Lone Star Outdoor Show

Gonna be a very educational show this week. We kick it off when longtime dog trainer Roger Sigler of Antler Ridge Antler Dogs drops in. Roger has devoted the last 6 years to training dogs to find shed antlers. Shed hunting has long been a favorite pastime of deer enthusiasts and a good dog can make it that much better. Plus, whitetail antlers is big business these days. A matching pair of sheds recently sold for 19K at auction! Roger after a successful day of shed hunting:

Then we get into a very disturbing trend w/ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They budgeted $24.6 million in taxpayer dollars for court fees in 2012! Environmental groups keep suing them faster than they can settle the cases. To the tune of 300 court cases a year. Texas General Land Office Commissioner Jerry Patterson recently went to D.C. to testify before the House Resource Committee on the issue and he joins us to elaborate on a system that is clearly broken. Those funds should be spent on research and conservation. Not on legal fees!

We round out the broadcast when the father/son combo Walter & Robert Blackburn join us to talk some bowfishing. 15 year old Robert has a list of bowfishing records longer than you can shake a stick at. Including Texas records and the world record all tackle tilapia which he arrowed in 2008. Walter is also the president of the Texas Bowfishing Association. Robert with the world record tilapia:

This deadly duo is dedicated to the sport and also aid in the removal of invasive species like these South American plecostomus that have infested Lake Dunlop. I would say this was a pretty good outing!

We have a ton to get into this week and we start by talking hunting dogs w/ Warner Smith of Tri-Tronics. Whether you hunt retrievers, pointers, blood trackers or hounds- every hunting dog owner can benefit from an electronic collar. E-collars were first developed by Tri-Tronics in the 1960s and have come a long way since then! No matter what brand you choose, E-collars are an invaluable tool for the hunting dog and dog owner. Maverick, Belle and I pheasant hunting in the Texas Panhandle- they never leave home without their Tri-Tronics Sport Basics.

Then a special in studio guest drops in. Phil Hamilton is tearing up the Texas Music Chart and the Texas music scene. He talks about the new record Renegade Rock N Roll, life on the round and of course his passion for hunting- especially waterfowling. Phil used to work at Cabela’s just to support his duck hunting addiction! So get ready for some great Texas tunes and hunting talk Phil.

Then we round out the show with one of the outdoor industry’s biggest rising stars. The lovely Eva Shockey! We are probably all familiar with her dad Jim -one of the most respected big game hunters and conservationists on the planet. But Eva is making her own way and traveling the world hunting big game animals. We talk about growing up in the Shockey household and reflect on some of her favorite hunts. Eva w/ her first black bear. What a brute!

River Rim is located along the Frio River. Tons of fishing, camping, hunting and other outdoor opportunities in God’s Country. Located right next to Garner State Park- Texas’ most visited state park. Nancy Feely joins us to talk about the gem of the real Texas Hill Country!

Podcast:

[wpaudio url=”https://www.lonestaroutdoorshow.com/audio/RiverRimResortSponsorSpotlight.mp3″ text=”Click To Hear Nancy’s Interview”]

So much to cover and only an hour to do it! We kick it off by going deep for Texoma striped bass with Limitless Outdoor Adventures’ Jacob Orr. Texas country artist Zane Williams and I were lucky enough to fish w/ Jacob this past week and we brought home some really nice fish! We went deep for the big girls and then enjoyed a fast and furious top water bite later on in the morning. The fish were healthy and seem to have recovered after last year’s threadfin shad die off. Jacob gives us tips on where to catch ’em and what to look for. Zane and I with our over 20″ keepers.

Then a real treat when our longtime friend of the show Josh Abbott drops in! Josh and the band recently released a new record ‘Small Town Family Dream’ which has been met with much acclaim both in Texas and nationally. We discuss the new record and of course get into Josh’s love for the great outdoors. Josh with a trophy auodad he bagged last fall.

We wrap things up by checking in with Lake Corpus Christi bow fisherman Brent Crawford. He became an overnight celebrity in the outdoor industry after he arrowed this 8’2″ alligator gar on Memorial Day. The fish easily would’ve beaten the old Texas all tackle record of 302 lbs- but this behemoth bottomed out the 300 scale with only two thirds of her body weight! Brent tells the fishing tale of a lifetime that includes him being drug off the bank and into the water this amazing fish. Hold on- it’s gonna be a wild ride!

