing System provides opportunities to apply for a wide variety of supervised, drawn hunts including special drawings for both adults and youth hunters. In addition, TPWD offers special hunt package drawings for exotic wildlife and quality native animals on TPWD managed lands as well as specially leased private properties.

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
11/18/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: The region around Amarillo, Dumas and Spearman remain wet. Lots of playa lakes are available to use by wintering ducks and geese. Duck hunting has been good for mallards, wigeons, gadwalls and teal. Diver ducks have been hitting deeper playas and reservoirs. Outfitters say the Canada geese have finally arrived and decoying action has been steady over wheat and corn. Sandhill crane hunting has been fair to good because of balmy conditions, but the recent front should get things going again. Knox and Haskell counties need water, according to several sources. Duck hunting has been fair to good, with ducks here one day and gone the next. The area finally received their crop of geese this week. Specklebellies have been reliable as well. Outfitters say specks seem to be more abundant this year. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Waters are receding and boat ramps are becoming operable again. The latest blast of cold air pushed more mallards to the timber and flooded hardwoods. Wood duck action remains steady in backwaters. Gadwalls, wigeons and teal have been taken in the shallow coves of area lakes and reservoirs. Canvasbacks have been reported on Lake Fork, Toledo Bend, Sam Rayburn and Lake O’Pines. Caddo Lake has seen gadwalls, divers and ringed-necks. Sloughs, backwaters and bayous should hold plenty of birds with the recent cold front and abundant food sources. Hunting has been fair to good on the coastal prairies along the southern boundaries of the North Zone. Brookshire, Winnie, China, Devers, Sealy and Columbus have all enjoyed steady shoots for teal, gadwalls, wigeons, pintails and shovelers. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: Duck hunting remains steady along the coastal prairies of Eagle Lake, Wharton, El Campo, Garwood, East Bernard, Hungerford, Lissie and Louise. Teal, gadwalls, wigeons, shovelers and pintails have made up the brunt of the bag. Inland ponds around Port Lavaca and Refugio have produced puddle ducks. Bay hunters enjoyed an influx of bird last week as redheads and scaup found shoalgrass in East Matagorda, West Matagorda, Espiritu Santo, San Antonio and Aransas bays. Good numbers of wigeons and gadwalls have also been taken in the marsh and salt. The High Island marsh has been fair at best, with more birds showing in the Trinity Bay marsh during the last five days. More snow geese showed over the weekend ahead of the front. Fair shoots were posted due to light winds and balmy conditions. Specklebellies have readily decoyed over rag spreads. Prospects are good.

Three Fast Turkey Facts:
11/18/2009
  If Wild Turkeys could smell, they’d be nearly impossible to hunt. The eyes and ears of a turkey make it one of the toughest of all Texas game animals. Their vision is the keenest among all Texas game animals. They're especially astute at pinpointing movement and can hone in on noises from a mile away.
Wild Turkey Revival! A hundred years ago, turkeys almost disappeared from Texas due to unregulated hunting and loss of habitat. Now, thanks to hunter and landowner support, bag limits and a restocking program, Texas turkeys are making a steady comeback.
  Where the Wild Turkeys are. Turkeys now inhabit 223 of the 254 counties in Texas. You can see wild turkeys roam at South Llano River State Park, Choke Canyon State Park, Lake Whitney State Park, Abilene State Park and San Angelo State Park. You can hunt for them in areas such as San Angelo State Park, Caddo Lake State Park, White Oak Creek Wildlife Management Area and Sam Houston National Forest Wildlife Management Area.

$1.5 million Federal Grant to Expand Texas Artificial Reef Program
11/13/2009
7 Reef Projects to Benefit, Including Accessible Shallow-Water Sites

AUSTIN, Texas — The sand-bottom Gulf of Mexico provides almost no natural reefs for marine life, which is why the Texas Artificial Reef Program was created to provide structures for a thriving ocean ecosystem of aquatic invertebrates and the fish that feed on them. A $1.5 million federal grant will fund creation or enhancement of seven reef sites off the Texas coast in coming years.

Artificial reefs provide a home for species such as barnacles, corals, sponges, clams, bryozoans and hydroids. They function like "an oasis in the desert" for many species that otherwise would not flourish. Artificial reefs form the foundation of food chains that ultimately support popular game fish, and they provide outstanding new opportunities for SCUBA divers and fishermen.

The Rigs-to-Reefs effort is one component of the overall Texas Artificial Reef Program, which is managed by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. For these projects, production platforms or "rigs" are cleaned and toppled, towed to an existing reef site, or left in place and cut down to a depth of 85 feet below the surface to become reefs. Oil and gas companies must remove a decommissioned structure and dispose of it on shore unless it is donated to the Rigs-to-Reefs program. Along with the donated structure, the company donates 50% of their cost savings to the Artificial Reef fund.

Also, at various points along the coast, this innovative conservation initiative has transformed materials from roads, bridges and even obsolete ships into man-made reefs. These projects encompass the Ships-To-Reefs and Near Shore Reefs initiatives, also part of the overall artificial reef program.

The program currently consists of 58 reef sites, composed of materials donated from entities such as the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as from private companies. The sites range in size from 40 acres to more than 160 acres. Nearshore reef sites range from 5 to 9 nautical miles offshore and are designed to provide fishing and diving opportunities for those having smaller boats or who do not wish to travel too far offshore.

The new federal grant of $1.5 million is coming from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program administered by the federal Minerals Management Service, a grant program operated in Texas by the General Land Office. It will fund the construction and improvements on seven reef sites. For four projects, which had already been completed when the grant was awarded, the funds will reimburse the Artificial Reef Program.

The grant will also fund the creation of three new reef construction projects and the improvement of several other pre-existing reef sites. This includes reefing of concrete and 1-ton quarry blocks at new reef sites at Port Arthur (Orange County), Matagorda County, and Corpus Christi/Port Aransas (San Patricio/Aransas County).

Additionally, TPWD will extend the reef site permit at SALT reef near Pt. Arthur and the George Vancouver Liberty Ship Reef off Galveston with concrete culverts and quarry block. More than 800 concrete culverts will be reefed at the Port Mansfield reef in Willacy County.

In addition to the grant, several groups such as the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) and the Saltwater Fisheries Enhancement Association (SEA) will provide additional funding and assistance in reefing projects. Private groups such as ReefMan, LLC have already deployed smaller individual reefs at the George Vancouver Liberty Ship reef.

