Lone Star Outdoor Show

This week it’s all about whitetail bucks and we start off by visiting with one of the most respected public land whitetail hunters out there in Wisconsin native Dan Infalt. He is so well respected in fact, that Field & Stream’s September cover story “Deer Hunting in the Real World” is solely based on Dan sharing his expertise and years of experience on killing big mature public land bucks. With 20 public land Pope & Young bucks to his credit, Dan clearly is a master at his craft.

We discuss his secrets for getting close to big bucks. How to locate their bedding areas. What time of day is the best time to kill a public land buck. How often can you hunt a certain stand. What spots are often overlooked by hunters & how Dan cuts back on his noise pollution while accessing a specific area. If you are serious about killing big pressured deer then you won’t want to miss this tell all interview. Dan with a mess of public land wall hangers:

Then we keep talking big bucks with Shaun Bradley, co-founder of Krooked Oak Treestands. Shaun is a lifelong whitetail fanatic who has been bowhunting exclusively for the past 15 years. As any bowhunter knows, finding the perfect tree to hang your stand can be the most challenging part of arrowing that mature buck. So he came up with a solution- the Krooked Oak Treestand’s unique design allows it to be put on any curved or leaning tree. Also, the removable platform allows hunters to hang as many bases as they want on their property while only having to purchase the one platform. Shaun also reflects on his fondest whitetail memory and the 219 inch monster that got away.

We are also very excited to have Krooked Oak as our September Photo of the Month sponsor. This month’s winner will enjoy their own Krooked Oak Treestand with an extra base! Send in your best outdoor photo for a chance to win. Krooked Oak’s unique design:

We wrap things up by heading down to the Texas Coast for a visit with our old friend Captain Len Girard. We discuss the huge numbers of big trout being caught up and down the coast as well as the oncoming redfish spawn. The always affable Captain tells us where to find ’em and what to throw at ’em. One thing is for certain, Captain Len knows how to put his anglers on limits of trout and huge redfish like this one:

We kick things off by talking big bass with the FLW Tour’s Randall Tharp who this summer won the FLW Tour’s coveted Forrest Wood Cup and a $500,000 payday! But Randall’s journey is far from a normal one. The 44 year old Florida native was swinging a hammer at his day job just 6 years ago. That’s when he decided to quit his job and become a full time professional bass angler. An expert on shallow water fishing, Randall gives us some useful tips and of course also talks about seeing something he wanted and going all in – he is a true testament that the American Dream is alive and well. Randall and the FLW Tour will once again make a stop in Texas on Sam Rayburn for the upcoming season.

Then we check in with renown whitetail author, TV show host, and passionate bow hunter Bill Winke. Over the past 20 or so years, Bill has penned articles for almost every outdoor publication out there. His desire to study the habits of big bucks and use that knowledge to help harvest them is unmatched by whitetail enthusiasts. This week we discuss his recent article in “American Hunter” magazine that focuses solely on how on to effectively arrow mature bucks out of a ground blind- like this Iowa bruiser

Ground blinds often get overlooked by bowhunters, but there is a time and place for them on every property – especially if you hunt anywhere in South Texas. Bill talks about how wind conditions can make a ground blind the ideal option. He also shares some tricks of the trade regarding how to scent proof your ground blind and how to cause the least amount of disturbance each and every time you leave the field. A well brushed in and scent proofed ground blind can be a whitetail hunters best friend.

Next, we are joined by our longtime friend and the recently promoted U.S. Army Lt. Colonel and Army Bass Anglers founder Cody Roberson. We catch up on all things ABA and what they have coming up on the horizon. Also we have exciting news to break on the sponsor front as well. One thing is for sure, there’s never a dull moment when the good natured Lt. Colonel drops by to talk fishing with us!

Hunting season is finally here! It’s the best weekend of the year and shotguns will be ringing out throughout much of Texas as the North and Central Zone dove openers are this weekend. So to start things off we talk mourning and whitewings with our Texas Parks and Wildlife Dove and Crane Program Leader Shaun Oldenburger. We discuss how precipitation affected this year’s population as well as invasive Eurasian Collared Doves and also TPWD’s dove banding program. Shaun even gives us a couple areas that he believes should be real hot spots.

Then a real treat when Texas Country artist and avid bow hunter Aaron Einhouse stops by the studio. Aaron is currently finishing up his 3rd studio album. We talk about the new record and hear about some of his musical influences such as the great Townes Van Zandt. We’ll hear some brand new music and hear about some of his recent bow hunts for New Zealand Red Stag and Alaskan black bear. I knew that we’d hit it off when he showed up with a six pack of Lone Star Light for us!

A dedicated bowhunter, Aaron recounts the story of his self guided Alaskan black bear hunt where things got a little hairy! At the end of the day, however, he had this huge boar to show for his efforts.

