Lone Star Outdoor Show

The 2013 BassMaster Classic is this coming weekend! So we figured we’d better check in with one of the sports all time greats. You might recognize Hank Parker from his 27 years and counting as an outdoor television host, but Hank made his name in pro bass fishing – winning the Classic in ’79 and again in ’89. He also has an Angler of The Year title and is a member of the Professional Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. Hank is no stranger to the location of this year’s Classic on Grand Lake, Tulsa OK. He talks about the fishery, what baits he would turn to in cold weather conditions, how pro bass fishing has changed since his heyday and Hank also gives us his Classic predictions.

Of course Hank is also a passionate hunter who enjoys bow hunting whitetails as much as he does bass fishing. Hank talks about this past season and some of the hunts that will be featured on his long running program “Hank Parker’s Outdoor Magazine” which airs on NBC Sports and Pursuit Channel.

Then a real treat when our friend Rich O’Toole drops by the studio. Rich is a lifelong outdoorsman and he has some crazy stories to share about his adventures on the water and in the woods. Obviously he brought his guitar with him so we will hear some brand new Texas music as well. The new record Brightwork comes out Tuesday, February 19th. Get ready for some great tunes and fun outdoor talk with one of Texas’ best country acts!

I am pumped about this week’s show because we get to visit with A.J. Downs of Conroe, Texas. On opening day of Texas’ bow season, A.J. double lunged the largest free range non-typical whitetail ever harvested in the Lone Star State! With 28 scorable points and incredible mass, this San Jacinto County buck grosses 263 1/8 and nets 253 3/8 smashing the previous state record by a whopping 24 inches. A.J. was pretty quiet about this buck until both Pope & Young and Boone & Crockett had a chance to give their official scores. According to Pope & Young this is the 9th largest non-typical whitetail killed in North America since they started official scoring in 1957. Pretty impressive for an East Texas deer!

Anyway, A.J. gives up all the details. Did he have pictures of the buck? How many seasons had he been watching him? How big was the lease? What were the conditions like that fateful opening morning? Was he hunting a food plot, feeder or trail? A.J. tells it all and a whole lot more. If you are a whitetail enthusiast of any kind you won’t want to miss this interview. A top ten all time North American whitetail…and out of East Texas no less.

Then we get our fishing fix in when our longtime friend of the show and Army Bass Anglers founder Major Cody Roberson stops by. Big things are going on for ABA these days. From once again having the honor as the lead boat out of this month’s Bass Master Classic on Grand Lake, OK to Season 2 of the hit show Force on Force which airs on World Fishing Network (WFN). Major also gives us his Classic prediction and we read an email from an active duty Sergeant Major currently serving in Afghanistan who somehow found our show. Pretty inspiring stuff for sure!

We’ve got a special show planned for this weekend. One of our oldest friends is set to drop by. Whether you know him as a rockstar, best selling author, hunting tv show host, or gun activist, one thing is certain – Ted Nugent will keep you on the edge of your seat! And today will be no exception as we dive into a wide array of topics. To start with we get into some bowhunting talk and Ted has some sound advice for anyone out there looking to purchase a new bow. We also dissect the 2012-2013 Texas whitetail and despite the great acorn crop that kept so many bucks away from feeders, Ted still managed to stick a few good ones:

After discussing the hunting side of things we switch gears and delve into all the anit-gun, anti-America propaganda proliferating America society today. What does Ted believe we as civilians can do in order to ensure this current administration doesn’t gain enough momentum to infringe on the 2nd Amendment that so many Americans have paid the ultimate price to protect? Also, the NRA’s Annual Meetings will be held in Houston this May. Ted will be there, I will be there and we encourage you to come be a part of this great event celebrating the 2nd Amendment. I personally urge each of you to become a member of the most powerful pro-gun organization on the planet.

We then change it up and talk some fishing with 2013 BassMaster Classic less than a month away! Our good friend Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick joins us to talk some bass fishing. How has the mild Texas winter affected largemouth movements this winter? With water temps in the upper 40s to low 50s across much of the state, when does Heath think the big girls will start transitioning into their prespawn pattern? Also, is the Alabama Rig still the most consistent winter bait in Heath’s tacklebox? All that plus we get Heath’s predictions for the upcoming Classic on Grand Lake, Tulsa OK. Heath with a Lake Fork toad:

It’s no secret that we are facing trying times as American gun owners and patriots. The left continues to infringe on our 2nd Amendment rights that ultimately was designed to protect us from not only the bad guys- but also a government that abuses the power that we gave them! Well, at least Texans have a State Representative in Steve Toth (R- Woodlands) who has our interests at heart. Representative Toth made national headlines last week with his “Firearm Protection Act” proposal. This act not only protects Texans’ 2nd Amendment rights but also our 10th Amendment rights as a sovereign state. We are thrilled to have him join us. It’s also a good feeling knowing we’ve elected an official not afraid to roll his sleeves up and do some heavy lifting on the front lines.