The ultimate success of these projects will be judged by the impact of the artificial reefs on fish populations in the Gulf. Research has shown that marine organisms not only are attracted to artificial structures, but many live and reproduce on the structures. This is important for reef fishes, such as red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus), a highly prized game and commercial fish in the Gulf. Other marine fish species found at artificial reefs include: gray snapper, vermillion snapper, ling, amberjack, jack crevalle, spadefish, shark, grouper (including Goliath grouper), sheepshead, and mackerel. If the projects are successful, they will serve to create additional habitat for these fish species while providing additional recreational and commercial fishing and diving opportunities in the Gulf off Texas.

More information can be found on the Texas Artificial Reefs Pprogram Web site.

Fishing Reports for Week of November 11, 2009
11/12/2009
O.H. IVIE Water lightly stained; 61 degrees; 20.41' low. Black bass are good on shad-colored crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, and live bait worked around timber. Crappie are good on minnows and jigs. White bass are good on live bait and chrome crankbaits . Smallmouth bass are fair on live bait. Channel catfish are good on live bait.

LAKE COLEMAN Water clear; 67 degrees; 10.02' low. Black bass are fair on white spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and Rat-L-Traps. Hybrid striper are good on live minnows and green striper jigs. Crappie are fair on live minnows over brush piles. Channel and blue catfish are fair on shrimp and minnows. Yellow catfish are slow.

Danny Raney and his dad Sam Raney both got 8pts opening weekend in Coleman County
11/11/2009

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
11/11/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit (Panhandle) — Goose season began with a bang across the High Plains. Lots of geese around Etter and Dumas, and Canadas readily decoyed over corn, milo and plowed ground. Snow geese were a little skittish with the mild temperatures and low juvenile count. Duck numbers are solid throughout. An abundance of playa lakes has ducks scattered throughout the region. Still lots of blue-winged teal in the region. Sandhill crane numbers are outstanding, according to several outfitters. Plowed ground and corn has been best for the large gray birds. Knox City hunters have taken limits of wigeons, gadwalls and teal. Specklebellies and Canadas have decoyed well there, too. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck: Northeast Texas continues to be plagued by high water in bayous, rivers and sloughs. Though some waterways have receded, many remain too deep to attract puddle ducks like wigeons, gadwalls and teal. Lots of forage on the ground from summer rains, but the ducks have not been able to find it due to the abundance of water. Lots of wood ducks in the backwaters, but many hunters have reported an abundance of snakes with the mild temperatures and flood waters. Canvasbacks and other divers have been reported on Lake O’Pines, Toledo Bend and Lake Fork. Hunting has been best in the North Zone along the IH-10 corridor of the coastal prairie. Lots of blue-winged teal remain in Texas and have been consistent bag-fillers. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: Duck hunters continue to enjoy steady shoots along the coastal prairies of Garwood, Wharton, Eagle Lake, Hungerford, East Bernard, El Campo and Collegeport. The brunt of the bag has been blue-winged teal, but hunters are not complaining. Good numbers of wigeons and gadwalls showed in Texas early last week and readily decoyed on prairie ponds. Pintails have been a bit skittish for some hunters. Redheads finally showed on the bays and shoalgrass flats of the middle coast. Limits of divers were taken in Port O’Connor and Rockport. Hunters reported fewer gadwalls and wigeons in the back lakes. Ducks were scattered a bit on the bay with higher than normal tides – two feet high in some places. Snow geese continue to trickle to the coast, but few huntable concentrations have been reported. Outfitters are holding off on light goose hunting until the brunt of the population arrives. Specklebelly numbers are fair, and some duck hunters have taken limits from blinds. Last week’s weather was not conducive to goose hunting. Prospects are good.

COLEMAN COUNTY YOUTH HUNT
Submitted by Randall Brown
11/9/2009 
  THE FIFTH ANNUAL COLEMAN COUNTY YOUTH HUNT WAS HELD ON OCTOBER 31, 2009 AT THE JOE PAT HEMPHILL RANCH. THERE WERE 11 YOUNG MEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS HUNT. THEY HARVESTED 10 DEER, 2 FERAL HOGS AND 1 COYOTE. THE HUNTERS WERE FROM COLEMAN AND SANTA ANNA. THE DAY CONSISTED OF HUNTING IN THE MORNING, EATING BREAKFAST PREPARED BY THE HEMPHILL RANCH, A SHORT GUN SAFETY PROGRAM, PRACTICE SHOOTING AT THE GUN RANGE, LUNCH PREPARED BY THE HEMPHILL RANCH, AND THEN AN AFTERNOON HUNT. THE HUNTERS ALL HAD A GREAT TIME AS WELL AS THE GUIDES WHO HELPED THEM.
  THIS HUNT COULD NOT TAKE PLACE IF IT WEREN’T FOR THE GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM SEVERAL BUSINESSES IN COLEMAN COUNTY AND ALSO THE GUIDES WHO DONATED THEIR TIME TO HELP THESE YOUNG MEN GET INTRODUCED TO THE OUTDOORS.
THE BUSINESSES THAT DONATED TO THIS HUNT WERE;
TEXAS GAME WARDEN ASSOCIATION
COLEMAN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
JOHNSON’S FEED BARN
PAUL JENSEN
HALL’S PROCESSING
HEMPHILL LAND AND CATTLE
WALMART
FIRST COLEMAN NATIONAL BANK
COLEMAN COUNTY STATE BANK
COLEMAN COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
COLEMAN COUNTY TELEPHONE COOPERATIVE
CENTRAL TEXAS FARM CREDIT
COLEMAN COUNTY FARM BUREAU
COOPERS
SANTA ANNA NATIONAL BANK
WARREN RANCH

Panther Creek students shoots nice buck on opening day
11/8/2009 
Opening day of deer season Trent Smith, Jr at Panther Creek who plays on the district champs football team as the kicker shot this 10pt  

Texas Joining Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact
11/5/2009 
AUSTIN, Texas — Game law violators in Texas could face additional consequences for their actions under an interstate agreement recognizing suspension of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses in other states.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved a regulation for Texas to join 31 other states currently participating in the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact.

The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is an agreement that unresolved hunting and fishing violations in one state can affect a person’s hunting or fishing privileges in other participating states. Any person whose license privileges or rights are suspended in a member state could also be denied future purchase of a license in Texas until they have satisfied suspension in the other state. If a person’s hunting, fishing, or trapping rights are suspended in Texas, they may also be suspended in member states as well.