It’s gonna be a good one as usual! Right off the top were talking ducks- specifically Farm Bill- with Ducks Unlimited’s Director of Public Policy Dan Wrinn and Duck’s Unlimited’s Government Affairs Representative Eric Lindstrom. Our current Farm Bill expires in September of this year. The new proposal has been passed thru the Senate but still has to clear the U.S. House of Representatives. Dan and Eric break down the new Farm Bill for us. It’s passage is essential for waterfowl, duck hunters and conservation. This mallard hen is taking advantage of nesting cover the Farm Bill provides in the Prairie Pothole Region.

Then a very special in studio guest when one of Texas’ premiere singer/songwriters Nate Kipp drops by. West Texas born and raised, Nate has been pickin’ a guitar and plinkin’ jackrabbits since he was old enough to walk. We’ll hear some tunes off the new record and talk some outdoors with one of Texas’ finest!

Then we round out the show by talking about Texas’ apex predator- mountain lions. I would love to harvest a mountain lion but these big cats are rare in Texas- the majority of us will go our whole lives without ever seeing one. But they are here and Dr. Michael Tewes of the Ceasar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute has been studying Texas mountain lions for over 30 years! He is the authority on Texas cats. He explains these mysterious creatures and talks about the areas of the state where they occur most frequently. This lion was photographed in Big Bend State Park. I guarantee one thing: there are more lions in Texas than you think!

We all hate the destruction that feral hogs create in Texas. That’s why we shoot them and trap them to no end. Our buddy Don Gresham of Montague County, Texas has been in the hog trap building business for some time. I have seen firsthand how he has incorporated technology into his trapping and I have actually watched Don trap 13 hogs with the click of a button his cellphone!!! The wireless camera sends a pic to your smart phone and you decide whether or not to slam the trap door! Too cool. Also, we will hear the story about a hog that came to be know as ‘Hogdini’ for his disappearing act- twice getting out of a 6ft high hog trap. If you look close you can see Hogdini jumping over the panels in the game cam picture below:

Then we get into a very serious issue concerning the Texas coast when Governor Rick Perry makes his return to the show. The U.S. Department of the Interior has mandated all non-producing off shore oil rigs be removed from the Gulf Coast. The issue with this ‘Idle Iron’ policy is that our 50,000 off shore oil rigs make up the biggest artificial reef system in the world. Marine ecosystems and the health of many of our fisheries thrive around these off shore structures. Coastal economies will lose revenue, anglers and divers will lose out and most importantly- so will marine life. A passionate diver and angler- Governor Perry has our backs and we talk about this flawed initiative. Here is a red snapper I caught off an oil rig in 2010.

Then we round out the show when our longtime friend and Texas Parks and Wildlife Upland Game Bird Program Leader Robert Perez drops in. Last year was one of the worst quail seasons on record. Much was made about a possible change in bag limits and season dates to help our struggling bobwhite population. What did TPWD decide? Also, they have a new 4 year program they’ve enacted and we (the hunter) are and essential part of it. Robert gives is the lowdown as we dissect the always concerning bobwhite quail issue.

Our longtime buddy and Elite Series Pro Kelly Jordon drops by. We get Kelly’s thoughts on fishing grass lines where bass typically congregate. “Find the grass and you’ll find the bass”. We also discuss the Elite Series and how things are shaking out so far this season. Also, Kelly is a passionate off shore fisherman – heading down to the Texas coast as often as he can. Red Snapper regulations, big tuna and a whole lot more with our good friend!

Then a very special treat when Texas Country music legend Pat Green joins us. We talk about Pat’s days in Nashville and return to Texas music and of course we also will get into his new record Songs We Wish We’d Written II. Oh yeah, we’ll also talk a little hunting and fishing with one of the most influential Texas artists of the past 20 years.

Then we round things out by checking in with Col. Pete Flores who retired last week after 27 years as a Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden. He was the head of TPWD’s Law Enforcement Division for the past 7 years and over the course of his career has seen and done it all! We will hear some of his stories and enjoy celebrating 27 years of service to the Lone Star State’s outdoorsmen and women.