Then we are joined by Super Bowl Champion Garrett Hartley of the New Orleans Saints. Garrett hails from Southlake, TX and is a passionate outdoorsman. He especially enjoys bowhunting and is even a part owner in the relatively new X-Tag archery company! Garrett compares kicking a winning Sunday afternoon field goal to smoking a huge whitetail- you might be surprised which one gets his adrenaline flowing the most! He also is heading up a new hunting show set to premiere on Sportsman’s Channel first quarter of 2014. I’m a big fan despite Garrett’s game winning overtime field goal against the Cowboys this season.

With the the 2013 BassMaster Classic less than a month away we check in with a former Classic Champion- Michael Iaconelli. It’s no secret that Mike does things differently than most of the guys on the Elite Series and it’s worked out well for the New Jersey native. By staying true to himself, Mike has created a brand for himself and brought many new anglers to the sport. He also has the 2003 Classic and the 2006 AOY title to highlight a 15 year career. We get his thoughts on how the upcoming Classic will play out and we also discuss finesse fishing in great detail. You won’t want to miss this chat with one of pro bass fishing’s most captivating personalities!

This week we focus on two things: Bucks and Ducks! After receiving countless emails from Texas deer hunters concerned about a drop in the number of deer they saw this season we decided to get to the bottom of things. Nobody knows our state’s whitetail herd better than TPWD Whitetail Program Leader Alan Cain. Hopefully Alan can explain why hunters in some regions saw fewer deer. Drought, disease, low fawn recruitment? Alan breaks it down for us.

We also visit with Alan about another factor that could be affecting whitetail numbers. Coyotes have never been more prevalent than they are today and a couple full grown coyotes can and will take down a mature buck. But will a strict predator control program really make a difference on most ranches or leases? Alan gives is his thoughts on how effective reducing coyote numbers really is.

Then we get into some late season waterfowling talk with Scott Keith- Founder/Owner of Quack Shack Duck Calls. You might have seen him on Sportsman Channel recently as the new Quack Shack duck hunting show premiered on January 5th! Quack Shack is Texas owned and operated and Scott takes immense pride in Texas’ rich waterfowling tradition and that’s why they film all their hunts right here in the Lone Star State. Scott in studio with us:

We also pick Scott’s brain on late season ducks. Specifically, how does he change up his calling technique and his G&H Decoy spread? What species does he incorporate in his spread regularly? His insight might just help you get that wary flock of late season mallards to commit to your spread!

We’ve got a good one for ya! We kick it off by talking winter catfishin’ techniques and tips with Professional Guide TJ Whitworth of San Antonio. TJ holds the Cavaleras Lake record for channel catfish and knows how and where to find channels and big blues during the late winter. We get into where to find ’em, what baits to use and TJ even talks about his rigs for each species. Also, we get a few chumming tips from a pro. TJ with a nice 30 lb blue cat caught on cut bait:

Then we get into some serious bow hunting talk with one of the world’s premiere archers- Jim Burnworth. A longtime television producer prior to becoming the face of Western Extreme on Outdoor Channel, Jim has been obsessed with archery since he was 12 years old. Jim provides tips on how to become a better bowhunter. We also talk hunting ethics and about the new show Choose Your Weapon which also airs on Outdoor Channel.

We round out the show by checking in with our longtime friend Captain Len Girard. How is the action along the Texas Coast? Specifically how is the redfish, flounder, spec and black drum bite? Captain Len breaks it down for us and tells us what baits are hot right now. We even get a bonus waterfowl report as pintails, redheads and wigeon have arrived on the coast in numbers. Always great to catch up with Captain Len! A happy angler with a nice black drum on one of Len’s recent trips:

We kick things off by talking whitetails with RealTree.com’s Will Brantley. His recent blog entry “Deer Hunters: We’re Killing Ourselves” really got me thinking about the often unpleasant exchanges between deer hunters. Stand placement, fence lines, and a litany of other topics often lead to disagreements. Also, it seems like deer hunters often times aren’t happy for each other when one hunter harvests an exceptional buck. Why has negative feedback and responses become the norm? Will might not have all the answers but he does bring up a valid point that this behavior gives the entire sport a black eye.

The a real treat when our old friend and 4 Time Crappie Anglers of Texas Angler of the Year Paul O’Bier drops in to talk winter time crappie fishing. What depth should you be targeting and what baits are most effective during the winter months?

Next a liberally raised hippie chick turned passionate huntress- Lily Raff-McCaulou drops in to talk about her new book “Call of The Mild“. Lily with a beautiful public land bull she harvested on a do it yourself hunt. Pretty cool!

We round things out when commercial fisherman Mike Johnson stops by talk about the new show Bottom Feeders on Outdoor Channel which chronicles the adventures and lives of Mike and 2 other fisherman who battle the Mighty Mississippi day in and day out in search of rough fish like carp and buffalo. Interesting stuff for sure! Mike- also known as “The Scrapper”.