"This cooperative interstate effort will enhance Texas game wardens’ ability to protect and manage our wildlife resources," said Maj. David Sinclair, chief of fisheries and wildlife enforcement with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. "If a person plans to hunt, fish, or trap in Texas and they have a license suspension in another state, this compact allows us to deny them a license. The same will hold true for a Texan with a suspended license looking to hunt or fish elsewhere."

The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact also establishes a process whereby wildlife law violations by a non-resident from a member state are handled as if the person were a resident, meaning they can be served a ticket rather than being arrested, booked, and bonded. This process is a convenience for hunters, fishermen, and trappers of member states, and increases efficiency of game wardens by allowing more time for enforcement duties rather than violator processing procedures.

The concept of a wildlife violator compact was first advanced in the early 1980s by member states in the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Law enforcement administrators and wildlife commissioners from several states began discussing the idea of a compact based on the format of the existing Drivers License Compact and Non-Resident Violator Compact, both of these related to motor vehicle operator licensing and enforcement.

In 1985 draft compacts were developed independently in Colorado and Nevada. Subsequently, these drafts were merged and the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact was created.

In 1989, compact legislation was passed into law in Colorado, Nevada and Oregon. These three states formed the nucleus of the Compact.

TPWD will be developing policies and procedures, but no timeline has been set for formally joining the Compact.

Panther Creek students bags big deer
11/5/2009 
COLTON MOORE, 11 YR OLD 5TH GRADER AT PANTHER CREEK TOOK THIS 10 POINT NOVEMBER 1, 2009 YOUTH WEEKEND

TPWD Begins Annual Hunting and Fishing Regulatory Process
11/5/2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff briefed the Regulations Committee of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Nov. 4 on possible changes designed to increase recreational opportunity and further enhance the state’s fish and wildlife resources.

Unlike last year’s regulatory cycle, where wildlife officials made sweeping changes to white-tailed deer seasons and bag limits, the current slate of potential changes is fairly slim. Additional proposals could arise in the next couple of months and a complete suite of staff recommendations will be presented during the Jan. 27, 2010 Commission Regulations Committee meeting.

According to TPWD big game program director Clayton Wolf, following last year’s extensive changes hunters shouldn’t anticipate substantive alterations to deer season for at least a couple of years.

The Wildlife Division is considering a recommendation to implement an open general season for mule deer in Dawson and Wheeler counties. Under current rule, there is no open season for mule deer in Dawson or Wheeler counties. Implementing a nine-day, buck-only season in Dawson County and a 16-day, buck-only season in Wheeler County would offer increased hunter opportunity without adversely impacting mule deer reproduction or distribution. The literature suggests that the implementation of a buck-only season will not have any measurable impact on herd productivity or expansion; however, a measurable change in the age structure of bucks is anticipated as a result of harvest pressure on a previously unhunted population.

On the fishing side, last year saw landmark changes in regulations for harvesting alligator gar and flounder. The Inland and Coastal Fisheries Divisions in collaboration with Law Enforcement are considering changes to regulations on reporting requirements for commercial fishing and on the clarification of language on possession of harvested fish. The department is also exploring removing regulations governing commercial fishing that are currently interspersed within regulations regarding recreational fishing. The commercial fishing regulations would be placed within a separate document.

The Coastal Fisheries Division will also be obtaining public input regarding a potential regulation change to lower the minimum size limit for snook.

The annual regulatory review process begins each year after resource assessments are made by biologists. In addition, the divisions work with law enforcement to ensure enforceability for the game laws each year, as well as considering independent recommendations received from various stakeholder groups throughout the year. During this scoping portion of the process, TPWD gathers public input and weighs the biological implications of each issue before presenting the commission with a set of proposed regulation changes on Jan. 27, 2010. Additional discourse is sought during special public meetings in the spring, and the commission at its April 1, 2010 meeting determines the final regulation changes.

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
11/5/2009

High Plains Mallard Management Area: Duck hunting has been solid on playa lakes near Amarillo, Etter, Dumas and Spearman. Outfitters are reporting lots of ducks, with teal, pintails, wigeons and a few mallards comprising the brunt of the bag. Canada geese are plentiful, and that season begins Nov. 7. Crane numbers are just as good, with most hitting corn, milo and plowed ground (opens Nov. 7). Pheasants are everywhere. Water is plentiful. Prospects are very good.

North Zone Duck: Recent rains have swollen rivers and bayous, making boating and hunting treacherous in traditional hunting locales. Some boat ramps have been closed due to the flooding. Lake levels are above normal in most areas. Few stellar hunts were reported opening weekend in Northeast Texas. Wood ducks were good in flooded timber. Best hunts were had on the prairie just north of IH-10. Nome, China, Winnie, Hamshire, Brookshire, Columbus and Sealy saw good shoots for blue-winged teal and green-winged teal. A bright moon and calm winds limited the flight to the first hour of daylight. The first split of the season runs through Nov. 29. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Duck: The coastal prairie was definitely the place to be in Texas opening weekend. Limit hunts were the norm in Eagle Lake, El Campo, Garwood, Chesterville, East Bernard, Hungerford and Wharton. Loads of blue-winged teal provided steady flights, with green-winged teal, shovelers, wigeons, gadwalls and pintails rounding out the bag. Overall, bay hunters saw slow hunting in Trinity Bay, Port O’Connor, Rockport and Port Aransas. Few redheads, scaup and pintails have hit the shoalgrass flats. Biologist Matt Nelson reported just over one bird per man (bpm) at the Justin Hurst WMA near Freeport during opening weekend. Mad Island WMA near Bay City enjoyed 2.8 bpm Saturday and 4.5 bpm Sunday. Guadalupe Delta WMA near Port Lavaca was closed due to high water. Few hunters chased geese during the opener, probably due to limited concentrations of snow geese. Specklebellies are strong in cut rice fields and some duck hunters took the odd speck in duck blinds. Snow geese are trickling to Texas in small bunches, however, the brunt of the population has not arrived. Prospects are good.
 

THAT’S WHAT I CALL A DEER!!!
11/4/2009
This “little” 22-point fella ONLY scored 213 on Boone & Crockett. He is owned by the Wheelgate Ranch in Coleman. The 3-year old is part of a whitetail breeding operation being carried on at the ranch by owner Jerry Snailum.

Hunters are not the only ones excited about deer season
11/2/2009
Another hunting season is here. With archery season coming to a close, many more hunters will join the ranks when November 7 ushers in the general hunting season for white-tailed deer. However, there are many people who will never participate in the hunt, but are just as excited about the potential results it brings. Food banks, pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other food assistance providers hope to benefit from hunters' generosity this season through the Texas Hunters for the Hungry program.