We kick things off with our longtime friend of the show John Devney- Delta Waterfowl’s Senior Director of U.S. Policy. Delta has long been one of our favorite conservation organizations and John breaks down how nesting conditions look in the Prairie Pothole Region and farther north. Also, there is some potential Agricultural Policy Change up for vote in Washington and John will update us on that as well. It’s no secret that private land is essential for nesting success like this canvasback and her brood:

Then we have an in studio guest when our buddy Derek Lemaster of Black Ops Tactical Hunts drops in. Black Ops is doing there part to put a dent in our feral hog population one pig at time thru the use of thermal imaging scopes. I was able to hunt with these guys last week and it was an awesome experience! Derek talks about thermal imaging and tells some of his pig killing secrets. By the way- our July Photo of the month grand prize winner will get to do some hog control with Black Ops Tactical Hunts so send in your best outdoor photos! Derek and myself with the results from our hunt. Good piggies!!!

We then cap things off by checking in with our longtime friend and Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick. The action on Lake Fork is heating up as the bass are moving out of the shallows and into their summer haunts. Heath tells us where to find ’em and how to catch. Even more exciting- Heath confirmed that hydrilla and dense aquatic vegetation is starting to pop back up after a couple year absence due to drought. Don’t look now but Lake Fork is poised to bust out in a big way! Find the hydrilla and you will find the bass:

We kick things off with a real hot button issue when Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) CEO Brian Murphy stops by. Many of you probably know that the QDMA recently came out with a stance on captive deer breeding and canned hunting operations. We ask Brian the tough questions and get to the bottom of the issues and why the QDMA came out publically when they did. There are over 1,300 registered deer breeders in Texas and breeder pens like the one below are extremely common.

Then a real treat when one of my favorite Texas musicians joins us live in studio…Grant Jones of Grant Jones and the Pistol Grip Lassos. Grant and the band will perform at the Dallas Safari Club YPG 5th Annual Crawfish Boil Saturday April 21st at the Barley House in Dallas, Texas. Grant talks about his love for the outdoors, the new record set to release in May and of course he’ll play us a couple tunes as well.

What technique is most effective when trying to get that big bedded female to eat your bait? Our old buddy and Lake Fork Guide Heath Hardwick chimes in with his favorite strategy. Also, what is he seeing in regards to a post spawn pattern and what bait is the most effective right now? All that and a whole lot more with Heath. Check out this nice toad Heath recently yanked off a bed!

Then we round out the show when an old college buddy of mine stops in. John McClure is one of the founders of the Lake Fork Classic. This fishing tournament is designed to raised money for Camp John Marc- a summer camp for terminally ill kids where they’re taught how to fish and enjoy other outdoor activities. This year’s tournament is coming up on Saturday April 21st and John tells us all about it. Some of last year’s anglers with a check made out to Camp John Marc for $10,000!

Podcast:

[wpaudio url=”https://www.lonestaroutdoorshow.com/audio/LoneStarOutdoorsShow113.mp3″ text=”Episode 113″]

BOOM! What a show we’ve got lined up for this weekend. Off the top we talk crappie with Mr. Crappie- Walley Marshall. Nobody knows Texas crappie fishing like Walley- heck he made a career out of catching these delicious fish. Anyway, spring is here and the slabs are moving up into the shallows. Walley breaks down his secrets for landing the big ones…and landing limits of em!

Then, a man whose name is synonymous with big bass- our TPWD Sharelunker Program Leader David Campbell drops in. ‘The gfodfather of Big Bass’ is retiring at the end of March after 46 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife. He has held just about every position within the Inland Fisheries Department- but has spent the past 26 years working on the Sharelunker Program. David has seen and done it all- In 1973 he traveled to Florida to gather the Florida largemouth strain so TPWD could begin stocking our Texas lakes with bigger fish. David picked up ‘Ethel’ – Sharelunker #1 back in 1986 and has since picked up over 500 more sharelunkers! He reflects on his fondest memories and the vision that TPWD had for sport fishing in Texas back in the late 60’s and early 70’s. David doing what he loves- working with stocker brood fish at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. David will be missed, be he leaves a legacy for every Texas angler to enjoy.

Then we round out the show when Rick Homme of Legacy Sports International joins us. Legacy is a proud sponsor of the show and offers a wide array of affordable rifles, Shotguns , pistols and optics to the everyday outdoorsman like you and me. I have three (.243, 22-250 & .308) Howa rifles and am proud to be sponsored by such a great company. Do yourself a favor and check out www.legacysports.com next time you’re thinking about buying a rifle, shotgun or optics. My biggest deer ever 142″- taken in South Texas this winter with my trusty Howa .308- He never took another step!