We round out the show by visiting with Jim Shulin of Texas’ Temple Fork Outfitters. TFO has long made some of the world’s finest fly fishing rod and reels but over the past 4 years, they’ve also been producing some incredible conventional rods as well. This week we specifically discuss what goes into making a rod designed to fight tough inshore saltwater species like redfish and trout. While the guts of a saltwater rod are very similar to a traditional bass rod, there is much more that goes into the ideal rod for saltwater. Jim talks about the differences and why it’s important to have a strong backbone and light rod tip when choosing a good inshore rod. Bottom line is they’ve got to be tough to tangle with giant redfish like the one caught on a TFO rod below:

This week we talk big time sport fishing with ‘Let It Ride’ Captain Peter Young. His boat recently weighed in the largest blue marlin at the world’s most prestigious and longest running saltwater tournament- The Poco Bueno out of Port O’Connor, Texas. Captain Young talks about hooking up with the 580 plus pound billfish and the race to make it back to port in time for the weigh in. The catch ended up being worth over $440K!

Then Laramy ‘Sasquatch’ Miller – from the hit hunting show ‘Sasquatch’ on the Outdoor Channel drops by. His unique and refreshing take on a hunting show takes the viewer back to a simpler day and time. When mountain men tried to tame the rugged Rocky Mountains with homemade bows and muzzle loaders. Laramy is still doing it the same today. Be sure to set those DVR’s for Friday nights – 6:30 PM Central time for some awesome big game hunts done the old fashioned way.

Next up is Illinois native and lifelong catfish angler Anthony Maggert who in July tangled with a world record caliber blue catfish. His catch ended up coming up a little bit short but at 114 lbs, it’s still the fish of a lifetime and a story that needs to be heard. Especially since the behemoth wouldn’t fit in the live well and Anthony couldn’t get ahold of anybody to come weigh and certify the fish at 3am on a Sunday morning. He breaks down the fight and the ensuing funny story about how he and his brother in law stood in chest deep water for 4 hours just to make sure the fish stayed alive. And the best part…Anthony released the fish after it was measured and weighed.

We round out the show by checking in with one of our oldest friends when Captain Len Girard stops in to talk trout, redfish and flounder with us. Captain Len says he has never seen this many trophy sized trout and we discuss whether or not that is a direct result of the vision of TPWD’s Coastal Fisheries Division. Of course he also breaks down where he is finding fish and what he is catching them on.

We start things off by talking bucketmouths with two young anglers. Colton Mitchell and Dallin Bishop of Rouse High School recently won the Texas High School Bass Fishing Championship on Lake LBJ. The duo each won $1,000 scholarships towards college tuition and even got to go fishing with Elite Series Pro Alton Jones on Lake Fork. We discuss their experiences on the water as well as the importance of their high school bass fishing club. Bass Fishing clubs are well established on the collegiate level but a new phenomenon has seen them popping in many Texas High Schools. Bass Clubs are a great way to get kids started in both competitive and recreational fishing.

Then we check in with our longtime friend Steven Rinella- renown outdoor writer and host of the hit show MeatEater on Sportsman Channel. Unfortunately, Steven was stricken by Lyme Disease this summer and is currently in the middle of a 28 day stretch of intravenous IV’s. Lyme Disease can potentially affect anybody who spends significant time in the great outdoors, and if left untreated can result in serious health complications. Steven now has his situation under control, but did experience short term memory loss and nervous system damage resulting in numbness of his legs. His hope is that his experience will help prevent others from the same fate. Steven getting his daily IV treatment:

Lyme Disease or not, you can’t keep Steven down. He and the MeatEater crew will be hitting the woods and filming this fall as usual. We discuss some of his upcoming trips and well as reflecting on some of last season’s highlights like the mule deer hunt he shared with comedian Joe Rogan. Season 4 of MeatEater premieres on Sportsman Channel this October. Set those DVR’s for 8pm Central.

We round out the show by talking saltwater fly fishing with Captain Scot Sparrow who joins us from the Lower Laguna Madre. If you enjoy fly fishing, or sight casting to tailing redfish and trout then you will want to tune in. With a lifetime of experience and over 15 years of guiding under his belt, Captain Sparrow provides insight into where to look for fish, what flies to use and when, & we discuss the proper presentation. Captain Sparrow with a nice redfish on the fly.

Big bass talk get’s the ball rolling for us this week when we check in with our friend and renown outdoor writer John Felsher. His recent article in Texas Fish & Game Magazine titled “Swim Baits Make a Big Splash” focuses on how effective big swim baits can be for landing the largemouth of a lifetime. Let’s face it, all serious bass fisherman have a couple swim baits in there tackle box but most of the time we just stare at and pick another bait because swim baits traditionally don’t produce alot of bites.