Last hunting season, hunters donated 192,040 pounds of meat to the Texas Hunters for the Hungry program, with more than 90 food assistance agencies receiving and distributing the venison to their clients. In Coleman County, donations totaled 6,000 pounds. For the 2009-2010 hunting season, hunters and food assistance agencies alike, anticipate exceeding last year's efforts.

Be part of the solution to hunger. For a complete list of participating meat processors, visit www.tacaa.org/hunters.htm. Interested hunters can take legally harvested deer to a participating meat processor, who will process and package the meat for a nominal fee to help cover basic costs. Meat processors make arrangements with local food assistance agencies to distribute the meat to people in the community who need food. In Coleman County, deer can be donated at Halls Custom Packing in Coleman and Santa Anna Wild Game Processing in Santa Anna.

If the processor you use is not on the list, encourage them to join by contacting program staff during business hours Monday - Friday at (800) 992-9767, extension 506.

Monetary donations to support the program are always welcome. See the website for details.

2 of 5 top shooters in state from Coleman County
10/28/2009
Jansen Merrill and Brent Ogden, members of the Coleman County 4-H shotgun club have qualified to compete in the “Whiz Bang” Championships sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. To qualify, shooters from across the state compete all summer at Whiz Bang qualifying events. Only the top 5 scores in each age division are eligible for the championship shoot. Jansen and Brent will be traveling to San Antonio this Saturday, October 31 to compete for prizes and hopefully be named the 2009 Whiz Bang Champion. This year the shoot is being held in conjunction with the National Sporting Clays Championship and will be held at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas.

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
10/28/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

High Plains Mallard Management Unit: Opening weekend saw fast shooting over playa lakes for teal, gadwalls, wigeons and a few pintails. The season opens again Oct. 30, and prospects remain solid with back-to-back cold fronts forecasted for this week. Dark geese continue to trickle to the Panhandle, though they are not legal game until Nov. 7. Prospects are good.

North Zone Duck Forecast: Conditions are wet throughout the North Zone, with rivers, sloughs, bayous and reservoirs brimming with water. That bodes well for hunters compared to past years of drought when ducks bypassed East and Northeast Texas. Lots of teal, gadwalls, wood ducks and a few wigeons have been seen. Very few mallards have been reported, but that could change quickly if cold fronts continue to make it to Texas. The first split runs Oct. 31-Nov. 29. Prospects are good.

South Zone Duck Forecast: What had been a severe drought across the coast during the summer has quickly turned into life-giving rainfall for the past six weeks. The coastal prairies and marshes have benefitted tremendously from the rain, and waterfowl will reap the rewards this winter. Some outfitters are reporting more teal now than during the special September season. Pintails, gadwalls, wigeons and shovelers are the species most abundant along with greenwings and bluewings. Snow geese should show en masse sometime this week with back-to-back cold fronts and a bright moon forecasted. Coastal flats from Port O’Connor to Rockport still need a good push of redheads to make for good shoots opening day. Specklebellies should be solid for opening day. The first split runs Oct. 31-Nov.29. Prospects are good.

South Zone Dove: Torrential rainfall early this week hurt the dove flight in South Texas and along the coast. Participation has waned with the upcoming deer and duck season on the horizon. Another round of cold air should push new birds to the region. The Rio Grande Valley continues to be the hotspot, with good shoots posted in McMullen, Live Oak, Webb and Uvalde counties, too. The season runs through Nov. 3. Prospects are fair to good.

Hunt and Fish for Free--Forever!
10/27/2009
Now is your chance to win a Lifetime Super Combo hunting and fishing license that gives you the right to hunt and fish in Texas without ever having to buy another license or stamp*. It’s only $5 to enter, and you can enter as many times as you like.

Purchase your entries wherever Texas hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Find a retailer near you or purchase online now!

Drawings will be held December 30, 2009 and June 30, 2010. Enter by December 27, 2009, and be eligible for both drawings! Entries for the June 30, 2010 drawing must be purchased by June 27, 2010.

All proceeds go directly to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for on-the-ground conservation efforts that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. For complete rules and information, visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/lifetime

Young Hunters Get First Shot During Special Weekend
10/22/2009
AUSTIN, Texas — "Trick or Treat" won’t be the only activity on the minds of Texas youth on Oct. 31. While some will dress up as fairy princesses and ghosts for Halloween, many will be wearing bright orange and camouflage for the special youth-only hunting weekends. Passing the hunting heritage on to the next generation of hunters is what the special youth-only seasons are all about, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

TPWD has set aside Oct. 31-Nov. 1 as special youth-only seasons for white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey. Additional youth-only seasons have also been set aside in January. During the statewide special youth-only hunting weekend, licensed youth 16 years of age or younger will be allowed to harvest white-tailed deer and Rio Grande turkey.

The department has coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to offer a youth-only waterfowl season in the North and South Duck Zones on Oct. 24-25 for licensed youth 15 years of age or younger.

A Special Youth Hunting License ($7) is required and may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold, as well as online and by phone at 1-800-TX-LIC-4U for an additional convenience fee. General season bag limits for the county hunted apply during the youth-only weekend, but some additional restrictions may apply in certain areas so be sure to check the Outdoor Annual before heading afield.

TPWD has made an extra effort to open as much public hunting land as possible to youth hunting on department-managed lands. Youth who are hunting on TPWD lands must be accompanied by a supervising adult 18 years of age or older who possesses the required Annual Public Hunting permit, a valid hunting license and any required stamps and permits.

Youth hunts for either sex white-tailed deer are scheduled during the special weekend season on public hunting units, mostly in East Texas. Youth waterfowl hunts are available on many public hunting units.

The Annual Public Hunting (APH) Permit is a $48 permit, valid from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 of the following year. The APH permit allows an adult access to designated public hunting lands in the TPWD public hunting lands program. With the APH permit, hunting is allowed for small game, turkey, white-tailed deer, exotics, predators, furbearers, and fishing without having to pay daily permit fees and in most instances, without having to be selected in a drawing.
 

