Outdoors

Texas dove hunters to get an extra 20 days of hunting next fall

For the first time in over 80 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved a 90-day dove season in Texas for 2016-17. That means we’ll be getting an additional 20 days of hunting during the fall, plus we’ll get to keep 15 doves per day. Also, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is recommending a later opener for duck hunting, with a shorter break between splits for the North Duck Zone and a later overall season in the South Duck Zone. This is all part of the statewide hunting proclamation for Migratory Game Birds that is up for public comment.

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Right place, right time, right lures for big trout

If ever there was a time that is drop dead perfect for chasing big trout, this is it. Afternoon highs in the upper ’70s with overnight lows in the mid-50s will set up warming tides on shallow flats that will definitely have wall-hog trout on the move and feeding on mullet.

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TPWD regs centered on Sabine River bass, East Texas deer

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is considering new regulations that will affect hunting and fishing here in East and Southeast Texas counties. One of those regs is aimed at creating additional deer hunting opportunities in East Texas.

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White bass bonanza on the Sabine, Angelina rivers

The white bass run is getting stronger by the day on the Sabine and Angelina rivers with the falling water level and the clarity just about right, according to guide Bill Fondren. The boat ramps that were underwater last week are in the process of being cleaned up and by the middle of this week should be ready to use.

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Hogs gone wild in Texas

One of the great things about wild pigs is that they can be hunted year round, day and night, and you can kill as many as you can haul away. Another good thing about pigs is that they are good to eat, and there seems to be an unlimited supply of them. 

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Some lures seem to work 24/7 on the voracious redfish

Reds are gamefish that will eat just about anything that won’t eat them first, which is why they are so much fun to take on artificial lures. You can catch redfish on the flats, backwater estuary lakes, in the surf, jetties and bayous, all of which we have here in Southeast Texas. One of the more unique things about reds is that regardless of their size, they will eat anything from an inch-long fly-fished streamer to a magnum-sized topwater plug.

But there are some lures that reds definitely like over other baits.

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Buck fever can cost you big bucks

The power of deer, like this trophy class buck in velvet, can sometimes overpowe

Although most deer hunters abide by the rules of fair chase, there are always a few outlaws that can’t play by the rules. A good example is what recently happened in East Texas.

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Cold, wet and miserable on a waterfowl hunt from hell

Hunting ducks and geese can be tough, but regardless of age, some of us can’t re

Duck and goose hunters risk misery on any given day, but there are times when we know better than to go but still choose to roll the dice in an effort to scratch out one more memorable hunt.

That was the case this past Saturday, Jan. 2, when Old Man Winter tossed us some of the worst weather we’ve seen so far this season. It rained all day. The temperature was in the low 40s, and unfortunately, I had agreed to join a few buddies on a combo goose/duck hunt on a flooded field and marsh.

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As deer season winds down, duck numbers increase with strong fronts

The South Texas rut is in full swing and high scoring bucks like this one are r

It took a while, but old man winter is finally here, and just in time for deer hunters to get in on the movement of bucks that are just now beginning to come to feeders. If you’re lucky enough to have a South Texas lease, bucks are definitely in the rut, and now is when some of the highest scoring racks will be tagged.

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Duck numbers increase big time in second split

So far, the second split of duck season has been much better than what we had during the first few weeks of November. Good numbers of gadwall, teal and pintails are being seen by hunters in flooded fields and in the marsh and backwater estuary lakes along the coast.

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