Merry Christmas to you and yours! We’ve got a great show lined up for you guys and gals and we kick it off when our old pal Kevin Fowler drops in. Kevin is touring his tail off with the annual ‘Deck The Dancehalls’ tour and should be coming to your neck of the woods sometime very soon. An avid outdoorsman and bowhunter, Kevin has still found time to get into the woods this fall. He even drew a muzzleloader and spent a week chasing big bull elk in Colorado. We get into all that and get the low down on the new record due out Summer 2013! Kevin after a successful evening stalking swine:

Then a real treat when one of the true pioneers of outdoor television stops by. Terry Drury joins us to talk whitetails and about the new show which pits he and brother Mark against each other in an intense turkey hunting competition! Terry and his brother Mark founded Drury Outdoors back in 1989 and have been producing the highest quality outdoor programming ever since. You’re probably familiar with ‘Bow Madness’ or ‘Dream Season’ as seen on Outdoor Channel but the fellas are really excited about the new show “King of the Spring” premiering New Year’s Day on Outdoor Channel. Brothers Mark (left) and Terry (right) with a couple nice gobblers.

We follow that up with outdoor writer and professional hunting guide Jackson Landers. Jackson’s new book Eating Aliens chronicles a 16 month adventure traveling the United States hunting and fishing for invasive species. He shares some of those experiences and talks about bettering the natural environment and wildlife species thru the removal and consumption of some introduced species. From eating feral hogs to invasive snakeheads and Asian Carp, we dive in deep!

We round things out when our good friend and Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick joins the show. This mild winter has definitely affected the largemouth bite across much of Texas as fish continue to stay in that early fall pattern. But has it made the fishing better or worse? Where is Heath finding the big girls and what bait is proving to be the most effective right now? Hint Hint: break out that Alabama Rig!!!

We’ve got a great one on tap this weekend! Those of us who go into the outdoors on a regular basis frequently put ourselves at the mercy of Mother Nature and other circumstances out of our control. While we hope to never have to be in a real life wilderness survival situation- it can and does occur. So today we will be joined by Outdoor Life Magazine’s Survival Expert Tim MacWelch. His recent feature “14 Ways a Beer Can Could Save Your Life” has some great survival tips and we will discuss some of them in great detail. From boiling water, to starting a fire, to fastening a fish hook- something as simple as a beer can could mean the difference between life and death. (Photos Compliments of Outdoor Life)

Then an old friend drops in to talk about the exciting sport of predator hunting when Waco’s Seth Skinner- 2008 World Distress Calling Champion- joins us to talk about getting coyotes on the ground. Coyotes are more prevalent now than at any time in North American history and all other wildlife benefits from us doing our part as hunters to thin out the population.What is his favorite caliber for yotes? How does he use an electronic call while on a stand? Specifically, what sounds does he use in certain situations? Do distress calls work better than coyote vocalization calls? How long will he stick with the same sound if nothing has responded and how long will he stay on one stand?

With over 20 years experience and a world title to his name Seth is the authority on calling coyotes. For more predator hunting info be sure to check out Seth’s Take Em Out Predator Productions page on Facebook and look for him on Sportsman’s Channel this winter. Seth with some fur on the ground!

We get the ball rolling when our old friend Dr. James Kroll “Dr. Deer” drops by to talk whitetails. Specifically we get into the proper age structure of whitetail bucks and tackle the age old spike debate. Dr. Deer has conducted an in depth spike study over the past 14 years with over 6,500 bucks entered into the program. Recently, we found out that I harvested one of those bucks while hunting the 4,000 acre low fence Mendiola Ranch in Webb County. Tune in to find out what my 142 inch trophy looked like as a yearling buck. You might be surprised!

Then we talk bucketmouths with FLW Pro Brent Ehrler. Brent is also a part of Major League Fishing on Outdoor Channel and season two is set to premiere Thursday, January 3rd at 8 pm Central. Brent has two victories under his belt in 2012 and we hope 2013 brings even more success. A California native, Brent also takes about why Falcon is his favorite lake to fish, so much so that Brent is planning on moving to Texas in the near future!

Next, Matt Young – Editor of Ducks Unlimited Magazine stops in to talk about the art of calling ducks. His piece “7 Deadly Duck Calling Mistakes” is very informative and offers some great tips from some of the best waterfowlers out there. You might recognize the names of Fred Zink, Rod Haydell and Jim Ronquest all of whom helped contribute to this great article. Duck hunters won’t want to miss this one!

We round things off with our buddy Gino Attardi of Tomorrow’s Hunter. A great non-profit organization dedicated to getting kids from non-hunting/fishing backgrounds interested in the outdoors. Tomorrow’s Hunter not only takes them on outdoor adventures but also has various outreach programs such as donating hunting/fishing related literature to public libraries. Below:Two young hunters after a successful day in the field with Tomorrow’s Hunter.