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
10/21/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

North Zone Dove: The North Zone season closes at sunset Oct. 25, but reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2010. Generally, the season has been fair at best, but not for lack of birds. Rains hampered most flight patterns for the past month. Hunter participation has been down due to the rain and the opening of white-tailed deer season for bowhunters. Best flights occurred around the Panhandle in sunflowers and milo around Amarillo, Dumas and Spearman. Good shoots were posted around Lubbock and north of Abilene, too. The good news is high pressure and blue skies are forecasted for the weekend after a cold front blows through the region. The cold air should push new mourners to Texas. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: An influx of birds hit this region of the state last week on the heels of the cold front, but few hunters noticed due to lack of participation. Dove hunting priorities have shifted to preparations for the upcoming deer and waterfowl seasons. Strong hunts were posted near Hankamer and Winnie along the Central and South zone borders. Good afternoon shoots were had around Uvalde and Hondo, while Del Rio and Waco hunters saw steady flights around milo and sunflowers. Clear, cool weather is forecasted for the weekend, which should encourage a steady flight. The season closes at sunset Oct. 25, but reopens Dec. 26-Jan. 9, 2010. Prospects are fair to good.

South Dove Dove: The South Zone finally dried out last week with high pressure building after the first significant cold front of the fall. Hunter success benefitted as fields dried and doves headed back to feeding fields. An influx of birds was noticed across the region, and limit shoots were posted across the Rio Grande Valley. Port Mansfield, Raymondville, Three Rivers and George West hunters saw steady flights as well. Bay City, El Campo and Port Lavaca shoots have been best in the afternoon. Heavy rains are forecasted this week as the remnants of a Pacific hurricane moves across Mexico and Texas. The season runs through Nov. 3, then runs Dec. 26-Jan. 17, 2010. Prospects are fair to good.

Waterfowl Migration: The High Plains Mallard Management Unit opens Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 30-Jan. 24, 2010. Panhandle prospects for this weekend’s opener look promising, with wet conditions and plenty of playa lakes brimming full of water. Along the coast, pintails, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and shovelers are using prairie ponds. Coastal marshes are holding teal, gadwalls, shovelers and wigeons. Redheads and bluebills are finding their way to the shoalgrass shorelines of the middle coast, but another round of cold air is needed before the Oct.31 opener to push new ducks to the coast. Specklebellies are arriving daily on the prairies, and expect more to show this weekend on the heels of the next cold front.
 

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
10/14/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

North Zone Dove: Wet weather continues to plague the dove flight, making access to fields tough. Muddy roads and soggy fields have not been conducive to hunting. Most of the birds have left the bottoms and staged on higher ground. Last week’s front brought new migrants to the area but few hunters noticed due to the absence of participation. Another front forecasted for the end of the week should deposit northern birds in the region; however, more rain is forecasted as well. Corn, milo and sunflowers continue to produce in the High Plains. Afternoon watering holes have not been as hot as years past due to the wet conditions. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.

Central Zone Dove: Wet weather has plagued hunters, but most are not complaining due to the drought conditions the region has endured for the past two years. Between showers, doves have been best over corn and milo on higher ground. Doves have left low-lying areas due to the moisture. Grain fields with gravel nearby have been steady during the past few weeks. Fields around San Antonio, Castroville, Hondo, Uvalde and Del Rio have been best. An influx of birds arrived last week with the front, but heavy showers kept hunters out of the field. Another front forecasted for the end of the week should deposit new birds. Fields around Sealy, Columbus, Katy and Waller have been fair. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.

South Zone Dove: Hunters have had to dodge storms to find steady flights of doves. McMullen County hunters have enjoyed good shoots around goatweed and sunflowers. Harlingen, Brownsville and Laredo hunters have see mixed flights of whitewings and mourners. Milo and sunflowers near Raymondville and Port Mansfield have been good in the afternoon. Bay City and El Campo fields have been best in the afternoon, though the area has received lots of rain. More birds should arrive with the cool front forecasted for this week. The season runs through Nov. 3. Prospects are fair to good.

Waterfowl Migration: Most of Texas received more rain this week, which should help habitat across the state. The Panhandle has good numbers of playa lakes brimming with water, most East Texas reservoirs and rivers are at pool and prairie ponds and marshes have received soaking rains the entire month of October. Pintails, shovelers, teal, gadwalls, wigeons and redheads are showing on the coast. Specklebellies are arriving daily, with a few snows mixed in with the darks. The Panhandle is loading up with teal, pintails, wood ducks, gadwalls and wigeons. The High Plains Mallard Management Unit opens Oct. 24-25 and reopens
 

Don’t miss your chance to win the hunt of a lifetime
10/9/2009
  You have less than two weeks left to buy entries to Big Time Texas Hunts for your chance to win an exclusive hunt on some of the finest private ranches and prime Wildlife Management Areas in the state. Don’t miss your chance to win the hunt of a lifetime—order online today! The deadline for entry is October 15, 2009.
  See what Tommy Bridgers, 2007 winner of the Texas Grand Slam, had to say about his winning experience:

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
10/1/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.

Central Zone Dove: San Antonio, Uvalde, Del Rio and fields just south of Abilene have held the most consistent shoots recently. Better flights have occurred lately with the absence of showers over the weekend. Whitewings continue to dominate San Antonio fields of corn and milo. Afternoon hunters have shot near-limits around treelines. High-flyers have trickled from South Zone fields near Uvalde. Katy, Hockley and Brookshire fields have been fair at best, and hunter participation has been scarce. Still some good whitewing shoots around Sealy and Columbus. Dayton and Beaumont fields have given up half-limits. The season runs through Oct. 25. Prospects are fair to good.

Youth Hunt
9/30/2009
On September 19th Game Warden William Heath assisted Troop 644 from Muenster, Texas with a Dove Hunt in the Talpa area. Six Wibelo I scouts hunted Doves, Cooked over open camp fire, shot clay birds and camped out in tents. The Scouts were working on there outdoor badge. The scouts were also given camo caps by the Texas Game Warden Association.
 

Deadline to Enter Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding Texas hunters the deadline to enter this year’s Big Time Texas Hunts is Oct. 15th. Winners will be called before the end of October to give them time to make their hunting trip preparations.
CLICK HERE for more.

Fishing Reports for Week of September 23, 2009
9/25/2009
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PH

New Fish Records List Available
9/17/2009
The Texas Parks and Wildlife updated its Fish Records and Awards list this week. To see the latest state records, click HERE.

Fishing Reports for Week of September 16, 2009
9/17/2009
The black bass seem to be biting well in some of our area lakes, including Lake Coleman and Lake Brownwood.

Get your fishing report for all area lakes HERE.

These Gators were caught by Bob, Brian and Jim Bob in Dayton, Texas on Friday the 9-11-09.
Gator one 7'0", Gator two 10'0", Gator three 11'1"

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
9/16/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.  Click below for this week's report.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20090916a&nrtype=hunt&nrspan=2009&nrsearch=

Toyota ShareLunker Season Begins October 1
9/14/2009
ATHENS, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will begin accepting entries into the Toyota ShareLunker program October 1, 2009.