But, if you know when and where to chunk a big swimmer then you might just end up with the biggest bass of your life. John breaks down some of his favorite swim baits and when and where he throws them. We also get insight from Bassmaster Classic Champions KVD and Jay Yelas on when they use big swim baits. So next time, don’t just look at that huge swim bait- tie that sucker on and hold on tight!

The a real treat when our old friend and Texas honky tonker Phil Hamilton swings by the studio to talk some duck hunting and play a couple tunes. His new live project “Live at the Whiskey Girl Saloon”. This 16 track live recording hits ITunes August 20th. The record features two previously unreleased singles that Phil plays for us live. We also reminisce on the 2012-2013 Texas waterfowl season and talk about Phil’s plans for the upcoming season- including a Kansas snow goose hunt! With a beard that would make Jase Robertson jealous, it’s pretty clear his face will be warm in the duck blind.

We round out the show by diving head first into the always controversial topic of high fence hunting. Whether you love them, hate them or are indifferent, they have definitely changed the face of Texas’ landscape over the past 30 years. Our resident expert Ben Loftin of Ben Loftin Fencing joins us to talk about the history of high fence’s in the Lone Star State. Specifically, how they have evolved from their original purpose to provide hunters with exotic opportunity into the specialized whitetail management tool they often are today. Either way, we need to stand united as hunters- no matter which side of the fence you’re on.

Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Wildlife Division Director Clayton Wolf makes his return to the show. For the past week, Clayton and Carter Smith have been on the road in East Texas, traveling to public hearings in order to get folks feedback on some possible regulation changes that could affect 10 East Texas counties. In 1990, it became illegal to trail wounded deer with tracking dogs in 34 counties. The proposed changes would allow hunters the opportunity to once again have the advantage of trailing hit deer with tracking dogs. Clayton talks about the response they received at the hearings and also the history behind outlawing the use of tracking dogs in East Texas almost 25 years ago.

Then we are joined by one of Pro Bass Fishing’s most affable personalities and well liked individuals- Dean Rojas. The longtime Elite Series pro is widely considered to be pioneer of fishing plastic top water frogs, and few have as much knowledge on the subject as Dean. He has won and lost tournaments on plastic frogs. Dean with a couple toads at a recent Elite Series event:

We discuss the special technique and presentation that Dean uses to entice big fish to blow up his plastic frogs. There’s much more to it than just working the bait back to the boat with a few pauses mixed in. Also, we pick Dean’s brain on color selection and whether or not weather patterns influence his decision on whether or not to throw a plastic frog. One thing is for certain- few things are as exciting as a huge black bass exploding onto the surface to inhale a topwater frog! Dean working a frog in a tournament:

We round out the broadcast by checking in with our good friend Vance Runnels- Auction Manager for the Texas Deer Association. The TDA’s 15th annual convention and deer auctions is right around the corner and this year’s event promises to be the biggest and best yet. Our good friend and whitetail junkie Kevin Fowler will even be providing the entertainment on Friday night. If you love whitetail deer, then this is the summer event you don’t want to miss. Over 200 exhibitors converge on the JW Marriot Hill Country Resort August 15th-17th for this one of a kind event!

If you’ve ever been in the Rocky Mountains and heard a big bull elk bugling then it probably sent chills down your spine. These animals are perhaps the most majestic of all North America’s big game species. And this week we kick things off by talking elk with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Texas State Co Chair Mark Biggs. Much in the same vein as Ducks Unlimited and ducks, the RMEF is focused on conserving elk and their habitat. Mark talks about the organization’s mission statement, history and their presence in Texas ( you might be surprised to know we have over 20 chapters). Of course, we also talk some elk hunting as well. Be sure to check out the RMEF’s website to see how you can get involved: (Photo Courtesy of RMEF)

Then we are joined by Grayson County bowhunter Robert Taylor who on December 29th of last season arrowed a monster whitetail that would be become the #1 scoring Texas whitetail of all time (barely beating out the AJ Downs buck harvested opening morning of last season). Robert’s buck would go on to score 254 4/8 inches!!! The land he and his son hunted was only 4.7 acres. Robert talks about this buck’s elusive nature and his wandering habits. Still, there were many close encounters including a missed shot by his son. The Taylor buck on the hoof.

Robert talks about watching this buck grow for 4 years before finally having the opportunity to stick an arrow in him. Robert with his amazing buck, the 9th largest archery whitetail ever harvested in North America:

The we round out the show by talking quail with our old friend and Texas Parks & Wildlife Upland Game Bird Program Leader Robert Perez. With spring rains rescuing some of the state from continued extreme drought, can we expect the bobwhite to bounce back this season? Robert recently returned from a 25 state conference in Virginia where the focus was on quail restoration. We dive into some of the topics discussed at the quail conference. Also, what role do fire ants really play regarding quail, turkey and other upland birds such as pheasant? All that and much more with the man who has his finger squarely on the pulse of Texas’ quail population.