Anyone legally catching a 13-pound or bigger largemouth bass from Texas waters, public or private, between October 1 and April 30 may submit the fish to the Toyota ShareLunker program by calling program manager David Campbell at (903) 681-0550 or paging him at (888) 784-0600 and leaving a phone number including area code. Fish will be picked up by TPWD personnel within 12 hours.

Toyota became the new program sponsor effective September 1. The current season marks the 24th year of the program. To date 471 fish have been entered into the program. Those fish have come from 57 different public reservoirs and more than a dozen private lakes.
Pictured above:  Ricky Bearden of Conroe caught the biggest ShareLunker of the season last year, a 15.93-pounder from Lake Conroe. The lake will host the Toyota Texas Bass Classic on October 16-18, 2009. 
© Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

ShareLunker entries are used in a selective breeding program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center (TFFC) in Athens. Some of the offspring from these fish are stocked back into the water body from which they were caught. Other ShareLunker offspring are stocked in public waters around the state in an attempt to increase the overall size and growth rate of largemouth bass in Texas.

Anglers entering fish into the Toyota ShareLunker program will receive a free replica of their fish, a certificate and ShareLunker clothing and be recognized at a banquet at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens on June 5, 2010. In addition, if a Texas angler catches the largest entry of the year, that person will receive a lifetime fishing license.

For complete information and rules of the ShareLunker program, tips on caring for big bass and a recap of last year’s season, see www.tpwd.state.tx.us/sharelunker  The site also includes a searchable database of all fish entered into the program along with pictures where available.

The Toyota ShareLunker Program is made possible by a grant to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation from Gulf States Toyota. Toyota is a long-time supporter of the Foundation and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, providing major funding for a wide variety of education, fish, parks and wildlife projects.

Fishing Reports for Week of September 9, 2009
9/9/2009
The Panhandle Plains Region fishing report has been updated.  Click on the link below to see it in full.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PH

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
9/9/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20090909a&nrtype=hunt&nrspan=2009&nrsearch=

Coleman County hunter...
  Send us your photos from hunts this year! 

Fishing Reports for Week of September 2, 2009
9/3/2009
The Panhandle Plains Region fishing report has been updated as of Tuesday.  Click on the link below to see it in full.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/action/reptmap.php?EcoRegion=PH

Weekly Migratory Bird Hunting Report
9/2/2009
Weekly migratory bird hunting reports are posted from early September through early February.  Below is the first report as posted on the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. 
 

North Zone Dove: Dove hunters saw fair to good shoots around the Panhandle over cut corn and milo. The region has received rain during the summer so there are plenty of watering holes and playa lakes. Lubbock and fields north of Abilene were good for morning shoots of mourning doves. Fields along the Red River enjoyed steady flights of mourning doves near Paris and Bogota. Soy beans, sunflowers and corn fields have been the ticket. Treelines and watering holes have seen the best flights in the afternoon. The region has enjoyed above-average rainfall amounts for the year. Prospects are good.

Central Zone Dove: Generally, opening day of dove season was lackluster around the state, unless you were situated around the San Antonio township and feasted on the local flight of whitewings leaving the city to feed in agricultural fields outside of town. Sunflowers and corn yielded quick limits of whitewings in the morning. Castroville hunters also reported good shoots. Sabinal, Hondo and Uvalde saw good shoots as well. Afternoon hunters saw a steady flight as well. Sunflowers fields in Navarro and Freestone counties was fair to good. Hunters there reported seeing more mourning doves before the recent cool front. Public hunting fields near Liberty and Beaumont saw fair at best shoots for mourners. Fields north of Houston in the Cypress area saw better flights of doves last week. Fields near Waller saw limited flights as well. Fields north of Brenham enjoyed high flights of whitewings. Hunters situated around ponds and tanks took good numbers of mourning dove near Marlin and Waco. Sealy hunters saw their best action around treelines and cut rice fields — hunters reported excellent numbers of whitewings there. Katy, Brookshire and Hockley hunters saw slow action. Fields near Marshall and Longview saw half-limit shoots — many hunters there said they lost most of their birds after the last cool front. Prospects are fair to good.

Excerpt from Dallas Morning News article by Ray Sasser on Sunday, February 22, 2009
SANTA ANNA, Tx.—
....It was a marathon walk for my wife, Emilie, and a stark contrast to the previous afternoon when we hunted pen-raised birds with Mike Pritchard. Coleman County, three hours southwest of Dallas, is one of the state’s unsung game counties.

Pritchard is a big, friendly bear of a man with a shaggy beard and a black cowboy hat. He’s a lifelong resident of Santa Anna. He and his wife, Mary, raise and train Brittany bird dogs.

In one of his bird fields west of town, Pritchard released his two favorite dogs, Larry and Sam. The veterans worked like a well-oiled machine, crisscrossing the rolling fields until Sam locked up hard on the afternoon’s first point. In a wet year, Pritchard still finds plenty of wild birds in Coleman County but this hasn’t been a wet season.

His sideline business is raising quail in huge flight pens segregated from people. Pritchard raised about 20,000 birds this year, selling the vast majority. He’s released about 4,000 quail for his own hunting service.

Emilie walked up behind the rock solid dogs and made a good shot on her first flushing quail of the day. Within minutes, the dogs had another point and the action stayed constant for the next two hours. The birds mostly flushed in small numbers but we had as many as six or seven birds in the air at one time.

A lifelong wild bird hunter himself, Pritchard works hard to make his hunt as close as possible to the real deal. Many of the birds Emilie shot had been released weeks ago and had gathered into small coveys.

The birds flew well and many of them flushed when the hunter got close. Pritchard’s dogs will flush on command, however, and they put to wing quail that are reluctant to fly.

Pen-raised quail are not as fast as wild bobs, either on the wing or afoot, but breeders are getting better at producing quality game birds. Unlike their wild cousins, pen-raised birds are always abundant, whether it rains or not. While walking about two miles at a leisurely pace, Emilie put 15 in the bag.

Pritchard’s friends, Paul and Gay Martin, run a very comfortable hunting lodge on the outskirts of Santa Anna. It’s called M-Bar-H Lodge and is on the internet at www.mbarh.com  or call 325-348-8255 or 325-348-3391. The Martins handle the lodging and meals and Pritchard handles the guiding for any game that’s available in Coleman County.

REMINDER - Texas Hunters Should Ask To Get HIP
8/25/2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas hunters need to make sure they are Harvest Information Program (HIP) certified before going hunting for dove, waterfowl or other migratory game birds this fall to avoid an unintentional game violation and possible citation. Specifically, hunters need to ask about HIP certification at the license sales counter, because some license clerks may not bring it up.

For several years, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been working with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to help improve the quality of Texas HIP certification data that is used to qualify hunters for migratory bird harvest surveys, which some hunters may receive in the mail during the course of the coming hunting season. These surveys of dove and waterfowl hunters help the service and states determine the national harvest, and this information is used to set hunting season and bag limit regulations.

TPWD made a change in the electronic hunting and fishing license sales system this year, and this now means hunters should ask vendors for the HIP certification. Just as in recent years, hunters will answer a series of brief, simple questions about their recent game bird hunting activities to become HIP certified. There is no cost to license buyers for the certification.

"We have heard reports from some hunters that some license vendors are failing to ask if they want to be ‘HIP,’" said Vernon Bevill, TPWD small game program director. "It is the hunter’s responsibility to tell the clerk issuing their license that they want to answer the HIP questions and be certified."

Bevill went on to say, "The best time to get certified is when you buy the licenses and stamps you need. Tell the license clerk to be sure to ask you the HIP questions right then, and if you forget and remember later you should return to the same store, if convenient, and get certified. The HIP permit is free."

TPWD and the Service are working to improve the accuracy of all migratory game bird harvest surveys. Some hunters think the answers they give in the store is the survey, but HIP certification only places hunters into categories of high, medium or low harvest of dove, ducks or other migratory game birds. The information is collected at the state level and then sent to the Service so they can more accurately survey hunters in states like Texas. Each harvest category is surveyed at slightly different rates to gain the full estimate of dove, duck, and goose harvest.

"In prior years some license vendors would provide incorrect answers and certify hunters without them ever knowing they were certified," said Corey Mason, TPWD dove program leader. "This led to numerous problems with the Texas data, and we need to obtain better information because Texans harvest more dove and waterfowl than any other state in the Central Flyway. "
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/newsmedia/releases/?req=20090825b

Lifetime License Applications Must Be Received by Aug. 31
8/25/2009 
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is reminding customers who want to buy lifetime hunting, fishing or combo licenses at fiscal year 2009 prices that purchase applications must be received at TPWD headquarters by Aug. 31. Applications that are post-marked by Aug. 31, but not received by this date, will not be accepted.

The department’s 2010 fiscal year starts Sep. 1, and on that date the electronic sales system will automatically sell licenses at a new, higher price. The change is part of an across-the-board increase in hunting, fishing and boat registration fees.

Starting Sep. 1, Texas Lifetime Resident Hunting License and Texas Lifetime Resident Fishing License costs will increase from $600 to $1,000, and the Texas Lifetime Resident Combination Hunting and Fishing License will increase from $1,000 to $1,800.

Lifetime license purchases require buyers to submit an Application for Texas Resident Lifetime License form. The application form may be obtained at any TPWD Law Enforcement office in Texas, from the TPWD Web site or by calling (800) 792-1112 (option 9, extension 4820). Lifetime licenses are only available for sale from the department’s Austin headquarters.  Click on the following link to find the license and other information.  http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/licenses/lifetime_licenses/ 

Michael Rambo caught this 35 pound yellow catfish Saturday night at Lake Coleman
using a rod and reel and 12 pound test line with a minnow. 
He fought the fish for 40 minutes before landing it.

Volunteers Needed to Help With Saturday Dove Fest
8/24/2009
The 5th Annual Coleman county Dove Hunters’ Appreciation Festival will be held Saturday, September 5th at the Bill Franklin Center from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Anyone who would like to volunteer to help assist at the dove Festival, please call the Coleman Chamber of Commerce at 325-625-2163.

Big fish caught at local lake. This 10 lbs bass was caught Thursday night, August 20th, by Seth Fry.
Caught on 7" pumpkinseed worm...Photo courtesy of Cory Robinson.

Entries Available for Big Time Texas Hunts
8/18/2009
AUSTIN, Texas — The Lone Star State boasts some of the finest hunting anywhere in the country, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Big Time Texas Hunts offer hunters a chance to experience the best of the best.

The Big Time Texas Hunts program offers the opportunity to win one or more top guided hunts with food and lodging provided, as well as taxidermy in some cases. The crown jewel of the program is the Texas Grand Slam hunt package, which includes four separate hunts for Texas’ most prized big game animals — the desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, mule deer and pronghorn antelope. There are several quality whitetail hunt packages available, as well as opportunities to pursue alligator, exotic big game, waterfowl and upland game birds.

Entries for the Big Time Texas Hunt drawings are $10 each and are available wherever hunting licenses are sold or by calling 800-895-4248. They may also be purchased online this year at a discounted price of $9 each. There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may purchase. Purchasers must be 17 years of age or older.

Proceeds from the Big Time Texas Hunts are used to provide more public hunting opportunity and to fund wildlife conservation and research programs in Texas.

CLICK HERE for a summary of the Big Time Texas Hunts offerings.
 

Annual Dove Hunter's Festival September 5th
8/17/2009
Jody Barr, with the Coleman County Wildlife Committee, has announced that the Annual Dove Hunter's Festival will be held Saturday, September 5, 2009.

The event will be held from 10:00am to 1:00pm and will be at the Bill Franklin Center. An all-you-can-eat Catfish lunch will be served for $10 per person, $5.00 for 12-and-under,  and will be free to active military. The $10 meal ticket is entry for all door prize drawings. Giveaways will include: six over/under shotguns, hunts, and other great general prizes.

The committee asks landowners to encourage your hunters to come and participate. All residents of the county are invited to attend. "Come one, come all!"

Fish Records and Awards
8/17/2009
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department recognizes fishing excellence through its Angler Recognition Program. The program maintains state record lists for public and private waters and water body records for all public lakes, rivers, and bays. The program also issues certificates for other types of angler achievements.

For State and Water Body Records, Junior Anglers (under 17 years of age) compete in a separate division. If a junior angler's catch beats an All-Ages record, the young angler will receive recognition in both divisions.  CLICK HERE for the Texas Parks and Wildlife website.
 

Panhandle Plains Fishing Reports for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department was updated on Wednesday, August 12th.   
CLICK HERE TO SEE REPORT....