We get things going this week by checking in with an old friend in Larry Weishuhn (AKA ‘Mr. Whitetail’). Larry has pretty much seen and done it all in the outdoor industry. From managing ranches as a biologist, to writing books and hunting articles to hosting various hunting shows on TV. But it was a recent article of his that really peaked my interest. The article was called “When Javelina Come Calling” and it chronicled his experiences calling javelina into close quarters with a simple mouth distress call.

We visit with Larry about this interesting phenomenon in nature. Honestly, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for a herbivore to come running looking for a fight in response to a jackrabbit distress sound. But come in they do, and they come in hard and fast! Also, Larry talks about his brand new show which premiered July 1st on Sportsman Channel – ‘Trailing The Hunter’s Moon’. Be sure to check it out! (Larry and I at the Dallas Safari Club Convention in 2011)

Then we dive into “Operation World Record” with Texas Parks & Wildlife Freshwater Fisheries Center Director Allen Forshage. TPWD hopes that thru the Sharelunker Program’s Selective Breeding effort that a new world record bass will one day come out of Texas waters. The current state record is still 18.18 lbs caught by Barry St. Claire on Lake Fork back in 1992. That is still over 4 lbs light of George Perry’s 22 lb 4 oz bass caught in Georgia back in 1932.

Allen discusses some of the Sharelunker Program’s history as well as the details concerning genetic testing and selective breeding. Who knows…maybe one of these 100% pure Florida strain fingerlings hatched from Sharelunkers brought into the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center will end up being the next world record?

Next we visit Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples regarding the new County Hog Abatement Matching Program (CHAMP). This grant program gives Texas counties the opportunity to apply for state funded grants that they can then in turn use to pay hunters/trappers for every feral hog they kill. Getting paid to kill feral hogs? Heck, most of us gladly do it for free LOL. So this seems like a pretty sweet deal! Commissioner Staples discusses this as well as the established Hog Out County Grants.

Over 2.6 million feral hogs inhabit Texas and with no real natural enemy it’s clear that their numbers need to be kept in check. Each year, feral hogs cause an estimated 50 million dollars in losses to Texas agriculture alone. These hogs were trapped by our friend Don Gresham at Goin Fencing in Montague County- check out his website if you are interested in a hog trap, if you’re county is enrolled in the CHAMP program you could start getting paid! (Goin’ Fencing’s Website)

We wrap things up when our longtime friend Captain Len Girard joins us live from the Upper Laguna Madre for our coastal fishing report. Captain Len tells us what the trout and redfish are biting and where to catch ’em. This week he also shares one of the funniest fishing stories I’ve heard in my lifetime.

This week we jump right into things by talking bowfishing with guide Aaron Haddock of Nockternal Adventures. I had the pleasure of joining Aaron on his boat ‘Good Company’ on Lake Texoma this past week for my first ever bowfishing trip. It far exceeded my expectations as we stuck over 20 fish on our trip. It was about as much fun as one can have on the water! Anyway, Aaron talks about what goes into a successful bowfishing operation. We also discuss the best time of the year to target trophy alligator gar and what species of fish you can expect to shoot on most Texas lakes. Aaron and some happy clients after a recent trip.

Then we check in with our Texas Parks and Wildlife Small Game and Migratory Bird Program Leader Dave Morrison. This September, Texas teal hunters will enjoy a 6 bird daily bag limit (up from 4 in previous years). Dave is also the Central Flyway Representative to Washington D.C. so he breaks down how the increase in hunter harvest opportunity came about. We also cover a couple other nationwide regulation changes including an increase in the possession limit of migratory game birds. Good news for any wingshooter who travels to hunt!

19 year old Lucy Milsap drops in next to talk about the 72 lb flathead catfish she weighed in at the Paul’s Valley Okie Noodling Championship this June. Not only did Lucy win big fish and a hefty paycheck, but she also became the first female to ever win the granddaddy of noodling tournaments! Lucy is also a member of the Bare Knuckle Babes, a group of good looking gals who are out to prove that women can be beautiful while still getting down and dirty by messin’ with giant catfish! Lucy with a giant flathead:

We round out the broadcast when Hunt With Our Heroes founder Nate Nelson joins us. This non-profit organization takes active duty, veterans, firemen and women and police officers on some pretty amazing hunting/fishing adventures. Nate talks about how the outdoors can make a difference in the lives of folks who have seen and been through hell and back while protecting the rest of us. (Hunt With Our Heroes Website)