New Season Hunting, Fishing Licenses Go On Sale Aug. 15
8/12/2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas hunting and fishing licenses for 2009-2010 will go on sale Saturday, Aug. 15. Sportsmen are reminded all current Texas annual hunting and fishing licenses (except for the year-to-date fishing license) expire Aug. 31.

Most fees for recreational hunting and fishing licenses have increased by five percent; resident hunting licenses now cost $25, while the Super Combo all-inclusive license costs $68. There is no increase in price for any of the required stamp endorsements or the $48 Annual Public Hunting permit.

Non-resident hunting licenses increase by $15 from $300 to $315, which also reflects a five percent hike.
The resident freshwater fishing package costs $30 and the saltwater fishing package is $35.

Effective Sept. 1, the resident lifetime fishing and hunting licenses will increase to $1,000 and the lifetime combination license increases to $1,800.    CLICK HERE TO READ MORE....

Dove Season Nears
8/11/2009
Dove season is nearing for the Coleman County hunters and guides.  The first of September brings the regular hunting season for dove in the Central Zone of Texas, which includes Coleman County.  The 2009 season runs from September 1st - October 25th and again from December 26th to January 9th of 2010. 

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department lists the dove BAG LIMITS as:
Central Zone: September 1 - October 26, 2009 and December 26, 2009 - January 9, 2010
Regular Season: 
Daily Bag Limit: 15*
Possession Limit: 30

*In all zones, the daily bag limit can include no more than 2 white-tipped (white-fronted doves). The possession limit on white-tipped doves is twice the daily bag limit.   Click on the following link for this information and more...

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/season/animal_listing/

The Coleman County Dove Festival (Fiesta de la Paloma) will be held this year on Saturday, October 3rd.  Make plans now to attend this annual tradition for the Coleman Chamber of Commerce. 

GET READY FOR DOVE SEASON!!
Grilled Dove & Beer Marinade
INGREDIENTS:
-10 dove breasts
-1/2 cup red wine
-1/4 cup Italian dressing
-1/2 can beer
-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together except dove breasts. Then add the dove. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Remove dove breasts and save the marinade.

Grill dove over medium heat until golden brown.

In a large pot place in the grilled dove and the marinade you saved. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes and serve.
 

When Buying a Ranch Start by Picking a Team then a Goal.

By James Parkey

Several years ago, I made the decision to move some savings to a place where I could enjoy it. Somewhere where I could actually see the improvement in my holdings while working out my dogs and shooting a few birds in the process.

I made a plan of what I wanted ideally and wrote out the best way to go about getting it.  In my case, I wanted:

• About 400 to 500 acres to start with

• A bit of roll to the topography

• Both attainable (county or city) water and  surface water

• A good value that could be crafted into a great one with some improvements

• Good game on the place and especially good bird hunting with few or no  hogs if possible

• Something three hours or less from my Dallas home

Once I had my plan and goals together I huddled with Tom Stephenson at Texas Sporting Properties and we targeted areas we agreed would be the best for me. He became the first member of a team I would put together to accomplish my goals. I could not really find the recreational land 2 hours from Dallas that offered the kind of bird hunting I wanted (dove, quail and duck are my favorites).  Plenty of nearby places offered decent deer hunting and I have a number of friends who enjoy that activity but the package I was looking steered me west.

I looked at several places in the Brown and Coleman County areas before zeroing in on a property right at my 3 hour threshold and with two nice surface ponds and wide array of natural grasses and plant and animal wildlife.  I asked Texas Sporting Properties if they could research the land use history for me and I made---what turned out to be a series of—appointments with Jim Hudson at the local USDA office to get his take on the wildlife potential of the property. Believe me that agency is an underused one for landowners and Jim has helped me put in motion a variety of my plans.

Before closing on the deal I interviewed a number of contractors to help me mold the property and finally build on it.  With my background as an architect I had previously devised a building plan for a small house I lease on the Colorado River.  I amended those plans some and hired Jimmy Crowder of Crowder Construction Co. to do my heavy equipment work and Robbie Brooks, President of Brooks Construction to build the house.  There seems to be a good number of hard-working and qualified contractors in the Coleman area but I could not be more pleased with my selection

I used Dallas Mortgage broker, Mike Morrow who in turn contacted Scott Ogden in Coleman, who is that branch’s president of the Central Texas Farm Credit ACA.  I could not be happier with that relationship that has continued on and allowed me to purchases more contiguous properties.  My dream goal has been to own around a thousand acres to better implement my land management goals and Mike and Scott have worked together to make that happen.

Of course, you can set all the goals you want, but Mother Nature must cooperate along the way.  I cannot help that I bought this land right in the middle of a serious drought.  And while I think that has adversely affected my quail population, the early planning and expansion of my surface water capabilities has kept my migratory birds numbers stable. I am a longtime member of Quail Unlimited and a big believer in the teachings of Dr. Dale Rollins and his Rolling Plains Research Ranch and am also trying to help out the TPWD this year when they come to Coleman to conduct their lethality study

This year we are trying to use surrogators to increase our quail population.  Already we have taken 300 day old wild chicks and raised them to the age of five weeks with little or no human imprint, then released them into the wild.  Stay tuned on how that experiment plays out. I plan on visiting with Dr. Rollins regarding his results  On this endeavor as well as many of my land management decisions, I am counting on the ranch manager, Ramey Sparks, to help in providing optimum results. 

I am aware that we really don’t own recreational land the way we do office buildings and such.  We try to work within what is best for the general ecosystems while trying to have fun and apply theories to the management of the land we hold.  If I could provide the prospective ranch buyer with any advise it would be to “Build a team early.” I interviewed many folks before setting sail on this mission—bankers, realtors, government officials, home builders, contractors etc.  I attribute today’s success with the building of that team yesterday.  Texas Sporting Properties was an invaluable ally.

I may not have been fortunate in the department of rain.  However, things have worked out well in my long term plan to acquire sufficient acreage to give my notions of development a real chance.  Certainly I have made some mistakes but they are the kind that I can overcome and actually see improvement while still following my bird dogs around.  That’s not something you can do when most of your money is in the stock market.
 

Links to Lakes / Fishing Updates
You might want to bookmark the Lake Report from the Texas Parks and Wildlife and check in week to week for updates on water temperature, lake levels and what the fish are biting.

*  For lakes in our immediate area and north - CLICK HERE.
*  For lakes to our east - CLICK HERE.
*  For Hill Country lakes - CLICK HERE.
*  Parks and Wildlife Fishing Reports Page - CLICK HERE.
*  Statewide Stream-Flow Table - CLICK HERE

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